Remember the woman who was arrested for recording two minutes of Twilight in a movie theater? Turns out that after spending two days in jail, she decided to sue the movie theater in which she was caught.

A 22-year-old woman jailed two days in November after being arrested for filming two brief snippets of a motion picture is lashing back at the theater, claiming its manager demanded her arrest despite the police department’s reluctance.

In a civil suit lodged in Illinois federal court, Samantha Tumpach claims local police and the Motion Picture Association of American recommended against arresting her. A felony theater-filming charge carrying up to three years in prison was subsequently dropped.

The woman filed suit Monday, claiming emotional distress and malicious prosecution on behalf of Muvico Theaters, whose manager allegedly demanded her arrest in a bid to win a financial reward. The MPAA, and the National Association of Theater Owners offers $500 rewards (.pdf) to movie house workers who catch pirates.

The first person arrested for filming in a U.S. theater, a federal and state crime in most states, was a 19-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 2007. Jhannet Sejas paid a $71 fine for filming 20 seconds of Transformers in a Virginia theater. Regal Entertainment Group pushed for her prosecution.

On Tumpach’s camera, the authorities found a host of pictures she took in the theater of her friends and sister, in addition to two clips of the motion pictureTwilight: New Moon, according to the suit. One was 114 seconds long. The other was 85 seconds, the suit said.

One of the snippets was captured in hopes of filming Tumpach’s “favorite actor taking his shirt off,” according to the suit.

The lawsuit, which seeks $50,000 in damages, claims the woman did not film with intent to pirate the movie, that instead she was having fun with her friends and family at a birthday party at the Rosemont, Illinois theater.

“Samantha, in the open theater area and in plain view of others, was subsequently placed under arrest, handcuffed and was walked through the theater and out to the officers’ vehicle where she was placed in the rear seat of the squad car, while numerous theater guests witnessed, pointed and gasped as Samantha cried with fright, humiliation and shame,” (.pdf) the suit said.

The suit claims that, once local officers took the woman to the station, they called the MPAA for guidance. The suit says the MPAA recommended destroying the footage and releasing her.

Linda Colangelo, a spokeswoman for Muvico Theaters based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was not immediately prepared to comment.

For those who don’t know, there’s a movie about Facebook and one of its co-founders, Mark Zuckerberg. Though we wish the title — “The Social Network” — was a lot more clever, it’s very apparent to anyone who has ever confirmed or made a friend request what director David Fincher is talking about in his latest film.

Based on the Ben Mezrich book, The Accidental Billionaire: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sexy, Money, Genius and Betrayal, “The Social Network” stars Jesse Eisenberg (whose star is fast rising in Hollywood) as Zuckerberg as well as Justin Timberlake, who plays Napster founder, Sean Parker. Though the teaser trailer doesn’t have any shots from the film, it does feature snappy dialogue from the film. Even without knowing anything else than what we’re shown, we’re going to safely say this movie is a must-see. Update statutes accordingly.

Things were going so well for Ron Grover in his piece about MGM’s slow plunge toward insolvency. There was the news that the studio’s creditors declined an equity stake in the company as part of its restructuring, and then, once again, there were those mind-blowing figures we’re so used to reading in any discussion of MGM’s flagging fortunes: $3.7 billion in debt, with the creditors balking at another $1.2 billion in new debt to help get the studio’s production slate going. Instead, they want a buyer — and they’re not above selling the Lion for parts, including The Hobbit, the vast film library and the James Bond franchise. Which is where it gets a little tricky.

According to Grover’s report, recently installed studio CEO Stephen Cooper expressed doubt that he could “get more than $1.5 billion for the studio, which is roughly what MGM’s rights to the James Bond franchise alone might be worth.” That stat isn’t attributed to any specific valuation data or comparables, but let’s just say the number, like its source, is probably high.

