Daily Variety articles from August 2003

Daily Variety archives from August 2003

'Wedding' takes on sequel-itis.(Universal Studios' "American Wedding")
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- With the summer season entering its home stretch, an oddball pair of hard-to-define R-rated comedies seek to strike sparks at the B.O. this weekend. Universal is unwrapping "American Wedding" at 3,174 altars. Studio is...

Visa vise tightens: Int'l artists face hurdles for U.S. trips.
August 1, 2003... On top of the stringent visa regulations put in place after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which have driven up the cost--and headache--of bringing international artists to the country, concert programmers will now face additional roadblocks....

Disney 3Q a fine kettle of fish.(Walt Disney Co.)
August 1, 2003... A huge quarterly haul from a wayward fish more than compensated for drooping theme park attendance, middling Alphabet net ratings and a sluggish overall economy for Disney. Company's fiscal third quarter earnings beat the Street's...

Warners toying with 'Yu-Gi-Oh'.(Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Warner Bros. is hoping to match the success of its "Pokemon" pics with a film based on its latest Japanese animated import, "Yu-Gi-Oh." The "Yu-Gi-Oh" franchise was developed by "Pokemon" creators 4Kids and is being produced...

European auteurs top Venice fest.(Venice International Film Festival)
August 1, 2003... ROME -- Despite some notable absences, an impressive crop of Euro and Hollywood titles will grace the upcoming 60th Venice Film Festival. Topper Moritz de Hadeln unveiled the official lineup Thursday in Rome. While he did not capitalize in...

Helmer 'Ames' to please.(Chadha, Gurinder)("Tucker Ames")(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Gurinder Chadha, helmer of Fox Searchlight's hit soccer comedy "Bend It Like Beekham," will next direct "Tucker Ames" for Fox 2000. Pic, produced by Laura Ziskin, Christina Steinberg and Jon Turteltaub, is expected to start...

Alphabet looks to Rome for inspiration: net mobilizes 'Taranus,' a limited sword & sandal series earmarked for fall '04.(Dish)(American Broadcasting Companies Inc.)
August 1, 2003... ABC TRIES THE SWORD AND SANDAL ROUTE: Rome wasn't built ill a day, but ABC will be looking to the Roman Empire as a stepping stone out of the ratings cellar. The network is fast mobilizing "Taranus," a series that will chronicle the power...

Avenue Q.(Theater Review)
August 1, 2003... (Golden Theater; 796 seats $85 top) A Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, Vineyard Theater and the New Group presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, bused on...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2003... The $1 million book deal for Fox News Channel legal analyst Lis Wiehl is for two books site authored alone, not with Bill O'Reilly. Also, Penguin is a division of Pearson. Information was incorrect in Tuesday's paper.

Music titan Sam Phillips, first to record Elvis, dies.
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Sam Phillips, the first man to record Elvis Presley, and who opened his recording studio to a number of musicians who would become legends in the country, blues and early rock 'n' roll fields, died Wednesday in Memphis. He was 80....

Creative solution for Emmy kudocast.
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- A bid to shorten the length of the annual Creative Arts Emmy awards ceremony has kicked tip a cloud of controversy from members who feel they're being treated like third-class citizens. Following vocal complaints last year from...

Lifetime crowns Princi.(Lifetime Entertainment Services)(Carla Princi)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Lifetime Entertainment Services has upped Carla Princi to senior VP of publicity. Los Angeles-based Princi will oversee national print, TV, radio and online campaigns for the cabler's stable of original series and telepics. She will...

Mike Mills.(Players)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Benjamin Bratt has joined the cast of Mike Mills feature "Thumbsucker," lensing in Beavertoil, Ore. The "Pinero" thesp rounds out a roster that includes Keanu Reeves, Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn, Lou Taylor Pucci and...

Artisan Entertainment/Marvel Studios.(Player)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Bratt's "Raid" co-star dames Carpinello has come aboard to play John Travolta's son in Artisan Entertainment/Marvel Studios' "The Punisher." Pic is based upon the Marvel comicbook about a vigilante who hunts down criminals. Co-scribe...

