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Grant and Hurley win holiday-snaps pay-out

Hugh Grant and his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley have won £58, 000 (€73, 000) in damages for invasion of privacy, after they were photographed on holiday in a private resort in the Maldives.

 

Hierro backs Spanish successors

Hierro backs Spanish successors

RFEF sporting director and Spain legend Fernando Hierro will be cheering Spain on in tonight's U17 final and paid tribute to the team and coach Juan Santisteban.

 

Retail sales down in March

The volume of retail sales excluding price effects decreased by 2.1% in March compared to the same month last year, the Central Statistics Office said today.

 

FTSE buoyant

London trading enjoyed a buoyant end to the week today after investors were cheered by better-than-expected results from British Airways.

 

ISEQ up 69 points in morning trade

The ISEQ index of Irish shares is up 69.40 points, or 1.08%, this morning and now trading at 6, 493.57 points.

 

Captains cannot wait to get going

Captains cannot wait to get going

France captain Gueida Fofana and his Spain counterpart Canales meet for the second time in Antalya in Friday's final and the midfielders cannot wait to get going.

 

Posh: 'I'm a terrible actress'

Victoria Beckham has laughed off reports she is harbouring ambitions to become a Hollywood movie star - by insisting she can't act.

 

Beyonce to become Desperate Housewife?

Beyonce Knowles is reportedly in talks to join the cast of TV hit 'Desperate Housewives'.

 

Barton moves to Paris

Mischa Barton has escaped the temptations of Hollywood following her 2007 arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) - by moving to Paris, France.

 

Berry denies engagement rumours

Halle Berry has denied rumours she is secretly engaged to long-term boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

 

Bright start for Westwood

Lee Westwood made a bright start today to his bid first to stay alive and then maybe to get back into contention for the Irish Open at Adare Manor.

 

Lowry to defend Close title

Defending champion Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) will contest the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at Belvoir Park Golf Club from June 7-11.

 

Turkey tournament 'fabulous'

Turkey tournament 'fabulous'

The U17 finals in Turkey have been a "fabulous tournament" according to Jim Boyce.

 

Late fitness test for Rovers' Boco

Sligo Rovers will be looking to get back to winning ways as they take on on-form side Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night, kick-off 8pm.

 

Britney and Gibson on holiday together

Britney Spears and Mel Gibson are off on holiday together!

 

Ladbrokes reveals Champions League boost

English clubs' dominance of the Uefa Champions League today helped bookmaker Ladbrokes to post better-than-expected trading figures.

 

Oaks target for Mint

Cheshire Oaks runner-up Sugar Mint has earned herself a shot at Epsom, where she will have a little extra help.

 

Ronaldo hints at possible United move

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted he will consider his Manchester United future after the Champions League final and would be tempted by a move to Real Madrid.

 

Hegarty back for Harps

Finn Harps welcome Shamrock Rovers to Finn Park in tonight’s eircom League of Ireland Premier Division clash, kick-off 8.00pm.

 

All to play for in UCD-United clash

A real six-pointer takes place at The UCD Bowl tonight as UCD take on bottom side Galway United, kick-off 7.45pm.

 

Mel takes Britney on holiday

HOLLYWOOD star Mel Gibson is taking Britney Spears on holiday to his $31.3 million ranch in a remote region of Costa Rica.

 

Doolin confident of Drogs' chances

Champions Drogheda United will be hoping to rein in table-toppers St Patrick's Athletic at United Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

 

Studios, AFTRA continue negotiations

Business News: SAG talks to resume soon -- With the resumption of SAG negotiations looming, the American Federation of Television & Radio Arists and the majors have continued to move forward toward a primetime deal.

 

'GTA IV' on Xbox outsells PS3

Business News: Game has no overall effect on console sales -- "Grand Theft Auto IV" was huge, but it didn't have the ripple effect that the vidgame biz was hoping for.

 

After Pellicano, Christensen up next

Business News: Trial to begin July 15 -- With the win against Pellicano and his co-defendants under their belts, the government will roll into its trial against entertainment lawyer Terry Christensen, as well as further wiretapping charges against Pellicano, on July 15. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer will preside, as she did at the first trial.

 

Spain, Greece face epidemic of piracy

Business News: Int'l Antipiracy Caucus updated annual list -- For the first time, Spain and Greece join usual suspects Russia, China, Canada and Mexico on a congressional list of countries with the highest levels of piracy.

