Daily Variety articles from April 2009

Daily Variety archives from April 2009

Deal or no deal?(VARIETY.COM)
April 1, 2009... Go to Variety.com for the latest on SAG-AFTRA's down-to-the-wire commercial contract talks with advertisers. Variety.com/ laborissues

The Tudors.(VARIETY.COM)
April 1, 2009... There's a new queen and plenty of intrigue in the third season of Showtime's royal romp, which bows Sunday. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Bay team.(V PLUS)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Find out which pros the "Transformers" director can't do without.

Wok to talk.(V PLUS)
April 1, 2009... Rachael Ray transitions from cuisine pro to chat show host. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

H'wood pep talk: B.O. stats given rosy spin.
April 1, 2009... While other American industries look for cover during the economic crisis, Motion Picture Assn. of America chair-CEO Dan Glickman believes the thriving worldwide box office makes the U.S. film biz a powerful growth engine. Glickman had...

'Bright' idea-for MGM, Schwartz.(Josh Schwartz to direct Bright Lights, Big City)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... MGM has set Josh Schwartz to write and make his feature directorial debut with a fresh take on the 1984 Jay McInerney novel "Bright Lights, Big City." Schwartz, creator and exec producer of the NBC's "Chuck" and CW's "Gossip Girl," will...

AMC saddles up for reality.
April 1, 2009... AMC is developing what it hopes will be its first nonscripted primetime series, a Western-themed, docu-style skein from producer Brett Morgen. Described as a multigenerational family drama, "True West" will follow a group of modern cowboys...

Energetic 'Hair' style.(Theater review)
April 1, 2009... With its alfresco setting and the penetrating echoes of its countercultural themes during an election year in which political disenchantment became endemic, the Public Theater's revival of "Hair" last summer in Central Park was a unique...

Divorce courted.
April 1, 2009... Warner Bros. has acquired "Dumped," a comedy Vic Levin will adapt as a star vehicle for Steve Carell based on a novel by Andrew Gottlieb. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carell would play a man searching for new meaning in his life after his...

Some left out of tax credits.
April 1, 2009... Final score on the future of New York's production tax credit program: film 1, TV 0. A new $350 million in tax credits are due to be signed into the budget by Gov. David Paterson today, but the program is guaranteed to continue only for...

It takes one to know one in reality TV.
April 1, 2009... NOTHING RUINS an unscripted TV show faster than a participant who is clearly playing to the cameras, preoccupied with how his or her "character" will be perceived while dreaming about parlaying an "Omarosa moment" into an extended lease on...

Arts advocates swarm D.C.(Washington, D.C., Arts Advocacy Day)
April 1, 2009... Leaders of arts organizations from around the country descended on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to trumpet the importance of the arts to the economy and culture. The ad hoc lobbying of Congress was part of Arts Advocacy Day, an annual event...

More 'Martha' for cabler.(Martha Stewart in Whatever, Martha!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's fun to make fun of old Martha Stewart shows. Fine Living Network has ordered 26 more episodes of "Whatever, Martha!," the half-hour skein that features hosts Alexis Stewart (Martha's daughter) and Jennifer...

Just for Laughs hits Chi.
April 1, 2009... Ellen DeGeneres. George Lopez and Jimmy Fallon are among more than 70 comedians set to appear in the first Stateside edition of the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. The inaugural Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs will be held in...

Cagney.(Theater review)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Florida Stage, Manalapan, Fla; 250 seats; $45 top) A Florida Stage presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Robert Creighton and Christopher McGovern, book by Peter Colley, additional songs...

Rialto's road maven: Wilkin named CEO of B'way touring org.(LEGIT)
April 1, 2009... Miles C. Wilkin has been named the new CEO of Broadway Across America, the org that produces and presents shows on the road and on the Rialto. BAA--which presents touring incarnations of "Wicked," "The Lion King" and "Jersey Boys" among...

