News

Exclusive: The viral hit digital-first series Celebrity Substitute will return for a second season. The renewal follows a successful Season 1 premiere that drew over 100 million cross-platform views in less than six months. Season 2 is currently in production, with a premiere date Tba.

Created by Julian Shapiro-Barnum (Recess Therapy) and Egot-winning Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the show features celebrity guests who “substitute teach” their world-famous skills to public elementary school classes of endearing and hilarious kids.

Produced by Pasek & Paul’s Ampersand, Celebrity Substitute “pairs celebrities with public school students for fun, inspiring lessons—and plenty of surprises. A mix of heart, humor, and viral classroom chaos, Celebrity Substitute celebrates creativity, community, and the power of learning,” according to the official logline. Jake Wilson will return as director of the series in Season 2.

In collaboration with Amazon, the series includes a feel-good twist by fulfilling each teacher’s Wish List...

As one of the biggest contemporary interdisciplinary artists in the world, it's hard to remember a time when Ariana Grande wasn't a household name. In 2024 alone, she released seventh studio album "Eternal Sunshine" to a red hot commercial reception and solid reviews from critics, before turning in an Academy Award-worthy performance in the blockbuster Universal Pictures musical adaptation "Wicked," which is nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Grande's rise in popularity over the past decade has indeed been something to behold, given that she was once one of countless child stars struggling to break into the mainstream entertainment industry. After making her Broadway debut in the musical "13," this lifelong theater kid would find success on the Nickelodeon network before breaking out into a solo recording career that would turn her into a global icon virtually overnight. As we await the release of "Wicked: For Good," we've taken...

One of the coolest, charming and charismatic movie stars around in the '50s and '60s was definitely Paul Newman. The definition of a movie star, Newman could have had any role he wanted back then. An actor known for his versatility, who could be dramatic, hysterical, funny and serious, Newman had it all. He has an impressive run of films in the '60s but probably none more iconic than Cool Hand Luke. The Stuart Rosenberg classic based on the book of the same name is one of those undeniable masterpieces that holds up to this day. Newman leads the way in this equally emotional and humorous tale of a man recently incarcerated after drunkenly vandalizing public property.

Of course, it's not only Newman that allows this film to blossom into the resonant journey that it is. The supporting cast, which includes George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon and Jo Van Fleet...

More than 30 years after Madonna: Truth or Dare, the documentary still has a hold on LGBTQ pop music and cinema.

In Troye Sivan‘s new Grindr campaign Tap or Block, directed by Jake Wilson and produced by Juxtapose Studio’s Charlie Wilson (no relation), the Australian gay pop-star and his Something to Give Each Other Tour dancers discuss hotel sex, open relationships, communication and more as they pay tribute to the 1991 Alek Kesheshian and Mark Aldo Miceli-helmed documentary.

“What was really fun about this idea is it came around really organically,” Charlie Wilson tells Deadline. “Once we had Troye’s interest and Grindr’s interest, it seemed like such a natural segue from really hearing how proud Troye was about this tour and how close his relationship was with these dancers, and thinking about how Grindr is this boundary-pushing, sex-positive brand.”

He credited Tristan Pineiro, Grindr’s SVP Brand Marketing + Comms,...

Tap or block?

That’s the inspiration behind Grindr’s playful new campaign, featuring pop star Troye Sivan alongside dancers from his recent headlining tour.

The Jake Wilson-directed clip was filmed backstage on the last stop of Sivan’s Something to Give Each Other Tour and it co-stars Theo, Simone, Samuel, Ben, Ainsley and Mauro. “The rules are simple,” Sivan states before delivering the brief instructions of the game to the six seated in the room with him. “I’m going to read something out, if you’re into it you say, ‘Tap,’ if you’re not say, ‘Block.'”

Sivan then moderates the discussion as a way to celebrate “the diversity of queer experiences,” per Grindr. The questions are also pretty direct: Hotel sex? Super hairy? Nude next to object? Not showering after the gym? Satin sheets? Open couples? Strict dynamic? “Masc” in bio? Calls you bro or dude?...

Those who can’t do, teach, goes the saying. (Or rather the misquotation of Aristotle.) But does it work the other way? Can some of the most successful people in their field handle a classroom of rowdy school kids? This is the challenge posed to comic effect in the new web series Celebrity Substitute, which launched today on YouTube, as well as other social platforms.

