Daily Variety back issues from January 2007:
Indy back in action.(fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise)
Jan 02, 2007; ... After years of languishing in development, the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise is finally moving ahead, as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford look to reconnect with their blockbuster roots. For Spielberg in particular, the project marks a return ...
Pix get year-end kick: Fox laffer leads pack as '07 rings in hearty B.O.(box office)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Holdovers ruled the roost during the New Year's four-day frame, as Fox's "Night at the Museum" continued to spin the turnstiles at the multiplexes, taking in $46.7 million over the extended four-day holiday and easily landing at No. 1 again. The PG-rated family film starring Ben ...
Auds give niche a nudge.
Jan 02, 2007; ... Auds haven't been embracing too many niche pics this season, but they seemed resolved to get in some serious stuff over the New Year's holiday frame. Picturehouse--the joint venture of New Line and HBO Films headed by Bob Berney had held off on releasing its dark fantasy "Pan's ...
A big display for 'Museum'.(WORLD WATCH)(Night at the Museum)
Jan 02, 2007; ... "Night at the Museum" spent the last weekend of 2006 dominating the international box office with $47.3 million at 4,722 play dates in 26 markets. The Ben Stiller comedy's solid foreign performance capped a year that saw offshore biz rebound smartly from a downbeat 2005 as the ...
All aboard ...(Only at variety.com)
Jan 02, 2007 ... ABC Family got plenty of ratings steam ...
California: one nation, under Arnold?(The Back Lot)
Jan 02, 2007; ... MEMOTO: Arnold Schwarzenegger: Though you'll still be hobbling on crutches, Governor, your inauguration on Friday will surely be a blast. With Donna Summer and Jennifer Holliday belting out songs at your $1.4 million party, and Paul Anka re-creating the lyrics to "My Way" to pay homage, no ...
Fast Track.(Movie review)
Jan 02, 2007; ... A Metro Goldwyn Mayer release of a Weinstein Co. and 2929 Prods. presentation of a This Is That production. Produced by Anthony Bregman, Anne Carey, Ted Hope. Executive producers, Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Mark Butan, Ray Angelic. Co-producer, Couper Samuelson. Directed by Jesse ...
SEC connects the dots on Pixar stock options.(Securities and Exchange Commission)
Jan 02, 2007; ... The options scandal has officially reached Hollywood, as the SEC is probing whether Pixar improperly backdated options before Disney purchased the company. Options given to a number of Pixar execs between 1997 and 2003, including chief creative officer John Lasseter, are thought ...
'CSI' leaves prints on museum exhibit.
Jan 02, 2007; ... Get ready for "CSI: Chicago." CBS's omnipresent crime franchise is expanding again, setting up shop this spring in the Windy City. Rival webheads worried about facing another edition of the successful skein can relax, however. That's because the latest chapter in the ...
CBS remains in the game.(CBS Corp. CBS Television)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... CBS TV Distribution has locked up the longest-running, highest-rated gameshows in TV syndication--"Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" for another two years, giving it the garners through 2012. TV stations in more than 30% of the country have renewed the two syndie perennials, ...
TV scribe doubles up: Safran, WBTV park projects at ABC, Fox.(Josh Safran, Warner Bros. Television)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Scribe Josh Safran has set up a pair of small-screen projects via Warner Bros. TV, including a collaboration with MeG. At ABC, Safran has an untitled drama in the works about a twenty-something woman who, after initially resisting, decides to join the family business: the Secret ...
Originals to rule Planet.(Discovery Communications Inc. Animal Planet)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Animal Planet will boost its programming budget 14% this year to $93.4 million, starting with a greenlight for four primetime series scheduled to begin airing in the second quarter and continue into next year. Exec VP-general manager Maureen Smith said the network is seeking to ...
ABC gunning for 'Smith'.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc., Mr. & Mrs. Smith)
Jan 02, 2007; ... ABC has greenlit production on "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," a small-screen take on the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie feature. Doug Liman and Simon Kinberg are reprising their roles as helmet and scribe, respectively. Liman, Kinberg and Dave Bartis will exec produce, Regency TV ...
Newsies' Iraq shock: Saddam's execution sends nets scrambling.
