Daily Variety articles from February 2004

Daily Variety archives from February 2004

Bowl blurbs: is bang worth Super bucks?(news Analysis)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The media have certainly hammered the Super Bowl's status as a national celebration of advertising and gluttony into the collective consciousness. Indeed, it has become almost a patriotic duty not merely to consume the game but all...

Hip-hoppers B.O. toppers.
February 2, 2004... Sony Screen Gems' hip-hop comedy "You Got Served" tackled an estimated $16 million over its rookie box office frame, but Super Bowl preoccupations flattened other wide openers and several holdover pics. Paramount's high school laffer "The...

Actors talks on fast track: unions want deal by Feb. 29.
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Hollywood's actors unions want a deal by the time Oscars are handed out. SAG and AFTRA, which start bargaining Tuesday with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, are aiming to conclude negotiations on their...

Ellroy to pen Paramount's Korshak bio.((Ellroy, James))(The Black Dahlia)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Noir novelist James Ellroy has signed to pen "The Man Who Kept Secrets," a biopic of Hollywood lawyer Sidney Korshak, for producers Robert Evans and Brian Grazer. William Friedkin is on board to direct. Pic is set up at...

The writer-warrior: angry as always: Joe Eszterhas says he's a changed man, but his memoir finds him still at odds with the industry.(The Back Lot)
February 2, 2004... JOE ESZTERHAS WAS BACK on the scene again last week, a bruised and battered veteran who seems hobbled by too many combat missions. His new book, "Hollywood Animal" (an appropriate title), presents a ferocious account of his myriad battles with...

Zeitgeist climbs ladder with 'The Corporation'.(Zeitgeist Films)("The Corporation")(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Zeitgeist Films has acquired U.S. fights to Sundance award winner "The Corporation" a provocative Canadian documentary feature that examines the history, spectacular rise and curious inner workings of the dominant institution in the era of...

Crowe injury impacts 'Man'.((Howard, Ron))((Crowe, Russell))(Cinderella Man)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Ron Howard will have to wait a little longer to start his next pic, "Cinderella Man." Russell Crowe, who will star in the film as Great Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock, dislocated his shoulder on Thursday while training for...

'Pretty' picture at UPN as Fox goes 'Straight'.((Nash, Bruce))(United Paramount Network)(Fox-13 Inc.)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- UPN thinks Bruce Nash looks "Awfully Pretty," while Fox has set a date to start "Playing It Straight." With season two of "America's Next Top Model" earning boffo ratings--resulting in Friday's announcement that the skein will...

ABC laps up 'Lopez' laffer.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- ABC can't get enough of "George Lopez." Alphabet web has picked up four more episodes of the Warner Bros. TV comedy, bringing its season total to 28. Net had previously bumped its order from 22 to 24 in December (Daily Variety,...

'Island' siege over: D'Works beats in Par bidding war for spec.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Following a heated bidding war with Paramount, DreamWorks bought Caspian Tredwell-Owen's spec script "The Island" for $1 million against $1.5 million. Michael Bay is circling the project to direct. Similar in theme to "Logan's...

Newmark/Echelon orders 'Two Pizzas'.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Newmark/ Echelon has acquired North American distribution rights to "A Tale Of Two Pizzas," starring Vincent Pasture ("The Sopranos"), Frank Vincent ("The Sopranos"), Patti D'Arbanville ("The Guiding Light") and Frankie Glasso...

Davis lines up for curtain call.(Gray Davis to star in Yes, Dear)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- California must have somehow stumbled into one of those slapstick body-switching movies: Now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has become governor, Gray Davis has taken up... acting. The former governor will play himself on an...

Oscar watch.(Hanks, Tom)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Tom Hanks has been tapped as a presenter for the 76th Academy Awards. This marks the 11th time Hanks, who also is a governor of the Academy, has presented. Hanks won consecutive best actor Oscars in 1993 and 1994 for "Philadelphia"...

