Hollywood International Filmaker Magazine – Winter 2020

ISSUE 13

WINTER 2020

F I L M M A K E R

WONDER WOMEN: Gal Gadot & Hedy Lamarr FOR

MOV IE M A KE R S

BLOCK BUS T ER S DOOMED? NE W OSC A R S RUL E S M A DONN A BIOPIC

WORLDWIDE EIGH T IE S REBOOT S

HOLOGR A M MOV IE S COV ID COMPL I A NCE

CONTENTS

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Cover Story

Quarterly Publication Issue 13 | Winter 2020 PUBLISHED BY: Hollywood International Film Exchange ADDRESS: 6565 East Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90040, USA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Sandro Monetti EDITOR: Jimmy Jiang ART EDITOR: Gabriela Lepervanche EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: Kimberley Kates, Jimmy Jiang, Sandro Monetti.

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WONDER WOMAN STAR’S PERFECT NEW ROLE

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Latest News

MADONNA: DIRECTORIAL GIRL 4

CAPSTONE GROUP FILM NEWS

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HI-FEX PUBLISHING SUCCESS 10 BAFTA’S CHINA BREAKTHROUGH 12 BIG SCREEN: ANIMAL MAGIC 14 GOLDEN FILM AWARDS 16 INTERNATIONAL FASHION SUPER MODEL 17

FACEBOOK: Hollywood International Express TWITTER: @HiFilmExpress WEBSITE: Hi-Fex.com

DRIVE IN MOVIES 18 MERANO CULTURAL EXCHANGE 20 MARGOT’S MAGNIFICENT WRITERS 22 THE FRAGRANCE OF THE LAMBS 22 FAMOUS FASHION 23

24Hollywood Spotlight

END OF THE BLOCKBUSTER 24 BACK TO THE 80s 26 IN MEMORIUM 28

CONTACT INFO CONTACT: Serena Hife E-MAIL: Adv.Hifex@gmail.com SPONSORS • BIG SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP • BIG SCREEN HOLDINGS • HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM EXCHANGE • HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL • HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS • DIAMOND SOFA • FAIRFAX ENTERTAINMENT • CHINESE CREATIVE CULTURE ORGANIZATION

Technology & Development

HOLOGRAM MOVIES ON THE HORIZON

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THE BACK TO BASICS BLOCKBUSTER

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Policy & Regulations

THE OSCARS AND BAFTA RULE CHANGES

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COVID COMPLIANCE 38

Back Cover Story

FILM FESTIVALS GO VIRTUAL 42

COVER STORY

WONDER WOMAN STAR GAL GADOT IS TO PLAY A REAL-LIFE WONDER WOMAN ON SCREEN, CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS AND INVENTOR HEDY LAMARR. That trailblazing figure not only took the film world by storm appearing in hits of the 30s, 40s and 50s but also changed the future with scientific discoveries including a technology which would be the foundation for modern day Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.

Lamarr struggled for years to get credit and compensation for her creations, only being inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame after her death. But she will finally win widespread

She will both star in and executive producer an as-yet untitled Apple+ TV series about her fellow immigrant, Austrian-born Lamarr who relocated to Hollywood and became a star in films like Samson and Delilah and Boom Town.

Hedy was considered the most beautiful woman in the world and Disney’s Snow White character was even based on her dark hair and porcelain skin.

recognition when she is played by Gadot, who has had a

But what was not as well known was her talent for inventions,

remarkable life herself.

which included helping tycoon Howard Hughes with aviation

The Israeli actress and model was crowned Miss Israel before spending two years as a combat instructor in her country’s

designs and handing the US Navy a missile tracking and jamming technology.

army and then studied law and international relations in college

She eventually turned her back on acting and inventing and

prior to conquering Hollywood, first in the Fast and Furious

lived in seclusion, only hitting headlines again when charged

franchise and ultimately with the title role in Wonder Woman.

with shoplifting laxatives and eye drops in Florida in 1991.

But there has been a growing appreciation of her contributions on and off screen since the acclaimed recent documentary Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story and now the Gal Gadot project, due in 2021, will ensure her legacy as one of the most significant figures in both screen acting and science.

