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Chuti Tiu Signed on to Star in “Desire”
Chuti Tiu will join the cast of the My Network TV series “Desire.” The nighttime drama, produced by Stephen Brown, details the destruction of a family when two brothers on the run from the mafia become embroiled in a passionate battle over the same woman. “Desire” will debut September 5.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 11 2006 -- Chuti Tiu will join Zack Silva, Michelle Belegrin and Nate Haden in the My Network TV series “Desire.” The nighttime drama, produced by Stephen Brown, details the destruction of a family when two brothers on the run from the mafia become embroiled in a passionate battle over the same woman. “Desire” will debut September 5.
Tiu first got noticed on the pageant circuit as the first non-Caucasian America’s Junior Miss; a few years later she was selected as Miss Illinois and won the Miss America Pageant Talent Award for her classical piano performance. Art imitated life when Tiu got a lead role in Sally Field's directorial debut "Beautiful." Other credits include "The Specials" with Rob Lowe and Thomas Hayden Church, “Dragnet,” and recurring roles on “24” and “General Hospital.”
Vance Gerry, Veteran Disney Storyman/Visual Development Artist Since 1955, Dead at Age 75; Credits Include 'The Jungle Book,' 'Pocahontas,' 'Tarzan'
BURBANK, Calif., March 8, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Vance Gerry, a veteran Disney animation storyman, layout artist, and visual development artist since 1955, passed away on Saturday, March 5th at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California, of complications from cancer. He was 75 years old. Regarded as one of the most talented and creative story artists in the animation industry, Gerry contributed to such classic Disney animated features as "101 Dalmatians," "The Jungle Book," "The Aristocats," "Robin Hood," "The Rescuers," "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," "The Great Mouse Detective," "Oliver & Company," "Pocahontas," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Hercules," "Tarzan," "Fantasia/2000," and "Home on the Range." Up until his death, Gerry continued to work closely with 96-year-old Disney legend Joe Grant (who co-wrote "Dumbo," and designed the Queen/Witch character for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), and Burny Mattinson (a 50-year veteran himself whose credits include animating, directing and storyman), adapting books and developing original story ideas. The trio comically referred to their group as the "Geriatricals."
Commenting on Gerry's passing, Grant said, "Vance was one of the finest graphic artists of our times, and he also was a great storyteller. I wish I had known him sooner and worked with him longer. In addition to his interests and talents in the field of animation, he was a master of topography and design. I loved working with him. He made an enormous impact in the art world of animation and he made coming to work a lot of fun."
Don Hahn, producer of such animated blockbusters as "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King," added, "Vance had his fingerprints all over such iconic animated films as 'The Jungle Book,' '101 Dalmatians,' and 'Beauty and the Beast.' He was a writer's writer and his sense of storytelling and influence on all of us was profound. He was one of the smartest and most charming storymen the industry has seen. A generation of filmmakers studied under his wing and learned from his spectacular storyboards. It wasn't that he drew better than others, or wrote better than others, or communicated emotion and character better than others. It was that he did all these things and did them well for decades that makes Vance's legacy stand apart."
Born in Pasadena, California in 1929, Gerry studied at the Chouinard Art Institute before joining Disney in 1955. He began his career as an assistant in-betweener. Moving on to layout artist, he contributed to such Disney television shows as "The Goofy Success Story," "Goofy's Cavalcade of Sports," and "How to Relax," and such featurettes as "The Truth About Mother Goose," and "Donald in Mathmagic Land." As a layout artist, he also worked on the features, "101 Dalmatians," and "The Sword in the Stone."
Gerry exhibited his talents for story beginning with the 1967 Disney classic, "The Jungle Book," and went on to be a major contributor to such other Disney favorites as "The Aristocats," "Robin Hood," "The Rescuers," "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," "The Fox and the Hound," "The Black Cauldron," "Oliver & Company," and "Hercules." He received a story adaptation credit for the 1986 Disney feature, "The Great Mouse Detective." For "Fantasia/2000," he worked on the conceptual storyboards for the "Carnival of the Animals" sequence.
From 1995 forward, Gerry turned his attention to visual development and character design. In those capacities, he contributed to such later features as "Pocahontas," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Tarzan," and "Home on the Range."
Discussing his work with animation historian John Canemaker for the book, "Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists," Gerry expressed a relaxed confidence about the creative process. "It doesn't take much to get started," he said. "I'd just as soon start with a title of a picture and just start dreaming into it. A script is restricting because it tells you too much. I'd rather start earlier than that and look for possibilities for animation and entertainment, rather than story elements or structure. A lot of things come quick at first. But once you get really tired of a project and can't stand it anymore, that's the time you're really going to get going on it. All the things that the guys work on so hard for a long time usually come off better."
In addition to his activities at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Gerry also operated his own letter press, The Weatherbird Press, which published many fine print graphic books.
Gerry is survived by his wife, Mary, of 48 years, and his niece, Elizabeth Soder, of Red Bluff, California. A memorial service is scheduled for this Friday (3/11) at 1:00 pm at Annandale Golf Club (One N. San Rafael Ave.) in Pasadena. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the International Museum of Graphic Communication, 8469 Kass Drive, Buena Park, CA 90621; 714/523-2080.
