June 28, 2013
Paramount announces plans for ‘Terminator’ trilogy
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The “Terminator” is coming back.
Paramount announced Thursday that it is rebooting the “Terminator” franchise and planning for a new trilogy of films, but it’s keeping mum on whether Arnold Schwarzenegger would play a role.
Schwarzenegger starred as the title character in the original 1984 movie. It spawned a trilogy that earned more than $1 billion at the box office worldwide.
Paramount says it will release the new “Terminator” in July 2015.
Paula Deen dropped by Wal-Mart after ‘Today’ tearsBy David Bauder, Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Paula Deen was dropped by Wal-Mart and her name was stripped from four buffet restaurants on Wednesday, hours after she went on television and tearfully defended herself amid the mounting fallout over her admission of using a racial slur.
The story has become both a day-by-day struggle by a successful businesswoman to keep her career afloat and an object lesson on the level of tolerance and forgiveness in society for being caught making an insensitive remark.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Wednesday that it ended its relationship with Deen and will not place “any new orders beyond what’s already committed.”
Caesars Entertainment Corp. said it had been “mutually decided” with Deen to remove her name from its restaurants in Joliet, Ill.; Tunica, Miss.; Cherokee, N.C.; and Elizabeth, Ind.
At the same time, Deen’s representatives released letters of support from nine companies that do business with the chef and promised to continue. There’s evidence that a backlash is growing against the Food Network, which tersely announced last Friday that it was cutting ties with one of its stars.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Deen had called him and he agreed to help her, saying she shouldn’t become a sacrificial lamb over the issue of racial intolerance.
“What she did was wrong, but she can change,” Jackson said.
During a deposition in a discrimination lawsuit filed by an ex-employee, the chef, who specializes in Southern comfort food, admitted to using the N-word in the past. The lawsuit also accuses Deen of using the slur when planning her brother’s 2007 wedding, saying she wanted black servers in white coats, shorts and bow ties for a “Southern plantation-style wedding.”
Deen said she didn’t recall using the word “plantation” and denied using the N-word to describe waiters. She said she quickly dismissed the idea of having all black servers.
Deen told Matt Lauer on “Today” on Wednesday that she could only recall using the N-word once. She said she remembered using it when retelling a story about when she was held at gunpoint by a robber who was black while working as a bank teller in the 1980s in Georgia.
In the deposition, she also said she may also have used the slur when recalling conversations between black employees at her restaurants. Asked in the deposition if she had used the word more than once, she said, “I’m sure I have, but it’s been a very long time.”
Her “Today” show appearance was a do-over from last Friday, when Deen didn’t show up for a promised and promoted interview. Deen told Lauer she had been overwhelmed last week. She said she was heartbroken by the controversy and she wasn’t a racist.
“I’ve had to hold friends in my arms while they’ve sobbed because they know what’s been said about me is not true and I’m having to comfort them,” she said.
Looking distressed and with her voice breaking, Deen said if there was someone in the audience who had never said something they wished they could take back, “please pick up that stone and throw it as hard at my head so it kills me. I want to meet you. I want to meet you.” It’s an apparent reference to the Biblical passage about whether a woman guilty of adultery should be stoned: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
“I is what I is and I’m not changing,” Deen said. “There’s someone evil out there that saw what I worked for and wanted it.”
An uncomfortable Lauer tried to end the interview, but Deen repeated that anyone who hasn’t sinned should attack her.
Asked by Lauer whether she had any doubt that blacks consider use of the N-word offensive, Deen said: “I don’t know, Matt. I have asked myself that so many times, because it is so distressing to go into my kitchen and hear” what some young people are telling each other.
Deen said she appreciated fans who have expressed anger at the Food Network for dropping her, but said she didn’t support a boycott of the network. Through social media, the network has been attacked by people who said executives there acted in haste to get rid of Deen.
Save for the brief announcement late Friday that it wasn’t renewing Deen’s contract, Food Network executives have refused to discuss the case publicly, or say whether the network plans to address Deen’s fans. There have been online reports that the Food Network removed Deen’s programs from the air as early as Saturday; the network wouldn’t speak about what it has or hasn’t put on the air.
Starting last weekend, there has been a steady erosion of support for the network. The YouGov Brandindex, a measurement of how consumers perceive a particular company or product, said the Food Network’s score — which had been generally positive — had dropped by 82 percent in a week. The network has a negative image in the South and West, spokesman Drew Kerr said.
Deen’s case has also attracted some odd bedfellows. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck said the network has “contributed to the growing un-American atmosphere of fear and silence. Hello, Joseph McCarthy.”
