August 24, 2012
Coroner: Scott’s notes didn’t say reason for death
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles County coroner’s officials say notes left behind by “Top Gun” director Tony Scott did not give a motive why he would kill himself.
Coroner’s office spokesman Ed Winter also said Friday the notes didn’t mention any health issues.
The 68-year-old Scott died Sunday after leaping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge into Los Angeles Harbor. An autopsy was performed on the British-born director’s body Monday, but it will be a month or more before an official cause of death is determined.
Coroner’s officials are treating Scott’s death as a probable suicide.
Winter says one of the notes left in his car was a list of emergency contact numbers and another included messages to friends and loved ones.
Randy Thornton elected Chairman of Production Music Assn.LOS ANGELES–The Production Music Association, which promotes and protects the rights and interests of publishers and composers of music for use in film, television, radio and new media has elected Warner/Chappell Production Music CEO/president Randy Thornton to the post of chairman, effective immediately.
As worldwide head of production music for Warner/Chappell, Thornton oversees offices in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, Munich, Paris and Stockholm, with additional international operations in virtually every major production center in the world.
The Production Music Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization comprising of over 430 member companies including major-label publishers, national independents and small boutique libraries and is providing leadership to protect the value of their work. The PMA provides education, support and advocacy on behalf of the production music community.
‘Hairspray’ producers Zadan, Meron to run Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The producing team that helped to create such musicals as “Chicago” and “Hairspray” is overseeing the next Academy Awards ceremony.
Academy management announced Thursday that Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will produce the 85th annual Oscars that will air live Feb. 24 on ABC.
Zadan and Meron were executive producers on 2002’s “Chicago,” which won six Oscars including best picture. They also were producers on the 2007 hits “Hairspray” and “The Bucket List” and last year’s remake of “Footloose.” Zadan also produced the 1984 original “Footloose.”
Among Zadan and Meron’s TV credits are the series “Smash,” ”A Raisin in the Sun” and the upcoming “Steel Magnolias.”
On Broadway, Zadan and Meron’s work includes Tony Award-winning revivals of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Promises, Promises.”
Delhi sets international film festival in December
NEW DELHI (AP) — Mumbai may be home to Bollywood, but India’s capital city wants to have fun at the movies, too.
The first Delhi International Film Festival has been scheduled for this December. Festival director Suresh Kumar Goswami said the festival hoped to showcase the world’s best cinema with films from 70 countries.
One will be this year’s best-picture Oscar winner, “The Artist” from France.
The festival was timed to mark the century that Delhi has been India’s capital city. It was made the capital of British India in 1911.
Other films slated for the Delhi festival are “Daughters of Hill” by Patrizia Landi, “Jeremiah” by Eran Paz and “Mar” by Caner Erzincan.
The city already hosts an annual festival of Arab and Asian films, and other Indian cities host global film showcases.
Documentary filmmaker Spurlock in new CNN series
NEW YORK (AP) — Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock is coming to CNN for a new weekend series that will take a close look at areas of American life that don’t normally get much attention.
The series “Inside Man” will look at gun lovers, marijuana growers, end of life caregivers and migrant farmworkers in its early episodes. Spurlock is best known for his Oscar-nominated film “Super Size Me,” where he subsisted on only McDonald’s food for 30 days.
The show is expected to debut in April, paired with another new series from chef Anthony Bourdain.
Both series are from outside production companies and represent an experiment for CNN, which has had ratings troubles in recent years.
FTC wins $478M judgment vs infomercial marketersWASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators have won a $478 million court judgment against the infomercial marketers of three “get-rich-quick” schemes said to have caused losses for nearly all the million or so consumers who bought the programs.
The Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday that the judgment was awarded by a federal court in Los Angeles against companies and individuals who marketed the schemes, titled “John Beck’s Free & Clear Real Estate System,” ”John Alexander’s Real Estate Riches in 14 Days,” and “Jeff Paul’s Shortcuts to Internet Millions.” The infomercials deceived consumers with phony claims of easy money, the FTC alleged in its case.
The agency said it was the largest judgment it had ever obtained in litigation. The money will go toward restitution for people victimized by the schemes, the FTC said.
Consumers paid $39.95 to buy a system, and additional personal coaching services cost up to $14,995. In addition, consumers were not told that when they bought the systems they’d be automatically enrolled in “membership plans” costing $39.95 a month, and were charged that amount every month unless they acted to cancel it.
In addition, the order issued by U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Nguyen permanently bars from the infomercials business three of the defendants, Douglas Gravink, Gary Hewitt and Family Products LLC. Gravink, Hewitt, Family Products and Mentoring of America LLC are banned from the telemarketing industry.
The other defendants are John Beck Amazing Profits LLC, Shortcuts to Millions LLC, John Beck, Jeff Paul and John Alexander. The companies are based in California.
The action is a reminder to consumers that they should be skeptical about easy-money claims, the FTC said.
