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Set within the world of the U.K. legal system, which is startlingly different from the judicial system in the United States, Closed Circuit addresses issues that are extremely pertinent today, namely distrust of the government and the corruption of power. A man named Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto) is arrested and accused of masterminding a terrorist bombing which took place in the middle of a London market, killing dozens of people. Erdogan has ties with the two men who set off the bomb, but they are tenuous at best. Nevertheless, Erdogan is thrown in jail, the full blame of the attack on his shoulders.
Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) is a Special Advocate appointed for Erdogan’s defense since, as it turns out, very sensitive government security information may be related to his case. The Special Advocate is there to plead for her client that all material revealed in a “closed session” be allowed in the general “open session” as well (this is the biggest difference between the U.K. and U.S. legal systems). Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is the barrister appointed by the Attorney General (Jim Broadbent) as Erdogan’s general defense council after the previous barrister commits suicide. Claudia and Martin are not allowed to have any contact with one another once the closed material is provided to Claudia. However, their past relationship as lovers throws a wrench in that expectation and ends up putting them in a very dangerous situation.
Screenwriter Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises) is tackling a very complex and controversial aspect of the British government and he deserves credit for bringing to light a timely issue which bespeaks the current state of national affairs. While Knight’s passion is laudable, the execution of his story is severely lacking in forethought. The characters in the film act in exactly the opposite manner of how real people would react if they found themselves in a similar situation. Why would Claudia or Martin take on a case if they know that their past could result in professional ruin? Both attorneys are successful and respected meaning they are supposedly intelligent as well. However, their behavior paints them as immature and impulsive with no thought at all for repercussions of their actions.
Worse, the plot is in no way affected by the Big Brother-like ubiquity of security cameras which both the title and all marketing materials claim is integral to the story. The bombing in the marketplace is caught on at least a dozen closed circuit cameras, yes, but that neither motivates nor accelerates the story. Movies like Enemy of the State or Vantage Point are much more effective at demonstrating how constant surveillance of citizens cannot be either harmful or helpful – and occasionally both at the same time. Closed Circuit, though, wastes its own premise making the ubiquitous cameras seen over and over again completely superfluous.
The film maintains a steady pace appropriate for the story thanks to director John Crowley. Keeping the action moving while not skipping over any of the key plot points is a tough balancing act and Crowley performs his task with aplomb. Already a respected name for smaller fare (Boy A, Intermission), Closed Circuit could signal bigger projects for Crowley which he will undoubtedly handle very well.
The only bright spot of the film – and it is blindingly bright – is the great character actor Jim Broadbent as the delightfully manipulative bureaucrat who seems to be pulling all the strings. The Attorney General (no name, just a title) can at one moment seem like an excellent guest to have over for tea and the next be unsettlingly threatening. Broadbent is absolutely terrific and deserves to be recognized at the years’ end awards season.
Closed Circuit shows a desire to be original and has great hope in itself, but ultimately it is a forgettable thriller that never has the impact it so craves.
Grade: C
After a lengthy
search, stage actress
Marina Squerciati (Gossip
Girl) has landed a new
regular role on Chicago
Fire ‘s upcoming spinoff
series Chicago PD. On the
NBC midseason drama,
about the workings of the Chicago police.
department’s investigative team, Squerciati will
play Kim Burgess, a feisty, sassy former flight
attendant-turned-cop whose beauty belies a
formidable inner strength.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Here are some quotes from tonight's episode. Can you guess who said what?
- ''I can't feel my dick.''
- ''Holy smokes, it's Vanilla Ice!''
- ''Mr Linder, I'm here to pay my debt.''
- ''Is it a rock? Is it a pipe? Or...?''
- ''That's Juarez? Sloppy?''
- ''I seem to have a monkey on my back.''
- ''I guess it was kind of crazy to think you would like me too.''
- ''He's not hiding anymore.''
And this promotional photo of another pivotal scene, plays out moments after that:
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Episode 8 – “Vendetta” (Airs August 28, 10:00 pm e/p)
Sonya pursues a cold lead despite Marco's insistence that it's a dead end. Charlotte finds out that Ray has jeopardized her ranch.
Written by Fernanda Coppel; Directed by Norberto Barba.
Sonya pursues a cold lead despite Marco's insistence that it's a dead end. Charlotte finds out that Ray has jeopardized her ranch.
Written by Fernanda Coppel; Directed by Norberto Barba.
Streaming Options
It was a good finish for A&E drama series Longmire and
The Glades last night. The Season 2 finale of Longmire
drew 4.4 million total viewers, 1.1 million adults 18-49
and 1.5 million A25-54, all season highs. Similarly, the
Season 4 closer of The Glades averaged 3.4 million total
viewers, 1.1 million A18-49 and 1.3 million A25-54, also
season highs.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
Thanks to laura3341 for the heads up.
AMC has tapped a familiar face as the lead of its
drama pilot Line Of Sight — The Walking Dead ‘s David
Morrissey. Should fans of his character on the hit zombie
series, The Governor, worry about his future? Not for now, as
the cable network plans to have him do both Season 4 of The
Walking Dead and the Line Of Sight pilot, which share a
filming location. “We are huge fans of David Morrissey and are
glad he’ll be doing double duty for AMC viewers through his
work on The Walking Dead and our pilot for Line Of Sight, both of which are
produced in Atlanta,” the network said in a statement to Deadline. Morrissey
was first signed on only for Season 3 of The Walking Dead, leading to
speculation that his popular villain character may be killed off. But Morrissey
was brought back for the upcoming fourth season and appeared alongside other
cast members at The Walking Dead Comic Con panel last month. However, as it
is with all characters on the zombie drama with extraordinarily high body count,
The Governor’s future beyond Season 4 is uncertain, and Morrissey’s casting as
the lead of another AMC show will certainly fuel further speculation that The
Governor may be facing his demise. AMC has a tradition of working with the
same actors on multiple series. Lennie James, co-lead of the network’s new
drama Low Winter Sun , previously co-starred on AMC’s limited series The
Prisoner and has a recurring role on The Walking Dead , which has overlapped
with Low Winter Sun.
