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Chris Farley was only 33 years old when he died of an overdose on December 18, 1997, and it all felt horribly inevitable. He'd been in and out of rehab so many times that being an incorrigible addict had become part of his comedic persona. When he returned in the fall of 1997 to host "Saturday Night Live," the series that launched him as a comedic dynamo earlier in the decade, the entire cold open made a joke out of his ability to do the show. At the time, I couldn't believe what I was watching. He was clearly unhealthy and sounded like he'd been gargling razor blades, as though his body itself was trying to reject him.

If you know Farley's story, you're aware that the people in his orbit did everything they could to get him sober. Alas, he kept finding his way back to the party.

Jonathan Joss, the actor best known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill, is dead at 59. He was reportedly shot and killed by a neighbour after a “heated argument.” The suspect, 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, fled the scene but has since been apprehended and charged with murder.

According to a report from the San Antonio Police Department, Joss was found near the roadway of the location. The officers attempted life-saving measures until Ems arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is still ongoing. In a statement on Joss’ Facebook page, his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales said that Joss was “murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.“

From 1997 to 2009, Joss provided the voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill, taking over the role after the passing of original voice actor Victor Aaron, who tragically...

Actor Jonathan Joss, who starred on King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation, has died. Joss was shot during a dispute with a neighbor on Saturday. Variety reports that the shooter was booked for murder and that the investigation is still ongoing. Joss was 59. Born in San Antonio, Texas, on December 22, 1965, Joss was of Comanche and White Mountain Apache ancestry. He made his screen debut in the 1994 Luke Perry rodeo-riding drama 8 Seconds, and appeared in several episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger before being cast as John Redcorn on the popular Fox animated series King of the Hill.

Redcorn, the lover of Nancy Gribble and the secret father of her and Dale Gribble's son Joseph, was originally voiced by actor Victor Aaron, who died in a car accident after the show's first season. Joss would voice the fan-favorite character for the rest of the show's run, from the second...

Jonathan Joss, known for his voice role as John Redcorn in the hit animated series King of the Hill, has died after being shot by a neighbor. He was 59 years old.

Per TMZ, San Antonio Police Dept. officers say Joss had gotten into a "heated argument" with a neighbor near his home in San Antonio, Texas. It's not clear at this time what the argument was about, but cops say the neighbor pulled out a gun and shot Joss "several" times before leaving the scene in a vehicle. Responding paramedics tried to save Joss, but he was pronounced dead.

The suspect has since been identified by police as Sigfredo Alvarez-Cega. He was apprehended about a block away from where the incident occurred, and cops officially charged him with murder. His bond has been set at $200K. Investigators are now working to uncover more information about the argument by speaking with witnesses.

Actor Matthew Perry is well-known for starring in many iconic TV shows and movies, but he once became a part of a video game project, his first and last. Not many people know that Perry was a huge fan of the Fallout franchise, so obviously, it was a dream come true for him when he got a voice role in 2010’s Fallout: New Vegas. What’s crazy is that Bethesda and Obsidian believed that he deserved the role because he was obsessed with Fallout 3.

Perry became a household name after he appeared as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994-2004). The actor has earned and been nominated for various prestigious awards for his iconic roles, making him one of the best actors of the 2000s.

Matthew Perry was so obsessed with Fallout 3 that he had to visit a doctor

In April 2009, actor Matthew Perry appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show...

Here’s how Matthew Perry lost his short middle finger (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Matthew Perry, best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on Friends, has a quirky detail about his past that even some of his biggest fans might have missed—he’s missing part of his middle finger. This wasn’t some weird Hollywood plastic surgery move, though. Nope, Perry’s missing fingertip is the result of a childhood accident that left his finger lacerated after getting it caught in a car door. Ouch, right?

It wasn’t long before eagle-eyed Friends fans noticed Perry’s finger seemed a little… off. Sure, Chandler Bing lost a toe tip due to a Thanksgiving mishap involving a dropped knife (a totally Chandler thing to happen), but Perry’s real-life finger loss was a much more innocent—if painful—event. It all started when Perry was just three years old.

Quick Links Farley Plays a Ruffian to Perry's Aristocrat What Do Audiences Have to Say About Almost Heroes? Almost Heroes Is a Lighthearted Comedy Two comedic legends race against Lewis and Clark in the oddball 1998 comedy Almost Heroes. Chris Farley's boisterous ruffian character clashes hilariously with Matthew Perry's aristocrat role. Despite mixed reviews, the lighthearted romp is enjoyed by audiences and showcases Farley's comedic talent.

