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While innovations in technology have made it easier than ever to make a movie, it has become harder than ever to receive significant financial backing. Doubly hard when one is a director of an underrepresented background.

Black Americans have been a part of the film industry since the beginning, over a century ago, but one could argue that there were not any Black film directors given enough of a platform to become a household name until the 1990s. Though a diverse set of directors were able to breakthrough from that time through the aughts, the shift in focus toward solely blockbuster filmmaking has left many Black filmmakers out to dry.

In recent years, quite a few Black directors have seen a greater level of support and reverence, from “Get Out” director Jordan Peele to “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins to “Selma” director Ava DuVernay. And every...

Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro has nominated 27 Latino-driven films for inclusion in the National Film Registry. Among the suggestions are films that brought Oscar nominations to Latino actors and artists, including Salma Hayek, as Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in “Frida” (2002); Catalina Sandino Moreno, who portrayed a desperate undocumented pregnant immigrant in “Maria Full of Grace” (2004) and Demián Bichir, who played an undocumented worker in Los Angeles in “A Better Life” (2011). All were nominated for lead acting Oscars.

Other notable titles nominated by the congressman are Peter Sollett’s coming-of-age indie “Raising Victor Vargas,” Alfonso Arau’s romantic drama “Like Water for Chocolate (1992) and Darnell Martin’s “I Like It Like That” (1994), a story of a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx.

“Given the film industry’s continued exclusion of Latinos, we must make a special effort to ensure that Latino Americans’ contributions to American filmmaking are appropriately celebrated and included in the National Film Registry,...

Profiles by Seth Abramovitch, Gary Baum, Evan Nicole Brown, Tyler Coates, Kirsten Chuba, Aaron Couch, Scott Feinberg, Mesfin Fekadu, Mia Galuppo, James Hibberd, Rebecca Keegan, Sydney Odman, Rick Porter, Lacey Rose, Julian Sancton, Rebecca Sun and Beatrice Verhoeven

Cris Abrego & Karla Pita Loor Cris Abrego and Karla Pita Loor

Banijay Americas

Abrego is one of the top-ranking Latino execs in English-language media, and Pita Loor is the board chair of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, a major conduit for industry players who are invested in improving inclusion. Under their leadership, Banijay Americas has stepped up initiatives to help people from historically excluded backgrounds break into entertainment. “This work has both financial and cultural bottom lines, and those are not only equally important but also inextricably connected,” says Abrego of the content business. “Success requires attention to both.”

I’m excited about …

Abrego “Mindy Kaling is just laugh-out-loud funny...

Netflix’s official trailer for Outer Banks confirms season three will be the show’s most action-packed to date. The nearly three-minute trailer shows the Pogues are gearing up for what series creators and executive producers Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke call the granddaddy of all treasure hunts.

Season three stars Chase Stokes as John B., Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, and Rudy Pankow as JJ. Austin North plays Topper, Drew Starkey is Rafe, Carlacia Grant is Cleo, and Charles Esten stars as Ward Cameron.

The cast also includes Cullen Moss as Shoupe, Julia Antonelli as Wheezie Cameron, Caroline Arapoglou as Rose Cameron, E. Roger Mitchell as Heyward, Charles Halford as Big John, Elizabeth Mitchell as Limbrey, Andy McQueen as Carlos Singh, and Lou Ferrigno Jr as Ryan.

The 10-episode third season premieres on February 23, 2023.

Carole Sanders Peterman and Aaron Miller serve as producers,...

Women in Film, Los Angeles has announced the three teams of women filmmakers that have been selected as inaugural fellows of the Wif Shorts Lab, supported by Google. The teams will be paired with mentors including producers Kira Carstensen and Alexandra Perez and line producer Martha Cronin and receive grants to complete their films.

The projects are “Choices,” from writer-director Kameishia Wooten, producer Robin J. Hayes and line producer Meagann Pallares; “Please in Spanish” from writer-director Patricia Seely and producer Alexandra Clayton and “Silverlake Cleaners,” from writer-director Katarina Zhu.

The projects were selected by a jury including Stephanie Allain, Lake Bell, Margie Moreno, and Talitha Watkins.

American Cinematheque Announces ‘New Jack City’ Special Screening Event

The American Cinematheque has announced a “New Jack City” Special Screening Event on April 9 followed by a Q&a with director Mario Van Peebles.

“New Jack City’ getting shut down in Westwood in 1991 is indicative...

Netflix has swung the axe on another TV series.

The streamer on Thursday officially canceled Grand Army after a single season, almost nine months after its launch on the service.

The series "tunnels into a generation that’s raging and rising. Five students at the largest public high school in Brooklyn take on our chaotic world as they fight to succeed, survive, wild out, break free and seize the future," according to Netflix.

9 episodes comprised the first season, with So Yong Kim, Darnell Martin, Tina Mabry, Silas Howard, and Clement Virgo on board to bring the project to life.

Executive Producers include Katie Cappiello, Josh Donen, Nicolette Donen, Elizabeth Kling, Beau Willimon, and Jordan Tappis.

The expansive cast includes Odessa A'zion as Joey Del Marco, Odley Jean as Dominique (Dom) Pierre, Maliq Johnson as Jayson Jackson, Amalia Yoo as Leila Kwan Zimmer, Amir Bageria as Siddhartha (Sid) Pakam, Alphonso Jones as John Ellis,...

Netflix has canceled “Grand Army” after just one season.

