The Business

<p>Hollywood's been beguiled and bedeviled by Ayn Rand's <em>Atlas Shrugged</em> since it was published in 1957. Fifty years later, why hasn't it been made into a movie?  We talk to legendary producer Al Ruddy, the first guy to get Rand's go ahead…in 1974.  (This is a rebroadcast of a program that originally aired on September 8. However, the "Hollywood News Caravan" is new.)</p>

<p>Is there a "Tom Bradley effect" in the movies, or are low returns for movies with black casts just self-fulfilling prophecy? Plus, music mogul <strong>Danny Goldberg</strong> and the future of the record business.</p>

<p>This indie film was all about the art until the studios got in the game. How will independent film change again now that the studios seem to be backing away? Plus, watching movies 'til you drop with the programmers of the Sundance Film Festival.</p>

<p>Will record-low consumer confidence cause companies to pull their ads off network television or will broke Americans staying at home be a boon to the TV viewing? Plus, the director of <em>Repo! The Genetic Opera</em> may have his career repossessed.</p>

<p>The making and marketing of a Christian hit which landed an impressive fourth place at the box office in its first weekend out. Plus, the first family of hair and make-up finally gets its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.</p>

<p>The closely-contested, presidential race has brought Americans back into the political process, not to mention doing wonders for TV ratings. Plus, and the winner is…not the press covering the Emmys. And finally, the daughter of a black-listed writer comes to Hollywood.</p>

<p>How will the Wall Street meldown affect Hollywood studios and their coporate parents?</p>

<p>Do salacious rumors swirling around NBC's embattled programming chief signal his ouster? What has he done that's so bad, and what good is being overlooked?  Plus, a world without Don LaFontaine.</p>

<p>Are Hollywood celebrities irrelevant in an election when their candidate's a star? Plus, mommy and me go to the movies.</p>

<p>Hollywood's been sniffing around <em>Atlas Shrugged</em> since Ayn Rand published it in 1957. So why hasn't it been made into a movie? We talk to the first guy to get the go-ahead from Rand -- in 1974.</p>

<p>We revisit our conversation on Hollywood assistants, with authors <strong>Peter Nowalk</strong> and <strong>Hillary Stamm</strong>. Plus, how does a studio spend $100 million on a movie when they don't own the rights?</p>

<p>Hollywood's studios are slashing producer deals in record numbers. What are these producer pacts? What does it all mean for the kinds of movies that we'll be seeing?  We talk to <strong>Adam Fields</strong>, who's had pacts with most of the majors. Plus, what's in a production company name?</p>

<p>This week on <em>The Business</em>, six degrees of celebrity philanthropy with, of course, <strong>Kevin Bacon</strong> - actor, musician and on-line philanthropist.</p>

<p>We talk to <strong>Shelley Billik</strong>, the Vice President of Environmental Initiatives at Warner Bros. Entertainment.  She's spent the last sixteen years explaining to the industry that recycling vintage Halston doesn't make you an environmentalist.</p>

<p><strong>Dennis Palumbo</strong>, screenwriter turned psychologist, puts Hollywood on the couch.</p>

<p>SAG and the producers are at an impasse, so what happens next? Plus, what happens when the mavens of Mumblecore go Hollywood?</p>

<p>From <em>Hannah Montana</em> to <em>High School Musical</em>, we look at Disney's teen green-making machine.</p>

AFTRA approves their deal with producers...and SAG goes back to the negotiating table. Is peace at hand in Hollywood? <p> </p>

<p>This special edition of <em>The Business</em> features a rare head-to-head conversation about future of acting with the dueling presidents of SAG and AFTRA. It's the first time the leaders have spoken since March 29...</p> <em><strong>Note:</strong></em> This special edition of <em>The Business</em> pre-empts <em>The Treatment</em> at 2:30 and <em>Which Way, LA?</em> <p> at 7pm.</p>

<p>Do sky-high gas prices mean boffo box office? Plus, first there was the writers' strike and now there's strike TV. Plus, the Zen of making movie titles.</p>

<p>The two-way street between American television and British telly. We talk to TV producer <em>extraordinaire</em> <strong>Caryn Mandabach</strong> about her dealings across the pond.  Plus, last words from the late special-effects wizard <strong>Stan Winston.</strong></p>

<p>A makeover at MySpace continues to transform Hollywood into your space.  We chat with MySpace CEO <strong>Chris DeWolfe</strong>.  Plus SAG and AFTRA's battle over the hearts and minds of its members.</p>

<p>How will rating ads instead of programs change what you see on your TV? Plus, whether or not to shoot a scene often depends on the weather.</p>

<p>A hit network TV show picks up, moves to New York and stirs up the enduring question: why doesn't California do something to staunch the flow of runaway production?</p>

<p>This week on <em>The Business</em>, everything you wanted to know about being an assistant, but were too terrified to ask. We talk with the authors of <em>The Hollywood Assistants Handbook</em>. Plus, an update on the actors' negotiations for a new contract.</p>

<p>A major studio is getting out of the indie business and one stalwart indie distributor is rumored to be having serious money problems. The two indie film TV channels may roll into one. Is Hollywood going to give indie the bum's Rushmore? We talk to esteemed indie producer <strong>Christine Vachon</strong> and <em>uber</em>-salesman <strong>John Sloss</strong>. Plus, 'Hollywood on the Couch,' Part II, with writer-turned-therapist <strong>Dennis Palumbo</strong>.</p>

<p>We put Hollywood on the couch with writer-turned-therapist <strong>Dennis Palumbo</strong>.</p>

<p>Pixar's <strong>Brad Bird</strong> just received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Writers' Guild. So this week we revisit our conversation with the creator of <em>The Incredibles</em> and <em>Ratatouille</em>. Plus, the entertainment industry home team.</p>

