The term wizard can be thrown around a lot. Wizards make magic, can create life from the ether, and conjure things that are beautiful and sometimes monstrous. There aren’t many wizards out in the world these days, but I know of one by name and that name is Rick Baker. Baker is a master of the monsters and a wizard of special effects. He’s an artist and a visionary who made some of the most memorable creatures and effects to grace movie and TV screens of the last few decades. He’s also an unabashed Monster Kid who has never lost his love and fascination for the classics. On todays episode of What Happened To This Horror Celebrity we’re meeting a wizard of the wicked and magician of monsters as we reveal what happened to Rick Baker.
Rick Baker was born in 1950 to Doris and Ralph Baker in New York.
Rick Baker was born in 1950 to Doris and Ralph Baker in New York.
- 6/5/2024
- by Jessica Dwyer
- JoBlo.com
Tom Savini. Rick Baker. Dick Smith. Rob Bottin. Ve Neill. Stan Winston.
The world of special effects makeup often feels like a dying art, with studios and streamers increasingly pursuing CGI and digital FX over practical artistry. Now, there is absolutely room for both styles and different films call for different methods, but gone are the days where the average moviegoer can recognize the name of a special effects makeup artist. Diehard fans are, of course, the exception to the rule, and there's at least one name that horror fanatics all know by heart and are stoked as hell to see on an end credits crawl: Steven Kostanski.
For the uninitiated, Steven Kostanski is one of the most fascinating voices in genre cinema working today. His films "The Void" and "Psycho Goreman" are both well-loved favorites, he finally gave the "Leprechaun" franchise a solid film with "Leprechaun Returns," and Kostanski's...
The world of special effects makeup often feels like a dying art, with studios and streamers increasingly pursuing CGI and digital FX over practical artistry. Now, there is absolutely room for both styles and different films call for different methods, but gone are the days where the average moviegoer can recognize the name of a special effects makeup artist. Diehard fans are, of course, the exception to the rule, and there's at least one name that horror fanatics all know by heart and are stoked as hell to see on an end credits crawl: Steven Kostanski.
For the uninitiated, Steven Kostanski is one of the most fascinating voices in genre cinema working today. His films "The Void" and "Psycho Goreman" are both well-loved favorites, he finally gave the "Leprechaun" franchise a solid film with "Leprechaun Returns," and Kostanski's...
- 6/1/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Setting a vampire — even a tiny one, as in “Abigail” — loose on the world is a messy affair, which got the IndieWire Craft team wondering less about stakes and more about modern special effects make-up. Are there fake blood brands you can buy? Are there different blood recipes for film versus TV? How much has fake blood changed from Nosferatur to Hammer horror to today’s scary movies? Or is fake blood just all VFX these days?
Who better to ask than Dave Elsey of Igor Studios, a self-described makeup FX Jedi and one of the lead designers of the chilling corpsicle in “True Detective: Night Country”? A connoisseur of practical tricks to create worlds of fantastic horror, Elsey’s recipes for fake blood are most often based on the ones that makeup legend Dick Smith came up with in the ’70s, which have been used in everything from “The Godfather...
Who better to ask than Dave Elsey of Igor Studios, a self-described makeup FX Jedi and one of the lead designers of the chilling corpsicle in “True Detective: Night Country”? A connoisseur of practical tricks to create worlds of fantastic horror, Elsey’s recipes for fake blood are most often based on the ones that makeup legend Dick Smith came up with in the ’70s, which have been used in everything from “The Godfather...
- 4/23/2024
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Director William Friedkin and producer/screenwriter William Peter Blatty enjoyed having fun with Warner Bros. executives during the production of “The Exorcist.” The Oscar-winning horror masterpiece celebrates its 50th anniversary Dec. 26 “We always put them on,” Friedkin told me in a 2018 L.A. Times interview “They were always concerned that we were both crazy and would eventually implode the movie. So, we staged blowups in front of them, where it looked like we were fiercely arguing over the most minute, meaningless details.”
“The Exorcist” was shot in Iraq, New York City and Georgetown in Washington, D.C. But Warners wanted the film to be made at the studio in Burbank and to “shoot day for night, so we didn’t get into night shooting,” said Friedkin, who died this past August at 87.”I I said ‘no’ to everything, I said things like ‘Why shoot day for night? Why don’t we...
“The Exorcist” was shot in Iraq, New York City and Georgetown in Washington, D.C. But Warners wanted the film to be made at the studio in Burbank and to “shoot day for night, so we didn’t get into night shooting,” said Friedkin, who died this past August at 87.”I I said ‘no’ to everything, I said things like ‘Why shoot day for night? Why don’t we...
- 12/26/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild has revealed this year’s recipients of its Lifetime Achievement Awards. Oscar- and Emmy-winning make-up artist Kevin Haney and Emmy-nominated longtime hair stylist Ora T. Green will be honored February 18 during the Muahs Awards at the Beverly Hilton.
“We are honored to recognize Kevin Haney and Ora T. Green for their unprecedented contributions to the artistry of make-up and hair styling,” said Julie Socash, president of Muahs (IATSE Local 706). “Over their legendary careers, their work has been captured on the most memorable, whimsical, creative and celebrated characters of film and television.”
Whether it’s the baby’s mustache on Addams Family Values or Martin Short’s Jiminy Glick in Primetime Glick, Haney’s characters always have a surprise of quirkiness in his creations. Haney began his career as a lab assistant to the legendary Dick Smith on the 1980 feature Altered States, going...
“We are honored to recognize Kevin Haney and Ora T. Green for their unprecedented contributions to the artistry of make-up and hair styling,” said Julie Socash, president of Muahs (IATSE Local 706). “Over their legendary careers, their work has been captured on the most memorable, whimsical, creative and celebrated characters of film and television.”
Whether it’s the baby’s mustache on Addams Family Values or Martin Short’s Jiminy Glick in Primetime Glick, Haney’s characters always have a surprise of quirkiness in his creations. Haney began his career as a lab assistant to the legendary Dick Smith on the 1980 feature Altered States, going...
- 11/16/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The 1973 classic The Exorcist (watch it Here) is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a 4K release and a theatrical re-release… and fifty years after it first reached the screen, there are still new things to discover about it. In early October, filmmaker Paul Davis took to social media to share a snippet of actress Eileen Dietz’s Pazuzu makeup test, where she was shown wearing makeup designed by the legendary Dick Smith. Davis promised he would be releasing a commentary video including10 minutes of unseen outtakes and the full 2 minute makeup test video on Halloween – but when Halloween arrived, he delivered more than promised, revealing 35 minutes of rare outtake footage! You can check it out at the bottom of this article.
Based on a novel by William Peter Blatty (pick up a copy Here), who also wrote the screenplay, The Exorcist was directed by William Friedkin and tells the following...
Based on a novel by William Peter Blatty (pick up a copy Here), who also wrote the screenplay, The Exorcist was directed by William Friedkin and tells the following...
- 11/1/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
‘The Exorcist’ – Never-Before-Seen Outtakes from the Original Classic Finally Surface for Halloween!
As we celebrate 50 years of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, a man by the name of Paul Davis has unearthed extremely rare, never-before-seen footage from the production that he’s been teasing on social media throughout October. Davis, who directed Beware the Moon: Remembering An American Werewolf in London as well as the films The Body and Uncanny Annie (both part of Blumhouse’s anthology series “Into the Dark”), recently shared a brief snippet of footage from a Pazuzu makeup test, and he’s now sharing All of it for Halloween.
Davis just uploaded a 37-minute video to YouTube for Halloween today wherein he shares 34-minutes of rare and never-before-seen outtakes from The Exorcist, and he guides us through the footage with a running commentary track that provides context and additional info.
