Graham Leggat, Former Executive Director from the Bay Area Film Society, Dies at 51

Graham Leggat, who walked lower as executive director from the Bay Area Film Society in This summer, died at his Bay Area home on August. 25 after an 18-month fight with cancer. He was 51.Related Subjects•Obituaries Leggat was hired professional director from the Film Society, which is definitely the annual Bay Area Worldwide Film Festival, in 2005. Throughout his tenure, the business's staff a lot more than tripled from 11 to 23, its operating budget increased from $two million to $six million, and it is membership rose by 98 percent as SFFS was changed from the two-week-a-year film festival producer right into a year-round cultural institution centered on exhibition, education and filmmaker services. "For pretty much six exciting and major years, Graham Leggat brought the Bay Area Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design," Pat McBaine, leader from the Film Society's board of company directors, stated. "His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring together with his colorful language and wicked Scottish spontaneity have indelibly marked our company having a valuable legacy and left it within the best shape -- creatively, organizationally and financially -- in the 54-year history." Under Leggat's leadership, the Film Society broadened into year-round programming and today presents an autumn season of seven focused festivals including Hong Kong Cinema, Taiwan Film Days, the NY/SF Worldwide Children's Film Festival, French Cinema Now, Cinema through the Bay, the Bay Area Worldwide Animation Festival and New Italian Cinema. On Sep. 1, the Bay Area Film Society New People Cinema will open a condition-of-the art 143-chair theater within the New People building in Bay Area's Japantown. Leggat was created March 12, 1960 in Epsom, Surrey to Scottish parents. His family immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he attended senior high school. Getting discovered the Beat authors, and through them Zen Buddhism, Leggat headed to Northern California for college, where he attended Stanford College. Although he eventually graduated from Stanford, while students, he required a 3-year detour to Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, where he analyzed to become Buddhist priest. He also gained an MA in British and inventive writing from Syracuse College in 1989. After graduation school, Leggat labored like a freelance journalist before landing his first film job dealing with Richard Herskowitz and Mary Fessenden at Cornell Cinema. As coordinator for that Central New You are able to Developers Group, he organized tests and conferences, curated film packages and arranged for filmmakers to tour exhibition venues throughout upstate New You are able to. Before joining the Film Society, Leggat held positions using the American Museum from the Moving Image, the Museum of contemporary Art and also the Film Society of Lincoln subsequently Center. He was the connect writer of Film Comment magazine, adding editor for Filmmaker magazine and writer for that New You are able to Daily News. His novel, Song of the Harmful Paradise, was released in 2007. In the 2009 Worldwide Film Festival Summit, Leggat received the Director Excellence Award, given to the film festival director that has made considerable contributions along with a lasting effect on his film festival and independent film, by having an focus on festival growth, new programs, business structure and overall vision. Leggat is made it by his parents Graham and Marilyn of Niagara Falls, Canada boy William and kids Vhary and Isabelle sister Alexandra Leggat of Toronto partner Diana Chiawen Lee former wife Ellen Hughes, mother of his kids and former wife Lillian Heard, mother of his boy. Instead of flowers, donations might be designed to the Bay Area Film Society. A memorial service, available to the general public, is planned for late September. Related Subjects Obituaries

The from the Rock Breaking News on Twitter [Up-to-date having a Message in the Rock]

Over the past weekend, Dwayne "The Rock" Manley Tweeted the announcement that Bruce Willis was formally joining the cast of 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation.' Tweets such as this have grown to be commonplace for that Rock -- the man loves to break news! Remember, this is actually the guy who first Tweeted concerning the dying of Osama Bin Laden. The Rock became a member of Twitter on Feb 14, 2011, and, little did we all know after that it, involved prepared to alter the world together with his Team Take It mantra along with a steady diet of remarkably accurate -- although not essential -- breaking news tales. With this, we searched through each of the Rock's 1568 Tweets (and counting) to create you the from the Rock breaking news. [Up-to-date below using the Rock's a reaction to this story.] The Rock breaks this news he became a member of Twitter. The Rock breaks this news he was almost cast in 'Charlie and also the Chocolate Factory.' The Rock Breaks this news that UFC 128 is presently happening. The Rock breaks this news of Osama Bin Laden's dying. The Rock breaks this news the Rock continues to be alive. The Rock breaks this news that it's May fourth. Retraction! The Rock breaks this news that it's really not May 4, but, rather, May 5. The Rock breaks this news the world isn't ending. The Rock breaks this news that 'Fast Five' makes lots of money. The Rock breaks this news he continues to be nominated to have an award. The Rock breaks this news that Dallas has won the National basketball association Finals. The Rock breaks this news that Boston has won the Stanley Cup. The Rock breaks this news he will have Charlie Pride. The Rock breaks this news that you will see a sixth 'Fast and Furious' movie. The Rock breaks this news that he'll be in 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation.' The Rock breaks this news he was nominated for any Teen Choice Award. The Rock breaks this news that Tom Cruise includes a job. The Rock breaks this news that his ex-girlfriend's mother is Bigfoot. The Rock breaks this news that 'Fast Five' won a teenager Choice Award. The Rock breaks this news that Bruce Willis come in 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation.' Up-to-date! The Rock breaks this news he provides extensive close buddies and breaks this news of the story concerning the Rock breaking news. You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter. Follow Moviefone on Twitter.

