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At the outset of 1993, there wasn't a more bankable movie star than Kevin Costner. Dating back to Brian De Palma's "The Untouchables" in 1987, Costner had starred in at least one blockbuster every year. He possessed an earnestness and practical facility that recalled Gary Cooper, but he could place a sexy, ornery spin on the ball if need be (particularly as minor league catcher Crash Davis in Ron Shelton's masterful "Bull Durham"). He was such a winning presence onscreen and as a Hollywood concept in general that his Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences peers enthusiastically declared his "Dances with Wolves" the Best Picture of 1990 over Martin Scorsese's undeniable "Goodfellas." He also snagged the Best Director trophy, which felt like a statement of principle from the Oscars: let's make movies big and sweeping and morally upright again.

After the success of "The Bodyguard" in the fall of 1992, Costner had it all,...

Michael Cole, who most famously starred in “The Mod Squad,” died Tuesday at age 84, TheWrap has learned.

In a statement to media, representatives for Cole said the actor died “peacefully this morning, surrounded by loved ones, after living a full and vibrant life.”

Cole played Pete Cochran, one of the three young cops on “The Mod Squad.” Cole starred alongside Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton as one of the three delinquents-turned-undercover cops. The show ran from 1968 to 1973 and was heralded for tackling the contemporary issues of the time like illegal drugs, racism, police brutality and the Vietnam War.

He also appeared on 64 episodes of “General Hospital” and in shows like “Murder, She Wrote,” “Fantasy Island,” “The Love Boat” and as Henry Bowers in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s “It.”

Roles later in his career included episodes of “7th Heaven” and “ER,” as well as movies like “Nickel Mountain” and “Mr. Brooks.

Michael Cole, who starred as Pete Cochran on the hit counterculture drama Mod Squad and later played Harlan Barrett on General Hospital during a 50-year acting career, has died. He was 84.

His reps at Bmf announced the news, but did not provide details.

Born July 3, 1940 in Madison Wi, Cole was one of the three young hippies-turned-cops alongside Julie (Peggy Lipton) and Link (Clarence Williams III) in Mod Squad, which debuted in September 1968 on ABC. “One White, One Black, One Blonde” read the promo materials for the series, which was aimed at a youthful audience during a turbulent time. The trio was given a choice: fight crime or be sent to jail themselves. They chose the former, under the tutelage of Capt. Adam Greer (Tige Andrews).

Executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas, Mod Squad tapped into the zeitgeist of the late ’60s, portraying a positive image for the counterculture...

Michael Cole, who played Pete Cochran, one of the three hip young cops on “The Mod Squad,” died Tuesday. He was 84.

Cole’s reps said he died “peacefully this morning, surrounded by loved ones, after living a full and vibrant life.”

Born on July 3, 1940, in Madison, Wisc., Cole guested on shows like “Gunsmoke” before breaking through on “The Mod Squad.” The ABC series aired from 1968 to 1973, co-starring Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III. Cole’s character Pete Cochran had been a troubled son of wealthy Beverly Hills parents, who found redemption through his work as an undercover officer on the squad. The show often tackled contemporary social issues including abortion, domestic violence and police brutality.

“Mod Squad” marked one of the first reflections of a changing mid-century culture on television, with Cole as a delinquent, Lipton as a runaway from her prostitute mother’s home and Williams as a man...

Michael Cole, who portrayed Pete Cochran, one of the three young undercover cops that made up The Mod Squad on the 1968-73 ABC series, died Tuesday. He was 84.

Cole died at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, publicist Rachel Harris announced. No cause of death was revealed.

Produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas, The Mod Squad also starred Peggy Lipton as flower girl Julie Barnes (a vagrant who had fled her prostitute mother) and Clarence Williams III as Lincoln Hayes (arrested during the Watts riots). Pete, meanwhile, was a rich kid who had been booted from his parents’ home after being caught stealing and racing a car.

To avoid jail time, the three agreed to become cops under the guidance of Captain Adam Greer (Tige Andrews). The tagline for the hit series was “One white, one black, one blonde.” (Cole titled his 2018 memoir I Played the White Guy.)

The Mod Squad...

Kevin Costner's film career spans over 50 movies, showcasing his versatility in both Western and non-Western genres. Costner's underrated films, like Mr. Brooks and The Company Men, deserve more appreciation and a critical reassessment. Despite some failures, such as The Postman and 3000 Miles to Graceland, Costner's acting talent remains a highlight in each film.

