Awards: 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners!

Top honors went to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Whiplash and Nightcrawler

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, handed out top honors to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Whiplash and Nightcrawler at yesterday afternoon’s 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards. Still Alice, Dear White People, Ida, Land Ho! and CITIZENFOUR also received awards at the ceremony, which was held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Inherent Vice received the Robert Altman Award and Foxcatcher received a Special Distinction Award. In addition to being the celebration that honors artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody independence and originality, the Spirit Awards is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs.

Over the past 30 years, the Film Independent Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premiere awards show for the independent film community. Artists who have received industry recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Joel and Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Ashley Judd, Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward Burns, Aaron Eckhart, Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary Swank, Marc Forster, Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach Braff, Amy Adams, Lena Dunham and many more.

This year’s major category winners were Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance); which won Best Feature, Best Male Lead and Best Cinematography, Boyhood; which won Best Director and Best Supporting Female, Nightcrawler; which won Best First Feature and Best Screenplay and Whiplash; which won Best Supporting Male and Best Editing; Still Alice, which won Best Female Lead;Dear White People, which won Best First Screenplay; Land Ho!, which won the John Cassavetes Award; Ida, which won Best International Film and CITIZENFOUR, which won Best Documentary.

The 8th annual Robert Altman Award was given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice received this award, along with casting director Cassandra Kulukundis and ensemble cast members Josh Brolin, Hong Chau, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Sasha Pieterse, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon and Michael Kenneth Williams.

The Special Distinction Award, given to a film for its uniqueness of vision, honesty of direction and screenwriting, superb acting and overall filmmaking achievement, was given to Foxcatcher. The award was given to director/producer Bennett Miller, producers Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, writers E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman, actors Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum.

The 2015 Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation Fellowship which includes a cash grant of $10,000 was awarded to Christina Choe. This annual award is given to a filmmaker currently participating in a Film Independent Artist Development program with the mission of diversity in mind. Choe, a participant in the 2015 Directing Lab, is currently in active pre-production on her first narrative feature film, Nancy.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, The Lincoln Motor Company, Bank of America, Heineken, American Airlines and IFC. T-Mobile® is the Official Arrivals Show Sponsor, Sauza 901 Tequila is the Official Spirit and FIJI Water is the Official Water of the 2015 Spirit Awards. WireImage is the Official Photographer of Film Independent.

The production team for this year’s Spirit Awards includes executive producer and director Joel Gallen, producers Shawn Davis and Rick Austin.

The following is a complete list of the winners:

Best Feature: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole

Best Director: Richard Linklater (IFC Films)

Best Screenplay: Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)

Best First Feature: Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Director: Dan Gilroy, Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak

Best First Screenplay: Justin Simien, Dear White People (Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate)

John Cassavetes Award (For best feature made under $500,000): Land Ho! (Sony Pictures Classics)
Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens, Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy

Best Supporting Female: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood (IFC Films)

Best Supporting Male: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best Female Lead: Julianne Moore, Still Alice (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best Male Lead: Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Robert Altman Award: Inherent Vice (Warner Bros.)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis, Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Hong Chau, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Sasha Pieterse, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Michael Kenneth Williams.

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Best Editing: Tom Cross, Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best International Film: Ida (Poland – Music Box Films)
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski

Best Documentary: CITIZENFOUR (RADiUS-TWC / HBO Documentary Films / Participant Media)
Director: Laura Poitras; Producers: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky

Special Distinction Award: Foxcatcher (Sony Pictures Classics)
Director/Producer: Bennett Miller, Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman, Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

For more information or to become a member, visit filmindependent.org.

Oscars 2015: My Prediction!

The OSCARS in 3 Days!

Yesterday, i posted in my Twitter and Instagram accounts my predictions in the 8 major categories. In that, I had "Birdman" winning Best Picture and "Boyhood" director Richard Linklater for Best Director. Today, I am reversing that and calling the race again for "Boyhood" to take Best Picture and "Birdman's" Alejandro Innaritu for Best Director.

Now, if the opposite happens or if "Boyhood" takes both, i will be most happy. But if "Birdman" wins both and Michael Keaton upsets Eddie Redmayne, i will probably be bitching about the results all day Monday. LOL!

My predictions below! Clear your Sunday sked. Watch the Oscars!!

Below article originally appeared on print via The Philippine Star and online at http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/02/20/1425576/guide-87th-oscars

Guide to the 87th Oscars
By Raymond Lo, L.A. Correspondent (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 20, 2015 - 12:00am


MANILA, Philippines - It’s that time of year again! On Sunday, Feb. 22 (Monday, Feb. 23, Manila time), the Oscars will once again bring movie lovers together for three hours of sheer movie fun. The 87th Oscars will be telecast live to over 100 countries and is expected to attract over a billion viewers!

And those billion viewers are probably still as perplexed as this writer is right now on which one movie will be rewarded by the Academy this year. 2014 was not a particularly strong year for Hollywood movies. Only a handful made an impression and that has been reflected by the wildly diverse selections of several Oscar precursors. Traditionally, about this time, we should have had a clear frontrunner leading to the show already but not this year. The Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild and the Producers Guild all picked Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as the year’s Best Film. However, the BAFTAS, the very influential British bloc of the Academy, selected Boyhood as their Best Film. The critics were not of much help either. The BFCA, which for years has been considered as the most accurate predictor of the Oscars, selected Boyhood as their Best Film. The New York and Los Angeles Film Critics also named Boyhood as the year’s best.

So with no clear frontrunner for the all-important Best Picture prize, this writer will pick what he believes is the better movie between the two. Expect Boyhood to win the top Oscar but the Best Director trophy could go to Birdman director Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu. The picture/director awards will be split between the two films again similar to last year. It would be interesting to see two Mexican filmmakers win Hollywood’s top directing prizes two years in a row. Alfonso Cuaron won last year for Gravity.

On a personal note, this writer would love to see Boyhood’s Richard Linklater rewarded with a win for his 12-year labor of love. I hope the Academy shares my sentiments.

The nominees for Best Picture are: American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything and Whiplash.

The nominated directors are: Innaritu for Birdman, Linklater for Boyhood, Bennet Miller for Foxcatcher, Wes Anderson for The Grand Budapest Hotel and Morten Tyldum for The Imitation Game.

While the Top 2 categories are pretty difficult to call, the acting categories will likely just end up as a coronation night for the four actors who have virtually swept all the awards haul this Oscar season.

Acclaimed actress Julianne Moore will win Best Actress for Still Alice. The beautiful star has been overdue for an Oscar and this year is going to be hers. Her performance as a mother and wife trying to cope with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease has been widely acclaimed since its debut in September. Her main competition in the category are previous Oscar-winners Reese Witherspoon for the very moving film Wild and French superstar Marion Cotillard for the brilliant film Two Days, One Night. Two Brits complete the nominees: Rosamund Pike for Gone Girl and Felicity Jones for The Theory of Everything.