In the first few episodes, We Live in Time co-stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh attempt to teach acting to New York City public elementary school students; Lisa, from K-Pop girl group Blackpink, teaches another class to dance and make a music video; and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles trains yet another to complete a workout routine.

Each 4-8-minute episode is hosted and co-produced by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, who made and stars in the wildly popular web series, and social media juggernaut, Recess Therapy, which features...

Gus Kenworthy has a new man in his life!

The 32-year-old former freestyler skier and Olympic athlete just shared photos from his New Year’s trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and he included a pic with his new boyfriend.

Keep reading to find out more…

It appears that Gus is dating software account executive Tyler Green!

Gus shared a solo photo of Tyler in his slideshow of pics and he appears to be the man that Gus is kissing and holding hands with in the other photos.

Also on the trip were Gus‘ longtime friends Jake Wilson, Constantine Rousouli, and Rob Anderson.

Gus was previously in relationships with actor Matthew Wilkas and sports agent Adam Umhoefer.

Check out the vacation photos in the slideshow embedded below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy)...

This is what finding love at a queer club actually looks like in Vincint’s mind. On Wednesday, the pop artist released the video for his dance-ready banger “Romance” with Rolling Stone — and it’s filled with unapologetic queer joy (and lust).

“I wanted to create the world I see in my head when I go out: A club filled with beautiful men of color freely expressing themselves and not feeling excluded from the narrative,” Vincint tells Rolling Stone. “Mixing that with my love for a good telenovela drama and...

On October 19, 2022, Netflix streamed the feature film “The School for Good and Evil” based on the novel of the same name written by Soman Chainani. The movie’s plot centers around two best friends who attend the titular school but get sent to different sides: Sophie to the Evil side and Agatha to the Good side. The sprawling cast is led by Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie as Sophie and Agatha, respectively, with other A-listers including Laurence Fishburne as the School Master, Michelle Yeoh as Professor Emma Anemone, Kerry Washington as Professor Clarissa Dovey and Charlize Theron as Lady Leonora Lesso.

While critics were mixed on “The School for Good and Evil,” which runs for 147 minutes, audiences ate it up all around the world. In fact, it became the #1 film on Netflix the day after its release. Director/co-screenwriter Paul Feig has hinted that a sequel could even be on the horizon,...

The list of people who love Ariana Grande's new song "7 Rings" is almost as long as one of her receipts. There are dance videos and workout routines inspired by the bop, and on Jan. 28, an American Sign Language version of her extravagant music video dropped.

Late last year, America's Next Top Model winner and activist Nyle Dimarco asked Grande (and music platform Vevo) to add closed captions to her "Thank U, Next" music video for deaf and hard of hearing fans. Grande responded and agreed it was a "dope idea."

Could you ask @Vevo to add captions for 466 million people with hearing loss

(Deaf here and we do enjoy your music)...

Exclusive: Former literary agent Scott Chaloff, most recently of Wme in New York, is joining Seller Suarez Productions as Head of Development for Television and Film.

Chaloff will develop new material for Seller Suarez’s first-look deal at Universal Television and assemble a slate of features.

Seller Suarez was founded in 2016 by Jeffrey Seller, producer of Hamilton and a four-time Tony Award winner, and former NBC exec Flody Suarez, whose producing credits include 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. The company recently produced NBC’s reality-based high school musical series Rise.

Chaloff’s client list at Wme over the past few years included Joshua Harmon, Sarah Burgess, Kenneth Lonergan, Robert Askins, Ruby Rae Spiegel, Penelope Skinner, and Be More Chill creators Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz. He represented writers and directors across theater, TV and film.

“Scott Chaloff has impeccable taste, limitless curiosity, and relationships with some of the best writers working today,...

NBC is developing a comedy series that hails from Sas Goldberg and Jake Wilson, Variety has learned exclusively.

The untitled project is described as an ensemble musical comedy. It follows Sally who, newly jobless and single after a decade working abroad, returns to New York hoping to relive her college glory days with her friends, only to find the realities of adulthood have eclipsed the carefree days of their 20s.

Goldberg and Wilson will write and executive produce, with Flody Suarez and Jeffrey Seller also executive producing via Seller Suarez Productions. Universal Television will produce in association with Seller Suarez, which is under an overall deal at the studio.

Last year, Goldberg and Wilson sold and developed a pilot at Fox with The Lonely Island producing. They also produced a pilot presentation for Bravo with Jax Media that they wrote, starred in, and Wilson directed. In addition, they have sold...

