Daily Variety back issues from September 2006:
WWII actioner has U 'Dam' excited.(Universal Pictures)(Dambusters)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Universal and StudioCanal have launched development of "Dambusters," a WWII actioner produced by Peter Jackson, Jan Blenkin and Carolynne Cunningham through Jackson's WingNut Films shingle. Longtime Jackson associate Christian Rivers will make his directing debut. ...
Genre battle looms at B.0.(box office)
Sep 01, 2006; ... As summer comes to a close, two new genre pies will be gunning for the No. 1 spot. "The Wicker Man," which Warner Bros. is distributing for Alcon Entertainment, seems to have the edge based on pre-release tracking. Neil LaBute-helmed horror remake is tracking well with older ...
In a bio rhythm: biz treks to Telluride fest.(Telluride Film Festival)
Sep 01, 2006; ... The unlikely quartet of Idi Amin, Diane Arbus, Truman Capote and John Lennon are in the spotlight at the Telluride Film Festival, opening today. Their biopics, as well as works from Todd Field, Pedro Almodovar and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, will be among the titles unspooling ...
YouTube sex vexes ABC.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc.)
Sep 01, 2006; ... A rough cut of a steamy sex scene from "Desperate Housewives" has found its way onto YouTube--a month before the episode is slated to air. It's not unusual for complete episodes of shows to pop up on the viral video site, and this summer, a number of pilots have found their way ...
Canal's TPS buy gets OK.(Canal Plus S.A.)
Sep 01, 2006; ... French competition authorities have greenlit Canal Plus' $1 billion takeover of rival pay TV operator TPS and attached a major condition that will affect the Gallic group's dealings with Hollywood. The Competition Council ruled that output deals with the majors must be limited ...
Quartet wooed by epic.(Chow Yun-Fat, Ken Watanabe, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Lin Chi-Ling cast in The Battle of Red Cliff)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... John Woo has cast Chow Yun-Fat, Ken Watanabe, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Taiwanese supermodel Lin Chi-Ling in his Chinese costumer "The Battle of Red Cliff," a co-production with the China Film Group. Based on the classic Chinese novel "Romance Of the Three Kingdoms," pic is set in ...
Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film.(Movie review)
Sep 01, 2006; ... (Docu) A Steeplechase Films, Daniel Wolf, High Line Prods., Thirteen/WNET New York production. Produced by Daniel Rosenfeld, Daniel Wolf, Ric Burns. Executive producers, Peter Brant, Larry Gagosian, Diane von Furstenberg. Co-producers, Marilyn Ness, Mary Recine, Robin Espinola. ...
A Few Days in September.(Movie review)
Sep 01, 2006; ... (QUELQUES JOURS EN SEPTEMBRE) (France-Italy) A Gemini Films release of a Paulo Branco presentation of a Gemini Films, Les Films du Rat, France 2 Cinema (France)/Production Group (Italy) co-production with participation of CNC, Canal Plus, TPS Star. (International ...
Standoff.(Television program review)
Sep 01, 2006; ... (Series; Fox, Tue., Sept. 5, 9 p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by 20th Century Fox Television. Executive producers, Craig Silverstein, Tim Story, Glen Mazzara; co-executive producer, Juan Carlos Coto, Linda Gase, Jonathan Glassner; producer, Marc David Alpert; director, Tim Story; ...
Likeable Ford took to oaters, romance: Glenn Ford: 1916-2006.(Obituary)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Glenn Ford, the durable actor who parlayed his likeable "average Joe" persona into a lengthy film and TV career, died Wednesday at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 90. Failing health forced him to skip a May 1 90th birthday tribute at the Egyptian Theater co-sponsored by ...
Bravo goes 'Under' Oct. 2.(Bravo Cable Network )(Six Feet Under)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... "Six Feet Under" will make its off-HBO debut Oct. 2 on Bravo. The NBC Universal-owned cable network spent more than $15 million for exclusive four-year syndication rights to all five seasons, or 63 episodes, of the mortuary drama (Daily Variety, March 10). Bravo will ...
Strand lands 'Friends'.(Poison Friends)(Strand Releasing Home Video)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Strand Releasing has picked up U.S. distrib rights to Emmanuel Bourdieu's "Poison Friends" ("Les Amities Malefiques"), which has won a slot at the upcoming New York Film Festival. Strand, which is eying a Spring release, struck the deal with Les Films du Losange. ...
