Variety articles from April 2010

Variety archives from April 2010

To have an have not: top scribes reap rewrite riches....
April 26, 2010... Once upon a time, the ultimate Hollywood ambition was to direct. Nowadays, clients are more likely to tell their reps: "What I really want to do is polish scripts." For Hollywood's dozen or so top-tier script doctors, that means commanding...

To have and have not ... but rank and file must go extra mile.(rewriting jobs of screenwriters)
April 26, 2010... Rewrite gigs are a gold mine for the top tier of scribes, but for many other writers, a twist on an old motto rings true: Will work for free. For writers who have sold a script or landed an assignment, studios have gone from making deals that...

MGM's Bond bail.(decision to put the production of the next James Bond movie on hold)(in the news)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Due to MGM's ongoing financial woes, Eon Prods. has put plans for the next James Bond pic on hold. Bond 23 had been scheduled to start shooting sometime in the fourth quarter.

Court gives docs a break.(documentary films on animal cruelty)(in the news)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... The Supreme Court issued a decision striking down a federal ban on the sale of videos depicting graphic violence against animals. Filmmakers argued that if the ban had been upheld, it might have threatened the release of even docs like "The...

Disney's naked grab.(hiring of MT Carney)(in the news)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... After months of searching for a new head of marketing, Disney has chosen MT Carney for the position. Disney went outside Hollywood for Carney, hiring her away from her Gotham based agency, Naked Communications.

'Iron' smoked out in London.(premier night of Iron Man 2)(in the news)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... An Icelandic volcano's eruptions spewed a cloud of ash over Europe, holding up bizzers traveling to fests and pushing the preem of "Iron Man 2" from London to Los Angeles.

Cirque du Soleil.(project)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Cirque du Soleil unveiled ambitious plans revolving around Michael Jackson's work that includes a touring arena show and a permanent Las Vegas production.

Marjorie Cohn.(job promotion)(posting)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Marjorie Cohn has been upped to president of original programming and development at Nickelodeon.

Farewell.(first look)
April 26, 2010... Dede Allen, 86, editor of such pics as "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Reds." April 17. Ron Scalera, 49, longtime CBS marketing exec. April 21.

Oprah's ubiquity may have its limits.(Oprah Winfrey)(first look)
April 26, 2010... IS NOTHING SACRED? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kitty Kelley is making the rounds of the talkshows to hustle her new book, "Oprah"--well, not all the talkshows, because the folks at ABC and CBS don't want to mess up their relationships with the...

A good 'Ass' kicking.(Kick-Ass)(first look)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Matthew Vaughn had the last laughs last week. His movie, "Kick-Ass," ended up as the No. 1 box office hit after some revisionist math. All of the studios had turned down his $28 million project, with Lionsgate finally garnering distribution...

The Vatican takes a big app of faith.(FIRST LOOK)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... The Vatican? Yeah, there's an app for that. The Catholic Church is jumping on the Apple bandwagon, launching an app for the iPhone for the first time in its history. And while "Daily Sermonettes With Father Mike Manning" may not top downloads...

The latest 'Truth'? tarticipant's 'Zero' tackles nukes.(Countdown to Zero)(FIRST LOOK)(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among all the thrillers and chillers destined for the multiplex this summer, there's little doubt as to which movie should scare the wits out of audiences across the board: "Countdown to Zero." And it's not just...

Comicbook heroes get French twist.(superhero movies by French directors)(FIRST LOOK)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Think French exports, and most will conjure up images of brie, Champagne and Peugeots. How about Gallic helmers doing superhero pics? Though comicbook protags and masked crime-fighters seem as American as apple pie, French directors are...

'Scoping out Iran.(Tehran 2121)(FIRST LOOK)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While the world's film community continues to protest the detention of Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi, another helmer from Iran traveled to Italy's recent Cartoons on the Bay festival to unveil a sneak peek of the...

TV 'warriors' feel the heat.(Desert Warriors)(FIRST LOOK)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... In an ancient Tuareg settlement in the sands of northern Niger, Africa's newest reality TV contestants are tackling a different type of challenge--the slow process of desertification, and the threat of global warming. They're the cast of...

New reality for niche pics: shrunken B.O. resets specialty expectations.(niche movie, box office)(film)
April 26, 2010... Last month's specialty release "Greenberg" seemed to have a lot going for it--star Ben Stiller, respected indie director Noah Baumbach and winsome cutie Greta Gerwig costarring. Hoping to capitalize on Stiller's popularity, Focus Features took...

