Sunday, December 24, 2006

Thursday, December 14, 2006

RJW Is Mr. Wilson

Info from a fan:

Hi there. I was just reading your Robert Wagner page, and thought I would let you know that the "Dennis the Menace thing" is on, and shooting in Montreal. It is a Christmas movie slated for release on 2007. There have been a number of problems and delays, but it looks like it is coming together.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The Streets of San Francisco coming to DVD in April



The first season of the show (actually, it's one of those "Season 1, Volume 1" deals) will be released by Paramount on April 3. It will be 10 episodes plus the pilot movie. No word on extras or commentaries yet.

It's amazing to see all of the famous faces that graced this show, including Martin Sheen, Deidre Hall, Robert Wagner, John Ritter, Stefanie Powers, Harold Gould, Brenda Vaccaro, Stuart Whitman, Jamie Farr, Shelley Morrison (Rosario on Will & Grace), Leslie Nielsen, Dick Sargent, Dean Stockwell, Bill Bixby, Nick Nolte, Jessica Walter, and some guy named Arnold Schwarzenegger. There was a reunion movie in 1992, but Douglas didn't want to be in it (his character "disappeared" and Malden looked for him).

Thursday, November 16, 2006

R.J. Biography

R.J. has signed a deal with Morrow Publishing. His biography will be written by Scott Eyman. They are working on it now. No publishing date has been set.

Hustle

R.J. will be making a guest appearance in the UK TV show "Hustle" (which has Robert Vaughn as a regular cast member). R.J. will be playing a rich Texan who is targeted by the cons.

"Hustle" is shown in the USA on AMC.

Dennis the Menace Is Off

The latest news is that the Dennis movie thing is off. I'm not sure if R.J. pulled out or if the plug has been pulled on the whole thing. But it might be back on again at some point.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Robert Wagner: Guest Programmer on TCM 11/9

The popular television & motion picture star will co-host a night of favorite films with Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on 11/9.

Click here to view the article.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

'Chair'-ity benefits McCord House

Art lovers bid on creatively designed chairs Saturday at the annual charity benefit for the McCord Gallery and Cultural Center in Palos Park.

The "McCord Chair-ity" event, which also included dinner and dancing, drew more than 160 people. Fifteen chairs were auctioned during a live auction, and others were sold in a silent auction.

"We have a great turnout. And we're seeing a lot of new faces this year, which is exciting," event co-chairwoman Jeanette Wood said. "Fundraising is what will keep the McCord House open."

While most of the proceeds will go to the venue's programs and operating costs, a portion is also being donated to the Crisis Center of South Suburbia, which provides services to domestic violence victims.

Among the more interesting chair designs were a golf-themed piece entitled "Par for the Course"; the "Ballerina Stool"; a "White Sox" chair with a painting of Ozzie Guillen; a garden-themed chair entitled "The Gardeners' Choice"; and "California Cafe Chairs," signed by actors Robert Wagner and Jill St. John.

McCord House board member Pat Martin said guests came not only from the south suburbs, but from the Chicago area, other Midwestern states, and even Kentucky.

"There are people from all over. It's a wonderful party. And everyone is so supportive," Martin said.

Linda and John Buchanan, of Palos Park, attended this year and last.

"It's an important benefit for the Crisis Center of South Suburbia and for the McCord House," Linda Buchanan said.

"It's been a fun evening," said Sara Arnas, the McCord Gallery's managing director. "(The auction) has been my pet project. It's nice to see it grow."

Cynthia Weglarz, of Palos Park, and her daughter-in-law Vanya had the winning bid for the "California Cafe Chairs." The pair sold for $800, the evening's highest bid.

"We're happy to get them. We're going to put them in our family vacation home in New Buffalo, Mich.," Cynthia Weglarz said.

The evening's emcee was WMAQ-TV (Channel 5) reporter Natalie Martinez. Party-goers were also able to view the McCord House's current show, "Folk Art: Art and Soul," which is on display through Oct. 28.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Angels makers sued by Wagner

Actor Robert Wagner has sued Sony Pictures Entertainment claiming he is entitled to half the profits from the two "Charlie's Angels" movies.

His claim is based on his role in developing the 1970s television series on which the films were based.

Wagner and his late wife, actress Natalie Wood, became financially linked to the original "Charlie's Angels" TV series through producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, the lawsuit said.

