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Several years ago, Lionsgate Home Entertainment revived the defunct Vestron Video label for the Vestron Video Collector’s Series of Blu-ray releases, and over the years that series has turned out to be pretty impressive. The list of Vestron Blu-rays includes Chopping Mall, Blood Diner, the Waxwork movies, Return of the Living Dead ///, The Gate, the Wishmaster films, the Warlock films, Slaughter High, Class of 1999, Beyond Re-Animator, Dagon, Maximum Overdrive, Shivers, Little Monsters, The Wraith, Dementia 13, Steel Dawn, Candyman: Day of the Dead, Dream a Little Dream, Extreme Prejudice, Earth Girls Are Easy, the Dentist movies, the Silent Night, Deadly Night sequels, and more. The thirty-fourth release from the revived Vestron is a Blu-ray of the 1991 horror comedy Ghoulies Go to College – and it’s available for pre-order exclusively through the Lionsgate Limited website! The Blu-ray is selling for the price of $24.99 and will be released on July 15th.

Commander Riker kills Yuta, his love interest, in "The Vengeance Factor" episode of Star Trek: Tng. Yuta's death feels unnecessary and out of character for the series. The scene is oddly staged, with Picard sitting motionless and multiple less violent options available.

Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) killed one of his love interests on Star Trek: The Next Generation and her death felt unnecessary and out of character. Throughout Tng, Riker gained a reputation as a bit of a ladies' man, taking after Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) on Star Trek: The Original Series. As First Officer on the USS Enterprise-d, Commander Riker often went on away missions and commanded the Enterprise when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was otherwise occupied. Level-headed and not prone to violence, Riker usually made well-thought-out decisions, making his choices in one Tng episode particularly surprising.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 9, "The Vengeance Factor,...

Exclusive: Film Independent has set seven filmmakers for the 2023 edition of its Producing Lab, an intensive program designed to help creative, independent producers develop their skills and further their careers. The list includes Camila Grimaldi & Farah Jabir (AmeriGirl), Rob Cristiano (Gone by Morning), Daniel Tantalean (In the Summers), Valeria Contreras (Not My Name), Annalisa Shoemaker (Obsolete), and Fiona Hardingham (Smoke Country).

Film Independent looks to bolster its Fellows by introducing them to film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of independent producing. Each is paired with a Creative Advisor, with whom they’ll look to develop a project over the course of the program. Rebecca Green will serve as lead creative advisor for this year’s program, which will also feature an expansive roster of guest speakers: Jason Michael Berman, Apoorva Charan, Marissa Frobes, Nate Kamiya, Kristen Konvitz, Stephen Lee, Alex Lo, Lauren Mann, Jack Pearkes,...

Even amid the concurrent strikes of the past year, there’s been a lot of bonus hand-wringing over the state of the independent producer. Producers, after all, have no SAG or WGA equivalent. Where then does the workaday, blue-collar movie producer find community support? Or work with peers to advance their collective interests?

Well… linking up with a good Artist Development cohort is a great place to star. Which is why we’re thrilled to announce seven new Fellows representing six new projects to kick off the 2023 edition (and 23rd overall!) of the Film Independent Producing Lab.

“We’re delighted to shepherd this group of devoted creative producers through the Lab and give them a dedicated space to further their projects and careers,” says Dea Vazquez, Film Independent’s Associate Director of Fiction Programs.

“We’re thrilled to have feature films in both development and post-production, to support producers at...

Trevian Kutti, a former publicist for Kanye West and R. Kelly, surrendered to authorities in Georgia on Friday on charges related to her role in the scheme to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.

Kutti’s arrest comes after Donald Trump turned himself in Thursday evening, and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark surrendered early Friday morning. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis gave the former president and his 18 co-defendants a deadline of Friday at noon to stop by the county jail for booking.

Stephen Lee, a pastor from Illinois,...

The former president has once again been indicted on criminal charges — this time by a Georgia Grand Jury that voted on Monday to charge Trump and 18 of his allies in relation to their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

It’s the fourth criminal indictment brought against the former president this year. This time, Trump faces 13 of the total 41 total counts enumerated in the indictment, including solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy...

Donald Trump has been criminally indicted for the fourth time in five months, adding another batch of charges to the unprecedented heap of legal jeopardy the former president faces as he vies to win back the White House and make his problems disappear.

The latest indictment comes in Georgia, where Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has long been investigating Trump’s efforts to meddle in the state’s 2020 election results. Willis on Monday presented her findings to a grand jury, which voted to indict the former president — along with...

Manta Comics is full steam ahead in its production of original webcomic series.

