Daily Variety articles from May 2004

Daily Variety archives from May 2004

'Flight' ready for takeoff.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Jodie Foster has signed on to star in the high-concept thriller "Flight Plan" for Imagine/Disney. Robert Schwentke will direct the pic based on a pitch by Peter Dowling. Terry Hayes and "Shattered Glass" writer-director...

'Mean' wins clean: Par laffer takes $25 million to lead femme-feuled B.O. frame.(Paramount, Mean Girls)
May 3, 2004... For a second week in a row, the box office was femme-fed, led by a surprisingly strong bow for Paramount's "Mean Girls," which grossed an estimated $25 million in its first three days. In the last frame before Hollywood starts to unload its...

NBC mines reality in coal country.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- NBC and producer Ken Mok are taking "The Simple Life" and turning it on its head. Peacock has teamed up with exec producer Mok ("America's Next Top Model") for "The High Life," giving a pilot commitment to the unscripted...

'Grilled' fires up with tyro.(Ray Romano, Kevin James, Jason Ensler, contract)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- New Line Cinema has given the greenlight to the Ray Romano-Kevin James comedy "Grilled," with Jason Ensler to make his feature helming bow. Written by William Tepper, "Grilled" (aka "Men Don't Quit") is the story of two...

'Dust' settles at Par.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount has agreed to handle domestic distribution and partly finance the Robert Towne-directed "Ask the Dust," set to begin lensing this week with Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek starring. DreamWorks had been presumed to be...

Scribes still talking after deal expires.(Contract expiry)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Showbiz writers and studios maintained their best poker Paces Sunday, with no sign of final resolution as their film-TV talks blew an entire day past the contract deadline. Neither side budged from the news blackout at Writers...

Television drug blurbs: ad nauseam: pharmaceutical ads promote 'indecency' and campaigns for impotence cures make things worse.(The Back Lot)
May 3, 2004... EVER NOTICE THAT WHEN politicians talk about "indecency" in the media, they focus on shock jocks or edgy sitcoms? When ordinary viewers complain about tasteless TV, however, I find they're talking about those omnipresent drug commercials...

'Barbarian' bottles genies.
May 3, 2004... TORONTO -- Oscar winner "The Barbarian Invasions" took home six Genie Awards Saturday, including best film and direction and screenplay prizes for Denys Arcand. The Genies are Canada's top film awards. "Barbarian Invasions" lead thesp...

IFC shows affection for Toback's 'Loved'.(IFC Films)(James Toback)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... IFC Films has acquired North American distribution rights to James Toback's "When Will I Be Loved," a sexy thriller starring Neve Campbell, Dominic Chianese, Fred Weller and Joelle Carter. Project reteams Toback with his "Black and White"...

Van Helsing.(Stephen Sommers)(Television Program Review)
May 3, 2004... A Universal release of a Sommers Co. production. Produced by Stephen Sommers, Bob Ducsay. Executive producer, Sam Mercer. Directed, written by Stephen Sommers. Camera (Technicolor), Allen Daviau; editors, Bob Ducsay, Kelly Matsumoto; music,...

Caroline, or Change.(George C. Wolfe)(Theater Review)
May 3, 2004... (Eugene O'Neill Theater; 1.065 seats; $100 top) A Carole Shorenstein Hays, HBO Films, Jujamcyn Theaters, Freddy DeMann, Scott Rudin, Hendel/Morten/Wiesenfeld, Fox Theatricals/Manocherian/Berhere, Roger Berlind, Clear Channel Entertainment,...

Another couch trip for 'Frasier,' Grammer?(Kelsey Grammer)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- "Frasier" may be ending but that doesn't mean either Paramount or Kelsey Grammer is ready to give up on Dr. Frasier Crane. Or does it? According to several industry insiders, Par topper Garry Hart and several NBC execs...

Wallach watch for syndie arm.(Inside Moves)(Barry Wallach will lead NBC Universal)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Syndie vet Barry Wallach has emerged as the leading candidate to oversee the merged NBC Universal syndication unit. Peacock wouldn't comment, and nothing official will be announced until NBC Universal is formally unveiled on...