The two actors agreed to star in a 1974 TV movie called "The Affair" and as part of the deal were given a part interest in proposals for five TV shows that Spelling-Goldberg Productions pitched to America's ABC Television for the 1974-1975 season, the suit said.

One of those ideas became the series, "Charlie's Angels," about a mysterious millionaire who ran a private detective agency staffed by three beautiful former police officers. The show originally starred Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith and ran from 1976 to 1981.

In his lawsuit, Wagner said Sony, which has since assumed all rights to the series from Spelling's production company, has refused to pay him his share of the profits from the 2000 film "Charlie's Angels" and its 2003 sequel "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." Both films starred Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz.

The first film generated box office receipts of nearly than £80 million in America, and the sequel, which opened in late June, has grossed more than £40 million in the United States.

The lawsuit asks the court to require Sony to include profits from the films in calculating Wagner's share of net profits for the TV series, and to turn over all information and financial records regarding the making of the movies.

"This has to do with whether or not his entitlement to a share in the television series extends to the movie," Wagner's attorney, Samuel Pryor, said.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

R.J. is a Grandfather

Riley John Wagner-Lewis was born to Katie Wagner and her significant other on September 21, 2006 at 4:38 P.M. He weighed 8 pounds and was 21 inches long.

Robert Wagner is finally a grandfather!

Monday, September 18, 2006

Hart to Hart on DVD

Hart to Hart - The Complete Second Season
DVD Release Date: September 19, 2006



If you don't have the first season on DVD yet:

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Netherbeast Incorporated

Two Gilbert brothers started shooting their first full-length feature film this week, and they chose the Valley as their backdrop.

Brian Ronalds is producing and acting in the movie called Netherbeast Incorporated. His brother Dean is directing and producing the film.

Netherbeast Incorporated is being described as "a quirky twist of the vampire tale, set in modern-day corporate America." The movie is based on a short film the brothers produced and is described as a comedy.

"The film that we're making now is right up our alley," Brian said. "We quit our day jobs last year, and we were given the opportunity to make movies."

Eighty percent of the movie is being shot at Hollywood Phoenix Studios in Avondale, and the remainder is being shot in Phoenix. Brian said he and his brother are hoping for a theatrical release of the movie in January.

The brothers recruited a well-known cast for the film. Robert Wagner, who appeared in the Austin Powers films, joins Judd Nelson from The Breakfast Club, Jason Mewes from the Clerks movies, Amy Davidson from 8 Simple Rules, and Darrell Hammond from Saturday Night Live.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

MEWES, WAGNER AND NELSON JOIN CORPORATE VAMPIRE COMEDY

CLERKS star JASON MEWES is set to team up with AUSTIN POWERS actor ROBERT WAGNER and THE BREAKFAST CLUB's JUDD NELSON for a new vampire comedy. The trio are among the stars of NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED, the movie debut of director/producers DEAN and BRIAN RONALDS. The film is "a comic look at office politics through the eyes of a 200 year-old pencil-pushing vampire". Netherbeast Incorporated, which starts shooting in Arizona next week (14AUG06), is based on the Ronalds Brothers' award-winning short film THE NETHERBEAST OF BERM-TECH INDUSTRIES INC, which claimed the Best Screenplay honour at the London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film and Best Comedy Short prize at the Long Island Film Expo. The Ronalds Brothers were also named Best Arizona Filmmakers of the Year at the 2005 Phoenix Film Festival.

Friday, August 04, 2006

'The trash, the whole trash and nothing but the trash'

Today, 150 golfers - including actor Robert Wagner - will take to the links at the Snowmass Golf Club to whack golf balls into trees and rocks, skip them across water hazards and cart paths, and hope to get a "Stiffie," all in search of the coveted Golden Jacket.

They'll also raise enough money to provide full college scholarships for five local high school students.

It's the 14th annual Trashmasters, where a birdie is worth just as much a Billie, and a Stiffie will earn you three points - unless of course it's a Super Stiffie, which will net you five.

For those uninitiated to the 25-page Trashmasters rule book, a Billie is saving par on a hole when a player has a lie so bad that it could endanger his or her reputation. It was coined in honor of former President Bill Clinton by former Vice President Dan Quayle, himself a former participant of the Trashmasters.

A Stiffie? Well that's a shot of more than 100 yards that finishes within a conventional putter length of the hole. A Super Stiffie? That's one that is inside the leather grip on the club.

