LONDON (Reuters) – Street dancers Diversity were the surprise winners of television contest "Britain's Got Talent" on Saturday, beating favorite Susan Boyle who became an Internet phenomenon and global celebrity after appearing on the show.
The troupe, which includes three sets of brothers and comes from southeast England, won 100,000 pounds ($160,000) and the right to take the stage at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.
Of the 10 finalists, Diversity were the bookmakers' sixth favorite to win going into the show, but their acrobatic performance choreographed by 20-year-old Ashley Banjo was described by judge Simon Cowell as "utter perfection."
"If I had to give marks on that, that is the only performance tonight I would want to give a 10 to," Cowell said after their performance.
Boyle was runner-up, but so overwhelming were the betting odds in her favor that the result was seen as a major surprise.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time Warner leaning to spin-off method for AOL
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Time Warner Inc Chief Executive Jeffrey Bewkes said on Friday that his company is still leaning toward spinning off AOL to shareholders as the preferred method for divesting the struggling Internet unit.
Bewkes said forms of separation being considered include a split-off, spin-off or a combination.
A spin-off would see Time Warner distribute the stock it owns in AOL on a pro rata basis to its shareholders, similar to a dividend distribution.
As widely expected, Time Warner confirmed on Thursday that it would separate AOL as an independent, publicly traded company.
Bewkes told Sanford Bernstein's Strategic Decisions Conference on Friday that AOL will be setting up its own board and other requirements for a public company over the next six months in time to complete the separation.
Bewkes said forms of separation being considered include a split-off, spin-off or a combination.
A spin-off would see Time Warner distribute the stock it owns in AOL on a pro rata basis to its shareholders, similar to a dividend distribution.
As widely expected, Time Warner confirmed on Thursday that it would separate AOL as an independent, publicly traded company.
Bewkes told Sanford Bernstein's Strategic Decisions Conference on Friday that AOL will be setting up its own board and other requirements for a public company over the next six months in time to complete the separation.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Leno move shakes up U.S. television
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Jay Leno, the popular late-night host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," bows out of his 17-year run on Friday and heads for prime-time television in a major shake-up of U.S. network programing.
Leno's tenure as the wisecracking, five nights-a-week host of America's top-rated late-night talk show has spanned four presidents and produced landmark shows. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy on Leno's program in 2003.
But the 59-year-old comedian will need to keep his wits about him when he returns to struggling NBC this fall in an earlier time slot, pitting his stand-up humor and couch of celebrity guests against some of America's most-watched drama series, including the powerful "CSI" crime franchise on CBS.
"It is a courageous thing to take an icon on late night and move him into prime time," said Dick Lippin, CEO of entertainment and marketing group The Lippin Group.
Leno's tenure as the wisecracking, five nights-a-week host of America's top-rated late-night talk show has spanned four presidents and produced landmark shows. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy on Leno's program in 2003.
But the 59-year-old comedian will need to keep his wits about him when he returns to struggling NBC this fall in an earlier time slot, pitting his stand-up humor and couch of celebrity guests against some of America's most-watched drama series, including the powerful "CSI" crime franchise on CBS.
"It is a courageous thing to take an icon on late night and move him into prime time," said Dick Lippin, CEO of entertainment and marketing group The Lippin Group.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Mike Judge's latest cartoon no "Goode"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Mike Judge would be worthy of lifelong acclaim if all he ever did was write and direct "Office Space."
But he also created "Beavis and Butt-head" and "King of the Hill," and it's through those animated series that he really sharpened his satirical skills. Judge showed over "Hill's" more than 250 episodes that he knows how to skewer stereotypes while rooting his humor in realistic characters and clever insights about modern culture.
Sadly his latest animated series "The Goode Family," which premieres Wednesday on ABC, doesn't hit the bar Judge has set for himself.
The Goode family is a broadly stereotypical group of hardcore environmentalists: father Gerald (Judge), mother Helen (Nancy Carell), son Ubuntu (David Herman) and daughter Bliss (Linda Cardellini). Judge, who created the series with John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, is working on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Hank Hill and the modest conservatives of Arlen, Texas, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that.
But he also created "Beavis and Butt-head" and "King of the Hill," and it's through those animated series that he really sharpened his satirical skills. Judge showed over "Hill's" more than 250 episodes that he knows how to skewer stereotypes while rooting his humor in realistic characters and clever insights about modern culture.
Sadly his latest animated series "The Goode Family," which premieres Wednesday on ABC, doesn't hit the bar Judge has set for himself.
The Goode family is a broadly stereotypical group of hardcore environmentalists: father Gerald (Judge), mother Helen (Nancy Carell), son Ubuntu (David Herman) and daughter Bliss (Linda Cardellini). Judge, who created the series with John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, is working on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Hank Hill and the modest conservatives of Arlen, Texas, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Film on German cannibal may be shown: court
BERLIN (Reuters) – A 2006 horror film based on the real story of a German engineer who killed and ate a willing victim may be shown in Germany, a court ruled on Tuesday, overturning a previous ban.
Armin Meiwes, the so-called "Cannibal of Rothenburg," had sued to prevent the film by director Martin Weisz from being shown in Germany, claiming it would damage his personal rights.
The court in Karlsruhe said that public interest in the film, together with Meiwes's own previous efforts at marketing the gory deed, outweighed his complaint that the film would cause him emotional damage.
The film, "Rohtenburg," released internationally as "Grimm Love," stars Keri Russell as an American exchange student studying criminal psychology in Germany. She chooses the notorious cannibal case for her thesis.
In the real tale that horrified Germany, engineer Meiwes met his victim, IT manager Bernd-Juergen Brandes, through an Internet advert in 2001. Brandes said he was looking for someone to "obliterate his life and leave no trace."
After severing Brandes's penis and trying to eat it, Meiwes stabbed him in the throat, hung him on a meat hook and cut him into chunks, some of which he later ate. He captured the action on video.
