Coppola loses $20 million
Director Francis Ford Coppola has lost his court appeal against Warner Bros. over the film "Pinocchio" and been stripped of a $20 million jury award.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury ruled in 1998 that Warner Bros. falsely claimed to have a "Pinocchio" deal with Coppola, which prevented him from making the movie with Columbia Pictures.
A trial judge later threw out the jury's $60 million punitive damage award, but left Coppola with $20 million in compensatory damages.
The appeals court found that even though a long-form contract was never agreed upon, Coppola had signed a 1992 certificate of employment that gave Warner Bros. rights to a Coppola "Pinocchio" project.
Songwriters inducted into Hall
Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Diane Warren and Paul Williams will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 14, the organization has announced.
At the 32nd annual inductions ceremony, Billy Joel will receive the Johnny Mercer Award and Gloria and Emilio Estefan will be honored with a lifetime achievement award.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame and its parent group, the National Academy of Popular Music, were co-founded by songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1969 in New York.
Cruise rumor nixed
Tom Cruise is not ending his association with the Church of Scientology, contrary to a report that originated in London's Sunday Telegraph. The story quoted an unnamed source as saying the actor had made a generous donation to end his association with goodwill. His publicist, Jennifer Allen, says none of it is true. "He's still very much a member of the church."
Oops, he's done it again
First, Prince William made Britney Spears go ga-ga over his royal shyness. Now, Britain's own Prince Charming has gone and set Charlotte Church's heart aflutter, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The 15-year-old soprano, who rose to fame before hitting her teens, has revealed to the celebrity magazine Heat that she has a crush on the 18-year-old prince. Not only that, but she says she would love to marry him. "He's the most eligible bachelor and he's very nice, but generally I don't go for blonds," Church said.
The crystal-voiced singer from Wales, who has performed at the White House, the Vatican and for Queen Elizabeth II, isn't at all nervous around royalty. She met William's father, Prince Charles, and found him utterly charming. "He doesn't know you from toffee, and he just stands there and talks to you," Church said. "I thought, 'I want to be your future daughter-in-law,' but I didn't say it."
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