Daily Variety articles from January 2011

Daily Variety archives from January 2011

DGA crowns its King: 'Speech's' Hooper win.
January 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's good to be king. Tom Hooper's DGA win Saturday night was the third consecutive coup for the Weinstein Co.'s "The King's Speech." And the pic's Producers Guild wins, its 12 Oscar noms and now the Directors Guild...

'Crazy' time at Sundance.
January 31, 2011... Love and death ruled Park City on Saturday night as "Like Crazy," director Drake Doremus' heartfelt drama about a young couple trying to make a transcontinental relationship work, and HBO production "How to Die in Oregon," helmer Peter D....

WBTV, CBS eye 'Men' gameplan.
January 31, 2011... The abrupt shutdown of "Two and a Half Men" after star Charlie Sheen checked into rehab will be felt first and foremost on the Warner Bros. and CBS lots. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For CBS, the first question is what to do after the two...

Kudos pix lift blah B.O.
January 31, 2011... Thanks to better weather, an absence of football and a glut of Oscar contenders (four best pic nominees landed in the top 10), the weekend's domestic box office was quite a bit livelier than earlier outings this month. Overall, the sesh was...

Hollywood calls a blitz for Super Bowl.(THE BACKLOT)
January 31, 2011... Each year at this time the schizoid nature of the film business makes itself vividly apparent: On the one hand the kudos circuit is frenetically focused on specialty movies like "The King's' Speech," "The Black Swan" and "The Social Network."...

Buck.(Movie review)
January 31, 2011... (Docu) A Sundance Selects/IFC Films release of a Cedar Creek Prods. presentation in association with Motto Motion Pictures and Back Allie Prods. Produced by Julie Goldman. Executive producer, Cindy Meehl. Directed by Cindy Meehl. Camera...

How to Die in Oregon.(Television program review)
January 31, 2011... (Docu) An HBO Documentary Films presentation of a Peter D. Richardson production. Produced by Richardson, Jacqueline Glover. Executive producers, Sheila Nevins, Melody Korenbrot. Directed by Peter D. Richardson. Camera (color, HD),...

Sorkin cable-ready with HBO pilot order.
January 31, 2011... Aaron Sorkin is moving to cable. After toiling on the broadcast side with "Sports Night," "THe West Wing" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," Sorkin received a pilot order from HBO for his project about the backstage goings-on at a cable...

Fallon sez thanks in books.(Jimmy Fallon)(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... Jimmy Fallon can now add author to his resume. NBC's latenight host is set to release two books titled "Thank You Notes," based on the comedy bit segments that air Fridays on his chatfest. From Grand Central Publishing, the. first tome will...

Fest panels lure nominees.
January 31, 2011... A roster of top writers and producers, including several Oscar nominees, toplined a pair of packed panels during the Santa Barbara Film Festival's opening weekend. Event runs until Feb. 6. Among the fest's most eagerly awaited annual events,...

ABC, CBS yuk it up: family, sports themes in network laffers.
January 31, 2011... In a flurry of pilot activity, ABC and CBS ordered laffers Friday while NBC greenlighted a fantasy cop drama revolving around characters from Grimm's fairy tales. Separately, Jake Kasdan signed on to direct Fox's untitled Liz Meriwether...

Logo makes 'Friends' with comic.
January 31, 2011... Sarah Silverman is coming to Logo. Comedian, whose Emmy-nominated Comedy Central series "The Sarah Silverman Program" ended last year, is set to exec produce "Tig Has Friends." The show is one of five the Viacom-owned cabler has on its...

Mimi Leder.(Tenpercenteries)
January 31, 2011... Helmer Mimi Leder has inked with CAA. She most recently directed an episode of "Shameless" for Showtime. She is managed by Industry Entertainment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Julia Jones.(Tenpercenteries)
January 31, 2011... Fortitude just signed Julia Jones. She is best known for her portrayal of Leah Clearwater in "The Twilight Saga" and can be seen next in "Breaking Dawn Part 1." She is managed by Untitled. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sebastian Gregory.(Tenpercenteries)
January 31, 2011... UTA has signed Sebastian Gregory. Gregory will next be seen in "Heartbeat Away," which also stars Isabel Lucas, and will be released in March. Lucas is managed by The Schiff Co. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Chad Michael Collins.(Tenpercenteries)
January 31, 2011... Chad Michael Collins has signed with Diverse. Thesp recently appeared on "NCIS." He can be seen next in "Sniper: Reloaded."

