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The Women's Cancer Research Fund (Wcrf), supporting the advancement of the world’s most promising breast cancer research, announced today that actress and activist Olivia Munn will receive the “Courage Award” at the organization’s flagship “An Unforgettable Evening” gala, taking place on Monday, April 28, at the Beverly Hilton, while three-time Grammy winners Little Big Town will perform.

Munn will be honored for selflessly sharing her ongoing breast cancer journey and, in doing so, inspiring countless women to take their health into their own hands and get screened for breast cancer. This year, the event will be hosted by comedian, actor and writer Whitney Cummings and will once again feature extraordinary cancer survivors and tributes to the memory of those impacted by the disease. Honorary Chairs will include Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks and Tom Ford; with Gala Chairs Jamie Alexander Tisch, Quinn Ezralow, Laurie Feltheimer; and Co-ChairsWallis Annenberg & Kris Levine,...

The feel-good dramedy series wrapped up its three-season run this past weekend, but there are plenty of other shows to watch next.

Pour out one last tiny ‘tini or margarini for TV’s best feel-good series. This past Sunday, Dec. 8, HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere,” starring Bridget Everett, finished airing its third and final season. Everett starred as Sam, a woman in her 40s who returns to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, to navigate the death of her sister, where she finds a new and renewed community amongst her family and friends.

Few shows in recent memory have felt as warm and authentic as “Somebody Somewhere,” which also co-starred Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Murray Hill, and more, never shying away from sadness or loneliness but instead embracing it with empathy toward being alive.

If you, too, have a Kansas-sized hole in your heart and are looking for more comedies about moving forward through life,...

Headgum, the premier comedy podcast network behind shows such as Doughboys, The Lamorning After, Gayotic with Muna, Seek Treatment with Cat & Pat, and Newcomers with Lauren Lapkus & Nicole Byer, announces that Handsome, the hit podcast from comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster and Mae Martin has joined its expanding podcast network, right as the podcast has achieved 20 million listens in just over one year.

Ad sales for Handsome are managed through Gumball, the Headgum-owned marketplace for advertisers to buy host-read ads directly from podcasters. The team will also start to record video episodes from Headgum’s LA flagship studio semi-regularly in the coming months. This new acquisition comes on the heels of Headgum signing Emmy winner Lamorne Morris’ podcast The Lamorning After to the network in October 2024 for distribution, ad sales through Gumball, and video production.

Every episode of Handsome features real-life friends Notaro, Feimster, and Martin attempting to answer a...

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson have reportedly split and called off their engagement after seven years together.

The Daily Mail broke the news on Friday, with a source telling the publication that the couple had been “drifting apart” and they’ve “now accepted the relationship is over — and it’s best to move on.” Johnson was also photographed without her engagement ring last weekend while she walked her dog in Malibu.

Update: A representative for Johnson is pushing back on the report, telling People that the couple is “happily together.”

Martin began his relationship with Johnson in 2017, shortly after his marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow ended. It’s unknown exactly when Martin and Johnson got engaged, but Johnson was spotted wearing a wedding ring from 2020 onwards. While The Daily Mail notes that the couple reportedly split briefly in 2019 and in June of this year, they quickly got back together — now,...

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson have reportedly split and called off their engagement after seven years together.

The Daily Mail broke the news on Friday, with a source telling the publication that the couple had been “drifting apart” and they’ve “now accepted the relationship is over — and it’s best to move on.” Johnson was also photographed without her engagement ring last weekend while she walked her dog in Malibu.

Update: A representative for Johnson is pushing back on the report, telling People that the couple is “happily together.”

Martin began his relationship with Johnson in 2017, shortly after his marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow ended. It’s unknown exactly when Martin and Johnson got engaged, but Johnson was spotted wearing a wedding ring from 2020 onwards. While The Daily Mail notes that the couple reportedly split briefly in 2019 and in June of this year, they quickly got back together — now,...

The current Best Variety Special Directing Emmy lineup features an abundance of heavy hitters, including reigning champ Hamish Hamilton, who finally triumphed on his seventh bid in this category for helming the “Super Bowl Lvii Halftime Show.” Having shared that victory with Jay-Z, he is now generally expected to achieve a solo win for his work on the 2024 Oscars ceremony.

Hamilton’s most imposing challengers are Stan Lathan (“Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer”) and Glenn Weiss (“76th Tony Awards”), each of whom has already beaten him at least once. Also in the mix are the directors of “Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic,” “Tig Notaro: Hello Again,” and “Trevor Noah: Where Was I,” all of whom are new to the category.

