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Robert Redford’s The Company You Keep Heads To Theaters; Sesame Street’s Jerry Nelson Dead At 78: Biz Break

Also in Friday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, the New York Film Festival has unveiled plans for an inaugural Midnight sidebar and Transmedia program. Peter Strickland’s latest thriller is headed for U.S. theaters after screenings in Toronto and New York tests. Kodak announces departure from key photo biz areas and The Dark Knight Rises passes an international box office milestone. Robert Redford’s The Company You Keep Heading to U.S. Theaters Sony Pictures Classics has picked up U.S. rights to Redford’s feature which stars Shia LeBeouf, Julie Christie, Sam Elliott, Brendan Gleeson, Terence Howard, Richard Jenkins, Anna Kendrick, Brit Marling, Stanley Tucci, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, and Susan Sarandon. A thriller centered on a former Weather Underground activist who goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity. It will screen at the upcoming Venice and Toronto film festivals. New York Film Festival to Host Midnight Movies and Convergence Program Thrillers will have a section to call home for the first time at the 50th New York Film Festival. The premieres of three films will take place at the festival which opens with Ang Lee’s Life of Pi September 28th. Barry Levinson’s The Bay , Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio and Outrage Beyond by Takeshi Kitano will screen in the festival which continues through October 14th. Additionally, Transmedia will get a two-day focus during the festival September 29 – 30. The event will host panels, workshops and “immersive experiences” designed to be an “intimate gathering for creators, designers, thinkers and fans.” For details on both events, visit The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s website . Peter Strickland’s Thriller Berberian Sound Studio Heads to U.S. Theaters The film stars Toby Jones, Cosimo Fusco and Antonio Mancino about a sound engineer’s work at an Italian horror studio that becomes a case of life imitating art. The feature will screen at the upcoming Toronto and New York film festivals. ” Berberian Sound Studio is a dazzling cinematic tour-de-force that brings to mind Hitchcock,Argento and De Palma featuring a brilliant performance by Toby Jones,” said IFC/Sundance Selects president Jonathan Sehring about the film which genre label IFC Midnight will release at a later date. Around the ‘net… Sesame Street Puppeteer Jerry Nelson Dead at 78 He voiced Count von Count as well as many other beloved Sesame Street characters including Snuffleupagus, Sherlock Hemlock, Camilla the Chicken and Kermit’s nephew Robin. He also worked on several Muppet movies, Deadline reports . Kodak Set to Quit Camera Film and Photo Paper Business The announcement means an end to it making films for still cameras, photo papers, souvenir photo products at theme parks, scanners and picture print-out kiosks at stores. It would leave the business focused on printers, cinema film stock and chemicals, BBC reports . The Dark Knight Rises Passes $500M Overseas Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy finale has grossed $501.1 million overseas, making its worldwide total (when combined with almost $414 million in North America) to $915 million, Screen Daily reports .

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Robert Redford’s The Company You Keep Heads To Theaters; Sesame Street’s Jerry Nelson Dead At 78: Biz Break

Natalie Wood’s Death Certificate Amended; LL Cool J Nabs A Robber At Home: Biz Break

Also in Wednesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, after Robert Pattinson joked he needed a personal publicist, potential reps went into overdrive. And Mila Kunis and Max Martini eye separate upcoming projects. Natalie Wood’s Death Certificate Amended Thirty years later, authorities have changed Natalie Wood’s death certificate from an “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined factors.” The new document also says that the circumstances of how the actress ended up in the ocean off of Catalina Island in California in 1981 was “not clearly established,” A.P. reports . LL Cool J Captures Robber at L.A. Home He plays a special agent on NCIS: Los Angeles , but he took matters into his own hands in real-life Wednesday morning. L.A. police say the rapper nabbed a burglary suspect in his Studio City home and held him downstairs before 1 a.m. while police arrived, A.P. reports . Publicists Go Head to Head to Rep Robert Pattinson Pattinson said during an appearance on The Daily Show that his “biggest problem in life” was not hiring a publicist, setting off a frenzy among the Hollywood publicity machine to rep the actor, THR reports . Mila Kunis Joins Third Person Kunis is joining the cast of Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis’ drama set in Rome, New York and Paris centering on three overlapping love stories. James Franco and Casey Affleck are in negotiations to join the project, set to start in mid-October, The Wrap reports . Max Martini Eyes Breacher Martini is in talks to join Breacher playing Pyro, a member of the DEA team, which also stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington and Terrence Howard and directed by David Ayer, Deadline reports .

