Daily Variety articles from August 2006

Daily Variety archives from August 2006

Runaway drain? Study: pic biz in a big pickle.(movie production companies contribution to the economy)(Industry overview)
August 1, 2006... The U.S. is still king of the world in feature film production, but its predominance is fading. So says a study released Monday that provides a far sunnier snapshot of TV production. The lure of foreign incentives--and their aid to the...

'Hotel' key to Sony toons.(Sony Pictures Animation)(Hotel Transylvania)
August 1, 2006... Sony has greenlit its third animated feature, monster comedy "Hotel Transylvania," giving a vote of confidence to Sony Pictures Animation one month ahead of its first release. Anthony Stacchi and David Feiss, co-director and head of story,...

Axel topper boards TW.(Time Warner Inc., stock cases)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Nearly six months after he gave up the fight, Carl Icahn is still seeing the fruits of his battle against Time Warner. Conglom has appointed Mathias Dopfner, chairman and CEO of German publishing giant Axel Springer, to its board. He's the...

'Flags' planted in Tokyo.(Flags of Our Fathers)(Tokyo International Film Festival )
August 1, 2006... Clint Eastwood's WWII pic "Flags of Our Fathers" will open the 19th Tokyo Film Festival on Oct. 21, fest organizers announced Monday. Movie is one of a pair Eastwood is helming about the battle against the Japanese for the island of Iwo...

Biz on Mel-gate: the oys of summer.(Mel Gibson)
August 1, 2006... Newly elevated Walt Disney prexy Oren Aviv said he accepted Mel Gibson's apology for the anti-Semitic remarks he reportedly made during a drunken-driving arrest on Friday, even while Endeavor partner Ari Emanuel called on Hollywood to boycott...

World Trade Center.(Movie review)
August 1, 2006... A Paramount release of a Michael Shamberg/Stacey Sher/Moritz Borman production. Produced by Shamberg, Sher, Borman, Debra Hill. Executive producers, Donald J. Lee Jr., Norm Golightly. Co-producer, Chantal Feghali. Directed by Oliver Stone....

One Ocean View.(Television program review)
August 1, 2006... (Series; ABC, Mon. July 31, 10 p.m.) Produced by Bunim-Murray Prods. Executive producers, Jonathan Murray, Joey Carson; co-executive producers, Dana DeMars, Laura Korkoian; supervising producers, Kenny Hull, Andrea Bailey; camera, Jack...

A Furst step for TV: Lionsgate, duo get 'Tough' for tube.(Lions Gate Television Inc. signs a deal with movie directors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Feature producers Sean and Bryan Furst ("The Cooler") are making their first foray into television, striking an overall first-look deal with Lionsgate TV. First collaboration between the pair and indie studio is HBO series project "Tough...

B'way biz holds up in summer heat.(Broadway)(market share of plays)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The start of the heat wave didn't make Broadway will. Weekly grosses basically held steady for the week ended July 30, with 24 shows on the boards bringing in $16,564,885, down about $100,000 from the previous sesh. The weekend kicked...

Gotham's got laughs.(New York Comedy Festival)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Denis Leary, Queen Latifah and Howie Mandel are among those toplining the third annual New York Comedy Festival, set for Nov. 7-12. Event will unfold at venues throughout Gotham, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and the Apollo...

New tuner fest lands Lippa.(Andrew Lippa)(Paul Gordon)(National Alliance for Musical Theater)(Festival of New Musicals)
August 1, 2006... Andrew Lippa ("A Little Princess"), Paul Gordon ("Jane Eyre") and a tuner adaptation of 1998 pic "Dangerous Beauty" with lyrics by Amanda McBroom (who wrote 1970s. tuner "The Rose") are all on the slate at the upcoming Festival of New...

Deauville dives into bayou.(Deauville Festival of American Film)
August 1, 2006... The Deauville Festival of American Film has invited the state of Louisiana as a special guest one year after Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans, which was founded by the French in 1718. The 32nd fest will open Sept. 1 with Nell Burger's...

Friel, Hynes return to N.Y.(LEGIT BITS)(Brian Friel and Garry Hynes)(Translations)
August 1, 2006... Two Irish legiters who made a splash in Gotham this year, scribe Brian Friel and director Garry Hynes, will be back in New York next year with a Hynes-helmed production of Friel's 1981 play "Translations" set for January at the Manhattan...