Two comedic geniuses up against two of America's greatest pioneers. An upstanding aristocrat and a filthy wild man toe to toe with a military captain and his second lieutenant. The always-remembered funnyman combination of Chris Farley and Matthew Perry race against the clock to make it to the Pacific Ocean before Lewis and Clark. In all regards, the premise does sound odd on paper, but such a plot did come to be in director Christopher Guest's 1998 Western comedy called Almost Heroes. Since...

Lisa Barbuscia, also known as Lisa B, excelled in the modeling world before transitioning into acting and music, gaining recognition in the entertainment industry. Despite her brief acting career, Barbuscia made a lasting impact with her role as Lara in Bridget Jones's Diary and other notable film appearances. After leaving acting in 2010, Barbuscia prioritized her family life and privacy over continuing in the demanding world of entertainment, finding contentment away from the limelight.

Lisa Barbuscia, also known by her stage name Lisa B, is a multifaceted talent known for her work as a model, singer, and actress, but she's best known for playing Lara in Bridget Jones's Diary. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Barbuscia's striking looks and versatile abilities led her to a successful modeling career in the early '90s. Her unique blend of Italian and Puerto Rican heritage set her apart in the modeling world, allowing her to...

New Line Cinema proved to be more highly motivated than the rest of its competition in landing the forthcoming Chris Farley biopic that is set to star Paul Walter Hauser as the late comedy legend.

The company has landed director Josh Gad’s film following a highly competitive situation. Hauser, a recent Emmy winner for his work in Apple TV+’s Black Bird, will star as Farley, the Saturday Night Live standout and star of such films as Tommy Boy who died of a drug overdose in 1997 at age 33.

Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (The Disaster Artist, Daisy Jones & The Six) are writing the screenplay based on Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby’s best-selling biography, The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts. The project has the blessing of the Farley family, with SNL creator Lorne Michaels and Erin David serving as producers for Broadway Video.

Farley...

Paul Walter Hauser will play comedian Chris Farley in a so-far untitled biopic. Here’s what we know at present:

A biopic based on the biography The Chris Farley Show: A Biography In Three Acts by the late comedian’s brother Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colb is in the works.

With full endorsement from Farley’s family, Richard Jewell star Paul Walter Hauser will play him in the film. It will be the directorial debut of Frozen star Josh Gad, with Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber writing the screenplay according to Deadline. They previously adapted the surreal true story of Tommy Wiseau’s experience making cult film The Room into 2017 film The Disaster Artist.

A feature film examining the origins of Saturday Night Live is also in production. Jason Reitman is directIng SNL 1975 from a script he wrote with Gil Keenan. It will star Gabriel Labelle as series creator Lorne Michaels,...

Legendary comedy Chris Farley will have his life story told in an upcoming biopic. It's also been revealed who will be portraying the one-of-a-kind entertainer, which is sure to be a challenge for any actor to take on.

Per Deadline, it's been reported that Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai) is attached to star in a biopic for Farley. Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the film is dubbed The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts. Josh Gad is also on board to direct, while Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels will be producing via his Broadway Video banner. The project is currently getting shopped and doesn't yet have a distributor.

Related Jack Whitehall & Paul Walter Hauser Embrace Slapstick in The Afterparty Season 2 Jack Whitehall and Paul Walter Hauser discuss their roles and fusing slapstick surprises with murder mystery mayhem in The Afterparty.

The biopic will be...

While not every film fan loves Westerns, they undoubtedly feature some of the most iconic movies ever made, such as A Fistful of Dollars, The Magnificent Seven, and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. With modern Westerns continuing to surprise audiences today, a streaming service filled with the genre is perfect for any Western fan.

Over the years, hundreds of Westerns have been produced, with some receiving critical acclaim and others disappearing without leaving a mark on the genre. Nonetheless, you won't know if a Western is good or bad until you watch it. However, if you're unsure where to begin, Tubi is a great place to start, as it offers a plethora of Westerns every month with an ad-supported option. With that in mind, here is the list of every new Western you can watch on Tubi in April 2024.

8 Seconds (1994) Streaming Apr. 1

A good family Western that...

