Ending months of rumors and speculation, it has been announced that the Rank Group Plc, the international gaming and leisure group, has reached an agreement to sell Deluxe Film to DX III Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, whose chairman and CEO is businessman Ron Perelman. The deal is valued at $750 million and is expected to be completed in early ’06. Deluxe, with operations in Hollywood, Toronto, London, Barcelona and Rome, is among the world’s largest processors of 35mm film for the motion picture industry and physical distributors of release and trailer prints for motion pictures. Perelman is also the principal shareholder in Panavision….Director Samuel Bayer and bicoastal/international RSA Films have parted ways…..Director Larry Frey has signed with bicoastal Chelsea Pictures. He brings an agency creative pedigree to Chelsea and previously was repped as a director by such houses as Uncle, Santa Monica, and bicoastal Villains….Sharon Lew, national head of sales for Crossroads Films, bicoastal and Chicago, has additionally assumed the role of executive producer on the East Coast for the company. In this latter capacity, she succeeds Charlie Curran who has moved on to head up a new live-action company, Nola, based in New York….Director Mark Brozel, known for his dramatic work, including BBC One’s contemporary version of Macbeth which debuted last November, has joined London house New Moon for commercials….Executive producer John Ficalora and director Christopher Yurkow have launched Bridge Street Films in Ardsley, N.Y. The new shop opens with a directorial roster that includes Yurkow and Marilyn Agrelo. The latter helmed the feature film Mad Hot Ballroom and is repped exclusively by Bridge Street for spots. Chris Miller, Bridge Street’s director of sales and marketing, will also represent the company on the East Coast. Indie reps Tim Harwood of Tim Harwood & Associates will cover the Midwest, and Rachel Finn and Mary Saxon of Finn Saxon Represents will handle the West Coast….David Lubars, chairman/chief creative officer of BBDO North America, will serve as jury president for the Titanium Lions at the 2006 Cannes International Advertising Festival….
A “Wicked” Welcome From The National Board of Review
Days after "Wicked" went home from the Golden Globes with a single award for box office achievement, the National Board of Review Awards held space for the smash hit musical, celebrating its cast and director in the New York group's annual gala Tuesday. The untelevised but starry NBR Awards were a chance for many of the nominees who didn't win Sunday to trot out their would-be acceptance speeches, including Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. Accepting the award for best actress for her performance in the erotic thriller "Babygirl," Kidman celebrated by chugging a glass of milk, a nod to some of the film's kinky sex games. After finishing, Kidman triumphantly announced "Good girl!" and left the stage. It also was an opportunity for some jabs at the Globes. "Isn't this room just a little bit classier than the Beverly Hilton?" quipped presenter Christine Baranski, looking around the elegant marble-columned midtown venue, Cipriani's. Others were less impressed by the old-school New York vibe. "The bathroom attendant, that shouldn't exist anymore," Kieran Culkin said during a typically free-form acceptance speech for best supporting actor for his role in "A Real Pain." The night belonged to Jon M. Chu's "Wicked." The musical was the board's pick for best film, best director for Chu and a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The two, in back-and-forth remarks, continued their mutual praise of each other. "Also you're welcome," added Grande. "I truly think you would have murdered anyone else." "Probably true," responded Erivo. Chu, who was introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, used the moment to reflect on his yearslong journey with "Wicked," which will be followed by an already-shot part two due out this... Read More