Daily Variety articles from April 2003

Daily Variety archives from April 2003

Theater of war: cautious auds return to entertainment.(audiences are returning to entertainment after the start of the war)
April 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Is it the war? Most new movie releases are cratering. New plays are opening on Broadway with a loud thud. But newly relelased data suggests that the explanation may be due more to the mediocrity of the product than war...

Stringer ties up new vice chair slot at Sony.(Sony Corp. names Howard Stringer vice chairman)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Sony Corp. on Monday named Howard Stringer vice chairman, capping the former CBS prexy's stellar rise within the Japanese conglom. He will retain his title as chairman-CEO of Sony Corp. of America, overseeing film, music and electronics....

Nets weather newsie storms.(television war coverage deals with sandstorms in Iraq)
April 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The intense strain of war coverage showed through Monday, with both Fox News Channel and the NBC news empire having to weather some blinding sandstorms of their own. Initially standing by its man in Baghdad, NBC News reversed...

WNBC in Emmy heaven.(station is big winner at the New York Emmy Awards)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... WNBC was the big winner Sunday night at the 46th annual New York Emmy Awards. The Peacock flagship entered the night with the most nominations (42) and took home a leading 12 awards, including single morning news program, event coverage...

Late-inning relief: Yanks deal OK'd.(Cablevision Systems and the YES Network reach a one-year deal)
April 1, 2003... After declaring on Friday that the deal to put Yankee games on the cabler was dead, Chuck Dolan's Cablevision Systems and the YES Network signed a one-year contract late Monday, just in time for the Opening Night game in Toronto between the...

Sci Fi Channel 'Taken' with fresh fantasy slate.(Sci Fi Channel negotiates with DreamWorks TV, Steven Spielberg, and producers on another miniseries)
April 1, 2003... The Sci Fi Channel is negotiating with Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks TV and the creative team who produced the 20-hour miniseries "Taken," a runaway success in December, for a fresh epic fantasy to run in 2004-05. Untitled project, still in...

Just for Variety. (Army Archerd).
April 1, 2003... GOOD MORNING: "Easy Rider" rides again -- and again -- and again. And this time for sure, I am assured by the latest group of producers, the Malibu Movie Co., which would tackle a follow-up to the 1969 cult fave starring Peter Fonda, Dennis...

Life (x) 3. (Broadway: Charles Isherwood).(theatrical review)(Theater Review)
April 1, 2003... (Circle in the Square, 761 seats: $80 top) A Ron Kastner presentation of a play in one act by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. Directed by Matthew Warchus. Sets and costumes, Mark Thompson; lighting, Hugh Vanstone; music,...

Think boards 'Bus'.(ThinkFilm acquires North American theatrical rights to 'Bus 174')
April 1, 2003... ThinkFilm has acquired North American theatrical rights to acclaimed Brazilian documentary "Bus 174," in one of two deals closed -- along with Shadow Distribution's purchase of Hungarian festival favorite "Hukkle" -- out of the New...

Food net heating up series, specials.(Food Network plans 12 new series and 60 specials)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Twelve new series and 60 specials are on the menu at Food Network. Cabler plans to increase spending by 58% on original programming. In 2002, it enjoyed double-digit ratings increases in all its target demos, including adults 18-49. ...

Wellspring taps Williams as acquisitions manager.(Rob Williams)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Rob Williams has been appointed manager of acquisitions at arthouse distrib Wellspring, completing the buying team led by Marie Therese Guirgis, promoted last month to head of acquisitions. A member until recently of DreamWorks' theatrical...

'Pianist' tuned to May DVD bow.(Oscar-winning film to be released on DVD)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- "The Pianist" has been set for DVD release on May 27. The Universal Studios Home Video DVD will include a new 40-minute docu, "A Story of Survival," that takes viewers behind the scenes on the film's production and...

Ratings are reeling: Fox comedy, WB drama, CBS sports fall short.(Fox, CBS, and the WB report weak ratings for programs)
April 1, 2003... Fox's new family comedy "The Pitts" failed to light up the ratings Sunday, while CBS continued to see steep year-to-year declines for its coverage of college basketball's tournament. And the WB's new martial-arts drama "Black Sash" didn't...

B.O. sesh sours B'way's sweet dream.(Broadway theater ticket sales suffer during war effort)(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2003... Spring-break tourists buoyed Broadway's box office during the initial days of the war. B.O. actually increased a surprising 3.25% that first week. So much for false hope. With all those theatergoers back in school, Broadway suffered a...

