MOVIE TRAILER: Michael Jackson’s “This is MORE of It” sequel
WoooHa.com — Just when you thought all the good footage from the MJ concert rehearsals was used for This Is It comes….This Is More of It. Too bad this isn’t real though…AEG could release this and make some more MJ exploitation money. Similar Posts: PICS: Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” movie poster & details Beyonce to release “Beyond the Ballad” double-disc documentary about herself VIDEO: Dr. Dre’s Detox Dr. Pepper TV ad “Style ...

Sony Pictures Buys Board Game 'Risk'
Deadline.com — Sony Pictures announced today it's acquired the motion picture rights to the board game of world conquest, "Risk", from Hasbro. Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures, say the film will be produced and developed by Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir and Overbrook Entertainment's James Lassiter. Belgrad pointed to the success of toys Transformers and G.I. Joe (but not to the dismal movie version of "Clue") to claim audiences have "shown a great desire for films that bring to life everything that has made these franchise properties stand the test of time. The strategic thinking and the tactical gambles that ...

Top 20 Independent Films Oct 30-Nov 1, 2009
Deadline.com — FROM THE INDEPENDENT FILM & TELEVISION ALLIANCE ( IFTA relies on the definition that an independent film is financed in majority from sources other than the six U.S. major studios. So films on this list distributed by a major studio were independently produced and acquired .) TOP 20 INDEPENDENTLY FINANCED FILMS Weekend of October 30–November 1, 2009 Exclusive To Deadline Hollywood TITLE, DISTRIB, COMPANY, WKD BOX OFFICE, SCREENS/AVERAGE, CUME 1. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (Par/IM Global) $16.3M [2,404/$6,817] $84.6 2. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN (Overture) $7.4M [2,764/$2,679] $51.4M 3. ASTRO BOY (Summit/Imagi) $3.4M [3,020/$1,146] $11.3M ...

Agent Adam Isaacs Coulda Been 'V' Lizard
Deadline.com — The premiere of the Warner Bros show V on ABC has brought back some memories for WME agent Adam Isaacs. As he told me years ago, "I auditioned to be a guest lizard named Howie -- a sort of Jewish guest lizard -- on the original V . And it was during my third callback that I decided 'I don't think I can do this,' and I didn't want to be an actor anymore. And that sent me from LA back to NY and into the William Morris training program. Robert Englund [aka Freddy Krueger] got the part, and when I saw his performance, I thought, 'I so could have done that better.'"

MPAA BETRAYS THEATERS: Asks FCC To Let Studios Transmit First-Run Films Directly To Consumers
Deadline.com — Washington, D.C. – In a filing today with the Federal Communications Commission, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) reinforced the benefits of allowing studios the option of sending movies fresh from the box office to tens of millions of American households. “Many of us love movies, but we just can’t make it to the theater as often as we’d like.  That is especially true for parents of young children, rural Americans who live far from the multiplex and people with disabilities that keep them close to home,”  MPAA Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman said.  “Having the added option to enjoy movies in a more timely fashion at ...

UTA Directors Pull 'The Tourist' Switcharoo
Deadline.com — The project The Tourist , which the trades recently announced with such fanfare because it stars Angelina Jolie and now Johnny Depp, is already switching directors. The articles fingered Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck as director but he was not locked in and did not yet have a deal. Others say he's off the pic because the producers found him "difficult and demanding". To which Florian's UTA defenders say: "Of course he's demanding. He's an auteur ." Now another UTA client, Alfonso Cuaron, will direct. Meanwhile, Depp is still another UTA client.

Wallace & Gromit Celebrate 20 Years...
Deadline.com — Wallace Gromit ...with a Google Doodle. The beloved plasticine duo appeared as an illustration on the Google UK homepage this week to mark the 20 years since Nick Park's duo appeared in public back in 1989 at an animation festival in the 22-minute romp A Grand Day Out , later broadcast by the BBC. As The Guardian reported, "so a UK institution was born". But they're pretty darn popular worldwide, too.

THE END OF 'OPRAH' AS WE KNOW HER: Daytime Queen Giving Up Syndicated Talk Show & Moving It To Her Cable Network In 2011
Deadline.com — oprah300 EXCLUSIVE: One of the biggest questions in the TV biz has been when, and even if, Oprah Winfrey would give up her daytime syndicated talk show to focus on OWN, her long delayed Oprah Winfrey Network in 70 million homes that was supposed to launch in place of the Discovery Health Channel as a joint venture between Winfrey and Discovery Communications. Industry analysts have been betting that the daytime queen would extend The Oprah Winfrey Show for at least another year or two because of the huge cash license fees which stations have long paid her. But people around Oprah are telling me that won't happen. They say that ...