Volkswagen Supports Film Talent From All Over World
WOLFSBURG/BERLIN, Germany, February 9/PRNewswire/ --
- Berlinale Talent Campus Starts on 12 April 2008
As a main partner of the 55th Berlin International Film Festival, Volkswagen
is again focusing on emerging talent with its support of the Berlinale
Talent Campus. "Following a successful start to cooperation, Volkswagen
is now partnering the Berlinale Talent Campus for the second time. Our
work to support up-and-coming talent, where we have been active in the
music scene with the Volkswagen Sound Foundation since 1997, is now being
intensified further through our participation in the film sector,"
said Dirk Grosse-Leege, Head of Volkswagen Group Communications.
The Berlinale Talent Campus has invited 530 talented filmmakers from 90
nations to the Berlin "House of World Cultures" from 12 - 17
April 2008. The spotlight is on an exchange of experience and networking
with international film personalities. Professional filmmakers such as
directors Ridley Scott ("Gladiator"), Roland Emmerich ("The
Day After Tomorrow"), Catherine Breillat ("Romance") or
Stephen Frears ("High Fidelity") will share their knowledge
during interviews and discussions, as will actor Kai Wiesinger ("Comedian
Harmonists") and production designer Dante Ferretti ("Gangs
Of New York").
The Volkswagen Score Competition is once again being held at the 2005
Berlinale Talent Campus. 34 candidates have already set to music a scene
from the hit film "Good Bye Lenin", a scene from Thomas Struck's
film "Hearts" and a Volkswagen Concept-C commercial. The three
finalists Ognjan Milosevic (YU), Marc Teitler (GB) and Bernd Wuertz (GER)
will now be working with the Film Orchestra Babelsberg, setting the clips
to music at a professional sound studio. The winner will be announced
at the Berlinale Talent Campus farewell event on 17 February. "The
competition represented an enormous opportunity for me as well as the
other participants," said Canadian Tom Third, who won the Volkswagen
Score Competition in 2004 and will soon be taking up his prize, namely
a place at the "School of Sound" Symposium in London: "We
received support from some of the best composers and musicians in the
world," he added.
This year, the motto of the Berlinale Talent Campus is "Designing
Your Future!". In addition to the Volkswagen Score Competition Volkswagen
supports two other events at the Berlinale Talent Campus. From 2.00 p.m.
on 13 April 2008, Sir Christopher Frayling (Director of the Royal College
of Art, London) will chair a discussion panel on design trends composed
of prominent personalities such as Peter Schreyer (Head of Advanced Design,
Volkswagen AG), Ridley Scott and Dante Feretti. At 10.00 a.m. on the same
day, the Volkswagen Coaching GmbH will be cooperating with producers Jonathan
Olsberg ("Head In The Clouds") and Sanford Lieberson ("Jabberwocky")
at an event entitled "Successful Teams And How To Overcome Conflicts",
sharing useful knowledge with young talent in the film industry.
Volkswagen is providing the Berlinale Talent Campus with four Touareg
for the VIP shuttle service and seven Multivans for film teams, some of
whom will be taking part in the "Talent Movie Of The Week" digital
short film competition. Under its Berlinale commitment, Volkswagen is
also supporting "Shooting Stars 2005", an event at which European
Film Promotion will be presenting 21 emerging European actors to the public.
The 20 year-old actor Max Riemelt from Berlin ("Napola") has
been nominated for Germany.
Production Begins on Lions Gate Films 'Wannabe' Starring Pell James, Steven Strait, Ashlee Simpson, Shannyn Sossamon, Fisher Stevens and Carrie Fisher With Kip Pardue
Film Marks Feature Film Debut of Ashlee Simpson
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 16, 2004 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) -- Principal photography begins this week in Los Angeles, CA on WANNABE it was announced today by Mike Paseornek, President of Production, Lions Gate Films, the motion picture production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE:LGF) Toronto. Lions Gate Films has North American rights with Lakeshore Entertainment handling international sales and distribution.
The film stars Pell James (The King, Uptown Girls), Steven Strait (Sky High) and Ashlee Simpson (Seventh Heaven, The Ashlee Simpson Show), making her feature film debut. Also starring Shannyn Sossamon (40 Days and 40 Nights, A Knights Tale), Fisher Stevens (The Flamingo Kid, Hackers) and Carrie Fisher (Star Wars, When Harry Met Sally) with Kip Pardue (Remember The Titans, Thirteen). Meiert Avis, the acclaimed music video director and documentary filmmaker who has worked extensively with U2, Melissa Etheridge, Bruce Springsteen and Audio Slave, directs. He was recently nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for best breakthrough video for New Found Glory's "All Down Hill From Here." The film is being produced by Michael Burns of Lions Gate; Tom Rosenberg and Gary Luchessi of Lakeshore Entertainment; Michael Ohoven and Marco Mehlitz for Cinerenta, executive produced by Joe Simpson and Eberhard Kayser, and will be photographed by Danny Hiele.
Set in the world of up-and-coming artists, WANNABE is a heartfelt and comic film that tells the story of an aspiring model who falls in love with a struggling musician when they suddenly cross paths on a NY subway train. Having achieved success as a NY model, Brier (James) decides to move to L.A. to launch an acting career. With the support of her acerbic agent and sometimes surrogate mom, Carrie (Fisher), Brier lands a spot in a highly sought after acting class where she befriends another would-be actress, Clea (Simpson). While out on the town discovering the music scene, Brier again crosses paths with Luke (Strait), a singer/songwriter who has been toiling for years without a record deal. Brier and Clea decide to help Luke and unbeknownst to him, they set out to create some L.A. style hype to get him noticed. As Luke's profile rises, so do the demands of his budding new career. When Luke and Brier can't hide the spark that was always there, they both discover that the price of fame may be higher than anyone expected.
