Daily Variety articles from October 2005

Daily Variety archives from October 2005

Governator snaps back at paparazzi.(Arnold Schwarzenegger signed antipaparazzi law )
October 3, 2005... Guy. Arnold Schwarzenegger is putting paparazzi in their place. Handing his Hollywood friends--and himself--a major victory in the perennial war with the celebrity press, Schwarzenegger has signed a bill into law further cracking down on...

Par lights on Blu-ray.(Paramount Home Entertainment endorsing Sony Corp. Blu-ray disc format )
October 3, 2005... In a stunning announcement, Paramount Home Entertainment has decided to support Sony's Blu-ray disc format for the next generation of high-definition DVDs. Although Paramount will continue to support Sony's rival HD DVD platform from...

Magic mojo for thesp duo.(Touchstone Pictures and Warner Bros. plans 'The Prestige' movies)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are in negotiations to star in helmet Christopher Nolan's thriller "The Prestige" for Touchstone Pictures and Warner Bros. "Batman Begins" helmet Nolan has committed to make the long-gestating pic as his...

A plane weekend: 'Flightplan' leads weak sesh; 'Capote' hot.
October 3, 2005... Fall's fast start slowed this weekend, as the frame's new pics failed to fuel much aud enthusiasm. Walt Disney's holdover "Flightplan" led the pack for a second week, scoring $15 million in its sophomore session and dipped a modest 39% from...

Turner signals Wright turn.(Michael Wright)(Turner Network Television)
October 3, 2005... Turner is handing over the programming reins for TBS to Michael Wright, the TNT exec behind this year's most-watched original series on basic cable, "The Closer." Wright is soon expected to be named head of original programming for both...

'Fences' builder dies: August Wilson: 1945-2005.(Obituary)
October 3, 2005... Pulitzer- and Tony-winning playwright August Wilson, whose epic 10-play cycle chronicled the black experience in 20th-century America, died Sunday of liver cancer at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. He was 60. The playwright disclosed in late...

Aloni shift stirs roster.(Dan Aloni)(Magnos Holdings )
October 3, 2005... CAA hired UTA agent and partner Dan Aloni Thursday, a move that triggered a frantic Friday as both agencies tried to secure his clients. As the dust settled, CAA claimed it had signed "Wedding Crashers" helmer David Dobkin, Tom Shadyac,...

The deal that wasn't real.(Universal Studios Inc)(DreamWorks L.L.C)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... NOW THAT THE DISTRACTING Universal-DreamWorks talks have broken off, Bob Wright, Ron Meyer, David Geffen and the other principals can get back to running their businesses. To be sure, a few minor issues have been left on the table....

Clooney's cool.(The Back Lot)(George Clooney)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Movie stars are bigger than life. It's in their DNA. George Clooney, by contrast, seems a study in understatement, sometimes to a fault. He's easygoing and self-deprecating. He seems almost apologetic about his stardom. He doesn't even invite...

Nudge grudge.(The Back Lot)(Geraldo Rivera )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Surely, Geraldo Rivera never expected his non-nudge to get this much attention. Always an aggressive guy, Geraldo has received almost daily attention from The New York Times about his actions in covering rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina....

TiVo execs ankle key units.(executives)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Two top TiVo execs who headed up divisions that new CEO Tom Rogers had identified as key to the company's growth ankled Friday. David H. Courtney, chief financial officer and exec VP in charge of interactive advertising and relationships...

Theater League's Bernstein will step down.(League of American Theaters and Producers, Jed Bernstein)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Jed Bernstein, prexy of the League of American Theaters and Producers, will ankle at the end of the 2005-06 theater season. Bernstein, who has served as head of the Broadway producers and presenters union since 1995, has no concrete plans,...

Miramax legal eagle flies to KMR law firm.(Alan Friedman joined Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Alan Friedman, who most recently served as general counsel-exec veep at Miramax, has joined firm Katten Muchin Rosenman as a partner in its entertainment and media litigation practice. He will be based in N.Y. "I was in private practice...

Close to Home.(Television Program Review)
October 3, 2005... (Series; CBS, Tues. Oct. 4, 10p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Jim Leonard; producer, Jill Danton; director,...