“This huge judgment serves notice to anyone thinking of using phony get-rich-quick schemes to defraud consumers,” Jeffrey Klurfeld, director of the agency’s western region, said in a statement. “The FTC will come after you if you violate the law.”
Tim Burton’s ‘Frankenweenie’ to open London Film fest
LONDON (AP) — London Film Festival organizers say this year’s event will open in October with Tim Burton’s canine monster movie “Frankenweenie.”
The animated black-and-white tale of a boy’s attempts to bring his beloved dead dog back to life will have its European premiere at the festival on Oct. 10.
It will have a red-carpet gala premiere at London’s Odeon Leicester Square and will be screened simultaneously at 30 theaters across Britain.
The film is a feature-length expansion of Burton’s 1984 live-action short of the same name.
Festival chief Clare Stewart said Thursday that Burton’s “funny, dark and whimsical” tale “playfully turns the Frankenstein story on its bolted-on head.”
The 56th London Film Festival runs Oct. 10-21. The full lineup will be announced next month.
Unions & guilds applaud passage of SB 1167
LOS ANGELES–A coalition of unions, guilds and associations–which represent hundreds of thousands of men and women whose livelihoods depend on the strength of the California entertainment industry–has praised the passage of SB 1167 by the California State Senate.
With today’s 32 to 3 vote passing Senator Ron Calderon’s bill to extend the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program for an additional two years, the State Senate has joined the members of the State Assembly in demonstrating overwhelming support and a meaningful commitment to keeping jobs in California and contributing to a flourishing entertainment industry — one in which tens of thousands of skilled and talented Californians can build livelihoods and contribute to the state’s economy.
There are still other legislative hurdles to clear before the extension is enacted. The coalition of unions and guilds includes the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council; the Directors Guild of America; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 399; Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 724; Professional Musicians, Local 47; Recording Musicians Association; and SAG-AFTRA.
Dick Van Dyke to get SAG Life Achievement Award
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dick Van Dyke will receive the Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor: The Life Achievement Award.
Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists co-president Ken Howard made the announcement Tuesday. He called Van Dyke “an enormously talented performer whose work has crossed nearly every major category of entertainment.”
The 86-year-old entertainer will receive the honor at the annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony in January. He has already won a Tony, a Grammy and five Emmy awards.
Van Dyke is being honored for his 60-year career, which includes his hit TV show and film credits such as “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Mary Poppins,” and his commitment to philanthropic causes.
The 19th annual SAG Awards will be presented Jan. 27.
Nicole Kidman to be honored by NY Film Festival
NEW YORK (AP) — Nicole Kidman is being honored by the New York Film Festival in a gala tribute.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced Tuesday that Kidman will be celebrated at the 50th-annual New York Film Festival. The festival will also honor its longtime director Richard Pena in a second gala.
The film “The Paperboy” has been added to the festival’s slate. It’s directed by Lee Daniels and stars Kidman, Zac Efron, John Cusack and Matthew McConaughey.
Pena is also programming director of the film society. He is stepping down from Lincoln Center this year following his 25th festival.
The gala for Kidman will take place Oct. 3, with the Pena event following on Oct. 10. The festival runs Sept. 28 through Oct. 14.
Olympics viewer boost for ‘Today’ show short-lived
By David Bauder, Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The audience boost that the London Olympics provided for NBC’s “Today” show in its ratings battle with ABC’s “Good Morning America” was short-lived.
The Nielsen Co. said Monday that “GMA” beat “Today” in the ratings last week, the week after the Olympics concluded, by an average margin of 162,000 viewers. NBC was counting on the Olympics to provide a launching pad for its new anchor team of Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie, and it organized a series of concerts and visits by Olympians last week to keep up the momentum.
The week started well. NBC’s audience of 4.54 million on Monday was bigger than any morning show last week, and “Today” beat “Good Morning America” by 338,000 viewers.
But “GMA” won the next four days even while not at full strength — Robin Roberts returned this Monday — and by a peak of 517,000 viewers on Wednesday, Nielsen said.
During the Olympics, “Today” dominated. It beat “GMA” each week by more than a million and a half viewers, taking advantage of its access to Olympians. The ratings after the Olympic flame was extinguished indicate that many of those viewers are not morning show regulars and retreated to their old habits.
“GMA” had beaten “Today” during each of the five weeks before the Olympics. There should be intense competition for viewers this fall; status as the top morning news show can means tens of millions of dollars in extra advertising revenue for their networks.
Roberts returned Monday after being off for two weeks, partly because of exhaustion brought on by her medical condition. Roberts has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia. She is expected to be off for an extended period this fall after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
Gannett buys social-advertising firm BLiNQ Media
MCLEAN, Va. (AP) — Media company Gannett Co. said Tuesday that it has bought BLiNQ Media LLC, a company that helps businesses advertise on social networks such as Facebook.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Like other newspaper publishers, Gannett has been trying to boost revenue from digital products. Gannett CEO Gracia Martore said that adding BLiNQ to its Digital Marketing Services division will offer businesses “a one-stop shop for all marketing needs.”
