Israeli leader visits DreamWorks

Katzenberg presented Peres having a gift from 'Prince of Egypt.'Israel's leader Shimon Peres, inside a four-day trip to La, stressed the special bond that his country has with Hollywood briefly remarks to DreamWorks Animation employees.Showing up with Peres inside a courtyard of DreamWorks' Glendale campus, the business's Boss Jeffrey Katzenberg presented the Israeli leader having a fitting gift: presented artwork from "Prince of Egypt," the business's first animated feature."If this involves a tireless hero, he's the real thing,Inch stated Katzenberg from the 88-year-old Peres.The visit was a part of an excursion through La to satisfy with prominent Jewish leaders and entertainment industry personas. The big event at DreamWorks was charged in an effort to discuss the "vital link between Hollywood and education, including the way the two can align to advertise peace and tolerance." Peres noted the the role of Jewish folks creating the studio business.Among individuals gift for Peres' trip to the campus were Ambassador Michael Oren, Leslie Moonves, Wealthy Ross, Billy Very, Steven Spielberg, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Michael Lynton, Arnon Milchan, Ron Meyer, Peter Grain, Tom Rothman, Barbra Streisand and Haim Saban. Following the remarks, Peres was brought to some dining area for any lunch using the industry professionals.The 2009 week, Peres is at Plastic Valley, where he released their own Facebook page along with a music video, "Be My Pal for Peace."Which was largely Peres' message prior to the studio's employees, although at some point he quipped concerning the cynicism of politics generally. "I believe the kids believe the stars a lot more than the political figures," he stated.On Thursday, Peres made an appearance in an event in the Beverly Hilton by which he sitting for any Q&A with Campbell Brown. Based on the Jewish Journal, he told everyone else that sanctions against Iran ought to be with time to operate, "but saying very clearly that other available choices are up for grabs.InchHe ended up being to attend further occasions with industry professionals on Saturday and planned to satisfy with Jewish and Latino leaders on Sunday. Individuals expected at Sunday's event include Avoi Longoria and Saban.The visit may come as the Obama campaign has worked to boost its support within the Jewish community, especially considering attacks from GOP candidates within the Whitened House's policy toward Iran. Peres, whose title is basically ceremonial, didn't address Iran in the remarks at DreamWorks. Katzenberg is one kind of Obama's most prominent fundraising, and contributed $two million towards the professional-Obama SuperPAC Focal points USA Action this past year. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

Due To A Lot Of Round the Bubble, Can Smart Comedies Survive?

American Idol's ladies weren't too remote in the boys' performance - ratings-wise, that's.Idol's female semifinalists performance show won Wednesday for Fox with 17 million audiences together with a 4.9 inside the grownups 18-to-49 demo - a tenth below Tuesday's rating. The ladies, however, handled to lure of a million more audiences in comparison to males did. Compared to the other day, the demo appeared to become lower slightly, but viewership ... Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com America's Next Top ModelAmerican IdolCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLaw & Order: Special Sufferers UnitOne Tree HillCriminal MindsThe MiddleModern FamilyHappy EndingsAre You There, Chelsea?RevengeSuburgatoryWhitneyRock Center With John WilliamsSurvivor: One World

DWA shares drop 12 percent

Shares of DreamWorks Animation plunged 12.16% to $17.26 Wednesday, one of the biggest losers on the Nasdaq and the stock's biggest one-day drop in several years, after dour quarterly earnings and negative comments on Wall Street. The studio announced Tuesday after market close that profits plunged more than 70% to $24 million from $85 million on lower home video sales, including a disappointing performance of "Kung Fu Panda 2" released in December. Goldman Sachs lowered its earnings estimates on the Glendale, Calif. company and analysts were concerned at rising costs as well as the softer home entertainment sales, which CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said reflect "challenges for the industry as whole." But DreamWorks only releases two or three films a year and isn't part of a bigger company, making it particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in key revenue streams. The shares were in the doghouse for much of 2011 and had started a rocky climb this year. Earlier this month it announced a high-profile joint venture to create animated pics in China. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Mary-Louise Parker, Ving Rhames, And James Woods Cast In Jamesy Boy Pic

Mary-Louise Parker, Ving Rhames and James Woods have joined the cast of Jamesy Boy, the feature debut of director/co-writer Trevor White. Filming is set to begin March 4 in Baltimore on the pic, which tells the story of a young man who goes from suburban street gangs to a maximum-security prison surrounded by hardened criminals. In prison, James fosters an unlikely friendship with a convicted murderer who ends up becoming his mentor and ultimately defines and changes the course of his life. The young guy will be played by newcomer Spencer Lofranco, who recently was signed by WME.Maryland-based Wayne L. Rogers and NY-based Bonnie Timmermann are executive producers. Trevor White’s brother Tim White, Maria Norman, Steve Saeta, Galen Walker and Scott Mednick are producing from a screenplay by Lane Shadgett and Trevor White.

