25th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards Announced

The online 2015 NAACP Theatre Awards Show proudly announces its nominees for the awards honoring excellence in theatre:

Best Choreography – Equity

Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life – Maurice Hines
The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess – Ronald K. Brown
Kiss Me Kate – Jeffrey Polk

Best Choreography – Local
The Brothers Size – Ameenah Kaplan
The Magic Flute – Lungelo Ngamlana
Visionary Man – Ali North

Best Costumes – Equity
The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess – Emilio Sosa
Choir Boy – E.B. Brooks
Othello – Katherine Roth

Best Costumes – Local
Low Hanging Fruit – Wendell C. Carmichael
The Magic Flute – Leigh Bishop
Knock Me A Kiss – Naila Aladdin Sanders

Best Director – Equity
Stop Kiss – Seema Sueko
Choir Boy – Trip Cullman
The Tallest Tree in the Forest – Moises Kaufman

Best Director – Local
Sassy Mamas – Iona Morris
The Brothers Size – Shirley Jo Finney
Secrets – Wallace Demarria

Best Director of a Musical – Equity
The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess – Diane Paulus
Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life – Jeff Calhoun
Kiss me Kate – Sheldon Epps

Best Director of a Musical – Local
The Magic Flute – Mark Dornford-May
Visionary Man – Tom Coleman
The Gondoliers – Alison Eliel-Kalmus

Best Ensemble Cast – Equity
Stop Kiss
Flyin’ West
Othello

Best Ensemble Cast – Local
Sassy Mamas
The Brothers Size

Best Lead Female – Equity
Above The Fold – Taraji P. Henson
The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess – Alicia Hall Moran
Race – DeWanda Wise

Best Lead Female – Local
Knock Me a Kiss – Toyin Moses
Closely Related Keys – Diarra Kilpatrick
Going to St. Ives – Inger Tudor

Best Lead Male – Equity
Choir Boy – Jeremy Pope
The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess – Nathaniel Stampley
Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life – Maurice Hines

Best Lead Male – Local
Bus Stops – Leonard Thomas
Knock me a Kiss – Keir Thirus
The Whipping Man – Kirk Kellykahn

Best Lighting – Equity
The Tallest Tree in the Forest – David Lander
Above The Fold – Adam Blumenthal
Race – Josh Epstein

Best Lighting – Local
Low Hanging Fruit – Rebecca Raines
Bag Lady – Tom Meleck and Iona Morris
The Magic Flute – Mannie Manim

Best Music Director – Equity
Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life – Sherrie Maricle
Kiss Me Kate – Rahn Coleman
The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess – Dale Rieling

Best Music Director – Local
Visionary Man – Jeffrey Bonhiver
The Gondoliers – Leonardo Sciolis
The Magic Flute – Pauline Malefane & Mandisi Dyantyis

Best One Person Show – Equity
The Tallest Tree in the Forest – Daniel Beaty
Forever – Dael Orlandersmith
Paul Robeson – Keith David

Best One Person Show – Local
Bird Lives! – Montae Russell
The Devil and Billy Markham – Tony Winters
Bag Lady – Tammi Mac

Best Playwright – Equity
The Tallest Tree in the Forest – Daniel Beaty
Above The Fold – Bernard Weinraub
Stop Kiss – Diane Son

Best Playwright – Local
Sassy Mamas – Celeste Bedford Walker
Bag Lady – Tammi Mac
The Brothers Size – Tarell Alvin McCraney

Best Producer – Equity
Above The Fold – The Pasadena Playhouse
Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life – Willis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, Arena Stage, Alliance Theatre and Cleveland Play House
The Tallest Tree In The House – Center Theatre Group

Best Producer – Local
Bus Stops – Jaimyon Parker
Sassy Mamas – Vanessa Paul & Alex Morris
Bag Lady – Tammi Mac & Jackson Brown
Sassy Mamas – Vanessa Paul & Jeff Murray

Best Set Design – Equity
Choir Boy – David Zinn
Above the Fold – Jeffery P. Eisenmann
Flyin’ West – JR Bruce

