Dominican Republic bows film commission

The Dominican Republic has launched a film commission, tapping Ellis Perez as director general of cinematography.Move is aimed at spurring growth in film and TV production -- a potential $375 million industry with the possibility of providing jobs for some 24,000 local talent and crew.The film commission's efforts will be buttressed by the introduction of a tax credit of up to 25% for feature films and TV skeins shot in the Dominican Republic.While not as generous as Puerto Rico's 40% tax credit, the Dominican Republic will become more competitive once the Pinewood Indomina Studios kicks off operations in early 2012. Studio is a partnership between the U.K.'s Pinewood Studios and U.S.-Dominican Republic-based film and TV company the Indomina Group.Perez is expecting to sign co-production pacts with Canada and France in the near future.His appointment was announced Saturday in Hollywood at the inauguration of the Dominican Republic consular offices with Consul General Celeste Jimenez and Rafael Alburqueque, vice president of the Dominican Republic, in attendance. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Source: Bravo Will Delay Premiere of 'Real Housewives' in Wake of Armstrong Death

The cast and crew of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have been told that the Sept. 5 season premiere will be pushed least one week and possibly longer in the wake of the apparent suicide of Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of cast member Taylor Armstrong.our editor recommendsBravo Execs Waiting 24 Hours to Decide Fate of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'Bravo 'Deeply Saddened' by RHOBH Russell Armstrong's DeathIce-T Criticizes 'RHOBH' Russell Armstrong's Suicide, Slams 'Jersey Shore' STORY: 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Husband Commits Suicide A source close to the show tells The Hollywood Reporter that executives from Bravo and producer Evolution Entertainment met with cast members Tuesday in Los Angeles to discuss the fate of the show. Some close to the production are encouraging the network to scrap the season altogether, especially considering some of the Armstrong-related storylines. "People are concerned about being associated with the show and his passing," a source tells THR. But while re-editing of episodes is likely, the source says Bravo does not currently plan to cancel the season entirely. According to the source, the executives did say that the premiere date will be delayed beyond Sept 5. A Bravo spokesperson says that no decision on the premiere has been made. She declines to elaborate further. STORY: 'RHOBH' Taylor Armstrong: Russell's Suicide is 'Tragic' It's unclear how heavily Russell Armstrong was to be featured in season two of the hit reality series. He does not appear in the premiere episode sent to television critics, but Taylor Armstrong is seen agonizing over attending marriage counseling with Russell and is shown shopping for lingerie to help heat up their sex life. Taylor Armstrong confirmed last July that she had filed for divorce. It has become increasingly clear that Russell Armstrong was unhappy with his portrayal on the show. Reports have surfaced that production was briefly suspended earlier this summer after he threatened to sue cast members who disparaged him on camera. Taylor Armstrong said that he verbally and physically abused her, and while reality show contracts generally grant tremendous leeway vis-a-vis defamation, the specter of legal action may have been enough to put a chilling effect on other characters' interaction with Taylor Armstrong. STORY: 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills': Bravo Family Reacts to Russell Armstrong's Death A member of Armstrong's family said they are considering filing a lawsuit against the network. "Bravo is at fault and somebody needs to pay," Russell's step-brother Wade Jackson told the website RadarOnline. "Russell's whole family was very close and they're considering suing Bravo." Meanwhile, Russell Armstrong's own statements about the strain the show put on his marriage are being given new weight now. In an interview in July with People magazine, Taylor Armstrong revealed that her estranged husband was verbally and physically abusive. And Russell Armstrong complained that the show had put additional stress on their marriage. "Did I push her? Yes, maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time in our lives that was not characteristic of who we were," he said. "This show has literally pushed us to the limit." Related Topics

Rep: Jennifer Aniston Not Appearing On Days Of Lives

FIRST PUBLISHED: August 15, 2011 5:35 PM EDTLAST UPDATED: August 15, 2011 7:28 PM EDT LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Jennifer Aniston will not be bewitching Salem any time soon. Despite a report from Britains Sunday Express newspaper, claiming that the actress will be appearing on NBCs Days of Lives which her father has starred on for 24 years Jens rep told Access Hollywood the former Friend wont be heading to daytime. There is no truth at all, Jens rep told Access about the rumor shes set to appear on her fathers long-running NBC daytime series. The report claimed that Jen was being brought on to help jump start ratings for the show. The paper claimed she was slated to play a wedding planner who was going to help her fathers character marry Maggie Horton, played by Suzanne Rogers. Jon, 74, has appeared in almost 1200 episodes during his run on Days, playing Greek mobster Victor Kiriakis. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Strong Storm Collapses Indiana Stage, Killing Four

