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For a moment, imagine the panic, the frustration, the fish-out-of-water sensation that can only accompany someone stranded in a country where the native tongue is anything but your own, and the reason for your visit has been rendered essentially unnecessary not long after your landing gear touches the ground. This is the basic setup to “The Black Sea,” an unusual film from co-directors Crystal Moselle and Derrick B.

Continue reading ‘The Black Sea’ Review: A Brooklyn Transplant Starts Over In This Aimless Bulgarian Journey at The Playlist.

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during SXSW 2024. Metrograph Pictures releases “The Black Sea” in theaters on November 22.

American indie filmmaker Crystal Moselle has been on both sides of the scripted/non-scripted aisle of storytelling. Her 2015 documentary “The Wolfpack,” about six Angulo brothers confined to a Lower East Side New York housing project apartment while passing their days reenacting scenes from their favorite movies, won the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at Sundance that year. Her Gotham-nominated feature “Skate Kitchen” took a scripted narrative approach to rolling back the ins and outs of a chaotic subculture of female skateboarders, all coming of age, in New York City. Her latest feature “The Black Sea,” co-directed by the film’s star Derrick B. Harden, takes an entirely unscripted approach to the drama of a Brooklyn barista, Khalid (also played by Harden), with dreams of his own left stranded in Bulgaria,...

Jaden Smith performed on stage, showcasing his journey from actor to music artist (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Jaden Smith’s rise to fame came fast. At just 8, he starred alongside Will in The Pursuit of Happyness, kicking off his Hollywood career. By 2008, he was solidifying his star power in The Day the Earth Stood Still, and by 2010, he was front and center in The Karate Kid with Jackie Chan. His role in After Earth in 2013 was another highlight, but then, Jaden pulled back—he was ready to shift focus to music.

By 2014, after The Good Lord Bird, Jaden hit pause on acting to dive into his true passion: music. He dropped his debut mixtape, The Cool Tape, following his early collaboration with Justin Bieber on Never Say Never. It wasn’t just a career move—it was Jaden finding his voice and stepping out of his parents’ shadow to make his mark as a musician.

Jaden Smith doesn’t mind dropping his last name? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Jaden Smith and Will Smith are probably Hollywood’s most excellent father-son duos. Although the two had their fair share of conflicts, their relationship has always felt vibrant. Jaden’s debut on-screen with Will in The Pursuit of Happyness showcased their special bond. Over the years, the two have worked on other creative projects, shared laughs, and sometimes even fashion statements.

While Will is known for being a supportive dad, Jaden isn’t afraid to do his own thing. As Jaden craves his own space in music and film, his presence in the industry is no less impressive. Despite growing up as Will’s son, he has always been under the spotlight, but there was a time when he took steps to make his own identity.

Why Did Jaden Smith Remove His Last Name?

In a throwback interview...

The Wolfpack director Crystal Moselle showed a deft hand in bringing a documentary-like authenticity to her drama Skate Kitchen. She’s now expanding those skills, heading out of NYC with The Black Sea, co-directed and starring Derrick B. Harden in a fish-out-of-water tale following a Brooklynite making waves in Bulgaria. Largely improvised with a cast also including Irmena Chichikova, Samuel Finzi, and Stoyo Mirkov, the film is a humorous, entertaining look at culture clashes and trying to find a sense of community.

Ahead of a theatrical release from Metrograph Pictures beginning on November 22, we’re pleased to exclusively debut the first poster for the film, which premiered earlier this year at SXSW and had a robust festival tour including Seattle, Nashville, Mill Valley, Middleburg, San Diego, and Philadelphia, Virginia, and Denver film festivals.

Here’s the synopsis: “Khalid, a charismatic big dreamer from Brooklyn, gets stuck in a small town...

"A cinematic slam poem." Metrograph Pictures has unveiled an official trailer for a film called The Black Sea, co-directed by NYC filmmaker Crystal Moselle after The Wolfpack and Skate Kitchen. This premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, and it also played at the Seattle and Nashville Film Fests. Inspired by Derrick B. Harden's travels to Bulgaria, The Black Sea is the transformative journey of a man who finds unexpected connections in a small coastal Eastern European town even as he finds himself to be the only black person around. Starring Derrick B. Harden as Khalid (he also co-directed this), Irmena Chichikova, Samuel Finzi, and Stoyo Mirkov. One review nicely states: "For Harden, it's an impressive debut that raises questions about the difference between a tourist, refugee, and immigrant, and explores how sometimes you have to travel a long physical distance to find what’s always been inside yourself.

