deals (85 posts)

Rena Durham/ZUMAPress.com

We're thinking the wage earned pulling kitchen and laundry duty isn't going to cut it...

Lou Pearlman, the imprisoned boy-band visionary who bilked a number of banks and private investors out of $300 million, has been ordered to repay the entire sum to his victims—starting with the unfortunate, unincorporated individuals who had the misfortune of doing "business" with Pearlman.

The 10 banks, including Washington Mutual and Bank of America, that unwittingly loaned him money under false pretenses will be the last to collect any restitution, according to the ruling issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp.

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SAG

Will differences at last be put aside?

The Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers said today that the Screen Actors Guild has requested a Wednesday meeting.

While, according to the alliance, SAG didn't divulge its express purpose for tomorrow's powwow, we're going to go out on a limb and assume it concerns the ongoing battle over the new three-year contract the union's leaders have yet to sign off on.

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SAG

SAG won't strike and it won't settle. So what does it want?

The Screen Actors Guild has again rejected the new three-year deal proposed last week by major Hollywood studios and TV networks, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said Thursday evening following a five-hour sit-down with SAG leaders.

Instead, the 120,000-member union presented an amended counteroffer that more resembled its idea of what fair residuals and wage increases look like.

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INFDaily.com

Nicole Richie is preparing to tell the truth—to an extent.

The former Simple Life star exclusively tells E! News that a TV show based on her 2005 coming-of-age novel The Truth About Diamonds is in the works and she's gearing up to be a part of the production.

"I would definitely produce and definitely be in the show," the socialite says, although she stopped short of saying she would play the lead, adding, "I don't know if I need to be the star of this show.

"I've got a lot going on right now."

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SAG

Hollywood's major studios have advised the Screen Actors Guild to sleep on it. Just so long as it wakes up in time.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers said Wednesday that the union has until Aug. 15 to accept the three-year deal on the table, or else any proposed wage increases will no longer be retroactive to July 1, the day after their previous contract expired.

If SAG continues to hold out for more generous new-media and DVD residuals past the newly imposed deadline, it could amount to losses of nearly $200,000 a day for the actors.

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Skechers

You might not be able to sing like David Cook, but at least you can now walk in shoes.

The reigning American Idol champ has just scored a global endorsement deal with Skechers, the shoe company announced today.

Skechers uses Cook's tousled image to advertise its line of casual footwear through December 2009, including newly branded Skechers' styles "that will reflect his personality, interests and appeal."

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Paul Fenton/ZUMAPress.com

Is Brad Pitt ready to be one of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards?

The Oscar-winning writer-director has confirmed he will start production in October on his long-gestating World War II epic, Inglorious Bastards. And while there's been no official announcement, Pitt's name has surfaced for one of the leads.

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aftra.org

Well, some actors are squared away.

Members of the 70,000-strong American Federation of TV and Radio Artists have voted 62.4 percent in favor of ratifying the contract its leaders cooked up in May with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers, which represents major studios and networks.

"Today's vote reflects the ability of AFTRA members to recognize a solid contract when they see it," union president Roberta Reardon said in a statement, adding that the agreement, which only involves a handful of prime-time shows, followed an "unprecedented disinformation campaign aimed at interfering with our ratification process."

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Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com

Leonardo DiCaprio's latest geofriendly message comes in a timely manner.

The Oscar-nominated actor has teamed up with watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre to develop two luxe timepieces to benefit his eponymous fund at the California Community Foundation, which helps spread the actor's ecological sensibilities.

"We all have to do our part to raise awareness about global warming and the problems we as a people face in promoting a sustainable environmental future for our planet," DiCaprio said Tuesday.

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AP Photo/William B. Plowman

Nickelback just pulled a Madonna.

The rock band is the latest superstar act to take its business to Live Nation, inking a wide-ranging deal that includes three albums (with an option for a fourth), tours, sponsorships, merchandising, website, licensing, fan club, broadcast rights and just about everything else besides actually writing songs for 'em.

"The Live Nation deal helps us maximize the band's opportunities in all areas of our career," frontman Chad Kroeger says in a statement. "We are extremely confident that Live Nation's complete global team is the world's finest and we are excited to be a part of the Live Nation vision and future!"

We're sure the money didn't hurt, either, Chad. The deal is estimated to be worth between $50 million and $70 million.

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SAG

Heading into the holiday weekend, there are no fireworks coming from the Screen Actors Guild.

The union briefly resumed talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers today, but the meeting ended with SAG asking for more time to review the new contract the studios have proposed.

On Tuesday, SAG executive director Doug Allen said the deal as it stands is sorely lacking in the new-media residuals department.

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Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

For those of you who can't envision an election season without Rush Limbaugh's fair and balanced political perspective, fear not.

On the eve of The Rush Limbaugh Show's 20th anniversary, the conservative talk-radio host has signed an estimated $400 million deal with Clear Channel Communications that will keep him on the air through 2016, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

According to Limbaugh, that hefty sum includes a $100 million signing bonus. His existing $225 million, nine-year contract was due to expire in 2009.

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