Kevin Costner has had a vast film career with many significant hits and several underrated films that deserve more love. Appearing in over 50 films, Kevin Costner is best known for his Western movies, though he has dabbled in many genres throughout his career. The actor's first role was in the 1981 film Malibu Hot Summer. Costner, who has been acting for over 40 years, has become a significant Hollywood celebrity over the past four decades, starring in both television and film.

Apart from film, Costner also had a country music and sporting career, the latter giving Kevin...

I think part of our collective fascination with serial killers comes from an empathetic desire to uncover exactly what needs to go wrong for a human being to snap and turn into a murderer. That’s why it makes sense that this form of morbid curiosity lies at the heart of so many successful horror stories, with countless genre filmmakers trying their best to explore the minds of predators.

And in honor of M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller expertly allowing us to see through the eyes of a cold-blooded murderer, we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six other serial killer movies told from the killer’s perspective. After all, there are plenty of interesting cinematic killers out there, and not all of them are as charming as Josh Hartnett in Trap.

As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own murderous favorites if...

Not many fans are aware of the treacherous ongoing behind the curtains of Hollywood’s glamorous lifestyle. But the little that does get out becomes colored by rumors, allegations, and whatnot to make the news of the hour seem more saucy. Kevin Costner, for one, has been the hottest topic around for the past year following his exit from Yellowstone, the biggest TV show of the modern era.

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone [Credit: Paramount Network]With Academy Award-nominated writer-director Taylor Sheridan at the fulcrum of Paramount’s largest haul of creative outflow, Costner enjoyed seven whole years of resurrected glory that seems accessible to only a rare handful of A-listers from the ’80s and ’90s. But even with all the bells and whistles that come with being the star of Yellowstone, there were a few shortcomings on Sheridan’s part that seemed too risky to ignore.

Kevin Costner Shields Demi Moore...

The legacy of Kevin Costner cannot be refuted, despite his insistence on staying on the margins of celebrity worship and fame. The actorʼs familiarity with the world of Westerns and his obsession with it runs in his veins. And given his early rise to the higher rungs of Hollywood, Costner had earned his right to ask for roles that allowed him to explore the genre he loved more than the ones that were assigned to him by studio executives.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]The latter years of his career have demonstrated a lower percentage of Costner in films but Taylor Sheridan made sure to resurrect him from the dirges of the ʼ80s and ʼ90s. Sheridanʼs Yellowstone universe rectified that which had been lost by reinstating Kevin Costner to the frontlines of television. Now, the fans reflect on a time that cast him into one...

All dads are not created equal. Some offer unconditional love, some take a firm-but-fair approach, some are rolling stones, some are actual Rolling Stones, and some are The Great Santini. It's a cosmic crap shoot as to which kind of paterfamilias you wind up with, and even an ideal upbringing can morph into a contentious relationship over time. Life, and human beings, are weird that way.

This is why there is no shortage of fiction dealing with dads. We're especially flush with tales centered on the always tricky father-son dynamic. Whole civilizations have come and gone, but dudes have always been hung up for one reason or another on their pops. And over the past 40 years, no actor has been more closely associated with the dramatic exploration of this occasionally fraught kinship than Kevin Costner.

Indeed, the first film that comes to mind for many when they rattle off their...

International media consultant and producer Thomas Augsberger died suddenly on Tuesday at his home in the Hollywood Hills, his publicist informed Variety. He was 60.

The German-born and trained attorney was founder of film and television production company and media consulting business Eden Rock Media. Augsberger’s high profile media clients included Germany’s Leonine Studios. Prior to Leonine, Augsberger served for more than two decades as an advisor to the Tele Muenchen Group (Tmg) as their exclusive North American representative in the U.S. During this time he oversaw Tmg investments in the U.S., including a preferred equity investment in Lionsgate Entertainment in 1999 and the acquisition of the Mutual Film Library in 2006.

Over his 26-year consulting career, Augsberger acquired hundreds of projects as pre-buys including Marvel’s Iron Man franchise, Voltage’s Oscar winner “The Hurt Locker,” Paramount’s “Shutter Island,” Summit’s Twilight franchise, Lionsgate’s John Wick franchise,...

Kevin Costner is taking a massive risk with his Western epic film, Horizon: An American Saga, by personally financing and contributing his own money to the production. Costner has a history of self-financing movies, but most of those projects have flopped, with only a few exceptions such as Dances with Wolves and The Bodyguard. Horizon is Costner's biggest self-financing gamble yet, with a reported budget of $100 million and him mortgaging his California home to cover costs. Despite the financial risk, Costner is passionate about the project and believes in its story.