Line Of Sight, from creator Blake Masters, director Jonathan Demme, Fox TV Studios and AMC Studios, tells the story of Lewis Bernt (Morrissey), a National Transportation Safety Board investigator who survives a mysterious plane crash, bringing him on an emotionally disorienting quest to discover the accident’s cause. Also cast in the pilot as a regular is Kai Lennox, who will play Tony Vie, one of the crash victims.
Source: deadline
Line Of Sight, from creator Blake Masters, director Jonathan Demme, Fox TV Studios and AMC Studios, tells the story of Lewis Bernt (Morrissey), a National Transportation Safety Board investigator who survives a mysterious plane crash, bringing him on an emotionally disorienting quest to discover the accident’s cause. Also cast in the pilot as a regular is Kai Lennox, who will play Tony Vie, one of the crash victims.
Source: deadline
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Outbreak - Drama from John Wells and Jack Orman based on the 1995 film gets Pilot Production commitment at NBC
Thanks to laura3341 for the heads up.
Former ER executive producers John Wells and Jack Orman are
reuniting with NBC for a new high-profile medical drama
project. The network has given a pilot production
commitment to Outbreak , an hourlong series based on
the hit 1995 Warner Bros feature directed by Wolfgang
Petersen and starring Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman
and Rene Russo. This marks one of
the biggest commitments to a drama project so far this development cycle.
Co-written by Wells and Orman, Outbreak is described as a medical thriller that follows an ensemble of characters as they race to contain a lethal virus before it becomes a global pandemic. Warner Bros TV and studio-based John Wells Prods are producing, with Wells, Orman and JWP’s Andrew Stearn executive producing. I hear Gail Katz, who was a producer on the movie, also is expected to be involved in some producing capacity.
Source: deadline
Co-written by Wells and Orman, Outbreak is described as a medical thriller that follows an ensemble of characters as they race to contain a lethal virus before it becomes a global pandemic. Warner Bros TV and studio-based John Wells Prods are producing, with Wells, Orman and JWP’s Andrew Stearn executive producing. I hear Gail Katz, who was a producer on the movie, also is expected to be involved in some producing capacity.
Source: deadline
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CSI: Las Vegas - Season 14 - George Eads to take leave of absence after altercation with writer
Thanks to laura3341 for the heads up.
George Eads will take a leave of absence from
the long-running drama after engaging in a
heated exchange with one of the show's
writers, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The actor, who has played Nick Stokes since the series premiered in 2000, will appear in the first three episodes of CSI 's upcoming 14th season. Producer CBS Television Studios declined to reveal a date for his return but said he would be back later this season.
"George Eads will not appear in several episodes during the first half of the season. We look forward to him returning to CSI very soon," a rep for CBS TV Studios said in a statement to THR .
The actor signed on to return as a regular along with the rest of the cast when CBS renewed the series in March. His absence, sources say, is not considered an attempt to renegotiate his contract. Eads -- and co-star Jorja Fox -- were both briefly fired from CSI in 2004 after a short-lived salary standoff with the network and studio.
Instead, Eads was unhappy with the creative direction of his character, sources tell THR, and clashed with an eight-months- pregnant co-writer of a recent episode. Word of the incident is said to have gotten back to showrunner Carol Mendelsohn and resulted in a meeting that ended with Eads threatening to quit. A rep for Eads declined to comment. Eads is one of only three actors who have been with CSI from the start ( Paul Guilfoyle and Eric Szmanda are the others). Fox left and later returned to the show.
Sources tell THR that Eads' absence will be addressed in the fourth episode of the season when Catherine ( Marg Helgenberger, who will reprise her role in the landmark 300th episode) hand-picks his character to receive special training at Quantico.
Source: THR
The actor, who has played Nick Stokes since the series premiered in 2000, will appear in the first three episodes of CSI 's upcoming 14th season. Producer CBS Television Studios declined to reveal a date for his return but said he would be back later this season.
"George Eads will not appear in several episodes during the first half of the season. We look forward to him returning to CSI very soon," a rep for CBS TV Studios said in a statement to THR .
The actor signed on to return as a regular along with the rest of the cast when CBS renewed the series in March. His absence, sources say, is not considered an attempt to renegotiate his contract. Eads -- and co-star Jorja Fox -- were both briefly fired from CSI in 2004 after a short-lived salary standoff with the network and studio.
Instead, Eads was unhappy with the creative direction of his character, sources tell THR, and clashed with an eight-months- pregnant co-writer of a recent episode. Word of the incident is said to have gotten back to showrunner Carol Mendelsohn and resulted in a meeting that ended with Eads threatening to quit. A rep for Eads declined to comment. Eads is one of only three actors who have been with CSI from the start ( Paul Guilfoyle and Eric Szmanda are the others). Fox left and later returned to the show.
Sources tell THR that Eads' absence will be addressed in the fourth episode of the season when Catherine ( Marg Helgenberger, who will reprise her role in the landmark 300th episode) hand-picks his character to receive special training at Quantico.
Source: THR
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Siena Goines has joined the cast of the untitled
half-hour pilot produced by the Saturday Night
Live veteran, The Hollywood Reporter has
learned .
Writer/executive producers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin star as 30-year- old reporters trying to make it big in Atlanta. Goines will play Simone, an accomplished author who has an on-again/off- again relationship with Riddle.
Source: THR
Writer/executive producers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin star as 30-year- old reporters trying to make it big in Atlanta. Goines will play Simone, an accomplished author who has an on-again/off- again relationship with Riddle.
