“Star Trek: Picard” VFX Supervisor Jason Zimmerman on Charting The Series’ Final Course
The legacy of Star Trek lives on through an entertaining trio of shows. Star Trek: Discovery (2017), Star Trek: Picard (2020), and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2023) have brought new cosmic adventures for fans of the beloved franchise while tying back to the mega-narrative of the Star Trek universe, which has been taking viewers on voyages across space and time since 1966.
“The Last of Us” Cinematographer Ksenia Sereda on Shining a Light in the Darkness
The Last of Us, HBO’s thrilling, best-in-class adaptation of Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed video game, provided 2023’s first certifiable must-watch series. Co-created by the video game’s mastermind, Neil Druckmann, and Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin, the series followed a pair of intrapersonally opposed survivors of a fungi-borne apocalypse as they picked their way across a devastated American landscape crawling with the terrifying permutations of the mindless infected and the almost equally dangerous humans who had,
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Wears Iconic Yellow Suit in “Deadpool 3” Photo
It might have taken two decades to happen, but our national nightmare is over—Hugh Jackman will be wearing the iconic yellow Wolverine costume in director Shawn Levy’s upcoming Deadpool 3. The first look at Jackman in the beloved, bold super-suit was revealed by the Deadpool Twitter account, showing Jackman in the costume that Wolverine wore in the comics, which became cemented as a piece of pop culture couture history in the animated series from the ’90s.
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” Reviews: Cruise & Co. Have Done It Again
Once the review embargo for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was been lifted, the mission was clear for fans of the franchise—could they read the reviews about Dead Reckoning Part One without spoiling the film’s biggest thrills and without having their hopes for another action masterpiece deflated? We’ve done the review reading for you, and like Ethan Hunt driving his motorcycle off a cliff only to deploy a parachute and turn certain death into a BASE jump,
Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” Trailer Reveals Joaquin Phoenix as the French Conquerer
At last, the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated historical epic Napoleon has just charged into view. Scott’s sweeping look at the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix), one of the most iconic, singular conquerors and emperors the world has ever known, comes bearing the legendary director’s skills at old-school, large-scale filmmaking. As he did in Gladiator (2000), which featured Russell Crowe’s valiant general-turned-slave-turned-gladiator Maxiums seeking revenge against the cruel and petty tyrant-turned-emperor Commodus (played by none other than Joaquin Phoenix),
“Joy Ride” Screenwriters Cherry Chevapravatdumrong & Teresa Hsiao Embrace the Raunch
Adele Lim’s feature directorial debut Joy Ride cruised into theaters this past weekend, boasting critical raves. The laughs come early and often in Lim’s ensemble film, thanks in large part to screenwriters and producers Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao. The talented duo began writing the script for Joy Ride on spec, and that sense of freedom and play is on full display.
The screenwriters both met in the writer’s room in Seth MacFarlane’s joke-a-second animated raunch-fest Family Guy and in Joy Ride,
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” VFX Artists on De-Aging Indy
Brad Pitt did it. Robert DeNiro did it. Samuel Jackson, Jeff Bridges, and Will Smith did it, too. Now, 80-year-old Harrison Ford has embraced digital de-aging in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (in theaters now) so he can fight Nazis looking like a 37-year-old version of his iconic action hero. Ford’s cinematic rejuvenation owes a considerable debt to ILM’s VFX artist lead Robert Weaver (Star Trek Into Darkness,
“Godfather of Harlem” Production Designer Patrick Howe on Handling History in Season 3
The story of gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues to unfold with the third season of Godfather of Harlem, from creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein. This prequel series to Ridley Scott‘s 2007 feature American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, cleverly intertwines a kinetic group of characters in a period crime drama well worth watching.
This season, Bumpy faces no shortage of challenges—the CIA,
“Fatal Attraction” Production Designer Nina Ruscio on Creating Design With an Edge
The famed 1987 film Fatal Attraction, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, made its way to the small screen with Joshua Jackson and Lizzy Caplan as the unfaithful couple tearing each other’s lives apart. Reinvigorated by Alexandra Cunningham (Physical), the psychological thriller unravels over eight gripping episodes, taking place 15 years after Dan (Jackson) is paroled from prison for the murder of Alex (Caplan). The story dips between the past and present as Dan tries to prove his innocence and reconnect with his family and wife,
“Beef” Production Designer Grace Yun on Mixing Real & Surreal Into a Simmering Style
Beef creator Lee Sung Jin (Dave, Undone), who goes by Sonny Lee, reached out to production designer Grace Yun (Past Lives, Ramy, Hereditary) to share his vision of the series that pins Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor, and Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur, against one other following a heated parking lot altercation. “I was impressed from the start,
How “Stranger Things” Editor Dean Zimmerman Cut Eddie’s Epic Guitar Solo & That Wild Season 4 Finale
“Divide and conquer while keeping our heads above water was how we approached episode nine,” says editor Dean Zimmerman, who has been on the juggernaut Netflix series Stranger Things since the beginning. Season four sees its beloved characters continue their fight against Vecna, a mind-controlling arch-villain wreaking havoc on the town of Hawkins.
It was the biggest, boldest season of the series yet, and Zimmerman was a key component in keeping the epic finale as tight as a snare drum.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” DP Phedon Papamichael on Capturing That Iconic Indy Look
Days before the theatrical release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, its director James Mangold and cinematographer Phedon Papamichael watched the final version of the film with original franchise helmer Steven Spielberg and his long-time cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, who lensed Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). Afterward, there was nothing but praise. “Hearing how great it was from them and them being generous about it was a really good feeling,” says Papamichael during a phone call with The Credits.
Mission: Must Watchable – 10 of the Biggest Remaining Summer Films
Now that June has given way to July, it is clear that summer is finally upon us. The sun is shining, bright, hot, and heavy. Birds are singing. Bees are buzzing. Dads around the country are grilling hot dogs for late-evening barbecues. And last but not least, the slate of this season’s upcoming films has given viewers much to look forward to.
For movie lovers wishing to avoid the summer heat — either by hiding away in a theater for a few hours or by simply streaming at home — be sure to tune in to the films listed below.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” Production Designer Adam Stockhausen on That Thrilling Opening Sequence
“There is a lot to draw from, but there’s also a very high bar in terms of how visually exciting these films have been,” says production designer Adam Stockhausen (The Grand Budapest Hotel) of the Indiana Jones franchise.
The four previous films – Raider of the Lost Ark (1981), Temple of Doom (1984), Last Crusade (1989), and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) – were all helmed by Steven Spielberg,
“Extraction 2” Director Sam Hargrave on Lighting Chris Hemsworth on Fire, That Helicopter Scene & More
Extraction 2 is one of the most relentlessly action-packed movies of the summer, with the excitement of an 80s action epic paired with explosive, cutting-edge stunts that rival the thrills of Mission: Impossible and John Wick. In the second installment of the smash hit Netflix franchise, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is back from the brink of death and lets his emotions lead him into another dangerous covert operation.
Provincetown International Film Festival Honors the Great Billy Porter
The irrepressible Billy Porter, actor, singer, and style maven, fit in perfectly with the quirky but sophisticated vibe of the Provincetown International Film Festival, which celebrated its 25th year June 14-18.
The Emmy, Tony, and Grammy award winner was this year’s Excellence in Acting Honoree at PIFF. Audiences also got an early look at his latest film, director Bill Oliver’s indie drama Our Son. Porter and Luke Evans portray husbands going through a divorce and fighting over the custody of their 8-year-old son.
“Dune: Part Two” Trailer Reveals Love, War, & Christoper Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV
The official trailer for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is as magisterial and majestic as you’d expect, yet it also hints at what so many of the folks involved in the final film—we’re looking at you, Dave Bautista—have said about the second installment—it’s an absolutely ripping adventure.
The trailer opens with Timotheé Chalamet’s Paul Atreides in the desert of Arrakis, the vast, dangerous dune fields where he and his mother,
“Swagger” Creator Reggie Rock Bythewood on Soaring to New Narrative Heights in Season 2
When looking for their next favorite series, fans of engaging drama—bonus points if you’re a lover of basketball—should look no further than creator and director Reggie Rock Bythewood’s series Swagger, which just premiered its second season on Apple TV+.
Based on the youth basketball experience of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, the story is centered around the Maryland-based team “Swagger DMV,” coached by Ike Edwards (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), a man committed to making both great ballers and world citizens of his team,
How “Kandahar” Location Manager Félix Rosell Mapped Out Gerard Butler’s Afghan Escape
The road to filming Kandahar had to be built, literally. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen, Greenland), the espionage thriller stars Gerard Butler as CIA operative Tom Harris turned Afghanistan’s Most Wanted after his operation is exposed by a whistleblower. Though the movie title references the Afghan city, it was Saudi Arabia that stood in for the picturesque landscapes seen in the film.
How the “Wednesday” VFX Supervisor Created Thing, Nevermore, and More
The “mysterious and spooky” Addams Family gets revitalized in Tim Burton’s hit series Wednesday, which stars Jenna Ortega as the emotionally reserved child, complete with pigtails, black attire, and a deadpan affect that suggests this youngster is the oldest of souls.
The story, from creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, is directed by Tim Burton and charters Wednesday to Nevermore Academy – a school her parents Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and (Gomez (Luis Guzmán) attended 25 years before.