In order to determine just how likely Hamilton’s potential follow-up win is, let’s take a closer look at each nominee. Be sure to make your predictions in this...

Summer is here, which means you might have some extra time on your hands. Why not watch a great movie? Ah, but finding the right movie to watch on streaming can be a chore. Not to worry, we’ve put together a curated list of some of the best new movies streaming in June — from monster mashes to Oscar contenders to underrated gems that hit theaters earlier this year and are making their streaming debut. Platforms spans Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Hulu and more — there’s a little something for everyone, and we’ve also thrown in some new library titles to put on your watchlist as well.

Check out our picks for the best new movies streaming in June 2024 below.

“Godzilla Minus One” Godzilla Minus One (Credit: Toho Studios)

Netflix – June 1

Yes. “Godzilla Minus One” is finally streaming. Our long national nightmare is finally over. The movie, which is...

Coming out can be one of the most important parts of an LGBTQ+ person's life, with countless films and shows trying to capture the impact of these moments through a variety of different storytelling techniques. From beautiful moments of acceptance to traumatizing scenes of fear, it's been amazing to see so many different representations of this monumental step, though it's unfortunate how many creators embrace these cinematic versions of coming out rather than the grounded, thoroughly confusing experiences they typically are. That is why Am I Ok?, directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, is such a necessity.

Talented actors will elevate any project they are in, no matter the quality, but it's frustrating to always see a great actor struggle to find a role that lets them show off their artistic ability. A prime example is Dakota Johnson. After catapulting onto everyone's radar with her role in 50 Shades of Grey, Johnson's career has been a variety of genres and projects that more often than not pigeonhole her into one kind of archetype rather than let her show off her nuance and range. This is one of the many reasons why Am I Ok? is such a perfect project to show off her abilities. Directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, this coming-of-age dramedy about a woman realizing she's a lesbian in her 30s not only soars from an exceptional screenplay, but enables Johnson to tap in to a variety of emotions she often doesn't get a chance to work through.

Dakota Johnson’s Movie Scores 81% Fresh Rating. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

After the disastrous reception of Dakota Johnson’s “Madame Web,” the actress has redeemed herself with the critics. Dakota Johnson’s movie Madame Web was recently slammed by critics as “mediocre, dull, boring”, securing a dismal 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

While the superhero movie tanked, Dakota Johnson’s performance in a low-budget indie flick has landed a strong score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “earnest” and “Bittersweet.” It’s a far cry from “mediocre” and “dull” for sure.

While the movie premiered two years ago at Sundance, it has now found its audience, with the HBO Max release drawing an impressive 81% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Trending Netflix Ultraman Rising Arrives With Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Rating As Critics Call It Best Animated Movie Of The Year Practical Magic: When Nicole Kidman & Sandra Bullock’s Cult Classic Film Was...

There is a reason Am I Ok? had to wait two long years since its Sundance premiere in 2022. It’s a relatively vain turn-of-the-century character study that summarizes an intimate issue, resolving everything within 90 minutes or less. That’s a shame because the film could have used an extra 30 minutes to explore three endearing performances that are so much better than the material.

The problem is not the script. It’s the fact that Tig Notaro, a signature comedian of her generation, fails to generate the type of comedy that makes her so popular in Am I Ok?. The final result has heart, and the chemistry between the two characters is off the charts. Yet, that’s used as a plot device to move the story along instead of creating something more meaningful.

Sonoya Mizuno and Dakota Johnson in Am I Ok? (2024) | Image via Warner Bros. Discovery

Suggested“Never thought...

It’s pride month, and what better way to kick off the celebration than to watch Dakota Johnson star as an awkward but adorable lesbian in Am I Ok?

Directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, the comedy-drama film — which first premiered at Sundance in 2022 and debuted on Max on June 6 — centers on 32-year-old Lucy (Johnson), who realizes her dates with men aren’t working out because she’s actually a lesbian. With encouragement from her best friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), she comes out and tries to start dating women, but finds the process to be messier and more complicated than she’d hoped.

Warning! This article contains Spoilers for Am I Ok?

Am I Ok? showcases a diverse soundtrack, featuring indie songs that play softly against the characters' dialogue. The film teaches self-acceptance and the importance of unique journeys, focusing on Lucy's late realization of her sexuality. Songs like Sleater-Kinney's "Can I Go On" and Phoebe Bridgers' "Motion Sickness" reflect Lucy's emotional journey beautifully.