WMA's seasons of change.(Inside Moves)(William Morris Agency)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The William Morris Agency is hoping to give TV types some breathing room -- literally. Tenpercentery's upfront bash at 21 has become a spring ritual, as synonymous with the fall schedule announcements as are overblown rhetoric...

Voices raised at Fox: 'Simpsons' thesps back to work with deal.(Dan Castellaneta, Fox Cable Networks Group)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Homer speaks! The voice actors behind Fox's "The Simpsons" have agreed to a new contract and will return to work this week. Although terms of the deal weren't disclosed, it's believed the thesps--Dan Castellaneta (Homer),...

'Sand' man won't wield 'Talisman'.(Vadim Perelman direction and contract)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Director Vadim Perelman has fallen off DreamWorks' horror pic "The Talisman," which was to be the helmer's follow-up to his feature film debut "House of Sand and Fog," released by DreamWorks in December. "The decision was...

It's B'way via Denver for 'Brooklyn' tuner.(Broadway)(Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... "Brooklyn" is coming to Broadway. Producers Four has confirmed the Broadway production of the new musical by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson. Previews begin Sept. 23, with opening night set for Oct. 21 at a Shubert theater. A New...

Joan Cusack has joined the cast of "Ice Princess".(movies and acting)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Pic stars Michelle Trachtenberg in a tale about a young girl who realizes her dream of becoming a champion figure skater. Cusack, who can be seen this month in Kate Hudson starrer "Raising Helen" will play Trachtenberg's mother....

Jason Lewis ("Sex and the City") is set to star in the romantic comedy.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Jason Lewis ("Sex and the City") is set to star in the romantic comedy "My Bollywood Bride." Pic tells the story of a former wind surfing pro turned adventure novelist who meets and romances a Bollywood star while she's on vacation in...

New digital domain: carriage questions central at NCTA confab.(National Cable and Telecommunication Assn.)
May 3, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Don't expect the same policy fireworks at the National Cable and Telecommunication Assn. confab early this week as were seen in Las Vegas when the National Assn. of Broadcasters held their annual group powwow last month. ...

NBC, CBS loom large as sweep starts.(National Broadcasting Company Inc., ratings)
May 3, 2004... The rich got richer as the May sweep kicked off Thursday, with every show on the heavyweight lineups at both NBC and CBS improving on their opening-night perfs of a year ago. The Peacock net won in key demo categories, with the penultimate...

Windows opens door to transferable content.(Digital contents)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Are entertainment companies ready to offer consumers their entire catalog for a flat monthly fee? That's the question record labels will have to ask themselves, and movie studios will start thinking about, as Microsoft debuts...

'Pariah' welcome at Phoenix.(Brian Carr)(Phoenix Pictures, contract)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Phoenix Pictures has acquired feature rights to Graham Masterton's psychological horror novel "The Pariah" and tapped Brian Carr to adapt. Story focuses on a man haunted by his dead wife. Her return and the town's ghostly...

'Therese,' 'Countess' go Global.(Global Cinema Group, contract)(Therese Raquin, The White Countess, movies)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Global Cinema Group will handle foreign rights on "Therese Raquin," an adaptation of the Emile Zola novel, and on Merchant Ivory's Chinese romantic drama "The White Countess." Budgeted just under $10 million, "Therese Raquin"...

'Evil' gains vet ad-vantage.(Screen Gems, Marcus Nispel views )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," which bows in September, has been transformed into a film with two directors--sort of. Screen Gems pic is directed by Alexander Witt. But Marcus Nispel will also have several seconds' worth of...

Scribe plucks 'Barry's'.(Jeff Arch, Dave Barry)(new movie details)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Screenwriter Jeff Arch will make his directorial debut with "Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys," a comedy that begins production Saturday in Miami. Arch adapted the screenplay from Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Dave...

Mind-boggling web: Google ad biz numbers show Net potential.(news Analysis)
May 3, 2004... Media congloms take note: The Internet is back where it's at. Online search phenom Google submitted its much-anticipated initial public offering filings last Thursday, pulling back the curtains on an advertising-based business far more...

MP3.com rewired as tune news portal.(Business)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Online media company CNET Networks is relaunching MP3.com, which it acquired from Vivendi Universal in December, as a portal for news and information about the proliferation of digital music stores. Although CNET has not...

