Daily Variety articles from January 2002

Daily Variety archives from January 2002

Mouse Flips Bird: Disney wins round vs. satcaster EchoStar.(Disney wins temporary restraining order against EchoStar)
January 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Michael Eisner has won the first skirmish in his battle with Charlie Ergen, but both sides are preparing for a long conflict. Disney's initial victory took place Monday, when a Los Angeles federal district court judge granted...

Oscar wilder than ever.
January 2, 2002... Awards season is in full swing, and there are a load of contenders for best film performances, production design, music and special effects. It's the small matter of best picture that is dividing everyone. In normal years, each new...

Record box office is qualified corker.(Statistical Data Included)
January 2, 2002... Pop the bubbly -- just not the Dom Perignon. While 2001 will mark increases both in box office and admissions over last year, it's likely to set a record only for B.O. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. will take its first market share crown in eight...

Biz banks on recovery.
January 2, 2002... As though fighting some two-headed beast worthy of a "Harry Potter" yarn, media companies had to tangle with the demonic tag team of recession and the economic consequences of the terrorist attacks this year. So it's small wonder many now...

Nets gird for Spanish war.
January 2, 2002... A battle of linguistic proportions is brewing in the nation's small TV markets, as Univision aggressively pursues outlets for it new Spanish-language network Telefutura. While the TV biz as a whole continues to weather an advertising...

Day for knights adds Kingsley and Parker.(Ben Kingsley, Alan Parker)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... LONDON -- Oscar-winning thesp Ben Kingsley and director, writer and producer Alan Parker were named in the Queen's annual New Year Honors' List in Britain Tuesday. Kingsley and Parker were both knighted, giving them the right to be...

Bill tightens Beeb reins.(BBC)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... LONDON -- The BBC is set to come under tougher scrutiny and greater outside surveillance than ever, according to a draft communication bill expected to be published this spring by Tessa Jowell, Britain's cultural secretary. The bill, which...

BBC tunes up Cardiff Fest.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Write a stage musical and see it on TV. The BBC has announced the first Intl. Festival of Musical Theater, to be held Oct. 20-Nov. 3 in Cardiff, Wales. Titled the Global Search for New Musicals, the 17-day fest is sponsored by...

O'seas support fuels revival of Afghan TV.
January 2, 2002... KABUL -- Foreign governments and international broadcasters are lining up to help Afghan television get back on its feet after its five-year closure under the Taliban. Offers of assistance -- mainly programming -- have come from Iran,...

'Bones' tops S. Africa B.O.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... JOHANESBURG -- "Mr. Bones," the latest release from South African filmmaker-actor-comedian Leon Schuster, has smashed local box office records for the year, becoming the second highest earner behind "Titanic." Released four weeks ago, the...

B'way Boffo Finale: Shows set to ring up B.O. record for year.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- After a turbulent autumn at the box office, Broadway managed to end the year with its traditional big-bucks performance. With several offices closed Dec. 31, only 13 of the 28 shows last week reported B.O. figures to Daily...

Vegas kudos pay off for 'Memento,' 'Rings.'.(Las Vegas Film Critics society )(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- "Memento" earned four awards, including best picture, while "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" received the most acclaim -- six kudos -- as the Las Vegas Film Critics society announced its selections for 2001. ...

Court grants TV-6 reprieve.
January 2, 2002... Russia's last independent television network won a crucial court victory Saturday, fending off what many see as a politically motivated effort to declare it bankrupt and shut it down. A federal court in Moscow overturned a lower-court...

'Sabina' is psyched for Europe.(Roberto Fanza's motion picture "My Name Is Sabina Speilrein" wraps up production)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... ROME -- Shooting wrapped in Turin in December on Roberto Fanza's provisionally titled "My Name Is Sabina Speilrein," me of the key Italian feature aimed at the wider Europe market. The fact-base English-lingo period dram concerns the woman...

Perplexed at Plexes: Bow of Euro creates headaches for exhibs. (Business).(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... PARIS -- As 300 million people across Europe began swapping currencies Tuesday, cashiers at multiplexes across the continent were among the first to feel the stress that accompanied one of the biggest money changeovers in history. While...

