How Startup App Castifi Is Helping Production Restart By Simplifying Background Actor Casting

Tom Grater International Film ReporterThe Abu Dhabi Film Commission has signed a cooperation agreement with the Israel Film Fund and the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film & Television School to foster film and TV ties in the region.The agenda focuses on four initiatives, which interestingly include plans for a new regional film festival.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe recent U.S.-brokered agreement under which Israel established diplomatic relations with two Arab states has rapidly prompted formal film industry ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The Abu Dhabi Film Commission, the Israel Film Fund and Jerusalem’s Sam Spiegel Film & Television School (pictured) on Monday announced a wide-ranging agreement with the stated goal of “promoting tolerance, education and developing a deeper cultural

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVEXCLUSIVE: Netflix’s flagship series, Stranger Things, is preparing to go back to production. I hear that the hugely popular drama is targeting Sept.

Ava Max was destined to be a pop star. Growing up, the Wisconsin native listened to the likes of Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears and Beyoncé, studying their craft in hopes of one day becoming their peer.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVTV’s longest-running primetime live-action series, Law & Order: SVU, today started production on its 22nd season in New York. Star/EP Mariska Hargitay posted two behind-the-scene photos on Instagram to commemorate the occasion.On Saturday, Hargitay shared images from the cast’s virtual table read for the season opener, which is tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsRyan Reynolds is finally back to work, after a COVID-19 nose swab test, that is.The Deadpool actor tweeted that he has returned to production for his upcoming film Red Notice. Reynolds shared photos of him undergoing the dreaded coronavirus nose swab test on Saturday.“The Covid Test is quick and easy.

Ready to feel old? Ava Phillippe is officially 21 years old! It’s Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s daughter’s birthday today. So, we decided to take a little trip down memory lane to relive some of the cutest times Witherspoon’s daughter was her serious lookalike, down to the hair and makeup and chic ‘fit.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentIn the Middle East, the push to get back into production is best encapsulated by Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates city that’s been steadily growing as a global hub for Hollywood and Bollywood shoots, and where even during the coronavirus crisis production never stopped.“We maintained full production throughout the pandemic,” says Michael Garin, CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Twofour54, the outfit that provides infrastructure and incentives to more than 500

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe U.K. is Europe’s top destination for Hollywood productions, with $3.75 billion spent on movies and high-end TV last year, followed by Hungary and Czech Republic.Countries including Romania, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, Bulgaria and Malta are upping the ante in the contest to bring international shoots to their studios.

Reese Witherspoon shared a sweet Happy Birthday message to her daughter Ava Phillippe as she turns 21 on Wednesday.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterVariety is marshaling its global resources to launch digital and print franchises devoted to tracking the restart of content production around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.On Sept. 9, Variety will publish its largest-ever special report on international filming locations, “Location Update: The Big Restart,” produced in collaboration with the Association of Film Commissioners International.

International star Famke Janssen has signed with APA for representation in all areas. She was previously at ICM Partners.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorWhile much of Hollywood ground to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, VFX houses were among those that pivoted to working remotely, and continued to operate.

Russell Crowe is doing something wonderful.

Megyn Kelly was slammed on Twitter on Thursday after sharing a Daily Mail article suggesting Jacob Blake had a knife when cops shot him in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Heather Locklear’s daughter, Ava Sambora, has her mother’s beauty. The 22-year-old shared a series of snaps on Instagram over the weekend and many people remarked on her similarities to Locklear, 58.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorMark Cuban is gunning for a 2020 Emmy Award with “Shark Tank,” the entrepreneur reality-competition show he co-hosts on ABC, and the billionaire investor says he’s still as gung-ho as ever on the business-pitch series as it enters its 12th season.“Shark Tank” just completed the first round of shooting for the upcoming season, which Cuban said took place at an undisclosed hotel in Las Vegas — with an array of new COVID-19 safety protocols even more stringent than

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorWhen director Lisa Donato came on board to helm “Gossamer Folds,” casting a trans actor to play the lead was imperative.