Correction.(Correction notice)
August 1, 2006... "The Banquet" is directed by Feng Xiaogang. Information was incorrect in Monday's paper.

Radical Thinking taps Friedman prexy.(Bob Friedman)
August 1, 2006... Bob Friedman has bowed out as president of Classic Media to take on the job of president of Radical Thinking, a newly formed division of @radical.media. Radical Thinking will focus on the production and distribution of TV shows and movies...

Geffen, DIC to host Slumber Party.(DIC Entertainment L.P. and Geffen Records Inc., teams up)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Geffen Records and DIC Entertainment are partnering to host a music-based slumber party for tweens and teens. The two are creating entertainment brand SPG. Cornerstone act is the Slumber Party Girls, who will host the Eye web's new kids'...

GOPers skipping network news.(Cable News Network)(Fox News Network L.L.C.)(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Survey)
August 1, 2006... Audiences for cable news increasingly resemble their stereotypes, with Republicans expressing a strong preference for Fox News Channel and Democrats opting for CNN. Perhaps that's no surprise. But in another sign that TV news auds are...

Automaker gets Sirius.(General Motors Corp.)(Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc.)(Volkswagen AG)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Mel Karmazin's Sirius Satellite said Monday that its radios will be a standard feature or factory option this fall on four models from Mitsubishi Motors North America--and on all Mitsubishi '08 models, which will be available Stateside next...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, July 31, 2006.(DIRECTV Inc.)(EchoStar Communications Corp.)(Napster Inc.)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Showbiz Stocks Monday, July 31, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD 9.00 -13.3...

'Host' with the most: local action fare tops at Asian B.O.(World News)(The Host)(box office)
August 1, 2006... Homegrown pics about local legends and chopsocky action dominated the box office in South Korea, Japan and Hung Kong, respectively, last weekend, beating big-budget Hollywood fare. South Korean monster pic "The Host" demolished local...

'Superstar' stung in suit.(Panamericana Television)(FremantleMedia Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... FremantleMedia has won its copyright suit against Peru's Panamericana Television, claiming latter's "Superstar" is a ripoff of Fremantle's "American Idol." The Peruvian court has ordered Panamericana TV to pay an undisclosed fine as well...

Equity firm nabs Brit TV producer.(World News)(All3Media management, Permira Funds)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... European private equity outfit Permira Funds has taken a majority stake in Blighty's biggest independent TV producer, All3Media, in a deal valuing the latter at around 320 million [pounds sterling] ($595 million). Move means Permira and...

Arab fest up on 'Building'.(World News)(Institut du Monde Arabe, The Yacoubian Building)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Institut du Monde Arabe's biennial of Arab cinema wrapped Saturday in Paris with the escalating violence in the Mideast casting a long shadow over proceedings. Top prize went to Egyptian blockbuster "The Yacoubian Building," by helmer...

Ratings rise for digital ITV.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(UKTV)(internet television)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... British web ITV, whose CEO Charles Allen is under threat because of falling share price and falling auds for flagship terrestrial web ITV1, is getting something right: Ratings for the first half of the year show gains for its digital upstart...

X Filme game for int'l prod'n.(World News)(Naomi Watts)(Michael Haneke)(Funny Games)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... BERLIN -- Germany's X Filme has set up a shingle to increase international production, and has boarded Celluloid Dreams' remake of Michael Haneke's "Funny Games" starring Naomi Watts. Pic, about a family terrorized by two men while on...

RAI spinning cycling pic.('Pantani, Pride Restored')(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... As the professional cycling world plunges into another Tour de France doping scandal, Italian pubcaster RAI announced Monday it will tackle the controversial topic with a biopic on the rise and fall of Italian cycling star Marco Pantani. ...

The Taming of the Shrew.(Theater review)
August 1, 2006... (Greek Theater, College of St. Elizabeth, Madison, N.J.; 1,000 seats; $28 top) A Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey presentation of the play in one act by Williams Shakespeare. Directed by Brian B. Crowe. Set, Jesse Dreikosen; costumes,...