It can be hard to wrap your head around how fast time moves, but somehow Chris Farley left this earth over a quarter of a century ago. On December 18, 1997, the comedic genius passed away at only 32 years old. He left fans heartbroken and wondering how his acting career would have gone. He'd already been cast as the lead in Shrek and seemed destined to become an ever bigger star than he already was. While he will most be remembered for his physical antics on Saturday Night Live and his role in Tommy Boy with David Spade, he left behind other notable works as well, some better than others. One of his final films, which came out months after his death, was a strange Western comedy called Almost Heroes which also starred Friends actor, Matthew Perry, who passed away on October 28, 2023,...

Friends star Matthew Perry died from “acute effects of ketamine,” the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said today. The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine — a drug used to treat opioid use disorder — as contributing to his death.

Ketamine is a drug used recreationally that dulls pain, causes forgetfulness, intoxication, disassociation and euphoria. It is also increasingly used under medical supervision to treat depression.

The manner of death was ruled an accident. Perry died October 28 at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. He was 54.

Friends ran from 1994-2004, co-starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow. Perry played Chandler Bing on the Manhattan-set sitcom, which was one of the most-watched shows on U.S. primetime.

Related: Matt LeBlanc Pays Tribute To Late Co-Star Matthew Perry: “It Is With A Heavy Heart I...

VH1 is planning to honor the life and legacy of Matthew Perry, who died Oct. 28 at age 54, with an exclusive Entertainment Tonight news special.

VH1 & Et Present Matthew Perry: Life and Legacy is set to air Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Et/Pt on VH1, and encore Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. Et/Pt.

The tribute special will feature archival footage and never-before-seen interviews of Perry at various stages of his life, reflecting on his career. The special will cull from set visits by Entertainment Tonight, which was on the set of all of Perry’s projects, and will share stories about his best moments playing Chandler Bing on Friends.

It also will recount some “definitive moments in his life,” including his friendship with his co-stars and his work helping others struggling with addiction, and feature new interviews with his former co-stars and the close friends he spent his final days with.

With the tragic news that Friends star Matthew Perry passed away last week, we wanted to honor the sitcom legend by asking what movie of his was your favorite?

Favorite Matthew Perry MovieA Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988)She's Out of Control (1989)Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)Getting In (1994)Fools Rush In (1997)Almost Heroes (1998)Three To Tango (1999)The Whole Nine Yards (2000)Serving Sara (2002)The Whole Ten Yards (2004)Numb (2007)Birds of America (2008)17 Again (2009)Submit Vote HereView Results Here

The post Poll: Favorite Matthew Perry Movie appeared first on JoBlo.

Matthew Perry entered his first rehab in 1997, back when the internet was a novelty and phones plugged into a wall. Friends was the king of prime time and Perry its court jester, a floppy-haired virtuoso of sarcasm and comic timing, but his 28-day stint in Hazelden for Vicodin, splashed across gossip rags, told a darker tale, one that would outlast his TV show’s long run. He went back to rehab in 2001 (booze) and then 2003 (Vicodin). In 2011, when he announced that, yes, Matthew Perry was checking in to rehab again,...

Nick at Nite, which airs Friends in syndication, said Sunday that it will be airing a tribute to Matthew Perry, who died Saturday at age 54.

The special, titled Matthew Perry: Thanks for Being a Friend, will air at 10 p.m. Et/Pt on Sunday, followed by “fan favorite” episodes of Friends featuring Perry.

The special will include “never-before-seen interviews with Perry, behind-the-scenes moments from the set … and stories about Perry’s best moments as Chandler Bing.”

Nick at Nite said that episodes of Friends will continue to air all this week through Sunday, Nov. 5, beginning at 10 p.m.

Perry was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home around 4 p.m. Saturday, law enforcement sources told The Los Angeles Times.

On Sunday, the coroner’s office updated its case online, saying that the cause of death had been “deferred.” That typically means that an autopsy has been completed,...

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office on Sunday released its first report on Matthew Perry, who died Saturday at age 54.

Perry was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home around 4 p.m. Saturday, law enforcement sources told The Los Angeles Times.

On Sunday, the coroner’s office updated its case online, saying that the cause of death had been “deferred.” That typically means an autopsy has been completed but the examiner needs more time and additional investigation into the death.

“Deferred means that after an autopsy, a cause of death has not been determined and the medical examiner is requesting more investigation into the death, including additional studies,” a spokesperson for the department previously explained, when the coroner deferred the case of death for Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January. “Once the tests/studies come back, the doctor evaluates the case again and...

