Film : Buzz

HBO has released two new trailers of its comedy about a female vice president starring Julia Louis Dreyfus. "Veep" was shot in Maryland and was one of the beneficiaries of the state's expanded film incentive budget. 

"Julia Louis-Dreyfus is returning to TV in HBO's "Veep," writes the Huffington Post. "And she's doing it with style and power as Selina Meyer, the new vice president of the United States."

You can read the rest of the review here. 

HBO aired the movie "Game Change" -- the shot-in-Maryland movie starring Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson -- and it was a hit for several reviewers, including Variety. 

The movie tells the story behind the 2008 election, focusing on Sarah Palin teaming up with John McCain.

"'Game Change; is a home run: a big, smart, entertaining and extremely promotable showcase for marquee stars, generating tons of attention (flattering and otherwise) from political and media strongholds in D.C. and New York," Variety writes. You can read the rest of the review here. 

Like HBO's "Veep," "Game Change" received tax incentives to shoot in Maryland. 

Tina Fey's "30 Rock" is known for featuring A-list celebrities, quirky characters, and absurd humor. 

And now, it's also known for taking a stab at Baltimore.

In an episode this month, Mary Steenburgen is walking along a New York City sidewalk with son-in-law Jack Donaghy, played by Alec Baldwin. She tells him that she contributes to the "Baltimore Philharmonic," a non-existent orchestra. 

"Of course lately it's just a Boombox and a guy in a crab suit," Steenburgen's Diana Jessup says. "He gets shot out of a cannon at Ravens' games. The city may not be thriving."

Getting airtime on a national, primetime comedy show is no small feat for Charm City. And at least one local blogger, who goes by the name Baltimore Boy, could not be more pleased.

"I don’t mind a dig at my beloved hometown when it’s both a low-blow AND clever," he writes. You can read the rest of his analysis here. 

Even Baltimore's real classical music group, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, enjoyed the attention. Check out their Facebook page. 

It was 2012's first snowfall, but that didn't stop 200 people from trekking to the University of Baltimore for the second annual Create Baltimore. 

"Ideas were spit-balled, the collaborators of tomorrow (perhaps) met each other and an assortment of topics were covered," writes the Baltimore Brew. "People discussed mapping and visualizing, journalism and various ways to shine a light on government data, creating an advocacy organization for city bicyclists, improving food access in urban neighborhoods and a host of other ripe topics."

You can read the rest of the story here. 

A Baltimore County sports shop will be the subject of a new reality TV show, according to the Baltimore Sun's David Zurawick.

ABC will follow the owners of Robbie's First Base in Timonium in 12, half-hour episodes. You can read more about the planned TV show in Zurawick's blog.

Rapper Common is starring in a new movie that is set in Baltimore.

"LUV" is one of the 110 feature-length films that will screen at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 19-29.

It tells the story of an 11-year-old boy who learns the truth about his uncle on the streets of Baltimore, the Wall Street Journal writes. You can see a complete list of films here.

Getting tired of your usual Thanksgiving repertoire? Well it's too late to turn back the clock, but there's always next year.

And here to help is Sergio Vitale, co-owner of Aldo's Italian Restaurant and pizza place Chazz: A Bronx Original. The Wall Street Journal recently featured his brussel sprouts' recipe, made with sriracha and pancetta, among other ingredients.

Actor-turned-restaurant partner Chazz Palminteri, co-owner of the Harbor East pizza joint, shares the recipe with the Journal's readers.

VEEP, the new HBO series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has begun filming here in Maryland.

From the source:

VEEP, a new HBO series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is starting production in Maryland this week, according to the governor’s office.

Local production of the show — a political satire about a fictional former senator, played by Louis-Dreyfus, who becomes vice president — began Monday in the Baltimore area, Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a statement.

Read more here.

Barry Levinson's Baltimore-based 'Diner' will soon be headed to Broadway courtesy of Levinson and Sheryl Crow.

From the source:

A singing, dancing version of “Diner,” Barry Levinson’s 1982 coming-of-age comedy about a group of friends growing up in Baltimore in 1959, is headed to Broadway next year, its press representatives said on Tuesday. Mr. Levinson, who directed the original film and earned an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay, will write the book of the “Diner” musical, and Sheryl Crow will write the music and lyrics; Kathleen Marshall, a recent Tony Award-winner for her choreography of “Anything Goes,” will direct and choreograph this production.

Read the full story here.

Baltimore Sun film critic Michael Sragow has a blog post explaining Baltimore's connection to the new hit documentary Senna.

From the source:

A year and a half ago we reported that Baltimore born-and-bred Bart Walker, a partner in Cinetic Media, had co-founded the super-specialized Producers Distribution Agency to get "Exit Through the Gift Shop" into the right theaters in the right way.

Well, PDA -- somehow it fits that the acronym also means Public Display of Affection -- released its second movie last weekend, Asif Kapadia's documentary "Senna," and once again scored a great and immediate success ($66,075 from two 2 theaters, one in New York, one in Los Angeles).

Read the full post here.