Am I Ok? is now streaming on Max after premiering at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival with standout performances, a relatable script, and an interesting soundtrack. It was one of two Dakota Johnson movies that premiered at the festival, with Cooper Raiffs Cha Cha Real Smooth also making its debut. Am I Ok? was the directorial debut of comedian-actresses Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, who have been married since 2015. The couple have acted together before in one of Tig Notaros best projects, One Mississippi.

Am I Ok? tells the...

Dakota Johnson’s 2022 film Am I Ok? is finally hitting our small screens on the 6th of June, so first, I’d like to say happy pride! This is a film about a late bloomer, 32-year-old Lucy, who’s recently come to terms with something about herself that her best friend of ages Jane doesn’t know, and chaos ensues. I want to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible because anything else I mention will take away from the inherent warmth that comes from watching this film. I suppose the authenticity of this film comes from everyone involved. Directed by wives and besties Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne and written by Lauren Pomerantz, who happens to be the muse for this story as well, the film is short and sweet and delivers blow after blow in the most subtle way through effective dialogue and simple anecdotes.

At some point,...

Max has released the trailer for the dramedy feature ‘Am I Ok?’ starring Dakota Johnson.

The movie follows lifelong friends Lucy (Johnson) and Jane (Mizuno) navigating the changes in their paths after Jane plans a move to London, leading Lucy to reveal a secret about herself.

Lucy, who is socially awkward, discovers her attraction to women after failing to find a connection with the guys she dates. This leads to Jane helping her figure out her love life.

Directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, the movie also stars Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, June Diane Raphael and Notaro.

Also in trailers – “There’s no reason for you to stay here…” New trailer drops for Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga’

The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022.

The post Dakota Johnson stars in trailer for ‘Am I Ok?’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

“The Witcher” Season 4 Gets First Look

The journey continues. Netflix has released the first-look images for its upcoming fourth season of “The Witcher,” with Liam Hemsworth now in the starring role.

Hemsworth takes over as Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill, who announced he would be stepping down after the show’s third season, which was released on the streamer in two parts last summer.

Per the official description, the fourth season will follow Geralt, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), and Ciri (Freya Allan) as they “are faced with traversing the war-ravaged Continent and its many demons apart from each other. If they can embrace and lead the groups of misfits they find themselves in, they have a chance of surviving the baptism of fire and finding one another again.”

Watch the Season 4 First Look for “The Witcher” below:

Netflix recently announced a Season 5 renewal for the popular fantasy series, which is...

Dakota Johnson stars as a closeted lesbian entering the queer dating pool in Am I Ok?, a dramedy set to arrive June 6 on Max. Am I Ok?, a film directed by married duo Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, traces the close friendship between Lucy (Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), and the hysteria that ensues after the two reveal life-changing secrets. Jane announces that she’s moving from Los Angeles to London for a work opportunity, and Lucy, after toying with a “How to know if you’re a lesbian” online quiz,...

Dakota Johnson is figuring out what she wants from her dating life after admitting she’s interested in women in the first trailer for Am I Ok?

Max announced Monday that the dramedy feature from co-directors Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne is set to launch on the streaming service June 6 after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022. Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, June Diane Raphael and Notaro round out the cast.

Am I Ok? centers on lifelong friends Lucy (Johnson) and Jane (Mizuno) navigating the changes in their paths after Jane plans a move to London, leading Lucy to reveal a secret about herself.

While encouraging Johnson to come out of her shell, Mizuno says in the trailer, “You try 20 different flavors of ice cream before you settle on a single scoop.” This leads Johnson to respond, “Ice cream is different than vagina.”

Notaro and Allynne,...

"There's no timeline to figuring it out." Max has unveiled an official trailer for the indie film Am I Ok?, which is finally getting released this year. This one originally premiered back in 2022 at the Sundance Film Festival to mostly positive reviews. It's an LGBTQ self-discovery romantic comedy where a woman starts to figure out she's a lesbian and tries dating one of her best friends. Max will stream Am I Ok?, co-directed by Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne, starting in June. Lucy and Jane have been best friends for most of their lives and think they know everything there is to know about each other. But when Jane announces she will be moving to London, Lucy reveals a long-held secret. As Jane tries to help Lucy, their friendship is thrown into chaos. Dakota Johnson stars as Lucy, and with Sonoya Mizuno as Jane, plus Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon,...

Photograph by Courtesy of Max Brace yourselves for a wild ride through the ups and downs of female friendship! Am I Ok?, the critically acclaimed film that wowed audiences at Sundance, is finally making its way to Max on June 6th. This isn’t your average chick flick. Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno deliver powerhouse performances as Lucy and Jane, best friends whose relationship gets a serious reality check when a long-held secret comes to light. Think awkward encounters, emotional breakdowns, and maybe even a dance-off or two. Co-directed by the hilarious Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, Am I Ok? is a refreshing and relatable take on love, loss, and figuring out who you really are. Whether you’re single, coupled up, or somewhere in between, this movie is guaranteed to hit you right in the feels.

