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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 25, 2025 is: travail truh-VAIL noun Travail is a formal word, usually used in plural, that refers to a difficult experience or situation. // The book describes the political travails of the governor during her first year in office. See the entry > Examples: "Written by Samy Burch, the film [Coyote vs. Acme] follows the travails of the desert denizen who is tired of being slammed with Acme products as he tries to outsmart the Roadrunner. Coyote finally decides to hire a lawyer to take the Acme Corp. to court for product liability, such as faulty rocket skates and defective aerial bombs." — Meg James, The Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025 Did you know? Travail traces back to trepalium, a Late Latin word for an instrument of torture. We don't know exactly what a trepalium looked like, but the word's history gives us an idea. Trepalium comes from the Latin adjective tripalis, which means "having three stakes" (from tri-, meaning "three," and palus, meaning "stake"). Trepalium eventually led to the Anglo-French verb travailler, meaning "to torment" but also, more mildly, "to trouble" and "to journey." The Anglo-French noun travail was borrowed into English in the 13th century, along with another descendant of travailler, travel.
The MCU is once again in the spotlight as major Avengers: The Kang Dynasty leaks have surfaced online—and we're diving into everything we've learned. On today's episode of The Kristian Harloff Show, we break down the original plan for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, its evolution into Avengers: Doomsday, and what it all means for Marvel Phase 5, Secret Wars, and the future of the Multiverse Saga. Marvel Studios seems to have scrapped Kang as the main villain in favor of Doctor Doom—and for good reason. After Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania flopped and Jonathan Majors' legal issues became a major concern, insiders say the studio lost faith in the Council of Kangs storyline. Now, with Stephen McFeely rewriting both Avengers 5 and Secret Wars, and the Russo Brothers returning to direct, the entire direction has shifted. We're breaking down the leaked Kang Dynasty script that includes wild reveals like a Moon Knight team-up, Miles Morales' MCU debut, a Deadpool 3 crossover, and even a Spider-Man: No Way Home reunion. Plus, what role was Doctor Doom supposed to play before becoming the central threat in Avengers: Doomsday? And how does this affect the lead-in to Avengers: Secret Wars? Other stories covered: Captain America: Brave New World nears $200M at the domestic box office. A Working Man dominates Snow White in a surprise upset. Warner Bros. shakeups and early talks of new leadership. First reactions for The Minecraft Movie are in—and they're surprisingly mixed but intriguing. AND — in a massive shift — Warner Bros. has completed the worldwide sale of Coyote vs. Acme to Ketchup Entertainment. Yes, the previously shelved, fan-beloved Looney Tunes film is back! The Wile E. Coyote movie—starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor, directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch—was shelved for tax reasons despite strong test screenings. But now it's getting a theatrical release in 2026, with Ketchup shelling out close to $50 million for the rights. Produced by James Gunn, this film has become symbolic of Hollywood's internal battles between artistry and cost-cutting. Marvel. DC. Box office drama. Studio shakeups. Leaks. Come for the nerd news—stay for the chaos.
What a Creep“Coyote V. Acme Controversy”Season 24, Episode 4In February 1980, The New Yorker magazine published a satire called "Coyote V. Acme" written by Ian Frazier. The story was about Wile E. Coyote suing Acme, the company that supplied him with the equipment he used to try and catch the Road Runner, for all his injuries over the years. In 1987, the success of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" led to the combination of animation and live actors in this story. However, it wasn't until the 2020s that Warner Brothers hired writer Samy Burch and director Dave Green to bring the project to life. The film was completed in 2022, but now the parent company refuses to release it and instead writes it off for tax purposes. Despite considering other outlets, the $75 million price tag makes it unlikely that Warner Brothers will negotiate another deal. The film's controversy-causing release has caused a media storm. For once, we have no trigger warnings!Sources for this episodeIndie Wire: https://www.indiewire.com/news/analysis/coyote-vs-acme-write-off-anticompetitive-1234953523/The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/movies/2024/2/12/24070471/coyote-vs-acme-movie-canceled-new-yorker-article-news-warner-wbd-zaslavDeadline: https://deadline.com/2023/11/coyote-vs-acme-shelved-warner-bros-discovery-writeoff-david-zaslav-1235598676/The Wrap: thewrap.com/coyote-vs-acme-update-offers-warner-bros/Lainey Gossip: https://www.laineygossip.com/warner-bros-discovery-controversial-business-practices-unveiled-as-coyote-vs-acme-faces-deletion/77662The Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/patton-oswalt-david-zaslav-coyote-vs-acme-1235842255/Screen Rant: https://screenrant.com/coyote-vs-acme-movie-canceled-warner-bros-david-zaslav/AV Club: https://www.avclub.com/coyote-vs-acme-probably-getting-scrapped-wbd-zaslav-1851243078The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/9/24067496/coyote-vs-acme-amazon-netflix-paramount-rejected-offers-theatricalList of Abandoned & Unfinished Movies (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_abandoned_and_unfinished_filmsBe sure to follow us on social media. But don't follow us too closely … don't be a creep about it! Subscribe to us on Apple PodcastsTwitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPodFacebook: Join the private group! Instagram @WhatACreepPodcastVisit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreepEmail: WhatACreepPodcast@gmail.com We've got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud
In which the Mister and I check out MAY DECEMBER (2023), which we caught on Netflix. From director Todd Haynes and a script by Samy Burch and story by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, the film is loosely based on the Mary Kay Letourneau story from the 1990s. In this version, actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) is going to spend time with a couple who endured in spite of the scandal that their relationship created. Grace (Julianne Moore) first meets Joe when he is a 12 year old and proceeds to have a sexual relationship with him. She ends up in jail but when she gets out Joe is there and they marry. Years later, Elizabeth goes to shadow the family as she wants to get more insight into the players of this story. Joe is now an adult (played by Charles Melton) and over the period of time she is there and through Elizabeth's POV we get access to a small part of the story and the audience can infer many things from the scenes presented. Absolutely brilliant performances from the leads and a compelling story make this a worthwhile investment. This is an Original Screenplay nominee at the upcoming Oscars. This film clocks in at 1 h 57 m and is rated R. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review. Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jokagoge/support
Wade through the red flags and into the murky moral waters of MAY DECEMBER in this week's discussion. Though Todd Haynes, Natalie Portaman, and Julianne Moore are formidable storytelling forces, it's Samy Burch's first screenplay that is in contention at this year's Academy Awards. Check the siblings' discussion at www.orwhatevermovies.com. Contains spoilers. Thank you for listening! 818-835-0473 orwhatevermovies@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Jeff Goldsmith interviews Cord Jefferson, Arthur Harari, David Hemingson, Josh Singer, Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik, Celine Song and Tony McNamara about their Oscar nominated screenplays. Download my podcast here Copyright © Unlikely Films, Inc. 2024. All rights reserved. For more great content check out Backstory Magazine @ Backstory.net
Despite what began as a shocking affair, then 36-year old Gracie (Julianne Moore) and 13-year old Joe (Charles Melton) now lead a seemingly picture-perfect suburban life some 20 years later. Their domestic bliss is disrupted when Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), a famous actress, arrives to research her upcoming role as Gracie. As Elizabeth ingratiates herself into the everyday lives of Gracie and Joe, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle sits down with the screenwriter of ‘May December' Samy Burch to talk about the film, her writing process, and being nominated for Best Original Screenplay (‘May December') at this year's Academy Awards.
First, the writers of May December share their low key Oscar nominations day celebration and how growing up in a casting family gave Samy Burch unique insight on Hollywood. Then, the writer and director of international feature nominee Perfect Days looks back on the post-pandemic experiences that inspired the film, and why he feels optimistic about the future of moviegoing.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vfawardsinsiderEmail us at littlegoldmen@vf.comFollow our hosts: @kateyrich, @rilaws, @beccamford, @davidcanfield97Our editor and producer is Brett Fuchs.
First, the writers of May December share their low key Oscar nominations day celebration and how growing up in a casting family gave Samy Burch unique insight on Hollywood. Then, the writer and director of international feature nominee Perfect Days looks back on the post-pandemic experiences that inspired the film, and why he feels optimistic about the future of moviegoing.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vfawardsinsiderEmail us at littlegoldmen@vf.comFollow our hosts: @kateyrich, @rilaws, @beccamford, @davidcanfield97Our editor and producer is Brett Fuchs.
May you join us this December for a Deep Cutversation on May Deepcutber? Wait, this is confusing... what's NOT confusing is the moral clarity of American director Todd Haynes' latest pressure-cooker drama about the evils of our time. While Eli sees horror lurking beneath the pleasant cinematography of Christopher Blauvelt, Ben ponders the omission of a cathartic ending from Samy Burch's script, and Wilson lauds the core performances of Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. Don't be naïve–– tune in! You can join our Discord, but we might not have enough hot dogs. Keep up with Deep Cut on Instagram and Letterboxd.