"We are very excited to be bringing together such a talented cast with an acclaimed director for an uplifting romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations associated with fame," said Paseornek.
Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of approximately 8000 titles is one of the largest in the entertainment industry. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
Lakeshore
Entertainment's upcoming slate includes the Clint Eastwood directed MILLION
DOLLAR BABY starring Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman set for
release this December by Warner Bros; the action/horror film THE CAVE
to be released by Screen Gems, April 2008.
Web site: http://www.lgf.com/
Studios File First Wave of Suits Against Online Illegal File Traders
Two More Anti-Piracy Initiatives Unveiled
Video Software Dealers Association Alliance Brings Anti-Piracy Trailers and Information to Thousands of Stores
Free Software Will Give Computer Users New Tool to Help Identify Peer-to-Peer Applications and List All Movie and Music Titles on Their Hard Drive
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2004 (PRNewswire) -- The initial wave of lawsuits targeting online traders of illegally copied films has been filed in courts throughout the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America Inc. announced today. The civil suits against individual infringers cover copyright violations on major P2P networks and seek damages and injunctive relief.
"The motion-picture industry must pursue legal proceedings against people who are stealing our movies on the Internet," said MPAA President and CEO Dan Glickman. "The future of our industry, and of the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports, must be protected from this kind of outright theft using all available means."
Under the Copyright Act, an individual can be liable for as much as $30,000 for each motion picture illegally traded over the Internet, and as much as $150,000 per motion picture if such infringement is proven to be willful.
MPAA Announces Two Additional Initiatives
"Litigation alone is not the solution," Glickman emphasized, "but it is part of a broader MPAA effort that includes education and new technological tools among other components. That's why I'm pleased to announce a public- outreach partnership with the Video Software Dealers Association and the availability shortly of free software to help people determine what music and movie files and P2P applications are on their computers."
The VSDA's members will bring the MPAA's anti-piracy ad campaign, "Rated I: Inappropriate for All Ages," to approximately 10,000 video stores nationwide. Beginning in December, those stores will play anti-piracy trailers on in-store monitors and display anti-piracy posters and counter cards.
"Video retailers are threatened with significant losses from illegal online file trading of movies and bootleg copies sold on the streets," VSDA President Bo Andersen said. "A key element of the strategy to confront this growing threat to our industry is to educate the public and change the culture from one of lawlessness to one of respect for the work and property of others. With their neighborhood locations and strong customer relationships, video stores are in an excellent position to educate millions of consumers about the problem and consequences of movie piracy."
Similar "Rated I" material has been featured in recent months in theaters, newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. The trailers -- "Street Vendor," which deals with hard-goods piracy, and "Downloader," which addresses online piracy -- will alternate monthly for an indefinite period. The posters and counter cards will feature messages -- "Parental Guidance Suggested" and "You Can Click, But You Can't Hide" -- that the MPAA unveiled earlier this year.
"Movie piracy is not a victimless crime and the victims are not limited to just one industry," said Glickman. "We are proud to join with the VSDA in extending educational efforts against a problem that affects both our industries."
Software to Eliminate Illegal Files Available Shortly
The MPAA also announced the availability soon of a free program that identifies movie and music titles stored on a computer, along with any installed peer-to-peer file-swapping programs. Information generated by the program would be made available only to the program's user, and would not be shared with or reported to the MPAA or any other body. Armed with the program's findings, a computer user can remove infringing movies or music files, and remove any P2P applications.
"Our ultimate goal is to help consumers locate the resources and information they need to make appropriate decisions about using and trading illegal files," said Glickman. "Many parents are concerned about what their children have downloaded and where they've downloaded it from. They will find this tool to be an excellent resource. "
The MPAA's http://www.respectcopyrights.org/ site will link to the download site for the Windows-compatible program when it becomes available. The MPAA plans to provide easy access to other such tools in coming months, as demand continues to grow for programs that protect computers from the deleterious effects of peer-to-peer software, including such common problems as viruses, Trojan horses and identity theft.
"These initiatives are part of our efforts to ensure the Digital Age does not get commandeered by thieves who see it as an open grab bag," Glickman said. "The motion-picture industry is embracing Digital Age technologies, such as Movielink and CinemaNow, that will create so many exciting new opportunities. But legal services such as these need a chance to grow and thrive without having to compete against illegitimate operations that depend on stolen property to survive."
Fighting Piracy in Many Ways, Many Places
The MPAA also continues to battle piracy in many forms on many fronts. Over the past two months alone, dozens of law-enforcement raids worldwide have shut down numerous hard-goods piracy operations, including:
* In Los
Angeles, 28 street vendors were arrested and more than 19,500
pirated discs were seized. In New York City, 56 street vendors were
arrested and more than 4,200 pirated discs were seized. In
Philadelphia, 26 street vendors were arrested and more than 4,800
pirated discs were seized.
* In Santiago,
Chile, three raids were conducted against groups with
suspected organized-crime ties. Police seized more than 2,000 pirated
discs, high-speed burners and other replication equipment.
* In Manchester,
England, a raid netted 4,000 pirated movies, an Uzi
submachine gun, three other firearms and three machetes. Also in the
UK, more than 92,900 pirated DVDs from Malaysia were seized at Heathrow
Airport, part of more than 320,000 pirated discs seized in that country
during September. So far this year, more than 2.1 million pirated discs
have been seized in the United Kingdom.
