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Hunger Games Book Trilogy Outsells Potter Series On Amazon; Bigfoot Is Back: Biz Break

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Also in Friday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, The New York Times Company’s new CEO will make considerably less than his predecessor, and IGN President Roy Bahat steps down via email. Hunger Games trilogy outsells Potter series Suzanne Collins’  Hunger Games  trilogy is now Amazon’s top-selling book series.  In just four years, the author’s fan-generating output has outsold J.K. Rowlings’ seven-book Harry Potter series, which was published over a more than 10-year span. The online retailer announced that the milestone takes into account sales of both e-books and print copies. Deadline reports. New New York Times CEO making much less than predecessor Mark Thompson, the newly minted CEO of The New York Times Company will make an annual salary of $1 million, plus a $3 million signing bonus. In contrast, the company’s previous chief executive Janet Robinson, who left in December, made $11.3 million last year alone.  Deadline reports. Bigfoot Gets Its Own County. Grindstone Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the found-footage thriller “Bigfoot County,” and is exploring releasing the film late this year. The $30,000 picture is described as Deliverance meets Bigfoot with a dash of The Blair Witch Project . The movie is built around footage supposedly taken by filmmakers who disappeared in Northern California’s Siskiyou County while tracking the fabled Sasquatch.   Variety reports. Game over for IGN head Roy Bahat, the president of News Corp’s gaming property IGN Entertainment announced in an email to employees on Friday that he is stepping down from his position but will remain on the company’s board.  Bahat announced his departure after News Corp.’s  attempts to bring in an outside investor to spin off the division — which it acquired for $680 million in 2005 — did not bear fruit.   The Los Angeles Times reports.  Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

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Hunger Games Book Trilogy Outsells Potter Series On Amazon; Bigfoot Is Back: Biz Break

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Joss Whedon’s Encore Post-Avengers? Nothing

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

His film The Avengers is one of the highest grossers of the year and legions of fans gave adulation to him at the recent Comic-Con and even more did so at the box office. So what do you do when you have a blockbuster that has made nearly $1.5 billion worldwide and quickly counting? Take on Shakespeare and Much Ado About Nothing ! Well, he’s done it already and it’s headed to the Toronto International Film Festival in September, but the film adds to the filmmaker’s wide-ranging repertoire which has included, of course, The Avengers , a portion of last year’s doc Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope (as a writer) and TV episodes of Glee , The Office and Buffy the Vampire Slayer . Whedon’s version of Much Ado About Nothing will be a contemporary version of the Shakespearean story, which was shot in just 12 days, the Los Angeles Times notes . Toronto programmers noted the black and white movie “offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love.” The Bellwether Pictures project actually completed shooting last fall, well ahead of The Avengers massive debut in April. The film stars Amy Acker (from Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods and Alexis Denisof ( How I Met Your Mother ) as Beatrice and Benedick, which Bellwether calls “the least likely lovers” who are headed for their “inevitable tumble into love.” It is not the first time the story has been picked as a springboard for a contemporary re-telling. Kenneth Branagh took it on back in the early ’90s. That version starred Branagh along with Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale and Denzel Washington. Also starring in Whedon’s Ado are Nathan Fillion ( Waitress , Clark Gregg ( Avengers , Fran Kranz ( Cabin in the Woods and Reed Diamond ( Moneyball ). [Source: Los Angeles Times ]

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Joss Whedon’s Encore Post-Avengers? Nothing

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Mitt Romney’s ‘Bane’ Problem, and Ours

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Good morning! By which I mean just go back to bed : “‘Bane’ is the terrorist in the new movie who drives the caped crusader out of semi-retirement in the final Batman movie . Democrats, who believe they have Romney on the ropes over the president’s assault on his leadership at Bain Capital, said the comparisons are too rich to ignore. ‘It has been observed that movies can reflect the national mood,’ said Democratic advisor and former Clinton aide Christopher Lehane. ‘Whether it is spelled Bain and being put out by the Obama campaign or Bane and being out by Hollywood, the narratives are similar: a highly intelligent villain with offshore interests and a past both are seeking to cover up who had a powerful father and is set on pillaging society,’ he added.” [ Washington Examiner via Big Hollywood ]

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Mitt Romney’s ‘Bane’ Problem, and Ours

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Johnny Depp Set for Next Wes Anderson Pic; Jerry Weintraub to Receive Zurich Fest Honors: Biz Break

