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  • Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014
BBC drama 'Ripper Street' rescued in Amazon deal
In this undated publicity file photo released by BBC shows, actor Matthew Macfadyen stars as Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, in a scene from "Ripper Street" on BBC America. (AP Photo/BBC, Tiger Aspect, Jonathan Hession, File)
LONDON (AP) -- 

"Ripper Street" has been rescued.

The Victorian detective drama was canceled by the BBC earlier this year after two seasons because of poor ratings. But after an online campaign by fans, it is returning for a third series through a deal between the British broadcaster and online retailer Amazon.

Filming begins in May on the new series, which will be shown first on Amazon's Prime Instant Video service, before airing on BBC television.

Matthew Macfadyen and Jerome Flynn return as 19th-century police fighting crime in the sordid streets of London's East End.

BBC drama boss Ben Stephenson said Wednesday that the deal was "an exceptional opportunity" to bring the show back that would please fans while freeing up BBC money for new drama series.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
Tom Johnstone joins 72andSunny as group strategy director
Tom Johnstone
LOS ANGELES -- 

Tom Johnstone has joined 72andSunny as group strategy director, working alongside the Samsung team. He comes over from the U.K. where he was most recently at AMV BBDO, developing strategy for brands like Guinness, Motorola and Footlocker as well as the U.K. Government Transport, Health and Environmental Departments. Having a strong passion for work that creates social change, Johnstone was also an integral part of the “MakePovertyHistory” (known as “ONE” in the US) and “IF” campaigns that tackled hunger.

“I’ve known Tom for years and always thought he’d be a perfect fit for 72andSunny--with his approach to strategy, rigor in thinking, and creativity in expression,” said Matt Jarvis, 72andSunny’s chief strategy officer and partner.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
Matt Sung joins Imaginary Forces as interactive creative director
Matt Sung
NEW YORK -- 

Imaginary Forces has signed interactive creative director Matt Sung.  Sung comes to Imaginary Forces from Razorfish, where he served as associate creative director and design lead for the 2013 responsive website redesign of Mercedes-Benz USA (mbusa.com).  Prior to that, Sung was a design director at Scripps Networks Digital for Food Network and Cooking Channel.     

Imaginary Forces’ EP/general manager Gabriel Marquez said of Sung,  “His forward-thinking design sensibility, digital fluency, and track record of building digital products and communities are key assets to grow our interactive business.  Moreover, his engagement in the interactive community and creative use of social networks brings an expertise we’ve been anxious to add.”

In 2007, Sung co-founded and built the online brand and social network design:related, which was featured in the New York Times magazine, Print, How, Advanced Photoshop, Mashable, Print Magazine and the More

  • Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
Disney launches digital movies app
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Disney is launching a digital movies app that allows fans to store movie purchases online and play them back over Apple devices and computers.

The launch of Disney Movies Anywhere coincides with the release of hit film "Frozen" on digital platforms. Users who link the app account to Apple's iTunes digital store will receive a free copy of "The Incredibles."

The app is built on The Walt Disney Co.'s KeyChest technology, which stores and records consumers' purchases of digital movies on distant servers. The app also recognizes codes that have enabled digital downloads of Disney movies since 2008.

KeyChest is similar to UltraViolet, a digital locker system supported by a wider range of studios such as Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Universal, Sony and Paramount.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
Twitch live game broadcasting coming to Xbox One
By Derrik J. Lang, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Xbox One will soon be Twitchier than the PlayStation 4.

The popular video game broadcasting service Twitch is bringing a slew of fresh features to Microsoft's newest console. An update next month will add the ability to live stream video games, join in on games with broadcasters, initiate game broadcasts with voice commands, archive game clips and watch Twitch streams broadcast from any device, including the PS4.

Previously, Xbox One users could only spectate Twitch streams and record game clips with the system's Upload app.

"It's complete integration," said Emmett Shear, co-founder and CEO of Twitch. "It's exciting because we've never had the ability to broadcast from a console like this with such a deep level of integration. The concept of being able to join a broadcasters' party is really cool, and it's another step in the direction of interacting more closely with broadcasters."

