Daily Variety articles from March 2002

Daily Variety archives from March 2002

Nerds get the word: H'w'd makes Internet piracy case in D.C.(Hollywood, California, motion picture industry)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Delivering Hollywood majors a boffo victory, an influential Senate panel on Thursday blasted the tech industry for refusing to play ball and figure out a way to stop pirated pics from being zipped around the Internet. No one...

Gotham gives green light to $375 mil prod'n studio.(motion picture production studio to be built in Manhattan, New York City)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- In what could be a major boon for the ailing film, television and commercial production businesses in Gotham, a consortium of investors including Lehman Bros., Hines, the PB Group and Pacifica Ventures have committed an estimated...

Classic laffers on trip to Fox.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... "Hot Lips" Houlihan and Jack Tripper could soon be coming to Fox. Net is looking to put together retro specs featuring the casts of classic laffers "MASH" and "Three's Company" -- even though neither show ever actually aired on the...

Partners rolla a 'Seven'.(Miramax Films and MGM to co-produce modern remake of movie "The Seven Samurai")(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Miramax Films and MGM will co-produce a contemporary retelling of Akira Kurosawa's classic saga of dueling Japanese warlords, "The Seven Samurai." Under the deal, part of an eight-pic co-production pact between the two companies, MGM will...

MGM makes 'Time' for major payday.(MGM to pay Denzel Washington $20 million to star in movie "Out of Time")(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Denzel Washington will draw a $20 million paycheck for "Out of Time," an MGM thriller that will reteam the Oscar-nommed thesp with his "Devil in a Blue Dress" director Carl Franklin. Pic, which begins shooting in May, will be produced by...

SAG taps spin doctors.(Screen Actors Guild hires two political consultants)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... SAG has hired high-profile political consultants Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane -- best known as the "Masters of Disaster" for former President Bill Clinton and VP Al Gore -- to promote SAG'S tentative deal with the Assn. of Talent Agents. ...

Army archerd. (Just for Variety).(multiple brief articles)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2002... GOOD MORNING: First there was "One Day in September," Arthur Cohn's Oscar-winning film (1999) of the massacre at the 1972 Munich Olympics. And now upcoming is "10 Days in September" -- the story of what happened between the Sept. 11 attack on...

Mouse house vid bid: Disney revs marketing for amped 'Monsters'.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Disney is putting its largest marketing campaign to date behind the Sept. 17 video release of "Monsters, Inc.," in a move that could lead to the studio's biggest year in video ever. Disney and Pixar have even signed up Billy Crystal and...

UPN breaks Frog legs in Feb. sweeps.(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... UPN, in the midst of a rebound season, has wrapped its strongest February sweep in five years -- topping rival the WB by all key measures and even challenging the majors in some categories. Its combination of African-American comedies and...

Grammycast misses beat but voice is still loudest.(Grammy Awards )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Grammy Awards were off-key in the ratings department Wednesday, still winning the night easily for CBS but down nearly 30% from last year's strong showing. According to national estimates from Nielsen, the 44th Grammy Awards, which ran...

KABC stays close to KNBC.(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... While KNBC got a nice boost from the Peacock's Olympics coverage, rival KABC nevertheless showed plenty of ratings mettle during the just-completed February sweeps. Boosted by the Salt Lake City Games, KNBC's 11 p.m. Monday-Friday newscast...

Par updates logo for 90th anniversary.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Paramount has redesigned its logo to celebrate its upcoming 90th anniversary. New logo will be featured on all Par-related materials beginning with today's release of Mel Gibson's war drama "We Were Soldiers." Original Par logo was adopted...

Marsalis will add pizzazz to Playboy Jazz Festival.(Wynton Marsalis)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Wynton Marsalis, who recently severed ties with the jazz side of his longtime label Columbia Records, will bring his septet to the Hollywood Bowl on June 15 to headline the 24th annual Playboy Jazz Festival. A celebration of Miles Davis...

With Madden off to ABC, Fox will go to its bench. (Inside Moves).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Joe Buck looks locked in as successor to the retired Pat Summerall as the No. 1 play-by-play man on National Football League games for the FOX Network, and his color analyst is expected to be Chris Collinsworth. That was the informed...

