A scene from “The Final Table” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
The following is a press release from Netflix:
“The Final Table” launches globally on November 20, 2018. Twelve teams of world renowned chefs compete for a seat at “The Final Table.”
About “The Final Table”
“The Final Table” is a global culinary competition show featuring the world’s most talented chefs fighting for a spot at the elite, Final Table made up of the greatest chefs from around the globe. The series features 12 teams of two chefs from around the world cooking the national dishes of Mexico, Spain, England, Brazil, France, Japan, the U.S., India and Italy. Each episode focuses on a different country and its cuisine, with celebrity ambassadors, food critics and the country’s greatest chef eliminating teams until the finale. In that last episode, only one of our competing chefs will win a place at the Final Table, joining the nine legendary culinary icons — Enrique Olvera (Mexico), Andoni Aduriz (Spain), Clare Smyth (UK), Helena Rizzo (Brazil), Vineet Bhatia (India), Grant Achatz (US), Carlo Cracco (Italy), Yoshihiro Narisawa (Japan) and Anne-Sophie Pic (France). The series will be presented by Andrew Knowlton, James Beard Award-winning Writer and Editor at Large, Bon Appétit. Created and exec produced by Robin Ashbrook & Yasmin Shackleton. The production company is theoldschool.
The 12 teams include (listed with their associated restaurants and location, and hometowns):
Aaron Bludorn (Cafe Boulud: New York, New York, USA, from Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA) and Graham Campbell (Castlehill Restaurant: Dundee, Scotland/United Kingdom, from Oban, Scotland)
Darren MacLean (Shokunin: Calgary, Canada, from Innisfail, Canada) and Timothy Hollingsworth (Otium: Los Angeles, California, USA, from Houston, Texas, USA)
Shin Takagi (Zeniya: Ishikawa, Japan, from Ishikawa, Japan) and Ronald Hsu (Lazy Betty: Atlanta, Georgia, USA, also from Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
Alex Haupt (101 Gowrie: Amsterdam, Netherlands, from Sydney, Australia) and Ash Heeger (Ash: Cape Town, South Africa, from Umtata, South Africa)
Shane Osborn (Arcane: Hong Kong, China, from Perth, Australia) and Mark Best (Bistro by Mark Best: Hong Kong, China & Singapore, from Sydney, Australia)
Monique Fiso (Hiakai: Porirua, New Zealand, from Wellington, New Zealand) and Amninder Sandhu (Arth: Mumbai, India, from Jorhat, India)
James Knappett (Bubbledogs/Kitchen Table: London, United Kingdom, from Newmarket, United Kingdom) and Angel Vazquez (Salomé, Into/Angurio: Puebla, Mexico, also from Puebla, Mexico)
Jessica Lorigo (Topa Sukalderia: San Sebastian, Spain, from Buffalo, New York, USA) and Johnny Spero (Reverie: Washington DC, USA, from Baltimore, Maryland, USA)
Collin Brown (Chef Collin Brown: London, United Kingdom, from Trelawny, Jamaica) and Colibri Jimenez (Casa Morales/My Bowls: Oaxaca, Mexico, from Morelos, Mexico)
Esdras Ochoa (11 Westside/Salazar/Mexicali Taco & Co.: Hong Kong, China & Los Angeles, California, USA, from Mexico City, Mexico) and Rafa Gil (Highest Hotel in the World: Hong Kong, China, from Bataguassu, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazi)
Charles Michel (Traveling culinary artist: Ecuador, Colombia, France & London, from Bruges, France) and Rodrigo Pacheco (Boca Valdivia: Manabi, Ecuador, from Quito, Ecuador)
Manuel Berganza (Tapas Club: Singapore, from Gijón, Spain) and Benjamin Bensoussan (Honest Greens: Madrid, Spain, from Paris, France)
The chefs will be judged by celebrity ambassadors and food critics from 9 countries around the world including Dax Shepard, Hasan Minhaj, and Alessandra Ambrosio:
Ambassadors:
Colin Hanks and Dax Shepard (United States Ambassadors)
Martha Higareda and Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico Ambassadors)
Miguel Bose and Ana Polvorosa (Spain Ambassadors)
Gary Lineker and Cat Deeley (United Kingdom Ambassadors)
Alessandra Ambrosio and Bebel Gilberto (Brazil Ambassadors)
Ranganathan Madhavan and Hasan Minhaj (India Ambassadors)
Alessandro Del Piero and Eleonora Cozzella (Italy Ambassadors)
Esterelle Payany (France Ambassador)
Hikari Mori and Yuji Ayabe (Japan Ambassadors)
Food Critics:
Sam Sifton (United States Food Critic)
Mariana Camacho (Mexico Food Critic)
Borja Beneyto (Spain Food Critic)
Jay Rayner (United Kingdom Food Critic)
Josimar Melo (Brazil Food Critic)
Rashmi Uday Singh (India Food Critic)
Andrea Petrini (Italy Food Critic)
Francois-Regis Gaudry (France Food Critic)
Akiko Katayama (Japan Food Critic)
For more on “The Final Table,” visit our social channels:
Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with 130 million memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell, William Moseley and Skander Keynes in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” (Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Films)
Netflix has acquired the rights to do movies and TV shows adapted from C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” children’s book series. The first three books in the series have already been made into feature films: 2005’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” (which made $745 million in worldwide box-office sales, according to Box Office Mojo); 2008’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” ($420 million worldwide); and 2010’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” ($416 million worldwide). The first two “Narnia” films were directed by Andrew Adamson and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, while the third “Narnia” film was directed Michael Apted and by distributed by 20th Century Fox’s Fox 2000.
In 2017, it was announced that Sony would be making “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair” into a feature film with director Joe Johnston, and the movie was aiming for a 2019 release, but those plans fell apart. At the time he had signed on to direct the movie, Johnston said in interviews that he didn’t want “The Silver Chair” to look anything like the previous “Narnia” films, and he didn’t want “The Silver Chair” to even reference the previous “Narnia” films.
Before the movies, BBC had a “Chronicles of Narnia” TV series based on four “Narnia” books: “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” in 1988, “Prince Caspian” and “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in 1989 and “The Silver Chair” in 1990.
According to a Netflix press release: “Under the terms of a multi-year deal between Netflix and The C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix will develop classic stories from across the Narnia universe into series and films for its members worldwide. All series and films produced through the deal will be Netflix productions, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne) alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as executive producers for series and as producers for features.”
It hasn’t been announced at this point if Netflix will continue with plans for a “Silver Chair” movie. There also hasn’t been an announcement yet about which directors, actors or screenwriters will be involved in the Netflix “Narnia” projects. And there’s no word yet on a timeline for when these Netflix “Narnia” projects will be filmed and ready for release.
One thing is clear: It’s very unlikely that the stars of the original “Narnia” films will reprise their roles in the Netflix “Narnia” movies and TV series. If Netflix does remakes of the first three “Narnia” films, the four Pevensie siblings (the central characters in the “Narnia” series) will have to be recast, since the original actors who played the underage characters are now too old for the roles that they played in the first three movies. William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley played the Pevensie siblings in the first three “Narnia” movies. If “Netflix” does “The Silver Chair,” the central role of Eustace Scrubb (played by Will Poulter in “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”) will also have to be recast, since that is an underage character.
Netflix’s “Narnia” deal comes nearly a year after it was announced in November 2017 that Amazon had signed a multi-year deal to make J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings” books into a TV series.
The following are press releases from the Toronto International Film Festival:
TIFF announced today that the World Premiere of “Outlaw King,” David Mackenzie’s anticipated period drama chronicling the rise of 14th-century Scottish hero Robert the Bruce, will be the Opening Night Gala Presentation for the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival ® on Thursday, September 6, at Roy Thomson Hall.
This epic David-versus-Goliath tale reunites award-winning director David Mackenzie ( “Starred Up,” “Young Adam”) with his “Hell or High Water” actor Chris Pine, who takes on the starring role of the legendary Scottish king who leads a band of outlaws to reclaim the throne from the clutches of the English crown and its army. The film also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, and Billy Howle.
“TIFF’s Opening Night Film, ‘Outlaw King,’ tells a powerful story that is rich in drama, excitement, romance, and adventure,” said Piers Handling, Director & CEO of TIFF. “Audiences are promised a thrilling journey back in time, as David Mackenzie masterfully unwraps history with taut dramatic flare and brings to life the true story of Scottish hero Robert the Bruce. Gripping performances led by Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson make this a classic, entertaining, and action-packed Festival opener.
“Thank you, TIFF , for welcoming our film into the world. The Festival is the perfect launch pad for our realistic epic, and we are delighted to be the first Scottish film ever to open Toronto,” said director David Mackenzie. “I cannot imagine a better place to have our World Premiere. Scotland and Canada’s histories are bound together, forged in the crucible of the struggles of history, bringing this day an affinity and sensibility that I hope will translate to a profound, visceral, and riotously entertaining experience. We have an amazing cast and crew working at the top of their game, and we are really looking forward to spreading some Scottish goodwill on the great city of Toronto.”
“Outlaw King” follows the untold, true story of Robert the Bruce, who transforms from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during the oppressive occupation of medieval Scotland by Edward I of England. Despite grave consequences, Robert seizes the Scottish crown and rallies an impassioned group of men to fight back against the mighty army of the tyrannical King and his volatile son, the Prince of Wales.
Filmed in Scotland, the project was made with the full support of Creative Scotland and the Scottish government. The film opens in select theatres and launches globally on Netflix November 9, 2018.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
For film synopses, cast lists, images, and more information, see tiff.net/galas.
Laura Dern and Kristen Stewart in “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” (Photo courtesy of TIFF)
The Toronto International Festival announced today that the World Premiere of “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” will close this year’s Festival. From director Justin Kelly, “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” is based on one of the most famous literary gambits in American history. Adapted from the memoir “Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT LeRoy” by Savannah Knoop, the film promises a boundary-breaking Closing Night Gala bursting with intrigue.
“With ‘Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy,’ Justin Kelly brings to the screen a truly unbelievable story that captivated a nation,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “The storytelling is powerful and the characters are vivid, really evoking the idea that you have to see it to believe it.”
“I am beyond honored that my film ‘Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy’ will premiere at TIFF as the Closing Night Film,” said Justin Kelly, director of “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy.” “I can’t wait for people to see the fascinating true story behind JT LeRoy, brought to life via incredible performances by a total dream cast.”
This captivating true story goes beyond the headlines to reveal the most compelling literary hoax of our generation. Laura Albert (Laura Dern) is an author who writes under a fictionalized persona, a disenfranchised young queer man named JT LeRoy. When her debut novel becomes a bestseller and JT becomes the darling of the literary world, she comes up with a unique solution to preserve her anonymity while giving life to her nom-de-plume. Enter her boyfriend’s androgynous sister, Savannah Knoop (Kristen Stewart), who connects with Laura’s punk, feminist, outsider universe and agrees to be JT in the public eye. Together, they embark on a wild ride of double lives, infiltrating the Hollywood and literary elite — and discovering who they are in the process.
“Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” is a film by Elevated Films, The Fyzz Facility, Ingenious Media, Aquarius Content, Fortitude International, Sobini Films, Thirty Three Productions, LBI Entertainment, and Buffalo Gal Pictures. It is produced by Patrick Walmsley, Julie Yorn, Thor Bradwell, Gary Pearl, Cassian Elwes, Giri Tharan, Mark Amin, and Dave Hansen. It stars Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Diane Kruger, Jim Sturgess, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Courtney Love, James Jagger, and Dave Brown.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
For film synopses, cast lists, images, and more information, see tiff.net/galas.
The Toronto International Film Festival ® today unveiled its second batch of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentations programmes in September. Four Gala Presentations and 22 Special Presentations have been added to the selection of titles already announced. “We’re rounding out the lineup of Galas and Special Presentations with some of the most exciting films of the year,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “Audiences won’t want to miss these premieres from a mix of newcomers and global heavyweights.” This second announcement brings the total for Galas and Special Presentations to 44 World Premieres, 9 International Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 11 Canadian Premieres.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
The Toronto International Film Festival ® today unveiled its second batch of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentations programmes in September. Four Gala Presentations and 22 Special Presentations have been added to the selection of titles already announced. “We’re rounding out the lineup of Galas and Special Presentations with some of the most exciting films of the year,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “Audiences won’t want to miss these premieres from a mix of newcomers and global heavyweights.”
This second announcement brings the total for Galas and Special Presentations to 44 World Premieres, 9 International Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 11 Canadian Premieres.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
GALAS 2018
Green Book
Peter Farrelly | USA
World Premiere
* Closing Night Film *
Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy
Justin Kelly | Canada/USA/United Kingdom
World Premiere
The Lie
Veena Sud | Canada
World Premiere
*Opening Night Film *
Outlaw King
David Mackenzie | USA/United Kingdom
World Premiere
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2018
22 July
Paul Greengrass | Norway/Iceland
North American Premiere
American Woman
Jake Scott | USA
World Premiere
Baby ( Bao Bei Er )
Liu Jie | China
World Premiere
Boy Erased
Joel Edgerton | USA
International Premiere
Driven
Nick Hamm | Puerto Rico/United Kingdom/USA
North American Premiere
Duelles (Mothers’ Instinct)
Olivier Masset-Depasse | Belgium/France
World Premiere
A Faithful Man ( L ‘homme fidèle )
Louis Garrel | France
World Premiere
Gloria Bell
Sebastián Lelio | USA/Chile
World Premiere
Hold the Dark
Jeremy Saulnier | USA
World Premiere
Kursk
Thomas Vinterberg | Belgium/Luxembourg
World Premiere
Legend of the Demon Cat – Director’s Cut
Chen Kaige | China/Japan
World Premiere
Mid90s
Jonah Hill | USA
World Premiere
A Million Little Pieces
Sam Taylor-Johnson | USA
World Premiere
Never Look Away ( Werk ohne Autor )
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck | Germany
North American Premiere
The Quietude ( La Quietud )
Pablo Trapero | Argentina
North American Premiere
Skin
Guy Nattiv | USA
World Premiere
Teen Spirit
Max Minghella | USA
World Premiere
Tell It to the Bees
Annabel Jankel | United Kingdom
World Premiere
Viper Club
Maryam Keshavarz | USA
World Premiere
Vision
Naomi Kawase | Japan/France
International Premiere
Vita & Virginia
Chanya Button | United Kingdom/Ireland
World Premiere
Wild Rose
Tom Harper | United Kingdom
World Premiere
For film synopses, cast lists, images, and more information, see tiff.net/galas and tiff.net/specialpresentations
Festival tickets go on sale September 3 at 10am (TIFF Member pre-sale September 1 from 10am to 4pm). Buy tickets online at tiff.net , by phone at 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433, or in person at a box office. See box office locations and hours at tiff.net/tickets .
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About TIFF
TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.
The Toronto International Film Festival is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L ’Oréal Paris, and Visa, and our Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.
This film is eligible for the Grolsch People’s Choice Award. Vote for your favourite films at tiff.net/vote .
The Gala programme is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts .
August 21, 2018 UPDATE:
The Toronto International Film Festival ® today announced two new films that will premiere as part of the Special Presentations programme in September. The World Premiere of Neil Jordan’s “Greta” and the North American Premiere of Brady Corbet’s “Vox Lux” will cap off the Festival’s Special Presentations and bring the total for the programme up to 24 titles.
“These are two films that explore nuanced narratives with exceptional leading women,” said Kerri Craddock, Director of Festival Programming at TIFF. “‘Greta’ and ‘Vox Lux’ both offer strong directorial visions, rich performances, and engaging stories. They complete the package of the Special Presentations programme.”
Neil Jordan’s “Greta” tells the story of a young New York woman named Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz) who strikes up an unlikely friendship with an enigmatic widow named Greta (Isabelle Huppert). The older woman’s motives are gradually revealed to be sinister and the film quickly descends into an exploration of loneliness, obsession, and manipulation. “Greta,” co-written by Jordan and Ray Wright, also stars Colm Feore, Maika Monroe, and Stephen Rea.
In musical drama “Vox Lux,” Brady Corbet’s second feature as writer-director tracks its heroine’s path from childhood tragedy to a life of fame and fortune. Starring Natalie Portman and Jude Law, the film begins with teenage sisters Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) and Eleanor (Stacy Martin) who survive a violent incident that changes their lives. The film is both a riveting character study and a perceptive survey of the cultural shifts that have shaped a generation.
Samin Nosrat of “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix has announced these new series:
“Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” launches October 19, 2018. Based on Samin Nosrat’s best-selling, James Beard Award-winning book, “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” is the essential guide to the basic elements of good cooking. Directed by Caroline Suh, each episode of this four-part series joins our spirited guide Samin as she travels to home kitchens of Italy, the southern islands of Japan, the heat of the Yucatán and back to Berkeley’s Chez Panisse—where she started her culinary career—to demystify and explore the central principles of what makes food delicious and how each of us can easily incorporate those elements into every dish. “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” is produced by Jigsaw Productions, the creators of “Cooked.”
“The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell”: Get ready to experience the art of darkness in ways you’ve never imagined with baker and artist, Christine McConnell, as she welcomes you into her terrifyingly delicious home, every episode she bakes, sculpts and sews to create delectable confections and hauntingly disturbing decor with the help of her colorful collection of creatures. The series is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Wilshire Studios.
Meanwhile, “Chef’s Table” Season 5 will launch on September 28, 2018. The new season will take viewers inside the lives and kitchens of four new international chefs as the series explores their lives, talents and passion from their piece of culinary heaven.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama (Photo courtesy of BET)
Much like today’s political landscape, Netflix’s historic production deal with Barack and Michelle Obama has gotten very different and divisive reactions on the Internet. It’s the first time that a former U.S. president and his first lady have entered a pact to deliver content for a streaming service. While numerous people have expressed happiness and excitement over the deal, others have expressed anger and disgust. Many of those who are upset about the deal have said they are cancelling their Netflix subscriptions. Only time will tell what kind of effect the Obama deal will have on Netflix’s subscriptions. In the meantime, here’s the press release announcing the deal.
The following is a press release from Netflix:
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have entered into a multi-year agreement to produce films and series with Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service.
The Obamas will produce a diverse mix of content, including the potential for scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features. These projects will be available to the 125 million member Netflix households in 190 countries.
The Obamas have established Higher Ground Productions as the entity under which they will produce content for Netflix.
“One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience,” said President Obama. “That’s why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix – we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world.”
“Barack and I have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire us, to make us think differently about the world around us, and to help us open our minds and hearts to others,” said Mrs. Obama. “Netflix’s unparalleled service is a natural fit for the kinds of stories we want to share, and we look forward to starting this exciting new partnership.”
“Barack and Michelle Obama are among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures and are uniquely positioned to discover and highlight stories of people who make a difference in their communities and strive to change the world for the better,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “We are incredibly proud they have chosen to make Netflix the home for their formidable storytelling abilities.”
About Netflix:
Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with 125 million memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Dustin Hoffman, director Noah Baumbach, Emma Thompson, Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of “The Meyerowitz Stories” at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 21, 2017. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage for Netflix)
The annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, is one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, but Cannes Film officials have made two controversial decisions that could potentially alienate large segments of festival attendees and movie fans. First, movies that are from streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon will no longer be eligible for awards at the Cannes Film Festival, such as the Palme D’or (the top prize), Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, etc. However, films from streaming services (and TV networks such as HBO) can still have screenings and premieres at Cannes. The second change, which is even more alienating to movie fans, is that the festival has now banned “selfies” from being taken on the red carpet. The changes go into effect for the 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place from May 8 to May 9, 2018.
In an exclusive interview with French magazine Le Film Français that was published on March 23, 2018, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux explained that these changes have mostly to do with adhering to French laws which state that a movie that was originally released theatrically cannot be available for streaming in France until 36 months after the theatrical release. If streaming services such as Netflix release any of their movies in cinemas, it’s typically on the same day or within two weeks of the day it premieres on the streaming service. The new Cannes policy now requires that all films eligible for competition at the Cannes Film Festival must be available for release in French theaters, and the theatrical release of the movie must be before any release on TV or on streaming services. Since Netflix and other streaming services do not have business models that allow them to wait three years to stream their content in France in order to get a theatrical release in France, that leaves Netflix and other streaming services out of the loop to compete for awards at the Cannes Film Festival.
The United States and many other countries do not have laws mandating a three-year delay between when a movie is released in theaters and when it can be made available for streaming, which is why many critics of this Cannes policy think that the policy is out-of-touch and detrimental to a film festival that should pride itself on being a truly international event. However, those who agree with the Cannes policy believe that the festival has a right to support French cinema laws and preserve the specialness of a theatrical release.
Byung Heebong, Giancarlo Esposito, Steven Yeun, Tilda Swinton, Ahn Seo-Hyun, Bong Joon-Ho, Paul Dano, Lily Collins, Jake Gyllenhaal and Devon Bostic at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of “Okja” at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 19, 2017. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage for Netflix)
In 2017, the Netflix films “Okja” and “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Both films had a limited release in U.S. theaters, as did Netflix’s period drama “Mudbound” and sports documentary “Icarus,” which did not premiere at Cannes, but were nominated for Academy Awards because they met Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requirements of being released in at least one U.S. cinema for a minimum of one week. (“Icarus” won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, the first Academy Award won for a Netflix film.)
It will continue to be a complicated debate over whether or not a movie from a television network or a streaming service should be eligible for the same awards as movies that were first released in theaters, considering that Netflix, Amazon and other streaming services have become major presences at film festivals to acquire movies that have already been made and need distribution—as opposed to movies that were specifically made for the streaming services. For example, “Mudbound” and “Icarus” were two of several films that Netflix acquired after the movies premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Colin Farrell, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Sofia Coppola and Nicole Kidman at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of “The Beguiled” in Cannes, France, on May 24, 2017. (Photo courtesy of the Cannes Film Festival)
As for the ban on taking selfies on the red carpet, Fremaux told Le Film Français why Cannes officials made the decision: “At the top of the red carpet, the pettiness and the hold up caused by the untimely disorder created by taking selfies hurts the quality of the climbing of the steps … And it does the same to the festival as a whole.”
What’s bizarre about this ban is that while taking selfies are prohibited on the red carpet, autograph signing is apparently still allowed. Even if barriers were set up on the red carpet that would put a larger distance between celebrities and fans, there are still some celebrities and other people on the red carpet who will want to go over to fans and let them take pictures and get autographs. (And it could be argued that signing autographs take about the same time, if not more time, than taking selfies.)
Most people would agree that fan interaction is one of the main reasons why red-carpet premieres are exciting to attendees. The success of these types of events are largely dependent on the number of cheering fans who show up, and the fans are usually there to get photos and/or try to get autographs. So unless the Cannes Film Festival is planning to take away fans’ cell phones and cameras and push celebrities away who want to take photos with fans, this “no selfies on the red carpet” policy will be hard to enforce and probably won’t last.
Netflix’s remake of the classic film “Benji” premieres on March 16, 2018. Here are details from Netflix:
More than 40 years after becoming one of the most beloved dogs in cinematic history, Benji is back to inspire a new generation. Written and directed by Brandon Camp, ”Benji” blends action, drama, humor, and sweetness into a heartwarming tale for the whole family.
“Benji” will become available exclusively to Netflix members worldwide on Friday, March 16, 2018, at 12:01 a.m. PST. Produced by Emmy Award®-winning and Oscar®-nominated producer Jason Blum (”Get Out ,” ”The Normal Heart,” ”Whiplash”), it stars Kiele Sanchez, Gabriel Bateman, Darby Camp, Will Rothhaar, Angus Sampson, and Gralen Bryant Banks. “Family-oriented movies that make you feel good are always powerful, but I think particularly when the world looks like it looks today, they’re especially powerful,” Blum says. “I think the timing is very good in terms of introducing a new Benji to the world.”
Camp is uniquely qualified to bring back the lovable mutt: His father, Joe Camp, wrote and directed the 1974 film and its sequels. “I literally was born into Benji,” Brandon says with a laugh. (He’s not exaggerating: His mother, producer Carolyn Camp, nearly gave birth to him on the set of the original.) He adds: “I thought one of the reasons ”Benji” was so successful in the first place was because it wasn’t loud or trying to be something that it wasn’t; it was a simple story about a little dog with all the heart in the world. I wanted to retell that same story for modern audiences.”
Set in the heart of New Orleans, Netflix’s “Benji” tells the story of a homeless, unwanted mutt who befriends two adoring kids – and then does all he can to protect them. Shortly after young Carter (played by Gabriel Bateman) spots Benji on the street after school one day, he forges a special bond with the shaggy friend. He and his sister, Frankie (Darby Camp), beg their mother (played by Kiele Sanchez) to let Benji join the family, but the last thing the struggling single mom needs is another mouth to feed. “The plot thickens when, unfortunately, Benji is cast out on the street, and our two kids find themselves in jeopardy,” Camp says. “Despite the fact that Benji is homeless and it looks like things might not work out with Carter and Frankie, he still does everything in his power to make sure that those kids are safe at the end of the day.”
After a robbery goes wrong, two criminals (played by Will Rothhaar and Angus Sampson) wind up taking the kids far from home. Little do they know that the police — and Benji — are on their trail.
“Really, the movie is about perseverance, following your heart, and never, ever giving up,” adds Camp. “That was evident in the first movie, and I wanted to bring those simple values back into live-action movie-making in a way that we just haven’t seen, frankly, since the original.”
From James Beard Award-Winning Chef David Chang and Academy Award-Winning Director Morgan Neville comes “Ugly Delicious,” a Netflix original documentary series that challenges both our taste buds and minds.
Over eight episodes, David travels the world with writers and chefs, activists and artists, who use food as a vehicle to break down cultural barriers, tackle misconceptions and uncover shared experiences. Ugly Delicious ventures out of polished kitchens into the wider world to explore Viet-Cajun cuisine in Houston, Neapolitan Pizza in Tokyo, home cooking in Copenhagen, and much more.
Special guests include: Ali Wong, Eric Wareheim, Gillian Jacobs, Jimmy Kimmel, Alan Yang, Steve Yuen, and Nick Kroll; chefs René and Nadine Redzepi, Rosio Sanchez, Enrique Olvera, Jessica Koslow, Massimo Bottura, Alex Raij and Eder Montero, Sean Brock, Diep Tran, Ray Garcia, Nina Compton, Roy Choi, Dollye Graham-Matthews, Chris Shepherd, Edouardo Jordan, Asha Gomez, Justin Yu, Zaiyu Hasegawa, Mark Iacono, Nick Bishop Jr. and Tootsie Tomanetz; and writers Peter Meehan, Ruth Reichl, Jonathan Gold, Evan Kleiman, Lolis Elie, David Simon, Ian Mosby, Alison Cook, Fuchsia Dunlop, Gillian Ferguson, Chris Nuttall-Smith, Amelia Gray, Gustavo Arellano, Psyche Williams-Forson, and Serena Dai.
“Food is something we all have in common. It’s an essential part of who we are and how we create connections across cultures,” says David Chang. “In that spirit, we brought together some of the people we admire most to make Ugly Delicious a collaborative forum, a place where it’s okay to have strong opinions and honest conversations about food.”
“Ugly Delicious” is produced by Tremolo Productions. Morgan Neville, David Chang, Eddie Schmidt, Peter Meehan, Christopher Chen, Lisa Nishimura, Ben Cotner and Adam Del Deo serve as Executive Producers.
David Chang is the chef and founder of Momofuku, which includes restaurants in New York City, Washington DC, Sydney, Toronto, Las Vegas; and Los Angeles in early 2018. Since opening Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004, David has been honored with five James Beard Foundation Awards, and Momofuku Ko has two Michelin stars it has retained since 2009. His cookbook, Momofuku, is a New York Times bestseller.
Tremolo Productions is an Academy Award, Emmy Award and Grammy Award-winning production company run by filmmaker Morgan Neville. Projects include “20 Feet From Stardom,” “Keith Richards: Under the Influence,” “Best of Enemies,” “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble” and “Crossfire Hurricane.” Television series include “Chelsea Does” (with Chelsea Handler) and “Abstract: The Art of Design.”
Netflix has announced that it has fired actor Danny Masterson from its comedy TV series “The Ranch,” after four women have come forward with claims that Masterson raped them in the early 2000s, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “The Ranch,” which premiered in 2016, is set to begin airing the second half of its second season on December 15, 2017. The show is about a dysfunctional family that owns a ranch in Colorado. The cast includes Ashton Kutcher, Debra Winger and Sam Elliott.
Masterson is best known for co-starring with Kutcher in the sitcom “That ’70s Show,” which was on the air from 1998 to 2006. In the U.S., “That ’70s Show” aired on Fox. Masterson has denied all the rape allegations, and issued a statement saying that he was “disappointed” in Netflix’s decision to fire him from “The Ranch.”
Netflix’s firing of Masterson comes a little over a month after the streaming network did the same thing to “House of Cards” star/executive producer Kevin Spacey after numerous men (including “House of Cards” employees) came forward in October 2017 to claim that Spacey sexually harassed or sexually assaulted them. Spacey allegedly committed sexual harassment against males over several decades, according to published reports. Spacey issued a public apology to actor Anthony Rapp, who claimed in an October 2017 article published by BuzzFeed that Spacey tried to have sex with him in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. Spacey has not publicly commented on the other allegations, but said that he is taking time off from his career to seek treatment. Spacey has since been removed from the Columbia Pictures drama “All the Money in the World” and replaced by Christopher Plummer.
In late 2017, other actors who have lost TV shows, movies or other business deals after being accused of sexual misconduct include Louis C.K., Ed Westwick, Jeremy Piven and Jeffrey Tambor. Prominent TV journalists Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose and Mark Halperin have also had disgraceful exits from their jobs after numerous women accused them of sexual harassment going back several years. An even larger number of high-ranking executives who work behind the scenes at various entertainment and media companies have been fired, placed on leave or have resigned in late 2017 after being accused of sexual misconduct by several people. The companies with these major shake-ups include Amazon Studios, DC Comics, Def Jam, National Public Radio, Nickelodeon, Pixar, Rush Communications, Vox Media, Warner Bros. Television and The Weinstein Company.
Although people being fired for sexual misconduct is nothing new, this unprecedented tidal wave of accusations and scandalous ousters in the entertainment industry seems to have been triggered by entertainment mogul Harvey Weinstein’s massive fall from grace in early October 2017, when numerous women went public with stories that he sexually harassed or sexually assaulted them. As of this writing, more than 60 women have come forward with sexual misconduct stories about Weinstein, with the stories spanning various years over several decades, going as far back as the 1970s.
Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon at the Tribeca TV Festival’s sneak peek of “Better Things” Season 2 at Cinepolis Chelsea in New York City on September 22, 2017. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Emmy-winning comedian Louis C.K. has admitted that “those stories are true” that he committed sexual misconduct by asking several women (who were co-workers or colleagues) if he could masturbate or expose his penis in front of them. In a statement issued on November 10, 2017, Louis C.K. (whose real name is Louis Székely) expressed regret that he abused his power, and said he was remorseful that his actions hurt the women he mistreated, his friends, loved ones and other people. The allegations were first reported in a New York Times article (published on November 9, 2017) that detailed experiences from five women who said that Louis C.K. sexually propositioned them by showing them his penis without their consent and/or asked if he could masturbate in front of them.
After the New York Times article was published, the backlash against Louis C.K. was swift and severe: FX, HBO and Netflix have all issued statements saying that they will not work with him anymore. The Orchard, the distributor of his film “I Love You, Daddy,” cancelled the movie’s New York City premiere (which was scheduled to take place on November 9, 2017), and has decided not to release the movie. (In the movie, which was written and directed by Louis C.K., one of the characters in the movie has a penchant for masturbating in front of people.) In addition, several public appearances from Louis C.K. have been cancelled.
The 50-year-old entertainer is known for his raunchy stand-up comedy routine, in which he often talks about sex and sometimes mentions that his addiction to porn caused problems in his marriage. Louis C.K. and artist Alix Bailey got divorced in 2008, after 13 years of marriage. The former spouses have two daughters together.
Louis C.K. is among the growing list of celebrities whose reputations and careers have been ruined in 2017, after several people went to the media to accuse them of sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct. Entertainment mogul Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and filmmaker Brett Ratner are just three examples of those who have been accused of committing physical sexual assault in addition to verbal harassment. Weinstein and Ratner have denied any sexual contact that was non-consensual. Spacey made an apology to his first public accuser (actor Anthony Rapp, who told BuzzFeed his story), but Spacey claimed to not remember making any sexual advances on Rapp, who said he was 14 when a 26-year-old Spacey tried to have sex with him in 1986. Weinstein and Spacey have issued public statements saying that they are seeking treatment for their harmful actions that led to these problems. It remains to be seen if there will be any criminal charges or lawsuits filed against the accused as a result of the accusers going public.
Actress/writer/producer Pamela Adlon, who worked with Louis C.K. on the FX comedy shows “Louie” and “Better Things,” issued this statement on November 10, 2017: “Hi. I’m here. I have to say something. It’s so important. My family and I are devastated and in shock after the admission of abhorrent behavior by my friend and partner, Louis C.K. I feel deep sorrow and empathy for the women who have come forward. I am asking for privacy at this time for myself and my family. I am processing and grieving and hope to say more as soon as I am able.”
Although FX has cut ties with Louis C.K. and his Pig Newton production company, which co-created “Better Things,” the show has not yet been taken off of the network’s schedule.
