Daily Variety articles from March 2012

Daily Variety archives from March 2012

'Motor' running for thesp.
March 30, 2012... After going through a revolving door of leading men, Warner Bros. and Dark Castle are negotiating with "300" star Gerard Butler to topline Albert Hughes' action pic "Motor City." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dominic Cooper was originally slated...

New menu: frosh look to stave off 'Hunger' pangs at B.O.
March 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taking into account its fervent fanbase and strong mid-weeks, "The Hunger Games" B.O. steamroller is likely to keep on flattening competitors this weekend, despite a pair of wide releases:...

Weinsteins wooing talent for Gallic redo.
March 30, 2012... The pieces are starting to fall into place for the Weinstein Co.'s English-lingo redo of Gallic hit "The Intouchables." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig is in early negotiations to write and direct, and Colin Firth is...

S.H.I.E.L.D. wields big brand blitz.
March 30, 2012... When Marvel Studios started recruiting promotional partners around its Iron Man, Thor and Captain America franchises, the company wanted to build long-term relationships with brands the way it's locked down multipicture pacts with the thesps who...

Lean, keen and scrappy.(V Plus: Innovative Artists at 25: 21st century agency tactics)(Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency Inc.)
March 30, 2012... At a time of industry unrest and a shifting agency landscape, Innovative Artists is prepping for its 25th birthday. The midsized tenpercentery's stability is impressive enough, but especially striking considering its stubborn methods of bucking...

Demolition has united artists once again.(WILSHIRE AND WASHINGTON)
March 30, 2012... Just a month ago, the silent-to-sound-era film "The Artist" was showered with Oscars and many other awards. This month, there's alarm about what's about to happen to real-life remnants from that fabled period of movie history. The Lot, the...

Mirror Mirror.(Movie review)
March 30, 2012... Mirror Mirror A Relativity Media release and presentation in association with Yuk Films of a Goldmann Pictures, Relativity Media, Rat Entertainment and Misher Films production. Produced by Bernie Goldmann, Ryan Kavanaugh, Brett Rather....

YouTube gets in ring: WWE's FanNation channel mines synergy.(World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.)
March 30, 2012... With YouTube doling out $100 million to content partners to create original programming for the site, many producers who landed that coin are still trying to figure out what to do with their new online real estate. For WWE, the answer was...

Fox fuels Twitter trail to 'Fringe'.(FOX Broadcasting Co.)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... Fox is bringing together Twitter and TV in an unusual bid to rally the "Fringe" faithful. The network has decided to extend for the rest of the season an on-air stunt tried during last Friday's episode that sent the series trending on the...

Holbrook in 'Land' talks.(Hal Holbrook is in negotiation to join the cast of 'Promised Land')(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... Hal Holbrook, who lust wrapped Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," is in negotiations to join Gus Van Sant's "Promised Land." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Focus Features/ Participant Media drama stars Matt Damon and John Krasinski as rival...

AFI sets dates for fest.(American Film Institute)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... The American Film Institute has skedded the 25th edition of the AFI fest for Nov. 1-8 in Hollywood. Venues include Grauman's Chinese Theater and Chinese 6, the Egyptian and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Submissions are open for narrative,...

Sony/ATV tunes up int'l topper.
March 30, 2012... After a flurry of acquisitions, Sony/ATV Music Publishing has recruited longtime Sony Corp. of America exec Rob Wiesenthal to serve as prexy of international. Wiesenthal was a key player in orchestrating Sony's pending acquisition of EMI...

Mart banks on Yanks: large U.S. presence expected at MipTV.
March 30, 2012... Eurozone TV execs may be feeling the pain of struggling economies, but more Yanks are coming to Cannes for MipTV than in recent years, as the mart gears up to open Sunday, a day earlier than usual. "All the U.S. studios will be here," said...

More critters for Animal net.(Discovery Communications Inc. Animal Planet orders new seasons of 'Pit Boss,' 'My Cat From Hell' and 'Pit Bulls and Parolees')(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Animal Planet has ordered new seasons of Saturday primetime series "Pit Boss," "My Cat From Hell" and "Pit Bulls and Parolees." The three series combined to give Animal Planet its best quarter ever on Saturdays in...