Meanwhile, liberal HBO host Bill Maher also said Deen shouldn’t lose her show. “It’s a wrong word, she’s wrong to use it,” he said. “But do we really have to make people go away?”
The Food Channel, a food marketing agency based in Springfield, Mo., said it has been flooded with angry messages from people mistaking the company for the Food Network. There have been so many that the agency posted a message to Deen on its website that it would be happy to work with her if possible.
Among the companies expressing support for her via her representatives was Club Marketing Services in Bentonville, Ark., which helps companies sell products at Wal-Mart, and Epicurean Butter.
Marriage, the sequel for ‘Star Wars’ creator LucasLOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s marriage, episode II for George Lucas.
A Lucasfilm spokeswoman confirms the “Star Wars” creator married longtime girlfriend Mellody Hobson in a weekend ceremony at Skywalker Ranch north of San Francisco.
It’s the second wedding for the 69-year-old Lucas, who was married to film editor Marcia Lucas from 1969 to 1983.
It’s the first marriage for Hobson, 44, an investment firm president and contributor to ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The two have dated since 2006. Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley walked her down the aisle.
The Saturday afternoon ceremony was performed by journalist Bill Moyers, who was once a Baptist minister.
Guests included filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, who said on Twitter that the wedding was “a joy to behold” and Moyers’ service “nothing short of profound.”
‘Family Ties’ creator Gary David Goldberg dies
By Frazier Moore, Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Gary David Goldberg, who created the 1980s sitcom hit “Family Ties” and expanded into feature films, has died.
Goldberg died of brain cancer in Montecito, Calif., on Saturday, days before his 69th birthday, The New York Times reported.
Goldberg’s TV successes also included the ABC comedy “Spin City,” which in 1996 reunited him with “Family Ties” breakout star Michael J. Fox as the deputy mayor of New York City.
“With a full heart I say goodbye to my mentor, benefactor, partner, second father and beloved friend,” Fox said in a statement on Monday. “He touched so many with his enormous talent and generous spirit. He changed my life profoundly.”
A more modest hit for Goldberg yet much-acclaimed, CBS’ “Brooklyn Bridge” (1991-93) was a tender comedy based on his experiences growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y. Marion Ross starred as a character inspired by his grandmother.
Goldberg’s films included “Dad” (1989), starring Jack Lemmon and Ted Danson, as well as “Bye Bye Love” (1995) and “Must Love Dogs” (2005), which he wrote as well as directed.
His own dog, Ubu, contributed the name of his production company and was widely known from the onscreen credit where viewers heard the command, “Sit, Ubu, sit,” then a bark.
Goldberg began his TV career in the 1970s as a writer for series including “The Bob Newhart Show,” and was a producer of “Lou Grant.”
In 1982 “Family Ties” premiered on NBC, introducing Michael J. Fox as a business-loving Young Republican son of left-wing baby boomers who were former hippies.|
“Basically, those parents are me and Diana,” Goldberg once said, referring to his wife, Diana Meehan, who survives him.
The series became a huge hit, making Fox a star and Goldberg an important behind-the-camera name.
During his career, Goldberg won two Emmy awards, two Golden Globes and a Peabody award.
Carrey says ‘Kick-Ass 2’ too violent after NewtownNEW YORK (AP) — Jim Carrey says that he cannot support the violence of his upcoming superhero action flick “Kick-Ass 2” in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre.
The actor shot the film last year before the mass shooting in Connecticut that killed 20 children and six adults. He tweeted Sunday that “now, in good conscience, I cannot support that level of violence.” Carrey adds that he wasn’t ashamed of the film “but recent events have caused a change in my heart.”
“Kick-Ass 2” is a sequel to the 2010 movie whose breakout star was the 11-year-old vigilante Hit-Girl, played by Chloe Grace Moretz. She reprises the role in the sequel, which Universal Pictures will release Aug. 16. Carrey plays a vigilante named Colonel Stars and Stripes.
A spokesman says Universal declined to comment.
Santorum named CEO of Christian film studioDALLAS (AP) — Former U.S. Senator and GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum has been named CEO of a company that makes movies meant for a Christian audience.
EchoLight Studios said Monday that Santorum will serve as head of the company. The company’s first film is slated for release in the fall, and it has another movie in post-production.
The company says Santorum has spent the past year working with Dallas-based EchoLight.
Santorum says in a statement that Dallas can become the Hollywood of the faith-and-family movie market.
