Updated every Friday 12:00 PM
May 19 - May 25

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Apple announced a new season of “The Snoopy Show” and additional classic Peanuts anthology specials to hit the platform this summer  Plus, new season of BAFTA Award-winning live-action animated hybrid series “Lovely Little Farm” to debut, along with a new, full season of preschool series “Duck & Goose,” inspired by the New York Times bestselling books, and “Eva the Owlet” shorts based on the New York Times bestselling Scholastic book series...

The Writers Guild of America strike is clearly taking a toll on production, as the Los Angeles permitting agency reported a 69.5% decline in on-location permits last week. FilmLA, which handles permitting for many jurisdictions around L.A. County, reported that there were 111 permits last week for TV and feature films. That includes reality TV, which is not covered by the WGA strike. That figure was down 69.5% from the same week in 2022, when there were 364 permits. The figure does not include permits for commercial shoots, which are also done under a separate contract...

The Directors Guild of America sent a message to members that exemplified the muddled situation in which writer-directors find themselves amid the ongoing writers strike. In the communication, the DGA advised its members that minor script changes — like cutting for time and making small edits to dialogue during production — may be required of writer-directors during the strike if they are working on a project they wrote only in their capacity as a director. All of which puts writer-directors who belong to both unions in a tough spot: They risk WGA discipline — and potential public censure if they are perceived to be somehow crossing the picket line — by doing this kind of minor script-editing work. But if they don’t complete their directing work, the DGA has warned they could be replaced on the job, even though they “cannot be forced to work” individually...

Although Hollywood had tested the boundaries of film with different approaches, Alfred E. Green made an impression that set a new precedent. Baby Face (1933), which is approaching its 90th anniversary, captured the Great Depression and the American decline that affected women on an existential level. The journey of Barbara Stanwyck's Lily Powers showed an alternative perspective of women and created a path for femme fatales of the '40s and '50s. This was a daring approach in the early age of Hollywood and the influence was seen in the years to come. Baby Face created another mainstream standard that tried to show crime and flawed characters intimately, which would continue into the 1960s...

From the moment it was announced that Zack Snyder’s Justice League would be presented for home viewing in the unorthodox aspect ratio of 4:3, rather than the much more common (and screen-filling) 16:9, people have been clowning on it, especially with the HBO Max-added message assuring the viewer this is how director Zack Snyder wanted it to be presented...

Christopher Nolan revealed that he cast real scientists as extras in “Oppenheimer,” a historical drama about theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb. The cast is full of stars such as Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon and Florence Pugh, but Nolan made sure to bring in actual scientists for certain scenes to maintain the film’s authenticity. “We were in the real Los Alamos and we had a lot of real scientists as extras,” Nolan said. “We needed the crowd of extras to give reactions, and improvise, and we were getting sort of impromptu, very educated speeches. It was really fun to listen to.” “Oppenheimer” is set to open in theaters nationwide July 21 from Universal Pictures...

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) executive director Tom Mara has announced the company’s acquisition of the Seattle Cinerama Theater from the estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen. Mara revealed the news at the opening night celebration of the 49th annual SIFF on May 11. The festival runs through May 21. “We are honored to take on stewardship of this historic theater. It’s a film venue adored by the community and speaks to the critical role SIFF plays in bringing the power and art of film to diverse audiences across our region,” Mara said. “So many of us have experienced the magic of this theater, and we are excited to carry on the vision and impact that Paul Allen started so many years ago.”...

Aston Martin is perhaps best-known for its association with James Bond, which began when producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman selected the DB5 as 007’s car in 1964’s “Goldfinger.” Aston Martin’s global chief brand and commercial officer, Marco Mattiacci, says: “The movie business is where we belong.” “[The Bond franchise] has been a phenomenal platform to deliver awareness of and familiarity with our product. ”However, he adds that, as always, it’ll be how it feels to drive an Aston Martin that matters most. “The driving experience, the sensation that you feel on the inside, the smell, the touch, and to some extent the sound, is vitally important to keep you engaged with the product.”...