Latest news with #SundanceFilmFestival
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Filmmaker Michael Shanks Responds to Copyright Infringement Allegations — Along with Neon & WME
Michael Shanks , the writer and director of the upcoming horror-romance film Together, has issued a statement responding to a recent copyright infringement lawsuit filed against him. Calling the allegations 'devastating' and emotionally taxing, Shanks insisted that the film's narrative is 'completely rooted in my own personal life. ' 'The suggestion of copyright infringement not only undermines the work but also attempts to erase the emotional and professional journey I've taken to bring it to life,' he said. Who's Involved in the Lawsuit? The lawsuit doesn't just name Shanks. Actor-producers Alison Brie and Dave Franco, talent agency WME (which represents all three), and the film's distributor, Neon, are also listed as defendants. Filed on May 13, the complaint alleges that Together is a 'blatant rip-off' of Better Half, a 2023 indie film written and directed by Patrick Henry Phelan. Neon & WME Fire Back In a strongly worded joint statement, Neon and WME dismissed the lawsuit as a publicity stunt: 'The plaintiff is doing nothing more than drumming up 15 minutes of fame for a failed project, demonstrated by the fact they contacted the press before filing their lawsuit and did so without doing the most basic due diligence.' About the Film 'Together' Together premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by Neon for $17 million—the biggest deal out of Park City this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The film follows a couple who, after a bitter argument, wake up to find their bodies mysteriously fused together. As they navigate this surreal situation, they're forced to confront the toxic emotional codependency that binds them. Shanks insists that the development timeline for Together contradicts the plaintiff's claims: 'The facts matter. The timeline of my work on Together is documented and simply doesn't align with what the lawsuit alleges.' The Final Word from Neon & WME Neon and WME concluded their joint statement with a detailed rebuttal: 'There was zero outreach to the defendants to determine whether or not the Together script predated the plaintiff's script — which it does. The fact is, Together's writer-director Michael Shanks — not WME, Dave Franco, or Alison Brie — wrote the script and registered it with the WGA in 2019, nearly a year before the plaintiff submitted their script to WME. Almost all of the supposed similarities were already present in Shanks' original draft, much of it drawn from his own life and relationship with his longtime girlfriend. ' They further claimed that the lawsuit was a media tactic: 'The plaintiff doesn't care about the facts — they care about making waves in the press right before a film's release to score a payday. We look forward to presenting our case in court.' TOGETHER - Official Trailer - In Theaters July 30
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘They've meant so much to me': His TV show is a hit but this filmmaker still cries in the shower
Eight years ago, aspiring filmmaker Cooper Raiff had an idea for a story about a pair of siblings bonded by their dysfunctional upbringing. Six years ago, the Texan native started writing about the characters, swiftly getting down an initial 100 pages. Three years ago, having sold his second feature, the romantic-comedy Cha Cha Real Smooth, to Apple TV+ for roughly $23 million, Raiff began turning the script into a television series. Two years ago, Raiff, who would play the younger sibling, Hal, cast Riverdale's Lili Reinhart as his character's elder sister, Harper, and Mark Ruffalo as the co-dependent pair's damaged father, Michael. Eighteen months ago, Raiff's production wrapped in Los Angeles, ending a hectic 50-day shoot. Five months ago, the show, Hal & Harper, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, successfully selling to streaming services. Three weeks ago, Raiff cried in the shower because he was saying goodbye to the fictional family that had become all too real to him. 'I was crying because I was going to really miss Hal and Harper, and dad, too,' Raiff says. 