Stephen King is already working on his next novel – because of course he is – but he’s had to make some changes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yes, we’ve reached the point where the real world is so scary that King has to adjust his tales of terror to accurately reflect that. The prolific author also offered an apology to everyone who thinks we’re currently stuck in a real-life Stephen King story. Read More »
It’s a classic Hollywood underdog story: a rising animation studio produces an animated short that goes viral, and which goes on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short. Lion Forge Animation has had a banner year with the Oscar win of the acclaimed animated short Hair Love, and they’re continuing that streak with a new multipicture deal with China’s Starlight Media, the company behind Crazy Rich Asians.
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Saturday Night Live is just one of dozens of shows that went on a production hiatus due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and around the world. Since the show is filmed with a live audience and is produced in the span of a single week with a staff of writers and a full crew, it was believed SNL would be shut down until the pandemic had passed. But in the wake of late night television’s revival with special social distancing episodes, we’ll see Saturday Night Live returning this weekend. Read More »
Update: According to The Hollywood Reporter, furloughs have hit the Walt Disney Studios. Disney previously said it would be paying its employees through April 18, so it appears these furlough notices (which impact an undermined number of people) will go into effect on April 19, 2020. Our original article from April 3 continues below.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brings the entertainment industry to a complete standstill, the Walt Disney Company will begin furloughing employees “whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time” this month. The affected staffers will still receive “full health care benefits, plus the cost of employee and company premiums will be paid by Disney,” the company said.
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In the series finale of Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister makes a grand speech about how there’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story. I hope Maika Monroe‘s character in the new Quibi movie The Stranger saw that speech and took it to heart, because she’s going to need one hell of a story of her own if she wants to stay alive. She plays a ride share driver who picks up a deranged sociopath (played by Dane DeHaan), and he threatens to kill her unless she tells him “a really good story.” Check out the newest trailer below.
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In Back to the Future Part II, there’s a subplot in which Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly travels to an alternate version of the future which is bleak and terrible. It’s easy to imagine that we’re currently living in a worse version of that timeline in the real world, but while things are pretty dire right now, there’s a small ray of light, too.
Yesterday, a fan-made remake of Back to the Future Part II premiered on YouTube. It’s called Project 88 – Back to the Future Too, and more than 300 people across nine countries contributed to the DIY remake while abiding by social distancing and quarantine guidelines that were in place due to the coronavirus. So make sure your time circuits are on and your flux capacitor is fluxing, and let the creativity on display in this remake put a smile on your face. Read More »
Like most of us, Taika Waititi is stuck at home watching movies. But unlike the rest of us, Waititi can offer some bonus content on one of the most beloved Marvel Studios films in recent years. Waititi announced that he’ll be doing a new quarantine-inspired spin on the director’s commentary for 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, holding a live commentary of the Marvel comic book movie on Instagram Live later today. Read More »
(Welcome to Ani-time Ani-where, a regular column dedicated to helping the uninitiated understand and appreciate the world of anime.)
There have been more than a few manga and anime shows about people who want to make manga or anime. The problem is that they usually fall into the cynical side of the industry, focusing on the hardships of making a living doing hard work with little pay, but not so much on the creative aspect of it, or the huge love that goes into doing the work. But this is not that anime. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is a show clearly made by people who know the hardships that come with choosing the animator’s life, but also how rewarding it is to see something you had in your mind be brought to life.
The latest anime by Masaaki Yuasa and Science Saru follows a trio of high school girls who decide to start making anime. The series shows both the magic of animation to take you to magical new worlds you could have never imagined, but also the struggles creative people face when trying to make their dreams into a business, showing some of the harsh realities animators face in the real world, all presented in what is basically the anime version of Ed, Edd n Eddy. It’s hilarious, surreal, inspiring, and also one of the most visually inventive shows I’ve seen in some time, resulting in the surprise of the 2020 winter season, a strong contender for anime of the year, and the perfect binge for social distancing. Read More »
Tim Burton‘s horror comedy Beetlejuice is undoubtedly one of his best efforts. It’s when the filmmaker was firing on all cylinders and at the top of his game. After 32 years, you might think there’s nothing left to learn about the movie starring Michael Keaton as the ghost with the most, but French filmmaker Fred China, producer/1980s fanatic Adam F. Goldberg (creator of The Goldbergs), and producer Lee Leshen (Back in Time, Ghostheads) have a whole movie to prove you wrong.
Documentary for the Recently Deceased is a forthcoming project about the making of Beetlejuice that will dive deep into the production of the film, from shooting in the small town of East Corinth, Vermont to crafting intricate stop-motion animated creatures and effects. The good news is you don’t have to wait for a sneak peek, because there’s already a trailer to tease the story behind the beloved pop culture cornerstone. Read More »
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Batman has seen a wide variety of big screen takes from directors Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, and Christopher Nolan. Now it’s time for Matt Reeves to take the Batmobile for a spin, and even though we’re getting a reboot of The Dark Knight franchise with Robert Pattinson stepping up to put on the cape and cowl, the director says The Batman isn’t an origin story. But the movie will still acknowledge Bruce Wayne’s origins, especially since we find him at a time when he’s “majorly struggling.” Read More »
