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Published Work

ARCHIVE OF THE YEAR 2002


November 19, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

Soccer b’cast flare-up in France

Canal Plus’ winning bid for league rights sparks legal action

By Joe Ray


November 8, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

Prod’n split on Haneke projects

PARIS— Studio Canal subsidiary, Les Films Alain Sarde, said Thursday that it and French indie, Les Films du Losange, have agreed to separate production responsibilities on two upcoming Michael Haneke (“The Piano Teacher”) films.

They were both due to share …


November 8, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

Viv Uni’s plans don’t hold water

Former utility plans two-stage sell-off of €19 billion stake.

By Georg Szalai and Joe Ray


November 5, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

SEC, U.S. Atty. probing Viv Uni

Vivendi Universal said Monday that it is under investigation by both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Miami and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

The exact nature of the inquiries was not released, …


November 1, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

VU on last page of Houghton deal

Talks under way for $1.7 bil sale to Blackstone-led consortium.
By Joe Ray and Georg Szalai


October 30, 2002 The Hollywood Reporter

Sorry, wrong numbers: VU rejects Vodafone’s bid

PARIS— Vivendi Universal’s board of directors voted late Tuesday to reject a €6.77 billion ($6.65 billion) offer by British telcom firm Vodafone for its 44% share in French telcom giant Cegetel, the conglomerate said.

With the move, Vivendi Uni leaves …


October 29, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

VU granted time on Cegetel option

Vivendi Universal is scheduled to hold a special board meeting in Paris today to discuss the potential sale of its Houghton Mifflin publishing unit and its plans for French telecom firm Cegetel after a French court Monday granted the conglomerate …


October 13, 2002 - The Boston Sunday Globe

New flash for a Paris Light - Bertrand Delanoë

Night, and attack, add to mayor’s flair

By Joe Ray, Globe Correspondent.

This story ran on page A22 of the Boston Globe.


October, 11 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

VU sheds 216 jobs in N.Y., Paris

Revamp will save $138 mil per year; nonpayroll cuts next.

By Joe Ray and Georg Szalai.


October 11, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

VU alters plan on publishing sale

Company opts to peddle Houghton Mifflin in separate deal.

By Joe Ray and Georg Szalai.


October 8, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

Jeunet’s “Engagement”

PARIS — Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Amelie”) and Warner Bros. inked a deal Monday that will see Jeunet write and direct the upcoming “Un long dimanche de fiancailles” (A Very Long Engagement) (HR 3/12). “Fiancailles” is based on Sebastien Japrisot’s novel about …


October 3, 2002 - The Montreal Gazette

Plamondon palls in Paris: Cinderella story shunned by press

French Papers focus on Stars like Celine Dion who were at opening of Cindy: Cendrillion 2002

Arts & Life Page D7

Joe Ray - Special to The Gazette


October 1, 2002 - The Montreal Gazette

Cindy could use a fairy godmother

Luc Plamondon’s latest doesn’t fulfill potential at world premiere

This article appeared on page D5

Joe Ray - Special to The Gazette


September 30, 2002 - The Montreal Gazette

Plamondon pens his own fairy tale

After Starmania and Notre-Dame de Paris, Quebec icon launches Cindy: Cendrillon 2000

This article appeared on page A4

Joe Ray - Special to The Gazette


September 30, 2002 - The Hollywood Reporter

Setback for Bac on TFM papers

PARIS—French distributor Bac Majestic has lost the latest round of legal wrangling in its bid to seize documents pertaining to the formation of TFM, the new French distribution company launched by Miramax and Gallic network TF1, Miramax lawyer Leonard Rosman …

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