Quantcast
Channel: House of Cards
Viewing all 174 articles
Browse latest View live

There's a 'Full House of Cards' parody, and it's surprisingly uplifting

$
0
0

Full House of Cards

In response to today's news that Netflix is nearing a deal to reboot "Full House," a popular joke was bouncing around Twitter. 

Coincidentally, somebody made a "Full House"/"House of Cards" mashup just last week which now has some relevance.

It traded in scenic San Francisco...

Full House Intro GifFor some truly grim D.C. imagery.

Full House of Cards IntroAnd they even got the whole cast involved, with fonts to match:

Test GIF

Robin Wright House of Cards Michael Kelly House of CardsThe theme song definitely made this drama feel a bit more light...

Corey Stoll GIF

Kevin Spacey GIFYou can watch the mashup opening credits for "Full House of Cards" below:

SEE ALSO: A 'Full House' revival is probably coming to Netflix — here's how the internet is reacting

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Mark Cuban: Here's Why Netflix Won't Kill TV


Barney Frank thinks 'House of Cards' is a terrible show and bad for society

We tried the $35,000 RED camera that was used to shoot 'House of Cards'

$
0
0

"House of Cards" is as highly regarded for its aesthetics as it is for its signature (read: murdery) plot twists. The series won the Outstanding Cinematography Emmy for its pilot episode and has been nominated in the same category each season it has been eligible. The show's production uses a RED camera, which is quickly becoming a top choice among the filmmaking community. We got our hands on one of the newer models, the Epic Dragon, to take it for a spin. We also tested the Sony FS7 and Canon C300 for comparison.

Produced by Justin Gmoser. Additional camera by Sam Rega, Graham Flanagan, and Alana Kakoyiannis.

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Join the conversation about this story »

How Stephen Colbert ended up on season 3 of 'House of Cards'

$
0
0

Colbert on house of cardsThere are some minor spoilers ahead for "House of Cards" season 3.

One of the biggest surprises of the season three premiere of "House of Cards," which debuted on Netflix back in February, was an appearance by Stephen Colbert reprising his role of "The Colbert Report" host.

Comedy Central had previously aired the final episode of Colbert's talk show in December 2014, so it was a big shock to see him back as host one last time while grilling Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) over a controversial jobs program.

During a talk at Vulture's second-annual pop-culture event, Vulture Festival, late Sunday afternoon, Vulture editor Gazelle Emami asked "House of Cards" showrunner Beau Willimon if the dialogue from Colbert was scripted. 

Willimon went into great detail telling the audience how the Colbert cameo came about and was filmed.

"I fully expected Stephen to say no. And Stephen said yes, and I said, 'Look, you're going to be way funnier than anything I can write," said Willimon. "I will send you a sort of sample script of what the shape of the scene is going to look like." 

Willimon said he sent Colbert over about four pages of the scene along with material on Underwood's fictional jobs program, America Works, and more. 

"I thought, if you guys can ad-lib then I don't care ... that'll be way more authentic than if we just script everything," Willimon continued.

Willimon said he later got on the phone with Colbert and his people who told him he thought they should use most of the script. He couldn't believe it. He said everyone reassured him there were some good jokes in the script.

"I'm going to change a few [jokes] if that's okay with you," Willimon recalled Colbert asking. 

The "House of Cards" showrunner was more than okay with that request. "Please! Please change whatever you want." 

beau willimon house of cardsWillimon told the crowd they ended up filming the scene between Kevin Spacey and Colbert at the actual Colbert set in front of a live audience.

"We said to them, 'All right, none of you can say anything.' We didn't tell them it was for the show. We said, 'We're going to do a couple of bits ... None of you don't ever tweet about this or talk about this at all," he explained. "Miraculously, none of the audience did for months and months."

One of the bits that was taped ended up being shot for "The Colbert Report." Willimon says the "House of Cards" team had nothing to do with it though. Willimon said what we ended up seeing in the season three premiere was part of an eight-minute set that was filmed using the Comedy Central show's cameras and crew. 

"There's a mixture of script and improv," said Willimon. "A lot of the things that Stephen said that were used were things that we kind of co-did together. The line about the lampreys sucking a crouton ... that was all him."