Director Brian Kirk flies to 'Paper Wings'

Brian Kirk, the "Game of Thrones" helmer who's in talks to direct "Thor 2," is also in negotiations to take the reins of Sony's rodeo pic "Paper Wings," which Overbrook Entertainment and Temple Hill Entertainment are teaming to produce.Les Bohem-scripted pic follows a rodeo champ who falls for an up-and-coming country singer.Prior to Kirk's attachment, there hadn't been any movement on the long-gestating project since last summer, when Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith performed a table read at the Saddle Ranch Chop House in Hollywood.While there are no actors officially attached, sources tell Variety that Cruise had a hand in selecting Kirk for the gig and will work with the helmer to develop the script.Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are producing for Temple Hill, while Overbrook's principals include Will Smith, James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith and Ken Stovitz, who is running point on the project.Bohem and Bowen developed the romance story after meeting at the 2005 Nashville Screenwriters Conference. Charles Stone was previously attached to direct "Paper Wings" when it was set up at New Line back in 2006.Kirk will make his studio debut with Marvel's "Thor 2," which Disney will release on July 26, 2013. Irish filmmaker has directed episodes of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," Showtime's "Dexter" and BBC's "Luther," as well as episodes of HBO's upcoming series "Luck" and BBC's three-part adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations."Kirk is repped by CAA and Independent Talent Group. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Universal, Illumination, And Escape Artists To Film Harlem Teen Gospel Story

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and Illuminaton Entertainment have acquired the rights package to make a film based on the 60 Minutes segment Gospel for Teens. Illumination Entertainment's Chris Meledandri has made the project his company's first live action family film deal, and he will produce with Escape Artists' Todd Black. The script will be written by Stephen Belber, who is currently adapting the book Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun, as a potential starring vehicle for Jamie Foxx. Belber most recently sold The Long Run to Sony and Overbrook Entertainment, and he wrote and directed the Jennifer Aniston-Steve Zahn-starrer Management. The rights package was brokered by ICM. What have they bought? 60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl spent a year trailing Vy Higginsen, an accomplished gospel singer who started a program for teens in Harlem with the intention of preserving the art form by introducing it to a young generation. Her rule: her charges were expected to leave their problems at the door and focus on the music. She discovered that her most gifted kids were unable to separate themselves from their problems at home. Many of them were scarred by indifferent or absent parents, and tragedies that scarred them and made them feel worthless. Once Higginson helped her students reveal and deal with their problems, they soared. Illumination's Ashley Kramer, following Meledandri's mandate to find music-driven properties, brought in this one. Escape Artists' Black, who found The Pursuit of Happyness after watching a 20/20 segment on the film's protagonist Chris Gardner, got the same vibe from Gospel For Teens. His partners, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will be exec producers along with Michael Radutzky. Higginsen will be a co-producer. I've attached the 60 Minutes segment, which appears in two parts. It's about half an hour long and there are a couple of Lipitor ads, but if you've got time, it's pretty touching stuff:

Box Office Report: 'The Help' Grosses Better Than Expected $4.3 Million on Thursday

Tate Taylor's female-fueled The Help continued to serve up a strong box office performance Thursday, grossing $4.3 million for a two-day total of $9.9 million.our editor recommends'The Help''The Help' Premiere: 5 Things Seen and Heard on the Red Carpet Thursday is often a down day at the box office, but The Help did better than expected. It's now likely that The Help--benefiting from an A+ CinemaScore and great word of mouth--will post a five-day debut in the high $20 million range. However, if the pic is front-loaded, the number could be lower. Disney is being more cautious, putting its estimate in the mid $20 million range. PHOTOS: 'The Help's' Retro, Southern Style Fans ofKathryn Stockett'snovel are turning out in force to se the DreamWorks and Participant Media film, along with moviegoers simply curious about the film's storyline and large female cast, led byEmma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard. Disney is distributing. The Help is only the second movie of the year to receive an A+ CinemaSocre after TriStar/Film District's Soul Surfer. Films earning the top score enjoy strong multiples, such as Soul Surfer, which opened to $10.6 million and grossed $43.9 million domestically. Disney's Tangled and the Weinstein Co.'s Oscar winner The King's Speech were the only 2010 releases to receive an A+ CinemaScore. Past winners of the top grade include The Blind Side and Titanic (the top grossing film of all time). STORY: 'The Help's' Emma Stone: What Critics Say of Her Performance The Helpis also benefiting from appealing to female moviegoers otherwise turned off by Hollywood's big summer blockbusters, with women making up more than 80 percent of Wednesday's audience. Roughly 78 percent were over the age of 25. FILM REVIEW: 'The Help' Set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Miss.,The Helpexplores the complicated relationships between white women and their maids, and what happens when a young white journalist exposes how the maids are treated. STORY: 'The Help' Premiere: 5 Things Seen and Heard on the Red Carpet DreamWorks and Participant Media co-financed the $25 million the movie, which was produced byChris ColumbusandMike Barnathan's1492 Pictures. The film is already drawing awards buzz for its performances. The Help also stars Jessica Chastain, Ahna O'Reilly, Allison Janney and Sissy Spacek. Tate, a childhood friend of Stockett's, makes his feature directorial debut with The Help. Related Topics Emma Stone The Help

Dan Rather Was First to Congratulate Scott Pelley on 'CBS Evening News' Gig