Cher‘s video for her cover of Abba’s “Sos” pays homage to the Swedish pop group’s original with a star-studded cast. The pop diva’s Abba tribute album Dancing Queen will be released on September 28th.

Jake Wilson (Hayley Kiyoko, Dua Lipa) helmed the gorgeous video, which uses similar dramatic techniques and stylistic tones to what was featured in the original 1975 video. This time, a young, Cher-less, all-female cast is at the forefront. Rumer Willis, Betty Who, Transparent star Trace Lysette, comedian Sabrina Jalees and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend actress...

If you liked Ariana Grande and Troye Sivan's "Dance to This" music video, you're going to love this adorable remake. On Tuesday, Jake Wilson and Matthew Tompkins debuted a kid version of the video starring Grande and Sivan mini-me's. Wilson directed the video while Tompkins did the cinematography. From the fashion to the dance moves, the young stars nailed several aspects of the music video. It looks like Sivan and Grande are fans of their work, too. "Im Literally Screeching," the "My My My!" singer tweeted along with the video. Grande also described the remake as "the most precious." Ready for cuteness overload? Check out the video. Grande and...

'Spider-Man: Homecoming.'.

Sony.s $US175 million bet on rebooting the flagging Spider-Man franchise looks like paying off as Spider-Man: Homecoming smashed opening records for the series in 56 international markets last weekend, including Australia.

The action-adventure starring 20-year-old Tom Holland as Peter Parker, alongside Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans, rang up $10.1 million on 285 locations for a whopping screen average of $36,000.

That obliterates the $5.3 million debut of The Amazing Spider Man 2: Rise of Electro in 2014, which finished up earning just $16 million.

Just the second feature directed by Jon Watts, who made his debut with the obscure 2015 thriller Cop Car, the Marvel Studios/Pascal Pictures production raked in an estimated $116 million in the Us, the studio.s second biggest opening behind Spider-Man 3.s $151.1 million in 2007, and $140 million on 23,400 screens internationally.

In Oz the top 20 titles. receipts shot up by 58 per cent to $22.5 million, according to Numero, thanks to Spidey,...

The future of film criticism in Australia is under a cloud, with the number of full-time salaried critics in the country down to a handful — by some estimates, just two people — in the face of a perfect storm of technological disruption, cratering freelance rates and arts funding cuts.

Coverage of the arts, already a marginal element of the news media, is particularly sensitive to the commercial pressures affecting journalism as a whole.

The last two salaried, fulltime film reviewers standing are believed to be Jason Di Rosso at the ABC and Leigh Paatsch at the Herald Sun, whose writing is syndicated across the News Ltd network.

Local magazine-turned-website FilmInk employs three critics, although they combine the role with other editorial or publishing tasks.

The rest of Australia.s film reviewing comes from a patchwork of freelancers and contributors, who are sometimes paid very little or asked to work for free.

Jake Wilson Feb 28, 2017

From The Big Hit to Patriots Day, we explore Mark Wahlberg's dozen films where he holds a gun on the promo poster....

Mark Wahlberg is a man of many talents. His rhymes are fresh, his frown is legendary, and it turns out he’s pretty decent in a bout of fisticuffs.

See related David Fincher's unfinished projects Looking back at David Fincher's Alien 3 House Of Cards season 5: everything we know so far

And then there's his acting. He has been in a wealth of films, usually fighting for, or alongside, the American flag. He's a gun-toting ass-kicker, and the world seems to dig it.

This is his game, his brand. Wahlberg moves between moral, no-nonsense cop and powerful, maverick law breaker and whilst he doesn’t always play armed characters, it is through these films that we can see the strands that...

NBC is looking for another family comedy. The network has picked up a script called Us & Him, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Written by Jake Wilson and Sas Goldberg, the comedy is based on their lives and centers on two co-dependent best friends who must come to terms with change brought on by marriage and family starting to get in the way of their relationship. Wilson and Goldberg will pen the script and executive produce the Sony Pictures Television comedy. Will Gluck and Richie Schwartz will exec produce via their studio-based Olive Bridge Entertainment banner. { "nid":

read more...

These "sad studs" definitely have some bad blood with the Fda!  Comedians Jake Wilson and Jeffery Self took it upon themselves to put a fresh spin on Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar's pop hit "Bad Blood," all while calling out a very important inequality facing the gay community. The "Sad Studs" parody takes aim at the Fda policy that prohibits gay and bisexual men from donating blood unless they've been abstinent for at least a year, a restriction proving extremely problematic to those who want to contribute to such a life saving cause.  In the video, which is equally hilarious as it is a vital conversation starter, a group of sexy studs (just like Taylor's badass girl...

