Quick Takes: HBO tops DGA nominations

HBO led the pack with 14 nominations in the Directors Guild of America’s awards for television and commercials for 2010, including nods for “Boardwalk Empire,” “Entourage,” “The Pacific,” “Temple Grandin,” “You Don’t Know Jack” and Bill Maher’s “But I’m Not Wrong.” DGA President Taylor Hackford announced the nominations Tuesday.

Nominations for dramatic series included ABC’s “Lost” (ignored by the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards) and AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and “Mad Men,” and comedy nods went to ABC’s “Modern Family,” NBC’s “30 Rock” and Fox’s “Glee.”

Some prominent film directors are among the nominees, such as Martin Scorsese for “Boardwalk Empire,” Barry Levinson for “You Don’t Know Jack” and Frank Darabont for “The Walking Dead.” The winners will be announced at the 63rd annual DGA Awards dinner Jan. 29 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles.

—Melissa Maerz

MGM updates Bond film plans

There are still questions about who will actually be handling the release of the new James Bond movie, to be directed by Sam Mendes and starring Daniel Craig. But fans of 007 will be heartened by a press release from MGM on Tuesday that says the production is expected to begin late this year, with the aim of releasing the movie Nov. 9, 2012.

The film, dubbed “Bond 23,” has been hobbled by MGM’s financial struggles as well as possible script issues that have pushed back production. (The last movie in the rejuvenated franchise, “Quantum of Solace,” came out in fall 2008.) But the reconstituting of MGM in recent months means that things look to be moving forward again. (The release also confirms the involvement of Mendes, who was previously announced as the director but who was not formally on the project during the worst of the MGM turbulence.)

The late-2012 date is a function of Craig’s schedule, among other things; he’ll need to finish shooting the David Fincher Millennium Trilogy film “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and promote the late-July release of Jon Favreau’s “Cowboys & Aliens” before he rolls up his sleeves on the new Bond.

—Steven Zeitchik

‘Hope’ image suits dismissed

A judge in New York has dismissed copyright lawsuits between an artist who created the Barack Obama “Hope” image and Associated Press.

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein said in a one-page order Tuesday that a “suggestion of settlement” led him to dismiss claims between Shepard Fairey and AP. The judge said the claims could be reinstated within a month if either side requested.

Fairey sued AP in 2009, claiming he didn’t violate the copyright of the AP picture on which he based the “Hope” image because he dramatically changed it.

The AP countersued, saying the uncredited, uncompensated use of an AP photo violated copyright laws and was a threat to journalism.

—Associated Press

Bookstore near UCLA to close

The 23-year-old Mystery Bookstore in Westwood Village will close at the end of the month, owners Kirk Pasich and Pamela Woods announced Tuesday. The bookstore was ready to close in 2008 when Pasich and Woods, who live in the area, stepped in to become the new owners.

“We thought it was a great community thing,” Pasich told The Times. “I haven’t regretted a minute of it or regretted the tax shelter it turned into.”

The bookstore tried to compete anyway, upgrading its Web presence and bringing in a steady stream of bestselling authors for readings and signings. Robert Crais will be there Saturday, and T. Jefferson Parker will be one of the store’s last guests. “Sales have ticked up, but not enough,” Pasich said. “I didn’t expect to lose money so fast.”

The Mystery Bookstore is on Broxton Avenue in the heart of Westwood, where UCLA is located. After the recent closing of the nearby Borders, the Mystery Bookstore was the last surviving bookstore in the neighborhood, apart from the university’s own. The bookstore’s last day is Jan. 31. A farewell party will be held at the store that day, starting at 6 p.m.

—Carolyn Kellogg

Finally

Opera: Filmmaker Wim Wenders is in talks to direct the 2013 production of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle at the Bayreuth Festival, according to German media reports.