Daily Variety back issues from September 2005:
A battle for good hearts.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc., CBS Inc., Fox-13 Inc.)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Multiple telethons to help raise coin for victims of Hurricane Katrina began taking shape Wednesday--but at least one such effort is sparking some behind-the-scenes controversy. Execs at ABC, CBS and Fox are putting together the most ambitious project, which ...
Big media + big bucks = big easy boost.(broadcasting industry donate a huge amount towards hurricane victims)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Amid ever more shocking images and mounting casualties, big media congloms Wednesday announced millions of dollars in aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina, which has transformed the historic and heavily populated city of New Orleans into a virtual underwater hell and decimated areas of ...
Duo follow 'Golden' rule.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen have come aboard Working Title and Universal Pictures' "The Golden Age," a sequel to "Elizabeth." Thesps join star Cate Blanchett and director Shekhar Kapur, who helmed the first pic (Variety, May 2). Blanchett will reprise her ...
The dish on 'Duma'.
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- How do you market a family film that families have shunned, but critics have embraced? The creative forces behind the Carroll Ballard-helmed "Duma" will be sitting down today with Warner Bros. Pictures' publicity and marketing execs to discuss the L.A. campaign for ...
Glitz & glam at Venice fest: fest season kicks off on Lido.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... VENICE -- A dazzling display of Chinese fireworks celebrating the opening of extravaganza "Seven Swords," juxtaposed by a burst of parochial Italian polemics, kicked off the 62nd Venice Film Festival on Wednesday. Pyrotechnic rockets fired from the Excelsior Hotel beach ...
Genius gets $30 mil start.(Indic Genius)(Brief Article)(Interview)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Documentarian Curt Johnson's Gotham- and Dallas-based production shingle Indic Genius has secured a $30 million financing commitment that will allow it to produce, co-finance and acquire finished projects. Deal was brokered by Georgia-based attorney William Vincent, ...
Just for Variety.(celebrity word)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Good Morning: Like the song says--I'm still here. And I'm still looking for news, just as I have for 52 years. I'll be manning the phones as usual at my Variety office and I'll continue to dig out news wherever it may be lurking, in crowded industry events or at intimate, so-called ...
From the Archerd archive: Sept. 12, 2001.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005 ... It's not a good morning--and it will not be for a long time to come. "The threat level will be around for a long time," the FBI tells me .... It's not surprising that the biz is putting the bizness of award shows on hold. "This is a national crisis and no time to be handing out awards or to ...
On the 'Wanted' list Duff's 'Most' boasts top spot for second week.(Hilary Duff)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Hilary Duff proved she is indeed "Most Wanted" as she held onto the No. 1 slot on the nation's album sales chart for a second week. Duff's disc sold 101,000 copies, a more than 50% slide from its debut week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Duff edged the 19th volume of "Now! ...
'Under' taker to stage.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... There is life after "Six Feet Under." Michael C. Hall will play the title role in Noah Haidle's new play "Mr. Marmalade" at the Laura Pels Theater. Michael Greif ("Rent") will direct the Roundabout production, which runs Nov. 20-Jan. 29. Previews begin Nov. 1. Mr ....
Ducard enters Lions' den.(Malik Ducard appointed )(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Lions Gate is beefing up its homevid originals, tapping former MGM exec Malik Ducard to help spearhead growth in exclusive DVD content. In his new post as VP of home entertainment acquisitions and business development, Ducard will work to increase acquisitions for ...
S.F. raids Lincoln Center.(San Francisco)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... The San Francisco Film Society has appointed Graham Leggat as its executive director as of Oct. 17. Leggat comes aboard as the society gears up for the 50th anni of the San Francisco Film Festival in 2007. Director of communications for the Film Society of Lincoln ...
A Landmark deal's inked by Mercury.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Nothing says indic film like ... Mercury cars? That's what the Ford Motor Co. hopes auds will be thinking not too far down the road, as the automaker has entered into a first-of-its-kind sponsorship with arthouse cinema chain Landmark Theaters. Under the ...
B'casters campaign for digital must-carry.(broadcasting industry)
Sep 01, 2005; ... WASHINGTON -- The National Assn. of Broadcasters has been mounting a major grass-roots offensive to secure a multicast must-carry provision as part of digital television transition legislation. Lawmakers are expected to take the legislation up as early as next week, when ...