Armin Meiwes, the so-called "Cannibal of Rothenburg," had sued to prevent the film by director Martin Weisz from being shown in Germany, claiming it would damage his personal rights.
The court in Karlsruhe said that public interest in the film, together with Meiwes's own previous efforts at marketing the gory deed, outweighed his complaint that the film would cause him emotional damage.
The film, "Rohtenburg," released internationally as "Grimm Love," stars Keri Russell as an American exchange student studying criminal psychology in Germany. She chooses the notorious cannibal case for her thesis.
In the real tale that horrified Germany, engineer Meiwes met his victim, IT manager Bernd-Juergen Brandes, through an Internet advert in 2001. Brandes said he was looking for someone to "obliterate his life and leave no trace."
After severing Brandes's penis and trying to eat it, Meiwes stabbed him in the throat, hung him on a meat hook and cut him into chunks, some of which he later ate. He captured the action on video.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Jessica Biel's cutting wit does not come "Easy"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actress Jessica Biel wishes that in real life she could wield the mean wit that comes so easily to her character in "Easy Virtue" but says she is too nice to cut down her rivals.
Biel, 27, said she loved playing the brazen American race car driver who marries into a snobbish British family in the movie, which is based on the 192Os play by Britain's Noel Coward.
"I don't get many of these opportunities," Biel told reporters.
"What was very different for me to really grasp was just her incredible comebacks. I wish I was like that. I'm just a little bit too nice. It's really boring."
Biel, who sprang to fame as a rebellious teen in 1996 on the U.S. family television show "7th Heaven," said she studied the screen work of the late Katharine Hepburn and her contemporaries to play the role of Larita Whittaker.
"Just how they deliver their sarcastic, amazing put-downs with a smile," said Biel, whose past films include 2006 mystery "The Illusionist" and 2007 comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry."
Biel, 27, said she loved playing the brazen American race car driver who marries into a snobbish British family in the movie, which is based on the 192Os play by Britain's Noel Coward.
"I don't get many of these opportunities," Biel told reporters.
"What was very different for me to really grasp was just her incredible comebacks. I wish I was like that. I'm just a little bit too nice. It's really boring."
Biel, who sprang to fame as a rebellious teen in 1996 on the U.S. family television show "7th Heaven," said she studied the screen work of the late Katharine Hepburn and her contemporaries to play the role of Larita Whittaker.
"Just how they deliver their sarcastic, amazing put-downs with a smile," said Biel, whose past films include 2006 mystery "The Illusionist" and 2007 comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry."
Monday, May 25, 2009
Indie filmmakers in Cannes still dreaming of 3-D
CANNES, France (Reuters) – When rock band U2 played at the Grand Palais of the Cannes film festival in 2007 to trumpet their new three-dimensional concert movie, backers of modern 3-D films hailed the coming of a new era in movies.
Two years later, independent producers and distributors making films outside Hollywood's major studios are still waiting for that day to dawn.
Many of them face the same hurdles major studios face -- a lack of theaters equipped to play 3-D films, especially in Europe and Asia, and questions over who will pay for the special eyeglasses to watch them.
They also face a hurdle of their own, lack of money, because independents are rarely as well financed as studios.
But much as The Walt Disney Co. did in 2005 with its 3-D version of "Chicken Little," a few indie producers are wading in, lured by the possibility of bigger box office from higher ticket prices and more fans.
Their involvement is good news for film fans, because in recent years independents have made many of the best movies with original tales like Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire."
Two years later, independent producers and distributors making films outside Hollywood's major studios are still waiting for that day to dawn.
Many of them face the same hurdles major studios face -- a lack of theaters equipped to play 3-D films, especially in Europe and Asia, and questions over who will pay for the special eyeglasses to watch them.
They also face a hurdle of their own, lack of money, because independents are rarely as well financed as studios.
But much as The Walt Disney Co. did in 2005 with its 3-D version of "Chicken Little," a few indie producers are wading in, lured by the possibility of bigger box office from higher ticket prices and more fans.
Their involvement is good news for film fans, because in recent years independents have made many of the best movies with original tales like Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire."
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Tarantino loves going into movie mode at Cannes
CANNES, France – Quentin Tarantino had so much fun competing at the Cannes Film Festival two years ago that when he got home, he staged his own mini-Cannes.
Tarantino — who won the Palme d'Or, Cannes' top prize, in 1994 for "Pulp Fiction and also headed the jury that awarded the same honor to "Fahrenheit 9/11" in 2004 — was at Cannes with his psycho-killer thriller "Death Proof" in 2007.
"I had such a good time and it brought back memories of me being on the jury that when I went home, I went into my DVD collection and I picked 14 films from all over the world that I had never seen and decided to have my own little Cannes Film Festival," said Tarantino, who is competing again at Cannes with the World War II epic "Inglourious Basterds."
"In the course of, like, a week and a half, I watched those 14 movies and then judged them as if I was on a jury, a jury of myself, just watching them. And then I gave out my own little awards."
Tarantino — who won the Palme d'Or, Cannes' top prize, in 1994 for "Pulp Fiction and also headed the jury that awarded the same honor to "Fahrenheit 9/11" in 2004 — was at Cannes with his psycho-killer thriller "Death Proof" in 2007.
"I had such a good time and it brought back memories of me being on the jury that when I went home, I went into my DVD collection and I picked 14 films from all over the world that I had never seen and decided to have my own little Cannes Film Festival," said Tarantino, who is competing again at Cannes with the World War II epic "Inglourious Basterds."
"In the course of, like, a week and a half, I watched those 14 movies and then judged them as if I was on a jury, a jury of myself, just watching them. And then I gave out my own little awards."
Jurors deliberate contenders for Cannes Palme d'Or
CANNES, France – Billed at the outset as a showdown between big-name auteurs such as Quentin Tarantino, Ang Lee and Lars von Trier, the Cannes Film Festival is nearing its end with lesser-known filmmakers among the favorites to win the Palme d'Or, the event's top prize.