– Sandro Monetti

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COVER STORY

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L AT E S T N E W S

Directorial

GIRL

Madonna is to direct a movie about her own life.

“Who better to tell this story than me?” said the pop icon. She has also co-written the as-yet untitled biopic with the Oscar winning screenwriter of Juno, Diablo Cody.

R e c e n t m u s i c b i o p i c s l i ke R o c ke t m a n a n d Bohemian Rhapsody saw their subjects, Elton John and surviving members of Queen respectively, creatively involved behind the scenes.

It’s a radical new idea for someone to direct their own biopic but Madonna does have directing experience having been behind the camera on two previous films, the little seen Filth and Wisdom (2008) and W.E. (2011).

In a statement, Madonna said: “I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer, a human being, trying to make her way in this world. The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept be going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories. It’s essential to share the rollercoaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.”

Her five-decade career has seen a string of hits, including Material Girl, Vogue and Like A Virgin, successful movies like Evita, A League of Their Own and Dick Tracy, and countless headlines.

No casting news has yet been announced for the film, which will be released by Universal.

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– Sandro Monetti

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L AT E S T N E W S

HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM EXCHANGE, CAPSTONE GROUP

COMING SOON

Gerard Butler is to star in two upcoming action movies for Capstone to be filmed back to back. Read details of these and other star-studded projects the company has in development or set for release here...

K ANDAHAR Based on a true story, centers around a grieving CIA operative and his translator who, after an intelligence leak dangerously exposes a covert mission in Afghanistan, must find their way out of the desert, outgunned and hunted by elite special forces.

CAST: Gerard Butler (Olympus Has Fallen) DIRECTOR: Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen) PRODUCER: Basil Iwanyk (John Wick) | GENRE: Action STATUS: Pre-Production (Start of Principal: January 17, 2021)

HAIR OF THE DOG An executive caught up in a blackmail plot discovers he's just a pawn in a larger, darker scheme.

CAST: Gerard Butler (Geostorm) DIRECTOR: Jamie Marshall (The Foreigner) PRODUCER: Randall Emmett (Lone Survivor) and George Furla (End of Watch) GENRE: Action Thriller

GET WELL ROAD The true story of Lee Ledbetter - a Southern firecracker single mother, who never played by the rules of 1950's Memphis, and hustled her way to become the first female sales rep in a cutthroat pharmaceutical company.

CAST: Isla Fisher (Now You See Me), DIRECTOR: Jess Bond (Rosy) PRODUCER: Cassandra Kulukundis (Vox Lux) and Joey Tufaro (Maggie) GENRE: Biography STATUS: Pre-Production (Start of Principal: January, 2021 in New Orleans, USA) 6

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THE POSTCARD KILLINGS Based on the best seller from James Patterson, a New York detective investigates the death of his daughter who was murdered while on her honeymoon in London.

CAST: Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), and Famke Janssen (Taken 3) DIRECTOR: Danis Tanovic (Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film for No Man's Land) PRODUCER: Miriam Segal (City of Lies) GENRE: Thriller STATUS: Completed

VA N Q U I S H Damon Hickey is a corrupt retired Police Commissioner who runs his city with an iron fist.

When one of his loyal henchmen is murdered, he recruits Victoria to collect millions of laundered money in one night and she soon discovers Damon’s sinister plans.

CAST: Morgan Freeman (London has Fallen) and Ruby Rose (The Meg) DIRECTOR: George Gallo (Double Take) GENRE: Action, Thriller STATUS: IN PRODUCTION

SUMMIT FEVER

A young climber spends a hedonistic summer in Chamonix whilst attempting the world's deadliest trio of mountains.

CAST: Ryan Phillipe (Crash) DIRECTOR: Julian Gilbey (A Lonely Place to Die) GENRE: Action STATUS: Pre-Production (Start of Principal: TBD)

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Jackie Chan squares off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Russian-Chinese co-production.

THE MYSTERY OF THE DRAGON SEAL The two action icons face off in the Tower of London during this international action adventure for all the family.

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KRUGER An intense and sometimes brutal survival-adventure centering on a wealthy middle class American family, who travel to the vast wilderness of Kenya hoping for a dream vacation filled with excitement, bonding and a chance to fix the growing rifts within their family.

