Oscar Animated Shorts Are Long on Ideas

Andrew Wallenstein President and Chief Media AnalystIn the pandemic-impacted movie marketplace, it might seem like the only films that succeed in theaters these days are blockbuster titles featuring superheroes. But that’s not the case, according to William Sherak, one of the principals at Project X Entertainment.The company already proved the staying power of mid-budget movies with the success of Paramount Pictures’ “Scream,”  the horror franchise that returned to form at the box office in January.

The doctor is back in: Kate Walsh announced via social media that she’s donning the scrubs again as Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy. She’ll appear in the May 5 episode.

Are Avril Lavigne, 37, and Mod Sun, 35, engaged? That’s the question on many minds after the singer was seen wearing a big diamond ring on her left hand ring finger on Apr. 5. She was walking outside of a studio in Los Angeles when she showed off the impressive gem and appeared calm and collected as she walked by cameras. She was also wearing a black graphic hoodie and large sunglasses as her long blonde hair was down.

Britney Spears decided to pull a “Baby One More Time” and uploaded another spicy beach pic and video. The 40-year-old pop star took to Instagram and showed off a video of her rolling around in the sand while wearing a blue and white floral bikini.

Jessica Williams (Love Life) is set as a lead opposite Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in Shrinking, Apple TV+’s 10-episode comedy series written and executive produced by Segel and Ted Lasso‘s co-creator/executive producer/showrunner Bill Lawrence and star/writer/producer Brett Goldstein. James Ponsoldt has signed on to direct multiple episodes, including the first, and executive produce the project, from Warner Bros Television.

Adam Stockhausen and Rena DeAngelo Production design, “West Side Story” The tremendous production design of “West Side Story” drew me into the story like nothing else I saw last year. Steven Spielberg’s remake rewrites the script of the musical, incorporating the looming demolition of the San Juan Hill neighborhood for the construction of Lincoln Center.

Vivienne Chow After a film career spanning more than three decades, production-costume-art designer Tim Yip has achieved plenty, including winning an Oscar and a BAFTA award. But he is only now launching his most uncompromising production, which he calls a “living film project,” and which he hopes will challenge the tradition of cinema.“I want to make a film that is infinitely long,” Yip told Variety.

K.J. Yossman Locksmith Animation’s “Ron’s Gone Wrong” has won the award for best long form at the British Animation Awards 2022.Locksmith, which was founded by by Aardman Animations veterans Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart alongside Elisabeth Murdoch, picked up the award at a ceremony in London on Thursday evening.The awards took place at London’s BFI Southbank and were presented by comedian Miles Jupp.Other winners on the night included Magic Light Pictures, for their adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s “Zog and the Flying Doctors” and Scheffler’s “Pip and Posy,” while production co-ordinator Hodan Abdi picked up the Lamb award, which “bridges the gap between current categories which recognise student achievements and general best-in-class awards, and is open to any young professionals working in the animation and VFX industry.” And 86-year-old Menna Trussler beat out Taika Waititi, Ricky Gervais and Ben Wishaw to take home the award for best voice performance, for her portrayal of Beryl in “Affairs of the Art.”“We have been amazed at the quality of the entrants for this year’s British Animation Awards and would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees,” said BAA director Helen Brunsdon and producer Kieran Argo.

Karen Idelson Look through the list of this year’s Oscar nominees in the animated feature category and you’ll find each hero’s journey hinges on the same thing — family. They’re either struggling to break free, trying to find their place in the world or looking back on a mystery. In every case, it’s messy.Most of the filmmakers leaned into their own experiences with family and mined tidbits for their films.

Aidy Bryant is getting the chance to embrace her sexuality.

The hot pre-ceremony topic among attendees of the 26th annual Art Directors Guild Awards tonight was the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ controversial decision to pre-tape several artisan awards – including production design – and edit them into the live network broadcast.

In the Oscar-nominated animated short film Boxballet, a gargantuan boxer and a willowy ballerina cross path unexpectedly. They develop feelings for each other, but given the enormous gulf between their backgrounds, the question becomes whether love can truly bring them together.

J. Kim Murphy Tom Fleischman, a frequent collaborator of Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee and a five-time Oscar-nominee for his work as a rerecording mixer, has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in response to the organization’s plan to remove eight categories from the live broadcast of the 2022 Academy Awards.An industry veteran, Fleischman has accrued nearly 200 credits as a rerecording mixer, with a career spanning more than five decades.

Hollywood’s biggest night will apparently be without one of its brightest category stars.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterFilmmaker Peter Greenaway has unveiled the trailer for his next film, “Walking to Paris.”The biographical drama, Greenaway’s first feature since 2015’s romantic comedy “Eisenstein in Guanajuato,” centers on modernist Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi. Set in the early 1900s, the story takes place when Brancusi was 27-year-old and follows his 18-month trek from Bucharest to Paris to reach the metropolis of world culture.

The BBC Factual department has unveiled a vast slate including a natural history series following four animal families over four years and shows commemorating the 40th anniversaries of the Falklands War and AIDS crisis.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorArtisans are hoping for an Academy Awards do-over before the ceremony begins.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sparked outrage and frustration last week when it revealed plans to award eight craft Oscars before the live telecast and sprinkle footage of those presentations throughout the three-hour show — all to make room for other entertainment elements designed to boost viewer engagement and sagging ratings. Adding to the upset: Unsuspecting nominees felt ambushed by the Zoom announcement about the impending change during a virtual town hall last week.Susan Cabral-Ebert, a member of the Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild, is among those hoping the Academy rethinks its plans before the March 27 ceremony.

COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent health and safety protocols.  With invitations having just started to go out this week for the always glamorous March 27 bash, Page Six is reporting that it will again take place at the Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, only this time the venue will be reimagined as an 'open air space.

It's one of the hottest tickets in town, come awards season.The Vanity Fair Oscar party, known for attracting the very top of the A-listers, is back after a two-years break due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent health and safety protocols.With invitations having just started to go out this week for the always glamorous March 27 bash, Page Six is reporting that it will againtake place at the Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, only this time the venue will be reimagined as an 'open air space.' It's back! The Vanity Fair Oscar party is returning on March 27, 2022 after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic Prestigious: The glamorous Vanity Fair party has attracted the top A-listersIn keeping with its mysterious lead-ups of yesteryear, the guest list has remained a guarded secret, but some insiders suspect the stars of the recent Hollywood edition of Vanity Fair - Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kristen Stewart. - will be among the guest list.Such other high-profile celebs rumored to be on hand includes the likes of Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba,Jessica Chastain, Simu Liu, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.

Now the criticism is coming from within. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ plan to pre-tape Best Sound and other categories on this month’s Oscarcast has hit a sour note with a Music Branch governor.

The plan by Oscars organizers to trim eight categories from being presented live onstage during next month’s telecast has raised the ire of the Set Decorators Society of America, the latest Hollywood group decrying the moves.