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Writer-producer duo Jules Bruff and Alethea Root have set a partnership with Guerrilla Rep Media for sales of their award-winning feature film “Good Side of Bad.”

The film, directed by Root, looks at the everyday challenges and realities of living with schizophrenia for both the sufferer and their family as well. In the film, when a young photographer has a severe mental break, her siblings come together to help her heal.

The film’s starring cast includes Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Tess Harper, Bruff (“Zodiac”), Lexi Simonsen (“S.W.A.T”), Alex Quijano (“The Fabelmans”), Myles Grier (“Lethal Weapon”), and Emmy winner Kim Estes. Root and Bruff previously collaborated on “Part Time Fabulous.”

The deal was negotiated by Carol Contes for the producers and Ben Yennie of Guerrilla Rep Media. Yennie, who was initially introduced to the film at the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience where it won best narrative feature and Root best director,...

Veteran TV exec, producer and entrepreneur Cris Abrego can add another line to his growing list of titles: Chairman of the Television Academy. Abrego was elected to the post on Thursday night by the org’s Board of Governors, as the TV Academy also firmed up its roster of officers and governors for the board’s 2024-2025 term.

Abrego is the chairman of the Americas at global production company Banijay, and also recently partnered with Eva Longoria to launch Hyphenate Media Group, where he serves as CEO. At the TV Academy, Abrego will begin his two-year term as chairman on Jan. 1.

“I am honored to step into this role and feel the significant weight of responsibility in leading the Television Academy into the future, especially in this transformative moment in our business,” Abrego said in a statement. “Our members represent one of the most powerful and exciting industries in the...

"We need to talk about Florence..." An early promo trailer has debuted for an indie drama titled Good Side of Bad, the latest film from filmmaker Alethea Root. This recently premiered at the 2023 Dances with Film Festival this month, hence the trailer landing now to build up the hype. When a young photographer has a severe mental break, her siblings come together to help her heal. Lexi Simonsen stars as Florence, who returns home to her family to try to reconnect with them despite their struggles with mental illness. The film is adapted from the book of the same name written by Beverly Olevin. "With insight and empathy, Olevin explores the mysterious world of mental illness... and the tangled ties of family." Also starring Jules Bruff, Alex Quijano, Tess Harper, Kim Estes, and Myles Grier. This looks like yet another powerfully honest story about how challenging it is to deal with mental illness,...

The teaser for ABC’s The Company You Keep episode eight shows Emma warning Charlie the family can’t just keep going around committing random crimes. The promo video also shows Emma’s warning isn’t having the intended effect on the Nicolettis. Episode eight, “The Art of the Steel,” will air on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 10pm Et/Pt.

The season one cast is led by Milo Ventimiglia as Charlie. Catherine Haena Kim plays Emma, William Fichtner is Leo, Tim Chiou is David, Freda Foh Shen is Grace, James Saito is Joseph, Sarah Wayne Callies is Birdie, Felisha Terrell plays Daphne, and Polly Draper is Fran Nicoletti.

“The Art of the Steel” Plot: Daphne tries to use Charlie to help Patrick get out of jail. Elsewhere, Emma partners with Birdie when Leo gathers his old friends around to con a man who lost their pensions years ago.

Milo Ventimiglia in...

Exclusive: Bria Samoné Henderson (The Good Doctor), Stakiah Lynn Washington (Primo), Tonya Pinkins (Red Pill), and Kim Estes (Dexter) have joined the cast of Angel City, the debut feature from filmmaker Noel Braham.

Braham, who is also head of LA’s growing Micheaux Film Festival, penned the screenplay and will direct with Courtney L. Branch producing and Mario Contini set as director of photography. Sherri Martin, Dale Martin, Hadassah McGrew, and Michael Knapp serve as executive producers. Principal photography is set to begin in Los Angeles in April.

The film’s full synopsis reads: Angel City follows the journey of Ace, an optimistic rideshare driver in Los Angeles with big dreams of becoming a star. Obsessed with finding his big break, he grapples with the looming specter of homelessness, struggling to make ends meet, and his determination is put to the ultimate test when he’s suddenly evicted from a hostel.

The made-for-tv movie was a programming staple for the broadcast networks in the 1970s and 1980s. While it fell out of favor in the 1990s and was even dropped as an Emmy Awards category for three years beginning in 2011, it has been on an upswing as of late. This year, 48 telefilms are in contention for the five nominations that will be revealed on July 12; last year, only 41 TV movies were submitted.

