Daily Variety back issues from June 2009:
Toon's a B.O. balloon: 3-D helps lift 'Up' to $68.2; 'Museum' hangs tough.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Boosted by terrific 3-D results, "Up" maintained the Disney-Pixar winning streak as it soared to an estimated $68.2 million at 3,766 playdates. The pic posted a stellar $18,110 per-location average. The Mouse House reported 31% of the audience consisted of moppets aged 2 to ...
Sony hopes PS3 gets Blu-ray boost.
Jun 01, 2009; ... When Sony launched Blu-ray in 2006, it hoped its PlayStation 3 would be the high-end homevideo format's biggest cheerleader. But consumers are still struggling with the PS3's high pricetag, especially during the recession--and Sony is now banking on Blu-ray to provide a major promotional ...
Col makes 'Swift' move.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Columbia Pictures has nabbed "Swift," a pitch by Barry Sonnenfeld and BenDavid Grabinski that is described as a reimagining of the Tom Swift adventure novels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Project is being developed as a Sonnenfeld directing vehicle. The Tom ...
Tuner team toying with U's monster.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Universal Pictures has made a big-bucks deal to acquire an untitled Mattel toy property for a live-action musical film to be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The duo will reunite with the "Hairspray" team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Shaiman and Wittman are in talks ...
Agency takeover stirs H'w'd fears.
Jun 01, 2009; ... IT WAS PABLO PICASSO WHO famously said, "I like to live like a poor man--but with lots of money." Talent agents are the mirror opposites. They like to live like rich men--but without lots of money. Their "money" stems from the prospective earnings of their clients. ...
Talks delayed AOL download.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said Friday that plans to unload AOL were forestalled last year by ongoing discussions with potential partners in pursuit of a strategic merger. "We thought about it last year. (But) there were a lot of things going on last year, including some ...
Primetime greetings.(The Office, 30 Rock and Battlestar Galactica)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Battlestar Galactica" are coming soon to a greeting card near you. NBC Universal has sealed a new licensing deal with Hallmark Cards that includes the use of the company's film and TV content. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Universal ...
Spector gets 19 years for 2003 murder.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Phil Spector was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison on Friday for the murder of actress kana Clarkson. Move comes a month after the famed music producer was convicted for the 2003 death of the thesp. Spector's attorneys maintain evidence in the case didn't ...
Peaceful transition: smooth talking for 'Tonight' host shuffle.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Like Jay Leno did 17 years ago, Conan O'Brien takes over a "Tonight Show" franchise that dominates latenight. But O'Brien must also now compete in a TV landscape dramatically different from the one Leno faced when he inherited "Tonight" in 1992. There are not only ...
Berry gets back to biz.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Halle Berry is in talks to star in thriller "The Surrogate" for 20th Century Fox. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Helmer Paul Verhoeven is onboard to develop the project, which revolves around a couple who hire a surrogate to carry their child and find out mid-term that the ...
Woody pic packs a Punch.(Woody Allen and Lucy Pun)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Woody Allen has tapped British actress Lucy Punch to join the cast of his upcoming untitled film. She replaces Nicole Kidman. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allen does not disclose Punch details on plot, characters or even his titles, but sources said Punch will play a ...
A royal role for Portman.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Natalie Portman will star with Danny McBride and James Franco in "Your Highness," a Universal Pictures comedy that begins production in July in Ireland. David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express") is directing. Scott Stuber produces through his U-based banner. McBride, ...
Leno's farewell sets Friday record.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Jay Leno signed off "The Tonight Show" on a high note, delivering the best ratings of his 17-year run for a Friday night telecast. Leno's swan song averaged an 8.8 household rating/20 share in Nielsen's 56 overnight metered markets, which cover more than 70% of U.S. TV ...
Stars tubthumping for thumbs up on SAG deal.(Screen Actors Guild)
Jun 01, 2009; ... The heavy hitters have come out in favor of ratifying SAG's contract with the majors--including Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks. The stars are some of the more than 500 SAG members who have endorsed ratification of the Screen Actors Guild's ...