Best Set Design – Local
The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel – Michael D. Ricks
Knock Me a Kiss – Tom Meleck

Best Sound – Equity
Othello – Acme Sound Partners with Jason Crystal
Choir Boy – Fritz Patton
Above the Fold – Cricket S. Meyers
Sumayya Ali

Best Supporting Female – Equity
Above the Fold – Kristy Johnson
The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess – Danielle Lee Greaves
Knock Me A Kiss – Ashlee Olivia

Best Supporting Female – Local
Closely Related Keys – Yvonne Huff
Knock Me A Kiss – Rosie Lee Hooks

Best Supporting Male – Equity
The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess – Kingsley Leggs
Choir Boy – Caleb Eberhardt
Choir Boy – Grantham Coleman
Bus Stops – Jaimyon Parker

Best Supporting Male – Local
The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel – Kyle Connor McDuffie
Closely Related Keys – Brent Jennings

About The NAACP Theatre Awards
The NAACP Theatre Awards is presented by the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Branch in partnership with the City of Los Angeles and co-chaired by Byron K. Reed, Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo-West Region Community Relations. The mission of the Theatre Awards is to entertain, educate, inspire the community and create diversity in the arts and entertainment industry. Ron Hasson is Branch President and Tia Boyd is the Executive Producer for the NAACP Theatre Awards Show. The prestigious star-studded gala is produced for the purpose of honoring thespians among the best in the field of entertainment. The branch also celebrates a four-day theatre festival, which provides a platform for thespians to express their craft and share their contributions with an audience of their peers, the community and other individuals who celebrate live theatre in Los Angeles.

'Concussion' Is A Hard-Hitting Football Drama

Will Smith

By Darlene Donloe

Concussion, which opened Christmas day, is one of those hard-hitting (pun intended) movies that lingers in the subconscious.

Whether it’s an indictment on the NFL, has an agenda or is just a well-crafted drama about the consequences of repeated head trauma while playing football, it all leads up to an inspiring, entertaining movie.

The film is based on Jeanne Marie Laskas’s 2009 article in GQ that tells the story of real-life forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu (played by Will Smith) as he investigates the early deaths of several former professional football players.  His research shows that many football players suffered from a brain condition caused by the game, and, not surprisingly, receives heavy pushback from the NFL.

During his research, Omalu found that “repetitive head trauma chokes the brain.”

Smith, who recently garnered a Golden Globe nod for his portrayal of Omalu, does some of his best work in Concussion. Although his Nigerian accent drops in and out, much like his character in Pursuit of Happyness, Smith delivers a quality performance with a bevy of emotions.  Smith plays Omalu as an eccentric genius who talks to dead people to find out how they died - much to the chagrin of one of his co-workers.

The story goes like this: While conducting an autopsy on former NFL football player Mike Webster (David Morse), forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) discovers neurological deterioration that is similar to Alzheimer's disease. He names the disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy and publishes his findings in a medical journal. As other athletes face the same diagnosis, the crusading doctor embarks on a mission to raise public awareness about the dangers of football-related head trauma.   Of course, the NFL is none too happy with the good doctor’s findings.

Intertwined in the film is a touching love story.  Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Omalu’s love interest. It’s a gentle, loving story that peels away at Omalu’s somewhat cold and sterile exterior.

Stellar performances all around. Morse is exceptional as Webster.  He doesn’t have a huge amount of screen time, however his time on screen is nonetheless pivotal.

Albert Brooks brings just the right amount of drama and levity. Alec Baldwin is solid as a former team doctor.

If the movie does nothing else, it makes you think. In some cases, it makes you think twice. In fact, after watching this cautionary tale, parents may think thrice about allowing their children to play organized football – and for good reason.

It stands to reason why the NFL would be up in arms about the film. However, when you think about the brain damage that can occur, one can’t help but wonder why more preventative procedures are not put into place to keep the athletes from harm. Never mind, we all know. It’s about the almighty $$$$$. Money talks.  In any industry there are always casualties of war.  However, in this case, it may be time to call the next play!

