Daily Variety back issues from November 2004:
'9/11' heat rekindled with Dish.
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- "Fahrenheit 9/11" is adding some fuel to its pre-election fire. Controversial doc will be available tonight on pay-per-view for one night only to the Dish Network's 10 million satellite subscribers and the 30 million-plus households with broadband Internet access ...
Hot for horror: 'Ray' joins chillers atop Halloween B.O.
Nov 01, 2004; ... Halloween weekend was a treat for horror pics. Sony's "The Grudge" stayed strong in its second sesh, claiming the weekend's top spot with $22.4 million, a decline of 42% from its opening three days. Pic has cumed $71.3 million. And opening in third, "Saw" bowed to $17.4 million ...
Playtone warms up to 'Ember'.(Playtone Productions)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... As they prepare to leave the station on "The Polar Express," Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman have made a deal for another family film with tent-pole potential. They've bought Jeanne DuPrau's young adult bestseller "The City of Ember" and are negotiating with ...
SAG chief staves off challenge.(Screen Actors Guild)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- SAG chief exec Bob Pisano has now survived more assassination attempts than Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai. Over the weekend at a SAG plenary meeting, he dodged still another bullet, offering an unapologetic defense of his three-year tenure and a scathing assessment of the union ...
Ovitz: bonus, then the boot.(Michael Ovitz)
Nov 01, 2004; ... By fall 1996 Disney CEO Michael Eisner didn't believe Michael Ovitz could make the transition from powerhouse agent to corporate executive. In hindsight, Ovitz testified Friday, he knew this was true. And Ovitz knew Eisner had a special dislike for agents in general. "Don't ...
Fox bones up for drama.(Twentieth Century Fox Television)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Scribe Hart Hanson ("Judging Amy") and producer Barry Josephson are digging deep with their latest project for Fox. Duo are developing an untitled hourlong drama revolving around a female forensic anthropologist who solves crimes using evidence supplied by skeletal ...
Oscar: when 'best' isn't good enough: provocative docs and toons set sights on the really big prize.(The Back Lot)(Column)
Nov 01, 2004; ... WITH OSCAR TIME upon us, a certain blur increasingly surrounds the best picture category. Though some folks are pissed about it, I don't share their indignation. While the Academy has graciously created separate categories for documentaries and animated features, producers still ...
TW hunted Lion down to wire.(Time Warner)(MGM)
Nov 01, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- Time Warner informed MGM in late September that it had sweetened its offer and taken on a partner in its bid for the Lion--a full 10 days after the giant media conglom said publicly it had ended discussions with MGM, ceding victory to a consortium led by Sony. ...
Sony Classical prexy raises curtain at Met.
Nov 01, 2004; ... Peter Gelb will leave his post as prexy of Sony Classical to take over the Metropolitan Opera as general manager, succeeding Joseph Volpe. Gelb, 50, will join the Met Aug. 1 to work in tandem with Volpe during a one-year transition period. He will fully assume the general ...
The Incredibles.(Movie Review)
Nov 01, 2004; ... (Animated) A Buena Vista release of a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film. Produced by John Walker. Executive producer, John Lasseter. Directed, written by Brad Bird. Camera (Technicolor, PixarVision widescreen), Janet Lucroy, Patrick ...
Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason.(Movie Review)
Nov 01, 2004; ... (U.K.-U.S.) A UIP (in U.K.)/Universal (in U.S.) release of a Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Miramax Films presentation of a Working Title production, in association with Little Bird. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jonathan Cavendish. Executive producers, Debra Hayward, ...
'Swap' meet grows; Fox ditches 'Partner'.(television programs)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- ABC is getting hitched to more episodes of frosh reality hit "Wife Swap"--as well as two of its new laffers --while Fox is divorcing itself from "The Partner." Alphabet has given a full-season, 22-episode order to the RDF Media-produced show, which has shown ...
Linklater links with Par.(Paramount Pictures)(Richard Linklater)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount Pictures has signed Richard Linklater to a two-year first-look directing deal. Helmer is prepping for a Nov. 15 start of production on Par's remake of "Bad News Bears," toplined by Billy Bob Thornton and produced by Geyer Kosinski via his Media Talent ...
