Daily Variety articles from May 2011

Daily Variety archives from May 2011

Drunk with power at B.O.: 'Hangover II,' 'Panda 2' toast record holiday sesh.
May 31, 2011... The domestic box office turnaround accelerated this weekend, with a record-setting Memorial Day frame largely thanks to "The Hangover Part II." The weekend was up roughly 10% over the holiday's previous benchmark set in 2007, with Warner...

Outsiders weigh in on retrans row.
May 31, 2011... The Beltway battle over proposed changes to the retransmission consent law is coming to a head at the FCC. The key constituencies in the fight--broadcasters on one side. and cable, satellite and telco TV operators on the other--have staked...

'Kung Fu' fireworks.(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... That didn't last long. Paramount-DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 2" has established a new opening day mark for a foreign release in China just a week after Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" set the record. ...

Study: too poor for cable?(Report)
May 31, 2011... For years, execs at pay TV companies and telcos boasted about their growth as subscribers continued to pay more for new cable services, next-generation smartphones and faster broadband. Amid the euphoria, however, those execs didn't address what...

Bangkok rouses 'Hangover' with Thai-in.(INSIDE PRODUCTION)
May 31, 2011... During the production of many films, there comes an "aha" moment--preferably early on--when the personality of the project comes into focus and sets the tone for everything that follows. For "The Hangover Part II," that watershed occurred...

X-Men: First Class.(Movie review)
May 31, 2011... A 20th Century Fox release presented in association with Marvel Entertainment and Dune Entertainment of a Bad Hat Harry/ Donners' Co. production in association with Ingenious Media. Produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg,...

Gossip biz banks on insider trading.(THE BACKLOT)
May 31, 2011... I've always been impatient with celebrity self-pity. I found it difficult to empathize with stars who've courted fame all their lives, only to complain about the intrusions of the press and the paparazzi. Now I'm ready to do a 180. Reading...

Pol Puts Hold on Piracy Bill
May 31, 2011... Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) has placed a hold on a piece of antipiracy legislation championed by Hollywood studios and guilds, arguing that it will "muzzle speech and stifle innovation and economic growth." The legislation, dubbed the Protect...

In pay play, Ergen cuts prices at Blockbuster.
May 31, 2011... It didn't take Charlie Ergen long to deploy a strategy that has made him a feared competitor in pay TV, announcing Friday that his newest business, vid chain Blockbuster, will offer thousands of movies for 99[cents] a day and rent newer releases...

EuropaCorp sets 'Blind' helmer, cast.
May 31, 2011... Lambert Wilson and Jacques Gamblin are attached to star in EuropaCorp thriller "Blind Man," with Gaul's Xavier Palud set to direct. Scripted by writer-director Eric Besnard ("Ca$h") from an original idea by Luc Besson, "Man" is being produced...

Dates for hobbit duo: pix draw titles, releases in 2012, '13.
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" movies have been given official release dates and titles. The first will open Dec. 14, 2012, as "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," and the second will be released on Dec. 13, 2013, as "The...

Thesps lining up for PBS' 'Masterpiece'.
May 31, 2011... Emma Thompson, Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Judy Davis and Michael Gambon will appear in the upcoming season of PBS' "Masterpiece." Nighy has the lead role as an MI-5 officer in "Masterpiece Contemporary"...

'Elysium' avoids 'Oz' at B.O.
May 31, 2011... Sony's moving the release of Neill Blomkamp's sci-fi epic "Elysium" forward a week to March 1, 2013. The shift avoids a direct conflict with "Oz: The Great and Powerful." Disney announced Wednesday that it had set "Oz" for a March 8, 2013,...

Oz duo back for 'Mental'.(Toni Collette, PJ Hogan)(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Toni Collette will reunite with "Muriel's Wedding" helmer PJ Hogan nearly two decades after that film helped launch their Stateside careers. Screen Australia announced Monday it would back...

Chipper China report: B.O. set for big growth, quota changes.(World News)
May 31, 2011... China is on the cusp of a golden era of growth, which will see it become the world's second biggest film market and bring with it more market liberalization, according to an upcoming report by the China Film Association Research Center. As...

B'casters double up on Indian market.(World News)
May 31, 2011... As part of their new joint venture, European broadcasting giant RTL Group and India's Reliance Broadcast Network are launching two English-language channels, one focused on reality formats, the other on action content targeted at male viewers....