But when their safari vehicle is attacked by a rhino protecting her calf, the family is left stranded miles from help and their dream vacation turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival in a world where they are the bottom of the food chain.

CAST: Rebecca Romijn (X-Men Franchise) DIRECTOR: MJ Bassett (Silent Hill) GENRE: Action Thriller | STATUS: in production LOCATION: United Kingdom and Kenya

ZEROS AND ONES An American soldier stationed in Rome sets out to track down and stop terrorists who have blown up the Vatican.

CAST: Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) DIRECTOR: Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant) GENRE: Action thriller STATUS: Production starts late 2020 LOCATION: Rome

P A W S P. I .

A boy determined to save his father's failing private detective business enlists the help of his pet dog and parrot...who talk. Together they will try to take down the town's tyrannical tycoon who's determined to stop a mansion from being turned into an animal rescue.

CAST: Jim Tavare (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Neal Genys (Ant-Man) DIRECTOR: Danny Buday (5 Star Day) GENRE: Action/Family STATUS: Completed

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bestseller THE FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED BY HOLLY WOOD INTERNATIONAL F I L M E XC H A N G E H A S B E CO M E A B I G H I T W I T H T H E P U B L I C AND THE PRESS. Confessions of a Holly wood Insider – in whic h celebrity interviewer Sandro Monetti shares amusing stories about more than 10 0 superstars he has met – sold out its first print run.

Much of the interest in the Hi-Fex book was powered by an avalanche of press coverage worldwide from outlets including the BBC and US T V show E x tra. This serialization from top British national newspaper the Sunday Express features highlights from the bestseller.

Having expanded into publishing books, Hi-Fex plans to follow up this hit with further titles which have a similar global appeal.

I THOUGHT it was the greatest night of my life... until I got a tap on the shoulder. Looking through a curtain from backstage at Manchester Arena, I gazed out at 5,000 excited fans waiting to see my lifelong hero Sylvester Stallone about to be interviewed by me on stage. They chanted, “We want Rocky! We want Rocky!”

With one minute to go until I was to step on to that vast stage to introduce the action superstar, the show’s promoter sheepishly asked for a word.

“Er, Sandro, bit of a problem, Sly’s not here yet.”

“You mean, he’s not here at the theatre?”

“He’s not even in Manchester.”

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“Where is he?”

“London.”

“What’s he doing there? That’s hours away, we’ve got thousands of people out there chanting we want Rocky – and they want him now!”

“Can you fill?”

“Maybe for a few minutes, not for a few hours. I thought he was supposed to be flying into Manchester hours ago.”

“He got on a later plane and apparently his people put him on a plane to London instead thinking England was so small it must be close by. Our driver picked him up and he’s racing down the motorway now.”

“Can we get him a police escort?”

“Tried that.”

“What did the cops say?”

“This isn’t Hollywood, mate.”

“Fair point.”

Scrambling for a plan B, we recruited some local singers in the audience to get up on stage as a kind of warm-up act, stuck very long clips from Stallone films on the giant screen and gave free drinks to everyone in the high-paying VIP section.

When Stallone eventually arrived we rushed him straight on stage, to a huge ovation from the patient audience, and our interview and audience Q&A seemed to go pretty well, at least at the start.

I got Stallone to tell the story of how he created Rocky and then to take us

L AT E S T N E W S

through his Hollywood career. He was open and honest about his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger, his failures with the likes of Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot and his future plans with the Rocky spin-off series, Creed.

But then the effects of the free booze began to kick in with some of the overly excited fans at the front, a couple of

whom made drunken attempts to climb on to the stage shouting that they wanted to see if Rocky could really take a punch.

Acting as both security guard and host, I tried to discreetly shoo – and kick – their clambering fingers off the raised stage and carry on with the show as a suddenly weary-looking Stallone

made it clear I was on my own with this challenge. Time to make a sharp exit.

So, before a stage invasion by drunken brawlers could happen, I brought a swift end to the show, “Ladies and gentlemen, what a night, please give it up for Sylvester Stallone!”

Long before the applause died down, and moments before the boozy mob made it up on to the platform, Sly and I were scurrying off to the sanctuary of backstage.