<p>The uneasy alliance between the two actors' unions has turned into outright hostility. Plus, the unions want money from the digital future. When will that future arrive? Finally, who gets credit before the credits roll?</p>

<p>There's been a mad game of musical chairs in the agency business in the last few of weeks. The agency business is changing, but the relationship between agents and clients seems to be as quirky as ever.</p>

<p>Using Tax Day as a very weak hook, we talk to the man who helped clear Wesley Snipes of tax fraud conspiracy charges. The question: what are the special challenges of representing a celebrity in court?</p>

<p>Hollywood's actors' unions file for an untimely divorce. Then, what happens when a novice TV writer gets her own show?</p>

<p>In a town where actors are more likely to wait tables than wait in the wings, how do you define a working actor?  That's the central question in our lively conversation with two actors. How SAG answers that question may determine if there's a strike. Plus, this year's ShoWest movie exhibitors' conference.</p>

<p><strong>Jim Keyes</strong> was the former CEO of 7-11 stores.  Now he's applying the lessons of the Big Gulp to the small screen at the troubled video-rental giant Blockbuster. Plus, Variety game reviewer <strong>Ben Fritz</strong> asks, "Why are hardcore video gamers so sensitive?"  And good agentry with writer and producer <strong>Rob Long</strong>.</p>

<p>Video games are an $18 billion business in the US, and they just keep growing. Will Hollywood studios get in on some of that interactive action? Plus, will TV's increasingly pilotless way of making shows crash and burn?</p>

<p>What happens when a studio executive comes out from behind his desk to direct a major motion picture? We talk to<strong> Kent Alterman</strong>, formerly New Line Cinema's EVP of Production and now the Director of <em>Semi-Pro</em>. Plus, we say goodbye to HD-DVD.</p>

<p>The venerable Hollywood trade paper, Variety, is up for sale.  What will a new owner mean to the business? We'll have a lively conversation with blogger extraordinaire <strong>Nikki Finke</strong> and PR veteran <strong>Howard Bragman</strong>.  Plus, which Oscar prognosticators predicted with paramount precision?</p>

<p>The divide between movies that make money and movies that get awards has been growing in the last few years. Why? And what does that say about how Hollywood is changing? Plus, the 1967 Oscars signaled a coming cinematic revolution. Is this year's crop of best picture nominees the harbinger of another?</p>

<p>The writers' strike has meant reruns, reality and rankor. So how will things change now that the strike is over? Plus, when will the digital pie that the writers want a piece of actually be out of the oven?</p>

<p>TV was already getting more and more into unscripted fare before the strike.  Now, there's so much reality programming it's unreal! We get the lay of the unscripted landscape with <strong>Joel McHale</strong> of E! Entertainment's show <em>The Soup</em>. Plus, while most of the industry suffers, video games rock on (redux).</p>

<p>The directors seem to have made a deal with producers. Will the writers follow suit? Should they? We're live today with TV writer/producer <strong>David Milch </strong>and Oscar-winning filmmaker <strong>Paul Haggis</strong> to answer these questions and more. First, what exactly did the DGA agree to? <strong>Joe Adalian</strong> has been one of the team of reporters covering the strike for Variety.</p> <ul><li><strong>NOTE: </strong>Today's special <strong>LIVE</strong> edition of <em>The Business </em>is broadcast locally in the Los Angeles area only, but will be archived online.<br /></li></ul>

<p><strong>Steve Samuels</strong> is the third generation of successful Boston-based real estate developers.  He's also one of many outsiders who've brought their fat wallet to Hollywood. Will he get his pocket picked or make the show business sit?</p> <p>(National broadcast)</p>

<p>The big four record labels are finally offering some music free of copyright protection. Is it too little too late? And, no Globes, no Oscars = no box office? Plus, swag--Hollywood's silent scourge.</p>

<p>From scandals to the strike to the surprise success of mega-sequels it's the Hollywood year that was! We get ready for the year ahead with our annual look at the stories of year just ended with <strong>Cynthia Littleton</strong> of Variety and <strong>Carl Diorio</strong> of the Hollywood Reporter.</p>

<p>This week, it's the Best of <em>The Business</em>.  The strike will put a gaggle of TV shows "on the bubble," and we're not talking about being drunk on champagne. So today, between Dove products and the producers of a remake of the 1939 classic film <em>The Women</em>, we revisit our conversation with the producers of <em>Scrubs</em> and <em>Jericho</em>, shows that came back from the brink of extinction earlier this year.</p>

<p>This week we present the best of <em>The Business</em>. In honor of the writers' strike and celebrating his hit new movie, I Am Legend, we revisit our conversation with Oscar-winning scribe <strong>Akiva Goldsman</strong> about the vital and disposable Hollywood writer. Then, 'tis the season for Hollywood gifting.</p>

<p>There's been a surge in Iraq and a surge of Iraq movies here at home. It might be working in Baghdad but it's tanking at the local cineplex. We talk to the director of <i>In the Valley of Elah</i>, <b>Paul Haggis</b>. Plus, the strike promises a not-very-happy new year or winter or spring for Hollywood.<br /></p>

<p>A new report paints a bleak picture for Hollywood if it doesn't quit spending money like a drunken sailor on shore leave. We speak with <b>Roger R. Smith</b>, the author of <i>Do Movies Make Money</i>?<br /></p>

<p>What's it like to negotiate during a strike? We talk with the man who led talks for employees during the acrimonious 1994 supermarket walkout. Plus, will the writers' strike be another nail in the coffin of once wildly profitable daytime soap operas?</p><p><b>Note</b>: This edition of <i>The Business </i>will not air live at its usual time slot on KCRW as it will be pre-empted by special holiday programming. It will air at <b>7pm</b>.<br /></p>