Larry Joe Campbell and Mariana Klaveno have signed with APA.(Tenpercenteries)
January 31, 2011... Larry Joe Campbell and Mariana Klaveno have signed with APA. Campbell can be seen next in "Hall Pass" with Owen Wilson. Klaveno was last seen on "True Blood." Campbell is repped by Brillstein Partners, and Klaveno is repped by Shelter...

British man of steel: Cavill to don cape for WB, legendary.
January 31, 2011... Superman is taking flight again with British thesp Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures made the announcement Sunday morning and said that the reboot of the tent-pole...

2010 tix prices hit another record.
January 31, 2011... Movie ticket prices have resumed their inexorable climb, with the average cost of a ducat cracking the $8 mark for the first time in the fourth quarter, according to the National Assn. of Theater Owners. The fourth quarter price of $8.01...

Fox flocks to 'Birds' game.(Twentieth Century Fox)(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... Twentieth Century Fox is showing marketers that it can court moviegoers by piggybacking on the popularity of another franchise when its film isn't based on a known property. Fox said last week that it's paired up with Finnish gamemaker Rovio...

Family ties for thesp duo.(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... Paramount is ramping up mother-son comedy "My Mother's Curse," with Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen starring and David Ellison's Skydance co-financing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Studio is planning to start shooting this spring, with Anne...

Diller departs LNE board.
January 31, 2011... Barry Diller has ankled the Live Nation Entertainment board, according to a Jan. 24 SEC filing released Friday. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Diller's exit, effective the date of the filing, ends the IAC chairman's stormy tenure on the concert...

Disney boss gets 24% raise.
January 31, 2011... Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger received a 24% boost in his compensation in the fiscal year 2010, pretty much in line with the conglom's stock performance in the same period. According to a regulatory filing made Friday, Iger's package for the...

Helping youths to survive and thrive.(Do Good)
January 31, 2011... As the intrepid host of "Survivor," Jeff Probst has traipsed the globe and spent time in the most uninviting landscapes. But in all his travels, Probst says he's learned there is no environment more hostile than the city streets when you are a...

Upcoming events.(Insiders)(Calendar)
January 31, 2011... TODAY: Intl. Documentary Assn. hosts a panel on how to compete during awards season. Silent Movie Theater. Cinefamily.org TUESDAY: Mark Burnett, Stephen Lambert, Jonathan Bunim and other top reality and docu producers gather for the 13th...

Birth.(Insiders)
January 31, 2011... Vanessa and Hicham Morsse, a girl, Alexa Leila Morsse; Jan. 28. Mother's a page designer/copy editor at Variety. Father is non-pro.

It gets better.(Insiders)
January 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The wedding rings worn by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in "'The Kids Are All Right" are among the more unusual items up for grabs at the SAG Awards" online auction to benetit the SAG Foundation. Bidding at...

TV Land.(Exec Shuffle)(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... Jaci Cohen has been upped to exec veep of program strategy and acquisitions for Land while Kim Rosenblum has advanced to exec VP of marketing and creative for the cabler. Cohen has been with MTV Networks for 18 years and was TV Land's first...

Turner Classic Movies and TBS.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Gina MeKenzie has been promoted to veep of public relations for Turner Classic Movies and TBS. McKenzie had been senior director of PR for TCM since 2005.

Bravo.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Bravo has promoted Jenn Levy to VP of development and production. Based in Los Angeles, Levy serves as an exec producer on upcoming series "Platinum Hit" and "Million Dollar Listing," among other shows.

Sony Pictures Television.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Sony Pictures Television has upped Mark Rodriguez to veep of U.S. cable sales. Rodriguez has been with the studio since 2005. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Turner Broadcasting.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Ron Binkowski has joined Turner Broadcasting as veepee of post-production for TNT and TBS. He most recently served as a producer on CBS drama "The Good Wife."

AEG.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... AEG has appointed Todd Sims senior veep of digital. Sims' background includes working as an exec producer for ESPN.com.

Frankfurt Kumit Klein & Selz.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Iddo Arad and Mark Merriman have been named partners in the entertainment group at law firm Frankfurt Kumit Klein & Selz.

Art Center College of Design.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Tim Flattery, concept artist and designer who has worked on such pics as "Men in Black" and "Transformers," has been appointed chair of the entertainment design department at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

vfx firm Gravity.(Exec Shuffle)
January 31, 2011... Bob Samuel has been named chief marketing officer and executive producer for the commercials group at vfx firm Gravity.

