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Billion Dollar Producer: Working Title Films
10/22/06
With $3.5 billion in worldwide grosses since their breakthrough "Four Weddings and a Funeral" in 1994, it's finally time to admit Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, co-chairs of Working Title Films, might just be onto something.

ShowEast 2006
10/19/06
Saturday nights at the movies are rarely like this. Walk through the entrance to the lobby, and you're greeted by music from a baby grand piano. Relaxing on an overstuffed couch sounds nice, but instead you purchase movie tickets at an electronic kiosk, where you can reserve your favorite seats and order concessions at the same time.

BARNES MORRIS AT 10
10/16/06
With A-list clients, youthful law firm takes antiestablishment to the bank As Kevin Morris shows a visitor around the loftlike, soon-to-be-vacated Santa Monica digs of his entertainment firm Barnes Morris Klein Mark Yorn Barnes & Levine, it becomes apparent that the impending move is symbolic as well as physical.

NEW YORK MAYOR'S OFFICE AT 40
10/15/06
Following a rather tepid summer and fall festival season, generating few film standouts and pickups, indie industryites are looking to the American Film Market to get back to business.

AFM PREVIEW 2006
10/15/06
Following a rather tepid summer and fall festival season, generating few film standouts and pickups, indie industryites are looking to the American Film Market to get back to business.

AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE GALA: GEORGE CLOONEY
10/12/06
When George Clooney accepts the 21st annual American Cinematheque Award onstage at the Beverly Hilton tonight, it will be ostensibly for his role as "an extraordinary artist."


NEWS \| FEATURES \| TERRITORY REPORTS \| SHOOTING GUIDE \| SCREENING GUIDE \| VENDORS/PRODUCTS
AFI: A fest too far Events in Santa Monica, H'wood keep buyers busy By Ian Mohr 11/4/06 20:00pm Long-distance relationships are hard -- that's how most AFM attendees are experiencing the association between AFM and AFI Fest, now entering its third year. No one is disputing that both events are successful, or meaningful, for their core demographics. But there's still a gaping divide between the two, based mostly on their locales: AFM sits in sandy Santa Monica, while its fest component, AFI, chills in glittery Hollywood 15 miles away. Remakes make mart Horror genre also does brisk biz at AFM By Patrick Frater 11/4/06 20:00pm EFAs laud 'Volver,' 'Others' Almodovar pic leads pack with 6 noms By Emiliano De Pablos 11/4/06 20:00pm 'Fissures' reopening Dante, Stanley to produce English-lingo remake of Gallic pic By Ian Mohr 11/4/06 20:00pm		Black Book by Derek Elley Hollywood-honed tech smarts and European character sensibilities mesh entertainingly in pacy WWII resistance thriller "Black Book," Paul Verhoeven's first feature in his native Netherlands for more than 20 years. Pic should easily slide into the black in non-Anglo territories, where the largely Dutch-German dialogue won't be a problem. Exiled by Derek Elley Love and Other Disasters by David Rooney

Hyde Park Intl. will give foreign buyers a first glimpse of 'The Astronaut Farmer,' toplining Billy Bob Thornton. Warner Bros. handles domestic release.

Overseas, underestimated
Pamela McClintock 10/29/06

For years, U.S. pics ruled supreme overseas. Now, the throne is beginning to show cracks. This sea change is certain to be the topic of conversation as buyers and sellers come together at the American Film Market, which runs Nov. 1-8 at its usual beachside haunt in Santa Monica.

'The Illusionist' is the third film released by the Yari Film Group, which is steadily building a track record in distribution. Early on, the company tapped the services of Freestyle Releasing.

Small miracles
It's called the "Monte Carlo method," and as Bob Yari explains, it may be the best chance of winning the do-it-yourself distribution gamble. "If you roll the dice once, you're going to lose," says Yari, "but if you roll the dice 36 times, you can start predicting the numbers."

Battle for screens brutal as exhibs seek instant results
With most of the U.K. cinema biz in the hands of venture capitalists, and distribs releasing more and more movies, the Monday morning battle for screens is getting bloodier.

'In Bloom,' with Uma Thurman, shot in Connecticut, instead of Gotham, due to a better deal.

Stateside incentives lighten financial load
The explosion of prod'n incentives around the U.S. is a big boost to producers looking for soft financing that's closer to home. From Providence to Phoenix, it seems many state legislatures can't pass film incentives fast enough.