'Terra Nova' to Citytv.(World News)
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Following a vigorous round of buying at the L.A. Screenings, Citytv led this week's parade of Canuck network fall announcements on Monday with a slate featuring Steven Spielberg's prehistoric family drama "Terra Nova"...

SeeSaw to stay down.(World News)(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... U.K. video-on-demand service SeeSaw will close after failing to find new financing. SeeSaw, owned by British TV transmission outfit Arqiva, will exit in June. The decision to mothball the upstart comes five months after Ingenious Media was...

It's take two for CTV's A.(World News)(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... CTV is set to re-launch its A Network as CTV Two, it was announced Monday by CTV owner Bell Media. The A Network is CTV's secondary network and it has had trouble attracting viewers and making a profit in recent years. The troubled network had...

French biz lobbies for rebate fix.(World News)
May 31, 2011... France's powerful movie industry lobbies have sounded a collective call to arms for the government to ante up Gallic pic tax rebates for French productions. Setting the wheels of reform in motion Monday, four trade associations--powerful...

New lease on 'Life' for pair.(Passion Project)
May 31, 2011... For budding producers Jami Gertz and Stacey Lubliner, the gritty streets of East Los Angeles where "A Better Life" was shot were a world away from studio lots. But the film's message of family was one Gertz, star of 1980s series and pics, could...

Gatherings.(Insiders)
May 31, 2011... There will be no shortage of elbow-rubbing opportunities with industry insiders during the next two weeks, as two confabs and a fest showcasing the best and brightest from UCLA's film school are set to unspool. The Producers Guild of...

Do good.(Creative Artist Agency partnership)(Insiders)(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... CAA has made its mark in Music City, and not just by repping country superstars. The tenpercentery's Nashville office has had a longstanding partnership with Whitsitt Elementary School, which has renamed its library the CAA Media Center. ...

Upcoming events.(Insiders)(Calendar)
May 31, 2011... TODAY: Thesps and producers gather for a panel sesh on TNT's "Southland." Paley Center for Media in BevHills. Paleycenter.org WEDNESDAY: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are among the notables attending the dedication of the Marilyn and...

Births.(Insiders)
May 31, 2011... Glenna and Brad Roth, a boy; Hudson Leroy Roth, May 20, Los Angeles. Mother's a non-pro; father's co-founder and principal of Stun Creative.

Oxygen Media.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... Sunil Chadda has been appointed Oxygen Media's chief financial officer. Chadda previously served as NBCUniversal's veep of corporate financial planning and analysis,

Nederlander Concerts.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... Nederlander Concerts has promoted Paola Palazzo to VP of talent. She previously held the title of senior director of talent at Nederlander Concerts.

Telepictures Prods.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Telepictures Prods. has promoted Tishan Cowan to senior veep and Alana Calderone Polesa to VP, both of branded entertainment and new business. Cowan and Calderone Polcsa both joined...

ESPN.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... Cindy Freed hag been appointed veep of sales marketing for ESPN's customer marketing and sales group. Before ESPN, Freed was with Yahoo!.

BMI.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... BMI has upped Michael Drexler to exec director of its business development, new media and strategic development group.

Davis Wright Tremaine.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... Nancy Derwin-Weiss joined Davis Wright Tremaine. Derwin-Weiss is a media and Internet law attorney and was previously with Wildman Harrold.

ABC Owned Television Stations Group.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... ABC Owned Television Stations Group promoted William Burton to prexy and general manager of KGO-TV San Francisco. He had been exec veep of digital media for the station group.

Sony Music.(Exec Shuffle)
May 31, 2011... Ulrich Jaerkel has been upped to senior VP of business development for Sony Music in Europe and Africa. He had been Sony's senior VP of digital business in Europe and Africa.

Franklin & Bash.
May 31, 2011... Franklin & Bash (Series; TNT, Wed. June 1, 10 p.m.) Filmed in Atlanta and Los Angeles by Four Sycamore Prods., Left Coast Prods. and Fan Fare Prods. in association with Sony Pictures Television. Executive producers, Jamie Tarses, Jason...

The World According to Paris.
May 31, 2011... The World According to Paris (Series; Oxygen, Wed June 1, 10 p.m.) Produced by A. Smith & Co. Prods. and Paris Hilton Entertainment. Executive producers, Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Paris Hilton, Rick Hilton, Jamie Freed, Ross...

Semper Fi: Always Faithful.(Movie review)
May 31, 2011... Semper Fi: Always Faithful (Docu) A Wider Film Project presentation in association with Chicken and Egg Pictures of a Tied to the Tracks Films production. Produced by Jedd Wider, Todd Wider, Rachel Libert, Tony Hardmon. Executive...

