National weather service graphic -- Tsunami warning red, advisory orange, watch yellow, and information only green March 11, 2011
In the aftermath of that massive 8.9 earthquake in Japan, a Tsunami is rolling across the Pacific today. Waves have hit Hawaii and are now splashing up on the coast of Southern California. The Los Angeles Times website has extensive coverage — including photos and video.
Photo: Copyright 2010 Mario Testino/People -- One of two engagement photos of Prince William and Catherine Middleton released December 11, 2010
Another step today in the march to the huge wedding of Prince William to long-time love, Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011. Today the William and Kate wedding website launched and what a site it is.
The website is the official information hub for the upcoming royal wedding, according to a press release: “As well as regular updates on the wedding details ahead of the event, on the day itself the site will be the first place to view information such as the details of Miss Middleton’s wedding dress.”
There are photos, videos, twits, and more on the new site. Check it out here.
Photo: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times -- Clipper Blake Griffin slam dunks over a car at Staples Center in Los Angeles February 19, 2011
Blake Griffin how did ya get so fly? The Clipper power forward stunned the crowd at Staples Center last night, and gained all kind of props and kudos, when he leaped over a car during an amazing slam dunk.
Griffin won the NBA’s 26th Annual Slam Dunk Contest. The NBA all-star pumped up his own celebrity and add some magic to the struggling Los Angeles Clippers with that incredible dunk. Oh, and Griffin donated his trophy to the family of a friend who recently died. What a guy!
The Los Angeles Times website has more photos and a terrific column by Bill Plaschke on Griffin’s mind-blowing dunk.
Photo:FLLewis/Media City G --Campaign sign for Burbank City Councilman Gary Bric
Photo:FLLewis/Media City G -- Campaign sign for Burbank City Council Candidate Jackie Waltman
The Burbank Primary Nominating Election is coming up fast. Only two weeks to that February 22 election and there’s a lot at stake for the city and its residents. Most of the attention is focused on the two seats available on the city council and the four candidates campaigning hard for them.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Campaign sign for Burbank City Council Candidate Emily Gabel-Luddy
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Campaign sign for Burbank City Council Candidate Bob Frutos
On the ballot, City Councilman Gary Bric and three challengers: Emily Gabel-Luddy, Bob Frutos, and Jackie Waltman. Over on the popular Semichorus blog there’s been a lively discussion of the candidates, their qualifications, and who will bring real change to the city.
Gabel-Luddy’s endorsements and record on city planning have been debated along with Bric’s term on the council. Candidates Frutos and Waltman’s views have been evaluated by commenters, too. It is well worth the time to check out some of these posts and the comments, especially the post titled, “Bric, or Waltman?” It had nearly 50 comments when I checked last night.
City Councilman Bric will be on the hot seat tomorrow, when the council reconsiders the highly charged issue of sidewalks for the a block of North Screenland Drive. At the December 7, 2010 meeting, Bric joined Councilmen Jess Talamantes and David Gordon in voting to remove this street from a sidewalk project, at the request of more than 30 residents who live on North Screenland Drive.
However, after that meeting, Bric had second thoughts. Last month, he asked to have the issue brought back for reconsideration and that is set to take place Tuesday, February 8. Many of the North Screenland residents who oppose sidewalks on their street are livid.
One of the homeowners on that street, Janet Strong, phoned me last week to express her outrage at what some see as a “flip-flop” by Bric. Strong was one of the North Screenland residents who collected 36 signatures from folks who live on the street and are against the sidewalks. There are reportedly around 40 homeowners on that stretch of North Screenland Drive.
I walked that section of North Screenland Drive on Saturday afternoon, February 5. Wilbur Centeno stopped washing one of his vehicles to talk to me about the sidewalk controversy. Centeno is just as upset as Strong about Bric reviving the issue. He believes the claim of it being a safety issue for children is a “…bunch of baloney.” Centeno suggests: “It’s really about money.”
For more on how many residents on North Screenland Drive feel about the sidewalk controversy — here’s a letter Janet Strong has sent out to some in the media:
THE CITY OF BURBANK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE. WE HAVE A GREAT POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE MAINTAIN A WELL-KEPT AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN WITHOUT SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE HAD NO REASON TO BE OVERLY CONCERNED FOR THE RARE PEDESTRIAN THAT WALKS ON OUR STREET.
