AFM: Sections And Loudspeakers Schedule Set

La, CA, March. 27, 2011 This Year's American Film Market today launched its broadened Conference schedule with loudspeakers encompassing an extensive mix-portion of key Hollywood and global gamers converging for that 32nd Market November. 2-9.Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Entertainment Partners assists because the showing sponsors from the AFM Conference Series, that will showcase sections on film financing, production, marketing, distribution and pitching. 5-day series includes prominent filmmakers, bankers and industry professionals, covering every aspect of filmmaking from treatment to screen: Friday, 4 November, 2011: 9:00am 1:00pm Finance Conference Leading CEOs, filmmakers, bankers and studio professionals converge look around the current condition of independent film financing: emerging trends, in which the cash is, new possibilities and incentives, and exactly what the future holds. Current Issues within the Production, Financing and Distribution of Independent Film Moderator: P. John Burke, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Panelists: Ashok Amritraj, Boss, Hyde Park Entertainment Doug Hansen, Leader, Endgame Entertainment Robert Hayward, Chief Operating Officer, Summit Entertainment, L.P. Patrick Russo, Principal, The Salter Group Jared Underwood, Senior V . P ., Group Manager Entertainment, Comerica Bank Entertainment Group Global Infrastructure Possibilities and New Distribution Models Moderator: Joe Chianese, Senior V . P ., Tax, Business Development and Production Planning, Entertainment Partners Panelists: Leon Clarance, Ceo, Film Capital a Reliance Entertainment Company Bill Fay, Former Leader of Production, Legendary Pictures Mary Ann Hughes, V . P ., Film & Television Production Planning, The Wally Disney Company Bill Manley, Co-Founder & Partner, Inferno Entertainment Andrew Matthews, Leader, RKO Films Bahman Naraghi, Chief Operating Officer, GK Films Saturday, 5 November, 2011: 9:00am 1:00pm Pitch Conference A great pitch could possibly get a poor film made along with a bad pitch can leave a good project languishing in stock. Pitching is a component art (its creative), part science (must consume a tight script) and part salesmanship. Conference participants will first discover the essential rules and tools of pitching in the experts. Then, within the AFMs own variation from the Voice and The American Idol Show, volunteers in the audience (you?) will pitch a panel of Hollywood decision makers. They'll give unvarnished feedback on each pitch – saying what labored, what didn’t, and why. Warning: This session isn't for that weak. Presenter/ Moderator: Stephanie Palmer, Good inside a Room Initial Panelists: Tobin Armbrust, Senior Vice-Leader and Mind of Production, Exclusive Media Cassian Elwes, Independent Producer/ Agent Sunday, 6 November, 2011: 9:00am 1:00pm Marketing Conference, backed by Mexican Film Commission In age digital media, hooking up with and interesting the crowd in authentic, creative ways is crucial. Word-of-mouth and friend recommendations can do or die this area office results. The gurus behind probably the most effective and new media marketing campaigns discuss reinventing the marketing wheel, explore the way the consumer could possibly be the best advertising tool and reveal how you can conquer the largest possible audience. Limited & Niche Releases Moderator: Mark Pogachefsky, Co-Founder and Leader, MPRM COMMUNICATIONS Initial Panelists: Wendy Cohen, Director, Digital Campaigns & Community, Participant Media / TakePart Jamie Patricof, Founder, Hunting Lane Films Dennis Grain, Founder, Visio Entertainment Wide Releases Moderator: Pamela Rodi, Executive V . P ., Marketing & Publicity, Myriad Pictures Panelists: Vincent Bruzzese, Leader, Worldwide Film Group at IPSOS OTX MediaCT Tomas Jegeus, Co-Leader, Worldwide, twentieth century Fox Karina Kogan, Chief Marketing Officer, BUZZMEDIA Jack Pan, EVP, Marketing, Summit Entertainment Monday, 7 November, 2011: 9:00am 1:00pm Production Conference backed by Multi Media Risk Corporation. Brand integration and packaging frequently play a huge role within the filmmaking process. From large budget blockbusters to art and genre films, the creative visions of company directors, authors and producers are now being supported, yet challenged, by these start up business models and possibilities. Agents, marketers and producers disclose what's going on behind the curtain and just how to effortlessly incorporate these new decision makers in to the production process. Brand Integration Moderator: TBA Initial Panelists: Eric Baum, SVP, Business & Legal Matters for Worldwide Marketing, The new sony Pictures Entertainment Xavier Kochhar, Controlling Partner, MediaLink Jordan Yospe, Counsel, Film, TV, and Brand Integration, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Agents/ Packaging Moderator: Paul Hertzberg, Leader and Boss, CineTel Films, Corporation. Panelists: Jay Cohen, Mind of Packaging and Finance, Gersh Agency Gary Randall, Co-Founder, Boardwalk Entertainment Group Rena Ronson, Co-Mind, UTA Independent Film Group, U . s . Talent Agency Hal Sadoff, Mind of Worldwide and Independent Film, ICM Eric Schotz, Leader and Boss, LMNO Productions Tuesday, 8 November, 2011: 9:00am 1:00pm Distribution Conference backed by MACCS Worldwide bv Why create a film if nobody might find it? Industry leaders separate fact and fiction about limited & specialized releases, film festivals and straight-to-VOD. They will disclose their effective methods for controlling and making money with the proliferation of worldwide platforms and altering release methods. Limited & Niche Releases Moderator: Steve Gaydos, Executive Editor, Variety Panelists: David Fenkel, Leader, Oscilloscope Labs Susan Jackson, Leader / Co-Founder, Freestyle Delivering Charlotte now Mickie, Executive V . P ., Entertainment One, Tom Quinn, Co-Leader, VOD and Digital TV, The Weinstein Company Making money with New Global Platforms Moderator: Kaira Kembel, Executive V . P ., Worldwide Distribution, Summit Entertainment LLC Initial Panelists: Serta Cohen, Executive V . P ., Pay Television and Interactive Media, Disney ABC Domestic Television Jon Ferro, SVP Program Sales, Entertainment One Erik Brannon, Analyst, IHS, Screendigest

