Daily Variety back issues from November 2006:
Screeners back in action.
Nov 01, 2006; ... To send or not to send--that has been the Oscar-screener question for the past three years. In olden times--i.e., before 2003--studios stroked the egos of film-makers by mailing out DVD screeners for a slew of pics with slim awards hopes. And they mailed out all these films ...
Buyers going for the globe: int'l intrigue awaiting.
Nov 01, 2006; ... As the 27th American Film Market kicks off today in Santa Monica, even hardened vets are realizing that the past 26 years' experience is not going to provide any easy answers about what global audiences want. Buyers and sellers of films are weighing info that appears ...
D'Works reworks homevid plans.(DreamWorks Animation)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Direct-to-video is no longer part of DreamWorks Animation's plans. Company on Tuesday said it is shifting "Puss 'n Boots," a planned "Shrek" spinoff that was going to be released on DVD in 2008, into a theatrical release, which likely won't come out until at least 2010. CEO ...
Siblings built for 'Speed'.(Larry Wachowski and Andy Wachowski to direct movie)
Nov 01, 2006; ... In their first directing effort since "The Matrix" triilogy, Larry and Andy Wachowski will helm "Speed Racer" for Warner Bros. The brothers, who are penning the script, reteam with producer Joel Silver, their accomplice in "The Matrix" films. Production will begin in ...
Stones roll to Scorsese.(Martin Scorsese begins shooting of documentary on the Rolling Stone)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Paramount will release Martin Scorsese's documentary on the Rolling Stones, which he began shooting this week. Hong Kong- and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo Films will handle international sales. Production got under way Sunday with filming of a concert in Gotham in the ...
China cleans up pic plots.
Nov 01, 2006; ... China's film biz may be forced to censor itself or submit to tougher regulations after the Propaganda Ministry warned that local pics have too much swearing and concentrate on divorce and love affairs. A document read out by management to employees at production companies and ...
Don't watch CBS, brought to you by NBC.(Tuning In)
Nov 01, 2006; ... AT THE RISK OF RUINING one of TV's grand illusions, here's a news flash: On political discussion shows, people are encouraged to argue. Conflict and confrontation are the life's blood of cable chat, which is why dueling representatives are carefully selected to generate maximum ...
Fortune calls CNN's serwer.(Andy Serwer appointed as managing editor of Fortune magazine)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... CNN "American Morning" business anchor Andy Serwer is leaving his regular gig on the show to become managing editor of Fortune magazine. Serwer, an editor-at-large at the mag and its "Street Life" columnist, has served as business anchor for CNN's ayem show for several years. ...
Praisers pick Tassler.(Nina Tassler awarded television showman of the year)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Hollywood union publicists have selected CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler as television showman of the year. Kudos will be presented at the 44th annual Publicists Awards Luncheon on Feb. 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. "Nina Tassler has played a role in ...
Academy will fete pic editor.(Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences honors film editor Dede Allen )(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Film editor Dede Allen will be honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in New York on Nov. 7. The night will highlight her career through film clips and feature a conversation with Allen, directors Sidney Lumet and Arthur Penn and film editors Jerry Greenberg, ...
Thesp lands in future.(Ewan McGregor to be cast in "Franklyn")(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Ewan McGregor has signed on to star in "Franklyn," a futuristic British movie by first-time writer-director Gerald McMorrow, to be produced by Jeremy Thomas. Hanway Films will handle worldwide sales for the project, which will shoot next summer in the U.K. Pic is a ...
The Situation.(Movie review)
Nov 01, 2006; ... A Shadow Distribution release of a Red Wine Pictures production. Produced by Liaquet Ahamed, Michael Sternberg, Neda Armian. Directed by Philip Haas. Screenplay, Wendell Steavenson. Camera (color, widescreen), Scan Bobbit; editor, Curtiss Clayton; music, Jeff Beal; costume ...
As 'Times' change, others eye venue.(Inside Moves)(market research of television programs)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Legiters are already speculating about what show will go next into the Brooks Atkinson--the Broadway house whose current resident, the Twyla Tharp-Bob Dylan tuner "The Times They Are A-Changin'," took a critical drubbing after its Thursday opening. It's bad form, of course, to ...