The incredible video shared by Davis includes outtakes from the deleted Washington Sightseeing trip, the Spider-Walk, the legendary Pazuzu makeup test,...
Davis just uploaded a 37-minute video to YouTube for Halloween today wherein he shares 34-minutes of rare and never-before-seen outtakes from The Exorcist, and he guides us through the footage with a running commentary track that provides context and additional info.
The incredible video shared by Davis includes outtakes from the deleted Washington Sightseeing trip, the Spider-Walk, the legendary Pazuzu makeup test,...
- 10/31/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon finale.
When The Walking Dead‘s final season introduced zombie “variants” that could pull off physical maneuvers more sophisticated than your average walker, some fans were a little confused and perhaps even disappointed. One of those fans, it turns out, was The Walking Dead producer and resident zombie-maker-in-chief Greg Nicotero.
“The variants that were introduced in the last season of The Walking Dead didn’t make any sense,” Nicotero tells Den of Geek‘s Aaron Sagers. “Because it wasn’t earned. They were like ‘oh, if you go back to the first season, zombies use rocks and smash windows.’ It didn’t make any sense that after eleven seasons that we hadn’t seen any of that.”
As Nicotero mentions, The Walking Dead team did indeed try to explain away its walkers’ new skills by pointing to some examples...
When The Walking Dead‘s final season introduced zombie “variants” that could pull off physical maneuvers more sophisticated than your average walker, some fans were a little confused and perhaps even disappointed. One of those fans, it turns out, was The Walking Dead producer and resident zombie-maker-in-chief Greg Nicotero.
“The variants that were introduced in the last season of The Walking Dead didn’t make any sense,” Nicotero tells Den of Geek‘s Aaron Sagers. “Because it wasn’t earned. They were like ‘oh, if you go back to the first season, zombies use rocks and smash windows.’ It didn’t make any sense that after eleven seasons that we hadn’t seen any of that.”
As Nicotero mentions, The Walking Dead team did indeed try to explain away its walkers’ new skills by pointing to some examples...
- 10/16/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
[Editor’s note: The following interview contains spoilers.]
It’s 50 years later in “The Exorcist: Believer,” and director David Gordon Green has rebooted William Friedkin’s horror masterpiece of demonic possession without sacrificing the original’s naturalism, ambiguity, and religious faith. However, there’s a new demon, two possessed girls, and a multi-faith exorcism. That’s because, in 2023, it takes a village to battle more powerful evil.
But it was vital that Spfx makeup designer Chris Nelson (Oscar winner for “Suicide Squad”) got the demonic look right, given the importance and influence of Dick Smith’s iconic work in the Og. “Chris Nelson and our makeup team began their approach to ‘Believer’ by studying the work of Dick Smith,'” Green told IndieWire. “It was groundbreaking in 1973, and we wanted to reach for the quality of in-camera, practical, makeup effects as much as possible.
“It was two and half hours a day for actresses [Lidya Jewett as Angela...
It’s 50 years later in “The Exorcist: Believer,” and director David Gordon Green has rebooted William Friedkin’s horror masterpiece of demonic possession without sacrificing the original’s naturalism, ambiguity, and religious faith. However, there’s a new demon, two possessed girls, and a multi-faith exorcism. That’s because, in 2023, it takes a village to battle more powerful evil.
But it was vital that Spfx makeup designer Chris Nelson (Oscar winner for “Suicide Squad”) got the demonic look right, given the importance and influence of Dick Smith’s iconic work in the Og. “Chris Nelson and our makeup team began their approach to ‘Believer’ by studying the work of Dick Smith,'” Green told IndieWire. “It was groundbreaking in 1973, and we wanted to reach for the quality of in-camera, practical, makeup effects as much as possible.
“It was two and half hours a day for actresses [Lidya Jewett as Angela...
- 10/8/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
On December 26, 1973, horror fans endured long lines for the theatrical premiere of The Exorcist – a film that’s now considered by many to be the scariest movie ever made. Directed by William Friedkin and based on the bestselling novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist broke box office records in its first week of release. Theater employees reported that moviegoers were passing out, becoming ill, and heading for the exits before the credits rolled because the subject matter was so disturbing and intense.
The creation of the classic horror film, which is the gold standard for movies dealing with possession and the devil, begins with Blatty’s novel published in 1971. Blatty’s story focused on a 12-year-old girl named Regan MacNeil who went from a happy-go-lucky, horse-loving preteen to a foul-mouthed, head-spinning nightmare after being possessed by a demon. Coming to Regan’s rescue were two Catholic priests who eventually...
The creation of the classic horror film, which is the gold standard for movies dealing with possession and the devil, begins with Blatty’s novel published in 1971. Blatty’s story focused on a 12-year-old girl named Regan MacNeil who went from a happy-go-lucky, horse-loving preteen to a foul-mouthed, head-spinning nightmare after being possessed by a demon. Coming to Regan’s rescue were two Catholic priests who eventually...
- 10/6/2023
- by Kevin Finnerty
- Showbiz Junkies
There’s a new Exorcist sequel, The Exorcist: Believer, reaching theatres tomorrow, October 6th – but in his review of the film, JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray says it’s abysmal and advises horror fans to “Watch the original instead.” And watching the 1973 classic The Exorcist (watch it Here) is always good advice to follow. The movie is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a 4K release and a theatrical re-release… and fifty years after it first reached the screen, there are still new things to discover about it. Filmmaker Paul Davis has taken to social media to share a snippet of actress Eileen Dietz’s Pazuzu makeup test, where she’s wearing makeup designed by the legendary Dick Smith. The snippet is less than 30 seconds long, but there’s more to come. Over Halloween, Davis will be releasing a commentary video that includes 10 minutes of unseen outtakes and the full 2 minute makeup test video.
- 10/5/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
William Friedkin’s horror classic The Exorcist turns 50 years old here in 2023, and the film’s raw power is felt as much today as it was all those decades ago. One of the most enduring images of the 1973 masterpiece is the face of the demon Pazuzu, played by Eileen Dietz.
The image flashes on the screen multiple times throughout The Exorcist, turning Dietz into something of a horror icon in her own right. All these years later, rare footage from those Pazuzu makeup tests has surfaced, and it’s been shared by Paul Davis on social media.
Davis, who directed Beware the Moon: Remembering An American Werewolf in London as well as the films The Body and Uncanny Annie (both part of Blumhouse’s anthology series “Into the Dark”), has shared a brief snippet of what he calls the “holy grail of outtakes from The Exorcist,” and he promises that...
The image flashes on the screen multiple times throughout The Exorcist, turning Dietz into something of a horror icon in her own right. All these years later, rare footage from those Pazuzu makeup tests has surfaced, and it’s been shared by Paul Davis on social media.
Davis, who directed Beware the Moon: Remembering An American Werewolf in London as well as the films The Body and Uncanny Annie (both part of Blumhouse’s anthology series “Into the Dark”), has shared a brief snippet of what he calls the “holy grail of outtakes from The Exorcist,” and he promises that...
- 10/4/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Legendary special makeup effects artist Dick Smith, known as The Godfather of Makeup, remains one of the most influential and vital figures in cinematic history. The Academy Museum is celebrating accordingly with a limited screening series that showcases some of Smith’s greatest achievements in movie makeup magic.
The limited screening series, Dick Smith: The Godfather of Makeup, is especially noteworthy for horror fans, as the lineup is packed with special showings of classic horror that showcase Smith’s contributions to the genre. Even better is that many of these screenings include introductions by prominent SFX artists that include Rick Baker, Craig Reardon and more.
Smith was the first makeup artist to receive an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement, in 2011. He was 89 at the time. He also won an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for his work on Amadeus in 1985, developed a reputation for skillful aging makeups.
