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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘Don't kill the dog': The man who saves Hollywood films from disaster
The end of Fatal Attraction would have been very different without Kevin Goetz. The original climax to the 1987 thriller had Glenn Close's bunny boiler, Alex, die by suicide after the end of her affair with Dan, played by Michael Douglas. He was blamed for her death, and the last thing viewers saw was his wife, Anne Archer's Beth, rushing to try and clear his name. Anybody who has watched Fatal Attraction will know that its frenzied ending actually sees Beth kill Alex, in an act of apparently-deserved retribution. It became a box office smash. Goetz had an unheralded role in making the change and, ultimately, creating one of Hollywood's most famous endings. He was running a focus group watching an early cut of Adrian Lyne's film who did not like the conclusion; one member said they wanted someone to 'kill the b---h'. Goetz reported this to the filmmakers, who shot the alternative ending despite Close's objections (she would later say that it made 'a character I loved into a murdering psychopath'). The final version went down in history. Over more than three decades, Goetz has made a career of taking the thoughts of 300-or-so ordinary people who have seen a work-in-progress film to advise on how to make films better. 'Part of my job is navigating what I think the audience is trying to say, what they are saying, and distilling that specificity to the film-makers so they actually have something to do in the editing room,' he says. 'You've got a bunch of people using audience feedback to make informed decisions. Not 'I think': who gives a f--- what you think? You care what the audience thinks.' The founder and chief executive of Screen Engine/ASI has worked on upwards of 5,000 films, from blockbusters such as Titanic, Barbie and F1 to smaller fare, like Jordan Peele's Get Out. The Los Angeles Times once dubbed him the 'doctor of audience-ology' in 2005 and the nickname has stuck. Most films released in cinemas and on streaming services go through a testing process. A panel of people who might be disposed to like it is recruited – in a similar fashion to those assembled by political opinion pollsters – and their general and specific feedback is sought. The question of whether they would 'definitely' or 'probably' recommend a film to a loved one is key. Goetz collates this data and helps studios and filmmakers try and interpret it so that they can make the film more appealing. Often that can mean reducing the running time, clarifying confusing elements, removing dud jokes and excising offensive material. Over the years, test screenings helped make Jaws scarier, made Molly Ringwald end up with Andrew McCarthy and not Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink, and ensured Loki was kept alive at the end of Thor: The Dark World – for which Tom Hiddleston is, presumably, very grateful. 'I could get something, with the help of the audience, from a C or a C-minus to a B-plus or even an A-minus. Can you imagine that? That's huge growth, huge. And it's the difference between, potentially, hundreds of million dollars,' says Goetz. 'Remember, it's not show-art, it is show-business. I truly believe that every movie, made and marketed for the right price, should make money. Now that's a big bold statement, not said lightly. But the problem is most people don't understand what they have at the outset so they pay way too much, budget-wise, for the movie, and as a result of that, they fail.' Something can be salvaged from even the biggest stinkers. Producers of zombie-flick World War Z 'reshot a third of the movie' after a negative screening, while in 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog 'the whole lead character was recrafted'. Goetz fondly recalls Gore Verbinski's Mousehunt, which he says was 'originally an adult dark comedy that turned into a family movie – and it was a success. There are ways to do it, but it's harder than hell to do it'. While Goetz says that most filmmakers get on board with the testing process, there are some notable exceptions. Christopher Nolan, for instance, does not subject himself to the views of mere mortals (though those who watched Tenet may wish he did). 'Picasso never audience-tested his paintings,' Ang Lee, the Oscar-winning Life of Pi director, once told Goetz. 'I love Ang Lee. Ang Lee is one of my favourite filmmakers,' Goetz tells me. 'He's an artist, what can I tell you? But guess what? So am I. I would say I am no less of an artist and I contribute no less than…' At this stage he breaks off to point at a large trophy behind him; it is American Cinematheque's 'power of cinema' award, which honours those who have helped advance the relevance of film. 'I got that award in 2023 – it's one of the highest awards in Hollywood, as you know – for my contributions to the motion picture business. I didn't get it because I'm a number cruncher.' As if to underline the point, he has a publicist send me the seven minute-long video of tributes that was played when he was garlanded with the honour. 