THIS IS IT SOUNDTRACK NUMBER ONE
FilmDrunk.com — In people buying songs they already have news, the soundtrack to This is It hit number one on the Billboard charts this week, selling 373,000 copies.  Nothing against people wanting to own the soundtrack, I guess, the songs are still good.  But to everyone who rushed out to see the movie or who really wants to see the movie or thinks the movie is great, go ahead and line up behind white guys with dreadlocks, people who listen to techno in car, people who own TapouT gear (Tommy TapouTs), and the viewership of Two and a Half Men.  ...

THIS IS IT SOUNDTRACK NUMBER ONE
FilmDrunk: Movie news you can make fun of — In people buying songs they already have news, the soundtrack to This is It hit number one on the Billboard charts this week, selling 373,000 copies.  Nothing against people wanting to own the soundtrack, I guess, the songs are still good.  But to everyone who rushed out to see the movie or who really wants to see the movie or thinks the movie is great, go ahead and line up behind white guys with dreadlocks, people who listen to techno in car, people who own TapouT gear (Tommy TapouTs), and the viewership of Two and a Half Men.  ...

Here's What CBS Is Saying About Oprah
Deadline.com — My news this morning that the daytime diva has decided to give up her syndicated talk show and move it to her namesake cable network OWN in 2011, amid Discovery Communications' demands that she "move it or lose it", caught CBS by surprise. The Eye was counting on a 1- or 2-year renewal if The Oprah Winfrey Show which its CBS Television Distribution syndicates. "In all honesty, we have not heard she's made a decision yet whether to continue," an insider tells me. "We think we're still in the talking stages. To our minds, it's a non-decision." CBS had scheduled a face-to-face meeting a month ago with Oprah and her personal and ...

Oh How The Once Mighty Have Fallen
Deadline.com — So today producer Mark Canton was seen screaming at Kate Mantilini's maitre'd. "Do you know who I am? Mark Canton! You can look up my credits!" Now, I go to that restaurant all the time, and the people who work there couldn't be nicer. But it turns out the one-time studio exec has been using Kate's to hold industry meetings, but not to eat the food. So when the eatery was full today, and Canton was between meetings, the maitre'd asked if Mark was actually going to order lunch this time around or just talk business again. That's when Canton became enraged and started making a spectacle of himself. What an asshole.

'Dr. Phil' Show Re-Ups Through 2014
Deadline.com — I've confirmed that Dr. Phil McGraw has announced to his staff that he has signed on for another 3 years in addition to the 2 years still left on his contract. His show is syndicated by CBS TV Distribution and his own Peteski Production. So rest assured those cheatin', lyin', spendin', cryin' couples will get his help.

More Showbiz Jobs Move To Louisiana
Deadline.com — hollywood south Pixel Magic today announced a new digital media studio at LITE in Lafayette. It could create 40 direct new jobs in 3 years. "Pixel Magic is a great example of the kind of companies we hoped to position Louisiana to secure when we strengthened Louisiana's film production and digital interactive media tax credits during the last legislative session," said Gov. Bobby Jindal. "Pixel Magic's decision to locate in Louisiana will send a signal to Hollywood and to other leading digital media companies that Louisiana is a major player in the digital media industry. This win will help accelerate the development of Lafayette as a ...

WGA Probing "Current Climate" For Writers
Deadline.com — The Writers Guild, West, is in the process of surveying members about why there is so little work in Hollywood right now, how they feel about tha, and what the leadership can do about it: "Dear Fellow Screenwriters & Television Longform Writers:

 As the screenwriters on the Board of Directors, we are asking that you join
us in participating in an online survey. This survey is an
opportunity for all of us working in feature film and television longform to 
provide a candid assessment of the current climate for writers. We expect the data to be enlightening and informative for 
screenwriters as well as for the leadership and staff of the ...

Sony: Jacko's 'This Is It' $144M Worldwide
Deadline.com — Sony announced today that Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT hit the $100 million mark overseas on Thursday after just 9 days of screen time. The estimated international gross through November 5th is $100.2 million. Domestically, the film has taken in an additional $43.8 million for a worldwide total to date of $144 million. Outside of North America, the biggest markets through last night are: Japan - $18.2 million, UK - $11.1 million, Germany - $8.9 million, France - $8.7 million.