For the 15th time in 33 years, Kevin Costner repeats his now-signature multi-million dollar gamble by pouring his own money into Horizon: An American Saga. Kevin Costner's Western epic is taking a massive release strategy risk, as Horizon is set to be one of the biggest theatrical events of 2024, with the huge undertaking releasing two parts. Not to mention, Costner...

The Menu’s release on November 18, 2022, has garnered positive reviews, with critics highlighting the comedic work of Ralph Fiennes, Aya Taylor-Joy, and Nicholas Hoult – all of whom are known for their dramatic acting prowess. On the flip side, there have been many comedic actors who have ventured into drama but haven’t gotten the best results.

Redditors have pointed out performances like Vince Vaughn’s in True Detective and Dane Cook’s in Mr. Brooks to be missing that vital element needed to be considered a success. Since these Redditors have given reasons for why they feel this way, it’s worth taking a deeper look to analyze why the comedic actors didn’t taste success in particular drama roles.

Nick Kroll – Don't Worry Darling (2022)

Redditor BinghamptonREVIVAL wasn’t too big on Don’t Worry Darling anyway and doubled down by writing that “Everything else [Nick Kroll] does is roougggh to get through.

William Hurt, the Oscar-winning actor who starred in films like Body Heat, The Big Chill and Broadcast News, has died at the age of 71.

Hurt’s son Will confirmed his father’s death in a statement Sunday. “It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday,” the family said. “He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time.

A three-time nominee for Best Actor at the Academy Awards,...

William Hurt, an Oscar winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman who often played a quiet intellectual in his early acting roles but later took more strident turns in science fiction and Marvel films, died today, a week before his 72nd birthday.

William Hurt’s son, Will, posted today that his father has died. It was announced in May 2018 that the elder Hurt had terminal prostate cancer that had spread to the bone.

William Hurt Remembered As A Giant Talent By His Peers In The Acting Community

“It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday,” his son wrote. “He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time.”

Hurt had three consecutive Best Actor Academy Award nominations in the mid-1980s for Kiss of the Spider Woman...

Los Angeles-based producer Thomas Augsberger is launching Erm Docs, a new documentary division at his Eden Rock Music label whose first title, “Reinventing Mirazur,” will world premiere at the San Sebastian Festival.

A portrait of the extraordinary daring of Argentine-born chef Mauro Colagreco whose three Michelin star restaurant, Mirazur, on France’s Mediterranean coast, was awarded Best Restaurant in the World, “Reinventing Miramar” marks the latest title from French filmmakers Frank Ribière and Vérane Frediani. Prominent producers on France and Spain’s genre scene, they have opened up a parallel second career as director-writers of high-quality culinary doc-features of substance with titles such as Netflix’s “Steak Revolution” and “A la Récherche des femmes chefs.”

Also in the pipeline at Erm Docs is “Bonnie,” a portrait of famed casting agent Bonnie Timmermann directed by Simon Wallon and produced with Amanda Sthers; and “Form Doc,” about the Form Arcosanti Film & Arts...

One is immediately struck by the simplicity of Let Him Go. Following the untimely death of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) watch in horror as their daughter-in-law (Kayli Carter) marries into the Weboy Family, their grandson in tow. The Weboys are an unruly sort, holding power over all of those inside and outside of the law around the border of Montana and North Dakota. Big mean fish in a small pond. Unswayed by the violence sure to come their way, George and Margaret set out to rescue their family from certain doom.

Written and directed by Thomas Bezucha and based on the Larry Watson novel of the same name, this is storytelling that recalls westerns from decades long past. And how fitting to cast Costner in the lead role, an aging movie star who uniquely represents Hollywood’s past, present, and future.

Exclusive: Deadline has learned that Voltage Pictures has hired Robin Jonas as Production Executive and Producer. She starts in the position immediately. Jonas joins Voltage at a time when the company has two prolific movies on the horizon: the action-drama Ava starring Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, John Malkovich and Geena Davis and After We Collided, the upcoming sequel to last year’s indie Ya global hit After (near $70M WW box office).