Shakira, Peppers heat up MTV noms.(MTV Networks Inc.awarded, Shakira and the Red Hot Chili Peppers )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Shakira and the Red Hot Chili Peppers top the nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards with seven each for "Hips Don't Lie" and "Dani California," respectively. Cabler's 23rd annual kudocast, skedded for Aug. 31 at Gotham's Radio City...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of July 28-30.(movie industry)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Weekend Stats Domestic Box Office $131.3 million July 28-30, 2006 vs. last week -13% vs. last week +7% Daily Breakdown (in millions of $) vs. last year's ...

Exclusives report: for the weekend of July 28-30, 2006.(movie industry)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Exclusives Report For the weekend of July 28-30, 2006 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Film (distributor) Circuit Theater, city Weekend B.O. Gross Little Miss Local Engmnts.: 3...

Story's key, says Disney VP.(Joe Rohde)(Disney Imagineering)
August 1, 2006... Good storytelling breeds good synergies. That was the message of Disney Imagineering VP and executive designer Joe Rohde on Monday as he kicked off the 33rd annual Siggraph computer graphics conference in Boston. Rohde, longtime...

Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of July 28-30, 2006.(movie ratings)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Top 10 Films In Manhattan For the weekend of July 28-30, 2006 % change vs. last Rank Wknd. B.0. Film (distributor) ...

Broadway top 10: July 24-30.(ratings of plays)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Broadway Top 10: July 24-30; Show Week's Net Receipts Prev Week's (Theater)(Prod. Category)(Seats) Potential Net Receipts Net Receipts Wicked $1,443,870 ...

Severance.(Movie review)
August 1, 2006... (UK.-Germany) A Pathe (in U.K.)/Magnolia Pictures (in U.S.) release of a Qwerty Films, U.K. Film Council presentation, in association with Isle of Man Film, of an N1 European Film Produktions (Germany)/Dan Films (U.K.) production....

'Hills' still alive at MTV.(Lauren Conrad)(The Hills)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... MTV is sticking with "Laguna Beach" star Lauren Conrad. Music net has locked up a second season of Conrad's starring vehicle, "Laguna" spinoff "The Hills," currently the channel's No. 2 show. The number of episodes is not yet set, but...

Kabul Transit.(Movie review)
August 1, 2006... (Docu) An Akbar Taxiwan Films presentation. Produced by David Edwards. Co-producers, Gregory Whitmore, Maliha Zulfacar. Directed by David Edwards, Gregory Whitmore. Camera (color/B&W, DV), Whitmore; editor, Whitmore; sound, Whitmore....

Fifteen candles.(V)(New York Latino Film Festival )(Quinceanera)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WHAT: Sony Pictures Classics' unspooling of "Quinceanera," which closed the New York Latino Film Festival on Saturday. WHERE: Florence Gould Hall, followed by an after-party at Crobar. PREGNANT WITH POSSIBILITY: Pic, which nabbed the...

Dominick Dunne hosted a Southampton screening of Allen Coulter's mystery pic "Hollywood" Sunday.(V)
August 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Dominick Dunne hosted a Southampton screening of Allen Coulter's mystery pic "Hollywood" Sunday. From left, pic's producer Glenn Williamson, dunne TV host James Lipton and film's Diane Lane.

"Barnyard: The Original Party Animals" helmer Steve Oedekerk and voice talent Sam Elliott arrive Sunday at Hollywood's Cinerama Dome for the world preem.(V)
August 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "Barnyard: The Original Party Animals" helmer Steve Oedekerk and voice talent Sam Elliott arrive Sunday at Hollywood's Cinerama Dome for the world preem. Above, the pic's cows come home.

News Corp.'s Peter Chernin joined 20th Century Fox TV.(V)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: News Corp.'s Peter Chernin joined 20th Century Fox TV toppers Gary Newman and Dana Walden at the studio's Producers & Stars soiree Thursday at Shutters in Santa Monica.

Fox 2000 spins 'Carousel' remake.(Fox 2000 Pictures)(Hugh Jackman)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Fox 2000 is looking to remake the musical "Carousel" as a star vehicle for Hugh Jackman, who will produce with his Seed Prods. partner John Palermo. Fox released the original film, starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, in 1956. A deal...

