Box office report for Oct. 31, 2011: “Puss in Boots” made for walking to the top of the charts
The “Shrek” spinoff “Puss in Boots” clawed its way to the top of the domestic box office, opening with an estimated $34 million to the secure the No. 1 spot over the weekend.
The DreamWorks 3-D animated film, distributed by Paramount Pictures, proved the popular swashbuckling character voiced by Antonio Banderas was a big draw outside the “Shrek” franchise, according to the Associated Press.
The PG-rated “Puss in Boots” scored with family audiences on the weekend before Halloween and also drew a large Hispanic crowd, which made up 35 percent of its audience.
Though the box office for the top 12 movies was up 7.8 percent from the corresponding weekend last year, it was still affected by both the unseasonable winter storm on the East Coast and the appeal of the Game 7 broadcast of the World Series on Friday night. DreamWorks estimated the storm took off several million dollars from “Puss in Boots,” the AP reported.
The Justin Timberlake sci-fi thriller “In Time,” the new release over the weekend from 20th Century Fox, was down as much as 20 percent Saturday in markets like New York and Philadelphia, according to the AP.
But the largest estimated opening didn’t happen in North America. “The Adventures of Tintin,” which is being distributed overseas by Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures, opened in 19 international markets and hauled in $55.8 million.
The performance-capture 3-D animated film, directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from the beloved Belgian comic series, was especially popular in France, where its $21.5 million was the largest opening for a non-sequel Hollywood film. The film opens in the U.S. on Dec. 21.
Paramount also claimed the weekend’s second top performing movie with the low-budget horror flick “Paranormal Activity 3.” That film took in $18.5 million in its second week of release, bringing its cumulative total to $81.3 million. Paramount’s “Footloose” was the fourth film on the weekend, adding $5.4 million for a three-week total of $38.4 million.
“In Time” opened with $12 million domestically but took in $14.5 million more overseas.
The biggest disappointment was “The Rum Diary,” the Hunter S. Thompson adaption starring Johnny Depp. It earned just $5 million, a low figure for a film headlined by Depp that cost an estimated $50 million to make, according to the AP. To read my review of “The Rum Diary,” click here.
Here are the top movies in North America over the weekend, from the AP:
1. “Puss in Boots,” $34 million.
2. “Paranormal Activity 3,” $18.5 million.
3. “In Time,” $12 million.
4. “Footloose,” $5.4 million.
5. “The Rum Diary,” $5 million.
6. “Real Steel,” $4.7 million.
7. “The Three Musketeers,” $3.5 million.
8. “The Ides of March,” $2.7 million.
9. “Moneyball,” $2.4 million.
10. “Courageous,” $1.8 million.
-BAM
Co-hosts Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins, plus Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square and more to perform on American Country Awards
Pistol Annies
The second American Country Awards will feature plenty of performers with Oklahoma ties.
Along with co-hosting Trace Adkins and Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth are set to make music on the awards show, and the performance lineup also includes country music stars Blake Shelton, an Ada native who lives in Tishomingo; the Pistol Annies, the all-girl trio that includes Shelton’s wife and fellow Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert; Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson; along with Eli Young Band and The Band Perry.
The American Country Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 on Fox.
The two-hour event will also feature appearances by Lambert, Lauren Alaina, Rachel Bilson, Scotty McCreery and the men of the reality TV show “Pawn Stars” (Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell).
Additional performers and presenters will be announced soon, according to a news release.
The two-hour awards show offers country music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories, but also in a previously unrecognized area of the business touring encompassing the entire spectrum of country music.
Voting for all categories remains open until Friday, Nov. 11 at www.theacas.com. Voting for Artist of the Year continues until Friday, Dec. 2. To see the list of nominees, click here.
Shelton has been dubbed one of the “most versatile of contemporary country singers” by The New York Times. The 2010 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year continues to prove to be one of the industry’s hottest vocalists as he caps a successful year with career highlights that includes a national breakout turn as a celebrity vocal coach on the hit NBC reality show “The Voice” and the release of his new album “Red River Blue,” which has spawned three No. 1 hits, and a cover of the iconic theme song to go with the new movie remake of “Footloose.”