Jonas counts 25 years as a multi-faceted senior entertainment and media executive. She was an executive consultant for The Weinstein Company where she worked on The King’s Speech, The Artist, The Intouchables and Django Unchained. She was also a consultant on Open Road’s Academy Award-winning Best Picture Spotlight and a producer on Lionsgate’s Golden Globe-nominated series Graves. She oversaw the marketing for Paramount’s Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and production for Neil Young...

Lars von Trier seems confused. On the one hand, one may argue that the director’s latest film, “The House That Jack Built,” is unrelentingly misogynistic: After all, of the five “incidents” Jack (Matt Dillon) describes to Virgil (Bruno Ganz), or “Verge” as Jack calls him, four are the torture and murders of women.

On the other hand, Jack — who might be a fictionalization of von Trier himself — is not very bright. Nor is he as “charming” the way some serial killers have been described. Nor is he, nor the film for that matter, memorable in any way. “The House Jack Built” feels slightly gratuitous, at times trying to be artistic while simultaneously begging for people to love it, or to love von Trier, pretty pretty please.

The film opens to pitch black with a conversation between Jack and Verge, assuming a journey of sorts during which Jack not so...

In our latest Horror Highlights, we have a new clip from the Wolf Creek series, details on Hdnet Movies' horror movie marathon, and a Q&A with Buz Hasson about The Living Corpse: Relics Kickstarter.

Hdnet Movies Horror Marathon: Los Angeles – October 10, 2016 – Trick or Treat with Hdnet Movies this October, as the network presents a three-day Halloween Weekend block, featuring 16 sci-fi, suspense, and slasher classics. The special event begins on Saturday, Oct. 29, and runs through Monday, Oct. 31.

The thrills and chills kickoff with an out-of-this-world “Sci-Fi Saturday” on Saturday, Oct. 29, starting with Nathan Fillion as the captain of a spaceship harboring a mysterious stowaway in the 2005 Joss Whedon adventure Serenity at 7pE. Next up is Henry Thomas as a young boy who befriends a stranded alien in the Stephen Spielberg opus E.T., with Dee Wallace and Drew Barrymore, at 9pE; and Bruce Willis travels back in time to save the...

Being sealed off from society for hundreds of days can cause serious strains on the psyche, as evidenced in SyFy Films' 400 Days. With the new sci-fi thriller hitting theaters and VOD today, we caught up with writer/director Matt Osterman for our latest Q&A feature to discuss Dane Cook's improv on set, the influence of The Twilight Zone, and much more.

Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us, Matt. When did you first come up with the idea for 400 Days?

Matt Osterman: There was this amazing experiment in Russia a few years back called Mars500, where six astronauts went into a fake spaceship for 520 days (crazy, right?). They had a great online presence (posting videos, photos, etc.) and I was hooked. After the mission was over and they got out with their sanity supposedly still intact, I decided to take that idea and...

Happy New Year, Daily Dead-ites! To kick off the new year, we have details on the L.A. screening of 400 Days as well as information on how to win tickets to the event. Also in this round-up: a trailer for Mr. Lockjaw, details on Cavity Colors' Terror 2016 shirt, and a poster for Bubba the Redneck Werewolf.

400 Days L.A. Screening Prize Details: (2) Winners will receive (2) tickets to the 7:30 pm Pst screening of 400 Days at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, January 8th.

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email [email protected] with the subject “400 Days Contest”. Be sure to include your name, guest's name, and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01 am Est on Thursday, January 7th. This contest is only open to those who are 21 years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

In terms of VOD offerings, 2016 is off to a quiet but stellar start as the genre titles arriving in January include a handful of noteworthy indie horror films that should help ease the post-holiday doldrums.

Two movies I enjoyed during the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival—The Abandoned and Intruders—are both making their VOD debuts this month and Synchronicity, the neo-noir sci-fi thriller from Magnet Releasing, also arrives on January 22nd. The animated horror comedy Hell and Back is also coming to VOD this month and the new distro shingle SyFy Films is releasing 400 Days this January as well.

Condemned (Rlj Entertainment) – January 5th

In Condemned, fed up with her parents’ bickering, poor-little-rich-girl Maya (Dylan Penn) moves in with her boyfriend who is squatting in an old, condemned building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. With neighbors that are meth heads, junkies and degenerates, this depraved hell hole is even...

As a means of contributing more awesome cat photos to the "Interwebs", the makers of Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse created a website dedicated to zombifying your feline friend. Also: a clip from Scouts Guide, Jack's Back Blu-ray details, Unotld comic details, a 400 Days trailer, Howl release details, and Indigenous stills.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse: "Zombify Your Cat allows you to transform little Fluffy into a terrifyingly hungry undead creation.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is available now on Digital HD and On Demand, and will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/5.