Ruddy ready to fight again.(Ruddy and Morgan Organization is producing a movie based on Pound for Pound book)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- "Million Dollar Baby" production shingle Ruddy Morgan is stepping into the ring one last time with the late EX. Toole, author of the book on which the Oscar-winning pic was based. Company has optioned scribe's last book, "Pound...

Neil Diamond.(Concert Review)
October 3, 2005... (Staples Center, L.A.; 15,000 seats; $95 top) Presented by Nederlander Concerts. Band: Diamond, Al Lindgren, Tom Hensley, Doug Rhone, Hadley Hockensmith, King Errisson, Ron Tutt, Julia Waters, Linda Press, Maxine Waters, Don Markese, Art...

L.A. Times joins Weinstein welcome.(Los Angeles Times Syndicate)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The Weinstein Co. launched a lavish print campaign announcing itself last week, buying double-spread ads heralding the new company in Daily Variety and the New York Times. The Los Angeles Times didn't get the ad, but it ran one of its own for...

20th has a 'Bones' jones.(Barry Josephson signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox Television)
October 3, 2005... With his new drama "Bones" off to a meaty start, producer Barry Josephson has sealed an overall deal at 20th Century Fox TV. Under terms of the hefty two-year pact, Josephson will continue to be involved with "Bones" while creating new...

New Line will groom 'Heir'.(New Line Cinema Corp. purchased script "Heirhead Apparent")(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... New Line has bought spec script "Heirhead Apparent" from tyro scribe David Clawson. Script is a "Legally Blonde"-like story about the spoiled daughter of a department store tycoon who campaigns to save the store after spending time with...

Scrambling skeins: UPN stifles 'Sex'; NBC revamps Wed. sked.(United Paramount Network, 'Sex, Love and Secrets')
October 3, 2005... Production on UPN's "Sex, Love and Secrets" has been halted. Meanwhile, across town Fox has ordered four more scripts of rookie sudser "Reunion." And after two weeks of terrible numbers, NBC has decided on a last-ditch sked switch to save...

HBO commits to divorce.(Home Box Office Inc. planning for a show in which Bob Saget will be cast)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... HBO and Bob Saget are delving into the mind of the divorced dad. Paybox has made a script commitment to an untitled half-hour project from Saget described as an R-rated take on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." Saget will star,...

Strinqer bullish on Sony's renaissance.
October 3, 2005... Sony Corp. chairman Howard Stringer warned against collapsing video windows and extolled Bluray, as he promised investors and the press Friday that the beleaguered Japanese giant will rise again. Gotham meet reprised a confab in Tokyo a...

Its work at an end, DCI closes shop.(Digital Cinema Initiatives)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... After 3 1/2 years, $8.4 million and the creation of a technical spec the six big studios hope will drive future growth of the film biz, Digital Cinema Initiatives is now little more than a name. Joint venture founded by the six majors and...

Fridays take a dramatic turn: CBS scores with frosh series.
October 3, 2005... The number of people watching broadcast television on Friday night continues to dwindle, but CBS is getting the most of those who are showing up this fall. As week two of the 2005-06 season neared its conclusion, the Eye was the standout...

Sci Fi sees 'Saw,' 7 other Lions Gate pix.(Sci-Fi Channel Inc. got movie rights from Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The Sci Fi Channel has bought exclusive cable-TV rights to eight movies from Lions Gate Entertainment for a total license fee of about $12 million. About half of the money will go to one title, the surprise 2004 hit "Saw," a horror...

ProSieben's boards balk at bid price.(ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG shares)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The executive and supervisory boards of Haim Saban's ProSiebenSat. 1 have given an official but ostensibly harmless thumbs down to publishing giant Axel Springer's offer for the company's outstanding shares in its takeover bid for the TV group....

Nick Stahl.(cast for in 'Camille' for )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Nick Stahl is in negotiations to star in "Camille" for Golconda Films. Sienna Miller and Harvey Keitel co-star in the adventure comedy, about a petty thief (Stahl) who marries his parole officer's niece. Gregory Mackenzie is directing. ...

Elisabeth Harnois.(cast for lead role in Todd Kessler's Keith )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Elisabeth Harnois ("Pretty Persuasion") has landed a lead role in "Keith," slated to begin production later this month. She plays a high schooler whose perfectly ordered life is disrupted by another classmate (Jesse McCartney). Former...