Rockwell Table and Stage, L.A.'s premier spot for extraordinary entertainment and dining is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Rumer Willis starring in Los Feliz, 90027, featuring a special appearance by Perez Hilton, with musical direction by Brian P. Kennedy and Richie Garcia and written amp directed by Jake Wilson 'You Must be Joking,' 'Battery's Down'. Los Feliz, 90027 will perform tonight, October 9 amp Sunday, October 12 at 8pm and will continue with new 'episodes' twice a month through Sunday, February 15 at Rockwell Table and Stage, 1714 N. Vermont in Los Feliz.

Hollywood Film Festival executive director Jon Fitzgerald announced the strand that rounds out the programme as the festival’s October 16-19 dates draw closer.

Celebrate Hollywood recognises “films shot in Hollywood, or which reference show business.”

The seven titles are: Becoming Bulletproof by Michael Barnett (Us Premiere); Alex Of Venice (pictured) by Chris Messina; Sister by David Lascher; The Dramatics (A Comedy) by Scott Rodgers; The Toy Soldiers by Erik Peter Carlson; Time Lapse by Bradley King and B P Cooper; and You Must Be Joking by Jake Wilson.

Hff will also pay tribute to a filmmaker in the CineCause Spotlight category “who successfully demonstrates the power of film to create change.”

“Celebrate Hollywood provides opportunity to pay homage to the motion picture capital and its impact on entertainment,” said Fitzgerald. “As the festival grows and becomes more relevant in the community, and as incentives continue to be given for filmmaking in Hollywood, we expect...

Rockwell Table and Stage, L.A.'s premier spot for extraordinary entertainment and dining is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Rumer Willis starring in Los Feliz, 90027, featuring a special appearance by Perez Hilton, with musical direction by Brian P. Kennedy and Richie Garcia and written amp directed by Jake Wilson You Must be Joking, Battery's Down. Los Feliz, 90027 will perform on Thursday, October 9 amp Sunday, October 12 at 8pm and will continue with new episodes twice a month through Sunday, February 15 at Rockwell Table and Stage, 1714 N. Vermont in Los Feliz.

Jon Fitzgerald and his team at the reboot Hollywood Film Festival with its emphasis on socially conscious films have unveiled the line-up of features by first-time directors.

The roster includes the world premiere of Pancakes by Yasu Shibuya, the previously announced world premiere of My Name Is Water by Justin Arana and the Us premiere of

Also set to screen in Horizons are: Shawn Christensen’s Before I Disappear; Andy Landen’s Sequoia Sister by David Lascher; Time Lapse by B.P. Cooper and Bradley King and Alex Of Venice (pictured) by Chris Messina; The Dramatics by Scott Rodgers; and You Must Be Joking by Jake Wilson.

“New talent continues to be the lifeblood of Hollywood,” said Fitzgerald. “Horizons is a natural fit in providing a platform for emerging directors to be on the industry’s radar.”

The Hollywood Film Festival will run from October 16-19. To see the full line-up visit the official website.

Last June, comedian Tracy Morgan took a lot of heat for the stand-up routine that he performed in Nashville, in which he went into a homophobic rant. Morgan will return to television this week when 30 Rock makes its season six premiere, and agroup of Broadway veterans, including Donna Vivino, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Jake Wilson, and more have an idea for how the issue can be resolved. Check out the latest video from The Battery's Down, titled The Tracy Dilemma' by clicking below...

Fred Schepisi’s Eye of the Storm, starring Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis and Charlotte Rampling has won The Age‘s Critic’s award at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

The film is an adaptation of a novel by Patrick White and Schepisi’s first Australian film since Evil Angels in 1988.

The award is new this year, sponsored by The Age and judged by the newspaper’s film critics: Philippa Hawker, Jim Schembri, Jake Wilson and Tom Ryan.

Gina McColl, Arts Editor of The Age said The Eye Of The Storm was selected for “Schepisi’s artful direction, the rich performances in major and minor roles, the thoughtful engagement with an Australian literary classic, and the vivid, witty depiction of the bonds of family and of the life of a culture in the process of transformation.”

In the running for the award was eight Australian films from the features program; The Eye of the Storm,...

HollywoodNews.com: The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) tonight announced the winners of the 2011 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, videogame, and new media writing at simultaneous ceremonies at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel-Grand Ballroom in Los Angeles and the Axa Equitable Center in New York City.

