Thursday, October 27, 2011

'Iron Guy 3' Departing La for North Carolina's EUE/Screen Gems Art galleries

Vital/Marvel Art galleries The Next installment of Marvel Art galleries' Iron Guy franchise is creating shop in New You are able to. EUE/Screen Gems and New You are able to Governor Beverly Perdue introduced in the press conference Thursday the art galleries' Wilmington outpost will host a lot of the film's production. Marvel shot both Iron Guy and Iron Guy 2 both at its own Manhattan Beach art galleries in California, where it apparently considered creating the threequel, along with locations in Michigan and New Mexico. PHOTOS: Top 15 Grossing Threequels ever "We strongly attacked this little bit of business," mentioned EUE/Screen Gems co-owner and COO Chris Cooney. "This film is a game title title changer-not only for that art galleries, along with the entire condition of recent You are able to. It feels great to produce this project to Wilmington, an area where we now have invested psychologically and financially since 1996. Today, our vision becomes reality." Cooney reported New You are able to's 25-percent film incentive as well as the studio's 150,000-square-ft facility as factors in Marvel's decision. PHOTOS: Shots From 'The Avengers.' Marvel's Superhero Film Iron Guy 3 marks the greatest production get to Wilmington, which has formerly situated films for instance I Realize Everything You Did Last Summer season and 4 days as well as the television series Dawson's Creek. Starring Robert Downey Junior., the first Iron Guy needed in $585 million worldwide 2008. Its 2010 follow-up had an worldwide take of $624 million. Iron Guy 3 is positioned to move into its Wilmington offices noisy . 2012, getting a scheduled release date of May 3, 2013. Robert Downey Junior. Marvel Entertainment Screen Gems

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci in Negotiations to Join Skydance Productions

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and their K/O Paper Products shingle are in negotiations to join David Ellison's Skydance Productions in what is being described as "a uniquely structured deal." Skydance declined to comment and no additional details are available at this time. But sources say the deal goes beyond the traditional first-look arrangement and will give the writer-producers wider creative room. Skydance and Paper Products have an existing relationship. As part of its pact with Paramount Pictures, Skydance is co-financing and co-producing the Star Trek sequel, which Kurtzman and Orci are writing and producing with Cowboys & Aliens collaboratorDamon Lindelof. Skydance and the duo also are producing an adaptation of theTom ClancynovelWithout Remorse, which Shawn Ryan has written, for Paramount. Kurtzman and Orci first signed a two-year, first-look producing deal with DreamWorks in April 2009, and their current deal runs until the end of the year. The duo co-wrote and produced the multi-studio sci-fi film Cowboys & Aliens, which underperformed this summer, and wrote the scripts for the first two Transformers movies, which were released through Paramount to billions of dollars in grosses. Their first effort for DreamWorks as producers was the thriller Eagle Eye, which grossed $178 million worldwide in 2008. Before that, Kurtzman and Orci co-wrote the Michael Bay-directed film The Island, which DreamWorks released in 2005. Kurtzman's directorial debut, the drama Welcome to People, is recently wrapped and awaiting a release date. The duo produced and co-wrote the screenplay with Jody Lambert. Beyond that, the pair has a collection of high-profile projects set up at DreamWorks that they will presumably stay on as producers even if they move on to Skydance. Related Topics

Monday, October 24, 2011

U2 Honored As Finest Act In Last two-and-a-half decades

First Released: October 24, 2011 2:02 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images LONDON, U.K. -- Caption Bono rocks out throughout a U2 concert in NY City on This summer 20, 2011Rock symbols U2 have new things to brag about winning Q Magazines Finest Act from the Last two-and-a-half decades award. The annual music honours by Britains best-selling music monthly happened Monday at Londons Grosvenor House. The Irish quartet were present in the ceremony. John May and Roger Taylor, meanwhile, recognized entry in to the Q Hall of Fame with respect to this guitar rock band Full. U.K. singer/songwriter Adele won two honours, Best Female Artist and finest Track on her song Moving within the Deep. Coldplay was chosen Best Band on the planet right now, as the U.S. Internet sensation Lana Del Ray wa s crowned the following Large Factor. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