'I've been with them for so long and they've meant so much to me. I'm bad at maths but I'm 28 now and they've been in my head and body for eight years now. That's a lot of life. It was hard to let go.' Loading Zooming in from separate locations in New York, Raiff and Reinhart are a smiling mix of wonder and surprise. They know they're a part of something special with Hal & Harper but the experience of making the series was so demanding they're still getting used to the work leaving them and going out to the world. 'Cooper, to me, never ever lost sight of the vision he had,' Reinhart says. 'It changed along the way, because it had to, but the feeling of it and the intensity in Cooper's eyes every day never changed because he was trying to stay true to what was inside his heart. How do you paint the inside of your heart and stay true to it? 'Something, somehow was guiding him and he was very locked in. Trying to talk to Cooper about anything else was useless. There was no conversation outside the show,' she adds, then addresses Raiff directly. 'Your whole life was consumed by this show, which is why it is so effective. I've never seen firsthand a heart be embodied like this. That's why I had a lot of trust.' Comprising eight roughly half-hour episodes, each written and directed by Raiff, Hal & Harper is an idiosyncratic gem of a series. In an era of neatly segmented shows, it's messy and ambitious and counterintuitive. It's very funny and very sad, often in such close proximity that you're not aware of one becoming the other. The comedy and the drama are their own storytelling siblings. Twenty-two-year-old Hal and 24-year-old Harper Williams are still emotionally intertwined from the childhood loss that left them with a wounded father, Michael, who struggled to support them emotionally. As Hal floats through his university degree and Harper struggles with her first job, the pair lean on each other. It is, as Harper has realised, an unhealthy dynamic. And then their father delivers news that shakes all three of them: his girlfriend, Kate (Betty Gilpin), is pregnant. Loading 'There are so many people I love who have watched this show, and a lot stop at a certain place and say, 'I'm going to get there but I'm not there yet',' Raiff says. 'When they do – well, people can't talk to me about the finale, so they just send me a selfie of them crying. Even my own dad, I'm still trying to sit him down and talk to him.' In many ways Hal & Harper brings the tenets of independent filmmaking to television, whether it's Raiff's ready use of natural light or a hectic production schedule in which the stripped-down crew and cast had to 'steal locations' (shoot without the relevant permits) when required. The call sheet, a production's daily schedule, was mostly 'a suggestion', jokes Reinhart. 'There is some sort of lightning-in-a-bottle magic to doing so much in a day. You're tired, your guard is down,' Raiff says. 'If there was a crying scene, it was very easy to cry. We had a scene that was meant to be funny but I started crying and someone said, 'I'm not sure that's the vibe.' And I said, 'That's my vibe right now!'' Lengthy sequences are told in montage form, set to Raiff's distinctive music choices, and there's also a bittersweet twist: in the extensive flashbacks to when Hal is aged seven and Harper nine, Raiff and Rinehart still play the characters. It is absurd but touching. The pair are oversized yet still too small for the circumstances they're struggling with. The influence the pair's uncertain childhood has on them as adults is made wrenchingly clear. 'My favourite day on set was the first time we played kids. I knew it was going to be emotional and funny but I didn't realise how much soul it would have. That's what Lili's eyes bring. Whatever she was doing as nine-year-old Harper is the most beautiful thing that's ever been put on camera.' Loading Raiff isn't afraid to dig into the emotional muck of his characters. Ruffalo's Michael is still roiled and uncommunicative and, like his children, he wants to say the right things but he doubts they'll actually apply. When push comes to emotional shove, father, son and daughter all painfully struggle to make sense of what they're grappling with. 'We're really good at talk therapy and I have friends who are very emotionally intelligent but that's very different, that processing trauma through your body,' Raiff says. 'Talking about your feelings is easier than actually feeling them.'