Concussion, directed by Peter Landesman, stars Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Morse, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Luke Wilson, Bitsie Tulloch, Arliss Howard, Stephen Moyer, Richard T. Jones, Mike O’Malley, Hill Harper, Paul Reiser and Eddie Marsan.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Concussion gets an E (excellent).

'The Hateful Eight' Opens Wide December 31

By Darlene Donloe

The Hateful Eight is in selected theaters now.  It opens wide on December 31, 2015.   Check out the clip below featuring Samuel L. Jackson as the sinister bounty hunter “Major Marquis Warren.” 

The Hateful Eight (The Weinstein Company) written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Channing Tatum, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen,  James Parks, Dana Gourrier, Zoe Bell, Gene Jones, Keith Jefferson, Lee Horsley, Craig Stark and Belinda Owino.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), The Hateful Eight gets an E (excellent)

Running time: 187 mins (includes 12 min intermission); MPAA Rating: R

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Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight' Has Some Nerve

By Darlene Donloe

The Hateful Eight marks venerable director Quentin Tarantino’s eighth cinematic venture.  At one time he said he would only direct 10 films. If he holds true to his proclamation, there are only two more Tarantino films up his sleeve. In the meantime, audiences can marvel at his latest installation.

Tarantino never does anything easy. He’s a gambler, a provocateur, a bit of a bad-ass, but most of all an interesting and innovative filmmaker.

If you’ve liked Tarantino’s previous offerings, you know what to expect from The Hateful Eight.  True to form Tarantino stays in his lane.  It’s intense, it’s funny, it’s reflective, it’s politically incorrect, it’s volatile, it’s extremely violent and it’s very good.

So the story goes something like this:  Six, eight or 12 years (no one knows for sure) after the Civil War, a stagecoach is hurtling through the snowy Wyoming landscape carrying bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Jenifer Jason Leigh). They are on their way to the town of Red Rock where Ruth will bring Domergue to justice.

Soon they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) a black former union soldier turned bounty hunter and Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins) a southern renegade who claims to be the town’s new sheriff. 

Soon all four are headed to Red Rock.  When they arrive at Minnie’s, a welcomed outpost where weary travelers can rest and get something to eat, the real story begins to unravel.

For fear of revealing too much,  I’ll leave it there. 

(l-r) Kurt Russell and Samuel L. Jackson

I recently caught up with the cast to talk about the film - out in limited theaters December 25, 2015 and nationwide December 31.

DD: Samuel, if you could talk about the dialogue.  Did you change anything?

SAMUEL L. JACKSON: There is not you need to change. I don’t just willy nilly change anything. Quentin and I talk about things. Sometimes he’ll say, ‘no, do it my way.’ Sometimes and we’ll do it my way.  The rest of these mother fuckers need to say what he wrote.   The only thing we changed was the cold. It changed the urgency.

DD: A lot of attention has been paid to the idea of the 70mm film you used.

QUENTIN TARANTINO:  One of the tricks I thought was the intimacy of close-ups. You find yourself taking backstrokes in his (Samuel L. Jackson) eyes. I thought using it would actually put you in Minnie’s hub. There are two plays going on. At any given time there are characters in the front and characters in the back.

DD: Channing (Tatum) you are new to this crew.

CHANNING TATUM:  First off, it is an actual alumni. To work on this film – every single person was fantastic. With Samuel (L. Jackson) I did my first film with him.  The first day I must have looked geeked out. I told myself,  ‘pull it together Channing.’  I was scared.

DD: Kurt, talk about the shoot.

KURT RUSSELL: I spent 4 ½ months chained to Jennifer (Jason Leigh). It was strange for this concept of characters who begin to drop. I wanted to be there for her to be able to do what she needed to do.

JENNIFER JASONLEIGH: I couldn’t have done the scenes without Ruth (Kurt Russell) being there.

DD: Bruce, your thoughts on the movie?