Nantucket boosts Ruth.(Nantucket Film Festival to honor Ruth Prawer Jhabvala)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Oscar-winning scribe Ruth Prawer Jhabvala will be honored with the NBC Screenwriter Tribute at the eighth Nantucket Film Festival, running June 19-22. "Ruth Prawer Jhabvala considers herself primarily a novelist and not a screenwriter, so...

Liberty lawsuit hits Viv U stox.(Vivendi Universal's stock prices hurt by lawsuit from Liberty Media)
April 1, 2003... PARIS -- Vivendi Universal's share price took a fresh battering on the stock market Monday, losing 6% in New York on investor jitters over a fraud lawsuit against the beleaguered conglom filed last week by Liberty Media. Viv U said it was...

Hitting a Speed bump: Formula One, Kirch troubles deflate EM.TV. (Business).(EM.TV announces losses)
April 1, 2003... BERLIN -- German kidvidder EM.TV on Monday blamed a massive writedown on its stake in Formula One racing and collateral damage from last year's Kirch Group collapse for a [euro]310 million ($338 million) net loss in 2002. EM.TV's revs...

Viva swings to '02 profit. (Business).(Viva Media )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... BERLIN -- Last year's deal with AOL Time Warner helped boost German music TV group Viva Media to a net profit of 6859,000 ($922,000) for 2002 after a $31 million loss a year earlier, while revenue grew by $240,000 to $121 million. AOL TW...

EU OKs spanish takeover. (Business).(European Union approves Telecinco acquisition by Mediaset)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... BRUSSELS -- European regulators have greenlit the $103.4 million takeover of Spanish commercial broadcaster Telecinco by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's TV group Mediaset. Mediaset has upped its stake from 40% to 52%, and it is...

Cabler NTL trims loss. (Business).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... LONDON -- NTL, the U.K.'s largest cable operator, reported Monday a modest [pounds]3 million ($4.7 million) rise in revenue to $3.4 billion in 2002 and a loss of $2.34 billion, down from $11.5 billion a year earlier. Company managed to...

Revs on the rise at Euro cabler UPC. (Business).(United Pan-Europe Communications announces increases in revenues)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... AMSTERDAM -- Liberty Media's troubled cable company United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) exceeded growth expectations in 2002, posting a 15% jump in revenue for and halving massive net losses from a year earlier. The company's revenues...

Showbiz stocks.(entertainment industry)(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Mondy, March 31, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %chg AMC AEN --...

Film Box Office Wrap.(weekend of March 28, 2003)(Illustration)(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2003... FOR THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 28-30 Ranking Reported This Last Title Weekend Pct. Week Week (Distributor) Boxoffice Change...

Czechs & balances: gov't, CME reach deal on Nova TV payout. (World News).(Czech Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Central European Media Enterprises reach an agreement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... PRAGUE -- Czech Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and U.S.-backed Central European Media Enterprises (CME) have come to an agreement with regard to payment of the $353 million awarded the TV group by an international arbitration court in...

Pasvolsky clears 'Deck'. (World News).(filmmaker Steven Pasvolsky receives funding for 'Deck Dogz')(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... SYDNEY -- Director-writer Steven Pasvolsky, whose short "Inja" was nominated for an Oscar, has secured funding for his debut feature "Deck Dogz." Coming-of-age saga of three teenage boys who embark on a journey to meet their hero, a...

Premiere bows MGM channel. (World News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... BERLIN -- MGM is launching a new film channel on Germany's multi-channel paybox Premiere today. Called simply MGM, it offers feature films from the studio's 4,000-title strong library in German and English, debuting with Blake Edward's "The...

Viasat joins piracy war. (World News).(Viasat Broadcasting )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... AMSTERDAM -- Modern Times Group's Viasat Broadcasting division has inked with the NDS Group for conditional access technology to stamp out the piracy plaguing its digital satellite platform. MTG prexy-CEO Hans-Holger Albrecht said he...

Kirch creditors sign off on Saban deal. (World News).(Kirch Media soon to be acquired by billionaire Haim Saban)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... BERLIN -- Kirch creditors approved Haim Saban's takeover of the former Kirch Media assets on Monday, pushing the deal closer to fruition. Saban secured Kirch Media's film library and rights business last week, ending the yearlong sale of...

MPAA joining Brazil org. (World News).(Motion Pictures Assn. of America will join Brazilian Cinema Congress)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Motion Pictures Assn. of America has surprised local industryites by applying for membership to the Brazilian Cinema Congress, repping film players. The MPAA and CBC are often on opposite sides of most issues...

Vet Tadashiki ankles Gaga. (World News).(Kaz Tadashiki leaves Gaga Communications)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... TOKYO -- Japanese distribber Gaga Communications is losing one of its key strategists: Kaz Tadashiki has quit as chief operating officer for "personal reasons." Together with prexy and CEO Tetsuya Fujimura, Tadashiki helped build up the...

Broadway Top 10: March 24-30, 2003.(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... BROADWAY TOP 10: March 24-30, 2003 Show Weeks Net Receipts (Theater)(Prod. Categary) Potential Net Prev Week's $Change (Seats) Receipts Net Receipts Avg. Tick The...

Singers over Manhattan--Grady Tate and Lizz Wright. (Concert Review).(Concert Review)
April 1, 2003... (Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, Lincoln Center; 250 capacity: $45) A Jazz at Lincoln Center presentation of Jazz at the Penthouse. Musicians: (Tate) Kenny Baron, Paul Bollenback, Ugonna Okegwo, Scott Newman; (Wright) Aaron Parks, Doug weiss,...

Lost at Home. (Television Review).(Television Program Review)
April 1, 2003... (Series; ABC, Tues. April 1, 9:30 p.m.) Taped in Hollywood by Touchstone Television in association with NBC Studios. Executive producers, Michael Jacobs, Tony Jonas; producer, Karen MacKain; director, Andy Cadiff; director of photography,...

Dee Dee Bridgewater. (Concert Review).(Concert Review)
April 1, 2003... (Victoria Theater, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 500 capacity; $41) A presentation of Jazz at the Vic. Musicians: Ira Coleman, Chedrick Mitchell, Minino Garay, Hans Van Oosterhof, Louis Winsberg. Reviewed Mar. 29, 2003. Dee Dee...

Top 10 Films in Manhattan.(weekend of March 28, 2003)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... TOP 10 FILMS IN MANHATTAN FOR THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 28-30 % change vs. last Week Rank Wknd. B.D. Film (distributor) wknd. No....

Exclusives Report.(weekend of March 28, 2003)(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... EXCLUSIVES REPORT FOR THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 28-30 Film (distributor) Circuit Week New York Bend It Like Beckham LCA 3 (Fox Searchlight) LAND 3 CLRV...

TF1 takes 'Bulls' doc by the horns o'seas.(TF1 Intl. wins worldwide distribution rights for 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls')(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls," documaker Kenneth Bowser's chronicle of the creative ferment that reinvigorated Hollywood in the 1970s, has been acquired by TF1 Intl. for worldwide television and video distribution outside the U.S. Premiered...

Gemstar TV Guide works to get books in order.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... TV program guide provider Gemstar TV Guide Intl. tried to set the books straight with the SEC and investors Monday, as it reported financial results for its full year and fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, along with two years' worth of restatements...

Showtime wants more 'Street Time'.(13 more episodes ordered)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Showtime has ordered a fresh batch of 13 episodes of frosh series "Street Time" and has added Terrence Dashon Howard ("Hart's War") to the cast. The gritty drama was given the greenlight for a sophomore season in December, but...

Sro for 'Eve' bash.(benefit for Actors' Fund of America)
April 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- So much for the gentility of the theater crowd: Would-be revelers cut into the long line snaking into the after-party for Sunday afternoon's "All About Eve" reading with such abandon, it would've made Margo Channing blush. The...

Grandma steals 'Vargas' show.
April 1, 2003... A star was born Wednesday night after the Gotham unspooling of "Raising Victor Vargas" and she wasn't your typical fresh-faced ingenue. Post-screening at Alice Tully Hall, tyro thesp and Dominican abuelita Altagracia Guzman worked the...

Gore rides along to 'Cowboy' bow.(Al Gore appears at the premiere of 'Urban Cowboy')(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Looks like Al Gore is headed for a perfect record this legit season. At Thursday night's opening for "Urban Cowboy," the former vice president admitted his last Broadway preem was the short-lived "Dance of the Vampires." Democratic bigwig...

