Tag Archives: WGA Awards

Natalie Chaidez Signs Exclusive, Multi-Year Deal with Warner Bros. Television

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Natalie Chaidez has been warn(er)ed.

The Latina television writer and producer has signed an exclusive, multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Television.

Natalie ChaidezAs part of the deal, she’ll develop and create original programming via WBTV for all platforms.

The news comes ahead of HBO Max’s Season 2 premiere of The Flight Attendant on April 21, marking Chaidez’s debut as series executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Steve Yockey.

Chaidez is a veteran creator, executive producer and showrunner who works in both television and features. Prior to joining The Flight Attendant, she served as executive producer and writer on USA Network’s crime drama Queen of the South.

She previously created and executive produced the Syfy drama series Hunters. Her additional TV writing and producing credits include 12 Monkeys, In Plain Sight, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Heroes, Judging Amy and New York Undercover among many others.

She was nominated for an Emmy and WGA Award for her work on Heroes.

Most recently, Chaidez received a pilot order from Freeform for the coming-of-age story AZNBBGRL, a collaboration with Dinh Thai.

Colman Domingo Earns Black Reel Awards Nomination for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Performance

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Colman Domingo is getting’ some Reel love…

The Black Reel Awards (BRAs), an annual event that recognizes the excellence of African-Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora in the global film industry, has unveiled the nominees for its 21st annual awards ceremony, with the 51-year-old half-Guatemalan/Belizean American actor earning a nod.

Colman Domingo

Domingo, who earned his first-ever SAG Awards nod earlier this month, is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his acclaimed performance in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Tessa Thompson has earned a nod for Outstanding Actress…

The 37-year-old part-Panamanian and part-Mexican American actress received the nomination for her work in Amazon Studios’ Sylvie’s Love.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson has picked up two nods this year…

The 64-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, playwright, and director, who earned a WGA Awards nomination from the Writers Guild of America earlier this month, is up for Outstanding Screenplay and Outstanding First Screenplay for penning Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

The event, hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF), will take place on April 11 virtually across several media platforms.

“Last year was a historic year in film, if for no other reason that there were more films released than ever before by Black filmmakers, featuring a tremendous amount of quality performances by a group of tireless creatives, who overcame unique challenges to create a group of memorable and indelible images,” said Black Reel Awards founder Tim Gordon. “We look forward to creatives continuing to tell our stories and we congratulate all of this year’s talented nominees.

See the full list of nominees below:

OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE

DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)
Jon Kilik, Spike Lee, Beatriz Levin & Lloyd Levin, producers

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)
Charles D. King, Ryan Cooler & Shaka King, producers

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)
Denzel Washington, Todd Black & Dany Wolf, producers

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)
Jess Wu Calder, Keith Calder & Jody Klein, producers

SOUL (WALT DISNEY MOTION PICTURES)
Dana Murray, producers

OUTSTANDING ACTOR

KINGSLEY BEN-ADIR
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

CHADWICK BOSEMAN
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)

DELROY LINDO
DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)

ROB MORGAN
BULL (SONY PICTURES WORLDWIDE)

LAKEITH STANFIELD
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

NICOLE BEHARIE
MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)

VIOLA DAVIS
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)

ANDRA DAY
THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY (HULU)

TESSA THOMPSON
SYLVIE’S LOVE (AMAZON STUDIOS)

ZENDAYA
MALCOLM & MARIE (NETFLIX)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR

RADHA BLANK
THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (NETFLIX)

REGINA KING
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

SHAKA KING
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)

SPIKE LEE
DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)

CHANNING GODFREY PEOPLES
MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

CHADWICK BOSEMAN
DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)

COLMAN DOMINGO
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)

ALDIS HODGE
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

DANIEL KALUUYA
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)

LESLIE ODOM JR.
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

ALEXIS CHIKAEZE
MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)

DOMINIQUE FISHBACK
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)

KIKI LAYNE
THE OLD GUARD (NETFLIX)

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
THE HIGH NOTE (FOCUS FEATURES)

GABOUREY SIDIBE
ANTEBELLUM (LIONSGATE)

OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAY

THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION
RADHA BLANK (NETFLIX)

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
WILL BERSON & SHAKA KING (WARNER BROS.)