The series “tunnels into a generation that’s raging and rising. Five students at the largest public high school in Brooklyn take on our chaotic world as they fight to succeed, survive, wild out, break free and seize the future.” according to its logline.

“Grand Army” starred Odley Jean as Dominique (Dom) Pierre, Odessa A’zion as Joey Del Marco, Maliq Johnson as Jayson Jackson, Amalia Yoo as Leila Kwan Zimmer, Amir Bageria as Siddhartha (Sid) Pakam, Alphonso Jones as John Ellis, Anthony Ippolito as George Wright, Brian Altemus as Luke Friedman, Thelonius “Monk” Serrel Freed as Tim Delaney, Jaden Jordan as Owen Williams, Ashley Ganger as Meera Pakam, Sydney Meyer as Anna Delany, Brittany Adebumola as Tamika Jones and Crystal Nelson as Tor Sampson.

The nine-episode first — and now final — season of “Grand Army” launched Oct. 16 of last year on Netflix.

This article was created in paid partnership with Showtime

In the latest installment of The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Dreaming in Color,’ a series focused on amplifying talents of color, above and below the line, the stars and director behind Showtime’s The Good Lord Bird, Ethan Hawke, Daveed Diggs, Joshua Caleb Johnson, and Darnell Martin sat down to discuss the miniseries and its place within the current conversations surrounding racial justice.

The Good Lord Bird, created by Ethan Hawke and Mark Richard, and based on the novel of the same name by James McBride, follows the fictitious Henry Shackleford (Johnson), nicknamed Little Onion, a slave boy who is ...

This article was created in paid partnership with Showtime

In the latest installment of The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Dreaming in Color,’ a series focused on amplifying talents of color, above and below the line, the stars and director behind Showtime’s The Good Lord Bird, Ethan Hawke, Daveed Diggs, Joshua Caleb Johnson, and Darnell Martin sat down to discuss the miniseries and its place within the current conversations surrounding racial justice.

The Good Lord Bird, created by Ethan Hawke and Mark Richard, and based on the novel of the same name by James McBride, follows the fictitious Henry Shackleford (Johnson), nicknamed Little Onion, a slave boy who is ...

How are we feeling after the hour?

As fans of Sharpwin, fans of incredible dialogue, powerful acting, some compelling writing, and laudable direction (thanks to Darnell Martin), and stunning cinematographery (thanks to Andy Voegeli), New Amsterdam Season 3 Episode 12 was a sensory overload in the best way imaginable.

I'm still reeling from the wave of emotions from the hour, but let's discuss it.

After most of the season was devoted to Max finding a mission of the week to consume all of his time and focus, it was a refreshing change of pace for the hour to go back to its roots a bit.

It wasn't Max railing against the system or some specific issue. Instead, he focused on something that plagued the hospital and set out to address it, and it was Max falling in line with the traditional nature of his job.

The chemical spill was shocking, worrisome.

While many networks are starting to exhaust their scripted offerings, Netflix continues to have a lot to offer.

The latest offering comes from playwright Katie Cappiello.

Grand Army is a gritty young adult drama debuting October 16th on the streamer.

The series "tunnels into a generation that’s raging and rising. Five students at the largest public high school in Brooklyn take on our chaotic world as they fight to succeed, survive, wild out, break free and seize the future," according to Netflix.

9 episodes comprise the first season, with So Yong Kim, Darnell Martin, Tina Mabry, Silas Howard, and Clement Virgo on board to bring the project to life.

Executive Producers include Katie Cappiello, Josh Donen, Nicolette Donen, Elizabeth Kling, Beau Willimon, and Jordan Tappis.

The expansive cast includes Odessa A'zion as Joey Del Marco, Odley Jean as Dominique (Dom) Pierre, Maliq Johnson as Jayson Jackson, Amalia Yoo as Leila Kwan Zimmer,...

Netflix has released the first look at Grand Army, an upcoming young adult drama that debuts October 16th on the streaming platform.

Set at the fictional Grand Army High, the largest public high school in Brooklyn, the show follows five high school students as they struggle with the challenges of growing up in an ever-changing world. Grand Army is based off of Slut, Katie Cappiello’s 2013 play that reckons with teenage sexual assault; as seen in the trailer, the show expands the play’s themes to include issues of racial justice,...

Stars: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, John Turtorro, Rosie Perez, Ossie Davis, Bill Nunn, Ruby Dee | Written and Directed by Spike Lee

Spike Lee was still in his 20s when he wrote, directed and produced Do the Right Thing, his third feature. It’s a blistering piece of cinema in more ways than one. Set during a blazing summer in the heart of New York, it charts a day in the life of a young black man named Mookie (Lee), interacting with the folks on the stoops and the streets, as he goes about delivering pizzas for the local, Italian-owned pizzeria. In the coolness of dawn, relations with the pizzeria’s owner Sal (Danny Aiello) are cool; but as the temperature increases, so do tensions. A storm is coming.

Do the Right Thing is a snapshot of a community, built upon a cast of colourful characters. There’s Samuel L. Jackson,...

IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, will launch IndieWire Honors — celebrating six of the biggest names in entertainment with an event November 2 in Los Angeles as well as video coverage and interviews with the honorees that will be featured on Indiewire.com.

“For more than 20 years, IndieWire has celebrated the fresh talent who help advance unique and original storytelling,” said IndieWire Editor in Chief Dana Harris. “This event highlights the best and brightest who remain true to their voice.”