So clear your calendars for June 6th and get ready to experience a...

Dakota Johnson is asking herself what we all have at one time or another: “Am I Ok?”

Johnson stars in the simply titled feature that premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Tig Notaro co-directs with her wife and fellow comedian Stephanie Allynne from a semi-autobiographical script written by Lauren Pomerantz.

Johnson stars as 30something Lucy who realizes she is a lesbian just as her best friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) announces she’s moving from Los Angeles to London for work. As Lucy’s life is upended, she’s suddenly floating through a queer dating pool without the life raft of Jane.

Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, and Sean Hayes also star, along with co-director Notaro.

Screenwriter Pomerantz told Entertainment Weekly that “Am I Ok?” began as a “friendship movie” centered on her actual best friend Jessica Elbaum, who serves as a producer on the film. However, the feature became a coming-out dramedy instead.

Later in life queers rejoice! Okay, this one is actually a win for every member of the community as celebrated writer Lauren Pomerantzs debut feature-length production, Am I Ok? is set to arrive on Max on June 6. The script marks Pomernatzs first foray into film, having previously worked in the writers room for titles including The Ellen Degeneres Show, Saturday Night Live, Community, and more. Joining forces with co-directors, Tig Notaro (Your Place or Mine) and Stephanie Allynne (The L Word: Generation Q), Pomerantz uses Am I Ok? as a platform to share every part of her experience of coming out as a queer woman later in life voicing the good, the bad, and the downright laughable.

Premiering way back some 27 months ago at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, we’ve been curious what happened to Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne’s directorial feature debut Am I Ok?. Led by Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Sean Hayes, and Notaro, Max has now unveiled it’ll arrive on June 6 and has debuted a new trailer.

Here’s the synopsis: “Lucy (Johnson) and Jane (Mizuno) have been best friends for most of their lives and think they know everything there is to know about each other. But when Jane announces she’s moving to London, Lucy reveals a long-held secret. As Jane tries to help Lucy, their friendship is thrown into chaos.”

Jake Kring-Schreifels said in his review, “A romantic comedy that functions best as a fable of friendship and self-reflection, Am I Ok? is the kind of lightweight, amiable movie that just barely earns...

NewFest, a New York LGBTQ+ film and media organization, revealed the full lineup for their fourth annual NewFest Pride summer film series. NewFest’s five-day festival kicks off LGBTQ+ Pride Month from May 30 – June 3, 2024, in-person in New York and streaming throughout the United States, and will feature a mix of premieres and conversations, virtual screenings, and social events. The announcement came today from NewFest’s Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director of Programming Nick McCarthy.

“It’s no accident that this year’s NewFest Pride starts on May 30; it’s part of our not-so-secret mission to celebrate Pride 365 days a year,” said NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff. “We can’t wait to provide a space for the community to come together for bold new films and series, thought-provoking conversations, and joyful social gatherings. This moment calls for celebration and resistance, and we intend to offer opportunities for both in equal measure.

Tig Notaro, the famed American comedian and writer mostly known for being a Grammy award winner, is back with a new stand-up special. Her last stand-up from HBO Max was an animated special called Drawn, and it received rave reviews. Basking in the glory of the last stand-up special, which had an out-of-the-box presentation, Tig Notaro is back talking in her signature style. This time her wife, Stephanie Allynne, is joining her, but behind the camera.

Stephanie directed the special, which was shot in Brooklyn, New York, and just like her older specials, there are plenty of anecdotes from her personal life that have been shared this time. These stories would be highly relatable to those who are parents of toddlers and are used to the truth bombs dropped by them at this age. The kids at this age are honest about everything surrounding them, which is why these stories tend to be funny.

Tig Notaro has never had to tell the same jokes for so long, but her latest comedy special, Hello Again, arrives March 26 on Prime Video — well over four years after she first started touring the material. “My God, it just would not end,” says Notaro. “I couldn’t wait to be home with my family, see friends, do my ridiculous podcast and just work on new material around Los Angeles. I’m maybe doing one show once a week, and that feels so manageable.”

Such a time loop is especially odd for a woman whose career changed so much over such a short period. Twelve years after her now-famous Largo set, during which Notaro walked onstage and revealed a breast cancer diagnosis, she’s gone from cult comic to household name. She acts (Star Trek Discovery, The Morning Show), rents party buses with famous pals like Allison Janney, co-hosts a popular podcast (Handsome,...

