Ghosts beat minions as 'Conjuring' horror flick leads box office

By Chris Michaud and Lisa Richwine

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Conjuring," a low-budget horror movie about a haunted farmhouse, spooked two pricey competitors and the "Despicable Me" minions to win a crowded weekend box office contest at U.S. and Canadian theaters.

"Conjuring" soared past forecasts with $41.5 million in domestic ticket sales in its first three days, the highest take among four new films, according to studio estimates. The strong performance from "Conjuring" knocked two-time champion "Despicable Me 2" to second place with $25.1 million.

Both movies topped the weak results for big-budget entries "Turbo" and "R.I.P.D.," which both fell short of already low expectations from some box office analysts.

Animated film "Turbo," the story of a racing snail, landed in the No. 3 slot with $21.5 million from Friday through Sunday. Sci-fi comedy "R.I.P.D." floundered in seventh with $12.8 million.

"The Conjuring," produced for just under $20 million, stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as a couple who investigate paranormal activity inside a Rhode Island farmhouse. The movie followed the successful path of other inexpensive horror films such as "Mama" and "The Purge" that grabbed big sales in their opening weekends this year.

"It so overperformed anybody's wildest expectations," said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros' executive vice president for domestic distribution. "We originally thought if we open in the mid-20s, that's a strong result and we'd be very happy with that."

Family audiences kept coming for the animated "Despicable 2," one of the summer's biggest hits, which brought its global total through Sunday to $585 million, distributor Universal Pictures said. The film features the voice of Steve Carell as Gru, leader of the singing-and-dancing yellow minions.

Continued interest in "Despicable" stalled the debut of "Turbo," which features the voice of Ryan Reynolds as a snail that acquires super-fast powers after a freak accident.

The movie, produced by "Shrek" creator DreamWorks Animation, turned in one of the studio's lowest recent debuts. Its Friday-to-Sunday sales came in below last year's box office disappointment, the holiday-themed "Rise of the Guardians."

With a head start on the weekend, "Turbo" added $9.7 million on Wednesday and Thursday at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters, plus $22.6 million from international openings, which only covered about one-quarter of all international markets. DreamWorks spent roughly $135 million to make the film.

"We're in a very competitive marketplace but we have a ton of summer play time left, so we'll see," said Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox, the studio that released "Turbo," speaking to the film's opening numbers and its prospects.

Aronson said "Turbo" had "very strong openings" internationally, and an A-plus Cinemascore rating from moviegoers under age 25, which he said "bodes very well for its playability," or future box office prospects.

"R.I.P.D." was nearly as expensive as "Turbo," costing Universal Pictures about $130 million. The movie features "Turbo" star Reynolds and Jeff Bridges as lawmen in the "Rest in Peace Department" who come back from the dead to fight crime.

"R.I.P.D." added $6.8 million in international markets for a global total of $19.6 million through Sunday.

"In this crowded marketplace, R.I.P.D. did not find the size audience it needed and Universal is disappointed in the weekend result," said Nikki Rocco, president for domestic distribution at Universal Pictures.

Rocco said it was offset by "a fabulous year for Universal," which has now hit $1 billion at the box office for the year thus far, the earliest date the studio has ever reached that level.

Rounding out the top of the charts, the Adam Sandler comedy "Grown Ups 2" took the No. 4 slot, pulling in $20 million during its second weekend.

Newcomer "Red 2," an action comedy aimed at older adults, landed in fifth place with 18.5 million, which studio officials said was in line with their expectations. The film stars Bruce Willis as a retired CIA agent who reunites a group of operatives to track down a missing nuclear device.

"The Conjuring" was released by Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. "Red 2" was released by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp, distributed "Despicable Me 2" and "R.I.P.D." Sony Corp's movie studio released "Grown Ups 2."

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Chris Michaud; Editing by Bill Trott)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ghosts-beat-minions-conjuring-horror-flick-leads-box-151712425.html

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'Catching Fire' Panel: Jennifer Lawrence's Snotty Kiss And More Sexy Facts

At Comic-Con, the stars discussed gross smooches, sex gods and what it's like to get whipped.
By Jean Bentley

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710958/catching-fire-2013-san-diego-comic-con-panel.jhtml

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The Industry Club London Ltd: Project Manager - Integrated

This is a brilliant opportunity to join a fantastically creative agency, with a great range of clients who work across a number of channels.

The project manager will play a pivatol role in the delivery of this clients creative work across

Brand films, PR films, press ads, website updates and? You Tube content.

You might be a client facing digital project manager looking to extend your skill set across other channels or an offline project manager who is digitally savvy and looking to work in the digital coms area.

Accountabilities:- ???????????

