Daily Variety back issues from February 2005:
Mouse's house in order.(Walt Disney Co.)
Feb 01, 2005; ... The Mouse House continues to be caught in cross-currents. Muscular ESPN and resurgent theme parks managed to boost Disney earnings by 5% to $723 million last quarter. On the other hand, profits from homevideo are plunging and those gathering at an investor meeting at ...
Tony and his henchmen go arty.(cable rights deal)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Executing a hit on rival bidders, A&E has landed the basic cable rights to HBO's "The Sopranos" in a lavish multiyear deal worth at least $195 million. A&E's record-setting bid--north of $2.5 million an hour--was the largest-ever per-episode pricetag for an off-net ...
'X' vet goes into 'Night'.(Dan Sackheim's contract)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD--Veteran "The X-Files" helmer Dan Sackheim has signed on to direct Frank Spotnitz's ABC drama pilot "The Night Stalker." Sackheim spent six years on "X-Files," working with former "X" man Spotnitz as a producer and director. More recently, Sackheim has been directing ...
Touchstone loves Heaton.(Patricia Heaton's contract)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD--"Everybody Loves Raymond" star Patricia Heaton has wasted no time finding a new TV family, inking a seven-figure talent and production deal with ABC/Touchstone. Pact, which runs for a little more than a year, sets up Heaton and her Four Boy Films banner on the Disney ...
U planting Greengrass in 'Sunlight'.(movie production)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Universal Pictures has set Paul Greengrass to write and direct "They Marched Into Sunlight," an adaptation of the Vietnam War-era book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning David Maraniss. The pic will be produced by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. The book focuses ...
'Blades' skates to D'Works.(Blades of Glory)(DreamWorks)(movie production)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- DreamWorks has preemptively bought comedy spec "Blades of Glory" by first-time scribes Craig and Jeff Cox. Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld's Red Hour shingle will produce with John Jacobs' First Entertainment shingle. Pic is a high-concept comedy set in the world of ...
Correction.(Correction Notice)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Luke and Jeremy Jackson are the writing/directing team on the Intermedia ...
'Simpsons' scribe nabs WGA Selvin nod.(Writers Guild of America)(Paul Selvin Award)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- TV and feature scribe Don Payne has been tapped to receive the Writers Guild of America's Paul Selvin Award for his "Fraudcast News" episode of "The Simpsons." The Selvin Award is aimed at honoring the script that "best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and ...
Fusion for Grammys: 'Access,' music net team for kudocast specs.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- "Access Hollywood" and music network Fuse are teaming up to cover this year's Grammys. "Access" and Fuse will co-produce a pair of specials to air on Fuse, the first of which is slated to bow today. In addition, Fuse VJ Marianela and "Access" anchor Billy ...
Rock photog to focus on helming biopic.(movie production)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Acclaimed rock 'n' roll shutterbug Anton Corbijn has signed to helm a feature biopic of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, based on the biography "Touching From a Distance," Pic is being produced through Orian Williams and Todd Eckert's Claraflora label, with Curtis' widow, ...
Warner Music rings musicvid service.(Warner Music Enterprises)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Warner Music is becoming the first label to put musicvideos on cell phones. Edgar Bronfman Jr.-controlled diskery has signed with Verizon Wireless to make its catalog part of the cellular provider's Vcast service, which provides an array of multimedia content to users for a ...
TW Cable adds Spanish nets.(Time Warner Cable)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... MIAMI -- Spanish-lingo media conglom Univision Communications has inked a multiyear deal with Time Warner Cable, expanding carriage to add the Telefutura broadcast network and feevee Galavision. The flagship Univision network was already carried throughout the Time Warner Cable ...
Brock rocks as VP at Fox.(vice president)(Chris Brock appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Chris Brock has been named VP, business affairs for 20th Century Fox. He'd held the title of director for the past two years. Executive VPs of business affairs Stephen Plum and Mark Resnick announced the move Monday. Brock was also senior ...
ProSiebenSat 1 talk boosts Axel Springer.(business sale)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... BERLIN -- Growing speculations that Haim Saban is negotiating to sell ProSiebenSat 1 to publishing house Axel Springer upped the TV group's share prices by more than 10% on Monday to 14.20 [euro] ($18.50). According to German weekly Der Spiegel, Saban's camp also has held talks ...
