News

Paul Heller, the American film producer known for his work on UK classic Withnail & I, the Oscar-winning My Left Foot and the Bruce Lee-starring Enter the Dragon, has died at the age of 93.

BAFTA confirmed his death and offered condolences to his family. He had been a BAFTA Los Angeles Board Member for a long time, supporting the org’s work in the area including backing career starters and local students through community-based education activities.

He was instrumental in the launch of BAFTA’s family screenings at Helen Keller Park, a series that led to mentorship and school programs throughout LA, and helped to create and launch the inaugural BAFTA Student Film Awards.

A New York native who spent years working in the UK, Heller also had credits including 1962 feature David and Lisa, which received two Oscar nominations. He worked as an executive at Warner Bros on pics such...

The Fox International president of marketing has been re-elected BAFTA La chairman.

Besides the re-election of Kieran Been, Ian Jessel and Peter Morris will serve as deputy co-chairs, while newly appointed Philip Cross and Gary Goldberger will serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Newly elected board members Bonnie Arnold and Andy Bird, will join returning members Adam Bialow, Bryony Foster, Paul Heller, James Knight, Vivian Mayer, Richard Thompson, Stewart Till and Beverley Ward.

Outgoing board members are Phil Ashcroft, Katy Haber, Deborah Kolar, Sandro Monetti, Julia Verdin, and Brian Walton.

The recently promoted president of international theatrical marketing at 20th Century Fox will assume the role of chairman of the board of directors.

Breen replaces Nigel Daly OBE, the head of Us advertising at Screen International who is about to end his year-long term.

Phil Ashcroft and Brian Walton will serve as co-deputy chairs, Deborah Kolar as secretary and Beverley Ward as treasurer in 2015.

“We would like to thank outgoing board members Nigel Daly OBE, Paul Steinke, Gary Dartnall OBE, Kara “Kj” Miller and Rosalie Swedlin for their invaluable contributions to the organisation throughout their time on the board of directors,” read a note from the leadership sent out to members on Monday (December 22).

Newly elected members who will serve a two-year term on the board of directors are Adam Bialow, Ian Jessel, Peter Morris, Stewart Till and Richard Thompson.

Returning members are Bryony Foster, Katherine Haber MBE, Paul Heller, James Knight, Vivian...

Screen International’s vp of business development Nigel Daly has been elected chairman and Deborah Kolar and Brian Walton have been elected deputy chairs of BAFTA La.

Paul Steinke is named treasurer and Beverley Ward secretary. Donald Haber continues as executive director and COO at BAFTA La.

The following have been elected to serve a two-year term on the board: Philip Ashcroft, Kieran Breen, Katherine Haber, Kolar, Sandro Monetti, Julia Verdin, Walton, Beverley Ward and Bumble Ward. The new team began their term on January 1.

They join the following members who will begin the second year of their two-year term: Daly, Gary Dartnall, Bryony Foster, Paul Heller, James Knight, Vivian Mayer, Kara Miller, Paul Steinke and Rosalie Swedlin.

“I am honoured to have been elected chairman for 2014,” said Daly. “BAFTA has an impressive track record in Los Angeles including our commitment to education and the support of emerging talents, our important community outreach work, and celebrating...

Chicago – When critics talk about the most influential films of the ’70s, they too often forget a little flick that became a phenomenon, Robert Clouse’s “Enter the Dragon,” recently released in a gorgeous box set with a new HD transfer, new special features, and new collectible items. Bruce Lee’s most beloved work still influences the Martial Arts genre today and gave birth to an entire cultural shift as cinema, particularly action films, became more influenced by Asian styles. The Blu-ray is a beauty with new special features about the making of and importance of “Dragon” that even those who have seen the flick a hundred times on cable will find enlightening.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

I love being surprised by a Blu-ray. So many of them fall into relatively predictable patterns of talking-head featurettes, deleted scenes, and a trivia-filled commentary. When a release like “Enter the Dragon” comes along and it...

This week: James Franco plays the titular small-time magician turned wonderful wizard in "Oz the Great and Powerful," Sam Raimi's prequel to 1939's "The Wizard of Oz."

Also new this week is the action-horror flick "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" with Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, "Snitch" with Dwayne Johnson and the 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition Blu-ray of Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon."

