Missing Syrian producer Orwa Nyrabia

Ten days on, still no news on missing Syrian producer Orwa Nyrabia

3 September, 2012 | By Melanie Goodfellow

The Toronto International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, French producer and directors body L’ARP and director MartinScorsese join chorus of concern for missing producer.

The film and documentary world have stepped up calls for the release of Syrian producer Orwa Nyrabia, who is believed to have been arrested by local security services following his unexplained disappearance from Damascus airport ten days ago.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) said in a statement it was,  “extremely concerned by his arrest – film-makers must be allowed to express themselves without fear of reprisal.”

From France, the producer and directors body L’ARP, the Cannes Film Festival, the Cinémathèque Francaise, the writers guild SACD and the multimedia union Scam issued a joint statement calling for his release.

“Orwa Nyrabia belongs to a young generation of Syrian cineastes and cinephiles, who love cinema from around the world and freedom. His arrest worries and outrages us,” read the statement.

Director Martin Scorsese has also lent this voice to the campaign saying in a statement: “‎”I was alarmed by the news that the Syrian actor and producer Orwa Nyrabia has been arrested by the Syrian regime, held in an undisclosed location and denied any communication with the outside world, including his own immediate family.”

“The international film community must remain vigilant, and shine a light on every injustice perpetrated against our fellow artists. We need to maintain pressure to ensure the immediate release of Orwa Nyrabia,” it continued.

From the documentary world, Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock Tweeted a message of support for Nyrabia over the weekend, calling on followers to spread the word on his arrest.

Nyrabia, 34, was reported missing by his family on August 23 after he disappeared at Damascus airport where he was due to have boarded a flight for Cairo.

“According to Egyptian Airlines, he did not board the plane, which indicates that he was arrested by the Syrian authorities at the airport,” his family explained at the time.

Sources close to Nyrabia’s family say there is still no news on his whereabouts.

Nyrabia, who studied film production in France, is the co-founder of Damascus-based production company Proaction Film and the documentary-focused DOX BOX Film Festival alongside Diana El-Jeiroudi.

The pair are respected figures in the Arab filmmaking community and beyond for their tireless efforts to produce and promote Syrian cinema at home and abroad.

Nyrabia’s family and friends have set up a facebook campaign in support of the producer entitled: Freedom for Syrian Cinema, Freedom for Orwa Nyrabia: Like his Facebook here

Thanks you Screen Daily

More info: http://www.screendaily.com/news/-ten-days-on-still-no-news-on-missing-syrian-producer-orwa-nyrabia/5045990.article?blocktitle=Latest-news&contentID=1846
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for reading us,
Thank you for your time,
Hope you'll found the information you expected,
Don't hesitate contacting us,
Have a great day ☼
Chicas Team ❤

--------------------------------------------------------> Submit to: Show contact info
In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A.

www.chicas-productions.com
------------------------------------------------------------------

Spread the World -------- --> 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Sans Chávez, pas de chavisme ?

L'absence du président de la République a fait naître dans l'opinion publique un débat dont les "leaders" du Parti socialiste unifié du Venezuela (PSUV, parti de Chávez) et du Parti communiste négligent l'importance : que se passe-t-il si Chávez n'est pas là ? Pour la première fois, le régime chaviste est confronté à ce qu'on peut considérer comme le grand échec du processus engagé par Chávez [la "révolution bolivarienne"] : le commandant n'a pas de successeur. La base chaviste est parfaitement consciente de ce problème, alors même qu'il est nié au sommet de l'Etat, ce qui en dit long sur le divorce évident entre le simple citoyen pro-Chávez et la bureaucratie que le président a laissé gouverner le pays.
Dans ce "débat", j'ai du mal à accepter certains points de vue d'amis chavistes de base qui m'assurent que le Président, pendant son repos à La Havane, s'inquiète qu'il n'existe personne qui puisse le remplacer - ou l'aider - à la tête du processus bolivarien. Car enfin, si Chávez n'a aucun "remplaçant", c'est parce que lui même a veillé à écarter n'importe quel dirigeant osant se présenter comme un éventuel aspirant. (Toute ressemblance avec Rafael Caldera [président de 1964 à 1979 et de 1994 à 1999] sur ce sujet n'est certes pas une coïncidence.)

Si l'on analyse les derniers sondages, on découvre des résultats dévastateurs pour le chavisme (ou pour ses dirigeants). Selon l'Institut vénézuélien d'analyse de données (IVAD), si l'on organisait des primaires pour choisir le candidat chaviste à la présidence (question qui ne tenait pas compte de l'appartenance politique du sondé), 32,6 % soutiendraient Chávez, 2,6 % voteraient pour l'actuel vice-président Elías Jaua et 2,5 % pour le député Diosdado Cabello. Enfin, 57,6 % refusent de dire quelle serait leur choix dans une telle configuration.