The digital comics platform Manta Comics announced its plans to produce and release more than 10 original series throughout the third quarter of 2023, as part of its ongoing expansion of in-house productions. Made up of "experienced creators with a proven track record," Manta Comics' in-house team Manta Studios mainly focuses on creating webcomics adapted from webnovels and movies owned and licensed by Ridi Corporation. Manta Studios released Falling for Danger in June and plans to release Countdown to Love and The Lady Alchemist in July. The platform released three original works -- The Blood Moon, Werewolves Going Crazy Over Me and The Superheroes of Class F -- earlier this year.

Related: Review: Manta Comics' Superheroes of Class F

"Manta Studios is the engine at the heart of our success, and we are thrilled to showcase the team’s...

A new episode of The Arrow in the Head Show has just been released, and in this one hosts John “The Arrow” Fallon and Lance Vlcek are looking back at the 1990 sci-fi action sequel RoboCop 2 (watch it Here), which sees our hero RoboCop trying to get a new drug called Nuke off the streets of Detroit… and then battling a drug dealer who has been turned into a RoboCop himself. To find out what The Arrow and Lance think of RoboCop 2, check out the video embedded above.

Directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Frank Miller and Walon Green, RoboCop 2 has the following synopsis: Cyborg Detroit policeman Alex Murphy is the sole officer on duty after the police force goes on strike against evil conglomerate Omni Consumer Products and its push to foreclose on the city of Detroit. Aside from dealing with the normal level of crime,...

Mumbai, April 13 (Ians) Interesting and absorbing contests will be on cards as India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani, winner of 25 World titles, Dhruv Sitwala, the current Indian No. 2, Peter Gilchrist of Singapore, winner of multiple world titles and Rob Hall of England will be competing for the top honours in the Rs 10 lakh prize-money Cci Classic Invitation Billiards (time format) Championship, starting here on Friday.

Besides the four strong contenders, the other challengers from across the country include the defending champion Siddharth Parikh, former world champions Rupesh Shah, Sourav Kothari, Ashok Shandilya, Devendra Joshi and S. Srikrishna to name a few in the event organised by the Cricket Club of India (Cci) and to be played at the club’s Sir Wilson Jones billiards hall from April 14 to 20, 2023.

The Cci events have proved to be quite successful for Advani who early this year won the Cci Classic Snooker crown defeating...

Remember the shelves of your local video store? Of course you do. Announced today, Arrow Video is tapping back into that nostalgic experience with a brand new Blu-ray release.

“Freshly restored for the digital era with a wealth of new and archival extras, these films have never looked better,” Arrow Video teases the set this morning, which is loaded with a collection of retro films from Charles Band’s Empire International Pictures.

Arrow explains, “In 1983, entrepreneurial producer and director Charles Band founded Empire International Pictures, which would go on to make some of the most memorable and beloved genre movies of the 1980s. Empire became a mainstay of video stores across the world with their catchy titles, outlandish art and Band’s wholehearted belief in giving audiences a good time.”

In The Dungeonmaster, computer programmer Paul Bradford is sucked into a fantasy world by Mestema, a demonic sorcerer in search of a worthy opponent.

The “MasterChef” fans have spoken and you want Dara Yu to win Season 12. The 20-year old from Los Angeles would the youngest champion in the show’s history, two years the junior of Season 1 winner Whitney Miller. The average age of a “MasterChef” winner over the past 11 seasons is 31. Dara is competing against Christian Green, a 36-year old from New Orleans and Michael Silverstein, a 34-year old from Pittsburgh.

In our recent poll we asked who You want to win the title of “MasterChef” and Dara received 54 of the votes. Christian ranked second with 31 and Michael finished in third with just 15. The winner will be decided by judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich during the one-hour season finale airing on Wednesday, September 14 (8:00 p.m. – 9:02 Pm Et/Pt on Fox). Former series regulars Graham Elliot and Christina Tosi serve as guest judges.

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists...

Season 12 of “MasterChef” was all about redemption, when All-Star competitors from the last 11 seasons returned to the show to see if they have learned from their past mistakes. For the first time ever, the cooking competition re-opened the doors to some of the most memorable and talented cooks in the show’s history. After many weeks of intense competition, three finalists have risen to the top: Christian Green, Dara Yu and Michael Silverstein. But which of these three do You want to win? Vote for your favorite in our poll below.

Gordon Ramsay serves as host and judges each dish alongside his colleagues Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich. For their last challenge, the three finalists must prepare a three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, entree and dessert, with one hour to cook each course.

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

Christian is a 36-year old from New Orleans who placed 5th on Season 5 of “MasterChef.

Three home cooks were sent packing in last week’s double episode of “MasterChef.” First, the duo of Amanda Saab and Derrick Fox succumbed to their inability to properly communicate during the wall challenge. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich said their Crispy Skin Duck with Moroccan-Style Couscous, Romanesco and Blood Orange Gastrique tasted like cough syrup. Next, the Top 6 took over Spago for renowned Chef Wolfgang Puck. Willie Mike led his Blue Team to a loss and was eliminated for his poor effort.

