News

CBS has put in development Sentinels, a drama from the Scorpion trio of supervising producer Rob Pearlstein and executive producers Nick Santora and Nicholas Wootton. CBS Television Studios, which is behind the CBS series, is the studio. Written and executive produced by Pearlstein, Sentinels share the sensibility of Scorpion as a light, action procedural. It centers on the world's worst news team who’s actually a cover for a secret government program that has highly…...

Recently, CBS dropped the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 11 of season 2. The episode is entitled, "The Old College Try," and it turns out that we're going to see some very high intense and interesting stuff go down as a hacker that's threatening to destroy the world economy, becomes the main focus for Team Scorpion's latest mission, and more! In the new, 11th episode press release: Team Scorpion Goes Undercover At A University To Find A Hacker Who Infiltrates The Federal Reserve And Threatens To Collapse The World Economy, On "Scorpion," Monday, Dec. 7. Press release number 2: Team Scorpion will go undercover at a university to find a hacker who infiltrates the Federal Reserve and will threaten to collapse the world economy. Guest stars feature: Peri Gilpin (Katherine Cooper), Kevin Weisman (Ray), Willie McGinest (Himself), Shanley Caswell (Dorie), Troy Doherty (Alberto), Scott Michael Morgan (Griggs), Jeff Galfer...

Recently, CBS released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 2 of season 2. The episode is entitled, "Cubra Libre," and it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting stuff go down as Homeland shows up on the scene while Walter and company head to Cuba, and more! In the new, 2nd episode 2 press release: Team Scorpion Heads To Cuba When A Woman From Cabe's Past Asks For His Help Catching A Serbian War Criminal. Press release number 2: Team Scorpion will head to Cuba when a woman from Cabe's past pleads for him to help catch a Serbian war criminal. Alana De La Garza will return as the new head of Homeland Security and Kevin Weisman guest stars are Walter's new friend, Ray, whom he meets doing his court-mandated community service. Guest stars feature: Alana De La Garza (Adriana Molina), Izabella Miko (Sonia), Kevin Weisman...

Recently, CBS released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 20 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "Crossroads," and it turns out that we're going to see very dangerous and intense stuff go down as the Scorpion peeps attempt to hide a witness from a deadly drug cartel, and more! In the new, 20th episode press release: To Protect A Key Witness En Route To Testifying Against A Deadly Drug Cartel, Team Scorpion Takes Her On The Run, With The Cartel Hot On Their Heels. Press release number 2: To protect a key witness who is en route to testifying against a deadly drug cartel, Team Scorpion is going to take her on the run, with the cartel hot on their heels. The episode was written by David Foster & Rob Pearlstein, and it's directed by Kevin Hooks. Episode 20 is set to air on Monday night, March 30th at 8pm central time on CBS.

Last night, CBS delivered the new promo/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 15 of season 1, and it gives us new looks at some pretty intense action as the Scorpion crew is seen arriving on the scene to stop a nuclear cyber attack dead in its tracks, and more! The episode is titled, "Charades.” In the new, 15th episode official synopsis: Team Scorpion will end up, getting tasked with uncovering a mole inside the CIA who is stealing deadly chemicals. Synopsis number 2: Team Scorpion will get tasked with uncovering a mole inside the CIA whose judgment is clouded by matters of the heart and is being coerced into stealing deadly chemicals. Also, in preparation for the case, Paige will give Walter a flirting lesson. The episode was written by Rob Pearlstein, and it was directed by Christine Moore. Episode 15 is set to air tonight, January 19th at 8pm central time on CBS.

Recently, CBS delivered the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 15 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "Charades," and it turns out that we're going to see some major action go down as the Scorpion crew tracks down a thieving mole in the CIA, and more! In the new, 15th episode press release: Team Scorpion will get tasked with uncovering a mole inside the CIA who is stealing deadly chemicals. Press release number 2: Team Scorpion is going to get tasked with uncovering a mole inside the CIA whose judgment is clouded by matters of the heart and is being coerced into stealing deadly chemicals. Also, in preparation for the case, Paige is going to give Walter a flirting lesson. The episode was written by Rob Pearlstein, and it was directed by Christine Moore. Episode 15 is set to air tomorrow night, January 19th at 8pm central time on CBS.

Recently, CBS dropped these 2,new sneak peek/spoiler clips (below) for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 12 of season 1, and they give us new looks Walter being incredibly swift and heroic to rescue a boy that's gotten trapped in a sink whole that developed all of a sudden. It's revealed that Drew is going to let Ralph down again to do his baseball thing, and more. The episode is titled, "Dominoes." The official description for episode 12, reads like this: "As Christmas approaches, Team Scorpion is going to end up, racing to find a way to save a young boy’s life after he gets trapped in a beachside cave and drowning is imminent." The episode was written by Rob Pearlstein and Nick Santora, and it was directed by Omar Madha. Episode 12 is set to air this Monday night, December 15th at 8pm central time on CBS.

Last night, CBS released the new promo/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 12 of season 1, and it give us a new look at a very intense Walter rushing in to save a young man from losing his life to overflowing waters. The only problem is, it looks like Walter could suffer the same fate too,and more! The episode is labeled, "Dominoes." In the new, 12th episode official plotline: " As Christmas approaches, Team Scorpion is going to end up, racing to find a way to save a young boy’s life after he gets trapped in a beachside cave and drowning is imminent." The episode was written by Rob Pearlstein and Nick Santora, and it was directed by Omar Madha. Episode 12 is scheduled to air on Monday night, December 15th at 8pm central time on CBS.

