Daily Variety articles from March 2003

Daily Variety archives from March 2003

B'way is still fiddling.(on Broadway, talks between musicians and producers discussed)
March 4, 2003... If ever Broadway wants to turn itself into a reality TV show, this is the week. "I'm a Negotiator, Get Me Out of Here!" pretty much sums up the ongoing contract talks between the musicians and the producers. Late Sunday afternoon, the...

A 'chicago' two-step: Directors Guild tans first-time helmer Marshall.(Rob Marshall wins Directors Guild of America award for "Chicago")
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- First-time feature helmer Rob Marshall captured the Directors Guild of America award for outstanding achievement Saturday night for the high-kicking tuner "Chicago." "I am overwhelmed," an elated Marshall told an audience of...

WB's 'Cradle' rocks at B.O.(Warner Bros.' Cradle 2 the Grave won the weekend box office)(Industry Overview)
March 4, 2003... Warner Bros.' "Cradle 2 the Grave," a chopsocky actioner starring Jet Li and DMX, swatted its way to the top of the weekend box office with $17.1 million in estimated grosses. That bested the soph-sesh perf of DreamWorks' "Old School" and...

Tyro scribes fuel fantasy.(Kevin and Dan Hageman to pen Spielberg pet project)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- How's this for a first assignment: Tyro scribes Kevin and Dan Hageman have been tapped to pen the drama "Charlie Dills" -- a pet project Steven Spielberg is eyeing to potentially direct at DreamWorks. The duo from Oregon...

The prexy plethora. (The Back Lot).(executives in motion picture industry discussed)(Industry Overview)
March 4, 2003... THE FOLKS AT SONY were pleased last week that John Calley had signed on for another two years even though, as one exec told me, "I'm not sure precisely what John Galley does." Given a plethora of other Sony execs with lofty titles, Calley...

Radiant Baby. (Broadway).(review of show)(Theater Review)
March 4, 2003... (Public Theater/Newman Theater; 299 seats; $55 top) A Public Theater presentation of a musical in two acts with book by Stuart Ross, music by Debra Barsha, lyrics by Ira Gasman, Ross and Barsha. Suggested by "Keith Haring: The Authorized...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 4, 2003... Univision has 50 stations; Galavision is the cable network of broadcaster TeleFutura. Information was incorrect in Friday's paper. The MPAA appointed Jack Valenti in 1966. Information was incorrect in Thursday's paper.

Imax projects big gains.(company plans new theater system)
March 4, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Imax will unveil a new, lower-cost theater system at ShoWest today that for the first time will allow exhibs to convert conventional screens and projection booths to its large-screen technology. Combined with last year's intro...

Miramax, Disney spat over figures flares again. (Inside Moves).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... The long-simmering meltdown in relations between Miramax and Disney bubbled up again this weekend as news reports surfaced that Miramax and Disney are still in a heated dispute over the Weinstein brothers' accounting practices. Though...

Acad's SCI of relief: org hands out tech Oscars without a hitch.(Oscar awards for scientific and technical achievement discussed)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- After two years of minor mayhem, the Oscar awards ceremony for scientific and technical achievement settled down to a more sedate affair Saturday night, with the companies that make Hollywood's cameras and its favorite...

Kazan saucers land at Lion.(Nicholas Kazan's "Us" to be adapted by MGM)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Aliens have landed at MGM, as the Lion has picked up Nicholas Kazan's sci-fi thriller "Us" in a seven-figure deal for the spec. "American Beauty" producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen are attached to produce the script, about a...

Vet Wagner, Arkin to star in TV pilots.(Robert Wagner, Adam Arkin)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD - Vet thesp Robert Wagner has landed a role in the Lifetime pilot "The Ex-Mrs. Bennett," while Adam Arkin ("Chicago Hope") will topline the quirky NBC laffer "The Ripples," as pilot casting season continues. Also, Kris...

Rooney joins Variety staff.(David Rooney joins Daily Variety's New York editorial team)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... David Rooney has joined Variety's New York editorial team as a reporter and reviewer covering the specialty film companies, Gothambased film production and film-related events. He has been based in Rome for the past 14 years, serving since...

Carlyle Group buoys Davis' Universal bid.(Carlyle Group L.P. joins Marvin Davis in bid for Universal Studios Inc., Universal Music Group)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Marvin Davis' bid for Universal Studios and Universal Music has received a powerful boost as influential international investment firm Carlyle Group has come aboard as a partner. The Washington D.C.-based firm Friday joined Bain Capital,...

