Here is an Awards Podcast Featuring a Certain Movieline Editor

The Hollywood Reporter’s resident awards guru and all-around nice guy Scott Feinberg invited me to join him on the latest installment of his “Feinberg and Friends” podcast, which is now live at THR. Therein we go deep — like, deep deep, or Ed-Harris-gagging-down-amniotic-fluid-at-the-bottom-of-the-ocean-in-The Abyss deep — on this year’s awards race, including but not limited to… · The curious case of the semi-respectable Golden Globe Award nominations. · The Critics Choice Awards nominations. · SAG Award nominations (including Armie Hammer’s surprising nod and Albert Brooks’s shocking snub). · The resulting state of the Oscar races for Best Picture, Best Screenplay(s), Best Documentary Feature and Best Foreign-Language Film. · Which Oscar campaign has received the most bang for its buck. And more! This is also your last chance to hear me sober before some time early in January, so if that kind of thing intrigues you (Mom?), then have a listen at THR. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Debra Messing & Husband Split After 10 Years

First Published: December 20, 2011 2:55 PM EST Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Daniel Zelman and Debra Messing arrive at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, on September 20, 2009Debra Messing and her husband of more than decade, actor/producer Daniel Zelman, have split. Debra Messing and Daniel Zelman privately separated earlier this year after a 10 year marriage, a rep for the star of NBCs upcoming series Smash said in a statement to Access Hollywood on Tuesday. The decision was mutual, and they remain supportive of one another and committed to raising their son as a family, the statement continued. Debra and Daniel are parents to son Roman, 7. The former Will & Grace star announced her engagement to the Damages executive producer in 1999. The couple married the following year. The pair actually met a decade before their wedding, when they were both pursuing post-graduate studies at NYU. A rep for the actress did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Access Hollywood. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tony Kaye eyes 'Attachment'

KayeTony Kaye is at predicts direct the indie thriller "Attachment" for W2 Media, that's fully financing. Story, composed by Christopher Denham, concentrates on a married woman's one evening stand getting students coming back to haunt her when the lover begins to now her daughter and stalk her family. W2 is anticipating a spring start.Kaye ("American History X") most recently directed Adrien Brody starrer "Detachment," which world preemed within the Tribeca Film Festival taken. Brody shows an alternate teacher whose growing add-ons to students, teachers together with a runaway teen cause him to question the solitary existence he's selected. Tribeca Films acquired U.S. rights in September.Kaye also directed "Black Water Transit," a criminal offence drama occur publish-Katrina New Orleans starring Laurence Fishburne. "Transit," which was among the assets of David Bergstein, is not distributed.W2 Media came on lately co-finance and distribute "The Theatre Bizarre 2," a follow-up to Severin Films and Mataluna Prods.' "The Theater Bizarre" horror anthology. Furthermore, it introduced a deal to co-finance and take proper care of worldwide sales for "The Drummer," starring Aaron Eckhart in the biopic about Beach Boys drummer-songwriter Dennis Wilson.W2's John Flock and Adam Krentzman are settling with Kaye's reps at ICM. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

The Amazing Spider-Man And The Dark Knight Rises Release New Movie Posters

New posters for The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises appeared within 24 hours of each other Friday and Saturday. With the clock running out on 2011 Sony and Warner Bros aren’t wasting time looking back. It’s all about what’s next. Marc Webb’s reboot of the Spider-Man franchise with Andrew Garfield as the webslinger makes it to theaters July 3, followed by the third installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman triptych with Christian Bale on July 20.

Oscar Index: And the Winner is... Old

We’ve officially crossed the halfway point of this year’s Oscar Index — a bittersweet milestone where the team at Movieline’s Institute for the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics takes a deep breath, orders a stiff drink, and then… orders another eight or so stiff drinks. While they slam their ways over the awards-season hump, join me for a quick run-through of where things stand this week. [Click the graphs for full-size images.] The Leading 10: 1. The Artist 2. The Descendants 3. War Horse 4. Hugo 5. Midnight in Paris 6. The Help 7. The Tree of Life 8. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 9. Moneyball 10. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Outsiders: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2; Margin Call; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn; My Week With Marilyn; Shame The week offered three general themes, starting with technically the most important: The National Board of Review’s awards announcement, which shifted a share of The Artist’s momentum to Hugo while the moviegoing public kept each throwback healthy at the box office. The Descendants enjoyed a similar phenomenon, earning multiple NBR prizes while rushing off to the best opening of any of Fox Searchlight’s recent Oscar darlings — and there are some serious earners in there, including Black Swan, Slumdog Millionaire and Juno. Secretive institutional accolades aside, that kind of concrete commercial success is without a doubt the most crucial to The Descendants’ continued award hopes — the old “you can’t ignore us, we’re loved and we’re rich” strategy that Searchlight has down to a science and which Harvey Weinstein rediscovered in recent years with the likes of Inglourious Basterds and The King’s Speech. That said, the NBR — which of late, anyway, has hardly proven an especially reliable Oscar barometer — joined last week’s Gothams, Indie Spirit and NY Film Critics Circle announcements to help advance the second theme: In Pete Hammond’s words, “[T]his year is completely, completely wide open. But then you knew that already.” But what if it’s not wide open? To wit, as Grantland’s Oscar oracle Mark Harris suggests while laying out the week’s third big theme, what if we’ve regressed to those dark days of the ’80s — when awards bodies, critics and viewers alike tuck themselves snugly into sepia-colored pods of denial: I’m all for venerating old movies, and if I’m a bit resistant to the allure of The Artist and Hugo, it may be because they practically grab you by the lapels and order you to feel a childlike sense of wonder, goddammit! But as the plot of a third Best Picture contender, Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, reminds us explicitly that nostalgia for values you never actually held from an era you yourself didn’t live through isn’t really nostalgia — it’s sentimentality. At this point in the Best Picture contest, The Artist’s biggest problem is Hugo, Hugo’s biggest problem is The Artist, and Midnight in Paris’ biggest problem is that these two newer, higher-profile movies are now vying for the “let’s go on a magical journey to a more inspirational time” voting demographic that Allen has had to himself for most of 2011. A lot of advertising dollars are being spent on the proposition that this mood, which propelled The King’s Speech to a very 1980s-ish win over The Social Network last year, still prevails. It’s a brilliant theory, also enfolding The Tree of Life, The Help, and War Horse. It also underestimates the slick, utterly contemporary aplomb with which The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is about to crash the race. DenbyGate exposed us to the outer reaches of the ugly, scorched-earth frontier where leverage is a finer art than the movies it seeks to benefit. With two skillful shots, Scott Rudin and David Fincher invalidated the voice of the critic vis--vis Dragon Tattoo while drawing the entire desperate culture to their sides. And this in a week when it could barely scratch the official awards surface; now it’s all anyone wants to see, precisely because of how seriously Team Girl takes its chances to break through. The whole scenario is almost enough to make you wish it were the ’80s all over again, if only to drown out the noise. And anyway, when the Academy plans to screen a restoration of the silent, inaugural Best Picture-winner Wings even Maureen Dowd is toasting The Artist on the NYT op-ed page, Rudin et. al. are going to need a better card up their sleeve than the one publicly shaming a movie critic relatively nobody reads. A few other notes: As Scott Feinberg points out, The Help having done well with women viewers plays into a historically dis-advantageous Oscar trend. The Artist, The Descendants and — thank God — Melancholia picked up some juice from smaller organizations from D.C. to Europe. And all anyone could be bothered to say following the debut of the new trailer for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was how unpleasant it looks: “Seems like Green Mile made a baby with Old Yeller and then the director decided to fly a plane into it,” wrote one astute commentator. Let’s hope for “the Daldry“‘s sake that this weekend’s first screenings can stanch some of that bile. The Leading 5: 1. Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist 2. Alexander Payne, The Descendants 3. Martin Scorsese, Hugo 4. Steven Spielberg, War Horse 5. David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Outsiders: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris; Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; Bennett Miller, Moneyball; Tate Taylor, The Help; George Clooney, The Ides of March; Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Honestly, from where I stand, I can foresee scenarios where any one of these top five guys win it all. But until Spielberg in particular can punch in Hazanavicius, Payne and Scorsese’s zeitgeist weight-class with his two-hour plus family epic starring a horse — especially with Tintin in the multiplex mix as well — the more general sense in the cognoscenti seems to be to wait and see. Meanwhile Fincher, a two-time Oscar loser who could use a boost in the Academy’s directors branch, may have helped his cause by boldly reasserting the relationship between filmmakers and audiences in its purest form. Well done!

