In an exciting but entirely predictable humblebrag, Sony Pictures lured their new creative partner Quentin Tarantino to CinemaCon 2018, where the movie-obsessed director charmed thousands of American exhibitors.

Appearing with his leading man Leonardo DiCaprio, Tarantino walked out onto The Forum stage at Caesar’s Palace with nary a concept image or additional cast to announce for his upcoming tenth film — “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” — which Sony snatched from a wide field of competitors after the fall of Tarantino’s longtime distribution partner Harvey Weinstein.

“Sony and myself will be coming to the theaters with the most exciting star dynamic duo since Robert Redford and Paul Newman,” Tarantino promised the crowd.

He’s referring to his other massive star, Brad Pitt, who will lead the project with DiCaprio. The men will play a faded TV star and his live-in stunt double searching for relevance in a changing Hollywood landscape in 1969.

Oh, and their neighbors are a nice couple named Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate.

“It takes place at the advent of the counterculture explosion. It takes place at the time of the hippie revolution and the height of new Hollywood,” Tarantino said.

He had no further details but promised that during production he would be transforming Los Angeles “street by street, block by block” to model exteriors in step with the period.

Sony’s Motion Picture Group President Tom Rothman called Tarantino’s script “the best I’ve had the privilege to read.”

DiCaprio didn’t have much to add, finding it difficult to speak at length about a film that has yet to shoot “a single frame.”

The conversation ended with a rousing thank you from Tarantino to the theater owners for keeping the cinematic experience where it belongs –in their theater.

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” hasn’t begun principal photography yet, but it has a release date.

The new Butch and Sundance will be coming at you on August 9, 2019.

Source: SFGate

The details are scarce about Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming new movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. We know it has an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio as aging Hollywood western stars. We know it’s set in the summer of 1969 and roughly revolves around the Charles Manson murders.

Tarantino is notorious for keeping his scripts closely guarded, so it’s likely we won’t get many more details until the first trailers. But the director and DiCaprio made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, describing the film as “probably the closest to Pulp Fiction that I have done,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Sony and myself will be coming to the theaters with the most exciting star dynamic since Paul Newman and Robert Redford,” Tarantino said of DiCaprio and Pitt. “It’s very hush-hush and top secret. But I can tell you that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood takes place in 1969, at the height of the counterculture hippie revolution and the height of new Hollywood. Street by street, block by block, we’ll transform Los Angeles into the Hollywood of 1969.”

For a director known for his incredible ensemble casts, this might be his greatest list of actors yet.

“It’s hard to speak about a film that we haven’t done yet, but I’m incredibly excited…to work with Brad Pitt, and I think he’s going to transport us,” DiCaprio added. “I’m a huge fan of Singin’ in the Rain—movies about Hollywood. As an L.A. native, having read the script, it’s one of the most amazing screenplays. We are going to do our best job to make it fantastic.”

And, it’s hard to imagine this being anything other than fantastic, especially if it’s even half the movie that Pulp Fiction is.

Source: Esquire

LAS VEGAS — Quentin Tarantino wasn’t shy about promoting his next film while sharing the stage with Leonardo DiCaprio during Monday night’s surprise visit to CinemaCon 2018.

The acclaimed director talked for the first time about his next project, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring the big-time screen duo of DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, during the closing moments of the national convention of theater owners’ first night.

Not a frame of the movie has been shot, but the hype is already underway for the drama, which is set for release on Aug. 9, 2019.

“In 2019, at the end of the summer, August, as they are setting off the last explosion of the last franchise movie of the summer, Sony and myself will be coming to the theaters with the most exciting star dynamic duo since Robert Redford and Paul Newman —Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Tarantino said.

The film marks Tarantino’s first project since controversy erupted over his close relationship with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and Kill Bill star Uma Thurman’s accusations that Tarantino mistreated her on the set.

The movie is still shrouded in mystery. Tarantino didn’t mention Once Upon a Time being a Sharon Tate project or dealing with cult leader Charles Manson, as the film has been described in previous reports.

In February, Sony Pictures announced the movie would center around two men who lived next door to Tate in the late 1960s.

Source: USA Today

The producers of an upcoming film about the founding of gaming company Atari are looking to a cryptocurrency sale to lock down the movie’s financing. Variety reports that media company Vision Tree plans to sell “Bushnell tokens” — named after Atari founder Nolan Bushnell — as part of an initial coin offering, with hopes that it can raise as much as $40 million of the film’s budget through the sale. Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way is also producing the film.

In addition to earning a share of the movie’s profits, anyone who buys a Bushnell coin will also get to provide input on the movie’s trailer and cast, according to the report. “We wanted to enable Atari fans and gamers to co-own the project and the experience,” producer J.D. Seraphine said in a statement to Variety. It’s not clear exactly how this would work, or how much influence investors would have.

