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Rielle Hunter Hated Elizabeth Edwards Even Though She was Dying

Roger Friedman
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Rielle Hunter Hated Elizabeth Edwards Even Though She was Dying

Rielle Hunter’s hatred of Elizabeth Edwards is going to come out now, according to reports about Hunter’s book, “What Really Happened.” I told you about this a few weeks ago. Despite the fact that Elizabeth was dying of cancer, Hunter was out to “kill” her faster. She had no respect for the woman the rest of the country idolized. Every time Elizabeth reacted badly to Hunter’s movements, Hunter–not exactly full of grace– was ready for a put down.

Back in 2008-2009, I was in regular contact with Hunter’s close associate. These people did not care one iota that Elizabeth Edwards was sick and dying. Or that she was married. Here are just two emails I received:

May 5, 2009
Stand down, my friend. Now is not the time for ri to speak. There are some other things at play right now. But it will give EE some time to spread some more lies, making it all the more interesting when [Rielle] finally talks. Looking forward to watching her hang herself…

September 18, 2009
Rielle told me she  [Elizabeth] was out speaking again. What the hell for? What is she speaking about and who the hell cares??

Did you ever follow up with those people she fired? I bet andrew young would talk off the record about what a freak job she is…

During my many conversations with Hunter’s friends, one thing stood out: she didn’t care about Elizabeth Edwards. The fact that she was dying was an inconvenience. Elizabeth Edwards, to her credit, defended herself by turning out a book called “Resilience” in her dying days. This only infuriated Hunter more. What’s loony and sad is, that no matter how old Bunny Mellon was, it shows what her character was that apparently she didn’t care what happened to Elizabeth Edwards either. I don’t care if you’re 20, 30, 90, or 100. That’s just cruel.

Who will finish off John Edwards first? The mistress who says she was lied to, or the network that was lied to. It’s a race this week as ABC News prepares a 20/20 interview for Friday with Rielle Hunter. No traditional book publisher would take her memoir/expose, but a regular news org is happy to let her say what she wants. ABC News is going to let Hunter hang herself on her own petard, and destroy what’s left of John Edwards. And why not? Edwards baldly lied to Bob Woodruff in 2008 about his affair with Hunter and fathering her baby. ABC News has a realistic grudge. Chris Cuomo can have a ball with this one.

Annette Bening Breaks Foot, Misses Hubby Warren Beatty Host Beverly Hills Hotel 100th Anniversary

Roger Friedman
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Annette Bening Breaks Foot, Misses Hubby Warren Beatty Host Beverly Hills Hotel 100th Anniversary

LEAH SYDNEY reports from last night’s 100th anniversary of The Beverly Hills Hotel party, held to raise money for the Motion Picture Fund. Leave it to Leah: she asked host Warren Beatty why his beautiful and talented wife Annette Bening was AWOL.  Warren said: “Annette broke her foot, so she couldn’t come here tonight.”

How did she do it? Beatty replied: “She doesn’t quite know, but she has a cast on it. She’s had it for a few days, She’s fine, but she can’t stand for a long time.” Warren is a sport for putting up with our questions. He hates interviews! Warren then told the crowd: “It’s almost impossible to imagine a history of Hollywood without imagining the things that may or may not have occurred in this hotel. If only these wall could talk.  I want to personally thank these walls for not saying anything.”  Warren then went on to thank, “my friend the Polo Lounge and the indefatigable general manager Ed Mady.”

Beatty did not want to discuss his long in the planning movie about Howard Hughes. “I don’t talk about movies,” he said. “Ask me something else. “

How does he feel about the current political situation?

Warren: “Asking me that question would be like asking a hemophiliac for a pint of blood.”

What he does he love about the hotel and the MPTF?

“I love this hotel. And I love the MPTF.  It’s been around for a long time, and the significance of it is important to Hollywood.”

Why is philanthropy so important to him?

“It’s fun, and I enjoy it.  As long as I don’t have to do a red carpet.

Beatty’s co-hosts were Jeffrey Katzenberg and Brett Ratner. Katzenberg quipped to the crowd as he was introducing his pal Warren, “There are few people who are more important, more successful and contributed more to Hollywood than Warren.  For many, many, many decades he has exhibited greatness, talent, class and charm to which women and men can’t resist. I assure you that no one, no one, no one knows more about this hotel than Warren.”  To which Warren chimed in, “Jeffrey, you couldn’t just say a few decades?”

Guests then went downstairs to see a Chuck Workman film about the Hotel’s history, with a cameo by Clive Davis who said, “This hotel is like my second home. They know I like my coleslaw with raisins.”

Brett Ratner then introduced Mary J. Blige who rocked the A list crowd that included Cat Deeley, writer/biographer A. Scott Berg, producer Kevin McCormick, vivacious actress Brenda Vaccaro, songwriter Diane Warren, new re-elected PGA head Hawk Koch, producer/director Irwin Winkler, actresses Joely Fisher and Donna Mills.