UBS: Viacom sets $20 bil stock buyback

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman implied Monday that a fluctuation in Nielsen sample households might be behind a sharp ratings deterioration at Nickelodeon this fall but he admitted that there's no clarity on the drop which threw Wall Street for a loop last month. Still, Dauman wowed investors on the opening day of the three-day UBS Global Media and Communications confab in Gotham with news that the company plans to buy back a whopping $20 billion worth of stock over the next five years, accelerating an already hefty repurchase program. Asked if tying up so much cash could preclude major acquisitions, Dauman said Viacom's focused on growing "organically," beefing up international, film and TV content and its nascent film animation biz. He stressed that the combo of a new stream of animated pics plus Nickeleon's iconic TV fare will give the company significant added muscle in consumer products, where Nickelodeon already has a big footprint. At this moment, however the kid's network, which went into a ratings tailspin just ahead of the crucial holiday season, is clearly causing him some grief. "Nielsen is the only game in town for now so we have to live with it," Dauman said during his luncheon keynote presentation. "We have seen anomalies in the past. Never to this extent." Dauman revealed on Nov. 10 while discussing quarterly earnings that the generally steady kids' cable network saw a highly unusual 15%-20% ratings drop in mid-September. The company said then it was working with the ratings agency, and analyzing independent set-top box data. The net is also adding a spate of new animated and live-action programming. Investors remain baffled. "We don't know what's going on yet. We'll know next quarter" when the company announces a new set of financial results, said one attendee. Earlier in the conference, a trio of forecasters predicted that global advertising growth this year would prove resilient, although lagging earlier estimates. Zenith Optimedia's head of worldwide Steve King sees advertising rising 4.7% in 2012 after growing 3.5% this year amid the economic uncertainty convulsing Europe, the natural and nuclear disasters that hit Japan and the Arab spring that has rocked Egypt and other key territories. The numbers fall shy of Zenith's previous estimates of, respectively 5.3% and 3.6% for 2012 and 2011. Spending next year, while still weighed down by the Euro-zone crisis, will see a pop from the Olympic games in London and, Stateside, from the presidential campaign, King said. MagnaGlobal, the media unit of Interpublic Group, said Latin America posted the strongest gains this year - up over 13% -- followed closely by Central and Eastern Europe. Western Europe sales rose a meager 1.6%. North America grew 3.1%. The strongest growth rates came from Argentina -- up 38%. The lowest from beleaguered Greece -- down 19.3%. On the digital side, according to GroupM, a unit of WPP, digital media investment will make up 43% of the global ad dollar growth in 2012. Digital ad spending is expected to reach nearly $85 billion this year, a 16% jump over 2010, and rise to $98 billion in 2012. GroupM sees digital comprising 22% percent of all measured ad investment in mature western economies in 2012, and 12% percent in the faster-growing world. "The predicted respective digital growth rates in 2012 are 11% and 37%, so the faster-growing world is catching up fast," said GroupM Futures director Adam Smith at UBS. Global ad spending on paid inventory in social media is likely to be around $5 billion in 2011, or about 6% of measured online ad investment. Smith said this is probably the largest single growth component in paid-for digital today, on a trajectory, which could double to $10 billion within two years. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive Start Searching: Eliza Dushku Will receive a good Grip round the League

Eliza Dushku When Eliza Dushku guest-stars round the League, expect if there's some tension up. It is not personal, it's just sports. "She's a sizable Boston girl so she loves the Pats, the celts, as well as the Red-colored-colored Sox. I, however, am a sizable NY fan therefore i love the Leaders, the Yankees as well as the Knicks," Stephen Rannazzisi notifies TVGuide.com. "So there's plenty of angry sexual tension between us.Inch In Dushku's episode, airing next Thursday at 10:30/9:30c on Foreign exchange, the Buffy alum plays Kevin's new Krav Maga instructor after his wife encourages him to work through more. As noticed in this exclusive start searching, his new teacher is very hands-on, much for the disbelief of Kevin's wife and all of his pals. "Nobody would ever reckon that the woman that hot might be attracted to some guy like Kevin," Rannazzisi states. Although Rannazzisi didn't achieve meet Dushku prior to the day's shooting, he confesses the fact the two would never know each other already made their close moments together less uncomfortable. "I went to date as she was ready to go and he or she am funny and very open to trying nearly anything,Inch according to him. "The further she goes, the higher awkward it's personally which is where the comedy lies." "People it's time when you are getting into use free," he adds. Are you currently presently excited to find out Dushku round the League?

TV Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' Finally Takes a Small Hit, Football Dominates for NBC and CBS

ABC The long Thanksgiving weekend ended on a solid note for NBC, which saw the Sunday Night Football match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs bring a victory in viewers and adults 18-49. The game pushed the network to a 5.4 rating in the demo for the night, with preliminary numbers giving the game a 6.7 rating on its own and an average audience of 16.6 million throughout its broadcast. On CBS, overtime from the Denver Broncos/San Diego Chargers game boosted the 7:00 p.m. hour, bringing the net to a 3.6 rating in adults 18-49 for the night. An original episode of The Amazing Race, also skewed by the NFL overage, earned a 3.6 rating for the night. It was followed by back-to-back repeats of freshman drama Person of Interest, which earned a 2.4 and a 1.5 at 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., respectively. ABC's new episode of Once Upon a Time dipped 11 percent from its last original outing two weeks ago. It still managed a 3.4 in adults 18-49, however, and an average audience of 10.7 million for the hour. The net's other original programming was sidelined for the TV movie Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith, which averaged a meager 1.1 in the demo, with an audience of 6.4 million. On Fox, the animation block brought in a 2.4 rating in 18-49s for the night. Allen Gregory continued to slip, however, reaching a new series low in the demo with a 1.5. Sunday, Nov. 27, Overnight Ratings: 7 p.m. CBS: NFL overrun (22.9 million viewers, 7.0 rating among adults 18-49) Fox: NFL overrun/The Cleveland Show (R) (8.8 million, 3.3) NBC: Football Night in America (6.9 million, 2.3) ABC: America's Funniest Home Videos (7.6 million, 1.8) 7:30 p.m. Fox: The Cleveland Show (4.0 million, 1.9) 8 p.m. NBC: Football Night in America (13.4 million, 4.7) CBS: The Amazing Race (15.4 million, 3.6) ABC: Once Upon a Time (10.7 million, 3.4) Fox: The Simpsons (5.6 million, 2.6) 8:30 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Steelers at Chiefs (17.1 million, 6.4) Fox: Allen Gregory (3.1 million, 1.5) 9 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Steelers at Chiefs (18.1 million, 6.8) Fox: Family Guy (5.5 million, 2.8) CBS: Person of Interest (R) (8.97 million, 2.4) ABC: Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith (6.4 million, 1.1) 9:30 p.m. Fox: American Dad (4.5 million, 2.2) 10 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Steelers at Chiefs (16.4 million, 6.8) CBS: Person of Interest (R) (6.8 million, 1.5) ABC: Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith (6.6 million, 1.0) TV Ratings

Democrats Release 'Hollywood-Style' Ad Attacking Mitt Romney (Video)

Borrowing a page from the movie marketers' playbook, the Democratic National Committee on Monday released a 30-second TV spot-a "trailer-style" video titled "Mitt v. Mitt"-that blasts the Republicans' presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney for being a politician who is "willing to say anything."our editor recommendsBox Office Politics: The Movies and Stars Dems vs. GOPers Love (and Love to Hate)President Obama Holds Secret Meet-and-Greet With Hollywood Execs and Influencers (Exclusive)Obama Addresses Hollywood: Reelection Won't Be as Sexy as His First Campaign PHOTOS: Box Office Politics: The Movies and Stars Dems vs. GOPers Love (and Love to Hate) According to the DNC, the TV ad is, in fact, a trailer for a longer video treatment available on the committee's new website, MittvMitt.com, which highlights the former Massachusetts governor's current contradiction of his former positions on a range of issues involving the economy, immigration, a woman's right to choose and workers' rights,. (The longer "treatment" includes sound bites from Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Ronald Reagan.) PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections The anti-Romney videos underscore two important things about the Obama campaign: It clearly views the former Massachusetts governor as the president's chief foe, and the campaign is unafraid to use Hollywood-style promotional tactics (along with entertainment industry money) to fight him. The video seems likely to get an additional bounce from its timing, since much of the mainstream news media's current coverage of Romney is focusing on how he's attacking his surging rival Newt Gingrich for taking a position on undocumented immigrants that the former Massachusetts governor once advocated himself. VIDEO: Mitt Romney's 2007 'Meet the Press' Appearance Provides Fodder for Newt Gingrich Campaign The "trailer"-whose script was released by the DNC-begins with the sort of voice over familiar to theater goers: VO: From the creator of "I'm running for office for Pete's sake" CHYRON: From the creator of "I'm running for office for Pete's sake" CHYRON: Lawn work at Romney's home still done by illegal immigrants, Boston Globe, 12/04/07 VO: ...comes the story of two men trapped in one body. VO: Mitt versus Mitt EXCLUSIVE STORY: Mitt Romney Is First GOP Presidential Hopeful to Book Hollywood Fundraiser CHYRON: Mitt vs. Mitt MITT ROMNEY: I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose. CHYRON: Pro-choice, MittvMitt.com ROMNEY: The right next step... is to see Roe Vs. Wade overturned. CHYRON: Anti-choice, MittvMitt.com VO: Two Mitts willing to say anything. CHYRON: MittvMitt.com, Willing to say anything ROMNEY: We put together an exchange, and the President's copying that idea. I'm glad to hear that. CHYRON: Pro-health reform, MittvMitt.com VIDEO: Hollywood-Funded Super PAC Blasts Mitt Romney in Internet Attack Ad ROMNEY: Obamacare is bad news. CHYRON: Anti-health reform, MittvMitt.com VO: See it all at MittvMitt.com CHYRON: See it all at MittvMitt.com [DNC Disclaimer] STORY: GOP Flameout to Six-Figure TV Star: Analysts Weigh in on Who'll Make It The ad currently is running in Albuquerque, NM; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Columbus, OH;Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC; and, Milwaukee, WI on a mix of broadcast and cable. The strategy at work, according to the DNC, is that "Democrats don't need any dirty tricks to prove Mitt Romney has no core convictions and no new ideas for creating jobs. We need only to let him speak for himself." The trailer style has a proven record of drawing crowds into theaters. Now the Democrats are hoping they can use it attract voters to their polling places. Watch below: PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections Related Topics Politics Mitt Romney

Euro partners sail on $Thirty Dollars million 'Titanic'