Estes joins WB's 'Brats' as 'Kingpin' adds a pair.(television programs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Rob Estes will command the lead in WB drama pilot "Brats," while Sheryl Lee ("Twin Peaks") and Brian Benben ("Dream On") have joined NBC's "Kingpin," as networks continued casting pilots Thursday. Here's the latest: * Estes ("Melrose...

ABC grabs laffer trio.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ABC moved closer to wrapping up comedy development for the fall Thursday, picking up a trio of new potential laffers to bring its total number of comedy pilots to 14. Sibling studio Touchstone Television is producing or co-producing every...

Cost cuts exhibited: NATPE offers slashed prices to stay alive.(National Assn. of TV Program Executives' Convention)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- The National Assn. of TV Program Executives, desperate to stay alive as a key annual convention for domestic syndicators, told a Los Angeles meeting of top distributors Thursday that it planned to slash the cost of exhibiting on the...

ContentFilm pumps pix with its Furst-look deal.(producer Sean Furst's Furst Films)
March 1, 2002... ContentFilm has entered into a two-year, first-look pact with L.A.-based producer Sean Furst via his Furst Films shingle. WMA Independent, the indie film division of the William Morris Agency co-headed by Rena Ronson and Cassian Elwes, will...

Franchise wins a round.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Franchise Pictures claimed a victory Thursday in a long-running dispute with Intertainment, when a judge confirmed a 36.5 million judgment against the German entertainment firm over the pic "The Caveman's Valentine." But Intertainment...

Fox touts 'Clones' st ShoWest.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Twentieth Century Fox will preem its much-anticipated trailer for "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" on Tuesday at Sho-West 2002. "Clones" producer Rick McCallum will offer a special presentation dissecting digital production...

Mouse shares sink 5% on forecast. (Business).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Shares of beleaguered entertainment giant Walt Disney sank more than 5% Thursday after a prominent Wall Streeter reiterated his prediction that the company will post a lower profit in the current quarter than most analysts think....

Showbiz stocks.(Illustration)
March 1, 2002... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Thursday, February 28, 2002 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN --...

EchoStar's stellar: Satcaster narrows losses; stock rises 10%. (Business).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Capitalizing on fast-paced subscriber growth and improvements in per-customer revenues, No. 2 satcaster EchoStar Communications managed to narrow its losses significantly for both the fourth quarter and full year 2001. Bucking...

Onex, Oaktree get OK for Loews buyout. (Business).(Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Loews Cineplex Entertainment took a big step toward emerging from bankruptcy Thursday, winning court approval of a $900 million reorganization plan giving Canadian conglom Onex and L.A. buyout firm Oaktree Capital 100% ownership of the nation's...

SAG staff mulls strike. (Business).(Screen Actors Guild)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... About 100 office workers at the Screen Actors Guild's Hollywood headquarters soon may go on strike, following their rejection of SAG'S "last, best and final" offer. The employees, repped through Local 537 of the Office & Professional...

Digital Rights push: EU unveils measures for artists, consumers. (World News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BRUSSELS -- The European Union plans to set up a system to manage digital rights and unveiled a host of new measures Thursday. As part of a new push on the European Digital Rights Management System (DRMS), the commission wants to block illegal...

Post-'Gangs,' Cinecitta commits 'Sin'. (World News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ROME -- Following the extended stay of Martin Scorsese's period drama "Gangs of New York," Cinecitta Studios is maintaining the momentum of high-profile U.S. productions shooting on the historic Rome lot, with cameras rolling on Fox's...

Pic price-cut plan backfires. (World News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HONG KONG -- The two biggest cinema chains' plans to cut prices two days a week to combat the post-Chinese New Year slump have gone awry. When film fans turned up at UA and Broadway cinemas on Tuesday and Wednesday this week they found...

Thesp Cheng, Helmer Hui lead film noms. (World News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HONG KONG -- Sammi Cheng, the queen of local romantic comedies, has picked up three nominations for best actress at April's Hong Kong Film Awards, for "Wu Yen,' "Love on a Diet" and "Fighting for Love." Cheng, dubbed the local Julia...

