Clockwise from top left: Booksmart (Annapurna); Bottoms (MGM); Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (Lilies Film); But I’m A Cheerleader (Lionsgate); Red, White & Royal Blue (Amazon Studios)
Graphic: The A.V. Club
Bottoms, a raunchy, bloody comedy from director Emma Seligman (Shiva Baby), is kicking and punching its way into theaters...
Graphic: The A.V. Club
Bottoms, a raunchy, bloody comedy from director Emma Seligman (Shiva Baby), is kicking and punching its way into theaters...
- 8/24/2023
- by Emma Keates
- avclub.com
Exclusive: CBS Studios is developing The Mysterious Mortons, a detective drama series for CBS from Amy Rardin (Charmed), George Northy (Charmed), and Laurie Zaks (Castle), Deadline has learned.
The show follows a homicide detective who enlists his quirky family of mystery writers to assist him in cracking the cases that perplex the authorities.
Rardin and Northy will serve as writers and executive producers; Zaks executive produces under her banner Rosewood TV.
Rardin is currently an executive producer/writer on Amazon/Temple Hill’s Teton. She previously served as head writer and co-executive producer on Marvel/Disney+’s Echo, and co-creator/executive producer on the reboot of Charmed for the CW. She also served as co-executive producer and writer for four seasons of Jane The Virgin for the CW and began her staffing career on ABC Family’s Greek. Rardin is repped by Verve and Sugar23.
Northy sold Ozma to Netflix,...
The show follows a homicide detective who enlists his quirky family of mystery writers to assist him in cracking the cases that perplex the authorities.
Rardin and Northy will serve as writers and executive producers; Zaks executive produces under her banner Rosewood TV.
Rardin is currently an executive producer/writer on Amazon/Temple Hill’s Teton. She previously served as head writer and co-executive producer on Marvel/Disney+’s Echo, and co-creator/executive producer on the reboot of Charmed for the CW. She also served as co-executive producer and writer for four seasons of Jane The Virgin for the CW and began her staffing career on ABC Family’s Greek. Rardin is repped by Verve and Sugar23.
Northy sold Ozma to Netflix,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Pretty Little Liars and The Perfectionists alumna Sasha Pieterse has signed with Paradigm for representation in all areas.
Best known for her starring role as Alison Dilaurentis on the hit Freeform series Pretty Little Liars and spinoff The Perfectionists, for which she won two Teen Choice awards, Pieterse will next be seen in the upcoming Netflix feature film Ivy & Bean, based on Annie Barrows’ bestselling book series.
On the film side, Pieterse co-starred as Japonica Fenway in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice, opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Short. Additional feature credits include the 2018 Lionsgate pic The Honor List, produced by Zoe Saldana, and her starring role in the Netflix feature Coin Heist. She also starred in the indie comedy G.B.F (Gay Best Friend), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and in Burning Bodhi opposite Kaley Cuoco.
Her cookbook Sasha in Good Taste was published...
Best known for her starring role as Alison Dilaurentis on the hit Freeform series Pretty Little Liars and spinoff The Perfectionists, for which she won two Teen Choice awards, Pieterse will next be seen in the upcoming Netflix feature film Ivy & Bean, based on Annie Barrows’ bestselling book series.
On the film side, Pieterse co-starred as Japonica Fenway in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice, opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Short. Additional feature credits include the 2018 Lionsgate pic The Honor List, produced by Zoe Saldana, and her starring role in the Netflix feature Coin Heist. She also starred in the indie comedy G.B.F (Gay Best Friend), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and in Burning Bodhi opposite Kaley Cuoco.
Her cookbook Sasha in Good Taste was published...
- 4/4/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
After a five-year hiatus, JoJo (née Joanna Levesque) is returning to the small screen. On Feb. 14, Deadline confirmed that the 31-year-old newly engaged singer is joining the cast of The CW's "All American."
JoJo will have a recurring role on season four as a famous recording artist named Sabine. According to Deadline, Sabine has been singing since she was 10, and in search of a new sound, she teams up with Layla (Greta Onieogou) for her next album. Sounds fitting, right? JoJo is set to make her first appearance on the show when it returns for season four on Feb. 21.
Related: These Adorable Pictures of JoJo and Dexter Darden Prove They're Perfect For Each Other
JoJo previously starred in 2006's "Aquamarine," 2006's "Rv, and 2013's "G.B.F." She's also guest-starred on a series of shows, including "American Dreams," "Hawaii Five-0," and "Lethal Weapon." In addition to her acting career, JoJo has solidified...
JoJo will have a recurring role on season four as a famous recording artist named Sabine. According to Deadline, Sabine has been singing since she was 10, and in search of a new sound, she teams up with Layla (Greta Onieogou) for her next album. Sounds fitting, right? JoJo is set to make her first appearance on the show when it returns for season four on Feb. 21.
Related: These Adorable Pictures of JoJo and Dexter Darden Prove They're Perfect For Each Other
JoJo previously starred in 2006's "Aquamarine," 2006's "Rv, and 2013's "G.B.F." She's also guest-starred on a series of shows, including "American Dreams," "Hawaii Five-0," and "Lethal Weapon." In addition to her acting career, JoJo has solidified...
- 2/15/2022
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
This year for our "thankful for" column we're interviewing our contributors so you can get to know them better. Yes, Thanksgiving is technically over but we're still grateful. Here's one more for you. A big hug and thank you to Christopher James!
Chris has been with for Tfe for just over a year but we've known him much longer online, first meeting him in the flesh on a trip to Los Angeles. In the short time he's been with us he's completed the popular "Gay Best Friend" series (one more wrap-up episode is coming!) and is about to launch a new series. He also kept things lively with fun personal anecdotes and important questions, and has been a powerhouse when it comes to our Emmy coverage.
Our short interview follows...
When did you first fall in love with the movies?...
Chris has been with for Tfe for just over a year but we've known him much longer online, first meeting him in the flesh on a trip to Los Angeles. In the short time he's been with us he's completed the popular "Gay Best Friend" series (one more wrap-up episode is coming!) and is about to launch a new series. He also kept things lively with fun personal anecdotes and important questions, and has been a powerhouse when it comes to our Emmy coverage.
Our short interview follows...
When did you first fall in love with the movies?...
- 11/26/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
A series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope
Not pictured: The waiter that Diana (Julie Christie) and Malcolm (Roland Curran) were checking out.How can one be truly breaking convention if the act of breaking away is itself a convention? This is the plight of Diana Scott, the role that earned Julie Christie an Oscar win for Best Actress. Diana uses her feminine wiles to rise to the top of the English fashion scene, creating scandal everywhere she goes. She breaks all the conventions of how a “good girl” of the 50s would behave. While this makes her exciting, what is behind her social climbing antics? Is her rebellion ushering in a new progressive wave, or is she just rebelling to rebel? If the case is the latter, why is that something people should respect, rather than jeer?
The tagline of Darling (1965) reads: “A powerful and bold motion picture.
Not pictured: The waiter that Diana (Julie Christie) and Malcolm (Roland Curran) were checking out.How can one be truly breaking convention if the act of breaking away is itself a convention? This is the plight of Diana Scott, the role that earned Julie Christie an Oscar win for Best Actress. Diana uses her feminine wiles to rise to the top of the English fashion scene, creating scandal everywhere she goes. She breaks all the conventions of how a “good girl” of the 50s would behave. While this makes her exciting, what is behind her social climbing antics? Is her rebellion ushering in a new progressive wave, or is she just rebelling to rebel? If the case is the latter, why is that something people should respect, rather than jeer?
The tagline of Darling (1965) reads: “A powerful and bold motion picture.
- 10/21/2021
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
And just like that 2021 is half over. Whaaaa? We'll do the "halfway mark" listicles stuff any day now but it sure feels like the year has only just started. Surely due to how long Oscar season was delayed plus movie theaters just starting to trek back to full capacity (in some cities)...