Source: THR
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Single-Cam Family Comedy from Brian Gallivan And Will Gluck in development at ABC (with penalty)
In a competitive situation, a
single-camera comedy from The McCarthys
creator Brian Gallivan has landed at ABC with
a significant, high seven-figure penalty. The
untitled project reunites the auspices behind
CBS pilot The McCarthys : writer/executive
producer Gallivan, Sony TV and executive
producer Will Gluck and his Sony-based Olive
Bridge Prods. The new project centers on an overworked father dreaming of
being “on vacation all year” who decides to uproot his family from the city and
move them to New Hampshire where they open a group of tourist cottages. And
where they rarely, if ever, feel like they’re on vacation. Gallivan, who hails from
New England (he grew up in the Boston area where he taught middle school
language arts before embarking on a comedy career), will write the script and
will executive produce with Gluck and Olive Bridge’s Richie Schwartz.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Thursdays - Single-Cam Ensemble Comedy from Breckin Meyer gets Script order at NBC (with penalty)
Breckin Meyer is establishing himself as an
in-demand series creator. Thursdays , an ensemble single-
camera from the Men At Work creator, has landed at NBC
with a script order plus penalty. The project, from Sony TV,
where Meyer is under an overall deal, and studio-based
Fanfare, revolves around a group of male friends and a
weekly Thursday guys dinner that has become a tradition in
their busy, chaotic lives. Meyer is co-writing the script with
Jesse Stern (NCIS ) and will executive produce alongside Fanfare’s Jamie Tarses.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Mitch Hurwitz has good news for Arrested
Development fans. "I'm working on the
movie right now," the show's creator tells
Rolling Stone. "I can't get into much more
detail because I don't want to scare
anybody off. I don't want to be
presumptuous about it. I don't own the
property outright – it's a 20th Century Fox
property. But everybody seems really into it
and really eager to make a movie."
Any sort of Arrested Development movie has yet to receive a green light, so Hurwitz is very reluctant to guess when it might see release. "I'm hoping it happens as soon as possible," he says. "But I want to be very careful about not putting out false information. I want to get a time and tell everybody when it's happening and not play with people. Right now, I'm trying to do something else for Netflix and a movie project and things. I'm always sort of superstitious about talking about this stuff before it happens. It's the best way to guarantee it doesn't happen."
Read full article at Rolling Stone
Any sort of Arrested Development movie has yet to receive a green light, so Hurwitz is very reluctant to guess when it might see release. "I'm hoping it happens as soon as possible," he says. "But I want to be very careful about not putting out false information. I want to get a time and tell everybody when it's happening and not play with people. Right now, I'm trying to do something else for Netflix and a movie project and things. I'm always sort of superstitious about talking about this stuff before it happens. It's the best way to guarantee it doesn't happen."
Read full article at Rolling Stone
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Criminal Minds - Episode 9.06 - In The Blood - Casting News - Sarah Jane Morris to Guest
Morris will appear in the sixth episode of
Season 9 as a target of the killer du jour,
TVLine has learned.
Source: TVLine
Source: TVLine
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Justin Bruening , who recurred on Grey’s Anatomy, has landed a multi-episode gig on
the Pretty Little Liars spinoff, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.
Bruening, a soap opera veteran from All My Children, has been cast as Benjamin Price, a teacher at the local high school. He has a special affinity for his students, connecting with them as a teacher and a friend, and is patient, wise and generous. Bruening first appears in the Oct. 22 premiere.
Source: THR
Bruening, a soap opera veteran from All My Children, has been cast as Benjamin Price, a teacher at the local high school. He has a special affinity for his students, connecting with them as a teacher and a friend, and is patient, wise and generous. Bruening first appears in the Oct. 22 premiere.
Source: THR
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Thanks to laura3341 for the heads up.
TVLINE | Is creating a little more flexibility
in your Grey’s schedule important to you as
you consider signing on for Season 11?
Everything is open to a conversation at this point. Grey’s has been such a remarkable ride. Shonda [Rhimes] has been incredibly supportive. I enjoy Grey’s more than ever in many ways. Our relationships have grown considerably. We’ve all matured over the last 10 years. So it would be a shame to end this.
Through the Years: Which Was Your Favorite? TVLINE | What is the current state of your negotiations?
We’re talking. We’ll see what happens.
TVLINE | What was your reaction when you heard Sandra was leaving?
We found out right at the end of the table read for the 200th episode. She took the cast aside individually and said, “I’m going to leave the show.” With any member of the show, especially the original cast, it’s always sad to see someone leave.
Read full interview at TVLine
Everything is open to a conversation at this point. Grey’s has been such a remarkable ride. Shonda [Rhimes] has been incredibly supportive. I enjoy Grey’s more than ever in many ways. Our relationships have grown considerably. We’ve all matured over the last 10 years. So it would be a shame to end this.
Through the Years: Which Was Your Favorite? TVLINE | What is the current state of your negotiations?
We’re talking. We’ll see what happens.
TVLINE | What was your reaction when you heard Sandra was leaving?
We found out right at the end of the table read for the 200th episode. She took the cast aside individually and said, “I’m going to leave the show.” With any member of the show, especially the original cast, it’s always sad to see someone leave.
Read full interview at TVLine
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NBC is expanding its relationship with Adam Levine.
Three months after inking The Voice coach to a one-year first-look development deal , the network has picked up a script for a semi-autobiographical comedy from the Maroon 5 singer, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The single-camera entry from Universal Television is based on Levine's relationship with writer-producer Gene Hong ( Community). The former roommates have been roommates since before either found success in Hollywood. Hong will pen the script and executive produce alongside Levine and his longtime manager/producing partner at 222 Productions Jordan Feldstein.
Source: THR
Three months after inking The Voice coach to a one-year first-look development deal , the network has picked up a script for a semi-autobiographical comedy from the Maroon 5 singer, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The single-camera entry from Universal Television is based on Levine's relationship with writer-producer Gene Hong ( Community). The former roommates have been roommates since before either found success in Hollywood. Hong will pen the script and executive produce alongside Levine and his longtime manager/producing partner at 222 Productions Jordan Feldstein.
Source: THR
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In a competitive situation, a
half-hour project from actor-
writer Jay Baruchel has landed at
ABC with a significant penalty
and pre-negotiated license fees.
