Daily Variety back issues from March 2007:
VID clip clarity: microsoft spells out piracy plan.
Mar 01, 2007; ... Looking to strengthen ties with Hollywood as it delves deeper into online video, Microsoft on Tuesday sent a memo to top execs at all the major media congloms. The gist: Microsoft is offering to work closely with them to combat piracy, but not to implement the kind of filtering ...
Quizzer sends Fox to head of class.(Fox Cable Networks Group)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Fox schooled the competition Tuesday, earning an A+ for the premiere of gameshow "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" Unscripted Mark Burnett skein, in which youngsters help adult contestants answer school-book questions in a classroom setting, held on to most of its lead-in ...
CBS keen on Google exec.(CBS Broadcasting Inc., Patrick Keane )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... CBS has tapped a former Google exec to head its digital marketing efforts, a move that deepens connections between the media company and the search monolith. Eye named Patrick Keane exec VP and chief marketing officer of CBS Interactive, reporting to digital chief Quincy Smith ....
'Lives' redo cues Mirage plans.(The Weinstein Co. renews pact with Anthony Minghella for "The Lives of Others")
Mar 01, 2007; ... The Weinstein Co. has renewed its exclusive first-look deal with Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella's Mirage banner for another three years. The new pact, announced Wednesday, also includes English-language remake rights to Oscar-winning pie "The Lives of Others." The German ...
Alphabet loves 'Lost' lads.
Mar 01, 2007; ... "Lost" co-exec producers Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz have inked a mid-seven figure overall deal that will keep them on the ABC Television Studio island through 2010. Three-year pact calls for the scribes to continue on "Lost" rising to exec producers by the second year of the ...
You haul.(Only at variety.com)(American Broadcasting Companies Inc. imports "Too Big to Walk")(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007 ... ABC is importing the Blighty format "Too Big to Walk?," which followed a group of ...
Topper tout tie-up: Karmazin speaks for Sirius' XM merger.(Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., XM Radio)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Before a skeptical and at times contentious House task force, Sirius Satellite Radio topper Mel Karmazin defended his company's proposed merger with XM Radio, amid allegations ranging from charges that he is seeking a "government-sanctioned monopoly" to charges that he'll "say anything to ...
Jones hits No. 1 again.(Norah Jones)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Another 100,000 copies of Norah Jones' "Not Too Late" (Blue Note) were sold in the week that ended Sunday, allowing the thrush to sit at No. 1 for a third, nonconsecutive week. Sales of "Not Too Late" which now has a cume of 953,000, slid by more than half from last week, ...
Thesp will ascend to 'Heaven'.(The Heaven Project)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Paul Walker is set to star in "The Heaven Project" an independently financed thriller to be directed by John Glenn, who wrote the script. Pic is a love story set in the framework of a psychological thriller. Walker plays a man strippedof everything he loves, who must overcome great ...
Fox downloads ready for primetime.(Fox Cable Networks Group)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Coming soon to a Fox affiliate Web site near you: streamed and downloadable episodes of"24," "Bones" and other network shows. In the most extensive network/affiliate new-media partnership yet, Fox stations will offer a brand new version of the Fox on Demand player that allows ...
ABC Family spawns series.(ABC Family Worldwide Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... ABC Family has renewed "Lincoln Heights" for a second season, and given a series go-ahead to "Greek," reinforcing the network's standing as one of the most active schedulers of scripted original series in ad-supported cable. "Lincoln Heights" with a 10-episode commitment, and ...
Praisery taps West Coast exec.(Susan Ciccone )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... PR house 42West has tapped Susan Ciccone to run its West Coast film marketing division. Ciccone will assume the position after ankling her current post as VP of publicity at Paramount, where she's worked for nearly eight years. "I have always thought of 42West as ...
Electric taps rising.(Electric Entertainment, Rebecca Rising )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Dean Devlin's Electric Entertainment has hired Rebecca Rising for the newly created post of head of business and legal affairs. Rising will work alongside Electric partner Kearie Peak in building the company. She'll oversee the production, distribution and finance agreements for ...