Get ready for the glitz and glamour as "Everyone is a Critic Movie Review Podcast" dives into the highly anticipated 2023 Oscar Nominations! In Episode 607, our hosts meticulously dissect each category, celebrating the outstanding achievements in the world of cinema. Join us as we unveil the nominees and share our insights on who might take home the coveted golden statuettes. OSCAR NOMINATIONS 2024 BY CATEGORY - 96th AWARDS Best Picture AMERICAN FICTION Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers ANATOMY OF A FALL Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers BARBIE David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers THE HOLDOVERS Mark Johnson, Producer KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers MAESTRO Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers OPPENHEIMER Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers PAST LIVES David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers POOR THINGS Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers THE ZONE OF INTEREST James Wilson, Producer Actor in a Leading Role Bradley Cooper in MAESTRO Colman Domingo in RUSTIN Paul Giamatti in THE HOLDOVERS Cillian Murphy in OPPENHEIMER Jeffrey Wright in AMERICAN FICTION Actor in a Supporting Role Sterling K. Brown in AMERICAN FICTION Robert De Niro in KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Robert Downey Jr. in OPPENHEIMER Ryan Gosling in BARBIE Mark Ruffalo in POOR THINGS Actress in a Leading Role Annette Bening in NYAD Lily Gladstone in KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Sandra Hüller in ANATOMY OF A FALL Carey Mulligan in MAESTRO Emma Stone in POOR THINGS Actress in a Supporting Role Emily Blunt in OPPENHEIMER Danielle Brooks in THE COLOR PURPLE America Ferrera in BARBIE Jodie Foster in NYAD Da'Vine Joy Randolph in THE HOLDOVERS Animated Feature Film THE BOY AND THE HERON Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki ELEMENTAL Peter Sohn and Denise Ream NIMONA Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary ROBOT DREAMS Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé and Sandra Tapia Díaz SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal Cinematography EL CONDE Edward Lachman KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Rodrigo Prieto MAESTRO Matthew Libatique OPPENHEIMER Hoyte van Hoytema POOR THINGS Robbie Ryan Costume Design BARBIE Jacqueline Durran KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Jacqueline West NAPOLEON Janty Yates and Dave Crossman OPPENHEIMER Ellen Mirojnick POOR THINGS Holly Waddington Directing ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Martin Scorsese OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan POOR THINGS Yorgos Lanthimos THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer Documentary Feature Film BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp and John Battsek THE ETERNAL MEMORY Nominees to be determined FOUR DAUGHTERS Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha TO KILL A TIGER Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David Oppenheim 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath Documentary Short Film THE ABCS OF BOOK BANNING Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic THE BARBER OF LITTLE ROCK John Hoffman and Christine Turner ISLAND IN BETWEEN S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien THE LAST REPAIR SHOP Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers NǎI NAI & WàI Pó Sean Wang and Sam Davis Film Editing ANATOMY OF A FALL Laurent Sénéchal THE HOLDOVERS Kevin Tent KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Thelma Schoonmaker OPPENHEIMER Jennifer Lame POOR THINGS Yorgos Mavropsaridis International Feature Film IO CAPITANO Italy PERFECT DAYS Japan SOCIETY OF THE SNOW Spain THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE Germany THE ZONE OF INTEREST United Kingdom Makeup and Hairstyling GOLDA Karen Hartley Thomas, Suzi Battersby and Ashra Kelly-Blue MAESTRO Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou and Lori McCoy-Bell OPPENHEIMER Luisa Abel POOR THINGS Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston SOCIETY OF THE SNOW Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí and Montse Ribé Music (Original Score) AMERICAN FICTION Laura Karpman INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY John Williams KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Robbie Robertson OPPENHEIMER Ludwig Göransson POOR THINGS Jerskin Fendrix Music (Original Song) "The Fire Inside" from FLAMIN' HOT Music and Lyric by Diane Warren "I'm Just Ken" from BARBIE Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt "It Never Went Away" from AMERICAN SYMPHONY Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson "Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Music and Lyric by Scott George "What Was I Made For?" from BARBIE Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell Production Design BARBIE Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis NAPOLEON Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff OPPENHEIMER Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman POOR THINGS Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek Short Film (Animated) LETTER TO A PIG Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter NINETY-FIVE SENSES Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess OUR UNIFORM Yegane Moghaddam PACHYDERME Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius WAR IS OVER! INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC OF JOHN & YOKO Dave Mullins and Brad Booker Short Film (Live Action) THE