Indie filmmaker Crystal Moselle is deepening her narrative feature style with a personal story, blending the lines between truth and fiction with a cinema verité approach.

Moselle, who made her directorial debut with buzzy 2015 documentary “The Wolfpack,” which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, gained further street cred with her Gotham-nominated feature “Skate Kitchen,” starring Jaden Smith.

Moselle now co-directs “The Black Sea” with the film’s lead star, rapper/musician Derrick B. Harden.

“The Black Sea” has an unscripted style while centering on Brooklyn barista Khalid (Harden), who upends his life to move to Bulgaria amid a catfishing mishap. The official synopsis reads: “What happens when a charismatic big dreamer gets stuck in a small town on the Black Sea? A Bulgarian fortune teller once said the touch of a black man will cure you. That’s where Khalid comes in, a charismatic guy from Brooklyn who...

Born to one of the most influential figures in Hollywood, Jaden Smith had the privilege of exploring various career paths, from acting to music. And he did make notable strides in films like The Pursuit of Happyness and The Karate Kid and subsequently released three studio albums.

The Karate Kid | Credit: Columbia Pictures

However, his acting career seems to have taken a back seat, with his last major film role in 2020. Despite his absence from notable on-screen roles in recent years, the 2018 teen drama, Skate Kitchen, where he starred alongside a real-life skater group, highlights why Smith should consider reigniting his acting career.

Jaden Smith’s Standout Performance That Calls for His Return to Acting

Throughout the years, Jaden Smith has delivered several notable performances, from starring alongside his father Will Smith in films like The Pursuit of Happyness to his work in the films like The Karate Kid and the 2018 film Skate Kitchen.

Sean Wang’s Sundance sensation Dìdi is a gorgeously told tale of growing up in the late noughties. Here’s our review.

Sean Wang’s Dìdi does something rather miraculous. It manages to capture a sense of a very specific time with its details while also telling a universal coming-of-age story from a unique point of view. If you grew up in the 2000s, listened to Paramore and spent your afternoons watching Youtube videos, this is a film for you.

Chris Wang (Izaac Wang) is a teenager growing up in California in 2008. He spends his free time skateboarding and causing mayhem with his friends while harbouring a crush on schoolmate Madi and worrying about how to kiss girls. Coming from a Taiwanese-American family, Chris is constantly pulled in different directions by the two cultures and identities.

In many ways, Dìdi feels almost like a prequel to Bo Burnham’s excellent Eight Grade.

Exclusive: Metrograph Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to The Black Sea, the offbeat comedy from Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden which debuted at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. Metrograph will release the pic theatrically later this year.

Inspired by Harden’s travels to Bulgaria, and improvised by Harden and its Bulgarian cast, The Black Sea traces the journey of a charismatic dreamer from Brooklyn who inadvertently ends up as the only Black person in a small town on the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. While initially, all he wants is to get home, he becomes increasingly drawn to the unorthodox characters and unexpected connections he finds.

UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. The film was produced by Izabella Tzenkova, Kotva Films, and GiveThanks. Executive producers include Andrea Leibof, Cameron Brody, Dana Høegh, Jonas Carpignano, Josh Peters, Robina Riccitiello, Ted Hope, and Ted Wright.

Four years have gone by since it was announced that Channing Tatum was teaming up with It producer Roy Lee to develop an adaptation of the Image Comics property The Maxx – and while that would sometimes be enough time to for us to assume a project has fallen by the wayside, apparently that’s not the case here. Tatum has taken to social media to confirm that The Maxx is still in the works, and to express his excitement for the project.

Tatum wrote, “Oh my god I’m so excited for this I can’t even explain. The Maxx!!!! This is a childhood love of mine. The truly brilliant genius creation of Sam Kieth. When I was grounded and wasn’t allowed to watch TV this was the cartoon on MTV’s Oddities I would risk it all for. Sneak out of bed and put it on and pray I didn’t get caught.

Tubi is offering lots of originals for July, including the thriller “Five Star Murder” on July 28. A concierge and a guest investigate a hotel murder while a storm traps nasty hidden-treasure hunters inside.

Also coming to the streamer, a podcaster investigates his sister’s death in “Deep Web: Murdershow” on July 8. The murder leads him to a site where the highest bidder determines how a victim is killed.