Robert S. Anderson, the bon vivant author of  “The Beverly Hills Hotel-The First 100 Years,” which was on display at this glittering event summed up the evening:  “I’m fourth generation of Beverly Hills.  My great grandmother used to own this hotel, my grandfather was the manager.  The reason why this hotel is so famous worldwide is the beauty of it, the hotel, how it sits on a knoll above the city and the gardens that surround it. It’s a luxurious hotel, the service is impeccable and the food is fabulous.  It took me ten years to get this book together. I’m a little bit of everything; I was the Beverly Hills Commissioner, a real estate developer and now an author.  Everybody who has done a major deal, actors,talent, executives has done some part of it here.  This hotel is a focal point for show business.”

“Speed” Almost Starred Billy Baldwin and Halle Berry

Roger Friedman
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“Speed” Almost Starred Billy Baldwin and Halle Berry

Imagine a now classic movie with a different cast. That’s what producer Mark Gordon revealed recently at the recent Producers Guild of America Conference. LEAH SYDNEY reports that Johnson’s first choices for “Speed” weren’t Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. “We offered it to everybody but Keanu Reeves.  We desperately wanted Billy Baldwin and Halle Berry.  Dennis Hopper was our 97th choice. I didn’t think it would work.  Before Speed  I couldn’t get anyone on the phone, then everyone was calling me.”

The Producers Guild conferences always produce a lot of funny stories about the making of films. At the “Today’s Hit Business” panel, Mark Gordon, (Criminal Minds, Source Code, Saving Private Ryan,) and who is the co-president of the Producers Guild along with Hawk Koch spoke with legendary Producer David Picker.  David recounted the story of how on a film with Peter Sellers, he had to move Peter and his entourage from the Regency Hotel at 2am to the Plaza Hotel because Peter was convinced there were poltergeists in his room.

At the “Game Changers, Where Movies Should Be Going” panel, Mark Johnson (The Notebook, Rain Man, Diner) commented on the economic realities of producing. “This is a really exciting time because we have to be more inventive and resourceful than we had been in the past. ” Michael De Luca ( Moneyball, The Social Network, 21,) quipped: “Moneyball was my dream project.  It took me eight years and I’ve sworn off dream projects since then.  Amy Pascal’s passion for it kept it alive until Brad Pitt found it.”  On the 3D question that is still not totally embraced in filmmaking, Doug Wick (The Great Gatsby, Lawless, Gladiator,) said, “3D is an extraordinary tool in the hands of a talented director, it adds a new dimension to storytelling.”

At the ‘Passion Projects: Making Films Everyone Says Will Never Get Made,’ Brian Grazer (Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, American Gangster,) and Peter Berg, (Battleship, Hancock, Friday Night Lights) Brian reiterated that in order to be a Producer one has to be, “kind of crazy and very resourceful. Playing too rough or too nice is both a problem.  Unless I’m making someone angry at least once during a movie I’m not getting anything done.”

Berg agreed and said that an “insatiable curiosity about everything is a must.”  He also commented on the disappointing performance of his latest film, Battleship.  “Battleship did under perform here in the US, but has done well worldwide. Sometimes films work or don’t.  The concept, the money, it was all so intense. Despite everybody’s best intentions, sometimes movies run away from themselves.  At the end of day, that’s what it was.”

Mark Gordon added, “Everybody’s afraid and with fear comes dishonestly.  It’s important to be nice and keep your word. When it comes down to it though, I’m really a plumber; I know how to make the pipes come together.”

Aretha Franklin: Loved Sarah Jessica Parker’s Pantry

Roger Friedman
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Aretha Franklin: Loved Sarah Jessica Parker’s Pantry

EXCLUSIVE Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, and all around sport, wanted me to clear up for everyone what happened on Thursday night. Reports had her coming and going from Sarah Jessica Parker’s house and the Obama fundraiser as if she’d stayed five minutes. Quite the contrary. Franklin says to me exclusively: “I arrived at 5pm and left at 7:30pm. “I socialized with Meryl Streep, Michael Kors, Anna Wintour, Courtney Ross of the Ross School in the Hamptons. And, after they arrived, the President and First Lady. We took lots of pictures and had a beautiful chat! I explained to them I had to leave for the Songwriters Hall of Fame and to meet Clive Davis, with I am collaborating on a late summer CD.”

Franklin, who loves beautiful homes, gave a shout out to Sarah Jessica Parker: “Loved the old world charm of her home, and the pantry of her kitchen. I got to watch the executive chefs preparing delightful delicacies for the evening!”

Franklin has a busy summer coming, including the Essence Jazz Festival in New Orleans over July 4th, and two July dates on the west coast. She’s even making a rare appearance at the Hollywood Bowl next month.

