News

It wasn’t so long ago that audiences would show up to seemingly any movie featuring a costumed hero or a masked killer. But times and standards have changed, and lately, Hollywood’s two most reliable genres — superheroes and horror — are showing signs of fatigue.

“People haven’t stopped loving horror or superhero films, but they stopped loving mediocre entries in those worlds,” says exhibitor Mike Barstow, executive VP of Midwest-based Acx Cinemas. “There’s a demand for higher quality.”

Analysts believe there are different reasons behind the wear and tear of each. Yet both types of fare appear to have reached the oversaturation point. That’s not to say that movies in either genre can’t or won’t break through — “Sinners” ($365 million), “Superman” ($426 million to date) and “Final Destination: Bloodlines” ($285 million) are recent triumphs — but they are no longer box office guarantees.

“Hollywood takes the less risk-adverse approach...

After a weak start to the year, the box office is benefitting from an unlikely savior — PG films.

As movie theater attendance, at long last, begins to rebound, at least part of the newfound success is being attributed to PG films like the Warner Bros. video game adaptation “A Minecraft Movie” ($951 million), Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” remake ($858 million) and Universal’s live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” ($197 million in its opening weekend). Since January, PG films have earned $1.53 billion, accounting for 41% of the year-to-date revenue. It’s the highest percentage of any rating this year, according to Comscore.

That’s notable because it’s usually PG-13 films that generate the biggest bucks. Since 2000, movies rated PG-13 by the MPA have dominated the box office and often command more than 50% of the total marketshare. Almost all of the most broadly appealing franchise fare — from Marvel to Avatar to Star Wars...

Plenty of A-listers have gotten their start in the world of horror, from Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th to Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun. But did you know that Bradley Cooper also starred in a horror film early in his acting career? He plays the lead role in Ryûhei Kitamura’s 2008 film Midnight Meat Train, an adaptation of Clive Barker’s 1984 short story of the same name.

In the film,

A struggling photographer meets the owner of an eminent art gallery in pursuit of a successful career. His obsession with uncovering humanity’s dark side as his debut project draws him to a serial killer who preys on late-night subway commuters.

Cooper plays that struggling photographer who quite literally goes into the belly of the beast searching for a new subject to impress his rich benefactor. I promise you have no idea where this film is going, and it is one wild ride.

Michael Groszkruger, the respected market research executive who spent more than two decades at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros., died Jan. 30 of complications from cancer in Portland, Oregon, his family announced. He was 60.

Groszkruger served as a vice president and head of research at New Line from 1997-2008, a period in which the studio released such notable films as Wag the Dog, The Wedding Singer, Magnolia, Love & Basketball and entries in the Lord of the Rings, Austin Powers and Rush Hour franchises.

“A lot of New Line’s success was due to Mike’s extraordinary ability to take research and distill the data into creative insights,” former New Line president of marketing Russell Schwartz said in a statement. “His instincts in marketing were unparalleled.”

Groszkruger segued to New Line sister studio Warner Bros. as vp market research in 2008 and helped market Harry Potter, Hobbit, Hangover and Clint Eastwood films,...

George Folsey Jr., the film editor and producer who collaborated with director John Landis on such films as Animal House, The Blues Brothers, Coming to America and An American Werewolf in London, has died. He was 85.

Folsey died Sunday in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia, his son, fellow film editor Ryan Folsey (Cabin Fever, Renfield), told The Hollywood Reporter.

His father was George J. Folsey, the famed 13-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer whose credits included The Cocoanuts (1929), Animal Crackers (1930), Thousands Cheer (1944), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Clock (1945), Green Dolphin Street (1947), Adam’s Rib (1949), Million Dollar Mermaid (1953), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Forbidden Planet (1956).

George Folsey Jr. also edited Shawn Levy’s Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and The Pink Panther (2006) and Eli Roth’s Hostel (2005) and Hostel: Part II (2007).

After cutting Landis’ directorial debut, Schlock (1973), Folsey edited the Landis-helmed The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), Animal House (1978), The Blues Brothers (1980) and Coming to America (1988), which he also produced.

Earlier this week, MPTF's fundraising telethon for entertainment industry members in need returned for its third year, raising $810,770 and exceeding the original goal of $750K.

Rob Morrow, Tom Bergeron and Lisa Loeb attend MPTF's Lights, Camera, Take Action! Telethon

Credit/Copyright: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for MPTF

Lights, Camera, Take Action! aired live on Ktla (Channel 5 in Los Angeles) on Sunday, December 8, with presenting sponsors City National Bank and UCLA Health leading the charge on the philanthropic endeavor. Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron returned as hosts and served as two of the producers for this uplifting, entertaining evening of stories, songs, and celebrities. Ktla’s Dayna Devon returned to host the live Celebrity Lounge, and Tiffany Smith hosted the Tote Board throughout the evening.