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON (NETFLIX)

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI
KEMP POWERS (AMAZON STUDIOS)

SOUL
PETE DOCTER, MIKE JONES & KEMP POWERS (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY (AMAZON STUDIOS)
LIZ GARBUS & LISA CORTES, directors

JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE (MAGNOLIA PICTURES / PARTICIPANT)
DAWN PORTER, director

MLK/FBI (IFC FILMS)
SAM POLLARD, director

TIME (AMAZON STUDIOS)
GARRETT BRADLEY, director

THE WAY I SEE IT (FOCUS FEATURES)
DAWN PORTER, director

OUTSTANDING FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM

HIS HOUSE | UNITED KINGDOM
REMI WEEKES, director (NETFLIX)

NIGHT OF THE KINGS | SENEGAL
PHILIPPE LACOTE, director (NEON)

THE LIFE AHEAD | ITALY
EDOARDO PONTI, director (NETFLIX)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)
KIM COLEMAN, casting director

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)
ALEXA L. FOGEL, casting director

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)
AVY KAUFMAN, casting director

MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)
TISHA BLOOD, CHELSEA ELLIS BLOCH, MATTHEW WEST TAYLOR, casting directors

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI
KIMBERLY HARDIN, casting director

OUTSTANDING VOICE PERFORMANCE

ANGELA BASSETT
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

JAMIE FOXX
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

MAYA RUDOLPH
THE WILLOUGHBYS (NETFLIX)

OCTAVIA SPENCER
ONWARD (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

PHYLICIA RASHAD
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

OUTSTANDING SCORE

THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (NETFLIX)
GUY C. ROUTTE, composer

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (NETFLIX)
JOHN DEBNEY, composer

THE PHOTOGRAPH (UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
ROBERT GLASPER, composer

SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)
TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS & JON BATISTE, composers

SYLVIE’S LOVE (AMAZON STUDIOS)
FABRICE LECOMTE, composer

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG

FIGHT FOR YOU (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH)
H.E.R, performer; H.E.R, DERNST EMILE II & TIARA THOMAS, writers

MAKE IT WORK (JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY)
ANIKA NONI ROSE & FOREST WHITAKER, PERFORMERS; JOHN LEGEND; writer

POVERTY PORN (THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION)
RADHAMUSPRIME, performer; RADHA BLANK, writer

SPEAK NOW (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI)
LESLIE ODOM JR., performer; LESLIE ODOM JR. & SAM ASHWORTH, writers

TIGRESS & TWEED (THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY)
ANDRA DAY, perfomer; ANDRA DAY & RAPHAEL SAADIQ, writers

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT FEATURE

AMERICAN SKIN (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)
NATE PARKER, director

FAREWELL AMOR (IFC MIDNIGHT)
EKWA MSANGI, director

THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (NETFLIX)
RADHA BLANK, director

MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)
CHANNING GODFREY PEOPLES, director

SYLVIE’S LOVE (AMAZON STUDIOS)
EUGENE ASHE, director

OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM

BROTHER
YA’KE SMITH, director

CANVAS (NETFLIX)
FRANK E. ABNEY III, director

THE CYPHER
LETIA SOLOMON, director

GRAB MY HAND: A LETTER TO MY DAD
CAMRUS JOHNSON, director

THE PANDEMIC CHRONICLES
YA’KE SMITH, director

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY

  1. SOUL! (SHOES IN THE BED PRODUCTIONS)
    MELISSA HAIZLIP, director

THE SIT-IN: HARRY BELAFONTE HOSTS THE TONIGHT SHOW (PEACOCK)
YORUBA RICHEN, director

WITH DRAWN ARMS (STARZ!)
GLENN KAINO & AFSHIN SHAHIDI, directors

OUTSTANDING EMERGING DIRECTOR

EUGENE ASHE
SYLVIE’S LOVE (AMAZON STUDIOS)

RADHA BLANK
THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (NETFLIX)

REGINA KING
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

SHAKA KING
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)

CHANNING GODFREY PEOPLES
MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE, MALE

YAHYA ABDUL-MANTEEN II
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (NETFLIX)

KINGSLEY BEN-ADIR
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

DUSAN BROWN
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)

ELI GOREE
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)

NTARE MWINE
FAREWELL AMOR (IFC MIDNIGHT)

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE, FEMALE

RADHA BLANK
THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (NETFLIX)

ALEXIS CHIKAEZE
MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)

ANDRA DAY
THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY (HULU)

DOMINIQUE FISHBACK
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)

ZENDAYA
MALCOLM & MARIE (NETFLIX)

OUTSTANDING FIRST SCREENPLAY

THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (NETFLIX)
RADHA BLANK

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)
RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON

MISS JUNETEENTH (VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT)
CHANNING PEOPLES GODFREY

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)
KEMP POWERS

SYLVIE’S LOVE (AMAZON STUDIOS)
EUGENE ASHE

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY

DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)
NEWTON THOMAS SIGEL, cinematographer

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)
SEAN BOBBITT, cinematographer

MALCOLM & MARIE (NETFLIX)
MARCELL REV, cinematographer

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)
TAMI REIKER, cinematographer

TENET (WARNER BROS.)
HOYTE VAN HOYTEMA, cinematographer

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (NETFLIX)
MICHAEL WILKINSON, costume designer

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)
ANN ROTH, costume designer

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)
FRANCINE JAMISON-TANCHUCK, costume designer

SYLVIE’S LOVE (AMAZON STUDIOS)
PHOENIX MELLOW, costume designer

THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY (HULU)
PAOLO NIEDDU, costume designer

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (NETFLIX)
GAVIN BOCQUET, production designer

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (WARNER BROS.)
SAM LISENCO, production designer

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (NETFLIX)
MARK RICKER, production designer

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (AMAZON STUDIOS)
BARRY ROBISON, production designer

TENET (WARNER BROS.)
NATHAN CROWLEY, production designer

Ruben Santiago-Hudson Earns WGA Awards Nod from Writers Guild of America

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Ruben Santiago-Hudson has the write stuff…

The Writers Guild of America has unveiled the film nominations for its 2021 WGA Awards, with the 64-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, playwright, and director earning a nod.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Santiago-Hudson is nominated in the Adapted Screenplay catergory for penning the screenplay to Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which is based on the play written by August Wilson.

The WGA Awards honor outstanding achievement for original and adapted screenplays and documentary films. This year’s winners will be announced March 21 in a virtual ceremony.

The eligibility period is January 1, 2020-February 28, 2021.

The WGA is the only guild that requires a film to have been produced under its Minimum Basic Agreement in order to be eligible, and this COVID-19-racked year it seems there were more of those than ever.

Among the awards-season favorites on the outside looking in screenplay-wise are Nomadland, Minari, Mank, The Father, Pieces of a Woman, Ammonite, Emma, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Let Them All Talk and animated films including Soul.

Also missing from contention for Original Screenplay are Herself, Supernova, The Climb, The Assistant, I Carry You with Me, Farewell Amor and Ordinary Love. Among the films ineligible for Adapted Screenplay are Hope Gap, Penguin Bloom, Martin Eden, Radioactive and Blithe Spirit. 

Here’s the full list of nominations for the 73rd annual Writers Guild Awards:

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Judas and the Black Messiah
Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King,
Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
Warner Bros.

Palm Springs
Screenplay by Andy Siara
Story by Andy Siara & Max Barbakow
Hulu

Promising Young Woman
Written by Emerald Fennell
Focus Features

Sound of Metal
Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder
Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
Amazon Studios

The Trial of the Chicago 7
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Netflix

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
Based on Characters Created by Sacha Baron Cohen
Amazon Studios

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Screenplay by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Based on the Play Written by August Wilson
Netflix

News of the World
Screenplay by Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies
Based upon the Novel by Paulette Jiles
Universal Pictures

One Night in Miami
Screenplay by Kemp Powers
Based on the Stage Play One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers
Amazon Studios

The White Tiger
Screenplay by Ramin Bahrani
Based on the Book The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Netflix

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

All In: The Fight for Democracy
Written by Jack Youngelson
Amazon Studios

The Dissident
Written by Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel
Briarcliff Entertainment

Herb Alpert Is…
Written by John Scheinfeld
Abramorama

Red Penguins
Written by Gabe Polsky
Universal Pictures

Totally Under Control
Written by Alex Gibney
Neon

Gomez Co-Stars in “Vamps Boom” Music Video to Promote Season 3 of “The Strain”

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Miguel Gomez is vamping it up to promote The Strain…

The 30-year-old Colombian actor, who stars as Augustin “Gus” Elizalde on the FX series, has penned a song to promote Season 3.

Miguel Gomez

The network has just released the music video for the song, entitled “Vamps Boom,” which was co-written by Gomez’s co-star Kevin Durand, with David Bradley’s rap written by executive producer Regina Corrado, a two-time WGA Award nominee.

“Vamps Rule” is billed by the cable net as “summer’s most infectious new beat”

The music video opens with executive producer Carlton Cuse and EP/helmer J. Miles Dale — who also directed the video — stretching their acting legs. It’s a behind-the-scenes discussion about how The Strain needs to separate itself from the small-screen pack, with a sneaky reference to the “too much TV” debate launched by FX Networks boss John Landgraf last summer. But how to be “distinctive”? The answer presents itself: “Take it to these mothersuckers!” There are writhing dancers, some bling, a call-and-response chorus and, of course, some interspersed clips from the horror series including a few neat bad-guy beheadings.

