Britney Spears' Sons Sean, Jayden Make Music Video Debut in "Ooh La La"

Britney Spears' latest music video is a family affair. "Ooh La La" premiered on Thursday, July 11, and features the pop star's sons Sean, 7, and Jayden, 6 -- plus niece Maddie, 5 -- watching The Smurfs 2 in a movie theater. The track serves as the first single from the film's soundtrack.

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In the video, Spears suddenly disappears in a flash of blue light and then appears in the movie. Her boys become excited, smiling and pointing at the big screen. "Cool," they say in unison. Jayden then adds, "Hi, Mom!"

During a June 17 KIIS-FM radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, Spears said her boys "were really, really good on set." Her sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline "were, like, acting, and my oldest son, [Sean] was right on cue every time they would tell him to do something," she added. "Later on, I got to see what they actually did on camera and it was adorable."

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Spears also revealed that her kids are "obsessed" with the cartoon characters: "We've seen The Smurfs movie a million trillion times."

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At the time, the multiplatinum pop star didn't reveal that her sister Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter would also be making a cameo in the video.

Saudi Arabian Director Haifaa Al-Mansour to Head Venice Jury For Debut Films

ROME – Haifaa Al-Mansour, the first female film director of international note to emerge from Saudi Arabia, will head the jury that will award the Luigi De Laurentiis prize, given to the best debut film at the Venice Film Festival.

Al-Mansour’s own debut film Wadjda -- which tells the tale of a young girl efforts to earn money to buy a green bicycle she has her eye on -- won three secondary prizes in Venice last year before going on to earn accolades elsewhere on the international film festival circuit.

The Luigi De Laurentiis jury, made up of seven industry figures, will award a prize to a debut film screening in the festival’s main international competition or one of the competitive sidebars. In addition to the recognition from the award, the prize includes a $100,000 cash prize, spit between the director and the producer. Rules do not permit split awards.

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The prize is named for famed Italian film producer Luigi De Laurentiis, who died in 1992.

Küf (Mold), a drama from director Ali Aydin about the struggles of a widow soon-to-be pensioner that screened in Venice’s Critic’s Week sidebar, won the Luigi De Laurentiis honor a year ago.

The 70th edition of the Venice event -- the world's oldest film festival -- takes place Aug. 28-Sept. 7.

Twitter: @sajilpl

'Shark Tank's' Barbara Corcoran 'Nervous' About 'Drop Dead Diva' Acting Debut

April Bowlby, left, and Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran is a pro at doling out business advice on ABC's Shark Tank, but when it came to playing a fictionalized version of herself on Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva, the real estate mogul found the job a little intimidating.

Her story line in Sunday's episode finds her giving advice to Stacy (April Bowlby) about her business, The Pakery.

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"This was my first acting experience, and based on the job I did, I think it will be the last," Corcoran quipped in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "I was nervous, flubbing my lines, doing them again and again and again. I can't imagine looking good, really." (While the charmingly self-deprecating businesswoman remains humble about her acting skills, she can rest assured that she has nothing to be embarrassed about.)

Ahead of her episode premiere, Corcoran talked to THR about why she signed on for the role, her love for the show and why she's sticking with unscripted TV from now on.

The Hollywood Reporter: How did this guest-starring role come about?

Barbara Corcoran: I am a fan of the show, but then who isn't? I got a call out of the blue, asking if I would consider a guest spot. It also happens to be the favorite show of three of the most loved people in my life -- two nieces and also my stepdaughter -- so I had to say yes.

THR: Are they excited to see your show?

Corcoran: I haven't told them. I'm going to call them the morning of; they're all busy and I want to make sure they see it. I'm going to surprise them, and we're going to watch it together.

STORY: 'Drop Dead Diva's' Lex Medlin on Owen's Feelings for Jane, Nearly Playing a Woman and What's Next

THR: Was it less intimidating since you were playing yourself?

Corcoran: Remember, I wasn't really playing myself. I was playing myself as a shrewd operator, as a shark; it was half real and half not real. It felt like acting because I had a script. What's great about reality TV is you say something only once, and you say whatever you want. But I realized when I got this gig, with scripted TV, I must have said every line 30 times -- different angles, different intonations, different camera people -- again and again and again. I'm never going to see a scripted show anymore without thinking that the actors are being underpaid. It's hard work. Reality TV is so much easier.

THR: Was the cast helpful in preparing you?

Corcoran: The minute I stepped onto the lot, everybody was acting as if they were waiting for me. They were so warm and welcoming. I got lucky because they all happen to be Shark Tank fans. After being on the set, I'm the biggest fan of Stacy because [Bowlby] was so terrific on the set. She's a real pro. I was awestruck at how good she was. It was the first time in my life I wasn't jealous of someone who looked as good as she looks. [Laughs.] That speaks a lot to her spirit. She was enormously generous in helping me out.

THR: Will you be pursuing any more acting jobs?

Corcoran: Let me tell you, I can't imagine anyone inviting me. We'll see, but I think reality TV is for me.

