• What's Next For Bob Odenkirk?
• Kevin Spacey sings for Lennon
• Michael Caine strikes gold in third 'Austin Powers'
• Hollywood mavericks form new film company
• French Stewart Has Teamed With Writer-Producer Matthew Carlson For Fox.
• Julianna Margulies has signed "Evelyn"
• Moore and Quaid Far From Heaven
• Scenes Intimes with Anne Parillaud
• Ben Affleck Brings Superhero Saga "Daredevil." Alive.
• The Top Fives in TV, Movies, Music
• Music, Movie Firms Sue Online File-Swapping Sites
• Procon Pictures LLC., The Collapse Of The Joint Venture
• Kinowelt’s Production Activities To Be Managed Solely By Rainer Koelmel

What's Next For Bob Odenkirk?

 A development deal with 20th Century Fox Television and a commitment from Fox Broadcasting Co. for a sketch comedy series dubbed "Next."

Odenkirk will be writer and star of "Next," which he describes as a slightly more mainstream take on the warped comedy he served up on the HBO cult favorite series "Mr. Show." Odenkirk will executive produce the half-hour pilot with his manager, Bernie Brillstein.

"I've thought for many years that I would like to make a sketch show work in primetime, to show all the naysayers that the audience can handle the variety and speed of a sketch show," Odenkirk said. "The 'Mr. Show' sensibility will carry over, but we'll just apply it to topics that a wider audience can relate to, and we'll have to avoid swearing and brief nudity."

20th Century Fox TV president Gary Newman said the studio has long been trying to develop a feasible sketch-comedy vehicle.

"Bob came in and showed us a piece of film that we believe represents the next generation of sketch comedy," Newman said, noting that the multiyear pact calls for Odenkirk to develop a wide range of projects for the studio. "We think it's fantastic for Fox."

"Next" will feature a small group of core ensemble of players augmented by a deep bench, Odenkirk said.

"We're also gonna steal something from 'Mr. Show' by having guest stars hidden in the show," he said. "It'll be 'find the guest star' for the audience."

Odenkirk, an alumnus of "Saturday Night Live" and Fox's short-lived but influential "The Ben Stiller Show," said he intends to assemble a team of performers and writers whom he has known and worked with for some time. He declined to reveal names because no formal deals are yet in place.

"This will not be a random group of strangers who are forced to try to share a vision," Odenkirk said. "This will be done by people who are already keyed to the vision."

Odenkirk met with several outlets for the project but said he was most encouraged by the response from Fox entertainment president Gail Berman, comedy development head Tracy Katsky and alternative programming chief Mike Darnell.

Odenkirk's sketch-comedy chops come from his 1987-91 stint as a writer on NBC's "SNL," for which he earned an Emmy in 1988. He earned a second Emmy for his work on 1993's "Ben Stiller Show." Odenkirk and David Cross wrote and star in "Mr. Show," which ran sporadically on HBO from 1995-99.

Most recently, Odenkirk has been working on "Run Ronnie Run," a feature based on "Mr. Show" that is due for release by New Line Cinema in the spring. In addition to Brillstein, Odenkirk is repped by Endeavor and attorney Michael Gendler.

Kevin Spacey sings for Lennon

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey gave New York an opportunity to hear his singing talents at a tribute to the ex-Beatle John Lennon at Radio City Music Hall. At the event, which featured a slate of pop stars and non-musical actors, host Spacey treated the audience to a rousing rendition of the classic song, Mind Games.

The tribute was originally planned as part of the campaign against gun violence but was re-arranged to act as a tribute to New York's emergency workers and a fundraiser for the terror relief effort.

Also included on the bill were Alanis Morrisette, Shaggy, Moby and Cyndi Lauper, who performed Strawberry Fields Forever. Introducing the singers were an array of actors who included Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller and Steve Buscemi, who previously was a New York firefighter. The concert ended with group singalongs of Give Peace a Chance and Power to the People.