Helmer mixes melting-pot roots, singular style.(Sanaa Hamri)(featured PLAYER)(Interview)
April 26, 2010... Director Sanaa Hamri is accustomed to being a one-woman intersection--of Arab and American roots; of an African high school education and a scholarship to Sarah Lawrence College; of female empowerment and Hollywood patriarchy. So why shouldn't...

Gaul 3D goes live: thriller joins crop of toons on tap.(Behind the Walls)(FILM)
April 26, 2010... Now that France's top cinema circuits have joined the digital bandwagon, Gallic filmmakers are testing the waters of 3D production. While the majority of projects are animated, the first live-action Gallic 3D pic is about to go into production....

Crix' picks.(film critics' picks)(FILM )
April 26, 2010... CRIX' PICKS US Death at a The Funeral Joneses Studio Sony Roadside Release date April 16 April 16 Variety.com review...

Teuton auds love H'wood.(popularity of U.S. films in Germany)(FILM)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... The popularity of both Hollywood and local productions is on the rise in Germany but for vastly different reasons. A study by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) surveyed 4,056 moviegoers aged 14 and older between November and December last...

Local hits take on holdovers o'seas.
April 26, 2010... With few fresh offerings to tempt overseas auds over the April 16-18 weekend, the international B.O. was dominated by a host of holdovers, led by Warner Bros. 3D giant "Clash of the Titans," which grossed $55.3 million on 10,850 screens in 57...

International box office.(FILM)(Statistical table)
April 26, 2010... JAPAN Weekend ended 04/18/10 $1 = [yen] 93.11 Weekend's Rank Title (local distributor) B.O. Week 1. Alice in Wonderland (Disney) $14,297,616 ...

Box office report.(FILM)(Statistical table)
April 26, 2010... BOX OFFICE REPORT Visit Variety.com/boxoffice for a searchable, sortable and international B.O. archive. Reported Percent Box Office Change ...

Commedia dell'arte used masks.(tech)(Quotation)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "Commedia dell'arte used masks; I don't suppose audiences questioned how the actor was cloaked."--Andy Serkis

Actors capture the moment: once seen as a thesp threat, form is gaining acceptance.(tech)(Performance-capture acting)
April 26, 2010... Performance-capture acting, and the thesps who've tried it, are earning more respect these days. "Avatar" rode performance-capture to generally stellar reviews, record-breaking grosses and rare levels of audience engagement. Yet...

Trailer you can drive.(tech)(interactive movie trailer)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Interactive trailers are nothing new, with both "Avatar" and ',Iron Man 2" boasting standalone widgets that allowed users to launch behind-the-scenes goodies from within the preview. For "Avatar's" Blu-ray release, though, James Cameron...

Comedy Central has locked up Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.(tv)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Comedy Central has locked up Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert through 2012. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Can TV news be saved? Soft focus means tough times for hard stories.(tvD)
April 26, 2010... A compelling ease exists that for many newspapers to survive, they'll require nonprofit status--and possibly public funding. A related question is where TV and radio journalism might fit into that equation. Watching newspapers die in alarming...

Biz in flux, but doc fest flourishes.(tv)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With many screenings sold out, including those for the opening docs--helmer Thomas Balmes' "Babies," about a year in the life of four newborns in different parts of the world, and Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn's "Rush:...

For skeins, good title often vital.(tv)
April 26, 2010... What's in a name? For the producers, studios and networks crafting this year's crop of primetime contenders, pilot monikers matter. As they head into the pilot screening room, CBS still has a problem with "Shit," CW is stuck in Wyoming and...

'Valemont's' new media lab.
April 26, 2010... The mysteries of Valemont University could become a textbook case for how networks and advertisers create a two-way street for entertainment properties on the Web, on TV and on mobile platforms. MTV and Verizon experimented last fall with a...

Pay TV paces Euros.(TELEVISION)
April 26, 2010... European TV companies weathered the economic crisis better in 2009 than in 2008, thanks to solid performances from pay TV operators, who propped up overall results for the commercial broadcast sector. European Audiovisual Observatory figures...

Choice start for satcaster.(TELEVISION)(TopTV's pay television)
April 26, 2010... On Digital Media is hoping an a la carte model will help its satellite pay platform TopTV gain a foothold in South Africa against established MultiChoice's DStv. The May I launch ends DStv's 15-year monopoly in the market, and will feature...