“The Mummy” franchise is available July 1. In the first installment, an adventurer in 1926 Egypt travels to Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead, with a librarian and her older brother. Excited by their discoveries, they accidentally awaken Imhotep, a cursed high priest who was mummified alive. Now, the all-powerful Imhotep must be destroyed before his wrath destroys everything in his path. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz co-star in the action-packed thriller.

Finally, the cult classic “Big Trouble in Little China” stars Kurt Russell...

Dina Duma’s upcoming feature “Skateboarding Is Not for Girls” turned heads at Sarajevo Film Festival’s industry section CineLink this year. The story about a Romani Muslim girl from Skopje, Adela, trying to save her sister from being sold to the bridal market and dreaming of joining a group of female skaters, received the Film Center Serbia and the Female Voices awards. The latter, sponsored by Slovenian Film Center, aims to support and promote female voices from the Southeast European film industry.

“For us, filmmakers from the region, CineLink has become indispensable for development of our new projects,” observes producer Labina Mitevska of Sisters and Brother Mitevski, also behind “God Exists, Her Name Is Petrynia.”

“As we were developing our company, we were guided by the belief that it’s our duty to speak openly about the world today. To comment, fight and try to change it. I recognized...

“No Time to Die” director Cary Fukunaga is being accused of inappropriate workplace behavior and abusing his power on set to engage in relationships with younger women. Anonymous sources from the production of the upcoming AppleTV+ miniseries “Masters of the Air,” on which the 44-year-old Fukunaga serves as a director, told Rolling Stone that he engaged in an “absolute, clear-cut abuse of power” when engaging with young female actresses and crew members.

Fukunaga denies the claim, with his attorney Michael Plonsker issuing a statement that notes, “There is nothing salacious about pursuing friendships or consensual romantic relationships with women.” Plonsker continued that “no one ever — not once — voiced such sentiments to” Fukunaga over harassment claims. “He creates a work environment that is creative, collaborative and welcoming to all,” Plonsker said in a statement.

IndieWire has reached out to representatives for Fukunaga and at Apple TV+ for comment.

Fukunaga also faces...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Series: "Betty"

Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max

The Pitch: A group of young women skate through their adolescence -- and New York City -- in this superb extension of Crystal Moselle's 2018 movie "Skate Kitchen." The title, "Betty," is a slang term used to describe cool skateboarder chicks, but the show actually excels because it makes its found family of girl skaters look enviably awesome without ever once sensationalizing them....

The post The Daily Stream: Betty is a Superb Slice of Skater Girl Life appeared first on /Film.

Transatlantic production powerhouse Sister has taken a minority stake in independent outfit Dorothy Street Pictures.

Dorothy Street Pictures, which is behind Sundance and Cannes title, Bruce Lee documentary “Be Water” and has a Pamela Anderson documentary in the works for Netflix, will remain fully independent. The company’s Julia Nottingham (“Skate Kitchen”) and her team of documentary filmmakers including Emmy nominated Becky Read (“Three Identical Strangers”) will continue to develop and produce television and feature content in the non-fiction space, grow its scripted slate led by Ariadne Kotsaki and leverage the collective expertise in the broader Sister group.

Nottingham said: “At Dorothy Street Pictures we believe in story first and are overjoyed to be supported by a company quite literally built around storytellers and the desire to empower the independent creative talent we all work with. We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with the teams both in-house at Sister and...

Festival

The Red Sea Film Festival has announced that its second edition will run Dec. 1-10 this year, after its 2021 inaugural event saw nearly 140 films from 67 countries in 34 languages screen for more than 30,000 ticket holders and over 3,100 accredited industry guests. The Festival will once again be held in Jeddah’s Unesco World Heritage Site, old-town Al Balad.

“We are grateful to the film and local community who put their trust in us, this was a huge undertaking and the team worked extremely hard to deliver a Festival that I believe exceeded expectations,” said festival chairman Mohammed Al-Turki. “To bring people together through the universal language of film within the historic surroundings of Jeddah’s historic oldtown, to see emerging local filmmakers present their films alongside international counterparts to full cinemas was truly extraordinary. The future is bright for Saudi film and I look forward to welcoming return and new guests...

Exclusive: Ashley Liao and Ross Butler (Netflix’s To All The Boys franchise, Shazam!) have signed on to star in Loveboat, Taipei, a romance film from Ace Entertainment and 1 Productions Film Co., which will enter production in Taipei later this month.