SelectNY hires Sara Fahim as director of strategyLOS ANGELES–SelectNy, an independent global branding and advertising agency, has hired Sara Fahim as director of strategy for its Los Angeles shop. In this newly created position, Fahim will lead strategic planning on all P&G Salon Professional brands including Wella, Sebastian, Nioxin and Clairol Professional. She will also bring her expertise to new business development. She will report directly to Angela Pih, managing director, LA, and Wolfgang Schaefer, global chief strategy officer.
Fahim brings more than 10 years of agency experience, having consulted businesses, brands and entertainment personalities for the better part of her career. Most recently, Fahim served as Strategist at Phenomenon Inc., where she designed and implemented key innovations to create cultural phenomena in the fashion, retail, technology, publishing, entertainment, home furnishing and restaurant industries.
Prior, Fahim served as global account supervisor at TBWAChiatDay where she served in both strategic and account roles on the global Visa account, leading a team of over 500 employees through Visa’s first global campaign. Additionally, in this role, she led the White House’s “Let’s Move” initiative. Fahim served key roles at AGA|ADK, FP7, and Saatchi & Saatchi in Dubai touching on global brands such as Coca Cola, Red Bull and Pampers.
David Berkowitz named CMO of MRYNEW YORK–MRY, a creative and technology agency with social at its core, has announced the appointment of David Berkowitz to the position of chief marketing officer. In the new position, Berkowitz will oversee marketing operations and strategy across the agency. He will report to CEO Matt Britton.
Berkowitz’s move ends his seven year tenure at digital marketing agency 360i, where he most recently held the position of VP of emerging media. During his time at 360i, he built the emerging media practice and worked with brands such as Kraft, H&R Block and Bravo. In addition, Berkowitz helped to launch Startup Outlook, a guide for marketers to evaluate startups and emerging technologies. Prior to 360i, Berkowitz served as director of marketing at Viewpoint Corporation.
Berkowitz comes aboard MRY on the heels of two other key executive moves: the hire of chief strategy officer Ian Chee, most recently at AKQA, and the promotion of Matt Rednor to chief innovation officer.
Athena Studios adds Brice Parker
EMERYVILLE, Calif.–Athena Studios, an Emeryville-based company that provides full production services for film, TV, advertising, and multimedia clients and projects, has signed CG animation production manager Brice Parker to serve as producer. Parker will oversee development of the studio’s forthcoming original stop motion and visual effects projects.
Most recently, Parker spent eight years with Disney•Pixar, where he managed Pixar’s DVD Team, Theme Parks Project Teams, and Toons Art Department. He also produced the highly successful “Pixar In Concert” symphony.
In addition to Pixar, Parker’s experience includes working in VFX production management for the “Jurassic Park” and “Matrix” film franchises. He also holds a story credit on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” Parker also serves, along with Athena Studios CEO Jon Peters, on the board of directors for the Visual Effects Society (VES) Bay Area Chapter.
Smithfield drops Paula Deen as spokeswoman
NEW YORK (AP) — Paula Deen lost another part of her empire on Monday: Smithfield Foods said it was dropping her as a spokeswoman.
The announcement came days after the Food Network said it would not renew the celebrity cook’s contract in the wake of revelations that she used racial slurs in the past.
Smithfield sold Paula Deen-branded hams in addition to using her as a spokeswoman. In a statement, the company said it “condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen.”
QVC also said it was reviewing its deal with Paula Deen Enterprises to sell the star’s cookbooks and cookware.
“QVC shares the concerns being raised around the unfortunate Paula Deen situation,” QVC said in a statement. “We are closely monitoring these events and the ongoing litigation. We are reviewing our business relationship with Ms. Deen, and in the meantime, we have no immediate plans to have her appear on QVC.”
Sears said the company “is currently exploring next steps as they pertain to Ms. Deen’s products.” Wal-Mart, which sells Deen’s cookware, was expected to have a statement later Monday.
The rapid downfall came after revelations that 66-year-old Food Network star admitted using racial slurs in the past in a deposition in a discrimination lawsuit. Deen was asked under oath if she had ever used the N-word. “Yes, of course,” Deen said, though she added, “It’s been a very long time.”
Deen insisted she and her family do not tolerate prejudice, and in a videotaped apology, she asked fans and critics for forgiveness. It had been posted online for about an hour when the Food Network released a terse statement that it “will not renew Paula Deen’s contract when it expires at the end of this month.” The network refused to comment further.
Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which has Deen’s restaurants in some of its casinos, said Friday that it “will continue to monitor the situation.” Publisher Ballantine, which has a new Deen book scheduled to roll out this fall, used similar words.