Kevin Zegers, Chris Noth, Gray O'Brien, Derek Jacobi and Billy Carter star in TV's 'Titanic: Blood stream and Steel.'ROME -- Due to very good of glossy large-budget period fare, Ireland's Howth Castle, a short drive from downtown Dublin, may ultimately find its devote film -- alongside the Titanic.The ultimate time the imposing castle was utilized in the film set is at 1977 its mock medieval architecture looked well suited for a vampire movie, nevertheless the picture went over-budget and not was completed.This time around around around, there's no danger in the film's gold gold coin drained -- no matter the tough European economy, cheap the driving pressure behind the show is certainly an Italian producer-distributor "Titanic: Blood stream and Steel," a 12-part miniseries timed to coincide while using centenary in the ship's disastrous maiden voyage next April, is backed by greater than $Thirty Dollars million of co-production finance, tax credits and presales, which is the finest production seen this side in the Irish Sea since HBO's "Wager on Thrones."TV projects from the scale and ambition, especially one devoted to what's an Anglo-American story including most likely probably the most broadly known civilian maritime disaster in the last century, are frequently driven by either U.S. or U.K. money, or a combination of both. On "Titanic," however, it's continental Males and ladies who've devoted to the skein.The idea is always to parlay what appears to become healthy appetite inside the global industry for high-finish period sagas, especially people occur the 20th century, whether "Downton Abbey," "Boardwalk Empire" in addition to "Pan-Am" -- which is probably not flying filled with the U.S., but is continuously business-class overseas."The primary traders are Italia, Germany and also the country," describes P Angelis Group controlling director Andrea Zoso, the Rome-based company that developed "Titanic" which is lead producer and rights holder.Roughly three-quarters in the financing was provided by Italian pubcaster RAI, Germany's Tandem Communication and broadcaster Antena 3 in the united states, with presales and tax credits creating the comfort.Other partners include La-based 3 Arts, Blighty's Artists Studio, Gaul's Marathon Group, Ireland's Epos Films as well as the Irish Film Board. Distribution continues to be handled by Tandem Communications and three Arts inside the U.S., with Zodiak handling the comfort around the world excluding Italia, Germany and also the country."We are not quite re-inventing the wheel if this involves the way in which we funded the series," Zoso states, "but it is a distinctive enterprize model with an worldwide TV production."Insofar as no certification deals are actually signed in both the U.S. or perhaps the U.K., the hazards might be greater, nevertheless the rewards are potentially greater.Continental European co-producers appear more ready to allow Des Angelis to simply accept most of the rear finish, additionally to possess creative control, when compared to a U.S. or possibly an english partner might be, according to Zoso.Zoso states there's a determination that no more than three primary protagonists might be involved to have the ability to avoid a lot of equine-purchasing and selling among the multiple production partners over matters like casting. According to him the The spanish language everyone was entirely relaxed over such matters, but that RAI was adament by having an Italian female lead, while a cameo getting a The the spanish language language journalist was created in to keep Antenna 3 happy."This is not a pan-European show, but an worldwide co-production specific at British-speaking areas," stresses Nicola P Angelis, co-executive producer in the project.Inasmuch since the mini's story is positioned just before the Titanic's launch, P Angelis states the project has virtually no overlap with James Cameron's 1997 Oscar champion."It is a fascinating narrative, because at the center of the story might be the American Dream, and the idea of people departing Europe, including Italians who had emigrated to Ireland, to start a completely new existence in the united states,In . P Angelis adds, calling the show an action-based period drama. "There's political and business intrigue, sectarian problems between Catholics and Protestants, labor unrest and the beginning of women's emancipation."P Angelis states that period drama sells better worldwide in comparison to contemporary tales, because modern-day fare is just too culturally specific.By getting an Irish director ("The Tudors'?" Ciaran Donnelly), British authors (Matthew Faulk and Mark Skeet) together with a multinational cast (Us citizens Chris Noth and "Gossip Girl's" Kevin Zegers, Brit Derek Jacobi, Canadian Neve Campbell and Italian Alessandra Mastronardi), the film is obviously pursuing wide appeal.Another worldwide touch: A 90% replica in the Titanic was created inside an abandoned arms factory in Serbia, scouted by production designer Tom Conroy ("The Tudors," "Camelot"). And browsing for your boardroom at Harland and Wolff, the Belfast-based builder in the ocean lining -- the best one of the Howth Castle's grand salons.Conroy sees the story to become more universal in comparison to "Downton Abbey." "I am hoping individuals will receive a sense of the presence of occasions,Inch according to him.The little finishes since the people attempt that fateful day in the year of 1912, but P Angelis hopes that's not the final outcome for your company's link with the Titanic theme already in development is an additional 12-parter, testing out the story in the queries into why the ship sank so easily and what fate had readily available for a couple of from the children.That miniseries would face stiff competition in the retelling in the Titanic voyage created by U.K. web ITV and prebought by ABC inside the U.S. Its creator? Julian Fellowes, around the roll due to "Downton Abbey." Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Casting Standout: 'Extremely Noisy and very Close'

Casting Standout: 'Extremely Noisy and very Close' By Sarah Kuhn November 23, 2011 Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures Casting director Mele Nagler looked the earth searching for a boy who could believably portray 11-year-old Oskar Schell, the precocious protagonist in "Very Noisy and very Close," modified from Jonathan Safran Foer's novel. Throughout the time from the film, Oskar encounters a complicated, really felt journey, so Nagler and director Stephen Daldry understood they needed an actress who had only the best combination of razor-sharp intellect and emotional availability. "Oskar is smarter than most grownups," states Nagler. "He's an astute observer around the world. Concurrently, the smoothness goes using a tremendous lossa loss that even your psychologically developed adult may have a hard time coping with. How's it going getting a youthful child who is able to access that?"Sooner or later, Nagler recalls, she was getting audition tapes "through the truckload" from places as far-flung as Canada, England, and Australia. Furthermore to presenting the typical casting techniques, Nagler states she as well as the filmmakers tried to consider "outdoors this area.Inch In one of people outdoors-the-box moments, producer Scott Rudin stated that he'd seen an exciting kid named Thomas Horn win "Risk!" throughout Kids Week the last year. Nagler situated Hornwho hadn't socialized beforethrough the show. Horn put themselves on tape and was eventually requested to sign up a "boot camping" such as the ultimate number of stars being considered for your role. "It is really an idea we stole from Stephen, as it is a thing that he is doing wonderful his worldwide companies for 'Billy Elliot,' " Nagler states. "We introduced those to NY combined together use Stephen and also the team for approximately each week. That process is rather difficult."By using their process, the pool was simplified lower to Horn (who was simply 12 when he first auditioned which is now 14) then one other actor. "Then you definitely certainly proceed and take leap," Nagler states. "Stephen has mentioned every part i now live and eat this: Inside a certain point, you have to believe that this might be the kid and leap together. It absolutely was apparent that Thomas is certainly an unbelievably special child, now many of us are in the stage where we can not imagine it being others.InchWhilst Nagler was looking for a perfect Oskar, casting director Ellen Lewis was busy assembling a colorful crew of supporting figures, getting a-listers Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks as Oskar's parents and beloved character player Zoe Caldwell as Oskar's grandmother. In every single instance, Nagler reviews, stars taken proper care of immediately the project immediately with enthusiasm. "It is really an amazing script plus an amazing story that can't help but touch someone," she states. "Whether you understood it or see the script, it absolutely was a project you seriously considered associated with.InchLewis recalls they as well as the filmmakers needed "an in-depth, deep look throughout Europe" for stars, whether known or obscure, to see the pivotal role from the guy leasing a place from Oskar's grandmother. Ultimately, Max von Sydow won the part. "I had been sufficiently fortunate to get cast him in 'Shutter Island,' " states Lewis, "therefore i was familiaras any cinephile would bewith his amazing work."John Goodman, James Gandolfini, and Jeffrey Wright also walked in as key supporting players, and Viola Davis features a memorable turn being an essential lady Oskar meets on his mission. "Scott Rudin had just labored along with her in 'Fences,' where she'd won a Tony, and really was dedicated to the idea of her in this role," states Lewis. "It could go various ways, however, you simply couldn't won't her in this role."One part of the job Lewis particularly appreciated was casting "wonderful NY character stars" like Adrian Martinez and Ernest McKenna in additional compact supporting parts. In addition, she loved brushing through distribution and searching players with assorted unusual talents. "We glance through every picture we obtain, really attempt to utilize everybody," she states, "since you do not know what you'll probably be trying to find.InchFor instance, yet another compact role needed an actress who could play in the cello. "There has been several wonderful youthful stars who carried out cello," states Lewis, but up-and-comer Jenson Cruz ultimately won the part. "You just really achieve meet wonderful people through the casting process. It's my job to possess the small roles are what supply the fabric and texture with a film. No role is just too small, because in the wonderful project similar to this getting an excellent director, every single body's important. Every face is important.InchThrowing Company company directors: Ellen Lewis and Mele NaglerDirector: Stephen DaldryWriter: Eric Roth, good novel by Jonathan Safran FoerStarring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, John Goodman, James Gandolfini, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Max von SydowThe Pitch: A boy (Horn) embarks around the mission through NY City to get the lock that suits a mysterious key overlooked by his father, who died in the world Trade Concentrate on 9/11. To determine Back Stage's complete coverage of Honours Season, please get our FREE SAG Nomination Committee Guide. Or follow our daily coverage with Back Stage's new online Honours Season section. Casting Standout: 'Extremely Noisy and very Close' By Sarah Kuhn November 23, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Warner Bros. Pictures Casting director Mele Nagler looked the earth searching for a boy who could believably portray 11-year-old Oskar Schell, the precocious protagonist in "Very Noisy and very Close," modified from Jonathan Safran Foer's novel. Throughout the time from the film, Oskar encounters a complicated, really felt journey, so Nagler and director Stephen Daldry understood they needed an actress who had an ideal combination of razor-sharp intellect and emotional availability. "Oskar is smarter than most grownups," states Nagler. "He's an astute observer around the world. Concurrently, the level of smoothness goes using a tremendous lossa loss that even your psychologically developed adult may have a hard time coping with. How will you search for a young child who is able to access that?"Sooner or later, Nagler recalls, she was getting audition tapes "with the truckload" from places as far-flung as Canada, England, and Australia. Furthermore to presenting the typical casting techniques, Nagler states she as well as the filmmakers tried to consider "outdoors el born area.In . In one of people outdoors-the-box moments, producer Scott Rudin stated that he'd seen an exciting kid named Thomas Horn win "Risk!" throughout Kids Week the last year. Nagler situated Hornwho hadn't socialized beforethrough the show. Horn put themselves on tape and was eventually requested to sign up a "boot camping" such as the ultimate number of stars being considered for your role. "It is really an idea we stole from Stephen, as it is a thing that he's doing wonderful his worldwide companies for 'Billy Elliot,' " Nagler states. "We introduced those to NY combined together use Stephen and also the team for approximately each week. That process is rather difficult."By using their process, the pool was simplified lower to Horn (who was simply 12 when he first auditioned which is now 14) then one other actor. "Then you definitely certainly proceed and take leap," Nagler states. "Stephen has mentioned every part i now live and eat this: Inside a certain point, you have to believe that this really is really the kid and leap together. It absolutely was apparent that Thomas is certainly an unbelievably special child, now many of us are in the stage where we're not able to imagine it being others.InchWhilst Nagler was looking for a perfect Oskar, casting director Ellen Lewis was busy assembling a colorful crew of supporting figures, getting a-listers Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks as Oskar's parents and beloved character player Zoe Caldwell as Oskar's grandmother. In every single instance, Nagler reviews, stars taken proper care of immediately the project immediately with enthusiasm. "It is really an amazing script plus an amazing story that can't help but touch someone," she states. "Whether you understood it or see the script, it absolutely was a project you seriously considered associated with.InchLewis recalls they as well as the filmmakers needed "an in-depth, deep look throughout Europe" for stars, whether known or obscure, to see the pivotal role from the guy leasing a place from Oskar's grandmother. Ultimately, Max von Sydow won the part. "I had been sufficiently fortunate to get cast him in 'Shutter Island,' " states Lewis, "therefore i was familiaras any cinephile would bewith his amazing work."John Goodman, James Gandolfini, and Jeffrey Wright also walked in as key supporting players, and Viola Davis features a memorable turn becoming an important lady Oskar meets on his mission. "Scott Rudin had just labored along with her in 'Fences,' where she'd won a Tony, and extremely was dedicated to the idea of her in this role," states Lewis. "It could go various ways, however, you simply couldn't won't her in this role."One part of the job Lewis particularly appreciated was casting "wonderful NY character stars" like Adrian Martinez and Ernest McKenna in additional compact supporting parts. In addition, she loved brushing through distribution and searching players with some other unusual talents. "We glance through every picture we have, really attempt to utilize everybody," she states, "because you never know what you'll probably be trying to find.InchFor instance, yet another compact role needed an actress who could play in the cello. "There has been several wonderful youthful stars who carried out cello," states Lewis, but up-and-comer Jenson Cruz ultimately won the part. "You just really achieve meet wonderful people through the casting process. It's my job to possess the small roles are what supply the fabric and texture with a film. No role is just too small, because in the wonderful project similar to this getting an excellent director, every single body's important. Every face is important.InchThrowing Company company directors: Ellen Lewis and Mele NaglerDirector: Stephen DaldryWriter: Eric Roth, good novel by Jonathan Safran FoerStarring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, John Goodman, James Gandolfini, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Max von SydowThe Pitch: A boy (Horn) embarks around the mission through NY City to get the lock that suits a mysterious key overlooked by his father, who died in the world Trade Concentrate on 9/11. To determine Back Stage's complete coverage of Honours Season, please get our FREE SAG Nomination Committee Guide. Or follow our daily coverage with Back Stage's new online Honours Season section.

