Natalie Wood Investigation: What the People Involved Are Saying

NY - After a long search, Time Warner has chosen Laura Lang, who has been CEO of digital advertising powerhouse Digitas, as the new CEO of its Time Inc. magazine unit, the entertainment conglomerate said on Wednesday. Lang, who has led Publicis-owned Digitas since 2008 after joining the firm in 1999, is expected to continue an aggressive digital push by the unit, which is the largest U.S. magazine publisher. Her hire comes after Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes early this year fired Jack Griffin who had caused a culture clash as leader of the magazine division, according to company sources. "Although Jack is an extremely accomplished executive, I concluded that his leadership style and approach did not mesh with Time Inc. and Time Warner," Bewkes said back then in a memo that was unusually candid for the media industry. Lang will assume leadership of Time Inc. from an interim management committee composed of Howard Averill, Maurice Edelson and John Huey, which guided the company over the last 10 months. Her bio on Digitas' Web site highlights that she has driven international growth and helped the company attract new clients. "Laura's leadership experience, brand management expertise, understanding of digital and marketing and strong relationships with the creative and advertising communities are a great fit for Time Inc.," said Bewkes. "She is the right person to lead the company as it aggressively evolves its businesses during a time of great change and opportunity in publishing." Said Lang: "I am thrilled to be joining the best journalists and publishing executives in the world at Time Inc. during such an exciting time for media and publishing. Time Inc's premier brands and stellar reputation, along with Time Warner's commitment to lead the digital transformation of all its businesses, will lead to great opportunities to deepen our connections with consumers." Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics Time Warner Jeff Bewkes

Box Office Report: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Hits $500 Mil Worldwide in 12 Days

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures has come out swinging against a fraud lawsuit filed Tuesday by a financing entity that backed a string of high-profile movies but sued claiming the studio underreported millions of dollars in revenue in fraudulent accounting statements. Melrose 2, the NY-based entity that agreed in 2006 to back a slate of Paramount films in exchange for about a 25 percent share of revenue, argues in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the studio has engaged in a practice of "under-reporting the revenue and overreporting the costs" attributable to 29 films co-financed by Melrose, including such hists as Mission Impossible 3, Blades of Glory and the Transformers series. "In contrast, five years after [the co-financing agreement] was signed, Melrose 2 has still not seen a dollar of profit from its $375 million investment" despite the films bringing in $7 billion in revenue, states the complaint, filed in Los Angeels Superior Court. But Paramount responds in a statement released Tuesday afternoon that the studio has played fair with its financial partner: "Paramount has complied with its obligations to Melrose 2 and has been forthcoming in the audit process. We are disappointed that these sophisticated investors would choose to file a lawsuit filled with hyperbole that ignores the true facts rather than seeing that process through to completion. The Melrose 2 investors have already received almost 90% of their investment back under the financing agreement, and a number of the films in which they participate (such as the successful Transformers 3) remain in the earliest stages of their earning potential. "While we intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit, the differences between the parties' positions are relatively modest in amount and we are confident they can be resolved in the ordinary course." The lawsuit claims potentially millions of dollars in damages and argues that Paramount has repeatedly tried to hinder the audit process on specific films, as well as charge improper expenses against its profit participation obligations. There was a ton of press coverage of the Melrose deal and other mega-budget "slate" financing arrangements back in 2006 and 2007. Wall Street money was flowing freely into Hollywood, and studios were happy to take the cash in exchange for back-end participations down the road. Then, when the economy crashed and hedge funds and other financing entities shied away from movie investments, speculation arose about whether investors would make back their money on the Hollywood deals. Melrose investors believe they've been cheated. Paramount says it has complied with the deal. It will be interesting to see how this case turns out. The suit alleges causes of action for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, unfair competition and declaratory relief. Read the full complaint here. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni Paramount Pictures

((Hagane no renkinjutsushi: Mirosu no seinaru hoshi))