During the telethon, co-host Tom Bergeron said, “We have met so many amazing people who both serve at MPTF and are served by MPTF.

Last November, horror director Eli Roth surprised audiences with a slasher that was less sexy than expected. His film “Thanksgiving” still found a huge following — bringing in $46.5 million at the box office and securing itself a sequel for 2025. But when compared to Roth’s earlier cult favorites (think “The Green Inferno” or “Hostel II”), this R-rated effort from 2023 is decidedly lacking in one thing: nudity.

Now, a year later, Damien Leone has revolutionized genre indies by doing the opposite with his unrated… and, at times, unclothed… “Terrifier 3.” A bareback display of ultraviolence, the Christmas-themed sequel broke records in October — earning $88 million and briefly becoming the No. 1 film in the country. It also features what might be the most brutal shower sex scene ever made. So, what’s different?

“There’s no hard and fast rule to anything,” Roth said, speaking to IndieWire for the one-year anniversary of “Thanksgiving.” “You could...

Like any movie genre with hugely popular movies and franchises, there comes a time when the studios decide to revisit their existing IPs by remaking movies from their back catalog. The horror genre is no different, and while audiences often get some great remakes, such as 1982's The Thing, and The Fly from 1986, there are many horror remakes that would have benefited from a few changes.

There have also been some excellent modern horror remakes recently, such as the intoxicating Speak No Evil, plus hopes are high for Robert Eggers' upcoming Nosferatu. However, for every horror remake that lands a killer blow with audiences, and at the box office, there are other movies from the genre that would have been much better with a few tweaks. There's nothing wrong with remaking classic horrors, if they're remade with respect to the original.

Martyrs (2015) Directed By Kevin Goetz And Michael Goetz

When...

The 2024 Top 50 list ranks the top U.S. film schools, but there’s a big change this year.

The result is a new No. 1, with NYU Tisch School of the Arts edging past top dogs the AFI Conservatory and USC School of Cinematic Arts on the strength of its wide array of courses. Other schools that saw a significant jump include the University of Arizona, the University of Miami, the University of Colorado, and the for-profit, Manhattan-based schools New York Film Academy and the School of Visual Arts.

It’s the first time we’ve partnered with Screen Engine/Asi, a respected entertainment industry data research company, to create a more data-driven system for the rankings. The company, headed by Kevin Goetz, set out to find a less subjective way to consider each school’s strengths and weaknesses. To achieve this, they created a detailed survey and used the answers...

Ron Howard Is Special Guest On 50th Episode Of “Don’T Kill The Messenger” Filmmaking Podcast

Hosted by Kevin Goetz, Don’t Kill the Messenger celebrates its 50th episode with legendary filmmaker Ron Howard, available starting Wednesday, September 4th.

In this milestone episode, Howard shares his remarkable journey in becoming an acclaimed director, emphasizing his focus on storytelling and his collaborative approach. Showcasing the range of his illustrious career, Howard reflects on some of his most significant films, including "Apollo 13," "Parenthood," "A Beautiful Mind"—for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director—and his latest project, "Eden." He also explores his philosophy on maintaining artistic vision while always respecting the audience’s point of view.

“And as the filmmaker,” says Howard, “you're the keeper of the story-- you're the protector of that. But, when you start sharing it with an audience, the challenge is to understand what the questions are,...

Jessica Chastain has been set to receive the 38th American Cinematheque Award, with Oppenheimer producer Charles Roven to claim The Power of Cinema Award in a tribute to be held at The Beverly Hilton on December 6.

Chastain is the latest in a line of American Cinematheque Award honorees, going back to 1986. Helen Mirren claimed the prize in 2023, with Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johannsson, Spike Lee, Charlize Theron and Bradley Cooper also landing it in recent years. Established in 2021, the Power of Cinema Award honors an individual or organization whose actions through storytelling have advanced the significance and social relevance of film in today’s modern culture. Past honorees include Kevin Goetz & Screen Engine, Jason Blum & Blumhouse, Participant, Adam Aron/AMC Theatres, Dolby Laboratories, IMAX, Sue Kroll and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The awards ceremony is an annual fundraiser for the non-profit organization American Cinematheque, which continues its year-round programming at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica,...

The Greek provocateur seemed to be smiling throughout Oscar night. In the past he’d delivered films with titles like Dogtooth and The Lobster, and his newest, Poor Things, was now stockpiling the statuary even as Hollywood’s filmmaking elite looked on, perplexed.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ code-busting Poor Things was winning not only successive awards (four in all) Sunday but also the exuberant applause from an audience that seemed to welcome change. Even chaotic change.