L'état des lieux réalisé par l'institut de sondages Consultores 21 n'est pas non plus encourageant. Tareck El Aissami (avant les violences survenues dans les centres de détention Rodeo I et II) était le ministre [de l'Intérieur et de la Justice] chaviste le plus apprécié, avec 37 % d'opinions favorables dans l'électorat, suivi de près par le ministre des Affaires étrangères Nicolás Maduro (36 %), puis par Jaua (33 %) et Cabello (32 %). A titre de comparaison, le gouverneur de l'Etat de Miranda, Henrique Capriles Radonski, recueille 54,6 % d'opinions favorables, tandis que l'ancien maire de Chacao, Leopoldo Lópoz, se situe à 49 %, le gouverneur de l'Etat de Zulia, Pablo Pérez, atteignant 41 %.

Les principaux leaders chavistes ont une cote comparable à certains opposants politiques comme Antonio Ledezma [maire de Caracas], Henry Ramos Allup [député et secrétaire général du parti d'opposition social-démocrate Action Démocratique (AD)] ou Alvarez Paz [démocrate-chrétien, gouverneur de l'état de Zulia] . Ce qui ne pourra qu'ulcérer n'importe quel chaviste radical qui croit au processus de changement actuel.

Si le chavisme est dépourvu de personnalités de référence, l'opposition compte au moins trois dirigeants régionaux à vocation nationale. A l'heure qu'il est, le chavisme se limite à Chávez et à l'influence locale que peuvent avoir ses dirigeants sociaux.

Incontestablement, Chávez a changé la manière de faire de la politique au Venezuela. Ses liens affectifs avec les plus démunis ont révélé l'énorme dette sociale contractée envers cette frange de la population, obligeant n'importe quel politique à répondre à la clameur de 80 % des Vénézuéliens. Cela étant, son grand échec est d'avoir bâti un modèle qui n'admet pas d'autres leaders et qui fait passer la fidélité à sa propre personne avant l'obligation institutionnelle de rendre des comptes.

Son repos - où il entre une grande part de stratégie militaire et électorale - suscite un débat que le chavisme a toujours voulu éviter. Sans Chávez, la nécessité de répondre aux attentes sociales restera une donnée fondamentale de la vie politique, mais le chavisme, comme mouvement politique, ne devrait pas avoir de postérité, ce qui sans aucun doute préoccupe bon nombre de Vénézuéliens situés au bas de l'échelle. Comprendre ce sentiment d'absence qu'a éveillé parmi certains chavistes la maladie du président : telle sera peut-être la clé de l'élection de l'année prochaine.

Thanks Courrier International

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Hugo Chávez révèle avoir été opéré d'une tumeur cancéreuse

"Le 30 juin, depuis Cuba, le président de la République a lu un communiqué en réaction aux inquiétudes suscitées par la 'détérioration de son état de santé'", explique le quotidien. Hugo Chávez a révélé à la télévision avoir subi une intervention chirurgicale couronnée de succès pour lui retirer une tumeur cancéreuse. Il a ajouté qu'il était en cours de rétablissement complet. Agé de 56 ans, Chávez est apparu grave et ému pour son premier discours à la nation depuis son opération, le 10 juin à La Havane.

Thanks Courrier International !

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Netflix eyeing Latin America, Britain for next international launches..

While Wall Street eagerly awaits word on where Netflix will expand next overseas, the fast-growing home entertainment company has signaled its plans to Hollywood.

According to entertainment industry insiders, Netflix executives have said they plan to expand soon to Latin America -- with Mexico and Brazil considered particularly promising markets -- and Britain.

A spokesman for Netflix declined to comment on the company's plans abroad.

Netflix launched in Canada last September and expected to have as many as 900,000 subscribers there by the end of March. The company previously told investors that if growth in that country continued to be strong, it would expand into other foreign countries in the second half of 2011.

Investors and observers have been looking for clues as to where Netflix will next offer its online video service in order to gauge its global growth prospects.

Britain could pose a particular challenge, as it's the first country in which Netflix will face a direct competitor. LoveFilm, which in January was acquired by Amazon.com, offers a similar service there.

For much more on the challenges Netflix faces, including potential competitors, see the story in tomorrow's Times.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

YouTube to require 'tutorials' for copyright offenders...

Google Inc.'s online video behemoth YouTube toughened its enforcement of copyright laws, requiring violators to attend "copyright school" and pass a test before they can resume uploading videos to the site.

The changes come amid calls -- both in Hollywood and in Congress -- that YouTube do more to combat piracy. Google General Counsel Kent Walker recently defended the search giant's commitment to content protection in testimony this month before the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on intellectual property.

Under the new rules, YouTube users who receive notice that they used someone else's content without authorization must attend "YouTube Copyright School," which entails watching a tutorial and passing a quiz to demonstrate they understand the rules governing content. YouTube also created an online resource center to help educate YouTube user about the nuances of copyright law.

"Because copyright law can be complicated, education is critical to ensure that our users understand the rules and continue to play by them," YouTube wrote in a blog post Thursday notifying users of the new policy. "That's why today we're releasing a new tutorial on copyright and a redesigned copyright help center. We're also making two changes to our copyright process to be sure that our users understand the rules, and that users who abide by those rules can remain active on the site."