I HAVE LIVED IN BURBANK ALL MY LIFE IN THIS CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY. MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE FIRST HOUSE ON THE 1800-1900 BLOCK OR NORTH SCREENLAND DRIVE. THE RESIDENTS LIVING HERE TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR PROPERTIES. WE HAVE NEVER ASKED THE CITY FOR ASSISTANCE OR CAUSED THEM ANY EXPENSE.
IN MAY OF 2010, TO OUR SURPRISE, WE FOUND A BURBANK CITY EMPLOYEE MEASURING OUR DRIVEWAYS IN PREPARATION FOR SIDEWALKS. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED IN WRITING PRIOR TO THAT DAY. INSTALLING SIDEWALKS ON A STREET THAT HAS VERY LITTLE FOOT TRAFFIC, SEEMS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.
IF THERE IS MONEY ALLOTED FOR SIDEWALKS IN BURBANK, THEN, THEY SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON A DESERVING STREET WITH VERIFIABLE SAFETY ISSUES. BY PROPER POLLING AND NOTIFICATION.
THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE, ON DECEMBR 07,2010, WITH A 3-2 VOTE AGAINST THE INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALKS . THE SCREENLAND NEIGHBORS FILLED THE CHAMBERS. WE LEFT FEELING RELIEVED AND JUSTIFIED WITH OUR VOTE.
YET, WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS, CITY COUNCILMAN GARY BRIC DECIDED “HE MADE A MISTAKE” IN VOTING “NO SIDEWALKS” AND FOR THE WILL OF THE 90% MAJORITY. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH YOU, GOING BACK ON YOUR WORD. YOUR DECISION TO IMPACT OUR STREET (WHERE YOU DO NOT LIVE), TO FORCE SIDEWALKS IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS.
MR. BRIC IS RUNNING FOR THE COUNCIL SEAT AGAIN. SINCE HIS CHANGE OF MIND REGARDING HIS “NO SIDEWALKS” VOTE. MR. BRIC HAS FREQUENTED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THIS CURRENT COUNCIL RACE. WE QUESTION HIS MOTIVES, AS TO WHY? HE WANTS TO GO AGAINST THE NEIGHBORS AND BRING IT BACK?
IS THIS A POLITICAL MOVE ON MR. BRIC’S PART, NOT TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE?
PERHAPS, IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL, WITH: “STAFF” AND THE SAME FEW, CALLING THE SHOTS. NO ONE MENTIONS THE MANY LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY SIDEWALKS OR DRIVE-WAY APRONS LEFT UNREPAIRED.
THE DESIRE FOR GRANT MONEY, FOR PROPOSED SIDEWALKS, ($125,000.00) IS CREATING A POLITICAL WAR. RETURN THE MONEY! AND LEAVE US ALONE.
YOUR CAMPAIGN STATES: “YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE RESIDENTS AND VOTERS OF BURBANK ASKING OUR SUPPORT, FOR YOUR VOICE ON COUNCIL.
WE ASK THAT YOU RE-CONSIDER YOUR VOTE: “NO SIDEWALKS” ON OUR STREET. AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLES WISHES. SHOW YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THE MANY, INSTEAD OF THE FEW. RESTORE OUR NEIGHBORS EMPOWERMENT.
WE THANK DR. DAVID GORDON, AND VICE-MAYOR JESS TALAMANTES FOR THE STRENGTH OF THEIR VOTES ON OUR BEHALF. THE BALL IS IN MR. BRIC’S COURT.
MAYBE, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE THE NEXT TARGET.
FROM: SCREENLAND DRIVE NEIGHBORS
###
This is a big weekend for the Burbank Leader. If you check its website — you’ll quickly realize why. Two major developments. The new Sunday edition of the Burbank leader/Glendale News- Press comes out today. The other actually happened last Friday. The lawyers for the Los Angeles Times, the Burbank Leader’s parent company, sued the city of Burbank for the release of those individual employee merit-pay amounts.