The project is described as a Social Network-esque look at the founding of the gaming company, as seen through the lens of Bushnell’s life. However, the film comes at an unpleasant moment. Last month, organizers of the 18th annual Game Developers Choice Awards rescinded their plans to give Bushnell GDC’s Pioneer Award, after stories of sexist and inappropriate behavior during Atari’s early days began to surface online. Stories included Bushnell attempting to hold board meetings in a hot tub, and generally fostering a frat house-like environment at work. A film that refused to acknowledge these alleged aspects of Atari’s early corporate culture would be problematic unto itself. The fact that this particular project is trying to fund itself based on Bushnell’s name despite the recent controversies is perhaps even more unwise.

If Bushnell’s past isn’t enough to turn you off of the project, the token scheme might do the trick. Although cryptocurrency has seen a surge in popularity in recent months, with companies like Kodak launching their own coins and seeing stock market success, crowdfunding a movie in this particular way is a largely untested premise. Recently, the SEC has been halting a number of ICOs, which are very lightly regulated and susceptible to fraud.

Australian heavyweight Soa Palelei, also known as “The Hulk” retired from professional mixed martial arts in October 2015. His career included two runs in the UFC and a brief stint in Pride Fighting Championship. His last fight was a TKO loss to Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva at UFC 190. Palelei recently caught up with Tony Reid of MyMMANews.com for a quick chat.

Tony Reid – If you could choose one fight from your career that every MMA fan should see, which fight would you choose and why?

Soa Palelei – “I’d say my last fight with Pat Barry. I felt great going into the fight and after my first fight back in the UFC against Nikita Krylov with my rib injury I felt like I had to prove to everyone what ‘The Hulk’ can do when I’m not injured. So check it out UFC Fight Night 33 Soa ‘The Hulk’ vs. Pat Barry.”

Tony Reid – You always seem to be going hard in the gym. What was the most memorable moment from any training session you have been involved in?

Soa Palelei – “I take training very seriously as it’s part of my job. Being a professional athlete you need to be in shape for fights and also look the part. I’ve been blessed to have been able to train and train with some pretty famous people such as Leonardo Dicaprio when he was filming the Great Gatsby in Sydney. Ewan McGregor, whom I did a movie with in Australia called Son Of A Gun after filming myself Ewan and some of the other guys (Matt Nable, Brenton Thwaite) would go to the gym and work out and do some sparring. It was a laugh.”

Tony Reid – You are known for having big power on the feet and on the ground but who has the heaviest hands of anybody you have fought?

Soa Palelei – “That would most definitely have to be Mark Hunt. I’ve never fought Mark but we have trained on several occasions leading up to my fight with Pat Barry for UFC Fight Night 33. I did some of my training camp over in New Zealand with Mark and let’s just say when Mark get you in the face you’re going to sleep” (Laughs).

Tony Reid – If you could fight anyone outside the world of MMA, who would you choose to pick a fight with and why?

Soa Palelei – “This is an easy one but do I have to pick one? Because it’s out of Ronald McDonald and Colonel Sanders. Ronald McDonald for not sharing his Big Mac sauce and Colonel Sanders for not sponsoring ‘The Hulk’” (Laughs).

Tony Reid – Who are the people that inspire you most, personally and professionally?

Soa Palelei – “Personally I would have to say my daughters. These girls are so dedicated to their swimming, if they can get out of bed at 4:30 a.m., five days a week to be at swimming at 5 a.m. swim then get ready for school and do it all over again in the afternoon, there’s no reason why I can’t get out of bed myself to get to training.”

Tony Reid – If you weren’t a professional mixed martial artist what would you be doing for a living right now?

Soa Palelei – “I’ll always be involved with fitness, that’s something that’s been a part of me for quite some time. Owning a gym, having said that, I have ventured into acting and currently have movies under my belt with potentials in the pipeline, so that would be my main priority for sure, being in front of the camera is something I’m very comfortable with and would pursue it.”

Tony Reid – Being 6’4” and over 250lbs. the nickname “The Hulk” is fitting. Do you remember exactly when you got it and who gave it to you?

Soa Palelei – “It was quite some time ago. I remember sitting down with my then manager talking about the fights and he said you need a fight name… We were throwing some names out but none were fitting. I said something like the Tongan Torpedo and he laughed and said no way you need something that ties in with you and your fighting style, being known for my ground and pound he said ‘The Hulk’ because you just smash things just like Hulk Smash. So that was what we went with and it’s been fitting I believe. I’m calm and collected but when it comes to training and my job I smash it. ‘The Hulk’ comes out.”

Tony Reid – You have been in the sport for a long time now, so what is the most amazing thing you have seen in regards to the growth of MMA since the beginning of your career?

Soa Palelei – “The growth. It’s huge now. The sport continues to grow and it’s mainstream now everyone knows what the UFC and MMA are. The fact that it’s shown worldwide and the diversity of the audience is awesome to see. I’ve been around for a long time. I remember traveling all around the world sleeping in gyms in Brazil, Japan, Hawaii just to be able to get different training and knowledge.”

Tony Reid – You post may motivational quotes and phrases. Which is the one that you cherish most?

