Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Memento International has closed a raft of deals on “Fremont,” the critically acclaimed film by BAFTA-nominated Iranian-born director Babak Jalali. The movie world premiered at Sundance and was acquired by Music Box for North America in a deal negotiated by CAA. The black-and-white film, laced with wry humor, tells the story of Donya, a young woman working at a Chinese fortune cookie factory in the San Francisco bay. Formerly a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, she struggles to put her life back in order. In a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a special message in a cookie. Following its Sundance premiere, the film played at SXSW and is slated to compete at Karlovy Vary. Other festival lined up include Deauville, Melbourne and Athens.
Phil Nelson to Lead CNN’s International Business Operations, Cathy Ibal, Rob Bradley, James Hunt Elevated (EXCLUSIVE)
19.05.2023 - 09:57 / variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Phil Nelson will lead CNN Worldwide’s international business operations and its work with commercial partners outside of the U.S. Nelson previously served as COO of CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) from 2019. In the new position of executive VP, CNNIC, he becomes part of CNN Worldwide’s leadership team and reports into the network’s group executive VP of business operations and strategy, Chris Marlin. Nelson is now responsible for all international advertising sales, content sales and licensing and commercial distribution revenue, as well as related client solutions functions including the Create brand studio and digital and data operations.
In this role, Nelson also works with partners across the Warner Bros. Discovery business on areas such as CNN International’s distribution strategy and collaboration on digital operations and ad sales. Prior to joining CNN, Nelson was managing director, Turner north Asia and southeast Asia Pacific.
CNN has also elevated key management personnel. Cathy Ibal, with CNN since 2001, who was most recently head of CNN International’s advertising sales for EMEA and North America, has been named senior VP, advertising sales, to oversee all of CNN’s international advertising sales. Rob Bradley, who has been at CNN since 2015, is appointed senior VP, digital revenue, strategy and operations, with a remit that includes everything related to the digital ecosystem for CNNIC – revenue, operations and commercial strategy. Bradley is also part of the CNN Digital leadership team and will lead CNNIC’s collaboration with WBD’s international business operations on digital projects. James Hunt, who has been at CNN since 2016, responsible for the Create group (brand studio,
Filipino Producers of David Byrne’s ‘Here Lies Love’ and Union Demanding a Live Orchestra Explain What They Each See at Stake for Broadway’s Future (EXCLUSIVE)
Here Lies Love,” advertising a score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and direction by the ground-breaking Tony winner Alex Timbers. The show’s logo is superimposed over a mirror ball, literally reflecting the production’s highly unusual immersive nightclub setting, a semi-ironic counterpoint to a sobering story about the rise and fall of fascistic Filipino power couple Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. The tag line above that disco totem: “The Revolutionary Music Experience.” It’s a revolution that the union representing Broadway musicians would like to stop in its tracks, at least in its current form. And with the show set to open for previews in less than two weeks, the production and the Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians remain at loggerheads about how “Here Lies Love” will, or should, proceed.
Josh Groban Tony Watch Q&A: How Broadway’s Great Comet Landed On ‘Sweeney Todd’
Even longtime fans of singer Josh Groban could be forgiven some degree of surprise upon seeing the multiple-Grammy nominee in his 2016 Broadway debut Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, so impressive was his Tony-nominated performance in that splendid, eccentric musical. And those that saw his turn as that production’s bookish, melancholic Russian aristocrat Pierre might just as easily be forgiven still further surprise upon seeing Groban in his latest Broadway endeavor as the mad title character of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Robin Roberts Aims to Make ‘Noise’ Over Special Olympics in New Documentary
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor The story of the Special Olympics has been well told. So Robin Roberts is offering a new one. The “Good Morning America” co-anchor is an executive producer of ‘All You Hear Is Noise,” a new unscripted project that examines the paths of three Special Olympics contestants — Trent Hampton, Melanie Holmes, and Chris Wines — who travel to the United Arab Emirates to compete in the Special Olympics World Games, but face challenges in employment, relationships, and more upon their return. The project has been produced by SpringHill Company, the content production unit backed by LeBron James, and its “Uninterrupted” brand, which focuses on athlete empowerment, along with Roberts’ own Rock’n Robin Productions. The film debuts at the Tribeca Film Festival.
‘Emily in Paris’ Hit by Writers Strike, Season 4 Filming Delayed (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The fourth season of “Emily in Paris” was initially set to start in late summer or early fall in the French capital that gives the show its name, but filming has been delayed by two months due to the writers strike, Variety has learned. That could stretch longer if WGA members remain on the picket line. Netflix declined to comment. The plan is still to start shooting by the end of fall, according to a source close to the streamer. Netflix announced the renewal of Darren Star’s Emmy-nominated romantic comedy in January 2022. Season 3 dropped on the streamer on Dec. 21, 2022 following a massive premiere event in Paris, which lured crowds of overjoyed fans and was attended by Star and the entire cast, including Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Kate Walsh, Camille Razat, Lucas Bravo, Lucien Laviscount (who wore a shiny purple suit), Bruno Gouery and Samuel Arnold.