Fox jury's still out: 'Justice' is net's latest OK debut.(Fox Broadcasting Co.)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Fox's "Justice" opened to respectable numbers Wednesday night despite not much help from its "Bones" lead-in. The net hasn't exactly lit things up with its early-fall premieres in August, and the Jerry Bruckheimer legal skein is the third show--following drama "Vanished" and ...
H'wood perils accent Venice pics.(Venice International Film Festival )
Sep 01, 2006; ... The peril of the pursuit of Hollywood celebrity was the dominant theme on day two at the Venice Film Festival as Miramax and Focus Features' noir "Hollywoodland" unspooled in competition Thursday with stars Ben Affleck, Adrien Brody, Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins in tow. The ...
Panic!, Blunt top vid nods.(Panic! at the Disco)(James Blunt and Kelly Clarkson win awards)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Panic! at the Disco, James Blunt and Kelly Clarkson were the big winners at the 23rd annual MTV Video Music Awards, held Thursday night at Gotham's Radio City Music Hall. Panic! took homevideo of the year for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," while Blunt drew male video and ...
APA.(Tenpercenteries)(Steve Schirripa)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") has signed with APA. Thesp's credits include "Must Love Dogs" and NBC's "Joey." He's also penned two books, "A Goomba's Guide ...
ICM.(Tenpercenteries)(Trevor Fehrman joins International Creative Management Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Trevor Fehrman ("Clerks II")has signed with ICM. Thesp started in New Line's ...
WMA.(Tenpercenteries)(Chuck Tatham)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Writer-producer Chuck Tatham ("Arrested Development") has signed with WMA. Tatham is a co-exec ...
Infamous.(Movie review)
Sep 01, 2006; ... A Warner Independent Pictures release of a Killer Films, John Wells production. Produced by Christine Vachon, Jocelyn Hayes, Ann Walker-McBay. Executive producer, Wells. Directed, written by Douglas McGrath, based on the book "Truman Capote" by George Plimpton. Camera ...
Crossover.(Movie review)
Sep 01, 2006; ... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a TriStar Pictures and 360 Pictures presentation of a Preston Picture. Produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. Executive producers, Tom Gores, Johnny O. Lopez. Co-producer, Lorenzo O'Brien, Aaron Mazzolini. Directed, written by Preston A. Whitmore ...
Showbiz stocks: Thursday, August 31, 2006.(Entertainment industry)(Statistical table)
Sep 01, 2006 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Thursday, August 31, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg% Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 9.04 +0.09 -12.9 AcmeCm ACME ... 5.07-.31 +42.8 Actvsn...
From the Army Archerd archive: Feb. 6, 1957.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Good morning: Metro paged Lauren Bacall for a pic ready to start, but she turned it down. However, she'll return to work in a month. "I'm not going to be in a closet," says Bacall, "but I need a little time to get things straightened up. The amount of mail is positively fantastic--from ...
Filming in the future.(Film Production Chart)
Sep 01, 2006 ... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: EXP, Executive producer; PROD-Producer; COP-Co-producer; DIR-Director; AD-First assistant director; 2DIR-Second-unit director; SCR-Screenwriter; DP-Cinematographer; ED-Editor; PD-Production designer; ART-Art director; SET-Set decorator; ...
Filming in the U.S.(Film Prod'n Chart)
Sep 01, 2006 ... * THE ACQUISITION Joshua Crabtree, Tashiana Capel, Sarah Crabtree, George Bunzendahl, Drew Carlsen, Jacob Crabtree EXP, Robert von Dassanowsky: PROD. George Bunzendahl; DIR, Joshua Crabtree; SCR, Crabtree, Jeffrey Bunzendahl; DP-ED, J. Bunzendahl; PD, Carla Moore; ...
Datebook.(Calendar)
Sep 01, 2006 ... 1 "Sholay" Bollywood blockbuster inspired by "The Magnificent Seven," with songs, dance, oft-quoted dialogue and action, features an all-star cast including Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and Hema Malini. Through Sept. 5. Film Society of Lincoln Center, 70 ...
Filming outside the U.S.(Film Prod'n Chart)
Sep 01, 2006 ... BLADES OF GLORY Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, William Fichtner, Craig T. Nelson, Romany Malco, Nick Swardson EXP-UPM, Marty Ewing; PROD, Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, John Jacobs; DIR, Josh Gordon, Will Speck; AD, Peter Kohn; SCR, ...