Cat gets second act.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Irascible orange housecat Heathcliff will be getting a second life on the screen courtesy of a joint venture between family toon studio Magic Lantern Entertainment and rights holder FitzRoy Media. The two companies have pacted to develop a range of properties, from direct-to-DVD ...
Brillstein TV taps Kaplan.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Former BermanBraun and Warner Bros. TV exec Rachel Kaplan has joined the TV wing of Brillstein Entertainment Partners as exec veep. Kaplan will work with Brillstein Entertainment Partners TV prexy Peter Traugott in developing a range of scripted and nonscripted projects ....
The Little Foxes.(Theater review)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Pasadena Playhouse. Pasadena, Calif.: 654 seats; $67 top) A Pasadena Playhouse presentation of a play in two acts by Lillian Hellman. Directed by Damaso Rodriguez. Sets, Gary Wissman; costumes, Mary Vogt; lights, Dan Jenkins; sound, Michael ...
Atari's new players: publisher to refocus on casual gaming.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Atari is going back to its roots. The French-owned videogame publisher that has been operating as Infogrames Atari is reverting back to the original moniker that launched the company back in the 1980s. Going forward, Atari will focus more on producing online and ...
WGA grabbing cable turf.(Writers Guild of America West )
Jun 01, 2009; ... Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone has issued an upbeat assessment of the guild's organizing efforts, citing gains in cable and new media. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Defending and expanding our jurisdiction do not take place in a vacuum," Verrone ...
All's Well That Ends Well.(Theater review)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (National Theater/Olivier, London; 1,167 seats: 30 [pounds sterling] ($48) top) A National Theater presentation of a play in two acts by William Shakespeare. Directed by Marianne Elliott. Sets and costumes, Rae Smith; lighting, Peter Mumford; ...
Make Me.(Theater review)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Atlantic Stage 2; 86 seats: $45 top) An Atlantic Theater presentation of a play in one act by Leslie Ayvazian. Directed by Christian Parker. Sets, Anna Louizos; costumes, Theresa Squire; lighting, Josh Bradford; original music and sound, Jill ...
Aid for Atlanta troupes.(Legit Bits)(Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund has launched a two-year program called the Atlanta Arts Recovery initiative to help sustain area arts orgs including several legit troupes. The $2.5 million program, benefiting companies with annual budgets of less than $2 million a year, will ...
Enter the Void.(Movie review)
Jun 01, 2009; ... (SOUDAIN LE VIDE) (France) A Fidelite, BUF, Wild Bunch presentation, with the participation of Canal Plus, Eurimages, Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication (CNC), Filmforderungsanstalt (FFA). (International sales: Wild Bunch, Paris.) Produced by Brahim Chioua, Vincent ...
China's Gung Ho B.O.: biz is booming despite global woes.(World News)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] China's film industry shook off global financial crisis woes last year and is on a fast track for more healthy growth this year, the country's top regulator said in its annual review of the biz. A record 406 films were made in 2008 and box ...
Rome TV fest sets sked.(World News)
Jun 01, 2009; ... The third Rome Fiction Fest devoted to TV fiction has unveiled a varied international lineup, with a fair sprinkling of Hollywood product. Steve Della Casa, artistic topper for the second year, said the Rome Film Fest's sister event was "all about the product" and not just a ...
BSkyB makes hefty play for Virgin webs.(World News)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Blighty's biggest paybox BSkyB has weighed in with a 160 million [pounds sterling] ($258 million) bid to buy the channels business of rival Virgin Media, the debt-laden Nasdaq-quoted U.K. cable giant. The offer for digital webs Living, Living 2, Bravo, Bravo 2, Challenge, ...
