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Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

Director Tom Tykwer to head Berlin film festival jury

In this Feb. 9, 2017 photo, German director Tom Tykwer arrives on the red carpet at the 2017 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

BERLIN (AP) --

German director Tom Tykwer will head the jury at this winter's Berlin International Film Festival.

Festival organizers announced Thursday that they have chosen the German director of "A Hologram for the King," ''Cloud Atlas" and "Run Lola Run," among other films, to be jury president at the event's 68th edition in February.

The Berlin event is the first of the year's major European film festivals. It will run from Feb. 15-25. Tykwer said that he and the festival "have a fantastic and broad history with each other."

Other members of the jury that will award the top Golden Bear prize and other awards weren't immediately announced, and there are no details yet of the festival program.

Dutch director Paul Verhoeven led the jurors at the 2017 festival.

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

Beyonce to play Nala in Disney's "The Lion King"

In this Nov. 4, 2016 file photo, Beyonce performs at a Get Out the Vote concert for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Beyonce Knowles-Carter is joining the cast of "The Lion King" to voice to role of Nala.

The Walt Disney Studios revealed the main cast for its upcoming live-action and CG adaptation of its 1994 animated classic Wednesday and confirmed the months old rumor that the pop superstar would be lending her voice to the project.

Some had been previously announced for the film including Donald Glover as Simba and James Earl Jones as Mufasa. Other cast include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon and Keegan-Michael Key as a hyena.

Jon Favreau, who brought Disney's CG and live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book" to life, is set to direct.

The film is slated for a July 19, 2019 theatrical release.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017

Renegade grows original programming unit, promotes Jorgensen to head development

Brittney Jorgensen

GLENDALE, Calif. --

Continuing to expand its original programming unit, Renegade Animation has promoted Brittney Jorgensen to the newly created post of head of marketing and development. Jorgensen will work with creators, writers and animators in developing concepts for animated television series and features, and serve as the studio’s chief liaison with studios, broadcasters and streaming services. The independent animation studio currently has 12 animated series in development, targeting demographics from pre-school through teenagers.

Demand for quality, animated content is strong, according to Renegade animation creative director Darrell Van Citters. “With the growth in television and streaming production, now is the right time to focus attention on original programming,” he said.

Renegade EP Ashley Postlewaite cited Jorgensen’s “strong background in animation” as making her a strong choice to spearhead the company’s development effort.

Jorgensen, More

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017

Under fire, Kevin Spacey won't get International Emmy Award

In this June 11, 2017, file photo, Kevin Spacey arrives at the 71st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

By Mark Kennedy, Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has revoked an award it was going to give Kevin Spacey, a decision made after allegations that he made sexual advances on a teen boy.

The group says ""it will not honor Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award."

The award is to honor "an individual who crosses cultural boundaries to touch humanity." Spacey was to get it at a gala on Nov. 20 in New York City. Past recipients include Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes and J.J. Abrams.

The move comes after actor Anthony Rapp came forward with claims Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances toward him in 1986, when he was 14. Netflix announced Monday that it was pulling the plug on "House of Cards," which stars Spacey.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017

Sony profits soar on image sensors, games, "Spider-Man" film

In this July 31, 2014 file photo, visitors walk past a logo of Sony at Sony Building in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

By Yuri Kageyama, Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) --

Sony Corp. reported Tuesday that its fiscal second quarter profit zoomed by 26-fold from the same period last year, boosted by the success of its image sensors, game products and the latest "Spider-Man" movie.

Tokyo-based Sony, which makes Bravia TVs, PlayStation 4 video-game consoles and Wyclef Jean recordings, recorded a July-September profit of 130.9 billion yen ($1.2 billion), up from 4.8 billion yen reported last year.

Quarterly sales rose 22 percent to 2.06 trillion yen ($18 billion).

The Japanese electronics and entertainment giant raised its full-year profit forecast to 380 billion yen ($3.4 billion), up by nearly 50 percent from its earlier forecast of 255 billion yen ($2.3 billion) profit.

That's a more than five-fold improvement from the 73 billion yen earned in the fiscal year that ended in March.