Slumping Carlton denies takeover bid. (World News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... LONDON -- Carlton Communications revealed that advertising sales for the first five months of its fiscal year will be down by 12%, with no relief in sight. The news came hot on the heels of Carlton and fellow ITV company Granada's...

Pope pic plans Prague scouting. (Czech Republic).(Stillking Films)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Pope John Paul II biopic "The Walls Came Tumbling Down" is due to scout Prague sites next week. Paul Williams is producer on the epic on the life of the Polish-born prelate. Line producer is Laura Medina. Oscar-winner John Briley ("Ghandi,"...

Talkshow for star? (India).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Star Plus channel is working on a chatshow along the lines of U.S.-style latenight comedy/gabfests for Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Icon hosted the wildly successful "Kaun Banega Crorepati," the local version of "Who Wants to Be a...

'Taj Mahal' story set. (India).(Akbar Khan producing new movie)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Actor-producer Akbar Khan is prepping the $10 million "Taj Mahal -- the Story of Eternal Love." Khan will helm the Hindi-lingo pie, which will be dubbed into English for a Stateside release. Cast includes Bollywood stars Manisha...

Film fest prepped. (India).(British Film Institute plans Indian, South Asian films exhibition, U.K.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The British Film Institute plans to launch an eight-month festival of Indian and other South Asian films April 25, wrapping Dec. 24. Screenings in the festival, dubbed Imagine Asia, will take place at 54 venues across the U.K. A large...

HBO/TMC acadathon. (India).(HBO's viewership statistics, India)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HBO viewers in South Asia are in for a special Oscar marathon courtesy of Turner Movie Channel this month. HBO will feature an Oscar-winning and an Oscar-nominated movie every day starting today until Academy Awards night March 24. ...

Lost in La Mancha: (Docu - U.K.). (Film Reviews).(Review)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A Quixote Films/Low Key Picture, production, in association with Eastcroft Prods. (International sales: Tequila Gang, London.) Produced by Lucy Darwin. Directed, written by Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe. Camera (color, DV-to-35mm), Pepe;...

Velvet Hangover. (Film Reviews).
March 1, 2002... A Cinema Guild presentation (in U.S.) of a Hangover production. (International sales: Cinema Guild. New York.) Produced, directed by Robert Buchar, David Smith. Camera (color, Beta SP), Buchar; editor, Buchar; sound, Smith. Reviewed on...

Here comes Cavalry. (Pix Mix).(We Were Soldiers showing honors Vietnam veterans)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Paramount mixed patriotism with its Monday premiere of drama "We Were Soldiers" at the Mann Village and Bruin theaters in Westwood. The mood was set before pie's unspooling with a special ceremony honoring the soldiers of the 1st...

'Cinderella' still a ball. (Pix Mix).(Cinderella II: Dreams Come True video release)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Scores of little princesses showed up at the El Capitan Theater on Saturday to celebrate the DVD/video release of "Cinderella II: Dreams Come True." The onlookers on Hollywood Boulevard got a real thrill when Cinderella arrived in a...

Quo Vadis: (Poland). (Film: Todd McCarthy).
March 1, 2002... A Chronos Film presentation, co-produced by Telewizja Polska, Kredyt Bank, HBO, Studio Filmowe KADR. (International sales: Chronos Film, Warsaw.) Produced by Miroslaw Skowinski. Executive producer, Jerzy Kajetan Frykowski. Supervising producer,...

A little night music.(Grammy Awards)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The reigning queen of this year's Grammys held court at BMG's Argyle Hotel bash. Five-time winner Alicia Keys (whose glitter-encrusted eyelids gave her a look that mixed pharaonic Egypt with "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert") said the...

Necessary Targets: (Variety Arts Theater New York; 499 seats $60). (Off Broadway: Charles Isherwood).
March 1, 2002... A Harriet Newman Leve, Willa Shalit and Bob Boyett presentation, in association with Suze Orman, Melissa Howden, Dozoretz/ Fonda/Mitchell and Berinstein/Teitelbaum, of the Hartford Stage production of a play in one act by Eve Ensler. Directed...