We are still awaiting a cause of death for Matthew Perry. An autopsy has been completed on the Friends‘ actor, but it is inconclusive pending toxicology tests, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Perry, one of the stars of the long-running television hit Friends, died Oct. 28 from an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in the Pacific Palisades. He was 54.

Friends ran from 1994 to 2004, co-starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow. Perry played Chandler Bing on the show, which was one of the most-watched shows on U.S. primetime.

Perry had a well-documented history of abusing alcohol and prescription drugs, but it has been reported that no illicit drugs were found at the scene and foul play is not suspected. He detailed that struggle in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,...

Matthew Perry, who became hugely famous thanks to his role on iconic TV sitcom Friends, has died at the age of 54. He was reportedly found in a jacuzzi at this home, but the investigation is ongoing. He'll be remembered primarily for his work on the comedy series, but enjoyed a long career on screens big and small. Matthew Langford Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on August 19th, 1969. He was raised Ottawa, Canada, where he attended elementary school alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, was a journalist and press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin's father, while his father, John Bennett Perry, was an actor and model.

Perry made his television debut in 1979 on an episode of 240-Robert (which starred his father). After moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting, he would go on to book roles in shows like Not Necessarily The News, Charles In Charge,...

When news broke that "Friends" star and television icon Matthew Perry reportedly died at the age of 54 on Saturday, October 28, 2023, it was difficult for fans the world over to truly believe it. Of course, fans also know that the Chandler actor had publicly struggled with sobriety throughout his life. In recent years he'd made plenty of headlines for the startling revelations from the frontlines of that battle — many of which he'd written about in his 2022 memoir.

One such revelation is that, medically speaking, Perry had actually been dead once before — and that the actor made a huge career decision when he came back to life five minutes later. Not only that, but he credited "Friends" (and the intervention of a large man from Switzerland) with his successful resurrection.

Read more: Matthew Perry, Who Starred In Friends As Chandler Bing, Has Died At 54

A Shot At Silver Screen Redemption...

As Matthew Perry explained in his memoir,...

Tragic news out of Hollywood this evening as Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, has died.

He was 54.

According to TMZ, the beloved actor was found Saturday at an L.A.- area home. "We're told he appears to have drowned," the outlet says of the apparent cause of death.

"Our sources say first responders rushed over on a call for cardiac arrest," TMZ adds. "It's unclear where exactly on the grounds this happened."

The source added that Perry was found in a jacuzzi at the premises. "We're told there were no drugs found at the scene."

"We're also told there is no foul play involved," the outlet says.

Perry shot to fame for his portrayal of Chandler on the NBC comedy series Friends.

Premiering in the '90s, the blockbuster series made stars out of him and co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer,...

Matthew Perry, the legendary sitcom star best known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” has died at 54, the Los Angeles Times reports. The actor was reportedly found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in what is believed to be a drowning incident. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death, but no foul play is currently suspected.

Born in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1969, Perry moved to Los Angeles at the age of 15 to pursue a career in acting. He quickly rose to international stardom for “Friends,” which ran for 10 seasons on NBC between 1994 and 2004. The role earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2002, and the show continues to be remembered for having one of the great ensemble casts in sitcom history.

Following his success on “Friends,” Perry remained a fixture on America’s television screens for the remainder of his life.

Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, has died. He was 54.

The actor was found unconscious late this afternoon at his L.A. home by first responders who were unable to revive him, law enforcement sources told Deadline.

Perry’s death is considered an ongoing investigation, we hear.

Throughout his career, Perry struggled with addiction, which he detailed in his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” published last year.

“I really lived life to its fullest and that got me in trouble from time to time,” he said in a US Weekly interview several years ago.

Perry made his television debut in 1979 on an episode of 240-Robert. He would go on to book roles in shows like Not Necessarily the News (1983), Charles in Charge (1985), Silver Spoons (1986), Just the Ten of Us (1988) and Highway to Heaven (1988). Perry would be a series regular on Boys Will be Boys...

Actor Matthew Perry, known for his role in Friends, has died at the age of 54, possibly due to drowning in a Jacuzzi. No drugs were found at the scene, and law enforcement believes there was no foul play involved in Perry's death. Perry, who recently published a memoir about his struggle with substance use disorder, had turned 54 in August.

