Porn distrib New Frontier gets takeover bid

Boulder, Colo.-based New Frontier Media, a top adult entertainment distrib, said it's received an unsolicited takeover offer from investment firm Longkloof Limited, which has offered to acquire outstanding shares for $1.35 each. The board said it has formed a committee to evaluate the offer from Longkloof, which is based in the Channel Islands and owns 15% of New Frontier already. New Frontier, which is almost a penny stock, saw its shares spike nearly 16% to $1.31 on Friday. In an open letter to New Frontier, Longkloof said the company has refused to engage in constructive dialogue despite numerous attempts "over the past few weeks to engage in meaningful discussions with your regarding our interest in acquiring" the business. It chided the board for what it called a "dismal record" that saw the stock sink from more than $9 five years ago. New Frontier's assets include the Erotic Network, a pay-per-view service with six channels and Penthouse TV, which it distributes. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

TV, commercials, features fuel L.A. shoots

With commercial shooting soaring, offlot production in Los Angeles has jumped back to normal levels -- even with TV pilot season starting later than usual. Weekly overall production rose 27% from the same week last year to 647 days, according to figures provided Tuesday by the FilmL.A. permitting agency. The figure was up 24% from the previous week. TV shoots edged up seven days to 333 days but only 25 days went to pilots. FilmL.A. spokesman Todd Lindgren has indicated that many producers are planning a mid-March start. The most active offlot TV shoot was "The Office" with 21 days. Other shows shot locally include "Desperate Housewives," "Private Practice," "Ringer," "The Client List," "American Ninja Warriors 4," "Follow Skyler/Kamikaze Comedy" and "New Girl." Features shot up to 90 days from the laggardly pace of 52 days a year ago. That's still well below last year's highs of of over 200 days per week. Films being shot include "40s Is the New Dead," "Brahmin Bulls," "Coffee Town," "Delirium," "Not Safe for Work," "Ted" and "Whole Banana." Commercials totaled 224 days, led by a Volkswagen shoot. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Finding vino

John and Nancy Lasseter frequently their family members winery when hes not making movies. Pixar founder John Lasseter is interested in proclaiming that wine-making is Nancy Lasseter's movie. More youthful crowd likes to joke he is doing his normal work to invest in his wife's normal work. But it's apparent that Lasseter Family Winery is close to all of their hearts. The Lasseters started making wine in the past -- using Tommy Smothers' neighboring winery at first -- by 2002 had bought 95 acres in Glen Ellen, a great Sonoma County wine region. The winery continued to be largely individually distinct until last November, when the Lasseters opened up up a tasting room for the public by appointment. Nancy Lasseter started her career at Apple, however her focus is on grapes, concentrating on the branding and marketing for your winery. Both Nancy and John work carefully with wine maker Julia Iantosca to find the best combination of grapes its 4 wines, which are all French-style blends with monikers that reflect the couple's adoration for Gallic culture. "We bounce ideas off each other, which he gives input on design for labels,Inch mentioned Nancy Lasseter. Once they were thrilled when "Up" was selected to start the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, Nancy was as excited by having an excuse to visit Bandol, the place that produces the crisp roses that Cannes festgoers frequently fall crazily for each other. They reduce 29 bottles from France and attempted these to discover an ideal blend for own dry, light Enjoue rose. Finally month's Oscar-week Lasseter Family Winery dinner at Patina, some animation buffs traveled miles for that chance to test all sorts and give consideration towards the Lasseters discuss their desire for wine-making. Because the winery formerly provided some Pixar-designed bottles to auction for charitable organization, since Pixar is an element of Disney, the Lasseters frequently understate the Pixar connection. No cartoon figures show on labels, and Nancy hopes the tasting room fishing fishing lures serious wine customers, not looky-loos. There's however one inevitable indication in the connection: The Marie E. narrow-gauge railway once possessed by John Lasseter's mentor Ollie Johnston, among Wally Disney's legendary Nine Old Males, winds using the vineyard which is commemorated round the label in the Chemin p Fer Rhone blend. Lasseter wines are produced from grapes grown organically round the estate from types including Malbec, Cabernet wine wine Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache. A small amount will rapidly be released from the fifth wine, L'Ame du Sage, created from 100-year-old Zinfandel vines. Lasseter vino is provided at Patina restaurants like the flagship Disney Hall location, at producer Gale Ann Hurd's Vertical Wine Bar and may be purchased at Studio City's Flask Fine Wines. Contact Pat Saperstein at pat.saperstein@variety.com