Daily Variety back issues from September 2007:
Art films on a tightrope.(Financial report)
Sep 04, 2007; ... With a combo of horror and Michael Moore's "Sicko" dominating the summer indie scene, the fall and winter just became more crucial for arthouse fare looking to build awards momentum as no clear frontrunner has emerged. Among independent companies and studio specialty arms, the ...
H'w'd heat wave: $4 billion: 'Halloween' helps push b.o. to new benchmark.
Sep 04, 2007; ... Dimension's "Halloween" proved the perfect ending to the record-busting summer, grossing a winning $31 million over the Labor Day weekend and joining the parade of franchises--new and old--that fueled the unexpected box office boom. Generally, the Labor Day frame is ho-hum for ...
Biz beating war drums along Lido.(war movies)
Sep 04, 2007; ... Hollywood fired the opening shots of its campaign to bring the war in Iraq and on terror to U.S. auds with the Venice world preems of Brian De Pal ma's "Redacted" and Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah." Meanwhile, Middle Eastern helmers battled to have their own voices heard ...
Sony homevid cues Yari pact.(Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group)(Yari Film Group)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2007; ... The Yari Film Group has inked a two-year, multipicture pact with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group that covers domestic homevid and pay-per-view TV distribution fights for films produced and distributed by Yari. Under the deal, Yari's slate--likely four to six films per ...
Iraq attack.(Only at variety.com)
Sep 04, 2007 ... Brian De Palma talks about his anti-war film "Redacted," which stirred controversy ...
Pics' rocky mountain high.(news ANALYSIS)
Sep 04, 2007; ... With the competition for buzz-generating, high-profile pictures probably more intense than ever on the lest circuit, the Telluride Film Festival snared its share this year, with an unprecedented 12 world premieres, led by Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There," Scan Penn's "Into the Wild" and Noah ...
Into the Wild.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... A Paramount Vantage release, presented with River Road Entertainment, of a Square One CIH, Linson Film production. Produced by Sean Penn, Art Linson, William Pohlad. Executive producers, David Blocker, John J. Kelly, Frank Hildebrand. Directed, written by Sean Penn, based on the nonfiction ...
Coyne flips for Endeavor.(Shawn Coyne)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2007; ... Shawn Coyne is shuttering his Rugged Land imprint to join Endeavor's nascent lit division in Gotham. Coyne, who is developing several films based on Rugged Land tomes, is in the process of dissolving the imprint he and Webster Stone formed six years ago. He starts today as a lit ...
Keeping up with the zitgeist.(Judd Apatow and John Hughes)
Sep 04, 2007; ... MEMO TO: Judd Apatow THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR, Judd, when Hollywood shifts gears. The lusty humor of summer (that means "dick jokes") is instantly replaced by Jodie Foster's rampage of revenge ("The Brave One"), Jamie Foxx gunning for terrorists in Saudi Arabia ("The Kingdom") ...
The Darjeeling Limited.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... A Fox Searchlight release (in the U.S.) of a Fox Searchlight Pictures, Collage presentation, of an American Empirical Picture production. (International sales: 20th Century Fox Intl., Los Angeles.) Produced by Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Roman Coppola, Lydia Dean Pilcher. Executive ...
Cassandra's Dream.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... (U.S.-France) A Weinstein Co. release (in U.S.) of a Virtual Films (U.S.)/Wild Bunch (France) presentation of an Iberville Prods. production for Wolverine Prods. (International sales: Wild Bunch, Paris.) Produced by Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, Gareth Wiley. Executive ...
Margot at the Wedding.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... A Paramount Vantage release of a Scott Rudin production. Produced by Rudin. Coproducer, M. Blair Breard. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Directed, written by Noah Baumbach. Camera (Deluxe color), Harris Savides; editor, Carol Littleton; production designer, Anne Ross; art ...
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... A Warner Bros. release presented in association with Virtual Studios of a Scott Free/Plan B Entertainment production. Produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Ridley Scott, Jules Daly, David Valdes. Executive producers, Brad Grey, Tony Scott, Lisa Ellzey, Benjamin Waisbren. ...