'Oz the Great and Powerful'

Box Office: $233 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 60% Fresh

Storyline: Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is a self-described con man/circus magician with questionable ethics who gets whisked away by a tornado to the Land of Oz. There he meets three witches — Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) — who each have different agendas for the prophesized "wizard." Although Oscar doesn't possess the great powers they anticipated, he must quickly find out who is good or wicked and use...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences kicks off its new exhibition, “Kick Ass! Kung Fu Posters from the Stephen Chin Collection,” with a 40th anniversary screening of “Enter the Dragon” on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The evening will feature an introduction by Stephen Chin and an onstage discussion with the film’s cast and crew, including actor John Saxon, screenwriter Michael Allin, cinematographer Gil Hubbs and producers Fred Weintraub and Paul Heller. There will be special evening gallery hours immediately following the screening.

In 2011, producer and screenwriter Chin donated his collection of more than 800 kung fu film posters and related materials to the Academy. A six-sheet poster from “Enter the Dragon” is featured prominently in the exhibition, along with such collectibles as early English-language kung fu manuals, skateboards, trading cards and lunchboxes. A viewing station will feature action-packed...

More and more great films keep coming to the blu-ray format and details and dates for two classic films have been released, as well as details on the more recent film, Gangster Squad. Come inside to check out all the details on the latest films coming to the blu-ray format.

It's hard to believe, but it's been fifty years since Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra film released in theaters. In order to commemorate the milestone Fox is releasing a special 50th Anniversary blu-ray with never before seen footage and a slew of other features, on May 21, 2013. Read the press release below for full details:

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is proud to announce that the four-time Academy Award® winning* classic Cleopatra, will be released on Blu-ray Disc for the first time May 21 in a special golden anniversary edition and is available for pre-order at major retailers.

In honor of the iconic film’s 50th anniversary,...

The awesomeness of John C. Reilly’s Bruce Lee t-shirt in Step Brothers is about to be topped. Now, 40 years after its release, martial arts classic Enter the Dragon is set to be released with a collector’s Blu-ray giftset, which includes new special features, a collectible card, and even an embroidered patch.

Here is a portion of the news release:

Burbank, Calif., March 4, 2013 – Enter the Dragon, one of martial arts icon Bruce Lee’s last films, will debut June 11 on Blu-ray in the Enter the Dragon 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition giftset from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film, which helped bring interest in the Asian martial arts genre to mainstream Western cinema, has been re-mastered for its 40th anniversary, and will now feature new bonus materials, such as the featurette, No Way as Way, on the legacy of Bruce Lee, plus other featurettes and commentary. Memorabilia — which includes collectible art cards,...

Every now and then you can tell someone is special. Every now and then you know just when something becomes an event, a trend-setter. That’s exactly who Bruce Lee was and his Enter the Dragon remains. All marital arts films are measured against this one and now Warner Home Video is giving us a 40th anniversary edition. Here are the details: Burbank, Calif., March 4, 2013 – Enter the Dragon, one of martial arts icon Bruce Lee’s last films, will debut June 11 on Blu-ray™ in the Enter the Dragon 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition giftset from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film, which helped bring interest in the Asian martial arts genre to mainstream Western cinema, has been re-mastered for its 40th anniversary, and will now feature new bonus materials, such as the featurette, No Way as Way, on the legacy of Bruce Lee, plus other featurettes and commentary. Memorabilia — which includes collectible art cards,...

Nigel Lythgoe as been re-elected chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles.

The organization's board of directors, which now includes a fifth member, also consists of Neil Stiles, deputy chair; Rebecca Segal, secretary; Paul Steinke, treasurer; and Brian Walton, officer of the board.

Board members elected for a two-year term include Nigel Daly, Gary Dartnall, Bryony Foster, Paul Heller, James Knight, David L. Simon, Maxine Leonard, Steinke and Rosalie Swedlin. Board members beginning their second year of two-year terms are Clare Baren, Melanie Greene, Katherine Haber, Lythgoe, Segal, John Alan Simon, Stiles, Julia Verdin and Walton. In addition, David Garfield Roland has become a non-voting member of the board.

Donald Haber returns as executive director and COO.

"I am delighted to have been re-elected as chairman, as BAFTA Los Angeles continues to grow and the ties between Hollywood and Britain only get stronger," Lythgoe said.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles has re-elected Peter Morris as chairman. Its executive commitee for the new year also will consist of deputy chair David Ginsburg, secretary Norma Acland and treasurer Paul Steinke.

Board members elected for a two-year term include Paul Heller, Gabrielle Kelly, Maxine Leonard, Belinda Menendez, Rolf Mittweg, Tony Porter and Ian Wrigley. Board members returning for another year are Clare Baren, Katherine Haber, Ian Jessel, Nigel Lythgoe, Rebecca Segal, Julia Verdin and Brian Walton.

Donald Haber continues as executive director and COO.

"I am thrilled to have been re-elected for a fourth term as chairman, and will continue building on the remarkable achievements that BAFTA/La has accomplished," Morris said.