20 Years of Crap That Opened on Oscar Weekend

As the Academy and its guests gather Sunday to enthusiastically slap congratulatory-calloused backs at the Oscars, an altogether different condition will overtake multiplexes nationwide. There, audiences will be confronted by a one-joke hippie comedy with Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston (Wanderlust), an Amanda Seyfried thriller withheld from critics before opening day (Gone), the Navy SEAL recruitment effort (Act of Valor), and frequent Oscar week performer Tyler Perry, departing from his matriarch Madea for a change (Good Deeds). Such a weak field is hardly an anomaly; the first months on the calendar historically are the wasteland of the release schedule, sitting in sharp contrast to the Academy's annual celebration of cinematic "greatness." A curious paradox is normally in play - at the time Hollywood crows about its best, it often serves up some of its worst. To gauge this phenomenon - and display the movie industry's staggering self-unawareness - here is a look back at what has been foisted on the public during the last 20 years of Academy Awards weekends: 83rd Academy Awards (2011): Last year the tepid comedy Hall Pass debuted at No. 1, while ex-Oscar heavyweight Nicolas Cage offered up his pulpy 3-D actioner Drive Angry, which could only reach No. 9. 82nd Academy Awards (2010): A rare occurrence of a quality, popular effort as Disneys Alice in Wonderland opened to nearly $150 million in business, while the sprawling cops-and-gangs saga Brooklyns Finest lagged well behind. 81st Academy Awards (2009): Tyler Perrys enduring hits continued with Madea Goes to Jail. Also featured was the roundly ignored comedy Fired Up - perhaps best-known for sporting the poster that basically said F-U to audiences. 80th Academy Awards (2008): Convoluted espionage thriller Vantage Point, with one-time Oscar king Forest Whitaker, debuted at No. 1, outpacing the forgettable comedy Be Kind, Rewind at a distant No. 8. Also languishing were Larry the Cable Guys Witless Protection, and Charlie Bartlett, both showing on over 1,000 screens and landing well out of the top 10. 79th Academy Awards (2007): Tellingly, no new release could manage to unseat Ghost Rider from the top; Jim Carreys failed thriller The Number 23 did best, Reno 911: Miami barely registered, and Warner Brothers put Billy Bob Thorntons The Astronaut Farmer in 2,000 theaters, where it crash-landed at No. 10. 78th Academy Awards (2006): Remember the Bruce Willis/Mos Def pairing 16 Blocks? That was an Oscar weekend debut. Also forgotten were Ultraviolet, the mermaid tale Aquamarine, and just to extend the execrable color theme, The Pink Panther in its fourth week. 77th Academy Awards (2005): Tyler Perry had his first big-screen hit with Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Then came the failed horror title Cursed, which sparked Wes Cravens self-imposed sabbatical from filmmaking. Worse still was the dreadfully unfunny Man of the House, featuring once-proud Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones. 76th Academy Awards (2004): Mel Gibsons pet project The Passsion of Christ shocked the world en route to $600 millon global, while Ashley Judd offered up the formulaic Twisted, the useless sequel Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights did little business, and the blatantly ignored comedy Club Dread did little of anything. 75th Academy Awards (2003): Possibly the weekend with the biggest departure from Oscar greatness. How did Bringing Down the House remain unseated after three weeks? It was challenged by anal-breaching aliens in Dreamcatcher and an unfunny airline farce with Oscar-winner Gweneth Paltrow called View from the Top. The most blatant affront to Academy excellence came via the hate crime called Boat Trip, starring Oscar exile Cuba Gooding Jr. 74th Academy Awards (2002): The vampire sequel Blade 2 earned some attention, joined by the 20th anniversary reissue of E.T, and the roundly bypassed cross-dressing comedy Sorority Boys. 73rd Academy Awards (2001): Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love-Hewitt sat at the top with a memory-defying lark called Heartbreakers, largely unchallenged by a familial outing called The Brothers and the Chris Klein implied-incest comedy called Say It Isnt So. 72nd Academy Awards (2000): Romeo Must Die was not strong enough to oust Erin Brockovich from staying on top. Another Chris Klein misfire, Here On Earth, begged for attention, and so did the early James Franco contemporary Cyrano update called Whatever it Takes. 71st Academy Awards (1999): Trophy winners Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck tried to fake chemistry in Forces of Nature, while Clint Eastwood trailed behind with True Crime. Add the animated remake of The King & I to the mix for bad measure. 70th Academy Awards (1998): As Titanic steamed along at the Oscars and the box office alike, drowning in its wake were the political misfire Primary Colors, the sexy thriller Wild Things and Jackie Chan as Mr. Nice Guy. 69th Academy Awards (1997): Jim Carrey took the stage at the Oscars to present, mugging to the crowd as he touted how well his Liar, Liar had performed that weekend. It also marked the transformation of Jennifer Lopez from Fly Girl into thespian with her biopic Selena. 68th Academy Awards (1996): Few showed up for Sharon Stones remake of Diabolique as it placed a distant third (clearly in need of a nude scene), and Spike Lees Girl 6 was roundly ignored. 67th Academy Awards (1995): Living up to its name was the Damon Wayans comedy Major Payne, which nevertheless did better than the Stephen King adaptation Dolores Claiborne. Alas, neither could surpass Outbreak in its third week of release. Disneys Tall Tale was an also-ran. 66th Academy Awards (1994): The franchise parody Naked Gun 33 1/3 was a modest hit. A young Thora Birch was not as fortunate: Her animal slapstick outing Monkey Trouble (exec-produced by three-time nominee Ridley Scott) was barely seen. 65th Academy Awards (1993): Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson unveiled their vanity project Born Yesterday, yet still could not topple the third iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Best Actress winner Marlee Matlin was also in a forgotten thriller, Hear No Evil, which must have sounded better on paper. 64th Academy Awards (1992): White Men Cant Jump did relatively well. Still, there was plenty of dismay to be had in the Rodney Dangerfield embarrassment Ladybugs. Doing even worse: the ice skating romance The Cutting Edge. Brad Slager has written about movies and entertainment for Film Threat, Mediaite, and is a columnist at CHUD.com. His less insightful impressions on entertainment can be found on Twitter. [Photo illustration: Movieline via Shutterstock/AMPAS]

