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Monday, Mar. 20, 2017

Penelope Cruz to play Versace in "American Crime Story"

In this combination photo, fashion designer Donatella Versace, left, attends an event honoring her with the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award on Feb. 8, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Penelope Cruz attends a special screening of "ma ma", on May 24, 2016, in New York. (AP Photos/Mark J. Terrill, left, and Charles Sykes, Files)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Penelope Cruz is headed to television to play fashion designer Donatella Versace in the third installment of "American Crime Story" on FX.

The Academy Award-winning actress will star in the 10-episode series focused on the 1997 slaying of Versace's brother, Gianni. Donatella Versace took over the famed fashion house after her brother was killed.

Co-executive produced by Ryan Murphy, the Versace story is expected to air in early 2018.

Cruz won a supporting actress Oscar in 2009 for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," directed by Woody Allen. She has appeared in numerous other films including the blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" with Johnny Depp.

Monday, Mar. 20, 2017

CBS reaches deal to keep "Big Bang Theory" on air

In this image released by CBS, Mayim Bialik, from left, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco appear in a scene from "The Big Bang Theory." (Darren Michaels/CBs via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) --

CBS says it has reached a deal with producers of "The Big Bang Theory" to keep the show on the air for two more years.

The network said Monday it agreed with Warner Brothers Television to extend the show that debuted in 2007. Along with the drama "NCIS," it is consistently one of the two most popular shows on television when original episodes are aired.

No details about the agreement were released. Producers have agreements with actors Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar to continue for two more years, and are negotiating similar deals with Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.

CBS will also premiere a prequel, "Young Sheldon," next year about the character as a 9-year-old. Parsons will help narrate the series.

Saturday, Mar. 18, 2017

Director Jia Zhangke to host film festival in northern China

In this March 17, 2016 file photo, Chinese director Jia Zhangke poses after winning the Best Screenplay award of the Asian Film Awards in Macau. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

By Louise Watt

BEIJING (AP) --

Chinese director Jia Zhangke, known for films exploring China's wrenching social changes, will host his own festival to showcase the work of young directors and movies from developing countries.

Jia announced Thursday that the Pingyao International Film Festival will be held Oct. 19-26 in the ancient city in the northern province of Shanxi, from where Jia hails.

He told The Associated Press the festival aimed to present outstanding work from around the world and help promote talented young directors.

"During my time at film festivals, I was able to see many very good films from different countries and different cultures, and to consider people's lives, human nature and societies from different angles," Jia said. "These films are brilliant, but they badly need to be introduced to Chinese audiences."

He added: "We mainly hope the films come from regions such as Asia, Latin America and Africa because there is less chance for More

Thursday, Mar. 16, 2017

"Saturday Night Live" to air live to all, not taped for some

In this March 4, 2017 photo provided by NBC, Colin Jost and Michael Che, right, appear during Weekend Update segment of "Saturday Night Live" in New York. (Will Heath/NBC via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) --

After 42 seasons, "Saturday Night Live" is trying something new: airing live to everybody.

For the first time, "SNL" will broadcast live simultaneously across the U.S. for its final four shows of the season, NBC announced Thursday. Until now, viewers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones have seen the show not as it aired "live from New York," but on tape delay.

The new live-for-all policy will apply to episodes telecast April 15, May 6, May 13 and May 20. Each show will air at 11:30 p.m. (Eastern), 10:30 p.m. (Central), 9:30 p.m. (Mountain) and 8:30 p.m. (Pacific). In the Mountain and Pacific time zones, the show will repeat at 11:30 p.m.

Hosts for these editions will be, respectively, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Pine, Melissa McCarthy and, for the season finale, Dwayne Johnson.

Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2017

Registration Opens For SIGGRAPH 2017

Jerome Solomon

CHICAGO --

Registration is now open for SIGGRAPH 2017, the world’s leading annual interdisciplinary educational experience showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. To register for this year’s event, which will be held July 30–August 3 2017 in Los Angeles, click here.

SIGGRAPH 2017 will be “bigger and better than ever,” said Jerome Solomon, this year’s Conference Chair. SIGGRAPH 2017 marks the 44th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques.