Despite ruling, DVD piracy a problem. (Business).(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Having whipped the DVD hackers in federal court, the studios now hold a strong legal hand in combating digital piracy. But protecting DVDs against illicit copying is likely to remain a challenge. In November, a federal appeals...

U'S Japan park rides high. (Business).(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... TOKYO -- Universal Studios Japan will take in 795.2 billion yen ($61 billion) during its first year -- about three times more than estimated, according to the Daiwa Research Institute. The number of visitors to USJ, which opened in Osaka in...

Homegrown films drawn Korean coin. (Business).
January 2, 2002... SEOUL, South Korea -- With Korean movies snagging more than 40% of local B.O. and homegrown hits bringing seven-digit profits to producers, Koreans re realizing that movies can be as good as gold to investors. And never has the film...

Showbiz Stocks.(Illustration)
January 2, 2002... Showbiz stocks Monday, December 31, 2001 Find up to the minute prices and profiles at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... ...

Middle school confessions. (Television Review).
January 2, 2002... (Docu; HBO Family, Fri. Jan. 4, 9:15 p.m.) Filmed in various locations by Gold Egg Entertainment in association with Longridge Enterprises and Two Oceans Entertainment. Executive producers, Meryl Marshall-Daniels, Donna Brown Guillaume,...

Oz 'Film' targets crossover auds.(joint Australia-India motion picture production)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... SYDNEY -- Australia's John Winter and Oz-based Indian producer Anupam Sharma are tapping into Bollywood's recent worldwide success with audiences to co-produce a romantic comedy. "The Film," aimed at both Indian and Western auds, will be...

Die Frau Ohne Schatten. (Opera: Charles Isherwood).(Metropolitan Opera)
January 2, 2002... (Metropolitan Opera; 3,800 seats; $250 top) A Metropolitan Opera presentation of the opera in three acts with music by Richard Strauss and libretto by Hugo von Hoffmansthal. Conductor, Christian Thielemann. Production, Herbert Wernicke....

Suriyothai. (Film Review).
January 2, 2002... (Thailand) A Sahamongkol presentation of a Prommitr Prod. Co. production. (International sales: GMT Entertainment Co., Bangkok.) Produced by Kamala Yukol. Directed, written, edited by Chatrichalerm Yukol. Camera (color), Igor Luther,...

Datebook.(Museum of Television & Radio will screen The Frank Sinatra Show)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... The Museum of Television & Radio will screen a recently discovered color version of "The Frank Sinatra Show: Happy Holidays With Bing and Frank" through Sunday. Show-times are 2 p.m. daily, except for Thursday, when screening will take place at...

Piracy costs Mideast vid biz $15 mil a year.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... CAIRO -- The Middle East's film industry is losing $15 million every year due to video piracy, according to statistics from the video distributors of American and Egyptian films. Since the Motion Picture Assn. of America closed its Cairo...

Dave Liebman. (Concert Review).(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... (Birdland; 1.50 capacity; $25) Presented inhouse. Musicians: Vie Juris, Tony Marino, Marko Marcinko. Opened Dec. 27, 2001. Reviewed Dec. 28. Closed Dee. 29. Dave Liebman, the prolific composer, recording artist, author and educator,...

Mandy Patinkin. (Concert Review).(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, L.A. Music Center; 1,200 seats; $65 top) Presented by Center Theater Group and Dodger Theatricals. Musical director/pianist, Paul Ford. Opened and reviewed Dec. 30, 2001; closed Dec. 31. The cavernous,...

Births.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... Wendi Niad and Neil Stearns, a boy, Jordan David Stearns, Nov. 5, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. Mother's principle at Niad Management; father's agent at Don Buchwald & Associates. Shannon Sturges and Michael Kelley, a boy, Jack...

'Rings' lordly o'seas with $156 mil.("The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring")(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... New Line's biggest gamble ever is paying off -- and how. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" has returned a staggering $156 million after 12 days in 22 territories -- a whisker more than pic's domestic cume of $154.7...