Showbiz stocks: Monday, January 31, 2005.(Illustration)
Feb 01, 2005 ... <Pre> SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, January 31, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PELast Chg %Chg AcmeCmACME ...5.70+0.15 -18.7 ActvsnATVI2722.60+0.53 +12.0 AllAtlAACB ... ...
Weekend stats.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Feb 01, 2005 ... <Pre> Domestic Box Office $123.9 million January 28-30, 2005 vs. last week +26% vs. last year * +29% Daily Breakdown (in millions of $) FRI.SAT.SUN.$35.3 $54.6 $33.9 ...
Theater beat.(Hide and Seek)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Feb 01, 2005 ... <Pre> THEATER BEAT This weekend's top 10 theater engagements Weekend Rank Film Theater, city (circuit) B.O. gross 1. Hide and Seek $91,467Empire 25, New York City ...
Shylock.(play)(Theater Review)
Feb 01, 2005; ... (Perry Street Theater; 99 seats; 555 top) A Martin Platt, David Elliott, Rosalie Beer and Richard Jordan presentation, in association with Robert Friedman, of a play in one act by Gareth Armstrong. Directed by Frank Barrie. Sets, Russell Parkman: lighting. Jeff Nellis. Opened ...
On a Clear Day.(movie)(Movie Review)
Feb 01, 2005; ... (U.K.) A Focus Features (U.S.) Icon Film Distribution Ltd. (U.K.) release of an Icon Entertainment Intl. presentation of a Take Film Partnerships production in association with Isle of Mama Film Ltd., Glasgow Film Finance Ltd., the Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Scottish Screen and ...
Duane Hopwood.(movie)(Movie Review)
Feb 01, 2005; ... A Big Beach production in association with Elevation Filmworks. (International sales: Cinetic Media, New York.) Produced by Lemore Syvan, Marc Turtletaub, David Friendly. Co-producer, Andrew Lang. Directed, written by Matt Mulhern. Camera (Efilm color, Super 16-to-35mm), ...
NBC U in VOD stream: CinemaNow pact does not include downloads.(NBC Universal)(video on demand)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- CinemaNow has signed a deal to distribute films and TV shows from NBC Universal, marking the sixth of the seven major studios to partner with the Internet video-on-demand company. But in a twist to past deals signed for online VOD, NBC U is making its content ...
Puerto Rican cabler slated.(Telemundo Puerto Rico launched)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... MIAMI -- NBC Universal Cable is today launching a Spanish-lingo cable net, Telemundo Puerto Rico, on Cablevision's iO Interactive Optimum digital service in the New York metropolitan area. It will air 35 hours per week of news broadcasts plus general entertainment programming ...
Buildup to Berlin: yank 'Ballad,' 'Love' in Panorama lineup.(Berlin Film Festival)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... BERLIN -- The Berlin Film Festival's Panorama section has completed its main lineup with W.S. pics, including Rebecca Miller's "The Ballad of Jack & Rose" and Craig Lucas' "The Dying Gaul," and Ventura Pons' Spanish selection "Amor idiota" (Idiot Love). Additional entries ...
Capitol snares 'Rabbit'.(World News)(William Morris International)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Capitol Films has nabbed international sales rights to Mexican-U.K. political thriller "Rabbit on the Moon." Pic, written, helmed and co-produced by Mexican director Jorge Ramirez-Suarez, will unspool at the Berlinale Special sidebar. Capitol will manage ...
TV doubles up on 'Housewives'.(Italy)(Desperate Housewives)(cable rights deal)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Disney's international TV arm has put together a TV and cable deal in Italy for its hit ABC drama "Desperate Housewives," inking with pubcaster RAI for the terrestrial rights and Fox Life for basic cable rights. Series will be broadcast in Italy under the name "Desperate ...
BBC fare Thai'd up.(BBC Prime launch)(Thai satellite)(British Broadcasting)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... The Asian feed of the BBC's global entertainment service, BBC Prime, is to launch in Thailand thanks to an agreement between BBC Worldwide and Thai satellite and cable outfit United Broadcasting Corp. The channel, ...
