Daily Variety back issues from April 2008:
Who's up first? Studios set pace of talks as guilds jockey.
Apr 01, 2008; ... The majors are in the driver's seat in the upcoming negotiations with the actors unions, now that SAG is backpedaling on its previous stance that the studios need to wait for the guild to complete its prep for talks to get under way. In the wake of Saturday's surprising decision ...
Lortel noms add up for 'Machine'.(The Adding Machine)
Apr 01, 2008; ... Tuner "The Adding Machine" scored six noms for the Lucille Lortel Awards, the most of any musicals in the Off Broadway kudos that kick off the legit awards season. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Adding Machine," a well-reviewed commercial production running at the Minetta ...
Par maps Pitt for 'Lost City'.(Paramount Pictures )(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... Paramount Pictures has preemptively bought "Lost City of Z," a David Grann manuscript about the search for a lost city in the Amazon, with Brad Pitt to produce the feature adaptation through his Plan B shingle as a potential starring vehicle. Grann's forthcoming nonfiction book ...
U lands friendly face.
Apr 01, 2008; ... Jennifer Aniston and producing partner Kristin Hahn have formed Echo Films, a company that will start with a first-look deal at Universal Pictures. Aniston and Hahn have already made several project acquisitions, most of which will be developed as star vehicles for Aniston. ...
New Line locks in prod'n prexy.(Richard Brener)(New Line Cinema Corp. New Line Television Div.)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... New Line's Richard Brener is staying on as Toby Emmerich's right-hand man and has been promoted to prexy of production. Move comes two weeks after Emmerich was appointed president and chief operating officer of the scaled-down mini-major. The 35-year-old Brener ...
Pix stake place in kudo race.
Apr 01, 2008; ... The 2008 awards season is starting to take early shape as potential contenders lock in fall release dates. The latest is Universal and Imagine's "Frost/Nixon." from director Ron Howard. which will open Dec. 5 in an exclusive run before expanding, U announced Monday. Pic, based ...
B'way spring fling: 'Curtains' raises B.O.'s March bump.
Apr 01, 2008; ... Broadway sales rose a bit last week, continuing the seasonal upward trend that's persisted throughout March. Despite dips at some individual productions, overall Rialto cume was up around $350,000 to $21.2 million for 32 shows reporting (or $22.5 million including the $1.37 ...
U2's nation pledge.
Apr 01, 2008; ... Live Nation will be U2's sole concert promoter and merchandise producer over the next 12 years as the Irish band has joined Live Nation Artists. Deal includes U2's merchandising, digital and branding rights. It does not change U2's recording or publishing deals, which remain with Universal ...
Signature signs off line-up.(Signature Theater Company)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... The 2008-09 lineup at Off Broadway's Signature Theater Company will include revivals of two past Rialto outings by the Negro Ensemble Company, to which the Signature has dedicated its season. Initial offering is "The First Breeze of Summer," Leslie Lee's play about three ...
Peacock's 'Today' sets ayem icon.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... Kathie Lee Gifford is back in the ayem TV biz, though her wakeup call isn't quite as early as it was in her "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" days. Gifford has signed on as co-host of the fourth hour of NBC's "Today," an extension of the Peacock's morning franchise launched in ...
Lincoln spotlights Romania.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... On the heels of recent arthouse success and critical acclaim for Romanian films such as last year's Cannes Palme d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" and "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu," Film Society of Lincoln Center will explore 40 years of Romanian cinema. Series, called ...
Cannes picks its pitches.
Apr 01, 2008; ... Lou Ye's "Bitch," Oleg Novkovic's "White, White World" and Benedek Fliegaul's "Womb" are among 15 projects from 14 countries selected for the Cannes Film Festival's fourth Atelier pic focus. The directors and producers of the pics will be invited to the May fest to meet ...
Junie B. Jones.(Theater review)
Apr 01, 2008; ... (Lucille Lortel Theater; 299 seats; $25 top) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Theatreworks USA presentation of a musical in one act with music by Zina Goldrich, book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler, based on the books by Barbara Park. Directed by Peter Flyun. Musical direction, ...
