newsmakers

newsmakers

New James Frey book includes $500,000 prize

NEW YORK

As book gimmicks go, this one has a heart of gold.

Make that a pot of gold.

A new young-adult trilogy to launch in October with “Endgame: The Calling” is at the center of an interactive project that includes a puzzle that leads to a key that leads — at least for one lucky person — to $500,000 in gold coins.

The subsequent two books will have progressively larger payouts, and all will require the use of a website that has not yet gone live, publisher HarperCollins said.

The project also includes YouTube videos, gaming designed by Google’s Niantic Labs and social media. Twentieth Century Fox has acquired film rights.

James Frey, the author of the discredited memoir “A Million Little Pieces,” and his production company, Full Fathom Five, will turn out nine novellas in addition to the three books. The first book is co-authored by Nils Johnson-Shelton.

No felony charge in Bieber cellphone case

LOS ANGELES

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has declined to file a felony charge against pop star Justin Bieber in a purported tussle with a woman over a cellphone at a family-entertainment center.

The case was referred to the Los Angeles city attorney’s office for consideration of a possible misdemeanor prosecution.

The woman said Bieber pulled her phone out of her purse to see if she was videotaping him when he was hitting balls at a batting cage. She showed him she was not.

The district attorney’s report Thursday stated the woman also said her daughter was crying, but when police interviewed the girl, she said she was crying out of excitement at seeing the star.

Ford injures ankle on set of ‘Star Wars’

NEW YORK

Harrison Ford was hospitalized after being injured on the set of “Star Wars: Episode VII.”

Disney said the 71-year-old actor was being treated for an ankle injury that happened during filming Thursday. The “Star Wars” sequel is being filmed at Pinewood Studios outside of London.

The accident wasn’t a stunt sequence, but involved the door of a spacecraft from the film. A local police report on the incident cited a “garage door” injuring a 71- year-old man, but didn’t name Ford.

The Millennium Falcon, which Ford’s Han Solo piloted in the first “Star Wars” trilogy,” recently was disclosed as part of “Episode VII.”

Ford is one of several original “Star Wars” stars returning to the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel. He’s joined by fellow alums Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Peter Mayhew.

Disney said shooting will continue as planned while Ford recuperates.

Associated Press