Daily Variety back issues from July 2007:
Prod'n chief for Film Dept..(The Film Department)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... The Film Dept., the newly funded indie outfit run by Mark Gill and Neil Sacker, has named Robert Katz head of production. Katz worked with Sacker at Yari Film Group, where Katz served as exec VP of production, overseeing titles including "Crash," "The Illusionist" and "The ...
DGA opts to keep Apted.(Directors Guild of America, Michael Apted, Paris Barclay, William M. Brady, Taylor Hackford, Gary Donatelli, Betty Thomas, Max Schindler)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Opting for continuity with contract talks looming, the Directors Guild of America has reelected Michael Apted as president for a third consecutive two-year term. The British-born helmer was tapped at the DGAs national convention Saturday at Directors Guild headquarters in ...
MTV cues teen laffer pix for tube.(MTV Networks Inc.)
Jul 02, 2007; ... MTV is making a play for a familiar genre but in an unusual arena: Cabler is developing three pics in the spirit of "American Pie" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" that would get their first airing on MTV. Teen comedies would be partly financed by a separate DVD release; MTV ...
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.(Movie review)
Jul 02, 2007; ... A Warner Bros. release of a Heyday Films production. Produced by David Heyman, David Barton. Executive producer, Lionel Wigram. Co-producer, John Trehy. Directed by David Yates. Screenplay, Michael Goldenberg, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Camera (Technicolor, JDC ...
Hairspray.(Movie review)
Jul 02, 2007; ... A New Line Cinema release presented in association with Ingenious Film Partners, of a Zadan/Meron production, in association with Off, spring Entertainment. Produced by Craig Zadan, Nell Mernn. Executive producers, Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne, Toby Emmerich, Mark Kaufinan, Marc Shaiman, Scott ...
Cable up in upfront: Turner nets leading the pack in ad sales.
Jul 02, 2007; ... Cable networks are reporting double-digit ad rate gains and estimate that a strong upfront will result in growth near 5% over last year's $7.3 billion. Stung by an expensive market for last-minute buys in the spring--the so-called scatter market--marketers have returned to the ...
Carlyle eyes Virgin's biz.(Carlyle Group L.P., Virgin Media Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Private equity giant Carlyle Group is in talks to buy out U.K. caner Virgin Media in a deal that would value the company at around $20 billion. Virgin Media has tapped Goldman Sachs to prepare the company for a possible auction, according to a source familiar with the situation ....
NBC votes for Florida debate.(National Broadcasting Company Inc. NBC News)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... NBC News will broadcast two presidential debates from Florida in January, a week before the Florida and South Carolina primaries. The Republican and Democratic debates, scheduled for Jan. 23 and 25, will air locally on NBC stations in Florida and nationally on MSNBC. ...
Scardino takes on UA post.(United Artists Films appoints Adelaide Scardino)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... United Artists has named Adelaide Scardino as director of development. Scardino comes to the studio from TriStar Pictures, where for the past three years she was involved with development and production on projects including "Silent Hill," "Running With Scissors" and ...
Battlefield 'Earth' Prince CD dropped in U.K. after giveaway.("Planet Earth")
Jul 02, 2007; ... Sony BMG U.K. has decided to not release Prince's next album in Britain, contending that a Sunday giveaway of the disc in national newspaper the Mail will cut too deeply into its retail potential. The Mail on Sunday, which has a circulation of about 2 million, struck a deal with ...
McDonald in at 'Practice'.(Audra McDonald, "Private Practice")(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Dr. Addison Montgomery's college pal has a new face: Audra McDonald is in, and Merrin Dungey is out of, the cast of ABC's new entry "Private Practice." Dungey played Dr. Naomi Bennett, an old chum of Kate Walsh's lead character, in the spring "Grey's Anatomy" episode that ...
Amazon crowns 'Queen'.("Prom Queen")(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Michael Eisner's "Prom Queen" is going to Amazon. The Web series has been repurposed as a full-length feature and is offered for download exclusively on Unbox, Amazon.com's digital download service, for $10 to own and $4 to rent for 30 days. Eisner's new-media ...