Duo make surgical strike.(Greene-Street films)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- The Weinstein Co. and Greene-Street films have inked Jessica Alba and Hayden Christensen to star in psychological thriller "Awake." The two companies are co-financing the pic, which will be the directorial debut of Joby Harold. Harold also penned the script. ...
Woodstock film fest to fete a Maverick.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Steve Buscemi will be feted with the honorary Maverick Award at the sixth annual Woodstock Film Festival, running in upstate New York Sept. 28-Oct 2. Fest will host 150 screenings, panels and events over its five days, with two films screening opening night: the American bow of ...
Showbiz stocks: Wednesday, August 31, 2005.(Illustration)
Sep 01, 2005 ... <Pre> SHOWBIZ STOCKS Wednesday, August 31, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIX ...13.35 -.19 +243.2 AcmeCm ACME ... 3.87 +.02-44.8 Actvsn ATVI ...
Writing on the wall: rift with West focus of WGAE candidates.(Writers Guild of America)
Sep 01, 2005; ... The bitter dispute between branches of the Writers Guild of America won't be solved soon, according to candidates in the upcoming WGA East elections. "Our relationship with the leadership of the WGA West has, in my experience, never been worse," wrote presidential candidate ...
NBA TV rolls with 5 docs on Trotters.(NBA Media Ventures L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... NBA TV, the 24/7 cable network programmed by the National Basketball Assn., has scheduled five hourlong documentaries on the Harlem Globetrotters, a team that belongs more to the world of showbiz than to serious sports. One special will cover the Globe-trotters from their ...
Peter Fonda.(evaluation )(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Peter Fonda has been set to star in the indie feature "Japan," now in production. He'll play the friend and neighbor of an Irish assassin (Shane ...
Alexander Siddig.(The Last Legion)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Alexander Siddig ("Kingdom of Heaven") has joined Colin Firth and Aishwarya Rai in "The Last Legion," now lensing in Tunisia. Doug Lefler is ...
Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, John Larroquette, Jon Lovitz, Will Sasso, Wood Harris, Nora Dunn, Bai Ling, Joe Campana, Wallace Shawn and Jill Ritchie have joined the cast of "Southland Tales.(listing the artists)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, John Larroquette, Jon Lovitz, Will Sasso, Wood Harris, Nora Dunn, Bai Ling, Joe Campana, Wallace Shawn and Jill Ritchie have joined the cast of"Southland Tales," now ...
Marisa Coughlan.(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Marisa Coughlan ("Pumpkin") will have a multiepisode arc on Fox's "Boston Legal." She'll play a secretary hired by attorney Alan Shore (James Spader) in the David E. Kelley legal ...
CNBC bolsters praisery unit.(Consumer News and Business Channel Partnership)(Kevin Goldman)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... CNBC has named former Variety and Wall Street Journal reporter Kevin Goldman communications VP, as the cable net girds for competition in the form of a Foxbranded business news channel. Goldman, former communications veep at online bookseller BookSpan, replaces Amy Zelvin, who ...
Seven Swords: (Qi Jian).(Movie Review)
Sep 01, 2005; ... (Hong Kong-China-South Korea) A Beijing Ciwen Film & TV Production Co. (China)/Boram Entertainment (South Korea)/City Glory Pictures (Hong Kong) presentation of a Film Workshop Co. (H.K.) production. (International sales: Fortissimo Films, Hong Kong.) Produced by Tsui Hark, Lee ...
A Song of Innocence.(review)(Movie Review)
Sep 01, 2005; ... (France) An Ocean Distribution release of a Film En Stock presentation of a Film En Stock, Arte France Cinema, Rhone-Alpes Cinema production with participation of Canal Plus, CNC, Region Rhone-Alpes. (International sales: Wide, Paris.) Produced by Daniel Leconte. Executive ...
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.(Final Fantasy VII)(Movie Review)
Sep 01, 2005; ... (Animated--Japan) A Sony Pictures Release of a Square Enix Co. Ltd. production. (International sales: Patrick Chen, Tokyo.) Produced by Yoshinori Kitase, Shinji Hashimoto. Directed by Tetsuya Nomura. Co-directed by Takeshi Nozue. Screenplay, Kazushige Nojima. Camera ...
