Gus Van News

The Film Society of Lincoln Center's year-long countdown to the New York Film Festival's historic 50th edition continues this spring, offering the rare opportunity to view several undisputed classics of the big screen, many of which were introduced to the world at NYFF. These include breakthrough films from the 1990s by Zhang Yimou, Gus Van Sant, Jane Campion and more. A special appearance will be made by director/editor Steve James at the Hoop Dreams screening on Tuesday, June 5.

Paul Gross, one of Canada's acclaimed actors, will lead the cast of Are You There, McPhee? a world premiere by John Guare at McCarter Theatre Center. Directed by Sam Buntrock, the production will run from May 4 through June 3, 2012. (Opening Night: Friday, May 11.)

The STARZ Original Series BOSS is set to premiere its second season on Friday, August 17th at 10pm ET/PT. Joining the ensemble cast as series regulars this season are Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, 'Glee') as Ian Todd, a smart and ambitious young advisor to Kane.

As first reported in The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor Lautner is set to star in Adam Sandler's upcoming sequel to the 2010 feature film GROWN UPS from Columbia Pictures.

National Geographic Channels announced today that Academy Award-Nominated actor Josh Brolin will narrate Untamed Americas - the four-hour high-definition miniseries event that reveals the grit and glory in the wilds of North America, Central America and South America.

Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy yesterday became the second married couple to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star on the same day (following producers Richard and Lauren Shuler Donner in 2008). The actors - who both appeared on Broadway in two separate productions of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow - welcomed the playwright and other high-profile stars to celebrate their new place on the Walk of Fame. Check out photos below!

CHICO & RITA, set in the jazz worlds of Havana, New York, and Europe, opens its US theatrical run on February 10 at NYC's Angelika Film Center (18 W. Houston St., 212-995-2570) before expanding nationally. The film by Academy Award® winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) won Best Animated Feature at the 2011 European Film Awards as well as Spain's Goya Awards, has been nominated for an Annie Award, and is vying for an Academy Award® in the Best Animated Feature category. CHICO & RITA has been released internationally to wide critical acclaim and is currently 95% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest rated film in the current Animated Oscar® race.

With the musical audacity of early Elton John, the acerbic humour of Chelsea Handler and the narrative grit of Gus Van Sant, American recording artist Ezra Axelrod will launch his debut album, Songs from the American Motel, with a month-long West End residency at Leicester Square Theatre.

IFC is releasing ten limited edition prints this season, one for each episode of Portlandia. To find out how to win an artist signed, limited silk-screen of each print, visit: facebook.com/portlandia.

Award-winning Seattle producer, musician and composer Wayne Horvitz has partnered with ACT - A Contemporary Theatre's Central Heating Lab to present Smokestack Arias.

Cornish College of the Arts has announced its spring 2012 events calendar. The spring schedule of events features a diverse schedule of exhibitions, music, theater and dance performances.

STARZ was acknowledged by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association this morning with two nominations at the 69th Annual Golden Globe(R) nominations ceremony. Veteran actor Kelsey Grammer and the revered new STARZ Original series in which he stars, BOSS were both recognized.

The power to unlock Portlandia is at your fingertips! Starting today, new and existing fans who take a trip to Portlandia on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/portlandia) and 'Like' the page will unlock the exclusive Facebook Only sketch 'Everyone's a DJ' from the new season on IFC.

How does a well-known San Francisco comic ("openly gay since 1987") tell the story of her parents' murder-suicide? In the only way she knows how: hilariously. "I grew up in a funny family. And then my dad shot my mom.

How does a well-known San Francisco comic ('openly gay since 1987') tell the story of her parents' murder-suicide? In the only way she knows how: hilariously. 'I grew up in a funny family. And then my dad shot my mom. And then himself. He was a WWII vet, an Elk. She was a passive-aggressive poet. The 'greatest generation?' Nah. Love is deadly. You ever thought of killing your spouse? It could happen to you. I survived it. Mostly. And I'm a comic.'

The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, have announced that the cast of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media's 'The Help' - Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O'Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Cicely Tyson and Mike Vogel - will be recognized at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony with the 'Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award.'

Southern Comforts, starring Michael Learned (The Waltons, One Slight Hitch) & Granville Van Dusen (The Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln, Darwin in Malibu, Jonny Quest) opened Friday, Oct 21st in at The Falcon Theatre in Burbank, CA with an enthusiastic response from the audience that included Lee Meriwether, Bonnie Franklin.

How does a well-known San Francisco comic ('openly gay since 1987') tell the story of her parents' murder-suicide? In the only way she knows how: hilariously. 'I grew up in a funny family. And then my dad shot my mom. And then himself. He was a WWII vet, an Elk. She was a passive-aggressive poet. The 'greatest generation?' Nah. Love is deadly. You ever thought of killing your spouse? It could happen to you. I survived it. Mostly. And I'm a comic.'

Starz Entertainment has ordered a 10-episode second season of the much-anticipated original drama series, 'Boss,' prior to the series premiere on October 21 at 10PM ET/PT on STARZ.