Dowling cops 'K-Ville' duty.(Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Kevin Dowling)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Helmer Kevin Dowling has signed up to join the team of Fox's upcoming New Orleans-set drama "K-Ville." Dowling will serve as a director and supervising producer on the frosh drama. He was most recently a director and producer on CBS' "Close to Home." Produced by 20th ...
Hot Rod.(Movie review)
Jul 02, 2007; ... A Paramount release and presentation of a Michaels/Goldwyn production. Produced by Lorne Michaels, John Goldwyn. Executive producers, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Miller, Jill Messick. Co-producer, Louise Rosner. Directed by Akiva Schaffer. Screenplay, Pare Brady. Camera (color, ...
License to Wed.(Movie review)
Jul 02, 2007; ... A Warner Bros. release, presented in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Robert Simonds/Phoenix Pictures production. Produced by Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer, Nick Osborne, Robert Simonds. Executive producers, Bradley J. Fischer, David Thwaites, Kim Zubick, Dana Goldberg, ...
Dynamite Warrior.(Movie review)
Jul 02, 2007; ... (KON FAI BIN) (Thailand) A Magnolia Pictures release (in North America) of a Sahamongkolfilm Intl. presentation of a Baa-Ram-Ewe production. Produced by Prachya Pinkaew. Executive producer, Somsak Techaratanaprasert. Directed, edited by Chalerm Wongpim ....
Camouflage.(Television program review)
Jul 02, 2007; ... (Series; GSN, Mon. July 2, 7 p.m.) Produced by McB Entertainment and Enjoy the Ride Prods. in association with Buena Vista Prods. Executive producers, Terrence McDonnell, Jonathan Barry; line producer, John Alexander; director, Rob George; editor, Michael Kelly; music, Scooter ...
Pushy questions for ... John Tartaglia, co-creator, executive producer and star of Disney Channel's tot tuner "Johnny and the Sprites" airing Saturday and Sunday mornings.(Interview)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... Last book I bought: "Gnomes" by Wil Huygen and illustrated by Rien Poortvliet--as a gift for someone Book I'm reading: "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler Total number of books I own: Over 100 Three books that mean a lot ...
'Shrek' on top of tentpoles at o'seas B.O.(overseas box office proceeds)
Jul 02, 2007; ... The ugly ogre's sitting pretty overseas as "Shrek the Third" dominated a robust weekend at the foreign box office with $69.6 million at 6,489 playdates in 52 markets. But there was plenty of international green for tentpoles as "Transformers" debuted ahead of its U.S. launch ...
Papamichael goes 'Within'.(Phedon Papamichael, "From Within," )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Phedon Papamichael is set to direct "From Within," an independently financed thriller that will star Thomas Dekker ("Heroes"), Elizabeth Rice, Adam Goldberg and Jake Weber. Brad Keene ("The Gravedancers") wrote the script. Production begins next month in Maryland. ...
Participant warming up Live Earth docu.
Jul 03, 2007; ... Participant Prods. is planning a feature-length documentary about Saturday's Live Earth global warming concerts, with Brian Hill directing. Hill's Century Films and Katie Bailiff will produce. Participant's CEO Jim Berk also announced Monday that all of the film's proceeds will ...
New Line and HBO jumping into bed.(Home Box Office Inc., New Line Cinema Corp.)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... New Line Cinema is partnering with HBO on "Sex and the City." After much foreplay, the feature version of the long-running HBO series is gearing for a fall start, with New Line near a deal to finance and distribute. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia ...
'Bots prove mettle: 'Transformers' in high gear with $27 mil.
Jul 05, 2007; ... Setting off fireworks at the box office, DreamWorks and Paramount's robot actioner "Transformers" made an estimated $27.4 million in its first full day from 4,011 screens, the best box office draw ever for a Tuesday. The pic is enjoying a 6 1/2-day opening, since it began ...
Czechs applaud 'Maude' at fest.(Karlovy Vary Film Festival, "Harold and Maude")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Czech auds gave Hal Ashby's 1971 cult romancer "Harold and Maude" five minutes of sustained applause at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on Monday, bringing a tear to the eye of thesp Bud Cort. Fest veterans reported never seeing such a response to a 36-year-old pic--but this one, ...
H'w'd faces wall abroad.
Jul 05, 2007; ... Auds abroad are still keen on American pop culture, but Hollywood should brace for growing resistance to its wares in some markets--particularly those with a strong Muslim base. Twenty-seven of 47 nations surveyed--about 60%--have a positive view of U.S. movies, music and TV, ...