Filming in Gotham.(Film Prod'n Chart)(New York)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... * THE ALPHABET KILLER EXP, Greg Polisseni; PROD, Tom Malloy, Aimee Schoof, Isen Robbins, Russ Terlecki; DIR, Rob Schmidt; SCR, Tom Malloy; CAST, Kelly Wagner, Nancy Nayor. Paranoid Films (666 West End Ave., #17E, New York, NY 10025, 917-532-3957) 9/4, New York. BILL ...
Scribes seek hearings over news issues.(Writers Guild of America )(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... The Writers Guild of America has asked the FCC to schedule hearings on issues of news quality that have arisen from stalled contract negotiations between CBS and the guild. The request came as part of a 90-minute meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday between reps of the WGA East, ...
Innovative.(Tenpercenteries)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Emily Rios (Quinceanera) has signed with Innovative. ...
Holder Management.(Tenpercenteries)(Andrzej Bartkowiak)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Andrzej Bartkowiak has inked with Holder Management. Cinematographer-turned-helmer directed "Doom" "Romeo Must Die" and "Exit Wounds." He is ...
Metropolitan Talent Agency.(Tenpercenteries)(Azura Skye)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Azura Skye ("28 Days") has signed with Metropolitan Talent Agency. Thesp is lensing "One Missed Call" with Edward Bums. Her credits ...
Mortimer is 'Real Girl'.(Emily Mortimer to star in Lars and the Real Girl)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Emily Mortimer has signed on to star opposite Ryan Gosling in Sidney Kimmel Entertainment's offbeat indie "Lars and the Real Girl." Craig Gillespie is directing from a script by Nancy Oliver. Story concerns a lonely, delusional young man who buys a lifesize sex doll on the ...
Ramsey updates boost syndie newsmag rates.(JonBenet Ramsey case)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Coverage of breaking news, including an arrest in the JonBenet Ramsey case, increased ratings for the top four syndicated newsmagazine shows in the week ended Aug. 20. "The Insider," which devoted an entire broadcast to the story and raised doubts about suspect John Mark Karr's ...
Hitched.(Sallie Olmsted and Kenneth MacKinnon tie the knot)(Carrie Ross and Lee Farber get married)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Sallie Olmsted and Kenneth MacKinnon, May 27, Beverly Hills. Bride is exec VR convergence, at Rogers & Cowan; groom is a contributor to Radio Na Gael, the BBC's Gaelic-language radio ...
Weekend box office preview.(movie industry)(Statistical table)
Sep 01, 2006 ... <Pre> RELEASE DATES AND CHANGES As of Aug. 31 Pic New date Old date FOX * Reno 911: Miami Feb. 23 IDP DISTRIBUTION Sleeping Dogs Lie Oct. 20 Sept. 29 * Blind Dating March 16 MGM Flyboys Sept .22 Sept. 29 ...
Digital drive at Warners.
Sep 05, 2006; ... In a first for a Hollywood major, Warner Bros. TV is setting up a digital production venture, dubbed Studio 2.0, to create original live-action and animated shortform programming for broadband and wireless devices. Warner has tapped producer and advertising executive Rich ...
B.O.'s summer split: U.S. loves the middle.
Sep 05, 2006; ... This summer, the magic was in the middle. Though only six films in 2006 passed $150 million vs. last summer's nine, the season was still 6% ahead of 2005. The '05 biggies racked up more than $1.9 billion; this summer's quintet grossed just under $1.5 billion. ...
B.O.'s summer split: ... as o'seas thinks big.(WORLD WATCH)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Soccer fever may have taken over this summer, but "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" has the foreign box office on pace to break the 2004 overseas mark of $8.5 billion. In a few days, pic should join "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" as the ...
Of skunks and cinema.(33rd Telluride Film Festival)
Sep 05, 2006; ... The challenges facing Westerners who would grapple with combustible Third World conditions, the legacy of political and cultural figures of the recent past and a skunk making its presence known underfoot in a dark cinema were all part of the heady brew imbibed by cinephiles at the 33rd ...
BMG strikes chord with bids.
Sep 05, 2006; ... Bidding for BMG Music Publishing is heating up as Viacom, Warner Music and Universal Music Group are said to have offered in the neighborhood of 1.5 billion [euro] (about $1.9 billion) for the biz, which German parent Bertelsmann has put up for sale. Viacom has teamed with ...
