Hamish Hamilton who directed the TV broadcasts of the London 2012 opening and closing ceremonies, was also honoured on the night with a special award in recognition of his "outstanding creative contribution to the industry and his extensive work and accomplishments in his field".
In The Ring - A stage musical based on the hit film Rocky is to open on Broadway. Sylvester Stallone, who starred in and wrote the script for the Oscar-winning 1976 film, is co-producing the theatre version, which will open at the Winter Garden theatre next February. The show made its debut in Hamburg, Germany, where it was billed as Rocky: Das Musical, last November. "This is not boxers doing a kick line," said Bill Taylor, managing director of co-producers Stage Entertainment USA. "It's stunning movement representing some of the sparring and the fighting. It's very, very cleverly created." The songs have been written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, who also composed the score for the musical Ragtime.
On Location - UK film studio Pinewood Shepperton has announced plans to build its first sound stages in the United States. The Pinewood Atlanta complex will be built on 288 acres of land south of Atlanta, Georgia, as a joint venture with a US investment company. Georgia has been among the US states drawing film-making away from Hollywood with tax incentives in recent years. The deal is the latest sign of expansion at Pinewood, the home of the James Bond franchise. Earlier this month it announced a joint venture with a Chinese media group, potentially giving it access to the fast-growing Chinese market.
In The Courtroom - A lawyer for Michael Jackson's mother says the pop star's promoters failed properly to vet the doctor convicted of causing his death from a drug overdose, as a wrongful death lawsuit opens. Katherine Jackson and his three children say AEG Live should be held liable for Jackson's death in 2009. The promoters say they did no wrong and could not have foreseen Jackson's death on the eve of his comeback tour. Millions of dollars are at stake in the trial, which could last up to 90 days.
(Jim Evans)
