Benefit Screening of John Waters' "Desperate Living"

On Tuesday, November 29, there will be a benefit screening of John Waters' "Desperate Living" at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Most of the proceeds from the event, which will be hosted by the film's stars, Mink Stole and Susan Lowe, will go to the American Red Cross for disaster relief. Drag star Jackie Beat will make a special introduction. [M.L. Liu] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

TLA Releasing Acquires James Franco's "The Ape"

On its first day at the American Film Market (AFM), TLA Releasing has acquired rights to actor James Franco's directorial debut, "The Ape." Franco -- perhaps best known to some as Peter Parker's best-friend-turned-nemesis Harry Osborn in the "Spider-Man" movies -- directed from a script that he co-wrote with Merriwether Williams. In "The Ape," Franco plays a frustrated writer who leaves his family and suburban life behind for a rundown apartment in the city to concentrate on his novel. When he moves into the apartment, he discovers his roommate is a foul-mouthed ape. The movie is tentatively set to be released on DVD next March. [M.L. Liu] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

2005 Nicholl Fellowship Winners

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the 2005 winners of the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. The six winners are Morgan Read-Davidson (Downey, Calif.) for "The Days Between"; Seth Resnik (West Hollywood) and Ron Moskovitz (Los Angeles) for "Fire in a Coal Mine"; Michael D. Zungolo (Philadelphia) for "No Country"; Colleen Cooper De Maio (Los Angeles) for "Pirates of Lesser Providence" and Gian Marco Masoni (Santa Monica) for "Ring of Fire." Beating out nearly 6,000 submissions in this year's competition, the winners will, individually or as a team, receive the first installment of their $30,000 prize money at a November 10 gala. The winners were chosen with the understanding that they will generate a feature-length screenplay in their fellowship year. [M.L. Liu] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

BBC: Killed director van Gogh honoured

The first anniversary of the murder of Dutch director Theo van Gogh has been marked by politicians, relatives and religious leaders in the Netherlands. The late director, 47, a strong critic of radical Islam, was shot and stabbed while cycling through Amsterdam. In July 27-year-old radical Islamist Mohammed Bouyeri was sentenced to life in prison for van Gogh's murder. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende addressed an audience of hundreds on the pavement where van Gogh was killed. "The murder impinges on everything that is dear to us in the Netherlands," Mr. Balkenende said. "Violence is not the way." BBC reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

AP: Warner Bros. Fires Up to 300 Employees

Warner Bros. Entertainment said Wednesday it has fired between 250 and 300 employees as a cost-cutting measure. The cuts come during a record year for the studio. But Warner Bros., like other entertainment companies, is bracing for lower revenue in coming years as the growth of the DVD market continues to slow and the TV syndication market shrinks. "We had to take some difficult measures to position the company for the future," Warner Bros. spokesman Scott Rowe said. reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Cinamour Entertainment Picks Up Seven Films for International Distribution

L.A.-based Cinamour Entertainment continued expansion into the feature film business with the acquisition of seven titles from Rogue Arts, Cinamour CEO Glen Hartford announced today. The films include "Allie & Me" by Michael Rymer starring Oscar-nominee Dyan Cannon about a developmentally challenged beautician, who goes on a crime spree in Beverly Hills as well as "Cannes Man," written and directed by Richard Martini starring Johnny Depp, Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich in a comedy about the Cannes Film Festival. Also picked up were Richard Martini's comedy/adventure "Camera," starring Angie Everhart; offbeat black comedy "Burning Down the House" directed by Philippe Mora; drama/adventure "Hard Luck" by Jack Rubio; writer/director Kirk Harris' story of a small time drug dealer, "Loser"; and New England-set thriller "Dirty Boy" by Gerald Frasco. Cinamour made the announcement ahead of the opening of the American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, CA. Rogue Arts is a full service production and limited theatrical distribution company. Cinamour Entertainment is currently in development, pre-production and production on a number of film and television projects. [Brian Brooks]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

Focus Features and Random House Enter Filmmaking Partnership

Random House, Inc., the book publishing division of Bertelsmann AG, and Focus Features, part of NBC Universal, have agreed to a multi-year creative and strategic filmmaking partnership they say will provide authors with a "wider range of audiences and readers, and will provide filmmakers with access to a diverse array of material." The agreement was announced today by Focus co-presidents David Linde and James Schamus and Random House chairman and CEO Peter Olson. The terms of the deal call for the companies to develop movies together and co-finance and co-produce a substantial slate of feature films for theatrical release, all based on books published by Random House imprints in North America and internationally. The partnership's films will be derived from newly published, forthcoming, and backlist titles, including adult, children's, young readers' and religious titles in which motion picture rights are available and can be acquired. Random House and Focus will jointly acquire film rights for the books and partner together on script development, director selection and all phases of production, as well as marketing and publicity. Some material will be developed and produced at Focus' sibling production unit Rogue Pictures, of which Mr. Linde is president. Films co-produced by Focus or Rogue with Random House Films will be jointly owned, with Focus holding worldwide distribution and sales rights. The agreement also includes book publishing components. [Brian Brooks]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Lesher Landing at Paramount