ABC maps ad-free 'Path.'.(The Path to 9/11)
Sep 05, 2006; ... ABC has decided the best sponsor for its upcoming Sept. 11 mini is no sponsor at all. After originally announcing its intention to air "The Path to 9/11" with limited commercial interruption, the network now will air both parts of the $30 million Harvey Keitel starrer without ...
Flying two flags: Clint's in mint condition.(Clint Eastwood's two movies with same story, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima, a Japanese language movie)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Now that the inventory of summer popcorn movies has finally been exhausted, the stage is set for the more "serious" fall fare. That means it's Clint Eastwood time. Clint has two movies coming out before year's end. That is, two separate movies with the same story. Actually, not ...
AFI sings tuner's praises.(American Film Institute)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... "Singin' in the Rain" has been named the most memorable movie musical of all time by the American Film Institute. The AFI revealed its list of the top 25 movie musicals of all time in Sunday's The Big Picture--AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals, a one-night-only presentation at the ...
IFP slates 186 projects for feature mart.(Independent Feature Project)
Sep 05, 2006; ... The Independent Feature Project unveiled the lineup for its 28th annual market, unspooling Sept. 17-21 in Gotham. Some 186 projects were selected out of 1,235 submitted for this year's market categories including Emerging Narrative, No Borders Co-Production Market and Spotlight ...
Livedoor's Horie pleads not guilty as trial starts.(Takafumi Horie)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Takafumi Horie, former prexy of Internet startup Livedoor, pleaded not guilty to security law violations on Monday at the start of his trial in Tokyo district court. Horie is accused of falsifying 2004 earnings figures to boost Livedoor's share price, among other charges. Four ...
The Queen.(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2006; ... (U.K.-France-Italy) A Pathe (in U.K.)/Miramax (in U.S.) release of a Pathe Prods., Granada presentation, in association with Pathe Renn Prod., BIM Distribuzione, France 3 Cinema and Canal Plus, of a Granada production. (International sales: Pathe Pictures Intl., London.) ...
Children of Men.(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2006; ... A Universal Pictures presentation of a Strike Entertainment production, in association with Hit & Run Prods., Ingenious Media Partners, Toho-Towa Co. Produced by Marc Abraham, Eric Newman, Hilary Shot, Tony Smith, Iain Smith. Executive producers, Thomas A. Bliss, Armyan Bernstein. ...
A sour note for MTV: viewership off 32% for VMA kudocast.(Video Music Awards)
Sep 05, 2006; ... MTV's "Video Music Awards" went off with a whisper Thursday. Three-hour kudocast drew 5.76 million overall viewers and dropped 32% from previous-year results in the cabler's target 12-34 demo. Sister network BET for the first time outscored the MTV tentpole, drawing ...
Venevision bows U.S. pic channel.(launch of spanich movie channel VeneMovies)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Venevision Intl., the Miami-based subsid of Venezuelan media conglom Cisneros Group, launches a 24-hour Spanish-language movie channel, VeneMovies, today. Cable giant Comcast and Midwest cabler Insight have agreed to carry the channel as talks with other cable and satellite carriers ...
'Birch' nailed by Truly Indie.(51 Birch Street, Copacetic Productions, HBO Documentary Films, Priddy Brothers Entertainment)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner's Truly Indie label has picked up U.S. distrib rights to Doug Block's dock "51 Birch Street," produced by Copacetic Prods. in association with HBO Documentary Films and Priddy Brothers Entertainment. Truly Indie will bow the pic Oct. 18 in Gotham, with ...
'Hysteria' erupts at IFC.(Alfonso Cuaron's movie Love in the Time of Hysteria will be released in United States)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Alfonso Cuaron's 1991 debut pic, "Solo con tu pareja" (Love in the Time of Hysteria), will finally hit U.S. screens, courtesy of IFC Films, which plans a limited release starting Sept. 20. Criterion Collection will put out a special-edition DVD of the romantic comedy on the same day. ...
Gem biz polishing its act ahead of 'Diamond'.(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Warner Bros. won't release Ed Zwick's Leonardo DiCaprio starrer "Blood Diamond" until Dec. 15, but the diamond industry is already going on the offensive. On Wednesday, the industry will take out full-page ads in major U.S. and international newspapers announcing a new Web site ...
Show time for Showtime.(Showtime networks ordered three series from Darren Star, Linda Wallem and Tom Kapinos)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Showtime has ordered up its next round of development, greenlighting a trio of series pilots, including an adaptation of the BBC skein "Manchild" from Darren Star. Star will exec produce "Manchild," which moves forward with scribes Rob and Mark Cullen (FX's "Lucky") after ...
