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    'Judas and the Black Messiah' Named Best Film at 2021 AAFCA Awards

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    The true-story movie about the late Black Panther leader Fred Hampton wins big at the African American Film Critics Association Awards by taking home the top honor.

    Mar 10, 2021
    AceShowbiz – “Judas and the Black Messiah” has been crowned Best Picture at the African American Film Critics Association Awards.
    The historical drama, chronicling the betrayal of Fred Hampton, the Illinois chairman of the Black Panther Party, which ultimately led to his death, picked up a total of four prizes, including Breakout Director for Shaka King.
    Daniel Kaluuya, who portrays the civil rights icon, and Dominique Fishback, who plays his partner, were also winners, securing the Best Supporting Actor and Actress accolades.
    “Serving alongside an all-Black producing team, Judas and the Black Messiah director Shaka King created a project that permanently enshrines pivotal Black Panther leader Fred Hampton as an American hero,” AAFCA President and co-founder Gil Robertson shares in a statement.
    “Released against the backdrop of the present-day Black Lives Matter movement, the film’s message of commitment and sacrifice to social justice is empowering.”
    “Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton is literally on fire and is supported well by Dominique Fishback, who increasingly has become an actress to watch. Our members are thrilled to award the film with our highest honor.”

      See also…

    Meanwhile, “One Night in Miami…” snagged a trio of awards – Best Director for Regina King, Best Screenplay for Kemp Powers, and Best Ensemble, and the Best Actor and Actress honours went to the late Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) and Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”).
    “Soul” claimed Best Animation and Best Foreign Film was awarded to “Night of the Kings”.
    The full list of winners was announced on Tuesday (09Mar21), weeks after Mariah Carey and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” director George C. Wolfe were named the respective recipients of the Innovator and Salute to Excellence accolades.
    Politician and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams’ documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy” will also be recognised with the Stanley Kramer Award for Social Justice at the organisation’s 12th annual AAFCA Awards, which will take place online on 7 April (21).
    AAFCA members have also named their top 10 films of the year, recognising “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “One Night In Miami…”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, “Nomadland”, “Night of the Kings”, and “American Skin”.
    “Da 5 Bloods”, “Minari”, “Miss Juneteenth”, and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” also make the cut for the 2021 awards.

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    Chloe Zhao, David Fincher, Regina King Among Movie Nominees at 2021 DGA Awards

    WENN

    The upcoming Directors Guild Awards will see the filmmakers of ‘Nomadland’ and ‘Mank’ battle it out for Best Director while the ‘One Night in Miami…’ helmer is up for the best first-timer title.

    Mar 10, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Two women and two people of colour will compete for the top prize at this year’s Directors Guild Awards.
    “Minari” ‘s Lee Isaac Chung, “Promising Young Woman” ‘s Emerald Fennell, “Mank” ‘s David Fincher, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” ‘s Aaron Sorkin, and “Nomadland” ‘s Chloe Zhao are in the running for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film honour.
    Announcing the nominees on Tuesday (09Mar21), DGA president Thomas Schlamme said, “Throughout these challenging and isolating times, the universal power of film has served such a meaningful role in our culture, helping fulfill our needs for human connection, expanding our worldviews, and keeping us inspired through stunning storytelling and artistry.”
    “I congratulate our five nominees whose diverse and extraordinary films embodied that universal power in a year that will never be forgotten.”

      See also…

    Meanwhile, the filmmakers behind “The Forty-Year-Old Version”, “I’m No Longer Here”, “One Night in Miami…”, “Sound of Metal”, and “The Father” will compete for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director honour.
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film:

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director:

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    'Nomadland' and 'Rocks' Top Nominations at 2021 BAFTA Film Awards

    Hulu/Netflix

    The Chloe Zhao-directed movie and the Sarah Gavron-helmed feature dominate the nominations at this year’s BAFTA film awards by collecting seven mentions each.