There is more sad news today as we learn that actor Matthew Perry has died at the age of 54 after an apparent drowning incident, though reports are still coming in. A cardiac arrest call came in, and law enforcement officers found Perry was found dead at an L.A. home. According to People, "[TMZ] reported that Perry was found in a Jacuzzi at the home, and no drugs were found at the scene. TMZ was also told that there was no foul play involved, and their sources said first-responders were called...

Seasons three through six of Friends had some of Chandler Bing’s funniest and most character-defining moments. There he is handcuffed, without pants, to a filing cabinet; remaining in “time out” in a box for nearly a full episode; hooking up with—and later marrying—Monica…We all remember them fondly. The one who doesn’t? Matthew Perry, who says these seasons were a blur due to his problems with substance abuse.

Wtf Happened to…Matthew Perry?

But to truly understand what the fuck happened to Matthew Perry, we go back to the beginning. And the beginning began when he was born on August 19th in Williamstown, Ma, the son of two prominent people: actor John Bennett Perry and mother Suzanne, who later served as press secretary to Canadian Pm Pierre Trudeau.

Perry developed an interest in acting after he served it up on the tennis court as a youth,...

While Agnès Varda explored her own work throughout her career, including in The Beaches of Agnès, her TV series From Here to There, and her final film Varda by Agnès, a new documentary has been announced that will take a look at the late, legendary Belgian-born French director’s massive contributions to the art of cinema.

Variety reports Mk2 Films, Cinétévé Sales, and Varda’s own Ciné-Tamaris have backed Viva Varda!, which will feature never-before-seen archival footage along with interviews from directors, including Atom Egoyan and Audrey Diwan. Helmed by Pierre-Henri Gibert, the film features interviews with friends, family, and collaborators, including Varda’s children, Rosalie Varda and Mathieu Demy, along with Sandrine Bonnaire, Patricia Mazuy, and Jonathan Romney. With a French Cinémathèque retrospctive also taking place the fall, here’s hoping the documentary will debut for the occasion.

“With the upcoming homage at the French Cinémathèque, I felt like...

Turin’s Talents and Short Film Market held the inaugural edition of training and pitching program A Long Way Home this week, showcasing five feature-length projects based on or inspired by a previously released short movie. The program wrapped on Wednesday, with the TorinoFilmLab Award going to “Inbetween Worlds,” directed by Diana Cam Van Nguyen. The Experience Sardinia Award, in collaboration with Sardinia Film Commission Foundation, was won by “A Touch of Harmony,” directed by Céline Gailleurd and Olivier Bohler.

Talent development programs manager Massimiliano Nardulli told Variety the initiative was an “evolution” of a previous industry event called Oltrecorto. “We wished to include a training opportunity, […] and help the projects so that they are here in their best shape before the pitching session,” he said.

“[A Long Way Home is a place] where someone who has a project can meet one mentor, who helps them along the way, and a creative producer who can give advice and guidance […] For us,...

David Spade revealed in a recent profile in Esquire magazine that his longtime collaborator Chris Farley expressed interest in reuniting for a third feature film together about two months before his death. Toward the end of their runs on “Saturday Night Live,” the two comedians joined forced to headline the 1995 buddy comedy “Tommy Boy.” Although the film was not a box office hit (it grossed only 32 million worldwide), it became a bonafide cult classic thanks to its home video release. Spade and Farley quickly reunited a year later for “Black Sheep.”

“Two years after ‘Tommy Boy’ came out, they told us it made 100 million on video. We couldn’t believe it,” Spade said. “It really grew over time. We talked about doing another one, but Farley wanted to do more drama, so I said, ‘Go do that.’ I ran into him two months before [he died] and he was like, ‘Everyone always...

Superstore actor Lauren Ash is staying in business with NBCUniversal after signing an overall deal that includes a commitment for her to write her own comedy pilot.

Ash has struck the cross-platform deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming to develop projects for NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock. The pilot commitment comes from Universal Television.

It is the studio’s latest cross-platform overall deal after a similar agreement with Meghan Trainor, who is also developing a comedy for NBC.

Ash just wrapped NBC comedy Superstore, which ended its six-season run in March. She starred opposite America Ferrera and Ben Feldman as Amy Sosa’s best friend and ambitious Cloud 9 manager Dina in the Justin Spitzer-created series.

“I could not be more excited that I get to stay within the NBCU family as I embark on the next chapter of my career,” Ash said. “NBCU...

