Large MPU – Page 2061

  • News

    New Writers' Circle recruits UK writers including Toby Young

    2006-05-11T17:33:00Z

    UK organisations The Script Factory and Skillset have announced the firstnine members of their new Writers' Circle initiative. The scheme aims to helpparticipants segue from another writing arena to become screenwriters. More than 500 peopleapplied, and the nine selected are: playwright/journalist Toby Young, authorMeg Rossof, playwright Moira Buffini, TV writer ...

  • News

    Initialize launches new UK scheme for female producers

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    InitializeFilms, in association with BBC Film Network, ShortsInternational and members' club The Hospital, has a new UK industry trainingprogramme for women who want to produce short films. Theprogramme, Athena, is atwo-month course that will train and coach 10 women to produce a short film.The first edition will be comprised of ...

  • News

    Prime becomes Ireland's first digital film release

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Ireland's Digital Cinema Limited(DCL) is working with distributor Momentum Pictures to handle Ireland's first digital film release.Momentum'sPrime will open today on the firstdigital print screening in the country. "Weare delighted, in association with Momentum Pictures, to release the movie Prime digitally," said Kevin Cummins,director of operations at DCL. "This release ...

  • News

    MPA's Jimmy Katz dies in Brussels

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    Jimmy Katz, VP of Europe, Middle East and Africa for the Motion Picture Association, died in a Brussels hospital on May 8.Katz had worked with the MPAin Brussels since July 1999. He was previously anexecutive at Columbia Tri-Star and from 1995-1999 he worked in Los Angeles as VP of International. ...

  • News

    Marozas named svp theatrical corp comms at Warner Bros

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    Andrea Marozas hasbeen named senior vice president of theatrical corporate communications atWarner Bros.Marozas will provide communications support on a worldwide basis to thestudio's global theatrical operations and liaise with the trade, consumer andbusiness press.She reports to executive vice president of corporate communications SueFleishman but will work on a day-to-day basis ...

  • News

    M:I:3 set to fly past $100m as Da Vinci Code looms

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    Mission: Impossible 3 will soar past $100m this weekend as it consolidatesits grip on the international marketplace.The action picture stood at more than $83.1m as of May 11 and Paramount and UIPexecutives know this is a key time for consolidation.Next weekend sees the global launch of The Da Vinci Code ...

  • News

    M:I:3 set to fly past $100m as Da Vinci Code looms

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Mission: Impossible 3 will soar past $100m this weekend as it consolidatesits grip on the international marketplace.The action picture stood at more than $83.1m as of May 11 and Paramount and UIPexecutives know this is a key time for consolidation.Next weekend sees the global launch of The Da Vinci Code ...

  • News

    Shaft - Top guy at the US Box Office with $21.1m

    2000-06-18T22:01:00Z

    Paramount Pictures, hot on the heels of Mission: Impossible 2, has scored another summer smash with its updated remake of 1971 blaxploitation classic Shaft. Featuring Samuel L Jackson as New York cop Shaft with original star Richard Roundtree as his uncle John, the movie grossed $21.1m over the three-day weekend ...

  • News

    Relativity sets up Gun Hill Road II co-financing with Sony, Universal

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Relativity Media hasestablished Gun Hill Road II, an independent co-financing package that providesdiscrete and separate funds for both Sony Pictures Entertainment and UniversalPictures. The arrangement willprovide production funds for a total of 19 features, 11 from Sony and nine fromUniversal, one of which is a co-production between the ...

  • News

    Relativity sets up Gun Hill Road II co-financing with Sony, Universal

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Relativity Media has establishedGun Hill Road II, an independent co-financing package that provides discreteand separate funds for both Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Pictures.The arrangement will provide production funds for a total of 19 features, 11from Sony and nine from Universal, one of which is a co-production between thetwo.The pictures ...