Columbus Short.(cast for 'Stepping Up: Save the Last Dance 2' by MTV Films and Paramount)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Columbus Short ("War of the Worlds") will play the male lead in "Stepping Up: Save the Last Dance 2" for MTV Films and Paramount. He joins Izabella Miko in the sequel, directed by David Petrarca. Lensing is under way in Toronto. Short...

Paula Garces.(cast for 'The Shield' by Fx network)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Paula Garces ("Man of the House") will appear in at least four episodes of FX's "The Shield." She'll play Tina, a rookie cop trained by Julian Lowe (Michael Jace), Police skein's fifth season is in production and will air in January.

Japan rolls 'Bones' for Oscar contention.(Blood and Bones)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... With today the cutoff date for submissions, helmer Yoichi Sai's "Blood and Bones" has been selected by the Japan Motion Picture Assn. as its foreign-language Oscar nominee while Argentina's pick is Fabian Bielinsky's "El aura" (The Dawn). ...

Spark lights a capital fuse.(Spark Capital)
October 3, 2005... A team of longtime showbiz industryites, including former Lions Gate, Sony and Turner exec Dennis Miller, has launched a venture capital firm called Spark Capital. Firm said it will direct its $260 million under management to early-stage...

Lillywhite lands diskery deal.(Steve Lillywhite )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Record producer Steve Lillywhite has joined Sony BMG's Columbia Records as senior vice president of A&R. Lillywhite, who earned kudos for his work with Peter Gabriel and U2, will sign artists to the label and work with Columbia's roster....

China boots pirate: American DVD counterfeiter deported to L.A.(World News)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... China has deported an American sentenced to 30 months in a Shanghai jail for selling hundreds of thousands of pirated DVDs on the internet. Randolph Hobson Guthrie, 38, was flown Friday to L.A., where he was arrested by Customs officials....

WBITD ups Garcia to exec post.(Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, John Garcia )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Warner Bros. Intl. Television Distribution has promoted John Garcia to VP-general manager, Latin America, division prexy Jeffrey Schlesinger announced Friday. Garcia will have overall responsibility for sales, marketing and...

Holroyd dissolves agency, joins one.(apoointments)(Casarotto Ramsay)(Rachel Holroyd)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Casarotto Ramsay, one of the U.K.'s leading film talent agencies, has hired Rachel Holroyd. Holroyd is dissolving her startup literary agency, Essential Element Management. Her ELM partner, Amanda Davies, is joining Michael Foster and Sue...

IdtV pacts in China.(contract with China Sports Film & Television Co. and Beijing Organizing Committee to produce sports documentaries)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Dutch production company IdtV has struck a deal with the China Sports Film & Television Co. and the Beijing (Olympic) Organizing Committee to produce 12 sports documentaries for the Chinese TV market. Each doc will profile an athlete as he...

MTG takes GES stake.(Modern Times Group, GES Media Holding)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... International broadcasting giant Modern Times Group has inked a $112 million pact to take a 50% stake in GES Media Holding, which owns TV Prima, the Czech Republic's second-largest TV channel. Launched in 1993 as the country's first...

Star! rises in Iceland.(contracts with Iceland Telecom)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Sweden's NonStop Television's niche channel Star! bowed Saturday in Iceland via a pact with broadcaster Iceland Telecom. Iceland Telecom reaches 92% of the 110,000 Icelandic households. Star! is now in 37 territories.

Chan in funding fracas.(China Conservational Power Holdings' Abba Chan arrested)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Abba Chan, the film producer also known as the father of Canto-pop music concerts, was arrested Thursday on charges of misappropriating HK$100 million ($12.8 million) from two listed companies. Chan, who is the chairman of China...

Coin infusion for pix.(Ruili Holdings changes its name to See Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... The local biz is getting a HK$10 million ($1.3 million) boost. Ruili Holdings, which is changing its name to See Corp., will invest that money in 30 digital movies a year. The company has joined 12 local directors to form an artists'...

Star shines on antv.(acquisitions)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... News Corp.'s Star has taken a 20% stake in Indonesian broadcaster antv. Star will lend its expertise in broadcasting and help develop local programming. CMA Indonesia has the majority stake in antv.