AFTER Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham INVINCIBLE Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron KNIGHT OF FORTUNE Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk RED, WHITE AND BLUE Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR Wes Anderson and Steven Rales Sound THE CREATOR Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic MAESTRO Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor OPPENHEIMER Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O'Connell THE ZONE OF INTEREST Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn Visual Effects THE CREATOR Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould GODZILLA MINUS ONE Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams and Theo Bialek MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould NAPOLEON Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould Writing (Adapted Screenplay) AMERICAN FICTION Written for the screen by Cord Jefferson BARBIE Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach OPPENHEIMER Written for the screen by Christopher Nolan POOR THINGS Screenplay by Tony McNamara THE ZONE OF INTEREST Written by Jonathan Glazer Writing (Original Screenplay) ANATOMY OF A FALL Screenplay - Justine Triet and Arthur Harari THE HOLDOVERS Written by David Hemingson MAESTRO Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer MAY DECEMBER Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik PAST LIVES Written by Celine Song Connect with Us: Website: www.ihatecritics.com Facebook: Everyone is a Critic Podcast Twitter: @criticspod Instagram: criticspod Patreon: patreon.com/criticspod Tee Public: CriticsPod Tee Public YouTube: CriticsPod YouTube Channel Featured Creators: Jeff's Art: Jeff Lassiter Art Sean's Reviews: Sean at the Movies Blog
"Segredos de um Escândalo", ou “May December”, é uma espécie de amálgama de diversas histórias norte-americanas de abuso que rolavam a torto e a direito nos anos 80 e 90. O roteiro da dupla Samy Burch e Alex Mechanic foi parar nas mãos de Natalie Portman, que recrutou o aclamado diretor Todd Haynes (dos ótimos "Carol" e "Não estou lá"), que por sua vez puxou a Julianne Moore pro rolê, já que os dois já tinham trabalhado juntos em "Longe do Paraíso" (de 2002).::Entrando na sinopse, acompanhamos a história de Gracie (Moore) e seu marido Joe (Charles Melton), 23 anos mais novo que ela. O relacionamento dos dois começou quando Joe tinha apenas 13 anos, causando um baita de um escândalo nos jornais. ::Vinte anos depois, o casal está se preparando para a formatura de seus filhos gêmeos. Suas rotinas acabam dando uma bagunçada quando a atriz Elizabeth Berry (Portman) faz uma visitinha para aprender os costumes e manias de Gracie, afinal ela vai interpretá-la no cinema. ::Coloque seu fone, aumente o volume e Senta que lá vem Spoiler!
Analisamos o filme dirigido por Todd Haynes e estrelado por Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore e Charles Melton. - Visite a página do podcast no site e confira material extra sobre o tema do episódio - Junte-se ao Cineclube Cinematório e tenha acesso a conteúdo exclusivo de cinema Escrito por Samy Burch e inspirado na história verídica de Mary Kay Letourneau, "Segredos de um Escândalo" gira em torno de uma atriz que se prepara para interpretar no cinema uma mulher que se envolveu em um escândalo, mais de 20 anos atrás, quando teve um relacionamento amoroso com um menor de idade. A aproximação entre as duas leva a um jogo de intriga e manipulação que afeta as vidas de todos ao redor delas. Sentam-se à mesa conosco para a retrospectiva do cinema em 2023: Larissa Vasconcelos, jornalista, crítica e redatora do cinematório; Ana Lúcia Andrade, professora de Cinema da Escola de Belas Artes da UFMG, autora dos livros "O Filme Dentro do Filme: a Metalinguagem no Cinema" e "Entretenimento Inteligente: O Cinema de Billy Wilder". O cinematório café é produzido e apresentado por Renato Silveira e Kel Gomes. A cada episódio, nós propomos um debate em torno de filmes recém-lançados e temas relacionados ao cinema, sempre em um clima de descontração e buscando refletir sobre imagens presentes no nosso dia a dia. Quer mandar um e-mail? Escreva para contato@cinematorio.com.br. A sua mensagem pode ser lida no podcast!
John and Craig take a look at the many For Your Consideration scripts suddenly available to read to see what lessons can be learned from movies that were actually made. They find best practices for establishing setting, using “we see” and “we hear,” complicated setups, directing on the page, and how to get right into your story. We also look at the possible sale of Paramount, the International Phonetic Alphabet and setting 2024 goals, before answering listener questions on UK credits and our writing routines. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig chew on a difficult question — would we eat lab-grown human meat? Links: The Vultures Are Circling: Who Will Walk Away With Paramount? by Alex Weprin for The Hollywood Reporter The Holdovers by David Hemingson All of Us Strangers by Andrew Haigh May December by Samy Burch, story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik Saltburn by Emerald Fennell Killers of the Flower Moon by Eric Roth & Martin Scorsese Barbie by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach Across the Spider-Verse by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller & Dave Callaham Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan American Fiction by Cord Jefferson Weekend Read 2 Gartic Phone Dungeons & Dragons – Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Zach Lo (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.
