APPLE-POLISHING TIME FOR STUDIOS
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
DGA DEAL WITH STUDIOS: ALMOST DONE?
Negotiations between the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers continued on Tuesday for the fourth consecutive day and were scheduled to resume today (Wednesday), with some trade and Internet reports suggesting that a tentative agreement could be announced before the end of the week. If so, analysts will immediately examine the kind of agreement the DGA has made with the AMPTP on residuals for digital distribution, the key issue involved in the writers’ strike. Many in the industry are hoping that the deal with the directors can provide a template for similar deals with other labor groups.
BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL GETS WHAT THEY WANT
The Berlin Film Festival has chosen Shine a Light, Martin Scorsese’s documentary about the Rolling Stones, to open this year’s festival on February 7. Festival organizers said Tuesday that the director and the veteran rock band will attend the screening. In its statement, the organizers said, “Scorsese has created an extraordinary musical film event and given audiences unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones both on stage and off.”
ATONEMENT DOMINATES BRITISH BAFTA NOMINATIONS
The British film Atonement, which received the Golden Globe award for best film Sunday, received a whopping 14 nominations for the BAFTAs, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television. The movie received nominations for best film, best British film, best actress (Keira Knightley), best actor (James McAvoy), best director (Joe Wright) and best supporting actress (Saoirse Ronan). Two films received nine nominations, No Country for Old MenandThere Will Be Blood. All three films were nominated for best film, along with The Lives of Othersand American Gangster.Several British critics expressed surprise at the poor showing for Sweeney Todd, which received nominations only for make-up, hair and costume design. Winners are due to be announced on February 10.
