Saturday, September 27, 2008
1925-2008 Paul Leonard Newman has taken that final bow. Newman was an extraordinary man of many interests. A true Hollywood movie star for several decades, he still found time to be an activist, race car enthusiast, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He died last night at his home in Connecticut, after a battle with cancer which he fought as privately as he could. The Silver […]
Friday, September 26, 2008
Actor/producer Robert J. Wagner is talking about the strange death of Natalie Wood and a secret affair with another Hollywood actress in a new book. Wagner has written his memoirs with Scott Eyman. “Pieces of My Heart” hit bookstores earlier this month. Wagner will be out promoting the book at the 7th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair this coming Sunday. “Pieces of My Heart” is […]
Monday, September 22, 2008
More kudos for Tony Kushner, the creator of “Angels in America.” The highly acclaimed cable TV movie version won a staggering 11 Emmy Awards in 2004. Kushner wrote the screenplay as well as the play that the movie is based on. It is about the AIDS crisis during the mid-1980s. Now, Kushner has been named as the first recipient for […]
Friday, September 5, 2008
Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington is about to make a leap into the future. Washington has signed on to star in “Book of Eli,” according to Variety. Washington reportedly will star as a lone hero in an apocalyptic future who must fight his way across America to bring society the knowledge that could be key to its redemption. The drama will be […]
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Coco Chanel 1883-1971 From book to movie The life and times of legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel are headed to the big screen. The film “Coco Avant Chanel” is set to start filming in Paris in mid-September and scheduled for release next year. Chanel is known for a classic style that has staying power. She introduced the perfume Chanel No.5 in […]
Friday, August 22, 2008
F. Scott Fitzgerald Brad Pitt Author F. Scott Fitzgerald made some serious money, but had little real success as a screenwriter during his time in Hollywood. His only screen credit was for the drama “Three Comrades,” in 1938. Decades later, Fitzgerald’s storytelling is very much in demand in Tinseltown. A movie based on Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story, “The Curious Case […]
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Comic/Actor Bernie Mac dies at the age of 50 There’s a little less laughter in Hollywood today. Actor/comedian Bernie Mac died in a Chicago hospital this morning, after what his publicist says were complications brought on by pneumonia. Cool Mac was an original. He could set up and deliver a joke with impeccable timing or crack-up an audience with just a look. […]
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tyler Perry Tobey Maguire A number of film deals announced this week. Here are some that caught my attention. Tyler Perry signs a new three-year first-look deal with Lionsgate for at least three more films. Lionsgate has distributed five Perry films starting with “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” in 2005. The prolific filmmaker has “The Family That Preys,” coming […]
Thursday, July 24, 2008
“The Dark Knight” continues to surpass expectations. On Monday, the Batman sequel’s record-breaking domestic weekend box office got bumped up from $155 million to a mighty $158.3 million. “The Dark Knight” is racking up other records as well to go along with the biggest opening ever for a three-day weekend. Also on Monday, the film earned $24.6 million — that’s […]
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Primetime TV Emmy nominations were announced this morning. The biggest surprise — a very impressive showing by basic cable programmers. In fact, the HBO presidential series “John Adams” received the most nominations of any program, with 23. Also, up for best drama series two first-year cable shows, AMC’s “Mad Men,” and FX’s “Damages.” This is the first time cable […]
Friday, July 11, 2008
The actors’ union national negotiating committee met in closed session today, according to the latest press release from SAG. The release says throughout the day the committee discussed “bargaining strategies.” Also in the release, SAG National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Doug Allen, tried to clear the air on the Guild’s reaction to the studios’ deal. “Our national negotiating committee […]
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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 […]
