‘Stargate’ Producers Land A Leo

Robert Cooper and Brad Wright, co-creators and executive producers of the three television series that make up the Stargate franchise, are to be rewarded by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia for their contributions to that Canadian province's film industry. The pair are to receive one of the Foundation's 2009 Leo Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
"Robert and Brad's achievements with the Stargatefranchises have brought international attention and acclaim to BC film and television and, in the process, made them an institution on the West Coast," said Leo Awards President Walter Daroshin.
Wright and Cooper were show-runners on Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. They are currently at work on the upcoming SGU: Stargate Universe. All three series are shot in and around Vancouver in British Columbia.
Stargate SG-1 was a spinoff from the 1994 theatrical science fiction film Stargate, directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Kurt Russell and James Spader. Their roles were recast for SG-1, which ran for 10 seasons. Stargate Atlantis debuted before SG-1 ended and lasted five seasons.
SGU: Stargate Universe will debut in the United States as a two-hour movie event on Syfy in the Fall. Wright and Cooper will serve as executive producers and writers on the series, which revolves around a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians. The group must fend for themselves after they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, the Destiny, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. The cast includes Robert Carlyle, Justin Louis, Brian J. Smith, Elyse Levesque, David Blue, Alaina Huffman, Jamil Walker Smith, Ming-Na and Lou Diamond Phillips.
The LEO Awards were established in 1998 to celebrate excellence in British Columbia film and television. The Celebration and Gala Ceremonies will take place May 8th and 9th in Vancouver. An Outstanding Achievement Award will also be presented to stunt co-ordinator and actor Jacob Rupp. Rupp has worked on many films and shows shot in British Columbia, including First Blood, The X-Files,Andromeda, The Outer Limits, X2 and Smallville.

Are Big Studio Mergers Coming?

Right up front we'll admit that for the moment this is nothing more than an intriguing headline driven by high-power speculation, yet it wouldn't be unheard of if some of the big studios were to soon engage in mergers.
It's a theory that veteran investor Mario Gabelli told Barron's magazine recently. Gabelli, it seems, expects a wave of consolidation in the industry over the next few months.
Gabelli told Barron's magazine that he expects Paramount Pictures to soon merge with Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures or another studio as a way to cut costs.
"Today there are seven or eight motion-picture studios. A round of consolidation will occur in the next six to 12 months because of the costs of financing, prints and advertising, the benefits of globalization and such," said Gabelli. "We hear talk of something going on."
It seems perhaps counter-intuitive with some of the current tentpoles seemingly making money hand over fist, plus record annual profits for studios. But if you stop to consider the enormous up-front risks, preposterously high marketing budgets (sometimes as costly as the films themselves), empowerment of independent filmmakers thanks to advancing technology, and lost revenue due to challenges from other forms of media, such a move might make sense from a corporate perspective.
Moreover, with vertical integration and corporate ownership of major studios (Universal Studios owned by GE, Warner Bros Pictures owned by Time Warner, etc.) — and the current economic downturn — corporate owned studios are being left with dwindling advertising budgets.
Quite frankly, this doesn't sound like a good thing to us. Many believe that corporate ownership of the studios has stifled overall creativity as continued emphasis is placed on the reworking of owned properties and FX-driven "event films," which nonetheless offer several irresistible lures for corporate management, including increased profitability from marketing and merchandising tie-ins.
Somewhere along the way, the studios seem to have largely forgotten that at the end of the day, it's all about the story.

Who Is the Most Overpaid?

Want to feel poorer than you already do? The top 10 highest-paid TV actresses earned a total of $94 million between May 2010 and May 2011, Forbes reports. With so much money going around, why couldn't we find anything decent to watch last night?
SODAHEAD SLIDESHOW: See the highest paid TV actresses.
Forbes points out that women on TV make a lot less than movie stars (the top three women in film earned $88 million combined), but that's not really a consolation. And then there's the question of who makes the most. Tina Fey and Eva Longoria tie for first place on Forbes' list, with each actress making $13 million between May 2010 and May 2011. Who said you have to be blonde to make it in Hollywood?
Fey also serves as producer and head writer on "30 Rock" in addition to starring on the show, so you can't say she's not earning her pay. But the critically acclaimed show is still struggling for ratings. As for Longoria, she has some lucrative endorsements, but does anyone still watch "Desperate Housewives"?
PHOTOS: See the latest celebrity pictures to hit the Internet.
From Fey to Longoria to Courteney Cox, let us know: Who is the most overpaid TV actress?