Amazon announced on Thursday that Hello Again, the newest special from comedian Tig Notaro, will premiere on Prime Video on March 26. Check out a clip above.

Directed by Notaro’s wife, Stephanie Allynne, the special comes on the heels of her HBO hour Tig Notaro: Drawn, which made history as the first fully animated stand-up special in 2021. It’s said to be packed with delightfully awkward misunderstandings, health scares made hilarious, and family moments with her wife and children that are simultaneously sidesplitting and heartwarming.

From the “Make Believe Lounge” to the hallway outside her physical therapist’s office, Notaro finds humor in situations ranging from the everyday to the bizarre, crafting comedy out of hallucinatory text messages, a botched meeting with a Hollywood heavyweight, and a late-night encounter with a mustachioed fireman who has her questioning everything.

Notaro was previously in business with Amazon as the co-creator and star...

Tig Notaro is heading back to Amazon — and live action — for her latest comedy special. Prime Video will debut Tig Notaro: Hello Again this March.

The new hour marks Notaro’s first project at Amazon since the end of her two-season Prime Video comedy One Mississippi in 2017 and her first flesh-and-blood taping in nearly six years. Her last special, Tig Notaro: Drawn, made history as the first fully animated stand-up special when it landed on HBO in 2022.

Hello Again follows Drawn, as well as other previous specials 2018’s Happy to Be Here and 2015’s Boyish Girl Interrupted. It is described as including “delightfully awkward misunderstandings, health scares made hilarious and family moments with her wife and children that are simultaneously sidesplitting and heartwarming.”

The streamers are absolutely hammering their slates with stand-up specials this spring. Perhaps it’s just a continuation of the years-long trend or maybe it has something...

Exclusive: Veteran Gersh talent agent Danielle Schoenberg is transitioning to management, joining Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment as a Partner.

Schoenberg worked in the talent department at Gersh for nearly 15 years, starting on the desk of Bob Gersh before becoming a comedy crossover agent.

At Gersh, she developed a specialty in working with multi-hyphenates, something she plans to continue to do as a manager at Odenkirk Provissiero, where her writer and performer clients include Anna Konkle (Pen15), Frankie Quiñones (This Fool), Sasheer Zamata (SNL), Brooks Wheelan (SNL), Stephanie Allynne (The L Word), Saagar Shaikh (Ms. Marvel), Nichole Sakura (Superstore) and Jessy Hodges (Barry).

At Odenkirk Provissiero, founded in 2009 by Naomi Odenkirk and Marc Provissiero, Schoenberg joins fellow partners DC Wade, Tiffany Schloesser and Lucas Kosoglad.

“I started sharing clients with Naomi and Marc when I first became an agent and have admired their taste and care with which they manage their clients from that point on,...

The indie film Dave Made a Maze is definitely a horror movie but of a different breed. Although the movie takes place within the confines of the protagonist's apartment, Dave's creation illustrates how a person's thoughts can take on a life of its own. While an individual is within their imagination, they can lose sight of reality, and Dave Made a Maze depicts how that can be determinantal and even dangerous to others.

The 2017 indie film Dave Made a Maze is anything but boring. The movie certainly stands out with its creative opening credit sequence and visuals, combining horror, fantasy, adventure and comedy elements. However, the picture tries to engage with its audience on a deeper level than merely taking them on an optical thrill ride with some unorthodox but creative instances of fright. Dave Made a Maze, in short, considers the ramifications of an overactive imagination and how too...

“I was at the premiere of The Little Mermaid a couple of weeks back,” says Kean Almryde, a marketing manager at Disney. “Scuttle, the bird in the cartoon version, was a seagull. In the new movie, it’s a northern gannet. I’m like, ‘What’s that about?’ So I did a little bit of research. I made a TikTok video explaining the decision behind changing Scuttle from a seagull to the northern gannet that ended up going viral! It has like 420,000 views.”

The reason for the change? Animators wanted more underwater scenes, and unlike the air-bound seagull, a northern gannet can dive around 70 feet underwater. This research dovetailed perfectly with Almryde’s passion for birding, which was sparked during the pandemic and he says provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. “You’re forced to slow down,” he says. “You’re forced to listen, pay...

On Saturday night, City Year Los Angeles hosted their 12th annual Spring Break: Destination Education benefit which raised over $2.2 million to support thousands of students across L.A. thrive in school and in life.