'We are absolutely nothing without you and your incredible talent,' beams Charlize Theron. Margot Robbie says: 'You are so good at what you do and it has been such a gift to have your expertise and support on so many of our films… it is truly mindblowing how many films you have had a positive influence on.' Tom Cruise and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson call him a friend. 'I'm only saying this, not to be self-aggrandising, but so you will understand my relationship with these people,' says Goetz. A fast talker who is liable to go off on tangents, he is clearly not overly burdened by self-doubt. Much of the 63-year-old's success can be attributed to his bedside manner, which allows him to tell even the haughtiest auteurs things they do not want to hear. He illustrates the issue he often has by asking me to imagine me being the pushy parent of a child. 'Liam, I need to tell you that your seven-year-old daughter, she's just not as attractive as you think she is. She's never gonna make it as a model. I know you want her to be in commercials, but she's a little chunky, she's got crooked teeth, she's got freckles, and it doesn't work,' he says, deadly earnest. 'I have to say those things, and these are their children. These are their babies, right?' Ultimately, the power of numbers in his focus groups makes most filmmakers listen to him. 'If someone honks at you on the highway, they're an a--hole. But if seven people honk at you, you're the a--hole. At the end of the day, they're saying 'You d––'.' His constructive attitude, combined with his discretion, makes him a trusted partner for many of the world's biggest stars and explains why so many were queuing up to sing his praises at the American Cinematheque awards. Goetz says that a couple of filmmakers have fallen out with him, but refuses to name names. He is full of praise, however, for Ron Howard ('it doesn't get better than Ron in the screening process. He's a great partner and treats you like one') and Peele ('he's a very hot filmmaker who really respects the process and he's had great success'). He leverages the close relationships he strikes with them into interviews for the podcast he hosts, Don't Kill the Messenger, and he has written a pair of books about the business (2021's Audience-ology and the forthcoming How to Score in Hollywood). Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Goetz aspired to act, sing and dance, and was a fixture in TV adverts and stage plays before he got an acting degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He also spent a couple of years as a Domino's pizza delivery boy. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career and took a part-time job with National Research Group, a consulting outfit. It started out as a 'survival job', where he moderated test screening focus groups, but it gradually became his primary interest. Decades on and he is still as enthused by it as ever. One iron-clad rule has emerged from years of test screenings that filmmakers would do well to heed at all times: do not mistreat a dog. A scene was added to Back to the Future so that it was clear that Doc Brown's dog, Einstein, did not get hurt when he was sent through time. 'You never want to hurt a dog,' Goetz says. 'Anchorman has a story about the dog that they needed to reshoot to show that the dog was OK, and it helped a lot. In The War of the Roses, one of them was eating and the implication was he barbecued the dog and the audience was… they had to shoot an insert shot of the dog sitting there to show that he was just f---ing with her.' Needless to say, Goetz is a dog person and lives in Beverly Hills with his husband, Neil, and their labradoodle, Kasha. In recent years, Hollywood has been accused of playing it safe, with a conveyor belt of sequels, prequels, remakes and reimaginings released, to the detriment of more original ideas. 'There is a tremendous amount of risk aversion. The reason is the stakes are so high,' Goetz says. 'The audiences seem to want the same, but different. They don't want a rehashing, but they want something that feels familiar but is different, like [Ryan Coogler's] Sinners. People have seen vampire stories, but not one like this. And I think then they'll also go to a Jurassic Park.' But Hollywood needs to remember that the audience is never wrong. 'The audience has final cut. An audience can never be wrong, because it's just an opinion,' he says. With thousands of screenings under his belt, watching films at various stages in the production process, it would be easy for Goetz to stop enjoying seeing them for fun: who would want a hot dog after spending all day seeing how the sausages are made? But he says he loves sharing films he enjoys with his husband and friends. There is, however, one part of the cinema world that he cannot bear. 'People often ask if I eat popcorn. And the answer is, no, very rarely,' he says with a smile. 'I smell popcorn every night of my life!'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kathy Bates aims to become the oldest Drama Actress winner in Emmys history, surpassing Glenn Close
