LOS ANGELES (AP) ― It’ll be a busy shopping season at next month’s Sundance Film Festival, whose star-studded premieres are up for grabs by potential theatrical distributors.Some premieres usually enter the independent-film showcase with U.S. distribution already lined up. But festival director John Cooper said all the premieres that Sundance announced Monday will be looking for distributors.“I don’t think that’s ever happened before,’’ said festival director John Cooper. “It makes for a much mo

Dec. 7, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Alec Baldwin says he was kicked off a plane Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport after having words with a flight attendant over an “addicting” word game he was playing on his cellphone.The “30 Rock” actor was asked to get off a New York City-bound flight for playing “Word

Dec. 7, 2011

BEVERLY HILLS, California (AP) — Copyrights and images from Marilyn Monroe's first photo shoot sold for $352,000 at an auction that included also items from Lady Gaga and John Lennon.Julien's Auctions spokeswoman Caroline Galloway tells The Associated Press on Sunday that the Monroe photos &md

Dec. 6, 2011

Song Yoon-hee talks about making of Korea’s first medical documentary Just three days ahead of the opening of her documentary debut, “White Jungle,” occupational environmental physician and filmmaker Song Yoon-hee seemed rather cynical. “I hope the movie won’t get closed down by theaters too early,” she said. Promoted as the local version of Michael Moore’s 2007 medical documentary “Sicko,” Song’s 9 million won budget indie film triggered much debate online even before its official release. The

Dec. 5, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― “The Artist,” a black-and-white homage to the era of silent movies, has a growing number of film insiders talking in Hollywood, where it is increasingly tipped as a leading Oscars hopeful.The movie by French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius won best film and best director this week by the New York Film Critics Circle, lending weight to its hopes for the Academy Awards.On the same day it secured a best picture nomination for the Independent Spirit Awards, another key pointer to w

Dec. 4, 2011

Oh, those comfy chairs.It’s as if stepping into the first class section on an airplane, except there’s a wide movie screen right before your eyes. There are drinks, snacks and even board games. If you want, you can order a bottle of quality wine along with the nibbles. Or even get proposed to over a fine dining five course meal.Welcome to “premium” movie theaters, which have brought a new moviegoing experience to Koreans in the past decade. Since the very first premium theater in Korea, “CGV Gol

Dec. 2, 2011

Tokyo Oasis (Japan)Opened Dec. 1Drama. Directed by Kana Matsumoto. Touko, (Satomi Kobayashi), an obscure actress, leaves the film set of her latest project on a whim. Without any plans in mind, she begins to wander the streets of Tokyo, and comes across three random people. Right after leaving the set, she is offered a ride by a driver named Nagano. At a small theater venue, she chats with former screen writer Kikuchi. At the zoo, she runs into Yasuko, a young woman who has failed to get into an

Dec. 2, 2011

Actors will endure a lot for a director they believe in. Michael Fassbender swallowed his pride and wore a superhero helmet for Matthew Vaughn in “X-Men: First Class” and toggled trickily between English and German for Quentin Tarantino in “Inglourious Basterds.” But none of that compares to what he’s been willing to go through for Steve McQueen.Four years ago, when Fassbender began working with the punctilious filmmaker (no relation to that other Steve McQueen) in the prison drama “Hunger,” the

Dec. 2, 2011

Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who is widely nicknamed “Mr. Nice Tom” by the local media for the friendly manners he has shown during his previous visits to Korea, said he loves his nickname and was excited to bring the fourth installment of his famous “Mission Impossible” series to the country.“I just want to say I love coming here and I love my nickname -- thank you,” the Hollywood star told reporters during a press conference held at Grand Hyatt Seoul Friday. “I didn’t know I had a nickname and i

Dec. 2, 2011

Visitors walk through the Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. (Bloomberg)LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Comcast Corp. is in the final stages of a deal to bring Harry Potter's magic to life in Hollywood.The owner of Universal Studios is to announce before year's

Dec. 2, 2011

Tom Cruise will arrive in Seoul on Thursday to promote the fourth installment in the film series “Mission: Impossible.”Co-star Paula Patton and director Brad Bird will join Cruise in Seoul.According to the local promoter of the upcoming film, Cruise, Patton and Bird will attend a red-carpet event at Yeongdeungpo Times Square in Seoul at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Cruise, who is scheduled to leave Korea right after the event, is unlikely to hold any press meetings during his stay in Seoul, the promoter

Nov. 29, 2011

New York (AP) ― In truly independent fashion, the Gotham Independent Film Awards ended with a tie for Best Feature. Terrence Malick’s highly imaginative “The Tree of Life,’’ and Mike Mills’ flashback comedy, “Beginners,’’ both received the night’s high honor.The unprecedented ruling was announced via video screen to the audience by jury member Natalie Portman who said her peers were “stuck’’ when it came to selecting a winner, so they “chose to honor both.’’“The Tree of Life,’’ starring Brad Pit

Nov. 29, 2011

KangYu’s award-winning personal documentary features generation gap, lives of ‘house poor’This is the fourth article in a series on up-and-coming Korean filmmakers. ― Ed.It took making a film for director Kang Yu Ga-ram to understand her father’s life.The two did not share much in common to begin with. Her father is a firm supporter of the conservative Grand National Party; KangYu has worked with progressive NGOs and film production houses. He spent most of his life on construction sites; she ob

Nov. 28, 2011

 Archeologist William Kelso is certain he's discovered the remains of the oldest Protestant church in the United States, standing between two holes he insists once held wooden posts.In 1614, Pocahontas was "married right here, I guarantee," Kelso told AFP at the Jamestown, Virginia archeologica

Nov. 28, 2011