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- A stage collapsed during a powerful storm at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, sending steel scaffolding into the terrified crowd and killing at least four people awaiting a performance by the country band Sugarland. The collapse came moments after an announcer warned of the advancing storm and gave instructions on what to do in event of an evacuation. Witnesses said a wall of dirt, dust and rain blew up quickly like a dust bowl and a burst of high wind toppled the rigging. People ran, screaming and shouting, desperate to get out of the way. Afterward, hundreds of concert-goers rushed amid the chaos to tend to the injured, many trying to lift heavy beams, lights and other equipment that blew onto the crowd. Witnesses said many of the injured were in the VIP section closest to the stage, known as the Sugar Pit. Emergency crews set up a triage center in a tunnel below the grandstand at the Indianapolis fairgrounds. About 40 people were injured,WTHR reported. But Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said that number could rise because some people may have taken themselves to hospitals. He also said the injuries ranged from cuts and scrapes to very serious injuries, and it was a very likely possibility that the death toll could mount. At least 18 people were taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital with problems ranging from head injuries and bone fractures to lacerations and other cuts and bruises, hospital spokesman Todd Harper said. He said those injuries were not life-threatening and conditions ranged from fair to critical. One person treated there was a 7-year-old child, he said, but didnt elaborate further. Fair officials canceled all activities Sunday. The fair, which runs through Aug. 21, was expected to resume Monday with a service honoring the victims, Bursten said. The Iowa State Fair announced Sugarland and opening act Sara Bareilles had canceled their Sunday show there. Emergency personnel and fair officials had been monitoring the weather and preparations were being made to evacuate the facility because a severe storm was expected in the area around 9:15 p.m., Bursten said. But the storm hit just before 9 p.m., and a significant gust of wind struck the stage rigging that holds lights and other equipment before the evacuation plan was activated, he said. As we all know, weather can change in a very rapid period of time, he said. Concert-goers said Bareilles had finished performing and the crowd was waiting for Sugarland to take the stage. They said an announcer alerted them that severe weather was possible and gave instructions on what to do if an evacuation was necessary. But the same announcer said concert organizers hoped the show would go on, and many fans stayed put. The wind that toppled the rigging came just minutes after that announcement, fans said. It was like it was in slow motion, concert-goer Amy Weathers told the Indianapolis Star. You couldnt believe it was actually happening. Associated Press photographer Darron Cummings was in the audience shortly before the collapse. He said he and his companions sought shelter in a nearby barn after seeing dark clouds approaching. Then we heard screams. We heard people just come running, Cummings told the AP. When you see dark clouds like that, if theres going to be bad weather, theres going to be mass chaos on leaving. Witnesses told WTHR that dirt, dust, rain and wind came up the main thoroughfare of the fairgrounds just before the collapse. Panic kicked in when they seen the dust bowl coming in from the Midway, concert-goer Darryl Cox told the television station. Another person at the concert, Emily Davis, told the station there was lightning and the sky got dark but it wasnt raining when the wind suddenly toppled the rigging. It was horrible, people were running and going crazy, she said. Jessica Alsman told the AP the towering, metal stage scaffolding kind of wobbled at first. Then pandemonium set in as it fell. As soon as we saw the wind gust, the wind was in our faces, Alsman said. She and three friends grabbed each other and formed a chain. You cant imagine we just thought it was going to rain or something, Alsman said. Sugarland tweeted about the incident about an hour after it happened. We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope youll join us. They need your strength, the band said. Indianas position in the Midwest has long made it prone to volatile changes in weather. In April 2006, tornado-force winds hit Indianapolis just after thousands of people left a free outdoor concert by John Mellencamp held as part of the NCAA mens Final Four basketball tournament. And in May 2004, a tornado touched down south of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, delaying the start of the Indianapolis 500 and forcing a nearly two-hour interruption in the race. Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Early Edition: Justin Lin Exits 'Highlander,' Penguins Get a Helmer, Scott Glenn Gets More Work