Feeling independent: reskedded Montreal loads up on niche pix.
August 1, 2003... MONTREAL -- Montreal World Film Festival prexy Serge Losique on Thursday provided a taste of the films skedded for the event, including a number of U.S. indie pics, notably helmet Gus Van Sant's provocative Palme d'Or winner "Elephant." He...

July B.O. generates $1 bil, with 'Pirates' leading pack.(box office)
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- For the third time since 2000, the July B.O. generated just over $1 billion. While the studios tallied $955 million through Sunday, strong weekday performances of Dimension's "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" and Disney's "Pirates of...

CNN assigns Wallace to N.Y.(Cable News Network)(Kelly Wallace)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... CNN correspondent Kelly Wallace, most recently assigned to the Middle East, has been named a New York-based national correspondent for the net. Wallace will report on major national stories as well as doing enterprise reporting and short-term...

Odd Lot carrying 'Larry'.(Odd Lot Entertainment)("Imaginary Larry")(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Odd Lot Entertainment has picked up the pitch "Imaginary Larry" from Amy Rardin and Jessica O'Toole, with the writer of "Legally Blonde" attached to produce. Rardin and O'Toole will write the stow, which details the world of a...

Forecast surpassed: Comcast's 2Q much better than expected.(Business)
August 1, 2003... Comcast, Wall Street media watchers' newest darling, turned in another bravura performance Thursday. announcing second-quarter earnings and subscriber gains that broadly beat analysts' expectations and indicated it will seriously be considering...

Trims boost Charter's bottom line.(Business)(Charter Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Paul Allen-owned Charter Communications Thursday posted improved operating cash flow results on reduced capital spending, repeating the new cost-conscious mantra of the cable industry. Charter revenues were up 7% in the second quarter of...

Bertelsmann closes book.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... BERLIN -- Bertelsmann's $164 million sale of its minority stake in online bookstore Barnes&Noble.com is the latest sign the German media giant is rearranging its priorities. The company said Wednesday it will beef up its book publishing...

Viv U Entertainment revenues off 15%.(Business)(Vivendi Universal Entertainment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... PARIS -- Revenues at Vivendi Universal's up-for-sale Vivendi Universal Entertainment division fell 15% to 1.516 billion [euro] ($1.7 billion) in the second quarter, with particular weaknesses in its TV production business. Companywide, Viv...

Showbiz Stocks.(Business)
August 1, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Thursday, July 31, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AMC ...

Gigli.(Movie Review)
August 1, 2003... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Revolution Studios presentation of a City Lights Films/Casey Silver production. Produced by Casey Silver, Mania Blest. Executive Producer, John Hardy. Directed, written by Marlin Brest. Camera...

Norah Jones.
August 1, 2003... (Greek Theater, Hollywood; 6,162 seats; $49.50) Presented by Nederlander. Band: Norah Jones, Lee Alexander, Adam Levey. Kevin Breit, Daru Oda, Andy Borger. Reviewed July 30, 2003. Pay little heed to her record company's lineage, her...

1-800-Missing.(Television Program Review)
August 1, 2003... (Series; Lifetime; Sat., Aug. 2; 10 p.m.) Filmed in Toronto by Lions Gate Television in association with Chum TV for Lifetime Television. Executive producers, Glenn Davis, William Laurin, Debra Martin Chase, Michael Fresco; co-executive...

Films in the future.(Film Production Chart)
August 1, 2003... 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;...

Film production chart.
August 1, 2003... Filming in the U.S. ANCHOR MAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (aka ACTION NEWS) Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Vince Vaughn, Fred Willard, David Koechner, Chris Parnell, Kevin Corrigan, Kathryn Hahn EXP, David O....

Top VHS rentals: for week ending July 27.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... TOP VHS RENTALS For week ending July 27 Total VHS spend: $73.5 million Weeks Week's in rental Title (label) ...

Top DVD rentals: for week ending July 27.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... TOP DVD RENTALS For week ending July 27 Total DVD spend: $87.1 million Weeks Week's in rental Title (label) ...

Scout Prods. merits boxing tale.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Scout Prods. and Edgartown Ventures have acquired the life rights of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother, trainer Dick Eklun, with Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson set to write the screenplay for a planned feature. Edgartown principals...

Date book.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2003... AUG. 1 "The 400 Blows." American Museum of the Moving Inage screens Truffaut's New wave landmark pic, 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Go to www.movingimage.us. The Return of Kurosawa and Mifune. BAM showcases 13 films from...

Birth.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Marnie Alexenburg-Prisand and Scott Prisand, a girl, Cosette Brooke Prisand, July 19, Los Angeles. Mother's an actress-comedian; Father's a theater producer.

Weekend box office preview.
August 1, 2003... RELEASE DATES AND CHANGES As of July 31 Pic New Date Old Date DREAMWORKS Shrek 2 May 21 June 18 The Ring 2 Nov....

MTV taps Gateley as veep.(Liz Gateley)(MTV Networks Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Liz Gateley has joined MTV as veep of production development. Gateley will be in charge of developing weekly and daily series for the channel, fielding external and internal pitches. Gateley comes to MTV from Lifetime, where she served...

Hitched.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Michelle Sobrino and Brian Stearns, June 28, Beverly Hills. Bride's a senior account exec at Variety/Daily Variety; groom's creative affairs director at Aura Entertainment. Gillian Brooks and Allen Fischer, July 5, Maui. Bride's VP of...

AFTRA props up pensions.(the Retirement Plan for the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists asks the IRS for time to improve its finances)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- In a strong signal of mounting pressure on showbiz health and pension plans, the Retirement Plan for the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists has asked the IRS for significantly more time to improve the plan's hobbled...

Gross-out vows wow: 'Pie' pals humble Jen & Ben with $34 million 'Wedding'.('American Wedding' leads the box office)(Illustration)
August 4, 2003... Universal's "American Wedding" rang box office bells in its opening weekend, chiming in with an estimated $34.3 million to lead a solid, if not spectacular, frame. But the public boycotted Sony/Revolution's "Gigli." Relentlessly bad buzz...

U's high on 'Pie' guy.(Adam Herz is setting up a production company at Universal Pictures)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- As the "American Pie" series concludes with this past weekend's "American Wedding," scribe Adam Herz is moving on to set up his own production shingle at Universal Pictures. The first project at the new venture, which has yet...

Costner eyes shot at 'Ben'.(Kevin Costmer may starin 'Taming Ben Taylor')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Kevin Costner is eyeing "Taming Ben Taylor" as his next star vehicle, and he's close to getting Michelle Pfeiffer to join him in the romantic comedy with a golf bent--a genre with which he had luck in 1996's "Tin Cup." Scripted by Scott...

'Skulls' in session for Paramount.(Paramount will make the horror film 'The Book of Skulls')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount has decided it won't be scared by "The Book of Skulls" and has tapped William Friedkin to direct, three decades after he helmed horror classic "The Exorcist." Par-based Alphaville will produce "Skulls" with shingle...

Love stinks.(box office results for films featuring real-life lovers)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 4, 2003... The "Gigli" misfire was spectacular but doesn't match the "Shanghai Surprise" pratfall. Here are some other lost lovers. Opening Domestic B.O. Cume (*)...

Should California voters should have all the fun? If recall ballots can be exported to companies & other institutions, everybody whims.(The Back Lot)(other high-profile people should be recalled)(Column)
August 4, 2003... THE BACK LOT TO THE WASHINGTON and New York media elite, California's recall process is a political fiasco. It's expensive, capricious and could easily turn into a nasty habit. No wonder Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't want to run for...

French star dies after assault.(Marie Trintignant dies of a cerebral edema at 41 years of age)(Obituary)
August 4, 2003... PARIS -- Whisky-voiced French thesp Marie Trintignant died of a cerebral edema Friday at a clinic in the Paris suburb of Neuilly. She was 41. Trintignant had been in a coma since July 27 after allegedly being struck by her boyfriend--pop...

