Turner Pictures

When Amy Pascal took the job of president of Turner Pictures two years ago, it was with great anticipation. It was a rare opportunity to build a new movie company, virtually from scratch. What Pascal and the creative team of executives she assembled didn't anticipate is that their plans for the start-up would all come to a crashing halt before their first movie was released.

When Amy Pascal took the job of president of Turner Pictures two years ago, it was with great anticipation. It was a rare opportunity to build a new movie company, virtually from scratch. What Pascal and the creative team of executives she assembled didn't anticipate is that their plans for the start-up would all come to a crashing halt before their first movie was released.

Time Warner Inc. confirmed Thursday that it is pulling the plug on Turner Pictures, a fledging 8-year-old film unit it inherited when it acquired Turner Broadcasting System Inc. The move had been widely expected, given that Time Warner already owns the giant Warner Bros. studio. In a statement, Time Warner Vice Chairman Ted Turner said phasing out the unit and absorbing the film projects into Warner Bros. "will serve the projects and be in the best overall interest of the company."

Time Warner Inc. confirmed Thursday that it is pulling the plug on Turner Pictures, a fledging 8-year-old film unit it inherited when it acquired Turner Broadcasting System Inc. The move had been widely expected, given that Time Warner already owns the giant Warner Bros. studio. In a statement, Time Warner Vice Chairman Ted Turner said phasing out the unit and absorbing the film projects into Warner Bros. "will serve the projects and be in the best overall interest of the company."

Turner Pictures animation executive Joy Every has entered into a producing deal with the company to bring animated features to Turner. She had been a senior creative executive of feature animation development. Previously she had worked at Turner sister company Hanna-Barbera and was a creative executive in the feature animation area for Walt Disney Pictures. * Clifford B. Alsberg was named senior vice president, television, for Porchlight Entertainment, to head the live action division.

Hollywood awoke Thursday morning to find independent film producer Dawn Steel's photo on the front page of both entertainment trade newspapers, the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety--each with different banner stories about her plans. The Reporter said that Steel, co-producer of the current hit "Cool Runnings," and of "Sister Act 2," which opens today, will become chairman of worldwide operations for television mogul Ted Turner's Turner Pictures.

Two Turner Broadcasting System Inc. units agreed to a worldwide home movie and video distribution pact with two units of Sony Corp. of America. Castle Rock Entertainment and Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution said they will distribute movies and other programming through Sony's Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International and Columbia TriStar Home Video. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In a long-rumored move, Turner Pictures Worldwide named Amy Pascal president of production Wednesday. Pascal, a former executive vice president of production at Columbia Pictures, is to produce up to eight theatrical features a year under the Turner Pictures banner by 1998. Media mogul Ted Turner is ramping up production as part of a broad Hollywood expansion.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said Tuesday that it has hired Dennis Miller, one of Turner Broadcasting Systems' most senior executives in Hollywood, as an executive vice president. Sources said Miller, president of Turner Pictures, will in effect fill the post soon to be vacated by Sony executive Paul Schaeffer. As previously reported, Schaeffer will soon become the top corporate officer at a new venture being led by former Sony Pictures Chairman Peter Guber.

The movie is 4 hours and 18 minutes long . It's about the devastating Civil War battle that left 50,000 Americans dead or wounded. It has no bankable box-office stars in the cast. And yet, "Gettysburg" has found an audience. "It's confounded the skeptics.

Turner Pictures animation executive Joy Every has entered into a producing deal with the company to bring animated features to Turner. She had been a senior creative executive of feature animation development. Previously she had worked at Turner sister company Hanna-Barbera and was a creative executive in the feature animation area for Walt Disney Pictures. * Clifford B. Alsberg was named senior vice president, television, for Porchlight Entertainment, to head the live action division.

Walt Disney Co. business and legal affairs specialist Robert Osher is leaving to join Turner Pictures Group as executive vice president, overseeing the company's business affairs and financial operations. Osher joined Disney in 1989 and worked for former business affairs chief Helene Hahn, who left to join DreamWorks SKG. Osher will report to Turner Entertainment Group President Scott Sassa.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said Tuesday that it has hired Dennis Miller, one of Turner Broadcasting Systems' most senior executives in Hollywood, as an executive vice president. Sources said Miller, president of Turner Pictures, will in effect fill the post soon to be vacated by Sony executive Paul Schaeffer. As previously reported, Schaeffer will soon become the top corporate officer at a new venture being led by former Sony Pictures Chairman Peter Guber.

In a long-rumored move, Turner Pictures Worldwide named Amy Pascal president of production Wednesday. Pascal, a former executive vice president of production at Columbia Pictures, is to produce up to eight theatrical features a year under the Turner Pictures banner by 1998. Media mogul Ted Turner is ramping up production as part of a broad Hollywood expansion.

Two Turner Broadcasting System Inc. units agreed to a worldwide home movie and video distribution pact with two units of Sony Corp. of America. Castle Rock Entertainment and Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution said they will distribute movies and other programming through Sony's Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International and Columbia TriStar Home Video. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Hollywood executive Dawn Steel, who turned down the chance to run Turner Pictures last year, has instead signed a contract to make movies for the company. Turner will have first rights to all projects generated by Atlas Entertainment, a new company headed by Steel, her husband, producer Charles Roven, and his partner, Bob Cavallo. Atlas is expected to produce two or three movies a year, including some animated features to be made in partnership with Turner's Hanna-Barbera unit.

Hollywood executive Dawn Steel, who turned down the chance to run Turner Pictures last year, has instead signed a contract to make movies for the company. Turner will have first rights to all projects generated by Atlas Entertainment, a new company headed by Steel, her husband, producer Charles Roven, and his partner, Bob Cavallo. Atlas is expected to produce two or three movies a year, including some animated features to be made in partnership with Turner's Hanna-Barbera unit.

Independent film producer Dawn Steel won't be heading Ted Turner's film unit, as had been expected. Sources said Wednesday that talks between Steel and Turner Pictures have ended after weeks of negotiations. Details were sketchy, but there had been speculation that Steel wanted more autonomy than Turner was willing to give her. Steel is expected to concentrate on producing.

Independent film producer Dawn Steel won't be heading Ted Turner's film unit, as had been expected. Sources said Wednesday that talks between Steel and Turner Pictures have ended after weeks of negotiations. Details were sketchy, but there had been speculation that Steel wanted more autonomy than Turner was willing to give her. Steel is expected to concentrate on producing.

Hollywood awoke Thursday morning to find independent film producer Dawn Steel's photo on the front page of both entertainment trade newspapers, the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety--each with different banner stories about her plans. The Reporter said that Steel, co-producer of the current hit "Cool Runnings," and of "Sister Act 2," which opens today, will become chairman of worldwide operations for television mogul Ted Turner's Turner Pictures.