The film from director Arvin Chen (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?) is based on Abigail Hing Wen’s New York Times bestselling novel of the same name. It centers on Ever Wong (Liao), whose summer takes an unexpected turn when her parents surprise her with a trip to Taipei for a cultural immersion program. Ever is surprised to discover that she hasn’t signed up for homework and history lessons, but instead for a summer-long free-for-all the locals and other students call “Loveboat.” It quickly lives up to its name when Ever finds herself trying not to fall for two attractive, but wildly...

It’s a great time to be Will Smith. The actor is a frontrunner to land an Oscar nomination for his performance in “King Richard,” opening in theaters and streaming on HBO Max beginning November 19, and he has a new memoir titled “Will” that’s generating a ton of buzz and is now available for purchase. One of the more candid moments of the memoir comes when Smith reveals that his son, Jaden, asked to be emancipated from his parents at 15 years old following the critical and box office failure of “After Earth.” The 2013 M. Night Shyamalan film was based on Will’s original idea and was anticipated for reuniting Will and Jaden on screen for the first time since “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which earned Will an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

“‘After Earth’ was an abysmal box office and critical failure,” Will writes in his memoir (via People...

Exclusive: Rising actors Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) and Ajani Russell (Betty) have been set for the title roles in crime feature Johnny & Clyde, also starring Megan Fox (Transformers) and Tyson Ritter (Preacher).

Currently in production, the movie is a spin on the iconic Bonnie and Clyde story and follows two serial killers who are madly in love and on a shocking crime spree. They ultimately set their sights on robbing a prosperous casino run by crime boss, Alana (Fox), and her head of security, Guy (Ritter).

As we previously revealed, also starring are Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Bai Ling (The Crow), Robert Lasardo (The Mule), Armen Garo (The Departed), Sean Ringgold (American Gangster), Nick Principe (Vault), Brett Azar (Young Rock) and Sydney Jenkins (Don’t Look Up).

Written by Tom DeNucci and Nick Principe, DeNucci (Vault) will direct. Chad A. Verdi (Bleed For This) is producing along with Michelle Verdi, Chad A.

While this HBO comedy series attracted low ratings in its first year, many critics loved it and the Betty series ended up on The New York Times and Time's "best new series of the year" lists. Will more viewers tune in this time around? Will Betty be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned. Status Update Below.

Based on Crystal Moselle's Skate Kitchen feature film, the Betty TV show stars Nina Moran, Dede Lovelace, Moonbear, Rachelle Vinberg, and Ajani Russell, with Katerina Tannenbaum, Andrew Darnell, Lil' Dre, Chef Roblé Ali, Rad Pereira, Isabel Palma, Eisa Davis, Danielle Melendez, Aya Aldamin, Florence Pedrosa Blake Mourad, Alexander Cooper, Raekwon Haynes, Moisés Acevedo, Judah Lang, Joe Apollonio, and Sage Ceasar. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the series follows a diverse group of young women as they navigate their lives...

The ride is over. HBO has cancelled the Betty TV series so there won't be a third season for the low-rated comedy series. The second season finished airing in July.

Based on Crystal Moselle's Skate Kitchen feature film, the Betty TV show stars Nina Moran, Dede Lovelace, Moonbear, Rachelle Vinberg, and Ajani Russell, with Katerina Tannenbaum, Andrew Darnell, Lil' Dre, Chef Roblé Ali, Rad Pereira, Isabel Palma, Eisa Davis, Danielle Melendez, Aya Aldamin, Florence Pedrosa Blake Mourad, Alexander Cooper, Raekwon Haynes, Moisés Acevedo, Judah Lang, Joe Apollonio, and Sage Ceasar. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the series follows a diverse group of young women as they navigate their lives through the predominantly male-oriented world of skateboarding. In season two, the five protagonists step firmly into womanhood and tackle all the challenges it brings. As they navigate the...

The ride, unfortunately, is coming to an abrupt end. Despite two well-received seasons, HBO has announced the official cancelation of "Betty." The skateboarding series first came into being as a spin-off of sorts to the 2018 film "Skate Kitchen," featuring many of the same characters from the movie and played by several of the same actors. This obviously comes as a major disappointment to fans of the show, especially considering that "Betty" represented one of the more diverse, female-led series on air to this point.

Telling the story of a group of diverse young women in New York City "navigating their lives through the predominantly male oriented world of...

The post Betty Canceled at HBO After Two Seasons appeared first on /Film.

