Production Begins on Sandra Bullock Vehicle, 'Ocean's 8'

Sandra Bullock is set to star in the "Ocean's 8" the new all-female edition of the movie franchise, now in production (File photo).

LOS ANGELES – The tide has turned and it’s a whole new “Ocean’s” when eight women plan and execute a heist in New York. Oscar winner Sandra Bullock stars in the title role, alongside Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, with Rihanna and Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gary Ross is directing.

Ross directs from a screenplay he wrote with Olivia Milch (upcoming “Dude”), with Steven Soderbergh and Jon Kilik producing, Michael Tadross, Susan Ekins, Sandra Bullock, Diana Alvarez and Bruce Berman executive producing, and Milch co-producing. Filming is taking place in and around New York City.

Collaborating with Ross behind the scenes are director of photography Eigil Bryld (“In Bruges,” “Not Fade Away”), production designer Alex DiGerlando (“Beasts of the Southern Wild,” HBO’s “True Detective”), editor Juliette Welfling (“Free State of Jones,” “The Hunger Games”), costume designer Sarah Edwards (“Tower Heist,” Showtime’s “Billions”), and composer Nicholas Britell (“The Big Short,” “Free State of Jones”).

The film is set for release in Summer 2018 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Bravo Green Lights Four Series for its Digital Channel

NEW YORK – Bravo Media has announced a new lineup of original, short-form digital video series, starting with today’s launch of “Bravo After Hours” with Carrie Keagan (“Big Morning Buzz with Carrie Keagan” and author of “Everybody Curses, I Swear!”) and available now at Bravotv.com/bravo-after-hours. Three additional new series will roll out this year, continuing Bravo’s expansion into the digital storytelling space.

“Our latest lineup of original, short-form series builds upon Bravo’s strong momentum in digital storytelling,” said Lisa Hsia, Executive Vice President, Digital, Bravo and Oxygen Media. “We’re devoted to creating the most innovative features tied to our fans’ passion points and life for Bravolebrities beyond the screen, and our newest slate reinforces that commitment.” 

In “Bravo After Hours,” host Carrie Keagan takes viewers on a wild ride into the late night hours of your favorite Bravolebrities and explores their go-to hot spots and after hours rituals. Carrie will team up with some of Bravo’s most notable night owls, including Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules,” and Erika Jayne of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” The premiere episode is available now at BravoTV.com/bravo-after-hours, a new digital hub dedicated entirely to nightlife.

The additional new original, short-form digital video series launching later this year include:

    “The Last Thing” – It's all about oversharing in this new series, where guests have to fess up about the last thing they texted, ate, listened to, kissed, and more. Guests will include Andy Cohen, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Shannon Beador, Sonja Morgan, Heather & Terry Dubrow, and others as they spill all the beans on “The Last Thing.”

    “Bravo’s Midday Getaway” – Bravo’s travel vertical, Jet Set, powers these short, video postcards that help users dive deep into exotic locales without booking a ticket. Each week, new episodes will be delivered right when you need them most – Monday afternoon – offering a virtual getaway, and some inspiration to pack your bags and do the real thing.

    “Vandersnap Rules” – “Vanderpump Rules” gets a whole new spin as iconic moments from the hit show are reimagined through Snapchat filters. Stassi and Tom Schwartz swap faces, a brooding Katie Maloney goes goth, and Tom Sandoval turns into a pug, all thanks to fans’ favorite Snapchat filters.

“Bravo After Hours” is produced by Goodbye Pictures with Rich Bye serving as Executive Producer.

Jennifer Lopez to Star in 'Bye, Bye Birdie Live' for NBC

Jennifer Lopez to star in NBC's "Bye, Bye Birdie Live!"

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Continuing its role as the broadcast leader in bringing event programming to a national audience, it was announced today that NBC is joining forces with Jennifer Lopez for “Bye Bye Birdie Live!,” a 2017 holiday production of the celebrated Broadway musical. Lopez will star in the iconic role of “Rosie” and executive produce with her producing partners Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina alongside award-winning film, TV, and live musical executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. 