TWC on French roll with 'Populaire'.
March 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Weinstein Co. has acquired U.S. rights to debut helmer Regis Roinsard's 1950s-set romantic comedy "Populaire" from pan-European outfit Wild Bunch. David Glasser, TWC's chief operating officer, said he and...

Org to license Merv clips.
March 30, 2012... Reelin' in the Years Prods. has acquired the rights to license all footage from "The Merv Griffin Show," which ran from October 1962 to September 1986. The deal includes footage of more than 1,500 shows, 5,000 guests and about 2,000 hours of...

Fox digs 'Bones' for eighth season.(FOX Broadcasting Company renews the drama series 'Bones')(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... Fox is renewing veteran drama series "Bones" for an eighth season, the network announced Thursday. The procedural has been a solid player for Fox, averaging a 3.0 rating/8 share among viewers 18-49, down about 10% versus last year. "Bones"...

Gotham pros build strong stage roots for versatile thesps.(V PLUS: INNOVATIVE ARTISTS AT 25)(Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency Inc.)
March 30, 2012... Good luck finding the legit department at Innovative Artists--there isn't one. That's because the tenpercentary's agents tend to work across theater, TV and film. "We don't have individual departments because our clients' appetites are to...

Agency turns below-the-liners into high-profilers.(V PLUS: INNOVATIVE ARTISTS AT 25)(Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency Inc.)
March 30, 2012... Two decades ago when Scott Harris headhunted Debbie Haeusler, Innovative Artists interest in below-the-line talent was already a key--if somewhat limited--part of its focus. Today, Haeusler heads a division that includes five full-time agents...

Web's cusp runneth over.(V PLUS: INNOVATIVE ARTISTS AT 25)
March 30, 2012... The movement by such stalwart Web brands as YouTube, Hulu and Netflix into the original content business is keeping David Tochterman busy these days. As head of Innovative Artists' Digital Media division, Tochterman focuses on packaging...

Biz's sweet two-way street.(V PLUS: INNOVATIVE ARTISTS AT 25)(Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency Inc.)
March 30, 2012... Need a distinctive voice or face to add gravitas or humor to a commercial, cartoon or print ad? Innovative Artists has provided the voices behind such cultural touchstones as Bart Simpson, SpongeBob and "The Little Mermaid," and touts an...

Elegance can't mask depth of thesp's craft: Deneuve rarely shows strain despite auteurist demands.(V PLUS: FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER HONOREE: CATHERINE DENEUVE)(Catherine Deneuve)
March 30, 2012... Catherine Deneuve could have looked ridiculous. There she was in the opening scenes of 2010's "Potiche," jogging down a woodsy path in a red tracksuit, pausing to adore the forest creatures and write a little poetry. It was a Disneyfied bit of...

Great Expectations.(Television program review)
March 30, 2012... Great Expectations (Miniseries; PBS, Sun. April 1, 9 p.m.) Filmed in the U.K. by BBC Prods. and Masterpiece. Executive producers, Anne Pivcevic, Rebecca Eaton; line producer, Michas Kotz; producer, George Ormond; director, Brian Kirk; writer,...

Rupe in a twit snit: News Corp. refutes hacking charges.(World News)
March 30, 2012... Rupert Murdoch has taken to Twitter to refute allegations made by BBC flagship current affairs program "Panorama" that a News Corp. subsid undermined a rival to its U.K. paybox BSkyB by encouraging piracy. The mogul used the microblogging...

Miramax inks pact with UKTV.(World News)
March 30, 2012... Miramax has inked a pic licensing agreement with Blighty's multichannel broadcaster UKTV for its basic pay and DTT channels. UKTV, an independent joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Intl., consists of 10 channels,...

Endemol shines as 'Black Mirror' sells.(World News)
March 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Endemol Worldwide Distribution has closed a raft of sales on Endemol U.K.-owned Zeppotron's satirical drama "Black Mirror" in the run-up to the MipTV mart, which kicks off Sunday in Cannes. Endemol has sold licensing...

Italy to sell digital TV frequencies.(World News)
March 30, 2012... In a blow to Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset and some other TV players, Italy is forging ahead with plans to sell its digital terrestrial TV frequencies, scrapping its previous so-called "beauty contest" that would have assigned new channels for...