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, the majority agreed it was time for Willie (28) and Amanda (26) to go. But most people were upset to see Derrick leave. Instead, Shanika Patterson received the third most votes at 22. Dara Yu was next at 15 followed by Derrick at 5 and Michael Silverstein with 4.

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

In the episode,...

A triple elimination took place on “MasterChef” last night when Episode 16 and Episode 17 of Season 12 aired back-to-back on Fox. The Top 8 were paired together and tasked with communicating on opposite sides of a wall to create identical dishes with a double elimination on the line. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich sent Amanda Saab and Derrick Fox home for poor communication and a bad Crispy Skin Duck with Moroccan-Style Couscous, Romanesco and Blood Orange Gastrique.

Next, the Top 6 took over Chef Wolfgang Puck’s kitchen at the famous Spago restaurant in Los Angeles. Willie May failed to show the leadership qualities it takes to win and was asked to turn in his apron at the end of the night. Do you think Amanda, Derrick and Willie deserved to get the boot this week? Vote below in our poll.

Amanda, Derrick and Willie weren’t the only chefs in the hot seat on Wednesday.

Brandi Mudd was the first home cook sent packing on last week’s double episode of “MasterChef: Back to Win.” The 33-year old from Irvington, Kentucky failed to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich with her attempt to elevate gas station snacks. Next, Bowen Li turned in his apron after a spicy mystery box challenge of chilis. But fans aren’t happy about it!

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 38 agreed that Brandi deserved to go home. But 36 felt Willie Mike should have been the second chef eliminated after he served up Beer-Infused Chicken Pot Pie with Spicy Cheese Puff & Sunflower Seed Crumble the judges called “difficult to eat.” Bowen did finish in third place with 16 followed by Michael Silverstein at 6. Only 4 said Derrick Fox should have left after landing in the bottom three for the first time.

Another double elimination took place on “MasterChef” last night when Episode 14 and Episode 15 aired back-to-back on Fox. The top 10 chefs from Season 12 were tasked with elevating traditional gas station snacks into gourmet dishes. Brandi Mudd’s Spicy Cheese Puff Arepa with Cola Skirt Steak and Fruity Cereal Crema left a bad taste in the mouths of judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich. They sent the 33-year old back to Kentucky after telling her the dish “looks and tastes like an orange hockey puck.”

Next, the top nine chefs were faced with another Winner’s Mystery Box challenge, this time from “MasterChef 9” winner Gerron Hurt. After cooking with a box full of chilis, Bowen Li was eliminated for his “bizarre” Seafood Stuffed Pepper with Mofongo Mashed Plantain Cake that felt like “ball bearings in your mouth.” Do you think Brandi and Bowen deserved to get the boot this episode?...

Gabriel Lewis was the first home cook sent packing on last week’s double episode of “MasterChef: Back to Win.” The 24-year old from Oklahoma City failed to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich in a Tag Team challenge that partnered him up with Emily Hallock. The duo struggled with Gordon’s signature dishes — Mushroom Risotto, Beef Wellington and Tarte Tatin — but it was Gabriel’s lack of voice that ended his hopes of winning the Fox reality TV cooking competition.

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 45 said Emily deserved to go home. 18 agreed that the night’s second elimination of Fred Chang was spot on after he served up Italian Meatball Potstickers with charred Tomato Relish and Parmesan Crisp that the judges called “wrong on so many levels.” 15 of fans would have sent Willie...

Viewers got a double dose of “MasterChef” last night when Episode 12 and Episode 13 aired back-to-back on Fox. As the top 12 chefs approached the halfway point in the competition, they were challenged to a tag-team cook-off. After cooking three menu items from Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin-starred restaurants, Gabriel Lewis was eliminated. Gordon and his fellow judges Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich said the 24-year old lacked a voice while tag-teaming on the host’s famous Mushroom Risotto, Beef Wellington and Tarte Tatin.

Next, in order to secure a spot in the top 10, the remaining chefs partnered with GrubHub to elevate a traditional take-out dish into a gourmet concoction. Fred Chang’s Italian Meatball Potstickers with charred Tomato Relish and Parmesan Crisp were called “wrong on so many levels” before he was shown the door. Do you think Garbriel and Fred deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Bri Baker was sent packing on Episode 11 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after failing to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich in the Vietnamese Mystery Box challenge presented by Season 3 champ Christine Ha. The 27-year old from Dallas served up Pan Seared Salmon with a Fish Sauce Caramel Glaze, Stir-Fried Noodles and Coconut-Lime Sauce that the judges said didn’t taste “like anything” and had “no passion.”