Recently, CBS delivered the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 12 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "Dominoes," and it turns out that we're going to see the Scorpion crew get caught up in a very intense life or death situation when they battle the clock to rescue a young lad from drowning, and more! In the new, 12th episode press release: "As Christmas approaches, Team Scorpion will race to find a way to save a young boy’s life after he gets trapped in a beachside cave and drowning is imminent. Press release number 2: As Christmas approaches, Team Scorpion is going to race to find a way to save a young boy’s life after he gets trapped in a beachside cave and drowning is imminent. The episode was written by Rob Pearlstein and Nick Santora, and it was directed by Omar Madha.

Lionsgate announced today that they are developing the feature film comedy Epic Fail . Nicky Weinstock and Ed Helms co-developed the original idea for the feature, which has Helms attached to star. In Epic Fail , an elite but highly unorthodox special forces team takes their dysfunction and excessive firepower on a desperate mission to save America, led by the only soldier more badass and more mustachioed than a Navy Seal, The Walrus. Helms, whose recent credits include The Hangover Part III and We're the Millers , can be seen coming up in David Wain's They Came Together , Rob Pearlstein's Someone Marry Barry , Joe Carnahan's Stretch and, as a voice, in the DreamWorks Animation project Captain Underpants . Mike Arnold and Chris Poole (best known for their Black List...

Tyler Labine has kept us laughing out loud throughout his career, both on the small screen with television shows like Reaper and in theaters with movies like Tucker & Dale Vs Evil. Now, he gets one of his biggest roles to date in writer/director Rob Pearlstein’s Someone Marry Barry.

In the film, Labine plays the title character, an obnoxious and politically incorrect man who seriously lacks a filter between mind and mouth. As much as his friends (including Damon Wayans, Jr., Hayes MacArthur and Thomas Middleditch) care about him, they have long since grown tired of his disgusting antics and decide to find him a wife so that she can deal with him instead. However, Barry ends up finding the love of his life on his own in Melanie Miller (Lucy Punch), a woman every bit his match.

Recently, we had the chance to sit down with Labine for...

In Someone Marry Barry, a trio of childhood friends scheme to find a wife for their socially inappropriate pal Barry (Tyler Labine). Damon Wayans Jr. and Lucy Punch also star. Watch our exclusive and hilarious deleted scene, which features these friends investigating the purchase of a mail-ordered bride for their friend Barry.

Someone Marry Barry opened in select theaters on February 7, and is now available to watch on iTunes, Cable VOD, and other digital outlets including Amazon Instant Video, Cable Movies On Demand, Google Play, Xbox Video, Sony Playstation, Cinemanow and Vudu.

Someone Marry Barry was released February 7th, 2014 and stars Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., Lucy Punch, Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Frankie Shaw, Amanda Lund. The film is directed by Rob Pearlstein.

Looking for a great gift for a movie buff?To celebrate the recent release of "Someone Marry Barry," toofab is giving away a special poster signed by Director Rob Pearlstein and several members of the cast!In this hilarious romantic comedy, a trio of childhood friends schemes to find a wife for their socially inappropriate pal Barry (Tyler Labine). Their plan completely backfires when his new girlfriend Melanie (Lucy Punch), turns out to be just like him. In addition to the signed poster, one lucky winner will also get a credit to watch the movie for free on iTunes.Don't miss out! "Someone Marry Barry" is in theaters now. For more information, check out the film's Facebook and Twitter pages.Click here for the official rules.  Read more...

To be fair, the sorta-raunchy rom-com "Someone Marry Barry" is shamelessly and unapologetically up front about how much it owes and rips off from the Judd Apatow oeuvre. And we're not just talking about the four-bros-with-women-and-life-problems premise. Whether it's nodding to the speed dating sequence from "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," or even the detail that the titular character lives off money he earned after falling into an open manhole (not unlike Seth Rogen's Ben from "Knocked Up" who received a settlement after his foot was run over by a mail truck), it's clear writer/director Rob Pearlstein—Oscar nominated for his 2004 short "Our Time Is Up"—has spent some time watching a very selective batch of movies. And as we saw last month with "That Awkward Moment," if you don't understand what makes Apatow's films work, the results can disastrous. And while "Someone Marry Barry" is missing some key ingredients,...

Check out the new restricted trailer for "Someone Marry Barry," starring Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., Lucy Punch, Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Amanda Lund, Frances Shaw and Wyatt Oleff. Here, a trio of childhood friends schemes to find a wife for their socially inappropriate pal Barry (Tyler Labine, “Monsters University”). Their plan completely backfires when his new girlfriend Melanie (Lucy Punch, “Bad Teacher”), turns out to be just like him. The raunchy comedy features Damon Wayans Jr. (“Happy Endings”) and Hayes MacArthur (“Bachelorette”). Rob Pearlstein wrote and directed the film which opens in theaters on February 7th.

Damon Wayans Jr. stars alongside Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch in Someone Marry Barry, a comedy written and directed by Rob Pearlstein, which production companies Josephson Entertainment, Madrose Productions, and Straight Up Films have announced will be released by digital entertainment curator FilmBuff, in theaters and across all leading Video On Demand platforms, starting on February 13, 2014, just in time for Valentine's Day! Described as a raucous comedy, Marry Barry... ... follows three friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be just like him, and...

