THURSDAY JULY 2, 2009 « Film News Briefs

July 1, 2009

THURSDAY JULY 2, 2009

PROJECT UPDATES

Piper Perabo has been tapped as the lead in USA Network’s spy thriller “Covert Affairs.” The project, which has been quietly casting two major roles for the past month, hasn’t received a firm pilot order, but a green light is expected within a couple of weeks. Written by Matt Corman and Chris Ord, “Affairs” centers on Annie Walker (Perabo), a CIA trainee who speaks six languages and excels at any endeavor she undertakes. Walker joins the CIA while still reeling over a mysterious ex-boyfriend who appears to be of particular interest to her new bosses. She vows never to let herself be hurt again, but that proves to be a tall order. With the lead role cast, attention now shifts to finding an actor to play Auggie Anderson, a blind tech expert who assists Walker in her assignments.

ACQUISITIONS/FESTIVAL NEWS

Newly minted Phase 4 Films has acquired U.S. rights to “The Poker House,” the directorial debut of thesp Lori Petty, and set a July 17 theatrical release. “The Poker House,” starring Selma Blair, David Alan Grier and Jennifer Lawrence, is a portrait of life in a poor small town in Iowa in 1976. Petty and Grier co-wrote the script.

BUSINESS NEWS

Infighting among Albany lawmakers has kneecapped New York City’s “Made in NY” tax credit program, at least temporarily. The incentive, an extra 5% tax credit on below-the-line expenditures in addition to the 30% offered by the state, benefits productions shot in New York City, ranging from newcomers like HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” to stalwarts like NBC’s “Law and Order.” But the program has reached its maximum refund amount of $192.5 million. The city needs legislators in Albany to approve an extension of the tax credit before it can allocate refunds for new productions. But there’s no legislation without legislators, and New York’s State Senate hasn’t had a quorum in weeks amid a fight between Democrat Malcolm A. Smith and Republican Dean G. Skelos, who are both claiming to be the majority leader. Tensions reached a high point on June 9, when Democrats locked Republicans out of the Senate chambers. The bickering has prevented the city’s proposed tax credit legislation from being heard. Local biz players weren’t thrilled with the state’s plan to scale back New York City’s portion of the credit to 4% and to phase it out for long-running shows that have used the credit for several years.

Switching up its 2010 comedy lineup, Sony has decided to move Adam Sandler buddy comedy “Grown Ups” out of March and into the heart of summer. “Grown Ups” will open June 25, the date originally staked out for the studio’s Seth Rogen action-comedy “The Green Hornet,” which now bows July 9. The Sandler comedy — also starring Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider — had been set for March 12. “Grown Ups” revolves around five friends who reunite after decades apart. Comedy reteams Sandler and director Dennis Dugan; Sandler penned the script. “Green Hornet” follows a newspaperman who turns into a masked crime-fighter at night. Stephen Chow also stars. Rogen penned the script with Evan Goldberg.

INDUSTRY MOVES

New York-based literary agency Rob Weisbach Creative Management has tapped a team of senior associates — Erin L. Cox, David Groff and Jake Bauman — to maintain and support the company’s comprehensive development plan. Cox, former book publishing director at the New Yorker, will work primarily in publicity and promotion; while, veteran book editor Groff is set to scout and develop writers. Bauman, former director of development at the Weinstein Co., will develop and represent authors and screenwriters.

OBITUARY

It seems like we’ve had to write a bunch of these lately, but it goes with the territory when a titan of the film industry and/or pop culture passes away. This time it was Karl Malden, who was both. The 97 year-old was known to a generation as “the American Express Guy,” who warned us never to leave home without that card. To think of him that way, however, sorely underestimates the talent he had and the mark he made. He won an Oscar for his role in 1951’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” (which also made a star of some guy named Brando), and was nominated for another film in which the two co-starred, a little thing called, “On the Waterfront.” He was a TV star (”Streets of San Francisco”), a statesman (former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and was married to the same woman for 70 years. RIP, Father Barry.

WEBSITE TO WATCH

http://suicidegirls.com/

Novelists are increasingly turning to digital platforms to build rabid communities of fans for their books. Writer J.C. Hutchins is promoting the release of his new supernatural thriller Personal Effects: Dark Art with a multimedia partnership that invites readers and members of this cult pin-up community site to undertake a digital scavenger hunt of sorts. SuicideGirls will debut videos, clues and photos of “personal effects” from the career of the book’s protagonist, art therapist Zach Taylor. Readers can delve further into the story by reading emails, listening to phone calls and watching video blog entries. Personal Effects character Rachael Webster is also “guest blogging” at SuicideGirls, writing its “Hit Play” gaming column. (She also has her own blog at PixelVixen707.com.) Fans are also encouraged to hack into Dr. Taylor’s profile page at the Brinkvale Psychiatric website to learn more about those committed.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Like many of you who read these daily posts of ours, we have big plans to celebrate the 4th of July. And, since it falls on a Saturday this year, we’re going to get a head start and take a long weekend. We’ll be back on Monday. Happy Birthday America!