STORY: 'Drop Dead Diva' EP on Budget Cuts, Cast Changes and What's Ahead in Season 5

THR: You've already started filming the next season of Shark Tank. Anything you can reveal?

Corcoran: We have two new sharks, as you know [Steve Tisch, chairman and executive vp of the New York Giants and partner at Escape Artists Productions, and John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and the Patron Spirits Co.]. There are a couple of other surprises, but I've been forewarned not to spill the beans.

Drop Dead Diva, from Sony Pictures Television, airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on Lifetime. Watch a preview of Sunday's episode below.

Halle Berry's 'The Call' Makes Strong Debut on Home Entertainment Charts

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment nabbed two of the three No. 1 home video chart positions the week ending June 30 with The Call, a crime thriller starring Halle Berry as a 911 dispatcher rattled by a bad call who seeks redemption in trying to save the life of a kidnapped teenage girl.

The film earned $51.9 million in U.S. theaters and debuted at No. 1 on both the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart, which tracks overall discs sales, DVD and Blu-ray Disc combined, and Home Media Magazine’s rental chart.

But with DVD accounting for 74 percent of unit sales, it’s no surprise that The Call could only muster a No. 3 debut on Nielsen’s dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart, behind top-ranked Jack the Giant Slayer, from Warner Bros., and Oz the Great and Powerful, from Walt Disney. Both films occupied the same position on the Blu-ray Disc chart the previous week, when Jack debuted at No. 1 on both sales charts.

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On the latest First Alert chart, Jack slipped a notch to No. 2, bumping Oz the Great and Powerful to No. 3.

The No. 4 spot on First Alert (and the No. 5 spot on the Blu-ray Disc chart) went to Despicable Me, from Universal Studios, which rose from No. 12 the previous week based on soaring consumer interest in the Fourth of July weekend theatrical opening of Despicable Me 2.

Warner’s The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, about a comedy rivalry between old- and new-school Las Vegas magicians, debuted at No. 6 on First Alert and No. 4 on the Blu-ray Disc sales chart. The film was panned by critics and earned a meager $22.5 million in theaters despite starring roles by comic heavyweights Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi and Jim Carrey. The film’s video performance was undoubtedly helped by media coverage of the death of actor James Gandolfini, best known as television’s Tony Soprano, who plays a supporting role in the film.

The only other new release to make it into the top 10 on the overall disc sales chart was a Walmart exclusive called Illumination 7 Mini Movie Collection, a DVD-only collection of animated shorts based on three Universal Studios animated movies (Despicable Me, The Lorax and Hop) released to promote the theatrical release of Despicable Me 2.

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On Home Media Magazine’s video rental chart for the week, The Call was followed by a trio of third-weekers: Oz the Great and Powerful at No. 2, Lionsgate’s Snitch at No. 3, and Paramount’s Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters at No. 4.

The No. 5 spot went to the Universal Studios thriller Side Effects, which was No. 1 last week, when it came off its 28-day holdback from select rental outlets.

Exclusive: Homebrew closes debut fund

The Homebrew crew


FORTUNE -- Homebrew, a new venture capital firm founded by former Google and Twitter product managers, has quietly closed its debut fund with $35 million.

The San Francisco-based firm was launched earlier this year by Hunter Walk, who led product for Google's (GOOG) YouTube, and Satya Patel, a fellow ex-Googler who most recently was VP of product for Twitter.

Both also have past investing experience -- Walk as an active angel and Patel with Battery Ventures.

The Homebrew strategy is to create a concentrated portfolio of startups that "enable the people-based economy" for both consumers and enterprises. Half of the companies would be incubated by Homebrew, while the others would be seed-stage financings. None of Walk and Patel's personal angel investments will be rolled into the Homebrew portfolio.

Walk and Patel personally contributed around 2% of the fund capital, while the majority came from funds-of-funds.

Walk declined to comment on the fund close. So far, Homebrew does not have a website.

Box Office Report: 'Monsters U' Zooms to $82 Million Debut; 'World War Z' Nabs $66 Million

Affable monsters and hordes of zombies converged at the North American box office over the weekend to create a perfect storm for moviegoing.

Disney and Pixar's long-awaited sequel Monsters University opened to a sizzling $82 million, the No. 2 Pixar opening of all time after Toy Story 3 ($110 million). Overseas, Monsters U took in an early $54.5 million from 35 markets for a worldwide debut of $136.5 million.

Brad Pitt zombie pic World War Z, from Paramount, also overperformed in opening to $66 million, the top launch for an original live-action tentpole since Avatar. It also marks Pitt's largest opening domestically, easily outpacing the $50.3 million launch of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in summer 2005. Internationally, World War Z debuted to $45.8 million from its first 25 markets for a worldwide total of $111.8 million.

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World War Z's performance is a notable victory for Paramount, considering many in Hollywood left the film for dead after its release was pushed back from December 2012 in order to allow for numerous reshoots required to reshape the ending. Directed by Marc Forster and co-financed by Skydance Productions, World War Z was a passion project for Pitt, who produced the tentpole.

