A Hollywood movie deal reportedly in the works for the yet to be released biography of the late Steve Jobs. Sony Pictures is in talks to shell out big money for the film rights to the bio, according to Mike Fleming over on deadline.com. Check out the details here.
Another big search for new talent. Entertainment heavyweight DreamWorks is holding an open casting call for a lead role in its upcoming film, “Welcome To People,” starring Elizabeth Banks and Chris Pine.
The casting folks are looking for someone to play the character, “Josh.” Some of the requirements include age 11-13, Caucasian, and able to remember large chunks of dialogue. Also, no acting experience is required.
The casting call is this Saturday, December 4, at the Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Details over on deadline.com
Photo: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times -- Lindsay Lohan heading to court in Beverly Hills , September 24, 2010
After a freaky Friday that included court drama and a short stay in jail, Actress Lindsay Lohan is a free woman once again. After failing a court-ordered drug test, Lohan appeared in a Beverly Hills court yesterday. True to his word, Judge Elden Fox, sent her to the slammer for 30 days without bail.
However within hours, Lohan’s lawyer got another Los Angeles Superior Court judge to reverse the bail ruling. Lohan’s lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, pointed out defendants convicted of misdemeanors are allowed bail under the law. Sometime before midnight, Lohan walked free on $300,000 bond.
Did Lohan get a break because she’s a celebrity? Folks are debating that today. The way I see it, the major difference between Lohan and the average inmate in Los Angeles County jail is the money to pay for lawyers and to post bail. The Los Angeles Times has more on the debate here.
Business Mogul/Hip Hop Artist, Jay-Z, has a book coming out. It’s a memoir and a decoder for 36 of Jay-Z’s songs — which provide an intimate look at his art, according to the publishing site Galleycat.
The printed and e-book formats of “Decoded” include illustrations and lyric analysis as well as the autobiography content. “Decoded” goes on sale in mid- November, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
No surprise, NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker is leaving the network. Zucker made the announcement himself in a company memo yesterday. NBC is in fourth place and who can forget Zucker’s orchestration of the Conan O’Brien/Jay Leno financial/public relations disaster.
Zucker apparently got the word from Comcast that once it’s deal to buy NBC is official, he would be getting the boot. Unlike most NBC employees who lose their jobs at the network and barely score chump change, Zucker will probably get one of those multi-million-dollar executive parachutes. More on Zucker’s departure at The Wrap.
Instead of calling a news conference when they’re in deep, deep, whatever, a lot of celebs turn to Twitter to tell their side of the story. The latest to do so, the troubled Lindsay Lohan. Late Friday reports were all over the Internet about Lohan possibly testing positive for drugs.
Early Saturday morning, Lohan went online and copped to failing a recent drug test on her Twitter page. Here’s a sampling of what she wrote: “Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test and if I am asked, I am prepared to appear before judge Fox next week as a result.”
The 24-year-old actress has more than a million fans and friends following here on Twitter. So she got some support — but it’s not going to help her much when she goes before the judge. Lohan just got out of rehab on August 24. Before that, the actress did about two-weeks of jail time for violating probation on a couple of DUI convictions.
The judge warned Lohan that if she violates her probation again – she’ll do 30 days in Los Angeles County Jail. Lohan definitely has a serious problem — and one that is probably best dealt with in a lock-down treatment facility. For more of Lohan’s tweets click here.
A New York man is facing a court hearing this week, after police say he crashed through a barrier at Warner Bros. in Burbank, last Friday. It happened at the VIP entrance, Gate 5, at Warner Boulevard and Avon Street.
The suspect, 43-year-old Michael Rodriquez-Cintron, drove around the studio lot for several minutes before he was stopped by security personnel, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Times report says a fake gun and several bottles of an unidentified flammable material were discovered inside the suspect’s vehicle. Cintron was arrested and is due in court for an arraignment on Tuesday.
A lot of buzzing on the Internet and elsewhere about Actress Gabourey Sidibe’s photo on the cover of Elle magazine’s 25th anniversary issue. First, let me say I like this picture of Gabby. She looks like a vibrant, fresh faced 25-year-old woman. In other photos, Gabby has looked much older because her face was caked with tons of make up. However, that’s not what the controversy is about.
Gabby is a dark skinned, African American woman. In the Elle cover photo, her skin appears to be lighter. You say, big deal? Well, it is to some folks who read negative messages in things like this.
