Showbiz Sandbox
Showbiz Sandbox 465: Ang Lee’s Latest Science Project
Filmmaker Ang Lee is arguably one of the best directors to ever step behind a camera. He’s made acclaimed films such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain” and “Life of Pi,” winning three Oscars along the way. However Lee’s latest efforts have been more concerned with filmmaking technology than their script.
That was certainly the case with “Gemini Man,” an action film that stars Will Smith playing an assassin opposite a digitally de-aged version of himself. Geoff Boucher of Deadline spoke with Lee about the challenges of making the film, which was shot in high frame rate at 120 frames per second.
Meanwhile, China deleted “South Park” from the airwaves (and the internet) after a new episode mocked the country’s human rights record. Then China canceled the broadcast of an NBA basketball game being played in Shanghai after a league executive showed support for anti-government protestors in Hong Kong. We discuss what this means for all the businesses that want a piece of the Chinese market but don’t want to damage their brand worldwide.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to a controversial writer, a new K-Pop supergroup storms the music charts and Apple launches an in-house production studio with some big name talent.
‘Joker’ Dominates International Box Office With $124 Million
https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/joker-international-box-office-gemini-man-1203368936/
Ang Lee: A Visionary Director Comes Face-To-Face With 3D’s Dimming Prospects
https://deadline.com/2019/10/gemini-man-ang-lee-comes-face-to-face-with-3ds-dimming-prospects-1202753900/
Olga Tokarczuk and Peter Handke win Nobel prizes in literature
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/10/nobel-prizes-in-literature-olga-tokarczuk-peter-handke-2019-2018
Project Blue Book Opens for Second Season Across the Globe
https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2019101457521/project-blue-book-opens-for-second-season-across-the-globe.html
SuperM Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With ‘The 1st Mini Album’
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8532879/superm-the-1st-mini-album-billboard-200-no-1
Shepard Smith’s Resignation Shocks, Saddens Fox News Insiders
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shepard-smiths-resignation-shocks-saddens-fox-news-insiders-1247177
Musicians Fear for Livelihood Without Streaming Residuals
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/is-an-extinction-level-event-musicians-fear-livelihood-streaming-residuals-1246824
Apple Launches In-House Studio With ‘Band of Brothers’/’The Pacific’ Follow-Up