GreeneStreet moves exec.(GreeneStreet Films moves Ariel Veneziano to Los Angeles)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... GreeneStreet is continuing its western expansion, moving international topper Ariel Veneziano to L.A. to join recently relocated production chief Tim Williams. Veneziano will concentrate on the third-party projects the company handles for international shingles and financing ...
Horovitz launches N.Y. lab.(LEGIT BITS)(New York Playwrights Lab, Israel Horovitz)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Scribe Israel Horovitz ("Park Your Car in Harvard Yard") is launching a Gotham producing venture. The New York Playwrights Lab debuts in the spring with a production of Horovitz's "The Secret of Mme. Bonnard's Bath," about two modern-day art students investigating a mystery ...
Ludacris leaps to TV: rapper takes shot at 'Fame' on the N.(MTV Networks Inc. Nickelodeon)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Rapper-actor Chris "Ludacris" Bridges is making the leap into television, inking a deal with Nickelodeon teen network the N to exec produce weekly drama "Halls of Fame." Cabler has greenlit development on the project--described as "Fame" set in Philadelphia--which Bridges will ...
MSNBC lifts talent from sibling web.
Nov 01, 2006; ... Six days before the midterm elections, MSNBC is beginning to look a lot like NBC, with Brian Williams, Tim Russert and Andrea Mitchell taking anchor shifts at the cabler as part of its "Decision 2006: Battleground America" coverage. Net is devoting its entire daytime schedule to ...
ABC off to hot start.(market share of television channels)
Nov 01, 2006; ... A short World Series prevented Fox from tasting victory for the first time last week as ABC and CBS again finished on top in the ratings wars. As they have for each of the first six weeks of the season now, the Alphabet prevailed among adults 18-49 while the Eye had it in the ...
ESPN scores with 'MNF'.(market share of television channels)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Sports-media experts ragged ESPN without mercy more than a year ago when it agreed to pay a staggering $1.1 billion a year for the rights to "Monday Night Football." The ratings are now in for the first October of "MNF" on ESPN, and the record $1.1 billion is beginning to look ...
Nielsen primetime ratings report.(Statistical table)
Nov 01, 2006 ... <Pre> Total Viewers Nielsen Primetime Ratings Reps Oct. 23-29, 2006 abc Monday7.11 8:00Wife Swap (R)6.90 8:30(7.18) 7.45 ...
AFM screening guide.(Calendar)
Nov 01, 2006 ... NOV. 1 8:30 a.m. Suite Dreams (Pony Canyon) Broadway 1 8:45 a.m. El Cantante (Voltage) AMC 7 Sea Without Exit (Shochiku) Monica 2 9 a.m. My Son (Celluloid Dreams) AMC 2 Dementia (DeAPlaneta) AMC 5 Family Hero (UGC Intl.) ...
Class of 3000.(Television program review)
Nov 01, 2006; ... (Series; Cartoon Network, Fri. Nov. 3, 8 p.m.) Produced by the Tom Lynch Co. and Moxie in association with Cartoon Network Studios. Executive producers, Thomas W. Lynch, Andre "3000" Benjamin; supervising producer, Joe Horne; producer, Kelly Crews; supervising director, Allan ...
Passing Strange.(Theater review)
Nov 01, 2006; ... (Berkeley Rep Roda Theater, Berkeley, Calif.; 401 seats; $61 top) A Berkeley Repertory Theater and the Public Theater presentation of a musical in two acts with music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, lyrics and book by Stew. Created in collaboration with, directed by Annie Dorsen. ...
The Last Escape (Ostatnia Ucieczka).(Theater review)
Nov 01, 2006; ... (Mum Puppettheater, Philadelphia: 80 seats; $25 top) A Mum Puppettheater presentation of Wroclawski Teatr Lalek's play in one act by Aleksander Maksymiak, based on the novels of Bruno Schulz. Directed and designed by Aleksander Maksymiak. Music director, Malgorzata ...
International weekend box office.(Statistical table)
Nov 01, 2006 ... <Pre> International Weekend Box OfficeReported Percent Box OfficeChangeWeekend endingin TITLE/DISTRIBUTOR/COUNTRY ...
Horror pair teaming for Spanish pic.(World News)(Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza to direct thriller "REC")(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Two of Spain's horror film specialists, Jaume Balaguero ("Darkness," "Fragile") and Paco Plaza ("Romasanta," "Second Name") have re-teamed to co-direct experimental thriller "REC." Produced by Julio Fernandez, prexy of Barcelona-based mini-major Filmax Entertainment, the ...