On December, 20, 2010, I delivered a letter to the Burbank City Attorney’s Office, supporting the Leader’s public records request for that merit-pay information and making my own request for the same data. The media, the residents — we all have a right to know how public money is being spent.
In my letter to City Attorney Dennis Barlow I asked that his staff comply with the Leader request — and not allow the matter to become yet another lawsuit against the city. There is a long list of suits against Burbank — mostly related to the police mess — that are costing the citizens a bundle of dough to fight.
The bottom line is the city’s argument that merit-pay is based on an employee’s performance evaluation — and since that is private – the amount of that bonus should be protected, too. Well, Burbank Management Services Director, Judie Wilke, has admitted that merit-pay dollars are paid out at “…management’s discretion.”
I know a 30-year Burbank employee who got a merit-bonus last year. She has received the required exceptional performance rating before — but that has not always resulted in a merit-pay bonus. She is curious — like a lot of folks in this town –about the REAL criteria for the merit pay bonuses and who REALLY gets the biggest chunk of this fund –budgeted last year at $1.87 million.
A lawyer for the L.A. Times put it this way: “I think the bonus structure that Burbank has is very unusual in its generosity and very unusual in its secrecy.” I’ll say right on to that. More on the Leader’s lawsuit here.
The campaigns for the two seats on the Burbank City Council are in full swing. Political functions, campaign signs going up, and campaign pitches arriving in the mail along with the ballots for the upcoming Primary Nomination Election.I got my ballot last week, but I haven’t mailed it off — and probably will not do so for a while. Ballots are due by 7 p.m. Election Day, February 22, 2011. Check out the countdown to Election Day in the far right column of this website.
At the Glendale Church of Christ this morning, I took an informal poll among some Burbank residents. Out of seven, only two had mailed in their ballots so far. Others were still studying the candidates.
Also, this past week, I spotted signs for Burbank City Councilman Gary Bric and council candidate, Jackie Waltman in the hillside area. The Bric and Waltman signs are joining the ones already up for candidates, Bob Frutos and Emily Gabel-Luddy.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Porto's Bakery & Cafe 3614 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank
On Wednesday evening, January 26, a fundraiser and meet & greet was held for Bob Frutos at Porto’s in Burbank. The affair ran only a couple of hours or so, but more than 100 folks dropped by to graze on the tasty Porto’s treats, to show support or to meet the candidate. Among the movers and shakers I saw there, former Burbank Mayors, Marsha Ramos and Michael Hastings, Burbank City Councilman Dr. David Gordon, Burbank Police Commissioners, Nate Rubinfeld, Jim Etter, and Hagop Hergelian.
Police Commission Chair Frutos gave a rousing speech to the crowd about the need for change in Burbank and his desire to be the people’s representative on the city council. At the Women’s League of Voters Candidates Forum on January 19, in the Burbank City Council Chambers, Frutos came across as the strongest candidate, followed by Burbank Landlord-Tenant Commissioner, Jackie Waltman, Planning Board Vice-Chair, Emily Gabel-Luddy, and in fourth, Councilman Gary Bric.
Interestingly, after listening to the city council candidates’ statements, I rated them the same: (1) Frutos, (2) Waltman, (3) Gabel-Luddy, and (4) Bric. I’m giving the best ratings to the candidates grounded in their desire and determination to put the interest of the citizens of Burbank first.
Bric is last on my list because he defends the status quo — including the raises given to Burbank Water and Power honcho, Ron Davis and his top executives — while also voting to jack-up utility rates. We need change in Burbank and it’s not going to come with voting Bric onto the city council for a second term.
To listen to the Candidates Forum or to the brief statements from each candidate, click over to the Burbank city website.
The largest cable company in the country is now the proud owner of an entertainment giant, NBC Universal. Comcast announced today that its deal to buy 51 per cent of NBC Universal is done. General Electric hangs onto the other 49 percent.
Comcast began celebrating before the deal officially closed yesterday. Last Thursday, Comcast sent out a memo and gifts to NBC Universal employees. First, the name change to NBCUniversal. Then the gifts, 25 shares of Comcast and free passes to Universal theme parks. The Wrap has more on this mega-deal, it’s impact on the industry and consumers.