You can watch Colbert's appearance on "House of Cards" below:

SEE ALSO: Here are the brands that appear in "House of Cards" season 3

Join the conversation about this story »

'House of Cards' creator thinks Hillary Clinton is closest to a real life Claire Underwood

$
0
0

hillary clinton claire underwood

It doesn't seem likely that Hillary Clinton would have gotten UK's "House of Cards" creator Lord Michael Dobbs' vote if her were able to cast a ballot in US elections.

Dobbs believes Clinton most resembles a real life Claire Underwood (Robyn Wright), the conniving and politically ambitious wife of president Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) on Netflix's adaptation of Dobbs' "House of Cards."

“[Hillary Clinton] is a political figure in her own right – behind the scenes, but now increasingly in front of the scenes." Dobbs told Buzzfeed of the similarities to Claire. "That is much more of a Claire character than, for instance, Cherie [Blair], who as far as I’m aware didn’t become actively aware in politics as such.”

lord dobbsDobbs, who wrote the novel "House of Cards" after serving as an advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has a healthy obsession of Clinton.

“I’m fascinated by Hillary, of course, because she comes with so much baggage,” he told the online site. “That baggage is her strength but also her vulnerability. We just have to wait and see where the balance lies on that. Though it is bizarre that the system that was bred out of [rejection of a King] has produced the Bushes, the Kennedys, the Clintons, the Roosevelts….”

Dobbs' TV version of "House of Cards" ended after just four one-hour episodes aired on BBC in 1990. Netflix's adaptation will return with its fourth season next year.

SEE ALSO: MTV makes students uncomfortable with questions about race in new 'White People' trailer

MORE: Amazon and Netflix won't be saving 'Hannibal' from cancellation

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 6 scientifically proven features men find attractive in women

6 burning questions ahead of tomorrow's Emmy nominations

$
0
0

This isn't just any year for TV. 

Diversity is rising. An Amazon series, "Transparent," is the drama front runner. Several Emmy darlings have ended their runs. And the TV Academy has put its foot down on the comedy vs. drama question.

All of those factors and more are contributing to a heated Emmy race.

Here are six burning questions Emmy voters will tackle in 2015:

1.) How will "Orange Is the New Black" fare in the drama category?

orange is the new blackIn recent years, the drama category has become the most competitive group for awards. So, many shows that seemed like dramas entered themselves in the easier comedy category. The TV Academy put an end to some of that when it ruled that one-hour shows had to enter the drama category. Petitions were filed for shows that felt they should still be recognized as comedies and "Orange Is the New Black's" was denied. Any one who has watched the series would agree the show should be honored, but will it still get the nomination as part of the tougher drama category?

2.) Will Jon Hamm finally get an Emmy for "Mad Men"?

mad men series finale ratingsWith the recent end of "Mad Men." the huge critical and fan response to the series finale, and the viral reaction to the show's Coke commercial tie-in, isn't it time for Jon Hamm's excellent portrayal of Don Draper to be honored? Certainly, it's supposed to be an honor to just be nominated, but Jon Hamm's seven Emmy noms and zero wins is bordering on insulting. This may be the TV Academy's last chance to honor Hamm's in the iconic role.

3.) Can broadcast TV break back into the drama category?

fox empire season 2 detailsThe onslaught of cable and now Netflix and Amazon have become insurmountable challenges to broadcast TV's chances of winning an Emmy in the drama category since "24" won in 2006. Plus, not one broadcast series has been nominated in the drama category since "The Good Wife" in 2011. Yes, the category is competitive (see No. 1 above), but certainly this year broadcast may have a chance with "Empire," the most successful drama of the past year, or "The Good Wife" breaking back through. Otherwise, things are looking dire for broadcast dramas.

4.) Has Robin Wright finally earned her Emmy?

house of cards season 3 robin wright brunette
The third season of "House of Cards" has arguably been Robin Wright's time to shine as Claire Underwood "Hillary Clinton'd" herself from Frank Underwood's (Kevin Spacey) shadow. Nominated twice already with no wins, this year is the perfect one to give her the gold. That said, history may not be on Wright's side. See No. 5 below.