Season 3 of The Strain premieres on August 28 on FX.

FX Streaming Season Four of Louis C.K.’s “Louie” on FX Now App

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Here’s you chance to get Louis C.K. fix…

FX has made the entire fourth season of the 47-year-old Mexican-American actor/comedian’s Emmy-winning series Louie available for streaming via the FX Now app starting today through the premiere of Season 5 on April 9.

Louis C.K.

Last season featured the episode “So Did The Fat Lady,” for which Louis C.K. earned a WGA Award and his second writing Emmy for the show.

Check out the long final scene — a memorable two-hander with Sarah Baker, who earned a Critics’ Choice nomination for the role — to understand why.

Season 4 of Louie also won the WGA trophy for Episodic Comedy and scored its second consecutive Emmy nom for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Louis C.K. Earns Two Writers Guild Award Nods for Penning FX’s “Louie”

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Louis C.K. continues writing his way into Hollywood’s good graces…

The 47-year-old Mexican American actor/stand-up comedian and multiple Emmy-winner has picked up two Writers Guild Award nominations for penning his highly acclaimed FX comedy series Louie.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K.’s series, which he writes, directs and stars in, will compete against Orange Is The New Black, Silicon Valley, Transparent and Veep in the Comedy Series category.

Louie picked up his first WGA Award in this category in 2013.

He’s also competing in the Episodic Comedy category for penning the show’s “So Did the Fat Lady” episode.

The Writers Guild Awards honor outstanding writing in film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio, promotional, and graphic animation categories.

The Writers Guild of Americ will present its awards jointly at simultaneous ceremonies on Saturday, February 14, 2015, in Los Angeles at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and in New York City at the Edison Ballroom.

Here’s a look at Louis C.K.’s nominations:

COMEDY SERIES

Louie, Written by Louis CK; FX
Orange Is the New Black, Written by Stephen Falk, Sian Heder, Tara Herrmann, Sara Hess, Nick Jones, Jenji Kohan, Lauren Morelli, Alex Regnery, Hartley Voss; Netflix
Silicon Valley, Written by John Altschuler, Alec Berg, Matteo Borghese, Jessica Gao, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky, Carson Mell, Dan O’Keefe, Clay Tarver, Rob Turbovsky, Ron Weiner; HBO
Transparent, Written by Bridget Bedard, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Ethan Kuperberg, Ali Liebegott, Faith Soloway, Jill Soloway; Amazon Prime
Veep, Written by Simon Blackwell, Kevin Cecil, Roger Drew, Sean Gray, Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, Georgia Pritchett, David Quantick, Andy Riley, Tony Roche, Will Smith; HBO

EPISODIC COMEDY

“The Cold” (Modern Family), Written by Rick Wiener & Kenny Schwartz; ABC
“Landline” (New Girl), Written by Rob Rosell; Fox
“Low Self Esteem City” (Orange Is the New Black), Written by Nick Jones; Netflix
“So Did the Fat Lady” (Louie), Written by Louis C.K.; FX
“Three Dinners” (Modern Family), Written by Abraham Higginbotham & Steven Levitan & Jeffrey Richman; ABC
“The Wilderness” (Transparent), Written by Ethan Kuperberg; Amazon Prime

Rodriguez to Serve as Oscars “Backstage Pass” Correspondent

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Rico Rodriguez is becoming Hollywood’s go-to teen host…

The 14-year-old Modern Family star and three-time SAG Award winner, who will be a presenter at this weekend’s WGA Awards, has been named a correspondent for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Backstage Pass on Oscar.com and the official Oscars app.

Rico Rodriguez

Rodriguez will be joined by Entertainment Weekly’s Jess Cagle and People’s Peter Castro, as well as returning co-hosts, ABC The View’s Sherri Shepherd and former All My Children star Cameron Mathison.

Backstage Pass will also debut a multimedia first-ever Red Carpet Digital Lounge anchored by Radio Disney’s Jake Whetter, Popsugar’s Allison McNamara and Mashable’s Brian Anthony Hernandez.

The Oscars Backstage Pass will feature more than 20 live cameras placed on the red carpet and throughout the backstage area of the Dolby Theatre during the telecast. They will capture sound bites, backstage action, short interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

On Oscar Sunday, the Backstage Pass feature goes live from the red carpet to the end of the show.