A dozen highlights from June in case you missed 'em
• "Blue" Five great scenes in film using Joni Mitchell's music
• In the Heights Nathaniel's rave for a joyful perfect-for-summer movie musical
• Almost There: Myrna Loy this classic star was never Oscar nominated!
• Moulin Rouge! 20 appropriate ways to celebrate its big anniversary
• Gay Best Friend: Artie in Cruella Disney does it (sort of just barely) again
• Cannes an index of our coverage: sections, posters, stills, buzz, juries
• Judy Holliday Centennial a too short but fascinating career
• Emmys Watch FYCs and Predictions
• Joan vs Olivia the Old Hollywood...
A dozen highlights from June in case you missed 'em
• "Blue" Five great scenes in film using Joni Mitchell's music
• In the Heights Nathaniel's rave for a joyful perfect-for-summer movie musical
• Almost There: Myrna Loy this classic star was never Oscar nominated!
• Moulin Rouge! 20 appropriate ways to celebrate its big anniversary
• Gay Best Friend: Artie in Cruella Disney does it (sort of just barely) again
• Cannes an index of our coverage: sections, posters, stills, buzz, juries
• Judy Holliday Centennial a too short but fascinating career
• Emmys Watch FYCs and Predictions
• Joan vs Olivia the Old Hollywood...
- 6/30/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
A series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope
Queen Latifah stood out in the ensemble thriller "Set It Off" as Cleo, a butch lesbian bank robber.Be gay, do crimes.
The film business was born with stories of outsiders committing crimes just to survive. The entire gangster genre is built on that premise. Bonnie & Clyde captured the zeitgeist by making robbing banks seem cool. F. Gary Gray’s 1996 thriller Set It Off gives us a very different view of the Bonnie & Clyde story. The film focuses on four inner-city black women each pushed to the brink by a financial system working against them. Rather than lay down and take it, they band together and start robbing banks just to get by. The cast, which includes Jada Pinkett (before Smith), Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise in her first role, is uniformly excellent, building a...
Queen Latifah stood out in the ensemble thriller "Set It Off" as Cleo, a butch lesbian bank robber.Be gay, do crimes.
The film business was born with stories of outsiders committing crimes just to survive. The entire gangster genre is built on that premise. Bonnie & Clyde captured the zeitgeist by making robbing banks seem cool. F. Gary Gray’s 1996 thriller Set It Off gives us a very different view of the Bonnie & Clyde story. The film focuses on four inner-city black women each pushed to the brink by a financial system working against them. Rather than lay down and take it, they band together and start robbing banks just to get by. The cast, which includes Jada Pinkett (before Smith), Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise in her first role, is uniformly excellent, building a...
- 6/29/2021
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
Usually March is our cool-down period after another exhausting but fun awards season. Here at (practically) the end of the first quarter of 2021, we're still three weeks away from Oscar night so we're reviewing each Oscar category still. Our internal calendars are a disaster. How about yours? Here's a quick recap in case you missed any of these...
A Dozen Highlights of March at Tfe
• Minari: A Tale of Two (or more) Grandmas Lynn gets personal for this movie
• The New Actress Hierarchy Frances & Glenn are still rising
• Gay Best Friend: Dolly in Silkwood All roads eventually lead to Cher
• Over & Overs: Amadeus This composer biopic never gets old
• Ten best onscreen pigs because we live for a random list
• Most Confusing Oscar Categories pre-Nominations It was supporting actor not actress that ended up shocking this year. Which other years had confusing results?
• This Had Oscar Buzz Nathaniel guest...
A Dozen Highlights of March at Tfe
• Minari: A Tale of Two (or more) Grandmas Lynn gets personal for this movie
• The New Actress Hierarchy Frances & Glenn are still rising
• Gay Best Friend: Dolly in Silkwood All roads eventually lead to Cher
• Over & Overs: Amadeus This composer biopic never gets old
• Ten best onscreen pigs because we live for a random list
• Most Confusing Oscar Categories pre-Nominations It was supporting actor not actress that ended up shocking this year. Which other years had confusing results?
• This Had Oscar Buzz Nathaniel guest...
- 3/31/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
by Christopher James
Get your hot topic graphic tees and turn on some Clash inspired rock music, we’re going back to 2010 for this week’s installment of Gay Best Friend. Inspired by comments from readers Scott C and Jesus Alonso, we returned to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for the first time since seeing it in theaters 10 years ago. It turned out to be a fascinating watch in more ways than one, so thank you for the suggestion!
It’s fitting we’re examining the role of Wallace Wells, played by Kieran Culkin, 10 years later. Culkin has graduated from “Maculely Culkin’s talented brother” to stardom thanks to his Emmy-nominated work in Succession. Additionally, in a movie stuffed with zaniness and stylization, Wallace’s role as the Gbf is more as a stabilizing, grounding force. While it’s a small role, the film makes Wallace an interesting, modern portrait...
Get your hot topic graphic tees and turn on some Clash inspired rock music, we’re going back to 2010 for this week’s installment of Gay Best Friend. Inspired by comments from readers Scott C and Jesus Alonso, we returned to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for the first time since seeing it in theaters 10 years ago. It turned out to be a fascinating watch in more ways than one, so thank you for the suggestion!
It’s fitting we’re examining the role of Wallace Wells, played by Kieran Culkin, 10 years later. Culkin has graduated from “Maculely Culkin’s talented brother” to stardom thanks to his Emmy-nominated work in Succession. Additionally, in a movie stuffed with zaniness and stylization, Wallace’s role as the Gbf is more as a stabilizing, grounding force. While it’s a small role, the film makes Wallace an interesting, modern portrait...
- 11/30/2020
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
Hi readers. I know I got lost in the weeds a bit in November. It's that damn International Feature Oscar race. It really brings out my Ocd qualities with those Oscar history overviews so I skimped on other stuff. Anyway, here are some of key posts of November in case you missed any. There's one day left but it's the holiday weekend so we're doing the wrap up early ;)
Highlights from the Month That Was
• Ethan Hawke at 50 -an appreciation. The definitive Gen X actor?
• Home for the Holidays -deserves to be a better remembered!
• "Gay Best Friend" -a delightful new series kicked off with My Best Friend's Wedding and Under the Tuscan Sun
• Netflix has too many Oscar contenders - considering the possibilities
• Nicole Kidman in The Undoing -giving us eyeball acting!
• Joan Crawford -Criterion's curated collection
• Cher in 1987 -how she ruled the world that year
• Gene Tierney -...
Highlights from the Month That Was
• Ethan Hawke at 50 -an appreciation. The definitive Gen X actor?
• Home for the Holidays -deserves to be a better remembered!
• "Gay Best Friend" -a delightful new series kicked off with My Best Friend's Wedding and Under the Tuscan Sun
• Netflix has too many Oscar contenders - considering the possibilities
• Nicole Kidman in The Undoing -giving us eyeball acting!
• Joan Crawford -Criterion's curated collection
• Cher in 1987 -how she ruled the world that year
• Gene Tierney -...
- 11/29/2020
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
In the late 1990s and well into the ’00s, there was a wave of black-centered romances that became wildly popular including Love & Basketball, The Wood, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Love Jones, Brown Sugar and The Best Man. Fast forward to 2020, and we are seeing a steady resurgence of black love stories in films like The Photograph, from friend of the podcast Stella Meghie, as well as Queen & Slim written by Lena Waithe and directed by Melina Matsoukas — also friends of the pod.
Modern black love stories are now making their way to TV with Ava DuVernay’s anthology series Cherish the Day starring Xosha Roquemore — who is this week’s guest on New Hollywood.
Roquemore’s star has been on the rise since her first major film role in Lee Daniels’ Precious. She went on to star in The Mindy Project, the highly underrated comedy G.B.F....
Modern black love stories are now making their way to TV with Ava DuVernay’s anthology series Cherish the Day starring Xosha Roquemore — who is this week’s guest on New Hollywood.