Domestic box office revenue for the weekend reached an estimated $236 million, the second best of the year after Memorial Day weekend and among the top 10 weekends of all time.

Heading into the frame, box office observers believed World War Z would end up in a closer battle with Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan's Man of Steel, with many giving Superman an edge over zombies.

As it turned out, Man of Steel fell more than expected domestically, even as it jumped the $200 million mark in North America and nearly $400 million worldwide. The movie grossed $41.2 million domestically, a 65 percent decline, pushing its domestic total to $210 million.

Overseas, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Man of Steel towered over the competition, grossing $89 million from 52 markets for an international cume of $188.3 million and global total of $398.3 million. Highlights included China, where the tentpole took in $25.5 million.

Coming in No. 4 in North America was Sony's innovative comedy This Is the End, which fell just 37 percent in its second weekend. The R-rated pic grossed $13 million for a domestic cume of $57.8 million.

Rounding out the top five was Summit's sleeper hit Now You See Me. The magician heist pic has enjoyed a great hold, grossing $7.9 million in its fourth weekend for a domestic total of $94.5 million.

The might of Monsters U, directed by Dan Scanlon, continues Pixar's winning streak at the box office and marks the 14th Pixar title to open to No. 1. The sequel returns Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Frank Oz in the roles of Mike Wazowski, James P. Sullivan, Randall Boggs, and Jeff Fungus, respectively.

"The consistency of the quality that comes from Pixar and John Lasseter and his team is extraordinary" "This movie had to live up to a very had to live up to a very high bar, and it did," said Disney executive vice president of distribution Dave Hollis, also noting that the animated tentpole did strong nighttime business in a sign that adults were turning out in addition to families.

One downer -- onlyl 31 percent of the revenues came from 3D screens.

Monsters U will have plenty of competition in the coming weeks as a record number of 3D summer toons open at the North American, but a glowing A CinemaScore should help fuel word of mouth.

Overseas, the 2013 summer animation war began over the weekend in Australia, where Monsters U debuted opposite University's Despicable Me 2 in advance of the winter holidays. Despicable 2 was the victor, grossing $4.3 million. Combined with previews, the toon has earned a total of $6.4 million. Monsters U took in $3.5 million.

STORY: 'Monsters,' 'Despicable Me 2,' 'Turbo': Summer's Brutal Animation War 

Paramount is hoping that World War Z -- following the lead of other successful original tentpoles -- enjoys a better-than-usual multiple. Avatar debuted to $77 million in December 2009 on its way to cuming $760.5 million domestically, or 10 times its opening number. And in summer 2010, Christopher Nolan's Inception grossed $292.6 million, nearly five times its $62 million debut.

"This was an original movie in a summer that's been full of sequels and remakes. I think it captured the public's imagination. Certainly, Brad gave a superb performance," said Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore.

Rated PG-13, World War Z earned a B+ CinemaScore.

World War Z, based on Max Brook's 2006 novel of the same name, was a sizeable gamble for the studio, costing $190 million to produce after tax incentives. The budget was originally $150 million, but the additional work -- shepherded by Pitt and Forster alongside Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman and his team -- bumped up the number.

In the film, Pitt plays a retired U.N. employee who must return to work and stop a worldwide pandemic that is turning humans into zombies. The Killing's Mireille Enos stars as his wife.

World War Z opened in 25 foreign markets this weekend, including the U.K., South Korea and Australia.

At the specialty box office, Sofia Copolla's The Bling Ring came in No. 11 as it made a major push in its second weekend, upping its theater count from five theaters to 650. The indie film, from A24 films, grossed $1.8 million from 650 theaters for a cume of $2.1 million.

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Chinese Coming-of-Age Drama ‘Tiny Times’ Eyeing Huge Local Debut

HONG KONG – Never mind its seemingly self-belittling title: Chinese coming-of-age drama Tiny Times is poised to become one of the biggest hits in the country this year, and its makers are going to extremes to make sure it opens with a bang. More than 600 simultaneously-held sneak previews will take place in China on Wednesday at 8pm local time in more than 60 cities across the country, before the film opens officially on Thursday. It’s slated to take up more than 40 percent of the total screenings in the country on its opening day – quite a feat in itself, given the presence of the recently-released Man of Steel and the Jet Li-starring Badges of Fury.

“For people in their 30s and 40s, it doesn’t really matter whether you get to see a film before everybody else -- they are usually more rational in how they spend their money,” said Guo Jingming, who has adapted his own novel from 2008 -- also titled Tiny Times -- for his directorial debut. “But young people are more impulsive -- they really, really need to see the film the moment it’s available. That’s why we are putting on these 600 shows.”

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Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in his Shanghai office, Guo said he is confident the shows will sell out. His self-assurance stems from the frantic support shown by his fanbase: more than a decade after his career as a writer took off, he counts 19.7 million followers on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, and all three volumes of his Tiny Times novels -- which revolve around four young university graduates’ rites of passage as they navigate lives as adults -- have been best-sellers in the country.

The world premiere of the film itself at the Shanghai International Film Festival last week was packed to the rafters with his adoring fans whom, as Guo himself said, were mostly young women in their late teens.

