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Al Pacino To Get the Jack Valenti L.A.-Italia Award During Oscar Week

Roger Friedman
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Al Pacino may not be up for an Oscar this week, but he is getting a nice award. Pacino will receive the Jack Valenti-L.A. Italia Award on February 17th in Los Angeles. Al deserves all the awards he can get, frankly. Here’s the release:

Academy Award®-winning actor Al Pacino will be the recipient of the inaugural JACK VALENTI – L.A., ITALIA LEGEND AWARD, it was announced today by noted Italian filmmaker Lina Wertmuller, honorary chairman of the Istituto Capri nel Mondo, the governing body of the Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Fest. Named in memory of long-time MPAA president Jack Valenti, it is the festival’s highest honor and it will be given annually to an outstanding Italian-American who has made major contributions to the global motion picture industry.

Valenti’s daughter Courtenay, executive vice president of production for Warner Bros. Pictures, will present the award to Pacino on February 17th during the festival’s opening night ceremonies at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, where the 8th edition of L.A., Italia will take place from February 17th through the 23rd, the week preceding the Oscars®.  The festival is produced by founder Pascal Vicedomini and chaired by Italian-American talent manager and film executive Rick Nicita, with producer Martha De Laurentiis serving as president and producer Mark Canton serving as honorary chair.  Madalina Ghenea, the Italian-Romanian supermodel and actress will be Mistress of Ceremonies.

Known for his forceful dramatic presentation, Al Pacino is most closely associated with the roles of Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, as well as Tony Montana of the legendary gangster film Scarface. However, it was his performance as Frank Slade, a blind, retired Lt. Colonel, in Scent of a Woman that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1993 and a supporting actor nomination in the same year for Glengarry Glen Ross. This came after seven previous Oscar nominations for The Godfather (1973), Serpico (1974), The Godfather: Part II (1975), Dog Day Afternoon (1976), And Justice For All (1980) and Dick Tracy (1990). Amongst his other awards are five Golden Globes, including the HFPA’s Cecil B. DeMille Award (2001), the American Cinematheque Award (2005) and the American Film Institute’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

“One of the greatest actors in all of film history, Al Pacino established himself during one of film’s greatest decades, the 1970s, and has become an enduring and iconic figure in the world of American movies,” said Lina Wertmuller in making the announcement. “His commitment to acting as a profession and his constant screen dominance has established him as one of the movies’ true legends.

There is no one in the world more suitable and deserving to receive the first Jack Valenti – L.A., Italia Legend Award.”

No Bounce for Beyonce, But She Does Announce World Tour

Roger Friedman
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No Bounce for Beyonce, But She Does Announce World Tour

If you were wondering why Beyonce sang at the Inauguration. performed at the Super Bowl, put together a Destiny’s Child reunion there, and issued a Destiny’s Child greatest hits album with a new track for no apparent good reason– now we have a reason. Beyonce has just announced a world tour beginning in April in Serbia.

The tour comes to the US in June, and lands at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where husband Jay Z has an interest. It’s called “The Mrs. Carter Tour” because Jay Z’s real name is Shawn Carter. So that explains it: the end game of all this marketing was a big tour with high priced tickets. At least there is an endgame because frankly, why else put yourself through all this?

Meanwhile, there’s no apparent sales bounce in CD or download sales for Beyonce or Alicia Keys after last night. Amazon.com is selling Beyonce download albums for five bucks, but it hasn’t pushed them into the stratosphere. Keys’s “Girl on Fire” has shown no appreciable change in sales either.

 

Alicia Keys “Star Spangled” Ka-Ching: Her Super Bowl National Anthem Could Make Her Some Money

Roger Friedman
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Alicia Keys “Star Spangled” Ka-Ching: Her Super Bowl National Anthem Could Make Her Some Money

UPDATE: The NFL is blocking the video of Alicia singing “The Star Spangled Banner” on copyright grounds! Hilarious. They confirmed the following story.

Alicia Keys elegantly performed “The Star Spangled Banner” last night at the Super Bowl. And now she can apply for a copyright on it. Keys’ uniquely slow version, accompanying herself on the piano, also featured her own arrangement. Her little “tail” at the end — “livin’ in the home of the brave” –is her personal addition to the 200 year old song. “The Star Spangled Banner” is in the public domain. And you can get a copyright on a public domain song if you record it with your own arrangement. That means Keys could make money from its future use in that form, and get her a shared songwriting credit with composers Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith, who died in the 1800s.

