Daily Variety articles from April 2008

Daily Variety archives from April 2008

Who's up first? Studios set pace of talks as guilds jockey.
April 1, 2008... The majors are in the driver's seat in the upcoming negotiations with the actors unions, now that SAG is backpedaling on its previous stance that the studios need to wait for the guild to complete its prep for talks to get under way. In...

Lortel noms add up for 'Machine'.(The Adding Machine)
April 1, 2008... Tuner "The Adding Machine" scored six noms for the Lucille Lortel Awards, the most of any musicals in the Off Broadway kudos that kick off the legit awards season. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Adding Machine," a well-reviewed commercial...

Par maps Pitt for 'Lost City'.(Paramount Pictures )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Paramount Pictures has preemptively bought "Lost City of Z," a David Grann manuscript about the search for a lost city in the Amazon, with Brad Pitt to produce the feature adaptation through his Plan B shingle as a potential starring vehicle....

U lands friendly face.
April 1, 2008... Jennifer Aniston and producing partner Kristin Hahn have formed Echo Films, a company that will start with a first-look deal at Universal Pictures. Aniston and Hahn have already made several project acquisitions, most of which will be...

New Line locks in prod'n prexy.(Richard Brener)(New Line Cinema Corp. New Line Television Div.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... New Line's Richard Brener is staying on as Toby Emmerich's right-hand man and has been promoted to prexy of production. Move comes two weeks after Emmerich was appointed president and chief operating officer of the scaled-down mini-major....

Pix stake place in kudo race.
April 1, 2008... The 2008 awards season is starting to take early shape as potential contenders lock in fall release dates. The latest is Universal and Imagine's "Frost/Nixon." from director Ron Howard. which will open Dec. 5 in an exclusive run before...

B'way spring fling: 'Curtains' raises B.O.'s March bump.
April 1, 2008... Broadway sales rose a bit last week, continuing the seasonal upward trend that's persisted throughout March. Despite dips at some individual productions, overall Rialto cume was up around $350,000 to $21.2 million for 32 shows reporting (or...

U2's nation pledge.
April 1, 2008... Live Nation will be U2's sole concert promoter and merchandise producer over the next 12 years as the Irish band has joined Live Nation Artists. Deal includes U2's merchandising, digital and branding rights. It does not change U2's recording or...

Signature signs off line-up.(Signature Theater Company)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The 2008-09 lineup at Off Broadway's Signature Theater Company will include revivals of two past Rialto outings by the Negro Ensemble Company, to which the Signature has dedicated its season. Initial offering is "The First Breeze of...

Peacock's 'Today' sets ayem icon.(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Kathie Lee Gifford is back in the ayem TV biz, though her wakeup call isn't quite as early as it was in her "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" days. Gifford has signed on as co-host of the fourth hour of NBC's "Today," an extension of the...

Lincoln spotlights Romania.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... On the heels of recent arthouse success and critical acclaim for Romanian films such as last year's Cannes Palme d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" and "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu," Film Society of Lincoln Center will explore 40 years...

Cannes picks its pitches.
April 1, 2008... Lou Ye's "Bitch," Oleg Novkovic's "White, White World" and Benedek Fliegaul's "Womb" are among 15 projects from 14 countries selected for the Cannes Film Festival's fourth Atelier pic focus. The directors and producers of the pics will be...

Junie B. Jones.(Theater review)
April 1, 2008... (Lucille Lortel Theater; 299 seats; $25 top) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Theatreworks USA presentation of a musical in one act with music by Zina Goldrich, book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler, based on the books by Barbara Park. Directed by...

Pigs, bears and Billy goats gruff.(Theater review)
April 1, 2008... (New Victory Theater; 499 seats; $35 top) A New 42nd Street presentation of a play in one act, adapted from the fairy tales and directed by Dave Brown. Set and costumes, Dean Hills; lighting, Dave Green; musical director, Stuart Day;...