'Not' on B'way just yet.("I'm Not Rappaport" producers postpone Broadway opening)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- The revival-laden Broadway season loses one. The producers of "I'm Not Rappaport" have pushed back its opening from late April to the second week of July. "It takes time to market a show," said Elliot Martin, who is producing...

Ross to host WGA awards.(Jeffrey Ross)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Comic Jeffrey Ross has been tapped to host the 54th annual Writers Guild Awards. Kudofest is being held Saturday at the Beverly Hilton and starts at 7 p.m. Awards will be given out for feature and television writing. In addition to his...

Favreau nearing deal to direct Fox pilot 'Parole'.(Jon Favreau to to direct the Fox pilot "Life On Parole")(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Multi-hyphenate Jon Favreau ("Made," "Swingers") is close to signing on to direct the Fox pilot "Life On Parole." Comedy, from Judd Apatow ("Undeclared," "Freaks and Geeks") and Brent Forrester ("King of the Hill," "Simpsons"), is a...

Hitched.
March 1, 2002... Laurie MacMurray and Marc Gerber, Dec. 28, Bel Air Hotel, Los Angeles. Bride's VP, Rocket Man Marketing and the daughter of actress June Haver and the late actor Fred MacMurray; groom's president of trailer production company the Hippodrome.

Weekend box office preview.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WEEKEND BOX OFFICE PREVIEW Variety.cam/filmopenings RELEASE DATES AND CHANGES As of Feb. 28 Pic New date Old date ARROW Echoes May 1 April 2 ARTISAN National Lampoon's Van...

'O Brother' tour set for summer run.(O Brother, Where Art Thou? tour)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The day after the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack won the album of the year Grammy, organizers confirmed the second Down From the Mountain tour, set for this summer. Between 25 and 30 shows will be staged from June 25 through the middle...

The screening room.
March 1, 2002... THE SCREENING ROOM AMPAS Screenings open to Academy members only. All other screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For full listings, go to Variety.com/awards2002. LOS ANGELES A.I. Artificial Intelligence...

War's swell for Mel: Par's Vietnam saga tops with $20 mil preem.(actor Mel Gibson, Paramount)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Paramount's Mel Gibson starrer "We Were Soldiers" captured the weekend box office with an estimated frame-record gross of $20.2 million. Miramax's young-skewing sex laffer "40 Days and 40 Nights" opened in second place with an estimated...

Rudin books Chabon deal.(producer Scott Rudin, author Michael Chabon)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Producer Scott Rudin has landed "Wonder Boys" author Michael Chabon's next novel, "Hatzeplatz," paying $250,000 against $1 million to option the book via his production deal at Paramount. Deal comes as Chabon, who won the Pulitzer Prize...

Producers plug 'Rouge.'.(motion picture "Moulin Rouge")(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... In another unpredictable turn in this wide-open awards season, the Producers Guild of America has tapped "Moulin Rouge" winner of its best picture award. The choice, announced at Sunday night's ceremonies at the Century Plaza in Los...

Has Alphabet pulled a stupid Dave trick?(ABC television network, entertainer David Letterman)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... No matter where David Letterman ends up this fall, the probable loser will be ABC. If Letterman decides to leave CBS, the Alphabet net will likely end up forking over a license fee north of $30 million per year to snag a "Late Show" that,...

Fox, Scott plot Crusade.(20th Century Fox, director Ridley Scott)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... After examining ancient Rome for the Oscar-winning epic "Gladiator," director Ridley Scott has targeted the religious Crusades of the 11th century for a period epic he hopes to direct in 2003. Twentieth Century Fox, which last fall signed...

Biggs' new gig is a Woody pic.(actor Jason Biggs, director Woody Allen)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Woody Allen has tapped "American Pie" star Jason Biggs to star in his next film. Shooting will begin in the late spring for DreamWorks. Biggs is the first actor to be cast in Allen's latest Gothambased ensemble comedy, and as usual,...

