Assets, Audience, Money: Skydance / Paramount Redux
Plus: Long-awaited festival films hit theaters; film acquisition news; this week's jobs and funding opportunities
Happy Thursday, friends.
Behind on the chatter around the long-awaited Skydance-Paramount deal? Here are some of the most interesting takes we’ve seen:
The Assets Angle: What happens to each piece of Paramount’s Empire (THR)
The Money Angle: Matt Belloni’s five takeaways on the deal (Puck)
While we wait for the deal to go through in 2025, we’ve got lots to talk about… including a bunch of new films in theaters and other newsy acquisitions.
Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the app.
What to Watch This Weekend: Now In Theaters
Love from the Ground Up
Skywalkers: A Love Story. “The emotional landscape Zimbalist charts… is impressive” (THR). Jeff Zimbalist, Director; Renato Borrayo Serrano, Cinematographer; Maria Bukhonina, Producer; Nick Frew, Executive Producer; Tereza Dos Santos Costa, Composer. In Theaters Friday
Dandelion. “Like an American counterpart of John Carney’s iconic Once… cinematographer Lauren Guiteras’ camera gets so close… we feel as close to Casey as Dandelion must” (IndieWire). Lauren Guiteras, DP; Adam Reichardt, Key Grip; Andrés Marthe, ADR Mixer. In Theaters Friday.
Fly Me To The Moon. “A space-age sparring match of the Rock Hudson/Doris Day variety” (Variety). Bill Kirstein, Associate Producer; Laura Blair, Asst. Location Manager. In Theaters Friday.
Examining the Underbelly
Longlegs. “From the first seconds to the last, [it] will have you squirming, a triumph of tension and tone and pure nightmare fuel” (AV Club). Dan Kagan, Producer. In Theaters Friday.
Sasha Reid & The Midnight Order. The new doc series from Nancy Schwartzman introduces “a female team of serial killer investigators" (The Wrap). Jasmine Luoma, Producer; Kathleen Flood, EP. Hulu.
Sorry/Not Sorry. “A fascinating documentary as it breaks down, scene by scene, how easily misbehavior can be twisted into a punch line” (The Atlantic). Kathleen Lingo, Producer; Kyle Scott Wilson, Composer. In Theaters Friday.
Queer Rites of Passage
National Anthem. The film “arrives at a time when everything it celebrates is under attack, and such a low-key affirmation… might actually be what we really need right now” (Deadline). Zackary Drucker, Producer; Kendra Tuthill, Art Department Coordinator; Jamie Ember, Casting Director; Rebeca Duran, Camera Operator; Edgar Rosa, Line Producer. In Theaters Friday.
Unicorns. “Brings a streak of hopefulness to gritty social realism, with the added attraction of superstar drag queens” (The Guardian). Jenny Halper, Co-Producer; Iain Kitching, Editor; Rajal Pitroda, Production Consultant. In UK & Irish Theaters.
What We’re Reading
A24 just got a significant investment from Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital
Kneecap filmmakers launch production company Coup d’Etat Films
On the Festival and Acquisitions Beat
Oscar-qualifier LA Shorts International Film Festival kicks off next Wednesday. Check out all the films, industry attendees, and Portrait members involved on the app.
Magnolia Pictures acquires Omni Loop, sci-fi pic starring Mary-Louise Parker & Ayo Edebiri. Caity Birmingham, PD; Chantelle Adams, Set Decorator; Ava Benjamin Shorr, Cinematographer; Audrey Waple, Prop Master.
Abramorama acquires Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision. Karol Martesko-Fenster, CEO, Co-Chairman of Abramorama.
Level 33 acquires Chasing Chasing Amy. Sav Rodgers, Director; Alex Schmider, Carrie Radigan, Matthew Mills, Anthony Pedone, Lela Meadow-Conner, Producers; Chris Vivion, Jeffrey Weber, EPs; Celeste Erlander, Archival Producer; Bradley Garrison; Bill Winters, DPs; Fletch Power, Camera Operator; Jordi Nus, Composer; Sharika Ajaikumar, Editor.
Window of Opportunity 🔍
Check out the Discover Tab on Portrait for grants, programs, festivals, and jobs.
Closing Soon: Programs + Grants
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
See the full database of upcoming grants, programs, and festival deadlines on the app. Here are a few of this week’s deadlines:
WSC Squad (7/12 deadline)
New Orleans Film Fest South Pitch (7/12 deadline)
Rideback Rise Fellowship (7/15 deadline)
Film Independent Picture Shop Grant (7/15 deadline)
Nostos Screenwriting Retreat (7/15 deadline + discount)
Sundance Documentary Fund (7/15 deadline)
Picture Shop Feature Film Grant (7/17 deadline)
Terri Rogers Film Grant (7/23 deadline)
Her Arts Film Lab (7/25 deadline)
Urbanworld Screenplay Contest (7/26 deadline + discount)
Bronx Doc Center Fellowship (7/30 deadline)
AXS Film Fund (7/31 deadline)
Queer Art Mentorship (7/31 deadline)
DOC NYC New Leaders (8/1 deadline)
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
See all the jobs and gigs for this week on the app. This is just the shortlist :)
Director, Theatrical Sales, Disney.
Vice President, Creative Development - DC Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Senior Business Operations Manager, Netflix.
Theatrical Sales Analyst, Paramount.
LN Concerts, SVP Production & Operations, Live Nation.
Senior Global Publicist, Sony Pictures.
Seasonal Graphics Designer/Animator, National Football League (NFL).
Executive Director, Originals Marketing, Lionsgate.
Sr. Producer, Jazz Basketball Investors LLC.
Video Editor, Yes Theory.
Membership Manager, Producers Guild Of America.
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on Portrait.
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