Thompson on Hollywood

Avenue Capital Hedge Fund To Announce Variety Buy This Week

News

The frontrunner to buy 107-year-old entertainment industry trade Variety is New York billionaire Marc Lasry’s Avenue Capital hedge fund, according to The New York Post. A source reports that Variety parent company Reed Business Information has accepted a bid between $30 million and $40 million. An official deal announcement is expected this week.

By Anne Thompson
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August 13, 2012 5:06 PM
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Women Directors Delpy & DuVernay Talk Leveling the Playing Field

Features

Three women filmmakers with new movies are inspiring mofe discussion of the state of women directors in Hollywood. The LA Times' Nicole Sperling talks to Julie Delpy ("2 Days in New York," "2 Days in Paris"), Ava DuVerney ("Middle of Nowhere") and Leslye Headland (the upcoming "Bachelorette").

By Sophia Savage
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August 10, 2012 4:01 PM
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Well This is Awkward: 'Twilight' Drama Takes the Lead in EW's Fall Movie Preview; Stewart Out of 'Cali'

Blogs

No surprise here; EW features a cuddly Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson on their Fall Movie Preview issue. "For better or worse," writes EW, "Stewart and Pattinson and their much speculated-upon romance have always been intertwined with the onscreen relationship of their fictional counterparts, Bella and Edward." Director Bill Condon reminds readers: "The fact is, these are actors playing parts. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing for people to be reminded of that.” Either way, "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" (November 16) and EW will continue to sell plenty of tickets and issues that capitalize on the actors' private lives. 'Twas ever thus. Variety confirms web chatter that Stewart has dropped out of "Cali," in which she was previously set to star alongside "Magic Mike"'s Alex Pettyfer. Talks of a replacement are premature.

By Sophia Savage
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August 9, 2012 2:48 PM
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Check Out New IPad Magazine 'Backstory': Long, Gorgeous and Deep

Interviews

You've got to applaud the chutzpah of ex-Creative Screenwriting senior editor Jeff Goldsmith, who has plunked his life savings down on bimonthly iPad publishing experiment: "Backstory." The gorgeously mounted magazine champions scriptwriters by telling their behind-the-scenes stories. Airily designed for the iPad, which doesn't need to cram columns of print into a small space, "Backstory" is easy to read via free iPad app. The first double issue is still available for free, and starting this month with new issue Number Two, the newstand sale is $4.99. A year's subscription is $24.99. "It feels like an eBook on crack," says Goldsmith.

By Anne Thompson
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August 7, 2012 3:35 PM
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'Sight & Sound' Top 50: Editor Nick James Talks Changes in List and Voters

Features

Finally, the citadel has been stormed. Orson Welles’s masterpiece "Citizen Kane" is no longer “The Greatest Film of All Time,” according to the latest poll from "Sight & Sound." The magazine has conducted these polls every 10 years since 1962, and "Citizen Kane" emerged at number one five times. Finally it has been dethroned...

By David Gritten
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August 1, 2012 4:07 PM
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LA Times Adds Three Writers to Entertainment Staff

News

As the Los Angeles Times and its readership continue to shrink, and owner Tribune Company pulls out of bankruptcy, the paper has consistently pushed to bolster its editorial ranks in its most lucrative section in a company town. Thus Arts & Entertainment Assistant Managing Editor John Corrigan has announced three new staff hires.

By Anne Thompson
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July 30, 2012 1:02 PM
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Forbes Lists Highest Paid Celebs Under 30: Music's Women and 'Twilight' Stars Reign

News

Young women dominate Forbes' list of the Highest Paid Celebrities under 30, with six spots on the top ten, four of which are in the top five. It's music divas Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Adele joining top earning actress Kristen Stewart.

By Sophia Savage
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July 13, 2012 2:11 PM
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Media Watch: Looking Back on Netflix's Rocky Year

News

It was one year ago today that Netflix made a serious misstep: The company hiked its popular $10 DVD and streaming VOD subscription up to $15.98.

By Beth Hanna
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July 12, 2012 12:55 PM
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The TOH! Addendum to E!'s 100 Best Things in Pop Culture

Features

E! has compiled a list of the 100 Best Things in Pop Culture. It's a pretty broad spectrum that includes some things we'd sooner include on a list of the Worst Things About America, Those Responsible for The Degradation of Our Culture, Reasons Why I'm Moving Into a Cave, et cetera. But let's focus on the positive...

By Sophia Savage
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July 10, 2012 4:02 PM
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Allen & Co.'s Sun Valley Media Mogul Guest List Includes Buffet, Zuckerberg, Gates, Murdoch

News

Allen & Co.'s annual summer Sun Valley, Idaho event next week, where the world's top media moguls gather to talk shop and enjoy swanky outdoor family activities, has a guest list that includes billionaires Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.