In the Best Actor category, Felicity’s co-star and fellow Brit Eddie Redmayne is tipped to win the category for his excellent portrayal of wheelchair-bound astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. His performance has drawn comparison to Daniel Day-Lewis’ Oscar-winning turn in My Left Foot. Veteran Hollywood player Michael Keaton is the dark horse in this category. The former Batman star whose performance as an over-the-hill actor trying to stage a comeback in Birdman has resonated with Hollywood insiders and he could just earn the trophy and stage his own career comeback. The three other nominated actors are Steve Carell for Foxcatcher, Bradley Cooper in American Sniper and Benedict Cumberbatch in the heartbreaking film The Imitation Game.

In the supporting categories, two veteran actors, who rightfully deserve all the honors and accolades for their compelling performances and for their impressive body of work as well, have staked their respective claims in their categories very early on in the race.

Patricia Arquette, who aged 12 years on screen for her role in Boyhood, has racked up virtually every trophy available this season. Her performance has inspired so many that perhaps the other actresses nominated alongside her end up voting for her, too! The other actresses nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category include Laura Dern for Wild, Keira Knightley for The Imitation Game, Emma Stone for Birdman and the acting goddess Meryl Streep, who is nominated for an unbelievable 19th time this year for her performance as a wicked witch in Disney’s Into the Woods.

For Best Supporting Actor, J.K. Simmons is expected to receive his Oscar on his first nomination as a stern teacher who expects nothing but greatness from his students in Whiplash. Other actors nominated in the category include Robert Duvall for The Judge, Ethan Hawke for Boyhood, Mark Ruffalo for Foxcatcher and Edward Norton whose performance in Birdman poses the biggest competition to Simmons.

This year, the one category that this writer is most excited about is the Best Foreign Language Film category. All the five nominated films are excellent works and each one deserves to win. But my heart was captured by the Argentine film Wild Tales when I saw it last December. It’s one of those rare films that combine all the elements of a commercial film and the quality of an art film. Its biggest competitions are the films from Russia, Leviathan, a tale of Russian corruption based on the parable of Job and the Polish entry Ida, the story of novitiate nun who discovers that she was Jewish on the eve of her dedication. Ida has been the frontrunner since day one and is likely to win. The other nominated films are the harrowing Timbuktu from Mauritania and the powerful anti-war film Tangerines from Estonia.

But Wild Tales will win. Fingers crossed.

With no particular film leading the Oscar race this year, the trophies will most likely be spread among five movies. The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is nominated for nine Oscars will likely end up with the most trophy with four. Birdman and The Theory of Everything will likely net three trophies each. Interstellar, the disappointing sci-fi from Christopher Nolan, will sweep the technical categories and will likely win three Oscars. Boyhood will likely end up with just two Oscars.

Among the announced performers this year are pop superstars Lady Gaga and John Legend. Neil Patrick Harris, known to many Filipinos as the Doogie Howser M.D., will be hosting the Oscars for the first time this year.

See you at the Oscars!

Awards: 2015 Razzie Nominations!

"Transformers", Michael Bay, Kirk Cameron lead nominees for the 34th Razzies!

You know the Oscar nominations is just a day away when the good people of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation or Razzies announces their selections for the worst movies and performances of the year on the eve of the actual Oscar nominations announcement, which, for the unaware, honors the best achievements in movies during the year.

In a surprise move, the group decided to honor Keanu Reeves (from six-time Razzie nominee to John Wick), Mike Myers (from The Love Guru to directing Supermensch), Ben Affleck (from Gigli to Argo and Gone Girl), Jennifer Aniston (from four-time Razzie nominee to Cake) and Kristen Stewart (from six-time Razzie winner for Twilight to Camp X-Ray) with nominations for the inaugural Redeemer Award in recognition for their transition from being perennial Razzie nominees in the past to becoming critical darlings this year. I wonder who among them would gallantly show up to pick up their trophy should they win. In the past, Oscar winners Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock gamely showed up to collect their trophies, earning admiration from the crowd and gaining more fans in the process.

This year's movies and performances that earned a shot for the the dubious and dishonorable awards in Hollywood are listed below. 

Worst Picture
Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas
Left Behind
The Legend of Hercules
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers: Age of Extinction

Worst Actor
Kirk Cameron - Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas
Nicolas Cage - Left Behind
Kellan Lutz - The Legend of Hercules
Seth MacFarlane - A Million Ways to Die in the West
Adam Sandler - Blended

Worst Supporting Actor
Mel Gibson - The Expendables 3
Kelsey Grammer - The Expendables 3, Legends of Oz, Think Like a Man Too, Transformers: Age of Extinction
Shaquille O'Neal - Blended
Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Expendables 3
Kiefer Sutherland - Pompeii

Worst Actress
Drew Barrymore - Blended
Cameron Diaz - The Other Woman and Sex Tape
Melissa McCarthy - Tammy
Charlize Theron - A Million Ways to Die in the West
Gaia Weiss - The Legend of Hercules

Worst Supporting Actress
Cameron Diaz - Annie
Megan Fox - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Nicola Peltz - Transformers: Age of Extinction
Susan Sarandon - Tammy
Brigitte Ridenour (nee Cameron) - Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas

Worst Director
Michael Bay - Transformers: Age of Extinction
Darren Doane - Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas
Renny Harlin - The Legend of Hercules
Jonathan Liebesman - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Seth MacFarlane - A Million Ways to Die in the West

Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel
Annie
Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?
The Legend of Hercules
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers: Age of Extinction

Worst Screen Combo
Any Two Robots, Actors (Robotic Actors) - Transformers: Age of Extinction
Kirk Cameron and His Ego - Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas
Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel - Sex Tape
Kellan Lutz and Either His Abs, His Pecs or His Glutes - The Legend of Hercules
Seth MacFarlane and Charlize Theron - A Million Ways to Die in the West

Worst Screenplay
Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas
Left Behind
Sex Tape
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers: Age of Extinction

The Razzies will be handed out the day before the Oscars, which is also the same day that the Independent Spirit Awards will be held.

XXX

Raymond Lo

Awards: 2015 Golden Globes Winners!