Roquemore’s star has been on the rise since her first major film role in Lee Daniels’ Precious. She went on to star in The Mindy Project, the highly underrated comedy G.B.F....
- 2/25/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos and Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The CW has put in development Infamous, an action-drama from writers George Northy (Charmed) and Darren Stein (Jawbreaker), and Mike Tollin and his Tollin Productions.
Written by Northy and Stein, Infamous is a take on the thrilling spy drama with a modern, satirical celebrity twist. It is inspired by the true stories of world-famous actors, models and musicians who also happened to moonlight as spies for the Allied Forces in WWII, such as Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr and Josephine Baker just to name a few. In Infamous, celebrities who’ve experienced a devastating fall from grace are recruited by a top-secret arm of the CIA, with the promise to rehab their careers in exchange for using their global access (and eccentric reputations) to perform high-risk missions across the globe.
Tollin Productions’ VP Scripted Programming Maia Glikman is executive producing the project along with Mike Tollin.
Northy and Stein first...
Written by Northy and Stein, Infamous is a take on the thrilling spy drama with a modern, satirical celebrity twist. It is inspired by the true stories of world-famous actors, models and musicians who also happened to moonlight as spies for the Allied Forces in WWII, such as Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr and Josephine Baker just to name a few. In Infamous, celebrities who’ve experienced a devastating fall from grace are recruited by a top-secret arm of the CIA, with the promise to rehab their careers in exchange for using their global access (and eccentric reputations) to perform high-risk missions across the globe.
Tollin Productions’ VP Scripted Programming Maia Glikman is executive producing the project along with Mike Tollin.
Northy and Stein first...
- 12/18/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
From the minds of Michael Varrati and Matthew Herrmann, a live reading of William Castle's House on Haunted Hill (1959) will occur for two nights only on Friday, October 5th and Saturday, October 6th at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater in Silver Lake, California. The live reading cast will include Roz Drezfalez, Drew Droege, Barrett Foa, Sam Pancake, Mitch Silpa, Lynne Stewart, and Molly Tarlov, and we have the full details on the live performances:
Press Release: A live reading of the cult horror film classic “House on Haunted Hill” has been announced for two performances only on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6, at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant in Silver Lake. The curtain will rise at 9pm for both performances.
Conceived by Michael Varrati and Matthew Herrmann, “House on Haunted Hill” will feature the talents of (in alphabetical order) drag favorite Roz Drezfalez, Drew Droege (Bright Colors,...
Press Release: A live reading of the cult horror film classic “House on Haunted Hill” has been announced for two performances only on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6, at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant in Silver Lake. The curtain will rise at 9pm for both performances.
Conceived by Michael Varrati and Matthew Herrmann, “House on Haunted Hill” will feature the talents of (in alphabetical order) drag favorite Roz Drezfalez, Drew Droege (Bright Colors,...
- 10/1/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
“Sometimes I’ll see somebody and they just instantly burst into tears.”
Megan Mullally is talking about especially animated fans who recognize her as Karen Walker from Will & Grace, which returned to NBC in a roundly celebrated revival this fall. “I always just give them a big hug and I’m like, ‘I’m so boring! You don’t understand,” she adds.
But admirers old and new of Grace’s brassy assistant will agree that there’s nothing boring about Mullally’s scene-stealing character, whom audiences first met during the series’ original eight-season run from 1998 to 2006. When the sitcom’s famous foursome first reunited last September for a video to encourage viewers to vote in the 2016 presidential election, the biggest bombshell came with Karen’s choice of candidate.
“She’s a Trump supporter on paper,” Mullally tells Et over the phone from her home in Los Angeles. The political tone of the PSA, which served as a precursor...
Megan Mullally is talking about especially animated fans who recognize her as Karen Walker from Will & Grace, which returned to NBC in a roundly celebrated revival this fall. “I always just give them a big hug and I’m like, ‘I’m so boring! You don’t understand,” she adds.
But admirers old and new of Grace’s brassy assistant will agree that there’s nothing boring about Mullally’s scene-stealing character, whom audiences first met during the series’ original eight-season run from 1998 to 2006. When the sitcom’s famous foursome first reunited last September for a video to encourage viewers to vote in the 2016 presidential election, the biggest bombshell came with Karen’s choice of candidate.
“She’s a Trump supporter on paper,” Mullally tells Et over the phone from her home in Los Angeles. The political tone of the PSA, which served as a precursor...
- 12/14/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
By Peter Belsito
Two Gay Dads. One Meddling Tiger Mom. What Could Go Wrong?
Coming out on DVD, Blu-ray & VOD in the U.S. & Canada August 15 from Gravitas Ventures.
Starring: Grace Guei, Barney Cheng and Michael Adam Hamilton
I really enjoyed this feature length comedy about modern international gay and family life and what modern parenthood can involve.
Oscar-winning producer Li-Kong Su (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Stephen Israel (Swimming With Sharks, G.B.F.), give us Baby Steps, a comedy-drama directed, written and starring Barney Cheng about gay family issues in complicated dynamic of a cross-cultural and multi-generational Taiwanese-American family.
Danny, a Taiwanese-American man, longs to have a baby with his American boyfriend Tate, but their attempts at international surrogacy are complicated by Danny’s meddling mom, who wants to control every aspect of the process — all the way from Taipei. She descends upon them and their life together and proceeds...
Two Gay Dads. One Meddling Tiger Mom. What Could Go Wrong?
Coming out on DVD, Blu-ray & VOD in the U.S. & Canada August 15 from Gravitas Ventures.
Starring: Grace Guei, Barney Cheng and Michael Adam Hamilton
I really enjoyed this feature length comedy about modern international gay and family life and what modern parenthood can involve.
Oscar-winning producer Li-Kong Su (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Stephen Israel (Swimming With Sharks, G.B.F.), give us Baby Steps, a comedy-drama directed, written and starring Barney Cheng about gay family issues in complicated dynamic of a cross-cultural and multi-generational Taiwanese-American family.
Danny, a Taiwanese-American man, longs to have a baby with his American boyfriend Tate, but their attempts at international surrogacy are complicated by Danny’s meddling mom, who wants to control every aspect of the process — all the way from Taipei. She descends upon them and their life together and proceeds...
- 8/16/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Memory loss leads to mind-bending moments in Ed Gass-Donnelly's Lavender, and to commemorate the film's theatrical, VOD, and Digital HD release from Samuel Goldwyn Films and Ambi Media Group, we've been provided with three iTunes download codes to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.
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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) free iTunes download code for Lavender.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email [email protected] with the subject “Lavender Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on Monday, 6th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted. Please note that the iTunes download codes expire on March 31st.
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"Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly (“The Last Exorcism Part II”) who co-wrote the film with...
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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) free iTunes download code for Lavender.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email [email protected] with the subject “Lavender Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on Monday, 6th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted. Please note that the iTunes download codes expire on March 31st.
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"Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly (“The Last Exorcism Part II”) who co-wrote the film with...
- 3/3/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Although it never reached the satirical heights of Heathers, or the mainstream popularity of Mean Girls, Darren Stein’s high school black comedy Jawbreaker has earned cult status in recent years, courtesy of some delightfully over-the-top queen bee performances from Rose McGowan and Judy Greer. Now, E! has announced that it’s making a TV version of the 1999 film, with Stein set to co-write and executive produce.
The original movie starred McGowan as an icy high school mastermind fighting to hide her accidental murder of her loved and hated best frenemy. The new series will apparently update that premise, centering on “a new clique whose world is rocked by an accidental killing at a bachelorette party.” We can presumably still expect the same escalating series of blackmailings, threats, and withering high school put-downs, though.
Stein’s recent projects include the gay film festival hit G.B.F.; he’s ...
The original movie starred McGowan as an icy high school mastermind fighting to hide her accidental murder of her loved and hated best frenemy. The new series will apparently update that premise, centering on “a new clique whose world is rocked by an accidental killing at a bachelorette party.” We can presumably still expect the same escalating series of blackmailings, threats, and withering high school put-downs, though.