Telluride taps Zizek.(Telluride Film Festival)(Slavoj Zizek)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Telluride Film Festival has picked Slavoj Zizek as its 35th guest director. The Slovenian-born philosopher, author and cinephile will hand-pick a selection of films to screen at the fest Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Zizek is a self-described...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, March 31, 2008.
April 1, 2008... Showbiz Stocks Monday, March 31, 2008 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 3.15 -29.5 AcmeCm ...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of March 28-30.
April 1, 2008... Weekend at the B.O. RENTRAK THEATRICAL $106.9 million March 28-30, 2008 vs. last year -16% vs. last week -6% Screen scene The weekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit) ...

I've Got Your Number: Romance, The Rat Pack and Carolyn Leigh.
April 1, 2008... (Kaufmann Concert Hall, 92nd Street Y; 917 seats; $60 top) A 92nd Street Y presentation of Lyrics and Lyricists. Artistic director, Deborah Grace Winer. Directed by Mark Waldrop. Musical director/piano, John Oddo. Musicians: Mark Vinci, Jay...

Ray Davies.(Concert review)
April 1, 2008... (Wiltern Theater; 2,200 capacity; $59.50 top) Presented by Live Nation. Band: Davies, Toby Baron, Dick Nolan, Milton McDonald, Gunnar Frick. Also appearing: Everest. Reviewed March 29, 2008. Mirkin, Steven Like a character in one...

Moving Midway.
April 1, 2008... (Docu) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A CG Film, Iron Films, Wake Drive Prods. presentation and production. Produced by Godfrey Cheshire, Vincent Farrell, Jay Spain. Executive producer, R. B. Reeves. Directed, written by Godfrey Cheshire....

FilmAid Intl. will hold the second annual Power of Film Gala, honoring artists and writers with a philanthropic bent to their work, on April 9.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
April 1, 2008... FilmAid Intl. will hold the second annual Power of Film Gala, honoring artists and writers with a philanthropic bent to their work, on April 9. This year's honorees include thesp Danny Glover, journo Lisa Ling, filmmakers Andrea and Sean Fine...

The Museum of the Moving Image is set to fete Focus Features prexy James Schamus and Showtime CEO Matthew C. Blank at an April 30 black-tie benefit dinner at Gotham's St. Regis Hotel.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
April 1, 2008... The Museum of the Moving Image is set to fete Focus Features prexy James Schamus and Showtime CEO Matthew C. Blank at an April 30 black-tie benefit dinner at Gotham's St. Regis Hotel. CBS' Leslie Moonves and Unlversal's Ron Meyer are...

Broadway top 10: Mar. 24-30.
April 1, 2008... Broadway Top 10: Mar. 24-30 Week's Show Net Receipts (Theater)(Prod. Potential Prev Week's $Change Category)(Seats) Net Receipts Net Receipts...

New York's top pics: (based on location average for the weekend of March 28-30 2008).(Statistical table)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... New York's Top Pics (based on location average for the weekend of March 28-30, 2008) Nat'l # N.Y. # N.Y. Rank Title (dist) Week of locs of locs avg/loc 1....

L.A.'s top pics: (based on location average for the weekend of March 28-30 2008).(Statistical table)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... L.A.'s Top Pics (based on location averaqe for the weekend of March 28-30, 2008) Nat'l # L.A. # L.A. Rank Title (dist) Week of locs of locs avg/loc 1. 21...

BBC America taps exec for Yank gig.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In an effort to sell more shows and formats to U.S. outlets, BBC Worldwide America has streamlined its sales and production operations under the direction of Paul Telegdy, the Beeb exec most responsible for exporting...

Industry vet to lead Atari.
April 1, 2008... Struggling vidgame publisher Atari has tapped a respected industry vet as its CEO, signaling that the long-troubled company is attempting to revive its fortunes. Jim Wilson, who most recently headed Sony BMG's home entertainment unit and...

Intimacies of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo: (Initimidades De Shakespeare Y Victor Hugo).(V)(Movie review)
April 1, 2008... (Docu--Mexico) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica production. Produced, directed, edited by Yulene Olaizola. Camera (color, DV), Olaizola, Ruben Imaz; music, Emiliano Motta, Emiliano Gonzalez de Leon; sound...

Walden's 'Island' fete.(V)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For its Chinese Theater launch of "Nim's Island" on Sunday, Fox-Walden went for a kids' tropical themed after-party at the Roosevelt Hotel's pool, with hula dancers, steel drums and the most realistic temp tattoos...

Nickelodeon's slime time.(V)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Host Jack Block, Nickelodeon topper Cyma Zarghami, MTV's Judy McGrath and Orlando Bloom backstage at the Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion in Westwood, Calif.; right: Harrison Ford gets a taste of...

Helen Hunt and AFI Dallas Film Festival topper Michael Cain.(V)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Helen Hunt and AFI Dallas Film Festival topper Michael Cain at the fest's opening night gala Thursday at the Majestic Theater.

Jason Lee poses with Alvin at Thursday's DVD release party for "Alvin and the Chipmunks".(V)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jason Lee poses with Alvin at Thursday's DVD release party for "Alvin and the Chipmunks" at the El Rey in Hollywood.

Surreal deal: Endemol buys reality banner.
April 2, 2008... In a deal valued at upwards of $200 million, Endemol USA has acquired Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin's 51 Minds Entertainment, the reality factory that perfected the celebreality genre with nonscripted comedies such as "Flavor of Love," "I Love...

H'wood gives up its 'Wicked' ways.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Legit juggernaut "Wicked" flies out of Hollywood on Jan. 11, when the tuner will close at the Pantages Theater after a run of almost two years. Producers say they're closing the show in order to free up the...

Mouse goes on bigscreen Lee spree.(Movie review)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Walt Disney Pictures and Stan Lee have set up a trio of projects that will be exec produced by Lee and Gill Champion via their POW! Entertainment banner. The projects are all based on stories by Lee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Nick...

Stiller 'King' of D'Works.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... DreamWorks has snapped up graphic novel "The Return of King Doug" for Ben Stiller to produce as a potential starring vehicle. Greg Erb and Jason Oremland wrote "King Doug," which will be published next year by Oni Press. The pair have been...

New shine on int'l biz.
April 2, 2008... Next week's Mip international TV sales confab in Cannes will be a coming-out party for ShineReveille Intl., the distribution wing of the powerhouse indies that merged in February. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chris Grant, formerly head of...

U over the moon for bio.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Universal has acquired nonfiction tome "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" and will turn it into a film about the first man to set foot on the moon. NASA historian James R. Hansen got rare direct access to Armstrong, a test...

Slime pays for Nick.(VARIETY.COM)
April 2, 2008... The Kids's Choice Awards rake in the cable net's best-everratings with 7.4 million viewers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Net likes current crop.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Fox has elevated its current programming team, as department topper Marcy Ross handed out promotions this week to key staffers. As part of the restructuring, Beth Miyares has been named vice president of current programming, reporting to...

Robbins nabs keynote speech.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tim Robbins will deliver the opening keynote speech at this year's National Assn. of Broadcasters confab, set to run April 11-17 in Las Vegas. Robbins will address the rapid pace of innovation in distribution...

TNT sparks to the 'Truth'.('Truth in Advertising')(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... TNT has given the series go-ahead to "Truth in Advertising," a drama starring Eric McCormack, Monica Potter and Tom Cavanagh. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Produced by Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin for Warner Horizon, the skein...

Fox + 'Idol' = odd winning formula.('American Idol')
April 2, 2008... THE STRANGE BEAUTY of math is undoubtedly lost on those who gravitated toward entertainment to avoid dealing with fractions. Still, there's useful shorthand in reducing TV and media stories to algebraic equations. Take Fox's current...

Eye's good defense: hoops drive net to a close No. 2 finish.
April 2, 2008... Fox stayed on top in primetime last week, but CBS bounced ahead of the other nets thanks to strong weekend numbers for college basketball. The Eye, which was also impressive Monday with its first-run comedies and the Nielsen chart, return...

Panettiere's on 'Kiss List'.
April 2, 2008... Fox Atomic is acquiring the novel "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" and will develop it as a star vehicle for "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere. Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer will write the script. Alexandra Milchan, Lesley Vogel and Emily...

'Machine' man adapts Shaw.(LEGIT BITS)('Adding Machine' composer Joshua Schmidt to adapt George Bernard Shaw's 'Candida')(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... "Adding Machine" composer Joshua Schmidt will collaborate with Austin Pendleton on adapting Shaw's "Candida" into a musical for Writers' Theater in Glencoe, Ill., outside Chicago. Schmidt's chamber opera version of the Elmer Rice 1923...

Williamson hits Beach.(Glenn Williamson's Back Lot Pictures and Big Beach)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Big Beach partners Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf have made a first-look deal with producer Glenn Williamson and his Back Lot Pictures label. Deal came out of "Sunshine Cleaning," a project Williamson brought...

CBS cuts L.A., Chi jobs.
April 2, 2008... Two of CBS' largest O&Os, in Los Angeles and Chicago, have been hit by layoffs. Employees at L.A.'s KCBS and KCAL plus WBBM in Chicago got word of the cuts Monday. The local news operation in Los Angeles is CBS' second-largest behind WCBS...

'Blonde' groomed for a national tour.
April 2, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Legally Blonde" goes national this fall, with a touring production set to kick off in Providence, R.I., in September. Show has so far booked dates around the country through September 2009, in cities including...

Workshop bubbles over.(ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theater Workshop )
April 2, 2008... A tuner incarnation of the Jake Gyllenhaal pic "Bubble Boy" and a Willa Cather-inspired pioneer tale are two of four new musicals hitting center stage at the 13th annual ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theater Workshop in Los Angeles, beginning...

The American Dream & The Sandbox.(Theater review)
April 2, 2008... (Cherry Lane Theater; 178 seats; $60 top) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Cherry Lane presentation of two one-act plays written and directed by Edward Albee. Set, Neil Patel; costumes, Carrie Robbins; lighting, Nicole Pearce; sound, Arielle...

Showbiz stocks: Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
April 2, 2008... Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, April 1, 2008 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 3.16 +.01 -29.3 AcmeCm ACME ...

Something You Did.(Theater review)
April 2, 2008... (59E59 Theaters; 199 seats; $60 top) A Primary Stages presentation in association with Nancy Cooperstein and Betty Ann Besch Solinger of a play in one act by Willy Holtzman. Directed by Carolyn Cantor. Set, Eugene Lee; costumes, Jenny...

Nielsen primetime ratings report.
April 2, 2008... TOP SHOWS IN 18-49 1. American Idol-Wed. (Fox) 9.8/25 2. American Idol-Tue. (Fox) 9.7/25 3. Two and a Hall Men (CBS) 5.2/13 4. Dancing With the Stars (ABC) ...

A White House Cantata.
April 2, 2008... (Frederick P. Rose Hall/Rose Theater, New York City; 1,000 seats; $85 top) A Collegiate Chorale presentation of a concert in one act with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, based on their musical "1600 Pennsylvania...

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.(Concert review)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... (Bowery Ballroom; 500 capacity; $25) Presented inhouse. Band: Stephen Malkmus, Joanna Bolme, Mike Clark, Janet Weiss. Reviewed March 31, 2008. Twenty something smartasses are almost as unlikely as child stars to shift successfully into...

International weekend box office.
April 2, 2008... International Weekend Box Office Reported Box Office Weekend Percent ...