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Also in Tuesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, do young people care about older movies, or is it just about what’s happening now? Universal is moving forward with a revamp of its Universal City in L.A. And remembering Bill Asher, director of classic TV shows including I Love Lucy and the “beach blanket” movies of the ’60s. Johnny Depp to Star in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel This will be Wes Anderson’s next project following Moonrise Kingdom , currently in release. Depp continues to work on The Lone Ranger for Disney, Deadline reports . Perspective: Millennials Have Little Use for Old Movies “Young people, so-called millennials, don’t seem to think of movies as art the way so many boomers did. They think of them as fashion, and like fashion, movies have to be new and cool to warrant attention. Living in a world of the here-and-now, obsessed with whatever is current, kids seem no more interested in seeing their parents’ movies than they are in wearing their parents’ clothes,” the Los Angeles Times takes a look at the issue . Universal Redevelopment Moves Forward Without Housing NBC Universal is proceeding with a 20 year redevelopment of its Universal City property in Los Angeles, scrapping an original proposal to include 3,000 residential units in a backlot, Deadline reports . Producer Jerry Weintraub to Be Honored at Zurich Film Festival The Ocean’s Eleven producer will receive the Golden Eye lifetime achievement award at the Swiss festival on September 26th, his 75th birthday, and screen a selection of his films. The Zurich Film Festival takes place September 20 – 30, THR reports . Bill Asher, Dead at 90 Asher directed classic television shows as I Love Lucy , Bewitched and Gidget . He received four Emmy nominations and won an Emmy for Best Director for Bewitched in 1966. He also directed “beach blanket” films such as Beach Party , Beach Blanket Bingo and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini . He passed away in Palm Desert where he retired in 1991, The Desert Sun reports .

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Johnny Depp Set for Next Wes Anderson Pic; Jerry Weintraub to Receive Zurich Fest Honors: Biz Break

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Johnny Depp Set for Next Wes Anderson Pic; Jerry Weintraub to Receive Zurich Fest Honors: Biz Break

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Also in Tuesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, do young people care about older movies, or is it just about what’s happening now? Universal is moving forward with a revamp of its Universal City in L.A. And remembering Bill Asher, director of classic TV shows including I Love Lucy and the “beach blanket” movies of the ’60s. Johnny Depp to Star in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel This will be Wes Anderson’s next project following Moonrise Kingdom , currently in release. Depp continues to work on The Lone Ranger for Disney, Deadline reports . Perspective: Millennials Have Little Use for Old Movies “Young people, so-called millennials, don’t seem to think of movies as art the way so many boomers did. They think of them as fashion, and like fashion, movies have to be new and cool to warrant attention. Living in a world of the here-and-now, obsessed with whatever is current, kids seem no more interested in seeing their parents’ movies than they are in wearing their parents’ clothes,” the Los Angeles Times takes a look at the issue . Universal Redevelopment Moves Forward Without Housing NBC Universal is proceeding with a 20 year redevelopment of its Universal City property in Los Angeles, scrapping an original proposal to include 3,000 residential units in a backlot, Deadline reports . Producer Jerry Weintraub to Be Honored at Zurich Film Festival The Ocean’s Eleven producer will receive the Golden Eye lifetime achievement award at the Swiss festival on September 26th, his 75th birthday, and screen a selection of his films. The Zurich Film Festival takes place September 20 – 30, THR reports . Bill Asher, Dead at 90 Asher directed classic television shows as I Love Lucy , Bewitched and Gidget . He received four Emmy nominations and won an Emmy for Best Director for Bewitched in 1966. He also directed “beach blanket” films such as Beach Party , Beach Blanket Bingo and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini . He passed away in Palm Desert where he retired in 1991, The Desert Sun reports .

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Johnny Depp Set for Next Wes Anderson Pic; Jerry Weintraub to Receive Zurich Fest Honors: Biz Break

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‘Dark Knight Rises’: Christopher Nolan Profile Reveals Plot Secrets

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Los Angeles Times article offers insight into director’s mysterious world. By Kevin P. Sullivan Christopher Nolan behind the scenes of “Dark Knight Rises” Photo: Warner Bros.

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‘Dark Knight Rises’: Christopher Nolan Profile Reveals Plot Secrets

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‘Transformers 4’ Will Feature ‘New Cast,’ Space Setting

