Naveen Kumar New York stages are rarely without some version of Shakespeare’s mopey Danish prince, tormented by fatal family drama. But none has ever been quite like the protagonist of “Fat Ham,” Juicy, who is described by the playwright James Ijames as “gloriously and beautifully soft in both body and temperament.” Something is rotten in Juicy’s world, which, like Hamlet’s, pulses with violence, desire and scrutiny over the nature of existence. But this is also a classic cookout, where bloodspill is generally limited to the slaughtered hog on the grill. Not to mention that “Fat Ham” is a total gas — the funniest and most invigorating new show on Broadway, where the acclaimed Public Theater production, co-produced with National Black Theatre, has opened after an Off Broadway run last year. Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize, “Fat Ham” recasts its source material to imagine what Shakespeare did not — how people might overcome circumstances, expectations and their own demons to forge new paths through life.
Sarasota Fest Showcases Documentary Films as Producers Seek Distribution Deals
25.03.2023 - 18:55 / variety.com
Addie Morfoot Contributor As the market for independently made documentaries continues to dry up, regional film festivals have become essential to filmmakers hoping to sell their docs. At this year’s Sarasota Film Festival, which kicks off on March 25, 36 documentaries are part of the lineup. Over 25 of them are seeking distribution. They include Luke Lorentzen’s “A Still Small Voice,” Alexandria Bombach’s “It’s Only Life After All” about the Indigo Girls, Ben Braun and Chiaki Yanagimoto “AUM: The Cult at the End of the World” and Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng’s “Invisible Beauty.” All four films premiered at Sundance in January. “From Submarine’s point of view, we’ve always encouraged great regional festivals like Sarasota, the Berkshires, Woodstock and the Hamptons partially because there is the possibility that awards voters are there,” says Submarine Entertainment sales agent Josh Braun, who reps both “AUM: The Cult at the End of the World” and “Invisible Beauty.” “There’s the possibility of industry being there in the form of a judge or on an industry panel.”
He believes “these regional festivals may be gaining a more importance because the market is challenging right now.” Now in its 25th year, SFF has, according to Braun, grown in stature. “It has been around long enough that and enough filmmakers, producers, sales reps, and other industry people have attended and realize like how enthusiastic the audience members.” Observes Mark Famiglio, president and chairman of SFF: “We have a sophisticated audience here who are real cinephiles.” SFF is the second festival Hardison and Cheng will be attending with “Invisible Beauty,” about Hardison and her fight for representational shifts in the fashion industry.
RuPublicans: Instagram Account Uses AI-Generated Drag Parodies to Fight Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills
2 min read A new Instagram account named @RuPublicans is raising awareness of the increasing number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the USA by combining well-known Republican politicians and the iconic RuPaul, to create parodies of Republican figures dressed in drag.
Akademiks takes a photo with Donald Trump at UFC fight
Donald Trump at a UFC fight over the weekend.Akademiks has previously voiced his support for Trump and his presidency, confirming his support in interviews and posting videos to his Instagram of snippets from one of Trump’s 2022 pep rallies.The two attended Miami’s Kaseya Center on Saturday night (April 8) to watch UFC 287’s main event rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. The crowd was star-studded with Kid Rock, Mike Tyson, and Dana White in the front row of the match.Posted the next day (April 9) on his Instagram, the image showed Akademiks posing next to the 76-year-old and joked about being his Vice President in 2024.A post shared by Lil AK (@iamakademiks)“Might have to take up Uncle Trump on his offer of being His Vice President 2024,” he wrote in the caption, “Bruh told me ‘No way you’d be worse than Kamala’.”The photo has been liked over 50,000 times and the comments are full of sarcastic quips from fans.
‘Yellowjackets’ Cast Talks Cannibalism After Gruesome Feast Scene: ‘The Most Twisted Thing Ever’
Warning: Spoilers for “Yellowjackets” season 2 are below.
Rosie Perez Tells Feminists Their Fight for Equality Must Include Women of Color: ‘Consider That We Can Do Better’
Tatiana Siegel When it comes to activism, Rosie Perez isn’t one to merely lob a tweet. She was arrested for disorderly conduct in 2000 while protesting the U.S. Navy’s deadly air bomb training off the coast of Puerto Rico. And the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress, whose mother died of AIDS, served on President Obama’s Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, beginning in 2010. On Tuesday, she put the spotlight on first responders at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon, presented by Lifetime, in New York City. The “White Men Can’t Jump” actor highlighted the Heart 9/11 charity organization, which was founded in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terror attack that crippled Perez’s hometown, New York City.
Ridley Scott-Helmed ‘Napoleon’ Set By Apple Original Films For November Sony Theatrical Release; Let The Fall Fest Jockeying Begin!
Apple Original Films has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment and set a November 22 worldwide theatrical release launch for Napoleon, the historical action epic directed by Ridley Scott that stars Joaquin Phoenix as French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine. After the theatrical run, the film will stream globally on Apple TV+.
Feist says she was “out of body” before dropping off Arcade Fire tour
Feist has gone into more detail about the experience of dropping off a tour supporting Arcade Fire last year after frontman Win Butler was accused of sexual misconduct by five different people.The allegations, which Butler has strongly denied, surfaced just before Arcade Fire were about to embark on a UK and Ireland tour, but the band decided to proceed with the shows. Feist performed at the first show in Dublin as planned but committed to donating all proceeds earned from her merch sales to the local chapter of Women’s Aid. Later, however, she said she would be “claiming my responsibility and going home”.Now, Feist has spoken about the experience in a new interview.
