Daily Variety articles from February 2005

Daily Variety archives from February 2005

Mouse's house in order.(Walt Disney Co.)
February 1, 2005... The Mouse House continues to be caught in cross-currents. Muscular ESPN and resurgent theme parks managed to boost Disney earnings by 5% to $723 million last quarter. On the other hand, profits from homevideo are plunging and those...

Cabler's L.A.-N.Y. axis: Time Warner teams with Comcast to bid on Adelphia.(Los Angeles- New York)
February 1, 2005... Time Warner Cable may not be as big as Comcast, but the conglom could hold an envious place at the cable table in both Los Angeles and in New York. The two on Monday submitted a joint bid for bankrupt Adelphia in a move that could make...

Tony and his henchmen go arty.(cable rights deal)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Executing a hit on rival bidders, A&E has landed the basic cable rights to HBO's "The Sopranos" in a lavish multiyear deal worth at least $195 million. A&E's record-setting bid--north of $2.5 million an hour--was the...

'X' vet goes into 'Night'.(Dan Sackheim's contract)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD--Veteran "The X-Files" helmer Dan Sackheim has signed on to direct Frank Spotnitz's ABC drama pilot "The Night Stalker." Sackheim spent six years on "X-Files," working with former "X" man Spotnitz as a producer and director. More...

Touchstone loves Heaton.(Patricia Heaton's contract)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD--"Everybody Loves Raymond" star Patricia Heaton has wasted no time finding a new TV family, inking a seven-figure talent and production deal with ABC/Touchstone. Pact, which runs for a little more than a year, sets up Heaton and...

U planting Greengrass in 'Sunlight'.(movie production)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Universal Pictures has set Paul Greengrass to write and direct "They Marched Into Sunlight," an adaptation of the Vietnam War-era book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning David Maraniss. The pic will be produced by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary...

Just for Variety.
February 1, 2005... GOOD MORNING: Sherry Lansing is moving close to her alma mater, 20th Century Fox. She's departing the Paramount lot March 1 and moving into an office in the Fox Plaza Building where Marvin Davis held forth. Before leaving Paramount, where she's...

'Blades' skates to D'Works.(Blades of Glory)(DreamWorks)(movie production)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- DreamWorks has preemptively bought comedy spec "Blades of Glory" by first-time scribes Craig and Jeff Cox. Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld's Red Hour shingle will produce with John Jacobs' First Entertainment shingle. Pic is a...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2005... Luke and Jeremy Jackson are the writing/directing team on the Intermedia comedy "Heavy Metal Thunder." Information was incorrect in Thursday's edition.

'Fragment' late for dates.('Late Fragment')(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Studio Dante's world-premiere staging of "Late Fragment," starring Julianna Margulies, has been postponed due to "'scheduling conflicts." Francine Volpe's play had been set to run at the 60-seat Off Broadway space Feb. 9-27 (Daily Variety,...

'Simpsons' scribe nabs WGA Selvin nod.(Writers Guild of America)(Paul Selvin Award)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- TV and feature scribe Don Payne has been tapped to receive the Writers Guild of America's Paul Selvin Award for his "Fraudcast News" episode of "The Simpsons." The Selvin Award is aimed at honoring the script that "best...

Rainbow ups exec to AMC marketing sr. VP.(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Linda Schupack has been tapped Rainbow Entertainment senior VP of marketing at AMC. This is the net's first programming initiative since recently receiving its strongest yearly Nielsen numbers in its history. Schupack will...

B'way struggles to clean up after storm.(Broadway)(box office)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Broadway recovered from the previous week's snowstorm. Receipts, however, failed to skyrocket after so low a blow to the box office. Twenty-five shows brought in $12,325,216, up only $402,309 or 3.37%. Gotham legit did better in 2003 and...

Matson hangs distrib banner.(Richard Matson)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Richard Matson, a co-founder of online entity Transmission Films, has launched Gotham-based theatrical distrib unit Matson Films. Unit's first pic will be the Toronto acquisition "It's All Gone Pete Tong," a faux biopic centering on a legendary...