“At the heart of this event is IndieWire’s mission to advocate for distinctive artists who push boundaries,” said IndieWire Publisher James Israel. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have this amazing group for our first IndieWire Honors.”

Selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, the first-ever honorees are familiar names on the cusp of even greater success. They include:

Mary J. Blige — Breakthrough Performance (Film...

Anyone who knows independent film history also knows “Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes,” a memoir by seminal producer’s rep John Pierson of his role in launching the careers of filmmakers such as Kevin Smith, Spike Lee, and Richard Linklater. Between 1997 and 2001, Pierson had a new way to spotlight talented filmmakers with IFC’s “Split Screen.” Now FilmStruck has acquired “Split Screen” streaming rights and, starting this Saturday, the original episodes will become available, with six episodes added every six weeks. Pierson spoke to IndieWire by phone and shared his thoughts as to why the show still belongs on your radar.

The Late ’90s Were an Optimistic Moment

Whether it’s showing somebody you know, somebody you should know, or somebody you may never know because we featured some wacky people who never went anywhere — that sense of optimism permeates most everything we did. To me, this is a nice...

The Walking Dead isn't exactly television's most subtle drama – but the show does have its moments. At the end of tonight's episode – "Go Getters" – Enid arrives at the Hilltop Colony, and kneels in front of the freshly dug graves for Glenn and Abraham, near which she places a stick with three green balloons. Last week, she endured the creepy sexual advances of one of the Saviors to hold onto those orbs, for reasons that at the time went unexplained. And now, without over-stressing the point, this series lets a festive...

Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "She's Come Undone", written by Michael Narducci, Rebecca Sonnenshine and directed by Darnell Martin, that aired May 2, 2013 on The CW:

"...'Damon' and 'Stefan' try a brutal new approach to provoke 'Elena' to turning her humanity back on.

"But 'Caroline' is frustrated when her attempt to intervene backfires.

"Then when Elena figures out a way to call the 'Salvatore' brothers' bluff, they call for backup from a surprising source. Meanwhile 'Matt' gives 'Rebekah' some unsolicited advice on her life choices, and she tries to help him in return. And 'Caroline' has a confusing and dangerous encounter with 'Klaus', as 'Katherine' is suspicious when 'Bonnie' makes her an offer that she promises will benefit them both..."

"The Vampire Diaries" is based on "The Vampire Diaries" book series by author L. J. Smith. Set in a small town haunted by 'supernatural beings',...

The first ever Writers Lab, a program targeting female screenwriters over 40, took place at Wiawaka on Lake George, New York from September 18-20, 2015.

The group of mentors included Caroline Kaplan ("Boyhood," "Time Out of Mind," "Personal Velocity"), Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde," "Ten Things I Hate About You"), Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On," "Aquamarine"), Mary Jane Skalski ("Win Win," "The Station Agent"),Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Secret Life of Bees," "Beyond the Lights"),Lydia Dean-Pilcher ("The Lunchbox," The Reluctant Fundamentalist"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"), and Darnell Martin (“Cadillac Records” and “I Like It Like That”).

Launched by New York Women in Film and Television (Nywift) and Iris, a collective of women filmmakers dedicated to championing the female voice in narrative film, was funded in part by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, and with the collaboration of the Writers Guild of America East.

Motivated by its screenwriting members who were frustrated with the paucity of development opportunities, Iris founders Elizabeth Kaiden, Kyle Ann Stoke, and Nitza Wilson approached Nywift to support a screenwriting Lab exclusively for this demographic and The Writers Lab came into being.

I spoke with Iris cofounder Elizabeth Kaiden to follow up about the first Writers Lab.

Kouguell: How many screenplays were submitted for consideration?

Kaiden: There were approximately 3,500 screenplays submitted. The selected participants were Sarah Bird ("Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen), Vanessa Carmichael ("The American"). Tracy Charlton ("Raised Up"), Kellen Hertz ("Ashburn"), Anna Hozian ("Anchor Baby"), Lyralen Kaye ("St John the Divine in Iowa"), Jan Kimbrough ("The Glastonbury Cow Party"), Billie Jo Mason ("The Cargo"), Peres Owino ("Basketweaver"), Gretchen Somerfeld ("Face Value"), Janet Stilson ("Jaguar Trail"), and Kim Turner ("It Goes Like This").

Kouguell: What were some highlights from the three-day Lab?

Kaiden: Highlights included the chemistry, warmth and enthusiasm of the group, the bucolic setting in which serious and thoughtful individual meetings between writers and mentors took place, the outstanding, locally sourced, group meals presented by Wiawaka chef Meg, and evening conversations around a bonfire. Oh, and the weather was fabulous.

Kouguell: What is the next step for these writers selected for the Lab?

Kaiden: Writers are all revising their work and communicating with each other. They will use the feedback, resources, references, and friendships they took away from the Lab to further develop their scripts and their opportunities.

Kouguell: In addition to the one-on-one meetings, what other events took place?

Kaiden: There were three panel discussions in which the mentors addressed specific craft issues and general industry insight, informal conversations, group meals, as well as small, directed group conversations led by Nywift Board President Alexis Alexanian to address the challenges writers face in navigating the film world.

Kouguell: What do you feel were some of the most positive outcomes from the weekend in Lake George?

