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Uli Edel will direct “Shadow Song,” the story of the bond between a Chinese music student and his Jewish classmate.

The film is a feature-length version of the 2017 short “A Children’s Song” and boasts a screenplay by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (“Chocolat”). Edel is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker who previously directed “The Baader Meinhof Complex” and “Houdini.”

The feature film will be produced by Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis at Out of the Blue Entertainment, and The H Collective’s Kent Jianhui Huang and Mark Rau, who was recently named CEO of Thc Germany. Ganis, who is on the board of Thc, produced “A Children’s Song,” which won top awards at more than 20 film festivals worldwide.

“Shadow Song” was inspired by a true story and is set in contemporary times with flashbacks to World War II. It follows two music students who meet while attending a U.

Hollywood screenwriter and author Bettina Gilois died Sunday night in her sleep after battling cancer, her friend Joshua Plant confirmed to Variety. She was 58.

Gilois wrote the HBO film “Bessie” starring Queen Latifah, and numerous other films and books.

Before her death, Gilois had several projects in the works, including the drama “Shutter Spy,” about Hollywood photographer Frank Worth, and the series “Muscle Shoals,” which is produced by Johnny Depp. She was also writing a story for Lifetime about Mahalia Jackson, and Netflix’s “A Million Miles Away,” a true story about Jose Hernandez, a migrant worker who later became an astronaut.

Her credits include Disney’s “McFarland, USA” with Kevin Costner, “Glory Road” starring Josh Lucas and Lifetime’s “The Lost Wife of Robert Durst.” She was nominated for a Emmy for writing “Bessie” and “McFarland, USA.”

Among its accolades, “Bessie” won an NAACP Image Award for writing for...

Bettina Gilois, an award-winning screenwriter and author, has died in her sleep at age 58, according to a friend. She had an advanced form of cancer and passed just days before her July 9 birthday.

Gilois was having what was described by a friend as “a career year” when she passed, with several projects in development at various networks.

Gilois first began working as an assistant to Slava Tsukerman, the director of Liquid Sky, in her native Berlin. She also worked at Andy Warhol’s Factory in New York on the television series Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes.

She subsequently joined Keith Barish and Arnold Kopelson Productions as a development executive, which led to producing credits on Fire Birds, as well as Triple Bogie on a Par Five Hole with Amos Poe.

She began her writing career working with Joel Silver Productions, and in the last twenty five years has written projects for further notable producers,...

Well, everybody else here is talking about Wonder Woman, so I guess it’s my turn. Caution: there may be S-p-o-i-l-e-r-s ahead! (Especially my sixth bullet, below.)

It’s been said before, and I’ll say it again. Gal Gadot is to Ww as Christopher Reeve was to Superman. Her portrayal of the Amazon leaves an indelible print upon the character; it’s as if Zeus did indeed exhale, not upon a figure of clay, but upon a two-dimensional comic book form drawn of pen and ink, allowing her to step off the flat page and into the three-dimensional world, granting her life and all the depth and breadth of humanity. Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor is not some ineffectual weenie who somehow got through basic training, nor is he some steroid-enhanced muscle-bound moose. Nor is he the male version of a 1950s Lois Lane, mooning after love. Nor is...

For untold millennia, deep into the misty pagan past, groups of women have gathered under the dark of night to commune with nature and share valuable folk knowledge. Now, a new generation of self-proclaimed witches, drawn by their own misty memories of playing with Ouija boards at sleepovers and bookmarking the dirty parts of The Mists Of Avalon, has answered the call.

Unlike the crunchy new age types who made Wicca into a (loosely) organized religion in the 1970s, these witches are more likely to be urban than rural, to be heavily tattooed than clad in a Ren Faire-style peasant skirt, and to keep their Book Of Shadows online, where a search for “#witchesofinstagram” turns up hundreds of thousands of results and “#witch” more than two million. The religious dimension of the whole thing can vary wildly as well, from committed neo-pagans to casual dabblers. They all refer to their...

