Kinepolis will roll out 3-D digital cinema at 17 multiplexes in Belgium, France and Spain later this month with a euro 2 ($3) premium over local ticket prices for 35mm screenings, according to Variety Europe. However, cinemagoers using pre-paid vouchers to buy tickets will not pay extra in the short term. In France this will let in a significant slice of the audience, since vouchers account for 40% of Kinepolis ticket sales. In Belgium vouchers have only a 10% share.
In other European entertainment news, the European Union has upped funding for video-on-demand and digital cinema distribution projects to meet higher than expected demand.
The European Commission approved e4.9 million ($7.15 million) in grants from its Media program for 12 projects Monday, overstepping the $5.8 million set aside when bids were invited this year.
George Clooney has dropped out of his highly touted “White Jazz” film project. Chris Pine was to co-star with Clooney in this feature but also opted out so he could portray the legendary Captain James T. Kirk for the next Star Trek movie. The rumor circulating around the gossip cooler is Clooney left “Jazz” to pursue a lead role for the big screen adaptation of “G.I. Joe.”
Writer-director Frank Darabont told SCI FI Wire that he’s considering remaking “Fahrenheit 451.” Darabont, who directed and wrote the screenplay for Stephen King’s “The Mist,” said that “Fahrenheit 451,” based on Ray Bradbury’s classic SF novel, “is closest to becoming a reality.”
The book was first adapted for film in 1966 when the great director François Truffaut put his stamp on it. The film starred Oskar Werner, Julie Christie and Cyril Cusack. The 1966 movie is now considered a sci-fi classic.
“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane and Fox are feuding after the network announced plans to air an original “Family Guy” episode this Sunday. The network also stated that it has plans to move forward with the series with or without MacFarlane’s participation.
MacFarlane, currently out on the WGA picket lines is said to be livid over Fox’s decision. He not only runs the show, but provides many of the voices used for the characters on each episode.
The writer’s strike seems to be sending mixed signals. One says it will have little to no impact in the overall look and feel of television. Others are crying that the TV landscape will be changed forever if the strike, now in its 10th day, lingers on much longer. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, the strike is making an immediate impact on California’s economy causing Governor Arnold Swartzenegger to step up his backstage efforts to bring both parties back to the bargaining table with the goal of getting everyone back to work.
After the State has been hard with oil spills, blazing fires, drought and a few quakes here and there, this is one more economic disaster the governor would like to curtail as quickly as possible
“The governor is very interested in getting this strike ended as quickly as possible,” stated a spokesperson for the Governator.
German filmmaker Marcus Nispel, who revived the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise with a 2003 remake, is in final negotiations to direct the revamp of “Friday the 13th.”
The role of Lavender Brown, Ron Weasley’s girlfriend in the new Harry Potter film, has gone to an established actress by the name of Jessie Cave, age 20. Cave recently starred opposite Academy Award winner Helen Mirren in “Inkheart.”
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth film in the book series, will be released in November 2008.
I don't know how anyone could think that the strike will have little to no impact in the overall look and feel of television. Nearly all of the TV shows I watch will be on hiatus. And who knows how long that will last?
Journalist Paul J. Gough, writing for Reuters, makes an interesting observation in his report titled "Writers strike impact 'negligible': Report."
He makes some valid points. His report can be found at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071114/tv_nm/strike_report_dc_1;_ylt=AkUA3K6O74H2WzmS5XnhAO4E1vAI
Clooney is still producing White Jazz.
Correct John, but he will no longer be starring in it, which will naturally hurt the film's drawing power, unless he can get someone of equal name and stature to take the role. Maybe George will call on his good buddy Brad Pitt to take it over. That would work.