Fusion for Grammys: 'Access,' music net team for kudocast specs.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- "Access Hollywood" and music network Fuse are teaming up to cover this year's Grammys. "Access" and Fuse will co-produce a pair of specials to air on Fuse, the first of which is slated to bow today. In addition, Fuse VJ...

'Hurlyburly' to take a whirl at B'way gig.(Inside Moves)
February 1, 2005... In their first foray into legit, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy appear to have backed a winner. There is talk of transferring the OFF Broadway revival "Hurlyburly," starring Ethan Hawke, Josh Hamilton and Parker Posey, to Broadway. ...

Rock photog to focus on helming biopic.(movie production)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Acclaimed rock 'n' roll shutterbug Anton Corbijn has signed to helm a feature biopic of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, based on the biography "Touching From a Distance," Pic is being produced through Orian Williams and Todd Eckert's...

Pubcasters hook up; cablers org reaches digital must-carry deal.(Association of Public Television Stations)
February 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- In a deal that leaves network affiliates in the cold, the cable industry may have found a way to avoid much-dreaded governmental intervention in the contentious debate over digital must-carry. The National Cable &...

Warner Music rings musicvid service.(Warner Music Enterprises)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Warner Music is becoming the first label to put musicvideos on cell phones. Edgar Bronfman Jr.-controlled diskery has signed with Verizon Wireless to make its catalog part of the cellular provider's Vcast service, which provides an...

TW Cable adds Spanish nets.(Time Warner Cable)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... MIAMI -- Spanish-lingo media conglom Univision Communications has inked a multiyear deal with Time Warner Cable, expanding carriage to add the Telefutura broadcast network and feevee Galavision. The flagship Univision network was already...

Brock rocks as VP at Fox.(vice president)(Chris Brock appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Chris Brock has been named VP, business affairs for 20th Century Fox. He'd held the title of director for the past two years. Executive VPs of business affairs Stephen Plum and Mark Resnick announced the move Monday. ...

ProSiebenSat 1 talk boosts Axel Springer.(business sale)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... BERLIN -- Growing speculations that Haim Saban is negotiating to sell ProSiebenSat 1 to publishing house Axel Springer upped the TV group's share prices by more than 10% on Monday to 14.20 [euro] ($18.50). According to German weekly Der...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, January 31, 2005.(Illustration)
February 1, 2005... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, January 31, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AcmeCm ACME ... 5.70 +0.15 -18.7 Actvsn ATVI 27 22.60 ...

Weekend stats.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2005... Domestic Box Office $123.9 million January 28-30, 2005 vs. last week +26% vs. last year * +29% Daily Breakdown (in millions of $) FRI. SAT. SUN. ...

Theater beat.(Hide and Seek)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2005... THEATER BEAT This weekend's top 10 theater engagements Weekend Rank Film Theater, city (circuit) B.O. gross 1. Hide and Seek ...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Jan. 28-30.(Illustration)
February 1, 2005... FILM BOX OFFICE WRAP FOR THE WEEKEND OF JAN. 28-30 Ranking This Last Reported Pct. Week Week Title (distributor) Weekend Boxoffice Change 1 -- Hide and Seek...

Shylock.(play)(Theater Review)
February 1, 2005... (Perry Street Theater; 99 seats; 555 top) A Martin Platt, David Elliott, Rosalie Beer and Richard Jordan presentation, in association with Robert Friedman, of a play in one act by Gareth Armstrong. Directed by Frank Barrie. Sets, Russell...

Boston niche nook shuts.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Indie and art film distribs who want a Boston playdate will find that it just became harder. The Loews Copley Place 11-plex, which opened in 1984 and was the last downtown venue de voting any screens to off-Hollywood product,...

On a Clear Day.(movie)(Movie Review)
February 1, 2005... (U.K.) A Focus Features (U.S.) Icon Film Distribution Ltd. (U.K.) release of an Icon Entertainment Intl. presentation of a Take Film Partnerships production in association with Isle of Mama Film Ltd., Glasgow Film Finance Ltd., the Royal...

