Saturday, January 30, 2010

MOVIE NEWS … MIRAMAX CLOSES

MOVIE NEWS …

MIRAMAX CLOSES

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It was the independent, art-house studio that became a major industry player in the 1990s, courtesy of such Oscar-winning hits as Pulp Fiction and The English Patient. But there was no Hollywood-style happy ending for Miramax studios, which shut up shop today with the loss of 80 jobs.


Founded by producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein back in 1979, Miramax flourished as an independent distribution and production outfit, before becoming part of the Disney empire in 1993. The company scored with low-budget hits such as Clerks and sex, lies and videotape and won Oscars, helped launch the career of Quentin Tarantino and scooped Oscars with the likes of The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. The Weinsten brothers - who named the company after their parents Max and Miriam - quit to form the Weinstein Company in 2005.


During its heyday, Miramax was regarded as arguably the industry's most respected and influential production company. But in recent years its output has been downscaled by Disney, and its demise was predicted long before today's closure of its offices in LA. The six Miramax pictures that are currently awaiting distribution - including John Madden's The Debt and Last Night, starring Keira Knightley - now face an uncertain future.

"I'm feeling very nostalgic right now," Harvey Weinstein said today "I know the movies made on my and my brother Bob's watch will live on … Miramax has some brilliant people working within the organisation and I know they will go on to do great things in the industry."

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ONE HIT WONDERS … DEVO

ONE HIT WONDERS …

DEVO

Artist: Devo
Song: Whip It
Year: 1980

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Devo is an American Rock band that began as an Art Punk Rock band that eventually migrated into the genre of New Wave Rock.

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Devo was formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973. While they are best known for their 1980 hit "Whip It", which made it to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the band has succesfully maintained a cult following since early in their career. Their style over time has shifted variously between punk, art rock, post-punk, and New Wave.

ENTERTAIMENT NEWS … JURYMAN TIM BURTON

ENTERTAIMENT NEWS …

 

JURYMAN TIM BURTON

 

American filmmaker Tim Burton will head the jury at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.


The "Edward Scissorhands" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" director says heading up the nine-member jury in May is a "great honor."


Organizers of the French Riviera festival made the announcement Tuesday in a statement quoting Burton's reaction.

Burton says: "After spending my early life watching triple features and 48-hour horror movie marathons, I'm finally ready for this."

The 63rd Cannes festival will be held May 12 to 23. The rest of the jury will be announced later.

TRIVIA BITS ... US NATIONAL SYMBOL

TRIVIA BITS ...

US NATIONAL SYMBOL

 

President of US Seal

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Ben Franklin wanted the turkey not the eagle to be the US National symbol.

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He considered the eagle “ a bird of bad moral character” because it lives “by sharping and robbing”

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REMINISCING … PERRY MASON

REMINISCING …

PERRY MASON

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Perry Mason is an American TV series produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966. Perry Mason was played by actor Raymond Burr. The title character is a fictional Los Angeles, California, defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner. 

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At one time, the show is "television's most successful and longest-running lawyer series." Another series starring Monte Markham as Mason ran from 1973–1974, and Burr returned as Mason in 30 made-for-TV movies that aired from 1985 to 1995.

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Each episode's plot is essentially the same: the first half of the show usually depicts the prospective murder victim as being deserving of homicide, often with Perry's client publicly threatening to kill the victim; the body is found (often by Perry and his investigator, Paul Drake, who through circumstance happen to stumble upon the body) surrounded by clues pointing to Perry's client. Perry's client is charged with murder, but (in the second-half courtroom setting) Perry establishes his client's innocence by dramatically demonstrating the guilt of another character. The murderer nearly always breaks down and confesses to the crime in the courtroom, if not on the witness stand then in the arms of the bailiff, who blocks the murderer's effort to escape into the hallway.

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In the closing scene (the Epilogue), the characters often gather together, to discuss how the case was solved. Occasionally, Perry invites District Attorney Hamilton Burger and police Lt. Arthur Tragg to join them.

 

MOVIE NEWS … LUCAS AND FAIRIES?

MOVIE NEWS …

LUCAS AND FAIRIES?

An untitled top-secret CGI-animated musical is currently in preproduction at Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch.  George Lucas is set to produce.

"TMNT" and "Dead of Night" director Kevin Munroe heads the project which is expected to feature music from a variety of sources. All that's known about the screenplay by David Berenbaum (“Elf,” “The Spiderwick Chronicles”) is that it features features fairies.

A Lucasfilm spokesperson said it was too early to comment on the details of the project. Lucas is presently finishing up the Tuskegee Airmen film “Red Tails” which he produced.

TODAY IS ... 30 JANUARY

TODAY IS ...