Kaiden: The most exciting outcome of this venture, for me, is uncovering and bringing to public attention the field of women screenwriters, particularly its enormous breadth and depth. The most positive outcomes of the weekend Lab, for me, include the sense of empowerment I believe the Lab gave the writers to continue their work and develop their projects, and the supportive community of writers we all discovered, which can only further our goals of ensuring that more of their stories will reach audiences.

Kouguell: Will the Writers Lab take place again next year?

Kaiden: Yes.

Kouguell: Anything else you’d like to add?

Kaiden: We were excited and delighted by the energy and enthusiasm at the Lab. It felt like an important event. It Was an important event. We discussed and debated issues of theme, tone, craft, structure, character, as well as production, representation, and target markets. The mentors were unbelievably focused, supportive and encouraging. Serious work was done. The writers left feeling, I think, that their voices had been heard, and that they should all continue to tell their stories. I think you will be hearing more from these writers and about these projects. And, although that would have been enough, everyone had a blast.

Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...

Back in April, I interviewed the directors of Nywift and Iris about their noted launch of The Writers Lab, a retreat for women screenwriters over 40, that received a substantial amount of funding from Meryl Streep. The 12 inaugural participants, listed below, were selected from a pool of over 3,500 applicants. The eight mentors for the weekend long September lab are Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On, Aquamarine), Caroline Kaplan (Time Out of Mind, Me and You and Everyone We Know), Meg LeFauve (Inside Out), Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records), Lydia Dean Pilcher (Darjeeling Limited, The Talented Mr. Ripley), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Secret Life of Bees, Beyond the Lights, Mary Jane Skalski (Win Win, The Station Agent) and […]...

Back in April, I interviewed the directors of Nywift and Iris about their noted launch of The Writers Lab, a retreat for women screenwriters over 40, that received a substantial amount of funding from Meryl Streep. The 12 inaugural participants, listed below, were selected from a pool of over 3,500 applicants. The eight mentors for the weekend long September lab are Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On, Aquamarine), Caroline Kaplan (Time Out of Mind, Me and You and Everyone We Know), Meg LeFauve (Inside Out), Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records), Lydia Dean Pilcher (Darjeeling Limited, The Talented Mr. Ripley), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Secret Life of Bees, Beyond the Lights, Mary Jane Skalski (Win Win, The Station Agent) and […]...

I must have met E.O. around the winter of ‘96. He was that kid from around the way that was in Spike Lee’s Clockers. We’d catch each other in the heights here and there but not often enough. Years later I decided to make my own short film. I sent Elvis the script. He was down. We shot with a few hundred dollars on the Canon Xl (the Excalibur of its time) on the stoops, brownstones and rooftops of Harlem, New York.

The film had some sweet humble success with festivals all things considering. I still don’t know how best to direct actors but Nolasco always had that razor sharp focus when it came to his craft. He made it seem effortless but I knew it came from years of discipline. He’s gone on to work with some of the best and after a few pilots that weren’t picked up, ABC will debut "American Crime," an anthology series based on class, race & gender politics created by Academy Award-winner John Ridley, on March 5th. Fast forward, 2015, there’s nothing like seeing your homeboy’s billboard on Sunset and Vine.

LatinoBuzz: Do you recall that first moment you wanted to be an actor?

Elvis: I can honestly say that...that moment of wanting to be an actor, was a moment that found me. After many early years of dancing, it was not until I arrived at George Washington High School, where I was faced with the options of what I wanted as my extra curriculum studies. Now, the only thing on that list that came close to dancing was "Introduction to Theatre". I said "well maybe I can get to dance in this class"... (Not So). It was my drama teacher Robert Stonebridge who after the first few weeks in his class he saw something in me, that I of course did not see in myself. He challenged me to play the role of Bill Starbuck in the play The Rainmaker. From that moment on, I found my voice, my body felt something magical and new, I felt comfortable, I finally was introduced to a new form of expression, the freedom of expression, the art to play. That was the moment and I never looked back. Thank You Mr. Stonebridge.

LatinoBuzz: What was the most discouraging moment you have ever experienced?

Elvis: That's a good question. I feel that the times I've had experience those moments, it has been when I've allowed outside voices to try and deter me from my path, my passion. Those voices can be very discouraging and destructive to one's journey. Today, I make sure to listen to the voice inside me, the voice of the heart, the voice of my passion, my truth.

LatinoBuzz: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and work?

Elvis: That's a long list, however I'll narrow it down to this many... My mother, my father, who have taught me the importance of hard work in a very dignified way. My aunts and uncles, who have taught me the value of family, music, dance and history. My good friend Robert (Fileo) Lewis, who has taught me the power of unconditional love. My brothers and sisters, especially my younger brother Yanko "Valentin", who is always, and I mean always busy and relevant, I'm telling you that kid don't stop. Work wise...Spike Lee, Darnell Martin, John Ridley...And tons of many, many more...

LatinoBuzz: What's your take on the ‘Whitewashing’ Hollywood has been accused of lately?

Elvis: The Whitewash of Hollywood is not new but the broader conversation that we are having about it is. The fact that people of color are not the only ones involved in the public conversation about it, is new. That's a good thing for everyone involved. Diversity in film and television benefits society as a whole.

LatinoBuzz: You did a one-man show based on Junot Diaz’ Purlizter Prize awarded ‘The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’ – you didn’t find that daunting at all? We are talking a very celebrated novel.