Mexico to mine 'Millionaire'.(World News)(Who Wants to Be a Millionaire)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... "Slumdog Millionaire's" box office triumph around the world has convinced Mexico's No. 2 net TV Azteca to make the quiz show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Azteca has inked with Disney Media Networks for the show, which features in the Oscar winning pic. Fernando ...
Mark Brokaw, David Esbjornson and Sarah Benson are among the directors who will helm new plays at this summer's National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.(Legit Bits)(Conference news)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Mark Brokaw, David Esbjornson and Sarah Benson are among the directors who will helm new plays at this summer's National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Brokaw ("Distracted") directs the latest by Julia Cho ("Durango"), "The Language Archive," while ...
The major players in the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2008 production of "Hamlet" including David Tenant and Patrick Stewart, have been reassembled for a screen version that will air on UK Channel BBC Two later this year and in the U.S. and Japan in 2010.(Legit Bits)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... The major players in the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2008 production of "Hamlet" including David Tenant and Patrick Stewart, have been reassembled for a screen version ...
The launch of a new Broadway-centric TV skein includes interviews with Sutton Foster (Shrek the Musical"), Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and Julie Taymor talking about "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark.".(Legit Bits)
Jun 01, 2009; ... The launch of a new Broadway-centric TV skein includes interviews with Sutton Foster (Shrek the Musical"), Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and Julie Taymor talking about "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Labyrinth A.D. trio ankle.(LAByrinth Theater Company's Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Ortiz and John Gould Rubin )(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... The three artistic directors of Gotham's LAByrinth Theater Company, including Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz, have stepped down from their posts, citing growing professional and family commitments. Three LAB members--playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis, costume designer Mimi ...
Outside the Xbox: Microsoft ups ante with h'w'd play.
Jun 02, 2009; ... Microsoft is ready to challenge Nintendo at its own game. The software giant is putting the finishing touches on a motion control system that will essentially turn its Xbox 360 into a Wii on steroids. Dubbed Project Natal, the system will operate with any current and ...
Emmys punted by pigskin priorities.
Jun 02, 2009; ... Folks in the TV biz began readjusting their calendars Monday thanks to CBS' announcement that the 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be moving one week earlier to Sept. 13. The Eye had been set to televise the kudocast on Sept. 20. But CBS will air an NFL doubleheader that ...
Paris pursues Mideast 'BFF'.(Paris Hilton's television show, "Paris Hilton's My New BFF-Dubai")
Jun 02, 2009; ... Paris Hilton is taking her search for a best friend to the Middle East, where Lionsgate and Ish Entertainment have stuck a deal with a Dubai-based shingle to produce a new version of "Paris Hilton's My New BFF." Dubai-based Uniqon is funding most of the project, which will ...
Scribe takes U'S 'Creed'.(Todd Field to adapt "The Creed of Violence")(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Universal has set Todd Field to adapt "The Creed of Violence," the Boston Teran novel that the studio acquired last fall in a significant preemptive deal made when the book was being shopped to publishers. Michael De Luca has signed on to ...
Will Rupe Carey on?
Jun 02, 2009; ... Execs on the Fox lot were scratching their heads Monday, wondering when and how Chase Carey may be returning to the News Corp. fold--and what it means for them. Given Carey's lengthy experience at News Corp., he had been discussed as the exec most likely to fill the void left by ...
Illumination, U find Waldo.
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Several studios were in on the search, but Universal and Illumination Entertainment were the ones who found "Where's Waldo?" U and Chris Meledandri's family film unit have acquired screen rights to turn the "Where's Waldo?" book series into a ...
Vidgame players.(VARIETY.COM)
Jun 02, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keep up with the news and buzz out of the E3 ...
The Listener.(Movie review)
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Series; NBC, Thurs. June 4, 9p.m.) Filmed in Toronto by Shaftesbury Films and CTV. Executive producers, Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Tom Chehak, Clement Virgo; supervising producers, Laura Harbin, Jan Peter Meyboom; ...