Frank's a keeper for eOne.(World News)(Entertainment One extends television agreement with Ilana Frank)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... Entertainment One has extended its first-look TV deal with Canadian producer Ilana Frank and her production company for three years, the company announced Thursday. The first project under the renewed agreement is hospital drama series...

Fremantle, Fuji pair.(World News)
March 30, 2012... FremantleMedia Asia and Japanese commercial broadcaster Fuji TV have pacted to co-develop, co-produce and roll out new TV formats while also promoting each other's existing formats in Asia. "Fuji TV's years of outstanding success, know-how...

My Way/Cloclo.(Movie review)
March 30, 2012... My Way (Cloclo) (France-Belgium) A Studiocanal (in France) release presented with LGM Cinema of an LGM Cinema, Fleche Prods., 24C Prod Ed, Studiocanal, TF1 Films Prod., Rockworld, JRW Entertainment, Emilio Films production, in association...

The Duchess of Malfi.(Theater review)
March 30, 2012... The Duchess of Malfi (The Old Vic. London; 959 seats; 49.50 [pound sterling], ($79) top) An Old Vic presentation of a play in two acts by John Webster. Directed by Jamie Lloyd. Sets and costumes, Soutra Gilmour; lighting, James Famcombe;...

Nets cook up series.(Television Food Network G.P. and Cooking Channel's new primetime shows)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... A new series featuring Bobby Flay is among the highlights of the 22 new skeins that Food Network and sibling Cooking Channel plan to offer in 2012. "Bobby Flay's Opening Night," scheduled for a July premiere on Food, will find the celebrity...

Imax ups Welton to prexy.(Mark Welton's appointment as Imax Corp.'s president)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... Mega-screen exhib Imax has tapped Mark Welton as prexy of Imax theaters for which he'll run the company's worldwide theatrical sales and operations. Welton most recently served as Imax's exec VP of corporate and digital development and...

Romanzo di una strage.(Movie review)
March 30, 2012... (Italy-France) A 01 Distribution release (in Italy) of a Cattleya, Rai Cinema presentation of a Cattleya, Babe Films production, in collaboration with Rai Cinema Produced by Riccardo Tozzi, Giovanni Stabilini, Marco Chimenz. Co-producer,...

TV Guide slips into 'Stilettos'.(TV Guide Network Inc. to air the series entitled 'StandUp in Stilettos' and 'Rove LA')(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... TV Guide Network is venturing into the unscripted comedy world with "StandUp in Stilettos," a new original series hosted by "The Office" co-star Kate Flannery. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The cabler will also air "Rove LA," the Australian...

Earl Scruggs.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
March 30, 2012... Earl Scruggs, the banjo virtuoso whose blazing three-finger attack--now commonly called "Scruggs style"--revolutionized the instrument's use in bluegrass and country music, died Wednesday at a Nashville hospital. He was 88. After attaining...

Warren Stevens.(Obituaries)
March 30, 2012... Actor Warren Stevens, who appeared in films including "Forbidden Planet" and "The Barefoot Contessa" as well as in numerous TV shows ranging from the original "Star Trek" to "ER," died in Sherman Oaks, Calif., of respiratory failure complicated...

Jim Duffy.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... TV animator Jim Duffy, who worked at Hanna Barbera and spent most of the last two decades supervising Nickelodeon's animated slate at Klasky Csupo, died March 23 after a long battle with cancer. He was 75. Duffy was born in the U.S., grew up...

Billy Ray Smith.(Obituaries)
March 30, 2012... Actor-dancer Billy Ray Smith, who later in his career was producer and unit production manager on the "Perry Mason" telepics of the 1980s and '90s, died of lung cancer on Saturday. He was 80. Smith appeared in several films early in his...

Bert Sugar.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 30, 2012... Bert Sugar, a boxing writer and sports historian who was known for his trademark fedora and ever-present cigar, died Sunday of cardiac arrest in Mount Kisco, N.Y. He was 75 and had also been battling lung cancer. Sugar was inducted into the...

'Mad' man in gear on passion pic.(Zach Galifianakis and Owen Wilson to star in Matthew Weiner's 'You Are Here')(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner has set Owen Wilson and Zach Galifianakis to topline his long-gestating passion project "You Are Here," with Amy Poehler in talks to co-star. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Weiner wrote and will direct the pic,...

Dodgers need TV to step up to plate.(Los Angeles Dodgers)
March 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tuesday s record purchase price for the Los Angeles odgers, by a group including Magic Johnson and Peter Guber, reflects the confidence the new owners have that the value of the franchise's local TV fights will fulfill...

Biz tracks tablet tune-in: as the industry calls for better viewer data, Nielsen and Disney-ABC aim to track iPad use.
March 29, 2012... A new collaboration to measure iPad usage announced Wednesday by Disney-ABC Television Group and Nielsen reflects the growing industrywide urgency to understand the device's impact on media consumption, which even in its early days is shaping up...

WB enlists duo for fright might.
March 29, 2012... Warner Bros. is entrusting its recently acquired spec "The Waiting" to KatzSmith Prods. partners Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg, the latter of whom will make his feature directorial debut with the teen thriller. First-time scribes...

Relativity shapes 'Mirror' image.(TENTPOLE tracker)(Relativity Media L.L.C.'s 'Mirror Mirror')
March 29, 2012... Relativity Media's first attempt at a star-driven, family-targeted film hits this weekend in the Snow White pic "Mirror Mirror," a major milestone in its journey to studiohood and a project that came with several challenges. Chief among...

Silver screens fall short of gold standard.(TECH BYTES)(Column)
March 29, 2012... On St. Patrick's Day, I went to the premiere of Relativity's Snow White movie, "Mirror, Mirror," which I enjoyed a lot more than I expected to, given that I'm not now and never have been a 12-year-old girl. But something distracted me while I...

Lionsgate shares pared back 13%.(Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
March 29, 2012... Stock of Lionsgate has pulled back 13% during the past two sessions following its impressive surge over the past two months. Shares of the studio closed down 63 cents Wednesday to $13.59 in active trading of more than 7.3 million shares after...

Comcast ups press chief.
March 29, 2012... Comcast Corp. has upped longtime press chief D'Arcy Rudnay to chief communications officer. Rudnay's new title at the Philadelphia-based media giant reflects expanded responsibilities, including leadership for the management of Comcast's...

Album buyers sate their 'Hunger'.(Sound recording review)
March 29, 2012... On the heels of the $152 million domestic theatrical opening for "The Hunger Games," pic's accompanying soundtrack bowed at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart last week. The Universal Republic set--formally titled "The Hunger Games: Songs From...

Snag Bags Distribution Deals
March 29, 2012... SnagFilms has inked distrib deals with cable pay-per-view giant In Demand and Dish Network, rounding out the digital distrib's cable VOD footprint in the U.S. The In Demand piece puts SnagFilms' 3,000-plus title library before Time Warner...

Menier stage moves: Chocolate Factory sweetens its sked.(LEGIT)(Menier Chocolate Factory)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... Harvey Fierstein's breakthrough play "Torch Song Trilogy" will have its first major London revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory as part of the venue's newly an-nounced slate. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The evening of three linked plays...

Comedies on touring slate for Blighty.(LEGIT)('The Elephant Man,' 'Dandy Dick' and 'The Happiest Days of Your Life')(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... Brit comedy classics "Dandy Dick" and "The Happiest Days of Your Life" plus a revival of"The Elephant Man" make up the first season of Theater Royal Brighton Prods., a new touring company led by a.d. Christopher Luscombe and producing partner...

Henson dives into fish tale.(LEGIT)
March 29, 2012... The Jim Henson Co. is developing a new animated series for kids, "Imaginocean," based on the Off Broadway musical by John Tartaglia. A total of 52 11-minute segments are in the works using Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, which enables digital...

Thesp perk for Park.(LEGIT)
March 29, 2012... Jessie Mueller, Stephen Spinella, David Furr and Gideon Glick are among the thesps to sign on for Shakespeare in the Park this summer. Mueller, who made a notable Broadway debut earlier this season in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,"...

AOL going for guys: teams with BermanBraun on new site.
March 29, 2012... The Web portal that made a catchphrase out of "you've got mail" is now looking for males, too. AOL has launched a new website in partnership with BermanBraun intended to be an online destination for men. Mandatory.com went live late Wednesday...

