News

Exciting news for Oasis fans! Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is set to produce a brand-new concert film following the legendary band’s highly anticipated reunion tour.

The film, titled Oasis Live ‘25, will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. The duo is well-known for their work on music documentaries, including Shut Up and Play the Hits (about LCD Soundsystem) and Meet Me in the Bathroom, which explored the early 2000s New York music scene.

The project will be produced by Magna Studios, a company that has worked on major films like Beastie Boys Story, Gangs of London, 20,000 Days on Earth, and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now. It will be distributed globally by Sony Music Vision, with Krista Wegener leading the sales efforts.

Related: Steven Knight Is Working on a Remake of Hitchcock’s Classic, ‘Vertigo,’ with Robert Downey Jr.

The reunion of Oasis is a huge moment for fans,...

Oasis is set to release an accompanying film for their highly anticipated upcoming reunion tour, Sony Music announced Thursday.

Peaky Blinders director Steven Knight is producing the film, Sony said, and it will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. The duo previously directed Meet Me in the Bathroom, the documentary on the 2000s rock scene in New York, as well as Shut Up and Play the Hits, a documentary film about LCD Soundsystem.

A release date hasn’t been set yet, Sony said. Sony Music Vision will distribute the movie. The film is being produced by Magna Studios. Producers are Sam Bridger and Guy Heeley, with executive producers Marisa Clifford and Kate Shepherd, whose credits have included Beastie Boys Story and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.

Liam and Noel Gallagher have had a notoriously fraught relationship for years, making Oasis’ tour one of the most hotly...

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will produce a film following Oasis on their summer reunion tour.

Oasis Live ‘25 will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. The duo previously worked on the LCD Soundsystem concert film Shut Up And Play The Hits and Meet Me In The Bathroom, the documentary on the early 2000s NYC music scene.

The film will be a Magna Studios production. Producers are Sam Bridger & Guy Heeley, with executive producers Marisa Clifford and Kate Shepherd, whose previous credits include Beastie Boys Story, Gangs Of London, 20000 Days On Earth, and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.

The project will be distributed by Sony Music Vision. Krista Wegener of Sony Music Vision will lead global sales.

There had been reports in the UK tabloid papers that Oasis had set plans to document their reunion tour for cinema audiences. The band has not performed together since...

This weekend, Apple TV+ is free.

It’s a brilliant marketing move and reminds us of the time when, back when Disney Channel was a premium cable channel, they would do special free weekends, complete with cutaways to a fake call center to see people signing up in real time.

And while there might not be hosted segments previewing the channel’s upcoming programs, you have free reign over all of Apple TV+ – including their original film library.

To that end, we chose nine movies that you should definitely check out during the free preview weekend, everything from documentaries about the Beastie Boys to new classics from Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott to a movie about the formation of “Tetris” (yes really).

Apple “Beastie Boys Story”

Apple TV+ has a robust lineup of music documentaries, with Todd Haynes’ “The Velvet Underground,” plus docs dedicated to Billie Eilish, Bruce Springsteen, Louis Armstrong and Selena Gomez.

Benski Launches Lumina

Thomas Benski, the former Pulse Films boss who recently unveiled Carousel Studios with Omar Sy and Louis Letterier, has launched talent and IP banner Lumina. Based in London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles, the new venture claims to have been “built to support and grow companies in the modern media and consumer landscape where talent, IP and brand are the multipliers,” and comes with a first-round of funding in the “mid-eight figures.”

Lumina says it will focus on talent-driven studios, production, kids and family content, plus consumer brands. Lumina has already partnered with Carrousel Studios, as well as with Yann Demange’s Wayward Films. On the kids and family side, Lumina is backing gaming studio Creators Corp. and the kids IP business Strike. Its consumer division has backed brands including Metie and Daaci, with its Lumina’s will include a “multi-disciplinary” film studio, Magna Studios, headed...

Former Pulse Films CEO Thomas Benski has launched an international media group called Lumina, based in London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles.

Lumina says it is backed to the tune of ‘mid-eight figures’ via a first funding round from investors including Magnus Rausing’s Bfk, Charles Dorfman’s Dorfman Media Holdings and Svs Holdings.

It describes itself as a “well-capitalised talent and IP-led media group and venture firm uniquely built to support and grow companies.”

Lumina has already partnered with Omar Sy and Louis Leterrier’s Carrousel Studios led by CEO Cecile Gaget, and Top Boy director Yann Demange’s Wayward Films.