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 66 said Bri deserved to go home after landing in the bottom three for the third time. Just 19 of you thought Emily Hallock should have been chopped for her stripped down Lemongrass Pork Salad with Marinated Vegetables and Shrimp Dusted Crispy Rice Chip that lacked “love, intelligence and strategy.” Only 15 of fans would have sent Brandi Mudd home for her “bland” Vietnamese Sticky...

After landing in the Bottom 3 on two previous occasions, Bri Baker led her comrades to victory in Episode 10’s team challenge of “MasterChef: Back to Win.” The 27-year old Dallas native appeared to be finding her stride, but that all changed last night when Season 3 champ Christine Ha arrived and gifted the chef-testants a Vietnamese mystery box that proved too much for Bri. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich said her Pan Seared Salmon with a Fish Sauce Caramel Glaze, Stir-Fried Noodles and Coconut-Lime Sauce had “no passion,” didn’t taste “like anything” and was “boring.” Do you think the Bri deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Bri wasn’t the only chef in the hot seat on Wednesday. Brandi Mudd served up Vietnamese Sticky Pork Belly with Serrano Chili Noodles and Pickled Carrots & Daikon that Gordon said lacked passion and heat.

Shelly Flash was sent packing on Episode 10 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after failing to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich in a team challenge. The 38-year old from Brooklyn failed to lead the Blue Team to victory as they served up New York Strip Steak with Compound Butter, BBQ Beans, Baked Brussels Sprouts and Slaw to a hungry group of cowboys and cowgirls.

See ‘MasterChef’ exclusive clip: Which home cook has health scare in ‘Horse Town U.S.A.’? [Watch]

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 62 said Shelly deserved to go home after landing in the bottom three on two previous occasions. Just 19 of you thought Brandi Mudd should have been chopped instead for crying about her overly sweet beans. Amanda Saab received 19 of the vote as well for inconsistent, chunky coleslaw.

In the episode,...

After landing in the Bottom 3 on two previous occasions, Shelly Flash was eliminated from “MasterChef: Back to Win.” The Brooklyn native was asked to turn in her apron after failing to lead the Blue Team to victory on Wednesday’s team challenge. She captained the group grilling New York Strip Steak with Compound Butter, BBQ Beans, Baked Brussels Sprouts and Slaw in Horsetown U.S.A. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich pointed out her lack of leadership before sending the Season 6 veteran packing. Do you think the 38-year old from New York deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Shelly wasn’t the only chef in the hot seat on Wednesday. Brandi Mudd was an emotional disaster and “all over the place” as she was reduced to tears after sweetening up the beans beyond Gordon’s liking. Amanda Saab was criticized for...

Tommy Walton was sent packing on Episode 9 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after failing to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich in a dessert challenge. The 59-year old from Chicago served up a Lemon Meringue Tart with Pate Sucree Crust that Gordon said “missed the mark.”

See ‘MasterChef’ exclusive clip: Which home cook has health scare in ‘Horse Town U.S.A.’? [Watch]

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 72 said Tommy deserved to go home after his third week in the Bottom 3. Just 14 of you thought Bri Baker should have been chopped instead for her “pale and underbaked” Strawberry Pistachio Tart. Shelly Flash also received 14 of the vote for serving Napoleon with Vanilla Pastry Cream Raspberries and White Chocolate Glaze that looked “a mess.”

In the episode, the 15 remaining chefs were challenged to replicate a delicious dessert.

More than 100 cowboys and cowgirls in Horse Town, U.S.A., gather for the MasterChef rodeo, where the Top 14 chefs divide into two teams to create the best steak and sides. The team that doesn’t live up to the cowboys’ standards faces the possibility of elimination in the all-new “Cooking for Horse Town U.S.A.” episode of “MasterChef” airing Wednesday, Aug. 3 (8:00-9:01 Pm Et/Pt) on Fox. Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich judge the reality TV cooking competition.

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

In the exclusive clip above, Gabriel Lewis is feeling the heat and appears to have a health scare from spending too much time at the grill station. “I’m worried about Gabe,” says his teammate Derrick Fox. “These grills are so hot and when you know you have 45 seconds to step away, step away.” As Gordon grows concerned he asks, “What’s wrong?...

After his third week in the Bottom 3 of “MasterChef: Back to Win,” Tommy Walton was finally asked to turn in his apron. The task of the week was to replicate a delicious dessert, but Tommy’s Lemon Meringue Tart with Pate Sucree Crust was raw and gooey. “You missed the mark,” Gordon Ramsay scoffed before sending the Season 6 veteran packing. Do you think the 59-year old from Chicago deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Tommy wasn’t the only chef under a microscope on Wednesday. Shelly Flash served up a Napoleon with Vanilla Pastry Cream Raspberries and White Chocolate Glaze that Gordon and his fellow judges Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich called “a mess” and “ugly.” Bri Baker was also up for elimination after serving a Strawberry Pistachio Tart. Gordon said, “Visually, I’m in a little bit of a shock. It’s so pale and underbaked.