Blame it on the gremlins.

Here’s a brief excerpt from last week’s column that will help you understand why we’re in the gremlin-blaming game:

If you think I’m recommending the course, you’re right, and so you should know its title. Happy to oblige Dr. Armstrong had reached the section of her presentation that deals with the twentieth century Arthur and spoke of Marian Zimmer Bradley’s Arthurian novels – you might know The Mists of Avalon – and then she began to talk about Mike Barr’s comics.

Notice anything missing there? Yep. After “happy to oblige” there should be the name of the course I’m recommending. And there isn’t. Tsk.

Well, let us make haste to right the wrong. I’m happy to oblige you with the following information: “King Arthur: History and Legend.”

The course is offered by The Teaching Company as part...

I must have been aware of Camelot 3000 back when it was appearing in 12 parts, from 1982 to 1985, me being a honkin’ big comics pro and all, and there were a lot of comics strewing my life. And, by then, I’d known the series writer, Mike W. Barr, for years. But I don’t know how many of the installments I read, if any. As mentioned above, there were a lot of comics around me and though I was a pretty dedicated reader of things in general, I might have skipped over any comic book in which I had no professional interest. If I did miss Camelot 3000, my bad.

A few hours ago, Mari and I were watching a video course offered by The Teaching Company – let us simultaneously bow our heads and cheer – taught by a charismatic professor named Dorsey Armstrong. It dealt with a subject we don’t know much about,...

Exclusive: In his final film performance, the late Robin Williams lends his voice to sci-fi comedy Absolutely Anything for Monty Python’s Terry Jones. The legendary entertainer was the first to sign onto the long-gestating comedy about a disillusioned teacher (Simon Pegg) granted the power to do “absolutely anything” by scheming aliens, played by the Pythons. In Deadline’s exclusive clip, Pegg gives his devoted dog Dennis the ability to speak – and out comes Williams’ unmistakable voice.

“One thing we’re grateful to Robin for is he was the first to come on and he stuck with the whole thing,” recalled Jones’ co-writer Gavin Scott, who with Jones spoke with me during a recent Adr session in Los Angeles.

Jones and Scott first began writing the film 20 years ago, but it didn’t come together until Jones’ son Bill and producing partner Ben Timlett found financing.

Exclusive: In his final film performance, the late Robin Williams lends his voice to sci-fi comedy Absolutely Anything for Monty Python’s Terry Jones. The legendary entertainer was the first to sign onto the long-gestating comedy about a disillusioned teacher (Simon Pegg) granted the power to do “absolutely anything” by scheming aliens, played by the Pythons. In Deadline’s exclusive clip, Pegg gives his devoted dog Dennis the ability to speak – and out comes Williams’ unmistakable voice.

“One thing we’re grateful to Robin for is he was the first to come on and he stuck with the whole thing,” recalled Jones’ co-writer Gavin Scott (The Mists of Avalon, Small Soldiers), who with Jones spoke with me during a recent Adr session in Los Angeles.

Jones and Scott first began writing the film 20 years ago, but it didn’t come together until Jones’ son Bill and producing partner Ben Timlett found financing.

Monty Python’s Terry Jones arrived during a break in the clouds Friday for an Adr session at West La’s The Village, the storied recording studio where the late Robin Williams lent his voice to Jones’ upcoming sci-fi comedy Absolutely Anything shortly before his death this summer.

“One thing we’re grateful to Robin for is he was the first to come on and he stuck with the whole thing,” recalled Jones’ close collaborator Gavin Scott (The Mists of Avalon, Small Soldiers). “The kind of attitude that led him to stick with the project through all its ups and downs, he totally exhibited here. He wanted to make everybody feel good from the engineer to the lady making the coffee. It was very late in the day for him and we didn’t know that, but he was a real mensch.”

Co-scripted over two decades by Jones and Scott,...

So this is the story told in the Florida courtroom.

