EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed writer, director, producer and actor Jim Cummings (The Beta Test) for representation in all areas.
18.02.2022 - 21:39 / deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: BJ McDonnell, the director of the buzzed-about Foo Fighters horror-comedy Studio 666, set for release on February 25 via Open Road Films, has signed with UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.
McDonnell’s latest feature follows members of the legendary rock band Foo Fighters as they move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much-anticipated 10th album. Foo Fighters band members Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee star alongside Whitney Cummings, Leslie Grossman, Will Forte and Jenna Ortega.
McDonnell, who is also a writer, producer and camera operator, made his feature directorial debut with the 2013 horror-comedy Hatchet III. He also previously wrote and directed three music videos for the thrash metal band Slayer, helming the music video “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)” for the band Exodus, along with the feature, Slayer: The Repentless Killogy.
BJ has recently worked as a camera operator on New Line’s adaptation of the Stephen King book Salem’s Lot and the anticipated Top Gun: Maverick. He has also operated for such films as Malignant, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Curse of La Llorona, Shazam!, The Nun, Home Again, Unforgettable, Office Christmas Party, Rules Don’t Apply, Central Intelligence, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Ant-Man, Tomorrowland, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Neighbors, Jack Reacher, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Battle Los Angeles, and for series including American Horror Story, Ballers, Superstore and Shooter.
McDonnell continues to be represented by Mortimer PR.
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EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed writer, director, producer and actor Jim Cummings (The Beta Test) for representation in all areas.
Kate Aurthur editorSonja Morgan, a beloved cast member on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City,” has been signed by UTA for comedy touring. Morgan is set to launch a nine-city leg of her “Sonja in Your City” tour this spring, and tickets go on sale March 8.Morgan joined “The Real Housewives of New York City” in the show’s third season in 2010.
EXCLUSIVE: Award-winning filmmaker Lydia Dean Pilcher (Radium Girls, A Call to Spy) has signed with Echo Lake Entertainment for management—also announcing today that she has acquired the rights to Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism, a bestselling memoir from Dawn Prince-Hughes that she plans to adapt into a feature, as both director and producer.
Ethan Shanfeld When Dave Grohl first heard a film studio was interested in making a horror movie with the Foo Fighters, he dismissed the notion. But when a former landlord emailed him about a vacant Encino property, the Foo frontman decided to make the most out of the “big creepy old house.” There, he wrote and recorded the band’s 10th album, “Medicine at Midnight,” in addition to filming “Studio 666” — a once “stupid idea” transformed into a feature film starring the Foo Fighters.
“The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.” Keyboardist Rami Jaffee either had no problem with, or specifically requested, being portrayed like a horny New Age space-case who can tell you how long a corpse has been dead just by listening to its vibes. The perpetually put-upon Pat Smear doesn’t even get a bedroom as this gigantic house, but he chipperly sleeps in the kitchen because, obviously, it’s closer to the Doritos.And then there’s Dave Grohl, who came up with the story of “Studio 666,” and initially plays himself as a slightly out-of-touch dweeb who loves sconces, and isn’t afraid to tell you about it, but gradually falls prey to the dark-ish side of celebrity and transforms into a selfish meanie who also, if they’re getting in the way of his mojo, murders his bandmates with their own barbecue.
Don’t be fooled: the Foo Fighters’ “Studio 666” is not some extended music video gimmick put out by Dave Grohl and company. It’s a real horror movie with a legit runtime, a plot and a script. And though they’re amazed the movie actually got finished and exists, Grohl isn’t fooling himself that they’re suddenly real actors either.
“Studio 666” — their new horror comedy that opens in theaters on Friday — Dave Grohl’s gang took unlikely inspiration from another band: Spinal Tap.“In our way, it was like this ultimate gore ‘Spinal Tap,’” Grohl told The Post, referencing the fictional band’s 1984 mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap.” “It was one of the most inspiring rock ’n’ roll films because it made everyone take a look at themselves and think, ‘Oh s—t, I hope I’m not like that.’ And so it was kind of a manual of what not to do — or else you might become Spinal Tap.”But unlike the pretentious, fictitious band Spinal Tap, Foo Fighters have proven to be the real deal — and then some — with hits such as “Learn to Fly,” “Best of You” and, of course, “Times Like These.” The 11-time Grammy-winning group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last October in its first year of eligibility.After the Foo Fighters found themselves enshrined in the pantheon of rock immortals, “Studio 666” — in which the band plays and pokes fun at themselves during some haunted sessions — might seem like a strange choice for an encore. But the project developed organically while the Foos were recording their 10th studio album, 2021’s “Medicine at Midnight,” at a mansion in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles.“It is something I never wanted to or expected to do.