ABC spells out laffer trio.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc. plans to launch three new comedies)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- ABC has picked a trio of laffers starring comedians Kevin Hart, Rodney Carrington and Janeane Garofalo. Garofalo's pilot, "Slice o' Life," has been pushed to midseason consideration and won't be shot until May or June. ...

Tears of the Sun. (Film).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release from Columbia Pictures of a Revolution Studios presentation of a Michael Lobell production/Cheyenne Enterprises production. Produced by Lobell, Arnold Rifkin, Ian Bryce. Executive producer, Joe Roth....

Agent Cody Banks. (Film Review).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... An MGM release and presentation of a Splendid Pictures, Maverick Films, Dylan Sellers production. Produced by David C. Glasser, Andreas Klein, Guy Oseary, Dylan Sellers, David Nicksay. Executive producers, Madonna, Jason Alexander, Jennifer...

Pretenders. (Concert Review).(Concert Review)
March 4, 2003... (Wiltern Theater; 2,200 capacity; $50 top) Presented by Clear Channel. Band: Chrissie Hynde, Adam Seymour, Martin Chambers, Andy Hobson, Jonathan Quarmby. Reviewed Feb. 27, 2003. Also appearing: All Mighty Senators. The history of the...

Vid boycott busted: blockbuster, WB settle U.K. rentals dispute. (Business).(Blockbuster Inc., Warner Home Video settle dispute over video pricing)
March 4, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The Battle of Britain is over. Blockbuster and Warner Home Video have reached an agreement in principal on revenue-sharing terms in the U.K., according to sources familiar with the deal, ending the long standoff between the...

Oprah in, Diller out of Forbes' richest. (Business).(Forbes magazine's list of world's richest people now includes Oprah Winfrey, but not Barry Diller)
March 4, 2003... Hello Oprah, goodbye Barry. At least 20 media and entertainment executives made the cut in Forbes magazine's 17th annual tally of the world's richest individuals, with 79-year old Viacom chief Sumner Redstone leading the showbiz pack with...

Kidvidder Cinar lures trio of suitors. (Business).(three investors reportedly interested in buying Cinar Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... MONTREAL -- The process of selling all or parts of troubled Canuck TV producer Cinar is heating up, with published reports in Canada that DreamWorks and former Nelvana topper Michael Hirsh are both interested in acquiring Cinar assets. ...

Viv U cashes in $36 mil. (Business).(Vivendi Universal S.A. sells warrants in USA Interactive to Deutsche Bank AG)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Vivendi Universal said Friday it received a $36 million cash injection from selling about 4 million additional warrants in Barry Diller's USA Interactive to a financial institution said to be Deutsche Bank. The bank bought $240 million worth of...

Alliance dips into red ink. (Business).(financial data for Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.)
March 4, 2003... TORONTO -- Alliance Atlantis swung to a loss of C$l1 million ($7.4 million) in the third quarter ended Dec. 31 from a profit of $14 million a year earlier -- the result of a $16.2 million writedown in the value of the company's interest in...

Showbiz stocks. (Business).(stock price data for entertainment companies, stock market index data)(Illustration)
March 4, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, February 28, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN --...

Spotlight shifts away from stars. (Showest).(ShoWest trade show will focus on exhibition screenings of upcoming movies)
March 4, 2003... The spotlight will be on the silver screen rather than the luncheon dais at ShoWest 2008, as the long-running trade show shifts its emphasis from star-studded studio receptions to exhib screenings of upcoming big pics. "The industry has...

B.O. battle cry: times of global conflict help fill exhib coffers. (Showest).(war expected to boost movie attendance, box office receipts)
March 4, 2003... If history has shown US anything, it is the ability of war to bolster movie attendance. With that in mind, exhibs are relatively sanguine about the chance of a U.S. attack on Iraq. The scenario, assuming the war comes in spring and not...

Windows leave open too many opportunities.(for piracy)
March 4, 2003... As with most things in showbiz, when it comes to fighting piracy, timing is everything. The global scale of today's marketing and promotion of films, coupled with the lag between a pic's theatrical bow in the U.S. and its debut in other...

Newer piracy methods scramble legal picture.(digital technology is making piracy more difficult to prevent)
March 4, 2003... Digital technology has not only made piracy easier and more profitable for the pirates, it has scrambled the legal picture to the point where, although Congress and law enforcement take piracy more seriously, nobody can agree on what is -- or...