* In Germany,
after a year-long investigation, eight locations were
raided and four individuals were arrested, shutting down that country's
largest pirate website, which had 45,000 paying subscribers.
* In Iceland,
12 recent raids targeted administrators of three DC++ hubs.
Seven people were arrested and computers with more than 11 terabytes of
copyrighted material were seized. The raids temporarily reduced
Internet traffic in and out of Iceland by more than 50 percent.
* In China,
a raid in Guangdong province resulted in the seizure of two
replication lines, two printing machines and 120,000 pirated movies.
Hong Kong police raided a major crime organization, resulting in 1,570
arrests and massive seizures, including 160,000 pirated movies.
The MPAA also has moved on numerous fronts to fight the illegal camcording in theaters of motion pictures, a major source of the original pirated movie files found online. The MPAA has backed enactment of anti-camcording laws in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The MPAA has created customized versions of its anti-piracy trailers for theaters in 26 countries. The MPAA also has joined with the National Association of Theatre Owners to create a rewards program for theater employees who identify and halt illegal camcording.
Los Angeles Center Studios Celebrates Five Years of Steady Growth, Reaching 7,500 Shooting Days on Stage and Location for 900 Film, Television, Commercial, and Music Video Productions
Los Angeles' Premiere Independent Studio Now Offering Long-Term Office Leases for Entertainment-Related and Creative Tenants
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2004 (PRNewswire) -- Los Angeles Center Studios (LACS), L.A.'s premiere independent movie studio, today celebrated its five-year anniversary as the most advanced, full-service independent studio campus in Southern California. During the past five years, major movie studios, top- rated television shows, and commercial and music video production companies have used the various stages, facilities and services of the 20-acre downtown L.A. campus for the production of approximately 900 film, television, commercial, and music video properties.
Monthly utilization of the six 18,000 square foot soundstages has averaged 75 percent over five years. In September 2004, location shooting for all productions at LACS surpassed 1,500 days. Growing demand from the production and creative community has resulted in the transformation of the Tower Building into 250,000 square feet of long term 'Class A' office space available in configurations from 1,000 to 100,000 square feet. Commercial real estate brokerage firm Ramsey Shilling has been awarded the contract to lease Tower Office suites at LACS.
"Los Angeles Center Studios is excited to be an integral partner and flexible, service-oriented host to hundreds of film and TV productions each year," said Sam Nicassio, President of Los Angeles Center Studios. "We are proud of the creative community for their efforts in keeping production in Los Angeles and are especially pleased that many productions on the lot are a result of repeat business from directors, producers and crew members who enjoy working in a full-service, collaborative creative environment."
Movies and television shows filmed at LACS that are currently in production or post-production include: "Alibi," "The Aviator," "Constantine," "Domino," "Elizabethtown," "Fun with Dick and Jane," "If Only it Were True," "In Good Company," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "Mrs. Harris" and "The Ring 2."
In addition to production and location work, LACS has built up a solid reputation as a special event location. Since 1999, LACS has hosted over 150 events with guest count ranging from 100 to 7,000. LACS' full service event team enables hosts to stage events that take advantage of the lots' 400 seat theatre, Flix Cafe, sound stages, enclosed city streets, and thousands of secured parking spaces.
About Los Angeles Center Studios
Los Angeles Center Studios is a campus integrating a cross section of film-related companies into a dynamic, collaborative entertainment community. Set on 20-acres in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, this full-service studio features six 18,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art soundstages and 450,000 square feet of short and long term 'Class A' office space for entertainment-related and creative companies. With the amenities of a full-service studio and multiple special event venues to accommodate from 100 to 10,000 people, Los Angeles Center Studios can meet or exceed the requirements of nearly any production or event.
Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX's The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience is a Run-Away Hit
Biggest Opening Weekend for Hollywood Simultaneous Release
The First-Ever Hollywood Feature Film in IMAX(R) 3D Opens to Sold Out Shows and Record Advanced Sales
NEW YORK, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience, the first-ever Hollywood feature film converted to IMAX(R) 3D, set the record for the highest opening weekend for a Hollywood simultaneous release with just over $2.1 million in box office in IMAX(R) theatres. The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX; TSX:IMX). In the first five days, the film grossed $3.0 million in 59 IMAX theatres in North America, with an impressive per screen average of $50,847.
IMAX theatres in all regions of the country reported sold out shows, very strong advanced sales and an outstanding response from audiences to the IMAX 3D format. Some highlights include:
- National
Amusements, which opened four new IMAX theatres timed to the
film's release on November 10 (White Plains, NY; Buckland Hills,
Connecticut; Louisville, Kentucky; Springdale, Ohio), experienced sold
out shows in all of their IMAX Theatres as well as record group sales.
- The new release Comcast IMAX 3D Theatre at Jordan's Furniture in
Reading, Massachusetts, which also opened timed to the film's release,
was the number one performing theatre in the entire IMAX network with
an opening gross of $159,000.
- The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre in Dearborn, Michigan reported sold out
shows throughout the weekend, and every 10am and 12pm weekday shows
through to the Christmas holidays have already sold out.
- In New York, the Loews IMAX Theatre at Lincoln Square grossed $132,000
in the first five days, and all of the 10:30am weekday shows are sold
out to school groups through the end of December.