Witness Says Conrad Murray Asked for CPR Equipment Before Singer's Death Read more

An attorney for the promoter of Michael Jackson's final concerts said Wednesday the singer's personal physician asked the company for life-saving equipment just days before the pop superstar's death.
Kathy Jorrie, who works for concert giant AEG Live, testified at the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray that she questioned some of the doctor's requests, which also included the possibility of hiring a second doctor to assist him.
"Dr. Murray told me Michael Jackson was perfectly healthy, in excellent condition," Jorrie testified.
She said Murray told her not to worry about Jackson's condition.
"He's great," she recounted the doctor telling her in a conversation the day before Jackson's death.
Murray asked for a CPR machine in case one wasn't available at the concert venue at London's O2 arena, Jorrie explained.
Prosecutors allege Murray caused Jackson's death by providing him with a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives without the proper lifesaving equipment or skills.
Other testimony came from Jackson's former personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, who recounted a 35-second phone conversation with Murray on the day Jackson died.
"He said `Get here right away, Mr. Jackson had a bad reaction. Get somebody up here immediately,"' Williams told the jury.
He said the doctor never told him to call 911 or described Jackson's condition.
Williams said he arrived at Jackson's mansion just as the singer was being loaded into an ambulance. He saw Murray, who he described as "frantic."
Earlier in the day, a promoter told jurors that Jackson appeared strong during one of the final rehearsals for the highly anticipated comeback concerts.
Paul Gongaware, an executive for AEG Live, said Jackson seemed engaged and energetic during the rehearsal just two days before he died.
Prosecutors called Gongaware to demonstrate the importance of the concerts and in an apparent attempt to show that both the singer and his physician were deeply engaged in preparations for the show before Jackson died on June 25, 2009.
Gongaware also testified that he saw Murray at one of Jackson's rehearsals after people affiliated with the planned concerts complained that the singer had been missing some of the sessions.
Prosecutors wrapped up their direct questioning of Gongaware before defense attorney Ed Chernoff briefly questioned the executive.
Under the cross-examination, Gongaware acknowledged AEG is being sued by Jackson's mother for negligent supervision of Murray when he worked with Jackson.
Jorrie also testified about drafting a contract for Murray to work as Jackson's personal physician.
At one point in negotiations, Murray requested his contract be modified to allow him to hire another physician in case he was tired or unavailable while Jackson was performing in London, she testified.
"He wanted to make sure that there was somebody else available to be of assistance," Jorrie said.
In opening statements Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said Murray delayed summoning emergency crews and lied to doctors and medics when he failed to reveal he had been giving Jackson the medications to try to help the entertainer sleep.
Chernoff claimed Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of medication in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.
He said Murray had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol, but the entertainer kept requesting it on the day he died.
"Michael Jackson started begging," Chernoff said. "When Michael Jackson told Dr. Murray, `I have to sleep. They will cancel my performance,' he meant it."
Prosecutors rejected Murray's version and told jurors the Houston-based cardiologist also had a tremendous stake in Jackson appearing in the concerts.
The doctor had initially asked to be paid $5 million a year for working with Jackson, but Gongaware said he immediately rejected the proposal. Instead, Murray accepted an offer to become Jackson's doctor for $150,000 a month -- a sum he was never paid because his contract hadn't been signed before Jackson's death.
Murray has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and have to relinquish his medical license.

PANDORA Unveils Nostalgic Rock Theme and New Necklace Concept

Columbia, MD (September 15, 2011) /PRNewswire/ — PANDORA’s collection for Autumn/Winter 2011 collection has a little edge and a lot of cool. The range of outstanding jewelry features raw, elegant designs inspired by rock style with a hint of vintage and a bit of attitude.The collection features a brand new necklace concept: a unique design that can combine as many as eight PANDORA necklaces into a layered look that is luxurious and interchangeable.
PANDORA bracelets give women the freedom to capture the unforgettable moments that make life extraordinary and the new charms of the fall season offer a twist on what has become the hallmark of the PANDORA brand. Two elegant sterling silver bracelets are also new–one is designed to hold one traditional or new decorative clip, the other as many as five. Mix, match and combine the clips and bracelets in any combination, creating pieces that are unique to your personal style. It’s an idea inspired by PANDORA’s popular charm bracelet.
Create and combine looks with other new additions to the PANDORA universe, including a line of 14k solid gold earrings, pendants and dangle charms with intricate lace details and diamonds; and large cocktail rings, featuring amethyst or grey moonstone, that are perfect for stacking. Stunning earrings inspired by delicate lace patterns in 14K gold with freshwater pearls and diamonds can be worn on their own, layered or combined with other pieces from the Compose collection. Rings in 14K gold, sterling and black oxidized silver have florally inspired designs with an unpredictable twist that is raw yet feminine.
Large cocktail rings in amethyst or grey moonstone are perfect for stacking with this season’s more delicate pieces. New LovePod rings in white, yellow and rose 18K gold with brilliant-cut diamonds or colorful gemstones work beautifully with other pieces of PANDORA jewelry and interlock when stacked together.
The Black Crown Diamond watch collection adds two styles to the collection: the stylish Icon watches with interchangeable bezels and straps and the Liquid Silver watches inspired by PANDORA’s line of bangles, earrings and rings with sculptural silhouettes and pure shapes. Select pieces from the fall assortment will be available in authorized PANDORA retailers and concept stores beginning September 2011.