What does it take to succeed on the global stage as a K-pop superstar? Follow Jessi, Cravity, and Blackswan through the highs and lows of superstardom in an all-new, six-part backstage pass following the artists from prep to showtime as they “give everything they’ve got to an art form that demands nothing less than perfection.” “K-Pop Idols” premieres on Friday, Aug. 30 on Apple TV+. You can watch with 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.

How to Watch “K-Pop Idols” When: Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month apple.com About “K-Pop Idols”

From the executive producers behind “Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry” and “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” the six-part documentary event “K-Pop Idols” provides “an intimate look at the intense reality of K-pop stardom.”

Featuring beloved artists Jessi, Cravity, and Blackswan, the series gives an...

“Lupin” star Omar Sy, “Fast X” director Louis Leterrier and “Gangs of London” producer Thomas Benski have launched Carrousel Studios, a European independent production company with offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles and Senegal.

The banner will finance and produce film and TV projects, with an emphasis on elevated action, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy and comedy. The company will look to tap into tax credits, European incentives and brands to finance content. CAA Media Finance architected the financing for the venture.

Sy, Leterrier and Benski, who have worked together on several series and films, said the name of the company, Carrousel, reflects its inclusive DNA. “A carrousel’s sole purpose is to entertain, no matter where the riders come from, no matter their age or background,” explained the trio in a joint statement. “Additionally, the word carrousel is understood around the globe and associated with magical moments. Our Carrousel will have that same feel,...

Exclusive: Wavelength, the NYC and London-based film production and branded content studio has promoted two and hired one.

The studio’s UK Managing Director, Dan Bowen, will now take on the role of Senior Vice President of Branded Content while former Head of Studios, Mike Prall, now serves as Vice President of Productions. Wavelength is also bringing PR efforts in-house and has tapped film and entertainment publicist Lynsey Gray as Head of PR.

As part of the leadership team, the trio works closely with Wavelength’s Emmy-winning duo, Founder, CEO, and Executive Producer, Jenifer Westphal and President and Executive Producer, Joe Plummer to build on the company’s success and global strategy, which is driven by its mantra: We tell great f**king stories.

“We are thrilled to announce these strategic changes as we continue to evolve and expand our global footprint,” explains Jenifer Westphal. “Dan and Mike have been instrumental in shaping our success,...

Bowen produced Nick Cave documentary 20,000 Days On Earth.

Emmy-winning New York-based Wavelength, the company behind 2023 Andy Kaufman Venice documentary Thank You Very Much, has opened a London office and named former Pulse Films and Vice creative production executive Dan Bowen as UK managing director.

Bowen will work closely with Wavelength’s Emmy-winning duo Jenifer Westphal, founder, CEO and executive producer, and Joe Plummer, president and executive producer, to build on the company’s global strategy.

Bowen will lead the expansion of Wavelength’s burgeoning commercials and branded entertainment division into the UK market. To date, it has created campaigns for clients such as lululemon,...

On September 9th, New York City will formally rename the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington as “Beastie Boys Square” in honor of the seminal hip-hop group.

Surviving members Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) will attend the dedication ceremony, which will take place beginning at 12:00 p.m. Et. Festivities include a special guest DJ set by Jon Bless HiFi System, pop-up activations, and more.

Additionally, Spike Jonze’s film Beastie Boys Story will screen at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village throughout the weekend, and SiriusXM is launching an exclusive Beastie Boys station beginning September 7th.

The intersection of Ludlow and Rivington is famously depicted on the cover of Beastie Boys’ 1989 album, Paul’s Boutique. Following Adam “McA” Yauch’s passing in 2012, fans launched a campaign to rename the intersection in honor of the group. Last July, the initiative finally received approval from the New York City Council.

Prime Video will stream The Victoria’s Secret World Tour fashion show special on September 26 as part of an expansion of the collaboration between Amazon and Victoria’s Secret.

Billed as “part fashion event, part documentary” and presented as a re-imagined fashion show, the special will take viewers through creation of The Tour with behind-the-scenes footage and stories of the VS20 – a group of 20 global creatives who will conceive four fashion curations from the cities of Bogota, Lagos, London and Tokyo, alongside custom Victoria’s Secret designs.