'50K' calls to thesp quartet

GrossmanRoss Patterson, Seth Grossman, Jessie Wiseman and rapper Asher Roth are starring in roadtrip comedy "50K and a Call Girl." Grossman, who directed and produced A&E's "Intervention," is helming the faux documentary from a script co-written by Patterson. Patterson is also producing with Tristan Drew, JP McMahon and Ivan Victor through their Street Justice Films. Film follows Patterson's character being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given six weeks to live. Grossman's character, his newly engaged older brother, then offers to spend the $50,000 in his wedding fund on a road trip. Things get complicated when the brother's fiancee (played by Grossman's actual fiancee, Lauren Aboulafia) insists on tagging along and a call girl joins the group. Grossman's directing credits include "Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations." His most recent screenwriting credit is "A Late Quartet."Patterson is developing the series "Saint James St. James Presentes Delirium Cinema" with IFC and Aperture Entertainment producing. He also starred in Accepted" and "The New Guy." Patterson and Grossman are repped by Aperture Entertainment. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Courteney Cox, David Arquette Sell 'Skinny Girl' Comedy to ABC

Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesCourteney Cox and David Arquette Courteney Cox may be making the most out of the "big fat goalie" Friends joke. Cox and David Arquette have sold the untitled Rob Sheridan project, a single-camera comedy revolving around a former over-eater who transforms into a "skinny girl" and must navigate working with her ex in a diner that caters to people who love to eat. Cox and Arquette are attached to executive produce the ABC Studios project alongside Mad Love writer/co-executive producer Rob Sheridan. The untitled Rob Sheridan project marks the duo's second sale and first to ABC this development season; NBC gave a penalty commitment to single-camera comedy Ten Years earlier this month, with Howard Morris attached to pen the project that's loosely based on Cox and Arquette's relationship. Cox, Arquette and Morris will executive produce. The pair also have game show pilot Identity Crisis set up at CBS. ABC Cox-starrer Cougar Town is set to return midseason. Cox is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment; Arquette is with UTA and Management 360; Sheridan is at WME and Meridian Artists. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit Courteney Cox David Arquette TV Development

Stoppard's 'Love' play aims for Uk

Disney Theatrical Prods. is joining track of Sonia Friedman Prods. to create a stageplay version of "Shakespeare for one another,Inch being put together by script co-scribe Tom Stoppard.Jack O'Brien, the "Hairpsray" helmer who also provides directed Broadway activities of Stoppard plays "The Coast of Paradise" and "The Invention of love,In . will direct "Shakespeare" with "Paradise" and "Invention" designer Bob Crowley also aboard. Deals aren't set yet, but plans indicate a production that launches london.Title "Shakespeare for every otherInch can come to the stage by having an advanced audience recognition, due to the 1998 Miramax pic put together by Marc Norman and Stoppard and helmed by John Madden. Film came away by getting an Oscar haul of seven trophies that incorporated honors for top picture and script additionally to thesping laurels for Gwyneth Paltrow and Judi Dench.The idea of a stage version of "Shakespeare" remains kicking around the legit cost years. Initially produced just like a tuner, project happen to be one of the prospects available for your theatrical arm in the Weinstein Company, introduced with the former cake cake toppers of Miramax. Disney Theatrical, in the property via Disney's prior having Miramax, had absorbed a leadership role round the project by early 2010, right after complicated types of horsetrading over underlying rights and progress-to-production payment dates.Even though Disney Theatrical is way better recognized for tuners including "The Lion King" and "Mary Poppins," "Shakespeare" can be a play that's intended to offer the lush period-piece feel of 1979 Mozart bio-play "Amadeus," with different resource mixed up in project. Another non-tuner that Disney is attached, Peter Pan prequel "Peter as well as the Starcatcher," is planning for just about any spring work on the Rialto with Disney just like a co-producer. The org's new tuner version of 1992 pic "Newsies" could also potentially land round the Primary Stem inside the coming several days."Shakespeare" joins all of the developing projects at Disney Theatrical including legit incarnations of "Alice's adventures in wonderland," "Freaky Friday" and "Dumbo." Friedman's consistent transatlantic creating activities include "The Mountaintop," which opened up up March. 13 round the Rialto, additionally to recent plays "La Bete" and "Jerusalem." The Three of people shows showed up on Broadway following West Finish runs.Disney Theatrical wouldn't discuss plans for your show. No timeline has yet been set. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Cinematographer Dennis Hall, 54, Dies on Location

