Hollywood Reporter

Fallen Madonna stage kills another

Associated Press — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:25:00 EDT

The Marseille hospital authority says a second person has died after the roof of a stage being built for a Madonna concert collapsed.

'Harry Potter' casts worldwide spell

By Jill Serjeant and Steve Gorman, Reuters — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EDT

The latest "Harry Potter" movie cast a $104 million spell over worldwide box offices during its first day in theaters, setting a new record for the boy wizard, distributor Warner Bros Pictures said on Thursday.

Unseen Jackson footage on the way

By Mimi Turner — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:43:00 EDT

ITV is promising exclusive unseen footage of Michael Jackson from the private collection of the singer's friend Uri Geller in a forthcoming documentary.

'Transformers' sets $59 mil record

Associated Press — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:52:00 EDT

The "Transformers" sequel has become China's biggest boxoffice hit ever by earning 400 million Chinese yuan ($59 million), a publicist for one of the country's two film importers said.

Televisa sees fall in Q2 profit

By John Hecht — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:36:00 EDT

Mexican media conglomerate Televisa on Thursday reported flat second-quarter earnings, hurt by financing costs, affiliate losses and increased competition.

Google exec headlines U.K. conference

By Mimi Turner — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:14:00 EDT

Google chairman and chief executive Eric Schmidt will headline this year's Royal Television Society biennial Cambridge conference, delivering a keynote address by satellite to the U.K.'s leading broadcast executives, it was announced Thursday.

Genuine Stasi files sent to film set

By Caroline Copley, Reuters — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:59:00 EDT

Secret files of Communist East Germany's Stasi security police were sent to a film set for use as props, triggering an investigation into how such sensitive documents were obtained.

Madonna stage collapse kills worker

Associated Press — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:21:00 EDT

A stage being built for a Madonna concert in the French port city of Marseille collapsed Thursday, leaving one dead and six injured, the fire department said.

Facebook in the hot seat in Canada

By Etan Vlessing — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:37:00 EDT

Canada's privacy watchdog has fingered Facebook for breaching federal rules by not protecting the private information of 12 million Canadian users

U.K. Film Council publishes promising stats

By Stuart Kemp — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:27:00 EDT

Hooray for Hollywood is the chorus from those working in movie production as the first half year figures show a resolute uptick in activity by U.S. studio-backed projects here.

Russian TV channels feeling the pinch

By Vladimir Kozlov — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:35:00 EDT

Facing a substantial decline in ad revenues, major Russian TV channels are cutting back film and TV series production, as well as purchases of foreign content and formats

DreamWorks confirms $825 mil

By Nyay Bhushan and Carl DiOrio — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:52:00 EDT

DreamWorks Studios has at last secured the financing it needs to get its production slate up and running.

Locarno festival titles unveiled

By Stuart Kemp — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:07:00 EDT

A brace of U.S. titles will unspool during August's 62nd Locarno Film Festival among the 24 world premieres scheduled for the event, as unveiled by organizers Wednesday.

Ne-Yo launches U.K. office

By Mark Sutherland, Billboard — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:43:00 EDT

R&B star Ne-Yo has announced the U.K. arm of his Compound Entertainment management/artist development/production company.

Ukraine bans 'Bruno'

Associated Press — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:04:00 EDT

Ukraine's Culture Ministry says it has banned Sacha Baron Cohen's new movie, "Bruno," because it's immoral.

Central Europe to see rapid cinema expansion

By Stuart Kemp — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EDT

Distributors trawling the globe for growth markets need look no further than several territories in central Europe, according to the latest report from exhibition specialists Dodona Research.

U.K. filmmakers get cash for Olympic projects

By Stuart Kemp — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:45:00 EDT

Wannabe filmmakers are to enjoy the benefits of the London 2012 Olympics via a U.K. Film Council backed plan to pump £3 million ($4.9 million) into "Film Nation" in the run up to the event.

Corus posts Q3 loss on impairment charge

By Etan Vlessing — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:10:00 EDT

Canadian TV and radio broadcaster Corus Entertainment is feeling the recessionary chill.

'Chess in Concert' hitting the big screen

By Stuart Kemp — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EDT

Movie theaters will be alive to the sound of "Chess in Concert," a recording of a shindig celebrating 25 years of the musical "Chess," after alternative content distributor More2Screen and Warner Music Entertainment stuck a theatrical distribution deal.

Jim Sherry steps down at Maple Pictures

By Etan Vlessing — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:03:00 EDT

Jim Sherry has stepped down as co-president of Canadian indie distributor Maple Pictures after 10 months in the post.

CTV unloads two cable channels

By Etan Vlessing — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:28:00 EDT

Canadian broadcaster CTVglobemedia has sold two cable channels, Drive-In Classics and SexTV, to rival Corus Entertainment for CAN$40 million ($35.2 million).

New Zealand revisits anti-piracy law

By John Ferguson, Billboard — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:43:00 EDT

Serial copyright offenders in New Zealand could still have their accounts terminated under revised legislation -- but only after a lengthy process involving both mediation and an independent tribunal.

John Flock named Peace Arch CEO

By Etan Vlessing — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:11:00 EDT

Peace Arch Entertainment president and COO John Flock on Tuesday was named CEO of the Canadian producer, replacing Gerry Noble, who stepped down in May.

'Creation' to open Toronto film festival

By Etan Vlessing — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:23:00 EDT

The Toronto International Film Festival has given its plum opening-night slot to the Charles Darwin romancer "Creation," starring Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany.

E1 Entertainment hires Swin Chang

By Etan Vlessing — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:19:00 EDT

Canadian producer E1 Entertainment has bolstered its kids TV and animation business by naming Swin Chang as director of development.

BBC bosses hit out at culture secretary

By Mimi Turner — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:48:00 EDT

BBC bosses Tuesday hit out at accusations of "a pattern" of poor leadership from culture and media secretary Ben Bradshaw, warning the government not to engage in "personal criticism" when it came to a debate about the BBC's future.

Russell Brand returning as VMA host

By Nellie Andreeva — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:04:00 EDT

MTV says Russell Brand will host the Video Music Awards for the second year in a row.

Spain's Zinkia to float on alternative market

By Benjamin Jones — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:36:00 EDT

Spanish audiovisual content provider Zinkia, creator of the hit children's animated series "Pocoyo," is to list on Spain's alternative stock market Wednesday, the company announced.

San Sebastian unveils Pearls sidebar

By Benjamin Jones — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:54:00 EDT

Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," Jacques Audiard's "Un Prophete" and Bong Joon-ho's "Mother" will vie for top honors and cash prizes in the Zabaltegi-Pearls section at this year's San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Hubert Bals Fund Plus awards cash

By Stuart Kemp — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:12:00 EDT

A quartet of Dutch production banners will each receive €50,000 ($70,000) from the Hubert Bals Fund Plus cashpool, a fund from the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Netherlands Film Fund.