George Clooney is in talks with Amazon Studios to direct and produce a feature film version of J.R. Moehringer’s coming-of-age story “The Tender Bar: A Memoir.” Clooney and his producing partner Grant Heslov would produce through their Smokehouse Pictures banner along with Ted Hope. 13 more words
via George Clooney Directing, Producing ‘The Tender Bar’ for Amazon — Variety
As New York makes progress on its laborious reopening plan, the city’s entertainment chief is hoping to see content production begin to return in a significant way by September. 29 more words
via New York City Hopes to Begin ‘Robust Comeback’ of Production in September — Variety
Major League Baseball returned to our screens on Thursday night, and boy did fans miss it. ESPN’s coverage of the game between the New York Yankees and the defending World Series Champion Washington Nationals struck a huge home run, drawing the network’s largest ever audience for an opening night game. 7 more words
via TV Ratings: Baseball’s Return Hits Home Run for ESPN — Variety
History matters. Facts matter. Especially in this moment of racial and political reckoning. With “Birth of a Nation” as its powerful and wicked origin story, the Hollywood film industry has been shaping the narrative about Black people in America for more than a century. 13 more words
via Hollywood Has a Responsibility to Get Black Stories Right (Guest Column) — Variety
The Art Directors Guild has released an 11-page document outlining their set of best practice protocols for film and TV productions operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. 31 more words
via Art Directors Guild Releases Best Practice Protocols for Film and TV Sets — Variety
The state of New Jersey issued a lengthy defense on Friday of its order closing movie theaters, arguing that theaters pose an “unnecessary” danger amid a raging pandemic. 29 more words
via New Jersey Defends Movie Theater Shutdown, Warning of ‘Unnecessary’ Danger — Variety
With the debut of Quibi, the short form categories at the Emmys may never be the same. The launch of the mobile streaming service hasn’t exactly been smooth: There were early questions about its business plan and whether consumers would want to pay for such content when free platforms including YouTube exist, subscriptions have already…
via How Quibi Could Shake Up the Short Form Emmy Races — Variety
Less interesting subjects than Olympia Dukakis have been profiled in more compelling documentaries than Harry Mavromichalis’ “Olympia,” a fervently admiring but scattered and sometimes scatty portrait of a woman who is anything but. 24 more words
Since its debut “Unsolved Mysteries” has been sitting atop Netflix’s “Top 10” queue and while executive producer Terry Dunn Meurer is obviously “thrilled” with the reception of the streaming revival, Meurer also admits the production team “would be happier” if they could have solved the majority of cases explored within. 7 more words
In “White Noise,” Daniel Lombroso’s lively and disturbing documentary portrait of three alt-right influencers, there’s a riveting scene in which Richard Spencer, a rock star of white nationalism who talks like a noodgy corporate assistant and has meticulous gelled hair that’s supposed to be his designer version of a Hitler fade (though Hitler didn’t have…