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Natalie Wood’s Death Certificate Amended; LL Cool J Nabs A Robber At Home: Biz Break

Kristen Stewart To Miss MTV VMAs For On The Road’s Toronto Premiere?

It was the Tweet heard ’round the Twilight -sphere: Toronto Film Festival Artistic Director Cameron Bailey announced via Twitter that Kristen Stewart will be attending the festival with her film On The Road … which just happens to be premiering on September 6, the same night as the MTV Video Music Awards . Coincidental scheduling conflict or convenient timing for avoiding certain Breaking Dawn promotional duties with (or without) betrayed vampire BF Robert Pattinson? Interested parties: 1 addition to our #TIFF12 guest list: Kristen Stewart for ON THE ROAD— Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) August 21, 2012 Neither Stewart nor Pattinson had been confirmed to attend the VMAs, though fans had still held out hope that they’d see one or both in attendance at the annual event. Both stars along with Taylor Lautner were also reportedly opting out of convention tour duties surrounding the Twilight Saga ‘s final installment. “I like pushing and watching a genuine experience on screen,” Stewart of her sexually-daring performance after the film’s Cannes debut. “The reason I wanted to do the job was to be provoked as much as possible and then to do it and take it further. We were just going forth, and as long as you’re being honest there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” [ @Cameron_tiff ]

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Kristen Stewart To Miss MTV VMAs For On The Road’s Toronto Premiere?

Fast & Furious Six First Look: Vin Diesel And Paul Walker On The Sequel Set

Production is underway on The Fast and the Furious 6 , director Justin Lin ‘s anticipated follow-up to 2011’s Fast Five and his fourth trip behind the camera in the Fast & The Furious franchise. Yes of course, you should be excited; Fast Five was awesome. Just look at how happy stars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are in the first image from the set! This time around in Fast 6 , Dom and Brian’s happy outlaw family are being hunted down by The Rock’s returning agent Luke Hobbs, last seen investigating some very interesting photos with a slinky Eva Mendes. Also back: Michelle Rodriguez (Letty!), Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang (Han!!), and Tyrese, joined by newcomers Gina Carano and Joe Taslim of The Raid . It’s quite a line-up for fans of the franchise and fans of action. I mean, have you seen Haywire ? Have you seen The Raid ? Expect more awesome fistfights than you’ll ever see in the Expendableses .* *This may be a controversial statement, but: I’ll take the cars + brawn action in any Fast & Furious movie over the mind-numbingly repetitive gunfire circuses that are the Expendables movies any day. Anyhow, enjoy. Rejoice! But remember, you’ve still got a long way to go until Fast 6 hits theaters in May 2013. [ @FastFurious ]

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Fast & Furious Six First Look: Vin Diesel And Paul Walker On The Sequel Set

Golden Globes Set Dates; Pontius Pilate Is Headed To The Big Screen: Biz Break

Also in Tuesday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, Dimension Films goes for a psychological thriller. Sundance and SXSW doc winners head for release. Kick-Ass 2 gets a “Night Bitch,” while the next Thor picks a return character. Angry Little God to Thrill U.S. Audiences Dimension Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Daniel Stamm’s psychological thriller Angry Little God . Stamm and his writing partner David Birke adapted the script from the original film which follows a bright but meek individual drowning in debt and desperate as he’s about to be married.  He receives a mysterious phone call informing him that he’s on a hidden camera game show where he must execute 13 tasks to receive a cash prize of over $6 million.  He accepts the challenge, but even with thousands of dollars suddenly appearing in his bank account, he realizes he’s in over his head. IM Global will finance and produce the film. Golden Globes Set Dates “The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and producer dick clark productions (dcp) will present “The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards” live on Sunday, January 13, 2013. Next year’s show will air live on NBC coast-to-coast from 5-8 p.m (PT) and 8-11 p.m. (ET) from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Nominations for the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be announced at 8 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, December 13. This year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award , honoring the lifetime achievements of actors and filmmakers, will be announced on November 1.” Sundance & SXSW Doc Winners Head for Distribution SnagFilms will handle domestic distribution rights for Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner The House I Live In and SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner Beware of Mr. Baker . House centers on America’s war on drugs, while Mr. Baker takes a look at drummer Ginger Baker who worked with Eric Clapton, Cream and Blind Faith. Digital distribution is expected to cover “key pay platforms and eventual ad-supported release” on snagfilms.com. Around the ‘net… Warner Bros. Stakes Out Pontius Pilate The studio has picked up a script by Woman On Top writer Vera Blasi that centers on the Biblical figure who became the Roman governor over Judea and oversaw the fateful decision to crucify Jesus, Deadline reports . Lindy Booth Eyes Kick-Ass 2 Booth is in talks to be cast in the super-hero sequel as Night Bitch. Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz are reprising their respective roles of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl in the second installment, Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall , directed by Jeff Wadlow, THR reports . Kat Dennings Eyes Thor 2 2 Broke Girls star Kat Dennings will again play techie Darcy Lewis in Marvel Studios’ sequel Thor: The Dark World , Deadline reports .