J.K. Simmons, Best Supportng Actor, "Whiplash"

Motion Pictures
Best Drama: "Boyhood"
Best Comedy: "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Director: Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Best Actress in a Drama: Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Best Actor in a Drama: Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"
Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy: Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Amy Adams, "Big Eyes" 
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Best Supporting Actor: JK Simmons, "Whiplash"
Best Screenplay: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo, "Birdman"
Best Foreign Language Film: "Leviathan," Russia
Best Animated Feature: "How to Train Your Dragon 2"
Best Original Song: "Glory" from "Selma," Music and lyrics by John legend and Common
Best Score: "The Theory of Everything"

Television
Best TV Comedy or Musical: "Transparent"
Best TV Drama: "The Affair"
Best Actress in a TV Drama: Ruth Wilson, "The Affair"
Best Actor in a TV Drama: Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
Best Actress in a TV Comedy: Gina Rodriguez, "Jane The Virgin"
Best Actor in a TV Comedy: Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"
Best Miniseries or TV Movie: "Fargo"
Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Honorable Woman"
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Billy Bob Thornton, "Fargo"
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Show, Miniseries or TV Movie: Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Show, Miniseries or TV Movie: Matt Bomer, "The Normal Heart" 

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: Actress Emmy Rossum joins Michael Peña as host of Spirit Award Filmmaker Grant and Nominee Brunch

LOS ANGELES (January 7, 2015) - Film Independent President Josh Welsh announced today that actress Emmy Rossum will co-host with Michael Peña the Filmmaker Grant and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 10 at BOA restaurant in West Hollywood. The nonprofit, that also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film will be celebrating this year’s Spirit Award Nominees and awarding $75,000 in grants to emerging filmmakers.

The event precedes the 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards that will take place as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 21. This year the show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 PM PT/ 5:00 PM ET.

“Emmy Rossum is both a past Spirit Award nominee for her work in Songcatcher and a LA Film Festival alum,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh.  “Her film Comet had its premiere at the Festival in 2014. We are thrilled she will be joining us to celebrate this year’s Spirit Award nominees and give out the filmmaker grants.”

Rossum currently stars in Showtime’s dark comedy series, Shameless, which will begin its fifth season on January 11th. The Actress has been captivating audiences with her diverse, extraordinary talents for over a decade. Rossum was recently seen in You’re Not You alongside Josh Duhamel and Hilary Swank. Rossum also appeared in Shawn Christensen’s Before I Disappear, based on the 2012 Oscar-winning short Curfew, which won the prestigious Audience Award at SXSW in March, and starred in Comet opposite Justin Long which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June. Other film credits include Warner Bros.’ Beautiful Creatures, DARE alongside Zach Gilford, Dragonball, Poseidon, The Day After Tomorrow with Jake Gyllenhaal, and the Clint Eastwood-directed drama Mystic River.

Rossum’s acting performance in Songcatcher earned her a Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance in 2000. Four years later in 2004, her starring performance as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, as well as the National Board of Review’s Best Female Breakthrough Performance Award and the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Best Young Actress Award in 2005.

Awards: WGA and USC Scripter Noms Announced

"Gone Girl", "Wild", "The Imitation Game" earn double noms from WGA and USC Scripter! 

Two influential award-giving groups announced their nominations for the best screenplays of 2014 today.

The Writers Guild Association announced their selections for motion pictures, TV and other media. The movies they nominated are:

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films
Foxcatcher, Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight
Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy; Open Road Films
Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle; Sony Pictures Classics

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
American Sniper, Written by Jason Hall; Based on the book by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice; Warner Bros.
Gone Girl, Screenplay by Gillian Flynn; Based on her novel; 20th Century Fox
Guardians of the Galaxy, Written by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman; Based on the Marvel comic by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Imitation Game, Written by Graham Moore; Based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges; The Weinstein Company
Wild, Screenplay by Nick Hornby; Based on the book by Cheryl Strayed; Fox Searchlight

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Finding Vivian Maier, Written by John Maloof & Charlie Siskel; Sundance Selects
The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, Written by Brian Knappenberger; FilmBuff
Last Days in Vietnam, Written by Mark Bailey & Kevin McAlester; American Experience Films
Red Army, Written by Gabe Polsky; Sony Pictures Classics

The USC Libraries, meanwhile, have named the authors and screenwriters of "Gone Girl", "The Imitation Game", "Inherent Vice", "The Theory of Everything", and "Wild" as finalists for the 27-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award. Scripter honors the screenwriter or screenwriters of the year’s most accomplished cinematic adaptation as well as the author or authors of the written work upon which the screenplay is based.

The finalists are, in alphabetical order by film title:

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn, author and screenwriter
The Imitation Game, author Andrew Hodges, who wrote the book Alan Turing: The Enigma, and screenwriter Graham Moore
Inherent Vice, Novelist Thomas Pynchon and screenwriter Paul Thomas Anderson for
The Theory of Everything, Jane Hawking, author of Travelling To Infinity: My Life With Stephen, and screenwriter Anthony McCarten
Wild, Screenwriter Nick Hornby and author Cheryl Strayed’s for her memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Friends of the USC Libraries established Scripter in 1988. Previous Scripter winners include the screenwriters and authors of "12 Years a Slave", "The Social Network", "A Beautiful Mind", and "The English Patient."

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: Producers Guild Awards 2014 Nominees

Boyhood, Birdman, The Imitation Game, Life Itself, Big Hero 6, The Lego Movie get nominations! 

Selma, Unbroken, Interstellar, Fury, Into the Woods all Snubbed!

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:

American Sniper (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Producers: Bradley Cooper, p.g.a., Clint Eastwood, p.g.a., Andrew Lazar, p.g.a., Robert Lorenz, p.g.a., Peter Morgan, p.g.a.

Birdman (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole

Boyhood (IFC Films)
Producers: Richard Linklater, p.g.a., Cathleen Sutherland, p.g.a.

Foxcatcher (Sony Pictures Classics)
Producers: Megan Ellison, p.g.a., Jon Kilik, p.g.a., Bennett Miller, p.g.a.

Gone Girl (20th Century Fox)
Producer: Ceán Chaffin, p.g.a.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Producers: Wes Anderson & Scott Rudin, Jeremy Dawson, Steven Rales

The Imitation Game (The Weinstein Company)
Producers: Nora Grossman, p.g.a., Ido Ostrowsky, p.g.a., Teddy Schwarzman, p.g.a.

Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy

The Theory of Everything (Focus Features)
Producers: Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)
Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster


The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Big Hero 6 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Producer: Roy Conli, p.g.a.

The Book of Life (20th Century Fox)
Producers: Brad Booker, p.g.a., Guillermo del Toro, p.g.a.

The Boxtrolls (Focus Features)
Producers: David Bleiman Ichioka, p.g.a., Travis Knight, p.g.a.

How To Train Your Dragon 2 (20th Century Fox)
Producer: Bonnie Arnold, p.g.a.

The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Producer: Dan Lin


The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

The Green Prince (Music Box Films)
Producers: John Battsek, Simon Chinn, Nadav Schirman

Life Itself (Magnolia Pictures)
Producers: Garrett Basch, Steve James, Zak Piper

Merchants of Doubt (Sony Pictures Classics)
Producers: Robert Kenner, Melissa Robledo

Particle Fever (Abramorama/BOND 360)
Producers: David E. Kaplan, Mark A. Levinson, Andrea Miller, Carla Solomon

Virunga (Netflix)
Producers: Joanna Natasegara, Orlando von Einsiedel

The 26th Annual Producers Guild Awards will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel January 24, 2015.