Starz Didn't Want Costly DreamWorks; Spielberg's Indie Moving To Showtime
Deadline.com — BusinessWeek 's Ron Grover has a nice scoop : When DreamWorks moved to Disney for distribution, it fell under Disney pay TV deal with Starz through 2012. But Starz balked. You see pay channels like Starz get a piece of the annual $10-$12 a month that a cable operator collects from customers who get the channel. So let’s say that Starz has 18 million subscribers, the last number which owner Liberty Media reported to the SEC. If it gets $5 a month from each subscriber, it generates revenues of $90 million a month or about $1.1 billion a year. The problem comes in the payout to Disney, specifically the number of films Disney ...

"Loads Of Layoffs" At A&E And Lifetime
Deadline.com — That's what I'm hearing has been taking place at the companies late this week. And yet not an official word. How disgusting is that ? A&E Television Networks in August acquired Lifetime Entertainment, and everything is now owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst and NBC Universal.

R.I.P. Nick Counter
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SAG Statements On Nick Counter's Death
Deadline.com — SAG_logo I understand that no one on the SAG board who clashed with the AMPTP's Nick Counter during the long and bitter 2008/2009 round of negotiations before the Unite For Strength/NY/Regional divisions came to power are being allowed to have their say about his passing. But the Screen Actors Guild issued a statement tonight that, "It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Screen Actors Guild’s longtime industry colleague, Nick Counter." Strangely because he barely negotiated against Counter, SAG National Executive Director David White joined newly elected SAG president Ken Howard in issuing the following statement: "Nick Counter ...

CAA Signs Gandolfini Back From WME
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS? NOT FOR STARS: Jim Carrey's & George Clooney's Movies Open Soft Friday
Deadline.com — FRIDAY PM/SATURDAY AM : If there's a Christmas-themed movie opening in November, then it's the official start of the holiday box office. (Hey, no studio waits for Thanksgiving anymore...) First up: Disney's A Christmas Carol . You may know it better as Charles Dickens' novel, but Disney had a problem with title rights, so now it's their pic. Hollywood predicted the 3-D family film to make at least $35M and possibly even $40M this weekend because of its wide release into 3,683 theaters domestically, including 2,035 3-D locations and 181 IMAX screens). But now analysts are saying the Jim Carrey starrer (he plays lotsa roles, including ...

WGA On Nick Counter's Death, Briefly
Deadline.com — Writers Guild of America, West and Writers Guild of America, East issued this statement this weekend from presidents John Wells and Michael Winship on behalf of the WGAW and WGAE: "The Writers Guilds of America, West and East mark the passing of Nick Counter, longtime president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and convey their deepest sympathy to his family."

Walt Disney Studio's Mark Zoradi Exits
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DH Advisory: I've Been Felled By Flu...
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20 Animated Films Vying For 2009 Oscars
Deadline.com — The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences stated today: Beverly Hills, CA — Twenty features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 82nd Academy Awards®. The 20 submitted features are: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Astro Boy Battle for Terra Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Coraline Disney's A Christmas Carol The Dolphin – Story of a Dreamer Fantastic Mr. Fox Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Mary and Max The Missing Lynx Monsters vs. Aliens 9 Planet 51 Ponyo The Princess and the Frog The Secret of Kells Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure A Town Called Panic Up ...

Rich Ross Restructures Disney Studios' Marketing, Distribution, & Operations
Deadline.com — You already know about this by now, but here's this morning's news release that arrived while I was down for the count. I'll come back to work Thursday: Burbank, California – November 11, 2009 -- Rich Ross, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS), announced today a restructuring of the Studio’s Marketing, Distribution, and Operations divisions, reflecting a new strategic direction for bringing content to the global marketplace. This will give the Studio the flexibility, strength and competitive edge it needs to move forward. Under this reorganization, Bob Chapek will take on the new role of president, Distribution, TWDS, and will be ...

Martin Scorsese Honored By Golden Globes
Deadline.com — HOLLYWOOD, CA--(Marketwire - November 12, 2009) - Martin Scorsese will be honored at "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards" on January 17 with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field." The award is voted by the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The show, hosted by Ricky Gervais, will be broadcast live coast to coast Sunday, January 17 on NBC (5 to 8 pm PT, 8 to 11 pm ET) from The Beverly Hilton. Scorsese received two Golden Globe Awards for "Best Director of a Motion Picture"; for "The Departed" and "Gangs of New York." He received five additional Golden Globe ...