Duane Hopwood.(movie)(Movie Review)
February 1, 2005... A Big Beach production in association with Elevation Filmworks. (International sales: Cinetic Media, New York.) Produced by Lemore Syvan, Marc Turtletaub, David Friendly. Co-producer, Andrew Lang. Directed, written by Matt Mulhern. Camera...

NBC U in VOD stream: CinemaNow pact does not include downloads.(NBC Universal)(video on demand)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- CinemaNow has signed a deal to distribute films and TV shows from NBC Universal, marking the sixth of the seven major studios to partner with the Internet video-on-demand company. But in a twist to past deals signed for online...

Puerto Rican cabler slated.(Telemundo Puerto Rico launched)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... MIAMI -- NBC Universal Cable is today launching a Spanish-lingo cable net, Telemundo Puerto Rico, on Cablevision's iO Interactive Optimum digital service in the New York metropolitan area. It will air 35 hours per week of news broadcasts...

Buildup to Berlin: yank 'Ballad,' 'Love' in Panorama lineup.(Berlin Film Festival)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... BERLIN -- The Berlin Film Festival's Panorama section has completed its main lineup with W.S. pics, including Rebecca Miller's "The Ballad of Jack & Rose" and Craig Lucas' "The Dying Gaul," and Ventura Pons' Spanish selection "Amor idiota"...

Capitol snares 'Rabbit'.(World News)(William Morris International)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Capitol Films has nabbed international sales rights to Mexican-U.K. political thriller "Rabbit on the Moon." Pic, written, helmed and co-produced by Mexican director Jorge Ramirez-Suarez, will unspool at the Berlinale Special...

TV doubles up on 'Housewives'.(Italy)(Desperate Housewives)(cable rights deal)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Disney's international TV arm has put together a TV and cable deal in Italy for its hit ABC drama "Desperate Housewives," inking with pubcaster RAI for the terrestrial rights and Fox Life for basic cable rights. Series will be broadcast in...

BBC fare Thai'd up.(BBC Prime launch)(Thai satellite)(British Broadcasting)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Asian feed of the BBC's global entertainment service, BBC Prime, is to launch in Thailand thanks to an agreement between BBC Worldwide and Thai satellite and cable outfit United Broadcasting Corp. The channel, which bowed in Asia in...

Spain's Goyas honors 'Sea Inside' in waves.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... MADRID -- Alejandro Amenabar's foreign-lingo Oscar nominee "The Sea Inside" on Sunday swept the Goyas, Spain's version of the Academy Awards, taking a record 14 honors. Based on the real-life story of quadriplegic Ramon Sampedro, "Sea...

Indie Shed goes public.(Shed Productions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... LONDON -- One of Blighty's most successful indies, Shed Prods., will soon list on London's junior stock market Aim as it seeks to expand. Shed Prods. was founded in 1998, but has rapidly established itself with raunchy series like "Bad...

CEO outlines changes at C4.(chief executive officer, Channel 4 Television Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... LONDON -- Channel 4 CEO Andy Duncan unveiled the web's new structure on Monday, following a monthlong review. Commercial arm 4 Ventures will continue to stand alone and has been set a $54 million annual profit target, while other parts of...

Exclusives report: for the weekend of January 28-30, 2005.(box office report)(Illustration)
February 1, 2005... EXCLUSIVES REPORT For the weekend of January 28-30, 2005 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Weekend Film (distributor) Circuit Theater, city B.O. gross Local...

Reefer Madness.(Movie Review)
February 1, 2005... A Showtime presentation of a Dead Old Men/Apollo Screen production. Produced by Rose Lam. Executive producers, Andy Fickman, Kevin Murphy, Dan Studney, Jan Korbelin, Jimmy Veres. Directed by Andy Fickman. Screenplay, Kevin Murphy, Dan...

Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of January 28-30, 2005.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2005... TOP 10 FILMS IN MANHATTAN For the weekend of January 28-30, 2005 % change vs. last Rank Wknd. B.O. Film (distributor) ...

TV scribe sells Sony on comedy.(Jeff Lowell )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- TV scribe Jeff Lowell has sold the romantic comedy pitch "Fetch" to Sony in a mid-six-figure deal for Neal Moritz's Original shingle to produce. Pic is described as "Look Who's Talking" but with a dog instead of a baby. ...

