The Web Today (June 2009 - May 2010)

Mar. 11

An appreciation: Lena Horne
The ground-breaking actress, singer and activist dies aged 92
Los Angeles Times

A soldier’s journey back to My Lai
Vietnamese veteran director will premiere Vietnam War film at Cannes
Vietnam News

Russian Director Presents Grand Epic of World War II
Russia’s most famous film director has drawn unexpected criticism for his new war epic
The New York Times

The Beatles to be transformed into zombies
Film bosses have the rights to a book which casts the four as flesh-eaters

Mar. 10

Los Angeles mayor vows to curb film production exodus
Mayor promises new measures including more convenient power sources for filmmaking equipment and free parking for crew
Xinhuanet

MGM expected to draw six bids by March 19: source
Bidders to include Time Warner, Lions Gate, Liberty Media Corp, Access Industries, a company controlled by industrialist Len Blavatnik, and Elliott Management
Reuters

Argentina celebrates Oscars triumph
Victory for The Secret in Their Eyes has reportedly sent the South American country into raptures
The Guardian

Production company set to grow
Generator Film Development is set to help in the making of Game of Thrones for US cable station HBO
Belfast Telegraph

Mar. 9

Latest Oscar telecast most watched in five years
Oscars drew 41.3 million U.S. viewers, up 5 million from last year
China Daily

Japanese town slams dolphin slaughter film
Dolphin hunters defended their annual cull after The Cove won the Academy Award for best documentary
Edmonton Journal

A sign signals success for Wellywood
Wellington airport is funding a Hollywood-inspired sign welcoming visitors to Wellywood
ABC News

Oscars: Hollywood’s war against itself (continued)
Oscar voters picked the lowest-grossing winner in history - artistic integrity or commercial suicide?
Salon.com

Mar. 8

Oscars 2010: The Hurt Locker is a worthy Best Film winner
In overlooking Avatar, the Academy voters may have been expressing their doubts about 3D
Daily Telegraph

Oscars show has no sense of timing
There were funny and poignant moments, but the evening seemed to drag because of poor pacing
LA Times

Supersizing the Show (Austerity Is So 2009)
The Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night was one enormous Hollywood stimulus package
New York Times

82d Oscars: Celebs arrive in style
See who strutted their stuff before the show
Boston Globe

Mar. 5

Women directors on the right track
Kathryn Bigelow could become the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar, but she’s not the onle female film-maker on the verge of a breakthrough
The Independent

The Drama of How the Race Is Run
This awards season has had as much narrative sweep as a made-for-television mini-series
New York Times

UK film industry targets cinema-goers with pro-copyright message
UK film industry launches a series of cinema ads spoofing classic movie scenes to promote its anti-piracy message
New Media Age

Scots aware of effects of pirating on film industry
Forty per cent of Scots admit downloading unofficial copies of films and TV programmes
The Scotsman

Mar. 4

Peru’s hard-hitting Oscar film hope divides opinion
Excitement is building in Peru around The Milk Of Sorrow, the country’s first Oscar nomination
BBC

Everyone hates each other — it’s Hollywood
Behind the air-kisses at the Oscars, dirty, though often expensive, battles go on
The Times

‘Bird’s’ film festival puts women first
Interview with the managing directors of the Birds’ Eye View Film Festival which celebrates female filmmakers
CNN

MNIK highest B-town grosser in Middle East
My Name Is Khan has become the highest Bollywood earner in the Middle East
Hindustan Times

Mar. 3

Film world protests at detention of Iranian director Jafar Panahi
Artists from around the world have called for the realease of Panahi, his wife, daughter and 15 house guests who were detained Monday
The Times

Spirit Awards vs. Oscars: Will the indie film industry shrink away?
The contrast between the indie and big-studio movie worlds doesn’t get much starker than this year’s Oscar race
Miami Herald

Tribeca Plans to Distribute Indie Movies by VOD, in Theaters
Tribeca Enterprises, parent of the Tribeca Film Festival, plans to distribute movies through video-on-demand to broaden audiences for independent movies
Business Week

More ‘Hurt Locker’ controversy: Was it based on a real bomb disposal expert’s life?
Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver says he’s planning to sue the filmmakers
LA Times

Mar. 2

Robert De Niro - Shrek Movie To Open Tribeca Film Festival
Festival will open on April 21 with the world premiere of Shrek Forever After, the fourth movie in the franchise
Contactmusic.com

Alberta film industry in crisis, union claims
300 workers from the local film industry gathered Monday to raise the alarm on an ‘immediate and growing crisis’
Edmonton Journal

Our Culture, Our Movies, and Google vs. the Italians
To go to film festivals in Europe is to be astonished by the pervasiveness of American culture
San Francisco Gate

Mar. 1

Screen Digest: Film industry suffers as digital downloads decline
The numbers that legally download feature films online, including from Apple’s iTunes Store, are declining a new report claims
Macworld.co.uk

Prison drama A Prophet sweeps French Oscars
Audiard’s film named best movie at Cesar awards, with additional prizes going to Tahar Rahim and the director himself
BBC

‘Shutter Island’ stays afloat at No. 1 with $22.2M
The Paramount Pictures psychological thriller remained the No. 1 film at the US box office for a second-straight weekend
Dallas Morning News

Will the new Oscars voting system help Avatar or The Hurt Locker?
Which of the contenders for best picture will be helped by a single-transferable vote?
The Observer

Feb. 25 - 26

Tim Burton: Boyhood traumas of a director
As the director’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ opens, he talks about the origins of his demons
The Independent

James Cameron jets in for Sanctum film
Cameron is on Australia’s Gold Coast to oversee Sanctum, which is expected to generate over $25 million for the area
ABC

CM steps in to end intra-film industry row
Seeking to end an ongoing row over remarks made by Ajith Kumar, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has appealed for decorum
Express buzz

The Dude Plumbs His Weary Soul
An in depth look at Jeff Bridge’s diverse career
New York Times

Colin Farrell: hellraiser? I’m raising Henry
The star of Neil Jordan’s film Ondine, explains how he calmed down, grew up — and became a different actor
The Times

National Medal of Arts Winners Include Bob Dylan, Clint Eastwood and Maya Lin
President Obama bestowed a number of awards as part of the event managed by the National Endowment For The Arts
New York Times

Feb. 24

Watching Films With Werner Herzog
The president of the International Jury at this year’s Berlinale ‘doesn’t obsess’ and has never seen Gone With The Wind or Metropolis
Wall Street Journal

Matt Damon and Jake Gyllenhaal turned down ‘Avatar’
In another universe, Jason Bourne or the Prince of Persia might have been running around the jungles of Pandora
LA Times

The Rules of the Game
A new book argues that the movie industry’s most imaginative creations appear on its balance sheets
Wall Street Journal

Amitabh Bachchan is the greatest talent of our time: Gordon Brown
Brown spoke glowingly of the 67-year-old actor as he presented him with the keys for a mobile diabetes unit at a charity dinner
DNAIndia

Feb. 22 - 23

Odeon won’t screen Alice In Wonderland
Decision comes after Disney announced plans to shorten the period between its release in theatres and on DVD
ITN.com

Angelina Jolie to play Kay Scarpetta
The actress’ interest in the popular series by Patricia Cornwell got the ball rolling after many years of starts and stops
LA Times

From The Hurt Locker to Alice in Wonderland: why they’re not coming to a cinema near you
Distributors only care about dumbed-down blockbusters while quality films like The Hurt Locker are ignored, says Mark Monahan
Daily Telegraph

It’s About More Than Just Dolphins
The Producer of The Cove explains why the film is about so much more then the senseless slaughter of dolphins
Huffington Post

Li Bingbing replaces Zhang Ziyi to star “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”
Chinese actress Li Bingbing has replaced Zhang Ziyi for the leading role in the English language film also starring Hugh Jackman
XinhuaNews

Hurt Locker blows Avatar away at BAFTAs
British film awards set stage for Bigelow-Cameron showdown at Oscars
Globe and Mail

Feb. 19

Fish Tank hooks four prizes from Critics’ Circle
Tarantino, Christoph Waltz, Mo’Nique, Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan among other winners at London Film Critics’ Circle Awards
BBC

Film on Nazi sparks controversy in Germany
Berlinale film met with muffled boos amid questions from reporters challenging the veracity of Jew Suss - Rise and Fall
Sify.com

Oscar-nominated shorts on the big screen
The short-film categories are usually the toughest to predict but American audiences can judge for themselves as the shorts enter theaters
Las Vegas Sun

Why are British films commercial flops?
Sunday’s BAFTAs will be surveying a year in which British films just haven’t reached the audiences
Daily Telegraph

Feb. 18

Disney film faces Europe boycott
Large European cinema chains threaten to boycott Alice in Wonderland after Disney announces plans to bring forward DVD release
Financial Times

Australia And Malaysia Plan To Collaborate In Film Industry
Countries plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to assist in co-production of films, documentaries and feature films
Bernama.com

Berlinale becomes showcase for German film revival
German cinema was once the ugly duckling at the Berlinale but has seen a revival since Dieter Kosslick took over
Reuters

Filmmakers With Shared Grit
Profile of Blue-Tongue, a loose-jointed Australian moviemaking collective and recent recipients of an Oscar nomination
New York Times

Feb. 17

James Cameron to pen Avatar prequel
According to Avatar’s producer Jon Landau, Cameron is all set to write the prequel to the film in the form of a novel
IBNLive

Iran refuses permission for director to travel to Berlinale
Iranian authorities have refused fomer Silver Bear winner Jafar Panahi permission to be an honorary guest at this year’s festival
Monstersandcritics.com

Sebastian Coe-Steve Ovett rivalry to be made into a film
The battle between Coe and Ovett, one of the greatest sporting rivalries of modern times, is to be made into a film
The Times

Pandora: From Four Weddings to Litvinenko the film
Mike Newell is called on to write and direct a film about the mysterious poisoning of a former KGB spy
The Independent

Feb. 16

Can Madonna’s Wallis Simpson film redeem her cinematic record?
From Dick Tracy to Swept Away to Die Another Day, Madonna’s acting CV is unenviable. Perhaps stepping behind the camera for W.E. will wipe the slate clean
The Guardian

Box Office Loves “Valentine’s Day”
Film’s debut wins US race on weekend bearing its name, followed by family fantasy “Percy Jackson,” horror remake “Wolfman”
CBSnews.com

MNIK grosses $18mn worldwide in 1st weekend
Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan has grossed an estimated $18 million at the worldwide box office in its first weekend
Times Of India

Tom Cruise and ‘M:I4’ — the new reality of film deals
Mission Impossible star is latest star to see his share of box-office receipts scaled back to reflect film industry’s new economic realities
LA Times

Feb. 15

Scorsese and De Niro eye new mob movie
Reuters report that Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are planning to team up again on a new film about the underworld
RTE Entertainment

Mass. movie industry, citing new study showing film job growth, battles cuts to tax credits
Massachusetts’ film industry is rapidly growing after successful attempts to lure Hollywood stars
Canadian Business Online

Investment or tax dodge? Celebrities face huge bills over film industry loophole
Dozens of celebrities could face bills from the Inland Revenue over an alleged tax-avoidance scheme
Daily Mail

Support local film-making industry, Jamaica
As the Reggae Film Festival opens next week members of the Jamaican film industry are unhappy with a lack of government support
Jamaica Gleaner

Feb. 12

Vanessa Redgrave to be given prestigious British Academy Film Awards Fellowship gong
The head of the Redgrave acting dynasty will be bestowed with the Fellowship during the BAFTAs on February 21
Daily Mail

Lightning could strike for ‘Percy’ and star Logan Lerman
Director Chris Columbus and 20th Century Fox are betting that Lerman will be the key to a movie franchise
USA Today

Pierce Brosnan on Roman Polanski, Tony Blair, and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”
The Golden Globe nominated actor plays Chiron the Centaur in the upcoming Chris Columbus film
Wall Street Journal

First look: Jennifer Lopez starring in ‘The Back-Up Plan’
The singer/actress talks about how her own nine-month experience helped in playing a pregnant, first-time mother
USA Today

Feb. 11

Avatar first film to earn $100m at Australian box office
James Cameron’s film could now conceivably double the all-time result of the previous record holder, his own film, Titanic
The Australian

Pan African Film & Arts Festival underway
The US’s largest black film fest, the 18th annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival, is underway
LA Times

Paranormal Activity ‘causing panic attacks and paralysis’ in Italy
The horror film has caused uproar in Italy after a string of people who watched it were “paralysed” by panic attacks
Daily Telegraph

A Studio Head Slowly Alters the ‘Warner Way’
Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Brothers Pictures, has become one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. He may soon become more so
New York Times

Feb. 10

Wang Quan’an keeps calm before Berlinale
Former Golden Bear winner is keeping his feet on the ground despite new film Apart Together being ‘crazily in demand’
China.org

Rachel Weisz moving into ‘Dream House’
Oscar-winning British actress Rachel Weisz is to star alongside Daniel Craig in a thriller about a home with a gruesome history
The Independent

Percy Jackson: Gods and monsters
Chris Columbus had huge hits with Harry Potter and Home Alone. Will lightning strike again with his new boy hero, Percy Jackson?
The Independent

Oscar duel: Is Quentin Tarantino a great director?
Great American auteur or hack recycler? Bloggers debate the Inglourious Basterds creator’s legacy
Salon.com

Feb. 9

Anne-Marie Duff and Andy Serkis triumph at Evening Standard film awards
Anne-Marie Duff and Andy Serkis carry off acting prizes as Fish Tank wins best film at the Evening Standard film awards
The Guardian

Absent Polanski to dominate Berlin film festival
He may be under house arrest in a Swiss chalet, but the Polish-French director’s The Ghost Writer will be unveiled in Berlin
Reuters

Breaking News: ‘24’ movie inching closer to reality
Jack Bauer may finally hit the big screen as rumours swirl that Billy Ray could write the screenplay
Entertainment Weekly

Reclusive award favourite dressed for success
Australia’s best hopes of an Oscar may lie with Bright Star costume designer Janet Patterson, nominated for the fourth time
The Age

Feb. 8

Mulligan sets sights on film gong
Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan could add to her awards success with a London Evening Standard British Film gong
Associated Press

Intrigue at the Annies
Despite Pixar and DreamWorks Animation both winning awards Saturday’s event contained the usual teeth gnashing
New York Times

An Oscar for Meryl Streep? Not till she does an exploding helicopter movie
Why one journalist’s heart sinks when he sees Meryl Streep’s name on another film poster
The Observer

Maverick studio’s mighty fall
A look at the decline and fall of Miramax, which last week closed its offices in Los Angeles and New York
New Zealand Herald

Feb. 5

“Bright Star,” dim Oscar
Jane Campion’s Keatsian romance deserved a far better Academy fate than a single nomination
Salon.com

The new ‘Alice’ says this ‘Wonderland’ is more like a sequel than a remake
Conversation with Mia Wasikowska, the 20-year-old Aussie newcomer who plays the title role in Disney’s Alice In Wonderland
LA Times

Sony Pictures bidding against Lions Gate for ‘Terminator’ rights
Threshold Entertainment, Lions Gate and Sony have made, or are considering, bids for the rights to future Terminators
LA Times

Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan takes on Hindu extremists over cricket
The biggest star in Bollywood is under attack from an extremist party after expressing support for cricketers from Pakistan
The Times

Feb. 4

China censors Oscar nominations
China has blocked out the name of a documentary about the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake
Daily Telegraph

Weinstein brothers ‘may buy back Miramax’
The brothers who made the studio into a Hollywood powerhouse are said to be ready to grab it back from Disney
Guardian

Lights slowly fading for India’s touring cinemas
For over 60 years traveling cinemas brought movies to rural India but the tradition now faces stiff competition
Reuters UK

Clint Eastwood: Dirty Harry turns 80
On the eve of his 80th birthday and the release of his film Invictus, Eastwood talks about politics, monogamy and the woman who finally made him grow up
Daily Telegraph

Feb. 3

New Bourne Film May Be Prequel
Speaking at the Invictus premiere Mat Damon said the next film would be a prequel and that he wouldn’t star in it
MTV.co.uk

Film critics take aim as Avatar catches nine Oscar nominations
Cameron is 4/6 favourite to take Best Director, but critics accuse the Academy of being blinded by the film’s technological innovation
Wales Online

The Oscar nominees are fairly predictable. Except for this one film …
A quick look at a French-Belgian-Irish film in the animation category which isn’t relesased in the US until the springIt
USA Today

Precious gives Avatar a run for its screen average at UK box office
The drama’s screen average of £5,552 was second only to Cameron’s sci-fi epic, and more than double any other film in top 10
Guardian

Feb. 2

Sony Pictures to lay off 450 employees
The cuts, mostly in the United States, are part of an economy drive and a result of falling DVD revenues
USA Today

‘Transformers,’ ‘Land of the Lost’ lead Razzies
Both films were equal earners at the Razzies, grabbing seven nominations each on Monday, including worst picture of 2009
USA Today

Orlando Bloom to star in “Good Doctor”
Bloom will also produce the Lance Daly-directed indie drama for which Michael Pena and Troy Garity are in negotiations to co-star
China Daily

Moody, gloomy Sundance Festival has a silver lining
For all that was frustrating, the high attendance, positive industry response to recession and hidden gems made Sundance special
Dallas News

Feb. 1

Sundance film festival roundup
Sundance’s slogans proclaim a radical spirit, but gone are the eco-horror documentaries of the past
The Guardian

Iranian taekwondo star in spotlight at Sundance
The arduous journey of the first woman to represent Iran at the Olympics has been brought to life in a Sundance documentary
The Independent

Six Stories: Salinger Inspired Cinema
Despite the late J.D Sallinger famously refusing Hollywood adaptations of his work he still inspired many top directors
Huffington Post