Equus.(Theater review)
Mar 01, 2007; ... (Gielgud Theater, London; 981 seats; [pound sterling] 49.50 ($97) top) A David Pugh and Daffyd Rogers presentation of a play in two acts by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Thea Sharrock. Sets and costumes, John Napier; lighting, David Hersey; movement, Fin Walker; sound, Gregory ...
Births.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Sherri and Neil Marks, a boy, Todd Jacob Marks, Jan. 30, New York City. Mother is a senior promotions production manager at John Wiley and Sons; father is director of marketing and ...
Robin Hood.(Television program review)
Mar 01, 2007; ... (Series; BBC America, Sat. March 3, 9 p.m.) Filmed in Hungary by Tiger Aspect Prods. Executive producers, Dominic Minghella, Foz Allan, Greg Brenman; director, John McKay; writer, Minghella; camera, Tim Palmer; editor, Patrick Moore; music, Andy Price; production designer, Mike ...
It's out of this world: Handmade, Ilion linking up for 'Planet'.(World News)(HandMade Films tems with Ilion Animation Studios for "Planet One" )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Handmade Films Intl. has teamed up with Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios to finance and co-produce "Planet One," a $50 million CGI movie written by "Shrek" scribe Joe Stillman. The film will be directed by Jorge Blanco, the lead artist on vidgame series "Commandos" ...
Pols give Hong Kong film biz a boost.(World News)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... The Hong Kong government Wednesday announced a HK$300 million ($38.5 million) package to help out the local movie industry. Creating a state fund to help production was one of the recommendations made by the territory's Film Development Committee. "The secretary for ...
Italo Kudos to Taormina.(World News)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Italy's Silver Ribbon film nods have resumed their link with the Taormina Film Festival, in a profile-boosting move for the Sicilian lest being reshaped by new artistic topper Deborah Young. The 61 st edition of the country's oldest movie prizes will hold a gala televised by ...
Toho set to distrib U pix.(World News)(Toho Company Ltd., United International Pictures)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Toho-Towa will replace United Intl. Pictures as Universal Pictures' distributor in Japan, the world's second-largest entertainment market. Move is effective this summer and will likely kick off with Paul Greengrass-helmed "The Bourne Ultimatum." Universal Pictures ...
China curbing song contests.(World News)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... China's TV authorities are cutting the number of weeks that "American Idol"-style singing contests can run after complaints in the media that many artificially extend their runs to make more money from SMS voting. Televised talent contests are hugely popular in China and the ...
ITV L.A.-based exec to ankle.(UNITED KINGDOM)(ITV PLC, Jayne Ferguson )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... ITV's U.S.-based acquisitions topper Jayne Ferguson is quitting after two years. Based in Los Angeles, Ferguson was the first senior executive hired by ITV to liaise with the U.S ....
Turner taps topper.(UNITED KINGDOM)(Turner Broadcasting Europe, Jeff Kupsky )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Turner Broadcasting's Jeff Kupsky has been upped to prexy of Turner Broadcasting Systems Europe to oversee operations in Europe, the Mideast and Africa. Kupsky's responsibilities include overseeing the ...
Casting call 'Rings'.(AUSTRALIA)(As the Bell Rings)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Disney Channel Australia and Fremantle Media will locally produce Oz-based kids' skein "As the Bell Rings." "Disney Channel is committed to producing shows that ...
Sony hears cricket.(Sony Entertainment Television plans to invest in Neo Sports)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Sony Entertainment Television plans to invest 3.15 billion rupees ($71.3 million) for a 26% stake in Neo Sports, a division of Mumbai-based Nimbus Communications media conglom. Sony wants the rights to all Indian cricket matches that Nimbus owns ...
Boyle scales Tower for S. African drama.(World News)(Danny Boyle)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Danny Boyle will helm "Ponte Tower." a thriller set entirely in one of Africa's tallest skyscrapers. The 54-story cylindrical Ponte Tower in Johannesburg, South Africa, was a powerful symbol of white affluence under Apartheid when it was built in 1975. Local papers even dubbed ...
TV and cable production chart.
Mar 01, 2007 ... 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 production companies ...
