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  • Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017
Winners unveiled at Catalina Film Festival
Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (l), recipient of the Crest Award for Directing, and actor Ron Truppa, board member of the Catalina Film Institute (photo courtesy of Catalina Film Festival)
LOS ANGELES -- 

The 7th annual Catalina Film Festival (CFF) wrapped with awards issued in 14 film competition categories selected from 113 films screened at venues throughout the famed Catalina Island. The annual film festival also featured career tributes, as well as the annual Film & New Media Summit.

     CAREER TRIBUTE AWARDS 

  • Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award: 91-year-old veteran producer, Marcia Nasatir (The Big Chill, Rocky, Carrie, Apocalypse Now)
  • Maverick Award: Actor and Activist, Matt McGorry (How to Get Away with Murder)
  • Crest Award—Directing: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island, Metal Gear, Destiny 2)
  • Crest Award—Acting: Wyatt Oleff (IT, Guardians of the Galaxy)

    FESTIVAL AWARDS 

  • U.S. Feature — Winner: ROCKAWAY / Excellence: Tater Tot & Patton
  • Documentary — Winner: Black and Blue More
  • Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017
Microsoft dives deeper into "mixed reality" with VR devices
Microsoft Technical Fellow Alex Kipman holds an HMD Odyssey virtual reality headset, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
By Michael Liedtke, Technology Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- 

Microsoft is counting on virtual reality headsets made by other companies to help establish personal computers running on its Windows 10 operating system as the best way to explore artificial worlds.

The devices unveiled Tuesday include a Samsung headset called the HMD Odyssey. The headset requires a connection to a PC running on a Windows 10 update being released Oct. 17. That's unlike Samsung's less expensive Gear VR headset, which is designed to run on smartphones powered by Google's Android operating system.

Samsung's HMD Odyssey will cost $500 and begin shipping early next month. The Gear VR sells for $40 to $130.

PC makers Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo also will be making VR headsets designed to work with Windows 10 machines. The prices for those headsets start at about $400.

Microsoft also disclosed it's buying a startup called AltspaceVR to develop technology for holding business meetings in VR.

The PC-driven More

  • Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017
"Fast & Furious 9" release pushed back a year to 2020
In this April 8, 2017 file photo, Tyrese Gibson, from left, Vin Diesel and Ludacris attend the world premiere of "The Fate of the Furious" in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

The "Fast and the Furious" team is putting the brakes on the ninth installment in the franchise. Universal Pictures said Wednesday that the film's release will move back a year to April 10, 2020.

It was originally set for release in April 2019. The studio did not offer a reason for the shift.

The latest film in the action series, "The Fate of the Furious," came out earlier this year and went on to gross around $1.2 billion worldwide.

The franchise has earned more than $5 billion worldwide to date.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017
Anheuser-Busch adds feedback line, stands by NFL sponsorship
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws as offensive lineman Eric Fisher (72) blocks Washington Redskins defensive lineman Ziggy Hood (90) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- 

One of the NFL's largest advertisers is taking feedback from consumers about recent national anthem protests, but stands by its sponsorship of the league.

More than 200 players kneeled or sat during the anthem after President Donald Trump's criticism last month regarding such protests. The move by the players prompted backlash from some fans.

Now, Anheuser-Busch is giving callers to its consumer hotline the automated option of leaving feedback about its NFL corporate sponsorship. It started doing so on Monday.

The company signed a six-year deal with the NFL in 2015.

Anheuser-Busch spokesman Matt Kohan says the company supports the military and employs 1,100 veterans but also believes "in the power of sport to bring people together and overcome their differences."

He says the company has no plans to end its NFL sponsorship.

More
  • Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017
Kate Winslet boards James Cameron's "Avatar" universe
In this Jan. 17, 2016 file photo, Kate Winslet poses for photographers at the Critics Circle Awards at a central London venue, London. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

It's a titanic reunion — Kate Winslet is joining the "Avatar" franchise, reuniting the actress with "Titanic" director James Cameron.

A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox confirmed the news Tuesday. It was first reported by the online trade publication Deadline.

According to Deadline, Winslet will be playing a character named Ronal, but no word on just how many of the films she'll be part of. Cameron said that they had been looking to work together again for 20 years.

Four "Avatar" sequels are planned to be released in December of 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025.

  • Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017
Film academy chooses 5 scripts as Nicholl Fellowship winners
In this Feb. 26, 2017 file photo, Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles. The academy announced the winners of its annual screenplay competition on Tuesday. The four individuals and one writing duo will receive $35,000 and other academy support toward the completion of a feature-length screenplay in the next year. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Six emerging screenwriters are the latest recipients of the film academy's Nicholl Fellowships.