Elle magazine is being accused of lightening Gabby’s skin. Photoshop Instructor, Ron Marsh, disagrees: “They didn’t lighten her phyical skin.” Marsh says the typical airbrushing tools found in Photoshop were probably used. The kinds of tools, he insists, are used in the retouching and airbrushing photos all the time. Last week, I attended Marsh’s two-day advanced Photoshop class in Burbank.
In a story on the E! Online website, Elle Editor-in-Chief, Robbie Meyers, dismissed the controversy: “At a photo shoot, in a studio, that is a fashion shoot, that’s glamorous, the lighting is different. The photography is different than a red carpet shot from a paparazzi.” She emphasized, “We absolutely did not lighten her skin.”
Oh, and some others criticized Gabby’s cover photo because it was cropped mid-chest. The actresses on the other three Elle anniversary issues, Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, and Lauren Conrad, are shown in full-length shots. Meyers blows off that criticism as well describing Gabby’s cover photo as “incredible.” I think Elle magazine deserves kudos for the photos it published of Gabby. See more of them on Elle’s website.
If you look great in polyester and dig rock singer/songwriter, Jackson Browne, here’s a contest for you. Browne is touring the U.S. right now with musician David Lindley. Apparently, Browne and Lindley are sporting flashy polyester shirts on stage during their performances this summer.
The duo is encouraging fans to show-off their best eye-catching polyester shirts in a photo contest going on at the “Show Me the Polyester” website, according to a PR Newswire press release. Fans have until August 25 to upload photos of themselves wearing polyester shirts to the site. One winner will get a travel package to New York City and two-front row seats for the duo’s Beacon Theatre concert on September 14, 2010.
The latest release from Browne and Lindley is “Love is Strange,” a 2-CD set of a tour they did in Spain back in 2006.
The money is rolling in for Disney, which this afternoon reported third quarter profits leaped 40%. Disney is not the only entertainment giant enjoying a good year. Despite the bad economy, other studios and the networks are doing well, too. Nikki Finke over at Deadline.com asks why so many folks in the entertain biz are out of work with this kind of upbeat financial picture in Hollywood? Check out Finke’s post here.
The action-comedy, “The Other Guys,” won the weekend domestic Box Office and is continuing to rake in the dough at theaters. “The Other Guys” debuted with $35.5 million to become the number one film in the country. On Monday, the teaming of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as wantabe- hero New York City detectives earned nearly $5 million more at theaters.
After three weeks at in the top spot, the dreamscape sci-fi flick, “Inception,” dropped to second collecting $18.5 million– bringing its four-week domestic total to around $227 million. The new dance movie, “Step Up 3D” boogied into third place with $15.8 million. Adam Sevani and Alyson Stoner star in this third installment of the Step Up trilogy, where the battle of the dance moves to the college arena.
Rounding out the top five, the spy thriller “Salt” with $10.9 million and the comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks” with $10.3 million.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The entrance to The Walt Disney Studios on South Buena Vista in Burbank
Miramax, a hot commodity in Hollywood, has been sold to a group of investors led by Billionaire/Construction Magnate, Ronald Tutor. The price tag — somewhere between $600-$675 million. The announcement came out yesterday. Late today, The Wrap reported that Actor Rob Lowe is among the investors.
The prestigious Miramax library includes such films as “My Left Foot” (1989), “Pulp Fiction”(1994), and “Shakespeare in Love” (1998). The Wrap has several reports on the deal and the behind the scenes drama.
Thursday’s edition of “The View” is now historic for two reasons. President Barack Obama’s appearance was the first ever on a daytime talk show by a sitting president. Also, the show’s rating went through the roof.
Obama’s chit-chat with the ladies of “The View” was reportedly watched by an average of 6.6 million viewers — the most ever for the talker.
“We were honored to have President Obama on ‘The View.’ The ratings indicate that our show continues to break new ground. ‘The View’ has proven to be an important stop for political candidates and is appointment television for our loyal audience who value our opposing views,” Barbara Walters, the co-executive producer and one of the show’s hosts, is quoted as saying on TV by the Numbers website. Also, Walters returned to the show yesterday for the first time since having heart surgery.
Super successful rockers, the” Black Eyed Peas” keep racking up the accolades. The latest involves the SoCal band’s single, “I Gotta Feeling,” which has become the first digital download to pass the 6 million mark.