The More

  • Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
George Lucas, wife donate $25M to Chicago school
CHICAGO (AP) -- 

Filmmaker George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson are donating $25 million to a prestigious private school on Chicago's South Side.

The University of Chicago says Tuesday that the grant from The George Lucas Family Foundation will pay for a new arts hall at the university's Laboratory Schools.

The 86,000-square-foot building will open in 2015 and will be named after Gordon Parks, a photographer, musician and social justice advocate.

Hobson is president of Chicago-based Ariel Investments. She married the Star Wars filmmaker in 2013.

Lucas says in a statement that art can "transform lives and communities" and says he hopes Parks' legacy will inspire future generations.

The Hyde Park school has about 1,800 students in nursery school through 12th grade.

  • Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014
Netflix reaches deal with Comcast
By Steve Rothwell, Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

Netflix has reached a deal with Comcast to ensure that its TV shows and movies are streamed smoothly to households, the first deal the online video streaming service has reached with an Internet service provider.

The two companies said in a joint statement Sunday they're establishing a more direct connection to provide a better service to customers that will also allow for future growth in Netflix traffic. The companies say the arrangement is already giving customers a better experience.

Netflix had 33 million U.S. streaming subscribers at the start of the year and accounts for about one third of all traffic on the Internet, according to research firm Sandvine. As the video steaming company has grown, Internet service providers like Comcast have pushed the company for more structured deals to enable its content to be transmitted smoothly and reduce the strain on their networks.

While the More

  • Friday, Feb. 21, 2014
'House of Cards' wants Maryland to boost tax credits
"House of Cards"
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- 

Netflix political drama series "House of Cards" is demanding millions of dollars more in tax credits from Maryland, or it will go elsewhere.

The Washington Post  reports that California-based production company Media Rights Capital has pushed back its filming schedule for its third season to see if lawmakers boost credits for film and television projects enough.

Last year, lawmakers boosted the $7.5 million annual allocation to $25 million, but they're divided on whether to do that again.

The show's first two seasons were filmed in Maryland and economic development officials say the show injected more than $250 million into the state economy. Maryland reimbursed Media Rights Capital more than $11 million in tax credits after the first season and that amount could reach $15 million for the second season.

More
  • Friday, Feb. 21, 2014
DGA promotes Dudich, Tenkman
LOS ANGELES -- 

DGA National Executive Director Jay D. Roth announced the promotion of two Guild executives.  Neil Dudich has been promoted to Associate Eastern Executive Director, based in the Guild’s New York offices, and Daniel Tenkman has been promoted to Assistant Executive Director in Los Angeles.

“Neil has a deep understanding of the Guild’s contracts and strong relationships with Council members, and he is dedicated to advocating on behalf of their creative and economic rights," said Roth.  "He will be a valuable addition to the Guild’s senior executive team.  Daniel has proven to be a committed and passionate advocate for our members working in commercials, and his knowledge of new trends and technology in the digital realm will prove vital as he ensures that our members’ rights are protected in the growing and rapidly-evolving genre of new media.”

Dudich joined the DGA in 2007 as Assistant Executive More

  • Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014
6 charged with bilking investors in phony movies
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Six Southern California men have been charged with stealing millions of dollars by offering investments in phony movies with names like "The Smuggler" that supposedly featured well-known actors such as Donald Sutherland, federal authorities said Thursday.

The men were charged with fraud in two federal grand jury indictments and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

Arrested Thursday were Samuel Braslau, 53, of Los Angeles and Rand Jay Chortkoff, 64, of Los Angeles, who co-founded the company Mutual Entertainment LLC (later renamed Film Shoot LLC), along with an alleged salesman, Stuart Rawitt, 47, of West Hollywood, prosecutors said.

Braslau pleaded not guilty Thursday, said his attorney, Anne Hwang.

Rawitt pleaded not guilty several weeks ago, said his attorney, Bernard J. Rosen.

A message left for Chortkoff's lawyer was not immediately returned. More

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