Daily Variety articles from October 2009, page 7

Daily Variety archives from October 2009

Showbiz stocks: Monday, October 12, 2009.
October 13, 2009... Showbiz Stocks Monday, October 12, 2009 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg Avid AVID ... 14.73 -.11 +35.0 Blockbstr ...

Thesps on path to indie 'Satisfaction'.(Sharon Stone and Carice Van Houten )(Brief article)
October 13, 2009... Sharon Stone and Carice Van Houten ("Valkyrie") will star in the indie drama "Satisfaction," with production set to start in the U.K. in the first quarter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Satisfaction" will be helmed by...

W/C Music taps veepee.(Warner/Chappell Music's Steve Markland )(Brief article)
October 13, 2009... Publisher Warner/Chappell Music has appointed Steve Markland as VP of A&R, Nashville. Markland will sign emerging and established writers for the company. He reports to Tracy Gershon, senior VP and head of A&R at Warner/Chappell...

Anthony Buivivar.(Players)
October 13, 2009... Anthony Buivivar ("Third Watch") has joined the cast of "The Adjustment Bureau" helmed by George Nolfi. Ruivivar joins Matt Damon, John Slattery and Anthony Mackie with production already underway in New York. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Past...

Billy Burke.(Players)(Highland Park)(Brief article)
October 13, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thesp Billy Burke ("Twilight") has signed on to co-star in "Highland Park" with Danny Glover. The film follows a group of high school faculty members who seek to restore a public library to help build hope in the...

Rachel Nichols.(Players)
October 13, 2009... Rachel Nichols ("Star Trek") has joined the cast of "The Loop." Nichols plays Fiona, a librarian who joins a highway patrolman to uncover the mysteries behind the cryptic sayings spoken by an ancient parrot. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nichols...

Dudamel dazzles.(V)(Gustavo Dudamel)(Brief article)
October 13, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gustavo Dudamel's debut as music director of the L.A. Phil drew a 10-minute ovation from the crowd at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Thursday. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At the after-party, L.A. Phil board prexy Deborah...

Fest embraces Pedro.(V)
October 13, 2009... Twenty-one years after opening the New York Film Festival, Pedro Almodovar was back at Alice Tully Hall Sunday to close the 47th edition of the fest with his latest film, "Broken Embraces." The upcoming Sony Pictures Classics release marks the...

A 'Royal' Rialto welcome.(V)(Rosemary Harris' The Royal Family)(Brief article)
October 13, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Legit legend Rosemary Harris returns to the Broadway boards in "The Royal Family," the Barrymore roman a clef that she famously essayed 34 years ago. Of course, the actress now plays Fanny, the...

'Couples' on top: Laffer debut good for U.
October 12, 2009... Audiences fell hard this weekend for the winning combo of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, with Universal's "Couples Retreat" earning a surprisingly buoyant $35.3 million at 3,000 playdates. "Zombieland" dropped to second in its soph sesh with...

Sour economy sweet for vid.
October 12, 2009... If the lackluster economy this year has been good to one business, it's DVD rentals. U.S. consumer spending on rentals of DVDs and Blu-ray discs surged 9.9% in the third quarter over the same period in 2008, according to Rentrak's Home Video...

Mandalay grows 'Horns'.(Mandalay Pictures )
October 12, 2009... Mandalay Pictures has optioned the film rights to the upcoming novel "Horns," penned by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King. Novel is described as a love story driven by horror and vengeance that revolves around a 26-year-old man who wakes up one...

Chernin turning to Moses.(Peter Chernin )(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... In his first significant film project acquisition, Peter Chernin is taking on a project of biblical proportions. Twentieth Century Fox will develop a retelling of the story of Moses, from his near death as an infant to his adoption into the...

AFI life nod to Nichols.(American Film Institute honors Mike Nichols)(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... Mike Nichols has been tapped by the American Film Institute to receive the AFI Life Achievement Award. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI board, made the announcement Sunday. The kudo will be Nichols presented at a...