Tom Cruise Has Worst Opening Weekend Ever with “Rock of Ages”

Roger Friedman
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Tom Cruise Has Worst Opening Weekend Ever with “Rock of Ages”

I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say this has been Tom Cruise’s worst opening weekend for a movie in like, forever. Even the terrible “Valkyrie” and the mundane “Knight & Day” had better starts than “Rock of Ages” on Friday night. It took in $5.3 million, giving it a shot at a $16 million weekend. Each of those of other movies did much better, and of course the “Mission Impossible” movies dwarfed that number. Cruise got tagged as the “star” of “Rock of Ages” playing Stacee Jaxx, a moronic big haired rock singer of the Eighties. Cruise can’t sing, the movie is derivative, and the reviews have not been great. Altogether, “Rock of Ages” is a bust. From the opening scene of people singing along to “Sister Christian”–ripping off “Almost Famous”–you know we’re in trouble. For a rock singer with groupies, Cruise has not heat either. “Rock of Ages” doesn’t bode well for Cruise creating new characters. And his paycheck is barely covered by these proceeds. Meantime, Adam Sandler’s crappy “That’s My Boy” did even worse–a $4.6 million Friday, a weekend of $14 million if lucky. Will this stop him? I doubt it, and of course, “Grown Ups 2” is filming now.

Tom Cruise “Rock of Ages” Box Office May Be Lower than “Valkyrie,” “Knight & Day”

Roger Friedman
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Tom Cruise “Rock of Ages” Box Office May Be Lower than “Valkyrie,” “Knight & Day”

The numbers aren’t in yet, and Saturday and Sunday haven’t actually occurred in real time. But predictions are not good for Tom Cruise’s weekend box office in “Rock of Ages.” Right now the low is $15.5 million and the high is $20 million. After all the promotion, that’s not good. “Rock of Ages” is certain to finish fourth for the weekend totally. But for a Cruise movie it indicates a trend. It could be that without “Mission Impossible” or another action franchise behind him, Cruise cannot really “open” a movie. His last two non-sequel, non-franchise films opened in the $21-$20 million bracket–“Valkyrie” and “Knight & Day.” Neither of them went on to crack anything near $100 million. “Rock of Ages,” a not very good, sort of kitschy movie, got middling reviews. Cruise got the best notices of anyone, but that was more for his courage to try anything than the actual performance. Of course, at this point, if he only did action films or more “Mission Impossible” sequels, he’d be fine. He’s already a zillionaire. But it doesn’t look like “Rock of Ages” is going to be much of a help to Cruise’s post-Oprah couch jumping career. I still say, if he could find anything like another “Jerry Maguire,” he’d be back in a minute.

Obama-Sarah Jessica Parker Fundraiser: Not So Star Studded

Roger Friedman
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Obama-Sarah Jessica Parker Fundraiser: Not So Star Studded

Unless celebrities were invisible or shipped in from the roof through a chimney, the Obama fundraiser at Sarah Jessica Parker’s house last night was not so star-studded. From every report filed, the main star who attended was Meryl Streep. Unless, she’s suddenly changed her entire past practice of political donorship, it’s unlikely that Streep donated $40,000 to anything. Aretha Franklin stopped in for a few minutes, and then headed off to the Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner uptown. That left a few fashion people, and a sighting of Olivia Wilde, an up and coming actress who’s given some money to Democratic causes but nothing in that ballpark.

The real star money giver of the night was probably Vogue editor Anna Wintour. She reportedly orchestrated the whole dinner at the Parker-Broderick home. She’s also given heavily to the Democrats and Obama. She’s written the check for $30,000 to the DNC in the recent past. She also is a regular donor to her congressman in the Hamptons, Rep. Tim Bishop.

But the 50 people who attended last night’s much hyped dinner? It will be interesting to see one day who they were. They were not celebrities or actors, and probably not people Sarah Jessica Parker had ever met before last night. The effort did not pull in magic hordes of Hollywood heavyweights. And I’ll bet Matthew Broderick was just as happy not to be there–and to be safely playing a billionaire playboy on Broadway in “Nice Work if You Can Get It.” Fantasy is so much better than reality, anyway.

Woody Allen: “I’m Immune to Whether My Films Do Well or Not”

Roger Friedman
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Woody Allen: “I’m Immune to Whether My Films Do Well or Not”

Our LEAH SYDNEY caught up with the legendary Woody Allen last night at the opening of the Los Angeles Film Festival. Woody and his cast premiered “To Rome with Love,” which opens on June 22nd.

LS-How do you feel about the rough and toughness of this business?