Baruchel will co-write the 20th
Century Fox TV/Tagline comedy
with his writing partner Jesse
Chabot. The semi-autobiographical project
centers on a successful actor who eschews the
fame and superficiality of Hollywood to move
back home to Burlington, VT where he buys a
house down the street from his mom and invites
his two best friends from childhood to move in
with him. CAA-repped Baruchel and Chabot will
executive produce with their managers, Willie
Mercer and Marc Hamou of Thrulein. Baruchel is
not attached to star.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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In a very competitive
situation with all four
networks buying the
project in the room, CBS
has landed a single-
camera comedy from
Horrible Bosses writers John Francis Daley and
Jonathan Goldstein with a big put pilot
commitment. The project, titled Punching Out ,
from 20th TV and studio-based Chernin
Entertainment, is in the vein of R-rated 2011
comedy Horrible Bosses, about friends who
conspire to murder their awful bosses — the
movie grossed $210 million worldwide. Punching
Out revolves around thirtysomething guys who
hate their jobs and make a pact to go back to
when they were happiest — working at the mall.
Daley and Goldstein are writing and will executive
produce with Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Syfy has given a cast-contingent pilot order to 12 Monkeys, a drama series based on the 1995 Universal Pictures/Atlas Entertainment film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. The 60-minute pilot, produced by Universal Cable Prods. and Atlas Entertainment, was written on spec by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett ( Terra Nova). It follows the journey of a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race. Filming is tentatively slated to begin in November. Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven ( The Dark Knight Trilogy), who produced the feature, and Richard Suckle will executive produce, with Matalas and Fickett co-executive producing.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Lindsay Lohan was such a pro on the set of "Eastbound & Down" ... its star Danny
McBride wants to take her talents with him ... to a show he's developing for HBO.
Sources close to LL tell TMZ ... while guest starring on "E&D" Danny -- a.k.a. Kenny
Powers -- and LiLo really hit it off. Danny was so impressed with her work he had
several serious talks with her on set about a new show. He wants her to star in it.
We're told the show is being developed by McBride and his producing partner Jody
Hill. It will be in the same comedic vein as "Eastbound" ... but revolve around a high
school. Our sources say Lindsay loves the idea and is hoping it works out.
Source: TMZ
Source: TMZ
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Me and My Needs - Single-Cam Comedy from Ryan Seacrest, based on late Judy Toll's script, put in development at NBC
Ryan Seacrest is expanding his relationship with NBC.
The American Idol and Million Second Quiz host's Ryan Seacrest Productions has sold a comedy to the network, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. From ABC Studios, single- camera comedy Me and My Needs revolves around a daytime talk producer who tackles the oddities and extremes of looking for love in New York. The late Judy Toll (Sex and the City ) penned the original script -- which was inspired by her own life -- along with Cynthia Greenburg .
Comedian-writer Toll, a Groundlings alum who often chronicled her search for love in her comedy, passed away in 2002 following a long battle with melanoma. She was 44. Greenburg remains a writer on the updated Me and My Needs. The original comedy was produced as a pilot for ABC in 2001, with creators Greenburg and Toll executive producing alongside Gene Stein and Nina Wass.
Sources tell THR that Wass and Stein decided to revive Me and My Needs as a way to honor Toll's memory after initially balking at the idea when a network executive approached them about it a few years ago. The duo originally developed the project, which ABC produced as a multicamera effort, alongside Toll and Greenburg. The new take will be more in line with Toll's original vision of the semi-autobiographical comedy as a single-camera entry. NBC's take -- which has received the blessing and support of Toll's family -- will see its central character be more focused on Toll's unique brand of comedy rather than the heavy workplace emphasis of the 2001 pilot, which starred Nicole Sullivan (MadTV, Cougar Town).
Source: THR
The American Idol and Million Second Quiz host's Ryan Seacrest Productions has sold a comedy to the network, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. From ABC Studios, single- camera comedy Me and My Needs revolves around a daytime talk producer who tackles the oddities and extremes of looking for love in New York. The late Judy Toll (Sex and the City ) penned the original script -- which was inspired by her own life -- along with Cynthia Greenburg .
Comedian-writer Toll, a Groundlings alum who often chronicled her search for love in her comedy, passed away in 2002 following a long battle with melanoma. She was 44. Greenburg remains a writer on the updated Me and My Needs. The original comedy was produced as a pilot for ABC in 2001, with creators Greenburg and Toll executive producing alongside Gene Stein and Nina Wass.
Sources tell THR that Wass and Stein decided to revive Me and My Needs as a way to honor Toll's memory after initially balking at the idea when a network executive approached them about it a few years ago. The duo originally developed the project, which ABC produced as a multicamera effort, alongside Toll and Greenburg. The new take will be more in line with Toll's original vision of the semi-autobiographical comedy as a single-camera entry. NBC's take -- which has received the blessing and support of Toll's family -- will see its central character be more focused on Toll's unique brand of comedy rather than the heavy workplace emphasis of the 2001 pilot, which starred Nicole Sullivan (MadTV, Cougar Town).
Source: THR
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Another pre-emptive buy
for Fox , which continues to
be very aggressive this
selling season. That
network has put in
development Kill Zone ,
written by Todd Harthan
(Psych) and produced by
20th TV. The buddy show is built around an
intense, edgy, humor-laced relationship between
Dole Green, a 10-year vet of the Secret Service,
and his rookie partner, Chad Burke, as they
protect the President of the United States from a
very credible death threat. As Dole and Chad
navigate their way through a plot and cover-up
that will reach the highest levels of government,
we’ll follow them into the wildly unpredictable,
play hard, live hard, rarely seen underbelly of
the Secret Service.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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NBC has put in development three projects from pods,
drama Time To Time , from writers Byron Willinger & Phil
Deblasi ( Paradise Lost) and Doug Liman & Dave Bartis’
Hypnotic; drama Ricochet , from writer Micah Barnett and
Maria Grasso & Deborah Spera’s One-Two Punch; and an
untitled comedy from writer Will Calhoun and Scott
Stuber’s Scott Stuber Prods. All three hail from Universal
TV.
The high concept drama Time To Time is about two star-crossed police officers, separated by 27 years in time, who work together to solve murders. Willinger, Deblasi, Liman and Bartis executive produce. Willinger and Deblasi, repped by Verve and Madhouse, are primarily feature writers who just wrote Skyscraper for Universal Studios and producer Neal Moritz, with Paul Walker attached to star. They’re currently writing Equinox for Voltage Pictures. Hypnotic is with CAA.