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘They've meant so much to me': His TV show is a hit but this filmmaker still cries in the shower
Eight years ago, aspiring filmmaker Cooper Raiff had an idea for a story about a pair of siblings bonded by their dysfunctional upbringing. Six years ago, the Texan native started writing about the characters, swiftly getting down an initial 100 pages. Three years ago, having sold his second feature, the romantic-comedy Cha Cha Real Smooth, to Apple TV+ for roughly $23 million, Raiff began turning the script into a television series. Two years ago, Raiff, who would play the younger sibling, Hal, cast Riverdale's Lili Reinhart as his character's elder sister, Harper, and Mark Ruffalo as the co-dependent pair's damaged father, Michael. Eighteen months ago, Raiff's production wrapped in Los Angeles, ending a hectic 50-day shoot. Five months ago, the show, Hal & Harper, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, successfully selling to streaming services. Three weeks ago, Raiff cried in the shower because he was saying goodbye to the fictional family that had become all too real to him. 'I was crying because I was going to really miss Hal and Harper, and dad, too,' Raiff says. 'I've been with them for so long and they've meant so much to me. I'm bad at maths but I'm 28 now and they've been in my head and body for eight years now. That's a lot of life. It was hard to let go.' Loading Zooming in from separate locations in New York, Raiff and Reinhart are a smiling mix of wonder and surprise. They know they're a part of something special with Hal & Harper but the experience of making the series was so demanding they're still getting used to the work leaving them and going out to the world. 'Cooper, to me, never ever lost sight of the vision he had,' Reinhart says. 'It changed along the way, because it had to, but the feeling of it and the intensity in Cooper's eyes every day never changed because he was trying to stay true to what was inside his heart. How do you paint the inside of your heart and stay true to it? 'Something, somehow was guiding him and he was very locked in. Trying to talk to Cooper about anything else was useless. There was no conversation outside the show,' she adds, then addresses Raiff directly. 'Your whole life was consumed by this show, which is why it is so effective. I've never seen firsthand a heart be embodied like this. That's why I had a lot of trust.' Comprising eight roughly half-hour episodes, each written and directed by Raiff, Hal & Harper is an idiosyncratic gem of a series. In an era of neatly segmented shows, it's messy and ambitious and counterintuitive. It's very funny and very sad, often in such close proximity that you're not aware of one becoming the other. The comedy and the drama are their own storytelling siblings. Twenty-two-year-old Hal and 24-year-old Harper Williams are still emotionally intertwined from the childhood loss that left them with a wounded father, Michael, who struggled to support them emotionally. As Hal floats through his university degree and Harper struggles with her first job, the pair lean on each other. It is, as Harper has realised, an unhealthy dynamic. And then their father delivers news that shakes all three of them: his girlfriend, Kate (Betty Gilpin), is pregnant. Loading 'There are so many people I love who have watched this show, and a lot stop at a certain place and say, 'I'm going to get there but I'm not there yet',' Raiff says. 'When they do – well, people can't talk to me about the finale, so they just send me a selfie of them crying. Even my own dad, I'm still trying to sit him down and talk to him.' In many ways Hal & Harper brings the tenets of independent filmmaking to television, whether it's Raiff's ready use of natural light or a hectic production schedule in which the stripped-down crew and cast had to 'steal locations' (shoot without the relevant permits) when required. The call sheet, a production's daily schedule, was mostly 'a suggestion', jokes Reinhart. 'There is some sort of lightning-in-a-bottle magic to doing so much in a day. You're tired, your guard is down,' Raiff says. 'If there was a crying scene, it was very easy to cry. We had a scene that was meant to be funny but I started crying and someone said, 'I'm not sure that's the vibe.' And I said, 'That's my vibe right now!'' Lengthy sequences are told in montage form, set to Raiff's distinctive music choices, and there's also a bittersweet twist: in the extensive flashbacks to when Hal is aged seven and Harper nine, Raiff and Rinehart still play the characters. It is absurd but touching. The pair are oversized yet still too small for the circumstances they're struggling with. The influence the pair's uncertain childhood has on them as adults is made wrenchingly clear. 'My favourite day on set was the first time we played kids. I knew it was going to be emotional and funny but I didn't realise how much soul it would have. That's what Lili's eyes bring. Whatever she was doing as nine-year-old Harper is the most beautiful thing that's ever been put on camera.' Loading Raiff isn't afraid to dig into the emotional muck of his characters. Ruffalo's Michael is still roiled and uncommunicative and, like his children, he wants to say the right things but he doubts they'll actually apply. When push comes to emotional shove, father, son and daughter all painfully struggle to make sense of what they're grappling with. 'We're really good at talk therapy and I have friends who are very emotionally intelligent but that's very different, that processing trauma through your body,' Raiff says. 'Talking about your feelings is easier than actually feeling them.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Park City Real Estate Evolves as Lifestyle Becomes the New Luxury
