ICM Partners Undergoes New Round of Staff Cuts

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterICM Partners and its London-based agency Primary Talent International have hired music agent Pete Nash, it was announced today by Rob Prinz, head of worldwide concerts at ICM Partners and Matt Bates, head of international at PTI/ICM.  Nash will be based in ICM’s New York office and brings with him a client roster that includes Kings of Leon, Pet Shop Boys, Regina Spektor, Steve Winwood, The Struts and Travis (outside of the U.S.).ICM Partners International

“If you are the big tree, we are the small axe,” this is the Jamaican proverb that has inspired filmmaker Steve McQueen‘s, “Small Axe,” a collection of five films inspired by real-life events about ordinary people showing courage, belief, and resilience to overcome injustice and achieve something transformative in their West Indian community.

Earlier in the week, the 2020 incarnation of the New York Film Festival got underway officially, with one part of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology, Lovers Rock, serving as the Opening Night Selection. Having seen it, the movie serves as both a strong start for NYFF this year, as well as a smaller and far less awards friendly selection.

Like most aspects of life, the New York Film Festival looks a little different this year, switching to a mostly virtual format in light of the pandemic.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film CriticIn the most transporting scene of Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock,” we’re at a London house party that has just hit its smoky seductive dirty-dancing groove. It’s 1980, and most of the revelers have West Indian roots.

Todd McCarthy Watching Lovers Rock is akin to going to see Romeo and Juliet and only staying through the first act, to departing a basketball game after the first quarter, to sipping the soup and skipping the rest of the meal. A mere wisp of a thing, Steve McQueen’s 68-minute feature, the only fictional section of a five-film anthology called Small Axe about London’s West Indian community between the late 1960s and 1980, steeps you in the atmosphere and music of the latter date.

Also Read: Steve McQueen's 'Lovers Rock' Set as New York Film Festival Opening Night FilmCinematographer Shabier Kirchner (“Skate Kitchen”) gets us so close to the action that we’re reminded of why students at Catholic high-school dances are always admonished to leave room for the Holy Spirit.This is very much an ensemble piece, introducing us to various members of London’s West Indian community, but our protagonist is Martha (Amarah-Jae St.

As his “Lover’s Rock” opens the New York Film Festival, Steve McQueen says he’s delighted to return to the festival seven years after “12 Years A Slave”.

In less than a month, we will watch Lee Dong Wook, Kim Bum and Jo Bo Ah play out the fantasy drama Tale of the Nine Tailed. While Jo bo Ah plays a producer hoping to disclose the identity of the mythical nine-tailed fox played by Lee Dong Wook, Kim Bum plays his half gumiho brother in the tvN drama.

To find out more about the group, contact Joe on 07428193627 or search for Stewartry ‘Stuff’ on Facebook.The volunteer group is also keen to hear from someone who can develop a website to help spread the word.

David Robb Labor EditorThe Directors Guild Foundation is making another round of $1,000 grants available to DGA members who lost work because of the COVID-19 shutdown even if they had previously received a grant.“When we first launched the Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund in March, our $1,000 grant criteria were focused on members who’d lost their jobs in the shutdown,” Foundation chairman Todd Holland said in his latest message to the guild’s members.

Well at least Kanye West isn’t Twitter ranting about personal issues between his wife Kim Kardashian, 39, and his mother-in-law Kris Jenner. This time he’s taking shots at the music industry, saying artists are “slaves” to their record companies and name checking other musicians including Drake, JAY-Z and Travis Scott.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsThe New York Mets said Monday that hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen has reached a deal to purchase the team.“The Sterling Partners have signed an agreement with Steve Cohen pursuant to which Mr. Cohen would purchase the New York Mets,” the team’s official Twitter posted.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was set, and announced that it is becoming an Airbnb.It comes as the hit show marks 30 years since its debut this month, with the show’s cast members returning for a one-off reunion special on HBO Max.Posting a photo of himself with Jazzy Jeff in front of the mansion on his Instagram page, Smith announced: “YOOOO!! Y’all think we should rent out the @freshprince house?? We’re making it happen with the squad at @airbnb!! #FreshPrince30th”.Guests will be able to rent

Yep, festival season is a little weird this year, but if the currently-ongoing Venice Film Festival and just-started Toronto International Film Festival are any indication, the 58th New York Film Festival is going to be just as good, albeit enjoyed from a safe distance.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLive Nation and Ticketmaster were hit with another round of furloughs on Thursday, said to number in the hundreds, sources tell Variety. The cuts at the world’s largest live-entertainment company (Live Nation owns Ticketmaster) are said to reach across all business units, particularly regional offices.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerActress Amber Midthunder, who is a regular on the CW series Roswell, New Mexico and previously co-starred in FX’s Legion, stars in The Wheel, an indie feature, which she also produced. Steve Pink is the director and also produced the pic.

exodus from top agencies like WME, CAA and UTA back in August, and the firm is now called Range Media Partners.The new company is backed by Steve Cohen’s Point72 Ventures, as well as with participation from former New York Knicks Coach David Fizdale, former Microsoft CMO Mich Mathews-Spradlin, and Grubhub Founder and CEO Matt Maloney.The company’s founders all have a joint stake of ownership in the company.