Writer-director Ezra J. Stanley, an alum of SHOOT’s 2010 New Directors Showcase, has teamed with producer Michael Axtell to win the Best Commercial Award at the 2016 HollyShorts Film Festival for Toymail’s “Pancakes.” This marks the second time Stanley has earned the HollyShorts honor; back in 2011 his Levi’s “Post-Mortem” topped the commercial category at the HollyShorts competition.
In “Pancakes,” a genius boy uses his cutting edge stuffed Toymail animal to respectfully tell his father how to make a better breakfast. Toymail is a new plush version tech toy that allows children to text and communicate without using a screen. The recorded voice goes to the stuffed animal and the voice goes to the guardian’s phone. They then can respond back to the app, and the voice is reinterpreted in the character of the toy.
“Pancakes” made its world premiere at HollyShorts.
With the momentum of his recent HollyShorts win, Stanley is in the market for a commercial production house affiliation while he currently continues to maintain his own AboveGrey Pictures.
Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton among hosts for “SNL” season 50
Fresh off her Emmys win, Jean Smart will kick off the landmark 50th season of "Saturday Night Live."
NBC on Thursday announced the lineup of hosts for the season, which premieres Sept. 28. Joining Smart on the first show will be Jelly Roll as the musical act. He was also at the Emmys, singing during the ceremony's in memoriam segment.
It will be Smart's first time hosting "SNL."
Comedian Nate Bargatze will host on Oct. 5, with Coldplay as the musical guest.
Ariana Grande will host Oct. 12, with musical guest Stevie Nicks.
"Beetlejuice" star Michael Keaton will host on Oct. 19, the last show before Halloween, and Billie Eilish will be that night's musical guest.
The host on Nov. 2 will be "SNL" alum John Mulaney, with breakout sensation Chappell Roan as the music guest.
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