5.) Will a black woman win the lead drama actress Emmy?

abc how to get away with murder viola davis takes off her wigA black woman has never won the lead drama actress category. In 2013, Kerry Washington was the first to even be nominated in 18 years. Diversity is the word in TV right now and patience has truly been waning for this category to go to an African American actress. This year, we have three good chances in Washington, "How to Get Away With Murder's" Viola Davis, and "Empire's" Taraji P. Henson. Voters (and viewers) love a historic moment. Is this the year?

6.) Can Julia Louis-Dreyfus actually lose this year?

veep julia louis dreyfusThe women's comedy competition has been dominated by well-deserving figures like Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation"), Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie"), and "Veep's" Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who has won three years in a row). But, there's some new and returning stars that's certainly complicated the category. There's lots of buzz around "Jane the Virgin" star Gina Rodriguez (who won the Golden Globe) and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's" Ellie Kemper. Comedy Central's Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer") is the talk of the town and may surprise us all.

But, don't count out some of the older guard out either; Lisa Kudrow ("The Comeback"), Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin ("Grace and Frankie") are also strong contenders. Plus, Emmy voters love celebrating its entertainment icons. This could be the category to watch this year.

SEE ALSO: 19 TV stars who could shake up the 2015 Emmy nominations

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The BBC just shocked everyone with a clip from the next 'Sherlock' episode

China's Xi says corruption crackdown is no 'House of Cards'

$
0
0

house of cards but in Chinese

China's fight against entrenched corruption is not a "House of Cards"-style power struggle, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday as he began his first state visit to the United States, vowing to press on with his campaign.

Xi has warned that corruption threatens the ruling Communist Party's survival and his three-year anti-graft campaign has brought down scores of senior officials in the party, the government, the military and state-owned enterprises.

There has been repeated speculation at home and abroad - and sources with ties to the leadership have told Reuters - that the graft crackdown is as much about Xi taking down his enemies as it is about cleaning up the Communist Party.

"Recently, we have cracked down on corruption ... taking out both tigers and flies," Xi said, referring to both high level and low level officials, in a keynote address to 650 business executives and other guests in Seattle.

"This is in line with the people's requirements. There is no power struggle in this. There is no 'House of Cards'," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The U.S. remake of the British political drama "House of Cards" is wildly popular in China, where it is watched on illegal downloads and pirated DVDs.

"If we do not resolve the problem that exists, the people will neither trust nor support us," Xi said. "So we stress, in managing the country, we must also manage the party; the party's governance has to be strict, too."

xi jinpingChina last week hailed the return by the United States of one of China's most prominent fugitives wanted for corruption as good progress and a foundation for cooperation.

Chinese officials have long complained that China's anti-corruption fight has been hampered by a reluctance by Western countries to sign extradition treaties.

China does not have extradition treaties with the United States or Canada - the most popular destinations for suspected economic criminals from China.

Xi is due to hold talks with President Barack Obama later in the week, where the issue of corruption suspects who have fled China is expected to come up.

"The Chinese people hope that on this issue we can get support and coordination from the United States, so corrupt elements have no place to hide overseas," Xi said.

The failure by China to secure the return of suspects from the United States has been an irritant in ties. The United States has said it is not averse to cooperating on the issue but China has often failed to produce the kind of evidence of criminality needed under U.S. law to support deportation.

(Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This woman got a prime seat at a Trump rally, and spent the whole time reading a book about racism

Here are Netflix's 3 competitive advantages

$
0
0

In the past three years, streaming-video pioneer Netflix has gone from being an apparent wash-out to being one of the most important media companies in the world. Its market cap has exploded from as low as $3 billion to a peak of more than $50 billion this summer, though it has since pulled back a bit to $42 billion.

netflix motley fool

Clearly, investors have great expectations for Netflix, which still has only about $7 billion in annual revenue and is operating just above the break-even line. Let's take an in-depth look at how Netflix could create enough value to justify this lofty valuation.

It's not as simple as it seems

At first glance, the answer might seem obvious. Netflix operates the most popular subscription video-on-demand service in the world — and it is growing like wildfire.

But Netflix's content library is mainly made up of second-run content. If a particular movie or TV series is popular, why can't the owner — who took the original risk of producing the content — charge Netflix enough to capture the bulk of the value from having it available for streaming?

