The video game “Gotham Knights” served as an unexpected inspiration when it came to building Gotham City for HBO’s “The Penguin.” Sony-owned Pixomondo, which specializes in pre-production, virtual production and visual effects, was tasked with the environmental design of Gotham’s world-building. Among those designs were the skylines of Gotham City, the aftermath of the flood […]

Epic sandworm rides across the desert of Arrakis, a thrilling gladiator battle involving a rhino and a display of the unmitigated feeling of pure Anxiety —those are just a few scenes and characters that have entertained audiences this past year, none of which would be possible without the artisans who make the magic happen behind […]

Joan Chen is finally getting her flowers. At the Critics Choice Association Celebration of AAPI Cinema and Television, Chen received a standing ovation as she accepted the career achievement award. Chen, who was recognized for her work on “Twin Peaks,” and “The Last Emperor,” stars in Sean Wang’s “Didi.” She had received glowing reviews for […]

Intimacy coordinators have voted to join SAG-AFTRA, the union announced on Tuesday. The vote is the latest step in a five-year effort to professionalize the role of intimacy coordinators, who serve as liaisons between performers and the production during filming of sex scenes. The union did not reveal the number of intimacy coordinators who voted […]

“I take my anger and I turn it into jokes, and I take my sadness and I turn it into music, and that’s how I survive.” It’s an empowering declaration from “RuPaul’s Drag Queen” alum and Broadway star Jinkx Monsoon. Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme are on the road for “The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show.” The […]

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” and World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato were exchanging text messages early in the afternoon on election day. “Randy texted me an obscenity and said ‘We’re gonna lose,’ very early on,” says Bailey. Barbato sent the message at 3:48 p.m. precisely. How did Barbato know, when most felt optimistic […]

“Conclave” costume designer Lisy Christl made some changes to the vestments worn by the Catholic cardinals, whose look in real life is quickly recognizable, to bring them to the screen. The first change: the fabric. Christl opted for a heavier wool than what is used in the real-life clothing. The other big modification was to […]

Former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Adrienne Maloof and Beyoncé were unlikely inspirations for “Anora’s” hair and makeup team. In the Sean Baker film, Anora (aka Ani, played by Mikey Madison) is a young woman who scrapes by stripping and escorting in Brighton Beach, N.Y. After meeting and quickly marrying Ivan (Mark Eidelshtein), […]

Ridley Scott had one directive for production designer Arthur Max on “Gladiator II”: “I want to go big. I want to imply the grandeur of the Roman Empire,” he told the veteran artisan. Max, who has been Scott’s go-to production designer for over two decades, delivered a concept that he calls “‘Gladiator’ on steroids.” For […]

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers has unveiled the fourth cohort of the Women of Color Incubator. Carolina Costa (“The Feels – Or The Debilitated Condition Of The Reproductive System”), Luna Cristales (“Statelines”), Sonia Malfa (“La Sangre Llama”), Alba Roland Mejia (“Greetings From St. Helena”) and Sally Tran (“Love Cycle”) are among the chosen […]

Director Steve McQueen could not have made his latest film “Blitz” without production designer Adam Stockhausen. McQueen needed him to help tell the story of World War II London as it came under attack from the enemy. He wanted as much as possible to be done in camera, and Stockhausen was just the person to […]

“Emilia Pérez” costume designer Virginie Montel needed to be mindful of her creations. Since the film was a musical, the actors would need to feel unencumbered by their costumes. “Emilia Pérez” revolves around lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña), who helps a crime boss retire from the cartel business and disappear, subsequently undergoing gender reassignment surgery to […]

LGBTQ champion Sarah McBride has made history as the first transgender woman elected to the U.S Congress as a representative from Delaware. She first made history in 2016 when she addressed the Democratic National Convention as the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, making her the first openly transgender person to speak at […]

After 12 long years, the “Wizards of Waverly Place” are back. “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” follows a grown-up Justin (David Henrie) and his mortal family (Mimi Gianopulos, Max Matenko and Alkaio Thiele) living on Staten Island. Alex (Selena Gomez) brings Justin a young wizard who is in need of his training and guidance, Billie (Janice […]

In the opening sequence of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” audiences are introduced to Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz some 35 years after we last saw her. Lydia is now hosting a reality show, “Ghost House,” and often sees visions of the foul-mouthed demon Beetlejuice in her audience. According to costume designer Colleen Atwood, the goth-glam host’s outfit was […]

The artisans behind some of this year’s leading award contenders discussed the importance of having the right crew on their projects at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival as part of Variety’s 10 Artisans to Watch honors. Suzanne Stokes Munton, hair department head on Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” stressed, “It’s really important to have an excellent group […]

On Tuesday, 24 hours before one of SCAD Savannah Film Festival’s most anticipated panels, “Wicked: A First Look,” someone approached to inform that they would be in line at least an hour before. The anticipation was palpable. When “Wicked” cinematographer Alice Brooks, editor Myron Kerstein and costume designer and Variety’s 10 artisans to watch honoree […]

“Gladiator” fans will get an inside look at the making of Ridley Scott’s epic sequel courtesy of a behind-the-scenes special, airing Nov. 18 on CBS (at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT) and streaming on Paramount +. The special, titled “The Making of Gladiator II,” is said to offer interviews “unprecedented access encompassing all aspects of production, from […]

At the end of 2021’s “Dune,” Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atriedes looks out across the desert in awe as he sees a Fremen of Arrakis riding a sandworm. It was a tease of what was to come from director Denis Villeneuve in this year’s “Dune: Part Two.” Paul and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) immerse themselves […]