All Finance articles – Page 307
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Gillies MacKinnon reaches for Dizzy Heights
The UK's Gillies MacKinnon is to direct Dizzy Heights, a romantic comedy produced by Theta Films and sold by Vine International Pictures at Cannes. The story of a love triangle set in London, the film is billed as a dark blend of romantic comedy, music and magical imagery. The script ...
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Sequels awarded Bavarian fund backing
Sequels of Dennis Gansel's 2001 teen-comedy hit Girls On Top (Maedchen Maedchen) and 2002's most successful German film Bibi Blocksberg are among nine projects awarded Euros 6.6m by Bavaria's regional fund, FFF Bayern.Maedchen Maeedchen II, which will reunite screenwriter Maggie Peren and producer Olga Film's Viola Jaeger with lead actresses ...
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Dark Lady Of DNA could be follow-up film to Whale Rider
New Zealand's South Pacific Pictures (SPP) is developing a feature based on the book by Brenda Maddox about the life of Rosalind Franklin, whose work was essential to the discovery of DNA. The book, which is titled Rosalind Franklin, The Dark Lady of DNA, discusses how Franklin got no recognition ...
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Optimum boards untitled Shane Meadows feature
UK distributor Optimum Releasing has picked up Shane Meadows' new untitled feature, which started shooting this week in the North of England. The film, which stars and is co-written by long-time Meadows collaborator Paddy Considine, has no set script and was developed through a series of rehearsals and improvisations. The ...
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France's MK2 boards Korea's Hong Sang-soo project
The as-yet untitled fifth project by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo has secured partial financing from French production/distribution company MK2. The company will reportedly distribute the film directly through its French distribution circuit, as well as handling international sales and marketing outside of Asia.Currently in the casting stage, Hong's ...
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Terence Davies' Sunset Song to shoot this summer
Terence Davies' adaptation of the classic Scottish novel Sunset Song is on track to start shooting on location in Scotland from August or September, according to producer Bob Last.A global casting search is under way for a lead actress and Last will announce funding partners at Cannes. Scottish Screen has ...
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Cast set for Nine Queens remake
Recent Oscar nominee John C.Reilly (Chicago) and Mexican actor Diego Luna (Y Tu Mama Tambien) are pairing up for the English-language remake of Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas), the Argentinian heist film that marked the directorial debut of Fabian Bielinsky. To be re-titled Criminal, the remake will also star Maggie ...
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Hating Alison Ashley gets greenlight
Australia's Film Finance Corporation board yesterday agreed to finance the feature Hating Alison Ashley to be directed by Rod Hardy from a script by Christine Madafferi. The teen comedy is an adaptation of Robin Klein's award-winning coming-of-age novel of the same name.Film Victoria is also contributing funding and a significant ...
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UK's Celador commissions Millionaire script
Russell T Davies has been commissioned to write a feature screenplay based on the events surrounding the recent Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' fraud case for the UK's Celador Films, the sister company to the TV concern behind the hit gameshow.Davies, whose credits Bob And Rose, Queer As ...
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Lions Gate digs up 1000 Corpses sequel
Rob Zombie is preparing to write and direct a sequel to his breakoutdebut feature House Of 1,000 Corpses for Lions Gate Films, which wants to lay the foundations fora cult franchise.The original House of 1,000 Corpses, which centres on a couple that stumble upona family of psychotics, was released through ...
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Liz Hurley to star as Method killer
Elizabeth Hurley has been signed as the lead actress in Method, a thriller for Andrew Stevens' company Trademark Entertainment. Hurley will be promoting the film during the Cannes film festival this month. The film will be offered for sale at the Cannes market and is available in all ...
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Universum picks up 80 Days for Germany
RTL Group's theatrical distribution arm Universum Film has picked up the German theatrical and video/DVD rights to Frank Coraci's Around The World In 80 Days which began shooting in Berlin yesterday.Universum acquired the film from German rights trader Telepool and will now have to decide which of its physical distribution ...
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Studio Hamburg launches English-language division
Studio Hamburg Produktion (SHP) has launched an English-language division Studio Hamburg International Production (SHIP) to focus on internationally marketable productions as part of the reorganisation of SHP's production activities by CEO Sytze van der Laan. Operating from Hamburg and Los Angeles, SHIP's head of production will be former independent ...
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Spyglass hires Sortito to tap corporate sponsors
Marketing veteran Karen Sortito has joined Spyglass Entertainmentin the new position of executive vice president of worldwide marketing,Most recently she served as an entertainment consultant forHollywood studios and production companies, where her clients included SonyPictures Entertainment, Revolution Studios and IMAX.Prior to that her previous appointments have included, amongothers, executive vice ...
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Ex-Miramax buyer Dreyer joins Sperry's Paris office
Elizabeth Dreyer, who most recently served as Miramax'sLondon-based film buyer, has joined Stephane Sperry's Liaisons Films as vicepresident of development and acquisitions.Dreyer will work out of Liaisons' Paris office and her duties willinvolve coordinating with the company's Los Angeles office, Canal Plus,StudioCanal and parent company Universal Pictures. Liaisons has a ...
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Ridley reopens Black Dahlia murder case for Lions Gate
John Ridley, whose writing credits include Undercover Brother and U-Turn, is to direct the thriller Let MeTake You Down for LionsGate Films, the company announced Based on an original screenplay by Ridley, the projectcentres on a Hollywood coroner's office worker who attempts to reopen thelegendary 1947 Black Dahlia murder case.Ridley ...
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Two SARS-themed films ready to shoot
Producers in Hong Kong and China are preparing two separate films about the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which are both scheduled to start shooting next week.The Hong Kong project, The City Of SARS, will be produced by Mandarin Films with Steve Cheng directing. Described by Mandarin as ...
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CanWest dumps Firestone as Fireworks fizzles
Money-losing Fireworks Entertainment has a new leader,following the departure Monday of founding president and CEO Jay Firestone fromparent company CanWest Global Communications. CanWest has invested considerably more than $100m in thefilm and television production company since acquiring it in 1998. Firestone'sfive-year contract was up for renewal on May 4, 2003. ...
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Mexico's production activity intensifies
Despite a challenging economic climate, a raft of new film companies are suddenly launching in Mexico - all hoping to hit the big time with their new projects.Many have been spurred on by the kind of success seen by local blockbuster El Crimen Del Padre Amaro. The new outfits are ...
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Plummer joins Farrell in Malick's New World cast for New Line
Christopher Plummer, whosemyriad credits include A Beautiful Mind, The Sound Of Music and The Insider, will join Colin Farrell in Terrence Malick's upcoming epic The NewWorld for New Line. Plummer will play CaptainChristopher Newport, an English officer who is among the first settlers in theNew World and who becomes president ...