Furthermore, even Netflix's original shows are produced and owned by other companies, for the most part. To maintain the streaming rights, Netflix needs to keep re-upping for new seasons of each show. This scenario should also give the content creators negotiating leverage over the distributor, Netflix.

reed hastings netflix

Finally, while Netflix spends quite a bit on technology — $155 million just last quarter — there are plenty of tech giants with the money and talent to replicate all of its key features. Why won't this competition ruthlessly drive down Netflix's profit margin over time?

Advantage No. 1: Superior information

One of Netflix's biggest strengths is its massive trove of user data. Since it knows what its tens of millions of users watch — and when they watch it — Netflix is pretty good at predicting whether new content will be successful.

Most famously, it used the insight that people who watched the original British version of "House of Cards" on Netflix also liked movies starring Kevin Spacey or directed by David Fincher to bet on its first big original series. Netflix has been happy enough with "House of Cards" that it has aired three seasons, with Season 4 on the way.

House of Cards

Not only does Netflix's data tell it what types of movies and TV shows to add to the service, it also gives the company a good sense of what each one is worth. Since Netflix doesn't provide "ratings," and there are no third-party companies providing ratings for streaming video, the content owners have a cruder sense of what a particular movie or TV series is worth to Netflix.

This helps Netflix get favorable content deals most of the time. Most importantly, it allows Netflix to avoid wasting money on duds.

Advantage No. 2: Massive scale

A second competitive advantage is Netflix's massive scale in the US and globally. The marginal cost of distributing video content to more users is fairly negligible. As a result, Netflix's growth allows it to spread its content costs over an ever-larger audience. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has called this a "virtuous cycle" of higher subscriber numbers and higher content spending.

This makes life unpleasant for competitors like Hulu. With lower revenues, Hulu cannot afford nearly as much content as Netflix, even if it's willing to tolerate dramatically lower margins. And with less compelling content libraries than Netflix, it's even harder for Hulu to gain subscribers.

Netflix is taking this to a whole new level with its ongoing international expansion. While most syndicated content is licensed on a country-by-country basis, Netflix now has the scale to pursue global licensing agreements — at least for its originals. This will allow it to spread its content costs over to more subscribers.

Advantage No. 3: A destination for niche content

Netflix's third big advantage is that its large-scale and vast trove of viewer data allow it to make better use of niche content than anybody else. For the right price, Netflix can afford to buy content that doesn't have broad popularity because it can target particular subscribers who may be interested via personalized recommendations.

"Linear" TV networks can't even consider broadcasting niche content except at odd hours. If a channel can only show one program at a time, it has to serve shows that can attract a wide audience during prime-time hours.

This is where the value gets created.

It's not too difficult to buy a web domain, license some movies or TV shows — or even create some new ones — and roll them into a subscription video-on-demand package.

What sets Netflix apart is its deep understanding of how much each piece of content is worth, its ability to spread content costs over tens of millions of subscribers, and its ability to find audiences for niche programming. These are the advantages that could make Netflix worthy of its massive valuation.

Adam Levine-Weinberg has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Netflix. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Oculus announce the long-awaited virtual reality version of Netflix


'Game of Thrones,' 'Trumbo,' and more score big in 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees

$
0
0

Game Of Thrones

The nominations for the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced today, with "Trumbo" leading the film categories, and "Game of Thrones,""Homeland," and "House of Cards" topping the television categories. 

"Trumbo," about blacklisted screenwriter Donald Trumbo, was nominated for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. Bryan Cranston, who plays Trumbo, was nominated for his lead performance, and Helen Mirren, who portrays gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, was nominated for her supporting role.

Mirren also earned a nomination for her lead role in "Woman in Gold."

In the TV categories, "Game of Thrones,""Homeland," "House of Cards,""Mad Men," and "Downton Abbey" will face off against each other for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.

A full list of the nominees can be found at the SAG Awards website. The awards show will air on TNT and TBS January 30, 2016.