MPAA ratings.(Motion Picture Association of America)
February 1, 2005... NC-17 "Inside Deep Throat" (Universal Studios); for explicit sexual content. R "Art Heist" (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): for violence, language and some sexuality. "Constantine" (Warner Bros. Pictures): for violence and...

U romances 'Date'.(Universal Studios Inc. premiers 'The Wedding Date')(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Gold Circle Films, which first hit the matrimony movie mother lode with "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," was back looking for nuggets at Thursday's Universal CityWalk preem of "The Wedding Date." This time, the romantic comedy...

Legit does the timewarp.(celebrations of Dodger Productions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... It was a retro Thursday night as "Hurlyburly" celebrated the 1980s at Lotus and "Good Vibrations" took on the 1960s at Dodger Stages. Though the Beach Boys tuner doesn't preem until Wednesday, the Dodgers went ahead and threw the party....

"Reefer Madness" stars Neve Campbell and Kristen Bell.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... "Reefer Madness" stars Neve Campbell and Kristen Bell give co-star Alan Cumming a birthday kiss at Showtime's River Horse Cafe after-bash for "Reefer Madness" Thursday night in Sundance. Campbell's brother Christian was also on hand for the...

S.B. fest burnishes 'Aviator' star.(Santa Barbara Film Festival)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... SANTA BARBARA -- Leonardo DiCaprio looked back on 16 films in 17 years Sunday at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. A visibly humbled DiCaprio, who received the fest's Platinum Award. said he was amazed at "how wiry and troy" he was in "This...

'Raging Bull' gang relishes 25th anni.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... When "Raging Bull" first unspooled in 1980, helmer Martin Scorsese bought a pair of Radio Shack speakers for the Gotham theater. But on Thursday night, on the occasion of the pic's 25th anni, "Bull" finally got the splashy preem it...

Fashion displays designs on H'w'd.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Fashion and Hollywood merged downtown Saturday at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's salute to last year's film costumes. The 25 displays included Oscar-nominated designs from "Aviator," "Finding Neverland,"...

Lion's last roar? MGM locks final slate before merger.
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- MGM has settled on what is likely to be its final four films in its current incarnation. Following discussions with Sony, the Lion has greenlit the projects in advance of the studio's buy out by a consortium led by Sony,...

Mouse sets June bloom for Eisner replacement.(Michael Eisner)(Walt Disney Co.)(resignations)
February 2, 2005... NEW YORK -- Disney chairman George Mitchell affirmed Tuesday that the company's board is committed to naming a successor to Michael Eisner in June and said "there has been no prior determination. There are no preconditions" but that "he or she...

TV fest fosters new talent.(New York Television Festival)
February 2, 2005... While indie film has events like Sundance to tout grassroots talent, there's been no such venue for emerging voices hoping to break into the television biz. Independent producer Terence Gray is looking to change things on that front by...

Exec exodus puts TiVo on pause.(executives)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Just a few weeks after topper Mike Ramsay announced he's ankling, TiVo has lost its No. 2 exec and key liaison with Hollywood. The exit of prexy Marty Yudkovitz, a former NBC exec who joined TiVo less than two years ago, sent the...

Col counts 9/11 'Minutes'.(Columbia Pictures)(movie planning)
February 2, 2005... Columbia Pictures is in advanced negotiations to acquire screen rights to "102 Minutes," a newly published book about 9/11 by New York Times reporters Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn that encapsulates tales of heroism and incompetence and adds the...

Viacom CFO to step down.
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Richard J. Bressler will leave his slots as Viacom's chief financial officer and senior exec VP as soon as a replacement can be found. Bressler also once held op posts at Time Warner. He said Monday that he; ankling...

U books 'Holiday' trip.(movie assignments)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Catherine Zeta-Jones is in negotiations to star in--and may produce--"Rachel's Holiday" for Universal-based Working Title Films. Dramedy, to be directed by Francesca Joseph, is an adaptation of Marian Keyes' novel about a...