Harden in 'Bears' lineup.(Bad News Bears)(movie production)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Marcia Gay Harden has been penciled into the lineup for Paramount's remake of "Bad News Bears" starring Billy Bob Thornton and Greg Kinnear. The Oscar winner is in negotiations to portray an attorney who recruits Thornton's character to coach a Little League team of ...
Electoral collage: nets prep for long night of vote coverage.
Nov 01, 2004; ... Finally--or maybe not. Appearing Saturday on CNN's "Larry King Live," Walter Cronkite said Tuesday's presidential election could come and go without the nets being able to declare an immediate winner. Most newsies agree. "I think it's one of the biggest ...
Dueling Capote pics firm up casts.(Truman Capote)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Studio-based specialty houses Warner Independent Pictures and United Artists are on a collision course over rival films focusing on the bond author Truman Capote developed with murderer Perry Smith and the writing of Capote's seminal crime chronicle "In Cold Blood." UA just ...
Telluride gets AMPAS coin.(Telluride Film Festival)(Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- The Telluride Film Festival will receive a total of $150,000 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences over the next three years. Telluride is the first major U.S. festival to benefit from an expansion of fest ...
Frog kisses 'Spy Girl'.(television drama)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are teaming with helmer Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde") to bring "Spy Girl" to the WB. Frog has given a put pilot commitment to the hourlong drama from Timberman's Warner Bros. TV-based 25C Prods. Luketic, whose ...
Montreal's recall: funders ask four contenders to resubmit bids.(film funding)
Nov 01, 2004; ... MONTREAL -- Canuck film funding agencies Telefilm Canada and Sodec are still in the hunt for a winning candidate to start up a new film fest in Montreal to replace Serge Losique's Montreal World Film Festival. The two agencies announced Friday that they had not accepted any of ...
AFTRA sees health care gains in deal with nets.(American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- AFTRA has reached a tentative three-year deal with the networks on a new contract to cover its broadcast members with hikes in health care and retirement contributions. Agreement on the net code pact was reached Friday night in Gotham after three weeks of ...
Sobini taps Warners vet as prod'n VP.(Sobini Films)(Ira Singerman appointed)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Ira Singerman has been made VP of production at indie production shingle Sobini Films. Singerman will report to production prexy Robin Schorr, with whom he will work closely in finding new projects as well as shepherding the company's existing development slate. ...
Par, Melee in pic harmony.(Paramount Home Entertainment)(Melee Entertainment)(movie production)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount and Melee Entertainment have pacted to produce feature-length music-based movies starring recording artists. The unique deal calls for the companies to produce and release six films over three years. Budgeted at about $3 million, each project will be ...
Most of the cast from "The Matrix" trilogy is headed to PCs.(Players)(online games)(The Matrix Online)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Most of the cast from "The Matrix" trilogy is headed to PCs. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the vidgame arm of WB, and co-publisher Sega have nabbed Laurence Fishburne, Monica Bellucci, and Mary Alice for "The Matrix Online." Thesps will provide their voice and likeness ...
Blethyn takes mic in 'Clubland' comedy.(Brenda Blethyn)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... SYDNEY -- Brenda Blethyn is heading for "Clubland," playing a raucous English comedian who causes a stir when she entertains ands at Sydney clubs. Blethyn's character poses a dilemma for her 20-year-old son, who must choose between the mother who raised him on her own and his ...
D'Works joins 'Motorcade'.(DreamWorks)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Hans Bauer and Craig Mitchell sold the pitch "Motorcade" to DreamWorks in a low- against mid-six-figure deal. Pie is described as "In the Line of Fire" meets "Black Hawk Down" and is about an attack on the president of the United States and his motorcade during a ...
Clear Channel slips: radio titan's profits drop 59% in 3rd quarter.(Business)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Radio giant Clear Channel sustained a 59% profit drop in the third quarter, attributable to a tough comparison with last year and flat revenues at its more than 1,200 radio stations. The San Antonio-based company posted a profit of $261.2 million, down from $636 million in the ...