Spacey - who introduced Lennon as, "A Liverpudlian by birth,and a New Yorker by choice" - was recently involved in another kind act when he purchased an Oscar statuette at an auction which had been presented to composer George Stoll for Anchors Aweigh in 1945. The American Beauty star hen donated it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Academy Foundation, saying, "I respect the Academy and the integrity of the Awards it presents and I feel strongly that Academy Awards should belong to those who have earned them, not those who simply have the financial means to acquire them."

Michael Caine strikes gold in third 'Austin Powers'

Oscar-winning actor Michael Caine is in advanced negotiations to star in New Line Cinema's "Austin Powers 3: Goldmember" for director Jay Roach. Production is scheduled to begin next month for a July 26 release date.

Written by Mike Myers and Michael McCullers, the film continues the adventures of the swinging '60s super spy and his nemesis, Dr. Evil, both played by Myers.

Although the script is being kept tightly under wraps, Caine will play Capt. Hendricks, a security specialist of the Royal Navy.

Myers also is said to be playing the title character of the villainous Goldmember, as well as Fat Bastard, a role he originated in the second installment.

John Lyons and Eric McLeod are producing the film. Caine, repped by ICM, most recently starred in "Quills" and "Miss Congeniality." He next stars in Miramax's "The Quiet American" and the indie features "Last Orders" and "Quicksand."

Hollywood mavericks form new film company

Several top directors are to form a new company that will enable them to have more control over their work. This major venture, which brings together such such well-respected film-makers as Steven Soderbergh (Traffic), David Fincher (Fight Club), Alexander Payne (Election) and Spike Jonze (Being John Malcovich), will allow them to direct their own movies and enjoy complete creative control.

British director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) has also been invited to collaborate, although the Oscar-winning director still has commitments to London's Donmar Warehouse Theatre to consider. Each film-maker has agreed to direct three movies over the first five years and the venture could also see the directors having the opportunity to own their movies in five to seven years.

The new endeavour could possibly be linked to USA films, which would contribute financing and marketing, in return for US distribution rights. Although there are several other distribution companies said to be competing for the high-profile deal, USA Films seems to be the favourite, partly due to its work on Soderbergh's Traffic, which helped the drugs drama to win four Oscars.

As yet it is unclear as to whether the film-makers will be bringing in an executive to oversee the new company and there are at present no rules determining budgets or film length. There is also the matter of non-exclusive deals at other studios to be considered but it is believed that these relationships could be served if the studios in question take foreign distribution rights for the new films.

The venture harks back to a similar collaboration between directors Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich and William Friedkin, who in the late 1960s negotiated a similar deal with Paramount.

French Stewart Has Teamed With Writer-Producer Matthew Carlson For Fox.

"3rd Rock From the Sun" alumnus French Stewart has teamed with writer-producer Matthew Carlson ("The Wonder Years") to develop a comedy starring Stewart for Fox Broadcasting Co., where the actor has a talent holding deal.

Columbia TriStar Television, which has a deal with Carlson, has come aboard to produce the yet-untitled show, which has received a put pilot commitment from the network.

In the sitcom, based on an idea from Stewart, he stars as a driving school instructor who has to take in his brash but lovable grandmother after she has been kicked out of several nursing homes.

The show centers on the instructor and the oddball characters who attend the driving school.

Carlson, who will executive produce the pilot, will write the script with Stewart, who is getting a producer credit.

Carlson received two Emmy nominations for his work on ABC's "Wonder Years."

His other comedy series producing credits include the short-lived "Townies" at ABC and "God, the Devil and Bob" at NBC. He also worked as a writer on NBC's "Men Behaving Badly."

This past development season, Carlson executive produced Columbia's comedy pilots "More, Patience" for Fox and "The Gene Pool" for the WB Network.

Carlson is repped by CAA. Stewart is repped by UTA and manager J.C. Robbins.

Julianna Margulies has signed "Evelyn"

Julianna Margulies has signed to join Pierce Brosnan in the fact-based drama "Evelyn," with Aidan Quinn and Stephen Rea also negotiating for the film.