The Broadway Musicals of 1931.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Town Hall; 1,500 seats; $50, top) A Town Hall and Broadway by the Year presentation, conceived, written and hosted by Scott Siegel. Directed by Brad Oscar. Choreography, Jeffry Denman. Musical director-pianist,...

Reprise cast is fantastick.(Legit Bits)(Reprise Theater Company's staging of The Fantasticks)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Eric McCormack, Lucas Grabeel and Harry Groener star in the Reprise Theater Company's staging of "The Fantasticks" in May. McCormack ("Trust Me") plays narrator El Gallo in the show, with Grabeel ("High School Musical") portraying young...

NBC Universal has struck a first-look deal with Off Broadway troupe Ars Nova, with NBC U execs from casting and development set to seek tube talent from the stage creatives seen at Ars Nova.(Legit Bits)
April 1, 2009... NBC Universal has struck a first-look deal with Off Broadway troupe Ars Nova, with NBC U execs from casting and development set to seek tube talent from the stage creatives seen at Ars Nova. Deal is part of NBC's Talent Diversity...

Spacey invents a 'Father' feature.(Kevin Spacey's movie, "Father of Invention" )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Kevin Spacey will star in and produce the indie comedy "Father of Invention." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Trent Cooper ("Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector") will direct from a script he penned with Jonathan Krane and Nichole Beattie....

IFC bites into telepic biz.
April 1, 2009... Cable channel IFC has greenlit its first telepic, a project based on Laurell K. Hamilton's vampire novels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Produced by Lionsgate and After Dark Films, "Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter" will...

MySpace is Poster's 'BFF'.(Meryl Poster and MySpace.com Inc. slated to launch "BFF")(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... MySpace has made friends with its first gameshow, pairing up with former Miramax Films exec Meryl Poster and casting director David Rubin to launch "BFF." Weekly series, hosted by Amy Schumer, a finalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing,"...

'Idol' above the rim: Fox holds off CBS' hoops.
April 1, 2009... College basketball put CBS within striking distance of victory last week, but "American Idol" helped power Fox to an eighth straight demo triumph. As the season enters the homestretch, meanwhile, it remains slow going for the midseason...

'Baster' set at Miramax.(The Baster)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Miramax Films has acquired North American rights to Mandate Pictures' romantic comedy "The Baster," starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. Jeff Goldblum and Patrick Wilson...

Barrymore gets 'Going'.
April 1, 2009... Drew Barrymore is "Going the Distance" signing for the lead role in New Line's romantic comedy opposite Justin Long. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Distance," to be directed by Nanette Burstein, is being produced by Adam Shankman and Jennifer...

Hart partners on banner.(John Hart, Patrick Milling Smith, and Brian Carmody of Smuggler Films)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Gotham film and legit producer John Hart, formerly of Hart Sharp, has formed production company Smuggler Films. Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody are partnering with Hart on the venture. They ran an earlier incarnation of Smuggler as...

Fact-finding mission: Fremantle sets Chinese accord.
April 1, 2009... In what is claimed to be the first deal of its kind, FremantleMedia Enterprises, the distribution arm of the production powerhouse, and Chinese shingle Asian Union are setting up a joint venture to beef up trade in Chinese factual content. ...

Disney rolls into S. Africa, Finland.
April 1, 2009... Disney-ABC-ESPN Television has inked multiyear deals with South African paybox M-Net and Finnish broadcast network Nelonen Media, underscoring Disney's continuing overseas expansion. The deals also illustrate Disney's ability to reversion...

Gaul TV taken by teuton tales.
April 1, 2009... German sellers continued to rack up sales at the Mip TV mart in Cannes. French pubcaster France 3 picked up 12 feature-length made-for-TV movies based on the popular "Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries" by American writer Donna Leon. ...

Gallic Marathon runs with Canuck series.
April 1, 2009... Gallic TV group Marathon will distribute North American series in France as a prelude to its plan to expand into European rights acquisition. Part of De Agostini's new European production group Zodiak, Marathon will first focus on Canadian...

Asia goes for 'Mindfreak'.
April 1, 2009... A&E Television Networks has licensed three seasons of "Criss Angel Mindfreak" to AXN Beyond, Sony Pictures Entertainment's Asia-Pacific cable and satellite channel. The magic and mentalism show now has sold to more than 40 countries. ...

Abu Dhabi, 3Line drive tyke 'Train'.(3Line Media and Twofour54 media zone to co-produce Diver Dan's Story Train)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... LONDON -- Abu Dhabi's government-backed Twofour54 media zone has inked with the U.K.'s 3Line Media to co-produce kids' skein "Diver Dan's Story Train." The project will be the first partnership struck by Twofour54's funding arm, Ibtikar,...

Nielsen primetime ratings report.(Statistical table)
April 1, 2009... Nielsen Primetime Ratings Report TOP SHOWS IN 18-49 1. American Idol-Wed. (Fox) 9.3/24 2. American Idol-Thu. (Fox) 7.7/21 3. Grey's Anatomy (ABC) 5.6/13...

Primetime scorecard.(Statistical table)
April 1, 2009... PRIMETIME SCORECARD WEEK 27 Viewers A18-49 A25-54 A18-34 abc 9.41 (+7%) 2.8/8 (+8%) 3.4/8 (+6%) 2.3/7 (+15%) CBS 11.39 (+20%) 3.3/9 (+3%) 4.1/10 (+11 %) ...

All in a Bay's work: ILM and Digital Domain push the limits to impress Hollywood's explosive helmer.(V PLUS: SHOWEST: VANGUARD AWARD--MICHAEL BAY)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After "Transformers" hit theaters in 2007, Michael Bay spoofed himself in a Verizon FiOS commercial, proclaiming, "I demand things to be awesome!" Turns out the helmer was only half-kidding. Just ask the visual...

She relishes the challenge: talkshow host keeps her Everywoman persona intact whether the subject is dinners or De Niro.('RACHAEL RAY' 500 EPISODES)
April 1, 2009... You don't have to interview vegetables," quips Rachael Ray in her trademark throaty laugh about the difference between talking viewers through a recipe on Food Network's "30 Minute Meals" and spinning yarns with celebrities on her eponymous CBS...

Enlighten Up!: A skeptic's journey into the world of yoga.(Movie review)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... (Docu) A Balcony Releasing release of a Tuka Prods./Nama Prods. production. Produced by Kate Churchill. Executive producers, Jeanne Hagerty, Tom Hagerty. Directed by Kate Churchill. Written by Churchill, Jonathon Hexner; story by...

Sesh parses libel law.
April 1, 2009... Though the U.S. and the U.K. are close allies, the two nations have starkly divergent views on the issue of libel and defamation--which has led to increasingly knotty legal problems for resolving disputes. "This has turned into an...

Steven Bach.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
April 1, 2009... Steven Bach, the United Artists exec who took the fall for the disastrous "Heaven's Gate" and wrote "Final Cut: Dreams and Disaster in the Making of 'Heaven's Gate' " about the film, died of lung cancer March 25 in Arlington, Vt. He was 70....

Monte Hale.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Monte Hale, a singing cowboy whose tall frame, strong voice and handsome looks led to dozens of film roles in Westerns during the 1940s, died Sunday after a lengthy illness in Studio City. He was 89. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Hale picked...

Harry Harris.(Obituaries)
April 1, 2009... Prolific TV director Harry Harris, who won an Emmy for directing TV series "Fame," died March 19 in Los Angeles of complications of myelodysplasia. He was 86. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Harris, who started working in Hollywood in the late...

Mort Lachman.(Obituaries)
April 1, 2009... Emmy-winning TV writer and producer Mort Lachman, longtime writer for Bob Hope who went on to produce "All in the Family," died of a heart attack and diabetes March 17 in Los Angeles. He was 90. A writer for Hope for 28 years, Lachman also...