Chris Farley's name is trending on social media as fans pay tribute to the late comedian on the 23rd anniversary of his passing. A one-of-a-kind performer, Farley was one of the biggest stars of the 1990s, starring on Saturday Night Live for several years and appearing in many popular comedy movies. He was just 33 years old when he passed away in 1997, and 23 years later, the legendary funnyman is still being celebrated by fans across the world.

"It's really been 23 years today since the man, the legend, Chris Farley died?" says a fan on Twitter. "I am 1000% going to watch Almost Heroes sometime later today. It's my all time favorite Farley movie."

It’s really been 23 years today since the man, the legend, Chris Farley died?...

Norris Wong studied filmmaking at Hong Kong Baptist University after finishing her first degree in biology. When she earned an Mfa in 2012, she started experimenting with short films, including “From Here to There” (2012), about two men, inseparable as teens, reconnecting with each other after a decade. In 2013, Norris won Best Screenplay at the Hong Kong FreshWave International Short Film Festival with “Fall” and went on writing and directing her first feature film “My Prince Edward“ under the guidance of the First Feature Film Initiative (Fffi) scheme.

On the occasion of “My Prince Edward” streaming at the online edition of Udine Far East Film Festival 2020 we talked with director Wong about her inspirations, why the location of her film is so important, her vision and much more.

Producer Felix Tsang of Golden Scene (International Distribution) was translating for director Wong. Matthew Scott and his students of the Far East Festival Campus...

Film fans might have been puzzled scanning IMDb on Tuesday after the death of Tom Wolfe, the beloved author of nonfiction and fiction best-sellers like “The Right Stuff” and “The Bonfire of the Vanities” that were adapted into memorable Hollywood movies.

The movie site listed Wolfe, who died Monday at age 87, as the co-screenwriter of the 1998 Chris Farley-Matthew Perry comedy “Almost Heroes” along with David Nutter and “Fuller House” co-executive producer Boyd Hale.

But no, the famed paragon of New Journalism is not the same Tom Wolfe who co-wrote Farley’s last movie, which has an abysmal 8 percent on RottenTomatoes despite a starry ’90s cast and director Christopher Guest.

“My co-writer was a different Tom Wolfe, of course,” Nutter told TheWrap via email.

The period adventure comedy about rivals of explorers Lewis and Clark...

Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage is back again for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We will feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world, and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.

Isa of the Day Sam Blan is an Executive at the Los Angeles based Inception Film Partners. His intercultural perspective, worldviews and devotion to exploring new ways of reaching and understanding audiences through new platforms and technology makes him an asset and a shining example of where the new generation of the film industry is going. Beyond the ins and outs of business and numbers, Sam understands the importance of positivity and community in the film business. He connects his career and drive to the greater picture of the world, and sees film as a tool of understanding that can heal on the global scale and transform cultural barriers.

Sam shares more about his partners, Cannes and his inspiration:

Who makes up Inception?

The company is only made up of the people who work for it everyday. Inception Media Group is a parent company operated by partners David Borshell and Andy Reimer. I work most closely with Evp of sales and distribution, Jim Harvey, who has been in sales for over twenty-one years, and has worked for companies such as Myriad, Lakeshore, Bold and Summit. He has sold movies like Drive with Ryan Gosling, Rabbit Hole with Nicole Kidman, and Mr. Brooks with Kevin Costner.

I speak fluent Arabic, so having language skills is highly useful in our work. What really makes us different is that we don't just go to festivals. We'll go to consumer electronic shows, licensing expos; we're always thinking outside of the box of not just how to create content, but also how the content is being consumed. How is it being bought, and more importantly, what are the trends facing the future? That's the difference from many other companies. We'll go the extra mile to look at something to understand who is the audience and how they'll be reached.

What does Inception have at Cannes this year?

We have a big animation film called Almost Heroes 3D with Taylor Kitsch, James Woods, Jon Heder, Jennette McCurdy and Carla Gugino (and many others) at the market. We're bringing two new pre-sellable films called Sexy Criminals, and 1001 Bullets. As far as newer acquisitions, we have a hilarious film called May the Best Man Win, which came out of SXSW. It will be released theatrically in the United States. We have another film called VANish, with Maiara Walsh and Danny Trejo, that's in a similar vein to Reservoir Dogs meets Buried (See Inception's full Cannes lineup below).

How are sales this year?

So far, so good. I was part of a company called Strategic Film Partners for two and a half years and then Inception Media Group bought it and turned into Inception Film Partners. With the titles that we acquired like Almost Heroes and Barefoot (acquired from Wme), we're definitely in a solid place. We're growing and getting more and more traction.

