Anthony and Joe Russo, who helmed Marvel Studios’ critically acclaimed Avengers: Endgame, are set to receive the prestigious International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) Publicists Motion Picture Showman of the Year Award for their historic contributions to the art of cinema and television. The 57th Annual Publicists Awards ceremony, which traditionally occurs the week leading up to the Academy Awards®, will be held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, February 7, 2020.
“Anthony and Joe Russo have made a huge impact in cinema with the record-breaking Avengers and Captain America films,” said Lewis Rothenberg, national president of the ICG. “They have taken audiences around the world on a wild journey with their unique and imaginative brand of storytelling and are two of the most exciting innovators in our industry today. We are thrilled to celebrate their cinematic showmanship and commitment to nurturing new talent.”
Joe and Anthony Russo are the artists and innovators of some of the world’s most successful and iconic blockbuster films and television shows. They are the only directors to direct four record-breaking and critically acclaimed films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Avengers: Endgame is the highest-grossing film of all-time, bringing in $2.79 billion, obliterating their own record set with Avengers: Infinity War. Endgame broke more than 100 box-office records, including best opening weekend of any movie in history.
The versatile filmmakers’ unique visions place them among the top-grossing directors of all time with a total box-office revenue in excess of $6.8 billion. Their creative story telling talents have expanded into television with critically acclaimed shows including Arrested Development, for which they won an Emmy® Award, Community, Happy Endings and Deadly Class.
In 2018, Joe and Anthony Russo opened their new studio, AGBO, an artist-led collective focusing on creating global content for film, television and digital platforms. They are also co-founders of Bullitt, a creative studio centered on brand-integrated entertainment and advertising content. The Russo’s recently premiered their film Mosul, directed by Matthew Michael Carnahan, at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. They are set to direct Cherry this fall starring Tom Holland, and they have produced Dhaka starring Chris Hemsworth, scheduled to premiere first quarter of 2020 from Netflix.
Awards chair this year is Tim Menke with Sheryl Main serving as co-chair. The awards will be presented in the following categories: Motion Picture Showman of the Year, Television Showman of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, The Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Award for Motion Picture Campaign, The Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Award for Television Campaign, Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity, and the Bob Yeager Award for Community Service. More than 800 industry leaders are expected to attend the awards luncheon. Media sponsors include The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, SHOOT Magazine/SHOOTonline, and Variety.
Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with 2 Swift-inspired films airing this season
Two new Christmas TV movies have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding.
"Christmas in the Spotlight" debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world's biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger as a pro football player, who meet and fall in love — not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
"It's clearly inspired by Taylor and Travis, but I don't know them and I don't know what is going on behind the scenes. I only know what's been put out there," said Eirene Tran Donohue, a longtime, devoted fan who jumped at the opportunity to write a script even loosely based on her favorite musician.
She was inspired by the couple's support of each other's accomplishments, particularly Kelce's ease with dating the star despite the glare of the spotlight, adding, "I love the way that he celebrates her."
Tran Donohue wants fellow Swift fans to know she wrote the script with them in mind.
"There are so many Easter eggs," she said of little details added that a Swift fan would pick up on. "I put in as many as I could."
Then, on Nov. 30, Hallmark will air "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story." Instead of a nod to Swift, it's an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark's headquarters is also in Kansas City, so it makes sense why the company chose the Chiefs to be highlighted.
In this story, written by Julie Sherman Wolfe, sparks fly when a new employee for the Chiefs organization (Tyler Hynes) meets a woman — played by Hunter King — whose family's dedication to the team goes back generations.
Sherman Wolfe, a San Francisco 49ers fan, said she got the call a week after Super Bowl LVIII, when the Chiefs... Read More