Zhang Zhao, CEO of the film’s distributors Le Vision Pictures, told THR the day after the screening that “too many fans were coming to the show from so many different cities. “We tried to keep the number down, but we couldn’t – it’s crazy,” he added, beaming.

Guo said Tiny Times allows his viewers to dream about the future. “For example, look at Lin Shao,” he said, referring to the film’s protagonist played by A-lister Mini Yang Mi. “She began the story as an ordinary university student, and then she had to face all these things like job interviews and then intimidating bosses in the workplace. But she manages to pull through and her life gets better and better -- she’s got a great career, great friends and a handsome boyfriend. This is every girl’s dream life.”

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And it’s a fantasy befitting a country careening in its turbo-charged way towards commodity-driven capitalism too. Boasting the production design of Huang Wei -- a former creative director of the Chinese edition of Vogue -- Tiny Times maintains a glitzy sheen which wouldn’t look out of place in any of China’s burgeoning array of lifestyle magazines. The fact that it’s set in a skyscraper-littered, mall-laden Shanghai adds to the allure of the whole enterprise -- especially for most of Guo’s readers, spread across the provincial cities of the vast country.

“I’ve always lived in Shanghai and I know this city well – and I’ve seen how it has developed and changed,” Guo said. “When people talked about Shanghai in the past, they would think of [novelist] Eileen Chang’s description of a city of the Bund and the international concessions before the war; later it would be Wang Anyi’s take of life in small halls in back alleys. What I want to deliver is an image of Shanghai here and now -- a modern city at the top of the world. I want to chronicle the city as it is now -- I want people to remember Shanghai as it is now.”

Guo said he’s very aware of how his emphasis in the individualistic pursuits for gratification casts the film apart from the nostalgia-tinged dramas from directors from previous generations. Tiny Times sells imaginings of lives yet to be lived.

“We are very different from people born in the 1960s or 70s -- they were people who dressed the same and ate the same food in the same cafeteria, living the same kind of life,” he said. “But for people born in the 1980s, or even more so for those from the 1990s, it’s about trying to be different from everybody else. Whereas doing that in the past would see you branded as an anomaly, these days it’s all about looking after myself -- saying, 'I want to enjoy life the way I like it.'”

STORY: China Box Office: 'Man of Steel' Flies High With $25.8 Million Weekend Haul

While Peter Chan’s American Dreams in China (about the lives of three cram school teachers in the 1980s and 90s) and Vicki Zhao’s So Young (a semi-autobiographical tale about university life in the 1990s) mined the nostalgia of Chinese viewers in their 30s and 40s to maximum box-office effect -- the two films grossed $87 million (535 million yuan) and $117 million (719.5 million yuan) respectively -- Tiny Times may well top them both, largely thanks to the demographical changes among Chinese cinema-goers today.

According to the latest statistics from the China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association, the average age of a moviegoer in the country has dropped from 25.7 in 2009 to 21.2 in 2012. While more mature viewers have now elected to stream movies on mobile or home platforms, a trip to the cinema has remained a bonding ritual for students -- and it’s hardly a surprise that they tend to prefer films drenched in optimism and bling.

Having presided over a few successful marketing campaigns during his two-year tenure at Le Vision Pictures -- including that of The Expendables 2, released in the same week as The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man last September -- Zhang Zhao has been pragmatic in his approach to Tiny Times. “We’re not marketing a film -- we’re shaping the market,” he said, referring to the brutally precise campaigns deployed to zero in on the film’s young clientele.

Zhang said most of the film’s marketing activities are online, and that his team “didn’t put up one single advertising billboard” across the country. Knowing their fanbase is mostly high school students, the company put most of their effort into pushing the film through threads in China’s burgeoning social media networks, which count about 94 million students among their users, according to a report about new media released by the Chinese Academy of Social Science on Tuesday.

Not that Guo and his stars have eschewed all fo the traditional ways of movie promotion, however. The director has been traveling across the country with his cast -- which, apart from the more well-known Yang, also include Taiwanese stars Ko Chen-tung (You Are the Apple of My Eye) and Amber Guo (Au Revoir Taipei) -- and their presence at the Shanghai festival last week was the pinnacle of their tour, with the director’s pedigree boosted at industry panels at the film market, and the stars getting loads of exposure at the opening and closing ceremonies of premier Chinese festival.

For his part, Guo Jingming said he had turned down the offer of adapting the film in 2010 when China Film Group bought the adaptation rights to his novel. “I didn’t feel I was ready then -- and also the Chinese film market wasn't as vibrant then as it is now. Today the environment is good and allows for the presence of new directors,” he said, referring to how first-timers like Zhao and Xu Zheng (Lost in Thailand) have flourished with their debuts.

The success of homegrown dramas also signals how Chinese audiences have reconsidered what they want in their cinemas, Guo added. “They are not just looking for effects-driven, epic-looking Hollywood blockbusters or simple romantic comedies,” he said.

“We need to find something new so that we can get them excited – and what’s been lacking are stories addressing how particular generations of people became who they are. So you have to have stories which can resonate with them, something they can call their own.”

