May 31, 2013
Legendary, China Film teaming to make blockbustersHONG KONG (AP) — Legendary Entertainment, the Hollywood studio behind “The Hangover” franchise, is teaming with state-owned China Film Group to make more global blockbusters as it advances a delayed expansion in the rapidly growing Chinese movie market.
Their deal is the latest example of growing collaboration between entertainment companies in the world’s two biggest movie markets.
Legendary, which also made “Inception” and “The Dark Knight,” said its Chinese venture, Legendary East, signed an agreement with the Chinese company’s unit, China Film Co., on Thursday in Beijing. The deal calls for the companies to fund development and production of multiple films over three years.
Their first collaborations will be announced in the coming months. Legendary said each is planned as a US-China co-production. That means they can get around China’s import restrictions that limit the number of foreign movies shown on the country’s 12,000 screens to 34 each year.
The companies said they plan to produce movies for global audiences that will be “tentpole-scale” — in other words, the big-budget, highly promoted productions that earn enough box-office revenue to support the whole studio, in the same way that a tentpole holds up a tent.
No specific details were released.
In a statement, China Film Co. Chairman Han Sanping said the partnership will allow the companies to “make films that are more appealing to filmgoers, creating new genres that, through the magic of film, bring greater variety to audiences around the world.”
Faced with stagnant box-office growth at home, Hollywood studios are keen to break into China, now the world’s second-biggest film market. Box-office receipts in China totaled $2.7 billion last year and pushed the country’s movie market past previous second-biggest, Japan, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.
Legendary East was set up in 2011 with the aim of making one or two “major, event-style films” starting in 2013. But the company had remained quiet since then and a plan to raise $220.5 through a deal with a Hong Kong construction company was scuppered by rocky financial markets.
Suit filed over copter crash during reality shootLOS ANGELES (AP) — The mother of a man killed when a helicopter crashed during a shoot for a reality television show has claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit that the aircraft’s operators and producers negligently operated the helicopter.
Jerie S. Rydstrom filed the lawsuit Wednesday, claiming the helicopter’s operators negligently maintained and operated the Bell 206B Jetranger that was used during filming. Darren Rystrom was one of three people, including a pilot, killed during the early morning crash on Feb. 10 in the Acton area of northeast Los Angeles County.
The men were filming a scene for an untitled military-themed show being produced for the Discovery Channel, which is not named in the lawsuit.
The case’s defendants are Van Nuys Copters and Orbic Air, the companies responsible for the lease of the helicopters; the estate of pilot David Gibbs; and reality television producers J.D. Roth and Todd Nelson.
Phone messages left for the companies and the men were not immediately returned Thursday.
“Defendants negligently failed to insure that the Bell 206B helicopter was functionally equipped and capable of operating over such terrain at night under visual meteorological conditions and failed to ensure that it was serviceable for the intended flight,” the suit states.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for loss of companionship, earnings, and for the pain and suffering caused by Darren Rystrom’s death and any pain and mental anguish that he suffered during the crash.
An initial report by the National Transportation Safety Board report stated the helicopter was being used for scenes in which an actor dropped a backpack to the ground from the hovering aircraft.
The production crew on the ground was not filming at the time, but there was a camera operator aboard and a GoPro camera pointed at an actor in the left front seat, the report said. The recording devices were sent to NTSB headquarters for examination.
Award-winning Indian director Ghosh dies at 49NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian film director Rituparno Ghosh, whose work includes award-winning films in the Bengali language, died of cardiac arrest at age 49, news reports said Thursday.
Ghosh died Thursday at his home in the eastern city of Kolkata, Press Trust of India quoted his family as saying.
Ghosh directed about 20 feature films in the Bengali language, mostly dealing with the dilemmas of India’s urban middle class.
Ghosh shot to fame with his first film, “Hirer Angti,” or “The Diamond Ring” in 1994. Then followed a string of movies that earned him 12 national film awards, including for best director.
His 2007 creation, “The Last Lear,” was in English and centered on a retired actor who is persuaded to return to cinema to reprise the lead role in a production of Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan starred in the film that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
Ghosh’s films earned critical acclaim at several international film festivals including in Locarno, Switzerland, and in London.