Comics fete 20 years of laffs.
April 1, 2003... Thursday night in mid town Manhattan, comedy lovers took time out from wartime concerns for joke-filled bonhomie. Funnymen Denis Leary, Jon Stewart and David Alan Grier came out to Carnegie Hall to fete Caroline Hirsch for the 20th anni of her...

Promo machine is still purring.(despite concerns of the war, the film industry is not changing its promotional plans)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The war in Iraq has brought anxiety to the film business, but the glitzy preems and expensive ad campaigns that accompany movie rollouts are, for the most part, proceeding as usual. Despite initial concerns that media would be...

Madonna changes her tune on 'Life'.(Madonna pulls her video for 'American Life' as protest songs emerge)
April 2, 2003... It took a war, but Madonna has finally censored herself. The Material Girl on Tuesday decided to pull the musicvid for her current single "American Life," out of concern that its graphic, antiwar-themed imagery might send the wrong message...

Scribes gird for battle: WGA digs in on healthcare.(the Writers Guild says that healthcare costs and reality TV will be major priorities in contract negotiations)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The Writers Guild has issued an early warning to Hollywood that healthcare costs and reality TV will be its top priorities in upcoming contract negotiations. The announcement, issued in a letter to members by WGA West prexy...

'Gangs' all here at USA.(USA Network buys broadcast rights to 'Gangs of New York')(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... Miramax Films has found a buyer for "Gangs of New York," pocketing about $6 million from USA Network for a portion of the network window. That's considered a good license fee in a down market for theatrical movies that has seen the...

Ozzy takes feature leap.(Paramount Pictures and MTV Films negotiate for Ozzy Osbourne's life story rights)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... Paramount Pictures and MTV Films are negotiating to give bigscreen treatment to the life of Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy-metal prince of darkness reinvented as a dysfunctional dad on MTV's reality hit "The Osbournes." Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne...

SBC's exit clears way for Rupert.(SBC Communications pulled out of the bidding for DirecTV, leaving News Corp. in the driver's seat)
April 2, 2003... Talks between News Corp. and DirecTV parents Hughes Electronics and GM are well under way after telco SBC Communications withdrew from bidding for the satcaster Tuesday. The move leaves the field clear, or nearly so, for Rupert Murdoch's...

Packagers ease the burden of publishers: Hybrid enterprises deliver manuscripts, edit and agent the books they produce. (The Writes Stuff).(book packaging is becoming more popular)
April 2, 2003... BLAIR WALDORF AND SERENA van der Woodsen are the complete package. They're the feuding, debauched teen protagonists of "Gossip Girl," a series of popular young adult books set in Manhattan's Upper East Side. "Gossip Girl" is written by...

Burnett holds trump card.(NBC gives Mark Burnett a 13-episode deal for 'The Apprentice')(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Mark Burnett is getting ready to conquer a new jungle: Manhattan. "Survivor" producer has snagged a 13-episode commitment from NBC for "The Apprentice," a nonfiction competish in which would-be moguls brave a simulated...

Vivendi U library books $700 mil for refinancing.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Vivendi Universal said Tuesday that it completed a months-long process to secure upward of $700 million in corporate financing for its entertainment unit in a transaction that spins projected film library revenue into commercial...

MGM gives duo senior VP stripes.(Debra Nathin Solomons, Andrew Bernstein promoted)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- MGM has upped publicity execs Debra Nathin Solomons and Andrew Bernstein to senior VP posts in publicity, reporting to senior VP of publicity Eric Kops. They will continue to be responsible for developing and overseeing campaigns...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 2, 2003... Arthur Manson is the chair of the Academy's New York events committee. Info was incorrect in the March 24 edition.

Wilson fleshes out 'Phantom' film cast.(Patrick Wilson to cast in movie version of 'Phantom of the Opera')(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... While they continue searching for their masked lead, Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Joel Schumacher have set Patrick Wilson in the role of Raoul in "Phantom of the Opera," the screen adaptation of Lloyd Webber's musical. The casting...

Buscemi's on board: Thesp-director will join 'Sopranos' family.(Steve Buscemi to join cast, direct episodes of 'The Sopranos')(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... Now that HBO and James Gandolfini have settled their dispute over salary, the network and creator David Chase are negotiating a deal with Steve Buscemi to play a recurring character on the series, as well as direct episodes. Buscemi has made a...

