New version of Justin Bieber film to hit theaters

By Pamela McClintock

Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:46pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In an unprecedented move, Paramount's Insurge Pictures will release an updated director's fan cut of "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" in a one-week exclusive run, beginning February 25.

Director Jon M. Chu's updated "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Director's Fan Cut" will play only in 3D runs in the U.S. and Canada, replacing the original version. There will be 40 minutes of new footage.

Chu has trimmed 30 minutes of footage from the original "Never Say Never" to accommodate the additional scenes. Updated version runs 115 minutes, instead of the original running time of 105 minutes.

Move is designed to whip up renewed interest among Bieber's diehard fans, and spark repeat viewing in the film's third weekend in release. "Never Say Never" is already a financial success, having grossed $51.4 million in its first 11 days in release.

The original "Never Say Never" will continue playing in 2D runs. The cost of a 35mm print makes sending the director's cut to those theaters financially unworkable. Digital prints, however, are a fraction of the cost.

Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said the studio is "trying to take advantage of options from digital technology that didn't exist before and give fans even more of what they loved from the first version."

As he began the editing process, Chu realized he had a significant amount of footage that he couldn't use in the initial theatrical release. He then spent dozens of hours on Twitter and Facebook engaging with fans to see what they would like to see.

Some of the new footage includes more of Bieber's friends and hometown life, as well as new songs and special footage shot of the film's premiere at theaters across the country.

"I realized I had an embarrassment of riches when I was I in the cutting room," said Chu. "This cut allows me to retain some of the best scenes from the original movie, while incorporating previously unseen footage and new material I shot during our extensive promotional tour on behalf of the movie. Justin's dedication to his fan base is unwavering and I was inspired as a filmmaker to attempt to provide them a unique experience that showed even more of his world."

Paramount has submitted the "Director's Cut" to the ratings board. Because the studio isn't asking for a new rating, it doesn't need to pull "Never Say Never" from theaters pending review by the Classification and Ratings Administration.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

"Unknown" claims holiday box office crown

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES | Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:59pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Thriller "Unknown" found plenty of friends over the four-day, President's Day holiday weekend in the United States, as it claimed the top spot on box office charts during a slow period in movie theaters.

"Unknown," starring Liam Neeson as a man who must reclaim his identity after finding it stolen when he awakens from a coma, raked in $25.6 million over the four days starting on Friday, according to studio estimates released on Monday.

It beat family animated film "Gnomeo and Juliet," which claimed the No. 2 spot with $24.8 million, switching places from Sunday's estimates with thriller "I Am Number Four, which landed at No. 3 after four days with $22.6 million.

On Sunday, studio estimates put "Gnomeo" in the No. 3 spot with a three-day weekend total of $19.4 million to $19.5 million for "I Am Number Four." But those totals were revised downward and Monday's holiday was expected to boost the number of families in theaters, which was seen as helping "Gnomeo."

The comedy about garden gnomes in a family feud, experienced a slight 24 percent drop in ticket sales from its debut last weekend. Typically, a major studio release like "Gnomeo" might be expected drop around a 50 percent in its second weekend, but the family film has been helped by generally good critics' reviews and audience ratings.

The holiday's No. 4 movie was comedy "Just Go With It" starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Its four-day ticket sales were estimated at $21.7 million and it's total box office at $64.3 million in the United States and Canada.

Last week's No. 2 movie, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," a look at the life of teenage singer Bieber, fell to No. 6 with an estimate of $16.5 million over the four days. Its total domestic revenues now total $51.4 million after two weeks.

The weekend's other new major release, Martin Lawrence comedy "Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son" claimed the No. 5 spot with $19 million during the holiday weekend.

Ticket sales for all films in theaters from Friday through Monday were estimated at $174 million, down around 27 percent from 2010's Presidents Day weekend tally of $239.3 million, according to industry tracker Hollywood.com Box Office.

Other notable releases included Oscar hopeful "The King's Speech," which landed at No 7. with a four-day estimate of $7.9 million, pushing its total box office up to $104.6 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were holdovers from recent weeks: "The Roommate," "The Eagle" and "No Strings Attached" in the No. 8, 9 and 10 spots, respectively.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Music exec slams Grammys in full-page NY Times ad

Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:19am EST

NEW YORK (Billboard) - A veteran music executive has lambasted the Grammy Awards as "a series of hypocrisies and contradictions," in a full-page New York Times advertisement that ran a week after last Sunday's annual ceremony.

Steve Stoute's open letter to Grammy organizers ripped the organization and its 12,000-odd voters for snubbing Eminem and Justin Bieber at this year's ceremony, as well as Eminem and Kanye West at past events.

"Over the course of my 20-year history as an executive in the music business and as the owner of a firm that specializes in in-culture advertising, I have come to the conclusion that the Grammy Awards have clearly lost touch with contemporary popular culture," wrote Stoute, who is currently CEO of the marketing company Translation.

"Unfortunately, the awards show has become a series of hypocrisies and contradictions, leaving me to question why any contemporary popular artist would even participate."

Eminem, this year's leading contender, lost in most of the major categories for which he was nominated. Two-time nominee Bieber went home empty-handed and disappointed. Both West and Eminem have lost the coveted album of the year race multiple times.

"We must acknowledge the massive cultural impact of Eminem and Kanye West and how their music is shaping, influencing and defining the voice of a generation," Stoute wrote.

As for Bieber, he wrote, "How is it that Justin Bieber, an artist that defines what it means to be a modern artist, did not win Best New Artist?" (That award went to singer/bassist Esperanza Spalding.)

Stoute noted a connection between performers and winners, citing Arcade Fire's surprise album of the year win just after they had finished their performance.

"Does the Grammys intentionally use artists for their celebrity, popularity and cultural appeal when they already know the winners and then program a show against this expectation?"

There was no immediate reaction from the Recording Academy. Last Sunday's show, despite or because of the shocks, was the highest rated in a decade.