Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here. Our crack team of reporters and editors brought you the news from Zurich to Singapore to London this week, and I’m here to help you digest. Read away.
10.09.2022 - 16:57 / variety.com
Manori Ravindran International Editor Robert Schwartzman is part of one of Hollywood’s great filmmaking dynasties, but when he ventured into directing himself, he discovered that the world of distribution for up-and-coming filmmakers was broken. The multihyphenate, who is Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew, has acted in movies like “The Princess Diaries” — where he played Anne Hathaway’s love interest Michael Moscovitz in what became her breakout movie — and has fronted the rock band Rooney since 1999. In recent years, however, Schwartzman has become more ensconced in the family business, directing indie features such as “The Unicorn,” “Dreamland” and “The Argument.”
“I felt a frustration that certain films were being overlooked in the market, like when you don’t get into a film festival, and the movie doesn’t make the cut sometimes,” Schwartzman tells Variety. “It’s pretty emotionally devastating for a filmmaker to feel that rejection.”
He continues: “You want to put [the film] in the hands of somebody that just cares, and is willing to put in some time and effort to help that movie reach an audience.” Schwartzman co-founded distribution banner Utopia with business partner Cole Harper in 2018 to offer a more artist-focused approach for filmmakers, and provide “another home” for acquiring independently produced and financed movies. The company has so far made a number of big swings on the film festival circuit following its breakout success in 2020 with dark comedy “Shiva Baby.” Out of January’s Sundance Film Festival, it won the U.S. distribution rights to Lena Dunham’s buzzy sophomore movie “Sharp Stick” — “It’s not every filmmaker that has that brand in the market,” says Schwartzman of Dunham — and at the Cannes Film
Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here. Our crack team of reporters and editors brought you the news from Zurich to Singapore to London this week, and I’m here to help you digest. Read away.
Robert Cormier has sadly passed away at the young age of 33.
died in July 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. “We’re grateful to have Netflix partner with us on this highly personal project. They’re the ideal home for our unconventional, oft absurd, brutally in-depth homage,” producers Robert Downey Jr.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has revealed the song he believes is the best to introduce to prospective new fans of the metal icons.Across a 40-year career and 10 studio albums, the band have shared hundreds of songs, and Trujillo picked a somewhat off-the-wall choice for what he believes is the best one to play to listeners you hope to convert.“For me that’s pretty easy,” Trujillo told Revolver when being asked the question as part of the publication’s ‘Point Of Entry’ series, which asks bands which song of theirs they would use to introduce the band to a new listener.After picking ‘Master Of Puppets’ track ‘Disposable Heroes’, he explained: “The reason is because it’s really in a lot of ways – especially in metal – the perfect balance of what I call ‘power groove’.”“I liked that song before I even joined the band,” he added. “I used to go running in the hills in the Santa Monica mountains to prepare for Suicidal Tendencies tours.
Meryl Streep is honoring her longtime friend Robert De Niro.
Queen Consort’s greatest challenges was getting Queen Elizabeth to accept her both as a member of the Royal Family and her daughter-in-law. Her Majesty had found her eldest son rather irritating as a child and his refusal to move on and abandon Camilla meant he was still not doing as he was told. Queen Elizabeth was also influenced by her mother, who had wanted the then Prince Charles to marry Diana Spencer and enjoyed a warm relationship with Camilla’s first husband Andrew Parker Bowles.
Friends that matter. Maci Bookout has Amber Portwood’s back when it comes to her custody drama.
“I am Iron Man!” In another universe, the now-infamous line from the eponymous 2008 movie could have been spoken by Tom Cruise instead of Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan are enjoying a romantic night out.
The Chernin Group and Night, Inc. are launching Night Capital, a new investment company with commitments of $100 million, to acquire established consumer-facing companies in partnership with leading talent.
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Peter Chernin’s Chernin Group has formed a new investment company, Night Capital, with digital talent-management and media firm Night Inc., whose biggest client is major YouTube creator MrBeast. Night Capital, which has funding commitments of $100 million from TCG, is focused on acquiring majority interests in “consumer-facing companies in partnership with leading talent,” the companies announced. The firm said it will team up with creators who “will be key partners in driving the strategic vision and future business growth,” they said — modeled on the business ventures of MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, who has launched a national burger chain and a games company.
millions along the way, with his earnings fueling his pricey car collection. According to CA Knowledge, the 62-year-old is worth an estimated $32million (£27. 5million).
Back in 2014, when “Birdman” was taking Hollywood by storm, Alejandro G. Iñárritu had some choice words about the rise of the superhero film, calling it a form of “cultural genocide.” “I don’t respond to those characters,” he added.
Extra will return for its 29th season Sept. 12 with a new senior correspondent and weekend co-host. Melvin Robert will join the team and be based in Los Angeles alongside anchor Billy Bush. and correspondents Rachel Lindsay and Jennifer Lahmers.
Her girls! Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star Leah Messer is the mother of three daughters — Ali, Aleeah and Adalynn — and she has documented every #GirlMom moment throughout the years.
Although Robert Downey Jr. is currently one of the most famous actors on the planet, he reminds the audience early in the new documentary “Sr.”— about his late father Robert Downey Sr.— that for many years, he was simply just known as “Bob Downey’s kid.” Which is ostensibly the impetus of “Sr.,” directed by celebrated documentarian Chris Smith (“American Movie”), yet, essentially hosted and presented by RDJ, to put his father in proper cinematic and historical context.