Sealed with a 'Kiss': Brown anchors Duly Noted slate with thriller.('Cold Kiss', Effie Brown )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... "Real Women Have Curves" producer Effie Brown has unveiled a spate of projects in development for her Los Angeles-based Duly Noted shingle. First pic to head into production later this year will be "Cold Kiss." Wendy Rubin-directed...

'Idol' hands Fox win as 'House,' 'Simple' deliver.(American Idol)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- With "American Idol" giving it the anchor it sorely lacked the first half of the season, Fox surged to the top of the primetime demo rankings last week. The dominant "Idol" made up half of the net's sked Tuesday and Wednesday,...

Slater flies to 'Sweet Bird'.(Christian Slater to act in 'Sweet Bird of Youth')(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... LONDON -- Within weeks of closing on the West End in a lucrative stage revival of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," thesp Christian Slater will make his next London stage foray: as Chance Wayne in Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth,"...

CNN shelled by FNC in Iraq vote coverage.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... CNN turned in disappointing ratings for its wall-to-wall coverage of the Iraqi elections--a setback for the cabler, which had hoped to make inroads against first-place Fox News on a high-profile international story, CNN pulled out all the...

Owen owns tale of war correspondent.(Owen Wilson)(movie planning)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Owen Wilson has dug into his own pocket to option journalist John Falk's book "Hello to All That: A Memoir of War, Zoloft, and Peace," published by Henry Holt. The first book Wilson has bought, he plans to star in and produce the...

Ferrara hails 'Mary' cast.(Abel Ferrara)(movie production)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... PARIS -- Juliette Binoche, Heather Graham, Forest Whitaker and Matthew Modine will star in Abel Ferrara's religious-themed "Mary," currently lensing in Rome. Indie producer Fernando Sulichin's new Gallic shingle Central Films is producing...

Douglas breathes in Oxygen.(Illeana Douglas)(television comedy in production)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Illeana Douglas is set to topline the half-hour comedy project "Illeana-Rama" for women's cable network Oxygen. Douglas will exec produce the project, which she co-wrote with Teresa O'Neill ("Becker," "The Chris Isaac Show")...

Stealing from the rich, giving to poor auds.(Tuning In)(Column)
February 2, 2005... HEY, I'VE GOT A FABULOUS IDEA for a dating show, something that would breathe life into this tired genre. Sure. I could write more about it, but then some thieving bastard would steal it. Moderating a panel of independent producers at the...

GLAAD hands out noms: 'Kinsey' tops pic list; kudocast goes to LOGO.(Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- "Kinsey," "Kevin Hill" and "Survivor: Vanuatu" are among the nominees for the 16th Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards. Event will be televised for the first time, airing in the fall on MTV's new cable...

MacConghail ordained at Abbey.(Fiach MacConghail appointed)
February 2, 2005... DUBLIN -- Fiach MacConghail has been named director of the Abbey, Ireland's national theater. MacConghail, 40, is an independent film and theater producer who has served since 2002 as arts and cultural policy adviser to John O'Donoghue,...

Par production boosts Bakshi.(Mark Bakshi promoted)(Paramount Pictures)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Veteran exec Mark Bakshi has been promoted to president of feature production management for Paramount Pictures, succeeding the retiring Fred Gallo. Bakshi will be responsible for all aspects of worldwide physical production,...

Viv U revs rise vs. Q4 of last year.(Vivendi Universal)(company earnings)
February 2, 2005... PARIS -- Vivendi Universal on Tuesday posted a 5% increase in comparable fourth-quarter revenues to 5.3 [euro] ($6.9 billion), although last year's sale of Universal and other assets caused revs to plunge by more than a quarter in real terms....

Google presses ad-vantage in Q4.(company earings)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Internet powerhouse Google doubled its revenue in the fourth quarter and brought its profit to nearly eight times what it was a year ago. In its second quarter as a public company, the search giant reported net income of $204...

Showbiz stocks.(Illustration)
February 2, 2005... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Tuesday, February 1, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AcmeCm ACME ... 5.72 +.02 -18.4 Actvsn ATVI 27 22.42 ...