Ricochet is a high-concept serialized action/thriller about a professional hitman who is trapped in a coma and forced to serve as a guinea pig for a secret NSA espionage program; a project that uses technology discovered while researching near-death-experiences to send operatives into other people’s bodies. Tripp Vinson (Intelligence ), Grasso and Spera executive produce, with Barnett co-exec producing. Barnett, repped by Benderspink, WME and McKuin, Frankel, Whitehead, has feature The Rabbit set up at Warner Bros. with Chris Tucker attached.
The untitled Wil Calhoun project is a workplace/family comedy about an old school competitive college football coach who seeks redemption in the New South. Calhoun exec produces with Stuber and Quan Phung.
Source: deadline
The high concept drama Time To Time is about two star-crossed police officers, separated by 27 years in time, who work together to solve murders. Willinger, Deblasi, Liman and Bartis executive produce. Willinger and Deblasi, repped by Verve and Madhouse, are primarily feature writers who just wrote Skyscraper for Universal Studios and producer Neal Moritz, with Paul Walker attached to star. They’re currently writing Equinox for Voltage Pictures. Hypnotic is with CAA.
Ricochet is a high-concept serialized action/thriller about a professional hitman who is trapped in a coma and forced to serve as a guinea pig for a secret NSA espionage program; a project that uses technology discovered while researching near-death-experiences to send operatives into other people’s bodies. Tripp Vinson (Intelligence ), Grasso and Spera executive produce, with Barnett co-exec producing. Barnett, repped by Benderspink, WME and McKuin, Frankel, Whitehead, has feature The Rabbit set up at Warner Bros. with Chris Tucker attached.
The untitled Wil Calhoun project is a workplace/family comedy about an old school competitive college football coach who seeks redemption in the New South. Calhoun exec produces with Stuber and Quan Phung.
Source: deadline
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The Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi has been
cast in a recurring role on Fox ‘s upcoming romantic
comedy series Us And Them, about young lovers Gavin
(Jason Ritter ) and Stacey (Alexis Bledel). Mandvi will play Dave Coaches,
Stacey’s best friend Nessa’s (Ashlie Atkinson) deviously
tempting ex (whom Nessa refers to as her “bedroom
Beezlebub”). He’s a security guard roadie for the Dave Matthews Band and
offers to get Nessa and her friends backstage in exchange for a kiss.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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The CW is getting into the revenge business.
The younger-skewing network has handed out a script order to The Revengers (briefly known as Ladyballs ), an hourlong dramedy from Rashida Jones and her older sister, Kidada Jones , The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The project, which hails from Warner Bros. Television, where the Parks and Recreation star is under a two-year pod deal, revolves around two twenty-something estranged friends in search of love in New York who are reunited after learning that they've been dating the same guy. When their plot to humiliate the two-timer goes viral, they realize the "payback" business is a lucrative one and set up a clandestine business to continue bringing down the hand of justice for those who have been wronged.
Jones and her Celeste & Jesse Forever writing/producing partner Will McCormack will executive produce alongside Allegiance Theater's Daniel Dubiecki ( Juno, Up in the Air ) and Lara Alameddine . Prep School Confidential author Kara Taylor will pen the script and co-executive produce the dramedy, which also hails from Jones' Le Train Train banner. Kidada Jones will produce, marking a first for the model/actress/fashion designer. Jeff Grosvenor will also produce. The Jones sisters came up with the concept and Taylor flushed out the idea for The Revengers, which marks Le Train Train's first hourlong project.
Source: THR
The younger-skewing network has handed out a script order to The Revengers (briefly known as Ladyballs ), an hourlong dramedy from Rashida Jones and her older sister, Kidada Jones , The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The project, which hails from Warner Bros. Television, where the Parks and Recreation star is under a two-year pod deal, revolves around two twenty-something estranged friends in search of love in New York who are reunited after learning that they've been dating the same guy. When their plot to humiliate the two-timer goes viral, they realize the "payback" business is a lucrative one and set up a clandestine business to continue bringing down the hand of justice for those who have been wronged.
Jones and her Celeste & Jesse Forever writing/producing partner Will McCormack will executive produce alongside Allegiance Theater's Daniel Dubiecki ( Juno, Up in the Air ) and Lara Alameddine . Prep School Confidential author Kara Taylor will pen the script and co-executive produce the dramedy, which also hails from Jones' Le Train Train banner. Kidada Jones will produce, marking a first for the model/actress/fashion designer. Jeff Grosvenor will also produce. The Jones sisters came up with the concept and Taylor flushed out the idea for The Revengers, which marks Le Train Train's first hourlong project.
Source: THR
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Writer/director/star Lake Bell plays Carol Solomon, a struggling voiceover artist trying to break through the very low glass ceiling that prevents women from getting voiceover jobs in Hollywood for anything other than tampon commercials. In the movie – and possibly in real life, we can suspect – movie trailer work is the sign of having “made it” within the voiceover artist’s world. Carol, who moonlights as a dialect coach thanks to her incredible ear for accents, wants so badly to be the new voice of movie trailers, filling the void left by the legendary Don LaFontaine (and actual legend in the industry) after his death.
There are many great movies about making movies, but rarely do they focus on the overlooked and unrecognized artists whose work audiences see but rarely acknowledge. Bell chooses to focus on the world of the voiceover actor much in the same way Christopher Guest might focus on a small town theatre troupe or the owners of the canines competing in dog shows. Bell’s aim is not to mock or belittle these individuals who are vital to the industry, but to use their (fictional) plight as a way to address much bigger issues.