Ishqiya, now on iPhone?
Vigyaapan Technologies has launched an iPhone application for the film
Hindustan Times

Jan. 29

Sundance: More retreads than recharging
The main trouble with Sundance 2010 is its marketing slogans, let alone the familiar content of its films
China Daily

Michael Douglas’s eldest son faces possibility of life in prison after he pleads guilty to dealing drugs
Cameron Douglas has pleaded guilty to dealing methamphetamine and cocaine
Daily Mail

A bite of the big time
Claudia Karvan discusses her role alongside Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe in the vampire thriller Daybreakers
The Age

Don’t Smirk, Sundance’s Roots Do Show
Nothing attests to Sundance’s commitment to off-Hollywood more than its documentary selections, which remain in fine shape
New York Times

Jan. 28

Bollywood’s first screen kiss stirs controversy
A new film which includes Bollywood’s first gay screen kiss has stirred controversy in India months before its release
Daily Telegraph

A Runaway success
For the third time, Canadian Cordell Barker is garnering Oscar buzz for his exuberant animation
Globe And Mail

Kristen Bell gives ‘Rome’ ringing endorsement
29 year-old famous for her TV role as sleuth Veronica Mars talks about her Roman experiences from the set of Disney’s When in Rome
Boston Herald

Mel Gibson shakes off boredom, returns to acting
Mel Gibson reveals why he took an eight year break from acting in major Hollywood movies
Reuters

Jan. 27

Sundance Film Festival
A brief history of the festival inlcuding why Robert Redford kicked off this year’s event with a swipe at Paris Hilton
Time

William Shatner to host “Annie” animation awards
Golden Globe-winning actor will host the 37th staging of the awards on February 6, at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles
The Independent

Street artist Bansky’s movie is hottest ticket at Sundance, despite not officially being on line-up
The anonymous British street artist premiered his new film Exit Through the Gift Shop to a packed house on Monday
New York Daily News

Avatar overtakes Titanic as top-grossing film ever
Worldwide takings of $1.859bn make Avatar the highest grossing film according to figures from 20th Century Fox
BBC

Jan. 26

Burton to be named Cannes jury president
Eccentric American director Tim Burton is expected to be named president of this year’s Cannes Film Festival jury
Toronto Sun

Chinese city renames mountain after ‘Avatar’
China’s all time box office champion inspires the creation of Avatar Hallelujah Mountain while its 2-D release is pulled by government
Channel News Asia

Kristen Stewart: Bella gets edgy in two Sundance premieres, and rocks onstage with Joan Jett
The 19-year-old Twilight actress plays a 16-year-old stripper and a younger Joan Jett in two films showing at Sundance
New York Daily News

Jan. 25

Sundance 2010: ‘Buried’ lands first big deal, at $3.2 million
In the first blockbuster sale of the festival, Lionsgate has bought the thriller following an aggressive negotiation Sunday
Los Angeles Times

“Avatar” reaches $100 mln milestone in China
James Cameron’s box office behemoth has become the first film ever to earn 100 million U.S. dollars on the Chinese mainland
Xinhua News

Andy Dick charged with sexual abuse
The actor and comedian has been charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse in West Virginia
New Zealand Herald

Four Lions: How satirist Chris Morris fixed his eye on ideology and bombers
Director known for TV series has made his directorial debut at the Sundance festival with a film about British suicide bombers
The Observer

Jan. 22

Sydney to hold AFI awards at Opera House from 2011, NSW Premier says
City secures the film awards that Melbourne didn’t want by paying the bill for the Australian Film Institute Awards from 2011
The Australian

Eight Korean films invited to Rotterdam fest
Mother and Moscow feature alongside Park Chan-ok’s Paju, earlier named as the festival opener
The Korea Herald

Hardman Danny Dyer finds Malice in Wonderland
Cinema’s football hooligan of choice discovers his human side in an update of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland
The Times

Polanski Victim: Give Him Time Served
Lawyer for Polanski victim says director should be sentenced in absentia to time served
CBS

Jan. 21

‘Avatar’ gets 8 noms for British film awards
The Hurt Locker, An Education, District 9, Inglourious Basterds and Up in the Air receive multiple nominations
CNBC

Putting the Indie Back in Sundance
Can Sundance’s new director redefine not just the festival but also the entire independent film industry?
New York Times

“Paranormal” sequel gets ready with “Saw” director
Paramount has hired director Kevin Greutert to create the sequel to 2009’s hit which grossed $151 million worldwide
Reuters UK

Jan. 20

Marc Webb to direct next ‘Spider-Man’
Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have announced that the Days of Summer director will helm the next film
USA Today

Meet Gabby Sidibe, the star of Precious
Her performance in the acclaimed film has made her an unlikely star. But is she anything like her screen persona?
The Guardian

Gabriel Byrne: I was abused as a child
Hollywood actor was sexually abused when he was a child in Ireland, and later when he trained as a priest in England
Daily Telegraph

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ 4 to Begin Filming Summer in Hawaii
Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush and director Rob Marshall return for On Stranger Tides, due for a May 2011 release
Nowpublic

Jan. 18 & 19

Golden Globes get 16.9m viewers as Gervais hosts
Viewing figures for Sunday night’s award ceremony were up 14% from 2009
BBC

‘Avatar’ is the biggest winner
Taking prizes for best drama and best director, the mega-blockbuster gets a major boost before Oscar voting
LA Times

Mel Gibson to make Viking movie
Leonardo DiCaprio and the film’s other actors will be taught the Old Norse language
Cape Times

Ford is the man in charge
Harrison Ford talks about his new film, Extraordinary Measures, and hopes to star in a fifth Indiana Jones film
Toronto Sun

Cancer-stricken Easy Rider star Dennis Hopper files for divorce from his deathbed
Reports suggest Hopper, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, could be trying to cap the amount his wife will receive from his will
The Independent

Shyam Benegal’s Manthan to be screened at Berlinale
Indian filmmaker’s 1976 National award winning film will be screened as part of the fourth Culinary Cinema section
Hindustan Times

Jan. 15

Hollywood stars lead Haitian quake charity drive
George Clooney will host an MTV telethon while Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have donated $1million to Doctors Without Borders
The Globe and Mail

Local film production plummets in 2009
On-location film productions in Los Angeles County fell by 19% in 2009 as studios favour other states or countries
Burbank Leader

Terminator rights to change hands again
Halcyon Holding Group’s auction of the Terminator intellectual rights could trigger a fifth film in the franchise
The Guardian

Busan Project releases star-studded cast list
The Pusan International Film Festival has released details about their international film project, Camellia
Joong Ang Daily

Jan. 14

Sundance Film Festival debuts films through VOD
A video-on-demand initiative will bring three films that premiere at the Sundance Film Festival simultaneously into 40 million US households
The Independent

Is China ready to embrace the 3D generation?
Can the country with the second most 3D screens and the ability to produce its own 3D TV meet the growing public demand?
Xinhuanet

What’s Bollywood’s New Formula For Success?
Could the success of 3 Idiots, which has broken Indian box office records, herald a new pay structure for Bollywood actors?
IBNLive

Jan. 13

Oren Aviv ousted as Disney Studios production chief
Chairman Rich Ross continues to clean house and put his own executive team in place
LA Times

Rohmer the Classicist, Calmly Dissecting Desire
A career appraisal of the legendary French film director, Eric Rohmer, who died yesterday, aged 89
New York Times

Avatar hit by accusations of racism
Critics claim the story perpetuates the “white Messiah fable” and suggests that non-whites are incapable of helping themselves
Daily Telegraph

Scores of Mexican prisoners transferred for Mel Gibson film
Mexican officials have transferred 214 detainees to make way for a Mel Gibson film, despite the protests of relatives
The Age

Jan. 12

Tobey Maguire to leave Spider-Man films
Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire will not be a pat of the next Spider-Man film due to be released in 2012
BBC

Indie Focus: After losing its top leadership, what’s next for AFI Fest?
The departure of the artistic director and festival producer seems to point to a rift between the AFI Fest and American Film Institute
LA Times

New Film May Sway Brazil’s Vote on President
The release of an inspiring biopic of the President has some critics questioning its producers’ motives
New York Times

Jan. 11

Little Tramp stays silent as Charlie Chaplin reborn in 3D animation
The Chaplin family give the green light to the rebirth of the iconic character as a computer-generated 3D avatar
The Guardian

Romanian cinema in transition
An interview with Corneliu Porumboiu about his film Police, Adjective includes a look at contemporary Romanian cinema
San Francisco Chronicle

McGregor, Douglas team in Soderbergh’s “Knockout”
Ewan McGregor and Michael Douglas are poised to join Steven Soderbergh for his upcoming revenge spy movie
Reuters UK

Charming co-star George Clooney
Vera Farmiga loves starring in Up In The Air because her character got to ”turn the tables” on her ”disgustingly” charming co-star
China Daily

Jan. 8

Film: The British are coming!
The UK has a lot to offer in 2010 with new films from Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, fresh comedy talents and two Roman epics
The Independent

Of Explosions and Catharsis
There were at least two surprises in the Directors Guild Of America nominations announced on Thursday
New York Times

Movie projector: ‘Avatar’ to dominate three new competitors
Blockbuster has sold $1.13 billion worth of tickets worldwide and is now the the second-highest-grossing movie in history
LA Times

Terry Gilliam on Heath Ledger’s last film
The director of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus talks about how he dealt with the loss of one of his leading actors
Chicago Tribune

Jan. 7

Sandra Bullock steals show at People’s Choice
Actress succeeds with comedy The Proposal while Twilight takes four awards
Reuters UK

S. Korea’s box office revenue hits record high in 2009
South Korea’s box office revenue surpassed the 1 trillion won mark despite the economic slowdown in 2009
Yonhap News

Roman Polanski judge considers ‘in absentia’ sentence
Director could be free to return to the US after a judge said he could be sentenced for time already served under house arrest
The Times

Amitabh Bachchan offers to become brand ambassador of Gujarat
Bollywood star makes announcement alongside Chief Minister Narendra Modi while promoting new film, Paa
Times Of India

Jan. 6

‘Avatar’ races to $4.8M opening day in China
Blockbuster set to surpass China’s box office record recently set by Hollywood production 2012
Boston Globe

British director Sam Mendes in talks over next James Bond film
Oscar winning director of American Beauty and Jarhead likely to be in charge of 23rd Bond film
Daily Telegraph

Redbox, Netflix growth make up for Blockbuster woes in 2009
Rentals of Blu-ray discs online and at stores jumped 48% to $428.6 million last year, while standard DVD rentals fell 6% to $5.1 billion
LA Times

Sylvester Stallone injures neck in fight scenes
Former Rocky star broke his neck during ‘vicious’ fight scenes for his new movie The Expendables
BBC

Jan. 5

Howell: Feels like we’ve seen this Oscar race before
Could the 2009-10 Oscars be a rerun of the 1997-98 event?
The Toronto Star

Gemma Arterton: The Bond girl done good
Since her debut with 007, Gemma Arterton has resisted the starlet trap and opted for surprisingly gritty roles
The Times

Hollywood films of Europe’s great legends fail to tell the tale
Writer Joe Queenan bemoans the treatment of many of the defining myths and stories of the West
The Irish Times

Mugabe film up for an Oscar
The winner of last month’s British Independent Film Awards has been shortlisted for an Oscar
Sydney Morning Herald

Jan. 4

Palm Springs International Film Festival welcomes the world
Tarantino and Mariah Carey will be among honorees at the festival with works representing 70 countries
LA Times

Hayao Miyazaki: drawn to perfection
As his latest film heads for British cinemas, Hayao Miyazaki, Japan’s revered master of animation, grants a rare interview
Daily Telegraph

Now showing, at last: Hollywood’s ‘new’ releases this month are anything but
Thanks to the Hollywood writers’ strike and schedule rearrangements 2010 will be full of films shot more than two years ago
The Independent

Stupid money: Hollywood’s $20m club set for big cuts
Hollywood’s highest earners could see salary reductions after studios react to economic downturn and enjoy success with first time actors
The Age

Dec. 24

A record year for Hollywood
‘The Blind Side’ is leading the box office to a record finish for 2009, but don’t forget the major flops along the way
LA Times

Bollywood looks to Aamir Khan to end 2009 on a high
In a year hit by a producers’ strike, swine flu fears and a lack of box office success, heavily-marketed ‘3 Idiots’ could bring some cheer
The Independent

Hollywood’s political couple Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins split
The Oscar winning pair have split up after more than two decades together
The Times

Dec. 23

Can Dubai become the City of Life of Emirati film?
Despite recent economic ructions there was a positive mood at the sixth Dubai film festival. But what lies in store for the local film industry?
The Guardian

Quaid pleads not guilty in fraud case
After missing previous court dates Randy Quaid pleads not guilty to felony charges of defrauding an innkeeper
New Zealand Herald

Arnold Stang, actor known for nerdy roles, dies
Actor who appeared alongside Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra, has died, aged 91
China Daily

Kim Peek, the original Rain Man, dies
The autistic savant who inspired the Oscar-winning film Rain Man, has died, aged 58
The Times

Dec. 22

Theatre hit heads for Hollywood as Steven Spielberg buys War Horse rights
Dream Works Studios acquires West End play about a boy who braves World War I trenches in search of his horse
The Times

John Woo to receive Venice lifetime honour
Face/Off and Hard Boiled director praised for his ‘revolutionary conception of editing’ and ‘stylisation close to visual art’
BBC

Her health was frail, her career failing: the final days of Brittany Murphy
Concerns about the Hollywood actress’s physical and mental state had been growing before her death
The Independent

Polanski’s Dismissal Request Is Rejected
The California appeals court sharply criticized prosecutors for their failings and suggested Polanski could be sentenced while abroad
The New York Times

Dec. 19-21

Brittany Murphy’s death stuns Hollywood and her family
Family and friends react to the sudden death of the young actress who starred in Clueless, 8 Mile and King Of The Hill
The LA Times

Avatar shows cinema’s weakness, not its strength
David Cox finds James Cameron’s blockbuster as emotionally engaging as its associated videogame
The Observer

‘Single’- minded
Julianne Moore talks about her friendship with Tom Ford, director of her Oscar tipped latest, A Single Man
Boston Herald

John Hurt interview for An Englishman in New York
After 34 years and 120-odd films, the veteran actor has arrived back at the role that launched his brilliant career: Quentin Crisp
The Daily Telegraph

Dec. 18

‘Up in the Air,’ ‘Precious,’ ‘Basterds’ lead SAG noms
The Screen Actors Guild nominations offer a couple of surprises as Inglourious Basterds and Precious rival Up In The Air
USA Today

The Leigh dynasty
The release of Leo Leigh’s Swansea Love Story prompts a look at other cinematic dynasties to emerge in 2009
The Guardian

‘Avatar’ poised for a $200-million weekend
One of the most expensive films of all time is poised for a huge box office debut but will fall well short of record sales
The LA Times

Sherlock Holmes: the detective who wouldn’t die
Guy Ritchie’s film inspires Simon Callow to take a deeper look at the attitudes of Holmes creator, Arthur Conan Doyle
The Times

Dec.17

Company: Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, dies
Veteran whose powerful behind-the-scenes influence on The Walt Disney Co. led to two shareholder revolts, has died
China Daily

Emma Watson’s magic touch makes her the decade’s highest grossing actress
The teenager’s films’ box-office takings are ahead of Hollywood heavyweights such as Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz
The Daily Mail

Story of Aboriginal girls’ flight that inspired film under revisionist attack
Revisionist historian criticizes Rabbit Proof Fence for being ‘grossly inaccurate’ and a ‘big lie’
The Independent

Jackson eyes Gallipoli movie
Lord Of The Rings director, whose grandafther fought at Gallipoli, could revisit the ill-fated WWI campaign
New Zealand Herald

Dec.16

‘Up in the Air’ up for a leading six nominations
As Jason Reitman’s film scores well in the major categories, the director says the film reflects the politics of 2009
The LA Times

Mulligan leads British Golden Globes charge
Helen Mirren, Emily Blunt and newcomer Carey Mulligan lead the British charge at the Golden Globe nominations The Guardian

Globe nods not so gold for Aussie Oscar hopes
Abbie Cornish and Nicole Kidman are among the hopefuls to miss out at the Golden Globes
The Age

Paramount to Start Online Service to Sell Movie Clips
Company to sell films on a frame by frame basis in drive to combat declining DVD sales
The New York Times

Dec. 15

Sherlock Holmes: pipe dreams
Guy Ritchie’s reinvention of the ‘the most-portrayed movie character’ has great franchise potential
The Daily Telegraph

Who’s blue? Not Zoë
Zoë Saldana, star of Avatar and Star Trek, talks about her breakthrough year
The Toronto Star

Al Pacino, Barry Levinson and Buck Henry Team Up on a Roth Tale
Hollywood legends working to bring Philip Roth’s The Humbling to the multiplex
The New York Times

Amitabh Bachchan week
The BBC Asian Network have been celebrating the Indian film icon marking 40 years in Bollywood
BBC

Dec. 13 - 14

From AFI Awards to Oscars for Samson & Delilah
Director Warwick Thornton sets his sights on a foreign language Oscar after awards haul in Australia
The Age

Movie Director Exploring the Family, Not Killing It
François Ozon talks about family, versatiliy and his new magic realist fable, ‘Ricky’
The New York Times

‘Princess and the Frog’ hops to No. 1 with $25 million; ‘Blind Side’ tops $150 million
Families head to Disney’s latest - its first hand drawn tale in five years - while NFL biopic continues to impress
Chicago Tribune

Ian Dury’s son on Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
The son of the British punk legend discusses the portrayal of his father in a ‘warts and all’ portrait
The Times

