Documentary On Purported Adams’ Negatives Canceled
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) – Plans to show a documentary film at California State University, Fresno about the discovery of glass negatives purported to be the work of famed nature photographer Ansel Adams have been canceled.
University officials say the attorney representing the owner of the plates, Rick Norsigian of Fresno, canceled the screening.
The negatives have been the subject of intense debate in the art world since Norsigian said he bought them for $45 at a garage sale, then hired a team of experts to authenticate them.
A lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in San Francisco by The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust is seeking to keep Norsigian and consulting firm PRS Media Partners from using Adams’ name, likeness and trademark to sell prints and posters not authorized by the trust.
Norsigian’s lawyer, Arnold Peter, says the lawsuit has no merit.
Sony Working on 3-D TVs That Don’t Need Glasses
TOKYO (AP) – Sony Corp. is working on 3-D televisions that don’t need special glasses, joining a race with rival Toshiba Corp., but sees cost and technological hurdles to overcome before they can go on sale.
Toshiba said earlier this week it is working on glasses-free 3-D TVs, although no decision had been made on when they will go on sale.
Mainstream 3-D TVs now on sale, such as those from Panasonic Corp. and Sony Corp., require glasses. But there are already screens that don’t require glasses, mainly intended for store displays. They require the viewer to stand in specific spots for the 3-D effect to emerge, and the image quality is much lower than that of screens using glasses.
“Seeing 3-D without glasses is more convenient,” Sony Senior Vice President Yoshihisa Ishida said Thursday at Tokyo headquarters. “We must take account of pricing before we can think about when to start offering them.”
Sony showed its latest 3-D products for the Japanese market, including flat-panel TVs and Blu-ray recorders.
Sony said it plans to be No. 1 in market share in Japan in 3-D TVs and 3-D players and recorders, taking advantage of its position as an electronics maker with a movie studio.
Sony said it will start selling in Japan next month two films and two music videos in 3-D, and planned home software of 3-D theater releases, including a 3-D “Spider-Man” opening in 2012.
Allen Says New York Too Expensive to Shoot Films
MADRID (AP) – Woody Allen says he began shooting movies in European cities because he couldn’t afford to do it any more in New York.
However, the American film director told reporters Tuesday in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo that he finds Manhattan poses fewer limitations than European cities, where more tailoring of the story is required to fit the location.
Allen was in Spain to attend the premiere in Spain of his latest film, the romantic comedy “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger,” in nearby Aviles.
The film was shot in London and stars Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Antonio Banderas. At the news conference in Oviedo, Allen was joined by Lucy Punch and Gemma Jones, who also star in the film.
Allen has recently been in Paris shooting his next movie, “Midnight in Paris,” which features French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in a minor role.
Allen hit out at American cinema saying the majority of films over the past decade ha d been made just for money and lacked creative spirit. In comparison, he said European films were much more artistic.
Allen also praised Spanish actors saying they were now among the best, singling out Banderas in this film as well as Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, with whom he worked in his 2008 movie “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” set in Spain’s second largest city.
“I’m lucky I got to work with the very best ones,” said Allen, who said he could not afford to pay actors much but that they took part in his films because they liked to act.
On Monday, Allen, who is in Oviedo with his wife Soon-Yi Previn, took part in a promotional video for the Asturias region, known for its stunning mountains and coastal scenery.
Springsteen Heads to Film Fest for ‘Darkness’ Doc
TORONTO (AP) – Bruce Springsteen is heading to the Toronto International Film Festival for the world premiere of a documentary about one of his classic 1970s albums.
“The Promise: The Making of ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town'” by director Thom Zimny premieres Sept. 14 at the festival.
The film includes new interviews of Springsteen and the E Street Band, along with footage of home rehearsals and recording sessions shot from 1976-78.
At the festival, Springsteen also will participate in a discussion moderated by actor Edward Norton about the documentary and the relationship between his music and American filmmaking.
The Toronto festival, one of the world’s biggest film showcases, runs Sept. 9-19.