    Mar 10, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Sarah Gavron helmed “Rocks” are leading the field for top honours at the 2021 BAFTA film awards which announced nominations for four movies directed by women on Tuesday (9Mar21).
    “Nomadland” and “Rocks” lead the nominations for the 2021 ceremony, with seven nominations apiece in a highly diverse nominations list, with 16 of the 24 acting nominees this year coming from ethnic minority groups.
    Zhao, who won best director at the Golden Globes, and Lee Isaac Chung – whose “Minari” took best foreign language film at the same event – will face Shannon Murphy for “Babyteeth”, Jasmila Zbanic for “Quo Vadis Aida?”, Thomas Vinterberg for “Another Round”, and Gavron for “Rocks” for best director.
    And by contrast to last year’s (20) controversial nominations, when not one actor of colour was nominated in the acting categories Daniel Kaluuya, the late Chadwick Boseman, Riz Ahmed, Dominique Fishback, Tahar Rahim, and Bukky Bakray are among the 16 nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds in the acting categories.
    The nominations were presented by BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar and presented virtually by actors Aisling Bea and Susan Wokoma.
    The winners will be announced at a ceremony without a live audience on 11 April.
    Complete list of nominations:
    Best Film:

    Best Leading Actress:

    Best Leading Actor:

    Best Supporting Actress:

    Best Supporting Actor:

    Outstanding British Film:

    Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer:

    Best Film Not in the English Language:

    Best Documentary:

    Best Animated Film:

    Best Director:

      See also…

    Best Original Screenplay:

    Best Adapted Screenplay:

    Best Original Score:

    Best Casting:

    Best Cinematography:

    Best Editing:

    Best Production Design:

    Best Costume Design:

    Best Make-Up and Hair Design:

    Best Sound:

    Best Special Visual Effects:

    Best British Short Animation:
    “The Fire Next Time”
    “The Owl and the Pussycat”
    “The Song of a Lost Boy”

    Best British Short Film:
    “Eyelash”
    “Lizard”
    “Lucky Break”
    “Miss Curvy”
    “The Present”

    EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public):
    Bukky Bakray
    Conrad Khan
    Kingsley Ben-Adir
    Morfydd Clark
    Sope Dirisu

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    Piers Morgan Quits TV Show as He Faces Investigation Over Insensitive Comments About Meghan Markle

    WENN

    The former CNN member leaves ‘Good Morning Britain’ after TV bosses announced they’re launching investigation into his insensitive remarks about the Duchess of Sussex.

    Mar 10, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Outspoken TV newsman Piers Morgan has quit hit breakfast show “Good Morning Britain” after upsetting viewers with his comments about the Duchess of Sussex’s mental health.
    The former CNN regular stormed off the show on Tuesday (09Mar21) after he was attacked for being insensitive about remarks Duchess Meghan had made to Oprah Winfrey during a candid TV interview, which aired in the U.K. on Monday night.
    And just minutes after the U.K.’s media regulators at Ofcom announced they would be investigating Morgan, his bosses at ITV revealed Piers was leaving “Good Morning Britain”.
    A network spokeswoman says, “Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain. ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
    Morgan’s comments about the troubled royal drew more than 41,000 complaints, according to Ofcom officials, who will continue to investigate claims “Good Morning Britain” broke broadcasting rules on harm and offence.
    Morgan upset viewers when he explained he did not believe the Duchess when she told Winfrey she felt suicidal during media attacks linked to her mixed race shortly after becoming pregnant with her first child, Archie.

      See also…

    During the interview, which first aired in the U.S. on Sunday night, the Duchess explained the media intrusion was so bad that she “didn’t want to be alive anymore.” Morgan responded on Monday by stating, “I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”
    His co-presenter, Susanna Reid, immediately rebuked him.
    Before storming off Tuesday’s show, he tried to clarify his previous statements, explaining, “When we talked about this yesterday, I said an all-encompassing thing. I still don’t believe what Meghan Markle says generally in this interview and I have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said. But let me just state my position on mental illness and on suicide. These are clearly extremely serious things and should be taken extremely seriously and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and the help that they need every time. Every time.”
    “And if they belong to an institution like the royal family, they should seek that help and be given it. It’s not for me to question if she felt suicidal. I am not in her mind and that is for her to say.”
    He was later taken to task by colleague Alex Beresford, who said, “I’m sorry, but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen.”
    Calling his comments during Monday’s show “incredibly hard to watch,” Beresford added, “He has the ability to come in here and talk from a position where he doesn’t fully understand.”

