Gravitas Ventures Founder & CEO Nolan Gallagher To Step Down In March; New Leadership Will Be Announced In Coming Months

Peter Caranicas Deputy Editor Things are moving fast at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard. The bicoastal law firm has announced a new co-head of its entertainment practice, new co-heads in the Los Angeles office, a partner promotion, and further development of its art law group.   Caitlin S. DiMotta (above right) has joined Frederick P. Bimbler (above left) in heading up the firm’s entertainment practice. Based in Los Angeles, DiMotta joined the firm in 2021 and works with clients in all areas of development and publishing in the television, literary, comic book/graphic novel, and motion picture industries.   With almost 30 years’ experience in entertainment law, Bimbler has long advised clients in the areas of motion picture, television, theater, and performance art. His portfolio includes clients on both coasts, and he will co-head management of the firm’s Los Angeles office with partner Sarah Conley Odenkirk.  

Peter Caranicas Deputy Editor Things are moving fast at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard. The bicoastal law firm has announced a new co-head of its entertainment practice, new co-heads in the Los Angeles office, a partner promotion, and further development of its art law group.   Caitlin S. DiMotta (above right) has joined Frederick P. Bimbler (above left) in heading up the firm’s entertainment practice. Based in Los Angeles, DiMotta joined the firm in 2021 and works with clients in all areas of development and publishing in the television, literary, comic book/graphic novel, and motion picture industries.   With almost 30 years’ experience in entertainment law, Bimbler has long advised clients in the areas of motion picture, television, theater, and performance art. His portfolio includes clients on both coasts, and he will co-head management of the firm’s Los Angeles office with partner Sarah Conley Odenkirk.  

NCT Dream have announced the venues and ticketing details for their upcoming ‘The Dream Show 2: In a Dream’ US tour.NCT Dream’s seven-date US tour will kick off on April 5 at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, followed by stops at Chicago’s Allstate Arena on April 7 and Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on April 9.From there, the K-pop boy band will play two shows in the state of Texas – one at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 12 and another at the Texas Trust CU Theatre on April 17.NCT Dream will the wrap up their US tour with two dates on the West Coast. The septet will first play the Honda Center in Los Angeles on April 18, before heading for their final stop at the Climate Pledge Area in Seattle, Washington on April 21.General onsale tickets for NCT Dream’s ‘The Dream Show 2: In a Dream’ US tour are set to go on sale at 4pm local time this Friday (March 10) via Ticketmaster.

Jenny Lewis has released the music video for her previously released single, ‘Puppy And A Truck‘ – and it features a cameo from Harry Styles.The visuals feature snapshots from Lewis’ run of North American dates as special guest of Styles’ ‘Love On Tour’ in 2021.Lewis said in a statement: “To be on a giant stage in front of thousands of people after such a long period of isolation, those 45 minutes on stage and meeting Harry’s fans – it brought me back to life.“I was just trying to stay present and in the moment, so grateful to be able to share my life experiences, my songs, with such a diverse audience. With no cynicism or irony, just gratitude to be with people and fans and to be able to express it outwardly to them.”In addition to sharing the music video from ‘Puppy And A Truck’ – a standalone single released in 2021 – Lewis has today (March 6) added new US headline dates this July to her already busy 2023 touring schedule.Lewis’ headline dates this summer feature special guests Cass McCombs, Jenny O.

EXCLUSIVE: Abramorama and Giant Pictures have acquired North American rights to Nuclear Now, the latest documentary from 3x Academy Award winner Oliver Stone, which premiered (as Nuclear) at last year’s Venice Film Festival.  

Sparks have shared the title track for their new album ‘The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte’.The Los Angeles duo – comprising brothers Ron and Russell Mael – also announced that the song, which you can listen to below, will come with a video featuring actress Cate Blanchett at 5pm GMT tomorrow (March 3) here.They said via press release: “We met Cate Blanchett in Paris at the César Awards last year, little knowing that a year later, one of the great actors of our time (and a splendid person!) would graciously consent to lending her bootie-shaking skills to the first video from our new album, ‘The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte’. Dreams really do come true.

BreAnna Bell CultureCon returns for its sixth annual tour, Variety has learned. Going coast to coast, the convention will first stop in Los Angeles (June 17) before closing its run in New York City (October 7, 8). Presented by HBO Max, CultureCon was built by The Creative Collective NYC, a community dedicated to creating brave spaces for creatives and young professionals of color. “The growth and impact CultureCon has had among creatives of color continues to inspire us at HBO Max,” said Jackie Gagne, Warner Bros. Discovery’s SVP of multicultural marketing. “Heading into our fifth year as sponsors of the conference, and second as the presenting sponsors, we are excited to create spaces and provide invaluable resources for emerging creatives and young professionals of color.”

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Alison Roman is not a typical celebrity, but in certain circles in New York and Los Angeles, she elicits the types of reactions usually reserved for A-listers.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor With this week’s announcement that distinguished Mexican chef Enrique Olvera would be opening a third restaurant in Los Angeles, it’s clear that the city is embracing the vision of restaurateur seen on “Chef’s Table” in a big way. Later this year, an outpost of his New York restaurant Atla will open on Abbot Kinney in Venice, joining upscale Damian and casual taco spot Ditroit in the arts district of Downtown L.A. While Atla will be in the style of a fonda, or homey neighborhood eatery, Damian is where L.A. diners can find exquisitely-plated, adventurous interpretations of the building blocks of Mexican cuisine. From the impeccably warm service to the creative desserts, Damian is a singular dining experience and a hidden jewel of the buzzy arts district.