George Zimmerman looks out his window. He sees Treyvon Martin walking down the block. Zimmerman picks up his gun, goes outside, gets in his car, and hunts Martin down. Zimmerman finds Martin and confronts him. Martin is carrying a dangerous bag of Skittles. The two men get into an altercation. Zimmerman shoots Martin dead. Zimmerman tells the police that Treyvon Martin started the altercation and that he, Zimmerman, was “standing his ground.”

Can you pick out what is wrong in the story?*

• • • • •

As I was saying…

I started to regret ever taking on the whole assignment. I felt I was turning out crap. I was embarrassed. I was sad. I worried about my future as a comics writer. And finally…

I got fed up.

I will never forget the day it happened. I was arguing with Alan. And something in me simply exploded…...

I think tomorrow I’ll call up Merriam-Webster and suggest a new word for their dictionary. That word? Geeklitism. (Not to be confused with Geekleetist, which posts fun stuff).

It should be in the dictionary, because it certainly is a thing that exists. But how would I suggest they define it? Damned if I know, although I guess the short version could be: “claiming you’re a ‘real geek’ and other people aren’t; claiming you’re the superior geek.” But really, the various aspects of both this attitude and of being a “geek” generally are so broad that I’m not sure they can be encompassed in a dictionary definition.

The reason for this, and the funny thing about “being a geek,” is that it’s a different experience for everyone. For instance, I’ve been a geek probably all of my life; but I don’t know that...

Here is last week's caption pic winner. This week's caption pic is at the bottom of the page.

Thanks to everyone for participating! The winner is ...

"In Hollywood, rehearsals start early for trick-or-treating - and auditions for the ghost role are simply vicious."

Thanks to Darrien for this week's winning caption!

Weekend Birthdays! (Note: Birthday shoutouts are for out entertainers, allies, or for any celeb that seems to have a following on Ae). Billy Campbell (above) is 53, Sebastian Rulli is 37, Sylvester Stallone is 66, Jennifer Saunders is 54, Shelley Duvall is 63, Kevin Bacon is 54, and Anjelica Huston is 61. What are your Anjelica faves? Here are mine: 5. Prizzi's Honor 4. Addams Family Values 3. The Mists Of Avalon 2. The Grifters 1. The Witches

Unlike Anderson Cooper, Many Out Lgbt Journalists Paid the Price and Paved the Way, Big kudos to Jennifer Lopez, who is developing a series for ABC Family about a "lesbian couple who suddenly...

Anna Chlumsky's family roots extend to Moe, Larry, Curly and Frankenstein.

Chlumsky, who plays Amy, chief of staff to Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Vice President Selina Meyer, on HBO's Sunday comedy "Veep," had a great-grandfather who was in vaudeville.

"He opened for the Stooges, and he had a trained bear," Chlumsky tells Zap2it. "Vaudeville ended, and all these guys had to get other jobs, so my great-grandfather was -- I think he was a cop. At that point he told my grandmother that she couldn't have a prom dress, and she was very sad. And he wrote Mae Clarke, whom he had known, and asked, 'What do I do?' And she sent him -- sometimes the story is she sent him the trunk, sometimes that she sent him the dress -- the story changes depending on the holiday."

Still, it's a great story that your grandmother's prom dress was in "Frankenstein.

And hopefully, soon, to the wires and lights of that box in your living room!

It’s not every day that we get to bring cool news about potential projects from the Tfh extended family, but this is certainly one of those days and this is definitely cool news.

Lovely Producer Elizabeth has — along with partner Ilene Kahn Power — secured the rights to the bestselling Darkover novels, an epic fantasy series from Marion Zimmer Bradley. The pair of them plan to develop the series into a multi-platform TV series. We couldn’t be happier!

Lots of other sites reporting the news. Here’s the report from ComingSoon.net and here’s the one at Twitchfilm. For posterity, here’s the whole of the press release.

Producers Ilene Kahn Power and Elizabeth Stanley have secured the rights to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s renowned “Darkover” novels and are currently developing a fantasy television series around the saga.