The spirit of nostalgic rock infuses the collection, especially our new sterling silver decorative clips in raw, sculptural shapes. The other standouts include a star-shaped pendant and charm in black oxidized silver, an alluring finish that runs through the collection.
PANDORA has been making its mark in the international fine jewelry industry for almost 30 years, and is world-renowned for its high-quality, hand finished design. The collections inspire women to embrace their individuality with romantic and feminine pieces that capture the unforgettable moments of life. The strength of the PANDORA charm bracelet is the detailed design, the high quality and the unique threaded bracelet system (U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,507). The affordable luxury collections include customizable charm bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces and watches made from sterling silver and 14K and 18K gold with handset gemstones. Perfect for any occasion, PANDORA jewelry is sold in 55 countries on six continents in more than 10,000 locations, including nearly 500 PANDORA branded concept stores. To view the PANDORA collection, build a bracelet online or locate a jewele

Bill Clinton book on economy out in November

NEW YORK (AP) — For Bill Clinton, it is again the economy, stupid.
The former president has finished writing a new book, "Back to Work," which comes out in November. In a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press, he called the 200-page book a guide to the current economic slump, how it was caused and how to recover.
"I actually started thinking about it (the book) after the 2010 election, because I did 130 events and after every event people would come up to me and say, 'I didn't know this,' 'I didn't know that,'" Clinton said.
"It was like the 21st-century version of the 1994 election, in which there was this enormously effective campaign against government, as if the government were responsible for all of this."
"Back to Work" is Clinton's third book since leaving office, following his million-selling memoir "My Life" and a work on philanthropy and community activism, "Giving." As with his previous books, the publisher is Alfred A. Knopf and the editor is Robert Gottlieb, whose other authors include Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Robert Caro and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. Deals for all three books were negotiated by Washington attorney Robert Barnett.
Clinton said Thursday that he began writing "Back to Work" in the spring, basing it on notes he has been compiling for years. He said he spends about an hour and a half each day studying the economy and wants the book to reinforce President Obama's proposals, including his recent jobs plan and call for raising taxes on millionaires.
Clinton said that Obama had been doing a "good job" communicating his ideas, but that he was up against a "chorus" of opponents who don't like his ideas and don't like government.
"I hope I can do things in this book that a president doesn't have time to do and shouldn't be doing," said Clinton, whose book will cover what he calls a 30-year debate between government and anti-government forces.
Clinton has been especially popular lately, if only because his presidency was a time of economic expansion and low unemployment. He has also been open about his ideas for recovery. In a recent appearance on NBC's "Today," he said focusing on mortgage debt problems was essential.
On Thursday, he cited a "disconnect" between the real world and the current political debate, saying, "If you start with a framework that is intensely ideological, if the government is the source of all the problems, then you don't get to the right questions."
According to a statement issued by Knopf, Clinton's new book will offer "specific recommendations on how we can put people back to work and increase bank lending and corporate investment, double our exports, restore our manufacturing base and create new businesses."
Knopf announced a first print run of 300,000.