BRUCE DERN: This is the first movie I’ve done where I felt privileged to lend a hand. He (Tarantino) expects the people he brings to do what he hired them to do.  When you go to work for him – everybody knows you have a chance to go to the playoffs.

DD: Samuel, this movie is going to prompt a lot of questions.

SAMUEL L JACKSON:  The biggest one was the Lincoln Letter. He’s trying to be a liberal during a time when there aren’t any. In the real world, we have to be the real nice Negroes today. I feel sorry for anyone who looks Middle Eastern. If you want to be part of the solution Quentin has a way of making us look at ourselves.

DD:  Quentin, are you worried about being politically correct?

QUENTIN TARANTINO: I don’t have much thought about that. I just don’t think about it that way. One could say Fuck being politically correct. I don’t have time for that.  I don’t know what the answer is to that. It’s not my job to think about that. As a writer it’s my job to ignore social critics.  There are no coloring book lines. I can go outside the lines. I’m doing what I’m doing. If you don’t like it, don’t go see it.

The Hateful Eight (The Weinstein Company) written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Channing Tatum, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen,  James Parks, Dana Gourrier, Zoe Bell, Gene Jones, Keith Jefferson, Lee Horsley, Craig Stark and Belinda Owino.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), The Hateful Eight gets an E (excellent)

Running time: 187 mins (includes 12 min intermission); MPAA Rating: R

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'Norm of the North' Hits Theaters January 2016

“Arctic Shake” Clip

Download | YouTube

NORM OF THE NORTH

In Theaters January 15, 2016

A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic.  But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do…he heads to New York City to stop it.  With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day.

Lionsgate presents a Splash Entertainment production.

Cast: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Gabriel Iglesias, Loretta Devine, Michael McElhatton, Colm Meaney and Bill Nighy

Directed by: Trevor Wall         

Screenplay by: Jack Donaldson, Derek Elliott                

Produced by: Nicolas Atlan, Ken Katsumoto, Mike Young, Liz Young, Steve Rosen 

#NormOfTheNorth

#ShakeYourBearThing

Mark Etheredge Is Happy To Be 'Connected'

LOS ANGELES (9 December 2015): Emitting an abundance of light on the front and back covers, contemporary jazz keyboardist Mark Etheredge describes his forthcoming “Connected” as the happiest album he’s ever made. Listening to the ten-song Vipaka Recordsrelease produced by two-time GRAMMY® winner Paul Brown, the upbeat melodies and optimistic grooves are spirit-raisers, written by a man who is quite comfortable in his own skin. But the inspiration behind the project that is scheduled for release February 26, 2016 is anything but comfy. While growing up, the tall and gawky Etheredge was bullied. He felt alone and disconnected. One of four boys born to a father who was a minister, Etheredge grew up singing and playing in church yet as he discovered his sexual identity, he felt further isolated. He was different and he knew it.         

“I had a deep feeling of being disconnected from humanity. Later, I realized that these feelings were all in my head. We are all connected in this world, and what we do affects each other. ‘Connected’ is a celebration of our human connection - across geography, race, language, class, gender, sexual orientation and beliefs,” said Etheredge. "I've wanted to make an album like this for a long time. Working with Paul Brown and the high caliber of musicians was a real treat for me, and I'm thrilled to share this album with listeners."

While most of the tunes on “Connected” offer a treasure trove of lilting piano and keyboard harmonies, the tension is palpable on “Lost In The Shuffle,” an instrumental account of Etheredge’s bullied past provoked by Brown’s menacing electric guitar and horn section stabs from saxophonist Greg Vail and trumpeter Lee Thornburg. It took decades before Etheredge could feel at ease composing a soaring affirmation like “Be Who You Are.” Championing our differences and connectivity, the disc’s deep-pocketed title track will be the first single shipped to radio after the New Year for airplay (watch the video for “Connected” here http://bit.ly/1m7Krpe). The urbane outing produced to sound live also makes room for the lighthearted with the carefree romantic romp “Groovin’ With My Baby”; the rousing “For Your Love” highlighting ace guitarist Chuck Loeb (Fourplay);  the frivolously-titled “Bing Bang Boom,” which packs an explosive wallop along with combustible Latin sounds; and incorporates R&B and gospel into the mix with Andy Suzuki’s soul-stirring tenor sax appeals as Etheredge demonstrates his proficiency on the Hammond B3 and Wurlitzer on “Soul Clap Honey.” 