The 100 Best Films of 2009
Times and Sunday Times critics pick their favourite films of the year
The Times

Dec.11

James Cameron says Avatar a message to stop damaging environment
Director sees new 3-D blockbuster as a ‘broader metaphor’ about the natural world and indigenous displacement
The Daily Telegraph

Paramount Looks for Low-Budget Films
America’s oldest production company to invest $1M each year in attempt to find the next Paranormal Activity
The Wall Street Journal

Roman Polanski lawyers seek guilty plea dismissal
As prosecution demands his return, Swiss authorities are to decide whether he should be extradited within weeks
BBC

Blue screen
A combination of motion capture and James Cameron’s personal innovations contributed to Avatar’s 3-D animation
Sydney Morning Herald

Dec. 10

Hollywood eyes record $10 bln box office for 2009
Recession and major releases contribute to record ticket sales
China Daily

‘Crazy Heart’ beats strong for Fox Searchlight
Art-house division of 20th Century Fox expected to bounce back with country music latest
LA Times

Palestinian sues Baron Cohen over terrorist claim in film
Non-profit worker from Bethlehem seeks $110M in damages from English actor and David Letterman
The Guardian

Art coincidentally imitates life in historic, timely ‘Invictus’
Clint Eastwood’s Nelson Mandela biopic is not the first film to reflect contemporary news
USA Today

Dec. 4

How Hollywood destroyed our classical legends
What took a millennium for western civilisation to create took just 10 years for Hollywood to corrupt
The Guardian

Avatar - Gateway to a new world
James Cameron recounts struggle to make the 3D science-fiction epic he feels will revolutionise cinema
The Independent

Oliver Stone: Greed is legal in ‘Wall Street 2’
Hollywood filmmaker takes on financial world in a sequel to 1987’s successful “Wall Street”
Business Week

Entertainment Industry Still Marketing Explicit Fare to Children, Federal Trade Commission Says
Movie companies engage in explicitly target young children in advertising for PG-13 and R-rated films
The New York Times

Victorian Romance
Hollywood’s “The Young Victoria” casts new light on dour queen, once young and in love
The Wall Street Journal

Aussia cinema as a profit-making enterprise is a pipedream
“This is a business, not a culture fest,” states president of nation’s Screen Producers Association
The Age

Indonesia bans Balibo
Censorship board rules against politically sensitive Australian movie about Balibo Five before premiere
The Age

Dec. 3

Zombieland and Jackass set for 3D sequels
Film-makers leap on 3D bandwagon as undead comedy and stunt show get stereoscopic spin-offs
The Guardian

Twilight gives new Brontë films wings
Twilight saga books and films’ success inspire new productions of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre
The Guardian

Jim Sheridan’s ‘Brothers’ looks deeply at family ties
Irish director’s new film touches on family, the nature of duty, war, guilt and calamity of the human heart
LA Times

Movieclips.com launches with studio deals
Online movie clip-sharing service backed by major studios amid industrywide slowdown in DVD sales
Business Week

Jackson Film Not Part of Sony’s New 3-D Vision
Sony Corp. releases films in 3-D as it gears up to boost TV sales with new technology
The New York Times

The big year-end movies: Are they taking too long to come to a theater near you?
Limited releases are frustrating and misleading, says Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

Natalie Portman transitions into adult role in ‘Brothers’
Hollywood star shows a new level of maturity in her newest film
USA Today

Dec. 2

Richard Linklater: ‘I’m not like Orson Welles. I’m a quiet director’
Indie film-maker talks about his new film Me and Orson Welles, starring Zac Efron
The Guardian

India’s Tata Elxsi to open studio in Los Angeles
Visual effects and animation unit part of Indian production companies’ effort to capitalize on shrinking Hollywood budgets
Business Week

Can Universal find a ‘Bourne’ replacement for Paul Greengrass?
Filmmaker releases statement about his departure from the “Bourne” franchise
LA Times

It’s movie night on a Baghdad street
Crew members of award-winning film recall harrowing experiences as it debuts in Iraqi capital
LA Times

NCR to Roll Out Blockbuster DVD Kiosks
NCR will introduce 200 rental machines in New York City drugstores by year end, aimed at competitor Redbox
The Wall Street Journal

Schwimmer back in the director’s chair for ‘Trust’
First look at the Friends star’s newest film
USA Today

Grim pickings in Aussie films
Louis Nowra rips apart dozens of movies, accusing Australia of not appreciating its actors
The Australian

Dec. 1

Chico’s Lunchbox could usher in a golden age of X Factor feature films
X-Factor’s Chico to make film, Susan Boyle bio-pic in the air—but first, StreetDance The Movie!
The Guardian

Why New Moon’s box-office success is good for everyone
Twilight sequel reminds producers and financers of independent sectors’ potential
The Guardian

Documenting life — and then death
Filmmaker chronicled Risa Bejarano’s transition out of foster care, later turns camera on Risa’s killer
LA Times

‘Sherlock Holmes’ will feature simulated motion in select theaters
Ten American cinemas give audiences chance to experience film’s action firsthand from seats
The Independent

Nov. 28-30

A Takeover movie for Hollywood to watch
What happened when chieftains from Universal Studios met the top executives from the cable giant Comcast, which is proposing to take control of the movie company?
New York Times

Up In The Air gives Paramount a marketing challenge
George Clooney stars as a man who does out corporate layoffs in a movie that doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre. How do you sell that?
LA Times

Low film budgets cost money
Does the success of Paranormal Activity herald a new era for home-made cinema?
Independent

A Serious Man and the odd movie out
What happens when directors like the Coen brothers step out of their box
The Guardian

Will Departures be this year’s sleeper film hit?
A film about morticians from Japanese director Yôjirô Takita is set for commercial success
The Guardian

Nov 26 – 27

Avatar’s brave new world leaves reviewer queasy
Despite film’s technical hype, US website reviews special effects as ‘literally vomit inducing’
The Guardian

Anonyma: A Woman in Berlin – revisiting the horrors of 1945
Film version of 1959 memoir sheds light on two million German women raped by Russian soldiers
The Guardian

Brando, Depp, the missing millions and Divine Rapture, the lost movie
Ballycotton, Co Cork, set to become landmark before film’s failed production left town upside-down
The Guardian

The Fed goes to the movies to help consumers — and improve its image
American Federal Reserve targets cinema for PSAs as holiday season approaches
LA Times

Film Sequels - love at second bite
As ‘Twilight’ series second film thrives at box office, research suggests perfect sequel ‘formula’
The Independent

A Director Who Gives Business the Business
Jason Reitman tackles job loss and rhythms of modern air travel in forthcoming film ‘Up in the Air’
The New York Times

‘Shrek Forever After’: Fourth, final film is first in 3-D
Dreamworks fairytale spoof series to end after fourth instalment, in theatres May 2010
USA Today

Scary films distract us from the truly terrifying
Low-budget horror flicks require viewer to suspend disbelief and identify with characters’ vulnerability
The Age

Agent of a provocateur
Actor Charlotte Gainsbourg proud of, committed to Lars von Trier’s controversial Antichrist
The Age

 Nov. 25

Hugh Jackman in the ring for Real Steel
Actor to play former boxer in Shawn Levy’s futuristic thriller about battling robots
The Guardian

AMPAS re-creates moviegoing experience of 100 years ago
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to hand-crank films, live music to accompany silent pictures
LA Times

‘Avatar’ star Zoe Saldana says the movie will match the hype: ‘This is big’
Actress commends James Cameron’s groundbreaking 3D and motion-capture technology
LA Times

The Big Question: Does Charlie Chaplin merit a museum in his honour, and what is his legacy?
Why the silent actor is (and is not) worthy of his status as a 20th-century icon
The Independent

Utah film contest rewards with Sundance exposure
Filmmakers rush to wrap entries promoting Utah as desirable destination for film production
Business Week

Oscilloscope Founder and Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s “Circle of Trust”
New York-based film distributor announces new mail-order DVD in unorthodox terms
The Wall Street Journal

Multiplexes killing Bollywood, say filmmakers
Cinema chains and their high ticket prices are placing stress on the film industry  
Economic Times

Nov. 24

“Maybe some day we’ll do a movie set in Scotland”
The Coen brothers reflect on past movies and upcoming films
The Herald

Charlie Chaplin museum to open in Swiss mansion
Legendary actor’s last home by Lake Geneva to showcase his life and work
The Guardian

It is unusual: low-budget Welsh film outperforms big hitters
Bawdy farce A Bit of Tom Jones? becomes multiplex sensation
The Guardian

Welcome to Hollywood’s new gold rush: toys
Directors are turning to games and action figures for inspiration
Sydney Morning Herald

‘The Blind Side’s’ John Lee Hancock escapes from movie jail
Costly flop “The Alamo” kept writer director from venturing behind camera until now
LA Times

William Kunstler’s daughters make a case for him
New film reflects controversial attorney’s trials, including the Chicago Seven, and his legacy
LA Times

Cuba film institute founder looks back on 50 years
Fidel Castro’s revolution inspired creation of Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematography in 1959
Business Week

Cost-Conscious Hollywood Courts Free Media …
Studios cut paid advertising, leaning on free coverage in print, television and online outlets
The New York Times

Nov. 21 - 23

With Law Abiding Citizen, payback is making a comeback
Does economic stress create a need for vengeance movies?
The Guardian

Artists cast as saviours of British cinema
UK Film Council to bank on talent of former artists
The Guardian

Disney Studios drama might alter the industry
Chairman Rich Ross sets out to create a new Hollywood businesss model
LA Times

Two Films, Two Routes From Poverty
‘Precious’ and ‘The Blind Side’ take part in a conversation about poverty, race
NY Times

Bollywood changes its tune with English lyrics
English lyrics becoming increasingly popular in Hindi soundtracks
The Independent

Copenhagen climate change conference 2009: the movies
Films that deal with global warming and the threat of environmental change
Daily Telegraph

Anika Noni Rose, Star of Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” on Her New Role: “I Was Never A Princess for Halloween.”
The actress who plays Disney’s first African-American princess speaks out
Wall Street Journal

Nov. 20

On the Pashtun wild west
Sydney nurse won trust of locals to make film about Pashtun identity Son of a Lion
The Guardian

Working Title renews Johnny English’s licence
UK-based film company plans sequel to 2003 Rowan Atkinson-starring spy spoof
The Guardian

Michael Keaton: ‘There’s a price to pay for making your own choices’
Beetlejuice and Night Shift actor makes directorial debut with The Merry Gentlemen
The Guardian

The newcomer stars opposite Sandra Bullock in ‘Blind Side’
Unknown actor cast in film, not for physical size, but for purity
LA Times

Taiwan director plans Chen Shui-bian assassination movie
Chu Yen-ping to direct black comedy about plot to kill island’s former president
The Independent

Poliakoff: ‘Original work takes arrogance’
Director’s latest film set at beginning of WWII, period linked with own family history
The Independent

Hollywood thrills - straddling the age divide
There’s still something magical about films centered on love that between people with everything against them
The Age

Duo with a singular vision
Coen brothers see eye-to-eye on directing eccentric films, create idiosyncratic work
The Age

Producers want film stimulus package
Screen Producers Association lobbies for millions to soften blow of financial crisis on film production
Sydney Morning Herald

Nov. 19

Precious director may march to Selma
Lee Daniels poised to direct film based on pivotal civil rights marches in Selma, Alabama
The Guardian

Is Percy Jackson’s mythology too close to Harry Potter’s magic?
Film’s executives prepared for comparisons, but confident that adventure has own unique charm
LA Times

New movie reveals tragedy, ambition of Brazil’s president
Film follows early life of phenomenally popular Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, predicted for Oscar glory
The Independent

A Surprise Gets Buzz for Oscars
Jeff Bridges and low-budget “Crazy Heart” shake-up jittery Oscar campaigns
The New York Times

Slumdog kids won’t get money from Boyle unless…
Trust fund for Slumdog stars contingent on regular school attendance
Rediff

Hollywood’s Most Overpaid Stars
Which stars cost more than their box office worth?
Forbes

‘New Moon’ ticket pre-sales breaking records
Twilight sequel attracting record number audiences days before the film’s arrival in theatres
Entertainment Weekly

Nov. 18

She moves in mysterious sways
Actress Tilda Swinton talks about her role in the new film ‘Julia’
The Australian

And cut … UK Film Council announces drastic overhaul
£25m cut in lottery money and projected redundancies head UKFC shake-up
The Guardian

Disney’s Rich Ross halts production of ‘Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’
Newly named chief and executives act on serious reservations about project’s potential
LA Times

The swashbuckling spirit behind ‘Pirate Radio’
British DJs helped to launch music rebellion, spawned underground movement in U.S.
LATimes

Chinese cinema brings out the big guns over next month
Film heavyweights prepare for box office battle as China enters traditionally lucrative cinema season
The Independent

Is Doomsday Coming? Perhaps, but Not in 2012
Apocalyptic fears stirred by recent film propaganda “bunk,” says scientist evidence
The New York Times

Johnny Depp is highest paid actor with £21m deal for next Pirates film
Signing on for Pirates 3, Depp joins the ranks of Cruise, Hanks, Gibson and the like
The Telegraph

Comedy movies are laughing all the way to the bank
Comedic films claim the majority of top-10 spots this year
USA Today

John Travolta, Robin Williams are ‘Old Dogs’ at acting
Two of Hollywood’s greatest comedians share a laugh over their newest movie
USA Today

Nov. 17

Jiang aims for commercial success
Chinese ‘Oceans Eleven’ in the works
China Daily

Indonesian censors consider Balibo ban
Australian film deemed controversial, politically sensitive in Indonesia
The Australian

The King’s Speech draws great British cast
Biopic about reluctant wartime monarch George VI to star Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and more
The Guardian

The nervous, noncommittal noughties can’t end soon enough
Decade’s film-makers and writers quick to tap into our sense of impending doom
The Guardian

Edward Woodward, star of The Wicker Man and Callan, dies aged 79
Versatile actor loses battle with several illnesses, including pneumonia
The Guardian

A restored and remastered ‘Gone With the Wind’
Warner Home Video releasing new version on Blu-ray/DVD to celebrate film’s 70th birthday
LA Times

The best films never made
Why some film projects just never get finished
The Independent

Nov. 14 - 16

Michael Winner: ‘The only purpose of life is to avoid boredom’
Candid interview with the famed director
The Guardian

Hoping ‘Avatar’ is the new face of filmmaking
Will James Cameron’s newest film change Hollywood’s future?
LA Times

Hollywood’s most glamorous studio prepares to sell up
Nearly $4bn in debt, previously prestigious MGM looks for a buyer
The Independent

Hollywood Dinner Has Oscars on Menu
First-ever Governors Awards prompts stars to let their guards down
NY Times

Novice Film ‘Angels’ Took Leap of Faith With ‘Precious’
Denver couple contributed $12m to film Hollywood studios were sure to reject
Wall Street Journal

‘Gidget’ director Paul Wendkos dies at age 84
Director of more than 100 films and television shows suffered stroke, complications
USAToday

Studio settlement reported for fake movie news
Universal pays the price for using fabricated online news archives in promotion of its new film
USAToday

Nov. 13

Vilmos Zsigmond: From Hungary with Cameras
New documentary about film-maker shows risks taken to film secret footage of Soviet troops
The Guardian

British comedy films: Make ‘em laugh! Well, that’s the theory
UK film comedies underachieve, TV success fails to translate to big screen
The Guardian

1930s journalist Gareth Jones to have story retold
Correspondent who exposed Soviet Ukraine’s manmade famine celebrated in new doc
The Guardian

Oh, boy, Spielberg is out
Prolonged negotiations to produce English-language remake of “Oldboy” hit extra speed bump
LA Times

Real life stories from the film front line
American Film Market remains “place to go” for financing your film despite tough times
The Independent

The End Is Near as Hollywood Does the Apocalypse
Filmmakers tap into worries about humanity’s future with apocalyptic sagas
The New York Times

Hollywood fails to take the Chinese out of Wayne’s world
“A Thousand Years of Good Prayers” director harkens back to Chinese roots
The Japan Times

Nov. 12

Film buffs’ chance to inspect Clouzout’s towering Inferno
More than 30 years after his death, Clouzout is still considered one of the world’s greatest filmmakers
The Herald

And the Oscar goes to… B-movie king Roger Corman
Director who served as a mentor to Hollywood’s greatest to receive lifetime achievement award
USA Today

Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys’s family quest in Patagonia
Welsh musician on quest to trace family lines, filming journey in documentary
The Guardian

Crazier golf plots would make the cut
Hollywood should consider golf comedies instead of recycled Cinderella stories
The Guardian

Why a Monopoly movie? The story behind the dice roll
Ridley Scott reimagining “Alice in Wonderland” for dark fantasy based on classic board game
LA Times

Oscars get record 20 animated submissions
Prolific year in animation means at least five nominees in Best Animated Film cateogry
USA Today

Rich Ross restructures Disney movie studio
Exec orders changes to better reflect audiences’ new movie-viewing methods
LA Times

Nov. 11

Not everything hunky dory
Did Screen Australia skew the annual drama production survey figures?
The Australian

The Judge Was Wrong: RealNetworks’s RealDVD Appeal Document
RealNetwork claims their software is fair, does not cause damage to studios
All Things Digital

Nicole Kidman to play transsexual in new movie
The star pairs up with Gwyneth Paltrow in a movie about the world’s first transsexual
Sydney Morning Herald

Robert Carlyle: reserve screens for UK productions
Actor urges cinema chains to save room for British film industry
The Guardian

Jennifer Lopez’s former husband may be barred over use of documentary footage
Ex looks to release ‘mockumentary’ with private footage of singer/actress
The Guardian

