'Where The Wild Things Are' Runs $32.4M 
Oscar Can't Always Get What He Wants 
NBC Bright Spot Of Lousy GE 3Q Earnings; 4Q … 
Oops! Vivendi May Delay 20% NBCU Sale? 
65 Nations Vie For Foreign Language Oscar 
Elle's Women In Hollywood Power List 
HOW BIG IS BIG? AEG Predicts Michael Jackson … 
Sane Debt-Reduction Move By Redstone; But … 
EXCLUSIVE: Comcast Wants NBCU Deal Done … 
UPDATE: The IATSE General Executive Board this afternoon unanimously named Matthew Loeb to be president after today's retirement of Tom Short. (See my previous, TOLDJA! Tom Short Retires From IATSE.)
According to the IATSE announcement, Loeb said, "I enter into the position of International President with the deepest sense of obligation to the members, who number better than 111,000, and their families. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Tom Short who made desperately needed institutional changes that will allow me to continue to build on a solid foundation. We are well positioned to meet the challenges of the future. I remain convinced that the interests of IATSE members are best protected when we use all of the resources gained through the unity and coordination of our locals and members throughout the United States and Canada."
The press release goes on to say: Loeb is credited with devising and implementing an aggressive organizing and bargaining strategy under the leadership of President Emeritus Short. The policies laid the foundation for obtaining more than 1,000 term agreements in motion pictures, television, music videos, and commercials, and the chartering of numerous new local unions adding thousands of new members to the union. Loeb has been a member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829 since 1989, a member of Local 52 since 1996, and is a Charter Member of Local 491 (established in 1994). He became an International Representative in June, 1994.
Loeb was also the IATSE’s first Division Director of Motion Picture and Television Production, appointed to that position upon the restructuring of the Alliance and the establishment of divisions. He was elected by the General Executive Board to the position of International Vice President in February 2002 and at the 65th Convention in 2005. In addition, he served as Chairman of the East Coast Council for better than 14 years.
The IATSE is an International Union that represents members employed in the stagecraft, motion picture and television production, and trade shows industries throughout the United States, its Territories, and Canada.
For crissakes! Like TV viewers haven't been bombarded 
The general feeling is that Mummy 3 should end the weekend as No. 1. "But if The Dark Knight is down less than 45% it could give Mummy a run for the money," an expert at a rival studio warns me. Of course Warner Bros is sitting pretty while every day the Batman pic sets speed records on its fast approach to $400M gross from North American theaters.
is almost completed and will be announced in the next week to 10 days. The Reliance people were in Los Angeles last week meeting with DreamWorks. I hear they also met with Jeffrey Katzenberg (whose public company DreamWorks Animation has an "out" clause from its Paramount distribution deal after 10 films...). However, David Geffen officially severs his ties with Paramount as soon as August, and Spielberg can leave in October. Then DreamWorks has to make a distribution deal, probably with Universal where Spielberg still keeps his office. To refresh your memories, Geffen had on speed dial the newest Big Media mogul names of Rajesh Sawhney and Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (one of the world's Top 10 richest men) to help with a planned $1.2 billion total financing for DreamWorks 2.o, the new independent film company the principals are starting post-Paramount. The intent is to make about 6 movies a year. Meanwhile, DreamWorks and Paramount will battle over Spielberg's exit and all that joint development. For instance, I just heard that Spielberg starts directing Tintin as soon as October -- and there's already confusion if this is a DreamWorks/Paramount or a DreamWorks 2.0 production.
As Myers has previously said, this fourth installment of the super spy spoof movie series will focus on Austin's arch-villain Dr. Evil, who was based on Blofeld of the Bond films. But what hasn't been known is that the AP4 plot is really about Dr. Evil and his son (introduced already as Scott Evil, played by Seth Green). (NEW) Myers said this week he conceived the film’s plot during a “spiritual quest” of self-discovery to help him cope with his dad’s death in 1991 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. And it was during this time in his life that he said he was inspired to create the character of The Love Guru. “In many ways, The Love Guru is honouring him by dealing with his loss, because making silly movies is how I deal with things.”
equating the release of Bruce Almighty with curing cancer. Geez, I always thought the 63-year-old former marine was one of those rare moguls who didn't need his ego fed like the rest of the Big Media weenies. But how pathetic to see that he, too, succumbed to such a nauseating suck-up. I hear Meyer initially turned down the issue only to reconsider when he was told THR would work its way down the list of other moguls with a still healthy advertising budget. Meanwhile, I'm told Meyer's issue sold more ads than past honorees like Rupert Murdoch, Bob Iger and Jerry Bruckheimer. Shame on Meyer for subjecting all his friends (and enemies) to be held up for ransom by THR's rapacious ad salesmen. If only all the studio bosses stopped congratulating each other long enough to personally step in and solve the AMPTP-SAG stalemate and put this town back to work. In my estimation, Ron just lost his street cred. I hope he enjoys the tiara and sash and the traditional stroll through The Grill clutching a bouquet of long-stemmed roses. 
After years of complaining about partner Rick Nicita, CAA's original Young Turks have pushed him out of the agency and foisted him onto Morgan Creek where he'll be co-chairman and chief operating officer. It must have been a desperate situation for the 63-year-old Nicita who, after years of rumors that he's on the outs, is now willing to work for James Robinson, one of the worst bosses in Hollywood and one of the biggest assholes in the movie biz. (Kudos to LA Times' Claudia Eller who got online first with the announcement... without analysis.)
This horrible job culminates Nicita's 42-year career as an agent for first William Morris and then CAA, where he became a partner in 1995 when Ovitz left to become the short-timer prez of the Walt Disney Co. That's when the agency was handed over to the so-called Young Turks -- Jay Moloney, Richard Lovett, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, David "Doc" O'Connor -- as well as to head of music Tom Ross, head of television Lee Gabler, and veteran agent Nicita. Even though Moloney at one point was touted to take over the agency, he was fired in 1996 because of his hopeless drug habit. Since then, the Young Turks have slowly but surely consolidated their grip on CAA, pushing out first Ross, then Gabler, and now Nicita.
Loading ...