Throughout the album, drummer Gorden Campbell, bassist Roberto Vally and percussionist Richie Garcia form a taut rhythm section from which Etheredge’s nimble and vibrant piano and keyboard melodies leap to the fore, bolstered by Brown’s guitar prowess.                     

“Connected” denotes a return to instrumental music for Etheredge following 2012’s adult contemporary vocal session “Change Coming,” which was driven by “The One,” a single graced with backing vocals from dance music diva Jeanie Tracy that received international airplay. His debut date, “As Dawn,” was a New Age record released at the height of the genre’s commercial power and reissued in 2010. “Connected” is Etheredge’s first collection recorded in Los Angeles after his relocation from the Bay Area two years ago, leaving a job in the tech space to fully focus on following his musical muse.      

“I realized I wanted to do something more meaningful, make a more positive impact on the world and share my passion for music,” said Etheredge, who will be performing at album release concerts at Spaghettini near Los Angeles on February 28 and at Bay Area jazz club Angelicas on March 19. 

Etheredge’s “Connected” album contains the following songs:

“Groovin’ With My Baby”

“Be Who You Are”

“Roger That”

“Connected” featuring Paul Brown

“Lost In The Shuffle” featuring Paul Brown

“Cherry Cha”

“For Your Love” featuring Chuck Loeb

“Bing Bang Boom”

“Rain”

“Soul Clap Honey”

For more information, please visit www.MarkEtheredge.com. 

'Zoolander No. 2' In Theaters February 12, 2016

Robey Theatre Company Partners With CSULA

            Robey Theatre Company, the twenty-year-old non-profit organization founded by Danny Glover and Ben Guillory dedicated to the continued achievement of excellence in Black Theatre, announces a new partnership with California State University Los Angeles. The Robey Theatre Company Playwrights Lab will meet in a ten-week session on the CSULA campus, from February 6 through April 9. The Lab is open to both CSULA students and members of the general public. The spring session follows successful sessions this past summer and fall.

            The association will bring a university and a professional Black theatre company into a progressive relationship that will support the outreach of the University into the Los Angeles area, while the theatre company will bring its experience and artists to work  towards forming a professional creative relationship with the University’s Theatre Dept. and Performing Arts High School.

            Supporting the new partnership are Cal State’s Department of Music, Theatre Arts & Dance; Students for Quality Education; Black Faulty and Staff Caucus; Pan-African Student Resource Center; Cross-Cultural Center, University Student Union; and the Pan-African Studies Department. 

        

THE ROBEY THEATRE PLAYWRIGHTS LAB has refined itself. It is an Intensive 10 week program focused on the craft of playwriting. Designed for aspiring writers with works in progress, it offers weekly, one-on-one meetings with resident dramaturg Dylan Southard to address the unique challenges of structure, style and theme that each play presents as it evolves. 

The Robey Playwrights Lab is tailored to the needs of its writers, providing a place where participants can ask questions, experiment with ideas, and continue to build their stories. There will be a good deal of flexibility and a great deal of personal attention to the creation of individual processes and the working and development of craft/technique.  The Lab culminates in workshop readings of text from each writer. There is room for a maximum of 10 writers. 

Cost for the series is $200 per participant (for the ten-week session) .  To apply, submit without delay a Resume and a writing sample of a one-act or full-length play (First Drafts are okay) to info@robeytheatrecompany.org . Questions? Call (213) 489-7402.

Classes will be held weekly on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning February 6 and continuing through April 9. The location: California State University of Los Angeles (CSULA), 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032. 

Building and room number will be provided to Lab participants.

