Disney Loves Spielberg

Please, forgive me for the delay. I was so caught up with the Chris Brown story which, by the way, gets more interesting everyday.

Big news! Disney has agreed to team with DreamWorks to release six of its films, annually, starting next year. DreamWorks will pay Disney a fixed distribution fee of 9% (way under the industry average of 15%) of the box office and in return will receive much needed funding in the amount of about $250 million. The deal is set to last for 30 films and even includes a profitable pay TV slot. The deal was expected after Universal baled last Friday. DreamWorks execs can now breathe easy and focus on the development of the 17 projects brought over after breaking ties with Paramount.

Spielberg's DreamWorks is now privately operated again and the great news is, Disney will be hiring again after a recent round of layoffs. However, some are speculative of Disney's commitment to Miramax, which releases about four to six films annually. I say Disney is the real winner in all of this. It has a real knack of making the right deals (like Pixar) at the most appropriate times. DreamWorks will fulfill Disney's needs to release more films beautifully, especially with projects like "Motorcade," "The 39 Clues," and "The Trial of the Chicago 7" coming up.

Chris Brown Gets Violent

I was planning on just a simple "here are the Grammy nominees and winners" type post, but in light of the whole Chris Brown fiasco that is obviously not going to happen.

Here is the story: After leaving the pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton, Chris Brown and an unidentified woman reportedly got into an argument in a Hancock Park neighborhood. The argument escalated and a witness called 911. The unidentified woman identified Chris Brown as her attacker, but by the time police arrived, Brown had already fled the scene. The unidentified woman has since then been identified as none other than girlfriend and pop star, Rhianna. Brown turned himself in last night and was held before positing $50,000 bail. He has been charged with making criminal threats and is still under investigation for felony charges of domestic violence. He is due in court March 5th.

Keep in mind all of this happened during the Grammys at which Chris was to perform "Forever" and Rhianna "Live Your Life" and "Disturbia."

For once I am at a loss for words. I guess I'm just reacting like any other normal human being would to any sort of news of domestic violence. All I'm going to say is he pulled some crazy Bobby Brown-esque stuff right there, and we all know where Bobby and his career is today.

Not that you really care anymore, but here is the complete list of the Grammy nominees and winners.

Oh, and while in the news room this morning, the AP informed me that Wrigley had just suspended all ads featuring the star but stopped short of saying the company will drop him completely. Do I see an anti violence PSA coming up? You bet.

Visit TMZ for the latest news on the case as well as a video of Chris Brown getting booked.

Bale Apologizes

Everybody knows if you're truly sorry for something in Hollywood, you apologize right away. Well, Christian Bale chose today (4 days after the fact) to apologize for his now infamous verbal tirade directed toward a poor lighting guy on the set of his Terminator Salvation last July. Bale called in to the Kevin and Bean Show this morning to apologize. He said "I acted like a punk." Yeah, a big, f*cking punk and maybe a little like a f*cking amateur.

SATC Part Deux

It has been confirmed the girls will be back for the sequel to Sex and the City: The Movie. It will feature the same cast and same writer-director, Michael Patrick King. Filming will begin this summer and the release date has been set for sometime next year. That's what I do know. What I don't really know is what to expect in terms of love-life drama from this cast, since most are pushing 50 and one is already there. Maybe Mr. Big and Carrie will have a miracle baby or something or, better yet, Samantha will be with child (or maybe that's just pushing it)! All I know is Smith Jarred better come back with Marcus, who was noticeably missing from the first installment. I just have one request from the SATC people: please, please, please, no more disturbing sex scenes between Miranda and Steve. I don't think I can handle it.  

Book Deals

Books have been recently making a come back, and it looks like they're here to stay! It has been confirmed that Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe landed a seven figure deal to write about his involvement within the presidential campaign. He is credited with raising up to $750 million, the most ever in campaign history, and winning David and Goliath-like battles against the likes of Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Public interest for his account is evident and Yahoo News reports that 17 imprints, some even within the same publishing house, competed for the rights to the book. Viking, an imprint of Penguin USA, will be publishing the book. I can't wait until the Steven Colbert, David Plouffe interview! Ah, to pick the brain of THE marketing genius.