Shayne Wells was sent packing on Episode 8 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after failing to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich with his Southern fusion dish. The 18-year old from Spring, Texas served up an Ethiopian-inspired Chicken Fried Steak with Turmeric Cabbage & Potatoes, Collard Greens and Pan Gravy. He was told it lacked seasoning, flavor and life experience.

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 52 said Bri Baker should have went home instead. The judges called her Vietnam-infused Grilled Shrimp Summer Roll with Grilled Corn & Bell Pepper Filling, Carrot & Cabbage Slaw and Peanut Butter Gravy “bizarre” and just plain “bad.” Just 28 of you thought the judges got it right when they eliminated Shayne. The remaining 20 thought Bowen Li deserved the boot after serving up Israel-infused Rack of Lamb with Herb Sauce...

Season 12 of “MasterChef” reached an important milestone on July 20, when the All-Star competition revealed the Top 15. For the first time ever, “MasterChef” re-opened its doors to some of the most memorable and talented cooks in the series’ history. Shayne Wells was the most recently eliminated chef. The 18-year old from Spring, Texas was preceded by Stephen Lee, a 54-year old from Palm Springs, Cate Meade, a 30-year old from Chicago, Alejandro Valdivia, a 40-year old from Atlanta and Samantha Daily, a 23-year old from West Des Moines. There are now 15 cooks remaining in the competition to become the next MasterChef.

Read our “MasterChef 12: Back to Win” Top 15 power rankings below (from worst to best) for our thoughts on how each of them could potentially take home the 250,000 grand prize. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite home cooks on Fox’s reality TV...

It has now been five weeks in a row that a semi-finalist from a previous season was sent packing on “MasterChef: Back to Win.” Shayne Wells was instantly concerned when he was tasked with an Ethiopian/Southern cuisine fusion dish and his Chicken Fried Steak with Turmeric Cabbage & Potatoes, Collard Greens and Pan Gravy missed the mark. “It’s so minimalistic,” Gordon Ramsay scoffed before sending the Junior Season 5 veteran packing. Do you think the 18-year old from Spring, Texas deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Shayne wasn’t the only chef under a microscope on Wednesday. Bowen Li served up a Israel-infused Rack of Lamb with Herb Sauce and Pan Fried Grit Cake that Gordon and his fellow judges Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich called “confused fusion” and “badly executed.” Bri Baker was also up for elimination after serving a Vietnam-infused Grilled Shrimp...

Samantha Daily was sent packing on Episode 7 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after failing to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich with her vegan dish. The 23-year old from West Des Moines, Iowa served up a Stuffed Potato Cake with Mushroom Filling and Vegan Sour Cream that was described as “boring” and “minimalistic.”

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be eliminated, 51 agreed it was Samantha’s time to go, but 42 of “MasterChef” fans thought Shelly Flash deserved the boot instead. The judges called Shelly’s Tofu Curry with Vegan Sour Cream and Scratch Made Roti “unfinished” and “bare.” Just 7 felt Fred Chang should have went home for his Tofu Gnudi with Mapo Sauce, Roasted Vegetables and Tofu Crema.

In the episode, Gordon shared his secret love for meatless, dairy-free dishes by demonstrating...

For the fourth week in a row, a semi-finalist from a previous season was sent packing on “MasterChef: Back to Win.” Samantha Daily couldn’t cut the mustard when she served up a “boring” Stuffed Potato Cake with Mushroom Filling and Vegan Sour Cream. “It’s so minimalistic,” Gordon Ramsay scoffed before sending the Season 9 veteran packing. Do you think the 23-year old from West Des Moines, Iowa deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Samantha wasn’t the only chef under a microscope on Wednesday. Shelly Flash served up a Tofu Curry with Vegan Sour Cream and Scratch Made Roti that Gordon and his fellow judges Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich called “bare” and “unfinished.” Fred Chang, who won the immunity pin just two weeks ago, was also up for elimination after serving Tofu Gnudi with Mapo Sauce, Roasted Vegetables and Tofu Crema. Gordon...

Alejandro Valdivia was sent packing on Episode 6 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after failing to lead the Red Team to a win in the first team challenge. The 40-year old from Atlanta was team captain and, aside from his lack of leadership, dropped a steak on the ground and then attempted to serve it. Judges Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich were flabbergasted and eliminated the Season 11 veteran after revealing he is the first contestant they’ve ever seen attempt to serve food that had been dropped on the floor.