Scribe Rajiv Joseph has scored the second annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, handed out by Off Broadway's Vineyard Theater.(LEGIT BITS)
April 2, 2008... Scribe Rajiv Joseph has scored the second annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, handed out by Off Broadway's Vineyard Theater. Nod comes with a $3,000 cash prize, a staged reading of the recipient's work and further developmental support...

"The Bully Pulpit," a solo show about Theodore Roosevelt that originated in Florida in 2004, gets a commercial Off Broadway run April 29-June 29 at the Samuel Beckett Theater.(LEGIT BITS)
April 2, 2008... "The Bully Pulpit," a solo show about Theodore Roosevelt that originated in Florida in 2004, gets a commercial Off Broadway run April 29-June 29 at the Samuel Beckett Theater. Written and performed by Michael O. Smith, "Pulpit" has played...

A Korean rock tuner and a musical about sightseers join "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" in the lineup of the 2008 Musical Theater Lab at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass.(LEGIT BITS)
April 2, 2008... A Korean rock tuner and a musical about sightseers join "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" in the lineup of the 2008 Musical Theater Lab at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass. Based on a 2006 Korean comedy-horror-romance pic,...

"Magnolia," the latest play from Regina Taylor ("Crowns," "Oo-BlaDee"), will premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theater in March after a workshop this summer at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.(LEGIT BITS)
April 2, 2008... "Magnolia," the latest play from Regina Taylor ("Crowns," "Oo-BlaDee"), will premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theater in March after a workshop this summer at the Eugene O'Neill Taylor Theater Center. As she did with "Drowning Crow," an...

Guild in lather over soap scribes.
April 2, 2008... The WGA East has accused ABC and Corday Prods. of violating the strike termination agreement by refusing to rehire nine of the 20 writers who struck ABC's "All My Children" and Corday's "Days of Our Lives." ABC spokeswoman Julie Hoover...

Gotham's time to 'Shine'.(V)(periodical's 10th anniversary and 'Shine a Light' movie premiere)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Daily Variety's Gotham edition marked its 10th anniversary, appropriately, at Michael's, the site of many a media deal made over many a Cobb salad. But the restaurant's customarily genteel hum turned into...

New Peacock playbook: NBC's revamped upfront model pushes popcorn fare.
April 3, 2008... NBC programming chief Ben Silverman hopes that offering viewers a large dose of feel-good and family-friendly fare will help free the Peacock from its ratings woes. In his first upfront at-bat since landing in Burbank last summer,...

Clock ticking for SAG.
April 3, 2008... Looking to turn up the heat on its rival union, the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists will launch its contract negotiations for a new primetime contract with the majors on April 28--less than two weeks after the Screen Actors...

Sands leaves Lion's den.(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.'s Rick Sands)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... Rick Sands ended his two-plus year stint at MGM by stepping down from his chief operating officer post Wednesday. The studio said Sands is leaving to pursue other opportunities in entertainment and content. Sands declined comment. The...

U not killing 'Messenger'.(Universal Pictures)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... Universal is developing a feature called "Kill the Messenger" based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb. The San Jose Mercury News reporter committed suicide after being the target of a smear campaign when he linked the CIA to a...

Chelsea sees a change.(The Clearview Chelsea West Cinemas)
April 3, 2008... One of the boldest moves in Gotham exhibition this decade is taking shape along a quiet stretch of West 23rd Street. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Clearview Chelsea West Cinemas. a somewhat unlikely center of gravity for the film biz in...

Law man.(VARIETY.COM)
April 3, 2008... Billy Crudup is on board to play J. Edgar Hoover opposite Johny Depp's John Dillinger in helmer Michael Mann's "Public Enemies." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

CNN Presents: Black in America: Eyewitness to Murder--The King Assassination.
April 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Docu; CNN, Thurs. April 3, 9 p.m.) Produced by CNN Prods. Senior executive producer, Mark Nelson; managing editors, Bud Bultman, Steve Robinson; executive producer, Jeffery Reid; senior producer, James Polk;...