'Young Adult' Exclusive Clip: Charlize Theron Totally Remembers Patton Oswalt

Mavis Gary, Charlize Theron's character in the upcoming comedy "Young Adult," isn't the nicest person you'll ever meet. In fact, she won't even try that hard to convince you otherwise. In this new exclusive clip from the Jason Reitman film, Mavis, a successful author of YA novels, has traveled to her hometown to win back her high school sweetheart, when she meets Matt Freehauf, played by Patton Oswalt, in a bar. The two knew each other in high school—well, Matt remembers Mavis at the very least—and they discuss the awards they won, or didn't, back in their "glory days." "Young Adult" hits theaters on December 16. What did you think of the clip? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Disney's Newsies Musical Heading to Broadway in 2012

Open the gates and seize the day! Following a successful run at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse, the Harvey Fierstein-adapted stage musical Newsies — based on the best period musical of all time about turn of the century paperboys fighting Big Business (that also starred Christian Bale) — will open on honest-to-goodness Broadway in March. This gives you bandwagon-jumpers plenty of time to catch up to the rest of us Newsies diehards who’ve known all along that one day, the family-friendly stylings of legions of dancing street urchins just trying to sell some ‘papes would catch on like gangbusters. The world will know …that we’re not crazy! (Right?) [Wall Street Journal]

Fall TV Analysis: Inside ABC's Hot Streak

Emily VanCamp When ABC introduced its fall schedule in May, the network's experts and rivals were skeptical. Not just were its aging dramas rapidly deteriorating, but ABC faced a formidable task in starting an astonishing 13 new series. It appeared just like a tall order for ABC Entertainment Group leader Paul Lee, who had been coming off his first full development season in the network. But as NBC sinks into a level much deeper slump, ABC has in some way handled to ignore the chances. It does not yet boast the rankings prowess of top-ranked CBS and Fox, but Lee is urged by his network's capability to debut a number of promising new series. "You will find there's large amount of quite strong pieces," he states. "Simultaneously we have reached make certain we sustain them which they stay strong with the year and beyond." ABC had badly happened from the gate this past year with DOA shows like My Generation and also the Whole Truth. But this year, executives staggered the network's launches, with a few new shows not really showing up until late October. Plus, the network caught a little of luck, controlling to ride the comedy revival wave and making use of two genres - fantasy and cleaning soap operas - where it works out there is a void to fill. "They frantically required to have an infusion of recent shows," states Horizon Media's Kaira Adgate. "However they have got a bit of wind within their sails." Early success tales include Not so long ago, a Sunday surprise that's now TV's No. 1 new drama among grown ups 18-49. "We understood it had been an incredible bit of television," Lee states. "There's a lot ambition in the storytelling." Meanwhile, Revenge, the sudser that Lee calls "scrumptious," is making the network competitive on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. (where ABC's performance expires 127 percent within the demo). The network has additionally grown its Wednesday evening comedy block, because of focal point Modern Family - TV's No. 2 scripted show among grown ups 18-49 and ABC's most-viewed sitcom because the 1998-99 season. Newcomer Suburgatory and sophomore sensation Happy Being will also be driving ABC's sitcom success as well as on Tuesdays, Tim Allen's Last Guy Standing is giving ABC its best comedy performance in the time slot inside a decade. Not all things have labored, including ABC's Charlie's Angels reboot. "I do not think we quite handled to breathe existence into that franchise," Lee confesses. "It did not work this time around, however it does not mean we wouldn't try it again. You need to make a move to interrupt out of the clutter." Period drama Pan Am can also be battling, and Lee hopes that some tweaks, for example putting the main focus back around the four central flight attendant figures, can offer a little more direction. "I believe there's a lot of goodwill toward that demonstrate,Inch Lee states. Among comedies, only Guy Up! has opened up to soft amounts. Veteran series like Grey's Anatomy, Dwts and also the soon-to-retire Desperate Average women will also be around the slide. Lee thinks Dancing could reverse that trend having a more compelling cast in mid-season. "Dancing rises and lower," he states. "Sometimes it comes down to whether we catch the atmosphere of the nation. I was lucky enough to get do this two times this past year. Personally i think that it'll return. Now that this year is visiting an finish, I believe individuals are finally beginning to actually relate strongly to that particular cast." Three hrs per week of older-skewing Dancing, however, is constantly on the lead towards the graying of ABC's audience, which now registers an average chronilogical age of 53.7 (the earliest the network has have you been.) "Older audiences and ladies often watch more TV, therefore it is not every that surprising that they are carrying this out well," Adgate states. Meanwhile, with the much cool product working, ABC may now find itself within the odd position of not getting enough room because of its hefty midseason bench. Shows browsing the wings include cheesy Kristin Chenoweth-brought drama GCB (seen by many people being an apparent Desperate Average women alternative) Shonda Rhimes' D.C.-set series Scandal, starring Kerry Washington the Ashley Judd vehicle Missing and thriller The River, none of with a time slot yet. Lee can also be bullish on approaching comedy Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and it is even still offering the significantly panned mix-dressing sitcom Arrange It. "There's an concept of where we are likely to place it all, although we've not quite got all of the jigsaw pieces in position yet," Lee states. For next season, Lee states ABC is searching to take advantage of its comedy achievements in drama, the professional states he's searching for sophisticated character dramas that talk to an "affluent female audience." Despite its recent new achievements, ABC continues to be lower an impression from last season, calculating 9.7 million audiences (lower 1 % from 9.8 million last fall). CBS, in contrast, expires 2 percent (13 million) while Fox expires 21 percent (10.a million). But while ABC has handled to stem its bleeding, NBC continues to be in freefall, lower another 9 % (to 7.3 million). It's obvious that ABC will not challenge CBS and Fox for that top place this year. But as lengthy as Lee and Co. don't begin to build anticipation excessive, Adgate thinks the network is going to be fine. "It's encouraging, and they've to become pretty pleased they grown some seed products," he states. "It sometimes pays to become a little patient." Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

The brand new the new sony Pictures' 'Smurfs 2,' 'Houdini' and 'Singularity' to Shoot in Montreal

TORONTO - Studio movie shoots in Canada nowadays progressively can be found in bunches for further production savings.our editor recommendsForeign Box Office: 'The Smurfs' Remains No. 1 A Couple of Days Ago Overseas Columbia's 'Houdini' Project Taps Author Scott Frank (Exclusive) Roland Emmerich may have postponed production on his sci-fi epic Singularity in Montreal, but which has not stopped The brand new the new sony Pictures piling into Quebec with yet more large-budget movie shoots. The studio is becoming vulnerable to shoot the $175 million Singularity picture in fall 2012, before a May 2013 release, after Steven Spielberg systems production on Robopocalypse within the Cite' du Cinema studio in summer season 2012. Now there's word The brand new the new sony Pictures is always to shoot the arrival follow-up for the Smurfs which is Houdini project in Montreal since it uses Quebec's generous all-spend tax credit and additional digital media tax incentives for live action/CG compounds. The studio is near to beginning pre-production round the Smurfs 2, which has an August 2, 2013 release, and Jordan Kerner returning as producer. And Also The new the new sony Pictures may also be delivering to Montreal director Francis Lawrence's much spoken about film about Houdini, the famous escape artist and magician. The studio is just the latest La producer to secure economic climates of scale by shooting movies 1 by 1 in Canada, frequently concentrating on the same local production deckie's and facilties. Relativity Media had Tarsem Singh shoot the CGI-heavy epic Immortals inside the Cite' du Cinema studio in Montreal, then output of next year's Jennifer Aniston-starring Snow White-colored movie Mirror, Mirror, also in Montreal. And Universal Pictures similarly chose Montreal to shoot Mummy 3 and Dying Race 1 by 1 in 2007. Related Subjects Jennifer Aniston Worldwide The Smurfs The brand new the new sony Pictures Entertainment Singularity Immortals