Rick Newman, the founder of New York City’s hugely influential Catch a Rising Star comedy club that provided a training ground for the stand-up comics who would change the landscape of entertainment in the 1970s, died Feb. 20 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81.

Lil Nas X changed up his look four times while on the set of a new project on Wednesday (February 22) in Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent Harvey Weinstein made a final plea to the court on Thursday, just before a judge sentenced him to 16 years in prison. “I maintain that I’m innocent,” he said. “I never raped or sexually assaulted Jane Doe 1. I never knew this woman, and the fact is she doesn’t know me. This is about money and coming after me.” Weinstein did not stand up to address the court, noting that he has a spinal condition. From his chair, he took aim at a “cottage industry of lawyers” who “put victims on the stand” and then file civil suits. “I did not rape this woman. I did not see this woman. She perjured herself,” Weinstein said. “This is a made-up story. With all due respect, Jane Doe 1 is an actress and can turn on the tears.” 

Clarkson brought up the topic on Thursday’s episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” by saying that “there’s been a lot of talk about nepo babies recently” – and there has been. From a damning New York Magazine article claiming it’s “the year of the nepo baby” to everyone from Jamie Lee Curtis to Allison Williams weighing in with responses both cringey and thoughtful, the phrase meant to indicate that nepotism (“nepo”) has gotten many actors to where they are today has become a cheeky means of holding that privilege to account. “You have an interesting take on this,” Clarkson said to Jackson, “and I love your take on this.” “Yeah, I’m forever grateful for everything that my dad had to do to get me the opportunities that I have.

Bebe Rexha is hitting the road!

Goldston said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to work with this brilliant group to create premium content based on the most compelling true-life stories.”   The launch of Goldston’s new non-fiction division is the latest in a series of initiatives driving Candle Media’s growth, beginning with the acquisitions of Hello Sunshine and Moonbug Entertainment in 2021, followed by eight additional acquisitions in the company’s first 12 months of operations. Candle has close to 1,000 employees, with offices in Los Angeles, London, New York, Nashville, Montreal, Mexico City, Tel Aviv, and Singapore. “We have known James for many years, through our collective time together at Disney,” Mayer and Staggs added.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have shared details of a headline outdoor Brighton gig this summer.Supported by The Vaccines, The Coral and Gaz Coombes, Gallagher will bring his band to the ‘On The Beach’ show on July 30.Tickets go on general sale this Friday (February 24) at 10am GMT here.Gallagher’s latest announcement comes after booking an outdoor gig in Taunton this August as part of the Somerset Live series. The musician has already confirmed several other outdoor gigs for the summer including festival slots and a homecoming show at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park.The news follows Gallagher’s band and Garbage announcing a co-headline tour of North America this summer – find more details below and purchase tickets here.A post shared by Noel Gallagher’s HFB (@themightyi)It kicks off in Auburn, Washington on June, 2, 2023 (release day for Gallagher’s new album ‘Council Skies’) followed by stops in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Dallas, Tampa, New York and many more, before rounding up at in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 15.Metric join the bill as special guests on the tour, which will mark the first time Gallagher and his High Flying Birds will have toured North America since 2019.Gallagher announced ‘Council Skies’ last month along with the release of single ‘Easy Now’.

Celebrities were out and about this week on red carpets, TV talk show sets and on the streets of Los Angeles and New York. Alec Baldwin was seen strolling down the streets of Brooklyn after picking up his morning coffee on Wednesday.  The actor's outing came after it was reported that Dave Halls, the assistant director of his movie "Rust," may testify against him in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Nolan Gallagher, the founder of Gravitas Ventures, will step down as CEO and leaving the film company on March 31, 2023.  Gravitas was sold to Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the owner of Fight Network and HD Net Movies, in November 2021. Gravitas has released more than 3,000 films on video on demand (VOD) during Gallagher’s time at the company. Some of those films also had theatrical releases. Gravitas’ recent films include “Mack & Rita” with Diane Keaton; “Our Friend,” starring Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson, and Jason Segel; and “Vanguard,” starring Jackie Chan. Anthem said it has retained an advisor to identify a successor to Gallagher and expects to make a decision within the coming months.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Just hours after Pink dropped her ninth studio album, “Trustfall,” the singer has announced a brace of fall arena dates that will launch just a week after her summer stadium tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 14-city tour kicks off on October 12, making stops at arenas across North America, including a date at Madison Square Garden in New York. The previously announced 2023 “Summer Carnival Stadium Tour” features special guests Brandi Carlile and 2022 Hall of Fame inductees Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo on select dates, along with Grouplove and KidCutUp on all tour dates. “Trustfall” features collaborations with Chris Stapleton, the Lumineers, and First Aid Kit, as well as songwriters and producers Max Martin, Shellback, Greg Kurstin, Fred Again, Billy Mann and others. Pink will be appearing on NBC’s “Today,” CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and a a show takeover special on “The Drew Barrymore Show.”

William Earl A new music venue is coming to Los Angeles courtesy of Teragram and Moroccan Lounge owner Michael Swier, in partnership with Another Planet Entertainment (APE). The Bellwether, billed as a multi-genre live music and nightlife destination, will be located at 333 S. Boylston St. and is scheduled to open this spring. Swier’s credits include co-founding Bowery Presents, and operating venerable downtown New York City venues Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom, and founding The Bowery Presents. Another Planet is a well-respected independent promoter which co-produces the annual Outside Lands and Life Is Beautiful music festival, and operates such venues as the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, the Fox Theater in Oakland, Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and The Independent in San Francisco, Oxbow RiverStage in Downtown Napa and more.