2005 Nightlife Awards.
February 2, 2005... (Town Hall: 1,500 capacity: $75) Conceived, written and produced by Scott Siegel. Directed by Gabriel Barre. Stage manager, Laura Kravets. Host, Bruce Vilanch. Performers and presenters: Karen Akers, Joy Behar, Andy Bey, Ann Hampton...

Thom Pain (based on nothing).(solo play)(Theater Review)
February 2, 2005... (DR2 Theater; 99 seats; $45 top) A Bob Boyett and Daryl Roth presentation of a play in one act by Will Eno. Directed by Hal Brooks. Sets, David Korins; lighting, Mark Barton; production stage manager; Nick Leavens. Opened Feb. 1, 2005....

I See Fire in the Dead Man's Eye.(play)(Theater Review)
February 2, 2005... (Clurman; 99 seats: $35) A Grass Arena presentation of a play in one act, written and directed by Kirk Marcoe. Sets, Takeshi Kata; costumes, Tina Nigro; lighting, Matthew Richards; sound, Jeremy J. Lee; production stage manager, Terri K....

'Jane' plainly gaining.(Jane Pauley)(television programs ratings)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... "Jane Pauley" hit a series-high national rating of 1.8 during the week of Jan. 17-23, up a tenth from the previous week, aiding its bid for renewal. Among other rookies tying their series highs were "Tony Danza," up 25% to a 1.5, and...

Day-Lewis in frame for Berlinale Camera.(Berlin Film Festival)(Daniel Day-Lewis)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... BERLIN -- Daniel Day-Lewis will be among this year's Berlinale Camera honorees Feb. 15. Thesp will be at the Berlin Film Festival, where his latest pic, "The Ballad of Jack and Rose," is unspooling in the Panorama section. He joins...

Premiere boasts rev boost.(company earnings)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... BERLIN -- Finances continue to improve at German pay TV group Premiere, with a 7.2% hike in revenue to 985 [euro] million ($1.3 billion) and a 60% cut in net losses to $105 million in 2004. The multichannel digital platform increased...

Japan's B.O. tops $2 billion for new record.(box office)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... TOKYO -- Last year's box office receipts in Japan hit a record [yen] 210.9 billion, or just slightly over $2 billion at present exchange rates, 3.8% up on 2003. Ticket sales were up 4.8% from 162.35 billion to 170 billion. This is partly...

Euro mart bulks up: company roster rises; more pix in Berlin fest.(World News)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... BERLIN -- This year's European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival will be one of the biggest ever and, as the first major film market of the year, that trend is set to continue as organizers gear up for more companies, more visitors and...

WB adding China plexes in tandem with Shenzhen.(Warner Bros. International Cinemas)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... SYDNEY -- Warner Bros. Intl. Cinemas is closing its fourth joint venture deal in China. Accord will complete its web of alliances as it ups the pace of development of the exhib industry in the underscreened market. The studio is pacting...

AAC offers pitch advice to producers.(Alliance Atlantis Communications)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... TORONTO -- Tired of being pitched by producers who don't understand what it wants, Alliance Atlantis Communications is holding a free half-day seminar, "Look at Lifestyle," Feb. 25 in Toronto to set them straight. Toronto-based Alliance...

Doc on Branson jet flight takes off.(documentary planning)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Discovery Communications and Northern Ireland-based Brian Waddell Prods. will co-produce a documentary on aviator Steve Fossett's attempt to fly solo non-stop around the world in Brit entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic...

The Fall of Fujimori.(documentary)(Movie Review)
February 2, 2005... (Docu) A Stardust Pictures production. Produced by Ellen Perry. Executive producer, Stephen J. Moffitt. Directed by Ellen Perry. Written by Perry. Kim Roberts, Zack Anderson. Camera (color. DV), Junji Aoki, Mel Henry, Perry; editor....

Nick nets Lil' stars: tyke cabler inks deals with rapper, thesp.(Nickelodeon)(Lil' JJ)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- For the first time, Nickelodeon has opened its doors to talent holding deals, signing 14-year-old rap star Lil' JJ and "Spanglish" thesp Shelbie Bruce. Kids caner will develop headlining vehicles for each actor, both of whom...