Entertainment News December 16 - TOP 3 Stories for Sunday
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WGA BEGINS DIVIDE AND CONCUR METHOD TO CONCLUDE STIKE
The WGA aims to change the dynamic in its stymied contract fight with Hollywood's majors by seeking talks with individual studios rather than through the umbrella Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers bargaining unit.
In a message sent to WGA members Saturday morning, the guild's negotiating committee said it would make the "legal demand" for negotiations with individual AMPTP member concerns on Monday.
It's highly doubtful that any of the majors will be willing to engage in individual talks with the guild, given the unanimity of the CEOs' disdain for the guild's stance in the bargaining room and tactics during the now six-week-old strike. Nor would the seven largest members -- CBS Corp., Disney, NBC Universal, News Corp., Sony Pictures, Time Warner and Viacom -- likely be willing to give up their collective leverage by bargaining individually.
Still, WGA said it believes the AMPTP's group structure "inhibits individual companies pursuing their self-interest in negotiations" and that "the internal dynamics of the AMPTP make it difficult for the conglomerates to reach consensus and negotiate on a give and take basis."
WILL SMITH'S 'I AM LEGEND' TOPS BOX OFFICE
Warner Bros.' Will Smith topliner "I Am Legend" made history at the box office yesterday, posting a whopping $29.7 million from 3,606 sites - the biggest opening day ever for the thesp.
Fox's live-action/CGI adaptation of the '60s cartoon "Alvin and the Chipmunks" crooned a groovy $13.2 million off 3,475 locales - the biggest opening day ever for a Fox post-summer release, outstripping last year's Ben Stiller hit "Night at the Museum" which racked up $12.1 million. "Museum" posted $30.4 million in its first three days and "Alvin" looks to exceed that haul.
For 'Legend,' the sci-fi/actioner registered a few more records in Warner Bros.' B.O. ledgers: not only was it the second highest opening day for the studio this year behind "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (first day take $44.2 million), it was also their top December opener of all-time, besting the $14.7 million generated by 2004's "Ocean's Twelve."
Among post-Labor day releases, "Legend's" first day is the fourth highest of all-time and the third best for a PG-13 release behind 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" ($40 million) and the Wednesday bow of 2003's "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" ($34.5 million).
The top three-day opening for a Will Smith vehicle belongs to "I, Robot" which generated $52.2 million in the summer of 2004. Hands down, "Legend" will beat that figure by Sunday.