• End-to-end project management
• Develop and maintain overall timelines in order to ensure project progression, manage Client expectations, prioritise workload and schedule resource
• Develop and fully understand project budgets to maintain control of costs, ensuring purchase orders are approved for any external expenditure and that any changes versus budget are immediately flagged
• Working collaboratively with all internal departments and in-house TV production
• Traffic work through planning, creative, tech and studio
• Be utterly organised and facilitate team process with a can-do attitude
• Be fully cognisant of the agency?s systems and processes and activity seek to improve the team?s specific processes
• Update and maintain the? microsite, YouTube channel and the? website
• With the Account Manager, maintain day-to-day contact with Clients with regards to project progression, stepping in to provide holiday and sickness cover
• Develop and maintain relationships with Clients, Agency departments and other roster agencies
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Client?s products, branding, logos and trade markings to make sure brand guidelines are adhered to in all work
• Stay abreast of technological development and techniques within the marketing sphere
• Ensure that the production of campaigns is completed on time and within budget. Proof the work with attention to detail. Obtain written approval, from the Client and AD/BD, for all finished work

We work with leading agencies and companies in the UK placing Creative, Creative Services, Account Management and Digital professionals and we specialise in individuals with integrated experience.

Source: http://jobs.brandrepublic.com/job/538513/project-manager-integrated/?TrackID=2

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Don?t Miss Tonight?s ?On the Record? at 10 pm/ET and Join the Conversation on Twitter Using #greta !

Check out what Twitter users are saying about tonight?s OTR at 10pm?watch the show and sound off on Twitter using #greta and make sure you are following @gretawire!

Posted in: OTR at 10, ON THE RECORD, ON THE RECORD at 10pm, OTR, OTR at 10, twitter

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Kuroda, Rivera key Yankees' 5-2 win over Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) ? Mariano Rivera has jogged from the right-field bullpen to the Fenway Park mound a number of times in his 18-year career. He's probably never been greeted like he was by the rival Red Sox fans on Saturday.

Rivera entered to a nice ovation and worked a scoreless ninth inning for his 31st save, closing out a strong effort by New York's pitchers that carried the Yankees to a 5-2 victory.

"I always love to pitch here, always," the 43-year old Rivera said. "Yankee Stadium's home, but I love to come here. It's a great atmosphere. We've played big games here. It's always good."

Lyle Overbay and Brett Gardner each collected three hits and drove in a run to back Hiroki Kuroda's seven strong innings. David Robertson worked a scoreless eighth, setting the stage for Rivera, the All-Star game MVP.

"That doesn't surprise me," Overbay said of Rivera's ovation. "He deserves it. I think everybody's embracing what he's done as a pitcher, so it's well-deserving and shows you the respect they have for him."

Rivera could smile when he was reminded about a standing ovation he got on opening day in 2005, the year after Boston rallied from a 3-0 deficit against New York in the American League Championship series en route to the World Series title.

"That's what happened," he said.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the injury-riddled Yankees, who hope to be bolstered by the return of captain Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez soon.

Mike Carp had three hits and scored a run for the Red Sox. It was just Boston's second loss in its last 11 games in Fenway.

In a matchup of veteran right-handers, Kuroda and John Lackey both mostly relied on fastballs in the low 90s with hard sliders to go along with outstanding control. The pair combined for just one walk ? by Kuroda ? and threw a high percentage of strikes.

"It was a close game all along, so I had to be careful with my pitches," Kuroda said through a translator. "But when they gave me the run support, I think I was able to be more bold."

Kuroda (9-6) gave up two runs and five hits, striking out four with a pair of wild pitches ? one that led to a run. Robinson Cano added two RBIs.

"I think what was most impressive was, in these conditions, to be able to touch 95 in the sixth, seventh innings against the meat of our order when he needed it," Boston manager John Farrell said of the 38-year-old Kuroda. "He's a very good pitcher and had a good day today."

The game was tight when Lackey left with a pair of runners on, trailing 2-0 in the seventh. New York then built its lead to 4-0 in the inning on consecutive RBI singles by Cano and Overbay against reliever Matt Thornton.

Lackey (7-7) was charged with four runs on 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out seven. It snapped a stretch of six consecutive starts when he allowed two or fewer runs, and was just the third time in his 17 starts this season he's given up more than three.

"With how good their guy pitched, it doesn't really matter," Lackey said of being in a tight game. "I'm kind of used to it. A lot of mine have been like that this year. It's kind of been fun."

Jonny Gomes had a sacrifice fly and Carp scored on Kuroda's wild pitch, cutting it to 4-2 in the seventh.

Pitching in sweltering conditions with a game-time temperature of 91 with oppressive humidity, the pair battled through four scoreless innings until New York took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on Gardner's two-out, RBI single.

It appeared the Yankees had squandered a good chance when they had a runner cut down at the plate on Luis Cruz's grounder to short. But Cruz, who reached on the fielder's choice on the play, advanced on a wild pitch before Gardner's soft liner up the middle just got past the glove of diving second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Eduardo Nunez had a leadoff single, stole second, and was sacrificed, but was thrown out by Stephen Drew.

Cruz's RBI single made it 2-0 in the seventh before Cano and Overbay added their hits.

Boston also had a runner nailed at the plate when Carp was tagged out by Kuroda in the fifth, ending the inning after his pitch ticked off the glove of catcher Stewart and about 20 feet behind the plate.

NOTES: Farrell said before the game that OF Shane Victorino "felt better than I think he expected to feel" after leaving Friday's game with left hamstring tightness. Farrell also said "we expect him back in the lineup (Sunday)." ... Boston moved LHP Jon Lester back a few days and will send right-hander Ryan Dempster (5-8, 4.24 ERA) in the series finale against the Yankees' CC Sabathia (9-8, 4.07 ERA) on Sunday night. ... Count Sabathia as one that really enjoyed the four-day All-Star break. In fact, he didn't even know that teammate Cano got plunked on the right knee in the midsummer classic until he heard from one of the coaches before his flight to Boston. "I was just hoping he didn't come in on crutches," he said, smiling. "It was good to get the four days. I got away from baseball. As far as anything going on (with the All-Star game or Home Run Derby), I didn't know anything." ... At the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., C Francisco Cervelli (right hand and elbow) said he has started hitting drills in an indoor cage and OF Curtis Granderson (broken pinkie), expected back early next month, ran the bases during a simulated game but did not hit. He is taking batting practice. ... The start was delayed 21 minutes because of a threat of thunderstorms in the area.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kuroda-rivera-key-yankees-5-2-win-over-012036445.html

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Android Apps of the Week: Floating Toucher, Locket, and More

With the rate we're all moving these days, we rarely take the time to slow down and enjoy life?even when we really want to. Fortunately, you don't have to go through it alone. This week's set of Android apps are all about making your life easier and more organized, so you can stay in touch with the people who actually deserve it.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/sqbBdswFsbI/android-apps-of-the-week-floating-toucher-locket-and-842667059

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Florida Mom Uses Baby As Human Shield While Fleeing Police

July 20, 2013 by The Master Chief

A Florida woman who walked out of a Dillard?s with more than $200 worth of clothing hidden in a baby stroller is facing a number of charges ? including child abuse ? after she literally THREW her three-month-old daughter at police (after using the baby as a human shield) in a failed getaway attempt.

Police say 23-year-old Ashley Wright, of Pensacola, Fla. was spotted by a store employee with about $260 worth of adult clothes in her daughter?s baby stroller. When she left the store and got in her car, she was approached by a deputy who ordered her to get out.

She refused, obviously, and shouted at her husband to get in the car so they could leave. At one point, she ?grabbed the baby carrier and held it in front of her screaming, ?You will have to shoot through the baby to get to me!? according to a sheriff?s report obtained by The Smoking Gun.

As Wright cursed and screamed at a deputy, two other small children ? a little 2-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl ? were watching from the backseat.

MOTHER OF THE EFFING YEAR.

But if you think that?s bad, keep on reading:

The Pensacola resident then jumped out of the car and ?began running away from it with the baby carrier,? which held her infant daughter. As a deputy closed in on her, Wright ?threw the baby carrier?at me, about shoulder height,? the report notes.

After dodging the airborne carrier and the 14-pound baby, the deputy apprehended Wright, but not without a struggle. Wright, who was bleeding after she tripped and hit her head on the ground, shook her head from side-to-side, spraying deputies with blood. ?Now you mother fuckers have my blood all over you bitches,? she remarked.

Thank GOD the baby wasn?t injured. What type of parent not only uses her infant child as a human shield, but also TOSSES her baby at a police deputy while trying to get away with a couple of stolen outfits, none of which were even for her children, mind you.

When Wright arrived for treatment at a local hospital, she was a lot more calm and explained to police that her ?night of bad decisions? probably had something to to with the beers she drank earlier that day.

Wright admitted to stealing the clothes, but claimed ?it was because her kids needed school clothes,? but the only thing she stole was a woman?s shirt and two pairs of ?Miss Me? jeans, not children?s clothing.

In addition to felony child abuse for throwing her baby and using her as a human shield, Wright was also charged with petty theft and resisting an officer. She was reportedly booked into the county jail and her bond was set at $7,000.

Source: http://gossiponthis.com/2013/07/20/florida-mom-uses-baby-as-human-shield-while-fleeing-police/

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