Ankling socks Sony U.K. plan.(World News)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Sony Pictures' ambitions to build a production arm making shows for the British market have received a blow with the departure of drama topper Mike Dormer. Dormer, who joined the combo 18 months ago, quit on Friday as director of scripted production "to pursue other interests." ...
Japan's B.O. bounty: 'Pirates' chest weighs in at $85 mil.(World News)(Box office sales)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" topped [yen] 10 billion ($85 million) in Japan on Oct. 25, its 95th day of release, to become the country's box office leader, according to distrib Buena Vista. The Japanese market has now produced at least one [yen] 10 billion-plus ...
Russian exhib boost drives admissions.(World News)(Russian exhibition gets boost in growth of multiplexes)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Rapid growth in the Russian exhibition sector is driving a massive hike in admissions, according to U.K.-based Dodona Research. The number of modern cinemas in Russia, with updated, multichannel sound, projection equipment and seating, has risen from just 105 six years ago to ...
Letts sets FME deal.(World News)(Fremantle Media Enterprises signs deal with Don Letts)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Fremantle Media Enterprises has signed an exclusive first-look deal with cult U.K. music docu helmer Don Letts. Pact gives FME rights to develop and exploit program ideas created by Letts across TV, homevid and ancillary. Letts won a Grammy for "Westway to the World," featuring ...
Finance honcho quits Intermedia.(Christian Bohmer quits Internationalmedia)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Christian Bohmer has ankled as finance chief at IM Internationalmedia, the German parent of Intermedia, after only seven months, effective immediately. Company said Tuesday that Internationalmedia chief exec Martin Schuermann and Sascha Konzack, ...
Seeing the future.(UNITED KINGDOM)(Andrew Hildebrand joins Future Film Group)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Andrew Hildebrand has joined Future Films as managing director of its London office. Hildebrand was previously head of commercial and business affairs for Michael Kuhn's Qwerty Films. He took time out from Qwerty earlier this year to exec produce Richard Attenborough's "Closing ...
'Silence' is golden.(EUROPE)("Into Great Silence" bags European Film Academy award)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Philip Groning's "Into Great Silence," which explores the lives of monks in a Carthusian monastery in the French Alps, has drawn the European Film Academy's documentary feature nod. Prize will be presented at the ...
Showbiz stocks, Tuesday, October 31, 2006.(Statistical table)
Nov 01, 2006 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, October 31, 2006 YTD NameTkr PE LastChg %Chg AccessITAIXD ... 10.64 +.58 +2.5 AcmeCm ACME ...
From the Army Archerd archive.(Bob Evans)(Robert Vaughn)(Claudia Cardinale)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Aug. 8, 1966 GOOD MORNING: Bob Evans, who made the jump from the garment bizness to acting to film producing, now takes on the chores of production boss of Paramount's European pic program. He was to have produced two films at 20th, "The Detective" and "Achilles Force"; Mark ...
Hallmark exec folding cards.(Paul FitzPatrick resigned from Hallmark Channel )(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2006; ... Paul FitzPatrick has resigned as chief operating officer and exec VP of the Hallmark Channel. FitzPatrick temporarily assumed chief exec duties when the net's former prexy-CEO, David Evans, resigned in May. Hallmark parent company Crown Media named former Court TV ...
TW smiling wide: B.O. slide fails to damage uptick.
Nov 02, 2006; ... Time Warner profit nearly tripled last quarter, with the film studio a lone laggard. But execs hope Warner Bros.' tepid box office run has ended with "The Departed" and touted a handful of late '06 releases including "Happy Feet" and "Blood Diamond." The giant conglom's net ...
Kung fu's latest kick.(Allen and Albert Hughes to direct the big screen adaptation)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Directors Allen and Albert Hughes will square off in "Kung Fu," the big screen adaptation of the 1970s TV series for Warner Bros.-based Legendary Pictures. Cory Goodman ("Priest") is rewriting the script. Thomas Tull, Scott Mednick and Jon O Jashni are producing. The ...