Apple sours on NBC: no new shows on iTunes as talks end.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
Sep 04, 2007; ... "Bionic Woman," "Journeyman" and "Chuck" won't show up on iTunes anytime soon. Apple announced Friday that it will not sell any of NBC's new fall shows on iTunes after talks broke down over a distribution deal that ends in December, and both sides took the dispute public. ...
Fox looks to cop laffs.(new television program)
Sep 04, 2007; ... After 20 years of "Cops," Fox is looking for laughs with its latest police reality skein. Net has pacted with producer Scott Satin ("Who Wants to Be a Superhero?") for the tentatively titled "Smile! You're Under Arrest." Basic premise of the comedic project: Unaware criminal ...
Org takes on canuck prod'n.(film production incentives)
Sep 04, 2007; ... After a half-dozen years of fund-raising and assembling endorsements, the Film & Television Action Committee will file today a formal petition with the federal government against Canadian film production incentives. In the petition, FTAC seeks an investigation into the legality ...
Starz scripts celeb yucks for January.(Starz Entertainment )
Sep 04, 2007; ... Starz Entertainment is making its biggest foray yet into scripted original programming with two half-hour comedies slated to kick off in January: "Hollywood Residential," about an accident-prone celebrity-home-makeover show, and "Head Case," about a Beverly Hills psychotherapist who ...
Redacted.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... (Canada-US.) A Magnolia Pictures release (in U.S.) of an HDNet Films (U.S.) presentation of a The Film Farm (Canada) production. (International sales: HDNet, New York.) Produced by Jennifer Weiss, Simone Urdl, Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente. Executive producers, Todd Wagner, Mark ...
Rails & Ties.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... A Warner Bros. release. Produced by Robert Lorenz, Peer Oppenheimer, Barrett Stuart. Co-producer, Tim Moore. Directed by Alison Eastwood. Screenplay, Micky Levy. Camera (Technicolor, Panavision widescreen), Tom Stern; editor, Gary D. Roach; music, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens; ...
The Sun Also Rises.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... (Taiyangzhao chang shengqi) (Hong Kong-China) An Emperor Motion Pictures (in H.K.)/Poly Bona (in China) release of an Emperor Motion Pictures (H.K.)/Beijing Buyilehu Films, Beijing Talhe Film Investment Co. (China) production. (International sales: Emperor, H.K.) ...
Pilots guide TV fest: 'Daisies,' 'Chuck' premieres join contest.
Sep 04, 2007; ... Hordes of TV hopefuls looking to make the leap to the small screen from YouTube descend on Gotham this week for the third annual New York TV Festival. For the second year, the fest has significant network involvement and will host red-carpet preems of NBC's "Chuck" ABC's ...
Rylance to topline 'Gynt' at the Guthrie.(LEGIT BITS)(Mark Rylance)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2007; ... Brit thesp Mark Rylance, the former a.d. of Shakespeare's Globe in London, will topline a new production of Henrik Ibsen's "Peer Gynt" at the Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater in January. New "Gynt" translation comes from Robert Bly ("Iron John"), and is directed ...
The fall and winter sked is shaping up for two London theaters.(LEGIT BITS)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2007; ... The fall and winter sked is shaping up for two London theaters. The Menier Chocolate Factory, which first produced the revival of "Sunday in the Park with George" that the Roundabout will present this spring, has tapped "La Cage aux Folles" for its Christmas slot. Terry Johnson ...
My Enemy's Enemy.(Movie review)
Sep 04, 2007; ... (MON MEILLEUR ENNEMI) (Docu--France) A Weinstein Co. release (in North America) of a Yalla Films, Wild Bunch presentation of a Yalla Films, France 3, Wild Bunch production, in association with Channel 4. (International sales: Wild Bunch, Paris.) Produced by Rita ...
Showbiz stocks: Friday, Aug 31, 2007.(Statistical table)
Sep 04, 2007 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Friday, August 31, 2007 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg%Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 6.21+.06 -28.8 AcmeCm ACME 3 4.20+.02 -16.3 Actvsn ...