Sony drives new disc biz.(Culver Entertainment)(Sony Pictures Television)
August 2, 2006... Sony Pictures TV has launched a direct-to-DVD arm as a means to distribute certain TV projects without a network attached. Division, named Culver Entertainment, will kick off with a new animated version of "Spider-Man." Culver will produce...

McHale charts new discovery.(Judith McHale)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Judith McHale, an 18-year veteran of the Discovery Channel who rose to prexy-CEO of Discovery Communications, will step down on Dec. 1 to work as a private citizen on social and political issues. Expectation is that her successor will come...

Cabler commits: 'Trail' turns into big slate of originals.(Broken Trail)(AMC)
August 2, 2006... Riding high on the ratings from Robert Duvall's "Broken Trail," AMC is unveiling its first development slate of scripted series. The cable network has lined up drama and comedy projects from "Donnie Darko" writer-director Richard Kelley,...

CW's in the 'Doll' house.(The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... The CW is teaming with McG, Jimmy Iovine and "America's Next Top Model" producer Ken Mok to launch "The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll." Net has ordered eight hourlong episodes of the project, a sort of "Top Model" meets "American Idol"...

TMZ basking in its Gibson glory.(Mel Gibson)
August 2, 2006... There aren't too many winners in Gibsongate. But TMZ, the niche Web site that uncovered the original police report about the star's arrest and anti-Semitic outburst, is enjoying an unexpected vogue as a journalism powerhouse. Site is...

Strange bedfellows on the litmus test express.(Tuning In)(Mel Gibson and Oliver Stone)(political overtones in the movie business)(Column)
August 2, 2006... AT FIRST GLANCE, it would be hard to imagine stranger bedfellows than Mel Gibson and Oliver Stone. Still, advance publicity surrounding Stone's fundamentally apolitical film "World Trade Center" (which prompted second-guessing from...

Scribe pair plotting 'Deceit'.(Michael Brandt and Derek Haas)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Universal Pictures has tapped Michael Brandt and Derek Haas to adapt James Siegel's novel "Deceit," about a disgraced journalist who tries to redeem himself by solving a crime. Lorenzo Di Bonaventura is producing the pic. Brandt and Haas'...

Electronic Arts beats Street expectations.(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Showing signs of strength after a weak holiday season and winter, Electronic Arts saw sales increase 13% to $413 million last quarter. News helped to drive its stock up 3% in after-hours trading. Net loss rose 40% to $81 million, but...

'History' lesson at PBS.(Public Broadcasting Service)(Unnatural History)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Director-producer Jonas McCord and former Pixar animator Seth Piezas are looking to line up about $27 million in financing for "Unnatural History," a proposed 65-episode animated children's series. PBS flagship station WNET New York has...

HBO, Fuller may take 'Britain' to U.S.(Home Box Office Inc.)(Simon Fuller )(Little Britain)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... HBO and "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller are in talks to adapt edgy British sketch comedy "Little Britain" for Stateside auds. Fuller is understood to have been approached by the writers and stars of "Little Britain" Matt Lucas and...

Network news war: Fox News down from '05 but still tops.(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... CNN saw sharp audience increases in July as war broke out in the south of Lebanon. Net was up 29% in total viewers and 46% in the 25-54 demographic during the month--the biggest increase for any cable news network. Fox News Channel was...

Ledger joins bat pack for 'Dark Knight'.(The Dark Knight)(Heath Ledger)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... The Bat will fly again as Warner Bros. announced it's starting production early next year on "The Dark Knight." Heath Ledger has signed on to play the Joker in the sixth Batpic, with Christian Bale back as the Caped Crusader and Christopher...

Sirius has its ups and downs.(earnings of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Sirius Satellite Radio's losses widened last quarter, but revenue nearly tripled as the company added more than 600,000 new subscribers. Chairman-CEO Mel Karmazin said Sirius plans to introduce a handheld live satellite radio unit, called...

WB captures 'Code' thriller.(Sleeper Code)(Warner Bros.)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Warner Bros. has acquired screen rights to the Tom Sniegoski novel "Sleeper Code" and will turn it into a thriller to be written by Jason Keller. Peter Donaldson, Stacy Maes and Jay Sanders will produce. Published last month as a...