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    Andy Serkis on His Gollum Preparation: I Used to Walk on All Fours Off Set

    WENN/New Line Cinema/Joe Alvarez

    The ‘Lord of the Rings’ star, who reprised the character in ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’, also explains why he is relieved that the role came in his late 30s.

    Mar 9, 2021
    AceShowbiz – “Lord of the Rings” star Andy Serkis walked around on all fours while filming the trilogy and “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”, in order to stay in character as Gollum.
    The actor brought the character to life via motion capture in director Peter Jackson’s films and admits he went “pretty method” when it came to retaining the character’s physicality.
    “I used to walk on all fours off set when we were filming ‘Lord of the Rings’,” Serkis explains. “I spent a lot of time in preparation for that. I would go off for walks on all fours for hours. I did occasionally come into contact with other people, so I just had to pretend I was looking for something.”

      See also…

    The Brit tells NME.com he’s glad the “Lord of the Rings” role came later on in his life, as he wouldn’t have been able to cope with the level of fame that came with the films if he was younger.
    “I was in my late 30s when it exploded,” he explains. “I’m grateful it happened when it did. It was an extraordinary time; so many things came out of that experience and whether I like it or not that role lives with me on a daily basis. It will never go away.”
    Serkis will reunite with his “Lord of the Rings” castmates for a series of online chats with Stephen Colbert to help raise money for cinemas struggling due to COVID-19. Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Peter Jackson, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler are all expected to join the virtual get-together.

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    Jason Bateman And Jon Favreau Up Against Each Other at 2021 DGA Awards

    WENN/Brian To/FayesVision

    The 73rd annual DGA Awards’ nominees for television, commercials and documentary have been announced, unraveling Zach Braff among those vying for recognition of their work behind the camera.

    Mar 9, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Actors-turned-filmmakers Jason Bateman and Jon Favreau are up for a top Directors Guild Association award for their work behind the camera on hit shows “Ozark” and “The Mandalorian”.
    The pair will compete with “Better Call Saul”‘s Vince Gilligan, “Homeland” director Lesli Linka Glatter, and “Bridgerton”‘s Julie Anne Robinson for the 2021 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series prize at a ceremony on April 10.
    Meanwhile, Zach Braff has earned a mention in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series category for overseeing an episode of “Ted Lasso”. He’ll be up against fellow “Ted Lasso” director M.J. Delaney, “The Flight Attendant”‘s Susanna Fogel, and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”‘s Erin O’Malley and Jeff Schaffer, while the directors for “The Undoing”, “Hamilton”, “The Queen’s Gambit”, “WandaVision”, and “Little Fires Everywhere” will compete for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series trophy.
    The nominees for TV, commercials, and documentary were announced on Monday, March 8. Those up for the documentary category are “The Truffle Hunters”, “My Octopus Teacher”, “Welcome to Chechnya”, “Boys State” and “The Painter and the Thief”, whereas “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” get nods for the variety/talk/news/sports category.
    The nominees for theatrical feature film and first-time feature film, in the meantime, will be unveiled on Tuesday, March 9.
    The 73rd annual DGA Awards will also see ex-DGA president Paris Barclay being feted with the DGA Honorary Life Member Award. About the honor, DGA president Thomas Schlamme stated, “Paris is one of the statesmen of our industry, and his leadership has been transformative – whether on set creating iconic television, at the negotiating table fighting for our members, or as a champion for a fair and equitable world.”
    “Behind the camera, he is an innovator whose award-winning work is part of the zeitgeist of our culture,” Thomas added. “And no matter how busy his schedule, he always makes room for mentorship, leading the way for so many diverse voices.”
    Here are the full list of nominees:
    TELEVISION
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