Marvel Studios Ups D'Esposito To Co-Prez
Deadline.com — Manhattan Beach, CA – November 12, 2009 – Marvel Studios has promoted Louis D’Esposito to Co-President of Marvel Studios, the Hollywood subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL).  In this new role, D’Esposito will work alongside Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, to oversee the studio’s production schedule as the company continues to produce high-quality films based on Marvel characters.  Prior to this promotion, D’Esposito held the role of President of Physical Production of the studio and oversaw the budget and timeline of all Marvel Studios features, including the blockbuster IRON MAN.  The announcement was made ...

EXCLUSIVE: DISNEY'S BIG JOB SWITCH; CFO Tom Staggs Moving Over To Theme Parks, Theme Parks Chairman Rasulo Moving Over To CFO
Deadline.com — BREAKING NEWS! 3RD UPDATE ( adds new info ) : I first heard the rumor at 10:00 AM, and confirmed it minutes later. Wow, what a shocker from Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger who once again is demonstrating more out-of-the-box thinking and more willingness to shake up the status quo by buying Pixar and Marvel, and moving TV guy Rich Ross to Walt Disney Studios. Iger's actions keep surprising not just the company but also Hollywood and Wall Street. And I hear that internally he's also promising more job swaps in the future. Disney planned to announce this first switch later today when it reported its earnings: it means Disney SVP/CFO Tom Staggs ...

Jacko's 'This Is It' Hits $200M Globally
Deadline.com — Sony just announced that Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT has reached a box office gross of $200 million worldwide. The film has taken in $61 million domestically and more than $140 million internationally. So maybe AEG's prediction setting up all those unrealistic expectations that the pic would make "$250M in its first 5 days" should really have been "$250M in its first several weeks".

Film & TV Animation Writer Stan Berkowitz Receives WGAW Lifetime Award Tonight
Deadline.com — Los Angeles – Emmy-winning writer Stan Berkowitz is set to receive the Writers Guild of America, West Animation Writers Caucus’ twelfth annual Animation Writing Award, recognizing his prolific career and creative contributions to the craft of film and television animation writing, as well as his efforts to organize animation on behalf of the Writers Guild. The AWC’s prestigious lifetime achievement award will be presented to Berkowitz tonight at the AWC’s annual awards ceremony held at WGAW headquarters in Los Angeles. “While Stan has built an acclaimed writing career bringing superheroes to the screen, he's a real-life superhero to the ...

R.I.P. David Lloyd
Deadline.com — Writers are asking me to note the passing of the prolific TV comedy writer David Lloyd. He'll always be remembered for winning the Emmy in 1976 for penning that "Chuckles Bites The Dust" episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show considered one of the genre's best. According to news reports, Lloyd started his career writing jokes for The Jack Paar Show , and also worked on The Bob Newhart Show , Cheers , Taxi , and Frasier . Lloyd also began a true TV sitcom dynasty: his son Christopher is the creator of ABC’s Modern Family , and his son Stephen is a producer for How I Met Your Mother .

Report: Lionsgate Wants MGM Studios?
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'Paranormal Activity' Crosses $100M Cume: Top Grossing R-Rated Thriller Of Past Decade
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Emma Watts Named Sole 20th Fox President
Deadline.com — While I was out to dinner, this news came in, and Alex Young must be gnashing his teeth. That's because Emma Watts has been named President of Production for Twentieth Century Fox signed to a multiyear contract. She will report to Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos. The 11-year Fox veteran finally assumes sole leadership of the production division after serving for the past two years as co-prez of production with Alex Young, who's now a producer on the lot. Watts is currently overseeing a number of pictures set for release next year, including Date Night , Tooth Fairy ,  Marmaduke , and some of the films ...

YIKES! Twilight Saga Fans Already Lining Up For Monday's 'New Moon' Premiere
Deadline.com — Here are photos of Twilight Saga fans camping out on the sidewalks of LA's Westwood at 8 AM for the New Moon premiere there Monday night... twilight camp 3 twilight camp 1 twilight camp 2 twilight camp 4

UTA Signs Mosaic's TV Biz From WME
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MGM Claims Forbearance Until January 31 & Start of Process To Sell/Partner Studio
Deadline.com — November 13, 2009 -- MGM said today its lenders have agreed to extend the forbearance until January 31, 2010.  The lenders took this action in support of the Company’s ongoing efforts to develop and evaluate long-term strategic alternatives to maximize value for its stakeholders.  MGM appreciates the continued support of its lender group for the process it is undertaking.  MGM also said today it is beginning a process to explore various strategic alternatives including operating as a standalone entity, forming strategic partnerships and evaluating a potential sale of the Company.

