Steven Spielberg has bought the rights to the British television series The Syndicate and is overseeing a remake for the US network ABC. The BBC1 show's screenwriter Kay Mellor told The Sun: "He told me that he and his wife were avid fans of the show. He certainly knew everything about the show. He had watched each episode three times." Mellor said she initially thought her agent was pulling her leg when she was told that Spielberg wanted to call her to discuss the show. "After four days of waiting for Steven to ring, I thought it must be a joke," she said. "Then he called me when I was sitting at my kitchen table in casual clothes and slippers, working on the script for The Syndicate 2. He roared with laughter when I told him what I was wearing." The Syndicate revolves around supermarket workers who enter into a syndicate and win the lottery. - IANS
Oscar-winning sound editor drowns in NZ
The Oscar-winning sound editor Mike Hopkins has drowned in a rafting accident in New Zealand. Hopkins, a 53-year-old New Zealander, died after being thrown into a fast-flowing stretch of river in the remote Tararua Ranges in the central North Island on Saturday. Hopkins won Oscars for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2003 and King Kong in 2006. His other movie credentials include Blade Runner, Superman and The Last Emperor. - AFP
Zach Gilford marries Kiele Sanchez
The Friday Night Lights and Mob Doctor star Zach Gilford married the actress Kiele Sanchez on Saturday. The couple met when they co-starred in the 2010 TV series The Matadors. They are expecting their first child together this year. - IANS
Barlow to close music label
Gary Barlow has decided to close down his music label Future Records to focus on his personal life. The Take That singer told reporters that overseeing the label was even more time-consuming than his own singing career. "I've had a lot going on recently and I want to spend more time with my family." All of the label's recording artists will now be managed by Future Records' parent company Universal. - IANS
X Factor winner tops charts
James Arthur, the winner of this year's British version of The X Factor, saw his debut single Impossible top the British pop charts on Sunday. Scream and Shout by will.i.am, featuring Britney Spears, placed second, while Psy's monster hit Gangnam Style tookthird place. In the album charts, the British singer Emeli Sande was on top with Our Version of Events, with Olly Murs's Right Place, Right Time at number two. Rihanna ranked third with her album Unapologetic. - Reuters
