Weekend Newsreel- November 11, 2005

Compiled by the FilmBuffOnLine Staff

     Disney’s Old Man Johnston Gets Medal Of Arts: Ollie Johnston, the last surviving member of the group of animators that Walt Disney had nicknamed his “Nine Old Men,” was the recipient of a 2005 National Medal of Arts yesterday, November 10. Johnston was one of ten honorees presented the award by President and Mrs. Bush during an Oval Office ceremony at the White House. Johnston, who worked on such Disney classics as Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and Bambi, is the first animator to receive the Medal of Arts.

     Hollywood Sign Gets Makeover- The landmark Hollywood sign began receiving a facelift this week. The Hollywood Sign Trust, the agency formed to maintain the landmark, has stated that the refurbishment of the famous 45-foot tall letters perched on the side of Mt. Lee which will include removal of dirt and rust before the application of rust inhibitors and a new coat of fire-resistant white paint. The sign, which originally read “Hollywoodland,” was erected in 1923 to advertise a new real estate subdivision and was declared a national monument in 1973. It last received a coat of paint in 1995. The cost of the current renovation is estimated at approximately $100,000.00, with the materials and labor being donated by two San Diego firms. The job should take the crew of seven workers approximately four weeks to complete.

     Deja View: Producer Graham Ludlow has picked up the English-language remake rights to the French-Canadian comedy Horloge Biologique (Dodging The Clock). Screenwriters David A. Lee and Daniel Vaillancourt are set to adapt the satire about three men trying to juggle their personal freedom and family commitments … Gold Circle Films have announced that they will be remaking the Hong Kong action pic Breaking News which starred Johnnie To… Brian DePalma’s 1973 thriller Sisters is being updated by director Douglas Buck. Asia Argento is set to take over the role originated by Margot Kidder in the original. Production is slated to begin next February… Warner Brothers Pictures is in final negotiations to with writer/producer David Ayer to direct an update of the Sam Peckinpah’s 1969 The Wild Bunch based on his own script.

This week’s Releases-

November 11

·         Bee Season (limited)

·         Cape Of Good Hope (NY)

·         Derailed

·         Duane Hopwood (limited)

·         Ellie Parker (NY, LA, SF)

·         Go For Zucker! (limited)

·         Good Morning, Night (NY)

·         Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (wider)

·         Paradise Now (top 10 markets)

·         Pride And Prejudice (top 30 markets)

·         Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic (limited)

·         Three Of Hearts (LA)

·         Zathura

November 16

·         Breakfast On Pluto (NY)

November 17

·         Naughty Or Nice (Boston)