Jan 02, 2007; ... The hanging of Saddam Hussein turned Friday night into a high-wire act for TV news as the networks raced to determine if the former dictator's sentence had been carried out and how much of it they should show. The Iraqi government kept a tight lid on the proceedings alter ...
Canadian biz gets break as ACTRA chills.(Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... In a reprieve from an imminent Canadian actors' strike, thesps agreed Friday to postpone a walkout in favor of "last-ditch" efforts to reach an agreement with producers. The union repping Canadian actors and the associations repping producers have been working to hammer out a ...
Asian banner loses 2.(Focus Films, Daniel Yu, Lorna Tee)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Highly visible Hong Kong-based execs Daniel Yu and Lorna Tee have ankled their positions at Focus Films, the production, sales and distribution shop they ran for Asian superstar Andy Lau Tak-wa. Yu and Tee were, respectively, chief operating officer and marketing and ...
Logo targeting lesbian aud.(Viacom Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Logo, Viacom's ad-supported network aimed at gay auds, is ramping up programming for the lesbian half of its constituency, including a variety special featuring the entertainment on a cruise ship hired by lesbian vacationers, and 107 hours of "Bad Girls" a scripted series from the BBC set ...
China tackles fakes: courts crackdown on unauthorized sales.(Sohu.com Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... China's courts had a busy Christmas week making public displays of their role at the frontline of the government's war against piracy. A Beijing court found Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service, a unit of the NASDAQ-listed Sohu.com, which operates some of the country's ...
Net under threat.(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez is making good on threats he made prior to his landslide re-election on Dec. 3 by refusing to renew the license of local web RCTV on March 27. Chavez said RCTV, in particular, has maintained a radical position against his regime. Just before the ...
'Flower' blooms at B.O.(Curse of the Golden Flower, box office)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Zhang Yimou's $45 million Oscar contender "Curse of the Golden Flower" followed up its record-breaking opening weekend B.O. of $12.5 million with a 50 million yuan ($6.4 million) take in the second weekend. Second weekend collection elevates it to China's biggest pic of 2006, ...
Spain bill to rein in majors.(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... A bill seeks to place limits on the distribution rentals that Hollywood studios can charge in Spain. Legislation would crack down on rentals that are "discriminatory, disproportionate or not in line with the average in European countries." U.S. studios in Spain can contest the ...
The Knights of Prosperity.(Television program review)
Jan 02, 2007; ... (Series: ABC, Wed Jan. 3, 9 p.m.) Filmed in New York by B&B Prods. and Worldwide Pants in association with Touchstone Television. Executive producers, Rob Burnett, Jon Beckerman, David Letterman, Mick Jagger, Victoria Pearman, co-executive producers, Merrill Karpf, Steve ...
Dirt.(Movie review)
Jan 02, 2007; ... (Series; FX, Tue. Jan. 2, (10 p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by Matthew Carnahan Circus Products and Coquette Prods. in association with Touchstone Television. Executive producers, Carnahan, Joel Fields, Courteney Cox, David Arquette; co-executive producers, Chris Long, Dave ...
The Importance of Being Earnest.(Theater review)
Jan 02, 2007; ... (Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge, Mass.; 556 seats; $50 top) An American Repertory Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Oscar Wild, devised and edited by David Woods, Jon Haynes and Jude Kelly. Directed by Kelly. Choreography, Marcelle Davies. Sets and costumes, Zoe ...
From the Army Archerd archive: Dec. 28, 1962.(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007 ... HAPPY NEW YEAR: It's either a feast or a famine at Romanoff's--as proven by the New Year's mishmash. The Bart Lyttons, who thought they had the place "exclusively," moved their wassail from the domain of Prince Mike to their own diggings when they found other parties would be held at the ...
The screening room.(Table)
Jan 02, 2007 ... <Pre> The Screening Room The Screening Room runs Tuesdays and Fridays. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For a complete list, visit Variety. com/screenings New York Apocalypto (Buena Vista) RSVP: 212-536-6450 Saturday, Jan. 6 ...
New prexy for praiser org.(Entertainment Publicists Professional Society, Henri Bollinger)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... Henri Bollinger has succeeded George McQuade as president of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society, starting with the new year. Bollinger, a founding member of EPPS, served as the organization's president ...