Three scouts and lifelong friends join forces with one badass cocktail waitress to become the world’s most unlikely team of heroes. When their peaceful town is ravaged by a zombie invasion, they’ll fight for the badge of a lifetime and put their scouting skills to the test to save mankind from the undead.

400 Days is a new sci-fi horror film from New Artists Alliance. The first trailer for the film debuted on Quiet Earth, recently and it can be found here, as well. The clip shows a psychological experiment taking place deep below ground. Events take a surreal turn after an injection and a trip to the surface. 400 Days stars Dane Cook (Mr. Brooks), Caity Lotz (The Pact) and Grant Bowler. To be released in early 2016, more details on the film are hosted here. For more on the story, four astronauts are brought into a simulated mission. Their goal is to reach a distant planet, through this altered reality. They will be locked away for 400 days and the cramped compartments and repetitive scenarios begin to have an effect on the astronauts' minds. However, this mission might actually be real, with the astronauts deceived about their real purpose and mission goals. Psychological experiments can often involve medications.

Stars: Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Sean Combs, Frank Langella, Sam Elliot, Rosanna Arquette, Terry Crews, Tom Welling, Ellen Burstyn | Written by Scott Rothman, Rajiv Joseph | Directed by Ivan Reitman

Ok, so it’s fair to say I’m not a sports guy. I hated playing sports in high school, I don’t watch sports on TV (well apart from the odd Superbowl on Channel 4 back when I was a teenager) and I certainly would never choose to watch sports over a movie. But what about sports movies? I’m a sucker for them! Of course it helped that I had a parent who loved the feel-good underdog stories that many a sports flick was essentially built around. Thanks to my mum I grew up watching sports movies such as Major League, Lucas, Field of Dreams, Hoosiers, The Mighty Ducks and many more…

But in recent years it...

The mid-2000s were some pretty damn good years for Dane Cook. In '06, the Comedy Central alum's Retaliation became the bestselling comedy album in 28 years, going platinum; Rolling Stone named him Hot Comic of the Year. Cook was the comic messiah of frat boys. Then in late '07—the same year Cook became the second comedian ever to sell out at Madison Square Garden—the tides began to turn against him, as they often do. Of course, Cook always had detractors—but at some point, the loathing reached critical mass, tipping the scales of public consensus. Dane Cook-fatigue set in.

Planes’ world famous air racer (and former small-town crop-dusting plane), Dusty Crophopper, is back in his own sequel, Planes: Fire & Rescue. This time Dusty shifts gears and joins an aerial firefighting unit after learning that his engine is damaged, resulting in the end of his racing career.

Planes: Fire & Rescue stars Ed Harris, who will also be in theatres in this month’s Snowpiercer, Jerry Stiller(“Seinfeld”), Dane Cook (Mr. Brooks), and Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”). It will be released July 18, 2014.

Cineplex has an exclusive clip from the film, where Dusty and his fellow firefighters prepare for battle against a wildfire – all to the tune of “Thunderstuck” by AC/DC. Check out the clip below!

Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage is back again for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We will feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world, and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.

Isa of the Day Sam Blan is an Executive at the Los Angeles based Inception Film Partners. His intercultural perspective, worldviews and devotion to exploring new ways of reaching and understanding audiences through new platforms and technology makes him an asset and a shining example of where the new generation of the film industry is going. Beyond the ins and outs of business and numbers, Sam understands the importance of positivity and community in the film business. He connects his career and drive to the greater picture of the world, and sees film as a tool of understanding that can heal on the global scale and transform cultural barriers.

Sam shares more about his partners, Cannes and his inspiration:

Who makes up Inception?

The company is only made up of the people who work for it everyday. Inception Media Group is a parent company operated by partners David Borshell and Andy Reimer. I work most closely with Evp of sales and distribution, Jim Harvey, who has been in sales for over twenty-one years, and has worked for companies such as Myriad, Lakeshore, Bold and Summit. He has sold movies like Drive with Ryan Gosling, Rabbit Hole with Nicole Kidman, and Mr. Brooks with Kevin Costner.

I speak fluent Arabic, so having language skills is highly useful in our work. What really makes us different is that we don't just go to festivals. We'll go to consumer electronic shows, licensing expos; we're always thinking outside of the box of not just how to create content, but also how the content is being consumed. How is it being bought, and more importantly, what are the trends facing the future? That's the difference from many other companies. We'll go the extra mile to look at something to understand who is the audience and how they'll be reached.