To no one’s surprise, troubled actor, Charlie Sheen, is in rehab this weekend. The “Two and a Half Men” star reportedly entered rehab yesterday after being rushed to the hospital with what was described as abdominal pain. People has more on the latest in the up-and-down Charlie Sheen saga.
Photo: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters/Landov/People -- Prince William and Kate Middleton at their first official appearance today after the announcement of their engagement November 16, 2010
The wedding of Britain’s Prince William to his lady-love Kate Middleton is expected to draw more than two billion TV viewers worldwide. Back in 1981, around 750 million tuned in to watch Prince Charles marry Lady Diana Spencer. Yes, we love these British affairs!!
William and Kate are set to exchange vows on April 29. Most likely the BBC will lead the TV coverage. There is talk of filming the event in 3D. More about what is definitely the wedding of the year — maybe even the decade— here on Deadline.com
“The Green Hornet” got thrashed by a new chick flick. That’s right. The R-rated romantic comedy,”No Strings Attached,” debuted at number one this weekend with an estimated haul of $20.3 million. The rom-com stars Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher and reportedly was produced on a $25 million budget.
“The Green Hornet” slipped from first to second with a take of about $18.1 million — bringing the superhero action comedy two week total to around $63 million. The comedy “The Dilemma” snagged third with $9.7 million, followed by ”The King’s Speech” with $9.1 million and rounding out the top five, “True Grit” with $8 million.
The race to the Oscars just got a little more interesting. Last night in Beverly Hills, the British historical drama,”The King’s Speech,” picked up the top honor at the Producers Guild Awards for best produced motion picture. ”The Social Network,” which had been on a roll at awards shows, was left in the dust along with eight other film nominees including “The Fighter” and “Inception.” Here’s the Los Angeles Times article on the upset.
Many in Hollywood and here in the Media City will be up before sunrise this Tuesday, January 25, to hear the list of nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards. Last year’s best supporting actress winner, Mo’Nique, and Academy President, Tom Sherak, will reveal the Oscar nominations at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
Also this year, the announcement of the Oscar nominees will be streamed live on the Internet via livestream.com and available on mobile devices, according to the Academy.
The Oscars ceremony is Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony is set to be televised live in more than 200 countries around the globe.
Lately, there’s been a lot of chatter and speculation in B-town about changes at the Burbank Leader. Today, there are details of some of those changes over on Kevin Roderick’s popular website, LA Observed.
Roderick posted a piece on former Los Angeles Daily News editor/ sometime activist/media commentator, Ron Kaye, who has a new gig as a front-page columnist for the new Sunday combined edition of the Burbank Leader/Glendale News-Press. The first issue is set to hit newsstands later this month, on January 30, according to a Los Angeles Times Community Newspapers press release.
Roderick makes this observation: “One presumes the Times suits know that Ron is a political activist these days, and that his playing field is Los Angeles, not Burbank or Glendale.” Hmm, very good point. In the Times’ press release Burbank Leader/Glendale News-Press editor, Dan Evans, refers to Kaye as “.. a community advocate.”
You can read Roderick’s post and the Times press release, which includes other changes, here.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank City Hall 275 East Olive Avenue
Some new developments in the growing controversy about merit pay for Burbank city employees — who gets them — how much per individual — what is the real criteria for who pockets those extra bucks — are the main questions yet to be answered fully by city officials.
Late last Friday, city officials made an effort at damage control over the merit pay issue by sending an extensive e-mail to all employees on the issue. These officials are trying to put out a fire lit by the city of Glendale’s recent detailed posting of employee compensation on its website and demands that Burbank do the same, by the Los Angeles Times/Burbank Leader, other media (including Media City Groove), as well as a number of Burbank residents.
Apparently, City Hall higher-ups have been hard at work lately crafting a response to the surge of interest in Burbank’s secretive merit pay structure. Here are some details on what was e-mailed to city employees by Burbank City Manager, Mike Flad, on Friday.
From: E-Mail Administrator
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 4:05 PM
To: All City of Burbank
Subject: Public Records Request for Merit Pay Information
City Employees:
Attached is information regarding the City’s response to a request for records from the Burbank Leader. We wanted to let employees know that information already posted on the State Controller’s Office website regarding gross salary of employees by title will be added to our website and will list employees by name. The City is attempting to protect the privacy of employees while providing as much information as possible to the public. Attached are more details on why this information is being provided as well as our response to the Leader on what information will not be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Juli Scott in the City Attorney’s Office.
Mike Flad
City Manager
##################################
The attached information included a copy of a letter to Burbank Leader editor, Dan Evans, dated January 7, 2011 from Chief Assistant City Attorney, Juli Scott, and a memorandum on the Leader’s public records request from the Office of the City Manager – also dated January 7, 2011.
The memorandum states:
We will be providing the Leader with the gross compensation amounts earned by all full time City employees for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and the aggregate amounts of merit pay awarded for the corresponding fiscal years; however, we have objected to providing the individual merit pay amounts. They have threatened litigation and the City Council will, as provided by the City Charter, direct how that litigation is to be handled, if it is filed. We will keep you update should additional substantial information be released.
In the Dan Evans letter, attorney Juli Scott indicates the Leader will be charged for some of the data. Hmm. I received a letter from Scott, dated December 30, 2010, and in it she says I will be charged for the same information the Leader is told it will have to pay for. That doesn’t sound right to me so I sent a response to Scott yesterday. That letter is posted below.
January 9, 2011
Juli C. Scott
Chief Assistant City Attorney
City of Burbank
275 East Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91510
Re: Records request under the California Public Records Act
Dear Juli Scott:
I’m responding to your letter dated December 30, 2010. In that letter you said “… we are more than happy to provide you with what has been provided to the Burbank Leader…” in regards to the salaries, names, and merit pay for Burbank city employees. I accept that offer, however, there is a catch. You stated I had to contact your office to get “…the cost of providing those items…” Why is the city charging for information that the Leader is apparently paying the city to collect and distribute?
In your letter to Burbank Leader editor, Dan Evans, dated January 7, 2011, you detailed the information that was being made available to the newspaper. You stated some of the data requested would be posted on the city website. Other items would be made available and Evans would be provided with “…the estimated cost of extracting this electronically stored data ….”
The Leader is being charged to assemble this additional data, therefore, it seems like “double billing” to charge other media and citizens of Burbank for the exact same data. As a member of the media and a Burbank resident, I request that the data collected for the Leader be provided to other media and anyone in the public who is interested free of charge. Feel free to e-mail me that additional information. Or you can simply post all of the Leader requested information on the city website for everyone to see — in a true demonstration of transparency.
Sincerely,
Fronnie Lewis
Editor
Media City Groove
P.O. Box 206
Burbank, CA 91503
FLLLewis@msn.com
www.mediacitygroove.com
Photo: www.burbankusa.com/centennial
B-town kicked off its centennial celebration this month. Burbank will commemorate its 100th anniversary on July 8, 2011. A lot of events are planned. Check out the new Burbank centennial website for events and more information on the year-long celebration.
One of the freebies: a gorgeous centennial calendar loaded with photos, events, a directory of important phone numbers, quick references for boards, commissions, committees, departments, agencies, some significant places, and top officials. Calendars are available at city hall, libraries, and various other sites throughout the city.
Photo: www.whitehouse.gov -- President Obama tapes New Year's Day address at the White House January 1, 2011
Looking out for the middle class, growing the economy, and creating jobs are at the top of President Obama’s to-do list for 2011. Oh, and Obama is vowing to work with anyone –Democrat or Republican — who has a good idea. Here is the full text of the president’s comments today in his weekly address.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
January 1, 2011
Hello, everybody. As we close the books on one year and begin another, I wanted to take a moment today to wish you a very Happy New Year and talk a little bit about the year that lies ahead.
At the start of 2011, we’re still just emerging from a once-in-a-lifetime recession that’s taken a terrible toll on millions of families. We all have friends and neighbors trying to get their lives back on track.
We are, however, riding a few months of economic news that suggests our recovery is gaining traction. And our most important task now is to keep that recovery going. As President, that’s my commitment to you: to do everything I can to make sure our economy is growing, creating jobs, and strengthening our middle class. That’s my resolution for the coming year.
