Trade Round-Up: A Merger Of Desire
The Toronto Film Festival line up is announced, featuring offerings from up-and-comers Ridley Scott, Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe, Jude Law, Sandra Bullock, Sigourney Weaver, Brad Pitt, and Gwyneth Paltrow. [Variety]
· In a joint interview with ICM head Jeff Berg, Chris Silbermann, partner in recently acquired boutique agency BWCS, describes the transaction: "This is not an acquisition of need; this is a merger of desire." You may now stab yourself in the ear with a letter opener to halt the flood of images of pieces of Armani suits dropping to the floor, followed by the two merger-crazed agents rushing into each other's arms, finally ready to consummate their deal of passion. [THR]
· Paramount elevates MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies from "studio-based production companies" to "full-fledged divisions." Nothing gets us more excited than a nice, hot corporate restructuring story. [Variety]
The Weinstein Co. picks up the Dixie Chicks documentary Shut up and Sing, about the fallout from the country group's fateful decision to express an unfavorable public opinion about George W. Bush. [THR]
To appease the nation's anti-smoking lobby, Turner Broadcasting will edit out smoking in classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons
that air in the U.K., such as Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo, as well as completely erase from existence the character of Mr. Spacely, George Jetson's cigar-chomping boss. [Variety]