Starz! Beams up suit: says Mouse's VOD venture violates deal.(Business)(Walt Disney Studios)(Starz!)
February 2, 2004... As if Disney didn't have enough on its hands in the runup to its shareholder meeting next month, John Malone-owned pay movie outlet Starz Encore has sued the Mouse House for violating its exclusive movie licensing deal. In a complaint...

News hews 50 in reorg of DirecTV.(Business: News Corp. aquisition of Hughes and DirecTV)
February 2, 2004... The reorganization and consolidation of Hughes and DirecTV under the watchful eye of new owner News Corp. has begun, with Hughes on Friday announcing the elimination of 50 positions at the El Segundo, Calif.-headquarters. Most of those...

IATSE scores Fox first.(Business)(International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has obtained its first contract for freelance broadcast technicians employed by Fox Sports Net New York. The techs ratified a 42-month collective-bargaining agreement last week...

TF1 revs up 4.5% in '03.(Business)(Societe Nationale Television Francaise 1)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... PARIS -- TFI, France's leading terrestrial web, posted provisional consolidated revs for 2003 up 4.5% to 2.7 billion [euro] ($3.4 billion) last week. Ad coin rose 2.4% to $1.9 billion, while noncore revs rose 7.3% to $1.5 billion. ...

Vanity Fair lures Wolff from New York pack.(Business)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- New York magazine media columnist Michael Wolff is ankling to join Vanity Fair as a contributing editor; he will write eight columns per year on the media business. "Adding him to Vanity Fair's lineup of columnists, that...

Showbiz stocks: Friday, January 30, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
February 2, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, January 30, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... 15.40 +.02 +1.2 AcmeCm ...

Thursday showdown: 'Apprentice' poised to battle 'Survivor,' 'CSI'.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... "The Apprentice" is back--now on Thursday--and viewers found it. After being bounced from its short-lived Wednesday perch, NBC's hot unscripted venture into the corporate jungle of New York shined in its first regular timeslot appearance...

Boffo 'Birthday' for Oprah.(Oprah Winfrey)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... What to give the woman who has everything? Nielsen delivered a belated gift to Oprah Winfrey on Friday--an 11.4/25 overnight rating for yakker's "50th Birthday Bash" episode. Overnight rating was series' best since 1996. Episode earned...

Producers lament plethora of credits.
February 2, 2004... SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Producers of big-budget pies and indies found common ground at Sunday's "Movers and Shakers" panel at the Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival, collectively bemoaning the proliferation of credits, affirming the value of...

Fest panels see film biz from double p.o.v.
February 2, 2004... SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Multihyphenales highlighted two of the Santa Barbara Film Festival's highly anticipated annual events Saturday, as several creatives did double duty on both the directing and writing panels. Some of the industry's...

Producer unveils deal with Stratus.(Bob Yari Prods.)(Stratus Film Co.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Stratus Film Co. and Bob Yari Prods. have entered into a one-year, first-look production deal with producer Yasmine Golchan. Golchan brought Stratus the script "The Painted Veil"; pic is set to star Edward Norton, who will also...

Littman upped at Miramax.(Barry Littman)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Barry Littman has been promoted to senior VP business and legal affairs at Miramax. Littman, who has been working in Miramax's L.A. office for the past two years, will continue negotiating deals covering all aspects of...

Double play at dimension.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Shortly after her script "Monster-in-Law" drew Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, screenwriter Anya Kochoff has pacted to write a pair of pictures for Dimension Films. Kochoff will produce both films with Jose Rosen. First up will be...

The screening room.(Illustration)
February 2, 2004... Screening are open to Academy and guild members only. To RSVP for a screening, call the appropriate numbers below. List runs on Monday and Thursday. To submit schedules, email jfeiwell@reedbusiness.com five days prior to screening date. For a...

Merrin Dungey.(Players)(added to the cast)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Merrin Dungey ("Alias") has been added to the cast of the WB's midseasoner "Summerland." The Spelling TV drama revolves around a single woman (Lori Loughlin) in Southern California who suddenly inherits three kids when her...

