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Spoiler Alert: This post contains details from the first five episodes of Ghosts Season 4.

Four seasons in and the ghosts at Woodstone Mansion are still finding new shenanigans to get themselves into.

Thursday’s episode of CBS’ Ghosts saw Alberta (Danielle Pinnock) help Sam (Rose McIver) prepare to audition for a local musical, overcoming her stage fright and fulfilling a decades-long dream of being front and center on stage. All the while, Trevor (Asher Grodman) and Sasappis (Román Zaragoza) are trying to make a move on one of the women in the theatre troupe, which doesn’t go so well considering, well, they’re dead.

But, Sas finds a glimmer of hope when he encounters the woman in Jay’s (Utkarsh Ambudkar) dream and convinces himself that he’s found a loophole. That is, until he starts talking about how much they have in common, and Trevor and Pete (Richie Moriarty...

The teaser for CBS’s Ghosts season four episode four reveals Isaac is about to (literally) let his hair down. Plus, Trevor has apparently taken a job…even though he’s a ghost. Directed by Katie Locke O’Brien from a script by Sophia Lear, episode four – “Work Retreat” – will air on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 8:30pm Et/Pt.

“The Work Retreat” Plot: Trevor, who has catfished his way into a remote financial analyst job, is in hot water when he’s summoned to a mandatory in-person work retreat. Also, Hetty and Sass start a rumor about Pete.

Rose McIver stars as Sam, Utkarsh Ambudkar is Jay, Brandon Scott Jones is Isaac, and Richie Moriarty plays Pete. Danielle Pinnock is Alberta, Asher Grodman is Trevor, Román Zaragoza stars as Sasappis, Rebecca Wisocky plays Hetty, Devan Chandler Long is Thorfinn, and Sheila Carrasco is Flower.

Rose McIver as Samantha and Asher Grodman...

CBS’s Ghosts season four episode three is all about Halloween and will actually air on the spookiest night of the year. Episode two found Patience (Mary Holland) inadvertently helping Sam reconnect with her dad, and episode three finds Patience once again playing an important role in the events at Woodstone Mansion.

Directed by Katie Locke O’Brien from a script by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, episode three – “Halloween 4: The Witch” – will air on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 8:30pm Et/Pt.

Rose McIver stars as Sam, Utkarsh Ambudkar is Jay, Brandon Scott Jones is Isaac, and Richie Moriarty plays Pete. Danielle Pinnock is Alberta, Asher Grodman is Trevor, Román Zaragoza stars as Sasappis, Rebecca Wisocky plays Hetty, Devan Chandler Long is Thorfinn, and Sheila Carrasco is Flower.

“Halloween 4: The Witch” Plot: The ghosts, seeking some excitement during a low-key Halloween, join Patience in putting Sam on a witch trial.

Diana Naser’s “Amplified,” Adam J. Graves’ “Anuja,” Nina Gantz’s “Wander to Wonder” and Ben Proudfoot’s “The Final Copy of Ilon Specht” have qualified for Academy Awards in the short-film categories by winning the top awards at the 20th annual HollyShorts Film Festival, which took place this week in Hollywood and held its awards ceremony on Sunday night.

HollyShorts is one of about 150 Oscar-qualifying festivals whose top winners automatically become eligible for Oscars in the three shorts categories. It is one of only 15 festivals that qualifies as many as four films for Academy Awards.

“Amplified” won the Best Short Film Grand Prize, the festival’s top award. “Anuja” took the award for live-action short, “Wander to Wonder” for animated short and “The Final Copy of Ilon Specht” for documentary short.

Ben Proudfoot, the director of the last of those films, is the reigning Oscar champ in the Best Documentary Short category,...

The Emma Roberts comedy has also sold to Germany, Latin America and other markets.

Vertical has bought North American distribution rights to Cannes market comedy Hot Mess, set to start shooting early next year with Emma Roberts starring.

Sales company Mister Smith Entertainment has also sealed distribution deals for the project with Idc for Latin America, Capelight for Germany, Ascot Elite for Switzerland and Nordisk for Scandinavia. The company says it is closing deals for other major territories.

Currently in pre-production, the film is written by Gabrielle D’Amico and will be the feature directing debut of Katie Locke O’Brien. Roberts will play Laurel,...

Exclusive: Vertical has snapped up North American rights out of Cannes to Hot Mess, a new comedy starring Emma Roberts (Madame Web) which is in pre-production for a shoot early next year.

The film repped internationally at Cannes by Mister Smith Entertainment has also already locked in distribution agreements with Idc in Latin America, Capelight in Germany, Ascot Elite in Switzerland and Nordisk in Scandinavia, with deals for other major territories in closing discussions at present.

Hot Mess marks the feature directorial debut of Katie Locke O’Brien, whose 2018 short film Have It All was a finalist for HBO’s Insider Comedy Short Challenge and a semi-finalist of the NBC Short Film Competition. Written by Gabrielle D’Amico, the film follows Laurel Mack (Roberts), who, after imploding in the worst way possible on a wildly popular American dating show, must do the ultimate walk of shame…back to her hometown. Having failed...