YouTube suspends users who have received three notices of copyright violation. Under the new rules, longtime YouTube content creators, who have uploaded "thousands" of videos but nonetheless receive a third strike, can avoid suspension if they successfully complete the copyright school and demonstrate "good behavior over time."

Christopher J. Dodd, the new head of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, the industry's lobbying arm, issued a statement applauding Google's recognition of copyright problems on YouTube -- and calling on the search giant to do even more to deter Internet piracy.

"To help demonstrate whether its new program is effective, we would hope that Google shares the data regarding its impact on repeat infringers as well as details on the speed in which it takes down illegal content found on its sites," Dodd said in a statement. "We also hope that Google will now take long overdue steps to address its role as a search engine in providing priority listings and rankings for rogue sites offering stolen movies and television shows."

YouTube has had a Content ID system in place since 2007 that scans videos as they are uploaded to determine whether it is someone else's copyrighted work. If the system finds a match, YouTube follows the rules the content owner has put in place to determine what to do with the new video -- whether to block it, track it or attempt to place advertising against it and share the revenue.

Thank you Los Angeles Times

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Funky dress made of multi-colored Legos by Michael Schmidt.

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie got into the kid-friendly spirit at Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, sporting a funky dress made of multi-colored Legos by L.A.-based designer Michael Schmidt. But she's not the first band member to make a fashion statement out of the retro-cool building blocks: will.i.am rocked a Lego hat and necklace at last year's American Music Awards.

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

MPAA Sues Movie-Streaming Service Zediva...

UPDATED: It files a copyright infringement suit, claiming Zediva illegally streams movies to its customers without obtaining required licenses from the movie studios.

The MPAA is taking action against one of the hottest, if legally questionable, online streaming services, Zediva, which has gained a boisterous following since its launch earlier this year by going places that Netflix won't -- streaming relatively recent films like The Fighter, The Social Network and Black Swan.

Zediva claims its business model is innovative yet completely legitimate. The company rents its users a DVD player and a DVD, and customers use their computers like remote controls, playing a movie from afar. Streaming 10 movies costs users only $10, a cheap enough price that consumers, perhaps looking for piracy alternatives, have been signing up in growing numbers.
The question, though, is whether Zediva needs a studio's license before exhibiting these films to audiences.

Zediva believes itself to be akin to a traditional brick-and-mortar rental company like Blockbuster in the 1990s. It points out that when a customer "rents" a movie, that film is taken out of circulation. Zediva doesn't create a digital copy. Instead, it's just playing a video remotely at a customer's bequest in what it deems to be a private exhibition.

In a federal copyright lawsuit filed Monday in California District Court, the MPAA disputes the private nature of the streaming service. Instead, the movie industry believes that Zediva is infringing its "exclusive rights to perform their works publicly."

According to the complaint, Zediva's comparison of its service "to a rental store is disingenuous, and Defendants are attempting to rely on technical gimmicks in an effort to avoid complying with U.S. Copyright Law. Defendants operate an online VOD service, not a neighborhood rental store."
Zediva will likely hope a court will see this issue similar to how the Second Circuit Court of Appeals saw a plan a couple years back from Cablevision to begin offering its customers remote storage DVR capabilities for television programming. In that lawsuit, studios sued on the ground that Cablevision was violating its copyrights and its exclusive authority over public performances, and similarly to the latest lawsuit, claimed Cablevision had created "an unauthorized video-on-demand service."
The Second Circuit disagreed, ruling that Cablevision had no control over what programs were being delivered and saying that a single customer transmitting to oneself wasn't any more public than a customer recording a program with his or her own DVR.
However, television is a different bulwark than movies. By the time Cablevision's remote-DVR plan had hit the court, services like Tivo and Slingbox had already established itself on the marketplace without much legal challenge. Cablevision was merely asking a court to let it take a step a few mere inches forward.
In contrast, movie studios are arguing that Zediva's plans will upend their business model and relationships with iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, and others, and can point to its own body of favorable case law on the subject.
Copyright scholar James Grimmelmann, for one, points to several cases that will work against Zediva, including one involving a brick-and-mortar rental store named Maxwell's, which rented videotapes to customers, along with private 4'x6' exhibition booths in the rear of the store. Similar to how Zediva operates, Maxwell's customers reserved a so-called "private exhibition" of these movies as the video stores' clerks queued up the videos from afar. A court later found this operation to be "not distinguishable in any significant manner from the exhibition of films at a conventional movie theater."
It was, in the court's opinion, a "public performance."
The MPAA is claiming maximum statutory damages in the amount of $150,000 per infringement for Zediva's alleged copyright violations.
Zediva hasn't yet issued a response to the movie industry's claims.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Unions Speak Out Against Piracy...