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be voted out, Alejandro earned 80 of the vote for his dirt-dusted New York Strip with Sautéed Mushrooms, Charred Broccolini, Roasted Potatoes and Citrus Chimichurri. 13 of our readers thought hot-headed Christian Green, who captained the winning Blue Team should...

For the third week in a row, a semi-finalist from a previous season was sent packing on “MasterChef: Back to Win.” Alejandro Valdivia committed a fatal mistake during the first team challenge of the competition. While making New York Strip with Sautéed Mushrooms, Charred Broccolini, Roasted Potatoes and Citrus Chimichurri to feed the U.S. Coast Guard, the Season 8 veteran was spotted putting steaks on the grill after they fell on the ground. Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich were flabbergasted and sent the 40-year old back to Atlanta. Do you think Alejandro deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

Alejandro wasn’t the only chef under a microscope on Wednesday. Christian Green captained the Blue Team with a less-than-stellar communication strategy that had teammates Derrick (Peltz) Fox and Brandi Mudd fuming. The 36-year old from New Orleans eventually made an announcement that he would calm himself down,...

Cate Meade was sent packing on Episode 5 of “MasterChef: Back to Win” after landing in the bottom three alongside Tommy Walton and Dara Yu. The 30-year old from Chicago failed to put her Stone Fruit Spiced Cake with Bourbon Caramel Sauce and Creme Fraiche Chantilly Cream in the oven on time. It resulted in raw, disassembled bits of dessert strewn across the judges’ plates. Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich eliminated the Season 8 veteran after calling her dish “a disaster.”

See ‘MasterChef’ Season 12: Finalists

In our recent poll, where we asked you to pick which chef-testant you think deserved to be voted out, Tommy earned 68 of the vote for his Sweet Potato Tartelette with Candied Pralines and Scotch-Infused Butterscotch Sauce. It was the second week in a row the 59-year old was in the bottom three. Cate was next with 25 of the vote. Only 7 of you thought Dara...

For the second week in a row, a semi-finalist from a previous season was sent packing on “MasterChef: Back to Win.” Cate Meade was in tears when she failed to put her Stone Fruit Spiced Cake with Bourbon Caramel Sauce and Creme Fraiche Chantilly Cream in the oven on time. It resulted in raw, disassembled bits of dessert strewn across the judges’ plates. Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich eliminated the 30-year old from Chicago after calling her dish “a disaster.” Do you think Cate deserved to get the boot this episode? Vote below in our poll.

See ‘MasterChef’ season 12: Meet the Top 20 home cooks who are ‘back to win’ [Photos]

In addition to Cate, Dara Yu and Tommy Walton landed in the bottom three after the chefs faced their first mystery box challenge of the season. Season 7 winner, Vegas restaurant owner and cocktail connoisseur Shaun O’Neale, returned to...

The participants identify as disabled, from minority ethnic or low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Bafta has selected 20 producers from under-represented backgrounds to receive support and access to networking and career opportunities on its two-year Elevate scheme.

The selected producers include Ameenah Ayub Allen, a 2018 Screen Star of Tomorrow who produced Bafta winner Rocks.

The cohort was selected by a panel of industry experts led by Nahrein Kemp and including Annabel Jones, Cameron Roach, Fozia Khan, and Marcus Ryder.

The producers will be supported by a variety of industry consultants that include Dark Pictures producer and previous Screen star of tomorrow Yaw Basoah.

This...

There are few actors who will ever be a part of something as big as the Harry Potter franchise, let alone be the face of that franchise. But Daniel Radcliffe is one of those actors, as he starred as the iconic wizard until 2011. In the years since, Radcliffe has stayed busy, but largely taking on smaller movies that are remarkably different from what he did in the Wizarding World. His latest movie, Escape from Pretoria, is no exception.

Escape From Pretoria, directed by Francis Annan, tells the true story of Tim Jenkin (Daniel Radcliffe) and Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber), who were white South Africans branded as terrorists and imprisoned in 1978 for working covert operations as part of Nelson Mandela's Anc. Incarcerated in Pretoria Maximum Security Prison, they decide to send the apartheid regime a clear message and escape, which takes breath-taking ingenuity, meticulous surveillance, and, most interestingly, a set...

‘Escape from Pretoria.’

Since the Harry Potter franchise ended in 2011 Daniel Radcliffe has put the wizardry behind him in such movies as The Woman in Black, Now You See Me 2 and Greg McLean’s Jungle.

In the Adelaide-shot thriller Escape from Pretoria, which opened in the Us and UK last weekend, he plays South African freedom fighter and political prisoner Tim Jenkin.

Jenkin and fellow activist Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber) were branded terrorists for their involvement in covert anti-apartheid operations for the African National Congress in 1978.