Here's a case for Matlock to solve: will Kathy Bates make Emmys history this year? In 2009, then-62-year-old Glenn Close became the oldest Best Drama Actress winner to date. It was her second consecutive trophy for Damages, and when she won the year prior at age 61, she overtook the category's previous oldest champion, Sally Field, who was 60 when she prevailed for Brothers & Sisters in 2007. More from Gold Derby Christine Tremarco reacts to 'Adolescence' Emmy nomination and Owen Cooper's historic honor: 'I'm a very proud pretend mom' 'An absolute cherry on top': Ron Howard on his first-ever acting Emmy nomination for 'The Studio' Bates turned 77 on June 28, which means, should she prevail at the 2025 Emmys on Sept. 14, she'd beat Close's record by 15 years. But as we all know, age is just a number! "I am deeply grateful to the Television Academy for this honor," said the former Best Actress Oscar winner for 1980s' Misery. "My heartfelt thanks to CBS ... for believing in us every step of the way on this beautiful journey and for being such delightful people to work with. Every day on set is a gift thanks to the dedication, talent, and friendship of our incredible cast and crew. And darling Jennie [Snyder Urman, the show creator] — thank you for seeing those of us who feel unseen, for not abandoning me, and for trusting me with Matty's complex story. This nomination really belongs to you ... what a joy it has been for all of us to pour our hearts into bringing your Matlock to life." Bates is nominated for playing Madeline "Matty" Matlock on CBS' loosely inspired remake of the classic Andy Griffith mystery legal drama. However, Matty exists in a world where the original Matlock was a TV show. She is pretending to be a folksy character with that iconic name in order to uncover which lawyer at her new firm, Jacobson Moore, hid evidence that could have prevented the opioid epidemic that led to her daughter's death. The other Best Drama Actress nominees this year are Sharon Horgan for Bad Sisters as Eva Garvey, Britt Lower for Severance as Helly R., Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us as Ellie, and Keri Russell for The Diplomat as Katherine "Kate" Wyler. From this group, only Bates has won at the Emmys before, for Two and a Half Men (guest actress, 2012) and American Horror Story: Coven (supporting actress, 2014). Horgan, Ramsey, and Russell have previously been nominated, while Lower is a first-time nominee. The new Matlock is developed by Urman. Joining Bates in the main cast are Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence, Jason Ritter as Julian Markston, David Del Rio as Billy Martinez, and Leah Lewis as Sarah Franklin. The drama received no other Emmy nominations. Bates' biggest hurdle at the Emmys has nothing to do with age. She stars on a broadcast network show, and those have had trouble breaking through at awards shows in recent years, with voters instead favoring streaming services and premium channels. In fact, the last time a CBS contender competed in the Best Drama Actress race was Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) over a decade ago; she won in 2011 and 2014. If anyone can break out of the broadcast bubble, it's Bates. The well-respected, veteran actress prevailed at the Critics Choice Awards, and she also reaped noms at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Golden Globes. And, don't forget, TV Academy members love legal shows — just look at prior contenders like Boston Legal, The Practice, Ally McBeal, L.A. Law, and the aforementioned Damages and The Good Wife, which all won Emmys for actors playing lawyers. Bates herself was previously nominated in this same category for playing a quirky defense attorney on Harry's Law, but couldn't pull off the win. She's predicted to have better luck this year for Matlock, as she's the early front-runner to win the Best Drama Actress Emmy. Contender Odds 1. Kathy Bates Matlock 67.8% 2. Britt Lower Severance 25.1% 3. Bella Ramsey The Last of Us 6.0% 4. Keri Russell The Diplomat 0.4% 5. Sharon Horgan Bad Sisters 0.7% Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Everything to know about 'Too Much,' Lena Dunham's Netflix TV show starring Megan Stalter that's kinda, sorta 'based on a true story' Cristin Milioti, Amanda Seyfried, Michelle Williams, and the best of our Emmy Limited Series/Movie Actress interviews Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BFI London Film Festival to open with premiere of third Knives Out film