- The Navy Pier IMAX Theatre in Chicago, Illinois sold out every show
throughout the weekend.
"We believe that this record-breaking opening weekend is a harbinger of good things to come. The audience response has been exceptional," said IMAX's Co-Chairman and Co-CEO's, Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "In fact, based on preliminary research conducted at select IMAX theatres nationwide, audiences are reporting an incredible 96% satisfaction rate and an equally impressive 93% intent to recommend response, which are the most positive results we've received for an IMAX digitally re-mastered film to date. This is translating into strong box office results and strong word of mouth, which bodes well for the legs of the film."
"The reaction to The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience has been nothing short of outstanding," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "The IMAX 3D element has brought in new audiences that may not have traditionally gone to see the film, and moreover, has drawn audiences in at a premium price for The IMAX Experience(R). Based on the box office success thus far, we are confident that the film's momentum will continue throughout this year, and become a holiday classic in years to come."
"We are so pleased to share another record-breaking film - our biggest one yet - with Warner Bros. Pictures," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience was the ideal first film to be converted into IMAX 3D because it represents a convergence of the perfect elements for IMAX's format. With Bob Zemeckis' visionary approach, combined with the talents of Tom Hanks and a wonderful story with wide family appeal, this film delivers everything that The IMAX Experience should be. We believe this is the future of moviegoing as we know it, and is just the beginning of what is to come from IMAX."
The Polar Express has undergone a process by which the conventional 2D, computer-generated film is converted into 3D and then digitally re-mastered into IMAX's larger than life format using IMAX DMR(R) technology. Once the IMAX DMR process is complete, the film format for The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience is 10 times larger than its original. With special IMAX 3D glasses, the movie appears to have depth beyond and in front of the screen - adding to the already stunning visual clarity. When combined with the more than 12,000 watts of digital surround sound in IMAX theatres, moviegoers to The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience are guaranteed an immersive and extraordinary cinematic experience.
Castle Rock Entertainment presents, in association with Shangri-La Entertainment, a Playtone / ImageMovers / Golden Mean Production of a Robert Zemeckis Film: Tom Hanks in The Polar Express. Directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis & William Broyles, Jr., the film is produced by Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman and William Teitler and is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. Tom Hanks, Jack Rapke and Chris Van Allsburg are the executive producers.
The production team includes directors of photography Don Burgess, A.S.C. and Robert Presley; production designers Rick Carter and Doug Chiang; and editors Jeremiah O'Driscoll & R. Orlando Duenas. Senior visual effects supervisors are Ken Ralston and Jerome Chen. Co-producer is Steven Boyd. Music score is by Alan Silvestri, and original songs by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri.
The Polar Express will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Soundtrack album on Warner Sunset/Reprise Records. This film is rated G by the MPAA.
Variety Invites Women in Showbiz to Discuss New Directions Crucial for the Industry
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2004 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight Variety will host its 4th annual Women in Showbiz event at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills. In partnership with Women in Film and event sponsor Citigroup's Women & Co., the panel will focus on the new directions and challenges facing women in positions of leadership in the entertainment industry.
"Women have made great strides in the industry, and it's events like this that allow us to take stock of our accomplishments and look ahead to new challenges," said Variety's Vice-President Strategic Marketing and panel moderator Madelyn Hammond.
This year's
panel of high-profile women includes:Linda
Bell Blue, Executive Producer, Entertainment Tonight and The Insider
Barbara Brogliatti,
EVP & Chief Communications Officer, Warner Bros.
Entertainment
Lora Hirschberg, Re-Recording Mixer, Finding Neverland
Virginia Madsen, Actress, Sideways
Nancy Meyers, Writer, Director & Producer, Something's Gotta Give
Kathy Vrabeck, President, Activision
About Variety:
The Variety group, Daily Variety, Daily Variety Gotham, Weekly Variety, VLife, Variety China, and Variety.com, are all owned by Reed Business Information (RBI), the largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S. RBI's content rich portfolio encompasses more than 75 Web sites as well as Publishers Weekly, Design News and 100 other market-leading business-to- business magazines. RBI is a member of the Reed Elsevier Group plc group (NYSE:RUK) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:ENL) - a world-leading publisher and information provider operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to- business industry sectors.
HBO Films and Miami International Film Festival to Premiere HBO Films' 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers' on November 19, at Miami Dade College
Starring Geoffrey Rush in Title Role, Film Will Debut December 5, Exclusively On HBO; Also Starring Charlize Theron, John Lithgow, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, With Stanley Tucci and Emily Watson
MIAMI, Nov. 12, 2004 (PRNewswire) -- HBO Films, in partnership with the Miami International Film Festival and Miami Dade College, will screen HBO Films' "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers." The invitation-only Miami premiere will take place on November 19 at the college's Wolfson Campus Chapman Center.
Academy Award(R)-winner Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor for 1996's "Shine")
stars in an intimate look at the charismatic actor whose brilliant, idiosyncratic
gift for mimicry and invention catapulted him to international cultural
icon status. The movie, a DeMann Entertainment/Company Pictures production,
presented by HBO Films, in association with BBC Films, also stars fellow
Oscar(R)-winner Charlize Theron, John Lithgow, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen
Fry, with Stanley Tucci and Emily Watson. Sonia Aquino co-stars.
