Diamond Macneil: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has preemptively acquired rights to The Women, a new book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah, which is up for publication by St. Martin’s Press in February.

William Earl New Filmmakers Los Angeles has unveiled the nominees and jury for its 11th annual awards that celebrate the work of independent filmmakers around the world. The kudos cover 16 award categories as well as an overall best new filmmaker prize. New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on nurturing up-and-coming talent and opening doors for filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds. The nominees were selected from independent productions that screened last year during NFMLA’s monthly film festival showcase series. “We are incredibly pleased with the final selection of our 2023 nominees and when you talk about opportunities for new talent, the Best of NFMLA Awards is it,” said Larry Laboe, NFMLA executive director and co-founder. “We’ve assembled an incredible array of industry professionals and creatives to activate our 2023 jury and these leaders represent every area of the media ecosystem. This is all about getting eyes on the promising new, diverse talent that the industry needs to be accessing.”

Queen of the South co-producer and Queen Sugar producer Tina Mabry has signed on to direct and co-write Pretty Big at Warner Bros. and HBO Max, a project which Mike Jackson of Get Lifted Film Co., Poppy Hanks and Jelani Johnson of Macro and Kristina Sorensen will produce.

Angelique Jackson Akira Armstrong’s Pretty Big Movement dance company set out to destroy stereotypes in the dance world — and now that story is getting the Hollywood treatment in a new film.Set at Warner Bros. for HBO Max, “Pretty Big” is based on the true life story and the origin of Armstrong’s dance company, which is inclusive of bodies of all shapes, sizes and colors. Tina Mabry (“Pose,” “Women of the Movement”) has signed on to direct the project, co-writing the screenplay with Dan Steele (“Gossip Girl,” “Faking It”).The movie follows Armstrong, a young, plus-sized woman who takes matters into her own hands after being rejected from other dance companies, despite her obvious talent.