INXS banding up with ICM.(INXS(music group) contracts with International Creative Management Inc.)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- INXS has signed with ICM for representation in all areas, focusing first on the launch of a tour early next year. ICM repped the band as a touring act in the 1980s and 1990s until the death of lead singer Michael Hutchence in 1997. CBS show "RockStar: ...
Disney names Bardwil exec VP, legal affairs.(Steve Bardwil appointed as Vice President)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Disney has tapped Steve Bardwil exec VP of legal affairs, Walt Disney Studios. In the newly created post, Bardwil will oversee legal affairs for all of Disney's entertainment business units, including Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, Miramax, Buena Vista Home ...
Thesp set to achieve 'Mission' sequel role.(Billy Crudup ready for new releases)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Fresh from his Tony-nominated performance in Broadway's "The Pillowman," Billy Crudup has been set for a lead role in "Mission: Impossible 3," which J.J. Abrams began directing in July for a May 2 release. Crudup will assume the role after completing a part in the Robert De ...
Cartoon net grabs series from Benjamin.(Andre Benjamin a modern-day dandy who epitomises cool)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Cartoon Network has greenlit production on 13 episodes of an untitled series from Outkast's Andre Benjamin. Lighthearted half-hour will center on a ragtag group of musically gifted kids in Atlanta and the mysterious, larger-than-life visitor who enters and inspires ...
Kidtoon adds 2 WB titles.(Kidtoon Films)(Warner Bros)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Kidtoon Films, a firm that distribs kidpics to theaters for early Saturday and Sunday shows, has announced it will present two new Warner Bros. Animation titles in its program, Tom & Jerry toon "The Fast and the Furry" and "Scooby-Doo in Where's My Mummy?" Titles ...
Lesbian action hero finally gets Here!(Her Line of Fire)(Movie Review)
Sep 01, 2005; ... The gay television network Here! is offering up its--and America's--first lesbian action hero. "Her Line of Fire" tells the story of a lesbian secret service agent who must protect the vice president against anti-American guerrillas when his plane crashes in hostile ...
Festival's indie bent: Vancouver slots slew of titles from States.(The Vancouver Film Festival for American indies)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The Vancouver Film Festival is increasing the number of American indie pics it will screen this year. "The VIFF normally doesn't present so many American films," said fest director Alan Franey. "The quality of the films shows that there are independent voices ...
Pubcaster fare gets 0z aud's ok.
Sep 01, 2005; ... SYDNEY -- Despite criticism for the lack of homegrown drama, some 80% of viewers approve of the quality of shows on the Australian Broadcasting Corp., according to a survey released Wednesday by the pubcaster. Undertaken in June, the Newspoll report is part of an annual survey ...
TF1 slices debt, increases profit.(Societe Nationale Television Francaise 1 company's net profit)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... TF1, France's leading commercial broadcaster, on Tuesday posted a first-half net profit of 176.6 million [euro] ($215.8 million), up 6.3% from the same period last year. Figure reflects the falling cost of net financial debt, down 25% to $10 million, and lower taxes, the company ...
U rolls in Rock deal.(Licensing agreements between Universal Music Publishing Group and Taiwan's Rock Music Publishing)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Universal Music Publishing Group inked an exclusive licensing and royalties agreement with Taiwan's Rock Music Publishing, an indie label. Deal gives UMPG access ...
MediaCorp taps CEO.(Chief Executive Officer)(appointment of Lucas Chow )(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Lucas Chow is joining MediaCorp as its group CEO. He succeeds Ernest Wong, who announced his resignation earlier this year. Chow, 52, had been SingTel's exec veep of corporate business. Chow's 7 1/2 years in the telecom business were preceded by 20 years at Hewlett ...
NonStop's a classic.(NonStop Television's distribution agreements)(Lagardere Networks International )(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Stockholm-based NonStop Television has closed a deal with European media group Lagardere for exclusive distribution of the classical music channel Mezzo in the Nordic market. The ...