Check out some of the categories below:

Movies

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
"Beasts of No Nation"
"The Big Short"
"Spotlight"
"Straight Outta Compton"
"Trumbo"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett — "Carol"
Brie Larson — "Room"
Helen Mirren — "Woman in Gold"
Saoirse Ronan — "Brooklyn"
Sarah Silverman — "I Smile Back"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Bryan Cranston — "Trumbo"
Johnny Depp — "Black Mass"
Leonardo DiCaprio — "The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender — "Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne — "The Danish Girl"

Television

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Danes — "Homeland"
Viola Davis — "How to Get Away With Murder"
Julianne Marguiles — "The Good Wife"
Maggie Smith — "Downton Abbey"
Robin Wright — "House of Cards"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Peter Dinklage — "Game of Thrones"
Jon Hamm — "Mad Men"
Bob Odenkirk — "Better Call Saul"
Kevin Spacey — "House of Cards"
Rami Malek — "Mr. Robot"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Key & Peele"
"Modern Family"
"Orange Is the New Black"
"Transparent"
"Veep"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell — "Modern Family"
Louis C.K. — "Louie"
William H. Macy — "Shameless"
Jim Parsons — "The Big Bang Theory"
Jeffrey Tambor — "Transparent"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba — "Orange Is the New Black"
Edie Falco — "Nurse Jackie"
Ellie Kemper — "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus — "Veep"
Amy Poehler — "Parks & Recreation"

SEE ALSO: Leonardo DiCaprio's new movie is a brilliantly gory revenge tale that could win him his first Oscar

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Dave Chappelle is using a brand new technology that’ll eliminate the most annoying part about attending live shows

'House of Cards' released a teaser for the new season during the GOP debate

$
0
0

House of Cards

It's been almost a year since the third season of Netflix original series "House of Cards" was released. During tonight's GOP debate, fans of the Kevin Spacey helmed series got a taste of what to expect when the fourth season come out in March. 

Here it is. You can also watch it on YouTube here

While the trailer opens like many a presidential spot, complete with shiny scenes of American life, Underwood's signature attitude comes through in the end as he slams shut a binder on the Resolute desk in the Oval Office. 

"America, I'm only getting started," he says in that signature Underwood drawl. 

House of Cards Netflix

"If you don't like how the table is set, turn it over," Spacey tweeted after the trailer dropped. "Welcome to my campaign."

Welcome indeed. Now we just have to wait a few more months to find out what that campaign looks like. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeb Bush reviews the Apple Watch and reveals his favorite iPhone apps

'House of Cards' ran a realistic-looking political ad during the Republican presidential debate

REPORT: Netflix paid no corporation tax in Britain last year

$
0
0

House of Cards

Netflix paid no UK corporation tax last year despite being estimated to have around 4.5m subscribers in the country, it has been reported.

The video streaming service behind award-winning series such as Orange is the New Black and House of Cards charges customers a minimum of £5.99 a month to subscribe and has grown rapidly since its UK launch in 2012.

According to a Sunday Times investigation, it generated an estimated £200m of revenue in Britain last year but any profits from the UK in 2014 were booked overseas. There is no suggestion that Netflix has broken the law.

Related: Can broadcast TV match streaming’s big budget shows?

The paper reported that latest accounts for Netflix International BV, which was based in Luxembourg until the end of last year, show a net turnover of £415m and profits of £11.3m in 2014, with British customers accounting for the largest proportion of turnover. It says the company paid income tax in Luxembourg of £573,396, equivalent to a rate of about 5%.

The company says it is in “expansion” mode and is making overall losses on its international operation. A spokesman said its British subsidiary employs about 12 people and will pay some corporation tax this year, adding: “We are fully compliant with all applicable rules.”

In July, it was reported that despite having more than 65m subscriptions worldwide the cost of third-party content on Netflix was $7.7bn (£5.2bn), about 4.6 times its net revenue.

Earlier this month, Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, was reported to have paid zero UK corporation tax last year. By contrast,Starbucks, which was widely criticised over corporate tax avoidance in 2012 following details of its meagre tax contribution, revealed last week it has paid £8.1m corporation tax this year, nearly as much as it paid in its first 14 years in the UK, after bowing to pressure to scrap its complex tax structures.