USA nixes pilot pair.
March 29, 2012... USA is ramping up its original programming, but neither "Over/ Under" nor "Wild Card" will be part of that mix. Both drama pilots have been gestating at the cabler for more than a year, but co-prexies Jeff Wachtel and Chris McCumber were not...

FX adding to latenight.(FX Networks L.L.C.)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... FX is ordering a latenight series from exec producer Chris Rock. Untitled weekly half-hour will star standup comedian W. Kamau Bell, who will dissect politics, pop culture, race, religion, the media and sex. FX has ordered six episodes, and...

More fashion, food on Bravo's menu.(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... Bravo shows no signs of slowing down its growing slate of originals. NBCUniversal cabler officially put seven reality series into development Wednesday, including projects from fashion tastemaker Andre Leon Talley and Fortune magazine's...

Fox books into 'Hotel Hell'.
March 29, 2012... Fox is serving up a three-course meal from Gordon Ramsay this summer. The celebrity chef has a trio of series launching on the network within days of each other, including newbie "Hotel Hell." "Hell's Kitchen," which is expanding to two...

Sprout to program NBC Kids.
March 29, 2012... NBC will use its relationship with Sprout to create a Saturday-morning programming block tailored to pre-schoolers, launching July 7. The three-hour NBC Kids segment will be programmed by Sprout, the 24-hour cable channel that is a...

Moore will be mentor.(Castings)(Julianne Moore)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... After receiving some of the best reviews of her career for her perf in HBO's "Game Change," Julianne Moore is ready to return to the bigscreen, as the thesp is in negotiations to co-star in Joseph Gordon-Levitt's untitled directorial debut. ...

Boyega gets 'Sun,' talks 'Zero'.(Castings)(John Boyega to star in 'Half of a Yellow Sun' and 'Creeping Zero')(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... "Attack the Block" star John Boyega is set to join Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor in director Biyi Bandele's "Half of a Yellow Sun," with Dominic Cooper also in talks for a lead role. Boyega is also in negotiations.to topline the indie...

Panavision CEO Suh exits.
March 29, 2012... John Suh is ankling his post as Panavision CEO. Suh will join Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, where he will be chief administrative officer. Deluxe is owned by billionaire Ronald Perelman, former owner of Panavision. Suh's tenure at...

Tribeca powers up: superhero showcase to close fest.
March 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Marvel's The Avengers" will close the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. It's an attention-grabbing choice for a fest that has always aimed to encompass programming for Gotham's general moviegoing public as well as the more...

CAA signs laff scribe.
March 29, 2012... CAA has signed Michael Bacall, the comedy scribe who wrote "Project X" and "21 Jump Street." Bacall, who is writing a treatment for Warner Bros.' "Project X" sequel, has also signed on to pen a "21 Jump Street" sequel for Sony once he...

Titles find pic home.(new series 'Epic Kill' and 'Devoid of Life' by Content House)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... Content House has launched feature development on a pair of Raffaele Ienco's titles: the upcoming comic series "Epic Kill" and the graphic novel "Devoid of Life." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Epic Kill" is an action-revenge project created,...

German giant IPO? Bertelsmann flirts with public option.(World News)
March 29, 2012... Teutonic media giant Bertelsmann Wednesday unveiled longterm plans to reshape its operations, including a digital makeover and expansion into high-growth regions such as China--possibly powered by an initial public offering. This is one...

Cannes taps shorts jury top.(FRANCE)(Jean-Pierre Dardenne was selected as president of Cinefondation Selection at the Cannes Film Festival)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... The Cannes Festival has named Belgian multihyphenate Jean-Pierre Dardenne as president of its Cinefondation Selection and topper of the short films jury. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Cinefondation jury will present awards to the winning...

Panini pets 'Cat'.(ITALY)
March 29, 2012... New TV distrib Panini Media has nabbed global rights, excluding Japan, Russia and New Zealand, to Brit toon series "Simon's Cat," a YouTube phenom that will top its debut slate at April's MipTV mart in Cannes.

Mouse logs movie deal.(World News)(Walt Disney Co. has signed a deal with YouTube Inc. and Google Inc.)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Disney has signed a movie rental deal with YouTube and Google Play in the U.K. Disney and Google's first content agreement in Blighty gives users access to films including "Real Steel" and "Pirates of the Caribbean:...

