Hollywood Highlights

Friday, July 11, 2008

A petition drive underway against FOX

Nearly 100, 000 people reportedly have expressed outrage at FOX for using racism, prejudice, and fear to smear presumed Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, that’s according to the Moveon.org political action website. The site lists the charges against FOX … “First, a paid FOX commentator accidentally confused “Obama” with “Osama” and then joked on the air about killing Obama. Next, a […]
Thursday, July 10, 2008

SAG says no deal to the studio bosses

Today, the Screen Actors Guild handed the AMPTP a response to its final offer. While the producers were looking for a “yes” to everything, SAG tossed out some counter proposals instead. The AMPTP got really ticked about that. Apparently,  the AMPTP had expected SAG to rubber-stamp the deal like, ah, that other actors’ union. On its website, the AMPTP slammed […]
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Screenwriter starts successful Los Angeles based publishing company

Debbie Bishop launched Angel Gate in 2003 and it’s a hit. So far, the publishing company has released novels, graphic novels, YA fiction, children’s books, and cookbooks. Among her publishing successes; a children’s picture book series called “This One ‘n’ That One” written by actress Jane Seymour. Bishop is a screenwriter, producer, novelist, and graphic designer. She is developing films […]
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Actors’ negotiations update

  One union contract is a done deal, but the second, and probably the most difficult, is still a cliffhanger. First — AFTRA. The waiting is over. Tonight, AFTRA announced the results of the balloting on the tentative primetime television offer from the producers. AFTRA negotiators reached the tentative agreement with the AMPTP on May 28. Last month, ballots were […]
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Will Smith dusts competition in the July 4th box office race

  Google Image Will Smith’s new anti-superhero flick, “Hancock,” made a killing during the long 4th of July holiday weekend easily grabbing the number one spot at the box office. “Hancock” pulled in an estimated $107.3 million over the five and a half days. That’s the third biggest July opener and Smith’s eighth film in a row to open Stateside […]
Saturday, July 5, 2008

July 4th holiday weekend movie fans head to the theaters

Moviegoers line up to buy tickets in Burbank. The theaters are packed this July 4th holiday weekend and many folks are buying tickets to see Will Smith as an irreverent superhero in “Hancock.” The film has received mostly negative reviews, but Smith still owns the July 4th weekend. In its first three days , “Hancock” has raked in $60.1 million […]
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

4th of July holiday break in the SAG talks

SAG negotiators met with AMPTP reps today. According to a SAG press release, the Guild asked a series of questions about the producers’ proposed package. Over the next several days, SAG negotiators will reportedly review and analyze the offer and ” prepare a response to management’s proposal.” No word yet, when these negotations will start up again. Meanwhile, on SAG’s […]
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Grammy Foundation offering grants of up to $40,000

I spotted this notice in today’s Arts Funding Watch e-newsletter. The grants are being offered to organizations and individuals researching the impact of music on the human condition. Also, these grants are available for projects dealing with archiving and preserving the music and recorded sound heritage of the Americas. For application guidelines go to www.grammyfoundation.com/grants
Tuesday, July 1, 2008

SAG contract update

A Screen Actors Guild member gets vocal in support of striking WGA writers while picketing in front of Disney Studios in Burbank, last February. No, SAG members did not hit the bricks when their union contract expired at 12:01 a.m. this morning. Nevertheless, the labor stand-off between SAG negotiators and the AMPTP continues and that has a lot of people […]