The Silver Cliff.(Movie review)
May 31, 2011... The Silver Cliff (O Abismo Prateado) (Brazil) An RT Features production. (International sales: Rendez-vous Pictures, Paris.) Produced by Rodrigo Teixeira, Luiz Affonso Otero, Pedro Paulo Magalhaes. Executive producer, Eliane Ferreira....

Jeff Conaway.(Obituaries)
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeff Conaway, an actor best known for his roles in "Grease," TV series "Taxi" and later "Babylon 5," died Friday in Encino, Calif., after being hospitalized with sepsis (blood poisoning) and pneumonia. He was 60. ...

Michael Brenner.(Obituary)
May 31, 2011... German producer and impresario Michael Brenner, founder and managing partner of the Mannheim-based BB Promotion, died May 21. Brenner, who was on a bicycle tour with his wife in Palatinate in Germany, was hit by a motorcycle. He was 59. The...

Dolores Fuller.(Obituary)
May 31, 2011... Dolores Fuller, who starred with Ed Wood in that famously cross-dressing director's 1953 cult classic "Glen or Glenda," died May 9 of complications from a stroke in Las Vegas. She was 88. Fuller, who was also a lyricist who penned the words...

Musician melded tunes, poetry.(Obituaries)
May 31, 2011... Musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron, whose biting and lyrical fusion of verse and rhythm made him a formidable forefather of rap and hip-hop, died Friday in New York. He was 62. Scott-Heron had become ill upon returning from a trip to Europe...

'Pie' recipe complete.
May 31, 2011... The reunion is complete as Shannon Elizabeth has signed on to reprise her role as Nadia in Universal Pictures' "American Reunion," the latest edition in the "American Pie" franchise. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] She returns to a cast that...

Technicolor taps Potter, 'Rings' vet.(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... In a move Technicolor says signals a strategic shift in the way it handles color grading and dailies, the lab and post giant has hired digital intermediate colorist Peter Doyle. Doyle's credits include the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the...

An international Inception.(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... Inception Media Group's digital subsidiary has teamed with Infomedia Multi Media Services to open its first European-based digital media facility in Dortmund, Germany, as part of an expansion into international markets. Los Angeles-based...

Thes seeks wisdom in pic.
May 31, 2011... Freddie Stroma has joined the cast of the indie "The Philosophers." He joins a cast that includes James D'Arcy, Sophie Lowe and Rhys Wakefield. John Huddles is writing and directing the pic, which revolves around a philosophy professor who...

Days of Grace (Dias De Gracia).(Movie review)
May 31, 2011... Days of Grace (Dias De Gracia) (Mexico-France) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An ARP release (in France) of a Dias De Gracia Producciones presentation of a Casa B (Mexico), ARP (France) production, in association with Fidecine, Eficine 226,...

When the Drum Is Beating.(Movie review)
May 31, 2011... When the Drum Is Beating (Docu--U.S.-Haiti) A Two-Tone production in co-production with ITVS in association with the National Black Programming Consortium with funding by the Corp. for Public Broadcasting. Produced by Daniel Morel, Jane...

Cost of a Soul.(Movie review)
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Rogue and AMC Independent presentation of a Cast Shadow production. Produced by Sean Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Risinger, Edward J. Eberwine III. Executive producer, J.P. Mascaro Jr. Directed, written by Sean...

I Married Wyatt Earp.(Theater review)
May 31, 2011... I Married Wyatt Earp (59E59; 99 seats; $25 top) A Prospect Theater Company/New York Theater Barn presentation of a musical in two acts with music by Michele Brourman; lyrics by Sheilah Rae; book by Thomas Edward West and Rae, suggested by...

Local boy makes good.(Tim Burton)(V)(Brief article)
May 31, 2011... Fine art, pop culture and local pride converged Saturday at a LACMA reception for Tim Burton, whose Resnick Pavilion retrospective began Sunday and runs through Oct. 31. In the patio area behind the Resnick, Burton was upbeat and gregarious,...

A turning point for Angelenos.(V)
May 31, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If Ryan Kavanaugh gets his way, Los Angeles will have a world-class ballet company. "We're the only major city in America that doesn't have its own ballet company," the Relativity Media topper said during the...

Boozy bow a B.O. doozy.
May 27, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Warner Bros.' raucous retread "The Hangover Part II" kickstarted the Memorial Day weekend box office with $10.4 million from some 2,600 midnight runs on Wednesday--enough to make it the new all-time latenight...