Octavia Spencer speaks at City Year LA's Spring Break Destination Education

Credit/Copyright: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for City Year Los Angeles

The event brought together over 900 guests — including community and business leaders, celebrities and influencers, families and AmeriCorps members for an exciting night of food, fun, and entertainment in support of education. The benefit honored Academy Award-winning actor, producer, and longtime City Year L.A. board member Octavia Spencer and Kevin Demoff, COO of the Los Angeles Rams and City Year LA board member. Actor, comedian, and television host Joel McHale emceed the event which featured a special musical performance by Grammy-nominated singer Chlöe Bailey, known mononymously as Chlöe.

Academy Award-Winning actor and producer Viola Davis...

Exclusive: Gloria Sanchez Productions has promoted Alex Brown to Head of Film and hired Alix Taylor as Head of Television.

The L.A. based-pair will now oversee all development and production for the company, across film and television, reporting to principals Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum.

Brown comes to her new role following three years as a feature producer for Gloria Sanchez. Among her most recent credits as an exec producer for the company is the improvisational ensemble comedy Theater Camp, starring Molly Gordon, Ben Platt and Noah Galvin, which was acquired by Searchlight Pictures out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Gordon and Nick Lieberman directed the title, based on a same-name 2020 short, from their script written with Platt and Galvin.

Other recent credits for Brown as an EP include an Untitled Sister Comedy, starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina, for Hulu; Todd Haynes’ May December, starring Natalie Portman...

Exclusive: Karen Gillan (Thor: Love and Thunder) will star opposite Margaret Sophie Stein (Bullets Over Broadway), Jermaine Fowler (Sorry to Bother You), Kevin Nealon (SNL) and Talia Balsam (Divorce) in the Lisa Steen-directed comedy Late Bloomers from We’re Doin’ Great and Park Pictures, which has wrapped production in Brooklyn, NY.

The film written by Anna Greenfield is loosely based on her experience living in Brooklyn in her 20s. It centers on Louise (Gillan), an aimless millennial who drunkenly breaks her hip, landing her in physical therapy. There, she makes an elderly Polish Bff (Stein) who speaks no English. And it’s this unlikely friendship that gives her the courage to face what she’s been running from all along: Her mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s. Fowler plays Louise’s Craigslist roommate/landlord Brick, with Nealon and Balsam as her parents.

Late Bloomers marks the feature directorial debut of Greenfield’s frequent collaborator,...

Exclusive: Mark and Dorothy Canton’s Atmosphere Entertainment has launched development on The 18th, a one-hour series inspired by the true story of Nebraska’s “Queen of the Bootleggers,” which has Odessa A’zion (Grand Army) set to star.

The series set in the early 1900s will follow Louise Vinciquerra, a young Italian immigrant wife and mother who rose out of poverty to become the Bootlegging Queen of the American heartland. Adored by her customers and hunted by the Feds, she conned and charmed her way onto the front pages for earning too much money, shooting too many husbands, seducing too many prohibition agents, and just being Too Much – all before she turned 25 years old.

Shelley Eriksen created the series with Vinciquerra’s niece Stephanie Kurtzuba (The Irishman, Bad Education) and Lawrence Smith, drew on family lore, newspaper articles...

“This movie’s going to make the world forget about all their problems.”

The only question: Which movie?

Judd Apatow co-writes, directs, and produces upcoming Netflix comedy “The Bubble,” about the makings of a fictional movie in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. While “The Bubble” will be available to stream April 1, the faux film at the center of its plot, “Cliff Beasts 6: Battle for Everest: Memories of a Requiem,” alas will never hit theaters…especially if its director, played by Fred Armisen, can’t deliver a satisfying cut to the studio executive (Kate McKinnon).

“The Bubble” centers on the behind-the-scenes drama of making the sixth installment in the “Cliff Beasts” universe, the “23rd largest dino franchise ever.”

A group of actors, including fictionalized versions of Leslie Mann, Iris Apatow, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Pedro Pascal, and Karen Gillan are stuck inside a “pandemic bubble” at a hotel while...

Josephine Decker knows it sounds a little weird — that the filmmaker behind such tone poems as “Thou Wast Mild & Lovely” and “Butter on the Latch” and internal dramas like “Madeline’s Madeline” and “Shirley” wanted to make an Apple-backed adaption of a popular YA novel for her fifth feature film — but it made perfect sense to her.

“I remember calling my mom when I first got the movie and I was like, ‘I’m making my first happy movie, Mom. You’re going to love it. You’re going to be so excited to watch it!'” Decker said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “She’s like, ‘What’s it about?’ And I was like, ‘It’s about a girl whose sister died.’ But it really is, by far, my happiest movie. It’s much more positive than the things I usually make, and I was really ready for that.

