TV / Film News

MTV Networks Executives Wanted to Buy Youtube

Source: Michael Ricci
March 18, 2010

There is much to behold in the 300-plus pages released Thursday morning in the $1-billion copyright infringement lawsuit that Viacom has lobbed against YouTube and its parent company, Google. Among the more juicy tidbits is a set of internal Viacom documents from July 2006 showing that the New York media conglomerate had explored buying YouTube for as little as $1 million. The talks foundered, and YouTube was subsequently acquired by Google in October 2006 for $1.8 billion. In one e-mail ...

Continue Reading...

Doors Documentary Opens April 9

Source: JamBase
March 18, 2010

Doors Documentary When You're Strange Begins In Select Markets April 9

The Doors When You're Strange first played at Sundance in 2009. Producers include Dick Wolf, Rhino's John Beug and Jeff Jampol, the band's manager. Wolf Films' Peter Jankowski, also a producer, guided the project for Wolf's company. It was made with support of band members Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robby Krieger, as well as the estate of Jim Morrison. Manzarek has said in interviews that the doc is ...

Continue Reading...

3D or Not 2D, That is the Question

Source: Michael Ricci
March 18, 2010

'Dragon' versus 'Titans' versus 'Alice' in fight over 3-D screens Studios are using high-pressure tactics to book their films into theaters.

In the wake of the blockbuster “Avatar," Hollywood's obsession with 3-D has hit a roadblock.

Paramount Pictures is using high-pressure tactics against theaters to book DreamWorks Animation's upcoming big-budget 3-D film, “How to Train Your Dragon" onto scarce 3-D screens around the country, according to industry executives. “Dragon," opening March 26, will be going head to head against the ...

Continue Reading...

New Michael Jackson Documentary Comming Soon

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2010

The author behind “Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson" is tackling the King of Pop's last days for the bigscreen.

Author/filmmaker Ian Halperin is behind “Gone Too Soon," an 88-minute documentary about Jackson that is culled from 300 hours of footage shot inside the singer's camp. Shine International, which holds international distribution rights to the doc, will unveil “Gone Too Soon" at next month's MIPTV confab in Cannes. Pic is set for a theatrical run in Canada and France, ...

Continue Reading...

Disgrace of The Hump in Santa Monica

Source: Michael Ricci
March 18, 2010

Santa Monica sushi restaurant charged with illegally selling whale meat. The eatery admits the wrongdoing, its attorney says.

Federal agents and animal activists cooperated in a video sting orchestrated by a producer of the Oscar-winning documentary 'The Cove.' Federal prosecutors Wednesday filed criminal charges against a Santa Monica sushi restaurant and one of its chefs, alleging they had sold meat from an endangered whale. The Hump, a hip hangout at Santa Monica Airport, immediately said through attorney Gary Lincenberg that ...

Continue Reading...

Get on Reality TV Show

Source: All About Jazz
March 17, 2010

You don't need to crash a White House party to make it onto a reality TV show. Wired asked Lynne Spillman, casting director for “Amazing Race" and “Survivor", what she looks for in wannabe fameballs.

Here are three tips for making sure you aren't voted off her island.

This article is a wiki. Got extra advice? Log in and add it. Accent Your Positives.

Let casting know what you've got to offer the ratings gods -- be it mad rodent-cooking ...

Continue Reading...

"The Cove" Being Felt at the Hump Santa Monica's Sushi Probe

Source: All About Jazz
March 17, 2010

The owner of The Hump, the Santa Monica sushi restaurant where, until recently, an endangered species of whale was on the menu, has already publicly admitted to violating the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. Charges have been filed. The restaurant, in its own way, has even said it is sorry, issuing a statement that included the phrase, “We sincerely apologize" while also noting, “whale meat in Japan is widely served as a delicacy." Now the question is, “What move, if ...

Continue Reading...

Oscar Winner "The Cove" Becomes Basis for New TV Series

Source: Michael Ricci
March 17, 2010

Fans of “The Cove," the environmentally themed film that won the best documentary Oscar last night, will be happy to know there's more where that came from.

A new television series about the controversial dolphin trade in Japan, tentatively titled “Dolphin Warriors," has been greenlit by Animal Planet.

The series picks up where the movie leaves off and, like the film, stars animal activist Ric O'Barry.

Two episodes of the series -- which is being executive produced by O'Barry's son, ...

Continue Reading...