All posts tagged: Hollywood

Hollywood Makeup Guru Rick Baker Addresses AI, CGI, Eddie Murphy

Hollywood Makeup Guru Rick Baker Addresses AI, CGI, Eddie Murphy

Rick Baker, who holds a record for being a seven-time Oscar winner in the makeup field, now also holds a Golden Leopard, which he can add to the collection of fantastical creatures he has created over the course of his career. After all, he just received the Vision Award, bestowed upon him on Wednesday evening during the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival and presented by Ticinomoda. “Rick Baker was responsible for a Copernican revolution in cinema: visionary and revolutionary, he opened new paths for the imagination of entire generations, showing what it truly means to witness physical transmutation on the big screen,” said Locarno artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro when he first unveiled the honor. Given Baker’s experience and track record, Hollywood folks, including those outside the makeup world, are surely curious how the maestro feels about technology and other much-discussed issues, which THR recently talked to him about. Asked about the rise of AI, Baker compared his take to his feelings about the rise of computers and CGI, recalling: “We instantly became dinosaurs, people [said]. But at that time, the computer …

12 most extreme Hollywood movie transformations for a role

12 most extreme Hollywood movie transformations for a role

The word “unrecognisable” often gets bandied about when actors take on roles that require them to adopt a new look – with Tom Cruise the latest big star to have that descriptor applied for his upcoming role in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger. While there are occasions where that word can perhaps be a bit of a stretch, there have also been several cases in Hollywood history where the work of costume, make-up and prosthetics teams – along with, on occasion, extreme diets – have resulted in pretty radical reinventions for big stars. Often, these reinventions result in huge acclaim from fans and critics amazed at seeing such a different side to performers we know so well, and several big names have ended up winning Oscars for such roles. We’ve taken a look at some of the most memorable Hollywood transformations below, from John Hurt’s iconic role in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man back in 1980, to recent Oscar nominees (and winners) like Jacob Elordi and Amy Madigan from just last year. Read on for 12 …

Lilly Wachowski Says Hollywood Won’t Finance New Film With Trans Cast

Lilly Wachowski Says Hollywood Won’t Finance New Film With Trans Cast

Lilly Wachowski, who co-directed The Matrix franchise, is opening up about the struggle to get financing for her new film that features a “wall-to-wall trans cast.” During a recent interview on KCRW’s The Business podcast, the filmmaker acknowledged that it’s unfortunately “not the greatest time in the industry to be trying to make these kinds of things because all of these opportunities are dwindling for folks with those kinds of stories to tell,” specifically those with “underrepresented voices and marginalized points of view.” Wachowski used her next project, The Hunted, as an example, saying it’s been a challenge because when she showed the script around Hollywood, nobody wanted to finance the dystopian political thriller that’s budgeted at roughly $10 million. “People like it, but they really don’t want to make it because it’s [got a] wall-to-wall trans cast,” she said of the film. “I have to get creative and figure out different ways that I can get this in front of people.” Wachowski added that the script, which she co-wrote with her partner, Mickey Ray …

Hollywood Unions Call for Settlement in Paramount-WBD Antitrust Fight

Hollywood Unions Call for Settlement in Paramount-WBD Antitrust Fight

Two top Hollywood unions are calling for California attorney general Rob Bonta and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison to reach a settlement on their pending antitrust case because, they argue, industry workers are being harmed by the delayed timeline. The leaders of the Directors Guild of America and IATSE made the request on Thursday in a letter that claimed their members are already seeing productions being put on hold or canceled as the two companies prepare for a March 2027 antitrust trial. Against a backdrop of already scant work, particularly in the L.A. area, DGA national executive director Russell Hollander and IATSE international president Matthew Loeb argued that the consequences of additional uncertainty would be borne by the rank and file. “We write to raise concerns about the potential for a prolonged timetable for the litigation… and express to you the importance that you engage directly with each other to negotiate a resolution that ameliorates the anti-competitive aspects of the proposed merger,” their letter stated. “Should such an agreement prove impossible, we would ask that …

Meet Cheers star Shelley Long’s lookalike daughter who followed her into Hollywood

Meet Cheers star Shelley Long’s lookalike daughter who followed her into Hollywood

Shelley Long was beloved as Diane Chambers in Cheers. And she inspired more than just her fans. The 76-year-old actress left the iconic sitcom after five seasons to pursue a film career and focus more on her family and raising her only daughter, Juliana Tyson Kissick. Keep reading to learn more about Shelley’s lookalike daughter who followed in her footsteps. © Getty Images Shelley and Bruce divorced in 2004 Juliana was born in 1985 Two years before Shelley exited Cheers, she and her then-husband Bruce Tyson welcomed Juliana on March 27, 1985. The proud parents raised Juliana in California. According to her LinkedIn profile, Juliana went to Marymount High School in Los Angeles, and then studied theater, dance and fine arts at Wesleyan University. After leaving Wesleyan, Juliana studied gender studies, religion, and international relations, and theater at the University of South Carolina, before ultimately graduating with a degree in Theatre from the University of Southern California (USC). © Instagram She looks so much like her mom Juliana followed in her mom’s footsteps After graduating …