We Went to Wonderland.(Movie review)
April 3, 2008... (Docu--UK.-China) A Perspective Films (U.K.)/Xiaolu Guo (China) production. Produced by Guo, Philippe Ciompi. Directed by Xiaolu Guo. Camera (B&W, HD), Guo; editor, Philippe Ciompi; music, Ciopmi; sound designer, Ciompi. Reviewed at...

Gee's Bend.(Theater review)
April 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Space Theater, Denver; 492 seats; $48 top) A Denver Center Theater Company presentation of a play in one act by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder. Directed by Kent Gash. Set, Lisa M. Orzolek; costumes, Alvin B. Perry;...

Chart still friendly to TV-made bands.
April 3, 2008... It's a significant fortnight for the groups created on the TV show "Making the Band": Last week it was Danity Kane at No. 1 and this week it's Day26. The male R&B quintet formed in the fourth season of the MTV show topped the nation's...

Peabody snatchers: skeins, docs earn kudos.
April 3, 2008... NBC's "30 Rock," AMC's "Mad Men," Showtime's "Dexter," Bravo's "Project Runway" and Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" have joined the pantheon of Peabody Award winners. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Other Peabody recipients for 2007,...

'Speed' races to Tribeca.
April 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Wachowskis will bring "Speed Racer" to close this year's Tribeca Film Festival on May 3. "Speed Racer" blends the Wachowskis' signature visual effects into a family-friendly action pic starring Emile Hirsch,...

ESPN plans docu Tuesdays.
April 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ESPN has designated Tuesday as movie night for its upcoming slate of full-length documentaries. To be aired on sister network ESPN2, the sports cabler's lineup is part of the ESPN Films initiative that launched...

Sundance rocks sked.
April 3, 2008... Sundance Channel has landed Elvis Costello as host of a weekly music-variety talkshow to kick off in December, signing Elton John as an executive producer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Called "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With..." the series...

Amanda Righetti.(Players)
April 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amanda Righetti is in final negotiations to play the, female lead in the Michael Bay-produced remake of Friday the 13th, directed by Marcus Nispel. Lensing starts April 21 in Austin, Texas. Righetti also recently...

Connor Trinneer.(Players)
April 3, 2008... Connor Trianeer has landed the lead role in Sci F1 Channel telepic "Termination Shock. He'll play a space smuggler with a mysterious and beautiful woman as his cargo. Trinneer's credits include "Enterprise" and "Stargate: Atlantis." ...

Emily Osment.(Players)
April 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emily 0sment ("Hannah Montana") has been cast in "Soccer Mom" as a soccer-crazed young girl. Osment's credits include "Spy Kids 2" and "The Haunting Hour."

Alastair Mackenzie and Charles Mnene have joined the cast of Richard Jobson's "New Town Killers," starring Dougray Scott.(Players)
April 3, 2008... Alastair Mackenzie and Charles Mnene have joined the cast of Richard Jobson's "New Town Killers" starring Dougray Scott. Pic is now lensing in Edinburgh. Mackenzie's credits include "Monarch of the Glen" and "Snuff-Movie." Mnene's include "The...

Foote, Lortels divided.(Horton Foote, Lucille Lortel Awards )
April 3, 2008... Playwright Horton Foote has sent a letter to the nominating committee of the Lucille Lortel Awards withdrawing his play "Dividing the Estate" from consideration for the trophy for Foote play revival, arguing "Estate" should be considered a new...

Disney's news flash: mouse partners with India biz channel.(World News)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... In a deal that expands the growing relationship between Disney and UTV, Disney-ABC Intl. Television (Asia Pacific) will play a key role in the imminent launch of UTVi, an English-language business channel in India backed by UTV Software...

IM Global ads TV.(World News)
April 3, 2008... Continuing its expansion, Los Angeles- and London-based sales company IM Global has added IM Global Television to its roster of international sales operations, with Gavin Reardon as prexy of the new division. The unit will acquire and...