It won't be a surprise if/when Paramount announces Thursday that they have hired John Lesher to run the specialty division at the studio. Confirming what David Poland's Movie City News has been saying for some time now, Anne Thompson in the Hollywood Reporter, Chris Gardner in Variety, and David Halbfinger in the New York Times are all reporting that Lesher is in. While none cite sources on the record, it sounds like a done deal. Thompson's story in the Reporter is particuarly insightful, saying that the studio will change the name of the company when Lesher replaces David Dinerstein and Ruth Vitale. Sounds to us like a (very) lowercase "indie" and an uppercase "WOOD". 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

AP: Clooney to Get Award at Film Festival

George Clooney will receive the 2006 Modern Master Award during the upcoming Santa Barbara International Film Festival. "The Modern Master Award is about somebody who has shown versatility someone who has worn more than just one hat," Roger Durling, the festival's executive director, said Tuesday. "He is definitely overqualified." AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

The Guardian: Jake's progress

He's the crown prince of Tinseltown. A 24-year-old with acting in his blood - he even had driving lessons from Paul Newman. But Jake Gyllenhaal isn't content to live in the comfort zone Here, he talks to Fred Schruers about Hollywood dynasties, loneliness and kissing cowboys.  
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

"Farce of the Penguins"...THINKFilm Says Yes

An insider commenting on a press release received today by indieWIRE doubted that it was legit, but here it is...THINKFilm has announced the acquisition of a new movie dubbed "Farce of the Penguins." The movie, by Bob Saget (featured in "The Aristocrats" and star of "Full House"), is described as "comedic adventure that will combine spectacular and heartwarming wildlife photography with an irreverent and decidedly R-rated theme and soundtrack." In the spirit of his voiceovers from "America's Funniest Home Videos," Saget will give life to penguins images after coming up with the idea "organically" -- "I was watching the "March" movie at a screening at my friend's house, and I couldn't stop doing the voice-overs of the penguins," he said in a statement, "Reminiscent of when I did the voices of the animals on the video show. My friend David Permut (who is producing the film) said, there's a great comedy movie in this!!" Rights are being sold at the AFM. the project is one of a few new ones for Saget, who is developing a salty sitcom for HBO. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under AFI Fest, Acquisitions ]

Academy to Pay Tribute to Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland will be presented with a tribute by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on June 15, 2006. Ms. de Havilland will attend the ceremony. The actress has won two Academy Awards during her career; the first for her role as Jody Norris in Mitchell Leisen's "To Each His Own" (1946), and the second for her role as Catherine Sloper in William Wyler's "The Heiress" (1949).  
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

Its AFM Time, But What Does That Mean?

In Santa Monica, CA today, the American Film Market (AFM) opens for the first time as solo Fall event. Today's Hollywood trades offer a range of insights on this year's market with Hollywood Reporter writing, "film buyers and sellers attending the meet, which runs through Nov. 9, say they are anticipating a busy market" and Variety offering, "North American buyers say they aren't expecting much from the new pics unspooling at AFM this year, but the mart will still yield valuable schmoozing and a sneak peek at pics coming to Sundance early next year." The event is underway today and will coincide again this year with AFI Fest which will open tomorrow in Hollywood. 
[permalink]   [ filed under AFI Fest, Biz ]

The Return of Harmony Korine?

Harmony Korine is back, putting together a new feature film, according to Screen Daily (membership required), the director of "Gummo" has enlisted Anita Pallenberg, Denis Lavant, Samantha Morton, and Diego Luna to play celebrity lookalikes living on a commune in Scotland in "Mr. Lonely." The $9.5 million movie being handled by Celluloid Dreams is one that Korine says is his "most amibitious film." It is being produced by Korine's new company, O'Salvation, which has also produced Brent Stewart's "Blackberry Winter" and James Clauer's "Aluminum Fowl." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

Sundance Unveils Doc Funding List

Thirteen feature-length docs have been selected for the second round of 2005 funding from the Sundance Documentary Fund. The projects were chosen from 460 submissions and will receive a total of $665,000 from the Open Society Institute and a match from the Ford Foundation. Work in progress grants: Ngawang Choephel's "Tibet in Song" (US/Tibet), Adam Zucker's "Greensboro" (US), Francois Verster's "The Mother's House" (South Africa), Senain Kheshgi and Geeta Patel's "Project Kashmir (US), Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern's "The Trials of Darryl Hunt" (US), James Longley's "Iraq in Fragments" (US), James Leong and Lynn Lee's "Passabe" (Singapore/East Timor), Aaron Matthews' "The Paper" (US), Doan Hoang's "Homelands" (US/Vietnam). Deveopment grants: Robin Hessman's "Russia's Pepsi Generation" (US), Juan Mandelbaum's "Our Disappeared" (US/Argentina). And supplemental Grants (previously awarded Development Grant): Robb Moss and Peter Galison's "Secrecy" (US), Richard Hankin's "Home Front" (US). [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

