Ric and Lincoln O'Barry's 'Blood Dolphins' World Premiere on Animal Planet, Friday, August 27 at 11 PM

Pro-dolphin activist Ric O'Barry (left) and filmmaker son Lincoln

Ric O'Barry, lead activist of the Oscar-winning film, The Cove - and his son, filmmaker are two men driven by a single passion.

In Blood Dolphins, a three-part series that premieres August 27, on Animal Planet at the special time of 11 PM ET/PT, former Flipper trainer Ric continues on his redemptive mission to save dolphins at the peril of man.

Blood Dolphins begins back at The Cove—the remote location in Taiji, Japan that is witness to an annual mass slaughter of dolphins. The pair, along with a small crew, discover that the brutal massacre portrayed in the Academy Award-winning film continues in spite of the success and international awareness of The Cove. Despite the many obstacles father and son encounter, they forge on, continuing their mission.

"Having a higher media profile is a tool," Ric said during the TV Guide show's Television Critics Assocation summer session. The drawback is that in Japan "I am a marked man." Ric said there are four major dolphin trade groups from which he has to stay away. "Two of my associates have been murdered," he said.

Still, Ric said, he'll continue the work of education. "In some ways, the Japanese people are victims because they don't have the information," Ric said. "But we're here to listen and learn... We're not cultural imperialists."

After leaving Japan, the team travels to the Solomon Islands—a small nation consisting of nearly 1,000 islands where dolphin dealing is legal and big business. The islands are the nerve center of dolphin slaughter and trade. Threatened by annual hunts, dolphins are slaughtered by the thousands. The O’Barry’s dangerous mission is to confront cultural, political and economic forces that affect the world's dolphins. They met with high hopes as they learn that a prominent dealer is thinking of leaving the business.

Dolphins are victimized by a highly lucrative (at times cutthroat) captive trade, where a "prime specimen" can rake in up to $200,000 for the dolphin entertainment industry. Either scenario is a sad fate for one of the most remarkable, intelligent and loved creatures on the planet.

“Dolphins are highly intelligent, self-aware, complex creatures that should swim free without the threat of slaughter or captivity,” says Ric O’Barry. “Dolphins’ primary sense is sonar sound, and living within small confines causes sensory deprivation and distress, while also extremely limiting their range of space. The most important thing I can do…that my son can do…is show the world through projects like ‘Blood Dolphins’ just how threatened dolphins are so we can all do something about it.”

Lincoln O'Barry in Blood Dolphins

The animals you see at theme parks are part of the problem, Lincoln said. Viewers who watch the show, "hopefully, they won't buy a ticket, and it will faze out."

"It's not conservation," Ric said. "Flipper was a blood dolphin."

Animal Planet’s Blood Dolphins premiers on Friday, August 27 at 11 p.m. ET/PT following the season finale of Whale Wars.

Watch Ric O’Barry and son Lincoln talk about Blood Dolphins on CNN.

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Banff World TV to Award 'The Cove' Director Louis Psihoyos with Green Grand Prize Award

Director Louis Psihoyos, The Cove

The Banff World Television Festival announced the recipients in three special achievement categories being awarded at the Alberta Film Awards Lunch on June 14, The Green Grand Prize to Oscar Winner and director of The Cove, Louie Psihoyos, The Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer will be presented to Temple Street Productions, and the Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award to Panavision.

“It gives us great pleasure to recognize such outstanding talent at this year’s awards. Each recipient has shown exceptional creative edge and insight in their respective categories.” says Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival.
More about the award recipients:

Green Grand prize award is being given to Louis Psihoyos, Oscar Winner and director of The Cove. The prize recognizes outstanding achievement in creating public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through the use of visual media. Psihoyos was selected as a result of nominations received from all around the world, honoring his tremendous impact on a global level. Dr. David Suzuki, president of the Banff Green Jury, will present the award to Mr. Psihoyos.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized not only for our documentary The Cove but also for my nonprofit’s ongoing commitment to exploring all of the critical issues facing our oceans worldwide,” said Louie Psihoyos, Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS). “We are fortunate to have a group of passionate supporters at the grassroots level, and given the mainstream popularity of “The Cove” we were also given the unique opportunity to testify at a Congressional Subcommittee hearing, bringing with it the potential to affect top-down policy change as well. We look forward to continuing our mission of inspiring people to save the oceans."

Temple Street Productions is being honoured with the Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award for its incredible achievement in television and digital media. This award recognizes the entrepreneurial excellence and achievements of an independent producer within the Canadian television industry. Temple Street are proven industry leaders, having produced an array of programming including prime-time television dramas and reality television, Projects include Being Erica (CBC), Wingin It (Family Channel)Canada’s Next Top Model (CTV) .