Samy Burch (May December) discusses breaking through with her first produced screenplay after a decade of writing, receiving notes from producers at Gloria Sanchez, Natalie Portman, and director Todd Haynes, "the endurance of failure," writing the shelved (for now?) Coyote vs Acme for Warner Brothers, and why her vision for her writing future is the motto for LA restaurant The Apple Pan. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comSOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May December is a 2023 American drama film directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik. Loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, it stars Natalie Portman as an actress who travels to Savannah, Georgia, to meet and study the life of the controversial woman (Julianne Moore) she is set to play in a film—the woman being infamous for her 23-year-long relationship with her husband (Charles Melton), which began when he was 13 years old. The film was announced in June 2021, with Portman and Moore joining the cast. Filming took place in mid-2022 in Savannah. It premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023, where Netflix acquired the North American distribution rights. May December was released in select theaters in the United States on November 17, 2023, before streaming on Netflix on December 1. It received critical acclaim and various accolades, including nominations for four Golden Globe Awards, and was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the American Film Institute. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popcorn-junkies/message
Dori and Kristopher give their take on the new Todd Haynes Directed Netflix film 'May December.' The film is about TV actor Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) who goes to Savannah to prep for a film about a scandalous tabloid romance between Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton). Despite their unusual relationship, Elizabeth discovers hidden complexities that unravel a captivating story about performance and exploitation by writer Samy Burch in "May December."
May December: Movie Review from the Ray Taylor Show Show topic: Delve into the complexities of 'May December,' a thought-provoking 2023 American drama film, with Ray Taylor's in-depth review. Directed by the acclaimed Todd Haynes and penned by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik, this film navigates through the layers of controversy and emotion. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, 'May December' features Natalie Portman in a riveting role as an actress delving into the life of a notorious woman, portrayed by Julianne Moore. The film spotlights Moore's character's scandalous 23-year relationship with her husband, played by Charles Melton, which started when he was just 13. Join Ray as he explores the film's intricate themes, performances, and Haynes's directorial approach to this sensitive and compelling story. JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/linksNetwork: Drama
May December: Movie Review from the Ray Taylor Show Show topic: Delve into the complexities of 'May December,' a thought-provoking 2023 American drama film, with Ray Taylor's in-depth review. Directed by the acclaimed Todd Haynes and penned by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik, this film navigates through the layers of controversy and emotion. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, 'May December' features Natalie Portman in a riveting role as an actress delving into the life of a notorious woman, portrayed by Julianne Moore. The film spotlights Moore's character's scandalous 23-year relationship with her husband, played by Charles Melton, which started when he was just 13. Join Ray as he explores the film's intricate themes, performances, and Haynes's directorial approach to this sensitive and compelling story. JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/linksNetwork: Drama
May December: Movie Review from the Ray Taylor Show Show topic: Delve into the complexities of 'May December,' a thought-provoking 2023 American drama film, with Ray Taylor's in-depth review. Directed by the acclaimed Todd Haynes and penned by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik, this film navigates through the layers of controversy and emotion. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, 'May December' features Natalie Portman in a riveting role as an actress delving into the life of a notorious woman, portrayed by Julianne Moore. The film spotlights Moore's character's scandalous 23-year relationship with her husband, played by Charles Melton, which started when he was just 13. Join Ray as he explores the film's intricate themes, performances, and Haynes's directorial approach to this sensitive and compelling story. JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/linksNetwork: Drama
Over the past few months, Krista has sat down with many of the incredible creatives behind Todd Hanes' May December. The film follows Gracie and her husband Joe whose relationship began as a shocking underage affair. 20 years later, they lead a seemingly picturesque suburban life. But that's disrupted when Elizabeth, a famous actress, arrives in their tight-knit community to research her upcoming role as Gracie. In this episode, we'll dig into the making of the film by hearing from writer Samy Burch, director Todd Haynes, producer Christine Vachon, producer and actor Natalie Portman, and actors Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.