What does Inception have at Cannes this year?

We have a big animation film called Almost Heroes 3D with Taylor Kitsch, James Woods, Jon Heder, Jennette McCurdy and Carla Gugino (and many others) at the market. We're bringing two new pre-sellable films called Sexy Criminals, and 1001 Bullets. As far as newer acquisitions, we have a hilarious film called May the Best Man Win, which came out of SXSW. It will be released theatrically in the United States. We have another film called VANish, with Maiara Walsh and Danny Trejo, that's in a similar vein to Reservoir Dogs meets Buried (See Inception's full Cannes lineup below).

How are sales this year?

So far, so good. I was part of a company called Strategic Film Partners for two and a half years and then Inception Media Group bought it and turned into Inception Film Partners. With the titles that we acquired like Almost Heroes and Barefoot (acquired from Wme), we're definitely in a solid place. We're growing and getting more and more traction.

Who are your buyers?

We deal with buyers from all around the world, but it just depends. It doesn't really matter as far as trying to get access to the buyers, especially when you have a seasoned veteran like Jim on your team. It's a matter of having the right content. We'll deal with everyone like Village Roadshow and BSkyB. We deal with all the major buyers including the studios, such as Sony (which we have done several deals with), mini-majors, and go all the way down to the smaller scale buyers.

We're obviously a newer entity, which comes with the trials and tribulations of any new company. We try to be as transparent as possible. In this business there's a lot of smoke and mirrors, and I'm upfront with what we're trying to create as a business. That's one of the things that we pride ourselves on; we're always going to be honest.

Our estimates are always a little more conservative, because we'd rather be as exact as possible. Window dressing estimates is rampant in our business, but a hard drama usually won't sell in Asia, for instance, so why put an inflated number? To get the movie or make it under false pretenses??? We tell people to make their film budget a little lower, and expect a number that's not going to necessarily be what they think. We want to be as pragmatic as possible. We normally over deliver on expectations because we started from a base that was realistic. Jim consistently exceeds those expectations.

Where does your drive come from and where do you see yourself going?

It beats going to law school, number one! I did really well on my Lsats, and much to my father's chagrin, I said I'm going to Hollywood. Aside from winning young author competitions and being in theater, I really knew nothing about the industry. Furthermore, I was watching television one day when I was 23 years old, and I just didn't like what I was watching. I thought to myself, "I can do so much better than that, and I think it's one of those things where we can't allow mediocrity to be the norm. "

Unfortunately, there's a lot of it in this industry. I'm as guilty of it as anyone else...working with things that are not to the standard of what we'd like to have out there, but I want to learn and grow as much as possible. I’m an autodidact, and will always be. I love and enjoy entertainment. I just want to share it, because storytelling is the conduit of life in our civilization.

One of my favorite quotes, from Martin Scorsese, is "Now more than ever, we need to talk to each other, to listen to each other and understand how we see the world, and cinema is the best medium for doing this." This quote always gets me, because cinema can transcend boundaries. I'm of Palestinian descent. I speak Arabic, and I travel to the Middle East and all around the world. I'm an interculturalist, and to be able to understand different cultures and use cinema to bridge those gaps is a phenomenal gift. I want to bridge the gap between the east and west and bring meaningful cinema to the world. In order to do that, you have to raise the bar for yourself and for everybody else.

Are there popular films that actually transcend cultural barriers?

At the end of the day, you have to look at one of the best selling genres: family, because it covers the universal themes: happiness, love and the importance of relationships with kith and kin. We all smile in the same language. Other genres such as action work as well. The Hunger Games worked worldwide. I've been a big comic book nerd my whole life, and I think a lot of those stories transcend really well. They come with universal themes. For example, when you talk about Iron Man, it's not just about a guy in a metal suit. It's about a guy who tries to use his power for good to advance the human race. Just look at someone who I admire, Elon Musk, as a real life example of who director Jon Favreau wanted to portray. Although, Marvel’s Iron Man was around way before Elon came on the scene. There are examples like this throughout our movie history. It's the same thing with Spiderman; a normal guy becomes a superhero, and most people can relate to that.

One of the best selling intellectual properties in the Middle East right now is actually about regular people becoming superheroes, and we had a similar show in the USA called Heroes. Everybody around the world can relate to stories when shared through the lens of the heroic journey. When you make it relatable to audiences, they buy tickets and jump on board.

