Daily Variety articles from March 2012, page 9

Daily Variety archives from March 2012

Good for Nothing.(Video recording review)
March 9, 2012... (New Zealand) A Screen Media Films release of a Mi Films presentation in association with Chopper Prods. Produced by Mike Wallis, Inge Rademeyer. Executive producers, Jamie Selkirk, Brett Gamble. Directed, written by Mike Wallis. Camera...

Lou Harrison: A World of Music.(Movie review)
March 9, 2012... (Docu) A Performance & Media Arts presentation. Produced, directed by Eva Soltes. Camera (color, HD), Soltes; editors, Robi Robb, Soltes; music, Lou Harrison; sound, Andrew Roth; sound designer, Jim McKee. Reviewed at Castro Theater, San...

Banff to laud Lorre with Ustinov laurel.
March 9, 2012... Prolific writer and exec producer Chuck Lorre will receive the Peter Ustinov Comedy Award at the upcoming Banff World Media Festival. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lorre, whose current slate of CBS shows--"Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang...

Apart.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 9, 2012... A SystemX Media presentation. Produced by Ryan Rettig. Co-producer, Natalie Angel. Directed, written, edited by Aaron Rottinghaus. Camera (color), J.P. Lipa; music, Philip James Gilberti; production designer, James Fowler; art director, John...

Shahs of Sunset.(Television program review)
March 9, 2012... (Series; Bravo, Sun. March 11, 10 p.m.) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Produced by Ryan Seacrest Prods. Executive producers, Seacrest, Adam Sher and Pete Tartaglia. 60 MIN. With: Mercedes "MJ" Javid, Reza Farahan, Asa Soltan Rahmati, Sammy...

Pics that pop pique Austin's power.(V PLUS: SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST)
March 9, 2012... When it comes to North American film festivals, there's Toronto, there's Sundance, and then there's everything else. But even without a market, South by Southwest makes a strong case for the continent's next most relevant sprocket opera, vying...

Hot Titles: Eclectic Selections at This Year's SXSW Run the Gamut from Art Docs to Off-the-Wall Comedies
March 9, 2012... THE BABYMAKERS New feature from comic Jay Chandrasekhar ("Super Troopers") stars Paul Schneider and Olivia Munn as a married couple plotting to rob a sperm bank. BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING Neil Berkeley-helmed doc focuses on cartoonist and...

Underground shows amplify lineup.(V PLUS: SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST)
March 9, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the 26-year-old SXSW music festival grows ever bigger, so does the number of unofficial satellite parties, hotel-room showcases, warehouse raves and off-site mini festivals that spring up around it, events that for...

Comics poised for noise in the hoodies.(V PLUS: SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST)
March 9, 2012... Five years ago, Scott Aukerman, host of the comedy podcast and IFC show "Comedy Bang Bang," flew to Austin to perform in a single unsanctioned show during SXSW. He had no badge to see live concerts or participate in any of the panels. ...

Pilot watch 2012.
March 9, 2012... 2012-13 broadcast network orders | Up to the minute pilot season updates at TVtracker.com COMEDY AMERICAN JUDY * Studio: ABC Studios Exec producers: Deborah Kaplan (writer), Harry Elfont (writer), David Gardner, Peter Principato,...

Girl Walk // All Day.(Movie review)
March 9, 2012... Produced by Jacob Krupnick, Youngna Park, Sam Petersson. Directed, edited by Jacob Krupnick. Camera (color/B&W, HD), Krupnick, Sam Petersson; music, Girl Talk; sound designer, Mike Tarantino; choreography, John Doyle, Anne Marsen, Daisuke...

Par-sing the future: Viacom meet mulls cablers, pic slate.
March 9, 2012... Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone opened the company's annual meeting with a quote by Mark Twain. "Reports of my absence from this meeting have been greatly exaggerated," he said Thursday after his waffling about whether or not to attend the...

O'seas boosts ASCAP.(American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
March 9, 2012... Performing rights org ASCAP released its final tallies for 2011 Thursday with revenues up and operating expenses down. Last year's revenues totaled $985 million, a 5.4% increase over the year previous, and the org's second-highest yearend...