Crystal Moselle’s series Betty has been cancelled by HBO, Deadline has confirmed.

“We will not be moving forward with a third season of Betty,” the network said in a statement. “We are very grateful for the collaboration with Crystal and our incredible cast — their fearless exploration of the world of New York City’s skate culture will remain a beautiful emblem of friendship and community.”

Betty was a teen comedy based on Moselle’s acclaimed 2018 film, Skate Kitchen. It centered on a diverse group of young women navigating their lives through the predominantly male-oriented world of skateboarding.

The series starred Dede Lovelace, Kabrina Adams, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, Rachelle Vinberg, Alexander Cooper, Katerina Tannenbaum, and more, airing for 12 episodes in total. It returned for its second season in June, after debuting on HBO in May of last year.

Moselle directed each episode of the show and exec produced with Igor Srubshchik,...

Betty‘s ride has ended: HBO has cancelled the skateboarder comedy after two seasons, our sister site Variety reports.

“We will not be moving forward with a third season of Betty,” the cabler said in a statement. “We are very grateful for the collaboration with [series creator] Crystal [Moselle] and our incredible cast — their fearless exploration of the world of New York City’s skate culture will remain a beautiful emblem of friendship and community.”

More from TVLineSuccession: HBO (Sorta) Announces Premiere Date for Delayed Season 3The White Lotus: Which Characters Should Return for Season 2? Vote!White Lotus Finale: Mike White Explains Why [Spoiler] Had to Die,...

“Betty” has been canceled after two seasons at HBO, Variety has confirmed exclusively.

Created by Crystal Moselle, “Betty” is a teen comedy series based on Moselle’s critically-acclaimed 2018 film “Skate Kitchen.” It follows the lives of an all-girl group of skateboarders as they navigate the male-dominated sport.

“We will not be moving forward with a third season of ‘Betty,'” HBO said in a statement. “We are very grateful for the collaboration with Crystal and our incredible cast — their fearless exploration of the world of New York City’s skate culture will remain a beautiful emblem of friendship and community.”

“Betty” stars Dede Lovelace as Janay, Kabrina Adams as Honeybear,Nina Moran as Kirt, Ajani Russell as Indigo and Rachelle Vinberg as Camille. It was renewed for a second season in June 2020, which premiered on June 11, 2021. The series received generally favorable reviews, with its first season earning the title of...

HBO is taking the wheels off of Betty.

The comedy about a group of skateboarders that is based on Crystal Moselle’s 2018 indie darling Skate Kitchen has been canceled after two seasons on the premium cable network.

“We will not be moving forward with a third season of Betty,” HBO said in a statement. “We are very grateful for the collaboration with Crystal and our incredible cast — their fearless exploration of the world of New York City’s skate culture will remain a beautiful emblem of friendship and community.”

HBO renewed Betty for a second season in June ...

HBO is taking the wheels off of Betty.

The comedy about a group of skateboarders that is based on Crystal Moselle’s 2018 indie darling Skate Kitchen has been canceled after two seasons on the premium cable network.

“We will not be moving forward with a third season of Betty,” HBO said in a statement. “We are very grateful for the collaboration with Crystal and our incredible cast — their fearless exploration of the world of New York City’s skate culture will remain a beautiful emblem of friendship and community.”

HBO renewed Betty for a second season in June ...

“Untold” is ostensibly about sports, but there’s a curious connector across the new Netflix documentary series. In each of the five episodes, as the best laid plans of teams and athletes begin to unravel, TV ends up a catalyzing factor. Partly, that’s the inevitable byproduct of fame: More notoriety leads to more eyeballs and all the swirling problems that increased attention can bring.

But the parade of nightly news reports and late-night talk show guest spots also illustrates what makes “Untold” such an enticing premise to be seen through a sports lens. As the title implies, the series examines specific chapters in a variety of sports, offering the people at the center the chance to share their feelings years (or in some cases decades) later.

Some of these have a true-crime tinge to them, as with installments covering a minor league hockey team caught up in a federal...

Netflix has turned its eye to the untold stories in the sporting world with the upcoming docuseries (the rather straightforwardly titled) “Untold.” The new trailer provides a look at the five feature-length episodes, two of which are directed by “Wild Wild Country”’ filmmakers Chapman and Maclein Way (who also executive produce), and another by director of “Skate Kitchen” and HBO’s “Betty,” Crystal Moselle.