Stein’s recent projects include the gay film festival hit G.B.F.; he’s ...
- 2/16/2017
- by William Hughes
- avclub.com
E! has put in development Jawbreaker, a reimagining of the teen cult classic film, as an hourlong scripted series, from Sony TV. The film’s writer-director Darren Stein and George Northy (G.B.F.) are set to co-write the TV adaptation and executive produce. The Jawbreaker series is a wild reimagining of the 1999 film set in the fame-obsessed world of Beverly Hills. The adaptation follows a new clique whose world is rocked by an accidental killing at a bachelorette party…...
- 2/16/2017
- Deadline TV
Samuel Goldwyn Films and Ambi Group have teamed up for the Us release of Lavender, directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly and co-written by Colin Frizzell. The film will have its initial premiere on Dish on February 3rd, but you check out the trailer for the film in today’s Highlights. Following right behind, we also have a trailer for Garden Party Massacre as well as preview pages from Dark Horse Comics’ Eerie Volume 23 hardcover for you to enjoy.
Watch the Latest Trailer for Lavender: Press Release: “Los Angeles (Jan. 26, 2017) – Samuel Goldwyn Films and Ambi Group will partner on the domestic release for the anticipated thriller, “Lavender.” Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly (“The Last Exorcism Part II”) who co-wrote the film with Colin Frizzell (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse”), the film stars Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Diego Klattenhoff (TV’s “The Blacklist”), Justin Long (“Live Free or Die Hard”) and Dermot Mulroney (“My Best Friend...
Watch the Latest Trailer for Lavender: Press Release: “Los Angeles (Jan. 26, 2017) – Samuel Goldwyn Films and Ambi Group will partner on the domestic release for the anticipated thriller, “Lavender.” Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly (“The Last Exorcism Part II”) who co-wrote the film with Colin Frizzell (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse”), the film stars Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Diego Klattenhoff (TV’s “The Blacklist”), Justin Long (“Live Free or Die Hard”) and Dermot Mulroney (“My Best Friend...
- 1/27/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Two episodes were provided prior to broadcast.
Piggybacking on the premiere of the fifth and final season of Awkward, MTV’s Faking It continues the effervescent descent into high school idiosyncrasies for which the network’s teenage-aimed sitcoms have become known. The impressive thing about the first two episodes of the last half of the sophomore season of Faking It (which is obviously not the way MTV has broken up and scheduled the show) is that it has slowly begun to surpass its sister series as the incisive parody of high school minutiae that Awkward was in its hay day.
Picking up two weeks after last year’s finale, the season 2B premiere dumps its coterie of amusing characters into a new, scary version of Hester High. The show’s crushingly liberal nexus of plots and characters is undergoing a bit of a face lift, thanks to a few cascading...
Piggybacking on the premiere of the fifth and final season of Awkward, MTV’s Faking It continues the effervescent descent into high school idiosyncrasies for which the network’s teenage-aimed sitcoms have become known. The impressive thing about the first two episodes of the last half of the sophomore season of Faking It (which is obviously not the way MTV has broken up and scheduled the show) is that it has slowly begun to surpass its sister series as the incisive parody of high school minutiae that Awkward was in its hay day.
Picking up two weeks after last year’s finale, the season 2B premiere dumps its coterie of amusing characters into a new, scary version of Hester High. The show’s crushingly liberal nexus of plots and characters is undergoing a bit of a face lift, thanks to a few cascading...
- 8/28/2015
- by Mitchel Broussard
- We Got This Covered
It's been a whopping 14 years since Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone made its big screen debut.
A lot has changed since then - most notably the child stars which the movie franchise made famous.
Now - after the internet was astonished to see what Harry Potter's Neville Longbottom looks like now - Digital Spy has donned our sorting hat to see what the now-muggles look like today...
1. Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley
Post-Potter, Harry Melling has had parts in Merlin, Just William and Garrow's Law. Last year, he also performed a one-man play in New York called peddling and starred opposite Scarlett Johnson, Patsy Ferran and Felix Scott in The Angry Brigade.
2. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
We nearly lost our Snitch when we saw the transformation Matthew Lewis has had since his days as Neville Longbottom. He's gained a beard, good looks and also a role in BBC Three comedy Bluestone 42.
A lot has changed since then - most notably the child stars which the movie franchise made famous.
Now - after the internet was astonished to see what Harry Potter's Neville Longbottom looks like now - Digital Spy has donned our sorting hat to see what the now-muggles look like today...
1. Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley
Post-Potter, Harry Melling has had parts in Merlin, Just William and Garrow's Law. Last year, he also performed a one-man play in New York called peddling and starred opposite Scarlett Johnson, Patsy Ferran and Felix Scott in The Angry Brigade.
2. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
We nearly lost our Snitch when we saw the transformation Matthew Lewis has had since his days as Neville Longbottom. He's gained a beard, good looks and also a role in BBC Three comedy Bluestone 42.
- 3/16/2015
- Digital Spy
“Orange Is the New Black” star Natasha Lyonne will host the 10th Annual Legacy Awards, benefiting the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project. “Natasha Lyonne is a force – she has been unafraid to push the boundaries of gender and sexuality in roles ranging from the hilariously campy to the downright brazen,” said Kirsten Schaffer, executive director of Outfest, in a statement. “She has also been a vibrant part of the Outfest community, having starred in numerous films that are housed in the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project archive, including ‘But I'm A Cheerleader,’ ‘G.B.F.,’ and ‘Party Monster.'” See photos: ‘Orange Is the New.
- 10/21/2014
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
'It's an obnoxiously camp DayGlo assault of a movie, every second of its runtime deep-fried in double entendre'
Reading this on mobile? Click here to view
Studios are often criticised for intentionally misrepresenting their films in an attempt to reach a wider audience than they might do otherwise. It's a fair complaint: millions of people might have been spared Marley & Me had its poster not shied away from depicting the onslaught of postnatal depression and canine euthanasia that made up the film's final act. But ever so often, a film comes along for which misrepresentation is a crucial part of the package. Jawbreaker director Darren Stein goes back to school in Gbf, the story of a newly outed high school senior who finds himself stalked by a trio of would-be prom queens, each of them desperate to secure their own socially appropriate "gay best friend". From the off, it's an...
Reading this on mobile? Click here to view
Studios are often criticised for intentionally misrepresenting their films in an attempt to reach a wider audience than they might do otherwise. It's a fair complaint: millions of people might have been spared Marley & Me had its poster not shied away from depicting the onslaught of postnatal depression and canine euthanasia that made up the film's final act. But ever so often, a film comes along for which misrepresentation is a crucial part of the package. Jawbreaker director Darren Stein goes back to school in Gbf, the story of a newly outed high school senior who finds himself stalked by a trio of would-be prom queens, each of them desperate to secure their own socially appropriate "gay best friend". From the off, it's an...
- 4/19/2014
- by Charlie Lyne
- The Guardian - Film News
Following on from a triumphant showing at the recent BFI Flare festival in London, Darren Stein’s (Jawbreaker) high-school comedy G.B.F. (Gay Best Friend) now makes its way to Blu-ray and DVD, and we had the pleasure of sitting down with the filmmaker, alongside the lead star himself, Michael J. Willet, to discuss the project.
The pair discuss the difficulties in getting a film with a gay protagonist financed in Hollywood, finding an intimacy in such grandiose surroundings, the striking visual experience of the picture – and how being an outsider in real life has helped them both when creating this piece of cinema.
Darren it’s been 14 years since your last feature film. What was it about this particular story that lured you back in?
Darren Stein: It was the script. I’m not interested in making specifically teen films, but this one was so smart and relevant and...
The pair discuss the difficulties in getting a film with a gay protagonist financed in Hollywood, finding an intimacy in such grandiose surroundings, the striking visual experience of the picture – and how being an outsider in real life has helped them both when creating this piece of cinema.
Darren it’s been 14 years since your last feature film. What was it about this particular story that lured you back in?