Exec Shuffle.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2002... Gullane Entertainment has promoted David Jacobs to senior veep, consumer products, for the Americas. Jacobs will oversee the newly created consumer products division in North and South America. He joined the company in 1998. Christine...

EchoStar counters in ABC Family feud.(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Charlie Ergen, chairman and CEO of EchoStar, has accused the Walt Disney Co. of demanding "hush money" to keep the Mouse House from attacking the pending merger of EchoStar and DirecTV. EchoStar's charges came Wednesday in a...

Lewine may get his Mann.(Mann Theaters owner Jeff Lewine )(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... Warner Bros. and Paramount are negotiating with former Mann Theaters owner Jeff Lewine to return ownership of most Mann properties to the Pittsburgh-based exhib by next month, sources said Wednesday. Under terms being discussed, Warners and...

WB'S billion-$ beat: Prolific studio takes '01 crown; U second.(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... In 2001, bigger was also better: Warner Bros. boasted a larger slate of major releases than any other domestic distrib, and the studio now has an annual marketshare flag to show for it. Burbank studio led all majors with a 15.1% share of...

Sony has 'T3' O'Seas.("Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines" )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... Sony is developing yet another consumer electronics device: the Terminator. Easily the highest-budgeted film ever greenlit, "Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines" is being financed by Intermedia Films for S170 million, with Arnold...

Van Susteren takes $1 mil leap to Fox. (2001 Wraps Second in a Series).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK - The talent was between CNN and Fox News heated up on Wednesday as veteran CNN anchor Greta Van Susteren jumped to the competish for a salary in the ballpark of $1 million. Van Susteren will host a one-hour live primetime show...

Impostor. (Film Review).
January 3, 2002... A Dimension Films release and presentation of a Marty Katz production in association with Mojo Films. Produced by Gary Fleder, Gary Smite. Executive producer, Michael Phillips. Co-producers, Cary Granat, Andrew Rona, Michael Zoumas....

No exec session for UPN on TV critics press tour. (Inside Moves).(Television Critics Association Press Tour)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... Further throwing into question the long-term future of UPN's present management, sources confirmed that the netlet will not hold an executive session during its stop on the Television Critics Assn. Press Tour Jan. 14. CBS CEO Leslie...

Kenin moves to Hallmark.(Dave Kenin named executive VP of programming.at The Hallmark Channel)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- The Hallmark Channel has hired veteran TV executive Dave Kenin for the new post of executive VP of programming. Kenin presided over the USA Network and its sister Sci Fi Channel as executive VP for 12 years in the 1980s and...

Correction.("Rush Hour 2," "The Mummy Returns")(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
January 3, 2002... "Rush Hour 2" was distributed by New Line and earned $226 million in 2001; "The Mummy Returns" was released by Universal. Information was incorrect in Wednesday's paper.

Daniels: No regrets: Ex-prexy of SAG works on return to acting.(Former Screen Actors Guild president William Daniels)
January 3, 2002... Former Screen Actors Guild president William Daniels, who became imprinted on Hollywood's consciousness during the past two years, has no regrets about leaving the spotlight. "Being president was something that I'm glad I did, but I'm glad...

Julia Phillips, producer, author, dies at age 57.(Obituary)
January 3, 2002... Julia Phillips, the ebullient and caustic producer of "The Sting," "Taxi Driver" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" who was the first woman ever to receive a best picture Oscar, died Monday. She was 57. Phillips died of cancer in her...

NBC draws cream of adult crop.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... Planning a Maui vacation? Heading out to the Ivy for a quick bite? Buying another Lexus? Apparently you also regularly tune in to "The West Wing" and "Law & Order." The two NBC dramas are the only primetime series to attract an adults...

USA in King's 'Zone' for series.(USA Network has picked up "The Dead Zone")(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... Cabler USA Network has picked up "The Dead Zone," a series adaptation of the Stephen King novel that had been on UPN's slate as a possible midseason entry. USA picked up the completed two-hour pilot and ordered 22 episodes of the series...