Carol, like Bell, has an amazing talent for accents and dialects, bending and twisting her voice like an expert contortionist. There is no question she is gifted, yet the “boys’ club” that is Hollywood voiceover work is reserved for people like Carol’s father, Sam Soto (Fred Melamad), and Gustav Warner (Ken Marino), a newbie whose vast wealthy gives him connections Carol can only dream about. But is Bell really complaining about the roles offered to females in voiceover work or about women’s opportunities in Hollywood in general? How many famous female directors can the average person name? Female screenwriters? The number of female studio executives is rising, but men still outnumber them by a vast margin. In fact, Bell most likely faced a great number of hurdles trying to get produced an original screenplay that she wanted to direct herself.
The movie does not dwell on Carol’s struggles, it merely presents the problem and the day-to-day difficulty she faces. Aiding her in any way he can is Louis (Demetri Martin), the sound engineer at the studio where Carol gives private lessons to actors like Eva Longoria. Carol even gets to do some of her own stuff sometimes. When Louis finds out that a studio wants to bring back LaFontaine’s famous “In a world...” line for a new epic blockbuster, Louis vows to do everything he can to help Carol book the gig. With the support of Louis and a few of the other Little Rascals that wonder in and out of the studio, Carol gets a fighting chance at seeing her dream come true.
Bell never lets the film sag under the weight of the serious issue it is addressing, instead opting for silly almost slapstick comedy showcasing Bell’s talents as well as the comedic skills of her entire cast. Bell has a wonderful everywoman look that allows her to blend into the background of a scene until it’s necessary she takes center stage. Her sense of comedic timing is perfect, allowing awkward moments to hang in the air just long enough to milk every last humorous note. As a director, Bell is confident and assured in the tone she wants the film to carry, taking her time to let every scene play out.
If there is one area Bell will need to improve upon before her next project (which will hopefully be soon), it will be learning to better edit herself as a writer. In a World is burdened with an overabundance of plot, including an unnecessary story about the strained marriage between her sister, Dani (Michaela Watkins), and brother-in-law, Moe (Rob Corddry). The movie is funny beginning to end, but there is so much extraneous storytelling that it distracts from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
In a World in not only a great feature film debut by a very talented filmmaker, it is a reminder that movies can have social messages without beating the audience over the head for an hour and a half.
Grade: A-
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ABC Family Orders Three Comedy Pilots: Mystery Girls (starring Tori Spelling), Work Mom and Young and Hungry
ABC FAMILY GREENLIGHTS PRODUCTION OF THREE NEW COMEDY PILOTS
ABC Family will produce three new comedy pilots, “Mystery Girls,” “Work Mom” and “Young & Hungry,” it was announced today by Michael Riley, President, ABC Family.
These orders join the pick-ups announced earlier this year including the back-order greenlight of “The Fosters” and “Twisted,” the third season of “ Switched At Birth” and “Baby Daddy” and the fourth season of “Melissa & Joey.”
“We have seen great success with our comedy series and look to grow our comedy offerings. These pilots offer a great mix of humor and iconic characters,” said Kate Juergens, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development and Chief Creative Officer, ABC Family.
“Mystery Girls,” starring Tori Spelling, follows a former starlet who is roped into solving crimes with her former mystery TV show costar when a witness to a crime will only speak to the Infamous ‘Mystery Girls.’ Tori Spelling and Maggie Malina (“Single Ladies”) will serve as executive producers. The story is by Shepard Boucher and Tori Spelling. The pilot was written by Shepard Boucher.
“Work Mom” is a half-hour workplace comedy following Heather, who finally gets promoted at her digital marketing firm and winds up hiring her recently unemployed mother. Her vivacious mother, Eden, mixes up The Office in a way no one could have predicted. The pilot was written by Grant Levy and Dominik Rothbard (“ Bunheads ”).
Two worlds collide in “Young & Hungry” when Nick, a well-off young tech entrepreneur, hires Gabi, a feisty young food blogger, to be his personal chef. Executive producers are Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum (“ Two and a Half Men ”), Ashley Tisdale, Jessica Rhoades and CBS Television Studios. The pilot was written by David Holden (“Accidentally on Purpose”).
Source: ABC
ABC Family will produce three new comedy pilots, “Mystery Girls,” “Work Mom” and “Young & Hungry,” it was announced today by Michael Riley, President, ABC Family.
These orders join the pick-ups announced earlier this year including the back-order greenlight of “The Fosters” and “Twisted,” the third season of “ Switched At Birth” and “Baby Daddy” and the fourth season of “Melissa & Joey.”
“We have seen great success with our comedy series and look to grow our comedy offerings. These pilots offer a great mix of humor and iconic characters,” said Kate Juergens, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development and Chief Creative Officer, ABC Family.
“Mystery Girls,” starring Tori Spelling, follows a former starlet who is roped into solving crimes with her former mystery TV show costar when a witness to a crime will only speak to the Infamous ‘Mystery Girls.’ Tori Spelling and Maggie Malina (“Single Ladies”) will serve as executive producers. The story is by Shepard Boucher and Tori Spelling. The pilot was written by Shepard Boucher.
“Work Mom” is a half-hour workplace comedy following Heather, who finally gets promoted at her digital marketing firm and winds up hiring her recently unemployed mother. Her vivacious mother, Eden, mixes up The Office in a way no one could have predicted. The pilot was written by Grant Levy and Dominik Rothbard (“ Bunheads ”).
Two worlds collide in “Young & Hungry” when Nick, a well-off young tech entrepreneur, hires Gabi, a feisty young food blogger, to be his personal chef. Executive producers are Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum (“ Two and a Half Men ”), Ashley Tisdale, Jessica Rhoades and CBS Television Studios. The pilot was written by David Holden (“Accidentally on Purpose”).
Source: ABC
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Jack McGee and Joey McIntyre are
the only cast members from the original CBS
pilot The McCarthys who will be coming back
for the new pilot as the once-single-camera
comedy, from Sony TV and Will Gluck’s Olive
Bridge Entertainment, is being retooled as
multi-camera . The McCarthys , written/co-
executive produced by Brian Gallivan, revolves
around a big Irish Catholic, sports-crazed Boston clan and the gay son whose
greatest sin is not his sexuality but his desire to spend less time with his family.
