Month: September 2021

Tommy Kirk Dead: Child Star Of ‘Old Yeller’, ‘The Shaggy Dog’ Was 79 – Deadline

Tommy Kirk, one of Disney’s major young stars of the 1950s and early ’60s, died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday. He was 79.
— Read on deadline.com/2021/09/tommy-kirk-dead-child-star-old-yeller-the-shaggy-dog-was-79-1234846897/

In the cold light of day, the entertainment industry remains a merciless meat grinder. Yet, the late Tommy Kirk’s artistic legacy despite the homophobia that still causes havoc on so many talented people, remains an indelible achievement.

I look at the gains made in recent years in terms of tolerance and gender identity as being a result of people like Tommy Kirk pioneering the way forward.

Rest In Power and Peace, TK.

Lori Loughlin Sets Acting Return in ‘When Hope Calls’ at GAC Family – Varietyw

Lori Loughlin is set to return to acting with a guest starring role in Season 2 of “When Hope Calls” at GAC Family. 
— Read on variety.com/2021/tv/news/lori-loughlin-acting-return-when-hope-calls-gac-family-1235075960/

Proving yet again crime does pay if you’re white and privileged.

Mom and influencer daughter Olivia both have TV gigs and are amassing attention while earning money again comfortably.

Oh, the shame(less).

Moulin Rouge! Tops the List at 74th Annual Tony Awards | Playbill

The show took home Best Musical and nine other categories at the September 26 ceremony.
— Read on www.playbill.com/article/tonyawards2021

Playwright Matthew López made Tony Award history when his epic work The Inheritance was announced as Best Play., becoming the first Latino to ever win this fabled prize.

It fills me with cultural pride to see this happen at long last. More, it validates the importance of encouraging other Latinos to pursue careers in the arts, in all disciplines. Our stories account for much of the nation’s identity, that we are little seen on stage or screen is beyond a shame. We can do it. The industry needs to do better. We all need to do better in seizing opportunities, too.

Si se puede.

Kristen Stewart’s ‘Spencer’ Debuts Full-Length Trailer – Variety

Watch Kristen Stewart’s take on Princess Diana in the full-length trailer for ‘Spencer.’
— Read on variety.com/2021/film/news/spencer-trailer-princess-diana-kristen-stewart-1235072400/

As if we were all DYING to know whether La Stewart could dare to master the accent of the iconic princess. Like her actual performance hardly mattered!

The click baiting syndrome is epidemic in mainstream media, too.

‘SNL’: Owen Wilson, Kim Kardashian West, Rami Malek & Jason Sudeikis Set As Season 47 Opening Hosts – Deadline

Saturday Night Live returns on October 2 with four consecutive shows on NBC. While we don’t yet know who is returning to the cast or which fresh new faces are being given a chance, we now know who will be fronnting these shows.
— Read on deadline.com/2021/09/snl-owen-wilson-kim-kardashian-west-rami-malek-jason-sudeikis-season-47-hosts-1234842367/

Which upcoming SNL guest host is not like the others?

I’ll hold.

Sigh.

Emmys So White: People of Color Shut Out Acting Categories – Variety

No people of color won any major acting categories at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, despite a record number of nominees.
— Read on variety.com/2021/awards/news/no-poc-win-acting-emmys-diversity-mj-rodriguez-michael-k-williams-1235068182/

We need to ask ourselves as POC whether or not we exist in the Hollywood community to win prizes or get our work seen by a larger audience? Last year was an extraordinary year for television. The diversity of narratives was truly inspiring and empowering. The conversation cannot be mired into a bog of hashtags because a voting board chose to honor the safest and most marketable shows to win more subscribers or network viewers. It speaks more to their lack of courage, conviction, and vision of that group.

The worlds of Lovecraft Country, WandaVision, Pose, and I May Destroy You have been opened up a landscape for a new generation of viewer. They will champion these artists and, hopefully, want to become one. The awards voting groups will either die on their sword or evolve as more POC become part of that process. Same for the industry executive suites. For real diversity to exist, we need to be making those creative and business decisions, too. Until then, keep on writing, directing, designing, crewing, and performing what feels right and true. The stories of us must continue!

Paranormal Activity 7 Teaser Trailer Released – The Hollywood Reporter

First look at the long-awaited seventh ‘Paranormal Activity’ film titled ‘Next of Kin’
— Read on www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paranormal-activity-next-of-kin-trailer-1235015655/

Behold the next BIG swing in Hollywood as legendary studio Paramount rebrands itself as a streaming company. The once stately mountain peak is looking more like a little hill if this is what awaits us all.

Is chasing this dragon really worth it? Catering to an audience that prefers to scroll and not really pay attention to anything longer than 30 seconds?

Shari Redstone’s Jim Gianopulos Firing Leans Into Streaming Future At Paramount – Deadline

Jim Gianopulos’ departure had an “end of an era” aura to it because he has long been revered as movie statesmen, Peter Bart writes.
— Read on deadline.com/2021/09/paramount-revamp-jim-gianopulos-redstone-streaming-future-1234838353/

Why does no one in Hollywood read Shakespeare, especially when it comes to dynastic power moves?

We need real storytellers to create true content that matters and stands for something. We don’t need a streaming culture built on a foundation of TikTokers and influencers who are adept at curating an ephemeral movie moment aimed only at a youthful audience. Who, for the record, refuses to be marketed to in the first place.

The film industry is at a crossroads moment, indeed. The theatrical experience can survive if innovation is allowed to flourish. Look to the woes of the music industry post-Napster for advice. And don’t neglect the demo sectors that can and do generate the greenbacks that keep the Dream Factory humming.

‘The Activist’ Shifting To Documentary Special At CBS Amid Criticism – Deadline

CBS’ previously announced competition series ‘The Activist’ is shifting its format to a documentary special amid criticism.
— Read on deadline.com/2021/09/the-activist-shifting-docuseries-at-cbs-amid-criticism-1234837902/

Well, that was quick. Sometimes I wonder who is really running the Hollywood machine these days. Tone deafness is rampant in the race to promote the optics of “change.”

Context matters. A lot. Think before you act, people. Think it out!