It was those next few minutes relaxing with him afterward, much more so than the hour and a half interviewing him on stage, that were the true highlight of the evening for me.

Because in that more relaxed atmosphere, I found my idol was all that I hoped he would be: really nice, chatty, and surprisingly down to earth. Sometimes it is good to meet your heroes.

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CHINESE TALENT PART OF BAFTA'S FUTURE The best international up and coming filmmakers from across the globe are selected for BAFTA’s prestigious Newcomers Program – and this year’s group indicates there’s a whole lot of talent coming from China.

India, Israel, Italy, Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, France, Hungary, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Afric a, Tur key and Spain also have representation in the program this year.

More of this year’s class come from that country than any other outside the UK and the Chinese representatives are Jenny Wu (actress) Guo Guo (producer) Peier Shen (writer-director) Wenting Deng Fisher and Jo Jo Lam (both cinematographers) and Shi Min Yong and Yiming Zhao (both production designers).

Each of the 41 Newcomers will benefit from specially curated BAFTA events aimed at supporting their career development such as masterclasses, mentoring sessions and mixers, educational programming and networking opportunities.

They will be aiming for the kind of success enjoyed by the likes of Siqi Song, a Chinese director-animator chosen for the program a year ago who received an Oscar nomination in 2020.

WENTING DENG FISHER

GUO GUO

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PEIER SHEN

With its international reach, The British Academy of Film and Television Arts promotes cultural exchange and global collaboration as well as excellence in the visual arts and the rising stars championed by this BAFTA program are a big part of that mission.

JENNY WU

SHI MIN YONG

YIMING ZHAO

JO JO LAM

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INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMERS INCLUDE:

BEULAH OBIOMA (NIGERIA)

EMILY GARDT (POLAND)

HUGO DIEGO GARCIA (FRANCE)

JASPREET DOSANJH (UK)

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BIG SCREEN EN T ER TAINMEN T GROUP

MAKING HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT ON A NEW MOVIE WITH A DOG AT THE CENTER OF ITS STORYLINE WAS A LIFE AFFIRMING EXPERIENCE FOR BIG SCREEN CHIEF EXECUTIVE KIMBERLEY KATES. Working on The Key To Christmas so closely with the welltrained rescue mutt, Lucky, helped the filmmaker realize that four legged friends were as much of a passion for her as movies.

So Kimberley immediately stepped up her lifelong hobby of rescuing animals and volunteered to foster a bunch of homeless pets - which in turn has led to other creative projects.

Three ginger kittens she fostered through Stray Cat Alliance in Los Angeles have since found a new permanent home with her and, helped by Kimberley’s filming skills, have become social media stars with their own Instagram page, @Gingers.3.

Now Big Screen is developing a TV show and merchandise line based on other orange animals who are part of the wildly popular Instagram group Gingers Unite! Talk about taking your work home with you!

Robert Downey Jr. and Kate Beckinsale are among many other pet lovers from the movie world who take inspiration from their animals.

Kimberley said: “By loving, rescuing and caring for these gorgeous, sentient creatures, I feel like I’m putting a balance into the evil of this world and all the atrocities animal endure.

“My dream is to have a massive ranch full of rescue animals and create an arts education center t here wit h s ound s t ages and a studio where children could m a ke m ov i e s , T V s h o w s a n d games under the tuition of great f i l m m a ke r s a n d a r t i s t s f r o m around the world.”

It’s a big dream for Big Screen’s boss but having achieved so much so far with passion, there’s every chance of such a happy ending.

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– Sandro Monetti

L AT E S T N E W S

GINGE R S UNITE

BOBBY

SANDWICH

CALVIN

ED

KARL CHEN

SERGEANT PEPPER

LUPIN

TEDDY

FELIX WHITNEY

@gingers.3

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GOING FOR GOLD For each of the past seven years, the Golden Film Award program has celebrated and honored dynamic and diverse movies from around the world.

This year t hose celebr ations and honor s took a different form as, like so many other ceremonies, the GFA went virtual.

So while fun red carpet scenes with the likes of Hollywood legend lookalikes (below) and screen stars like George Cheung (right) were not a part of the December ceremony this time, the screenings, networking and trophy giving switched online.