Joining federal lawmakers at a piracy press conference, the labor organizations denounced "profiteers" who traffic in illegally obtained content.
Representatives from the DGA, AFTRA, IATSE and SAG joined Congressional lawmakers at a press conference today on Capitol Hill to discuss fighting copyright infringement and Internet theft.
RELATED TOPICS
•Labor
The unions released a statement decrying "Illegal downloading and streaming of the content made by our members" and stating that those practices "pose a devastating threat to the future of the hundreds of thousands of working men and women who make up the American entertainment industry."
The release noted that those guilds and unions represent 300,000 creators, performers and craftspeople who create films, television programs and sound recordings. The Writers Guild was not part of the press conference, but both the WGA West and East have spoken out against piracy as well.
The union statement argued that "Professional content is a driving force behind the massive popularity of the Internet" and blasted "profiteers who knowingly traffic in content they have obtained illegally and played no role at all in creating or financing."
The press conference did not appear to be connected to any new legislative efforts to address unauthorized downloading or streaming.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

In One Day, $100 Million to Be Handed Out by California Film Commission....

We will exhaust all $100 million in tax breaks on June 1st," says Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission.
The California gold rush started 162 years ago but on June 1, there will be another kind of gold rush in the golden state. That morning, movie and TV producers can drop off applications for a share of $100 million in annual state tax credits for productions that meet certain requirements and shoot in the state during the year.
What's the rush? "We will exhaust all $100 million in tax breaks on June 1st," Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission said Friday morning at a commission meeting and breakfast for producers in Los Angeles.

In other words, the entire amount allocated by the state legislature for the year will be spoken for the first day that applications are accepted . Actually, more productions will seek tax breaks than is available for the year on that one day.

The commission, with help from the California Highway Patrol, will randomly choose among the entries submitted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to assign them a priority number and notify those chosen the next day.

Those that do not make the cut go on a waiting list. If and when qualified productions drop out or are cancelled, they become next in line for possible approval.

That has been the way it has gone since July 2009, when the state first funded a program of tax incentives for productions designed to compete with tax breaks offered by more than 40 other states, as well as Canada and countries all over the globe.

About 150 people attended the California Film Commission event which included film commissioners from 22 of 50 locales around the state, along with Los Angeles, who met, mingled and made brief "speed dating" presentations to producers of movies, TV and commercials who were on hand.

Lemisch noted that since the program kicked off, the state has spent $300 million on film incentives. Last year that helped keep 116 productions in California. Those productions direct spend in state was $2.2 billion, which includes $728 million in compensation for California-based crewmembers.

Lemisch said that resulted in employment for 25,000 "below the line" crew, 6,000 performers and 170,000 background extras.

The California program offers 20% tax breaks for features and cable TV series, and 25% for qualifying independent movies and TV series that return from other locations outside the state. Of the annual $100 million, $10 million is specifically set aside for independent productions, but they must have budgets of at least $1 million to qualify, and can earn incentives up to $10 million of their budget. Features must have budgets of $1 million to $75 million that can qualify.

While California was one of the last states to offer tax breaks, and its program is not as generous as states such as Louisiana (with over 40% in tax breaks), it does offer other unique advantages, according to Lisa Bruce, co-executive producer of last year's movie No Strings Attached, and a veteran line producer.

Bruce says because California has a larger pool of experienced crews, more stages, special effects companies, labs and other facilities than any other state, there are significant savings due to problems caused by inexperienced crews and waste. She also noted working in California often eliminates travel, lodging and other location expenses, and most involved in the production are happy to be close to home.

What California offers in incentives "actually becomes more money than the incentives offered by others," said Bruce. "I'm really happy we have it and hope it continues."

On Saturday April 2 there is also the 4th annual California Only Locations event, from 1 to 6 p.m. in Century city. RSVP at www.4thcaonly.eventbrite.com.

From June 3 through 5, the Association of Film Commissioners International will hold their annual conference in conjunction with the annual Producer's Guild Produced By Conference, which this year is being held on the Disney studio lot in Burbank. Info at www.ProducedByConference.com.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Music labels lash out at Amazon's cloud service...

Amazon is in a battle royale with music labels over its digital music locker service.

Launched on Monday, Amazon's Cloud Player is drawing criticism from record companies chagrined that the Seattle company did not secure music licenses from labels and publishers before releasing its service.

Sony Music Entertainment said in a statement, "We are disappointed that the locker service that Amazon is proposing is unlicensed by Sony Music, and we hope that Amazon will resolve the situation quickly by agreeing to a license with us. We are keeping all our legal options open."

Sony's spokesperson, Liz Young, declined to define "legal options" and whether the company's statement suggests Amazon's service violates any sort of copyright law.

On Tuesday, Amazon fired back that it didn't need licenses to launch its Cloud Player, which lets users upload songs and play the music from any Web browser or device that uses Google's Android operating system.

Because the files belong to users, Amazon isn't required to obtain licenses to be able to store them on its servers and make them accessible to users. But that requires users to upload their music, a process that could take hours if not days for large song collections.

Competing services such as Rdio, which has licenses from the major record labels for a locker service, scan a user's computer to take an inventory of songs on the hard disc drive, a process that takes minutes if not seconds, and instantly make those songs available to stream.

Amazon continues to negotiate with record labels for locker licenses, according to an executive with a major record label. But Amazon's preemptive strike in launching the service without those licenses have irked the record companies. One executive told Billboard that Amazon's service was "third-rate."