Lion, Dillon gang up for 'Tough Guy' biopic.(MGM will produce gangster movie starring Matt Dillon)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD--MGM has acquired tights to a biopic of New York mobster Eddie Maloney Matt Dillon will produce and star in the pic. Dillon is developing the script with screenwriter Mike Jones. It's based, in part, on Maloney's autobiography...

Dave's back, 'late' wins.(David Letterman returns to talk show, lifts ratings )(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD--David Letterman's return to action Monday night following a bout with shingles lifted his CBS latenight program "The Late Show" to a rare ratings victory over NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno." According to Nielsen overnights...

Wallace joins UBS Warburg.(Tim Wallace named senior entertainment and broadcasting analyst)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... Investment bank UBS Warburg said Tuesday it has hired Tim Wallace as senior entertainment and broadcasting analyst. He replaces Chris Dixon, who left the firm several months ago. Wallace, based in New York, most recently was a media and...

Fall's Latin Grammys set for Miami.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... Miami will play host to the fourth annual Latin Grammy Awards this fall, shifting the kudocast away from its traditional home in Los Angeles to America's best-known hub of Latin music for the first time in its young history. The...

Aftra setting premiums.(entertainment unions institute, raise insurance premiums)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD--In a reflection of soaring costs, AFTRA's health and retirement plan has set its first-ever insurance premium at $250 per quarter--a whopping 67% higher than SAG's new premium--starting in July. AFTRA's health plan will also...

Redrafting charter: cabler restates financials, unveils credit plan. (Business).(Charter Communications )
April 2, 2003... Paul Allen's Charter Communications gave battered investors some comfort Tuesday, reporting and restating financial results, clarifying its accounting and reassuring Wall Street it won't default on interest payments this month. Cabler also...

Lawmakers push for reg resolution. (Business).
April 2, 2003... WASHINGTON -- A group of Capitol Hill lawmakers have thrown their support behind FCC chairman Michael Powell, instructing the agency to wrap up its review of media ownership rules by the June deadline, despite recent calls to slow down the...

Gotham in a radio daze. (Business).(AFTRA-represented disc jockeys in New York are seeking strike authorization)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- About two dozen AFTRA-repped disc jockeys at five Gotham radio stations owned by Clear Channel Communications have voted to seek strike authorization over plans to replace them with pre-recorded voice tracking. The DJs at WLTW...

Ad woes hit TV-Loonland. (Business).(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... BERLIN - Echoing fellow German media players who have watched sales dry up, animation group TV-Loonland blamed write-downs of assets in a dire market for its full-year net loss of [euro]74.5 million ($81 million) - down from a $9 million profit...

State chipping in for media arts center. (Business).(New York state gives $100,000 to Independent Feature Project/New York and Film/Video Arts for a media arts center)
April 2, 2003... As part of a push to bring cultural orgs, artists and filmmakers into Lower Manhattan, the New York Governor's Office has given a $100,000 grant to Independent Feature Project/New York and Film/Video Arts to create a plan for a downtown media...

Showbiz Stocks.(Illustration)
April 2, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Tuesday, April 1, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AMC AEN -- ...

Health scare stalls Hong Kong pic forum. (World News).(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome causes postponement of film festival)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HONG KONG -- The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has forced organizers to postpone the Hong Kong-Asia Film. Financing Forum and Screenings, due to start here Monday, amid a slew of cancellations from overseas guests. ...

AOL TW cracks China: Wider CETV carriage boosts Sino footprint. (World News).(AOL Time Warner's Chinese Entertainment Television Broadcast channel gains distribution)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... HONG KONG -- AOL Time Warner's Chinese Entertainment Television Broadcast channel (CETV) has won wider carriage across China, three months after News Corp.-backed channels got similar rights. The Mandarin-lingo entertainment channel,...

Unifrance votes 3 to board. (World News).(Margaret Menegoz, Humbert Balsan, and Michel Propper)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... PARIS -- Unifrance has edged closer to finding a successor to the late prexy Daniel Toscan du Plantier, electing three new members to the board of directors from which the topper will be chosen. But the nonprofit org that promotes Gallic...

Media trio circles Antena 3. (World News).(three Spanish media groups are seeking to control Telefonica's broadcaster Antena 3)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... MADRID -- Three Spanish media groups are bidding for a controlling share in telco Telefonica's broadcaster Antena 3. Regional publisher and media conglom Correo Group and Pearson's Spanish publishing house the Recoletos Group threw their...