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 Broadcast Film Critics Awards Nominations

“Birdman”, "The Grand Budapest Hotel", "Boyhood", "Interstellar", "Gone Girl" lead list of contenders! 

"Wild Tales", "Two Days, One Night", "Ida", "Leviathan", "Force Majeure" make list of impressive Foreign Language nominees!

Kevin Costner, Ron Howard, Jessica Chastain to receive special awards!

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 20th ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE
Birdman
Boyhood - Predicted Winner
Gone Girl
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Nightcrawler
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Unbroken
Whiplash

BEST ACTOR
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton – Birdman
David Oyelowo – Selma
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything - Predicted Winner

BEST ACTRESS
Jennifer Aniston – Cake
Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore – Still Alice - Predicted Winner
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon – Wild

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin – Inherent Vice
Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash - Predicted Winner

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year - Predicted Winner
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Emma Stone – Birdman
Meryl Streep – Into the Woods
Tilda Swinton – Snowpiercer

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Ellar Coltrane – Boyhood - Predicted Winner
Ansel Elgort – The Fault in Our Stars
Mackenzie Foy – Interstellar
Jaeden Lieberher – St. Vincent
Tony Revolori – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Quvenzhane Wallis – Annie
Noah Wiseman – The Babadook

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Birdman - Predicted Winner
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Into the Woods
Selma

BEST DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ava DuVernay – Selma
David Fincher – Gone Girl
Alejandro G. Inarritu – Birdman
Angelina Jolie – Unbroken
Richard Linklater – Boyhood - Predicted Winner

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Birdman – Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo
Boyhood – Richard Linklater
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness - Predicted Winner
Nightcrawler – Dan Gilroy
Whiplash – Damien Chazelle

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
The Imitation Game – Graham Moore
Inherent Vice – Paul Thomas Anderson
The Theory of Everything – Anthony McCarten
Unbroken – Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Richard LaGravenese, William Nicholson
Wild – Nick Hornby - Predicted Winner

BEST CINEMATOGRAPY
Birdman – Emmanuel Lubezki - Predicted Winner
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Robert Yeoman
Interstellar – Hoyte Van Hoytema
Mr. Turner – Dick Pope
Unbroken – Roger Deakins

BEST ART DIRECTION
Birdman – Kevin Thompson/Production Designer, George DeTitta Jr./Set Decorator
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Adam Stockhausen/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator - Predicted Winner
Inherent Vice – David Crank/Production Designer, Amy Wells/Set Decorator
Interstellar – Nathan Crowley/Production Designer, Gary Fettis/Set Decorator
Into the Woods – Dennis Gassner/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator
Snowpiercer – Ondrej Nekvasil/Production Designer, Beatrice Brentnerova/Set Decorator

BEST EDITING
Birdman – Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione - Predicted Winner
Boyhood – Sandra Adair
Gone Girl – Kirk Baxter
Interstellar – Lee Smith
Whiplash – Tom Cross

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Milena Canonero - Predicted Winner
Inherent Vice – Mark Bridges
Into the Woods – Colleen Atwood
Maleficent – Anna B. Sheppard
Mr. Turner – Jacqueline Durran

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
Foxcatcher - Predicted Winner
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Into the Woods
Maleficent

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Edge of Tomorrow - Predicted Winner
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Big Hero 6
The Book of Life
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
The Lego Movie - Predicted Winner

BEST ACTION MOVIE
American Sniper
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Edge of Tomorrow - Predicted Winner
Fury
Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Bradley Cooper – American Sniper - Predicted Winner
Tom Cruise – Edge of Tomorrow
Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Brad Pitt – Fury
Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Emily Blunt – Edge of Tomorrow
Scarlett Johansson – Lucy - Predicted Winner
Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
Zoe Saldana – Guardians of the Galaxy
Shailene Woodley – Divergent

BEST COMEDY
Birdman - Predicted Winner
The Grand Budapest Hotel
St. Vincent
Top Five
22 Jump Street

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Jon Favreau – Chef
Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Michael Keaton – Birdman - Predicted Winner
Bill Murray – St. Vincent
Chris Rock – Top Five
Channing Tatum – 22 Jump Street

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Rose Byrne – Neighbors
Rosario Dawson – Top Five
Melissa McCarthy – St. Vincent
Jenny Slate – Obvious Child - Predicted Winner
Kristen Wiig – The Skeleton Twins

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
The Babadook - Predicted Winner
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Interstellar
Snowpiercer
Under the Skin

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Force Majeure
Ida
Leviathan
Two Days, One Night
Wild Tales - Predicted Winner

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Citizenfour - Predicted Winner
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
Jodorowsky’s Dune
Last Days in Vietnam
Life Itself
The Overnighters

BEST SONG
Big Eyes – Lana Del Rey – Big Eyes
Everything Is Awesome – Jo Li and the Lonely Island – The Lego Movie
Glory – Common/John Legend – Selma - Predicted Winner
Lost Stars – Keira Knightley – Begin Again
Yellow Flicker Beat – Lorde – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat – The Imitation Game - Predicted Winner
Johann Johannsson – The Theory of Everything
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Gone Girl
Antonio Sanchez – Birdman
Hans Zimmer – Interstellar

The show will be broadcast live on A&E network from the iconic Hollywood Palladium on January 15th at 9PM ET/6PM PT.

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 Golden Globes Nominations!

GETT: The Trial of Viviane Ansalem

Movies from Israel, Poland, Russia, Estonia and Sweden make the Best Foreign Language Film list !

"Birdman" leads noms with 7 nods. "Boyhood", "Foxcatcher", "The Imitation Game", "The Theory of Everything" are solid Oscar contenders now!

"Selma" is back with multiple noms!

"Unbroken", "American Sniper", "Mr. Turner", "Wild Tales", "Mommy" snubbed!

2014 NOMINATIONS

Motion Pictures

Best Drama
"Boyhood" - Predicted Winner
"Foxcatcher"
"The Imitation Game"
"Selma"
"The Theory of Everything"

Best Comedy
"Birdman" - Predicted Winner
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Into the Woods"
"Pride"
"St. Vincent"

Best Director
Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Ava Duvernay, "Selma"
David Fincher, "Gone Girl"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman"
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" - Predicted Winner

Best Actress in a Drama
Jennifer Aniston, "Cake"
Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice" - Predicted Winner
Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"
Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"

Best Actor in a Drama
Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
David Oyelowo, "Selma"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" - Predicted Winner

Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy
Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Michael Keaton, "Birdman" - Predicted Winner
Bill Murray, "St. Vincent"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Inherent Vice"
Christoph Waltz, "Big Eyes"

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, "Big Eyes" - Predicted Winner
Emily Blunt, "Into the Woods"
Helen Mirren, "The Hundred-Foot Journey"
Julianne Moore, "Map to the Stars"
Quvenzhané Wallis, "Annie"

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year" - Predicted Winner
Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"
Emma Stone, "Birdman"
Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall, "The Judge"
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
Edward Norton, "Birdman"
Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash" - Predicted Winner