Chile heats up coin: first private equity film fund set up.
January 31, 2011... A group of Chilean filmmakers and investors are pooling resources to create the country's first private equity film fund. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The $6 million fund is set up under the aegis of Southern Lights Entertainment, a new company....

Unifrance prexy back.(Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre)(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre was re-elected Friday as president of Gallic pic export org Unifrance. He will serve a second two-year mandate at the state-financed institution. The producer of films by Walter Salles, Goran Paskaljevic and Eran...

Happy Happy.(Movie review)
January 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Sykt lykkelig) (Norway) A Maipo production. (International sales: Norwegian Film Institute, Oslo.) Produced by Synnove Horsdal. Directed by Anne Sewitsky. Screenplay, Ragnhild Tronvoll. Camera (color,...

Italo 'Salt' for sale.(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fandango Portobello has kicked off world sales on Italo multi-hyphenate Gianni Di Gregorio's bittersweet laffer "Gianni e le donne" ("The Salt of Life"), a follow-up to his cult hit "Mid-August Lunch," ahead of its...

Charlie Callas.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
January 31, 2011... Wiry, rubber-faced Comedian Charlie Callas, a regular for more than four decades on TV, in films and on casino stages, died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was 83. Callas' rapid-fire delivery drew laughs and made him a frequent guest on variety and...

David Frye.(Obituary)
January 31, 2011... David Frye, whose impressions of presidents Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson as well as other prominent political figures vaulted him to popularity in the 1960s and '70s, died of cardiopulmonary arrest Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. He was 77. Frye...

Jack LaLanne.(Obituaries)
January 31, 2011... Jack LaLanne, who brought fitness, exercise and healthful eating to television decades before the era of exercise videos, died Jan. 23 in Morro Bay, Calif., from respiratory failure due to pneumonia. He was 96. His workout series was a staple...

Don Kirshner.(Obituary)
January 31, 2011... Rock producer Don Kirshner, who kicked off the Monkees' music career, died Jan. 17 in Boca Raton, Fla., of heart failure. He was 76. The Monkees were his answer to the Beatles, and Kirshner provided songs for their TV program in the 1960s,...

Patti Gilbert.(Obituary)
January 31, 2011... Patti Gilbert, a voice and character actress who appeared as King Tut's queen Shirley on "Batman" and on other hit TV shows in the late '60s and '70s, died of complications due to diabetes Jan. 15 in Lus Angeles. She was 79. Gilbert started...

Spirituality spotted at Sundance 2011.(commentary)
January 31, 2011... This year's edition of Sundance may well be remembered as the one in which the fest got religion, judging by the sheer number of entries that chose to foreground issues of faith and spirituality. While festivals are rarely wanting for films...

Focus takes world rights on 'Pariah'.
January 31, 2011... In a step forward for Focus Features, the label Friday scooped up worldwide rights to first-time helmer Dee Rees' LGBT-themed drama "Pariah," which preemed opening night at the Sundance Film Fest. Deal marks an important buy for Focus, as...

Helmer hiccups: nominees keep it real.
January 31, 2011... Capturing authenticity and dealing with constant pressure represent the biggest challenges for directors, according to the rive finalists for the Directors Guild of America feature award. "I have a sword, anvil and piano hanging over my...

From Prada to Nada.(Movie review)
January 31, 2011... A Lionsgate release and presentation in association with Televisa and OddLot Entertainment of an OddLot Entertainment production in association with Gilbert Films, Lionsgate, Televisa and Hyperion Films. Produced by Gigi Pritzker, Linda...

Waiting for Forever.(Movie review)
January 31, 2011... A Freestyle Releasing release of a Trevor Albert/James Keach production in association with Forest Baker Prods. Produced by Keach, Albert. Executive producers, Richard Arlook, Timothy J. Nelson, Forest Baker III, Jane Seymour. Directed by...

Faces added to 'Grace'.(LEGIT)(Brief article)
January 31, 2011... Developing musical "Amazing Grace" will get a pair of industry readings next month with a cast toplined by Terrence Mann ("The Addams Family"), Matt Bogart ("Jersey Boys") and Quentin Earl Darrington ("Ragtime"). Storyline is based on the...

The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore.(Theater review)
January 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Miriam Steinberg Center for Theater," 404 seats; $81 top) A Roundabout Theater Company presentation, by arrangement with the U. of the South, of the Hartford Stage production of a play in two acts by Tennessee...

