Film company aims to change black image in US (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

President and Chief Executive of Codeblack Entertainment Jeff Clanagan poses at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2006 in Park City, Utah in this publicity photograph. Clanagan has launched a film distribution company, Codeblack Entertainment, with the goal of reaching upscale urban audiences with top-quality movies made by and about black Americans outside Hollywood's studio system. (CodeBlack Entertainment/Handout/Reuters)Reuters - Pimps, prostitutes and thugs often have big parts in Hollywood movies set in black America, but if Jeff Clanagan succeeds, audiences may soon see a greater number of smart, independent films about mainstream African-American life.


"The Wild" a virtual remake of "Madagascar" (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Reuters - This latest computer-animated effort from Disney is all too indicative of the current glut of animated films. Lacking distinctive personality or humor and unfortunately coming across as an all-too-soon remake of last year's "Madagascar," "The Wild" is unlikely to achieve the sort of box office numbers garnered by its predecessor, though its Easter holiday weekend release should help.

Quiet Birth Likely for Baby Cruise (AP)

April 12, 2006

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes arrive to the premiere of 'War of the Worlds,' Thursday, June 23, 2005, in New York. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff, FILE)AP - Tom Cruise has been practically shouting from the rooftops about his love for his pregnant fiancee, Katie Holmes. But when their much-anticipated baby is born, the superstar dad probably won't say a word.


Cruise to Appear at Tribeca Film Festival (AP)

April 12, 2006

AP - "Mission: Impossible III" will make its U.S. premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, but Tom Cruise's arrival to promote the summer blockbuster sounds more like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

Winnie the Pooh Gets Hollywood Star (AP)

April 12, 2006

Johnny Grant, the honorary Mayor of Hollywood, poses for a photo with from left, Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger during a ceremony Tuesday, April 11, 2006, celebrating Pooh's 80th anniversary with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. Pooh, created in the 1920's by British author A.A. Milne, debuted as a cartoon character in the 1966 Disney featurette 'Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree,' and went on to star in dozens of films, specials and several cartoon series.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)AP - Winnie the Pooh sure does love his honey, but the beloved bear now has something just as sweet: a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


Indian Actor Raj Kumar Dies, Fans Riot (AP)

April 12, 2006

People walk past a burning vehicle set a blaze by fans of actor Raj Kumar after they demanded his body be kept for public view in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, April 12, 2006. Raj Kumar, a onetime child actor who became one of the most beloved movie stars in south India, died Wednesday, news reports said. He was 77 years old. (AP Photo/KPN)AP - Raj Kumar, a onetime child actor who became one of south India's most beloved movie stars and later was kidnapped by a notorious bandit, died Wednesday at age 77.


Actor's death sparks violence in India's tech city (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Indian film star Rajkumar is seen in this undated file image. Rajkumar died on April 12, 2006 sparking widespread violence as distraught fans torched buses and ripped hoardings in the country's hi-tech hub. (Stringer/Files/Reuters)Reuters - An icon of south Indian cinema and star of more than 200 films, Rajkumar, died on Wednesday, sparking widespread violence as distraught fans torched buses and ripped hoardings in the country's hi-tech hub.


Actor Raj Kumar Dies at 77 (AP)

April 12, 2006

Fans carry a photograph of actor Raj Kumar as they stand outside his residence to pay homage to him, in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, April 12, 2006. Raj Kumar, a onetime child actor who became one of the most beloved movie stars in south India, died Wednesday, news reports said. He was 77 years old. (AP Photo/KPN)AP - Raj Kumar, a onetime child actor who became one of south India's most beloved movie stars and later was kidnapped by a notorious bandit, died Wednesday at age 77.


"Galactica's" Moore eyeing game space (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Reuters - Ronald D. Moore knows a thing or two about reinventing old intellectual property for a new audience. The writer-director has turned "Battlestar Galactica" into a hit show for the Sci Fi Channel and now is looking to delve deeper into video games as a further extension of the franchise.

S.Korean film director abducted by North dies (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Reuters - Shin Sang-ok, a South Korean film director whose own life had more twists than many Hollywood thrillers, including being kidnapped by North Korean agents to make propaganda films, has died, a movie industry official said.

More feature directors find lucrative TV gigs (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Reuters - Spike Lee, James Mangold, Frank Darabont and Barry Sonnenfeld were all furiously shooting or in postproduction last weekend to get cuts of their latest projects finished and into the studios on time.

"Numbers" co-star joins Woody Allen film (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Reuters - David Krumholtz, star of the CBS crime drama "Numbers," has signed on to join Michelle Williams in Woody Allen's untitled movie.

Suspense film "Cronicas" tops Latino DVD Awards (Reuters)

April 12, 2006

Reuters - "Cronicas," a suspense thriller about a Miami TV reporter who investigates a string of gruesome child murders in Ecuador, won top honors at the second annual Latino DVD Awards, presented Tuesday in West Hollywood.