Woody- “I’m immune to it.  I’m immune to when my films don’t do well I never really care, and when they do well I don’t care.  I’ve kept myself out of that. I don’t have highs or lows. I just like to make the films and move on to the next film.  This one is opening and I’m already deeply involved in my next film.  I’ve moved on to the next film, this film is history to me.  “Midnight in Paris” is ancient history. So when they do well that’s great and if they don’t, well there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s not why I’m in the business.

LS-How much of your next film will be shot in New York?

Woody- “A little bit, the rest in San Francisco. “

LS-You know you’re obviously loved in New York and now as much in Los Angeles.

Woody- “I like that both coasts love me. Now if we can just get the middle of the country, I’m home free.”

At the Q&A following the screening. Woody told the crowd:

“I had a wonderful time making it, living in Italy, eating pasta and working with beautiful actresses and scintillating men.    If you do like it however, pressure Sony so they don’t put it in the witness protection program. So if you like the picture I’m thrilled, if you hate it and think it was a waste of time, don’t let me know because I get depressed easily.”

LAFF Festival Director Stephanie Allain told Leah about ‘the wow factor’ in getting Woody to come to LA.

“Kicking off the festival with Woody Allen couldn’t be cooler and bringing Woody to LA is a dream. I feel like we did it. Now we have ten more days of amazing movies, conversations, and music.  I’m thrilled that the LAFF is getting the recognition that it should.”

read also: http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/06/14/penelope-cruz-robert-benigni-make-woody-allens-rome-movie

Golden Globes Calls Dick Clark Productions “Devious” But Fib About Their Compensation

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes Calls Dick Clark Productions “Devious” But Fib About Their Compensation

The Golden Globes–aka the Hollywood Foreign Press Association– must be going crazy at this point. They lost their intiial case against Dick Clark Productions. The court ruled that DCP has the right to keep producing the Golden Globes show for NBC and negotiating with them–without the greedy HFPA’s involvement. So the HFPA has filed a motion for a final judgement, saying they can’t wait for an appeal to come through–thinking that the court will reverse itself and give them back control of the show. Buried in the HFPA’s latest filing are a couple of interesting items. First, the group spent $3.7 million on legal fees last year–half of what they get from NBC for licensing their name. That alone must be sending them over the wall.

But second–is this little assertion: .“…HFPA’s members work without pay throughout the year to put the Golden Globes together and the production and broadcast of the television show requires close cooperation between HFPA’s members and dcp. There is no assurance that HFPA’s members will be able to cooperate with dcp on future Golden Globe Awards Shows, given dcp’s deceitful and devious conduct towards its supposed “partner.”

Well, that part about “members work without pay” is  not exactly true. On its annual Form 990, the HFPA lists a bunch of salaries for its officers. In 2010, the total was up to $191,000 spread over 11 people. Phil Berk, who’s not even the president anymore, gets $61,000 a year. Not only that, the HFPA spent over $671,000 on travel expenses in 2010-2011 to go in luxury to film festivals around the world–although they are often subsidized in junkets by the studios. They paid $26,000 for rent of the building they occupy in West Hollywood–their clubhouse, so to speak. On the most recent Form 990 they also list $200,000 for unspecified “outside services” and $122,000 for “meetings and press conferences” and another $96,000 to run their website.

Of course, the ironic thing about all of this is that HFPA does no more than other critics group in any other city. They see all the movies and TV shows that come out in a year, and then make judgements about who should get which prizes. The New York and Los Angeles Film Critics Circles do the same thing, put on modest dinners, and hand out awards. The difference is that the HFPA–with members of questionable credentials–does the same thing while spending millions of dollars. It will be interesting to see how lawyers for DCP–which its parent company, Red Zone, apparently wants to sell–will respond to this latest motion.

Meat Loaf’s “Bat out of Hell” Set for Broadway, As Peter Pan Musical

Roger Friedman
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Meat Loaf’s “Bat out of Hell” Set for Broadway, As Peter Pan Musical

One of the great headlines from last night’s Songwriters Hall of Fame: Meat Loaf’s famous 1977 album “Bat out of Hell” is headed to Broadway. Apparently the songs written by composer Jim Steinman were originally intended to be the score for a decidedly different kind of “Peter Pan” musical. When that didn’t work out, the songs were re-worked into the Meat Loaf album. Some of the original problems included dealing with the J.M. Barrie estate’s objections to the Steinman vision of Neverland. Now, somehow, that’s been cleared up. Now “Bat out of Hell” is going to be presented — with other Steinman Meat Loaf songs–as a meditation on Captain Hook and friends. The character of Wendy will be one who’s been waiting 20 years–and is now 38– for Peter to return. He’s still 18. Maybe they find “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” Anyway, producers had hoped to try the show out in London. But Steinman, who lives in Connecticut, doesn’t travel much. So “Bat” will beat its wings closer to home. The show will not include any of Steinman’s songs for other artists, including Bonnie Tyler’s immortal “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

 

 

photo c2012 Ann Lawlor

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