Writers Heart "Casablanca" (E! Online)

April 7, 2006

If you ask Hollywood scribes, Casablanca has the write 
 stuff.E! Online - If you ask Hollywood scribes, Casablanca has the write stuff.


'Da Vinci Code' Judge Slams Lawsuit (AP)

April 7, 2006

Author Michael Baigent speaks during an interview in Toronto on Thursday April 6, 2006. High Court justice Peter Smith rules Friday in the claim by authors Baigent and Richard Leigh against'The Da Vinci Code' publisher Random House. Smith must decide whether Browns blockbuster 'appropriated the architecture' of Baigent and Leighs 1982 non-fiction book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. (AP PHOTO/CP, Frank Gunn)AP - "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown and his publishing house were cleared of copyright infringement in a British court Friday, with the judge finding the lawsuit based on a contrived and "selective number of facts and ideas."


Keira Knightley Donates Oscar Dress (AP)

April 7, 2006

The custom-made Vera Wang gown worn by actress Keira Knightley to the  2006 Academy Awards is displayed by shop assistant Akan Topcan in the shop window of Oxfam in Notting Hill, London, Friday April, 7, 2006. Keira Knightley has agreed to donate her custom-made Vera Wang gown to an Oxfam auction. All proceeds will support Oxfam's life-saving work in East Africa. The dress will be on exhibit in New York City at the Vera Wang Flagship store on 991 Madison Avenue from April, 19, until the end of the auction on April ,30. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)AP - Keira Knightley has donated the Vera Wang gown she wore to this year's Oscars to raise money for Oxfam's relief work in East Africa.


StreamCast to Seek Trial in Copyright Case (AP)

April 7, 2006

AP - StreamCast Inc., the company behind the Morpheus online file-swapping software, said Friday negotiations to settle a five-year copyright battle with the entertainment industry have failed and it will now fight the case in court.

Tom Hanks jokes with Japan's movie buff leader (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - Hair topped the agenda when movie star Tom Hanks met Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday, with the normally short-haired Hanks expressing admiration for Koizumi's wavy locks.

"Casablanca" named greatest movie script (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - Round up the usual suspects: The Writers Guild of America has named "Casablanca" as No. 1 on its first list of the "101 Greatest Screenplays."

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie in Namibia (AP)

April 7, 2006

Brad Pitt, left, and Angelina Jolie attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 26, 2006.  The couple is staying at a secluded Namibian beach resort, surrounded by tight security and speculation their baby will be born in Africa. Namibian media reported that immigration officials confirmed the celebrity couple and five other people, including two children, arrived in Walvis Bay Monday morning, April 3, 2006, on a chartered jet from Paris.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)AP - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are staying at a secluded Namibian beach resort, surrounded by tight security, prompting speculation their baby will be born in Africa.


Judge Disses "Da Vinci" Lawsuit (E! Online)

April 7, 2006

There's just no cracking The Da Vinci Code--at least in 
 courtE! Online - There's just no cracking The Da Vinci Code--at least in court


'Bumfights' Video Producers Settle Suit (AP)

April 7, 2006

AP - The producers of videos featuring homeless people brawling and performing dangerous stunts have agreed to settled a lawsuit filed by three men they filmed, the men's attorney said.

Tom Hanks swaps jokes with Japan's movie buff PM (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - Hair topped the agenda when movie star Tom Hanks met Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday, with the normally short-haired Hanks expressing admiration for Koizumi's wavy locks.

CORRECTED-Indian animators eye co-production for big profits (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - (Please read in 8th paragraph ...help India's animation and gaming market quadruple to $1.3 billion by 2009... instead of ...to $1.3 million by 2009...)

Writers Guild crowns 'Casablanca' as greatest script (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - "Casablanca" has topped the list of "101 Greatest Screenplays," a first-ever ranking by members of the Writers Guild of America that was revealed Thursday night at a reception in Beverly Hills.

First Look canonizes Sundance hit 'Saints' (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," Dito Montiel's autobiographical drama starring Robert Downey Jr., Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest and Rosario Dawson, has been acquired for worldwide distribution by First Look Studios.

Blockbuster Will Fight Netflix Lawsuit (AP)

April 7, 2006

**FILE PHOTO** A sign from a Blockbuster Video store in Dallas is shown, Nov. 8, 2005. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)AP - If there's a bright side to being sued, movie-rental giant Blockbuster Inc. claims to have found it in its battle with Netflix Inc.