Loach to look at post-war Blighty.(World News)
March 29, 2012... Brit Ken Loach is set to direct a feature documentary based on changes that occurred in the U.K.'s social and political landscape immediately after the end of WWII in 1945. "Spirit of '45," which is in production, will ex' amine how a new...

Helming bow's a 'Secret'.(World News)
March 29, 2012... British producer Peter Fudakowski is making his directing debut with "Secret Sharer," which is shooting in Thailand. The $5 million feature is a contempo love story, inspired by Joseph Conrad's early 20th-century novella of the same name...

Balcer orders up Reno skein.(World News)(Jean Reno to star in Rene Balcer's new series 'The Grand')(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... "Law and Order" showrunner Rene Balcer and French thesp Jean Reno have boarded Paris-set series "The Grand," an English-lingo crime drama. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Created by Balcer in collaboration with French TV scribes Franck Ollivier and...

Yes, We're Open.(Movie review)
March 29, 2012... Yes, We're Open A Greenrncksolid production in association with Brainwave Films. Produced by Theresa Navarro, Richard Wong. Co-producer, Duane Andersen. Directed, edited by Richard Wong. Screenplay, H.P. Mendoza. Camera (color/B&W,...

Drought.(Movie review)
March 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Drought (Cuates de Australia) (Docu-Mexico) A Cienega Docs and Foprocine presentation. (International sales: Deckert Distribution, Leipzig, Germany.) Produced by Martha Orozco. Directed by Everardo Gonzalez....

Now. Here. This.(Theater review)
March 29, 2012... Now. Here. This. (Vineyard Theater; 125 seats, $80 top) A Vineyard Theater presentation of a musical in one act with music and lyrics by JeffBowen, book by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell. Directed and choreographed by Michael Berresse,...

The King's Speech.(Theater review)
March 29, 2012... The King's Speech (Wyndham's Theater, London; 750 seats; 52.50 [pound sterling] ($84) top) A Playful Prods. and Michael Alden, Tulchin/Bartner Prods. in association with King's Speech On Stage presentation of an Yvonne Arnaud Theater,...

Cascabel.(Theater review)
March 29, 2012... Cascabel (Lookingglass Theater. Chicago, Ill,; 150 seats: $225 top) A Lookingglass Theater, Frontera Grill, and Silverguy Entertainment presentation of a performance in one act and a meal in three courses. Co-created by Rick Bayless, Tony...

Joyful Reunion (Yin Shi Nan Nv 2: Hao Yuan You Hao Jin)
March 29, 2012... Joyful Reunion (Yin shi nan nv 2: Hao yuan you hao jin) (Taiwan-China) A Taihe Universal Film Investment Co. (in China)/Tang Moon Intl. Prods. Co. (in Taiwan) release of a Taihe Universal Film Investment Co., Tang Moon Intl. Prods. Co.,...

'ER' format goes global.(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Longtime NBC hit "ER" is poised to be adapted internationally, with Warner Bros. Intl. Television Prods. making the drama available as a global format. Rights to air the original 331 episodes of "ER" have previously...

Disney bows fan tour.
March 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Disney will showcase a slew of rare and never-before-seen clips, photos and art during its first-ever "Fanniversary" show, a theatrical experience that will unspool in six cities in April, May and June. First showing...

Romance Joe/Lo-maen-seu Jo.(Movie review)
March 29, 2012... Romance Joe (Lo-maen-seu Jo) (South Korea) A Cine 21i presentation ofa Bori Pictures production. (International sales: M-Line Distribution, Seoul.) Produced by Yim Soon-rye. Executive producer, Kim Sang-yoon. Directed, written by Lee...

Matson hears 'Music'.(Film Pickups)(Matson Films acquires 'Music from the Big House')(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... Matson Films has acquired the documentary "Music From the Big House" for a domestic theatrical release on more than 100 screens beginning in June. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The film, which focuses on a concert at Angola State Penitentiary by...

Acad sez 'Luck' is a series.(Academy of Television Arts and Sciences)(Brief article)
March 29, 2012... Although there have been two high-profile shows that have made category changes leading into the Emmys, one series won't be making any such shift. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has said HBO's "Luck" will be submitted in the...