Turner, EchoStar warm Dish in last-minute deal.(EchoStar Communications Corp., Turner Broadcasting System Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Turner Broadcasting reached an 11th hour agreement with Charlie Ergen's EchoStar Communications on Friday that will keep the company's seven basic cable nets on the Dish satellite network, which reaches 9.4 million homes. Turner's carriage...

Sony TV ups Asia exec.(Todd Miller promoted, Sony Pictures Television International)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Todd Miller has been promoted to senior VP and managing director, Asia, for Sony Pictures Television Intl. He had been senior VP, international networks, for the region. Miller reports to SPTI prexy Michael Grindon and will...

Showbiz stocks: Friday, April 30, 2004.(movie industry)(Illustration)
May 3, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, April 30, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... 15.95 +.25 +4.9 AcmeCm ACME 2 6.72 ...

Distrib's new line: Gussi steps in to handle Mexican releases.(Richard Ham, Eduardo Rossoff)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- New Line Intl. has signed an output deal with leading Mexican indie distributor Gussi following the collapse of startup Districine. New Line had announced an alliance with the newly founded company at AFM. New Line's pics were...

Foxtel reels in Warner pix for near-VOD service.(Warner Bros., video on demand)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SYDNEY -- Warner Bros. is the latest U.S. major to license its films to Foxtel Boxoffice, the Aussie pay TV platform's near-VOD service that launched March 14. Warner joins Paramount, Disney, Fox and Roadshow (New Line's Oz distrib, which...

Funding twist for 'Fateless'.(Hungarian Motion Picture Foundation plans)(Magyar Mozgokep Kft., new company)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BUDAPEST -- Efforts to bring Hungarian Nobel laureate for literature Imre Kertesz's novel "Fateless" to the screen have been marred by uncharacteristic catastrophe. The most recent is a breakdown in cash flow that caused principal photography...

Red ink fuels bumpy ride for EuroDisney.(Euro Disneyland S.C.A. shares)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... PARIS -- Shares in EuroDisney lost 10% in early trading on the French Bourse Friday, after the theme park operator reported net losses of 108.9 million [pounds sterling] ($130 million) for the six months to March 31 compared with an $98.8...

'Hector' hero of Spain fest.(Gracia Querejeta, Adriana Ozores, Vicente Penarrocha award winners)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... MADRID -- Gracia Querejeta's resonant coming-of-age drama "Hector" took the best film trophy at the seventh Malaga Spanish Film Festival, Spain's major showcase for homegrown movies, which concluded Saturday. Querejeta's fourth pic turns...

Export body touts Spain.(World News)(Fapae plans)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... MADRID -- Spain's Fapae producers association has announced plans to create a film export body coordinating the international promotion initiatives of Spanish state, industry and export institutions. Seeking to push Spanish films and...

Cannes composes kudos.(World News)(Lalo Schifrin, Cannes Film Festival)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Composer Lalo Schifrin will be honored at the Cannes Film Festival and by the French performing rights org Sacem for contributions to music and film. Schifrin will perform a concert with a jazz trio May 18 in the Palais and a...

Engaged.(Doug Hughes)(Theater Review)
May 3, 2004... (Lucille Lortel; 299 seats; $60) A Theater for a New Audience presentation. by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theater Foundation, of the comedy by W.S. Gilbert in two acts. Directed by Doug Hughes. Sets, John Lee Beatty;...

New York Minute.(Dennie Gordon)(Television Program Review)
May 3, 2004... A Warner Bros. release of a Dualstar Prods. /Di Novi Pictures production. Produced by Denise Di Novi, Robert Thorne, Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen. Executive producer, Alison Greenspan. Co-producers, Christine Sacani, Jill Zimmerman. ...

Hitched.(movie industry marriages)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Carla Steiner and Rodney Liber, April 3, Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif. Bride's talent exec at Central Talent Booking; groom's film producer on "Synergy." Suzanne Ketcham and Chris Conroy, Feb. 21, Los Angeles. Bride's a...

Reeve to helm A&E's tale of quadriplegic.(Christopher Reeve, A and E Home Video)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Christopher Reeve has come aboard to direct the A&E original movie "Brooke Ellison" one of two telepics the cabler has greenlit to production. A&E has also commissioned the original made-for "Riverman," based on the real-life...

