February 2022 – Below the Line

Set Decorators Blast Academy’s Decision to Cut Eight Categories From Live Oscars Show

February 28, 2022 Staff Comments Off

The Set Decorators Society of America has blasted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its leadership following the shocking decision to cut eight categories from the live Oscars broadcast coming up on March 27. The SDSA Board of Directors sent its missive to Academy President David Rubin, CEO Dawn Hudson, the AMPAS Board Executive Committee, and the AMPAS Awards Committee, as they all played a part in the frustrating decision, […]

The Batman Review: Riddle Me This — Why Does This 3-Hour Crime Noir Still Feel Incomplete?

February 28, 2022 Jeff Sneider Comments Off

It’s rare that a three-hour movie doesn’t feel complete, but Matt Reeves‘ dark (knight) crime noir The Batman manages to accomplish the feat. It’s a movie that exists for several reasons, one of which, undeniably and understandably, is to set up a larger universe on HBO Max, which has already been busy developing spinoff shows about the Gotham City Police Department and Colin Farrell‘s Penguin. The Batman is also supposed […]

SAG Award Winners: CODA Wins Best Ensemble as Succession and Ted Lasso Split TV Prizes

February 27, 2022 Jeff Sneider Comments Off

The Screen Actors Guild has announced its 2022 film and television winners, with CODA winning the top award for Best Ensemble. The Apple TV+ release, which the streamer acquired out of Sundance, beat out Belfast, Don’t Look Up, House of Gucci, and King Richard, and has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. In a boon for inclusion, the three deaf actors in CODA — Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin, and Daniel Durant — represent the first disabled performers […]

Oscar-Nominated Editors Andrew Weisblum and Myron Kerstein on Finding the Rhythm of Tick, Tick… Boom!

February 25, 2022 Danielle Solzman Comments Off

Andrew Weisblum and Myron Kerstein may share an Oscar nomination as the Editors of Tick, Tick… Boom! but they didn’t actually work on the film together. Because of the pandemic, the schedule went long and Weisblum recommended Kerstein to take the film across the finish line. Kerstein jumped at the opportunity to work with Lin-Manuel Miranda again, having previously edited Jon M. Chu‘s In the Heights, which Miranda produced. The experience gave Kerstein some familiarity with Miranda, though […]

Cyrano Costume Designer Massimo Cantini Parrini on Dressing Hundreds of Characters in Period Garb

February 25, 2022 J. Don Birnam Comments Off

This year’s Oscar nominees for Best Costume Design present voters with an array of wildly different choices, each deserving in their own way. Consider, for example, Jacqueline West’s fantasy-oriented costumes in Dune, which landed West her fourth nomination, or Jenny Beavan’s fashion-centric garments in Cruella, which garnered Beavan an impressive 11th nomination. The Academy could also be partial to the classy, more traditional period dresses designed for Nightmare Alley by Luis Sequeira, […]

Technicolor to Spin Off Its Creative Services, Including VFX Business

February 24, 2022 Staff Comments Off

Industry leader Technicolor has announced that it will spin off its Technicolor Creative Studios, which houses its visual effects business and animation studio. Technicolor will retain a 35 percent stake in TCS, but the other 65 percent of the business will be spun off. The move will leave the French parent company with two primary lines of business — Connected Home, which provides broadband gateway boxes and set-top boxes; and DVD Services, […]

Cyrano Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey on Shooting Joe Wright’s Epic Musical

February 24, 2022 Daniel Eagan Comments Off

A fixture on stage for more than 100 years, Cyrano de Bergerac returns in Cyrano, a musical romance starring Peter Dinklage as the lovelorn poet and Haley Bennett as his obsession, Roxanne. Spurred by a case of mistaken identity, Cyrano reluctantly agrees to teach fellow soldier Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) how to woo Roxanne, who is also being pursued by the lecherous Duke De Guiche (Ben Mendelsohn). As envisioned by director […]

VES to Honor Lucasfilm’s Lynwen Brennan With Lifetime Achievement Award

February 24, 2022 Staff Comments Off

The Visual Effects Society has named Lucasfilm EVP/GM Lynwen Brennan as the forthcoming recipient of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her valuable contributions to visual arts and filmed entertainment. The award will be presented at the 20th Annual VES Awards on March 8 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. As previously announced, acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will receive the VES Award for Creative Excellence. The VES Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by the VES […]

The Accidental Turitz: Does Marvel Have an Anti-Vax Problem?

February 23, 2022 Neil Turitz Comments Off

Remember, just a couple of weeks ago, when I talked about how exhausting controversy is? Well, I’m still spent, because there’s just no let-up to it. Just when I think we’ve put one controversy to bed, another rears its ugly head and we’re forced to reckon with it. This week, it’s more nonsense about vaccinations, and how people wanting to exercise their right to police their own bodies should also have […]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: How Todd Tucker’s Illusion Industries Created the New Leatherface

February 23, 2022 Scott Essman Comments Off

For 10 years, Illusion Industries has serviced Hollywood films, television shows, music videos, and commercials with all manner of unique props, special makeup effects, full-blown creatures, and articulated puppets. Todd Tucker, the Founder of Illusion Industries, has 30 years of experience in the industry, having originally traveled from NorCal down to SoCal to chase his Hollywood dreams. Tucker’s latest showbiz challenge at Illusion Industries was to design and realize a new take […]