The comedy directed and written by Rob Pearlstein opens in theaters on February 7th, followed by VOD and digital players on February 13th, including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Cable Movies On Demand, Google Play, Xbox Video, Sony Playstation, Cinemanow and Vudu. Starring in Someone Marry Barry are Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., Lucy Punch, Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Amanda Lund, Frances Shaw and Wyatt Oleff. In this hilariously raunchy new film, a trio of childhood friends scheme to find a wife for their social wrecking ball of a pal Barry (Labine, Monsters University). Their plan completely backfires when his new girlfriend Melanie (Punch, Bad Teacher), turns out to be just as inappropriate as him.

We've all had that one friend; the kind that's loved, socially awkward warts and all, within your own group, but who just doesn't really seem to fit in with the rest of the world. Someone Marry Barry is about that guy. It stars Damon Wayans Jr. and Hayes MacArthur as two friends who are trying to find someone to marry their dear, but weird, friend Barry (Tyler Labine). Enter Lucy Punch, who ends up being perfect for Barry, only she's no better off socially than he is. Someone Marry Barry marks the feature debut of Rob Pearlstein, whose first short film, Our Time Is Up, was actually nominated for an Oscar a few years back. It opens in select theaters on February 7, and will then be available on VOD platforms everywhere (iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, cable Movies On...

Read More...

ComingSoon.net has your exclusive first look at photos from Rob Pearlstein's romantic comedy Someone Marry Barry , opening in select theaters on February 7. The movie will be available on VOD and digital outlets on February 13 (iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Cable Movies On Demand, Google Play, Xbox Video, Sony PlayStation, Cinemanow and Vudu). In Someone Marry Barry , a trio of childhood friends schemes to find a wife for their socially inappropriate pal Barry (Tyler Labine, Monsters University ). Their plan completely backfires when his new girlfriend Melanie (Lucy Punch, Bad Teacher ), turns out to be just like him. The raunchy comedy also features Damon Wayans Jr. ( Happy Endings ) and Hayes MacArthur ( Bachelorette ).

Damon Wayans Jr. stars alongside Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch in Marry Barry, a comedy written and directed by Rob Pearlstein, which production companies Josephson Entertainment, Madrose Productions, and Straight Up Films have announced will be released by digital entertainment curator FilmBuff, in theaters and across all leading Video On Demand platforms, starting on February 13, 2014, just in time for Valentine's Day! Described as a raucous comedy, Marry Barry... ... follows three friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be just like him, and now the guys...

Josephson Entertainment, Madrose Productions, and Straight Up Films announced that digital curator FilmBuff will release the romantic comedy "Someone Marry Barry" in theaters and on VOD on February 13, 2014. Written, directed and produced by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rob Pearlstein (“Our Time Is Up”), the film stars Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., Lucy Punch, Hayes MacArthur Thomas Middleditch, Lauren Miller, and Joe LoTruglio. Equal parts irreverent and charming, "Someone Marry Barry" follows three childhood friends who plot to pawn off their socially inappropriate friend Barry on a woman. But when Barry finally meets the girl of his dreams, she turns out to be even worse than he is. "We are thrilled to be working with Rob on this hilarious and thoroughly original romantic comedy,” said Steven Beckman, FilmBuff’s Head of Content Partnerships, in a statement. “We fell in love with Barry and Mel and know that audiences will as...

Josephson Entertainment, Madrose Productions, and Straight Up Films announced today that digital entertainment curator FilmBuff will release the hilarious and irreverent romantic comedy Someone Marry Barry in theaters and on VOD on February 13, 2014.

Written, directed and produced by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rob Pearlstein (“Our Time Is Up”) the film stars Tyler Labine (Tucker and Dale vs Evil), Damon Wayans Jr. (The Other Guys, “Happy Endings”), Lucy Punch (Bad Teacher), Hayes MacArthur (Bachelorette, She’s Out of My League), Thomas Middleditch (The Campaign, “CollegeHumor Originals”), Lauren Miller (For a Good Time, Call…) and Joe LoTruglio (Superbad).

Someone Marry Barry is a raucous comedy following three childhood friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry (Labine) by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be even worse than he is, and now the guys have to deal with not one but two “Barrys.

Cinedigm has acquired all North American rights from TrustNordisk to Easy Money: Hard To Kill and Easy Money: Life Deluxe based on the bestselling books by Jens Lapidus. Separately, FilmBuff has acquired Someone Marry Barry.

The second and third instalments in the Easy Money Stockholm noir trilogy starring Joel Kinnaman that have drawn more than 1.2m Swedish theatre-goers.

Martin Scorsese presented the first episode to Us audiences last year and a remake is in development at Warner Bros with Zac Efron attached to star.

Cinedigm has set both films for release in 2014 across all platforms.

Fredrik Wikström Nicastro produced the films for Swedish production company Tre Vänner in co-production with Film i Väst, TV broadcaster Svt, Nordisk Film, Nordsvensk Filmunderhållning, Hobohm Brothers, Fantefilm, Network Movie & Zdf/Arte.

Production support comes from The Swedish Film Institute, The Norwegian Film Institute, Nordic film and TV fund in co-operation with C-more. Nordisk Film is...

Rhys Ifans and Lucy Punch are two major new additions to the cast of Peter Bogdanovich's Squirrels to the Nuts . The Hollywood Reporter brings word that they'll join Jennifer Aniston, Will Forte, Kathryn Hahn, Jake Hoffman, George Morfogen, Ahna O.Reilly, Austin Pendleton, Cybil Sheppard and Owen Wilson in the director's first theatrical film since 2001's The Cat's Meow (and the first he's written since 1990's Texasville ). The film follows a New York prostitute who, after doing business with a Broadway director (Wilson), takes to the stage. Ifans can be seen coming up in Susanne Bier's period drama Serena while Punch, who recently starred on Fox's "Ben and Kate," is now filming the Rob Pearlstein comedy Someone Marry Barry . An earlier iteration of...