Nielsen scorecard.(TELEVISION)(Statistical table)
April 26, 2010... Top primetime shows of the week (April 12-18, 2010) Adults 18-49 Overall rating/ and...

A case of Ogrekill.(Shrek Forever After)(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHREK FOREVER AFTER Paramount/DreamWorks Animation Directed by Mike Mitchell Voices: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz When fantasy figures start having midlife crises and their animated franchises...

Not enough 'Spring' in Green Day's step.(Theater review)
April 26, 2010... AMERICAN IDIOT St. James Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer Lyrics by Armstrong Music by Green Day Starring: John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, Stark Sands In the tradition of "Hair," "Rent" and "Spring Awakening"...

Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (DOCU) A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Hot Ticket presentation. Produced by Joe Thomas, Kenny Chesney, Shaun Silva. Executive producers, Clint Higham, Dale Morris. Don Maggi. Co-executive producers. Susan...

The Losers.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... A Warner Bros. release, presented in association with Dark Castle Entertainment/ StudioCanal/Studio Babelsberg Motion Pictures, of a Weed Road Pictures production. Produced by Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman, Kerry Foster. Executive producers,...

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... (LES AVENTURES EXTRAORDINAIRES D'ADELE BLANC-SEC) (FRANCE) A EuropaCorp release of a EuropaCorp, Apiplouai Prod., TF1 Films Prod. production, in association with Sofica EuropaCorp, Cofinova 6, with participation of Canal Plus....

The Infidel.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (U.K.) A Tribeca Film (in U.S.) release, in association with American Express, of a Slingshot and Met Film production. (International sales: the Salt Co., London.) Produced by Arvind Ethan David, Uzma Hasan, Stewart...

Climate of Change.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... (DOCU--U.K.) A Tribeca Film (in U.S.) release, presented in association with American Express, Participant Media and the Alliance for Climate Protection, of a Century Films production. Produced by Katie Bailiff. Executive producers, Kevin...

Thieves by Law.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... (GANAVIM BA HOK) (DOCU--GERMANY-ISRAEL-SPAIN) A LE-Vision Film and TV Prods. (Germany)/SMS Prods. (Israel)/Chello Multicanal (Spain) production, co-produced by ZDF/Arte, SWR, Reshet TV. Odisea. (International sales: Cinephil, Tel Aviv.)...

The Arbor.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... (U.K.) An Artangel Trust and U.K. Film Council production in association with Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Arts Council England, More 4. (International sales: Wavelength Pictures, London.) Produced by Tracy O'Riordan. Executive producer,...

When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun.(Movie review)
April 26, 2010... (Docu) A Free Motion Films production. (International sales: Free Motion Films, Denver.) Produced by Dirk Simon, Vanessa Philippe. Executive producers, Dennis Riordan, Cle Riordan. Co-producer, John Caulkins. Directed by Dirk Simon....

Happy Town.(Television program review)
April 26, 2010... (SERIES; ABC, WED. APRIL 28,10 P.M.) Filmed in Toronto by Space Floor in association with ABC Studios. Executive producers, Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Gary Fleder; produces, Michael J. Maschio; co-producer, Paul Rabwin;...

La Cage Aux Folles.(Theater review)
April 26, 2010... (LONGACRE; 1,050 SEATS; $132.50 TOP) NEW YORK A Sonia Friedman Prods., David Babani, Fran and Barry Weissler, Edwin W. Schloss, Bob Bartner/Norman Tulchin, Broadway Across America, Matthew Mitchell, Raise the Roof 4, Richard Winkler/Bensinger...

A warm 'Welcome'.(Welcome to Arroyo's)(Theater review)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] REGIONAL WELCOME TO ARROYO'S (AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY; 112 SEATS; TOP) CHICAGO An American Theater Company presentation of a play in two acts by Kristoffer Diaz. Directed by Jaime Castaneda. Set, Keith Pitts....

Is jukebox playing Tony tune? With crix on their side, pre-existing songbooks look for kudos.(legit)(Tony Awards)
April 26, 2010... History could be made when the Tony Award nominations are announced May 4. It's just possible that in the best musical category, all four nominated tuners will be what's affectionately or disparagingly called a juke-boxer--that is, a show built...

Brian D'Arcy James, who was in the Off B'way staging of "Next to Normal.".(legit)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brian D'Arcy James, who was in the Off B'way staging of "Next to Normal," returns for the B'way vrsion in May.