With a sequel planned for release in December and two volumes of his Tiny Times novels yet to be adapted, Guo would certainly hope for an unyielding explosion of the obsession.

 

Box Office Preview: 'This Is the End' Eyeing $30 Million-Plus Debut

Looking to get a jump on Man of Steel, Sony's raunchy apocalypse comedy This Is the End rolls out in select theaters Tuesday night before opening everywhere in North America on Wednesday.

The ensemble film -- marking the directorial debut of Pineapple Express scribes Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg -- is hoping for a pleasing five-day debut in the low $30 million range, which would recoup the film's $32 million budget.

Starring Rogen, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera and Emma Watson, This is the End hopes to serve as counter programming  to Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Superman entry Man of Steel, which begins rolling out Thursday night in the U.S.

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In comedy, the actors -- all playing fictional versions of themselves -- meet at a star-studded party at Franco's house when the apocalypse begins and they're forced to work together to survive. The film is based on a short film created by Rogen and Baruchel in 2007 titled Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse. Rogen and Goldberg also co-wrote the scripts for Superbad, The Green Hornet and The Watch.

This is the End, which will play in more than 2,900 theaters, also features several other cameos during the early scenes at Franco's house party, including appearances by Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd and Kevin Hart.

In terms of sheer gross, the comedy will be eclipsed once the highly anticipated Man of Steel debuts. Zack Snyder's superhero action film, produced by Christopher Nolan, opens in 24 foreign markets, including in South Korea on Thursday.

Among other major markets, Man of Steel opens in the U.K. and Mexico on Friday. The following weekend, the $225 million tentpole opens in 26 additional markets, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Spain.

Based on tracking, box office observers are predicting a North American debut in the $85 million to $100 million range.

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British actor Henry Cavill stars as Clark Kent in the origins tale, which sees his character trying to hide his superpowers and live a normal life on Earth. Amy Adams stars as Lois Lane, and Michael Shannon takes on the role of the menacing General Zod.

With a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer, and a script by Goyer, Man of Steel will have a special screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Wednesday. It opens in limited release in the U.S. Thursday night, with a wide release on Friday in more than 4,200 theaters.

Warners and Legendary turned to Nolan as a producer on the project after he successfully revived the Batman franchise with his Dark Knight trilogy. In the summer of 2005, Nolan's Batman Begins opened to $48.7 million and had incredible staying power.

Twitter: @sajilpl

Marchesa's Georgina Chapman on Her Directing Debut and Getting Advice From Ron Howard (Q&A)

Marchesa co-founder Georgina Chapman is taking on a new role.

The designer has partnered with Canon U.S.A. Inc. and Ron Howard to direct a short film for Canon's "Project Imaginat10n." The initiative sees five famous faces -- Chapman, Jamie Foxx, Eva Longoria, former LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone -- step behind the cameras to director shorts inspired by 10 user-generated photographs they have chosen centered around 10 storytelling themes, including setting, time, character and mood (one of the photos, chosen by Howard, will be used by every celebrity). Photos were judged based on the most inspiring, imaginative and overall impression.

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Chapman's film, "A Dream of Flying," is a love story/fantasy about a girl who will spend her whole life trying not to fly, and a boy who would give his life to teach her. Author-screenwriter Neil Gaiman wrote the script for the film, which is produced by Freestyle Productions.

Starring in the film are Aaron Tveit, known for playing Tripp van der Bilt on The CW's Gossip Girl and Enjolras in Les Miserables; Dree Hemingway, the daughter of actress Mariel Hemingway and Stephen Crisman and great-granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway; and Lois Smith, who made her film debut in East of Eden and more recently appeared in Tumbleweeds and Hollywoodland.

Ahead of the film's shoot -- it's filming this week in various locations around New York -- Chapman talked to The Hollywood Reporter about how she got involved, what inspired the story and seeking advice from Howard -- and her movie-mogul husband, Harvey Weinstein.

The Hollywood Reporter: How did you become involved in this project?

Georgina Chapman: I was approached, and I was so excited. I've always been a fan of Project Imaginat10n and Ron Howard. They've always impressed me with the whole concept, so when they came to me, I was beyond thrilled, especially being in such amazing company: Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, James Murphy and Biz Stone. It was just such an exciting opportunity. I work a lot with photographs with Marchesa, so this idea really spoke to me. It was really a fantastic idea, and something I was keen on doing.

THR: What was it about these photos that you chose that spoke to you? How did you make your decision?

Chapman: I had no idea what I wanted the story to be. So I specified with Neil, let that be open and let the photographs take us to the story. I didn't want to try to making something fit. We both gravitated toward the same thing. When the photos were given to us, they had 1,000 photos and presented us with different options. We went through each category, Neil and myself, and decided on the photos. We had no story in mind. We wanted the photos to lead us. We didn't want to put ourselves in a corner and decide to do something [that we had to] try to really fit with the photos.

THR: How did you come up with the story line? Is this a genre that you tend to gravitate toward as a moviegoer?