Pigs, bears and Billy goats gruff.(Theater review)
Apr 01, 2008; ... (New Victory Theater; 499 seats; $35 top) A New 42nd Street presentation of a play in one act, adapted from the fairy tales and directed by Dave Brown. Set and costumes, Dean Hills; lighting, Dave Green; musical director, Stuart Day; choreography, Jenn Havelberg; production ...
Telluride taps Zizek.(Telluride Film Festival)(Slavoj Zizek)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... The Telluride Film Festival has picked Slavoj Zizek as its 35th guest director. The Slovenian-born philosopher, author and cinephile will hand-pick a selection of films to screen at the fest Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Zizek is a self-described Marxist and communist whose published works ...
Showbiz stocks: Monday, March 31, 2008.
Apr 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Monday, March 31, 2008 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg%Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 3.15-29.5 AcmeCm ACME 2 2.02 -.17 -26.0 Actvsn ...
Film box office wrap: for the weekend of March 28-30.
Apr 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Weekend at the B.O. RENTRAK THEATRICAL $106.9 million March 28-30, 2008 vs. last year -16% vs. last week-6% Screen scene The weekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit) Gross 1 21 ...
I've Got Your Number: Romance, The Rat Pack and Carolyn Leigh.
Apr 01, 2008; ... (Kaufmann Concert Hall, 92nd Street Y; 917 seats; $60 top) A 92nd Street Y presentation of Lyrics and Lyricists. Artistic director, Deborah Grace Winer. Directed by Mark Waldrop. Musical director/piano, John Oddo. Musicians: Mark Vinci, Jay Leonhart, Ray Marchica, George Rabbai ....
Ray Davies.(Concert review)
Apr 01, 2008; ... (Wiltern Theater; 2,200 capacity; $59.50 top) Presented by Live Nation. Band: Davies, Toby Baron, Dick Nolan, Milton McDonald, Gunnar Frick. Also appearing: Everest. Reviewed March 29, 2008. Mirkin, Steven Like a character in one of his songs, Ray Davies ...
Moving Midway.
Apr 01, 2008; ... (Docu) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A CG Film, Iron Films, Wake Drive Prods. presentation and production. Produced by Godfrey Cheshire, Vincent Farrell, Jay Spain. Executive producer, R. B. Reeves. Directed, written by Godfrey Cheshire. Camera (color, HD), Jay ...
FilmAid Intl. will hold the second annual Power of Film Gala, honoring artists and writers with a philanthropic bent to their work, on April 9.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
Apr 01, 2008; ... FilmAid Intl. will hold the second annual Power of Film Gala, honoring artists and writers with a philanthropic bent to their work, on April 9. This year's honorees include thesp Danny Glover, journo Lisa ...
The Museum of the Moving Image is set to fete Focus Features prexy James Schamus and Showtime CEO Matthew C. Blank at an April 30 black-tie benefit dinner at Gotham's St. Regis Hotel.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
Apr 01, 2008; ... The Museum of the Moving Image is set to fete Focus Features prexy James Schamus and Showtime CEO Matthew C. Blank at an April 30 black-tie benefit dinner at Gotham's St. Regis Hotel. CBS' Leslie Moonves and Unlversal's Ron Meyer are co-chairing the shindig. Museum board ...
Broadway top 10: Mar. 24-30.
Apr 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Broadway Top 10: Mar. 24-30 Week's ShowNet Receipts (Theater)(Prod. Potential Prev Week's$Change Category)(Seats)Net Receipts Net Receipts Avg. Tick Wicked ...
New York's top pics: (based on location average for the weekend of March 28-30 2008).(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008 ... <Pre> New York's Top Pics (based on location average for the weekend of March 28-30, 2008) Nat'l # N.Y. # N.Y. Rank Title (dist) Week of locs of locs avg/loc 1.Chapter 27 (Peace Arch) 1 ...
L.A.'s top pics: (based on location average for the weekend of March 28-30 2008).(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008 ... <Pre> L.A.'s Top Pics (based on location averaqe for the weekend of March 28-30, 2008)Nat'l # L.A. # L.A. Rank Title (dist)Week of locs of locs avg/loc 1.21 (Sony) 1 2,648 ...
