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Director Anton Corbijn to direct James Dean Biopic ‘Life’ Accomplished photographer and director Anton Corbijn, director of Ian Curtis biopic ‘Control’ and ‘The American’ starring George Clooney, has signed on to direct ‘Life’, a biopic on 1950s Hollywood icon James Dean and the friendship he formed with Life magazine photographer Dennis Stock. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film will be produced by Iain Canning, producer of the Oscar-winning drama ‘The King’s Speech’ and Steve McQueen’s ‘Shame’, along with his See-Saw films partner Emile Sherman. Stock was an up-and-coming photographer working for the Magnum agency when he was asked to shoot the young actor. Stock connected instantly with Dean and the two travelled from L.A. to New York to Indiana. Stock captured now-iconic images of the young actor before he made his big break in 1955 with the release of ‘East of Eden’. With a script by Luke Davies and a budget in the region of $15 million, the film is due to begin production in early 2014. Dutch director Corbijn has collaborated with many iconic musicians and bands over the course of his career; he has photographed bands such as U2, R.E.M. and filmed videos for bands like Nirvana (Heart Shaped Box), Metallica (Hero of the Day) and Depeche Mode (with whom he collaborates since 1986). The documentary ‘Anton Corbijn Inside Out’ was released last year, which gave audiences an in-depth look into the life and times of the artist.
Ben Affleck to be honoured at UCLA Film Festival Actor/director Ben Affleck will be one of the honourees at the 22nd UCLA Film Festival, along with Shane Acker, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, and David Magee. Affleck, (Gone Baby Gone, Argo) will receive the Filmmaker of the Year during the director’s spotlight on June 13th. Previous recipients of the award include UCLA graduates Alexander Payne, whose latest film ‘Nebraska’ received a warm reception at Cannes, and Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean). Acker will receive the Crystal Anvil Award on June 8 during the Festival of Animation. Acker's first feature-length animated film, ‘9’, is based on his thesis film and Oscar-nominated short of the same name. His next animated film, ‘Beasts of Burden’, is currently in pre-production. Producer Di Bonaventura will be honoured with the TFT-PGA Vision Award on June 11 during the Producers Marketplace portion. He was instrumental in bringing ‘The Matrix’ and ‘Harry Potter’ series to the silver screen and has produced other franchises including ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’. Screenwriter David Magee, who was nominated for an Academy Award earlier this year for ‘Life of Pi’, will receive the Excellence in Screenwriting Award on June 10th.
Watch the trailer for ‘About Time’, starring Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson Up-and-coming Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson (Anna Karenina, Shadow Dancer) stars in the new romantic comedy from British director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually). The story centres on Tim (Gleeson) who, at the age of 21, discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. He then uses his new-found ability to find a girlfriend. Gleeson stars alongside Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) and Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, To the Wonder). The film will be released in the UK in September this year.