 

Outsiders run into Chinese regulations

Film News: Movie co-productions can be difficult to navigate -- Somewhere along the line, there has been a huge breakdown in communications concerning China's approach to filmmaking and relations with the rest of the world. Either that or there is a yawning contradiction at the heart of Chinese policy concerning movie co-productions.
International movie company interest in China can scarcely ever have been greater than it is today. Western companies now eye the impressive B.O. totals achieved by top films in China -- China/Hong Kong pic "The Warlords" took $28 million, "Transformers" took $36.4 million -- and want a piece of it. International sales companies report that a new generation of specialty Chinese distribs is also actively seeking rights to foreign arthouse titles.
But producers, buyers and sellers all understand China remains a market with strict import quotas (20 revenue-sharing films per annum and another 40 can enter on a flat-fee basis) and that several times a year Chinese authorities operate "blackout periods, " when Hollywood films cannot be released. And the government recently republished its code on film eexamination (see box).
Restrictions even apply to companies from Hong Kong (which has a separate legal system from China's), and in the field of production they only have limited privileges compared with other foreign players.
A solution that has been offered time and again is for foreign companies to co-produce with China. A film that qualifies as local is exempt from blackouts, earns better rentals and has access to the media for local promotion.
HK producers have been quick to spot that the China market is now mushrooming thanks to multiplex building, and they have become adept at setting up pics as Mandarin-language, HK-mainland co-productions.
"Everyone wants to get into co-production these days. We can't build a base in China on two or three imports a year, " says a China-based exec of one Hollywood major. "What's more, a good Chinese action film has a market in Europe and the U.S., something that is not true of a co-produced Bollywood movie."
However, recent months have seen howls of outrage and disappointment from Chinese, Hong Kong and foreign producers alike as the co-production system appears to have ground to a dead halt.
"Nothing has been approved in the last two months, " says one Hong Kong-based exec. "The Film Bureau's hands are tied, and the safest way for them not to get out of line is to do nothing. We don't see this changing until after the Olympics at the earliest, and even then the process will be very, very cautious."
Says another source: "There is going to be a huge gap in local movies. That may not show up this year, but it will definitely hit the B.O. in 2009."
Reasons for the slowdown appear to be a backlash against films that may have flirted too much with the rules on content -- drugs, sex, organized crime and politics are all taboo -- and others that have traveled to festivals or presented different versions in China and abroad.
All that combined with hypersensitivity to China's image at a time when the country is hosting the Olympic Games means "there won't be another 'Lust, Caution' for another five years, " according to one producer.
Most visible example came in January and February, when Michael Hafstrom's "Shanghai, " which touches on sex, drugs and 1940s collaboration with Japan, was told it would not receive a shooting permit. Producers walked away from $3 million sets that had already been built. "Lust" star Tang Wei and "Lost in Beijing" producer Fang Li and helmer Li Yu were all banned from working.
Optimists point to Stephen Chow's sci-fi fantasy "CJ7" and China-set horror pic "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" as examples of new genres being approved.
In March, the Film Bureau took the unusual step of republishing its code on film examination, which producers say is now being interpreted more narrowly than before. "We are not even sure we can show people smoking in our movie, " one Hong Kong producer says.
Tong Gang, director of the Film Bureau, tells Variety that rumors of 50 co-productions being suspended pending re-examination was a "misunderstanding."
"We have an examination process. But we don't have a real re-examination process. After any modifications we've asked for, we just have a check. We don't ask the examination board to re-examine, " he says.
Tong, who says negotiations over "Shanghai" were ongoing, adds there were many misunderstandings coming from the Hong Kong biz.
One thing that is clear is that many companies are not only hoping the disconnect will fast be rectified, they are counting on it.
Only last month, China Film Group announced a co-production finance package and plans to open a Los Angeles branch office with Nasdaq-listed Xinhua Finance Media.
And heavyweight players Polybona and Chengtian recently toured Los Angeles with the message that they are very much open for business.

CHINA'S FILM EXAMINATION CODE
Article 24
The national film examination system: The films without the approval by film examination department of broadcasting, film and television administration department of the State Council cannot be distributed, showed, imported and exported.
Article 25
Films are prohibited to contain the following content:
(1) Opposing the basic principles of the constitution;
(2) Endangering national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity;
(3) Leaking state secrets, endangering national security or harming the national honor and interests;
(4) Inciting national hatred or ethnic discrimination, sabotaging national unity or harming national customs and habits;
(5) Promoting evil religions, superstition;
(6) Disturbing social order, or undermining social stability;
(7) Promoting obscenity, gambling, violence or abetting the commission of crimes;
(8) Insults or slander others, against other people's legitimate rights and interests;
(9) Against public morality or the nation's outstanding cultural traditions;
(10) Other contents prohibited by legal, administrative regulations, and state regulations.

 

Toback toe-to-toe with Tyson's tale

Film News: Documentary screening in Un Certain Regard -- The time was right. Filmmaker James Toback had been close with Mike Tyson ever since the fighter broke into boxing, even before he became a star in the ring at age 18.

 

Star will air Weinstein films in Asia

Film News: Deal includes '1408, ' 'Sicko, ' 'Crossing Over' -- The Weinstein Co. has inked a five-year output deal with pan-Asian feevee Star for the company's films to be shown on Star Movies.

 

Lionsgate to play 'Perfect Game'

Film News: Sports film stars Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Marin -- Lionsgate Films has scored worldwide rights excluding Mexico to "The Perfect Game." Pic is based on the true story of a ragtag team of tykes from Mexico that was the first non-American team to win the Little League World Series in 1957.

 
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