IW Group Expanding Entertainment Marketing & PR Practice, Ups Karen Tran Wood To Oversee It

The IDF’s ground war in Gaza to root out the Hamas perpetrators of the Oct 7 terror attack has prompted demonstrations as casualties and the death toll mounts. As tensions continue to mount, groups of benefactors have focused on not allowing Oct 7 to be dismissed. After 45 minutes of gruesome footage shot by terrorists was shown in Hollywood and New York, some survivors are being flown to Hollywood to speak. That happened Saturday at the home of producer Lawrence Bender, and more than 100 gathered to hear the experiences of several survivors. One was Ella Shani, a 14-year old survivor of the attack on her Kubbutz Be’eri. Her father and neighbors were murdered, and her 16 year old cousin was kidnapped and is being held hostage. Another is Tomer Peretz, an Israel American artist on holiday in Israel when he volunteered with the Zaka-Rapid response unit of volunteers for mass casualty disasters, and was one of the first men to witness the carnage. The third was Ariel Ein-Gal, who was on the beach asleep when the missiles started pounding the beach, and suddenly terrorists landed by boat, firing AK-47s at him and his friends. Here is Ariel’s account of his harrowing experience, written as a guest column for Deadline.

EXCLUSIVE: Paula Abdul will be recognized as the 2023 Humanitarian of the Year at the Hollywood Christmas Parade to be held on November 26. The honor will be presented by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in appreciation for her generosity and her commitment to giving back to the community.

Meghan Markle is ready for her close-up. On Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex walked the red carpet for Variety’s Power of Women event in Los Angeles. The celebration honors the outlet’s Power of Women honorees, who each get a Variety cover.The mother of two was honored last year.

EXCLUSIVE: Tony winner Adrienne Warren is set to star in and executive produce Dreamland, a period drama series in development at Peacock from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

dubia, or questions regarding Catholic Church doctrine, submitted by Brazilian Bishop Jose Negri of Santo Amaro, inquiring about LGBTQ people and their participation in holy sacraments.The church’s Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith said that transgender people may be baptized, under certain conditions, and as long as there is “no risk of causing a public scandal or disorientation among the faithful.”The doctrinal office also said that “transsexuals,” as it refers to transgender people, could serve as godparents at a baptism at the discretion of a local priest, or as witnesses at a Church wedding — noting that there is no prohibition in current canonical legislation — but warned that diocesan priests should exercise “pastoral prudence” in allowing this participation.The answers to the dubia were signed by the department’s head, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and approved by Pope Francis on Oct. 31, according to Reuters.

Israeli actress Gal Gadot is reportedly spearheading a Hollywood screening of a 47-minute video of the atrocities committed by the terrorist group Hamas during the October 7 surprise attack on Israel.The footage, provided by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), will be shown to a select group of celebrities and influential figures, i24 News reported. The first screening is planned to host 120 viewers, with potential additional screenings based on interest.In the early morning hours of October 7, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel, killing 1,400 Israelis and taking 240 people, including foreigners, who remain hostage inside the Gaza Strip.The footage will be aired under the title “Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre” in both Los Angeles and New York this week, according to reporting from The Wrap.

When skepticism about the savagery of attacks by Hamas terrorists against Jews in Israel first surfaced, the Israel Defense Forces put together 45 minutes of gruesome imagery — most of it shot by the perpetrators — of murder, beheadings, rapes, and other atrocities against Jewish adults and children. Initially shown to world leaders, ambassadors and journalists covering the attack and the ensuing response by Israel military forces, that footage will be shown this week in screenings organized in Hollywood and New York.

Valerie Wu Intern “Poor Things,” starring Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, has already generated a substantial amount of Oscars buzz, becoming a major contender for next year’s awards season. What less people might know about the film is that it was shot in Budapest, Hungary — a location that appealed to the “Poor Things” filmmakers for its “abundant studio space,” “highly skilled crew base,” “favorable costs” and “attractive 30% cash rebate,” according to Christopher Vourlias of Variety. Not only that, but Hollywood filmmakers have historically used Hungary in their productions, with films like “Dune,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “Black Widow” all being shot in Budapest.

Jaden Thompson “Diversity” is undoubtedly a buzzword in Hollywood, but the inclusion of people with disabilities behind and in front of the camera remains an overlooked topic in the industry. At Variety‘s inaugural Inclusion Gathering, presented by the Ruderman Family Foundation at West Hollywood’s London Hotel on Nov.