Two French films, Jacques Audiard's prison saga "A Prophet" and Xavier Giannoli's ex-con tale "In the Beginning," had warm receptions and could bring France its second-straight festival triumph after Laurent Cantet's school drama "The Class" won last year. Before that, a French film had not won at Cannes since 1987.
Cannes prizes will be announced Sunday, the festival's closing day.
Audiard and Giannoli each present stories centering on a small-time crook expanding into more ambitious enterprises, and both films feature front-runner performances for the festival's best-actor award.
"A Prophet" casts newcomer Tahar Rahim as an inmate who arrives in prison an illiterate thug and applies his wiles to become a player in drug and smuggling circles. Veteran actor Francois Cluzet stars in "In the Beginning," playing a newly released criminal whose petty cons and forgeries lead him into an elaborate shell game as overseer of a construction project.
Two French films, Jacques Audiard's prison saga "A Prophet" and Xavier Giannoli's ex-con tale "In the Beginning," had warm receptions and could bring France its second-straight festival triumph after Laurent Cantet's school drama "The Class" won last year. Before that, a French film had not won at Cannes since 1987.
Cannes prizes will be announced Sunday, the festival's closing day.
Audiard and Giannoli each present stories centering on a small-time crook expanding into more ambitious enterprises, and both films feature front-runner performances for the festival's best-actor award.
"A Prophet" casts newcomer Tahar Rahim as an inmate who arrives in prison an illiterate thug and applies his wiles to become a player in drug and smuggling circles. Veteran actor Francois Cluzet stars in "In the Beginning," playing a newly released criminal whose petty cons and forgeries lead him into an elaborate shell game as overseer of a construction project.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Heath Ledger's spirit haunts final film
British director Terry Gilliam says he was ready to give up on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus after actor Heath Ledger's death.
The film, a fantasy partly shot in Vancouver, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday to mixed reviews.
"The choice I made was to close the film down," Gilliam told reporters at the festival in the French resort town of Cannes.
"I couldn't see how we could finish it without Heath because we were in the middle of production," he added. "Fortunately, I was surrounded by really good people who insisted that I shouldn't be such a lazy bastard and I'd better go out and find a way of finishing the film for Heath. That's what we did."
Ledger was playing the role of a slick-tongued fundraiser for children's charities who is left for dead by Russian mobsters. He is picked up by a troupe of actors led by Doctor Parnassus, played by Christopher Plummer, who has the power to open the doors to various imaginary worlds.
When Ledger died of an accidental drug overdose on Jan. 22, 2008, the film was only half made, Gilliam said.
The film, a fantasy partly shot in Vancouver, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday to mixed reviews.
"The choice I made was to close the film down," Gilliam told reporters at the festival in the French resort town of Cannes.
"I couldn't see how we could finish it without Heath because we were in the middle of production," he added. "Fortunately, I was surrounded by really good people who insisted that I shouldn't be such a lazy bastard and I'd better go out and find a way of finishing the film for Heath. That's what we did."
Ledger was playing the role of a slick-tongued fundraiser for children's charities who is left for dead by Russian mobsters. He is picked up by a troupe of actors led by Doctor Parnassus, played by Christopher Plummer, who has the power to open the doors to various imaginary worlds.
When Ledger died of an accidental drug overdose on Jan. 22, 2008, the film was only half made, Gilliam said.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Former Cranberries singer preps second solo album
NEW YORK (Billboard) – Former Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan will release her second solo record in the United States on August 25.
"No Baggage" will be distributed by Rounder Records' rock imprint Zoe. O'Riordan co-produced the 11-track set with Dan Brodbeck, her partner on "Are You Listening?," her 2007 solo debut on Sanctuary Records.
The Cranberries have been on an indefinite hiatus since 2003, and O'Riordan has relished the down time.
"I decided to give up music for awhile -- not be in a band, not be on a label, and not be in a box," the 37-year-old Irishwoman told Billboard.com. "You get all this adoration, but you don't know how to take it when you're young. This is something I'm doing for myself. It challenges me. And it's made me more in touch with myself, the reason that I'm here. I don't have any of that pressure. It's totally a hobby for me; for a long time, (music) became a job."
She described "No Baggage" as a very personal album, driven by a desire to "make peace" with herself.
"No Baggage" will be distributed by Rounder Records' rock imprint Zoe. O'Riordan co-produced the 11-track set with Dan Brodbeck, her partner on "Are You Listening?," her 2007 solo debut on Sanctuary Records.
The Cranberries have been on an indefinite hiatus since 2003, and O'Riordan has relished the down time.
"I decided to give up music for awhile -- not be in a band, not be on a label, and not be in a box," the 37-year-old Irishwoman told Billboard.com. "You get all this adoration, but you don't know how to take it when you're young. This is something I'm doing for myself. It challenges me. And it's made me more in touch with myself, the reason that I'm here. I don't have any of that pressure. It's totally a hobby for me; for a long time, (music) became a job."
She described "No Baggage" as a very personal album, driven by a desire to "make peace" with herself.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Dark horse Kris Allen wins "American Idol"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Arkansas student Kris Allen won the eighth season of "American Idol" on Wednesday, dealing an unexpected defeat to singing rival Adam Lambert on the most popular U.S. television show.
Allen, 23, who won over audiences with his all-American good looks and by putting his personal spin on popular tunes, appeared shocked as Lambert, a 27-year-old musical theater actor, embraced him after host Ryan Seacrest's announcement.
"It feels good, but Adam deserves this," Allen said. "I don't even know what to feel right now, this is crazy."
A record high of nearly 100 million votes were cast in the finale. The "Idol" win guarantees Allen a recording contract.
A college student and devout Christian from Arkansas, Allen was the more clean-cut of the two finalists.
Allen, 23, who won over audiences with his all-American good looks and by putting his personal spin on popular tunes, appeared shocked as Lambert, a 27-year-old musical theater actor, embraced him after host Ryan Seacrest's announcement.
