News Briefs

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Saturday, Jul. 29, 2017

Froggatt, Gruffudd relish role departures in SundanceTV's "Liar"

Ioan Gruffudd, left, and Joanne Froggatt participate in the "Liar" panel during the AMC and Sundance TV Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --

Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd say they relish playing against type in their new TV series, "Liar."

The contemporary psychological thriller debuts on SundanceTV on Sept. 27.

The miniseries follows Froggatt as Laura and Gruffudd's Andrew, who go on a first date that leads to violent accusations. The six-part drama looks at both sides of the story before revealing the truth of what happened.

Froggatt told a TV critics' meeting Saturday that said she loved playing the kind-hearted Anna in "Downton Abbey," but said "it's nice to play the baddie sometimes, too."

Gruffudd said the role is "an incredible opportunity" because he's been itching to play a character like Andrew for years.

Saturday, Jul. 29, 2017

Lifetime movie "Flint" dramatizes city's water crisis

Neil Meron, from left, Jill Scott, Betsy Brandt, Marin Ireland and Melissa Mays attend the "Flint" panel during the A&E portion of the 2017 Summer TCA's at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, July 28, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --

Melissa Mays, a resident of Flint, Michigan, came armed to discuss the city's tainted water crisis and a new Lifetime TV movie dramatizing it.

Mays, speaking to a TV critics' meeting Friday, pointed to several bottles she had filled with her tap water and challenged the room to taste or even smell it. There were no immediate takers.

The activist, who said the battle over water safety continues, is among the residents portrayed in Lifetime's movie titled "Flint," debuting Oct. 28. Mays is played by Marin Ireland, who co-stars with Betsy Brandt, Jill Scott and Queen Latifah.

Executive producer Neil Meron said the film is intended to spotlight what happened in Flint, including how a united community and "the voice of the people" can force officials to act.

Mays said there have been successes, including the outcome of a lawsuit to get half of the service lines replaced, although not the main lines or interior plumbing.

"So More

Saturday, Jul. 29, 2017

Elizabeth Smart finally ready for a movie to tell her story

Skeet Ulrich, from left, Elizabeth Smart and Alana Boden attend the "I am Elizabeth Smart" panel during the A&E portion of the 2017 Summer TCA's at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, July 28, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --

Elizabeth Smart said it required years for her to participate in a movie about her kidnapping ordeal.

Smart said Friday that she couldn't have done so immediately after her abduction from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 at age 14. She was rescued nine months later, and said Friday she was eager to "run away" from the experience.

Even as an adult, Smart said it took time and serious discussion with producers for her to agree to work on Lifetime's "I Am Elizabeth Smart."

Smart said she began to realize that such a project could make a difference. She narrates the drama, which stars newcomer Alana Boden as Smart and Skeet Ulrich as her abductor.

"I will say that it is the best worst movie I've ever seen. I mean, I think it's so well done. I think it was accurate," she said. "I'm very proud of it, but at the same time, part of me thinks I'll be happy if I never have to watch it again.

Smart took advantage of her appearance More

Friday, Jul. 28, 2017

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon producing Showtime drama pilot

In this Jan. 9, 2017 file photo, Ben Affleck, right, and Matt Damon appear at the “Live by Night,” premiere in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, FIle)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Showtime says Oscar-winning filmmakers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are re-teaming off-screen for a new one-hour drama pilot.

The prospective new series, “City on a Hill,” is based on an idea by Affleck and Damon, and focuses on Boston in the early 1990s. The city was then rife with violent criminals emboldened by local law enforcement agencies where corruption and racism was the norm. Then it all suddenly changed. The series is a fictional account of what was called “the Boston Miracle.”

No cast members were announced by Showtime.

Affleck and Damon will be among the project’s executive producers. They shared a best screenplay Oscar for their 1998 breakout film, “Good Will Hunting,” in which they also co-starred.

Thursday, Jul. 27, 2017

George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro on Venice Film Fest slate

Julianne Moore (l) as Margaret and Matt Damon as Gardner in the George Clooney-directed “Suburbicon,” from Paramount Pictures and Black Bear Pictures (photo by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

ROME (AP) --

This year's Venice Film Festival will include a crime comedy by George Clooney, a Guillermo del Toro fantasy and a Darren Aronofsky thriller.

Organizers of the world's oldest film festival announced a 21-film competition lineup Thursday that features the Clooney-directed "Suburbicon," the story of a home invasion gone wrong that stars Matt Damon and Julianne Moore, with a script by Joel and Ethan Coen.

Venice's late-summer time slot — starting a few days ahead of the Toronto festival — has made it a major awards-season springboard. In recent years it has presented the world premieres of major Oscar winners including "Spotlight" and "La La Land."