Maybe even more exciting for some is the news that Twilight director, Catherine Hardwicke will also be writing a book about her experience with the massively popular, movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's teenage vampire series. The book will be made to replicate the director's personal notebook she kept on set and will reveal all the bloody details of the behind-the-scenes action. 500,000 copies of "Twilight: Director's Notebook" will be released under the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers name on March 17 to capitalize on the DVD release of Twilight on March 21. Well played, well played. The Twilight people have to do something to keep the girls screaming. Plus, the director gets her last bit of lime light before being replaced by new director, Chris Weitz. I hope his interpretation at least makes sense, though. I really hate it when books, even bad books (not that I'm suggesting anything), are made into even worse movies.



I don't want to be cynical or anything, but I see a movie adaptation of the "David Plouffe Story" coming to theaters soon within the next four years, possibly before Obama is up for reelection. He'll be played by Jake Gyllenhaal and the movie will be nominated for "Best Screen Play," maybe with Jake up for "Best Actor," too. The possibilities are endless, but people, that's the problem! Original screen plays in Hollywood these days are as rare as a starlet without a drug problem. It's sad when authors need to fear the vortex of the "movie adaptation" or worse yet, start to embrace the idea. This recycling of story lines needs to be put to a stop. I think audiences appreciate a truly unique idea and unique perspective. I wish the best of luck to David Plouffe and Catherine Hardwicke (but mostly to David)!

Michael Phelps Apologizes

In a very carefully worded statement to the AP, Phelps admits:

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgement... I'm 23 years old and despite the success I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

I think what he's trying to say is:

"Endorsers, I'm sorry! Please don't drop me! Without you guys, swimming is unprofitable and just 'exercise.' I need you!"

Poor guy, I like him, I really do, but come on! Did you really think you wouldn't get caught? Did you really think some jealous college party goer wouldn't want to take a damning photo potentially worth a gold mine? For the love of God, exercise some caution, man!

UPDATE (2/2/09): Apparently, all is forgiven. Good for him, I guess.

UPDATE (2/5/09): USA Swimming suspended Phelps for three months, effective today. In addition, Kellogs will not be renewing their contract, which ends this month, with the swimmer. 

Michael Phelps Caught with a Bong

Let's forget for just one second that the Super Bowl is today and try to refer back to last year's Olympics. Remember, Phelps the swimmer, the eight gold medals in one Olympics guy, the guy who landed over $40 million in endorsements, that Michael Phelps? Well, it seems that little Mikey is in some big trouble. As reported by The News of the World fellow party goers snapped a photo of Phelps taking a hit from an engraved bong last November, weeks after his Olympics victories, during a streak of parties at The University of South Carolina in Columbia. One source revealed: "You could tell Michael had smoked before. He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do... Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place."

Here's the bigger problem. The US Olympics Committee announced laws which specifically banned athletes from taking drugs of any sort within the four years prior to competition. Phelps took a hit (or maybe several, but really, who's counting) in November of 2008 and the London Olympics are in 2012. You do the math.

The Committee, Phelps' coach Bob Bowman, and the World Anit-Doping Agency, all refused to comment on the incident. The News of the World was even offered by spokesperson Clifford Bloxham, a three year commitment from Phelps to write, host events, and to advertise with the British paper if that meant the picture would not be published. Well, the smoking gun is smoking, no pun intended.

The questions remain. Will advertisers pull a Kobe and remove him from their campaigns? Will Phelps be able to participate in the 2012 games? Will the public forgive him for this incident as they did with the DUI and dating ex-stripper Caroline Pal? Will the swimming world be able to afford to give up Michael Phelps as its star? Best of luck to you, Mr. Phelps!