"Temple Street Productions truly embodies the spirit in which we created this award,” says Lionsgate President of Television, Kevin Beggs. "Since its inception, David and Ivan have used innovative means to grow their company, creating partnerships and collaborations at every turn."

Maple Pictures Co-President Brad Pelman adds, "Temple Street is respected by its peers and customers and we are pleased to present them this accolade this year."

Panavision, an innovator in the research and development of film, is the recipient of this year’s Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. Celebrating over 50 years of enabling clients to bring their creative vision to the screen, Panavision is an international supplier, designer, and manufacturer of high precision film and digital camera systems for the motion picture and television industries.

"It is a great accomplishment for Panavision to be recognized and appreciated in Canada by our industry and peers, including leaders like Deluxe, for our ongoing efforts as we strive to enhance our products and client service experience through innovation, technology and the hard work of our extremely knowledgeable staff,” says Bill Zacharuk, president, Panavision.

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Source: ItNewsLink.com

'Hurt Locker,' 'Up in the Air,' and 'The Cove' win WGA film awards

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners of the 2010 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, and videogame writing at simultaneous ceremonies last night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.

Iraqi war film The Hurt Locker and corporate downsizing drama Up In the Air won honors from screenwriters in the final, major Hollywood awards show leading up to the Oscars.

The Hurt Locker writer Mark Boal won best original screenplay from the Writers Guild of America and Up In the Air claimed the prize for best adapted screenplay for co-writers Sheldon Turner and Jason Reitman.

Reitman, who also directed "Up in the Air," thanked several people including his father, producer Ivan Reitman, who he said read his first screenplay and said, "you know, you really got the goods."

Boal similarly took to the stage and talked about being honored to be a screenwriter and acknowledged the troops in Iraq with whom he had been embedded as a journalist before he wrote his screenplay about a group of men who defuse bombs.

They were the ones, Boal said, who showed him, "the tragedy and chaos and hellishness they face day in and day out."

The Writers Guild represents film and television writers in the United States, and their awards are often seen as a key indicator on who will go on to win Oscars, the world's top film honors, because many Writers Guild members also belong to Oscar organizer, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

So far this Oscar season, "Hurt Locker" has been honored by guilds of film producers and directors and is considered a favorite for the best film Academy Award along with key rival, box office hit "Avatar," urban drama "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" and "Up In the Air."

Richard O'Barry, 'The Cove'

Elsewhere in film categories, the Writers Guild gave its best documentary screenwriting award to The Cove, which details the slaughter of dolphins in Japan, and a lifetime achievement honor for film to writer/director Barry Levinson.

SCREEN WINNERS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Hurt Locker, Written by Mark Boal; Summit Entertainment

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Up in the Air, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner; Based upon the novel by Walter Kirn; Paramount Pictures

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

The Cove, Written by Mark Monroe; Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

TELEVISION WINNERS

DRAMA SERIES

Mad Men, Written by Lisa Albert, Andrew Colville, Kater Gordon, Cathryn Humphris, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Brett Johnson, Erin Levy, Marti Noxon, Frank Pierson, Robin Veith, Dahvi Waller, Matthew Weiner; AMC

COMEDY SERIES

30 Rock, Written by Jack Burditt, Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock, Tom Ceraulo, Vali Chandrasekaran, Tina Fey, Donald Glover, Steve Hely, Matt Hubbard, Dylan Morgan, Paula Pell, Jon Pollack, John Riggi, Tami Sagher, Josh Siegal, Ron Weiner, Tracey Wigfield; NBC

NEW SERIES

Modern Family, Written by Paul Corrigan, Sameer Gardezi, Joe Lawson, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Dan O'Shannon, Brad Walsh, Caroline Williams, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker; ABC

EPISODIC DRAMA – any length – one airing time

“Broken, Part 1 and Part 2” (House), Written by Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner & David Foster & David Shore; Fox

EPISODIC COMEDY – any length – one airing time (**TIE**)

“Apollo, Apollo” (30 Rock), Written by Robert Carlock; NBC

“Pilot” (Modern Family), Written by Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd; ABC

LONG FORM – ORIGINAL – over one hour – one or two parts, one or two airing times

Georgia O’Keeffe, Written by Michael Cristofer; Lifetime

LONG FORM – ADAPTATION – over one hour – one or two parts, one or two airing times

Taking Chance, Teleplay by Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.) and Ross Katz, Based on the short story by Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.); HBO

ANIMATION – any length – one airing time

“Wedding for Disaster” (The Simpsons), Written by Joel H. Cohen; Fox

COMEDY / VARIETY – (INCLUDING TALK) SERIES (**TIE**)

Saturday Night Live, Head Writer: Seth Meyers, Writers Doug Abeles, James Anderson, Alex Baze, Jessica Conrad, James Downey, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, John Lutz, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Paula Pell, Simon Rich, Marika Sawyer, Akiva Schaffer, John Solomon, Emily Spivey, Kent Sublette, Jorma Taccone, Bryan Tucker, Additional Sketch by Adam McKay, Andrew Steele; NBC