B'way swings for 'Fences'.(BROADWAY GROSSES)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... NEW YORK Broadway sales continued to soften in week 47 (April 12-18) following the annual spring-break boost--but that didn't stop playgoers from turning out en masse for Denzel Washington. "Fences," the revival of the August Wilson play...

Legit grosses.(LEGIT)(plays)(Statistical table)
April 26, 2010... Legit Grosses WEEK 47: April 12-18, 2010 Week's Gross Show Receipts (Theater) Potential Gross Prev Week's (Prod. Category) (Seats) Receipts Gross...

Road grosses.(Legit)(plays)
April 26, 2010... NEW YORK Road grosses dipped 12.3% during Week 47 (April 12-18), bringing the total gross for the 12-show slate to $10,709,514. "Wicked" broke the house record yet again at the Stranahan in Toledo, Ohio, ($1,397,782). Most shows were down, but...

Fans on hand for J-Lo's return 'plan'.(V page)(movie 'The Back-Up Plan' by Jennifer Lopez)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Jennifer Lopez made her way to Westwood's Village Theater on April 21, and the kids were lined up around the block. And around the block next to that, and the block next to that, all hoping to get a glimpse of the...

Tribeca ogles ogre.(V page)(Shrek Forever After)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's totally obvious why the Tribeca Film Festival opened with "Shrek Forever After," said org's co-founder Jane Rosenthal: "Every New Yorker has an inner ogre." The largely adult crowd that...

Vanessa Hudgens, honoree Blair Rich and Zac Efron take shelter at the L.A.(V page)(L.A. Family Housing 2010 Gala)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... Vanessa Hudgens, honoree Blair Rich and Zac Efron take shelter at the L.A. Family Housing 2010 Gala on April 21 at the Avalon Hollywood. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sunkrish Baia, Parvesh Cheena, Samrat Chakrabarti, Kunal Nayyar, Rizwan Manji and Ravi Patel get ready for the class photo.(V page)(Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sunkrish Baia, Parvesh Cheena, Samrat Chakrabarti, Kunal Nayyar, Rizwan Manji and Ravi Patel get ready for the class photo at the April 19 opening of the Indian Film Festival L.A.

'Idiot' acolytes.(V page)(American Idiot)(Brief article)
April 26, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The "American Idiot" producers needed every inch of the humongous Roseland Ballroom for their April 20 opening-night party. How else could those arch-rivals Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump inhabit the same space...

H'wood's 30--year pitch: biz dusts off '80s pics for remake wave.
April 19, 2010... Studios have gone back to the future as they develop their upcoming slates, eyeing a slew of hits from the 1980s to remake, reboot or reimagine. The irony is that "Back to the Future" isn't one of them. Everything else is essentially getting...

Cannes competish shapes up.(in the news)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... The Cannes Film Festival continues to add to its lineup, announcing that Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "Biutiful" and Mike Leigh's "Another Year" will preem in competition at this year's festival.

Cup given another dimension.(in the news)(Aruna Media AG and Sensio covers the World Cup)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... This year's World Cup soccer tournament is the next big event to get the 3D treatment, with Aruna Media AG and tech provider Sensio teaming up to broadcast the event to stadiums and theaters around the world. For more on the 3D event front, see...

U goes inhouse for reshuffle.(in the news)(Universal Studios Inc.)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... Universal has given a vote of confidence to its film marketing department, restructuring from within its ranks, with Michael Moses being upped to co-president. Maria Pekurovskaya will be head of creative advertising as well as executive VP, with...

"The Avengers".(project)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... Marvel has put Joss Whedon in charge of helming "The Avengers" movie, which will bring the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all together onto the bigscreen.

Jamie Foxx.(castings)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... Jamie Foxx will lend his voice to Fox Animation toon "Welcome to the Jungle."

Rickey Minor.(posting)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... "American Idol's" Rickey Minor will replace Kevin Eubanks as musical director for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

Meinhardt Raabe.(farewell)(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... Meinhardt Raabe, 94, Munchkin coroner in "The Wizard of Oz." April 9

H'wood heroes in for a coarse correction.(first look)
April 19, 2010... I LIKE RUSSELL CROWE FOR HIS consistency. Look at his press photos and he's always glowering, his face a landscape of coarse stubble and angry creases, his voice an ominous rumble. Macho Man made a quick pass through Los Angeles last week to...