"It feels good, but Adam deserves this," Allen said. "I don't even know what to feel right now, this is crazy."
A record high of nearly 100 million votes were cast in the finale. The "Idol" win guarantees Allen a recording contract.
A college student and devout Christian from Arkansas, Allen was the more clean-cut of the two finalists.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
DreamWorks CEO sees film costs down, TV revenue up
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg expects the company's television series and specials to boost revenue, and film marketing costs to drop in 2009.
Katzenberg told analysts on Tuesday that DreamWorks sole 2009 film release, "Monsters vs. Aliens," has grossed $191 million at domestic box offices so far and that DVD sales of "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" had "set us up for possible year-over-year earnings growth in 2009."
DreamWorks is "poised to have our single biggest year ever" in 2010 because of its theatrical release schedule of an unprecedented three feature films, including a sequel to its blockbuster "Shrek" franchise, Katzenberg told the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in Boston.
Katzenberg also announced that kids cable network Nickelodeon, which already airs DreamWorks' made-for-TV cartoon "The Penguins of Madagascar," has ordered a pilot based on "Monsters Vs. Aliens." The network has ordered a second season of "Penguins" and a second series based on "Kung Fu Panda."
Katzenberg told analysts on Tuesday that DreamWorks sole 2009 film release, "Monsters vs. Aliens," has grossed $191 million at domestic box offices so far and that DVD sales of "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" had "set us up for possible year-over-year earnings growth in 2009."
DreamWorks is "poised to have our single biggest year ever" in 2010 because of its theatrical release schedule of an unprecedented three feature films, including a sequel to its blockbuster "Shrek" franchise, Katzenberg told the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in Boston.
Katzenberg also announced that kids cable network Nickelodeon, which already airs DreamWorks' made-for-TV cartoon "The Penguins of Madagascar," has ordered a pilot based on "Monsters Vs. Aliens." The network has ordered a second season of "Penguins" and a second series based on "Kung Fu Panda."
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Lionel Richie ready to "Go" with new music
DETROIT (Billboard) – After letting others guide his creative direction on two albums, Lionel Richie plans to take control again on his next recording project.
Producers and writers including StarGate, The-Dream, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Ne-Yo and Akon played key roles on 2006's "Going Home" and the new "Just Go," which comes out Tuesday.
Richie told Billboard.com that he has "already started" on another album, which he intends to helm himself, although he expects to bring in collaborators as well.
"I've mastered the art of co-producing," Richie said. "No matter what, I have to have somebody else that sits across the room and looks at the big picture while I'm going in to get the second verse of the third song. I always need somebody in that room to back me up. James Carmichael did a great job all those years of just keeping me in focus, 'cause that's the key."
Producers and writers including StarGate, The-Dream, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Ne-Yo and Akon played key roles on 2006's "Going Home" and the new "Just Go," which comes out Tuesday.
Richie told Billboard.com that he has "already started" on another album, which he intends to helm himself, although he expects to bring in collaborators as well.
"I've mastered the art of co-producing," Richie said. "No matter what, I have to have somebody else that sits across the room and looks at the big picture while I'm going in to get the second verse of the third song. I always need somebody in that room to back me up. James Carmichael did a great job all those years of just keeping me in focus, 'cause that's the key."
Monday, May 18, 2009
Fox contest seeks animated ideas
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Fox is offering a development deal to anybody who can create the next great animated holiday special.
The network is teaming with animation studio Aniboom to launch a contest where animators can submit holiday-inspired short films for cash prizes. The winner will receive a deal with the network that could lead to a show getting on the air.
Broadcasters lean heavily on holiday programing to bolster ratings and protect their regular series from reduced average viewing levels. Some, like "Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," manage to get large ratings for decades despite airing every year.
Crafting new holiday animated hits has proved challenging, however, with Fox's "Family Guy" special ABC's "Shrek the Halls" standing as exceptions in recent years. Also, Comedy Central's "South Park" started as an amateur holiday-themed short.
The network is teaming with animation studio Aniboom to launch a contest where animators can submit holiday-inspired short films for cash prizes. The winner will receive a deal with the network that could lead to a show getting on the air.
Broadcasters lean heavily on holiday programing to bolster ratings and protect their regular series from reduced average viewing levels. Some, like "Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," manage to get large ratings for decades despite airing every year.
Crafting new holiday animated hits has proved challenging, however, with Fox's "Family Guy" special ABC's "Shrek the Halls" standing as exceptions in recent years. Also, Comedy Central's "South Park" started as an amateur holiday-themed short.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Longoria, Bill Clinton attend Austrian AIDS gala
VIENNA – "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria Parker, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and singer Katy Perry attended a flamboyant Austrian charity gala Saturday dedicated to raising money for people with HIV and AIDS.
Other celebrities spotted at the Life Ball were actress Fran Drescher, former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson and model Amber Valletta.
The annual bash, held in and around Vienna's neo-gothic city hall, each year draws thousands of revelers in quirky and kinky costumes — and sometimes nothing more than G-strings and glitter.
Saturday's partygoers did their best not to disappoint.
As crowds craned their necks to catch a glimpse, a couple covered in blue body paint kissed for photographers. Another duo, also scantily clad, resembled silver sea urchins.
The party kicked off with an extravagant outdoor opening ceremony that combined music and dance segments with pleas to stay focused on fighting the devastating disease.
Other celebrities spotted at the Life Ball were actress Fran Drescher, former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson and model Amber Valletta.
The annual bash, held in and around Vienna's neo-gothic city hall, each year draws thousands of revelers in quirky and kinky costumes — and sometimes nothing more than G-strings and glitter.
Saturday's partygoers did their best not to disappoint.
As crowds craned their necks to catch a glimpse, a couple covered in blue body paint kissed for photographers. Another duo, also scantily clad, resembled silver sea urchins.
