Wanton Muse First On The Dali Train
Independent UK production company Wanton Muse have been awarded funding by the EU MEDIA Programme for the development of "Little Ashes", a surreal story of love and art centring on the bizarre friendship between Salvador Dali, Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Bunuel. Although a director has not yet been announced Philippa Goslett will write the screenplay, Pikka Brassey will produce the production scheduled for release in 2004, the centenary of Dali's birth. The story is set in roaring 1920s Madrid where the young men met at university. It follows their explosive friendship, covert affair and the making of three extraordinary personalities. This year the centenary of the birth of surreal filmmaker Luis Bunuel was a theme at the Cannes Film Festival. Un Chien Andalou - the short film he made with Dali in 1924 is currently showing at the Tate Modern.

Mendes To Direct Controversial Dali Flick?
From a close source, Oscar stockpiler Sam Mendes has expressed interest in adapting writer Clifford Thurlow's newly released book, 'Sex, Surrealism, Dali and Me,' the memoirs of Dali's long term friend, Carlos Lozano. A number of independent production companies are also vying for the rights of the book that only launched on Monday at the London South Bank's new Dali Universe museum. Thurlow, author of Carol White's biography, Carol Comes Home has written the book in scene by scene form taken from Lozano's direct memories and would make the adaptation a quick formality. Some of the content of the book will, no doubt, send the living stars that 'associated' with Dali in a blind panic. Thurlow told us recently, "I'm afraid that the film will launch a spate of libel suits among old Hollywood!"

SKG Let Shrek Loose In Imax 3D
DreamWorks' animated film Shrek is set to be released in Imax 3D next December, the first to be released in the format after this years 2D Fantasia. Shrek tells the tale of an ogre driven from his swamp by pesky fairytale neighbours and features the voices of Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and John Lithgow. The release will coincide with their home video release and a 35mm version will be shown next May. In a statement to industry mag, Screendaily Al Newman said, "It will be a day-and-date release; it's too early to say where it will be booked but it will be as broad as possible, depending on theatre availability." There are only around 80 3D Imax screens in the world-wide with that number likely to double by the time of release.

Now, Say 'Sorry' to Jimmy.
To confirm our doubts about last week's rumour of Jimmy Smits joining the cast of Star Wars Episodes 2 & 3, we are smug in reporting that his representatives have since categorically denied all the reports. We told you so!

Blair Joins Netribution To Fight U-571!
Tony Blair has lambasted the film U-571's portrayal of American rather British sailors discovering the Enigma code in 1941. In a statement in the Commons on Wednesday, the PM noted, "We hope that people realise these are people that, in many cases sacrificed their lives in order that this country remained free." These comments were subsequently backed up by Culture Secretary Chris Smith who said in a radio interview, "I think one of the things we need to make clear to Hollywood is, yes you're in the entertainment business but people see your movies, they're going to come away thinking that's information not just entertainment. You've got to make it clear where the dividing lines between these things lie." Smith intends to take the matter further in Hollywood in the near future.

First Movie Beamed Via Web.
On wednesday, the first film to be transmitted over the Internet to a theatre was sent from a Hollywood studio to the SuperComm trade show in Atlanta over 3000 miles away. The film was Titan A.E., a 20th Century Fox. sci-fi drama and the transmission employed a secure network developed by Cisco Systems.

Stan Lee Sees Comic Dreams Come True.
Stan Lee of Stan Lee Media is the cofounder of the enormous Marvel Comics and has carried the mantle his late partner Jack Kirby who, between them, conceived such world known super heroes as Spiderman, the X-Men and The Fantastic Four. Since quitting Warner where he brought us Batman and ending his position Chairman of Columbia Tri Star, where he greenlit Men In Black, Lee has been working on his pet animated series, 7th Portal. The webisode series debuted on the Shockwave Internet site last February and now looks to be screened theatrically as a feature, most likely through Warner.

Jackson & Singleton Reignite Blaxploitation Ethos.
During the filming of the remake of Shaft, Boyz In The Hood director John Singleton and lead Samuel L. Jackson have stated that their differences arose though the constant meddling of producer Scott Rudin. Rudin had employed white screenwriter Richard Price for the script which was the source of the Jackson's qualms. The star went as far as saying, "I told him (Rudin) point-blank that I refused to say that white man's lines. ... I'd do it my way, and poor John would have Scott Rudin breathing in his ear demanding that he make me say the lines they'd paid so much money for." Have times changed?

Christopher Eccleston is the prize in BT competition.
BT's formidable GetOutThere website for shorts and animations is offering filmmakers a first-rate prize this month - the chance to get judge Christopher Eccleston fee-free to appear in your film for a day. At getoutthere, visitors then vote for the shorts or animations they like best simply by viewing them. Each month, the most popular movie in each genre is awarded a prize. Throughout June and July, getoutthere is the stage and Christopher Eccleston (Let Him Have It, Shallow Grave) is the audience, judging Opening Scene entries - a competition to write the best opening scene to the monthly brief. This month's winner will have the opportunity to cast Christopher Eccleston as the starring role in their next masterpiece. Prizes will be
awarded for artistic merit and commercial viability so entrants should think in terms of crafting an exciting and compelling first scene that would grab the attention of the celebrity judge. For more information, visit www.getoutthere.bt.com.