Olivia Attwood shares sweet memory of Bradley Dack on eve of wedding
Olivia Attwood has shared some sweet words about the moment she met her fiancé Bradley Dack ahead of the couple's wedding. The former Love Island star, 32, took to Instagram on Friday to post some pictures of the couple as they cosied-up to one another on a roof terrace, just hours away from their nuptials on Saturday.
Taylor Swift Announces First International Eras Tour Dates with Sabrina Carpenter as Opening Act
Taylor Swift has announced the first round of international dates for The Eras Tour!
Beanie Feldstein Marries Bonnie Chance Roberts in Summer Camp Wedding!
Beanie Feldstein is married!
Vertical Pre-Buys Emma Roberts Comedy ‘Hot Mess’ Out Of Cannes
EXCLUSIVE: Vertical has snapped up North American rights out of Cannes to Hot Mess, a new comedy starring Emma Roberts (Madame Web) which is in pre-production for a shoot early next year.
Philippines’ Fire and Ice Strikes Twin Deals With Potocol, ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ Producer (EXCLUSIVE)
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Recently-established Philippines-based production and financing company, Fire and Ice, has deals to provide completion funding to two films being produced by prolific Singapore-based independent producer Potocol. Under a related agreement, Fire and Ice has also struck a multi-faceted first-look deal with Potocol. The completion funding, which gives Fire and Ice a share of the film’s equity, will permit the completion of post-production of upcoming Potocol titles: “Pierce,” a sports drama by Nelicia Low, and “Last Shadow at First Light,” by Nicole Midori Woodford. Both films were recently showcased at Focus Asia’s Far East In Progress, part of the Far East Film Festival in Udine, and are expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp confirm ‘Sunday Lunch Rock Party’ tour
Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp have confirmed the details of their upcoming ‘Sunday Lunch Rock Party’ tour – check out dates below.The pair started sharing covers of well-known rock and pop songs in 2020, with Willcox later explaining that she was trying to help husband Fripp get through the COVID-19 lockdowns. They shared their most recent cover at the end of last month, reworking Joan Jett‘s ‘Bad Reputation’.Speaking to NME in 2021, Willcox said that she was hoping to take their Sunday Lunch series “a lot further”.
Filmax Takes International Rights To Spanish-Argentinian Animated Feature ‘Robotia’ — Cannes Market
EXCLUSIVE: Filmax has acquired international rights to Spanish-Argentinian animated feature Robotia and will present the pic to buyers at the Cannes market.
Indonesia Launches Funding Scheme For International Co-Productions
Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology is launching a grant scheme to support co-productions between Indonesian and international filmmakers.
Taylor Swift Had So Many Celeb Guests at the 'Eras Tour' Stop in Philadelphia - Full List Revealed!
There were so many celebs in the VIP tents at the Taylor Swift concerts in Philadelphia over the weekend.
Man robbed near taxi rank before being attacked by 'members of the same gang'
A man has been robbed in a town centre backstreet before being attacked by a group. Greater Manchester Police has launched an investigation following the incident, close to a taxi rank in Bury.
'Unrelenting' paedophile sent nearly £21k to women in Philippines for child abuse streams
A paedophile who spent nearly £21,000 to set up Skype live streams of child abuse in the Philippines has been jailed. Bernard Grace, 72, was found by police with thousands of chat messages to women.
Watch Taylor Swift shout at security guard during her “Eras” tour date in Philadelphia
Taylor Swift angrily addressed a security guard mid-song during a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday night (May 13). Pitchfork and Vulture both report on fan-shot footage that shows Swift appearing to defend a fan who was involved in an incident with a security guard at Lincoln Financial Field. Swift, mid-way through her song "Bad Blood," stopped singing to shout "She's fine," "Hey, stop!" and "She wasn't doing anything" in the direction of the crowd.
Taylor Swift appears to defend fan from security guard during Philadelphia show
Taylor Swift appeared to defend a fan from a security guard during her Philadelphia show this weekend.The pop singer is currently on her North American ‘Eras‘ tour, performing the second show of the weekend in her home state of Pennsylvania at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium on Saturday (May 13).During Swift’s performance of her 2014 hit ‘Bad Blood’ the singer paused mid-song to address a security guard.“She’s fine! She wasn’t doing anything!” she said, before yelling “Hey, stop!” two more times while simultaneously continuing to sing the lyrics.Not sure what happened during Bad Blood but it was enough Taylor needed to get involved… #erastour #taylorswift #tserastourphilly pic.twitter.com/JcJMmi0dOJ— Nicolle Bradford (@NicolleBradford) May 14, 2023Here was my view of it pic.twitter.com/bHOtin76nG— Matt Hahn (@MattHahn96) May 14, 2023
Taylor Swift Yells At 'Aggressive' Security Guard To Defend Fan During Philly Show! WATCH!
Taylor Swift has some bad blood with one of the security guards from her show last night!
Taylor Swift Interrupts Song To Chastise Security Treatment Of Fan At Philadelphia Show
Taylor Swift usually performs a different kind of show-stopper.