Film Industry

Set in the deep recesses of the San Fernando Valley, the film "Starlet" explores an unlikely friendship between a twentysomething girl and an eightysomething woman. After young Jane (Dree Hemingway) buys an old thermos at a yard sale - she thinks it will make a nice vase - she discovers a large amount of cash inside it. Rather than return the money, she begins to insert herself into the life of the woman who sold it to her, offering the elderly Sadie (Besedka Johnson) rides to the market or going with her to bingo.

Twentieth Century Fox's head of digital distribution readily acknowledged the headline-grabbing trends buffeting the film industry - declines in DVD sales, the rise of low-cost movie rental and subscription services and the threat of Internet piracy. But Peter Levinsohn praised technology in a keynote speech Monday at Variety's Entertainment & Technology Summit in Marina del Rey. "All of these issues - fragmentation, a maturing DVD market, low-cost alternatives for entertainment, and theft - they're real.

If you want to film at the Grand Avenue Park, it will cost you -- $20,000 a day in fact. That's how much county officials plan to charge filmmakers to shoot at the new park, much to the chagrin of local film industry officials. County officials said they developed the fee based on what other landmark parks around the country charge. But critics in the film industry noted that the fee is well above what Los Angeles County charges at most other local parks for filming, which is typically $450 a day. Sarah Walsh, director of the Motion Picture Assn.

At first glance, the county's Measure B, which would require the use of condoms in adult films shot in Los Angeles, seems fairly hard to rebut: Other than a few self-interested pornographers, who could be against mandating safe-sex practices? And yet, the measure is both more and less than it seems. It's a well-meaning attempt to promote safe-sex practices and, at least on the part of some supporters, to protect workers in the adult film industry. But it goes further than many people realize toward stifling what is, after all, a legal business, while doing relatively little to ensure the safety of those who are part of that business.

Noted film industry executive Geoff Ammer died Sunday morning after suffering a heart attack. He was 62.  Ammer had an extensive resume that included a brief stint as the worldwide president of marketing for Relativity Media, as well as a similar title at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he worked on hit films such as "Spider-Man," "Spider-Man 2" and "Panic Room. "   Ammer also worked at Walt Disney Co. and 20th Century Fox. For the last year Ammer headed his own  Clarius Entertainment, a marketing and distribution firm.

Making fun of Steven Spielberg, Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, Sony Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal and the president of the Writers Guild of America in mass Hollywood emails might not be the safest strategy for two screenwriters trying to get ahead in show business. But the duo behind the recently launched blog Hollywood & Swine is giving it a shot. Like the satirical news site the Onion, Hollywood & Swine grabs show business headlines and gives them a droll overhaul, lacing its pretend stories with made-up quotes from real industry figures.

The state Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill to continue funding California's film and television tax credit. The Senate vote was 32 to 2 in favor of extending two more years of funding for the tax credit. California sets aside $100 million toward the program, which gives movie and TV producers a credit of up to 25% of qualified production expenses. The Assembly approved the bill earlier this month. The measure now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has one month to sign or veto the legislation.

Faced with a new law requiring that actors wear condoms during porn shoots, Los Angeles officials have recommended that the City Council begin searching for a medical professional to conduct inspections of adult film performances. In a report to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the council, a working group focused on ways to enforce the condom ordinance said Film L.A. Inc., the office that processes film permits, should rework its applications so passages that deal with hazardous working conditions and dangerous special effects also mention the "transmission of blood and infectious materials.

The California Assembly overwhelmingly approved a bill that would preserve funding for the state's film and television tax credit. The Assembly voted 70-4 in favor of the bill, which extends funding for the program another two years. California allocates $100 million annually toward tax credits, which are doled out by lottery because of limited funds. Funding was due to expire next year. The film industry had been pressing for a five-year extension to show the state's commitment to the industry, which is being lured away by other states with strong incentives.

In a computer room crammed with students, freshman George-Michael Bluth is conferring with his dad, Michael, about his ambitious plans to create a social media website. The scene, featuring actors Michael Cera and Jason Bateman, was set at UC Irvine but played out on the campus of Occidental College, where the crew of the TV series “Arrested Development” spent two days last week filming around the campus. Occidental College is perhaps best known as the school once attended by President Obama.