The BFI London Film Festival 2025 will open with the international premiere of the third film in the Knives Out series, it has been announced. Wake Up Dead Mean: A Knives Out Mystery will see James Bond star Daniel Craig reprise his role as famed private detective Benoit Blanc, who unravels another murder mystery among a new cast of suspects. The Netflix movie, which also stars Emmy-winning actress Glenn Close, Challengers star Josh O'Connor, and That '70s Show actress Mila Kunis, will headline the festival's opening night gala, taking place at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall this autumn. The other cast members of the star-studded film include Irish actors Andrew Scott and Daryl McCormack and US actors Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington and Cailee Spaeny. Director Rian Johnson, said: 'We're honoured to be opening the BFI London Film Festival with Wake Up Dead Man. London is the birthplace of the golden age of detective fiction and it's a thrill to be back!' Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival director, said: 'At this 69th edition of the BFI London Film Festival we are inviting audiences to get their spyglass at the ready as we get back on the case with another deliciously fun mystery from director Rian Johnson and his all-star cast with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. 'Led by Daniel Craig and Josh O'Connor, the film features incredible British and international talent on and off screen who bring a sense of play and verve to the screen, to craft a film that twists, turns and will keep audiences guessing to the final frame. 'The third of the brilliant Knives Out films we have presented at the LFF, we are delighted to reunite for our special Opening Night.' The 69th edition of the festival, which is run by the the UK's lead organisation for film and the moving image – the British Film Institute (BFI), will take place between October 8 and 19 2025. The second movie in the film series, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, closed the 66th edition of the festival in 2022. This year's festival will take place across a variety of venues in the capital including BFI Imax, Picturehouse Central, the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End – as well as a number of other partner cinemas. Wake Up Dead Mean: A Knives Out Mystery will be released to Netflix on December 12 2025.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
101 reasons why this family are delighted to be living in this historic house
In the latest of our series on notable figures who called the borough home, Neil Brandwood discovers a writer whose work became a Disney classic. Cruella de Vil would no doubt be appalled that there's a dog grooming parlour and a dog well-being shop in close proximity to her creator's house, but Anya and Vivian Spencer couldn't be more delighted. The couple had no idea the Whitefield house they are renting was the first home of Dodie Smith – the author who wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Born in 1896, she spent the first two years of her life living at 118 (since renumbered 167) Bury New Road. The large, four-bedroomed house still has the original stone pillars at the gateway, engraved with the house's name, Stoneycroft. The Bury New Road house where Dodie Smith was born (Image: Newsquest) The original house name can still be seen on the gate post (Image: Newsquest) It's doubtful whether all those children passing by on their way to nearby Higher Lane Primary School have any idea of the link to the classic children's book. Handsome though the house is, Dodie was not impressed. Writing in her autobiography, she said: 'When I was about 10, I was driven past my birthplace and found it to be the most insignificant of semi-detached villas.' She wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians in 1956, and it was adapted into an animated film in1961, and a live action version starring Glenn Close in 1996. Dodie was born in the house on May 3, the only child of Ernest and Ella Smith. Ernest was a bank manager but died in 1898 when Dodie was just two. Following his death, she and her mother went to live with her grandparents in Old Trafford. 'We didn't know she lived in this house,' said a delighted Anya Spencer, 42, who has been renting number 118 with her husband, Vivian, 42, for the last five years. 'It's fabulous! I'm sentimental so I just love it!' The couple were even more delighted to break the exciting news to their nine-year-old twin daughters, Ella and Eden. 'They love reading and The Hundred and One Dalmatians is one of their favourite books. When we told them Dodie lived here they were so excited.' Newsquest (Image: Newsquest) Ella (left) and Eden enjoy one of their favourite books (Image: Newsquest) Dodie's, whose real name was Dorothy, began writing the book in 1953 when she returned to London after living in America. A dog lover, she kept dalmatians—at one point owning 17. The family watching Disney's adaptation of Dodie Smith's book (Image: Newsquest)READ NEXT > Cat charity facing closure shares emotional plea following £17k bill READ NEXT > NHS waiting times revealed as borough trust falls under target Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to the Bury Times morning newsletter as well as our breaking news alerts Her first, named Pongo, inspired the book's hero. The idea came when a friend joked that her dogs would make a beautiful fur coat - sparking the story's creation. She died on November 24, 1990, but achieved literary immortality thanks to her book about canine capers and one of the greatest villains of all time.