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Golden Globes Set Dates; Pontius Pilate Is Headed To The Big Screen: Biz Break

Tony Scott and Tom Cruise In Nevada Last Week For Top Gun 2 Planning; Indie Execs Launch NYC-Based A24 Distribution Outfit: Biz Break

Also in Monday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, IFC Films picks up a Tribeca 2012 romantic comedy for U.S. theaters. The Writers Guild of America is accepting applications for its 2013 awards. Gary Ross finds a new project and a look at comics who are heading behind the camera. Vet Indie Execs Launch A24 Distribution Outfit A24 is a new film company that will focus on distribution, financing and production. The New York-based company will acquire finished films and finance and produce original content. A24 aims to distribute 8 – 10 titles per year, several of which will have wide theatrical releases. The new company is being spearheaded by former Oscilloscope Laboratories exec David Fenkel, Daniel Katz from finance group Guggenheim Partners ( The Social Network ) and John Hodges of Big Beach Films ( Little Miss Sunshine ). The three said in a statement: “We see an exciting opportunity right now for movies in the domestic space especially given all the new ways to target moviegoers and the changes that are happening in the marketplace. We are looking forward to working with great storytellers to bring their films to audiences.” Rom-Com Cheerful Weather for the Wedding Headed to Theaters Donald Rice’s romantic comedy Cheerful Weather for the Wedding , based on Julia Strachey’s 1932 novel of the same name, has been picked up by IFC Films. The film stars Elizabeth McGovern, Felicity Jones, Luke Treadaway, Mackenzie Crook, Zoe Tapper, and Ellie Kendrick and centers on a woman who realizes on her wedding day she’s about to make a serious mistake. The film had its world premiere last spring at the Tribeca Film Festival. Writers Guild Accepting 2013 Doc Screenplay Awards Contenders The Writers Guild of America, West and the WGA, East are accepting submissions for their 2013 WGA Documentary Screenplay Award. Submissions are being accepted through November 16th. Nominations will be announced January 3rd and the 2013 Writers Guild Awards will take place at simultaneous ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles on February 17th. For more information, visit their website . Around the ‘net… Tony Scott Spent Final Days Working on Top Gun 2 Scott spent time last week in Nevada with Tom Cruise touring a naval air station as part of their research for the project. Scott, who directed Cruise in the original Top Gun , was set to direct the movie’s sequel in addition to two other projects that were in advanced development when he died of an apparent suicide this past weekend, THR reports . Gary Ross Eyes Peter Pan The Hunger Games director opted against the franchise’s follow-up due in theaters this November, but is now likely set to direct the Disney project Peter and the Starcatchers . The story is based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Jesse Wigutow is working on a script that is scheduled for October delivery, Deadline reports . Growing Number of Comics Move Behind the Camera Dax Shepard’s car-chase comedy Hit & Run and Mike Birbiglia’s one-man-show adaptation Sleepwalk With Me are part of an influx of low-budget pics that has afforded such talent creative control, Variety reports .