Elvis: Oscar Wao? Daunting? Nah! When this project was brought to my attention, I was immediately in and up for the challenge. I, at that time (2010) had already read Junot Diaz' previous works, had read The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao two times, therefore I was of fan, a fan of the book and of Junot’s work. Now, having said that, to sit in a stuffy New York City basement at a theatre on 36th street with the great director Elise Thoron for two whole weeks (lost count of the hours) and together work on the adaptation of this magnificent, extraordinary and compelling Pulitzer prize winning novel...Ok, I think we can now revisit that word... ‘daunting”... Lol. We were able to narrow it down to an hour and 10 minutes and tell the beautiful story of Oscar De Leon and Yunior and audiences loved it. Truly a pleasure to take on this story on stage.

LatinoBuzz: I always have to ask this: Your dream role, dream director, dream co-star.

Elvis: Dream Role? I would say, playing Sidney Poitier on the big screen. Directors? Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Lee Daniels. Co-Star? Will Smith.

Do the social media lovin’!

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1Fozjcx

Twitter: @Eonolasco

Airing times and schedule for American Crime can be found here: http://abc.go.com/shows/american-crime

Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...

The Vampire Diaries, Season 4, Episode 21: “She’s Come Undone”

Written by Michael Narducci and Rebecca Sonnenshine

Directed by Darnell Martin

Airs Thursdays at 8pm (Et) on the CW

This week, on The Vampire Diaries: Katherine has fun with Elena, Caroline has a heart to heart with her mom, and Bonnie has a plan

Most of this season of The Vampire Diaries has been plagued by one of a few missteps. First Elena lost her agency thanks to her sire-bonding to Damon, then Bonnie fell increasingly under the sway of the obviously ill-intentioned Professor Shane, and then finally, Elena switched off her emotions, acted like a brat, and lost whatever sympathy the audience had left for her. While many of the issues created by these poor decisions remain, fortunately at this point each of them has been addressed and corrected, though there’s little sense that the PtB ever saw them as problems.

The Vampire Diaries Episode 421

“She’s Come Undone”

Written By: Michael Narducci & Rebecca Sonnenshine

Directed By: Darnell Martin

Original Airdate: 2 May 2013

In This Episode...

Stefan and Damon are in the process of breaking Elena. Stefan doesn’t like to call it torture; he prefers “intervention.” Caroline doesn’t like this approach and tries one more time to be nice to Elena. elena responds with insults to Caroline about how her boyfriends always leave her and how her mom thinks she is a monster. Caroline snaps her neck to shut her up and tells Stefan to do whatever he wants.

The boys start by sending Damon into Elena’s mind to try to make her nostalgic and provoke an emotional response. Strike one. Next, they remove her daylight ring and taunt her with rays of sunshine. She burns, they put her out, over and over. She breaks free and throws open the drapes wide,...

During this extremely uneven Season 4 of "The Vampire Diaries," one thing that has been consistent is the chemistry between Claire Holt's Rebekah and Zach Roerig's Matt, which is on display in this clip from tomorrow's Episode 4.21, "She's Come Undone."

"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.21 - "She's Come Undone" (airs 5/2/13)

Let’S Make A Deal — Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try a brutal new approach to provoke Elena (Nina Dobrev) into turning her humanity back on, and Caroline (Candice Accola) is frustrated when her attempt to intervene backfires. When Elena figures out a way to call the Salvatore brothers’ bluff, they call for backup from a surprising source.

Matt (Zach Roerig) gives Rebekah (Claire Holt) some unsolicited advice on her life choices, and she tries to help him in return. Caroline has a confusing and dangerous encounter with Klaus (Joseph Morgan), and Katherine (Nina Dobrev) is suspicious when...

With only three episodes remaining in Season 4 of "The Vampire Diaries," all roads lead to graduation day, and we have a preview of Ep. 4.21, "She's Come Undone," along with the synopses of Eps. 4.22, "The Walking Dead" (seriously?), and 4.23, "Graduation" (of course!).

"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.21 - "She's Come Undone" (airs 5/2/13)

Let’S Make A Deal — Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try a brutal new approach to provoke Elena (Nina Dobrev) into turning her humanity back on, and Caroline (Candice Accola) is frustrated when her attempt to intervene backfires. When Elena figures out a way to call the Salvatore brothers’ bluff, they call for backup from a surprising source. Matt (Zach Roerig) gives Rebekah (Claire Holt) some unsolicited advice on her life choices, and she tries to help him in return. Caroline has a confusing and dangerous encounter with Klaus (Joseph Morgan), and Katherine (Nina Dobrev) is suspicious when...

Damon & Stefan tie Elena up on the show’s May 2 episode — but it’s not as hot as it sounds.

Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) are more determined than ever to make Elena (Nina Dobrev) turn her humanity back on, and if these first-look photos from the May 2 episode of The Vampire Diaries are any indication, they’re done playing nice.

The Salvatore brothers are seen tying Elena to a chair and punishing her with shots of direct sunlight. While these photos are sure to fuel the internet’s “Ian and Nina for Fifty Shades” movement, it doesn’t look like Elena is having too much fun.

Official Description For Season 4, Episode 21: ‘She’s Come Undone’

Let’S Make A Deal — Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try a brutal new approach to provoke Elena (Nina Dobrev) into turning her humanity back on, and Caroline (Candice Accola...