Discovery HDTV set.(GERMANY High definition television set launches channels )(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Discovery Networks Intl. will launch its first international 24-hour high-definition network, Discovery HD, in November in Germany and Austria. Under a pact announced Wednesday, German pay TV operator Premiere will offer the channel exclusively in both countries. ...
Pining for studio pix, Pinewood's in the red.(Pinewood Shepperton's company turnover)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... LONDON -- Pinewood Shepperton, owner of the U.K.'s two largest film studios, slipped into the red in the first half of 2005, as few Hollywood movies shot in Blighty. Company reported a net loss of 114,000 [pounds sterling] ($204,000) for the half, compared with a profit of $2.11 ...
Just for variety.(Column)
Sep 01, 2005; ... In Archerd's column, which ends today, he encountered legendary entertainment artists, stars and moguls. Here's a choice sampling: Nov. 2 1953 WORTH QUOTING: Billy Wilder, explaining why "Sabrina Fair" is being shot in black-and-white: "If you make a film in color, ...
Army Archerd.(Army Archerd's appreciation and achievements)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Several years ago, the morning after I attended the L.A. Press Club's presentation of the Joseph M. Quinn Memorial Award for Journalistic Achievement to Army Archerd, I saw Army in the Variety newsroom. No big deal. Just another day of my seven years in the L.A. office, or ...
52 years in that three-dot daily slot: longtime Archerd pal reveals secrets of the pro's prose.(Associated Press, Archerd Army)
Sep 01, 2005; ... When the Associated Press decided to ramp up its showbiz coverage at the end of World War II, Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas met his new partner, a guy just out of the Navy known to his friends simply as "Army." "He came in dressed very smartly, a very handsome fellow," ...
An Army of supporters: showbiz vets salute their longtime colleague as a 'mensch'.(Army Archerd's achievements and thirst for facts)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Veteran "Tonight Show" publicist Charlie Barrett remembers when press-shy Johnny Carson was about to celebrate his 25th anniversary on NBC in 1987. Carson left a message: "I'm not doing any interviews, because if I do one, I'll have to do them all. But if Army calls, I'll speak to him." ...
Orbitz travels to Turner pact.(Orbitz L.L.C. marketing agreements with Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Turner Sports)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Online travel service Orbitz and Turner Sports have formed a marketing alliance that covers a wide range of sponsorship possibilities. Primarily, the online company will become the presenting sponsor of TBS' coverage of the 2005 college football season and TNT's ...
Jason Stuart.(PLAYERS)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Jason Stuart has been cast opposite Wilson Cruz and Sally Kirkland in Stewart Wade's romantic comedy "Coffee Date." The ...
Ross Patterson.(movie roles)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... Ross Patterson ("The New Guy") has been tapped to play a fratboy in Universal and Shady Acres comedy "Accepted," ...
Kimberly Williams-Paisley.(How to Eat Fried Worms)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... "According to Jim" star Kimberly Williams-Paisley has joined the cast of New Line and Walden Media's "How to Eat Fried Worms." She ...
Institute.(concert review)(Concert Review)
Sep 01, 2005; ... (Bowery Ballroom; 500 capacity; $25) Presented inhouse. Band: Gavin Rossdale, Chris Traynor, Cache Tolman, Charlie Walker. Reviewed Aug. 30, 2005. There are two possible reasons for a successful band's unquestioned leader to split that band--to distance himself from ...
Hitched.
Sep 01, 2005 ... Dana Davis and Steven Fenton July 23, Hawaii. Bride is non-pro, and daughter of the late ...
Tv and cable production chart.
Sep 01, 2005 ... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: SUPR EXP-Supervising executive producer(s); EXP-Executive producer(s); CO-EXP-Co-executive producer(s); SUPR PROD-Supervising producer(s); PROD-Producer(s); CO-PROD-Coproducer(s); DIR-Director(s); CASTING-Casting director. Affiliated ...
U'S 'Blues' on new mission.(Universal Studios Inc.)(The Blues Brothers)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... WHAT: Universal's 25th-anniversary DVD release of "The Blues Brothers" Monday WHO: Helmer John Landis, thesp Henry Gibson, former U topper Thorn Mount, Dan Aykroyd (via satellite from Toronto) and musicians Steve Cropper and the godfather of soul, James Brown, were on hand for a ...