Out of Ethiopia: how film-makers deal with the weight of memory
Handful of new films explore Ethiopians’ diaspora experience
The Guardian

NASA on crusade to debunk 2012 apocalypse myths
US space agency dispels rumors fueled by new Hollywood movie
The Independent

Nov. 10

Sony to Offer Film on Internet TV, Then DVD
With the continuing decline in DVD sales, Sony turns elsewhere to make a profit
NY Times

Carlyle calls for ‘British’ screens in multiplexes
Scottish actor encourages home-grown films
The Herald

Iran names and shames well-paid actors
Publicity over £55,000 fee paid to Iranian actor prompts threats of tax crackdown
The Guardian

Kate Winslet ‘worth £60m’ to UK economy
UK Film Council algorithm based on salary, British tourism, and UK-based film production
The Guardian

Viral movies – from Paris with love
Robert Doisneau’s famous kissing-couple photograph inspires quirky new short film
The Guardian

Apocalypse now: ‘Collapse’ and the end of the world as we know it
Director cashes in on American fears, jitters manifested in doomsday documentary
LA Times

South Africa in the Hollywood eye
Film industry welcoming nation’s promise post-apartheid
LA Times

FoxPop to bring interactive features to DVD viewing experience
Fox Studios program offers DVD users access to film’s photos, games and trivia for free
The Independent

Nov. 7 - 9

The tribes fight back with Native Spirit
Film festival is a response to historically inaccurate and offensive portrayals in cinema
The Guardian

Matt Damon: The private campaigner who became Hollywood’s biggest star
With a handful of new movies in the works, Damon talks about films, fame and fortune.
The Guardian

Lionsgate planning aggressive rollout for ‘Precious’ after huge start
After grossing nearly $2m in four cities, the indie flick is hitting five more next weekend.
LA Times

Gang film audiences to be frisked at 1Day
Security guards brought in after officer’s warning
The Times

Cartoon capers on the silver screen
Animated films are more successful than ever.
The Independent

A Movie’s Budget Pops From the Screen
James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ is one of the most expensive movies ever made - will it be worth it?
NY Times

Stars + time + box office = franchise hit
Is there a forumla to tell which movies will be successful?
The Globe and Mail

Nov. 6

Hoodies strike fear in British cinema
Moviegoers more terrified of films on urban youths than those with zombie villains
The Guardian

Collector finds unseen Charlie Chaplin film in tin sold for £3.20 on eBay
Footage aimed to be first world war propaganda piece, nitrate print to be transferred to film
The Guardian

Margot Benacerraf’s film ‘Araya’ returns
1959 documentary about salt harvesters on Caribbean coast emerges from cultural black hole
LA Times

From India’s slums to the hell of Utah for Danny Boyle
Slumdog director to film story of mountain climber who cut his own arm off
The Independent

Hollywood eyes world domination with ‘RISK’
Sony Pictures acquires rights to make a movie version of the classic boardgame
The Independent

A Tragic Ballerina Dances Again, Her Shoes Now Redder Than Ever
Famous 1948 ballet film”The Red Shoes” born-again, restored to show at Film Forum
The New York Times

From Zagreb with true grit
Filmmakers tackle subjects once taboo in Croatian cinema
The Age

Nov. 5

Federal film incentive package failing
Australian government attempts to sustain production companies, create more local films
The Australian

The stimulating cinema experience of films in 4-D
Several Korean cinemas are showcasing a film experience previously reserved for amusement parks
JoongAng Daily

It’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas at theatres
Holiday films have a different lifespan, compared to traditional movies
USA Today

Arabian Nights set for Hollywood makeover
New spin unites Aladdin and Sinbad on mission, hits cinemas in May
The Guardian

Antichrist sex ads escape ban
Watchdog ASA rules: press ads for Lars von Trier’s film unlikely to cause serious offence
The Guardian

Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli, a Bond man all the way
USC to pay tribute to creator of longest-running film franchise in cinema history with three-day centennial
LA Times

First music, then modelling – now Fuller trains his sights on Hollywood
Executive producer of feature film Bel Ami, mogul now likely to explore other movie projects
The Independent

Where Hollywood Takes Flight
Airline-related sets outsourced to two companies for capturing on-screen flying scenes
Wall Street Journal

Nov. 4

Strategic shamanism and the new world order
Who really needs to hear the message of The Men Who Stare at Goats?
The Guardian

Why does Hollywood keep making the same films?
There really can be too much of a good thing, according to Joe Queenan
The Guardian

Raleigh Studios is expanding into Eastern Europe
Largest independent studio operator in the US to open sound stages in Hungary
LA Times

How Precious became Hollywood’s next big thing
Why people are falling in love with the most unlikely of blockbuster heroines
The Independent

Scrooge in 3D
Director Robert Zemeckis tells of his latest ‘performance capture’ masterpiece
The Independent

The young and the desperate
With teenage angst a hot topic for holiday films, adults should watch and learn
The Age

Movies coming to a memory stick near you
Transformers 2 is first up in Paramount studios and Kingston’s collaborative project
The New Zealand Herald

Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin to host Oscars
Producers hope to resurrect ceremony’s ratings by making the show more fun
The New Zealand Herald

Nov. 3

Jennifer’s Body: a feminist slasher film? Really?
Traditional exploitation film by feminist writer claims to bear subversive intent
The Guardian

Michael Jackson’s This Is It to get extended run
Documentary will stay in cinemas for additional one to three weeks after big earnings
The Guardian

Best Buy to offer ‘cloud movie’ service
Company to deliver digital content on internet-connected devices bought in its stores
Financial Times

Is Hollywood always in panic mode? Ari Emanuel’s history lesson
This not first time Hollywood has tightened its belt to dump expensive talent baggage
LA Times

Terminator set for salvation as bidders line up for rights
Franchise’s future in Halcyon’s hands, major studios and independents show interest
The Independent

Duck diapers top the bill for Ewan McGregor
The actor gives a candid interview from his home in LA
The Herald

West side story
Auckland film industry is breaking through the recession blues
New Zealand Herald

Catherine the great
Aussie actress Keener doesn’t conform to Hollywood’s rules
Sydney Morning Herald

The beloved Berenstain Bears meet the big screen
Shawn Levy and Walden media hope to bring the Bears alive by 2011
USA Today

Oct. 31 - Nov. 2

Matrix producer plans Muhammad biopic
Keanu Rreeves to play the prophet
The Guardian

John Cusack: ‘I like to take risks’
The actor discusses his career and the upcoming Sony blockbuster, 2012
The Guardian

‘North by Northwest’ still full of thrills and chills
Revisiting the Hitchcock film, 50 years later
LA Times

Oct. 30

‘So, tell me about your director’ – cinema and psychoanalysis
Cinema is a powerful medium for exploring the human condition and inner workings of the mind
The Guardian

Have they defanged Twilight’s werewolves?
Clips from impending Twilight sequel New Moon suggest more special effects, less menace
The Guardian

Clouzot’s towering inferno
Hated and feted, Henri-Georges Clouzot proves genius in L’Enfer (Hell) documentary
The Guardian

Could `Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ win an Oscar?
Too late for documentary Oscar consideration, film could qualify for other Hollywood honors
Business Week

Film that exposes city’s gangs is banned in Birmingham
Police Assistant Chief Constable accuses filmmakers of “glamorising violence”
The Independent

An industry sinner resurrects ‘Saints’
Ten years later, director returns to Hollywood with ‘Boondock Saints’ sequel
LA Times

Sony won’t release ‘This Is It’ DVD before holidays
Movie theater owners complain: ‘too soon after the film’s theatrical premiere’
LA Times

The Unrepentant Capitalist Goes To Hollywood?
Channel 4 chairman and Risk Capital Partners boss funds documentary on credit crisis
The Wall Street Journal

Shredding light on their art
Documentary taps rock-guitar royalty, though creative brilliance can never be defined
The Age

Oct. 29

Ang Lee boards Life of Pi film
Martel’s award-winning novel will finally make it to cinemas
The Guardian

Disney plans new soundstage and production facility in Santa Clarita Valley
New ranch should be a boost to LA’s struggling entertainment-industry economy
LA Times

‘2012’: The disaster filmgoers can’t wait to happen
Emmerich’s newest film among the most highly-anticipated movies of the season
LA Times

The Liman indiscretion: The director who loves gossip
Recent bans on Twitter and other social media haven’t stopped this director from being chatty
The Independent

And Campy Horror Films
New movie collection from Sony recognizes what viewers really look for in a horror film
Wall Street Journal

Hollywood’s glass ceiling
Exactly how successful are movies with females in starring roles?
The Age

Oct. 28

Just add cash – Abu Dhabi’s instant cinema
Without base for nurturing emirate film-making culture, why does wealthy city bother with a festival at all?
The Guardian

The battle of Pinewood
Famous film studios to build permanent sets on green belt land, locals fight back
The Guardian

The Golden Globes steal Oscars’ thunder
Ricky Gervais’ selection as host gives Golden Globes big boost— and Oscars a wake-up call.
LA Times

Association marks 20 years of greening Hollywood
Environmental Media Association may have set “green” standard for today’s industry
Business Week

Will Sound Be Cinema’s Killer App?
New 3-D sound system could be what theater industry needs to keep customers from watching movies at home
New York Times

Tax Breaks Play Big Part in Moviemaking
Filmmakers increasingly dependent on local incentives, willing to tweak scripts for financial benefits
Wall Street Journal

War films are pernicious lies, says Lebanon director Samuel Maoz
Maoz’s movie shows a different side of war on the big screen
The Times

Harishchandrachi director denied visa
Director of India’s official Oscar entry hopes to promote his film in the States
Hindustan Times

Oct. 27

Fantastic Mr Fox’s McDonald’s tie-in is a fantastically wrong move
Do ‘Fox’ themed Happy Meals encourage poor eating habits among kids?
The Guardian

Bollywood movies a bright spot for U.S. cinema industry
India’s largest cinema cashing in on Indian American population.
LA Times

Chinese movie-makers keep faith with martial arts
Two new martial arts movies hope to draw in big audiences.
The Independent

Netflix movie streaming coming to PlayStation 3
PS3 finally catches up to Xbox.
Business Week

Ricky Gervais tapped as host of Golden Globes
British comedian is award show’s first emcee in over 10 years
USA Today

What directors do when actors drop dead
Clever rewriting and special effects help save the show
Sydney Morning Herald

The dark side of the American dream
Why do the 1960’s continue to inspire authors and film-makers today?
The Herald

Oct. 24 - 26

George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp battle to play Frank Sinatra their way
Scorsese, Universal and Sinatra’s own daughter don’t exactly see eye-to-eye.
The Guardian

Jackson fans protest ‘This Is It’ concert spectacular
Fans claim the true state of the star’s health is not accurately portrayed in the film.
The Independent

HMV cinemas: coming to a high street near you
HMV joint efforts with cinema operator Cruzon could create a national chain.
The Guardian

Some ideas for the next Oscars show
A TV critic offers some suggestions for the show’s rookie producers
LA Times

Disney Hopes ‘Christmas Carol’ Lives Up to Its Blockbuster Marketing
Disney’s risky marketing strategy will soon be put to the test
NY Times

The Skinnier Look of Studio Management
Has the economy caused the film industry to become more conservative?
NY Times

The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010
Which films are likely to attract the biggest audiences next year
The Times

Oct. 23

Paramount scraps home entertainment tie-up
New deal with Technicolor saves Hollywood studio millions, no need to combine with rival Sony
Financial Times

Orson Welles: The most glorious film failure of them all
Surge of movies and other fictions name Welles an inspiration while warning young film-makers
The Guardian

Movie fans might have to wait to rent new DVD releases
Declining revenue leads major studios to consider initial “purchase only” policy
LA Times

Stalker movies - The genre that just won’t go away
Chéreau’s ‘Persecution’ another in long line of films with stalkers-prey plot
The Independent

Kidman: Hollywood probably contributes to violence
Movie industry portrays women as weak sex objects, but also makes efforts against violence
Business Week

Film on the Dolphin Hunt Stirs Outrage in Japan
Despite enthusiastic reception at film festival, ‘The Cove’ provokes wider cultural debate
The New York Times

Tribeca of Arabia
Qataris to start own film event with the help of Hollywood names
Wall Street Journal

The good, the bad and the Batman
Tim Burton films entrenched with many things we despise about modern mainstream cinema
The Age

Oct. 22

‘Toy Story’ maker Lasseter earns producer prize
Producer’s Guild award given for the first time to producer of an animated film
USA Today

Oct. 21

Icap moves into film distribution
World’s largest inter-dealer broker targets independent film market outside of Hollywood studio system
Financial Times

Government measures against illegal file-sharing to be watered down
Music and film companies will need court order before punishing persistent offenders
The Guardian

Maurice Sendak tells parents worried by Wild Things to ‘go to hell’
Author addresses concerns that Where the Wild Things Are is too frightening for children
The Guardian

HMV impresses with its first cinema in a shop
Cinema expected to host mixture of films and special screening events with support from top industry execs
The Guardian

Secrets of the Raj safe as film exposé is put on hold
Delhi government demands ‘Indian Summer’ scenes be rewritten in exchange for granting permission to film
The Independent

Oscars tap Mechanic, Shankman to produce show
Rookies to run Academy Awards
USA Today

Green Lantern will not be filmed in Australia because of strong dollar
Warner Bros. looks elsewhere to film superhero movie
The Sydney Morning Herald

Oct. 20

Tate and Aardman tap children’s ideas for Wallace & Gromit-style movie
UK Children to brainstorm drawings for animated film, hitting theatres in 2012
The Guardian

The Cove’s Louie Psihoyos: ‘We weren’t just thinking outside of the box. We didn’t know there was a box’
With advice from Spielberg, Psihoyos creates environmental documentary for tearful audience
The Guardian

Films of ’62: When Eras Collided
Brooklyn Academy devotes to film series to the era’s old studio sound
The New York Times

Earhart’s Mystique Takes Wing Again
Biopic on aviatrix highlights Earhart’s humble celebrity life despite such extraordinary success
The New York Times

Oct. 17 - 19

Hollywood film output likely to fall by a third
Is the rate of 600 films a year going to fall to 400?
The Guardian

Vigilante films, an American tradition
Revenge films: straight from the Bible?
LA Times

Sylvester Stallone to quip while he’s ahead in The Expendables
Expendables: Stallone’s magnum opus?
The Guardian

Transformers and GI Joe toy sales transform fortunes for Hasbro
Blockbusters boost toymakers’ sales
The Guardian

Oct. 16

Star quality on the big screen
Documentary about disadvantaged young entrepreneurs hits mainstream US cinemas
Financial Times

Gordon Brown’s £45m backing for new British film centre
Government funding assists in creating a home for BFI close to Royal Festival Hall
The Guardian

Gus van Sant and Bret Easton Ellis join forces on film
Director of Milk and American Psycho author write film about artists Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake
The Guardian

Saw: brutality is only skin deep
Horror phenomenon of Saw films strikes again, more clever than mere ‘torture porn’ for teens
The Guardian

The eco-documentary: an endangered species?
Documentary on slaughter of dolphins in Japan may breathe new life into green films
The Guardian

Dole withdraws lawsuit against Swedish filmmaker
Dole Foods drops lawsuit, Fredrik Gertten’s documentary “Bananas!” NOT extortion plot
LA Times

Red Riding novels to be made into film
Dark novels about police corruption in the 70s and 80s to become Hollywood film
The Independent

The total clips of his art
Retrospective filmmaker Chris Marker continues visionary films at age 88
The Age

Oct. 15

London film fest gets generous dose of George Clooney
Suave Hollywood star attends ‘Fox’ premier
USA Today

Horror movies bugging tourists
Australia’s signature genre keeping tourists away
The Age

Paramount’s ‘Paranormal’ Play
Paranormal: the next ‘Blair Witch’?
Forbes

Admen in peril: ‘Nobody’s going to search for us’
Low-budget indie film finally makes it to the big screen
The Globe and Mail

Agnes McKay: Film industry’s subtitle stance alienates deaf audience
NZ Film Commission’s controversial subtitle policy
New Zealand Herald

Film market rings up $2 million worth of movie sales
Asian Film Market 2009 proves profitable
Yonhap News

An over-fertile imagination
Recent films like The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Triangle, and Pontypool littered with creative nuances
Financial Times

Polanski finishing The Ghost in jail
Director works to complete his film in time for February’s Berlin festival despite incarceration
The Guardian

UK’s first chart topper and Godfather actor Al Martino dies
American crooner, Britain’s Number 1 in 1952, played Johnny Fontane in classic gangster film
The Guardian

Emma Watts shines at 20th Century Fox, becomes sole production president
After sharing the position for two years, Watts takes all as Alex Young steps down
LA Times

Sumner Redstone to unload 35 theaters including L.A.’s Bridge to help pay down debt
Redstone selling cinemas to cover family-owned business’s extensive debt
LA Times

Oct. 14

Director Kevin Smith on Technology, Working With “The Studio” and His Upcoming Film “A Couple of Dicks”
Uninhibited interview with director Kevin Smith
The Wall Street Journal

Who says the Hollywood junket press never ask any tough questions?
An attack on Wes Anderson: unjustified?
LA Times

Starsuckers celebrity hoax dupes tabloids
Documentary uncovers media secrets
The Guardian

Rio de Janeiro woos Woody Allen movie project
Rio hopes movies will boost tourism
LA Times

The mysterious success of ‘The Final Destination’
Final Destination: why so popular?
LA Times

SA filmakers voice their problems
South Africa’s culture minister hears out the filmmakers
Times LIVE

Keeping film tax credits eases minds in industry
Pennsylvanian film tax incentives reduced, but not completely erdicated.
Philadelphia Enquirer