New Vampire Diaries season 4,episode 21 official spoilers,plotline revealed by CW. Recently,CW released the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Vampire Diaries" episode 21 of season 4. The episode is entitled, "She's Come Undone," and it sounds like a ton of interesting things will go down as both Damon and Stefan more aggressively try to get Elena to abandon her new, evil ways,and more. In the new,21st episode press release, Damon and Stefan are going to try a brutal ,new approach to provoke Elena into turning her humanity back on, and Caroline will get frustrated when her attempt to intervene, backfires. When Elena figures out a way to call the Salvatore brothers' bluff, they are going to call for backup from a surprising source. Matt will give Rebekah some unsolicited advice on her life choices, and she will try to help him in return. Caroline is going to...

Columns Festival Roundup San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay, Los Angeles International Lesbian and Gay, Locarno, Montreal World Film Festival by Judith Halberstam, Diane Sippl and Scott Macaulay Production Update by Mary Glucksman Imho Mikki Halpin and Eric Saks on multimedia’s new players Short Ends Features In Images We Trust Hal Hartley chats with Jean-Luc Godard Net Profit Doug Block catches Hoop Dreams The State Of Things (Part One) Mary Glucksman on the smaller independent distributors Likes And Dislikes Charlotte Macleod follows Darnell Martin’s I Like it Like That Breaking And Entering Diane Sippl talks to Charles Burnett about The …...

Grimm, Season 2, Episode 7, “The Bottle Imp”

Written by Alan Difiore

Directed by Darnell Martin

Airs Fridays at 9pm (Et) on NBC

Okay, maybe the reference to The Shining is a little obscure, but c’mon, this is a movie website. I can’t be the only one who flashed to typewriters in the Overlook when Renard woke from a daydream to find he had typed a pageful of Juliette’s name. We were primed for that moment, but maybe not for Juliette to feel the same way as the lustful Renard. I’m really starting to feel sorry for Nick, who has a sex life even less promising than Sergeant Wu’s (and who else thinks Wu’s main love interest is a huge poster of his face photoshopped onto Bruce Lee’s body?).

Back to Nick. Juliette’s reaction may explain why he’s looking so lovelorn, although I...

Grimm Episode 207

“The Bottle Imp”

Written By: Alan Difiore

Directed By: Darnell Martin

Original Airdate: 12 October 2012

In This Episode...

A down-on-his-luck man named William Granger, picks up his daughter, April, from his ex-wife’s house and heads out of town. They stop to fuel up the truck, but none of his credit cards work. Granger is aggravated, and the attendant ends up dead. Knowing he has to ditch his truck, Granger uses his daughter to guilt a random guy in a pickup into giving them a lift. Things are fine until an Amber alert announces to the driver who is passengers are. Granger grabs hold of the steering wheel and drives them off the road.

Surveillance footage at the gas station yields an ID. The car is registered to Granger’s wife, who Nick and Hank find bloodied and beaten in her own home. She reveals herself to be wesen.

Mackenzie Foy, the young actress who plays Renesmee — the daughter of Bella and Edward — in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 and 2, has been cast in Wish You Well, a drama co-starring Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas, EW has confirmed.

As first reported by Variety, the 11-year-old actress (who we know enjoys swimming and popsicles) will play a girl who moves from New York to a Virginia farm to live in with her great -grandmother in the 1940s. Darnell Martin (who penned Cadillac Records) will direct, with the script will be adapted from David Baldacci’s best selling novel.

This...

Mackenzie Foy, the young actress who plays Renesmee — the daughter of Bella and Edward — in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 and 2, has been cast in Wish You Well, a dramaco-starring Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas, EW has confirmed.

As first reported by Variety, the 11-year-old actress (who we know enjoys swimming and popsicles) will play a girl who moves from New York to a Virginia farm to live in with her great -grandmother in the 1940s. Darnell Martin (who penned Cadillac Records) will direct, with the script will be adapted from David Baldacci’s best selling novel.

This is...

Mackenzie Foy, who plays Bella and Edward Cullen's daughter Renesmee in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, will star in Wish You Well with Josh Lucas ("The Firm," Life As We Know It) and Ellen Burstyn ("Political Animals"). The story follows a brother and sister in the 1940s who move from New York to a Virginia farm to live with their great-grandmother following a family tragedy. Farm life helps the girl to understand her father, herself and appreciate the love of family. Ned Bellamy ("WordGirl"), 14-year old Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick (Moonrise Kingdom), Laura Fraser ("Breaking Bad"), Alano Miller ("Vegas") and Jp Vanderloo also star in the indie drama written, produced and being directed by Darnell Martin ("Gossip Girl," Cadillac Records).

Source: Variety...

Such a sweet little girl! And we all know who Mackenzie Foy is, right? Yeah, yeah, she’s best known as Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s daughter in that Twilight thing, but as you already see from our title – she’s more than ready to continue with hard work, and join an upcoming indie drama titled Wish You Well. There, she will star next to previously announced Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas. Not a bad company at all!

Wish You Well is actually an adaptation of David Baldacci‘s bestseller of the same name, and Darnell Martin will be in charge of directing the whole thing, while Baldacci stands behind the script and will also serve as producer.

Movie, set in the 1940s, centers on a young girl and her brother who move from New York to a Virginia farm to live with their great-grandmother following a family tragedy.

Winter’s Tale

Jennifer Connelly is in talks to join Akiva Goldsman's directorial debut "Winter’s Tale" at Warner Bros. Pictures.