"SCKBSTD".(the verdict)
January 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Virginia Stage Company's Wells Theater, Norfolk, Va.) The Verdict looks at critical reaction to key productions opening Off Broadway, regionally and abroad that appear likely candidates for further life on Broadway...

Gotham. Moscow duet on trailers concert.(LEGIT)
January 31, 2011... "Trailer Music Live," a concert of movie trailer tunes played by an orchestra and a choir, has staked out dates in Gotham and Moscow. Show--a collaboration among composer Yoav Goren, the New York City Master Chorale and the NYU Symphony...

Family ties: exex tout unified vision.
January 28, 2011... "How do you feel?" NBC News anchor Brian Williams asked Comcast topper Brian Roberts as the kickoff to Thursday's town hall meeting for the newly united employees of Comcast and NBC Universal. The cheerleading sesh, originating from the 30...

Regency: royalty in Fox's realm.
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When New Regency re-upped its deal with Twentieth Century Fox last week, it wasn't just looking to keep a good thing rolling--the shingle was positioning itself to produce a larger number of films, more of which would...

H'wood back in deal mode.
January 28, 2011... Start licking your chops, investment bankers. After several years of hoarding cash, entertainment and media companies are poised to go shopping for deals in 2011, according to a report released Thursday. "With the industry's fast-paced shift...

Kudos & crowdpleasers.
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Despite two new entries bowing at this weekend's domestic box office, New Line's "The Rite" and CBS Films' "The Mechanic," most bizzers will be keeping a watchful eye on the crop of Oscar-nommed pics, led by "The King's...

Relativity books new money man.
January 28, 2011... Relativity Media's evolution toward becoming a full-fledged minimajor took another big step Thursday. Company has added a key player in Steve Bertram, who has come aboard as chief operating officer and chief financial officer. [ILLUSTRATION...

Keep up with kudos.(Variety.com)
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Follow all the action at Saturday's DGA Awards and Sunday's SAG Awards at Variety.com

April's online fools: 'Jackass 3.5' Web date set.
January 28, 2011... Paramount's set April Fools Day as the release date for its Web pic "Jackass 3.5." Studio announced last month that Johnny Knoxville would be reteaming with Paramount Digital Entertainment and MTV Movies for "Jackass 3.5," which will showcase...

Roadside joins HBO on docu 'Project'.(Roadside Attractions)(Brief article)
January 28, 2011... As deals start to wind down at Sundance, Roadside Attractions finalized an agreement to partner with HBO Documentary Films for the U.S. theatrical release of James Marsh's "Project Nim." Leading up to Sundance, HBO acquired U.S. theatrical,...

Sony playing doubles.
January 28, 2011... Sony is doubling down in the handheld gaming space. Company unveiled its next-generation handheld system Thursday in Japan, then surprised the gaming world by also announcing a new initiative that will bring games from the original...

MRC ups Adler to prod'n VP.
January 28, 2011... Exec Brye Adler has been upped to vice prexy of production at MRC Film, the movie division of indic studio Media Rights Capital. Adler, who joined MRC Film in 2009, will report to MRC's co-toppers Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu. Adler will take...

Discovery pumps praisers.(Brief article)
January 28, 2011... Discovery has made two moves on the praisery front. Laurie Goldberg is now exec VP for both Discovery and TLC. As head of communications for TLC for past three years, she worked on the campaigns for series that include "Jon and Kate Plus 8,"...

Cabler to air B'way 'Story'.
January 28, 2011... HBO will turn the Jerry Seinfeld-directed one-man Broadway show starring Colin Quinn into a televised special to air in April. "Colin Quinn Long Story Short," which opened at the Helen Hayes Theater in November and has twice had its run...

U exec moves on to Disney.
January 28, 2011... Disney has hired Universal marketing exec Frank Chiocchi to head its creative advertising operations. He'll report to president of marketing M.T. Carney. Chiocchi's been at U for nearly a decade and was most recently exec VP of marketing....

Not nommed, but definitely memorable.(REEL LIFE)
January 28, 2011... I love awards season, though deep down I don't believe "best" is really applicable to any creative endeavor. (Who's "best," Mozart, Verdi or Beethoven? Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse? They're all pretty dam good.) Even given the elusive nature...

Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times.(Movie review)
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Docu) A Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media release. (International sales: Submarine Entertainment, New York.) Produced by Josh Braun, David Hand, Alan Oxman, Adam Schlesinger, Kate Novack, Andrew Rossi....