Brit duo: docus are narrative too.(From the pages of Weekly VARIETY)
March 9, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For British producers John Battsek and Simon Chinn, a narrative film doesn't necessarily mean fiction. "I don't subscribe to that semantic distinction," says Chinn, who produced Oscar-winner "Man on Wire."...

Two set to ankle Time Inc.
March 9, 2012... Two execs of Time Inc. will leave the company in June, the first major departures under CEO Laura Lang. Chief marketing officer Stephanie George and exec VP of consumer marketing and sales Steve Sachs will ankle the publisher, which has also...

Cablers' indie cred.
March 9, 2012... South by Southwest is a three-headed monster revolving around film, music and interactive, but there's another thread that winds through the festival: cable networks. Cablers including IFC, Bravo, MTV and VH1 are leveraging the fest's wired...

TV maven to guide Alcon unit.
March 8, 2012... Alcon Entertainment, best known for "The Blind Side," is moving into TV production and has tapped Sony Pictures TV exec Sharon Hall to head the effort. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It has formed Alcon Television to develop, finance and produce...

'Lorax' whacks record: U toon animates B.O. with $70.7 million bow.
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Backed by an aggressive marketing and promotional campaign, Universal's "The Lorax" scored a boffo $70.7 million domestic opening and set a slew of Stateside records, including the best-ever debut for a nonsequel toon....

Affils flock to MundoFox.(affiliates of the Spanish-Language television network)
March 8, 2012... MundoFox, the new Spanish-lingo network from Fox Intl. Channels and Colombian broadcaster RCN, set to debut in the fall, has secured affiliates in 40% of U.S. Hispanic households. The aggressive push into the burgeoning Spanish-language...

'Voice' retunes Monday.(rescheduling of the television program 'The Voice')
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NBC's decision to shift "The Voice" to Monday for its second season has reshaped the competitive landscape on the night in a way that raises questions for this season and beyond. After a strong start in the 2011-12...

Pilot casting nears wrap.
March 8, 2012... With the end finally starting to come into view for broadcast TV pilot casting, Minnie Driver, Judd Hirsch, David Krumholtz, Lucy Liu, Hayden Panettiere, Matthew Perry, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Jordana Spiro and Julia Stiles are among the latest names...

Fresh franchises battle tentpole torpor.(THE BACKLOT)
March 8, 2012... Now that the awards season is history, mainstream Hollywood can refocus on what really matters: the care and feeding of tentpoles. Fawning over "The Artist" can get tiresome when there are $200 million franchises rolling off the assembly line....

Game Change.(Television program review)
March 8, 2012... (Movie; HBO, Sat. March 10, 9p.m.) Filmed in Maryland and New Mexico by Playtone in association with Everyman Pictures. Executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Jay Roach; co-executive producers, Danny Strong, Steven Shareshian;...

Harvey's French kiss.(Harvey Weinstein receives Legion d'Honneur)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Harvey Weinstein has another accolade to add to his palette for "The Artist," this time from the pic's home territory. French president Nicolas Sarkozy has awarded France's highest honor, the Legion d'Honneur, to the Weinstein Company...

'Glee' scribe may pen 'Daughter'.(Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to write adaptation of "Madman's Daughter")(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... "Glee" co-producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is in talks to adapt Megan Shepherd's upcoming young adult novel "Madman's Daughter" for Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage's Fake Empire banner. The Gothic thriller, the first in a planned trilogy of...

Cinedigm sets music docs.
March 8, 2012... Cinedigm Entertainment Group has signed rock singer Dave Stew art to bring a series of documentary films to movie theaters in a recurring timeslot. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Produced by Stewart's Weapons of Mass Entertainment, the films will...

'Watch' out for Sept. 28.("End of Watch" release date)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Open Road Films has set Sept. 28 for the release of police drama "End of Watch," starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Frank Grillo and America Ferrera. "End of Watch," written and directed by David Ayer, employs footage from...