Keys isn’t alone in her “Star Spangled Banner” copyright. BMI lists the song 307 times; ASCAP, 410. Jimi Hendrix played his own scorching guitar version at Woodstock in 1969 and got his own copyright. His estate makes money from that famous recording every time it’s used in a movie or played somewhere. Jose Feliciano has a copyright on the song, too, for his unique version. He plays it in public every chance he gets. Ka ching! (See below.)

The arguably best version of our national anthem ever sung at a sporting event was Whitney Houston‘s, at the 1991 Super Bowl. Houston is not listed as the copyright holder on that version. And she gave away the proceeds of sales of her single and recording to charity, as George H.W. Bush had just launched us into the Gulf War.

By the way, not everyone who sings “The Star Spangled Banner” — or otherwise records a song in the public domain– seeks a copyright, obviously. But those 700 or so instances that are registered with BMI and ASCAP are from times when the performer did something unusual enough to the original song to claim it. For Alicia, her version was no doubt an artistic choice. But it’s also one that will kick a few pennies into her coffers over time– unless she also donates it to charity.

PS I told you some time ago that Keys may have infringed on the copyright for the hit song “Hey There Lonely Girl” in her current hit, “Girl on Fire.” A lawsuit was filed against her subsequently by Earl Shuman, co-writer of “Hey There” with the late Leon Carr. I’m told a settlement may be in the works. In the meantime, ASCAP has removed Keys’s name from the song credits on its website until a final understanding is reached.

Alicia Keys:


Whitney Houston:

Jimi Hendrix:

Jose Feliciano:

Beyonce Super Bowl Half Time Show: Swagger But Not Much Singing (Full Video)

Roger Friedman
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Beyonce Super Bowl Half Time Show: Swagger But Not Much Singing (Full Video)

Beyonce put on a good show of pyrotechnics and dancing, but I wouldn’t say there was much actual singing as we used to know it. She has two good songs–“Crazy in Love”–  which is really just a repurposed song by the late great Eugene Record of the Chi Lites–and “Single Ladies.” Another song, “Halo” consists mostly of Bey belting out the word “Halo.”  It was neither terrible nor great. One big problem is that Beyonce doesn’t have much of a catalog to pull from. She just has a great swagger, and no one struts lie her, and that may be all you need these days. Anyway, she sang live and that’s all that matters at this point. No lip synching all night. But the 49ers maybe should have lip synched the first half.

Update: The Ravens just scored again. If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to bring some flowers to their grave…Jeesh…

And quoth the Ravens: Never more, never more.

Super Bowl: Jennifer Hudson Nails It, Alicia Keys Is Just Fine

Roger Friedman
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Super Bowl: Jennifer Hudson Nails It, Alicia Keys Is Just Fine

Super Bowl 2013: Jennifer Hudson has the pipes. She sang “America the Beautiful”  with the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir and nailed it, of course. JHud is the voice of her generation, and she can belt it out in any weather, live, without augmentation. Give her an A plus.

Alicia Keys performed the Star Spangled Banner with her piano, slow and steady and deliberate. Alicia doesn’t always sing on key, but she was flat just once toward the end. Otherwise, she looked beautiful and caused ho harm. Going slow suited her delivery. The fact that the Super Bowl entertainment is Alicia, JHud, and Beyonce, with Jay Z, is very cool, so let’s appreciate it.

Of the movie commercials, “Oz: The Great and Powerful” looked excellent. And “World War Z” has shaped up as the must see End of the World blockbuster. But “The Lone Ranger” is worrying, especially Johnny Depp doing his pirate-as-Indian. I just don’t get it. Maybe more footage will explain. And whoever attempted to sing “Hold on I’m Coming” in that commercial with the Rock–yikes! The worst!

 

 

Justin Timberlake Is Releasing an Old School Album of R&B Songs (Videos)

Roger Friedman
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Justin Timberlake introduced two new songs from his “20/20 Experience” last night at a show in New Orleans. Seems like JT has made an old school album of R&B songs complete with melodies and instruments. If this is the case, what will happen to all the sampled, pre-programmed fake stuff that’s become so popular? Good move, JT. Can’t wait to hear the whole thing.

Ben Affleck Wins Directors Guild, “Argo” Gets Its Own Silver Lining

Roger Friedman
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Ben Affleck Wins Directors Guild, “Argo” Gets Its Own Silver Lining

Ben Affleck won the DGA Award for “Argo” last night, and “Argo” got its own silver lining, so to speak. It does seem as though a Best Picture win is getting more likely for a movie that will not have a Best Director or any acting prizes. While the DGA was gathering last night, I was watching “Argo” at home on my Academy screener, and there’s no denying it: the last twenty minutes are seat of your pants exciting, and that’s what everyone takes away from it. And that at least is what makes him Best Director in a year of great movies and a lot of best directors.