All 22,000 plus voting members of the TV academy have until June 27 to cast their 2022 Emmy Awards nominations ballots for their favorite TV movies. In the past, voters were limited in the number of telefilms that they could put forth. In 2017, that cap (which was usually 10 per category) was lifted. And, as opposed to the Oscars, voters for the Emmys do not rank their choices and nominees are determined by a simple tally.

See 2022 Emmy nominations ballot: 2,800 performers vie for...

Exclusive: Martha Kelly (Euphoria) and Scarlet Envy (RuPaul’s Drag Race) will star alongside Natalie Palamides (Nate – a One Man Show), Bob Clendenin (Scrubs), and newcomer Eve Donnelly (Chad) in the short film Only Worn Once, which is heading into production this month.

The film from writer-directors Claire Downs and Brenden Gallagher centers on recent divorcée Darcy (Kelly)and her daughter (Palamides), who sell Darcy’s used wedding dress on the internet to an 18-year-old (Donnelly) getting married to a much older man. When Darcy’s ex, Don (Clendenin), discovers the sale, a fight ensues. Phil Rosenberg is producing.

Kelly is repped by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners; Envy by King’s Queens Entertainment and My Best Judy; Palamides by ICM Partners and Archetype; Clendenin by Artists & Representatives and Insight; Donnelly by 3 Arts; Downs by Quattro Media; and Gallagher by Art/Work Entertainment.

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Exclusive: Andrew Chappelle (Blindspotting) and Devere Rogers (Honk for Jesus.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective

Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Emmys Hub

To see old predictions and commentary,...

Television Academy chairman/CEO Frank Scherma, whose first two-year term turned into three due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been re-elected to lead the organization for two more years. Scherma is part of the roster of newly elected officers and members on the Academy’s Board of Governors who were tapped on Thursday to serve starting Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023.

Scherma, the president and co-founder of RadicalMedia, hails from the commercials and producers peer groups. Joining him in key leadership positions are vice chair Sharon Lieblein (from the casting directors peer group); second vice chair Rickey Minor (music), secretary Allison Binder (professional representatives) and treasurer Ann Leslie Uzdavinis (commercials).

Scherma will continue to work closely with TV Academy president/COO Maury McIntyre to shape the TV Academy’s direction. Scherma’s first term was rocked by the pandemic and its impact on two years of Emmy Awards. But also under his...

Frank Scherma has been re-elected for a second term as Chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, which announced its newly elected board and governors for 2022-23 today.

Joining Scherma, who’s from the Academy’s Commercials and Producers peer groups, for two-year terms starting January 1 are Vice Chair Sharon Lieblein (Casting Directors), Second Vice Chair Rickey Minor (Music), Secretary Allison Binder (Professional Representatives) and Treasurer Ann Leslie Uzdavinis (Commercials).

The Academy noted that a record 41% of those elected are new to its boardroom, including two governors representing the newly created Science & Technology Peer Group.

Here are the 25 newly elected board members and their peer groups:

Anya Adams (Directors)

Kaz Aizawa (Animation)

Wendy Aylsworth (Science & Technology)

Edward H. Bonin (Special Visual Effects)

Shannon Buck (Public Relations)

Nikki Carbonetta (Makeup Artists/Hairstylists)

Sherri Chung (Music)

Ana Criado (Motion & Title Design)

Nicole Demerse (Writers)

Nena Erb (Picture Editors)

Kim Estes (Performers)

Scott A.

"My professor is missing..." Integrity is opening this B-movie direct-to-vod next week if you want to watch it - Final Frequency, directed by the filmmaker Tom Lowry. A PhD student ties unusual tremors to rogue scientists, who will weaponize Nikola Tesla's secrets and cause massive earthquakes, if they can only find his lost notebook. The sci-fi thriller indie film follows a band of misfits as they work to thwart rogue scientists who are using Tesla's most secret formulas to create the "Mother of all Earthquakes" and collapse downtown Los Angeles during the G-20 World Summit. Described as a "fast-paced and fun adventure inspired by the legend of Nikola Tesla's lost journals." This looks as terrible as it sounds, but that's exactly what makes it an entertaining B-movie. I guess...? The film stars Kirby Bliss Blanton, Lou Ferrigno Jr., Richard Burgi, Charles Shaughnessy, Kim Estes, and Nicolas Alexandre. Try to...

Michael K. Williams is the odds-on favorite to win the Best Drama Supporting Actor Emmy for “Lovecraft Country,” leading with 9/2 odds. If he does, it’d be a historic moment because no Black performer has won that category yet. Not only that but Best Drama Supporting Actor is the only acting category remaining that has never anointed a Black winner.