“We are very excited about returning to Los Angeles for this year’s conference,” Solomon said. “We have plans for over a dozen awesome experiences that we’ve never done before. For example, we will be holding our grand opening day reception at the California Science Center, which will offer attendees the chance to get up close to the actual Space Shuttle Endeavor. We will More

Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2017

Joel Coler, former 20th Century Fox VP, dead at 85

Joel Coler

LOS ANGELES --

Joel Coler, 85, a long-time former VP of advertising and publicity for 20th Century Fox International, died at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Campus on March 13 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Coler, a popular executive with a legacy of successful publicity campaigns and worldwide friendships, was born in the Bronx N.Y. and was a lifelong member of the Bronx Boys, a close group of friends who met at P.S. 80 in the late 1930s. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1953 with a B.A. Degree in Journalism and Sociology. From 1953-1955 he served in the U.S. Air Force and earned the rank of Captain while stationed in Ulm, Germany. After his discharge he joined the NBC network as an advertising assistant, which led to a position as assistant account executive with Grey Advertising.

In 1964 he took a job as Director, International Advertising and Publicity for 20th Century Fox, ultimately moving to Los Angeles with More

Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2017

Netflix to finish and release Orson Welles' final film

This Feb. 22, 1982 file photo shows actor and movie director Orson Welles during a press conference in Paris. (AP Photo/Jacques Langevin, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Orson Welles' last film finally has a home.

Netflix has acquired the global rights to Welles' "The Other Side of the Wind" and will finance its completion and restoration.

Netflix's announcement Tuesday brings to a close the decades-long mystery surrounding one cinema's greatest filmmakers. Welles began shooting the film in 1970 but never completed it. The "Citizen Kane" director died in 1985.

"The Other Side of the Wind" is a Hollywood satire about a filmmaker attempting a comeback. Its stars include John Huston, Dennis Hopper and Peter Bogdanovich, who has helped in its editing.

Producer Frank Marshall will oversee the film's completion.

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos says he grew up worshipping Welles so releasing Welles' last film "is a point of pride" for him and for Netflix.

Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2017

SNL "Weekend Update" segment gets summer primetime run

In this March 4, 2017 photo provided by NBC, Colin Jost and Michael Che, right, appear during Weekend Update segment of "Saturday Night Live" in New York. (Will Heath/NBC via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

"Saturday Night Live" gets the summer off, but "Weekend Update" will keep the political satire coming in prime time.

NBC said Tuesday that four episodes of "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update" will air at 9 p.m. Thursday starting Aug. 10.

Michael Che and Colin Jost, who anchor the segment, will be joined by other "SNL" cast members, the network said.

"Weekend Update" has ventured away from its late-night turf into prime time before, but political tumult makes it an especially ripe opportunity for the faux newscast.

"SNL" is enjoying a ratings bounce from milking President Donald Trump's election and the early days of his administration.

The season to date is the show's most-watched in 24 years, with viewership up 26 percent over last year and averaging 11 million weekly, NBC said.

Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2017

New Heinz ketchup ads inspired by "Mad Men"

This photo provided by Heinz shows a Heinz ketchup ad inspired by the TV show "Mad Men." The idea of the campaign, which shows foods like French fries and hamburgers up close without any condiments, is to underscore that they need ketchup to be complete. (Courtesy of Heinz via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Heinz is launching ketchup ads inspired by the TV show "Mad Men."

The idea of the campaign, which shows foods like French fries and hamburgers up close without any condiments, is to underscore that they need ketchup to be complete. Kraft Heinz is noting tongue-in-cheek that the "Pass the Heinz" campaign was created by the main character of "Mad Men," ad executive Don Draper. It is also crediting Draper's fictional ad agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, as well as its real-life agency.

The Kraft Heinz Co. says the campaign will run as traditional print ads, such as in the New York Post, and on outdoor billboards.

"Mad Men," a drama set in the 1960s New York advertising world, ended its seven-season run in 2015.

Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2017

"Beauty and the Beast" shelved in Malaysia despite approval

In this Feb. 20, 2017, file photo, actor Josh Gad, left, who plays manservant LeFou and Luke Evans who plays villain Gaston, pose during a promotional event for the movie "Beauty and the Beast", in Paris.(AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) --

Walt Disney has shelved the release of its new movie "Beauty and the Beast" in mainly Muslim Malaysia, even though film censors said Tuesday it had been approved with a minor cut involving a "gay moment."

The studio said Tuesday that the film has not and will not be edited for release in Malaysia.

Screenings of the live-action re-telling of the animated classic was scheduled to begin screening on Thursday.

Film Censorship Board chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said he did not know why the film was postponed as it was approved by the board after a minor gay scene was axed. He said scenes promoting homosexuality were forbidden and that the film was given a P13 rating, which requires parental guidance for children under 13 years of age.

"We have approved it but there is a minor cut involving a gay moment. It is only one short scene but it is inappropriate because many children will be watching this movie," Abdul Halim told The More