For more information about Robey, go to www.robeytheatrecompany.org

Also at CSULA: On Thursday, January 14, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., CSULA students will have the opportunity to audition to join the Robey Theatre Company. Auditions will consist of 2 to 3 minute monologues of the actors’ choice from published or produced plays (no poetry nor original material). Auditions will be held in the State Playhouse.

On Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 at 3:15 p.m., Robey Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director Ben Guillory will address the intersection of social justice and theatre at a CSULA Cup of Culture event. At U-SU Theatre, 1^st Floor, University- Student Union.

On Monday, April 25, 2016 at 3:15 p.m. at U-SU Theatre, Robey will present a staged reading of a new play by Randy Ross, 92 Grove Street.

Robert De Niro Stars In 'Dirty Grandpa'

In Theaters January 22

Jason Kelly [Zac Efron] is one week away from marrying his boss's uber-controlling daughter, putting him on the fast track for a partnership at the law firm. However, when the straight-laced Jason is tricked into driving his foul-mouthed grandfather, Dick [Robert De Niro], to Daytona for spring break, his pending nuptials are suddenly in jeopardy. Between riotous frat parties, bar fights, and an epic night of karaoke, Dick is on a quest to live his life to the fullest and bring Jason along for the ride. Ultimately, on the wildest journey of their lives, "dirty" Grandpa and his uptight grandson discover they can learn from one another and form the bond they never had.

This outlandish comedy also stars Julianne Hough, Aubrey Plaza, Dermot Mulroney and Adam Pally.

Cast: Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Aubrey Plaza, Zoey Deutch, Julianne Hough, Jason Mantzoukas, Danny Glover, Adam Pally, and Dermot Mulroney

Directed by: Dan Mazer        

Written by: John Phillips                              

Produced by: Barry Josephson, Bill Block, Michael Simkin, Jason Barrett

'The Hateful Eight' To Premiere in 70MM

Advance Tickets for 70MM Roadshow Theaters Available Starting Today

Kicking Off The “12 Days of HATEFUL EIGHT Giveways” Contest 

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that Academy Award® winning writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming feature THE HATEFUL EIGHT, will premiere in 70mm on December 25, 2015 exclusively for a 1-week roadshow opening that will be featured in glorious 70mm in 100 theaters nationwide.  Following the 1-week engagement, the film will open with a theatrical digital release nationwide on December 31, 2015, while continuing to be shown in 70mm as well. The film premieres tonight in New York in 70mm at the Ziegfeld theater. 

Starting today, moviegoers can purchase tickets for the 70mm roadshow showings attickets.thehatefuleight.com.  To mark the occasion, Quentin and TWC are commemorating the opening with the “12 Days of HATEFUL EIGHT Giveaways”, where each day a different HATEFUL EIGHT prize, memorabilia or once-in-a-lifetime experience will be given away to moviegoers who buy roadshow tickets in advance leading up to the Christmas day opening. 

The exclusive roadshow engagement that THE HATEFUL EIGHT is embarking on will replicate the special event releases that films used to receive in the early and mid-twentieth century. They screened a longer version of the film than would have been shown in wide release, including a musical overture to start the show and an intermission between acts, and moviegoers received a special souvenir program.  THE HATEFUL EIGHT roadshow experience will offer moviegoers all three special features.  Roadshows were the gold standard for exhibiting pictures like LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, GONE WITH THE WIND, CLEOPATRA, BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and BEN HUR. 

TWC and Tarantino’s presentation of THE HATEFUL EIGHT will mark the widest 70mm release that the industry has seen in over twenty years.  The film will open in 44 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Washington DC, Houston, Detroit, Phoenix, Seattle, Tampa, Minneapolis, Denver, Miami, Cleveland, Orlando, Sacramento, St. Louis, Portland, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Baltimore, San Diego, Nashville, Kansas City, San Antonio, West Palm Beach, Birmingham, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Austin, New Orleans, Providence, Knoxville, Santa Barbara, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver.  Quentin and cast members from THE HATEFUL EIGHT will be touring the country making surprise appearances in select cities at 70mm roadshow showings. 