LA Times Surveys Would-be Best Picture Contenders

Having recently acquired Tom O'Neil's awards season site Goldderby.com, the LA Times today launched "The Envelope," tracking the awards season race. The lead story has O'Neil looking at the best picture Oscar race, singling out a mix of released and unseen films. Among the films that have already received festival and wider press attention, O'Neil mentions James Mangold's "Walk The Line," Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain," Sam Mendes' "Jarhead," George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck," Tommy Lee Jones' "The Three of Burials of Melquiades Estrada," Bennett Miller's "Capote," and even Paul Haggis' "Crash," Ron Howard's "Cinderella Man," Fernando Meirelles' "The Constant Gardener" and Woody Allen's "Match Point." Meanwhile, other generally unseen films were also picked as potential contenders, including Steven Spielberg's "Munich," Rob Marshall's "Memoirs of a Geisha," Terrence Malick's "The New World," Peter Jackson's "King Kong," Susan Stroman's "The Producers," and Chris Columbus' "Rent." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ]

Stars go up the jungle for Amazon film fest

Italian screen legend Claudia Cardinale, French director Roman Polanski and Spanish star Victoria Abril are due to be special guests at a film festival in the Amazon jungle city of Manaus, Brazil, next weekend, organizers said. It will the second year the World Adventure Film Festival -- "dedicated to the human spirit of adventure" -- has been staged. The opening movie is Lasse Hallstrom's "An Unfinished Life" starring Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez. Reuters reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AP: Depardieu Says He's Ending Career

Gerard Depardieu told a newspaper that he's ending his film career -- and swears he wasn't drunk when he said it. "I'm in the process of stopping filming," the Academy Award-nominated actor was quoted as saying in weekly Le Parisien Dimanche. "I'm a guy who's leaving! A guy who's not drunk. For once." I have nothing to lose," the 56-year-old star said. "I have done 170 films. I have nothing left to prove. I am not going to hang on like a jerk." AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

BBC: French Actress Takes New York by Storm

Isabelle Huppert is certainly brave. The 52-year-old French film star has just made her New York stage debut in a play written by the late British playwright, Sarah Kane. But perhaps what these theatregoers loved was the sheer proximity to her. New York it seems, is in the grip of all things Huppert at the moment. This selection celebrates her work with filmmakers great and good, from Jean Luc Godard to the French master of mystery, Claude Chabrol, as well as the American auteur Otto Preminger. Damian Fowler reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

NY Times: Want Stealth with That? The "Fast Food Nation" Film Goes Undercover

Richard Linklater, a filmmaker known for the whimsy of "Slacker" and "School of Rock," is planning a big-screen adaptation of "Fast Food Nation," the 2001 expose book by Eric Schlosser. Filming began Monday in Texas and will continue at locations there, in Colorado and Mexico. The preparations have had the secrecy of a stealth mission. A recent call to the production office requesting information about the movie provoked a crackling pause on the telephone line. The hesitant voice finally said, "You mean... 'Coyote'?" In September, The Austin American-Statesman reported that the drama, written by Mr. Linklater and Mr. Schlosser and starring Catalina Sandino Moreno ("Maria Full of Grace") is hiding under the sheep's clothing of a pseudonym. The false name - "Coyote" - was chosen, the newspaper said, to help the production gain access to franchise restaurants and other industry locations that might be off limits if the movie's true source material were known. Michael Joseph Gross reports (free subscription required to view full article). 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

INDUSTRY MOVES: Newman Named NBR Head

The board of the National Board of Review has announced its hiring of Eileen Newman to run the organization as its executive director. She recently served as Senior Director of Programming at the Independent Feature Project (IFP) and was the Executive Director of Film/Video Arts. Her other experience includes work with New Visions for Public Schools, and service on the boards of New York Women in Film and DocuClub.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

WMM Set to Release "The Grace Lee Project"

Women Make Movies has closed a deal for North American rights to Grace Lee's "The Grace Lee Project." The film, described as "a humorous exploration of what it means to be an Asian woman in America," premiered at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival and also screened at SXSW, and the Los Angeles Film Festival, among others. In the movie, the director seeks out other women named Grace Lee, as a way of exploring female identity among Asian Americans. The film will debut at Film Forum in New York in December. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]