L.A. weatherman joins WCBS.(WCBS-TV, John Elliott)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... WCBS has inked a deal to bring weatherman John Elliott to the Eye's Gotham affiliate. Elliott is coming from KCBS Los Angeles, where he has reported on the weather since 2004. Previously he was at NBC News and MSNBC and appeared week day mornings on ...
Room for another robe.(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007; ... David Young hasn't taken the bench yet, but his show has already drawn favorable rulings. Slated for a fall launch, "Judge David Young" has cleared most major markets, bringing the total tally to an impressive 75% for the 2007-08 season. Sony Pictures Television, ...
Fees foster foes: Court TV sparring with EchoStar.(EchoStar Communications Corp., Turner Broadcasting System Inc.)(Courtroom Television Network Inc.)
Jan 03, 2007; ... The battle between Turner Broadcasting and EchoStar has begun after the satcaster removed Turner's Court TV from its lineup on Monday, affecting more than 11 million Dish subscribers. Court TV's Web site now includes a prominent notice admonishing EchoStar subscribers, "Don't ...
Holiday's gift to B'way.(Broadway Theater)(market share of plays)
Jan 03, 2007; ... The week between Christmas and New Year's proved a darn good one for Broadway, with the 30 shows on the boards raking in more than $29.1 million. But it was a wicked good week for "Wicked." With Gotham B receipts hitting a walloping $1.8 million, the tuner not only ...
Sat radio sees Sirius strides.(Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Satcaster Sirius ended 2006 right in line with its recently revised estimates, breaking the 6 million subscriber mark and reaching its first cash-flow-positive quarter. Company had 6.024 million subs as of Dec. 31, in line with a downgraded estimate of 5.9 million-6.1 million it ...
Oscar pushes envelope.(actors participate in voting process)
Jan 03, 2007 ... The Oscar voting pool has inched up, to 5,830--32 more than last year's tally. Making its debut is the makeup branch, bringing the annual membership tally to 16 voting categories. The 115 members of that branch (which includes hairdressers) were previously grouped into the ...
Fox fashions 'Model' deal.(Anthony Dominici signs deal with Fox TV Studios)(America's Next Top Model)
Jan 03, 2007; ... "America's Next Top Model" exec producer Anthony Dominici has sealed an overall development deal with Fox TV Studios. Under the pact--the rising reality wrangler's first--Dominici will create, develop and produce shows for the studio. Multimillion dollar deal, which ...
Weinsteins digging Dylan.(The Weinstein Co. plans to produce movie on Bob Dylan, "I'm Not There")
Jan 03, 2007; ... The Weinstein Co. has scooped up North American and U.K. rights to "I'm Not There," Todd Haynes' sprawling Bob Dylan biopic. Company plans to release the movie, the first Hollywood dramatization of Dylan's life that The artist has blessed, later this year will be an Ambitious ...
Concert kings.(Only at VARIETY.com)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Concertgoers made country acts, the Rolling Stones and a ...
Can H'wood make friends with evangelicals?(Tuning In)(Alexandra Pelosi's Friends of God)
Jan 03, 2007; ... ALEXANDRA PELOSI'S latest HBO documentary, "Friends of God," will doubtless garner some attention for her fortuitously timed interview with Pastor Ted Haggard, the disgraced head of the National Assn. of Evangelicals. Interviewed prior to allegations that he purchased illicit drugs and had ...
Bollywood bows in Toronto.("Guru" to be premiered )(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... TORONTO -- The world preem of "Guru," the latest from Indian director Mani Ratnam ("Bombay," "Peck in the Cheek"), will be held not in India but in Toronto. "We chose Toronto as the venue for the world premiere because Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the ...
'Nudity' on NHK outrages Japan auds.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Pubcaster NHK went one up on Janet Jackson's Super Bowl nipple flash when "nude" female dancers on a popular year-end show prompted hundreds of viewer complaints and an on-air apology by emcee Tamio Miyake. The dancers appeared on a segment of the "Red and White Song Show," a ...
Correction.(Correction notice)
Jan 03, 2007 ... "Early Abstractions" (1939-1956), a film on the Library of Congress' 2006 National ...
