AP - Actress Jennifer Garner has been honored as the 2007 West Virginian of the Year by her hometown newspaper.

More: continued here

Reuters - Hit movies starring Nicolas Cage and the Chipmunks led a strong slate of diverse crowd pleasers at the North American box office on Sunday.

More: continued here

AP - Fortune-seeker Nicolas Cage, lonely guy Will Smith and a pack of talking chipmunks ended Hollywood’s year on a happy note. Cage’s “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” was the No. 1 movie for a second weekend with $35.6 million, followed by “Alvin and the Chipmunks” with $30 million and Smith’s “I Am Legend” with $27.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

More: continued here

Behind every successful television program, whether it is a TV series or a TV movie or a TV show, there are always great minds that work for television production. A “creator”, is someone who fabricates new concepts for television; this includes the idea, the characters, normally several crews, and at times a number of “big name” actors. They present it to different television networks, with the hope of finding one who’ll be interested.

After these creators “pitch” there ideas to networks, and a network is interested, this network orders a “pilot”, which is a sample of the episode, movie, or show. Creating the pilot requires the arrangement and team of the entire concept to be put together. If the pilot succeeds with the network, the network then “picks up” the show for a next season show. At times, a television production can be reserved for a “mid-season”, or is requested for re-writes and more reviews; this stage is more commonly known in television production as “Development Hell”. Other times, the network will completely pass on the pilot, leaving the creator of the show forced to show it top other networks. A lot of shows however, never even make it past a pilot stage.

If a show is chosen, then there is an order for a “run” of episodes. Generally, only thirteen episodes will initially be ordered, although a typical series will last for a minimum of twenty-two episodes. The show employs a “stable” of writers, who normally works in parallel, where the first writer concentrates on the first episode, then the second writer for the second episode, and so on. After all the writers are utilized, the task of episodes carries on again with the first writer. On the other hand, other shows have writers working as a team. At times, they develop individual story ideas, and present them to the creator of the show, who puts them together into script and redrafts them.

The television production’s executive producer, who is often the creator of the show, is in control of the show; they select the cast and crew, grants and frequently write plots for the series, and at times write and direct main episodes. An entire host of additional producers of different names works under them, making sure that the show always runs smoothly. The director on the other hand, takes charge of turning the script into a movie, deciding how scenes should be played and placement of cameras. Finally, the film’s various pieces is put together, added musical score, and assembled for a completed show by the editor. After everything has been done, the film is turned over to the network, where it is aired on a specific timeslot.

Television production is not an easy undertaking; it needs the great ideas and hard work of creators, as well as the staff that comprises it. However, one successful television production can be gratifying both personally and financially to its producers.
Discover the latest project going on at MorganFilms.
Visit them at http://MorganFilms.net

AP - It’s never happened in all the time we’ve been doing this: Associated Press reviewers David Germain and Christy Lemire agree on the year’s best film. Here’s how the rest shake out.

More: continued here

One of the leading international cinematic carnivals, the Sydney Film Festival was long established in 1954 that has a now become a key winter event in the city. It does not only premiere movies that originate in Australia but also that come from different corners of the globe.

Presenting a sophisticated line of more than 200 movies, guests of the Sydney Film Festival will always be treated in red carpet welcome be it in an awards night where actors and actresses flaunt their designer gowns. There is also the masterclasses that is a fully- loaded 16- day celebration that is watched by more than 133, 000 individuals every year.

The Sydney Film Festival revels in the finest motion pictures that every region has to offer. It consists of flicks, animations, features, documentaries and retrospectives where there are also a series of forums and lectures given by both local and international professionals in the industry including critics and academics. They also manage the highly- recognized Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, Urban Cinefile Audience Awards and International Federation of International Critics’ Prize for Documentary.

Two years after its conception, the Sydney Film Festival has always been held at the State Theatre. It was built in 1929 where it is considered by many as a place in the heart of the metropolis. It has also been acknowledged as one of the spectacular venues for such kind of events in the whole world. The Dendy Opera Quays is screened at the cinema complex located at Sydney Harbour, as well as in George Street Cinema.

Program strand for the season of 2006 includes A Band of Outsiders: The Cinematic Underworld of Jean- Pierre Melville, Australian Made, Celluloid Soccer, Closing Night, Contemporary World Cinema, Danish Spotlight, Digital Media Strand, Gala Events, Hong Kong Express, Hot Spot, Indie Screen, Latin Horizons, Opening Night, Red Hot Docs, Shifting Sands- The Changing Face of the Middle East and North America, Special Events, Visionaries and World in Focus.

Events planned are A Snapshot of 60 Years of Documentary, Australian Shortcuts, Bob Connolly Career Talk, Closing Night- Thank You For Not Smoking, Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, Ensemble Offspring- Surreal Interlude, Gala Screening of Girl Shy, God on my Side, Perhaps Love, Solo, The Bet, Unfolding Florence, Guy and Marks Excellent Digital Adventure, Hyperdistribution Pod or Webcast Masterclass, Indie Screen Director Dialogues, Opening Night- Ten Canoes, Rats in the Ranks 10th Anniversary- Where are they now?, Soundfirm Presents: Kung Fu Hustle and Trick of the Byte- Digital Visual Effects Triple Bill.

This huge affair is also very interactive as there are forums and lectures available. It is free and open to anybody who is interested as there are experts in the motion picture industry that discuss issues that are being argues within their career world. It is schedule on weekdays in the World Movies Festival Lounge at the State Theatre.

Discover the latest project going on at MorganFilms.
Visit them at http://MorganFilms.net

AP - SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — Sean Penn may soon be a single man walking. Robin Wright Penn has filed for divorce from the actor and director, according to media reports.

More: continued here

AP - Sean Penn may soon be a single man walking. Robin Wright Penn has filed for divorce from the actor and director, according to media reports.

More: continued here

Reuters - Having nicely established her big-screen credibility with the summer hit “Knocked Up,” Katherine Heigl tries a little further “Grey’s Anatomy” moonlighting on for size with “27 Dresses.”

More: continued here

AP - In a career that has included drunk pirates and a scissor-handed recluse, Johnny Depp says the strangest scene he’s ever filmed is a simple flashback in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

More: continued here