Michael Douglas, Ex Clash over ‘Wall Street’ CashNEW YORK (AP) – Michael Douglas’ starring role in a sequel to “Wall Street” has gotten him an unwanted part in a legal sequel to his 2000 divorce.
Lawyers for the Academy Award-winning actor and for ex-wife Diandra Douglas argued Tuesday in a New York court over her claim that she’s entitled to half his earnings from “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” It’s set to open Sept. 24.
She says their divorce deal gives her rights to share in proceeds from spinoffs from work he did while the couple was married, including the 1987 hit “Wall Street.”
Michael Douglas’ lawyers say his ex is misinterpreting the agreement, and it doesn’t apply to the “Wall Street” sequel. They also say the case belongs in California, where the couple divorced.
A judge didn’t immediately rule. The Douglases were not in court.
Toshiba Developing No-Glasses 3-D TelevisionsTOKYO (AP) – Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. said Tuesday it is developing technology for a 3-D television that won’t require special glasses.
Company spokeswoman Yuko Sugahara confirmed such technology was in the works. But she declined to comment on a report in the Yomiuri newspaper that the Tokyo-based company plans to start selling the new TVs by the end of the year.
Mainstream 3-D TVs now on sale, such as those from rivals Panasonic Corp. and Sony Corp., require glasses. But there are already screens that don’t require glasses, mainly intended for store displays. They require the viewer to stand in specific spots for the 3-D effect to emerge, and the image quality is much lower than that of screens using glasses.
Yomiuri said Mitsubishi’s technology involves transmitting different images at various angles to create an illusion of dimension and depth, a principle used by current glasses-free monitors.
Electronics companies have been investing heavily in 3-D technology for televisions, betting that people will want a 3-D experience at home following the success of blockbuster movies such as “Avatar,” which was screened in 3-D.
Some gadgets such as handheld game machines from Nintendo Co. can deliver 3-D images without special glasses.
“Many people don’t like to wear glasses to watch TV for a long time, especially people who must wear 3-D glasses over regular glasses,” Sugahara said.
Taylor Lautner Sues Over RV Planned for Movie SetsLOS ANGELES (AP) – Taylor Lautner is suing an RV dealership he claims didn’t deliver a customized coach in time for use on his current movie shoot.
The star of the “Twilight” series sued the Irvine, Calif., dealership of McMahon’s RV in Los Angeles on Monday. The lawsuit claims McMahon’s missed a June deadline to deliver a $300,000 customized 2006 Affinity Country Coach RV.
The lawsuit doesn’t specify what special features the 18-year-old wanted for the RV, which would serve as his dressing room. He is currently filming the action-thriller “Abduction” and is reprising his role as Jacob Black in the two-part “Twilight finale, “Breaking Dawn.”
A phone message left at the McMahon’s dealership Monday was not immediately returned.
Greg Grunberg: I starred in JJ Abrams’ Home Movies
Lauri Neff
NEW YORK (AP) – “Heroes” actor Greg Grunberg says his acting bug started when he starred in the home movies of his childhood friend, director J.J. Abrams.
Grunberg has known Abrams since they were 4. He says Abrams began making movies during playdates when they were 10, using friends and family as cast members.
Grunberg has appeared in most of Abrams’ professional films and TV shows, including “Star Trek,” ”Felicity” and “Lost.” Grunberg says he does not know yet if he has a role in “Super 8,” a film that Abrams is now making with Steven Spielberg.
Grunberg next appears in the TV movie, “Bond of Silence,” which premieres at 9 p.m. EDT Monday on Lifetime. He also stars in the new NBC midseason show, “Love Bites.” His film “Group Sex” comes out Tuesday on DVD.
Vaclav Havel Finishes Shooting Film
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) – Former President Vaclav Havel has finished shooting his first and probably last film.
Havel spokeswoman Ivana Reichlova says the former dissident playwright and post-communist Czechoslovakia’s first president finished on-location camera work on the film on Saturday.
The film is a cinematic version of “Leaving,” a Havel play that was staged two years ago. His actress wife, Dagmar, plays the leading female role.
The daily Mlada Fronta Dnes on Monday quoted Havel as saying the film will probably also be his last one.
