The Motion Picture Association’s Film Workshop Suggests Vietnam’s Industry is Now Open for Business
As part of its mission to facilitate the development of a sustainable and internationally competitive screen industry in Vietnam, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) hosted an in-person film workshop with the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) at the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City on April 28.
The event was over-subscribed, with approximately 130 filmmakers, government officials, celebrities, and media in attendance. It was also screened online on May 12, attracting a further 240 attendees.
Justine Seymour on Outfitting the Fleeing Foxes of “The Mosquito Coast”
Clothing isn’t a primary concern for The Mosquito Coast’s misfit Fox family. Broke patriarch Allie (Justin Theroux) invents unsuccessful machines to save the world while scraping by as a handyman/asparagus farmer. His suffering, formerly wealthy wife, Margot (Melissa George), is his primary enabler. Their teenage kids, Dina (Logan Polish) and Charlie (Gabriel Bateman) tolerate their unorthodox home life to varying degrees. In Stockton, where the Foxes live mostly off the grid, the household seems about 15 years behind the times,
Meet Miss Minutes in Delightfully Weird New “Loki” Teaser
She’s got a southern accent and a cheery disposition, which both add to the delightful weirdness—and creepiness, frankly—of Miss Minutes. She’s something of an onboarding specialist for the Time Variance Authority (TVA), the place Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has been sent to at the start of Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ series Loki. Miss Minutes’ job is to catch Loki up before he stands trial for his crime. The crime in question (one of many,
Taking Flight with “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” Creator Malcolm Spellman
The success or failure of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier laid heavily upon many folks, but perhaps none as specifically as creator and showrunner Malcolm Spellman. Spellman succeeded in delivering not only a thrilling, six-episode season with cinematic-level action but also a character study of one would-be Captain America in Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier absorbed the narrative traumas Sam had already endured as well as the real-world traumas that Black Americans have been dealing with forever.
Cinematographer Alicia Robbins on Filming the “Grey’s Anatomy” Covid Season—During Covid
While there’s little in the way of “good luck” that can be attributed to an ongoing pandemic, there is perhaps a little good timing, in the speedy arrival of a vaccination. For cinematographer Alicia Robbins, she chalks up her arrival as one of the two people chronicling the struggles in Seattle’s fictive-yet-storied Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, from behind a pretty active lens, to both “a stroke of good luck, and good timing.”
“I was working on For The People,
Meet Owen Wilson’s Agent Mobius in New “Loki” Clip
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded to serial form on Disney+, the cast of characters has expanded, too, and some terrific actors have entered the fray. Some of the talented folks to join the Marvel fold include the great Kathryn Hahn as the powerful witch Agatha in WandaVision, a brief but compelling cameo for Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the HYDRA agent Valentina Allegra de Fontaine The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,
Future Critics: Abby Alben on Working at Mother & Daughter Entertainment
Abby Alben graduated from UCLA and, like so many people, was eager to find a job in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. What she ended up finding was a career. Alben, our latest Future Critic (although really, she’s more of a Future Producer) began working at the independent production company Mother & Daughter Entertainment. Right before we were set to publish our video interview with her, she was promoted to Head of Digital Media.
Director Barry Jenkins Mixes Beauty and Brutality in “The Underground Railroad”
The Underground Railroad has been a long time coming in Barry Jenkins‘ imagination. As a kid growing up in Miami’s rough Liberty City neighborhood, the writer-director pictured literal railroad tracks running beneath the earth. Fast forward to 2014, when Jenkins thrilled to Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and secured adaptation rights even before he’d finished promoting his Oscar-winning Moonlight movie.
After completing If Beale Street Could Talk,
“The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” Director Kari Skogland on the Evolution of the Hero
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland had her work cut out for her. Direct roughly six hours worth of action (practically two Avengers films’ worth), introduce a brand new location to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Madripool), brand new villains (the Flag Smashers), a brand new Captain America (Wyatt Russell’s John Walker), and continue the long-established character arcs of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).
Costume Designer Lizz Wolf on Outfitting The Motley Crew of Superheroes in “Jupiter’s Legacy”
Based on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Netflix’s new superhero epic Jupiter’s Legacy is a century-spanning origin story and contemporary action tale in one. When we meet Sheldon, the Utopian (Josh Duhamel), and Grace, aka Lady Liberty (Leslie Bibb), they seem like any ordinary if well-off older rural couple, drinking wine, clad in plaid and fretting over disagreements with their grown kids.
Shel and Grace,
Cinematographer Stephen McNutt on Lighting the Moon in “For All Mankind”
For All Mankind, the Apple TV prestige drama that presents an alternate history of NASA and mid-century American space exploration takes a darker turn in its second season. Previously, having been beaten by the Soviets to the moon, the Americans handily caught up, establishing a tiny lunar base called Jamestown and even achieving gender parity in the astronaut ranks. At the start of Season 2, a decade has passed and both nations’ space programs have grown by leaps and bounds,
“The Nevers” Production Designer Gemma Jackson on HBO’s Sci-Fi Victorian-Era Series
Bringing unique worlds to life is production designer Gemma Jackson’s stock-in-trade. So, she didn’t hesitate when offered the opportunity to create the look for The Nevers, the Victorian-era sci-fi series that debuted on HBO in April.
“I think what drew me was a remarkably interesting script and an extraordinary storyline that I’d never read the likes of before,” says Jackson from her home in England during a Zoom interview. “It was predominantly women—women-led—which was a bit of a turn-on.
“Jupiter’s Legacy” Composer Stephanie Economou on Scoring Netflix’s Epic New Superhero Series
Based on the 2013 graphic novel created by writer Mark Millar and artist Frank Quitely, the new Netflix original series Jupiter’s Legacy tells the story of both the first generation of superheroes, that have worked to keep the world safe for nearly a century, and their children, who are expected to pick up the torch. Some may not quite ready to handle the burden, and some actively reject their legacies. Josh Duhamel stars as Sheldon Sampson,
HBO Reveals First Images From “House of The Dragon”
We now have our first look at the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, courtesy of HBO. House Targaryen is naturally the focus of House of the Dragon, and the new images reveal a couple of blonde Targaryens and a few other key players, all enjoying (grimly, it appears) some time on the beach. House of the Dragon began production last month, so Game of Thrones fans can officially start the clock on when they’ll get to venture back to Westeros.
Rod Roddenberry Reflects on His Father’s “Star Trek” Legacy for Centennial Year
Star Trek has beamed audiences to strange and mysterious worlds for more than half a century. The franchise is adventurous, exciting, and explores the promise of an unlimited future. The idea, however, was born in the heart of a man who looked to outer space for truths about the depths of the human soul. Through the eyes of aliens, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry hoped to gain greater insight into the potential of humankind.
Maggie Simpson Stars in New Disney+ Short “The Force Awakens From Its Nap”
It’s May the 4th—better known as Star Wars Day—and Disney+ is pulling out all the stops to celebrate. In fact, Disney+ has even pulled out Maggie Simpson’s pacifier to mark the day. The littlest member of America’s most beloved family is going on an epic, galactic quest to help bring Star Wars Day in style. Disney+ had released Maggie Simpson in The Force Awakens From Its Nap,
“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” Premieres on May the 4th
It’s May the 4th, better known as Star Wars Day, and Disney+ is celebrating the holiday in style. One of today’s big premieres is Disney+’s new animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch, which follows a group of exceptional clones who take on extremely dangerous mercenary missions in an unstable galaxy. These fellas were first introduced in the animated series The Clone Wars and under the guidance of The Mandalorian director and executive producer Dave Filoni and head writer Jennifer Corbett (Star Wars Resistance).
“Dickinson” Visual Effects Supervisor Lotta Forssman on a Sumptuous Season Two
Dickinson wrapped up its critically acclaimed second season this past February. The show’s premise, you might conclude from its title, is that we’re getting an up-close look at one of the most notoriously private American geniuses this country has ever produced. Only Dickinson, created by Alena Smith, takes the legendary poet Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) and dismantles the legacy of her reclusiveness in favor of a look at her expansiveness as a writer,
“The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” Costume Designer Michael Crow on the New Captain America
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier capped off (pun intended) its 6-episode season last Friday night in style. That style was set by a brand new look for Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) who, after an arduous journey since Captain America (Chris Evans) handed him the shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, finally accepted both the iconic shield and the role itself. The newly minted Captain America,
Director Hanelle Culpepper on Filming Fights & Making History in “Kung Fu”
Directing a series pilot has a huge impact on the viability of the show, putting tremendous pressure on the director. It’s pressure Hanelle Culpepper can handle, exemplified by the ratings and stellar reviews of her award-winning work on last year’s Star Trek: Picard. On The CW’s Kung Fu, she was chosen by showrunner Christina M. Kim to direct the first two episodes of a series making history as the first hour-long drama featuring a predominantly Asian-American cast.