Michelle Rodriguez & Charlize Theron Shot ‘Fast X’ Fight Scene Without A Director: ‘We Don’t Need One’
Michelle Rodriguez and Charlize Theron are such action-movie pros that they don’t even need a director to film a fight sequence.
Michelle Rodriguez: Charlize Theron and I Shot Our ‘Fast X’ Fight Scene ‘With No Director… We Don’t Need One, Let’s Do This’
Zack Sharf Digital News Director The official trailer for “Fast X” unveiled the first footage of Jason Momoa and Brie Larson joining the long-running action series, but it was the brutal fight scene between franchise veterans Michelle Rodriguez and Charlize Theron that packed the most punch. The duo go head-to-head in what looks like a fist fight for the ages, and Rodriguez recently told Vanity Fair they filmed it without a director. “Can I just tell you — no pun intended, but Charlize is a monster,” Rodriguez said. “We shot our [‘Fast X’] fight sequence with no director. Bro, like, hands down, drop mic, we nailed it. We were there, we don’t need [a director], let’s do this.”
Fired Fox News Producer Says She Was Told Maria Bartiromo Could ‘Go Wild’ on Show: ‘There Will Be No Fact-Checking Today’
in an interview with NBC News that was to air Thursday night on “Nightly News with Lester Holt,” said her boss’ text message was part of an effort at Fox News that suddenly threw “caution to the wind.”“There was no one to be found,” said Grossberg, who is suing Fox News, alleging she was set up to take undue blame in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against the network. “And these were the individuals that were ultimately responsible for the programming at the network.” Grossberg paraphrased a text message from her boss in the interview with NBC News, indicating there had been a change in approach.“You can let Maria know there will be no fact-checking today,” Grossberg said.
King's Coronation: How to apply for a street party in your borough as deadlines fast approach
The King's Coronation is just around the corner and that means It's almost time to get the bunting out, stock up on the tablecloths and bring out the 'big' chairs in anticipation.
Fox found dead with dog lead around its neck could have been used to fight other animals
A fox tragically found dead with a dog lead wrapped tightly around its neck could have been used to fight other animals, the RSPCA has said.
‘Grandpa Was An Emperor’ Documentary Exec Produced By Cynthia Erivo Sets Freestyle Release
EXCLUSIVE: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American VOD rights to the documentary Grandpa Was An Emperor from director Constance Marks, whose last feature, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
Queer All Year: Reviews of Out On Film’s Mini Fest
If you want to understand diversity, try programming a mini-film festival with five features and a package of shorts that makes everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community feel represented. (Or try living in Florida, where diversity means that anyone who is not straight, white and Christian breaks the law if they demand equality.)
Kino Lorber, Zeitgeist Films Acquire ‘Midnight Cowboy’ Making-Of Documentary ‘Desperate Souls, Dark City’
EXCLUSIVE: Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist Films have picked up North American rights to Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy — a new documentary on the making of the iconic John Schlesinger film, from acclaimed documentarian Nancy Buirski (The Loving Story).
Multistory Media Bolsters Ent Team; S&R Films Boards Actioner ‘Fight for Your Life’; Crime Thriller ‘Black Mass’ Sets Cast & Leonine Studios COO Steps Down – Global Briefs
Multistory Media Bolsters Entertainment TeamITV Studios label MultiStory Media has bolstered its entertainment team. Simone Haywood has been promoted to Creative Director for MultiStory London, while Jon Cahn has joined as Executive Producer and Zinia Scroggs has been appointed Series Editor. Haywood was previously Head of Factual Entertainment, steering shows such as Scared of the Dark for Channel 4, BBC Three’s Project Icon, Big Flower Fight for Netflix and Come Dine With Me for Channel 4. Reporting to Chief Creative Officer Ana de Moraes, she will work with Ceri Aston, Creative Director at MultiStory North. Cahn most recently worked on the Danny Dyer-hosted, celebrity show Scared of the Dark, with other credits including Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins and Married at First Sight. Scroggs is currently working on Project Icon with previous credits inlcuding BBC Three’s Glow Up. “Simone is fearless about breaking new ground and grabbing big ideas by the horns… We are excited to give her the opportunity to take the next step in her career, building MultiStory’s entertainment slate with Jon Cahn and Zinia Scroggs, both rising stars whose talents are incredible additions to our team,” said de Moraes.
Redbox Parent Chicken Soup For The Soul Tightens Belt As Movie Revenue Starts To Return; Exec Bonuses Deferred, Some Distribution Deals Renegotiated, But No Layoffs Planned
EXCLUSIVE: As crucial movie rental revenue finally starts to return, Redbox and Crackle parent Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is taking steps to tighten its corporate belt.
Apple Studios Lands Cesca Major Novel ‘Maybe Next Time;’ Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Producing
EXCLUSIVE: In competition, Apple Studios is acquiring rights to Cesca Major’s latest novel Maybe Next Time. Novel will be developed as an Apple Original Film from Apple Studios, with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine set to be producer. The author will be executive producer.
‘Brokeback Mountain’ Sets West End Adaptation, Mike Faist, Lucas Hedges to Star
Naman Ramachandran Annie Proulx’s short story “Brokeback Mountain” is set for a stage adaptation on London’s West End. The story was previously adapted as a 2005 film by Ang Lee, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, playing Jack and Ennis respectively, who take jobs on the remote Brokeback Mountain and develop a relationship. It won three Oscars – for direction, adapted screenplay and score. The West End adaptation will star Mike Faist (BAFTA-nominee for “West Side Story”) and Lucas Hedges (Oscar-nominee for “Manchester by the Sea”) as Jack and Ennis. Both actors will be making their West End debuts.