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A couple of years ago, Kyra Elise Gardner – who happens to be the daughter of special effects artist and puppeteer Tony Gardner, who has been bringing killer doll Chucky (and Tiffany and Glen) to life for the last twenty years – took viewers on a journey through the Child’s Play franchise with the documentary Living With Chucky. Now, Deadline reports that Gardner has made her scripted feature directorial debut with the horror dramedy Slay, which also happens to be the feature writing debut of actor Jimmi Simpson.

Zoey Luna (The Craft: Legacy) and Aya Cash (The Boys) star in the film, which recently wrapped production. The story centers on seven high school seniors whose weekend of backstabbing turns literal. The cast also includes Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs), Malina Pauli Weissman (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Beck Nolan (Good Guy with a Gun), Reise Alexander (The Invisible Girl), River Alexander (The Way Way Back...

Director Kyra Elise Gardner — daughter of special effects legend Tony Gardner — has wrapped production on Slay, Deadline reports.

Written by actor Jimmi Simpson, the horror dramedy follows seven high school seniors whose weekend of backstabbing turns literal.

Zoey Luna (The Craft: Legacy), Aya Cash (“The Boys”), Shawnee Smith (Saw), Sean Giambrone (“The Goldbergs”), Maliina Weismann (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Beck Nolan, Reise Alexander, River Alexander (The Way Way Back), Talia Jackson (“Family Reunion”), and Ruby McCollister star.

“I wrote Slay about that moment in adolescence where you realize your friends know how to hurt you better than anyone else,” Simpson told Deadline. “Slay lives right there— but with sick music, jokes and stabbings.”

“I think horror, at its best, reveals what we can’t say out loud to each other,” Gardner added. “This movie let me explore that, not with cruelty but with character— through girls trying to be...

Exclusive: Zoey Luna (The Craft: Legacy) and Aya Cash (The Boys) have wrapped on Slay, a horror dramedy marking the scripted feature directorial debut of Kyra Elise Gardner and the feature writing debut of actor Jimmi Simpson.

Following seven high school seniors whose weekend of backstabbing turns literal, the film also stars Shawnee Smith, Sean Giambrone, Maliina Weismann, Beck Nolan, Reise Alexander, River Alexander, Talia Jackson and Ruby McCollister.

Producers include Gardner, Simpson, Harrison Rothman, Scott Foley and Bradley Sloan.

“I wrote Slay about that moment in adolescence where you realize your friends know how to hurt you better than anyone else,” Simpson told Deadline. “Slay lives right there— but with sick music, jokes and stabbings.”

Said Gardner: “I think horror, at its best, reveals what we can’t say out loud to each other. This movie let me explore that, not with cruelty but with character— through girls trying...

Exclusive: The Purge franchise architect James DeMonaco has crafted a personal film, which is an ode to cinema, based in his hometown of Staten Island, entitled This Is the Night and the Blumhouse release has a one-week theatrical run starting this Friday, Sept. 17 at Angelika’s Village East in New York City before hitting PVOD on Sept. 21 via Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

“I conceived this film as a love-letter to cinema. This is the Night is a passion project I’ve been waiting to make. A story based in my hometown of Staten Island, the film serves as a PSA: Movies bring us–people, families–together. There’s no time like the present to celebrate movies and how they inspire us,” DeMonaco tells Deadline.

“James has a real knack for prescient storytelling, and working with him on this picture – which is such a departure from our usual type of collaborations...

This is a charming trailer for an upcoming indie film called Please Stand By, which as you'll see, is inspired by Star Trek fandom. The movie tells the story of a young autistic woman played by Dakota Fanning who writes a 500-page Star Trek script for a writing competition. The film follows her as she embarks on a journey to hand-deliver the script in Hollywood. Here's a description of the story:

A young autistic woman runs away from her caregiver in order to boldly go and deliver her 500-page Star Trek script to a writing competition in Hollywood. On an adventure full of laughter and tears, Wendy, played with exquisite delicacy by Dakota Fanning, follows the guiding spirit of Mr. Spock on her journey into the unknown. "It is there for us to conquer, not to fear."

The movie also stars Toni Collette, Alice Eve, River Alexander, Marla Gibbs, Jessica Rothe,...

"Captain: there is only one logical direction in which to go - forward." Magnolia Pictures has unveiled an official trailer for an indie dramedy titled Please Stand By, from director Ben Lewin, who last directed the acclaimed film The Sessions. Please Stand By is a story of a young autistic woman who runs away from her caregiver and heads off to Hollywood. She is on the run because she wants to hand-deliver a 500-page Star Trek script to a writing competition in Hollywood. Dakota Fanning stars in this, with a full cast including Toni Collette, Alice Eve, River Alexander, Marla Gibbs, Jessica Rothe, Michael Stahl-David, and Patton Oswalt. This is one of those surprise didn't-know-this-existed films, but I'm very curious to see it, just sounds like something fun. Plus I love the quotes about light and the unknown, good stuff. See below. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Ben Lewin's Please Stand By,...