Grammy cues Schnur.(Steve Schnur, Grammy Foundation)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Steve Schnur, Electronic Arts' worldwide executive of music and marketing, has been named chair of the Grammy Foundation. Schnur has been a board member for two years. Org oversees programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the ...
Bynes college-bound: thesp hits campus for Morgan Creek pic.(Amanda Bynes to act in "Sydney White")(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Amanda Bynes ("She's the Man") will topline Morgan Creek's college comedy "Sydney White" with Joe Nussbaum ("Sleepover") directing. Production starts Feb. 12 in Orlando, Fla. Morgan Creek topper James G. Robinson is producing along with David Robinson and Clifford ...
Video site files suit.
Jan 03, 2007; ... Defunct Internet video-on-demand company Intertainer has filed suit against Apple, Google and Napster, three of the biggest players in video and music downloads, alleging patent infringement. Intertainer, which tried during the late '90s dot-com boom to build a business letting ...
Nets enter Barber shop.(Tiki Barber plans to sign deal with broadcasters)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Retiring NFL star Tiki Barber is set to sign a broadcasting deal said to be worth more than $3 million a year over four years. But the question remains: With which network? Barber, 31, has been the target of a multi-network bidding war ever since he announced he would ...
Globes add presenters.(Golden Globe awards)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... George Clooney, Rachel Weisz (winners last year), Sarah Jessica Parker and John Stamos have been added as presenters at the 64th annual Golden ...
Bravo baking more 'Chef'.(rankings of "Top Chef" )(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Bravo has gone back for another helping of "Top Chef" renewing the top-rated food series for a third season. This month the cabler is holding a nationwide casting call for season three, with cookoffs set for Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, New York and San Francisco. "Top ...
APA ups McPherson, Humiston to partner.(American Planning Association, Barry McPherson, Josh Humiston)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... APA has elevated agents Barry McPherson and Josh Humiston to partner status. The agency now has nine partners. McPherson continues as VP of talent and oversees Agency for the Performing Arts' theater department in New York; Humiston is part of APA's modern rock ...
'Aqua' swims to bigscreen.(Aqua Teen Hunger Force)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Adult Swim's feature version of surreal animated series "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" has been set for a March release by First Look Pictures with an opening of more than 800 playdates. The 86-minute pic, written, produced and directed by co-creators Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis, ...
Bernsen preps xmas 'test'.(Corbin Bernsen to direct comedy "3 Day Test" with Angel Entertainment, Public Media Works)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Corbin Bernsen has set up Christmas comedy "3 Day Test" in a partnership with a local production company in the town of Kipling, Saskatchewan. Project, which Bernsen is writing and directing, centers on a man seeking to get his family back through a three-day test in which all ...
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens.(Television program review)
Jan 03, 2007; ... (Docu; PBS, Wed. Jan. 3, 9 p.m.) Filmed by Thirteen/WNET, Adirondack Pictures, Ranoah Prods. Executive producers, Paul Hardart, Tom Hardart, Susan Lacy; producer, Barbara Leibovitz; co-producer, Jessica Cohen; director/writer, Barbara Leibovitz; camera, Eddie Marritz, Jaime ...
In Case of Emergency.(Television program review)
Jan 03, 2007; ... (Series; ABC, Wed. Jan. 3, 9:30p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by Bushwhacker Prods. and Howard J. Morris Prods. in association with Touchstone Television. Executive producers, Howard Morris, Emile Levisetti, Jon Favreau; producer, Mychelle Deschamps; director, Favreau; writer, ...
Fissures.(Movie review)
Jan 03, 2007; ... (ECOUTE LE TEMPS) (France) A Les Films d'Antoine presentation. (International sales: Wide Management, Paris.) Produced by Antoine Simkine. Directed, written by Alante Kavaite. Camera (color, widescreen), Dominique Colin; editor, Agnes Mouchel; production ...
Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... <Pre> Top 10 Films In Manhattan For the weekend of Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007 % changevs. last Week Rank Wknd. B.O. Film (distributor)wknd. No. 1. ...