Lucky Luke gallops to bigscreen in Gaul.(Xilam)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Gallic animation studio Xilam is bringing comicbook hero Lucky Luke to the bigscreen in "Tous a l'ouest," slated to bow in fall 2007. Pic, co-produced by Dargaud-Marina and Lucky Comics with a budget of 12 million [euro] ($14.4 million),...

Showbiz stocks: Friday, September 30, 2005.(Illustration)
October 3, 2005... Showbiz Stocks Friday, September 30, 2005 Name Tkr PE Last Chg YTD % Chg AccessIT AIX ... 10.03...

Slut.(Theater Review)
October 3, 2005... (American Theater of Actors: 140 seats; $55 top) A Dena Hammerstein and Pam Pariseau presentation for James Hammerstein Prods. of a musical in two acts with music and additional lyrics by Stephen Sislen, book and lyrics by Ben H. Winters....

Styx.(Concert Review)
October 3, 2005... (Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles; 2,000 seats: $50 top) Presented by Avalon. Band: Tommy Shaw, James "JY" Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman, Ricky Phillips, Chuck Panozzo. Reviewed Sept. 29, 2005. Tommy Shaw, who brought a hard-rock...

Ric Ocasek.(Concert Review)
October 3, 2005... (CBGB: 285 capacity: $15) Presented inhouse. Band: Ric Ocasek, Catherine Culpepper, Harold Griffin, Ted Casterline, Aaron Carroll, Shawn King. Reviewed Sept. 29, 2005. Former Cars frontman Ric Ocasek recently ended an eight-year hiatus...

Nine Inch Nails; Queens of the Stone Age.(Concert Review)
October 3, 2005... (Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles; 17,391 seats, $95 top) Presented by Hewitt/Silva, MySpace and KROQ. Bands: (NIN) Trent Reznor, Aaron North, Jeordie White, Alessandro Cortini, Jerome Dillon; (QOTSA) Joshua Homme, Alain Johannes, Troy Van...

O'Seas can't get enough 'Chocolate'.("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory")
October 3, 2005... "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," solidifying its status as a success in every major market, won the foreign box office crown for the fourth straight weekend with $10.2 million at 3,200 playdates in 52 countries. The family fave...

Nets on deck with playoffs.
October 4, 2005... The Fox Network and ESPN are not popping any champagne corks yet, but the baseball post-season, which begins tonight on Fox, appears set to hit a home run. Teams from four of the top six cities in the U.S. are represented, and the New York...

Mexico's futbol fans embrace NFL.(National Football League)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Two of the worst teams in the National Football League drew the biggest regular-season crowd in the league's 86-year history--in Mexico City--on Sunday night, the NFL's first regular season game abroad. A crowd of 103,000 saw the Arizona...

Fox News firms up Ailes' army.(Fox News Network's Roger Ailes appoints Sharri Berg)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Fox News chief Roger Ailes drew the Fox local stations further under his wing Monday by naming a close deputy to a newly created position that will oversee news at the Fox Television Stations Group. Longtime Fox News Channel executive...

'Heist' pilot a steal for NBC: Net resurrects Liman skein.(Doug Liman )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Doug Liman is masterminding a primetime "Heist" for NBC. Peacock has greenlit production on a pilot for an hourlong comedic drama to be directed by Liman ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith") and written by Robb and Mark Cullen ("Lucky"). Project is a...

Music fans burn CD biz.
October 4, 2005... Consumers burning their own CDs are hurting the retail-music business, the RIAA contends, even as the sale of digital downloads continues to explode. Meanwhile, the shipment of compact discs from record companies to various distribution...

La Salle scrubs in at CBS.(Eriq La Salle signed a deal with CBS Inc. and Paramount Network Television)
October 4, 2005... Eriq La Salle is plotting a primetime return with the man who put him there in the firstplace: Leslie Moonves. Former "ER" star has inked a one-year talent and production deal with Moonves-run CBS and Paramount Network Television. Pact...

Russian troupe lets the cat out of the bag.(City Lights)(Circus Review)
October 4, 2005... Marusa is the Renee Fleming of Russian cats. Like the opera star performing in the title role of Massenet's "Manon" at the Met, this feline has her clique as well: mostly kids, but also the kid inside just about everyone who's lined up so...