The Victoria’s Secret fashion shows previously aired on CBS and ABC. In 2019, the CEO of Victoria’s Secret said in a memo to staff that the broadcast networks were no longer “the right fit” for its annual fashion shows, which had been declining in the ratings. CBS had aired the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for 15 seasons before it moved to ABC in...

Polygram Entertainment, the film and television division of Universal Music Group, has announced that Daniel Inkeles will become the new senior vice president of film and television development and production.

Prior to his promotion, Inkeles was the vice president of scripted film and television for Umg. In that role he served as executive producer of NBC’s musical comedy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” During the series’ two-season run, it was nominated for seven Emmys, winning one for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. Inkeles was also an executive producer for Alison Ellwood’s Critics Choice-winning documentary “The Go-Go’s,” which centered around the American rock band of the same name, as well as the 2019 film, “Billie,” James Erskine’s documentary about Billie Holiday.

Inkeles is based in Los Angeles and will report to David Blackman, the executive vice president and head of film and television development and production for Umg.

Also Read:

‘Louis Armstrong...

Exclusive: Paul McCartney’s incredible creative output in the decade after he left The Beatles will come into focus in Man on the Run (working title), a documentary to be directed by Oscar and Grammy winner Morgan Neville.

Mpl and Polygram Entertainment – the film and television unit of Universal Music Group – announced the project today, a day before the 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The feature film will explore “Paul McCartney’s extraordinary life following the breakup of The Beatles and how the love he shared with Linda McCartney influenced a journey that would lead to the formation of Wings and more of the greatest music ever created.”

Paul and Linda McCartney, circa 1970.

Neville, whose directing credits include 20 Feet From Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, and Roadrunner: An Anthony Bourdain Movie, has been granted access to never-before-seen home videos and photos from the archives...

A recent surge of musical documentaries as of late has included the likes of Spike Jonze helming “Beastie Boys Story” and Questlove making his directorial debut with “Summer of Soul”(a film that recently earned the musician an Academy Award for Best Documentary.) Entering this flourishing subgenre of the documentary is “Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain” through Showtime.

Continue reading ‘Cypress Hill: Insane In The Brain’ Trailer: A Smoke-Filled Story Of A Groundbreaking Hip Hop Group at The Playlist.

On Thursday, Vice Media Group announced that the company has acquired full ownership of Pulse Films, after buying a controlling interest in 2016. Pulse Films was founded by CEOs Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford in 2005. The brand will join Vice Studios’ portfolio and be managed by Vice Studios president Kate Ward.

Benski and Clifford are stepping down after 16 years of leading the company, although Benski will continue to executive produce and co-produce Pulse projects including “Gangs of London” and Olivia Wilde’s feature “Perfect.”

Pulse’s output includes the Sky/AMC series “Gangs of London,” Cannes Film Festival winner “American Honey,” films such as “Pig”, and “Mogul Mowgli,” music documentaries including Beyonce’s “Lemonade” and the Emmy-nominated documentary “Beastie Boys Story,” as well as the HBO Max reunion special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.”

Said Benski in a statement, “Leaving Pulse Films is for us a watershed moment. When...

As the countdown to one of the most anticipated small-screen events of the season continues, HBO Max has revealed the official trailer for the upcoming “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.” The HBO Max special reunites the series’ beloved cast and filmmakers to reminisce, 10 years after the release of the last film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.” Watch the trailer below, and watch the special on the streaming platform on New Year’s Day.

Announced last month, per HBO Max, “the retrospective special invites fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time as it reunites Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and other esteemed cast members and filmmakers across all eight Harry Potter films for the first time to celebrate the anniversary of the franchise’s first film, ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.'”

Additional...

Accio, trailer! At long last, HBO Max has released the much-anticipated preview of “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” its upcoming special that will reunite the actors and filmmakers from the eight-movie series, which will stream on Jan. 1. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which kicked off the film arm of the Wizarding World, was released in November 2001 — and the special will commemorate the franchise’s 20th anniversary.

“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” which will reunite actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, was taped at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. It will feature talent from the movies, including Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch. Filmmakers David Heyman, Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates will also make appearances.

The trailer...

Exclusive: Polygram Entertainment, the film and television arm of Universal Music Group, is embarking on a feature documentary about iconic singer Donna Summer, with some of the biggest names in nonfiction attached to the project.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams will direct Donna, alongside Summer’s daughter, Brooklyn Sudano. Williams is producing with Oscar nominee Julie Goldman, Emmy winners Carolyn Hepburn and Christopher Clements, and Polygram chief David Blackman.