Sendak, ever-untamed, sees `Wild Things’ adapted
Maurice Sendak on the adaptation of Where Wild Things Are
The Associated Press

How good was Heath Ledger?
What would Parnassus have done for Ledger’s career?
The Guardian

Editing is the splice of Anne V. Coates’ life
Anne V. Coates: an interview.
LA Times

Fantastic Mr Fox: on the set of Wes Anderson’s film
Watch how they worked on Mr. Fox
The Guardian

Oct. 13

Film industry task team ‘soon’
Art and Culture Minister in South Africa to assess local film industry
News24

Leading? Supporting? Who’s who in award season’s favorite game?
From Julia to Parnassus: who will lead the game?
LA Times

Local film pulls crowds dancing to popular tune
Mao’s Last Dancer is beating Hollywood blockbusters at the Australian box office.
The Age

The film industry between the UK and Morroco just got better
Package of co-production incentives signed between UK and Morocco.
The Gov Monitor

Ahead of the Bell: Redbox rental dispute
Redbox to strike deal to allow quicker, cheaper access to new DVD releases.
The Associated Press

Iraqi cinema re-emerges, but where are the cinemas?
Kurdish director Shawkat Amin Korki on why there is nowhere to show films in Iraq.
AFP

Uzbekistan: Film Industry Flourishes After a Decade of Post-Soviet Decline
On the revival of Uzbek cinema.
Ferghana

Why kids and 3D films don’t mix
Why make 3D glasses that are too large for tots?
The Guardian

Imax, partners building theater in Cardiff, Wales
Giant Imax theatre is coming to Wales.
The Associated Press

Michael Sheen on playing the legendary Brian Clough
Interview with Michael Sheen.
The Globe And Mail

Pining for the golden age of the movie poster? Just make your own
The new age of a movie poster.
The Guardian

CinemaScore’s Ed Mintz: Hollywood’s secret box-office swami
What’s the success secret of Ed Mintz’s Las Vegas market research company?
LA Times

Oct. 10 - 12

New movie mavericks declare independence
On the new generation of directors with an edge.
The Observer

1970s blaxploitation films: a lot has changed, but much has stayed the same
A short history of blaxploitation.
LA Times

Fur flies on ‘Mr. Fox’
Wes Andreson on Fantastic Mr. Fox.
LA Times

Iraq director pleads for post-war film backing
Mohamed al-Daradji asks Iraqi government not to give up on the country’s film industry.
AFP

My week: Terry Gilliam
Gilliam: suffocated by his fame.
The Sunday Times

Two Hollywood projects lined up for John Woo
Woo to remake classic Le Samourai
Channel New Asia

Oct. 09

Squeezing Every Dime from DVDs
Rent or buy? The demise of the DVD trade.
Strategy & Competition

Tom Waits gives the devil his due
Tom Waits on his role in Doctor Parnassus
The Guardian

Bringing back the erotic thriller is only fair
The boys are back, what about the girls?
The Guardian Blog

Discerning comic-book fans led to Hollywood revolution
On comics’ influence in Tinsletown.
Baltimore Sun

Trikha’s ‘Piracy’ to show the murky world of piracy
Percept Picture Company to make a film about Bollywood piracy
Press Trust Of India

Shoot the Pianist
Adrien Brody to take Arnie’s place in Predator remake
The Guardian

Tamil actors meet CM over article in newspaper
Derogatory article about a Tamil actress causes tension between actors and journalists
The Times Of India

Oct. 08

L.A. takes baby steps to keep Hollywood at home
LA council approves moving recommendations to slow production moving
LA Times

How ‘Paranormal Activity’ drives abnormal interest
Paranormal Activity - why are we so fascinated?
LA Times

Marlon Wayans poised for Pryor engagement
Wayans rumoured to replace Eddie Murphy in upcoming biopic.
The Guardian

Have you actually seen The Godfather?
It’s time to confess.
The Guardian Blog

Alexander Nevsky: Stalinist propaganda in the 13th century
Reel history: on Eiseinstein’s 1938 epic.
The Guardian

Oct. 07

Battle over 3-D TVs steals the show
CEATEC, Japan’s biggest information electronics fair is buzzing with new generation 3D technology.
Japan Times

Is Hollywood really a hotbed of support for Roman Polanski?
Many film-makers have recently shown support for Polanski. But do they represent Hollywood?
LA Times

Michael Jackson movie to screen in China
This Is It was picked as one of the 20 annual imported films in China.
The Associated Press

George Lucas: ‘I Make Movies. I Don’t Care Where They Are Shown’
An interview with the director.
The Wall Street Journal

Disney’s Rich Ross: Hollywood’s first openly gay studio chairman
Is corporate homophobia in Hollywood finally becoming obsolete?
LA Times Blog

Kill Bill: dead already?
If Bill is dead - what is the point of another sequel?
The Guardian

Do the A-Team film photos make you pity the fool who cast it?
Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Rampage Jackson: were they miscast?
The Guardian

Who will rule? Robert Pattinson and Rupert Grint in line for Prince Harry film
Who will play the third in line?
The Guardian

Oct. 06

Exec: China’s anniversary film set to break record
China’s propaganda film is catching up with Transformers.
The Associated Press

Irrfan Khan set to join Cate Blanchett in Indian Summer
Khan to play Nehru along Blanchet’s Lady Mountbatten in Joe Wright’s film.
The Guardian

Hollywood studios in midst of their own horror show
Is the industry sinking into panic mode?
LA Times

Next decision for Disney: how to replace Rich Ross
Who will take Ross’s place as Disney Channels Worldwide president?
LA Times Blog

Oscar contenders missing at academy screenings
Worst academy turnout in years?
LA Times

Oct. 03 - 05

The Coen brothers: Just accept the mystery
An interview with the directors.
LA Times

Buzz and Woody Add a Dimension
The remaking of Toy Story in 3D: how it was done.
The New York Times

The year the girls grew up on screen
Coming of age films for and by girls.
The Guardian

How Anne Heche survived her own life
Heche: from abuse to self-reinvention.
The Guardian

Disney’s Miramax to trim film slate; 50 jobs
Miramax to cut number of films produced each year.
The Associated Press

The films of Roman Polanski
Polanski’s films: a gallery.
LA Times

Oct. 02

MGM Wins Temporary Reprieve
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer relieved from paying interest on $4b debt
The Wall Street Journal

Hollywood Gauges ‘Toy Story’ Success
Will the 3D makeover be worth it?
The Wall Street Journal

Steve Newman’s world in miniature
Cinematographer Newman on Where The Wild Things Are
La Times

Beyond the Screen: Nandita Das
Interview with the “most un-Bollywood of India’s film stars”
The Wall Street Journal

Recession doesn’t douse dreams at stuntman school
Lost your job? Become a stuntman.
The Associated Press

Tarantino says Bride will fight again in Kill Bill 3
Tarantino to reunite with Thurman for the third Kill Bill
The Guardian

Hollywood has lost the art of filming good fight scenes
Have the fight scenes gone rubbish?
The Guardian

The DIY films that vanish without trace
Why are the British indie films being shunned?
The Guardian

Oct. 01

Friends reunited: who’ll sign on the dotted line?
Friends the movie: what’s the deal?
The Guardian

‘Star Wars: In Concert’: a coda with Yoda
World-touring Star Wars concert to launch in California this week
LA Times

Special investigation: Is it raining meatballs in shops as well as cinemas?
Which films make us hungry?
The Guardian

Bergman’s possessions go for £2.2m
Directors possessions go under the hammer in Stockholm
The Guardian

Ang Lee says he’s baffled by ‘Woodstock’ results
Taking Woodstock is Ang Lee’s worst-performing film in 10 years
The Associated Press

Sep. 30

IBM signs IT deal with theater operator Cinepolis
IBM to provide technology services to Cinepolis
The Associated Press

Release Polanski, demands petition by film industry luminaries
Lynch, Allan, Scorsese join the plea to free Polanski
The Guardian

Inside the battle for ‘Precious’
The Weinsteins and Lionsgate are fighting for precious: what’s the back story?
LA Times

Polanski arrest puts latest film `Ghost’ on hold
The Ghost in limbo due to Polanski arrest
The Associated Press

Stars reprise ‘Winter Sonata’ roles for ‘anime’
Winter Sonata will come out as animated series
The Japan Times

Sep. 29

Joe Wright: ‘The Soloist is not a genre film’
A video interview with the director.
The Guardian

Polanski Fights Extradition to U.S.
Polanski takes first step in legal battle
The Wall Street Journal

Creation shows us that the creationists might have the last laugh
Does Creation send out conflicting messages?
The Guardian

‘Too much sex’ in Bruno film for Malaysia: official
Bruno banned in Malaysia
AFP

Weinstein Co. loses a round in its fight over ‘Precious’
Weinsteins lose the first stage of the Precious rights battle with Lionsgate.
LA Times

Kevin Tancharoen’s ‘Fame’ for the 21st century
Tancharoen wasn’t even born when the original Fame came out, so what is the secret of his success?
LA Times

Question in Polanski Arrest: Why Now?
Was it a simple matter of opportunity or more?
The New York Times

Sep. 26-28

The trouble with being Rob Lowe
The West Wing star on Ricky Gervais’ new comedy.
The Observer

France, Poland want Polanski released on bail
The international tug-of-war over Roman Polanski escalates.
Associated Press

Stepping Into the Skates of the Director
Drew Barrymore on her directorial debut
The New York Times

Jackson film tickets sell out
Michael Jackson’s US fans have snapped up advance tickets for the documentary film This Is It in just two hours.
BBC

Sep. 25

State panel won’t review Iowa movie tax issue
Tax credit issue gets investigates in Iowa
The Associated Press

Barbie to bow on big screen in latest toy story
Laurence Mark to produce Barbie feature
The Associated Press

Agnès Varda: ‘Memory is like sand in my hand’
An interview with “the grandmother of the French new wave”.
The Guardian

Guillermo Del Toro to offer up hot 3D Hobbit action?
Do the Hobbit prequels need to be shot in 3D?
The Guardian Blog

The Soloist’s Skid Row symphony
An interview with Joe Wright
The Guardian

The view: In praise of inconsistent directors
On film-makers’ highs and lows
The Guardian

Sep. 24

Troubled Weinstein Company lays off more staff
Weinstein to bring staff down to 90, half of what they started with in 2005.
The Guardian

Sony Announces Huge, Multi-Network Preview of ‘2012′
Two minutes of Roland Emmerich upcoming disaster thriller 2012 will air in 70 markets.
The New York Times

Can Bruce Willis regain star power with ‘Surrogates’?
On Jonathan Mostow’s upcoming technology dystopia.
LA Times

The Mother of Reinvention
Coco Chanel in films: a post-feminist icon?
The New York Times

Spartacus: it’s no slave to the truth, but it’s got the spirit
Despite historical inaccuracy Kubricks classic remains a tour de force.
The Guardian

The Coen brothers’ ‘A Serious Man’: More Jewish than matzo balls?
A Serious Man: a suburban tale of Jewish alienation?
LA Times Blog

Clip joint: Miscasting
Even good actors can be miscast.
The Guardian

Werner Herzog opens Rogue Film School
Herzog to teach aspiring film-makers how to avoid the burden of bureaurocracy.
The Guardian

Sep. 23

Studios Hurt As DVD Sales Fall, Rentals Grow
DVD sales fall by 13.5% as rentals rise by 8.3%.
The Wall Street Journal

Chinese hackers strike again in protest over Uighur activist film
Tawainese festival website gets hacked over its plans to screen The 10 Conditions of Love.
The Guardian

China appeals US win in WTO music, films dispute
Are China’s restrictions on film distribution illegal?
The Associated Press

The rebirth of Colin Firth
Can Firth finally leave Mr. Darcy behind?
The Guardian Blog

The world of ‘Wizard of Oz’
The 39 MGM classic is digitally restored
LA Times

Sequel planned for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes
Does Ritchie’s Holmes have franchise potential?
The Guardian

Bollywood bound
Bollywood Acting Diploma launched in Canada
The Wall Street Journal

Sep. 22

Johnny Depp to quit next Pirates?
On why Depp won’t do Sparrow without Dick Cook
The Associated Press

Another Death Knell For Movie Stars
Why have The Informant! and Love Happens flopped?
Forbes

Taiwan: City to Show Uighur Film
Controversial Uighur documentary will still be screened at the Kaohsiung Film Festival
The New York Times

Michael Jackson’s ‘son’ set to star as the singer in a new film
Norwegian Omer Bhatti to play Jackson in a film
The Guardian

Netflix awards $1M prize to improve movie picks
Winners of $1 million contest to improve Netflix movie recommendation system announced
The Associated Press

Nick Hornby to deliver script for The Babymakers
Hornby to work with An Education team again
The Guardian

HG Wells: What’s your favourite film adaptation?
What is the best Wells adaptation to date?
The Guardian

Brits weave Hollywood spell
How are the 90,000 Brits getting on in Tinseltown?
The Sunday Times

Bollywood Bound
Canada launches a Bollywood Acting Diploma
The Wall Street Journal

Sep. 19 - 21

Birdwatchers betrays the troubled tribespeople it depicts
Do films like Birdwatchers help the indigenous people, or are they patronising?
The Guardian

A light in dark places
Interview with Richard Frankland on his Aboriginal stoner comedy Stone Bros.
The Age

Downloadable films for phone all the rage
Sally Potter’s Rage will be the first feature film to premiere on mobile phones.
The Age

Time To Evolve
American distributors are not keen on Creation: should we be surprised?
The Guardian

Comics artist Jack Kirby’s children move to reclaim character rights from Disney, Marvel, studios
The battle begins: copyright notices for termination of X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Thor and the Hulk.
LA Times Blog

The week in geek: No return for Superman, but good news for Star Trek and Hobbit fans
On upcoming (and dropped) science fiction follow ups.
The Guardian

Composer Marvin Hamlisch on his Movie Music, from “Bananas” to “The Informant!”
An interview with three-time Oscar winner Marvin Hamlisch
The Wall Street Journal

Sep. 16

Robert Carlyle: I’m quitting British movies because nobody watches them
Carlyle turns back on British film industry.
Scottish Daily Record

The rise of the intermovie
On “film within a film”: what is the fascination with metafilms?
The Guardian

‘Not another Holocaust movie’
Tarantino attends nglourious Basterds press conference in Tel Aviv.
The Jerusalem Post

Harry Potter theme park in Florida to open next spring
Harry Potter rides in Orlando.
The Guardian

Are High-Tech 3D Flicks The Future Of Film?
Pixar places its bets on 3-D
Sky News

Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln project to go ahead despite competition
Robert Redfords Lincoln biopic not to deter Spielberg.
The Guardian

The day I met Patrick Swayze
Comment
The Guardian

Sep. 15

Melanie Lynskey, Toronto’s triple threat
Rising star Melanie Lynskey on her roles in The Informant!, Up In The Air and Leaves Of Grass.
LA Times

Hollywood producers are guilty of bribing Thai official
Gerald and Patricia Green found guilty on charges of bribery and money laundering.
LA Times

Harry Potter stars enter the Guinness World Records book
Watson and Radcliffe are highest grossing leads of the decade.
The Telegraph

Films struggle for US distribution at Toronto film festival
Indie films struggle at Toronto.
The Guardian

Sep.12-14

Is China going to Hollywood?
Chinese studios are strengthening links with Hollywood.
China Daily, Sep. 14

Shakespeare in Love film set to be turned into theatre
Judi dench donates film’s set.
Telegraph, Sep. 14

Disney to remake Yellow Submarine
Robert Zemeckis to direct the Beatles animation remake.
Telegraph, Sep. 14

Judi Dench: ‘Does nobody ever believe anything I do?’
Interview with Judi Dench
The Guardian, Sep. 12

Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Willis reunite for action film
Action stars to reunite in The Expendables.
The Guardian, Sep. 12

Disney and Pixar Animation Chief John Lasseter describes back story to ‘Toy Story 3’
Lasseter on Toy Story 3.
LA Times Blog, Sep. 13

Sep. 11

Hollywood Hits the Books
Hollywood rushes to adapt novels, books and fairy tales.
The Wall Street Journal

Warner Bros. Takes DC Comics More Closely Under Its Wing
Time Warner Inc. is restructuring the company.
The Wall Street Journal

In Toronto, Directing Is Clearly Women’s Work
Toronto enjoys a wealth of female talent.
The New York Times

Oscar Top 10? Hollywood mulls best-pic makeover
Will top 10 devalue the nomination?
The Associated Press

Birdwatchers: A tribe’s fight for justice
Marco Bechis on his film about a forgotten Brazilian tribe.
The Guardian

Oscar-nominated screenwriter to neophyte scribe: I won’t read your [#%&*$@#] script!
On why Josh Olson hates to read aspiring writers’ scripts.
LA Times Blog

Kate Beckinsale on Whiteout: ‘If you waited too long the camera would freeze’
Beckinsale talks to Jeremy Kay about her latest movie.
The Guardian

Todd Solondz’s pursuit of Happiness
An interview with Todd Solondz.
The Guardian

Why David Lynch moves in mysterious ways
On director’s past and latest projects.
The Guardian Blog

Sep.10

Screening at selected cinemas
Has Hollywood been shunning Australian indies?
The Age

Cinemas draw huge crowds in August
Korea enjoys the highest monthly sales in two years
The JoongAng Daily

The men who stare at George
George Clooney in Venice
The Guardian

The dirty little secrets of Nora Ephron
Julie & Julia director on her new film and more
The Guardian

Sep. 9

The 10 best film websites
ScreenDaily voted as one of “the slickest, busiest and most entertaining websites around on the internet”
The Sunday Times

In Michigan, Dream Factories Aim to Replace Auto Sites
New tax incentives to help develop a strong film industry in Michigan and other states
The New York Times