Par, CW soak up 'Wet' pitch.(Carsey-Werner Films, Paramount, "Get 'Em Wet")(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Paramount has decided to "Get 'Em Wet," buying a comedy pitch by Will Arnett and Dax Shepard about hot tub salesmen in Japan and setting it up with Carsey-Werner Films. The fish-out-of-water project--being developed as a starring vehicle...

'Cavite' nabs Woodstock prize.(Woodstock Film Festival )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Helmer Ian Gamazon's "Cavite" took pic kudos at the 2005 Woodstock Film Festival when the annual event wrapped Sunday in Woodstock, N.Y. Pic follows an American in the Philippines who learns his mother and sister have been kidnapped for...

Scribe tribe sets date for doc screenplay kudo.
October 4, 2005... The Writers Guild of America has set Feb. 1 at the Hollywood Roosevelt for the reception for its documentary screenplay award. The guild created the separate kudo last year with the twin goals of building community among nonfiction writers...

New Dimension for Biber: PR senior VP.(Weinstein Co. appoints Liz Biber )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Former Columbia Pictures exec Liz Biber has been tapped as senior veep of publicity for Dimension Films, the genre unit of Bob and Harvey Weinstein's new venture, the Weinstein Co. Exec will be based in Los Angeles and charged with...

WB, Imax meet on 'Feet'.(Warner Bros. and Imax join forces to release "Happy Feet")(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Warner Bros. Pictures and large format exhib Imax are teaming up again, this time to the tune of singing Emperor penguins. Studio will release the animated "Happy Feet" in Imax 3-D domestically on the same date--Nov. 17, 2006--the musical...

Skein gets day in Court.(Courtroom Television Network Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Court TV has put an afternoon talkshow on its docket. "Cutler & Hayes," featuring Bruce Cutler, Ed Hayes and TV journalist Jane Velez, will focus on a discussion of the legal controversies of the week. Cutler has made his name by...

Exec hikes up Spike: programming chief takes over biz operations.(MTV Networks Inc's Spike TV appoints Nickelodeon Networks' Kevin Kay )
October 4, 2005... Nickelodeon Networks vet Kevin Kay has been named exec VP-general manager for Spike TV. Kay, previously head of programming and production, will shift his focus to managing the day-to-day and business operations of Spike's East Coast...

Steady as she goes for Broadway.(box office report, and ticket sales analysis)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Broadway biz held steady for the week ending Oct. 2, with many shows' grosses rising or falling by unremarkable five-figure margins. For the 23 shows on the boards, total receipts were down $605,789 to $12,352,137. That's on the healthy...

WE hoping for a royal flush.(WE: Women's Entertainment L.L.C. teams up with Granada International to produce a movie)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The British royal soap story continues on WE: Women's Entertainment. The network has teamed with Blighty-based production company Granada Intl. to produce a pic profiling the early romance of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. ...

Rogue adds creative duo.(Rogue Pictures appoints Paul Getto and Alex Heineman )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Under its new production head Andrew Rona, Rogue Pictures has tapped Paul Getto and Alex Heineman as creative execs. The duo will be based in the Universal genre unit's Gotham offices, reporting directly to Rona, who recently joined Rogue...

Thanks but no thanks: MPAA says China minister misread note.(Motion Picture Association of America)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... China's minister of culture claimed headway against intellectual property piracy and cited a "thank you" letter the Motion Picture Assn. sent him as evidence, but org officials were skeptical of the claim and contradicted the government...

Warners taps global marketing exec veep.(Warner Bros., Lisa Gregorian promotes)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Longtime Warner Bros. marketing exec Lisa Gregorian has been promoted to the newly created position of exec VR worldwide marketing, for the recently created Warner Bros. Television Group. Promotion was unveiled Thursday by the division's...

Cabler NTL hooks up Telewest for $6 bil.(TeleWest Communications PLC)
October 4, 2005... A British TV watershed was breached Monday with the long-expected announcement that cabler NTL will acquire rival Telewest for $6 billion in a mix of cash and shares. The tie-up sees the emergence of another big player in Blighty's...

Sony, Martha duet for Xmas.(Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Sony BMG to form Martha Stewart Living Music)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Martha is tuning up for a Christmas moneymaker. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Sony BMG have teamed up to create Martha Stewart Living Music, a partnership set to release a series of compilation albums especially for the holiday...