First Box Office...
Deadline.com — FRIDAY PM/SATURDAY AM : Sources are telling me these first numbers are coming in... analysis to follow shortly... Sony Pictures' 2012 opened as a runaway No. 1 with $25 million Friday for what's looking like a $60+M weekend... Disney's A Christmas Carol showed an excellent hold for No. 2, down just -34% from a week ago with $5.75 million Friday for what could be around $20M for the weekend... Three films are battling for 3rd tonight: Overture's The Men Who Stare At Goats was down -55% from a week ago for $2 million Friday and around $6 million for the weekend. The Fourth Kind distributed by Universal went down -60% for an ...

Goodbye Email From Disney's Gallagher
Deadline.com — Here was the farewell email that Disney's Jim Gallagher sent to his staff this past week: Friends, I've had the pleasure of sending a number of these emails to you all over the past 3+ years, to celebrate our numerous #1 openings and the box office records we've set together. Today however, I am sad to announce that due to the restructuring, I will no longer be President of Marketing for the studios, and that I will be leaving the company. I have been extremely proud of the marketing campaigns we've built and executed together: Pirates 3, WALL-E, Wild Hogs, Disney-Pixar's Up, The Proposal, Hannah Montana: The Movie and the Concert Film, ...

Showtime Rattled By Rival EPIX Arrival
Deadline.com — showtime_logo The saying in Hollywood is, "Never let them see you sweat". But Showtime CEO Matt Blank is rattled by the launch of EPIX -- that new premium entertainment service owned by Viacom, Paramount, Lionsgate and what's left of MGM. So much so that he’s instructed his marketing team to buy Showtime online advertisements on Google every time someone searches for Epix information. How funny is that ? It's not just that EPIX is a rival to Showtime. Epix300 It's also that Showtime lost those Epix studios after playing hardball on the license feesd, which totaled about $300 million in 2008. Showtime has been desperately trying to ...

Ex-Mogul David Kirkpatrick's Sad Saga
Deadline.com — I'm shocked by the incredibly long and in-depth and unsurvivable story and video ( see below ) from today's Boston Globe about David Kirkpatrick, the ex-Hollywood mogul who once upon a time was a big deal at Disney and Paramount until his 1991 firing which brought a smile to the face of a long list of enemies back then. I found him to be a prick of the first order. But I had no idea he'd come to such a miserable end in Massachusetts by dreaming big, promising big, and then failing big for a $650M "Hollywood East". According to the newspaper, he lost virtually all of his wealth over the last decade, and had been reduced to ...

Latest Agency Signings & Hirings
Deadline.com — United Talent Oscar winner Kim Basinger has left her longtime agency CAA to sign with UTA board member and talent head Tracey Jacobs over the weekend.  Basinger will continue to be managed by Oren Segal at Media Talent Group. UTA has hired Jason Egenberg in the TV Talent department. He was previously a manager at Rebel Entertainment. CAAlogo smaller CAA has signed actors: Juliet Binoche, Academy Award winner Nasim Pedrad, a new SNL cast member. Sherri Shepherd, Emmy Award winner, co-host of The View , star of  Sherri Rachel Bilson, of the Fox TV hit The O.C. and films The Last Kiss , Jumper , New York, I Love You Ludicrous, ...

MPTF: Open Letter To Jeffrey Katzenberg
Deadline.com — Wheelchair The group "Saving the Lives of Our Own" has released an Open Letter to Jeffrey Katzenberg in answer to two full-page advertisements by the Motion Picture & Television Fund in a print trade publication last week. Katzenberg is the Chair of the “MPTF Foundation Committee,” and a member of both the Fund Board of Trustees and the MPTF Corp Board of Directors. Saving the Lives of Our Own is a grass-roots coalition of thousands of Entertainment Industry workers and community members whose mission is to keep the MPTF  long-term care facility open, to stop the evictions of its elderly residents, and to ensure that the MPTF promise of ...

