Friday, August 26, 2011

A&E Gives Series Pickup to 'Longmire' Western

A&E has purchased contemporary crime thrillerLongmire to series.our editor recommends'Battlestar Galactica' Star Katee Sackhoff Lands A&E Pilot The drama, in regards to a widowed sheriff in Absaroka County, Wyoming, continues to be granted a ten episode order. The project, set to premiere sometime the coming year, stars Katee Sackhoff(Battlestar Galactica), whowill play a deputy oppositeRobert Taylor's mid-western sheriff.Also attached areLou Gemstone Phillips(Stargate World),BaileyChase(Savior) andCassidy Freeman(Smallville). The series, which originates in the Shephard/Robin Co. and Warner Horizon Television, will bedirected byGreg Yaitanes(House) and compiled by Search Baldwin, John CovenyandCraig Allen Manley. The second also authored the the Wally Longmirebook series which the show relies. Related Subjects Katee Sackhoff A&E

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

DCP seeks reconsideration in Globes dispute

With a trial looming over the rights to the Golden Globes, Dick Clark Prods. is asking a federal court judge to reconsider her decision not to render summary judgment over many of the issues in its dispute with the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. U.S. District Judge Valerie Baker Fairbank ruled Aug. 8 that because there were "numerous genuine disputes of material fact," the HFPA's case against longtime producer DCP could proceed. The case centers on a clause in a 1993 pact that appeared to give DCP "perpetual rights" to produce the telecast as long as it could continue to land a broadcast deal with NBC. The non-jury trial is scheduled to start on Sept. 6, with a final pretrial conference scheduled for Aug. 25. In a filing on Monday, attorneys for DCP asked that Fairbank reconsider her decision that the HFPA's claims are not barred by the statute of limitations. Fairbank ruled that the HFPA was still within the time frame to file suit because the dispute arose after DCP signed a long-term deal with NBC last October. The HFPA filed suit in November, claiming that the new NBC deal is invalid because DCP did not obtain its consent. But attorneys for Dick Clark Prods. contend that, because of the statute of limitations, the HFPA has long since passed the time in which it can raise one of its chief claims. The HFPA is arguing that its prexy in 1993, Mirjana Van Blaricom, acted beyond her authority when she signed the 1993 pact, an amendment to an earlier contract. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Monday, August 15, 2011

Teenage Cave Man

Robert Vaughn stars as a white 25-year-old teenage caveman with styled hair who seeks to discover what is in the uncharted jungles beyond his tribe's campsite. It is against the Word (and the Word is the Law), but he breaks it anyway. Soon he discovers a strange creature which kills with its touch.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Early Edition: 'World War Z,' 'Lone Ranger' Face Off; Sony Sets Up 'Terrorist Search Engine'; 'Father of Invention' Arrives

There's going to be a clash of the acting titans on Dec. 21, 2012, pitting Brad Pitt against Johnny Depp. That's the day that Paramount has dated its Pitt-starring 'World War Z' post-apocalyptic zombie film; it also happens to be the same day that Disney has scheduled 'The Lone Ranger,' starring Depp and Armie Hammer. Also on that day: Fox's Tobey Maguire drama 'Life of Pi.' And -- get this -- that's only a week after the release of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,' which opens Dec. 14. This makes it quite a holiday present for moviegoers who -- if past seasons serve as an example -- will support all four films. Merry Christmas, 2012. [The Hollywood Reporter] The war against terrorism is such a fertile ground for stories that we're surprised there haven't been more tales about the heroic men and women who track down, capture and prosecute those who want to take down our world with violence. One interesting project -- reported in Deadline -- sounds interesting, however: 'The Terrorist Search Engine,' about a baby-faced counter-terrorism expert witness named Evan Kohlmann (called "the Doogie Howser of terrorism"), who culled through videos, messages and websites around the world to unearth terror threats. The project, set up at Sony for producer Scott Rudin -- with Jesse Eisenberg possibly attached to star -- has been given to Oren Moverman ('The Messenger,' the upcoming cop drama 'Rampart') to adapt from the New York Magazine article about Kohlmann. We'll keep you posted on this one. Anchor Bay Films has picked up the comedy 'Father of Invention' -- which has languished since it debuted as an official selection at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film stars Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Heather Graham and Virginia Madsen, and tells the story of Robert Axle, an eccentric inventor turned ego maniacal infomercial guru who loses it all when one of his inventions maims thousands of customers. After eight years in a maximum security prison, Axle is ready to redeem his name and rebuild his billion dollar empire. But first, he must convince his estranged 22-year old daughter to let him live with her and her quirky, over-protective roommates. [Deadline]