I'm also excited for a lot of films coming out of the Middle East. Look at Omar that was up for the best foreign film in the Oscars. This film helped to explore the political discourse of Palestine and Israel.

Do you have any comments on the film business and its greater community and culture?

Let's help each other out. Every company is obviously in competition, but when I see someone create a good film or something else that's really awesome, I don't get envious of it. I applaud it. It's only good for the industry. When people create good content, it's good for everyone. A lot of people in the industry tear each other down and I think its Bs. It's high time that we all help each other out and rise together. That's what I hope to do in my career. I want to inspire people in my field. I want them to inspire me, and I think it needs to happen more.

Inception Film Partners' Cannes Lineup:

Almost Heroes 3D

Making the Best Man Win

Breaking the Rules

Vanish

Sexy Criminals

1001 Bullets

Barefoot

G.B.F.

More about Inception Film Partners:

Inception Film Partners is a worldwide motion picture and content sales, representation, distribution, finance and production company which has been in operation since 2004.

Ifp has experienced explosive growth in its eight years of operation, having distributed a tremendous number of pictures through major studios, TV networks and other independent distributors--both domestically and internationally.

Studios and other domestic and international distributors have come to rely on Ifp's steady flow of product to help fulfill their demanding release schedules. Through representing filmmakers and their films as well as producing their own content, Ifp has been able to provide a steady flow of pictures that consistently and repeatedly find their way onto the tops of industry sales charts. In addition to maintaining a core focus in global feature film distribution and production, Ifp is rapidly expanding to other areas including transmedia and branded entertainment.

It’s been some time since the heyday of Kevin Costner’s prime. I’m talking about those sweet years between 1987 (The Untouchables) and 1994 (Wyatt Earp), when he was a regular box office draw, an award-winning director, and the president of sports movies. It’s not that he disappeared exactly. In fact, Costner’s been remarkably consistent in appearing in almost a movie a year. It’s more that the quality and profile of those films has diminished, and him a bit too in the process. There have been exceptions of course – Thirteen Days, Open Range, The Upside of Anger, TV’s Hatfields & McCoys. But a look at his projects between 2006 and 2013 – The Guardian, Mr. Brooks, Swing Vote, The New Daughter, The Company Men &ndash...

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The apex of Kevin Costner’s long, iconic career came in the form of his monumentally successful 1990 Western epic Dances With Wolves, which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. For many, the actor-director’s downturn started with 1995′s Waterworld followed by apocalyptic-mailman debacle The Postman.

The truth, of course, is that Kevin Costner never really stopped working, but never quite re-captured his post-Dances With Wolves level of stardom. The past half-decade or so has seen a period of rehabilitation for the actor’s career, arguably beginning with his surprisingly arresting turn as a serial killer in Mr. Brooks, along with his role as a mentor figure for Ben Affleck’s bitter, laid-off corporate drone in The Company Men. Then came his killer role in The History Channel’s surprise hit mini-series Hatfields & ...

Click to continue reading ‘Draft Day’ Trailer & Poster: Kevin Costner Versus the...

Catch the pleasing first trailer as well as the poster for 50 to 1 starring Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane and William Devane. This is the story about a misfit group of New Mexico cowboys who find themselves on the journey of a lifetime when their crooked-footed racehorse called Mine That Bird qualifies for the Kentucky Derby. The cowboys face a series of mishaps on their way to Churchill Downs, becoming the ultimate underdogs in a final showdown with the world’s racing elite. It's not Seabiscuit, or Disney's Secretariat, as well, it doesn't have the budget, nor is it as serious, but looks to be more lighthearted and fun. Jim Wilson, producer of various Kevin Costner films like Swing Vote, Mr. Brooks, The Postman, Wyatt Earp, The Bodyguard and Dances with Wolves, directs from a script he wrote with Faith Conroy.

Mine That Bird, the underdog racehorse that won the 2009 Kentucky Derby, is the focus of a new Hollywood film 50 To 1 that opens in theaters March 21, 2014.

The news was announced by 50 To 1 director, producer, co-writer and racehorse owner Jim Wilson (Oscar-winning producer of “Dances With Wolves”).

Skeet Ulrich (Jericho, “Scream,” “As Good As It Gets”), Christian Kane (Leverage), William Devane (24, “The Dark Knight Rises”), Todd Lowe (True Blood, Gilmore Girls) and newcomer Madelyn Deutch star in the film alongside real-life jockey Calvin Borel, who plays himself in the picture. Faith Conroy co-wrote the script with Wilson.