McGee plays the father,
Arthur, a not always politically correct high school basketball coach. Actor-singer
McIntyre plays Gerard McCarthy, the one short
guy in the family who is mad about it.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Michael Ian Black, who guest-starred in the
pilot, has joined the cast as a series regular. He
will play Brian, Stacey’s (Alexis Bledel ) uncle
who is described as a simple man. The brother
of Stacey's late father, he has taken on the role
of family protector.
Source: THR
Source: THR
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NBC just nabbed Emerald City, a Wizard Of Oz-themed drama from Siberia creator/showrunner Matthew Arnold. Emerald City , which Arnold is writing and executive producing through Universal Television, is described as a dark reimagining of the classic tale of Oz in the vein of Game Of Thrones , drawing upon stories from the original 14 books by Frank Baum.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Comedy’s hot summer continues with another very
big commitment for a half-hour project. In a competitive
situation with multiple networks bidding, Sony TV /Peter Tolan‘s
pitch Irreversible, based on the Israeli series Bilti Hafich , landed
at ABC . The network has greenlighted a pilot with a big, seven-
figure penalty behind it off of a pitch — a rare feat for any pitch
and a first for an Israeli format. In another first for a format
originating from the Middle Eastern country, Irreversible will be
written solely by the Israeli co-creator of the original series Segahl Avin , who
also will direct the U.S. pilot. Avin is executive producing with Fedora’s Tolan
and Michael Wimer and Reshet TV, the Israeli
broadcaster behind the original series . Irreversible
centers on Andy and Sarah, a somewhat eccentric, self-
absorbed couple, and their trials and tribulations —
most of which they bring upon themselves.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Lindsey Kraft will recur on the Fox event series Wayward
Pines, an intense thriller about Secret Service agent Ethan
Burke (Matt Dillon), who arrives in the bucolic town of
Wayward Pines, ID, on a mission to find two missing
federal agents. But instead of answers, Ethan’s
investigation only turns up more questions. Kraft will play Ethan’s sister-
in-law Darla who is a professional tweeter and “life
coach”. She also is recurring on HBO’s new comedy series Getting On playing
Marguerite, a young nurse fresh out of school on her first round of rotations.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
Strole will
recur as Penny Owen, a sophomore in college who
wants to get into nursing school and who becomes
Sam’s (Chord Overstreet) new love interest.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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It’s been a
fast rise for Amelia Rose
Blaire on True Blood. She
joined the HBO vampire
drama as recurring for the
recent sixth season,
playing Governor’s
daughter and vampire-
rights-activist-turned-vampire Willa Burrell. Blaire
ended up appearing in virtually every episode
and is now being promoted to series regular.
Production on True Blood‘s seventh season is
expected to begin in December.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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There were some things to like and a lot of things to hate in this weeks episode of Under the Dome titled ''The Fourth Hand''. Even a re-watch couldn't help an episode that showcased both the worst and the best Under the Dome has to offer.
Let's start with Maxine (played by Natalie Zea), who turns out to be the mastermind behind the drugs scheme Big Jim (played by Dean Norris) and the reverend were running. And has some ties to Barbie (played by Mike Vogel) as well. So where was she all this time? Well she was hiding...Until what?! A freaking dome can down around you, but hey, let's keep calm and wait until it's plot convenient to come out of hiding. With everything that has happened, the dome, the fire, the freaking missile, the looting and in a town were everyone knows everyone, it makes no sense whatsoever to be in hiding that long.
And it spawned a few terrific scenes with Max, Barbie and Big Jim, but I couldn't get over the sheer ludicrousness of the situation. I was able to appreciate these scenes better on second viewing and watching Big Jim back off with his tail between his legs was fun to see. Of course, Max knows about all Jim and Barbie's secrets, because she has been following them. Yes, that was what she said. I'm not even touching that, because you already know how ridiculous that sounds. So, I'm fully expecting Max to hold this over their heads and get them to do whatever she wants them to do.
That story line could be good, but it's been done to death. And it'll only last until Big Jim decides he has had enough and kills her anyway. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Everyone turning in their weapons was apparently her idea as well and it worked. With the exception being Ted (played by Raheem Babalola), so Big Jim and Barbie set off to get his guns. Nothing really happened except that they managed to talk him down, pull the grenade out of his hands of course. That's not meant as a knock on the story, even if it was predictable, because I liked the distrust Barbie and sheriff Linda (played by Natalie Martinez) are showing over Big Jim.
The other big story this episode, the miniature dome going missing, stumbled and faltered throughout the episode as well. Julia (played by Rachelle Lefevre) took Barbie to see the miniature dome, which Barbie couldn't fathom. Really Barbie? You saw a cow split in half by the dome coming down and a plane crash into it, but this is ''kinda out there''?
When they arrived at the site of the miniature dome it turns out that it is gone. Then more trouble started, Julia claimed there had to be a rational explanation for it. Uh, what? You're trapped inside a mysterious dome, a miniature dome appeared and now it's missing. All of these completely irrational things, but you're sure there is a rational explanation for it? Okay, then.
So turns out that Joe (played by Colin Ford) was the one that 'must have' moved it, after Angie (played by Britt Robertson) witnessed him going outside in a zombie-like state. She didn't stop him, the loving sister who went searching for Joe the minute Big Jim set her free and later included Joe in her deal with Big Jim didn't stop him. I don't even... So Joe, rightfully, questions her about it, asking her if she didn't think that was weird. She answers with this quote; ''What isn't these days?. That's your excuse? That. Is. Your. Excuse?!
Also, Norrie (played by Mackenzie Lintz) had to pitch in with this gem of a quote to finish the conversation: ''Can't argue with that.''. I wished I had a face left to facepalm.
In the end it did lead to a very intriguing scene that showed the miniature dome to be a sphere and it required fourth hands to do something. I'm guessing with the fourth hand found it will unlock, releasing the egg. What it does, nobody knows at this point.
What everyone can see coming is that Junior (played by Alexander Koch) will be the fourth hand required. I hope they don't go that route, but with their forced attempt to make Junior likeable in this episode I fear the worst. Junior, in my eyes, is not a redeemable character at this point. I cringed every time he and Angie are together. His whole demeanor screams psycho around her and I hated it when she came to see him. If he stays around the writers have a big job to do in salvaging this character.