David Mix "Not Ashamed" to do Cocaine Near Leader Obama

The Vista Star Johnson came back towards the View Wednesday, almost six years after she left the show under uncomfortable conditions. "It had been ugly, everything around was ugly," Johnson, 49, observed. "It had been a poor, emotional time. Nasty things were being stated in media. It had been just a bad emotional time." Johnson, who had been on the program to advertise women's heart health, appeared surprised at Walters' type of questioning about her questionable exit. "I'd eight fantastic years here. One was 'eh,'" she stated. "I returned to congratulate yourself on whatever you accomplished. I think you'll congratulate me on which I accomplished." Take a look at photos in the View In 2006, View creator and co-host Barbara Walters revealed to Johnson that her contract wouldn't be restored for any tenth season, and stated Johnson could state that it had been her decision. Johnson then introduced on the program that they could be departing, but told People magazine that they felt like she was "fired." The very next day, Walters informed audiences that Johnson would no more take part in the show effective immediately, and her title was rapidly taken off the show's credits and from the official website. "I take real responsibility for my very own behavior whatsoever occasions, however i will not be responsible if haven't made the decision I'm able to accept. I made a decision to embark on my very own terms," Johnson stated. "I needed to have the ability to manage it then when I walk in here, basically were ever asked, I'd feel better about arriving." Watch more videos in the View Walters and Pleasure Behar also requested Johnson about her 2003 gastric bypass surgery. At that time, Johnson declined to verify she'd gone through the process, despite her subsequent 160 pound weight reduction. "We attempted to safeguard you. I was told, 'Don't say it had been gastric [bypass]. Say it had been bikram yoga and portion control,' " Behar stated. "After you are a skinny b---. Congratulations." Added Walters: "We did lie for you personally!Inch Watch the entire semi-awkward exchange below: Exactly what do you think about Jones' reason behind departing? Would you miss seeing her around the View?

Tugg sets handles participants

Tugg Corporation., recommended like a Web platform for do-it-yourself exhibition, has introduced it's began dealing with participants Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, AMC Theaters, Bow Tie Movie theaters, Cinemark Theaters, Goodrich Quality Movie theaters, Rave Movie theaters and Regal Movie theaters. Austin, Texas-based Tugg, that has Film Clip, Richard Linklater and Terrence Malick on its board of advisors, stated its close ties with marketers is going to be introduced just before the state launch at South by Southwest the following month. Tugg, founded by Nicolas Gonda and Pablo Gonzalez, offers people to choose a movie, screening some time and nearby theater after which spread the term for their immediate an internet-based community. When a necessary number of individuals invest in attending, Tugg will reserve the theater, manage ticketing and be sure delivery from the film. "Every film talks to a new person, and also the most enjoyable factor about Tugg is it enables for audiences to locate their films and flicks to locate their audiences," Gonda and Gonzalez stated. "We're eager to provide a platform that allows galleries, filmmakers and participants to possess unparalleled interaction with towns and influencers." Gonda has labored with Malick and Steven Soderbergh. Gonzalez is really a high-tech and marketing professional who leads Tugg's development and procedures. "Because the film exhibition industry is constantly on the evolve, AMC Theaters remains devoted to remaining the main thing on innovation, and that's why we have been proud to utilize Tugg in the beginning to look for the feasibility of their platform," stated Robert J. Lenihan, leader of programming at AMC. "Once we still assess the program through tests at our theaters, we have experienced its potential first-hands through effective results by not just putting the option straight into our guests' hands, but additionally with the energy of grassroots, guest-advocate marketing." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com