The limited screening series, Dick Smith: The Godfather of Makeup, is especially noteworthy for horror fans, as the lineup is packed with special showings of classic horror that showcase Smith’s contributions to the genre. Even better is that many of these screenings include introductions by prominent SFX artists that include Rick Baker, Craig Reardon and more.
Smith was the first makeup artist to receive an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement, in 2011. He was 89 at the time. He also won an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for his work on Amadeus in 1985, developed a reputation for skillful aging makeups.
- 7/21/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The idea of the “movie star” is usually reserved for the uber-famous; Margot Robbie, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The occasional director like Jordan Peele or Christopher Nolan, filmmakers so well established they have their own font. But in the genre world, it’s different. As much as you might see a crowd turn out in force for the game-changing work of a John Carpenter, or a Michelle Yeoh, you’re just as likely to see lines around the block for Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Greg Nicotero, Phil Tippett or Tom Savini – Hollywood’s most lauded special effects and make-up artists. The physical creators of some of the most iconic characters in cinema history: our movie monsters.
Which explains Forbidden Worlds Film Festival’s entire strand devoted to ‘Creature Creators’; a series of films shining a spotlight on these visual effects ‘stars’. Charting a course from Willis O’Brien’s...
Which explains Forbidden Worlds Film Festival’s entire strand devoted to ‘Creature Creators’; a series of films shining a spotlight on these visual effects ‘stars’. Charting a course from Willis O’Brien’s...
- 5/21/2023
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Gravitas Ventures has promoted Danielle Gasher to vice president, acquisitions and international sales, and Bill Guentzler to vice president, acquisitions.
Gasher will now head Gravitas’ new international sales efforts division that will launch at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, continuing to play an integral role as a part of the acquisitions team. Guentzler will take on the role of securing titles for the company’s slate of over 200 films a year. Together, Gravitas and Guentzler will identify films for the Gravitas Premiere label that launched “Mack & Rita,” starring Diane Keaton, in 2022.
Prior to their promotion, Gasher and Guentzler were both senior directors of acquisition for Gravitas Ventures where they worked on acquiring Gravitas titles including Alex Heller’s “The Year Between” with J. Smith-Cameron and Steve Buscemi, “All the World Is Sleeping” with “Scream VI’s” Melissa Barrera, “Ocean Boy” with Luke Hemsworth and the comedic drama “Gringa...
Gasher will now head Gravitas’ new international sales efforts division that will launch at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, continuing to play an integral role as a part of the acquisitions team. Guentzler will take on the role of securing titles for the company’s slate of over 200 films a year. Together, Gravitas and Guentzler will identify films for the Gravitas Premiere label that launched “Mack & Rita,” starring Diane Keaton, in 2022.
Prior to their promotion, Gasher and Guentzler were both senior directors of acquisition for Gravitas Ventures where they worked on acquiring Gravitas titles including Alex Heller’s “The Year Between” with J. Smith-Cameron and Steve Buscemi, “All the World Is Sleeping” with “Scream VI’s” Melissa Barrera, “Ocean Boy” with Luke Hemsworth and the comedic drama “Gringa...
- 5/11/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, McKinley Franklin and Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Refresh For Udpates: The nominations for the 76th Annual Tony Awards will be announced on CBS Mornings today by Funny Girl star Lea Michele and Mj‘s Tony Award winner Myles Frost. The complete list of nominations will be posted here at 9:10 a.m. Et./6 a.m. Pt.
The nominations announced so far:
Best Musical
& Juliet
Producers: Max Martin & Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd, Eva Price, Lukasz Gottwald, 42nd.club, Independent Presenters Network, Jack Lane, Library Company, Shellback, Shivhans Pictures, Sing Out, Louise!, Kim Szarzynski, Taylor/Riegler, Tenenbaum/Keyes, Barry Weiss, John Gore Organization
Kimberly Akimbo
Producers: David Stone, Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, Lachanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, Aaron Glick
New York, New York
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Crossroads Live, Playing Field, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Colin Callender, Gilbert and DeeDee Garcia/Sue Vaccaro,...
The nominations announced so far:
Best Musical
& Juliet
Producers: Max Martin & Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd, Eva Price, Lukasz Gottwald, 42nd.club, Independent Presenters Network, Jack Lane, Library Company, Shellback, Shivhans Pictures, Sing Out, Louise!, Kim Szarzynski, Taylor/Riegler, Tenenbaum/Keyes, Barry Weiss, John Gore Organization
Kimberly Akimbo
Producers: David Stone, Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, Lachanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, Aaron Glick
New York, New York
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Crossroads Live, Playing Field, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Colin Callender, Gilbert and DeeDee Garcia/Sue Vaccaro,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. has already celebrated its centennial with a segment during the Academy Awards, the publication of a studio-supported book (Warner Bros.: 100 Years of Storytelling) and, most recently, a barrage of festivities emanating from Turner Classic Movies. TCM’s programming for all of April is being devoted to Warners films, and at the 14th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, running April 13-16, many studio masterpieces, some recently restored and remastered, will be shown on big screens around town. Here are 10 that this THR Hollywood history buff highly recommends.
Footlight Parade (1933)
Ninety years ago, during the depths of the Great Depression, Americans sought escape from their troubles with light movies like this backstage musical. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler and highlighted by some of choreographer Busby Berkeley’s most kaleidoscopic dance numbers, it was a giant hit at the box office.
Footlight Parade (1933)
Ninety years ago, during the depths of the Great Depression, Americans sought escape from their troubles with light movies like this backstage musical. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler and highlighted by some of choreographer Busby Berkeley’s most kaleidoscopic dance numbers, it was a giant hit at the box office.
- 4/12/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There are two types of Al Pacino performances. The first is the kind that announced him as an acting virtuoso in the 1970s. They're fully inhabited, imbued with a coiled intensity, and forever on the verge of crescendoing to rage or, on rare occasions (most movingly in Jerry Schatzberg's "Scarecrow"), joy. This is Pacino at his very best: restless, yet modulated. When he blows his top in "Dog Day Afternoon," screaming "Attica" at the cops posted outside the bank he's attempting to rob, the moment is earned. He's given us keen insight into the mental machinery that drives Sonny, and has us cheering along with the crowd, even though we're still not sure why he's been driven to such dead-end desperation.
The second type is the grotesque self-parody that's been grist for impressionists — none better than Bill Hader — and soundboard prank callers since he stole Denzel Washington's Oscar...
The second type is the grotesque self-parody that's been grist for impressionists — none better than Bill Hader — and soundboard prank callers since he stole Denzel Washington's Oscar...
- 3/31/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
With the rise of online gambling, it’s easier than ever to find one of the best Visa casinos. With a Visa card, players can access the best casinos around the world, offering a safe and secure payment solution for playing a variety of games. Players can find one of the best Visa casinos by searching for reputable sites that offer a wide variety of games, attractive bonuses and excellent customer service. Gathering information The first step in finding one of the best Visa casinos is to gather information. Players should research online casinos to find out what games they offer, what bonuses or promotions they offer, and what kind of customer service they provide. It is also important to read reviews and check user ratings to determine the overall quality of the casino. It’s also significant to make sure that the casino is licensed and regulated, and uses the most up-to-date security measures.
- 3/16/2023
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
The rights holders of funk legends Earth, Wind & Fire have sued the company behind a competing Earth, Wind & Fire act, accusing them of copyright infringement and trademark dilution that they claims has resulted in overall confusion and disappointed fans.
Earth Wind & Fire IP, LLC — the rights holder of the band’s trademarks following the death of founder Maurice White in 2016 — filed a lawsuit against Substantial Music Group and Stellar Communications Monday in a U.S. District Court in Miami, claiming that the latter falsely marketed their Earth, Wind & Fire legacy...
