• Virginia Madsen will play Kevin Spacey's ex-wife in the indie comedy Father of Invention.
• Rumor has it George Clooney is interested in playing Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. Clooney's taking Affleck's cast-offs? Times are indeed tight.
• Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Transformers 2, Star Trek) are developing a movie about the View-Master toy. You know you've ascended to the upper echelons of Hollywood when you can get a hunk of plastic that views colorful slides green-lit.
• Megan Fox goes demonic in the red band trailer for Jennifer's Body. Only Diablo Cody would name a horror movie after a Hole song.
• Blade director Stephen Norrington is developing a prequel trilogy for Stephen Dorff's villain character. Hey, Snipes is a little preoccupied right now.
• The first trailer for Big Fan, the latest from scribe behind The Wrestler, has been released. This time next year, will we be saying, "Oscar winner Patton Oswalt"?
BIZ
Jackson's Death Marks Turning Point for Media Players
from Advertising Age - MediaWorks by ahampp@adage.com (Andrew Hampp)
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Michael Jackson's death prompted an onslaught of
memorial media coverage arguably not seen since Princess Diana's passing in
1997 or Elvis Presley's in 1977. But when the King of Rock 'n' Roll died 32 years
ago this August, the event was chronicled by only three broadcast networks, and
the music industry had no digital downloads or SoundScan. Now the abundance of
media platforms makes the King of Pop's death bigger in scope, and it's
responsible for big boosts to three media players -- TMZ, BET and iTunes.
Yet another 2009 ad spend downgrade
from Hollywood Reporter by By Steve McClellan, Adweek
For the second time this year, Publicis Groupe media-agency network Zenith Optimedia has downgraded its 2009 global and North American ad-spending forecasts.
$1.5M for Filmmakers? Cinereach and Sundance Unveil Three-Year
Grant Program
from indieWIRE News
The Sundance Institute and Cinereach unveiled a $1.5 million
three-year grant for a new project dubbed, "The Cinereach Project at Sundance
Institute." Funded by Cinereach, the program will support what the Institute
calls "a unique and flexible resource pool for documentary and feature film
projects with themes that evoke global cultural exchange and social impact."
FESTIVALS
At Outfest, redefining gay film
This year's festival includes movies by LBGT filmmakers who
are broadening the milieu of their stories.
MOVIES
'Transformers'
Fends Off 'Ice Age'
from Box Office Mojo - Top Stories by by Brandon Gray
In a photo finish, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen emerged victorious over Independence Day weekend with $42.3 million, compared to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' $41.7 million, while Public Enemies had a solid debut in third.
'T.J. Hooker' movie in the works
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, July 6 (UPI) -- A movie based on the 1980s U.S. television series
"T.J. Hooker" is in the works, producer Ryan Heppe said.
'Jennifer's Body': Megan Fox kills!
from EW.com: Movies
Mandi Bierly: Red-band trailer (NSFW) for Diablo Cody film looks genius; is
that Adam Brody in guyliner?!
'Bruno': Real-life inspiration?
from EW.com: Movies
Kate Ward on a debate in Austria by two who claim to have inspired Sacha Baron Cohen's character; is that something you'd WANT to own up to?
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
One of the most anticipated films of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival was Big Fan, the feature directorial debut of Robert Siegel, screenwriter of Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler and former editor of The Onion .
John Woo To Direct International War Epic About The Flying
Tigers
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
A press conference has been held in China to announce the production of John
Woo's next film, claimed to be the most expensive Chinese production to date.
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
Will Wild Thing return to the plate for another at-bat? Bob Uecker revealed
while chatting up the game at Wrigley stadium last week that he's recently had
contact from the creative team behind the first three Major League
films, and that they're developing a Major League 4.
Beau Bridges joins 'Columbus Circle'
from Hollywood Reporter by By Nellie Andreeva
Beau Bridges has rounded out the principal cast of "Columbus Circle," an indie thriller directed and co-written by George Gallo.
DreamWorks eyes View-Master pic
from Hollywood Reporter by By Borys Kit and Jay A. Fernandez
Remember View-Master, the Fisher-Price toy with those little 3D picture discs of mountains, rivers and caverns that you could rotate through a viewfinder? DreamWorks is in negotiations to acquire movie rights to the toy from Mattel.
What to Watch for week of July 6 to July 12, 2009
from EW.com: TV
A day-to-day guide to notable programs*
Sci Fi becomes Syfy; how will viewers react?
Dave Howe, the president of the Sci Fi Channel, knows that many people will be upset.
Ausiello TV: 'Grey's' new direction!
from EW.com: TV
Michael Ausiello on big move for a Seattle Gracer; Jim Parsons' Emmy dreams; ''Bones'' casting -- and NPH!
from L.A. Times - TV News
This fall brings 'Eastwick,' '10 Things I Hate About You'
and 'Parenthood,' each based on a successful film.
MUSIC
Michael Jackson Memorial Speakers, Performers Announced
from Billboard News - All by Ayala Ben-Yehuda, L.A.
Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Usher and Stevie Wonder are among the confirmed participants at Tuesday's public memorial service for Michael Jackson at Los Angeles' Staples Center.
Russians erect a shrine to pop idol
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
MOSCOW, July 6 (UPI) -- Among the many shrines dedicated to Michael Jackson
following his death is one at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, where fans said he
affected their lives.
Two Members Quit Panic At The Disco
from Billboard News - All by Evie Nagy, N.Y.
Panic at the Disco guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker are leaving the band "to embark on a musical excursion of their own," they announced today.
ABBA tribute concert planned in London
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LONDON, July 6 (UPI) -- Swedish songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus
have confirmed they will take part in an ABBA tribute concert in London in
September.
Music Business Can't Shake Slump
from The Wrap RSS by Michael Speier
Album sales for the first half of 2009 are down 15% from the same period in 2008.
Kal Penn Starts Work As White House Liaison
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Actor Kal Penn has started his new job as a liaison between the White House and Asian communities.
'Three's Company' star cited for drunken driving
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- An actress who starred on the hit television series "Three's Company" has been arrested in Southern California and cited for drunken driving.
`American Idol' judge Kara DioGuardi gets married
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kara DioGuardi (KA'-ruh dee-oh-GWAHR'-dee) had a busy Fourth of July weekend: The "American Idol" judge married her beau, contractor Mike McCuddy.
Zach Galifianakis considers next move
from Hollywood Reporter by By Steven Zeitchik and Borys Kit
Zach Galifianakis has one of the biggest hits of the summer in "The Hangover." Now he's being very careful before he orders his next drink.
MPAA's Dan Glickman Mulling Senate Run
from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily by Nikki Finke
Dan Glickman says "flirting is too strong a word" but the lifelong Democratic pol from Kansas who has been a congressman and served as Agriculture Secretary under President Clinton is considering a run for the U.S. Senate from that flyover state.