ABC 'Bowl' half-full: College football fails to yield ratings bonanza.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... ABC'S college football "Bowl Bonanza" is off to a sluggish start, as overnight ratings for its key New Year's Day games weren't especially rosy. According to Nielsen overnights, this year's five Jan. 1 contests on the broadcast nets...

Online crix laud 'Drive,' 'Memento'.(Online Film Critics Society's film awards)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... "Memento" and "Mulholland Drive" may have tied as the Online Film Critics Society's top pick for best film of 2001, but "Mulholland" was the big winner of the org's kudos, grabbing nods in six of 17 categories. The OFCS, comprising 96...

Amidst turmoil, studios enjoy a record year. (2001 Wraps the Studios Second in a Series).(motion pictures)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... A few records were set and profits turned in 2001, but studio hands certainly suffered for their art. Labor ills, spiraling costs and the onset of recession caused innumerable headaches even as the B.O. surpassed $8 billion for the first time....

Eileen Heckart dies at 82.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Eileen Heckart, the Oscar-winning drama and comedy actress, died of cancer Monday at her home in Norwalk, Conn. She was 82. Heckart created the stage role of a blind man's domineering mother in "Butterflies Are Free" in 1969 and...

AFI announces awards jury.(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... Gearing up for Saturday's inaugural AFI Awards ceremony, the American Film Institute has disclosed the names of their 100 member jury -- a k a the voters. Comprising an array of professionals from across the moving image communities, AFI's...

'Nightly News' back on top in 4th quarter.(NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw," which was eclipsed by ABC's "World News Tonight" during the November sweeps; seems to be making a bit of a comeback. The Tom Brokaw-led newscast finished the fourth quarter and 2001 as the No....

Holiday B.O. gives B'way a big reason to celebrate.(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- "The good story is, there was no story," said "Rent" producer Jeffrey Seller. "Broadway behaved as it was supposed to last week." In fact, it looked a lot like Christmases past at the Broadway box office. The holiday session...

Soccer scores in U.S.: ABC, ESPN ink 5-yr. pact for World Cup games. (Business).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- TV broadcasts of soccer games still haven't caught on with the American public, but ABC and ESPN have signed an exclusive five-year deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) that will cover all of the matches of the next two men's World...

WB Net ups sales exec to senior VP. (Business).(WB Network's Rob Tuck promoted to senior VP of national sales)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... NEW YORK - Veteran WB Network sales exec Rob Tuck has been upped to senior VP of national sales. Tuck, who joined the WB in 1995 during its first broadcast season, had been VP of East Coast sales. In addition to the Gotham office, Tuck now...

Senator sells pic pack to pubcaster ARD. (Business).(motion pictures bought by German TV network)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... BERLIN - Senator Entertainment has sold TV rights to a film package to German pubcaster ARD for an undisclosed amount. Deal comes in the wake of a DVD/video rights sale last week to Universal Pictures Germany. With more sales expected...

Showbiz Stocks.(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... Showbiz stocks Wednesday, January 2, 2002 Find up to the minute prices and profiles at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... ...

America Online retail sales jump 67% in 2001. (Cyber Biz).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... America Online, the world's largest Internet services provider said Wednesday that online retail purchases by AOL members in 2001 jumped 67% to more than $33 billion compared to 2000. The company said fourth-quarter member spending climbed...

Level 3 Communications. (Cyber Biz).(signs deal with Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... Level 3 Communications has inked a multi-year deal with Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment to serve as the official bandwidth provider and online storage service for entertainment Netcaster Screenblast. Screenblast (www.screenblast.com)...

Exclusives Report.(motion pictures)
January 3, 2002... EXCLUSIVES REPORT Los Angeles Film (distributor) Circuit Week The Royal Tenenbaums LAEM 3 (BV) GCC 1 EDWD 2 The Shipping News ...