Spain's Goyas honors 'Sea Inside' in waves.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... MADRID -- Alejandro Amenabar's foreign-lingo Oscar nominee "The Sea Inside" on Sunday swept the Goyas, Spain's version of the Academy Awards, taking a record 14 honors. Based on the real-life story of quadriplegic Ramon Sampedro, "Sea Inside" took film, director, original ...
Indie Shed goes public.(Shed Productions)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... LONDON -- One of Blighty's most successful indies, Shed Prods., will soon list on London's junior stock market Aim as it seeks to expand. Shed Prods. was founded in 1998, but has rapidly established itself with raunchy series like "Bad Girls," set in an all-female jail, and ...
CEO outlines changes at C4.(chief executive officer, Channel 4 Television Co.)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... LONDON -- Channel 4 CEO Andy Duncan unveiled the web's new structure on Monday, following a monthlong review. Commercial arm 4 Ventures will continue to stand alone and has been set a $54 million annual profit target, while other parts of C4's operations, including digital nets ...
Exclusives report: for the weekend of January 28-30, 2005.(box office report)(Illustration)
Feb 01, 2005 ... <Pre> EXCLUSIVES REPORT For the weekend of January 28-30, 2005 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEKWeekend Film (distributor)Circuit Theater, city B.O. gross Local Engmnts.: 2 Wknd. Total for N.Y. area: $18,564 ...
TV scribe sells Sony on comedy.(Jeff Lowell )(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- TV scribe Jeff Lowell has sold the romantic comedy pitch "Fetch" to Sony in a mid-six-figure deal for Neal Moritz's Original shingle to produce. Pic is described as "Look Who's Talking" but with a dog instead of a baby. Original's Moritz and Ori Marmur ...
MPAA ratings.(Motion Picture Association of America)
Feb 01, 2005 ... NC-17 "Inside Deep Throat" (Universal Studios); for explicit sexual content. R "Art Heist" (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): for violence, language and some sexuality. "Constantine" (Warner Bros. Pictures): for violence and demonic images. ...
U romances 'Date'.(Universal Studios Inc. premiers 'The Wedding Date')(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Gold Circle Films, which first hit the matrimony movie mother lode with "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," was back looking for nuggets at Thursday's Universal CityWalk preem of "The Wedding Date." This time, the romantic comedy revolves around a single woman who hires an ...
"Reefer Madness" stars Neve Campbell and Kristen Bell.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... "Reefer Madness" stars Neve Campbell and Kristen Bell give co-star Alan Cumming a birthday kiss at Showtime's River Horse ...
S.B. fest burnishes 'Aviator' star.(Santa Barbara Film Festival)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... SANTA BARBARA -- Leonardo DiCaprio looked back on 16 films in 17 years Sunday at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. A visibly humbled DiCaprio, who received the fest's Platinum Award. said he was amazed at "how wiry and troy" he was in "This Boy's Life," the film that launched his ...
'Raging Bull' gang relishes 25th anni.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... When "Raging Bull" first unspooled in 1980, helmer Martin Scorsese bought a pair of Radio Shack speakers for the Gotham theater. But on Thursday night, on the occasion of the pic's 25th anni, "Bull" finally got the splashy preem it deserved. Robert De Niro, running ...
Fashion displays designs on H'w'd.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Fashion and Hollywood merged downtown Saturday at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's salute to last year's film costumes. The 25 displays included Oscar-nominated designs from "Aviator," "Finding Neverland," "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate ...
Lion's last roar? MGM locks final slate before merger.
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- MGM has settled on what is likely to be its final four films in its current incarnation. Following discussions with Sony, the Lion has greenlit the projects in advance of the studio's buy out by a consortium led by Sony, expected to close this summer. ...
Mouse sets June bloom for Eisner replacement.(Michael Eisner)(Walt Disney Co.)(resignations)
Feb 02, 2005; ... NEW YORK -- Disney chairman George Mitchell affirmed Tuesday that the company's board is committed to naming a successor to Michael Eisner in June and said "there has been no prior determination. There are no preconditions" but that "he or she will be the best possible person." ...
TV fest fosters new talent.(New York Television Festival)
Feb 02, 2005; ... While indie film has events like Sundance to tout grassroots talent, there's been no such venue for emerging voices hoping to break into the television biz. Independent producer Terence Gray is looking to change things on that front by throwing an indie TV festival in Gotham ....
