James Ivory recounts clashes of his career
LONDON, June 11 (UPI) -- British film director James Ivory reveals his clashes with actors Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench in his memoir "Conversation."
However, his harshest criticism is targeted toward U.S. Miramax producer Harvey Weinstein, who he described as a restless and ambitious man as well as "unlovely in manner and speech, possessing no artistic talent of any kind," reported the Daily Telegraph Saturday.
Ivory compared Weinstein to a schoolyard bully who twists people's arms "until they scream and kneel down in the dirt at his feet," the telegraph said.
Ivory said Weinstein wanted him to cut back his film of the Henry James classic, "The Golden Bowl," and to cut some of Uma Thurman's performance.
"Not one frame or bar of music. The only change we made -- or cut -- was to remove his (Weinstein's) name from the credits," Ivory said.
Documentary 'Stagedoor' gets L.A. premiere
LOS ANGELES, June 11 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Alexandra Shiva brings her documentary "Stagedoor" to the Los Angeles Film Festival at the Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood.
The documentary, about a unique summer theater camp, Stagedoor Manor, follows five teenage aspiring artists attending the camp that some have dubbed "a haven for adolescent self-proclaimed 'theater geeks.'"
The film follows: 15-year-old Maddy, a chorus girl who knows her limitations; 14-year-old Nicole -- an awkward young comedienne; 14-year-old Taylor, suffering from attention deficit disorer and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, who finds himself totally at home in the theatrical world; 15-year-old Robert who played Simba in "The Lion King" on Broadway for 8 months until his voice changed; and 17-year-old Randi, a Stagedoor lifer, who has been coming to the camp for 9 years.
The camp also boasts a an impressive list of famous alumni camp goers including: Jon Cryer, Robert Downey Jr., Mandy Moore, Zack Braff, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Josh Charles and Natalie Portman.
The documentary will be screened next Saturday.
Dennis Weaver stars in ABC Family drama
LOS ANGELES, June 11 (UPI) -- Dennis Weaver is ready to saddle up again in a TV series, co-starring in ABC Family's "Wildfire," as the eccentric owner of a U.S. thoroughbred ranch.
"Wildfire" is a contemporary drama about a troubled teenage girl, played by Genevieve Cortese, who has talent with horses and gets a chance at a new life on the thoroughbred racing ranch after she is released from a juvenile detention center.
Also starring in the two-hour premiere segment with Weaver are: Nana Visitor, Greg Serano and Micah Alberti, Nicole Tubiola, Andrew Hoeft, Ryan Sypek and James Read.
"Wildfire," directed by Steve Miner and produced by Lions Gate Television, premieres June 20 as a two-hour move at 8 p.m. EDT, and is followed by 11 one-hour episodes airing consecutive Mondays beginning June 27.
Perhaps best known for his roles in "Gunsmoke," "McCloud" and "Lonesome Dove," Weaver has also created the Institute of Ecolonomics, to fight global atmospheric pollution.
In his recent semi-autobiography, "All the World's a Stage," Weaver reveals how ecolonomics -- economics and ecology -- is encouraging businesses to prosper while cleaning the planet.
VH1: Gary Coleman top children's star
NEW YORK, June 11 (UPI) -- U.S. cable's VH1 has crowned Gary Coleman, of "Diff'rent Strokes" fame, the top children's star, followed by "Home Alone" star Macaulay Culkin.
Rounding out the Top 10 children stars are: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen of "Full House"; Jodie Foster of "Taxi Driver"; Drew Barrymore of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"; Emmanuel Lewis of "Webster"; Ron Howard of "The Andy Griffith Show"; Corey Feldman of "Stand By Me"; Maureen McCormick, of "The Brady Bunch" and Danny Bonaduce of "The Partridge Family."
"100 Greatest Kid Stars" premiers Monday on VH1 at 9 p.m. EDT. It is a five-night special that follows the tradition of VH1's successful "100 Greatest ... " franchise.
VH1 has assembled the definitive list of child stars, and counts them down using new, exclusive interviews with many of the stars themselves and some golden footage from the past TV shows and movies.
The show is hosted by Christopher Knight.