The story follows a dying young woman (Jessica Brown Findlay) who falls in love with a thief (Colin Farrell) who breaks into her palatial West Side home. Connelly is in talks to play the girl’s mother. [Source: Deadline]

Wish You Well

Mackenzie Foy ("The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2") is set to star in Darnell Martin's indie drama "Wish You Well" alongside Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas. The 1940's-set coming-of-age story is based on the novel by David Baldacci and is currently shooting in Virginia.

Foy plays a young girl who, along with her brother, moves from New York to a Virginia farm to live with their great-grandmother following a family tragedy. The change of scenery helps her understand what inspired her father's writings while discovering herself. [Source: Variety]

Grudge Match...

Darnell Martin's Wish You Well has cast Breaking Dawn - Part 2's Mackenzie Foy in the adaptation of David Baldacci's bestselling novel. Variety reports that that Martin is helming from a script he wrote, as well as producing the independent film. Foy, who plays Bella and Edward Cullen's (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson) daughter Renesmee in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, joins Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas The co-production between Life Out Loud Films, Copper Beech Productions and Baldacci's company Baldacci Entertainment co-stars Ned Bellamy, Laura Fraser, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Alano Miller and Jp Vanderloo. Filming is currently taking place in Giles County, Virginia.

Darnell Martin's Wish You Well has cast Breaking Dawn - Part 2's Mackenzie Foy in the adaptation of David Baldacci's bestselling novel. Variety reports that that Martin is helming from a script he wrote, as well as producing the independent film. Foy, who plays Bella and Edward Cullen's (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson) daughter Renesmee in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, joins Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas The co-production between Life Out Loud Films, Copper Beech Productions and Baldacci's company Baldacci Entertainment co-stars Ned Bellamy, Laura Fraser, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Alano Miller and Jp Vanderloo. Filming is currently taking place in Giles County, Virginia.

Huff/Post50 editor at large Rita Wilson penned a moving tribute to her friend Nora Ephron in 'Variety' this week, one of several tributes by women to iconic leaders the industry has lost this year. In the story, Eva Longoria remembers Lupe Ontiveros; Bonnie Hunt posts a tribute to Phyllis Diller; Darnell Martin offers thoughts on Etta James; and Sherry Lansing honors Sue Mengers, among others.

"[Nora Ephron's] contribution, to me, is about possibility and empowerment," writes Wilson. "She made you feel as if you could do anything. Her protagonists were strong, competent, sometimes extraordinary women that made you feel as if that was you up there on the screen, that finally someone was writing about your thoughts and feelings but saying them far more intelligently or wittily than you ever would." Check out 'Variety' for more.

If the success of the project's fundraising campaign wasn't enough, this piece of news definitely indicates that Dear White People should be coming to the big screen soon. According to writer/director Justin Simien, veteran producer Stephanie Allain (Hustle & Flow, Something New, Black Snake Moan, We The Peeples) has come onto the project as Executive Producer. Allain has two decades of experience as an advocate for visionary filmmakers, and is credited with helping to launch the careers of several filmmakers including Craig Brewer, John Singleton, Robert Rodriguez, and Darnell Martin, as a producer and as a studio executive. To recap, Dear White People is an...

Grimm Episode 116 "The Thing with Feathers" Written By: Richard Hatem Directed By: Darnell Martin Original Airdate: 6 April 2012  In This Episode... Juliette and Nick are headed for a romantic weekend getaway in the country. Upon arriving, they realize that their new next-door neighbor, Tim ("next door" being down the road a ways, but still in eyesight) is abusing his wife, Robin. Nick sees Tim's Wesen face. Juliette gets a bad feeling from the house, and when she sees the couple in the front yard, fighting violently, she insists Nick do something. All he can really do is call the local police. The sheriff comes out, but leaves without arresting Tim. A...

Nick attempts to arrange a weekend away with Juliette, engagement ring in his pocket, but as usual, Wesen trouble intervenes.

Grimm Review, Season 1, Episode 16 “The Thing With Feathers”

Written by Richard Hatem

Directed by Darnell Martin

Airs Fridays at 9pm (Et) on NBC

As we celebrate Easter and the rising of Jesus from the dead by stuffing ourselves with chocolate, this week’s Grimm sticks to holiday mode by making it all about food, chicks, and eggs. Nick plans to cook Juliette a special meal – the same they ate on their first date – before popping the big question. Adelind Schade has Hank down on his knees and begging for a chance to take her out to dinner. In the house next door to the gorgeous log cabin Nick has booked for his romantic hideaway (where do the location guys find these places?) a cat-Wesen forcefeeds a captive bird-Wesen a minced worm smoothie (yum!

Cuba Gooding Jr. is set to star in Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie Firelight for ABC. The Oscar winner will play Dwayne Johnson, nicknamed DJ, a counselor at a youth correctional facility where "the incarcerated girls and young women come from trouble, often violent, backgrounds." Co-starring in the telepic are DeWanda Wise, Yakina Horn and Q'Orianka Kilcher. Firelight, directed by Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records) and written by Ligiah Villalobos, will premiere Sunday, April 22 at 9-11 p.m. on ABC. Brent Shields, Alicia Keys and Mary Martin serve as executive producers, with David A. Rosemont as

read more...

HollywoodNews.com: Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards, announced the selection of accomplished film producer Stephanie Allain as its new Los Angeles Film Festival Director, starting immediately. She succeeds Rebecca Yeldham, who recently elected to step down for personal reasons.

