Sony Pictures has just launched Stage 6 Films, "a label that will acquire and produce films for theatrical and straight-to-DVD release." The Variety announcement reports that Stage 6 will focus mostly on the DVD market, and on films budgeted at $1 to $10 million dollars. They've got a lot of movies on the horizon, with some pretty big stars involved. Conspiracy is an action flick starring Val "Iceman" Kilmer, Gary "Lumbergh" Cole, and Jennifer "Hot" Esposito. Thomas Jane is acting in and directing Dark Country (hope it's not a punisher!). The Stone House is a horror film starring Shane West and JK "Schillinger" Simmons. The Lodger stars Alfred Molina, whom I always picture in his underwear singing "Sister Christian." And Felon brings us even more Kilmer thrills, with Stephen Dorff and Harold Perrineau in tow.

And you know when you're talking direct-to-DVD, you're talking about some really random sequels. Stage 6 has announced a prequel (a prequel?) to this year's pretty cool horror flick Vacancy. There will also be a second Starship Troopers sequel -- Starship Troopers: Marauder, with Casper "Van Dien" Van Dien, Boris Kodjoe, and Jolene Blalock. Wesley Snipes will star in a sequel to the absolutely terrible action movie The Art of War, which I will refer to as The Art of War 2: Seriously? And Center Stage 2 will capitalize on the public's love of melodramatic teen dance dramas. I must confess a special place in my heart for the original Stage, because it led to a memorable high school back seat rendezvous. Put that quote on your poster, Sony! "Stage 6 will also continue to leverage our vast library of studio films, as we have done with Daddy Day Camp and the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise," threatens a Stage 6 executive.

As a general rule, I don't have a problem with sequels. Conventional wisdom usually dictates that the sequel will fail to live up to the original -- and yes, I know Godfather Part 2 and The Empire Strikes Back don't count -- but I'm always game for a re-visit if it's done right (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth sequel, The Golden Age). But direct-to-DVD sequels are another matter.

It now looks like Warner Bros. is out to ruin yet another fond cinematic memory from my youth with a crappy direct-to-DVD sequel. No sooner did we get the announcement that Warner Bros. was making Lost Boys 2, when Moviehole.net reported that a sequel to the 1991 crime flick New Jack City had also been given the go-ahead. Starring Wesley Snipes, Mario Van Peebles, and a pre-SVU Ice-T, the film was a Scarface of the 90's set against the crack epidemic. If you haven't seen it, I recommend picking it up, just for the high-top fades alone. Phillip B. Goldfine (Disturbing Behavior) is producing, but there is no definite word on whether any of the original cast will return. There have been rumors of a sequel before, but nothing has ever materialized until now. Since the film seems destined for the discount bin, I'm thinking Snipes would only come back if his income tax payments get a little too steep.

• James Andelin (1917-2006) - Actor who appeared in Field of Dreams, City That Never Sleeps, The Babe and Grumpier Old Men. He died of congestive heart failure and emphysema December 27, in Chicago.
• John Bishop (1929-2006) - Playwright and screenwriter who wrote The Package and Drop Zone and did rewrites for Paramount during the '90s. He died of cancer December 20, in Bad Heilbrunn, Germany.
• João de Barro, aka Braguinha (1907-2006) - Brazilian composer, writer and director. He made the films Alô, Alô, Brasil and Anastácio, acted in Garota de Ipanema and wrote music for The Mandarin. He died from an infection December 24, in Rio de Janeiro.
• Pierre Delanoë (1918-2006) - French songwriter who wrote music for The Story of O and The Country I Came From. He died of heart failure December 26.
• Marion Doran (c.1910-2006) - Vet of Paramount and Columbia Pictures who started as a script typer for Preston Sturges and later married film executive D.A. Doran. She died December 26, in Woodland Hills, California.
• Wilma Dykeman (1920-2006) - Writer on the environment and race who narrated the documentary The Electric Valley. She died from an infection resulting from a broken hip December 22, in Asheville, North Carolina.

So I guess we shouldn't always bet on black, huh? Yes, it's Friday evening and before you head out for the weekend, we thought you might want to know that Wesley Snipes has finally been arrested for tax fraud. The actor traveled from Africa (where he's currently filming Gallowwalker) to turn himself in to authorities in Ocala, Florida. After pleading not guilty to charges which include "falsely claiming millions of dollars in tax refunds," Snipes was released on $1 million bond.

He now intends to travel back to Africa to complete filming (because celebrities are allowed to travel wherever they want when they're arrested). Actually, the judge granted permission for Snipes to finish things up (phew, it sure would be a sin if Gallowwalker was delayed or, God forbid, shut down for good), though he must return to the States by January 10 -- at which time he will be ordered to surrender his passport, restricted to traveling only within the continental United States. If convicted, Snipes could wind up in jail for a total of 16 years -- though, most likely, he'll get probation and have to pay back a whole lot of money. I mean, who in their right mind would sentence Blade to 16 years behind bars? Who would we get to fight all those nasty vampires, or to star in those crappy direct-to-DVD action pics? In Gallowwalker, Snipes plays a cowboy who's placed in charge of killing zombies. And it's being shot in Africa. Who knows. We'll keep you updated on both the film and Snipes' legal troubles.