      See also…

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs
    David Charles – “Eco Challenge”, “3,2,1…Go!” (Amazon)
    Jon Favreau – “The Chef Show”, “Tartine” (Netflix)
    Ken Fuchs – “Shark Tank”, “1211” (ABC)
    Joseph Guidry – “Full Bloom”, “Petal to the Metal” (HBO Max)
    Rich Kim – “LEGO Masters”, “Mega City Block” (Fox)
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs
    Kabir Akhtar – “High School Musical: The Musical” – The Series, “Opening Night” (Disney+)
    Larissa Bills – “On Pointe”, “Showtime!” (Disney+)
    Dean Israelite – “The Astronauts”, “Countdown” (Nickelodeon)
    Richie Keen – “The Healing Powers of Dude”, “Second Step: Homeroom” (Netflix)
    Amy Schatz – “We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest” (HBO)
    COMMERCIALS
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials
    Steve Ayson (MJZ) – “The Great Chase”, Nike – Wieden + Kennedy Shanghai
    Nisha Ganatra (Chelsea Pictures) – “#wombstories”, Bodyform/Libresse – AMVBBDO
    Niclas Larsson (MJZ) – “See the Unseen”, VW Touareg – adam&eveDDB; “The Parents”, Volvo XC60 – Forsman & Bodenfors
    Melina Matsoukas (Prettybird) – “You Love Me”, Beats by Dr. Dre – Translation
    Taika Waititi (Hungry Man) – “The Letter”, Coca-Cola – Wieden & Kennedy London
    DOCUMENTARY
    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
    Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw – “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Pippa Ehrlich & James Reed – “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix)
    David France – “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO Max)
    Amanda McBaine & Jesse Moss – “Boys State” (Apple/A24)
    Benjamin Ree – “The Painter and the Thief” (Elevation Pictures)

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    HBO Responds to 'Blackface' Allegations by 'Lovecraft Country' Extra

    HBO Max

    Kelli Amirah previously shared in TikTok videos that the makeup team from the show was ‘putting me in blackface’ by making her face and her hands look darker to match another actress’ skin tone.

    Mar 9, 2021
    AceShowbiz – HBO has addressed the accusations leveled at it by a “Lovecraft Country” extra, who claimed that the makeup artists darkened her skin. In a statement that was issued on Monday, March 8, the cable network responded to Kelli Amirah’s experience while working for the hit show.
    “We were very disappointed to learn of Ms. Amirah’s experience,” a spokesperson for the network shared. HBO also assured that it would make sure that “this should not have happened, and we are taking steps to ensure this doesn’t occur again in the future.”
    Kelli first claimed in February that the makeup team from the show was “putting me in blackface” by making her face and her hands look darker to match another actress’ skin tone. “I notice my foundation is getting darker and darker,” she shared in a TikTok video. “I was so uncomfortable. I had no idea they were going to do this to me. And if I knew beforehand, I would not have accepted the job. Who thought that this was a good idea?”
    “I have no clout, no pull, no nothing. This job is the first time I’ve ever had my own lil trailer on set,” the 23-year-old, who appeared as a young version of Carol Sutton’s Osberta in an old photo of her wedding day, added. “I’m getting special treatment, sitting in between the big leagues.”