Vol. I Issue 10 February 2013

Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.

As this last weekend approached I was faced with marking my Academy Award ballot. This process is always really difficult. How does one sort out the “best” film or accomplishment of five or nine in the case of the Best Picture? For me it has been over 30 years of screenings. Thousand of films. Some really great films and many not so great. I also try to think what it means to be one of the nominees. What was the off-screen story but always more importantly what their contribution was to the work and how the film compares to others. What’s great about short films is that they can be made for almost nothing by a few filmmakers without a large budget, crew or cast.

The Academy has three nomination categories for films less than 41 minutes in length: short fiction, documentary and animation. Once nominated, there are public screenings and panels to celebrate the nominated films at the Academy in Beverly Hills. A group photograph of all the nominees is taken with a large Oscar in the lobby of the Academy headquarters. It is really a wonderful experience.

It wasn’t always like that. There were no special celebrations for the short or documentary films until the l980s. While the Foreign Language films had their seminar, nothing was done for these films. We tried to remedy that in the 1980s and started the Direct Cinema receptions and screenings with UCLA, USC and, a few years later, the Ida sponsored “Docuday” and the Academy started doing an annual reception for the shorts and documentary filmmakers. Today the Academy’s evening receptions for the short films, animated features (a relatively new Oscar category) and the documentaries are annual sell-out events. The filmmakers and their works are celebrated and it has become a highlight of the Oscar week for the filmmakers and those associated with the films.

When I first became a member of the Academy the short films and animation branch was headed by a number of extraordinary talents: T Hee, Saul Bass and June Forey. These three remarkable artists represented classic Disney animation (T. Hee), fiction and narrative short films (Saul Bass), and the television and theatrical films (June Forey, who voiced hundreds of characters.)

Saul Bass articulated the branch’s membership policy, “We want them to be part of our branch.” This liberal interpretation allowed documentary filmmakers like Ken Burns as well as voice artists and creatives like Stan Friedberg (and June Forey) to be part of a group that included IMAX filmmakers as well as classic character animation directors, colorists, layout artists, producers and other key short film and animation filmmakers. The animation filmmakers represent both the studio animators and the independent animators who work globally doing personal work as well as studio work. Other governors from 1979 to the present have included Hal Elias, who served on the Academy board for 37 years and was a short film publicist for MGM among other things; Bill Littlejohn, who worked on over 90 films as an animator ranging from Charley Brown, Peanuts Christmas Specials to working with the Hubleys’; Bill Scott, who acted and wrote over a hundred animated films, and Carl Bell, who worked on over 35 films at Disney in its animation department.

Unlike most of the other branches, the Short Films branch screens all of the submitted films in 16mm and 35mm and now in Digital Cinema, in an effort to find and nominate the best short films produced in the world. The branch rules allowed films to qualify in an effort to encourage more international entries in the 1990s by taking a first prize at key festivals in addition to the method that all Academy films can use to qualify, a theatrical week long (now three day for shorts) run in a theater in Los Angeles County. Branch screenings were expanded to New York to permit more members to participate in the nomination process in the 1990s. The final short listed screenings are in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over one-third of the branch participates in the voting. The best change took place this year, sending DVD screeners to all Academy members of the short live action and animated nominated films. While this still won’t force members to watch them, members can’t claim they can’t see them. This is not only great for the branch but great for the nominated filmmakers. Who would not want to screen their short film for Academy members?

The process of the branch for selecting Nominees has remained unchanged for years—members screen the films in a theater rather than on DVDs, which is how the Documentary branch is dealing with the flood of feature docs and their unwillingness to trust committees. Nothing beats seeing films projected on a large screen with perfect sound and that is now lost. In a two step process, a committee (self selected from the branch membership) screens the films and the 15 films with the highest scores are short listed. The short listed films are then screened again and members vote.

The current Short Film Branch governors are Jon Bloom (pictured with the 2007 nominees), a 1983 fiction short nominee, filmmaker, editor and producer who chairs the branch, animator and Disney Creative Head and multi-Oscar winner, John Lasseter, and William "Bill" Kroyer,an award-winning director of animation and computer graphics commercials, short films, movie titles and theatrical films and faculty member Chapman College.

One of the challenges for the branch is how to grow live action producing members. With the addition of feature animation to the awards and the large number of feature animation films being released, the branch would like to have the most qualified animators to become members. The number of animators grows at a far faster rate than that of the live action filmmakers since only a few live action filmmakers can qualify for membership. The commercial success of animated features, the long production schedules and the large number of animators who work in qualifying positions allows for six plus individuals per picture to be eligible for membership. With five nominees a year, the number of individuals who can play a key role in two or three features becoming eligible for membership can easily approach 30 plus individuals annually. Add in the short animation nominees and competition for the limited new slots allocated to the branch can be brutal. The talent pool of animators is both astonishingly strong and suggests that Hollywood can easily double production from the 15 or so films made annually to 25 or 30 without having to compromise on talent.