Blogger tale alights: Inferno picks up Krinsky's 'Museum' spec.
March 8, 2012... Inferno Entertainment has acquired Natalie Krinsky's spec script "The Museum of Broken Relationships," which was featured on the 2011 Black List. Inferno will produce the pic, and Krinsky will exec produce. Story follows a 28-year-old junior...

Liddell's delving into 'Occult'.(Mickey Liddell to produce "The Occult")(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Producer Mickey Liddell has set up "The Occult" with Rufus Sewell, Anne Heche and newcomer Alycia Debnam-Carey in final negotiations to star in the thriller, which Christian Christiansen will direct. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...

Duo thrill to do 'Deed'.(Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson on "No Good Deed")(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson are set to star in Screen Gems' thriller "No Good Deed," which Sam Miller ("Luther") will direct from a script by Aimee Lagos ("96 Minutes"). Will Packer will produce via his Rainforest Films banner along with...

Scripted partners: Fremantle teams with Weta's Pukeko.
March 8, 2012... FremantleMedia Enterprises has signed a first-look deal with Pukeko Pictures, the TV affiliate of "Lord of the Rings" production shingle Weta Workshop, to develop scripted television series. The partners will attempt to take advantage of the...

'Extra' host stirring up Afterbuzz.(Maria Menounos)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... She may be best known as host of syndie newsmag "Extra," but Maria Menounos has been quietly building a different kind of brand covering the entertainment world. Menounos is the sole backer of AfterBuzz TV, an online network officially...

Fox finds slots for frosh.(scheduling of television program)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fox is moving "The Finder" to Fridays at 8 p.m. beginning April 8. The rookie series is making room for another freshman drama, Kiefer Sutherland starter "Touch," which the network shifted last week to "Finder's"...

U snatches 'Thief' date.
March 8, 2012... Universal has set a May 10, 2013, release date for Seth Gordon's crime comedy "Identity Thief." Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy are attached to star, with Scott Stuber to produce through his Stuber Pictures banner, alongside Bateman and...

Kidman rides 'Railway'.(Castings)
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nicole Kidman has been cast as Colin Firth's wife in "The Railway Man," replacing Rachel Weisz in the role. Weisz was forced to drop out of the project because she's required to do additional shooting on "The Bourne...

Baker in gear for 'Year'.(Castings)(plans for Simon Baker to join the cast of the movie 'I Give It a Year')(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... "The Mentalist" star Simon Baker is set to co-star in Working Title and Studiocanal's romantic comedy "I Give It a Year," which the actor will shoot during his hiatus from the CBS series. Rafe Spall ("Prometheus") is attached to star in the...

'Creatures' calls to Rossum.(Castings)(negotiations for Emmy Rossum to join the cast of the movie 'Beautiful Creatures')(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... "Shameless" star Emmy Rossum is in final negotiations to join the cast of Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment's supernatural love story "Beautiful Creatures." Richard LaGravenese will direct from his own adaptation of the first novel in Kami...

Auds turn to TweetRoast.
March 8, 2012... The 84th Academy Awards received a virtual roasting with the birth of TweetRoast a comedy platform that used the #tweetroast hashtag more than 24,000 times during the broadcast with over 11,000 individuals viewing the site. "Oscar Fact: More...

Helmer to guide non-profit org.(I Have a Dream Foundation executive director Katy Garretson)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Helmer Katy Garretson has been named exec director of the I Have a Dream Foundation--Los Angeles. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The appointment marks a career shift for Garretson, who will lead the non-profit org that provides mentoring and...

Limbaugh loses ads: sponsors drop radio host's show.(Rush Limbaugh)
March 8, 2012... Rush Limbaugh's apology for calling a Georgetown law student a "slut" did not stop the criticism from the left, but it also may not be halting the exodus of a handful of advertisers and a campaign to pressure more sponsors to drop the...

In toon with the seasons.(Finding Vino)
March 8, 2012... Pixar founder John Lasseter is fond of saying that winemaking is Nancy Lasseter's movie. He also likes to joke that he does his day job to fund his wife's day job. But it's clear that Lasseter Family Winery is close to both of their hearts. ...