Sony has hesitated to jump on board with so-called cloud services because of concerns about users uploading pirated songs to the lockers, along with legitimately purchased music, according to executives familiar with the negotiations.

If this tune sounds familiar, it's a variation on another kerfuffle the online retailer had last year with book publishers. Amazon triggered an uproar last year by insisting that Kindle versions of new releases be sold at $9.99. Publishers rebelled, saying the low price cannibalizes sales of hardcover bestsellers, priced at $25 to $30. The upshot? Amazon caved in, allowing some publishers to set the retail prices for Kindle versions of their titles.

Can't we all just get along?

Thank you Los Angeles Times

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

On Location: Making a film about being film friendly...

It looked like any other film shoot in Los Angeles. About 70 cast and crew members converged on a neighborhood in Studio City last week.

Only this wasn't just any ordinary film production. The actors, crew members and vendors were there as volunteers, donating their services to produce a short public service announcement touting the economic benefits of filming in L.A.

The segment will be one of several spots that will be shown at Mann Theatres this summer as part of a campaign, dubbed Film Works, recently launched by FilmL.A. Inc. to promote L.A.'s signature industry, which has been increasingly leaving California.

"The goal is to highlight the economic importance of the industry that plays a vital role in our region and to remind people that when a film shoots in your neighborhood or on your street there are long-term benefits to L.A.,'' said Todd Lindgren, spokesman for the FilmL.A., the nonprofit organization than handles film permits in the region.

FilmL.A. co-produced the spot with the help of Shoot Movies in California, another nonprofit group that has been fighting so-called runaway production. "It's important to send a message to the community of L.A. that there is a problem and the problem is that work is not only leaving the city, but the state,'' said Ed Gutentag, the group's founder.

The 90-second segment features a monologue from actress and singer Tia Carrere ("Wayne's World," "Rising Sun" and "True Lies"). As she steps out of her trailer and walks toward the set, Carrere talks about the role of craft services workers, hairdressers, prop makers and others, pointing out how their work filters down to prop houses, catering companies, equipment suppliers and scores of other vendors.

"When a movie company like this shoots here in California, it puts close to $15 million back in the economy,'' she says. "We need more movies to be shot in California to help California."

That message will be coming soon to a theater near you.

Thank you Los Angeles Times

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

China's Top Online Search Engine Baidu Encourages Music and Movie Piracy

A report on so-called "Notorious Markets" by the United States Trade Representative showed that Baidu linked to illegal pirating websites.
BEIJING – Baidu, China's top online search engine, perpetuates theft of copyright and undermines respect for the rule of law, a report on so-called "Notorious Markets" issued late Monday by the United States Trade Representative said.
RELATED TOPICS
•International News
The USTR accused Baidu, the most visited website in China, of "inducing" consumers to consume pirated movies and music by producing search results linking websurfers to illegal third party web sites.

China has more websurfers on earth than any other nation – numbering more than 450 million by the end of 2010 – and Baidu is among the top 10 visited websites in the world.

The NASDAQ listed company declined media requests for comment Tuesday in China.

Shares in the Beijing based company were down nearly 2% in early Tuesday trade in New York to $118.86 each.

The USTR report comes weeks before China is supposed to tell the World Trade Organization how it has moved to comply with a Dec. 2009 ruling insisting it allow greater foreign participation in the distribution of copyrighted cultural content. Critics say that China protects domestic Internet, movie and music companies by freezing out competitors visiting from overseas and wishing to do business.

The USTR said that the production and sale of pirated goods is bad for the growth and success of legitimate businesses across the globe. "Piracy and counterfeiting undermine the innovation and creativity that is vital to our global competitiveness," USTR's Ron Kirk, President Barack Obama's principal trade advisor, said in a statement.

By Baidu's own admission, its popularity stems in part from a service that aggregates links to illegal materials, including pirated music and movies. The Recording Industry Association of America said in a statement. "Few if any of the links provided by Baidu connect the user to legitimate versions of copyright-protected materials. It is undoubtedly one of the largest distributors of infringing music in the world," said Neil Turkewitz, RIAA evp, International.

The RIAA is to the music industry what the Motion Picture Association is to Hollywood. The trade organization claims its members create, manufacture and/or distribute about 85% of all legitimate recorded music produced and sold in the United States.

The USTR report named 33 violating companies in total, including Canada's isoHunt and allofmp3.com clones in Russia and Ukraine.

"Whether online or in the physical space, these are firms who either directly profit from the sale or other distribution of illegal materials, or who profit from facilitating such theft -- in many cases through the sale of advertising," Turkewitz said.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Theater Owners Fuming Over Studios' VOD Plan...