Exec exodus puts TiVo on pause.(executives)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Just a few weeks after topper Mike Ramsay announced he's ankling, TiVo has lost its No. 2 exec and key liaison with Hollywood. The exit of prexy Marty Yudkovitz, a former NBC exec who joined TiVo less than two years ago, sent the DVR pioneer into further disarray Tuesday and ...
Col counts 9/11 'Minutes'.(Columbia Pictures)(movie planning)
Feb 02, 2005; ... Columbia Pictures is in advanced negotiations to acquire screen rights to "102 Minutes," a newly published book about 9/11 by New York Times reporters Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn that encapsulates tales of heroism and incompetence and adds the element of a ticking clock. Michael ...
Viacom CFO to step down.
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Richard J. Bressler will leave his slots as Viacom's chief financial officer and senior exec VP as soon as a replacement can be found. Bressler also once held op posts at Time Warner. He said Monday that he; ankling because Viacom co-prexys and co-chief ...
U books 'Holiday' trip.(movie assignments)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Catherine Zeta-Jones is in negotiations to star in--and may produce--"Rachel's Holiday" for Universal-based Working Title Films. Dramedy, to be directed by Francesca Joseph, is an adaptation of Marian Keyes' novel about a woman who overdoses on sleeping pills and ...
'Idol' hands Fox win as 'House,' 'Simple' deliver.(American Idol)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- With "American Idol" giving it the anchor it sorely lacked the first half of the season, Fox surged to the top of the primetime demo rankings last week. The dominant "Idol" made up half of the net's sked Tuesday and Wednesday, with Fox also receiving strong lead-out ...
CNN shelled by FNC in Iraq vote coverage.(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... CNN turned in disappointing ratings for its wall-to-wall coverage of the Iraqi elections--a setback for the cabler, which had hoped to make inroads against first-place Fox News on a high-profile international story, CNN pulled out all the stops for its coverage of the Iraqi ...
Owen owns tale of war correspondent.(Owen Wilson)(movie planning)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... Owen Wilson has dug into his own pocket to option journalist John Falk's book "Hello to All That: A Memoir of War, Zoloft, and Peace," published by Henry Holt. The first book Wilson has bought, he plans to star in and produce the adaptation. He doesn't have a company or a deal ...
Ferrara hails 'Mary' cast.(Abel Ferrara)(movie production)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... PARIS -- Juliette Binoche, Heather Graham, Forest Whitaker and Matthew Modine will star in Abel Ferrara's religious-themed "Mary," currently lensing in Rome. Indie producer Fernando Sulichin's new Gallic shingle Central Films is producing the pic with financing from Italian ...
Douglas breathes in Oxygen.(Illeana Douglas)(television comedy in production)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Illeana Douglas is set to topline the half-hour comedy project "Illeana-Rama" for women's cable network Oxygen. Douglas will exec produce the project, which she co-wrote with Teresa O'Neill ("Becker," "The Chris Isaac Show") based on Douglas' short film ...
GLAAD hands out noms: 'Kinsey' tops pic list; kudocast goes to LOGO.(Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- "Kinsey," "Kevin Hill" and "Survivor: Vanuatu" are among the nominees for the 16th Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards. Event will be televised for the first time, airing in the fall on MTV's new cable channel LOGO. Award ceremonies will be held ...
MacConghail ordained at Abbey.(Fiach MacConghail appointed)
Feb 02, 2005; ... DUBLIN -- Fiach MacConghail has been named director of the Abbey, Ireland's national theater. MacConghail, 40, is an independent film and theater producer who has served since 2002 as arts and cultural policy adviser to John O'Donoghue, the Irish government's minister for arts, ...
Par production boosts Bakshi.(Mark Bakshi promoted)(Paramount Pictures)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Veteran exec Mark Bakshi has been promoted to president of feature production management for Paramount Pictures, succeeding the retiring Fred Gallo. Bakshi will be responsible for all aspects of worldwide physical production, production finance and estimating for ...
Viv U revs rise vs. Q4 of last year.(Vivendi Universal)(company earnings)
Feb 02, 2005; ... PARIS -- Vivendi Universal on Tuesday posted a 5% increase in comparable fourth-quarter revenues to 5.3 [euro] ($6.9 billion), although last year's sale of Universal and other assets caused revs to plunge by more than a quarter in real terms. Full-year revs were down 16% in real ...