Intertainment preps round 2.(Business)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... BERLIN -- Execs at German distrib Intertainment said Friday that they were upbeat about arbitration proceedings against additional companies, including Comerica Bank and bond company Film Finances, in connection with its fraud case against Elie Samaha and Franchise Pictures. ...
The Times they are a changin' in London.(Business)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- A 219-year-old tradition falls today as the Times of London drops its broadsheet format to become a tabloid. The News Corp.-owned publication has been printed since last November in both tabloid and broadsheet formats. Starting today, it will be available only in ...
Vidgame publisher THQ beat guidance but still reported a net loss in the third quarter.(Biz Briefs)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Vidgame publisher THQ beat guidance but still reported a net loss in the third quarter, during which it didn't release any licensed kids games, its core strength. Instead, company's biggest sellers were military actioner Full Spectrum Warrior and PC strategy game Warhammer ...
Vidgame publisher Activision generated record summer revenues.(Biz Briefs)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Vidgame publisher Activision generated record summer revenues last quarter due in large part to its top-selling game based on "Spider-Man 2." Santa Monica company reported $310.6 million in revenue last quarter, the second on its fiscal calendar, up ...
Lobby group rips ruling on Canuck sat reception.(Business)(satellite signal theft)
Nov 01, 2004; ... TORONTO -- A lobby group combating satellite signal theft is urging the federal government to appeal a provincial court decision last week that allows Canadians in the province of Quebec to subscribe to foreign sat services such as DirecTV. In her Thursday ruling, Quebec Judge ...
Showbiz stocks: Friday, October 29, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
Nov 01, 2004 ... <Pre> SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, October 29, 2004YTD Name TkrPE Last Chg % Chg AMC AEN ...19.21 +.01+26.3 AcmeCmACME... 5.67 -.03-35.4 ActvsnATVI17...
Richard Sarkin.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Nov 01, 2004 ... Dr. Richard Sarkin, brother of Vanity Fair features editor Jane Sarkin, died in a plane crash Oct. 19 in Kirksville, Mo. He was 54. Dr. Sarkin was an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the U. of Buffalo and head of the newborn nursery at ...
Six scribes land Acad nods, cash.(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has tapped six recipients for the 2004 Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Winners are Sean Mahoney ("Fenian's Trace"), Daniel Lawrence ("The Gaza Golem"), Doug Davidson ("Letter Quest"), Whit Rummel ("The ...
Let Freedom Swing.(Concert Review)
Nov 01, 2004; ... (Rose Theater: 1,231 capacity; $150 top) Presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center. Featuring Morgan Freeman, Alfre Woodard, Mario Van Peebles, Glenn Close, Patricia Clarkson, Calvin Butts III, Keith David. Compositions by Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jimmy Heath, Darius Brubeck & Zim Ngqawana, ...
The Screening Room.(Illustration)
Nov 01, 2004 ... <Pre> THE SCREENING ROOM The Screening Room runs Mondays and Thursdays. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For a complete list, visit Variety.com/screenings.. NEW YORK Alfie (Paramount) RSVP: (212) 846-4340 Friday, Nov. 5 ...
'Sideways' has upward trajectory.(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Fox Searchlight's "Sideways" moved upwards this week, grossing $435,731 in its second weekend from 16 screens, an expansion of 12 new playdates, giving it a strong average of $27,233 per screen. Shingle has given the Alexander Payne-helmed pic plenty of TV blurb support, as it ...
Eurovision PPV inks cable deals.(Pay Per View)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Eurovision, the 2-month-old pay-per-view service dedicated to foreign films, has lined up carriage deals with four more cable operators: Adelphia, Cablevision, Blue Ridge and Buckeye. These contracts will make Eurovision available to more than 4 million digital-cable homes. ...