Why District 9 isn’t racist against Nigerians
District 9: promoting stereotypes or a clever apartheid satire?
The Guardian Blog

Does Michael Moore get a free pass from the liberal media?
Is Moore guaranteed rave reviews by the liberals?
LA Times Blog

Nicolas Cage and Viggo Mortensen hit fall fest trifecta. Will it boost Oscar chances?
Is participation at Venice and Toronto the best strategy to snap an Oscar?
LA Times

Sep. 8

House to pass Film Bill despite opposition
Critics say extra red tape will reduce film output.
The Jakarta Post

Lift off for SA films
District 9 could boost South African film industry.
South African Film News

Box Office Score Peaks After 2-Year Low
Korean blockbusters account for 60% of August’s box office sales.
The Korea Times

Stone film says US demonizes Chavez, other leaders
Director promotesSouth of the Border at Venice.
China Daily, Sep

Venice Film Festival honours Pixar crew
Pixar become first team to receive lifetime achievement award at Venice.
New Zealand Herald

Sep. 5 - 7

DVD rental machines to be launched in UK supermarkets
UK to follow the US Redbox fad
The Independent, Sep. 7

Mussolini’s granddaughter blocks movie that labels her a ‘whore’
Alessandra Mussolini blocks Venice entry
The Independent, Sep. 7

Text T for totally implausible
On mobile phones in film
The Guardian, Sep. 7

Shane Acker stretches animation with 9
Shane Acker on 9
LA Times, Sep. 7

Michael Moore: ‘Americans now think more like me’
Moore on Capitalism: A Love Story and his vision of America
The Guardian, Sep. 6

Taking on motherhood in a tale of grit and grace
Anna Kokkinos on her lates film, Blessed
The Age, Sep. 6

Sep. 4

Canine film caper set to celebrate Endal the Yorkshire wonder dog
Calendar Girls writer Juliette Towhidi has been commissioned to pen a script about a Labrador who saved his owner’s life.
The Guardian

WGA report shows tough times for screenwriters
Employment and income of movie writers fell in 2008.
LA Times

Blue Planet Film Fest in Santa Monica
The director of the four-day festival aims to raise awareness of environmental issues.
LA Times

Tom Cruise to narrate Hendrick Motorsports film
The actor will narrate documentary Together: The Hendrick Motorsports Industry.
The Associated Press

At Venice Festival, a 1959 Masterpiece Takes Center Stage
A restored version of Mario Monicelli’s La Grande Guerra has been a hit.
New York Times

Hollywood Hits the Books
A look at how novels, books and comics are being turned into films to attract cinema-goers.
The Wall Street Journal

Disney Seeks Buzz With ‘Toy Story’ Re-Release
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are being re-released in a marketing campaign ahead of next year’s Toy Story 3.
The Wall Street Journal

Lux Digital Pictures to Premier Its New Film at the Deauville International Film Festival
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue will premiere in Europe at the French Festival.
Business Wire

Sep. 3

YouTube in talks with film studios on rental service
Youtube could stream films from its website.
Financial Times

District 9 labelled xenophobic by Nigerians
Nigerians are unhappy with the way the film depicts them.
The Guardian

Carla Bruni tipped for role in Woody Allen film
The wife of the French president could be set for the big screen.
The Guardian

Berlusconi tries to censor film about his love life
The RAI network’s ban of a Videocracy trailer has increased interest in the documentary.
The Independent

France’s leading ladies go head to head at box office
Carla Bruni’s sister and Catherine Deneuve’s daughter both star in films released in France this week.
The Independent

Actress Cate Blanchett injured on stage in Australia
The Oscar-winner was accidentally struck on the head with a radio prop by co-star Joel Edgarton.
The Times

China injects star power into anniversary film
Chinese filmmakers are turning to major stars to attract young viewers.
The Associated Press

Frenchman Who Made Film on Gangs Slain in Salvador
French filmmaker Christian Poveda was shot dead in the Central American country on Wednesday.
The New York Times

Marvel Fans Are Leery About Deal
Fans are unsure about Disney’s acquisition.
The Wall Street Journal

Alien abduction thriller set in remote Alaska town
Universal Pictures is to release The Fourth Kind this autumn.
USA Today

Sep. 2

Marvel’s elusive ‘Ike’ is a key character
Overview of Isaac Perlmutter’s time in charge of Marvel.
Financial Times

First Iranian film shot in US since 1979 gets under way
Filmmaker Masoud Jafari Jozani says production of In the Wind’s Eye is thanks to President Obama.
The Guardian

Directors cut their teeth on LACMA’s film program
Filmmakers relive their memories of LACMA’s Bing Theater.
LA Times

Big screen evolves as world watches movies online
A look at how cinemas are evolving to compete with internet viewing of films.
The Independent

Venice film festival retains allure without deals
Director Marco Mueller talks about the festival.
Associated Press

Filmmakers Barred From Chinese Festival
Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill are unable to present documentary China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province at the Beijing Independent Film Festival.
The New York Times

Sep. 1

Disney in $4bn bid to snare Marvel’s superstars
Disney hopes to distribute films based on Marvel characters which have made billions of dollars.
Financial Times

Moviemakers say tax breaks help Iowa
Legislators are being asked to remove a $50m cap to draw more filmmakers to the area.
Chicago Tribune

Fans book $27M in tickets for `Final Destination’
The Final Destination was at the top of the weekend box office.
Associated Press

Oscar Race May Heat Up at Festival in Toronto
The film festival could be a platform for generating Oscar nominees.
The New York Times

Mayweather - Marquez Fight to Screen Live In Theaters
More than 170 cinemas will show the boxing match on September 19.
The New York Times

Louie Swisher Hearts Redbox–But Hollywood Not So Much
Three movie studios plan to take DVD-rental firm Redbox to court.
All Things Digital

Stoner comedy has censor seeing double
A federal minister has called on the Classification review Board to reconsider the film’s 15+ rating.
The Sydney Morning Herald

‘Up in the Air’ director Jason Reitman stays grounded
The writer/director talks about his new film.
USA Today

Aug. 28

First stills from Michael Jackson concert film released
Pictures from Kenny Ortega’s documentary on the singer’s rehearsals for his London tour are on the internet.
The Guardian

AMC moves back to Hollywood
The second-largest cinema operator in the US is opening a new film office in Los Angeles.
LA Times

NC governor signs film credit bill from lawmakers
Filmmakers will receive a more generous tax credit for shooting in North Carolina.
Forbes

SKorean disaster film biggest hit in 3 years
Haeundae has earned $66 million.
Taiwan News

Disney’s Teen Talent Pool
A look at some actors who started at Disney.
The Wall Street Journal

Rob Zombie opens fall’s horror assault with ‘Halloween II’
The director talks about his upcoming release and the horror genre.
USA Today

Cruise jets into Wellington for Jackson meeting
Tom Cruise and Peter Jackson could discuss the prospect of a joint project.
The Age

Enter the Dragon Lady again
An insight into Elaine Mae Woo’s documentary about Anna May Wong, Frosted Yellow Windows.
The Age

Aug. 27

District 9 sequel in the pipeline
Director Neil Blomkamp says the studio are interested in making a follow-up.
The Guardian

Ang Lee, hippie?
The director talks about new film Taking Woodstock.
LA Times

LA trial in Thai film festival bribery case begins
A filmmaking couple have been accused of bribing Thai officials to land contracts.
Associated Press

Beijing to issue movie coupons ahead of National Day
Coupons will be issued to moviegoers giving them discount rates for patriotic films.
China Daily

Beatles manager Brian Epstein to be focus of Fab Four biopic
Tony Gittelson’s film will centre on the Liverpudlian manager and entrepreneur.
The Guardian

Bollywood to plagiarism: Bye bye?
Bollywood producers are being warned about remaking Hollywood films without acquiring rights.
Reuters

Steven Spielberg to complete Michael Crichton’s mission
The director is turning the novel Pirate Latitudes into a film.
USA Today

Special effects team rises to occasion in ‘Inglourious Basterds’
Makeup artist Gregory Nicotero reveals how the effects were created.
LA Times

Aug. 26

Snarl-up: Actors’ dispute hits Shepperton
Pinewood Shepperton’s pre-tax profits for the six months to June 30 have almost halved.
Financial Times

Max Payne DVD ad ‘too violent for young viewers’
The ASA has ruled the advert must be shown after 9pm.
The Guardian

Paramount to give Redbox a spin
The studio has agreed to make its films available to the rental firm until the end of 2009.
LA Times

Dakota Fanning may step into Dorothy’s shoes for new Wizard of Oz
Warner Bros plan to make a darker, action-packed remake set in the present day
The Guardian

For Diane Baker, one scene leads to 50 years
The actor recalls some of the best moments from her career
LA Times

Movie Fund Set to Close Housing Unit for the Aged
Former actors, directors and crew members will have to move home at the end of 2009
The New York Times

Budget impasse forces Shyamalan movie from Pa
The director is moving production of the Devil from Philadelphia to Toronto
The Associated Press

Wintour Before The Fall
Filmmaker R.J. Cutler reveals his inspiration behind The September Issue, a documentary about Anna WintourForbes

AUG. 25

Robin Williams keen to play Susan Boyle in film biopic
The comedian would like to portray the Britain’s Got Talent star in a biopic.
The Guardian

A Paramount disad-Vantage
Paramount is quietly releasing its final few Vantage pictures.
LA Times

Burial plot above Marilyn Monroe sold to anonymous bidder
The vault cost almost £3 million on eBay.
The Guardian

Scorsese’s Shutter Island delayed until February
The setback could hinder the film’s chances in next year’s Oscars.
The Guardian

Thatcher-era blunder opens way for legal sale of banned films
Retailers can sell unauthorised DVDs to anybody, including under-age children.
Financial Times

Internet cut-off threat for illegal downloaders
The UK government will pass laws banning those who swap copyrighted films from using the internet.
The Guardian

Successes like Slumdog are ‘a thing of the past’
Independent film companies are struggling to find investment.
The Independent

AUG. 24

Panasonic leans on `Avatar’ movie for 3-D pr blitz
Director James Cameron signs with Panasonic Corp. to promote 3-D TVs.
Business Week

Technicolor dreams of a bright future in digital cinema
The film processor is investing over $200 million in its production facilities.
LA Times

The decline of the Hollywood star
Hollywood executives are considering whether to ditch big-name actors and actresses.
The Independent

Disney taking a page from Comic-Con
Disney is drawing inspiration from the pop-culture festival for next month’s D23 Expo.
LA Times

Indie film producers face struggle for funds
Investors are reluctant to risk funding UK-based independent film production companies.
Financial Times

Penelope Cruz: ‘Pedro’s the reason I became an actress’
The Oscar-winner reveals her inspiration.
The Guardian

AUG. 21

Wolf-training follows tigers and bears for director Jean-Jacques Annaud
Annaud to adapt Chinese novel Wolf Totem
The Guardian

Avatar is like…
What does Avatar remind you of?
LA Times

A-List Stars Flailing at the Box Office
Have A-listers lost their box office mojo?
The New York Times

Death Lives a Fourth Time to Ply His Trade
On role of death in horror films
The New York Times

Grenada trying to lure movie business
Carribean island to create a film commission
The Associated Press

Ahead of the Bell: “New Moon” may help Hot Topic
Twilight sequel to boost company’s sales
The Associated Press

Ahead of the Bell: Netflix
Will Robert B. Clasen’s departure affect Netflix?
The Associated Press

AUG.20

An Action Star Moves to the Lead
On the rising star of Donnie Yen
The New York Times

Time Warner show, movie clips headed for YouTube
Warner to show movie clips on YouTube
The Associated Press

Redbox sues Warner Home Video over DVD rentals
DVD rental company sues Hollywood studio
The Associated Press

Ala. filmmakers 1st to get state’s incentives
An indie film is first to receceive Alabama incentives
The Associated Press

Studios Pressure Netflix As Valuation Remains High
Time Warner threatens to revise he revenue-sharing agreement with Netflix
The Wall Street Journal

YouTube Pumps More Ads Into Lineup
Google is finally turning YouTube into an advertising platform
The Wall Street Journal

AUG. 19

A market for heartless seduction
Is the popularity of tom-boy films indicative of slumping economy?
LA Times

Paramount backs up the Vantage dump truck
Vantage lay-offs: the aftermath
LA Time Blog

Blockbuster to offer movies on Motorola phones
Blockbuster to move into mobile video to catch up with competitors
Business Week

Do it my way: Martin Scorsese reported to be at odds with Frank Sinatra’s family over planned biopic
Tina Sinatra argues over who should play her father in the new biopic
The Guardian

AUG. 18

Heath Ledger’s Joker ‘exacerbates stereotypes about mental health’
Report says cinema perpetuates negative stereotypes.
The Telegraph, Aug. 18

Film remakes gone wild: A diet of the familiar, not always tasty
This summer’s crop of remakes and rehashes analysed.
USA Today, Aug. 18

Film makes the leap into another dimension
James Cameron’s Avatar compared to first movie with sound or in Technicolor.
The Times, Aug. 18

Martin Scorsese portrayal of Frank Sinatra angers family‎
Daughter objects to plans to focus on Sinatra’s misdemeanours and mafia connections.
The Telegraph, Aug. 18

‘Terminator Salvation’ producers sue hedge fund Pacificor
Hedge fund could take over rights to franchise.
LA Times, Aug. 18

‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ racking up record sales overseas
Strong brand, ‘family’ theme and famous voice-over actors contribute to success.
LA Times, Aug. 18

AUG. 17

Universal execs under fire for a flop-filled season
Universal’s failed strategy: the consequences.
LA Times

Time-travel romances abound onscreen
Romance from different eras on screen: a short history
LA Times

A pro-drugs movie? Get off the grass, says director
Richard Frakland criticises the board for an overly harsh rating for Stone Bros.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Straw Dogs remake out of the traps
On a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 70s classic
The Guardian

Michigan tax credit courts film industry to lure money, jobs
Generous tax incentives attract more attention to Michigan
USA Today

Cartoon classic looks at coming to town
Yogi Bear big-budget film remake might be filmed in Auckland
NZ Herald, Aug. 16

Noel Clarke considers kids’ film
Adulthood star considers children’s entertainment
The Herald

AUG. 11

Audiences stay away as Chávez moves revolution to the big screen
Lack of marketing and ‘ideological’ nature of Venezuela’s film output blamed.
Financial Times, Aug. 11

Ethical dilemmas of China’s ‘Wall Street’
Historical epic ‘Empire of Silver’ to open in China later this month.
China Daily, Aug. 11

Michael Jackson ‘live’ movie approved
Film will be based on footage from Jackson’s rehearsals for planned comeback concerts.
NZ Herald, Aug. 11

Hank Williams film would be shot in Tennessee
Biopic of legendary country singer in the pipeline.
The Tennessean, Aug. 11

Xinhua’s verdict: film of ignorance
News agency delivers critical assessment of film about Uighur leader.
The Australian, Aug. 11

AUG. 10

18 certificate plan for films showing smokers
Liverpool City Council considers move to class films showing smokers as ‘adult viewing’.
The Independent, Aug. 10

Lionsgate 1Q profit surges on film, TV slate
‘Saw VI’ studio reports huge growth.
Business Week, Aug. 10

‘G.I. Joe’ bruised by bad reviews
Action blockbuster’s performance suffers in comparison with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
LA Times, Aug. 10

Bollywood finds reason to smile
Three recent hits at the box office bode well for upcoming releases.
Business Standard, Aug. 9

AUG. 6

Pirate Baybidder dream of floating on Nasdaq
The Pirate Bay’s latest ambition
The Guardian, Aug. 6

Andrew Adamson to direct Mister Pip
Shrek director to direct film about teaching Charles Dickens to children in Papua New Guinea
NZ Herald, Aug. 6

Court filings detail Jackson film
Los Angeles probate judge needs to approve deal by Monday
The Age, Aug. 6

Spike Lee’s ‘Passing Strange the Movie’ to open Downtown L.A. film fest
Semi-autobiographical portrait of Mark Stewart to open at AT&T Center Theatre
LA Times, Aug. 6

A Mann among men
Actress Leslie Mann talks about playing the female roles in her husband’s films
NZ Herald, Aug. 6

This is a good period for Bollywood: Boman Irani
Munnabhai M.B.B.S. actor’s opinion on the prospects for Bollywood
HindustanTimes, Aug. 6

AUG. 5

Jackman and Hathaway to re-team for circus musical
Talks are in place for a reunion in The Greatest Showman on Earth
NZ Herald, Aug. 5

Will ‘G.I. Joe’ do battle at the Razzies?
The summer blockbuster may not be able to avoid the wrath of the Razzies
LA Times, Aug. 5

Exploring the dark side of domestic help
Director Sebastian Silva takes from his own experiences growing up with the help in The Maid
The Age, Aug. 5

Producer breaks his shackles
Roland Emmerich takes a different approach with his new film, Trade
The Australian, Aug. 5

Steven Spielberg to get Liberty honour
Spielberg will be awarded Philadelphia’s 2009 Liberty Medal in October
NZ Herald, Aug. 5

AUG. 4

North Sea film project launched
Seven countries have formed the £5 million North Sea Screen to attract more film companies to the region
The BBC, Aug. 4

Nova to screen Uighur film
An Australian theatre plans on releasing the Uigher documentary despite the recent film festival controversy
The Age, Aug. 4

Hollywood Studio sue filesharing site
More of the latest on Hollywood’s battle with Pirate Bay
International Business Times, Aug. 4

Renny Harlin has film about South Ossetian conflict in his sights
Die Hard 2 director looks to make an anti-war drama ~
The Guardian, Aug. 4