30 JANUARY

HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES

  • Feast day of
    •    St. Mutien-Marie Wiaux (+1917)
    •    St. Hippolytus
    •    St. Hyacintha Mariscotti
    •    St. Aldegonde
    •    St. Bathild
    •    St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr, c. 226 AD
    •    St. Savina, martyred under Emperor Diocletian
    •    St. Anthony the Great's feast in the Coptic Church
    •    King Charles the Martyr (Anglicanism) St. Adelelmus or Aleaume,
    •    St. Aldegundis,
    •    St. Barsimaeus

•    Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Church: Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs 
This Feast honors the three great Fathers of the Eastern Church --St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom

BIRTHDAYS -

1991 - Matthew Werkmeister - Australian actor

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1988 - Rob Pinkston - American actor

1981 - Mathias Lauda - Austrian racing driver

1990 - Jake Thomas - an American actor and singer known for his roles in the television show Lizzie McGuire, in which he plays Lizzie's younger brother, Matt McGuire. He is known for his "Matt" character in Lizzie Mcguire series. He has won the 23rd annual Young artist award. He is also seen in Cory in the House, portraying the role of Jason Stickler.

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1989 – Khleo Thomas is an American actor, singer, and rapper best known for his role as Zero in Holes.

 

1980 – Wilmer  Valderrama - an American actor and television personality, best known for the role of Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show, the host of the MTV series Yo Momma, and the voice of Manny in the children's show Handy Manny.

1974 - Christian Bale is an English actor. In addition to starring roles in big budget Hollywood films, he has long been heavily involved in films produced by independent producers and art houses. Bale first caught the public eye when he was cast in the starring role of Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun at the age of 13, playing an English boy who is separated from his parents and subsequently finds himself lost in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

1959 - Jody Watley - R&B singer (formerly with Shalamar)

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1958 - Brett Butler is an American actress and stand-up comedienne, best known for playing the title role in comedy series Grace Under Fire.

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1956 - Jeremy Gittins - is an English actor who is known for his semi-regular role as the Vicar on the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.He has also appeared in Doctor Who, (in 1981), Tenko, Boon, A Touch of Frost, New Tricks, EastEnders (as John Charrington), Doctors and most recently Footballers' Wives in 2005.As well as Keeping Up Appearances, he has also made appearances in other sitcoms, namely Fresh Fields, Terry and June, Andy Capp, Blackadder Goes Forth and The Upper Hand.

1951  - Charles Dutton – actor

1951 - Phil Collins LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, keyboardist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for English progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.

1941  - Dick Cheney - US Vice President, former Secretary of Defense

1937 - Boris Spassky - USSR/World Champion chess player (1969-71)

1937 - Vanessa Redgrave CBE is an Academy Award winning English actress and political activist. She is a distinguished member of the Redgrave family, the world-renowned theatrical dynasty.

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1931 -  Gene Hackman - is an American actor and novelist who has made 80 films. He came to fame in 1967 when his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde earned him his first Oscar nomination.

1928 - Harold Prince, American Tony-winning director, producer. Stage: West Side Story (1957), Fiddler On the Roof (1964, Tony), Cabaret (1966, Tony), Evita (1978, Tony), and The Phantom of the Opera.

1925  - Dorothy Malone – American actress whose film career began in the mid 1940s, and in her early years she played small roles, mainly in B-movies. After a decade in films, she began to acquire a more glamorous image, particularly after her performance in Written on the Wind (1956), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

1914 - John Ireland, Canadian-born actor. Film: My Darling Clementine (1946) and All the King's Men (1949).

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OTHER EVENTS –

2008 - Madonna topped the list for the richest female musician, according to the Forbes.com. Its first-ever list focusing on women in the music industry estimated the 49-year-old banked $72m (£36m) between June 2006 and June 2007. Madonna earned much of that from her Confessions tour - the highest-grossing tour for a female artist - earning $260m (£130m) worldwide. Barbra Streisand came second, with $60 million (£30 million) followed by Celine Dion with $45 million (£23.6), mainly from her recent concerts at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

2007 - Microsoft releases its next Operating system, Windows Vista, and 2007 Microsoft Office System.

2005 - The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Push The Button’, the duo’s fourth UK No.1 album. The Game had the US No.1 album with 'The Documentary.'

2003 – Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen and Michael Vartan star in One Hour Photo commences screening in Australia. An employee of a one-hour photo lab becomes obsessed with a young suburban family.

2003 - Belgium legally recognizes same-sex marriage.

2002 - The musical "Taboo" opened at London's Leicester Square. The musical follows the life of Boy George.

2000 - Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rise'. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan's 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer, the other two being The Byrds version of 'Mr Tambourine Man' and Manfred Mann's 'The Mighty Quinn'.

1999 - In the NME readers poll results the winner of 'The pop personality that you would like as your doctor' was won by singer Natalie Imbruglia.

1999 - After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with '...Baby One More Time.' Britney's debut album also went to No.1 on the US chart on the same day.

1998 - Elton John receives a knighthood in British Prime Minister Tony Blair's first New Year's Eve Honours List.

1997 – John Travolta, Andie MacDowell and William Hurt star in Michael which starts screening in Australia. Two tabloid reporters checking out a report of the Archangel Michael living with an old woman find that it's true. But that's not the only surprise.

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1996 - Comet Hyakutake is discovered by Japanese amateur astronomer Yuji Hyakutake.

1995 – Led Zeppelin receives the International Artists Award at the American Music Awards. Michael Jackson and Rod Stewart are the only others to have previously received the honour.

