Comedy Central announced its annual 31-day holiday extravaganza, featuring two new movies: “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” debuting Dec. 4, and “Hot Mess Holiday,” premiering Dec. 11.
Both of these movies will air at 7 p.m. The network will announce additional titles for its”31 Days of Going Home for the Holidays” programming slate at a later date.
“A Clüsterfünke Christmas” stars Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ryan McPartlin, Nils Hognestad, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer and follows the story of real estate executive Holly who heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a resort. While meeting the owners, Holly finds herself distracted by their handsome nephew Frank. It is a parody of more traditional holiday rom-coms.
Anna Dokoza directs “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” which was written by Dratch and Gasteyer, who also executive produce alongside Meghan Hooper, Trevor Rose, Josh Van Houdt, Danielle von Zerneck, Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson.
Both of these movies will air at 7 p.m. The network will announce additional titles for its”31 Days of Going Home for the Holidays” programming slate at a later date.
“A Clüsterfünke Christmas” stars Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ryan McPartlin, Nils Hognestad, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer and follows the story of real estate executive Holly who heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a resort. While meeting the owners, Holly finds herself distracted by their handsome nephew Frank. It is a parody of more traditional holiday rom-coms.
Anna Dokoza directs “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” which was written by Dratch and Gasteyer, who also executive produce alongside Meghan Hooper, Trevor Rose, Josh Van Houdt, Danielle von Zerneck, Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson.
- 10/29/2021
- by Katie Song and Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The South Asian talent incubator, 1497 has selected 11 finalists out of 382 submissions for its inaugural Writers Lab. The next step will be narrowing it down to three mentees who will participate in the Lab’s program.
Under the virtual mentor program, the trio of mentees will work with Sundance filmmaker and veteran script consultant Adrienne Weiss. From there, the selected mentees will get mentorship from acclaimed filmmakers Gurinder Chadha (Blinded By the Light), Aneesh Chaganty (Searching), and Maryam Keshavarz (Viper Club). 1497 will then tag in and introduce the mentees to an industry advisory group chich includes Gersh agent Louise Keshaviah, Brillstein Partners manager Ken Lee and Management 360 manager Priya Satiani. They will offer guidance to the mentees to help build a successful career roadmap.
“We are incredibly excited to see such an overwhelmingly positive response,” said 1497 co-founders Adeel Ahmed, Lipica Shah and Kamran Khan in a joint statement. “The fact...
Under the virtual mentor program, the trio of mentees will work with Sundance filmmaker and veteran script consultant Adrienne Weiss. From there, the selected mentees will get mentorship from acclaimed filmmakers Gurinder Chadha (Blinded By the Light), Aneesh Chaganty (Searching), and Maryam Keshavarz (Viper Club). 1497 will then tag in and introduce the mentees to an industry advisory group chich includes Gersh agent Louise Keshaviah, Brillstein Partners manager Ken Lee and Management 360 manager Priya Satiani. They will offer guidance to the mentees to help build a successful career roadmap.
“We are incredibly excited to see such an overwhelmingly positive response,” said 1497 co-founders Adeel Ahmed, Lipica Shah and Kamran Khan in a joint statement. “The fact...
- 8/11/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, Cartoon Network announced the launch of its CNCheckIn initiative, and Atx Television Festival will take place virtually June 5-7.
Festivals
Atx Television Festival will take place virtually June 5-7. Rebranded as “Atx TV… From the Couch!”, badge and ticket holders can experience screenings and panels from the comfort and safety of their living rooms amid the coronavirus pandemic. “This will be a television experience unlike anything we’ve done before, and we are emboldened by the possibilities we are discussing with our panelists and partners,” co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson said in a statement. “We are confident we can continue to have great conversations, showcase new and old favorite series, and interact with our incredible community — with a lot of fun surprises along the way.” For more details, visit atxfestival.com.
Specials
Disney Animation announced it will debut “At Home With Olaf” on Disney Plus this week.
Festivals
Atx Television Festival will take place virtually June 5-7. Rebranded as “Atx TV… From the Couch!”, badge and ticket holders can experience screenings and panels from the comfort and safety of their living rooms amid the coronavirus pandemic. “This will be a television experience unlike anything we’ve done before, and we are emboldened by the possibilities we are discussing with our panelists and partners,” co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson said in a statement. “We are confident we can continue to have great conversations, showcase new and old favorite series, and interact with our incredible community — with a lot of fun surprises along the way.” For more details, visit atxfestival.com.
Specials
Disney Animation announced it will debut “At Home With Olaf” on Disney Plus this week.
- 4/6/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmaker Lena Khan, who helmed The Tiger Hunter and the upcoming Disney+ movie Flora and Ulysses, has signed with UTA for worldwide representation.
Khan is in post-production on Flora & Ulysses, starring Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz and Matilda Lawler. Based on the popular children’s book Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate Dicamillo, the story centers on the imaginative, creative and cynical 10-year-old Flora (Lawler), who could hardly predict that the little squirrel she saved from a tragic accident would be born anew and transformed into a superhero with the powers of strength, misspelled poetry and an uncanny knack for helping her and the lovable but broken people in her life become a family again. Gil Netter is producing, and Brad Copeland adapted the script.
Khan made her feature directing debut on The Tiger Hunter, which she co-wrote with Sameer Gardezi and Meera Simhan. It stars Danny Pudi as...
Khan is in post-production on Flora & Ulysses, starring Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz and Matilda Lawler. Based on the popular children’s book Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate Dicamillo, the story centers on the imaginative, creative and cynical 10-year-old Flora (Lawler), who could hardly predict that the little squirrel she saved from a tragic accident would be born anew and transformed into a superhero with the powers of strength, misspelled poetry and an uncanny knack for helping her and the lovable but broken people in her life become a family again. Gil Netter is producing, and Brad Copeland adapted the script.
Khan made her feature directing debut on The Tiger Hunter, which she co-wrote with Sameer Gardezi and Meera Simhan. It stars Danny Pudi as...
- 11/14/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Hyde Park Entertainment Group is expanding its global reach, with the independent entertainment company setting up a new division to produce film and TV projects from Asian and Indian creators.
The Los Angeles-based company’s Hyde Park Entertainment Asia division aims to champion diverse and inclusive talent pools, and the division’s first slate of projects will focus on Indian stories for English and local-language audiences. The company, which also has a London office, will continue to produce and finance projects out of its Los Angeles headquarters, but will also expand its overseas productions with a base in Chennai, India.
Ashok Amritraj, Hyde Park Entertainment Group CEO and longtime producer and advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry, said his company’s new division is part of his goal to give creators outside traditional Hollywood spaces the tools and platform they need to bring their projects to a global audience.
The Los Angeles-based company’s Hyde Park Entertainment Asia division aims to champion diverse and inclusive talent pools, and the division’s first slate of projects will focus on Indian stories for English and local-language audiences. The company, which also has a London office, will continue to produce and finance projects out of its Los Angeles headquarters, but will also expand its overseas productions with a base in Chennai, India.
Ashok Amritraj, Hyde Park Entertainment Group CEO and longtime producer and advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry, said his company’s new division is part of his goal to give creators outside traditional Hollywood spaces the tools and platform they need to bring their projects to a global audience.
- 8/22/2019
- by Tyler Hersko
- Thompson on Hollywood
Hyde Park Entertainment Group is expanding its global reach, with the independent entertainment company setting up a new division to produce film and TV projects from Asian and Indian creators.
The Los Angeles-based company’s Hyde Park Entertainment Asia division aims to champion diverse and inclusive talent pools, and the division’s first slate of projects will focus on Indian stories for English and local-language audiences. The company, which also has a London office, will continue to produce and finance projects out of its Los Angeles headquarters, but will also expand its overseas productions with a base in Chennai, India.
Ashok Amritraj, Hyde Park Entertainment Group CEO and longtime producer and advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry, said his company’s new division is part of his goal to give creators outside traditional Hollywood spaces the tools and platform they need to bring their projects to a global audience.
The Los Angeles-based company’s Hyde Park Entertainment Asia division aims to champion diverse and inclusive talent pools, and the division’s first slate of projects will focus on Indian stories for English and local-language audiences. The company, which also has a London office, will continue to produce and finance projects out of its Los Angeles headquarters, but will also expand its overseas productions with a base in Chennai, India.
Ashok Amritraj, Hyde Park Entertainment Group CEO and longtime producer and advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry, said his company’s new division is part of his goal to give creators outside traditional Hollywood spaces the tools and platform they need to bring their projects to a global audience.
- 8/22/2019
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group is launching a new division, Hyde Park Entertainment Asia which will have an ongoing commitment to Indian and Asian filmmakers, producing producing prolific film and TV projects for global audiences.
This continues Hyde Park’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, with the division’s first slate focusing on Indian stories for both English-and local-language audiences. The company will expand its production operations, headquartered in La, by adding an Asian base in Chennai, India. This joins Hyde Park’s European offices in London. Hyde Park and Image Nation Abu Dhabi are continuing their long-term film financing partnership.
“Now more than ever the Hollywood dream needs to be multicultural and all inclusive,” says Amritraj, “I look forward to collaborating with wonderful Indian and Asian talent long into the future to tell unique and authentic stories that reflect our global world.”
Amritraj has been a pioneering...
This continues Hyde Park’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, with the division’s first slate focusing on Indian stories for both English-and local-language audiences. The company will expand its production operations, headquartered in La, by adding an Asian base in Chennai, India. This joins Hyde Park’s European offices in London. Hyde Park and Image Nation Abu Dhabi are continuing their long-term film financing partnership.
“Now more than ever the Hollywood dream needs to be multicultural and all inclusive,” says Amritraj, “I look forward to collaborating with wonderful Indian and Asian talent long into the future to tell unique and authentic stories that reflect our global world.”
Amritraj has been a pioneering...
- 8/22/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Top-level talent including Paul Feig, Gurinder Chadha and Anurag Kashyap are on board as leading Hollywood independent Hyde Park Entertainment makes a major launch into the Indian production scene. The company is headed by Ashok Amritraj, the highest-profile Indian executive based in Los Angeles.
The diversification move is made possible by the growing success of Indian film and TV content which is being propelled to new audiences overseas by global video streamers Netflix and Amazon. Within India, local streaming giants Hotstar, SonyLiv, and others, are similarly using Ott technology and cheap cellular data to reach nationwide audiences, many of which were not previously TV households.
To capitalize on Indian stories — and the exploding Indian series genre — the group is launching a new division Hyde Park Entertainment Asia to be headquartered in Chennai. Parent company Hyde Park will continue to produce and finance U.S. studio and independent films and television from Los Angeles,...
The diversification move is made possible by the growing success of Indian film and TV content which is being propelled to new audiences overseas by global video streamers Netflix and Amazon. Within India, local streaming giants Hotstar, SonyLiv, and others, are similarly using Ott technology and cheap cellular data to reach nationwide audiences, many of which were not previously TV households.
To capitalize on Indian stories — and the exploding Indian series genre — the group is launching a new division Hyde Park Entertainment Asia to be headquartered in Chennai. Parent company Hyde Park will continue to produce and finance U.S. studio and independent films and television from Los Angeles,...
- 8/22/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group has launched a new devision called Hyde Park Entertainment Asia, which “will focus on producing high profile film and TV projects created by Indian and Asian filmmakers to spotlight authentic stories for a global audience, helmed by a diverse and inclusive talent pool.”
“Continuing Hyde Park’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the division’s first slate will have a focus on Indian stories for both English-and local-language audiences,” the entertainment group said Thursday.
And one of the projects currently in development in that initial slate is “Break the Room,” an Indian-American half-hour comedy series from Paul Feig’s Diversity Initiative Powderkeg and ShivHans Pictures, written by Sameer Gardezi (“Modern Family”) and Jimy Shah. Hyde Park likens the potential show to ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat.”
Hyde Park is also expanding its production operations by adding an Asian base in Chennai, India which joins its European offices in London and its headquarters in Los Angeles. According to the company, Hyde Park and Image Nation Abu Dhabi “continue their long-term film financing partnership.”
“Now more than ever the Hollywood dream needs to be multicultural and all inclusive,” Amritraj said. “I look forward to collaborating with wonderful Indian and Asian talent long into the future to tell unique and authentic stories that reflect our global world.”
See below for Hyde Park Entertainment Asia’s initial slate, with the descriptions each in the company’s own words.
Also Read: Paul Feig Inks First-Look Production Agreement With Universal
Pashmina: A large-scale animated musical feature with Netflix in the vein of Coco. Based on the bestselling graphic novel by Nidhi Chanani, Pashmina is a magical story of family and cultural connection with Gurinder Chadha on-board to direct.
Break The Room with Paul Feig: Hyde Park is developing an Indian-American half hour comedy series like Fresh Off The Boat with Paul Feig’s Diversity Initiative Powderkeg and ShivHans Pictures from writers Sameer Gardezi (“Modern Family”) and Jimy Shah.
Maximum City: A sweeping franchise of films in the vein of Traffic based on the Pulitzer Prize finalist book by Suketu Mehta that explores the interconnecting power, politics, and criminal underworld of Mumbai. Auteur filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be the showrunner and director and Good Bad Films Llp will co- produce with Hyde Park.
Also Read: Fall TV: Here Are the Premiere Dates for the New Broadcast Series (Photos)
Paradise Towers: A drama series adaptation of Shweta Bachchan Nanda’s bestselling novel about the intertwining lives, forbidden romances, and mounting tensions between neighbors in an exclusive Mumbai apartment complex. One of India’s most celebrated directors, Zoya Akhtar (Amazon’s “Made in Heaven”) brings the project to the screen alongside Hyde Park Entertainment. Shweta Bachchan-Nanda is a columnist for Vogue and daughter of Indian superstars Jaya & Amitabh Bachchan.
The Conch Bearer: A Ya-Fantasy series adapted from Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s bestselling trilogy that follows a young boy on a magical adventure that has been compared to Harry Potter for India. Imtiaz Ali, one of India’s most prominent filmmakers will be the show runner and direct the pilot for the series. It will be produced by Hyde Park Entertainment and Window Seat Films, Llp.
Deb: An 8-part television series from renowned writer-director Nagesh Kukunoor, whose film Dhank won the Crystal Bear Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival. In the vein of ‘Constantine,’ the series is a modern-day, edge-of-your-seat thriller rooted in ancient Indian mythology.
Read original story Paul Feig’s Indian-American Sitcom ‘Break the Room’ to Lead New Hyde Park Entertainment Asia Slate At TheWrap...
“Continuing Hyde Park’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the division’s first slate will have a focus on Indian stories for both English-and local-language audiences,” the entertainment group said Thursday.
And one of the projects currently in development in that initial slate is “Break the Room,” an Indian-American half-hour comedy series from Paul Feig’s Diversity Initiative Powderkeg and ShivHans Pictures, written by Sameer Gardezi (“Modern Family”) and Jimy Shah. Hyde Park likens the potential show to ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat.”
Hyde Park is also expanding its production operations by adding an Asian base in Chennai, India which joins its European offices in London and its headquarters in Los Angeles. According to the company, Hyde Park and Image Nation Abu Dhabi “continue their long-term film financing partnership.”
“Now more than ever the Hollywood dream needs to be multicultural and all inclusive,” Amritraj said. “I look forward to collaborating with wonderful Indian and Asian talent long into the future to tell unique and authentic stories that reflect our global world.”
See below for Hyde Park Entertainment Asia’s initial slate, with the descriptions each in the company’s own words.
Also Read: Paul Feig Inks First-Look Production Agreement With Universal
Pashmina: A large-scale animated musical feature with Netflix in the vein of Coco. Based on the bestselling graphic novel by Nidhi Chanani, Pashmina is a magical story of family and cultural connection with Gurinder Chadha on-board to direct.
Break The Room with Paul Feig: Hyde Park is developing an Indian-American half hour comedy series like Fresh Off The Boat with Paul Feig’s Diversity Initiative Powderkeg and ShivHans Pictures from writers Sameer Gardezi (“Modern Family”) and Jimy Shah.
Maximum City: A sweeping franchise of films in the vein of Traffic based on the Pulitzer Prize finalist book by Suketu Mehta that explores the interconnecting power, politics, and criminal underworld of Mumbai. Auteur filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be the showrunner and director and Good Bad Films Llp will co- produce with Hyde Park.
Also Read: Fall TV: Here Are the Premiere Dates for the New Broadcast Series (Photos)
Paradise Towers: A drama series adaptation of Shweta Bachchan Nanda’s bestselling novel about the intertwining lives, forbidden romances, and mounting tensions between neighbors in an exclusive Mumbai apartment complex. One of India’s most celebrated directors, Zoya Akhtar (Amazon’s “Made in Heaven”) brings the project to the screen alongside Hyde Park Entertainment. Shweta Bachchan-Nanda is a columnist for Vogue and daughter of Indian superstars Jaya & Amitabh Bachchan.
The Conch Bearer: A Ya-Fantasy series adapted from Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s bestselling trilogy that follows a young boy on a magical adventure that has been compared to Harry Potter for India. Imtiaz Ali, one of India’s most prominent filmmakers will be the show runner and direct the pilot for the series. It will be produced by Hyde Park Entertainment and Window Seat Films, Llp.
Deb: An 8-part television series from renowned writer-director Nagesh Kukunoor, whose film Dhank won the Crystal Bear Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival. In the vein of ‘Constantine,’ the series is a modern-day, edge-of-your-seat thriller rooted in ancient Indian mythology.
Read original story Paul Feig’s Indian-American Sitcom ‘Break the Room’ to Lead New Hyde Park Entertainment Asia Slate At TheWrap...
- 8/22/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Dwayne Johnson is an executive producer for Quibi’s latest comedy series “Last Resort,” the streamer announced Tuesday morning. The series centers on a Polynesian family-run resort in Hawaii that finds itself in trouble when a tech billionaire puts in a bid to buy the land.
Johnson, along with Dany Garcia (“Baywatch”) will executive produce for Seven Bucks Productions, with Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids”) and Laura Fischer producing for Powderkeg and Sameer Gardezi producing for Break the Room. Hiram Garcia, Kevin Hill and Brian Gewirtz will also produce on behalf of Seven Bucks Productions. Hannah Kitziger will oversee the project for Quibi.
Also Read: Quibi: Everything Announced to Date
Co-founded by Johnson and Garcia, Seven Bucks Productions is a multi-platform production company that helped create “Hobbs & Shaw,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” and “Rampage.” Launched by Feig and Fischer’s Powderkeg and helmed by Sameer Gardezi (“Modern Family”), Break the Room...
Johnson, along with Dany Garcia (“Baywatch”) will executive produce for Seven Bucks Productions, with Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids”) and Laura Fischer producing for Powderkeg and Sameer Gardezi producing for Break the Room. Hiram Garcia, Kevin Hill and Brian Gewirtz will also produce on behalf of Seven Bucks Productions. Hannah Kitziger will oversee the project for Quibi.
Also Read: Quibi: Everything Announced to Date
Co-founded by Johnson and Garcia, Seven Bucks Productions is a multi-platform production company that helped create “Hobbs & Shaw,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” and “Rampage.” Launched by Feig and Fischer’s Powderkeg and helmed by Sameer Gardezi (“Modern Family”), Break the Room...
- 8/13/2019
- by Matt Lopez
- The Wrap
Quibi is developing a new comedy series that boasts Dwayne Johnson among its executive producers.
Titled “Last Resort,” the series centers on a Polynesian family-run resort in Hawaii that’s suddenly thrown into a whirlwind when a tech billionaire puts in a bid to buy the land. Johnson and Dany Garcia will executive produce via Seven Bucks Productions along with Paul Feig and Laura Fischer under their Powderkeg banner. Sameer Gardezi will serve as producer for Powderkeg’s Break the Room along with Hiram Garcia, Kevin Hill, and Brian Gewirtz for Seven Bucks. Hannah Kitziger will oversee the project for Quibi
Break the Room, which was launched by Powderkeg to create writers rooms composed of underrepresented voices and is headed by Gardezi, is currently building a room for the series comprised of Hawaiian and Polynesian writers.
News of the series comes as Johnson, who is half Samoan, is developing a...
Titled “Last Resort,” the series centers on a Polynesian family-run resort in Hawaii that’s suddenly thrown into a whirlwind when a tech billionaire puts in a bid to buy the land. Johnson and Dany Garcia will executive produce via Seven Bucks Productions along with Paul Feig and Laura Fischer under their Powderkeg banner. Sameer Gardezi will serve as producer for Powderkeg’s Break the Room along with Hiram Garcia, Kevin Hill, and Brian Gewirtz for Seven Bucks. Hannah Kitziger will oversee the project for Quibi
Break the Room, which was launched by Powderkeg to create writers rooms composed of underrepresented voices and is headed by Gardezi, is currently building a room for the series comprised of Hawaiian and Polynesian writers.
News of the series comes as Johnson, who is half Samoan, is developing a...
- 8/13/2019
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Paul Feig will deliver the Worldview Address at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the U.K.’s leading gathering for small-screen folk, it was announced Wednesday.
The actor-writer-director, whose myriad credits include creating the Emmy-nominated series “Freaks and Geeks” and directing hit comedy movies such as “Bridesmaids,” will “bring his unique perspective on the global television and film landscape,” the fest said.
Feig will discuss his work on such shows as “Arrested Development,” “Weeds,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Mad Men,” “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation,” and films like “The Heat,” “Spy,” “Ghostbusters” and “A Simple Favor,” according to the fest.
“My wife and I first came to the Edinburgh Festival almost 30 years ago and it quickly became my goal to one day be a part of it,” Feig said in a statement. “And so to be delivering the Worldview Address for the festival that is at the heart of the British TV...
The actor-writer-director, whose myriad credits include creating the Emmy-nominated series “Freaks and Geeks” and directing hit comedy movies such as “Bridesmaids,” will “bring his unique perspective on the global television and film landscape,” the fest said.
Feig will discuss his work on such shows as “Arrested Development,” “Weeds,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Mad Men,” “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation,” and films like “The Heat,” “Spy,” “Ghostbusters” and “A Simple Favor,” according to the fest.
“My wife and I first came to the Edinburgh Festival almost 30 years ago and it quickly became my goal to one day be a part of it,” Feig said in a statement. “And so to be delivering the Worldview Address for the festival that is at the heart of the British TV...
- 2/20/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Paul Feig’s digital production company Powderkeg has launched Break the Room. It is a writers room development initiative formulated with writer-producer Sameer Gardezi. Btr, done with support from PopCulture Collab and MuslimArc, will approach the creation of diverse content by bringing writers of color together with community thought leaders for a week long writers room filled with diverse scribes to put marginalized voices in control of representing each projects’ community and ideas.
Feig has been quietly road testing this initiative, and the first show to come out of it is the digital short-form series East of La Brea, produced in association with Lyft Entertainment and Pillars Fund.
The project follows two twentysomething working class Muslim women, Aisha Hassan and Farha Munshi, as they struggle to navigate the changing landscape of their native Los Angeles home. East of La Brea premieres at SXSW, competing in the Episodic Pilot Competition.
Feig has been quietly road testing this initiative, and the first show to come out of it is the digital short-form series East of La Brea, produced in association with Lyft Entertainment and Pillars Fund.
The project follows two twentysomething working class Muslim women, Aisha Hassan and Farha Munshi, as they struggle to navigate the changing landscape of their native Los Angeles home. East of La Brea premieres at SXSW, competing in the Episodic Pilot Competition.
- 2/7/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Nickelodeon has selected five participants for its 19th annual Writing Program, including the program’s first preschool-specific finalist. Based in Burbank, the year-long program allows aspiring television writers worldwide to hone their skills writing for both live-action and animated shows, network with executives and show creators, and gain access to workshops, seminars, classes, and real-world writers’ rooms. The new preschool-focused writing path is a modified six-month program, similar to the international track introduced in 2014.
“Nickelodeon is thrilled to welcome this next group of creative minds and storytellers into the program,” said Sherley Ibarra, director of the Nickelodeon Writing Program. “The expansion to include a preschool-focused writing track displays our commitment to finding and growing new talent in a space where Nickelodeon remains the top destination for kids.”
The five 2018 Writing Program participants include:
Halima Lucas
From Stockton, Calif., Lucas honed her craft at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where...
“Nickelodeon is thrilled to welcome this next group of creative minds and storytellers into the program,” said Sherley Ibarra, director of the Nickelodeon Writing Program. “The expansion to include a preschool-focused writing track displays our commitment to finding and growing new talent in a space where Nickelodeon remains the top destination for kids.”
The five 2018 Writing Program participants include:
Halima Lucas
From Stockton, Calif., Lucas honed her craft at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where...
- 10/31/2018
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Paul Feig, through his digital media company Powderkeg he started with Laura Fisher, has launched a new female director program titled Powderkeg: Fuse, a new development incubator for female filmmakers.
As its first initiative, Powderkeg: Fuse selected six short films submitted by a group of ethnically diverse women, and all of them will begin production in Los Angeles this week. Forty female directors were invited to submit their ideas based on a prompt, and the chosen six were paired with top producers and casting directors to develop their short.
When the short is completed, it will be distributed as part of the Fuse Anthology, a total of 30 minutes in length, all tied together thematically.
Also Read: Paul Feig Says He Will Add 'Inclusion Riders' to All His Films, TV Projects
The last section of the prompt read, “This mosaic of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct micro-culture is the source of endless conversation and comedy.
As its first initiative, Powderkeg: Fuse selected six short films submitted by a group of ethnically diverse women, and all of them will begin production in Los Angeles this week. Forty female directors were invited to submit their ideas based on a prompt, and the chosen six were paired with top producers and casting directors to develop their short.
When the short is completed, it will be distributed as part of the Fuse Anthology, a total of 30 minutes in length, all tied together thematically.
Also Read: Paul Feig Says He Will Add 'Inclusion Riders' to All His Films, TV Projects
The last section of the prompt read, “This mosaic of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct micro-culture is the source of endless conversation and comedy.
- 10/5/2018
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Updated, 8:48 Am: Shout! Factory has set a September 22 release date for The Tiger Hunter and released a poster and trailer (watch it above). Lena Khan's comedy will open in New York, Los Angeles and select major markets. Previously, April 25: Lena Khan's comedy feature, The Tiger Hunter has been acquired by the Shout! Factory for all distribution avenues in North America, including theatrical. Written by Sameer Gardezi and directed by Khan (who co-wrote), the film is a…...
- 7/27/2017
- Deadline
Red Sea Media handles international sales.
Shout! Factory has acquired North American rights from Red Sea Media to writer-director Lena Khan’s comedy The Tiger Hunter.
The film centres on Sami Malik, a young Indian who travels to America in the 1970s to become an engineer.
When Sami’s plans fall through, he takes a low-end job and joins a gang of oddball friends in the hopes of convincing his childhood sweetheart that he is more successful than he truly is, or perhaps ever could be.
Danny Pudi, Jon Heder, Rizwan Manji, Karen David, Sam Page, Iqbal Theba, and Parvesh Cheena star with Michael McMillan and Kevin Pollak.
Khan and Sameer Gardezi wrote the screenplay and the The Red Sea Media production premiered at last year’s 32nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Red Sea Media handles international sales.
Megha Kadakia, Khan and Nazia Khan produced, while Alan Pao, Pudi and [link...
Shout! Factory has acquired North American rights from Red Sea Media to writer-director Lena Khan’s comedy The Tiger Hunter.
The film centres on Sami Malik, a young Indian who travels to America in the 1970s to become an engineer.
When Sami’s plans fall through, he takes a low-end job and joins a gang of oddball friends in the hopes of convincing his childhood sweetheart that he is more successful than he truly is, or perhaps ever could be.
Danny Pudi, Jon Heder, Rizwan Manji, Karen David, Sam Page, Iqbal Theba, and Parvesh Cheena star with Michael McMillan and Kevin Pollak.
Khan and Sameer Gardezi wrote the screenplay and the The Red Sea Media production premiered at last year’s 32nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Red Sea Media handles international sales.
Megha Kadakia, Khan and Nazia Khan produced, while Alan Pao, Pudi and [link...
- 4/25/2017
- ScreenDaily
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios’ TV Production division is staffing up under new president Steve Stark. CAA TV lit agent Max Kisbye has been named VP Television Production, reporting to Stark. “I’ve known Max for years and he possesses that rare combination of humility and tenacity that will serve our mutual goals well,” Stark said. Kisbye comes to MGM from CAA, where he represented such writers and directors as Sameer Gardezi, Sheri Elwood, Tommy Dewey & Greg Bratman, George Tillman Jr, Luke Greenfield, Dave Erickson, Philippe Cousteau and Glen Mazzara. Before CAA, Kisbye worked in Paradigm’s literary department beginning in 2002.
- 5/8/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Fox has handed out a cast-contingent pilot order to a single-camera comedy from "Mind of Mencia" writer Sameer Asad Gardezi that is set at a politically incorrect nonprofit organization.
"Save Us Then the Whales," from 20th Century Fox Television and executive producer Peter Engel ("Last Comic Standing"), centers on Herbie Grueber, a middle-aged wheeler-dealer who works for a nonprofit that's trying to stay current. The charity maven approaches the world of fundraising as if he's bartering at a Moroccan bazaar, but his anything-goes approach rankles his idealistic new co-director.
Gardezi also wrote "Equal Opportunity," a short that was named best film at NBC Universal's inaugural Comedy Short Cuts Diversity Film Festival in 2006. The film's team got pitch meetings with Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Rogue Pictures and was awarded a $25,000 grant to produce a pilot presentation for NBC Universal Digital Media.
Gardezi went on to write for Comedy Central's "Mencia.
"Save Us Then the Whales," from 20th Century Fox Television and executive producer Peter Engel ("Last Comic Standing"), centers on Herbie Grueber, a middle-aged wheeler-dealer who works for a nonprofit that's trying to stay current. The charity maven approaches the world of fundraising as if he's bartering at a Moroccan bazaar, but his anything-goes approach rankles his idealistic new co-director.
Gardezi also wrote "Equal Opportunity," a short that was named best film at NBC Universal's inaugural Comedy Short Cuts Diversity Film Festival in 2006. The film's team got pitch meetings with Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Rogue Pictures and was awarded a $25,000 grant to produce a pilot presentation for NBC Universal Digital Media.
Gardezi went on to write for Comedy Central's "Mencia.
- 9/19/2008
- by By Kimberly Nordyke and Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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