Screen Winners

Original Screenplay

Inception, Written by Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros.

Adapted Screenplay

The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich; Sony Pictures

Documentary Screenplay

Inside Job, Written by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Sony Pictures Classic

Television Winners

Drama Series

Mad Men, Written by Jonathan Abrahams, Lisa Albert, Keith Huff, Jonathan Igla,Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Brett Johnson, Janet Leahy, Erin Levy,

Tracy McMillan, Dahvi Waller, Matthew Weiner; AMC

Comedy Series

Modern Family, Written by Jerry Collins,...

Jonah Ray has a new web show, and he gets to blow things up! The bespectacled comedian has found a home for Joe Genius, his new science series where he “proves how exciting, hilarious, and sometime dangerous, homegrown science can be.” Dedicated Tubefilter readers may remember his early-2009 show Jonah Ray’s BarBeQuay on maniaTV. [Revision3] The Battery’s Down, the web’s Glee-ful musical comedy full of cheery young Broadways actors, may be on an indefinite hiatus, but that isn’t stopping the New York crew from having a Season 2 CD release party. The free event hosted by Sh-k-Boom/Ghostlight Records is this Sunday, July 18th at 8:30pm at Hurley’s (232 West 48th St. at 8th Avenue) featuring live performances by Jenna Coker Jones, John Hill, David Hull, Marla Mindelle, Dani Spieler, Nina Sturtz, Alysha Umphress and Jake Wilson. [The Battery's Down] Related News:Quick Clicks: ‘Obamourage’, ‘$5 Cover’, ITVFest, ‘Blue Movies’, ‘Playing Dead...

The Battery’s Down is kind of like the Glee of web series. Today the New York-based musical comedy series created by Jake Wilson announced the release of The Battery’s Down: Season 2 Soundtrack on Ghostlight Records. The 21-song album is now available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and the Ghostlight website, featuring the works of recent Pulitzer Prize-winning Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, along with Michael Arden, Nick Blaemire, Eric Day, Ryann Ferguson, Connor Gallagher, John Hill, Lance Horne, Kirsten Guenther, Steven Jamai and many more. [Ghostlight Records] The Guild announced that their much rumored Season 4 is now officially picked up by lead sponsor Microsoft. Creator-star Felicia Day is “putting the finishing touches on the script” for the new season, according to their announcement, which will pick up where Season 3 left off. “Pre-production is underway, keeping producer Kim Evey and Streamy Award winning director Sean Becker very busy as cameras are...

For Your Consideration - The Battery's Down, the musical theater loving web series from New York-based creator Jake Wilson put out today what appears to be the first ever musical For Your Consideration video for The Streamy Awards (above). The riff on "All I Want For Christmas" stars former Wicked star Shoshana Bean and doubles as the show's holiday release. Wilson and co. have officially raised the bar for Fyi campaigns this year. [YouTube] TheStream.tv raised over $7300 in 24hrs for a charity—The Pablove Foundation—that helps kids with cancer this past weekend during their live on-air #streamathon. Now that's making good use of live web shows! [theStream.tv] Dinosaur Diorama made a holiday video of their own, a "special extra-funny" episode of their Greg & Donny series—"Gregeneezer and the Three Monsters" (below). Will Gregeneezer avoid the fate of his old partner, Jacob Donny? [Dinosaur Diorama] Rodrigo Blaas, a Pixar Studios animator, released his first ever independent short film,...

Rosie would be proud. Jake Wilson and his post grad colleagues from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor have belted out two seasons of clever story telling with exceptional musical numbers that tap dance straight into the heart of theater lovers. The Battery’s Down, an original online comedy series created by Wilson, has managed to come out on top with its impressive cameo collection and choreography. The show introduces amateur actor, Jake Wilson, living in New York City, doing whatever it takes to land a gig on Broadway. Like so many other web series, the show is shot like The Office, with a hybrid blend of improvisation and scripted content that serves as a backdrop for the musical showcase. Think Joss Whedon’s “Once More with Feeling” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer but without the vampires or demons (and without Whedon’s genius dialogue). In this coming of age tale, the...

The hit online television series, The Battery's Down, will premiere Episode 11, "Bad Bad News," on Friday, May 1 at Midnight on YouTube and their official website. The show is filmed in a style similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm and chronicles the life of young actor Jake Wilson in New York City. Each twenty-minute, two-part episode will premiere at Midnight on the first of every month and feature a slew of Broadway guest stars.