Oppenheimer won the big prize on Oscar night, of course, but Oscar voters once again demonstrated their support for the product of the filmmaking underclass. The Scorsese-Spielberg-Ridley Scott fraternity looked on while dark horses like Lanthimos, or, a year earlier, the Daniels (Kwan and Scheinert) from Everything Everywhere All at Once, stole the action. Coda from Sian Heder was the surprise of 2022.

Does all this reflect a restive mood? “The power of Poor Things stems...

A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.

This week, Helen Mirren at the American Cinematheque Awards, the history-making connection between Godzilla Minus One and Stanley Kubrick, plus live on stage with Maestro and Anatomy of a Fall.

Helen Mirren got the royal treatment a queen deserves Thursday night from the American Cinematheque in a ceremony delayed by the actors strike but finally taking place right during crunch time in the Oscar race.

In my opinion, Mirren easily should have been in the Oscar Best Actress hunt for her stunning portrayal of legendary Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, but alas the summer opening (after an early 2023 Berlin premiere) and indie Bleecker Street’s limited campaign budget makes it hard to compete against particularly strong heavyweight competition this year.

I caught up with her last night at her table, right in the center of the action of course, at...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Madame Web, The New Look and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The 10-day festival toasted a star-studded group of honorees including Robert Downey Jr., Lily Gladstone, America Ferrera, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo, Martin Scorsese, Justine Triet, Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright.

Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Rob Lowe Greta Lee, Andrew Scott, Charles Melton, America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone and Da’Vine Joy Randolph Finneas and Billie Eilish Mark Ruffalo and Emma Stone Justine Triet and Martin Scorsese Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen Jeffrey Wright

Madame Web premiere

Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts,

Adam Scott and Zosia Mamet joined writer-director S.J. Clarkson at the Los Angeles premiere of their superhero film on Monday.

Celeste O’Connor,...

When Dame Helen Mirren took the stage at the Beverly Hilton to accept the 37th annual American Cinematheque Award on Thursday night, she began by reciting an elegant, if cliched, declaration of gratitude for her lifetime spent working in Hollywood.

“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and dear friends. I am deeply humbled, profoundly honored, to stand before you today accepting this extraordinary award,” Mirren said while reading from a large sheet of paper. “To be recognized for a lifetime devoted to the craft of acting is a privilege beyond words. First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the industry and the individuals who have supported me throughout this incredible journey. This has been a life filled with passion, challenges, and above all, an unyielding love for the art of storytelling.”

It was the kind of predictable lifetime achievement speech fare that award circuit veterans have heard far too many times,...

Helen Mirren was honored at the 37th annual American Cinematheque Awards on Thursday night, with a star-studded list of presenters on hand to celebrate the actress’ achievements both on screen and off.

Harrison Ford, Vin Diesel, Patrick Stewart, Bryan Cranston, Pierce Brosnan, Alan Cumming, Andrea Riseborough and Mirren’s husband Taylor Hackford toasted the star at the event, which is an annual fundraiser for the American Cinematheque that supports its programming at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz and Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

The award touched on the many highlights of Mirren’s career — most recently in Golda and as the narrator for Barbie — and her versatility on screen, as well as the impact she’s had on her co-stars.

Diesel — making his first public appearance since he was sued for alleged sexual battery by his former assistant in December — talked about the relationship...

Helen Mirren ripped AI to shreds while being honored Thursday night at the American Cinematheque Awards.

After being presented with the lifetime achievement award by her “Mosquito Coast” and “1923” co-star Harrison Ford at the Beverly Hilton gala, Mirren began to read her acceptance speech from a piece of a paper.

“Ladies and gentlemen and esteemed guests and dear friends, I am deeply humbled, profoundly honored to stand before you today accepting this extraordinary award. To be recognized for a lifetime devoted to the craft of acting is a privilege beyond words,” she said dramatically. “First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the industry and the individuals who have supported me throughout this incredible journey. It is has been a life filled with passion, challenges and above all, an unyielding love for the art of storytelling.”

Then she added, “And that was written by AI,” before...

The American Cinematheque rolled out the red carpet for this year’s American Cinematheque Awards ceremony honoring Helen Mirren, taking place Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton.

One of the Hollywood nonprofit’s biggest fundraising events of the year, tonight’s ceremony was originally set for November, before the SAG-afrta strike forced organizers to delay.

Mirren is the 37th recipient of the main honor, following Ryan Reynolds last year, Scarlett Johansson in 2021 and Spike Lee in 2020.

In addition to Mirren, the AC will also bestow its Power of Cinema Award (given to an individual or organization whose actions have advanced the significance and social relevance of films in today’s modern culture) to test-screening company Screen Engine and its founder and CEO Kevin Goetz.

Check out tonight’s arrivals below and get a peek inside the ballroom.