Darren Stein: It was the script. I’m not interested in making specifically teen films, but this one was so smart and relevant and...
- 4/11/2014
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
To mark the release of G.B.F. on 14th April, we’ve been given a signed copy of the Blu-ray and a signed quad poster to give away to one winner, with two runner ups receiving a copy of the Blu-ray.
Meet Tanner and Brent. They are two gay best friends. Brent longs for the spotlight and believes that coming out will make him instantly popular as North Gateway High’s very first G.B.F. (or Gay Best Friend). Tanner on the other hand, would rather fly under the radar and finish high school without ever being noticed.
When things don’t go according to plan and Tanner is outed instead of Brent, the two boys go from B.F.Fs to instant frenemies. Enter the three most popular girls in school — queen-of-mean bombshell Fawcett, drama club diva Caprice, and sweet, Mormon good-girl ‘Shley, who launch an all-out social war to win Tanner’s friendship.
Meet Tanner and Brent. They are two gay best friends. Brent longs for the spotlight and believes that coming out will make him instantly popular as North Gateway High’s very first G.B.F. (or Gay Best Friend). Tanner on the other hand, would rather fly under the radar and finish high school without ever being noticed.
When things don’t go according to plan and Tanner is outed instead of Brent, the two boys go from B.F.Fs to instant frenemies. Enter the three most popular girls in school — queen-of-mean bombshell Fawcett, drama club diva Caprice, and sweet, Mormon good-girl ‘Shley, who launch an all-out social war to win Tanner’s friendship.
- 4/7/2014
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Chicago – In November of 2013, the 31st annual Chicago Lgbt International Film Festival, also known as “Reeling31,” provided a week long showcase for gay filmmakers. There were many new voices in the mix, and they were on the Red Carpet on opening night of the Fest.
HollywoodChicago.com was on the scene, which took place at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago. The stars of the opening night feature film. “G.B.F,” were there for interviews and photos, plus filmmakers and actors from the films “Burning Blue,” “The Happy Sad’ and “Truth” – which were shown throughout the week – also walked the fabled Red Carpet.
The “Reeling” Festival is currently sponsoring a free film series in Chicago, the fourth annual “Cinema Q.” The last week of the series will present “De-Lovely” (2004) – starring Kevin Kline as Cole Porter – on March 26th, 6:30pm, at Chicago’s Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street.
HollywoodChicago.com was on the scene, which took place at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago. The stars of the opening night feature film. “G.B.F,” were there for interviews and photos, plus filmmakers and actors from the films “Burning Blue,” “The Happy Sad’ and “Truth” – which were shown throughout the week – also walked the fabled Red Carpet.
The “Reeling” Festival is currently sponsoring a free film series in Chicago, the fourth annual “Cinema Q.” The last week of the series will present “De-Lovely” (2004) – starring Kevin Kline as Cole Porter – on March 26th, 6:30pm, at Chicago’s Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street.
- 3/24/2014
- by [email protected] (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In with the in crowd.
The story of a teenager for whom being outed as gay means becoming a must-have fashion accessory, G.B.F. was selected as part of this year’s BFI Flare festival (formerly the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival). I caught up with director Darren Stein and star Michael J Willett whilst they were visiting London for the festival, and asked how they felt about being a part of it.
“I’m so excited!” Michael exclaimed. I love London. I love the history, I love the culture. I haven’t been here since I was in high school so to be back here now with my first movie, that feels really good.”
Darren showed similar enthusiasm, praising the festival and the team behind it. I asked him if he’s a longstanding fan of the high school movie genre.
Even popular girls get lonely.
“I am, I really am!
The story of a teenager for whom being outed as gay means becoming a must-have fashion accessory, G.B.F. was selected as part of this year’s BFI Flare festival (formerly the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival). I caught up with director Darren Stein and star Michael J Willett whilst they were visiting London for the festival, and asked how they felt about being a part of it.
“I’m so excited!” Michael exclaimed. I love London. I love the history, I love the culture. I haven’t been here since I was in high school so to be back here now with my first movie, that feels really good.”
Darren showed similar enthusiasm, praising the festival and the team behind it. I asked him if he’s a longstanding fan of the high school movie genre.
Even popular girls get lonely.
“I am, I really am!
- 3/23/2014
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Starred Up | Labor Day | Yves Saint Laurent | Gbf | The Robber | The Machine | Salvo | The Unknown Known | A Long Way Down
Starred Up (18)
(David Mackenzie, 2013, UK) Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend. 106 mins
We've seen enough prison movies to know the drill, but this is closer to A Prophet than The Great Escape – a bracing mix of brutal thriller, institutional critique and complex character drama. Conviction is key, both in the day-to-day details and the natural performances, particularly O'Connell – a young offender violent enough to be housed with the grown-ups, including his own father. It feels like things could kick off with every scene.
Labor Day (12A)
(Jason Reitman, 2013, Us) Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith. 111 mins
The Juno director tries nuanced domestic drama – and it doesn't really suit him. Erotic tremors are a given when Brolin's escaped convict shacks up with Winslet's lonely single mum, but you'll need to park your disbelief.
Starred Up (18)
(David Mackenzie, 2013, UK) Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend. 106 mins
We've seen enough prison movies to know the drill, but this is closer to A Prophet than The Great Escape – a bracing mix of brutal thriller, institutional critique and complex character drama. Conviction is key, both in the day-to-day details and the natural performances, particularly O'Connell – a young offender violent enough to be housed with the grown-ups, including his own father. It feels like things could kick off with every scene.
Labor Day (12A)
(Jason Reitman, 2013, Us) Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith. 111 mins
The Juno director tries nuanced domestic drama – and it doesn't really suit him. Erotic tremors are a given when Brolin's escaped convict shacks up with Winslet's lonely single mum, but you'll need to park your disbelief.
- 3/22/2014
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Darren Stein’s sparkling comedy G.B.F. is one of those typical American high-school set productions where every character looks like they’re more likely to be picking up their own children from school, rather than actually study there. Nonetheless, this merely sets the precedence for a picture that requires a suspension of disbelief in order to enjoy, in what is a glitzy and ultimately superficial affair – though that’s not to say it’s not rather good fun.
Michael J. Willet plays Tanner, a young, gay student reluctant to come out of the closet, in spite of his best friend Brent’s (Paul Iacono) best efforts to persuade him otherwise. In a rare lapse of concentration, Tanner is accidentally outed, and though expecting a backlash of sorts, instead he becomes one of the most popular guys in school, as the coolest girls, consisting of the likes of Caprice (Xosha Roquemore...
Michael J. Willet plays Tanner, a young, gay student reluctant to come out of the closet, in spite of his best friend Brent’s (Paul Iacono) best efforts to persuade him otherwise. In a rare lapse of concentration, Tanner is accidentally outed, and though expecting a backlash of sorts, instead he becomes one of the most popular guys in school, as the coolest girls, consisting of the likes of Caprice (Xosha Roquemore...
- 3/21/2014
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
A closeted teen's popularity goes through the roof when he is outed in this broad, sweet high-school comedy
In this broad comedy, shy, closeted teen Tanner (Michael J Willett) is accidentally outed and then finds his social standing goes stratospheric when the school's most popular girls start vying for his companionship, because a Gbf (gay best friend) is this season's must-have accessory. As the premise might suggest, the story unfolds in a hot-pastel world of fantasy where parents practically cheer when their kids come out, the school (represented by Natasha Lyonne) is super-supportive, and no one gets queer-bashed (Harry Potter's Evanna Lynch is on hand as the token bigot, though). And why not? The result is mostly swishy, sweet fun, although admittedly it might have benefitted from a bit of tweaking to fluff up bigger, better, and bitchier one-liners. Nevertheless, there's something cheering about the fact that in 2014 it's possible...
