APA Signs ‘Blindspot’ Actress Audrey Esparza

The American Film Institute has received a $5 million gift from the Perenchio Foundation, the organization announced Wednesday. Said to be donated as a way to "fulfill the charitable wishes" of the late Andrew Jerrold 'Jerry' Perenchio, the sum will be usedfor the Perenchio Family Endowed Scholarship to support diverse voices at the AFI Conservatory.The first round of fellows will be announced in the coming months, per AFI.

Universal Music Publishing has signed production trio Afro Bros – Rashid Badloe, Giordano Ashruf and Shareef Badloe – to a new worldwide publishing deal.“Afro Bros’ music is the perfect blend of South American rhythms with European grooves”, says Alexandra Lioutikoff, President of Universal Music Publishing’s Latin American division. “From live performances as DJs to production work in studios, their music captivates fans around the world.

From “The Fog of War” to “Tabloid“, to “Mr. Death,” and “American Dharma,” there are a few good reasons why many hail Errol Morris as the master of the one-on-one interview doc.

Eli Goree, the Riverdale actor who is generating awards heat for his performance in Regina King’s One Night in Miami, has signed with WME for representation in all areas. The native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, continues to be repped by Vickie Petronio at Vancouver’s Play Management as well as Authentic Talent.

Warner Chappell has announced the signing of US rock band X Ambassadors to a worldwide publishing agreement. As well as releasing their own music, the band have worked with Lizzo on a number of songs.Warner Chappell SVP A&R, Rich Christina, says: “Many of us at Warner Chappell have known X Ambassadors for a while now, and we’re so proud of all their accomplishments.

Chris Willman Music Writer“Wildflowers” may be the most aggressively beloved of Tom Petty’s albums among his most serious fans, and no one has been more passionate about it than Adria Petty, the elder of the late musician’s two daughters.

Kelly Clarkson revealed she once rolled with it after a fan mistook her for fellow “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood.  Clarkson was the very first winner of “American Idol” but was hardly the last.

Kelly Clarkson is opening up about the awkward moment when a fan thought she was fellow American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerThe American Film Institute (AFI) has teamed with AMC Network to establish the Black Production Fund, which will provide grants for thesis productions by Black fellows in their second year at the AFI Conservatory.AFI made the announcement today in the midst of its 2020 virtual festive. The Black Production Fund, as well as recently announced Thomas P.

This ranking of the Top 50 film schools of 2020 first appeared in TheWrap’s fifth annual College Issue.The American Film Institute Conservatory finished as the top film school in the U.S. in TheWrap’s fifth annual ranking of programs, just ahead of previous No.

Ava DuVernay is re-teaming with Netflix for an adaptation of New York Times bestsellerCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents. DuVernay, who worked with the streamer on both her Oscar-nominated documentary The 13th andEmmy winning series When They See Us, will writer, direct and produce the feature version of Isabel Wilkerson's novel.

Also Read: Ava DuVernay to Narrate 'One Perfect Shot' Film History Series at HBO Max“Caste” is DuVernay’s first feature film at Netflix after she directed the limited series “When They See Us,” which received 16 Emmy nominations.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAn unusual trend in recent years has seen New York City’s subway stations transformed into memorials for late, great musicians, both officially and unofficially.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterDane Morck, the co-creator of the CW series All American, has signed with Zero Gravity. He will serve as the Executive Consultant going into Season 3 of the sports drama.Prior to All American Morck worked in the unscripted space under Vin di Bona on America’s Funniest Home Videos and was a development exec at di Bona’s production banner Fishbowl Worldwide Media.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBretman Rock has signed with UTA for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively.He continues to be represented by his manager, Dru Sansenbach, and lawyer Will Jacobson at Goodman Schenkman & Brecheen, LLP.A first-generation Asian-American immigrant and a member of the queer community, Rock rose to fame via his social media platforms, which have racked up over 35 million followers.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorEXCLUSIVE: APA has signed writer-producer and creator David McKenna.McKenna’s feature writing credits include such notable pics as New Line’s Oscar-nominated American History X and Blow, the Warner Bros. Sylvester Stallone movie Get Carter, Sony’s 2003 reboot of SWAT starring Samuel L.

Chris Willman Music WriterKalie Shorr, a country-pop singer-songwriter whose self-released debut album was one of the critical breakouts of 2019, has signed to Tmwrk Records, which will issue an expanded edition of that album, to be called “Open Book: Unabridged,” this fall.“Tmwrk fell in love with my album as-is. That meant so much to me,” Shorr tells Variety.