Incarcerated in Pretoria’s maximum security prison, Jenkin, Lee and fellow inmate Leonard Fontaine (Mark Leonard Winter) escaped after months of meticulous surveillance and ingenuity before authorities were able to strengthen the prison’s security defences.

Ian Hart plays co-conspirator Denis Goldberg with Miss Fisher’s Nathan Page as Mongo, the hot-headed leader of the prison guards.

Momentum Pictures launched the UK-Australian co-production...

The slightly political prison thriller “Escape From Pretoria” works best when onscreen action is focused on Daniel Radcliffe, playing real-life South African political prisoner Tim Jenkin, as he leads a crack team of white prisoners in breaking out of Pretoria Maximum Security Prison.

That’s not really a spoiler, since “Escape From Pretoria” is based on a real-life prison break that led to a decades-long international manhunt. Still, it’s hard to care about what happens to Jenkin and co-conspirators Stephen Lee and Denis Goldberg (Ian Hart), even if you do know how their story will end, and even though “Escape from Pretoria” does feature some well-paced and visually dynamic pre-breakout prep scenes.

Almost everything that’s enjoyable about “Escape From Pretoria” is a variation on stuff you’ve probably seen in superior prison movies, though Radcliffe’s haunted performance is exceptionally compelling. Jenkin and Lee’s politics never make...

Escape from Pretoria is the true story of an apartheid era, South African prison break. The film initially delves into the brutal, racist separation doctrine; then focuses fully on the intricate getaway. It builds tension as the prisoners execute their plan. Several hold your breath moments keep the action flowing at a quick pace. Daniel Radcliffe continues to be daring in his acting choices. He carries Escape from Pretoria with a restrained, but deliberate performance.

In 1978, Tim Jenkin (Daniel Radcliffe) and Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber) were white South Africans who joined the revolutionary African National Congress (Anc). Led by Nelson Mandela, who was already imprisoned on Robben Island, the Anc fought against the brutal apartheid regime of the Afrikaners. Jenkin and Lee were caught planting devices that blew Anc leaflets into the air. They were dubbed "Leaflet Bombers" and sentenced to the political prison for whites in Pretoria.

The Afrikaner guards,...

“You are the white Mandela,” says a ham-faced warden, all but spitting in the face of anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin upon his arrival at Pretoria Local Prison in 1978. It’s not intended as a compliment: “The most deluded of them all,” the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. As clunkily deployed in the script for “Escape from Pretoria,” however, the line acts as a shortcut to nobility, in a tight genre exercise that has scant time for such elaborate niceties as character development and social context. Adapted from Jenkin’s memoir of his time served — and resourcefully cut short — as a South African political prisoner in the country’s darkest days of white supremacy, Francis Annan’s film works effectively as a straight-up jailbreak thriller, well-oiled in greasy B-movie tradition. It’s when it shoots for more historical import that it falls somewhat short.

Jenkin’s book of...

The real-life story of anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin makes for a tough, muscular drama

The rather amazing true story of the white Anc activist Tim Jenkin and his audacious escape from Pretoria Prison in apartheid-era South Africa is told in this capable and well-carpentered movie from British film-maker Francis Annan, adapted from Jenkin’s own book. The film has something pleasingly traditional about it, with tense nailbiting moments, slab-faced guards, and touches of The Great Escape and Papillon.

With long hair and straggly beard, Daniel Radcliffe plays Jenkin and Daniel Webber plays his fellow Anc activist Stephen Lee, imprisoned in 1978 for their “leaflet bombs” – firecracker-type devices left in the street which send blizzards of leaflets flying. Their prison is tough, but as they are white, it is not as tough it might have been. Inside, Jenkin and Lee meet another political prisoner and future escaper: Frenchman Leonard Fontaine (a slightly...

South Africa in the 1970s feels more like an eternity ago, not just 50 years. It was the era of Apartheid, when just 13% of the population ruled the country to the advantage of the whites. The indigenous populations were segregated, law and order maintained with a ferocious brutality coupled with the threat that rebellion wouldn’t change anything and that anybody who resisted the regime would suffer personally. There were, of course, those who wouldn’t give in, and one of them went on to become president in the 1990s. Nelson Mandela.

While he was imprisoned on the all-black Robben Island, activist Tim Jenkin was locked up in the white equivalent, the maximum security Pretoria Prison. The story of how he and two other inmates hatched an ingenious escape plan and fled to freedom was told in Jenkin’s own book and now arrives as Escape From Pretoria, courtesy of British director,...

Ratidzo Mambo.

Last year Ratidzo Mambo figured she wasn’t being offered the type of roles she wanted and so she made a pivotal decision.

The Zimbabwean-born actor and former sales agent and distribution consultant resolved to take her fate into her own hands by becoming a creative producer, developing her own TV and film projects.