Many of the filmmakers in the branch who make their Oscar nominated or winning live action short have made or are interested in making feature length works. A number of recent nominees or winners have made that transition. The following list looks at all of the live action nominees from 2001 to 2011, using the Internet Movie Database I looked up each nominee and listed what they reported they were doing professionally. Obviously, this is not intended to show everything. In each case, I listed credits or summarized credits shown in the IMDb listing.

Some observations about 11 years of Live Action Short Film Academy Award Nominees:

There were 86 nominations (out of a possible 110) This is because in some years only three films were nominated and in some cases only one filmmaker from a film was eligible for a nomination. Non-us based filmmakers dominate this category. Despite the huge number of short films being made annually in the Us, a majority of the nominated films come from filmmakers based abroad. In part this is due to the government subsidies available, but it is also due to the strong training programs, commercial support for the short films and a rich tradition of theatrical shorts. This year (2012) four of the five films in the live action category are from Us filmmakers. This is an unusual year. Few filmmakers have more than one nomination, only a handful of the nominees have made multiple Academy worthy short films. As one might expect, many of the filmmakers have continued their film work in television, some in features. The European Oscar winners (vs nominees) have done better at snagging features after a win than have their American counterparts. Again, this is likely a function of government support for entry features. Perhaps one of the short films seem to have been turned into a feature (or television) film. Some of the short films are intended to be sizzle reels for features, but it is not clear why so few of the nominated short films have been turned into features. A number of the Oscar winners have not continued working in film. No record of future productions are shown on IMDb. It would be interesting to see what they are doing now. Two of the Oscar winners have written critically award winning screenplays, one received two Academy Award nominations for his screenwriting. None of these nominees have gone on to win Oscars in directing or producing for feature films.

The data is from the Academy and the IMDb databases.

Apologies in advance, if credits were missed or other factual errors were made. In a week we’ll be able to add this year's winner.

2001 (74th)

Short Film (Live Action) (* won Academy Award)

*the accountant -- Ray McKinnon: Two Features: Randy and the Mob 2007 and Crystal 2004 Lisa Blount: Produced these features. Copy Shop -- Virgil Widrich Gregor's Greatest Invention -- Johannes Kiefer A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa) -- Slawomir Fabicki, Two Features: Loving 2012, Retrieval 2006 (Also wrote) Bogumil Godfrejow Has shot multiple features Speed for Thespians -- Kalman Apple, Shameela Bakhsh

2002 (75th)

Short Film (Live Action)

Fait D'Hiver -- Dirk Beliën, Anja Daelemans produced Comrade Kim Goes North I'll Wait for the Next One... (J'Attendrai Le Suivant...) -- Philippe Orreindy, Thomas Gaudin Inja (Dog) -- Steven Pasvolsky Feature, Deck Dogz Joe Weatherstone, produced episodic television. Johnny Flynton -- Lexi Alexander, directed 3 features: Lifted, Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans Alexander Buono as a Dp has shot series and features *This Charming Manon (Der Er En Yndig Mand) -- Martin Strange-Hansen, Mie Andreasen produced both features, series and documentaries.

2003 (76th)

Short Film (Live Action)

Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) -- Florian Baxmeyer Multiple television films and series Most (The Bridge) -- Bobby Garabedian, William Zabka Mr. Zabka has appeared as an actor in numerous films and television shows Squash -- Lionel Bailliu Features: Fair Play and Denis (in post) (A) Torzija [(A) Torsion] -- Stefan Arsenijevic Directed: Lost and Found, Love and Other Crimes, and Do Not Forget Me Istanbul *Two Soldiers -- Aaron Schneider,Asc (Cinematographer numerous credits) and feature, Kiss the Girls, Andrew J. Sacks Series The Closer (98 episodes) and Major Crimes.

2004 (77th)

Short Film (Live Action)

Everything in This Country Must -- Gary McKendry Directed Killer Elite, Joseph and the Girl Little Terrorist -- Ashvin Kumar Produced and Directed features (2) and documentaries (2) 7:35 in the Morning (7:35 de la Mañana) -- Nacho Vigalondo Directed and written multiple films, series, shorts Two Cars, One Night -- Taika Waititi, Acted and directed and written multi television and films Ainsley Gardiner Nz based producer of multiple shorts, television and feature films *Wasp -- Andrea Arnold Actor, director and writer of numbers films, television programs

2005 (78th)

Short Film (Live Action)

Ausreisser (The Runaway) -- Ulrike Grote Ms. Grote has acted in over 42 programs, features, television series and films Cashback -- Sean Ellis, Director/Writer Metro Manila, The Broken Lene Bausager Producer, The Broken, Ginger and Rosa The Last Farm -- Rúnar Rúnarsson, Director/Writer Volcano, Thor S. Sigurjónsson Produced multiple features Our Time Is Up -- Rob Pearlstein, Director/Writer multiple television and a feature Pia Clemente Producer, documentaries *Six Shooter -- Martin McDonagh Writer/Director Seven Psychopaths, In Bruges

2006 (79th)

Short Film (Live Action)

Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea) -- Javier Fesser, no other credits shown Luis Manso Produced multiple features Éramos Pocos (One Too Many) -- Borja Cobeaga Writer, multi films and television series Helmer & Son -- Søren Pilmark no other credits, Kim Magnusso Producer over 100 film, television films (4 Best Short Film Academy Award nominations) Won for Ernst & Lyset The Saviour -- Peter Templeman, no other credits Stuart Parkyn, Producer, multi-short film credits *West Bank Story -- Ari Sandel Director, one short, one documentary

2007 (80th)

Short Film (Live Action)