I might seem overly negative on the episode, the directing and acting was good as usual. And there were also some good moments. A couple of which I highlighted above, but there was also sheriff Linda's investigation into the drugs operation which was a good thing. I hope she won't let herself be stonewalled by Big Jim, who probably is the authority figure she will report this too.
In the end the bad did outweigh the good for me, this episode was hard to enjoy unless you enjoy pole-vaulting over plot holes and leaps in logic.
5/10
Main Account - All Shows The Practice alumna LisaGay Hamilton is set to co-star
in AMC’s drama pilot Line Of Sight. The project, from
creator Blake Masters, director Jonathan Demme, Fox
TV Studios and AMC Studios, tells the story of Lewis
Bernt, a National Transportation Safety Board
investigator who survives a mysterious plane crash,
bringing him on an emotionally disorienting quest to
discover the accident’s cause. Hamilton will play Ruby Jensen, an NTSB rep sent to
investigate the crash.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Jonathan Tucker has been
cast in Bryan Fuller’s 90-
minute Syfy pilot High
Moon, which explores
what happens when the
countries of Earth establish
colonies to mine the
moon’s resources and
discover a new form of life. Charity Wakefield
has signed on for a guest-starring role in the
pilot, written by Jim Danger Gray based on John
Christopher’s novel The Lotus Caves. Tucker will play Stanislav “Stan” Stavin, a
handsome and outgoing miner for the Russians
who may be hiding something. He also recurs on
Parenthood. Wakefield will play the smart and
savvy Eve St. John-Smythe, CEO of the world’s
most profitable corporation that is responsible
for opening up the moon by providing oxygen to
the various countries there. Tucker and Wakefield
join previously cast Jake Sandvig, Chris
Diamantopoulos, Dana Davis and Peter Macon.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Comedy based on the film Reality Bites from Ben Stiller and Helen Childress development at NBC
Reality Bites, the cult 1994 romantic comedy that examined the angst of Generation X college graduates, is heading to primetime. The film’s director Ben Stiller and writer Helen Childress have teamed for a TV series version of the movie that starred Winona Ryder, Stiller and Ethan Hawke. Childress will write the single-camera comedy project, which is set up at NBC. It centers on recent college graduate Lelaina Pierce, the character played in the movie by Ryder, as she struggles to make her way — romantically and professionally — in the recession-plagued, pre-Internet early 1990s. Set in Houston, the show, and Lelaina herself with her video camera, chronicles the lives of her “slacker” friends with whom she shares an apartment. The series is produced by Universal Television, sibling to the film’s producer Universal Pictures. Co-producing with Uni TV are Stiller’s Red Hour Television and Double Feature Films, the company run by Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher, who were producers on the 1994 film. Red Hours’ Stiller, Debbie Liebling, and Stuart Cornfeld executive produce with Childress, Shamberg and Sher.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
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Slapping the label “a coming of age story” on a movie is a lazy and quick way to communicate to audiences that 1) you're going to see a story about youths and 2) the plot is going to have a more serious tone than, say, a movie featuring a character from a Disney TV show. The designation is rarely accurate, but gives potential moviegoers an easy way to categorize a movie. The Breakfast Club is a coming of age story; Sixteen Candles is not. Stand By Me and Boyz in the Hood are coming of age stories; Dazed and Confused and The Karate Kid are not.
The Spectacular Now can truly be called a coming of age tale because, unlike so many other movies to which that moniker is applied, a character truly does mature in some way and is able to see and interact with the world in a way appropriate to his age. Who wouldn’t want to be like Sutter when they were in high school? He’s well-liked, handsome and can carry on a conversation with just about anybody. But that façade masks a very dark inner core which Teller, as one of our most charismatic and entertaining young actors, portrays with a perfect amount of fragility.
Director James Ponsoldt (Smashed) takes us on Sutter’s journey to becoming a grown up but keeps us at a very safe distance, much like how Sutter himself prefers his relationships. We venture down the rabbit hole that is Sutter’s inner turmoil because he would never let anyone into that place. The closest we get is his moments of honesty with Aimee. Ponsoldt isn’t concerned with big, flashy performances or huge public blow-ups. He lets Sutter battle his demons in a quiet, private matter befitting a kid who is too insecure to let anyone in.
The Spectacular Now was adapted from Tim Tharp’s novel by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the two brilliant wordsmiths responsible for (500) Days of Summer. A complete 180 degree turn from that previous film in terms of tone and dialogue, The Spectacular Now speaks the truth of what teenagers are really like: selfish, indecisive and impulsive. The words the characters speak could be pulled directly from any high school in the country with their bumbling explanations and quick-tempered reactions. Neustadter and Weber write beautifully and are fortunate to have a director and cast that so perfectly understand their words.
Teller gives his most emotionally complex performance since Rabbit Hole, balancing comedy and drama like a seasoned pro. Teller has the confidence of Vince Vaughn, allowing him to orchestrate scenes, when necessary, at his pace and daring his co-stars to keep up. But, Teller is also capable of great emotional depth that we see hidden behind his reassuring grin. Playing drunk is no easy feat, but Teller is quite astute and plays Sutter with the right degree of “I’ve got this under control” and “Let’s party.”
The true heart of the film, though, is Woodley as Aimee, the one person who cares about Sutter regardless of his drinking problem. Woodley is absolutely terrific in the film and, if there is any justice in the world, will score her second Academy Award nomination for a performance which is so naturalistic and quiet that she appears not to be acting at all. Stripped of all make up and given a thrift shop wardrobe, Woodley shines as a girl who lights up whenever Sutter is in the room and is given the confidence to stand up to her emotional abusive mother. With every smile, frown, tear and laugh, Woodley proves she is the most talented young actress working today (sorry, Jennifer Lawrence) and one who has the possibility of becoming this generation’s Meryl Streep.
It’s rare that a film is able to capture the reality of being a teenager, but The Spectacular Now manages to do just that while also dealing with issues that can affect just about anyone.
Grade: A
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