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  • Monday, Jul. 3, 2017
L.A. jury finds man guilty of killing movie executive
This file photo released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shows the late 20th Century Fox executive Gavin Smith. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)
By Christopher Weber
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

A jury found Monday that a drug dealer crushed the skull of a movie studio executive who had been having an affair with his wife, burying him in a shallow desert grave that would go undiscovered for two years, authorities said.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court jury rejected first- or second-degree murder but convicted John Creech, 44, of voluntary manslaughter for the beating death of Gavin Smith, 57, a 20th Century Fox distribution executive, five years ago.

Smith's wife, Lisa Smith, cried in court when she heard the not-guilty murder verdicts before the manslaughter verdict was read.

Smith also played basketball at UCLA under John Wooden on the 1975 team that brought the legendary coach his 10th and final title in the last year of his career.  Prosecutors displayed a picture of him in his uniform during their closing argument.

Prosecutors said Creech killed Smith because Smith was having an affair with Creech's More

  • Monday, Jul. 3, 2017
Portugal nixes claim director Terry Gilliam's film harmed convent
In this file photo dated Monday, Sept. 2, 2013, movie director Terry Gilliam arrives for the screening of his movie 'The Zero Theorem' at the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, FILE)
LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- 

Portuguese authorities have rejected a television program's claims that one of the country's most cherished historic monuments was damaged during the shooting of a film by director and former Monty Python star Terry Gilliam.

The General-Directorate for Heritage says an investigation has found that the 12th-century Convent of Christ suffered only "insignificant" damage during a recent location shoot for "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote."  The report published Monday said a program by public broadcaster RTP alleging wider damage "lacked rigor and revealed a lack of scientific knowledge."

Gilliam has previously called the allegations "ignorant nonsense."

The convent was a stronghold of the Knights Templar, a Christian military order founded in 1119, and is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

 

  • Sunday, Jul. 2, 2017
Facebook drone could one day provide global internet access
In this Wednesday, June 21, 2017, photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the Facebook Communities Summit, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
YUMA, Ariz. (AP) -- 

A solar-powered drone backed by Facebook that could one day provide worldwide internet access has quietly completed a test flight in Arizona after an earlier attempt ended with a crash landing.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's long-term plan for the drone, called Aquila, is to have it and others provide internet access to 4 billion people around the world who are currently in the dark.

"When Aquila is ready, it will be a fleet of solar-powered planes that will beam internet connectivity across the world," he wrote Thursday on Facebook.

The drone's second flight was completed in May at Yuma Proving Ground, The Yuma Sun reported (http://bit.ly/2tzuWhB ).

The drone flew with more sensors, new spoilers and a horizontal propeller stopping system to help it better land after the crash in December. It was in the air for an hour and 46 minutes and elevated 3,000 feet (910 meters).

The More

  • Friday, Jun. 30, 2017
Jerrod Carmichael exits "Carmichael Show" after 3 seasons
This June 18, 2017, file photo shows actor Jerrod Carmichael posing for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Transformers The Last Knight' in London. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Jerrod Carmichael says he's leaving "The Carmichael Show," ending it after three seasons.

The comedian announced his departure from the NBC sitcom Friday.

NBC released a statement from NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt and President Jennifer Salke saying they were "enormously proud" of Carmichael's show and its combination of family sitcom elements with relevant social issues.

The 30-year-old co-creator and star wrote in a statement that he got to make a show that he loves with his friends, which is something he'd wanted to do since he was 13. He says he is now looking forward to other opportunities. He announced last year that he is writing a book that will be published by Random House.

  • Friday, Jun. 30, 2017
Czech film festival opens with awards for Affleck, Thurman
In this Thursday, May 18, 2017 file photo, actress Uma Thurman poses for photographers during the photo call for the Un Certain Regard jury, at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
PRAGUE (AP) -- 

An annual international film festival in the western Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary is kicking off with awards for Oscar-nominated actress Uma Thurman, Academy Award winner Casey Affleck and film composer James Newton Howard.

Affleck, who won his first Oscar this year for his role in "Manchester by the Sea," and Thurman, nominated for an Oscar in 1994 for best supporting actress in "Pulp Fiction," will both receive the festival president's award Friday on the opening night of the festival's 52nd edition.

Howard, who created music for over 130 movies — including "The Hunger Games" and "Batman Begins" — will be honored for his outstanding contribution to world cinema.

The festival's grand jury will consider 12 movies for the top prize, the Crystal Globe, at event that runs through July 8.