News of the DirecTV deal, which is likely to include titles like Sony's "Just Go With It," adds new twist to CinemaCon.
LAS VEGAS – Feeling blindsided, theater owners were furious Thursday that four Hollywood studios didn't brief them on plans to launch a new premium VOD service on DirecTV late next month, followed swiftly by Comcast and VUDU. Exhibitors could respond by changing how they book films and play trailers.
OUR EDITOR RECOMMENDS
DirecTV to Launch Premium VOD in April
Adding to their ire, word of the service broke just as exhibitors and studios were together in Las Vegas for CinemaCon, the annual convention of theater owners. Throughout Caesars Palace, home of the show, meetings between distributors and exhibitors ended abruptly as theater owners scrambled to make sense of the news.
Warner Bros., Fox, Sony and Universal are all on board, according to insiders. The movies will be available 60 days after their release in theaters for $29.99. Fox Searchlight titles will be offered 60 days from the date that they go wide.
In a strongly worded statement, National Assn. of Theater Owners John Fithian said the VOD service could fundamentally alter the economic relationships between exhibitors and the studios taking part in this "misguided adventure."
Theater owners say the shortening of the theatrical window could damage their businesses. Today, the average window is 120 days, although exhibitors have been amenable to a 90-day window in some cases.
"As NATO's executive board noted in their open letter of June, 16, 2010, the length of a movie's release window is an important considering for theater owners in whether, how widely and under what terms they book a film," Fithian said.
Fithian also said exhibitors could reevaluate how they play trailers for the films that are going to be made available on premium VOD.
While exhibitors knew there were discussions going on between the studios and DirecTV, they didn't know the deal had been finalized. They say the studios had assured them they'd be kept in the loop.
"Theater operators were not consulted or informed of the substance, details or timing of this announcement. It's particularly disappointing to confront this issue today, while we are celebrating our industry partnerships at our annual convention – CinemaCon – in Las Vegas," Fithian continued. "In the end, the entire motion picture community will have a say in how the industry moves forward. These studios have made their decision in what they no doubt perceive to be their best interests. Theater owners will do the same."
Theater owners aren't likely to speak out themselves until early next week, after they've returned home and checked with their boards. They always have the option of refusing to play a film.
Throughout the history of the film business, there have been dramatic showdowns between theater owners and studios over the window issue.
While DirecTV will offer the service to its to customers nationwide, Comcast and VUDU will do so only in select markets, at least initially.
Studios are hoping that premium VOD can help offset the decline of the DVD business, once a major source of revenue.
But some in the industry question whether consumers will want to pay up to $29.99 for a movie.
There's also concern over piracy. Paramount isn't taking part in the premium VOD service because of this issue.

The Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

ony Online Entertainment Slashes Hundreds of Jobs, Shutters Three Studio...

As part of the restructuring, the game publisher cancels the release of the long-in-development action espionage massively multiplayer online game "The Agency."
Sony Online Entertainment has closed three of its game studios and laid off 205 workers as part of a massive restructuring. The game publisher has also canceled the release of the long-in-development action espionage massively multiplayer online game, The Agency.
"As part of this restructuring, SOE is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games," the company said. "All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern."
SOE has shuttered its studios in Denver, Tucson and Seattle, where The Agency was in development. Acquired in 2006, the Denver studio had been focusing on digital card games based on SOE properties like Free Realms, Star Wars Galaxies, Legends of Norrath and Star Wars: The Clone Wars Adventures. The Tucson studio was overseeing the online strategy game, PoxNora.
SOE still has its Austin studio, which is home to DC Universe Online and Star Wars Galaxies, and its headquarters in San Diego, where games like EverQuest, PlanetSide, Vanguard and Free Realms are run. Both studios were also impacted by the layoffs with as many as half of each studio's staff let go.
"SOE will transition development efforts for the Denver and Tucson studios' suite of products to its San Diego headquarters in order to better position SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year," the company said.
After rising to prominence in 1999 with its subscription-based EverQuest MMO game, SOE in recent years has expanded beyond its core fantasy role-playing games. Over the past few years, the company has targeted families and younger gamers with free-to-play titles like Free Realms, which has more than 17 million registered users. Last fall, SOE released its second Star Wars game, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Adventures. Based on the popular Cartoon Network series from George Lucas,the free-to-play game world offered accessible mini-games and social networking experiences.
The company released the mainstream-focused, subscription-based DC Universe Online MMO game for PC and PlayStation 3 earlier this year. Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Comics, served as executive creative director of the game, which features classic superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Digital Cinema Displaying Rapid Global Growth...