Royal Pains.(Movie review)
Jun 02, 2009 ... (Series; USA, Thurs. June 4, 10 p.m.) Filmed in New York by Prospect Park and Universal Cable Prods. Executive producers, Paul Frank, Rich Frank, Jeff Kwatinetz, Michael Rauch; co-executive producers, Andrew Lenchewski, Jace Alexander, John P. Rogers; producer, Christine Sacani; ...
Liz Smith.
Jun 02, 2009; ... NOW WE KNOW! Barbra Streisand has written a book titled "A Passion for Design," which focuses on her well, her passion for design. Her taste, inspirations and collections of this'n'that. Barbra says, "I have always searched for beauty." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Well, ...
Cyrus returns for more 'Montana'.
Jun 02, 2009; ... Disney Channel is getting more miles out of Miley. The caner has ordered a fourth season of "Hannah Montana," ending speculation that teenage sensation Miley Cyrus would be saying farewell to the youth-targeted skein. Disney has also renewed Demi Lovato starrer "Sonny With a ...
IFP sets up 10 lab projects.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(Independent Feature Project)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... The Independent Feature Project announced Monday the 10 narrative features selected as part of its fifth annual Independent Filmmaker Lab, a yearlong fellowship seeking to connect emerging filmmakers with industry mentors. Producers Scott Macaulay ("Raising Victor Vargas") and ...
VH1 heading back to 'Rehab'.(Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" is coming back for a third season on VH1 in early 2010, with Tom Sizemore and Heidi Fleiss among the coming edition's would-be rescuees. Eight episodes will air during the third season of "Rehab," covering the 21-day intensive program led by Dr ....
Lionsgate revs roar: but full year sees losses.(Financial report)
Jun 02, 2009; ... Driven by strong box office, homevid and library sales, Lionsgate has reported its second-highest quarterly revenue of $463.2 million for its fourth quarter ended March 31. The mini-major, which made the announcement after the market closed Monday, did not break out its ...
'Moon' man digs 'Deep'.(Duncan Jones' Escape From the Deep)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... Helmer Duncan Jones--whose "Moon" played at Sundance and Tribeca this year--is swapping outer space for the sea with "Escape From the Deep." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Project is an adaptation of Alex Kershaw's book about the real-life WWII story of the U.S. Jones Navy ...
'Group' think for duo.(Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson on The True Story of the Bilderberg Group)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... Halcyon co-toppers Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson have acquired the pic rights to journalist Daniel Estulin's book "The True Story of the Bilderberg Group." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Book details the exploits of the ultra-exclusive, invitation-only group of the ...
Zucker draws UJA kudos.(Jeff Zucker honored by the United Jewish Appeal)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... Jewish social agency the UJA Federation of New York will honor NBC Universal prexy-CEO Jeff Zucker at its leadership awards dinner June 9. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The event, to be held Zucker at Manhattan's Pier Sixty space, will be emceed by NBC sportscaster Bob ...
B.O. come and gone: post-holiday frame drops.(LEGIT)
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The slight sales boost that Memorial Day weekend brought to Broadway mostly evaporated last week, with Rialto cume off about $850,000. Overall slippage was likely offset somewhat by the fact that the Broadway League, which this week ...
Nonprofits ladle out legit funding.(LEGIT)(Shubert Foundation and Tony Randall Theatrical Fund )(Statistical data)
Jun 02, 2009; ... Two arts-focused nonprofits are spreading grant money around to legit orgs, many of which are struggling amid the economic downturn. The Shubert Foundation is doling out more coin than it did last year, while the Tony Randall Theatrical Fund is distributing dollars to 10 Off ...
Coraline.(Theater review)
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Lucille Lortel Theater; 198 seats; $95.top) An MCC Theater presentation, in association with True Love Prods. and by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theater Foundation, of a musical in one act with music and lyrics by Stephin ...
Samson & Delilah.