EU squabbles over c'right proposal.(European Union files to reach consensus on copyright law)
March 4, 2003... If you think building a European consensus to support a war on Iraq is tough, try getting them to agree on intellectual property laws. After years of debate and internecine squabbling, the push for a Europewide copyright policy remains a...

Oscar screeners become bootleg booty.(screener digital videodiscs being sold online, used to make pirated copies of movies )
March 4, 2003... It's kudos time in Hollywood and the pirates are a-plundering. With Tinseltown in full campaign mode for the Academy Awards, studios have uncorked a flood of screener DVDs to make sure every eligible voter sees their films. But with...

Showest schedule.(schedule of events for ShoWest trade show)(Calendar)
March 4, 2003... MONDAY 5:30 a.m. Buses leave for Al Lapidus Golf Tournament 7 a.m. Al Lapidus Golf Tournament 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Convention registration 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Trade show registration 8:15-9:30 a.m. Intl. Day...

Wedge leads animators across 'Ice'. (Animation Director of the Year).(Chris Wedge receives animation director of the year award)
March 4, 2003... In presenting its first animation director of the year honor to "Ice Age" helmer Chris Wedge, ShoWest may be confounding the critics who have wrenched back muscles salaaming "Spirited Away" director Hayao Miyazaki, but there is no question it...

REIT takes advantage of plex transition. (Animation Director of the Year).(Entertainment Properties Trust has flourished)(Company Profile)
March 4, 2003... Soon after Entertainment Properties Trust began operations in 1997, the exhibition industry seemed to fall into a, slump. Growth in screen count was outpacing the growth in ticket buying, big-name chains were filing for Chapter 11 and Wall...

Ikushima makes convenience a priority. (International Exhibitor of the Year).(Warner Mycal Corp. offers cinema support desk, receives International Exhibitor of the Year award)
March 4, 2003... Warner Mycal Corp.'s Ebina theater near Tokyo has a box office, concession stand and several other traditional amenities. It also has a feature that would seem more at home at Las Vegas' Paris and Bally's hotels, where ShoWest is taking place...

'God' director fights against formula films. (International Achievement in Filmmaking Award).(Fernando Meirelles to receive Sho West's International Achievement in Filmmaking Award )
March 4, 2003... Good things seem to come in threes for director Fernando Meirelles. Meirelles' third feature film, "City of God," sold more than 3 million admissions on its home turf last year -- a record for a Brazilian film in the past decade....

On the inside track: TV topper Zeiler in lead to head RTL Group. (World News).(Gerhard Zeiler )(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... BERLIN -- Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of leading German web RTL Television, has emerged as the leading contender to replace Didier Bellens as head of parent company RTL Group. Zeiler's name heads the list of possible candidates for the top job at...

Berlusconi backing off on RAI board. (World News).(Silvio Berlusconi backs off and allows Italy's Parliament to appoint new board for RAI)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... MILAN -- Italy's ruling coalition, led by media tycoon-premier Silvio Berlusconi, was forced to back off Thursday on the controversial issue of appointing the new board of pubcaster RAI, admitting that the right to name the network's board lay...

Zelezny faces Czech list as charges filed. (World News).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... PRAGUE -- Police have charged Nova TV director and Czech Senator Vladimir Zelezny with tax evasion and harming a creditor via the allegedly illegal transfer of shares in the license of commercial channel Nova TV Zelezny's former lawyer,...

Endemol cooks in Mideast. (World News).(launches new cooking show)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... AMSTERDAM -- Global production outfit Endemol has launched into the Middle East for the first time with "1, 2, 3 Cook," a version of the hit "Ready Steady Cook" TV series that has previously been sold to some 20 territories around the globe....

Belgrade film fest opens. (World News).(31st Belgrade International Festival)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... BUDAPEST -- The 31st Belgrade Intl. Film Festival kicked off Friday, beginning a 10-day run of screenings of some 95 feature films and documentaries. Guests include French actor and singer Charles Aznavour, Vietnamese actresses Do Thi Hai...

101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. (Film Reviews).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... (Animated) A Walt Disney Home Video release of a Walt Disney Television Animation production. Produced by Carolyn Bates, Leslie Hough. Directed, written by Jim Kammerud, Brian Smith, based on the novel "The One Hundred and One...

Melvin Goes to Dinner. (Film Reviews).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... A Phyro-Giant Partners presentation so association with Situation Films, Squaresville Prods/LeFoole Inc. of a DJ Paul production. Produced by Naomi Odenkirk, DJ Paul, Jeff Sussman. Co-producers, Michael Blieden, Bob Odenkirk. Directed by...