Box Office Update: 'The Help' Makes an uncommon A+ CinemaScore From Moviegoers

Tate Taylor'sThe Helpgot on animpressive startat the Wednesday box office, grossing a minimum of $5 million in the first day and generating an uncommon A+ CinemaScore from delighted moviegoers.our editor recommends'The Help' Author Responds to Suit By Maid Who States Book Is dependant on Her'The Help' Begins Honours Season about the Eve of Theatrical DebutEmma Stone in 'The Help' Trailer PHOTOS: 'The Help's' Retro, Southern Style DreamWorks and Disney made the decision to spread out the film midweek to construct buzz starting the weekend. The move seems to become having to pay off, with fans ofKathryn Stockett'snovel turning in pressure, together with moviegoers simply interested in the film's story and enormous female cast, brought byEmma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard. It's still too soon to express how muchThe Helpwill available to during the period of its five-day debut. Disney is adhering to its $20 million estimate, although other box office experts the film could easily open north of $25 million depending on Wednesday's performance. The Assistance is simply the second movie of the season to get a b+ CinemaSocre after TriStar/Film District's Soul Surfer. Films generating the very best score enjoy strong multiples, for example Soul Surfer, which opened up to $10.six million and made $43.9 million locally. Disney's Twisted and Disney/Pixar's Story 3, both launched this year, also received A+ CinemaScores and loved similar multiples. STORY: 'The Help's' Emma Stone: What Experts Say of Her Performance The Helpis reaping helpful benefits from attractive to female moviegoers otherwise switched off by Hollywood's large summer time blockbusters, with females creating 83% of Wednesday's audience. Roughly 78% were older than 25. As a means of comparison,The Helpis maintaining to date withJulie & Julia, another femme-fueled film that opened up last August. But becauseJulie & Juliaopened on the Friday, it had the benefit of more powerful night time traffic and made $6.4 million during the day. That film opened up to $20 million. FILM REVIEW: 'The Help' Rival galleries were astounded by the businessThe Helpwas doing on Wednesday. "That's a good number," one executive at another studio stated. Occur the first sixties in Jackson, Miss.,The Helpexplores the complicated associations between whitened ladies and their service personnel, and what goes on whenever a youthful whitened journalist exposes the way the service personnel are treated STORY: 'The Help' Premiere: 5 Things Been sent about the Red-colored Carpet DreamWorks and Participant Media co-funded the $25 million the film, that was created byChris ColumbusandMike Barnathan's1492 Pictures. The film has already been drawing honours buzz because of its performances. A survey of just one,000 moviegoers by online ticketing service Fandango discovered that 77% of individuals thinking about seeingThe Helphad browse the book, while 95% reported the film's surprising comic relief means they are interested in seeing the film. And nearly 70% stated these were searching toward visiting a summer time movie with substance. Related Subjects Bryce Dallas Howard Viola Davis Box Office Emma Stone Wally Disney Movies Group DreamWorks SKG The Assistance

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Final Destination 5: Film Review