Uptempo end for 10th 'Idol'.
May 27, 2011... "American Idol" closed its comeback season on a high note, with 29.2 million viewers watching as Scotty McCreery was crowned the 10th victor of the singing competish that has dominated primetime for nearly a decade. In year-to-year season...

Aftershock: quake, hacks scar Sony.
May 27, 2011... Hit hard by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as by the man-made catastrophe of continuing hacker invasions of its sites around the world, Sony Corp. has logged a $3.2 billion net loss for the past fiscal year--marking the company's...

Wanted: fresh pair of helmers.
May 27, 2011... A pair of tentpole-sized studio projects have lost their helmers, as David O. Russell exited "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" over creative differences with Sony while Albert Hughes ankled Warner Bros.' live-action remake of the Japanese manga epic...

Can Superman really be split in two?(WILSHIRE AND WASHINGTON)
May 27, 2011... Warner Bros. is hoping that Zack Snyder can do for "Superman" what Christopher Nolan did for "Batman." But the studio's real-life tangle over the rights to the Man of Steel risks resembling another Nolan narrative: "Inception." The way things...

Miramax taps TV pros: duo will help boost global efforts.
May 27, 2011... Miramax's appointment of TV vets Lindsay Gardner and Bob Cook as strategic advisers emphasizes the company's push for TV content, suggesting a revved-up effort to increase its global television presence. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Working with...

NBC Sports prexy hangs up his cleats.
May 27, 2011... On the heels of Dick Ebersol's exit, Ken Schanzer is stepping down as president of NBC Sports. Move comes a week after the Peacock's longtime sports topper Ebersol announced his exit after being unable to reach a deal with the new regime at...

Pygmalion.(Theater review)
May 27, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Garrick Theater, London; 656 seats; 49.50 [pounds sterling] ($81) top) A Duncan C. Weldon and Paul Elliott, Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer for Nimax Theaters, Michael Edwards and Carole Winter for MJE Productions,...

'Godspell' revival set for Circle spot.(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... The brewing revival of "Godspell" has laid claim to Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater, setting a timeline that will see the show open there in fall. The venue has long been understood to be the preferred choice of the incoming offering...

'Bike' nets scribe prize.
May 27, 2011... Penelope Skinner has won the 2011 George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright for her play "The Village Bike." A provocative and darkly comic study of sexual fantasy and romance, the play begins previews at the Royal Court Theater...

Braff rounds up four 'all New People'.
May 27, 2011... Justin Bartha, Krysten Ritter, Anna Camp and David Wilson Barnes will star in "All New People," the new stage comedy by Zach Braff bowing at Off Broadway's Second Stage Theater this summer. Bartha ("Lend Me a Tenor," "The Hangover") plays a...

HBO: it's no longer Showtime for Summit.
May 27, 2011... HBO has wooed Summit Entertainment away from Showtime, signing an output deal with the mini-major that will run five years beginning in 2013. Deal was largely driven by HBO's desire to put more content on its new digital platform HBO Go. ...

Scripps stations to Live Well.
May 27, 2011... Nine Scripps-owned stations have added affiliations with the ABC-owned HD digital network Live Well. Live Well is designed for broadcast stations' digital subchannels, providing original programming to local markets around the country,...

Oprah impresses: finale audience biggest since '94.(The Oprah Winfrey Show)
May 27, 2011... Wednesday's finale of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" garnered the show's highest rating in more than 17 years, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen. "Oprah Winfrey" drew a 13.3 household rating in Nielsen's 56 overnight metered markets,...

Skydance steps up for 'Bodyguard'.(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... David Ellison's Skydance Productions has acquired "The Hitman's Bodyguard," written by Tom O'Connor. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the project is described as a high-concept action pic. Skydance's Dana Goldberg said execs...

OWN adds 'Bride' to growing sked.
May 27, 2011... As "The Oprah Winfrey Show" leaves the airwaves, Winfrey's cable channel continues to gear up. The joint venture with Discovery Communications has greenlit eight episodes of yet another new series, "Don't Tell the Bride," a remake of the U.K....

The next generation: MTV Nets logs new online pic hub.
May 27, 2011... MTV Networks is hatching a new brand to attract movie fans and the studios that want to reach them. NextMovie has been operational as a website for seven months; during that time, and with virtually no promotion, it has managed to reach...

Blackley exits CAA games unit to produce.
May 27, 2011... Seamus Blackley, who helped Microsoft design and launch the first Xbox, is ankling as the head of Creative Artists Agency's games division. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Blackley plans to launch a production company to develop new games. Further...