Universal Redesigning Its Logos as Part of Year-Long Centennial Celebration in 2012

Universal Studios is redesigning its logos, both audio visual and print, and will unveil them early in 2012 as part of a year-long celebration of the studio's centennial.our editor recommendsUniversal's 'Asteroids' to Be Written By 'Snow White' Scribe (Exclusive)Ron Meyer Re-Ups at Universal Through 2015Ron Meyer: Candor-o-Meter Ron Meyer, Universal Studios president, announced the broad plans for the centennial celebration in a memo that he sent to the studio's employees Tuesday. PHOTOS: Executives at the Academy Awards The 100th anniversary campaign will include restoration of some of the studio's classic movies, theme park activities and promotions, and engagement with fans through special events and social media initiatives. "This is a proud and exciting moment for our company, which celebrates the studio's rich history and cultural impact," Meyer wrote. STORY: Ron Meyer Re-Ups at Universal Through 2015 Meyer's complete memo follows: Dear Co-Worker, As many of you already know, Universal will mark its 100th Anniversary in 2012. This is a proud and exciting moment for our company, which celebrates the studio's rich history and cultural impact. In January, we're going to be unveiling an extensive year-long campaign that includes a significant restoration commitment for some of our most beloved films, fan engagement through special events, a home entertainment offering, theme park activities, promotions, and fun social media and web outreaches. All of this is designed to connect a new audience to our extraordinary library of films, as well as bring these memories back to longtime movie lovers. Part of our centennial celebration includes the launch of a new audio visual and print logo which we will unveil early next year. Throughout Universal's hundred years, we've created films that have touched the hearts of millions, and fostered our culture's love affair with cinema. Some films have been more successful than others, but all of them have a place in our history. The strength of Universal, as with any company, is the talent of its team. We're fortunate to have an incredible group of individuals as well as gifted filmmakers who are at the heart of this studio. We want to thank all of you-from our longest serving employees to our newest employees-as all of us have a role to play in preserving and continuing the iconic legacy of this studio. In 2012, we will be honoring our past, and celebrating our future. Related Topics Ron Meyer Universal Pictures

'Immortals' to test the B.O. gods

Relativity Media has something to prove this weekend as Ryan Kavanaugh's newbie distrib launches its first big-budget homegrown worldwide release, 3D effort "Immortals," into a depressed domestic market -- particularly as the under-25 auds that the swords-and-sandals epic is courting have recently stayed away from theaters.The film bows today at 3,112 Stateside locations, of which about 70% are in 3D, with an additional 31 day-and-date international markets via local distribs.Also bowing Stateside are Sony's Adam Sandler PG-rated "Jack and Jill," at 3,438 playdates, while Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar" goes wide at 1,910 locations. Warner Bros. launched the pic limited on Wednesday, earning $52,645 from seven locations in NY, L.A., San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, D.C."Immortals" is expected to win the weekend with some $25 million, followed closely by third-week holdover "Puss in Boots" and "Jack and Jill," both tracking in the low-$20 millions.While bizzers eagerly anticipate B.O. results of Relativity's first inhouse blockbuster, Kavanaugh, who spoke Tuesday at Variety's Future of Film Summit, boldly said that box office accounts for only a small portion of a film's profitability: "The practical reality is -- box office is 20% of the pie, and it's somewhat irrelevant.""Immortals" will test that theory.Relativity is exposed for $75 million of the film's near-$90 million budget, after tax rebates and foreign pre-sales, with an approximately $35 million P&A spend that's shared by marketing partner Virgin Produced. The studio said it's confident that a $25 million opening would put the film on track to get in the black.Even if "Immortals" cumes $75 million domestically -- an optimistic three-times multiple, given the holiday play period -- Relativity still shares half the B.O. with exhibitors. Ancillary profits, including a Netflix deal, will help boost the pic's bottom line, though bizzers question whether it will be enough.Pic should appeal to international auds, but Relativity's business m.o. of pre-selling foreign rights will prevent it from reaping much from a potential overseas bonanza. And domestic B.O. conditions have been sluggish lately, especially with under-25 auds not hitting the plexes.PG-rated "Jack and Jill," budgeted at a reported $80 million, should appeal to a mostly family aud, as well as fans of Sandler. Pic will compete for families with "Puss," which could see a drop of around 35% in its third frame. "Puss in Boots" may hold better than that, however, considering the toon's hugely impressive 3% drop last weekend.Warner's "J. Edgar," meanwhile, is projected to gross $10 million-$12 million through Sunday -- in line with 2006's "Flags of Our Fathers," which cumed $33.6 million.The Leonardo DiCaprio-led biopic should have a strong hold on the adult market; the B.O.'s existing over-25 players, such as "Moneyball" and "The Ides of March," enter their eighth and sixth frames, respectively.At the specialty B.O., Magnolia launches Lars von Trier's Cannes winner "Melancholia" at 15 locations in eight markets.Fox Searchlight's "Martha Marcy May Marlene," which played nicely last weekend at 98 locations, expands in its fourth frame to 183 playdates. Stateside cume is $1.2 million.Paramount Vantage's "Like Crazy" broadens to 70 engagements, up from 16 last weekend. Cume is more than $500,000. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Exclusive Psych Sneak Peek: Can Molly Ringwald Cure Crazy Shawn?

James Roday Psych's Shawn (James Roday) has always been a little on the quirky side, but it looks like he many have finally gotten himself committed. In Wednesday's episode, titled "Shawn, Interrupted" - an homage to the 1999 girls-gone-actually-crazy film Girl, Interrupted - Shawn must admit himself to a mental institution to keep an eye on a recently convicted murderer who pleaded insanity but they suspect to be completely, well, sane. But before he and Gus catch the bad guy, Shawn's got to convince Nurse McElroy (played by Brat Packer Molly Ringwald) that he's actually suffering from something. Psych's James Roday on Shawn and Juliet, Gus' "growing pains" and breaking all the rules "They tell me I've got something called narcissistic personality disorder. But, the truth is, this lustrous hair and dimpled chin are merely Chapter 1," Shawn says before listing off such life-threatening ailments as "outrageous intelligence syndrome" and "obsessive successful disorder." "Goodness, I've never encountered a patient who suffers from so many diseases that don't exist," Nurse McElroy (Ringwald) tells her new patient. Shawn's explanation? He says he's from the future. Apparently, it won't be that hard to convince the nurse he's lost his marbles after all! Check out the exclusive clip from Wednesday's episode: Psych airs Wednesday at 10/9c on USA.

AFM: K5 Deals For Foreign On Eric Bana-Danny Huston Pic Elvis & Nixon

La, CA (November 8, 2011) K5 Worldwide, a division of K5 Media Group has acquired worldwide rights to Benaroya Pictures’ ELVIS & NIXON. The comedy will mark Cary Elwes’ directorial debut and stars Eric Bana as Elvis and Danny Huston as Richard Nixon. ELVIS & NIXON is produced by Michael Benaroya of Benaroya Pictures and Carol Wiersma. Bana’s Truck Productions is executive creating, marking the business’s first U.S. production. ELVIS & NIXON notifies the story about Elvis likely to Leader Richard M. Nixon within the White-colored House in December of 1970. The meeting was began by Presley, who written Nixon a six-page letter requesting a visit and suggesting he be created a ‘Federal Agent-at-Large’ inside the Bureau of medication and Dangerous Drugs. Presley introduced with him family photos together with a Colt 45 pistol just like a bithday present for the Leader. K5 co-founders Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur mentioned Were thrilled being coping with Michael getting known him for a while now. He's fantastic taste together with a amazing eye for talent and truly original material. Benaroya mentioned We are excited to remain in business with Oliver and Daniel and anticipate coping with them after we bring the film for the global marketplace. Carl Clifton Partner in Advertising and marketing, added We fell quickly and totally deeply deeply in love with this project. Its distinctive, fresh and extremely funny. You couldnt recover it. Elwes, Joey Sagal and Hanala Sagal written the script. The expansion will commence principal photography in Shreveport and La. Benaroya Pictures’ MARGIN CALL was recently released by Kerbside Sights and opened up as much as rave reviews and contains extended theatrically country wide to earn impressive box-office amounts.The film stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Simon Baker, Penn Badgley, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci. Benaroya recently completed production round the WORDS starring Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, Jeremy Irons, and Dennis Quaid. The Weinstein Co. recently acquired Benaroya’s THE WETTEST COUNTY On Earth which is planning any Spring 2012 release.

Billy Burke 'Would Love' To Produce 'Snow White' A Franchise

"Breaking Beginning" won't fully finish the "Twilight" saga until part two involves theaters next fall. Before Billy Burke puts Edwards Friend Jacob behind her, she'll be walking into another legendary character's shoes or armor, as they say. Stewart might be the star of "Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman," director Rupert Sanders' undertake the classic mythic in regards to the fairest maiden famous them. Do not label this Snow White-colored a maiden in Sanders' vision, Stewart's Snow can be a sword-transporting, armor-clad warrior training beneath the tutelage in the titular huntsman, carried out by "Thor" star Chris Hemsworth. People connected with "Huntsman" have formerly attracted critiques to "Our god in the Rings," and it is not only because of their parallels popular if all goes well, "Snow White-colored" could launch a totally new franchise for Stewart. But getting already required part in five "Twilight" films, most likely probably the most hotly seen movies in recent memory, is Stewart really ready for the next franchise? We put that question for the star throughout "MTV First: 'Breaking Beginning Part 1'" our exclusive sit-lower with "Twilight" stars Stewart, Rachelle Lefervre and Rachelle Lefervre and he or she referred to why she's a lot more than very happy to move ahead using the "Snow White-colored" brand. "Being totally candid and honest together with you, initially initially when i first signed onto this factor, the idea of doing another franchise was like, 'Whoa. We'll mix that bridge once we showed up in internet marketing,AInch she told MTV News, speaking about her desire to not accept another franchise so immediately after "Twilight" was behind her. "It absolutely was a thing that was up to now outdoors my whole world of thinking. I used to be so dedicated to the very first, that we was like, 'Yeah, maybe. Maybe.'" Something changed in route, however. Now, Stewart is whizzing a very different tune, which is more than a small bit pleased with her concentrate on "Huntsman." "Now I've got stars throughout my eyes," she mentioned. "I'm literally inside the moon in what I'm doing at this time around. I am unable to suppose I'd say ['no']. Yes, I must.In . Are you currently presently excited for Stewart's possible new franchise? Reveal what you consider inside the comments section and also on Twitter!