Harvey Fierstein, who has won Tony Awards for both acting (“Torch Song Trilogy,” “Hairspray”) and writing (“La Cage Aux Folles,” “Torch Song Trilogy”), will pen the teleplay adaptation for “Bye Bye Birdie Live!” Fierstein wrote the teleplay for NBC’s Dec. 7 presentation of “Hairspray Live!,” in which he will also co-star.

“To have a superstar like Jennifer Lopez starring in this classic show, which every high school in America has done, will ensure that our holiday musicals continue to be must-see events for the whole family,” said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt, who has been the driving force behind NBC’s signature live productions. “It was her idea to take on this classic singing and dancing role made famous by the legendary Chita Rivera, and we are so happy to oblige! This show has delighted audiences for generations with classic songs that include ‘Put on a Happy Face’ and ‘A Lot of Livin’ to Do,’ and this will be an extravagant production built around this big star.”

“Broadway musicals and films fueled my childhood and ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ was one of my favorites,” said Lopez. “I’m proud to be a part of the NBC family with ‘Shades of Blue’ and I thought it would be a blast to take on one of their big live musicals.”

NBC’s “Bye Bye Birdie Live!” will be based on the 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that starred Dick Van Dyke as Albert Peterson (earning Van Dyke a Tony) and Chita Rivera as Rosie (earning Rivera a Tony nomination). The book was by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse.

“Bye Bye Birdie” was also a 1963 Golden Globe-nominated feature film that starred Van Dyke and Janet Leigh. Featured in the movie was Ann-Margret as Kim MacAfee, a role that would propel her to stardom.

Set at the height of rock ’n’ roll, “Bye Bye Birdie” takes us to Sweet Apple, Ohio, where hip-thrusting music heartthrob Conrad Birdie is scheduled to give a lucky Sweet Apple lady “One Last Kiss” before being drafted into the Army. Conrad’s rock ’n’ roll ways send the small town reeling, giving the teens Birdie fever, shocking the parents with moral indignation, and placing songwriter/agent Albert Peterson along with his savvy sweetheart, Rosie, right in the thick of things. The story was inspired by the incredible popularity of Elvis Presley and his induction into the Army in 1957.

Lopez has had five films open at #1: “Maid in Manhattan,” “Monster-in-Law,” “Anaconda,” “The Cell” and “Antz.” Her 2015 film “The Boy Next Door,” in which she starred and produced, was the second-highest box office opening of her career. Other film credits include “Selena,” which earned her widespread acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination and ALMA Award, “Out of Sight” with George Clooney , “Shall We Dance,” “Enough,” “Angel Eyes,” “Parker,” “An Unfinished Life,” “Money Train,” “Jack,” “Blood and Wine” and “El Cantante.”

Since Lopez’s first album “On the 6” debuted in 1999, she has been transforming the global music scene and has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. She has had 16 top-10 hit songs and three #1 albums. Her music achievements include winning three AMA’s, three ASCAP Pop Music Awards, eight Billboard Latin Music Awards and two VMA’s.

Lopez is currently in residency with 40 shows a year at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas with her one-of-a-kind show, “Jennifer Lopez: All I Have,” which launched in January. She also stars in the NBC drama “Shades of Blue,” which will begin its second season in 2017, and will be a judge and executive producer on the network’s upcoming reality series “World of Dance.”

Goldsmith-Thomas has held such top positions in the industry as senior vice president of International Creative Management, where she represented Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Matt Dillon and a host of top actors and directors. She left agenting to partner and co-head Revolution Studios East for Joe Roth. She has produced more than a dozen films and television series, and is currently a producing partner with Lopez overseeing and building out Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, as well as Halle Berry and her 606 Films. Goldsmith-Thomas' next film, “Kidnap,” produced with Berry and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, is due for release early 2017. She is currently in production on season two of NBC’s “Shades of Blue,” starring Lopez and Ray Liotta, as well as season four of Freeform’s critically acclaimed hit drama “The Fosters,” both of which she executive produces with Lopez. The busy producing duo are in pre-production on “World of Dance,” a dance competition series for NBC where the best dancer in the world will be awarded $1 million.

Multi-award winners Zadan and Meron executive produced each of NBC’s prior live productions — “The Sound of Music Live!,” “Peter Pan Live!” and “The Wiz Live!” — and will serve in the same capacity on the upcoming “Hairspray Live!”

Universal Television will produce with Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, Storyline, and Sony Pictures Television.