iW NEWS | Ang Lee to Sing to "Woodstock"

"Taking Woodstock" is the next project for Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee, and Focus Features CEO James Schamus is writing the script, which is an adaptation of Elliot Tiber's memoir, "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life." Set in 1969, the true story focuses on Tiber who proved pivotal in allowing the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival to happen. As an interior designer in New York's Greenwich Village, he was also tied to his family's motel in the Catskills. As its part-time manager, he had become the local town's issuer of event permits, and he granted permission for what was originally thought would be a small event. Soon half a million people were on their way to Mr. Tiber's neighbor's farm in White Lake, New York, and Mr. Tiber found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever. "Elliot's exuberant and heartfelt story is a perfect window onto the Woodstock experience, exploring an inspiring historical moment when liberation and freedom were in the air," commented Schamus in a statement. [Brian Brooks] 
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Guardian: Almodovar and Cruz embrace new project

Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz are teaming up again, following their acclaimed collaboration on "Volver." Their new project is a drama entitled "Los Abrazos Rotos" (Broken Embraces), which begins filming next month in Spain. The Guardian reports. 
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LAT: Oliver Stone set to tackle George W. Bush

Like a bill being rapidly pushed through legislation, Oliver Stone's film about President George W. Bush is expected to begin shooting within a month with a goal toward being released before the president leaves office next January. Los Angeles Times reports. 
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SFC: It's a wrap - "Milk" filming ends in S.F.

"Harvey will be coming out soon," an extra assured the crowd in front of City Hall on a recent Sunday. They had gathered to be in a scene in "Milk"- the movie about the life and death of Harvey Milk (directed by Gus Van Sant)- in which the San Francisco supervisor delivers an impassioned speech. It was really Sean Penn, of course, who plays the martyred supervisor, who would be appearing. Ruth Stein reports. 
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iW NEWS | Efron & Danes Head Linklater's "Orson Welles"

Zac Efron and Claire Danes will star in Richard Linklater's "Me & Orson Welles," a romantic comedy that will begin shooting February 24th in the Isle of Man. The screenplay was written by Holly Gent Palmo and Vincent Palmo Jr. and is the based on the novel by Robert Kaplow set in the New York theatre world. Cinetic Media will handle domestic sales and Cinetic and Odyssey Entertainment will jointly represent foreign sales. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Fox Searchlight Begins "Bees"

Fox Searchlight announced that principal photography has begun on "The Secret Life of Bees," from writer-director Gina Price-Bythewood. Based on Sue Monk Kidd's novel, the film stars Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Sophie Okonedo and Alicia Keys. The film will be released later this year. [Peter Knegt] 
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SF Chronicle: Picturing Harvey Milk

"Milk," which stars Sean Penn as the groundbreaking gay politician, won't be in theaters until some time next year. But the making of the film on the streets of San Francisco excavates a potent piece of the city's history. Steven Winn reports. 
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HR: Almodovar, Cruz embrace "Hugs"

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has decided to switch projects and next will shoot the film noir "Broken Hugs," starring Penelope Cruz...The script, he added, is his longest ever. Pamela Rolfe reports. 
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iW NEWS | New NYC Film Permit Rules Unveiled

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

After a recent public outcry and subsequent feedback from filmmakers and photographers, New York City's Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB) Commissioner Katherine Oliver unveiled a new permit rule proposal that requires a shooting permit, "if production equipment or vehicles create an obstruction, but not for productions that only use hand-held cameras or tripods that don't cause an obstruction." As announced by the IFP late Monday, the complete rules are available via a PDF on the MOFTB website. The next step in the process will include a public comment period and hearing for reactions to the proposal. "During the rule drafting process, our intention has always been to balance the needs of filmmakers working in New York City with concerns about congestion in public places, traffic flow and public safety," said Commissioner Oliver, in a statement. "We have taken into consideration the issues that were raised by numerous groups and individuals during the comment period and have addressed those points in this new draft." [Eugene Hernandez] 
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NYT | Mayor to Ease Permit Rules for Capturing City's Image

New York CIty's Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting will unveil revised rules for filming and photographing on the streets of New York City, The New York Times reported on Sunday. "The rules, to be released on Tuesday for public comment, would generally allow people using hand-held equipment, including tripods, to shoot for any length of time on sidewalks and in parks as long as they leave sufficient room for pedestrians," the Times reported. "The proposal, drafted as part of a settlement in a lawsuit, was revised after a passionate outcry over the summer from fine-art photographers, independent filmmakers and civil libertarians concerned that the original rules would have restricted unobtrusive video recording." indieWIRE reported on the issue back in July. 
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AFP: US director Mann to direct Litvinenko film

US filmmaker Michael Mann, known for movies including "Collateral" and "Heat," will direct a film about Russian former spy Alexander Litvinenko, a foundation set up after his murder confirmed Thursday. AFP reports. 
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HR | 'Turkey' time for Zobel, Plum

Plum Pictures is on board to produce the next film by "Great World of Sound" director Craig Zobel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The comedy, set in the South, is described as revolving around, "a race for county commissioner in a small town that takes an unexpected turn when one candidate shoots the other."  
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iW NEWS | THINKFilm, Silverwood and Hunting Lane Team for "Blue Valentine"