Donna marks the latest in an ambitious slate of films and series from Polygram Entertainment, leveraging the artists and catalogues of Umg. Polygram’s recent documentaries include Oscar contender The Velvet Underground, Emmy-winner The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, and The Apollo, the winner of the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Documentary Special that was directed by Williams and on which Goldman served as an executive producer.

“We had been involved in The Apollo documentary with Roger,...

HBO Max has released the first image from its upcoming special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” which is premiering on Jan. 1 — and it shows stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in conversation in the Gryffindor common room. The program was taped at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.

The reunion will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the eight-movie series that began with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which was released in November 2001. “The retrospective special will tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time,” reads its logline.

All eight “Harry Potter” movies are currently streaming on HBO Max.

“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” will feature talent from the movies, including — according to the press release — Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes,...

The original Hogwarts wizarding trio are reuniting to recount their adventures from two decades ago.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson will join filmmaker Chris Columbus and other cast members from all eight “Harry Potter” films for the first time in an HBO Max retrospective special to celebrate the anniversary of the franchise’s first film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which premiered 20 years ago today.

“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” will premiere on HBO Max on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2022. The feature will “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new, in-depth interviews and cast conversations,” according to HBO Max. All eight of Warner Bros.’s original “Harry Potter” films are streaming on HBO Max.

The special also will air on WarnerMedia’s TBS and Cartoon Network in spring 2022 ahead of the Warner Bros. Pictures theatrical debut of “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”

Other...

Damien Chazelle has fleshed out the cast of his Old Hollywood period drama “Babylon” with an impressive group that includes Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze, Phoebe Tonkin and Tobey Maguire.

They all join a cast that’s led by Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Diego Calva. The film is set to go into production next week.

“La La Land” director Chazelle wrote the script and is directing the film at Paramount, which is described as an ensemble film set in late 1920s Hollywood. No character details for any of the new cast or the previously announced cast have been revealed, and it’s unclear whether any or all of them are playing fictional characters or historical figures.

Also among the “Babylon” cast are Max Minghella, Lukas Haas, Flea, Rory Scovel, Samara Weaving, Eric Roberts, P.J. Byrne and Damon Gupton.

Olivia Hamilton, Matt Plouffe, and Marc Platt are producing the film, with Tobey Maguire,...

Scottish musical sensation Lewis Capaldi is the subject of a feature-length documentary directed by BAFTA winner Joe Pearlman (“Bros: After the Screaming Stops”) and produced by Pulse Films. The film will be shopped to buyers at the Cannes virtual market by Independent Entertainment.

The 24-year-old Capaldi has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame over the past 36 months, earning a Grammy nomination and Brit award for his debut single “Someone You Loved,” in addition to a second Brit for best new artist, and selling out an arena tour before he’d even released his debut album.

It’s a stark contrast to his life just three years ago, when he was still carrying his own gear while performing in Scottish bars and pubs. The film follows Capaldi over a five-year period, from a global headline tour to returning to his parents’ home in Scotland to start work on his sophomore album.

Apple Original Films has announced “Number One on the Call Sheet,” two companion documentary features that will celebrate Black achievement in Hollywood and explore what it takes for Black actors to be successful in the film industry.

Produced by Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Datari Turner and Dan Cogan, “Number One on the Call Sheet” is executive produced by Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Reginald Hudlin and Bryan Smiley.

The documentary is separated into two parts, with the first film focusing on the groundbreaking work of Black women actors. “Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood” is executive produced by Bassett and Berry and directed by Shola Lynch.

The second film celebrates Black achievement in film and highlights the stories and experiences of Black male actors of the past who paved the way for today’s stars. “Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood” is directed by Reginald Hudlin.

Launched in time for tomorrow’s Earth Day, Apple’s The Year Earth Changed documentary special, narrated by David Attenborough, has premiered as the #1 unscripted program on the platform.

The Year Earth Changed, which debuted on April 16, is the most-viewed documentary/docuseries currently on Apple TV+ in the U.S., ahead of such high-profile titles as The Oprah Conversation, Beastie Boys Story, Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You and Boys State. The special also is topping unscripted viewing globally, with the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Russia, India, France, Brazil, Mexico and Japan as standout territories.

Watch the trailer here.

Premiering on Apple TV+ in more than 100 countries, The Year Earth Changed is a timely documentary special that takes a new approach to the global lockdown and the uplifting stories that have come out of it. From hearing birdsong in deserted cities to witnessing...