"I am honored that the Miami International Film Festival is partnering
with HBO for the local screening of "The Life & Death of Peter
Sellers," continuing the Festival and Miami Dade College's longstanding
tradition of exposing our community and students to the very best in film
and the arts," said Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, President of Miami Dade
College. "Being associated with such a fine project enriches our
institution and our community."
Directed by Stephen Hopkins ("24," "Under Suspicion"),
the film contrasts Sellers' uncanny ability to adopt the personalities
of others with his tortured inability to embrace a personality of his
own. His comic masks served as windows to his inner life, his perpetual
transformations revealing both his unquenchable need for love and the
difficulty he had in returning it.
For the production Hopkins was not looking for photographic, carbon copies
of the real-life people, but rather great actors who embodied the essence
of those characters.
"Geoffrey Rush was my first choice," says Hopkins of the Sellers
role. "Geoffrey has an ability to play characters that are eccentric
and much larger than life with, perhaps, a touch of evil or danger about
them. Yet he plays them with such style and charm and compassion that
you understand where these people are coming from. He has an understanding
of the acting craft -- very Sellersesque, if you will, that allows him
to just go in any direction."
"The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" debuts Sunday, December
5 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
The film was also executive produced by Freddy DeMann ("Dangerous
Game"), George Faber ("The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby")
Charles Pattinson ("Morvern Callar") and David M. Thompson ("Dirty
Pretty Things," HBO's "The Gathering Storm"); and produced
by Simon Bosanquet (HBO Films' "Wit"). The film is based on
the book of the same name by Roger Lewis, with a script by Christopher
Markus & Stephen McFeely.
Geoffrey Rush won the Best Actor Academy Award(R) and the Golden Globe
Award for 1996's "Shine," as well as Best Actor awards from
the Screen Actors Guild, the Australian Film Institute, BAFTA, New York
Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society
of Film Critics, Broadcast Film Critics Association, Film Critics Circle
of Australia and London Critics Circle. His other awards include a BAFTA
award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for "Elizabeth,"
and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast
for "Shakespeare in Love" (for which he also received a Best
Supporting Actor Oscar(R) nomination). Rush's films also include "The
Banger Sisters," "Swimming Upstream," "Frida,"
"Lantana," "The Tailor of Panama," "Quills"
(for which he received a Best Actor Oscar(R) nomination), "House
on Haunted Hill," "Mystery Men," "Les Miserables,"
"A Little Bit of Soul," "Twelfth Night," and the upcoming
"The Kelly Gang," "The Pirates of the Caribbean" and
"Intolerable Cruelty."
Stephen Hopkins, who directed the pilot for the Emmy(R)-nominated, highly
acclaimed series "24," has also directed such feature films
as "Under Suspicion," "Lost in Space," "The Ghost
and the Darkness," "Blown Away," "Judgment Night,"
"Predator 2," "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child"
and "Dangerous Game." His other TV credits include "Tube
Tales" and HBO's "Tales from the Crypt."
Academy Award(R) and Oscar(R) are registered trademarks and service marks
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Aspiring Filmmaker Xelinda Yancy Wins 2004 HBO Short Film Award at 8th Annual American Black Film Festival
NEW YORK, July 20, 2004 (PRNewswire) -- Home Box Office awarded a $20,000 grand prize for the 2004 HBO Short Film Award to Xelinda Yancy, writer, director and producer of "Time Out," during the 8th Annual American Black Film Festival's award ceremonies on Saturday, July 17 in South Beach, Florida. The film, executive produced by John Singleton, offers an emotional chapter into the world of a nine year-old girl whose life begins to change after a school incident opens up family secrets.
The four runners-up, who each received $5,000, are: "Hold Up,"
directed and produced by Tanya Boyd; "One Flight Stand," directed,
written and produced by Saladin K. Patterson; "The Memo," directed
and written by Daheli Hall; and "Shooter," directed by Todd
Jeffery and written by Abubakar Paul Bello.
The HBO Short Film Award, created in 1998, serves to recognize and encourage
artistic excellence in black cinema, and has been a staple in the American
Black Film Festival's competitive film showcase since its inception.
February 26, 2004
Additional Presenters Named to Sunday's Oscar® Telecast
Beverly Hills, CA -Alec Baldwin, Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Chris Cooper, Francis Ford Coppola, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cusack, Diane Lane, Queen Latifah and Tobey Maguire will be presenters at the 76th Academy Awards® on Sunday, producer Joe Roth revealed today.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2003 will be presented on Sunday, February 29, 2004, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland® and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. (PST) with a half-hour arrivals segment. Information about the 76th Annual Academy Awards can be accessed on line at oscar.com.
A Reader's Digest Exclusive Interview With Mel Gibson
- March Issue to Feature Exclusive Print Interview Regarding The Controversial New Film - 'The Passion of the Christ' -
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2004 (PRNewswire) -- For the March issue of Reader's Digest, Peggy Noonan sat down with Mel Gibson for an exclusive interview regarding his upcoming film, "The Passion of the Christ." For more information, or to request a full copy of the interview, please contact Phil DiIanni at 212-957-3005 or via e-mail at phil@smapr.com.
Exclusive outtakes from the original transcript -- not featured in magazine
interview:
ON TOLERANCE:
"...even people who have been hostile provide you with an opportunity
to practice tolerance. Which is a big lesson I need to learn. I'm
just impatient, you know? And it's very easy if you get struck to try
and strike back...I'm trying to learn that as I go...it's not
about striking back."
