Film/TV

Exciting news in the entertainment industry as Jane Wu, the Supervising Director and Producer of the acclaimed Netflix series ‘Blue Eye Samurai,’ signs with Verve for representation. This development comes on the heels of the announcement of the show’s second season and Wu’s promotion to Executive Producer.

🏆 Annie Award-Winning Series: ‘Blue Eye Samurai,’ known for its captivating storyline and stellar voice cast including Maya Erskine, Kenneth Branagh, Randall Park, and George Takei, has garnered critical acclaim and achieved a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes since its debut. Wu’s leadership and creative vision have played a pivotal role in the series’ success.

🎥 Martial Arts Expertise: Wu’s background in martial arts and her experience as a storyboard artist for notable films such as ‘Mulan,’ ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse,’ and ‘Shang-Chi,’ as well as TV series like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘House of the Dragon,’ showcase her versatility and expertise in both animated and live-action productions.

🔥 Continued Success:

In a significant move that underscores their rising prominence in the film industry, filmmaker duo Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero have officially joined Creative Artists Agency (CAA), marking a pivotal milestone in their careers post their Sundance Award triumph.

🏆 Sundance Success: Valadez and Rondero’s collaborative prowess was showcased in their co-directed and co-written masterpiece “Sujo,” which premiered at this year’s prestigious Sundance Film Festival. The film garnered critical acclaim and clinched the Grand Jury Prize for World Dramatic competition, solidifying their status as visionary filmmakers.

🎬 Previous Triumphs: The duo’s track record of success extends beyond “Sujo.” Their previous work, “Identifying Features,” garnered international recognition by winning the Best International Feature at the 2021 Gotham Awards. This film, directed by Valadez and co-written, co-produced, and co-edited by Valadez and Rondero, also made waves at Sundance 2020, clinching audience and screenwriting awards.

🏅 Awards and Accolades: Rondero’s directorial debut, “The Darkest

Renowned actor, writer, director, and producer Tosin Morohunfola has inked a significant deal with ColorCreative for management, marking a new chapter in his already illustrious career.

🌟 Upcoming Projects: Morohunfola’s star continues to rise as he gears up to share the screen with Shannon Thornton in Tyler Perry’s highly anticipated drama feature “Joy Ridge,” set to grace Amazon MGM Studios soon. This collaboration promises to showcase Morohunfola’s exceptional talent in a captivating narrative.

📺 Television Triumphs: With an impressive repertoire, Morohunfola has left an indelible mark on television. From his standout role as a series regular in Starz’s “Run the World” to memorable appearances in Max’s “Julia,” Showtime’s “The Chi,” and NBC’s “Chicago Med,” his versatility and depth as an actor shine through.

🎥 Silver Screen Success: Morohunfola’s contributions extend to the silver screen with noteworthy performances in Amazon’s “Blackbox” alongside Phylicia Rashad, Kevin Willmott’s “The 24th” (earning a NAACP

Sugar23 has signed Charlie Tahan, the actor, writer, and director best known for his breakout starring role on Netflix’s Ozark, for management.

⭐ Background on Ozark: The Emmy-winning Ozark follows Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a financial planner entangled in a dangerous world of money laundering and drug cartels. Tahan’s character, Wyatt Langmore, is a fan favorite known for his intelligence and introspection despite a troubled past.

🎬 Diverse Career: Tahan’s talent extends beyond Ozark, seen in his roles alongside Christian Bale in The Pale Blue Eye and with Ben Mendelsohn in The Land of Steady Habits. He has also featured in notable films such as I Am Legend, Poms, Frankenweenie, Wiener-Dog, and Blue Jasmine.

Sugar23’s signing of Charlie Tahan highlights the agency’s commitment to nurturing versatile and acclaimed talents across various entertainment platforms. Tahan’s multifaceted career trajectory promises exciting prospects ahead under Sugar23’s management.

Kenny Ortega, the mastermind behind Disney Channel hits like High School Musical and Descendants, has made a triumphant return to Paradigm for representation.

🌟 A Hollywood Comeback: Ortega’s journey back to the renowned talent agency follows his previous stint at A3 Artists Agency. His return to Paradigm is a testament to his enduring influence and creative prowess in the entertainment industry.

🎥 Legendary Portfolio: Ortega’s illustrious career spans iconic films such as Newsies (1992), the original Dirty Dancing, Hocus Pocus, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink, and Xanadu. His groundbreaking work on the High School Musical franchise earned him an Emmy for choreography, solidifying his reputation as a visionary director and choreographer.

🎵 Musical Mastery: Beyond the silver screen, Ortega has left his mark on the music industry, directing and choreographing music videos, live TV performances, and concerts for a star-studded lineup including Miley Cyrus, Cher, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Gloria Estefan, Gladys

Fresh off the Max debut of ‘The Girls on the Bus,’ where he serves as a story editor, Tawal Panyacosit has signed with M88 for representation, marking another milestone in his flourishing career.

🎥 About ‘The Girls On The Bus’: Created by Amy Chozick and Julie Plec, the political drama follows the journey of four female journalists as they navigate the complexities of covering flawed presidential candidates. Panyacosit’s role as a story editor in the series has contributed to its success, with the first two episodes starring Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, and more, produced by Berlanti Productions, premiering on March 14.