Refinery29
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
These 7 Netflix Treats Are Worth Watching In July
The start of summer means that most people are out and busy, soaking up the sun, enjoying BBQs and planning last-minute beach getaways. If you're like us, however, you're most likely still locked into all your favourite movies and shows, eagerly scrolling the internet for more news of upcoming cinema releases and streaming drops. Over the last month, Hunger Games fans rejoiced as they announced that Glenn Close would be starring in the latest installment as the cruel custodian of District 12, Drusilla, alongside Billy Porter as drug-addled stylist, Magno. For musical theatre heads, the release of the Wicked: For Good trailer had everybody buzzing with anticipation for the closing chapter of the box-office smash hit. Plus, The Materialists press tour gave us enough content to keep us smiling for weeks to come. Still, as we head into July, we've got our eye on a new slate of content heading our way, with Netflix rolling out plenty of must-see dramas, documentaries and more. To discover all our favourite upcoming shows and movies coming to the platform this month, read on ahead… Our Netflix Star: Too Much Moustache finger tattoos, infinity scarves and Lena Dunham's Girls are often noted as defining moments of the 2010s. Now, Dunham is making her much-anticipated return to television, this time with a a rough around the edges romance about starting over. Taking inspiration from Dunham's own life, the story follows Jessica (Megan Stalter), a 30-something who moves from New York to London following a devastating break up. With all the best intentions to lead a quaint English life, her plans are interrupted when she meets Felix (Will Sharpe), a messy but charming man in a pub toilet. Packed with a talented transatlantic cast including Andrew Scott, Kit Harrington, Richard E Grant, Andrew Rannells, Jessica Alba and Emily Ratajkowski, this is a story about balancing baggage with new beginnings. Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel For those paying attention to fashion in the 2010s, American Apparel was known for giving wearers serious social currency. Becoming one of the most successful US fashion brands, the disco-pant producers were a Tumblr style blogger staple, with sexually promiscuous ad campaigns making them globally famous. But as the new Netflix documentary details, the brand that so many young people wanted to work at was actually crumbling on the inside. Exposing the actions of CEO and founder Dov Charney, the doc discusses the sexual harassment claims, financial mismanagement and toxic work practices that brought about the end of American Apparel. The Old Guard 2 If there's one thing Charlize Theron knows how to do, it's kick ass. Returning for a second instalment, The Old Guard 2 follows Andy (Theron) and the gang on their continuing mission to save the world. As immortals, the group have spent thousands of years trying to do good, but this time they must go up against the first of their kind, Discord (played by a sword-wielding Uma Thurman). Enlisting the help of Tuah (Henry Golding) to try and understand the mystery around their immortality, the warriors must face their biggest challenge yet. The Sandman (Season 2) Split into two parts, The Sandman returns for its final season with 11 new episodes. Based on the award-winning comic book series, the second instalment promises to bring the story to a fulfilling close, following Dream as he embarks on a mission to save the realm, himself and the conscious world from his past actions. Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones), Indya Moore (Pose) and Freddie Fox (The Great) join the fantasy epic alongside the original cast, including Gwendoline Christie, Stephen Fry and Joely Richardson. Trainwreck: The Real Project X For those old enough to remember the Project X movie, it was a pop culture moment like no other. Based loosely on the plot of a real-life teenager who threw an out-of-control house party, the term 'Project X' subsequently entered the cultural lexicon for Tumblr teens. Now, for the first time, the real Dutch teenager who created an open Facebook event in 2012 speaks about how things went so wrong so quickly when tens of thousands of people signed up to attend. Ending in a full-blown riot and an estimated £15,000 in damages, the doc details exactly how one teenage girl from a tiny town threw the most viral party of the 2010s. Untamed Thinking about heading into the great outdoors this summer? Well, this new Eric Bana-fronted series might have you feeling differently. Set in Yosemite National Park, this mystery thriller follows a National Parks Service agent as he attempts to enforce the law across the sprawling forests and mountainscapes. From the writer behind The Revenant and American Primeval this is a series that examines what happens when humans and the wilderness go up against each other. Happy Gilmore 2 In 1996, Adam Sandler gifted Happy Gilmore to the world, a beloved comedy about a down-on-his-luck hockey player who turns to golf in the hopes of saving his family from bankruptcy. Now, 29 years later, Happy returns to the course, this time a father having to find money to fund his daughter's dance school tuition. With a star-studded cast including Ben Stiller, Julie Bowen, Margaret Qualley, Bad Bunny, Eminem, Post Malone, Rory McIlroy and even Sandler's real-life daughter, Sunny, this promises to be a sports sequel with some substance.