ON "MIRACULOUS"
OCCURRENCES ON THE SET:
"Yeah, these things were many. And, you know it's almost getting
like -- it's getting weird...I'm almost sorry I said anything, or
that anybody said anything...but I mean I was -- I saw these
things...I mean, there's 'Lightning Boy,' you know."
"We were up on top of the mountain and it was windy and the clouds were
coming in...the
whole film crew was there...and this grip...he'd never
spoken a word of English to me. He was Italian, you know?...he looked
at me and said in almost perfect English from Oxford...'I think old boy
that we'd
better get off this mountain before one of us in undoubtedly
hurt'...So I said, ok, everybody off the hill...I immediately took off
the rain started and it came down in buckets. And Steve McEveety was
walking with Jim, who had an umbrella, and this great, big bolt of
lightning went right down his umbrella and zapped him in the hand. His
fingers were smoking. He had burnt fingers."
ON THE HOLOCAUST:
When asked by Noonan to go on the record confirming that the Holocaust
did indeed happen, Gibson responded: "I have friends and parents
of
friends who have numbers on their arms. The guy who taught me Spanish
was a Holocaust survivor. He worked in a concentration camp in France.
Yes, of
course. Atrocities happened. War is horrible. The Second
World War killed tens of millions of people. Some of them were Jews in
concentration
camps. Many people lost their lives. In the Ukraine,
several million starved to death between 1932 and 1933. During the
last century 20 million people died in the Soviet Union."
ON HIS MOTIVATION
FOR MAKING THE FILM:
Gibson said the movie had been "incubating" in his head for
12 years.
"I was spiritually bankrupt, and when that happens, it's like a
spiritual cancer afflicts you," he said of the period when he first
began delving into the film's subject matter.
ON PUBLIC
REACTION TO THE FILM:
"I expected some level of turbulence because when one delves into
religion and politics -- people's deeply held beliefs -- you're going
to stir things up. But it was a surprise to have shots being fired
over the bow while I was still filming, and then to have various loud
voices in the press -- people who hadn't seen the work -- really
slinging mud."
"My
detractors would say that it (the movie) is going to promote
hatred. I disagree. I think that's utter nonsense. The absurdity of
that staggers me," Gibson said.
Loews Cineplex Entertainment Introduces 'Guest Express'
The New 'Guest Express' Service Is Available Exclusively With Its Reserved Seating Program
NEW YORK,
Nov. 24 (PRNewswire)
Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation has enhanced its Reserved Seating
program that enables consumers to buy tickets and reserve their seats
through a dedicated Reserve Seating hotline. Loews is now offering its
"Guest Express" service exclusively with Reserved Seating. Not
only are Reserved Seating patrons guaranteed one of the best seats in
the house without having to arrive at the theatre early, they will now
be able to order their favorite food or beverage items from the comfort
of their seats. Loews "Guest Express" staff will provide patrons
with a menu upon being seated and will serve patrons in their seats. Reserved
Seating patrons are provided with shared table tops so they do not have
to hold their meals and snacks in their laps. No lines, no waiting, no
hassles and no having to carry large buckets of popcorn and soda's back
to their seats.
This new pilot program is available exclusively in Manhattan at Loews 34th Street theatre, Elizabeth, New Jersey at Loews Jersey Gardens theatre and Cherry Hill, NJ at Loews Cherry Hill theatre. Loews offers a limited number of reserve seats in select auditoriums. In addition to offering this service, Loews is providing "First Class" seats at the 34th Street and Jersey Gardens theatres.
Consumers can call the reserve seating hotline to reserve their seats prior to the show. The nominal fee for reserve seating ranges from $2 - $5.
Web site: http://www.enjoytheshow.com/
Movielink Obtains Internet Rights to Wide Selection of Literary Adaptations Produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Shakespearean Classics Including 'Hamlet,' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' and Featuring Brenda Blethyn, John Cleese, John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, Patrick Stewart, and Many Others, Will Be Available for Download
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 17 (PRNewswire) -- Movielink, the broadband video-on-demand (VOD) service, has obtained the Internet rights to a selection of literary adaptations produced by the BBC, starting with a number of Shakespearean classics. The titles range from tragedies "Hamlet" and "Julius Caesar," to the rousing history play "Henry V," and comedies "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Much Ado About Nothing."
The films are complete, unabridged versions of the plays and star a selection of award-winning actors, including Brenda Blethyn, John Cleese, John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, Patrick Stewart, and many others.
These classic films will be available for download from the Movielink site as well as Movielink's college site, college.movielink.com .
"We are so excited to offer these wonderfully crafted BBC productions on the service," stated Jessica Algazi, Movielink's VP for Content. "These faithful renditions of the original plays feature some of the best, classically trained Shakespearean actors bringing the immortal words to life. The movies will be a special treat for our customers who are fanatics for the Bard, and students will be able to watch these films and use them as a supplemental resource in their studies."
"We look forward to this new partnership and to delivering our programming to Movielink's online audience," stated Beth Clearfield, Vice President of Programming for BBC Worldwide Americas. "The combination of our award-winning literary adaptations and Movielink's impressive foundation will bring quality and entertainment to the online consumer."
The movies now available on the service include those mentioned above, as well as "King Lear," "Macbeth," "Merchant of Venice," "Othello," "Richard III," "Romeo and Juliet," "Taming of the Shrew," "The Tempest," and "Twelfth Night." In the future, BBC Worldwide Americas, who brokered the deal, will work with Movielink to supply other quality productions.