Fellowes, Goldsman take top WGA honors.(screenwriters Julian Fellowes and Akiva Goldsman, Writers Guild of America)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... "Gosford Park" and "A Beautiful Mind," a pair of complex character-driven explorations, took top screenwriting honors Saturday from the Writers Guild of America. The victories rep a major boost to Julian Fellowes' chances for the original...

Acad touts top techies.(Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences handed Edmund DiGiulio an Oscar statuette Saturday night at its Scientific & Technical Achievement Award ceremony, honoring the industry vet for a lifetime of technological contributions to the...

Comic lift lines in Aspen.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... ASPEN, Colo. -- One-man play "Lackawana Blues" by Ruben Santiago Hudson, standup Dwayne Kennedy, Brad Hall's musical "Otis Lee Crenshaw" and Clare Kilner's feature "Janice Beard" were among the winners at the eighth annual HBO U.S. Comedy Arts...

H'wd producers back to the fundamentals.(Hollywood at Santa Barbara Film Festival)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... It was a case of the more things change, the more things remain the same for some producers at the "Movers and Shakers" seminar Saturday afternoon at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Faced with the proposition from panel moderator and...

Shalhoub, Wang pics win.(film directors Tony Shalhoub, Wang Chao)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... SANTA BARBARA -- The shortened, five-day 2002 edition of the Santa Barbara Film Festival wrapped Sunday with the following awards being presented: World Prism Award for Best Foreign Film: "The Orphan of Anyang" directed by Wang Chao ...

Cesar smiles on 'Amelie.'.(Jean-Pierre Jeunet's motion picture, France)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... PARIS -- Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Amelie" took four Cesars, including director and film, at France's equivalent of the Academy Awards on Saturday night, but surprised many by not scooping more kudos. Jeunet's box office smash had been up for...

Oscar night won't be a Kodak moment. (Inside Moves).(Kodak Theater signs not to be displayed)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... The words "Kodak Theater" will be heard more than seen at the 74th Academy Awards. Although the company paid $75 million to put its name on the theater over 20 years, that payment didn't include the right to have the main Hollywood...

ICM ready to Huddle up.(International Creative Management appoints John Huddle)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... After two years, John Huddle has ankled the William Morris Agency to join International Creative Management as a motion picture literary agent. Neither company would comment, but insiders at both shops say Huddle, with 18 days left on his...

New Line ups exec Darragh.(New Line Cinema Corp. appoints Clare Anne Darragh)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Clare Anne Darragh has been promoted to senior VP of national publicity for New Line Cinema. Darragh, who as a VP worked on pics including "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "Rush Hour 2" and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who...

Turner nets Par pix: Opens window for 'Rat Race,' 'Zoolander.'.(Paramount Pictures Corp. licensing agreement with Turner Broadcasting System Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK -- Paramount has sold Turner Broadcasting the exclusive network window to four of its recent theatricals: "Rat Race," "Domestic Disturbance," "Zoolander" and "Hardball." Turner will pony up about $26 million for a five-year...

Leonard, Alexander join pilots' cast party.(Robert Sean Leonard, Sasha Alexander television acting contracts)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Robert Sean Leonard ("The Last Days of Disco") has joined Larry Gelbart's untitled ABC drama pilot, while Sasha Alexander ("Wasteland") is the first cast member set for CBS drama "Presidio Med." Meanwhile, UPN has picked up two more drama...

U pinches 'Penny' pitch.(Universal Pictures Distribution and Jersey Films to produce Penny Dreadful: Ghost Detective)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... In a preemptive bid, Universal Pictures and Jersey Films have paid mid-six figures to pick up the pitch "Penny Dreadful: Ghost Detective" from scribe Darin Scott. U-based Jersey Films will produce the project. A family pic described as...

'CSI' soars amid series premieres.(CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television ratings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Solid starts for the new edition of "Survivor" on CBS and laffer "Leap of Faith" on NBC were overshadowed Thursday by the Eye's sophomore drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," which soared to ratings highs. According to national...

Secure film distrib: NorthStar, GNSS develop transfer system. (Business).(digital cinema software)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Telecommunications giant NorthStar Communications is readying to roll out a key piece of the puzzle that it says digital cinema's biggest cheerleaders have thus far not developed -- a secure way to transfer a pie from a studio to a theater. ...