BBC America taps exec for Yank gig.
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In an effort to sell more shows and formats to U.S. outlets, BBC Worldwide America has streamlined its sales and production operations under the direction of Paul Telegdy, the Beeb exec most responsible for exporting "Dancing With the Stars" to ABC. ...
Industry vet to lead Atari.
Apr 01, 2008; ... Struggling vidgame publisher Atari has tapped a respected industry vet as its CEO, signaling that the long-troubled company is attempting to revive its fortunes. Jim Wilson, who most recently headed Sony BMG's home entertainment unit and previously was exec veep of worldwide ...
Intimacies of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo: (Initimidades De Shakespeare Y Victor Hugo).(V)(Movie review)
Apr 01, 2008; ... (Docu--Mexico) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica production. Produced, directed, edited by Yulene Olaizola. Camera (color, DV), Olaizola, Ruben Imaz; music, Emiliano Motta, Emiliano Gonzalez de Leon; sound (stereo), Olaizola, Imaz ....
Walden's 'Island' fete.(V)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For its Chinese Theater launch of "Nim's Island" on Sunday, Fox-Walden went for a kids' tropical themed after-party at the Roosevelt Hotel's pool, with hula dancers, steel drums and the most realistic temp tattoos any 8-year-old could desire. ...
Nickelodeon's slime time.(V)
Apr 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Host Jack Block, Nickelodeon topper Cyma Zarghami, MTV's Judy McGrath and Orlando Bloom backstage at the Kids' Choice ...
Helen Hunt and AFI Dallas Film Festival topper Michael Cain.(V)
Apr 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Helen Hunt and AFI Dallas Film Festival ...
Jason Lee poses with Alvin at Thursday's DVD release party for "Alvin and the Chipmunks".(V)(Video recording review)
Apr 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jason Lee poses with Alvin at Thursday's ...
Surreal deal: Endemol buys reality banner.
Apr 02, 2008; ... In a deal valued at upwards of $200 million, Endemol USA has acquired Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin's 51 Minds Entertainment, the reality factory that perfected the celebreality genre with nonscripted comedies such as "Flavor of Love," "I Love New York" and "The Surreal Life." ...
H'wood gives up its 'Wicked' ways.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Legit juggernaut "Wicked" flies out of Hollywood on Jan. 11, when the tuner will close at the Pantages Theater after a run of almost two years. Producers say they're closing the show in order to free up the 2,700-seat Pantages, whose Broadway ...
Mouse goes on bigscreen Lee spree.(Movie review)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... Walt Disney Pictures and Stan Lee have set up a trio of projects that will be exec produced by Lee and Gill Champion via their POW! Entertainment banner. The projects are all based on stories by Lee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Nick Ratchet" will be directed ...
Stiller 'King' of D'Works.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... DreamWorks has snapped up graphic novel "The Return of King Doug" for Ben Stiller to produce as a potential starring vehicle. Greg Erb and Jason Oremland wrote "King Doug," which will be published next year by Oni Press. The pair have been tapped to pen the ...
New shine on int'l biz.
Apr 02, 2008; ... Next week's Mip international TV sales confab in Cannes will be a coming-out party for ShineReveille Intl., the distribution wing of the powerhouse indies that merged in February. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chris Grant, formerly head of Reveille Intl. and a partner in the ...
U over the moon for bio.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... Universal has acquired nonfiction tome "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" and will turn it into a film about the first man to set foot on the moon. NASA historian James R. Hansen got rare direct access to Armstrong, a test pilot-turned-astronaut who was so driven to ...
Slime pays for Nick.(VARIETY.COM)
Apr 02, 2008 ... The Kids's Choice Awards rake in the cable net's ...
Net likes current crop.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... Fox has elevated its current programming team, as department topper Marcy Ross handed out promotions this week to key staffers. As part of the restructuring, Beth Miyares has been named vice president of current programming, reporting to Ross, who continues as exec VP of current ...
Robbins nabs keynote speech.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tim Robbins will deliver the opening keynote speech at this year's National Assn. of Broadcasters confab, set to run April 11-17 in Las Vegas. Robbins will address the rapid pace of innovation in distribution and content creation and its ...