Second thoughts on second helpings.(first look)
April 19, 2010... Studios keep turning out remakes with alarming regularity, hoping they'll be "safe bets." But the remakes often are bigger losers than the originals. Screen Gems has released an Americanized version of "Death at a Funeral," starring Chris...

Fight club flummoxed.(FIRST LOOK)
April 19, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For good reason, the German government likes to monitor violent behavior in the culture, which is why media regulators have pulled the plug on mixed martial arts programming. German sports channel Sport1 (formerly...

Surprise party erupts during debate debut.(FIRST LOOK)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... It was the most-hyped TV show of the decade in Blighty--and a mouth-watering 21 million viewers were expected to tune in. And the broadcast delivered: The first of three 90-minute live debates between the major parties, the first-ever...

Cannes feels the crunch.(FIRST LOOK)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... It's a belt-tightening year for the Cannes Film Festival. With four competition slots still open and only one American-directed film in the running for the Palmed'Or (Doug Liman's "Fair Game"), you'd be forgiven for seeing Cannes' 63rd...

Earth to H'wood: biz aims to build better green message.(FIRST LOOK)
April 19, 2010... Ever since Eddie Albert, the star of "Green Acres," gave a series of speeches tied to the first Earth Day in 1970, a day that also was his birthday, Hollywood has been inextricably linked to the celebration--and the green movement in general. ...

Disaster puts doc back in focus.(FIRST LOOK)(Mountaintop Removal)
April 19, 2010... Until the recent deadly West Virginia coal mine disaster became front-page news, Massey Energy wasn't a company that most Americans outside of the Appalachian mining region had heard of. That it is now front and center, due to this catastrophe...

Football draft hits prime.(FIRST LOOK)
April 19, 2010... The draft, a Saturday morning staple for decades, isn't just for football fans anymore. In moving the NFL draft to weeknight primetime, the league and its TV partners are, literally, rolling out the red carpet to give the event more of a...

A serious path to funny: trio seizes on demand for levity.(film)
April 19, 2010... David Gordon Green calls his next movie, the genre-bending musical adventure "Your Highness," "a filthy, R-rated 'Princess Bride.'" Coming off last year's "Pineapple Express," an R-rated, action-filled stoner comedy, you start to wonder if this...

Events get 3D boost: tech helps lift special programs.(FILM)
April 19, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 3D phenomenon is paying dividends for exhibitors in more ways than just a boost in ticket prices. Theaters are using the technology to draw audiences into a multiplex staple: special events programming. Concerts...

Japanese pix dub for demos.(FILM)(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... TOKYO In a push to attract younger auds to Hollywood pies. Paramount Japan has taken the unusual step of dubbing nearly half of the prints for current release "Shutter Island." It seems that not only do younger filmgoers prefer not to read,...

VOD'S indie promo gap.(FILM)(video-on-demand)
April 19, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The potential of video-on-demand to widen the audience for indie film is one of the great hopes of the struggling sector. Distributors like IFC, Magnolia and now Tribeca Films have been offering films on VOD the same...

Crix' picks.(FILM)(Table)
April 19, 2010... CRIX' PICKS Date Night The Greatest Studio Fox Paladin Release date April 9 April 2 Variety. com review...

'Clash' trumps laughs at o'seas B.O.(FILM)("Clash of the Titans")
April 19, 2010... Typical of American comedies overseas, 20th Century Fox's "Date Night" failed to get many laughs during the April 9-11 weekend at the international box office. The laffer, starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey, debuted with a muted $7 million on...

International box office.(FILM)(Statistical table)
April 19, 2010... JAPAN Weekend ended 04/11/10 $1=94.07 [yen] Weekend's Rank Title (local distributor) B.O. Week 1. Shutter Island * (Par) $2,937,750 1...

Box office report.(FILM)(Statistical table)
April 19, 2010... BOX OFFICE REPORT Visit Variety. corn/boxoffice for a searchable, sortable and international B.O. archive. Reported Percent Box Office Change...

EMI must drum up coin to stay in tune: profits rise, but lender's at the door.(music)(EMI Group PLC)
April 19, 2010... Amid an exodus of artists and execs, the management team at EMI Group is making what many see as a final attempt to secure additional investment from private equity owners Terra Firma this month to stave off repossession by Citigroup. The...

Tv.("Burn Notice")(Brief article)
April 19, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Repeats of "Burn Notice," just renewed for two more seasons on USA, will air this fall on MyNetwork.