      See also…

    Later on March 6, Kelli elaborated her experience in a series of posts on her Twitter account. “I’ve been getting a lot of very valid critiques for my complacency in allowing Lovecraft Country to darken my skin as a photo double for some set photography briefly featured in an episode. It’s uncomfortable but it’s not wrong. I was weak and complacent in that moment,” she began her thread.
    “I always thought that ethically I would never be the type of light skinned actress stealing roles better suited for darker women. I don’t submit for things that I *know* aren’t a fit for me,” she went on to say. “In the instance of Lovecraft, I applied for a casting for a 20-25 year old African American woman to play the younger version of a character in her wedding photo. No audition, just an online submission and booking.”
    Kelli mentioned that “there was no mention of me being too light when I was caster nor when I went in for my fitting days before. And it wasn’t until I was in the chair that I overheard the muas discussing it. Even then, I thought ‘maybe they just meant a couple shades’ I’m sure it won’t be much more than a tan. And then they just kept painting me darker.”
    “Now as this was happening I had so many conflicting thoughts in my head. This is wrong. Why did they hire me. I should say something. What would I say? What would happen? If I hold up this production how much money goes down the drain. What will be my repercussions?” Kelli wondered. “But yeah, the entertainment industry needs to do better. I need to do better. I didn’t show up in the way I should have, and again, I’m sorry for that.”

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    Pepe Le Pew's Removal From 'Space Jam 2' Following Rape Culture Debate Leaves Actress Upset

    Warner Bros. Pictures/Instagram

    The controversial cartoon skunk is reportedly not slated to appear on current TV series or in any future Looney Tunes projects after it’s slammed for normalizing rape culture.

    Mar 9, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Pepe Le Pew has been sidelined in “Space Jam: A New Legacy”. The controversial cartoon skunk is reportedly not featured in the upcoming live-action/animated sports comedy film following a debate about the character normalizing rape culture.
    Deadline reported that a hybrid live-action animation scene between the French skunk and actress Greice Santo, which was shot back in June 2019, was left on the cutting room floor. The said scene was filmed under the direction of Terence Nance, before the helmer left the production.
    When Malcolm D. Lee took over the helming duty, he decided not to include the scene and the character was never animated for the live-action footage which was shot. According to sources who saw a rough cut three months ago, they didn’t see any kind of cameo by the skunk.
    Based on the description of the scene, it was going to address Pepe’s disturbing behavior. The said scene was reported to feature Pepe in a black-and-white Casablanca-like Rick’s Cafe sequence, where he’s portrayed as a bartender. Pepe is depicted as making unwanted advances on a woman played by Santo. He begins kissing her arm, which she pulls back. She then slams Pepe into the chair next to hers, pours her drink on Pepe, slaps him hard and sends him spinning in a stool, before it’s stopped by LeBron James’ hand.
    In the scene, Pepe also tells James and Bugs Bunny that Penelope cat has filed a restraining order against him. That’s when James reminds Pepe that he can’t grab other Tunes without their consent.

      See also…

    Santos, who has been a victim of sexual harassment and has spoken out against it, is left disappointed after learning that the scene was cut, because Pepe is going to get his comeuppance in it. Her spokesperson told Deadline, “This was such a big deal for Greice to be in this movie. Even though Pepe is a cartoon character, if anyone was going to slap a sexual harasser like him, Greice wished it would be her.”
    The spokesperson added, “Now the scene is cut, and she doesn’t have that power to influence the world through younger generations who’ll be watching ‘Space Jam 2’, to let younger girls and younger boys know that Pepe’s behavior is unacceptable.”
    While noting that the removal of the skunk has nothing to do with the allegations that the character added to rape culture, Deadline also reported that there are currently no plans to feature Pepe on current Warner Bros. TV series or in future Looney Tunes projects.
    Pepe came under fire after New York Times published an op-ep criticizing the skunk as a character who “normalized rape culture.” Charles M. Blow, who wrote the piece, said he was targeted by right-wing blogs for calling out the cartoon skunk.
    “RW blogs are mad bc I said Pepe Le Pew added to rape culture,” Blow tweeted. Doubling down on his opinion, he pointed out, “Let’s see. 1. He grabs/kisses a girl/stranger, repeatedly, w/o consent and against her will. 2. She struggles mightily to get away from him, but he won’t release her 3. He locks a door to prevent her from escaping.”
    “Space Jam: A New Legacy” is set to be released in theaters and HBO Max simultaneously on July 16.

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