Exclusive: Fresh off winning the Audience Award at Tribeca Film Festival for The Perfect Find (Netflix), director-actor duo Numa Perrier and Keith Powers reteam for family drama Trip, from screenwriter David E. Baugnon.
The story revolves around Ben (Keith Powers), a pre-med student pursuing experimental healing methods for his terminally ill mother. This experience turned wild adventure uncovers secrets and truths the family must face.
Adonis Tountas of Everlast Pictures, Joshua Parham and Kristopher MacNeil of Uprising Global will produce the indie feature alongside Perrier and Powers. Executive producers include Nikko Tountas, James Leon, Mark Roling, Nic Bilbao, and Craig Armstrong. Thomas Sullivan is currently casting with production slated for Summer/Fall in New Orleans.
Keith Powers recently joined the cast of Emperor of Ocean Park opposite Forest Whitaker premiering July 14. He also stars in The Perfect Find, The New Edition Story, Door Mouse and Tomorrow War. Powers won the...
The story revolves around Ben (Keith Powers), a pre-med student pursuing experimental healing methods for his terminally ill mother. This experience turned wild adventure uncovers secrets and truths the family must face.
Adonis Tountas of Everlast Pictures, Joshua Parham and Kristopher MacNeil of Uprising Global will produce the indie feature alongside Perrier and Powers. Executive producers include Nikko Tountas, James Leon, Mark Roling, Nic Bilbao, and Craig Armstrong. Thomas Sullivan is currently casting with production slated for Summer/Fall in New Orleans.
Keith Powers recently joined the cast of Emperor of Ocean Park opposite Forest Whitaker premiering July 14. He also stars in The Perfect Find, The New Edition Story, Door Mouse and Tomorrow War. Powers won the...
- 5/28/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Mansa, the ad-supported streaming platform highlighting Black content for a global audience, has partnered with Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing on a licensing agreement to distribute a curated selection of Array’s independent feature films directly to audiences via the Mansa Streaming Service and on the Mansa Mix Fast channel.
The platform delivers a curated selection of films, TV shows, and Fast channels that showcase Black narratives from around the world. Since launching a year ago, Mansa has amassed a library of thousands of hours of content and is accessible on a growing list of distribution partners.
“Ava DuVernay is one of my closest friends and collaborators so I can’t overstate how meaningful this partnership between Array Releasing and Mansa is to me,” said David Oyelowo, award-winning filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of Mansa. “It’s not just about distributing films; it’s about amplifying the voices of those...
The platform delivers a curated selection of films, TV shows, and Fast channels that showcase Black narratives from around the world. Since launching a year ago, Mansa has amassed a library of thousands of hours of content and is accessible on a growing list of distribution partners.
“Ava DuVernay is one of my closest friends and collaborators so I can’t overstate how meaningful this partnership between Array Releasing and Mansa is to me,” said David Oyelowo, award-winning filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of Mansa. “It’s not just about distributing films; it’s about amplifying the voices of those...
- 5/13/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The Northwest Film Forum has announced Mirta Desir as the awardee of its fourth annual Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” grant.
Desir, a Haitian American, is producing her first narrative feature film “Angie.” She will receive an unrestricted award of $25,000 to support the making of her film, which she describes as a “love letter to Latin American artists and Haitians’ oral history — a marriage of human drama and the power of Voudou.” For Desir, the grant was “an amazing source of support for women filmmakers.”
“‘Angie’ is a story that I am compelled to tell. It is based on two things: Haiti’s historical interconnectedness with Voudou and my love for my younger sister, who died too young,” Desir said. “Through the lens of magical realism, ‘Angie’ explores the bond between sisters and its power to overcome the worst of circumstances. This grant is appreciated during this development phase...
Desir, a Haitian American, is producing her first narrative feature film “Angie.” She will receive an unrestricted award of $25,000 to support the making of her film, which she describes as a “love letter to Latin American artists and Haitians’ oral history — a marriage of human drama and the power of Voudou.” For Desir, the grant was “an amazing source of support for women filmmakers.”
“‘Angie’ is a story that I am compelled to tell. It is based on two things: Haiti’s historical interconnectedness with Voudou and my love for my younger sister, who died too young,” Desir said. “Through the lens of magical realism, ‘Angie’ explores the bond between sisters and its power to overcome the worst of circumstances. This grant is appreciated during this development phase...
- 11/16/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
It might officially be fall, but Netflix had a “Strong Black Summer.”
At least, that was the name of the streamer’s warm-weather months campaign promoting a string of TV, film and documentary projects fronted by Black talent.
Among the hot titles were Gabrielle Union’s rom-com “The Perfect Find,” the John Boyega-starring conspiratorial caper “They Cloned Tyrone,” a fourth season of the Emmy-nominated comedy “The Upshaws,” comedian Michelle Buteau’s semi-autobiographical series “Survival of the Thickest,” the “Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop” documentary, and a first look at awards contenders “Stamped from the Beginning” and “Rustin.”
“The goal of ‘Strong Black Summer’ was to generate conversation and create community with Black consumers and partners,” says Netflix’s Shelly Gillyard, vice president of marketing in the U.S. and Canada.
The campaign was led by Netflix’s “Strong Black Lead,” which has been a crucial department...
At least, that was the name of the streamer’s warm-weather months campaign promoting a string of TV, film and documentary projects fronted by Black talent.
Among the hot titles were Gabrielle Union’s rom-com “The Perfect Find,” the John Boyega-starring conspiratorial caper “They Cloned Tyrone,” a fourth season of the Emmy-nominated comedy “The Upshaws,” comedian Michelle Buteau’s semi-autobiographical series “Survival of the Thickest,” the “Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop” documentary, and a first look at awards contenders “Stamped from the Beginning” and “Rustin.”
“The goal of ‘Strong Black Summer’ was to generate conversation and create community with Black consumers and partners,” says Netflix’s Shelly Gillyard, vice president of marketing in the U.S. and Canada.
The campaign was led by Netflix’s “Strong Black Lead,” which has been a crucial department...
- 9/30/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
How ‘The Perfect Find’ Director Numa Perrier Honored and Updated Tia Williams’ Book At the Same Time
Netflix’s “The Perfect Find” director Numa Perrier collected generational references in her film adaptation of Tia Williams’ novel.
The story follows Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) and Eric Combs (Keith Powers) who gravitate toward each other despite a substantial age gap and the fact that Eric is the son of Jenna’s boss Darcy (Gina Torres).
The two pair up for a creative project for Darzine, Darcy’s fashion magazine. The project, which eventually becomes “The Perfect Find” highlights fashions inspired by Black starlets of Hollywood’s past. Jenna and Eric also bond over their love for old Hollywood — like Nina Mae McKinney, who pops up throughout the film with clips from “Hallelujah!,” a Greta Garbo clip from “The Flesh and Devil” and Spike Lee’s “School Daze,” featured at a drive-in movie date.
Perrier explained the process behind making references to classic Black Hollywood, first during Jenna’s swap meet browsing,...
The story follows Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) and Eric Combs (Keith Powers) who gravitate toward each other despite a substantial age gap and the fact that Eric is the son of Jenna’s boss Darcy (Gina Torres).
The two pair up for a creative project for Darzine, Darcy’s fashion magazine. The project, which eventually becomes “The Perfect Find” highlights fashions inspired by Black starlets of Hollywood’s past. Jenna and Eric also bond over their love for old Hollywood — like Nina Mae McKinney, who pops up throughout the film with clips from “Hallelujah!,” a Greta Garbo clip from “The Flesh and Devil” and Spike Lee’s “School Daze,” featured at a drive-in movie date.
Perrier explained the process behind making references to classic Black Hollywood, first during Jenna’s swap meet browsing,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Actress Gina Torres made sure that there was more to her character Darcy in Netflix’s “The Perfect Find” than the narcissistic label, which stemmed from Tia Williams’ novel of the same name.
Darcy offers the story’s protagonist Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) a job after Jenna goes through a very public breakup and firing, but she and Jenna go way back — mainly as nemeses. Once Jenna meets Darcy’s son Eric Combs (Keith Powers), the two cannot stay away from each other, and it’s only after they kiss that Jenna learns Eric is Darcy’s son.