Sins of the Father. (Television Review).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... (Telepic: FX: Sun. Jan. 6, 8 p.m.) Filmed in Toronto by Artisan Pictures. Executive producers, Robert Cooper, Tracey Alexander; co-executive producer, Barbara Bloom; supervising producer, Judy Ranan; director, Robert Dornhelm; writer, John...

Film box office wrap: For the weekend of December 28-30.(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... FILM BOX OFFICE WRAP FOR THE WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 28-30 Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Week Week Title (Distributor) ...

Eye takes week for total auds.(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... Season leaders CBS and NBC again topped the primetime standings during a quiet final week of 2001 that included only a spattering of original series. According to Nielsen Media Research estimates, the Eye won rather easily in total viewers...

Gallic auds go native: 'Game,' 'Asterix' help TF1 top '01 TV ratings. (World News).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... PARIS -- The U.S. barely got a look-in from French TV viewers in 2001, as local fare led by Francis Veber's hit comedy "The Dinner Game" grabbed the biggest audiences. Broadcaster TF1, France's leading web, aired 92 of the 100 most-watched...

Spanish trio talks up mini pic/TV studio. (World News).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... MADRID -- Spanish technology giant Avanzit, production company Cartel and leading movie distributor Lauren Films are in talks to create a mini TV and film studio. According to reports in the Spanish press, the three companies have signed...

Web RTL increases its lead. (World News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... COLOGNE -- The gap between Germany's No. 1 web RTL and its competitors widened considerably in 2001. RTL stretched ahead of pubcaster ARD, with which it ran neck-and-neck in 2000, notching up a market share of 14.8%, against ARD's 13.7%,...

French cinemas post 10% gain 3t wickets. (World News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... PARIS -- French theaters sold 183 million ticket sales in 2001, up 10% from the previous year, making it the best year since 1984, according to estimates released by Gallic exhibs Wednesday. Despite a twin-pronged, end-of-year offensive by...

TV Globo pulls 'Brother'. (World News).(Big Brother Brasil postponed)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... RIO DE JANEIRO -- Leading network TV Globo's "Big Brother Brasil," originally skedded to bow this month, has been postponed indefinitely. The move follows a bitter wrangle with rival broadcaster SBT, which wrapped its reality show "Casa...

Spain plans Eu PlC confabs. (World News).(Spain will organize two film congresses as part of its presidency of the European Union )(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... MADRID -- Spain will organize two film congresses as part of its presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2002. The April 17-18 event will turn on pic co-production and distribution between EU, Latin America and...

BBC finally takes crown off rival ITV. (World News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... LONDON -- Pubcaster BBC has beaten its main commercial rival ITV for the first time in 40 years of the broadcasters' annual ratings battle -- but only just. The BBC's flagship channel BBC1 garnered an average 26.9% audience share for 2001,...

Births.(Brief Article)
January 3, 2002... Ilana Wernick and Ari Berenson, a boy, Yonah Gavriel Berenson, Nov. 5, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Mother's co-producer on CBS comedy "The King of Queens," Cecily Adams and Jim Beaver, a girl, Madeline Rose Beaver, Aug. 19, Santa Monica....

Warner leads studios into 2002: Labor ills, recession take toll on film biz. (Studio Wrap).(motion pictures)(Statistical Data Included)
January 3, 2002... WARNER BROS. Warner Bros. fired on all cylinders in 2001, earning more than $1 billion at the domestic box office, opening eight films at No. 1 and holding that slot for a total of 11 weeks -- all numbers that bested its competitors. ...

Webs' reality scuffle tortures 'Chamber'.(Touchdown Television v. Fox Broadcasting and Dick Clark Productions Inc. over copyright infringement)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... With ratings for reality and quiz shows fading, networks and producers are wholeheartedly fighting to lay claim to fresh formats with breakout potential -- even if it means going to court to do so. In the latest example of just how intense...

Eisner hedges his bets.(Disney Corp.'s annual shareholder letter)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... In an annual letter to shareholders, head Mouseketeer Michael Eisner said he "cannot guarantee" future growth prospects, even though Disney is "on the right track" for a turnaround of struggling operations, including TV and theme parks. ...