The United Artists project is based on the story of Desmond Doyle (Brosnan), who, after losing his job and watching his wife leave the country with another man, has his children taken away by an arcane custody law. Doyle cleans up his act and wages an unlikely legal battle. Margulies would play the woman who helps him regain custody. Bruce Beresford ("Double Jeopardy") will direct.

Since leaving her long run on "ER" last year, Margulies most recently starred in the TNT miniseries "The Mists of Avalon" and Jon Robin Baitz's play "Ten Unknowns" at Lincoln Center.

Moore and Quaid Far From Heaven

Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid co-star in "Far From Heaven," which is slated to start shooting Oct. 17 in Gotham and New Jersey.

Inspired by such 1950s melodramas as "Imitation of Life" and "All That Heaven Allows," "Far From Heaven" is set in Connecticut in 1957, with Moore playing a housewife who finds herself splintered between a marital crisis in the home and mounting racial tensions in the world.

Todd Haynes, who directed Moore in the 1995 feature "Safe," will take the helm of the $13.5 million independently financed project.

Scenes Intimes with Anne Parillaud

French actress Anne Parillaud, best known to U.S. audiences as Luc Besson's "La Femme Nikita," has signed on to star in Catherine Breillat's "Scenes Intimes."

The film, Breillat's ninth feature, unmasks the filmmaking process. "Cinema is what we see and what we imagine," said Breillat, known for sexy, violent films such as "Romance." "The film is both a comedy and a subject of reflection."

Parillaud, who, according to Breillat, accepted the role the day after she read the script, will play a film director, not unlike Breillat, shooting a movie that contains erotic scenes. "Scenes Intimes" will begin shooting mid-November. It is budgeted at $3.1 million.

Breillat's "Fat Girl" screens at the New York Festival Friday and opens in New York and Los Angeles Oct. 10.

Ben Affleck Brings Superhero Saga "Daredevil." Alive.

Ben Affleck soon will sport red spandex in Fox's feature version of Marvel Comics' superhero saga "Daredevil."

While the final touches still are being put on the deal, the "Pearl Harbor" pilot is expected to fetch a low eight-figure salary for his performance. The $50 million picture is tentatively scheduled to shoot next year in Vancouver. Mark Steven Johnson ("Simon Birch") will direct.

Affleck would play blind lawyer and martial artist Matt Murdock, who becomes so disillusioned with the legal system that he becomes the costumed crime-fighting vigilante known as Daredevil. After an accident with a radioactive isotope, he develops the radarlike sight that helps him bring villains to justice.

Also making the leap from comicbook to film will be Daredevil's enemies -- corpulent Mob boss Kingpin; master marksman Bullseye; and Daredevil's ex-girlfriend-turned assassin-for-hire, Elektra.

Vin Diesel had been circling the "Daredevil" project, but he has signed on to "The Chronicles of Riddick," a sequel to the Universal sci-fi pic "Pitch Black." Affleck recently shot "Surviving Christmas" for Columbia and "The Sum of All Fears" for Paramount.

The Top Fives in TV, Movies, Music

TELEVISION (From Nielsen Media Research)

1. "Friends," NBC.
2. "ER," NBC.
3. "Everybody Loves Raymond" CBS.
4. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" CBS.
5. "Inside Schwartz," NBC.

FILMS (From Exhibitor Relations Co.)

1. "Don't Say a Word," Fox.
2. "Zoolander," Paramount.
3. "Hearts in Atlantis," Warner Bros.
4. "Hardball," Paramount.
5. "The Others," Miramax.

SINGLES (From Billboard magazine)

1. "Fallin'," Alicia Keys. J.
2. "I'm Real," Jennifer Lopez (feat. Ja Rule). Epic.
3. "Where The Party At," Jagged Edge With Nelly. So So Def.
4. "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)," Blu Cantrell. RedZone.
5. "Family Affair," Mary J. Blige. MCA.

