TV / Film News

Head of Hollywood Crews Union is Expected to Resign

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2008

Thomas Short was credited with building up the IATSE, but some called him too cozy with the studios.

Thomas C. Short, the controversial head of the union representing Hollywood's film and TV crews who unified the industry's blue-collar workforce but was sharply criticized by some for being too friendly with the studios, is expected to resign as early as today. The son of a Cleveland union leader, Short has served as president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ...

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Hollywood Shows Musicians the Money

Source: All About Jazz
August 1, 2008

TV, Film offers artists financial refuge

DEVELOPING alternative revenue streams first is no longer a case of putting the cart before the horse for recording artists, especially the independent acts who are finding that placements in television and film provide a bit of financial freedom. Obviously visual media provide immediate paydays, and the return on investment for an artist, especially one working outside the major label system, can easily quantify the impact of a song placement. “Double, triple," guesses Nashville-based ...

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Technologically Promiscuous American Youth Screw Viacom

Source: All About Jazz
August 1, 2008

How American Youth Will Screw Viacom

Here's the thing about the TV business: It's only as profitable or as valuable as the people who watch it. And if the only people who watch it are senior citizens strapped by debt, it's not worth much -- not to advertisers, anyway. When Viacom posted second-quarter results yesterday, the company admitted its TV business hit a snag. Global advertising sales grew just 2 percent, and U.S. ad sales only eked out 1 percent ...

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Ella Fitzgerald Special Tonight KCET

Source: All About Jazz
July 31, 2008

Jazz Icons: Ella Fitzgerald Live in '57 and '63

Two classic Ella Fitzgerald performances. The first, in Belgium (1957), features “Lullaby of Birdland" and “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"; the second set, in Sweden (1963), includes “Mack the Knife" and “Just One of those Things."

TONIGHT'S one hour Ella Fitzgerald Special at 9pm on KCET tonight. It's called Jazz Icons: Ella Fitzgerald Live in '57 and '63. Don't fail to tune in (Los Angeles). ...

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Jazz Age Films 1920's-Wall-E

Source: All About Jazz
July 31, 2008

Jazz, Jazz-Scored, and Jazz Age Films: 1920s-Present Listed below are full-length feature films that meet one or more of these criteria:

The story is about jazz or jazz musicians; The film features performances by famous (or fictional) jazz musicians; An impressive jazz soundtrack accompanies a story that may not have anything to do with jazz; The film captures some characteristic aspect of the Jazz Age (the 1920s to early 30s). NOTE: Some of the earlier films use unflattering racial stereotypes. ...

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Huey Lewis Records Pineapple Express Theme

Source: Michael Ricci
July 31, 2008

Huey Lewis records theme for 'Pineapple Express,' complete with toking sound courtesy of Seth Rogen

Ask '80s pop-rock superstar Huey Lewis how he wound up recording the title song for the highly anticipated stoner action-comedy Pineapple Express, due in theaters Aug. 6, and he'll basically shrug.

They e-mailed, 'Would I write a song for a Seth Rogen movie?' I said, 'Why not?' I don't consider career moves. I just answer the phone. I'm flattered at my ripe old age to ...

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New James Bond Theme Alicia Keys and Jack White

Source: All About Jazz
July 29, 2008

007 Alicia Keys, Jack White to Duet on New “James Bond" Theme

A couple months ago, Alicia Keys talked about her desire to collaborate with the White Stripes. She'll have to settle for the next best thing, as Keys and Jack White are teaming up for the theme song of the next James Bond film Quantum of Solace. “Another Way to Die" was written by White, who will also play drums and produce the track. The song marks the first ...

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The Dark Knight's Musical Mutations

Source: All About Jazz
July 29, 2008

The Dark Knight has survived many Sonic Iterations Though its current spectacle hews closely to the conventional blockbuster score of Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Which works just fine, thanks, considering the film recently broke the record for fastest ever to rack up $300 million. But before those two composers, everyone from Nelson Riddle and Prince to Danny Elfman and Siouxsie and the Banshees has chilled in the Batcave.

Although diehards may feel that Batman Forever and ...

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