Euro Disney's seeing red over $2.5 bil debt.
August 4, 2003... PARIS -- Euro Disney chairman Andre Lacroix must be wishing he had a magic wand. Failing that, it will be down to the Mouse House and creditor banks to show clemency to the operator of the Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios theme...

Drug dealer drama is helmer's initial pic.(Kevin Connolly will direct a film for Initial Entertainment Group)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Kevin Connolly, who helmed the Sundance short "Whatever We Do" featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Tim Roth, is set to make his feature debut on an Initial Entertainment Group-funded drama. Pic, written by Nick Cassavetes, is based on the life...

NBC books another run for Bravo's 'Queer Eye'.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- NBC's Thursday sked is getting another dose of Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Summer smash will get its second Peacock run Aug. 14, with the net once again cutting the hour-long down to a half-hour so it can fit...

'Naked' wears out welcome.(San Juan ends the performances of 'Naked Boys Singing!')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Naked boys have been told to stop singing in San Juan. The Off Broadway musical revue with the exuberant (and factually accurate) title "Naked Boys Singing!" saw its four-week sold-out run at the Teatro Tapia end before it began when city...

U.S. 'crash' course: 'Lingo' team to steer Euro format to States.(IDTV plans a U.S. version of 'Crash')
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The Dutch producers behind Game Show Network's surprise hit "Lingo" are hoping to make an impact with another Euro format: the auto accident skein "Crash." Series will use stuntmen and CGI animation to graphically recreate...

Fox to try 'Temptation' on Thurs.(Fox is launching 'Temptation Island 3')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Fox will launch "Temptation Island 3" in the same timeslot the last installment of the reality skein occupied: Thursdays at 9 p.m. "T3"--suggested subtitle: "Rise of the Thongs"--is set to bow Aug. 28, with an eight-episode...

CAA has signed Kimberly Peirce.(Tenpercenteries)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... CAA has signed Kimberly Peirce. Peirce is the director of "Boys Don't Cry," which Fox Searchlight released in 1999. Star Hilary Swank won the actress Oscar in 2000 for her portrayal of Brandon Teena, while Chloe Sevigny earned a supporting...

Director J.T. Petty has signed with Circle of Confusion for management.(Tenpercenteries)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Director J.T. Petty has signed with Circle of Confusion for management. Petty made his helming bow with the horror pic "Soft for Digging," which bowed at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. He's since written the vidgame "Splinter Cell" and...

Phoenix books 'Voyage' helmer.(Phoenix Pictures signs Robert Schwentke)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Phoenix Pictures has signed Robert Schwentke to direct "The Last Voyage of the Demeter," which he will rewrite with Mitch Brian. Based on the original screenplay by Bragi Schut, "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" expands upon...

Broadway reap: Charles Isherwood.(theater review)(Theater Review)
August 4, 2003... Chicago (Ambassador Theater; 1,080 seats; $100 top) With her husband wowing audiences in "Nine" just across the street at the Eugene O'Neill, Melanie Griffith's Broadway debut as one of "Chicago's" merry murderesses has garnered more...

The OC.(television program review)(Television Program Review)
August 4, 2003... (Series/Fox, Tue. Aug. 5, 9p.m.) Filmed in Southern California by Hypnotic, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television Prods. Executive producers, Josh Schwartz, Doug Liman, McG, Bob DeLaurentis, Dave Bartis;...

In demand bumps PPV for high-def.
August 4, 2003... Fans of low-budget action movies, foreign films and independent American pictures are losing the two pay-per-view channels, Urban and Cinema, that In Demand created last year as outlets for offbeat movies. The channels are being driven out...

Game Net's Warun to run Beantown's promo ops.(Beantown Productions hires Kenneth Warun as senior VP)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Game Show Network VP-creative director Kenneth Warun jumps today to a new job as senior VP at Beantown Prods., overseeing the TV promo and production company's growing New York office. Warun has been at Sony's Game Show Network...

A future focus fix; Kodak buys Laser-Pacific, ups digital role.(Eastman Kodak is acquiring LaserPacific Media for $30.5 million)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Eastman Kodak is buying prominent Hollywood post-production house LaserPacific Media for $30.5 million, in a move that gives the film giant a substantial hold on TV work and expands the range of feature film services it can often...

