Hollywood Take 2: Some Careers Soar, Some Falter

It isn’t news that Hollywood is a cutthroat arena in regard to job security.  That said, occasionally we are fortunate to hear of comeback stories and individuals who despite the odds succeed regardless of tradition, convention, and expected norms.  This week we have a collection of both kinds of stories positive and negative, being reported across multiple Hollywood news websites.

Significant stories:

• Brenda Chapman Earns Respect for her Work
• D’Angelo’s Musical Return to Form
• “The King of the Super Bowl” Earns his feature
• NBC Treats Ann Curry to a Difficult Ratings Response

Chapman Earns Respect for her Work

• Around a year ago LIH reported in an article about “Women in Animation” that “Brave” co-director Brenda Chapman wasn’t fairing too well, behind the scenes.  Not only was she being forced to share screen-writing duties with a host of other writers (not so unusual) but she was also forced to share the directing chair with Mark Andrews (fairly uncommon).  This news was disturbing because of the limited directorial positions for women in the film capitol.  Despite these events Brave’s groundbreaking studio supported mother and daughter tale humbled the competition by opening at number 1 this weekend.  As Deadline.com [1], the Hollywood Reporter.com[2], and Variety concur, surely Chapman will be far more likely to find fulfilling professional opportunities in the future.  Though Pixar seemed to mellow it’s original response to the Chapman by placing Chapman’s name in the lead in the credits; hopefully Dreamworks will unfurl their welcoming red carpet also.

D’Angelo’s Musical Return to Form

• Doing the best it can to not resemble gossiping Hollywood news site sometimes we have no other choice but to honor common hearsay.  Unlike few of that period, D’Angelo’s, or Michael Eugene Archer’s 1995 debut “ Brown Sugar” was heralded as a verifiable work of genius by music world executives and fans alike.  With base and souring falsetto vocals, bluesy tales of redefinition redemption and the kind of harmonies that anyone of his Pentecostal background might appreciate, “Brown Sugar’ would set future musical expectations very high. He would release a follow up “Voodoo”, and singles that would appear on other albums and then disappeared into obscurity.   A founding member of what many would call the neo-soul movement of the 1990’s, the loss of D’Angelos output was definitely missed.  For years rumors of drugs, a long gestating album, and arrests were all one might hear of the artist. According to Vulture.com [3] and MTV.com [4], that mythical album “James River” is now finished and the BET Awards is featuring his first on stage musical performance in a decade.  Sometimes wonders keep us captivated amid what might appear to be a regular diet of challenging reports.

“THE KING OF THE SUPER BOWL” EARNS HIS FEATURE

Who is Bryan Buckley?  Cinema blend.com [5] describes him this way:

• “The director has helmed so many Super Bowl spots for key advertisers, he’s nicknamed “The King of the Super Bowl. He’s won 37 Cannes Lions for his shorts, and holds 6 Emmy nominations. He also recently was added to the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.”

Lionsgate has hired Buckley to direct and Deadline.com [5] confirms the venerable Reese Witherspoon will be the lead actress for “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”.  After being the darling of Madison Avenue for so long, this film would be his feature film debut. In terms of the original book, we a can only hope this self-help favorite will be sold with all of the style and grace of Buckley’s able list of distinguished commercials.

NBC TREATS ANNE CURRY TO A DIFFICULT RATINGS RESPONSE

• Though contradicting the title, NBC is the real loser, not Anne Curry.  Despite reports that NBC will be canning warm and familiar “Today Show” host, Anne Curry due to her inability to change ratings outcomes in the network’s battle with network competitor ABC’s Good Morning America, some audience members aren’t taking the news lightly.   The Hollywood Reporter.com [7] is claiming that one veteran is mounting a consumer campaign to “save Curry her job.”  Recognizing how brutal Curry’s transfer from in studio news anchor to reporting foreign correspondent is, even typically shameless TMZ.com [8] has a revelatory response.  They claim that Curry signed her contract last year for a reported $10 million per year.  Which she will continue to be paid despite her losing the feature position.  They claim she will be making more than the GNP of many of the countries she will be reporting about.

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Article Resources:

[1] http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/brave-box-office-results-abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-weekend/

[2] http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/brave-box-office-results-abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-weekend/

[3] http://www.vulture.com/2012/06/dangelo-will-perform-at-the-bet-awards.html

[4] http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/06/22/dangelo-to-make-first-tv-appearance-in-12-years-at-bet-awards/

[5] http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Reese-Witherspoon-Boards-Men-From-Mars-Women-From-Venus-31525.html

[6] http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/top-commercials-helmer-bryan-buckley-makes-feature-debut-on-men-are-from-mars-woman-are-from-venus/

[7] http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/iraq-war-veteran-petition-ann-curry-today-341215

[8] http://www.tmz.com/2012/06/22/ann-curry-nbc-10-million-dollars-salary/?adid=hero5

Tags: ABC, Anne Curry, Brave, Brenda Chapman, D'Angelo, Good Morning America, NBC, Today Show