Kodak to unspool digital offerings. (Business).(Kodak Digital Cinema Operating System by Eastman Kodak Co.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 4, 2002... Kodak is expected to lay its digital-cinema cards out on the table at the ShoWest confab in Las Vegas today. After months of private meetings and demonstrations with Hollywood players, the company's new Digital Cinema Services unit is...

Telewest core profits up 26%. (Business).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... LONDON -- U.K. cable operator Telewest has posted stronger than expected results, with core profits up 26% to [pounds sterling]319 million ($453 million) for the year ended Dec. 31. Sales were up 17% to $1.88 billion. A writeoff of $1.6...

Endemol buy hepls cut Admira's 2001 losses. (Business).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Emiliano De Pablos MADRID -- Spain's biggest film and TV conglom Admira halved full-year net losses to 347.3 million euros ($310.1 million). Admira full-year revenues reached $1.3 billion. "They're far better results, but thanks to...

Imax reports loss, vows better days. (Business).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... TORONTO -- Posting a year-end loss of $145.1 million, Imax execs Friday pronounced the restructuring of the large screen film company complete and promise a return to profitability this year. "We're rocking," Imax co-CEO Rich Gelfond told...

Showbiz Stocks. (Business).(securities industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, March 1, 2002 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN --...

Feature sits well: Stacked seating popular at most theaters.(motion picture cinemas, United States)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 4, 2002... L.A. is stacking the decks -- in its movie theaters. "Stadium" seating, offering unimpeded sight lines by stacking seat rows progressively higher from front to back, for years was nowhere to be found in the world's movie capital even as...

In Japan, 'Rings' rams its rivals.(Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Japanese moviegoers were spoiled for heavyweight choice this past weekend with the release of Buena Vista Intl.'s toon "Monsters, Inc." and "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" through Nippon Herald and Shochiku. Despite its...

Tenpercenteries.(briefs)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... The United Talent Agency has signed actress Christine Baranski for representation in all areas. Baranski, managed by Viking Entertainment, will next be seen in features ''The Guru," "Marci X" and "Chicago." Scribe Jeffrey Nachmanoff has...

Cannes seeks Fortnight pix.
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK -- The Cannes Intl. Film Festival has issued a call for submissions for Directors Fortnight, which highlights new filmmakers. To qualify, pics should be fiction features produced after January 2001. Films that have participated in...

Box Office.(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... BOX OFFICE TITLE/DISTRIBUTOR Reported Reported Box Office Box Office 2/22-2/28 2/22-2/24 ...

A big kick for Kirch; Soccer legend: Help mogul with new deal. (World News).(Franz Benkenbauer endorses Leo Kirch, Premiere Cable)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... BERLIN -- Franz Beckenbauer, German soccer legend and VP of the German Football Assn. (DFB), has come out in support of teetering Teutonic TV titan Leo Kirch, saying the org should give the cash-strapped mogul a break and renegotiate its deal....

Adams out amid Granada Oz shuffle. (World News).(George Adams)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... SYDNEY -- Production topper George Adams has exited Granada Prods. Australia in the latest round of restructuring. Move follows the departure of co-founder and chairman Steve Vizard in December and the promotion of CEO Australia Paul...

Korea pic boxing in L.A. (World News).
March 4, 2002... South Korean filmmakers continue to spread their wings, with the boxing film "Champion" landing in Los Angeles for a weeklong shoot, which began Friday. Several thousand local extras have been booked as ringside spectators for the...

Indian tax cuts may spark plex plethora. (World News).(multiplexes)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... NEW DELHI -- India could be on the brink of a multiplex boom after finance minister Yashwant Sinha halved taxes on plexes in towns and rural areas Thursday. The tax cut opens the way for companies including Priya Village Roadshow, E-City,...

German-lingo 'Producers' set. (Austria).(theater)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... The Alliance of Vienna Stages will present the first foreign-language production of "The Producers." German-lingo version will debut in fall 2003. "The Producers" will be staged at Theater an der Wien, a Vienna institution that dates back to...