The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Conn., is accepting submissions for the summer 2008 sessions of its developmental programs for plays and musicals.(LEGIT BITS)
Sep 04, 2007; ... The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Conn., is accepting submissions for the summer 2008 sessions of its developmental programs for plays and musicals. Org is one of the last in the country to consider scripts from writers without professional representation. National ...
Tentpoles tower o'seas.(WORLD WATCH)(box office report)
Sep 04, 2007; ... When it comes to international box office, Hollywood studios are wishing this summer would be truly endless. With franchises performing at the high end of expectations overseas, the six major studios have seen summer grosses crank up to $4.26 bllion--roughly 20% ahead of last ...
Lido shows off '70s spirit.(foreign films and independent films )
Sep 04, 2007; ... The spirit of the 1970s has fired up the Venice Film Festival, where sex, war, politics and corporate evils are the talk of the Lido as the fest veers into its second half. George Clooney, on the Lido with first-time helmer Tony Gilroy's "Michael Clayton," about a Manhattan lawyer who ...
Fox takes early leap to screener pastures.(Fox Searchlight )
Sep 05, 2007; ... Fox Searchlight is first out of the gate with screeners, as "The Namesake," "Once" and "Waitress" arrived in the mail on Tuesday morning--not even 24 hours after the traditional end of summer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Move beats the previous recordholder for early ...
Pics in the hopper: funder feeds $250 mil to eight top helmers.
Sep 05, 2007; ... Despite a worldwide credit crunch, equity funding is still pouring into the movie business. In the most recent example, Media Rights Capital has committed $250 million to fully finance eight films from directors Robert Rodriguez, Ricky Gervais, Walter Salles, Ryan Murphy, ...
HBO living a virtual 'Life'.(Home Box Office Inc.)
Sep 05, 2007; ... HBO is looking to make the virtual real. Pay net has acquired a doe that was shot and produced entirely in popular virtual universe Second Life and plans to air it on the net in the spring. Animated pic "My Second Life: The Video Diaries of Molotov Alva" follows ...
New orbit for Planet H'w'd.(Planet Hollywood )
Sep 05, 2007; ... Planet Hollywood is placing its first bet on the dicey Vegas preem scene with "Resident Evil: Extinction." The celeb-backed chain, attempting to reinvent it self after well-publicized financial stumbles, has forged a monthlong promotion with Screen Gems at its Vegas resort and ...
Lido tunes in for Dylan pic.(Bob Dylan)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... Bob Dylan dominated the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday as Todd Haynes' biopic "I'm Not There" split critics but set off a praise wave for the singer-songwriter on the Lido. "He is probably the one artist of our time who will still be considered 200 years from now. Not Picasso: ...
Perelman to map 'Atlas'.(Vadim Perelman )(Atlas Shrugged)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lionsgate has brought on Vadim Perelman to rewrite "Atlas Shrugged" and direct Angelina Jolie in the starring role. While Lionsgate needs to get a final script before formally committing to a start date with Perelman at the helm, the move puts ...
Portnow promoted.(Only at Variety.com)
Sep 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Neil Portnow has been upped to ...
Please don't call him a movie star.(Fred Dalton Thompson)
Sep 05, 2007; ... FRED DALTON THOMPSON will join the race for president of the United States, with an official campaign launch expected Thursday after the obligatory pre-announcement on "The Tonight Show." Clearly, Thompson fills a void among Republicans, many of whom are suspicious regarding the ...
I'm Not There.(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2007; ... (U.S.-Germany) A Weinstein Co. (in U.S.) release of an Endgame Entertainment, Killer Films, John Wells and John Goldwyn (U.S.) production, a VIP Medienfonds 4 (Germany) production, in association with Rising Star, in association with Grey Water Park Prods. (International sales: ...
Juno.(Movie review)
Sep 05, 2007; ... A Fox Searchlight release of a Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd production. Produced by Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Mason Novick. Executive producers, Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Daniel Dubiecki. Co-producers, Jim Miller, Kelli Konop, Brad Van Arragon. Directed by Jason ...