The party kicked off with an extravagant outdoor opening ceremony that combined music and dance segments with pleas to stay focused on fighting the devastating disease.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Chinese director Lou Ye braves ban risk at Cannes
CANNES, France (Reuters) – Chinese director Lou Ye brushed off fears he may face problems with the authorities when he returns home after showing his new film "Spring Fever" at the Cannes film festival.
The film, a graphic drama that deals with the taboo subject of homosexuality, was shot in secret after officials slapped a five-year banning order on Lou preventing him from making films following his last feature "Summer Palace."
That film, shown in Cannes in 2006, examined the protest movement that led to the brutal repression in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and earned Lou international acclaim as well as ostracism from the official world of Chinese cinema.
But speaking on Thursday after the press screening of "Spring Fever," he played down the furor that has surrounded both the film's subject matter and his problems with the powerful Chinese Film Office.
The film, a graphic drama that deals with the taboo subject of homosexuality, was shot in secret after officials slapped a five-year banning order on Lou preventing him from making films following his last feature "Summer Palace."
That film, shown in Cannes in 2006, examined the protest movement that led to the brutal repression in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and earned Lou international acclaim as well as ostracism from the official world of Chinese cinema.
But speaking on Thursday after the press screening of "Spring Fever," he played down the furor that has surrounded both the film's subject matter and his problems with the powerful Chinese Film Office.
Friday, May 15, 2009
What recession? Broadway ignores economic downturn
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Wall Street may be in a slump as the global economic slump grinds on, but 4 miles north in midtown Manhattan, Broadway theaters continue to lure crowds as they have for decades during times of recession.
Some people might find it hard to believe Broadway has proven so resilient in the face of rising unemployment and record losses at some of the biggest U.S. corporations.
Half a year ago, predictions for Broadway were dire. The gloomier newspaper headlines included "Broadway braces for recession fallout" and "Recession to finally kill Broadway."
So far there are no signs that Broadway -- which survived the post-September11 economic slump and a lengthy strike by stagehands in 2007 -- is dead.
Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League industry group, said she has analyzed 30 years of attendance data for Broadway houses during recessionary periods and concluded that New York's theater row has been virtually impervious to economic declines.
Some people might find it hard to believe Broadway has proven so resilient in the face of rising unemployment and record losses at some of the biggest U.S. corporations.
Half a year ago, predictions for Broadway were dire. The gloomier newspaper headlines included "Broadway braces for recession fallout" and "Recession to finally kill Broadway."
So far there are no signs that Broadway -- which survived the post-September11 economic slump and a lengthy strike by stagehands in 2007 -- is dead.
Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League industry group, said she has analyzed 30 years of attendance data for Broadway houses during recessionary periods and concluded that New York's theater row has been virtually impervious to economic declines.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Farrah Fawcett longed for miracle, but nears end
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Actress Farrah Fawcett was hoping for a miracle in the early days of her battle with anal cancer, but longtime companion Ryan O'Neal is now looking tearfully to a life without her.
"I do not want to die of this disease. I want to stay alive. So I say to God ... it is seriously time for a miracle," Fawcett said two years ago in a video diary chronicling her two and a half year battle with cancer.
The video diary, "Farrah's Story," will be broadcast on NBC television on Friday as the "Charlie's Angels" star appears to be nearing the end of her life. NBC released excerpts on Wednesday.
In an emotional interview with NBC's "Today" program that was shown on Wednesday, O'Neal described Fawcett as "powerful, courageous, fearless" throughout the highs and lows since she was first diagnosed in 2006.
"I know this -- that in the last two years I loved her more than I've ever loved her, ever," he said of their tumultuous relationship. "She's the rock. She taught us all how to cope. She is extraordinary, I don't know what I will do without her."
"I do not want to die of this disease. I want to stay alive. So I say to God ... it is seriously time for a miracle," Fawcett said two years ago in a video diary chronicling her two and a half year battle with cancer.
The video diary, "Farrah's Story," will be broadcast on NBC television on Friday as the "Charlie's Angels" star appears to be nearing the end of her life. NBC released excerpts on Wednesday.
In an emotional interview with NBC's "Today" program that was shown on Wednesday, O'Neal described Fawcett as "powerful, courageous, fearless" throughout the highs and lows since she was first diagnosed in 2006.
"I know this -- that in the last two years I loved her more than I've ever loved her, ever," he said of their tumultuous relationship. "She's the rock. She taught us all how to cope. She is extraordinary, I don't know what I will do without her."
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
"Star Trek" breaks Imax record as purists grumble
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Imax Corp said on Tuesday its "Star Trek" screenings grossed a record $8.5 million during the film's first weekend, even as some purists complained that the company's big screens were not big enough.
The hotly anticipated science fiction movie garnered $79.2 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices over the weekend, and 11 percent of that figure came from Imax screens.
Imax said that was significant because its screens accounted for less than 2 percent of the venues for "Star Trek." The old record of $6.3 million was set by "The Dark Knight" last summer, although that film played on 94 Imax screens, while "Star Trek" beamed in on 138.
The "Star Trek" Imax contribution shows that moviegoers are pleased with the company's theater experience, Chief Executive Richard Gelfond told Reuters.
"There's no indication at all that the word of mouth is anything but positive," he said.
The hotly anticipated science fiction movie garnered $79.2 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices over the weekend, and 11 percent of that figure came from Imax screens.
Imax said that was significant because its screens accounted for less than 2 percent of the venues for "Star Trek." The old record of $6.3 million was set by "The Dark Knight" last summer, although that film played on 94 Imax screens, while "Star Trek" beamed in on 138.
The "Star Trek" Imax contribution shows that moviegoers are pleased with the company's theater experience, Chief Executive Richard Gelfond told Reuters.
"There's no indication at all that the word of mouth is anything but positive," he said.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Playboy loss widens, search continues for CEO
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Playboy Enterprises Inc, publisher of one of the world's best known adult magazines, posted on Monday a wider first-quarter loss under the weight of a depressed advertising market and slow consumer spending.
