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Exclusive: Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!), Kenny Ortega (Julie and the Phantoms) and producers Alan Powell, Steve Barnett and Vicky Patel of Monarch Media are teaming for the docuseries 1300 Miles to Broadway. Inspired by Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp, the series introduces 8th to 12th graders to the world of performing arts through master classes in acting, singing and dancing, and goes on the emotional journey with them as they prepare for a future as performers.

Chenoweth launched Broadway Bootcamp at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center in her Oklahoma hometown of Broken Arrow in 2015, to give talented local kids a taste of real Broadway talent, working with them one-on-one. She brought Broadway director, actor and producer Richard Jay-Alexander into the fold four years ago to strengthen the program. All editions of the camp have taken place in-person with the exception of 2021’s, which was held virtually amidst the pandemic, with kids from 33 states and 8 countries participating.

The intense new trailer for American Dreamer from Saban films has dropped and it has us looking at Jim Gaffigan in a new light. The comedian is taking on his most intense role yet in the thriller from relatively newcomer Derrick Borte (London Town). Gaffigan (Being Frank) plays a rideshare driver who goes to extreme lengths in order to free himself from crushing debt.

In order to maintain custody rights of his son, Cam (Jim Gaffigan) needs to make some extra cash. So, he starts chauffeuring a low level drug dealer named Mazz, played by Robbie Jones (Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Councilor). The pay isn't enough, so he finds another way. He kidnaps the dealer's child in hopes of getting ransom. To make things more complicated, Mazz enlists Cam to drive him around the city. Gaffigan had this to say about his character.

"This guy, he's like an Uber...

Saban Films has released the trailer for American Dreamer, the thriller from director Derrick Borte that features comedian Jim Gaffigan taking on the darkest role of his career. Co-written with Daniel Forte and produced by Scott Floyd Lochmus, American Dreamer follows a struggling rideshare driver, Cam (Gaffigan), who moonlights as a chauffeur to a low-level drug-dealer (Robbie Jones). When times get especially desperate, Cam decides to kidnap his criminal associate's child for ransom. Anyone mostly familiar with Gaffigan as the large, affable Hot Pockets guy are gonna' be floored by American Dreamer, which sees the famously …...

Little Leper earns honourable mention.

Tribeca Film Institute announced on Wednesday (March 28) that Jeremy Palmer’s The Valley Of Dry Bones will receive the 2018 Sloan Student Grand Jury Prize for screenwriting.

The film tells the story of Canadian Nobel Prize winner Dr Frederick Banting and his role in discovering insulin and its potential to treat diabetes.

Palmer will receive $30,000 in prize money, in addition to an industry mentor and a science mentor to support the film’s development.

Greg Wayne’s film Little Leper earned an honourable mention and follows a young woman who leaves her leper colony in search of treatment.

Exclusive: Momentum Pictures announced today that they have acquired the domestic distribution rights to the Maven Pictures horror Boarding School from Boaz Yakin. Written and directed by Yakin (Remember the Titans, Safe), the pic is produced by Maven Pictures’ Trudie Styler (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Still Alice, American Honey) and Celine Rattray (The Kids Are All Right, Still Alice, American Honey) as well as Scott Lochmus (The Joneses, London Town), and…...

Im Global has acquired international rights to Boaz Yakin horror thriller Boarding School produced by Maven Pictures' co-founders (and prolific filmmakers) Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray and also produced by Scott Lochmus (The Joneses) and Jason Orans (Goodbye Solo). Currently in post, the film stars Will Patton (Remember the Titans), Samantha Mathis (American Psycho), Sterling Jerins (The Conjuring series), Luke Prael (Boy in a Backpack), and Tammy Blanchard (The Good S…...

Exclusive: Shoot underway in London on drama featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as frontman for The Clash, Joe Strummer.

Production is underway in the UK on London Town, the Dutch Tilt Film and Culmination Productions drama starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point), Daniel Huttlestone (Into the Woods), Dougray Scott (Hitman) and Natascha McElhone (Californication).

Set in 1970’s London, the film charts the story of a 14-year-old boy whose life is changed forever after he is introduced to rock band The Clash by his estranged mother.

The Tudors star Rhys Meyers plays the late punk great and Clash frontman Joe Strummer while the production has secured rights to a number of the band’s songs.

The film is written by Kirsten Sheridan, Sonya Gildea and Matthew Brown and directed by Derrick Borte with Hubert Taczanowski serving as director of photography.

Producers are Sofia Sondervan of Dutch Tilt Film, Killer Films’ Christine Vachon and Tom Butterfield of Culmination Productions in association...

Exclusive: Shoot underway in London on drama in which Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Joe Strummer; Christine Vachon among producers

Production is underway in the UK on London Town, the Dutch Tilt Film and Culmination Productions drama starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point), Daniel Huttlestone (Into the Woods), Dougray Scott (Hitman) and Natascha McElhone (Californication).

Set in 70’s London, the film charts the story of a 14-year-old boy whose life is changed forever after he is introduced to the Clash by his estranged mother.

Tudors star Rhys Meyers plays the late punk great and Clash frontman Joe Strummer while the production has secured rights to a number of the band’s hits.

The film is written by Kirsten Sheridan, Sonya Gildea and Matthew Brown and directed by Derrick Borte with Hubert Taczanowski serving as director of photography.

Producers are Sofia Sondervan of Dutch Tilt Film, Killer Films’ Christine Vachon and Tom Butterfield of Culmination Productions in association with WeatherVane...

Donald Faison, Molly Sims, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Eddie Guerra are teaming to star in the indie comedy feature Venus and Vegas for helmer Demian Lichtenstein. Penned by Guerra (CSI: Miami), Venus follows a trio of crooks -- Faison, Thomas and Guerra -- who must work together to repair their fractured relationship after they botch a holdup job. Jaime Pressly, Abraham Benrubi, Florence Henderson, Jon Polito and Paul Ben-Victor round out the cast. The project is under way in Los Angeles and is being produced by Scott Floyd Lochmus and Luis Moro. Lichtenstein (3000 Miles to Graceland) also is producing.