Film
Whitney Houston’s Legacy of Breaking Down Barriers in the Entertainment Industry
Subscribe now to our ongoing Whitney Houston season of The Opus. You can also prep for the experience by listening to Whitney Houston via all major streaming services or enter to win a copy of Vinyl Me, Please’s 35th anniversary Whitney Houston box set. Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS Follow on Facebook | Podchaser “After the second album [Whitney], I started thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll do a movie someday,’” Whitney Houston told MTV in 1992 when asked how she had first caught the acting bug. It had taken nearly five years after that initial notion for the R&B and pop superstar to take on the big screen in The Bodyguard alongside Hollywood everyman Kevin Costner. In that time, she was rumored to have turned down working with Robert De ...
New Film The Night of the Beast Centers on Two Teenagers Trying to See an Iron Maiden Show
A new movie based on two teenagers trying to make their way to the first-ever Iron Maiden concert in Colombia has been picked up by film company M-appeal. The movie, titled The Night of the Beast, is currently in post-production. According to Variety, the narrative film centers on Bogotá teenagers Vargas and Chuki, who head out to see an Iron Maiden show in Colombia. While the movie itself is fictional, it is based on true events of 2008, when metalheads journeyed to see the iconic metal band play its first concert in the Latin American country. The movie is directed by Mauricio Leiva-Cock, who is the showrunner for the Netflix series Green Frontier. In describing The Night of the Beast, Leiva-Cock said, “It’s not the Colombian film that is usually seen through festivals. It doesn’t have t...
Original Ghostbusters Cast Reunite for YouTube Livestream
Ghostbusters cast (Josh Gad : YouTube) Ghostbusters reunion livestream Reunited Apart Josh Gad Josh Gad is quickly becoming the king of geekdom. With his new “Reunited Apart” video series, the Frozen actor has brought together our favorite characters from The Goonies, Back to the Future, and even Lord of the Rings. Now, Gad is pulling some strings to reunite the cast of the original Ghostbusters for a new YouTube livestream, too. As is par for the course now, Gad broke the news of the next installment in his series with a goofy video reveal. In it, he calls up director Jason Reitman and badgers him about getting his father — Ivan Reitman, the director of the original Ghostbusters franchise — on the line. When the elder Reitman appears, Gad nervously asks if the “supernatural” crew from his...
San Diego Comic-Con at Home Convention to Stream for Free
The annual San Diego Comic-Con was called off back in April due to the worldwide pandemic shutdowns. In May, Comic-Con International announced a virtual iteration dubbed Comic-Con@Home. Now, details of the online event have been revealed — and it will be completely free. Taking place July 22nd through 26th, Comic-Con@Home will allow an unlimited number of online guests attend the virtual panels on movies, TV series, comic books, video games, and more, without paying a fee. That’s huge news for fans of geek culture; SDCC’s ticketing process is notoriously stressful, involving pre-sign up, waiting periods, and limited accessibility. Then once you’re actually onsite, getting into the major panels could require waiting in line for hours. With no need to camp out to secure a spot, fans will hav...
Lynn Shelton Livestream Tribute to Feature Marc Maron, Reese Witherspoon, Ben Gibbard, and More
Acclaimed indie filmmaker Lynn Shelton suddenly passed away last month at the age of 54. Now, her friends and colleagues are coming together for a special tribute event in her honor. “Her Effortless Brilliance: A Celebration of Lynn Shelton Through Film and Music” will be livestreamed tonight, June 10th beginning at 9 p.m. ET at the YouTube link below. As its title suggests, folks from all over the entertainment world will take part in the virtual memorial. Appearing alongside Shelton’s partner, Marc Maron, will be Reese Witherspoon, Mark and Jay Duplass, Emily Blunt, and Rosemarie DeWitt. Also scheduled are Kaitlyn Dever, Jeff Garlin, Joshua Leonard, Sean Nelson, and Michaela Watkins. Musical performances, meanwhile, are coming from Maron, Andrew Bird, Death Cab for Cutie frontm...
J.K. Rowling Pens Essay Defending Her Stance on Transgender People
J.K. Rowling, photo via Facebook J.K. Rowling is making headlines again for her views on transgender individuals and issues. After some of her actions on Twitter sparked backlash in December, she again drew claims of transphobia over the weekend when she tweeted that “erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.” Daniel Radcliff, star of the Harry Potter franchise based on the author’s best-selling book series, denounced the remarks in an essay published on The Trevor Project. Earlier today, Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne also distanced himself from Rowling’s views, stating, “As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s c...