Gannett, which owns USA Today and other newspapers and television stations, is based in McLean, Va. BLiNQ is based in New York and has a major office in Atlanta.
A look at DreamWorks Animation, Fox movie slateLOS ANGELES (AP)–DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the movie studio behind “Kung Fu Panda” and “Madagascar,” said Monday that its films will be distributed by News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox starting next year.
The five-year deal replaces an existing distribution agreement DreamWorks has with Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures, which expires at the end of 2012.
It brings the studio together with Fox’s Blue Sky Studios, maker of “Ice Age” and “Rio.”
Here’s a look at what films are due to come out from DreamWorks and Fox over the next several years:
o Nov. 21, 2012: “Rise of the Guardians” (DreamWorks)
o March 22, 2013: “The Croods” (DreamWorks)
o May 24, 2013: “Epic” (Fox)
o July 19, 2013: “Turbo” (DreamWorks)
o Nov. 8, 2013: “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” (DreamWorks)
o March 14, 2014: “Me and My Shadow” (DreamWorks)
o April 4, 2014: “Rio 2” (Fox)
o June 20, 2014: “How To Train Your Dragon 2” (DreamWorks)
o October-December, 2014: “Happy Smekday!” (DreamWorks)
Seven Achievements Under Consideration For Scientific and Technical Academy Awards
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.–The Scientific and Technical Awards Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that seven scientific and technical achievements have been selected for further awards consideration.
The list is made public to allow individuals and companies with similar devices or claims of prior art the opportunity to submit their achievements for review. The deadline to submit additional entries is Tuesday, August 28, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
The committee has selected the following methods or devices for further consideration:
o Tissue: A Physically-Based Character Simulation Framework (Weta Digital)
o Zviz: Previsualization System (Lucasfilm)
o Light: Lighting Tool (PDI Dreamworks)
o Wavelet Turbulence for Fluid Simulation (University of California, Santa Barbara)
o Planar Tracking: mocha and Enabling Technology (Imagineer Systems Ltd.)
o Cine VCLX Portable Power System (Anton/Bauer)
o Matthews MAX Menace Arm (Matthews Studio Equipment)
After thorough investigations are conducted on each of the entries, the committee will meet in early December to vote on recommendations to the Academy’s Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.
The 2012 Scientific and Technical Awards will be presented at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills on February 9, 2013.
Claims of prior art or similar technology must be submitted on the Academy’s website at oscars.org/awards/scitech/apply.html.
Pizza Hut, Home Depot deny copying Black Keys work
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys for Pizza Hut and The Home Depot are denying that a pair of ads improperly used music by The Black Keys.
The Grammy-winning band sued the companies in June, claiming they used the band’s music to sell pizza and power tools. The companies separately denied the band’s allegations in court documents filed Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles.
Each company is asking a judge to have the band pay their attorneys’ fees if they win the case.
The Black Keys claim The Home Depot Inc. used elements of its hit “Lonely Boy” in an ad for power tools. The band accuses Pizza Hut Inc. of using elements of the song “Gold On the Ceiling” to sell a cheesy crust pizza.
Both songs appeared on the rock group’s seventh album, “El Camino.”
Bieber, Gaga, Obama join Beyonce for campaign
NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama are giving a helping hand to Beyonce.
Obama and the pop stars have signed on to support the global campaign for World Humanitarian Day which Beyonce marked Sunday with the release of a new video for her song “I Was Here,” filmed at the United Nations in New York last week.
The campaign asks that on Sunday people help others through such acts as making sandwiches for the homeless or volunteering at a local charity. The goal is to share 1 billion messages of hope.
A representative for Beyonce says that Bieber, Gaga, Obama, Rihanna, Shakira, Jay-Z, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin and others will participate.
Jeff Levine joins B-Reel as creative directorLOS ANGELES–Jeff Levine has come aboard B-Reel as a creative director in its Los Angeles office. He formerly served as creative director at The Famous Group.
Recent work, such as “You’ve Got a Case” for AT&T and “Good Reasons” for Honda, has earned Levine multiple honors at such competitions as the Cannes Lions, The Webby Awards, The Addy’s, The Clio Awards, The FWA, One Show Interactive, One Show Entertainment, AICP Next Awards, and The Art Directors Club.
After a career in freelance, Levine founded his own production company, Fake-Up, in New York, and spent a significant amount of time developing his business sense and learning about the industry from the perspective of a company owner. In 2010, Levine decided to close Fake-Up so he could re-focus himself on where his passion truly lies–in the creative. He then moved to Los Angeles to work at Tool of North America where he oversaw creative development for all digital projects, and continued on to The Famous Group as a creative director.
