John Lyons News

Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.com reports this morning that Focus Features is now at work on turning the film MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY into a new Broadway musical.

Focus Features will accept entries for its Africa First Program - entering its fourth year - beginning Monday, May 16th and continuing through Monday, August 22nd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Production has begun, on East Coast locations, on a Focus Features drama from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Paul Weitz.

Building on the success of the program's first two years, Focus Features will accept entries for a third year of its Africa First Program beginning Monday, May 17th and continuing through Monday, August 3rd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Production has begun on One Day, the feature film version of the internationally praised novel of the same name by David Nicholls, which this month enters The New York Times bestseller list. Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess star in the movie. One Day is a co-production in the unique partnership of Random House Inc.'s Random House Films division and Focus Features. The U.K.'s Film4 is co-financing.

Building on the success of the program's first two years, Focus Features will accept entries for a third year of its Africa First Program beginning Monday, May 17th and continuing through Monday, August 3rd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Take six of the best comics in the state, throw in a cash bar and club lighting, and suddenly Middlebury's Town Hall Theater becomes the best little comedy club north of the Big Apple. Schedule the event for April 1, and what else do you call it but The April Fools?

April 1, the perfect day to enjoy the wit of Vermont's funniest comics! On the bill are Oliver Barkley, Nathan Hartswick, John Lyons, Tracie Spencer, and Avi Waring. With Tony Bates, Emcee Extraordinaire. At Town Hall Theater, 8:00 pm.

Take six of the best comics in the state, throw in a cash bar and club lighting, and suddenly Middlebury's Town Hall Theater becomes the best little comedy club north of the Big Apple. Schedule the event for April 1, and what else do you call it but The April Fools?

The adventure thriller Hanna, directed by BAFTA Award winner Joe Wright, begins filming in Europe next week. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the movie. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

April 1, the perfect day to enjoy the wit of Vermont's funniest comics! On the bill are Oliver Barkley, Nathan Hartswick, John Lyons, Tracie Spencer, and Avi Waring. With Tony Bates, Emcee Extraordinaire. At Town Hall Theater, 8:00 pm.

Acclaimed writer/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck's new film It's Kind of a Funny Story begins production in New York City this week. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the project, which it is co-financing with Wayfare Entertainment.

Focus CEO James Schamus announced today that Academy Award winner George Clooney will star in the title role of The American for director Anton Corbijn (Control). Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the suspense thriller, which begins production this week on location in Italy.

Following the success of last year's inaugural program, Focus Features is accepting entries for a second year of its Africa First Program through Monday, August 17th (please note newly extended deadline).

Following the success of last year's inaugural program, Focus Features is accepting entries for a second year of its Africa First Program through Monday, August 17th (please note newly extended deadline).

Following the success of last year?s inaugural program, Focus Features will on Monday, June 1st, begin accepting entries for a second year of its Africa First Program. The uniquely conceived initiative, with funds earmarked specifically for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, offers eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there. Complete details on Africa First ? including application information ? can be accessed through www.filminfocus.com/africafirst. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Production began last week in Los Angeles on the untitled film starring Ben Stiller for writer/director Noah Baumbach, an Academy Award nominee for his original screenplay of The Squid and the Whale (which he also directed). Scott Rudin, an Academy Award winner as producer of No Country for Old Men, and Jennifer Jason Leigh are producing the movie, to which Focus Features holds worldwide rights. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

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.