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Head Writer: Steve Bodow, Writers Rory Albanese, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Tim Carvell, Wyatt Cenac, Hallie Haglund, JR Havlan, David Javerbaum, Elliott Kalan, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, Jo Miller, John Oliver, Daniel Radosh, Jason Ross, Jon Stewart; Comedy Central

COMEDY / VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS

Film Independent’s 2009 Spirit Awards, Written by Billy Kimball, Neil MacLennan; IFC/AMC

DAYTIME SERIAL

The Young and the Restless, Written by Amanda L. Beall, Tom Casiello, Lisa Connor, Janice Ferri Esser, Eric Freiwald, Jay Gibson, Scott Hamner, Marla Kanelos, Beth Milstein, Natalie Minardi Slater, Melissa Salmons, Linda Schreiber, James Stanley, Sandra Weintraub, Teresa Zimmerman; CBS

CHILDREN'S EPISODIC & SPECIALS

“Welcome to the Jungle” (The Troop), Written by Max Burnett; Nickelodeon

CHILDREN’S SCRIPT – LONG FORM OR SPECIAL

Another Cinderella Story, Written by Erik Patterson, Jessica Scott; ABC Family

DOCUMENTARY – CURRENT EVENTS

“The Madoff Affair” (Frontline), Written by Marcela Gaviria, Martin Smith; PBS

DOCUMENTARY – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS

“The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer” (American Experience), Written by David Grubin; PBS

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN OR BREAKING REPORT

World News with Charles Gibson, Written by Lee Kamlet, Julia Kathan, Joel Siegel; ABC

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

“A Private War: Expose: America’s Investigative Reports” (Bill Moyers Journal), Written by Thomas M. Jennings; PBS

RADIO WINNERS

DOCUMENTARY

2008 Year in Review, Written by Gail Lee; CBS

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED OR BREAKING

World News This Week − July 11, 2009, Written by Darren Reynolds; ABC Radio

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE OR COMMENTARY

Paul Harvey: An American Life, Written by Stu Chamberlain; ABC Radio

PROMOTIONAL WRITING AND GRAPHIC ANIMATION WINNERS

ON-AIR PROMOTION (RADIO OR TELEVISION)

“Vegas” (Dateline), “The Wanted” Promo, NBC Nightly News Promo, “Iran” (Dateline), “Cheat” (Dateline), Written by Barry Fitzsimmons; NBC

TELEVISION GRAPHIC ANIMATION

“Hudson Splashdown” (CBS Evening News with Katie Couric), David M. Rosen, Shannon L. Toma; CBS

VIDEOGAME WRITING WINNER

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Written by Amy Hennig; Sony Computer Entertainment

Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) hosted the West Coast show, which was executive produced by Spike Jones, Jr. Presenters scheduled to appear at the Los Angeles show included: Morgan Freeman, Billy Crystal, Judd Apatow with Jason Segel, Diablo Cody with John Corbett, Ali LeRoi with Chris Rock, David Shore with Hugh Laurie, Jason Alexander, Mila Kunis, Bill Blinn with Billy Dee Williams, Aaron Sorkin with Thomas Schlamme, Sally Sussman Morina with Anthony Morina, Todd J. Greenwald with David Henrie, WGAW President John Wells, and Robin Williams via a special video tribute to Barry Levinson. Host MacFarlane opened the show with a house-rocking production number with back-up singers featuring his version of “Ya Got Trouble” from The Music Man. Also in attendance at the WGAW’s L.A. ceremony were: Meg Ryan, Danny McBride, Cheryl Hines, Kathryn Bigelow, and Lee Daniels.

Susie Essman of Curb Your Enthusiasm hosted the East Coast show, which was executive produced by Craig Shemin, who was also the head writer. Presenters scheduled to appear at the show in New York included: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Ana Ortiz, Fred Armisen, Fran Brill and Prairie Dawn, Josh Charles, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Abby Elliott, Chris Elliott, Edie Falco, Nancy Giles, Don Hastings, Bill Irwin, Marc Lawrence, Elizabeth I. McCann, Bob McGrath, Seth Meyers, Mo Rocca, Wallace Shawn, Jeremy Sisto, Harry Smith, WGAE President Michael Winship, and Senator Al Franken in a special video tribute to honorary award recipient Alan Zweibel. Musical entertainment during the ceremony was provided by the Mark Pender Band featuring LaBamba. Also in attendance were: Tina Fey, Anthony Mackie, Nora Ephron, Michael H. Weber, Tom Fontana, and Terry George.