In this broad comedy, shy, closeted teen Tanner (Michael J Willett) is accidentally outed and then finds his social standing goes stratospheric when the school's most popular girls start vying for his companionship, because a Gbf (gay best friend) is this season's must-have accessory. As the premise might suggest, the story unfolds in a hot-pastel world of fantasy where parents practically cheer when their kids come out, the school (represented by Natasha Lyonne) is super-supportive, and no one gets queer-bashed (Harry Potter's Evanna Lynch is on hand as the token bigot, though). And why not? The result is mostly swishy, sweet fun, although admittedly it might have benefitted from a bit of tweaking to fluff up bigger, better, and bitchier one-liners. Nevertheless, there's something cheering about the fact that in 2014 it's possible...
- 3/21/2014
- The Guardian - Film News
In the new MTV series, being gay brings popularity and power. But what if you’re Faking It?
Leave it to MTV to bring us another fun series where gay characters are not only present but also en vogue.
In the new series Faking It, teen social outcasts Amy (Rita Volk) and Karma (Katie Stevens) are such close BFFs that when they’re mistaken as a lesbian couple by their peers, they realize the masquerade not only raises their social standing but even gives them a sense of power. How long will they keep up the ruse? And what if one of them starts liking playing gay a little too much?
Created by out producer Carter Covington, the series is set in Austin, Texas at a progressive arts school and also stars Michael J. Willett (recently seen in the gay indie, Gbf) as out and proud Shane and Gregg Sulkin as his straight bestie Liam,...
Leave it to MTV to bring us another fun series where gay characters are not only present but also en vogue.
In the new series Faking It, teen social outcasts Amy (Rita Volk) and Karma (Katie Stevens) are such close BFFs that when they’re mistaken as a lesbian couple by their peers, they realize the masquerade not only raises their social standing but even gives them a sense of power. How long will they keep up the ruse? And what if one of them starts liking playing gay a little too much?
Created by out producer Carter Covington, the series is set in Austin, Texas at a progressive arts school and also stars Michael J. Willett (recently seen in the gay indie, Gbf) as out and proud Shane and Gregg Sulkin as his straight bestie Liam,...
- 2/25/2014
- by Jim Halterman
- The Backlot
"Rated R for sexual references" is the typically tone-deaf ruling from the MPAA flywheels on Darren Stein's comedy G.B.F., a film that has far fewer sexual references than the similarly themed Easy A.
But while the PG-13 Easy A was about a straight teenage girl whose social status drops when she's falsely accused of losing her virginity, G.B.F.'s protagonist, Tanner (Michael J. Willett), is a closeted teenage boy whose social status rises when he's accurately outed as gay, reluctantly becoming arm candy for the popular girls to avoid getting bullied by the jocks.
For an R-rated movie, there's no sex, nudity, or violence, and the only F-bomb is the contextually appropriate "faggot," so here's to hoping lax multiplex security allows teenagers ...
But while the PG-13 Easy A was about a straight teenage girl whose social status drops when she's falsely accused of losing her virginity, G.B.F.'s protagonist, Tanner (Michael J. Willett), is a closeted teenage boy whose social status rises when he's accurately outed as gay, reluctantly becoming arm candy for the popular girls to avoid getting bullied by the jocks.
For an R-rated movie, there's no sex, nudity, or violence, and the only F-bomb is the contextually appropriate "faggot," so here's to hoping lax multiplex security allows teenagers ...
- 1/22/2014
- Village Voice
Editor’s Note: Ed Kennedy is taking a much needed vacation, so we’re asking for help crowdsourcing today’s edition! Got a link, hot news item, Instagram pic etc. you think other readers would enjoy? As long as it’s P.G. rated and safe for work, please share in the comments. Here’s a few items to get the ball rolling…
Sweet indie gay film G.B.F. (read our review here) was given an R rating by the MPAA, and director Darren Stein is not happy about that: “I always thought of G.B.F. as a PG-13 movie, but we were given an R “For Sexual References” while not having a single F-bomb, hint of nudity or violence in the film. Perhaps the ratings box should more accurately read ‘For Homosexual References’ or ‘Too Many Scenes of Gay Teens Kissing.’ I look forward to a world where queer teens can...
Sweet indie gay film G.B.F. (read our review here) was given an R rating by the MPAA, and director Darren Stein is not happy about that: “I always thought of G.B.F. as a PG-13 movie, but we were given an R “For Sexual References” while not having a single F-bomb, hint of nudity or violence in the film. Perhaps the ratings box should more accurately read ‘For Homosexual References’ or ‘Too Many Scenes of Gay Teens Kissing.’ I look forward to a world where queer teens can...
- 1/21/2014
- by Dennis Ayers
- The Backlot
Sharp satire cutting through the sweet silliness makes this a refreshing change of pace for teen comedies. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In a school where the three reigning popular girls — each hoping to become prom queen — are like “warlords” operating under an uneasy truce, the latest, hippest weapon for dominance is the G.B.F.: the gay best friend. Problem is, in North Gate High doesn’t have any “’mo’s”… or does it? When geeky Tanner (Michael J. Willett), who’s not very fabulous (he’s into comic books) is accidentally outed, he becomes a pawn in the games of Fawcett (Sasha Pieterse), ’Shley (Andrea Bowen), and Caprice (Xosha Roquemore: Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire). (Harry Potter’s Evanna Lynch, aka Luna Lovegood, appears here too.) Will he...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In a school where the three reigning popular girls — each hoping to become prom queen — are like “warlords” operating under an uneasy truce, the latest, hippest weapon for dominance is the G.B.F.: the gay best friend. Problem is, in North Gate High doesn’t have any “’mo’s”… or does it? When geeky Tanner (Michael J. Willett), who’s not very fabulous (he’s into comic books) is accidentally outed, he becomes a pawn in the games of Fawcett (Sasha Pieterse), ’Shley (Andrea Bowen), and Caprice (Xosha Roquemore: Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire). (Harry Potter’s Evanna Lynch, aka Luna Lovegood, appears here too.) Will he...
- 1/17/2014
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Tom Clancy's badass CIA superhero Jack Ryan is back on the big screen this weekend in "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," the new film from director Kenneth Branagh, whose career has taken an odd turn from magisterial Shakespeare adaptations to big-budget action thrillers. In limited release arrive Hirokazu Kore-eda's trenchant family drama "Like Father, Like Son," Darren Stein's warm teen comedy "G.B.F." and Israeli grindhouse "Big Bad Wolves," Quentin Tarantino's favorite film of 2013. Also premiering on Netflix is the Oscar-nominated doc "The Square," with week-long runs kicking off in select cities, and maritime docu "Maidentrip" hits theaters. Trailers below. Though marred by plot holes galore, "Shadow Recruit" benefits from smart casting and the charisma of stars Chris Pine --successor to Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck before him -- and Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner. It's a perfectly fine mid-January release sure to please thrill-seekers as...
- 1/17/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Easy Peasy: Stein Returns to High School Hallways for Sweet Hearted Message Movie
Five years before Mean Girls brought the monstrous high heeled bitch posse back to the forefront of PG-13 blockbuster entertainment, director Darren Stein’s 1999 film Jawbreaker explored the morbid universe of a trio of black hearted murderous maidens in the delightful R tradition of Heathers. In his first feature since then, Stein goes back to the hallways of high school with G.B.F., once again revisiting the formula of the popular female triumvirate, only this time aligning himself with the spirit of John Hughes. Many aspects of high school life may seemingly never change, but Stein’s latest rendering, while extolling a message that seems deliriously obvious to the adult world, cheerfully proposes that even this rigid, socially conditioned environment has had opportunity to grapple with progressive notions of equality.
The three most popular girls in high-school, ‘Shley...
Five years before Mean Girls brought the monstrous high heeled bitch posse back to the forefront of PG-13 blockbuster entertainment, director Darren Stein’s 1999 film Jawbreaker explored the morbid universe of a trio of black hearted murderous maidens in the delightful R tradition of Heathers. In his first feature since then, Stein goes back to the hallways of high school with G.B.F., once again revisiting the formula of the popular female triumvirate, only this time aligning himself with the spirit of John Hughes. Many aspects of high school life may seemingly never change, but Stein’s latest rendering, while extolling a message that seems deliriously obvious to the adult world, cheerfully proposes that even this rigid, socially conditioned environment has had opportunity to grapple with progressive notions of equality.