Helen Mirren’s American Cinematheque tribute has a new date.

The Cinematheque announced today that their annual awards show will now take place on Thursday, February 15, at The Beverly Hilton. The event was postponed from its original November 4 date due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

As previously announced, Mirren — who is getting awards buzz for her role as Golda Meir in Golda — will receive the 37th American Cinematheque Award. Kevin Goetz & Screen Engine will be honored with the Power of Cinema Award.

This is the annual fundraiser for the organization, with proceeds benefiting its classic, international and independent film programs at the Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Angeles, the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. A portion of the funds supports American Cinematheque’s commitment to diversified programming and audience reach, through engaging with Los Angeles County’s 88 school districts to broaden the AC Educational Screening Series.

It’s a shocker. In an unexpected move, the Writers Guild of America has pushed back its annual WGA Awards ceremony until April 14, 2024, a month after the Oscars, which will be held on March 10, 2024. The recently resolved WGA strike may have had some impact on this decision, in order to give members more time to fulfill the WGA submission process.

While it’s true that many animated, independent, and overseas productions are not WGA signatories and therefore are not eligible for WGA Awards, the late-breaking award winners are always a useful bellwether for a film’s eventual performance at the Oscars. It will mainly make Oscar predictions less clear.

Screenwriters recently liberated from strike jail have finally been able to talk about their projects, from Noah Baumbach (“Barbie”) to Eric Roth (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). They can still hawk their work on the films, and the February 21 WGA screenplay...

“The Bikeriders” is speeding away from its December 1 release date due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

While negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild and the AMPTP continue, “The Bikeriders” studios New Regency and 20th Century opted to shelve the feature for a later release date ahead of the marketing campaign. The film is now undated. Directed by Jeff Nichols, “The Bikeriders” stars Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook, and Norman Reedus as part of a fictional 1960s motorcycle gang. The feature has already screened at the Telluride Film Festival and Austin Film Festival, among other fall festival stops.

The hope is that “The Bikeriders” will succeed better — in terms of both box office and awards — once actors are able to promote the movie. The film’s AMPTP status prohibits participation in press.

What would have been the film’s December 1 weekend also marks the opening...

The 37th American Cinematheque Awards ceremony, originally scheduled for November 4, has been postponed. The decision, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, follows similar postponements by the Emmy Awards and AMPAS’s annual Governor’s Awards.

As talks between the Screen Actors Guild union and studio chiefs continue to stall, the American Cinematheque has not yet rescheduled the event. According to a press release, the new date “will be announced in the coming weeks.”

The organization added, “The American Cinematheque looks forward to rescheduling this event and appreciates the support from the community.”

Oscar winner Helen Mirren had been previously announced as the recipient of the fundraising gala’s American Cinematheque Award, while marketing guru Kevin Goetz & Screen Engine will be honored with the Power of Cinema Award.

Established in 1984, “The American Cinematheque Awards is an annual fundraiser with proceeds benefiting its critically acclaimed classic, international, and independent film programs. Additionally, a...

New date for event scheduled for November 4 will be announced in coming weeks.

American Cinematheque said on Tuesday it has cancelled this year’s American Cinematheque Awards due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

The new date for the annual awards ceremony, originally scheduled for November 4, will be announced in the coming weeks. Current ticket holders will be eligible to attend the American Cinematheque Awards once the new date is announced.

As previously announced Helen Mirren is the recipient of the 37th American Cinematheque Award and Kevin Goetz and Screen Engine will receive the Power of Cinema Award.

American Cinematheque...

This year’s American Cinematheque Awards event, which was set to honor Helen Mirren with its main honor, has been postponed due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

The event, originally scheduled for Nov. 4 in Beverly Hills, will be rescheduled, with a new date announced in the upcoming weeks. On top of Mirren being recognized as recipient of the 37th American Cinematheque Award, Kevin Goetz and Screen Engine are also set to be honored with the Power of Cinema Award, presented by Hill Valley.

The starry event, which typically features many appearances and tributes from the honoree’s A-list friends, highlights top moments from the star’s career, which would count as promotion of struck work and not be allowed during the actors strike. Previous American Cinematheque Award honorees include Eddie Murphy, Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, Tom Cruise, Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Steve Martin, George Clooney,...

Updated: The American Cinematheque awards, which was postponed last month due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, will now take place on Feb. 15.

Helen Mirren will receive the 37th American Cinematheque Award, with Kevin Goetz and Screen Engine set to be honored with the Power of Cinema Award, presented by Hill Valley. The annual awards ceremony, held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, was originally set for Nov. 4.

