Thompson on Hollywood

Reitman's Elliot Allagash, Lion King in 3-D and Disney Homes

- Jason Reitman's Right of Way Films has picked up Simon Rich's excesses-of-the-rich satire Elliot Allagash, reports THR. Current SNL writer Rich will adapt his book, which follows a picked-on private school student who is taken under the wing of another student, the villainous, drunken Allagash. While Reitman does intend to produce, he may not direct. The filmmaker is currently developing Bonzai Shadowhands with The Office's Rainn Wilson starring as a once-great ninja who is leading a dull life. Right of Way Films was co-created with Indian Paintbrush, backed by billionaire Steven Rales, who will produce and finance the project.

By Sophia Savage
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June 23, 2010 5:29 AM
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Academy Announces Oscar Show Producers Cohen and Mischer

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences president Tom Sherak is jumping the gun this year by announcing the show's producers in June. The producers of last November's first inaugural Governor's Awards, film producer Bruce Cohen and TV producer Don Mischer, will do the honors on the 83rd Academy Awards telecast, which airs on ABC Sunday, February 27, live from the Kodak Theatre. Mischer will also direct the telecast.

By Anne Thompson
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June 23, 2010 1:10 AM
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Eight Things I Learned About Producing Web Entertainment

Here are eight things that Cameron Carlson learned at The American Cinematheque's Monday panel on web series and emerging trends in online content development. Instead of giving up on Hollywood after pursuing conventional career routes, the intrepid panelists took their chances on the web. Videos after the jump.

By Cameron Carlson
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June 22, 2010 10:47 AM
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Oscilloscope to Release Cazale Doc I Knew It Was You on DVD

In acting circles, the late John Cazale was a respected character actor even before he played Fredo in The Godfather and its first sequel and Stan in The Deer Hunter.

By Sophia Savage
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June 22, 2010 6:12 AM
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Brewer's Footloose Remake Finds Cast

Writer-director Craig Brewer has landed his leads for his remake of Footloose, which is set for April 2011 Paramount release. Newcomer Kenny Wormald will play Ren (the role made famous by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 original), Julianne Hough (Dancing With The Stars) will play Ariel (the Lori Singer role), Dennis Quaid is Reverend Moore (John Lithgow) and Miles Teller is Willard (Chris Penn). Back to help with the remake are producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago), who will produce with Brad Weston and Dylan Sellers.

By Anne Thompson
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June 22, 2010 5:27 AM
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Starz Seeks Next Sopranos, Shyamalan Circulates New Script, 3-D Decline, Jonah Hex Misfire

- In a bid to compete with HBO and Showtime, Starz has acquired the U.S. rights to remake the successful and critically acclaimed Aussie drama Underbelly, based on a real life '70s crime family. Former HBO chief Chris Albrecht (who launched The Sopranos) took over as Starz CEO last December. Vulture reports that Underbelly, along with UK show Torchwood and a planned Camelot saga, spearhead Starz's latest programming push. While the crime theme underlines both The Sopranos and Underbelly, it is new for Albrecht to look outside for inspiration. During his twenty-plus years at HBO, he tended to create original programming in-house. Things have changed; old content finds sizable viewership on channels like AMC, and audiences' appeal can be targeted more globally than locally.

By Sophia Savage
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June 22, 2010 3:32 AM
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Helen Mirren Poses Nude for New York Magazine

While she isn't Lindsay Lohan, Helen Mirren's bikini shot below got plenty of play, and now she's posing nude in a bathtub--on the stump for Love Ranch, directed by her husband Taylor Hackford. It's a far cry from The Queen.

By Anne Thompson
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June 21, 2010 11:27 AM
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James Franco: Everywhere

Actor James Franco seems to be everywhere these days. He's starring in serious dramas (Howl) and goofy comedies (Date Night), directing a Saturday Night Live doc and a Cannes short, making art (he has an upcoming New York solo show of photos, drawings and videos) and falling asleep during class at Columbia's MFA program in creative writing (he's prepping a children's book). While Franco, 32, is not the first actor to pursue artistic outlets other than on-screen performing, his choices do reflect a certain self-aware humor and intelligence. After all, he plays an unpredictable painter named "Franco" on General Hospital who seduces a girl at MOCA (see clip below).

By Cameron Carlson
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June 21, 2010 10:21 AM
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Mad Men: Waiting for Season Four

I know there are other things I should have been doing this weekend, like tracking down new indies at LAFF, finishing my taxes, viewing some of the screeners piled on my coffee table, or catching up with my backlog of unwritten posts. But I did watch the last four episodes of Mad Men season three--partly because the Emmy nominations are coming up July 31 (will the show beat last year's 16 noms and two wins, including best drama?). But also because season four is looming. And I am looking forward to seeing the next installment of Mad Men (debuting on July 25 on AMC) almost as much as Chris Nolan's Inception.

By Anne Thompson
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June 21, 2010 8:50 AM
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DVD Watch: Death Race 2000

Paul Bartel was always one of my fave New World directors--he's one of the less-well-known grads of the Corman school, including James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Allan Arkush, Joe Dante, Ron Howard and Peter Bogdanovich. It's always a hoot hearing folks talk about what it was like to work there. Quentin Tarantino's tribute to New World chief Roger Corman was a highlight of last year's Academy governors' ball.