“I loved the old villains of 90s nighttime soaps, so I would say that that kind of started there, but I also wanted people to be treated to her humanity as well,” Torres told TheWrap. “That she just wasn’t this two-dimensional villain that wanted to make Jenna’s life miserable that...
Darcy offers the story’s protagonist Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) a job after Jenna goes through a very public breakup and firing, but she and Jenna go way back — mainly as nemeses. Once Jenna meets Darcy’s son Eric Combs (Keith Powers), the two cannot stay away from each other, and it’s only after they kiss that Jenna learns Eric is Darcy’s son.
“I loved the old villains of 90s nighttime soaps, so I would say that that kind of started there, but I also wanted people to be treated to her humanity as well,” Torres told TheWrap. “That she just wasn’t this two-dimensional villain that wanted to make Jenna’s life miserable that...
- 7/2/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Note: The following contains spoilers for “The Perfect Find” ending.
“The Perfect Find” director Numa Perrier isn’t sure the film would have been made had the original ending of Tia William’s 2016 novel stayed intact.
In the Netflix adaptation of Williams’ book Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) and Eric Combs (Keith Powers) fall in love, but their age gap presents challenges. Jenna, 40, wants to get married and have a family, but Eric, 22, just graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s in film, eager to start his career. The fact that Eric’s mother Darcy (Gina Torres) technically brought them together by hiring them at her magazine only complicates things. A few months after they separate, deciding that their timing doesn’t work out to be together, Jenna asks Eric to meet up to tell him that she’s pregnant.
In Williams’ book, Jenna has her child...
“The Perfect Find” director Numa Perrier isn’t sure the film would have been made had the original ending of Tia William’s 2016 novel stayed intact.
In the Netflix adaptation of Williams’ book Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) and Eric Combs (Keith Powers) fall in love, but their age gap presents challenges. Jenna, 40, wants to get married and have a family, but Eric, 22, just graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s in film, eager to start his career. The fact that Eric’s mother Darcy (Gina Torres) technically brought them together by hiring them at her magazine only complicates things. A few months after they separate, deciding that their timing doesn’t work out to be together, Jenna asks Eric to meet up to tell him that she’s pregnant.
In Williams’ book, Jenna has her child...
- 7/1/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Romantic comedies on Netflix are a genre of their own. Here, a boy meets a girl, and after a little hardship in the middle of the movie, things fall into place, and they get a happy ending. The formula has remained largely unchanged since Notting Hill, when Julia Roberts’ starlet character fell in love with the dorky but charming Hugh Grant’s bookstore owner character. However, the audience still returns to romantic comedies simply because of the comforting feeling these movies bring us and also because of the celebration of love they so wholesomely display. Numa Perrier’s latest romantic comedy on Netflix follows this formula to a T and still manages to appeal to a wide audience. Starring Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers in the lead roles, the movie talks about a 40-year-old fashion designer who falls in love with a handsome young film studies graduate. Are Jenna and...
- 6/24/2023
- by Indrayudh Talukdar
- Film Fugitives
Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers explore uncharted territory in their romantic Netflix adaptation "The Perfect Find," starring as 40- and 20-something-year-old coworkers who get into a "forbidden fruit" entanglement. The movie, based on bestselling author Tia Williams's novel of the same name, follows the meet-cute-gone-wrong of fired-and-rehired fashionista Jenna (Union) and her random fling-turned-colleague Eric (Powers) - who happens to be the son of Jenna's tyrant boss, Darcy (Gina Torres). The film also stars Aisha Hinds, Db Woodside, Janet Hubert, and La La Anthony.
"I think that that intimidation, and it's not in a bad way, it's more to just keep me on my toes really."
The unconventional love story in director Numa Perrier's vintage Hollywood-inspired rom-com challenged Union and Powers in more ways than one. But working alongside Union, Powers says, especially encouraged him to stay on his A game. "I mean, you just want to make sure you're up to par,...
"I think that that intimidation, and it's not in a bad way, it's more to just keep me on my toes really."
The unconventional love story in director Numa Perrier's vintage Hollywood-inspired rom-com challenged Union and Powers in more ways than one. But working alongside Union, Powers says, especially encouraged him to stay on his A game. "I mean, you just want to make sure you're up to par,...
- 6/23/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
The Perfect Find is a film directed by Numa Perrier starring Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers. Based on the novel by Tia Williams.
It’s Friday, the perfect day for a romantic comedy with enough arguments to enchant the most sensitive hearts and also with enough tests to scare away (definitely) those who are looking for something more in cinema.
Another romantic comedy? Yes, but this one has its very funny moments and, despite the formula, manages to entertain thanks to the brilliant and inspired performances of its supporting characters.
Alisha Hinds and Gina Torres are spectacular and add the finishing touch to this romantic comedy that, this time, really is a comedy.
The Perfect Find. Images: Alyssa Longchamp About the Movie
Don’t expect this combination to revolutionize cinema, because it definitely won’t. It’s a story about romance between generations, a portrait of success in a city...
It’s Friday, the perfect day for a romantic comedy with enough arguments to enchant the most sensitive hearts and also with enough tests to scare away (definitely) those who are looking for something more in cinema.
Another romantic comedy? Yes, but this one has its very funny moments and, despite the formula, manages to entertain thanks to the brilliant and inspired performances of its supporting characters.
Alisha Hinds and Gina Torres are spectacular and add the finishing touch to this romantic comedy that, this time, really is a comedy.
The Perfect Find. Images: Alyssa Longchamp About the Movie
Don’t expect this combination to revolutionize cinema, because it definitely won’t. It’s a story about romance between generations, a portrait of success in a city...
- 6/23/2023
- by Susan Hill
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Boldness defines Numa Perrier’s soapy romantic comedy The Perfect Find. Characters make unbelievable decisions in the name of love. Grand proclamations are yelled from across parks and outside apartment buildings. Everyone’s dressed in the most maximalist attire: loud prints, geometrically striking jewelry, intense hairstyles. It all seems rather unbelievable until you remember the ridiculousness is part of the fun.
Like any good romantic comedy, The Perfect Find constructs a world into which you can escape. Jenna (Gabrielle Union) is a 40-something (the ambiguity of her age is significant to the plot) fashion editor who has spent the last year recovering from a devastating public breakup. Her 10-year relationship with Brian (D.B. Woodside), an equally ambitious careerist, crashed profoundly after Jenna sought clarity about their future. To escape the tabloid frenzy, Jenna moves back in with her parents.
Perrier economically reviews this backstory in the film’s opening credits,...
Like any good romantic comedy, The Perfect Find constructs a world into which you can escape. Jenna (Gabrielle Union) is a 40-something (the ambiguity of her age is significant to the plot) fashion editor who has spent the last year recovering from a devastating public breakup. Her 10-year relationship with Brian (D.B. Woodside), an equally ambitious careerist, crashed profoundly after Jenna sought clarity about their future. To escape the tabloid frenzy, Jenna moves back in with her parents.
Perrier economically reviews this backstory in the film’s opening credits,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Perfect Find’ Review: Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers Charm in Fashion-Forward Netflix Swooner
Fashionista Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) took quite the tumble from her position in New York’s world of style. In “The Perfect Find” — Netflix’s visually vibrant, cinema-loving, if not quite perfect, rom-com — her professional and romantic plummet is documented in opening credits that cleverly use an animated collage to relate her story.
So, when we meet Jenna in person ,she’s without a job, and her man (D.B. Woodside) of 10 years has moved on … or so it seems. The 40-year-old is sporting baggy sweats, and not because she’s headed to the gym. She’s been living in her parents’ home licking her wounds, for a year, when her mother calls her out on it. The scene between mother (Janet Hubert) and grown-ass daughter is amusing and promising. As are the musical and visual choices director Numa Perrier makes that evoke Old Hollywood in a film with characters decidedly not Old Hollywood.
So, when we meet Jenna in person ,she’s without a job, and her man (D.B. Woodside) of 10 years has moved on … or so it seems. The 40-year-old is sporting baggy sweats, and not because she’s headed to the gym. She’s been living in her parents’ home licking her wounds, for a year, when her mother calls her out on it. The scene between mother (Janet Hubert) and grown-ass daughter is amusing and promising. As are the musical and visual choices director Numa Perrier makes that evoke Old Hollywood in a film with characters decidedly not Old Hollywood.
