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Jennifer Lopez Apologizes For Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Turkmenistan Ruler
21 hours ago
Jennifer Lopez apologized Sunday after a barrage of criticism followed her singing "Happy Birthday" to the leader of Turkmenistan, a country described by human rights groups as "among the most repressive in the world." The singer and actress performed in the former Soviet bloc country on Saturday night. A statement released Sunday by her publicist to the Associated Press said the event was hosted by the China National Petroleum Corp. and wasn't a political event. However, the country's leader, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, attended. Berdimuhamedow has been criticized for his oppressive rule by Human »
- Todd Cunningham
'Ray Donovan': Showtime's New Series About Hollywood 'Fixer' Splits the Critics
23 hours ago
"Ray Donovan," the new series debuting Sunday on Showtime, is about a South Boston transplant who works as a fixer for the rich and powerful of Hollywood. It has a terrific pedigree. Liev Schreiber stars as the title character with Jon Voight playing his father, and creator Ann Biderman is behind the critically acclaimed TNT series "Southland." That should be enough to get people to tune in; whether the show will deliver enough to keep them viewing remains to be seen. The New York Post's Linda Stasi will be back, for sure. "Do »
- Todd Cunningham
'True Blood's' Anna Paquin on Sookie's Romances: She Has 'to Close Some Doors'
30 June 2013 12:54 PM, PDT
Of the critiques on HBO's "True Blood," there is one that the vampire series seems to be addressing this season. Since Season 1, Sookie (Anna Paquin) has bounced between romances with Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard). Some have wondered when she would become more active in the decisions she made about those relationships. But, Sookie is asserting herself more this season than she has ever had before. "You can't watch the same person make the same relationship mistakes over and over again without at some point expecting that they're going »
- Jethro Nededog
Brad Pitt's 'World War Z' Scores $70M at Overseas Box Office
30 June 2013 12:36 PM, PDT
Brad Pitt's "World War Z" zombies overran the overseas box office this weekend, taking in more than $70 million. It was a big weekend at the box office abroad. Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel" debuted No. 1 in seven new markets and took in $52 million from 62 markets, and raised its worldwide total to $520 million in the process. Disney's "Monsters University" added $44.2 million from 37 territories. And Universal's "Despicable Me 2" debuted in the top spot in five markets and brought in $41.5 million. With its nearly $30 million »
- Todd Cunningham
Independent Box Office: Pedro Almodovar's 'I'm So Excited' Averages $20K in Debut
30 June 2013 11:54 AM, PDT
Writer-director Pedro Almodovar's "I'm So Excited" was the top-grossing independent movie this weekend, taking in $103,000 from just five screens for Sony Pictures Classics. That's a $20,600 per-screen average – better than any movie in the marketplace – for Almodovar's latest, a comedy that takes place mainly on an airplane. Also read: 'The Heat' Sizzles, 'White House Down' Fizzles as 'Monsters U' Repeats at Box Office That's good, but not as strong as the opening for his last film, "The Skin I Live In," which averaged $37,187 at five theaters. It went on »
- Todd Cunningham
'Man of Steel' Soars Past $500M at Worldwide Box Office
30 June 2013 10:49 AM, PDT
Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' "Man of Steel" crossed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office this weekend. The first Superman sequel in seven years has earned $248.7 million domestically, and $271.7 internationally, for a worldwide total of more than $520 million after 17 days. "Man of Steel" has benefited greatly from Imax theaters, from which it has taken in $27 million domestically and $18.9 million internationally. Just as importantly, "Man of Steel" has revived the dormant franchise and clears the way for the studio to launch its own superhero »
- Todd Cunningham
'The Heat' Sizzles, 'White House Down' Fizzles as 'Monsters U' Repeats at Box Office
30 June 2013 9:04 AM, PDT
Women moviegoers turned out in force to help Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock's "The Heat" beat up Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx's "White House Down" at the box office this weekend. But Sully and Mike, best buddies in Disney's "Monsters University," topped them both. The 3D Pixar family film repeated as the top movie at the domestic box office with an estimated $46 million, topping Fox's female buddy cop comedy which debuted with a better-than-expected $40 million. But the weekend's other wide opener, "White House Down," finished a disappointing fourth behind "World »