Final Destination 5 continues New Line's "death tease" series wherein a group of clueless characters are stalked not by a demon or mad man but by death itself ... or to be accurate, the film's makers. Real death, of course, is much more prosaic, letting far too many people expire in their beds, which is very uncinematic. In this film, as in the previous four editions, the suspense, or tease if you will, lies in guessing which of the objects in a location will terminate a character - the faulty wiring, that loose wing nut, those nasty knives, an overhead fan or perhaps a kitchen fire? In a sense, the films offer up black comedy, provoking laughs at wrong guesses and giggles over an absurd chain of events that results in disaster. The series was on its own deathbed when the producers to their credit got the bright idea in FD4 to make the film in 3D. Sharp objects appeared that much sharper with the added dimension so the series got a reprieve and here everyone is back with a fifth film. To borrow from TV terminology, the series hasn't jumped the shark yet, but the strain of inventing bizarre deaths is beginning to show. This film's opening sequence is undeniably spectacular. What must happen in each film is that one character gets a graphic premonition of impending disaster, which he essentially lives through moments before it actually happens. In FD5, a group of young people, heading for a company retreat, gets trapped in a bus on a high suspension bridge over a river just as the damn thing collapses in a "freak wind storm." Sam (Nicholas D'Agosto) is the designated savior this time, which allows him to rescue seven colleagues including best pal Peter (Miles Fisher) and girlfriend Molly (Emma Bell). These survivors are dubbed the Lucky Eight by the media but from death's point of view everyone was meant to die on that bridge. As death's dour emissary (Tony Todd, who took the last film off) warns Sam at the funeral, "Death doesn't like to be cheated." So it's game on and the characters immediately start to meet horrible ends, which baffles an FBI guy (Courtney B. Vance), weirdly called in to investigate potential criminality in the bridge collapse. The series holds a peculiar fondness for impalement of human flesh, but the deaths created here in Eric Heisserer's mercifully swift screenplay really push that predilection to include demises involving acupuncture and laser eye surgery. To be sure, there are a couple of straightforward impalements too mundane to mention. The twist to this new edition is that death's emissary lets a few characters in on a dirty little secret: If any of the Lucky Eight takes an innocent life, this will somehow balance the books in the afterlife: Death will no longer stalk that individual. This twist has greater dramatic potential than the filmmakers seem to realize for in doesn't really come into play until a climatic sequence where the filmmakers unwittingly undercut the series' M.O.: Will a fantastic accident or a good old-fashioned homicide do in the final survivors? The filmmakers never quite make up their minds how to play this. Steven Quale, a longtime colleague of James Cameron who has worked in cinematography and visual effects including 3D for over two decades, was recruited to make his directing debut. Surprisingly, the 3D doesn't amount to much after the bridge collapse. So it will be interesting to see how fans of the series spend their money this time since the 2D option will come with a smaller ticket price. The British Columbia production is slickly designed and takes ample advantage of its locations from an Asian spa to a restaurant kitchen. The cast is a lively bunch but since emotions ran only a narrow gamut from anxiety to terror and back again, there isn't much opportunity to show off thespian skills. Ellen Wroe does get to show off her gymnastic training though in the film's first and least plausible death. Jacqueline MacInnes Wood all but tears a teddy bear to shreds in the ophthalmologist's chair. Arlen Escarpeta should actually survive according to death's survivors calculus but it turns out death cheats too. P.J. Byrne reaches for comedy in his spa death scene while David Koechner, as The Office-style boss, punches out so suddenly you might call his a disappointing death. Opens: Friday, Aug. 12 (Warner Bros.) Production companies: New Line Cinema presents, a Practical Pictures/Zide Pictures production Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Courtney B. Vance, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, Tony Todd, P.J. Byrne, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood Director: Steven Quale Screenwriter: Eric Heisserer Based on characters created by: Jeffrey Reddick Producers: Craig Perry, Warren Zide Executive producers: Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Erik Holmberg, Sheila Hanahan Taylor Director of photography: Brian Pearson Production designer: David R. Sandefur Visual effect supervisor: Ariel Velasco Shaw Music: Brian Tyler Costume designer: Jori Woodman Editor: Eric Sears R rating, 92 minutes Emma Bell Final Destination 5

Thursday, August 4, 2011

David Lyle Named CEO of National Geographic Channels

David Lyle has been named CEO of National Geographic Channels, effective immediately.our editor recommends Has Nat Geo found its Shark Week?'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan Moves to Nat Geo Spin-Off WILD In his new role, Lyle will be responsible for the overall supervision of the domestic channels - which include the National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Mundo -owned jointly by the Fox Networks Group and the National Geographic Society. National Geographic Channels president Steve Schiffman will report to Lyle, who had been working with the National Geographic management team as the head of West Coast development for several months. Lyle will be based out of Washington, D.C. "Heading up the National Geographic Channels is a dream job. I will be working with an extraordinary brand and a great team that I've come to know and respect over the past few months. I am fortunate to be able to lead a group that consistently delivers top-notch nonfiction programming that resonates with audiences," says Lyle in a statement. "David brings extensive creative experience and a strong international perspective to this critical role," adds Tim Kelly, president of the National Geographic Society. "He will be focused on delivering compelling popular programming that reflects, enhances and delivers on the substance of the National Geographic brand and mission. We are delighted to have him on our team." Lyle worked at Fox since 2005. There, he was most recently president of Fox Look, a unit specializing in the international licensing and production of reality formats, and the Fox Reality Channel. He had also held senior executive positions at FremantleMedia (where he helped launch American Idol), Pearson Television and Australia's Nine Network. Lyle was an exploration geologist and high school chemistry teacher before making a career switch into television as a researcher, writer and producer. Lindsay.Powers@thr.com; @LKPE Related Topics