Low-budget independent movie “Midgets vs. Mascots” is getting the worst kind of publicity on YouTube, courtesy of one of its stars. Pint-sized TV series actor Gary Coleman (TV series “Webster”) does a rant knocking the film in which is stars. “It was worse than any film school project that I think I could ever bear to be involved in,” Coleman says in the YouTube video. “I … [Read more...] about Actor Rips His Film on YouTube
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Film Critics Star in Documentary
Film critics star in front of the camera for a change in “For The Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism,” which is a documentary by Gerald Peary, himself a long-time critic for the “Boston Phoenix” and member of the National Society of Film Critics. The hour-and-a-half documentary includes interviews with Roger Ebert, Richard Schickel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, … [Read more...] about Film Critics Star in Documentary
No ‘Oscar Bounce’ For Nominees
Mainstream entertainment films lifted box office 15.4% year-to-date, but prestige films in the Oscar race are having a lousy year. The fabled “Oscar bounce” at the box office has eluded this year’s Academy Award contenders, notes the “Los Angeles Times.” “The whispers you hear everywhere around town are asking the same hushed question: What happened to the fabled Oscar … [Read more...] about No ‘Oscar Bounce’ For Nominees
Ranking Films Irks Critics, Liked by Audiences
Film critics assigning scaled ratings to films--anything from a number on a scale to thumbs up/down—usually would prefer not. But the public demands a simple evaluation metric available at a glance. Those evaluation rankings have evolved into various scales or “star” systems; that’s stars as in one star bad and five stars tops. “Critics tend to loathe the system and … [Read more...] about Ranking Films Irks Critics, Liked by Audiences
Angelina Jolie Stage-Manages People?
A New York Times article reveals that People magazine let actress Angelina Jolie tailor the celebrity magazine’s future coverage of her as part of a deal for exclusive baby pictures. People – owned by Time Warner Inc. – denies that allegation in the story. It’s not hard to believe film stars and their publicists call the shots with celebrity media – TV shows, magazines and … [Read more...] about Angelina Jolie Stage-Manages People?
Actress Sued for Withholding Publicity
It’s not often that a film company sues an actor over not drumming up enough publicity for a film, but Paris Hilton isn’t just any actress. The Hollywood celebrity-circuit regular and sometime movie star is being sued by small producer – Worldwide Entertainment Group – which alleges she didn’t fulfill promotional obligations for “National Lampoon’s Pledge This!” This film … [Read more...] about Actress Sued for Withholding Publicity
Hollywood Hugs Comic Book Events
San Diego’s big comic book aficionados’ convention is now firmly on Hollywood’s calendar, reinforced when a well-received presentation two years ago of no-star history epic “300” ignited a blockbuster cinema run, according to a “New York Times” article. So the annual event organized by Comic-Con International goes from of-interest to a vital marketing vehicle. The comic-book … [Read more...] about Hollywood Hugs Comic Book Events
‘Sex & City’ Ignites Pop Culture, Promos
The silver-screen version of HBO TV series “Sex and the City” shapes up as a theatrical phenomenon with strong pre-release buzz. The stylish, young-adult contemporary drama has a foundation of an HBO TV series, which is more tame than the theatrical release May 30 domestically from Warner Bros. Pictures. The movie is rated R-restricted. * Luxury brands are a natural fit; … [Read more...] about ‘Sex & City’ Ignites Pop Culture, Promos
‘Expelled’ Docu Rides Lawsuit Publicity
Sued by Yoko Ono for using a piece of John Lennon song, the producers of documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” latched on to the dispute to generate publicity. The PG-rated “Expelled” would go on to gross $7.7 Million in domestic theatrical box office in 2008, which is blockbuster for the documentary category, where over $1 million is a hit. Rocky Mountain Pictures … [Read more...] about ‘Expelled’ Docu Rides Lawsuit Publicity
‘Band’s Visit’ Thrives Despite Oscar Snub
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences disqualified the official Israeli entry in the Foreign Film category because its inclusion of English dialog. However, “The Band’s Visit” later managed decent boxoffice and was even transplanted on Broadway as an acclaim musical. Producers of “The Band’s Visit”-a quirky tale about a small orchestra of Egyptian policemen … [Read more...] about ‘Band’s Visit’ Thrives Despite Oscar Snub