End of the Century. (Film Reviews).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... (Docu) Produced, directed, edited by Michael Gramaglia, Jim Fields. Camera (color, digital video), Fields. Reviewed at Slamdance Film Festival (Documentary Competition), Jan. 21, 2003. Running time: 112 MIN. With: Joey Ramone, Johnny...

The Final Curtain. (Film Reviews).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... (U.K.) A UIP (in U.K.)/Universal (in U.S.) release of a DNA Films presentation, in association with UIP, of a Young Crossbow production. (International sales: Youngfilms, U.K.) Produced by Duncan Kenworthy, Andrew Macdonald, Christopher...

Anne B. Real. (Film Reviews).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... A Reve Entertainment Group presentation of an Urban Dream production. Produced by Josselyne Harman-Saccio, Luis Moro, Jeanine Rohn. Executive producers, Lenny Bier, Moro, Herman-Saccio. Co-producers, Felice Schachter, Michael Saccio, Lisa...

Assisted Living. (Film Reviews).(Movie Review)
March 4, 2003... A MomoDog Production in association with Economic Projections. Produced by Alan Oxman, Archie Borders, Elliot Greenebaum. Directed, written by Elliot Greenebaum. Camera (color, super-l6mm), Marcel Cabrera; editors, Paul Frank, Adriana...

Obituaries.(of people in entertainment industry)(Obituary)
March 4, 2003... Walter Scharf Walter Scharf, Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning film and TV composer, died of heart failure Feb. 24 at his home in Brentwood, Calif. He was 92. New York City native was the son of Yiddish-theater comic Bessie Zwerling....

Laffer pitch copped: New Line revs laffer with Apatow aboard.(Jack Black, Will Ferrell sell comedy pitch to New Line Cinema)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Jack Black and Will Ferrell have sold an untitled comedy pitch to New Line Cinema that centers on Los Angeles motorcycle cops. Black and Ferrell will star in the pic, with Judd Apatow writing the script and making his...

Fox gives new goose to 'Moose'.(Twentieth Century Fox approaches Donald Petrie to direct "Welcome to Mooseport")(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Donald Petrie, helmer of Par's hit Kate Hudson starrer "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," is in line to direct the political and romantic comedy "Welcome to Mooseport" at 20th Century Fox. When it first surfaced last October at...

Del Toro inks for Disney's 'Willows' pic.(Guillermo del Toro to direct "The Wind in the Willows")
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Guillermo del Toro, who most recently directed "Blade II" for New Line, has signed on to write and is attached to direct a new live-action and CGI feature version of "The Wind in the Willows" for the Walt Disney Co. Del Toro,...

Threat of war stalling 'Max'.(production of "Mad Max: Fury Road" is postponed due to threat of war)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... The prospect of a war in Iraq has prompted 20th Century Fox and Icon to postpone until fall the production start of "Mad Max: Fury Road." The fourth installment of the Mel Gibson series was expected to begin filming in Namibia in July....

The Screening Room.(list of upcoming movie screenings)(Illustration)(Calendar)
March 4, 2003... THE SCREENING ROOM Screenings open to Academy and guild members only. Submit information five days prior to screening date to jfeiwell@reedbusiness.com or fax to (323) 857-0494. For full listings, go to Variety.com/screenings. List has...

Disney rides 3 pix to lead in February.(box office statistics)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Auds were in love with moviegoing during February, driving the month's box office to an all-time high of $633 million, a 7% gain on last year's record of $592 million take for the month. Even though Fox's "Daredevil" provided...

Pariah warms to Nieman pic.(Pariah to produce Damian Nieman's "A Cold Read")(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Tyro writer-director Damian Nieman has set up his next pic, "A Cold Read," with Gavin Polone's Pariah production shingle. Nieman just wrapped shooting on his first film, "Shade," starring Sylvester Stallone and Thandie Newton...

'Jackass' outpaces 'Recruit' at Oz B.O.(box office sales in Europe and Asia)
March 4, 2003... The crass characters in "Jackass: The Movie" beat the more high-profile Al Pacino/Colin Farrell combo in "The Recruit" in Australia over the weekend. The Paramount/UIP laffer nabbed $1 million on 164 screens, including previews, vs. the...

A helmer hoedown: Polanski participates in DGA nominee panel.(Roman Polanski, Directors Guild of America)
March 4, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Roman Polanski made a low-key but decidedly friendly return video visit Saturday to Hollywood, participating via satellite hookup in a panel of feature film directors nominated for this year's DGA Award. Polanski, nominated...