- 6/20/2023
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
When Gabrielle Union-Wade turned 50 last October, the veteran actor and producer experienced a personal transformation, which has also filtered into her latest work. This era of her career, she says, is about embracing the possibilities.
“Whatever I thought that my dreams were, I was making them small,” Union-Wade told Variety at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). “Turning 50 is about making things bigger by expanding the idea of what the possibilities could even be.”
Union-Wade debuted two projects at ABFF: the Netflix rom-com “The Perfect Find” and the BET+ docuseries “My Journey to 50,” which chronicled her birthday pilgrimage to Africa. She celebrated the BET+ series first, hosting a private bowling and ice-skating bash at the Miami Beach Edition on June 15, the same night the doc began streaming.
In a quick speech, Union-Wade thanked guests for joining her in her “second hometown” of Miami. “Wade County, baby!” she shouted out, referencing...
“Whatever I thought that my dreams were, I was making them small,” Union-Wade told Variety at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). “Turning 50 is about making things bigger by expanding the idea of what the possibilities could even be.”
Union-Wade debuted two projects at ABFF: the Netflix rom-com “The Perfect Find” and the BET+ docuseries “My Journey to 50,” which chronicled her birthday pilgrimage to Africa. She celebrated the BET+ series first, hosting a private bowling and ice-skating bash at the Miami Beach Edition on June 15, the same night the doc began streaming.
In a quick speech, Union-Wade thanked guests for joining her in her “second hometown” of Miami. “Wade County, baby!” she shouted out, referencing...
- 6/19/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The Gabrielle Union-starring rom-com The Perfect Find and new seasons of deceptive baking sensation Is It Cake? and The Witcher, marking the beginning of the end of Henry Cavill’s starring run, are some of the much-anticipated titles still set to come to Netflix this month.
In The Perfect Find, Union plays a fashion editor who, after a public breakup and career implosion, starts working for her former rival Darcy Hill (Gina Torres) and catches the eye of a younger videographer (Keith Powers), who happens to be the boss’ son. As a romance blossoms, Union’s character begins to question what she really wants from the next phase of her life. The film, directed by Numa Perrier, is based on Tia Williams’ award-winning novel of the same name and also stars Janet Hubert, D.B. Woodside, Aisha Hinds, La La Anthony and others.
More deceptive desserts are on the menu...
In The Perfect Find, Union plays a fashion editor who, after a public breakup and career implosion, starts working for her former rival Darcy Hill (Gina Torres) and catches the eye of a younger videographer (Keith Powers), who happens to be the boss’ son. As a romance blossoms, Union’s character begins to question what she really wants from the next phase of her life. The film, directed by Numa Perrier, is based on Tia Williams’ award-winning novel of the same name and also stars Janet Hubert, D.B. Woodside, Aisha Hinds, La La Anthony and others.
More deceptive desserts are on the menu...
- 6/19/2023
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Even with the institution of gender neutral categories in the acting and supporting acting fields, everything old is new again as the Seventh Annual Black Reel Television Awards (BoltsTV) announced the list of this year’s nominees for recognition. Two names were still returning favorites to the nominations field which also included one record-breaking repeat performance and one surprising new entrant to challenge them all.
The Best Man: The Final Chapters secured its place in Black Reel Award history, with eighteen nominations, the most by any program ever in a single year. The Final Chapters, the ground-breaking mini-series that brought back all of the actors from the previous two movies, also ushered showrunner Malcolm D. Lee to three award nominations of his own for writing and directing in the series.
Perennial favorite, Donald Glover continued his recent dominance by leading the pack in personal nominations, receiving five this year. Glover...
The Best Man: The Final Chapters secured its place in Black Reel Award history, with eighteen nominations, the most by any program ever in a single year. The Final Chapters, the ground-breaking mini-series that brought back all of the actors from the previous two movies, also ushered showrunner Malcolm D. Lee to three award nominations of his own for writing and directing in the series.
Perennial favorite, Donald Glover continued his recent dominance by leading the pack in personal nominations, receiving five this year. Glover...
- 6/15/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tribeca Festival excised “Film” from its name in 2021, and while it’s true that the annual celebration of all things entertainment has expanded to include plenty of television and immersive programming, the movies make it a must-attend event. This year’s lineup is no exception. It has big-name actors such as Michael Shannon and Jennifer Esposito trying their hand at directing, along with revelatory performances from stars like Nick Jonas. But what makes Tribeca so exciting is that it’s a springboard for bold new voices. As the fest gets ready to kick off on June 7, here are nine movies not to be missed.
First Time Female Director
Chelsea Peretti, who stole scenes as the social media-obsessed assistant on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” slides behind the camera for this comedy about a writer who is forced to take over a production of her latest play after her male predecessor is fired for inappropriate behavior.
First Time Female Director
Chelsea Peretti, who stole scenes as the social media-obsessed assistant on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” slides behind the camera for this comedy about a writer who is forced to take over a production of her latest play after her male predecessor is fired for inappropriate behavior.
- 6/7/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Officially, the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere is June 21st… but for the Netflix streaming service, the summer season is going to start this Friday, May 12th. And with that date just a couple days away, Netflix has gone ahead and unveiled their entire summer movie slate! They say that “whether you’ve got a hankering for a massive action blockbuster, a romantic comedy or an eye-opening documentary”, Netflix will be the place to turn to this summer. So let’s take a look at this line-up:
May 12
The Mother
Genre: Action
Logline: An assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael García Bernal
Director: Niki Caro
May 16
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me
Genre: Documentary
Logline: From...
May 12
The Mother
Genre: Action
Logline: An assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael García Bernal
Director: Niki Caro
May 16
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me
Genre: Documentary
Logline: From...
- 5/10/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The American Black Film Festival has unveiled its lineup of spotlight screenings and new world premieres.
The festival, set to run in Miami Beach from June 14 to 18, has booked a first look for HBO Documentary Film’s Donyale Luna: Supermodel, a film about the pioneering Black supermodel Donyale Luna. Also headed to ABFF for a screening is NBC’s Found drama, created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll and starring Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and BET+’s Average Joe, a darkly comedic drama series that stars Deon Cole and will also have a world premiere.
And there’s screenings booked into Miami Beach for Liongate’s The Blackening, directed by Tim Story, starring Grace Byers and Jermaine Fowler and which had at a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival; and a centerpiece screening for Netflix’s The Perfect Find, directed by ABFF alum Numa Perrier and starring Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers.
The festival, set to run in Miami Beach from June 14 to 18, has booked a first look for HBO Documentary Film’s Donyale Luna: Supermodel, a film about the pioneering Black supermodel Donyale Luna. Also headed to ABFF for a screening is NBC’s Found drama, created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll and starring Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and BET+’s Average Joe, a darkly comedic drama series that stars Deon Cole and will also have a world premiere.
And there’s screenings booked into Miami Beach for Liongate’s The Blackening, directed by Tim Story, starring Grace Byers and Jermaine Fowler and which had at a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival; and a centerpiece screening for Netflix’s The Perfect Find, directed by ABFF alum Numa Perrier and starring Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers.
- 4/27/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Joel Kinnaman (For All Mankind) is attached to star in They Found Us, an alien abduction thriller to be directed for AGC Studios and Temple Hill by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (District 9), which will head into production in Australia later this year.
The film to be fully financed by Stuart Ford’s fast-growing independent content studio, AGC Studios, is based on an original screenplay by Jeremy Slater, whose credits include Moon Knight, Fantastic Four, The Exorcist, The Lazarus Effect and The Umbrella Academy. It will follow a father (Kinnaman) and his daughter Kaylee as they undertake a camping trip in the Utah wilderness to heal their broken relationship. After being attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform, their lives — not just their relationship — wind up at stake, as they fight with a humanoid beast to stop their abduction to an unknown and terrifying alien world.
Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen...
The film to be fully financed by Stuart Ford’s fast-growing independent content studio, AGC Studios, is based on an original screenplay by Jeremy Slater, whose credits include Moon Knight, Fantastic Four, The Exorcist, The Lazarus Effect and The Umbrella Academy. It will follow a father (Kinnaman) and his daughter Kaylee as they undertake a camping trip in the Utah wilderness to heal their broken relationship. After being attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform, their lives — not just their relationship — wind up at stake, as they fight with a humanoid beast to stop their abduction to an unknown and terrifying alien world.
Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen...
- 4/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
This post contains spoilers for Prime Video's series "Swarm."
"Swarm" is one of the wildest new shows on TV this year. The Prime Video series from Janine Nabers and Donald Glover follows an obsessive fan of the fictional pop star Ni'Jah (who is very clearly a stand-in for Beyoncé) who goes on a killing spree after losing her only friend. The shocking seven-episode show has plenty of talented people on board: "Judas and the Black Messiah" actress Dominique Fishback stars as the fan in question, Dre, while celebrities including Chloe Bailey, Billie Eilish, Paris Jackson, and more make appearances.
But the show also has some surprising talent behind the camera: Malia Obama, credited as Malia Ann, makes her TV writing debut with the show's fifth episode. The daughter of former President Barack Obama reportedly graduated from Harvard in 2021 after majoring in Visual and Environmental Studies, and ended up on the...
"Swarm" is one of the wildest new shows on TV this year. The Prime Video series from Janine Nabers and Donald Glover follows an obsessive fan of the fictional pop star Ni'Jah (who is very clearly a stand-in for Beyoncé) who goes on a killing spree after losing her only friend. The shocking seven-episode show has plenty of talented people on board: "Judas and the Black Messiah" actress Dominique Fishback stars as the fan in question, Dre, while celebrities including Chloe Bailey, Billie Eilish, Paris Jackson, and more make appearances.
But the show also has some surprising talent behind the camera: Malia Obama, credited as Malia Ann, makes her TV writing debut with the show's fifth episode. The daughter of former President Barack Obama reportedly graduated from Harvard in 2021 after majoring in Visual and Environmental Studies, and ended up on the...
- 3/20/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Image Source: Getty / Astrid Stawiarz, Steve Granitz, David Livingston and Photo Illustration: Aly Lim
Growing up, director Evelien Kong saw white people, animals, and even Coneheads in popular movies, but no Asian actors. The only Asian character who made an impression on her was the incredibly offensive and racist portrayal of a Japanese photographer by white actor Mickey Rooney in 1961's "Breakfast at Tiffany's." And when she started working behind the camera in the early 2000s, she knew of very few successful Asian directors or producers; she feared entering an already competitive industry as a Chinese woman. Years later, she's worked with stars like Miley Cyrus and Kerry Washington - but the journey hasn't always been easy or welcoming.
It's no secret that Hollywood struggles with inclusivity. Women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color have been discriminated against for as long as the industry has existed. Sure, many things have...
Growing up, director Evelien Kong saw white people, animals, and even Coneheads in popular movies, but no Asian actors. The only Asian character who made an impression on her was the incredibly offensive and racist portrayal of a Japanese photographer by white actor Mickey Rooney in 1961's "Breakfast at Tiffany's." And when she started working behind the camera in the early 2000s, she knew of very few successful Asian directors or producers; she feared entering an already competitive industry as a Chinese woman. Years later, she's worked with stars like Miley Cyrus and Kerry Washington - but the journey hasn't always been easy or welcoming.
It's no secret that Hollywood struggles with inclusivity. Women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color have been discriminated against for as long as the industry has existed. Sure, many things have...
- 3/8/2023
- by Sarah Fielding
- Popsugar.com
The Los Angeles premiere of Hulu’s comedy series “UnPrisoned” was held on Thursday, March 2nd at the Hollywood Legion Theater. Gold Derby’s associate editor Latasha Ford interviewed stars Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo, Faly Rakotohavana, Jordan McIntosh, Marque Richardson and executive producer Joy Gorman Wettels on the red carpet. Watch the video above.
“UnPrisoned” is a story inspired by author Tracy McMillan’s life. The half-hour comedy stars Washington as Paige Alexander, a marriage and family therapist whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad (Lindo) gets out of prison and moves in with her and her 16-year old son (Rakotohavana). The eight-episode scripted comedy series is produced by ABC Signature and will be streamed exclusively on Hulu on March 10th.
Writers for the series were McMillan, Jen Braeden, Yvette Lee Bowser, Lane Lyle, Lauren Caltagirone, Miguel Nolla and Peter Saji. Directors for the eight episodes were Kevin Bray,...
“UnPrisoned” is a story inspired by author Tracy McMillan’s life. The half-hour comedy stars Washington as Paige Alexander, a marriage and family therapist whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad (Lindo) gets out of prison and moves in with her and her 16-year old son (Rakotohavana). The eight-episode scripted comedy series is produced by ABC Signature and will be streamed exclusively on Hulu on March 10th.
Writers for the series were McMillan, Jen Braeden, Yvette Lee Bowser, Lane Lyle, Lauren Caltagirone, Miguel Nolla and Peter Saji. Directors for the eight episodes were Kevin Bray,...
- 3/3/2023
- by Latasha Ford and Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Peter Morgan — the Academy Award-nominated producer of American Sniper formerly serving as a production exec at Katalyst Films and Gilbert Films — has announced the launch of TantrumPM, a development and production company that will look to produce uniquely accessible and important, A-list driven content.
TantrumPM is currently developing a dozen or so projects, including a reboot of the Poison Ivy franchise of erotic thrillers exec produced by Morgan. Also in the works is a film titled The War and Treaty, to be directed by Numa Perrier from a script by Oscar winner Will McCormack (Toy Story 4) and Oscar nominee Craig Borten (Dallas Buyers Club). Additional producers set for that project include Perrier, Gary Gilbert, John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Harvey Mason Jr.
Financing for TantrumPM was provided by angel investors including tech entrepreneur Brett Markinson, actor Skeet Ulrich, and philanthropist Sydney Holland, among others. Notables serving on its...
TantrumPM is currently developing a dozen or so projects, including a reboot of the Poison Ivy franchise of erotic thrillers exec produced by Morgan. Also in the works is a film titled The War and Treaty, to be directed by Numa Perrier from a script by Oscar winner Will McCormack (Toy Story 4) and Oscar nominee Craig Borten (Dallas Buyers Club). Additional producers set for that project include Perrier, Gary Gilbert, John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Harvey Mason Jr.
Financing for TantrumPM was provided by angel investors including tech entrepreneur Brett Markinson, actor Skeet Ulrich, and philanthropist Sydney Holland, among others. Notables serving on its...
- 2/17/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Chloe Bailey Boards AGC Studio’s Wall Street Drama ‘Midas Touch’
Musician and actor Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish) has signed on to star in the Wall Street drama Midas Touch from AGC Studios. The flick follows the true story of Lauren Simmons, the youngest equity trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and only the second African American woman to hold that position. Bailey will star as Simmons in the pic, which will be directed by Numa Perrier (The Perfect Find). Simmons is an executive producer on the film, as are AGC’s Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, and Glendon Palmer. CAA negotiated on behalf of Bailey and AGC’s SVP of Legal & Business Affairs, Anant Tamirisa, and Palmer negotiated on behalf of AGC.
‘The Pact’ Producer Little Door Expands With Drama Hires
The Welsh indie behind BBC drama The Pact, Little Door Productions, has hired Sherlock and Baker...
Musician and actor Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish) has signed on to star in the Wall Street drama Midas Touch from AGC Studios. The flick follows the true story of Lauren Simmons, the youngest equity trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and only the second African American woman to hold that position. Bailey will star as Simmons in the pic, which will be directed by Numa Perrier (The Perfect Find). Simmons is an executive producer on the film, as are AGC’s Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, and Glendon Palmer. CAA negotiated on behalf of Bailey and AGC’s SVP of Legal & Business Affairs, Anant Tamirisa, and Palmer negotiated on behalf of AGC.
‘The Pact’ Producer Little Door Expands With Drama Hires
The Welsh indie behind BBC drama The Pact, Little Door Productions, has hired Sherlock and Baker...
- 11/15/2022
- by Zac Ntim, Jesse Whittock and Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Numa Perrier (Jezebel) is directing story inspired by trailblazer Lauren Simmons.
AGC Studios has attached rising star Chloe Bailey to play the lead in its Wall Street drama Midas Touch based on the true story of ground-breaking Black Wall Street trader Lauren Simmons.
Simmons made history in 2017 when she became at 22 the youngest equity trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and only the second African American woman to hold the position.
