Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Acceptable around the marquee

Robert P Niro and Paul DanoJames Schamus, Paul Weitz, Nick Flynn at preem.If this involves film game titles, there is no avoiding with Baloney. Just request author-director Paul Weitz, whose adaptation of Nick Flynn's memoir "Another Bullshit Evening in Suck City" morphed in to the MPAA-friendly "Being Flynn." "I wasn't whatsoever surprised the MPAA was getting none of (the initial title), however i was mildly surprised that certain cannot use asterisks to exchange words," Weitz stated at "Being Flynn's" Gotham premiere Thursday in the Tribeca Grand Hotel screening room. "You cannot even imply cursing if you wish to have your title on the marquee or perhaps in an advertisement. Still, I had been quite freaked out about altering the title since i thought it could indicate which i was watering the variation lower in some way." Title notwithstanding, the main focus Features pic in regards to a youthful guy who reunites together with his estranged father in a destitute shelter lost no autobiographical book's grit and received a ringing endorsement from Flynn. Actually, the writer had just one problem using the film: the brand new title. "The truth that i'm in it's a horror," he quipped in the after-party at Chinatown hotspot Pulqueria.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Thunderbird is a go for Giustra

VANCOUVER -- Lionsgate founder Frank Giustra is returning to the entertainment biz, making a significant investment in Vancouver-based Thunderbird Films to help expand and diversify its TV operations. Although the amount of coin wasn't revealed on Wednesday, it will make the Canadian businessman and philanthropist one of Thunderbird's major shareholders, per the production company's co-founders Tim Gamble and Michael Shepard, who serve as CEO and president, respectively. "As we expand our business and step up production, Frank's support ensures that we can maintain our independence and parlay incredible opportunities," Gamble said. Taking a non-traditional approach to rights management, Thunderbird will give producers distribution advances. "By providing producers with advances, we're able to guide them into finance and production opportunities and continue to be flexible with distribution agreements, all of which opens the door to greater possibilities," said Shepard. Giustra's investment will go a long way towards acquiring and producing future programming. "I am pleased to make this investment in Thunderbird and admire the success Tim, Michael and their team have achieved with the company during the past eight years," said Giustra. "Thunderbird will now have access to sufficient capital to focus on becoming a prominent entity in the production and distribution of television programming with a special emphasis on rights management. I look forward to moving the company to its next level of success, leveraging its independence to capitalize on global opportunities." Thunderbird will also soon unveil a new name that will better reflect its various operations. It is currently enjoying success with its TV series, "Mr. Young," which has been running on Disney XD and was recently moved to a primetime slot. The company also owns a 50% stake in the "Blade Runner" film franchise. A former investment banker, Giustra set up Lionsgate in 1997 to capitalize on the growing Vancouver film industry. He sold most of his stake six years later. He is presently a board member. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Monday, February 27, 2012

Lab Rats Invade Disney XD

They got stuck on a broken-down bus, but married clowns Dave and Cherie Gregg were ultimately undone on The Amazing Race by... math. Tasked with calculating the average weight of a head of cattle in a pen using long division, Dave got so stuck that the cattle were eventually cleared out. "Not in a million years [did I think we would be eliminated because of math]! Not in $1 million even!" he tells TVGuide.com. Why couldn't he figure it out? And what happened to their bus? Find out below. Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Mark JacksonAmazing Race 20Cherie GreggDave GreggJoey LasallaKerri PaulStacy BowersWilliam Minton

Friday, February 24, 2012

Top Moments: Glee's Crash Course and Khloe and Lamar Break a Sex Swing

Brooke Mueller Charlie Sheen's ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, has been charged with felony cocaine possession with intent to distribute, TMZ reports. Mueller, 34, has been charged with one count of having more than four grams of cocaine on her and one count of having less than four grams. The charges stem from Mueller's Dec. 2 arrest in Aspen, Colo. She is also charged with assaulting a woman earlier that same evening. Charlie Sheen's ex Brooke Mueller receiving at-home treatment for addiction If found guilty of possessing more than four grams, she would face up to six years in prison. If she's found guilty of having less than four grams, she could face a maximum of 18 months in prison. Following her Dec. 2 arrest, Mueller was receiving at-home treatment for her addiction, her rep told Us Weekly in December. Mueller and Sheen were married in May 2008. She filed for divorce in November 2010, 11 months after Sheen was arrested for assaulting her in their Aspen, Colo. home. (He later plead guilty to misdemeanor assault). They have two-year-old twin sons together, Bob and Max.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Pierre Juneau dies at 89