It’s a silver lining for Affleck since he was not nominated for the Oscar for Best Director. Neither were Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hooper nor Quentin Tarantino. Very strange, indeed.

The other DGA winners are “Searching for Sugar Man” in Documentary,” plus– in TV– the ubiquitous Lena Dunham for the pilot for “Girls,” Jill Mitwell for “One Life to Live,” Jay Roach for HBO’s “Game Change,” and Rian Johnson for an episode of “Breaking Bad.” I’m not taking away from the TV winners, but at this point it would be interesting for some mental health professional to analyze the psychology of the same people winning over and over for the same thing endlessly…

Meantime. Affleck’s win reflects his prior two films, “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town.” After a career collapse as an actor with movies like “Gigli” and “Bounce,” Affleck made a stunning change to the director’s chair. He’s also married to a beautiful, talented actress and has a full head of hair. I hate him. (Just kidding.)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

Ben Affleck
Argo (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Affleck’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Amy Herman
First Assistant Director: David Webb
Second Assistant Director: Ian Calip
Second Second Assistant Directors: Clark Credle, Gavin Kleintop
First Assistant Director (Turkey Unit): Belkis Turan

This is Mr. Affleck’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

MALIK BENDJELLOUL
Searching For Sugar Man (Sony Pictures Classics)
Passion Pictures Production
Canfield Pictures & The Documentary Company
Red Box Films

This is Mr. Bendjelloul’s first DGA Award nomination.

TELEVISION

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

RIAN JOHNSON
Breaking Bad, “Fifty-One” (AMC)

Mr. Johnson’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Stewart A. Lyons
Assistant Unit Production Manager: James Paul Hapsas
First Assistant Director: Ben Scissors
Second Assistant Director: Louis Lanni
Second Second Assistant Director: Anna Ramey
Additional Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly

This is Mr. Johnson’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies For Television and Mini-Series

JAY ROACH
Game Change (HBO)

Mr. Roach’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Mary Kane
First Assistant Director: Josh King
Second Assistant Director: Emily McGovern
Second Second Assistant Director: Brian F. Relyea

This is Mr. Roach’s second DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for Recount in 2008.

Jay Roach won the Emmy for the same film about sarah Palin. “This is unbelievable to win this award… in a room filled with my heroes,” he said onstage. Roach noted that he grew up in a very conservative New Mexican family where his mother made a rule to never talk about politics at the dinner table. “And I stuck to that for most of my life – at least at home,” he said. “But when I watched John McCain in 2008 rush to propose Sarah Palin be the next in line for the President of the United States, I said, ‘We’ve got to talk about this’.” The remark drew a mixture of laughter and applause.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

LENA DUNHAM
Girls, “Pilot” (HBO)

Ms. Dunham’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Regina Heyman, Ilene S. Landress
First Assistant Director: Mark McGann
Second Assistant Director: Jason Ivey
Second Second Assistant Director: Marcos Gonzalez Palma

This is Ms. Dunham’s first DGA Award nomination.

Box Office: “Silver Linings” Breaks Out, Cosette from “Les Miz” Gets a Manager

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Silver Linings” Breaks Out, Cosette from “Les Miz” Gets a Manager

Last night’s box office was kind of a watershed moment for “Silver Linings Playbook.” David O. Russell’s Oscar nominated serio-comedy not only held its own in third place, but nudged up to cross the $75 million mark. “Silver Linings” has now also nosed ahead of “Zero Dark Thirty,” which is sort of amazing. For thirty days, “SLP” languished in limited release while other, bigger movies came and went. “SLP” and “ZD30” were neck and neck in the same number of theaters once they each went wide.

But now “SLP” had broken from the pack. It’s going to make $100 million, and be the next Weinstein Company movie to hit that mark. Maybe a landmark: I can’t recall a time that the Weinstein Company has had two movies in the top 10 at the same time. Yet, now they have the Russell and “Django Unchained.” And they’re each nominated for Best Picture.

Of the two, “Playbook” has a stronger shot at winning Best Picture. But again, I told you this when I saw “Playbook” in Toronto. It’s such a terrific film, and it’s the one with heart this season. People feel good when they see it. That’s not to diminish “Zero Dark Thirty.” But audiences love “Silver Linings Playbook.” Jennifer Lawrence is on her way to Best Actress, too. “SLP” and maybe “Lincoln” are the two realistic rivals to “Argo.”