GFA Chair Michael Tea said, “This was the best way for us to promote the health and safety of our members.”

– Sandro Monetti

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M aking Fashion Dreams Come True

Since 2008, hundreds of stylish contestants from around the world have competed in the International Fashion Supermodel search (IFSM) looking to kickstart their catwalk careers.

Receiving global media attention, the men’s, women’s and kids categories look to showcase the best emerging modeling talent – and that has continued despite the pandemic.

The December 2020 contest switched online, seeing IFSM partnering with live broadcast channel Islive.us and entrants aiming to impress the judges and land career development opportunities with Los Angeles Talent Management.

It’s an elegant and enduring event which continues to make dreams come true.

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ARE BACK Drive -in movie theaters, which were such a popular part of American life in the 1950s and 60s, have made a comeback.

With so many cinemas closed by the pandemic, new and existing drive-ins have seen a surge in business.

Families, friends and couples have been packing up the car with snacks and heading to outdoor screens where they can hear the soundtrack of the films via their car radios.

T h e i r d e s t i n a t i o n i s e i t h e r o n e o f t h e 30 0 remaining specialist drive-ins in the USA, which show first run films like Mel Gibson’s festive satire Fatman, or one of the many pop-up theaters which seek to serve all those missing the movie going experience by screening classic films.

They include the one recently set up at Santa Monica Airport by Rooftop Cinema Club in L.A. where old favorites like Die Hard, Pulp Fiction and Grease – which is partly set at a drive-in – are proving popular on the playlist.

Meanwhile some independent movie theaters, such as Arena Cinelounge Hollywood, have tried to make up for lost revenue by adopting the drive-in idea and showing films in their parking lots.

Whether drive-ins are back for a short stay or back for good remains to be seen, but their new found success shows audiences are still hungry for the communal moviegoing experience.

– Sandro Monetti

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CHINESE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL Promoting traditional Chinese culture through arts, music and events is the mission of Merano Cultural Exchange.

It created the annual Flower in Full Moon concert – a popular mix of classic operas and national music – which continued this year as a virtual event.

The acclaimed concert is held in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, which is one of the most ancient and important annual traditions and celebrated especially by Chinese people worldwide.

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

MERANO CULTURE EXCHANGE

CHINESE TRADITIONAL VIRTUAL CONCERT Visit: shorturl.at/ipD23

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Magnificent M A R G OT ’S

W R I T ER S

A female screenwriters workshop formed by Margot Robbie to help more women break into the action movie market has been a stunning success.

All six writers in the program have sold a feature film script since joining the group just under a year ago.

That achievement fulfills movie star Margot’s vision of making that part of the business less of a maledominated space.

She arranged guest speakers and other industry experts to help develop the ideas and careers of the six selected for The Lucky Exports Pitch Program.

Those writers are Sue Chung, Charmaine DeGrate, Eileen Jones, Maria Sten, Dagny Looper and Faith Liu. Their scripts include a spy thriller, slasher film, western and action movie set on a cruise ship while among the buyers are Universal, Warners and New Line.

The Fragrance of the Lambs Acting great Anthony Hopkins has launched his own fragrance – for a good cause. Sales of the scent will benefit No Kid Hungry, which provides meals for needy children.

The Silence of the Lambs star got the idea during quarantine when he decided to use his name, fame and interests in scent to help the hungry.

Self-titled scent Anthony Hopkins is for both men and women and is available on the star’s website, anthonyhopkins.com

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FA SH ION WITH A M E SSAGE Instead of following her famous parents into film acting, the youngest daughter of Bruce Wlllis and Demi Moore has found a different form of creative expression.

Tallulhah Willis has designed her own line of vintage inspired street fashion for kids and adults, called Wyllis.

T he 26 -year- old’s mis sion is to make her customers as comfortable in their own skin as in her clothes and so supportive and inclusive messages, such as “You’re never alone,” are on the tag of every garment.

She calls the line of shor ts, shoes and sweatpants “emotional support clothes.”

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H O L LY W O O D S P O T L I G H T

H O L LY W O O D S P O T L I G H T

END OF THE BLOCKBUSTER? Big budget studio blockbusters suddenly look to be a thing of the past due to the pandemic.