The Witnesses.(Movie review)
Mar 01, 2007; ... (LES TEMOINS) (France) An SBS Films (France) production in association with France 2 Cinema. (International sales: UGC International, Neuilly-sur-Seine.) Produced by Said Ben Said. Directed by Andre Techine. Screenplay, Techine, Laurent Guyot, Viviane Zingg. Camera ...
Beaufort.(Movie review)
Mar 01, 2007; ... (Israel) A United King Films, Metro Communications, Movie Plus production. (International sales: Bavaria Film Intl., Geiselgasteig.) Produced by David Silber, David Mandil. Executive producers, Moshe Edry, Leon Edry. Directed by Joseph Cedar. Screenplay, Run Leshem, ...
Showbiz stocks: Wednesday, February 28, 2007.(Statistical table)
Mar 01, 2007 ... <Pre> Showbiz stocks, Wednesday, February 28, 2007 YTD Name Tkr PE LastChg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 6.65-.35 -23.7 AcmeCmACME ... 5.81+.06 +15.7 ActvsnATVI 62...
The Reporter.(Theater review)
Mar 01, 2007; ... (Cottesloe, National Theater; 306 seats; 28 [pounds sterling] ($55) top) A National Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Nicholas Wright. Directed by Richard Eyre. Sets and costumes, Rob Howell; lighting, Peter Mumford; original music, Richard Hartley; sound, Rich ...
L.A. to get tuned up: duo launches musical incubator next year.
Mar 01, 2007; ... For two months next year, Marcia Seligson and Bob Klein hope to turn Los Angeles into tune town. The duo will be launching the Festival of New American Musicals in May and June 2008 that they expect will result in the production of more than 30 new tuners. Festival ...
'Kringle' jingles at Par.(Paramount Pictures, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura to produce "Kringle")(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Paramount Pictures and producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura have optioned the novel "Kringle" by Tony Abbott, and attached Mark Dindal ("Chicken Little") to direct the family adventure film. Dindal will co-write the script with Jason Richman ("Bad Company"). Live-action ...
Exec joins the team at Fox Sports.(George Greenberg appointed by Fox Sports Net)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Fox Sports, which is loaded with big events in the next two years such as the 2008 Super Bowl, the World Series, the Bowl Championship Series and the Daytona 500, has named George Greenberg exec VP of programming and production. Greenberg also will continue in his current role ...
New Line's going back to school.(New Line Cinema Corp. buys comedy "High School Musical")(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... New Line's going back to high school, buying Jason Filardi's untitled comedy pitch with "High School Musical" star Zac Efron to topline. Minimajor's also signed "Hairspray" director Adam Shankman and producing partner Jennifer Gibgot to produce through their Offspring ...
Par plots its next 'Trek'.(Paramount Pictures Corp. plans to release "Star Trek XI")(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Trekkers can look forward to a very merry Christmas in 2008. Paramount announced Tuesday it will release J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek XI" on Christmas Day next year, resurrecting the cult franchise after a six-year hiatus. Newest installment, a prequel focusing on a young ...
Pilot watch.(Andy Ackerman to direct comedy series for Warner Bros.)(Lucy Liu to star in Sony Pictures Television show "Cashmere Mafia")(Kathleen Rose Perkins to act in television program from CBS Par Network, ABC Television Studio)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Staffing--Andy Ackerman ("Seinfeld") has inked to direct the untitled Scott Silveri comedy from Warner Bros. TV. Helmer's credits include the CBS hits "Rules of Engagement" and "Old Christine." Casting--Eddie Mates will play Henry Duque, the youngest brother of Jimmy Smits, in ...
Maura Tierney.(Players)(plays a role in "Semi-Pro" )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Maura Tierney ("ER") will play the love interest to Woody Harrelson's character in New Line's "Semi-Pro." Will Ferrell also stars in the ...
Tia Carrere.(Players)(lands a role in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Tia Carrere has landed a recurring role on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." She will portray Richard Lewis' g.f ....
Ezra Buzzington ("The Prestige") and John Vance ("Two and a Half Men") have joined the cast of Universal's "Leatherheads.".(Universal Studios Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Ezra Buzzington ("The Prestige") and John Vance ("Two and a Half Men") have joined the cast of Universal's "Leatherheads." George Clooney directs, co-wrote and stars in the romantic ...