Still, even as we work to boost our economy in the short-term, it’s time to make some serious decisions about how to keep our economy strong, growing, and competitive in the long run. We have to look ahead – not just to this year, but to the next 10 years, and the next 20 years. Where will new innovations come from? How will we attract the companies of tomorrow to set up shop and create jobs in our communities? What will it take to get those jobs? What will it take to out-compete other countries around the world? What will it take to see the American Dream come true for our children and grandchildren?
Our parents and grandparents asked themselves those questions. And because they had the courage to answer them, we’ve had the good fortune to grow up in the greatest nation on Earth.
Now it’s our turn to think about the future. In a few days, a new Congress will form, with one house controlled by Democrats, and one house controlled by Republicans – who now have a shared responsibility to move this country forward. And here’s what I want you to know: I’m willing to work with anyone of either party who’s got a good idea and the commitment to see it through. And we should all expect you to hold us accountable for our progress or our failure to deliver.
As I’ve said since I first ran for this office, solving our challenges won’t be quick or easy. We have come through a difficult decade; one of new threats and new trials we didn’t expect when it began. But a new year and a new decade stretch out before us. And if we just remember what America is capable of, and live up to that legacy, then I’m confident that we are poised for a period of progress – one in which our economy is growing, our standing in the world is rising, and we do what it takes to make sure America remains in the 21st century what it was in the 20th: the greatest country in the world.
Thanks for listening. And Happy New Year.
#################
President Obama’s address is from the White House website.
The director of such notable films as “Operation Petticoat” (1959), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961), ”The Pink Panther” films (1963, 1964, 1975, 1978), and “10″ (1979), has died. The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that Blake Edwards passed away yesterday in Santa Monica, with his wife, actress Julie Andrews, and close family at his bedside. More on the director’s death and career highlights on the Times’ website.
The nominees for the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced in West Hollywood today. The awards ceremony will be at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center next month, on January 30.
Here are some of the actors and actresses lucky enough to get nominated by their peers for outstanding performances in 2010. The full list of movie and television nominations is on the SAG website.
Blogger/tweeter and mother of three, Kelly Oxford, has been writing for years — but now it’s really paying off for her. Oxford’s witty tweets and interesting blog posts, got her a deal to write a sitcom series pilot called, “Mother of All Something.”
Now CBS has picked up the project for development with actress Jessica Alba and Jhoni Marchinko, a former-writer for the TV series, “Will & Grace” attached. The CBS comedy, “$#*! My Dad Says,” is based on a Twitter feed. The Network reportedly has several other Internet-based projects in the works. More about Oxford and this deal here.
The Hollywood awards season is in full swing. Yesterday, the period film, “The King’s Speech,” received seven Golden Globe nominations, the most of any motion picture. It’s about Briain’s King George VI and his struggle to overcome a stuttering problem.
Two other movie dramas, “The Fighter,” and “The Social Network,” got six nominations. The sci-fi actioner, “Inception,” the psychological thriller, ” Black Swan,” and the comedy, “The Kids are All Right,” each were handed four nominations by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Even though the Golden Globes get a lot of flak for being more about the glitter than real talent — it frequently selects Academy Awards contenders and sometimes even picks Oscar winners.
The 68th Annual Golden Globes Awards ceremony is set for January 16, 2011 on NBC.
The entire list, including TV nominees, on the HFPA website.
The third installment of “The Chronicles of Narnia” is still king at the domestic Box Office, after earning the crown over the weekend with a haul of $24 million. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” rolled right over another newbie, “The Tourist.”
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” is based on the third book in the classic children’s book series by C.S. Lewis. In this version, the King of Narnia and his brave team must rescue seven lords in order to save his country from an evil mist. The 3D flick earned $1.6 million on Monday and $1.7 million on Tuesday to remain the number one film in the country.
Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp are in second place. Over the weekend their romantic/thriller, “The Tourist,” managed only $16.4 million. On Monday, it made $1.3 million and did a little better on Tuesday, $1.6 million. In “The Tourist” Depp plays an American visiting Italy who meets a mysterious woman, Jolie. “The Tourist” is a remake of the French action/thriller “Anthony Zimmer” (2005).
