‘Theater Camp’ Co-Director Nick Lieberman Signs With Range Media Partners (EXCLUSIVE)

Charna Flam Sundance prize winning directors Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson have signed with Range Media Partners At the 2023 festival, Brewster and Stephenson won the grand jury prize for U.S. Documentary for their feature ”Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.” Harvard-and Stanford–trained psychiatrist, Brewster, and Columbia Law School graduate Stephenson decided to pursue filmmaking together, and by 2006 the two founded Rada Studio. The studio has provided creators the opportunity to think radically about storytelling and work to disrupt nonfiction spaces. The pair works together to build reality, fiction, immersive and hybrid stories that embrace and deliver compelling narratives, which are all created by, for, and about the Black and Brown communities.

Tom Carter, president and COO of The CW parent Nexstar Media Group, said the debut of Saudi-backed LIV Golf on the network in late-February was a hit and may well help spur more talks with sports rights holders.

EXCLUSIVE: In a highly competitive landscape with multiple offers, Range Media Partners and actor/producer Taron Egerton have acquired the screen rights to the upcoming LGBTQ+ psychological thriller HappyHead from debut author Josh Silver, with plans to adapt for the big screen. The deal was brokered by Leah Middleton at Marjacq Scripts on behalf of Becky Bagnell of the Lindsay Literary Agency. Set to be published in the U.K. on March 16, 2023 by Oneworld, HappyHead is the first in a planned series. 

EXCLUSIVE: Range Media Partners has signed social media star Monet McMichael, one of the newest faces exploding on TikTok with beauty, fashion and lifestyle content.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Prominent Arab journalist Nakhle Elhage, who ran the Al Arabiya news network for 16 years, is launching a digital startup called Blinx to produce news and short form storytelling content targeting Gen Z and millennials in the Middle East and beyond. Headquartered in a high-tech Dubai Media City studio, Blinx is being dubbed as the first digital native storytelling hub in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It “will soon launch on multiple platforms,” according to a statement. The digital startup, which is financed by unspecified UAE-based investors, is offering a “more story, less noise approach,” the statement said, with content made by young people “delivering relatable content to a young audience in a way the MENA region has yet to see,” it added.

Dying for Sex podcast. The Wondery series reached millions of listeners, was named Podcast of the Year at the 2021 Ambie Awards and was selected as one of Apple’s favorite podcasts of 2020.“I’m beyond excited to continue this legacy with more inspiring stories from, with, and about everyday people in extraordinary circumstances making the most out of their lives, changing the way we live our own lives, and leaving the world a better place,” added Boyer, who is a three-time Emmy-winning TV host, producer and actress.“We knew immediately that Lemonada was the perfect partner for our new venture.

EXCLUSIVE: David Wain, the man behind the comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer, has signed with Entertainment 360.

EXCLUSIVE: Range Media Partners on Friday announced its signing of Giovanni M. Porta, a writer and producer whose first produced project, At Midnight, premiered on Paramount+ in February.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Howard Bragman — an architect of modern public relations and queer rights advocate who died last month — was celebrated by friends, family, and former clients in an emotional memorial on Sunday in Los Angeles.  A packed private park in North Hollywood adorned with string lights and a humble stage welcomed guests including Stevie Wonder, Lizzy Caplan, Melissa Rivers, Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, and Bragman’s musician husband Michael Maimone. Industry types in attendance included Oscar winner and “The Woman King” producer Cathy Shulman, former Entertainment Weekly editor Jess Cagle, and former “Good Morning America” hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes. Bragman’s brother Adam and his client Don Lemon sent video tributes honoring the late executive. 

A mysterious sea creature which looked like the Loch Ness Monster has been spotted off the Somerset coast - almost 600 miles from her 'home' in the Highlands. Visitors in Clevedon rushed to take photographs of the ‘creature’ that was spotted bobbing in the water right next to the town’s Victoria Pier.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Major Major, a full-service creative advertising agency, has officially opened its doors in Los Angeles. Staffed by veteran creatives and executives across filmed content and digital media, the company will specialize in areas like theatrical trailers, TV spots, branding, live-action production, social video, behind-the-scenes features, and more. The operation Is founded by Craig A Platt, Des Esposito and Chris Nesheim, along with senior execs like creative director Josh Beaumont and music EVP Toddrick Spalding.   The group has over 50 years of combined experience on major features (“Elvis,” “Dune,” “Logan,” and “Aquaman”), family animation (“Frozen,” “Coco,” “Zootopia,” “Mitchells vs The Machines”), art house dramas and popcorn faire. They most recently entered the streaming marketing sector with work on Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”

Quinta Brunson and continued their awards season success on Sunday with a big win at the 2023 SAG Awards!The cast of the ABC comedy won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, the first network comedy to do so since in 2013, and Brunson told ET's Denny Directo backstage that receiving the award from the Screen Actors Guild «just hits different.»«These are our peers, these are people who do the same work that we do as actors. For them to think that we're deserving of this award, it just hits different, it really does,» she noted.Brunson shared a sweet moment with husband Kevin Jay Anik after the win was announced, and the actress and producer couldn't help but gush about her hubby being the best «support system» during breakout success.«I mean, a partner during all of this, you can't buy that kind of support,» she gushed. «Someone willing to go through what it takes to make and be a part of, it's priceless.

Following months of renewal chatter about A League of Their Own, Prime Video is fueling the flames of suspicion further with a Twitter post.

William Earl Joel Zimmerman, one of the top agents in electronic dance music (EDM) and a 13-year veteran of WME, has joined Range Media Partners as a partner in the company’s music division. Range, launched two years ago, is helmed by managing partners Matt Graham, Jack Minihan, Tyler Henry, Melissa Ruderman, Chris Thomas and Evan Winiker, and boasts a label partnership with Capitol Music Group (CMG) and Virgin Music & Artist Label Services (Virgin). Among its clients are Jack Harlow, Justin Tranter, Cordae, Midland, Nova Wav, Tyga, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Hailey Whitters, Lauv, MAX, HARV, Sean Douglas and Wondagurl, among others. While at WME, Zimmerman acted as primary agent for dozens of top acts, helping grow EDM into a billion-dollar business by representing such artists as Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, 88rising, Steve Lacy, Avicii, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Psy, Kygo, Swedish House Mafia and Deadmau5 (whose real name is also Joel Zimmerman). His run at the agency followed the founding of Division One Talent in 2006, which was brought in-house to William Morris, marking the first time a department was specifically dedicated to EDM. There, Zimmerman helped establish long-term DJ residencies in Las Vegas and throughout the world.

@CNNThisMorning today. To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better.See you soon.“I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today,” he wrote.

A song gone wrong? Ariana DeBose instantly received the meme treatment after her viral performance at the 2023 BAFTAs — but the jokes seemingly didn’t sit well.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer The 81st Golden Globe Awards are heading back to Sunday night. The film and TV celebration, which officially kicks off awards season, has staked January 7, 2024 for its next telecast, Variety can report exclusively. The show pivoted to a Tuesday this year to avoid an NFL game leading up to the NCAA National Championship showdown. In addition to reclaiming the traditional Sunday slot, producers behind the Globes are entertaining multiple offers from potential distribution partners, sources familiar with the talks said. Both TV networks and streamers are in the mix to air the next installment, one of the sources added. This includes NBC, the network which has broadcast the show since 1996. That year, “Sense and Sensibility” took home best drama, and Emma Thompson, the winner for best motion picture screenplay, delivered a memorable speech in character as Jane Austen. It’s not surprising that streamers are interested in the Globes, as the major platforms look to diversify their viewing experiences with live programming. In January, Netflix announced a multiyear deal to host the Screen Actors Guild Awards (which goes on service starting in 2024, and this year will be live-streamed on Netflix’s official YouTube channel).

Ariana DeBose has deactivated her Twitter account after online commentators attacked her opening number at the 2023 BAFTA Awards. However, one of the event's producers was quick to come to the  star's defense, calling the backlash «incredibly unfair.» DeBose performed “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” and “We Are Family,” as well as an original rap where she shouted out the awards show's female nominees. Sisters are doing it for themselves! The incredible @ArianaDeBose opens the 2023 #EEBAFTAs with an iconic performance! ✨ pic.twitter.com/G9YgKN2e1t“Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my ‘Woman King,’ Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” sang DeBose.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International BAFTAs awards producer Nick Bullen believes Twitter criticism of Ariana DeBose’s opening number at Sunday’s awards show was “incredibly unfair.” Speaking to Variety the morning after the telecast, the producer — who was backstage during the London awards ceremony honoring the best movies of the year — shared that the “West Side Story” star “put the whole piece together” with her team, working closely with a musical director and choreographer, and didn’t deserve the vitriol. DeBose and her back-up dancers burst onto the stage following host Richard E. Grant’s opening monologue. Belting out “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” and “We Are Family,” the singer transitioned into an original rap saluting the awards’ female nominees.

Emiliano De Pablos Madrid-based Aquí y Allí Films, one of Spain’s most successful auteur movie production houses, is joining forces with popular Spanish actor turned writer-director Daniel Guzmán (“Nothing in Return,” “Canallas”) to produce drama thriller “La deuda.” Backed by Spain’s pay TV giant Movistar+ and public broadcaster RTVE, “La deuda” will be produced by Aquí y Allí’s Pedro Hernández and Guzmán at El Niño Producciones. The film is scheduled to roll in Madrid by the fall. Written by Guzmán, “La deuda” tells the story of Lucas, a 37-year-old man and the 86 year-old woman Antonia, who live together in a city too big to be alone. Lucas is looking for a job but the job seems not to be looking for him.