Tweet titan sweetens brand.(Ashton Kutcher)
October 12, 2009... IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS movies starring Bruce Willis, Matt Damon, Jennifer Aniston, Clive Owen and Sandra Bullock have looked downright torpid at the box office while other films featuring clouds and meatballs have performed smartly. That...

Where the Wild Things Are.(Movie review)
October 12, 2009... A Warner Bros. release presented in association with Legendary Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures and KLG Film Invest of a Playtone/Wild Things production. Produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, John Carls, Maurice Sendak, Vincent Landay....

Chernin makes it work with laffers.
October 12, 2009... Chernin Entertainment is looking for laughs in the workplace. The 20th Century Fox TV-based shingle has set up two comedy projects at CBS with workplace settings. The multicamera half-hour from scribe Chris Harris ("How I Met Your Mother")...

Horror 'Burst' for Lionsgate.
October 12, 2009... Entering the realm of 3D horror, Neil Marshall will direct "Burst 3D" for Ghost House Pictures. Lionsgate has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film after having distributed Marshall's 2006 pic "The Descent." [ILLUSTRATION...

Duo invited to 'Dinner'.(Bruce Greenwood and David Walliams join in "Dinner for Schmucks")(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... Bruce Greenwood and David Walliams will join Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd in "Dinner for Schmucks," the Jay Roach-directed comedy for Paramount, DreamWorks and Spyglass. Walliams plays a Swiss banker that Tim Conrad (Rudd)...

Deals for Abu Dhabi: imagenation bolsters participant, WB ties.
October 12, 2009... Abu Dhabi's $1 billion production arm Imagenation can't stop making deals. In addition to the $10 million development pact with Walter Parkes and Laurie Macdonald that was announced Oct. 9, the deep-pocketed shingle has heightened its...

H'w'd helps kick off Middle East fest.(Hollywood supports the Middle East Film Fest and Circle film conference)
October 12, 2009... Abu Dhabi's annual film fiesta kicked off Thursday with the launching of the third editions of its Middle East Film Fest and Circle film financing confab. The three-day Circle conference, where speakers included New Regency topper Hutch...

Graham enters 'Parenthood'.
October 12, 2009... Lauren Graham has filled the vacancy in the cast of the NBC dramedy "Parenthood." Graham will take on the role originally played in the pilot by Maura Tierney, who was forced to drop out of the show because of health issues (Daily Variety,...

Fab Tab to tell all: thesp reveals closeted H'wood history.
October 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In what could be the most honest performance of his career, Tab Hunter will appear in "Tab Hunter Confidential," a documentary in which he promises to candidly describe what it was like to live a lie. The docu,...

Vivendi's faith in 'God'.(Letters to God)(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... Looking to tap into the faith-based market, Vivendi Entertainment has acquired North American rights for Possibility Pictures' feature "Letters to God," and has set a March 12 release date. "Letters," which recently wrapped in Orlando, Fla.,...

COLAs laud location teams.
October 12, 2009... The location teams behind two crime-oriented productions came up winners at the 15th California on Location Awards (COLA), presented Sunday at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown. Showtime's "Dexter" won for location team of the year--episodic...

Acad short docu list at 8.
October 12, 2009... The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has short-listed eight titles in the running for Oscar docu short noms. Voters from AMPAS' docu branch narrowed the list from 37 eligible entries this year, of which three to five will earn noms...

IFC's certain about thriller.(Uncertainty)(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... IFC Films has picked up U.S. fights to David Siegel and Scott McGehee's "Uncertainty," a thriller starring "500 Days of Summer" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins ("X-Men Origins: Wolverine"). Set in two alternate realities in New...

AFM sets 445 films for November mart.
October 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 30th American Film Market, running Nov. 4-11 in Santa Monica, will screen 445 films to some 8,000 pic buyers from around the world. Among those films, 73 are world premieres and 311 are market debuts, according...

WB redrawing toon team.
October 12, 2009... Warner Bros. Animation has put the final touches on its restructured toon team, including the addition of two senior VPs. Peter Girardi joins the studio as VP of series and alternative animation, while Ed Adams has been added as senior VP of...