Rick Hoffman.(Players)(roles)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Rick Hoffman has booked a multi-episode are on "The Practice" as D.A. Harvey Clarke, who goes head to head with James Spader's character Alan Shore. Hoffman continues to recur on "Bernie Mac" and holds a role in the upcoming feature...

Japan B.O. buoyant: receipts rise 3.3% to pace record year.(World News)(box office)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... TOKYO -- The Motion Picture Producers Assn. of Japan announced Thursday that 2003 was a record year for the Japanese box office, with total receipts reaching [yen] 203.26 billion ($1.93 billion) with a total audience of 162.35 million. ...

Teuton DSF sports first profit ever.(World News)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... COLOGNE -- German sports weblet DSF formerly part of the Kirch Group, is expecting its first net profit this year after 11 years on air. DSF's operating profit crept into the black in 2003, reaching 300,000 [euro] ($375,000), after a...

'Samurai' and 'Nemo' big fish in Nippon pond.(World News)(The Last Samurai)(Finding Nemo)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... TOKYO -- Warner Bros.' "The Last Samurai" and Disney's "Finding Nemo" started their local release Dec. 6 and crossed the magic [yen] 10 billion ($94.8 million) mark early this week. Now they're set to be among the top-grossing Hollywood films...

Blockbuster pulls plug on 24 stores.(Hong Kong)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Blockbuster said that it will close its 24 stores in Hong Kong as its leases expire over the next 18 months. The company will lay off 200 employees, according to Michael Wong, the director of marketing of Blockbuster Hong Kong. ...

Daiei off marquee.(Japan: name changed from Kadokawa Daiei Film to Kadokawa Film)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... TOKYO -- The Kadokawa Group of Cos., grouped around major Japanese publisher Kadokawa Shoten, announced that it will change the name of local studio Kadokawa Daiei Film to Kadokawa Film starting April 1. The announcement of the name change...

EU to review sports.(Belgium)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... BRUSSELS -- European Union regulators will look into the sale of Euro sports rights to Internet firms and 3G mobile network operators, it was announced Friday. Inquiry will consist of sending out questionnaires to sports rights agencies,...

New label brewing.(Belgium: Interbrew launches music label Stella Artois Music)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... BRUSSELS -- Sony and BMG beware: After what it calls a disastrous year for Belgium's music biz, international brewer Interbrew has decided to step in to save the day by launching its own label in the country, Stella Artois Music. ...

Eden.(an All Irish Repertory Theater presentation)(Theater Review)
February 2, 2004... (Irish Repertory, Theater. 199 seats: $45 top) All Irish Repertory Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Eugene O'Brien. Directed by John Tillinger. Sets and costumes, Klara Zieglerova; lighting, Howell Binkley; production stage...

Furla team puts 'Genie' in a bottle.(Emmett/Furla Films has acquired rights to produce "Genie With the Light Blue Hair" and "The Contract")(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Emmett/Furla Films has acquired a novel by best-selling young adult author Ellen Conford, "Genie With the Light Blue Hair." Published in 1990 by Bantam's Starfire imprint, book is the story of Jeannie, a high school freshman...

An R-rating for smoking: why it's reasonable, effective, and inevitable.(One in a Series)(Advertisement)
February 2, 2004... Smoking appeared in 77% of movies rated PG-13 over the last five years. Research shows movies are the biggest pro-smoking influence on children today, more powerful than traditional tobacco advertising. 590,000 kids every year start smoking...

The Best Thief in the World.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2004... A Showtime Independent Films presentation of a Process/Jorge Films production Produced by Tim Perell, Nicola Usborne. Executive producer, Jerry Offsay. Co-producers, Howard Gertler, Scott Koenig. Directed, written by Jacob Kornbluth, Camera...

Word Wars.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2004... (Docu) A Discovery Times and Seventh Art Releasing presentation of an E-Wolf production. Produced by Eric Chaikin, Executive producers: Udy Epstein. Vivian Schiller. Directed by Eric Chaikin, Julian Petrillo. Camera (color, DV), Laela...