Keanu Reeves Previews The Matrix 4: It’s a “Really Special Story”
Almost two decades later, Keanu Reeves is set to reprise his role as Neo in the upcoming film The Matrix 4. While franchise actors sometimes stick around due to nostalgia or a fat paycheck, these weren’t Reeves’ reasons to return for the upcoming sequel. In a new interview, he said it was the script’s “wonderful story” that convinced him to join the Warner Bros. reboot. “Lana Wachowski wrote a beautiful script and a wonderful story that resonated with me,” Reeves explained to Empire. “That’s the only reason to do it. To work with her again is just amazing.” The 55-year-old actor also suggested The Matrix 4 plot could provide “meaningful” modern-day lessons to fans. “It’s been really special, and the story has, I think, some meaningful things to say, and that we can take some nourishm...
Daniel Radcliffe Addresses J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Comments in New Essay
Twice in recent months, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has decided to tarnish her legacy by spouting transphobic comments on social media. The latest instance came over the weekend, when Rowling seemingly dismissed the existence of non-binary people and gender-nonconforming people. “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased,” Rowling tweeted. “I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.” Now, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, is speaking out in support of the trans community in a new essay published to The Trevor Project. Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular character in all eight Harr...
Music, TV, and Film Production Can Resume in California on June 12th
After months of shutdowns crippled the entertainment industry, governor Gavin Newsom has announced guidelines to resume music, film, and television production in California. Via The Hollywood Reporter, work can begin again on June 12th, as the Golden State transitions into Stage 3 of its coronavirus recovery plan. Stage 3 allows for the re-opening of some “higher-risk workplaces.” Concerts won’t return until stage 4 (and even then, it might not be a typical concert experience) but most recording studios should be back after next Friday. Additionally, many of the film and television productions that paused during the pandemic seem likely to resume. However, the guidelines are purposefully vague, and several questions remain. In a statement, the California Department of Public Health sa...
International Day of Slayer Celebrated with On-Demand Release of Repentless Killogy Movie
International Day of Slayer is celebrated annually on June 6th, and this year it features the on-demand release of the band’s 2019 movie The Repentless Killogy. This year marks the 18th annual International Day of Slayer. The special day (6/6 — closest date to 666) has seen fans skip work or school to listen to the legendary thrash band’s music all day. And beginning Saturday, fans who didn’t catch The Repentless Killogy in theaters or purchase the Blu-ray can now stream it via video on demand. The VOD stream is available via the band’s website for the appropriate price of $6.66 for 48 hours of access. The Repentless Killogy is essentially two movies in one, combining a narrative story that weaves together the ultra-violent music videos from the band’s Repentless album with a full concert ...
Disney Deploys Stormtroopers to Remind Patrons of Social Distancing
While Disney World in Orlando won’t reopen until next month, the House of Mouse recently revived the outdoor shopping center at Disney Springs. New coronavirus safety measures include reduced capacity, mandatory face masks, and a pair of bumbling First Order stormtroopers reminding patrons to maintain social distancing. In a video posted by Attractions Magazine, the stormtroopers are much closer to entertainment than security. They stand above visitors on a balcony, pointing prop guns skywards, while scripted dialogue is piped through loudspeakers. Even from the few snippets, their distinct personalities come through. The male trooper is a grating brown-noser, while the female soldier hates her job and wishes she could be anywhere else. This tension between them provides an excuse for...
J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Pledges $10 Million Donation to Anti-Racist Organizations
J.J. Abrams, photo by Heather Kaplan In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, J.J. Abrams has pledged a whopping $10 million dollars to various organizations fighting racism in America. The donation will come through Abrams’ Bad Robot film and TV production company, as well as the Katie McGrath and JJ Abrams Family Foundation. The $10 million will be dispersed over the course of five years, with an initial $200,000 investment marked for each of the following groups: Black Lives Matter LA, Black Futures Lab, Community Coalition, Equal Justice Initiative, and Know Your Rights Camp. “Enough is enough,” reads a statement on Bad Robot’s Instagram page announcing the donation. “Enough police brutality. Enough outsized privilege. Enough polite conversation. Enough white comfort.” “The ...