Who are your buyers?

We deal with buyers from all around the world, but it just depends. It doesn't really matter as far as trying to get access to the buyers, especially when you have a seasoned veteran like Jim on your team. It's a matter of having the right content. We'll deal with everyone like Village Roadshow and BSkyB. We deal with all the major buyers including the studios, such as Sony (which we have done several deals with), mini-majors, and go all the way down to the smaller scale buyers.

We're obviously a newer entity, which comes with the trials and tribulations of any new company. We try to be as transparent as possible. In this business there's a lot of smoke and mirrors, and I'm upfront with what we're trying to create as a business. That's one of the things that we pride ourselves on; we're always going to be honest.

Our estimates are always a little more conservative, because we'd rather be as exact as possible. Window dressing estimates is rampant in our business, but a hard drama usually won't sell in Asia, for instance, so why put an inflated number? To get the movie or make it under false pretenses??? We tell people to make their film budget a little lower, and expect a number that's not going to necessarily be what they think. We want to be as pragmatic as possible. We normally over deliver on expectations because we started from a base that was realistic. Jim consistently exceeds those expectations.

Where does your drive come from and where do you see yourself going?

It beats going to law school, number one! I did really well on my Lsats, and much to my father's chagrin, I said I'm going to Hollywood. Aside from winning young author competitions and being in theater, I really knew nothing about the industry. Furthermore, I was watching television one day when I was 23 years old, and I just didn't like what I was watching. I thought to myself, "I can do so much better than that, and I think it's one of those things where we can't allow mediocrity to be the norm. "

Unfortunately, there's a lot of it in this industry. I'm as guilty of it as anyone else...working with things that are not to the standard of what we'd like to have out there, but I want to learn and grow as much as possible. I’m an autodidact, and will always be. I love and enjoy entertainment. I just want to share it, because storytelling is the conduit of life in our civilization.

One of my favorite quotes, from Martin Scorsese, is "Now more than ever, we need to talk to each other, to listen to each other and understand how we see the world, and cinema is the best medium for doing this." This quote always gets me, because cinema can transcend boundaries. I'm of Palestinian descent. I speak Arabic, and I travel to the Middle East and all around the world. I'm an interculturalist, and to be able to understand different cultures and use cinema to bridge those gaps is a phenomenal gift. I want to bridge the gap between the east and west and bring meaningful cinema to the world. In order to do that, you have to raise the bar for yourself and for everybody else.

Are there popular films that actually transcend cultural barriers?

At the end of the day, you have to look at one of the best selling genres: family, because it covers the universal themes: happiness, love and the importance of relationships with kith and kin. We all smile in the same language. Other genres such as action work as well. The Hunger Games worked worldwide. I've been a big comic book nerd my whole life, and I think a lot of those stories transcend really well. They come with universal themes. For example, when you talk about Iron Man, it's not just about a guy in a metal suit. It's about a guy who tries to use his power for good to advance the human race. Just look at someone who I admire, Elon Musk, as a real life example of who director Jon Favreau wanted to portray. Although, Marvel’s Iron Man was around way before Elon came on the scene. There are examples like this throughout our movie history. It's the same thing with Spiderman; a normal guy becomes a superhero, and most people can relate to that.

One of the best selling intellectual properties in the Middle East right now is actually about regular people becoming superheroes, and we had a similar show in the USA called Heroes. Everybody around the world can relate to stories when shared through the lens of the heroic journey. When you make it relatable to audiences, they buy tickets and jump on board.

I'm also excited for a lot of films coming out of the Middle East. Look at Omar that was up for the best foreign film in the Oscars. This film helped to explore the political discourse of Palestine and Israel.

Do you have any comments on the film business and its greater community and culture?

Let's help each other out. Every company is obviously in competition, but when I see someone create a good film or something else that's really awesome, I don't get envious of it. I applaud it. It's only good for the industry. When people create good content, it's good for everyone. A lot of people in the industry tear each other down and I think its Bs. It's high time that we all help each other out and rise together. That's what I hope to do in my career. I want to inspire people in my field. I want them to inspire me, and I think it needs to happen more.

Inception Film Partners' Cannes Lineup:

Almost Heroes 3D

Making the Best Man Win

Breaking the Rules

Vanish

Sexy Criminals

1001 Bullets

Barefoot

G.B.F.