The animated movie, “Tangled,” landed in third with $14.3 million, followed by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1″ in fourth with $8.4 million and rounding out the top five, “Unstoppable” with $3.7 million.
The Black List is one of the most eagerly awaited screenplay collections in Hollywood. Since 2004, film executive, Franklin Leonard, has been compiling this list of the favorite unproduced screenplays of the year. Diablo Cody’s “Juno” is one of the scripts that was discovered on this list and got produced!
This time around 290 film executives cast ballots for the screenplays they enjoyed reading the most. Nikki Finke has the complete list, the agencies and managers who rep the scripts and the screenwriters, as well as over 100 comments about it on deadline.com
Photo: Danny Moloshok/Reuters/Los Angeles Times -- Elizabeth Edwards at the "Stand Up To Cancer" television fundraiser September 2010
A life lived to the fullest with courage, hope, and inspiration for many came to an end today. Elizabeth Edwards died, after a six-year battle with cancer, at her home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, surrounded by her family. The wife of disgraced politician John Edwards was only 61.
More on Edwards’ life and struggles against incredible odds and obstacles in this story on the Los Angeles Times website. Also, a very nice remembering Elizabeth Edwards photo gallery on the People site.
Google leaped into the ebook market in a big way today. The Internet search giant launched Google eBooks and is now the largest ebook provider in the world. The site boasts about having ”… nearly 3 million free ebooks and hundreds of thousands of titles …” that are for sale at the Google eBookstore.
The Google blog says Google eBooks was designed to be “open” — meaning it’s compatible with a number of devices —from laptops to smart phones to e-readers — but not Amazon’s Kindle. Google is out to challenge the leaders in the online book market — Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
The highly anticipated Google eBooks site, a venture that began as Google Editions, is available only in the U.S. now — but international editions are planned for next year.
Today at 5 p.m. was supposed to be the deadline for all nomination documents for the 2011 Municipal Elections to be turned into the Burbank City Clerk’s Office. However, that deadline has been extended.
A notice of the deadline change to Wednesday, December 1, 2010, appears on the city website. Interestingly, it includes Mayor/City Council member Anja Reinke’s decision not to seek a second term. Reinke reportedly announced her intentions not to run back on November 19.
Here’s the statement from the Burbank City website.
EXTENDED NOMINATION PERIOD FOR
BURBANK’S 2011 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS!
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Council Member Anja Reinke has announced that she will not seek re-election to the office of City Council Member in the 2011 Municipal Elections. Pursuant to the California Elections Code, voters have until Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. to nominate candidates for this elective office.
# # #
Photo: Burbank city website -- Councilman Gary Bric
As expected, Councilman Gary Bric has gone public with his desire to keep his job. On Friday 19, Bric picked up the official nomination papers for the city elections on February 22, and April 12, 2011.
Mayor Anja Reinke made a public announcement on that same day that she would not be running for re-election, according to the Leader. This is no surprise. Reinke and Bric’s intentions have been circulating around town for months and were reported on this blog several weeks ago.
Also, as part of the local election coverage, I’ve been reporting on the nomination period. On November first, Vice-Chair of the Burbank Planning Board, Emily Gabel-Luddy, and Burbank Police Commission Chair, Bob Frutos, pulled nomination papers to run for the two council seats up for grabs in next year’s city elections.
Photo:Burbank city website -- Councilman Dr. David Gordon
A lot of chatter on the Internet and in B-town about that alleged domestic violence disturbance and arrest of a female suspect at the home of Councilman David Gordon, Monday, November 15.
Police arrested 58-year-old Barbara Chin for alleged battery against a cohabitant. Chin was later released on $20,000 bail, according to a police report. A recent story about the incident on The Burbank Leader website, claims Chin is scheduled to be arraigned on December 9, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Gordon acknowledged in the article that Chin is the mother of his son, but ”… declined to elaborate on their relationship.”
As is the case in all suspected domestic violence incidents where there is a minor child in the residence, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services was alerted and will be visiting Gordon’s home to check on his son’s welfare.