The new film May December stars Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton, was directed by Todd Haynes, and written for the screen by Samy Burch's–her first screenplay! Julianne Moore's Gracie began her relationship with the much-younger Joe (Charles Melton) when he was a young teen, and paid the price for this hard-to-understand liaison. Elizabeth, played by Portman, is an actress who arrives at their home to do research for her role portraying Gracie in an upcoming biopic. Critics are calling it a “booby trap” of a movie, because it's so hard to decide just who to root for. In this wide-ranging interview, Katie Couric sits down with the cast to delve into how the actors approached these complicated characters, where Haynes drew inspiration from as he directed (there's a very interesting story to the music in this film), and what excited them about the fresh take Burch brought to her screenplay. This isn't a movie that invites easy answers, but it's clear the team had great fun bringing us this story, and we hope you enjoy the peek behind the curtain!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May December screenwriter Samy Burch joins Mia and Gemma for a chat, fresh from her New York Film Critics Circle win for Best Screenplay. Topics range from Melanie Lynskey to Sister Act to Persona (and Burch's favorite Letterboxd review), and how the presence of major tabloid figures such as Monica Lewinsky informed her themes of media obsession, performance and agency. We also welcome our London editor Ella Kemp and Best in Show newsletter scribe George Fenwick to give us the lowdown on their attending the British Independent Film Awards, including its big winner All of Us Strangers. Cheers! Sponsor: Film Independent Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, London and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight' by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest. Chapters: Opening credits (00:00:00) BIFA (00:04:06) Samy Burch (00:16:32) Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:39:55) Closing credits (00:44:15) Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned Film Independent's HQ page on Letterboxd Ella & George's Letterboxd profiles Brian's interview with Todd Haynes Christian Jacob Ramón & Josiah Morgan's May December reviews
This week, the panel begins by exploring Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé with Slate culture writer (and Beyhive stan) Nadira Goffe. The renowned pop diva's theatrical debut works both as a well-oiled concert documentary as well as a surprisingly heartfelt deconstruction of Knowles' previously impenetrable image of perfection. Then, the three consider Todd Haynes' May December, an emotionally curious, tonally dissonant study of life's gray areas starring Natalie Portman, longtime collaborator Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. Loosely based on the real-life relationship between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau, Haynes (and screenwriter Samy Burch) questions Hollywood's penchant for sensationalizing tragedy and the ways humans interact with each other. Finally, they are joined by EEFOP (Exceedingly Exceptional Friend of the Pod), Slate writer Dan Kois to discuss Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Lost Christmas!, a posthumous sequel to Theodor Geisel's iconic 1957 children's book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The original IP has been marketed and re-imagined within an inch of its life – but does new author Alastair Heim invoke any of the source materials' sincerity or deeper meaning? In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel answers a listener question from Timothy: “When reading for pleasure, how do you choose what to read next?” We're also accepting submissions to our yearly call-in show, where Dana, Julia, and Stephen answer questions from Culture Gabfest listeners. Get in touch! Submit a question by calling (260) 337-8260 or emailing us at culturefest@slate.com. Outro music: “Spinning the Wheels” by Dusty Decks Endorsements: Dana: A two-part endorsement that goes together like wine and cheese: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, the third studio album by Irish folk-rock band The Pogues, and “Shane MacGowan Leaves the Astral Plane,” a wonderful essay by Amanda Petrusich at The New Yorker, which memorializes the late frontman. Don't know where to start with The Pogues' catalog? Dana recommends “A Rainy Night in Soho.” Julia: Drawing inspiration from this episode's children's book segment, Julia endorses the Little Blue Truck series (written by Alice Schertle and illustrated by the late Jill McElmurry) alongside her favorite Theodor Geisel work, Hunches and Bunches. “It's the Beyoncé of Dr. Seuss books.” Steve: Paris is Burning, which pairs beautifully with Beyoncé's Renaissance. Jennie Livingston's landmark 1990 documentary is one of the most moving films Stephen has ever seen, and provides a vibrant snapshot of New York City's drag-ball scene in the ‘80s. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows. You'll also be supporting the work we do here on the Culture Gabfest. Sign up now at Slate.com/cultureplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, the panel begins by exploring Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé with Slate culture writer (and Beyhive stan) Nadira Goffe. The renowned pop diva's theatrical debut works both as a well-oiled concert documentary as well as a surprisingly heartfelt deconstruction of Knowles' previously impenetrable image of perfection. Then, the three consider Todd Haynes' May December, an emotionally curious, tonally dissonant study of life's gray areas starring Natalie Portman, longtime collaborator Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. Loosely based on the real-life relationship between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau, Haynes (and screenwriter Samy Burch) questions Hollywood's penchant for sensationalizing tragedy and the ways humans interact with each other. Finally, they are joined by EEFOP (Exceedingly Exceptional Friend of the Pod), Slate writer Dan Kois to discuss Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Lost Christmas!, a posthumous sequel to Theodor Geisel's iconic 1957 children's book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The original IP has been marketed and re-imagined within an inch of its life – but does new author Alastair Heim invoke any of the source materials' sincerity or deeper meaning? In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel answers a listener question from Timothy: “When reading for pleasure, how do you choose what to read next?” We're also accepting submissions to our yearly call-in show, where Dana, Julia, and Stephen answer questions from Culture Gabfest listeners. Get in touch! Submit a question by calling (260) 337-8260 or emailing us at culturefest@slate.com. Outro music: “Spinning the Wheels” by Dusty Decks Endorsements: Dana: A two-part endorsement that goes together like wine and cheese: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, the third studio album by Irish folk-rock band The Pogues, and “Shane MacGowan Leaves the Astral Plane,” a wonderful essay by Amanda Petrusich at The New Yorker, which memorializes the late frontman. Don't know where to start with The Pogues' catalog? Dana recommends “A Rainy Night in Soho.” Julia: Drawing inspiration from this episode's children's book segment, Julia endorses the Little Blue Truck series (written by Alice Schertle and illustrated by the late Jill McElmurry) alongside her favorite Theodor Geisel work, Hunches and Bunches. “It's the Beyoncé of Dr. Seuss books.” Steve: Paris is Burning, which pairs beautifully with Beyoncé's Renaissance. Jennie Livingston's landmark 1990 documentary is one of the most moving films Stephen has ever seen, and provides a vibrant snapshot of New York City's drag-ball scene in the ‘80s. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows. You'll also be supporting the work we do here on the Culture Gabfest. Sign up now at Slate.com/cultureplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Co-hosts agree that Todd Haynes gripping new melodrama MAY DECEMBER is one of his best! The film has been nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature, Best Director for Haynes, Best First Screenplay for Samy Burch, and Best Lead Actor for Natalie Portman. (But not Julianne Moore or Charles Melton? WTF?)