Pierre Juneau, who introduced in key rules supporting homegrown TV and music production in Canada, died on Tuesday. He was 89.The Montreal-born Juneau began his career within the National Film Board of Canada, where he carried out a considerable role in the development of French-language production within the freely funded film studio. Whilst in the NFB from 1949-66, he held numerous management posts inside the distribution and production industries, including developing co-productions with France and Italia.Each time a separate French-language production unit was setup within the NFB in 1964, he was named the initial mind in the studio.In 1960, he co-founded Quebec's first film festival, the Montreal Worldwide Film Festival.In 1966, Juneau left the NFB and was named vice chairman in the Bureau of Broadcast Governors. couple of years later that body increased being the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, the country's broadcast regulator. He increased being the initial-ever chairman in the CRTC in 1968 plus it was throughout his tenure as CRTC topper the regulator created the initial-ever Canadian-content rules for television and radio. These rules are believed by a lot of being significant factors inside the subsequent progression of an effective TV and music industries inside the Great White-colored North. The recommendations stipulated the television systems required to air 60% Canadian fare, and r / c required to air 30% Canadian music.In recognition of his identifying role inside the music world in Canada, the Canadian music honours were named the Juno Honours within the recognition. More youthful crowd received a Juno Award as Canadian record companies guy of year in 1971.A vintage friend of Pm Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Juneau ankled the CRTC in 1975 to simply accept position as Minister of Communications in Trudeau's government. But he required to resign within the cabinet after he lost a by-election.Juneau increased being leader of pubcaster CBC in 1982 and, while mind in the network, he aided make the country's first all-news network, Newsworld. But while heading CBC, he required to grapple with major budget cuts introduced in by Pm John Mulroney's Progressive Conservative government."He will be a great defender of Canadian content, a great defender in the public service together with an excellent defender in the political independence of CBC vis-a-vis the us government,In . mentioned Sylvain Lafrance, the prior senior V . p . of French-language services at CBC, inside an interview while using Radio-Canada website.Throughout his years as leader in the CBC, he pressed to produce the Canadian content round the network around 95%. He outdated from CBC much like Newsworld would air.Following his time at CBC, he founded the earth Radio and tv Council, a UNESCO-supported non-government organization. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Actor Russell Arms dies at 92

Singer-actor Russell Arms, who made an appearance regularly like a singer on NBC musical program "Your Hit Parade" within the nineteen fifties, died February. 13 in Hamilton, Ill. He was 92. Arms and also the other regulars around the popular Saturday-evening show, which in fact had begun on radio, carried out the week's seven most widely used tunes. After their studies at the Pasadena Playhouse, he started his showbiz career right before World war 2 when Warner Bros. signed him to some contract. He earned his feature debut in "The Guy Who Found Dinner," with Bette Davis and Monty Woolley, and made an appearance in a number of war films for that studio prior to being drafted themself. In their military service he earned training films for that Military Signal Corps and also the Military Air Forces. After coming back to Warners and showing up in many Westerns, he moved forward to radio roles. Arms were built with a relatively substantial supporting role within the 1953 Doris Day film "Through the Light from the Silvery Moon." He left "Your Hit Parade" in 1958 and subsequently did guest focus on TV for many years, showing up on "Have Gun -- Will Travel," "Rawhide," "Perry Mason," "Dragnet," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Mod Squad" and "The Paper Chase." Arms made his last screen appearance inside a 1985 episode of "Hardcastle and McCormick." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Friday, February 10, 2012

Pilot Season: Greg Berlanti's CBS Cop Drama Pilot Collars Kevin Alejandro

Kevin Alejandro Southland and True Blood alum Kevin Alejandro has joined CBS' untitled pilot from Greg Berlanti, Deadline reports.Pilot Season: Pushing Daisies' Chi McBride to co-star in Greg Berlanti pilotFormerly known as Golden Boy, the one-hour drama chronicles one cop's meteoric rise from officer to detective to Police Commissioner. Alejandro will play the top detective who is disturbed by the new guy's arrival and plots to derail his career. He joins Chi McBride, who will play the new officer's partner.Nicholas Wootton will write and executive-produce the project alongside Berlanti, who also has set up drama pilots at Fox (Guilty) and The CW (Arrow).