(via Christian Kane’s Facebook page)

The film, which is rooted in New Mexico and shot in over 30 locations throughout the state—from Santa Fe to Las Cruces—will kick off the theatrical release with the world premiere in Albuquerque at the historic KiMo Theatre on March 19th.

50 To 1 is about a misfit group of...

Many psycho killers in film and television are imposing, scary creeps that no one in their right mind would ever get into a car with, or even sit next to on public transit. But a psychopath of the more cunning variety will take you out to dinner and the opera before revealing his or her true motive and subsequently stabbing, strangling, bludgeoning, or carving you to death... and the funny thing is that you won’t even know what hit you. This rarer breed of maniac is all the more terrifying because there are often precious few warning signs... if any. They've learned to assimilate with modern society and blend into a crowd, or at the very least, avoid standing out. The following list represents some classic examples of this craftier brand of crazy. [Note: Big-time spoilers ahead] Norman Bates (Psycho, 1960) Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is such a nice boy. He'll make you a...

Here’s some really cool concept art for the comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post Really Cool Superman: Man of Steel Concept Art Discovered appeared first on Shockya.com.

Check out two brand new movie trailers for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported [ Read More ]

The post Two New TV Spots for Superman: Man of Steel Released appeared first on Shockya.com.

Watch the latest TV spot for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post Watch The Latest Superman: Man of Steel TV Spot appeared first on Shockya.com.

Here’s a brand new movie clip from the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years [ Read More ]

The post Badass New Clip from Superman: Man of Steel Released appeared first on Shockya.com.

On ABC News’ “Nightline” Thursday, the cast of “Man of Steel” opened up about taking on the Superman epic. The upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young [ Read More ]

The post Superman: Man of Steel Cast Interviewed on Nightline appeared first on Shockya.com.

Watch an extended featurette for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago to [ Read More ]

The post Watch The Superman: Man of Steel Extended Featurette appeared first on Shockya.com.

Here’s three new banners for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago to [ Read More ]

The post Three New Banners for Superman: Man of Steel Released appeared first on Shockya.com.

Watch a brand new clip from the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post New Clip from Superman: Man of Steel Featuring Lois Lane appeared first on Shockya.com.

Here’s the latest TV trailer for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post New Footage in the latest Superman: Man of Steel TV Spot appeared first on Shockya.com.

Watch a brand new featurette for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post Check Out A New Superman: Man of Steel Featurette appeared first on Shockya.com.

Kevin Costner’s career arc may be the great American story of redemption.

What began with a surge of notoriety and acclaim with titles like 1989′s “Field of Dreams” and continuing into the onset of the 1990′s with starring turns in flicks like “Dances with Wolves”, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, and “The Bodyguard”, Costner’s star was on the rise.

But what started as so-promising a career, quickly derailed in the mid-nineties with what may still be one of the biggest box-office bombs in Hollywood history. One that even now nearly twenty years later, is not easily forgotten.

The stains of 1995′s “Waterworld” still are hard to rinse away. That, and the opening scene of Costner drinking his own urine, apparently filtered through some type of “purification” system, left bad tastes in everyone’s mouth who bore witness to this maritime disaster.

“Waterworld” was an immediate stinker, and the...

Here’s a killer new UK movie trailer for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported [ Read More ]

The post New UK Trailer for Superman: Man of Steel appeared first on Shockya.com.

Watch a bunch of new TV spots for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported [ Read More ]

The post Bunch Of New TV Spots for Man of Steel Released appeared first on Shockya.com.

Here’s the latest TV spot for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post Another Awesome Man of Steel TV Spot Released appeared first on Shockya.com.

Watch the latest movie trailer for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago [ Read More ]

The post The Final Superman: Man of Steel Trailer Hits appeared first on Shockya.com.

Warner Bros. sent us this brand new trailer for the upcoming comic book movie “Superman: Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, 300) stars Henry Cavill (The Cold Light of Day, The Tudors), Amy Adams (The Muppets, On The Road), Russell Crowe (The Man with the Iron Fists, Robin Hood), Diane Lane (Secretariat, Jumper) and Kevin Costner (Django Unchained, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, Mr. Brooks). Synopsis: In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. [ Read More ]

The post Superman: Man of Steel “Fate of Your Planet” Trailer appeared first on Shockya.com.