"May December" had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving positive reviews for Todd Haynes' direction, the performances from Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton, and the writing from Samy Burch. Shortly after its screening at the New York Film Festival (and free of the writer's strike), Samy Burch spoke with Ema Sasic about her experience working on the film. And a few weeks later, after his Gotham win for Outstanding Supporting Performance (and a day before he would go on to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor alongside Burch's win for Best Screenplay), Charles Melton gave me a few moments of his time to dig deep into the character of Joe Yoo. The film is now streaming on Netflix and is up for your consideration for the 96th Academy Awards in all eligible categories. Please be sure to check out the film before listening as SPOILERS are discussed. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/nextbestpicturepodcast Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Samy Burch is the writer of May December, a story about a married couple who buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past. This complicated and sensitive story truly captivates the power of what is not being said. In today's episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins speaks with screenwriter Samy Burch to discuss: Spending time in audition rooms as the daughter of a casting director Making sure no actor got cut from this film How Samy was able to tackle such a complicated and sensitive story Writing in her apartment coat closet The hard work and luck involved in getting the screenplay picked up Protecting the confidence in your own voice. Presenting power dynamics in her writing Watching the film alone versus in a theater Memorable Quotes “My goal with writing is to write roles that actors think are interesting.” [9:51] “It's so hard to be an actor. It really is.” [12:34] “Protect that confidence in your own voice because that's the hardest part.” [24:39] “The tension exists in what's not being said.” [29:34] Mentioned: May December Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web https://nofilmschool.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool Twitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschool YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today on Girls On Film Anna Smith has a fascinating discussion about Todd Haynes' May December with its screenwriter, Samy Burch. Samy talks to Anna about the journey she went on with this screenplay from writing it as a spec script to hopefully gain representation, to it catching the attention of one of the film's stars Natalie Portman as a producer, and so meeting the legendary director Todd Haynes (Carol, Far from Heaven). Samy talks about the real-life story that inspired the screenplay, the layers of ‘power and manipulation' in both Moore and Portman's performances, and the role that gender plays in media coverage of these kinds of stories. May December tells the story of Gracie, played by Julianne Moore, and Joe, played by Riverdale's Charles Melton, as they live family life in the shadow of their infamous first encounter: the couple's 20-year relationship began when Gracie was 36 and Joe was just 13-years-old. Now, two decades later, Natalie Portman plays actress Elizabeth who travels to Georgia to study the couple for a role in an upcoming film. Gracie and Joe are forced to revisit their past from new perspectives, as they question the love story they've told themselves and the world. You can watch May December now in cinemas in the UK, and on Sky Cinema on the 8 December 2023. Other films mentioned in this episode include: Persona, Ingmar Bergman, 1966 3 Women, Robert Altman, 1977 Coyote vs. Acme, Dave Green Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold Producer: Lydia Scott Audio editor: Nic Wassell Intern: Charlotte Matheson House band: MX Tyrants This episode is in partnership with Sky Cinema. With thanks to AmyLouise Godby. © HLA Agency
May December – written by our guest this week, Samy Burch – tells the serpentine tale of a TV actress, Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) who descends upon the home of a family founded on scandal. Two decades have passed since Gracie, portrayed by Julianne Moore, and her now-husband Joe, played by Charles Melton, hit the headlines after beginning a relationship when Gracie was in her mid-thirties and Joe was just thirteen years old. Elizabeth, researching the couple ahead of a film based on their lives, joins the couple (now married with kids) and attempts to understand what makes them each tick. In the process, she discovers that debris still remains from the tabloid storm that engulfed their lives. And we, as an audience, discover that Elizabeth herself has exploitative, machiavellian tendencies of her own.It's a story that Samy wrote in 2019 after landing on the idea with her partner, Alex Mechanik. “What would make a 36-year-old woman start an affair with a seventh grader?” you may be wondering – in which case, you're not alone. Gracie's former husband echoes those exact words in the film. But May December isn't interested in answering that – not declaratively, at least. This is a film that refuses absolutes, asking more questions than it answers. Does the