“Helen Mirren has won the Oscar, Tony and Emmy triple crown of acting, and is an unparalleled icon among actors. She has portrayed characters from queens to seductresses with a singular skill that has never lost its freshness or appeal,” American Cinematheque Board chair Rick Nicita stated. “She brings a savvy intelligence and emotional strength to all her roles because, as movie stars do, the camera shows us the essence of who they are. Movie audiences eagerly embrace her talents in a...

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After racking up over $1.4 billion at the global box office and sparking a cultural phenomenon that cannot be measured in dollars and cents, “Barbie” has become the year’s biggest success for movie theaters. Josh Goldstine, the marketing chief at Warner Bros., opened up about the marketing strategy that helped transform Greta Gerwig’s film into a worldwide sensation, including the iconic parody opening.

“You have this iconic brand that is both a reflector and creator of culture,” Goldstine said during the panel “Reel Resilience: Navigating the Theatrical Landscape in 2023” during TheWrap’s annual business conference, TheGrill, on Wednesday.

“There was such a fascination about what a ‘Barbie’ movie could be,” Goldstine continued. “Part of our job was to defy expectations and to use cultural curiosity about what this could be.

Visit https://podnews.net/update/comedy-podcasts for all the links, and to get our newsletter.

Media and entertainment company Global has released a report on advertising within comedy podcasts. 68% of listeners prefer host reads where it's clear that the host uses the product or service. On Air Fest has announced On Air LA Annex 2023, a four day festival presenting live podcasts in Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles. Did you make it into the Podcast Movement Denver highlights video? The Podnews Puppies did… Classifieds - your job or ad here...

Don’t Kill the Messenger, an Apple Top 100 podcast hosted by entertainment research expert Kevin Goetz, celebrates its one-year anniversary and its milestone 25th episode with special guest legendary studio executive, producer, and journalist Peter Bart.

Over the past year, “Don’t Kill the Messenger” has given listeners an insider’s look at the world of movie audience research and testing. Goetz has interviewed a diverse range of acclaimed Hollywood guests, including director David Leitch (Bullet Train), producers and former studio executives Amy Bear and Jon Glickman, thriller master producer Jason Blum, former studio chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos, and Academy Award-winning editor Billy Goldenberg. From directors, producers, and studio executives to editors, post supervisors, and writers, the show’s guests are some of the most prominent names in the industry.

For the special 25th episode, Goetz welcomes iconic studio executive and journalist Peter Bart. Bart shares fascinating stories from...

Barbie will own the conversation. No, Oppenheimer will be the summer’s “must see” movie. The July 21 face-off between those unlikely rivals hints at the imminent surprises of Summer ’23.

Everyone I meet claims to have the “inside” on coming hits or misses. Since big chips are on the table, I decided to hunt down the expert whose job it is to know.

Kevin Goetz, as CEO of Screen Engine, is the feared and revered guru of advanced analytics who is hired to test most of the movies hitting the theaters. Or TV screens.

As such he has dutifully dispensed his data, insights and, often, some proposed solutions to filmmakers and studio chiefs. Most are eager to hear them. Even if some resist taking action on them.

Yes, he buzzes data with Tom Cruise and shares intel with Ron Howard and Michael Bay. He may not with Chris Nolan, because the director of Oppenheimer,...

Kevin Goetz, Screen Engine to be honoured with Power of Cinema Award.

Helen Mirren will receive 2023 American Cinematheque Award on November 4 at Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

Mirren, who won the Oscar for The Queen in 2007 and has been nominated on three other occasions for The Last Station (lead actress) Gosford Park and The Madness Of King George (supporting), becomes the 37th recipient of honour.

Her credits include Excalibur, The Mosquito Coast, Cal, Red, The Duke, and Prime Suspect, Phil Spector and 1923 among others for television. She currently appears in Fast X and recently starred as Israel’s first...

Helen Mirren will receive the 37th American Cinematheque Award and Kevin Goetz and Screen Engine will be honored with the 2023 Power of Cinema Award.

The ceremony will take place Saturday, Nov. 4, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

American Cinematheque Board chair Rick Nicita said in his initial announcement, “Helen Mirren has won the Oscar, Tony and Emmy triple crown of acting, and is an unparalleled icon among actors. She has portrayed characters from queens to seductresses with a singular skill that has never lost its freshness or appeal.”

He continued, “She brings a savvy intelligence and emotional strength to all her roles because, as movie stars do, the camera shows us the essence of who they are. Movie audiences eagerly embrace her talents in a career that glows brighter with every captivating performance. The American Cinematheque is proud and honored to present Helen Mirren with the 37th American Cinematheque Award.

The American Cinematheque said Monday that Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Helen Mirren will receive the 2023 American Cinematheque Award, which will be bestowed November 4 at the Beverly Hilton during the nonprofit organization’s annual gala tribute.

The group also said that the 2023 Power of Cinema Award will be given to Kevin Goetz and his company Screen Engine, a leading global marketing and data analytics firm servicing the entertainment and media industries.