'The Dark Dark night Rises' May Mind to Occupy Wall Street

Daniel Radcliffe! Billy Burke! Jennifer Lawrence! For that second year consecutively, Moviefone is satisfied to team using the Individuals Choice Honours to recognition the very best 25 Stars and Stars Under 25. Whomever will get probably the most votes is going to be granted the Most popular Superstar Under 25 in the Individuals Choice Honours on Jan. 11. Which is to are available in: between now and March. 28, we are providing you with the opportunity to election for the favorite youthful stars and stars. The very best five will advance towards the final round, where you may then pick the champion final voting starts on November. 8. You should check out the entire 25 Under 25 list below. Next mind HERE to election your preferred. [Sorry, Taylor Lautner fans: your preferred vampire was aged-from the competition when he switched 25 in May.] People's Choice Honours: 25 Under 25 See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Showmanship at the office in TV debates

The huge set that CNN has sprawled out on the ground from the Sands Exposition Center for that Western Republican Debate on Tuesday fits the size from the Las vegas strip, but it is also suggestive of another trend from the 2012 election cycle: The debates are not only seen drawing ever-bigger audiences, they're increasingly ambitious as occasions. With cable news systems planning a nearly weekly stream of debates -- greater than a dozen are planned throughout the relaxation from the primary race, with three introduced just on Monday -- pressure is onto stick out, through elaborate production values and enormous in-studio audiences. CNN's 266-feet-lengthy and 90-feet-wide makeshift auditorium, by having an arc stage thrusting in to the audience, is "truly the biggest free standing debate set that anybody has ever employed for presidential debates, so far as we are able to tell," states Mike Feist, CNN's Washington bureau chief and senior Vice president. Some 1,500 individuals are likely to fill the crowd. Anthony Crivello, a Tony-award champion starring in "Phantom -- A Vegas Spectacular," is scheduled to sing the nation's Anthem, and Feist states the opener "will feel a little such as the opening of the Olympic telecast." This is a lengthy way in the quaint Chicago studio where John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon met for that first public presidential debate in 1960. How big a few of the debates reflects the evolution of political coverage, particularly for that cable news systems which wrap their brands around presidential campaigns, marketing not only 24/7 coverage around the trail, however their personas and groups of bloggers. The occasions are usually sparse in advertisements, therefore the help to channels is within promotion, not always revenue. Within the last cycle, CNN started from the standard mold by placing Republican candidates before Air Pressure One for any debate in the Reagan Library -- a venue repeated by MSNBC this season -- after which adopted that track of a Democratic debate before a star-studded audience in the Kodak Theatre. Fox News has attracted the biggest audience to date, with 6.a million who viewed the Sept. 22 debate it backed with Google. MSNBC's coverage of the debate in the Taxation Presidential Library on Sept. 7 came 5.4 million. Bloomberg TV, which backed a debate a week ago, does not openly release its rankings but it's been believed around a million, that is low this cycle but strong by Bloomberg's viewership standards. CNN's coverage from the Tea Party-backed debate on Sept. 12 came 3.six million audiences, up from the 3 major.two million who viewed the Nh debate. Facing "Monday Evening Football," it had been nonetheless enough to win the evening against its cable news rivals. What's ironic would be that the amounts, oftentimes, are greater compared to what they were within the same period within the last cycle, which came record interest for any race available for parties. While polls show huge public distrust of political figures and Washington, which has not stored audiences away. Alan Schroeder, connect professor at East U. in Boston and author of "Presidential Debates: 4 decades of High-risk TV," states the GOP debates this cycle "have performed out like a lengthy-running TV series, having a familiar cast of headliners and supporting gamers gathering regularly to complement wits before bigger than usual audiences." He notes the cycle got off and away to a later start compared to 2008, which this season there's the "unsettled character from the area, amplified through the schism between traditional Republicans and Tea Party Republicans." Younger crowd suggests another factor: the debates are viewed not only throughout the telecasts however with broadly circulated clips online along with other video sites. Which was the case with the final cycle, however the development of Twitter along with other social networking has assisted drive traffic towards the occasions. E-mailed questions happen to be changed by individuals Tweeted instantly, as CNN is going to do on Tuesday. Some type of social networking or public participation has become routine, as well as the Commission on Presidential Debates, that will sponsor the autumn 2012 matchups in between each party's nominee, is searching for methods to modernize what happen to be probably the most formal from the occasions. But CNN's Feist disputes notions -- advanced even by Sarah Palin -- the debates and campaign coverage have grown to be a brand new type of reality television. Around CNN along with other news systems may look for superlatives for his or her events, the occasions happen to be make-or-break for campaigns prior to the onslaught of 30-second ad spots. Audiences curently have many userful stuff here concerning the candidates "due to the debates," Feist states. The main focus at CNN's debate, moderated by Physical Violence Worsens, is anticipated to become on Herman Cain given his dramatic increase in the polls. "We take these very seriously," Feist states. "We believe these are essential national political occasions. It is really an event that's likely to help Republicans choose their nominee for leader. The champion from the Republican nomination process may be the following leader from the U . s . States. So you want to make certain we still do it. It's a large important event, and you want to address it just like a large important event. That's a specific item here." Kate Lunger, senior executive producer of CNN's special occasions team, stated that deck hands labored night and day since 6 p.m. on Friday to setup the venue, because the space wasn't available due to an earlier convention. The setup includes seven matching Fleetwood RVs for every candidate to relaxation and confide, arranged so as of poll position. As the set is definitely an broadened version of individuals utilized in two other CNN debates, the Las vegas locale is going to be apparent in different ways. Expected to stay in the crowd is a city legend, Wayne Newton. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Soulja Boy Arrested In Georgia

