News Briefs

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Wednesday, Mar. 14, 2018

Report: Claire Foy paid less than co-star on "The Crown"

In this Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 file photo, actress Claire Foy poses for photographers on arrival at the premiere of series 'The Crown, Season 2' in central London. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP, File)

LONDON (AP) --

A producer of hit royal drama "The Crown" says Claire Foy, who played the central role of Queen Elizabeth II, was paid less than her on-screen husband.

The Netflix series traces Elizabeth's journey from princess to queen, beginning in the 1950s.

Trade publication Variety quoted producer Suzanne Mackie as confirming Foy was paid less than Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip in two seasons of the series. She made the reported comment at an industry event in Jerusalem.

She said this was because Smith was better-known after starring in sci-fi series "Doctor Who." Mackie said the gap would be closed with the forthcoming third series, saying "going forward, no one gets paid more than the queen."

Foy's agent did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Neither Foy nor Smith will appear in the third series, which will star Olivia Colman as the middle-aged monarch.

The gender pay gap has become a More

Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2018

Madonna to direct film on dancer Michaela DePrince's life

In this Dec. 9, 2016 file photo, Madonna attends the 11th Annual Billboard Women in Music honors in New York. MGM Motion Picture Group president Jonathan Glickman says Tuesday that the pop music icon will direct a film based on ballet dancer Michaela DePrince memoir “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina.” DePrince overcame a childhood in war-stricken Sierra Leone to become a world class ballerina. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Madonna is pirouetting back into the director's chair.

MGM Motion Picture Group president Jonathan Glickman says Tuesday that the pop music icon will direct a film based on ballet dancer Michaela DePrince's memoir "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina."

DePrince overcame a childhood in war-stricken Sierra Leone to become a world class ballerina. She made her debut at age 17 in South Africa's Joburg Ballet and also appeared in Beyonce's "Lemonade."

Madonna has directed two previous features: The 2008 comedy "Filth and Wisdom" and the Wallis Simpson drama "W.E." She is also working on a film adaptation of the novel "The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells."

No cast or release date is set for "Taking Flight," but "Fresh Off the Boat" writer Camilla Blackett will pen the screenplay.

Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2018

Church of Scientology launches TV channel

This Aug. 25, 2016, photo shows the Scientology Cross perched atop the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

The Church of Scientology launched its own TV channel with a vow that it will be candid about every aspect of the church and its operations but isn't seeking to preach or convert.

"There's a lot of talk about us. And we get it," church leader David Miscavige said in introducing the first night of programming Monday. "People are curious. Well, we want to answer your questions. Because, frankly, whatever you have heard, if you haven't heard it from us, I can assure you we're not what you expect."

Founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the church teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. It has about 10 million members worldwide.

Scientology is an "expanding and dynamic religion and we're going to be showing you all of it," he said, from the "spiritual headquarters" in which he was standing — a Florida-based, corporate-looking building— its churches around the world and a behind- the-scenes More

Monday, Mar. 12, 2018

Ava DuVernay to attend this year's Ebertfest in Illinois

In this March 4, 2018, file photo, Ava DuVernay arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) --

Director Ava DuVernay is scheduled to be a guest at the 20th annual Ebertfest next month in Illinois.

The University of Illinois said Monday that the Oscar-nominated director of "Selma" and "A Wrinkle in Time" will attend the film festival in Champaign honoring the late movie critic, Roger Ebert.

She'll bring her film "The 13th," which was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary.

The festival will open with a showing of the "The Fugitive" starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The 1993 film's director, Andrew Davis, is a University of Illinois alumnus. He's also attending the festival.

Ebert and his wife, Chaz Ebert, co-founded the event in collaboration with the university. Films are shown in downtown Champaign's Virginia Theatre.

Festival organizers say more films and guests will be announced in the coming weeks.

Saturday, Mar. 10, 2018

"Wolf of Wall Street" film company to pay $60M settlement

A scene from "The Wolf of Wall Street" (photo from Paramount Pictures)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

The production company behind "The Wolf of Wall Street" has agreed to pay the U.S. government $60 million to settle claims it benefited from a massive Malaysian corruption scandal.

The settlement between prosecutors and Red Granite Pictures Inc. was approved Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

The case was part of an effort to recover more than $1 billion prosecutors said was stolen from 1MDB, a Malaysian-owned investment fund. The Department of Justice said the complex money laundering scheme was intended to enrich top-level officials of the fund, including some close to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Money was diverted from the fund to buy properties in New York and California, a $35 million jet, art by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, and a $260 million yacht.