TNT sparks to the 'Truth'.('Truth in Advertising')(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... TNT has given the series go-ahead to "Truth in Advertising," a drama starring Eric McCormack, Monica Potter and Tom Cavanagh. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Produced by Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin for Warner Horizon, the skein concerns the lives of the creative ...
Fox + 'Idol' = odd winning formula.('American Idol')
Apr 02, 2008; ... THE STRANGE BEAUTY of math is undoubtedly lost on those who gravitated toward entertainment to avoid dealing with fractions. Still, there's useful shorthand in reducing TV and media stories to algebraic equations. Take Fox's current success. Scribbled out on a big chalkboard, ...
Eye's good defense: hoops drive net to a close No. 2 finish.
Apr 02, 2008; ... Fox stayed on top in primetime last week, but CBS bounced ahead of the other nets thanks to strong weekend numbers for college basketball. The Eye, which was also impressive Monday with its first-run comedies and the Nielsen chart, return of "CSI: Miami," pulled to within ...
Panettiere's on 'Kiss List'.
Apr 02, 2008; ... Fox Atomic is acquiring the novel "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" and will develop it as a star vehicle for "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere. Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer will write the script. Alexandra Milchan, Lesley Vogel and Emily Gerson-Saines produce. Novel is ...
'Machine' man adapts Shaw.(LEGIT BITS)('Adding Machine' composer Joshua Schmidt to adapt George Bernard Shaw's 'Candida')(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... "Adding Machine" composer Joshua Schmidt will collaborate with Austin Pendleton on adapting Shaw's "Candida" into a musical for Writers' Theater in Glencoe, Ill., outside Chicago. Schmidt's chamber opera version of the Elmer Rice 1923 Expressionist drama "Adding Machine" started ...
Williamson hits Beach.(Glenn Williamson's Back Lot Pictures and Big Beach)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Big Beach partners Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf have made a first-look deal with producer Glenn Williamson and his Back Lot Pictures label. Deal came out of "Sunshine Cleaning," a project Williamson brought to producer and financing company ...
CBS cuts L.A., Chi jobs.
Apr 02, 2008; ... Two of CBS' largest O&Os, in Los Angeles and Chicago, have been hit by layoffs. Employees at L.A.'s KCBS and KCAL plus WBBM in Chicago got word of the cuts Monday. The local news operation in Los Angeles is CBS' second-largest behind WCBS New York. WBBM is No. 3. ...
'Blonde' groomed for a national tour.
Apr 02, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Legally Blonde" goes national this fall, with a touring production set to kick off in Providence, R.I., in September. Show has so far booked dates around the country through September 2009, in cities including Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis and ...
Workshop bubbles over.(ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theater Workshop )
Apr 02, 2008; ... A tuner incarnation of the Jake Gyllenhaal pic "Bubble Boy" and a Willa Cather-inspired pioneer tale are two of four new musicals hitting center stage at the 13th annual ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theater Workshop in Los Angeles, beginning April 7. The workshop, helmed by ...
The American Dream & The Sandbox.(Theater review)
Apr 02, 2008; ... (Cherry Lane Theater; 178 seats; $60 top) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Cherry Lane presentation of two one-act plays written and directed by Edward Albee. Set, Neil Patel; costumes, Carrie Robbins; lighting, Nicole Pearce; sound, Arielle Edwards; production stage ...
Showbiz stocks: Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
Apr 02, 2008 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, April 1, 2008 YTD Name Tkr PELast Chg%Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 3.16+.01 -29.3 AcmeCm ACME 2 1.99-.03 -27.1 Actvsn...
Something You Did.(Theater review)
Apr 02, 2008; ... (59E59 Theaters; 199 seats; $60 top) A Primary Stages presentation in association with Nancy Cooperstein and Betty Ann Besch Solinger of a play in one act by Willy Holtzman. Directed by Carolyn Cantor. Set, Eugene Lee; costumes, Jenny Mannis; lighting, Jeff Croiter; original ...
Nielsen primetime ratings report.