After career success, Chenoweth is ready for love

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway? Check. TV? Check. Films? Check. Music? Books? Check those, too.
Professionally speaking, Kristin Chenoweth is at the top of her game. This year alone, in one week, she sang for President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II and Oprah Winfrey, she said in an interview last week with The Associated Press.
Recently added to that list was a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, which Chenoweth said tickled her Southern relatives.
"If I leave my mark on this world, hopefully people will say, 'Wow, she did a lot of different things,'" Chenoweth said.
But the one thing the 43-year-old Chenoweth says is missing from her list of accomplishments is finding Mr. Right and settling down.
"I want to be married. I feel finally ready for that," she said. "Possibly (becoming) a mom someday, even if it's to animals. My goals might be different than doing all these amazing career things. I think the next chapter will be focusing more on my personal life."
On that note, Chenoweth said she can relate to a song by Dolly Parton called "Sacrifice."
"She talks about how much she's given up. She's given up relationships, being home with her family, missing out with her husband, not having a child, all of that I can relate to," Chenoweth said. "So, maybe this second chapter in my life will be different in that way. But, I'll always sing. Whoever that man is, He's got to accept that music is like my arms. I can't live without (them)."
Chenoweth's latest music endeavor is a country music album called "Some Lessons Learned," released last week.
She moved to Nashville for a couple of months to record the album. Chenoweth, who won a Tony in 1999 for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," said there are similarities between country music and theater.
"They're both story and character driven," she said. "So of course I like both."
Up next for Chenoweth is the TV show "Good Christian Belles." Think: "Desperate Housewives" but in the Bible Belt.
The ABC show, which doesn't yet have a premiere date, is about five Christian women living in Texas.
Chenoweth, a Christian, said there's a misconception about Christianity: "that we don't have any problems, we really judge people harshly." But she said her character is actually the villain on the show.
"She's a very judgmental woman. She stirs it up and then prays for everybody," Chenoweth said. "So these are the characters I grew up with."
Chenoweth also made waves as April Rhodes, a boozy former glee club star on the hit Fox show "Glee." The role earned her two Emmy nominations. If she's invited back and her schedule allows, she said she'd like to reprise the role.
"(The character) is a very fun train wreck. Couldn't be more dissimilar to myself," she said. "And she likes her box of wine. Who can't relate to that?"

Nothing special about 'Killer Elite

Head butts would seem to hurt, right? That's clearly the point of them, but it would seem to be just as painful to be the butter as the buttee.
In "Killer Elite," this is probably the most primal method of attack on display, but even the noisy intensity and frequency of the skull bashings — and pistol whippings and gut punches — don't register as anything beyond generic action-picture violence. The fact that director and co-writer Gary McKendry has shot all these brawls with the usual shaky cam and cut them in quick, choppy fashion only adds to how forgettable the film is.
And you'd think that any movie starring Robert De Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham would be one you'd want to remember. "Killer Elite" allows them to show off some of the presence and personality that made these men major movie stars, but ultimately they're just cogs in a clichéd revenge tale.
Statham stars as Danny, the typical special-ops, killing-machine-for-hire Statham tends to play. At the film's start in 1979, he and his mentor, Hunter (De Niro), are lying in wait for their target in an industrial section of Mexico. The assignment goes horribly wrong and Danny swears — swears! — this is it for him, the last one, he's done. But we all know how these things turn out: There has to be that tried-and-true One Last Job. Otherwise, there would be no movie.
　　A year later, Hunter has been abducted by a dying sheikh and is being held in Oman. Danny must flee the pastoral idyll of the rural Australian valley where he's ensconced himself with his beautiful girlfriend (Yvonne Strahovski) to perform the duty that will ensure Hunter's freedom. Danny is ordered to kill the men responsible for the deaths of the sheikh's three sons, but he has to get videotaped confessions from all three, and he has to make their deaths look like accidents.
No problem: Danny amasses the obligatory rag-tag team of rogues and is on his way. But they have to infiltrate the British Secret Air Service to get the job, which draws the attention of a shadowy protective society known as The Feather Men. ("Killer Elite" is based on a book called "The Feather Men," which supposedly was based on a true story, by Ranulph Fiennes, who appears as a character later on.)
This makes Danny the target of the secret group's main enforcer, a former SAS solider himself named Spike (Owen), and the usual shootouts and car chases ensue. Even with the cheesy mustache and one bad eye that are meant to signify that this man has lived a hard, dangerous life, it's impossible to disguise Owen's intense good looks and charisma. At the same time, "Killer Elite" doesn't take advantage of Owen's capacity for depth; he is driven, maybe a little tormented as evidenced by the glass coffee table he smashes, and that's about it.
When Statham and Owen finally meet in the showdown you've been waiting for, it's rendered in such dizzying, adrenalized style that it's hard to tell who's doing what to whom. Additionally, McKendry favors a steely gray color scheme that, in theory, is meant to reflect the cold-heartedness of these characters and their world, but actually just smothers everything in a bland sameness. One important yet obscured scene takes place in the snow, at night, in the middle of nowhere.
Statham, like the film itself, is muscular and efficient. But he seems awfully comfortable playing this kind of part by now, and he has such a brash, intriguing presence, he makes you wonder what else he'd be capable of doing if he stretched and challenged himself.
De Niro stays locked up for big chunks of the movie but when we do see him, he radiates the ease and comfort of a man who has nothing to prove. And he gets to fire a machine gun, which is probably a lot of fun when you're pushing 70, and might make "Killer Elite" more memorable for him than it will be for the audience.
"Killer Elite," an Open Road release, is rated R for strong violence, language, and some sexuality/nudity. Running time: 116 minutes. Two stars out of four.
___
Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions:
G — General audiences. All ages admitted.
PG — Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
PG-13 — Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
R — Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
NC-17 — No one under 17 admitted.