The UK is believed to be Netflix’s biggest market outside the US, where it has more than 40m subscribers, with the number of British subscribers predicted to reach 9.5m by the end of the decade. The company has been facing increasing competition from rival streaming services such as Amazon, Hulu and HBO in the US. In the UK, Amazon Prime is Netflix’s closest rival.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

This article was written by Haroon Siddique from The Guardian and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: JIM CRAMER: This is where you should invest your first $10,000

We finally know when 'House of Cards' season 4 will premiere

$
0
0

house of cards

We finally know when "House of Cards" will return to Netflix for its fourth season.

Mark your calendars for March 4, 2016.

The streaming site dropped a new preview during the Golden Globes showing a run through of Frank Underwood's (Kevin Spacey) most dastardly deeds on the road to securing his place in the White House.

While the television promo didn't reveal the series' return date, a slightly different clip that premiered online confirmed the March return date.

Check out the preview below.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel lost a ton of weight on this radical diet

Kevin Spacey says Frank Underwood would find the US presidential campaign race 'as amusing as I do'

$
0
0

kevin spacey

Kevin Spacey has been milling around the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos this week, meeting with the top financiers, politicians, and executives.

So much so that Page Six, part of The Post Network, has awarded him the title of "King of Davos"in an article that also includes a tale about him climbing on top of a piano at a glitzy bash to pledge his love for the event, before serenading the audience.

On Friday he was interviewed on stage by The Times newspaper editor James Harding, who asked what Spacey's character in "House of Cards," Frank Underwood — a conniving politician who cheats and manipulates his way up to the US presidency — would give to the current Republican presidential candidates.

Spacey started his response with a Freudian slip, which altered his answer somewhat to instead talk about his view on the 2016 presidential race.

"I think Donald Trump — sorry, I mean Frank Underwood — you see, he even stole my time just now without doing anything! I think Frank Underwood would look at this particular year and find it as amusing as I do."

Spacey continued, saying that while Americans are probably thinking "wow, there's some crazy s--- going down," the US and that the current discourse is "depressing," the country will probably "get it right in the end."

Referencing Trump, he said people who suggest his campaign tactics are brand new have got it wrong. Attacking the media and groups of people were the exact tactics of George Wallace's 1968 campaign, he explained.

SEE ALSO: Kevin Spacey impersonates President Nixon meeting Elvis in the 'Elvis & Nixon' trailer

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These are the biggest risks facing the world in 2016

This is what it's like to work as a set designer for 'House of Cards'

$
0
0

netflix

When it comes to the Netflix original series "House of Cards", what's the only thing we like better than Frank and Claire's Beltway scheming?

The rooms in which the dirt is going down. (Honorable mention: Robin Wright's fierce hair.)

Here, production designer Steve Arnold lets Lonny in on the décor scoop straight from the set.

SEE ALSO: Meet the jet-setting architect who designed some of the world's most expensive casinos, including the ultra-famous Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas

The New Trad

Patterned after a traditional Georgetown townhouse, Frank and Claire Underwood's home is actually located in Baltimore—or at least the exterior is. Inside, the Victorian architecture includes tall ceilings and windows with wooden shutters—"to control what people can see inside," says Arnold—plus pocket doors and classic lighting fixtures.



Kitchen Perfect

When Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey arrived on set, however, they insisted that the interiors should have a touch of modernity."So we took the idea that Claire was interested in photography and included more contemporary artwork," says Arnold.



Color Block

"We used fairly light colors throughout the whole show," says Arnold. "Many of the characters wear dark, cold colors, and so we created a neutral palette for a sort of silhouetting effect. It's a sophisticated visual aspect that makes the show."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Amazon and Netflix have one major difference when it comes to finding their next hit series (AMZN, NFLX)

$
0
0

House of cards

Amazon and Netflix are both finding success at producing their original content, but the way they go about it is totally different. 

For one, Amazon does pilot episodes. Netflix is strongly against them.

A pilot is a single episode meant to test the viability of a series, and has been a staple in network TV for years. Amazon is taking that approach forward into the digital world.

Speaking at the Upfront Summit in Los Angeles, Amazon's SVP of Business Development, Jeff Blackburn, argued his company's approach gives them insight into what may be a viral hit. 

