An A-list cast including Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy will lend their voices to That Christmas, an animated feature from Netflix penned by Richard Curtis and directed by Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy).
That Christmas is an adaptation of the children’s book series written by Curtis. The pic also marks the directorial debut of animation vet Otto.
Cox voices Santa in the pic. Shaw is Ms. Trapper, Whittaker is Mrs. Williams, and Nighy is Bill, residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. The full synopsis reads: That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys. Also starring are Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown,...
That Christmas is an adaptation of the children’s book series written by Curtis. The pic also marks the directorial debut of animation vet Otto.
Cox voices Santa in the pic. Shaw is Ms. Trapper, Whittaker is Mrs. Williams, and Nighy is Bill, residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. The full synopsis reads: That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys. Also starring are Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Brian Cox is set to voice Santa Claus in Netflix’s upcoming festive animated feature “That Christmas.”
Due later this year, the film marks the directorial debut of animation veteran Simon Otto and comes from Locksmith Animation (“Ron’s Gone Wrong”). “That Christmas” is adapted from the children’s book series by BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated writer and director Richard Curtis.
Alongside Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker and Bill Nighy have also joined the film as the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. Other voice stars include Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry, Ava Talbot and Rhys Darby.
‘That Christmas’
“Becoming an animator had been on my Christmas wish list ever since I was a child and watching animated movies was...
Due later this year, the film marks the directorial debut of animation veteran Simon Otto and comes from Locksmith Animation (“Ron’s Gone Wrong”). “That Christmas” is adapted from the children’s book series by BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated writer and director Richard Curtis.
Alongside Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker and Bill Nighy have also joined the film as the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. Other voice stars include Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry, Ava Talbot and Rhys Darby.
‘That Christmas’
“Becoming an animator had been on my Christmas wish list ever since I was a child and watching animated movies was...
- 3/20/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has signed a first-look deal with London- and Los Angeles-based Locksmith Animation to develop and produce animated features for worldwide distribution.
Locksmith is an independent producer of animated features and series and was behind the 20th Century Studios feature Ron’s Gone Wrong. That pic was released theatrically and on Disney+ in 2021.
‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’
The first of Locksmith’s two properties being developed under the new deal is Bad Fairies, a subversive musical comedy set in contemporary London. It focuses on a badass gang of fairies who break every rule in the book. Deborah Frances-White, creator and host of podcast The Guilty Feminist, is writing the screenplay. Megan Nicole Dong, creator and director of Netflix’s animated musical series Centaurworld, is attached to direct.
The second project is The Lunar Chronicles, based on Marissa Meyer’s bestselling novels. A sci-fi twist on Grimms’ Fairy Tales,...
Locksmith is an independent producer of animated features and series and was behind the 20th Century Studios feature Ron’s Gone Wrong. That pic was released theatrically and on Disney+ in 2021.
‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’
The first of Locksmith’s two properties being developed under the new deal is Bad Fairies, a subversive musical comedy set in contemporary London. It focuses on a badass gang of fairies who break every rule in the book. Deborah Frances-White, creator and host of podcast The Guilty Feminist, is writing the screenplay. Megan Nicole Dong, creator and director of Netflix’s animated musical series Centaurworld, is attached to direct.
The second project is The Lunar Chronicles, based on Marissa Meyer’s bestselling novels. A sci-fi twist on Grimms’ Fairy Tales,...
- 6/9/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney’s Launchpad, a new filmmaking program dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices, has unveiled the trailer for six original short films coming to Disney Plus.
All six short films, each centering on the theme of “discover,” will launch on Disney Plus on May 28. The program’s inaugural year features stories by Ann Marie Pace, Aqsa Altaf, Hao Zheng, Jessica Mendez Siqueiros, Moxie Peng and Stefanie Abel Horowitz.
“As a first-generation Muslim Bangladeshi woman, I know how important it is for communities to see themselves on screen, and to empower emerging filmmakers,” said Mahin Ibrahim, director of Disney’s diversity and inclusion, market, who oversees the Launchpad program. “Our goal with the Disney Launchpad Shorts Incubator is to tell six deeply meaningful personal stories straight from the filmmakers’ heart, amplified with the scale and reach that only Disney has.”
Disney plans to continue its Launchpad program, with the theme of “connection” to anchor the second season.
All six short films, each centering on the theme of “discover,” will launch on Disney Plus on May 28. The program’s inaugural year features stories by Ann Marie Pace, Aqsa Altaf, Hao Zheng, Jessica Mendez Siqueiros, Moxie Peng and Stefanie Abel Horowitz.