A Shochiku relieve a Bones production. (Worldwide sales: Bones, Tokyo, japan, japan.) Produced by Masahiko Minami, Hiro Marayuma, Ryo Oyama, Noboyuki Kurashige, Fumi Teranishi, Arimasa Okada, Shin Furukawa. Directed by Kazuya Murata. Script, Yuichi Shinbo, based on figures created by Hiromu Arakawa inside the manga "Hagane no renkinjutsushi."Voices: Rie Kugimiya, Romi Park, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Fumiko Orikasa, Kenji Utsumi, Maaya Sakamoto, Megumi Takamoto, Sakiko Tamagawa, Shinichiro Miki. (Japanese dialogue)The second feature spinoff within the Japanime tube franchise, "Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos" is primed to thrill aficionados but furthermore draw beginners to the fold. Offering further adventures for just two brothers and sisters inside an alternate world where alchemy can be a highly sophisticated scientific application, pic upholds the series' trademark usage of pacey action and well-defined figures fighting against oppression and searching methods to spiritual questions. "Milos" designed a hearty $7.5 million in your area on 90 prints within this summer time and may attract solid fanboy biz on its early 2012 limited U.S. release. An worldwide ancillary bonanza is guaranteed. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos Since turning up in 2001, the manga created by artist Hiromu Arakawa has offered 50 million copies in Japan and provided source material for animated TV series in 2003 and 2009, along with the feature presentation "Fullmetal Alchemist the film: Conqueror of Shamballa" (2005). The main protagonists of individuals popular tales are Alphonse Elric (voiced by Rie Kugimiya) and also the brother, Edward (Romi Park), youthful alchemists whose ongoing mission is going to be reunited utilizing their dead mother and reclaim regions of their physiques and souls they have lost for "smashing the taboo against human transmutation." Auds not inside the "Fullmetal" loop will question precisely what meaning at first, but everything soon becomes apparent once the siblings' latest mission can get on-going. Spiky-haired, quick-witted and trying out the career of "Condition Alchemist," Alphonse is distributed with Edward (who's available only just like a voice within the hulking suit of armor) utilizing their homeland Amestris to Table City, a buffer condition of high coves and deep valleys wedged between Amestris and rival energy Creta. Orders arrive from Cmdr. Col. Mustang (Shinichiro Miki, co-helmer of cult item "Funky Forest: The Initial Contact") to locate prison escapee Melvin Voyager (Toshiyuki Morikawa). A hazardously effective alchemist, Voyager is selecting the "Star of Fresh Blood stream," a sacred stone that opens "the doorway of truth." The lynchpin in Voyager's plan's Julia Crichton (Maaya Sakamoto), a 16-year-old orphan attracted in with the Milosians, a downtrodden people dwelling in caves below Table City whose future comes from the stone. People are merely the basic principles from the highly imaginative tale that can bring Edward and Alphonse into reference to shapeshifting wolf-chimera beasties as well as the Black Bats, a flying squad of human mma fighters bent on taking control of Table City. Although philosophical discussions around the valued object are every so often labored, scripter Yuichi Shinbo's elaborate plot remains coherent even during the time of furious fights and multiple identity switcheroos among combatants. Directed by experienced TV animator and "Fullmetal Alchemist" first-timer Kazuya Murata, and produced with the Bones animation studio which has shipped the entire "Fullmetal Alchemist" catalog, pic has subtly sharper lines and less fluid movement in comparison to TV episodes. Slight alternation in visual strategy suits the punchy tempos of Shinbo's narrative. All technical aspects are professional.Camera (color, HD), Yoshiyuki Takei editor, Kumiko Sakamoto music, Taro Iwashiro art company company directors, Kazuo Ogura, Tomoaki Okada appear (Dolby Digital), Masafumi Mima character designer, Kenichi Konishi chief animation director, Konishi mechanical designer, Shinji Aramaki visual effects, Team Taniguchi. Examined on DVD, Hawaii, March. 19, 2011. (In Hawaii Film Festival -- Anime Films.) Running time: 110 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Warner Bros Teams With Amazons LOVEFiLM For UK Digital Distribution