The company, which has said it would be open to discussions about an outright sale, reported a loss of $13.7 million, or 41 cents per share. This compares with a loss of $4.2 million, or 13 cents per share, in the year-ago period.
Before restructuring and impairment charges, the company lost 15 cents a share for the quarter.
Blaming in part an economic slowdown that has curtailed advertising spending, the company said revenue declined to $61.6 million from $78.5 million a year before.
To make up for revenue shortfalls, the company has been sharply cutting costs, including a 25 percent reduction in staff numbers since last October.
Shares of Playboy dropped 6 cents or 1.8 percent to $3.25. Earlier, they traded as low as $3.12.
The company, which has said it would be open to discussions about an outright sale, reported a loss of $13.7 million, or 41 cents per share. This compares with a loss of $4.2 million, or 13 cents per share, in the year-ago period.
Before restructuring and impairment charges, the company lost 15 cents a share for the quarter.
Blaming in part an economic slowdown that has curtailed advertising spending, the company said revenue declined to $61.6 million from $78.5 million a year before.
To make up for revenue shortfalls, the company has been sharply cutting costs, including a 25 percent reduction in staff numbers since last October.
Shares of Playboy dropped 6 cents or 1.8 percent to $3.25. Earlier, they traded as low as $3.12.
Monday, May 11, 2009
"Star Trek" beams up $72.5 million in first weekend
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The new "Star Trek" movie beamed up an estimated $72.5 million in North American ticket sales its first weekend in theaters, dominating the box office and re-energizing a 40-year-old science-fiction franchise.
That figure far surpassed the opening grosses posted by any of the previous 10 "Star Trek" films, even when adjusted for inflation, and kept up a robust pace for the second week of Hollywood's summer moviegoing season.
Combined with $4 million grossed from Thursday evening's preview screenings, "Star Trek" tallied $76.5 million in U.S. and Canadian receipts through Sunday, according to its distributor, Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures studio.
Last weekend's top box office entry, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," still ranks as the biggest film opening so far this year, with $85 million in its first Friday-through-Sunday tally.
But the launch of "Star Trek" slashed deeply into "Wolverine's" second weekend of business, sending the superhero adventure from News Corp's NWSA.0 20th Century Fox to a second-ranked $27 million.
That figure far surpassed the opening grosses posted by any of the previous 10 "Star Trek" films, even when adjusted for inflation, and kept up a robust pace for the second week of Hollywood's summer moviegoing season.
Combined with $4 million grossed from Thursday evening's preview screenings, "Star Trek" tallied $76.5 million in U.S. and Canadian receipts through Sunday, according to its distributor, Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures studio.
Last weekend's top box office entry, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," still ranks as the biggest film opening so far this year, with $85 million in its first Friday-through-Sunday tally.
But the launch of "Star Trek" slashed deeply into "Wolverine's" second weekend of business, sending the superhero adventure from News Corp's NWSA.0 20th Century Fox to a second-ranked $27 million.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
NBC to air Farrah Fawcett's cancer story
Next Friday, a two-hour documentary, Farrah's Story, shot by actress Farrah Fawcett and her friend Alana Stewart about Fawcett's battle with cancer, will air on NBC.
Fawcett, 62, who was diagnosed with anal cancer 2½ years ago, said she believes others may benefit from learning about her experience with the disease.
"This film is very personal," she says in one of the clips in the film. "But at some point, the footage took on a life of its own and dictated that it be seen."
Her long-time partner, actor Ryan O'Neal, said in an interview in the current issue of People magazine that Fawcett is losing her battle with cancer.
After her initial diagnosis, the star of the former Charlie's Angels television series had surgery to remove a tumour and chemotherapy. But the cancer returned in 2007 and O'Neal said it has now spread to other parts of her body, including her liver.
Fawcett, 62, who was diagnosed with anal cancer 2½ years ago, said she believes others may benefit from learning about her experience with the disease.
"This film is very personal," she says in one of the clips in the film. "But at some point, the footage took on a life of its own and dictated that it be seen."
Her long-time partner, actor Ryan O'Neal, said in an interview in the current issue of People magazine that Fawcett is losing her battle with cancer.
After her initial diagnosis, the star of the former Charlie's Angels television series had surgery to remove a tumour and chemotherapy. But the cancer returned in 2007 and O'Neal said it has now spread to other parts of her body, including her liver.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
"Star Trek" launched to robust advance screenings
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The big-screen return of "Star Trek" launched into warp drive as it grossed an estimated $7 million from advance screenings in North American theaters, Daily Variety reported on Friday.
That tally, generated from Thursday night showings in most of the 3,800-plus U.S. and Canadian theaters where the film officially opens on Friday, puts "Star Trek" on track to rival or exceed the $85 million debut of the comic book adventure "X-Men Origins: Wolverine last weekend.
"Star Trek" ranks among the best reviewed movies of the year. The big question is whether it can bridge the generation gap between aging "Trekkie" fans of the 43-year-old franchise and legions of younger moviegoers on whom the film's financial success depends.
There was no immediate word from the film's distributor, Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures studio, on its early returns.
But the $7 million Variety estimated in preview business from Thursday's 7 p.m. and midnight screenings bodes well for the movie, the 11th feature-length title in the "Star Trek" canon.
That tally, generated from Thursday night showings in most of the 3,800-plus U.S. and Canadian theaters where the film officially opens on Friday, puts "Star Trek" on track to rival or exceed the $85 million debut of the comic book adventure "X-Men Origins: Wolverine last weekend.
"Star Trek" ranks among the best reviewed movies of the year. The big question is whether it can bridge the generation gap between aging "Trekkie" fans of the 43-year-old franchise and legions of younger moviegoers on whom the film's financial success depends.
There was no immediate word from the film's distributor, Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures studio, on its early returns.