WB, Discovery pump Alexander.(Warner Bros.)(Discovery Channel)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 2004; ... Warner Bros. Pictures and the Discovery Channel are attempting to transform Alexander the Great from an historical figure into a pop culture superstar. Nov. 24, the day Oliver Stone's feature "Alexander" premieres, Discovery will carry primetime special "Alexander the Great: ...
Gores' lair grows with 3rd agency.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Marking the third agency purchase of the year for Sam Gores' Paradigm literary and talent firm, the shop is acquiring Monterey Peninsula Artists, one of the nation's premiere music talent bookers. Monterey reps a diverse roster of artists including Aerosmith, the ...
Hail to the chief? Biz braces for post-election direction.(showbiz)
Nov 02, 2004; ... On a purely visceral level, showbiz execs would likely embrace a victory by John Kerry in today's presidential election. After all, President Bush has all but spurned pop culture, seemingly proud of the fact that he doesn't read the papers, watch TV or screen movies in the White House ...
Arnold's amending plans for 2008.
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Many in Hollywood are rooting for John Kerry in today's election because of his friendly relationship with the entertainment industry. But what if someone even closer to showbiz made a bid for the White House? Some Republicans are already thinking about a President Arnold ...
'Idol' hands crafting laffs.
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia has quietly launched an inhouse production unit dedicated to dreaming up half-hour laffer ideas--and putting them on film--in as little as one week. Fremantle's Instant Comedy Project is meant to answer the complaints of ...
NBC swallows 'Pride'.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- NBC has silenced its lion's roar, shelving DreamWorks Animation's ultrapricey "'Father of the Pride" for the November sweeps. Move isn't the same as a flat-out cancellation, and NBC execs insist the $2 million per-episode "Pride" will be back come December. But ...
Yahoo adds hot link to Hollywood.
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Lloyd Braun is shifting from the TV to the PC. The former ABC Entertainment TV Group chairman has been tapped by Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel to head the Netco's media and entertainment division. He'll be in charge of most of Yahoo!'s major content offerings, including ...
Ovitz: I was Santa Claus.(Michael Ovitz, OPINION)
Nov 02, 2004; ... A weary-looking Michael Ovitz concluded five days of testimony Monday insisting the generous severance clause in his Disney contract was well justified by the risks of his new job and the hefty pay of his previous one. Refusing to be cowed by an aggressive tour of his expense account, he ...
Just for Variety.(election night, Beyond the Sea, Illusion)
Nov 02, 2004; ... GOOD MORNING and, it is hoped, a good evening in Boston for this contingent of Demo supporters who will be in Copley Square for the countdown: Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor and Carole King. Winging in from L.A. to Boston this morning are Sherry Lansing and Billy Friedkin. On ...
Mack and Mabel.(directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman)(Theater Review)
Nov 02, 2004; ... Mack and Mabel (Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Conn,: 398 seats $53 top) A Goodspeed Musicals production of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, bank by Michael Stewart, book revised by Francine Pascal Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman. Choreography ...
Jury clears '20/20' in invasion-of-privacy suit.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- A federal jury has cleared ABC in a suit accusing the net's "20/20" newsmagazine of violating invasion-of-privacy laws by using hidden cameras to videotape acting workshops. Suit, filed in May 2003 by workshop operators and actors, alleged the taping via miniature ...
Single Cell moves quickly on 'Slo-Mo'.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... Single Cell Pictures partners Michael Stipe and Sandy Stern have optioned "Slo-Mo," a spec script written and to be directed by John Krokidas. Krokidas was a former intern for Single Cell, but he became much more than that to Single Cell through a short film he directed at NYU ...
Sci Fi ups made-for maven.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... The Sci Fi Channel has promoted Tom Vitale to the new post of senior VP of programming and original movies, reinforcing his role of the last few years as network point man for as many as two dozen fresh made-for-cable pictures every year. Dave Howe, general manager of Sci Fi and ...
Second hand of 'Blackjack'.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- "World Series of Blackjack" is headed back to the table. Cabler GSN has ordered a second round of the casino-based hit, whose first season provided the net with hefty growth in key young-adult demos. Net has upped the stakes accordingly, with 40 ...