LONDON and BURBANK, Calif. 17th November 2011: Warner Bros. has signed a major film distribution agreement with LOVEFiLM it was announced today by Josh Berger, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain and Simon Calver, Chief Executive, LOVEFiLM. The multi-year, multi-layered pact offers consumers wider choice and more access to Warner Bros. content across a range of options. The deal spans LOVEFiLMs digital subscription, download to own and pay per view services, as well as Warner Bros. branded SVOD service WarnerFilms. An exclusive second window subscription pay TV deal will see Warner Bros.’ recent and forthcoming film releases added to LOVEFiLMs Watch Online service through the LOVEFiLM Player, either on the PC or accessible via Sony PlayStation3, Apple iPad, a growing number of web-enabled TV sets and Blu-ray players, and later this year Microsoft Xbox 360. Movies available at the start of the deal in December will include The Dark Knight, The Hangover, Gran Torino and Sex and the City 2. And, in the coming months and years, LOVEFiLM customers, who subscribe to streaming as part of their package, will be able to instantly watch a regular flow of Warner Bros. latest movies. Underscoring both companies commitment to giving customers a broad-ranging set of options to watch Warner Bros. content, the deal continues to make the studios film releases available for purchase or rent digitally; via LOVEFiLMs market-leading DVD and Blu-ray subscription rental service, through which DVDs and Blu-rays will be available by post 60 days after release, from 2012; and via Warner Bros. branded SVOD channel, WarnerFilms. Scheduled by Warner Bros. and offering a great selection of recent and classic movies from Warner Bros. portfolio of titles, WarnerFilms provides 24 hours a day on-demand access to 28 movies at any one time with seven new titles added every week. Commenting on the agreement, Josh Berger, President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland and Spain said, This significant deal with LOVEFiLM and its parent company Amazon takes a 360 degree approach to delivering Warner Bros.’ world class movies across multiple business lines. Now, LOVEFiLM customers will enjoy more ways of enjoying great film content, all with the ease that the service has become known for. Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution added: The establishment of a second pay window with LOVEFiLM is an important evolution in the way films are made available for viewing in the UK in ever-more convenient ways. Importantly, the structure of the deal ensures that our films continue to retain their value to linear and non linear operators following this window and for the long term. Simon Calver, CEO of LOVEFiLM, added: Simon Calver, CEO of LOVEFiLM, added: This major deal builds on our partnership with Warner Bros. and gives LOVEFiLM members exclusive access to world-class movies across multiple platforms. We are committed to delivering the best entertainment service possible giving our members the content they want on the platforms of their choice.

New Trailer For Aardman's Pirates!

Hilarity on the high seasDepending on whether you live in the UK or US, Aardman's salty new sea comedy The Pirates! Is either subtitled In An Adventure With Scientists (Blighty) or Band Of Misfits (America-land). But either way, all signs point to it being the comedy equivalent of a treasure chest loaded with shiny booty. We brought you an exclusive look at the UK promo last month, and now the new US trailer has arrived for your watching pleasure.The Pirates! finds the Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) itching to win the Pirate Of The Year award. Trouble is, he's constantly being thwarted by his competitors, including Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and the sexy Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek). And his crew isn't exactly the cream of the crop.But, undaunted by the challenges, our hero promises he'll become the best buccaneer even if it means dealing with sea monsters, scientists (including David Tennant's Charles Darwin) and the fearsome Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton), who thinks all who plunder the seven seas are a pack of douchecopters.Frankly, the only thing we don't like about the film is waiting until March 28 to see it.