Even the short form acting categories, which were added in 2016, have crowned Black champs — Kim Estes (“Dicks”) and Laurence Fishburne (“#FreeRayshawn”) won actor in 2017 and 2020, respectively, and Jasmine Cephas Jones (“#FreeRayshawn”) nabbed actress last year. Best Drama Supporting Actor has existed since the Emmys established genre-specific acting categories in 1970. It became the sole acting category not to have a Black champ following Viola Davis‘ Best Drama Actress victory for “How to Get Away with Murder” in 2015.

In total, 11 Black men have accrued 20 nominations between them in the category. Last year,...

SAG-AFTRA will launch a week-long virtual event aimed at addressing and combating discrimination and intolerance in the entertainment and media industries. The series of presentations, which will begin on Tuesday and run through Friday, will assemble a number of key figures including Olivia Munn, Richard Lui and Brian Tee.

“Stop the Hate Week” will include panels, conversations and key notes led by SAG-AFTRA members, broadcasters, academics, labor leaders and professionals to discuss how to advance equality on screen, in production, recording studios and news rooms. Nightline anchor Juju Chang and Kgo-tv San Francisco anchor and reporter Dion Lim will join Munn, Lui and Tee to discuss how entertainment and media can help combat anti-Asian hate.

“The buck stops with each of us. Through our highly visible work, people who work in entertainment and the media, our members, have an opportunity to change hearts and minds and build a more equitable and fair society,...

The Best Drama Supporting Actor Emmy category as we know it was established 50 years ago and in that time, it has never seen a black winner — the only remaining long-running category without one. And that unfortunate drought looks like it’ll continue this year if our odds prove to be correct.

Our predicted six nominees are Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”), Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”), Kieran Culkin (“Succession”), Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) and Tom Pelphrey (“Ozark”). Banks’ co-star Giancarlo Esposito, who was nominated last year, is the first black predicted nominee in ninth place, behind also Matthew Macfayden (“Succession”) and Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”). Wendell Pierce (“Jack Ryan”) is next in 11th, trailing Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) in 10th.

Esposito is one of 11 black performers who’ve reaped 18 drama supporting actor nominations between them since the Emmys established genre-specific acting categories in 1970. He was first nominated in 2012 for “Breaking Bad,...

The Fyc Independents Screenings will take place Friday, May 31 in Van Nuys, Calif, Variety has learned exclusively.

Formerly the Fyc U.S. Independents, this evening of screenings and schmoozing with talent from series such as the CW’s “All American,” Netflix’s “Atypical” and Starz’ “Vida” is thrown by actress and producer Meredith Thomas to increase visibility of supporting, guest and short form actors.

“I’m driven to help independent talent and creators get much needed attention of TV Academy voters during a time when studios are spending millions on Fyc mailers and hosting extravagant events,” said Thomas. “I want to level the playing field so great work can be seen and recognized.”

The lineup of actors whose Emmy eligible work will be showcased include Kristos Andrews (Amazon’s “Class Act”), Wendy Braun (“Atypical”), Elena Campbell-Martinez (“Vida”), Michael Campion (Netflix’s “Fuller House”), Kim Estes (Vimeo’s “Dicks”), Ren Hanami,...

Jonathan Banks might finally win an Emmy for playing Mike Ehrmantraut — but in a category not many of us expected: Best Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Actor.

As Gold Derby exclusively revealed, in addition to submitting Banks in his usual category of Best Drama Supporting Actor for “Better Call Saul,” AMC is also entering him in the short form actor race for “Madrigal Electromotive Employee Training,” a “Better Call Saul” companion online series that is also being submitted for Best Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. The show (watch above) features Mike offering tips and sharing his wisdom to new Madrigal employees. “Madrigal” is the second season, if you will, of “Saul”‘s online training series; the first, “Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training,” which starred Giancarlo Esposito‘s Gus Fring and aired alongside Season 3, won Best Short Form Comedy or Drama Series in 2017.

That bodes well for Banks, as...

Stars: Madeline Zima, Mischa Barton, Naomi Grossman, Grant Bowler, Debra Wilson, Maria Olsen, Adam Huss, Tate Birchmore, Kim Estes, James Logan, Nicole Reddinger, Anthony Ma | Written by Giles Daoust | Directed by Roxy Shih

After an idyllic afternoon spent with his son, Dr Clarke (Adam Huss) is called to an emergency at the hospital. The two head off on their journey, and we’re treated to a Twilight zone reference which made me lose my tiny mind. Big fan. A fatal accident then occurs, resulting in his Son’s death. Upon awakening in the hospital and hearing this, he becomes enraged beyond human measure. Unable to diagnose the phenomena, Dr Clarke is left to find his own way of dealing with the pain.