Knightley to bow on West End in Moliere.(Legit Bits)
October 12, 2009... LONDON -- Keira Knightley will make her West End debut, starting opposite Damian Lewis in Moliere's "The Misanthrope." Helmed by Thea Sharrock ("Equus") and designed by Hildegard Bechtler (Broadway's "The Seagull" "Hedda Gabler"), the play...

Paul McCartney, Nia Vardalos, Patrick Wilson and Laura Benanti are among stars added to the lineup for "Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser" an Oct. 26 concert to benefit the Actors Fund, being hosted by Annette Bening, Kevin McCollum and Jonathan Tisch.(Legit Bits)
October 12, 2009... Paul McCartney, Nia Vardalos, Patrick Wilson and Laura Benanti are among stars added to the lineup for "Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser" an Oct. 26 concert to benefit the Actors Fund, being hosted by Annette...

Oleanna.(Theater review)
October 12, 2009... (Golden Theater; 804 seats; $116.50 top) A Jeffrey Finn, Arlene Scanlan, Jed Bernstein, Ken Davenport, Carla Emil, Ergo Entertainment, Harbor Entertainment, Elie Hirschfeld, Rachel Hirschfeld, Hop Theatricals, Brian Fenty/Martha H. Jones,...

'Parade': Mark Taper Forum.(the VERDICT)
October 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Verdict looks at critical reaction to key productions opening Off Broadway, regionally and abroad that appear likely candidates for further life on Broadway and/or elsewhere. The Donmar Warehouse revival of the...

The Playboy of the Western World.(Theater review)
October 12, 2009... (NY City Center Stage 2; 150 seats; $50 top) A Pearl Theater Company presentation of a play in three acts by J.M. Synge. Directed by J.R. Sullivan. Set, Harry Feiner; costumes, Rachel Laritz; lighting, Stephen Petrilli; sound, M.L. Dogg;...

China's Jackson jam: 'This' doc opens day-date with world.(World News)
October 12, 2009... Chinese authorities have given Michael Jackson documentary "This Is It" one of the country's 20 annual foreign movie import slots. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This frees the pic to open day-and-date with the rest of the world Oct. 28, said Li...

Von Trier's case of 'Melancholia'.(DENMARK)
October 12, 2009... Danish auteur Lars von Trier's next film will be "Melancholia" a psychological drama-cum-disaster that he will direct from his own script. Budgeted at around E5 million ($7 million), English-lingo film will shoot next year. Casting is under...

State reforms TV.(ARGENTINA)
October 12, 2009... The Senate on Saturday approved contentious reforms of the broadcasting sector that will break up private networks and give the state greater control over the airwaves--a move that critics say will restrict freedom of the press. President...

Paper sued by Mediaset.(World News)
October 12, 2009... Mediaset, the TV group controlled by Italo Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is suing center-left newspaper La Repubblica for claims made about an alleged multimillion-dollar money laundering operation in Switzerland involving senior Mediaset...

'Lightnin'' strikes at Dinard fest.(World News)
October 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dominic Murphy's "White Lightnin'" took the top prize, the Golden Hitchcock, as well as the Kodak Prize for cinematography, as the 20th British Film Festival came to a close Sunday in Dinard, France. Jamie Jay...

Morelia fishes for 'Alamar'.(World News)(Morelia Film Festival )(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... MORELIA, Mexico -- Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio's "Alamar" and documentary "Presunto culpable" (Presumed Guilty) swept the Morelia Film Festival awards on Saturday. Produced by Mexican shingles Mantarraya Prods. and Xcalakarma Films, "Alamar" took...

Show goes on for Redgrave.(Legit Bits)(Lynn Redgrave )(Brief article)
October 12, 2009... Manhattan Theater Club issued a statement Friday that Lynn Redgrave will open as scheduled in her new solo play "Nightingale," despite undergoing treatment whose side-effects necessitate that she rely on a script for the entire run of the play....

Double date: U's 'Couples' fights zombies.
October 9, 2009... Universal will have some breathing room at the box office this week with romantic comedy "Couples Retreat" as the only wide opener. U should face its toughest competition from a pair of Sony holdovers: last weekend's frame-topper,...