Meredith Baxter.(to star in CBS Broadcasting Inc.'s "Cold Case")(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Meredith Baxter will recur on CBS' "Cold Case" as the alcoholic mother of Kathryn Morris' character. Baxter will ...
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?(Television program review)
Mar 01, 2007; ... (Series; Fox, Tue. Feb. 27, 9:30 p.m.) Taped in Los Angeles by Mark Burnett Prods. and Zoo Prods. Executive producers, Burnett, Roy Bank, Barry Poznick, John Stevens; supervising producer, David Eilenberg; producers, Jeff Foxworthy, Melissa Costello, Joni Day, Gregory Gillbergh, ...
Film org hands out scholarships.(V)(Multicultural Motion Picture Association)
Mar 01, 2007; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Eight honorees received Multicultural Motion Picture Assn. scholarships Friday during the 14th annual Student Filmmakers Pre-Oscar Luncheon at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. Three individuals were also honored with Civic Awards: ...
Signature to honor Wilson.(Signature Theater Company, August Wilson )(Time Warner Inc. awarded )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Signature Theater Company, the Off Broadway theater that's found success with its season of August Wilson plays, honored the late playwright at its annual gala Sunday. Phylicia Rashad and Mary Alice read unpublished poems by Wilson, and Delroy Lindo ...
Helmer opens his little 'Black Book'.(V)(Paul Verhoeven directs "Black Book" produced by Sony Pictures Classics, Film Society of Lincoln Center)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Director Paul Verhoeven--the man behind "Total Recall" and "RoboCop"--is back with a dramatically real film, the WWII political thriller "Black Book," a foreign-language pic about the Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation. Distrib Sony Pictures Classics and Film Society of ...
In honor of Black History Month, Women in Film/L.A. hosted a panel Wednesday for showbiz ladies to dish on the hurdles of being female and African-American in this town.(V)
Mar 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: In honor of Black History Month, Women in Film/L.A. hosted a panel Wednesday for showbiz ladies to dish on the hurdles of being ...
WB stakes Plame claim.(Warner Bros. to direct movie on lives of Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Warner Bros. is developing a feature on the lives of Valerie Plame and Ambassador Joseph Wilson, the married couple drawn into a D.C. firestorm. Plame's status as a CIA agent was revealed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New ...
'Today's' still on top but 'Early' rises.(market share of television programs)("Today", "Early Show" )(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... NBC's dominant ayem franchise "Today" slipped in the ratings, and CBS' "Early Show" appears to be picking up the loose change. "Today" is on course to finish first in February sweeps by a wide margin over ABC's "Good Morning America," but it is doing so with 500,000 fewer ...
Par pix boost. Viacom revs.(Paramount Pictures Corp. Domestic Television Div.)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Paramount helped turn Viacom's first full quarter under new topper Philippe Dauman into a success. With DVD hits like "An Inconvenient Truth" and "Over the Hedge," and theatrical boosts from movies such as "Jackass Number Two," the studio earned $86 million for the ...
The back lot.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Columnist should be willing to change their minds, says ...
NBC extends life of Reilly: prexy inks multiyear deal.
Mar 02, 2007; ... NBC Entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly has inked a multiyear deal with the Peacock. Pact had been anticipated since January, when NBC U supremo Jeff Zucker publicly stated his desire to have Reilly stay on (Daily Variety, Jan. 18). Reilly also had expressed his desire to stick ...
B.O. enters a new cycle.(rankings, ticket sales of movies)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Disney will angle for its motorcycle ensembler "Wild Hogs" to run over Sony's B.O. champ "Ghost Rider" this weekend as the Mouse House guns "Hogs" into 3,287 theaters. Paramount, meanwhile, is double dipping over the frame by sending out David Fincher's serial killer drama ...
Grand plan for crime pic.(Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis to star in "Poor Things" which is being directed by Ash Baron Cohen)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis are going on a crime spree, toplining "Poor Things" with Ash Baron Cohen directing. MacLaine also will produce with Rob Hickman through his newly minted Still Rolling Prods. Shooting's expected to start in May. Trent Haaga's script ...