Not since the 1966 film KHARTOUM starring Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier has a film been shot in Ultra Panavision 70 format.  In 2012, TWC distributed Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed film THE MASTER in a similar 70mm format. Beloved by filmmakers and cinephiles for its wide-scope and high-resolution image quality, Ultra Panavision70mm stock captures nearly twice the landscape of the more common 35mm and digital styles.  Because of its unique quality and its importance to the art of filmmaking, Quentin, TWC, and a number of other major Hollywood directors and studios have negotiated deals with Kodak to continue production of 70mm and other film formats despite their higher costs and complexity of use. 

The lead cast for THE HATEFUL EIGHT will include: Samuel L. Jackson (DJANGO UNCHAINED), Kurt Russell (ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK), Jennifer Jason Leigh (MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE), Walton Goggins (Justified), Demian Bichir (A BETTER LIFE), Tim Roth (RESERVOIR DOGS), Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS), and Bruce Dern (NEBRASKA). Written and directed by Tarantino, THE HATEFUL EIGHT is produced by Richard N. Gladstein, Stacey Sher and Shannon McIntosh.  Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein and Georgia Kacandes are executive producing, and Coco Francini and William Paul Clark are associate producing.

In THE HATEFUL EIGHT, set six or eight or twelve years after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth (Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Leigh), race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth, known in these parts as “The Hangman,” will bring Domergue to justice. Along the road, they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Jackson), a black former union soldier turned infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Goggins), a southern renegade who claims to be the town’s new Sheriff. Losing their lead on the blizzard, Ruth, Domergue, Warren and Mannix seek refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass. When they arrive at Minnie’s, they are greeted not by the proprietor but by four unfamiliar faces. Bob (Bichir), who’s taking care of Minnie’s while she’s visiting her mother, is holed up with Oswaldo Mobray (Roth), the hangman of Red Rock, cow-puncher Joe Gage (Madsen), and Confederate General Sanford Smithers (Dern). As the storm overtakes the mountainside stopover, our eight travelers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all…

THE HATEFUL EIGHT marks a continuation of the long-standing relationship between the celebrated filmmaker and the Weinsteins, who have collaborated on all of Tarantino’s films from RESERVOIR DOGS through DJANGO UNCHAINED.

VIDEO CLIPS

Roadshow Announcement Spot: https://youtu.be/2AP22fB9lPk  

70mm Roadshow Featurette: https://youtu.be/r2T9FhDR3zY

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes. During Harvey and Bob’s tenure at Miramax and TWC, they have received 331 Oscar nominations and won 79 Academy Awards.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; 1408; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE KING’S SPEECH; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; SARAH’S KEY; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN; THE IRON LADY; W.E.; CORIOLANUS; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; BULLY; THE INTOUCHABLES; LAWLESS; KILLING THEM SOFTLY; THE MASTER; SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; DJANGO UNCHAINED; QUARTET; ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH; DARK SKIES; THE SAPPHIRES; SCARY MOVIE 5; KON-TIKI; UNFINISHED SONG; FRUITVALE STATION; LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER; THE GRANDMASTER; SALINGER; 12-12-12; PHILOMENA; MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM; AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY; VAMPIRE ACADEMY; THE RAILWAY MAN; THE IMMIGRANT; YVES SAINT LAURENT; BEGIN AGAIN; THE GIVER; FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR; THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY; TRACKS; ST. VINCENT; THE IMITATION GAME; PADDINGTON and WOMAN IN GOLD. Upcoming releases include SOUTHPAW, UNDERDOGS and NO ESCAPE.

TWC boasts an active television production division which garnered nine Emmy nominations in 2013 and five in 2014. TWC Television produces the reality powerhouse Project Runway, with its spin-off series Project Runway All Stars and Under The Gunn.  Recent TWC television productions include Mob Wives, Million Dollar Shoppers, Rodeo Girls and Trailer Park: Welcome to Myrtle Manor. Scripted projects currently in production include John Fusco's Marco Polo. Scripted projects in development include Ten Commandmentsand Daniel Stashower’s The Hour Of Peril. TWC also developed Nanny Diaries and produced The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

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