1995 – Boyz II Men nail three awards at the 22nd annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Ace of Base, Michael Bolton and Reba McEntire each score two victories.

1995 - At the 22nd American Music Awards, The Lion King soundtrack wins Favorite Pop/Rock Album!

1994 - Pter Lk becomes the youngest grand master in chess.

1994 - Dina Carroll went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'So Close'.

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1994 - 82nd Australian Mens Tennis: Pete Sampras beats Todd Martin (76 64 64)

1994 - 68th Australian Women's Tennis Open: S Graf beats A S Vicario (60 62)

1992 - Touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the Thebarton Theater in Adelaide.

1991 - The Hudson's Bay Company announces it is selling its fur business due to declining sales

1990 - France's Culture Ministry honors Bob Dylan by naming him a commander in the Order of Arts and Letters.

1989 - 5 pharoah sculptures from 1470 BC found at temple of Luxor

1989 - 16th American Music Award Randy Travis & George Michael win

1988 - Terence Trent D'arby went back to No.1 on the UK album chart for an 8 week run with Introducing 'The Hardline To Terence Trent D'arby'.

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1988 - Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Think We're Alone Now', the singers only UK No.1 single. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.

1988 - INXS had their first US No.1 hit single with 'Need You Tonight'.

1985 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``I Want to Know What Love Is,'' Foreigner. Although Foreigner had its first top five single in 1977, this is the group's first No. 1 song.

1982 - Paul McCartney guested on BBC radios Desert Island Discs his selections include, Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel', Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen', John Lennon's 'Beautiful Boy 'and Little Richards 'Tutti Frutti'.

1982 - Number one hit on UK music charts - Shakin' Stevens - Oh Julie

1982 - Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That" hits Number One on the pop chart and the R&B chart simultaneously, one week after hitting Number One on the disco chart. It is the fourth single by a white act to reach the top of the R&B chart since 1965.

1982 - Barbra Streisand started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the 'Love Songs LP'.

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1981 - 8th American Music Award Kenny Rogers wins

1977 - 8th (final) part of "Roots" is most-watched entertainment show ever

1975 - The Bee Gees begin recording ‘Jive Talkin’, which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit. Barry Gibb's inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, "It's our drive talkin'."

1973 - Watergate: G. Gordan Liddy and James McCord are convicted of breaking into and wiretapping the Democratic Party headquarters.

1973 - After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as Kiss at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.

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1972 - Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.

1972 - British soldiers shoot and kill 13 Roman Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland. This inspired the U2 song Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

1971 - Number one hit on UK music charts - George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

1971 - Janis Joplin's "Me And Bobby McGee" is released.

1970 - Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.

1970 - Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).' The group's only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February

1969 – The Beatles, with Billy Preston on organ, perform four songs on a London on Saville Road rooftop for the film “Let It Be.” Billy wrote and performed the Rhodes solo on “Get Back”. The set is halted after 42 minutes because an accountant at the nearby Royal Bank of Scotland complains about the noise.

1968 - Bobby Goldsboro records his biggest hit, "Honey"

1967 - The Beatles went to Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, for the first day of filming for the ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ promotional video. The film was shot in colour, for the benefit of the US market, (UK television was still broadcasting only in black and white).

1964 - The U.S. launched Ranger 6. The unmanned spacecraft carried television cameras and was intentionally crash-landed on the moon. The cameras did not return any pictures to Earth.

1964 - The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song 'Needles And Pins'. The group's second UK No.1 had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon.

1961 – The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US chart when ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.

1961 - Bobby Darin is youngest performer to headline a TV special on NBC

1959 - Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 single 'One Night / I Got Stung' a double A side, (originally written and recorded under the title ‘One Night of Sin)’ a revival of the Smiley Lewis's R&B hit. Presley was in the army by the time this song reached No.1.

1958 - The first two-way moving sidewalk was put in service at Love Field in Dallas, Texas. The length of the walkway through the airport was 1,435 feet.

1958 - On the first night of a six date Australian tour, Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jodie Sands and Johnny O'Keefe all appeared at Sydney Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales.

1958 - House of Lords passes bill allowing women in

1956 - Jerry Lee Lewis plays piano for rockabilly singer Billy Lee Riley's Sun Studio session. They record "Red Hot," which will become Riley's most successful record.

1956 - Elvis Presley started recording what would be his first album at RCA's New York Studios. Songs recorded included his version the Carl Perkins song 'Blue Suede Shoes'.

1948 - Indian pacifist and leader Mohandas Gandhi is assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist.

1948 - 5th Winter Olympic games open in St Moritz, Switzerland

1947 - The Goofy film How to Be a Cowboy is shelved.

1941 – Night Train to Munich starring Margaret Lockwood, Rex Harrison and Paul Henreid started screening in Australia. When the Germans march into Prague, armour-plating inventor Dr Bomasch flees to England. His daughter Anna escapes from arrest to join him.

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1933 - The first episode of the Lone Ranger radio show is broadcast on Detroit station WXYZ. Hi yo, Silver, away!

1931 - Charlie Chaplin's City Lights premiered at Los Angeles Theater

1917 - The Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded "The Darktown Strutters' Ball" - considered to be the first jazz record.