Best Screenplay
Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" - Predicted Winner
Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo, "Birdman"
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"

Best Foreign Language Film
"Force Majeure Turist," Sweden
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Ansalem Gett," Israel
"Ida," Poland/Denmark - Predicted Winner
"Leviathan," Russia
"Tangerines Mandariinid," Estonia

Best Animated Feature
"Big Hero 6"
"The Book of Life"
"The Boxtrolls"
"How to Train Your Dragon 2"
"The Lego Movie" - Predicted Winner

Best Original Song
"Big Eyes" from "Big Eyes" music and lyrics by Lana Del Rey
"Glory" from "Selma," Music and lyrics by John legend and Common - Predicted Winner
"Mercy Is" from "Noah," Music and lyrics by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye
"Opportunity" from "Annie," Music and lyrics by Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler, Will Gluck
"Yellow Flicker Beat" from "The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1," Music and lyrics by Lorde

Best Score
"The Imitation Game" - Predicted Winner
"The Theory of Everything"
"Gone Girl"
"Birdman"
"Interstellar"

Television

Best TV Comedy or Musical
"Girls"
"Jane the Virgin" - Predicted Winner
"Orange Is the New Black"
"Silicon Valley"
"Transparent"

Best TV Drama
"The Affair"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"The Good Wife"
"House of Cards" - Predicted Winner

Best Actress in a TV Drama
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Viola Davis, "How to Get Away with Murder" - Predicted Winner
Julianna Margulies, "The Good WIfe"
Ruth Wilson, "The Affair"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Best Actor in a TV Drama
Clive Owen, "The Knick"
Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards" - Predicted Winner
James Spader, "The Blacklist"
Dominic West, "The Affair"

Best Actress in a TV Comedy
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Gena Rodriguez, "Jane the Virgin" - Predicted Winner
Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black"

Best Actor in a TV Comedy
Louis CK, "Louie"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Ricky Gervais, "Derek"
William H. Macy, "Shameless" - Predicted Winner
Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

Best Miniseries or TV Movie
"Fargo"
"The Missing"
"The Normal Heart"
"Olive Kitteridge"
"True Detective" - Predicted Winner

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Honorable Woman"
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show" - Predicted Winner
Frances McDormand, "Olive Kitteridge"
Frances O'Connor, "The Missing"
Allison Tolman, "Fargo"

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Martin Freeman, "Fargo"
Woody Harrelson, "True Detective"
Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective" - Predicted Winner
Mark Ruffalo, "The Normal Heart"
Billy Bob Thornton, "Fargo"

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Show, Miniseries or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba, "Orange Is the New Black"
Kathy Bates, "American Horror Story: Freak Show" - Predicted Winner
Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Allison Janney, "Mom"
Michelle Monaghan, "True Detective"

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Show, Miniseries or TV Movie
Matt Bomer, "The Normal Heart" - Predicted Winner
Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife"
Colin Hanks, "Fargo"
Bill Murray, "Olive Kitteridge"
Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan"

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: SAG Awards Nominations Predictions

Ansel Elgort and Eva Longoria to Announce the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Nominations

Tomorrow, the Screen Actors Guild will announce their nominations for the Annual SAG Awards. Below are my predictions:

Best Cast 
"Birdman", "Boyhood", "The Grand Budapest Hotel", "Foxcatcher", "The Imitation Game”

Best Actress 
Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night), Reese Witherspoon (Wild), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)

Best Actor
Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Michael Keaton (Birdman), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Steve Carrell (Foxcatcher), Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner)

Best Supporting Actress
Jessica Chastain (A Most Violent Year), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game), Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Laura Dern (Wild), Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer, The Grand Budapest Hotel)

Best Supporting Actor 
Edward Norton (Birdman), Ethan Hawke (Boyhood), Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), J.K Simmons (Whiplash), Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher)

About the SAG Awards
Lauded by critics for its style, simplicity and genuine warmth, the Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented by SAG-AFTRA, which made its debut in 1995, has become one of the industry’s most prized honors. The only televised awards shows to exclusively honor performers, it presents thirteen awards for acting in film and television in a fast moving two hour show which airs live on TNT and TBS. The awards focus on both individual performances as well as on the work of the entire ensemble of a drama series and comedy series, and the cast of a motion picture. These honors are fundamental to the spirit of the Screen Actors Guild Awards because they recognize what all actors know – that acting is a collaborative art.

In that same spirit, the SAG Awards® also commends the outstanding performances by film and television stunt ensembles. These accolades are announced from the SAG Awards red carpet during TNT and TBS’ pre-show webcasts.

Other highlights of the Screen Actors Guild Awards include the SAG Life Achievement Award, presented to an established performer for fostering the highest ideals of the acting profession and tributes to the varied talents within SAG-AFTRA's membership. The 50th Life Achievement Award was presented to Rita Moreno at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards are also unique in the size of its voting body. Two randomly selected panels of 2,200 members each from across the country choose the nominees for television and motion pictures.  All active members of SAG-AFTRA in the United States  -- more than 100,000 members -- receive voting information to select the outstanding performances of the year.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards is the only national network television show to acknowledge the work of union members. SAG-AFTRA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO through the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (the Four A's).

The Screen Actors Guild Awards also benefits the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, which provides opportunities for union members to contribute to the literacy of children through BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools), and its online component Storyline Online. SAG Foundation programs provide emergency relief to union members in economic distress, emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses, video and audio preservation of the creative legacy of members, scholarships for performers and their children, valuable casting seminars and related professional workshops. The Foundation also operates The Actor’s Center and Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab. Details are available at www.sagfoundation.org, www.bookpals.net and www.storylineonline.net.

PEOPLE magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) will host the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala for the 19th consecutive year. This exclusive event honors the philanthropic causes and good works of the members of SAG-AFTRA. The gala, benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, will immediately follow the SAG Awards.

The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC will be produced by Avalon Harbor Entertainment. Inc. and  will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 at 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT).  Nominations will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at  9 a.m. (ET) / 6 a.m. (PT), carried live on TNT and TBS, sagawards.tntdrama.com and tbs.com.

XXX
Raymond Lo

News: "Boyhood" Featurette on Hulu

IFC Films debuted today a "Boyhood" featurette on Hulu.

"The Making of Boyhood - 12 Years on Film" is a 10-minute featurette, spanning 12 years, and gives an extensive look at the process of creating what The New York Times calls "one of the most extraordinary movies of the 21st century." Go behind-the-scenes with Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater as they delve into how they created this groundbreaking epic.

"Boyhood" was filmed over 12 years with the same cast and is a feature-length film about growing up as seen through the eyes of a boy named Mason (played by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. The film charts the rocky terrain of childhood, parenting and growing up. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations - and all the moments in between - are set to a soundtrack spanning the years with music from Coldplay, Paul McCartney and Arcade Fire.