Le Pogam pulls out: key exec at Besson's EuropaCorp exits.(Pierre-Ange le Pogam)(World News)
January 28, 2011... Pierre-Ange le Pogam, Luc Besson's right-hand man, has resigned from EuropaCorp, the company they co-founded in 2000, ending one of the longest and most successful moviemaking partnerships in France. Le Pogam, who will keep his 8% stake in...

Berlinale's hailing 'Taxi'.(World News)
January 28, 2011... BERLIN -- The Berlinale is continuing its tradition of presenting masterpieces in the Berlinale Special section with a newly restored version of Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver." Paul Schrader, who wrote the screenplay for "Taxi Driver," will...

Shaw to Sell off TVB
January 28, 2011... Hong Kong media mogul Run Run Shaw has agreed to sell his controlling 26% stake in the territory's leading broadcaster TVB for a reported $1.28 billion. The 102-year-old Shaw, who is a legend in the Hong Kong biz, will sell his stake to a...

BSkyB fiscal picture rosy.(World News)
January 28, 2011... U.K. paybox BSkyB continues to prosper, despite the economic downturn, according to results released Thursday. Profits rose 59% in the six months ending Dec. 31 to 407 million [pounds sterling] ($648 million). Revenue was up 15% to $5.08...

Pathe grants Boon three-film deal.(Dany Boon)(World News)(Brief article)
January 28, 2011... Euro movie giant Pathe has inked with Dany Boon to jointly produce and distribute the next three movies written and directed by the French comedian, formalizing a film-by-film relationship. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Boon penned, helmed and...

Hell and Back Again.(Movie review)
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Docu--U.S.-U.K.-Austria) An Impact Partners presentation of a Roast Beef production in association with Channel 4 Britdoc Foundation/Sabotage Films/Thought Engine. Produced by Mike Lerner, Martin Herring. Executive...

The Cinema Hold Up.(Movie review)
January 28, 2011... (Asalto al cine) (Mexico) A Ciudad Cinema and Mil Nube Cine presentation. Produced by Roberto Fiesco, Iria Gomez Conchiero. Executive producer, Ernesto Martinez. Directed by Iria Gomez Conchiero. Screenplay, Juan Pablo Gomez Garcia,...

Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same.
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Space Aliens presentation. (International sales: Madeleine Olnek, New York). Produced by Madeleine Olnek, Laura Terruso. Co-producer, Cynthia Fredette. Director, writer, Madeleine Olnek. Camera (B&W, color,...

Mad Bastards.(Movie review)
January 28, 2011... (Australia) An IFC Films release of a Screen Australia, Bush Turkey Films presentation, in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest, Screen NSW, Transmission Films, Entertainment One, of a Mushroom Pictures production. Produced by Brendan...

The Son of No One.(Movie review)
January 28, 2011... A Millennium Films presentation of a Nu Image production, in association with Hannibal. (International sales: Millennium, 'Los Angeles.) Produced by John Thompson, Holly Wiersma, Dito Montiel. Executive producers, Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort,...

Scene stealers among stars: from Dakin Matthews to Ned Beatty, character actors provide connective tissue that holds a story together.(V PLUS: SAG AWARDS)
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They're the backbone of the industry: those redoubtable character actors who bring so much texture to every project, though the audience may not even know their names. "We character actors make the story happen....

Borgnine's flame undiminished.(V PLUS: SAG AWARDS)
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year's SAG Lifetime Achievement honoree, Ernest Borgnine, is no different than any other working (or not-so working) actor. Every part--past, present or future--represents this thesp's holy grail. I mean, the...

Org prexy implores actors to be more entrepreneurial.(V PLUS: SAG AWARDS)
January 28, 2011... With Hollywood actors facing wrenching changes, Screen Actors Guild president Ken Howard's says his key goal is to help SAG's 120,000 members react effectively. "The biggest concern for most actors has and always will be getting enough...

Harmon a Twitter natural despite preconceptions.(V PLUS: SAG AWARDS)
January 28, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hell no." That was Angie Harmon's response when asked to be the first-ever social media host for the Screen Actors Guild Awards this year. Harmon considered Twitter a breeding ground for the self-involved. Now, she's...

Iron & Wine.(Theater review)
January 28, 2011... (Wiltern Theater," Los Angeles, 2,200 Capacity; $25 top) Presented by KCRW and Live Nation. Performers: Sam Beam, Jim Becket, Stuart Bogie, Matt Lux, Joe Adamik, Ben Massarella, Rosie Thomas, Marketa Irglova, Nick Luca, Elliot Bergman, Justin...