Not that you can’t appreciate a little modest inflation in the press to help get the bidding started behind the scenes. Still: $1.5 billion? The last five Bond films grossed a combined $2.3 billion globally, which sounds great until you realize it took 11 years to generate it and MGM only keeps roughly half of it. Add on maybe another $50-$80 million annually going forward based on when a new DVD is released (and whatever other reissues you’ve got), and you’re still waiting almost a generation to turn a actual profit — by which time you’ve recast the role at least twice, and who knows if a 60-year-old franchise can even work. Nothing’s come close. Of course, this all would also imply that the studio — which was valued at $5 billion in 2004 — has lost all of its value outside the Bond franchise, which seems like more than a stretch for an institution with more than 4,000 movies sitting in its vault.

So what’s Bond really worth? Who knows? $500 million? $600 million? As suggested last week with another high-gloss Hollywood franchise on the block, throw it on eBay and find out. Anything that preserves MGM’s magnificent Hot Tub Time Machine for a timely January release is worth it.

[via: http://www.movieline.com/2009/11/hilarious-exaggeration-of-the-day-the-james-bond-franchise-is-worth-15-billion.php#mce_temp_url#]

It seems as if not even Hollywood is exempt from the fact that life has a tendency to come full circle. Nicolas Cage saw his finances crumble this year, leaving the actor currently facing a tax bill of over $5 million as previously reported here. While Cage is in the process of suing his former financial advisor for mismanaging his funds, it looks like his dire financial straits may be temporarily fixed, and by none other than fellow A-lister Johnny Depp.

In a true “that’s what friends are for” move, the Public Enemies star has reportedly called his old friend to let him know that he will front “whatever he needs” to get him out of this crisis. Depp is generous in his financial and emotional support, possibly seeing the move as a way to pay Cage back for launching Depp’s stellar career: It was Nic who arranged for Depp, then an unknown musician, to meet with his agent, which led him to A Nightmare on Elm Street.

[Via: StyleCaster.com]

Lil Wayne will have his first full access documentary “The Carter” hit stores on the 17th of this month and now a new trailer has hit the internet showing how behind the scenes the film truely is. The new movie is an in-depth look at Dwayne Carter Jr, better known to us as Lil Wayne, who is often proclaimed (mainly by himself) as the “greatest rapper alive.” Featuring comprehensive and personal interviews with Weezy and insight from those who know him the best, the documentary will give fans a chance to find out the history surrounding one of the most prolific artists of our generation. [Weezy's New Trailer for his upcoming "The Carter" Documentary - Watch Here]

Lil Wayne’s “The Carter” documentary premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and even features an intimate and in-depth look into the public AND private life of Lil Wayne, showing his most personal moments. Giving the audience a peak at Lil Wayne in a way that they have never seen him before, “The Carter” is produced by “QD3″ also known as Quincy Jones III, Jared Freedman and Joshua Krause while Adam Bhala Lough handled the directing. [Lil Wayne's "The Carter" New Trailer - Watch Here]

Actor Nicolas Cage is reportedly completely broke and has a significant amount of debt.

According to Showbiz Gossip the star is selling his off his properties all over the world to gain capital.

The 45-year-old actor is blaming his manager, saying he sent him down to financial ruin. Cage is reportedly beginning a multi-million dollar lawsuit against him.

Sky News reported that Cage owed $6 million in unpaid taxes and defaulted on a $2 million loan. He was reportedly forced to sell a castle in Germany because of his financial situation.

Cage currently has six films due to be released in the next two years.

It’s tough to hear this story right after I watched the Family Man again recently. It’s an “Art Imitates” life situation if you look back to that movie. What’s funny is when some people say they are broke, they still own 5 homes around the globe. The broke that I’ve been accustomed to meant you didn’t have sh!t, an you didn’t own sh!t. I gotta give him props though, he has good taste. I’m always entertained by the type of characters these people are and how they lived based on the things they’ve encountered. People watching is a my cheap and guilty pleasure.