Texas Instruments reports that there have been more DLP Cinema projectors installed worldwide in the last 12 months than in the last 12 years.
Nearly one-half of the world's theater screens will be digital using DLP Cinema technology by the end of this year, predicted Texas Instruments, as CinemaCon kicked off in Las Vegas.
Also on Monday, TI -- whose DLP Cinema technology is behind digital cinema projectors made by Barco, Christie and NEC -- reported that there have been more DLP Cinema projectors installed worldwide in the last 12 months than in the last 12 years. In 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, An Ideal Husband and Tarzan were first few movies to be screened digitally for paying audiences, launching the transition.
"Although the digital conversion was steady for the first 10 years, 2010 will be noted as a milestone in digital cinema history, as the number of DLP Cinema projectors nearly doubled in one year," said Dave Duncan, manager of DLP Cinema for Texas Instruments. "Together with our partners, nearly one-half of the world's theater screens will be converted to DLP Cinema by the end of 2011."
TI reported that in the period between March 2, 2010, and March 2, 2011, the number of DLP Cinema screens showing 2D Hollywood content worldwide grew 101% from 16,446 to a total of 33,110, and 128% for 3D Hollywood content, rising from 9,758 to 22,287. These counts do not include IMAX's digital installations that also use DLP Cinema technology, which separately grew from 155 to 296 screens during the same period.
According to TI, Latin America saw the highest amounts of growth during that 12-month timeframe, with 1,743 total DLP Cinema screens, a 187% increase, playing 2D Hollywood content; and 1,702 screens, a 184% increase, showing 3D.
In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the number of DLP Cinema installations rose to 11,428 (136% change) and 8,686 (136% change) for displaying 2D and 3D Hollywood content respectively. The Asia Pacific region saw a 118% increase to 8,343 screens for 2D Hollywood content, and a 142% increase to 5,447 screens for 3D.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Xpand Introduces New Technology, 3D Glasses at CinemaCon...

Firm also unveils plug-in for 3D PowerPoint presentations.
LAS VEGAS -- 3D technology provider Xpand sees 3D becoming ubiquitous.
At CinemaCon, the company launched Xpand Infinity as a flexible new 3D system developed to support almost any screen size, shape and surface -- including large venues. Xpand also showed a clever 3D plug-in for PowerPoint.
The projection system was conceived to handle wide, flat, curved, dome-shaped or even Cinerama format. An unlimited number of Infinity systems can be linked together to operate as a large-scale system. Xpand said it can project onto any type of screen surface.
Users have a choice of regular Xpand active glasses, priced at $35 a pair; Xpand Infinity glasses, at $55; or Xpand Infinity Deluxe 3D, at $75. The aim is to give theater owners a variety of price point to allows them to offer premium services, explained Ami Dror, chief strategy officer of Xpand3D. He likened the model to the airline model of offering economy, business and first class service.
Xpand Infinity and Xpand Infinity Deluxe Glasses are equipped with RFID anti-theft tags.
"The new glasses are more durable and allow the cinema management to monitor its inventory and usage levels throughout the cinema location in real time," said Maria Costeira, CEO, Xpand. "Some of our beta sites achieved a 3DCPU (3D Cost Per User) of less than 4 cents."
Xpand also introduced on Tuesday a 3D plug-in for PowerPoint, aimed at allowing users to add depth to elements in a presentation and embed 3D movies, images, graphics and objects to jazz up PowerPoint presentations.
"We have proven in various case studies that 3D improves viewer retention by more than 30%. 3D PowerPoint presentations are now more interesting and deliver much more impact," Dror said. The plug-in is compatible with MS Office 2010, 32-bit or 64-bit. The 3D content could be viewed on a computer, compatible 3DTV or a video projector that supports HDMI 1.4 3D formats, using Xpand Universal 3D glasses.
The full version of the Xpand PowerPoint 3D plug-in is available at the Xpand website.
Also on Tuesday, Xpand demonstrated its growing presence in China, announcing a deal for 100 3D cinema systems to Zhuhai China Film Cinema Service, as well as the opening of a new Xpand office in Beijing.
"Our new location in Beijing is an important part of our strategy to meet the demands of one of the largest and fastest-growing cinema markets in the world," Costeira said. "The benefit of the new offices is twofold, as it enables us to further increase our support mechanism in the region, which we hope will translate to increased sales in the local marketplace."

Thank you Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

Theater Owners Fuming Over Studios' VOD Plan...

News of the DirecTV deal, which is likely to include titles like Sony's "Just Go With It," adds new twist to CinemaCon.

LAS VEGAS – Feeling blindsided, theater owners were furious Thursday that four Hollywood studios didn't brief them on plans to launch a new premium VOD service on DirecTV late next month, followed swiftly by Comcast and VUDU. Exhibitors could respond by changing how they book films and play trailers.

OUR EDITOR RECOMMENDS
DirecTV to Launch Premium VOD in April
Adding to their ire, word of the service broke just as exhibitors and studios were together in Las Vegas for CinemaCon, the annual convention of theater owners. Throughout Caesars Palace, home of the show, meetings between distributors and exhibitors ended abruptly as theater owners scrambled to make sense of the news.

Warner Bros., Fox, Sony and Universal are all on board, according to insiders.
The movies will be available 60 days after their release in theaters for $29.99.