More about Inception Film Partners:

Inception Film Partners is a worldwide motion picture and content sales, representation, distribution, finance and production company which has been in operation since 2004.

Ifp has experienced explosive growth in its eight years of operation, having distributed a tremendous number of pictures through major studios, TV networks and other independent distributors--both domestically and internationally.

Studios and other domestic and international distributors have come to rely on Ifp's steady flow of product to help fulfill their demanding release schedules. Through representing filmmakers and their films as well as producing their own content, Ifp has been able to provide a steady flow of pictures that consistently and repeatedly find their way onto the tops of industry sales charts. In addition to maintaining a core focus in global feature film distribution and production, Ifp is rapidly expanding to other areas including transmedia and branded entertainment.

You young whipper-snappers better behave, cause these old people are going to make you wish you got off their lawns when they told you to. Edited by Avaryl Halley.

 

Movies Included (Click to Buy):

Almost Heroes | Ace Ventura Pet Detective | Gran Torino | Caddyshack | Hot Fuzz | The Way of the Gun | Snatch | The Blues Brothers | Stardust | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | The Goonies | Red | Get Smart | Every Which Way But Loose | Airplane | Kill Bill 2 | Secondhand Lions | Goldfinger | Kung Fu Hustle | Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | Zombieland | The Mist | Troll 2 | The Karate Kid | Dead Alive | The Rock | Bubba Ho-Tep | Open Range | Passage to Zarahemla...

We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10.

This week’s “Question of the Week” on Jeff Bayer’s “Movie B.S.” podcast is inspired by Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 film that features actress/singer Whitney Houston in her last on-screen performance. This question is, “What dead performer do you wish had made one last movie before they died, and what would it be?”

In honor of Houston, and many others who left us before giving us the movie that they should’ve made last, here’s a list of the Top 7 Imaginary Last Performances from Dead Actors.

7. Phil Hartman

Last Film: The PG-13 family action figure actioner Small Soldiers, 1998.

Should’ve Been Last Film: While it certainly came out some time after 1998, the long-anticipated, now-forgotten Simpsons Movie just wasn’t the same without Phil Hartman, who voiced classic side characters on the TV show like Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure.

Conan O'Brien has sold a new series entitled Fat Chance to TBS, which he will executive produce.

Jay Lacopo (Almost Heroes) wrote the pilot script, which centers on an overweight man and his incredibly good looking best friend, whose lives are turned upside down when a beautiful woman named Alex enters their lives.

Conan O'Brien will executive produce the pilot alongside Jay Lacopo, David Kissinger, and Jeff Ross.

Conan O'Brien's production company, Conaco, has another series lined up at TBS, the network which airs his late-night talk show Conan. The untitled series revolves around a man who quits his day job and returns to his hometown. No production schedules were released for either show.

Telugu general entertainment channel - Maa TV - has acquired the Telugu satellite telecast rights of 58 movies from Warner Bros' Hollywood film library. The basket of 58 Hollywood movies consists of movies such as 300 Warriors, Matrix, Matrix Revolutions, Matrix Reloaded, Eraser, Lethal Weapon, Superman Returns, Us Marshalls, Ocean's Eleven, Polar Express, Specialist, Born to be Wild, Catwoman, Dennis the Menace, Romeo Must Die, Hurricane smith, Island, Last Samurai, Mad Max 2, Mars Attacks, Outbreak, Perfect World, Tom and Jerry Blast Off to Mars, Almost Heroes, American Flyers, ...

Remember that recent DirectTV ad where John Belushi reenacts the potato-spitting scene from Animal House with a mouthful of hard drugs Chris Farley sings "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" for the benefit of David Spade's checking account? David Spade sent Asylum an explanation: "When Direct TV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about Tommy Boy, we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was. It is a clever homage to my friend and a movie that we loved doing." To be fair, at least it wasn't a clip from Almost Heroes. [Asylum]...

The last time I saw Chris Farley was early last summer, in the middle of the night, at the Sky Bar, a breezy, cool, happening joint on Sunset Boulevard, in L.A. He eased on out of his limo as big as ever, in black engineer’s boots, a black suit and a spread-collar lime-green shirt, all of which prompted a very slick Hollywood-type bystander to say to him, “Hey, hey, right on. I like your style, man.” It was Farley’s slick, Hollywood-pleasing style. Normally he preferred sloshing around in a T-shirt,...