- Todd Cunningham
TheGrill@ Locations: Can the Visual-Effects Industry Survive the Pitfalls of Free Money? (Video)
29 June 2013 9:43 PM, PDT
See TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show Free money isn't always free -- in fact, it can actually be downright disastrous for an industry. That was the dilemma at the heart of the panel "Visual Effects and Tax Incentives: A Race to the Bottom?" at TheWrap's TheGrill@Locations Show Friday at the West Hall of the L.A. Convention Center. During the panel, moderated by TheWrap's Brent Lang, Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus and Mark Driscoll of Look Effects discussed the difficulty of staying afloat in the visual-effects industry in the current »
- Tim Kenneally
TheGrill@Locations: A Wannabe Actor Ready for Your Closeup? There's an App for That (Video)
29 June 2013 8:54 PM, PDT
See TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show Attention, aspiring actors unable to make it to Hollywood to audition -- stardom still might be within your grasp. TheWrap's TheGrill@ Locations Show Friday in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center hosted an exclusive presentation of the new app Rcr Connect, which allows would-be actors to film and upload auditions on their cellphones for directors and producers to peruse, no matter where they are. The Rcr Connect app also allows users to collect votes via Facebook and Twitter, raising their »
- Tim Kenneally
Complete Coverage of TheWrap's 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show
29 June 2013 2:03 PM, PDT
Bring Us Your Gods & Aliens! How Other Countries Snag Film Production From California By Lucas Shaw Filming in China? Get Used to Doing Business Chinese-Style By Tim Kenneally In the Wild, Wild Far West of China, the Key Word Is 'Reciprocity' By Jeff Sneider Was 'Iron Man 3' a Movie or a Treaty With China? By Lucas Shaw Can the Visual-Effects Industry Survive the Pitfalls of Free Money? By Tim Kenneally The Value of Managing Expectations on Financing, Piracy & Home Entertainment By Jeff Sneider A Wannabe Actor Ready for Your Closeup? There's an App for That By Tim Kenneally Freddie Wong, »
- Lucas Shaw, Tim Kenneally & Jeff Sneider
TheGrill@ Locations: Freddie Wong, Franklin Leonard & Other Top Innovators Sound the Alarm for Old Media (Video)
29 June 2013 1:59 PM, PDT
See TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show Are traditional studios doomed to extinction if they don't adapt to the realities of the new-media era? That certainly seemed to be the opinion of the panelists at TheWrap's "Innovators Changing Hollywood Debate the Future," at the site's TheGrill@ Locations Show Friday in the West Hall of the L.A. Convention Center. The rapid-fire panel featured four of the TheWrap's first annual "12 Innovators Who Are Changing Hollywood" list: YouTube filmmaker Freddie Wong, Zefr co-founder Richard Raddon, Lowercase Capital partner Matt Mazzeo and the »
- Tim Kenneally
TheGrill@ Locations: The Value of Managing Expectations on Financing, Piracy & Home Entertainment (Video)
29 June 2013 1:57 PM, PDT
See TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show "We've all adjusted our expectations since 2008 and had a strong market at Cannes," Radiant Films CEO Mimi Steinbauer said Friday at the "Trends in Global Film and TV Financing" panel, part of TheWrap's TheGrill@ Locations Show in the West Hall of the L.A. Convention Center. "There was a lot of product, but buyers found what they needed," Steinbauer said. "What works hasn't changed much. Buyers are still looking for theatrical films with name cast. That business is as strong as »
- Jeff Sneider
TheGrill@ Locations: Was 'Iron Man 3' a Movie or a Treaty With China? (Video)
29 June 2013 1:55 PM, PDT
See TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show "Iron Man 3" has made more money in China than any other U.S. production this year, grossing more than $125 million at the box office to-date. That's almost double what "Man of Steel," which opened to $117 million in the U.S., is on track to make. So what was the secret? Chris Fenton, president of the movie's co-financier and co-producer Dmg Entertainment, credited pressing the right levers with the Chinese film commission. Also read: 'Iron Man 3' $21M Box-Office Debut Is China's Biggest Ever "'Iron Man »
- Lucas Shaw
TheGrill@ Locations: In the Wild, Wild Far West of China, the Key Word Is 'Reciprocity' (Video)
29 June 2013 1:54 PM, PDT
See TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2013 TheGrill@ Locations Show As China becomes a bigger player in the international movie business, it's opening up on the television side as well. "The TV business has changed a lot in the last few years, and the back-room dealings don't really happen as often as they used to," Nick Lafferty, head of production for FarWest Entertainment, said Friday during the panel discussion "How to Navigate China" at TheWrap's@Locations conference in the West Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center. He was joined on the panel by Jon »
- Jeff Sneider
'Glee' Cast Shakeup: 5 Original Cast Members Out (Updated)
29 June 2013 1:51 PM, PDT
Fox's "Glee" is saying goodbye to several fan favorites. Original cast members Dianna Agron, Heather Morris, Mark Salling, Amber Riley and Harry Shum, Jr. won't be returning as next season, though they may make guest appearances, individuals close to the production confirmed to TheWrap. A representative for show producers, 20th Century Fox Television, declined to comment. Riley's rep confirmed her departure, but declined to comment. Shum made the following statement to TheWrap: "Working on 'Glee' with Ryan Murphy and the cast has been one of the best experiences I've had. I am extremely thankful »
- Jethro Nededog
'Glee' Promotes 5 Cast Members to Series Regulars
29 June 2013 11:23 AM, PDT
In the wake of dropping five original cast members, Fox's "Glee" has given promotions to five newer members of New Directions. Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Blake Jenner and Alex Newell have been promoted from recurring cast members to series regulars, a representative for show producer, 20th Century Fox Television, confirmed to TheWrap. Benoist (who plays Marley), Artist (Jake), Tobin (Kitty) and "The Glee Project" winner Blake Jenner (Ryder) joined the series last season. "The Glee Project" alum Alex Newell (Unique) started on the Fox musical series during its third season. Also »
- Jethro Nededog
'The Heat' Scorching 'White House Down' and Pressing 'Monsters U' at Box Office
29 June 2013 10:18 AM, PDT
Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock's raunchy female cop comedy "The Heat" got off to a sizzling start Friday, finishing just behind reigning box-office champ "Monsters University" and easily outstripping the weekend's other wide opener "White House Down." Disney's animated Pixar family film still has the inside track after topping Friday with $14.3 million from 4,003 screens, the bulk of which are 3D. With families expected to turn out in force on Saturday and Sunday, the G-rated "Monsters U" should come in at around $47 million for the three days. That would »
- Todd Cunningham
'True Blood's' Anna Paquin Talks Her Weekend Gig, 'Susanna': 'It Was Pretty Intense and Upsetting'
28 June 2013 6:32 PM, PDT
It pays to be friends with Anna Paquin. The new mother and star of HBO's "True Blood" says her close relationship to Jon Avnet paved the way to her starring in the web series, "Susanna." "He and my husband [Stephen Moyer] have worked together a bunch of times and known each other for many, many years," Paquin told TheWrap. "Our families are all really close," she continued. "He and I had been talking about wanting to work together at some point. He wrote the first episode of what is now 'Susanna' and »
- Jethro Nededog
Larry David Looks 'Like the Guy Who Kidnapped Elizabeth Smart' in 'Clear History' Trailer (Video)
28 June 2013 5:20 PM, PDT
If the first trailer for "Clear History" is as good as the rest of the movie, the funniest film of the year won't be in theaters, it will be on television. Larry David stars opposite Jon Hamm in the upcoming HBO comedy, directed by Greg Mottola ("Superbad"), about a former marketing executive (David) who gives up his stock in a start-up electric-car company after a petty argument with his boss (Hamm), and is publicly humiliated when the company makes billions. Ten years later, David lives on a small Massachusetts island under a »
- Greg Gilman
'White House Down' Vs. 'The Heat': Critics Prefer Profane Comedy Over Loud Explosions
28 June 2013 4:59 PM, PDT
While "White House Down" and "The Heat" are battling for second place at the box office this weekend, critics have already decided that director Paul Feig's follow-up to "Bridesmaids" is the best bet for audiences looking for their comedic action fix. "The Heat," which stars Melissa McCarthy as a Boston cop who must team up with uptight FBI agent played by Sandra Bullock, has scored a 64 percent "fresh" rating on critic aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, while Roland Emmerich's version of "Olympus Has Fallen" has been certified "rotten" with only 49 percent of »
- Greg Gilman
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