'^M

Million-Dollar Barrier
Is Crashed by 'Hooper'
BURBANK—Warner Bros.' action-comedy,
"Hooper." crashed through the $1,000,-
000-week barrier in New York with a tremendous
$1,014,078 gross for the first seven
days in 88 theatres, according to Barry
Reardon, WB"s vice-president for domestic
sales.
The large gross is the first for a Warner
Bros, film since "Dog Day Afternoon,"
which showed similar boxoffice strength in
1976.
Nationally, the Burt Reynolds starrer
chalked up a weekend boxoffice take of
$6,011,435 in 1,127 theatres, giving the picture
a total boxoffice gross of $19,686,980.
"Hooper," a Burt Reynolds-Lawrence
Gordon production, was produced by Hank
Moonjean and directed by Hal Needham
from a screenplay by Thomas Rickman and
Bill Kerby. Original story was written by
Walt Green and Walter S. Herndon.
Weill's 'Girl Friends' Wins
Big Grosses in Three Days
BURBANK—Despite a major newspaper
strike and heavy rains, Claudia Weill's "Girl
Friends" struck gold with a whopping $30,-
380 for the first three days of its world premiere
engagement in New York City.
The Warner Bros, release opened Friday
(11) at the 700-seat Cinema I.
Claudia Weill's first major film, which
was featured at the Cannes Film Festival,
Wallach, Christopher Guest, Bob Balaban,
Gina Rojak, Amy Wright, Viveca Lindfors
and Mike Kellin. The film was produced
and directed by Claudia Weill from a
screenplay by Vicki Polon based on a story
which they co-authored.
New York Variety to Host
VCI President Eric Morley
NEW YORK—The Variety Club of New
York will host a luncheon for president Eric
Morley Friday, September 15, in the Georgian
Ballroom of the Hotel Americana here.
A special presentation will be made to stage
and screen star Jack Lemmon for his distinguished
service to Variety.
The Tent 35 luncheon will culminate a
week of visits by Morley to various Variety
tents in Baltimore, Washington, D. C, St.
Louis, Kansas City, Omaha. Des Moines
and Chicago, accompanied by worldwide
executive director Mort Sunshine. At the
luncheon. Tent 35 president Daniel R. Fellman
will present a plaque to Morley for his
superb achievements in helping underprivileged
children throughout the world.
Tickets for the luncheon are available
through the Variety Club office at 1600
Broadway, Suite 605, New York 10019,
phone (212) 247-5588.
Columbia Picfures Is
A Talent Development
BURBANK— In a major long-range move
to identify and develop new on-screen talent.
Columbia Pictures has established a
Talent Development Workshop, it was announced
Monday (14) by Daniel Melnick,
president of Columbia Pictures, and Frank
Price, president of Columbia Pictures Productions.
Applications are now being accepted
for an anticipated October 15 start.
The workshop will be based at the Burbank
Studios with the applicants chosen by
a selection process that begins with mail
applications and leads to a second stage of
screening by personal interviews and auditions
in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Free Workshop Enrollment
The final selections will be given a free
enrollment in a 12-week workshop.
An aim of the project will be to provide
new actors and actresses for Columbia's
upcoming feature film and TV productions.
Joshua Shelley, the distinguished actor
and director who headed his own acting
school for 17 years, has been named director
of the Talent Development Workshop.
Arthur Hiller, Martin Ritt and Steven
Spielberg are the first of the top directors
who will be on the faculty.
"This project," said Melnick, "which we
have been developing for a long time, not
only offers great opportunities for Columbia
but for the industry. So much of the excitement
"Girl Friends" begins its West Coast premiere
engagement Wednesday (23) at Westwood's
and vitality of this business springs
Avco Cinema II.
from the new personalities who need the
The picture stars Melanie Mayron and opportunities, the training and the showcase
for their talents. We want to encour-
co-stars Anita Skinner. Featured are Eli
age them and to say to them that their goals
and aspirations can be realized. By doing so,
we give them a chance and give us a building
block for the future."
In announcing Shelley's appointment.
Melnick added: "We particularly are fortunate
to have Josh as our director. He will
bring to the workshop his depth of experience
in all media and his particular expertise
as one of the most outstanding acting
teachers in the country."
Has Directed in All Media
An original member of the Actor's Studio,
Shelley has acted and directed in all media.
Among his film roles were "The Front,"
"Funny Lady" and "The Front Page." He
has directed a wide range of TV shows from
"Get Smart" to "M*A*S*H" as well as appearing
in hundreds of roles. Among his
Broadway roles were "On the Town," "Make
Mine Manhattan" and "One Touch of Venus."
His list of acting students has included
such performers as Jon Voight. Mia Farrow,
Michael Pollard. Dorothy Louden and
Mak Strasser.
Applications for the workshop are to be
sent to: Joshua Shelley, c/o the Burbank
Establishing
Workshop
Studios, 1 Columbia Plaza. Burbank, Calif.
91505, postmarked not later than September
8. The applications must include a resume,
a photograph and a statement, in 150
words or less, on the applicant's goals and
directions. Those chosen for personal interviews
and auditions will be invited, at their
own expense, to New York. Chicago or Los
Angeles. If finally invited to join the workshop,
they will specify that they will be able
to transport themselves and support themselves
in Los Angeles during the course.
At the end of the 12-week period, it is
anticipated that certain members will be
offered contracts.
The dates for the New York interviews
and auditions will be September 18-22; Chicago,
September 25-27, and Los Angeles,
October 2-6.
'Woman' Is a Big Winner;
CSI to Release 'Elmer'
NEW YORK—Cinema Shares International's
release of "A Woman at Her Window,"
which premiered to holdover business
here, has broken a house record in its first
West Coast week. At the Westland in Los
Angeles, the film grossed $9,977 in its first
five days, topping all previous boxoffice
earnings for the same period, it was announced.
David Blake and Mel Maron also reported
that CSID will release "Elmer," a family
film about a blind boy and an aging dog
lost in the wilderness.
Starring Romy Schneider. Victor Lanoux,
Phillipe Noiret and Unberto Orsini, "A
Woman at Her Window" was directed by
Pierre Franier Deferre and presently is
showing in the original French language
with subtitles.
A dubbed version will be available in
November, according to Maron. "A Woman"
was scripted by Jorge Semprun.
"Elmer" is an unusual film starring Phillip
Swanson as the blind boy—a role by
which he comes naturally, being blind himself.
In the outdoor adventure, boy and dog.
both 12 years old. meet on the side of a
mountain and join forces to overcome their
handicaps.
Honored by the Film Advisory Board, the
film was written and directed by Christopher
Cain. Wallace Dill was executive producer
for Mogul Productions.
'Vampire Hookers' Score
In the Tampa Bay Area
HOLLYWOOD—"Vampire Hookers," in
its initial opening in the Tampa Bay market
area, grossed $50,000, according to Jerry
Zanitsch. general sales manager for Caprican
Three, Inc.
The film now is slated for saturation
openings in the Midwest and South in late
August.
"Vampire Hookers" stars John Carradine
and is a Cosa Nueva production released
through Caprican Three.
BOXOFFICE :: August 21, 1978 11