The Thing Prequel Poster Wants to Come In Out of the Cold

Not much has been seen of the upcoming prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece, The Thing, but what we have seen certainly has got us interested. With only a handful of stills released, it is with rabid anticipation that we lay our eyes on the official movie poster.
Keeping the same title as the earlier movie, The Thing chronicles the events in the doomed Norwegian camp whose aftermath is only glimpsed at in John Carpenter’s movie.
The Thing is due to appear in October 2011, and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Eric Christian Olsen, Joel Edgerton, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ulrich Thomsen and Kim Bubbs.

Britney Spears Sings, Dances Into Record Books

Her career has seen its share of ups and downs, but pop princess Britney Spears is definitely back on top as she headlines this week's 411 Playlist.
Billboard.com reports that Spears' ' "I Wanna Go" has her dancing all the way to the record books. Her single gives her the distinct honor of being the artist with the longest span of number one hits on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart. Britney's reign started twelve years ago with "Baby One More Time."
The pop diva's 'B In The Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2' is set for release on October 11th.
On to a man who is no stranger to breaking records himself, the late Michael Jackson is to be honored in Wales with "Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert." The star-studded event includes everyone from host Jamie Foxx to Christina Aquilera and Smokey Robinson.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the singer's manslaughter trial is expected to begin in the last week of September. Jackson's former doctor is accused of supplying the King of Pop with a lethal dose of surgical anesthetics.
Whitney Houston has been subject to tabloid fodder for alleged drug-use herself, but the diva may be making a comeback. The singer's publicist confirms that the singer is in talks to return to the silver screen in the remake of "Sparkle." Houston made a name for herself as an actress after her role in the 1992 hit, "The Bodyguard."
And while Houston looks to make a bigscreen comeback, heavy metal is working its way back into the mainstream. September 14th was no ordinary day in New York City because heavy metal rockers, Anthrax, Matallica, Slayer and Megadeath (aka the Big Four) invaded Yankee Stadium. Before the big show, Anthrax sad down with Fox 411 and talked about their first album in eight years, "Worship Music." The band dubbed the new material as a "true heavy metal album." Drummer and guitarist Charlie Benante added that with the return of Joey Belladonna the record sounds like "classic Anthrax."
"Worship Music" is currently available.
To hear more from Anthrax along with "Idol" alum Brooke White, be sure to click play to start this week's 411 Playlist!
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/09/16/fox-411-playlist-britney-spears-dances-into-record-books/#ixzz1YAvzjpYx

It’s been years since his split with Jennifer Aniston

It’s been years since his split with Jennifer Aniston, but Brad Pitt is still talking about his ex-wife, this time calling his existence with her “pathetic.”
In an interview with Parade magazine, the “Moneyball” star says he is much happier now with the mother of his six children, Angelina Jolie.
HOT SHOTS: Jen Aniston.
“I spent the 90s trying to hide out, trying to duck the full celebrity cacophony. I started to get sick of myself sitting on a couch, holding a joint, hiding out. It started to feel pathetic,” he said. “It became very clear to me that I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasn’t living an interesting life myself. I think that my marriage [to Aniston] had something to do with. Trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn’t.”



Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Ouch.
Pitt continued the interview by gushing about his life with Jolie, with whom he was rumored to have an affair before the demise of his marriage to Aniston.
“One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie as their mom,” he said. “She is such a great mom. Oh, man, I’m so happy to have her.”
HOT SHOTS: Angelina Jolie
Pitt added that he is very satisfied with his new life.
“I put much more emphasis on being a satisfied man,” he says of his life. “I’m satisfied with making true choices and finding the woman I love, Angie, and building a family that I love so much. A family is a risky venture, because the greater the love, the greater the loss. That’s the trade-off. But I’ll take it all.”
Do you think Brad’s comments were a low blow to Aniston, or were his comments justified? Vote below.
Read more: http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/09/15/brad-pitt-i-felt-pathetic-while-married-to-jennifer-aniston/#ixzz1Y6VKeKpE