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Tony Scott and Tom Cruise In Nevada Last Week For Top Gun 2 Planning; Indie Execs Launch NYC-Based A24 Distribution Outfit: Biz Break

NY Film Festival Announces Slate; NYT Reporter Angers RPattz Fans; Avengers 2 Gets 2015 Release: Biz Break

Also in Wednesday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, Willie Nelson throws support behind the Weinstein Company’s Lawless , and production on Iron Man 3 is suspended after Robert Downey Jr. injures his ankle. NY Film Festival Unveils Line-up The Main Slate line-up for the 50th New York Film Festival will be comprised of 32 movies, including Roger Michell’s Hyde Park on Hudson , which stars Bill Murray as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha , a comedy he wrote with actress Greta Gerwig about an aspiring dancer in New York City; and Brian De Palma’s thriller Passion , with Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams. The 1960s era rock ‘n’ roll film Not Fade Away , by The Sopranos creator David Chase will also premiere as the festival’s centerpiece. For the complete list, check out the  NYFF website.  NY Times Columnist Booed By Pattinson Fans At Cosmopolis  Q&A New York Times reporter and columnist David Carr incurred the wrath of RPatz fans at a Times Talks Q&A session when he asked the British actor, “So, if you and Kristen have trouble, it’s like Charles and Di having trouble?” The New York Daily News reports. Willie Nelson Down with Lawless The Weinstein Company announced that country-music star Willie Nelson is lending his support to the movie distributor’s gangster bootlegger picture Lawless. Nelson performs the previously unreleased “Midnight Run” on the movie’s soundtrack and will appear at a special screening of the film on Aug. 25 at the Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas. Lawless , which stars Tom Hardy , Jessica Chastain and Shia LaBeouf is based on a true story about the bootlegging Bondurant brothers. Avengers Assemble!  In 2015, That Is Marvel’s Avengers 2 has an official release date of May 1, 2015.  Joss Whedon is set to direct and write the sequel, which will follow Iron Man 3 , Thor 2 , Captain America 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy . Deadline reports. Speaking of Iron Man 3, Production Delayed After Downey Injures Ankle Production was suspended briefly on the set of Iron Man 3 when the film’s leading man Robert Downey Jr. injured his ankle.   Deadline reports . Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

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NY Film Festival Announces Slate; NYT Reporter Angers RPattz Fans; Avengers 2 Gets 2015 Release: Biz Break

Kristen Stewart Won’t Be In Any Snow White Sequel; Bachelorette An iTunes Hit: Biz Break

Also in Wednesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders will direct 90 Church for Universal. Tobey Maguire joins an indie project by Craig Zobel and the New York Times names a new chief. Bachelorette is an iTunes Hit Leslye Headland’s Sundance premiere Bachelorette is at number one on the iTuens top movies chart, the first pre-theatrical release to mount the spot, Deadline reports . Snow White and the Huntsman Director Rupert Sanders to Direct 90 Church Universal acquired 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell , a book written by Dean Unkefer that Random House will publish Stateside. “The upcoming novel 90 Church refers to the address of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics when it was formed in New York City to combat organized crime and drug traffic in the mid-1960s through early ’70s,” Deadline reports . Kristen Stewart Won’t Be in a Snow White Sequel In related news to above, Universal has decided to shelf its Snow White and the Huntsman sequel and will focus on a solo Huntsman movie starring Chris Hemsworth. A sequel is being re-conceived as a spin-off story and it’s not clear if Rupert Sanders will return, but Stewart will not be returning, THR reports . Tobey Maguire Joins Z for Zachariah Maguire will star in the project which Compliance director Craig Zobel will direct. Based on the novel by Robert C. O’Brien, and adapted by Nissar Modi, the story is a post-apocalyptic drama centers on a teen who survives both a nuclear war and nerve gas because of a self-contained weather system. Carey Mulligan will also star, Variety reports . New York Times Names BBC’s Mark Thompson its New Head “The New York Times Company has announced that BBC director general Mark Thompson is to become its chief executive and president in November. The NYT runs national and regional newspapers and websites and said his experience in digital media on a global scale made him the ‘ideal candidate,'” BBC reports .