🖋️ Writing Credits: Panyacosit’s impressive writing credits include collaborations with showrunners Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre on ‘Vampire Academy’ for Peacock, and ‘Life After First Failure’ for CW Seed, a series that he co-created, co-developed, and co-executive produced. His passion for genre storytelling, encompassing magical, mystical, mythological, and musical elements, serves as a driving force in his creative endeavors.

🌍 Diverse Background and Commitment

Melina Kanakaredes, renowned for her memorable role as Stella Bonasera in ‘CSI: NY,’ has signed with CESD for representation, marking a new chapter in her illustrious career. Kanakaredes’s portrayal of Detective Stella Bonasera captivated audiences during the six-season run of ‘CSI: NY’ on CBS from 2004-2010, showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress.

🎥 Recent Projects: Most recently, Kanakaredes has been captivating viewers as Nancy Dunlop on Showtime’s hit series ‘Billions.’ Her impressive resume also includes starring roles in NBC’s ‘Providence,’ appearances on ‘The Resident,’ ‘The Practice,’ ‘Leaving L.A.,’ and ‘NYPD Blue.’ She also had a significant arc on the ABC series ‘Notorious,’ alongside Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata, as well as a recurring role in the Netflix animated series ‘Blood of Zeus.’

🌟 Feature Film Roles: In the feature film space, Kanakaredes has showcased her talent in a range of roles, including the thriller drama ‘Snitch,’

UTA has signed actor Cory Michael Smith, known for his role in ‘May December,’ for representation in all areas, with an eye toward securing him new opportunities across film, television, theater, and more. The signing follows Smith’s notable supporting role in ‘May December,’ Netflix’s Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated drama directed by Todd Haynes. Smith’s portrayal of Georgie, a pivotal character in the film, garnered critical acclaim, contributing to the film’s success as one of the most acclaimed releases of 2023.

📽️ Recent Projects: Currently, Smith is in production on Jason Reitman’s ‘SNL 1975,’ a project chronicling the events leading up to Saturday Night Live’s debut. In this upcoming series, Smith takes on the role of actor and comedian Chevy Chase, showcasing his versatility and range as an actor.

🎬 Career Highlights: Prior to his role in ‘May December,’ Smith has made notable appearances on Gillian Flynn’s Amazon series ‘Utopia’ and Netflix’s ‘Transatlantic.’ His performance

Renowned actor and comedian Chris Parnell has recently signed with Buchwald for representation, adding another chapter to his illustrious career in the entertainment industry.

🌟 Versatility on Screen: Parnell’s journey in entertainment includes standout roles such as Dr. Leo Spaceman on seven seasons of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning “30 Rock” and Fred Shay on three seasons of ABC’s “Suburgatory.” His presence has been felt across various acclaimed series like “Grown-ish,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Black-ish,” “Inside Amy Schumer,” “Will and Grace,” “The Goldbergs,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” showcasing his versatility and comedic prowess.

🎙️ Voiceover Mastery: Beyond his on-screen work, Parnell has carved a niche in the voiceover realm with iconic roles such as Cyril Figgis on “Archer,” Jerry on “Rick and Morty,” Mr. Peabody on “The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show,” Snoot on “The Dawn of the Croods,” Migs on “Elena of Avalor,”

Artists First, a renowned management and production company, has recently signed Nancy Moscatiello, an investigative journalist and Emmy-nominated producer. Moscatiello gained widespread recognition for her work as the creator and executive producer of the hit podcast “Scamanda,” which has garnered significant acclaim and accolades.

🖋️ A Shift to Visual Storytelling: Going forward, Artists First aims to collaborate with Moscatiello to translate her compelling stories, both old and new, into captivating narratives for film and television. This partnership signifies a strategic move for Moscatiello to expand her storytelling horizons beyond the realm of podcasts.

🎧 Podcast Triumph: “Scamanda” soared to the top of Apple’s podcast charts upon its release last year, showcasing Moscatiello’s meticulous investigative skills and storytelling prowess. The podcast, delving into the intricate web of blogger Amanda Riley’s questionable cancer journey narratives, captivated audiences and earned nominations for Podcast of the Year and Best Crime Podcast at the iHeart Podcast awards.

🎥 From Podcast to Screen: Moscatiello’s

In a significant move that amplifies his presence in the entertainment industry, actor and comedian Zach Woods has inked a deal with the esteemed Gersh Agency for comprehensive representation.

🌟 Versatility Personified: Best known for his memorable roles in acclaimed series like “Silicon Valley” and “The Office,” Woods brings a blend of talent and versatility that resonates with audiences worldwide. His portrayal of the endearingly quirky Donald “Jared” Dunn in “Silicon Valley” and the enigmatic Gabe Lewis in “The Office” has solidified his status as a standout performer in both comedic and dramatic realms.

🎬 Captivating Performances: Woods’ recent endeavors have further showcased his range and ability to captivate viewers. From his captivating performances in Apple TV+’s “The Afterparty” alongside Tiffany Haddish and Sam Richardson to his contributions in Max’s “Avenue 5” Season 2 and Jeff Baena’s “Spin Me Round,” where he shared the screen with Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, and Lil Rel Howery,