newsmakers

newsmakers

‘Transformers’ has year’s best weekend

LOS ANGELES

“Transformers” robots have lost some of their money-making power but delivered the biggest opening weekend domestically so far this year.

Distributor Paramount Pictures said Sunday that “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” took in $97.4 million domestically in its first weekend. That beat the $90.2 million debut of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”

But the domestic haul for the sci-fi sequel was down from the $109 million first weekend for 2009’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

Since opening Tuesday night, the new “Transformers” pulled in $162 million domestically through Sunday, a drop from $200.1 million for “Revenge of the Fallen” in its first five days.

Paramount estimates “Dark of the Moon” will hit $180.9 million domestically by the end of the long Fourth of July weekend today.

Bernsen’s soap box derby film to debut

AKRON

A film about a soap box derby racer is set to premiere in Akron, where it was inspired two years ago when the financial woes of the All-American Soap Box Derby caught the attention of former “L.A. Law” star Corbin Bernsen.

Bernsen wrote the script for “25 Hill,” directed it and stars as a former racer who bonds with a young derby participant whose father dies in the war in Afghanistan. The film raised about $875,000 for production, and portions were shot in Akron and Cleveland, including scenes from the 2010 derby in Akron.

Bernsen plans to attend the Saturday debut at the Akron Civic Theatre.

The nonprofit derby founded in 1933 had lost corporate sponsorship and was sued in 2009 by a ban seeking repayment of a loan of about $600,000. The loan has since been restructured.

Singer Jenni Rivera gets Las Vegas star

LAS VEGAS

Singer Jenni Rivera and former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza are each getting a place on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

The Mexican power couple was honored in Las Vegas Friday night with the support of friends and family. Rivera tearfully thanked her fans as she surveyed the granite stars recognizing her and her husband.

The stars were scheduled to be installed Saturday on the Las Vegas Strip outside the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino alongside stars dedicated to Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

Rivera is the singer of hits “Contraband” and “Guilty or Innocent.” She says she hopes to win her first Grammy soon.

Loaiza played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and other teams during his major-league career.

Associated Press