“As a first-generation Muslim Bangladeshi woman, I know how important it is for communities to see themselves on screen, and to empower emerging filmmakers,” said Mahin Ibrahim, director of Disney’s diversity and inclusion, market, who oversees the Launchpad program. “Our goal with the Disney Launchpad Shorts Incubator is to tell six deeply meaningful personal stories straight from the filmmakers’ heart, amplified with the scale and reach that only Disney has.”
Disney plans to continue its Launchpad program, with the theme of “connection” to anchor the second season.
- 4/14/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
The “Toy Story” universe has always been very male, ever since John Lasseter’s first “Pixar” release in 1995 introduced old-school Western sheriff pull-toy Woody (Tom Hanks) and snazzy electronic flyer Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The dynamic duo have stayed front and center through sequels “Toy Story 2” and “3.”
Pixar itself has been going through a sea change. Of the 21 films Pixar has released since 1995, just four have focused on a female lead. Over the years, Pixar has gradually increased the participation of women throughout the Bay Area company, from animators and designers to story artists.
The first woman to enter the Brain Trust was Pixar Senior Development Executive Mary Coleman. Later, Rita Hsaio shared screenplay credit on “Toy Story 2,” Meg LeFauve landed screenplay credits for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” and Victoria Strouse co-wrote “Finding Dory” with director Andrew Stanton.
When Brenda Chapman arrived at Pixar in 2003, there...
Pixar itself has been going through a sea change. Of the 21 films Pixar has released since 1995, just four have focused on a female lead. Over the years, Pixar has gradually increased the participation of women throughout the Bay Area company, from animators and designers to story artists.
The first woman to enter the Brain Trust was Pixar Senior Development Executive Mary Coleman. Later, Rita Hsaio shared screenplay credit on “Toy Story 2,” Meg LeFauve landed screenplay credits for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” and Victoria Strouse co-wrote “Finding Dory” with director Andrew Stanton.
When Brenda Chapman arrived at Pixar in 2003, there...
- 7/1/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The “Toy Story” universe has always been very male, ever since John Lasseter’s first “Pixar” release in 1995 introduced old-school Western sheriff pull-toy Woody (Tom Hanks) and snazzy electronic flyer Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The dynamic duo have stayed front and center through sequels “Toy Story 2” and “3.”
Pixar itself has been going through a sea change. Of the 21 films Pixar has released since 1995, just four have focused on a female lead. Over the years, Pixar has gradually increased the participation of women throughout the Bay Area company, from animators and designers to story artists.
The first woman to enter the Brain Trust was Pixar Senior Development Executive Mary Coleman. Later, Rita Hsaio shared screenplay credit on “Toy Story 2,” Meg LeFauve landed screenplay credits for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” and Victoria Strouse co-wrote “Finding Dory” with director Andrew Stanton.
When Brenda Chapman arrived at Pixar in 2003, there...
Pixar itself has been going through a sea change. Of the 21 films Pixar has released since 1995, just four have focused on a female lead. Over the years, Pixar has gradually increased the participation of women throughout the Bay Area company, from animators and designers to story artists.
The first woman to enter the Brain Trust was Pixar Senior Development Executive Mary Coleman. Later, Rita Hsaio shared screenplay credit on “Toy Story 2,” Meg LeFauve landed screenplay credits for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” and Victoria Strouse co-wrote “Finding Dory” with director Andrew Stanton.
When Brenda Chapman arrived at Pixar in 2003, there...
- 7/1/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
(L-r) Andrew Goldsmith, Lucy Hayes and Bradley Slabe.
Bradley Slabe, the co-director with Andrew Goldsmith of the Academy Award-shortlisted animated short Lost & Found, looks set for a major career boost after securing representation in the Us.
The writer-director signed with Los Angeles-based Verve after being introduced to the talent and literary agency by Jonathan Hludzinski, Animal Logic’s senior VP, production.
On the same trip to La he met with four management companies and is yet to decide which one to take on. “My dream is to create my own content but Verve has showed me the IP properties on their roster and asked me which ones I’d like to pitch for,” he tells If.
Slabe, Goldsmith and producer Lucy Hayes are keen to develop a TV series spin-off of Lost & Found, which would look at the community of knitted creatures before their ranks were thinned to two.
Bradley Slabe, the co-director with Andrew Goldsmith of the Academy Award-shortlisted animated short Lost & Found, looks set for a major career boost after securing representation in the Us.
The writer-director signed with Los Angeles-based Verve after being introduced to the talent and literary agency by Jonathan Hludzinski, Animal Logic’s senior VP, production.
On the same trip to La he met with four management companies and is yet to decide which one to take on. “My dream is to create my own content but Verve has showed me the IP properties on their roster and asked me which ones I’d like to pitch for,” he tells If.
Slabe, Goldsmith and producer Lucy Hayes are keen to develop a TV series spin-off of Lost & Found, which would look at the community of knitted creatures before their ranks were thinned to two.