Chapman: I didn't really think about this as a sort of movie that I would want to watch. That wasn't really my intention. I approach my collection in the same way; I had a vision that I ran with. It wasn't so much about [doing a particular genre]. It was following the photographs, just like working on a collection, and building on that, creating a piece of art like any other, a painting or a collection.

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THR: Did Ron Howard offer you any directing advice?

Chapman: I haven't had that phone call yet with Ron. I'm excited to pick his brain; I have a million questions, so I have to figure out what it is I want to ask. I'm excited to have the opportunity to speak with him. What's so interesting to him as a director, he's done all genres of movies, and he's a former actor as well, so he has the whole thing covered.

THR: Will you also seek advice from your husband?

Chapman: Absolutely, that what's husbands are for. And the advantage is he does seem to know what he's talking about when it comes to movies [laughs]. When he designs [an outfit], I hope he would come to me [laughs].

THR: Will you also be in charge of costume design?

Chapman: Absolutely. I have a very particular aesthetic and vision in mind, and that goes for the costumes, the set, everything. I'm working with a really fantastic team. It's a very collaborative experience.

THR: Overall, how are you feeling about your first directing experience?

Chapman: I'm extremely excited and extremely nervous. It's a great combination of the two. I can't imagine anyone starting a movie without feeling nervous. Even when I'm doing Marchesa shows, I get nervous. It would be a bit strange if I didn't. I am very excited, and I can't wait to see how it comes out.

THR: You also recently launched a collaboration with JC Penney, called Pearl by Georgina Chapman. Will you be continuing that line?

Chapman: Yes, definitely. I've really enjoyed doing this line, and I'm just having so much fun. It's so enjoyable for me. I really do believe in the brand I've created with them. I see a longtime future with them; it's not something I'm going to leave or give up.

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THR: You're also returning as a judge for the third season of Lifetime's Project Runway: All Stars.

Chapman: It's been really great. I love doing All Stars. I have such a good time with that. I love with working with [fellow judge] Isaac [Mizrahi], and [new host] Alyssa Milano is wonderful to work with. It's a really exciting season, with really talented designers, and we have an amazing array of guest judges.

Meanwhile, the public can now take part in the same creative exercise and direct films (from one to 10 minutes long) based on the same pool of photographs. Howard and daughter Bryce Dallas Howard will choose the final five consumer winning films.

Their films, along with Chapman's and the other celebrities’ films, will premiere at Canon’s Project Imaginat10n Film Festival in the fall. Submissions for the film contest is open now through July 23 at imagination.usa.canon.com.

 

Marchesa's Georgina Chapman on Her Directing Debut and Getting Advice From Ron Howard (Q&A)

Marchesa co-founder Georgina Chapman is taking on a new role.

The designer has partnered with Canon U.S.A. Inc. and Ron Howard to direct a short film for Canon's "Project Imaginat10n." The initiative sees five famous faces -- Chapman, Jamie Foxx, Eva Longoria, former LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone -- step behind the cameras to director shorts inspired by 10 user-generated photographs they have chosen centered around 10 storytelling themes, including setting, time, character and mood (one of the photos, chosen by Howard, will be used by every celebrity). Photos were judged based on the most inspiring, imaginative and overall impression.

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Chapman's film, "A Dream of Flying," is a love story/fantasy about a girl who will spend her whole life trying not to fly, and a boy who would give his life to teach her. Author-screenwriter Neil Gaiman wrote the script for the film, which is produced by Freestyle Productions.

Starring in the film are Aaron Tveit, known for playing Tripp van der Bilt on The CW's Gossip Girl and Enjolras in Les Miserables; Dree Hemingway, the daughter of actress Mariel Hemingway and Stephen Crisman and great-granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway; and Lois Smith, who made her film debut in East of Eden and more recently appeared in Tumbleweeds and Hollywoodland.

Ahead of the film's shoot -- it's filming this week in various locations around New York -- Chapman talked to The Hollywood Reporter about how she got involved, what inspired the story and seeking advice from Howard -- and her movie-mogul husband, Harvey Weinstein.

The Hollywood Reporter: How did you become involved in this project?

Georgina Chapman: I was approached, and I was so excited. I've always been a fan of Project Imaginat10n and Ron Howard. They've always impressed me with the whole concept, so when they came to me, I was beyond thrilled, especially being in such amazing company: Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, James Murphy and Biz Stone. It was just such an exciting opportunity. I work a lot with photographs with Marchesa, so this idea really spoke to me. It was really a fantastic idea, and something I was keen on doing.

THR: What was it about these photos that you chose that spoke to you? How did you make your decision?

Chapman: I had no idea what I wanted the story to be. So I specified with Neil, let that be open and let the photographs take us to the story. I didn't want to try to making something fit. We both gravitated toward the same thing. When the photos were given to us, they had 1,000 photos and presented us with different options. We went through each category, Neil and myself, and decided on the photos. We had no story in mind. We wanted the photos to lead us. We didn't want to put ourselves in a corner and decide to do something [that we had to] try to really fit with the photos.