And then there's the Arnie - Trash speak for an ace, named after golf legend Arnold Palmer.

"We have 25 cleverly named trash events that we put a point value on," said local Boone Schweitzer, co-founder and chairman of the charity tournament. "We go way beyond your Sandies and Greenies to reward the much more bizarre events. I personally like the Willie."

That's when a ball bounces off the cart path. Think Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again."

The hilarious points system is just one of the reasons Schweitzer calls the Trashmasters "the world's most unique golf tournament."

It's definitely one of the most well-known charity tournaments in the country. Numerous national publications have done stories, and today camera crews from VH1 and Plum TV will be on course capturing the action.

The tournament can't begin until players take the time-honored Trashmasters' oath.

With a bagpiper in the background, Schweitzer, dressed in a black robe and a parliament wig, will ask the assembled field of players: "Do you solemnly swear to play the trash, the whole trash, and nothing but the trash, so help you golf?"

It's an oath that a number of celebrities have taken over the years, Michael Douglas and Wagner among them. Douglas wanted to play this year, but couldn't make it to the tournament because he was tied up with work, Schweitzer said. Also, Jack Nicholson and Kevin Costner have actually been turned down to play in previous years because they didn't reserve their spots before the tournament filled up.

Schweitzer said rubbing elbows with celebrities is fun, but the one thing that doesn't always get written about is the thing that is the most important: That all the money goes to the Roaring Fork Valley Scholarship Fund. It's the reason he founded the tournament in the first place.

"It's a lot of fun and laughs, but it's a very legitimate charity," he said. "No one has made any money off the thing. Twenty-one kids have graduated from college from the scholarships we awarded them, and there's another 20 who are in school right now. We're the largest scholarship charity in the valley."

Schweitzer said the scholarships - which are offered at five local high schools from Aspen to Glenwood Springs - are awarded to students based on academics, extracurricular activities and financial need.

"You don't even have to be a golfer," he said.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Jonathan & Jennifer Hart Return To DVD For Their 2nd Season!

Sony has announced the second season of the popular whodunit series Hart to Hart, starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers! The millionaire couple continue their hobby as amateur sleuths. They seem to always be finding themselves on the brink - or right in the middle - of danger. This season the couple, and their loyal sidekick, Max (Lionel Stander), investigate 20 hour-long episodes on 5 DVDs, with guest stars such as Roger C. Carmel, Dolph Sweet, George Wendt, Joanna Cassidy, Amy Madigan, Shari Belafonte, Lois Chiles, Joe Pantoliano, Jared Martin, Bibi Besch, and Jerry Stiller. Running time is 987 minutes, and cost is $49.95 SRP. There are no extras (other than "bonus previews"). When you meet this package on September 19th, it'll be murder!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Netherbeast Incorporated

Chris LaMont, along with producer Brian Ronalds and director Dean Ronalds, are producing the comedy "Netherbeast Incorporated," starring Darryl Hammond of "Saturday Night Live" fame, Judd Nelson and Robert Wagner. The movie will begin filming across the Valley (Phoenix area) in August.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

ENTERTAINMENT AUTHOR JUDITH MOOSE TO PEN BOOKS ON EIGHTIES HIT TELEVISION SERIES' REMINGTON STEELE AND HART TO HART

LOS ANGELES, CA – June 07, 2006 – Entertainment Industry author, publisher and publicist Judith Moose has announced plans to release her fourth and fifth television series guide books. The fourth is titled Steele Loved After All These Years is a retrospective look at Remington Steele and the fifth, Their Hobby Was Murder – A Look Back At Hart To Hart. Both books are slated for publication by the end of 2006.

Fans of both shows will be treated to walks down memory lane as they lip through the pages of the two books. Each will be filled with background information, behind-the-scenes tidbits, episode guides, trivia and assorted fun facts, a complete reference center, interviews with the cast, crew and creators and as with her others, a large selection of photos.

Steele Loved After All These Years and Their Hobby Was Murder will be released by Signing Stars Publishing.