Numa Perrier (Jezebel) is directing Midas Touch based on Simmons’ life rights optioned by AGC, and she co-wrote the screenplay with Amber Dupre (Loki). Perrier...
AGC Studios has attached rising star Chloe Bailey to play the lead in its Wall Street drama Midas Touch based on the true story of ground-breaking Black Wall Street trader Lauren Simmons.
Simmons made history in 2017 when she became at 22 the youngest equity trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and only the second African American woman to hold the position.
Numa Perrier (Jezebel) is directing Midas Touch based on Simmons’ life rights optioned by AGC, and she co-wrote the screenplay with Amber Dupre (Loki). Perrier...
- 11/10/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
BAFTA nominated British actor Mark Strong will star alongside the previously announced Joel Kinnaman in Boston-set crime thriller “The Silent Hour,” to be directed by Brad Anderson (“Beirut”).
Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios will finance and produce with producer Eric Paquette’s Meridian Pictures, and the project is being sold at the ongoing American Film Market.
Strong can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Venice-winning film “Tár,” and is known for “1917,” “Cruella,” the Kingsman franchise and “Zero Dark Thirty.”
The film, based on an original screenplay by Dan Hall, follows Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), who plays a Boston Police detective who suffers an on-the-job accident which leaves him hearing impaired. Sixteen months later, he is now an interpreter for the department and with his friend and partner (Strong) must battle a team of corrupt cops attempting to eliminate a deaf murder witness in the apartment building where she lives.
Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios will finance and produce with producer Eric Paquette’s Meridian Pictures, and the project is being sold at the ongoing American Film Market.
Strong can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Venice-winning film “Tár,” and is known for “1917,” “Cruella,” the Kingsman franchise and “Zero Dark Thirty.”
The film, based on an original screenplay by Dan Hall, follows Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), who plays a Boston Police detective who suffers an on-the-job accident which leaves him hearing impaired. Sixteen months later, he is now an interpreter for the department and with his friend and partner (Strong) must battle a team of corrupt cops attempting to eliminate a deaf murder witness in the apartment building where she lives.
- 11/2/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Black Reel Awards annually recognize the excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora, in the global film and television industry. This year there are a lot of nominees and a few new categories.
The comedy series Atlanta edges out all the competition with 11 nominations. Quinta Brunson and Abbott Elementary come in second with nine.
Walter Moseley garners four nominations for writing two episodes of the Apple TV+ series The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray and FX’s Snowfall. Donald Glover snags four nominations, for acting and writing one episode each and directing two episodes of the front-running Atlanta.
HBO (and HBO Max) dominates the competition this year by receiving a whopping 42 nominations. More than double the next nearest competitor, ABC with nineteen nominations. Netflix comes in third with 18 nominations. A grand total of seventeen different networks receive nominations this year, up four from last year.
The comedy series Atlanta edges out all the competition with 11 nominations. Quinta Brunson and Abbott Elementary come in second with nine.
Walter Moseley garners four nominations for writing two episodes of the Apple TV+ series The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray and FX’s Snowfall. Donald Glover snags four nominations, for acting and writing one episode each and directing two episodes of the front-running Atlanta.
HBO (and HBO Max) dominates the competition this year by receiving a whopping 42 nominations. More than double the next nearest competitor, ABC with nineteen nominations. Netflix comes in third with 18 nominations. A grand total of seventeen different networks receive nominations this year, up four from last year.
- 6/16/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Gary Gilbert’s Gilbert Films, Mike Jackson and John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co., and Harvey Mason Jr.’s Harvey Mason Media have set director Numa Perrier to helm The War and Treaty about the Nashville husband and wife vocal duo.
Oscar-winner Will McCormack and Oscar nominee Craig Borten (Dallas Buyers Club) are penning the screenplay which revolves around the true story of Michael, a soldier who has just returned from a tour in Iraq, who falls in love with Tanya, a singer with a deferred dream. The project was developed by and financed by Gilbert Films. Casting for the movie is underway.
The pic will be produced by Academy Award nominee Gilbert (La La Land), Legend, Jackson, Mason Jr., Peter Morgan and Perrier. EPs are War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, along with McCormack,...
Oscar-winner Will McCormack and Oscar nominee Craig Borten (Dallas Buyers Club) are penning the screenplay which revolves around the true story of Michael, a soldier who has just returned from a tour in Iraq, who falls in love with Tanya, a singer with a deferred dream. The project was developed by and financed by Gilbert Films. Casting for the movie is underway.
The pic will be produced by Academy Award nominee Gilbert (La La Land), Legend, Jackson, Mason Jr., Peter Morgan and Perrier. EPs are War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, along with McCormack,...
- 6/6/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Isla Fisher (Wolf Like Me) and Greg Kinnear (Shining Vale) will topline the family comedy The Present, from director Christian Ditter (How to Be Single), which has entered production in Los Angeles.
In the film from Stuart Ford’s independent content studio AGC Studios, a brilliant boy discovers he can manipulate time using an enchanted family heirloom, then teaming up with his siblings to go back to the eve of their parents’ separation in hopes of changing the outcome. As their schemes become more elaborate, the siblings will learn about family bonds and what they can and can’t control. Fisher and Kinnear are playing the parents in search of reconciliation, with Easton Rocket Sweda (General Hospital), Shay Rudolph (The Baby-Sitters Club) and Mason Shea Joyce (Euphoria) portraying the siblings who just might be the only people who can make that happen.
Ross Butler (Shazam!) also stars in the film...
In the film from Stuart Ford’s independent content studio AGC Studios, a brilliant boy discovers he can manipulate time using an enchanted family heirloom, then teaming up with his siblings to go back to the eve of their parents’ separation in hopes of changing the outcome. As their schemes become more elaborate, the siblings will learn about family bonds and what they can and can’t control. Fisher and Kinnear are playing the parents in search of reconciliation, with Easton Rocket Sweda (General Hospital), Shay Rudolph (The Baby-Sitters Club) and Mason Shea Joyce (Euphoria) portraying the siblings who just might be the only people who can make that happen.
Ross Butler (Shazam!) also stars in the film...
- 5/17/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Recognition for founding executives Glendon Palmer, Frank Prugo, Bonnie Voland.
AGC Studios has expanded its marketing team with the hire of industry veteran Jill Jones and has also announced recognition for several founding executives.
Jones joins as EVP of marketing and publicity. She most recently served as EVP marketing and communications at Mister Smith in the Paris office where she worked on more than 50 feature campaigns in collaboration with partners at Disney, Universal, Paramount, Netflix, Apple and scores of international distributors.
Prior to Mister Smith Jones was first SVP then EVP of international marketing and publicity at Summit and Lionsgate respectively in Los Angeles,...
AGC Studios has expanded its marketing team with the hire of industry veteran Jill Jones and has also announced recognition for several founding executives.
Jones joins as EVP of marketing and publicity. She most recently served as EVP marketing and communications at Mister Smith in the Paris office where she worked on more than 50 feature campaigns in collaboration with partners at Disney, Universal, Paramount, Netflix, Apple and scores of international distributors.
Prior to Mister Smith Jones was first SVP then EVP of international marketing and publicity at Summit and Lionsgate respectively in Los Angeles,...
- 4/13/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
In recent years, there has been a campaign of sorts to stress the universality of so-called “Black stories.” One reason for that pitch is it’s meant to draw non-Black audiences and eschew the more-reductive “Black films” categorization.
IndieWire spoke to multiple Black filmmakers, on and off the record, about the “Black film” terminology: Is it limiting? Does it pigeonhole creators? The responses were as varied as the people who answered the questions. Some embraced being identified as “Black artists,” defined by a shared experience that’s inextricable from who they are. Others found it limiting, preferring to foreground their creativity over race or ethnicity.
As conversations go, it’s a minefield. Many are unwilling to tread on that ground, but perhaps that’s exactly why it needs to be had.
Black filmmakers — or, filmmakers who happen to be Black — have been and remain restricted in terms of the kinds...
IndieWire spoke to multiple Black filmmakers, on and off the record, about the “Black film” terminology: Is it limiting? Does it pigeonhole creators? The responses were as varied as the people who answered the questions. Some embraced being identified as “Black artists,” defined by a shared experience that’s inextricable from who they are. Others found it limiting, preferring to foreground their creativity over race or ethnicity.
