I think everyone agrees that Nikki Finke's blog at LA Weekly is the place to be for WGA Strike Coverage ... well, other than United Hollywood, or the guys from Letterman over at LateShowWritersOnStrike.Com.
However, who knew how downright skeery Nikki Finke could get? Today, she reveals something that should make lawyers cringe everywhere, not just in Hollywood:
"Because Hollywood is starting to outsource legal research, legal analysis, legal opinion and contract drafting services. Production houses like 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and HBO have hired an India-headquartered company, SDD Global Solutions, to handle the legal biz of their movie and TV releases, according to The Times Of India in a recent article. The newspaper says the Mysore-based legal process outsourcing firm has 40 attorneys and is owned by Smith Dornan Dehn, a Manhattan-based international media and intellectual property firm funded by Cisco Systems, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Barclay's Capital."
For the full scoop, go read her complete post, "News to Make a Showbiz Lawyer Shudder," as well as the Times of India article she references.
For more on legal outsourcing, check out SDD's website as well as Indian Rahul Jindal's blog, which purportedly keeps track of the new trend of "LPO" (Legal Process Outsourcing) aka "LSO" (Legal Services Outsourcing).
11/19/2007
Prediction: The Paparazzi Push-Back Begins
Nicole Kidman testified today in Australia about being hounded by paparazzi in her homeland and especially about one, specific harrowing event where she feared that she was about to be in a car accident. From the Australian Herald Sun, her testimony:
'"I was frightened and I was worried, I was worried about a car accident," she said.
'Her driver, John Manning, sounded "pretty panicked" as he told her about Mr Fawcett's "crazy" driving.
'"I was really frightened and I was in tears, and distressed," she said.
'Kidman said she no longer drove herself because she did not "feel equipped to handle being pursued" by photographers.'
Meanwhile, Britney Spears has begun dealing with the media mob by continuing to slowly drive her car through the crowd -- and two paparazzi have already had their feet run over by her tires. One paparazzi says this isn't her fault, that the paps are getting too close to the car and not moving away in time.
The inquest into Princess Diana's death continues, and while there were predictions then of an increase in paparazzi-induced fatalities, it didn't happen. Times have changed, though, and I predict that celebrities are getting more frazzled and fearful as pararazzi continue to become more brazen and forceful.
My prediction: celebrities are going to start pushing back, like Britney.
And, given the rest of Nicole Kidman's testimony -- bugs found where she was honeymooning with Kevin Urban, for example -- looks like lines are being crossed that should be respected.
No one has much sympathy for the star, and nothing has been done since Diana to stop this mess. Britney's slow-moving, foot-smashing car may be just the beginning of celebrities trying to define a privacy line for themselves. At least, that's what I'm seeing.
'"I was frightened and I was worried, I was worried about a car accident," she said.
'Her driver, John Manning, sounded "pretty panicked" as he told her about Mr Fawcett's "crazy" driving.
'"I was really frightened and I was in tears, and distressed," she said.
'Kidman said she no longer drove herself because she did not "feel equipped to handle being pursued" by photographers.'
Meanwhile, Britney Spears has begun dealing with the media mob by continuing to slowly drive her car through the crowd -- and two paparazzi have already had their feet run over by her tires. One paparazzi says this isn't her fault, that the paps are getting too close to the car and not moving away in time.
The inquest into Princess Diana's death continues, and while there were predictions then of an increase in paparazzi-induced fatalities, it didn't happen. Times have changed, though, and I predict that celebrities are getting more frazzled and fearful as pararazzi continue to become more brazen and forceful.
My prediction: celebrities are going to start pushing back, like Britney.
And, given the rest of Nicole Kidman's testimony -- bugs found where she was honeymooning with Kevin Urban, for example -- looks like lines are being crossed that should be respected.
No one has much sympathy for the star, and nothing has been done since Diana to stop this mess. Britney's slow-moving, foot-smashing car may be just the beginning of celebrities trying to define a privacy line for themselves. At least, that's what I'm seeing.
11/15/2007
Martha Stewart Settles Before Katonah Roast
Martha's agreed to limit the use of "Katonah" as a label for furniture, chair cushions, pillows, and mirrors. Nothing else.
The town of Katonah's happy.
I guess this means that they're cancelling the roast of Martha that they'd planned for this month, where (I kid you not) they were planning on serving a wine labelled "Australian Bitch." (There it is, in the photo.)
Personally, I've got to get me some of this wine. I've already started the Whine/Wine Pun List.
11/14/2007
Blindspot: Judith Regan
Judith Regan is suing for libel. One hundred million dollars of harm to her reputation. This, from a woman who was pushing to publish the OJ confessional with all its word count on Nicole Brown Simpson?
Am I missing something here or does Judith Regan need what some folks would call "a good talking to"?
To clarify: Regan was willing to have millions of copies sold of a book filled with nasty commentary on a woman dead and unable to defend herself, and she's simultaneously willing to sue for millions of dollars for a purported slight to her reputation.
Plueeezzzzzeeeeeee.....
Am I missing something here or does Judith Regan need what some folks would call "a good talking to"?
To clarify: Regan was willing to have millions of copies sold of a book filled with nasty commentary on a woman dead and unable to defend herself, and she's simultaneously willing to sue for millions of dollars for a purported slight to her reputation.
Plueeezzzzzeeeeeee.....
11/13/2007
Google's $10 Million Prize Pot: the Open Handset Alliance
Win a prize -- Google's put $10 million in the prize pot.
Read all about Google's Android and Dream and Prize Money in the CNET.COM interview of:
1. Mark Rubin, Google's Mobile-Platforms director and in a
2. Rich Miner, Google's Android guy, by PCWorld.
What's this all about?
Google's just announced the creation of the Open Handset Alliance, as well as introducing its Android mobile phone software. (Read: cheaper, cutting-edge competition for IPhone, etc.)
What's the goal?
Getting you fast and reliable internet service outside of a PC or a laptop and away from your desk or favorite coffee house. Better access and more freedom for you, more advertising revenue for them.
There are 34 companies already committed to the Alliance, including such BigWigs as T-Mobile, Motorola, and Sprint-Nextel. The FCC has given its nod of approval.
The Open Handset Alliance will work together on developing applications for the Android platform. Expect to see the new Androids, or "Google phones," sometime in 2008.
Google bought Android in 2005, with Rubin explaining back then that wireless was the "next frontier in search." Rubin came to Google via Android. So did Miner.
Read all about Google's Android and Dream and Prize Money in the CNET.COM interview of:
1. Mark Rubin, Google's Mobile-Platforms director and in a
2. Rich Miner, Google's Android guy, by PCWorld.
What's this all about?
Google's just announced the creation of the Open Handset Alliance, as well as introducing its Android mobile phone software. (Read: cheaper, cutting-edge competition for IPhone, etc.)
What's the goal?
Getting you fast and reliable internet service outside of a PC or a laptop and away from your desk or favorite coffee house. Better access and more freedom for you, more advertising revenue for them.
There are 34 companies already committed to the Alliance, including such BigWigs as T-Mobile, Motorola, and Sprint-Nextel. The FCC has given its nod of approval.
The Open Handset Alliance will work together on developing applications for the Android platform. Expect to see the new Androids, or "Google phones," sometime in 2008.
Google bought Android in 2005, with Rubin explaining back then that wireless was the "next frontier in search." Rubin came to Google via Android. So did Miner.
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