New line's 'cellular' has villain on call.(Jason Statham joins the cast of 'Cellular')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Jason Statham will play the heavy in "Cellular," joining Kim Basinger, Chris Evans and William H. Macy in the David Ellis-directed New Line drama. Evans portrays a young man who answers a cell phone call from a desperate kidnap victim...

Pair rides Roosevelt bio rights for feature.(Jonathan Taplin and Daniela Soto-Taplin acquire the feature film rights to "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt.")(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Jonathan Taplin and daughter Daniela Soto-Taplin have acquired the feature film rights to Edmund Morris' Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt." Material will be developed as a biopic and produced by...

Powers Boothe.(Players)(is added to the series 'Deadwood')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Powers Boothe has been added to the cast of HBO series "Deadwood." Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, John Hawkes and Keith Carradine also star in the project produced by David Milch ("NYPD Blue"). Western drama, skedded to bow on the...

Marcy Harriell.(Players)(joins the cast of 'Ed')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Marcy Harriell ("Queens Supreme") has joined the cast of NBC's "Ed." She will play the sassy love interest for bowling alley manager Daryl "Chill" Mitchell. "Ed" kicks off season four this fall.

Feathering GE nest: Wright pumps Peacock to parent's investors.(Business)(NBC head Bob Wright promotes the network to General Electric's investors)
August 4, 2003... Peacock chief Bob Wright was on the stump Friday, pitching General Electric investors on the virtues of NBC and its newly prized position within the vast industrial conglom. Speaking at a Bane of America Securities conference. Wright...

'Matrix' game powers Atari quarter.(Business)(Atari reports stong results in the second quarter)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- One of the biggest bets in vidgame history paid off handsomely for Atari, as it sold more than 3 million units of its "Enter the Matrix" title powering the French publisher to a big second quarter and the No. 3 sales spot among...

Imax earnings shrink.(Business)(Imax's second-quarter financial results)
August 4, 2003... TORONTO -- Imax's bottom line dropped to $969,000 for the second quarter of 2003 as the large-screen theater company redoubled efforts to focus on its digital remastering system and pay down debt. Toronto-based Imax's earnings for the...

Sony acquires Sonic's wares.(Business)(Sony acquires the desktop music- and video-creation software programs of Sonic Foundry)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Sony closed its $19 million deal to buy the desktop music- and video-creation software programs of Sonic Foundry. Company also said it will keep the Acid, Sound Forge and Vegas product lines going as stand-alone programs. ...

Citadel tunes in $418 million in IPO.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Las Vegas-based radio broadcaster Citadel Broadcasting enjoyed a warm return to the Big Board Friday, as the company sold 22 million shares in an otherwise sluggish day of trading. Citadel, me sixth-largest radio group in the U.S., with 138...

Showbiz stocks.(Business)(entertainment industry stock prices)(Illustration)
August 4, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, August 1, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... 10.80 -.33 +22.0 AOL...

Dark Roots: the Unauthorized Anna Nicole.(television program review)(Television Program Review)
August 4, 2003... (Docu) A Showtime presentation of a World of Wonder production. Produced, directed, written by Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Gabriel Rotello. Camera (color, DV), Teo Maniaci; editor, Blake West; music supervisor, Jeff Cardoni; sound, Brian...

Perfect Strangers.(movie review)(Movie Review)
August 4, 2003... (New Zealand) A 20th Century Fox release (in Australia and New Zealand) of a Gaylene Preston Prods./Huntaway Prods. production, in association with the NZ Film Commission, NZ Film Production Fund, NZ on Air and Television New Zealand....

Not easy being green; EM.TV unloads Henson Co. at big reduction.(World News)(EM.TV completes its sale of the Jim Henson Co. to the Henson family)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... BERLIN -- Germany's EM.TV has finalized the sale of the Jim Henson Co. to the Henson family, although the license trader had to settle for $5 million less than the original asking price, the company said Friday. In a deal struck in May,...