As conversations go, it’s a minefield. Many are unwilling to tread on that ground, but perhaps that’s exactly why it needs to be had.
Black filmmakers — or, filmmakers who happen to be Black — have been and remain restricted in terms of the kinds...
- 2/28/2022
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
For me, Black History Month is best illustrated by my 92-year-old grandmother Ella Queen Johnson’s recall of our family stories. She shares these stories knowing that the wider world lacks a true and full recognition of the African American family legacy. For most of her long life, she has known that she should not look for depth and dimension in film and television as it relates to families like ours. This is the very reason why she told our history to us herself. My grandmother is a dynamic woman who is not formally trained as a teacher or a historian, but nonetheless, she is both. I am drawn to distributing films created by indie Black filmmakers through Array as a continuation of her calling. By supporting storytellers in the telling of their truths, I am celebrating a great legacy and making my grandmother proud.
I was a young girl...
I was a young girl...
- 2/10/2022
- by Tilane Jones
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Jezebel director Numa Perrier of House of Numa Productions and Livia Perrier of Bazile Productions reteam to bring the life of famed poet and author Audre Lorde to screen.
“Audre Lorde lived fully, loved fiercely and used her words as both weapon and salve. We seek to honor her in an intimate yet bold way,” the director said. “The stories of our poets are necessary as their work continues to give shape and make sense of the world. Audre Lorde said “your silence will not protect you” – and I believe creating a film is one of the most impactful ways to use our voices. House of Numa is dedicated to the centering of Black women who have so often had to work on the fringe yet still impinge society in a powerful way such as Audre Lorde. “
Born February 18, 1934, and sharing a birthday with Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde was...
“Audre Lorde lived fully, loved fiercely and used her words as both weapon and salve. We seek to honor her in an intimate yet bold way,” the director said. “The stories of our poets are necessary as their work continues to give shape and make sense of the world. Audre Lorde said “your silence will not protect you” – and I believe creating a film is one of the most impactful ways to use our voices. House of Numa is dedicated to the centering of Black women who have so often had to work on the fringe yet still impinge society in a powerful way such as Audre Lorde. “
Born February 18, 1934, and sharing a birthday with Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde was...
- 12/9/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Ferny & LucasEach year, films from the “Big 5” film festivals—Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Sundance, and Toronto—pour into regional festivals across the United States, where programmers reorient them according to their respective audiences or, in more unsavory cases, nothing more than their personal taste. Many regional festivals prioritize the same sure-fire hits, leaving fewer slots for original premieres or local films. That approach might make sense for states with scarce or no arthouse exhibition, but feels redundant in New York and Los Angeles, where festivals compensate for that short window of exclusivity by bringing more filmmakers, cast, and crew to their audiences than most of their midwest or southern counterparts can afford. NYFF, Telluride, SXSW, and their less-financed imitators neglect opportunities to cultivate regional talent and showcase smaller, idiosyncratic films that may better represent their communities. Miriam Bale, the artistic director of Indie Memphis Film Festival, put it plainly, “Other festivals...
- 11/29/2021
- MUBI
AGC International handles worldwide sales.
Principal photography has begun in London and Scotland on AGC Studios supernatural horror thriller Consecration starring Jena Malone, Danny Huston and Janet Suzman.
Christopher Smith, whose credits include The Banishing and Black Death, directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Laurie Cook. Xavier Marchand of Moonriver Content and Jason Newmark and Laurie Cook of Bigscope Films are producing.
AGC Studios is fully financing and co-produces. Chairman and CEO Stuart Ford is executive producer alongside the company’s Linda McDonough, Miguel Palos, and co-executive producer Zachary Garrett, and Bigscope’s Ed Fraiman and Adam Nagel. Casey Herbert...
Principal photography has begun in London and Scotland on AGC Studios supernatural horror thriller Consecration starring Jena Malone, Danny Huston and Janet Suzman.
Christopher Smith, whose credits include The Banishing and Black Death, directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Laurie Cook. Xavier Marchand of Moonriver Content and Jason Newmark and Laurie Cook of Bigscope Films are producing.
AGC Studios is fully financing and co-produces. Chairman and CEO Stuart Ford is executive producer alongside the company’s Linda McDonough, Miguel Palos, and co-executive producer Zachary Garrett, and Bigscope’s Ed Fraiman and Adam Nagel. Casey Herbert...
- 10/6/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Jena Malone, Danny Huston, Janet Suzman Board AGC Studios Horror-Thriller ‘Consecration’ (Exclusive)
Jena Malone (“Neon Demon”), Danny Huston (“Wonder Woman”) and Dame Janet Suzman (“Nicholas and Alexandra”) are among the cast of AGC Studios’ supernatural horror-thriller “Consecration,” Variety can reveal.
The film, first reported by Variety back in July, is currently shooting in London and Scotland. The pic is fully financed and co-produced by Stuart Ford’s indie operation AGC Studios.
The movie is centred on the suspicious death of a priest, whose sister (Malone) goes to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out what really happened to her brother, with the help of Father Romero (Huston). There, she soon uncovers murder, sacrilege and a disturbing truth about her own shadowy past that brings long-buried trauma to the surface.
AGC International, the international sales and distribution arm of AGC Studios, is handling worldwide sales.
Christopher Smith is directing the project from a script he co-wrote with Laurie Cook. Meanwhile, Xavier Marchand...
The film, first reported by Variety back in July, is currently shooting in London and Scotland. The pic is fully financed and co-produced by Stuart Ford’s indie operation AGC Studios.
The movie is centred on the suspicious death of a priest, whose sister (Malone) goes to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out what really happened to her brother, with the help of Father Romero (Huston). There, she soon uncovers murder, sacrilege and a disturbing truth about her own shadowy past that brings long-buried trauma to the surface.
AGC International, the international sales and distribution arm of AGC Studios, is handling worldwide sales.
Christopher Smith is directing the project from a script he co-wrote with Laurie Cook. Meanwhile, Xavier Marchand...
- 10/6/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The sheer number of films streaming on Netflix on any given day can make finding and deciding which films to watch an arduous journey through an overabundance of content, navigating with an interface that’s not exactly the most conducive to discovery.
To assist on this cinematic journey, IndieWire runs a monthly series that highlights movies and television series worth streaming on every major platform in the U.S., including Netflix. But, as an extension of that popular ongoing series, we’ve also curated lists of films that specifically tell Black stories and are streaming on those same major streaming platforms.
Among this month’s offerings on Netflix: several feature debuts, including Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It,” Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station,” Mati Diop’s “Atlantics,” and Numa Perrier’s “Jezebel.” Check out our picks below.
To assist on this cinematic journey, IndieWire runs a monthly series that highlights movies and television series worth streaming on every major platform in the U.S., including Netflix. But, as an extension of that popular ongoing series, we’ve also curated lists of films that specifically tell Black stories and are streaming on those same major streaming platforms.
Among this month’s offerings on Netflix: several feature debuts, including Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It,” Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station,” Mati Diop’s “Atlantics,” and Numa Perrier’s “Jezebel.” Check out our picks below.
- 7/7/2021
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: La La Anthony (Power), Aisha Hinds (Underground) and Janet Hubert (The Last O.G.) have joined the cast of The Perfect Find.
In Netflix’s romantic comedy, they’ll star opposite previously announced cast members Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers and Gina Torres. The new cast members’ roles have not yet been disclosed.
The film, based on the novel by Tia Williams, centers on a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line—including a high-stakes career, ticking biological clock and bank account—watching to see if she’s willing to risk it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback for good.
Numa Perrier is directing, from a script she wrote with Leigh Davenport. Producers on the project are Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver for Confluential Films; Gabrielle Union for I’ll Have Another; Glendon Palmer for AGC Studios, and Jeff Morrone.
In Netflix’s romantic comedy, they’ll star opposite previously announced cast members Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers and Gina Torres. The new cast members’ roles have not yet been disclosed.
The film, based on the novel by Tia Williams, centers on a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line—including a high-stakes career, ticking biological clock and bank account—watching to see if she’s willing to risk it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback for good.
Numa Perrier is directing, from a script she wrote with Leigh Davenport. Producers on the project are Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver for Confluential Films; Gabrielle Union for I’ll Have Another; Glendon Palmer for AGC Studios, and Jeff Morrone.