D.E.B.S.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2004... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Screen Gems presentation. Produced by Angela Sperling, Jasmine Kosovic. Executive producer, Larry Kennar. Co-producers, Stacy Codikow, Pat Scanlon. Directed, written, edited by Angela Robinson....

A Place of Our Own.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2004... An Independent Television Service presentation Produced, directed by Stanley Nelson. Written by Nelson, Marcia Smith Camera (color, HD video), Carol Bash, Nelson; editors, Sandra Christie, Helen Yum; music, Kathryn Bostic; associate producers,...

Health net hearty as Reid ankles.(Bob Reid leaves Discovery Health Channel)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Bob Reid has ankled his position as executive vice president-general manager of Discovery Health Channel. Reid led the net, which launched in 1998, for more than two years. He exits in mid-February. Under his leadership,...

Never Die Alone.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2004... A Fox Searchlight release of a Fox Searchlight Pictures, ContentFilm presentation of a Bloodline Films production in association with White Orchid Films. Produced by Alessandro Camon, Earl Simmons. Executive producers, Edward R. Pressman, John...

Bonnie Bogard.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Bonnie Bogard, reality and daytime television producer, died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a lengthy illness. She was 47. Bogard had spent the last several years at Bunim-Murray Prods., where she was vice...

Anita Addison.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Anita Laraine Wharton Addison, a pioneer African-American network TV exec, died suddenly in New York, Jan. 24. She was 51. At the time of her death, she was a producer at Paramount Television and had just finished directing the pilot for...

Helmut Newton.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Acclaimed photographer Helmut Newton was killed in a car crash Jan. 23 in Hollywood. He was 83. He lost control of his Cadillac while leaving the Chateau Marmont hotel and crashed into a wall across the street, a police spokeswoman said....

Sean McClory.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Film and TV actor Sean McClory, who appeared in John Huston's "The Quiet Man," died Dec. 10 in Hollywood of heart failure. He was 79. Born in Ireland, he began his acting career at the Galway Taidbearc Theater at 8. He graduated from the...

Harry Blum.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Producer and sales exec Harry N. Blum died Jan. 18 of heart failure in Los Angeles. He was 71. Blum was chairman of the Blum Group, a longtime foreign sales outfit. His producing credits include Brian De Palma's 1976 "Obsession" as well as...

Bernard Punsly.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Dr. Bernard Punsly, the last surviving member of the Dead End Kids, died Jan. 20 of cancer in Torrance, Calif. He was 80. Punsly starred in numerous films in the 1930s and 1940s about a band of teenagers growing up in the slums of New York,...

Billy May.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Billy May, Grammy-winning arranger known for his work with Frank Sinatra and for arranging such classics as "Cherokee," "Take the 'A' Train" and "Serenade in Blue," died Jan. 22 at his home in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He was 87. ...

Reality TV pioneer Bunim shaped genre.(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57, television producer and exec who, with partner Jonathan Murray, created the reality TV genre with "The Real World," died Thursday in Los Angeles after a lengthy battle with cancer. Founded in 1987, Bunim-Murray Prods....

Trailer pioneer Kuehn dies.(Obituary)
February 2, 2004... Andrew J. Kuehn, director-producer and advertising pioneer widely credited with creating the modern motion picture trailer, died of lung cancer Thursday at his home in Laguna Beach. He was 66. He directed and produced the feature...

Sitcom takes on new 'Life,' reworked at Eye.("16 to Life")(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- In a bittersweet development for scribe Rob Lotterstein, his project "16 to Life"--which he originally produced with his late writing partner Ellen Idelson--is being reworked at CBS. "16 to Life" was originally developed at...

Hi-def net nails event pacts.(INHD network)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... High-definition net INHD has lined up a slew of deals to broadcast forthcoming special events such as the NBA All-Star Game and E'S Oscar coverage. Pacts were made with: * Turner Sports and TNT for HD telecasts of the NBA All-Star Game...

WB 100+ adds 'Style' to sked.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... The WB 100+ Station Group has added Sony Pictures Television's "Life & Style" to its fall sked. WB 100+ Station Group represents 109 stations reaching 9 million households. Group exclusively serves markets ranked 100-210 by Nielsen. ...