The company has now released seven seasons of pilot episodes and developed award-winning shows like "Transparent" and "Mozart in the Jungle" from them. By posting each pilot for Prime customers to review, Amazon's piloting model has been described as both democratic and inventive. As one critic put it, Amazon embodies the "indie" model of filmmaking while Netflix is the big picture studio.

"We put them up in front of prime customers and we let them watch and comment," Blackburn said. "We get incredible data. We can look at that and make better decisions."

Not only does Amazon produce pilots, but it sources them from everywhere. Its Amazon Studios division has an open-door submission policy, meaning anyone can submit a script for a series, not just those with Hollywood connections. 

Take one of its hit children's shows, "Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street." The screenwriter, David Anaxagoras, was living in his parents' house and working as a preschool teacher when he submitted the script to Amazon. Now he's a creator, writer, and co-executive producer of a show and has his own IMDB page.

That's compared to Netflix, which doesn't believe in the pilot model at all and will either buy or commission a series from start to finish. 

It's a model that Netflix fiercely defends. In September, the streaming competitor released its own study arguing that the pilot is ineffective. In its research, viewers get hooked several episodes in and not just after the first.

"Given the precious nature of primetime slots on traditional TV, a series pilot is arguably the most important point in the life of the show," Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos is quoted as saying in the release. "However, in our research of more than 20 shows across 16 markets, we found that no one was ever hooked on the pilot. This gives us confidence that giving our members all episodes at once is more aligned with how fans are made."

The quote from Sarandos was a not-so-subtle jab at Amazon, but Amazon seems pleased so far with its original content strategy. 

"I’m not saying Netflix strategy's is wrong, it’s just different. And we like our way," Blackburn added. 

SEE ALSO: Why I'm choosing a hotel over Airbnb for my next business trip

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amazon pulls controversial Nazi-themed 'Man in the High Castle' ads from New York subways

It's Underwood versus Underwood in new 'House of Cards' trailer

$
0
0

house of cards season 4

Washington, D.C. will be caught in the crosshairs of an Underwood war on the fourth season of Netflix's "House of Cards."

In a new trailer for the hit political drama's return, Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire (Robin Wright) are on opposite sides and the capital is their battlefield. In an election year, the stakes are now higher than ever, and the biggest threat they face is contending with each other. How far will they go?

"You have no idea what it means to have nothing," Frank's is heard saying. "You don't value what we have achieved. I have had to fight for everything my entire life."

Then, Claire says, "I saw a future, our future."

"We had a future until you started destroying it," Frank responds.

New additions, Joel Kinnaman, Neve Campbell and Ellen Burstyn make appearances in this trailer and promise to make things complicated for Frank and Claire.

Watch the trailer below:

 Season four of "House of Cards" debuts March 4 on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Chelsea Handler stands by her comments on her new Netflix doc series regarding the TSA profiling Muslims

SEE ALSO: People in the 'Making a Murderer' Wisconsin town are angry about the Netflix show

Join the conversation about this story »

Kevin Spacey's Frank Underwood from 'House of Cards' gets his own presidential portrait in the Smithsonian

$
0
0

House Of Cards smithsonian portrait gallery

Reality and fiction were blurred on Monday night when a painting of Netflix's "House of Cards" president Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) was unveiled at the Smithsonian's national portrait gallery.

Known for housing the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House, the Smithsonian and British artist Jonathan Yeo partnered on the unique project, according to a Netflix release.

Just as in a traditional presidential portrait unveiling, Spacey and Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos were joined in the unveiling ceremony by Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet as well as the artist and an audience that included members of the actual White House press corps.

To add even more realism to the event, Spacey first addressed the audience in character before thanking the artist and the museum for the "honor" and "thrill" of the Underwood portrait, which will hang on public display at the National Portrait Gallery from Wednesday, February 24 through October.

“I’m pleased that the Smithsonian continues to prove itself as a worthwhile institution,” said Spacey as Underwood. “I’m one step closer to convincing the rest of the country that I am the president.”

In fact, he jumped into character earlier that day, joining Instagram and writing his first post as Underwood.

"House of Cards" returns for its fourth season on Friday, March 4.