Soa Palelei – “Don’t sweat the small stuff and remember it’s all small stuff. Life is short and you’re not guaranteed tomorrow, if you want something work hard for it or as ‘The Hulk’ calls is hustle for it. No one is going to give you anything if you want something you need to work for it yourself and not let small petty things or people stop you, just keep hustling all day every day.”

Tony Reid – What is the one thing you would want the world to know about “The Hulk”?

Soa Palelei – “There’s more than what meets the eye. I’m very driven and whatever I want in life I’m going to work my ass off to get it or achieve it. ‘The Hulk’ is here to stay in many regards my brand is growing and there are big things coming for ‘The Hulk’ so stay tuned and watch this website soathehulk.com.”

Source: mymmanews.com

The Seavers were one of television’s most beloved families, and when cast members from “Growing Pains” recently reunited on TODAY, they shared some of their favorite episodes from the show … starting with inimitable patriarch Alan Thicke.

“Any of my favorite moments of Alan were usually when he was losing his mind over something we had done, usually something Kirk had done,” said Jeremy Miller, who played younger brother Ben.

“Brad Pitt was one of the nicest guys, hands down,” Miller remembered. “And for years afterward, even after ‘Thelma and Louise,’ even after he had really started to blow up, although he wasn’t Brangelina at that point, I’d run into him at the store.”

“We ran into each other multiple times and I didn’t want to bother him,” he continued. “I wouldn’t go approach him. And generally if he saw me, he’d yell out across the store ‘Jeremy!’ He’d come over and give a big hug and say hi and ask how we’ve been doing and we’d reminisce and he’d ask about you guys. It was just really nice that he was such a warm guy.”

Gold recalled, “He really did feel like a Midwest nice guy. And I kind of remember when we came for the table read, the next day, he sent muffins and thank-you notes to everybody for having a great time that week.”

She added, “Leo’s as nice as can be. We’ve seen him over the years and he’s always genuinely kind and nice.”

Source: today.com

Former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman defended fellow environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio’s expensive travel habits at a gala last week

She said his passion for green initiatives outweighs his use of jets and yachts

DiCaprio has been repeatedly criticized for his regularly use of environmentally unfriendly ways of travel, including private jets and super yachts
But the Revenant actor once said climate change was the ‘most urgent threat facing our entire species’

Huffman’s husband William H Macey argued that the stars simply spending less money in their lives will have little affect the environment
Courtney Cox said that Hollywood needed to speak out on environmental issues

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Authorities in Thailand have ordered the temporary closing of the beach made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach to halt environmental damage caused by too many tourists.

Maya Bay, on the in the Andaman Sea, will be closed to all visitors for four months annually starting this June to allow for the recovery of the island’s battered coral reefs and sea life. The decision to keep visitors away was made on Wednesday by Thailand’s national parks and wildlife department.

Can a tourist ban save DiCaprio’s coral paradise from destruction?
Many Thai marine national parks are closed from mid-May to mid-October, but because of tourist demand, Maya Bay has remained open year-round since a Hollywood crew set foot there in 1999 to film the dark backpacker tale based on a novel by Alex Garland.

The beach receives an average of 200 boats and 4,000 visitors each day.
Recent surveys by a team led by marine biologists found a large part of the coral reefs around the area is gone and sea life has virtually disappeared.

“It’s like someone who has been working for decades and has never stopped,” said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a prominent marine scientist and member of Thailand’s national strategy committee on environment development. “Overworked and tired, all the beauty of the beach is gone. We need a timeout for the beach.”

Thon said the temporary closing would kickstart the rehabilitation process.

“If you ask me if it is too late to save our islands, the answer is no. But if we don’t do something today, it will be too late,” said Thanya Netithammakum, head of the parks department.

When Maya Bay reopens, the department will set a daily limit of 2,000 tourists, while boats will no longer be allowed to anchor there and will have to dock on the opposite side of the island at floating piers.

The number of visitors the beach has been seeing is unsustainable, and a temporary closure is better than nothing, Thon said.

“The locals know that and we all know that,” he said. “This would be a good way to start managing our tourist destinations. And we can improve on what we learn after the first year. We know that it’s important we manage our resources well. It’s not about more numbers of tourists but about sustainable tourism that benefits locals as well.”

More than 35 million tourists visited Thailand last year, compared with about 10 million when The Beach premiered in 2000.

Thai authorities have in the past closed off islands ruined by mass tourism. Koh Yoong, part of the Phi Phi island chain, and Koh Tachai, in the Similan Islands national park, have been off limits to tourists permanently since mid-2016.
Thon, who surveyed both islands recently, said the results had been amazing. Areas with a bleak sea life environment and coral bleaching were now teeming with robust and colorful sea life and coral, he said. He was certain that the annual closure would also help restore Maya Bay.

“I have always dreamt that one day we could work to bring her back to life. I have been following and working on Maya Bay for more than 30 years. I had seen it when it was a heaven and I see it when it has nothing left. Anything that we can do to bring this paradise back to Thailand is the dream of a marine biologist,” he said.