Thompson on Hollywood

Spielberg and Abrams Team on Super 8 At Paramount

The puzzling part of Steven Spielberg producing director J.J. Abrams' Super 8 is that Spielberg is still not happy with Paramount. But he's willing to produce this movie with Abrams' Bad Robot, even though it will go through that studio deal. The two men dreamed up the homage to their Super 8 filmmaking youth together, so that is how it goes. Abrams' Super 8 trailer will run in front of Iron Man 2, starting tonight; MTV and Vulture have more details, while The Playlist describes the trailer:

By Anne Thompson
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May 6, 2010 8:00 AM
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Palevsky, Los Angeles Arts Philanthropist, Dies

Computer executive and arts philanthropist Max Palevsky died peacefully of heart failure at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday morning at 5 am, according to his family. His memorial service is planned for this Friday, May 7 at 2 pm at the Max Palevsky Aero Theater (which he rescued from destruction) at 1328 Montana Ave in Santa Monica.

By Anne Thompson
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May 5, 2010 9:20 AM
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SFIFF 53 Day Six: Transcending Lynch, Shirley Adams, Gainsbourg, Vengeance

Meredith Brody is amused by Transcending Lynch, notices the lack of 'cheerful' films at the festival and gives Gainsbourg a second chance:

By Meredith Brody
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May 5, 2010 2:14 AM
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News Update: Studios Step Up Security, Iron Man Hits Web, Tony Noms, Vaughn Helms X-Men: First Class

L.A. County sheriffs have stepped up security around movie studios in response to the foiled bombing attempt in New York's Times Square. The LAT reports that the bomb's proximity to Viacom headquarters has led to speculation that the company was targeted because of a recent South Park episode on Comedy Central involving the prophet Muhammad. Viacom owns Comedy Central as well as the MTV network. At MTV and Lionsgate offices in Santa Monica, guards have been checking vehicle trunks since the incident, among other precautions.

By Amy Dawes
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May 5, 2010 1:31 AM
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Eggers' McSweeney's Sells Wholphin DVDs

TOH contributor Cameron Carlson explores McSweeney's innovative DVD experiment.

By Cameron Carlson
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May 5, 2010 1:26 AM
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SFIFF 53 Day Seven: Walter Salles, Father of My Children, Cairo Time, Domain, Soul Kitchen

On her seventh day at SFIFF53, Meredith Brody practices premature cinematic ejaculation and admires Founders Directing Award-winner Walter Salles, who talks to Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and shares research from his upcoming On the Road.

By Meredith Brody
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May 5, 2010 1:18 AM
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Trailer Watch: Clooney in The American

Anton Corbijn’s follow up to 2007's Control has a September 1st release date and one very marketable combination: Clooney, weapons and women.

By Anne Thompson
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May 4, 2010 7:51 AM
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Eclipse World Premieres at Los Angeles Film Festival

Film Independent has announced its official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs June 17 to 27 in downtown LA.

By Sophia Savage
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May 4, 2010 6:48 AM
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Ebert Named Webby Person of the Year

The Webby Awards have named Roger Ebert their Person of the Year. The Webbys credit the Chicago Sun-Times film critic with raising the bar for the “level of poignancy, thoughtfulness and critique one can achieve on the web” and having an “unparalleled level of engagement with followers and fans.”

By Sophia Savage
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May 4, 2010 6:35 AM
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Do We Need Another Robin Hood? It's Time.

While comparisons will abound between Ridley Scott's new take on Robin Hood and all the prior iterations of the great Sherwood Forest legend, Sophia Savage wonders if she'll be able to move on from her girl crush on Kevin Costner in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Even Russell Crowe seems a tad threatened, if you ask me. He told People that Costner's Robin Hood film "looks like a Jon Bon Jovi video."