Earth Wind & Fire IP, LLC — the rights holder of the band’s trademarks following the death of founder Maurice White in 2016 — filed a lawsuit against Substantial Music Group and Stellar Communications Monday in a U.S. District Court in Miami, claiming that the latter falsely marketed their Earth, Wind & Fire legacy...
- 3/8/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
William Goldman’s international conspiracy thriller provides Dustin Hoffman with an outright ‘action man’ star vehicle. The public applauded supporting star Laurence Olivier, who with just a few gestures creates a terrifying villain: “Is it safe?” William Devane and Marthe Keller co-star. We wish Roy Scheider’s character could have continued in a series of crime thrillers — he brings genuine movie star charisma. The story is by William Goldman, from his own book.
Marathon Man 4K
4K Ultra-hd + Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1976 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 125 min. / Street Date February 28, 2023 / available through Kino Lorber / 39.95
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Scheider, William Devane, Marthe Keller, Fritz Weaver, Richard Bright, Marc Lawrence, Lou Gilbert, Fred Stuthman, Jacques Marin, Litti Palfi Andor, Madge Kennedy, Treat Williams.
Cinematography: Conrad Hall
Production Designer: Richard Macdonald
Art Director: Jack De Shields
Film Editor: Jim Clark
Special Makeup Consultant: Dick Smith
Original Music: Michael Small
Written by...
Marathon Man 4K
4K Ultra-hd + Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1976 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 125 min. / Street Date February 28, 2023 / available through Kino Lorber / 39.95
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Scheider, William Devane, Marthe Keller, Fritz Weaver, Richard Bright, Marc Lawrence, Lou Gilbert, Fred Stuthman, Jacques Marin, Litti Palfi Andor, Madge Kennedy, Treat Williams.
Cinematography: Conrad Hall
Production Designer: Richard Macdonald
Art Director: Jack De Shields
Film Editor: Jim Clark
Special Makeup Consultant: Dick Smith
Original Music: Michael Small
Written by...
- 2/14/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It's been almost a year since director Matt Reeves gave us "The Batman," and I think it's safe to say we're all eager to explore more of its grimy gothic environs. Well "take it easy, sweetheart" -- sorry, I had to -- because Reeves is working on "The Penguin" spin-off for HBO Max, which thus far doesn't appear to have tasted Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslov's merciless sword and is, according to star Colin Farrell, set to start shooting in February. While multiple projects centered on Batman villains such as Clayface and Scarecrow are said to be in the early stages of development, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "The Penguin" is currently the furthest along. It's set to arrive before we get the Robert Pattinson-led sequel to "The Batman."
The HBO Max series will see Oz Cobblepot (Farrell) go on his own "Scarface"-style journey as he edges...
The HBO Max series will see Oz Cobblepot (Farrell) go on his own "Scarface"-style journey as he edges...
- 1/28/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
It’s happened five times in the last 11 years (including three years in a row) that an acting winner has has also carried along the hair/makeup team for triumphs at the Academy Awards, a trend that Brendan Fraser and the makeup/prosthetics team from “The Whale” (headed by Judy Chin) hope to continue this year. To be sure, the transformation of Fraser into a 600-pound man proved a visually stunning on-camera masterwork, and it would surprise few if the actor and the team in charge of his radically altered appearance were both to be honored with Oscar hardware.
Most recently, Jessica Chastain won the lead actress prize for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” at last year’s Oscars, while the makeup/hairstyling trophy went to that film’s Stephanie Ingram, Linda Dowds and Justin Raleigh for helping transform Chastain into Tammy Faye Bakker.
SEEOscar spotlight: Brendan Fraser should still...
Most recently, Jessica Chastain won the lead actress prize for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” at last year’s Oscars, while the makeup/hairstyling trophy went to that film’s Stephanie Ingram, Linda Dowds and Justin Raleigh for helping transform Chastain into Tammy Faye Bakker.
SEEOscar spotlight: Brendan Fraser should still...
- 1/23/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
In the age of streaming television, horror is alive and well. Shows like "Stranger Things" and "Wednesday" are topping Netflix's charts, "What We Do in the Shadows" continues to prove series adaptations of movies can be even better than the source material, and although "The Walking Dead" came to a conclusion with its 11th season, its multiple spin-offs are certain to keep its spirit shambling along for years to come. But what if you're looking for something off the beaten path?
The good news is that there's a whole world of horror television lurking in the shadows, hungrily waiting for its next captive audience. From old-school anthology series to a Danish supernatural hospital drama, or even obscure relics of the Y2K age, we've put together a lineup of forgotten or simply underappreciated shows that are worth checking out. While some of these might take a little elbow grease...
The good news is that there's a whole world of horror television lurking in the shadows, hungrily waiting for its next captive audience. From old-school anthology series to a Danish supernatural hospital drama, or even obscure relics of the Y2K age, we've put together a lineup of forgotten or simply underappreciated shows that are worth checking out. While some of these might take a little elbow grease...
- 1/21/2023
- by Kyle Milner
- Slash Film
Angela Bassett will be honored by the Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (Muahs) with the 2023 Distinguished Artisan Award. The actor, director and executive producer is set to receive the accolade on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at The Beverly Hilton.
“Local 706 wishes to show its appreciation to Angela Bassett, who has portrayed amazingly iconic women we can all relate to. She boldly collaborates with her 706 make-up and hair teams to extend their imaginations and develop magical but always relatable characters you will remember forever – from the beloved Queen Ramonda to feisty Tina Turner to Bernadine in Waiting to Exhale. We couldn’t think of a better person to help us celebrate our 10th anniversary,” saud Julie Socash, President of IATSE Local 706.
The Distinguished Artisan Award celebrates Bassett’s versatile career on screen and television, who recently received a Golden Globe Award and a SAG Award nomination for her work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
“Local 706 wishes to show its appreciation to Angela Bassett, who has portrayed amazingly iconic women we can all relate to. She boldly collaborates with her 706 make-up and hair teams to extend their imaginations and develop magical but always relatable characters you will remember forever – from the beloved Queen Ramonda to feisty Tina Turner to Bernadine in Waiting to Exhale. We couldn’t think of a better person to help us celebrate our 10th anniversary,” saud Julie Socash, President of IATSE Local 706.
The Distinguished Artisan Award celebrates Bassett’s versatile career on screen and television, who recently received a Golden Globe Award and a SAG Award nomination for her work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
- 1/16/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Producers Mike Bosner and Jason Owen announced today that Shucked, a new original musical comedy with a book by Tony winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and music by Nashville’s hit songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally will open on Broadway this spring.
Shucked will begin previews at the Nederlander Theatre on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 for a Tuesday, April 4 opening night.
The musical comedy will star John Behlmann (Tootsie), Kevin Cahoon (The Who’s Tommy), Andrew Durand (Head Over Heels), Caroline Innerbichler (Frozen North American Tour), Ashley D. Kelley (Bella: An American Tall Tale), and Alex Newell (Once On This Island). Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.
The production is directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, music direction, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award nominee Jason Howland.
Clark and McAnally collectively have earned three Grammy Awards and 18 Grammy nominations.
Shucked will begin previews at the Nederlander Theatre on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 for a Tuesday, April 4 opening night.
The musical comedy will star John Behlmann (Tootsie), Kevin Cahoon (The Who’s Tommy), Andrew Durand (Head Over Heels), Caroline Innerbichler (Frozen North American Tour), Ashley D. Kelley (Bella: An American Tall Tale), and Alex Newell (Once On This Island). Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.
The production is directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, music direction, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award nominee Jason Howland.
Clark and McAnally collectively have earned three Grammy Awards and 18 Grammy nominations.
- 11/14/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
From “American Werewolf in London,” “Nightmare on Elm Street” to the new AMC series, “Interview with the Vampire,” makeup artist Howard Berger has over 800 credits and is the mastermind behind some of the most astounding transformations on film and TV.
Earlier this year, longtime friends Marshall Julius and Berger released the book, “Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic” where Berger shares never-before-seen photos, detailing the magic of practical makeup and sharing his process.
Variety asked Berger to share some of his favorite anecdotes about bloodying up the beautiful faces of Hollywood below.
The Orville’s Alien Sausage Factory View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Howard Berger (@hoops511)
“There’s an array of aliens, hundreds of species [on this show]. Seth MacFarlane is very artistic and we’d have discussions about alien ideas. He would sometimes do a little sketch – and I’ve saved them all – and I’d get it.
Earlier this year, longtime friends Marshall Julius and Berger released the book, “Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic” where Berger shares never-before-seen photos, detailing the magic of practical makeup and sharing his process.
Variety asked Berger to share some of his favorite anecdotes about bloodying up the beautiful faces of Hollywood below.
The Orville’s Alien Sausage Factory View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Howard Berger (@hoops511)
“There’s an array of aliens, hundreds of species [on this show]. Seth MacFarlane is very artistic and we’d have discussions about alien ideas. He would sometimes do a little sketch – and I’ve saved them all – and I’d get it.
- 10/26/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Shopping for the horror connoisseur can be tricky, what’s a good gift for the friend or family member who loves to be scared?
Never fear, Variety has compiled the best gifts around for scary movie (and TV) lovers.
A Shudder Subscription
No horror fan worth their Michael Meyer mask should be without a subscription to Shudder. This all-horror streaming service is not only stuffed to the brim with classic and cult scares including their new original run of “Creepshow,” the very good “Scare Me” original Shudder release and loads of flick you need to watch like “Watcher,” “What Josiah Saw” and “Glorious.” And if you just want to re-watch a classic like “House” or “The Descent” this service has you covered.
7 Day Free Trial for Shudder
Buy It
Tremors T-Shirt
The greatest franchise in the history of horror, now in t-shirt form. I know what you’re thinking, “a black horror t-shirt,...
Never fear, Variety has compiled the best gifts around for scary movie (and TV) lovers.
A Shudder Subscription
No horror fan worth their Michael Meyer mask should be without a subscription to Shudder. This all-horror streaming service is not only stuffed to the brim with classic and cult scares including their new original run of “Creepshow,” the very good “Scare Me” original Shudder release and loads of flick you need to watch like “Watcher,” “What Josiah Saw” and “Glorious.” And if you just want to re-watch a classic like “House” or “The Descent” this service has you covered.
7 Day Free Trial for Shudder
Buy It
Tremors T-Shirt
The greatest franchise in the history of horror, now in t-shirt form. I know what you’re thinking, “a black horror t-shirt,...
- 10/4/2022
- by Meredith Woerner and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
As part of Paramount+’s “The Offer,” makeup designer Katy Fray had to recreate looks from “The Godfather.” That meant transforming Justin Chambers and Giovanni Ribisi into Marlon Brando and Joe Colombo, respectively.
Ribisi gained 30 pounds to play the part of crime boss Colombo. In addition to a few prosthetic pieces, Fray took to shaving back his hair to create a receding bald comb-over. He then added a little hairpiece to the top of his head to create a thinning look.
Fray says she and Ribisi “had to convince” director Dexter Fletcher that it was the right move. “Once it’s been taken off, it’s gone,” she says.
Brylcreem was her go-to hair product to keep the hair in place, and makeup for him was minimal.
On the other hand, the most daunting challenge was transforming Chambers into Brando’s Don Vito Corleone. Fray began by researching the work of Dick Smith,...
Ribisi gained 30 pounds to play the part of crime boss Colombo. In addition to a few prosthetic pieces, Fray took to shaving back his hair to create a receding bald comb-over. He then added a little hairpiece to the top of his head to create a thinning look.
Fray says she and Ribisi “had to convince” director Dexter Fletcher that it was the right move. “Once it’s been taken off, it’s gone,” she says.
Brylcreem was her go-to hair product to keep the hair in place, and makeup for him was minimal.
On the other hand, the most daunting challenge was transforming Chambers into Brando’s Don Vito Corleone. Fray began by researching the work of Dick Smith,...
- 6/3/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
One of the many challenges facing the Paramount+ series “The Offer” was the task of ensuring its cast actually looked like the real-life figures they were portraying. Add in the fact that they were transforming into characters from one of the most iconic films of all time, and the challenge was doubly difficult.
“The Offer” tells the true, behind-the-scenes story of how “The Godfather” was made, you can see how actor Justin Chambers (“Grey’s Anatomy”) morphed into a “Godfather”-era Marlon Brando in an exclusive behind-the-scenes video above.
“I do film and I do TV, and TV wants film quality with TV time,” makeup department head Renee Vaca explains in the featurette, which details how Chambers was transformed using practical techniques.
“Justin’s got a great face to become Marlon Brando, we’re very lucky and he’s a lovely, amazing actor. He loves having the makeup done because it gets him into character,...
“The Offer” tells the true, behind-the-scenes story of how “The Godfather” was made, you can see how actor Justin Chambers (“Grey’s Anatomy”) morphed into a “Godfather”-era Marlon Brando in an exclusive behind-the-scenes video above.
“I do film and I do TV, and TV wants film quality with TV time,” makeup department head Renee Vaca explains in the featurette, which details how Chambers was transformed using practical techniques.
“Justin’s got a great face to become Marlon Brando, we’re very lucky and he’s a lovely, amazing actor. He loves having the makeup done because it gets him into character,...
- 5/26/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
When Albert S. Ruddy (played by Miles Teller), Bettye McCart (Juno Temple) and Francis Ford Coppola (Dan Fogler) meet outside Marlon Brando’s house in the fourth episode of “The Offer,” their anticipation is palpable. That goes for the audience watching the limited series on Paramount+ as well: How could any modern performer capture the essence of Brando, one of the most acclaimed and recognizable actors of all time?
That’s the task actor Justin Chambers and makeup department head Katy Fray undertook for “The Offer,” and their work pays off immediately. Chambers’ first scene as Brando – where he auditions to play Don Corleone in “The Godfather” and transforms into the mafia figure on the spot – inspires awe in the show’s characters and will likely have a similar result on the viewers at home.
SEEParamount + makes its ‘Offer.’ Will auds refuse it?
“Before we knew it was Justin Chambers playing Brando,...
That’s the task actor Justin Chambers and makeup department head Katy Fray undertook for “The Offer,” and their work pays off immediately. Chambers’ first scene as Brando – where he auditions to play Don Corleone in “The Godfather” and transforms into the mafia figure on the spot – inspires awe in the show’s characters and will likely have a similar result on the viewers at home.
SEEParamount + makes its ‘Offer.’ Will auds refuse it?
“Before we knew it was Justin Chambers playing Brando,...
- 5/6/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Nightmare Alley cat Guillermo del Toro is set to receive the Visual Effects Society’s career honor next month.
The two-time Oscar winner for The Shape of Water — whose credits also include such effect-laden pics as Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and the Pacific Rim and Hellboy films — will pick up the Ves Award for Creative Excellence during the 20th anniversary Ves Awards on March 8 at the Beverly Hilton.
Guillermo Del Toro On ‘Nightmare Alley’ Best Picture Nom: “This Is A Great Blessing’
“Guillermo is a fiercely inventive storyteller, who has pushed the boundaries of filmmaking,” Ves Board Chair Lisa Cooke said. “An exemplary talent, he has consistently elevated not just the technical aspect of visual effects but also the emotional.”
Del Toro is up for the Best Picture Academy Award again this year for Nightmare Alley, his reimagining of the gritty 1947 noir Nightmare Alley. The pic starring Bradley Cooper and...
The two-time Oscar winner for The Shape of Water — whose credits also include such effect-laden pics as Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and the Pacific Rim and Hellboy films — will pick up the Ves Award for Creative Excellence during the 20th anniversary Ves Awards on March 8 at the Beverly Hilton.
Guillermo Del Toro On ‘Nightmare Alley’ Best Picture Nom: “This Is A Great Blessing’
“Guillermo is a fiercely inventive storyteller, who has pushed the boundaries of filmmaking,” Ves Board Chair Lisa Cooke said. “An exemplary talent, he has consistently elevated not just the technical aspect of visual effects but also the emotional.”
Del Toro is up for the Best Picture Academy Award again this year for Nightmare Alley, his reimagining of the gritty 1947 noir Nightmare Alley. The pic starring Bradley Cooper and...
- 2/17/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s no exaggeration to state that filmmaking, especially in the fields of science fiction and fantasy, might not be what it is today without the pioneering work of the legendary Douglas Trumbull.
The director and visual effects designer, who passed away on February 8 at the age of 79, had a hand in creating the screenscapes for some of the most influential genre films of all time, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner. He pioneered techniques that allowed those films and many others to visualize the vastness of space, the magnificence of alien spacecraft and the eeriness of dystopian futures with a sense of scale and realism that elevated sci-fi cinema beyond its reputation as a dumping ground for hoary, cheap-looking B-movies once and for all.
Born on April 8, 1942 in Los Angeles, Douglas Trumbull followed his father Donald — who worked on the visual...
The director and visual effects designer, who passed away on February 8 at the age of 79, had a hand in creating the screenscapes for some of the most influential genre films of all time, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner. He pioneered techniques that allowed those films and many others to visualize the vastness of space, the magnificence of alien spacecraft and the eeriness of dystopian futures with a sense of scale and realism that elevated sci-fi cinema beyond its reputation as a dumping ground for hoary, cheap-looking B-movies once and for all.
Born on April 8, 1942 in Los Angeles, Douglas Trumbull followed his father Donald — who worked on the visual...
- 2/9/2022
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Comics are Katie Kubert’s professional medium, but it’s the other kind of medium that’s perhaps as equally relevant to her current role as editor of the new DC Horror imprint.
As a child, Kubert recalls visiting the Tower of London with her family when, after a brief visit, her mother said, “I don’t want to be here anymore.”
You see, Kubert’s mom sees dead people. And, according to her daughter, she’s really good at it. So good she must have seen something at the historic landmark that unsettled her. So good she can even read a situation over the phone, and if her mom tells her to clear out of a situation — a haunted house, for instance —she’s going to listen.
While the spiritual gift of mediumship did not pass down to Kubert, she loves the idea of haunted houses, and haunted house attractions.
As a child, Kubert recalls visiting the Tower of London with her family when, after a brief visit, her mother said, “I don’t want to be here anymore.”
You see, Kubert’s mom sees dead people. And, according to her daughter, she’s really good at it. So good she must have seen something at the historic landmark that unsettled her. So good she can even read a situation over the phone, and if her mom tells her to clear out of a situation — a haunted house, for instance —she’s going to listen.
While the spiritual gift of mediumship did not pass down to Kubert, she loves the idea of haunted houses, and haunted house attractions.
- 10/3/2021
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Nope, it’s not on disc but it’s getting written up here because so few people know it and it’s been difficult to see my entire adult life. The fourth Gardner/Levy United Artists horror/sci-fi picture of ’57-’58 is another trip into a jungle’s Heart of Darkness, where awaits a deadly satellite fallen from orbit. Have we missed something Spectacular? Fantastic? Incredible? This seventy minutes of cheap program filler is nobody’s favorite, but CineSavant embraces Sci-Fi orphans of every description. Stars Arthur Franz and Kathleen Crowley can’t have been pleased by the result.
The Flame Barrier
Blu-ray
Savant Revival Screening Review
1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 71 min. / Not On Home Video
Starring: Arthur Franz, Kathleen Crowley, Robert Brown, Vincent Padula, Rodd Redwing, Kaz Oran, Pilar Del Rey.
Cinematography: Jack MacKenzie
Film Editor: Jerry Young
Makeup: Dick Smith
Original Music: Gerald Fried
Written by Pat Fielder,...
The Flame Barrier
Blu-ray
Savant Revival Screening Review
1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 71 min. / Not On Home Video
Starring: Arthur Franz, Kathleen Crowley, Robert Brown, Vincent Padula, Rodd Redwing, Kaz Oran, Pilar Del Rey.
Cinematography: Jack MacKenzie
Film Editor: Jerry Young
Makeup: Dick Smith
Original Music: Gerald Fried
Written by Pat Fielder,...
- 3/6/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Above: The movie poster for Sweet Home.It was at the height of the early-'00s J-horror boom that director Kiyoshi Kurosawa built his reputation as a master of the eerie. A nuanced filmmaker whose methodical style provoked genuine chills, he stood apart from the glut of jump scare merchants with a brand of anxiety-inducing, existential horror that eschewed shock tactics in favour of deep, brooding atmospheres. As slow-burners like Cure (1997), Pulse (2001), and Loft (2005) left audiences lingering over the nature of the human condition, a turn to family drama with 2008’s Tokyo Sonata would then mark the apex of his career with an Un Certain Regard Jury Prize win at Cannes. Fast-forward to September 2020, and he’s been recognized for excellence once again, with a Silver Lion win at Venice for his latest film, Wife of a Spy.But back in 1989, the rookie director was at the reigns of a...
- 10/26/2020
- MUBI
At Sunday’s Emmys Tyler Perry was honored with the Governors Award. It was presented by his pal Oprah Winfrey and Perry delivered a powerful acceptance speech that was a highlight of the virtual ceremony. The Oscars used to include honorary awards most years and these too were often the most memorable moments of the evening. In 2009, the academy moved these de facto lifetime achievement awards off of the Oscars and staged separate Governor Awards.
The ceremony in mid November has become a key date in awards season, with contenders getting to schmooze with academy members. When this year’s Oscars were postponed for several months back in June so too were the Governor Awards. But we haven’t heard an update on the status of these honorary Oscars since then.
By not being part of the televised Academy Awards, this has meant more people could be honored each year...
The ceremony in mid November has become a key date in awards season, with contenders getting to schmooze with academy members. When this year’s Oscars were postponed for several months back in June so too were the Governor Awards. But we haven’t heard an update on the status of these honorary Oscars since then.
By not being part of the televised Academy Awards, this has meant more people could be honored each year...
- 9/21/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Honorary Oscars for 2019 will be presented this Sunday, October 27. That’s earlier than ever due to a much short Academy Awards season this year. Trophies will be presented at the Governors Awards in Hollywood to actress Geena Davis, director David Lynch, actor Wes Studi and director Lina Wertmuller. Members of the Academy board of governors chose and announced these four recipients back in the early summer.
Davis is receiving the Jean Hersholt Award for her humanitarian work. She won the Best Supporting Actress trophy for “The Accidental Tourist” (1988) and was also nominated for “Thelma and Louise” (1991). Other films in her career have included “The Fly,” “Beetlejuice,” “A League of Their Own” and “Speechless.”
SEEGeena Davis movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
Lynch has received three directing nominations in his career for “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001). He was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Elephant Man.
Davis is receiving the Jean Hersholt Award for her humanitarian work. She won the Best Supporting Actress trophy for “The Accidental Tourist” (1988) and was also nominated for “Thelma and Louise” (1991). Other films in her career have included “The Fly,” “Beetlejuice,” “A League of Their Own” and “Speechless.”
SEEGeena Davis movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
Lynch has received three directing nominations in his career for “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001). He was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Elephant Man.
- 10/26/2019
- by Chris Beachum and Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” premiered to universal critical acclaim at the New York Film Festival, and its use of de-aging visual effects has led many in the industry to question whether or not the film will be a turning point. The film utilizes groundbreaking de-aging VFX to allow actors Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino to play the same characters across decades. In some cases, the VFX is applied to make the 76-year-old De Niro appear in his 40s. The effectiveness of the “The Irishman” VFX has split critics, but Scorsese tells Sight & Sound magazine that de-aging effects could eventually replace more traditional forms of Hollywood makeup and prosthetic work.
For Scorsese, de-aging VFX are trying to achieve the same goal as makeup in that both are illusions. “There’s the convention in cinema of the use of make-up,” he told Sight & Sound. “If you look at an older film,...
For Scorsese, de-aging VFX are trying to achieve the same goal as makeup in that both are illusions. “There’s the convention in cinema of the use of make-up,” he told Sight & Sound. “If you look at an older film,...
- 10/10/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Paul LeBlanc, Oscar-winning hairstylist for stars like Carrie Fisher, Sharon Stone and Javier Bardem, died Wednesday at the age of 73, his family announced.
Born in New Brunswick, LeBlanc’s biggest claim to fame was his hairstyling on the 1984 Best Picture Oscar winner “Amadeus.” LeBlanc won the Best Makeup Oscar for that film alongside makeup artist Dick Smith and later received the lifetime achievement award from the Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Guild in 2003.
Also Read: Rip Taylor, Colorful Confetti-Throwing Comedian, Dies at 84
Prior to “Amadeus,” LeBlanc worked on the hair of one of the most iconic characters in film history: Princess Leia. The 1983 “Star Wars” film “Return of the Jedi” was one of LeBlanc’s first major jobs in cinematic hairstyling, fashioning the braids that Leia wore as Jabba the Hutt’s slave and as a guest of the Ewoks on Endor.
In the 1990s, LeBlanc became the hairstylist for Sharon Stone on multiple films,...
Born in New Brunswick, LeBlanc’s biggest claim to fame was his hairstyling on the 1984 Best Picture Oscar winner “Amadeus.” LeBlanc won the Best Makeup Oscar for that film alongside makeup artist Dick Smith and later received the lifetime achievement award from the Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Guild in 2003.
Also Read: Rip Taylor, Colorful Confetti-Throwing Comedian, Dies at 84
Prior to “Amadeus,” LeBlanc worked on the hair of one of the most iconic characters in film history: Princess Leia. The 1983 “Star Wars” film “Return of the Jedi” was one of LeBlanc’s first major jobs in cinematic hairstyling, fashioning the braids that Leia wore as Jabba the Hutt’s slave and as a guest of the Ewoks on Endor.
In the 1990s, LeBlanc became the hairstylist for Sharon Stone on multiple films,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
I somehow found myself in a swampy jungle deep in the Mexican state of Nayarit. A group of shipwrecked Spanish explorers were cutting their way through the thick underbrush. Swoosh! a hail of arrows and then splashes of blood. Suddenly a jolly young man, wearing an apron covered in blood, emerged from behind a mangrove tree. He was in charge of special effects make-up, and was laughing wickedly.
The year was 1990 and I had been invited by a friend, the Mexican producer Julio Solórzano, to join him and Bertha Navarro on location for the production of the historical epic “Cabeza de Vaca.” The film had Mexican and Spanish funding. It was set to be released to coincide with the 500th anniversary of what the Spanish insisted on calling the Encounter, and the Mexicans called the Conquest. It was to be my first encounter with Guillermo del Toro.
I was lucky...
The year was 1990 and I had been invited by a friend, the Mexican producer Julio Solórzano, to join him and Bertha Navarro on location for the production of the historical epic “Cabeza de Vaca.” The film had Mexican and Spanish funding. It was set to be released to coincide with the 500th anniversary of what the Spanish insisted on calling the Encounter, and the Mexicans called the Conquest. It was to be my first encounter with Guillermo del Toro.
I was lucky...
- 8/6/2019
- by Arthur Gorson
- Variety Film + TV
As a child, I first saw a snake with my own two eyes when one of the garter variety slithered through our front lawn and my mom, with a deep abiding fear, called my dad home from the office to slay the beast. (Or shoo it away. Probably that.) I maintain a healthy relationship with snakes: leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone. (I promise I’ll always leave you alone.) Of course, I love to see them in horror movies; the safety of the screen provides nothing but thrills when I know it won’t be coming for me. This brings us to Spasms (1983), a disjointed yet fun film in which a big snake in a big Canadian city wreaks big havoc.
With a troubled production as serpentine as its subject, Spasms saw little theatrical love (or release for that matter) but nested comfortably on video for...
With a troubled production as serpentine as its subject, Spasms saw little theatrical love (or release for that matter) but nested comfortably on video for...
- 8/3/2019
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
The Terminator has been one of the iconic movies of all time. The movie consisting of the lead role played by Arnold Schwarzenegger still remains one of the movies of all time. There has been overall five installments in the Terminator and now would be having a sixth installment named Terminator: Dark Fate.
But before we go ahead let's take a look at some interesting facts on Terminator.
Terminator was born out of a dream
James Cameroon, the director of the movie was ill during the production of his low-budget movie Piranha II: The Spawning. After a restless sleep, he dreamt of a robot having a metallic body and crawling across the floors. That's when Cameroon made up a story of a robotic assassin and the rest?became history.
The character selection
When we say terminator, the first thing that comes into our mind is Arnold Schwarzenegger. But what many...
But before we go ahead let's take a look at some interesting facts on Terminator.
Terminator was born out of a dream
James Cameroon, the director of the movie was ill during the production of his low-budget movie Piranha II: The Spawning. After a restless sleep, he dreamt of a robot having a metallic body and crawling across the floors. That's when Cameroon made up a story of a robotic assassin and the rest?became history.
The character selection
When we say terminator, the first thing that comes into our mind is Arnold Schwarzenegger. But what many...
- 7/30/2019
- GlamSham
Honorary Oscars for 2019 will be going to actress Geena Davis, director David Lynch, actor Wes Studi and director Lina Wertmuller. Members of the Academy board of governors have chosen these four people over the weekend for Academy Awards that will be given out a special Governors Awards ceremony in October.
Davis is receiving the Jean Hersholt Award for her humanitarian work. She won the Best Supporting Actress trophy for “The Accidental Tourist” (1988) and was also nominated for “Thelma and Louise” (1991). Other films in her career have included “The Fly,” “Beetlejuice,” “A League of Their Own” and “Speechless.”
SEEGeena Davis movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
Lynch has received three directing nominations in his career for “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001). He was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Elephant Man.” Other films have included “Eraserhead,” “Dune,” “Wild at Heart,” “Lost Highway” and “The Straight Story.
Davis is receiving the Jean Hersholt Award for her humanitarian work. She won the Best Supporting Actress trophy for “The Accidental Tourist” (1988) and was also nominated for “Thelma and Louise” (1991). Other films in her career have included “The Fly,” “Beetlejuice,” “A League of Their Own” and “Speechless.”
SEEGeena Davis movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
Lynch has received three directing nominations in his career for “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001). He was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Elephant Man.” Other films have included “Eraserhead,” “Dune,” “Wild at Heart,” “Lost Highway” and “The Straight Story.
- 6/3/2019
- by Chris Beachum and Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
It’s about time that two-time supporting actor Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (“Green Book” and “Moonlight”) got a lead role, and his troubled Arkansas cop, Wayne Hays, was a game-changer for Season 3’s “True Detective” on HBO.
The fact that Ali got to play Hays at three different stages of his life: his thirties, forties, and seventies, made it a more remarkable achievement as we got to witness the personal impact of the macabre murder mystery. The three faces of Hays became a study in hope, futility, and dementia as he is consumed by the case. And the masterful makeup and hair work aided in Ali’s powerful performance.
Beginning with his grandfather as a point of reference, Ali collaborated with makeup artists Debi Young and Mike Marino and hairstylist Lawrence Davis to create a unified look that suited him best. “He asked me to come do this project with...
The fact that Ali got to play Hays at three different stages of his life: his thirties, forties, and seventies, made it a more remarkable achievement as we got to witness the personal impact of the macabre murder mystery. The three faces of Hays became a study in hope, futility, and dementia as he is consumed by the case. And the masterful makeup and hair work aided in Ali’s powerful performance.
Beginning with his grandfather as a point of reference, Ali collaborated with makeup artists Debi Young and Mike Marino and hairstylist Lawrence Davis to create a unified look that suited him best. “He asked me to come do this project with...
- 5/17/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Max von Sydow turned 90 this month, which is a milestone for most people, but age has always seemed incidental to the actor. When he played the elderly, frail Father Merrin in “The Exorcist,” von Sydow was 44 — meaning he was the same age Bradley Cooper is today.
In the 1950s, von Sydow had his big breakthrough in a trio of Ingmar Bergman films — “The Seventh Seal,” “Wild Strawberries” and “The Magician” — while still in his 20s, but with the wisdom and sadness of the world in his eyes. Von Sydow has appeared in such fan favorites as “Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rush Hour 3” and David Lynch’s “Dune.” But to most, he’s synonymous with his 11 films for Bergman and “The Exorcist.” In A.D. Murphy’s enthusiastic Variety review of the latter on Dec. 24, 1973, he said of von Sydow, “His performance is one of controlled dedication.
In the 1950s, von Sydow had his big breakthrough in a trio of Ingmar Bergman films — “The Seventh Seal,” “Wild Strawberries” and “The Magician” — while still in his 20s, but with the wisdom and sadness of the world in his eyes. Von Sydow has appeared in such fan favorites as “Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rush Hour 3” and David Lynch’s “Dune.” But to most, he’s synonymous with his 11 films for Bergman and “The Exorcist.” In A.D. Murphy’s enthusiastic Variety review of the latter on Dec. 24, 1973, he said of von Sydow, “His performance is one of controlled dedication.
- 4/19/2019
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar voters love to reward the makeup artists and hairstylists who transform some of Hollywood’s most famous faces into historical figures. Since the competitive category of Best Makeup and Hairstyling was introduced at the Academy Awards in 1982, eight films in which performers portray famous folks have won this Oscar. Adam McKay‘s “Vice,” a sly satire on the life and times of politician Dick Cheney, is poised to be the ninth to do so.
Over the two hour plus running time of “Vice,” Christian Bale portrays Cheney from his early years in Wyoming to his eight years as vice president. The actor gained 40 plus pounds and shaved his head to look like the man who was second in command during some of the darkest days in American history.
It is no surprise that Bale is tipped to take home his second Oscar. Also nominated are Amy Adams, who portrays...
Over the two hour plus running time of “Vice,” Christian Bale portrays Cheney from his early years in Wyoming to his eight years as vice president. The actor gained 40 plus pounds and shaved his head to look like the man who was second in command during some of the darkest days in American history.
It is no surprise that Bale is tipped to take home his second Oscar. Also nominated are Amy Adams, who portrays...
- 1/28/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
One of the most jeered-at, overcooked sequels of all time thoroughly deserves its reputation as a train wreck of a movie. In hindsight we see a heap of resources and cinematic fireworks thrown at a project with little chance of survival. ‘There must be a sequel’ spake Warner Bros., and lo Sir John of Boorman stepped up to the plate. I think a lot of the scorn was blowback from the power of the original Friedkin picture, a blockbuster that was just too profane of an act to follow.
Exorcist II: The Heretic
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1977 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 118 and 102 min. / Collector’s Edition / Street Date September 25, 2018 34.93
Starring: Linda Blair, Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Paul Henreid, James Earl Jones, Ned Beatty, Belinda Beatty, Rose Portillo.
Cinematography: William A. Fraker
Film Editor: Tom Priestley
Special Visual Effects: Bill Hansard, Albert Whitlock, Frank Van Der Veer
Special...
Exorcist II: The Heretic
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1977 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 118 and 102 min. / Collector’s Edition / Street Date September 25, 2018 34.93
Starring: Linda Blair, Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Paul Henreid, James Earl Jones, Ned Beatty, Belinda Beatty, Rose Portillo.
Cinematography: William A. Fraker
Film Editor: Tom Priestley
Special Visual Effects: Bill Hansard, Albert Whitlock, Frank Van Der Veer
Special...
- 10/2/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Honorary Oscars for 2018 will be going to actress Cicely Tyson, producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, publicist Marvin Levy and composer Lalo Schifrin. Academy board of governors have chosen these five people for awards that will be given out a special ceremony on November 18. Kennedy and Marshall are being honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
Tyson was nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress for “Sounder” (1972). Schifrin has received six nominations for “Cool Hand Luke” (1967), “The Fox” (1968), “Voyage of the Damned” (1976), “The Amityville Horror” (1979), “The Competition” (1980) and “The Sting II” (1983). Levy is the first publicist to receive an honorary Oscar and has worked for MGM, Columbia, Amblin and DreamWorks.
SEECicely Tyson movies: 10 greatest films ranked from worst to best
Kennedy is the first woman to receive the Thalberg. She and Marshall have received Best Picture nominations for “The Sixth Sense” (1999), “Seabiscuit” (2003), “Munich” (2005) and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button...
Tyson was nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress for “Sounder” (1972). Schifrin has received six nominations for “Cool Hand Luke” (1967), “The Fox” (1968), “Voyage of the Damned” (1976), “The Amityville Horror” (1979), “The Competition” (1980) and “The Sting II” (1983). Levy is the first publicist to receive an honorary Oscar and has worked for MGM, Columbia, Amblin and DreamWorks.
SEECicely Tyson movies: 10 greatest films ranked from worst to best
Kennedy is the first woman to receive the Thalberg. She and Marshall have received Best Picture nominations for “The Sixth Sense” (1999), “Seabiscuit” (2003), “Munich” (2005) and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button...
- 9/5/2018
- by Chris Beachum and Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Author Ray Bradbury's accomplishments are too long to mention here, but his life and incredible talents are still ever-present in art, film, and television today. Most notably known for his novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's legacy will be presented as a traveling stage show called Ray Bradbury Live (Forever), with special effects by Jeff Farley and the portrayal of Bradbury by horror legend Bill Oberst Jr. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Cj Entertainment launches 413 Pictures, Kevin Geeks Out has a new shark-themed episode, and we have details on the DVD release of Trench 11.
Trench 11 DVD Release Details: "Los Angeles – Rlje Films (Nasdaq: Rlje) will release the horror film Trench 11 on Digital and DVD on September 4, 2018. Directed by Leo Scherman (Never Forget) who co-wrote the film with Matthew Booi (“Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan”), Trench 11 stars Rossif Sutherland (River), Robert Stadlober (Enemy of the Gates...
Trench 11 DVD Release Details: "Los Angeles – Rlje Films (Nasdaq: Rlje) will release the horror film Trench 11 on Digital and DVD on September 4, 2018. Directed by Leo Scherman (Never Forget) who co-wrote the film with Matthew Booi (“Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan”), Trench 11 stars Rossif Sutherland (River), Robert Stadlober (Enemy of the Gates...
- 7/31/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
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