Twilight Sequel 'New Moon' #1 Advance Online Ticket Seller, Smashing Records By 'Dark Knight', 'Harry Potter', 'Star Wars'
Deadline.com — UPDATES Twilight Fans Lining Up For Monday's 'New Moon' Premiere EXCLUSIVE : That's what I'm told by Fandango, even though there are still 5 more days before the Summit Entertainmnent's vampire pic based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling books has its November 20 release date.  New Moon has already leaped over previous record-holders to become the top-selling pre-release title in Fandango's 10-year history. The new record for Fandango's fastest-selling film was set on Saturday night, November 14, shortly after 8:00 PM. The Top 5 Advance Ticket-Sellers on Fandango (as of Nov 15th) are now as follows: 1. New Moon (2009) 2. ...

'South Park' Spoof Of Cameron's 'Avatar'
Deadline.com — avatar smurfs small south park The latest episode of South Park is titled “Dancing With Smurfs” and in part parodies James Cameron’s upcoming 3-D sci-fi epic Avatar. I thought this would be more biting, but it does reflect what people have been saying about those Avatar trailers. During the episode, Cartman becomes a Glenn Beck /Bill O’Reilly-like character who villifies the student body president Wendy as a socialist/commie, leaves school in disgust to live with the Smurfs, becomes “one of them,” falls in love with a Smurfette, and leads a revolt against the humans who have come to exploit Smurfland for its energy Smurfberries. ...

News Corp's Gary Ginsberg Stepping Down; Teri Everett & Reed Nolte Moving Up
Deadline.com — NEW YORK, NY, November 16, 2009 – News Corporation today announced that Gary Ginsberg, News Corporation’s Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs, will be leaving the company at the end of the year. newscorplogo “Gary has been one of my most trusted and effective executives over the past decade,” Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO of News Corporation said. “He developed and expertly managed our corporate affairs efforts, spearheaded initiatives that added significant value to our businesses, and is as well-liked and respected a colleague as any in our company. As difficult as it was to accept his decision to ...

Sony Pics' $1.634B Beats Its Overseas Record
Deadline.com — Sony_pictures_logo Sony now claims 2012 "exceeded our estimates" yesterday by over $5 million worldwide. So Roland Emmerich's disaster pic did $165.2 million overseas and $65.2 million domestically for a new worldwide total of $230.4 million. That helped Sony Pictures set a new studio record for international box office with $1.634 billion for 2009, and counting, that broke the 2006 previous record. The studio thinks it's on track for "the best box office year worldwide" in its history and issued a press release to that effect. That's because of big overseas numbers for 2012 , Angels & Demons ($352M), Terminator Salvation ...

Time Warner To Lose Its Albatross Dec. 9
Deadline.com — The Ancient Mariner and Time Warner have a lot in common: an albatross. The Big Media company said today it will finally spin off AOL on December 9th. The online company will start trading a day later on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AOL." Time Warner shareholders of record as of November 27th will receive one share of AOL stock for every 11 shares of Time Warner.

'Avatar' World Premiere in London Dec. 10
Deadline.com — Given all the advance publicity that Avatar is getting, expect news alerts every time someone connected with the pic sneezes. (Deal with it, people...) I've learned that James Cameron’s  Avatar will have its world premiere on December 10th in London before an audience of 3,000 at the Odeon and Empire cinemas in Leicester Square. The press junket also will be in London, chosen as the best site to coordinate global press. There'll be another premiere in Los Angeles to follow.

David Janollari In Negotiations For MTV Job
Deadline.com — EXCLUSIVE : I've just learned that TV producer David Janollari is negotiating with MTV to become the head of West Coast development. MTVNetworkssmall The deal is far from done, and it's described to me as not the same job held by Brian Graden, who was the overpaid president of entertainment of MTV Networks' Music and Logo group until last June. But MTV clearly now is looking for an experienced exec -- i.e. a grown-up -- to straighten out its ratings-challenged entertainment mess. Janollari is a management vet who was The WB's President of Entertainment and before that head of comedy development under then Warner Bros Television ...

Bonnie Fuller's & MMC's HollywoodLife.com Launches New Female-Focused Celebrity & Lifestyle Destination
Deadline.com — Full Disclosure: HollywoodLife.com is part of MMC, which purchased DeadlineHollywood in June. All of MMC's websites operate independently from each other, so it's my own choice to run this news release. Who knew I can be a team player? New York, NY (November 17, 2009) - Bonnie Fuller and Jay Penske, Founder and CEO of MMC, are proud to announce the November 17th launch of HollywoodLife.com , a vibrant new female-focused online destination that provides celebrity and entertainment news alongside an interactive conversation about lifestyle, health, fashion, and beauty, for women 18-35 years. The launch marks the ...