U music man EMI's guy.(Barney Wragg )(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... After a turbulent time at its digital division, EMI Group is hoping a change in leadership does the trick. Company has tapped Universal Music's Barney Wragg to run its global digital biz. Wragg is a vet of UMG's eLabs, where he oversaw...

Green to play witch queen.(Eva Green)(The Golden Compass)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Eva Green will go from the Bond girl in "Casino Royale" to the queen of witches in "The Golden Compass," New Line's first installment of a potential trilogy based on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials." Green, who just wrapped "Casino...

Stormbreaker.(Movie review)
August 2, 2006... (UK.-Germany) An Entertainment Film Distributors (in U.K.)/the Weinstein Co. (in U.S.) release of an Isle of Man Film, U.K. Film Council Entertainment Film Distributors presentation of a Samuelson Prods. (U.K.)/VIP Medienfonds 4 (Germany)...

International weekend box office.(market share of movies)(Statistical table)
August 2, 2006... International Weekend Box Office Reported Percent Box Office Change Weekend ending in...

TV mags ride high on affair.(television magazine ratings)
August 2, 2006... All five weekend magazine shows were hot in the week ended July 23, due in large part to reports about Christie Brinkley's marriage and revelations of husband Peter Cook's yearlong affair with a 19-year-old employee of his company. ...

Top 25 shows in 18-49.(television broadcasting industry)(Table)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... TOP 25 SHOWS IN 18-49 1. So You Think... Dance-Wed. (Fox) 3.8/11 2. Hell's Kitchen (Fox) 3.5/10 3. So You Think... Dance-Thu. (Fox) 3.4/10 4. House (Fox) 3.3/09...

Top shows in 25-54.(ranking of television programs)(Table)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... TOP SHOWS IN 25-54 1. CSI (CBS) 4.0/11 2. House (Fox) 3.9/10 3. So You Think... Dance-Wed. (Fox) 3.8/10 3. CSI: Miami (CBS) 3.8/10 5....

Top cable nets in 18-49.
August 2, 2006... TOP CABLE NETS IN 18-4 1. USA 1.00 2. TBS 0.73 3. TNT 0.71 4. FX 0.58...

Evening news.(television broadcasting industry)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... EVENING NEWS WEEK 44: July 24-28 Viewers Adults 25-54 ABC 7.46 million 2.0/9 CBS 6.87 million 1.8/8 NBC 7.97...

Nielsen ratings report.(television broadcasting industry)(Table)
August 2, 2006... Nielsen Ratings Report Total Viewers July 24-29, 2006 abc Monday 6.36 8:00 Wife Swap 5.55 8:30 (5.89) (R) ...

Primetime scorecard.(cable television broadcasting industry)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Primetime Scorecard Week 9 of 14 Viewers * A18-49 abc 5.04 (-4%) 1.7/5 (Even) cbs 7.25 (+4%) 2.1/7 (-5%) nbc 6.29 (+8%) 1.9/16 (+6%) FOX ...

Scribes take poll positions on kudos race.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(television broadcasting industry)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Never mind the question of critics being out of synch with auds--what about being out of synch with the TV Academy voters? V Plus correspondent Kathy Tracy polled TV crix during the recent Television Critics Assn. semiannual tour in Pasadena,...

Comedy series.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(opinions on Emmy nominated shows)
August 2, 2006... Rick Kushman Sacramento Bee The Emmys have the most trouble with comedy. Whether it's because they are judging by one episode or it's being voted on by older people, they always go for bigger, louder, flashier--which is why someone like...

Drama series.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(evaluation of television programs)
August 2, 2006... ROBERT BIANCO USA Today I think this is a really tough category, though not as tough as it I would have been had 'Lost' been nominated--which clearly it deserved to be, and I would have picked it as my favorite to win. But now, if voters...

Comedy actor.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(evaluation of Emmy Awards nominees)
August 2, 2006... ALEX STRACHAN Can West News Service It'll definitely be Steve Carell. And I suspect a lot of Emmy Academy members have a real inferiority complex about TV. I think that's why we see so many movie actors nominated for guest appearances....

