Quick Takes: Pasadena Symphony and Pops has a new deal

Deal’s music to their ears

The Pasadena Symphony and Pops said Thursday that it had negotiated a new four-year contract with its musicians that would see their base wages rise by 5% over the course of the contract term.

In recent years, the Pasadena Symphony and Pops has experienced financial difficulties and internal unrest. The organization has seen the abrupt departures of two of its lead conductors — Jorge Mester and Rachael Worby — and has been working to pay down a debt that at one point stood at $1.2 million.

Paul Jan Zdunek, the orchestra’s chief executive, said Thursday by phone that the orchestra had successfully paid down its back debt in 2011. He said the group had seen strong ticket sales and steady support from local sponsors.

Before the new agreement, musicians’ wages had been fixed for four years, according to the orchestra.

—David Ng

Was it a tad too expressionist?

Investigators are trying to determine why a woman allegedly caused $10,000 worth of damage to a large expressionist painting at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver by reportedly punching and scratching it, then removing her pants and sliding down the work.

Carmen Tisch, 36, faces charges of criminal mischief in the Dec. 29 attack on the painting, said district attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough. She remains in custody.

The painting, referred to as 1957-J-No.2, is valued at more than $30 million.

Museum officials said that they believe security is adequate for the facility, which opened in November, and that they regularly evaluate security to protect the collection and visitors.

—Associated Press

From ‘Potter’ to his own ‘Secrets’

Film director Chris Columbus couldn’t get J.K. Rowling’s books out of his head. The director of the first two Harry Potter movies (and such other films as “Home Alone” and “Mrs. Doubtfire”) will write his own fantasy-adventure series for young adults.

His co-author on the three-book series will be Ned Vizzini, whose books include “It’s Kind of a Funny Story.”

The Columbus-Vizzini series, “House of Secrets,” will be published by HarperCollins.

—Carolyn Kellogg

Spacey to star in ‘House of Cards’

“House of Cards,” a political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and directed by David Fincher, will be filmed in Baltimore starting this spring, it was confirmed Thursday by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

The production, which involves 13 one-hour episodes for television, comes from Media Rights Capital and Netflix and is expected to launch the company known primarily for DVD distribution as a major creator of original dramatic programming. Media Rights Capital and Netflix, which has more than 20 million subscribers, outbid such traditional producers of quality TV drama as HBO and AMC for the rights.

The series will be a remake of a 1990 BBC miniseries starring Ian Richardson. The Spacey-Fincher production will be an American version of the story of political scheming and media manipulation.

—From the Baltimore Sun

Wider focus for KOCE program

A year after becoming the primary PBS affiliate in this area, KOCE-TV is renaming and refocusing its weekly public-affairs show to reflect that fact.

Starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, “Inside OC With Rick Reiff” becomes “SoCal Insider With Rick Reiff.”

The show’s name mirrors the station’s moniker, PBS SoCal, which KOCE adopted after KCET-TV withdrew from the PBS network and KOCE became the local home of “Sesame Street,” “Masterpiece,” “Nova” and other public-television staples.

“We felt it was extremely important to expand the show’s focus in order to keep our wider range of viewers better informed about the communities they live in,” said KOCE President Mel Rogers.

Reiff, executive editor of the Orange County Business Journal, will be joined in the first installment by Orange County Supervisor John M.W. Moorlach and former state Sen. Martha Escutia.

—Lee Margulies

Finally

Radio gig: Steve Chiotakis, host of public radio’s “Marketplace Morning Report,” will join KCRW-FM (89.9) in Santa Monica this month as afternoon news anchor.

Super Bowl festivities: Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes, LMFAO and Lupe Fiasco will play a concert that Rolling Stone magazine is staging in Indianapolis on Feb. 4, the night before the Super Bowl. Each act is scheduled to perform a 45-minute set.