‘Carnival Row’ Showrunner Erik Oleson Launches CrimeThink Production Company With Paul Shapiro As Head Of Content

Ray Liotta —  known for his iconic role as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's film — started his career in Tinseltown in the 1980s. He skyrocketed to fame in "Goodfellas" when he portrayed a real-life mobster rising through the ranks of a crime family in Brooklyn.  Liotta went on to star in dozens of film and television projects, including "The Many Saints of Newark," "Hannibal," and "Shades of Blue," and worked with Johnny Depp in the 2001 movie "Blow." Behind the camera, Liotta was a doting dad to daughter Karsen, 23, whom he shared with ex-wife, Michelle Grace.  At the time of his death, Liotta was engaged to Jacy Nittolo.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 22: Actor Ray Liotta speaks onstage at the 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Gala presented by The Los Angeles Times held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 22, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.

Lorraine Bracco, Alessandro Nivola and Jamie Lee Curtis have led tributes to the late Ray Liotta. Messages of grief surrounding the death of the ‘Goodfellas’ star - who passed away, aged 67, while in the Dominican Republic shooting his new movie ‘Dangerous Waters’ - have poured in from his former co-stars and across the entertainment industry. Lorraine Bracco - who played his wife Karen Hill in the 1990 mob movie directed by Martin Scorsese - was “utterly shattered” by the “terrible news”.

Jordan Moreau Ray Liotta, the acclaimed actor known for “Goodfellas,” “Field of Dreams” and many more roles, has died at 67, Variety has confirmed with his publicist. He died in his sleep while he was in the Dominican Republic shooting an upcoming film, “Dangerous Waters.”Playing the real-life mobster Henry Hill, Liotta shot to stardom in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas,” which revolutionized the gangster genre and received heaps of critical and commercial success.

The support acts for one of the most anticipated gigs of the year have been announced: the Rolling Stones anniversary concerts. This summer marks a full 60 years since the foundation of the iconic rock band, and the Stones are celebrating with two massive gigs in London’s Hyde Park. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood will return to the Great Oak Stage for British Summer Time in Hyde Park this summer for not one, but two dates.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy winner Loretta Devine, Sheila E. and Misty Copeland round out the lead voice cast of Eureka!, Disney Jr.’s upcoming animated preschool series, joining previously announced leads Ruth Righi, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lil Rel Howery and Javier Muñoz. Also cast in recurring roles are Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Ryan Michelle Bathé (The Endgame) and Wendell Pierce (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.) Disney also has released a trailer for the upcoming series. You can watch it below.

Selome Hailu There’s a quote from the 13th century Persian poet Rumi that sticks with Dakota Johnson as she navigates the early years of running her production company: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”When asked what kinds of films TeaTime Pictures is looking to produce, it’s Rumi that Johnson returns to: “There’s no credo. There’s no mandate.

Leo Chu I remember when I became the showrunner of my first live-action series, “Supah Ninjas,” I thought I had arrived.Somehow, against all odds, this show I created with my partner Eric S. Garcia was shooting on the Paramount lot. On the same stage as “Family Ties.” I was officially a part of Hollywood history.

EXCLUSIVE: BAFTA-winning Uprising producer Rogan Productions and Electric Shadow Company are forging Original Sin, a documentary miniseries exploring calculated South African murderer Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren and his trial.

A few years ago, as filmmaker Roger Ross Williams contemplated founding his own production company, he experienced a Field of Dreams kind of vision: “If you build it, they will come.”

Christopher Vourlias The Hungarian film industry is booming, with a record 241 domestic productions — including feature films, shorts, documentaries and TV series — produced in 2021. Here’s a selection of top projects in the pipeline or being sold during the Cannes Market:As Long as the Grass Grows Director: Áron Gauder Producer: Réka Temple (Cinemon Entertainment) Annecy main prize winner Gauder (“The District”) spins an alternative creation myth, in which mankind is but one of many creatures in the animal kingdom, and offers a hopeful story that it’s not too late to correct course and save the planet.Blockade Director: Ádám Tősér Producer: Tamás Lajos (Film Positive Productions) Based on the true story of the country’s first democratically elected prime minister, the film follows József Antall’s journey from a freedom fighter during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 to the infamous 1990 taxi blockade that shook the nation.

The Duchess Of York Sarah Ferguson has co-founded a Paris-based production house with Oscar-nominated The Voorman Problem director Mark Gill and The Open’s Cyril Cadars.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentBrazil’s economic powerhouse, São Paulo is emerging as a key film-TV player in Brazil’s post-pandemic mix. In one move, São Paulo State and City authorities are teaming to power up a new cash rebate for shoots, international and national, to more than four times the endowment of its first edition in 2021. Launched last July by Spcine, the city’s go-ahead film commission, the first shoot spend rebate in Brazil had a total annual budget of $1.6 million. This time round, now also backed by São Paulo State, 2022’s endowment will come in at R$40 million, $8 million at current exchange rates.Given a return of 20%-30% of expenditure that will make $36 million of various titles’ shoot spend in São Paulo eligible for the rebate program.

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentJapan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System network is partnering with Naver Webtoon, South Korea’s leading digital comics platform, and Tokyo-based manga production house Shine Partners to launch a new webtoon company. Called Studio TooN and based in South Korea, the joint venture will plan and make webtoons with Japanese and Korean creators for the global market. One of TBS’s aim in launching the company, its first such venture in Korea, is to produce TV dramas, anime and other content from the webtoons.  Studio TooN will begin operations in June of this year with Shine Partners president Keita Iwamoto serving as CEO.     “When webtoon works are visualized, there is a synergy effect as the number of readers increases,” said Naver Webtoon CEO Kim Junkoo.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-nominated filmmakers Alex Fumero and Kareem Tabsch are partnering to form the production company Trojan Horse. The company will be based in Los Angeles and Miami.

Scotland is set to be as roasting as Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday as the hottest day of the year nudges 22C (72F).

EXCLUSIVE: Amber Ruffin and her writing/producing partner Jenny Hagel are expanding their relationship with NBCUniversal.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorTennis champion Naomi Osaka has launched a new management company for athletes.Co-founded with her longtime agent Stuart Duguid, Osaka’s Evolve focuses on brand partnerships, investing, creating athlete-owned business and philanthropy.“Evolve represents the evolution of not just my business career, but also the way athletes can control their destiny,” Osaka said in an exclusive statement to Variety. “I’ve always thrived on pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo.