REVIEW: The Adventures of Tintin Putt-Putts Together with a Terrier with you

You will find occasions when an excessive amount of a positive thing and never enough meet midway and settle right into a comfortable middle ground. That’s the situation with Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin, which may be superior if it absolutely was made using classical animation techniques instead of that performance-capture nonsense and when 3-D weren’t among its large selling points. But midway continues to be something, and also the Adventures of Tintin is winning inside a rousing, let’s-search-lower-a-treasure way, when you work through — if you're able to — the Polar Express-style creepiness of animated figures who gaze through human-searching eyes. The image is modified in the graphic books of Herg, the pen title of Belgian author and illustrator Georges Remi (the pronunciation is really a playful turnaround of his initials), which trace the adventures of the ginger root-haired cub reporter and, possibly just like importantly, the wriggly-butt high jinks of his fox terrier, Snowy. Area of the benefit of the books, the very first which made an appearance in 1929, are their lo-fi visual clearness: Herg made his images in obvious yet soft colors outlined by fine but distinct black outlines, a comic book-book drawing style that later found be referred to as ligne claire. Enter in Tintin comics is flat, but pleasingly so — there’s lots of dimensionality within the attendant particulars Herg clearly required pleasure in adding (the drape of the cloth heavyweight coat, the soft wrinkle of the sock) and meaning of motion and excitement transported over from frame to border. Inside a Tintin comic, Snowy’s tail isn't still — you won't ever literally view it move, however, you just know. Aesthetically, The Adventures of Tintin isn’t everything ligne claire: Rather, it’s dimensional and rounded and shaded — even much more than the usual movie made to be viewed only by 50 percent-D could be. This really is Spielberg’s first foray into 3-D, and that he goes all to prove he is able to get it done. But what exactly? Things that make Tintin enjoyable tight on related to that type of technical prowess compared to Spielberg’s affection for that source material and the obsessive eye for detail. (He and Healing For Peter Jackson, co-producers from the film, are generally long term Tintin fans.) I began out disliking Tintin — I don’t care how technically smooth the performance-capture animation is anything made by using this hyperrealistic way is just pleading to become held at arm’s length. But when I acquired over that Rosemary oil’s Baby, “What excuses have you employed to his eyes?” feeling, and relaxed into what's basically a contented (if a little manic) task of storytelling, Tintin grew to become much more fun. The storyline here — modified from a variety of Herg tales by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish — begins when Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) purchases one ship by having an important secret hidden inside. They know it’s important because dubious villain Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Difficulties) wants it, too. Along the way of unleashing that secret, Tintin and Snowy end up on the hi-jacked ocean freighter, where they meet Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis), a boozy old seadog who, incidentally, bears an uncanny resemblance to Walter Matthau. Together they trigger an on adventure that can take them over the sea (using its billowing, moving waves) and also the desert (where individuals liquid surf is exchanged for rippling hillsides of sand). Snowy tags along all the way, either assisting or causing problems, and often both. Tintin’s plot is built of minor scrapes and narrowly prevented problems, also it scampers from land to ocean to abandon to city by having an abandon that only appears reckless: My way through The Adventures of Tintin is meticulous — this can be a Steven Spielberg movie, in the end. However it’s fun to consider in most the film’s particulars, particularly if you have a passing knowledge of the Tintin books: The way in which Tintin’s camel-colored coat has got the type of hands-stitching a European coat from the 󈧢s might have the soft glow of the eco-friendly-shaded desk light lighting a magazine disseminate on the table the gentle “tik-tik” seem produced by Snowy’s toenails because he trots along. And also the wry humor from the books emerges intact: An obsessive wallet-stealer moans, “I’m not necessarily a bad person. I’m a kleptomaniac!” The squabbling twin personnel Thomson and Thompson, using their scrubbing-brush mustaches and bowler hats, also make several looks, their voices supplied by Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Somewhat The Adventures of Tintin is simply too perfectly perfect. Spielberg and the team have looked at the way in which Herg moved the experience from panel to panel and duplicated it with utmost precision. It’s great so far as it is going. However the movie fairly vibrates with this showing-off quality that Spielberg just can’t shake. Still, Tintin musters a lot of pleasant energy — John Williams’ jaunty score, particularly, is only the kind of soundtrack you’d wish to have following you around should you be a red-colored-headed adventurer in tweed plus-fours, rooting around for secret treasure. However it’s Snowy nobody won my heart: Delighted through the aroma of the sandwich or experiencing a camel the very first time, he’s all you’d desire a cartoon terrier to become. His hobbies are passionate, but his attitude is casual. He’s the main one factor within the Adventures of Tintin that’s never trying way too hard. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Thomas Jane on People: 'If You Permit Them Alcohol and drugs, There Is A Inclination never fear A Lot Of That you're Ripping Them Off'

Now, actor Thomas Jane's applying for grants humanity: We're all brainwashed slackers leaped on booze and drugs. Jane, most broadly noted for losing his pants round the Cinemax series 'Hung,' recently starred in 'I Melt Together With You,A a film where four pals decide to revive their college days for lots of ... you suspected it, booze and drugs. This irony would be a little lost on Jane when he made a decision to supply mankind a speaking-to throughout his interview with TheFix. In line with the actor, People reactions all over the world around them, in the event you give them alcohol and drugs, there is a inclination never fear a lot of that you're ripping them off round the parking meters and you're simply putting people at the office that don't know very well what the fuck they're doing ... We could come down for the bar and complain relating to this there instead of heading lower to fucking Congress and worrying to individuals nobody fucking have to hear it ... I have found a nation of sleepers and slackers, which is not our fault, we've been trained to remain asleep... We awaken briefly, but in those days we're too tired and spend shocked and beaten lower to accomplish anything relating to this, because we understand half in our existence is completed ... Generally, the easiest step to complete is always to fall back asleep and basically type of nestle in watching for any little until we lose the mortal coil and think of it as quits. This is actually the metaphor inside our film of dying. Since the Huffington Publish highlights, Jane has received difficulties with addiction formerly. Possibly getting experienced which have makes him a bit more cynical toward current day society? The comfort in the discussion features the actor opining in regards to the worthlessness of yank schools. Find out more from Jane over on HuffPost Entertainment -- unless of course obviously clearly, you are too lazy and drunk to click through. [via HuffPost] [Photo: Getty Images] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Serralles gets 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

SerrallesStage veteran Jeanine Serralles, who previously appeared in James Gray's "Two Lovers" and Julie Taymor's "Across the Universe," has joined the cast of Joel and Ethan Coen's folk music pic "Inside Llewyn Davis."Set amid the 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene, story follows a protagonist loosely based on singer Dave Van Ronk, a friend of Bob Dylan's, and other famous musicians.Oscar Isaac ("Drive," "Sucker Punch") stars as the title character, a struggling musician from Queens who, despite being a talented singer and guitarist, can't make ends meet. Justin Timberlake co-stars as another folk musician, while his wife will be played by Carey Mulligan, who shows off her vocal chops singing "NY, NY" in Steve McQueen's "Shame."John Goodman is set to play a jazz musician who takes a road trip with the protag, while "Amadeus" star F. Murray Abraham is circling the role of Bud Grossman, a legendary manager. Abraham previously starred in Ethan Coen's off-Broadway show "Almost an Evening."StudioCanal is set to co-finance the Scott Rudin-produced pic, which will be made without a domestic distribution partner. Robert Graf ("True Grit") is exec producing and production is skedded for early next year in Gotham.Serrales, who trained at the Yale School of Drama and recently appeared on CBS' "The Good Wife," is repped by Don Buchwald & Associates. Abraham is repped by Innovative Artists and Untitled Entertainment. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Holiday Gift Guide for Fans & Fangirls

Don't allow the snarl within the above photo in the movie 'Hugo' confuse you: Mister Ben Kingsley is certainly not like this in tangible existence -- or, a minimum of nothing beats that throughout a 15-minute interview. When Moviefone spoke towards the Oscar-winning actor earlier this week, Kingsley was humble, forthright and excited to go over his new movie, along with the pleasure he got from dealing with Martin Scorsese. Obviously, this being Mister Ben, almost always there is likely to be something interesting to discuss: recent projects of his, significantly acclaimed roles he's had, even movies he has not experienced. From his focus on 'Hugo' and 'Gandhi,' to his passion of 'Close Encounters from the Third Kind,' to his cameo on 'The Sopranos,' Kingsley gave Moviefone a taste of what continues within the mind of the acting legend. To assist get ready for this interview, I returned and viewed a childhood favorite of mine last evening: 'Searching for Bobby Fischer.' Oh, I really like that movie. I recall that so clearly around the group of 'Bobby Fischer,' [author/director] Steven Zaillan handed me the script to 'Schindler's List.' It's funny, returning to 'Fischer,' you will find lots of commonalities between that film and 'Hugo' -- particularly, the connection between chess coach Bruce Pandolfini and legendary filmmaker Georges Melies, both patriarchal figures who've apparently lost their way. When it comes to Melies, have you find it hard to investigate the role without getting many tracks or interviews of his to take? What's available really are a box group of films of his that Martin Scorsese provided. I viewed about 90 of his films and saw, with my very own eyes, how energetic he was, how skilled he was, how brilliant at multitasking he was, how he broke a lot of limitations with film, how inventive he was and, most significantly, how happy he was. Which would be a tremendous answer to unleashing Georges, because when he's within the toy shop, all things have been removed from him, and to be able to measure how painful his exile was I needed to fully appreciate and revel in and inhabit how glorious his existence was when he was in the look of his fame and energy. So my research was greatly centered on the fun of his creative existence and particularly to possess a person's research ongoing in flesh and bloodstream, by re-creating individuals films within the glass studio and also the pleasure of this, after which, sadly, needing to burn everything with regard to our movie, Hugo. I have to admit that individuals moments, personally, to film were very distressing and oddly tragic and melancholy, because I had been burning beautiful items from your own film set ... I had been burning sketches, I had been burning weapons and suits of armor. It had been a really painful process following my happiness within the glass studio. And So I was physically informed by his pleasure, then losing that pleasure, after which obviously his exile within the toy shop. You will find nobody-on-one interviews of him but you will find amazing photographs of him within the toy shop searching absolutely forlorn, searching completely lost, not able to smile, almost dead behind your eyes, however, many sparkle remaining. In 'Hugo,' you will find several moments where Melies, directs their own films. Did Scorsese permit you to really direct some of individuals pursuits? Well, with Marty it certainly is a collaboration. Marty choreographed the fundamental outlines, however he permitted me to operate within that [and] improvise within that, and so i could choose people around the set and provide them direction, provide them with notes -- [Scorsese] taken everything together with his camera. The wonderful factor about Marty is anything you offer him, he'll use, he'll see, he'll include in the truly amazing massive of footage he will edit. Hardly any is wasted with Marty. He sees everything, and that is an excellent feeling to have an actor, to become around the film set and realize that anything you provide the camera, he will certainly view it. Jude Law's character describes seeing Melies' most well-known film, 'A Visit to the Moon,' and being amazed through the pictures. Can there be any film which has had that kind of impact on you? 'Close Encounters from the Third Kind' was an indelible experience for me personally initially when i first first viewed it. The visual resonance of this mountain and also the sketches and also the obsession of this shape. I recall the mail boxes smashing and rattling forward and backward. Spielberg using visual narrative, storytelling with lights -- and Melies was attached to that tradition. [He was] the daddy from it. Marty can also be a lot apart of this great tradition of telling tales with lights. This might be tough thinking about you are really in 'Hugo,' but I'm wondering in which you think the film may sit within the Scorsese pantheon, facing a few of the finest mob movies ever. Well, things i learned dealing with Martin Scorsese on 'Shutter Island' and 'Hugo,' and searching whatsoever his work, he's a maestro in study regarding male vulnerability. 'Raging Bull': vulnerable guy. 'Casino': vulnerable guy. 'Goodfellas': vulnerable guy. 'Hugo': study regarding a vulnerable guy saved with a child. I can tell a truly consistent thread and that i feel it'll fit in the actual center, easily, of his body of labor. Returning towards the film that set your movie career moving, 'Gandhi,' you had been 37 years of age whenever you performed that role, which wound up winning an Oscar. Do you appreciate everyday that point and question should you could've handled being thrust in the spotlight in an earlier age, say 27? The truth is, I [have been acting for] fifteen years within the theater. Also it provided an appreciation of epic future, because I [was] in lots of Shakespeare plays. It offered me a stamina, it provided an appreciation of carrying out a unique future with an historic landscape, because all Shakespeares plays are just like that. So that all I'm able to have to say is this, honestly without Shakespeare, my performance as Gandhi will not have happened. In 1982, getting just won an Oscar for the initial film role, was there a minute in which you considered to yourself, 'How can one top this?' Not necessarily [laughs]. I've been lucky enough to be nominated three extra occasions, and that i feel fortunate each time I energy towards the film set. It's all regulated an unexpected for me personally. It's all regulated challenging along with a surprise and it is beautiful. On the completely unrelated note, I had been always interested in your cameo in 'The Sopranos,' in which you play yourself. How did which come about? They simply requested me, it had been great. They'd this script that involved the gift suites or whatever they are known as. It simply happened: they rang my agent and stated, would your perception and provide us a couple of tips. And That I started work with Lauren Bacall! That's something I i never thought happens. She's an excellent person, I'd met her socially however it was wonderful dealing with her. Exactly what a giant. [Photo: Vital] The Very Best Movies of 2011 The Very Best Movies of 201150. 'Breaking Beginning཭. 'Transformers: Dark from the Moonཬ. 'The Tripཫ. 'Warriorཪ. 'Cave of Forgotten Dreamsཀྵ. 'The Iron Ladyཨ. 'We Purchased a Zooཧ. 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocolས. 'Horrible Bossesཥ. 'Contagionཤ. 'Winnie the Poohལ. 'Win Winཡ. 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyར. 'Hannaའ. 'Extremely Noisy and extremely Closeཟ. 'The Interruptersཞ. 'Crazy, Stupid, Loveཝ. 'The Guardཛྷ. 'Captain America: The Very First Avengerཛ. 'The Ides of Marchཚ. 'Beginnersཙ. 'Martha Marcy May Marlene''A Harmful Methodབྷ. 'The Adventures of Tintinབ. 'Bill Cunningham NYཕ. 'We Have to Discuss Kevinཔ. 'Young Adultན. 'My Week With Marilynདྷ. 'Margin Callད. 'X-Males: Top Classཐ. 'Attack the Blockཏ. 'Shameཎ. 'Super 8ཌྷ. 'Melancholiaཌ. 'The Muppetsཋ. 'Rise from the Planet from the Apesཊ. 'Tree of Existenceཉ. 'Rango཈. 'The Helpཇ. 'Moneyballཆ. ཮/50Ə. 'DriveƎ. 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattooƍ. 'Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows, Part IIƌ. 'Midnight in ParisƋ. 'BridesmaidsƊ. 'The DescendantsƉ. 'War Equineƈ. 'The ArtistƇ. 'Hugo' See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Broadway Producers Are Looking to America's Heartland for the Next Megahit

When the producers of "Newsies" announced its Broadway run, it wasn't the first time that fans of the cult-favorite 1992 film on which the stage musical is based had reason to get excited. The show premiered at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse in September, and it's one of several productions transferring to Broadway this season from regional theaters."Regional theaters offer a nurturing environment and an economical alternative that allows a really introspective look on the piece itself," says Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill's producing artistic director. "You want to put enough money into it that you can provide the production that the show deserves, but you don't want to overspend to the point where you may be killing the future of the project."Regional theater has always been a breeding ground for Broadway hits, especially in recent years, and this season shows such as "Chinglish" and "Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway" started outside NY. Even a producing behemoth like Disney Theatrical Productions, whose long-running Broadway hits include "The Lion King" and "Mary Poppins," chose to debut "Newsies" away from the glare of the spotlight."The problem with developing and opening cold in NY is the artists don't have a lot of room to breathe," says producer Ken Davenport, whose current Broadway shows are "Chinglish" and "Godspell." "They're under a lot of different economic constraints and time constraints that don't allow them to do their best work. So we put them in places where they can have a little more breathing room."Gettin' Out of Town The tradition of shows opening outside the city goes all the way back to musical theater's beginnings, when an out-of-town tryout would precede the move to Broadway. In recent years, shows such as "Wicked" and "The Addams Family" have used this model, but this path is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive, says Davenport, and leads audiences to make certain assumptions."The moment you're tagged as an out-of-town tryout and don't come right in, people go, 'Oh, they obviously have more work to do,' " Davenport explains. "Musicals are big things, and sometimes it takes them a long time to get where they need to go."Jeff Calhoun, director of the Paper Mill and Broadway productions of "Newsies," agrees that the regional environment is more conducive to creating new work. "The concentration is really on the work and nurturing the artist," says Calhoun, who also directed the regional and Broadway incarnations of "Bonnie & Clyde." "As we know, on Broadway that's not necessarily the case. It's more about putting a star into a vehicle, whether or not they're the best actor for the role."Part of what makes regional theaters nurturing is their long-term relationships with artists, says Michael Rosenberg, managing director of California's La Jolla Playhouse. La Jolla produced the world premiere of "Bonnie & Clyde," and a Broadway-bound revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar" is playing there now. The theater has created 18 works that have transferred to Broadway.Of course, not everything artists produce is going to be great, but letting them try new things is necessary to maintain the relationship. "If you're going to have big rewards, you have to take big risks," Rosenberg says. "And if you take big risks, sometimes you're going to fail in a really big way."Theaters like La Jolla have been tagged "launching pads" for potential Broadway shows, says Davenport, and in the Internet age, anyone can learn all about a production from the moment the curtain falls on opening night. But Rosenberg doesn't feel the pressure."Trying to guess what should be on Broadway is not what we do, especially when you look at how long it takes to develop these projects," he says, adding that "Bonnie & Clyde" played Florida's Asolo Repertory Theatre before moving to Broadway last month. "For some projects, Broadway is not the ultimate goal."Audience Response In fact, the producers of "Newsies" had many options other than Broadway, such as licensing the material to schools or taking it on tour, as Disney has done with shows like "Aladdin" and "High School Musical." What drove "Newsies" to the Great White Way was audience response."It was the reaction of the press and the patrons to 'Newsies' that gave [the producers] the confidence that it was ready to move into NY," says Hoebee.Davenport thinks the audience's response is the most important benefit of a regional run, as it gives information that's crucial to the show's development. An out-of-town audience won't always react to a show the same way a NY audience will, but regional audiences are sometimes a good barometer for how tourists will respond."Sixty-five percent of the Broadway audience is from out of town," Davenport points out. "Sometimes an out-of-town audience can give you a much better idea of what the tourist audience is going to say about your show."Creative Process Once a show is set for Broadway, there will often be cast and other creative changes before it transfers, as commercial producers will frequently seek a marketable star to draw ticket buyers rather than trusting the work itself.Jennifer Lim, now starring in "Chinglish," has been with the project from the beginning and knew she could lose her role at any time. "It's business," she says. "It would be a waste of my energy to take things personally that have nothing to do with me. If they had decided they wanted to cast a star in the role, I'm not a star. I'd rather focus on the things that I can do instead of all the things that I can't."Calhoun says there will be casting changes when "Newsies" comes to Broadway. Jeremy Jordan, who starred in the Paper Mill production, is currently playing Clyde Barrow in "Bonnie & Clyde" and might not be available for the Broadway run of "Newsies," but Calhoun can't confirm casting specifics."It's really just because it's in the best interest of the show," he says of casting changes. "My job is the same no matter who the actor is."As an actor, Lim says, one of the benefits of being with "Chinglish" for its entire development is that she became so familiar with the play, she was an asset to playwright David Henry Hwang and director Leigh Silverman as they worked to improve it. Davenport adds that when a show starts regionally, some of the smaller roles can be filled with local hires, giving them the opportunity to work with a Broadway-caliber creative team.Whether a production is going to a regional theater or to Broadway, says Calhoun, putting it up is the same: "There's nothing you do on Broadway that you didn't do in your high school. You care just as much about a regional show as you do a Broadway show, if not more. In the regional, you're trying to get it to NY."Producing a successful show takes more than careful planning, however. Sometimes the stars really do need to align."It's our version of a kid playing basketball in his driveway and thinking, 'Maybe I'll play for the Boston Celtics someday,' " says Davenport. "I don't think anyone does a show in this country without some dream of it ending up on Broadway." By Suzy Evans December 14, 2011 "Newsies" at Paper Mill Playhouse PHOTO CREDIT T. Charles Erickson When the producers of "Newsies" announced its Broadway run, it wasn't the first time that fans of the cult-favorite 1992 film on which the stage musical is based had reason to get excited. The show premiered at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse in September, and it's one of several productions transferring to Broadway this season from regional theaters."Regional theaters offer a nurturing environment and an economical alternative that allows a really introspective look on the piece itself," says Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill's producing artistic director. "You want to put enough money into it that you can provide the production that the show deserves, but you don't want to overspend to the point where you may be killing the future of the project."Regional theater has always been a breeding ground for Broadway hits, especially in recent years, and this season shows such as "Chinglish" and "Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway" started outside NY. Even a producing behemoth like Disney Theatrical Productions, whose long-running Broadway hits include "The Lion King" and "Mary Poppins," chose to debut "Newsies" away from the glare of the spotlight."The problem with developing and opening cold in NY is the artists don't have a lot of room to breathe," says producer Ken Davenport, whose current Broadway shows are "Chinglish" and "Godspell." "They're under a lot of different economic constraints and time constraints that don't allow them to do their best work. So we put them in places where they can have a little more breathing room."Gettin' Out of Town The tradition of shows opening outside the city goes all the way back to musical theater's beginnings, when an out-of-town tryout would precede the move to Broadway. In recent years, shows such as "Wicked" and "The Addams Family" have used this model, but this path is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive, says Davenport, and leads audiences to make certain assumptions."The moment you're tagged as an out-of-town tryout and don't come right in, people go, 'Oh, they obviously have more work to do,' " Davenport explains. "Musicals are big things, and sometimes it takes them a long time to get where they need to go."Jeff Calhoun, director of the Paper Mill and Broadway productions of "Newsies," agrees that the regional environment is more conducive to creating new work. "The concentration is really on the work and nurturing the artist," says Calhoun, who also directed the regional and Broadway incarnations of "Bonnie & Clyde." "As we know, on Broadway that's not necessarily the case. It's more about putting a star into a vehicle, whether or not they're the best actor for the role."Part of what makes regional theaters nurturing is their long-term relationships with artists, says Michael Rosenberg, managing director of California's La Jolla Playhouse. La Jolla produced the world premiere of "Bonnie & Clyde," and a Broadway-bound revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar" is playing there now. The theater has created 18 works that have transferred to Broadway.Of course, not everything artists produce is going to be great, but letting them try new things is necessary to maintain the relationship. "If you're going to have big rewards, you have to take big risks," Rosenberg says. "And if you take big risks, sometimes you're going to fail in a really big way."Theaters like La Jolla have been tagged "launching pads" for potential Broadway shows, says Davenport, and in the Internet age, anyone can learn all about a production from the moment the curtain falls on opening night. But Rosenberg doesn't feel the pressure."Trying to guess what should be on Broadway is not what we do, especially when you look at how long it takes to develop these projects," he says, adding that "Bonnie & Clyde" played Florida's Asolo Repertory Theatre before moving to Broadway last month. "For some projects, Broadway is not the ultimate goal."Audience Response In fact, the producers of "Newsies" had many options other than Broadway, such as licensing the material to schools or taking it on tour, as Disney has done with shows like "Aladdin" and "High School Musical." What drove "Newsies" to the Great White Way was audience response."It was the reaction of the press and the patrons to 'Newsies' that gave [the producers] the confidence that it was ready to move into NY," says Hoebee.Davenport thinks the audience's response is the most important benefit of a regional run, as it gives information that's crucial to the show's development. An out-of-town audience won't always react to a show the same way a NY audience will, but regional audiences are sometimes a good barometer for how tourists will respond."Sixty-five percent of the Broadway audience is from out of town," Davenport points out. "Sometimes an out-of-town audience can give you a much better idea of what the tourist audience is going to say about your show."Creative Process Once a show is set for Broadway, there will often be cast and other creative changes before it transfers, as commercial producers will frequently seek a marketable star to draw ticket buyers rather than trusting the work itself.Jennifer Lim, now starring in "Chinglish," has been with the project from the beginning and knew she could lose her role at any time. "It's business," she says. "It would be a waste of my energy to take things personally that have nothing to do with me. If they had decided they wanted to cast a star in the role, I'm not a star. I'd rather focus on the things that I can do instead of all the things that I can't."Calhoun says there will be casting changes when "Newsies" comes to Broadway. Jeremy Jordan, who starred in the Paper Mill production, is currently playing Clyde Barrow in "Bonnie & Clyde" and might not be available for the Broadway run of "Newsies," but Calhoun can't confirm casting specifics."It's really just because it's in the best interest of the show," he says of casting changes. "My job is the same no matter who the actor is."As an actor, Lim says, one of the benefits of being with "Chinglish" for its entire development is that she became so familiar with the play, she was an asset to playwright David Henry Hwang and director Leigh Silverman as they worked to improve it. Davenport adds that when a show starts regionally, some of the smaller roles can be filled with local hires, giving them the opportunity to work with a Broadway-caliber creative team.Whether a production is going to a regional theater or to Broadway, says Calhoun, putting it up is the same: "There's nothing you do on Broadway that you didn't do in your high school. You care just as much about a regional show as you do a Broadway show, if not more. In the regional, you're trying to get it to NY."Producing a successful show takes more than careful planning, however. Sometimes the stars really do need to align."It's our version of a kid playing basketball in his driveway and thinking, 'Maybe I'll play for the Boston Celtics someday,' " says Davenport. "I don't think anyone does a show in this country without some dream of it ending up on Broadway."

Prospect Park Sells Projects To Fox, USA Network & ABC Family With UCP Creating

Rob Kwatinetzs Prospect Park has offered 3 more series projects to USA, Fox and ABC Family. That can bring the whole volume of shows the business provides this year to 18. Prospect Parks’ latest projects, which have received scripted obligations, are produced by Universal Cable Prods., stretching the two companies’ existing relationship as co-producers of USA’s hit series Royal Pains. To complete the reunion, Prospect Park/UCP’ ABC Family project, a parent or gaurdian-daughter drama occur the Governor’s office, is executive produced by Royal Pains co-creator/professional producer Andrew Lenchewski which has a general deal with UCP. Prospect Park’s work with USA is certainly an untitled action procedural from John Scott Shepherd (Existence Or Something Like That Like This Appreciate It). At Fox, the business has Home Court, half-hour comedy from Frasier alum Saladin Patterson, who works like a co-executive producer on UCP’s dramedy for USA Psych. That is UCP’s fourth script purchase to Fox this season, along with Jason Tracey/Hypnotic’s Metropolitan, Zaken & Baxter/Hypnotic’s One Great Existence together with a blind script by Laurie Silverstein. Listed below are explanations of Prospect Park’s projects with UCP: Untitled John Scott Shepherd Author: John Scott Shepherd (CAA) Executive Producers: Rob Kwatinetz, Josh Craig One-hour action procedural that explores exactly what it means to become guy as gender roles are transformed at warp speed: When recently divorced, relaxed, stay-at-home father Carter Mann finds themselves and also the two teenage sons round the fringe of losing their property, hes expected to give within the yoga classes, Crocs, and carpool duty and return to his previous career just like a vice cop. But heres the twist: Carter wasnt just any cop he will be a legendary badass who still props up record for Perps Dangled out Home home windows by Their Ankles. His violent ways got him remanded to intensive therapy and anger management, resulting in that much much softer version of him, the only real version his sons have experienced. Now Carter must uncover the man between Dirty Harry and Yoga Boy while he reloads, hits the beat, dives in to the dating pool and struggles being the daddy, mentor, and role model his sons so anxiously need. Home Court Author: Saladin Patterson (CAA) Executive Producers: Rob Kwatinetz, Josh Craig, Make the most of Carliner Home Court can be a half-hour family comedy that explores what continues when the haves as well as the have-nots all live beneath the same roof. Afraid that hes destroying his over-fortunate children, wealthy professional basketball star and single father Darius Nix decides to move his kids into his sister Traceys modest house inside the multi-cultural working class community on lack of of town. Tracey and her husband will comically struggle to supply the kids an even more lower-to-earth upbringing, but to have the ability to accomplish this the kids will have to trade inside their platinum cards for public school meals, in addition to their housekeepers for household chores. Permit the battles begin. Lucy’s Bluff Author: Aaron Tracy (CAA) Executive Producers: Rob Kwatinetz, Paul Frank, Wealthy Frank, Andrew Lenchewski Lucys Bluff is really a one hour drama that follows a effective governor who falls ill and asks his estranged daughter to return home from college to independently run the problem and convince everyone that her father remains in charge.

TV Ratings: 'Fear Factor' Stages a Welcome Return, CBS Still on Top

Bloomberg/Getty Images On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee plans to mark up and vote on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), an important piece of legislation that's been fostering fervent debate in recent weeks. In advance of the markup, Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the committee, has made some tweaks in a so-called manager's amendment, aimed at building support by attempting to clarify the bill's main targets as foreign "rogue" websites, narrowing definitions of bad actors, limiting the private right of action that allow copyright and trademark owners to sue, and addressing concerns that anti-piracy measures could eventually denigrate the security and integrity of the Internet. The changes are in direct reaction to criticism that has transcended political parties, and the modifications were welcomed by the entertainment industry lobby and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. But the new version of SOPA still has not gone nearly far enough in narrowing its definitions and curtailing its service provider obligations to appease leading technology companies and other groups rallying against the bill. One of the main criticisms against SOPA is that it's de facto "censorship," requiring ISPs at times to prevent access to infringing sites by making efforts under order to block web browser requests for flagged domain names. The prospect of domain name system (DNS) blocking and filtering has alarmed some who believe it would be intrusive and undercut the secure structure of the Internet. Among the many changes in Rep. Smith's managers amendment is a "savings clause," which not only explicitly clarifies that SOPA is not meant to be a prior restraint on free speech, but also would remove a duty to monitor activity on a network and restrictcourts from making any order that would "impair the security or integrity" of DNS. On the other hand, service providers will still face obligations to cut off access to pirate sites. Under the new version, it will be measures determined to be "least burdensome, technically feasible, and reasonable means designed to prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States to the foreign infringing site that is subject to the order." The italics illustrate new language in the modified bill, clearly designed to convince the tech community that a weight is being lifted from their shoulders. The provision also removes a five day deadline from implementing such action upon a court order, but since the language is deemed vague by many, and application has yet to be seen, many critics believe that is still adds up to anxiety and liability for leading U.S.-based tech companies. Public Knowledge, one of the groups leading the charge against the bill, doesn't believe there has been much progress in the new SOPA. "The amendment continues to encourage DNS blocking and filtering,which should be concerning for internet security experts and human rights activists alike," saidSherwin Siy, deputy legal director of Public Knowledge. Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt also echoed that sentiment. The bill would "criminalize linking and the fundamental structure of the Internet itself," he said yesterday. That reaction brought strong rebuke from the MPAA, which has been attempting to steer legislation through the home stretch. "Schmidt's comment that the legislation 'criminalizes the intermediaries' is a new weapon in their arsenal of hyperbole," said Michael O'Leary, senior executive vp for global policy at the MPAA. "There is broad recognition that all companies in the Internet ecosystem have a serious responsibility to target criminal activity. This type of rhetoric only serves as a distraction and I hope it is not a delaying tactic." Insiders believe that the bill will inevitably pass the House Judiciary Committee before gathering some resistance among the broader Congressional caucus. In recent weeks, opposition to the bill has unified groups as diverse as the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, albeit it for different reasons. Some think it is government intrusion. Others see it as an inevitable impingement on free speech. Leading tech acolytes such as Twitter general counselAlex Macgillivray andWikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales are delivering a blow-by-blow account of the mounting concerns orproposing proteststo continue to raise awareness. Other critics see the inevitability of new anti-piracy legislation and have been rallying behind an alternative bill entitled the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN),sponsored by SOPA critics Sen. Ron Wyden and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa. That alternative bill would take a more modest copyright infringement approach by allowing rights-holders to file petitions against "rogue" foreign sites with the International Trade Commission, which would then be allowed to attack the financial backbone of these sites by drying up funds from credit card processing companies. Supporters of SOPAdoubt the remedy goes far enough to properly address piracy by enhancing obligations from service providers. The debate is likely to only get louder in the next week or so as Congress makes its moves before winter break. In advance, both sides are attempting to position themselves as being the sensible ones in the room by adopting the other side's language. The critics of SOPA say they want to address piracy -- but in a measured way. The supporters of SOPA love free speech -- but need to protect the vibrancy of art. At a speech this morning at the Center of American Progress, MPAA chairman Chris Dodd continued his call for Congress to act now. "I want to make it clear right at the outset that our fight against content theft is not a fight against technology," he said. "Attacking international content theft is not about restricting speech. Quite the opposite. Just as the Constitution defends an artist's right to create, copyright protections defend the artist's ability to do so." E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner MPAA Chris Dodd

FIRST BOX OFFICE: New Years Eve #1, Breaking Beginning #2, The Sitter Weak #3

FRIDAY 5 PM: I’m inside a hurry causeing this to be merely a quickie. Keep surprises away since Warner Bros’ New Years Eve was prone to unseat Summit’s Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Part 1 after three straight days at No. 1. Fox’s The Sitter is searching worse in comparison to decreased anticipation beginning this U . s . States weekend. Refined amounts and full analysis tonight: 1. New Years Eve (Warner Bros) NEW [3,505 Theaters] Friday $6.5M, Thought Weekend$19M 2.Breaking Beginning Part 1 (Summit) Week 4 [3,605 Theaters] Friday $3M, Thought Weekend $10M 3. TheSitter (Fox) NEW [2,750 Theaters] Friday $3.5M, Thought Weekend$9.5M 4. The Muppets (Disney) Week 3 [3,328 Theaters] Friday $2M, Thought Weekend $8M 5. Hugo (Vital) Week 3 [2,608 Theaters] Friday $1.8M, Thought Weekend $6.5M 6.Arthur Christmas (The brand new the new sony) Week 3 [3,272 Theaters] Friday $1.3M, Thought Weekend $5.5M 7. The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Week 4 [876 Theaters] Friday $1.2M, Thought Weekend $4.2M Niche Openings: Vital’s Youthful Adult is searching “a little soft” in 8 theaters, rival art galleries tell me, while Focus Features’European hitTinker Tailor Soldier Spy “looks excellent” in 4 runs.

Comedy Central Developing Jamie Denbo/Kerri Kenney-Silver Hybrid Comedy

EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central has acquired for development Rabbit Hole, half-hour scripted/improv hybrid comedy created/executive produced by Upright People Brigade veteran Jamie Denbo and Reno 911! alumna Kerri Kenney-Silver. Kenney-Silver is positioned to star inside the mockumentary-style comedy, a behind-the-moments think about the people and clients inside a low-rent legal brothel in Winnemucca, Nevada referred to as Dame Delilah’s Rabbit Hole Ranch. Kenney-Silver may have Dame Delilah, the madam of the house. That is Denbo’s second purchase this season she's also writing comedy I Lick My Cheese for CBS, CBS Art galleries and Ash Atalla’s Roughcut. CAA-repped Denbo is probably most broadly referred to as half from the Ronna and Beverly comedy team. This marks Gersh-repped Kenney-Silver’s return to Comedy Central where she carried out Deputy Trudy Wiegel on Reno 911!.

Movie Theater Twitter Seats Give You Permission to Bug the Hell Out of Everyone

Can you sit through a two-hour movie without looking at your cell phone? Of course not! You have to check your email or tweet about the movie you're seeing (side note: Please follow Moviefone on Twitter) or play Angry Birds. Thankfully, some cinemas have found a way for viewers to do this without getting kicked out. According to a USA Today article, "a growing number of theaters and performing groups across the country are setting aside 'tweet seats,' in-house seats for patrons to live-tweet during performances." What this means is that you're now allowed to bug the crap out of your neighbor at a movie without any negative repercussions. The reasoning behind this decision appears to be promotional -- more people tweeting about the event, during the event, will eventually translate into ticket sales. Of course, that thinking won't work for everyone. As Patricia O'Kelly, a Kennedy Center spokeswoman, said, "We make a pre-performance announcement asking patrons to turn off their ... cellphones in order to keep the light and sound from distracting other patrons." The one silver lining from this (unless, of course, you're part of the group that wants to tweet during a movie) is that these tweet seats will be located in the back row. But, wait a minute: if the tweeters are in the back row, they could be tweeting something negative about you without your knowledge. You can't allow that! You're going to have to take a stand. You have to express yourself. But, well ... doing that would contradict the feeling you have toward tweet seats. Maybe you should take to Twitter to see what other people think, then make a decision? [via A.V Club and USA Today] [Photo: AP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Touch Me Not' among Turin individuals who win

ROME -- TorinoFilmLab, the Italo co-production mart partly modelled round the Sundance Institute, features individuals who win of the fourth edition and granted a complete $691,000 in production gold gold coin to five projects. They are: "Touch Me Not," a preliminary feature by Romanian helmer Adina Pintilie. Drama about man's requirement of physical contact received the ARTE France Cinema Award because so many promising project at Rotterdam's CineMart 2011. "Undercover Scent," a preliminary work by Pengfei Song being setup just like a France/Taiwan/China co-push, produced by Tsai Ming-Liang. "Mr. Kaplan," Uruguayan auteur Alvaro Brechner's followup to well-received debut "Bad Day to go to Fishing." "Beirut, I Like You" a memoir by artist and blogger Zena el Khalil in the 2006 attacks on Lebanon. Pic continues to be developed since the feature debut of Italo documaker Gigi Roccati, being shot in Lebanon as well as the U.S., produced by Italy's Vivo Film. "Los Hongos," a pic about graffiti artists in Cali by Colombian helmer Oscar Ruiz Navia whose "Crab Trap" bowed in Toronto this past year and unspooled broadly round the fest circuit. The fourth edition in the progressively exclusive ultra-indie mart -- which happens through the Turin Film Festival -- ended Tuesday, getting situated some 120 participants. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Charlotte Church Says She Was 'Pressured' Into Waiving Fee for Singing At Rupert Murdoch's 1999 Wedding.

LONDON - Charlotte Church, the singer who was just thirteen when she sang Pie Jesu at Rupert Murdoch's 1999 wedding to Wendi Deng, told the Leveson Inquiry that she had been "pressured" into waiving her $165,000 fee in order to guarantee "good press" from News International in the future.our editor recommendsCNN's Piers Morgan to Be Called to Leveson Inquiry to Explain Comments on Phone HackingNew Shocking Details of 'News of the World' Hacking Operation Revealed At Leveson InquiryHugh Grant Accuses 'The Mail on Sunday' of Phone HackingCEO Rupert Murdoch Sells Block of Non-Voting News Corp. SharesAnother Investor Refuses to Support James Murdoch's Re-Election at BSkyB PHOTOS: News of the World's Top 10 Scandals Church, who gave evidence on oath at the Inquiry into press standards and behavior Monday, said she had been advised by her management and record company to sing for the media mogul for free because of Murdoch's power and influence. "I remember being told that [there would be] the offer of money or the offer of the favor, in order, basically, to get good press," she told the Inquiry, adding that she and her mother had been mystified as to why anyone would trade the offer of so much money for good press, she told the Inquiry. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas "I remember being 13 and thinking 'why would anyone take a favor over £100,000?' ...but I was being advised by my management and certain member of the record company that he was a very, very powerful man and could certainly do with a favor of this magnitude." In her witness statement Church had said "Despite my teenage business head screaming 'think how many Tamagotchis you could buy!' I was pressured into the latter option. But the strategy failed. In fact Mr Murdoch's newspaper's have since been some of the worst offenders, so much so that I have sometimes felt there has actually been a deliberate agenda." STORY: Daily Mail Accused of 'Intimidating' Hugh Grant After the Actor's Leveson Testimony News International has denied any suggestion that such an offer was made and said that the singer's appearance had been planned as a "surprise" for the News Corp CEO and his new bride. But Church told the Inquiry she had a different recollection and that the specifics of what she was to sing had been negotiated with Murdoch and that it was Murdoch who made the specific request for Pie Jesu. STORY: Steve Coogan Calls For Greater Rights of Privacy, Tells Leveson Inquiry: 'I Have Never Wanted to Be Famous' "When we raised the point that Pie Jesu was a requiem, it was a funeral song...he (Murdoch) didn't care. He liked that song and he wanted me to sing it, so I did." The singer told the Leveson Inquiry that child stars such as herself needed special protection because of their youth and said she wanted to be able to protect her family and children from further press intrusion. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Rise of Rupert Murdoch Related Topics Rupert Murdoch News Corp. News International

WE sets 'Mary Mary' for March

WE TV has greenlit an unscripted series referred to as "Mary Mary" in regards to the eponymous gospel group by getting an airdate searching for March 29. Series will air weekly on Thursdays for eight initial segs the web mentioned in the release Monday the skein was part of its method to achieve to the growing urban aud. Series is produced for your internet by eOne, with Tara Extended, John Morayniss, Eric Hoberman and Mitchell Solarek professional creating. The show follows Mary Mary brothers and sisters Erica and Tina Campbell simply because they tour the country marketing a completely new album and continue to balance work and family existence Erica's third child comes to February, as well as the brothers and sisters have a very large family including parents who had been divorced three occasions... from each other. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

TLC Pairs Track Of Competitive Irish Jig Ballroom dancers on New Series (Exclusive)

Getty Images It's like Riverdance meets Small children & Tiaras. TLC is once more tugging the curtain back on the community generally people know hardly any about. It's just purchased a brand new series concerning the competitive realm of Irish jig dancing using the working title, Irish Dancing Tweens.our editor recommendsAnalyst: Discovery Communications COO Departure No Cause of AlarmAll-American Muslim: TV ReviewTLC Nabs Intimate Susan Boyle Documentary Featuring Simon Cowell (Exclusive) VIDEO: TLC Will get 'D.U.I.': Driving Under The Influence Series Premieres in December "TLC is excited to talk about this subculture of dance with this audience," TLC's Gm Amy Winter informs The Hollywood Reporter. "Irish jig dancing is really a global phenomenon and also the series will disclose the planet behind the activity inside a compelling mixture of heart and competition." The network which has investigated very unique mobile phone industry's in Small children & Tiaras, Agree the gown, All-American Muslim, and Little People, Large World begins production around the new series now. It's purchased eight episodes set to air within the U.S. in Summer time 2012 after which worldwide later that year. The series, created by Sirens Media, features several dance schools and every episode zeroes in on individual ballroom dancers throughout rehearsals, preparation, travel, so that as they're going foot-to-foot throughout competitions. VIDEO: ཏ Kids and Counting' Mother Michelle Duggar Expecting 20th Child As I hear the Irish jig community is really a totally unique specialization within the dance world, the series offers quite a bit that is similar to other shows we have seen around the network. There is the stress of stiff competition, a strict focus on the truth from the dance discipline, unique costume needs, hrs of practice, and, obviously, very competitive moms and coaches. The network has additionally acquired the privileges to air the feature-length documentary, Jig. Directed by Sue Bourne, the film captures an thorough consider the discipline through the rivals in last year's Irish Dancing World Titles in Glasgow. TLC didn't disclose the environment date for that documentary. A clip for Jig can provide you with a concept of what we'll see around the new series, Irish Dancing Tweens. Watch it below. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro TLC

Fighting Fear

A Garage Entertainment relieve a TMG Media production in colaboration with KM MVMNT. (Worldwide sales: Odin's Eye Entertainment, Sydney.) Produced by Macario P Souza, Michael Lawrence, Sue Masters. Executive producers, Lawrence, Nicholas Prepare, John Mossop. Directed, edited by Macario P Souza. Put together by P Souza, Michael Lawrence, Sue Masters.With: Mark Mathews, Richie Vaculik, Kelly Slater, Lucia Perrotta, Mick Fanning, Bruce Irons, B.J. Penn, Mike Owens, Jarrod MacAskill, Joel Edgerton. Narrator: Joel Edgerton.Returning for the audiences and party animals he profiled while co-helming "Bra Boys" with Sunny Abberton, Aussie documaker Macario P Souza provides much more honest and technically polished results in "Fighting Fear." Dedicated to the long-term friendship between professional large-wave driver Mark Mathews and famous Ufc competitor Richie Vaculik, this raw study from the duo's professional levels and severe personal lows isn't likely to switch "Bra Boys" since the finest grossing non-Imax Aussie docu ever, but should perform strongly on its November. 10 domestic rollout. Abundance of quality extreme-sports footage will boost offshore ancillary prospects. Read in the conversational tone by Aussie thesp Joel Edgerton, the docu opens with past Maroubra, a Sydney beach-side suburb getting a powerful working-class tradition and where you can the Bra Boys, a surfing brotherhood feared in a few quarters and respected on other occasions. People of the fraternity and aged inside their late 20s, Mathews and Vaculik have introduced lives that could came directly from a gritty boxing drama. Both from broken houses, the two started palling around together as youthful boys and were attracted towards the "courageous round the waves and courageous around" Bra Boys credo. Mathews found instant fame and fortune by finding after which it riding massive breaks at Shipstern's Bluff in Tasmania, and following tabs on regular victories round the lucrative large-wave circuit. Vaculik created a desire to have mixed martial-arts fighting and quickly rose to world bantamweight title contender inside the UFC ranks. Within the peak from the careers, both get involved with ugly alcohol-fueled brawls and were lucky to leave without jail sentences. The amount for Mathews, compelling him to think about stock, will be a terrible wipeout that produced mental trauma he's since overcome to reclaim prominence inside the sport. For Vaculik, it absolutely was re-creating ties with Lucia Perrotta, the ex-g.f. who left him consequently of his hard-chilling out ways and whose testimony offers a welcome and informative femme perspective round the results of extreme male hooking up. Asked together after being shot for 3 tumultuous years, Mathews and Vaculik are enjoyable even if lots of their past behavior is not. Although not the categories to acquire deep and significant, both speak honestly with sincere regret for your damage triggered by dark sections inside their lives. Their correctly situated flashes of self-deprecating Aussie humor goes lower well with auds everywhere. Fleshed by helping cover their looks by surfing best, including 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, the docu finishes by having an upbeat realize that shows how Mathews and Vaculik have mislaid no lust-for-existence mojo, given that they learn how to harness it properly. Outstanding HD surf footage, you-are-there fight coverage and nicely staged and shot dramatic re-works of art are highlights from the easily come up with tech package. The Oz grunge and techno soundtrack rocks.Camera (color, HD, DV-to-HD), Tim Bonython, Chris Bryan, P Souza, Lee Kelly, Brook Silvester music, Two occasions as Nice music supervisor, Jamie Holt art director, Jett Butler appear (Dolby Digital), Tony Wall lead animator, Raphael La Motta line producers, Nicki Curler, Lawrence, Nicholas Prepare, P Souza, Mark Mathews connect producers, Sally Steele, Silvester. Examined at Hoyts Entertainment Quarter Cinema, Sydney, November. 3, 2011. Running time: 90 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Miss Venezuela Named Miss World

Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, Miss Venezuela Miss Venezuela was crowned the Miss World title. "I'm incredibly pleased with this moment, with this particular chance too for winning and i'm grateful with my existence," Ivian Sarcos, 22, told AFP. Have a look at really current day news Sarcos outshine 122 other women Sunday evening london to think about inside the reigning crown from Alexandria Mills from the united states . States. Gwendoline Ruais in the Philippines was named the runner-tabs on Amanda Perez of Puerto Ricko coming third. AFP also reported that some 50 protesters moved placards outdoors nonetheless "Objectification won't achieve world peace," and "Like a lady is not a contestInch - along with a couple of of the identical everybody was part of an anti-Miss World demonstration in 1970 when stink tanks were hurled on stage. Past participants include Halle Berry, who was simply a finalist, Aishwarya Rai, who won in 1994.

Top Court Deals Setback to Hollywood, Will not Hear Key 'Ghost Hunters' Situation

Alik Keplicz/Syfy The U.S. Top Court won't allow NBC Universal to appeal a choice that elevated accusations by two litigants the idea behind thehitSyfyreality showGhost Predators was stolen. In rejecting the studio's petition for any writ of certiorari, Hollywood won't get the opportunity to deal with an problem which has left galleries available to more legal cases for stealing scripts.our editor recommendsWhy NBCU Become a huge hit a 'Ghost Hunters' Suit towards the U.S. Top Court (Analysis) The situation isMontz v. Pilgrim Films & Television, initially filed in 2006byLarry Montz, a parapsychologist, andDaena Smoller, a publicist, who stated they created the thought of a show in regards to a team of paranormal researchers who get into haunted locations. The 2 people presented scripts and videos to NBCU executives between 1996 and 2003, coupled with their ideas declined, which motivated a suit declaring the studio had breached an implied agreement to pay for them if their material was later used. Initially, the suit was tossed out, however the accusations were elevated this year once the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals discovered that an implied commitment of partnership met the "extra element" required to transform a copyright claim right into a genuine contract breach claim. NBCU become a huge hit your decision using the full support from the MPAA along with other galleries, who contended that federal copyright law usurped condition contract law. Hollywood wished the high court would address this problem because galleries they are under frequent attack for ripping off ideas, and copyright claims are a smaller amount effective in the court than contract claims. The Top Court has made the decision against giving Hollywood that chance. Some lawyers are already predicting the development may cause great uncertainty within the entertainment industry. Other circuits, like the second and fourth, have refused litigants the chance of dressing idea thievery claims as implied breaches of contract, however, galleries must figure the worst situation scenario -- the ninth Circuit's considerations is going to be controlling. Dominique R.Shelton, an IP litigator at Edwards Wildman Palmer, thinks the Top Court's decision will open the doorway to more idea thievery legal cases and might change practices in how galleries take pitches from established veterans. "Despite the fact that a lot of companies don't take unrequested pitches for anxiety about lawsuit, companies can become much more reserved concerning the solicited pitches which are entertained," Shelton states."In the plaintiffs' perspective, willCaliforniaand other ninth Circuit venues get to be the areas of preference for filing idea thievery cases based on condition law?" E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner

YouTube Channels No Immediate Threat to Entertainment Companies: Analyst

NY -- YouTube's long-expected channels initiative, which the Google-owned video site finally unveiled late Friday, is no immediate threat to entertainment companies, but it could grab some advertising dollars traditionally focused on TV and position Google as a competitor over time, Barclays Capital analyst Anthony DiClemente said in a report on Tuesday.our editor recommendsHollywood Conglomerate Earnings Season: Ad Outlook, Digital Deals to Be in FocusYouTube Announces TV Initiative With 100 Niche Channels The report, entitled "Will YouTube's offering move the needle?," analyzed the planned launch of around 100 online video channels with such celebrities as Jay-Z, Madonna, Shaquille O'Neal, Amy Poehler, Sofia Vergara and Tony Hawk, designed to create a next-generation video hub. "While we do not believe this is an immediate threat to studios, content providers or distributors just yet, we do believe this is Google's first step toward providing a more robust platform for professionally produced independent content, and believe the move positions Google to act as a distributor in a bid toward capturing incremental ad dollars that are traditionally directed toward TV," DiClemente wrote. For media and entertainment companies, over time, "this creates an emerging threat in terms of engagement, ad dollars and distribution, an incremental bidder for original content and another vehicle for consumers to circumvent the traditional pay TV model," he warned. After all, online video advertising is the fastest-growing ad category online, and he projects it to grow 43 percent in 2011 to $2 billion. "We believe YouTube accounts for the lion's share of these ad dollars with $1.6 billion in 2011," the Barclays analyst estimated. "YouTube is uniquely positioned here as it is by far the most watched online video property with 161 million unique viewers in September." With its channel launches, Google "becomes a major player in independent short-form, professionally produced content, and sets itself up to be new media distribution platform and gain incremental ad dollars," DiClemente concluded. BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield had said in a blog post on Monday that the YouTube channels are the latest premium online video offer that will compete for consumers' attention just like Netflix and other online video providers. "We wonder if it will eventually end up being a negative for today's leading/established content creators," Greenfield said. "The average U.S. household is watching over eight hours of TV per day, and when you start to layer in a wide spectrum of content from the Web, especially older content, we believe traditional television and movie content, especially fresh/live content, will suffer." Related Topics YouTube

'Lost Land' wins at Jihlava doc fest

PRAGUE -- Low-tech demonstrated king with Czech auds in the 15th Jihlava Documentary Film Festival, where pre-digital filmmaking obtained large."Lost Land," a Belgian-Arabic doc by Pierre-Yves Vandeweerd on refugee strife in Western Sahara, won fest's primary prize Saturday within an off-beat ceremony that riffed on the Titanic theme."Documentaries show us the holes within the shell," fest topper Marek Hovorka had quipped in the Jihlava opening 5 days before, as fest filled the Czech fortress town with students, filmmakers and scouts from TV tv stations throughout Europe and also the U.S.Juror and filmmaker James Hong recognized "Lost Land," using its unique 8mm look, because of its artful method of an engaging problem.Leaders for example Canada's Steve Sanguedolce intrigued auds with hands-colored 16mm footage in "Blinding," concerning the subjectivity of vision, while Norway's Gunnar Hall Jensen added other-worldly 8mm footage to his study of spiritual mission, "Gunnar Goes God."Portugal's Marcelo Felix built his "Eden's Ark" on nitrate prints discovered in vaults.Georgia's study of economic collapse, "Bakhmaro" (Restaurant) by Salome Jashi won the Central-Eastern Europe prize while Martin Marecek's "Photo voltaic Eclipse," a glance at aid employees in Zambia, won for Czech doc and aud kudos. Austria's "Endeavor," produced from space shuttle footage by Johann Lurf, required experimental doc honors. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Robert P Niro Might Be The Comedian

A completely new drama from Sean PennAfter progressively joining together among whispers about company company directors and casting options, scathing drama The Comedian may ultimately start to see the light of day with Robert P Niro and Kristen Wiig inside the lead roles and Sean Penn behind the digital camera. The film remains discussed for more than a year, but little was stored in until mentions of Penn pointing and P Niro starring began to look the 2009 June.Now, P Niro will formally star becoming an angry comic who's searching revisit the fame loved playing a common TV character. The problem here's, he's real rage issues which is sentenced to community service after striking an irritating audience member inside the mind getting a microphone. However he meets a girl (Wiig) who brings some happiness into his existence.It might seem as being a thematic sister to P Niro's King Of Comedy (although a smaller amount strange and stalkery) which is good to find out Penn back pointing. Art Linson, which has labored just like a producer with all of them, is behind the script, they co-written with Jeffrey Ross.Penn is striving to start shooting in the year.

Madonna Burglar Sent To Psychiatric Hospital

First Published: October 25, 2011 10:34 AM EDT Credit: Getty Premium LONDON, U.K. -- Caption Madonna is seen at the W.E. press conference during the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival held at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto on September 12, 2011A judge has ordered a stalker who twice broke into Madonnas homes to indefinite detention in a psychiatric hospital. Grzegorz Matlok was charged with burglary in March after breaking into the singers London mansion while she was in the United States. Prosecutors said the 30-year-old had previously been deported to Poland after breaking into Madonnas rural home in southern England, but returned to Britain. When arrested, he told police Madonna had given him permission to stay at her house. In a victim impact statement, Madonna said she did not know Matlok and felt alarmed and distressed by the actions of the defendant. Judge Deborah Taylor sentenced Matlok Monday at Londons Southwark Crown Court to hospital treatment, and barred him from contacting Madonna. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Simpsons' Cast Blinks in Salary Showdown With Fox

By Alex Ben Block and Kim Masters October 7, 2011 It's high noon for "The Simpsons" also it seems the voice cast has blinked.The audience of lead stars is near to saying yes to an alternative deal to help keep TV's longest running entertainment show around the air, based on a resource. Which includes Serta Castellaneta (Homer, Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, yet others), Julie Kavner (Marge yet others), Nancy Cartwright (Bart yet others), Yeardley Cruz (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu), and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and Ned Flanders, amongst others). As the cast is able to accept a pay cut in the $400,000 per episode they've been making since 2008, the origin stated that's less deep because the 45% decrease in salary that Fox has required, which may have meant they get about $250,000 a chapter. The show's top producers, based on reviews, have previously agreed to lower their current compensation, however the large difference in the cast is the fact that a number of them have "back finish" deals that outlay cash additional amounts according to profits all the revenue sources associated with the show for example certification, retailing and distribution of reruns to local Tv producers. The cast is not compensated a cut from the back finish profits, and isn't likely to have any within this new contract. Harry Shearer released an argument early Friday saying he'd have a cut of around 70% in salary when the network provided a share of back finish profits, but his statement adds that Fox has continued to be steadfast in the refusal to do this. Clearly the cast wants the show to carry on. It is not a significant work load (many of them do other jobs too), and contains been an excellent professional phone card for that 23 years the show continues to be around the air. On Friday, Nancy Cartwright stated inside a statement about her need to begin to see the show continue: "Absolutely! "The Simpsons is really a amazing chronicle in our occasions. I have wanted to get this done since i have was 16! And I wish to carry on doing it until I'm 86! Lengthy live the Simpsons!"This is actually the latest inside a lengthy good reputation for salary squabbles between your network and also the voice cast. The series continued in 1989, using the cast making about $30,000 per episode,and also the first large fight happened in 1998 when Fox threatened to exchange the cast. There have been other tough discussions in 2004 and 2008, once the stars woke up for their current salary.The main difference now would be that the show's rankings have ongoing to erode, together with individuals on most primetime shows. Even though it is still tugging enough audiences to should stick to the environment, the studio demands the deficit to create the animated shows has risen to some extent where it's unacceptable for them. That's why Fox has threatened to finish the show when they can't create a deal.Obviously Fox may also re-cast the voice stars with talent in a lower salary, but that will bring them lots of bad pr.What we should can say for certain would be that the Friday noon deadline set through the studio has passed nor Fox or even the stars says anything. The stars as well as their reps were inside a lengthy business call Friday morning however the response to what it really every means remains "D'oh?" The Hollywood Reporter

Oscar Index: Extremely Artist and Incredibly Horse

It’s week three of the 2011-12 Oscar Index, and the latest measurements, readings and conclusions are in from Movieline’s Institute for the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics. And aside from a few startling exceptions, they don’t look that different than the ones disseminated here last week. But make no mistake: Like it or not, stuff is happening! Read on for the latest developments. [Click the graphs for full-size images.] The Leading 10: 1. War Horse 2. The Artist 3. The Descendants 4. Moneyball 5. The Ides of March 6. J. Edgar 7. The Help 8. Midnight in Paris 9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 10. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Outsiders: The Tree of Life, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Iron Lady So last week, I finished up Oscar Index and then walked up to my local watering hole, where I proceeded, as usual, to ruthlessly drown the floating heads and other nightmarish visions that invade my consciousness in the feature’s immediate aftermath. And one of my friends, a pretty serious cinephile, says, “Yeah, I saw Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” “Say whaaaa?”, I said. “I saw Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” this friend repeated, explaining having attended a test screening here in NY over the preceding weekend. Pretty much everything this friend proceeded to tell me wound up corroborating another report from the same screening: Specifically, that Stephen Daldry’s adaptation of the Jonathan Safran Foer bestseller about a newly fatherless boy’s post-9/11 experience is really sad and affecting and looooong and contains Oscar-caliber work from Sandra Bullock and Max von Sydow. “Von Sydow?”, I said. “Say whaaaa?” More on the actors in a bit, but the bottom line is that with a few judicious trims, early word from actual viewers and our first glimpse at the film’s trailer suggests that Extremely Loud will supply the spirited emo boost Paramount is looking for in this year’s Oscar race. Which only affirms the suspicions of many Oscar-watchers who’ve long presumed the Scott Rudin production was the snake in the shimmering gold awards-season grass. Some sniffed at the trailer in particular as persuasive but inconclusive evidence of Oscar-worthiness, but come on. One look at the new War Horse trailer proves that if studio marketing drips like Oscar bait and smells like Oscar bait, then it’s Oscar bait. And with the Rudin/Daldry/Tom Hanks trinity at its core (to say nothing of Bullock and von Sydow and young X-factor Thomas Horn), you won’t likely go broke betting on it to at least make the Best Picture cut. Nevertheless, don’t think that anything yet comes close to matching War Horse’s profile. Surprisingly or not (mostly not), the nearest may now be The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius’s silent, audience-pleasing tribute to vintage Hollywood. As foreseen last week, master awards-pizzaiolo Harvey Weinstein is crafting one of his finest pies to date, with zesty punditry from Sasha Stone and Nathaniel Rogers among others boosting the Oscar flavor. Moreover, check out Harvey’s toppings at the moment, including the mogul’s own exhorting of Ides of March — which is shaping up for a middling critical and commercial response this weekend — as the film to beat in this year’s race. Genius! Nothing like foisting high expectations on a movie that won’t deliver them. That’s not to say that Harvey didn’t like it! But it’s a delicious insight into what he thinks his real competition is, at least in this early stage. Moneyball, meanwhile, could use that kind of seasoning: Last week’s reported Academy goodwill has deteriorated into guys like Scott Feinberg presenting this kind of statistic as encouraging news: “Moneyball, which opened at #2 at the box-office last weekend with nearly $20 million in sales, earned 43% less this Friday than it did last Friday, only a 3% worse drop-off than the one experienced by The Social Network last year.” Uh, what? Then there are the doubts as to whether or not the Academy will really go for a baseball movie, or the proposal that it could advance on the strength of guild-awards recognition, and it all just seems kind of… bleak. Unlike its subject, Moneyball will need more than hard numbers to get by the competition this fall. It needs longevity, visibility and some considerable luck. Maybe it can start with Harvey Weinstein not suggesting it will go all the way. The Leading 5: 1. Steven Spielberg, War Horse 2. Alexander Payne, The Descendants 3. Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist 4. Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar 5. Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Outsiders: David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; George Clooney, The Ides of March; Bennett Miller, Moneyball; Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris; Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Tate Taylor, The Help; David Cronenberg, A Dangerous Method On the basis of their films’ Index boosts alone, Hazanavicius and Daldry were the week’s big directing beneficiaries, while Clooney is like, “Harvey, for Christ’s sake, stop it, already.” Relax, George! You’ve still got The Descendants, for which Payne remains a consistent darling in this category and for which you are a front runner for acting. Don’t get greedy!

China woos Hollywood

The proposed Hollywood Movie World would feature a CityWalk-style complex of shops and entertainment. An artist's rendering of the proposed Hollywood Movie World in China. Looking to capitalize on the growing number of production banners Hollywood is setting up in China, a consortium of investors is ponying up $3.3 billion to back the first phase of a studio lot, theme park and CityWalk-style entertainment complex outside Beijing.The venture, branded Hollywood Movie World East, is skedded to be completed by 2015. The studio will include soundstages, post-production and animation facilities to handle films and TV shows once completed.Backing the development is the government-run China Culture Industry Investment Fund, along with production shingle CC2 Media, which owns an undisclosed piece of Hollywood Movie Works, formed to manage the entertainment complex. Despite the name, no studios have yet to sign on to back the project or add movie-themed attractions to the planned theme park, reps told Variety. Many remain cautious after having quickly signed on to license their names in support of several high-profile entertainment complexes in the Middle East, many of which ended up never being built.That's largely because developers -- led by a group of American expats who set up shop in China to consult for companies seeking a way into the country -- have only just begun to reach out to the majors for deals, as well as global brands to sponsor key elements like hotels and other planned destinations.So far, Legendary Entertainment, Relativity Media, DreamWorks Animation, 20th Century Fox, Sony and Warner Bros. have been the most active in China.What might help attract entertainment partners is that Gary Goddard's North Hollywood-based Goddard Group is handling the design of the various phases.Goddard's firm designed several high-profile projects for Universal Studios, including its "Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man" and "Jurassic Park" rides, and "Terminator 2/3D: Battle Across Time" attraction, as well as the conceptual development of Six Flags' Dubailand and Six Flags Qatar. It also created the "Star Trek: The Experience" for the Las Vegas Hilton, Sanrio's "Hello Kitty"-based Puroland park in Japan, and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. "The purpose of the project is to provide an official headquarters for the global film industry in China," said Ong Hong Hoon, president of the New China Culture Industry Investment Fund, formed in 2005.For now, Hollywood Movie Works will finance and produce pics through CC2 Media and Hong Kong-based film shingle Sil-Metropole. Productions will include English-language films with Chinese themes, but appeal to worldwide audiences, the companies said.CC2 Media is a subsid of ChinaClicks2 Group, a consulting firm run by co-chairman Susan Pattis, a former Edelman PR rep in China, who now aids brands operating in China. She also worked on Beijing's Summer Olympics campaign. Pattis also serves as co-chairman of HMW, with John Robison, a Beverly Hills-based venture capitalist. Sil-Metropole is managed by China's State Administration of Radio, Film and TV, enabling it to partner on co-productions with foreign studios seeking distribution in the country.The entire Hollywood Movie World is being developed as eight phases to be built over 10 years, at a cost of as much as $30 billion, with others to include the theme park, hotels and retail, offices, residential housing, sports facilities and a film school, according to HMWE's reps.The 6.5-sq.-mile venture is situated in the Mentougou district, a mountainous tourist destination about 16 miles from downtown Beijing that's connected by high-speed rail.The complex will face some stiff competition, however. China boasts some 3,000 theme parks all over the country, which have sprouted thanks to stimulus money from the government to encourage consumer spending. Many have struggled to turn a profit.But the Chinese government sees films as an advantage to bring business to Mentougou."I am delighted to see real progress take place between China and filmmakers from the west," said Toni Leonte, chairman of New China Culture Industry Investment Fund. "China is investing exponentially more capital in its number of physical screens and expecting more films to break through the $100 million mark at the box office. "For years we have been working with our partners in China to identify the very best place in China to locate this grand vision. Nothing like this can occur without government support and access to the entirety of the resources that Beijing and Mentougou can favorably provide." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

No Rest for the Wicked (No habra paz para los malvados)

A Warner Bros. release of a LaZona Films, Telecinco Cinema, Manto Films production in association with AXN, Canal Plus. (International sales: Filmax Intl., Barcelona.) Produced by Gonzalo Salazar-Simpson, Alvaro Augustin. Executive producer, Javier Ugarte. Directed by Enrique Urbizu. Screenplay, Urbizu, Michel Gaztambide.With: Jose Coronado, Helena Miquel, Rodolfo Sancho, Juanjo Artero, Pedro Maria Sanchez, Karim El-Kerem, Nasser Saleh, Nadia Casado, Younes Bachir.Film noir and contempo Spain make a near-perfect match in the explosive "No Rest for the Wicked," the kind of movie that gives dramas about bad cops a good name. Featuring a grippingly visceral central perf by Jose Coronado as a policeman who makes a big mistake at the outset and spends the remainder of the film paying for it, pic is credible, fast-moving, hard-nosed fare, confirming helmer Enrique Urbizu's reputation as one of Spain's sharper genre helmers. Spanish crix and auds have warmed to "Wicked," with offshore play a possibility for fans of upscale thrillers. Santos Trinidad (Coronado) is a grizzled cop who, with his cowboy boots and gunslinger swagger, is living out a desperado fantasy. An alcoholic with a troubled past, he wanders into a bar and, after a brief argument, shoots three people dead. A fourth (Karim El-Kerem), however, escapes. In a few beautifully compact scenes, Trinidad expertly covers his tracks and goes in search of the witness. Inspector Chacon (Helena Miquel), aided by Leiva (Juanjo Artero), is assigned to the case, and thereafter the pic shuttles between their pursuit of Trinidad and Trinidad's pursuit of the Colombian witness. Trinidad realizes the escapee is involved in drug trafficking and, with the help of nightclub dancer Celia (Nadia Casado), he succeeds in tracking down police informant Rachid (Younes Bachir) at about the same time Chacon does. It becomes clear the game doesn't stop with trafficking: The Colombian mafia and North African terrorists are in cahoots. Urbizu's work has always had a subversive edge, but this time he pulls out all the stops, as "No Rest for the Wicked" doubles as an excoriating examination of police incompetence in the lead-up to the Madrid 2004 bombings. The satisfyingly tricky plot does become a bit turgid in the second act, overloaded by a surfeit of minor characters; everything surplus to the action has been whittled away, meaning that most of the supporting roles remain on the wrong side of stereotype, including Santos' young sidekick Rodolfo (Rodolfo Sancho) and the incorruptible cops played by Chacon and Leiva. Only Urbizu stalwart Coronado is permitted a full character, but what a remarkable character he is -- psychopathic and obnoxious to the core, a man nobody loves, by his own admission, but who doesn't seem to care. Consuming rum and smoking to the extent that one fears for the thesp's own health, Coronado nonetheless manages to evoke some real sympathy for Trinidad's plight as he desperately sets about wiping away the traces of a murder whose reasons he himself doesn't entirely understand. (The character's moniker, a pun on "Holy Trinity," reps one of the pic's less subtle ironies.) Whether excruciatingly sewing up a knife wound in his stomach or oddly muttering "rock 'n' roll" in English, Coronado is gripping. Pic loves its noir iconography, never passing up the chance to exploit a shadow or shoot a scene through a half-empty glass. Locations are recognizably Madrid in the aughts, with shopping malls, wasteland outskirts and dingy nightclubs all reinvented by lenser Unax Mendia as noir locations. Amid all the tumult, pic finds time for moments of bleak humor and even lyricism; following a bloody knife fight, a disturbed butterfly is seen fluttering away.Camera (color, widescreen), Unax Mendia; editor, Pablo Blanco; music, Mario de Benito; art director, Anton Laguna; costume designer, Patricia Monne; sound (Dolby Digital), Licio Marcos de Oliveira, Nacho Royo-Villanova; casting, Tonucha Vidal, Andres Cuenca. Reviewed at San Sebastian Film Festival (competing), Sept. 19, 2011. Running time: 118 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch Transformers 3 Dark Of The Moon 2010

When Is Kristen Stewart Totally Team Jacob?

First Published: October 3, 2011 4:23 PM EDT Credit: Glamour LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Kristen Stewart in Glamour magazines November 2011 issueKristin Stewart is totally Team Jacob when it comes to watching The Twilight Saga films. Its fun to watch with [Taylor Lautner] because we actually sit and watch it, the actress told Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer, who interviewed her for the November issue of Glamour magazine. Me and Taylor are actual Twilight fans, so we can sit there and be totally into it! Whereas I sit there with Rob [Pattinson]he likes it, but he has just such a different energy, she added. Stephenie admitted Taylor is a bit of a prankster, however. Oh, Rob and Taylor have completely different energy! Watching it with Taylor, you feel afraid that youll get ice down the back of your neck or a grape in your face, she said. In the feature, which hits newsstands on October 11, Kristen also offered advice on how to have a good relationship. Hmmgood relationship advice for me tends to be being honest and knowing yourself. Dont be an a**hole. Thats my advice. Dont be mean. Dont take s***. Dont settle, she added. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Hangover 2 Watch Online

Toronto 2011: ATO Pictures Takes North American Rights to 'The Oranges'

Amid a flurry of last minute deal-making at the Toronto International Film Festival, NY-based ATO Pictures acquired North American rights to Julian Farino's The Oranges and is planning a platform release in 2012.Related Topics•Toronto International Fil... Written by Ian Helfer and Jay Reiss, the movie, which had its world release in Toronto, stars Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener as a couple whose comfortable life is upset when their prodigal daughter, played by Leighton Meester, returns home for Thanksgiving. The cast also includes Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Alia Shawkat and Adam Brody. The film was produced by Olympus Pictures' Leslie Urdang and Dean Vanech and Likely Story's Anthony Bregman. "We love this film! Julian has done a terrific job directing a dream cast in what we think is going to be one of the biggest crowd pleasers of 2012," ATO co-founders Johnathan Dorfman and Temple Fennell said. Sarah Lash, ATO's head of acquisitions negotiated the deal with CAA, who brokered it on behalf of Olympus, Likely Story and Reiss. Related Topics Toronto International Film Festival International

Watch X-Men: First Class The Movie

Breaking Bad Sneak Peek: Where's Walt?