The three most popular girls in high-school, ‘Shley...
- 1/14/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Ahead of its theatrical release, G.B.F. has shared an exclusive clip with VH1. The movie tells the story of two closeted best friends Tanner, (Michael J. Willett, United States Of Tara) and Brent (Paul Iacono,The Hard Times Of R.J. Berger). While Brent longs for popularity, it’s Tanner who catches the school’s attention when he is accidentally outed. Soon the three most popular girls in school fight to land Tanner as their gay best friend. In the clip above, Tanner unites the queen bees (Sasha Pieterse, Pretty Little Liars; Xosha Roquemore, Precious; and Andrea Bowen, Desperate Housewives) in a “reveal” that recalls the iconic entrance from Jawbreaker.
Because both movies share the same director (Darren Stein) it comes as no surprise there’s a reference to the scene, which turns 15 years old this month. In fact, when asked about the scene made famous by Rose McGowan and...
Because both movies share the same director (Darren Stein) it comes as no surprise there’s a reference to the scene, which turns 15 years old this month. In fact, when asked about the scene made famous by Rose McGowan and...
- 1/14/2014
- by Stacy Lambe
- TheFabLife - Movies
With its impending release just around the corner, director Darren Stein and writer George Northy's "G.B.F." (Gay Best Friend) has given Indiewire an exclusive new clip, one that features none other than the hilarious Megan Mullally as the awkward mother of a gay teen (Paul Iacono). "G.B.F." follows the comedic escapades of a group of high school girls determined to make Tanner, the recently-outed boy in school, their new gay best friend. In an attempt to climb the lengthy social ladder, Tanner's new makeover at the hands of the clique queens leads him to his popularity, but forces him to re-evaluate his priorities, his friendships and ultimately his identity. Currently on DirecTV, "G.B.F." gets its theatrical release on January 17, 2014. Check out the clip below:...
- 1/10/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
G.B.F., a cunning new comedy from Jawbreaker director Darren Stein, is a minor high-school flick, but also an inherently modern one. It is bolstered by a refreshing premise and a sharp cast who overcome some of the absurdity and clutter in George Northy’s debut script. The acronym of the title stands for “gay best friend,” which leads the viewer to expect a depiction of contemporary high-school drama that could be too hip or condescending. As it turns out though, G.B.F. is neither, instead, it’s merely happy to embrace its gay-positive values and is just smart enough to make us laugh at some of the stereotypes it skewers.
The film’s plot, if anything, depends on the trendsetters. As gay protagonist Tanner (Michael J. Willett) tells the audience, there is something about being first in high school. It turns out that Tanner’s first is, to him, an embarrassing...
The film’s plot, if anything, depends on the trendsetters. As gay protagonist Tanner (Michael J. Willett) tells the audience, there is something about being first in high school. It turns out that Tanner’s first is, to him, an embarrassing...
- 1/10/2014
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
Utah flails around for stay of marriage equality as hundreds marry, gay life in Sochi, Matt Bomer Christmas cards
Charlie Sheen unleashed a rant on Phil Robertson via Twitter that is pretty epic. For a medium that specializes in 140 characters, Sheen went on for quite a while, but the beginning starts out with “Hey Mallard brained Phil Robertso! you have offended and hurt so many dear friends of mine, who Do Not have the voice or the outreach that I do. I will speak loudly and clearly for All of them, adding, “So, just when your desperately sub evolved a** thought the pressure was off, you are now in the crosshairs of a MaSheen style media beat down.”
Darren Stein, the director for beloved teen movie G.B.F. is fairly upset that the MPAA recently rated his film “R.” “I always thought of G.B.F. as a PG-13 movie. Unfortunately we were...
Charlie Sheen unleashed a rant on Phil Robertson via Twitter that is pretty epic. For a medium that specializes in 140 characters, Sheen went on for quite a while, but the beginning starts out with “Hey Mallard brained Phil Robertso! you have offended and hurt so many dear friends of mine, who Do Not have the voice or the outreach that I do. I will speak loudly and clearly for All of them, adding, “So, just when your desperately sub evolved a** thought the pressure was off, you are now in the crosshairs of a MaSheen style media beat down.”
Darren Stein, the director for beloved teen movie G.B.F. is fairly upset that the MPAA recently rated his film “R.” “I always thought of G.B.F. as a PG-13 movie. Unfortunately we were...
- 12/22/2013
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
It’s an old accusation, but one that shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon: the Motion Picture Association of America is disproportionately stricter about profanity and sex than it is about violence. Relatively gruesome studio films like The Hunger Games or The Dark Knight Rises frequently win PG-13 ratings; relatively gentle films like Philomena, by contrast, are slammed with a much more restrictive R rating — initially, at least — simply for dropping one too many F-bombs.
And then there’s the MPAA’s historically fraught relationship with gay and lesbian content, which often seems to be treated more harshly than heterosexual relations.
And then there’s the MPAA’s historically fraught relationship with gay and lesbian content, which often seems to be treated more harshly than heterosexual relations.
- 12/20/2013
- by Hillary Busis
- EW - Inside Movies
Gay high school fantasia G.B.F. starts the way every teen movie should: with the image of a panda puking up a rainbow.
Sure, it’s a snappy, meme-y graphic that speaks directly to the film’s target audience (hip, animal-video-obsessed, neon-emblazed Top Shop addicts) but it also stands as a great metaphor for the film’s message: sometimes being a mascot – for a cause, a school, or a line of breakfast cereals – can be enough to make you vomit Roy G. Biv. Darren Stein‘s G.B.F. is a comedy for everyone who has ever felt that the Pride flag they’ve been waving happily in the wind has just wrapped itself around their throat and is starting to cut off the air supply.
Tanner (Michael J. Willett) and Brent (Paul Iacono) are two gay best friends living comfortably under the Radar at a high school we’re familiar seeing in...
Sure, it’s a snappy, meme-y graphic that speaks directly to the film’s target audience (hip, animal-video-obsessed, neon-emblazed Top Shop addicts) but it also stands as a great metaphor for the film’s message: sometimes being a mascot – for a cause, a school, or a line of breakfast cereals – can be enough to make you vomit Roy G. Biv. Darren Stein‘s G.B.F. is a comedy for everyone who has ever felt that the Pride flag they’ve been waving happily in the wind has just wrapped itself around their throat and is starting to cut off the air supply.
Tanner (Michael J. Willett) and Brent (Paul Iacono) are two gay best friends living comfortably under the Radar at a high school we’re familiar seeing in...
- 11/22/2013
- by Brian Juergens
- The Backlot
In light of the upcoming November 22 DirecTV release of Vertical Entertainment's "G.B.F." (Gay Best Friend), Indiewire has been given an exclusive first look at the latest stills and movie poster for director Darren Stein and writer George Northy's comedy. "G.B.F." tells the social warfare story of what happens when "three high school clique queens battle for supremacy: drama diva Caprice (Xosha Roquemore), Mormon princess ‘Shley (Andrea Bowen) and blonde fashionista Fawcett (Sasha Pieterse). When unassuming Tanner (Michael J. Willet) is outted, he finds himself cast as the hottest new teen-girl accessory: The Gay Best Friend. The clique queens immediately pounce and makeover Tanner into their ideal arm candy, forcing him to choose between popularity and the true friends — including his own B.F.F. Brent (Paul Iacono) — that he's leaving behind." In addition to its November 22 DirecTV release, "G.B.F" is set for a January 17 2014 theatrical release. Checkout the movie poster and.
- 11/12/2013
- by Ramzi De Coster
- Indiewire
Chicago – The second oldest Lgbt Film Festival is right here is Chicago, loud and proud, as “Reeling 31” has its opening night on November 7th at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre. And what better film to open the festivities than “G.B.F.” – which of course stands for “Gay Best Friend” – directed by Darren Stein (“Jawbreaker”) and featuring Megan Mullally, Horatio Sanz and Natasha Lyonne.