The Writers Guild of America, West presented special honors to: Larry David – Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television for lifetime achievement; Barry Levinson – Screen Laurel Award for lifetime achievement; Anthony Peckham (Invictus) – Paul Selvin Award, recognizing written work which spotlights constitutional rights and civil liberties; Carl Gottlieb – Morgan Cox Award, honoring longtime Guild service.

The Writers Guild of America, East presented special honors to: Alan Zweibel - Ian McLellan Hunter Lifetime Achievement Award; Gary David Goldberg – Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence; Edward Albee – Evelyn F. Burkey Award for contributions bringing honor and dignity to writers everywhere; David Steven Cohen - Jablow Award for devoted service to the Guild, and Philippa Leverman - John Merriman Award for Study of Broadcast Journalism at American University. In addition, the Writers Guild of America, East Foundation presented the Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting to Antal Zambo of Wayne State University.

For more information about the 2010 Writers Guild Awards, please visit www.wga.org or www.wgaeast.org.

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'Hurt Locker's' Kathryn Bigelow and 'The Cove's' Louie Psihoyos DGA Winners

Feature Film Winner: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Feature Documentary Winner: Louie Psihoyos, The Cove

History was made Saturday night at the 62nd Annual DGA Awards as Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Director's Guild of America Outstanding Direction of a feature film award for The Hurt Locker.

Kathryn Bigelow & James Cameron at 2010 DGA Awards
Photo Credit: AP Photo

Bigelow defeated a number of strong nominees including her ex-husband, but now good friend James Cameron ("Avatar"), Quentin Tarantino ("Inglourious Basterds"), Lee Daniels ("Precious") and Jason Reitman ("Up in the Air"). Only twice in the past ten years has a DGA winner not gone on to win the equivalent Academy Award. Those exceptions occurred in 2001 when Ang Lee won for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (Steven Soderbergh won the Oscar for "Traffic") and in 2002 when Rob Marshall won for "Chicago" (Roman Polanski won the Oscar that year for "The Pianist"). In that time span, it should be noted the last six DGA winners went on to win Oscar.

Many will now speculate that this win along with the PGA win means that "Avatar's" frontrunner status for Best Picture is not as strong as once believed. It would be quite a David vs. Goliath story if "Hurt Locker," which made only $12 million in the U.S. (but was No. 1 in DVD rental chart last week) defeated Cameron's "Avatar" for Oscar's biggest prize.

The complete list of 2010 Director's Guild of America winners are as follows:


DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Feature Film
Winner: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Feature Documentary
Winner: , "The Cove"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Movie for Television
Winner: Michael Sucsy, "Grey Gardens"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Dramatic Series Night
Winner: Lesli Linka Glatter, "Mad Men," "Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Comedy Series
Winner: Jason Winer, "Modern Family," Pilot

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical Variety program
Winner: Don Mischner, "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Reality Program
Winner: Craig Borders, "Build It Bigger Season 3": "Hong Kong Bridge"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Daytime Serial
Winner: Christopher Goutman, "As The World Turns," "Once Upon A Time"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction in Commercials
Winner: Tom Kuntz - Eyebrows, Cadbury; Tailor, Skittles; Scents For Gents, Old Spice; Tips, Career Builder

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'Hurt Locker,’ ‘Up,’ ‘The Cove’ win Producers Guild Award

Summit's The Hurt Locker took home the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures at the 21st annual PGA Awards. The prize was shared by producers Kathryn Bigelow (who also directed, photo at left), Mark Boal (the film's screenwriter), Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro.

The presentation capped the 21st Annual Producers Guild of America Awards 2010 ceremony held at the Hollywood Palladium this evening.

The Hurt Locker has picked up numerous critics awards, and two weekends ago it won the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.'s Critics Choice Award for best picture. But at the Golden Globes two nights later, Avatar walked off with the best drama prize, and at Saturday's SAG Awards, Inglourious Basterds picked up the film ensemble award, that guild's equivalent of the best picture prize.

With its PGA triumph, The Hurt Locker now reseizes the moment, although a best picture Oscar is by no means a done deal: During the 20-year history of the PGA Awards, 12 of its movie winners have gone on to win the best-film Oscar.

Louie Psihoyos’s The Cove won the documentary prize.

Pixar’s Up also nominated in the field of 10 Best Picture contenders, won the animated feature award, the highest grossing film of the category.

Mo’Nique presented the Stanley Kramer Award to Precious director Lee Daniels. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen presented the David O. Selznick Award to Pixar's John Lasseter. Will Smith presented the Milestone Award to Sony’s Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton.

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AMPAS Announces 2010 Oscar® Feature Documentary Short List

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

• “The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
• “Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
• “The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
• “Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
• “Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
• “Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
• “Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
• “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
• “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
• “Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
• “Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
• “Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
• “Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
• “Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
• “Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries for the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist.

I've only seen The Cove (my personal favorite) and Food Inc. This is a great day for animals all over the world!

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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