Striking a chord on Web.(web giants' coverage of Live Earth concert)
Jul 05, 2007; ... An altruistic message hangs like an enormous green banner over the Live Earth concerts set to unfold this weekend across six continents, but for the Web giants who are beaming the 24-hour event worldwide, there's also a very specific business purpose driving their involvement: Monetizing ...
Kismet.(Theater review)
Jul 05, 2007; ... (The Coliseum, London; 2,358 seats; 83 [pounds sterling] ($166) top) An English National Opera presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest from themes of Alexander Borodin, book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis based on a ...
The Art of Negative Thinking.(Movie review)
Jul 05, 2007; ... (KUNSTEN A TEHKE NEGATIVT) (Norway) A Maipo Film & TV Production presentation. (International sales: Nordisk Film Intl., Valby, Denmark.) Produced by Dag Alveberg. Directed, written by Bard Breien. Camera (color, HD-to-35mm), Gante Gunnari; editor, Zaklina ...
American Body Shop.(Television program review)
Jul 05, 2007; ... (Series; Comedy Central, Sun. July 8, 10:30 p.m.) Produced by Chocolate Dog Prods. and Macyfilms. Executive producers, Jim Jones, Sain Greene, Joanne Toll; director, Jones; camera, Hisham Abed; editor, Steve Rasch; music, Stephen Robert Phillips, Tim P., production designer, ...
ABC elbows past NBC in news race.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc., National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... ABC News' "World News" won its first quarter in more than a decade as Charles Gibson pulled ahead of NBC's Brian Williams in the evening news ratings. For the quarter, "World News With Charles Gibson" averaged 8 million viewers, NBC's "Nightly News With Brian Williams" 7.5 ...
Fox is sure-footed; 'Dance' fuels its win.(Fox Television, "So You Think You Can Dance")
Jul 05, 2007; ... Fox continues to impress with its reality shows this summer, racking up its 21st consecutive victory among young adults last week--a streak that started with the season premiere of "American Idol" in January. Univision was also a standout performer during the week ended Sunday, ...
'Trace' finds adds elusive.("Without a Trace")
Jul 05, 2007; ... "Without a Trace" has failed to score with mass audiences in its reruns on TNT, upping anxiety at cable networks that rely on off-net police procedurals. Fifteen months ago, TNT was expressing concern about the ratings slump experienced by the granddaddy of these investigative ...
Teutons tout 'Valkyrie'.(United Artists Films)
Jul 05, 2007; ... United Artists' WWII drama "Valkyrie" is getting plenty of support from locals in Germany despite the ongoing battle over filming permits. In the pic, directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise will play Col. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, ...
Kate Jennings Grant.(Players)(casts in "Frost/Nixon")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Kate Jennings Grant ("United 93") has been cast in Ron Howard's film adaptation of Broadway play "Frost/Nixon" Frank Langella and Michael Sheen reprise their stage roles as Richard Nixon and David Frost, respectively. Grant will play Diane ...
Michelle Lombardo.(Players)(roles in "Stiletto")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Michelle Lombardo ("Entourage") has added to Nick Vallelonga's action-drama "Stiletto." Cast includes Tom Berenger ...
Lyne Renee.(Players)(roles in "The Box Collector")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Lyne Renee will star in John Daly thriller "The Box Collector," which is financed and produced by Belgium-based Corsan. Story concerns a young artist who falls for a ...
Nielsen primetime ratings report.(Statistical table)
Jul 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Total viewers Nielsen Primetime Ratings Report June 25-July 1, 2007 abc Monday 4.34 8:00 Wife Swap (R) 4.98 8:30 (5.01) 5.03 9:00 The Ex-Wives Club 3.35 ...
Silvio wants more: Endemol, Medusa will pump content.(World News)(Endemol Entertainment N.V., Medusa Film)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset is tightening its grip on content giant Endemol as well as Mediaset's sister film company Medusa as it continues its push to diversify away from the Italo TV market. The Edam Acquisition buy-out group, led by the Italo broadcaster in partnership with ...