Andy Hallett.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Andy Hallett, who played the green-skinned demon Lorne on "Angel," died of heart failure Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 33. The actor had battled heart trouble for five years. Born on Cape Cod, he attended Assumption College then moved to...

Lawless fits into sandals.(Lucy Lawless in 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand')(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Lucy Lawless is returning to her action-hour roots, signing on to star in the new fantasy-and-fighting series from "Xena: Warrior Princess" masterminds Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. The previously announced project from Starz Media, "Spartacus:...

Canadian Stage leader Bragg ankles.(Legit Bits)
April 1, 2009... Martin Bragg, the man in charge of Canada's largest regional theater, the Canadian Stage Company, stepped down Tuesday after 17 years at the organization. During that time, he reduced the deficit from C$3 million to C$900,000 ($710,000)...

Hartford Stage has received a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for its production of Horton Foote's adaptation of his nine-play series "The Orphans' Home Cycle.".(Legit Bits)
April 1, 2009... Hartford Stage has received a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for its production of Horton Foote's adaptation of his nine-play series "The Orphans' Home Cycle." The grant is the largest for a single production in the...

Warner, Mouse tease at ShoWest.
April 1, 2009... Warner Bros. and Disney whetted the appetites of exhibitors at ShoWest on Tuesday with footage of Buzz Lightyear, Scrooge, Harry Potter and a slew of 3-D extravaganzas, as both studios unveiled extended clips of their upcoming titles. The...

Showbiz stocks: Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
April 1, 2009... Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, March 31, 2009 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT CIDM ... .62 -.01 +67.6 Avid ...

Rescue me.(VARIETY.COM)
April 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The season five bow shows how good the Denis Leary firehouse drama can be when it I doesn't wander creatively.

Cut above?(BLOGS)
April 3, 2009... Will "Saw" be Konami's second great horror franchise? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Variety.com/ thecutscene

'Fast' in 4th gear: U's franchise up for another race.(Fast and Furious)
April 3, 2009... Universal's "Fast and Furious" hopes to tear up the box office when it opens today, marking the fourth outing for the action franchise and reteaming Vin Diesel and Paul Walker for the first time since the original pic. [ILLUSTRATION...

Sony TV has its 'Bad' guy.
April 3, 2009... "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan has extended his overall deal with Sony Pictures TV. Under the arrangement, Gilligan will continue to exec produce the critically acclaimed AMC series and also create other projects. Gilligan's...

B'way beaut for LaBute.(Theater review)
April 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As its title suggests, "Reasons to Be Pretty" deals to some extent with a culture in thrall to physical beauty. However, the real subject of this taut, unexpectedly affecting drama is a man forced to take a long,...

Meet the helmer.
April 3, 2009... Paul Weitz is in talks to direct "Little Fockers," the third installment of the Universal Pictures and Tribeca Prods. franchise. Jane Rosenthal and Jay Roach are and the studio will begin production in July. John Hamburg is rewriting a...

'Othello' tops Lortel noms.(Lucille Lortel Awards)
April 3, 2009... The Theater for a New Audience production of "Othello" and Fela Kuti bio-tuner "Fela!" led the nominations for Off Broadway's Lucille Lortel Awards, with "Othello" nabbing six noms and "Fela!" scoring five. Also receiving strong support...

Playing by the rules: Tony panel deems 'Bush' a special event.(LEGIT)
April 3, 2009... Few surprises came out of a Thursday meeting of the Tony Awards Administration Committee, which convened to decide questions of Tony category eligibility for a recent batch of Broadway shows. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Will Ferrell's...

Thesps flock to 'Birdie'.(LEGIT)
April 3, 2009... John Stamos, Gina Gershon, Bill Irwin and Jayne Houdyshell will star in the Roundabout Theater Company's fall revival of "Bye Bye Birdie." Stamos, playing a role originated by Dick Van Dyke in the 1960 preem of "Birdie" will portray...

Two theaters get 'Burnt'.(Legit Bits)( Playwrights Horizons and the Vineyard Theater to co-produce The Burnt Part Boys)(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... Off Broadway stalwarts Playwrights Horizons and the Vineyard Theater will team for the first time to co-produce musical "The Burnt Part Boys," scheduled to bow in spring 2010 following two developmental productions. Written by Mariana...

'Rainbow' to arc over on Rialto.(LEGIT)(Finian's Rainbow)(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... The Encores! production of "Finian's Rainbow," which just finished a well-reviewed run at Gotham's City Center, is headed for Broadway, opening at the St. James Theater in the fall. Warren Carlyle ("A Tale of Two Cities") will reprise his...

End Days.(Theater review)
April 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Ensemble Studio Theater," 99 seats; $30 top) An Ensemble Studio Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Directed by Lisa Peterson. Set, Lee Savage; costumes, Suzanne Chesney; lighting,...

Helmer Sonnenfeld detects 'Spellman'.
April 3, 2009... Barry Sonnenfeld has become attached to direct "The Spellman Files," the Paramount Pictures adaptation of Lisa Lutz's novel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Laura Ziskin is producing. Story revolves around a single private eye who has to...

TLC flies with Sullenberger.
April 3, 2009... TLC has secured what it said are the exclusive authorized documentary rights to the story of U.S. Airways pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who became a national hero when he successfully landed a crippled passenger jet in the Hudson River in sparing...

Date set for 'Sex' sequel.
April 3, 2009... Warner Bros. and New Line will release "Sex and the City 2" in theaters on May 28, 2010. Film sequel reunites director-writer Michael Patrick King with his four leading ladies: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin...

Oprah has own pals; Winfrey's Discovery net sets slate.
April 3, 2009... The veil has finally been lifted on the Oprah Winfrey Network's inaugural programming slate. Discovery Communications' Thursday upfront presentation to advertisers and their agencies offered a first look at the soon-to-launch cable...

ESPN scores most Sports Emmy noms.
April 3, 2009... ESPN leads all networks with 42 nominations for the upcoming Sports Emmy Awards, while the Beijing Olympics was the most recognized program, as NBC's coverage received 12 mentions. The Peacock scored a total of 28 noms; Fox and HBO tied...

Thesps in for WB 'Inception'.
April 3, 2009... Warner Bros. is in talks with Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page to join the cast of "Inception," which Christopher Nolan wrote and will direct as his next film. Leonardo DiCaprio already has been set to star. [ILLUSTRATION...

Max Brown.(Tenpercenteries)
April 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Max Brown ("The Tudors") has signed with UTA. Thesp will next be seen in AOG Films' "Act of God." He's repped by United Agents in the U.K. and managed by Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Ricki Lake.(Tenpercenteries)
April 3, 2009... Ricki Lake has inked with Endeavor. Her book "Your Best Birth," a follow-up to her docu "The Business of Being Born," will be published in May. She'll next be seen hosting VHI's "Charm School." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mo Rocca.(Tenpercenteries)
April 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mo Rocca has signed with Gersh. Hyphenate is a recurring correspondent on "The Tonight Show," "CBS Sunday Morning" and NPR. Acting credits include "Law & Order," "Ugly Betty" and Broadway's "The 25th Annual Putnam...

Gadot, Gal.(Tenpercenteries)
April 3, 2009... Israeli actress Gal Gadot ("Fast and Furious") has inked with ICM and 1 Management. She'll next be seen in "Entourage" and Fox feature "Date Night." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Julie Taymor appears to be considering going the unknown route in casting the leads for her return to Broadway with "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.".(Legit Bits)
April 3, 2009... Julie Taymor appears to be considering going the unknown route in casting the leads for her return to Broadway with "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." A nationwide casting call has been announced running April 9- May 27 in New York, Los Angeles,...

Beverly Hills Barbie-turned-Harvard Law student Elle Woods and her chihuahua Bruiser will breeze into London later this year, when the musical adaptation of "Legally Blonde" hits the Savoy Theater.(Legit Bits)
April 3, 2009... Beverly Hills Barbie-turned-Harvard Law student Elle Woods and her chihuahua Bruiser will breeze into London later this year, when the musical adaptation of "Legally Blonde" hits the Savoy Theater. While no official announcement has been...