SEE ALSO: It's Underwood versus Underwood in new 'House of Cards' trailer

SEE ALSO: 'House of Cards' creator thinks Hillary Clinton is closest to a real life Claire Underwood

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: All the new Netflix shows you’ll be binge-watching this year

Kevin Spacey explains how he seriously injured himself by 'overacting'

$
0
0

kevin spacey tonight show broken nose 1

Kevin Spacey found out recently that he has been seriously injured for several years and had no idea.

During his appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday, the "House of Cards" star said that he originally went to a doctor for a freak hearing loss when he discovered the surprise injury.

"He said, 'Do you know you have a broken nose?'" the actor explained.

Apparently, according to Spacey's doctor, a lot of people have broken noses and don't know it. It can actually happen from rough handling during birth, though the doctor could tell Spacey's break occured about four or five years ago. And that's when it came flooding back to Spacey.

"I instantly knew what I did," the 56-year-old said. "Overacting... I'm not kidding, overacting big time."

The actor starred in a stage performance of "Richard III" in 2012.

"And I had a cane," he said. "And I was widely gesturing to the two actors next to me and I whacked myself in the nose with my cane, so hard that blood came out of both nostrils... And it hurt like hell. But I didn't think I broke my nose, so I never got it checked out."

To make matters worse, the break blocked his ability to breathe from one nostril.

kevin spacey tonight show broken nose 2

But it didn't stop Spacey from finding the silver lining in the situation.

"All the stuff I've been doing for the last four years: running, tennis, concerts, 'House of Cards,' without my full [breathing] capacity," he said. "Just wait until I get this sucker fixed."

Watch the animated Spacey tell the story below.

Plus, take a look at him and Fallon performing "House of Cards" (sort of) scripts written by kids.

SEE ALSO: Kevin Spacey's Frank Underwood from 'House of Cards' gets his own presidential portrait in the Smithsonian

SEE ALSO: Review: Netflix's 'Love' is an addictive ride through modern romance

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'House of Cards' ran a realistic-looking political ad during the Republican presidential debate

How a British gaming company got its hit app into the new season of 'House of Cards'

$
0
0

house of cards frank underwood mobile phone smartphone agario miniclip

President Frank Underwood has a new favourite game — and it's made by a British mobile company.

On Friday, Netflix released the fourth season of the wildly popular political drama "House of Cards." It follows the fictional US president Frank Underwood as he battles for re-election to the White House.

And in Episode nine, British gaming company Miniclip makes a cameo.

Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, is known for his love of games. In season one, he frequently played shooter games including "Call of Duty" to wind down. By season three, after he had graduated from senator to Commander-in-Chief, he was seen enjoying "Monument Valley," an atmospheric platform puzzler for smartphones and tablets.

Now, he's playing "Agar.io"— a multiplayer mobile and online game that involves controlling an amoeba-like blob as you attempt to eat other players, grow, and avoid being eaten yourself. It is published by Miniclip, a 14-year-old games company based in London. Its games have been downloaded half a billion times.

house of cards agario miniclip

"We received a call from the 'House of Cards' production team, out of the blue. They already knew about the game and wanted to include it in the show, and naturally we were delighted," company spokesperson Ben Meakin told Business Insider.

The company provided the production team with a special build of the game — users are able to customise their blob with images, so they needed to avoid Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton appearing by accident while they were filming.

"Agar.io" is already pretty big — it has 60 million monthly players. But Miniclip is hoping its inclusion will give it further momentum. "Monument Valley" was given an "insane" boost by season three, creator Daniel Gray told the BBC at the time: "We had about eight time the number of downloads we usually would do."

Agario screenshot miniclip

"When we learned that 'House of Cards' wanted to include the game in the show, we were blown away. 'Agar.io' has been incredibly popular since it launched last year, and this latest news really underlines it as a cultural phenomenon," Miniclip CEO Rob Small told Business Insider. "The game joins a very prestigious club of titles that have been played by Frank Underwood – we hope this will lead to plenty of new fans discovering Agar.io and joining the millions around the world that already play and love it."

You can see Agar.io in episode 9 ("Chapter 48") of "House of Cards" season 4 at around the 31-minute mark.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: John McAfee explains why an iPhone backdoor is a terrible idea

Viewing all 174 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>