Continue reading ‘Untold’ Trailer: ‘Wild, Wild Country’ Creators Tackle The Sporting World For Netflix at The Playlist.

Even if you've never once stepped foot on a skateboard, there are plenty of reasons to love HBO's Betty. The dramedy, which is inspired by Crystal Moselle's 2018 film Skate Kitchen, revolves around a diverse group of female skaters navigating the male-dominated world of skateboarding together in New York City. From the incredible outfits to the memorable characters, Betty is a rockin' good time, and fans were thrilled when the show returned for a second season in June 2021. However, the question still remains as to whether we'll see a third season of Betty.

Related: Looking For a New Watch? 50 Shows Starring Badass Ladies You Can Stream Right Now

Even though the show was renewed for a second season less than two weeks after the first season premiered, HBO has yet to announce whether Janay, Honeybear, Kirt, Indigo, and Camille will return for a third installment. However, if it's up to the show's producer,...

The first season of “Betty,” HBO’s half-hour comedy spin-off from Crystal Moselle’s feature “Skate Kitchen,” had a point. It followed a pack of skateboarding Gen Z women as they navigated young adulthood and female sexuality in the #MeToo era. The show occasionally meandered but ultimately made a charming, worthwhile debut.

The same cannot be said for the second season. With all of the first season’s social commentary stripped away, “Betty” has now become a banal, painfully self-absorbed slog through petty problems.

Continue reading ‘Betty’ Season 2 Turns A Skater Girl Romp Into A Self-Absorbed Slog [Review] at The Playlist.

Network: HBO

Episodes: Ongoing (half-hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: May 1, 2020 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Dede Lovelace, Moonbear, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, and Rachelle Vinberg, with Reza Nader, Edmund Donovan, Caleb Eberhardt, Katerina Tannenbaum, Jules Lorenzo, and Brenn Lorenzo.

TV show description:

Based on Crystal Moselle's Skate Kitchen feature film, the Betty TV show is set against the backdrop of New York City. It follows a diverse group of young women as they navigate their lives through the predominantly male-oriented world of skateboarding.

Read More…...

When costume designer Cristina Spiridakis was building the wardrobe for “Betty” cast member Rachelle Vinberg, she had one guiding question for her: “What is your worst nightmare?”

The second season of the HBO skate culture comedy finds its five protagonists — Camille (Vinberg), Kirt (Nina Moran), Janay (Dede Lovelace), Honeybear (Moonbear) and Indigo (Ajani Russell) — stepping into womanhood and tackling all the challenges that brings. For Camille, that means coming to head, yet again, with sexism in skating. But this time it’s through a sponsorship deal.

“Especially designing a show like this, it becomes so clear how different the women’s lines are,” Spiridakis tells Variety, referencing the haul of free, but not functional clothes Camille receives in exchange for branded social media posts. “I think a lot of brands tend to not think that women have to move in the same way as men to skate. The pants are all incredibly tight,...

Season Two of Betty, the warm and irresistible HBO dramedy about a group of female skateboarder friends, was filmed and takes place in those cold, harsh New York months when the city was largely shut down due to the pandemic. On the one hand, this turn of events clears out the streets for the women to skate together, and the show’s creator and chief director Crystal Moselle takes full advantage, filming the city with just her characters rolling through it like it’s their own playground. On the other hand,...

Last year Crystal Moselle dazzled audiences with “Betty,” a six-episode adaptation of her 2018 feature film “Skate Kitchen.” Now, the crew is back for Season 2 and there looks to be plenty more skateboarding, as well as an increased desire to find relationships and individual identity.

As the trailer shows, the same New York-based female skateboarders are back with a desire to make a new video showing off their skills. Unfortunately for them, they’ve just lost the lease to their building. Each of the girls is going through struggles with regards to finding love or a job, and through it all the bigger examination is: When is skateboarding just enough?

The same cast from Season 1, as well as “Skate Kitchen,” have returned, most of whom had not acted before, including Kabrina Adams, Dede Lovelace, Nina Moran, Rachelle Vinberg, and Ajani Russell. “Betty” is directed by Crystal Moselle; executive produced by Crystal Moselle,...

HBO has unveiled the official trailer for the second season of Betty, a series about an all-female skateboarding crew in New York City.

Following its six-episode first season in 2020, the Crystal Moselle-directed series — based on her 2018 film Skate Kitchen — further chronicles the adventures of Kirt (Nina Moran), Honeybear (Kabrina “Moonbear” Adams), Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), Janay (Dede Lovelace) and Indigo (Ajani Russell) in pandemic-era NYC.