Rogue devours 'Castlevania'.(Rogue Pictures signed distribution agreement with Crystal Sky Entertainment for distribution of movie)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Universal Pictures genre label Rogue has boarded Paul W.S. Anderson's Dracula project "Castlevania," a $50 million vidgame adaptation produced and co-financed by Crystal Sky Entertainment. Rogue will distribute the pic in North America and is also taking rightsin the ...
Trib propels paper chase.(Tribune Co.)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Take heart, David Geffen. The Tribune Co. has decided to accept bids for its individual media properties, including the Los Angeles Times. Trib made that call after deciding that the bids it had received from private equity groups for the entire company came in too low. ...
Roberts hooks yarn.(Julia Roberts to star in "The Friday Night Knitting Club")(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Julia Roberts will topline family drama "The Friday Night Knitting Club" for Universal, with Roberts and Christine Peters producing. Roberts will produce through her Red Om production company and Peters through her CFP Prods. shingle. Barbara Zitwer and CFP's Bradford Smith ...
'Inside' team takes another U turn.(Spike Lee, Brian Grazer to make the sequel of "Inside Man")(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Spike Lee and Brian Grazer are developing a sequel to "Inside Man" for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. Lee is still in negotiations on a helming deal for the project, but he's already working with the original's writer, Russell Gewirtz, on a script. For ...
Sixty Six.(Movie review)
Nov 02, 2006; ... (U.K.) A UIP (in the U.K.) release of a Universal Pictures, Working Title Films presentation, in association with StudioCanal, of a [WT.sup.2] production, in association with Ingenious Film Partners 2 LLP. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Elizabeth Karlsen. Executive ...
Evil Dead: The Musical.(Theater review)
Nov 02, 2006; ... (New World Stages: 499 seats: $66 top) A Jenkay, Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment, Just for Laughs Live presentation of a musical in two acts with book and lyrics by George Reinblatt, music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt. Directed by Hinton ...
The Milliner.(Theater review)
Nov 02, 2006; ... (East 13th Street Theater; 166 seats; $45 top) A Directors Company presentation in association with Milliner Prods. of a play in two acts by Suzanne Glass. Directed by Mark Clements. Sets, Todd Edward Ivins; costumes, Gregory Gale; lighting, Jeff Nellis; projections, Brian Kim; ...
XM, Sirius unite in song rights challenge.(XM Satellite Radio Inc., Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. challenge claim by SoundExchange)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... In a rare moment of solidarity, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio challenged a claim Wednesday by SoundExchange that they should pay more for music rights. A deal between the satcasters and the nonprofit org that licenses music for digital transmission is set to ...
Blockbuster tries new tack.(introduces Total Access plan)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Blockbuster fired on Tuesday one of its bigger shots yet against Netflix, announcing a plan to allow customers of its online service to return movies in stores. Service will allow customers to immediately clear their rental queue when they return a disc to the store and ...
Steiner entertains illusions.(David Steiner, Grand Illusions Entertainment)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Gotham real-estate magnate David Steiner is joining the world of feature-film production, investing in and becoming a partner at Jonathan Sanger's Grand Illusions Entertainment shingle. Steiner, who helped found the bustling Steiner Studios production facility at the Brooklyn ...
Disney lands No. 1: 'Hannah' on top of chart.(Disney Channel)
Nov 02, 2006; ... For Disney's music units, what were once surprises are now sure bets. The studio has scored its third chart-topper this year as the soundtrack to the Disney Channel's Saturday show "Hannah Montana" sold 281,000 copies in its debut session. Mouse has already scored ...
Salmi MTV's digital chief.(Mika Salmi replaces Jason Hirschhorn)
Nov 02, 2006; ... MTV Networks has found its new digital guru. Mika Salmi--founder and CEO of online media company Atom Entertainment, which Viacom bought in August for $200 million--has been tapped prexy of global digital media for MTV Networks. Though he has a different title, Salmi ...
GE topper talks growth.(Jeff Immelt)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Jeff Immelt paid a visit to CNBC headquarters on Tuesday, and it wasn't to appear on "Squawk Box." The GE topper makes periodic visits to all areas of the NBC Universal empire, but this employees-only town hall took on additional meaning in light of the coming layoffs across the ...
Jason Patric.(cast for Paul Haggis new movie "In the Valley of Elah")(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006 ... Jason Patric ("The Alamo") will join Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron in Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah," which will be distributed domestically by Warner Independent Pictures. The ...