This is exciting news for the legion of fans of the Darkover novels by the late great Marion Zimmer Bradley, who also wrote my personal favorite, The Mists of Avalon. Producers Ilene Kahn Power and Elizabeth Stanley announced this week that they have secured the rights to the series and are currently developing it into a “multi-platform” television series.

Here are the pertinent parts of the press release, via ComingSoon:

“Set in a unique world and full of great adventure, the ‘Darkover’ series truly has the potential to be must-see television for seasons to come,” says Kahn Power. “The novels have a huge fan following throughout the science fiction and fantasy communities internationally, and Marion Zimmer Bradley was an inspiration to and a nurturer of many notable fantasy writers including C.J. Cherryh, Charles de Lint, Mercedes Lackey, Diana L. Paxson, and many others.”

According to Stanley, “Bradley’s Darkover...

Producers Ilene Kahn Power and Elizabeth Stanley have secured the rights to Marion Zimmer Bradley's renowned "Darkover. novels and are currently developing a multi-platform television series around the saga, the pair announced today. A gifted and prolific science-fiction and fantasy writer, Bradley, who garnered the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2000, was the author of over 66 books and 105 short stories. "The Mists of Avalon," Bradley.s monumental re-imagining of the Arthurian legend, won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1984 and in 2002 was developed into an award-winning miniseries. Bradley's critically acclaimed works have sold millions of copies world-wide and have been translated into more than 10 languages. "Set in a...

Just got some news that I suspect lotsa folks will be excited and nervous about: Producers Ilene Kahn Power and Elizabeth Stanley Secure Rights to Epic Fantasy “Darkover” Novels Plan to Develop Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Best-Selling Novels Into TV Series February 13, 2012 — Producers Ilene Kahn Power and Elizabeth Stanley have secured the rights to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s renowned “Darkover” novels and are currently developing a fantasy television series around the saga. Kahn Power and Stanley, both award-winning producers of movies and mini-series, are developing the “Darkover” novels into a multi-platform TV series. A gifted and prolific science-fiction and fantasy writer, Bradley, who garnered the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2000, was the author of over 66 books and 105 short stories, who “The Mists of Avalon,” Bradley’s monumental re-imagining of the Arthurian legend, won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1984 and in 2002 was developed into an award-winning miniseries.

Producers Ilene Kahn Power and Elizabeth Stanley have secured the rights and are planning to bring the fantasy series Darkover to TV.

Marion Zimmer Bradley is one of the most prolific fantasy writers of all time. You're probably most familiar with her novel The Mists of Avalon (which was also made into a miniseries for TV), but she wrote dozens of novels, including a series of fantasy stories set in the kingdom of Darkover. Unfortunately, the author passed away in 1999 and won't be able to see her creation translated to television.

Darkover is a planet (known to Earth scientists as Cottamn IV) colonized by the survivors of a spaceship wreck from Earth in the 21st century. After a few centuries, their Earth technology, and memory, is lost. They live in a medieval state with the original inhabitants of the planet, who possess psychic powers. Matrix technology and psi weapons are...

So what are you reading?

Fellow ComicMixer Bob Greenberger recently talked about To Kill A Mockingbird a couple days ago as he prepares to teach his class. To Kill A Mockingbird is, as I expect all of you to know, a masterpiece of American literature concerning the racial tensions and bigotries of a small town in Alabama during the Depression – but more important, it is a study of the nature of good and evil, of both the morality and immorality inherent in all of us.

Starring Gregory Peck as the lawyer Atticus Finch who defends the black man accused of raping a white woman, the movie is a landmark picture, and – in my opinion – a touchstone for how to adapt a brilliant novel to the screen. Also my opinion: Peck’s greatest role.

But don’t just watch the movie. Read the book itself. One of the things that just...

Actress Kristen Stewart’s upcoming film, Snow White and the Huntsman, has finally cast Snow White’s father. I was rather impressed by the concept art we previewed for the fairy tale film. Not only does Snow White get to wear armor, but the Huntsman, also known as actor Chris Hemsworth, is looking great in brown hair, a transition for Thor‘s blonde tresses. The last we heard, Lily Cole was signing on to act in the film, but now Noah Huntley joins her.