Shekhar Kapur, director of the 1998 Academy Award-winning period film “Elizabeth,” tweeted that he was “shocked by the passing of Rituparno Ghosh.” He described Ghosh as a “hugely creative explorer on film.”
Indian character actress Kiran Kher said Ghosh was a marvelous director and that his death was a “huge loss for Indian cinema.”
Neil Patrick Harris returning to host EmmycastNEW YORK (AP) — CBS says Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Emmys again.
It’s the second go-around for the TV, film and stage star. He last did the honors at the “Prime Time Emmy Awards” in 2009.
CBS will air the Emmycast live from Los Angeles on Sept. 22.
But for viewers who just can’t wait to see Harris in emcee mode, he’ll preside over “The 67th Annual Tony Awards” on CBS on June 9. It’s Harris’ fourth time hosting that show, which salutes the best of Broadway.
Harris currently stars on the hit CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.”
Holland, Milner join 72andSunny as group creative directorsLOS ANGELES–The creative duo of Grant Holland and Gavin Milner has joined 72andSunny as group creative directors.
Holland and Milner met years ago at agency Ground Zero, then worked together at Ogilvy, Team One and most recently, 180 LA. Over the years, they have teamed to develop innovative campaigns such as “The Bull” and “The Return” for Adidas, Mitsubishi’s “Live Drive,” “Dangerous Road” and “World Record” projects, and Expedia’s “Find Your Understanding”. At 72andSunny, they will lead the charge across multiple brand groups.
Kellogg reaches settlement over Mini-Wheats claim
NEW YORK (AP) — Kellogg has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the marketing claims it made for Frosted Mini-Wheats.
The company, which also makes Frosted Flakes, Eggo waffles and Pop Tarts, was sued for saying that the cereal improved children’s attentiveness, memory and other cognitive functions.
Kellogg says in a statement that the ad campaign in question ran about four years ago and that it has since adjusted its messaging to incorporate guidelines set by the Federal Trade Commission. The company, based in Battle Creek, Mich., also noted that is “has a long history of responsible advertising.”
On its website, Kellogg now says that Frosted Mini-Wheats are full of fiber and that they “fill you up first thing and help keep you focused all morning.”
If approved by the court, the law firm representing consumers says the settlement will result in cash refunds for up to three boxes of cereal purchased during the time of the advertising in question. People may seek reimbursement of up to $5 per box, with a maximum of $15 per customer, according to the settlement.
Kellogg Co. said customers can visit www.cerealsettlement.com to submit a claim for a refund. The claims are for boxes of Frosted Mini-Wheats purchased from Jan. 28, 2009 to Oct. 1, 2009.
180LA adds creative directors Duering, CorbittSANTA MONICA, Calif.–Anja Duering and Carl Corbitt have joined 180 LA as creative directors. The team comes over from Goodness MFG. Prior to their tenure at Goodness, the duo worked as CDs at Wieden + Kennedy on the global Nokia account, and VP/associate creative directors on VW and Geek Squad for Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Miami. Duering and Corbitt’s acclaimed work has seen honors at Cannes, One Show and the ANDYs, among others, on notable campaigns such as VW’s “Safe Happens.” At 180LA they will oversee all work on Boost Mobile and Mitsubishi Motors.
The duo joins resident 180LA creative directors Matthew Woodhams-Roberts and Dave Horton, who will continue to run Expedia, Pepsi and Sony.
Sarah Montague named SVP/GM of Organic, San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO–David Shulman, CEO of digital marketing agency Organic, announced the appointment of Sarah Montague to SVP, General Manager, Organic San Francisco.
Montague’s hire is the latest in a series of major talent initiatives by Shulman, including installing Katie Healey as GM, Organic Detroit earlier this month.
In her new position, Montague will report to chief client officer, Joe DiMeglio, and oversee Organic staff and accounts based out of the San Francisco office including: Nike, Quaker and Nature’s Way.