Mirren has been tapped to receive the 37th annual award, following previous honorees Ryan Reynolds last year, Scarlett Johnasson in 2021 and Spike Lee in 2020.

Mirren has four Oscar nominations in total, winning in 2007 for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. She also played the monarch on the stage, winning Tony and Olivier awards for The Audience in 2015. One of her two Emmys came from playing Elizabeth I in the 2006 HBO miniseries; she also won an Emmy for her...

The American Cinematheque has zeroed in on a recipient for its 37th prize: Helen Mirren.

The actress (and dame) is set to be feted on Nov. 4 during a ceremony that will also honor Kevin Goetz and Screen Engine with the Power of Cinema Award presented by Hill Valley. The American Cinematheque ceremony serves as the annual fundraiser for the nonprofit and helps buoy year-round programming at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz and Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

“Helen Mirren has won the Oscar, Tony and Emmy triple crown of acting and is an unparalleled icon among actors,” praised American Cinematheque board chair Rick Nicita. “She has portrayed characters from queens to seductresses with a singular skill that has never lost its freshness or appeal. She brings a savvy intelligence and emotional strength to all her roles because, as movie stars do, the camera shows...

In 2021, Paramount was testing a new movie called “Something’s Wrong With Rose” — a supernatural horror film about a therapist named Rose who loses touch with reality after witnessing a patient’s bizarre suicide.

Audiences at the research screening were responding enthusiastically to the scary movie, but studio executives noticed that they were stumbling over its name.

“Walking out of the theater, we were like, ‘We need a simpler title,’” remembers Marc Weinstock, Paramount’s president of global marketing and distribution.

One component in the story — the bone-chilling grins that slowly creep over the faces of victims — distinguished this horror film from others, and Paramount knew those scenes would frighten crowds in a big way. So they landed on “Smile,” a common word that took on a new, more sinister meaning after the studio’s inescapable, smirk-centric marketing campaign. The movie became a huge hit, to the tune of more than $200 million worldwide.

The nominees list for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Board of Governors has been revealed before its June 6-10 balloting.

The candidates are hoping to fill the open seats on the 54-member board. Up to four candidates are set for the open seat at each each branch, which carries three governors with staggered terms per branch.

Board members who have termed out include Academy president David Rubin (from the casting directors branch), Jan Pascale (production designers), Mark Johnson (producers) and Nancy Utley (PR).

Candidates vying for a seat include actress Marlee Matlin,  composer Hans Zimmer, and executive Toby Emmerich.

The slate faces some crucial tests once installed, including selecting a new Academy president and new CEO to replace outgoing Dawn Hudson. The Academy also must overcome perceptions created in a rocky year, with its Will Smith Oscars slap incident and the uproar over what categories would make it into the Oscars broadcast.

‘Joika’ First Look

Above is your first look at Joika, the pic inspired by the story of American ballerina Joy Womack, which stars Talia Ryder and Diane Kruger. Principal photography is underway on the movie in Poland. Joining the cast are professional ballet dancers including Oleg Ivenko, as well as Tomasz Kot, Charlotte Ubben, Natasha Alderslade, Karolina Gruszka, and Borys Szyc. James Napier Robertson wrote and is directing the movie, producers are Napier Robertson and Tom Hern’s Four Knights Film, Madants’ Klaudia Smieja-Rostworowska Belindalee Hope, and Paul Green. Embankment are representing international sales and co-representing domestic rights with UTA Independent Film Group.

Screen Engine/Asi Teams With Louis Chater

Exclusive: Market research firm Screen Engine/Asi has formed an exclusive strategic relationship in media and entertainment with Louise Chater to focus on building its global content and qualitative research business. Reporting to Se/Asi president Bob Levin, Chater will...

Author Kevin Goetz has been called “the doctor of audience-ology” for his innovative work in audience research. In his new Hollywood memoir Audience-Ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love, Goetz reveals the secretive process of audience testing in an enlightening and thoroughly entertaining way. I spent some time with Goetz to talk about

The post Kevin Goetz and “Audience-Ology” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

A man who made a career out of telling powerful people in Hollywood what they don’t want to hear is now telling everyone what that was like.

Kevin Goetz, founder and CEO of audience research firm Screen Engine/Asi, has written a book, “Audience-ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love,” with Darlene Hayman that looks back on three decades of using test screenings to help studios and other clients fix their films before release.

That often means he’s put in the position of informing Hollywood’s most prominent executives and creatives about what consumers don’t like about productions they’ve spent years of time and hundreds of millions of dollars working on under intense pressure.

Listen to the podcast here:

“I often feel like the doctor coming out and having to give the prognosis or the diagnosis, and you know, often it’s, ‘if you don...