ALBUMS (From Billboard magazine)

1. "The Blueprint," Jay-Z. Roc-A-Fella.
2. "Songs In A Minor," Alicia Keys. J. (Platinum - certified sales of 1 million units)
3. "Silver Side Up," Nickelback. Roadrunner.
4. "Strange Little Girls," Tori Amos. Atlantic.
5. "Greatest Hits," Martina McBride. RCA (Nashville).

Music, Movie Firms Sue Online File-Swapping Sites

Having silenced Napster, the major record companies, joining forces with motion picture studios, have filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit aimed at a new generation of music- and movie-sharing Internet sites.

The suit, filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of more than 30 music and film studios, asserts that the online sharing services provide a "21st- century piratical bazaar" for the illegal exchange of copyrighted music, images and movies, including some still playing in theaters. Those suing ask the court to force three services, which all use a variation of the same software and ultimately tie into a single network, to stop users from exchanging copyrighted files.

But despite their past successes, the record and movie companies may be in for a significant legal and technological challenge, industry analysts say, because the new services rely on decentralized technology that could be tougher to shut down than Napster.

The defendants, MusicCity.com, Grokster and Consumer Empowerment B.V., "look like Napster, smell like Napster and, from a consumer perspective, operate just like Napster," said Matt Oppenheim, senior vice president of the Recording Industry Association of America, which is representing the major record labels in the suit.

MusicCity, a subsidiary of Screamcast of Franklin, Tenn., said it would vigorously contest the lawsuit, although it said it had not yet seen it. Consumer Empowerment, which is based in Amsterdam and is the maker of the underlying FastTrack software used by the three services, said it did not yet have a comment. Grokster, based on Nevis in the Caribbean, could not be reached.

The assertions made in the suit appear familiar to those in the case against Napster, which ultimately was shut down after a federal court found it had contributed to a wholesale exchange of copyright music. Napster, which has been offline since July, says it plans a for-pay, subscription-based service by the end of the year. The major record companies have said that they too plan pay services.

In the absence of Napster or paid services, a handful of new, free services have sprung up. MusicCity, for example, says that 23 million people have downloaded its version of the FastTrack software, which it calls Morpheus, since April and that 2 million to 2.5 million people are using the service each day. Consumers transferred more than 1.5 billion files in September using the FastTrack network, according to Webnoize, a research firm.

But there are some potentially crucial differences between Napster and these services, notably in the way the underlying technology works, said Eric Scheirer, a music industry analyst with Forrester Research.

In the case of Napster, users exchanged music they stored on their own computers, a function known in the trade as peer-to-peer exchange. But Napster's computers had a role in the process, too, searching users' individual machines to let others know whether a given song was available for exchange.

With the newer services, their operators maintain that they are one step further removed from the process. The operators say their users trade music from their own computers, but also use those computers to search.

The services' software makes searches of the network of users for those with the most powerful computers, turning those computers temporarily into a search hub, or "supernode," that others can tap into to search through the rest of the network.

"Even if you shut down companies involved, it's not at all clear that file sharing will cease," Mr. Scheirer said, adding that "the software is capable of running the network" by itself.

But the operators' computers are not excluded from the process. In the case of MusicCity, for example, the company inserts updated advertisements into individual users' software.

Mr. Oppenheim, of the Recording Industry Association, disagreed with the notion that the difference in the way the services work would make a difference to the courts. "The issue is are you creating and profiting from, and maintaining a system that is used for massive infringement," he said.

Steve Griffin, chairman and chief executive of Streamcast, said he did not know how his service differed from Napster, or how any differences might become legal defenses. "It's not my job to compare my architecture with Napster's," he said.

Mr. Griffin said his company profits by delivering advertisements to users of the software.

Confronted with the possibility that his company was profiting by advertising to people who are sharing copyrighted files, Mr. Griffin said, "We have no knowledge of exactly what content they are trying to exchange." And he added, "There is nothing we can do to control what user behavior is."

Procon Pictures LLC., The Collapse Of The Joint Venture

ProCon Pictures LLC, the joint venture launched by Germany’s Constantin Film and US production studio Propaganda Films to share the development, financing, production and exploitation of international cinema and TV projects has folded.