Death reigns in Brazilian film on drug gangs (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Brazilian rapper MV Bill listens to a question during an interview in Rio de Janeiro March 29, 2006. Out of 17 youths interviewed in a new Brazilian documentary on children serving as soldiers in drug gangs, only one is still alive. MV Bill, the director of the film 'Falcon, Boys in Drug Traffic,' still finds it hard to accept the sad reality of so many youngsters getting killed in what he calls an 'insane war' for survival. The falcon in the film's title refers to young armed lookouts who guard drug traffickers' strongholds in the slums. They are often the first to die in clashes with rival gangs or police. Picture taken on March 29, 2006.  REUTERS/Sergio MoraesReuters - Out of 17 youths interviewed in a new Brazilian documentary on children serving as soldiers in drug gangs, only one is still alive.


"Eyes" takes harrowing look at domestic abuse (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - The recipient of a slew of Goya Awards (including best film, director, original screenplay and leading actor and actress), Iciar Bollain's "Take My Eyes" demonstrates the potency of even the most familiar themes.

Zucker has right stuff for 'Scary' franchise (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - While most Hollywood movie franchises inevitably run out of steam, the Weinstein Co.'s "Scary Movie" series is the gift that keeps on giving.

"Meltdown" rivals facing a mammoth task at box office (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

An undated publicity photograph shows Diego the saber tooth tiger, voiced by Denis Leary, and Crash the possum, voiced by Seann William Scott, in a scene from the computer animated feature film 'Ice Age: The Meltdown'. (Blue Sky Studio/Twentieth Century Fox/Handout/Reuters)Reuters - Although four new wide releases will try to climb the box-office heights this weekend, they are facing a veritable Mount Everest in 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age: The Meltdown," which established itself last weekend as the first bona fide blockbuster of the year when it opened to $68 million.


Steven Spielberg Getting Into Reality TV (AP)

April 7, 2006

Director Steven Spielberg arrives for the 78th Academy Awards in this Sunday, March 5, 2006 file photo, in Los Angeles.  Spielberg can't resist the lure of reality television.  The Oscar-winning director of films including 'Schindler's List' and 'Saving Private Ryan' will join with reality TV mogul Mark Burnett for 'On the Lot,' a competition in which the winner receives a studio deal.  (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, FILE)AP - Turns out even Steven Spielberg can't resist the lure of reality television. The Oscar-winning director of films including "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" will join with reality TV mogul Mark Burnett for "On the Lot," a competition in which the winner receives a studio deal.


Italy's cartoon fest hands fetes Roy Disney (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - Roy Disney was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 10th Cartoons on the Bay Festival on Thursday, which also featured the world premiere of the latest Asterix and Obelix film and the Italian premiere of the controversial Danish cartoon film "Terkel."

Hamburg tapped as 'Troubleshooter' for Universal (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Reuters - In a multimillion dollar deal, Universal Pictures and Working Title have acquired the script "The Troubleshooter" by John Hamburg, whose credits include "Meet the Parents."

Verizon will V Cast Atom, TBS content (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Pedestrians pass by a Verizon Wireless store in Verizon Communications Inc. headquarters in New York in this February 14, 2005 file photo. Adobe Systems Inc. unveiled a deal on April 5 with Verizon to build Flash animation software into Verizon mobile phones. REUTERS/Peter MorganReuters - Verizon V Cast subscribers are getting access to a wider selection of programming that ranges from Tim Burton's "Stainboy" to Craig McCracken's "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends."


Aja sees 'Mirror' image for Regency (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Director Alexandre Aja arrives at the premiere of 'The Hills Have Eyes' in Hollywood, California March 9, 2006.  REUTERS/Max MorseReuters - Hot off of directing the horror remake "The Hills Have Eyes," Alexandre Aja is going "Into the Mirror" for Regency Enterprises.


Lopez, Q play 'Balls' for Garant (Reuters)

April 7, 2006

Actor/comedian George Lopez smiles as he makes a speech before receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles March 29, 2006. Lopez's television comedy series 'George Lopez' airs its 100th episode on Wednesday. REUTERS/Chris PizzelloReuters - George Lopez and Maggie Q have joined the cast of "Balls of Fury," a comedy being directed by Ben Garant.