At Night -- Christian E. Christiansen, Directed, Features and television series Louise Vesth Producer, multi features Il Supplente (The Substitute) -- Andrea Jublin

*Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) -- Philippe Pollet-Villard Actor and director short films, a television film

Tanghi Argentini -- Guido Thys, Director, Multiple television series Anja Daelemans, nominated for 2 Short Film nominations (Gridlock, 2002) Producer/Pm various The Tonto Woman -- Daniel Barber, Directed The Keeping Room, Harry Brown Matthew Brown Produced 2 shorts

2008 (81st)

Short Film (Live Action)

Auf der Strecke (On the Line) -- Reto Caffi Manon on the Asphalt -- Elizabeth Marre, Director, Television series Olivier Pont Director, Television series New Boy -- Steph Green, Director Run and Jump Tamara Anghie Producer Run and Jump The Pig -- Tivi Magnusson, Producer Over 64 titles many short films, Dorte Høgh Writer multiple series, (Directed The Pig) *Spielzeugland (Toyland) -- Jochen Alexander Freydank Producer of multiple television series

2009 (82nd)

Short Film (Live Action)

The Door -- Juanita Wilson, Director As If I Am Not There James Flynn Multiple Producer credits for over 50 titles, television and theatrical Instead of Abracadabra -- Patrik Eklund, Director, Television film and feature Mathias Fjellström Kavi -- Gregg Helvey Miracle Fish -- Luke Doolan, Multiple credits as editor Drew Bailey Multiple credits as Assistant Director *The New Tenants -- Joachim Back, no other credits shown as a director, Tivi Magnusson This is Mr. Magnusson’s first Academy Award and second nomination. See 2008.

2010 (83rd)

Short Film (Live Action)

The Confession -- Tanel Toom The Crush -- Michael Creagh *God of Love -- Luke Matheny Feature Love Sick and multiple Television series episode Na Wewe -- Ivan Goldschmidt Wish 143 -- Ian Barnes, Multiple directing credits Television Samantha Waite Credits as production coordinator on multiple titles

2011 (84th)

Short Film (Live Action)

Pentecost -- Peter McDonald, Credits as actor Eimear O'Kane Credits as Producer on The Shadows and on television programs. Raju -- Max Zähle, Director, Television series Stefan Gieren Producer-Writer credit on feature film, Kunduz: The Incident at Hadji Ghafur *The Shore -- Terry George, Writer Two Oscar nominations for screenplays In the Name of the Father and Hotel Riwanda Producer and director on films and television series Oorlagh George Numerous credits as Assistant on features, documentaries and television shows Time Freak -- Andrew Bowler Writer and actor in a short film Gigi Causey Production manager, producer shorts, series and films

__________________________________________________________________________________

Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz

__________________________________________________________________________________

Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).

Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.

______________________________________________________________________

©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.

Sleeping With the Fishes

Steven Strait ("Magic City") will star in Nicole Gomez Fisher's indie drama "Sleeping With the Fishes." Strait plays the budding new love interest of the lead.

Gina Rodriguez plays a young woman who, after the death of her cheating husband, must return home to her dysfunctional, cross-cultural family. Shooting kicks off this month in Brooklyn. [Source: Variety]

The Butler

Liev Schreiber will play President Lyndon B. Johnson in Lee Daniels' "The Butler." The biopic follows Eugene Allen, a White House servant who worked for eight First Families.

Schreiber joins an impressive cast list that includes Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, Melissa Leo, James Marsden, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Redgrave and Alex Pettyfer. [Source: Deadline]

Someone Marry Barry

Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., and Lucy Punch have joined Rob Pearlstein's comedy "Someone Marry Barry" which began shooting this week in Los Angeles.

Principal photography has begun on .Someone Marry Barry,. a raucous comedy written and directed by Academy Award©-nominee Rob Pearlstein, starring Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans, Jr., Lucy Punch, Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Frankie Shaw and Amanda Lund. Producers are Josephson Entertainment.s Barry Josephson along with Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen, of Straight Up Films. Executive producers are Josephson Entertainment vice-president Alexander Young, Madrose Productions. Jeremy Bailer, and Marc H. Simon at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard Llp, who packaged the project.

.Someone Marry Barry. follows three friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be just like him, and now the guys have to deal with not one but two .Barrys.. Through their tribulations with this uncensored duo, the guys learn some truths about the nature of friendship and love.

Rob Pearlstein's guy-buddy comedy "Someone Marry Barry" has begun principal production, with Damon Wayans Jr., Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch heading up the cast. The film follows a trio of male friends who conspire to boot the socially inappropriate Barry (Labine) out of their extended buddy circle by marrying him off. But when Barry does find true love, his bride-to-be is as much of a weirdo as he is, and suddenly there are two "Barrys" to contend with. Ed Helms of "The Office" and "Hangover" fame and Lauren Miller (co-writer and star of upcoming sex comedy "For a Good Time, Call") also have supporting roles. Pearlstein received an Oscar nomination for his live-action short film "Our Time Is Up," and describes this new project as "a love story between the friends," and that "the funniest, most outrageous characters are often relegated to the role of sidekick... We’re bringing those.

Principal photography has begun on Someone Marry Barry, a raucous comedy written and directed by Academy Award-nominee Rob Pearlstein, starring Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., Lucy Punch, Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Frankie Shaw and Amanda Lund. Producers are Josephson Entertainment's Barry Josephson along with Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen, of Straight Up Films. Executive producers are Josephson Entertainment vice-president Alexander F. Young, Madrose Productions' Jeremy Bailer, and Marc H. Simon at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard Llp, who packaged the project.