AFM 2011: THR's Festival Daily - Day 2

In Day 2 from the AFM Daily, Ron Howard makes his first visit to the marketplace meant for his approaching F1 project Hurry, Jason Statham boards the experience drama Hummingbird, and also the Hollywood Reporter names the very best marketing posters during the day.Associated Subjects•AFM 2011 See clearly here (PDF download). Related Subjects AFM Ron Howard Worldwide AFM 2011

Michael Shannon talks General Zod costume

Following hot on the heels of some leaked snaps of Henry Cavill on the set of Man Of Steel come a few tidbits from Michael Shannon, who's been talking to Entertainment Weekly about General Zod and what he'll be wearing.Perhaps unsurprisingly, the billowing capes and parachute pants of yesteryear have become a thing of the past, with Shannon explaining that today's costumes are slightly less forgiving. "Everything's skin-tight," laughs the star. "The flowy costumes don't really... that's not the style nowadays!"When asked whether he has a full-on Krypton costume, Shannon's answer was intriguing. "There's two different modes," he explains. "There's something that I have to wear a motion-capture suit for, because if I actually wore it, I wouldn't be able to move." "It's a very big... thing. I actually don't know what it's going to look like, I just know that it's very cumbersome. There's another thing that I wear that's an actual costume. It's pretty simple. There's no paisley or anything."And as well as donning the mo-cap, Shannon has apparently been doing his homework on the world of which he is now a key element. "I don't read the comic book," he admits, "although when I got the job, they sent me a giant DC Comics book that weighs about a ton. It's got the whole history of DC in it. It's fascinating, actually. I looked at it with my daughter. She's really fascinated by it."Man Of Steel opens Stateside on 14 June 2013.

WATCH: It's the Great Halloween Episode of Verbal Vogueing, with Louis Virtel

In the latest, Very Special Holiday Episode of Verbal Vogueing — starring Movieline’s own beloved Anthony Perkins doppelganger and Madonna enthusiast, Louis Virtel — things get spooky. We’re talking Halloween cliches so tired they’re lazily wearing a slutty plastic bag costume from the gas station. But fear not: Louis is here to save Halloween with his snappy verbal stylings! Included within: The disembodied voice of Sandy Dennis! Sandra Bullock speaking German! Louis speaking in Twin Peaks tongues! Shudder What scares you to your core, dear reader? Previously on Verbal Vogueing…

'Allen Gregory': TV Review

Lots of rules don't affect animation it's extremely difficult to calculate what is going to be employed in the genre. More to the stage, it's impossible to calculate which new options will finish up large-tent hits. Cult-fave, considerably acclaimed products of irreverence shot through with screw-you attitude? Everywhere, particularly on Adult Frolic in the water. PHOTOS: Fox's Year Tv Shows: 'Terra Nova,' 'The X Factor' plus much more But what's the next Simpsons or Family Guy? Well, probably Archer on Foreign exchange. And Cinemax's The Existence & Occasions of Tim needs to be popular. Beyond that, candidates result from Fox because it's be much more handy internet in the sport. So you have to forgive whomever required directly into Jonah Hill's help out relation to its a precocious 7-year-old (voiced by Hill). Their thought process must have gone similar to this: 1. It's Jonah Hill 2. Virtually anything Jonah Hill states is funny, frequently even in the baseball movie 3. I like it already. The problem with this particular scenario is the pilot for Allen Gregory isn't excellent. It might be funny, nevertheless it's got no real point, looks cheap, features a crazy, vague ending and may make almost any TV critic who likes NBC's Community get totally distracted because once the title character's gay father, Richard (French Stewart), looks similar to the Dean Pelton character. (Jim Rash and Serta Harmon, have the lawyers in danger). Small problems, mostly, except the part in regards to the pilot not excellent (which's all Fox shipped to experts apparently it takes as extended to produce Allen Gregory since it gives make Terra Nova). PHOTOS: Fox Official Comic-Disadvantage 2011 Posters The series concentrates on Allen Gregory P Longpre, which has were living a information on luxury under Richard and Richard's wife, Jeremy (Nat Faxon), which has home-trained Allen Gregory (he's never just referred to as Allen, for a lot of annoying reason). Richard and Jeremy have spoiled Allen Gregory forever, overlooking that it seems sensible the little one functions like he's 35, dresses as being a patron in the arts and ladles out cultural snobbery in heavy doses. And Hill, inside the preshow hype, keeps calling the level of smoothness "adorable." This might be a fatal perception problem. Allen Gregory is obnoxious not liking him seems being the reason. As Richard begins to own money worries, Allen Gregory must see public elementary school, as well as he doesn't easily fit into. When Hill riffs as Allen Gregory -- notifying the teachers he's a peer, forcing kids to schedule lunch with him -- it's funny. Except Hill never convinces us that Allen Gregory's delusions are something to pity or that individuals should be worried about him. Q&A: 'Allen Gregory' Boss David A. Goodman Talks Joined Lines, Dark Places and Finding Funny in Dying With no other enjoyable figures together with a thin premise, Allen Gregory seems while you-dimensional since the animation. After seven episodes, Fox will next make an effort to turn the Napoleon Dynamite film in to a TV series, but that doesn't appear remotely promising. Maybe Bob's Burgers, a present Fox animated series that's infinitely more enjoyable, will return can offer relief. Airdate 8:30 p.m. Sundays (Fox) Related Subjects

'Life' of the Party

New to DVD and Blu-Ray today is the fantastic drama "A Better Life." When it opened earlier this year, I had high praise for director Chris Weitz and star Demian Bichir, who I think delivers one of the finest performances of the year as an illegal immigrant looking to provide a positive future for his 14-year-old son. In an interview with Weitz, I praised the film and the director's steady hand with material that could have easily gone maudlin or condescending.Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the DVD release party for the film, hosted by Mary-Louise Parker at Culina. It took me a second to make the connection, but of course, Bichir played Parker's lover on the Showtime series "Weeds." Like anyone who loves great actors, I've long held Parker in high regard. But until I saw her in person that night, I had no idea how unbelievably stunning she is in person. She was also very gracious and affable, and went out of her way to thank us for coming. "I so appreciate your support of this movie," she told me. "It means so much that people get the word out about it. It's very special."So if you won't take my word for it, listen to Parker, and check out one of the best films--and performances--of the year.READ MORE ON BEHIND THE SCENES

Kelly Clarkson On Romance: Ive Never Experienced Love

First Released: October 24, 2011 7:45 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Kelly Clarkson helps make the scene in the 2009 American Music Honours in the Nokia Theatre L.A. Reside in LA on November 22, 2009Kelly Clarkson has stated her career like a celebrity singer has become when it comes to her romantic existence. Clearly its very hard up to now when Im on four different continents per week, the giant singer told USA Today. Even when I actually do meet an excellent guy, I aint ever gonna see him. Theres only a lot that you can do with Skype! While shes been the voice of numerous breakup tunes most notoriously Since Youve Been Gone she accepted shes just a little behind within the romance department. Ive never experienced love, Kelly stated. Ive never experienced some things, and i believe thats because I've this side of me that's turn off. Because I havent found anybody yet to spread out to that particular I seem like, OK, youre worth wearing down that wall for. Ive never discovered that. Still, the celebrity does aspire to got married eventually and she or he told the newspaper shed prefer to get married in her own late 30s (shes 29 now). Statistically, should you wait that lengthy, you aren't getting divorced, she stated. Beyond romance, Kelly presently riding high atop the prosperity of her latest single, Mr. Realize It All described how shes handled to prevent the trap many effective stars have fallen into. I've no debate, she told the paper. You do not see me in rehab, or else you dont see me being released with my hey-haw showing. Theres very little to report. Then when anything little is reported, its like Oh, my God, she wasnt putting on makeup! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kim Kardashian lands employment in Tyler Perry's next movie

Kim Kardashian, the American socialite probably most broadly noted for reality TV series Maintaining While Using Kardashians, has showed up her initial film role.According to Deadline, she'll co-star in Tyler Perry's next, The Marriage Counselor.She'll not play Judith, the titular agent (that's Jurnee Smollett), but she'll play Ava, "a co-worker who gives Judith a sizable city transformation and new confidence as she struggles along with her personal issues."According to your stance on Kardashian, this either appears such as the next favourite movie or perhaps the four-minute warning with an impending apocalypse.Tyler Perry's films have consistently defied professionals being box office dynamite, and given Kardashian's ubiquitous celebrity, that's unlikely to change here.Kardashian has formerly socialized in Disaster Movie and Deep Inside The Valley, and he or she has received guest spots in Tv shows Beyond The Break and CSI: NY.

Is Kevin Spacey the brand new Face of Whitened-Collar Avarice?