Contact: Catherine Ingham, Signing Stars Publishing, signingstars@earthlink.net

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Hotel deLuxe - Portland, OR

The re-opening of the Hotel deLuxe (formerly the Mallory Hotel) was the place to be last Wednesday night, as Portland's movers and shakers lined up to throw back free booze while rubbing elbows with Ted "Still the Governor" Kulongoski, and actors Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers (because Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn are dead). The biggest changes to the 93-year-old hotel? Owners Aspen Hotel Group, which also owns Portland's Hotel Lucia, added a new silver-screen theme and—it looks like—went on a major cleaning binge. And yes, as promised, the management has also reopened the hotel's beloved Rat Pack-style bar, the Driftwood Room.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

'Boston Legal' 2-Hour Finale Goes Hollywood

ABC will present the season finale of its hit legal drama, Boston Legal, on Tuesday, May 16 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) in a special two-hour block. In the first part of the broadcast, "Spring Fever," Denny Crane and Alan Shore travel to the Los Angeles office of Crane, Poole & Schmidt for business and wind up unexpectedly taking on a case with a decidedly Hollywood flavor.

Once there, they spend time with senior partner Barry Goal (Robert Wagner), a powerful and cagey attorney who, like Crane, is no stranger to the spotlight. Back in Boston, Shirley Schmidt must once again defend Professor Clifford Cabot (Ed Begley, Jr.), this time on charges of soliciting a prostitute -- an act he claims was purely for the purposes of academic research. Denise Bauer and Marlene Stanger (Parker Posey), who are both vying for partnership at the firm, compete to assist Schmidt in the case. Meanwhile, Brad Chase's teenaged niece is accused of giving pharmaceutical drugs to a boy at a party and is charged with his murder.

In the second part, "BL: Los Angeles,", Alan Shore takes on the attempted murder trial of the beautiful and sexy Courtney Rae (Jeri Ryan), a Hollywood celebrity who shot a paparazzo she felt was a threat to her life. Meanwhile both Denny Crane and the LA firm's senior partner, Barry Goal, are captivated with Ms. Rae.

Denise Bauer thinks the sly new associate, Marlene Stanger, will ruin her chances of making partner, so she employs some back-stabbing techniques of her own. And, after Brad Chase's sister fires him from defending his teenaged niece at her murder trial, the girl takes it upon herself to re-hire her uncle.

Monday, May 01, 2006

At the Movies: `Hoot'

This should be a real hoot: A film based on a Carl Hiaasen novel, produced by Jimmy Buffett and featuring songs by him, with both Florida boys appearing in small roles.

Robert Wagner pops in for a bit part at the end as the town's mayor and delivers the movie's funniest line.

The Towering Inferno: Special Edition DVD

Monday, April 17, 2006

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Robert Wagner and Isaiah Washington to Host 25th Silver Anniversary Saint John's Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Robert Wagner and Isaiah Washington to Host 25th Silver Anniversary Saint John's Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon at Griffith Park -- April 23

Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon:

WHAT: Join hosts Robert Wagner and Isaiah Washington, community
leaders, runners and spectators of all ages in celebrating
the 25th Silver Anniversary Saint John's Jimmy Stewart Relay
Marathon at Griffith Park.

WHEN: Sunday, April 23, 2006

Media Check-in: 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Relay Marathon: 8:00 a.m.
Media Invitational Relay Challenge: 10:30 a.m.

All media credentials will be available at the media tent
adjacent to the Silver Circle Hospitality Area on Sunday,
April 23. Please call Julie Watt at 310-656-4668 to obtain
media parking passes and event maps.

WHERE: Griffith Park

WHO: -- Marathon hosts Robert Wagner and Isaiah Washington
-- More than 10,000 participants including runners, members
of the media participating in the media invitational
relay challenge and spectators.
(Complete list of media participants follows)

WHY: All proceeds from the Marathon will benefit programs and
services at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica.
Since the first race in 1982, $8.8 million has been raised.

DETAILS: One of the largest five-person relay marathons in the United
States, the Saint John's Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon is
comprised of 17 divisions, according to age, gender and
corporate/industry affiliation. Each individual runs 5.2
miles before passing on the baton for a total of 26 miles.
The Relay Marathon has categories for everyone including,
the Diaper Dash and the Kids Races, as well as the third
annual media invitational relay challenge.


Teams Entered in the Media Invitational Relay Challenge

-- KCBS - 2 TV
-- KNBC - 4 TV
-- KABC - 7 TV
-- KCAL - 9 TV
-- FOX 11 News
-- Access Hollywood
-- LA Sport and Fitness Magazine
-- KEARTH Radio
-- Surfsantamonica.com
-- The Malibu Times
-- KVEA - Telemundo
-- Tu Ciadad Magazine

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Wagner signs on for "Legal" season finale

LOS ANGELES - Robert Wagner will guest-star in the two-hour season finale of ABC's "Boston Legal," which is slated to air May 16.