Someone Marry Barry follows three friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be just like him, and now the guys have to deal with not one but two "Barrys." Through their tribulations with this uncensored duo, the guys learn some truths about the nature of friendship and love.

Damon Wayans Jr. will star alongside Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch in Someone Marry Barry, a comedy written and directed by Rob Pearlstein. Barry follows three friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be just like him, and now the guys have to deal with not one but two “Barrys. Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Frankie Shaw and Amanda Lund co-star in supporting roles. Principal photography on the project began yesterday, in Los Angeles. Barry Josephson, as well as Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen of Straight Up Films are producing. ...

Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., and Lucy Punch are starring in Someone Marry Barry, a comedy written and directed by Rob Pearlstein and produced by Barry Josephson. Hayes MacArthur, Thomas Middleditch, Frankie Shaw and Amanda Lund are also in the movie, which began production Monday in Los Angeles. Barry follows three friends who plot to get rid of their socially inappropriate friend Barry by finding him a wife. But when Barry finally meets a woman, she turns out to be just like him, and now the guys have to deal with not one but two “Barrys.” Josephson is producing

read more...

Musician John Legend is developing a new comedy project with NBC. The Grammy-winning singer will executive produce Mixed Blessings, according to Deadline. The project will focus on a popular hip-hop artist who finds his single life disrupted when he discovers that he has a secret teenage son. The potential series is loosely based on the childhood of Legend's fellow executive producer Mike Jackson. Medium's Rob Pearlstein will also serve as writer and co-executive producer on Mixed (more)...

Exclusive: After lengthy negotiations, NBC has closed a deal for Mixed Blessings, a single-camera comedy project executive produced by singer-songwriter John Legend and former NBC executive Teri Weinberg. Rob Pearlstein (Medium) will write and co-executive produce the comedy, which received interest from multiple networks before entering exclusive negotiations with NBC, reuniting Weinberg with the network where she served as Evp under Ben Silverman. John Legend and Mike Jackson are executive producing though their Get Lifted Film Co. and Weinberg’s through her Yellow Brick Road banner. Universal Television will produce. Inspired by Jackson’s childhood growing up in suburban Philadelphia, Mixed Blessings centers on a prominent, black, street-bred hip-hop artist enjoying his single life who discovers that he has a teenage son and decides to connect with him and his white suburban family. The show explores the culture clash and the complicated journey of a father and son beginning their...

Of course, when you see Ed Helms‘ name involved in some report, you already know that some comedy is coming.

This report is no exception, because we’ve just learned that The Hangover star will play the lead in Rob Pearlstein‘s upcoming project titled True North. And that’s not all.

Apparently he will also serve as an executive produce, and that definitely means this project deserves our attention, so let’s start.

Written by Pearlstein, True North will follow a workaholic father who slips into a two-year coma after suffering through a horrific plane crash.

Upon emerging from the coma, the once debonair man finds that he has undergone reconstructive facial surgery and looks nothing like his former self. He then must track down his family and reconnect with his former life.

As you already guess, Ed Helms is set to star as above mentioned workaholic father, which definitely sounds interesting.

Hot off his success in The Hangover Part II – which just broke the $500 million dollar mark globally – Ed Helms is already lining up new projects. Deadline says that the actor, who also appears on television’s The Office, will star in True North for Warner Bros. Based on a pitch from writer Rob Pearlstein, True North finds Helms playing an arrogant travel show host named Brian North. On a constant search for fame and celebrity, North spends more time traveling the globe than with his wife and kids. When his plane crashes in India, North spends two years in a coma – and wakes up to find that the world thinks he’s dead and that no one recognizes him thanks to his extensive reconstructive surgery. Apparently now clear on what’s important in life, he...

Read More...

Hot off his success in The Hangover Part II – which just broke the $500 million dollar mark globally – Ed Helms is already lining up new projects. Deadline says that the actor, who also appears on television’s The Office, will star in True North for Warner Bros. Based on a pitch from writer Rob Pearlstein, True North finds Helms playing an arrogant travel show host named Brian North. On a constant search for fame and celebrity, North spends more time traveling the globe than with his wife and kids. When his plane crashes in India, North spends two years in a coma – and wakes up to find that the world thinks he’s dead and that no one recognizes him thanks to his extensive reconstructive surgery. Apparently now clear on what’s important in life, he...

Read More...

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this morning. First up, Jodie Foster is apparently being eyed to star in Robert Schwentke’s adaptation of the Dark Horse comic R.I.P.D. Bloody Disgusting reports that Universal is keen on casting the actress in the role of Proctor. The film stars Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds as deceased lawmen who are a part of the “Rest In Piece Department,” a group that keeps things in line in the afterlife. Foster’s involvement has yet to be confirmed, and she’ll be shooting director Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium later this year so she may not be able to fit the film into her schedule. R.I.P.D. hits theaters on June 28th, 2013. Additionally, Warner Bros. is developing a comedy vehicle called True North with Ed Helms attached to star. Variety reports that Brian Grazer is producing the film, which centers on a...

Ed Helms is set to star in a new comedy from Academy Award-nominated writer and director Rob Pearlstein. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Helms will star in and serve as executive producer on True North, a new project successfully sold by Pearlstein and Image Entertainment. The film follows a workaholic father who falls into a coma for two years after a horrific plane crash, only to wake up and find that he looks completely different due to facial reconstructive surgery. Helms recently starred (more)...