No studio has greenlit a $200 million movie since the global health care crisis started.

Only streamers like Apple and Netflix are now spending the kind of big money traditionally shelled out for such epics.

Netflix’s Ryan Gosling thriller The Grey Man and

Apple’s Leonardo Di Caprio drama Killers of the Flower Moon both have $200 million price tags.

For more than 40 years, the usual Hollywood

powerhouses have been packing their slate with blockbusters. Since Jaws ushered in the blockbuster era in 1975, expensive epics like

Transformers, Terminator, Independence Day and Guardians of the Galaxy have been a staple of the studio system.

But now with so many movie theaters closed, the

future uncertain and the considerable cost of keeping big film crews healthy in a Covid era, the studios are playing safe.

Instead of thinking big, think smaller is the current plan as leaner, less risky projects get the go ahead as executives figure out how best

to monetize the already filmed but yet released blockbusters currently sitting on the shelf.

- Sandro Monetti

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H O L LY W O O D S P O T L I G H T

In a search for new box office hits, Hollywood is reaching back to the past by remaking or rebooting a string of movies from the decade of blockbusters.

Here’s a look at the movies of the 80’s being given a 21st century makeover.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Tom Cruise feels the need for speed again by returning to his star-making role as fighter pilot Maverick – but can this sequel take our breath away?

Release date: July 2, 2021 (USA) Director: Joseph Kosinski

COMING 2 AMERICA

Eddie Murphy’s African prince heads back to the United States when he learns he has a son he never knew about. Will this be a right royal romp?

Release date: December 18, 2020 (USA) Director: Craig Brewer

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H O L LY W O O D S P O T L I G H T

THREE MAN AND A BABY

Old franchise but new star as Zac Efron steps in to head the cast of this comedy remake about a trio of confirmed bachelors who find a baby on their doorstep.

Release date: TBD Director: TBD

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Will Smith and Kevin Hart take over from Steve Martin and John Candy in this comedy about two complete opposites trying to get home for the holidays.

Release date: TBD Director: TBD

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE

Written and directed by Jason Reitman, whose dad Ivan made the original supernatural comedy, this update sees Bill Murray and members of the old guard teaming up with teens including Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard.

Release date: March 5, 2021 (USA) Director: Jason Reitman

DIRTY DANCING 3

Wil film fans have the time of their life but when Jennifer Grey returns to the role of Baby, now all grown up and a dance instructor?

Release date: TBD Director: TBD

IN MEMORIUM

GOODBYE TO ONE OF

THE GREATS SEAN CONNERY, WHO DIED RECENTLY AT THE AGE OF 90, WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER AS THE ORIGINAL – AND TO MANY THE BEST – JAMES BOND. He leaves an indelible mark on movie history having played 007 seven times and starred in many other enduring movies.

Connery won an Oscar for his role in The Untouchables and his other popular films included The Hunt for Red October, Highlander, The Rock, The Man Who Would Be King and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

As current James Bond Daniel Craig said in tribute: “He was one of the true greats of cinema.”

Craig added: “The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in megawatts. He helped create the modern blockbuster and will continue to influence actors and filmmakers alike for years to come.”

IN MEMORIUM

WAKANDA’S GAME CHANGER CHADWICK BOSEMAN’S LEGACY LOOKS SET TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. With the enormous global success of Black Panther, that film’s late star changed movies forever by demolishing the myth that movies with largely black casts don’t play well internationally.

For all its talk of inclusion and progression, money still talks in Hollywood and following the implosion of the DVD market, international takings now represent about 70 percent of a film’s bottom line – which can lead to some cautious decisions about where to invest money and even how to market films.

Just a few years ago, perceptions that black stars were a box office risk prompted appalling decisions like Brad Pitt’s face replacing Chiwetel Ejiofor’s on a 12 Years a Slave poster for Italy, even though Pitt only appears in a brief bit part near the end of the film.

But Black Panther’s $1.3 billion international box office haul has blown up any lingering feeling that black projects are niche projects and seen the industry more willing to embrace diversity since.