The first episode of Season Two of Betty is available to watch now on HBO’s YouTube channel. The rest of the six-episode season will...

Hulu announced “Nine Perfect Strangers” will premiere on August 18 and be released weekly, while “Only Murders in the Building” will premiere on August 31 and be released weekly.

Based on the bestselling book by Liane Moriarty, “Nine Perfect Strangers” takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. Nine “stressed city dwellers” try to get on a path to a better way of living there over the course of 10 days (taking place over eight episodes).

“Nine Perfect Strangers” stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone and Manny Jacinto.

Director Jonathan Levine serves as an executive producer alongside Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Jodi Matterson for Made Up Stories; Kidman and Per Saari for Blossom Films; Moriarty, David E. Kelley, John Henry Butterworth, Molly Allen, Samantha Strauss and McCarthy. Co-showrunners Kelley and...

On paper, “Sweet Tooth” is a strange story. But the premise, combined with the visuals of the title character, is more than enough to pique the interest in folks looking for a strong mix of fantasy and post-apocalyptic drama.

Read More: ‘Betty’ Season Two Trailer: The Skate Kitchen Girls Return In June To HBO

As seen in the teaser trailer for “Sweet Tooth,” the new Netflix series produced by Robert Downey, Jr’s production company, Team Downey, follows the story of a young boy with antlers that has to travel through a post-apocalyptic world on a mission to find a home.

Continue reading ‘Sweet Tooth’ Trailer: Director Jim Mickle Brings The Acclaimed Fantasy Comic Book To Life For Netflix In June at The Playlist.

Based on creator Crystal Moselle’s 2018 Sundance hit “Skate Kitchen,” the spiritual spin-off series—which in a way restarted the film as a series with much of the same cast— will return to HBO for a second season this June. Still helmed and created by Moselle, “Betty” follows five young women on journeys of self-discovery against the backdrop of New York City’s male-dominated skateboarding scene. “Betty” will also be available to stream on HBO Max this year.

Continue reading ‘Betty’ Season Two Trailer: The Skate Kitchen Girls Return In June To HBO at The Playlist.

Exclusive: CAA has signed director, producer and writer Matthew Perniciaro.

Perniciaro’s five-part docuseries directorial debut Moment of Truth, for Amazon Studios/IMDb TV, debuted April 2 and tells the never-before-seen story behind the murder of beloved husband and father of Michael Jordan, James Jordan, as well as the history of social injustice in Robeson County, Nc, where two teenagers, Larry Demery and Daniel Green, were charged and convicted of the crime. He previously directed the shortform documentary series Marvel’s Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet featuring writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Perniciaro co-founded Bow and Arrow Entertainment in 2014 with Michael Sherman to produce artist-driven narrative and documentary feature films.

The company recently produced the critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentaries The Flight for Magnolia/Hulu, The Truffle Hunters for Sony Pictures Classics, and Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen for Netflix. Other previously produced films include: Crystal Moselle’s Skate Kitchen, Josephine Decker’s Madeline’s Madeline,...

A relative newcomer to the world of international filmmaking, Shabier Kirchner, 33, vaulted ahead of more celebrated cinematographers when the New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association recently named his work on Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series the year’s best cinematography.

A native of Antigua who is mostly self-taught, Kirchner had filmed several shorts and indie features, including Skate Kitchen, (2018), about teen girl skateboarders, when he received a call from Sean Bobbitt, McQueen’s usual cinematographer who’d worked with the director on such films as Hunger and 12 Years a Slave. Bobbitt wanted to meet ...

A relative newcomer to the world of international filmmaking, Shabier Kirchner, 33, vaulted ahead of more celebrated cinematographers when the New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association recently named his work on Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series the year’s best cinematography.

A native of Antigua who is mostly self-taught, Kirchner had filmed several shorts and indie features, including Skate Kitchen, (2018), about teen girl skateboarders, when he received a call from Sean Bobbitt, McQueen’s usual cinematographer who’d worked with the director on such films as Hunger and 12 Years a Slave. Bobbitt wanted to meet ...

The past decade has seen a massive shift in representation for LGBTQ characters and stories in Hollywood. Gone are the days — and good riddance — when you could count on one hand the number of queer movies or TV shows. These days, it would be unusual for a TV show not not have a queer character, or for a major indie studio to not release at least one queer film. It wasn’t so long ago that LGBTQ viewers had no choice but to rally around “Will & Grace” or “The L Word,” clinging to the few shreds of representation we had. Nowadays, LGBTQ characters abound across genre, studio size, or type of project, with only major blockbusters lagging behind..