But the $7 million Variety estimated in preview business from Thursday's 7 p.m. and midnight screenings bodes well for the movie, the 11th feature-length title in the "Star Trek" canon.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Ryan O'Neal offers grim outlook on Farrah Fawcett
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actor Ryan O'Neal has told People magazine that his companion Farrah Fawcett, who has battled cancer for nearly three years, is now bed-ridden, bereft of her famous blonde hair and near the end of medical treatment.
"She stays in bed now. The doctors see that she is comfortable. Farrah is on IVs, but some of that is for nourishment. The treatment has pretty much ended," O'Neal told People in an interview on the magazine's website on Thursday.
Fawcett, 62, became an international sex symbol in the 1970s for her famous swimsuit poster and her role as one of a trio of female private detectives on the hit television show "Charlie's Angels."
She has stayed in the Hollywood spotlight ever since, and in September 2006 was diagnosed with anal cancer. Four months later, she declared herself cancer free, but the disease returned in May 2007.
"She stays in bed now. The doctors see that she is comfortable. Farrah is on IVs, but some of that is for nourishment. The treatment has pretty much ended," O'Neal told People in an interview on the magazine's website on Thursday.
Fawcett, 62, became an international sex symbol in the 1970s for her famous swimsuit poster and her role as one of a trio of female private detectives on the hit television show "Charlie's Angels."
She has stayed in the Hollywood spotlight ever since, and in September 2006 was diagnosed with anal cancer. Four months later, she declared herself cancer free, but the disease returned in May 2007.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Vatican breaks silence on "Angels and Demons"
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The success of books and films like "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons" should make the Catholic Church rethink the way it uses the media to present itself, the Vatican newspaper said on Wednesday.
The newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, ran two editorials on last Monday's premiere of "Angels and Demons" in Rome, ending an official institutional silence on the film. The editorials neither panned nor praised the film but rather offered up a mix of positive and negative comments.
One of the editorials called the film "ephemeral" but also conceded that it was "gripping" and called the camera work "splendid." It called the film "pretentious" but added that Ron Howard's direction was "dynamic and alluring."
One of the editorials, headlined "The Secret of His Success," said the Church should ask itself why such a "simplistic and partial" vision of the Church as portrayed in Dan Brown's works is so successful, even among Catholics.
"It would probably be an exaggeration to consider the books of Dan Brown an alarm bell but maybe they should be a stimulus to re-think and refresh the way the Church uses the media to explain its positions on today's burning issues," it said.
The newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, ran two editorials on last Monday's premiere of "Angels and Demons" in Rome, ending an official institutional silence on the film. The editorials neither panned nor praised the film but rather offered up a mix of positive and negative comments.
One of the editorials called the film "ephemeral" but also conceded that it was "gripping" and called the camera work "splendid." It called the film "pretentious" but added that Ron Howard's direction was "dynamic and alluring."
One of the editorials, headlined "The Secret of His Success," said the Church should ask itself why such a "simplistic and partial" vision of the Church as portrayed in Dan Brown's works is so successful, even among Catholics.
"It would probably be an exaggeration to consider the books of Dan Brown an alarm bell but maybe they should be a stimulus to re-think and refresh the way the Church uses the media to explain its positions on today's burning issues," it said.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Dom DeLuise dies at age 75
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Dom DeLuise, the U.S. comic actor who gained fame on television and in movies such as "Blazing Saddles" and "Smokey and the Bandit II," has died at age 75.
DeLuise died on Monday night at a hospital in the Los Angeles community of Santa Monica, his agent Robert Malcolm said.
"It's easy to mourn his death, but easier to remember a time when he made you laugh," DeLuise's family said in a statement issued by Malcolm.
No cause of death was given, but Malcolm said DeLuise had health problems including high blood pressure and diabetes.
In December 2008 the actor told TV show "Entertainment Tonight" that he had been fighting prostate cancer. "I'm still here. I'm 75 and here. I feel very blessed," he said.
DeLuise died on Monday night at a hospital in the Los Angeles community of Santa Monica, his agent Robert Malcolm said.
"It's easy to mourn his death, but easier to remember a time when he made you laugh," DeLuise's family said in a statement issued by Malcolm.
No cause of death was given, but Malcolm said DeLuise had health problems including high blood pressure and diabetes.
In December 2008 the actor told TV show "Entertainment Tonight" that he had been fighting prostate cancer. "I'm still here. I'm 75 and here. I feel very blessed," he said.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Warner Bros. picks up "Whales" script
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Movie studio Warner Bros. has picked up "Everybody Loves Whales", based on a true story about the 1988 rescue attempt of three whales in Alaska at a time of geopolitical change in the Soviet Union.
The script, by "Shaggy Dog" writers Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, tells the story of three California gray whales who were found trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle in October 1988.
The subsequent rescue attempt became a huge global event as scores of journalists converged on the nearby Eskimo town of Barrow, Alaska, and the U.S. and Soviet governments enjoyed a rare moment of collaboration.
The two-week drama played out at a time of geopolitical change, with then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the midst of his glasnost initiative and then U.S. President Ronald Reagan preparing to leave office after his second term.
In addition to the rescue attempt, Amiel's and Begler's script centers on a love story between a nonprofit aid worker and a government worker.
The script, by "Shaggy Dog" writers Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, tells the story of three California gray whales who were found trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle in October 1988.
The subsequent rescue attempt became a huge global event as scores of journalists converged on the nearby Eskimo town of Barrow, Alaska, and the U.S. and Soviet governments enjoyed a rare moment of collaboration.
The two-week drama played out at a time of geopolitical change, with then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the midst of his glasnost initiative and then U.S. President Ronald Reagan preparing to leave office after his second term.
In addition to the rescue attempt, Amiel's and Begler's script centers on a love story between a nonprofit aid worker and a government worker.
Monday, May 4, 2009
"Wolverine" slashes rivals in $160 million global bow
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Comic book movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" slashed its rivals at box offices over the weekend with a $160 million worldwide debut, leaping to No. 1 on ticket charts in a solid start to Hollywood's summer.