THR: How did you come up with the story line? Is this a genre that you tend to gravitate toward as a moviegoer?

Chapman: I didn't really think about this as a sort of movie that I would want to watch. That wasn't really my intention. I approach my collection in the same way; I had a vision that I ran with. It wasn't so much about [doing a particular genre]. It was following the photographs, just like working on a collection, and building on that, creating a piece of art like any other, a painting or a collection.

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THR: Did Ron Howard offer you any directing advice?

Chapman: I haven't had that phone call yet with Ron. I'm excited to pick his brain; I have a million questions, so I have to figure out what it is I want to ask. I'm excited to have the opportunity to speak with him. What's so interesting to him as a director, he's done all genres of movies, and he's a former actor as well, so he has the whole thing covered.

THR: Will you also seek advice from your husband?

Chapman: Absolutely, that what's husbands are for. And the advantage is he does seem to know what he's talking about when it comes to movies [laughs]. When he designs [an outfit], I hope he would come to me [laughs].

THR: Will you also be in charge of costume design?

Chapman: Absolutely. I have a very particular aesthetic and vision in mind, and that goes for the costumes, the set, everything. I'm working with a really fantastic team. It's a very collaborative experience.

THR: Overall, how are you feeling about your first directing experience?

Chapman: I'm extremely excited and extremely nervous. It's a great combination of the two. I can't imagine anyone starting a movie without feeling nervous. Even when I'm doing Marchesa shows, I get nervous. It would be a bit strange if I didn't. I am very excited, and I can't wait to see how it comes out.

THR: You also recently launched a collaboration with JC Penney, called Pearl by Georgina Chapman. Will you be continuing that line?

Chapman: Yes, definitely. I've really enjoyed doing this line, and I'm just having so much fun. It's so enjoyable for me. I really do believe in the brand I've created with them. I see a longtime future with them; it's not something I'm going to leave or give up.

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THR: You're also returning as a judge for the third season of Lifetime's Project Runway: All Stars.

Chapman: It's been really great. I love doing All Stars. I have such a good time with that. I love with working with [fellow judge] Isaac [Mizrahi], and [new host] Alyssa Milano is wonderful to work with. It's a really exciting season, with really talented designers, and we have an amazing array of guest judges.

Meanwhile, the public can now take part in the same creative exercise and direct films (from one to 10 minutes long) based on the same pool of photographs. Howard and daughter Bryce Dallas Howard will choose the final five consumer winning films.

Their films, along with Chapman's and the other celebrities’ films, will premiere at Canon’s Project Imaginat10n Film Festival in the fall. Submissions for the film contest is open now through July 23 at imagination.usa.canon.com.

 

Box Office Report: 'World War Z' Eyeing $52 Million to $58 Million Debut

Captivating families, Monsters University is eyeing a stellar $71 million-plus debut, and World War Z is scaring up enough business possibly to beat Man of Steel.

Based on early Friday returns, World War Z appears on track earn a strong $52 million to $58 million in its domestic debut, enough to beat the holdover Superman pic.

Both new films are turning in stellar performances at the box office.

Disney and Pixar's Monsters University is on its way to earning $25 million to $28 million Friday as it moves toward easily topping the weekend's North American box office with a total of more than $71 million.

If the family film tops that mark, it will claim the second-biggest opening weekend for any Pixar release. Toy Story 3 holds the No. 1 spot with its phenomenal $110.3 million bow in 2010, and the No. 2 slot is held by 2004's The Incredibles, which earned $70.5 million in its North American debut.

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Opening in 4,004 theaters, Monsters University is directed by Don Scanlon and sees the returns of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Frank Oz voicing the roles of Mike Wazowski, James P. Sullivan, Randall Boggs, and Jeff Fungus, respectively.

The 3D animated pic began rolling out at 8 p.m. Thursday in select theaters, grossing $2.6 million on the night.

The weekend's other new entry, Paramount's zombie pic World War Z, is heading toward a $21 million Friday. The PG-13 film, starring and produced by Brad Pitt, earned $3.6 million as it began its North American debut Thursday night in select theaters.

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Based on Max Brooks' 2006 novel of the same name, the action film cost $190 million to produce after tax incentives. Extensive reshoots bumped up its original $150 million budget. The pic, directed by Marc Forster, initially was slotted to open in December.

Paramount and co-financing partner Skydance Productions are banking on World War Z to have a better-than-usual multiple, similar to other original tentpoles. Avatar debuted to $77 million in December 2009 on its way to a $760.5 million domestic cume, nearly 10 times its opening number. And in summer 2010, Christopher Nolan's Inception grossed $292.6 million, nearly five times its $62.8 million debut.

Paramount insiders note that few original event pics open to $50 million or higher. And while Pitt might be one of the world's most recognizable stars, his biggest opening has been the $50.3 million earned by Mr. & Mrs. Smith in summer 2005.

Monsters University and World War Z both are likely to beat Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, which could earn about $50 million in its second outing.