Sony swoons over 'Chloe'.
October 9, 2009... Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has picked up U.S. rights to Atom Egoyan's "Chloe," starting Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried. Film bowed in a Gala slot at the Toronto Film Festival last month. Scripted by Erin...

Version 20 for 'Five-O'.
October 9, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who were the kings of the summer B.O. as the screenwriters of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Star Trek," have enlisted on another classic franchise reboot, "Hawaii...

'Potter' star tries a tuner.(Inside Move)(Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
October 9, 2009... In the first musical turn for the "Harry Potter" star, Daniel Radcliffe will head the cast of an upcoming New York reading of 1961 tuner "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Producers Broadway Across America, Craig Zadan and...

New coin coffers fuel H'wood hopes.
October 9, 2009... As studios dramatically cut back development spending and first-look deals, top producers have begun finding alternative coin to buy projects. A day after DreamWorks-based Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald announced a $10 million development...

30 Rock.(VARIETY.COM)
October 9, 2009... NBC laffer's third-season preem features the show at its best and not-so-best.

Production values: Bedford pair to align with 2929.
October 9, 2009... Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz's Bedford Falls banner has cut a first-look deal with Wagner/Cuban Co.'s 2929 Prods. Wagner/Cuban principal Todd Wagner said he built a relationship with Zwick and Herskovitz through work they've done for the...

UTA adds indie topper.
October 9, 2009... Rena Ronson has returned to indie packaging duty, this time at UTA. The former co-head of William Morris Independent has joined UTA as co-head of the Independent Film Group. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] She will oversee the department with...

Laurels for landmarks.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(New York Landmarks Conservancy )(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... The New York Landmarks Conservancy will honor six Gothamites as "living landmarks," including Kaufman/Astoria Studios honcho George Kaufman, novelist and "Newman's Own" entrepreneur A.E. Hotchner, and Tommy Tune. The three will be feted...

The Virginia Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 2009 edition.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
October 9, 2009... The Virginia Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 2009 edition. Special events include John Waters' multimedia lecture "The Filthy World" and screenings of his pics "Hairspray" and "Pink Flamingos," as well as writer/helmer Alan Ball's...

Daly to chair board of AFI.
October 9, 2009... Former Warner Bros. chairman-CEO Bob Daly has been elected chair of the American Film Institute's Board of Directors, succeeding co-chairs Jon Avnet and John Cooke. Avnet and Cooke remain as AFI directors, with Avnet continuing as vice chair...

Magic touch of Mamet and Jay.(David Mamet directs Ricky Jay )(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... David Mamet will direct illusionist Ricky Jay in his new one-man show at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in December. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Ricky Jay: A Rogue's Gallery" will run Dec. 29-Jan. 10, including a special New Year's Eve...

'Runway' makes fans work via Atari.
October 9, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Atari will help the Weinstein Co. make "Project Runway" a little more realistic for fans with a videogame version set to bow next year. Series host Heidi Klum and fashion expert Tim Gunn are expected to be involved...

HBO revisits terror attack.
October 9, 2009... "Terror in Mumbai," a docu examining last year's carefully orchestrated terrorist attack across the Indian city, will premiere Nov. 19 on HBO, one week before the anniversary of the incident that left more than 170 people dead. Pic is a...

'Weapons' arms N.Y. dates.(Legit Bits)(Robin Williams' Weapons of Self Destruction)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Robin Williams has set new Gotham dates for his "Weapons of Self Destruction" tour, which will play seven shows at Town Hall Nov. 23-Dec. 3. His initial plan for a Broadway run of the show was scuttled last season due to medical issues. ...

Disney Theatrical Prods. has hit a milestone, notching up 20,000 theatrical licensees.(Legit Bits)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Disney Theatrical Prods. has hit a milestone, notching up 20,000 theatrical licensees. With its partner org Music Theater Intl., which licenses the Mouse's stage shows to schools and theaters around the globe, licensed productions of...

The Royal Family.(Theater review)
October 9, 2009... (Samuel J. Friedman Theater; 650 seats; $97 top) A Manhattan Theater Club presentation of a play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. Directed by Doug Hughes. Set, John Lee Beatty; costumes, Catherine Zuber; lighting,...

