NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

‘Spider-Man’ snares $7.5M in late shows

LOS ANGELES

The new Spider-Man has launched with the same midnight magic as the old one.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” pulled in $7.5 million from its debut screenings Tuesday just after midnight.

According to distributor Sony Pictures, that matches the amount that “Spider-Man 3” took in from its first midnight screenings in 2007 on the way to what was then a record $151.1 million opening weekend.

Midnight screenings generally have become bigger business since then, hitting a peak as fans shelled out $43.5 million for midnight shows of the “Harry Potter” finale last summer.

While “The Amazing Spider-Man” is well back in the pack by comparison, its midnight debut hints at strong box office through the Fourth of July weekend, with industry expectations as high as $120 million in its first six days.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” opened last week in 13 overseas markets, pulling in about $50 million through the weekend.

Deena from ‘Shore’: I didn’t use sidewalk

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J.

Dancing in the streets might have been fun to do in the days of Motown, but it landed a “Jersey Shore” cast member in court.

Appearing Tuesday in Seaside Heights municipal court, Deena Cortese pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to use the sidewalk and apologized for “causing any trouble.” She was fined $106 and must pay $33 in court costs.

Police say she was dancing in a road last month, interfering with traffic.

Cortese is the latest member of the MTV reality show to run afoul of the law.

Cast member Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi pleaded guilty to disturbing beachgoers after a few cocktails in 2010, and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro avoided prosecution on an assault charge during the show’s first season in 2009.

KISS brings ‘Monster’ of a book to the UK

LONDON

American glam rockers KISS are unleashing their “Monster” on the UK public.

The band — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer— was in London on Tuesday to launch its new retrospective book, “KISS Monster,” and to hold a news conference.

The limited edition book — which is 3 feet tall — features unseen photographs from the band’s 40-year career.

“A band that is bigger than life deserves a book that’s bigger than life. You could call it a coffee table book, but if you put legs on it, it is a coffee table,” joked Stanley.

Only 1,000 copies of “KISS Monster” will be on sale and each one will be signed by the band. It will retail at $4,299.

“It’s not a cheap book because it is hand-bound, hand-put-together. It’s the Rolls-Royce of books,” said Simmons.

“KISS Monster” is on sale in the U.K.

Chan to combat child trafficking

YANGON, Myanmar

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan is going to Myanmar this week on a three-day mission to help combat child trafficking in the Southeast Asian nation.

UNICEF announced Tuesday that in his capacity as a good-will ambassador, Chan will visit the agency’s projects for supporting trafficked children under special care for trauma and distress. He also will meet with officials of the Social Welfare Ministry and members of the Myanmar Police Anti-Trafficking Task Force in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.

The U.S. State Department’s annual report on human trafficking says thousands of children in Myanmar are forced to serve in the national army and ethnic military groups. However, Myanmar signed an agreement with the United Nations last week to ban the recruitment of child soldiers and demobilize those already serving.

Vindicator wire services