The song is from the group’s Grammy-winning album, “The E.N.D,” which has sold more than 7 million worldwide. “The E.N.D.” won a 2009 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Also, it’s the first album in two decades to deliver five top ten hits.
In a PR Newswire press release band members reacted to their latest milestone:
“I am so proud to be leading our industry with 6 million digital sales,” said will.i.am. “It means so much for the future of the music industry.”
This is an incredible accomplishment for us,” said Taboo. “Of all the exciting news that has happened to us over the past year, reaching this 6 million mark with ‘I Gotta Feeling’ stands out as one of our proudest achievements.” “Congratulations to all the people behind the scenes who made this happen, and most of all the fans – they are the best!” added Fergie.
Meanwhile, the “Peas” are on the final leg of their “The E.N.D. World Tour 2010.” As of June, the 100-date tour has raked in nearly $50 million and it’s not over until August 23. 2010 is shaping up to be one heck of year for the “Peas.” More on what’s happening with the “Peas” on their website.
Late night talk show host, Conan O’Brien, has plenty to joke about after receiving four Emmy nominations today, for his short-lived version of “The Tonight Show,” including nods for outstanding variety music or comedy series, for writing, directing, and art direction. How many nominations did his rivals Jay Leno and David Letterman get? Nada! Zilch!
That recent odd-ball Emmy ad campaign by the TBS Network for the comedian just might have paid off. Or maybe O’Brien got a lot of sympathy votes because of the shabby way NBC treated him in “The Tonight Show” debacle last winter, which led to Leno returning to the legendary late night talker as host. O’Brien is now prepping his new late night show for this fall on TBS.
The 62nd Primetime Emmy nominations were announced this morning. HBO got the most nominations, followed by ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and PBS. Several posts about the Emmy nominations on deadline.com/Hollywood
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Disney Studios in Burbank
Investors are watching the Mouse Kingdom’s stock for signs of erosion after a federal jury in Riverside yesterday awarded the creator of the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” television game show nearly $269.2 million in damages.
U.K.-based Celador International sued Disney in 2004 claiming it did not receive a fair share of profits from the show. More on the legal battle here.
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” continued its winning ways this week. Over the Fourth of July weekend, the vampire/fantasy/love story easily won the Box Office race with a haul of $83.6 million.
In its first six days of release, the third installment of the “Twilight” film series made a huge $176.3 million at the domestic Box Office. As of yesterday, the film had earned nearly $20 million more — meaning it will probably leap the $200 million mark before the weekend. At the center of the plot is a love triangle involving main characters Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black played by Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner.
In second place, another new fantasy flick, “The Last Airbender” with $52 million. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the movie is about a young adventurer, portrayed by Noah Ringer, who has the power to manipulate the four main elements of nature : water, fire, Earth, and air.
“Toy Story 3″ came in third with $43 million, and rounding out the top five, the comedies “Grown Ups” $26 million and “Knight and Day” $14 million.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Landmark Warner Bros. tower in Burbank
Yes, things are changing here. Media City Groove is the new name. Many of the elements of A Writer’s Groove will remain, while new ones are going to be added. Stay tuned.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A happy shopper bags some bargains at the popular Burbank Farmers' Market held on Saturday mornings in the city hall parking lot at Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue.
Another comic book-inspired movie is blasting into theaters today, and is set to make a ton of money at the domestic Box Office this weekend. The Hollywood Reporter says “Iron Man 2″ scored an estimated $7.5 million at midnight shows — with a predicted weekend tally of $140 million.
This film sequel to the 2008 blockbuster is on a nice roll. It opened in foreign markets a few days ago and according to Box Office Mojo, “Iron Man 2″ has rung up more than $120 million worldwide.
Deadline.com/Hollywood is reporting a greenlight for “Men in Black 3.” Actor Will Smith has signed on to suit-up again in a dark suit and sunglasses for this sequel. Negotiations are said to be underway with Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin. Oh, “MIB” is based on a comic book, too. The first two movies made a gazillion dollars. The third film, to be shot in 3D, will probably be a money-maker as well.
Los Angeles Congresswoman Maxine Waters is leading an effort to put the brakes on that $30 Billion Comcast/NBC/Universal deal. Waters and 45 other congressional leaders signed a letter, sent to the FCC, questioning the records of Comcast and NBCU on diversity. Those members of congress want public hearings on the matter before the deal goes forward. Details on The Wrap.