- 6/21/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: 9-1-1: Lone Star and Westworld actress Gina Torres has boarded the Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers Netflix romantic comedy feature The Perfect Find.
I hear she’ll be stepping in for Niecy Nash who has departed the project due to a scheduling conflict.
The Leigh Davenport and Numa Perrier scripted movie, based on the Tia Williams novel, follows Will, a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line: Her high-stakes career, ticking biological clock, bank account as she risks it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback. Perrier also directs.
Producers are Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver for Confluential Films; Union for I’ll Have Another; Jeff Morrone; and Glendon Palmer for AGC Studios. EPs are Stuart Ford, Linda McDonough, and Miguel Palos for AGC Studios; Holly Shakoor Fleischer for I’ll Have Another; Mel Jones for Confluential Films; and Davenport.
I hear she’ll be stepping in for Niecy Nash who has departed the project due to a scheduling conflict.
The Leigh Davenport and Numa Perrier scripted movie, based on the Tia Williams novel, follows Will, a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line: Her high-stakes career, ticking biological clock, bank account as she risks it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback. Perrier also directs.
Producers are Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver for Confluential Films; Union for I’ll Have Another; Jeff Morrone; and Glendon Palmer for AGC Studios. EPs are Stuart Ford, Linda McDonough, and Miguel Palos for AGC Studios; Holly Shakoor Fleischer for I’ll Have Another; Mel Jones for Confluential Films; and Davenport.
- 6/18/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Consider your Mother’s Day viewing plans sorted. Hitting select theaters and streaming on Netflix staring Thursday, May 6 is Shantrelle P. Lewis’ feature directorial debut “In Our Mothers’ Gardens,” a loving, insightful, and inspirational look at the relationships between mothers and daughters. The documentary had its world premiere at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival, winning the Shine Award for Best Film.
Last month, Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing picked up the film as part of its growing selection of films focused on films by people of color and women. Array’s president Tilane Jones explained the documentary’s obvious appeal in an official statement: “‘In Our Mothers’ Gardens’ is a beautiful tribute to the complex relationships between Black women connected by lineage and love. Released in celebration of Mother’s Day, we are honored to present Ms. Lewis’ feature debut highlighting important bonds between daughters, mothers and grandmothers told by a dynamic group of women.
Last month, Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing picked up the film as part of its growing selection of films focused on films by people of color and women. Array’s president Tilane Jones explained the documentary’s obvious appeal in an official statement: “‘In Our Mothers’ Gardens’ is a beautiful tribute to the complex relationships between Black women connected by lineage and love. Released in celebration of Mother’s Day, we are honored to present Ms. Lewis’ feature debut highlighting important bonds between daughters, mothers and grandmothers told by a dynamic group of women.
- 4/29/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
World premieres from Disney+, AMC, Startz, Peacock, A&e, OWN, FX and National Geographic are among the highlights of the 2021 Tribeca Festival’s 20th anniversary celebration, announced today.
The events will take place in New York City June 9-20 and claim to be the first major film festival to host in-person events since the worldwide pandemic began.
The Tribeca Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The festival focus is on new and returning TV series, new indie episodic storytelling, and an industry-facing Creators Market. The Tribeca TV lineup will include nine shows made up of six series premieres, one season premiere, two docuseries, and speaking appearances by Tina Fey, Christian Slater, Joshua Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Helen Hunt.
The Tribeca Festival will also feature a performance by rock icons Kiss.
The events will take place in New York City June 9-20 and claim to be the first major film festival to host in-person events since the worldwide pandemic began.
The Tribeca Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The festival focus is on new and returning TV series, new indie episodic storytelling, and an industry-facing Creators Market. The Tribeca TV lineup will include nine shows made up of six series premieres, one season premiere, two docuseries, and speaking appearances by Tina Fey, Christian Slater, Joshua Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Helen Hunt.
The Tribeca Festival will also feature a performance by rock icons Kiss.
- 4/29/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Image Source: Getty / Rodin Eckenroth
In our Q&a series Popsugar Crush, we get to know some of our favorite celebs' more intimate details - from their first celebrity crush to the best love advice they've ever received. This month, we're crushing on Sunday's Child and The Kissing Booth 2's star Maisie Richardson-Sellers.
You may know Maisie Richardson-Sellers from DC's Legends of Tomorrow and a little movie called The Kissing Booth 2, but now the 29-year-old actor is making her directorial debut with Sunday's Child, which recently premiered at this year's OutFest Fusion Film Festival. The short, which stars Chauntice Green, Numa Perrier, Paris Stephens, Peter Vack, and Joy Richardson, follows a young woman named Esi who just moved to Los Angeles and is struggling to find her place. However, after stumbling upon a party of queer and trans people of color (Qtpoc), Esi finally feels like she fits...
In our Q&a series Popsugar Crush, we get to know some of our favorite celebs' more intimate details - from their first celebrity crush to the best love advice they've ever received. This month, we're crushing on Sunday's Child and The Kissing Booth 2's star Maisie Richardson-Sellers.
You may know Maisie Richardson-Sellers from DC's Legends of Tomorrow and a little movie called The Kissing Booth 2, but now the 29-year-old actor is making her directorial debut with Sunday's Child, which recently premiered at this year's OutFest Fusion Film Festival. The short, which stars Chauntice Green, Numa Perrier, Paris Stephens, Peter Vack, and Joy Richardson, follows a young woman named Esi who just moved to Los Angeles and is struggling to find her place. However, after stumbling upon a party of queer and trans people of color (Qtpoc), Esi finally feels like she fits...
- 4/21/2021
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
Showtime has ordered the anthology series “Cinema Toast” from creator Jeff Baena and executive producers the Duplass brothers.
The series is described as a post-modernist reinvention of older movies that turns pre-existing imagery from the public domain on its head to tell brand new unique stories. It will feature the voices of actors like Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, John Early, Christina Ricci, Megan Mullally, Chloe Fineman and Chris Meloni. Directors include Baena, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Alex Ross Perry, Marta Cunningham, Aubrey Plaza, Numa Perrier, Jordan Firstman, Kris Rey and David Lowery. Showtime has ordered 10 episodes, which will premiere all at once on Showtime on-demand streaming and partner platforms on April 20.
Episodes will cover a range of genres, including horror, comedy, and drama. Plaza’s psychological thriller “Quiet Illness” pieces together footage of Loretta Young to create a portrait of an emotionally tortured modern woman, while Cunningham’s...
The series is described as a post-modernist reinvention of older movies that turns pre-existing imagery from the public domain on its head to tell brand new unique stories. It will feature the voices of actors like Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, John Early, Christina Ricci, Megan Mullally, Chloe Fineman and Chris Meloni. Directors include Baena, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Alex Ross Perry, Marta Cunningham, Aubrey Plaza, Numa Perrier, Jordan Firstman, Kris Rey and David Lowery. Showtime has ordered 10 episodes, which will premiere all at once on Showtime on-demand streaming and partner platforms on April 20.
Episodes will cover a range of genres, including horror, comedy, and drama. Plaza’s psychological thriller “Quiet Illness” pieces together footage of Loretta Young to create a portrait of an emotionally tortured modern woman, while Cunningham’s...
- 4/12/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Showtime has ordered a new anthology series, Cinema Toast, created by Jeff Baena (The Little Hours) and produced by the Duplass Brothers (Room 104), set to stream later this month. The series is described as a post-modernist reinvention of older movies that turns pre-existing imagery from the public domain on its head to tell new unique stories. All 10 episodes of Cinema Toast will premiere on Showtime’s on-demand streaming and partner platforms on Tuesday, April 20.
Directors of the series include Baena, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Alex Ross Perry, Marta Cunningham, Aubrey Plaza, Numa Perrier, Jordan Firstman, Kris Rey and David Lowery. The episodes are voiced by actors including Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, John Early, Christina Ricci, Megan Mullally, Chloe Fineman and Chris Meloni.
“When the pandemic first hit and all paths to traditional production seemed unlikely at best, I racked my brain to find a way to still create,...
Directors of the series include Baena, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Alex Ross Perry, Marta Cunningham, Aubrey Plaza, Numa Perrier, Jordan Firstman, Kris Rey and David Lowery. The episodes are voiced by actors including Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, John Early, Christina Ricci, Megan Mullally, Chloe Fineman and Chris Meloni.