Nets prep to exit Baghdad.(television networks prepare to evacutate Baghdad, Iraq)
March 5, 2003... Alarmed by dire safety warnings from the Pentagon, TV news networks are talking with each other about pulling all correspondents out of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad in the coming days or weeks -- before a U.S. invasion. "Odds are,...

Biz ticks with pricey pix: prod'n costs rise by 23%.(movie production costs rose in 2002 while marketing costs fell)
March 5, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Hollywood paid a hefty sum to produce last year's hugely successful slate of movies. Negative costs rose by almost one-fourth to an average $58.8 million, though marketing expenses dipped 1.25% to $30.6 million, according to...

Revolution wants Moore.(Julianne Moore to star in Revolution Studios' 'The Forgotten')(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... In the midst of awards season mania, Oscar nominee Julianne Moore is quickly booking up the rest of her year. The thesp has signed on to star in Revolution Studios' supernatural thriller "The Forgotten;' with Joseph Ruben set to direct. Moore...

Davis to U: talk or we walk.(Marvin Davis consortium issues ultimatum regarding purchase of Vivendi Universal S.A.'s assets)
March 5, 2003... Marvin Davis and partners, in a bid for Universal, put U parent Vivendi on notice this week that they want to be taken seriously or they'll walk. Davis, the former owner of 20th Century Fox, offered last fall to buy all of Universal's...

'Hair' styled for nat'l tour.(producer Michael Butler plans national tour of musical 'Hair')
March 5, 2003... Now that 1960s war protesters are popping Propecia, it's only fitting that some legit producers resprout "Hair." Michael Butler, the musical's original Broadway producer, has acquired the rights for a national tour of the rock tuner,...

H'wood's novel idea: return of Hemingway. (The Write Stuff).(Mariel Hemingway plans movie based on Ernest Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast")
March 5, 2003... ERNEST HEMINGWAY, WHOSE NOVELS were manna for film producers at the height of the studio era then fell out of favor for half a century, is back in fashion in Hollywood. Leading the charge is Hemingway's granddaughter, thesp Mariel Hemingway....

Mouse finds 'Bride': Mostow/Lieberman pitch wins over Disney.(Mostow/Lieberman Prods. to produce comedy film 'Modern Bride')(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD-Universal-based Mostow/Lieberman Prods. has set up the pitch "Modern Bride" at Walt Disney Pictures. Principal Hal Lieberman and executives Sarah Self and Michael Converse will oversee the project, which was brought to the studio...

'De-Lovely' role strikes right chord with Judd.(Ashley Judd negotiating for role in movie about Cole Porter)(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... Ashley Judd is negotiating to join Kevin Kline in "De-Lovely," the Cole Porter biopic that Irwin Winider is directing for United Artists. Judd's in tune for the role of socialite Linda Lee Porter. She married Porter even though he was...

Myriad to shop 'Murders' beyond Oz.(Myriad Pictures acquired sales rights for 'You Can't Stop the Murders')(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... Myriad Pictures has acquired international sales rights for all territories outside Australia and New Zealand to Australian comedy thriller "You Can't Stop the Murders," the first local pickup for Miramax's new Oz distribution banner. Pic...

Third 'Scary' inks thesp duo.(two more actors sign to be in 'Scary Movie 3')(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... Dimension Films has added two more key cast members to "Scary Movie 3," with Simon Rex and Jeremy Piven signing on for the comedy spoof sequel, which starts shooting later this month in Vancouver. Former MTV veejay Rex is best known for the...

Fox's 'Married' proves no 'Joe'.(new Fox reality TV show "Married by America")
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD--Young adult auds chose NBC's "Fear Factor" and "Meet My Folks" over Fox's premiering "Married by America" on Monday in a key battle of reality shows that could go a long way in determining the nets' seasonlong race for first place....

Campus crashers cash in with new 'College' try. (Inside Move).(Randall Emmett and George Furla write movie script based on college experience)
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD--You want anything done right, do it yourself. Emmett/Furla Films' Randall Emmett and George Furla spent fall 1999 posing as transfer students at Alabama's Auburn U. and they're now developing the experience as a feature with National...

Ovation cheers winning bid for 'Road' thriller.(Ovation Entertainment wins bid for movie script 'Windsor Road')
March 5, 2003... Ovation Entertainment, the partnership between former Trilogy co-founder Richard B. Lewis and eBay co-founder Jeff Skoll, has won a script auction that is among several new project deals. The producer made a deal for David Murray's spec...