Dave Grohl's pitch for was succinct but effective, because the rest of the Foo Fighters immediately jumped at the «wild» idea.ET's Matt Cohen caught up with Grohl and the rest of his bandmates at TCL Theater in Los Angeles for the premiere of their horror comedy, which hits theaters Feb. 25. When asked what his pitch to the guys was for this film, Grohl didn't skip a beat and laid out exactly what he envisioned.«Food Fighters need to make a record,» Grohl's pitch begins.
Foo Fighters have shared a red band trailer for their upcoming new horror movie, Studio 666 – check it out below.Directed by BJ McDonnell, the upcoming “horror-comedy” will come to cinemas across the UK and Ireland on February 25 via Sony Pictures UK. It follows Dave Grohl and co as they move into a mansion in Encino, California that is “steeped in grisly rock and roll history” to record a new album.Once they arrive, however, frontman Grohl “finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the lives of the band”.In the new trailer, Grohl tries to introduce the latest teaser for the film, but ends up stumbling over his words in an expletive-laden rant.“‘Studio 666’ is gonna FUCK YOU UP!” the whole band shout, before the trailer begins in earnest.
Foo Fighters upcoming new hour movie, Studio 666.The legendary guitar shredder recently revealed that he has a part in the film, but one that many fans might not realise without his help.Vai’s hands appear during a scene where he’s shredding a guitar in the film. Previously, he’s appeared in Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey, playing various guitars as the characters in the film.He opened up about his role more in a series of tweets yesterday (February 17).He said: “Last night I attended the premiere screening of the new [Foo Fighters] movie Studio 666. What a hoot! The movie is just off the charts gory and funny.
Terry Flores Variety won 26 National Art and Entertainment Journalism Awards, including entertainment publication for its 115th anniversary issue “Gamechangers” and two journalist of the year awards: senior vice president Tim Gray for print and deputy music editor Jem Aswad for online.The venerable entertainment publication received 98 nominations.The awards, presented by the Los Angeles Press Club for work created from July 2020 through June 2021, were handed out virtually Feb. 17 after an in-person event scheduled for Feb.
Chris Willman Music Writer“This is our last show,” Dave Grohl announced at the outset of the Foo Fighters’ set Wednesday night at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. There was an awkward silence as the invited audience waited to see if there was a punchline coming or not.
The world of music wasn’t enough for Foo Fighters, so they’ve made a movie.
Kesha and Whitney Cummings are hitting the red carpet!
Foo Fighters have shared an unexpected new song, ‘March Of The Insane’, which takes the band into unfamiliar territory – thrash metal.The track was quietly released earlier today (February 15) under the alias Dream Widow and features frontman Dave Grohl growling his way through the lyrics.“Sing in a villainous choir / Join in a chorus of pain,” Grohl sings on the track. “Rise in a ruinous army / Dance to the march of the insane”.In the YouTube description box, the track is said to be from Dream Widow’s “never released self-titled album”.
Foo Fighters have announced the launch of a new merch line to celebrate the forthcoming release of their new film, Studio 666.Directed by BJ McDonnell, the upcoming “horror-comedy” will follow Dave Grohl and co. as they move into a mansion in Encino, California that is “steeped in grisly rock and roll history” to record a new album.Once they arrive, however, frontman Grohl “finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the lives of the band”.To coincide with its release, the Foos have announced an exclusive merch collection that includes a selection of t-shirts and accessories – a mug, blanket and pins all featuring signature artwork from the film.You can see some shots of the collection below:Fans can purchase pieces from the Studio 666 collection at Shop.FooFighters.comStudio 666 will be released exclusively in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on February 25 via Sony Pictures UK.Meanwhile, Foo Fighters have expanded their upcoming North American tour with 10 new shows, set to take place this September and October.The tour, in support of the band’s 2021 album ‘Medicine at Midnight’, will now include additional stops primarily through Canada – including cities such as Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.
Dave Grohl hasn’t sat still for more than 30 years, so it’s not much of a surprise that he’s ended up creating and starring in his own feature film.