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Director Michael Bay speaks out on his plans for his fourth and final round with the robots in disguise. By Josh Wigler “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Photo: When “Transformers” revs up for its fourth big-screen adventure, you’ll see plenty of familiar faces along for the ride: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee. … But there won’t be a single human character from the old guard. Unless, of course, you count director Michael Bay. “It’s a new cast,” the director matter-of-factly told the Los Angeles Times about his plans for “Transformers 4,” which will not feature Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky at all. “We’re moving on to something different.” “It’s not a reboot, that’s maybe the wrong word,” Bay added. “I don’t want to say reboot because then people will think we’re doing a Spider-Man and starting from the beginning. We’re not. We’re taking the story that you’ve seen &8212; the story we’ve told in three movies already &8212; and we’re taking it in a new direction. But we’re leaving those three as the history. It all still counts. I met with the writer before I went off to do ‘Pain and Gain’ and we talked about a bunch of ideas. We let that simmer for a bit. He’s been thinking about stuff and now we’re getting back together next week to see what we’ve got and to see if it gels.” One of the new ideas that Bay has cooked up: the possibility of bringing the Autobots and Decepticons to outer space. “I think so, yeah, a little,” he said when asked if the fourth film would go off-planet. “That feels like the way to go, doesn’t it? I want to go a little off, but I don’t want to go too sci-fi. I still want to keep it grounded. That’s what works in these movies, that’s what makes it accessible.” Bay said that “Transformers 4,” which will have a smaller budget than its predecessors by “about $30 million,” will be his final ride with Prime and pals. He’s said as much in the past, of course — but this time, Bay insists that he means business. “Here’s the thing, it’s tough to find someone who’s done these kind of movies and to have the complication of creating the new stuff that needs to be in this movie — not just characters but a new type of action, I hope — and that’s a lot for someone new to bite off,” said the director. “And so after this one I will leave it in the best hands possible. That’s the plan.” Tell us what you think of Bay’s “Transformers” plans in the comments below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Transformers 4.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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Frank Cady Dies at 96

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Frank Cady, a career character actor best known as the general store owner on the famous sitcom Green Acres , has died. He was 96 years old. Cady’s daughter, Catherine Turk, reportedly told the Los Angeles Times that her father passed away Friday at his home in Wilsonville, Ore. A cause of death has not been released at this time. Cady played Sam Drucker, one of the less loony denizens of fictional Hooterville in Green Acres , for the show’s entire run, from 1965-1971. The show, centered about a Manhattan couple who left the big city to live in a rundown farm, became one of the staples of early television. Cady also played the same character in Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies and played Doc Williams on Ozzie and Harriet . He and his wife, Shirley, retired to Oregon in the 1990s. She died in 2008.

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Frank Cady Dies at 96

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Bill Plaschke to Kobe Bryant: ‘You’re an Asshole’

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Playoff time brings out the very worst in Kobe Bryant when it comes to dealing with the media. He’s notoriously known for his smug and snarky answers during this time of the year and Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke called him out on it following Game 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets Western Conference 1st round series. Here’s J.A. Adande of ESPN.com explaining the incident:… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : MediaBistro.com Discovery Date : 08/05/2012 22:12 Number of articles : 2

http://www.youtube.com/v/LcuG5BQaMZk

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Bangers: Jordin Sparks Remembers Whitney Houston In V Magazine

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Jordin Sparks is featured in the new Americana issue of V Magazine on newsstands Thursday. Inside the magazine the beauty talks about her relationship with Whitney Houston, which was fostered on the set of their new movie “Sparkle”. Peep an excerpt below: Part musical, part cautionary tale, the movie tells the story of three sisters, Sparkle, Delores (Tika Sumpter) and Sister (Carmen Ejogo), whose successful Motown singing act disintegrates in the face of drug addiction and familial strife. Originally Houston had signed on solely as exectutive producer, but eventually agreed to also play the girls’ mother, Emma. “I think she was hesitant at first, and then she said, ‘Yeah, I really want to do that,” says Sparks. On set in Detroit at the first table read, Sparks, who has d worshiped the pop star since childhood, was appropriately tongue-tied. “She walked in and I was like, ‘This. Is. Awesome.’” But over time the two women grew close, bonding over a slavish devotion to the craft-services table and a near constant habit of singing under their breath. “One day, actually, she was walking behind me and singing ‘I Have Nothing,’” recalls Sparks. “And then she reached out and said, ‘I forgot I sang that. I was annoyed that day and just didn’t ant to do it. We ended up doing it in three takes!’” When Houston died unexpectedly in February, Sparks (who attended her memorial service) was grief-stricken. “She was always so full of light,” she says, choking back tears . “Every day… she would open the door and ask, ‘How are my babies this morning? Are my babies good? God is good. Praise the Lord.’” Still Sparks has no illusions about the demons that plagued her late costar (and, ironically, some of the films characters). “I can see how people can fall and people can flip or they can just get in with the wrong crowd.” Gotta love Jordin Sparks. We are really looking forward to “Sparkle” but we have to side-eye the writer for saying Whitney and Jordin had a “near slavish devotion” to craft services. Big SMH. Photo Credit: Mark Abrahams

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