Terrence Mann.(contracts with Sci Fi Channel)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006 ... Terrence Mann has been added to the cast of Sci Fi Channel's "The Dresden Files." He'll play the confidant of Harry Dresden (Paul Blaekthorne) ....
Payola pressures: senator urges FCC to clarify loopholes.(Federal Communications Commission)
Nov 02, 2006; ... A key lawmaker has pressed Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin J. Martin for answers regarding the agency's ongoing investigation into payola. In a letter sent Wednesday to Martin, Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-Wisc.) asked the chairman to address "a lack of clarity ...
Law & Order.(Television program review)
Nov 02, 2006; ... (Series; NBC, Fri. Nov. 3, 10 p.m.) Filmed in New York by Wolf Films in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. Executive producers, Dick Wolf, Matthew Penn, Peter Jankowski, Nicholas Wootton, Walon Green; co-executive producers, Arthur Forney, Richard Sweren, Robert ...
Exec's future bright.(Simon Horsman appointed as CEO of Future Films USA)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... British financing and production outfit Future Films has named Simon Horsman CEO of its new U.S. operation, based in Los Angeles. Horsman was previously VP and general counsel of online comparison-shopping service PriceGrabber.com. Future Films USA will provide ...
'Time' for a re-release.(Wong Kar Wai's "Ashes Of Time- Redux")(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Fortissimo Films has picked up international sales to Wong Kar Wai's reworked version of "Ashes of Time," the arthouse helmer's venture into the martial arts genre. Original pic, released 12 years ago, featured a starry cast of Hong Kong talent who've (mostly) survived the slump ...
Firth berth in 'Genova'.(Colin Firth cast by Michael Winterbottom for new movie)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Colin Firth will star in helmer Michael Winterbottom's contempo ghost story "Genova," set to shoot next spring. Firth plays a recently widowed man who travels to Italy with his teenage daughters in search of a fresh start but can't escape the ...
Showbiz stocks: Wednesday, November 1, 2006.(Statistical table)
Nov 02, 2006 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Wednesday, November 1, 2006 Name Tkr PE Last AccessIT AIXD ... 10.93 AcmeCm ACME ... 5.19 Actvsn ATVI ... 15.32 Avid AVID 55 ...
Running out of trust: Canuck pols set to close tax loophole.(World News)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Canuck pols are plugging the tax loophole that allowed entertainment companies, including "CSI" producer Alliance Atlantis and exhibitor Cineplex Entertainment, to spin off all or some of their assets into tax-exempt income trusts. Income trusts' share prices were hammered on ...
Huelva fest open to frosh filmmakers.(32nd Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... With seven debut features and four second movies, the competition at the 32nd Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival is opening up to a new generation of Latin American filmmakers. The world preem of tuner comedy "Por que se frotan las patitas," from first-timer Alvaro Bejines, ...
Willis to man Brit Mentorn.(John Willis to head U.K. indie Mentorn)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... British TV topper John Willis, who recently left the BBC after becoming frustrated by a wave of cuts in his department, will take over as head of U.K. indie Mentorn. Willis, who has held key positions at Blighty's Channel 4 and WGBH Boston, will also be creative director of ...
Chen's green nom a surprise in China.(Chen Kaige nominated for Green Chinese award)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... Chinese helmer Chen Kaige, who was fined 90.000 yuan ($11.250) in May for damaging a scenic spot while shooting martial arts epic "The Promise," is the surprise nomination for a Green Chinese award for raising environmental awareness. The government-imposed fine took into ...
Mipcom effort spurs Brit biz.(WORLD NEWS)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... British independent TV producers estimate they generated business worth more than 7 million [pounds sterling] ($13 million) as a result of a sales initiative launched at last month's Mipcom trade show in Cannes. The 33 producers based at the first U.K. Indies pavilion, a joint ...
Singapore exchange bars voting.(Richard Li Tzar-kai, Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd.)(Brief article)
Nov 02, 2006; ... HONG KONG -- The Singapore Exchange has barred Richard Li Tzar-kai from voting on the $1.17 billion sale of his 23% stake in media and telco operator PCCW. Ruling came after the exchange said it had not received a guarantee that Li Ka-shing, Li Tzar-kai's father and Hong Kong's ...