Salon Films extends reach with int'l sales arm.(World News)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Salon Films, one of the oldest names in the Asian movie business, is planning to set itself up as an international sales label. Company's first title will be Donnie Yen starrer "Painted Skin," which lenses at the end of the year in China. Hong Kong-based Salon is best ...
BBC journo freed by Muslim rebels.(UNITED KINGDOM)(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... BBC reporter Alan Johnston was freed in the early hours of Wednesday morning amid chaotic scenes in Gaza, in the Palestinian territories, after 114 days in captivity. He was kidnapped March 12. by a radical group calling itself the Army of Islam. Johnston was handed over to ...
ITV boss raps 'deceit'.(UNITED KINGDOM)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... ITV executive chairman Michael Grade has issued a blunt warning to his fellow broadcasters to stop treating audiences with "casual contempt" or public trust in TV will be further undermined. Speaking to the Royal Television Society, Grade called for "zero tolerance" toward any ...
Skein to French nets.(SPAIN)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... French commercial broadcaster TF1 has taken free-to-air TV rights on Spanish top series "Cuenta atras" (Countdown), sold by Madrid-based Imagina Intl. Sales. NBC Universal's French channel 13ieme Rue also inked with Imagina to broadcast the series before TF1 via digital operator ...
Condors to 'Cronica'.(ARGENTINA)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Israel Adrian Caetano's "Cronica de una fuga" (Chronicle of an Escape) took top prize at the Argentine Assn. of Film Journalists' 2006 awards Monday. Thriller, which tells the story of a kidnapping during Argentina's 1976-83 ...
Rome takes 'Breath'.(World News)(RomeFilmFest, "Second Breath")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... The RomeFilmFest is going for Gallic flair, opening with Alain Corneau's gangster pic remake "Le Deuxieme souffle" ("Second Breath"), for which stars Monica Bellucci and Daniel Auteuil are expected on the red carpet. Highly anticipated remake of the 1966 Jean-Pierre Melville ...
Big deal for Mei.(World News)(Mei Ah Entertainment, Big Media)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Ambitious new Hong Kong production shingle Big Media has struck output and co-production deals with Mei Ah Entertainment, a related entertainment conglom with distribution, video and TV interests. Separately, Big Media's shareholders have approved a HK$223 million ($28.6 ...
August Evening.(Movie review)
Jul 05, 2007; ... A Maya Releasing release of a DokiDoki Prods. presentation. Produced by Connie Hill, Jason Wehling. Directed, written by Chris Eska. Camera (color, HD video), Yasu Tanida; editor, Chris Eska; music, Windy & Carl, Takagi Masakatsu, Jonathan Hughes, Mono; production designer, ...
Jar City.(Movie review)
Jul 05, 2007; ... (Myrin) (Iceland-Denmark-Germany) A Blueeyes (Iceland) production, in association with Bavaria Pictures (Germany), Nordisk Film (Denmark), ARD Degeto (Germany). (International sales: Trust Film Sales, Hvidovre, Denmark.) Produced by Agnes Johansen, Lilja Palmadottir, ...
Pushy questions for ... Tatum O'Neal, who appears as "Magic Gavin" on the FX drama "Rescue Me" airing Wednesdays.(Interview)(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007 ... Last book I bought: "A Life of Jung" by Ronald Hayman Book I'm reading: "Washington Square" by Henry James Total number of books I own: Over 400 Three books that mean a lot to me: "Nine Stories" by J.D. Salinger "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D ....
TV & cable production chart.
Jul 05, 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-Co-producer(s); DIR-Director(s); CASTING-Casting director, Affiliated ...
Christopher Coppola.(Players)(books a role in "Far Cry" )(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Christopher Coppola ("Beowulf") has booked a role in Uwe Boll's "Far Cry," now lensing in Vancouver. Til ...
Zulay Henao.(Players)(lands a role in "Army Wives")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... Zulay Henao has landed guest roles on Lifetime's "Army Wives" and NBC's "Law & Order: SVU." ...
USA snags victory as TNT drops ball.(USA Network)
Jul 05, 2007; ... LeBron James and his fellow NBA athletes didn't quite deliver for TNT in the second quarter, as USA Network elbowed out its main network rival in total viewers for the first time in five years. Since 2003, TNT has become accustomed to finishing No. 1 in primetime among ...