Huntley has acted in The Mists of Avalon as Gawain, in Megiddo: The Omega Code 2, in the Midsomer Murders episode called, “Who Killed Cock Robin”, in the Where the Heart Is episode called, “Don’t Let Go,” and in 28 Days Later. Now, he will act as Snow White’s father according to a Tweet from producer Palak Patel.

Speculation suggested Snow White’s parents don...

The enduring power of the King Arthur story is reflected in its many retellings on the big and small screen, most recently in the BBC's Merlin which is heading into its third season.

Very few of these 'reimaginings' get it right. Most are marred by poor casting, an imbalance of history and fantasy and, overall, entirely the wrong tone that betrays poor research and a lack of respect for the story.

Well, we'd better brace ourselves and hope the next one is better.

There are already several Arthurian movies in development and Starz and Gk-tv today added to the pile by announcing a 10-episode series called Camelot, which will begin production this month and air early next year.

It's billed as a "fresh approach" to the story, with FlashForward's Joseph Fiennes cast as Merlin; Eva Green (pictured), in her first TV role, as sorceress Morgana; Jamie Campbell Bower as...

Joseph Fiennes to star in Camelot Starz and Gk-tv announced today that Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, Jamie Campbell Bower and Tamsin Egerton have signed on to the upcoming series Camelot.

Camelot will take a fresh approach to telling the Arthur story, and casting Fiennes as the wizard Merlin and Eva Green, in her first television role, as the powerful sorceress Morgana will help set the tone for the series. The essential roles of Arthur and Guinevere will be played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Tamsin Egerton, respectively.

Fiennes was most recently lead in the ABC series FlashForward but is probably best known for playing the title role in the Best Picture Oscar-winner Shakespeare in Love and as Robert Dudley in the acclaimed Elizabeth. Green is best known for her role as the mysterious Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, Sybilla in Ridley Scott's saga Kingdom Of Heaven and as Serafina Pekkala the beautiful,...

After finding success with the gladiator soap Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Starz will next turn to medieval times for the new series Camelot, a fresh take on the classic King Arthur saga. Joseph Fiennes (FlashForward) and Eva Green (Casino Royale) have signed on to headline the series; Fiennes will play the iconic wizard Merlin, while Green will portray the sorceress Morgana.

The pair join Jamie Campbell Bower (New Moon) and Tamsin Egerton (St. Trinian’s), who were cast as Arthur and Guinevere, respectively. Production begins this month with a target premiere of early 2011. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Here’s the official press release:

Main Cast Set For ‘Camelot’

Joseph Fiennes (Merlin), Eva Green (Morgana) Join Newcomers Jamie Campbell Bower (Arthur) and Tamsin Egerton (Guinevere)

Production Begins in June for 10-Episode Epic Series Set to Debut in Early 2011 on Starz in the U.S.

Los Angeles – June...

Starz and Gk-tv announced today that Joseph Fiennes ("FlashForward"), Eva Green ( Casino Royale ), Jamie Campbell Bower ( The Twilight Saga: New Moon , upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ) and Tamsin Egerton ( St. Trinian's , "The Mists of Avalon") have signed on to the upcoming series "Camelot." The announcement says that "'Camelot' will take a fresh approach to telling the Arthur story, and casting Fiennes as the wizard Merlin and Eva Green, in her first television role, as the powerful sorceress Morgana will help set the tone for the series. The essential roles of Arthur and Guinevere will be played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Tamsin Egerton, respectively." "With Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, Jamie Campbell Bower and Tamsin...

British actress Tamsin Egerton was bullied so badly at school she was once blindfolded and had her teeth knocked out.

The St Trinian's star spent lengthy periods away from the classroom after making her acting debut aged 11, and went on to star in several movies including 2001's The Mists of Avalon.