Justin Lin is so hot right now, coming off the success of 'Fast Five,' that he's turning down projects. Case in point: The director -- who's lining up another edition of the fast car franchise and possibly a new Terminator movie -- had to take his name off the Summit Entertainment remake of 1986's 'Highlander.' The reason: Summit is anxious to get the ball rolling on a new franchise now that 'Twilight' is fading out, and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Lin's timetable didn't sync up with Summit's desire to move sooner rather than later on the film, which already has a script ready to go. So Summit is out there looking for a new director. Any thoughts? Those pesky 'Madagascar' penguins are back -- with a movie all their own. Back in March, DreamWorks announced that they were going to develop a spin-off for the quartet, hiring Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, the scribes behind 'Megamind,' to write the script focusing on the paramilitary parables of plucky penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Now the studio has announced that Simon Smith, who co-directed DreamWorks' 'Bee Movie,' has been tapped to direct the untitled film. The penguins already have made it to TV, where 'The Penguins of Madagascar' CGI series finished 2010 as the second most-watched animated show on Nickelodeon behind 'SpongeBob SquarePants' among ages 2-11. 'Madagascar 3' is scheduled for a June 8, 2012 release. Scott Glenn is one of those evergreen actors who never wants for work, spreading his screen time between mainstream and indie films and TV. Lately he's graced such big-screen projects as 'The Bourne Ultimatum,' 'W,' 'Secretariat' and 'Sucker Punch,' and now he's joined the cast of Lee Daniels' high-profile drama 'The Paperboy,' starring Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack and Nicole Kidman, as well as returning as CIA director Ezra Kramer in Universal's 'The Bourne Legacy.' In 'The Paperboy,' a reporter (McConaughey) returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate; Glenn will play W.W. James, who runs the local newspaper. Glenn is the latest returning 'Bourne' cast member: Joan Allen and Albert Finney are set to return for the fourth installment in the series, which stars Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz, Oscar Isaac and Stacy Keach. [Variety]

Crime Drama From Shawn Ryan And Simon Mirren Lands Put Pilot Commitment At CBS

In their first development season at Sony Pictures TV, showrunners Shawn Ryan and Simon Mirren have teamed for a crime drama. The untitled project has sold to CBS, where Mirren recently served as co-showrunner on Criminal Minds, with a put pilot commitment. The drama, which Mirren will write, does evoke Criminal Minds as well as Showtime's drama Dexter. It is a procedural about a genetic scientist who uses his newfound discovery that he himself has the psychopath gene to help the FBI catch killers. The show, which Ryan and Mirren are executive producing, is inspired by the true story of UC Irvine Professor James Fallon, a brilliant but genetically flawed scientist who, while helping to unlock the mysteries of the genome code, discovered that he himself was a psychopath linked to a long line of serial killers, including axe murderer Lizzie Borden. The deal extends the trend this development season for the big put pilot commitment to go to A-list producers, including Ryan, Jerry Bruckheimer (the Aron Eli Coleite mom-turned NY State Trouper drama at CBS), Dick Wolf (the Michael Brandt/Derek Haas firefighter drama at NBC) and Greg Berlanti (Marc Guggenheim's legal drama at Fox). Mirren joined Criminal Minds after the pilot, rising to executive producer/co-showrunner before leaving the series last spring to sign an overall deal with Sony. Ryan also has a history with CBS. He cut his teeth as a writer-producer on Nash Bridges and then executive produced and ran the network's military drama The Unit. The Shield creator Ryan, repped by WME and the Shuman Co., moved to Sony in June after more than a decade at Fox. WME-repped Mirren also is executive producing the Cinemax series The Sector.

'Death Of A Salesman' Coming To Broadway With 'Spider-Man's Andrew Garfield In Stellar Cast

EXCLUSIVE: Next spring, there will be two Spider-Mans on Broadway. When Mike Nichols directs Arthur Miller's Pulitzer Prize-winning play revival of Death of a Salesman, The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield will be making his Broadway debut. Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman will play the traveling salesman Willy Loman; Linda Emond will play his wife, Linda; and Garfield will play Loman's underachieving son, Biff. Scott Rudin will produce the revival, which will open next March at the Barrymore Theatre. The other stage Spidey, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, you know all about. The original play opened in 1949 with Lee J. Cobb in the role of Loman, and subsequent revivals featured Dustin Hoffman and Brian Dennehy. Hoffman had been expected to take the Loman role, but the surprise is Garfield. He worked with Rudin in the David Fincher-directed The Social Network, before emerging in a wide search with the role of young Peter Parker in the 3D reboot The Amazing Spider-Man, which is being directed by Marc Webb. Garfield started his career in the theater in the UK. His stage credits there include The Laramie Project and Romeo & Juliet. This becomes the latest case in which Rudin has brought in Hollywood talent to create event theater. Those efforts range from the Tony-winning The Book of Mormon with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and the Tony-winning revival of August Wilson's Fences, which starred Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.