B'way B.O. no treat: earnings drop 11%; attendance dips 9%.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... Gotham's streets teemed with ghosts, devils and Michael Jacksons over the weekend, and you can bet they weren't headed to "Wonderful Town." Broadway box office took a big 11.07% tumble during Week 22 (Oct. 25-31), down to $11,102,206, with attendance falling 9.31% to 176,761. ...
Endgame doc trails Ohio voters.
Nov 02, 2004; ... Jim Stern's Endgame Entertainment spent the weekend shooting an untitled documentary focusing on the political battleground of Ohio. Stern, a hedge fund manager-turned-producer, director and financier, usually aims at bigger game. He's a producer of Broadway's "The Producers," ...
Thesps will 'Live' it up.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... Veteran "Seinfeld" scribes and co-exec producers Gregg Kavet and Andy Robin have tapped Aaron Stanford, Paul Schneider, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Dunn and Zooey Deschanel to star in their upcoming indie feature "Live Free or Die." Comedy--about a clueless criminal and his ...
Content raises exec.(Chad Hamilton promoted at Anonymous Content)(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Anonymous Content has promoted director of development Chad Hamilton to VP. Hamilton started at Anonymous Content in 2001. "Chad has a wonderful eye for material," said Anonymous CEO Steve Golin. "His creativity, business skills and relationships continue to enhance ...
Chile pic spices up U.S.(World News)(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... Los Angeles-based Menemsha Films has licensed U.S. rights to Andres Wood's Chilean foreign-language Oscar hopeful "Machuca" from Spanish sales consortium Latido. Coming-of-age tale turns on the friendship between two boys from different sides of the political tracks as Chile ...
Teuton talker back in biz.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... BERLIN -- Germany's equivalent to Jay Leno is heading back to TV after a year's absence. Harald Schmidt, whose latenight yakker attracted millions of viewers during its eight-year run on commercial web Sat 1, ankled in December after former managing director Martin Hoffmann was ...
Tokyo fest pours winning shot of 'Whisky'.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... TOKYO -- The 17th Tokyo Intl. Film Festival wrapped Sunday with low-budget brotherhood drama "Whisky" taking the grand prize. Pic, by Paraguayan helming duo Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll, garnered $100,000 in award money--about a fifth of the film's budget. Pic's Mirella ...
RTVE says si to more Spanish pix.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... MADRID -- RTVE will hike its commitment to the Spanish film industry next year, according to Juan Menor, director of the pubcaster's TV division, TVE. This year, RTVE will co-finance almost two-thirds of the feature films produced in Spare, earmarking 36.9 million [euro] ($46.7 ...
'Carandiru' set for Globo skein.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... RIO DE JANEIRO -- Helmer Hector Babenco's HB Filmes will produce a spinoff of his box office hit, prison drama "Carandiru," for Brazil's No. 1 net TV Globo. Globo plans to air the l0-episode skein of "Carandiru: Other Stories" in the second half of 2005. Released by ...
Disney names Miller as global post prez.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Jeffrey Miller, a 21-year Disney veteran, has been promoted to president of worldwide post-production and operations for the Walt Disney Studios. Miller will continue to lead post-production, mastering and physical delivery of all live-action and animated theatrical ...
Showbiz stocks: Monday, November 1, 2004.(News)(Illustration)
Nov 02, 2004 ... <Pre> SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, November 1, 2004YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ...19.25+.04+26.6 AcmeCmACME ... 5.65-.02-35.6 ActvsnATVI 17...
Hitched.(Brief Article)
Nov 02, 2004 ... Amy DeRouen and Troy Nelson, Aug. 22, New York City. The bride is director of publicity at Lava Records, a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group; groom is the editor-in-chief of ...
Who Is Floyd Stearn?(Theater Review)
Nov 02, 2004; ... (47th Street Theater; 194 seats; $45 top) A Rick Waxman and Men of the Court presentation, with executive producers Carl D. White and Tom Smedes, of a one-man show written and performed in one act by Michael Raynor. Directed by Larry Moss. Set, Peter R. Feuchtwanger; lighting, ...