August 26, 2009–Producer David Permut has acquired “A Life in the Day,” Tony Gittelson's scenario about the life of Brian Epstein, who discovered and managed the Beatles from 1961 to 1967, when he died of a drug overdose at 32.

August 19, 2009–Tom Sherak  has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for a one-year term.

August 6, 2009–John Hughes, director of such popular and era-defining youth films such as “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” died suddenly today of a heart attack while taking a morning walk during a trip to Manhattan. He was 59.

July 30, 2009–Spike Jonze has acquired screen rights to Shane Jones' first novel “Light Boxes,” to be directed by Ray Tintori.

July 20, 2009–Warner's “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” made close to $400 million in its worldwide debut, scoring the biggest overseas opening of all time at $237 million and $159.7 million domestically.