Tanguera: The Tango Musical.(Theater review)
October 9, 2009... (N.Y. City Center; 2,000 seats; $95 top) A Michael Brenner for BB Group, Paul Szilard Prods. presentation, under the patronage of Daniel Barenboim, of a musical in one act, with book by Diego Romay and Dolores Espeja, lyrics by Eladia...

Young Frankenstein.(Theater review)
October 9, 2009... (Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, Conn.; 2,800 seats; $82 top) A Frankel-Baruch-Viertel-Routh Group, NETworks Presentations, presentation, with James D. Stem and Douglas L. Meyer, of a musical in two acts with book by Mel...

The House of the Devil.(Movie review)
October 9, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Magnet release of an MPI Media Group presentation, in association with Constructovision/Ring the Jing Entertainment, of a Glass Eye Pix production. Produced by Josh Braun, Roger Kass, Larry Fessenden, Peter Phok....

Shine coming off Sony's investment.(World News)
October 9, 2009... Sony Pictures Entertainment's 21% stake in London-based Shine Group is up for grabs following concerns regarding a potential conflict of interest between the two companies. Both parties have agreed that Sony should sell its share in Shine...

MArt's mood upbeat: Mipcom ends with sense of optimism.(World News)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Not even the return of cloudy skies and talk of thunderstorms after days of sunshine could dampen spirits as the 25th Mipcom sales mart wound down on a high. Organizers Reed Midem said that with more than 12,000 participants, attendance was...

Mumbai fest ups prizes, adds docs.(INDIA)
October 9, 2009... The Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image is upping the amount of competition prize money and introducing documentary section Real Reel for this year's edition of the Mumbai Film Festival, which kicks off Oct. 29 in India. The international...

Festival thinks pink.(GREECE)
October 9, 2009... Japanese films from the 1960s that used erotic themes as allegories for left-wing political themes--the pinku eiga or pink films--will be the focus of a tribute at next month's 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece. Screening as part of...

10 vie for EFA nod.(GERMANY)(European Film Academy )(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Ten films have been nominated by the European Film Academy for best documentary. They are Anders Ostergaard's "Burma VJ" about Burmese journalists who risk their lives to tell the story of their country to the outside world; Jawad Rhalib's...

Rodar targets 'Assassin'.(SITGES)( Rodar y Rodar's The Perfect Assassin)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Brit Andrew Douglas will helm "The Perfect Assassin," being produced by "The Orphanage" co-producers Joaquin Padro and Mar Targarona at Barcelona's Rodar y Rodar, and Robyn Slovo at London's Company Pictures. The $14.6 million movie will be...

Scribe makes helming bow.(Paula Markovitch's El premio)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Scribe Paula Markovitch is set to make her directorial debut on "El premio" a co-production between Mexico's Cacao Films, Argentina's Magma Cine and France's Mille et Une Prods. Markovitch has gained attention as the co-scribe of Fernando...

The Message.(Movie review)
October 9, 2009... (Feng sheng) (China) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Huayi Brothers Media Corp. release of a Huayi Brothers, Shanghai Film Studio, China Tianjin Film Studio, Huayi Brothers Intl. Distribution production. (International sales: Huayi Brothers...

Babylon-by-the-Bay's pic biz gets big bounceback; San Francisco's appealing streets pull in producers.(CASE STUDY)
October 9, 2009... After a decadelong production drought, San Francisco is back in the game. NBC's new "Trauma" gives the city its first ongoing series since "Nash Bridges" shuttered. Production is centered at hangars-turned-soundstages located at a historic...

Half-billion-buck golden state lure: California makes move to stem runaway production, but is it too late?(MONEY MATTERS)
October 9, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] California, though home to Hollywood, has been late to enter the derby of states offering hefty entertainment tax incentives to nab film and television productions. But the five-year, $500 million program of 20% to 25%...

Shot in California.(V PLUS: SCOUT & ABOUT CALIFORNIA)
October 9, 2009... SANTA BARBARA Project: "It's Complicated"/Universal Director: Nancy Myers Producer: Scott Rudin This Santa Barbara-set romantic comedy puts Meryl Streep, hot off "Julie and Julia," back in the kitchen--this time as a cookbook author,...

