The Tracking Board’s Daily Debrief (11.29.16)

The Launch Pad Manuscript Competition With Ridley Scott is Thrilled to Announce the Manuscript Winners of 2016

Following several months of submissions, reading, and re-reading entries from 24 countries around the world, we, along with our partners Ridley Scott, Inkshares publishing, and Energy Entertainment, are thrilled to announce the winners of our inaugural Launch Pad Manuscript Competition.

2014’s Hit-Makers: A Look Back at the Hit List Alums (2016)

Soon we’ll be releasing the 2016 Hit List, our compilation of the best year’s best spec scripts as voted on by industry professionals. In preparation for its release, we’re taking a look back at the writers who made the Hit List in 2014 — where they were, and how far they’ve come in just one short year.

Gotham Independent Film Awards 2016: Complete List of Winners

The 2016 Gotham Independent Film Awards were given out this week and Barry Jenkins’ opus of identity and love, Moonlight won big nabbing honors for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, and previously announced Special Jury Award for Ensemble Performance. Meanwhile Casey Affleck, despite the recently resurfacing of his sexual harassment allegations, won for his starring role in Manchester by the Sea.

More News From Around The Web

• Doug Jones and Anthony Rapp are set to join Michelle Yeoh for Star Trek: Discovery. Jones will play a new alien species to the Star Trek universe while Rapp will play the first character to be originally conceived and announced as gay. (Entertainment Weekly)

• Amazon’s Philip K. Dick adaptation The Man In The High Castle has finally cast its mysterious title character. Beloved actor Stephen Root is set to step into the role of well-guarded recluse Hawthorne Abendsen. (The A.V. Club)

• Appropriate Behavior director Desiree Akhavan has been tapped to helm Adam, the film based on the novel by Ariel Schrag, who also adapted the screenplay. (Deadline)

• Denzel Washington will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 2017 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. He will be honored for his contributions to the film industry, culminating with this year’s Oscar contender, Fences, which he directed, produced and starred in. (The Wrap)

• MGM has tapped Jessica Rothe as the female lead in MGM’s musical adaptation of the 1983 comedy Valley Girl. The new iteration of the cult classic will be produced by Matt Smith, written by Amy Talkington, and directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg. (Variety)

• Parenthood alumna Erika Christensen has joined the cast of the ABC drama Ten Days in the Valley. The series stars Kyra Sedgwick as harrowed TV news producer Jane Sadler, whose entire world is rocked when her daughter disappears in the middle of the night. (TVLine)

• Cinemax has picked up Rellik, a six-episode limited series from The Missing team of creators Harry and Jack Williams and production companies Two Brothers Pictures and New Pictures. (Deadline)