The late playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote will be honored with the 2009 lifetime achievement award at New Dramatists' 60th annual Spring Luncheon tribute, taking place May 19 at the New York Marriot Marquis.(Legit Bits)
April 3, 2009... The late playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote will be honored with the 2009 lifetime achievement award at New Dramatists' 60th annual Spring Luncheon tribute, taking place May 19 at the New York Marriot Marquis. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Brit legit helmers Deborah Warner, Katie Mitchell, Rupert Goold and Jonathan Miller headline the 2009-10 season at English National Opera.(Legit Bits)(Opera review)
April 3, 2009... Brit legit helmers Deborah Warner, Katie Mitchell, Rupert Goold and Jonathan Miller headline the 2009-10 season at English National Opera. Season features 11 new productions and four revivals, eight of which are 20th- or 21st-century works....

Italo dramatic license: NBC U unit buys ITV content for Hallmark.(World News)
April 3, 2009... As the 46th Mip TV market winds down, NBC Universal Global Networks Italy has acquired more than 100 hours of classic drama from ITV Global Entertainment for broadcast on its Hallmark Channel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The deal includes...

BFI celebrates Broccoli anni.(UNITED KINGDOM)(British Film Institute marks Albert "Cubby" Broccoli)(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... The British Film Institute is marking the centenary of the birth of Albert "Cubby" Broccoli with a season of his pre-James Bond films and a series of Bond master classes. Broccoli and Canadian producer Harry Saltzman brought Blighty's most...

BAFTAs date shifts.(UNITED KINGDOM)(British Academy of Film and TV Arts Awards )(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... Next year's British Academy of Film and TV Arts Awards will be held Feb. 21. The ceremony was shifted to later in the month after the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences moved the Oscars to March 7. The later date for the BAFTAs means...

Sun shines on gamer.(UNITED KINGDOM)
April 3, 2009... FremantleMedia and the Sun, the U.K.'s bestselling newspaper, are launching a live, interactive gamer on the Sun's website this year. "Sun Quiz Live" will allow users to play one another in real time and to interact with the presenter. The...

Partners for A Company.(World News)(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... Licensing group A Company has secured a helping hand and a big financial boost as it navigates turbulent markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Expansion Media Partners, a private equity venture set up by the U.K.'s Future Capital Partners...

YouTube in Teutonic discord over music.(World News)(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... The music has stopped for German users of YouTube due to a payment spat with Teutonic royalty collections org Gema. YouTube is blocking musicvideos belonging to the largest music labels after negotiations broke down this week. The portal...

Shed shores up U.S. biz.(World News)(Shed Media)(Brief article)
April 3, 2009... U.K. shingle Shed Media, producer of "Supernanny," is beefing up its U.S. presence, hiring five new execs to support that growth. Joining the company--the U.S. umbrella for Ricochet TV, Twenty Twenty, Wall to Wall, Shed Prods. and Outright...

Visitors flock to Tokyo parks.(World News)
April 3, 2009... Oriental Land has reported record attendance in 2008 for the two parks it operates in Japan: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Their combined attendance was 27.2 million, up 7%, or 1.79 million admissions, on the previous year. In...

Banderas to open 'Cafe'.(World News)
April 3, 2009... Antonio Banderas will exec produce a U.S. version of "Camera Cafe," the hit French short comedy format. David E. Saltzman will helm the first season of 35 3 1/2-minute episodes about life in an office as seen from the point of view of a...

Filming in the future.(Film Production Chart)
April 3, 2009... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: EXP, Executive producer; PROD-Producer; COP-Co-producer; DIR-Director; AD-First assistant director; 2DIR-Second-unit director; SCR-Screenwriter; DP-Cinematographer; ED-Editor; PD-Production designer;...