Magnolia Pictures has released the first trailer and photo for Please Stand By, which tells the epic story of one big Star Trek fan trying to get her story out into the world. The film had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival in October, while also screening at the Rome Film Festival and the Virginia Film Festival over the last few months. While this isn't exactly a Star Trek movie, it will be interesting to see how Star Trek fans spark to this unique story.

A young autistic woman runs away from her caregiver in order to boldly go and deliver her 500-page Star Trek script to a writing competition in Hollywood. On an adventure full of laughter and tears, Wendy, played with exquisite delicacy by Dakota Fanning, follows the guiding spirit of Mr. Spock on her journey into the unknown. "It is there for us to conquer,...

Toni Collette.

Toni Collette has joined the cast of Please Stand By, the next film from Australian director Ben Lewin (Seachange, Paperback Romance) after his critically-acclaimed The Sessions in 2012..

Collette joins River Alexander, her The Way Way Back co-star, as well as Dakota Fanning and Alice Eve..

Fanning plays .a brilliant young woman with autism who escapes her care home and embarks on a road trip of a lifetime: to enter her script into a Hollywood competition...

Collette will play her caregiver.

Embankment FIlms is handling international sales.

Boyhood and Whiplash? That’s old news! This year, let’s combine them for Boychoir. The first trailer for the film, directed by François Girard, hit the web on Tuesday. It stars Dustin Hoffman, Kevin McHale, Kathy Bates, Eddie Izzard, Joe West, Josh Lucas, and Debra Winger. Wareing plays Stet (as in Stetson), an 11-year-old Texan who’s sent to “the premier boy choir school in the nation” after the death of his single mother. He immediately fails to fit in — he’s a poor kid with behavioral issues, in a fancy school full of fancy people — but his vocal talents capture the attention of the sour Carvelle (Hoffman).

Boychoir seems to be a more sedated version of Whiplash with Hoffman playing the teacher that will be pushing Stet past him limits to make him the best singer in the choir. Hoffman looks strong in the role, but the overall...

Director Fran&#231ois Girard, known for his acclaimed films Silk, The Red Violin and Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, is back with an all-new drama this spring. Boychoir arrives in theaters this April, and is headlined by acclaimed actor Dustin Hoffman as a demanding vocal teacher. He is joined on screen by an all-star cast that includes Kathy Bates, Josh Lucas, Debra Winger, Kevin McHale, Eddie Izzard and River Alexander.

Boychoir follows Stet, a troubled and angry 11-year-old orphan from a small Texas town who ends up at a Boy Choir school back East after the death of his single mom. Completely out of his element, he finds himself in a battle of wills with a demanding Choir Master who recognizes a unique talent in this young boy. The man will push Stet to the breaking point, hoping the prodigy will discover his creative heart and soul in music.

Eddie Izzard, “Glee” star Kevin McHale, Josh Lucas and three-time Oscar nominee Debra Winger will join Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Bates in the indie drama “Boychoir,” it was announced Monday. Newcomers Garrett Wareing, Joe West and River Alexander have also been cast in the film, which Francois Girard (“The Red Violin”) is directing from an original screenplay by Ben Ripley (“Source Code”). Story follows Stet (Wareing), a troubled and angry 12-year-old from the wrong side of the tracks who ends up at a Boy Choir school, which is fashioned after the actual American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. Also read: Dustin Hoffman,...

Debra Winger, Eddie Izzard, Josh Lucas and Kevin McHale have joined Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Bates on the cast of Informant Media’s Boychoir, which commenced shooting in Connecticut this week (24).

Embankment Films handles international sales and has already closed more than 30 territories on the story of a troubled youngster who locks horns with a demanding choir master.

Newcomers Garrett Wareing, Joe West and River Alexander star as choristers following a worldwide casting call.

Francois Girard directs from a screenplay by Ben Ripley. Boychoir will also shoot in Stamford, Fairfield, New Haven and New York.

Informant Media’s Judy Cairo produces alongside Carol Baum and Jane Goldenring. Informant Media’s Michael A Simpson and Eric Brenner serve as executive producers with Ben Ripley.

Luke Bracey has joined Gerard Butler in Alcon Entertainment’s Point Break reboor, which Lionsgate International is pre-selling. Bracey will play the role of Johnny Utah, a young FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate...

In my other life, I teach 9th grade and the theme for the year is Coming of Age. It has become a major inspiration for movies, television, songs, and tons of books for the last century or two. As a result, it takes a lot to gain attention and have something fresh to say. The Way Way Back odes that by examining three different stages of coming of age, each a type you’ve seen before, but melded nicely into a satisfying blend.

The movie, out now from 20th Century Home Entertainment, tells the story of Duncan (Liam James), who is forced to accompany his divorced Mom (Toni Collette) on a summer away with her boyfriend, the quietly cruel and controlling Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter Steph (Zoe Levin). He’d rather be with dad, who is busy settling into a San Diego life with his new girlfriend. Instead,...

Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet, River Alexander, Zoe Levin, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Adam Riegler | Written and Directed by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Written and directed by the team of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who also wrote the screenplay to The Descendants, as a team) this film is one of those that only come around every so often, and when it does it feels special.