The Pistol Annies are comprised of Ashley Monroe (“Hippie Annie”), Angaleena Presley (“Holler Annie”) and Texas native Lambert (“Lone Star Annie”). The trio was born out of a songwriting session when Monroe introduced Lambert to the music of her friend, Presley. “Hell on Heels” is the title track to the trio¹s 2011 debut album. The trio has performed on selected Lambert tour dates and it is planning a tour of its own soon. Every song on “Hell on Heels” was written by one or more of the Annies, who all co-wrote the track “Family Feud” with “Pistol Andy,” AKA Shelton.
One of country music’s biggest breakout acts of 2011, Stoney Creek Records’ Thompson Square has earned 12 major awards show nominations in 2011, including seven ACA nominations, an American Music Award nod for New Artist of the Year, and two CMA nominations for New Artist of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year. The husband-and-wife team, comprised of the Oklahoma-bred Keifer Thompson and Alabama-bred Shawna Thompson, combine classic country and rock influences to forge a sound that is thoroughly modern, but built on the bedrock of tradition. The duo’s No. 1 single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” is country radio’s most played song of the year, according to music industry tracking service Mediabase. Their current single, “I Got You,” is a Top 10 hit. Thompson Square spent the past year on the road opening for multi-platinum country rocker Jason Aldean on his “My Kinda Party 2011 Tour.” The pair joins Darius Rucker’s U.S. tour in November and joins Lady Antebellum’s “Own the Night 2012 World Tour” in January.
The Eli Young Band’s lead single “Crazy Girl,” has been certified platinum with sales of more than 1 million downloads. The song is currently at No. 2 on both country radio charts while the video for the single has tracked more than 6 million views on YouTube. “Life at Best”made its debut at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200. It came in at No. 1 on the iTunes Store Top 10 Country Albums chart and No. 3 on iTunes’ all-genre Top 10 Albums chart, just behind Jay Z/Kanye West and Adele. While currently on tour with Dierks Bentley, EYB is a headliner in its own right, selling out shows across the country from California to Rhode Island.
-BAM
Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban to pay tribute to Glen Campbell on Nov. 9′s CMA Awards
Vince Gill (AP file)
Brad Paisley (AP file)
Keith Urban (AP file)
Reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley and former CMA Entertainers of the Year Vince Gill and Keith Urban will pay tribute to Country Music Hall of Fame member and former CMA Entertainer of the Year Glen Campbell during the 45th Annual CMA Awards. The three guitar virtuosos’ performance saluting the legendary singer/musician is sure to be a highlight of the awards show.
The 45th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Paisley and Checotah natigve Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 on the ABC Television Network.
Previously announced performers with Oklahoma ties include Miranda Lambert and Thompson Square, along with Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Chris Young, and Zac Brown Band.
Among the special performances will be Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter singing their hit collaboration “You and Tequila;” Rascal Flatts (which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher) and Natasha Bedingfield singing their current hit duet “Easy;” Lionel Richie performing a medley of hits with Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, and Darius Rucker; and co-hosts Paisley and Underwood in their first live televised-performance of their No. 1 song “Remind Me.”
Glen Campbell
Campbell was named both CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year in 1968, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. The legendary performer has sold more than 45 million albums and recorded such classic hits as “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” – all penned by Elk City-born and bred songwriting star Jimmy Webb – plus “Gentle On My Mind,” “Southern Nights” and “Rhinestone Cowboy.” As a musician, Campbell was part of the much-heralded Wrecking Crew that performed on a variety of artists’ albums. His guitar prowess is featured on the Beach Boys’ seminal album “Pet Sounds” and on Frank Sinatra’s megahit “Strangers in the Night,” among others. He acted alongside John Wayne in the movie “True Grit” and hosted “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” on television from 1968-72. Earlier this year, Campbell announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He is in the midst of his successful “Goodbye Tour” after releasing his final album, the critically-acclaimed “Ghost on the Canvas.”
Gill, who was born in Norman and raised in Oklahoma City, is No. 3 on the list for the most career wins in CMA Award history, having won 18 CMA Awards thus far, including two Entertainer Awards (1993, 1994), five consecutive Male Vocalist Awards (1991-95, tying him with George Strait for the most wins in that category), two Album Awards (1993 for “I Still Believe in You” and 1994 for “Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles”), and a record-holding four Song of the Year Awards (1991 for “When I Call Your Name,” 1992 for “Look at Us,” 1993 for “I Still Believe In You,” and 1996 for “Go Rest High On That Mountain”). Gill served as host of the CMA Awards for 12 consecutive years (1992-2003), a record for hosts of any nationally televised awards show. He released his new album, “Guitar Slinger,” last week.