twenty years of stability and apparent happiness that Joe and Gracie have shared together justify the wrongs of how their relationship began? Does the family life they've built paper over how predatory and problematic Gracie's behaviour was, in initiating a sexual partnership with a kid whose voice must only just have broken? And what does it say about us, that as a culture, we're so drawn to the transgressions of people like Gracie? Are we as parasitic as the prying actress who dismantles their lives, almost on a whim? These are all questions left to us to ponder after its credits roll. They're also questions that Samy was delighted to give her take on, in my revealing conversation with the first-time screenwriter. Spoilers ahead, so be sure to watch the fantastic May December first before tuning in.Script Apart is hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, or email us on thescriptapartpodcast@gmail.com.Support for this episode comes from ScreenCraft, Stowe Story Labs and WeScreenplay.To get ad-free episodes and exclusive content, join us on Patreon.Support the show
“A lot of the scenes are [shot in] one take. The space that they hold, the amount of air that they let sit there before saying their next line. I mean it's an incredible amount of tension and intimacy,” says screenwriter Samy Burch about her new film May December, which streams on Netflix December 1st. It sounds so simple and commonplace, but it's a lesson in not only great acting but also writing great subtext. Directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, May December is about Gracie (Moore), a middle-aged woman who seduced and later married a 13-year-old boy. Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth, an actress who gets to know Gracie so she can play her in an upcoming film. In my interview, Burch talks about taking inspiration from the real-life story, handling delicate material and finding the dark humor in this strange story of human folly. Samy also breaks down Elizabeth's powerful monologue at the end of the film which is both hilarious and heartbreaking. “I think it's an intersection of a lot of things. I think it's the climax of Elizabeth's performance. I think we get the sense that it's she's never going to do better than this, she's never going to feel as confident.” To go deeper into the script, take a listen to the podcast.
This week we're excited to present a conversation with Todd Haynes, the director of the NYFF61 Opening Night selection May December, which will be opening at Film at Lincoln Center this Friday exclusively on 35mm film. The conversation was moderated by playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris. Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), a popular television star, has arrived in a tight-knit island community in Savannah. Here, she will be doing intimate research for a new part, ingratiating herself into the lives of Gracie (Julianne Moore), whom she'll be playing on-screen, and her much younger husband, Joe (Charles Melton), to better understand the psychology and circumstances that more than 20 years ago made them notorious tabloid figures. As Elizabeth attempts to get closer to the family, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl, causing difficult, long-dormant emotions to resurface. From the sensational premise born from first time screenwriter Samy Burch's brilliant script, director Todd Haynes (Safe, Carol) has constructed an American tale of astonishing richness and depth, which touches the pressure and pleasure points of a culture obsessed equally with celebrity and trauma. It's a feat of storytelling and pinpoint-precise tone that is shrewd in its wicked embrace of melodrama while also genuinely moving in its humane treatment of tricky subject matter. Boasting a trio of bravura, mercurial performances by Moore, Portman, and Melton, May December is a film about human exploitation, the elusive nature of performance, and the slipperiness of truth that confirms Todd Haynes's status as one of our consummate movie artists. A Netflix release.
The 61st edition of the New York Film Festival kicked off on Friday, September 29 with the North American premiere of May December, directed by Todd Haynes. From the sensational premise born from first-time screenwriter Samy Burch's brilliant script, director Todd Haynes (Safe, Carol) has constructed an American tale of astonishing richness and depth, which touches the pressure and pleasure points of a culture obsessed equally with celebrity and trauma. Boasting a trio of bravura, mercurial performances by Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton, May December is a film about human exploitation, the elusive nature of performance, and the slipperiness of truth that confirms Todd Haynes's status as one of our consummate movie artists. A Netflix release. Opening Night of NYFF61 is presented by Campari. Listen to the press conference featuring Haynes, Burch, and producers Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Jessica Elbaum, and Sophie Mas as they discuss May December. Don't forget to mark your calendars: May December opens at FLC on November 17 and on Netflix December 1. Tickets to the New York Film Festival are moving fast! Get up-to-date information on all available tickets on a daily basis by visiting filmlinc.org/tix.