News Briefs

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Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017

NBC acquires stake in Euronews, shuffles news executives

This Sept. 22, 2015 file photo shows the headquarters of Euronews television, the multilingual European television news in Lyon, central France. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

NBC News is buying a minority stake in the overseas television news outlet Euronews, appointing NBC News President Deborah Turness to run the new partnership, and having "Today" show chief executive Noah Oppenheim replace her as NBC News president.

NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack on Tuesday announced the deal with Euronews, which employs some 500 journalists and airs in 164 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. NBC is paying $30 million, and the new venture will be known as Euronews NBC.

American viewers will be able to see Euronews journalists adding their expertise to NBC News, MSNBC and digital coverage of international stories, the network said.

"We believe we've found a unique international partner at a pivotal time in global news," Lack said in a memo to his staff.

Turness will be president of the newly formed NBC News International, responsible for pulling together the two news organization, and will More

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017

Nutmeg adds Broadway Video's former design team

NTMG Design consists of (l-r) Fred Salkind, David Rogers, Doug LeBow and Karolina Dawson (photo by Eljay Aguillo).

NEW YORK --

Nutmeg, a creative marketing resource, has acquired the design team formerly known as FAC5 at Broadway Video and now newly named as NTMG Design.

The team of four—executive creative producer Doug LeBow, executive creative director Fred Salkind, creative director David Rogers and art director Karolina Dawson—is an Emmy, Telly and PromaxBDA award-winning creative collective dedicated to communicating engaging and impactful design across multiple media platforms.

With services that include main titles and show packaging, experiential and event design, promotions and image campaigns, the group has worked with a diverse range of clients on a wide range of projects, including: “Nickelodeon HALO Awards,” “Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards,” “The Emmys” for Don Mischer Productions, Indy 500 100th Anniversary for ESPN, HBO’s “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” for Line-by-Line Productions, “Thursday Night Football” and “Sunday Night More

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017

In message to Trump, London to screen Iranian Oscar nominee

In this Monday, Oct. 10, 2016 file photo, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi poses for his film "the Salesman" during the premier in Paris, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

LONDON (AP) --

London's mayor says the British capital will hold a free outdoor screening of an Academy Award-nominated Iranian film whose director scrapped plans to attend the Oscars because of President Donald Trump's travel ban.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said Tuesday that Asghar Farhadi's "The Salesman" will play in Trafalgar Square on Oscars day, Feb. 26, to celebrate London "as an international hub of creativity and as a beacon of diversity."

"The Salesman" is nominated for best foreign-language film.

After Trump temporarily barred citizens of Iran and six other majority Muslim nations last month, Farhadi said he would not attend the ceremony even if an exception were made. The ban has since been suspended by U.S. courts.

Farhadi calls the London screening "a symbol of unity against the division and separation of people."

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017

Downey Jr., Linklater to make film based on podcast

This Oct. 20, 2016 file photo shows Robert Downey Jr. at the Los Angeles premiere of "Doctor Strange." (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Richard Linklater and Robert Downey Jr. are teaming up to make a film adapted from a podcast.

Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures announced Monday evening that it will produce the untitled film, with Linklater directing and Downey Jr. starring. It will be based on the episode "Man of the People" from the Reply All podcast. The episode, which aired in January, chronicles the true story of a doctor who scammed his way to fame and fortune, and the doctor who brought him down.

Downey Jr. previously starred in Linklater's animated "A Scanner Darkly." The new film will be a break from Downey's Iron Man duties, which include the upcoming "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and next year's "Avenger's Infinity War."

Linklater is also prepping "The Last Flag Flying" with Steve Carell and Bryan Cranston.

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017

Documentary about Joseph Beuys stars at Berlin Film Festival

Director Andres Veiel speaks during a press conference for the competition film 'Beuys' at the 2017 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) --

A documentary about Joseph Beuys shows previously unpublished audio and video footage of the 20th century German artist known for his signature hat, performance pieces and use of fat and felt as materials.

The film, titled "Beuys," premiered Tuesday as one of 18 films competing at the Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear award.

Director Andres Veiel has created a portrait of the provocative artist he calls "the hero of my youth." The documentary shows Beuys at performances, as an art professor, a social activist and an early member of the Green Party.

Beuys, who famously declared that "everyone is an artist," is presented close-up as he explains his philosophy, talks about his plane crash during world War II or plants trees for his "7,000 Oaks" project.