“When the pandemic first hit and all paths to traditional production seemed unlikely at best, I racked my brain to find a way to still create,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Array Releasing has acquired the documentary “In Our Mothers’ Gardens,” which marks filmmaker Shantrelle P. Lewis’ directorial debut.
Array president Tilane Jones announced the acquisition on Thursday, along with news that the film will be released in select theaters and begin streaming on Netflix on May 6.
“’In Our Mothers’ Gardens’ is a beautiful tribute to the complex relationships between Black women connected by lineage and love,” Jones said in a statement. “Released in celebration of Mother’s Day, we are honored to present Ms. Lewis’ feature debut highlighting important bonds between daughters, mothers and grandmothers told by a dynamic group of women.”
The documentary debuted at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival and subsequently earned the Shine Award for best film. The movie features interviews with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; Tina Farris (tour manager for talent including The Roots and Chris Rock); cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper (Rutgers University); Rev. Dr. Theresa S.
Array president Tilane Jones announced the acquisition on Thursday, along with news that the film will be released in select theaters and begin streaming on Netflix on May 6.
“’In Our Mothers’ Gardens’ is a beautiful tribute to the complex relationships between Black women connected by lineage and love,” Jones said in a statement. “Released in celebration of Mother’s Day, we are honored to present Ms. Lewis’ feature debut highlighting important bonds between daughters, mothers and grandmothers told by a dynamic group of women.”
The documentary debuted at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival and subsequently earned the Shine Award for best film. The movie features interviews with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; Tina Farris (tour manager for talent including The Roots and Chris Rock); cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper (Rutgers University); Rev. Dr. Theresa S.
- 4/1/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing has acquired the documentary In Our Mothers’ Gardens, the feature film debut of director, curator, and author Shantrelle P. Lewis. The film is set to debut theatrically in select cities and on Netflix starting fittingly on Mother’s Day, May 6.
In Our Mothers’ Gardens celebrates the strength and resiliency of Black women and Black families through the complex, and often times humorous, relationship between mothers and daughters. The film pays homage to Black maternal ancestors while examining the immediate and critical importance of self-care, and the healing tools necessary for Black communities to thrive.
The film features a variety of interviews from #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; The Roots and Chris Rock tour manager Tina Farris; cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper of Rutgers University; Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames of Princeton University; holistic lifestyle maven Latham Thomas; photographer Adama Delphine Fawundu and NPR’s Senior Director for Programming Yolanda Sangweni.
In Our Mothers’ Gardens celebrates the strength and resiliency of Black women and Black families through the complex, and often times humorous, relationship between mothers and daughters. The film pays homage to Black maternal ancestors while examining the immediate and critical importance of self-care, and the healing tools necessary for Black communities to thrive.
The film features a variety of interviews from #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; The Roots and Chris Rock tour manager Tina Farris; cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper of Rutgers University; Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames of Princeton University; holistic lifestyle maven Latham Thomas; photographer Adama Delphine Fawundu and NPR’s Senior Director for Programming Yolanda Sangweni.
- 4/1/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Entertainment Squad has picked up the North American rights to Paper Spiders, a comedy-drama from director by Inon Shampanier. Lili Taylor, Stefania Lavie Owen, Ian Nelson and Peyton List star in the indie film, which will be released in select theaters on Mother’s Day weekend and will be available to rent and own on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms starting on May 7. Written by Shampanier and Natalie Shampanier, the plot follows a high school senior whose life turns upside down as her mother’s paranoid delusions spiral out of control.
Producers are Idiot Savant Pictures’ Anne Clements and the late Ash Christian of Cranium Entertainment who passed away last year. Cercamon is selling foreign rights at the current European Film Market.
“We are thrilled to share this film, which features outstanding performances from Lili Taylor and Stefania Lavie Owen as a mother-daughter grappling with mental illness,...
Producers are Idiot Savant Pictures’ Anne Clements and the late Ash Christian of Cranium Entertainment who passed away last year. Cercamon is selling foreign rights at the current European Film Market.
“We are thrilled to share this film, which features outstanding performances from Lili Taylor and Stefania Lavie Owen as a mother-daughter grappling with mental illness,...
- 3/4/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario and Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Niecy Nash has signed on to star alongside Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers, in the Numa Perrier-directed romantic comedy, The Perfect Find. The Netflix film is based on the 2016 book by Tia Williams.
Written by Leigh Davenport, the plot follows Jenna Jones Union, who is hopeful that her new job in beauty journalism will be a fresh start in her life. She soon learns that her new boss, Darcy, is her frenemy. Jenna starts a relationship with the company’s videographer, Eric, and things get complicated when she learns he’s Darcy’s son.
Union is producing the pic via her I’ll Have Another banner with Jeff Morrone, Tommy Oliver, and Codie Elaine Oliver of Confluential Films, and AGC Studios. Stuart Ford and Glendon Palmer will serve as exec producers on behalf of AGC with I’ll Have Another’s Holly Shakoor Fleischer.
Nash is returning to...
Written by Leigh Davenport, the plot follows Jenna Jones Union, who is hopeful that her new job in beauty journalism will be a fresh start in her life. She soon learns that her new boss, Darcy, is her frenemy. Jenna starts a relationship with the company’s videographer, Eric, and things get complicated when she learns he’s Darcy’s son.
Union is producing the pic via her I’ll Have Another banner with Jeff Morrone, Tommy Oliver, and Codie Elaine Oliver of Confluential Films, and AGC Studios. Stuart Ford and Glendon Palmer will serve as exec producers on behalf of AGC with I’ll Have Another’s Holly Shakoor Fleischer.
Nash is returning to...
- 3/2/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Keith Powers will co-star opposite Gabrielle Union in The Perfect Find, the Netflix/AGC Studios romantic comedy directed by Jezebel helmer Numa Perrier.
The pic is based on the 2016 book by Tia Williams bestseller, which was adapted for the screen by Leigh Davenport. Union stars as Jenna Jones, who is hopeful that her new job in beauty journalism will be a fresh start in her life. She soon learns that her new boss, Darcy, is her frenemy. Jenna starts a relationship with the company’s videographer, Eric, and things get complicated when she learns he’s Darcy’s son.
Union is also producing the film under her I’ll Have Another banner along with Jeff Morrone, Tommy Oliver, and Codie Elaine Oliver of Confluential Films. AGC’s Stuart Ford and Glendon Palmer will serve as exec producers with I’ll...
The pic is based on the 2016 book by Tia Williams bestseller, which was adapted for the screen by Leigh Davenport. Union stars as Jenna Jones, who is hopeful that her new job in beauty journalism will be a fresh start in her life. She soon learns that her new boss, Darcy, is her frenemy. Jenna starts a relationship with the company’s videographer, Eric, and things get complicated when she learns he’s Darcy’s son.
Union is also producing the film under her I’ll Have Another banner along with Jeff Morrone, Tommy Oliver, and Codie Elaine Oliver of Confluential Films. AGC’s Stuart Ford and Glendon Palmer will serve as exec producers with I’ll...
- 12/16/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Acquired by Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing earlier this month, Deepa Mehta’s “Funny Boy,” an adaptation of Shyam Selvadurai’s 1994 novel of the same name, has been announced as Canada’s official selection for Best International Feature Film for the 2021 Academy Awards. Set for release on Netflix beginning Thursday, December 10, Array has premiered a first-look trailer for the film.
Shot on location in Colombo, Sri Lanka, “Funny Boy” centers on the “awakening of sexual identity by a young boy named Arjie. As political tensions escalate to a boiling point between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese, a young boy comes of age in a society and family that doesn’t embrace difference outside of societal norms. The film chronicles Arjie’s struggle to find balance and self-love despite the absence of empathy and understanding.”
It’s a coming-of-age story about growing up in Sri Lanka during one of...
Shot on location in Colombo, Sri Lanka, “Funny Boy” centers on the “awakening of sexual identity by a young boy named Arjie. As political tensions escalate to a boiling point between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese, a young boy comes of age in a society and family that doesn’t embrace difference outside of societal norms. The film chronicles Arjie’s struggle to find balance and self-love despite the absence of empathy and understanding.”
It’s a coming-of-age story about growing up in Sri Lanka during one of...
- 10/30/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
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