The Hollywood Reporter says that writer/director Rob Pearlstein ("Medium") and Imagine Entertainment have sold a comedy pitch titled True North , that has Ed Helms attached to star and executive produce. The trade describes the project as follows: "It centers on a high-powered, workaholic father (Helms) who slips into a two-year coma after suffering through a horrific plane crash. Upon emerging from the coma, the once debonair man finds that he has undergone reconstructive facial surgery and looks nothing like his former self. He then must track down his family and reconnect with his former life." Helms-starrer The Hangover Part II has already made $495.9 million worldwide this summer.

Ed Helms has spent a few seasons on The Office as something of a minor character, one who would pop into a scene with a funny quip or have a nice character beat every few episodes, but not that much else. Now, he’s been moving up in stardom as of late, with his role on that show increasing in size and him landing big parts in features. He showed that he can lead a film without issue in Cedar Rapids, while he was even able to eke out a couple of laughs in Warner Bros.’ painfully unfunny The Hangover Part II.

Now, to further continue that ascent, Deadline reports that the actor is getting the lead role in an upcoming dramedy that was just pitched to the studio by writer Rob Pearlstein. Titled True North, the movie is centered on Brian North, a “pompous travel-show host” who has alienated...

Ed Helms has proven himself to be pretty bankable when starring in films that have the word Hangover in the title. Other efforts, from Cedar Rapids to The Goods, haven.t met the same levels of success. But Warner Bros., perhaps in an effort to say .thanks. for all of that Hangover money, is taking a gamble on The Office co-star that could pay off handsomely. The studio has purchased a film pitch from Rob Pearlstein that.s being fashioned into a Helms vehicle, Deadline reports. Titled True North, the story focuses on an arrogant travel-show host who.s stranded in India following a plane crash, forcing him to try and reconnect with his alienated family after years of isolation. So it.s like a comedic Cast Away, with Helms instead of Tom Hanks. I can get behind that. Helms is undergoing that strange balancing act of having to juggle...

Warner Bros. is developing a comedy-drama for Ed Helms called True North, Variety reports. The project is being produced by Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer. The studio picked up the pitch from Rob Pearlstein, and focuses on "a selfish talk-show host whose plane crashes, putting him into a two-year coma. When he awakens, he finds that his appearance has been surgically altered and then tries to track down his family to reconnect with his former life."

Helms stars on The Office, and appeared in both the Hangover films. He also starred in Cedar Rapids, which just was released on DVD/Blu-ray. In 2009 he  set up a comedy at Warners in which he would portray "a Civil War re-enactor accidentally transported back in time." Pearlstein is best known for his work on Medium and The Inside. He directed a short film called Our Time is Up, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Ed Helms has signed onto star in the comedy True North for Warner Bros. Pictures. Rob Pearlstein is writing the project, which Ed Helms will executive produce.

True North is the story of Brian North (Ed Helms), an obsessive travel show host who goes missing in India and is presumed dead. When he returns to New York two years later, after being in a coma and having undergone reconstructive surgery due to a plane crash that leaves him unrecognizable, North tries to reunite with his wife and two kids, who felt alienated by the workaholic before his disappearance and aren't quite ready to be accept that he is still alive. They'd rather he stayed gone, as they have clearly moved on.

There is no production start date set. Ed Helms will most likely shoot True North during his Christmas hiatus on Season 8 of The Office.

True North comes to theaters in 2012 and stars Ed Helms.

Exclusive: Warner Bros has acquired a feature film pitch from scribe Rob Pearlstein as a starring vehicle for Ed Helms, who is coming off the success of the studio's The Hangover Part II, which has just passed $500 million in global box office. Helms will also executive produce the project, which is being sheperded by Kim Roth, Erin Fredman and Anna Culp at Imagine Entertainment. Greg Silverman, Jon Berg and Andy Fischel will oversee for Warners. Brian Grazer will produce. Helms, repped by CAA and Principato-Young, next appears in Paramount's Duplass brothers film Jeff Who Lives At Home with Jason Segal and is one of the voices in Universal's The Lorax. He also will return in the fall for Season 8 of NBC's The Office. Update: Here's some details about the screenplay: The plot of the comedic drama, titled True North, centers on pompous travel-show host Brian North (Helms), whose obsessive pursuit...

Somewhere between his stints on the police procedural and legal drama television series K-Ville and Law & Order, Anthony Anderson found time to take take off his badge and take on the role of a recently laid off 30-something impersonating a four-year-old African adoptee for director Rob Pearlstein’s online series Matumbo Goldberg. The best part about the way Anderson plays the character is he makes sure Mark (the recently laid off 30-something) doesn't act the part. Mark is supposed to pretend he’s Matumbo, who’s supposed to be an infant Kenyan orphan, but aside from sporting a pair of jammies and chillin’ in a bed with a bed rail and in a bedroom with Thomas the Tank Engine decals, he acts like your average American man taking advantage of all the comforts better-off family members can provide. Mark/Matumbo’s able to pull off the charade due to a...

This year's five Oscar nominees for best live-action short film are available to buy on Apple's iTunes Music Store. Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures, which recently partnered to bring all 10 live-action and animated short film nominees to theaters before Sunday's ceremony, have teamed again to bring the live shorts to the Internet. The five available films are Ulrike Grote's Ausreisser (The Runaway), Sean Ellis' Cashback, Runar Runarsson's The Last Farm, Rob Pearlstein's Our Time Is Up and Martin McDonagh's Six Shooter.