Gus Van News

Variety reports that the Directors Guild nominees for top feature film of 2008 were announced this morning.

Universal Pictures recorded its biggest year ever for the second year in a row with global theatrical grosses totaling $2.834 billion for 2008. Universal's domestic box-office tally of $1.12 billion outpaced the record it previously set in 2007, which was $1.099 billion.

'Milk' and 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' were both nominated for eight Critics Choice Awards. Both were among the 10 films nominated for best picture. 'Milk,' was also nominated for lead actor Sean Penn, supporting co-stars James Franco and James Brolin and director Gus Van Sant. 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' which opens Christmas Day, has Brad Pitt nominated for best actor, supporting nominations for Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson.

The event was held on December 2 at Museum of Finance in New York City on December 2, 2008. In attendance was Darren Aronofsky, Rachel Weisz, Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz and many more.

The International Press Academy has announced the nominees for the 13th Annual Satellite Awards. The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The awards, given by the Intl. Press Academy, will take place Dec. 14 at Century City's InterContinental Hotel.

Fox News is reporting that the talk of the AUSTRALIA movie premiere the other night was the exciting 'news' that the film's star, Hugh Jackman, is all set to 'reappear' on Broadway in original musical, HOUDINI in the spring of 2010.

ABC made several midseason programming announcements, including the decision to not pick up 'Pushing Daisies,' for another full season. ABC also announced the end of 'Dirty Sexy Money' and 'Eli Stone'.

Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant's Milk, starring Academy Award winner Sean Penn as gay rights icon Harvey Milk, had its Hollywood premiere at the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences building in Beverly Hills, California.

Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant's Milk, starring Academy Award winner Sean Penn as gay rights icon Harvey Milk, had its world premiere at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre (at 429 Castro Street) tonight. The evening benefited multiple charities supporting LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) youth. Dinner and dancing followed at City Hall.

Production begins today on location in Minnesota on A Serious Man, for Focus Features and Working Title Films. Joel and Ethan Coen, Academy Award winners for No Country for Old Men and Fargo, are writing, producing, and directing the film. Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are executive-producing the film with Robert Graf, who has worked on the Coens' last six features in various producing capacities.

Production begins in Connecticut this week on an untitled contemporary comedy directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) from an original screenplay by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The film is being produced and co-financed by Big Beach, with Focus Features co-financing and distributing worldwide.

Tony Award-winning producer Scott Sanders and Tony- nominated architect/set designer David Rockwell announced plans today to present HOUDINI, An Original Musical on Broadway in the spring of 2010.

Tara Smith and B. Swibel, currently represented on Broadway as producers of Xanadu, announced they are bringing a new musical, To Die For, to the stage.

Joe Drymala and Eric Svejcar aren't a songwriting team, but they have a few things in common besides the fact that they both write musicals. The songs of both men will be sung by performers such as Euan Morton, Robert Cuccioli, Tyler Maynard, Kate Wetherhead and Amanda Watkins on April 26th for their Stuck in the Zipper concert at the Zipper Theatre, and it's safe to say that both like to take risks with their shows...

Variety reports that Julianne Moore is headed to Broadway in 'The Vertical Hour', a new play by David Hare.

ANDRE BENJAMIN AND ANTWAN PATTON STAR IN LEAD ROLES; ALSO STARRING VING RHAMES, TERRENCE DASHON HOWARD, FAIZON LOVE, MALINDA WILLIAMS, PAULA PARKER, JACKIE LONG, PAULA PATTON AND PATTI LABELLE; WITH MACY GRAY, BEN VEREEN AND CICELY TYSON AWARD-WINNING BRYAN BARBER MAKES THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM DIRECTING DEBUT TONY-WINNER HINTON BATTLE CHOREOGRAPHS DANCE SEQUENCES