The veteran actor will play Ashley Goldman, the senior partner in the Los Angeles-based office of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, who is described as tanned, manicured and relaxed, a powerful and cagey attorney with the panache and style of old-school Hollywood.

Wagner next will be seen in the children's movie "Hoot," which opens May 5 via New Line. His recent credits include a recurring role in the ABC sitcom "Hope & Faith," and a memorable stint as Number Two in the "Austin Powers" movies.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Boston Legal

Actor Robert Wagner (Hart to Hart) was in Escondido Thursday taping television commercials with Angelo Damante, the owner of Mercedes-Benz of Escondido. Wagner told Damante and longtime friend, sportscaster Charlie Jones, that his next TV assignment is to head up the West Coast law office on ABC's quirky series, Boston Legal. After the day's shoot, the actor dined at Vincent's on West Grand before driving back to Los Angeles in the new Mercedes he had purchased.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Hope and Faith

Robert Wagner returns tonight as the girls' father.

Friday, March 31, 2006

Best bets on TV tonight

Las Vegas: 9 p.m., NBC. Danny and Mike want to focus on investigating some break-ins. Instead, they also have to pose for a beefcake calendar. Meanwhile, Jillian (Cheryl Ladd) worries that her flawed marriage to Ed (James Caan) is a bad example and has caused their daughter to stay single. Guest stars include Robert Wagner (as an ex-convict), Brooke Burke and Hal Sparks.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

NRMLA Elects Lender Lead Solutions CEO David Peskin to Board

Senior Educational Innovator to Join Premier Reverse Mortgage Group

Lender Lead Solutions, the premier mortgage educator and lead provider, is proud to announce that CEO David Peskin has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders' Association (NRMLA).

"I'm honored to have been named to NRMLA's board," said Peskin. "I hope to be able to use my new position to build senior awareness about the powerful financial benefits of reverse mortgages."

As the official voice of the reverse mortgage industry, NRMLA is responsible for representing the industry's interests in Congress while promoting reverse mortgage education. As a new member of the board, Peskin will serve a unique role in helping to improve all aspects of the reverse mortgage process from the standpoint of lenders and consumers. Some of the board's current projects include:

* The passage of the "Reverse Mortgages To Help America's Seniors Act,"
which would remove the cap on the number of reverse mortgages that the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can insure.
* Working with HUD and other agencies to improve reverse mortgage counseling.
* Promoting reverse mortgages in conjunction with the National Council on the Aging.

As the founder of Lender Lead Solutions' Senior Lending Network program, Peskin is no stranger to reverse mortgages. Founded in 2003, the Senior Lending Network was created to educate consumers about reverse mortgages and put them in touch with local lenders.

About Lender Lead Solutions

Lender Lead Solutions (LLS) was launched in 2003 to meet the lead generation needs of the mortgage industry. The company's programs use unique, celebrity-hosted TV advertisements and free DVDs to educate consumers about mortgages, while pairing them with qualified local lenders. LLS' Senior Lending Network campaign, hosted by renowned actor Robert Wagner, was developed to educate seniors about the powerful benefits of reverse mortgages.

About NRMLA

Established in December 1997, NRMLA is a national trade association for firms that originate, service, and invest in reverse mortgages. Its members make and service more than 90 percent of all reverse mortgages in the U.S.

Media Contact:
Ben Abelson
Lender Lead Solutions
Marketing Associate
631-773-5139
babelson@lenderleadsolutions.com

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

What Becomes a Legend Most?


Click to enlarge

Robert Wagner (center), celebrates his Copper Wing Award and Tribute at a private party held during the Phoenix Film Festival on March 24, 2006 with filmmakers Brian (left) and Dean Ronalds.

Phoenix film fest draws celebrities, bigger crowds

PHOENIX - Film competition screenings are about to go dark as the Phoenix Film Festival completes this year's event Thursday.

Filmmakers, celebrities and film lovers from throughout Arizona, Hollywood and New York have been participating in the sixth-annual, eight-day movie event at Harkins 101,Scottsdale Road and Loop 101.

