Signs of the Apocalypse Roundup – May 2009 – Week 2
Apologies for this coming out a couple of days late. Bruce had the flu and forgot to publish it.
Zoo Prods. to help Wolfboy find love
Reality series to feature Larry Ramos Gomez
The production company is developing a show around Larry Ramos Gomez, a 31-year-old man who has earned notoriety for suffering from hypertrichosis, also known as the “wolfman syndrome.” He has performed for circuses in Mexico, his home country, appeared on talkshows such as “Maury Povich,” as well as on “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” and in the low-rent movie “Freakshow.”
Activision eyes ‘Guitar Hero’ TV series, tour
Popular Activision game could become reality show
The worldwide hit video game “Guitar Hero” could become a reality TV show and/or a real-life concert tour, people familiar with the discussions said Thursday. Activision’s cross-platform interests don’t end at “Hero” either; discussions are under way to turn the “World of Warcraft” and “Call of Duty” video games into movies.
ABC sets Aisha Tyler talk show
Sources say pilot is bound for syndication, cable
“The Aisha Tyler Show” is described as a hybrid that will incorporate aspects of a traditional talk show with comedic political commentary, produced comedy segments and other elements usually associated with late-night shows. Aimed at a younger audience, “Tyler” is being developed as a fully “wired” concept, with fans being able to communicate with Tyler via Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.
VH1 subscribes to more ‘Tough Love’
Reality series picked up for second season
VH1 has given the go-ahead for a second season of reality hit “Tough Love,” in which matchmaker Steven Ward offers women insight into a man’s romantic psyche.
Oliver, Seacrest set ABC reality series
To give makeovers to the unhealthiest places in America
ABC is teaming with British chef Jamie Oliver and Ryan Seacrest for a new unscripted series that gives healthy makeovers to an entire city. Oliver will travel to the unhealthiest places in America and find ways to use nearby resources to improve local eating habits. The network has ordered six hours of the project from Ryan Seacrest Productions.
‘Web Soup’ on menu at G4
E! series spinoff to feature comedian Chris Hardwick
G4 has ordered a Web-centric spinoff of popular E! series “The Soup.” The new series, “Web Soup,” features comedian Chris Hardwick (“Attack of the Show”) showing viewers the best and worst moments in online video. Each episode is broken into segments with such titles as “This Week in FAIL” and “Things You Can’t Un-See.”
Versus to launch ‘Fanarchy’
Sports network series to bow on June 7
Versus will launch a weekly show that will feature seven hardcore fans who are given the opportunity to state their opinions on topics of the day in a frenzied back-and-forth format. Contestants appear via their own webcams and, at the end of each episode, two contestants are eliminated. The remaining five return the following week to argue some more and two new fans are selected by producers and brought in to spar.
Business of the Business
Katz starts multiplatform content company
American Original billed as a ‘nerd machine’
Studio executive turned comic book author turned producer Jeff Katz has launched American Original, an entertainment company aimed at supplying content across multiple platforms for geek consumers while providing services to creators working within the realm. The company, which Katz sees as a “nerd machine” and hopes will be a voice for the comic book industry within Hollywood, will consist of multiple divisions, including publishing and film/television production.
Shows to scrimp on scribes
Studios face pressure to cut writer budgets
Sources say studios are pushing for cuts of as much as 10%-15% in the writing budget for returning series, while new shows will start out with smaller staffs than first-year shows in recent seasons. Where shows once had as many as 10-12 writers, the new norm is becoming six to eight.
CBS Corp. posts $55 million loss
Profits hit by steep drop in ad sales
CBS Corp. capped several weeks of mostly dour financial results at media companies, swinging to a loss of $55.3 million last quarter from a $244 million profit the year before. Revenue eased to $3.16 billion from $3.65 billion. And the soft numbers, driven in part by a weak ad market, hit even as the CBS network is having its best season in years..
Disney/Pixar launching new studio
Vancouver outfit to draw on existing characters
To accommodate a growing slate of nonfeature projects, Disney and Pixar will launch an animation studio in the fall in Vancouver focusing on Pixar’s legacy characters, including Buzz and Woody from the “Toy Story” films and Lightning McQueen and Mater from “Cars.”
Bollywood finds a home on Hulu
Distributor Saavn to stream pics online
Bollywood distrib Saavn has teamed up with Hulu to stream pics online. For now there are five subtitled films available on Hulu. More films will be made available through the year. This is another step to prevent people from viewing pirated versions of Indian films online.