'Samurai' cuts wide o'seas swath.
February 2, 2004... Oscar contenders and pare popcorn fare skewing both young and old gave folks overseas plenty of reasons to go to the movies over the weekend. "The Last Samurai" captured an estimated $22.4 million from top-ranked debuts in five small...

Goodman, Louie eyed: CBS lands laffer pilots, WB to redo 'Shadows'.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- CBS picked up comedy vehicles Friday for vet thesp John Goodman and standup comedian Louie CK while the WB officially greenlit its remake of goth soap "Dark Shadows." Meanwhile, Nathan Fillion ("Firefly") has joined the cast...

AUDS bowled over: big game hits Nielsen high.(Super Bowl)(Nielsen Media Research Inc)
February 3, 2004... A thrilling conclusion to the Super Bowl has produced the big game's largest average audience in six years, as nearly 99 million Americans were there at the end Sunday on CBS to see the Patriots edge out the Panthers. Super Bowl XXXVIII...

FCC addresses eye's boo-boo.(United States. Federal Communications Commission)(CBS Inc)
February 3, 2004... WASHINGTON -- CBS has exposed itself to a heap of trouble from the feds, who are already asking the dreaded Washington question: How much did they know and when did they know it? Federal Communication Commission topper Michael Powell Monday...

BMG's Davis back in the driver's seat.(BMG North America has re appointed Clive Davis )
February 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- BMG has realigned its North American label structure and put Clive Davis in charge of the operation. Davis has been given the title of chairman-CEO of BMG North America, which combines all operations of Arista, J, RCA and Jive....

Cabler sets sights on Sykes.(Sykes wanda)
February 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Less than two months after Fox pulled the plug on "Wanda at Large,'" comedian Wanda Sykes is partnering with Comedy Central for a series revolving around the her real-life attempts to tackle nonshowbiz jobs. Sykes has signed...

3 losing B'way shows to close.(Broadway)(Never Gonna Dance, Gypsy and Taboo)
February 3, 2004... Be afraid, Broadway. Be very afraid. Three shows shuttering this month will lose a combined total of $26 million. "Never Gonna Dance" kicked off Monday morning by posting a closing notice, with its last and 128th perf set for Feb. 15. ...

Just for Variety.(anniversary celebrations)
February 3, 2004... GOOD MORNING: Two big showbiz birthdays take preference in today's column. First, Robert Halmi's 80th marks the start of what he promises will be his busiest year following a six-month "vacation" in which he underwent a kidney transplant from a...

Mr. Holland's opus WGA West prexy defends his record in letter.
February 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- WGA West president Charles Holland is sticking to his story. In a defiant letter to the 8,000 guild members, Holland has insisted he can't say anything else about his claims he was a member of the Army Special Forces and...

Surfer riding the wave of sports action films.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Champion surfer Laird Hamilton hopes to ride the current swell of big-wave movies straight into Hollywood. After executive producing Sundance opener "'Riding Giants" and X-Dance winner "The Ride," he's launching film and TV...

Gibson-ADL dialogue continues.(Mel Gibson)(Anti-Defamation League)
February 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Mel Gibson and the Anti-Defamation League, the most vociferous critics of "The Passion of the Christ," continued to circle one another in an exchange of letters over the weekend. ADL chief Abraham Foxman, who screened "Passion"...

Grammy fave turns on 'Lights' as thesp.(McGraw, Tim)
February 3, 2004... Many of the rappers and singers at Sunday's Grammy Awards will be flashing a new accessory to go along with the bling-bling and low-cut outfits: a big feature film role. Country star Tim McGraw just scored his first big movie job. He'll...

Harth steered Carnegie past 9/11 hurdles.(death of Robert J. Harth)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 3, 2004... Robert J. Harth, Carnegie Hall's artistic and exec director, who took the reins of the famed venue just days after the Sept. 11 attacks and led it through an economically challenging two-year period, died Friday at his Manhattan home o fan...