Paramount Pictures’ Films Available Soon To Consumers In HQ DivX (R) Format
DivX and Paramount deal will enable online retailers to offer secure HQ downloadable videos
Digital Media Network Newswire, Aug. 4

Artist to become darling of British Cinema
Artist Sam Taylor-Wood’s film about John Lennon is “one of the most eagerly awaited British films of the year”
The Times, Aug. 4

AUG. 3

Empire CEO Updates Shareholders on Wallstreet.net Interview
Dean Bornstein and Eric Parkinson talk about recent $30 million film production ventures
Video from WallSt.net, July 16; Story from GlobeNewswire, Aug. 3

Paramount Pictures waves the flag for ‘G.I. Joe’
‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ premieres to Andrews Air Force Base service members and their families first
LA Times, Aug. 3

Tories prepared to allow product placement on TV
Product placement shown to be widespread in US television and film industries
Financial Times, Aug. 3

Kruger with a Luger
Kruger almost not cast in Inglourious Basterds, she says
The Age, Aug. 3

Time to catch up
Are Bridget Jones fans too mature for the third instalment of the film series?
NZ Herald, Aug. 3

AUG. 2

Academy’s ‘Keeper of the Oscars’ dead at 48
The man in charge of the statuettes died of a heart attack after serving the Academy for seven years
USA Today, Aug. 2

The mythical movie of Oz – 70 years on
An exploration into the legends of what took place behind the scenes of The Wizard of Oz
The NZ Herald, Aug. 2

Neill Blomkamp’s ‘District 9’ wins over fanboys and Peter Jackson
The film’s allusions to apartheid could make it “the world’s first autobiographical alien apartheid movie”
LA Times, Aug. 2

Box office draw: Highland film fans feel pulling power of Tilda Swinton
Actress Tilda Swinton and director Mark Cousins on pulling a mobile cinema through Scotland
The Guardian, Aug. 2

What happens when Hollywood’s dark and edgy auteurs mine childhood for its tragi-comic absurdity?
Will the kids enjoy these depictions of the darker side of childhood?
Entertainment Weekly, Aug. 2

How to do a great love scene …
Actor Simon Callow explains what goes into making a love scene
The Guardian, Aug. 2

AUG. 1

Michael Sheen returns home to Swansea
Wales film agency will invest £100,000 to help bring new Sheen project to Wales
Wales Online, Aug. 1

Chinese hackers circulate email on how to sabotage film website
The newest attack on the Melbourne International Film Festival
The Age, Aug. 1

Film quango slammed for lack of vision
‘Lucky Number Slevin’ director says Scotland’s indies will be ‘decimated’ by main film body
Scotsman, Aug. 1

Withdrawals lead to program rethink
Melbourne International Film Festival director says programming for next year must be discussed more in depth
The Age, Aug. 1

‘The Cove’ was covert, dangerous filmmaking
Filmmakers went stealth to capture footage of mass dolphin slaughter in Japan for the documentary
LA Times, Aug. 1

JULY 31

Pirate Bay ordered to block access for Dutch users
Dutch entertainment industry advocacy group fuels website block
NRC Handelsblad, July 31

DocuWeeks Theatrical Documentary Showcase to open in L.A., New York
Profiling Documentary Showcase directors
LA Times, July 31

Bowing for concubine
The ballet adaptation of Zhang Yimou’s 1991 film serves as “soft diplomacy” for China and Australia
The Age, July 31

Moore movie to compete at Venice
Michael Moore’s latest documentary, Capitalism, will be one of the 23 films competing for top honors
NZ Herald, July 31

Film remakes: Stop me if you’ve seen it all
A look into the industry’s most recent remakes
The Independent, July 31

Steep, Adams, Eprhon: Recipe for success in ‘Julie & Julia’
The stars and director of ‘Julie & Julia’ talk about the making of the film
USA Today, July 31

JULY 30

Seeking Asylum: the rise of Hollywood’s Z-movies
The ballgame of ‘off-Hollywood, no-budget, non-union movie production’
The Guardian, July 30

Regal Entertainment Group Reports Quarterly Dividend
Details about second quarter revenues and company’s share prices
Business Wire, July 30

‘New Wave’ directors make a splash in Bollywood
India’s unknowns hit the spotlight
Agence France-Presse, July 30

Judd Apatow’s ‘Funny People’ takes a serious risk
Funny man director says he moved his upcoming film in a different direction
LA Times, July 30

A return to simple gaming, courtesy West Wallaby Street
Telltale Games creates episodic game from Wallace and Gromit
JoongAng Daily, July 30

My £45 hit film: Marc Price on his zombie movie Colin
An interview with the director of the film that only cost £45 to make
The Guardian, July 30

Deconstructing Charlie
Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn talks about attempting to capture Britain’s most violent prisoner on screen
The Age, July 30

JULY 29

Universal Pictures pushes back release of ‘The Wolf Man’ yet again
Benicio Del Toro’s wolfman will be released on Feb 14
LA Times, July 28

25 film, TV productions among first to get California tax credits
25 productions get tax break in California
LA Times, July 28

Pirate Bay cofounder denies MPAA allegations
Legalisation of Pirate Bay headed for trouble?
CNet News, July 29

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives Hollywood tax incentives
The governador signs a five-year $500 million tax credit incentive program
Politico, July 29

DreamWorks defies DVD slump
“There’s no better babysitter for a child than an animated movie,” said DWA chief executive
Financial Times, July 29

International Film Festival Chkhunmoro 2009 to Take Place in South Korea
Theme of “Yesterday, Today and Forever” to be explored in August and September
Vladivostok Times, July 29

Food, Inc. explores the subversive side of food
An interview with filmmaker Robert Kenner
Charleston City Paper, July 29

Film industry gets a whole new dimension
US’s Pace Technologies and 3ality Digital benefit from 3-D equipment development
Burbank Leader, July 29

Wales Creative IP Fund helps new Matthew Rhys film
IP Fund’s £120,000 equity stake in film production makes international film a reality
Wales Online, July 29

JULY 28

BT and Sony IPTV deal
Deal extends rights to BT to air on-demand Sony films
IPTV Watch, July 28

Calif. gives away nearly $68M in film tax credits
Underfilm incentive program, 25 productions qualify for state tax credit
The Associated Press, July 28

Shaw Brothers restarts film production
Shaw brothers return after 30 years for crime drama
Kungfu Cinema, July 28

Pirated DVD: Movie marketers battle for dear life
The Association of Yoruba Marketers vs. 8-in-1 pirate DVDs
Modern Ghana, July 28

Ballantyne Strong, Inc. Among Other Stock Values To Be Lower After Earnings Release
Motion picture company’s stocks, amongst others, to be lower after Thursday’s projections
Trading Markets.com, July 28

Who’s rocketing, who’s sputtering this summer
How the actors in this summer’s blockbusters are fairing
USA Today, July 28

JULY 27

Militant group issues threat over mockery in Bruno film
Group members say they “reserve the right to respond” to Sacha Baron Cohen’s film
The Guardian, July 27

Coco Chanel was a liar, says Audrey Tautou
Chanel refused to speak of her past, the French actress says
The Daily Telegraph, July 27

Australian Film Festival Hacked, Japan Next?
A cyber invasion of anti-Kadeer slogans and Chinese flags
The Wall Street Journal, July 27

Zanussi honoured in Ukraine
Poland’s top film director receives lifetime achievement award at Sevastopol
Polskie Radio, July 27

Comic-Con’s buzz-makers
Benefiters at Comic-Con
LA Times, July 27

Culloden film to be shown at battlefield
Tilda Swinton to hit Northern UK with new project
The Press and Journal, July 27

Korean cars getting big screen exposure
GM Daewoo gets a big boost
JoongAng Daily, July 27

JULY 26

Lars hits rock bottom with a clanking dud
‘Antichrist’ sets precedents in controversy and cinematography
The Independent, July 26

Deadly Jewish revenge: the real Basterds who killed Nazis
Quentin Tarantino’s new action film has some historical basis
The Times Online, July 26

RP film industry faces great depression
Philippines moviemakers face harsh times
ABS CBN News, July 26

James Carmeron, Peter Jackson, talk future of film
Blockbuster directors talk about their high tech hopes
Associated Press, July 26

Denzel Washington on The Taking of Pelham 123
Washington talks about playing an overweight “regular guy” in his new film
The TImes Online, July 26

The real Coco Chanel
A look into the woman behind the bio-pic
The Independent, July 26

£45 zombie movie to get cinema release
Kaleidoscope Entertainment snatches up budget thriller
The Guardian, July 26

JULY 25

Twitter makes Bruno bomb
Tweets of bad review for Bruno may make it the first movie to be defeated by “the Twitter effect”
NZ Herald, July 25

New media bills don’t go far enough
New bill doesn’t ease enough regulations for Korea’s commercial film industry
JoongAng Daily, July 25

New collection allows best of the fest from home
Toronto’s Hot Docs Film Festival partners with Kinosmith to release fest titles on DVD
National Post, July 25

Bill Nighy: ‘As an actor, I’ve never had a plan’
G-Force actor talks about the wide range of characters he has portrayed
The Times Online, July 25

Was 1984 the greatest year in movies ever?
Entertainment Weekly reporter says 1984 wins against golden year of 1939
Entertainment Weekly, July 25

Reboot required
Technology is not always best in films
The Guardian, July 25

JULY 24

Czech Movie Industry Loses Business to Hungary
Budapest’s tax incentives and rebates reign supreme
The Wall Street Journal, July 24

Current, former Saints sue movie studio
American football players seek return from Louisiana Film Studios, LLC
Associated Press, July 24

S. Korea’s ‘Café Noir’ invited to Venice film fest
Co-director of Cinema Digital Seoul fest’s new film claims a spot at Venice
Yonhap News Agency, July 24

Inaugural Aberdeen film festival gets under way
Scottish film fest promotes local talent
STV, July 24

Rebirth of the British art film
Art film revival in the works
The Guardian, July 24

Take advantage of the Entertainment Industry – Veep
Ghana Vice President encourages employment in entertainment business
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, July 24

At the scene of the grime
Documentary about Australia in the 70s to be shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival
The Age, July 24

The worst best movies ever made
Throwing punches at some of the classics
The Guardian, July 24

JULY 23

WTO Rules for U.S. in China Trade Spat
Restrictive trade rule verdict may help U.S. film and media industry
The Wall Street Journal, July 23

Brenda Joyce, dies aged 92
Jane from 1940s Tarzan flicks passes away
The Daily Mail, July 23

Internet sites on alert as piracy crackdown begins
Korean Internet portals on alert for illegal downloading
JoongAng Daily, July 23

Brazil’s Ronaldo to star as himself in Iranian film
Story of girl’s unrealized dream of meeting football king to start filming
Al Arabiya News Channel, July 23

Action Figures for Twentieth Century Fox’s “Avatar”
Fox partners with Mattel to make ground-breaking toy
Business Wire, July 23

3D projects new vision for the movie industry
3D films to save the industry?
CNN, July 23

Michael Jackson planned to co-direct film about foster children
King of Pop was scheduled to co-direct indie ‘They Cage the Animals at Night’
The Guardian, July 23

World of Warcraft to become movie
Sam Raimi looks to smash hit video game for next film
The Independent, July 23

JULY 22

Uighur leader documentary pulls Chinese directors out
Chinese boycott Australian festival in Uighur row
Agence France Press, July 22

From Facebook to silver screen: get ready for the update movie
Social networking sites: a new inspiration?
The Guardian, July 22

Latino film fest founder marks 10th anniversary
Calixto Chinchilla celebrates a decade of Spanish Harlem films
New York Daily News, July 22

Local film production sweeps up three awards
Maltese directors score thrice at Malta International TV short film fest
The Malta Independent Online, July 22

Four flicks cut from Melbourne film fest
Films claimed to be pulled out because of “cultural blackmail”
Australian Associated Press, July 22

Big fish gets huge
South African film school wins award for innovative programmes
Sowetan, July 22

Bruckheimer on ‘Treasure,’ ‘Pirates’ and ‘G-Force’
Bruckheimer discusses upcoming works
The Jacksonville Observer, July 22

“New Generation Filmmakers are Very Conscious of Copyright”
UTV Group CEO says global landscape influences perception of copyright
Forbes India, July 22

JULY 21

‘Spider-Man’ Director Agrees to Take on Warcraft Project
Sam raimi to direct a World of Warcraft movie
The New York Times, July 21

Toshiba likely to embrace one-time rival Blu-ray
Has the HD-DVD battle been lost?
The Associated Press, July 21

Film festival contemplates a flourishing short burst of spring
Sydney Film Festival may cut a week from programme despite record ticket sales this year
Sydney Morning Herald, July 21

Sony Pictures, Redbox Sign Movie Agreement
An indication of Hollywood’s acceptance of kiosk rental business model
The Wall Street Journal, July 21

Sony bids $50 million for Jackson footage
The race for rights to footage for King of Pop’s documentary
Daily Express, July 21

Bruno and Bono’s box office blues
How quickly the networked society can influence box office and music sales
BBC, July 21

Universal integrates Blu-Ray interactive features with iPhone, iPod Touch
Experience Blu-Ray features on Apple devices
Interactive TV Today, July 21

Kungfu star Bruce Lee’s new movie to be shot
“The truest Bruce Lee” to be portrayed in film
Xinhua, July 21

JULY 20

Thirties film star Roberts dies
The Singing Kid’ star Beverly Roberts passes away
BBC, July 20

Deal is close for Jackson film
Sony Pictures nears deal to make King of Pop feature film
Radio Telefís Éireann, July 20

Big guns push cinema attendances to highest level since 2002
Star Trek and Terminator ups cinema attendance to a seven-year high
Brand Republic, July 20

Film festival ‘right to reject Israel boycott’
Melbourne International Film Festival refuses director’s demand to reject Israeli funding
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 20, 2009

Court orders convicted film producer’s arrest
Bollywood film producer convicted for involvement in 1993 Mumbai bombings
The Economic Times, July 20

Films for the faithful
London-based media production company to launch UK’s first ever Faith film club
The Voice, July 20

JULY 19

BBC to throw open its archive of film and radio treasures
BFI among other arts institutions to have access to BBC film archives
The Guardian, July 19

Bafta best film list not expanded
The list will stay at five
BBC, July 19

Film festival cancelled by ‘official parties’
Jeddah governate cancels Saudi Arabia’s only film festival
The Independent, July 19

Wales is creeping up in the horror stakes
More horror movies to be filmed in the burgeoning location
Wales News, July 19

JULY 18

First movie penned by Hamas strongman shown in Gaza
Mahmoud al-Zahar screens story of Hamas armed wing al-Qassam Brigades
Xinhua, July 18

Singapore could be next destination for Bollywood blockbusters
Indian directors drawn to Singapore’s speedy business turnaround
Channel News Asia, July 18

Movie Industry Survives Tough Economy
Wisconsin cinemas strategies to keep admissions rising
ABC Wisconsin, July 18

JULY 17

‘Transformers 2’ becomes biggest-ever China hit
‘Revenge of the Fallen’ breaks 11-year-old box office record in China
Associated Press, July 17

‘Twilight 3’ announces first new casting
New Australian cast member to join third instalment of vampire series
Digital Spy, July 17

Jokers to the left, jokers to the right
A look into the prankster cinema
The Guardian, July 17

Back to the Führer at the movies
Nazis make their return as villains in a slew of new films
The Independent, July 17

Derbyshire man was a true Hollywood giant
The Derby arts centre to pay tribute to ‘Jane Eyre’ director
Derby Telegraph, July 17

Slumdog star dishes the dirt on Nicole Kidman
Nine-year-old Rubina Ali’s memoirs show a less favourable side of Kidman
The Guardian, July 17

JULY 16

British film industry enjoys steady growth despite recession
British films brought in almost £2.6 billion worldwide
The Guardian, July 16

Hobbit film could be jeopardised by Tolkien heirs’ lawsuit
Tolkien heirs seek to terminate further film rights
The Guardian, July 16

Anil Ambani group, Spielberg ink $825 mn production deal
Indian billionaire’s Reliance ADA Group secures deal worth nearly one-third of India’s movie industry turnover
Business Standard, July 16

Bridget Jones to make return to big screen
Three time’s a charm
The Age, July 16

Japanese action thriller adds to anticipation of Puchon film fest
‘Father of anime’ Osamu Tezuka’s new film highly anticipated at Puchon International Film Festival
Yonhap News Agency, July 16

Antichrist: a work of genius or the sickest film in the history of cinema?
Women artists and academics give their opinion on Lars von Trier’s film
The Guardian, July 16

‘Obscene’ Bruno banned in the Ukraine
Ukraine condemns Bruno as a damage to morality
BBC, July 16

South Korea unleashed
South Korean talent storms in down under
The Australian, July 16

Films in high-definition TV? It’s an idea as barmy as Sky’s billboards
Sky’s billboards raise some interesting questions
The Guardian, July 16

JULY 15

Hearing set for LOTR accounting dispute
Tolkien heirs and LOTR Peter Jackson both upset with New Line studio
NZ Herald, July 15

Tarantino vows to retire from movie business at 60
Kill Bill director said he plans to retire in 14 years
Indian Express, July 15

Money, studio, action!
The economic pros and cons of building studios in Canada
The Calgary Herald, July 15

Migrant Workers Fest to Promote Multiculturalism
Promoting cultural ‘jjambbong’ at Seoul’s Migrant Worker Film Festival
The Korea Times, July 15

Maya Indie Film Series at Nuart crisscrosses borders
Film festival will span various genres and be in English and Spanish
LA Times, July 15

Celebrating Nollywood ZAFAA Awards In Style
Nigerian film industry calls for legitimacy
Modern Ghana, July 15