Monday, Feb. 13, 2017

Andre The Giant set for upcoming documentary on HBO

In this May 4, 1976, file photo, heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, left, compares fists with professional wrestler Andre The Giant in New York. HBO Sports, and the Bill Simmons Media Group will produce "Andre The Giant," a documentary film examining the life and career of one of wrestling's biggest stars.(AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)

By Dan Gelston, Sports Writer

The tall tales and colossal career of Andre the Giant will be told in an upcoming HBO documentary.

WWE, HBO Sports and the Bill Simmons Media Group will produce "Andre The Giant," a documentary film examining the life and career of one of professional wrestling's truly biggest stars.

Andre Rene Roussimoff, a native of France, was a popular touring attraction for years in wrestling and headlined the third WrestleMania in 1987 against Hulk Hogan.

The wide-ranging documentary will explore Andre's upbringing in France, his celebrated career in WWE and his forays in the entertainment world that included a role in "The Princess Bride."

HBO did not announce an air date for the film.

Bill Simmons, who joined HBO in the summer of 2015 and founded The Ringer, will serve as an executive producer of the film.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017

Films by Gomis, Tucci delight viewers at Berlin Film Fest

Director Alain Gomis speaks during a press conference for the film 'Felicite' at the 2017 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

BERLIN (AP) --

Senegalese director Alain Gomis has delighted viewers at the Berlin Film Festival with "Felicite," a movie about the life and struggles of a singer in the Congo city of Kinshasa.

The move, shown Saturday to much applause, tells the story of Felicite, played by Véro Tshanda Beya Mputo, who is struggling to raise money for an operation for her son, who was injured in an accident.

Gomis told reporters he wanted to show that people "can fight for their dignity in all circumstances - and how good that is."

The movie is one of 18 movies competing for the festival's top Golden Bear award.

Also screened Saturday in Berlin was "Final Portrait," directed by Stanley Tucci, about the Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. It is not part of the Golden Bear competition.

Friday, Feb. 10, 2017

Kellogg CEO: No "discernible" impact from online boycott

This Jan. 31, 2014, file photo shows a box of Kellogg's cereal on display on a supermarket shelf in Middleton, Mass. On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, Kellogg said it saw no "discernible" effect from an online boycott spurred by its decision to pull ads from a website formerly run by one of President Trump's top aides. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

By CANDICE CHOI, Food Industry Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Kellogg says it saw no "discernible" effect from an online boycott spurred by its decision to pull ads from a website formerly run by one of President Trump's top aides.

CEO John Bryant said it's difficult to gauge the impact of such consumer actions given the volume of its sales, but that the company did not see any effect it could attribute to the boycott. Kellogg had announced its decision in late November to pull ads from Breitbart.com, which has been criticized for featuring racist, sexist and anti-Semitic content.

The website subsequently called for a boycott of the company.

At the time, Kellogg had said it works with media buying partners to ensure its ads don't appear on sites that aren't "aligned with our values." The company and others have said such ad placement can come about because of automated ad buying programs.

"We had no intention of getting into a political discussion," Bryant said in a phone interview More

Friday, Feb. 10, 2017

Coen brothers polishing script for "Scarface" remake

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)

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) --

Joel and Ethan Coen will polish the script for a planned "Scarface" remake.

Universal Pictures announced Friday that "an explosive reimagining" of the gangster classic will be released in August 2018. Diego Luna is set to star in the role famously played by Al Pacino in Brian De Palma's 1983 remake of the 1932 original.

The Coen brothers have played script doctor a few times recently, polishing the screenplays for Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies" and Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken."

No director has yet been announced for the project.

Friday, Feb. 10, 2017

NBC's Bob Costas being replaced by Mike Tirico at Olympics

In this Oct. 20, 2014, file photo, co-host Bob Costas attends the 24th Annual Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

By David Bauder, Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Mike Tirico is taking over from Bob Costas as the prime-time host of NBC's Olympics coverage starting next winter in South Korea.

Costas, who has been the on-air concierge to NBC's Olympics 11 times starting in 1992, said he decided on his own a year ago that the time was right for a change.

"This is entirely on my terms and I like it that way," Costas said Thursday. He said he wants to do some commentary on special events - maybe even the Olympics - and long-form programming, likening his new role to what former news anchor Tom Brokaw does at NBC. He also wants to broadcast more baseball to get his fastball back, saying he listened to old tapes and realized he wasn't doing that as well as he used to.

"I'm not retiring, I'm just transitioning," he said.

The 50-year-old Tirico had been considered an heir apparent since joining NBC Sports from ESPN last year. He helped with the network's coverage of the Rio Olympics last summer More