Gus Van Sant News

A few weeks back, I attended the opening night of The Three Musketeers at Orlando Shakes. I marveled, in particular, at a rotating stage and staircase designed by Bert Scott. The way the production team used that stage always impressed me. Imagine my delight when I came back to Orlando Shakes for the opening weekend of HENRY IV, PART 1 and saw that same exact stage now being used to represent 1492 England rather than 1628 France. Part of it is my fault, I didn't know they'd be using the same stage and assumed another theatre space at Orlando Shakes would house HENRY IV. But now knowing that this same space was used for two plays got the wheels in my head turning. It's a genius move on Orlando Shakes' part, creating a very fitting double-feature of entertainment. The same cast, the same stage, but two wholly different stories unfold.

Hailed as “the art star queen of New York' by The New York Times and “one of the true influencers of American cool' by Billboard, Kim Gordon has confirmed another first in a four decade career as a creative pioneer in the realms of art, music, literature and fashion: her first ever international headlining solo tour.

The Oscars are getting their first female conductor at the 2020 ceremony!

Casting executive John Villacorta has been named senior vice president of Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment, announced Ayo Davis, executive vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment and Disney+, to whom he will report. In this role, Villacorta will manage the casting process for ABC and provide casting strategy and services to the Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment, working closely with the Disney+ team across all scripted and unscripted content.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Broadway veteran the Tony Award winner Richard Easton has died. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Easton was 86.

Kim Gordon has released “Air BnB”, the new single and its accompanying “video” from her forthcoming debut solo album, No Home Record, out October 11th on Matador Records. A towering rock track that launches from brittle, noise-bitten verses evoking “blue towels and water bottles” and “47 inch flat TV” into an explosive, defiantly-catchy mantra – “Air BnB” is an exhilarating tour de force and unlikely anthem for the hospitality gig economy. 

Today, multi-disciplinary artist Kim Gordon announced her first-ever solo album, No Home Record, to be released October 11th on Matador Records. The announcement of No Home Record follows the recent opening of Gordon's solo exhibition “She Bites Her Tender Mind” at IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) in Dublin and “Lo-Fi Glamour” at Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. Among its nine tracks, No Home Record features new single “Sketch Artist” accompanied by a video directed by Berlin-based artist and filmmaker Loretta Fahrenholz who notes ''Sketch Artist' is a haunted car ride. Kim drives as 'Unter' Pool summons passengers throughout nighttime LA. The city drifts by, passengers intermingle in the back seat and Kim's deadly stare shocks pedestrians along her route.” The clip includes a cameo from actress and writer Abbi Jacobson. 

Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey, Co-Heads of TIFF, today announced the TIFF Tribute Gala, an annual awards fundraiser to support TIFF's year-round programmes and core mission to transform the way people see the world through film, and to celebrate the film industry's outstanding contributors. The event takes place Monday, September 9 at the Fairmont Royal York, during the 44th Toronto International Film Festival. To recognize their leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema, the TIFF Tribute Gala will introduce the new TIFF Impact Award. Participant Media will receive the inaugural award, which will be accepted by Founder and Chairman Jeff Skoll and CEO David Linde, marking an incredible 15 years of social action through storytelling. The TIFF Tribute Gala will also include the new Mary Pickford Award, honouring a female emerging talent in the industry. The inaugural award is given this year in celebration of United Artists' 100th anniversary. The recipient of this award, as well as additional honourees for the TIFF Tribute Gala, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Danny Elfman's new violin concerto, Eleven Eleven, will be performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by its music director Thomas S nderg rd. Violinist Sandy Cameron performs the solo, as she did for the world premiere and for its first recording with this orchestra.

Miramax is joining forces with Todd Strauss-Schulson (ISN'T IT ROMANTIC/THE FINAL GIRLS) and Matt Fogel (THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART) on their next project, SILENT RETREAT. The film will be directed by Strauss-Schulson and was written by both Fogel and Strauss Schulson. Pre-production has started and it will shoot in late Spring/early Summer supervised by Matthew Anderson at Miramax.

Will Ferrell will lead Gus Van Sant's movie adaption of Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon's GQ article 'My Son, the Prince of Fashion,' according to The Hollywood Reporter.

 Known for his multifaceted musical personality, composer/musician Wayne Horvitz displays his remarkably singular and distinguishable sound in two new recordings: his debut pianos/keys-bass-drums trio album The Snowghost Sessions (Songlines, 10.05.18) and his debut orchestral CD Those Who Remain (National Sawdust Tracks, 10.12.18). Both are complemented by a nationwide tour culminating in a New York City CD release concert at Brooklyn's Roulette, December 5, 2018. (Please scroll below for complete tour schedule.)

In the course of Chris Isaak's career, he has released nine extraordinary albums, twelve singles, been nominated for two Grammy awards, acted in several motion pictures and starred in his own critically acclaimed TV series. His legendary shows with his longtime band Silvertone have entertained tens of thousands of people for over two decades. Even his hair has its own fan club. And yet, this highly praised herald platinum-selling artist has never released a greatest hits album.

Following the announcement of the full lineup of their 30th annual celebration of the year's best LGBT films, which includes BOY ERASED, RAFIKI, 1985, and MAKING MONTGOMERY CLIFT, NewFest has announced two additional premieres: the U.S. premiere of the first two episodes of Desiree Akhavan's new Hulu Original Series THE BISEXUAL, and the U.S. premiere of UNTIL RAINBOW DAWN. NewFest will also celebrate its 30th anniversary by looking back at cornerstones of LGBT cinema with two retrospective screenings, including the Legacy Centerpiece - Lisa Cholodenko's HIGH ART in 35mm print, celebrating its 20th anniversary (the film was also Opening Night at NewFest 1998), followed by a Q&A with Patricia Clarkson and Cholodenko, and a 10th anniversary screening of Gus Van Sant's MILK with Stuart Milk in attendance (Global LGBT Rights campaigner, Co-Founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation and nephew of Harvey Milk).

Premiering on September 28, ADVENTURES IN NEW AMERICA is the first sci-fi, Afrofuturistic, political-satire buddy comedy, serialized for New Americans in a new and desperate time.  The podcast follows the escapades of two mismatched African American best friends: a depressed man with cancer and a sociopathic criminal mastermind.  Together, they embark on a supernatural Afrofuturistic adventure in a desperate attempt to survive the wilds of New New York.

One of the most acclaimed and distinctive film composers of his generation, four-time Academy Award nominee Danny Elfman collaborates once again with director Gus Van Sant with his original score for Van Sant's new Amazon Studios film Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Opening nationwide July 13, the film is a based on John Callahan, one of the most iconic American cartoonists, and his one-of-a-kind story of struggle and redemption. Sony Classical releases the film's original soundtrack recording on July 13.

Offscreen at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival: Panels and Events

Ruderman Family Foundation Criticizes Casting of Joaquin Phoenix in Gus Van Sant Film

Disney's highly anticipated live-action film BEAUTY AND BEAST waltzes into theaters on March 17th but critics are already weighing in with their reviews.