Large MPU – Page 155
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News
US tax breaks: the laws of attraction
As competition for production increases, more and more US states are launching incentive programmes and, in some cases, designing them in innovative ways.Introducing an incentive in the north-eastern border state of Michigan 'became imperative', says Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office. 'We were losing business right and left, ...
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News
UK tax breaks:a cultural revolution
As producers begin to grapple in earnest with the UK tax incentives, the local industry is eyeing the new system with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Most acknowledge the credits will not compensate for the investment lost to the UK film industry following the scrapping of Section 48 and ...
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Features
The fight to be seen
ShoWest convention last month, National Association of Theater Owners president John Fithian characterised the digital future of cinema-going as the most radical change to the way we watch movies since the advent of sound. Whether that proves to be true or not, it is fair to say the transition is ...
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Features
Spartans still on the warpath
The Spartan army conquered a further 12 territories at the weekend as 300 reeled in $30.8m, bringing its total international spoils to a ferocious $126.4m after four weeks. UK comedy Mr Bean's Holiday jumped up to number two and generated $29.2m in the three-day period after opening in a further ...
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Features
Market focus - Fighting fit
UK box office could see its strongest year in four years in 2007 as first quarter reports show a 10% year-on-year increase. After 12 weeks, UK cinemas have generated $379.4m (£193.7m) from 166 films, compared to $346.1m (£176.7m) in the same period of 2006, according to Nielsen EDI.Recent years have ...
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News
Lucky You, The Gates set for Tribeca world premieres
Tribeca Film Festival top brass have booked the world premieres of Curtis Hanson's romance Lucky You starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore and festival closer The Gates, an art installation documentary from Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles.Lucky You, which stars Bana as a poker player wrestling with personal issues while ...
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News
Moss, Zegers, Rennie star in Bessai's Normal
Canadian writer-director Carl Bessai has begun prinicpal photography on his latest picture Normal with Carrie-Anne Moss, Kevin Zegers and Callum Keith Rennie in the lead roles. Travis McDonald conceived the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Bessai, who will also shoot the film. Produced by Bessai's Raven West films and ...
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News
Pathe launches loyalty card scheme
French exhibition giant Pathe today launched a loyalty card scheme at its multiplex in Nantes. The scheme, which appears to be a response to the launch of a controversial card scheme by rival exhibitor UGC, is expected to be rolled out nationally.The new card, called Cine A Volonte, will cost ...
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News
US music feature made available for download on Indie911
Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen's music industry documentary Before The Music Dies will become the first feature available for download through the online social network and music store Indie911.Viewers will be able to buy the film free of copyright protection for $9.99 on Apr 6, and can also download a ...
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News
Mr Bean goes into 23 new markets including Brazil, Italy, Mexico
Universal/UPI's Mr Bean's Holiday has swept past $50m within the first seven days of release and will be the one to beat overseas as it heads into the second weekend.The comedy sequel opens in another 23 territories including French-speaking Switzerland on Apr 4, Hong Kong on Apr 5, and Brazil, ...
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News
Telefilm Canada invests in 14 feature projects
Telefilm Canada has announced investments in 14 English-language features including new feature documentaries from Deepa Mehta and Kevin McMahon.Mehta is co-directing Forgotten Women with brother Dilip Mehta, a renowned photographer, on this expose of the destitution, exploitation, and virtual slavery of millions of Hindu widows living in India today. David ...
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Reviews
Disturbia
Dir: DJ Caruso. US. 2007. 105mins. A smart teen thriller that ably mixes suspense and adolescent melodrama, Disturbia boasts an articulate script and nuanced performances. Though Rear Window's voyeuristic premise provides the inspiration, this Paramount/DreamWorks release adds hints of Kubrick-ian chills and nicely understated insights into the tumultuous lives of ...
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News
300, Bean 2 lead spectacular international weekend
300 returned to winning ways as Warner Bros Pictures International's (WBPI) action hit beat Mr Bean's Holiday by a whisker to the number one spot overseas.The film added an estimated $32m from 6,500 prints in 61 markets to raise the tally to $173m. It shot to the top in Germany ...
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News
Seattle Festival to launch Northwest ProductionMarket
The 33rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, running from May 24-Jun 17, has announced that it will launch the Northwest Production Market programme.The market will provide a forum for film-makers to discuss their projects with production companies and financiers. A companion programme, the Northwest Production Forum, will offer advice to ...
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News
Blades continues to dominate North American box office
Easter crowds favoured comedy and family fare as Paramount's Blades Of Glory and Buena Vista's Meet The Robinsons beat off R-rated Grindhouse and three other new releases to hold on to the top two spots.Blades Of Glory added an estimated $23m to raise the running total to $68.4m after two ...
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News
Japan's JDC sets up international acquisition fund
Japan Digital Contents Trust Inc (JDC) has established a foreign film acquisition fund in partnership with three Japanese distributors.The first phase of the 'Cinema Trust: Acquisition Fund' will provide from $16.76m-$33.52m (Y2b-Y4b) for the acquisition and distribution of foreign-produced feature films. The three distribution partners, chosen for their proven success ...
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News
Withoutabox partners with Cannes Market on Short Film Corner
Independent film online resource Withoutabox will serve as the exclusive partner on Cannes Film Festival's Fourth Annual Short Film Corner.Withoutabox will manage the event's film registration process, including solicitation, management and promotion of films. Film-makers registering films with the Short Film Corner will either use their existing Withoutabox control panel, ...
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News
MGM pacts with Salma Hayek on Latin film co Ventanazul
MGM and business associates Salma Hayek and Jose Tamez have set up Ventanazul to develop, produce and acquire Latin-themed filmed entertainment featuring Latin and non-Latin film-makers and stars. Hayek will serve as president and chief executive officer and Tamez as president of production in the equal partnership with MGM.The company ...
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News
Tykwer makes it twice with Sony Classics
Run Lola Run filmmaker Tom Tykwer's latest film, The Princess And The Warrior, has been picked up Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) for North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Although Miramax Films has a first-look deal with Tykwer's and producer partner Stefan Arndt's X-Filme, the New York mini-major apparently ...
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News
Israel venture capital fund JVP launches Animation Lab
Israel-based international venture capital fund Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) has launched Jerusalem and Los Angeles-based Animation Lab.Commercials producer Ayelet Weinerman will serve as president for Animation Lab, Israel's first fully equipped feature animation studio, and has spent the past year scouting creative and managerial talent.Weinerman, who served as executive producer ...