Jun 02, 2009; ... (Australia) A Footprint Films release of a Screen Australia, New South Wales Film & Television Office, Australian Broadcasting Corp. presentation of a Scarlett Pictures, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Assn. production, in association with Adelaide Film Festival ....
Weekend at the B.O.
Jun 02, 2009 ... <Pre> Weekend at the B.O. $166.1 million May 29-31, 2009 vs. last weekend -6% vs. last year -2% Screen scene The weekend's top 10 engagements:Theater, city (circuit)Gross 1 Up ...
Film box office wrap: for the weekend of May 29-31.
Jun 02, 2009; ... <Pre> Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF MAY 29-31Ranking This Last Week Week Title (Distributor/Financier) 1 --Up (Disney) 2 1Night at the Museum: Battle ... (20th) 3 2Terminator Salvation (WB) 4 --Drag Me to Hell (U) ...
Friars heats up laff fest.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
Jun 02, 2009; ... The Friars Club is launching the first annual Friars Club Comedy Film Festival, taking place Sep. 2427 at movie theaters in Gotham. Pies in the fest will fall into three categories: a selection of curated films, submission-based movies and a small number of celeb-hosted classic film ...
The Brooklyn Academy of Music's fifth annual Afro-Punk Festival will feature an all-day Spike Lee program on July 5.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
Jun 02, 2009; ... The Brooklyn Academy of Music's fifth annual Afro-Punk Festival will feature an all-day Spike Lee program on July 5. Screenings will include rarities like "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" --the 1983 pic Lee filmed for his NYU thesis about a barber who becomes entangled ...
The Hola Mexico Film Festival USA '09 will screen Gotham preems of Guillermo del Toro-produced pic "Cosas significantes," helmed by Andrea Martinez, as well as Mexican B.O. hit "Tear This Heart Out.".(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
Jun 02, 2009; ... The Hola Mexico Film Festival USA '09 will screen Gotham preems of Guillermo del Toro-produced pic "Cosas significantes," ...
'Shrek's' ducat deals.(Legit Bits)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... The producers of "Shrek the Musical," never shy about touting discounts to drum up sales, have put together an unusually thorough package of summer deals, including an offer of up to three half-price ducats with the purchase of a single full-price ticket. Family-oriented ...
Jaunt in the jungle.(V)('Land of the Lost' premiere)(Brief article)
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Universal's bigscreen reincarnation of classic sci-fi series "Land of -the Lost," starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, preemed to a packed Grauman's Chinese Theater Saturday followed by a lavish after-party at the Renaissance Hotel's Grand Ballroom. ...
Boys will be boys.(V)
Jun 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Add a little vulgarity, some shameless self-promotion and a whole lot of star power and you get Saturday's Spike TV Guys Choice Awards. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mel Gibson kicked off the lively kudocast on the Sony lot by riding a ...
Robert Evans and Ben Stiller stick together at an MTV Movie Awards pre-party Friday.(V)
Jun 02, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Robert Evans and Ben Stiller stick together ...
Curtis Hanson and Paula Wagner flank Robert Rosen at Friday's tribute to Rosen toasting his tenure.(V)
Jun 02, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Curtis Hanson and Paula Wagner flank Robert Rosen at Friday's ...
Rita Wilson, helmer Donald Petrie, Nia Vardalos and Fox's Jim Gianopules arrive for Friday's "My Life In Ruins" premiere.(V)
Jun 02, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rita Wilson, helmer Donald Petrie, Nia Vardalos and Fox's Jim ...
Power pair: Fox duo share prexy title.
Jun 03, 2009; ... After helping to steer the specialty label through its lengthy hot streak, Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley have been rewarded with promotions to the prexy post at Fox Searchlight. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Move had been expected since Peter Rice relinquished the ...
Gem of a pic pact for Bynes.
Jun 03, 2009; ... Screen Gems has made a two-picture deal with Amanda Bynes. The thesp will first co-star in the Will Gluck-directed comedy "Easy A," and she and Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper will then craft a star vehicle for her second project. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...