Boseman tragically passed away from cancer earlier this year, aged just 43, but his greatest success has created great opportunities for actors and filmmakers who will follow – and be inspired by him.

Audiences have one great Chadwick Boseman performance left to see - and that final film role could well win him a posthumous Oscar. Rave early reviews for his performance as a jazz-age musician in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom have sparked the awards buzz.

Boseman would become only the third actor ever to win an Oscar after his death.

WAKANDA FOREVER – AND CHADWICK BOSEMAN FOREVER TOO. – Sandro Monetti

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TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

HOLOGRAM MOVIES HOLOGRAM MOVIES ARE ON THE HORIZON ARE ON THE HORIZON

We see holograms everywhere these days – stamped on our credit cards, passports and money – but not yet in movies.

All these years after that iconic holographic image of Princess Leia projected by R2D2 in Star Wars, filmmakers have still not developed the technology to make holo-movies.

The music industry has had more success, with hologram concerts featuring dead pop stars like Tupac Shakur, Whitney Houston and Elvis Presley becoming increasingly common in recent years.

But now things appear to be changing.

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Researchers at Tokyo University have developed a way to projec t three dimensional images in mid -air using metasurfaces, a thin film material which can manipulate light.

They have already showcased their first film made in this manner and the aim now is to develop the technology further to get the colors, images and light just right for the mass audience.

If they succeed, we could be about to say ‘holo’ to a hugely exciting new style of moviemaking.

– Sandro Monetti

TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

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TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

Christopher Nolan is a director, screenwriter known for making personal, distinctive films within the Hollywood mainstream.

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TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

THE BACK TO

BASICS

BLOCKBUSTER For someone who has made so many major movies, it’s surprising that Christopher Nolan uses so little CG or other hi-tech special effects.

But that’s the way the director of The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar likes it – as he’s shown once again with his latest action epic, Tenet.

One of the few top filmmakers who still shoots on film rather than digitally, Nolan also used an old school approach when it came to creating this movie’s spectacular set pieces.

When he needed to destroy a plane for a key scene, he decided against using miniatures and instead bought an old Boeing 747 and had the plane blown up for real.

The natural approach was also taken when it came to creating a vast abandoned and demolished city. There was no computer-generated imagery

here – instead he had the whole giant outdoor set built in the desert a few miles east of Palm Spring, California.

Similarly, there were no blue screen backgrounds for the globetrotting movie which, pre-pandemic, was filmed in a now largely unthinkable seven different countries – Italy, India, Estonia, Norway, Denmark, England and America.

Warner Bros backed Nolan’s vision with a $200 million budget and it looks to have paid off. Tenet was the first major studio film to open in theaters around the world after lockdown and at time of writing has earned around $350 million – Sandro Monetti

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P O L I C Y & R E G U L AT I O N S

FROM ‘SO WHITE’ TO JUST RIGHT? "THE CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY MENTION THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ+ AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES."

Top award ceremonies the Oscars and the BAFTAs have both introduced new diversity regulations to make inclusion a requirement to win those prizes.

Largely white and male nominee lists in recent years had led to much criticism of organizers the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Following a far-reaching consultation process by both groups, new criteria for eligibility have been introduced which the Academy and BAFTA hope will level the playing field and end controversies like #OscarsSoWhite and #BAFTAsSoWhite.

Reaction has been split to the new policy with some in the industry calling it a politically correct publicity stunt while others welcome the change as a catalyst for long overdue change.

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P O L I C Y & R E G U L AT I O N S

OSCARS

BAFTAs

Films will have to meet at least two of four standards to

Over 120 changes have been made to voting, membership

qualify for the Best Picture Oscar in future.

and campaigning processes by BAFTA, whose president,

These include featuring people from underrepresented

Prince William, was among those calling for diversity

groups in significant roles or at least 30 percent of

problems to be urgently addressed.

the cast, similar rules behind the scenes among those

The two of four benchmark rule applies to a couple of

making the film and among the teams involved with

categories while special juries will be added to others so

the marketing, publicity and distribution. Plus a clear

a wider list of candidates gets considered. Recruitment of

commitment to paid internships and others career

more diverse members, something the Oscars Academy

development opportunities.

is well underway with, is also included.