Discovering that the consumption of human blood eases the eliminates his constant agony, an unexpected jump if you ask me but we’ll go with it, he embarks...

Melvin Jackson Jr. is nominated for Best Short Form Actor at the Emmys for playing himself in “This Eddie Murphy Role is Mine, Not Yours,” on which he also served as co-writer, executive producer and casting director. It was actually the potential for Emmy recognition that finally spurred Jackson to make the web series, having conceived of the project three years ago. “I told my friends, ‘Hey, I want to shoot this and submit it for Emmy consideration,’ because last year, a friend of mine — Kim Estes — won in the same category,” he explains in an interview with Gold Derby (watch the exclusive video above).

SEEour interview with Jackson’s wife Kelly Jenrette.

“It was going to be a short film and […] it’s better to watch it all the way through, but of course, for the purpose of Emmy consideration, I had to cut it up into six episodes,...

Awards Daily TV has your 2017 Creative Arts Emmy winners in ceremonies held over two nights, September 9 and 10. Refresh frequently for updates. Here are your 2017 Creative Arts Emmy winners for Sunday night.

“Modern Family” favorite Ty Burrell scored a bonus Emmy nomination this year in the race for Best Short Form Actor, for “Boondoggle.” Will Burrell take home his third career trophy this year, or might one of his competitors — Kim Estes (“Dicks”), John Michael Higgins (“Tween Fest”), Jason Ritter (“Tales Of Titans”), Ben Schwartz (“The Earliest […]...

Watch the trailer for Shervin Youssefian's Crossroad drama, starring Philip Bulcock, Kim Estes and Sean Galuszka. The Spot on Media release can be seen on DVD and VOD from March 12th, 2013. Fueled by revenge, Michael sets up a meeting with Clef Robie, the man who murdered his wife and child 6 years ago. His plans of killing him come to a standstill when two gunmen rob the diner. Michael takes matters into his own hands when he shoots them and holds the entire diner hostage until he kills his target. Youssefian makes his feature-length directorial debut on the project which also includes Amy Weber, Matt Jones, Nathan Reid, Bryna Weiss, Ben Corns, Sarah Dale, Larry Marko, Jasmine Jade, Robert John Brewer, Olivia Dunkley, Tess Hunt and Brittany Ganiere.

Watch the trailer for Shervin Youssefian's Crossroad drama, starring Philip Bulcock, Kim Estes and Sean Galuszka. The Spot on Media release can be seen on DVD and VOD from March 12th, 2013. Fueled by revenge, Michael sets up a meeting with Clef Robie, the man who murdered his wife and child 6 years ago. His plans of killing him come to a standstill when two gunmen rob the diner. Michael takes matters into his own hands when he shoots them and holds the entire diner hostage until he kills his target. Youssefian makes his feature-length directorial debut on the project which also includes Amy Weber, Matt Jones, Nathan Reid, Bryna Weiss, Ben Corns, Sarah Dale, Larry Marko, Jasmine Jade, Robert John Brewer, Olivia Dunkley, Tess Hunt and Brittany Ganiere.

Chanel Ryan has a lot going on and definitely one to be on the look out for! The model/actress will soon be seen in several upcoming horror projects including Bad Kids Go To Hell (we talk about that) and more. She's every geeks dream girl, smart and as funny as she is pretty and then some, plus she loves Brian Shirley's Crocaloctopus and I like that a lot! Check out my newest crush and latest Versus with actress Chanel Ryan.

Brian  S- Ok, you started out modeling and have ended up acting. How did you get into acting?

Chanel Ryan- This is true. At the time I had done a couple of modeling jobs and was having dinner at my friends Traci & Stephi"s house.  We lived close to the beach so had just come in and were still in our swimsuits.  Their older sister was a...

Show the results of your latest headshot session to two of your closest friends and you'll often get two diametrically opposed reactions. When it comes to headshots, everyone seems to have a strong opinion. But it's the opinion of the industry that counts. So Back Stage recently asked an agent, a manager, and three casting directors to comment on two photos from their files — headshots that "popped" and made these insiders want to learn more about the people behind the portraits. It's All in the Smile New York casting director Laura Verbeke was looking for an edgy young man for the HBO series The Flight of the Conchords and came upon Carl K. Li's headshot. It had the precise vibe she was seeking. "I think he's looking confident in the photo," she says, "but I also see a sense of quirkiness." Even his decision to wear a shade of red...