First Launched: October 18, 2011 11:47 AM EDT Credit: Getty Images TEMPLE, Ga. -- Caption Soulja Boy attends the Wager Honours 09 nominee bulletins at Wager Art galleries on May 12, 2009 in NY CityAuthorities say stylish-hop star Soulja Boy is facing a drug charge after police stopped his rental vehicle in west Georgia and situated marijuana. Temple Police Chief Tim Shaw notifies The Connected Press that police stopped the leased Cadillac Escalade early Tuesday. According to him authorities found marijuana and guns inside. The artist, who was simply reserved beneath the title DeAndre Cortez Way, was introduced for the Carroll City Jail around the legal charge of marijuana possession. Shaw mentioned that based on the things they know in the arrest, all five citizens inside the vehicle were very cordial as well as the arrest went easily. Carroll City Jail Records did not list an attorney for your artist. Government physiques mentioned he'd been held without bond and also the first court appearance was searching for Tuesday mid-day. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cold Mountain, Strike ready 'Tri-Border'

RIO P JANEIRO -- Jose Padilha's Cold Mountain Ing. and Mark Abraham and Eric Newman's Strike Ing. are near ready to bring "Tri-Border" towards the market. "Elite Squad" helmer Padilha, who's installed on direct "Tri-Border," created the L.A.-based Cold Mountain this season to produce his U.S. projects. Cold Mountain and Strike are coming up with. Film author Nick Shenk ("Gran Torino") has completed a shooting script, Padilha told Variety within the Rio Film Festival. Padilha and Strike are talking with talent. Once it's talent together with a financial budget, it'll consult with potential entrepreneurs, Padilha mentioned. Co-created by Padilha and Shenk, "Tri-Border" is occur the lawless gets to the perimeters of South usa, Argentina and Paraguay. It triggers a DEA agent who's sent there, getting fallen into disgrace for busting the boy from the senator on drug charges. There he's soon involved with conflicting police and myriad criminal orgs. The Tri-Border, Padilha mentioned, is similar to the Wild West with worldwide gangsters: "The Tri-Border gets the Chinese mob, Hasballah, Brazilian drug smugglers, Italian mobsters, the Russian mafia, Mossad, the CIA." Padilha is striving to draw top stars of multiple nationalities. Meanwhile, Shenk and Padilha may also be beautifying another control over MGM's "Robocop" reboot, that's composed by Josh Zetumer ("The Infiltrator," "Dune"). Padilha broke through with Berlinale Golden Bear-champion "Elite Squad," they co-written and directed. Beyond the second part inside the saga, "Elite Squad: The Enemy Within," Padilha has helmed the b/w Portuguese-language docu "Garapa," research of starvation seen at Berlin this past year, and British-language "Methods from the Tribe," another docu-feature. A Sundance 2010 hit, it absolutely was created for BBC and Arte and agreed to Cinemax. Padilha is repped by CAA's David Kopple. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Monday, October 17, 2011

FX Renews Sons Of Anarchy For Season 5

Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter should be in a better mood today then Friday, when he spewed venom at bloggers in a Twitter rant. Halfway through SOA‘s fourth season, FX this morning renewed Sutter’s hit biker drama for a fifth season with a 13-episode order. The series starring Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman and Katey Sagal is having its highest-rated season. Its currently the No. 1 scripted drama series on basic cable and is the highest-rated series ever on FX with an averaged of 5.8 million total viewers and 3.9 million adults 18-49. That is up +30% and +26%, respectively, vs Season 3. The Season 4 premiere September 6 became the most-watched program in FX history with 6.5 total viewers. On a multi-telecast weekly basis, Season 4 is averaging 9 million total viewers and 6 million adults 18-49. