GET BLACK LISTED

BUBBLES, a screenplay about Michael Jackson's life with his infamous chimpanzee, Bubbles, 
tops the 2015 The Black List.

TBL recognizes the year’s most liked unproduced screenplays as voted on by film executives. Coming in first place with 44 votes is Isaac Adamson’s script (Bubbles), which follows Michael Jackson’s life through the eyes and via the voice of his adopted chimpanzee and friend, Bubbles. The agency is CAA, agent is Joe Mann and management is Lee Stobby Entertainment.

Founded by Franklin Leonard, and now in its 11th year as a full-on moneymaking operation. The Black List originally started out as a film industry development executive survey and has grown into a boutique list to serve and integrate innovative, imagination and independent screenplay writers/filmmakers seeking to penetrate the glass perimeter of Hollywood top agents, managers and executives who posses the power to greenlight a production with access to marquee talent, studio backing, financing, film festival positioning, onto the big screen and placed on award ballots. This year's list had 250 screenplays, with 81 scripts making the final 2015 list.

Since its beginning, over 225 Black List screenplays have been made into feature films earning nearly $20billion at the worldwide box office, 171 Academy Awards nominations and have won 35, including Best Pictures for Slumdog Millionaire, The King's Speech, and Argo, and seven (7) of the last twelve (12) screenwriting Oscars.  GET ON THE BLACK LIST.

SONY PICTURES needs you.  In the ever demanding world, expansion of digital technology and cultural relativism, the Hollywood suits who have never spent a moment of their lives not looking at their reflection on television, greeting cards, in Pre-Raphaelite art, movies. museums, galleries, magazines, global advertisements, cured in stained glass -- and of course the Executive Offices of every single organization across the entire USA, where the privilege of maintaining 400 years of self imaging is coming to a crescendo within the fluidity and access of the World Wide Web.

With that knowledge and reality, Sony Pictures will pay you and provide you with an opportunity for them to save themselves under the guise of business appropriation in the form of fellow.  If you aspire to be a creative executive in the pale arena of Hollywood, Sony Pictures is offering a paid fellowship for one (1) year in their Development & Production Departments where you can provide them with something they do not have: access, talent, and knowledge to all things out-of-their-boxes.

For sure, this is an opportunity, a foot in the door; however, Sony Pictures' Human Resources Department and Talent Recruitment Office have the resources to recruit and hire viable candidates for careers beyond a one (1) year commitment.  So read and take note of the not so fine print: "Strong consideration will be given to candidates from communities traditionally underrepresented in film and television."

Willing candidates may take advantage of Sony Pictures here.

GOT THE GREENLIGHT.  Hollywood sources are saying “Straight Outta Compton” director, F. Gary Gray, is a near lock-in to helm "Fast and Furious 8,” the latest installment in the bankable action thriller franchise.

Via social media, Vin Diesel, the star and producer of “Furious” posted a photo of himself with Gray hinting that the director was set to take the reins of Universal’s nearly unstoppable global motion-picture series.  If truly given greenlight, Gray, will take over from James Wan, who directed “Furious 7.” Other "F&F" franchise directors are Justin Lin, who helmed installments three through six.  The first film 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious,” was directed by Rob Cohen, while John Singleton directed its first sequel, “2 Fast, 2 Furious.”

The Hollywood rumor mill has also churned out, "FF8" will also feature Paul Walker's brother Cody as Jack O'Conner.  Production is set to begin in spring of 2016 with pre-production to start next in November.  The release date is set for April 2017.

BE BRAVE, BOLD and you will change our world. The Brave New Fellows Program is seeking passionate, driven, and creative people who use visual storytelling to re-image, reconstruct and advance our world.

The Brave New Fellows Program envisions a world where visual storytellers from all backgrounds have a voice and a place to create impactful media. BNFP needs you. Reports, statistics, think tanks, demographics and Hollywood movie release after movie release continue to display the dearth disparities and complete lack of opportunities for cross-cultural innovation, imaginative ideas, fresh storytelling and originality.

Part of BNFP's mission is to break down the systemic barriers that limit opportunities for people of color and people from marginalized communities by empowering fellows with tools and training to become stronger activists and versatile advocates for social justice all while making film, networking and developing your voice.

As a fellow, you will champion social justice, inspire media, empower themselves, motivate corporation, engage community and truly make a difference through civic participation. If this sounds like you, learn more at: bravenewfilms.org.

Hues Pay-Off

Hollywood has been given a black eye as "Straight Outta Compton' collects over $110 million at the boxoffice in less than two weeks becoming the unsung hero of summer 2015.

The making of and getting 'Straight Outta Compton' into cinemaplexes around the United States is reminiscent of 1976.  Last week, TVOne's brilliant docu-series 'Usung Hollywood' presented the back story on the groundbreaking film 'Car Wash.'  Today 'Car Wash' is a cult classic film throughout the American landscape; however, as the story goes, Hollywood suits at the time, 1976, claimed not know how to market the film, unfold the story, cast the actors, edit the final film or deal with the movie. "It's a black film!, Hollywood players declared.

At Cannes, the Jury wanted to award 'Car Wash' its highest honor, the Palme d'Or; however, the two American jurors strictly forbid this.  In retaliation and fully recognizing its importance and true value, the other jurors created two special awards for 'Car Wash' recognizing its importance to international cinema, when the Americans were reluctantly to see the bigger picture and the future of global filmmaking.

It is unfortunate Hollywoodteurs continue do not want to understand, see, proper and create a rich legacy from inclusive cinema.  Like 'Car Wash,' through 'Straight Outta Compton' Hollywood has another opportunity to change, update, and modernize the rules of its way too exclusive game.

 The 53rd cinematic curation of the New York Film Festival has been announced.  This year's stellar array of international movie flickery highlights the best in world cinema, featuring films from celebrated filmmakers and emerging talent over 17-days in Manhattan.

Unspooling begins on September 25th with director Robert Zemeckis' The Walk and wraps on October 11th with actor Don Cheadle's directorial debut, Miles Ahead, about iconic musician, Miles Davis. NYFF/53 offers 26 film gems including the World Premieres of Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks in the Cold War story of the 1962 exchange of a U-2 pilot for a Soviet agent and Laura Israel’s Don’t Blink – Robert Frank, a documentary portrait of the great photographer and filmmaker.

For the first time, New York audiences will get to view Cannes 2015 Best Director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin and Todd Haynes’s Carol, starring Rooney Mara.  Other notables filmmakers returning to NYFF with new works include documentarian, Michael Moore, with Where To Invade Next, which takes a hard and surprising look at the state of our nation from a fresh perspective; NYFF mainstay Hong Sangsoo, who will present his latest masterwork, Right Now, Wrong Then, about the relationship between a middle-aged art-film director and a fledgling artist; and French director Arnaud Desplechin, who is back with the funny and heartrending story of young love My Golden Days, starring Mathieu Amalric and newcomers Quentin Dolmaire and Lou Roy-Lecollinet.

Director and Selection Committee Chair of the New York Dilm Festival, Kent Jones says, “I could talk about the geographical range of the films in the selection, the mix of artistic sensibilities. . .but the only thing that really matters is how uniformly beautiful and vital each of these movies are.”

Tickets are on sale now.

.

COME summer, emerging indie filmmakers and roving film festival circuiteurs eagerly await Filmmaker Magazine's highly coveted and completely subjective "25 New Faces of Independent Film" list of up-and-coming independent filmmakers.

Twenty-fifteen's holy scroll includes not only directors, but talent in all areas of filmmaking, including actors, cinematographers, animators, writers and more.  As their art reflects their life and the world around them, this year's "25 New Faces" use their vision, voice and camera to tackle current news and sensitive subjects of our day, from poverty and homelessness, to race and police violence - and, of course, the multi ring circus of politics.

Get familiar and keep an eye on this fresh and exciting crop of cinema professionals.  Chances are you will be hearing from them soon.

BILLION DOLLAR GRAB

PIONEERING independent film company, Miramax, founded by publicity hounds, Harvey and Bob Weinstein in 1979, is apparently up for sale, again.  Miramax, which owns the rights to hundreds of Hollywood films including "Pulp Fiction" and "The English Patient," is exploring its profiteering options. 

The Santa Monica based company is currently held by an investor group including Qatar Holding and investment firm Colony Capital, which purchased the company from Disney in 2010 for $660 million.

While the company is best known for both its Oscar seeking trickery and its extensive cash cow film library, Miramax has recently started to distribute new movies ("Mr. Holmes") and also ventured into TV production with a Spanish/Latin market oriented series based on Robert Rodriguez's film "From Dusk Till Dawn."   Insiders say, the pricetag is in the billion dollar neighborhood.  OF COURSE.

  SEE independent film at its finest and most original. The 7th annual curation of BAMcinemaFest is here.  Each year, BCF presents the New York premiere of this season's soon to be talked about, influential and innovative indie cinema fair.

DON'T miss out.  Read all about the films, meet the filmmakers, see trailers and get your tickets at WWW.BAM.ORG.

New Hire

YOU WANT THIS JOB?  Disney CFO, James Rasulo, will leave on June 30th. Rasulo, whose contract expired in January 2015, made $16.2 million in the fiscal year that ended in September 2014, says Disney via its latest proxy. In March 2015, Rasulo sold $12 million worth of his Disney stock.

RASULO joined Disney in 1986 as Director, Strategic Planning and Development following stints at Chase Manhattan Bank and Marriott Corp. He recently was key to the acquisition of Maker Studios and was pivotal in the acquisition of Lucasfilm.  He was involved with the expansion of Disney’s California Adventure, the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, and the initial development of the new Shanghai Disney Resort during his tenure at Disney Parks and Resorts.

CONTACT your headhunter.  The Walt Disney Company says it will name a new CFO “at a later date.”

An International Decade

THE 22nd cinematic curation of the New York African Film Festival starts Friday May,1 2015 with a dynamic Opening Night Town Hall celebration to preview this year's selections and programming honoring the theme of "International Decade of People of African Descent."

FOR over two decades, NYAFF has created diverse programs which empower audiences, provide a forum for filmmakers, impact New York City and change our view of the world. The New York African Film Festival is co-presented with Film Society of Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music and also features screenings at the Maysles Cinema in Harlem.

FILMS unspooling this year are as diverse as ever representing stories and collaborations from the African diaspora from such countries as Brazil, Senegal, Austria, Sweden, France, Ghana, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Mexico and the USA.  NYAFF also delivers filmmaker panels open to the public and this year's festival will feature a filmmaker Pitch Session for budding cineastes.

ALL you need to know about the 2015 New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) is available at AFRICANFILMNY.ORG.  SO LOG IN NOW.

Fresh Film

IT is not over yet.  The 44th curation of the world renowned New Directors/New Films festival, presented by The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center is happening now.

YEAR after year ND/NF selects films from all over the globe revealing the most provocative and off the screen story and remarkable storytelling which will impact cinema in the years to follow while providing emerging filmmakers a dynamic platform to showcase their vision in film, cinema, art, society and culture.

LEARN more at:
New Directors/New Films 2015

www.moma.org 

www.newdirectors.org

Home Film Festival

INDIEFLIX is passionate about great films that disrupt stereotypes and spark conversation, film that involves a community.  That community is you.  So, who are you?  What do you look like? What story do you have?  IndieFlix celebrates you and your stories.

IndieFlix is the 'indie version of Netflix.  IndieFlix makes earning money for independent filmmakers, a goal central to its mission by subscriptions and streams on any device with an internet connection.

IndieFlix is like having a film festival brought to you, on demand, all-you-can-watch.  As a filmmaker, IndieFlix is a way to both get your movie seen and get paid for it.  Login at IndieFlix.com to learn all about it.  And to get a free limited subscription.

EVENING SON - Brooklyn's finest, Filmmaker Spike Lee, is celebrating thirty-six cinematic Joints, starting with "She’s Gotta Have It" to latest, "Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus".

JOIN auteur Spike Lee for an evening of Film, Wine, and Music as Spike discusses and show selections from a wide range of his films as well as share and exclusive special sneak peak of his new joint, "Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus."

ALL tickets will include six wines specially chosen and paired with Spike’s films, as well as a SMP (Special Music Performance) to close out the evening.  An Evening with Spike Lee