Apple Original Films continues its expansion of its award-winning documentary slate with Number One on the Call Sheet, two documentary features from Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Datari Turner and Dan Cogan that will celebrate Black achievement in the film industry, and explore what it takes for Black actors to find success in Hollywood. Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood celebrates Black achievement in the film industry and what it takes for Black women actors to find success in Hollywood. The film is executive produced by Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett and Academy Award winner Halle Berry, and directed by Shola Lynch and explores and highlights the groundbreaking work of Black women actors of the past who paved the way for Bassett, Berry and so many more. The second film, Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, will be directed by Academy...

Halle Berry and Angela Bassett are among the executive producers for “Number One on the Call Sheet”

Jamie Foxx and Kevin Hart will produce a pair of documentary films for Apple Studios that will focus on the challenges faced in Hollywood by Black actors and actresses.

“Number One on the Call Sheet” will be two companion films: one specifically focused on what it takes for Black leading men to find success in entertainment, and another that will focus on the challenges faced by Black leading women.

The first film, “Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood,” will be directed by Shola Lynch, and the second film on leading men will be directed by Reginald Hudlin. Both documentaries are meant to celebrate Black achievement in the film industry and highlight the work of Black actors and actresses who paved the way for today’s stars.

Also Read:...

“The Trial of the Chicago 7” got a big boost in its bid for Best Editing at the Oscars with a win at the Ace Golden Eddie Awards on April 17. It prevailed in the drama race at these awards bestowed by American Cinema Editors over two of its Oscar rivals — “Nomadland” and “Sound of Metal” — as well as “Mank” and “Minari.”

Another of the Oscar nominees, “Promising Young Woman,” lost the comedy/musical category to “Palm Springs.” The other contenders in that race were “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot” and “On the Rocks.”

Oscar watchers were sure to be watching Saturday’s virtual ceremony. These kudos have previewed of the 18 out of the last 30 Best Picture winners and a whopping 22 of the last 30 Film Editing Oscar champs. Not surprisingly, the Golden Eddies are also prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of...

The American Cinema Editors guild, which hands out its awards on April 17, has a good track record as a preview of the Oscar winner for Best Picture (18 out of the last 30) and a great one for forecasting who will win the Film Editing Oscar (22 of the last 30). Not surprisingly, it is also fairly prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of this year’s Academy Awards nominees contend for this cutting prize; “The Father” was snubbed by the American Cinema Editors.

The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. Oscar nominees “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Mank” and “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side against Oscar nominee “Promising Young Woman” are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks” and “Palm Springs.

Apple Original Films has greenlit the Louis Armstrong documentary “Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong.”

The documentary will examine Armstrong’s life and legacy as a founding father of jazz, the first pop star and a cultural ambassador of the United States. Additionally, Jenkins’ film aims to unscramble the misconception that the New Orleans trumpeter didn’t do enough to support the Civil Rights Movement.

Produced under Apple’s first-look agreement with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries, the film will be directed by Sacha Jenkins.

With the full support of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, the filmmakers were granted access to a wide array of never-before-seen archival materials including hundreds of hours of audio recordings, film footage, photographs and personal diaries.

“Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong” will join Apple TV Plus’ expanding library of award-winning documentaries and docuseries, including “Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You,...

Exclusive: Apple TV+ has picked up Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson, a six-part docuseries that examines sound creation and revolutionary technology used to shape music. It hails from Oscar-winning producer Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) and is hosted by Mark Ronson, a renowned DJ and Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-winning artist and producer. Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson will premiere July 30, 2021 globally on Apple TV+.

Each episode of Watch the Sound follows Ronson as he tells the untold stories behind music creation and the lengths producers and creators are willing to go to find the perfect sound. Speaking with Ronson about music as the intersection of artistry and technology and how that has influenced their work are Paul McCartney, Questlove, King Princess, Dave Grohl, Adrock and Mike D from the Beastie Boys, Charli Xcx and more.

At the end of each episode, Ronson will create and unveil a...

Apple Original Films has green lit its Louis Armstrong documentary feature, Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong with Imagine Documentaries producing the documentary. The documentary, which is produced under Apple’s first-look agreement with Imagine Documentaries, will be directed by Emmy-nominated Sacha Jenkins , and produced by Jenkins, Julie Anderson, Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes. Imagine Documentaries Brian Grazer and Ron Howard will exec produce. The project is being produced in association with Universal Music Group’s Polygram Entertainment with Michele Anthony and David Blackman serving as executive producers.