Exclusive: LA-based market research and data analytics firm Screen Engine/Asi has acquired London-based outfit Tapestry Research as it looks to grow its global footprint.

Tapestry was co-founded in 2014 by Kevin Thompson and Ian Wright, both of whom will continue to lead the company as Joint Managing Directors. They will also join the Se/Asi management team as Executive Vice Presidents.

Tapestry is known for its work in segmentation, consumer decision journeys, market sizing and proposition testing, campaign contribution, and media and audience research for media, entertainment and tech companies. Going forward, the brand will operate as Tapestry Research, a Screen Engine/Asi Company.

Tapestry is the fourth acquisition by Se/Asi following the acquisition of TV research firm Asi in 2014. The Diffusion Group and ticktBox were acquired in 2019.

Se/Asi’s products for the media and entertainment sectors have included PostTrak, an in-theater exit polling service as a joint venture with Comscore; Net Tracker,...

Exclusive: Film Mode Entertainment has sold North American rights to horror-thriller They Crawl Beneath to Well Go USA.

Starring are Michael Pare (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Joseph Almani (Law of Attraction). Pic follows Danny (Joseph Almani), a young cop working on his uncle Bill’s (Michael Pare) classic vintage car on a secluded ranch when a major earthquake hits. Uncle Bill is crushed, and Danny becomes trapped under the car, creating a claustrophobic nightmare. The situation intensifies when something horrifying emerges out of the cracks in the ground that leaves Danny fighting for his life.

The movie is directed by Dale Fabrigar, produced by Suzanne DeLaurentiis, executive-produced by Kevin Goetz and co-executive-produced by Stephen Hornyak and Neil Goetz.

Film Mode is showing first-look footage to buyers during this week’s virtual AFM. Pic set for release in 2022.

“We’re very excited to team up with Fme to bring this film to North American audiences,...

Exclusive: Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment has beefed up its Cannes slate with a pair of acquisitions that will have their debut screenings at the fest’s 2021 market.

It Crawls Beneath is a horror-thriller from Dale Fabrigar. Michael Pare (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Joseph Almani (Law of Attraction) star in the story of a young cop working on his uncle’s classic vintage car on a secluded ranch when a major earthquake hits. Uncle Bill is crushed, and Danny becomes trapped under the car, creating a claustrophobic nightmare. The situation intensifies when something horrifying emerges out of the cracks in the ground that leaves Danny fighting for his life.

Pic is produced by Suzanne DeLaurentiis, Kevin Goetz, Neil Goetz and Stephen Hornyak, it is now in post-production. Film Mode has world-rights. Here’s a first look image:

Film Mode has also boarded world rights on Santaman, the family adventure film from Bret Stern.

The list of candidates for the 2020 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors election is now out, with the winner in each branch being chosen directly from these entries rather than whittling it down to four finalists in each, as has been done previously. The list of candidates is made up of qualified AMPAS members who actually submit themselves.

Also new this year in the streamlined timetable, as Deadline exclusively reported May 16. The winners for the 17 open slots on the 54-member board will be chosen by preferential balloting, just like Best Picture race at the Oscars. Voting begins Monday and ballots are due back June 5.

The actors branch is the largest in the Academy and it also has drawn the biggest field of contenders for the one spot that is up. Incumbent governor Whoopi Goldberg is running for re-election against past governor Ed Begley Jr. vying to return to the board.

Whoopi Goldberg will be facing 18 other actors who want her seat on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors, the Academy revealed to its members on Friday.

The Academy posted the list of candidates for the board from all 17 of its branches, with incumbent Actors Branch governor Goldberg going up against a slate of challengers that includes past governor Ed Begley Jr., as well as Richard Dreyfuss, James and Stacy Keach, Tim Matheson, Joe Pantoliano, Lou Diamond Phillips and Rita Wilson, whose husband, Tom Hanks, served on the board for many years.

Other branches whose contenders hit double digits included Cinematographers (12), Directors (13), Executives (12), Producers (16), Sound (10) and Visual Effects (10).

But the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch, in which incumbent Kathryn Blondell was ineligible to run again, has only a single candidate, Linda Flowers.

Also Read: Oscars Board Election Has New Rules - But Expect the Same Old Results

Blondell,...

The list of candidates for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2020-2021 Board of Governors has been unveiled to members.

Voting begins on June 1 and ends on June 5.

Candidates run for three-year terms with a maximum of three terms. Each branch has three seats on the board. Only one of those seats is open each year because terms are staggered.

The candidates were posted on the Academy members’ portal on Friday afternoon. Below is the complete list (divided by branch) of those running for spots on the board.

Actors

Michael Lee Aday

Ed Begley, Jr.

