Movies

Union: Prop Gun Fired By Baldwin Held “Live Round”

Variety reports: The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership. Additionally, the union says that New Mexico crew members staffed the props, set decoration, special effects and construction departments on …

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Prop Gun Fired By Alec Baldwin Kills Cinematographer

Variety reports: Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun while filming a scene in New Mexico on Thursday, causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. The incident occurred on the set of “Rust,” an independent feature that was filming at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, a popular production location south of Santa Fe. Hutchins, 42, was transported …

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Nielsen Unveils New Metric To Measure Streaming

The New York Times reports: Nielsen, the 98-year-old research firm that for decades has had an effective monopoly on measuring TV ratings in the United States, has a new metric that it says allows it to make an apples-to-apples comparison, on a percentage basis, of how many people are streaming shows and films on their TVs versus how many are …

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MoviePass Parent Settles With FTC On Shady Practices

From the Federal Trade Commission: The operators of the MoviePass subscription service have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations they took steps to block subscribers from using the service as advertised, while also failing to secure subscribers’ personal data. Under the proposed settlement, MoviePass, Inc., its parent company Helios and Matheson Analytics, Inc. (Helios), and their principals, Mitchell Lowe …

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Coming Biopic To Depict Jim And Tammy Faye Bakker

Collider reports: Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield are almost unrecognizable in the first look at The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The Zero Dark Thirty star is playing the famed televangelist in an upcoming biopic and People Magazine shared a first look at Chastain and Garfield as Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. The movie was inspired by the documentary of the …

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Major Theater Chains Drop Mask Rule For Fully Vaxxed

Reuters reports: Masks are no longer required at the three main movie theater chains in the United States for people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to updated guidelines on Friday. AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Regal Cinemas said on their websites that movie goers who are not fully vaccinated will be asked to continue wearing masks, and that …

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Amazon Closes $8.45 Billion “Mega Deal” To Buy MGM

The Hollywood Reporter reports: In a landmark mega deal, Amazon is acquiring MGM Holdings — whose storied studio boasts one of the largest film and TV libraries — in a bid to turbocharge its Prime membership offering to customers and potentially mine intellectual property of franchises such as James Bond and Rocky. The deal, pending regulatory approval, values the studio …

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Actor John Cena Apologizes In Fluent Mandarin After Calling Taiwan A “Country” In Movie Interview [VIDEO]

Wrestling.com reports: WWE legend John Cena has issued an apology to China for calling Taiwan a country in a recent interview. During a promotional tour for Fast & Furious 9, Cena referred to Taiwan as a country while speaking to TVBS – sparking outrage among Chinese fans. Cena posted a video message on the Sina Weibo platform clarifying his comments, …

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WSJ: Amazon Near Deal To Buy MGM For $9 Billion

The Wall Street Journal reports: Amazon.com Inc. is nearing a deal to buy the Hollywood studio MGM Holdings for almost $9 billion including debt, said people familiar with the matter, a pact that would turn a film operation founded in the silent era into a streaming asset for the e-commerce giant. An agreement could be announced as early as this …

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Emmy Winning Actor Charles Grodin Dies At Age 86

Entertainment Tonight reports: Charles Grodin, who famously starred in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, and Beethoven, died on Tuesday from bone marrow cancer, EW has confirmed. He was 86. Although Grodin was mostly known for his work on the big screen, throughout his long career he also appeared on television, dazzled on Broadway, authored multiple books, and was a political …

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Billie Hayes, Witchiepoo In H.R. Pufnstuf, Dies At 96

Deadline Hollywood reports: Billie Hayes, whose portrayal of the flamboyantly and comically wicked witch Witchiepoo on the 1969-70 Saturday morning live-action children’s classic H.R. Pufnstuf, died of natural causes April 29 at Cedar’s Hospital in Los Angeles. She was 96. A Broadway veteran by the time she reached national fame as the flute-stealing nemesis to a psychedelic dragon, Hayes had …

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Oscar Winner Olympia Dukakis Dies At Age 89

The Los Angeles Times reports: Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, the theater veteran who rose to prominence late in her career with memorable turns in 1980s films such as “Moonstruck” and “Steel Magnolias,” has died at the age of 89. Dukakis, who also starred in “Look Who’s Talking” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” died at her home in New York City. “The …

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“Nomadland” Wins Big At 2021 Academy Awards

The New York Times reports: “Nomadland,” Chloé Zhao’s meditation on grief and the damaged American dream, won Academy Awards for best picture, director and actress at Sunday night’s surreal ceremony, a stage show broadcast on television about films mostly distributed on the internet. It was a sleepy event until the final minutes, when academy voters served up a dramatic twist …

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Iconic California Theater Chain To Shutter For Good

The Associated Press reports: Hollywood’s theatrical business may be slowly rebounding but for some exhibitors the last year has been catastrophic. Pacific Theaters, which operates some 300 screens in California, including the beloved ArcLight theaters and the historic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, said Monday that it will not be reopening. “This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a …

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Emmy Winner Jessica Walter Dies At Age 80 [VIDEO]

Variety reports: Jessica Walter, an Emmy-winning actress known for her work as the stalker in Clint Eastwood’s “Play Misty for Me,” and for the TV series “Arrested Development” and “Archer,” died Wednesday in New York. She was 80. Walter received an Emmy nomination in 2005 for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy for playing the manipulative alcoholic Lucille Bluth in …

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Oscar Nominee George Segal Dies At Age 87 [VIDEO]

Variety reports: George Segal, whose long career included playing Albert “Pops” Solomon on “The Goldbergs,” and garnering an Oscar nom for supporting actor for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” died Tuesday. He was 87. His wife Sonia announced his death, saying, “The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery.” …

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Netflix’s “Mank” Leads 2021 Oscar Noms With 10 Nods

Variety reports: “Mank,” an ode to Hollywood’s golden age that was produced and released by Netflix, one of the companies reshaping the movie business, led the nominations for the 93th Academy Awards. The behind-the-scenes drama about the making of “Citizen Kane” scored 10 nominations on Monday, including nods for best picture, as well as for its stars Gary Oldman and …

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Matthew McConaughey Mulling Run For TX Governor

The Houston Chronicle reports: Asked on a podcast this week whether his interest in running for governor of Texas was sincere, Matthew McConaughey said, “It’s a true consideration.” The Oscar-winning actor first brought up the idea last year. This week Channel 13 reported that he appeared on The Balanced Voice, a Crime Stoppers of Houston podcast and discussed the possibility …

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Fired Star Wars Star To Make Movie For……Ben Shapiro

Deadline Hollywood reports: Less than 24 hours after her explosive ouster from Star Wars series The Mandalorian for incendiary social media posts, Gina Carano has hit back at her detractors and revealed a new movie project she is making with conservative website The Daily Wire. Carano told us today: “The Daily Wire is helping make one of my dreams — …

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Actors Union SAG-AFTRA Bans Trump Ever Rejoining

Via press release: The SAG-AFTRA National Board, meeting via Zoom video conference, passed a resolution preemptively denying any potential re-admission applications by former member Donald J. Trump. The resolution cites the same concerns that prompted the initial disciplinary charges — which were resolved by Trump’s resignation on Thursday — notably his antagonism of the union’s journalist members and disregard for …

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