JULY 14

Blockbuster, Samsung Team to Deliver Movies to HDTVs
HD on-demand content to be made available with Blockbuster-Samsung partnership
Bloomberg, July 14

Steven Soderbergh: ‘I can see the end of my career’
Traffic director talks about Moneyball problems and the lacklustre success of Che
The Guardian, July 14

UK Film Council looks to brands to help fund British films
Film Council’s tie-ups with third-party ventures could give creative control and ownership rights to brands
Marketing Magazine, July 14

IMAX focused on Asia as part of global expansion
IMAX continues to bank its future abroad
Associated Press, July 14

Harry gets thumbs up from Vatican
The Vatican approves latest Harry Potter film’s portrayal of good versus evil
Adelaide Now, July 14

Harry Potter: 10 Teen Movie Parallels
Magic aside, Harry Potter is just another teen movie
Entertainment Weekly, July 14

Docu “Food, Inc.” gets boost from Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill helps promote Magnolia Pictures’ new documentary
Reuters, July 14

Local film industry weathers recession
Discounts and special promotions on ticket prices boost Koera’s burgeoning film industry
The Korea Herald, July 14

Golden girl: The divine Olivia de Havilland
Interview with last surviving cast member on Gone With The Wind 70th anniversary
The Independent, July 14

‘Not a penny’ for indie films, Banderas says
Actor laments lack of funds for indies in speech at Czech film festival
The Globe and Mail, July 14

JULY 13

‘Bruno’ sashays to box-office fame with $30.4M
Bruno’s box office longevity disputed
The Associated Press, July 13

S. Korea to hold Latin American festival
South Korea engages in cultural exchange with Latin America through the arts
Yonhap News, July 13

Reel drama more fiction than fact or lost in translation?
Sydney Film Festival film, Stolen, strikes controversy
The Sydney Morning Herald, July 13

It’s the paying public that Bruno’s really mocking
Sacha Baron Cohen’s audience is the actual brunt of his jokes
The Guardian, July 13

Welcome to Hollywood’s latest ‘Nightmare’
New Line revisits Nightmare on Elm Street franchise
LA Times, July 13

JULY 12

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: the critics’ verdicts
Critics and fans divided on new Harry Potter movie
The Guardian, July 12

Killer, robber, master of disguise … and now the biggest movie star in France
Killer Instinct and Mesrine: Public Enemy No 1 are just two more films celebrating French criminal Jacques Mesrine
The Guardian, July 12

Interview: Lars von Trier
Danish director on his latest film Antichrist
The Observer, July 12

Why the British film revival is in danger of being killed off
Recent triumphs for the British film industry may just be cloaking an imminent decline
The Guardian, July 12

JULY 11

New names to run film commission
New Zealand’s Film Commission appoints new board members
The NZ Herald, July 11

Enfant terrible: Charlotte Gainesbourg on Antichrist
Antichrist’s lead actress discusses the notorious film and her own notorious past
The Times, July 11

Why Moon is ace of space
Sci-Fi films are better with more science
The Guardian, July 11

JULY 10

Read ‘em and weep
A look into the art of movie novelisation
The Guardian, July 10

Why I hate Harry Potter and his spell
Harry Potter’s magic does not work for all
The Sydney Morning Herald, July 10

Clooney to film in earthquake-hit Italy
George Clooney will shoot a film in L’Aquila to aid local economy
NZ Herald, July 10

JULY 9

Summer movie season cooling off
An analysis of the summer’s dwindling ticket sales
LA Times, July 9

Bruno movie attacked by Austrian official
The Austrian ambassador to Britain calls for a boycott
The NZ Herald, July 9

‘Alpha Dog drug dealer’ convicted
The drug dealer that inspired the 2007 Justin Timberlake film, Alpha Dog, was found guilty
BBC, July 9

Imposter Potter
Will the Harry Potter films ever be able to capture the magic of the books?
The NZ Herald, July 9

JULY 8

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is box office magic, even before release
Advance sales for Harry Potter overtaking Transformers
The Guardian, July 8

Now, Marathi film industry takes on multiplexes
Marathi Cinema issues memorandum demanding improvements to multiplexes, threatens a freeze on Marathi films if demands not met
The Times of Indian, July 8

I Love You Man trailer banned by ASA
Avertising watchdog deems I Love You Man trailer too sexually explicit
The Guardian, July 8

A Web twist and shout-out to favourite film moments
Stars remake iconic cinema scenes with a comical twist in new Web series
LA Times, July 8

Banned East German comedy gets released after 43 years
A comedy blocked by communist censors finally makes its Dresden premiere
The Australian, July 8

JULY 7

New chart sinks Titanic’s status as US box-office champ
Analysts claim Gone With The Wind is the box office champion of all time
The Guardian, July 7

Director John Woo plans Flying Tigers movie
Woo to shoot a film about American pilots late this year
The Associated Press, July 7

Kentucky gov touts law to boost filming in state
Film incentive legislation passed in the bourbon state
The Associated Press, July 7

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Warner signs Microsoft UK ad deal
Warner Bros and Microsoft launch Harry Potter digital zone ads
The Guardian, July 7

A little girl teaches a robot to love in new IMAX film
Director Park Young-min awes Korean audience in 3-D animation “City Paradiso”
JoongAng Daily, July 7

‘I hope we’ll achieve the political legitimacy of the games industry’
Film veteran David Puttnam continues his legacy in videogames
The Guardian, July 7

Sony shifts gear with Lance Armstrong documentary
Sony prepares to document Tour de France medallist
LA Times, July 7

Harry Potter stars to remember Knox at premiere
Harry Potter cast wear white ribbons to remember Rob Knox
The Independent, July 7

Meet the ‘Kamina’ in Kaminey
Indian director Amole Gupte tests his skills in acting
Rediff Movies, July 7

JULY 6

Cougars slink their way into film, music and TV
Pop culture celebrates older women who prey on younger men
USA Today, July 6

Thousands attend memorial for postwar film star Yujiro Ishihara
Japanese fans flock to the “Yujiro Temple” replica at National Stadium in Tokyo.
The Mainichi Daily News, July 6

Slumdog star moves into new home
Young Salim from Slumdog moves from Mumbai shanty to new city apartment
The New Zealand Herald, July 6

Cinematographer Aseem Bajaj goes global
Bajaj brings Bollywood to Britain in The Deraming Spires
Hindustan Times, July 6

Potter tribute to murdered actor
Harry Potter cast and crew will remember Rob Knox at premiere
BBC News, July 6

LA film industry pleased with higher tax credits
Louisiana hopes to boost economy with new tax credit system that will benefit film industry
Associated Press, July 6

JULY 5

Hollywood gets hitched to booming Bollywood
Hollywood’s leading actors star for the first time alongside Bollywood’s leading actors
The Guardian, July 5

Playing it straight … not
Brüno’s depiction of a flamboyantly gay fashion journalist sparks debates among the gay community
The Age, July 5

Anger at Marion Cotillard over September 11
Public Enemies actress’ 9/11 comments still casting a shadow on her success
The Times, July 5

‘Slumdog’ star writes memoir – at the age of nine
Nine-year-old Slumdog Millionaire actress Rubina Ali talks about her rise to fame in Slumgirl Dreaming
The Independent, July 5

Martin Scorsese on the Woodstock festival
Scorsese reflects on the filming the 1969 Woodstock Festival in an excerpt from the book, Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World
The Times, July 5

JULY 4

‘Transformers’ pulling ahead of ‘Ice Age’, ‘Public Enemies’ at box office
John Dillinger and prehistoric arctic critters come after giant robots.
LA Times, July 4

“Public Enemies” Composer Elliot Goldenthal on Defining Dillinger
Wall Street Journal interviews “Public Enemies” composer Elliot Goldenthal.
WSJ, July 4

Harry Potter star ‘had swine flu’
Ron Weasley recovering from a swine spell
BBC Entertainment News, July 4

The secret of the spell
Screenwriter Steve Kloves talks about writing next story of Harry Potter series
Otago Daily Times, LA Times-Washington Post,
July 4

Film based on true story ‘shows ridiculous nature of apartheid’
Sophie Okonedo stars in a film about a black girl born to white parents in South Africa
The Herald, July 4

JULY 3

Who’s hyped up about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
Predictions for the sixth installment of Harry Potter.
The Guardian, July 3

Sex and the ‘Harry Potter’ movies: Does anyone want this?
Harry Potter grows up, but his audience doesn’t want to hear it.  
Entertainment Weekly, July 3

Cinema’s hidden dimension
A look into why 3D movie tickets are so expensive
The Guardian, July 3

Weinstein Co.’s “Escape From Planet Earth” breaking out later than expected
The Weinstein Co. pushes back the release date of another film.
LA Times, July 3

Donkey from Shrek is most loved film animal
Shrek’s sidekick beats out characters from The Lion King and Jungle Book for most loved title
The Daily Telegraph, July 3

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’s bloopers exposed
Michael Bay’s box office hit contains 47 errors
The Guardian, July 3

JULY 2

Streets of San Francisco star Karl Malden dies aged 97
A Street Car Named Desire star leaves mark as prominent supporting actor
The Guardian, July 2

Film rating complaint not lost on censor
New Zealand chief censor lifted rating from PG to M for Land Of The Lost.
NZ Herald, July 2

Illegal downloads meet suspicious stock sales: the Pirate Bay Story gets even murkier
Swedish regulators are suspicious of insider trading at the company purchasing illegal file-sharing site Pirate Bay.
All Things Digital, July 2

David Carradine likely died of asphyxia, expert says
Though the cause of death is determined, circumstances surrounding the Kill Bill star’s death are still unclear
Entertainment Weekly, July 2

Big Machine Design to Create Futuristic CGI Video for videogame Front Mission Evolved
Visual production company specializing in visuals for film media creates CGI trailer for highly-anticipated game
MAXON Press Room, July 2

Largest movie house joins move to raise ticket prices
CJ CGV joins other major South Korean theatres in raising ticket prices
Yonhap News Agency, July 2

L.A. tributes to ‘Betty Blue’s’ Jean-Jacques Beineix
Betty Blue filmmaker to recieve tribute at American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre
LA Times, July 2

JULY 1

Fabled Oscar prognosticator makes his first best picture pick
Film industry heavyweight sees Oscars for Public Enemies
LA Times, July 1

Gangster Love
Why gangster films endure
The Wall Street Journal, July 1

Marvel shares climb after JPMorgan upgrade
Marvel Entertainment Inc. shares rise to unexpectedly high earnings as JPMorgan upgrades stock
BusinessWeek, July 1

Money Worries Kill A-List Film at Last Minute
SONY pulls out of $10 million film project starring Brad Pitt
New York Times, July 1

George Clooney moves from Warners to Sony
Michael Clayton star George Clooney divorces Smoke House and moves on to Sony
MarketWatch, July 1

Tilda Swinton and Mark Cousins plan mobile film festival
Oscar winner and film critic duo plan another festival for August 1-9
The Guardian, July 1

JUNE 30

Action pic “Unstoppable” hits budget snags
Runaway train film struggles with runaway budget
Reuters, June 30

The movie industry’s new playthings
How Transformers went from toy to movie brand.
The State, June 30

And the Oscar for best song goes to … no one
Music Oscar will only be awarded when year’s offerings are up to scratch.
The Guardian, June 30

29 years on, Glasgow lifts ruling on Life of Brian
Monty Python ban lifted in Glasgow
The Independent, June 30

“Old Boy” proceeds despite legal scuffle
Manga publisher tries to halt Spielberg remake of Park Chan-Wook’s 2003 hit.
China Daily, June 29

‘Bruno’ and Universal pull back the curtain
Production notes reveal clashes with authorities and angry mobs
LA Times, June 29

Sean Connery lambasts BBC over its film festival coverage
Festival patron accuses BBC of not supporting Edinburgh Film Festival.
The Herald, June 29

Can comedies spin magic again at the box office?
Comedies struggle to strike laughs in 2009
Hindustan Times, June 29

JUNE 28-29

Little love this summer for A-list movie actors
Hollywood’s most lucrative films are star-free this summer.
LA Times, June 29

‘Transformers’ director Michael Bay as audience darling
Never mind the critics, Transformers is doing very well.
LA Times, June 29

Flooded film set all in a day’s work
John Hurt gets a taste of Australian weather on the set of his latest, Lou.
The Sydney Morning Herald, June 29

Slumdog actor arrested over gangster scam
Ajit Pandey involved in a gangster scam.
The Sydney Morning Herald, June 29

‘You Don’t Wait for the Muse to Hit You’
An interview with film composer Harry Gregson-Williams.
The Wall Street Journal, June 27

JUNE 27

The Hollywood mob
Hollywood gangster movies: why do we love them?
The Guardian, June 27

JUNE 26

Michael Jackson’s death leads to Bruno scene cut
La Toya jackson scene cut out of Bruno due to Jackson’s death.
The Telegraph, June 26

Warner Bros. is only bidder for Midway Games
Is Warner Bros. a sole bidder for Midday Games?
LA Times, June 26

Tarantino wants to unleash more Basterds
Will there be an Inglourious prequel?
The Guradian, June 26

The Best Picture Should Be the Biggest Blockbuster
Should the most popular films be winning the Oscars?
Power Lunch, June 26

JUNE 22-23

Lights, camera… film school

New state-of-the-art film school to boost Hong Kong’s output.
The Standard, June 23

Sorry Mama, it’s all over – they’re taking away your Kodachrome
Kodak “retires” once ubiquitous film.
The Times, June 23

The film critic who recorded his industry’s swan song
Paean to a dying profession screens at Edinburgh.
The Guardian Film Blog, June 23

Angels doesn’t challenge faith, McGregor says
Has Vatican toned down its criticism over Dan Brown’s film adaptations?
The Globe and Mail, June 23

First Look: What a weird ‘Wonderland’ Burton’s made
Burton’s reworking of Lewis Carrol’s classic is dark and ghoulish.
USA Today, June 22

Imax signs deal with Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group
New Imax cinema for in Gateshead, Northeast England.
Business Week, June 22

Economic crisis clouds Moscow film festival
Call for government help to rescue Russian film industry
Reuters, June 22

FBI tried to stop Deep Throat porn film, files reveal
Agency seized copies to stop porn entering mainstream.
The Guardian, June 22

JUNE 21-22

DVD slump might weaken ‘Half-Blood Prince’ sales
Soft DVD market may damage Harry Potter’s success.
LA Time, June 22

Iran and the Tragedy of Bad Ideas
Stoning Of Soraya M. - a reflection on Iran
The Wall Street Journal, June 22

Paramount Bets Its Summer Largely on One Producer
Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s summer mission: Paramount’s entire movie schedule
The New York Times, June 21

Movie moguls bank on Tarantino to save fortunes of ailing studio
How much are the Weinsteins in need of a box-office hit?
The Guardian, June 21

Can we forgive North by Northwest its Da Vinci Code legacy?
On Hitchcock’s classic’s influence on the Da Vinci Code films.
The Guardian blog, June 21

Redbox’s machines take on Netflix’s red envelopes
Is Netfilx’s DVD rental service in trouble?
The Associated Press, June 21

JUNE 19

Foreign films ‘would boost economy’
Why China should give up its foreign film quota.
China Daily, June 19, 2009

Peter Jackson to review Film Commission
Jackson to lead the ministerial review of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Business Scoop, June 19, 2009

Washington is morphing into a pretty cool district
Is Hollywood heading to Washington DC?
USA Today, June 19, 2009

(LEAD) Finance ministry recommends dismissal of public corporation heads
Korea Film Council heads among corporate bosses to get the sack.
Yonhap News, June 19, 2009

‘Brüno’ too hot to handle for film censors
Bruno might miss out on core audience after film has been given 18 certificate.
The Independent, June 19, 2009

Larry David on Woody Allen and ‘Whatever Works’
Curb Your Enthusiam star on Allen’s new film.
The Wall Street Journal, June 19, 2009

‘Should I buy a flat in Bracknell or make a film in Transylvania?’
Interview with director Peter Strickland.
The Guardian, June 19, 2009

JUNE 18

Crowe to receive Hollywood star
Crowe’s star to shine on Hollywood Boulevard in 2010.
The Age, June 18, 2009

Fox paying for ‘Ice Age’s’ 3-D glasses, but Hollywood remains peeved
3-D glasses: will Fox pick up the tab?
LA Times Blog, June 18, 2009

Special effects outsourcing grows in India
High costs in US push filmmakers to use special effects outfits in India.
The Associated Press, June 18, 2009

NC lawmakers spotlight films for better tax break
Do tax breaks make for better jobs?
The Associated Press, June 18, 2009

A ‘Proposal’ they won’t refuse?
Do chick flicks stand a chance during this summer’s male-dominated line-up?
LA Times, June 18, 2009

Danny Boyle hits out at ‘regrettable’ restrictions on Chinese film-makers
Boyle criticises lack of freedom of speech in Chinese film industry.
The Guardian, June 18, 2009

Dress the set with tears, it’s a wrap
20th Century Props is to close down.
NYT, June 18, 2009

No one’s seen this film, but everyone says it’s cool
How has the After Last Season trailer became an Internet hit?
The Globe And Mail (Canada), June 18, 2009

Anna Bligh turns the Gold Coast into Narnia
Queensland government attracts the third Narnia film to Australia.
The Australian, June 18, 2009

JUNE 17

Carl Icahn closes in on 17% stake in Lions Gate
Is Icahn losing interest in Lions Gate?
LA Times, June 17, 2009

Netflix shares advance on bullish analyst comments
Netflix shares have good bounce following positive analyst comments.
Business Week, June 17, 2009

Report: Sundance had $92.1 million economic impact
Utah University report states Sundance contributed 2000 jobs.
Business Week, June 17, 2009