Robert Carradine

Nicolas Coster

Colman Domingo

Richard Dreyfuss

Spencer Garrett

Bruce Glover

Whoopi Goldberg (incumbent)

James Keach

Stacy Keach

Peter Wong

Jodi Long

Tim Matheson

Joe Pantoliano

Lou Diamond Phillips

Andrea Riseborough

Andrew Stevens

Rita Wilson

Casting Directors

Kerry Barden

Richard Hicks

Margery Simkin

Debra Zane

Cinematographers

Andrzej Bartkowiak

Richard P. Crudo

Svetlana Cvetko...

A new Screen Engine/Asi poll released Friday shows that even as large parts of the country are planning to reopen businesses, less than 10% of those polled would currently go to a concert, sporting event, or a movie theater.

Since the start of the pandemic on March 7, Screen Engine/Asi has released a weekly poll of tens of thousands of Americans who were asked about their feelings concerning the pandemic and its potential aftermath, with participants aged 13-64. For the week ending May 2, over half of all Americans surveyed said they are very concerned about the coronavirus, up 100% from when the question was asked eight weeks earlier.

Also Read: How Texas' Reopened Movie Theaters Suggest a Post-Pandemic Future (Video)

When also asked what they plan to do when the lockdown is lifted, only 5% said that they would go to sporting events, concerts and shows, while 7% said they would go to a movie theater.

Survey by Screen Engine/Asi finds most people in no hurry to return to events involving large public gatherings.

As a number of Us states relax pandemic restrictions and local chains reopen or prepare to do so, a new poll has revealed that only 7% of Americans say they are ready to return to theatres.

The survey by multi-platform entertainment market research company Screen Engine/Asi found most people are in no hurry to return to events involving large public gatherings, with 54% admitting they do not know when it will be safe to be in a crowd, and 36% asserting they plan to avoid large gatherings.

Exclusive: The operating environment faced by Hollywood is the most daunting of most people’s lifetimes, upending most assumptions about how the business functions.

One sometimes-overlooked but essential aspect of keeping film and TV titles moving through the pipeline, for example, is market research. But how are focus groups and test screenings supposed to happen in times of Covid-19?

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Screen Engine/Asi has developed a set of virtual research products designed to equip film and TV clients with the the information they need regarding consumer behaviors and attitudes.

“In this current climate of uncertainty, we found that most of our clients are looking for more consumer...

Movie theaters are one of the many sectors of the entertainment industry forced to shutter as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the country. With nowhere to showcase their films, some Hollywood studios opted to skip traditional theatrical releases (in the case of Universal’s “Trolls World Tour” or Disney’s “Artemis Fowl”) or launch early on home entertainment (as with Focus Features’ “Emma” and Sony’s “Bad Boys for Life).

To help analyze facts and figures from the temporary shift to digital, Screen Engine, a Los Angeles-based data and analytics company, is launching a weekly service that reports on how audiences are responding to premium video on demand content for major movies.

The virtual post-viewing data, titled PostVOD, will be an online survey of Pov consumers, measuring audience composition, viewing behaviors, motivators and levels of satisfaction.

“The current Covid-19 crisis is having a dramatic shift in the digital release of...

Exclusive: Entertainment research and analytics company Screen Engine/Asi said Friday that Jason Bubenicek has joined the company at Svp Data Intelligence. The market research veteran will be tasked with working alongside the company’s marketing science team to develop a data warehouse used to identify new product opportunities.

Bubenicek previously worked at National Research Group and as VP Information Technology at Nielsen Co. Most recently, he was Svp Information Technology & Software Development at the Stagwell Group, where he helped integrate Nrg after Stagwell acquired it in 2015.

In his new role he will report to Screen Engine/Asi president Bob Levin and chief product & innovation officer Bruce Friend.

“I have known Jason for many years and I am so happy to finally have him joining our team,” said Screen Engine/Asi founder and CEO Kevin Goetz. “I know of his many accomplishments and am sure he will prove instrumental in...

Screen Engine/Asi, a market research firm that specializes in focus-group testing of movies and TV pilots, has acquired ticktBox, which operates a digital marketing and ticketing platform used by movie distributors, exhibitors, and TV networks.

Terms of the deal, which closed Aug. 9, weren’t disclosed. With ticktBox, Se/Asi will have one of the largest databases of active moviegoers in the industry — comprising info on over 5 million unique consumers in the U.S. and Canada alone, according to Kevin Goetz, founder and CEO of Se/Asi.

“We have a lot more touchpoints we’ll be able to use. It makes the data we have even more valuable,” Goetz said. “We’re moving much more to [being] a big-data company.”

Customers of ticktBox include Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate, AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Amazon Studios and Netflix.

Founded in 2013, ticktBox operates two brands: the business-to-business ticktBox service; and Gofobo,...