The Oscars will be presented on February 24 and hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on ABC.

Rodriguez to Present at This Year’s WGA Award

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Rico Rodriguez has a date with the Writers Guild of America…

The 14-year-old Modern Family star, who just earned his third straight SAG Award for best comedy ensemble, has been confirmed as a presenter at the 2013 Writers Guild Awards (WGA Awards) Los Angeles ceremony later this month.

Rico Rodriguez

Rodriguez, an ALMA Award winner, will present alongside his Modern Family co-stars Julie Bowen and Eric Stonestreet.

Other presenters include Zero Dark Thirty’s Jessica Chastain, Private Practice’s Kate Walsh, Castle’s Stana Katic and Parks and Recreation’s Amy Poehler.

Nathan Fillion, the star of ABC’s Castle, will serve as the night’s host.

The WGA Awards will take place on Sunday, February 17, at the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE.

Rodriguez to Perform on the Festival Circuit

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Call it the second coming of Sixto Rodríguez…

The 70-year-old Mexican-American singer/songwriter, the man at the center of Malik Bendjelloul‘s Oscar-nominated documentary Searching for Sugar Man, has lined up festival dates lined up at Coachella, Glastonbury and Primavera in Spain that will follow tours of South Africa and Australia.

Rodriguez

The new dates are part of Rodriguez’s astonishing rediscovery after releasing two albums for Clarence Avant‘s Sussex label in the early 1970s that didn’t sell anywhere except in South Africa where his legend grew along with his record sales.

Bendjelloul’s documentary, which will be released on DVD on January 22, chronicles the myths and realities of Rodriguez’s story and his 1998 concerts in South Africa.

“It’s a different level that we’re at now,” Rodriguez said during a recent visit to Los Angeles to perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. “I can’t imagine it getting much busier. This is pretty busy. You gotta stay balanced and normalized, pace yourself. At this late date I have a new perspective on things because of the success of the music now.”

The demand for Rodriguez has picked up dramatically in the last year for Rodriguez, who had done a few club performances per year since 2008 when Light in the Attic re-released his two albums, Cold Facts and Coming From Reality. Rodriguez appeared at film festivals like Sundance and SXSW in early 2012 and performed solo at most of his shows. He has been using various bands to back him since moving up to larger clubs and small theaters in the fall.

“We did 13 dates in the UK, all 3,000-seaters, and when we go back it will be Royal Albert Hall,” Rodriguez says.

60 Minutes, which did a piece on Rodriguez prior to the film opening, has contacted him again about possibly chronicling his tour of South Africa in February.

Besides the Oscar nomination, Searching for Sugar Man is up for BAFTA, Producers Guild and WGA awards. It won the International Documentary Association‘s best feature and best music awards and the National Board of Review named it the best documentary of the season.

Louis C.K. Nominated for Writers Guild of America Award…

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Louis C.K. has the write stuff…

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor/comedian has picked up a nomination from the Writers Guild of America for its 2013 awards.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. earned the nod for co-writing his critically acclaimed FX series Louie – which writes, directs and edits – with Pamela Adlon and Vernon Chatman.

Earlier this year, he earned a Primetime Emmy for his behind-the-scenes work on the series. And, he was just nominated for a Satellite Award for his acting, as well as a PGA Award for producing Louie, proving he’s a truly talented artist.

The 2013 WGA Awards will take place Sunday, February 17, with simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.

Here’s the list of nominees in Louis C.K.’s category:

COMEDY SERIES

30 Rock, Written by Jack Burditt, Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock, Tom Ceraulo, Vali Chandrasekaran, Luke Del Tredici, Tina Fey, Lauren Gurganous, Matt Hubbard, Colleen McGuinness, Sam Means, Dylan Morgan, Nina Pedrad, John Riggi, Josh Siegel, Ron Weiner, Tracey Wigfield; NBC

Girls, Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling; HBO

Louie, Written by Pamela Adlon, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K.; FX

Modern Family, Written by Cindy Chupack, Paul Corrigan, Abraham Higginbotham, Ben Karlin, Elaine Ko, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Dan O’Shannon, Jeffrey Richman, Audra Sielaff, Brad Walsh, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker; ABC

Parks and Recreation, Written by Megan Amram, Greg Daniels, Nate Dimeo, Katie Dippold, Daniel J. Goor, Norm Hiscock, Dave King, Greg Levine, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Nick Offerman, Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Alexandra Rushfield, Michael Schur, Mike Scully, Harris Wittels, Alan Yang; NBC