Thompson on Hollywood

Entertainment Industry and Celebs Pledge Aid for Japan Relief

As the full horror of the scale of earthquake and tsunami damage to Japan, and its ongoing nuclear radiation crisis, hits Americans, folks in show business are stepping up. (Our initial report on Japan's earthquake aftermath and Hollywood is here.)

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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March 18, 2011 6:25 AM
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The Hunger Games Chases Franchise Gold with Indie Darling Jennifer Lawrence: Details

Moving swiftly from indie breakout to star of a major Hollywood franchise, Jennifer Lawrence has landed The Hunger Games.

By Sophia Savage
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March 17, 2011 7:51 AM
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Darren Aronofsky Says Goodbye to The Wolverine

He is sad to go, but directing the latest X-Men installment, The Wolverine, for Twentieth Century Fox with Hugh Jackman would have kept Darren Aronofsky out of the country and away from family for too long.

By Anne Thompson
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March 17, 2011 5:27 AM
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Unstaged's 2011 Music Series Kicks off with David Lynch directing Duran, Duran

Unstaged, the music series in its second year, announces the iconic pairing of director David Lynch and Duran Duran. The first installment of Unstaged 2011 will feature a Duran Duran performance in conjunction with the release of their 13th studio album and first official tour since 2008. On March 23, Los Angeles's Mayan Theatre will house the event, which will also live-stream on YouTube at 10 pm. Their album, ALL YOU NEED IS NOW goes out March 22.

By Sophia Savage
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March 15, 2011 1:43 AM
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Schnabel Talks MPAA Appeals Board Overturn of Miral's R-Rating UPDATED

Thursday the MPAA's ratings appeals board overturned Miral's R-rating for “some violent content including a sexual assault.” Weinstein Co. can now release Julian Schnabel's controversial Palestinian film on March 25 with a PG-13 rating for “thematic material, and some violent content including a sexual assault.” UPDATE: While the final cut filmmaker screened a cut that was 13-minutes shorter than the one that played the fall festival circuit (which drew mixed reviews), he did not make changes in the rape or cane-beating scenes that had earned the initial rating. Trims at the beginning and end of the film were designed to engage audiences with the characters, he told TOH. "I'm very pleased with the movie. Some battles you have to lose in order to win the war."

By Anne Thompson
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March 10, 2011 9:33 AM
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Focus Features' Africa First Program Accepting Entries

In its fourth year, Focus Features' Africa First Program is accepting entries May 16 - August 22. The initiative gives grants of up to $10,000 to emerging African filmmakers making narrative short films within continental Africa, and seeks to unite filmmakers with each other as well as advisors and mentors within the African film network.

By Anne Thompson
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March 2, 2011 9:31 AM
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Weinsteins Get PG-13 for King's Speech, Appeal R-Rating for Schnabel's Miral

The Weinsteins are known for grabbing publicity with their ratings battles for such films as Blue Valentine, which earned an R PG-13 on appeal, and likely Oscar-winner The King's Speech, which just landed a PG-13 rating after the Weinsteins amended its volley of the F-word. Now Biutiful producer Jon Kilik and director Julian Schnabel (whose The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was briefly rated R for brief frontal nudity before Kilik protested) are appealing the MPAA’s R-rating for Weinstein indie pick-up Miral, their Pathe-financed film about the violent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which played the festival circuit last year.

By Anne Thompson
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February 25, 2011 10:58 AM
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Ted Hope Brings Hope for Film to IndieWIRE Blog Network

Ted Hope defines today's indie producer: lean, smart, creative, prolific and always questing for useful intelligence about where our crazy film industry is going to go. The producer of 70 films in 20 years is also a sharer, which is why he blogs, constantly asking questions and throwing out possible answers on his website Truly Free Film. Whether he's on a film set, giving a speech, participating on an industry panel or interviewing rising Sundance stars with old pal and occasional producing partner Christine Vachon, Hope slaps something up on his Hope for Film blog, and invites others to do so as well.

By Anne Thompson
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February 22, 2011 4:30 AM
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Casting Coup: Maria Bello Lands Helen Mirren Role in NBC's Prime Suspect Remake

After a rigorous search for the right actress to play the lead detective originated by Helen Mirren in NBC's remake of the hit Brit series, Prime Suspect, Universal Media Studios and the team behind Friday Night Lights has hired veteran dramatic actress Maria Bello (The Cooler, A History of Violence, The Company Men), reports Variety. Bello is great casting: a smart, versatile, athletic actress, she has the authority to pull this off. This is a juicy sought-after role.

By Anne Thompson
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February 17, 2011 12:22 AM
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Sony Negotiating MGM Distrib and Financing Deal, Including Bonds

Sony and MGM have been in bed together for some time. One of many investors in the company, Sony has released the last two Bond films, and wants to release the next two as well, reports the the LATimes. Streamlined MGM has been strapped for cash for some time, come through bankruptcy, and now has two new CEOs, industry vets Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, who are seeking to avoid the risk and expense of marketing and releasing their own movies. They are talking to several studios about a worldwide distribution deal for MGM's films and home video, as well as financing on some films such as Sam Mendes' Bond 23, starring Daniel Craig.