Dakota Johnson is in talks to star in Sony’s “Madame Web,” which follows yet another character in the studio’s extended universe of Marvel characters, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

Johnson’s deal has not yet closed, but she would be tapped to play the lead in the film directed by S.J. Clarkson. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless wrote the screenplay.

The “Madame Web” comics follow Cassandra Webb, a clairvoyant and precognitive mutant. Webb is an elderly woman with a neural muscular disease that forces her to be connected to a life support system that resembles a spider’s web. Denny O. Neil and John Romita Jr. created the character.

Madame Web is generally a supporting character in the Marvel comics universe and not strictly someone who fights crime, but she first appeared in “The Amazing Spider-Man” #210, published in 1980, and worked to help Spider-Man find a kidnap victim.

HBO Max and Warner Bros. has acquired rights to “Am I Ok?,” the Dakota Johnson romantic comedy that was applauded this week at the Sundance Film Festival about a woman coming to terms with her sexuality.

Details on the dollar figure have not been released.

“Am I Ok” is the feature debut for co-directors Tig Notaro and her wife, Stephanie Allynne, and for “SNL” writer Lauren Pomerantz, and is produced by Picturestart, Gloria Sanchez Productions and Johnson’s TeaTime Pictures.

The film centers on Lucy (Johnson), a 32-year-old woman who wonders why her dates never lead to the bedroom and, after some Googling, wonders if she’s gay. Pomerantz based the story on her own coming out experience 15 years ago.

The cast also includes Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon and Sean Hayes.

TheWrap’s critic calls “Am I Ok?” “a warmhearted crowdpleaser undercut by moments of hesitation…[that] has all...

The deals keep coming at the 2022 Virtual Sundance Film Festival. Mubi closed the docu Free Chol Soo Lee, including North America, and Warner Bros is negotiating a near $7 million WW rights deal for the Tig Notaro/Stephanie Allynne film Am I Ok? to place the film on HBO Max. The Lauren Pomerantz-scripted film stars Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Molly Gordon, and Sean Hayes.

Am I Ok? premiered January 24 and played in the Premieres category. Lucy and Jane have been best friends for most of their lives and think they know everything there is to know about each other. But when Jane announces she’s moving to London, Lucy reveals a longheld secret. As Jane tries to help Lucy, their friendship is thrown into chaos. The film is produced by Stephanie Allynne, Ro Donnelly, Jessica Elbaum, Erik Feig and Will Ferrell, a coproduction between Gloria Sanchez Productions and Picturestart.

Warner Bros. and HBO Max has nabbed “Am I Ok?,” a romantic comedy starring Dakota Johnson as a woman grappling with her sexuality. The movie premiered this week to mostly positive reviews at the virtual Sundance Film Festival.

Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne co-directed “Am I Ok?,” which was written by Lauren Pomerantz and produced by Picturestart, Gloria Sanchez Productions and Johnson’s TeaTime Pictures.

It will premiere on HBO Max at a yet-to-be-determined date.

“Am I Ok?” follows 32-year-old Lucy (Johnson), who lives in Los Angeles and figures out later in life that the reason her dates with the opposite gender never end with anything more than a handshake is because, well, she’s not attracted to men. With the help of her life-long friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), Lucy attempts to navigate coming out in her 30s. The story is loosely based on Pomerantz’s own life.

The cast also includes Jermaine Fowler,...

Am I Ok? Review — Am I Ok? (2022) Film Review from the 44th Annual Sundance Film Festival, a movie directed by Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro and starring Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Whitmer Thomas, Sean Hayes, Tig Notaro, Odessa A’zion, Patrick McDonald, Mayank Bhatter, Jess Nurse, Emma [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Am I Ok?: Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno Are Charming in Predictable Comedy [Sundance 2022]...

Chicago – The 2022 Sundance Film Festival is on Day Nine, and will be announcing their top film honorees on January 28th. The festival is wrapping up as virtual/online, meaning anyone/anywhere with a ticket or a pass (link) can indulge in the film offerings and events throughout the festival, which runs until January 30th.

One of the highlight offerings is free to anyone, with no need for extra tickets or credentials. Beyond Film programming offers something for everyone … with filmmaker chats, meet-ups and a daily talk show with Festival Director Tabitha Jackson. Festivals stars and directors participating include Emma Thompson, Dakota Johnson, Amy Poehler and Eva Longoria Bastón. Click on Beyond Film for the archive.

Am I Okay?

Photo credit: Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival is an annual event organized by the Sundance Institute – an organization founded by actor Robert Redford in 1980 – and dedicated to the growth of independent artists.