The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Paisley received five nominations in 2011 for Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for “This is Country Music”; and Musical Event and Music Video of the Year for “Old Alabama,” featuring Alabama. Paisley has won 14 CMA Awards to date, including three consecutive Male Vocalist Awards (2007-2009) and Album of the Year (in 2006 for “Time Well Wasted”). This is his fourth consecutive year to co-host the CMA Awards with Underwood.
Urban received two nominations this year: Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year. He has won four CMA Awards to date: Entertainer in 2005 and three consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Awards (2004-2006). Urban’s current album is “Get Closer.”
I’m planning to live blog the CMA Awards again this year, so make plans now to follow my coverage of the yearly event right here at BAM’s Blog!
-BAM
Video: LookatOKC’s “Got It Covered” – Justin Witte plays Wanda Jackson’s “Fujiyama Mama”
My excellent colleagues George Lang and Kyle Roberts have launched a new video series for LOOKatOKC called “Got It Covered.” In the third installment, Justin Witte performs a horn-tastic cover of Oklahoma rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson’s hit “Fujiyama Mama”
“Got It Covered” will feature 12 local musicians covering classic songs by Oklahoma artists. The series will last for 12 weeks and will shoot at 7 p.m. each Thursday at Saints, 715 NW 16 in the Plaza District. The pub is sponsoring the series.
Audiences are encouraged to show up 30 minutes before taping to enjoy each performance. Each video will debut the following Monday.
The singers, bands and musicians participating in the series select one of 12 songs to perform — first come, first served. The last musician to schedule a performance has to play the last song on the list, which includes signature songs from The Flaming Lips, Reba McEntire, the GAP Band, Leon Russell, Color Me Badd and other famed Oklahoma music stars. To see the full list, go to http://lookatokc.newsok.com/got-it-covered.
The next “Got It Covered” performance will be at 7 p.m. this Thursday at Saints, Jabee performing Hanson’s “MmmBop.”
-BAM
Video: Static features Sugar Free Allstars playing “Ghostbusters” in honor of Halloween
Happy Halloween! In honor of the spooky season, I have an audio-visual treat for you, dear readers
For their latest episode of “Static on Tour,” my excellent colleagues George Lang and Kyle Roberts ventured to the Oklahoma City Zoo to feature “Rock Awesome” local kindie rockers Sugar Free Allstars performing “Ghostbusters,” which Allstar Chris “Boom!” Wiser calls “one of the best Halloween-related songs ever.” Really, what child of the ’80s can argue with that?
During the video shoot at the zoo, Wiser and Rob “Dr. Rock” Martin also performed live their great kindie rock anthems “Tiger in My Backyard” and “Alligator Stomp.” To see videos of those performances, click here.
Tonight, the OKC Zoo will become even more zoo-like as hoards of costumed trick-or-treaters and their parents flock to the 28th annual Haunt the Zoo for Halloween from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the zoo, 2101 NE 50. For more information, call 424-3344 or go to www.okczoo.com.
Click here for an expansive listing of Halloween-theme events happening around Oklahoma.
For more on the Sugar Free Allstars, go to www.sugarfreeallstars.com.
-BAM
Flaming Lips are streaming their 24-hour song for free today, playing the O Music Awards tonight
Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips (Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman Archives)
One of the most popular treats for music lovers this Halloween hasn’t been chocolate covered or individually wrapped. It’s been ear candy from Oklahoma City-based psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips.
The Lips released today their new 24-hour song, “7 Skies H3,” which they are streaming for free at http://flaminglipstwentyfourhoursong.com.
The stream is limited to 999 listeners at a time, and it’s been maxed out much of the day. I’m currently on and listening, but it took a few tries to make that happen. If you’re a fan of the Lips, though, it’s worth the wait.
Oklahoma City-based Delo Creative, a “small collective of visual generalists” who works with the Lips, posted this afternoon on their Facebook page, “Sorry about the Flaming Lips 7 Skies H3 server overload. We’ll have another stream up this afternoon.”
As previously reported, the Lips are offering the option to buy the 24-hour-long song encased in an actual human skull. Thirteen of the skulls, which come topped with chrome “hair,” will be sold for the price of $5,000, which includes worldwide shipping.
“I would say nothing that we’re doing is bizarre or illegal,” Lips frontman Wayne Coyne said recently on the O Music Awards blog. “In parts of the world and even on eBay you can actually buy real human skulls. There’s a place in town (Oklahoma City) that’s called Skulls Unlimited that’s been here for almost as long as The Flaming Lips have been here, and it sells human skulls.”
“People heads come into this place and they have these flesh-eating beetles — I would have tweeted a picture of it, but they don’t allow it — literally eat every molecule of flesh off of these things and you’ll end up with a human skull,” he added on the blog.
The skulls will be packaged in elegant boxes, and inserted in each one will be hard drive containing the 24-hour-long song, according to the blog.
As for the song itself – what I’ve heard over the past 20 or so minutes is what I think of as classic Lips: otherworldly, contemplative and appropriately eerie for Halloween – Coyne told the blog, “It’s a song about death and it’s a song about f—ing and it’s a song about life… It’s another element of this Flaming Lips connection with death and beauty and all that.”
Along with today’s debut of the 24-hour song, the Lips have other big Halloween plans: They will perform a cover of the Beatles’ “Revolution” in memory of Steve Jobs on tonight’s MTV’s O Music Awards. The show starts at 10:30 Central tonight and will live stream at www.OMusicAwards.com.
The band’s Steve Jobs tribute will be recorded with an iPad for the broadcast, reports the Associated Press. The Apple co-founder, whose technological innovations like the iPod and iPad drastically changed the way we consume music and other media, died Oct. 5 at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
The awards show, which will take place in Los Angeles, “celebrates the artists, innovators and fans impacting digital music culture.” Other performers and presenters include Robyn, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Travie McCoy and Tyler, the Creator, according to the AP.
Coyne will compete for The Digital Genius Award, along with Bjork, Girl Talk, Devo and music video director Chris Milk, at the second O Music Awards.
He has certainly earned his Digital Genius Award nomination this year. Throughout 2011, the Lips have devoted themselves to artistic exploration and kept a vow to release new music every month. Some of the new songs have come on flash drives contained in gummy skulls or gummy fetuses, while others have been accompanied by trippy music videos.
The 24-hour song follows the band’s six-hour track “Found a Star on the Ground,” contained on a USB drive within a newly developed toy called “The Strobo Trip,” which provides a psychedelic visual display to enhance the music. The band made the creation of the six-hour opus a charitable event, offering fans the chance to make a $100 donation in exchange for having Sean Lennon speak their names somewhere in the song.
The project raised about $20,000 for the Central Oklahoma Humane Society and the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, according to The Oklahoman Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett.
-BAM
Monday Catchy Quote No. 186
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of your week – or considering the day, maybe creepy you out a little:
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: It’s Halloween, everyone’s entitled to one good scare.
- Click here to learn the source.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 31, 2011: Trick-or-treat at the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Haunt the Zoo for Halloween
Nevaeh Byrd, 3, of Noble, holds the hand of her mother, Jaimie Byrd, during the 2010 Haunt the Zoo at the Oklahoma City Zoo. (Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman Archives)
Today’s featured event:
Spend a fall evening with exotic animals, intricately carved jack-o’-lanterns and eco-friendly candy at the 28th annual Haunt the Zoo for Halloween from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 NE 50. Information: 424-3344 or www.okczoo.com.
Click here for an expansive listing of Halloween-theme events happening around Oklahoma.
For even more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 30, 2011: Experience the Magic Lantern Celebration in the Paseo
Casey Tisdale, a dancer with Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan, performs at a past Magic Lantern Celebration in the Paseo Arts District. (Photo by Ken Bird)
Today’s featured event:
Experience “a night of light instead of fright” today at the annual Magic Lantern Celebration in the Paseo Arts District. The artistic event is organized by Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan. From 3 to 6 p.m., children can make their own costumes, and from 6 to 7 p.m., they can participate in the “Spin and Sparkle Parade.” Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
Click here for an expansive listing of Halloween-theme events happening around Oklahoma.
For even more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 29, 2011: Get in on family-friendly Halloween fun at Arcadia Lake’s Storybook Forest
People walk down one of the paths at the 2010 Storybook Forest at Arcadia Lake. (Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman Archives)
Today’s featured event:
EDMOND – Take the family on a hayride, roast marshmallows and collect goodies from storybook characters at Arcadia Lake’s Storybook Forest from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. nightly through Monday at Spring Creek Park. Information: 216-7471 or www.edmondok.com.
Click here for an expansive listing of Halloween-theme events happening around the state.
For even more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