Silverwood Films, Hunting Lane Films, and THINKFilm will re-unite for the romantic drama, "Blue Valentine," the groups have announced. Casting is underway on the project, which will be directed by Derek Cianfrance ("Brother Ties") from a screenplay he wrote with Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis, with a February, 2008 start date planned. Silverwood's Lynette Howell, and Hunting Lane's Jamie Patricof and Alex Orlovsky will produce, and THINKFilm will finance, distribute, and handle international sales on the project. Howell's partner, Doug Dey, will serve as executive producer. The three entities were behind last year's Oscar-nominated film, "Half Nelson." [Brian Brooks] 
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Guardian: Sequel to "The Queen" will centre on Blair and Bush

A sequel to the Oscar-winning "The Queen" is in the pipeline, but don't expect Helen Mirren to step back into Her Majesty's shoes. The movie will focus instead on Tony Blair and his relationship with Bill Clinton and George Bush. Peter Morgan, who penned the Stephen Frears-directed drama, has begun work on a follow-up that will describe the special relationship between the US and the UK. The film will focus on Blair's reaction when the US presidency was handed over from Clinton, a Democrat who had a natural political affinity with the Labour PM, to the Republican and conservative Bush. The Guardian reports. 
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AP: Scorsese to direct George Harrison film

Martin Scorsese will direct a documentary film on the late Beatles guitarist George Harrison. "Harrison's music and his search for spiritual meaning is a story that still resonates today and I'm looking forward to delving deeper," Scorsese said in an e-mailed press release Thursday. AP reports. 
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HR: Penn to star as Harvey Milk

Sean Penn is attached to play gay '70s San Franciso politician Harvey Milk, and Matt Damon his assassin in a long-gestating project from director Gus Van Sant. Once a distribution deal is finalized, Van Sant hopes to begin production on the as-yet-untitled feature in San Francisco as early as December. Gregg Goldstein reports. 
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BBC: Casablanca to get Indian remake

Classic Hollywood romance "Casablanca" is to be remade--in an Indian setting. The new version, entitled "Ezham Mudra," will relocate the Humphrey Bogart film to contemporary south India. Actor Suresh Gopi will play a restaurant owner who helps his lover, a Tamil separatist rebel fighting the Sri Lankan government, escape from India. BBC reports. 
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Independent Filmmakers, Photographers Protest Proposed NYC Permit Law

"I already have a permit for my camera, its called the First Amendment," Picture New York's Beka Economopoulos told WNBC-TV at a Union Square rally in Manhattan on Friday night (as seen in a YouTube clip of news footage). Her statement was in response to a proposal by the NYC Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB) to change rules requiring permits to photograph in public places in the City of New York. The move, which was also explored in today's New York Times, is being criticized as particularly harmful to New York's independent filmmakers. "We've lived for 40 years without these regulations, there's no reason to introduce them now," Economopoulos continued in the TV interview. Included in the proposed law are restrictions that include requiring a permit and insurance for those filming or photographing with a trippd and a crew of 5 or more people at one site for 10 or more minutes or 2 people at a single site for more than 30 minutes. Contacted by indieWIRE, Juliane Cho, Associate Commissioner of NYC MOFTB, referred to information about the change posted on the division's website and noted that one of the proposed rules would give her organization "the ability to provide a waiver of the insurance requirement for those who cannot afford it." Feedback on the proposed rules are being accepted through August 3, 2007 and protest efforts are being lead by Picture New York and more information is available on their website. 
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iW NEWS | Sony Announces New Asian Collaboration, Acquisition

Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia announced a new multi-feature production collaboration with Stephen Chow's production company Star Overseas. The two companies will work on a series of films featuring new and emerging Asian talent. Chow's own film, "Jump," will be the first project of the joint venture. Described as a "hip-hop dance romantic comedy", "Jump" will be produced by Chui Po Chu ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and will star Kitty Zhang. It will begin production later this summer with Sony Pictures Releasing International handling worldwide distribution, as it will for all films under the new deal. "Asia is producing some of the most exciting new talent," said Gareth Wigan, Vice Chairman of Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group. "With Stephen's superb artistic sensibilities and commercial instincts combined with Sony's distribution and marketing expertise, the prospects for this collaboration are extremely exciting." Chow's Star Overseas previously collaborated with Sony on "Kung Fu Hustle," which grossed over $100 million worldwide. Sony Pictures Entertainment has also acquired North American rights to HandMade Film's upcoming production, "The Long Good Friday." Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group and HandMade Films International jointly made the announcement at Cannes Monday. "The Long Good Friday" is a contemporary remake of the 1980 UK crime thriller. It will be written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson ("Alien Vs. Predator.") The deal was negotiated by Peter Schlessel and Lara Thompson on behalf of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, and Guy Collins and Michael Ryan on behalf of HandMade. [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | Niki Caro To Direct Screen Adaptation of "The Vinter's Luck"

Niki Caro ("Whale Rider") will direct a screen adaptation of "The Vinter's Luck" from a screenplay adaptation she wrote herself of Elizabeth Knox's New Zealand novel of the same name. Principal photography should commence in February, 2008 for the film about a peasant wine maker in 19th century France and his life long relationship with an angel. The cast includes Keisha Castle-Hughes ("Whale Rider"), and production design by Academy Award Winner, Grant Major ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy). "The Vinter's Luck" is an Ascension Films-Kortex co-production whose international sales are being handled by Kathleen Drumm of NZ Film, the sales arm of the New Zealand Film Commission, one of the films many financers. Also funding the film are: The New Zealand Production Fund, the Motion Investment Group of Belgium, Tokyo based OLC Rights Entertainment, and Kortex Cinema of France. [Ashley Adams]  
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