There were 850 films submitted this year, 250 features and 600 shorts, 15 percent of which were from Arizona filmmakers.

Program director Greg Hall of Surprise was the final decisionmaker of the festival's 359 feature presentations and 50 shorts. At closing, 200 volunteers will have worked the event, and 20,000 moviegoers will have attended, up by 5,000 from 2005.

The event paid tribute to veteran actor Robert Wagner, who appears in two festival selections, Little Victims and Universal Pictures' Hoot. He received the Copper Wing Award.

Little Victims, which was shot in Phoenix, won the award for Best Arizona Short Film. The eight-minute dark comedy about what lies at the end of the rainbow was produced by local filmmakers, the Ronalds Brothers (Brian and Dean) of Gilbert, and was written by Bruce Dellis of Tempe. It featured Wagner with actress Lori Singer of Los Angeles and Phoenix-area actors Brian Ronalds and Laura Durant.

"I have made several films in Arizona over the years including Broken Lance with Spencer Tracy, Love Among Thieves with Audrey Hepburn and we brought our Hart to Hart show here, too," Wagner said.

"It's wonderful working here," he said. "There is a great film community in Arizona, and I look forward to working with the Ronalds Brothers on their next film here, NetherBeast, in the coming months."

Wagner said he had wanted to be in movies since he was a boy and considered himself very lucky that it happened.


This year's festival was a third bigger than last year in terms of selections, sponsors and programming, according to Chris LaMont, the festival's executive director.

An integral part of the festival is the educational outreach program, according to festival director Jason Carney of El Mirage.

"We had 500 students attending workshops from 20 middle school and high schools throughout Arizona to learn about the business and get experience working with professionals," Carney said.

Workshops are offered in screenwriting, acting, directing, producing, editing, casting and independent filmmaking.

Festival dates have already been set for April 12-19, 2007.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Will Smith in Big Screen Thief Adaptation

Universal Pictures has attached Will Smith to star in a feature adaptation of the TV series It Takes a Thief, reports Variety. The Roland Kibbee-created series, which starred Robert Wagner, ran 1968-70.

Smith will play a charming rogue who is blackmailed by the government into doing covert larceny for the good of his country. The film will put the professional thief in the employment of the CIA.

Smith and his Overbrook Entertainment partner James Lassiter have come aboard to produce the film with Kevin Misher, John Davis and Joe Singer. Four Brothers screenwriters David Elliot and Paul Lovett are set to write the script.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Ronalds Brothers Take Part in Honoring Robert Wagner at Phoenix Film Festival

Phoenix, AZ - March 20, 2006

The Ronalds Brothers will take part in honoring actor Robert Wagner at this years Phoenix Film Festival. The Festival will recognize the contributions to cinema of the Hollywood Friday, March 24, 2006 at the Harkins Cine Capri at Scottsdale 101, 7000 East Mayo Blvd., Northeast Phoenix, and beginning at 7 p.m.

Wagner, whose Hollywood career lists nearly 200 credits over the past five decades in movies and television, is the quintessential leading actor of the American screen a man who is handsome, charming, and debonair, and whose style and presence invoke intelligence and wit equally. Baby Boomers remember Wagner fondly as the handsome heartthrob from films like THE PINK PANTHER and as the suave millionaire detective Jonathan Hart in the television series HART TO HART, and todays audiences know him as Dr. Evils eye-patched Number Twoin the Austin Powers film trilogy.

Last year, Wagner co-starred as the suave and dapper Howard in the short film Little Victim that was produced and directed by Arizona filmmakers Brian and Dean Ronalds with Kevin Berman as executive producer. Little Victim is an Official Selection of the 2006 Phoenix Film Festival and will be presented at the Harkins Cine Capri at Scottsdale 101 on Saturday, March 25 at 9:05 a.m., March 26 at 3:15 p.m. and March 29 at 5:20 p.m. Other members of the cast include Lori Singer, Laura Durant and Brian Ronalds.

Little Victim has already played as an Official Selection nearly a dozen film festivals world-wide, including: the 2006 Santa Barbara International Film Festival; Garden State International Film Festival; London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film; Tiburon International Film Festival; Queens International Film Festival; Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee and Sonoma Valley International Film Festival.

Over the last few years, the Ronalds Brothers have been actively producing short films, television programs, and music videos in the metro Phoenix area. Currently, the brothers are in pre-production for their first feature film Netherbeast Incorporated. The Phoenix Film Festival recognized the Ronald Brothers' contributions to Valley cinema in 2005 by naming them Arizona Filmmakers of the Year. To learn more about the brothers and their films, visit their website at http://www.ronaldsbrothers.com/.

# # #

About The Phoenix Film Festival
The Phoenix Film Festival is an organization that wishes to organize and perpetuate an exciting event that creates a community of film-lovers and filmmakers who encourage and educate the world about filmmaking and the art of the film. The goal is to promote independent filmmaking, with a spotlight on films made for under a million dollars and showcasing Arizona filmmaking. For more information on PFP, please visit the website at http://www.phoenixfilmfestival.com/.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Festival working to buff its image with moviegoers

There are moviegoers and there are film buffs. The intent of the Phoenix Film Festival is to convert the former into the latter.

The cheese in the trap are "showcase" features starring Bruce Willis, Hugh Grant or Luke Wilson, many of them already scheduled for wide release in coming months. Among the stars appearing at this year's event are Laurence Fishburne, Robert Wagner and Melissa Joan Hart.

"A lot of people who are not familiar with film festivals need to see stars in their movie to make them want to see the film," festival director Chris Lamont says. "Our hope is they'll see all the programming we have and want to see the other films, too."

The showcase movies this year are Fishburne's Akeelah and the Bee, about an inner-city girl who makes it to the National Spelling Bee; Grant's American Dreamz, a spoof on American Idol-style reality TV; and Lucky Number Slevin, a thriller starring Willis, Josh Hartnett, Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley.

The star power of that last movie alone is enough to attract a crowd, but the sixth annual festival, expanded from four to eight days, has enough variety to satiate the most rabid film buff. Eleven competition features will vie for Copper Wing awards, which include best picture, best director and best screenplay, there's a world cinema competition and a slew of short films.

"The film-festival crowd is a completely different animal," says Chris Gore, who will be in town for the screening of My Big Fat Independent Movie, a spoof on the indie world that he co-wrote and co-produced. "These people seek out movies at festivals . . . that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to see."

"Seeing a movie at a festival is a different experience," says Gore, who's also the creator of the Web site filmthreat.com, "and I think a more intimate one (because) you have access to the filmmakers and actors. It's sort of the difference between going to a stadium to see your favorite band or going to a small dive bar where you can make eye contact."

Of course, most bands that play small dive bars are dreaming of someday filling stadiums, and the bulk of the titles at festivals like this one are by aspiring filmmakers who make shorts to display their talent. This year's festival includes eight shorts programs, in categories for live action, animated, world cinema, Arizona filmmakers, college and high-school/grade-school shorts.

"The shorts programs always sell out, because people love to see fresh talent and new ideas," Lamont says. "And if they don't like the movie they're watching, it's going to be over in five minutes anyway."

The event begins Thursday at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 with a reception at 5 p.m. and the Arizona première of Akeelah and the Bee at 7, followed by a Q&A with Fishburne and writer-director Doug Atchison. Admission to the opening gala is $40 ($30 for students and seniors).

Phoenix Film Festival

When: March 16 through March 30.

Where: Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. (Scottsdale Road and Loop 101), Phoenix.

Admission: $10 for individual screenings. Package options range from the $30 Flex Pass, good for four films, to the $425 VIP Patron Pass. Discounts for students and seniors.

Details: (602) 955-6444 or phoenixfilmfestival.com.

Friday, March 03, 2006

Robert Wagner Golf Videos

View interviews with Robert Wagner at celebritygolf.com.

http://www.celebritygolf.com/celebrity-list.asp?search=Robert+Wagner#

Four Designers From Bravo's Project Runway Will Attend FIDM'S L.A. Fashion Gala

FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising presents its annual “L.A. Fashion Gala” on Saturday, March 4, 2006 with four very special alumni in attendance, who all appear on the hit Bravo television series Project Runway.

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) March 2, 2006 --
FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising presents its annual “L.A. Fashion Gala” on Saturday, March 4, 2006 with four very special alumni in attendance, who all appear on the hit Bravo television series Project Runway. Guadalupe Vial ’01, Raymundo Baltazar ’04, Daniel Franco ’91 and Satino Rice ’94, who are all FIDM graduates, will attend the gala this Saturday. Additionally, FIDM graduate Nick Verreos, who also appeared in the series, is out of town and unable to attend. An annual event, which benefits the FIDM Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization assisting students with completion of their education. The evening’s activities will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California and will be hosted by actor Robert Wagner, with a special guest appearance by Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant.

The evening is designed to highlight the work of FIDM Theatre Costume Design and Advanced Study Fashion Design graduating students. The Debut Fashion Show is an important part of their learning experience, with graduates showcasing their designs on a 98 foot runway.

Ticket prices for the Scholarship Benefit start at $350 per person. For public information please call: 213-624-1200.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Sinatra tourney swings for valley kids

Children’s Center at Eisenhower Medical reaps event’s rewards

This weekend, celebrities like Joe Mantegna, Robert Wagner and Michael Bolton will tee off at the 18th annual Frank Sinatra Countrywide Celebrity Invitational.

Music legend Smokey Robinson will croon for lucky guests at the annual gala, bringing back tunes of Motown's heyday.

But amid the parties, glitz and glamour, star-gazers should remember the critical importance of this landmark valley event.

Over the years, the star-studded golf tournament, known simply as "The Sinatra," has raised more than $10 million dollars for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, a nonprofit organization that counsels physically, sexually and emotionally abused children.

The Children's Center, at the Eisenhower Medical Center, offers a safe environment for children in need of therapy. Eight licensed clinicians counsel victims usually between six months and a year, depending on their case's severity.

"Helping one (abused) child helps all of the community," said executive director Susan Reynolds. "And it's the right thing to do."

She cited studies that showed untreated child abuse led to long-term problems, such as heart disease, cancer and an inability to hold steady jobs or healthy relationships.

Reynolds said the center has helped tens of thousands of children since the Sinatras founded it in 1986. An average of 198 distinct cases walk through its doors each month, and that number is growing.

"Everyone is very proud the population is increasing, but with that comes certain responsibilities," Reynolds said.

Clinicians encourage abused children to work through their feelings by drawing pictures and ascribing emotions to colors, among other methods.
The center's architecture, which Reynolds said Barbara Sinatra personally oversaw, is designed to sooth and calm young visitors.

The center includes east Riverside County's only children's forensic exam room. Children thought to be suffering ongoing sexual abuse can be examined non-invasively in a space filled with dolls and friendly animal paintings, instead of your typical emergency room.

The exams also are recorded so victims don't have to relive the trauma of their abuse in court.

Reynolds said the Sinatras have always been "avid volunteers." She added that Barbara, the center's founder and chairwoman, wanted to build a permanent counseling facility in the early 1980s after volunteering for a child therapy group that floated around local churches.

This year marks the center's 20th anniversary. These days the center sees more grandparents as legal guardians, Reynolds said. Many times they take over after abuse or neglect by parents, and the center offers a support group to help grandparents adjust.

"(Child abuse) crosses all social, economic and ethnic groups," she stressed.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Happy Birthday!

Happy 76th birthday, Mr. Wagner!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Robert Wagner Guest Stars on ABC's "Hope & Faith" During February Sweeps

Robert Wagner and Mark Consuelos reprise their guest-starring roles on ABC’s comedy “Hope & Faith” in February sweeps. Wagner (“Hart to Hart,” “Austin Powers” trilogy) plays Hope and Faith’s father, Jack Fairfield, and Consuelos, co-star of the television series “Missing,” returns as former baseball star Gary ‘The Gooch’ Gucharez, who was married to Faith (Kelly Ripa) for five days last year. Consuelos and Ripa are married in real life.

Mark Consuelos will appear in two episodes, and Robert Wagner in one. In the first, “Now and Zen” (airing Friday, February 3, 8:30-9:00 p.m., ET), the Gooch returns from playing baseball in Japan. But Faith’s hopes of reconciliation with her old flame are crushed when she learns that he has taken a vow of celibacy as part of his new Zen lifestyle. In the second episode, “Meet the Parent,” the Gooch meets Faith’s dad when Jack (Robert Wagner) comes to town for a family party, but their first meeting gets off to a rocky start.

Robert Wagner, who just finished filming a family comedy entitled “Hoot” with Luke Wilson and Tim Blake Nelson, is lending his voice to an animated comedy-adventure feature, “Yankee Irving,” and is co-starring in the upcoming feature comedy, “The Man in the Chair” with Christopher Plummer.