Touch of Noel.(Insiders)(Noel Coward art exhibition called 'Star Quality: The World of Noel Coward')(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Imagine a Noel Coward exhibition, and you'd expect a dressing gown or two. But you might not anticipate paintings by the writer-composer-director-actor himself. Such art is among the memorabilia on display as part of...

Upcoming events.(Insiders)(Calendar)
March 8, 2012... TUESDAY: Fox Sports' Ed Goren will be feted at the Venice Family Clinic's Silver Circle gala. Beverly Hilton. VeniceFamilyClinic.org The Acad's Sci-Tech Council presents a sesh on crafting a film soundtrack with sound mixers Chris Newman...

Warner Bros.(Exec Shuffle)
March 8, 2012... Liz Huszarik has been elevated to exec veep of media research and insights for Warner Bros.Domestic Television Distribution. Huszarik will co-manage the research team with Bruce K. Rosenblum. Huszarik joined WB in 1991 and most recently served...

NBCUniversal.(Exec Shuffle)(executive promotions)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... NBCUniversal 's integrated media department has expanded the roles of four key execs: Hilary Smith advances to senior veep, communications and integrated media marketing: Bari Komitee serves as VP of marketing and events; Lemore Moritz is VP...

Turner Broadcasting.(Exec Shuffle)
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Turner Broadcasting has tapped Valerie Watts Meraz as veep of programming acquisitions at Turner Entertainment Network and the Young Adults & Kids Media group. Meraz leaves a similar post at Showtime. Fox Network...

AMC Networks.(Exec Shuffle)
March 8, 2012... AMC Networks has upped Erie Sack to VP of revenue planning and business operations. Sack joined the company in 2008 and was formerly director of pricing and planning,

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution.(Exec Shuffle)
March 8, 2012... Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution has appointed entertainment lawyer Edward M. Anderson as veep of international free television. He joins the studio from Anderson General & Entertainment Law-.

Pulling the strings: BBC, Henson team on puppet yakker.(World News)
March 8, 2012... <AUBIO> By STEVE CLARKE LONDON </AUBIO> The BBC is working with the Jim Henson Co. to create a weekend U.K. TV show fronted by a new puppet who will interview celebs in a chat show-style format. A pilot episode of the show,...

Creative leap for Mexico's Rowe.(World News)(plans for Michael Rowe's movie called 'Napa')(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Gael Garcia Bernal will produce Michael Rowe's follow-up to "Leap Year," one of the most notable Mexican debuts of recent years and winner of Cannes' 2010 Camera d'Or. Rowe will kick off pre-production for his second feature, tentatively...

Telefilm Canada unveils local fund.(World News)(Conference notes)
March 8, 2012... <AUBIO> By BRENDAN KELLY MONTREAL </AUBIO> Canuck film funding agency Telefilm Canada announced Friday a private fund to finance homegrown filmmaking. Local companies that donate to the fund will receive either tax deductions...

Putin likely to quash net.(World News)
March 8, 2012... <AUBIO> By NICK HOLDSWORTH MOSCOW </AUBIO> Vladimir Putin was swept back into the Kremlin on Sunday for a third term as president in elections that observers in Russia say were marred by serious fraud. With a fifth of ballots...

10 Japan nods nurse 'Rebirth'.(World News)
March 8, 2012... <AUBIO> By MARK SCHILLING TOKYO </AUBIO> "Rebirth," Izuru Narushima's meller about a woman who steals her married lover's baby and raises her as her daughter, scooped 10 trophies at the Japan Academy Awards ceremony on Friday,...

Nosilatiaj in Beauty/Nosilatiaj--La belleza.(Movie review)
March 8, 2012... Nosilatiaj in Beauty (Nosilatiaj--La belleza) (Argentina) A Vista Sur Films production, in association with Morocha Films, Alta Definicion Argentina, Campo Cine Felei. Produced by Alvaro Urtizberea. Directed, written by Daniela...

