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This tale of a female Scrooge discovering ‘the true meaning of Christmas’ will elicit copious tears … at the time you have wasted watching such drivel

It’s harder than you might think to find movies without any redeeming features, but occasionally they do come along. Terrible writing, horrible direction, an appalling script, dreadful performances: Holiday Twist really does have it all. Perhaps it would be fair to say the basic premise – a workaholic Scrooge figure is won over by the spirit of Christmas – is solid, but it’s hardly original.

As in A Christmas Carol, there are supernatural elements here, including an angel who intervenes to return a woman stricken with brain cancer to her family at Christmas. But more supernatural still is the surreal abrasiveness of the lead character, Connie (Kelly Stables), a recently divorced mum who also heads up a large corporate parcel-delivery company. She is a complete nightmare,...

Exclusive: Caylee Cowan (Divinity) has signed on to star opposite Alexander Calvert in Double Exposure, a new indie from writer-director Howard Goldberg, who also produces alongside Laura Nickowitz and Julia Verdin.

Set to begin shooting later this year, the film follows a struggling artist (Calvert) grappling with profound guilt stemming from a past love. Cowan portrays Sara, a charismatic and hopeful young woman who’s just starting out in a modeling career. As time goes on, she gets pressured into a toxic lifestyle and exploited by those around her, seeing her journey get ever darker as she struggles with addiction, low self-esteem, dark thoughts and resentment over abuse she’s been subjected to.

Most recently starring in the sci-fi thriller Divinity, which world premiered at Sundance, Cowan will also soon be seen in the family film Holiday Twist with Neal McDonough and Sean Astin, among other projects. The actress is...

Exclusive: Etm Distribution has set a nationwide theatrical release for Holiday Twist, a new family film starring Kelly Stables (Superstore), Neal McDonough (Yellowstone), Sean Astin (Stranger Things) and more. Marking the debut feature of Stephanie Garvin, who directed from her own script, the film will bow exclusively in 500+ theaters nationwide December 1st.

Pic centers on a high-powered female executive and Grinchy workaholic CEO (Stables), whose whole world comes crashing down amidst unforeseen circumstances, despite her self-perceived importance. With help from a Salvation Army Santa (Blake Leeper) and a little holiday magic, the protagonist finally realizes the key to letting go of her painful past is the answer to becoming the twinkling light that both her community and her family need.

Rounding out the cast are James Maslow (Big Time Rush), Emily Tosta (Mayans M.C.), Caylee Cowan (Willy’s Wonderland), Drew Fuller (Army Wives), Brian Thomas Smith (The Big Bang Theory...

Not every TV and film production will stop amid dual strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America. A host of projects stopped work after writers went on strike against media companies for better pay, streaming data transparency and protections against artificial intelligence (among other issues), and many more have paused since actors walked out on July 14.

There are exceptions, however. SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules allow for work on productions covered under different agreements, and the union can grant waivers or sign interim agreements with independent productions. Below is a list of TV shows and films that fall under those designations; this story will be updated as more productions earn waivers.

Interim Agreements

SAG-AFTRA has reached interim agreements with numerous independent productions, including movies from A24 (Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel) — which is not part...

Whether you know him best as Mikey from The Goonies, Rudy from the biopic by the same name, Sam from The Lord of the Rings, or Bob from Stranger Things, Sean Astin is an actor who has probably taken on a heartwarming role in your life at some point. He also came from a famous family, but his background is complicated — so much so that he mistakenly believed Lucille Ball to be his grandmother.

Sean Astin grew up in a famous family

Sean Astin Appreciation Day? Don't mind if I do. pic.twitter.com/6v6jmlRKKC

— Consequence (@consequence) August 9, 2019

According to the biography posted on his website, “Sean is the son of Academy and multiple-Emmy Award Winning actor Anna ‘Patty Duke’ Pearce and acclaimed actor John Astin; his brother Mackenzie Astin enjoys a thriving motion picture and television career.”

Growing up in the shadow of someone as famous as Patty Duke...

Exclusive: Dallas Roberts (Big Sky), Arden Myrin (Orange Is the New Black) and Harvey Guillén (Reacher) have signed on to star in the comedy Road Dogs, from Bustled Knuckle Productions and Residue Remains Productions, which goes into production in Minnesota this summer.

The film centers around three stand-up comedians who hit the road for a simple weekend showcase but soon find their plans derailed by a crooked club owner and her homicidal bouncer. Vanessa Leigh is directing from her and Aaron W. Bennett’s script, which was based on Bennett’s time as an improv comic and comedy club owner in Central Washington. The duo will produce alongside Kris Black from Residue Remains Productions, with Hunter G. Williams of Busted Knuckle Productions serving as executive producer.

Roberts is represented by UTA and Circle of Confusion; Myrin by Innovative Artists, Vault Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Guillén by Innovative and Yorn,...