The joint venture, which was established at the beginning of May 2000 had aimed to produce three to four films a year and benefit, in particular, from Propaganda Films’ connections with such talent as directors Spike Jonze, Simon West and Dominic Sena as well as actors Nicole Kidman, Tom Sizemore and Matthew McConaughey.

At the venture’s launch, Constantin Film’s Bernd Eichinger declared that "extraordinary talent, many years of production experience, creative sensitivity and a successful management whom we have trusted for many years " had provided the basis for "this splendid partnership with Propaganda Films".

Moreover, a DG Bank report at the beginning of the year noted that the venture with Propaganda would enable Constantin "to develop and produce good, low-cost projects in future". "The reason for this is that Propaganda also produces advertising films alongside cinema films giving it access to young talents", the report noted. "This means that talented up-and-coming directors can also be given the opportunity to prove their ability in the feature film segment alongside advertising film production".

Exact details behind the collapse of the joint venture remain unclear, and while Propaganda was prepared only to confirm that the venture had folded, Constantin was unavailable for comment due to a public holiday in Germany. Propaganda had two of Constantin's German films in development with the idea of remaking them in English: the hit comedies Der Bewegte Mann and Harte Jungs (Just The Two Of Us).

Kinowelt’s Production Activities To Be Managed Solely By Rainer Koelmel

Cash-strapped Kinowelt Medien’s production arm Kinowelt Filmproduktion has become the latest victim of the German media group’s radical programme of restructuring.

Redundancy slips have been handed out to all of the production arm’s employees as well as to co-managing director Ulrich Limmer, whose contract would have been up for renewal at the end of the year.

According to a report in German magazine Blickpunkt: Film, Kinowelt’s production activities, in particular its international co-production operations, will now be managed solely by Kinowelt co-chairman Rainer Koelmel with the assistance of Daniel Guckau, senior vice president acquisitions & development, and Holger Stern, director of acquisitions & development, at Kinowelt Lizenzverwertungs GmbH, Kinowelt’s central purchasing and sales company for worldwide film rights.

The German-language projects developed by Limmer during his tenure at Kinowelt Filmproduktion such as the Oskar Maria Graf adaptation Wir Sind Gefangene and the coming-of-age drama Backstage, will be pursued by Limmer in a new production company which he plans to establish by the beginning of next year and is expected to enjoy a first-look arrangement with Kinowelt.

Headed up by Koelmel and Limmer, Kinowelt Filmproduktion had served over the past three years as co-producer on such award-winning films as Vanessa Jopp’s Vergiss Amerika, Esther Gronenborn’s alaska.de, and Istvan Szabo’s Sunshine as well as Jacques Rivette’s Va Savoir, Sandra Nettelbeck’s Mostly Martha and Daniel Diaz Torres’ Playing Swede (Der Cuba Coup).

The company also served as partner on Dominik Graf’s drama Der Felsen which is currently in postproduction, as well as co-producer on newcomer Katherine Lindberg’s drama Rain which was made as part of a joint venture pact between Kinowelt and Spain’s Lolafilms launched at Cannes in 2000.

Great hopes are currently being pinned on the production outfit’s first in-house production, the family film Das Sams, which based on the classic children’s book by Paul Maars which sold over 2.7m copies and has been directed by Dutch filmmaker Ben Verbong. The release date by Kinowelt is set for October 18.

The ongoing restructuring process at Kinowelt is expected to see the company focus its resources in future on theatrical distribution, license trading/production, and home entertainment and shed such operations as its in-flight entertainment business and many of its cinemas.

The contraction of the Kinowelt empire has also seen the number of employees fall from a high point at the beginning of the year when almost 1,000 people were working for companies within the Kinowelt Group. As of June 30, the number of employees had fallen 11% to 871 due to the consolidation of the merchandising division Brameier Fanworld, and Rainer Koelmel was quoted by Blickpunkt:Film as aiming for a staff total of 70-90 in the medium term.