SBS exec exits to take HMG reins.(World News)(Fons Van Westerloo resigns as general manager of SBS Broadcasting's three-channel Dutch network)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... AMSTERDAM -- TV exec Fons Van Westerloo has resigned as general manager of SBS Broadcasting's three-channel Dutch network to become CEO of the largest commercial net, Holland Media Group. The 57-year-old Van Westerloo, who starts in...

Deauville toasts Scott, Ivory, HBO.(World News)(plans for the 29th American Film Festival in Deauville, France)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... PARIS -- Tributes to helmers Ridley Scott and James Ivory as well as a sampler of films produced by HBO are slated for the 29th American Film Festival in Deauville. Event, which runs Sept. 5-14 in the Normandy resort town, is still...

'Infernal Affairs' sequels cop back-to-back bows.(World News)(Media Asia will release the next two versions of 'Infernal Affairs')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HONG KONG -- Media Asia will release the next two installments of last year's crime thriller hit "Infernal Affairs" practically back-to-back. Expecting the second film's publicity to feed into the third, the prequel will unspool in...

Arclight adds spice to Aussie movie fund.(World News)(Spice Factory and Arclight Films are launching an Australian film fund)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... SYDNEY -- Britain's Spice Factory and Oz-based Arclight Films are launching an Australian film fund, initially aimed at raising $A50 million ($32.5 million). Fund will invest up to 30% in films budgeted at $10 million and above, 70% of...

'Bibi' is bewitching again.(World News)('Bibi Blocksberg II' has begun filming)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... BERLIN -- "Bibi Blocksberg II," the follow-up to last year's most successful German film, is set to start shooting Thursday in southern and central Germany. The first "Bibi Blocksberg," based on the children's books about a precocious...

Fogwill rolls her helming debut.(World News)(Vera Fogwill is directing 'Las Mantenidas sin suenos' )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... BUENOS AIRES -- Argentinean thesp Vera Fogwill is making her directing debut on "Las Mantenidas sin suenos" (Kept & Dreamless), with lensing to begin today. Fogwill and co-helmer Martin Desalvo are producing the $375,000 project, with...

Laff fest boosts burr.(Cameron Burr is heading up the talent department of the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and HBO have promoted Cameron Burr to head up the fest's talent department. In his new post as producer, programming and talent, Burr will oversee the scouting of USCAF comedic acts while...

Int'l student film fest fetes late thesp Coburn.(the International Student Film Festival Hollywood will include a tribute to James Coburn)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- A tribute to the late James Coburn will mark the launch of the inaugural Intl. Student Film Festival Hollywood, set for Sept. 3 at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Event will include presentations by Coburn's widow...

Births.
August 4, 2003... Caroline and Chris O'Donnell, a boy, Charles McHugh O'Donnell, July 11, Los Angeles. Mother's non-pro; father's an actor. Liza and Scott McMullen, a girl, Mia Aislin McMullen, June 19, Los Angeles. Mother's regional administrator at HBO;...

Connery douses 'embers' discussions.(Sean Connery ends negotiations to be in 'Embers')(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Sean Connery has pulled out of negotiations to star in the independent production "Embers" for helmer Milos Forman. CAA and producers Robert and Michael Haggiag are still putting together the financing and distribution for pic...

TechTV opens book imprint.(TechTV and Peachpit Press create the book imprint TechTV Press)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Cabler TechTV is going carbon-based, jumping into the world of tree-based information distribution in a partnership with Peachpit Press to create book imprint TechTV Press. Peachpit is a small publisher focused on computer...

Turner sells AOL TW stock.(Ted Turner sells some $47 million in AOL Time Warner stock)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Ted Turner unloaded some $47 million in AOL Time Warner stock late last week, continuing a process of disentangling himself from the company and liquidating his position at the company's second largest individual shareholder. According to...

Arnold, 'Pirates'rule the seven seas.(oversease box office report)
August 4, 2003... The "Terminator" ran amok in Europe over the weekend while Disney's "Pirates" cut Universal's "Hulk" down to size in Japan. "Bad Boys II" opened with gusto in Southeast Asia, although handicapped by high age classifications in Malaysia and...