The action adventure, starring Hugh Jackman as the heroic Wolverine who wields long claws as his weapons, raked in $87 million in the United States and Canada and helped push total ticket sales just slightly ahead of the same weekend last year, according to tracking service Hollywood.com Box Office.
Landing at No. 2 on domestic box office charts with $15.3 million was romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," starring Matthew McConaughey. Last week's No. 1, thriller "Obsessed," dropped to third place with a weekend haul of $12.2 million for a cumulative total of $47 million in two weeks.
But it was "Wolverine" that lured the vast majority of fans to theaters. It was widely watched as the first major film of the studio's summer movie season that runs through August and can account for 35 to 40 percent of the annual ticket sales.
The action adventure, starring Hugh Jackman as the heroic Wolverine who wields long claws as his weapons, raked in $87 million in the United States and Canada and helped push total ticket sales just slightly ahead of the same weekend last year, according to tracking service Hollywood.com Box Office.
Landing at No. 2 on domestic box office charts with $15.3 million was romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," starring Matthew McConaughey. Last week's No. 1, thriller "Obsessed," dropped to third place with a weekend haul of $12.2 million for a cumulative total of $47 million in two weeks.
But it was "Wolverine" that lured the vast majority of fans to theaters. It was widely watched as the first major film of the studio's summer movie season that runs through August and can account for 35 to 40 percent of the annual ticket sales.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Steve-O shows his dance with self-destruction
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – "Dancing with the Stars" viewers expected crazy antics when "Jackass" performer Steve-O joined the show this year, but what it took for him to overcome drug abuse and exhibit ballroom manners is another story.
That side of the shock stuntman's life will be shown on Sunday, in a documentary called "Steve-O: Demise and Rise" on cable channel MTV.
It relies on Steve-O's video footage of himself snorting cocaine at parties and inhaling countless nitrous oxide cartridges, in between performing stunts such as jumping from a glider plane into open water.
After Steve-O's time in a mental hospital and drug rehab, the documentary ends with his first appearance as a ballroom contestant on ABC hit show "Dancing with the Stars."
Steve-O, who had tangled with untamed animals in exotic lands on MTV's "Wildboyz," was eliminated from "Dancing" on April 14, ending a run on the show he called nerve-racking.
"It's weird, getting ready to do these dances on live TV I felt, especially in the beginning, more stressed and anxious than times when I filmed with bears and lions," Steve-O told Reuters in a recent interview.
That side of the shock stuntman's life will be shown on Sunday, in a documentary called "Steve-O: Demise and Rise" on cable channel MTV.
It relies on Steve-O's video footage of himself snorting cocaine at parties and inhaling countless nitrous oxide cartridges, in between performing stunts such as jumping from a glider plane into open water.
After Steve-O's time in a mental hospital and drug rehab, the documentary ends with his first appearance as a ballroom contestant on ABC hit show "Dancing with the Stars."
Steve-O, who had tangled with untamed animals in exotic lands on MTV's "Wildboyz," was eliminated from "Dancing" on April 14, ending a run on the show he called nerve-racking.
"It's weird, getting ready to do these dances on live TV I felt, especially in the beginning, more stressed and anxious than times when I filmed with bears and lions," Steve-O told Reuters in a recent interview.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Drug charges against Page dropped in New York state
TORONTO — Former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page says he's relieved that drug possession charges against him have been formally dismissed.
“I just want to say I'm certainly pleased and relieved. It's been a long process,” Mr. Page said by telephone yesterday.
Last July, Mr. Page, his girlfriend and her roommate were charged with drug possession after police found cocaine at a Fayetteville, N.Y., apartment.
In October, a judge said the charges would be dropped if the trio weren't arrested again, received therapy and passed drug screening in the ensuing six months.
Mr. Page's lawyer says his client has met all of the conditions laid out by the New York judge.
“New York statute is very specific, and it says that someone who has a dismissal under these circumstances is restored to the position they were in prior to their arrest and prosecution,” said Mark Mahoney, Mr. Page's Buffalo-based lawyer.
“I just want to say I'm certainly pleased and relieved. It's been a long process,” Mr. Page said by telephone yesterday.
Last July, Mr. Page, his girlfriend and her roommate were charged with drug possession after police found cocaine at a Fayetteville, N.Y., apartment.
In October, a judge said the charges would be dropped if the trio weren't arrested again, received therapy and passed drug screening in the ensuing six months.
Mr. Page's lawyer says his client has met all of the conditions laid out by the New York judge.
“New York statute is very specific, and it says that someone who has a dismissal under these circumstances is restored to the position they were in prior to their arrest and prosecution,” said Mark Mahoney, Mr. Page's Buffalo-based lawyer.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Canadian actors and producers reach deal
TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) – Canadian actors and independent producers unveiled a new multiyear labor deal Thursday to send Hollywood a signal of industry stability.
"(The major studios) don't have to worry. They will be welcome to come to Canada," said Stephen Waddell, chief negotiator and national executive director of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA).
The Independent Production Agreement, which covers a three-year period that kicks off December 31, is between ACTRA and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), which represents independent producers, and its Quebec counterpart, l'Association des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec.
The new IPA differs little from the current deal beyond giving performers a 2 percent rate increase in each of the three years as well as offering a rate increase for new-media residuals.
And like the current agreement, the 2010-12 IPA will permit both sides to reopen the new-media provisions one year before the next IPA's expiry on December 31, 2012.
"(The major studios) don't have to worry. They will be welcome to come to Canada," said Stephen Waddell, chief negotiator and national executive director of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA).
The Independent Production Agreement, which covers a three-year period that kicks off December 31, is between ACTRA and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), which represents independent producers, and its Quebec counterpart, l'Association des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec.
The new IPA differs little from the current deal beyond giving performers a 2 percent rate increase in each of the three years as well as offering a rate increase for new-media residuals.
And like the current agreement, the 2010-12 IPA will permit both sides to reopen the new-media provisions one year before the next IPA's expiry on December 31, 2012.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)