Montague most recently worked as sr. VP, director of client services, Digitas, where she was the relationship lead for the agency’s eBay and Kaiser Permanente accounts. Montague opened Digitas’ San Francisco office in 2012 and quickly grew the staff and client roster, leading the winning pitch team for eBay and securing the office’s second digital AOR assignment, Taco Bell.
Prior to Digitas, Montague worked to expand Draft FCB’s CRM practice as SVP, group management director for the agency’s Volkswagen of America account. Before that, she was director of client services at TargetCom, a direct response agency in the MDC Partners family, working on clients including Best Buy, Discover Network, and the Kellogg School of Management.
ND ad agency sues creators of Cartoon Network showBy Kristi Easton
FARGO, N.D. (AP)–A North Dakota advertising agency is suing the creators of a Cartoon Network show, alleging that they copied a state marketing campaign.
H2M, a Fargo-based advertising and marketing agency, filed the lawsuit against Dane Boedigheimer and Spencer Grove in U.S. District Court in North Dakota on Monday. Boedigheimer and Grove are the creators of the animated series “Annoying Orange.”
H2M alleges Boedigheimer and Grove ripped off a copyrighted character called The Talking Orange that was created for television commercials for the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The commercials aired in North Dakota and western Minnesota from 2005 to 2010. The lawsuit also names Annoying Orange LLC and Annoying Orange Inc., both based in California.
“Defendants Dane Boedigheimer and Spencer Grove were raised, resided, educated, attended film school, were employed and first obtained access to ‘The Talking Orange’ in North Dakota and western Minnesota — the same area where Plaintiff H2M’s ‘The Talking Orange’ and its derivatives, were widely disseminated on cable television,” the suit states.
The Talking Orange is comprised of an inanimate orange that has a superimposed mouth with lips, tongue and teeth. An actor’s mouth speaking the character’s part is composited onto the orange. It has a “snotty, annoying and slightly obnoxious” voice, which gives it an abrasive and abusive persona, the lawsuit stated.
“Like ‘The Talking Orange,’ ‘Annoying Orange’ appears to be speaking with a ‘voice’ that is perfectly in sync with the movement of the actor’s mouth, lips, teeth and tongue,” according to the lawsuit.
Boedigheimer and Grove are both North Dakota natives and attended college at Minnesota State University-Moorhead before relocating to California, the lawsuit said. Both still have family members in North Dakota and western Minnesota.
H2M is seeking damages, an injunction prohibiting Boedigheimer and Grove from profiting off their product, and attorneys’ fees.
A representative of Boedigheimer and the producers of the show said she could not comment on current litigation. A spokeswoman for Cartoon Network also said the channel had no comment.
Turkey passes bill restricting alcohol sales, ads
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s parliament has passed legislation to ban all advertising of alcohol and tighten restrictions on sales in the mainly Muslim but secular country.
The legislation, adopted on Friday, bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It also prohibits alcohol sales anywhere close to mosques and educational centers.
The law bars drink companies from promoting their brands and forces the blurring of images of alcoholic drinks on television.
It also brings stricter penalties on drunken driving.
The government says the law is aimed at protecting Turkey’s youth from the harms of alcohol but secularist opponents accuse the Islamic-rooted ruling party of gradually imposing an Islamic agenda.
The legislation needs presidential approval before coming into effect.
Misty Locke promoted to president of iProspect Americas
NEW YORK–Global digital performance agency iProspect has promoted Misty Locke to president of iProspect Americas, a newly created position spanning the Americas region. Locke will retain her current role as global chief marketing and performance officer, and report directly to Nigel Morris, CEO of Aegis Media Americas & EMEA, for her Americas capacity, and to Ben Wood, president of iProspect Global, for her CMO responsibilities.
In her new role, Locke will be charged with growing the iProspect network and brand throughout the Americas and instilling iProspect’s unified global vision. As global chief marketing and performance officer of iProspect–a role she has held for the past two years–Locke will continue to manage the organization’s strategic direction and maintain the firm’s industry relationships.
Prior to iProspect, Locke was a co-founder of Range Online Media in 2001, and as president, she led the company through its acquisition by the former Aegis Group plc.