 

  • Thursday, Jun. 29, 2017
Motion Picture Academy elects 2017-'18 Board of Governors
Mandy Walker, ASC, ACS
LOS ANGELES -- 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the results of this year’s Board of Governors election.

Those elected to the Board for the first time span the Actors, Cinematographers, Costume Designers, Directors, Executives, Public Relations, Short Films & Feature Animation, Sound and Writers branches of the Academy.

Those first-time electees are:

  • Whoopi Goldberg, Actors Branch
  • Mandy Walker, Cinematographers Branch
  • Isis Mussenden, Costume Designers Branch
  • Wynn P. Thomas, Designers Branch
  • Kimberly Peirce, Directors Branch
  • David Linde, Executives Branch
  • Christina Kounelias, Public Relations Branch
  • Thomas R. Sito, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch
  • Teri E. Dorman, Sound Branch
  • Larry Karaszewski, Writers Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board include:

  • Lora Kennedy, Casting Directors More
  • Thursday, Jun. 29, 2017
Canceled Netflix series "Sense8" to return for 2-hour finale
In this Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 file photo, filmmaker Lana Wachowski attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Jupiter Ascending" at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

The fans have spoken, and the canceled Netflix series "Sense8" is coming back next year for a two-hour final episode.

Netflix and show co-creator Lana Wachowski said Thursday that fan clamor inspired the show's return. Netflix had announced earlier this month that "Sense8" was not renewed for a third season.

The series features global settings and an international cast exploring their mysterious mental link.

Wachowski said in a Facebook post that the "passionate letters, the petitions, the collective voice that rose up" in support of the show ultimately helped resurrect it.

A Netflix representative confirmed the Facebook post and released a statement Thursday saying, "We decided to give Sense8 fans the ending they totally deserve."

 

  • Thursday, Jun. 29, 2017
Coen brothers' Western 'Buster Scruggs' to begin filming in New Mexico
This May 13, 2015, file photo shows Jury presidents Ethan Coen, right, and Joel Coen standing on stage during the opening ceremony at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- 

A series of feature-length Westerns backed by the Coen brothers and Annapurna Pictures will begin filming in northern New Mexico in July.

The New Mexico Film Office says work on "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" will run through September. More than 180 crew members, 16 actors and hundreds of background talent will be hired for the project.

Written, directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, the series consists of six separate stories. The first is about a singing cowboy, while the second follows a drifter and his unsuccessful attempts at bank robbery and cattle driving.

Other stories involve a gold prospector, a woman who finds herself in need of help while traveling the Oregon Trail, and five stagecoach passengers headed for a mysterious destination.

  • Wednesday, Jun. 28, 2017
LeBron James teaming with Showtime on NBA documentary
In this July 13, 2016, file photo, NBA player LeBron James speaks at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
By Tom Withers, Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) -- 

LeBron James will help tell a story he's still shaping.

The Cavaliers superstar is teaming with Showtime on a documentary that will examine the modern NBA and the league's impact on popular culture. James, who has been producing TV and movie projects for several years, will serve as an executive producer with long-time business partner Maverick Carter.

The three-part documentary will be directed by filmmaker Gotham Chopra and premiere in 2018.

James has become one of the game's most transcendent players. The 32-year-old recently led Cleveland to its third straight Finals — his seventh consecutive trip. The three-time champion continues to play at an amazingly high level after 14 pro seasons.

"We developed the idea for these films because of the incredible, generational impact some of the NBA's most successful players have had on every aspect of American culture," said Carter, CEO of SpringHill Entertainment. "Gotham is the More

  • Wednesday, Jun. 28, 2017
Film academy invites 774 new members including Barry Jenkins, Leslie Jones, Dwayne Johnson
"Moonlight" writer-director Barry Jenkins
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

The film academy is inviting 774 new members to join its ranks, including actors Leslie Jones, Dwayne Johnson, Riz Ahmed, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed its latest invitees on Wednesday.

Other actors invited to join the group include Priyanka Chopra, Janelle Monae, Elle Fanning, Donald Glover, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Betty White, Terry Crews, John Cho, Zoe Kravitz and "Wonder Woman" herself, Gal Gadot. Several "Saturday Night Live" alumnae also received invites: Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph and current star Kate McKinnon.

"Moonlight" writer-director Barry Jenkins was invited to join both branches, as was "Get Out" writer-director Jordan Peele. "Hidden Figures" director Theodore Melfi and documentarian Ezra Edelman, who won an Oscar for "O.J.: Made in America," also received invitations.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Justin Timberlake, Nick Cave, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam More

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