Ghost Graduation/Promocion fantasma.(Movie review)
March 8, 2012... Ghost Graduation (Promocion fantasma) (Spain) A Hispano Foxfilms release of a Ciskul, Mod Producciones, Ikiru Films, Think Studio production in association with TVE, TVC Canal Plus, AXN, FIP. (International sales: Film Factory,...

Sale signals digital shift.
March 8, 2012... In a move signaling the continuing shift from physical to digital sales in the music biz, San Francisco-based digital distributor 1Ngrooves has acquired Universal Music Group's indie distribution arm Fontana Distribution. Terms of the deal,...

Quixote Studios hires marketer.
March 8, 2012... Studio and production equipment supplier Quixote Studios has tapped Stuart Halperin VP of marketing. Halperin will oversee all marketing initiatives with an emphasis on digital strategy for each brand under the Quixote umbrella, including...

Ralph McQuarrie.(Obituaries)
March 8, 2012... Conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie, who designed the look of "Star Wars" characters including Darth Vader and Chewbacca, died Saturday in Berkeley, Calif. He was 82 and had been suffering from Parkinson's. McQuarrie, part of the team that...

Ronnie Montrose.(Obituaries)
March 8, 2012... Rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose, who played alongside artists such as Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Boz Scaggs and the Edgar Winter Group, died at his home in Millbrae, Calif., Saturday of prostate cancer. He was 64. Montrose played on the...

Neil Hope.(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Actor Nell Hope, who starred as Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the popular 1980s TV series "Degrassi Junior High" and had little contact with relatives and friends in his final years, died alone in an Ontario rooming house in 2007, his former fiancee...

Lucio Dalla.(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lucio Dalla, an Italian singer-songwriter who sold millions of records worldwide and composed songs for some of Italy's most famous film directors, died Thursday of an apparent heart attack in Montreux, Switzerland,...

Helen Rhodes.(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 8, 2012... Former longtime Warner Bros. publicist Helen Rhodes died on Tuesday in Los Angeles of natural causes. She was 81. Rhodes worked in Warners' international advertising and publicity department for 33 years until her retirement at age 74. She...

David Kelly.(Obituaries)
March 8, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Irish character actor David Kelly, who played Grandpa Joe in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and motorcycled naked in "Waking Ned Devine," died Feb. 12 in Dublin. He was 82 and the cause of death was not announced....

Unions' Rx: joint talks with majors.
March 7, 2012... With healthcare costs expected to dominate, Hollywood's below-the-line unions are launching contract negotiations today with the congloms--less than five months before the current master contract ends July 31. The first round of negotiations...

Google's big play: search giant consolidates its media apps under one roof to better compete with Apple and Amazon.
March 7, 2012... Google is looking to catch up to Apple and Amazon with a revamped approach to digital content that crosses platforms and media. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The search giant announced Tuesday plans to unify Android Market, the apps storefront...

'Butler' does it for pair.
March 7, 2012... Forest Whitaker and David Oyelowo are in negotiations to star in Lee Daniels' "The Butler," with Whitaker to play the title role and Oyelowo his son. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daniels will helm his longtime passion project from a script he...

TV in eye of storm relief.
March 7, 2012... Local TV stations in Indiana and Kentucky have rallied to help raise relief funds for the victims of the violent storms that ravaged the area last week, claiming the lives of at least 40 people. Underscoring the primacy of local broadcasters...

Tribeca's world view.
March 7, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kat Coiro's "While You Were Here," starring Kate Bosworth, Scott Hamilton Kennedy's docu "Fame High" and "All In," from Argentina's Daniel Burman, are among pies preeming at the 11th Tribeca Film Festival. Eytan...

For awards, 'younger' comes at a price.(TUNING IN)
March 7, 2012... Before Oscar season gives way to Emmy voting, let's consider how the desire to invigorate these cobwebbed ceremonies has allowed one of Hollywood's uglier traits to creep into the discussion--namely, ageism, usually via handy euphemisms like the...