Golden Globes Animation Category Expands
Deadline.com — There will be five contenders for the Best Animated Feature category when the bogus 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations are announced at 5 AM (PT) on December 15th. Members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association voted last week to expand this year's number of nominations for Best Animated Feature to five. The amended rule now reads: Eligible films must be feature-length (70 minutes or longer) with no more than 25% live action. If less than eight animated films qualify, the award will not be given, in which case the films would be eligible for Best Picture. If less than twelve animated films qualify, the category will be ...

'New Moon' 94% Of Online Ticket Sales
Deadline.com — Fandango says New Moon ’s Thursday night midnight showtimes continue to sell out. Although thousands of New Moon showtimes have already sold out in cities and towns across the country, tickets are still available as theater owners regularly add screens and post new showtimes online. “Twi-Hard” fans have made New Moon the #1 daily ticket-seller, representing 94% of today’s sales. Even the Thursday night re-release of Twilight is coming in as the #2 top daily ticket-seller, representing 2% of today’s sales.

EMAILS TELL THE STORY: A-List Board & Foundation Members Hiding From MPTF
Deadline.com — Wheelchair It's time to once more highlight the discraceful silence of Hollywood stars over the long-term care closings at the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Particularly appalling is the extent to which A-list board and foundation members now are distancing themselves from the MPTF and its scandal. I've obtained the following email exchange between Kevin Spacey's publicist and Guy Adams, the Independent UK newspaper journalist whose  article ...

EXCLUSIVE: Carl Icahn Buying Up MGM Bonds "Like A Bat Out Of Hell" -- Sources
Deadline.com — Mgmlogosmall I've just learned from sources that MGM Studios bonds are "running like fucking crazy" today and are pricing up "very high" in trading. "To the tune of high 60s which is insane," an insider tells me. The reason? Because Carl Icahn is now in the game. My sources say Icahn is buying up "a ton of bonds like a bat out of hell. He's in Carl mode: buy first, ask later, and then throw lawyers at it". In terms of quantity, one best guess is in the 100s of millions of dollars -- but could even be higher. (It's impossible to know for sure because these bonds are privately traded.) This follows phone calls yesterday between ...

'A Serious Man' Michael Stuhlbarg To ICM
Deadline.com — ICM just signed Michael Stuhlbarg, who is receiving Oscar buzz for his role in the Coen Brother's film A SERIOUS MAN. He is also one of the leads in Martin Scorsese's upcoming HBO series, BOARDWALK EMPIRE.  He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in PILLOW MAN and recently played Hamlet for the NY Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. He continues to be managed by Lisa Loosemore.

Graham King Getting Into Television
Deadline.com — graham king oscar My favorite Graham King story starts with him valet parking cars in Santa Monica a long, long time ago. Now he makes movies with Marty and Leo and Johnny. Which is why hope springs eternal for Hollywood wannabes. Still, I've always considered the television biz way more cutthroat than the movie biz, so the producer's Academy Award isn't going to cut it now that he has launched a new company division "dedicated to the development, production and worldwide distribution of television programming", GK-TV. To gain an edge, Graham has hired former Lionsgate EVP/international TV programming and sales exec Craig Cegielski to ...

Sony Pictures To Market & Distribute CBS Films Overseas & Home Entertainment
Deadline.com — cbs films The only interesting part of this story is that now CBS Films will compete with Paramount films. Look what Sumner Redstone's dunderhead decision to completely separate them into public companies has wrought. Sony_pictures_logo CBS Films is doing their own domestic theatrical and television distribution as well as retaining rights in a limited number of foreign territories, then put the rest of their international theatrical and wordwide video distribution out for bid. So Sony Pictures' Peter Schlessel and Jeff Blake signed a 3-year marketing and distribution deal with CBS Films. Sony Pictures will handle international ...

DH Advisory: Email Alert Apology
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FANS & FANGS! Hollywood Thinks 'New Moon' Can Do 'Iron Man' Numbers
Deadline.com — new-moon-poster-teaser Of course Summit Entertaining is lowering expectations, privately saying that the Twilight sequel will do $85 million from 4,000+ theaters on Friday, including Thursday midnights. That's despite all the hype and sold out screenings. "Because hard comps haven't seen something like this," a studio insider tells me. But my quick survey of box office analysts shows that Hollywood is expecting New Moon to do Iron Man numbers, or $100M. Iron Man , too, was a highly anticipated pic with a built-in audience because of branded material opening on a 3-day weekend (albeit the start of the summer movie season) playing ...