Kevin Spacey: Oscar champion, theater director -- corporate shark? You will possibly not have called the actor as somebody who signifies whitened-collar avarice, but he -- or even more particularly, the figures he plays -- certainly possess a practice of showing the kind of maniacal behavior many People in america have grown to be angry with during the last couple of years. Within this weekend's NY Occasions Magazine, film critic A.O. Scott does a convincing job of evaluating Spacey's recent roles -- together with his career in general -- towards the character of present day economy (which, should you haven't heard, sucks) and also the villains who triggered it. As our passion for money and energy shows signs and symptoms of curdling into bitterness, we want both plausible targets and supportive alter egos. Spacey handles to become both. In 'Horrible Bosses' last summer time, he would be a creature of pure, compulsive sadism. In 'Margin Call,' he's a maximum-middle-level executive in a large investment bank around the edge of 2008-style chaos, whose tough realistic assessment puts him in the ethical center from the storm. Scott does not just bare this comparison to Spacey's recent films. His roles because the "postmodern sociopath" Keyzer Soze in 'The Usual Suspects' and also the "diabolical movie producer" in 'Swimming Using the Sharks' will also get the whitened-collar comparison. However, the most crucial bit of info to collect in the piece is: We are able to read [Spacey's] history in the face: the leading-office fixture the boss from hell the moving salaryman the actual criminal. He's been all individuals men and it has now settled in, less than at the very top but close enough into it to possess acquired a relish legitimate energy. We all know him. We all know what he is capable of doing. And due to this...he's the only person we are able to trust. In the event that's the situation, could we maybe send Spacey to Occupy Wall Street to assist diffuse the strain between police and protesters? [via NYT Magazine] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Jersey Shore' closes season with 6.6 million

Snooki and Co. said "ciao" to Italy Thursday night as the season four finale of "Jersey Shore" drew 6.6 million viewers. While the reality skein remains a substantial ratings hit, the finale was down more than 2 million viewers from the Aug. 4 season premiere. The cabler ran a reunion special immediately following the episode, which garnered 5 million viewers. Overall, the season averaged 7.3 million viewers. "Jersey Shore" traveled to Europe this season but will return to its Garden State haunts for season five, which is set to debut in January. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Lisa Niemi Calls Unveiling Of Statue Of Patrick Swayze At Madame Tussauds Bittersweet

First Launched: October 19, 2011 2:42 AM EDT Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Patrick Swayzes Widow Lisa Niemi Reveals His Madame Tussauds Wax Figure La, Calif. -- Lisa Niemi is content her late husband, Patrick Swayze, remains immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, couple of years after his dying at 57. Now, Madame Tussauds revealed its likeness in the actor, featuring him in one of his most well-known roles as Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing and Lisa mentioned these were given his physique and seems perfect. He'd this kind of mischievous, but confident look and things like his core [were] very, very good and so they done his arms more, so its very detailed, Lisa told Access Hollywood on Tuesday. Theres plenty of work that switches into this. Lisa was impressed with with the statue, but referred to as seeing it, bittersweet. With techniques, its really wonderful and exciting and everyones within this good mood here, which is likely to be so fun to own this estimate the museum here, and concurrently its bittersweet, she mentioned. If perhaps he were here, really here. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Fox Adapting Zombieland for TV

Jamie Bamber Jamie Bamber remains cast for just about any multi-episode arc on Body of Proof, TVGuide.com has confirmed. The Battlestar Galactica alum may have Scott Decker, a potential love interest for medical examiner Dr. Megan Search (Dana Delany). TVLine.com first reported what is the news. See the relaxation of current day news Publish-BSG, Bamber arrived on the scene on Toy house and starred in Law & Order: Uk. More youthful crowd showed up charge role in Ron Moore's fantasy drama pilot 17th Precinct, which not successful to acquire a pickup at NBC. Body of Proof airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

Stakes full of Viacom's appeal

The very first act in Viacom's suit against YouTube was about private emails, faulty reminiscences plus some genuine corporate embarrassment.The 2nd act offers to offer more legal weight than juicy particulars, with large legal guns to argue before a federal appellate court in NY on Tuesday.The situation could define the guidelines from the road for the net since it focuses on where YouTube's liability lies when customers publish infringing material, massive levels of it, on its site. The "safe harbor" provision from the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, written a long time before YouTube was created, shields Online sites companies, website operators yet others from liability for violation by their customers once they meet certain conditions, like quickly reacting to takedown notices sent by content designers.Inside a new book which has been circulating among media insurance supporters, "Free Ride: How Digital Unwanted organisms Are Wrecking the Culture Business, and just how the Culture Business Can Fight,Inch journalist Robert Levine creates, "The suit could visit the Top Court, and it is outcome will define the way forward for digital Millennium Copyright Act, and possibly the web itself."Hyperbole? Definitely not whenever you look whatsoever from the amicus briefs filed by disparate groups with much on the line within the situation, using their company Internet firms like Yahoo and Facebook towards the people from the Eagles. The response in studio and guild ranks to U.S. District Court Judge Louis Stanton's June 2010 summary judgment decision in support of YouTube was among dismay.Viacom, which filed its suit in 2007, had contended that YouTube not just was conscious that customers were uploading hundreds of 1000's of copyrighted clips to the site but built its business design around it. But Stanton ruled that YouTube's prompt elimination of clips if this got a takedown notice was sufficient. "Mere understanding" of infringing activity on the website is "insufficient,Inch he ruled."General understanding that violation is ubiquitous doesn't impose an obligation on the company to watch or search its service for infringements," he authored.Especially irritating to Viacom along with other media congloms: When Stanton shipped this victory to YouTube and corporate parent Google, he stated the present system of takedown notices "works effectively." They have contended that Stanton basically overlooked this is from the Supreme Court's 2005 Grokster decision, which held that there is liability for "inducing" violation on the web.Within an amicus brief, the MPAA and also the Independent Film and tv Alliance reason that a provision from the DMCA that safe harbor requires action not only from "actual understanding" but "awareness" from it from "details and conditions" which make such activity "apparent." Stanton "extended safe harbor protection ought to be law not enduring the presence of factual questions regarding appellees' inducement of violation throughout YouTube's early years. Your decision not just misconstrues the (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) but supplies a guide for culpable service companies to construct their companies in line with the violation of others' copyrighted works." The argument from YouTube along with other Internet firms is they couldn't possibly hold responsibility for that ton of fabric published for their sites. Otherwise, there will not function as the next YouTube or Facebook: It'd stifle innovation if sites have to spend almost all their time regulating customers. "Litigants haven't recognized just one clip-in-suit that YouTube understood was infringing but unsuccessful to quickly take lower," YouTube authored in the appellate brief. "Rather, litigants offer various ideas about why generalized awareness that unknown infringing material might be somewhere online ought to be disqualifying."YouTube is became a member of by many people digital privileges groups like Public Understanding, which echo arguments that even sites that attempt to police content don't have any method of knowing if it's an approved or unauthorized use, raising First Amendment and fair use concerns. Within their amici brief, Public Understanding attempts to pour cold water on the technology which has satisfied galleries, the blocking of content to place copyrighted material. "Automated filters cannot dependably determine when and whether specific submissions are infringing," the org states.The irony is the fact that Viacom's suit, filed in 2007, is all about what happened at YouTube previously the organization used the blocking technology in 2008, so studio concerns have moved as to the Stanton's decision way to other sites present and future. It might actually be about a lot more compared to $1 billion Viacom initially searched for. There's little question in the stakes. Google states it spent $100 million just within the first act Viacom has famous legal bald eagle Ted Olson to argue its situation. Yet even such extensive assets don't mitigate the unpredictability, or even the chance the appellate court will choose sides instead of render some mutual understanding.As Levine states, "The thought of YouTube being accountable for everything on its server will be a disaster for the net business, and the thought of them being accountable for nothing will be a disaster for that entertainment business." Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

Hulu purchase process dead

Hulu comes from the auction block. The acquisition from the web vid behemoth remains tabled by its entrepreneurs -- News Corp., NBCUniversal, Disney and Providence Equity Partners -- after several days of taking bids from prospective customers. In the short statement, the partners mentioned your final decision is created because the service has "unique and compelling proper value to each of the entrepreneurs." But there's no secrete the partners stood a high $2 billion cost expectation for Hulu. Google, Amazon . com . com and Dish Network were runners up awaiting word around the latest round of bids. Taking nibbles in earlier models were large players like DirecTV andDirecTV and Yahoo, who've jumpstarted the sales process by considering making an unwanted inquiry. Now Yahoo find itself the subject of acquisition speculation plus a potential tie-tabs on America online. Boss Jason Kilar remains using the organization, according to sources. His future with Hulu has existed doubt given his contract using the organization has apparently already expired. The first sort Amazon . com . com professional has furthermore had his share of friction with entrepreneurs, though he's mentioned to own patched some misunderstanding and contains belief in the company's board of company company directors. Estimations of Hulu's value were all over the map, reflecting uncertainty over precisely what a buyer might be getting. Most likely probably the most valuable regions of Hulu will be the certification deals the streaming service has having its principals providing you with series programming from tv producers Fox, NBC and ABC as soon as 24 several hours following a shows' original airdate. Google was apparently ready to spend around $4 billion to land Hulu with extensions on content rights beyond existing parameters. The newest cases of hits like "Family Guy" and "WorkInch will be the finest draws on Hulu, which has also began to license and develop original content for instance its new Morgan Spurlock series "Every Day inside the Existence." Hulu has furthermore been putting growing concentrate on its subscription component, Hulu Plus. The service recently showed up in a million clients, each needing to pay $8 each. The business also went public having its first worldwide foray, Japan, where it launched a normal membership-only service. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

5 Successful '80s Remakes -- and Why They Worked

This Friday, a duo of ’80s remakes, The Thing and Footloose, hit the multiplex. And that’s just the beginning — because Hollywood is currently in various stages of redrafting your favorite films from that decade including Red Dawn, War Games and Dirty Dancing. In honor of this trend, let’s take a look at the most successful ’80s remakes so far and see what made them work. Just click here to launch the slideshow.