Time Inc. chief to pen tome on Plame case.(Norman Pearlstine to write a book)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Time Inc. editor-in-chief Norman Pearlstine, who compelled Time reporter Matt Cooper to turn over his notes in the Valerie Plame probe, will write a book on the topic. "Off the Record: The Use and Misuse of Anonymous Sources." The Nan A....

Showbiz stocks: Monday, October 3, 2005.(Illustration)
October 4, 2005... Showbiz Stocks Monday, October 3, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AccessIT AIX ... 9.50 -.53 +144.2...

A Woman of Will.(Theater Review)
October 4, 2005... A Woman of Will (Daryl Roth Theater; 317 seats; $65 top) A Jack and Julie Nadel and David A. Braun presentation of a musical in one act with music by Joel Silberman, lyrics by Amanda McBroom, book by McBroom and Silberman, additional music...

In the Continuum.(by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter)(Theater Review)
October 4, 2005... In the Continuum (59E59 Theaters; 199 seats; $15 top) A Primary Stages presentation of a play in one act by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter. Directed by Robert O'Hara. Costumes, Sarah Hillard; lighting, Jim French; sound, Lindsay Jones;...

The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue.(Stage presentation of a play )(Theater Review)
October 4, 2005... The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue (Hartford Stage, Hartford, Conn.; 489 seats; $62 top) A Hartford Stage presentation of a play in two acts by David Grimm. Directed by Michael Wilson. Choreography, Hope Clarke. Sets, Tony Straiges;...

Exclusives report: for the weekend of Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005.(Illustration)
October 4, 2005... Exclusives Report For the weekend of Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2005 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Film (distributor) Circuit Theater, city Weekend B.O. gross Capote Local...

Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005.(Illustration)
October 4, 2005... Top 10 Films In Manhattan For the weekend of Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2005Bank % change vs. last Rank Wknd. B.O. Film...

Waiting ...(Lions Gate Films)(Movie Review)
October 4, 2005... Waiting... A Lions Gate Films release of an Eden Rock Media, Element Films and Wisenheimer Films production. Produced by Jeff Balis, Rob Green, Stavros Merjos, Jay Rifkin, Adam Rosenfelt. Executive producers, Thomas Augsberger, Paul...

Methadonia.(documentary movie)(Movie Review)
October 4, 2005... Methadonia (Docu) An HBO Documentary Films presentation of a Blackbridge production. Produced by Michel Negroponte. Executive producer, Sheila Nevins. Directed, edited by Michel Negroponte. Written by Nick Pappas. Camera (color, DV),...

Host Crowe boosts Oz kudocast outlook.(World News)(Russell Crowe is hosting Australian Film Institute Awards kudocast)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Russell Crowe will host this year's Australian Film Institute Awards kudocast, the most prestigious honors Down Under, on Nov. 26 in Melbourne. "Irreverent and respectful in equal measures," the actor said of his hosting duties,...

Korean pix top Asia fest kudos.(Tae guk gi: The Brotherhood of War honored as the best film)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Korean films took the top honors at the five-day Asia Pacific Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur, which ended Sunday, but there was an encouraging haul for local Malaysian titles, too. "Tae guk gi: The Brotherhood of War," the top-grossing...

Berlin fest books fair.(Berlin Film Festival and Frankfurt Book Fair )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The Berlin Film Festival will take part in this month's Frankfurt Book Fair for the first time, in a forum highlighting adaptations of literature. The fair and fest pacted at February's Berlinale to help get books made into movies. At...

Celeb 'Death' watch.(new television series "Death by Excess")(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Forensics gets a celebrity twist in "Death by Excess," a new series by Southern Star's Blighty offshoot Oxford Scientific Films, commissioned by satcaster BSkyB'S flagship channel Sky One. Skein will use forensic evidence, psychological...

CBC unlocks its door: Canuck pubcaster makes deal with union.(Caribbean Broadcasting Corp., Canadian Media Guild )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The seven-week lockout of 5,500 staffers at Canuck pubcaster CBC looks like it's over after management and the union hammered out an agreement at midnight Sunday. The CBC refused to comment on the deal until the staffers vote on it in the...