Joel Silver's Silver Pictures and Orchid Ventures have partnered to form Scream, a 24-hour network dedicated to horror, suspense and thriller-oriented entertainment.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Joel Silver's Silver Pictures and Orchid Ventures have partnered to form Scream, a 24-hour network dedicated to horror, suspense and thriller-oriented entertainment. Channel is slated for a January launch, it was announced during the first day...

Bravo has ordered five-part series "TV Revolution," highlighting groundbreaking moments on television.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Bravo has ordered five-part series "TV Revolution," highlighting groundbreaking moments on television. Episodes cover the evolution of homosexuality, roles of women and minorities, and the depiction of sex and violence. Cabler will roll out the...

Edge TV, a 24-hour channel dedicated to gaming, is set to bow in the first-quarter next year.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Edge TV, a 24-hour channel dedicated to gaming, is set to bow in the first-quarter next year. Co-founders are legal-telecommunications exec Reagan Silber and Silicon Valley entreprenenrs Keith Richman and Charles Katz. Former ABC Family...

Music cabler Fuse has announced it will roll out a VOD service, Fuse on Demand, for digital and cable subscribers.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Music cabler Fuse has announced it will roll out a VOD service, Fuse on Demand, for digital and cable subscribers. Service includes up to 75 full-length musicvideos, exclusive artist interviews, concert footage, and the weekly "What's New on...

Sundance Channel will celebrate films from emerging and veteran U.K. filmmakers in the July weekly series "British Invasion.".(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Sundance Channel will celebrate films from emerging and veteran U.K. filmmakers in the July weekly series "British Invasion." Lineup includes the U.S. premieres of Ken Loach's "The Navigators," Duncan Roy's "A.K.A" and Thaddeus O'Sullivan's...

Eileen Atkins and Justin Kirk have been added to the cast of Par's Tom Cruise franchise.(Paramount)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Eileen Atkins and Justin Kirk have been added to the cast of Par's Tom Cruise franchise "Mission: Impossible 3." Atkins, best known for her work on the British stage, will next be seen in "Vanity Fair." Kirk starred in "Angels in America."...

On hiatus from "Everwood".(news from movies industry)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... On hiatus from "Everwood," Treat Williams has taken a role in "Miss Congeniality 2." Lensing is under way for the Warner Bros. sequel, directed by John Pasquin and penned by Marc Lawrence. Also joining Sandra Bullock, who reprises her...

Gabrielle Reece.(acting in the beach volleyball movie)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Volleyball champ Gabrielle Reece will flex her acting muscles in the beach volleyball movie "Cloud Nine," produced by Al Ruddy and Gray Fredrickson. Harry Basil will helm the pic, which also stars Burt Reynolds, D.L. Hughley, Paul...

Richard Wilson.(died)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 3, 2004... Richard Wilson, an administrator for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences who served as keeper of the Oscar statuettes, died April 23 of an apparent heart attack in West Hollywood. He was 46. An Academy employee since 1988, Wilson...

John D. Hess.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 3, 2004... TV scribe and playwright John D. Hess, who created TV soap "Love of Life," died April 15 of natural causes in Bucks County, Penn. He was 85. He began his professional career as a staff writer for WGN radio in Chicago, and also wrote short...

Peter A. Runfolo.(the production manager died)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 3, 2004... Production manager Peter A. Runfolo died April 17 of heart failure in New Jersey. He was 65. Runfolo was the first film commissioner for New Jersey and was awarded the DGA Frank Capra award for assistant directors and production managers...

Hubert Selby Jr.(death of)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 3, 2004... Hubert Selby Jr., author of "Last Exit to Brooklyn" and "Requiem for a Dream," died Monday, April 26 of a lung disease. He was 75. Born in New York City, Selby's experience among Brooklyn's gritty longshoremen, homeless and the...

Lake Placid floats panels.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... A discussion with Martin Scorsese led by director-thesp Jon Favreau headlines the events slated for the fifth Lake Placid Film Festival, to be held June 2-6. Fest co-founder and author Russell Banks will moderate a panel on the...

