The ordinary qualities of West LA's University High School are what make it an extraordinary filming location, reports CBS News. The school's football field got its closeup with Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner in "Valentine's Day," actor Owen Wilson walked the halls in the "Drillbit Tayor" and the Jonas Brothers rocked a Target ad in the gym. more ›

After more than two months of negotiations, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for a three year contract that includes a increase in benefit contributions and a wage increase of six percent. Before going into effect in July (when the current contracts expire) it will first need to be approved by a joint board for the unions and union members, reports CBS local. more ›

It probably won't come us a surprise to many that Blockbuster, once the market leader in home video rentals, is preparing to file for bankruptcy. "Executives from Blockbuster and its senior debt holders last week held meetings with the six major movie studios to discuss their intention to enter a 'pre-planned' bankruptcy in mid-September, said several people familiar with the situation who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing talks," reports the LA Times. more ›

Before yesterday's arrest of a man suspected of leaving a car bomb in New York City's Times Square on Saturday, Southland police agencies were already taking note. more ›

Finally. "The nine-month stalemate between the Screen Actors Guild and producers came to an end Tuesday night as SAG members overwhelmingly voted to approve the union’s new TV/theatrical contract with the AMPTP. The final tally: 78 percent voted 'yay', and 22 percent voted 'nay'," reports the The Warp. "The contract includes a 3 percent wage increase, a .5 percent increase in pension and health contributions and residuals for new-media work similar to the guild’s home-video residuals." more ›

Commence humming the theme to ESPN's beloved SportsCenter...NOW. more ›

After negotiations hit a stalemate back in November, the Screen Actors Guild and representatives from Hollywood studios announced yesterday that "they will meet for two days next week," according to abc7.com. (SAG's site says they were to meet in Sherman Oaks last week, and has not been updated to reflect yesterday's announcement.) In the time since they last met to hash out a new deal, things have been rocky for SAG and its leadership. Murmurs about impending strikes and the lack of resolution prompted teamsters and members of the stagehands' union to picket outside SAG headquarters on Wilshire Blvd. this week. SAG also fired their top man, Doug Allen, when he was unable to make anything happen, either. Allen favored a strike, but many believe that is not going to happen under new leadership. more ›

The votes came in and were counted: members of AFTRA--the nation’s second largest performers’ union--overwhelmingly voted to ratify a contract with the AMPTP, who represents movie studios and producers, by a 62.4% margin. more ›

Beautiful downtown Burbank was the butt of many a Johnny Carson joke. Sometimes one does get the sense that Burbank is a little podunk town, caught in a time warp. It’s like living in Mayberry. People in the higher tax-brackets live in the hills, and around the The Equestrian Center. This post is going to focus on the flats, particularly around the neighborhood called "Magnolia Park" by Real Estate agents trying to make it... more ›

Universal City, CA - Announced last fall, it is supposed to be the Century City of the Valley. And according to a group named The NBC Universal MTA Project Working Group (a coalition of the surrounding community organizations), it will have 1.47 million square feet of new commercial and residential space, office towers (up to 24 stories tall), a 34 story (445 feet tall) condominium & hotel tower. They also contend that there will... more ›