News

“Equity,” for the most part, may be a refreshing story about female investment bankers — and coders and investigators — who can behave just as ferociously as men in their respective careers. But whereas Meera Menon’s film portrays the pitfalls that often await women who work in a predominantly male business, it’s also overcharged with so much grrrl power that it could blackout an entire Wall Street block. “Diamonds,” says our heroine, Naomi (Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”), when her longtime boyfriend, hedge-funder Michael (James Purefoy), asks why they never got married. She then relates the anecdote about how they met,...

We’re back with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a trailer for Exists, Don’t Blink, and The Wolves of Savin Hill, an announcement of the Fifth Annual PollyGrind Film Festival, Dead Rage first details, and more:

New Clip from Exists: “For five friends, it was a chance for a summer getaway – a weekend of camping in the Texas Big Thicket. But visions of a carefree vacation are shattered with an accident on a dark and desolate country road. In the wake of the accident, a blood curdling force of nature is unleashed – something not exactly human, but not completely animal – an urban legend come to terrifying life and seeking murderous revenge.

Opening in select theaters and On Demand on Friday, October 24th, 2014. Directed by Eduardo Sanchez and written by Jamie Nash, Exists stars Dora Madison Burge,...

Crazy Heart (15)

(Scott Cooper, 2009, Us) Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall. 112 mins

Everyone loves Jeff Bridges, don't they? And everyone would like to see him win an Oscar this year, it seems, just like we did with Mickey Rourke last year. Ok, so that didn't work out, but here's this year's Wrestler: another tale of a weary, all-American icon in need of rehabilitation. Bridges's washed-up country singer is drowning his regrets with whisky and playing bowling alleys, until he finds the love of a good (young) woman and confronts his demons. It's not quite the same old story, if only because of Bridges. And the basic plot gives him plenty of room to stretch out and charm us all. How can the Academy resist?

The Lovely Bones (12A)

(Peter Jackson, 2009, Us/UK/Nz) Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz. 135 mins

Jackson looks to have spent too long chewing over his next masterpiece here,...

Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund has revealed the list of upcoming films that will get financial support through its Script Development Program and Equity Investment Program.

The list reveals all the 27 films (chosen out of 139 applications), which are either in production or pre-production period, that will get some financial backing.

Story Optioning

The Flying Troutmans

Four Seasons Productions Inc.

Screenwriters: Semi Chellas and Miriam Toews

King Leary

Verite Films Inc.

Screenwriter: Paul Quarrington

The Outlander

Strada Films Inc. and Triptych Media Inc.

Screenwriter: Tbd

First Draft

Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet

Hand Picked Films Inc.

Screenwriter: Richard Bell

The Diary of Laura’s Twin

pUNK Films Inc.

Screenwriter: Laura Phillips

Don’t Talk To Irene

Alyson Richards Productions Inc.

Screenwriter: Pat Mills

King Leary

Verite Films Inc.

Screenwriter: Paul Quarrington

The Lizard Cage

Sienna Films Inc.

Screenwriter: David Vainola

Queen Kristina

Triptych Media Inc.

Screenwriter: Michel Marc Bouchard

Second...

"Nine," the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, led the Satellite Award scoring 11 nominations including Best Picture in the Comedy or Musical category.

Rob Marshall also received a Best Director nomination, and stars Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Daniel Day-Lewis received Best Acting nods, and the cast got Best Ensemble.

John Woo's "Red Cliff" followed with seven nominations.

Roger Corman is the 2009 Recipient of the Auteur Award while master cinematographer and eight-time Oscar nominee, Roger Deakins, is the 2009 Recipient of the Nikola Tesla Award.

The 2009 14th Annual Satellite Awards are given by the International Press Academy. Winners will be announced on Sunday, December 20th, at the Grand Salon/Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles.

Visit the Satellite Awards official site right here.

And the nominees for the 2009 14th Annual Satellite Awards are:

Film

Motion Picture (Drama)

"Bright Star"

"An Education"

"The Hurt Locker"

"The Messenger"

"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire...

"Glee" is shining in the nomination list released by Satellite Awards for its 14th year. The new musical by Fox makes the entry in every TV category possible through the show itself as well as the actors. The nominees were selected through voting by International Press Academy's members which included more than 100 entertainment journalists.

Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison represent the show for the categories of Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Lead Actress and Lead Actor in Comedy or Musical respectively. The show itself is being put under Television Series, Comedy or Musical.

In another genre, "Grey Gardens" is showing a domination by taking in nominations for Motion Picture Made for Television. The TV movie by HBO has the chance to win through its leading cast, Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange who in fact are pitted against each other in the best actress for miniseries or made for TV category.

Canadian production company Muse Entertainment has announced the beginning of principal photography for a new television adapation of Ben Hur. The finished film will air as a miniseries with a cast that includes Joseph Morgan, Stephen Campbell, Ray Winstone, Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang in Smallville), Alex Kingston and Art Malik.

Muse is co-producing Ben Hur with companies from Spain, Morocco, Germany and the United States. Shooting is currently taking place in Morocco. Among the people named as producers is David Wyler, the son of William Wyler. The senior Wyler directed the 1959 film version of Ben Hur starring Charlton Heston. That film won 11 Academy Awards.

The press release from Muse announcing the start of filming is below.

Los Angeles, Barcelona, Berlin, Montreal: May 5, 2009 - The legendary story of Ben Hur began principal photography May 4, 2009 and is being produced for the first time for television. Based on the original 1880’s novel by Lew Wallace,...

ABC and ABC News have announced a slew of summer specials and limited series, including the return of “Cma Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock” and “2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee," along with the ABC News specials “Earth 2100,” “J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life,” a one-hour special on oil, “Oil with Charles Gibson,” and “Un-Broke: Everything You Need to Know about Money.”

In addition, ABC will air the limited series “Diamonds” and “Impact,” and ABC News will air the "Primetime” limited series “Primetime: Family Secrets,” “Primetime: The Outsiders,” “Primetime: Crime,” and “Primetime: What Would You Do?” “20/20” will continue to air in its regular time period, Fridays at 10:00 p.m.

-- “Diamonds,” which will air Sunday May 24 and Tuesday May 26, delves into the dark secrets of the international diamond trade. It stars Judy Davis as a U.S. Senator whose daughter is killed in a massacre at an African diamond mine.