Kitano sextet unspools.(Takeshi Kitano's six movies screening at American Museum of the Moving Image )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The American Museum of the Moving Image will host "Violent Lives, Fragile Beauty: The Films of Takeshi Kitano." The six-film retrospective of the work of the Japanese director and media personality Kitano will include preview screenings of...

The Reilly factor: development chief tops entertainment.(Kevin Reilly promoted as president of National Broadcasting Company Inc. NBC Entertainment)
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- After waiting in the wings for a year, NBC primetime development prexy Kevin Reilly has been handed full control of the entire Peacock entertainment division. Exec will take over as prexy of NBC Entertainment May 27--the day...

Lions Gate picking up Duchovny's helming bow.(Lions Gate Films)(David Duchovny)
May 4, 2004... Lions Gate Films has acquired North American distribution rights to David Duchovny's directing debut "House of D," starring Duchovny, Robin Williams, Anton Yelchin and Tea Leoni, which premieres Friday at the Tribeca Film Festival. Acquisition...

NBC leaves nets quaking in sweep.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
May 4, 2004... NBC shook up the primetime landscape in a big way Sunday, with earthquake pic "10.5" pulverizing everything in its path. On the first Sunday of the four-week May sweep, the opening night of the two-part miniseries racked up the best demo...

Cast drawn to 'Darkly'.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Rory Cochran will join Keanu Reeves in "A Scanner Darkly," the Warner Independent Pictures drama that Richard Linklater will direct from his scripted adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel....

'Fearless' face found.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Rob Schneider will star in and produce "Fearless," a comedy based on an original pitch by Travis Mann and Bob Kosberg, for Revolution Studios. "Fearless" is the story of a meek soldier who is transformed into a fearless...

Just for Variety.
May 4, 2004... GOOD MORNING: Jane Fonda is delighted to be back in front of the (movie) cameras--for the first time in 15 years. We spoke between takes on New Line's "Monster-In-Law" in which "I don't want to see my son (Michael Vartan) get married (to...

Roberts: Comcast moving on.
May 4, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Comcast Corp. topper Brian Roberts doesn't give up easily. Even though his dreams of acquiring Disney are over, Roberts said Monday that the turn of events hasn't killed his hopes of making a deal with an entertainment...

N.Y. state, labels set fund to pay musicians.(Inside Moves)(New York)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Recording artists and songwriters deemed "unreachable" by major record labels will be paid from a fund set up by the New York state Attorney General's Office and the majors. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will announce today...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
May 4, 2004... Syd Dutton of Illusion Arts was the key visual effects creator for "Van Helsing." Information was incorrect in Monday's paper. Eileen Atkins and Justin Kirk have been added to the cast of "Ask the Dust." Info in Monday's paper was...

Outer Crix kudos to 'Wicked,' Wife'.
May 4, 2004... "Wicked," the new tuner about the witches from Oz, led the way at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, winning four honors, including the Broadway musical nod. "I Am My Own Wife" added to its trophy shelf, taking the Broadway play nod and the...

No bloom for B'way in spring slump.
May 4, 2004... April has always been the second cruelest month of the year in the theater. September takes top honors in the B.O. raspberry sweepstakes. Late summer suffers from back-to-school syndrome, while spring sees too many shows competing for too few...

ABC News ups Bengtson.(Craig Bengtson promoted as executive producer)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... ABC News on Monday upped Craig Bengtson to exec producer of "World News Tonight Saturday & Sunday." In his new gig, Bengtson will be responsible for all editorial content and production. Previously, Bengtson was senior producer for...

Franco enrolls in 'Annapolis'.(James Franco)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- James Franco ("Spider-Man") will topline "Annapolis" for the Walt Disney Co. Justin Lin is developing and directing the drama, against the backdrop of boxing at the Naval Academy and centered on a young man from the wrong side...

Scott digs 'Diamond': producers come aboard Romero's comedy.(Movie Review)
May 4, 2004... Ridley and Tony Scott's Scott Free has come aboard to produce "Diamond Dead," a black comedy that will be directed by "Night of the Living Dead" helmer George Romero. Richard Hartley (The Rocky Horror Picture Show") has composed the music...