Zoe Hewitt If life were a superhero movie, one of the major characters would be Ray Halbritter. That’s because the Oneida Indian Nation member has traveled a true superhero journey, using his connections and power not only to raise the visibility and elevate the prosperity of Native Americans, but to change the very culture of the country. If that sounds like a heavy lift, consider Halbritter’s background, which contains elements of tragedy and triumph.

AFM will get picked up. But given the climate in Hollywood, many projects won’t officially hit the market until February at the European Film Market in Berlin.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are co-repping North America whilst Protagonist Pictures has come on board to handle international rights to Summer Camp starring Academy Award-winners Diane Keaton (First Wives Club, Annie Hall)and Kathy Bates (Titanic, Misery), as well as Golden Globe-winner Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave, The Book of Clarence).  Rounding up the ensemble cast are Eugene Levy (Schitt’s Creek, American Pie), Golden Globe nominee Dennis Haysbert (Far from Heaven, 24), Nicole Richie (Great News) and Josh Peck (Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer).

A prominent piece of Hollywood is for sale. The Dolby Theatre, the Los Angeles venue that is the host for the annual Academy Awards, is on the block, according to a Bloomberg report.

Editors note: Michael Seitzman is a veteran film and TV writer and showrunner. He created the series Code Black and Intelligence and penned the Charlize Theron-starring movie North Country. In a guest column titled “Because Jews,” he shares is impassioned take on the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and its reverberations around Hollywood.

“It is understandable to look at the state of transgender rights today and feel dismayed — I get that,” says Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “But there are really incredible leaders who are fighting back.

Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Scanlon has warned the judges 'don't mess' as her dance partner Carlos gave a short one-word reply to the feedback given during Saturday's live show. On Wednesday night (October 25), the Irish TV presenter and professional dancer appeared on Strictly's spin-off show It Takes Two to chat to host Janette Manrara.

Strictly Come Dancing may be about to lose Karen Hauer from its professional line-up, some of the fans believe. Part of the choreography team since 2012, the Venezuelan-American, 41, has partnered with celebrities including Westlife singer Nicky Byrne, TOWIE's Mark Wright, Pop Idol winner Will Young and comedian Chris Ramsey, but Karen's dream of lifting the Glitterball trophy looks to be gone forever. Following her and Eddie Kadi's elimination from the competition last weekend, various Reddit users have now noticed a particular tone of body language from the pro, which they believe could signal her departure from the show.

What’s Sean Baker have in store for audiences next? Variety has the scoop there, reporting that the “Red Rocket” director teams up with FilmNation Entertainment again for his upcoming film “Anora.” And the movie is already in post-production, although plot details remain under wraps. As for who stars in Baker’s latest, there’s one confirmed name: Mikey Madison, who audiences will recognize from “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood…” and “Scream 5.” READ MORE: Sean Baker Warns “Censorship” Could Be Coming To American Cinema As He Wraps Production On His Newest Film Baker shot his upcoming film in Brooklyn earlier this year.

Brent Lang Executive Editor FilmNation Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Sean Baker’s new romantic dramedy film “Anora.” Following the acquisition, FilmNation sold rights internationally to Le Pacte in France, Lev in Israel, Kismet in Australia and New Zealand and Focus Features and Universal Pictures International in the rest of the world, excluding North America. The film was written and directed by Baker, who is best known for directing “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project.” It shot on location at the beginning of the year in Brooklyn and stars Mikey Madison, who appeared as Manson Family follower Susan “Sadie” Atkins in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Kirk Douglas.Between them, a group of Jews whose families had lived in constant fear of persecution gave America, and the world, the golden age of cinema. Classics from “The Wizard of Oz” and “Singin’ in the Rain” to “Ben Hur” and “Gone with the Wind” exist because of them.So why, after the most heinous mass murders of Jews since the Holocaust, is Hollywood incapable of recognizing its own history — and why does it have such a Jew problem?In the days since the Hamas attacks in Israel, the powerful and the rich have truly exposed themselves.Maha Dakhil, co-head of motion pictures at CAA and agent to Tom Cruise, Madonna, Reese Witherspoon, Olivia Wilde, and American Israeli Natalie Portman, this week accused Israel of “genocide.”She re-posted, “You’re currently learning who supports genocide,” before adding her own caption: “That’s the line for me.” John Cusack, that one-time 80s heartthrob, wrote on X: “I was out at the Palestinian march in Chicago.