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Kristen Stewart Won’t Be In Any Snow White Sequel; Bachelorette An iTunes Hit: Biz Break

Kristen Stewart Won’t Be In Any Snow White Sequel; Bachelorette An iTunes Hit: Biz Break

Also in Wednesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders will direct 90 Church for Universal. Tobey Maguire joins an indie project by Craig Zobel and the New York Times names a new chief. Bachelorette is an iTunes Hit Leslye Headland’s Sundance premiere Bachelorette is at number one on the iTuens top movies chart, the first pre-theatrical release to mount the spot, Deadline reports . Snow White and the Huntsman Director Rupert Sanders to Direct 90 Church Universal acquired 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell , a book written by Dean Unkefer that Random House will publish Stateside. “The upcoming novel 90 Church refers to the address of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics when it was formed in New York City to combat organized crime and drug traffic in the mid-1960s through early ’70s,” Deadline reports . Kristen Stewart Won’t Be in a Snow White Sequel In related news to above, Universal has decided to shelf its Snow White and the Huntsman sequel and will focus on a solo Huntsman movie starring Chris Hemsworth. A sequel is being re-conceived as a spin-off story and it’s not clear if Rupert Sanders will return, but Stewart will not be returning, THR reports . Tobey Maguire Joins Z for Zachariah Maguire will star in the project which Compliance director Craig Zobel will direct. Based on the novel by Robert C. O’Brien, and adapted by Nissar Modi, the story is a post-apocalyptic drama centers on a teen who survives both a nuclear war and nerve gas because of a self-contained weather system. Carey Mulligan will also star, Variety reports . New York Times Names BBC’s Mark Thompson its New Head “The New York Times Company has announced that BBC director general Mark Thompson is to become its chief executive and president in November. The NYT runs national and regional newspapers and websites and said his experience in digital media on a global scale made him the ‘ideal candidate,'” BBC reports .

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Kristen Stewart Won’t Be In Any Snow White Sequel; Bachelorette An iTunes Hit: Biz Break

Robert Pattinson Joins Queen of the Desert; Dermot Mulroney Boards August: Osage County: Biz Break

Also in Tuesday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, awards season is coming – so soon! The Film Independent Spirit Awards set its February date and is now accepting submissions in its various categories. The Academy is teaming up with the Pickford Foundation to honor the Silents. And remembering Welcome Back, Kotter ‘s Ron Palillo. Film Independent Spirit Awards Looking for Good Movies The 28th Film Independent Spirit Awards are set for Saturday February 23rd with location (it’s usually on the beach in Santa Monica) still officially TBD. The organization is accepting submissions in its various categories beginning today, Tuesday August 14th. It’s regular deadline for consideration is Tuesday, September 18th and the final deadline is Tuesday October 16th. The nominations for the Spirits will take place Tuesday, November 27th at 10am. For submission guidelines and more information including an online submission form, visit their website . Academy Teams with Mary Pickford Foundation to Spotlight Silent Era The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Mary Pickford Foundation have partnered on a multi-year initiative to promote the legacy of Mary Pickford and the silent film era, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson announced. The partnership includes an annual silent film screening, silent film preservation initiatives and the digitization of components of the Academy’s Mary Pickford Collection. To kick off this partnership, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, the Academy and the Foundation will host “Inside the Vaults” event on Tuesday, September 11, at the Pickford Center in Hollywood. The evening includes behind-the-scenes tours of the vaults, a screening of a rare Mary Pickford short The New York Hat (1912), the Los Angeles premiere of the Academy Film Archive’s newly restored print of The Mark of Zorro (1920), starring Douglas Fairbanks, and a display of select items from the Academy’s Mary Pickford Collection. Around the ‘net… Robert Pattinson Joins Queen of the Desert Pattinson will play T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia in Werner Herzog’s biopic of Gertrude Bell. Naomi Watts will star as Bell who is credited with establishing the framework for what is today Iraq and Jordan. The explorer, writer, archeologist and political attaché worked for British intelligence during WWI. Herzog wrote the screenplay, THR reports . Dermot Mulroney Joins August: Osage County He will play a somewhat mysterious businessman fiancé to Karen, played by Juliette Lewis in the film, being directed by John Wells and shooting this fall, Deadline reports . Welcome Back, Kotter ‘s Ron Palillo Dead at 63 Palillo played Arnold Horshack on the ABC sitcom which aired 1975 – 1979. He also played supporting roles in a number of animated series and also a small part in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives . He died near Palm Beach, Florida where he lived of an apparent heart attack, NPR reports .

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Robert Pattinson Joins Queen of the Desert; Dermot Mulroney Boards August: Osage County: Biz Break