Studios laugh all the way to bank with April B.O.
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- April was on fire at the box office. The period of April 2-29 rang up $600 million, outstripping the month's 2002 all-time record of $549 million. Overall, last month's receipts bested the same frame a year ago by 11%. ...

ABC recruits new player for 'MNF'.(ABC Sports Inc.)(Michele Tafoya )(Lisa Guerrero)(Monday Night Football)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... ABC Sports has tapped Michele Tafoya to replace "Monday Night Football" sideline reporter Lisa Guerrero after only one season. Tafoya is courtside reporter for ABC's coverage of the National Basketball Assn. telecasts, including next...

Catalog shopping: Corman's Concorde ditches rental strategy.(Roger Corman, New Concorde Home Entertainment, services)
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Roger Corman's New Concorde Home Entertainment is taking itself out of the new-release rental game to focus entirely on sell-through of its sizable film catalog. Move, which comes less than a week after New Concorde's...

Splendid cuts losses through pic pullout.(Business)(Splendid Medien)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... BERLIN -- German entertainment group Splendid Medien slashed net losses by 98% from 2002's 59.6 million [pounds sterling] ($67.4 million) to $1.67 million in 2003 while revenues dropped 2% to $40.3 million. The Cologne-based company...

Canal plus bids adieu to HQ.(Business)(Canal Plus S.A.)(La Caisse des Depots)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... PARIS -- Canal Plus Group is selling a symbol of its former glory, its Paris HQ designed by American architect Richard Meier, to a subsid of French bank La Caisse des Depots for 112 million [pounds sterling] ($133.7 million). The...

Disney duo prepping to run alternate slate.(Business)(Disney)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... Disney dissidents Stanley Gold and Roy Disney said they're prepared to nominate an alternate slate of Disney board directors next year if the current board does not "face up to the issues." Speaking Monday to the Society of American...

Cablevision's ready to play.(Business)(Cablevision Co.)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Cablevision is launching the first on-demand cable gaming service, offering users of its iO digital cable service interactive games as part of a subscription package. Service offers users seven simple word, puzzle and arcade...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, May 3, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
May 4, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, May 3, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... 16.13 +.18 +6.0 AcmeCm ACME 2 6.90 +.18...

A Hole in One.(Movie Review)
May 4, 2004... A Chapeau Films presentation of a Beech Hill Films production. Produced by Alexa L. Fogel. Joseph Infantolino. Directed, written by Richard Ledes. Camera (color, widescreen). Stephen Kazmierski; editor, Susan Graef; music, Stephen Trask;...

Men Without Jobs.(Movie Review)
May 4, 2004... A Straphanger Films/No Work Films production. Produced by Gingi Rochelle, Mad Matthewz. Executive producer, Reyad Farraj. Directed, written by Mad Matthewz. Camera (color, widescreen, Super 16mm-to-HD), Cliff Charles; editor, David Shuff;,...

Arna's Children.(Movie Review)
May 4, 2004... (Docu--Israel-Netherlands) A Trabelsi/Pieter van Huystee Films production. Produced by Osnat Trabelsi, Pieter van Huystee. Directed, written by Juliano Mer Khamis, Danniel Danniel. Camera (color, HDCam), Khamis, Hana Abu Saada, Uri...

Hamlet.(Theater Review)
May 4, 2004... (Long Wharf Theater, New Haven, Conn.; 487 seats; $55 top) A Long Wharf Theater production of a play in three acts by William Shakespeare. Directed by Mladen Kiselov. Sets, Douglas Stein; costumes, Paul Tazewell, Michael McAleer; lighting,...

The Calcium Kid.(Movie Review)
May 4, 2004... (U.K.) A VIP release of a Universal Pictures. StudioCanal, Working Title presentation of a W[T.sup.2] production. Produced by Natascha Wharton. Executive producers, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner. Co-producer, Richard Johns. Directed by Alex...

Patti Smith.
May 4, 2004... (Warsaw; 800 capacity; $15) Presented by S.W. Prods. Band: Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Tony Shanahan. Oliver Ray, Jay Dee Daugherty. Opened and reviewed May 1, 2004. Closed May 4, 2004. When she first emerged from Gotham's nascent punk...