The surging success of “SLP” means that by February 24th, Oscar audiences will really have seen all nine nominated Best Pictures and care about them. That, plus the show itself, should add up to solid ratings for the Academy Awards telecast.

Meanwhile, the little girl who knocks everyone out as young Cosette in “Les Miserables” has gotten herself an A list manager. Ten year old Isabelle Allen, who’s also the face of the poster for “Les Miz,” has signed with Jason Spire of Inspire Entertainment. The child star is already represented by Hobsons International in the UK. Allen has won over audiences and critics with her poise and beautiful voice opposite such A listers as Hugh Jackman playing the young Cosette. She was first seen in a local production of “The Pied Piper” by the head of the British National Youth Music Theatre who identified her vocal and acting talents. Spire has a bunch of hot actors such as Anthony Mackie, Oscar Isaac, and Benjamin Walker. Those three are in everything these days. Little Isabelle won’t be far behind!

Anne Hathaway Gets a Delicious Oscar Parody in YouTube Hit (Video)

Roger Friedman
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Anne Hathaway Gets a Delicious Oscar Parody in YouTube Hit (Video)

It couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Anne Hathaway, who’s taken a lot of ribbing this Oscar season, is actually a doll. Now she’s getting the ultimate hilarious send up of her role in “Les Miserables” singing “I Dreamed a Dream.” A YouTube parody has already been seen over 500,000 times and counting. It’s a must see from beginning to end, and the end–in which Anne’s name is spelled wrong– a reference to her Critics’ Choice Awards speech– is the cherry on top. Anne can take a joke, and I’m sure the Academy will too. I expect to see this played in the Dolby Theater during a commercial if (when) Hathaway wins Best Supporting Actress on February 24th. The singer is Emma Fitzpatrick, and the director is USC film student Alberto Belli.

Soap Opera Cliffhanger for “One Life to Live” Characters on “General Hospital”

Roger Friedman
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Soap Opera Cliffhanger for “One Life to Live” Characters on “General Hospital”

OK, it’s getting weird between ABC and Prospect Park, the company they licensed “One Life to Live” to for airing on the internet in 2011. When Prospect Park, which is owned by Jeff Kwatinetz, didn’t pull their plans together by early 2012, ABC took three actors and their characters from the cancelled “One Life” and migrated them to “General Hospital.” They were a hit, and “GH” has become a revived smash.

Now PP, which says it’s finally going to produce “One Life” and “All My Children,” wants the actors and characters back. They are willing to share, however.  But they’ve issued a mysterious statement that only mentions Michael Easton, who plays John, and Kristen Alderson, who is Starr. Pointedly missing in the new announcement is Roger Howarth, popular from “One Life” as rapist-turned-anti-hero (only on a soap) Todd Manning.

Kwatinetz is well known to us in mainstream entertainment, but I doubt soap people have any idea of what they’re dealing with. The one time owner of The Firm has had a Renaissance with “Royal Pains” on USA Network. But he has a long and contentious past as a manager that includes nearly tanking Kelly Clarkson‘s career. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287075,00.html

Kwatinetz still hasn’t made a deal with super soap star Susan Lucci, of “All My Children.” And there are doubts that Prospect Park can pull off the internet launches at all.

What will happen next is a soap cliffhanger.

Here’s what Prospect Park sent out tonight:

Prospect Park released the following statement regarding its licensing agreement with “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” In 2011, when Prospect Park decided to put everything on the line to reboot these shows, they lent characters to “General Hospital” until shooting began for the new programs so that the characters could stay alive with the fans and also so that the actors could remain working.  Everyone at ABC and on the production staff of “General Hospital” understood that this was a temporary arrangement until production started once again on “One Life to Live.”  Now the time has come to start production and Prospect Park needs to, once again, cast these characters including Llanview transplants Michael Easton (John) and Kristen Alderson (Starr). See statement below:

“Prospect Park understands that ‘General Hospital’ has featured Llanview transplants Michael Easton (John) and Kristen Alderson (Starr) among others while we arranged production of the new version of ‘One Life to Live.’ These characters, who we own under our agreement, are obviously essential to our production efforts, and a large reason we licensed the program. We also understand that legions of ‘General Hospital’ fans have grown to love these actors and characters in a short time. So even though we are paying ABC millions of dollars to license the shows, we have been, and continue to be willing to equally share the characters with ‘General Hospital’ and ABC. It’s a win-win for the actors, the shows and fans, who love all of the shows and storylines. We hope to work out these agreements with ABC and the actors.”

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