“I’ve had to learn how to multi-task because acting jobs are scarce and the types of roles I want to do are seldom offered to me,” Rati tells If via Skype from Bali, where she is finishing the bibles and treatments for a bunch of projects.

“Rather than blame people or live in a space of negativity, I have to take accountability. I have a lot to say and I am a storyteller as well.”

With the help of her Us manager, Fictional Entity’s Krista Carpenter (a former head of development at...

Hamilton Entertainment, BeaglePug, Footprint Films, and Enriched Media Group produce Australia-uk co-pro.

Gary Hamilton’s Arclight Films has struck major new deals on the Daniel Radcliffe true-life prison break thriller Escape From Pretoria led by a sale to Signature in the UK.

Besides the UK, rights have also gone in Latin America (Turner). Additional recent deals include Benelux (Dfw), Scandinavia and Iceland (Mis. Label), Italy (Minerva), Japan (At Entertainment), Poland (Monolith), Portugal (Films4You), Turkey (Sayez Films), and Israel (Shoval).

Arclight previously announced completed deals with: Ksm GmbH for Germany, Top Film for Cis, Inopia Films in Spain, Spentzos for Greece,...

Momentum Pictures plans to “Escape From Pretoria.” It has taken North American distribution rights to the movie, which stars Daniel Radcliffe as a political prisoner attempting to break out from a maximum security South African jail. Gary Hamilton’s Arclight Films did the U.S. deal and is continuing sales efforts at Cannes, with new footage from the film in hand.

Radcliffe appears alongside Australian actor Daniel Webber (“The Dirt”). The pair play freedom fighters Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, who were jailed in 1978 for being involved in covert anti-apartheid operations. Ian Hart (“God’s Own Country”), Mark Leonard Winter (“Cleverman”) and Nathan Page (“Underbelly”) also star.

Based on a true story, the film follows Jenkin and Lee – joined by a fellow inmate – as they decide to escape from prison. After months of planning, and in a race against time as the authorities strengthen the prison’s security, they craft...

The world of filmmaker Stuart Gordon is wide reaching in tone and content; crime thrillers to cosmic horror have filled the screen for decades. And then there’s Dolls (1987), which occupies a special place for lovers of fairy tales with dripping meat on its bones; it’s as weird as you expect it to be, but with a sweet underbelly that refuses to stay down.

Made quickly after Re-Animator (’85) but before From Beyond (’86) to utilize Charles Band’s Italian studios for Empire Pictures, Dolls didn’t see release until release stateside until March of ’87, and quickly came and went with little fanfare. Perhaps folks were still attuned to Gordon’s very specific Lovecraftian vibrations to appreciate something so different at the time. Time has been kind however, and the film is generally regarded now as one of his better efforts from a varied (and storied) filmography.

Our tale goes something...

Arclight Films has come on board true-life prison break thriller Escape From Pretoria, alongside Mep Capital, with assistance from the South Australian Film Corporation (Safc), the trio announced Wednesday.

The U.K.-Australian co-production stars Daniel Radcliffe and Australian actor Daniel Webber as two anti-apartheid activists, Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, who broke out of Pretoria's maximum-security prison in 1978, alongside social campaigner and activist Denis Goldberg, who was a member of the African National Congress’ military wing. British actor Ian Hart, Mark Leonard Winter and Nathan Page have also joined the cast.

British director Francis Annan makes ...

Arclight Films has come on board true-life prison break thriller Escape From Pretoria, alongside Mep Capital, with assistance from the South Australian Film Corporation (Safc), the trio announced Wednesday.

The U.K.-Australian co-production stars Daniel Radcliffe and Australian actor Daniel Webber as two anti-apartheid activists, Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, who broke out of Pretoria's maximum-security prison in 1978, alongside social campaigner and activist Denis Goldberg, who was a member of the African National Congress’ military wing. British actor Ian Hart, Mark Leonard Winter and Nathan Page have also joined the cast.

British director Francis Annan makes ...

‘Escape from Pretoria’. (Photo: Ian Routledge)

Production is underway in South Australia on British director Francis Annan’s feature debut Escape From Pretoria, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Aussie Daniel Webber.

Radcliffe and Webber play real-life political prisoners and freedom fighters Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee; two white South African twenty-somethings who were branded ‘terrorists’ and imprisoned in 1978 for their involvement in covert anti-apartheid operations for the Anc (African National Congress). The cast also includes British actor Ian Hart, Mark Leonard Winter and Nathan Page.

Incarcerated in Pretoria Maximum Security Prison, Jenkin and Lee – joined by a fellow inmate – decide to send the regime a clear message and escape. After months of meticulous surveillance, breath-taking ingenuity, and in a race against time as the authorities strengthen the prison security defenses, the group craft wooden keys for each of the ten steel doors between them and freedom.

The script is based on...