50's latest Kanye throwdown

50 Cent may be the biggest-selling, toughest-talking, allegedly steroid-ingesting gangsta rapper in the world. But as he made abundantly clear at a news conference held, appropriately enough, at Main Street's House of Hype today, what he really wants to do is produce independent films.

The hip-hop superstar announced the formation of his as-yet unnamed production company in alliance with his longtime manager, Chris Lighty, and the producer of 50's movies "Home of the Brave" and upcoming "Righteous Kill," Randall Emmett.

So in light of the rapper's recent stinging defeat -- as you'll recall he vowed to retire as a solo artist if Kanye West's album outsold 50's "Curtis" in both CDs' first week in stores -- does the announcement mean he's given up the mike?

"I made some comments to create some excitement and energy in music," 50 said. "I still have a passion for music. Technically, worldwide, I sold more albums. So I win."

-- Chris Lee

(Photo courtesy Visar Kryeziu / AP)

Scene: The rock 'n' roll guide to Sundance

South by Southwest is still about two months away, but in the meantime, there’s plenty of music-related activities going down at the Sundance Film Festival, which gets underway Thursday Jan. 17, in Park City, Utah.

Here’s a rundown, for those in need of a rock ’n’ roll fix.

Rock ’n’ roll movies

-- Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Long-standing, relatively obscure Canadian metal band Anvil (pictured) gets the documentary treatment. This is the film that holds the most promise, in the mind of this writer, as it aims to look at how a veteran band survives on the outskirts of fame, how it maintains a cash flow during its European tour and why it never gave up the rock ’n’ roll dream. Filmmaker Sacha Gervasi is said to be a long-standing friend of the band, meaning he probably treats Anvil with reverence rather than laughing at them. Metal site Blabbermouth says Anvil will perform with Slash at Sundance.
Screenings:
Friday, Jan. 18, 5:30 p.m. (Library Center Theatre, Park City)
Saturday, Jan. 19, 9 p.m. (Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City)
Sunday, Jan. 20, 12 p.m. (Egyptian Theatre, Park City)
Sunday, Jan. 27, 12 a.m. (Egyptian Theatre, Park City)

-- CSNY Déjà Vu
Directed by Neil Young (under the pseudonym Bernard Shakey), the documentary tracks the band’s 2006 "Freedom of Speech" tour, looking at the group’s continued involvement in rock ’n’ roll activism. The description on the Sundance site labels it “self-centered, yet fresh and critical,” so expect some antiwar boomers patting themselves on the back, but here’s hoping some of the non-concert aspects of the film capture the group’s relationship with its fans, and how the music colors their involvement –- or lack thereof -– in political activism.
Screenings:
Friday, Jan. 25, 9:30 p.m. (Eccles Theatre, Park City)
Saturday, Jan. 26, 9:15 a.m. (Eccles Theatre, Park City)
Sunday, Jan. 27, 12:30 p.m. (Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City)

-- Todd Martens