  • News

    New Films doses up on Caffeine for Cannes

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Beverly Hills-based NewFilms International (NFI) has picked up international rights to John Cosgrove'sensemble comedy Caffeine and will commence sales at Cannes next week.Mena Suvari, Marsha Thomason, Katherine Heigl, Mike Vogel and Breckin Meyerstar in the story of sex, fidelity and forgiveness.John Cosgrove's feature directorial debut is based on a screenplay ...

  • News

    Filming begins in Scotland on horror-thriller Senseless

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    ShorelineEntertainment and Matador Pictures have started principal photography inGlasgow on Senseless staringJason Behr.Matador's Nigel Thomas and Micky MacPherson of Plum Films are producing andShoreline's Morris Ruskin serves as executive producer along with Matador'sLauri Apelian and Circle Of Confusion's Lawrence Mattis, David Alpert and DavidEngel.Simon Hynd is directing based on his ...

  • News

    Relativity Media fires up Gun Hill Road package

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Relativity Media has established Gun Hill Road II, an independent co-financingpackage that provides discrete funds for both Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Pictures.Thearrangement will provide production funds for 19 features, 11 from Sony andnine from Universal, one of which is a co-production between the two.Thepictures are planned for release at ...

  • News

    Caan heads up Maverick Global's debut Cannes slate

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    Maverick Global, thefledgling international arm of Miami-based domestic home entertainmentdistributor Maverick Entertainment Group (MEG), arrives in Cannes with aseven-strong slate headed up by the gangster drama This Thing Of Ours.The picture stars James Caan as a mob family godfather and centres on anaudacious heist. Frank Vincent and Vincent Pastore also ...

  • News

    Caan heads up Maverick Global's debut Cannes slate

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    Maverick Global, thefledgling international arm of Miami-based domestic home entertainmentdistributor Maverick Entertainment Group (MEG), arrives in Cannes with aseven-strong slate headed up by the gangster drama This Thing Of Ours.The picture stars James Caan as a mob family godfather and centres on anaudacious heist. Frank Vincent and Vincent Pastore also ...

  • News

    TWC and IFC to co-distribute Wordplay in North America

    2006-05-11T00:00:00Z

    The Weinstein Company(TWC) and IFC Films will co-distribute Patrick Creadon's crossword documentary Wordplay in North America.Christine O'Malley produced the picture, which was an instant hit when itpremiered at Sundance and profiles New York Times crossword editor Will Shortzand the national tournament he founded.IFC Films acquired North American rights in January ...

  • News

    The Little Film Company adds eclectic trio to Cannes slate

    2006-05-12T04:00:00Z

    Robbie and EllenLittle's Los Angeles-based worldwide sales and marketing house The Little FilmCompany has bulked up its Cannes slate with worldwide rights to three projectsin pre-production.Sean Mathias' multi-layered political drama The Colossus based on Ann Harries' novel Manly Pursuits is being produced by Lisa Katselas.Thriller Ghost Maker is writtenand will ...

  • News

    FACB founder Rob Fisher dies in Sydney

    2006-05-12T00:00:00Z

    Today was a black day forthe Australian film industry with the death last night of Rob Fisher, thefounding chief executive of one of only two long-standing completion bondcompanies in the country.Fisher was known as astraight shooter and was very popular. He was a watchdog at the financial endof what is ...

  • News

    Germany's H5B5 acquires stake in Unapix

    2000-06-19T12:40:00Z

    Boutique German TV producer H5B5, has bought a 25% stake in fast-moving US mini-conglomerate Unapix Entertainment.The German outfit said: "this strategic shareholding is a very important step. It sustains [our] goal in selling high quality products on the US TV market and allows H5B5 Media to exploit all distribution channels."The ...

  • News

    Cannes announces final juries for Un Certain Regard and Camera d'Or

    2006-05-12T10:59:00Z

    Cannes festivalorganizers have announced the final compositions of the juries for the UnCertain Regard and Camera d'Or juries.As previously announced US director and producer Monte Hellman will preside over the Un Certain Regard jury joinedby Iranian author Marjane Satrapi,American journalist Laura Winters, Italian journalist Maurizio Cabon, French journalist Jean-Pierre Lavoignatand ...