Talent Turns ‘Mr. Turner’ Into Portrait of a Period
Anyone who works with Mike Leigh, director of "Mr. Turner," knows ahead of time that they'll be building the project nearly from scratch: actors will help in the creation of their characters, and…
Randee Dawn
‘Into the Woods’ Artists Meld Expertise in Production Design and Costumes
The fact that production designer Dennis Gassner and costume designer Colleen Atwood both hail from the American Northwest probably had little to do with the fact that they were both hired for "Into…
Benedict Cumberbatch to Receive BIFA’s Variety Award Dec. 7
Fans of Benedict Cumberbatch call themselves "Cumberbitches," though Cumberbatch prefers "Cumberbabes." Cumberbatch, who is receiving the Variety Award at the BIFA ceremony Dec. 7, is referenced in…
Meet the Key Team at ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’
Meet the key team behind the scenes and in front of the “AFV” camera. Michael Lewis for Variety Vin Di Bona Creator/executive producer Originally, Vin Di Bona, above, was going to be a balladeer…
‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ is Stronger Than Ever in Digital Era
Pratfalls and goofs caught on camera made Vin Di Bona's career. But that doesn't mean the creator of "America's Funniest Home Videos" is an ideal videographer. "When my daughter graduated from high…
Emmy-Nominated Writers Bent History to Tell Their Stories
"The truth doesn't really want to line up and be a dramatic story very often," says John Rice, co-writer (with Joe Batteer) of the Emmy-nominated Lifetime mini "Bonnie and Clyde" (pictured). "It goes…
Reality Aftershows Keep the Party Going
Viewers are loyal to shows, not networks. It's just how the business works. This may explain why for years executives have been tearing their virtual hair out trying to figure out ways to get those…
Reality Series Crank Up Thrills for Ratings Highs
“Skywire Live," Discovery's airing of high-wire walker Nic Wallenda's stroll across the Grand Canyon, was a massive undertaking: Performed in the desert with no infrastructure, producers had to build…
American Themes Dominate New Crop of TV Movies and Miniseries
A president is assassinated. Unspeakable evil unfolds in the wintry Midwest. An elderly woman makes a reflective trip to her hometown. Society is ravaged by a plague and the government doesn't act…
Baddies Serve Up Juiciest Roles for Guest Actors
Oh, it's good to play bad. Actors of all levels know this already, but guest actors get to relish their roles a little more than your average player, especially when they can dig into a villainous…