Veteran TV cinematographer Denny Hall died Thursday morning after getting experienced cardiovascular disease while used in New Orleans onCommon Law, an approaching scripted series for USA Network. He was 54.Related Subjects•Obituaries An origin near the production told The Hollywood Reporter that Hall had chest pains throughout his condo early Thursday and also the camera operator referred to as 911. Paramedics done him there too as with the ambulance but tend to not revive him. Hall will be in New Orleans for any couple of days. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths Producer Karim Zreik referred to as thecinematographerthe "captain in the team. We are just broken-hearted." "He could enter a place that was deathly quiet or filled with negative energy and immediately liven everything up," mentioned cinematographer John C. Flinn III, who needed Hall with him as his assistant round the eighties Tv shows Magnum, P.I. and Mike as well as the Fatman. "He will be a great first assistant, a great cameraman together with an excellent cinematographer. I'm so pleased with him." Common Law, from CBS Television Art galleries, stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as cop partners who don't access it, so their captain sends these to couples therapy. Jon Turteltaub directed the pilot, and USA bought 11 episodes within this summer time. An connect in the Worldwide Cinematographers Guild, Hall also done such series as Burn Notice, Franklin & Party, Eastwick, The Facial cleanser, Eli Stone, Studio 60 round the Sunset Strip, Bones and Jack and Bobby. More youthful crowd offered just like a camera operator since the late eighties round the showsNashville Beat, Diagnosis Murder, Beverly Slopes, 90210, CSI: Miami and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and also on the 1996 film Barb Wire. Hall is managed to get by his wife Julie and boy Noah. E-mail: Mike.Barnes@THR.com Related Subjects Obituaries

WATCH: Mitch Buchannon is on Patrol in the Boobalicious Teaser Trailer for Piranha 3DD

Piranha 3DD may have been pushed to 2012, but the new teaser trailer suggests that the quality and spirit of the franchise hasn’t been diluted. How could it have been, with returning fish survivor Ving Rhames dropping lines like, “Bring me my legs!” before gunning down the waters, Cherry Darling-style? Or with Baywatch’s own lifeguard-slash-private eye extraordinaire, Mitch Buchannon, policing the bouncing bloodied bosoms fleeing from their piscine predators? All this and more — “Double the terror, double the Ds” — in today’s Buzz Break! Piranha 3DD TrailerGet More: Piranha 3DD Trailer [via Spike] While we’re watching veteran actors colliding with the world of teenage otaku fantasies, watch Harrison Ford playing the video game Uncharted 3 for a Japanese television commercial. “Go, go, go!” [Topless Robot] Michael Bay took to his own blog to refute recent rumors that he’s actively working with Paramount on Transformers 4 and 5… which could mean he’s actually going to do his smaller black comedy Pain & Gain first. Yay? [Joblo] Terry Gilliam is anti-3-D… unless it helps bring in new audiences for his kid adventure Time Bandits, that is. [Digital Spy via Movie City News]

Spottiswoode adds math drama project

Helmer Roger Spottiswoode ("Tomorrow Never Dies") is putting together the last pieces of financing for pic on Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan in India. Based on a script by David Freeman from his eponymous play, "A First Class Man" will follow the unlikely friendship between the self-taught Indian math prodigy and mystic Ramanujan and British mathematician and atheist G.H. Hardy. A child prodigy, Ramanujan corresponded with Hardy who was struck by the Indian's genius and invited him to work in Cambridge. Ramanujan died in England at age 32. Spottiswoode cast 32-year-old Indian thesp Siddharth Suryanarayan ("Midnight's Children") as Ramanujan after seeing him in 2006's BAFTA-nominated "Rang de basanti." "He knows a lot about Ramanujan and he's very smart and has a real perception about the character, so he seems like an ideal choice," Spottiswoode said. "And he's about the right age." The helmer was speaking from the sidelines of the ongoing Reliance Entertainment-backed Mumbai Film Festival where he's serving as a juror. Pic was set up as a co-production between U.K. shingle Picture Palace and India's Cause Entertainment and was due to begin lensing in 2010. However, Cause pulled out and the film was stalled. Picture Palace remains on board and the project has added some European coin. Spottiswoode is aiming for a fall 2012 start for principal photography with exteriors shot in Cambridge, England, and interiors in India. Ramanujan's story has attracted attention twice before. In 2006, producer Ed Pressman acquired the rights to Robert Kanigel's 1991 biography "The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan" and separately, the same year British multihyphenate Stephen Fry and Indian helmer Dev Benegal together announced a biopic. Both projects are yet to be produced. Spottiswoode said his film is not a biopic but "very much about a collaboration between two unusual people" and hopes that it will attract auds who flocked to "The King's Speech." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com