TOLDJA! Hamish Hamilton To Direct Oscars
Deadline.com — UPDATES : Have Oscar Producers Found A Director? Negotiations Are Underway The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences just announced: Beverly Hills, CA — Hamish Hamilton will direct the 82nd Academy Awards® telecast, show producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman announced today.  It will be Hamilton’s first time directing the Oscar show. “Hamish is a first-rate live-show director who will bring enthusiasm, experience and a fresh eye to the table,” said Shankman. “He’s also a master of working with all of the latest technology in television production, which speaks to the kind of cutting-edge show Bill and I are planning.” ...

DirectTV Taps Top Pepsi Exec As Topper
Deadline.com — News reports say DirecTV will announce today that Michael White, CEO of PepsiCo International and vice chairman of PepsiCo, will be the new No. 1 at DirectTV. White replaces Chase Carey, who left to become the No. 2 at News Corp. White will start in January and join DirectTV's board of directors. DirecTV is in the process of splitting off from John Malone's Liberty Media into a stand-alone publicly traded entity.

NBC To Broadcast 62nd Emmys August 29
Deadline.com — emmy UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November 18, 2009 – NBC will broadcast the "62nd Primetime Emmy® Awards" live on Sunday, August 29 (8-11 p.m. ET; other time zones delayed), it was announced today by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "NBC is excited to host television's biggest night with the Primetime Emmy Awards," said Telegdy. "Scheduling and announcing the telecast for August 29 this early in the awards cycle will give the Television Academy and NBC a head start on creative discussions." The first time NBC broadcast the Primetime Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006 -- due to ...

HBO Renews 'Real Time With Bill Maher'
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UTA Promotes Two Agents To Partner
Deadline.com — United Talent UTA board member Tracey Jacobs made the announcement this morning to the agency that talent agents Billy Lazarus and Shani Rosenzweig have been promoted to the UTA partnership. Both joined the agency about 10 years ago.  Lazarus, who reps clients such as Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Dempsey, Sigourney Weaver, Joseph Fiennes, Sandra Oh, Hope Davis, Kyra Sedgwick, and Emily Watson, joined the agency from the PR firm Huvane Baum Halls before it merged with PMK. Rosenzweig, whose clients include Paul Rudd, Jason Bateman, Tim Robbins, Josh Peck, Vincent D’Onofrio, Michelle Rodriguez, Wilmer Valderrama, Michael Keaton, William ...

MovieTickets: 'New Moon' All Time No. 1
Deadline.com — UPDATES Hollywood Thinks 'New Moon' Can Do 'Iron Man' Numbers UPDATES Fandango: 'New Moon' #1 Advance Online Seller Now MovieTickets.com says New Moon today became its No. 1 on its list of the Top 10 Advance Ticket Sellers of All Time. It unseated  Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith , and film franchises including Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings as it set a new record.  “ New Moon has broken a record that has stood unchallenged for almost five years,” Joel Cohen, executive vice president and general manager, MovieTickets.com, said in a statement. “While this achievement is significant, it comes as ...

'New Moon' Opened Internationally Today
Deadline.com — The film is opening in about 1/4 as many territories as 2012 is already playing in its 2nd week. So don't expect the vampires and werewolves to beat the end of the world pic this weekend. New Moon will be in 75 territories total, rolling out from today through Sunday in 25 markets and maxing out by mid-December. This is said to be the tightest independent worldwide release ever. A majority of the countries outside of the US and Canada will open within the first 3 weeks, including Japan. From November 18-20th, New Moon is opening in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Brazil, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, ...

15 Documentaries Advance In Oscar Voting
Deadline.com — Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category. The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company: “The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris) “Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films) “The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society) “Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment) “Facing ...

Anne Hathaway Wanted For 'Spider-Man 4'
Deadline.com — EXCLUSIVE: You know I'm insecure about my geek bonafides which I've been trying to improve in recent years. (Heck, I grew up never reading a single comic book. But I'm aware that the Internet has been afloat with Spider-Man 4 casting rumors in recent days. While Sony Pictures insists no decisions have been made, sources tell me that the producers have approached Anne Hathaway to star in the film. Maybe you experts have an idea what she'll play? All I know is that she's wanted for a starring role, and she won't replace Kirsten Dunst who's also cast in the Spidey fourquel.