This year's contenders for Venice's top Golden Lion award include del Toro's "The Shape of Water," starring Sally Hawkins as a woman who forges a relationship with a sea creature, and Aronofsky's secrecy-shrouded "Mother!" starring Jennifer Lawrence.

The 74th Venice festival opens Aug More

Wednesday, Jul. 26, 2017

HBO announces five-part miniseries on Chernobyl accident

In this Jan. 24, 2016 file photo, actor Jared Harris poses at the premiere of "Certain Women" during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Harris will star as a Soviet scientist tapped by the Kremlin to investigate the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the upcoming miniseries, “Chernobyl”. Filming will begin in Lithuania in spring of 2018. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --

HBO says production will begin next year on a miniseries about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The five-part series will star Jared Harris as a Soviet scientist tapped by the Kremlin to investigate the accident.

The series will dramatize the events of the 1986 Ukrainian nuclear catastrophe that resulted in widespread radioactive fallout. Thirty people were killed and more than 100,000 had to be relocated.

HBO announced at the Television Critics Association's summer meeting on Wednesday that production on "Chernobyl" is set to begin in Lithuania in spring of 2018.

Wednesday, Jul. 26, 2017

HBO exec: Slave drama "Confederate" announcement mishandled

In this Sept. 20, 2015 file photo, creator-showrunners David Benioff, left, and D.B. Weiss accept the award for outstanding writing for a drama series for "Game Of Thrones" at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --

HBO's programming chief said the cable channel erred in how it unveiled plans for a series envisioning modern Southern slavery, but he defended "Confederate" against sharp criticism it drew on social media.

"I would file this under, 'hindsight is 20-20,'" programming president Casey Bloys said Wednesday. HBO was misguided in expecting that "we would be able to announce an idea that is so sensitive and requires so much care and thought on the part of the producers in a press release."

If HBO got a do-over, it would have given producers the chance to publicly detail why they wanted to do the series, an understanding that HBO executives had gained before greenlighting the series from "Game of Thrones" masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Benioff and Weiss, who are white, also will serve as showrunners on the series. They'll work with Malcolm Spellman ("Empire," the forthcoming "Foxy Brown") and Nichelle Tramble Spellman (" More

Wednesday, Jul. 26, 2017

Steven Spielberg opens up about life, filmmaking in HBO doc

Director/producer Susan Lacy speaks in the "Spielberg" panel during the HBO Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --

Steven Spielberg isn't afraid to talk about his flops.

Filmmaker Susan Lacy says the celebrated director opens up about his life and career in "Spielberg." It's a new documentary premiering October 7 on HBO.

Lacy told the Television Critics Association on Wednesday that she conducted 17 interviews with Spielberg for the film.

She also spoke with his parents, sister and frequent collaborators, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson and Tom Cruise.

Lacy says "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" is Spielberg's least favorite film in that franchise. She said he also acknowledges some mistakes in "1941."

She suggested that the traditionally private filmmaker may have chosen to open up after turning 70 last year, though she began working on the film in 2015.

Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2017

New series from "The Simpsons" Matt Groening set for Netflix

In this July 11, 2015 file photo, Matt Groening attends "The Simpsons" panel during Comic-Con International in San Diego. (Photo by Tonya Wise/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Netflix says it has ordered an adult animated comedy from "The Simpsons" mastermind Matt Groening.

"Disenchantment" will take place in the crumbling medieval kingdom of Dreamland, which is populated by hard-drinking princess Bean, her elf companion Elfo and her personal demon Luci.

The series will feature the voice talents of Abbi Jacobson ("Broad City"), Nat Faxon ("Friends from College") and Eric Andre ("The Eric Andre Show"). Netflix has ordered 20 episodes of the new series, which will premiere next year.

Groening says "Disenchantment" will focus on "how to keep laughing in a world full of suffering and idiots." Along with "The Simpsons," which this fall begins its 29th season on Fox, he was a creator of the animated series "Futurama."

Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2017

Nielsen to count viewers for Hulu, YouTube live TV services

This June 24, 2015, file photo shows the Hulu Apple TV app icon. (AP Photo/Dan Goodman, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Nielsen will begin to tabulate how many people get their live TV from Hulu and YouTube, giving media companies and advertisers a better idea of how many people now stream broadcast networks rather than watching them on traditional TV.

Hulu and YouTube have not revealed how many people subscribe to the live TV services that they launched in the spring as a counter to cable TV.

Subscribers can stream channels live on laptops, smartphones and elsewhere. They can also record shows digitally or watch them on demand. Both services cost nearly $40 a month.

Media companies base the amount they charge advertisers on the number of people who are watching at a particular time. There has been a tremendous surge in the number of people who use streaming services.