Her success sparked jealousy among her school pals and she became the victim of bullies - but the experience made her toughen up.

She says, "I think going away to do jobs pulled me apart from the group, sectioned me off and made me different. When I went back to school, I wanted to be a kid and play Barbies with my mates. But they didn't want to do that. They wanted to be mean.

"My teeth were knocked out when I was blindfolded and someone smashed me into a pole. But now I'm tough as old boots. I really don't give a monkey's. Bullying is despicable and no one should get away with it. My bullies are all at uni and I'm living my dream."...

By Christopher Stipp

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Check out my new column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp

The Basketball Diaries - Blu-ray Review

I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t believe it but this is without question the best film Leonardo DiCaprio has ever done.

A story about the young life of Jim Carroll, the film is an abrasive, dark, evocative portrait that showcases DiCaprio as an actor that seamlessly blends into the background of a story that is nothing short of compelling. Now in Blu-ray this is a wonderful chance to revisit a movie that helped Leo be known as an actor to contend with but, I think, the real joy in re-watching this movie is its dealing with drug culture that wasn’t proselytizing in nature but exposed it for what it was.

There was...

On Saturday, February 27, Syfy kicks off its run of original movies based on popular fairy tales with Beauty and the Beasts . Estella Warren and Rhett Gilles star in this retelling that features Belle and the titular beast taking on a witch and its murderous troll. The movie was written by Gavin Scott, who co-wrote Small Soldiers and The Borrowers in addition to penning Earthsea and The Mists of Avalon . Mr. Scott spoke with Shock Till You Drop about the project's origins, how he approached writing such a familiar story, the necessary elements of a successful genre piece and more. Shock Till You Drop: How did you initially come to be involved with this project? Gavin Scott: Partly it is because I have a strong New Zealand connection. I grew up there and the...

Steven Moffat has revealed the titles of the first few stories of Matt Smith's era as the Eleventh Doctor.

The series begins with The Eleventh Hour written by Moffat himself and is believed to follow directly on from the regeneration in The End of Time. Episode Two is The Beast Below also by Moffat with Episode Three seeing the return of the Doctor's greatest foe in Victory of the Daleks by Mark Gatiss.

Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, Moffat also confirmed a number of guest stars for the new series coming to the UK in the Spring.

Arthur Darvill will join the cast of Episode One as Rory. Darvill was previously seen in Little Dorrit, playing Tip Dorrit in the 2008 series.

Sophie Okonedo stars in Episode Two. She recently seen playing Winnie Mandela in the film Mrs Mandela and has previously starred in series such as Criminal Justice, Father and Son and Clocking Off.

Emmy-winning actress Julianna Margulies has signed with Endeavor for representation. Margulies, known for her role as Carol Hathaway on the first six seasons of ER, next will be seen in the indie feature The Darwin Awards. She is shooting the New Line Cinema drama Pacific Air 121 opposite Samuel L. Jackson. Margulies, who had been with WMA, most recently starred in the TNT/BBC miniseries The Grid and the 2001 TNT telefilm The Mists of Avalon. She continues to be represented by manager Aleen Keshishian of the Firm and attorney Michael Gendler.

Isabella Rossellini has been cast in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries Earthsea. Rossellini will play High Priestess Thar, a pivotal character in the epic chronicle of a young wizard in a mystical land. Earthsea is written by Gavin Scott (The Mists of Avalon) and executive produced by Robert Halmi Sr. (Merlin), Lawrence Bender (Kill Bill-Vol. 1) and Kevin Brown (Roswell). The four-hour miniseries, a joint production of Hallmark Entertainment and Bender-Brown Prods., is scheduled to air over two nights in December. The miniseries is adapted from author Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea novels. The first in the series, A Wizard of Earthsea, was published in 1968. Rossellini made her American stage debut this year in Terrence McNally's The Stendhal Syndrome. Other recent credits include TNT's Monte Walsh, A&E Network's biopic Napoleon and the 2002 feature Roger Dodger.