The academy announced the winners of its annual screenplay competition on Tuesday. The four individuals and one writing duo will receive $35,000 and other academy support toward the completion of a feature-length screenplay in the next year.

The winners will receive the first installment of their prize money and hear actors read their work aloud at a Nov. 2 ceremony at the film academy's headquarters in Beverly Hills, California.

The organization says the global competition drew 7,102 submissions. The winning writers and scripts are: Vigil Chime, "Bring Back Girl"; SJ Inwards, "Jellyfish Summer"; Max Lance and Jen Bailey, "The Queen of Sleaze"; KG Rockmaker, "Last Days of Winter"; and Cesar Vitale, "The Great Nothing."

  • Monday, Oct. 2, 2017
Facebook to increase ad transparency
In this June 11, 2014 file photo, a man walks bast a Facebook sign in an office on the Facebook campus in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP file photo)
By Mary Clare Jalonick
WASHINGTON (AP) -- 

Facebook announced Monday that the company is planning more measures to increase transparency in advertising as the company provides Congress with more than 3,000 ads linked to a Russian ad agency.

Joel Kaplan, the company's vice president of global policy, said in a blog post that Facebook is planning to hire more than 1,000 people to staff global ads review teams. Facebook will also update its policies to require better documentation from advertisers who want to run ads related to the U.S. election, including a requirement that the advertisers will have to confirm the business or organization they represent.

The moves come as the company is under pressure from multiple congressional committees that are investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. Congress has recently focused on the spread of false news stories and propaganda on social media, putting pressure on Facebook and other social media companies to turn over more More

  • Monday, Oct. 2, 2017
"The Great Buddha +" lands 10 Golden Horse nominations
In this Nov. 21, 2015 fie photo, actress Sylvia Chang arrives at the 52nd Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, Taiwan. Chang is among nominees in the best director category at Golden Horse Awards in November, 2017. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- 

"The Great Buddha +" led the pack Sunday with 10 nominations, including best feature film and best new director, for next month's Golden Horse Awards.

The movie is about a security guard at a factory who watches the dash camera footage of his boss's car for fun. He gets more than he bargained for when his rich boss's misdeeds begin to unravel in front of him. Originally a documentary filmmaker, "The Great Buddha +" director Huang Hsin-yao shot the movie in black and white, and wanted to highlight Taiwanese social issues with the film.

Trailing behind with seven nominations are three films, including the family drama "Love Education," the suspense thriller "The Bold, the Corrupt and the Beautiful" and the comedy "See You Tomorrow."

Three of the top-nominated films, including "The Great Buddha +," ''Love Education" and "The Bold, the Corrupt and the Beautiful," are nominated for best feature film. Also nominated in that category are More

  • Saturday, Sep. 30, 2017
Industry mourns sound industry mainstay Paul Rodriguez
Paul Rodriguez
LOS ANGELES -- 

Motion picture and television sound executive Paul Rodriguez passed away September 26 in Los Angeles of cardiac arrest following a brief hospitalization. He was 65. 

Rodriguez was president of South Lake Audio Services and VP of audio services and development at Roundabout Entertainment in Burbank where he oversaw postproduction sound for projects including HBO’s Westworld. He was also a long-time board member of the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) and served as its treasurer for eight years. He produced the organization’s annual MPSE Golden Reel Awards ceremony. 

An active member of the professional sound community for more than 30 years, Rodriguez served in executive, sales and creative capacities at Todd-AO/Soundelux, Wilshire Stages, 4MC and EFX Systems. He was also co-owner of the Eagle Eye Film Company, a supplier of picture editing systems. He joined Roundabout Entertainment in 2015. Known for his infectious humor and gregarious More

  • Friday, Sep. 29, 2017
TV-gadget maker Roku's stock soars after IPO raises $219M
In this May 19, 2014, file photo, Roku CEO Anthony Wood poses for a portrait, in Saratoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
By Tali Arbel, Technology Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

Shares of Roku, an early player in streaming-video gadgets, soared Thursday after its initial public offering of stock raised $219 million.

The shares priced at $14 each, the top of the company's expected range, suggesting strong demand from investors and valuing the company at $1.3 billion. The shares rocketed almost 68 percent Thursday, closing the day at their peak of $23.50.

The Los Gatos, California, company is known for its boxes and sticks that let users watch Netflix, Hulu and the growing universe of streaming-video options on their TVs. It has the biggest share of the streaming-gadget market, but has deep-pocketed competitors in Amazon, Google and Apple.

Most of Roku's revenue comes from sales of its streaming players, but it's seeking to capitalize on its "platform" by building its business of showing ads to users, whether on its home screen or inside video apps.

The company is unprofitable and has amassed $244 More

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