France...offers tax incentives to Hollywood filmmakers! Cultural Minister Frédéric Mitterrand pitches exotic locales!

Exotic locales on Riviera a lure!



French Culture Minister  Frédéric Mitterrand swallowed a little pride and trotted in to Hollywood to meet with industry execs in recent days in a ballsy effort to boost the ailing film business overseas.

In order to achieve that ambitious goal, Mitterrand (who is the nephew of the former French Prime Minister François Mitterrand ) was inclined to converse in a language that spoke volumes in the corridors of power in Tinsel Town.

After all - when it comes to cost-cutting, tax breaks, and inviting financial perks - the suits at the major studios are inclined to be all ears - and likewise - open-minded when it comes to keeping budgets in line.

Consequently, the well-heeled European “took lunch” with movers-and-shakers like Bob Iger (Walt Disney Company) and Barry Meyer (Warner Brothers) to enlighten filmmakers about the advantages of shooting their multi-million-dollar projects in exotic breathtaking locales in France.

For starters, the French Government has introduced fresh incentives which guarantee foreign movie-makers a 20% tax rebate toward film production costs (with a maximum of $5.6 million per project or 4 million Euros).

There are a couple of hitches, though.

Most non-sports and news programming on French Television Networks must be French-based or European in origin in accordance with applicable laws.

But, any wheeler-dealer in a shark-skin suit should be able to jump the hurdles, when it comes to tricky film shoots.

For example, to qualify for the feature film rebate, scriptwriters are required to promote France by showcasing its rich cultural heritage in the storyline.

To accomplish this end, French officials launched a program to provide grants to screenwriters so they may tour France for free - and thus - familiarize themselves with the country’s historical background with the express aim of meeting the criteria.

More than a dozen filmmakers from the U.S. have taken advantage of the tax incentives to date, and it is expected that with a turn-around in the economy on the horizon, business overseas may start booming in the French film industry.

Meanwhile, a posse of producers in California are fighting – too – to prevent run-away production, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Hollywood remains the film capitol of the world!

Fists across the water?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

French filmmakers renowned the world-over!





Charlie Sheen...jumps ship to Fox! Jimmy Kimmel good kisser!

 

 



Door still open?

Charlie Sheen (winning!) trotted out onto the stage of  a live! talk show last night and planted a big sloppy kiss on Jimmy Kimmel's mouth!

"Moist lips," Charlie grinned, as the audience beneath the footlights roared in approval!

If anyone knows anything about "moist lips", it's certainly the wild & woolly diminutive actor sweeping the Nation with his manic  (pathetic & desperate?) brand of humor!

And, Sheen was not without gifts, either.

Talk about swag!

The drug-addled superstar reached into his grab-bag of goodies and proceeded to plunk down a nifty coffee mug with the lovable image of a fox etched on its face.

Avid fans ecstatically cheered the "tiger blood" one on, also, as he tossed a bevy of t-shirts in their midst with some of his latest slogans (true gems) emblazoned on the front.

"Duh!"

"Winning!"

Though one should never look a gift horse in the mouth, the spontaneous moment begged the question.

Are the rumors true?

Tabloid gossips have been all a-buzz with the scuttlebutt that Sheen has signed on with the Fox network.

Well, the brass over there are no strangers to controversy, so go figure!

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Charlie plays the perfect foil!

Charlie Sheen...winning streak ends! In words of Donald Trump...

 

In response to Charlie Sheen's laments over the weekend that the brass at the Network failed to return his telephone calls regarding the production of - "Two and a half Men" - the execs at Warner Brothers finally ended the suspense.

Instead of a jolt in the arm, the suits delivered a lethal blow.

Uh-huh!

In the words of the immortal Donald Trump, they were inclined to utter up:

"You're fired!"

Since the fate of the show is still up-in-the-air, pundits have been quick to drag long-in-the-tooth actor John Stamos into the frey (a possible replacement) to underscore a Hollywood reality.

Everyone can be replaced!

That's usually a given, when disputes arise with tempermental talents on the creative end, and especially rings true when troubles arise with vain egotistical actors starring in the hit shows.

Except with one notable exception in recent years.

If you recall - the cast of "Friends" were able to hold out - and achieve their big buck demands.

Why, pray tell?

Because all of the actors held their ground and stood together in the good fight.

In retrospect?

Charlie Sheen should have reached out to the other one-and-a-half men on the popular TV sitcom.

Is a reality show in the wings for Sheen now?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

"You're fired!"