BBC cuts 'Link' to ailing ECM. (World News).(BBC Worldwide pulls Asian distribution rights to 'The Weakest Link' from ECM)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... LONDON -- BBC Worldwide has withdrawn Asian distribution rights to hit gameshow "The Weakest Link" from U.K. distribber ECM and is seeking legal advice following a dispute over license fee payments. ECM reportedly owes BBC Worldwide LI...

Israeli cablers drop BBC World. (U.K.).(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... The BBC World channel has been dropped by Israeli cable TV companies, but the two sides are offering different reasons why. A spokesman for the Israeli cable operators said the channel was dropped because of poor ratings -- the...

UIP vet to London. (U.K.).(United Intl. Pictures names Roger Pollock senior vice president)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... United Intl. Pictures vet Roger Pollock will relocate from Singapore to London to be senior VP of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, replacing Julian Stanford, who is ankling April 7 (Daily Variety, March 31). Pollock has been...

SPH stirs station. (Singapore).(SPH MediaWorks fires CEO Lee Cheok Yew)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... Terrestrial TV station SPH MediaWorks axed CEO Lee Cheok Yew on Monday, a month before the station's second anniversary. The news surprised industryites. Despite teething problems, the broadcaster's Chinese-lingo Channel U is doing well and...

Fox, NBC ride week to victory.(television network ratings information)(Illustration)
April 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Fox and NBC, each with a series that bowed with some ratings promise, claimed primetime victories during the last full week before the start of daylight savings time. Early spring is typically a tough time to premiere shows,...

Inspector Gadget 2. (Film Review).(Movie Review)
April 2, 2003... A Walt Disney Home video release of a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Fountain production. Produced by Charles Hirschhorn, Peter M. Green. Executive producers, Andy Heyward, Jean Chalopin, Roger Birnbaum, Jordan Kerner, David Roessell....

Signature nabs 'Allegro' redo. (Film Review).(Signature Theater's Eric Schaeffer gains the rights to rework Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Allegro')(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Signature Theater artistic director Eric Schaeffer, who specializes in rehabilitating troubled musicals, has been granted the rights to rework Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1947 show "Allegro." It will become part of Signature's...

Zwan. (Concert Review).(Concert Review)
April 2, 2003... (Hammerstein Ballroom; 3,080 seats: $30) Presented by Clear Channel Entertainment. Musicians: Billy Corgan, Matt Sweeney, David Pajo, Paz Lenchantin, Jimmy Chamberlin. Reviewed March 28, 2003. The smiley face hasn't exactly been absent...

B'way-bound 'Harvey' to start Wang season.(revival of 'Harvey' set to open at Wang Center for the Performing Arts)(Calendar)
April 2, 2003... SOUTHBURY, Conn. -- A Broadway-bound revival of Mary Chase's 1944 Pulitzer Prize-winning screwball comedy "Harvey," produced by Don Gregory and directed by Charles Nelson Reilly, is set to play Boston's Shubert Theater on Sept. 9-21,...

Obituaries.(Michael Jeter, Philip Yardan, Hal Herzon)(Obituary)
April 2, 2003... Michael Jeter Michael Jeter, an Emmy- and Tony-winning actor beloved by children and parents for his portrayal of the Other Mr. Noodle on "Sesame Street," died Sunday at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 50. The actor was found dead,...

Marketing of the Movies. (Short Takes).
April 2, 2003... The Advertising Club and America Online will host "Marketing of the Movies" Thursday at the Plaza Hotel. Variety editor in chief, Peter Bart will moderate the panel, which includes marketing execs from Miramax, Loews, AOL Movies and Warner...

The New York International Film and Video Festival. (Short Takes).(will take place from April 2, 2003, through April 12th)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2003... The New York International Film and Video Festival will run April 2-12 in Gotham. Fest screens over 300 films in feature, short, docu and animation categories. Opening night gala will be held at Madison Square Garden tonight at 7. Tickets...

First Run Festival. (Short Takes).(NYU showcases student films)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 2, 2003... More than 140 pics will screen April 6-14 at the Cantor Film Center for the 61st annual First Run Festival, NYU's showcase of student films. Competition gives out $50,000 in cash awards to winners at the closing ceremony at Lincoln Center's...