Two Pictures Worth a Lot of Fireworks

It’s the Clash of the Titans. Two big summer movies with massive production and marketing budgets behind them make their highly anticipated debuts this week. On Wednesday, Columbia Pictures rolls out its sprawling, $100-million Revolutionary War epic, “The Patriot,” starring Mel Gibson. Then on Friday, Warner Bros. will release its $140-million men-against-the-sea thriller, “The Perfect Storm,” starring George Clooney. With so much at stake for each studio, some might question why they are opening their biggest films of the summer head-to-head. “Conventional wisdom dictates that when you open two big action movies on the same weekend, someone gets hurt,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, “but I think the marketplace will expand to accommodate both of these pictures.” Over the past decade, he noted, usually only one blockbuster has dominated the Fourth of July weekend. But with July 4 falling on a Tuesday this year, studios are salivating over the five-day Friday-through-Tuesday window. With adults off work and kids out of school, executives think there’s a good chance they’ll see more than one movie over the holiday. Jeff Blake, president of worldwide distribution at Columbia’s parent firm, Sony Pictures Entertainment, believes both “The Patriot” and “The Perfect Storm” will be fine. “Both films have a lot going for them,” Blake said. “Once we get past the opening weekend, I think they will both do very well on their own.”

Def Jam Plans to Rap Up South, and Beyond

Where is rap headed next? Hip-hop culture first took shape in the neighborhoods of New York City in the late 1970s and, a decade later, found a second capital in Los Angeles with the West Coast gangsta sound. But the genre’s landscape now goes beyond those coastal, urban hubs. This week, New York-based Def Jam Records--a powerhouse pioneer in the genre--is expected to announce the signing of the first two acts to Def Jam South, the label’s new Atlanta office. Critically acclaimed rapper Scarface (real name: Brad Jordan) of the Geto Boys will helm the office, and his staff is already combing local radio playlists, clubs and record store aisles to find the Next Big Thing in rap. The venture’s first release is a compilation featuring new rappers from the South that should hit stores by fall. Def Jam officials were lured south by the success stories of two New Orleans labels, No Limit Records and Cash Money Records, which turned the bayou city into a mini-mecca for rap. Scenes have also popped up in Memphis, Houston and Atlanta. “The South must be respected . . . we believe the South is critical to Def Jam’s future,” says Lyor Cohen, president of the Island/Def Jam music group. The label is eyeing locales well beyond Georgia, as well. “We opened Def Jam Germany in May, and Def Jam London, Def Jam France and Def Japan may be soon to come,” says label chief Kevin Liles. “We’ve found that rap imported from the U.S. doesn’t [sell that well overseas] but that local rap in those places is exploding.” Sure, but Def Jam Japan? “I know,” Liles says, “it is amazing. But hip-hop is global now so we will be too.”

Planet Hollywood Puts Its Stock in Shaq

Call it muscles for muscles: Five months after it parted from one of its original celebrity shareholders, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Planet Hollywood is poised to announce this week that another larger-than-life figure is lending his name--and heft--to the movie-themed restaurant chain: Shaquille O’Neal. The Lakers’ MVP, whose memorabilia is already displayed in affiliated All-Star Cafe restaurants, has signed on the help promote the 66-location Planet Hollywood chain in return for an undisclosed amount of stock, CEO Robert Earl said. “He’s going to do some summer traveling [to Planet Hollywoods] around the world,” Earl said, and be honored with a new menu item, “The Shaq Shake.” Planet Hollywood is adding O’Neal and others to its roster of celebrities--which still includes originals Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone--to help revive its fortunes after emerging from bankruptcy reorganization in May.

Showtime Paves Way for ‘Resurrection Blvd.’

CBS’ “City of Angels” debuted in January with an avalanche of hoopla concerning its status as one of the rare dramas to feature a predominantly black cast. Although the premiere at 10 tonight of Showtime’s “Resurrection Blvd.” hasn’t attracted the same amount of attention, executives at the cable network are still anxious about what will be the first Latino-themed drama on television. Expectations have also risen because of the failure of another Latino drama, “An American Family,” to make CBS’ fall schedule. “Yes, there is an extra burden here with this show, because this is the first time there will be a Hispanic drama on TV,” said Mark Zakarin, executive vice president of original programming for Showtime. “But I feel confident. I’ve sat through a number of screenings, and people come up at the end and hug the producers, hug the cast, saying they’ve never seen their culture reflected in a significant way. For so many people, this is more important than just a TV show.” “Resurrection Blvd.” stars Tony Plana, Michael DeLorenzo, Elizabeth Pena and Mauricio Mendoza as part of a family with a boxing heritage. Showtime on Wednesday will also unveil another minority drama, “Soul Food,” based on the movie about a black family.

--Compiled by Times staff writers