The criteria specifically mention the underrepresentation of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ and people with

These and further changes aim to create more opportunity

disabilities.

and equality in both the awards and the industry as a whole.

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P O L I C Y & R E G U L AT I O N S

THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN MODERN HOLLYWOOD As part of the regulations for Hollywood’s return to production after the pandemic shutdown, each set must now have a COVID-19 compliance supervisor.

Their job is to keep everyone safe and to keep filming going – and it’s a critical position.

That ’s bec ause the super visor is not only responsible for compliance with, and enforcement of, industr y protocols but also has the power to shut a production down if the policies are violated.

If sanitation standards slip, should masks not be worn or crowding fails to be limited on sets then the plug gets pulled. As shooting can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a day on the bigger productions, that’s a big responsibility.

Covid compliance supervisor is the newest job in Hollywood, requires a special qualification and a range of abilities. Those who have qualified for such positions tend to come from backgrounds in medicine, film production or set safety.

As shown in this Tyler Perry Productions image (right), they oversee a variety of safety factors including social dis t ancing, tes ting, mask wearing, safety equipment and cleaning and divide cast and crew into different groups to avoid crowding.

It always used to be the director or the star who held the most power on film sets. But in this new normal, the voice everyone now pays attention to belongs to the compliance supervisor.

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P O L I C Y & R E G U L AT I O N S

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BACK COVER STORY

AFM MOVES FROM THE BEACH TO THE LAPTOP

One of the world’s leading independent movie sales festivals, the American Film Market, like so many others, went virtual this year.

Not surprisingly, the topic of film distribution and exhibition in the new normal dominated the online conversation among delegates.

The opening session of AFM’s 200 virtual panels featured a discussion with Mark Gill, president of Solstice Studios which released the first film in theaters since the COVID-19 shutdown, Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged.

Pandemic production challenges and solutions were also widely discussed at the November event as the industry looks to find ways to carry on filming in such uncertain times.

As usual, it was sales which dominated the business but this time with screenings and filmmaker presentations using digital platforms to reach global buyers instead of showcases at the event’s usual home at Loews Hotel in the Los Angeles beach resort of Santa Monica.

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>> BACK COVER STORY

THE PATH FORWARD

F

ilm marketing festivals may never return to how they used to be and the way AFM proceeded virtually this year offers a permanent path forward for the industry.

Other key sales markets like Toronto and Cannes have also demonstrated that business can be done online even amid a pandemic.

And with no end in sight to the challenges brought about by Covid-19, the industry is getting used to a new normal.

This online approach is certainly less glamorous with no glitzy parties, poolside chats or power breakfasts to enjoy. But the community is flexible and has shown that pitching and purchasing continues at a similar level despite all that.

Plus the virtual method is a whole lot cheaper for delegates with no pricey air fares, hotel fees, rental of space at the exhibition hall and dinners for contacts.

And it’s that fact more than any other which is likely to make the current situation the new normal for an industry currently uncertain about production, distribution, insurance and other factors.

Due to those uncertainties, it is the completed rather than proposed projec t s which have been getting the most interest at the late 2020 festivals.

These include a couple of titles shot recently under stric t protocols – family film Father Christmas is Back, starring Kelsey Grammar, John Cleese and Elizabeth Hurley, filmed in the UK - and thriller Lakewood, starring Naomi Watts and shot in Canada.

Titles shot prior to the pandemic – including suspense film Fall and teen movie Monsters at Large – also entered the markets with high hopes.

And the festivals are using creative ways to engage their audiences. For example, AFM 2020 used an interactive market menu featuring eight special areas on its website for screenings, di s c u s sion s a nd more. T here w a s even a networking pavilion where delegates could join discussion groups and hold “face to face” meetings on camera (See back cover image).

Yes, the future of film markets is going to look very different but one thing that won’t change is the desire for quality product. As ever, content is still king.

- Sandro Monetti

BACK COVER STORY

Probably a lot like this InCrowd event where delegates zoom in to hear a speaker adress a wall of screens.

THE FUTURE IS NOW.

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WHAT WILL FILM FESTIVALS LOOK LIKE IN THE NEAR FUTURE?