Overseas, World War Z already is drumming up strong business, scoring $5.7 million Thursday and pacing in line with Inception. In South Korea, the film grossed $1.5 million, ahead of the $1.1 million earned a week earlier by Man of Steel. Inception's opening-day gross in South Korea was $941,000.

World War Z also grossed $1.1 million in Australia on Thursday, in line with Inception. And the movie entered the record books in Argentina, grossing $710,000 -- doubling Man of Steel's Thursday take there and posting the third-best Thursday to date in that market.

 

Box Office Report: 'Monsters U' Zooms to $82 Million Debut; 'World War Z' Nabs $66 Million

Affable monsters and hordes of zombies converged at the North American box office over the weekend to create a perfect storm for moviegoing.

Disney and Pixar's long-awaited sequel Monsters University opened to a sizzling $82 million, the No. 2 Pixar opening of all time after Toy Story 3 ($110 million). Overseas, Monsters U took in an early $54.5 million from 35 markets for a worldwide debut of $136.5 million.

Brad Pitt zombie pic World War Z, from Paramount, also overperformed in opening to $66 million, the top launch for an original live-action tentpole since Avatar. It also marks Pitt's largest opening domestically, easily outpacing the $50.3 million launch of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in summer 2005. Internationally, World War Z debuted to $45.8 million from its first 25 markets for a worldwide total of $111.8 million.

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World War Z's performance is a notable victory for Paramount, considering many in Hollywood left the film for dead after its release was pushed back from December 2012 in order to allow for numerous reshoots required to reshape the ending. Directed by Marc Forster and co-financed by Skydance Productions, World War Z was a passion project for Pitt, who produced the tentpole.

Domestic box office revenue for the weekend reached an estimated $236 million, the second best of the year after Memorial Day weekend and among the top 10 weekends of all time.

Heading into the frame, box office observers believed World War Z would end up in a closer battle with Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan's Man of Steel, with many giving Superman an edge over zombies.

As it turned out, Man of Steel fell more than expected domestically, even as it jumped the $200 million mark in North America and nearly $400 million worldwide. The movie grossed $41.2 million domestically, a 65 percent decline, pushing its domestic total to $210 million.

Overseas, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Man of Steel towered over the competition, grossing $89 million from 52 markets for an international cume of $188.3 million and global total of $398.3 million. Highlights included China, where the tentpole took in $25.5 million.

Coming in No. 4 in North America was Sony's innovative comedy This Is the End, which fell just 37 percent in its second weekend. The R-rated pic grossed $13 million for a domestic cume of $57.8 million.

Rounding out the top five was Summit's sleeper hit Now You See Me. The magician heist pic has enjoyed a great hold, grossing $7.9 million in its fourth weekend for a domestic total of $94.5 million.

The might of Monsters U, directed by Dan Scanlon, continues Pixar's winning streak at the box office and marks the 14th Pixar title to open to No. 1. The sequel returns Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Frank Oz in the roles of Mike Wazowski, James P. Sullivan, Randall Boggs, and Jeff Fungus, respectively.

"The consistency of the quality that comes from Pixar and John Lasseter and his team is extraordinary" "This movie had to live up to a very had to live up to a very high bar, and it did," said Disney executive vice president of distribution Dave Hollis, also noting that the animated tentpole did strong nighttime business in a sign that adults were turning out in addition to families.

One downer -- onlyl 31 percent of the revenues came from 3D screens.

Monsters U will have plenty of competition in the coming weeks as a record number of 3D summer toons open at the North American, but a glowing A CinemaScore should help fuel word of mouth.

Overseas, the 2013 summer animation war began over the weekend in Australia, where Monsters U debuted opposite University's Despicable Me 2 in advance of the winter holidays. Despicable 2 was the victor, grossing $4.3 million. Combined with previews, the toon has earned a total of $6.4 million. Monsters U took in $3.5 million.

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Paramount is hoping that World War Z -- following the lead of other successful original tentpoles -- enjoys a better-than-usual multiple. Avatar debuted to $77 million in December 2009 on its way to cuming $760.5 million domestically, or 10 times its opening number. And in summer 2010, Christopher Nolan's Inception grossed $292.6 million, nearly five times its $62 million debut.

"This was an original movie in a summer that's been full of sequels and remakes. I think it captured the public's imagination. Certainly, Brad gave a superb performance," said Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore.

Rated PG-13, World War Z earned a B+ CinemaScore.

World War Z, based on Max Brook's 2006 novel of the same name, was a sizeable gamble for the studio, costing $190 million to produce after tax incentives. The budget was originally $150 million, but the additional work -- shepherded by Pitt and Forster alongside Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman and his team -- bumped up the number.

In the film, Pitt plays a retired U.N. employee who must return to work and stop a worldwide pandemic that is turning humans into zombies. The Killing's Mireille Enos stars as his wife.

World War Z opened in 25 foreign markets this weekend, including the U.K., South Korea and Australia.

At the specialty box office, Sofia Copolla's The Bling Ring came in No. 11 as it made a major push in its second weekend, upping its theater count from five theaters to 650. The indie film, from A24 films, grossed $1.8 million from 650 theaters for a cume of $2.1 million.