’Reeling 31’ Opens November 7th with Director Darren Stein’s ‘G.B.F.’
Photo credit: ReelingFilmFestival.org
The Reeling film festival is in its 31st year, and has an incredible line-up of films, events and parties from November 7th-14th. Theater venues include the historic Music Box Theater and Logan Theatre, plus Chicago Filmmakers, Block Cinema in Evanston (Illinois) and the south side’s DuSable Museum. Click the link below to check out the entire line-up of happenings.
“Reeling 31,” Chicago’s Lbgt International Film Festival, runs from November 7th-14th. For film,...
’Reeling 31’ Opens November 7th with Director Darren Stein’s ‘G.B.F.’
Photo credit: ReelingFilmFestival.org
The Reeling film festival is in its 31st year, and has an incredible line-up of films, events and parties from November 7th-14th. Theater venues include the historic Music Box Theater and Logan Theatre, plus Chicago Filmmakers, Block Cinema in Evanston (Illinois) and the south side’s DuSable Museum. Click the link below to check out the entire line-up of happenings.
“Reeling 31,” Chicago’s Lbgt International Film Festival, runs from November 7th-14th. For film,...
- 11/7/2013
- by [email protected] (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Birthday shoutouts go to Jedward (above), who are 22, Tim Robbins is 55, and Suzanne Somers is 67.
HBO has announced that Looking will debut on Sunday, January 18th at 10:30 Pm Et.
Catching Up With G.B.F.‘s Michael J. Willett
Stephen Sondheim and director John Tiffany are revising Stephen’s 70′s musical Company with some major changes. Most notably, the central character of Bobby “has always been a straight man struggling with commitment issues and multiple girlfriends, and he has been reconceived by Mr. Tiffany as a gay man with commitment issues and multiple boyfriends.” And the character of Joanne, originally played on Broadway by Elaine Stritch, has been reimagined, and Alan Cumming will now perform “The Ladies Who Lunch.”
EW has first photos from the Doctor Who Anniversary Special, including Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt below.
Here’s the poster for August: Osage County, which features Julia Roberts going after Meryl Streep.
HBO has announced that Looking will debut on Sunday, January 18th at 10:30 Pm Et.
Catching Up With G.B.F.‘s Michael J. Willett
Stephen Sondheim and director John Tiffany are revising Stephen’s 70′s musical Company with some major changes. Most notably, the central character of Bobby “has always been a straight man struggling with commitment issues and multiple girlfriends, and he has been reconceived by Mr. Tiffany as a gay man with commitment issues and multiple boyfriends.” And the character of Joanne, originally played on Broadway by Elaine Stritch, has been reimagined, and Alan Cumming will now perform “The Ladies Who Lunch.”
EW has first photos from the Doctor Who Anniversary Special, including Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt below.
Here’s the poster for August: Osage County, which features Julia Roberts going after Meryl Streep.
- 10/16/2013
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to G.B.F, or Gay Best Friend, which closed Outfest 2013 in Los Angeles on Sunday night [21].
Darren Stein directed the high school comedy from a debut screenplay by George Northy.
Sasha Pieterse, Evanna Lynch, Natasha Lyone, Joanna Levesque, Michael J Willett, Paul Iacono, Megan Mullally and Rebecca Gayheart star.
Richard Bever, Stephen Israel, Stein and Northy produced G.B.F. and Jennifer Levine, David Skinner and Tom Gorai served as executive producers.
Peter Jarowey of Vertical Entertainment and Zac Bright of Preferred Content negotiated the deal.
“We look forward to working with [Vertical Horizon] and sharing this film with audiences everywhere,” said Stein.
G.B.F. is expected to open in early 2014.
Darren Stein directed the high school comedy from a debut screenplay by George Northy.
Sasha Pieterse, Evanna Lynch, Natasha Lyone, Joanna Levesque, Michael J Willett, Paul Iacono, Megan Mullally and Rebecca Gayheart star.
Richard Bever, Stephen Israel, Stein and Northy produced G.B.F. and Jennifer Levine, David Skinner and Tom Gorai served as executive producers.
Peter Jarowey of Vertical Entertainment and Zac Bright of Preferred Content negotiated the deal.
“We look forward to working with [Vertical Horizon] and sharing this film with audiences everywhere,” said Stein.
G.B.F. is expected to open in early 2014.
- 7/22/2013
- ScreenDaily
Vertical Entertainment Acquires 'G.B.F,' a Tale of Gay Best Friends and Their Role in Clique Warfare
Vertical Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to the high school comedy film "G.B.F." (Gay Best Friend). Directed by Darren Stein ("Jawbreaker") with screenplay by George Northy, the film has a cast of young up-and-comers including Sasha Pieterse ("Pretty Little Liars"), Evanna Lynch (The Harry Potter Franchise), Natasha Lyonne ("Orange is the New Black"), Joanna "JoJo" Levesque ("Rv," "Aquamarine"), Paul Iacono ("The Hard Times of Rj Berger"), Michael J. Willett ("United States of Tara"), Molly Tarlov ("Awkward"), and Rebecca Gayheart ("Jawbreaker") and features Megan Mullally ("Parks and Recreation," "The Kings of Summer"). "G.B.F" plays with the concept of a G.B.F. (a Gay Best Friend) and how they have become a trendy and invaluable accessory for straight girls to have in their cliques. The film is being touted as a modern twist on the high school movie genre. The film premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and was recently shown at Outfest.
- 7/22/2013
- by Madeline Raynor
- Indiewire
Outfest has announced the award winners of its 31st Los Angeles Lgbt Film Festival. Chris Mason Johnson's "Test" and Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman's "Born This Way" led the juried prizes, taking the awards for best narrative and documentary feature, respectively. Bruno Barreto's "Reaching For The Moon" and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's "Bridegroom," meanwhile, took those prizes in the audience award categories. Read More: It Happened To Him: 'Bridegroom' Subject Shane Bitney Crone On Bringing His Tragic Story To The Screen The oldest continuously running film festival in Los Angeles ran from July 11th to July 21st, and closed last night with Darren Stein’s “G.B.F." Complete list of winners. Special Programming Awards Special Programming Award for Freedom Deepsouth, Directed by Lisa Biagiotti Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement Animals, Directed by Marçal Forés Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent Diego Ruiz,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Peter Knegt
- Indiewire
Tanner (Michael J. Willett) is the Gbf everyone wants (including Sasha Pieterse)
In the fine tradition of teen comedies like Clueless, Pretty In Pink, Mean Girls and even darker films like the original Carrie, comes the new film, G.B.F., which fabulously dives into the world of the Gay Best Friend. Directed by Darren Stein (Jawbreaker) from a script by George Northy, the film follows high schooler Tanner (Michael J. Willett) as he navigates the treacherous waters of high school after coming out.
In the world of G.B.F., there’s less opposition to Tanner being gay than the comedy found in how people want to be close to the cute gay guy. The popular girls compete for Tanner’s friendship, even helping him with a makeover; at least one closeted guy (the Bf of one of the girls) makes a pass at him and, at the end of the day, he...
In the fine tradition of teen comedies like Clueless, Pretty In Pink, Mean Girls and even darker films like the original Carrie, comes the new film, G.B.F., which fabulously dives into the world of the Gay Best Friend. Directed by Darren Stein (Jawbreaker) from a script by George Northy, the film follows high schooler Tanner (Michael J. Willett) as he navigates the treacherous waters of high school after coming out.
In the world of G.B.F., there’s less opposition to Tanner being gay than the comedy found in how people want to be close to the cute gay guy. The popular girls compete for Tanner’s friendship, even helping him with a makeover; at least one closeted guy (the Bf of one of the girls) makes a pass at him and, at the end of the day, he...
- 7/18/2013
- by Jim Halterman
- The Backlot
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