- 1/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference has selected Larry Wilmore as the recipient of its 2018 Outstanding Television Writer Award.
The award will be at the 25th Annual Austin Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1. The awards lunch takes place on Oct. 27.
Wilmore has been a television producer, actor, comedian, and writer for more than 25 years. He broke into show business in 1991 as a writer for “In Living Color,” followed by “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Pj’s” (which he co-created with star Eddie Murphy), and “The Office”.
In 2001, Wilmore created “The Bernie Mac Show,” which ran for five seasons on Fox and earned him an Emmy Award in 2002 for outstanding writing for a comedy series as well as a 2001 Peabody Award. Recently, Wilmore helped launch ABC’s “Black-ish” as an executive producer. He also serves as the co-creator and consulting producer on HBO’s “Insecure,” which he developed with star Issa Rae.
The award will be at the 25th Annual Austin Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1. The awards lunch takes place on Oct. 27.
Wilmore has been a television producer, actor, comedian, and writer for more than 25 years. He broke into show business in 1991 as a writer for “In Living Color,” followed by “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Pj’s” (which he co-created with star Eddie Murphy), and “The Office”.
In 2001, Wilmore created “The Bernie Mac Show,” which ran for five seasons on Fox and earned him an Emmy Award in 2002 for outstanding writing for a comedy series as well as a 2001 Peabody Award. Recently, Wilmore helped launch ABC’s “Black-ish” as an executive producer. He also serves as the co-creator and consulting producer on HBO’s “Insecure,” which he developed with star Issa Rae.
- 8/28/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios introduced D23 Expo 2015 fans to an array of new stories and characters—from a lost dinosaur to a master wayfinder, a scheming fox to a forgetful fish.
The audience of 7,500 was treated to sneak peeks, musical performances and appearances from stars like Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dwayne Johnson, Randy Newman and Ty Burrell, among others.
John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, led the presentations, calling on a host of filmmakers from both studios to introduce the upcoming slate of films. “We really have an unbelievable range of movies in production at our studios right now,” said Lasseter. “The stories are dynamic, fresh and so much fun; the characters new and old are so appealing. I’m excited to share some of our long-held...
Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios introduced D23 Expo 2015 fans to an array of new stories and characters—from a lost dinosaur to a master wayfinder, a scheming fox to a forgetful fish.
The audience of 7,500 was treated to sneak peeks, musical performances and appearances from stars like Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dwayne Johnson, Randy Newman and Ty Burrell, among others.
John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, led the presentations, calling on a host of filmmakers from both studios to introduce the upcoming slate of films. “We really have an unbelievable range of movies in production at our studios right now,” said Lasseter. “The stories are dynamic, fresh and so much fun; the characters new and old are so appealing. I’m excited to share some of our long-held...
- 8/15/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Just a heads up -- in case you can't get to Walt Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA from August 14-16 -- heaps of new Lucasfilm, Pixar, Marvel and Disney movie intel will be coming out of the event, so put yourself on standby for cool previews.
Disney just shared a press release with the 2015 schedule. You'll see it's noted that "a bevy of special guests will be on hand to offer a look at an unparalleled slate that includes Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Jungle Book, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War, Star Wars: The Force Awakens-and much, much more." Also, "Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar's upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation's Zootopia and Moana." So if those movies, and all Disney/Pixar projects, are of interest to you, just know some good teases should be coming out of this.
Here's the...
Disney just shared a press release with the 2015 schedule. You'll see it's noted that "a bevy of special guests will be on hand to offer a look at an unparalleled slate that includes Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Jungle Book, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War, Star Wars: The Force Awakens-and much, much more." Also, "Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar's upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation's Zootopia and Moana." So if those movies, and all Disney/Pixar projects, are of interest to you, just know some good teases should be coming out of this.
Here's the...
- 7/22/2015
- by Gina Carbone
- Moviefone
We’re very excited to give you a sneak peak into the Pixar process in this week’s episode of She Does Podcast featuring Mary Coleman. Mary is the Senior Development Executive at Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios. For the past 16 years, she has worked with directors and writers to dig into their personal memories and create stories that adults and kids can relate to. Mary got her start in theater, performing on stage, working behind the scenes and a stint as a director. She talks about time spent with her grandmother, who fostered her creative side; how “faking it ‘till you […]...
- 6/17/2015
- by Elaine Sheldon and Sarah Ginsburg
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
We’re very excited to give you a sneak peak into the Pixar process in this week’s episode of She Does Podcast featuring Mary Coleman. Mary is the Senior Development Executive at Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios. For the past 16 years, she has worked with directors and writers to dig into their personal memories and create stories that adults and kids can relate to. Mary got her start in theater, performing on stage, working behind the scenes and a stint as a director. She talks about time spent with her grandmother, who fostered her creative side; how “faking it ‘till you […]...