Watch the featurette below:


XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 American Film Institute Best List

"American Sniper"

The American Film Institute (AFI) revealed their highly anticipated yearender list featuring the best films and television shows of the year. The list usually have ten film and ten TV shows but this year, AFI decided to come up with 11 films - which, in my opinion, represents the general lack of truly outstanding and excellent films this year thus the inability to exclude a title over another. But that's just me.

The list is non-competitive and acknowledges the collaborative nature of film and TV production, bringing the community’s creative teams together in a unique celebration of their work.

Movies of the Year
AMERICAN SNIPER
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
BOYHOOD
FOXCATCHER
THE IMITATION GAME
INTERSTELLAR
INTO THE WOODS
NIGHTCRAWLER
SELMA
UNBROKEN
WHIPLASH

TV Programs of the Year
THE AMERICANS
FARGO
GAME OF THRONES
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
JANE THE VIRGIN
THE KNICK
MAD MEN
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
SILICON VALLEY
TRANSPARENT

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Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 New York Online Film Critics Winners

"Boyhood" wins Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress of the year!

"Birdman", "Two Days, One Night" are multiple winners!

2014 Winners!

FILM: Boyhood 
DIRECTOR: Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
ACTOR: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
ACTRESS: Marion Cotillard, (Two Days, One Night)
SCREENPLAY: Birdman (Amando Bo, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giacobone, Alejandro G. Inarritu)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Birdman (Emmanuel Lubezki)
SUPPORTING ACTOR: J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)
ENSEMBLE CAST: Birdman
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Two Days, One Night 
DOCUMENTARY: Life Itself
ANIMATED FEATURE: The Lego Movie
DEBUT AS DIRECTOR: Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler)

xxx

Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 Boston Society of Film Critics Winners!

"Boyhood", "Birdman", "Two Days, One Night" are multiple winners!

2014 Winners

Best Picture  - Boyhood
Best Actor - Michael Keaton for Birdman
Best Actress - Marion Cotillard for The Immigrant and Two Days, One Night
Best Supporting Actor -  J. K. Simmons for Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress -  Emma Stone for Birdman
Best Director - Richard Linklater for Boyhood
Best Screenplay -  (tie) Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo for Birdman & Richard Linklater for Boyhood
Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman
Best Documentary - Citizenfour
Best Foreign-Language Film  (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) -  Two Days, One Night
Best Animated Film - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - Sandra Adair for Boyhood
Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) -  Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler
Best Ensemble Cast -  Boyhood
Best Use of Music in a Film - Inherent Vice

Read my full review of Boyhood here.

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 Gotham IFP Awards Winners

The 2014 Gotham Awards is currently being handed out in, where else, but in Gotham City.

Go "Boyhood"! 
Go "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night"!

The winners are in red. My predictions are as indicated.

Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood - WINNER (My Prediction)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Love Is Strange
Under the Skin

Best Documentary
Actress
CITIZENFOUR
Life Itself - WINNER (My Prediction)
Manakamana
Point and Shoot

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Ana Lily Amirpour for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Kino Lorber) - WINNER (My Prediction)
James Ward Byrkit for Coherence (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Eliza Hittman for It Felt Like Love (Variance Films)
Justin Simien for Dear White People (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)




Best Actor
Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)
Ethan Hawke in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year (A24)
Michael Keaton in Birdman (Fox Searchlight Pictures) - WINNER (My Prediction)
Miles Teller in Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best Actress
Patricia Arquette in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Beyond the Lights (Relativity Media)
Julianne Moore in Still Alice (Sony Pictures Classics)- WINNER (My Prediction)
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin (A24)
Mia Wasikowska in Tracks (The Weinstein Company)






Breakthrough Actor
Riz Ahmed in Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Macon Blair in Blue Ruin (RADiUS)
Ellar Coltrane in Boyhood (IFC Films)- WINNER (My Prediction)
Joey King in Wish I Was Here (Focus Features)
Jenny Slate in Obvious Child (A24)
Tessa Thompson in Dear White People (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
Actress
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood- WINNER (My Prediction)
CITIZENFOUR
Coherence
Dear White People
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
The Grand Budapest Hotel
It Felt Like Love
Life Itself
Love Is Strange
Manakamana
Nightcrawler
Point and Shoot
Under the Skin

Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant
Garrett Bradley, director, Below Dreams
Claire Carré, director, Embers
Chloé Zhao, director, Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Awards: New York Film Critics 2014 Winners

NYFCC honors movie magic of Linklater's grand American masterpiece "Boyhood"!

Marion Cotillard scores well-deserved nods for two films. Brit Timothy Spall wins best actor!

2014 Awards

Best Picture: BOYHOOD
Best Director: Richard Linklater, BOYHOOD
Best Screenplay: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, THE IMMIGRANT and TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT
Best Actor: Timothy Spall, MR. TURNER
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, BOYHOOD
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, WHIPLASH
Best Cinematographer: Darius Khondji, THE IMMIGRANT
Best Animated Film: THE LEGO MOVIE
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): CITIZENFOUR
Best Foreign Film: IDA (Poland)
Best First Film: Jennifer Kent, THE BABADOOK

The group gave a special career award to Adrienne Mancia, film curator for such institutions as the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Academy of Music to: Adrienne Mancia

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: Gotham IFP Nominees

"A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night", "Boyhood", "Still Alice", "Birdman" lead Gotham IFP nominees! 

Voting for the 24th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP, the first major awards ceremony of the winter awards season, began last week. Voters have until Wednesday, November 26th, to cast their ballots.

There are 24 independent films that received nominations this year in seven competitive categories including Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Actor, Best Actress , Breakthrough Actor, the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director award and the Gotham Audience Award.

In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Award Tributes will be given to actor Tilda Swinton, director Bennett Miller and Industry Tribute recipient Netflix’s Ted Sarandos. The nominating committee for the Best Actor category also decided to award a collective Special Jury Award to the three leading stars of "Foxcatcher" – Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum – for their fine ensemble work.

As the first major awards ceremony of the film season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP provide critical early recognition and media attention to worthy independent films. The awards are also unique for their ability to assist in catapulting award recipients prominently into national awards season attention, including recent winners and ultimate Oscar® contenders.

Nominees were selected by committees of film critics, journalists, festival programmers, and film curators. Separate juries of writers, directors, actors, producers, editors and others directly involved in making films will determine the final Gotham Award recipients. Twenty writers, critics and programmers participated in the nomination process, considering 199 eligible submissions.

“Each year the Gotham Awards honor the best work from our independent storytellers and help new audiences discover their work. We congratulate this year’s nominees, from the master film artists to the talented newcomers, a true representation of the rich and diverse range of today’s independent filmmaking,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “We are grateful to our nominating committees of film critics, journalists, programmers and film curators for their dedication to selecting the nominees from so many worthy submissions.”

The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held two weeks from now on Monday, December 1st at Cipriani Wall Street. Good luck to all.

