Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent MK2 Films has scored key territory deals on Japanese director Koji Fukada’s “Love Life,” which makes its world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival. Set in contemporary Japan, “Love Life” is a character-driven film revolving around Taeko and her husband, Jiro, who are living a peaceful existence with her young son, Keita. When a tragic accident brings the boy’s long-lost father, Park, back into her life, Taeko throws herself into helping this deaf and homeless man to cope with the pain and guilt. Popular Japanese actress Fumino Kimura (“The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill”) headlines the film. MK2 Films has now sold the movie to Teodora (Italy), Imagine (Benelux), Leopardo (Portugal), Demiurg (Ex Yugoslavia), New Cinema (Israel), Swallow Wings (Taiwan), Edko (Hong Kong), Impact Films (India) and Encore Inflight (Airlines).
A&E Sues to Block ‘Live PD’ Revival ‘On Patrol: Live’ on Rival Network Reelz
30.08.2022 - 23:43 / variety.com
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A&E filed a lawsuit seeking to block rival network Reelz from airing “On Patrol: Live,” which it claims is a blatant ripoff of its own show, “Live PD.” Both shows feature live footage from police ride-alongs, both are hosted by Dan Abrams, and both are produced by the same company. A&E canceled “Live PD” — one of its top-rated shows — in June 2020, at the height of protests over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Reelz debuted its version of the show last month. In the lawsuit, A&E argues that “On Patrol: Live” copies nearly every aspect of its own show’s format, down to specific catchphrases. The Reelz show even occupies “Live PD’s” old time slot.
A&E also noted that Abrams advertised the new show by saying that “‘Live PD’ is coming back.”For those who can’t get behind the paywall, the WSJ headline is “Live PD is coming back this summer as “On Patrol Live” @ReelzChannel. The show will be back on Friday and Saturday nights sometime later this summer! (And the name is a “working” title). A&E’s lawyers argue that the new show is infringing on its copyright to “Live PD.” The complaint states that A&E suspended production of new episodes amid the George Floyd protests, which it calls “that critical time in our nation’s history.” “AETN, however, has never relinquished or assigned its rights to create episodes of ‘Live PD’ nor has it authorized anyone else to prepare derivative programs based upon ‘Live PD’ except as works made-for-hire,” the complaint states. A&E’s lawyers sent cease and desist letters to Reelz and Big Fish Entertainment, the production company, in June and July. Reelz went ahead and broadcast the show, which it later said was watched by 3.5 million people. “Cops” —
Shia LaBeouf Says Venice Movie ‘Padre Pio’ ‘Saved My Life’
Naman Ramachandran Shia LaBeouf was in a reverential frame of mind at the first public screening of Abel Ferrara’s “Padre Pio” at the Venice Film Festival, as befits a film about a monk in a Capuchin monastery in post-WWI Italy. LaBeouf, who is embroiled in controversy after being accused of abuse and sexual battery in a bombshell lawsuit filed by his former partner FKA Twigs, made a rare public appearance at Venice. He isn’t doing any press at the festival, but the actor was present in the cinema before the screening where he obliged fans with selfies and participated in a Q&A after. “I feel super blessed to have worked on this movie — this movie kind of saved my life,” LaBeouf said during the Q&A. “But I didn’t enter the process as a God guy — definitely not a Catholic. And this movie just found me at a time when I was very willing and open to the process.”
Fukada Koji Talks Venice Competition Film ‘Love Life,’ Loneliness and Bitter Little Ironies
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The titles of Fukada Koji’s films almost drip with bitter irony. “Sayonara” seemed to be a farewell to human actors. Instead of being harmonious, Cannes Un Certain Regard jury prize-winner “Harmonium” was pitch black and steeped in quiet violence. Fukada’s latest, Venice Film Festival competition title carries the moniker “Love Life.” But its subject matter is loneliness. The story starts out on familiar lines, involving a married couple where suddenly the ex-husband of the wife appears, potentially setting up the melodrama of a triangular relationship. But in Fukada’s hands things are colder and more painful. The newcomer is burdensome, deaf and homeless. His arrival triggers, not love, but fragmentation, individualism and loneliness.
Love Island's Amber Gill living her best life as she poses in slinky bikini aboard yacht
Love Island star Amber Gill is certainly enjoying her time on holiday in Mykonos.The 25 year old was pictured living it up on a yacht during her trip on Wednesday as she flaunted her figure in a slinky brown bikini, joined by a group of friends for the cruise. Amber was later seen cooling off from the sunshine as she took a dip in the sea and appeared in happy spirits in the exotic location. The reality star’s Greek break comes ahead of her appearance on the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which returns on Sunday 4 September on Channel 4.
Shia LaBeouf seemingly credits FKA Twigs with 'saving his life'
Shia LaBeouf has seemingly credited his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs with "saving (his) life" by going public with sexual battery allegations against him. In December 2020, the British singer-songwriter filed a lawsuit against her Honey Boy co-star in Los Angeles in which she accused him of sexual battery, battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In the lawsuit, FKA Twigs, real name Tahliah Barnett, claimed that Shia was abusive during their relationship between 2018 and 2019.