I spoke with Dr.Gordon briefly after last Tuesday’s city council meeting. The councilman admitted this is “a difficult time,” but added, ”we’ll get through it.”
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Police unit
Police Chief Scott LaChasse has a relative headed for a court appearance. On Monday, November 22, police were called over to Fry’s Electronics, on North Hollywood Way in Burbank, to take custody of a suspect who reportedly palmed a digital voice recorder and stereo plug and then walked out of the store. He was apprehended in the parking lot by security officers.
The suspect is identified as 58-year-old, Albert W. LaChasse of Canyon Country. LaChasse, who is apparently the chief’s brother, was taken to the Burbank jail where he was booked for petty theft.
LaChasse reportedly received a citation and was released early the next day. He’s due to appear in a Burbank court on December 14.
A new online contest is offering more than two million in prizes to wannabe screenwriters and filmmakers. Launched last week Amazon Studios , is backed by online retailer, Amazon.com, which has a first look deal with Warner Bros. The Amazon Studios’ website claims it,”… will award a combined $2.7 million in our first year’s worth of monthly and annual contests for the best scripts and movies. There is no charge to participate.”
If you are eager to break into Hollywood, this sounds like a terrific deal. But is it really? A lot of debate on the Internet — specifically–over on Deadline.com, where there’s a post about some Hollywood screenwriters warning newbies to beware of this project. Also, more than 100 comments on this post — some from writers who are desperate to get a deal and are willing to give up important rights to get it. This will be a dilemma for some writers and filmmakers — a no brainer for others.
Former “American Idol” Judge, Paula Abdul, just launched a new website today, that’s looking for folks with talent who want to audition. The site, auditionbooth.com, not only encourages wannabe stars to visit, but also talent scouts, according to The Wrap.
Last week, Sony Pictures kicked off an online casting service. Apparently, the success of all of those television reality shows is now fueling the creation of Internet talent search sites by some pretty big players in the entertainment industry.
The Abdul casting site reportedly includes contests as well as opportunities to audition for TV shows, ad campaigns, and other talent searches.
By the way, Abdul is not dropping out of the television scene. Her new show, “Live to Dance,” premieres in January on CBS.
Sony Pictures just launched a search for fans with the right stuff to be in some of its productions. The kick off of this virtual talent search from the entertainment giant was announced in a PRNewswire release today. Sony’s new motto, “turning today’s fans into tomorrow’s stars.”
The search is through casting calls and contests on a new Sony website faceofthefan.com The ongoing program includes Sony Pictures properties in film, television, and online.
In the release, Screen Gems President, Clint Culpepper, gives thumbs-up to the new site: “The Face of the Fan program enables us to source people from all over the country to find unknown talent and give them a shot at something they may not have otherwise been able to do.”
On the site, there’s a casting call for a pivotal role of a young female character in the latest installment of the action franchise, “Underworld.” Fans can participate in the search by downloading script pages to rehearse and then uploading audition videos and their credentials for considerations. If you don’t get that part — you might get a call from a casting agent for another role. A Hollywood career could be just a mouse click away.
Details coming out today about the management structure of the new NBC Universal. The NBC Universal Comcast marriage has not received the approval of the Feds yet, but certain business operations are moving ahead as if it’s a done deal.
The new CEO of NBCU, Steve Burke, made the announcement in an internal memo today and it’s posted over on Nikki Finke’s Deadline.com. Former NBCU Chief, Jeff Zucker, is still on the job, yet clearly, Comcast COO Burke is running the show now. Back in September, Zucker stepped aside after getting the word from Burke that there would not be a place for him in the new organization.
Also, The Wrap has a report on the new NBCU senior management team.
Photo: Cliff Watts/People -- Actor Ryan Reynolds
Today People Magazine announced it’s Sexiest Man Alive 2010. The lucky hunky guy, Actor Ryan Reynolds. Besides his good looks, Reynolds has a lot of other things going for him these days. He’s married to Actress, Scarlett Johansson, and his acting career is on a roll.
Reynolds is getting some buzz for his upcoming role as the superhero, Green Lantern. The Warner Bros. movie is due out next June. Checkout the Green Lantern website and new trailer here.
More on Reynolds and People’s selection of some other sexy men on its website.