Comedy actress.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(evaluation of Emmy Awards nominees)
August 2, 2006... JOHN CROOK Tribune Media Services Lisa Kudrow's performance in 'The Comeback' was one of the freshest things on TV last season, and I'd love to see her win, but I actually think it's more likely that Julia Louis Dreyfus will win. ...

Drama actor.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(evaluation of Emmy nominees)
August 2, 2006... JAY HANDLEMAN, Sarasota Herald-Tribune There's nothing wrong with the nominations in general, until you realize who is not on the list. I can't imagine that James Gandolfini did not make the list. Even if you accept some critical...

Drama actress.(EMMYS: CRIX' PICKS)(evaluation of Emmy Awards nominees)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... DIANE WERTS Newsday I think Kyra Sedgwick has to walk away with that. But then, we all thought Edie Falco would be walking away with it, and she's not even nominated. "The people who are nominated are clearly the star of the show....

Satmex hopes debt plan flies with court.(World News)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Mexican satellite firm Satmex on Tuesday presented a debt restructuring plan to a New York court, which will have 60 days to rule on the deal. A yearlong bankruptcy process in Mexico formally ended Monday, with a Mexican court approving a...

Toronto takes risk: Vanguard sidebar sets 11 edgy pix.(World News)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... The Toronto Intl. Film Festival has created a new program, Vanguard, featuring 11 risky, more challenging pics that will include the world preem of "Macbeth," Australian helmer Geoffrey Wright's contempo, Melbourne-set take on Shakespeare's...

Von Trier's The 'Boss' at Montreal Fest.(World News)(The Boss of It All)(Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinema)(Copenhagen Film Festival )(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Danish helmer Lars von Trier's latest pic, "The Boss of It All," will have its international premiere at the 35th Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinema. Nouveau festival, the city's smaller, edgier rival to the Montreal World Fest, runs Oct....

Prasad to raise 'Child'.(World News)(K5 Film)(Udavan Prasad)(The Fifth Child)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... German shingle K5 Film has attached Udavan Prasad to helm the feature adaptation of Doris Lessing's novel "The Fifth Child." The Indian-born, U.K.-based director's credits include 1997's "My Son the Fanatic" and "Opa!," which played at...

Brent will tailor offerings at BBC.(UNITED KINGDOM)(Christian Brent)(BBC Worldwide )(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Former Disney exec Christian Brent is joining BBC Worldwide to help make its channels more in tune with local tastes. In the first appointment of its kind, the pubcaster's commercial arm has appointed Brent as VP of audiences. Brent,...

'Girls' to travel.(UNITED KINGDOM)(Hula Girls)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Fortissimo Films has picked up Japanese pic "Hula Girls" for worldwide sales outside Japan and Korea. Directed by Lee Sang-II, the movie is based on the true story of a Japanese town in 1965 that decided to revive its declining fortunes by...

BAFTA taps chair.(UNITED KINGDOM)(British Academy of Film and Television Art)(Hilary Bevan Jones)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Producer Hilary Bevan Jones has become chairman of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts, succeeding Duncan Kenworthy, who will be deputy chairman for a year. Bevan Jones is upped from deputy chair and is the first femme chair in...

Comedie up-to-date.(FRANCE)(Muriel Mayette)(Comedie Francaise )(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... The Comedie Francaise has elected its first femme topper since its inception in 1630. Thesp Muriel Mayette, proposed by Gallic culture czar Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, will succeed Marcel Bozonnet as general administrator and hold the post...

Agency reaches out.(SOUTH KOREA)(iHQ)(Brief article)
August 2, 2006... Talent agency and distribution house iHQ is to establish an L.A. office to facilitate cooperation with U.S. talent agencies and producers. Company, which partnered with New Line Cinema on Korean actioner "The Shadowless Sword," recently...

Reality revs Fox ratings.(television program ratings)
August 2, 2006... CBS and Fox paced the primetime pack in key demo categories last week--but they largely traveled different avenues to success. While CBS continues to get solid returns from "Big Brother," its biggest guns were repeats of its crime dramas....

Showbiz stocks: Tuesday, August 1, 2006.(entertainment industry)(Statistical table)
August 2, 2006... Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, August 1, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 9.25 +.25 ...