Apr 02, 2008 ... <Pre> TOP SHOWS IN 18-49 1. American Idol-Wed. (Fox) 9.8/25 2. American Idol-Tue. (Fox) 9.7/25 3. Two and a Hall Men (CBS) 5.2/13 4. Dancing With the Stars (ABC) 5.1/13 5. CSI: Miami (CBS) ...
A White House Cantata.
Apr 02, 2008; ... (Frederick P. Rose Hall/Rose Theater, New York City; 1,000 seats; $85 top) A Collegiate Chorale presentation of a concert in one act with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, based on their musical "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Directed by Roger Rees. Musical ...
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.(Concert review)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... (Bowery Ballroom; 500 capacity; $25) Presented inhouse. Band: Stephen Malkmus, Joanna Bolme, Mike Clark, Janet Weiss. Reviewed March 31, 2008. Twenty something smartasses are almost as unlikely as child stars to shift successfully into thriving adult careers, but ...
International weekend box office.
Apr 02, 2008; ... <Pre> International Weekend Box Office Reported Box Office Weekend Percent ending Change in ...
Scribe Rajiv Joseph has scored the second annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, handed out by Off Broadway's Vineyard Theater.(LEGIT BITS)
Apr 02, 2008; ... Scribe Rajiv Joseph has scored the second annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, handed out by Off Broadway's Vineyard Theater. Nod comes with a $3,000 cash prize, a staged reading of the recipient's work and further developmental support from the Vineyard. Joseph's ...
"The Bully Pulpit," a solo show about Theodore Roosevelt that originated in Florida in 2004, gets a commercial Off Broadway run April 29-June 29 at the Samuel Beckett Theater.(LEGIT BITS)
Apr 02, 2008; ... "The Bully Pulpit," a solo show about Theodore Roosevelt that originated in Florida in 2004, gets a commercial Off Broadway run April 29-June 29 at the Samuel Beckett Theater. Written and performed by Michael O. Smith, "Pulpit" has ...
A Korean rock tuner and a musical about sightseers join "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" in the lineup of the 2008 Musical Theater Lab at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass.(LEGIT BITS)
Apr 02, 2008; ... A Korean rock tuner and a musical about sightseers join "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" in the lineup of the 2008 Musical Theater Lab at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass. Based on a 2006 Korean comedy-horror-romance pic, "My Scary Girl" follows a man who ...
"Magnolia," the latest play from Regina Taylor ("Crowns," "Oo-BlaDee"), will premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theater in March after a workshop this summer at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.(LEGIT BITS)
Apr 02, 2008; ... "Magnolia," the latest play from Regina Taylor ("Crowns," "Oo-BlaDee"), will premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theater in March after a workshop this summer at the Eugene O'Neill Taylor Theater Center. As she did with "Drowning Crow," an adaptation of "The Seagull," Taylor will write in the ...
Guild in lather over soap scribes.
Apr 02, 2008; ... The WGA East has accused ABC and Corday Prods. of violating the strike termination agreement by refusing to rehire nine of the 20 writers who struck ABC's "All My Children" and Corday's "Days of Our Lives." ABC spokeswoman Julie Hoover denied the allegations, adding, "We are in ...
Gotham's time to 'Shine'.(V)(periodical's 10th anniversary and 'Shine a Light' movie premiere)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Daily Variety's Gotham edition marked its 10th anniversary, appropriately, at Michael's, the site of many a media deal made over many a Cobb salad. But the restaurant's customarily genteel hum turned into high-energy buzz at Sunday's bash. And ...
New Peacock playbook: NBC's revamped upfront model pushes popcorn fare.
Apr 03, 2008; ... NBC programming chief Ben Silverman hopes that offering viewers a large dose of feel-good and family-friendly fare will help free the Peacock from its ratings woes. In his first upfront at-bat since landing in Burbank last summer, Silverman Wednesday laid out a super-sized ...
Clock ticking for SAG.
Apr 03, 2008; ... Looking to turn up the heat on its rival union, the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists will launch its contract negotiations for a new primetime contract with the majors on April 28--less than two weeks after the Screen Actors Guild starts bargaining. Move adds to ...