The NY and LA film critics will soon announce their nominations. The National Board of Review will follow along with the HFPA Golden Globes. Oscar nominations will not be known until January 2015.

The 2014 Gotham Independent Film Award nominations are:

Best Feature

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, director; Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Boyhood - WINNER (My Prediction)
Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, producers (IFC Films)

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson, director; Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Love Is Strange
Ira Sachs, director; Lucas Joaquin, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)

Under the Skin
Jonathan Glazer, director; Nick Wechsler, James Wilson, producers (A24)


Best Documentary

Actress
Robert Greene, director; Douglas Tirola, Susan Bedusa, Robert Greene, producers (The Cinema Guild)

CITIZENFOUR
Laura Poitras, director; Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky, producers (RADiUS, Participant Media, and HBO Documentary Films)

Life Itself - WINNER (My Prediction)
Steve James, director; Zak Piper, Steve James, Garrett Basch, producers (Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films)

Manakamana
Stephanie Spray & Pacho Velez, directors; Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Véréna Paravel, producers (The Cinema Guild)

Point and Shoot
Marshall Curry, director; Marshall Curry, Elizabeth Martin, Matthew Van Dyke, producers (The Orchard and American Documentary / POV)


Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Ana Lily Amirpour for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Kino Lorber) - WINNER (My Prediction)
James Ward Byrkit for Coherence (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Eliza Hittman for It Felt Like Love (Variance Films)
Justin Simien for Dear White People (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)

Best Actor
Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)
Ethan Hawke in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year (A24)
Michael Keaton in Birdman (Fox Searchlight Pictures) - WINNER (My Prediction)
Miles Teller in Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

Best Actress
Patricia Arquette in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Beyond the Lights (Relativity Media)
Julianne Moore in Still Alice (Sony Pictures Classics)- WINNER (My Prediction)
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin (A24)
Mia Wasikowska in Tracks (The Weinstein Company)

Breakthrough Actor
Riz Ahmed in Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Macon Blair in Blue Ruin (RADiUS)
Ellar Coltrane in Boyhood (IFC Films)- WINNER (My Prediction)
Joey King in Wish I Was Here (Focus Features)
Jenny Slate in Obvious Child (A24)
Tessa Thompson in Dear White People (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
Actress
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood- WINNER (My Prediction)
CITIZENFOUR
Coherence
Dear White People
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
The Grand Budapest Hotel
It Felt Like Love
Life Itself
Love Is Strange
Manakamana
Nightcrawler
Point and Shoot
Under the Skin

Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant
For the fourth consecutive year, IFP is proud present the euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ grant, a $25,000 cash award for an alumna of IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs. This grant aims to further the careers of emerging women directors by supporting the completion, distribution and audience engagement strategies of their first feature film.

The nominees are:
Garrett Bradley, director, Below Dreams
Claire Carré, director, Embers
Chloé Zhao, director, Songs My Brothers Taught Me

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2015 Spirit Award Nominations on November 25

The nominations have been announced! Click here for the full list: http://raymonddeasislo.blogspot.com/2014/11/awards-2014-independent-spirit-award.html




The 2014-2015 awards season is slowly heating up. Film Independent announced today that the 2015 Spirit Award nominations will be held two weeks from now on November 25 at the W Hollywood in Hollywood. Rosario Dawson (Top Five, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Cesar Chavez, Rent) and Diego Luna (The Book of Life, Cesar Chavez, Y Tu Mama Tambien) will host the event in a press conference style at 10:00 am PT.

“We are so thrilled that Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna are teaming up once more to join Film Independent in announcing this year’s Spirit Award nominees,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “This year marks our 30th anniversary and we look forward to celebrating with the independent film community on the beach on February 21st.”

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, will announce the winners on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards. The live event is held under Film Independent’s signature tent on the beach in Santa Monica and will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 pm PT/ 5:00 pm ET.

The organization also announced that Maggie Mackay has been promoted to Director of Spirit Awards Nominations. Mackay was formerly Senior Programmer at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Announced earlier this month, Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions joined the team as executive producer and producer Shawn Davis returns for his 13th show.

Spirit Awards are given out in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best International Film, Best Documentary, Best Editing and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Awards include the Piaget Producers Award, the LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award and the Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award.

In addition to celebrating the broad spectrum of independent filmmaking, the Spirit Awards is also the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity in the industry. To learn more about table sales and attendance, please contact jmurby@filmindependent.org or 310.432.1253.

About the Film Independent Spirit Awards
Now in its 30th year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience. The winners of the Spirit Awards are voted upon by Film Independent and IFP Members. Awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best International Film, Best Documentary and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, the LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award, and the Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget, The Lincoln Motor Company, Bank of America, Heineken and IFC. FIJI Water is the Official Water of the 2015 Spirit Awards. WireImage is the Official Photographer of Film Independent.

About Film Independent
Film Independent is a nonprofit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a Member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.
In addition to producing the Spirit Awards, Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year- round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.
For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org/membership.

View the special Happy Birthday message from John Waters below:



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It is still Matthew McConaughey's year!

Matthew McConaughey

True, 2014 is indeed Matthew's year. After scooping majority of the acting awards last winter for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club" - which included a coronation at the Oscars in March - and a nomination at the Emmys for his acclaimed turn in the HBO series "True Detective" AND a forthcoming movie with Christopher Nolan in this fall's much-anticipated "Interstellar",  Matthew is still getting more recognition from the industry left and right.

Next month, Matthew is set to receive one of the most important recognition any actor will ever receive in his career. The American Cinematheque Award has selected the actor as its 28th recipient of the award that has previously been bestowed to the likes of Eddie Murphy (1986); Bette Midler (1987); Robin Williams (1988); Steven Spielberg (1989); Ron Howard (1990); Martin Scorsese (1991); Sean Connery (1992); Michael Douglas (1993); Rob Reiner (1994); Mel Gibson (1995); Tom Cruise (1996); John Travolta (1997); Arnold Schwarzenegger (1998); Jodie Foster (1999); Bruce Willis (2000); Nicolas Cage (2001); Denzel Washington (2002); Nicole Kidman (2003); Steve Martin (2004); Al Pacino (2005) George Clooney (2006), Julia Roberts (2007);Samuel L. Jackson (2008); Matt Damon (2010); Robert Downey Jr. (2011), Ben Stiller (2012) and Jerry Bruckheimer (2013).

Matthew will be toasted by friends and colleagues at the Cinematheque's annual benefit gala. The presentation will take place Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The award presentation in the International Ballroom, concludes an evening of in-person tributes from Jennifer Garner, Cole Hauser, Reese Witherspoon, Lili Fini Zanuck and Jessica Chastain, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting. Additional presenters will be announced as they are confirmed. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser, benefit the programs of the American Cinematheque at the Aero and Egyptian Theatres.