Echostar revs dishy: despite failed merger, satcaster shines. (Business).(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... Leaving aside the hefty $690 million kill fee for its failed attempt to merge with DBS rival DirecTV last quarter, EchoStar Communications turned in a healthy year of growth and widening margins. Announcing its fourth quarter and yearend...

Legal woes batter shares of Stewart's Omnimedia. (Business).(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... Battered tastemaker Martha Stewart was optimistic Tuesday that her legal woes would soon be over even as her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, delivered weak financials and a glum outlook. "I am increasingly hopeful that my personal...

MusicNet to distribute Maverick's tracks. (Business).(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... Maverick Records -- the joint venture label between Madonna and Warner Bros.--has inked a deal to distribute its tracks through the label-backed digital music service MusicNet. Under the terms of the nonexclusive pact, MusicNet subscribers...

Bauer curtails plans for Kirch. (Business).(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... BERLIN -- With its bid for the assets of bankrupt TV giant Kirch Media facing regulatory trouble, Hamburg-based publishing group Heinrich Bauer is mulling taking a smaller stake in the company, with a bigger share going to investment partner...

Spider'-spiked '02 to sweeten Marvel '03. (Business).(Marvel Enterprises forecast for 2003)
March 5, 2003... Announcing better-than-expected 2002 results, thanks to juicy royalties from "Spider-Man," Marvel Enterprises management upped their financial forecasts for 2003. A windfall of royalty streams flowing from the spring theatrical releases of...

Showbiz Stocks.(MArch 4, 2003)(Illustration)
March 5, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Tuesday, March 4, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN --...

TI chips raise digital ante.(Texas Instruments introduces high-resolution chips for digital theater system)
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Texas Instruments unveiled at ShoWest a set of computer chips for digital theater projectors with far-higher resolution than those in current TI-based DLP systems used in about 85 theaters across the U.S. "The problems we have...

The Tempest. (Legit Review).(Theater Review)
March 5, 2003... (McCarter Theater Princeton, N.J.; 1,075 capacity, $54 top) A McCarter Theater presentation of the play by William Shakespeare in two acts. Directed by Emily Mann. Set, Richard Hoover; costumes, Jess Goldstein; lighting, Mimi Jordan Sherin;...

Ex-ad exec ankles propaganda post.(Charlotte Beers to leave post as undersecretary of public diplomacy)(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The State Dept.'s effort to convince overseas auds that America is the good guy took another hit Monday, with former Madison Avenue exec Charlotte Beers abruptly announcing she will ankle her gig as undersecretary of public...

WGAE honors Scorsese with Burkey Award.(Writers Guild of America East honors Martin Scorcese)(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The Writers Guild of America East has tapped director Martin Scorsese recipient of its Evelyn F. Burkey Award, given for contributions that have brought "honor and dignity to writers everywhere." Kudos will be presented March...

Discovery/Times channel turns 'Page' over to journo.(reporter Sheryl WuDunn to host news show 'Page One')(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... The New York Times will soon put on its best face for cable. With the Discovery/Times channel skedded to bow March 25, the joint venture has named Times reporter Sheryl WuDunn as the host of daily signature program "Page One." The 10...

Buena Vista Home Entertainment. (Hitched).
March 5, 2003... Lisa Gibson and Jason VanBorssum, Feb. 1, Ascension Episcopal Church, Sierra Madre, Calif. Bride's senior sales communications manager for Buena Vista Home Entertainment; groom's prexy/CEO of Cornerstone Animation.

Stella Arroyave. (Hitched).
March 5, 2003... Stella Arroyave and Anthony Hopkins, March 1, Malibu, Calif. Bride's non-pro; groom's Oscar-winning actor.

SAG's preemptive strike backs protesters' rights. (Inside Move).(Screen Actors Guild warns against blacklisting antiwar actors)(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Amid criticism of celebrities with antiwar views, SAG's leaders have warned against possible blacklisting of thesps. The guild's national exec committee delivered the warning Monday in a statement asserting that such a threat...

UPN's grooming 'Mullet'.(network approves production of 'The Mullet Bros.')(Brief Article)
March 5, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- UPN has greenlit pilot "The Mullet Bros.," a laffer about two good ol' boys named after the redneck hairstyle. Show revolves around the brothers, beer and wrestling fanatics who run a contracting and roofing company when...