Media Writerthe Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe owners of the Cinerama Dome have obtained a liquor license, moving one step closer to reopening the theater and the adjoining 14-screen multiplex in Hollywood.The Decurion Corp., the family business that has owned the Dome since it was built in 1963, has kept quiet about its plans ever since shuttering the 17 locations in its Pacific Theatres and ArcLight chains and filing for bankruptcy last year. In the bankruptcy, Decurion held onto to its most prized location — the ArcLight Hollywood and the Dome — and there have been widespread rumors and reporting that the company planned to reopen the theater at some point.On June 3, the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control granted a liquor license, allowing Decurion to operate a restaurant and two bars on the premises.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe president of DC Films testified Tuesday that the studio considered replacing Amber Heard for “Aquaman 2” out of concern that she lacked chemistry with star Jason Momoa.Heard was ultimately cast in the sequel, but her lawyers have argued that she nearly lost the job and could not renegotiate for more money due to the backlash over her domestic abuse allegations against Johnny Depp. Heard is seeking $100 million in a defamation counterclaim against Depp.Walter Hamada, the head of Warner Bros.’ DC unit, was the first witness called by Depp’s side as they begin their rebuttal of Heard’s counterclaim in court in Fairfax, Va.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe general counsel of the ACLU testified on Thursday that Amber Heard’s op-ed in the Washington Post about domestic violence was timed to capitalize on the release of “Aquaman.”The op-ed alluded to Heard’s allegations against ex-husband Johnny Depp, though Depp was not named. Depp is now suing Heard for defamation, claiming that the op-ed destroyed his career and cost him a sixth installment in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.The American Civil Liberties Union was involved in conceiving, drafting and placing the op-ed, which used Heard’s experiences to address issues including the Violence Against Women Act and sexual assault on college campuses. At the trial on Thursday, Depp’s attorneys played a video deposition of Terence Dougherty, the ACLU’s general counsel.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe jurors in Johnny Depp’s defamation trial were shown several text messages on Thursday in which he used violent and obscene language, and discussed copious drug and alcohol use.Depp took the stand for the third consecutive day in a courtroom in Fairfax, Va., as his trial against ex-wife Amber Heard continued. Depp claims that Heard lied when she accused him of hitting her, and is seeking $50 million in damages for the harm she caused to his career.In his testimony on Tuesday and Wednesday, Depp denied that he had ever hit any woman.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe members of the Directors Guild of Canada in British Columbia have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, after a year of negotiations on a new contract reached an impasse.The union announced that the vote passed with 92.2% support, with 86.2% of eligible members casting a vote. Union officials hope the vote gives negotiators the leverage to seek greater concessions in talks with film and TV producers.“We thank our members for the solidarity they have shown with this overwhelming mandate,” said Allan Harmon, the chairman of the union’s British Columbia council.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe widow of Ol’ Dirty Bastard sued Wu-Tang Clan Productions on Tuesday, alleging that the late rapper’s estate is owed at least $1 million in unpaid royalties.ODB, whose legal name was Russell Tyrone Jones, was a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, the rap group that catapulted to stardom in the early 1990s. He died of a drug overdose in 2004 at the age of 35.His widow, Icelene Jones, alleges in the lawsuit that Wu-Tang Clan Productions did not pay royalties to the estate from 2011 until July 2021, when it sent a check for $130,000.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe medic who rushed to help “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after Hutchins was shot on set last fall has filed a negligence lawsuit against several crew members and the film’s production entity.Cherlyn Schaefer was summoned to the church building at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 21, after the film’s star, Alec Baldwin, shot Hutchins and director Joel Souza while preparing for a scene.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe New Mexico prosecutor overseeing the investigation into the “Rust” shooting said Friday that she is “exploring various legal theories” in the case, and has not ruled out any criminal charges.Mary Carmack-Altwies, the district attorney for New Mexico’s First Judicial District, issued a statement apparently in response to Alec Baldwin’s interview on ABC on Thursday, in which the actor said he did not think he would be charged criminally in the case.“Everyone

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe weapons expert who supplied guns and ammo for the production of “Rust” told “Good Morning America” on Thursday that the live rounds found on set did not come from him.Seth Kenney, of PDQ Arm & Prop, gave his first public comments shortly after investigators searched his business in Albuquerque, N.M., for clues that might explain how live rounds became mingled with dummy rounds. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on Oct.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe weapons expert who supplied firearms for use on the movie “Rust” told investigators he believed he knew how live rounds got mixed in with dummy rounds, according to an affidavit released on Tuesday.The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the cause of the shooting on the set of the film on Oct. 21, in which actor Alec Baldwin fired a shot that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded the film’s director, Joel Souza.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe script supervisor on “Rust” filed a lawsuit against star Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers on Wednesday, saying she suffered both “physical and emotional” injuries when Baldwin shot the film’s cinematographer while preparing for a scene.Mamie Mitchell filed the suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court and is represented by attorney Gloria Allred.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe attorney for “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed said on Wednesday that she is being “framed” in the on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.The attorney, Jason Bowles, raised eyebrows in an appearance on “Today” last week when he blamed “sabotage” for the presence of live rounds on the set.In a statement on Wednesday, he repeated that charge, and also asserted that evidence was “tampered with” in the immediate aftermath of the Oct.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees has voted to approve a strike authorization, giving the union president the power to shut down film and TV production across the country.The vote passed with 98 percent support, and 90 percent turnout.The vote comes after talks stalled between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe executive producer of “The Young and the Restless” allegedly made repeated advances toward an actress, commented on her body, offered her a “private acting lesson” and had her fired when she rebuffed him, according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday.Actress Briana Thomas filed suit against Sony Pictures Television, which produces the long-running CBS soap opera, and CBS Studios.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told a judge on Wednesday that it is ready to bring Harvey Weinstein to trial within four months on charges of rape and sexual assault.Weinstein is still in prison in upstate New York, where he has been fighting his extradition since April.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe screenwriter of an upcoming film about Flamin’ Hot Cheetos defended the project on Tuesday, after a Los Angeles Times report challenged the central character’s claim to have invented the snack product.Lewis Colick argued that Richard Montañez, the hero of “Flamin’ Hot,” still has an inspiring story to tell of rising through the corporate ranks at Frito-Lay.“I think enough of the story is true,” Colick said.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe owner of the Santa Monica Place mall has filed a lawsuit seeking to evict the ArcLight Theatre for non-payment of rent.Macerich, the real estate investment trust that owns the mall, served an eviction notice on April 13, the day after Pacific Theatres announced that it would permanently close all 17 of its ArcLight and Pacific locations.The eviction notice gave Pacific seven days to pay $368,841.60 or forfeit the premises.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe owner of a Runyon Canyon vacation rental home sued DaBaby on Monday, alleging that the rapper assaulted him and stole his phone when he tried to shut down an unauthorized music video shoot last December.Gary Pagar states that DaBaby — whose legal name is Jonathan Kirk — rented the property on condition that no more than 12 people would be on site, in keeping with COVID-19 restrictions.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe attorneys and professionals in the Weinstein Co.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe producers of the upcoming Ben Affleck film “Hypnotic” filed a lawsuit on Wednesday accusing their insurance company of refusing to extend their policy to account for the pandemic.The lawsuit is among the first, if not the first, to test whether film insurers will be forced to accommodate delays caused by COVID-19.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has filed a request to extradite Harvey Weinstein, as it seeks to try him on five counts of sexual assault and rape.The D.A.’s office had previously filed a detainer on New York State prison authorities, the first step in a process that has been slowed considerably by the coronavirus pandemic.