Village Roadshow resolves credit issue
Deal includes financing of four Warners pics from ‘08
Village Roadshow Pictures has successfully restructured a film production credit arrangement that had affected a co-production and co-financing deal with Time Warner’s Warner Bros. The restructure, led by existing bank partners Rabobank International and JP Morgan Chase, includes a $900 million financing facility and the provision for an additional $350 million. The new facility runs through late 2010, and the company has the option to tap into the additional $350 million
Warners teams with Facebook for ‘Watchmen’
BD-Live to allow social net users to watch film simultaneously
In an industry first, Warner Home Video is set to announce a plan to sync up “friend” networks on Facebook with the interactive community-screening features of Warners’ Blu-ray Disc releases, starting with the release of “Watchmen Director’s Cut.” The studio partnership with the social network Web site will use the BD-Live interactive feature on high-def discs, allowing “Watchmen” purchasers to view the film simultaneously and share comments with their Facebook friends.
New Weta unit will wed research, vfx
Transfx to be headed by Sebastian Sylwan
Weta Digital, the New Zealand vfx shop, is launching a working group aimed at bringing advanced computer graphics research together with movie vfx production. The new group, Transfx, is headed by Sebastian Sylwan, who has joined Weta as head of research and development.
World Report: Australia / New Zealand
Australian entertainment rebounds
TV sector thrives, film posts signs of revival
Aussie filmmakers see it as a sign of revival that two Oz pics have been selected to play at Cannes: Jane Campion’s “Bright Star” will unspool in competition, and Warwick Thornton’s “Samson & Delilah” is screening in Un Certain Regard.
Aussies try to corral kids’ fare
New ad-free government channel tunes in children
New Zealand boosts film production
Small island looks to regain big profile
Networks mine crime-themed TV
Documentaries, police dramas flood Australia
Three breaking Aussie companies
Screentime, Roving, Jayco grow and prosper
Aussies get major musicals, short runs
Producers meet economy with lower prices
TVNZ plans transformation
Broadcaster sees tech as key to relevance
Planet of the Odd
Kiefer Sutherland charged with assault
‘24′ star allegedly head-butted Jack McCollough at a nightclub
Details about what exactly happened Monday night remain sketchy, with Sutherland’s rep saying fashion designer Jack McCollough rudely bumped into actress Brooke Shields while she was talking to the actor at the event. Sutherland demanded an apology, then head-butted McCollough.
China gets ‘Ultra’ sensitive
Prime Minister complains about Japanese cartoon
Chinese viewers are boycotting Japanese toon “Ultraman” after their Prime Minister Wen Jiabao complained recently that his grandson spent too much time watching the superhero instead of homegrown cartoons.
Obama drama
Nets take a stand against primetime pre-emptions
Executives at the Big Four broadcast networks are seething behind the scenes that President Obama has cost them about $30 million in cumulative ad revenue this year with his three primetime news conference pre-emptions.
Farrah Fawcett’s outlook grim, O’Neal says
Companion describes late stages of cancer fight
Actor Ryan O’Neal has told People magazine that his companion Farrah Fawcett, who has battled cancer for nearly three years, is now bed-ridden, bereft of her famous blonde hair and near the end of medical treatment. “She stays in bed now. The doctors see that she is comfortable. Farrah is on IVs, but some of that is for nourishment. The treatment has pretty much ended.”
Polanski case not thrown out
Judge cites director’s failure to appear in court
A Los Angeles judge on Thursday dismissed a bid to throw out a 31-year-old conviction against the director for having sex with a 13-year-old because Polanski refused to appear in court for a hearing on the matter.
Bollywood box office talks still unresolved
Producers, cinemas negotiating rev share in India
Talks between Bollywood producers and multiplex owners in India over sharing box office revenues broke off Tuesday without reaching a settlement. Distribs have withheld pics since April 3 because exhibs continue to refuse their request for a 50-50 share of B.O. extending through the run of a film. Plex owners want a 50-50 split the first week, 60-40 in their favor the second week and 70-30 the third. Cinemas have been showing reruns and some Hollywood fare for the past four weeks.
The Fine Print
This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire weeks’ news. All stories are chosen by me for no other reason than that they got my attention and might capture yours. If something you think is more important chime in on the feedback; we’d love to hear comments and have a conversation about it.
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