PARK CITY, Utah, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While world-class skiing has long defined Park City, a new narrative is emerging in Park City Utah real estate. According to top-producing agent Laura Willis of Summit Sotheby's International Realty, discerning buyers are now investing in a year-round, multifaceted lifestyle that blends outdoor adventure, vibrant community, and a newfound work-life balance – the ultimate luxury in the Park City luxury real estate market. "We're seeing a shift," says Willis, a resident to Park City since 2001. "Buyers seek a place where they can hike and bike in the morning, work from home successfully, and then enjoy a world-class meal on Historic Main Street. It's a complete lifestyle package, redefining mountain living." This evolution is clearly reflected in the market for Park City Utah homes. While conditions are balancing, demand for properties catering to this holistic lifestyle remains strong. These homes often feature dedicated office spaces, wellness amenities, and coveted access to Park City's vast 400+ mile trail system. The Deer Valley real estate market shows a similar trend, with buyers prioritizing homes offering both luxury and seamless access to year-round activities. Top reasons for investing in Park City Utah real estate include: Unrivaled Year-Round Recreation: Beyond legendary ski slopes, residents enjoy pristine golf courses, sparkling reservoirs, and an internationally recognized trail system. Dynamic and Connected Community: From the Sundance Film Festival to a robust arts and culture scene, Park City fosters a palpable sense of connection. World-Class Accessibility: A convenient 35-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport makes Park City one of the most accessible mountain towns. Commitment to Top-Tier Education: Families are drawn to highly-rated public schools, innovative programs, and specialized schools like the Winter Sports School. "My role is to help clients find their place within this incredible community fabric," Willis explains. "Having raised my professional skier daughter here, I offer a deep, personal understanding of the lifestyle. Whether a client seeks a ski-in/ski-out condo, ski-in/ski-out home, a private retreat, or a property within one of Park City's prestigious golf communities, the goal is to match them with their ideal Park City experience." As a consistent top-producing agent at Summit Sotheby's International Realty, Laura Willis is masterful in navigating the nuances of the Park City and Deer Valley Utah real estate markets. For more information, visit View original content: SOURCE Emerald Wave Enterprises, LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Astronaut Sally Ride Gave Life Partner Permission to Reveal Their 27-Year Romance 10 Days Before Dying
Groundbreaking astronaut Sally Ride and her partner Tam O'Shaughnessy were together for 27 years Ride died in 2012 of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 61 The new documentary Sally debuts June 16 on Nat Geo and will stream on Disney+ beginning the following daySally Ride is remembered for her pioneering journey into space, but a new documentary reveals another dimension of the astronaut's story. Ride's life partner Tam O'Shaughnessy opens up about their 27-year romance in Sally, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in January and will debut on Nat Geo June 16 and stream on Disney+ beginning June 17. The documentary covers Ride's rise at NASA to become the first American woman in space in 1983 as well as her lesser-told love story, which started in the '80s. Though they kept their relationship hidden from the public for decades, O'Shaughnessy says that changed right before Ride died in 2012 of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 61. 'Ten days before she died, I asked her how I should be to the public,' O'Shaughnessy tells PEOPLE. 'I was holding sort of a public celebration of her life, and then a national tribute at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. And it was like, 'So who am I?' ' 'Our friends and family knew, and people guessed. It didn't feel honest,' she continues. 'She told me, you decide what you want to say, how open you want to be about our relationship.' O'Shaughnessy doesn't hold back on sharing her and Ride's intimate moments in the documentary. Since Ride was such a private person and the couple only had a few photos together, Sally director Cristina Costantini says they relied on filming recreations of actors that were 'all inspired directly from Tam's memory.' O'Shaughnessy, whose childhood friendship with Ride became romantic in 1985, says she hopes the film will help people understand their relationship and ultimately portray an American hero 'as who she really was.' 'We had a wonderful relationship from the time we were kids until we became lovers,' O'Shaughnessy says. 'I think it's something to be proud of.' Costantini praises O'Shaughnessy's vulnerability and humor as a narrator in the film, saying that her participation 'changed everything.' 'Sally is so closed off in her communication that Tam was the closest and most intimate voice that we could get to Sally,' the film's producer, Lauren Cioffi, adds. O'Shaughnessy says there are a few moments in her Sally interview reel 'where I sort of break down.' 'When I was describing my relationship with Sally, and especially when Sally got sick, I got teary-eyed, and it just got me all the way through to my heart and guts,' she says. 'And that was a little bit of a surprise.' Sally premieres on Nat Geo June 16 and will stream on Disney+ beginning June 17. Read the original article on People