TBS renews 'Engvall' laffer for 2nd season.(Turner Broadcasting System Inc.)(The Bill Engvall Show)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... TBS has renewed "The Bill Engvall Show," the family-friendly sitcom that drew as many as 3 million viewers per episode this summer. Time Warner cabler has ordered 10 episodes for the second season, likely for next summer, when the show could again air behind the net's reruns of ...
Fresh 'View' points: producers aim for stability.
Sep 05, 2007; ... Whoopi Goldberg defended Michael Vick but showed she is adept at forestalling conflict over potentially controversial topics in her first stint as permanent moderator of "The View." The producers of the show are looking to Goldberg to bring stability to "The View" after a ...
B'way's 'Grease' lightning.(Broadway )(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... It's starting to look like the revival of "Grease" may actually be the one that Broadway ands want. Despite downbeat reviews "Grease" ($892,270) was up by $73,000 and played to full houses last week, with the average ticket price climbing to $103.08. [ILLUSTRATION ...
Hit play 'Steps' to Roundabout.(LEGIT BITS)(The 39 Steps)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... London hit "The 39 Steps" has found a Broadway home--and it's at the Roundabout. "Steps," a four-thesp spoof of the Hitchcock thriller, had already announced its intention to find a Rialto berth following a run at Boston's Huntington Theater that begins later this month. ...
Congress to hold hearing on hip-hop.
Sep 05, 2007; ... A new front on the content wars may be opening when Congress holds its first heating specifically into media "stereotypes and degradation" of women--particularly African-Americans--later this month. Hearing, not yet officially announced and tentatively skedded for Sept. 25, ...
Woodstock rings 'bell'.(Woodstock Film Festival)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... The eighth Woodstock Film Festival, which unspools Oct. 10-14, will be bookended by "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and "I'm Not There." The centerpiece titles are "Under the Same Moon" and "Married Life." A launch party to be held Sept. 18 in downtown Gotham ...
Eye sets stox buyback.
Sep 05, 2007; ... CBS Corp. announced an increased dividend and a $1.6 billion share buyback in a bid to boost the company's stock, which has been flat since the beginning of the year. CBS raised its quarterly dividend to 25 cents from 22 cents, a 14% increase. CBS has raised its quarterly ...
The digital horizon: study: pic downloads to hit $1.3 bil by '11.(World News)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... The Western Europe and U.S. markets for movie downloads will be worth a total of $1.3 billion in 2011, according to a Screen Digest report. Report strikes a cautionary note as it warns that the studios' fragmented approach to digital downloads risks undermining the development ...
Napster suit bites profits.(World News)(Bertelsmann AG financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... Net profit at Bertelsmann took a major hit from the Napster legal settlement, which contributed to an 86% drop in half-year earnings for the German media giant. The conglom Tuesday posted a net profit of 51 million [euro] ($69 million) vs. $480 million a year earlier. ...
Pinewood revs on rise.(World News)(Pinewood Shepperton Studios Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... Studios group Pinewood Shepperton is reaping the benefits of Blighty's film tax credit, which came into force at the beginning of the year. Revenue from film was 10.8 million [pounds sterling] ($21.8 million) in the first half of this year, up 9% from $20 million a year earlier, the ...
Sony books tome for a Teuton film.(GERMANY)(Sony Pictures )(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... Sony Pictures is getting back into German feature production with the acquisition of Tommy Jaud's bestseller, "Resturlaub." Cologne-based Sony Pictures Film und Fernseh Produktions, until ...
Pusan rates record.(SOUTH KOREA)
Sep 05, 2007; ... The Pusan Film Festival has announced a record 92 world and international premieres of pics for its 12th edition, which runs Oct. 4-12. The 275-title ...
John Woo presents Stranglehold.(Product/service evaluation)
Sep 05, 2007; ... A Midway presentation in association with Tiger Hill Entertainment of a game developed by Midway Chicago for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Reviewed on Xbox 360. Rated M. $59.99. Ironically for a game premised on its association with arguably the world's greatest action ...
Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Aug. 31-Sept. 3.(Statistical table)
Sep 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF AUG. 31-SEPT. 3Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Week Week Title (Distributor) Box Office 1 --Halloween ...