Stephanie will be working closely with Festival Managing Director Gloria Campbell and Festival Artistic Director David Ansen, as well as Associate Director of Programming Doug Jones, Senior Programmer Maggie Mackay and Programming Coordinator Jenn Wilson. “Stephanie has served on the Film Independent Board of Directors since 2007 and been involved in many aspects of the organization. She’s chaired the Spirit Awards Nominating Committee and been a huge supporter of Project Involve, as well as our year-round educational programs,” said Co-President Sean Mc Manus. “Stephanie has a clear vision for the Festival, a stellar track record as a producer and...

Blues and jazz singer Etta James died early this morning at Southern California's Riverside Community Hospital from complications of leukemia. She was 73. In 2009, James had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. James' first album, "At Last!," was released in 1961. She won her first of six Grammys 33 years later, for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for the tribute album "Mystery Lady (Songs of Billie Holiday)". Despite battling heroin addiction in the '60s and '70s — in addition to other substance-abuse issues in later years — James released 27 albums during a career that lasted close to half a century. On the IMDb, James has only two credited film appearances: cameos in Nick Castle's Tap (1989), starring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr, and Michael Schultz's musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). The latter film was a monumental flop despite the presence of the then-popular Bee Gees, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, and Peter Frampton,...

Cuba Gooding Jr. received a profile boost recently thanks to all the attention directed at his upcoming World War II film Red Tails including a Veterans Day appearance at a New York Jets game. Gooding Jr. joined Terrence Howard and Nate Parker in director Anthony Hemingway’s drama about the Pentagon in 1944 putting into action the first African American military aviators, the Tuskegee Airmen. Gooding Jr. maintained the career momentum by joining Crew Nine, a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie about a counselor at a youth detention center who trains troubled teens how to battle forest fires and other natural disasters. Variety reported today that Ligiah Villalobos (Under the Same Moon) wrote the script and Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records, I Like It Like That) joined the project as director.

Cuba Gooding Jr. received a profile boost recently thanks to all the attention directed at his upcoming World War II film Red Tails including a Veterans Day appearance at a New York Jets game. Gooding Jr. joined Terrence Howard and Nate Parker in director Anthony Hemingway’s drama about the Pentagon in 1944 putting into action the first African American military aviators, the Tuskegee Airmen. Gooding Jr. maintained the career momentum by joining Crew Nine, a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie about a counselor at a youth detention center who trains troubled teens how to battle forest fires and other natural disasters. Variety reported today that Ligiah Villalobos (Under the Same Moon) wrote the script and Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records, I Like It Like That) joined the project as director.

Cuba Gooding Jr. received a profile boost recently thanks to all the attention directed at his upcoming World War II film Red Tails including a Veterans Day appearance at a New York Jets game. Gooding Jr. joined Terrence Howard and Nate Parker in director Anthony Hemingway’s drama about the Pentagon in 1944 putting into action the first African American military aviators, the Tuskegee Airmen. Gooding Jr. maintained the career momentum by joining Crew Nine, a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie about a counselor at a youth detention center who trains troubled teens how to battle forest fires and other natural disasters. Variety reported today that Ligiah Villalobos (Under the Same Moon) wrote the script and Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records, I Like It Like That) joined the project as director.

Grimm Review, Season 1 Episode 3, “Beeware”

Written by Cameron Litvack & Thania St. John

Directed by Darnell Martin

Airs Fridays on NBC at 9pm (Et)

Early in the episode, Nick is trying to access a tweet from a cloned phone, but the suspect using the phone is cautious and has found a way to block the signal.

‘Can you get round it?’ Nick asks Sergeant Wu.

‘Of course I can.’ Wu replies, tapping at his keyboard, ‘I’m Asian.’

Grimm has avoided the whimsy trap, but it could still go the way of Person of Interest and become a police procedural with window dressing. The solution is a cast of supporting characters who are worth watching just for themselves (Reggie Lee’s interpretation of Wu is ‘Officer Sulu before his first coffee of the day’) and enough quirky and gruesome detail to make the storylines satisfyingly rich and interesting. My favorite examples...

Grimm Episode 103 "Beeware" Written By: Cameron Litvak Directed By: Darnell Martin Original Airdate: 11 November 2011 In This Episode...  A pretty young woman gets on a bus. A flashmob erupts, dancing to "Ymca" of all things. The mob gets off at the next stop... and the woman is dead. She appears to have died from severe anaphylaxis: her head is grotesquely swollen and eyes bulgy. Coroner confirms the death, but it is definitely a homicide. There is an enormous puncture wound behind her ear, and she has at least 50mg of apitoxin (bee venom) in her system. A typical bee sting carries less than .1mg. Nick and Hank start by bringing in the members of...

It's been a hell of a long time since we heard anything about the George Lucas produced World War II film Red Tails. The film is still obviously in the process of being complete, it's been about a year since our last report. Today we can report that legendary Jazz musician Terence Blanchard will provide the musical score for the film, which is pretty damn cool, especially if you're into jazz.

The film was directed by The Wire's Anthony Hemingway (The Wire), and stars Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Bryan Cranston, David Oyelowo, Method Man, Tristan Wilds, Michael B. Jordan, Andre Royo and several more.

Red Tails is based on the legendary African-American WWII pilots named The Tuskegee Airmen. During the war this squadron not only had to fight in their planes, but also against racism in the strictly segregated troops at that time. The African-American pilots had to...