Lady Gaga Splits From Longtime Creative Director Laurieann Gibson, Rep Confirms

Lady Gaga and her longtime creative director Laurieann Gibson are no longer working together, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.our editor recommendsLady Gaga Wins Injunction Against Lady Goo Goo CartoonABC Announces Lady Gaga Thanksgiving SpecialLady Gaga to Return for 'X Factor' U.K. PerformanceLaurieann Gibson: 'We've Created a New Jerusalem' With Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video Popular hip-hop gossip site MediaTakeOut was first to report that the two had a "bitter fight." It postulates that Gibson's ego has gotten the best of the choreographer-turned-reality star and points to several comments made in the press recently, one in which Gibson credits Madonna for inspiring Gaga's ever-evolving style -- a comparison Gaga has tried to distance herself from. PHOTOS: Lady Gaga's MTV Evolution The two had been working together since Gaga was first signed to Interscope Records. In April, Gibson described their earliest experiences together to THR. "I met one brilliant artist that the world had no idea existed," she said. "The hypocrisies of the industry were forcing her to act one way. She tells people that I fought for her, and I fought to protect her gift because it's rare. She's a fearless, transparent entertainer... we're colorful, we're dramatic, we were born this way." But as time went on, and Gibson pursued her own projects, like the Ryan Seacrest-produced E! series The Dance Scene, friction began to trickle into their working relationship. A hint of it came during the filming of Gaga's "Judas" video, whose strong religious overtones made Gibson somewhat uneasy. She described the conceptual debate as such: "At one point, there was two completely different views and after the third glass of wine, I was like, 'Listen, I don't want lightning to strike me. I believe in the Gospel and I'm not going there.'" Gibson added that she would have walked away from filming without a conceptual compromise. PHOTOS: Lady Gaga's Fashion Forward Style A scrapped treatment for the "Edge of Glory" video also apparently involved Gibson, who brought up "an issue" with director Joseph Kahn's vision for the clip, which was scrapped in favor of a low-rent city fire escape visual. Gibson went on a Twitter tirade after fans questioned the production value of the video and what went down. Gibson tweeted to two such critics: "listen u disrespectful f**k they had an issue on set I don't lie!!!!!" and "creative Changes happen always educate ignorant Monster's!!!" According to a source, relations between Gibson and Gaga really began to unravel this summer around the filming of yet another video, "Yoü and I."More recently, THR reported of a red carpet scuffle in September involving Gibsonat the Creative Arts Emmys, where she was nominated for directing Gaga's Monster Ball concert movie for HBO. Apparently, Gibson was taking her sweet time posing for photographers, so much so that she created gridlock and angered ID PR chief Kelly Bush, who was waiting with her client Paul Reubens. STORY:Lady Gaga Dominates at MTV Europe Music Awards, Picking Up Four Awards Richard Jackson, who was Gibson's No. 2, is now choreographing all of Gaga's performances, the pop star tweeted on Nov. 6. The two are currently in London, where Gaga just performed on U.K. X Factor. A rep for Gaga confirmed to THR that the two are no longer working together but declined to comment further. Gibson could not be reached for comment. Related Topics Lady Gaga

Nic Cages Stolen Superman Comic Poised to Break Auction Record

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Nicolas Cage's nearly-pristine copy of Action Comics no. 1 featuring the first appearance of Superman-stolen from his home in 2000 and just recovered in April in a storage locker-is poised to become the most expensive comic ever sold on the open market during an online auction now being conducted by comicconnect.com.our editor recommendsNicolas Cage's Biggest TroublesNicolas Cage Loses $9.5 Million on Rhode Island Mansion The auction started today and ends on Nov. 30th. After just a few hours bidding has already reached $900,000. The current record is $1.5 million for a less well-preserved copy of Action Comics no. 1 sold in March 2010. PHOTOS: Biggest Hollywood Splurges Few comics have as interesting or complicated a back story as Cage's copy of Action Comics no. 1. Certified Guaranty Company, the leading grader of the quality of collectible comics, recently assigned this copy a grade of 9.0, making it the best-preserved publicly-known copy of Superman's first appearance. Approximately 100 copies of Action Comics no. 1 remain in existence. Experts believe only about five others, all in private hands, are of comparable quality to this copy. Sotheby's sold this comic at auction in 1992 for a then-record $82,500. Cage bought it in 1997 for about $150,000. On January 21, 2000, Cage reported the comic stolen to the Los Angeles Police, along with high-grade copies of Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics no. 27 and Marvel Mystery no. 71. According to an accountComicconnect CEO StephenFishler posted on a collector's website, Cage had the books displayed in security frames mounted to the wall. The exact moment of the theft is unknown but the comics had possibly been missing for a week when Cage discovered the frames were empty. The Marvel Mystery resurfaced a few months later but the other two comics remained lost. In April 2011, Cage's copy of Action Comics no. 1 was recovered in a San Fernando Valley storage locker. The man who found the comic had bought the contents of an abandoned locker. Cage's publicist released a statement from the actor at the time calling the recovery of the comic "divine providence" and expressing hope "that the heirloom will be returned to my family." Cage had received an insurance payment for the comic but at the time expressed interest in reaching a settlement to regain ownership of the book. Fishler would not confirm this is the Action Comics stolen from Cage but theprovenanceof the comic--from its sale in the early 1990s to its theft in 2000-matches the history of the Cage comic. Comicconnect is selling it for the current owner, which is still believed to be Cage.Representatives for Cage have not yet responded to a request from The Hollywood Reporterfor comment.See a copy of the fabled Cage Action Comics no. 1 below. Nicolas Cage