Proceeds also went to fund movies by Red Granite Pictures, which was co-founded by the stepson of Razak.

The funds financed the Martin More

Friday, Mar. 9, 2018

Report: Obama in discussions to produce shows for Netflix

In this Oct. 13, 2017 file photo, former President Barack Obama, right, and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive for the first session of the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Barack Obama and Netflix reportedly are negotiating a deal for the former president and his wife, Michelle, to produce shows exclusively for the streaming service.

The proposed deal was reported Friday by The New York Times, which cited people familiar with the discussions who were not identified.

Netflix did not immediately respond for a request for comment. Obama spokeswoman Katie Hill declined comment on the report.

Obama senior advisor Eric Schultz, in a statement provided to The Associated Press, said the Obamas believe in the power of storytelling to inspire.

Schultz said the couple continues to explore new ways to help others share their stories.

The New York Times reported that Obama doesn't intend to use his Netflix shows to respond directly to President Donald Trump or conservative critics.

Thursday, Mar. 8, 2018

NYC's "Fearless Girl" staying put for now, future uncertain

Wall Street's "Fearless Girl" statue is draped with a bouquet of flowers to mark International Women's Day, Thursday March 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Karen Matthews)

By Karen Matthews

NEW YORK (AP) --

The "Fearless Girl" statue that's been a New York City tourist attraction since it was installed to mark International Women's Day one year ago is staying put for now while city officials figure out where it's going next to spread its message of female empowerment.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that city officials expect to make an announcement about the future of the statue "very soon."

"The Fearless Girl's message has resonated with New Yorkers and visitors alike, and that's something we want to remain a part of the city's civic life," said the spokeswoman for the Democratic mayor, Natalie Grybauskas.

The statue's owner, Boston-based investment firm State Street Global Advisors, said the company is working with the mayor's office "to determine a permanent solution to keep Fearless Girl in New York City so she can continue to promote the power of having more women in leadership."

State Street installed More

Thursday, Mar. 8, 2018

"Sopranos" prequel film in the works with David Chase script

In this March 3, 2006 file photo, David Chase, creator and producer of the hit HBO series "The Sopranos," poses on a set in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

"The Sopranos" might be coming to the movie theater.

Warner Bros. Pictures says Thursday that New Line has purchased a screenplay for a "Sopranos" prequel from series creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner. The studio says the working title is "The Many Saints of Newark" and will be set in the 1960s during the Newark riots.

Chase's acclaimed series about mobster Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, ran for six seasons on HBO and won 21 primetime Emmys.

Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich says in a statement that the studio is thrilled that Chase has decided to revisit and enlarge the Soprano universe. Chase will executive produce and co-write the film, but a director has yet to be selected.

Thursday, Mar. 8, 2018

Michael B. Jordan says he will adopt inclusion rider

In this Jan. 30, 2018 photo, Michael B. Jordan poses for a portrait at the "Black Panther" press junket at the Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Michael B. Jordan says that he will adopt inclusion riders for all projects produced by his production company.

In a message on Instagram on Wednesday, Jordan pledged to support "the women and men who are leading this fight." His announcement followed Frances McDormand's acceptance speech at Sunday's Oscars, where she urged the industry to adopt inclusion riders.

McDormand's comments brought new attention to the practice of contract addendums that require studios to hire a diverse crew and cast for a project.

Launched in 2016, Jordan's Outlier Society production company is developing a sci-fi series for Netflix and other projects. The 31-year-old Jordan stars in the superhero blockbuster "Black Panther."

Thursday, Mar. 8, 2018

No charges for agent accused of groping Terry Crews

In this Jan. 21, 2018, file photo, Terry Crews poses for a portrait to promote the film, "Sorry to Bother You", at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Prosecutors on Wednesday, March 7, decided not to file charges against a talent agent whom Crews said groped him at a Hollywood party. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Prosecutors have decided not to file charges against a talent agent whom actor Terry Crews said groped him at a Hollywood party.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Adam Venit, an agent at William Morris Endeavor, twice grabbed Crews by the groin, but because there was no contact with his skin, and no restraint involved, the allegations were not a felony.

They sent the case to the Los Angeles city attorney, who prosecutes misdemeanors. The city attorney's office said Wednesday the statute of limitations for them to prosecute Venit had expired. The party was in February 2016. Crews did not report the incident until November 2017.

Crews has also filed a lawsuit against Venit.

After-hours messages seeking comment from Venit's office were not immediately returned. Crews' publicist declined to comment.