Bryan Cranston Where did Walt walk off to?Walt (Bryan Cranston) made it out of Jesse's house after their comically brutal fight last week, but he's MIA on Sunday's Breaking Bad (10/9c, AMC) on a rather important day - Jr.'s 16th birthday.Fall TV: Get the lowdown on this season's must-see new shows"Walt, if you're there, please pick up," Skyler (Anna Gunn) says, leaving a message on his answering machine - which is next to bloody tissues and his broken glasses. "OK, well, I really wanted to do this together, but I can hear him getting up and it's not like I can keep him from seeing the thing, so I'm gonna have to go ahead without you.""The thing" is a car that Skyler finally agreed to buy for Jr. (RJ Mitte), and let's just say it's not the Dodge Charger Walt got for him and returned a few weeks ago.Watch the clip:

Watch Harry Potter 7

Can You Guess James Earl Jones' Favorite 'Star Wars' Character? (Hint: Not Darth Vader)

You'd think the voice behind the galaxy's worst dad would be a little biased when it comes to playing favorites in 'Star Wars.' When Moviefone caught up with James Earl Jones to hear his thoughts on the upcoming 'Star Wars: The Complete Saga' Blu-ray release, however, the acclaimed actor revealed that Darth Vader wasn't Darth Vader's favorite character. "Chewbacca is my favorite," Jones said by phone to great nods of approval in Moviefone HQ. Read on to find out why Jones thinks Darth Vader has remained such a powerful presence during the last four decades, how his Governors Award acceptance speech is coming along, and what it's like having 'Dr. Strangelove' as his first starring role. Why do you think the voice of Darth Vader has remained so powerful over the course of 30 years? Well, a hidden voice, a hidden face creates a lot of mystery. It leaves everything up to the audience's imagination. I had an unusual experience not too long ago. There was a lady from Finland, a doctor, who had a theater in Washington, D.C. where she put masks on young, impaired children. And there was a narrator, so all the kids had to do was come out and face each other, make certain gestures, and these faces were the only things you would look at. You weren't bothered by their impairment, so it freed your imagination as to who's talking behind that mask. The same thing happens with Darth Vader. Besides it being scary, perhaps, you're also freed from having to be impressed by what he looks like. Your imagination can go wild. So is Darth Vader your favorite 'Star Wars' character? Chewbacca is my favorite. What a great choice! My co-workers are all nodding their heads in approval. [Laughs] Oh, really? So are you excited or nervous for your Governors Award at this year's Oscars? My wife and I have not stopped cheering with joy yet, so we haven't really had the chance to be nervous. And I also say that the award goes to the whole village because they've done as much for it as I have. I think you're selling yourself a bit short there. Well I'm very proud of it. How's the acceptance speech coming along? Oh, I hope to say very little. [laughs] Alright, one more question. What's it like having 'Dr. Strangelove' as your big-screen debut? Well I think what made it a cult hit was the universities, young people on college campuses, because the military didn't like that movie. It was too much of a put-down and the population was very pro-military then, so nobody said, "Oh, that's my favorite movie." But the young kids did and this was before counter-culture, too. When your humor has to come out of a dignified officer shooting a Coke machine, I was like, "Come on, are we back in 'Animal House?'" I didn't know whether I wanted to take that seriously or not, but that's a kind of humor that [screenwriter] Terry Southern was into back then. I worked with him on something else later, but I wasn't really sure if I recommended that as a level of sense of humor. But it wasn't a sense of humor, I guess, it was something else -- a sense of irony, a sense of cynicism, and all that we needed to replace the worship of war. And we still need it, I guess. So who's the better 'Star Wars' character: Vader or Chewie? Photo courtesy of Steve Granitz/WireImage.com.

Watch X-Men: First Class Megavideo

9 Fun Facts About ABC's Revenge and 3 Upcoming Sitcoms

Emily VanCamp, Tim Allen, Jane Levy Suburgatory's Jane Levy has an awesome life, Man Up! is not the Chris Moynihan show and that isn't all of Emily VanCamp's real body on the hot Revenge promo all over the country.That's just a sampling of the fun facts the casts and creative minds of Revenge, Suburgatory, Man Up! and Last Man Standing offered at Saturday's Paley Center fall TV preview, which was moderated by TV Guide Magazine's Michael Schneider. A few more:Check out the must-watch new fall shows9. "Talk about how awesome your life is": That's exactly what Suburgatory's Jeremy Sisto said to his co-star Jane Levy, who only had one bit part on Shameless before being cast as the lead in ABC's new comedy. "It's just what I've always wanted to do and I just feel really lucky and I'm having a lot of fun and I'm working really hard," Levy said. "I get to hang out with [Sisto] all day, so it's cool."8. "Tim who?" Nancy Travis joked of her Last Man Standing co-star Tim Allen. "I've always admired him and wanted to work with him one day," Travis said of signing on to the ABC comedy. "The script was right, there was him, Hector [Elizondo]; it just all came together in a terrific way."7. "That was a Brothers & Sisters photo that was superimposed," Revenge star VanCamp says of the sexy promo shot of her in a black dress that ends in thorns. "I couldn't figure out that picture. The body is me because I recognized my hands because my hands do a weird thing, but then it was a superimposed head and I was like, 'My boobs aren't that big.' I was like, 'What is this?'"6. "I've always been the best buddy," Man Up! creator and star Chris Moynihan said of not writing himself as the lead of the ABC comedy. "I know I'm not going to write the show like, 'Hey, this is the Chris Moynihan show and I'm the center of it!' I also don't want to carry a show. When you put someone in the center, there's a lot on your shoulders so I always write myself way off to the right."Along with Suburgatory's Jane Levy, check out the fall TV stars to watch5. "I'm always the A-hole," Levy said of working with a plethora of comedians on Subrgatory, including Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines, Jay Mohr and Saturday Night Live alums Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell. "While they're trying to act towards me, I've ruined shots because my shoulders are shaking, and it's not just one take, it's like seven in a row that they make me laugh so hard, so I feel like such an amateur."4. "She's always played the girl next door," Revenge creator Mike Kelley said, recalling Emily VanCamp's past roles on Brothers & Sisters and Everwood. She now plays the anti-heroine of ABC's modern-day take on The Count of Monte Cristo, seeking revenge on the rich sycophants who destroyed her father's life.3. "When it works, it fits like an old slipper," Last Man Standing's Travis said of shooting a multicamera comedy, a rarity on television these days. The flexible hours offer more free time, she said, which is great for her co-star, Elizondo. "You rehearse your scenes, you go home, you have a cappuccino, you come back and we do a run through, it's the best life ever!" she taunted him.Man Up! and Last Man Standing are perfect examples of the emasculation of men on TV2. "My wife wants to start having a family, so I gotta man up," Man Up's Dan Fogler explained on why he settled down on a series. Stepping up is about the only similarity Fogler has to his character, especially since "I'm kissing a new girl every week, hello!"1. "It's a great soap opera," Kelley said of Revenge, not shying away from the stigma of the genre in a prime-time series. "I think it's missing on the landscape right now. We're in a different time in our culture, but we love to see people eat it. It's a soap opera with a lot of heart and a lot of stakes."Revenge premieres Wednesday, Sept 21 at 10/9c, Suburgatory debuts Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 8:30/7:30c, Last Man Standing bows Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 8/7c, followed a week later by the premiere of Man Up! on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 8:30/7:30c.

The Exchange ((Hahithalfut))

A This summer August Prods., The planet pandora Film production, in cooperation with ZDF/Arte. (Worldwide sales: the Match Factory, Perfume, Germany.) Created by Eilon Ratzkovsky, Karl Baumgartner, Raimond Goebel, Yossi Uzrad, Guy Jacoel. Directed, compiled by Eran Kolirin.With: Rotem Keinan, Sharon Tal, Dov Navon, Shirili Deshe. (Hebrew dialogue)Usually once the protag suddenly returns home, this means he'll uncover his wife in mattress with another person. In "The Exchange," his wife's alone, and thus, ultimately, is he. Eran Kolirin's follow-as much as "The Band's Visit" is really a different affair, an unhurried take a look at what goes on whenever a small alternation in routine all of a sudden helps make the world seem like a brand new and strange place. The idea is clever, however the execution is really measured regarding become soporific. Mixed boos and applause in the Venice press screening signal uncertain prospects, and definitely not the prosperity of Kolirin's previous charmer. Ph.D candidate Oded (Rotem Keinan) shows physics and it has a wonderfully normal existence together with his just-graduated architect wife Tami (Sharon Tal). Clips of his day reveal his usual schedule, constant and unremarkable. When he leaves something in your own home he calls Tami, who's planning a work for the interview, but she does not respond so he returns for their apartment. Inside he finds Tami's fallen asleep, but more striking to him is when various and calm the area looks within the unfamiliar mid-day light. All of a sudden his eyes are available to the particulars throughout him because he finds out that unpredicted things in existence become invisible unless of course they are positively searched for out. Dads and moms such as the following he breaks his routine, taking his usual bus to another destination, moving away from the elevator in a different floor, subjecting themself inside a mirror. His neighbor Yoav (Dov Navon) recognizes a kindred spirit, and shortly the 2 do things together like shout in an empty apartment. Oded can also be moving from Tami, with apparently little regret on each side. This insufficient emotion is exactly what stops "The Exchange" cold. Oded isn't a genuine person, only a wide-eyed automaton who looks much more catatonic after he begins realizing things, such as the mildew inside a corner, than he did before. He and Yoav are amusingly peculiar, but cool is not enough to create figures two-dimensional, not to mention three. Because the two males encourage one another into mild outrageousness, they lose all connection not basically towards the quotidian but additionally to the emotional core. As a result the deadpan is no more funny and also the lesson learned isn't any more profound than "Stop and take a break.Inch Kolirin has mentioned the idea for "The Exchange" came after numerous nights abroad going with "The Band's Visit," whenever a go back to daily existence forced him to consider a brand new gaze. The premise of challenging a person's habits is intriguing, but such detachment, with no hint of something underneath, generally is a one-way ticket to tedium. A preternatural calm is available around even side figures, and Keinan's progressively blank stare manages to lose its initial amusement. Everything here's restrained, in the calm, assured lensing towards the without color tonalities. The helmer and d.p. Shai Goldman can sustain this couch potatoes composure for such a long time is proof of the integrity of Kolirin's vision, however it will divide audiences. Inside were shot inside a German studio, re-creating precisely the style and decor of the middle-class Tel Aviv apartment.Camera (color), Shai Goldman editor, Arik Lahav-Leibovich production designers, Yesim Zolan, Miguel Mirkin costume designers, Doron Ashkenazi, Hila Bargiel seem (Dolby SR), Michael Busch seem designers, Gil Toren, Matthias Schwab connect producers, Michael Weber, Meinolf Zurhorst casting, Orit Azoulay. Examined at Venice Film Festival (competing), Sept. 7, 2011. Running time: 94 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch Movies Online For Free