Ridley Scott flick is highest grossing R-rated crime film ever
Variety Nov 4, 07 4:25 PM CST
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American Gangster put competitors on ice this weekend and became the top-grossing R-rated crime flick ever. Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, Gangster scored the top debut of the fall, beating Seinfeld's Bee Movie by $46.3 million to $39.1 million. Seinfeld's first foray since Seinfeld buzzed a little less than DreamWorks Animation-Paramount had hoped, Variety reports.
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Nation's volatile mood has producers wary of adapting war books
Los Angeles Times Nov 3, 07 6:12 PM CDT
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Iraq war books are hitting stores in droves—with some 40 titles coming out this fall—but Hollywood isn't lining up to adapt them like before. A dicey political mood, huge war flick budgets, and fears of bleak, box office clunkers like Rendition all have producers scared, the Los Angeles Times reports. Two recent books, The Deserter’s Tale and The Bomb in My Garden , endured extended development before getting picked up.
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'Feels like Armegeddon,' says one industry insider
Associated Press Nov 2, 07 2:38 AM CDT
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Setting the stage for the first walkout in nearly 20 years, Hollywood writers voted yesterday to go on strike, reports Associated Press. The union's president announced the decision in a closed-door meeting yesterday, drawing raucous cheers from the assembly. "There was a unified feeling. I don't think anyone wants the strike, but people are behind the negotiation committee," said one writer.
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In Hollywood, art vs. business has long divided writers, studios
Los Angeles Times Oct 30, 07 7:12 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The current Hollywood labor difficulties are the culmination of generations of animosity, dating to the earliest days of talking pictures and studios' resentment of the sophisticated New Yorkers they employed. With the Writers Guild of America set to strike at midnight tomorrow, the LA Times takes a look at a long, troubled marriage that's currently on the rocks.
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Pre-release bootlegging on the rise despite studio security measures
Wall Street Journal Oct 26, 07 7:18 AM CDT
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The high-profile Oscar hopeful American Gangster opens next week—but it's already available as a pirated DVD for $5 or for free via internet file-sharing sites. American Gangster is the latest example of the upper hand that bootleggers have gained of late in their war against security measures, the Wall Street Journal reports. And the bootlegs are pristine quality, too.
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Hollywood desperate
to finish scripts before Halloween writer strike
Los Angeles Times Oct 24, 07 1:06 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Last week, Paramount issued an urgent call for someone, anyone, to doctor its Wolverine script—fast. Across Hollywood, studios and writers alike are desperately rushing to finish scripts before the Writers' Guild’s Halloween strike deadline, the LA Times reports. “Everybody is living in the impending doom,” said one scribe, furiously scribbling a Da Vinci Code sequel.
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Studios stockpiling content in preparation for possible walkout
Los Angeles Times Oct 20, 07 6:20 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Hollywood writers are headed for the picket line if they don't reach a deal with the studios by Oct. 31. Members of the film and TV writers' union voted by a 90% margin to authorize a strike if the standoff isn't resolved, the first such strike vote since 1988, the Los Angeles Times reports. At issue is the writers' belief that they are being shortchanged on home video sales and web distribution.
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Prime-time could get real if negotiations fail
Los Angeles Times Oct 16, 07 5:01 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Get ready for what might be a big dose of reality. Contract negotiations between Hollywood and writers aren't going well, and a strike could mean prime-time schedules would soon be dominated by such unscripted series as "American Idol." The sides remain divided on issues like splitting revenue from new media and whether reality shows should be unionized, reports the Los Angeles Times .
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NBC is moving operations to new studios near Universal
Los Angeles Times Oct 11, 07 4:03 AM CDT
(Newser)
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NBC Universal is pulling up stakes at its legendary Burbank studio home of 50 years and moving to new facilities across from Universal Studios in Hollywood. The company will switch operations to a massive new complex in 2011. The center will have a street-side studio modeled after the "Today" show set in New York, and cutting-edge production facilities that will make it easier for news programs to share content.
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After flirtation with Barack Obama, entertainment power brokers now back Clinton
Los Angeles Times Oct 5, 07 6:15 AM CDT
(Newser)
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After an early romance with Barack Obama, entertainment industry power brokers have largely switched their affection to Hillary Clinton, the Los Angeles Times reports, finding the former first lady more charming and personable than they had expected. Director Rob Reiner, who had been skeptical that Clinton could be elected, is now hosting a combined birthday bash and fund raiser for the senator later this month.
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Now, a big hit would complete resuscitation of United Artists
BusinessWeek Oct 4, 07 3:57 PM CDT
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Tom Cruise and longtime producing partner Paula Wagner, 15 months after being publicly bounced from Paramount, have a line of high-end films ready to roll as they attempt to rejuvenate the United Artists studio. A hit would solidify the pair's rebuilding effort, Business Week reports, and first up is Cruise vehicle "Lions for Lambs," a political flick.
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Judge declares mistrial as 2 jurors hold out against majority
BBC Sep 26, 07 7:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Jurors announced a 10 to 2 deadlock in the Phil Spector trial today after more than 2 weeks of deliberations, sparking the judge to declare a mistrial. The jury was split more evenly a week ago, and did not reveal the position of its 2 holdouts. As Spector went home, prosecutors vowed to seek a new trial in the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson, the BBC reports.
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Zombie threequel beats out 'Good Luck Chuck' and 'The Brave One' in debut weekend
Hollywood Reporter Sep 24, 07 3:18 AM CDT
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"Resident Evil: Extinction" ruled the box office this week, raking in $24 million over the weekend, more than either of the previous two installments. The video game-inspired zombie threequel trounced fellow openers "Good Luck Chuck" ($14 million), which ranked second, fifth-place "Eastern Promises" ($5.7 million), and sixth-grossing "Sydney White" ($5.3 million). Unusually, the top five movies were all rated R.
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