NBC pumps up pigskin site.(NBC bought Allstar Stats)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... NBC Sports has bought fantasy-sport game company Allstar Stats and its Rotoworld Internet destination, putting them together for a relaunched Web site that will complement NBC's carriage of "Sunday Night Football." The relaunching will change NBCSports.com from merely a link ...
'Crocodile Hunter' killed filming docu.(Steve Irwin died in a freak accident)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Danger-loving TV naturalist Steve Irwin died Monday in what experts describe as a freak accident while diving in Queensland, Australia. The 44-year-old reptile wrangler known as the "Crocodile Hunter" was stung through the heart by a stingray in the waters off Port Douglas, ...
Regal Lido weekend: big pix take their bow at Venice fest.(Venice International Film Festival)
Sep 05, 2006; ... "The Queen" reigned over the weekend on the Lido, where Stephen Frears' depiction of friction between Tony Blair and Britain's monarch following the death of Princess Diana earned ovations. Pic goes out through Miramax Stateside, and the crowd sparked to Helen Mirren's bravura performance ...
Reelz has change for Dollar.(ReelzChannel hires Lee Dollar)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... ReelzChannel, the upcoming 24/7 cable net offering information about movies, has hired Lee Dollar as VP programming for studio and content development. Net kicks off Sept. 27 in 28 million homes. "Lee is an important hire because he gives us much-needed experience in ...
Fox sees more 'Vanished'.(FOx orders three additional scripts of Vanished)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Fox is giving "Vanished" an early vote of confidence, ordering three additional scripts of the new missing-person drama. While no guarantee of a full-season pickup, move is a sign that net execs are encouraged by the show's early ratings. Skein inched up a tad in its second ...
Telluride's Pence pair pack it in.(Bill Pence is stepping down as co- director of Telluride Film Festival)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2006; ... In a move that startled fest regulars assembled here for the 33rd edition of Telluride Film Festival, Bill Pence has announced that he is stepping down as co-director of the event he co-founded in 1974. Leaving with him before the end of the year is his wife Stella Pence, fest managing ...
Deauville finds magic.(Deauville Festival of American Film)
Sep 05, 2006; ... Prestidigitation and global warming, 9/11 survivors and steamy sex were all on tap during the opening weekend of the 32nd Deauville Festival of American Film. Scripter-helmer Neil Burger's "The Illusionist," starring attendee Edward Norton as a showman whose sleight-of-hand is ...
Montreal makes it to 30.(30th Montreal World Film Festival)
Sep 05, 2006; ... The 30th Montreal World Film Festival wrapped Monday night with Japanese thesp-turned-helmer Eiji Okuda's "A Long Walk" and veteran Brazilian helmer Carlos Diegues' "The Greatest Love of All" sharing the Grand Prix of the Americas, the besieged fest's top award. Both pics tell ...
Desire.(Fashion House)(Television program review)
Sep 05, 2006; ... (Series; MyNetworkTV, Tues. Sept. 5, 8 p.m.) Filmed in San Diego by a subsidiary of Twentieth Television. Executive producer, Stu Segall; director, Alex Wright: writer, David Loggeshall; camera, Tom Jewitt; production design, Gershon Ginsburg; editor, Andrew Schrader; music. We ...
The Wicker Man.(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2006; ... A Warner Bros. release of an Alcon Entertainment and Millennium Films presentation of a Saturn Film and Emmett/ Furla Films production for Equity Pictures Medienfonds, KGIII and Nu Image Entertainment. Produced by Nicolas Cage, Norm Golightly. Avi Lerner, Randall Emmett, John Thompson, ...
Idiocracy.(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2006; ... A 20th Century Fox release of a Ternion production. Produced by Mike Judge, Elysa Koplovitz. Executive producer, Michael Nelson. Directed by Mike Judge. Screenplay, Judge, Etan Cohen; story, Judge. Camera (Deluxe color and prints), Tim Suhrstedt ; editor, David Rennie; music, ...
Black Book: (Zwartboek).(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2006; ... (Netherlands-Germany-U.K.-Belgium) An A-Film Distribution release (in the Netherlands) of a Fu Works presentation, in association with Egoli Tossell Film, Clockwork Pictures, Studio Babelsberg, Motion Picture Investment Group, Motel Films, Hector, ContentFilm Intl., of a VIP ...