John Carter.(Movie review)
March 7, 2012... A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release of a Disney presentation. Produced by Jim Morris, Lindsey Collins, Colin Wilson. Directed by Andrew Stanton. Screenplay, Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael Chabon, based on the story "A Princess of...

Painting Churches.(Theater review)
March 7, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Clurman theater; 99 seats/$59. 75 top) A Keen Company presentation of a play in two acts by Tina Howe. Directed by Carl Forsman. Set, Beowulf Boritt; costumes, Jennifer Paar; lighting, Josh Bradford; original music...

Exec segues to Cablevision.
March 7, 2012... Cablevision Tuesday named former Viacom exec Kelly McAndrew as veep of corporate communications. McAndrew will support the cable operator's strategy, financial performance and key corporate developments and guide communications at...

Fox dumps dinos: 'Terra Nova' felled by low ratings.
March 7, 2012... Fox decided to pull the plug on its ambitious dino-drama "Terra Nova" after the show delivered middling ratings in its freshman season. Studio 20th Century Fox said it would shop the series to other networks. A last-minute attempt to give the...

KenCen sked revives 'Guardsman'.
March 7, 2012... The Kennedy Center will revive Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar's 1910 farce "The Guardsman" next season and host six touring productions including "The Book of Mormon" and "War Horse," the center's president Michael Kaiser said Tuesday. ...

Mouse's music man: Robert B. Sherman: 1925-2012.(Obituary)
March 7, 2012... Robert B. Sherman, one half of the prolific pair of brothers who penned memorable songs for "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"--as well as the most-played tune on Earth, "It's a Small World (After All)"--died of...

Fox to pole position: Daytona, 'Idol' ratings put net ahead.
March 7, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fox went off script last week with "American Idol" and the Daytona 500 to dominate the primetime ratings race. Though still a sizable demo--"Idol's" three editions ranked among the week's...

Sheridan feared being dropped.
March 7, 2012... Nicollette Sheridan's entertainment attorney testified Tuesday that the actress feared she would be dropped from the show if she made "waves" about a confrontation in which "'Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry struck her on the side of...

'Middle' is syndie candy.
March 7, 2012... Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution has sold off-net rights to ABC sitcom "The Middle" to ABC Family and a broad range of TV station groups. "Middle," which stars Patricia Heaton, will premiere in both broadcast and cable in tall 2013....

Laffnet brings back comedy kudos.(Brief article)
March 7, 2012... "Modern Family" and "30 Rock" lead the TV charge while "Bridesmaids" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love" are the top nominees in the film categories for Comedy Central's second annual Comedy Awards. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Comedian Louis C.K. was the...

'Justified' set for return.
March 7, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FX is bringing back Kentucky-set "Justified" for a fourth season. Cabler has ordered 13 additional episodes for the series from FX Prods. and Sony Pictures Television. Show is based on the short story "Fire in the...

Mouse and Titmouse: Disney U.K. puts duo on 'Ninja' toon.(World News)
March 7, 2012... Disney's U.K. hub has announced its most ambitious animation to date, "Randy Cunningham: Ninth Grade Ninja," a collaboration between Ireland's Boulder Media and Los Angeles-based Titmouse. The 52-part, 11-minute toon is destined for boys' web...

London 'dance card.(World News)
March 7, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ry Russo-Young's "Nobody Walks," Julie Delpy's "2 Days in New York," Josh Radnor's "Liberal Arts" and Eugene Jarecki's docu "The House I Live In" are among pics that will screen in the first Sundance London, which...

RTL pumps profits, revs.(World News)(Financial report)
March 7, 2012... Increased business from international production and TV operations in the Netherlands helped boost revenue last year at pan-European broadcasting giant RTL Group. Revs were up 4.2% at Europe's leading broadcaster to 5.76 billion [euro] ($7.6...

Kudos competish set at Cartoon meet.(World News)
March 7, 2012... Helmers of Gallic tale "A Monster in Paris," French 2D hand-drawn adventure "Zarafa" and Danish 3D comedy "Ronal the Barbarian" will compete for the director kudo at European co-production forum Cartoon Movie, which kicks off today in Lyon. ...