'Attenberg,' 'Kilimandjaro,' 'Play' chase Lux prize

The city -- Knowing has started for 3 films within the running for that European Parliament's 2011 Lux prize. In contention are Greek foreign-language Oscar hopeful "Attenberg" by Athina Rachel Tsangari, "L'ensemble des Neiges du Kilimandjaro" by French helmer Robert Guediguian and "Play" by Ruben Ostlund of Sweden. A 90-chair cinema continues to be built within the parliament's The city complex to screen the flicks. The 736 people of parliament possess a month to determine the flicks and election. The champion is going to be introduced in Strasbourg, the parliament's other location, on November. 16 The prize recognizes films that illustrate European values, cultural diversity or debate around the European project. The winning film is going to be subtitled in to the 23 official languages from the Eu, and it'll receive support because of its distribution within the 27 EU states. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Wall Street Analysts' Outlook for UltraViolet Is Mixed

NY - With Warner Bros.' home theatre discharge of Horrible Bosses Tuesday, Hollywood galleries and tech firms began their lengthy-talked about UltraViolet platform, which enables customers use of movies they own across a slew of products using a digital locker.our editor recommendsConsortium of Galleries, Producers Throws Weight Behind UltraViolet Management SystemUltraviolet Launches Certification Program Resulting in Digital Locker within the Cloud Wall Street experts on Tuesday pointed out possibilities from the cloud storage system, particularly for stimulating the Hollywood galleries' home theatre business, but additionally outlined its current shortfalls, particularly deficiencies in participation from Wally Disney and Apple. "Can UltraViolet Shine An Easy on Possessing Movies Again?" Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne requested inside a report. "We percieve the's UltraViolet initiative like a critical, although certainly challenging, advance given the opportunity of greater adoption of high-margin electronic sell-through and slowing down the customer migration from purchase transactions toward lower-margin rental shops," he stated. "If UltraViolet can drive customers to consider a cloud-based film possession model in a material way, stocks which have material studio assets may likely see greater earnings and multiple expansion." Inside a bull situation scenario he layed out, UltraViolet could drive about 10 % upside to film galleries' earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. For the reason that scenario, films bought instead of leased per household could rise to a lot more than seven each year by 2015 from an believed 6.8 this season. "If UltraViolet has the capacity to drive film purchasing habits to 2004 levels - in excess of 12 films bought per household yearly - the upside could be increased,Inch Swinburne stated. However the analyst also outlined key challenges. "Disney and Apple stick to the sidelines, suppressing universal adoption," Swinburne stated. "Disney presently intends to launch its very own version of the "digital locker" known as Disney Studio All Access that utilizes another extendable than UltraViolet's Common Extendable, which makes it a hardship on customers to have their UltraViolet films and Disney films in the same location.Inch For the time being, it's beginning, with the beginning of 2012 potentially getting another incentive for customers. "We expect legal-copy upload capacity (permitting customers to upload current DVD inventory in to the cloud) to start moving by the first quarter 2012, potentially spurring new purchase activity," Swinburne stated. Burns Tabak analyst David Joyce also stated it had been too soon to calculate the impact of UltraViolet. "The large real question is so how exactly does the customer like whatever cost points emerge and just how cannibalistic might it become for future platform releases and growth," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm hopeful the risk and chance is going to be balanced" though, he added. The important thing question is going to be whether a studio will have the ability to charge a greater cost of, say, $30 let's focus on someone to get access to a bit of content in perpetuity rather than getting less cash plus another $20 5 years from let's focus on a brand new device. While lauding galleries for searching at digital options, BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield was particularly bearish about UltraViolet, highlighting it doesn't use iTunes and doesn't easily use Apple products. "When we're skeptical that anything can reinvigorate purchasing home theatre beyond drastically reducing prices points (in accordance with rental), forcing customers to apply your infrastructure versus theinfrastructurethey are comfy with takes a "complete" solution, that the UltraViolet-ecosystem is not today," he stated inside a blog publish. "Continue with UltraViolet prior to it being ready for prime-time risks pushing customers progressively toward rental listed options where they don't need to cope with the problems of possession and, a whole lot worse, piracy." Related Subjects The Wally Disney Company Apple

WME-Backed The Raine Group Closes $475 Million Funding Deal, Expands Holdings

NY, Oct. 11, 2011 The Raine Group, the global merchant bank focused exclusively on entertainment, digital media and sports, announced today the closing of its flagship private equity fund. With approximately $475 million in assets under management, Raine has completed three principal investments, including multimedia powerhouse Vice, browser-based games giant Jagex, and celebritycurated ecommerce platform OpenSky. We are pleased to have successfully completed our fundraising process, said Jeff Sine, one of Raines two founders. This is a significant milestone for Raine and we are excited about the prospects for our investments to date and our ability to continue to bring together strong management teams with our limited partners to execute on the global opportunities we see in our focus areas. Raine also announced that veteran media banker Glenn H. Schiffman joined the firm as a Partner. Schiffman has more than 20 years of investment banking experience and most recently served as head of investment banking in the Americas for Nomura Holdings, and before that head of investment banking Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining Nomura, Schiffman spent 17 years at Lehman Brothers focused on media and entertainment for most of his career, serving as global head of the media group and later as head of investment banking Asia-Pacific. Our team, which now numbers 35 globally, is stronger than ever and Glenn is a wonderful addition, said Raine co-founder Joe Ravitch. We have known Glenn for many years and he is one of the most thoughtful, respected and well-connected media bankers in the business. His leadership and client impact will be instrumental in helping our team as we both continue to build our advisory business and identify investment opportunities for our fund. Jeff, Joe and I have worked together on many media deals over the years. In Raine, they brought together an amazing network of contacts from across the industry and have done an exceptional job executing their vision. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to such a unique platform, said Schiffman. Raine also announced that Sherri A. Williams was named Managing Director for Private Placements and Capital Markets. Williams joins Raine from Montgomery & Co. where she was instrumental in building the firms private placement business. Raine also announced three new additions to its advisory board Miky Lee, Chairman of CJ Group, Koreas largest media and entertainment company, Steven Newhouse, Chairman of Advance.net, the internet strategy arm of Cond Nasts Advance Publication division, and Theo Kyriakou, CEO of Antenna Group, the leading broadcasting firm in Greece. Previously announced advisory board members draw from the sports and technology industries and include Tom Freston, former President and CEO of Viacom, Peter Chernin, former chief operating officer of News Corp, and Masayoshi Son, founder of Softbank.

Rosie O'Donnell Returns to TV: The 8 Things to Expect From OWN's The Rosie Show

Rosie O'Donnell Last Friday, Rosie O'Donnell composed some poetry about her return to television. Included are lines about how she had blown the deadline for publishing the poem online, as well as observations about the people she met that same night while eating dinner at Gibsons Steak House in Chicago. As for what's to come on her new talk show, she wrote only this: "as I prepare to return / 2 something much bigger than a show / I am reminded how lucky I am / have always been / thank u oprah / here we go." O'Donnell says, so far, she feels no pressure. "I feel nothing but privilege, truthfully," she told reporters during a conference call Wednesday. ""For Oprah to not only ask me to be on her network, but for her to also give me her studio, her staff, her buildings and welcome me to her city..." The Rosie Show and Oprah's Lifeclass to air on OWN and four other networks Similar to her poetry, The Rosie Show, which premieres Monday at 8/7c on Oprah's OWN, will take a sort of free-flow approach. The plan is to host one guest per episode - instead of the typical three to four -- in order to get "real, lengthy, insightful interviews," O'Donnell said. And it's just one of several big changes from her last talk show outing. Here's what you can expect to see: 1. She'll still play games with the audience but, alas, she won't shoot Koosh balls at them. But only because she can't! The company who made them doesn't anymore. "And the guy, who was from Scotland, a lovely man who gave us them for free... he no longer owns the company," O'Donnell said. She is, however, on the hunt for something else she can shoot at people "because I enjoy that." 2. The woman who helped write Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg's "D--- in a Box" will lead her house band. Emmy-winning song writer Katreese Barnes, who previously served as SNL's musical director for several years, is now in charge of Rosie's live band. Imagine the possibilities. The 7 things to know about Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show 3. Tom Selleck will stop by (if she had her way). O'Donnell said the show reached out to him but hasn't heard back. She still feels bad about how they left things in 1999. "I think I probably would have done it a lot differently, now as an older person and as somebody who would understand the ramifications," she said. "We have asked him but I don't know that he's interested and I truly don't blame him... He's a nice man, he really is. Before we had that altercation, he had been on the show many times." 4. Her 50th birthday is going to be "a big blowup." Because she turned 40 just months after the September 11 attacks, she didn't feel like celebrating that particular personal milestone. But O'Donnell has plans to make up for that when she turns 50. The special day will be March 21 and right now the plan is to fill the audience with others hitting their mid-century mark. "We're going to do something huge," she promised. 5. Rosie will do stand-up - not a monologue -- to kick off each show. She's been practicing material at local comedy clubs in Chicago, and she'll also be armed with a writing staff. "I'm going to come out and do stand-up with a microphone like you do in a comedy club," O'Donnell said. She named Craig Ferguson as her show-opening role model: "Every night his monologue is sort of a stream of consciousness about his own truth and his own reality and a little bit of current events and politics woven in but always with a truth and his own voice. That's the goal." She'll also take questions from the audience, Carol Burnett-style. Rosie O'Donnell to take over Oprah Winfrey Show studio 6. Bring on the 2012 Presidential candidates! Hers won't be a political show - and she really wants to stay away from the kind of "flashy" debate that marked her run on The View -- but O'Donnell said it will be topical. "Presidential candidates are now regularly making stops on daytime talk shows, so I'm sure we'll have [them] on this show as well," she said. 7. ...otherwise, her guests won't necessarily be there to promote anything. Witness the initial list, a mix that includes Roseanne Barr, Wanda Sykes and Gloria Steinem. Also confirmed are Russell Brand, Salma Hayek, Lisa Kudrow, Gloria Estefan, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, Ricki Lake, the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kevin Bacon and Fran Drescher. They'll all have quality time with Rosie, too; each will be on for no less than three segments. "Guests today get like five minutes, six minutes, and you can't really get a conversation going in that amount of time," O'Donnell said. Think "more Dick Cavett than Charlie Rose, but with humor." 8. She's done the childhood idols thing. What she wants are the up-and-comers. It's not that Tom and Babs don't still sparkle for O'Donnell, but she's now more interested in getting to know the next generation. "I was really fortunate to have spoken to so many Hollywood luminaries in my career already that it's the new ones and the young ones, the ones that I sort of missed, that I would love to get to sit down with now," she said. Like who? Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling to start. She also really wants newly crowned Emmy winner Melissa McCarthy on, pronto. "I could not believe how funny she was on SNL. Literally, like, honestly, had to wear a Depends undergarment watching that show." One other thing her show will have (well, for her staff)? Check out this video of "The Cookie Room": Are you going to watch The Rosie Show?