Broadway Top 10: Dec. 25-Dec. 3.(Statistical table)
Jan 03, 2007 ... <Pre> Broadway Top 10: Dec. 25-Dec. 3 Week's Net Receipts Show Potential Prev Week's (Theater)(Prod. Category)(Seats)Net Receipts Net Receipts Wicked ...
Moretti exits turin fest gig.(Nanni Moretti, Turin Film Festival)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Helmer Nanni Moretti has ankled from his post as topper of the Turin Film Festival, just two days after his appointment exacerbated a power struggle over control of the Italo event dedicated to young directors. Moretti's surprise pullback amid a mounting storm has wreaked major ...
Exclusives report: for the weekend of Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007.(Statistical table)
Jan 03, 2007 ... <Pre> Exclusives Report For the weekend of Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Film Weekend (distributor)CircuitTheater, City B.O. gross Pan's Labyrinth Local Engmnts.: 4 Wknd. total for N.Y ....
The Monastery.(Movie review)
Jan 03, 2007; ... (Docu Denmark) A Tju-Bang Film MS production in association with the Danish Film Institute, Nordic Film & TV Fund in co-production with DR TV, YLE TV2 Documentaries. (International sales: First Hand Films, Zurich.) Produced by Sigrid Helene Dyekjaer. Executive producer, Michael ...
Like Minds.(Movie review)
Jan 03, 2007; ... (Australia-U.K.) A Dendy Films (in Australia)/Redbus Film Distribution (in U.K.)/The Weinstein Co. (in U.S.) release of a Film Finance Corp. Australia presentation of a Bluewater Pictures (Australia)/Gunpowder Films (U.K.) production, in association with South Australian Film ...
Ever Again.(Movie review)
Jan 03, 2007; ... (Docu) A Rocky Mountain Pictures release of a Moriah Films production. Produced by Marvin Hier, Richard Trank. Directed, written by Richard Trank. Camera (color, DV), Jeffrey Victor; editor, Rebecca Harrell; music, Lee Holdridge; sound (Dolby Digital), Jeffrey ...
Strings sing in lead roles: shore, Santaolalla tune up guitar family for pic scores.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG AND SCORE)(performances of Gustavo Santaolalla)
Jan 03, 2007; ... While orchestras and electronics are the stuff that many movie scores are built on, the composers behind "Babel" and "The Departed" based their music on instruments from the guitar family. Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla, a guitarist, learned to play the oud--a Middle Eastern ...
Concert composers practice economies of scale.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG AND SCORE)
Jan 03, 2007; ... The barrier between the concert hall and the cinema has always been porous. Classically trained Europeans wrote many of Hollywood's finest Golden Age film scores, and plenty of composers best known for their symphonies, operas and ballets spent at least some time penning film ...
Pondhoppers' chops travel well: international talents use the currency of the realm--music, history, mood--to build film scores.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG AND SCORE)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Film scoring has always been blessedly ecumenical. Take the Oscar-nommed score to "Sergeant York" by Max Steiner, a native Viennese. Steiner, of course, also wrote music to two classic evocations of the Old South, "Gone With the Wind" and "Jezebel." Or consider an oater like "Gunfight at ...
"Volver's' high-wire act.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG AND SCORE)(Alberto Iglesias awarded for his work in "Volver" )(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Before beginning work on the score for "Volver," director Pedro Almodovar gave this advice to composer Alberto Iglesias: "Just be as close as possible to the main character, Raimunda (Penelope Cruz). Like when you are taking care of someone." "Volver" is their sixth consecutive ...
Encore performances: Oscar regulars crowd category with accomplished new scores, often competing with themselves.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG AND SCORE)
Jan 03, 2007; ... Some of the year's most ambitious scores were penned by composers who have been down the red carpet before. Two are past Oscar winners and two others are past nominees, but while their individual approaches differ, all four continue to top the town's list of those who deliver musical ...
Spidey man spins 'Web'.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG AND SCORE)(Danny Elfman to compose music)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007; ... "I'm looking for everything to feel a little fighter and more delicate before bar 60," Danny Elfman tells conductor Pete Anthony via intercom. Elfman's in the recording booth, Anthony on the podium before the 89 musicians recording "Charlotte's Web" on the Newman Scoring Stage ...