Not all eyes can be on the prize.(INVENTIVE INCENTIVE: THE 20% SOLUTION)(California's new incentive program for film and television entertainment )(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... California's new incentive program for film and television entertainment purposefully focuses primarily on feature films and higher-budget productions for the tube, which tend to be job intensive. The break comes in the form of a 20% credit...

The Trotsky.
October 9, 2009... (Canada) An Alliance Films release of a Park Ex Pictures production, with the participation of Telefilm Canada, Sodec--Quebec, the Canadian Film or Video Tax Credit. (International sales: Park Ex Pictures, Montreal.) Produced by Kevin...

Mandrill.(Movie review)
October 9, 2009... A Mandrill Films/Ronnoc production. Produced by Derek Rundell. Executive producers, Luis Villagomez, Pablo Terrazas Cirvian, Robinson Tajmuch, Felipe Villarino, Gina Aguad, Ivan Lopez, Jose Zaror, Boris Zaror, Fernando Zaror, Sebastian Ayub,...

Rampage.(Movie review)
October 9, 2009... (Canada) An Event Film Distribution presentation of a Pitchblack Pictures production. (International sales: Event Film Distribution, Vancouver.) Produced by Uwe Boll, Shawn Williamson, Daniel Clarke. Co-producer, Brendan Fletcher. ...

Good Morning President.
October 9, 2009... (Gutmoning peurejideonteu) (South Korea) A CJ Entertainment release and presentation of a Soran Playment production, in association with KnJEntertainment. (International sales: CJ, Seoul.) Produced by Lee Taek-dong. Executive producer,...

Prep school laffer enrolls East Coast auds.(NeoClassics launches English girls' school comedy St. Trinian's)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... Micro-distrib NeoClassics launches English girls' school comedy "St. Trinian's" in limited U.S. release this weekend, hoping to tap into a recent groundswell of niche marketing achieved by college-scene phenom "Paranorreal Activity." ...

Weekend B.O. preview.(box office)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
October 9, 2009... Weekend B.O. Preview Variety.com/weekendopeners 'Retreat' sallies forth Universal hopes to capitalizes on "Swingers" alums and a wide-open release date as "Couples Retreat" bows today. A look at U's past few openers: Pic ...

Playwright-actor Stephen Adly Guirgis will helm the premiere of Melanie Angelina Maras' "Kiss Me on the Mouth" in November at Center Stage in Gotham.(Legit Bits)
October 9, 2009... Playwright-actor Stephen Adly Guirgis will helm the premiere of Melanie Angelina Maras' "Kiss Me on the Mouth" in November at Center Stage in Gotham. The play will begin previews Nov. 3 for a Nov. 5 opening. Guirgis, whose own play "The...

The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Fest 2009 (MIAAC 09) has announced its lineup.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(Brief article)
October 9, 2009... The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Fest 2009 (MIAAC 09) has announced its lineup. The opening-night selection will be David Kaplan's "Today's Special" based on the play by "Daily Show" correspondent Aasif Mandvi. The centerpiece will...

The Film Society of Lincoln Center will host its third annual "Scary Movies" film fest from Oct. 12-22.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
October 9, 2009... The Film Society of Lincoln Center will host its third annual "Scary Movies" film fest from Oct. 12-22. Horror films screened will include 1946 Peter Lorre starrer "Beast With Five Fingers," the local preem of Indonesian splatterfest...

More bite: col dripping with 'Venom'.
October 8, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Already rewriting "Spider-Man 4" for Columbia Pictures, Gary Ross is making a deal to rewrite to direct "Venom," a Spidey spinoff. Marvel Entertainment, Avi Arad and Ross will produce. Venom, an archenemy of the...

Col's 'Pryor' experience.(Inside Move)(Bill Condon and Columbia Pictures)(Brief article)
October 8, 2009... Bill Condon is in discussions with Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison for a deal that would allow him to direct his Richard Pryor film with Marlon Wayans playing the legendary standup comedian--next spring. In the configuration being...