Sony has suffered in recent years as it fell behind rivals like Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea and More

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017

Forbes: Michael Jackson top earning dead celebrity with $75M

In this March 5, 2009, file photo, Michael Jackson appears at an event to announce a series of concerts in London. Forbes announced on Oct. 30, 2017, that Jackson topped its list of highest-earning dead celebrities. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Michael Jackson died eight years ago, but he's still generating millions of dollars.

Jackson is atop the Forbes list of top-earning dead celebrities for the fifth straight year, with $75 million. Forbes says Jackson's earnings are boosted by a new greatest hits album, a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show and a stake in the EMI music publishing catalog.

Two other singers join Jackson in the top five. Elvis Presley comes in fourth with $35 million and Bob Marley ranks fifth with $23 million.

Golf legend Arnold Palmer is the second-highest earner. He brought in $40 million in part through sales of Arizona lemonade and ice tea beverage made in his name.

Palmer is followed by Charles Schulz. The creator of the "Peanuts" franchise made $38 million.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017

Gary Oldman to get career honor at Hollywood Film Awards

In this Sept. 11, 2017, file photo, Gary Oldman attends a press conference for "Darkest Hour" on day 5 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Dick Clark Productions announced Oldman will receive a career achievement award at the Hollywood Film Awards Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Gary Oldman will be honored with a career achievement award at the Hollywood Film Awards on Sunday.

Dick Clark Productions, which produces the awards, made the announcement Tuesday.

The Oscar-nominated British actor has taken on numerous memorable roles in a nearly 40-year career, including a drug-dealing pimp in "True Romance" and Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan's Batman films.

Oldman has generated Oscar buzz with his recent turn as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour." The Hollywood Film Awards will be handed out Sunday night in Beverly Hills, California, in a ceremony hosted by CBS late-night host James Corden.

Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

"A Roof of Their Own" wins People’s Choice Award in I Look Up Film Challenge competition

A scene from "A Roof of Their Own"

WASHINGTON, D.C. --

The public cast more than 268,000 votes to select the People’s Choice Award Winner for this year’s I Look Up Film Challenge presented by the American Institute of Architects. Of the 82 films submitted, the winner, Paul-Vincent Alexander’s A Roof of Their Own, garnered almost half the votes with 122,527 total.

A Roof of Their Own features architect, Jose Luis Henriquez, and structural engineer, Raul Hinojosa, who worked together to provide low-cost and sustainable housing systems to impoverished communities susceptible to not only poor economic standards, but inclement weather and environmental patterns. Alexander will receive an exclusive screening of the winning film at the Architecture & Design Film Festival on November 1, along with cash and distribution prizes.

Here’s a rundown of I Look Up Film Challenge honorees:

GRAND PRIZE WINNER- Myles Kramer, Community by Design: Skid Row More

Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

Spacey apologizes after actor accuses him of past harassment

In this June 11, 2017, file photo, Kevin Spacey arrives at the 71st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Actor Kevin Spacey said Sunday he is "beyond horrified" by allegations that he made sexual advances on a teen boy decades ago.

The two-time Oscar winner posted on Twitter that he doesn't remember the encounter. "But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years," he said.

In an interview with BuzzFeed , actor Anthony Rapp said Spacey befriended him while they both performed on Broadway shows. Rapp was 14 when he attended a party at Spacey's apartment in 1986, he said. At the end of the night, an inebriated Spacey picked him up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him, Rapp said.

Rapp said the 26-year-old was holding him down tightly, but he was able to get away and left the apartment.

Rapp, who is now 46 and starring in the TV show "Star Trek: More

Friday, Oct. 27, 2017

Lexus cuts ties with The Weinstein Co.

In this Jan. 8, 2017 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at The Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globes afterparty in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

The Lexus luxury vehicle brand is ending its agreements with The Weinstein Co. after dozens of allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey Weinstein.

A spokeswoman for the brand owned by Toyota Motor Corp. confirmed the decision on Thursday.

Lexus was a sponsor and had product placement in The Weinstein Co.’s “Project Runway” reality television show. Spokeswoman Nancy Hubbell says the last episode with Lexus sponsorship aired earlier in October and no other shows are pending.

Also cut was Lexus Short Films, which helped emerging filmmakers become better known through The Weinstein Co.

“Lexus will continue to explore opportunities that allow the brand to support emerging creative people in the film and fashion realms,” Hubbell said in a statement.