Google presses ad-vantage in Q4.(company earings)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Internet powerhouse Google doubled its revenue in the fourth quarter and brought its profit to nearly eight times what it was a year ago. In its second quarter as a public company, the search giant reported net income of $204 million on revenue of just over $1 ...
Showbiz stocks.(Illustration)
Feb 02, 2005 ... <Pre> SHOWBIZ STOCKS Tuesday, February 1, 2005YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg% Chg AcmeCmACME ... 5.72+.02 -18.4 ActvsnATVI 2722.42-.18 +11.1 AllAtlAACB ......
2005 Nightlife Awards.
Feb 02, 2005; ... (Town Hall: 1,500 capacity: $75) Conceived, written and produced by Scott Siegel. Directed by Gabriel Barre. Stage manager, Laura Kravets. Host, Bruce Vilanch. Performers and presenters: Karen Akers, Joy Behar, Andy Bey, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Jim Caruso, Bill ...
Thom Pain (based on nothing).(solo play)(Theater Review)
Feb 02, 2005; ... (DR2 Theater; 99 seats; $45 top) A Bob Boyett and Daryl Roth presentation of a play in one act by Will Eno. Directed by Hal Brooks. Sets, David Korins; lighting, Mark Barton; production stage manager; Nick Leavens. Opened Feb. 1, 2005. Reviewed Jan. 27. Running time: 1 HOUR. ...
I See Fire in the Dead Man's Eye.(play)(Theater Review)
Feb 02, 2005; ... (Clurman; 99 seats: $35) A Grass Arena presentation of a play in one act, written and directed by Kirk Marcoe. Sets, Takeshi Kata; costumes, Tina Nigro; lighting, Matthew Richards; sound, Jeremy J. Lee; production stage manager, Terri K. Kohler. Opened Feb. 1, 2005. Reviewed ...
'Jane' plainly gaining.(Jane Pauley)(television programs ratings)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... "Jane Pauley" hit a series-high national rating of 1.8 during the week of Jan. 17-23, up a tenth from the previous week, aiding its bid for renewal. Among other rookies tying their series highs were "Tony Danza," up 25% to a 1.5, and "Ambush Makeover," up 30% to 1.3. "Larry ...
Day-Lewis in frame for Berlinale Camera.(Berlin Film Festival)(Daniel Day-Lewis)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... BERLIN -- Daniel Day-Lewis will be among this year's Berlinale Camera honorees Feb. 15. Thesp will be at the Berlin Film Festival, where his latest pic, "The Ballad of Jack and Rose," is unspooling in the Panorama section. He joins Japanese film studio Shochiku, the ...
Premiere boasts rev boost.(company earnings)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... BERLIN -- Finances continue to improve at German pay TV group Premiere, with a 7.2% hike in revenue to 985 [euro] million ($1.3 billion) and a 60% cut in net losses to $105 million in 2004. The multichannel digital platform increased subscribers by nearly 12% to more than 3.2 ...
Japan's B.O. tops $2 billion for new record.(box office)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... TOKYO -- Last year's box office receipts in Japan hit a record [yen] 210.9 billion, or just slightly over $2 billion at present exchange rates, 3.8% up on 2003. Ticket sales were up 4.8% from 162.35 billion to 170 billion. This is partly due to the boost in screens from 2,68l in ...
WB adding China plexes in tandem with Shenzhen.(Warner Bros. International Cinemas)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... SYDNEY -- Warner Bros. Intl. Cinemas is closing its fourth joint venture deal in China. Accord will complete its web of alliances as it ups the pace of development of the exhib industry in the underscreened market. The studio is pacting with Shenzhen Intl. Trust & Investment to ...
AAC offers pitch advice to producers.(Alliance Atlantis Communications)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... TORONTO -- Tired of being pitched by producers who don't understand what it wants, Alliance Atlantis Communications is holding a free half-day seminar, "Look at Lifestyle," Feb. 25 in Toronto to set them straight. Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis Communications, which co-produces ...
Doc on Branson jet flight takes off.(documentary planning)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Discovery Communications and Northern Ireland-based Brian Waddell Prods. will co-produce a documentary on aviator Steve Fossett's attempt to fly solo non-stop around the world in Brit entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer jet. ...