The Way Way Back is hard to explain because of its simplicity. It’s difficult to do the film justice by merely outlining the plot to someone who hasn’t seen it yet. It’s a coming of age story of a teenage boy during a summer break. He has to deal with his own personal changes, as well as his mothers’ passive aggressive boyfriend and his spoilt daughter, among other things.

  The Way Way Back (2013) Film Review, a movie directed by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash and starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet, River Alexander, Zoe Levin, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, and Adam Riegler. In a summer full of horrific heat [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: The Way Way Back (2013): Liam James Discovers Who He Is...

Review by Barbie Snitzer

The Way Way Back fell way way short of my expectations which I don’t think were unreasonably high: a 7.5 (out 0f 10) rating on the internet movie database, good word of mouth, and being written and directed by the Oscar-winning screenwriters from the very good The Descendants.

Were the directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who both appear in the movie and display obvious comedic talent, to read my review, they would hopefully consider it constructive criticism, rather than an outright pan. Save for their talent, this movie could very easily find its final resting place in the just another summer movie discount bin.

The movie’s title could easily be misconstrued to refer to an earlier era, i.e. “way way back- in time” since the musical selections are from the early to mid-1980s. But that’s not what the title is referring to.

Watch the first trailer for Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's The Way, Way Back which stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, AnnaSophia Robb and Liam James. The comedy opens on July 5th, 2013, and also includes Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Robert Capron, Amanda Peet, River Alexander and Zoe Levin. During a vacation in a Northeast beach town, a lonely teenage boy, Duncan (Liam James), comes into his own over the course of a summer through an unlikely friendship with the manager of a local water park (Sam Rockwell). Duncan’s mother, Pam (Toni Collette), alienates her young son through her determined efforts to make her relationship work with her carousing boyfriend (Steve Carell) whose disingenuous attempts to build a family are immediately transparent to Duncan.

Watch the first trailer for Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's The Way, Way Back which stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, AnnaSophia Robb and Liam James. The comedy opens on July 5th, 2013, and also includes Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Robert Capron, Amanda Peet, River Alexander and Zoe Levin. During a vacation in a Northeast beach town, a lonely teenage boy, Duncan (Liam James), comes into his own over the course of a summer through an unlikely friendship with the manager of a local water park (Sam Rockwell). Duncan’s mother, Pam (Toni Collette), alienates her young son through her determined efforts to make her relationship work with her carousing boyfriend (Steve Carell) whose disingenuous attempts to build a family are immediately transparent to Duncan.

Emma Booth has been cast in ABC‘s drama pilot Gothica. Set in the present day, the ABC Studios/Mark Gordon Co. project weaves together a mythology that incorporates the legends of Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. It centers on journalist Grace Van Helsing (Janet Montgomery) who takes over her family’s hometown newspaper. Booth plays Victor Frankenstein’s (Tom Ellis) wife Madeline Usher. Several child actors have landed lead roles in pilots. Benjamin Stockham of NBC‘s 1600 Penn has been cast in the network’s single-camera comedy pilot About A Boy, which follows the relationship between Will (David Walton), a bachelor man-child who is going through a revolving door of women, and the young boy (Stockham) who moves in next door with his kooky single mother, Fiona (Minnie Driver). I hear the casting, which is in second position to low-rated 1600 Penn, ruffled some feathers at 20th TV,...

The Office‘s Angela Kinsey has joined Fox’s comedy pilot The Gabriels, TVLine has learned.

From Justin Hurwitz (The League) and Andre Gurland, the prospective series follows an introverted, neurotic Wisconsin family that lives in a community of over-sharers.

Kinsey comes aboard the project as Gail Gabriel, the therapist wife of Rob Riggle’s leading man. Not unlike the actress’ longtime Office alter ego, this character has a knack for making people feel pretty awful about themselves — only on The Gabriels she’ll be be impacting her patients, not her co-workers.

Related | Your Complete 2013 Pilot Season Guide: Get the...

The Descendants writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are back with a new project, this time directing as well. The Way, Way Back is a coming-of-age comedy about a teenager (Liam James) who takes a summer job at a water park to get away from his mother (Toni Collette) and step-father (Steve Carell). There, he befriends the park's manager, played by Sam Rockwell. We have a first look photo from the upcoming film, which seems to show Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell in a confrontation while the others look on.

The Way, Way Back comes to theaters in 2013 and stars Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Liam James, River Alexander. The film is directed by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash.

The Way, Way Back has rounded out its cast, adding Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet and Maya Rudolph. The film already features an all-star lineup of Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Liam James and Sam Rockwell.

The comedy follows a teenage boy (Liam James), who forms a friendship with a local water-park manager (Sam Rockwell). In one summer's time, this new friend helps him come face to face with his abusive stepfather (Steve Carell) and repair his relationship with his mother (Toni Collette).

The Descendants writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are directing the project, as well as playing a pair of water park employees.

The film begins shooting next week in Massachusetts.

The Way, Way Back comes to theaters in 2013 and stars Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Liam James, River Alexander. The film is directed by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash.