James Gunn Named PETA’s 2023 Person of the Year – Film News in Brief
Director James Gunn has been named PETA’s 2023 Person of the Year. Per the animal rights organization, Gunn has been selected “for using impressive and stunningly well-crafted CGI animals to inspire tens of millions of moviegoers—who flocked to theaters to see ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’—to have compassion for the millions of animals killed by experimenters in laboratories.”
The third installment of “Guardians of the Galaxy” explains Rocket Raccoon’s origin story as a test subject in a lab, alongside other animals.
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“By telling the story of the millions of vulnerable animals abused in experiments, James Gunn has shown himself to be a true animal guardian,” says PETA president Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is delighted to honor him for encouraging exactly what the world needs: empathy for all living beings.”
Gunn also adopted his dog, Ozu, in May 2022 and promoted #AdoptDontShop on each post related to his dog’s journey.
Previous honorees chosen as PETA’s Person of the Year Award include James Cromwell, Billie Eilish, Joaquin Phoenix, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey and Anjelica Huston.
Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Thriller ‘Darkgame,’ Starring Ed Westwick
Gravitas Ventures has acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to distribute “Darkgame,” a thriller directed by Howard J. Ford and starring Ed Westwick. It will be released on VOD in February 2024.
“I cannot wait to share DarkGame with the world — it’s deliciously twisted and macabre but also a gripping detective story with moments that are literally gobsmacking,” Ford said in a statement. “Nails will be bitten and many won’t make it out alive!”
Set in Portland, “Darkgame” centers on the city’s police who discover victims are being kidnapped and forced to play games to survive for a reality game show on the dark web. When the show is shared on social media, the number of viewers increase, which brings the public’s eye on every action the police take.
The criminal underworld outbid each other to decide on the way victims are eliminated, forcing detective Ben Jacobs and his cybercrimes team into a race against time. Per the release, “While the world watches with a kind of morbid mixture of revulsion and social media frenzy, the captives must face daily challenges to survive, knowing one of them must lose each round, and hoping to survive long enough for someone on the outside to save them.”
“The crime-thriller genre is possibly my most favourite. As a kid, I’d watch this stuff and be engrossed. Now I get to play in this world. It’s the character I’ve been waiting to play. Tom and I have an ease of working together and Howard’s positivity and kindness really gave me comfort. This was the environment you need as an actor to create and play,” Westwick said in a statement.
Westwick is joined by Andrew P. Stephen, Natalya Tsvetkova, Lola Wayne, Rose Reynolds and Rory Alexander. Happy Hour Productions produced “Darkgame” in association with Principal Film Finance and JCG Bits Productions. Westwick, Polina Nioly and Joseph Crepaldi executive produce. The film was written by Gary Grant, Niall Johnson and Tom George, who also produces.
Danielle Gasher, Gravitas Ventures’ vice president of acquisitions and international sales, negotiated the deal with Fred Hedman of GFM.
BIPOC Content Accelerator Rideback Rise Announces Inaugural Fellows and Residents
Rideback Rise, the nonprofit BIPOC content accelerator, has announced its inaugural group of 16 writers and filmmakers who will receive financial and creative support as they develop television and film projects.
The 2023 cohort includes six fellows, who will receive $50,000 grants for a year-long fellowship and ten residents, who will receive $10,000. Fellows are also eligible to make use of an Intellectual Property Fund in order to obtain underlying rights to material. Furthermore, they are eligible to access a Visuals Fund to craft presentations and reels for their projects. Both residents and fellows will work at Rise’s office at Rideback Ranch in LA’s Filipinotown.
The six Rideback Rise fellows for 2023 include Akil Rashad Anderson, who was a staff writer on “Beacon 23”; Tasha Henderson, who was an executive story editor on “Home Economics”; Gabriela Garcia Medina, writer-director of “Little Con Lili”; Miguel Ortega and Tran Ma, the writer-director duo behind “The Voice in the Hollow”; and Julia Prescott, who has written for “The Simpsons” and “Archibald’s Next Thing,” among other titles.
The ten residents include writer-comedian Biniam Bizuneh (“Dave” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live”); writer Nate Burke (“Riverdale”); writer-director-producer Marissa Diaz (“Orgasm Inc: The Story of Onetaste”); writer Crystal Ferreiro (“Diary of a Future President”); writer-director Victor Gabriel (“The Incredible Heist of Hallelujah Jones”); writer-director-poet Raven Jackson (“All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt”); writer-director Omar S. Kamara (“African Giants”); comedy writer Min-Woo Park (unannounced Netflix series); and writer-Paramount Pictures IP scout Ran Ran Wang. Earlier Tuesday, Jackson was nominated for an Indie Spirit Award in the best first feature category for “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt”
The 2023 Rise cohort officially commenced its 12-month term on Saturday, Dec. 2, with guest speakers including Rideback and Rideback Rise founder Dan Lin, writer Jessica Gao (“She Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Silicon Valley”), and filmmakers Phil Lord and Kemp Powers (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”).
Michael Westmore to be Honored With Vanguard Award at 11th Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards
The Oscar and Emmy-winning make-up artist Michael Westmore will receive the Vanguard Award at the 11th Annual Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, which will be held on Feb. 18, 2024. The Vanguard Award is given to an individual “who has made significant contributions to the make-up and hair styling industry and has left a lasting impact on the craft,” per the release.
Throughout his career, Westmore has worked with Elizabeth Taylor, as well as on the “Rocky” series and “Star Trek.” He received an Oscar for the 1986 film “Mask,” in addition to four other nominations. Westmore has earned a record 45 Emmy nominations, taking home nine of those.
“IATSE Local 706 is excited and thrilled to honor Michael Westmore with the Vanguard Award,” Karen J. Westerfield, business rep IATSE Local 706, said in a statement. “His contributions and expertise to our industry are unparalleled. His unwavering encouragement and guidance to elevate our members, along with the Westmore Legacy, will continue to inspire future generations of Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists. We are truly honored to celebrate his achievements and incredible talent. We recognize him as the Man, the Myth, the Mentor … Michael Westmore.”
‘Poor Things’ Costume Exhibition Opens in Downtown L.A.
The “Poor Things” costume exhibition had its opening reception Nov. 30 at the ASU FIDM Museum in Downtown Los Angeles.
Hosted by costume designer Arianne Phillips, the event drew notable artisans such as “Poor Things” costume designer Holly Waddington; fashion designer and former Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott; “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” costume designer Trish Summerville; “Project Runway” star Gunnar Deatherage and “Maestro” costume designer Mark Bridges.
Led by Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things” is a Frankenstein reimagining that follows Bella Baxter (Stone) as she is reanimated by scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) and sets off to explore the world with lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Ruffalo). The costume exhibition hosts a collection of pieces designed by Waddington and worn by Stone, Ruffalo, Dafoe and other stars in the film.
The “Poor Things” exhibit is free and open to the public from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15. “Poor Things” premieres in theaters Dec. 8.
Dominic Asmall Willsdon Appointed Executive Director of International Documentary Association
Dominic Asmall Willsdon has been named executive director of the International Documentary Association.
Formerly executive director at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, the British veteran nonprofit executive will replace Ken Ikeda, who has served as the documentary advocacy organization’s interim executive director since January. Starting January 2024, Willsdon will be in charge of expanding the IDA’s reach with targeted organizational strategies and advocacy efforts.
“The IDA Board and staff are a wonderful team: brilliant, dedicated, inclusive. It has already been a pleasure to share ideas with them,” said Willsdon. “Together, in the coming years, we will ensure that IDA is an organization that is for anyone, anywhere in the world who cares about documentary filmmaking and its contribution to the common good.”
‘Oppenheimer’ Tops Atlanta Film Critics Circle With Eight Wins Including Best Film
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” won huge with the Atlanta Film Critics Circle, winning eight categories including best film, director, screenplay, actor for Cillian Murphy, supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr, ensemble cast, cinematography and score. Downey Jr tied for his prize with “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling, a formidable competitor for him on the circuit.
Lily Gladstone followed up her New York Film Critics win for best actress, in addition to taking home the prize for best breakthrough performance for her role in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph also duplicated her NYFCC trophy in supporting actress for her performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.”
The top 10 films and full list of winners are below.
Best Film: “Oppenheimer”
Top 10 Films
“Oppenheimer”
“Killers of the Flower Moon”
“The Holdovers”
“Past Lives”
“Barbie”
“May December”
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
“American Fiction”
“Anatomy of a Fall”
“Poor Things”
Lead Actor: Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
Lead Actress: Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr, “Oppenheimer”; Ryan Gosling, “Barbie” (TIE)
Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
Ensemble Cast: “Oppenheimer”
Director: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
Documentary: “Still: A Michael J. Fox Story”
International Feature: “Anatomy of a Fall”
Animated Film: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema, “Oppenheimer”
Original Score: Ludwig Göransson, “Oppenheimer”
Stunt Work: “John Wick: Chapter 4”
AFCC Special Award for Breakthrough Performance: Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
AFCC Special Award for First Feature Film: Celine Song, “Past Lives”
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