This is the story of Lucy and Jane – two friends who have always been best friends. This is the story of two women who finally realize it's time to grow up and figure themselves out on their own. Am I Ok? is a new buddy comedy made by actors / lovers / partners Stephanie Allynne & Tig Notaro, both making their feature directorial debut. In addition to making a film about friendship and how important that is, this film is meant as a guide for young women who are struggling to come to grips with a realization that they might be lesbian or bisexual or queer or whatever. The film is about a woman who, at age 32, realizes she has never dealt with the feelings deep inside her telling her she might not be straight. But instead of encountering hate or other trouble, Notaro & Allynne made a film that offers support and understanding.

Actors (and married couple) Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro have stepped behind the camera to make their feature directorial debut with "Am I Ok?," a lovingly crafted ode to female friendship and the idea that it's never too late to embrace your true self.

Lucy and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) have been best friends for years. They know everything about each other, right down to their food orders at their local L.A. diner, and they've settled into a comfortable, thirtysomething, middle class groove. Neither...

The post Am I Ok? Review: Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno Carry This Tale of Self-Discovery [Sundance 2022] appeared first on /Film.

In 2009, when I was in the Air Force and stationed in Germany, I traveled to Berlin on New Year’s Eve to celebrate. As my friends and I were getting turnt up in the bar, I came out as a lesbian. The moment was random and unprovoked. I shared the news with all my friends and had a dope night ringing in the 2010s, but panic set in when I woke up the next day. I’m 27 years old and a lesbian: What do I do now?

Coming out in your adult years is confusing and stressful, and this is the basis of Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne’s feature film debut, Am I okay? written by Lauren Pomerantz. As a Sundance Film Festival premiere, the film stars Dakota Johnson (Suspiria), Sonoya Mizuno (Crazy Rich Asians), Molly Gordon (Shiva Baby) and Kiersey Clemons (Antebellum). The film follows a woman who...

Technically, Los Angeles receptionist Lucy (Dakota Johnson), the passive singleton of Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro’s frustratingly childish rom-com “Am I Ok?,” is 32 years old. Emotionally, she’s as awkward as a freshman with her first pimple. Lucy has never been in love, never had a real relationship, and never ends her dates with anything more than a handshake. “I feel so stupid, I should have figured this out by now,” Lucy blurts to her best friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) after too much tequila makes her weepy about her sexual paralysis. “There must be a reason why I’ve barely done it?”

There is. She needs to stop shaking hands with men and start smooching women like Brit, the flirtatious masseuse (Kinsey Clemons) at her salon. That this revelation has only just hit Lucy adds to her angst — how embarrassing to come out now, she frets — and online quizzes...

“There is no timeline to figuring this out,” Jane tells her best friend Lucy in Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne’s directorial debut feature film “Am I Ok?” This is a film for late bloomers of any kind but will resonate particularly with anyone who came into their sexual identity later in life. Screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz took inspiration from her own late in life, coming out and close relationship with her best friend, producer Jessica Elbaum.

Continue reading ‘Am I Ok?’ Review: Dakota Johnson & Sonoya Mizuno Find True Love In A Heartwarming Coming Out Tale [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Exclusive: Days before the world premiere of Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne’s feature directorial debut Am I Ok? at Sundance, Deadline has learned about the duo’s next feature project is Time and Space, which Judd Apatow will produce through his Apatow Productions.

Allynne will direct off a screenplay she wrote based on a story she conceived with her spouse Notaro. Emmy nominee and stand-up comic Notaro also will star in the project, which follows the life of a lesbian couple who are thrown into turmoil when they ditch their Los Angeles city life for upstate New York. Notaro and Allynne will produce through their production company, Something Fierce.

Time and Space reflects Notaro and Allynne’s interest in sophisticated, entertaining storytelling with universal appeal where there just happens to be gay characters and themes.

The duo conceived Time and Space during the pandemic, though the movie is not set during one.

Many life-defining friendships likely have a moment when the two parties look at one another and say, “This should be a movie.” It so happens that writer Lauren Pomerantz and producer Jessica Elbaum, best friends since 2004, had the skill set to make that happen.

The sisterly bond shared by the women is the basis for “Am I Ok?,” one of the most anticipated titles premiering at this year’s virtual Sundance Film Festival. The indie stars Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno, surrogates for Pomerantz and Elbaum respectively, and is directed by work and life partners Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro. The film is the kind of bittersweet indie the festival is known for highlighting, with a message about the need to live in truth.

Pomerantz had settled into her comedy-writing career by the end of her 20s, contributing to “Saturday Night Live” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” At 30, however, something...