Customers who download movies from Movielink can store them on their hard drive for up to 30 days. Once play is initiated, they can watch a movie as many times as they would like in a 24-hour period. Movies can be viewed at home via the PC or a television connected to the PC, or downloaded to a laptop for traveling. Users do not have to be connected to the Internet to view Movielink films. Downloads range between $1.99 and $4.99. The Movielink service is only available to broadband customers in the United States.
Record-Breaking 55 Countries in Competition for Oscar(R)
Beverly Hills, CA - A record-breaking 55 countries have submitted films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award(R) consideration in the Foreign Language Film Award category, Academy President Frank Pierson announced today.
It is the largest number of films ever entered in this category, besting last year's record by one film.
The
submissions for 2003 are:
Afghanistan, "Osama," Siddiq Barmak, director;
Argentina, "Valentine," Alejandro Agresti, director;
Austria, "Free Radicals," Barbara Albert, director;
Belgium, "Sea of Silence," Stijn Coninx, director;
Bolivia, "Dependencia Sexual," Rodrigo Bellott, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Fuse," Pjer Zalica, director;
Brazil, "Carandiru," Hector Babenco, director;
Bulgaria, "Journey to Jerusalem," Ivan Nichev, director;
Canada, "The Barbarian Invasions," Denys Arcand, director;
Chile, "Los Debutantes," Andres Waissbluth, director;
China, "Warriors of Heaven and Earth," He Ping, director;
Colombia, "The First Night," Luis Alberto Restrepo, director;
Croatia, "Witnesses," Vinko Bresan, director;
Cuba, "Suite Habana," Fernando Perez, director;
Czech Republic, "Zelary," Ondrej Trojan, director;
Denmark, "Reconstruction," Christoffer Boe, director;
Egypt, "Sleepless Nights," Hany Khalifa, director;
Finland, "Elina," Klaus Haro, director;
France, "Bon Voyage," Jean-Paul Rappeneau, director;
Germany, "Good Bye, Lenin!," Wolfgang Becker, director;
Greece, "Think It Over," Katerina Evangelakou, director;
Hong Kong, "Infernal Affairs," Andrew Lau & Alan Mak, directors;
Hungary, "Forest," Benedek Fliegauf, director;
Iceland, "Noi the Albino," Dagur Kari Petursson, director;
Indonesia, "The Stringless Violin," Sekar Ayu Asmara, director;
Iran, "Deep Breath," Parviz Shahbazi, director;
Israel, "Nina's Tragedies," Savi Gavison, director;
Italy, "I'm Not Scared," Gabriele Salvatores, director;
Japan, "The Twilight Samurai," Yoji Yamada, director;
Korea, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... and Spring," Kim Ki-duk,
director;
Lebanon, "The Kite," Randa Chahal Sabbag, director;
Luxembourg, "I Always Wanted to Be a Saint," Genevieve Mersch,
director;
Mexico, "Aro Tolbukhin (In the Mind of a Killer)," Agustín
Villaronga, Lydia Zimmermann, Isaac P. Racine, directors;
Mongolia, "The Story of the Weeping Camel," Byambasuren Davaa
and Luigi Falorni, directors;
Nepal, "Muna Madan," Gyanendra Bahadur Deuja, director;
Netherlands, "Twin Sisters," Ben Sombogaart, director;
Norway, "Kitchen Stories," Bent Hamer, director;
Palestine, "Divine Intervention," Elia Suleiman, director;
Peru, "Paper Dove," Fabrizio Aguilar, director;
Philippines, "Dekada ‘70," Chito S. Rono, director;
Poland, "Pornografia," Jan Jakub Kolski, director;
Portugal, "Um Filme Falado," Manoel De Oliveira, director;
Russia, "The Return," Andrei Zvyagintsev, director;
Serbia and Montenegro, "The Professional," Dusan Kovacevic,
director;
Slovakia, "King of Thieves," Ivan Fíla, director;
Slovenia, "Spare Parts," Damjan Kozole, director;
Spain, "Soldados de Salamina," David Trueba, director;
Sri Lanka, "Mansion by the Lake," Lester James Peries, director;
Sweden, "Evil," Mikael Hafstrom, director;
Taiwan, "Goodbye, Dragon Inn," Tsai Ming-Liang, director;
Thailand, "Last Life in the Universe," Pen-ek Ratanaruang, director;
Turkey, "Distant," Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director;
Ukraine, "Mamay," Oles Sanin, director;
Uruguay, "Seawards Journey," Guillermo Casanova, director;
Venezuela, "Sangrador," Leonardo Henriquez, director.
Six films have won both the Foreign Language Film Oscar and another award as well: the winner in 2000, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," also won Oscars for Art Direction, Cinematography and Best Original Score; 1998's winner, "Life Is Beautiful," also received both the Best Actor Award for its star Roberto Benigni and the Oscar for Best Original Dramatic Score; "Fanny and Alexander," which won in 1983, also won Oscars for Costume Design, Cinematography and Art
Direction; "Z," the 1969 winner, also won for Film Editing; "A Man and a Woman," which won in 1966, also won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar; and the 1963 winner, "8 1/2," also won an Oscar for Costume Design.
The 76th Academy Award nominations will be announced at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Tuesday, January 27, 2004.
Academy
Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2003 will be presented on
Sunday, February 29, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland(R)
and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST, beginning
with a half-hour arrival segment.
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