The 2023 Cannes market runs May 16-24.

Screen is rounding up the key packages launched before and during the 2023 Cannes market (which runs May 16-24).

Refresh the page for latest updates.

May 16 ’The Salt Path’

The feature debut of acclaimed theatre director Marianne Elliott stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs portraying the real-life couple who trekked 630 miles of UK coastline after being kicked out of their home. Black Bear are distributing in the UK.

World sales: Rocket Science

’The Rule Of Jenny Pen’

Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow star in James Ashcroft’s thriller as a conceited judging and a psychopath...

The ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike casts a cloud over what otherwise promises to be a solid Cannes film market. Most buyers and sellers came out of Berlin this year “cautiously optimistic” as the (partial) resurgence of the theatrical market alongside a slowly but steadily growing digital ancillary business offers reason to believe reports of the death of the indie industry — widespread in the wake of the Covid theater shutdowns — have been greatly exaggerated.

“I see the investment by Amazon and Apple TV in the theatrical business as a real positive,” says David Garrett of Mister Smith Entertainment, “because it shows they recognize the real value of the theatrical experience.” Amazon’s success with Ben Affleck’s sports-marketing biopic Air, which grossed upwards of $80 million worldwide in theaters before going out online, bodes well for the upcoming rollout of Apple’s Cannes title Killers of the Flower Moon from Martin Scorsese,...

Los Angeles, May 9 (Ians) Hollywood actress Emma Roberts, who is known for “Paradise Hills” and “Billionaire Boys Club”, is set to headline the comedy “Hot Mess”.

The movie marks the feature directorial debut for film and TV helmer Katie Locke O’Brien. The project was written by Gabrielle D’Amico and is produced by Debbie Liebling, Maggie Malina and Laura Lewis, reports ‘Variety’.

Currently in pre-production and scheduled to start shooting in early 2024, Mister Smith Entertainment will launch its international sales at this month’s Cannes market. Lewis at Rebelle Media is representing North American rights.

An official synopsis for the film, accessed by ‘Variety’, reads: “After imploding in the worst way possible on a wildly popular American dating show, Laurel Mack (Roberts) must do the ultimate walk of shame… back to her hometown.

“Having failed to win love on the show, Laurel finds herself living in her quirky parents’ basement, without any friends,...

Mister Smith will launch international sales on the title

UK sales outfit Mister Smith Entertainment has boarded Katie Locke O’Brien’s debut feature Hot Mess starring Emma Roberts and will launch international sales in Cannes.

The US comedy is currently in pre-production and is scheduled to start shooting in early 2024.

Rebelle Media is handling North American rights on the title.

After an unsuccessful stint on a dating show, Roberts’ character is forced to move back in with her parents in her hometown and rediscover herself again. The script was penned by Gabrielle D’Amico.

Hot Mess is produced by Debbie Liebling,...

Emma Roberts is set to headline the comedy “Hot Mess.”

The movie marks the feature directorial debut for film and TV helmer Katie Locke O’Brien. The project was written by Gabrielle D’Amico and is produced by Debbie Liebling (“South Park”), Maggie Malina (“Resort To Love”) and Laura Lewis (“Mr. Malcolm’s List”).

Currently in pre-production and scheduled to start shooting in early 2024, Mister Smith Entertainment will launch international sales at this month’s Cannes market. Laura Lewis at Rebelle Media is representing North American rights.

An official synopsis for the film reads: “After imploding in the worst way possible on a wildly popular American dating show, Laurel Mack (Roberts) must do the ultimate walk of shame… back to her hometown. Having failed to win love on the show, Laurel finds herself living in her quirky parents’ basement, without any friends, constantly bumping into the miserable ex the whole town adores, and...

Emma Roberts is set to star in comedy Hot Mess, which David Garrett’s Mister Smith Entertainment is launching at the Cannes Market next week.

The project marks the feature directorial debut of Katie Locke O’Brien, whose 2018 short film Have It All was a finalist for HBO’s Insider Comedy Short Challenge and a semi-finalist at the NBC Short Film Competition.

Hot Mess, which is written by Gabrielle D’Amico, follows Laurel Mack (Roberts) who, after imploding in the worst way possible on a wildly popular American dating show, must do the ultimate walk of shame…back to her hometown. Having failed to win love on the show, she finds herself living in her quirky parents basement, without any friends, constantly bumping into the miserable ex the whole town adores, while experiencing the constant mockery of all who witnessed her public meltdown. She embarks on a hilarious and heartfelt journey to discover self-love and,...

American Horror Story actress Emma Roberts is set to star in the new comedy Hot Mess, playing a woman whose personal life implodes on a TV dating show who has to take the ultimate walk of shame back to her hometown.

TV director Katie Locke O’Brien (Ghosts, Blockbuster) will helm Hot Mess in her feature debut from a script by Gabrielle D’Amico. Debbie Liebling (South Park, Plus One), Maggie Malina (Resort To Love), and Laura Lewis (Mr. Malcolm’s List, Tell Me Lies) are producing. Currently, in pre-production, Hot Mess is set to begin principal photography in early 2024.

Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales and will launch the project at the Cannes film market next week. Laura Lewis at Rebelle Media is representing North American rights.

Roberts, who will appear alongside Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney in the upcoming Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web, will play Laurel Mack (Emma Roberts), a...

The HBO Original comedy special Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder, written and performed by comedian and actress Atsuko Okatsuka, debuts Saturday, December 10 at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Directed by Tig Notaro, Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder reveals a burgeoning talent with an unparalleled blithe charm as she expertly peels back the layers of her upbringing, talking to strangers, and the pitfalls of being born.

Logline: In her first HBO stand-up comedy special, comedian and actress Atsuko Okatsuka brings her brand of ingenious, offbeat storytelling to the Elsewhere stage in Brooklyn, New York where she dishes on the futile art of impressing teenagers, attending a “Magic Mike Live” show with her grandmother, and the alarming reactions that she and her husband had to the unwanted presence of an intruder.

Credits: Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder is written, performed, and executive produced...

When I discovered Disney+ had a sequel miniseries in the works for the "Santa Clause" Christmas movie series, dread stirred deep in my inner being. So far, I did not have much luck with these properties: "Home Sweet Home Alone" was painfully unfunny, while the "Diary Of A Wimpy Kid" 2021 animated reboot was inconsequential and — dare I say? — boring (a fatal flaw in any kids' film). I had come to accept that Disney+ was where the 20th Century Studios franchises went to die. Thankfully (if surprisingly), that does not appear to be the case for "The Santa Clauses" miniseries — at least not based on the two episodes provided for review.

"The Santa Clauses" is a direct sequel to the beloved "Santa Clause" trilogy. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), aka Santa Claus, is nearing his 65th birthday, and it's clear the Christmas magic is starting to wane. This leads him and his wife,...

Stars: Randall Park, Melissa Fumero, Olga Merediz, Tyler Alvarez, Madeleine Arthur | Created by Vanessa Ramos | Directed by Payman Benz, Aleysa Young, Katie Locke O’Brien, Jackie Clarke

Timmy Yoon is an analog dreamer living in a 5G world. And after learning he is operating the last Blockbuster Video in America, Timmy and his staff employees (including his long time crush, Eliza fight to stay relevant. The only way to succeed is to remind their community that they provide something big corporations can’t: human connection.

Ah, Blockbuster. I genuinely miss going to my local store every other weekend to rent the newest video game, and spending the entire week playing it and having the time of my life before the dreaded day when I ultimately had to return the game in the little metal door outside the building. There was something special about Blockbuster Video that nearly everyone seems to miss.

Click here to read the full article.

Once upon a time in cities across the U.S., one of the most popular destinations on a Friday or Saturday night, aside from the multiplex, was the local Blockbuster.

Though it has long since been replaced by streaming, the rental chain, which went belly up more than a decade ago, once held prime spots on the weekend social calendars of families, couples, teens, gamers and solo movie-lovers as the place to peruse the shelves and pick out a VHS or DVD to take home — temporarily.

“I would spend all of Friday night in a Blockbuster because I could never decide what movie to get,” Randall Park recalled to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday before heading into the world premiere of his new Netflix series Blockbuster at Tudum Theater in Hollywood. “I was one of those guys who would be there for hours...

CBS’s Ghosts gets into the Halloween spirit with a spooky seance on season two episode five. Directed by Katie Locke O’Brien from a script by Kira Kalush, episode five – “Halloween 2: The Ghost of Hetty’s Past” – is set to air on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 8:30pm Et/Pt.

Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar return as Samantha and Jay, the living residents of the mansion. Reprising their roles as the resident ghosts are Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac, Richie Moriarty as Pete, Danielle Pinnock as Alberta, and Asher Grodman as Trevor. Román Zaragoza stars as Sasappis, Sheila Carrasco plays Flower, Rebecca Wisocky is Hetty, and Devan Chandler Long plays Thorfinn.

John Hartman, Tristan D. Lalla, Carolyn Taylor, Punkie Johnson, Darrin Baker, and Hannah Rose May guest star.

“Halloween 2: The Ghost of Hetty’s Past” Plot: A séance at Sam and Jay’s last-minute Halloween party conjures up...

Scream Factory has added another Blu-ray release to their Summer of Fear Part 2: a double feature of the 1990 Italian horror films Metamorphosis and Beyond Darkness. Details on the season two world premiere of From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, as well as the release details for James Cullen Bressack's Pernicious, are also included in our latest round-up.

Metamorphosis / Beyond Darkness Blu-ray: Scream Factory has slated their Metamorphosis / Beyond Darkness double feature Blu-ray for a late August release.

From Scream Factory: "Our "Summer of Fear Part 2" lineup continues to roll out with more retro Italian-made horror films both coming to blu-ray for the first time! 1990’s "mad science" film Metamorphosis will be doubled-billed with the 1990 haunted house-themed Beyond Darkness (and from the Director of Troll 2!) for a planned late August release. Pre-order links will go up next month."

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From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series: The sophomore...