Hollywood

Monday, December 28, 2009

Biz Bytes: Holiday retail sales jolly & Warner Bros. chalks up another multi-billion dollar year

                                             New stats show holiday shoppers spent more this season than last Some Christmas cheer for retailers and good news for the economy today. Consumer spending during the period of November first through Christmas Eve rose 3.6 percent. That’s a heck of a lot better than what happened last year, when fears of economic disaster had shoppers holding tight to their […]
Friday, May 15, 2009

Jay Leno gearing up for “Tonight Show” finale

Photo: NBC Time is running out, if you plan to attend a “Tonight Show” taping hosted by Jay Leno. In two weeks, after 17 years,  the veteran comic will host his last “Tonight Show,” on Friday, May 29. Leno told CNN he’s planning some surprises for his finale and he revealed the guests will include singer James Taylor and new “Tonight Show” […]
Monday, April 27, 2009

Major Hollywood Deal: William Morris and Endeavor agencies to merge

After months of negotiations, two powerful entertainment agencies, William Morris and Endeavor, announced they will merge into one company today. The new agency will be known as William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment. The announcement came shortly after the leadership at both talent agencies approved the historic deal, which requires government approval. The Hollywood Reporter says this is “the largest combination of two existing agencies in Hollywood history.” Variety described WME Entertainment as a […]
Friday, April 24, 2009

Successful screenwriter making his mark as a novelist

        Writer Derek Haas has had great success scripting movies for Hollywood. Haas co-wrote “3:10 to Yuma” (2007,) a remake of the classic western film based on acclaimed author Elmore Leonard’s short story with the same title. Along with his partner, Michael Brandt, Haas wrote the screenplay for “Wanted” and several major scripts in development like “The A-Team,” “Beverly Hills Cop IV,” and “The Thirteenth Hour.” Now Haas is creating […]
Monday, April 20, 2009

Preparations underway for SAG membership vote on tentative deal

After months of on again /off again talks and tons of haggling and sniping, the members of the Screen Actors Guild will soon get the opportunity to vote on a contract deal. Yesterday, the Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors approved a tentative agreement with the Big Studio producers by a narrow 53 to 47 vote. SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture […]
Sunday, April 19, 2009

New comedy/fantasy “17 Again” tops Box Office

Teen heartthrob Zac Efron scored big at the Box Office this weekend with his new comedy/fantasy, “17 Again.” The film is about a thirtysomething guy who gets a second shot at his life when he magically becomes 17 again. Young movie fans, especially teenage girls, stormed the theaters propelling the film into the number 1 spot with an estimated $24 million. “17 Again” also stars Matthew […]
Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Screen Actors Guild rejects producers’ last, best and final offer

Hollywood is once again facing a real life cliffhanger now that the Screen Actors Guild has turned down the producers’ so-called last, best and final offer. Remember a few weeks ago, the hard line negotiator in SAG  was tossed out by moderates who felt they could better work a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Well, what the moderates got was a […]
Monday, February 23, 2009

Big Oscar winners: “Slumdog,” Penn, Winslet & Ledger

Heath Ledger as the Joker wins best supporting actor Oscar.   The late Heath Ledger, a talent that left us much too soon, was honored for his incredible performance as the “Joker” in the blockbuster, “The Dark Knight, ” at the 81st Academy Awards last night in Hollywood. Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment a year ago last […]
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Schwarzenegger, the new state budget, and Hollywood

  photo from http://gov.ca.gov/  02/20/09  — Governor Schwarzenegger holds news conference yesterday to sign the new state budget into law.   After a painful three months of bitter debate, the state legislature finally approved a budget on Thursday and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it into law yesterday. The budget reportedly solves a $42 billion deficit by raising taxes and cutting spending. The […]