Event co-chairs include: Jessica Chastain, Toby Emmerich, Jim Gianopulos, Adam Goodman, Brad Grey, Woody Harrelson, Anne Hathaway, Alan Horn, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ryan Kavanaugh, Sue Kroll, Donna Langley, Blaine Lourd, Ron Meyer, Kevin Morris, Rick Nicita, Christopher Nolan, Lynda Obst, Amy Pascal, Nic Pizzolatto, James G. Robinson, Ted Sarandos, Jeff Shell, Greg Silverman, Emma Thomas, Jim Toth, Kevin Tsujihara, Thomas Tull, Paula Wagner.

Event sponsors are:  Dolce & Gabbana Fragrances, Encore Event Technologies, The Lincoln Motor Company, Morgan Creek Productions (Platinum Sponsors); Comcast | NBCUniversal, Creative Artists Agency, The Hollywood Reporter, Legendary Pictures, Los Angeles Times, Paramount Pictures, Variety,The Walt Disney Studios (Gold Sponsors); HBO, LourdMurray, Netflix, Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. Entertainment (Silver Sponsors); and The Aero Theatre Building, Bill Block, The Glenlivet, Jonathan D. Kaufelt, Kempinsky Law Ltd., Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo LLP, Darren J. Moll, Rick Nicita, Nu Image, Relativity Media, LLC, Susan M. Tolson, Paula Wagner, Tina Perry-Whitney & Ric Whitney (Patrons)

The American Cinematheque will tweet from the event using their @SidGrauman account and the hashtag #amcinaward2014.

Here's the official pronouncement of the recognition to Matthew:

"The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to honor Matthew McConaughey as the 28th recipient of the American Cinematheque award at our celebration this year," said Rick Nicita, American Cinematheque Chairman. "Matthew McConaughey is the epitome of what a Hollywood star should be -- an adventurous, joyous and ever-growing talent combined with matinee-idol looks and an unshakeable sense of who he is and what he stands for.  We all took notice of his star presence starting with his memorable debut in DAZED AND CONFUSED through thrillers like A TIME TO KILL to period pieces like AMISTAD to hit romantic comedies like HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS. His turn towards dramas such as THE LINCOLN LAWYER and MUD showed that we only had seen a hint of what Matthew could do.  His Academy Award for DALLAS BUYERS CLUB and the rave reviews for his television debut in "True Detective," is just the beginning of his next chapter and the American Cinematheque is proud to recognize his accomplishments."

Matthew was the unanimous choice of the Cinematheque Board of Directors, which since 1986, has annually honored an extraordinary filmmaker in the entertainment industry, who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture. Funds raised benefit the year-round programming of the non-profit cultural organization, the American Cinematheque.

The executive producers of the show are Paul Flattery and Barbara Smith. Irene Crinita is the producer and Kelly Brock co-producer. Corrinne Mann is the event producer.

Hundreds of entertainment industry notables are expected to attend the Tribute. This annual event is the American Cinematheque's most important benefit, providing funds for the non-profit film exhibition organization's programs throughout the year and operation of the historic landmark Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard as well as the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica on Montana Avenue.

Tickets to the Cinematheque Tribute, an elegant black-tie dinner followed by a multi-media award presentation start at $575. Call Mann Productions for tickets and further information: 323.314.7000. Please note that this event was formerly known as the Moving Picture Ball.

Established in 1981, the American Cinematheque is a non-profit viewer-supported film exhibition and cultural organization dedicated to the celebration of the Moving Picture in all of its forms. At the Egyptian Theatre, the Cinematheque presents daily film and video programming which ranges from the classics of American and international cinema to new independent films and digital work. Exhibition of rare works, special and rare prints, etc., combined with fascinating post-screening discussions with the filmmakers who created the work, are a Cinematheque tradition that keep audiences coming back for once-in-a-lifetime cinema experiences. The American Cinematheque renovated and reopened (on December 4, 1998) the historic 1922 Hollywood Egyptian Theatre This includes a state-of-the-art 616-seat theatre housed within Sid Grauman's first grand movie palace on Hollywood Boulevard. The exotic courtyard is fully restored to its 1922 grandeur. The Egyptian was the home of the very first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922.

In early 2005 the American Cinematheque expanded its programming to the Westside with the January 5th opening of the 1940 Aero Theatre on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.

Both theatres play host to an array of industry guests who share their filmmaking experiences with our audiences.

About Matthew
(Let's assume there's one person in the world who still needs an introduction to the superstar.)

Texas native Matthew McConaughey is one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men. A chance meeting in Austin with casting director and producer Don Phillips led him to director Richard Linklater, who launched the actor's career in the cult classic "Dazed and Confused." Since then, he has appeared in over 40 feature films that have grossed over $1 billion; and has become a producer, director, and philanthropist - all the while sticking to his Texas roots and "jk livin" philosophy.

2014 has been a game changing year for McConaughey.  He made the move to TV starring alongside Woody Harrelson in the HBO dramatic series "True Detective." The show has been met by rave reviews from critics and fans alike. He has also received numerous awards and accolades for the critically acclaimed Dallas Buyers Club. McConaughey dropped 47 pounds to play to role of AIDS stricken Ron Woodruff. The film was directed by Jean Marc Valle and also stars Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto. For his riveting portrayal McConaughey received an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Gotham Award for Best Actor, the Best Actor Award at the Rome Film Festival as well as the Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

He also stars in "Interstellar," directed by Christopher Nolan, for release in November 2014.

In 2012 McConaughey was spotlighted in four diverse career changing performances. He won a Spirit Award for his portrayal of Dallas Rising in Steven Soderbergh's "Magic Mike," and was named the year's Best Supporting Actor by both the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics for his work in "Magic Mike" and Richard Linklater's "Bernie." Mr. McConaughey also received acclaim for his performance in Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy," and was a Spirit Award nominee for playing the title role in William Friedkin's "Killer Joe."

He followed this up in 2013 with the release of Jeff Nichols' "Mud," which received rave reviews and was a sleeper hit in the national box office top 10 for five weeks and Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street," which opened in December 2013.

His other films include Brad Furman's "The Lincoln Lawyer," Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder," McG's "We Are Marshall," Jill and Karen Sprecher's "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing," Bill Paxton's "Frailty," Jonathan Mostow's "U-571," Ron Howard's "EDtv," Richard Linklater's "The Newton Boys," Steven Spielberg's "Amistad," Robert Zemeckis' "Contact," Joel Schumacher's "A Time to Kill," and John Sayles' "Lone Star."

In 2008, Mr. McConaughey started the just keep livin Foundation (www.jklivinfoundation.org), which is dedicated to helping boys and girls transform into men and women through programs that teach the importance of decision-making, health, education, and active living. The Foundation has partnered with Communities in Schools (CIS) - the nation's largest, non-profit, dropout-prevention organization -in West Los Angeles to implement fitness and wellness programs in two large urban high schools. Through an afterschool program, they are able to give kids a healthy start in life and the promise of a healthy future.

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