Meet John Ritter’s four famous children — including Hollywood superstar son starring in major hit television dramas

Meet John Ritter’s four famous children — including Hollywood superstar son starring in major hit television dramas

John Ritter‘s legacy is still alive, years after his tragic death. On September 11, 2003, the Emmy-winning actor died suddenly at 54 from an aortic dissection, leaving behind his many comedic films and TV shows and his four children, many of whom followed in his footsteps. Keep reading to learn more about John’s Hollywood superstar son… © Getty Images Jason started acting at a young age Jason Ritter, 46 John and his first wife Nancy Morgan, who is also an actress, welcomed their first child, Jason Ritter, on February, 17, 1980. He started acting from a young age. As a child, he voiced Little Acorn in the 1991 cartoon The Real Story of O Christmas Tree. “I will say, without any hesitation, this was like a full-on nepotism hire. I will admit that. He for sure got me the job. I did try to stay away from that later,” Jason admitted during a March 2023 appearance on The Jess Cagle Show. Since his first gig, Jason has become a major Hollywood star, starring in shows …

Paramount Has Spent 100 Years In Hollywood. Would David Ellison Move?

Paramount Has Spent 100 Years In Hollywood. Would David Ellison Move?

“Paramount has deep roots in Southern California. My vision is to stay true to our roots,” wrote David Ellison in a letter to lawmakers representing the state in February. What a difference a few months makes. Now the mogul is locked in a protracted legal battle with the attorneys general of California and 11 other states as he attempts to consummate a $111 billion mega-merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. And he’s in a race against time before a ticking fee penalty of $7 million a day kicks in at the start of October if the deal isn’t done. And each week, it seems, there’s a new leak suggesting the Paramount CEO may be exploring other options to move his company’s headquarters — and taking the idea seriously. On Monday, it was Puck that kicked off another cycle when reporting that Ellison told staffers in a senior leadership meeting he plans to move the company headquarters out of state if the antitrust suit isn’t settled by Oct. 1, when that penalty fee begins. This leak underscores …

The Prolific Hollywood Filmmaker That Doesn't Actually Exist

The Prolific Hollywood Filmmaker That Doesn't Actually Exist

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Hollywood production company responds to Doctor Who speculation

Hollywood production company responds to Doctor Who speculation

Dean Devlin, the CEO of LA-based production company Electric Entertainment, has responded to reports that the company is “in talks” with the BBC regarding the future of Doctor Who. Devlin, who is also a producer, writer and director known for his work on Stargate and Independence Day, said that the company hopes to have a discussion with the BBC, but firmly denied that any talks have thus far taken place. When approached by Radio Times, Devlin said in a statement: “It is untrue that we have had negotiations with the BBC. Preliminary or otherwise. When the proper time comes when they are prepared to speak with people, we certainly hope to have a discussion with them.” David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, wearing a tailored coat and a brown, blue, and white checked suit. BBC It had been reported that Devlin hoped to reinstate David Tennant as the Doctor, after he played the 10th and 14th incarnations, but given that no talks have yet taken place, this appears to be speculation. Electric Entertainment has previously been …

80s heartthrobs who completely turned their backs on Hollywood to work normal 9-to-5 jobs

80s heartthrobs who completely turned their backs on Hollywood to work normal 9-to-5 jobs

’80s heartthrobs were in a league of their own, from the Brat Pack stars to sitcom sex symbols. But some of these celebs decided to trade in their life in the spotlight for a much simpler one, away from the complications of Hollywood stardom. Read on to see which heartthrobs had stayed more hidden since their days of ’80s fame… © Getty Images Michael Schoeffling reportedly crafts handmade furniture in Pennsylvania Michael Schoeffling You can’t spell ’80s heartthrob’ without ‘Michael Schoeffling’. The Sixteen Candles star had teenage hearts beating faster as the object of Molly Ringwald’s affections. Instead of pursuing the star success he was on track to achieve, Michael decided to leave Hollywood behind. He’s since set up a woodworking business, reportedly providing hand-crafted furniture, in Pennsylvania. He lives with wife Valerie and the couple share two children: Scarlett and Zane.  © Getty Images Erik Estrada joined the police force Erik Estrada Erik Estrada’s ’70s fame carried over into the ’80s with a star role on CHiPs. He starred as the crush-worthy Officer Francis ‘Frank’ …