Brits bow to 'Harry'.(V)("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... In a dramatic portent that Voldemort is truly back, an unseasonable hail and thunderstorm swept over London Tuesday just before the European premiere of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." The weather didn't deter the usual rabid fans from gathering outside the Odeon ...
Virgin chief ponies up.(Virgin Group's Richard Branson at his fund raising event)
Jul 05, 2007; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Richard Branson made a dashing entrance to his Moroccan-themed fund-raiser at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Monday night, riding in on an Arabian, horse. The gala, which drew Rachel Hanter, Miehelle Rodriguez, Lawrence Bender, Richard Schiff and Mariel Hemingway, ...
Gauls dish up toon.(French premiere party of "Ratatouille")(Brief article)
Jul 05, 2007; ... PARIS -- Top Disney execs shared their culinary secrets at a lavish party for the French preem of "Ratatouille" on Saturday night. "I love to cook, so the film's motto 'Anyone can cook' definitely applies to me," said Disney prexy Bob Iger, swearing he'd be easily capable of ...
Thesps Bud Cort and Cybill Shepherd, Daily Variety editor-in-chief Peter Bart and helmer Monte Hellman took part in the New Hollywood panel.(V)
Jul 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Thesps Bud Cort and Cybill Shepherd, Daily Variety editor-in-chief Peter ...
July 4th sees B.O. explosion.
Jul 06, 2007; ... Never has Independence Day been such a picnic for the film biz. DreamWorks and Paramount's "Transformers" made July 4 box office history with an estimated Wednesday take of $27.9 million that easily beat out the previous record holder, the $22 million "Spider-Man 2" spun on July ...
Xbox defects vex Microsoft.
Jul 06, 2007; ... Microsoft will take a $1 billion-plus hit to its bottom line from defective Xbox 360s. Tech giant announced Thursday that it will be taking a charge of $1.05 billion-$1.15 billion and is extending its warranty to three years to address frequent problems in its videogame console ....
Benderspink thinks small.
Jul 06, 2007; ... Benderspink continues its push into television, reupping its small-screen deal at Fox 21 and moving forward with a packed development slate that includes a possible TV take on "Monster-in-Law." Prolific feature shingle, whose credits range from "A History of Violence" to "The ...
Par scales back 'Heart'.(Paramount Vantage cuts screens for "A Mighty Heart")
Jul 06, 2007; ... "A Mighty Heart" is still beating. Paramount Vantage has come up with a new game plan, cutting back the number of screens from 1,350 to 651 beginning this weekend after a weak opening and a steep decline in the second frame. The idea is to keep the film, starring ...
Network shuffle.(Only at variety.com)
Jul 06, 2007 ... Insiders have confirmed that Kevin Reilly is in talks to join ...
The Method.(Movie review)
Jul 06, 2007; ... (EL METODO) (Spain-France-Italy) A Palm Pictures (in U.S.)/On Pictures release (in Spain) of an Alquimia Cinema, Tornasol Films (Spain)/Arena Films (France)/Cattleya (Italy) presentation of a Francisco Ramos production. (International sales: Latido Films, Madrid.) Produced by ...
Cat Dancers.(Movie review)
Jul 06, 2007; ... (Docu) An HBO, Cinemax Documentary Films presentation, in association with Cactus Three and Submanne. (International sales: Cactus Three and Submarine, New York.) Produced by Hams Fishman, Amanda Micheli. Executive producers, Josh Braun, Julie Goldman, Krysanne Katsoolis, ...
Second Chance Season.(Movie review)
Jul 06, 2007; ... (Docu) A First Flight Entertainment presentation. (International sales: Flach Pyramide Intl., Paris.) Produced by Daniel H. Forer. Co-producer, Jeff Werner. Directed by Daniel H. Forer. Camera (color, DV), Forer; editor, Jeff Werner; music, Randy Miller; sound, Dave ...
NBC holds serve with new Wimbledon deal.(National Broadcasting Company Inc. NBC Sports)(Brief article)
Jul 06, 2007; ... NBC Sports has renewed its rights to the Wimbledon tennis tournament for another four years, starting in 2008, ponying up $12 million a year vs. $13 million in the current contract. The license fee dropped by $1 million a year at least in part because the Wimbledon ratings ...