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The fledgling new cable and broadband channel, ReelzChannel, is producing the animated short series, MISCASTING, for debut this summer, reports VARIETY. Reelz is producing the 26-episode interstitial series in-house. The series depicts actors trying out for roles that do not suit them, such as Al Pacino auditioning for BLADES OF GLORY and Woody Allen trying out for 300. MISCASTING is part of Reelz expansion of its daily programming block from three hours to four.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Rubicon, a pioneering animation, edutainment and multimedia company in Jordan, announced today (June 24, 2007) a new multi-level business alliance designed to create multiple business activities throughout the region while also impacting local and regional employment opportunities.

Luckily there's a 4-star Scrat short interspersed between the weak sitcom plot of this disappointing sequel to Blue Sky's surprisingly good debut film, ICE AGE. The characters made the original so wonderful. The new characters in MELTDOWN make the sequel annoying. And there are too many of them. This overshadows poor Manny, Sid and Diego. Scrat fares much better because he's out on his own.

Our loveable trio each has their own separate issues to deal with this time around. Manny (Ray Romano, TV's EVERYONE LOVES RAYMOND) is sad over the possibility that he may be the last mammoth alive. Sid (John Leguizamo, SUMMER OF SAM) gets no respect from the kids in their new larger tribe of various prehistoric animals. Diego (Denis Leary, TV's RESCUE ME) fears water, which is a real problem when the land of ice you live in is melting all around you. It appears that the valley where they all reside is going to flood soon, so they head off to the far end toward a rumored boat. Along the way Manny, Sid and Diego get separated from the mass of annoying characters, to end up with three other annoying characters — possums Crash (Sean William Scott, AMERICAN PIE) and Eddie (Josh Peck, MEAN CREEK) and their adopted mammoth sister Ellie (Queen Latifah, CHICAGO), who doggedly refuses to accept that she is indeed a mammoth.

Prior to making this film, director Joseph Ruben made another film called THE STEPFATHER, which dealt with a domineering male who loams over his family. Both films share similar plot themes, positive points and problems. They start convincingly and contain strong performances, but spiral off into ridiculous slasher movies in the end. Ruben sets up well, but doesn't deliver.

Laura (Julia Roberts, PRETTY WOMAN) meets and marries Martin Burney (Patrick Bergin, PATRIOT GAMES), who is suave, charming and wealthy. He seems like a catch. But after the honeymoon is over, he becomes controlling and ultimately abusive both mentally and physically. After three years of being trapped, Laura devises a plan to fake her own death then run away to Iowa to start her life anew. In her new life, she meets theater professor Ben Woodward (Kevin Anderson, CHARLOTTE'S WEB), who she has a problem opening up to. Laura is afraid that Martin will find out about her deception and come looking for her and she has every right to fear this happening.

In collaboration with the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, AKQA has organized the second annual "Future Lions Competition" for advertising students from around the world. The 2007 winners of the global student competition will be announced Friday, June 22, 2007, at the Debussy Theater.