The film offers a definitive look at the master musician’s life and legacy as a founding father of jazz, the first pop star, and a cultural ambassador of the United States. He was loved by millions worldwide but often mischaracterized for not doing enough to support the Civil Rights Movement. In reality, his fight for social justice was fueled...

Former Spotify exec Erika Clarke and ex-Lifetime exec Colleen Grogan have joined Apple TV+ as the streamer ramps up its non-scripted efforts.

The two hires are the first U.S.-based unscripted executives hired by Molly Thompson since the A& IndieFilms founder Molly Thompson joined as Head of Documentaries and Unscripted in 2019.

Both join as Unscripted Creative Executives reporting to Thompson.

Clarke, who joined in January, was previously exec producer at Spotify Studios, where she co-ran the company’s podcast studio division. Before that, she spent ten years at MTV, part of the team behind Cribs, and was also a producer and director of shows such as The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Travel Channel’s Follow Your Past and CNN Heroes. She was also nominated for an Emmy for her work on White People, a documentary for MTV’s Look Different strand. She will be based in LA.

Grogan,...

These are heady times for music documentaries. Questlove’s “Summer of Soul” won the audience and jury prizes at the Sundance Film Festival; docs about the Beastie Boys, Taylor Swift, the Bee Gees, the Go-Go’s, Tina Turner, Billie Eilish, Britney Spears and many others have gotten attention lately; high-profile narrative directors Peter Jackson, Edgar Wright and Todd Haynes have made recent or upcoming docs about the Beatles, Sparks and the Velvet Underground, respectively; and films on Tom Petty, Charlie Xcx, Guy Clark and Poly Styrene are on the bill at the South by Southwest festival.

One advantage of docs like those has always been that they have a built-in, passionate audience of fans for the subject’s music – and in many cases, filmmakers aim their work at the devotees who will savor every detail and sing along with every word. I might embrace each nuance in “Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You,...

Apple TV Plus has ordered a docuseries from the team behind “McMillion$,” Emmy-nominated filmmakers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, about the memorable 1996 TV commercial that advertised a Harrier Jet in exchange for seven million Pepsi points. Hernandez and Lazarte will direct and executive produce “The Jet” through their FunMeter banner.

The Jet” will tell the true story behind the “Drink Pepsi, Get Stuff” promotional campaign and the events that transpired after someone attempted to cash in their Pepsi points for a Harrier fighter jet.

Apple TV Plus, launched November 2019, is home to several award-winning docuseries and documentary films including A24’s “Boy State” directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss; the Grammy Award-nominated “Beastie Boys Story,” R.J. Cutler’s “Dear…”; the GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Visible Out on Television”; the recently-released “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry; Wener Herzog’s Critics Choice Documentary Award-nominee “Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds.

Apple has ordered a docuseries about the story behind that infamous ’90s Pepsi campaign that advertised a Harriet Jet as a prize — and you won’t need any Pepsi Points to watch it, just an Apple TV+ subscription.

Per the streaming service’s description, “The Jet” tells the compelling true story behind the iconic “Drink Pepsi, Get Stuff” promotional campaign that presented a Harrier Jet at the end of a 1996 TV commercial in exchange for 7 million Pepsi Points.

The docuseries, which comes from the Emmy-nominated filmmakers of HBO’s “McMillion$,” James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, “promises to be an entertaining and nostalgic deep dive into 1990s pop culture and the events that transpired after someone attempted to cash in their points for a Harrier fighter jet.”

That someone was John Leonard, who ended up suing PepsiCo, Inc. in a contracts case tried in 1999, in an attempt to effort to...

The Jet is coming in for a landing at Apple TV+. The streaming service has ordered The Jet, a docuseries that chronicles the true story behind the ’90s promotional campaign that advertised a Harrier jet in exchange for Pepsi points. It hails from James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the Emmy-nominated filmmakers behind HBO’s McMillions docuseries about the McDonald’s monopoly game con.

The Jet tells the compelling true story behind the iconic “Drink Pepsi, Get Stuff” promotional campaign that presented a Harrier Jet at the end of a 1996 TV commercial in exchange for 7 million Pepsi Points. The docuseries is billed as an entertaining and nostalgic deep dive into 1990s pop culture and the events that transpired after someone attempted to cash in their points for a Harrier fighter jet.

Hernandez and Lazarte will direct and executive produce the series through their FunMeter banner.

Apple TV+ documentary/docuseries roster includes Boys State,...

The nominations for the 2021 Ace Eddie Awards announced on Thursday (March 11) include our Oscar frontrunner for Best Film Editing, “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” along with three of the other four films we’re predicting to reap bids in that race: “Mank,” “Nomadland” and “Sound of Metal.” While “The Father” was snubbed by the American Cinema Editors we expect it to be the fifth Academy Awards contender.

The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. “Mank,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”

In 1992, the Eddies went from three to five nominees (matching that of the Oscars) and in 2000 it split the award in two,...

“Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” have been nominated in the dramatic-film category at the American Cinema Editors’ 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards, which honors the best in film and television editing.

In the comedy film category, the nominees are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”

The films that were bypassed in the Ace nominations include “Tenet,” “News of the World,” “The Father,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

Over the past decade, 90% of the Oscar nominees for Best Film Editing have first been nominated by the American Cinema Editors. The Oscar nominees are heavily weighted toward the Ace dramatic category, with 34 nominees coming from that category since 2010, as opposed to 11 nominees from the comedy category.

The Ace Eddies’ animated feature nominations went to “The Croods: A New Age,” “Onward,” “Over the Moon,...

This year’s American Cinema Editors (Ace) nominations include “Nomadland,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of Chicago 7.”

The guild, which will hand out its awards in a virtual ceremony on April 17, has a good track record forecasting the Oscar best picture winner — it has predicted 18 out of the last 29 winners. Last year, best edited feature film – dramatic went to “Parasite’s” Yang Jin-mo, and the film went on to win best picture at the Oscars. It also has a good record for predicting who wins the best editing Oscar — 23 out of the last 29 winners.

Nominees in comedy feature include “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On The Rocks” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”

As previously announced, Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Editors Lynzee Klingman...

Editors on films ranging from Amazon’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm to Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 have been nominated for the 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards, presented by the American Cinema Editors to recognize the year’s best in picture editing in 14 film, TV and documentary categories.

Winners will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony April 17, where Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award and Lynzee Klingman and Sidney Wolinsky will receive the group’s Career Achievement Awards.

As for today’s nominees, the marquee film categories are split into Dramatic and Comedy. The former features Chicago 7 along with Netflix’s Mank, A24’s Minari, Searchlight’s Nomadland (edited by writer-director Chloé Zhao) and Amazon’s Sound of Metal. The comedy nominees include Borat, Netflix’s I Care a Lot, Apple’s On the Rocks, Neon/Hulu’s Palm Springs...

Nominees for the 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards include such Best Picture contenders as Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” David Fincher’s monochromatic “Mank,” Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari,” Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” (as a comedy), and Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal.”

The awards show will be held live on April 17 at 11:00 a.m. Pt.

Overlooked, though, were “News of the World” (edited by “Argo” Oscar-winner William Goldenberg) and “Tenet,” as well as three Black-led dramas, “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “One Night in Miami.” However, there’s still the possibility of one or two of these making the final Oscar nominations, along with the buzzy “Minari” and “Promising Young Woman.”

In terms of using the Editing win as an Oscar bellwether for predicting Best Picture, the last time the winners coincided was “Argo” in...

Beyonce has been chasing Alison Krauss at the Grammys for a while now. Krauss is the most honored woman in the awards’ history with 27 victories. But Beyonce keeps closing the gap, and as of now she has a total of 24 trophies. Now Queen Bey has nine nominations, more than enough to set a new record. According to the combined predictions of Gold Derby users, she’ll do just that.

SEE2022 Grammy predictions: Album of the Year

Beyonce’s nine nominations — more than any other artist this year — are especially impressive since she didn’t release a new album during the eligibility period. But she did drop a new single, “Black Parade,” which is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&b Performance and Best R&b Song, making it the most nominated song at these awards. She was also a featured artist on the remix...

“Greyhound,” “Mank,” “News of the World,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” have been nominated by the Cinema Audio Society for the 57th annual Cas Awards for Outstanding Sound Mixing, the Cas announced on Tuesday.

Nominees in the animated-feature category were “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” “Onward,” “Soul,” “The Croods: A New Age” and “Trolls World Tour,” while documentary nominations went to “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet,” “My Octopus Teacher,” “The Social Dilemma” and two music docs, “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and “Zappa.”

While Cas nominations have traditionally been a good barometer of which films will be nominated for Oscars in the Best Sound Mixing category, the Academy last year combined its two sound categories, mixing and editing, into a single Best Sound category.

“Greyhound,” “News of the World” and “Sound of Metal” were the three films...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday revealed the 366 feature films that are eligible for consideration at the 93rd Oscars, which are set to air April 25 live on ABC.

The total number of films is up from last year’s 344 films in contention.

This year’s list was compiled based on tweaked eligibility rules implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed the ceremony to its latest date ever. For this year, feature films had to open by February 28 in a commercial motion picture theater for a seven-day qualifying run in at least one of six metro areas: Los Angeles County, New York City, the Bay Area, Chicago, Miami and Atlanta. Drive-in theaters open nightly were included as qualifying venues, as were films intended for theatrical release but because of the lockdown made available first via streaming, VOD service or other broadcast.

Today’s news comes...

Exclusive: Michael K. Williams is returning to the Black Market for the first time in five years after Vice TV renewed his illicit docuseries.

The first season of the show, which saw The Wire star journey into the dangerous world of gunrunners, poachers, drug addicts and illegal gambling dens, aired in 2016.

He subsequently starred in series such as Netflix’s When They See Us and HBO’s Lovecraft Country and also appeared as Bob Dylan in Apple’s Beastie Boys Story.

Williams will now continue the work of season one and look at the conditions from which black markets arise and the cultural reasons behind why they persist, from carjacking in Newark, NJ to the poaching of abalone off the coast of South Africa.

“After a busy period of back-to-back projects, I’m incredibly excited to rejoin my Vice family in taking a deeper dive behind telling the narratives of these global communities,...

British dance music pioneers The Prodigy are getting the documentary treatment.

Pulse Films — the studio behind Gangs of London, Riz Ahmed’s recent film Mogul Mowgli and Spike Jonze’s Beastie Boys Story — is producing the project, which will mark the first feature-length music documentary about the band.

Directed by multi-Grammy nominated Paul Dugdale and written alongside Sam Bridger, the feature — provisionally entitled The Prodigy and being produced by founding members Liam Howlett and Maxim — will tell what the filmmakers are describing as “the raw, uncompromising and emotional story of a gang of young outlaws from Essex who came together ...

British dance music pioneers The Prodigy are getting the documentary treatment.

Pulse Films — the studio behind Gangs of London, Riz Ahmed’s recent film Mogul Mowgli and Spike Jonze’s Beastie Boys Story — is producing the project, which will mark the first feature-length music documentary about the band.

Directed by multi-Grammy nominated Paul Dugdale and written alongside Sam Bridger, the feature — provisionally entitled The Prodigy and being produced by founding members Liam Howlett and Maxim — will tell what the filmmakers are describing as “the raw, uncompromising and emotional story of a gang of young outlaws from Essex who came together ...

“Saint Maud,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Nomadland,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Ammonite” are among the leading films on the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ (BAFTA) longlist for annual British Film Awards that were announced Thursday.

The publication of the longlists follows the BAFTA 2020 Review, where over 120 wide-ranging changes were introduced across voting, membership and campaigning to address a lack of diversity in the 2020 Film Awards nominations. As part of these changes, a new longlisting initial round was introduced for the awards, resulting in three rounds of voting. Round one voting, which took place from Jan. 12-26, produced the longlists in all categories.

The directing category sees the BAFTA make an effort towards gender parity. To determine this longlist, in Round One, the directing chapter voted and the top eight female and top eight male directed films were automatically longlisted. The remaining two female and two...

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has unveiled “longlists” that narrow the field in 24 categories at the Ee British Academy Film Awards. The longlists were part of an overhaul of BAFTA voting procedures instituted in September to increase the diversity of nominations. Longlists existed in BAFTA voting prior to 2012 but were eliminated that year.

Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7” led all films by being longlisted in 15 different categories, buoyed by four different cast members in the Best Supporting Actor category. It was followed by David Fincher’s “Mank” with 14, Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” with 13 and Paul Greengrass’ “News of the World” with 12.

Other films that hit double digits included “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “The Mauritanian” and “Saint Maud,” which were each shortlisted in 11 categories.

The lists cast a wide net, with Best Film semifinalists including everything from “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom...