Jason Blum Breaks Record; Mike Werb Joins Amazon Studios Film Production Review Panel

We've been a little slow on posting lately, so we're going to try and catch-up.  Two big recent stories with Hollywood Hill members involved...

• Producer Jason Blum's ("Paranormal Activity", "The Reader", "Toothfairy") Paranormal Activity 2 took the number one spot it's opening weekend earning $41 million, while breaking the record for the biggest midnight gross ever for an R-rated movie.

• Also, writer/producer Mike Werb (“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” “Curious George,” “Face/Off,” “The Mask”) has joined the review panel for Amazon's new film production outfit Amazon Studios, that has a first look deal with Warner Brothers.

From TheWrap:

Under its new online Amazon Studios program, announced on Tuesday, filmmakers and screenwriters will be invited to submit their full-length movies and scripts; if the response to a project is enthusiastic enough, the company will help get the movie made through a first-look deal with Warner Bros.

If Warner's passes on a particular project, Amazon Studios can then try to sell the project to another studio.

In addition, Amazon will offer a total of $2.7 million in awards to the top submissions received by Dec. 31, 2011.