U Music Muscle: Repeats as champ; total sales down.(Universal Music and Video Distribution and music industry market share)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
January 4, 2002... Universal Music & Video Distribution dominated the music industry in 2001, accounting for nearly 27% of the 762.6 million units sold in the U.S. last year, according to SoundScan figures. Total music sales for the year were down 5% from 2000,...

Greenwald's Island queen.(Julie Greenwald to head Island Records)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... NEW YORK -- Veteran music marketing exec Julie Greenwald has been named president at Universal Music Group's powerhouse rock-pop imprint Island Records, becoming one of only three women at the helm of a major label in the U.S. In addition,...

Warner a wiz o'seas in '01.(motion picture industry 2001 earnings)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... SYDNEY -- As 2001 proved, a determined dash down the home stretch can indeed win the yearlong race at the international box office. Warner Bros. was the highest earner of the year, pulling an estimated $1.34 billion, thanks to a hefty...

Sex and the city. (Television Review).
January 4, 2002... (Series: HBO, Sun., Jan 6; 9 p.m.) Filmed in New York by HBO. Executive producer, Michael Patrick King; co-executive producers, Cindy Chupack, John Melfi, Sarah Jessica Parker; co-producers, Antonia Ellis, Jane Raab; director, Charles...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
January 4, 2002... Among Julia Phillips' survivors is her brother, Matthew Miller. Information was incorrect in Thursday's paper. Fox will distribute "Minority Report," opening June 28. Information was incomplete in Thursday's paper.

Magnolia's in bloom: Shingle to launch five-plex, picks up 2 pix.(Magnolia Pictures)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... NEW YORK -- Nascent Gotham acquisition/distribution shingle Magnolia Pictures, run by prexy Eamonn Bowles and CEO Bill Banowsky, has picked up two pics for domestic distribution and expanded into the exhibition biz with the launch of the...

Palm film test sets honorees.(Nortel Network Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival )(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The Nortel Network Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival will bestow nods upon Andy Garcia, Irwin Winkler, Arthur Hiller and Hans Zimmer during the fest's 13th annual run, which kicks off Thursday. Honorees will be feted during a Jan. 12 awards...

Lensers set to honor 'Rain' maker Donen.(American Society of Cinematographers to honor Stanley Donen)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... "Singin' in the Rain" director Stanley Donen has been tapped to receive the 2002 Board of Governors award from the American Society of Cinematographers. Presented periodically for "extraordinary and enduring contributions to advancing the...

Connor starts branding firm.(Tom Connor)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Former Paramount Pictures Television creative marketing exec Tom Connor has founded TAG, a Los Angeles-based brand marketing firm. Defined as a creative brand solutions company, TAG'S focus will be on developing the communications tools to...

Street's Williams to lead Lipsky's lot 47.(Greg Williams to become CEO of Lot 47; current CEO Scott Lipsky will become chairman)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... NEW YORK -- Greg Williams has been tapped CEO of Lot 47, the privately owned Gotham film acquisition and distribution shingle. Acting CEO and co-founder Scott Lipsky will become chairman and continue to work closely on the company's financing...

Dallas org to run local test.(Deep Ellum Film, Music, Art and Noise organization to run Santa Monica Film Festival)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Dallas' Deep Ellum Film, Music, Art and Noise organization (Defman), current sponsor of the Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas, has assumed responsibility for hosting the Santa Monica Film Festival and all associated events. "We are...

Cooper zips off to 'Zahn'. (Inside Moves).(Anderson Cooper to join Paula Zahn on CNN morning show)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Anderson Cooper, host of ABC reality show "The Mole," is returning to the news biz as a contributor to Paula Zahn's new morning show on CNN. Cooper, who previously co-anchored ABC News' overnight newscast "World News Now," will report next week...

ArtistDirect tuning up music pact with CAA.(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Music venture ArtistDirect is ankling the talent representation biz, inking a deal with Creative Artists Agency to manage its 70 musicians, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, the Beastie Boys and Beck. The deal is described...