Oscar watch.(76th Academy Awards)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Colin Farrell will serve as a presenter for the 76th Academy Awards. The thesp will be seen next in "Intermission" and "A Home at the End of the World." Oscarcast for film achievements of 2003 will be held Feb. 29 at the Kodak Theater...

CME taps Garin topper in fresh start for firm.(Business)(Central European Media Enterprises)
February 3, 2004... Central European Media Enterprises, the broadcast group owned by Ronald Lauder, said Monday it has named Michael Garin, a former media investment banker and founder of Lorimar Telepictures, as CEO, succeeding Fred Klinkhammer. The move...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, February 2, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
February 3, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, February 2, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... 15.08 -.32 -.9 AcmeCm ACME...

Big win for ex-exex: Bertelsmann ordered to pay pair $130 mil each.(Business)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... BERLIN -- A California state court has ordered Bertelsmann to pay two former managers 105 million [euro] ($130 million) each in damages in connection with their involvement in the German media giant's joint venture with America Online. The...

Atari gets bad play on Street.(finance)
February 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- It was a strong holiday season for most in the vidgame industry, but publisher Atari missed out on the fun, posting disappointing earnings in line with a warning it put out last week. Company, which is a subsid of French...

Comcast cobbles ad aid under single Spotlight.(Business)(Comcast Spotlight)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Comcast Corp., the largest cable operator in the U.S., has drawn up an advertiser-sales blueprint that could double its ad revenues to $2 billion by 2007. Called "Comcast Spotlight," the strategy will pull together the company's local,...

Weekend stats.(movies)(Illustration)
February 3, 2004... WEEKEND STATS Domestic Box Office $95.9 million Jan. 30-Feb. 1 vs. last week vs. last year * -5% -18% Daily Breakdown (in million of $) FRI. $30.8 SAT. $47.8 SUN. $17.2...

Film box office wrap.(Illustration)
February 3, 2004... FILM BOX OFFICE WRAP FOR THE WEEKEND OF JAN. 30-FEB. 1 Ranking This Last Week Week Title (Distributor) 1 -- You Got Served (Sony/Screen Gems) 2 1 The Butterfly Effect (New Line) 3...

Beeb still burning: ousted Dyke won't challenge Hutton report.(World News)
February 3, 2004... LONDON -- The spat over the Hutton report lambasting the BBC for claiming the government lied to justify war in Iraq continues to smolder. Ex-BBC director general Greg Dyke decided Monday not to make a Costly legal challenge to the report,...

'Return' flies with Eagles.(World News)(Golden Eagle Awards)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... MOSCOW -- Russia's second Golden Eagle awards were handed out at the main production facility, Mosfilm, Saturday in a ceremony that heralds the country's return to the European production scene. Film kudos went--as widely predicted--to...

Pubcaster prexy says Berlusconi calls shots.(World News)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... ROME -- How much sway does Italo prime minister and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi hold at pubcaster RAI? According to RAI's exasperated prexy Lucia Annunziata, Berlusconi personally "picks up the phone to call board members to suggest...

All 'Eyes' on Goyas as pic nabs top kudos.(World News)(Take My Eyes)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... MADRID -- Iciar Bollain's domestic abuse drama "Take My Eyes" cleaned up at the 18th Spanish Academy Awards Saturday, scooping Goyas for film, director, actor (Luis Tosar), actress (Laia Marull) and original screenplay (Bollain and Alicia...

Ardant to reign over Cesar show.(France)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Actress Fanny Ardant will preside over the 29th Cesar awards ceremony, France's equivalent of the Academy Awards, in Paris on Feb. 21, organizers said Monday. Jean-Paul Rappeneau's "Bon Voyage" is the movie with the most nominations this...

It's in his 'Element'.(France)(copyright infringement )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Luc Besson has filed a suit against advertising agency Publicis for copyright infringement of his character Lilou, played by Milla Jovovich, in "The Fifth Element." Publicis created a campaign for mobile phone SFR, in which Jovovich plays...