- 6/17/2015
- by Elaine Sheldon and Sarah Ginsburg
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Friday is the first full day of the Austin Film Festival (bravo to you if you make it all the way from a 9 am panel to the last film of the night), and whether you plan to wing it or stick to a schedule, here are just a few of the many events worth considering.
Friday Panel Picks:
Short Films, Big Leaps: Story Development in Pixar Short Films -- Pixar panels tend to be pretty entertaining, and today's will be led by Mary Coleman, a Senior Development Executive at Pixar Animation Studios. Her job is a fascinating one, and she's here to share. (Friday, Oct. 24, 9 am - 10:15 am, Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Assembly Room)
Deconstructing: No Country for Old Men -- Walk through this Coen brothers, Texas-filmed classic with Rachel Getting Married writer Jenny Lumet and Noah Hawley, creator and producer of the television show Fargo. Accompanying this panel...
Friday Panel Picks:
Short Films, Big Leaps: Story Development in Pixar Short Films -- Pixar panels tend to be pretty entertaining, and today's will be led by Mary Coleman, a Senior Development Executive at Pixar Animation Studios. Her job is a fascinating one, and she's here to share. (Friday, Oct. 24, 9 am - 10:15 am, Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Assembly Room)
Deconstructing: No Country for Old Men -- Walk through this Coen brothers, Texas-filmed classic with Rachel Getting Married writer Jenny Lumet and Noah Hawley, creator and producer of the television show Fargo. Accompanying this panel...
- 10/24/2014
- by Caitlin Moore
- Slackerwood
The Pixar film process is highly iterative – what could fiction writers learn from its collaborative and experimental approach?
Being an author can be a lonely business. As a very reluctant reader in my own adolescence, I wanted to write stories that would inspire kids to crack open a book instead of load up a video game. But I didn't quite expect the isolation that comes with a writer's life.
Alone in my home office or surrounded by strangers in the coffee shop, my only colleagues are my characters. And while I do talk to them (yes, aloud, and yes, in the café), they don't make for great water cooler moments.
As I was wrestling with my self-imposed solitary confinement, I had a chance to meet Mary Coleman, the development executive at Pixar at the writer-centric Austin Film Festival (I had a little zombie film showing). The encounter changed my entire approach to creativity.
Being an author can be a lonely business. As a very reluctant reader in my own adolescence, I wanted to write stories that would inspire kids to crack open a book instead of load up a video game. But I didn't quite expect the isolation that comes with a writer's life.
Alone in my home office or surrounded by strangers in the coffee shop, my only colleagues are my characters. And while I do talk to them (yes, aloud, and yes, in the café), they don't make for great water cooler moments.
As I was wrestling with my self-imposed solitary confinement, I had a chance to meet Mary Coleman, the development executive at Pixar at the writer-centric Austin Film Festival (I had a little zombie film showing). The encounter changed my entire approach to creativity.
- 11/8/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Today at the Austin Film Festival during a panel on Pixar (and writing), Mary Coleman, a senior development executive at the company, announced that Marti Noxon, a former writer for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Mad Men,” had joined the company on an unspecified project. This is a major development for the notoriously close-knit company, and should at least calm the jangled nerves of animation fans who were surprised and upset by a recent high-profile dismissal. Last year, the company made waves by dismissing Brenda Chapman, a hugely admired animation vet who had previously directed “The Prince of Egypt” for DreamWorks Animation, from her very personal project “Brave.” They replaced her with story artist (and “John Carter” co-writer) Mark Andrews, first claiming that she had remained at the company in an advisory role (she was at one point part of the vaulted Pixar Brain Trust, the company’s governing creative.
- 10/19/2012
- by Drew Taylor
- The Playlist
In an interview with THR, Paramount Film Group President Adam Goodman talked about various upcoming movies from the studio. On the subject of animated films, he said, "We feel we have the ability to make these kinds of movies as well as any company does. I can't talk about the project, but Robert Gordon [Galaxy Quest] is writing an original story for us."
For fans of the cult 1999 sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest, directed by Dean Parisot, with a story by David Howard and a screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon, this is great news.
Though the writers don’t have many film credits to their names (with David Howard only credited for Galaxy Quest, and Robert Gordon credited for a couple of other things, including Men in Black II and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events; though IMDb says they both have a project called Bizarro Superman in development...
For fans of the cult 1999 sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest, directed by Dean Parisot, with a story by David Howard and a screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon, this is great news.
Though the writers don’t have many film credits to their names (with David Howard only credited for Galaxy Quest, and Robert Gordon credited for a couple of other things, including Men in Black II and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events; though IMDb says they both have a project called Bizarro Superman in development...
- 4/27/2012
- Shadowlocked
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