Howard Katz.(Theater review)
Mar 02, 2007; ... (Laura Pels Theater; 407 seats; $73.75 top) A Roundabout Theater Company presentation of a play in one act by Patrick Marber. Directed by Doug Hughes. Sets, Scott Pask; costumes, Catherine Zuber; lighting, Christopher Akerlind; original music and sound, David Van Tieghem; ...
Full of it.(Movie review)
Mar 02, 2007; ... A New Line Cinema release of an Atmosphere Entertainment MM/Mark Canton and Relativity Media production. Produced by Canton, Steve Barnett. Executive producers, Ryan Kavanaugh, Lynwood Spinks, Toby Emmerich, Matt Moore, Mark Kaufman, JC Spink, Charlie Gogolak. Co-producers, Jeffrey ...
The Winner.(Television program review)
Mar 02, 2007; ... (Series; Fox. Sun. March 4, 8:30, 9:30 p.m.) Taped in Los Angeles by Candy Bar Prods. and Fuzzy Door Prods. in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Executive producers, Seth MacFarlane, Ricky Blitt; producer, Kevin Slattery; director, Terry Hughes; writer, Blitt; ...
Fox shows smarts; 'Idol,' 'Grade' combo helps.(Fox Entertainment Group Inc.)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Auds didn't exactly stick to the script on the final night of the February sweep, with Fox and CW racking up big numbers. Combo of "American Idol" and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" again put Fox well in front of its competitors, but CW also made some noise with best-yet ...
SoapNet orders fourth 'Star'.(starts reality television show "I Wanna Be a Soap Star")
Mar 02, 2007; ... Susan Lucci wannabes will get another crack at soap stardom: SoapNet has ordered a fourth season of the reality contest "I Wanna Be a Soap Star"--and this time, the winner will wind up on NBC's "Days of Our Lives." It's the first time the Disney-owned cabler has featured a ...
'Nightly News' slip costs Reiss his job.(John Reiss resigns from National Broadcasting Company Inc. NBC News )(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... NBC News is reassigning "Nightly News" executive producer John Reiss after a ratings slip that put Brian Williams in a dogfight with ABC's Charles Gibson for first place. Reiss' last day will be Friday. His deputy, senior broadcast producer Bob Epstein, will guide the broadcast ...
'Stomp' romps to $7 mil in cable coin.(Sony Pictures' "Stomp the Yard")(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Sony Pictures' Screen Gems has harvested the first bumper crop of aftermarket dollars from its surprise hit "Stomp the Yard," pocketing about $7 million from four cable networks: Turner's TNT and TBS and Viacom's VH1 and BET. The movie, which is at the tail end of its run in ...
Helmers union topper ankles.(LEGIT BITS)(Barbara Hauptman to resign from Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Barbara Hauptman, exec director of legit helmers' union Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, will ankle the post when her contract is up in November. Hauptman has been with the org since 1995. Union will begin interviewing for a replacement in late spring or summer. ...
'Houdini' ties up a scripter.(Walden Media plans "Houdini" scripted by Brett Merryman )(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Walden Media has moved forward on its "Houdini" project, hiring Brett Merryman to pen the screenplay. Project, set up last year, centers on a 14-year-old boy who discovers he's a descendant of Harry Houdini and embarks on a quest to unravel the ...
Rob & Big.(Tenpercenteries)(Rob Dyrdek and Christopher Boykin sign contract with International Creative Management Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Rob & Big have signed with ICM. Pair--skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and his bodyguard and friend ...
Penelope Ann Miller.(Tenpercenteries)(signs deal with Untitled Entertainment )(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Penelope Ann Miller has inked with Untitled Entertainment for management. Thesp recently lensed "Blonde ...
Nigel Williams.(Tenpercenteries)(contracts with William Morris Agency Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007; ... Nigel Williams has signed with WMA. Screenwriter penned HBO miniseries "Elizabeth I" and is rewriting the cabler's "John Adams." He's also adapting Barbara Goldsmith's "Other Powers: The Age ...