But with such an embarrassment of riches, it’s important to single out the projects truly get it. We’re finally approaching a point where queer audiences can afford to be choosy,...

While this year's Sundance Film Festival will be experienced differently in the era of Covid-19 (with virtual screenings taking place online and in-person screenings taking place with safety precautions in select theaters across the country), the cinema celebration will continue to highlight vital, impactful, and innovative creators behind and in front of the camera, with more than 70 feature films included in the festival's full lineup.

We've highlighted some of the genre films horror fans can look forward to from the official press release below. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for our upcoming coverage of the festival (taking place January 28th–February 3rd), and visit Sundance's website for more details.

World Cinema Dramatic Competition

The Dog Who Wouldn't Be Quiet / Argentina — Sebastian, a man in his thirties, works a series of temporary jobs and he embraces love at every opportunity. He transforms, through a series of short encounters, as the world flirts with possible apocalypse.

Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock,” one of five movies in the director’s “Small Axe” anthology on Amazon, is a dreamy, sensual fantasia of a film, a 68-minute evocation of one Saturday night at a dance party in 1980 London. The story follows Martha (newcomer Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn) as she sneaks out from her family home to attend “Blues Night” at a house in London’s West Indies community that’s been transformed into one big reggae dance floor.

In the peak scene, she dances with a young man she’s met (Micheal Ward) to the rhythm of Janet Kay’s silky “Silly Games.” And when the music stops, the crowd keeps singing, entranced by the fevered bliss of the song.

McQueen has focused on the Black experience in all of the “Small Axe” films. Several of them depict real events: “Mangrove” is a courtroom drama and “Red, White and Blue...

Four top film composers will reveal the secrets behind their crafts when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Btl Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Wednesday, December 9, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Joyce Eng and a group chat with Joyce and all of the composers together.

RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 Oscar contenders:

“Herself” (Amazon Prime): Natalie Holt

Holt was nominated at the Emmys for “Victoria.” Other projects have included “Beecham House,” “Knightfall,” “Journey’s End,...

If you’ve seen “Hunger,” “Shame,” or his Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave,” you know that director Steve McQueen has a singular gift for plunging viewers into his characters’ central nervous systems, even when they’re undergoing sensations you’d just as soon avoid. With “Lovers Rock,” one of five segments in his upcoming miniseries “Small Axe,” that gift is used for delight. It’s a great kick-off for this year’s New York Film Festival, where “Lovers Rock” will be the opening-night film.

A “one wild night” movie akin to “Dazed and Confused” or “American Graffiti,” “Lovers Rock” takes us to a West Indian “Blues party” in 1979 London. As with any such gathering of young people to flirt, dance, and listen to music, there are friendships and rivalries, intra-community and intra-family squabbles and alliances, the promise of love and the threat of violence.

Specifically, for 2020 pandemic audiences, there is...

Maggie Betts (Novitiate) to direct from screenplay by Olivia Hetreed (Girl With The Pearl Earring).

UK-based Maven Screen Media, screenwriter Olivia Hetreed and director Maggie Betts are developing a dramatic thriller about the pro-choice pioneer and activist Rebecca Gomperts.

Maven’s Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler will produce the timely feature alongside Thomas Benski of Pulse Films, Teddy Leifer of Rise Films, and James Ferrari.

Maven reunites with Betts, whose Novitiate premiered at Sundance 2017, and continues to forge ahead with the company’s mandate to increase representation of women behind and in front of the camera.

The film will tell the true story of Gomperts,...

Maggie Betts (Novitiate) to direct from screenplay by Olivia Hetreed (Girl With The Pearl Earring).

UK-based Maven Screen Media, screenwriter Olivia Hetreed and director Maggie Betts are developing a dramatic thriller about the pro-choice pioneer and activist Rebecca Gomperts.

Maven’s Celine Rattray and Trudie will produce the timely feature alongside Thomas Benski of Pulse Films, Teddy Leifer of Rise Films, and James Ferrari.

Maven reunites with Betts, whose Novitiate premiered at Sundance 2017, and continues to forge ahead with the company’s mandate to increase representation of women behind and in front of the camera.

The film will tell the true story of Gomperts,...