3D 'Lion King' roars in September.(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... Disney has set Sept. 16 to release a 3D version of its hit 1994 toon "The Lion King," a move that worked for the Mouse House after 2009 releases of 3D versions of "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2." With "Lion King," Disney applies its dimensional...

'Deeds' sets the date.(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... If it's February, it must be time for a new Tyler Perry pic. Staying true to its recent tradition, Lionsgate has dated the helmer's latest pic, "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds," for a Feb. 24 release. Perry has become a boffo first-quarter staple...

Hues hops to Canuck shop.(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... Visual effects company Rhythm & Hues Studio is gearing up to launch a Canadian branch and expand its operations in Asia. R&H, based in E1 Segundo, Calif., will open its Vancouver branch no later than Jan. 9 prexy Lee Berger told...

Huayi Bros. taking its pics to the park.(World News)
May 27, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chinese commercial media group Huayi Bros. is pacting with a developer to build a $460-million theme park near Shanghai based on its movies, the group said in a stock exchange announcement on Thursday. The park will...

Foxtel bidding for Austar.(World News)
May 27, 2011... Australian paybox Foxtel has made a bid for its regional partner Austar, which is valued at A$1.9 billion ($2 billion). The deal would give Foxtel greater control of the feevee market Down Under. Foxtel said it would also benefit...

Star Sino shake-up: Tian leads Rupe's troops in China.(World News)
May 27, 2011... Star China Media, the joint venture between Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and statebacked China Media Capital, announced a major shake-up at the top Thursday. Tian Ming will take over as CEO from Jack Gao, who has been appointed senior VP at...

Filmin clicks on pix.(World News)(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... Spanish arthouse Internet site Filmin has secured exclusive local online rights to more than 100 films distributed by Scandinavia's TrustNordisk. The deal, Filmin's biggest international pact to date, will give the website 80 films that have...

Wenger wings to Film4.(Piers Wenger )(World News)
May 27, 2011... Piers Wenger has been appointed senior commissioning executive at Film4, Channel 4's feature division. Wenger, currently head of drama at BBC Wales, will take up his new post at a date to be confirmed. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He will...

Goldcrest's busy with 'Horse' trade.(World News)(Brief article)
May 27, 2011... LONDON -- Fresh out of Cannes, Goldcrest Films Intl. has secured a raft of sales on Todd Solondz's "Dark Horse" and Donald Rice's "Cheerful Weather for the Wedding." "Dark Horse" has been snapped up by Wild Bunch for Benelux, Lusomundo for...

Platinum Hit.
May 27, 2011... (Series/Bravo, Mon. May 30, 10 p.m.) Produced by True Entertainment. Executive producers, Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock, Faye Stapleton, Evan Bogart, Tim Bogart, Marvin V. Acuna; co-executive producer, Susan House; line producer, Sue...

Single Ladies.
May 27, 2011... (Series; VHI, Man. May 30, 9p.m.) Filmed in Atlanta by Flavor Unit Entertainment. Executive producers, Stacy A. Littlejohn, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Shelby Stone, Maggie Malina, Alexander A. Motlagh, Tamra Davis; co-executive producer,...

Love Handles: Couples in Crisis.
May 27, 2011... (Series; Lifetime, Tues. May 31, 10 p.m.) Produced by 495 Prods. Executive Producers, Sally Ann Salsano, Joel Zimmer, Rob Sharenow, Gena McCarthy, Kimberly Chessler; co-executive producers, Charlie Newton, Danny Shaner; supervising producers,...

We Are the Night.(Movie review)
May 27, 2011... (Wir sind die Nacht) (Germany) An IFC release of a Constantin Film, Christian Becker presentation of a Rat Pack production in association with Celluloid Dreams. (International sales, Celluloid Dreams, Paris.) Produced by Christian Becker....

Phyllis Avery.(Obituary)
May 27, 2011... Actress Phyllis Avery, who played the TV wives of Ray Milland in the CBS laffer "Meet Mr. McNutley" and of George Gobel on his variety show, both in the 1950s, died May 19 of heart failure in Los Angeles. She was 88. She was also a series...

Barbara Stuart.(Obituary)
May 27, 2011... Barbara Stuart, a TV actress who appeared on dozens of series over a period of five decades, died May 15 in St. George, Utah. She was 81. She debuted in an episode of "I Led Three Lives" in 1954 and concluded her career with a recurring role...