Fox Searchlight titles will be offered 60 days from the date that they go wide.
In a strongly worded statement, National Assn. of Theater Owners John Fithian said the VOD service could fundamentally alter the economic relationships between exhibitors and the studios taking part in this "misguided adventure."
Theater owners say the shortening of the theatrical window could damage their businesses. Today, the average window is 120 days, although exhibitors have been amenable to a 90-day window in some cases.
"As NATO's executive board noted in their open letter of June, 16, 2010, the length of a movie's release window is an important considering for theater owners in whether, how widely and under what terms they book a film," Fithian said.
Fithian also said exhibitors could reevaluate how they play trailers for the films that are going to be made available on premium VOD.
While exhibitors knew there were discussions going on between the studios and DirecTV, they didn't know the deal had been finalized. They say the studios had assured them they'd be kept in the loop.
"Theater operators were not consulted or informed of the substance, details or timing of this announcement. It's particularly disappointing to confront this issue today, while we are celebrating our industry partnerships at our annual convention – CinemaCon – in Las Vegas," Fithian continued. "In the end, the entire motion picture community will have a say in how the industry moves forward. These studios have made their decision in what they no doubt perceive to be their best interests. Theater owners will do the same."
Theater owners aren't likely to speak out themselves until early next week, after they've returned home and checked with their boards. They always have the option of refusing to play a film.

Throughout the history of the film business, there have been dramatic showdowns between theater owners and studios over the window issue.
While DirecTV will offer the service to its to customers nationwide, Comcast and VUDU will do so only in select markets, at least initially.

Studios are hoping that premium VOD can help offset the decline of the DVD business, once a major source of revenue.

But some in the industry question whether consumers will want to pay up to $29.99 for a movie.
There's also concern over piracy. Paramount isn't taking part in the premium VOD service because of this issue.

The Hollywood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more

MPAA Chief Christopher Dodd: Hollywood Is 'Terrible' at Marketing Itself...

The studios' newly installed top lobbyist tells THR "there is a total misunderstanding on Capitol Hill" that the film industry is nothing but "red carpets and tuxedoes."
LAS VEGAS -- Christopher Dodd doesn't mince words. At CinemaCon on Tuesday, the new MPAA chairman and CEO said Hollywood is great at selling movies but awful at marketing itself.

MPAA's Chris Dodd: Piracy Is 'Single Biggest Threat We Face as an Industry'
As a result, Washington tends to think of the film industry as "red carpets and tuxedoes," not as a thriving industry that employs millions and contributes billions to the economy.
Dodd's comments came during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter following his first public speech and news briefing since he began at the MPAA nine days ago. CinemaCon, the annual convention of theater owners where studios tout their upcoming movies, was a natural venue for Dodd to emerge.
Dodd took the convention by storm, setting up a flurry of meetings with exhibitors and studios and becoming the unofficial star of the Caesars Palace event.
Becoming a lobbyist is a big change for Dodd, who spent three decades as a U.S. senator from Connecticut. The six major studios wanted someone who was a Washington insider, and Dodd more than fits the bill.
In the interview with THR, Dodd said it's too early to make any big policy announcements on such issues as piracy -- the most pressing problem facing the business -- or theatrical windows. But on the issue of Hollywood doing a better job of marketing itself, he was adamant, saying it's a top priority for him.
"There is a total misunderstanding on Capitol Hill," Dodd said. "Studios are terrific at selling their films but terrible, just terrible, at marketing their business."
RELATED: MPAA's Chris Dodd: Piracy Is "Single Biggest Threat We Face as an Industry"
One idea Dodd has involves theater owners. During his speech, he encouraged exhibitors to host Saturday morning community meetings, where they could explain the problems and concerns facing the movie business.
"After three decades in Congress, I have some idea how to attract the attention of a congressman or senator," Dodd said. "When you return to your states, invite your local governor, state legislator, congressman and senator to your theater and fill it with those who work with you along with video store employees and their families. Tell them about the importance of these issues to you and to your communities."
He said that sort of event would have impressed him far more when he was a senator than a visit from an executive.
Dodd, who perfected his oration skills during his years in public office, spoke with the firey flair of a politician during his address to exhibitors.
"Much of what I will say this morning, I know you know, but at a moment like this, it is important that you know what I feel about this industry and the determination I bring to this undertaking," he said. "So let me begin with the obvious: The production and exhibition industries cannot succeed -- cannot survive -- without each other. If you fail, we fail. And it's just as true that if we fail, so will you."
It was Dodd's level of activity at CinemaCon and effort to absorb everything he could about the film business that had people talking. He was already quoting screen counts and statistics about how many people work in the film industry (2.5 million).
On Monday night, Dodd spent time in the green room at the Colosseum during Paramount's presentation, which included titles from DreamWorks Animation and Marvel Studios. He got to meet Paramount vice chair Rob Moore and DWA CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Dodd was again backstage for a few moments on Tuesday during DreamWorks' presentation, meeting DreamWorks co-chairman and CEO Stacey Snider, among others.
At a news briefing with National Association of Theatre Owners chairman and CEO John Fithian, Dodd said it had been an intense 24 hours. "It was kind of like sitting under a waterfall in terms of the information coming in," Dodd said.
Dodd has known Fithian for years, having served in the U.S. House of Representatives with Fithian's father, Floyd Fithian.

Thank you Holylwood Reporter

------------------------------------------------------ --> Submit to:

Show contact info

In order to avoid all the SCAMS, we decide not to publish all the info of the recruter in the job postings. You'll find the Daily Password in our Monthly Newsletter. You can Subscribe to our Newsletter here Thanks. A. www.chicas-productions.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --> Translate post:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more