'Proof's' in the casting.(actor speaks out)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Anthony Hopkins was in a self-deprecating mood Tuesday at a Q&A following an AFI screening of "Proof" at the ArcLight. When helmer John Madden was asked how he landed Hopkins for the role of the mentally ill mathematician opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, Madden said: "I ...
Puppy love in the park.(New Regency's movie)(Brief Article)
Sep 01, 2005; ... WHAT: A twilight bow on Saturday of New Regency's "Little Manhattan," capping the Central Park Film Festival. WHO: Helmer Mark Levin, writer Jennifer Flaekett, pic's Bradley Whitford, Cynthia Nixon and young thesps Josh Hutcherson and Charlie Ray, exec producer Kara Francis, and ...
"Desperate Housewives'" Teri Hatcher clowns around at the seventh annual Pageant of the Masters gala Saturday at the Irvine Bown in Laguna Beach, Calif.(V)
Sep 01, 2005 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "Desperate Housewives'" Teri Hatcher clowns around at the seventh annual ...
Debra Messing, Rebecca Romijn and Heidi Klum kiss up to the camera Aug. 25 in BevHills at a fete to celebrate the second-season wrap of reality skein "Project Runway.".(V)
Sep 01, 2005 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Debra Messing, Rebecca Romijn and Heidi Klum kiss up to the camera Aug. 25 in BevHills at a fete to celebrate the ...
One last gasp for summer B.O.(effect of hurricane katrina on movie industry market)
Sep 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- On a seasonally slow Labor Day weekend sure to be depressed by Hurricane Katrina's devastation, the box office race will come down to a battle between the inexperienced lover and the all-too-experienced killer. U's "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," which declined a bit to ...
Praiser bows blighty shop.(Pat Kingsley's PMK/HBH opens office in London, UK)(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005; ... LONDON -- Hollywood's iron lady Pat Kingsley is setting up shop in London. Kingsley's praisery PMK/HBH, which reps Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Courtney Love and Christina Aguilera, will open its first international office here Oct. 1. "The European market has become so ...
Riding the storm: Louisiana biz on a mission.(state still open for business with entertainment industry)
Sep 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- While Hollywood wondered how best to help Louisiana recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, state authorities put out one message loud and clear: Come on down. "They need to come to Louisiana, Louisiana's open for business," said Michael Olivier, ...
Telluride tells U.S. tales.(Telluride Film Festival)
Sep 02, 2005; ... TELLURIDE, Colo. -- The lineup of this weekend's 32nd Telluride Film Festival is heavy with American films populated by cultural icons ranging from King Kong to Johnny Cash. "We probably have more world premieres American features we've ever had," said co-director Tom Luddy. ...
Fox thirsts for 'Water'.(Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired U.S. distribution rights of Deepa Mehta's "Water")(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Fox Searchlight has acquired U.S. distribution rights to writer-director Deepa Mehta's "Water," which will open the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 8. Pic is Mehta's third feature in her "elemental trilogy." First two films were "Fire" (1996) and "Earth" (1998). ...
Soap lights way to Web.(cable television broadcasting industry podcasting primetime shows)(pocasting of "Guiding Light")(Brief Article)
Sep 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- "Guiding Light" is returning to its original medium, but in digital form. CBS soap is the first offering from web's new podcasting destination, CBS Netcast, which will offer audio versions of its programs as well as Internet-only promotional skeins. ...
'Cinderella' takes gloves off o'seas; after a lackluster domestic run, BVI gives Crowe starrer a new marketing campaign.(Buena Vista International relaunches 'Cinderalla Man')
Sep 02, 2005; ... NO CINDERELLA STORY is complete without a happy ending. But a happy ending has eluded "Cinderella Man" here at home. Ron Howard's boxing drama opened the weekend of June 3 to favorable reviews and a respectable, if unspectacular, $18 million. But it ran out of steam, grossing ...
Good Night, and Good Luck.(Venice Film Festival)(Warner Independent Pictures )(Movie Review)
Sep 02, 2005; ... A Warner Independent Pictures release of a 2929 Entertainment/Participant Prods. presentation in association with Davis Films, Redbus Pictures and Tohokushinsha of a Section Eight production. Produced by Grant Heslov. Executive producers, Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan, Steven ...