Walmartopia.(Theater review)
Sep 05, 2007; ... (Minetta Lane Theater; 199 seats; $65 top) A WMTopia presentation of a musical in two acts with music, lyrics and book by Catherine Capellaro and Andrew Rohn, additional lyrics by Steve Tyska. Directed by Daniel Goldstein. Music direction, August Eriksmoen. Choreography, Wendy ...
Top 10 films in Manhattan.(Statistical table)
Sep 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Top 10 Films In Manhattan For the weekend of August 31-September 3, 2007 % changeVS. last Week Rank Wknd. B.O. Film (distributor) wknd.No. 1. ...
Broadway top 10: Aug. 27-Sept. 2.(Statistical table)
Sep 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Broadway Top 10: Aug. 27-Sept. 2 Week's ShowNet Receipts (Theater)Potential Prev Week's $Change (Prod. Category)(Seats) Net Receipts Net Receipts Avg. Tick Wicked ...
Exclusive report: for the weekend of August 31-September 3, 2007.(Statistical table)
Sep 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Exclusive Report For the weekend of August 31-September 3, 2007 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Film Theater, Weekend (distributor) Circuit city B.O. gross Exiled Local Engmnts.: 2 Wknd. total for N.Y. area: ...
33 Variations.(Theater review)
Sep 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Kreeger Theater, Washington, D. C.; 500 seats; $66 top) An Arena Stage and Tectonic Theater Project presentation of a play in two acts, written and directed by Moises Kaufman. Sets, Derek McLane; costumes, Janice Pytel; lighting, David Lander; ...
Record royalties for BMI.(Broadcast Music Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... BMI will distribute to songwriters, composers and copyright owners a record $732 million in royalties for its 2006-07 fiscal year, up 8% from the previous year. The music performing-rights org also posted record-setting revenues of more than $839 million, up 7% from the prior ...
Showbiz stocks: Tuesday, September 4, 2007.(Statistical table)
Sep 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, September 4, 2007YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg%Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 6.39 +.18 -26.7 AcmeCm ACME 3 4.22 ...
Seattle's Intiman Theater has announced four of the five plays that will comprise its 2008 season.(LEGIT BITS)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007; ... Seattle's Intiman Theater has announced four of the five plays that will comprise its 2008 season. In keeping with the theater's troubled financial state, it's a solid slate, without being wildly ambitious. "All the King's Men," adapted 20 years ago by Adrian Hall ...
Garlock was a top praiser.(death of Robert Garlock)(Obituary)(Brief article)
Sep 05, 2007 ... Publicity exec Robert Garlock. head of the praisery 42West's talent division, died Sunday in New York from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 41. Garlock joined 42West as a partner in 2005 and repped talent including Penelope Cruz, Hugh Grant, Clive Owen, Hilary ...
New boss at Comedy net.(Michele Ganeless)(Brief article)
Sep 06, 2007; ... MTV Networks has upped Comedy Central exec veep and g.m. Michele Ganeless to prexy of the net. Move formalizes a change that had begun last year when former Comedy Central prexy Doug Herzog was promoted to oversee the then newly created MTVN Entertainment Group, with Ganeless ...
Apple tart at h'w'd smarts.
Sep 06, 2007; ... Steve Jobs has programmed a ringtone to alert him when NBC Universal calls: "Give Peace a Chance." Apple's CEO joked about the John Lennon tune during a demonstration of iTunes' new ringtone capabilities on Wednesday morning, his lone reference to Apple's increasingly ...
Brit pic arriving first in the mail.(Mail on Sunday )
Sep 06, 2007; ... A British indie feature is rewriting distribution rules by becoming the first to preem as a "cover-mount" DVD given away free with a newspaper. Writer-director Brendan Foley's mystery thriller "The Riddle," starring Vanessa Redgrave, Vinnie Jones and Derek Jacobi, Will appear ...
Toga party starts for 'Claudius'.(Brief article)
Sep 06, 2007; ... In a $2 million deal, producer Scott Rudin has acquired screen rights to the Robert Graves historical novel "I, Claudius." It's expected that "The Departed" tandem of Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar-winning scribe William Monahan will become attached; they were part of a rival bid ...