News & General Info

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Update on SAG negotiations & location filming in Burbank

     Those long-running Screen Actors Guild negotiations appear to be stalled in a nowhere zone. The most recent press release posted on SAG’s website is dated August 15 and it claims “informal discussions” are happening. Ah, but wait, over on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ website a posted statement denies there are ANY talks underway.  Not a good […]
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Books take a back seat to movies and TV

Book lovers browse at a bookstore in Burbank. People are going to the movies in huge numbers this summer as well as catching up on favorite TV programs after the script drought created by the WGA writers’ strike, so maybe that’s why some book sales are sagging. Bookstore sales declined in June, according to Publishers Weekly. During the first five months of the year, these sales were […]
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Graphic novels & comics hot properties in Hollywood

Graphic novels along with comic books are the favorite go-to-sources for movies in Hollywood these days. There is serious dough to be made, two examples: comic-turned-film “The Dark Knight” has a domestic gross nearing $500 million and “300” the movie based on a graphic novel has raked in more than $450 million worldwide since 2006.     So it is no surprise that Warner Bros. […]
Monday, August 18, 2008

Dara Torres goes for the green

Google Image Olympic swimmer Dara Torres won three silver medals, but no gold in Beijing. A great accomplishment for any athlete. Torres is the first U.S. swimmer to compete in five Olympics and the oldest swimmer to win a silver medal in the Games. Still, it’s not all over for the 41-year-old mother of a toddler. Now, Torres is going […]
Monday, August 18, 2008

“Tropic Thunder” rolls by “The Dark Knight”

After four weeks of riding high as the number one film in the country, “The Dark Knight” got bumped down a notch over the weekend. The new adult comedy “Tropic Thunder” debuted in first place with an estimated $26 million. It opened on Wednesday, so those additional screenings lifted the comedy’s total to about $37 million. The Batman sequel rang up around $16.8 million […]
Saturday, August 16, 2008

Gasoline prices drop at the pumps

A couple of motorists pump gas in Burbank. Photo by FLLewis I filled up at a gas station in Burbank on Thursday. It was not as painful as it has been in weeks past – but it still hurt.  I pumped a little over eight gallons – at $4.039 a gallon – total $34.02.  That was a good deal, according to the […]
Friday, August 15, 2008

More sad news in the music industry

The producer of Bob Dylan’s Grammy-winning album “Slow Train Coming” as well as great R&B hits like Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman,” died today – Jerry Wexler was 91. Wexler was considered a giant in the music industry because of his far-reaching influence. He helped shape the music of the 50s, 60s, 70s, […]
Friday, August 15, 2008

Bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon’s big event in Burbank

Author Sherrilyn Kenyon shows off her new vampire fangs at a book signing.      photos by FLLewis                                           New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon brought her wildly exciting book tour, complete with vampire fangs, special gifts, and prizes to Burbank on August 8. Even though I was familiar with Kenyon’s incredible success, I was still surprised to see so many local […]
Friday, August 15, 2008

Soul Notes

  I got e-mails this week from Dee Dee Brown about some upcoming soulful events in the Southland.  The 4th Annual Summer Soul Jam will be kicking up a groove with a talented line-up on Saturday, August 16, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Par Three Golf Course in Compton. Scheduled to perform are Grammy-winning singer Jody Watley, Anthony Hamilton, […]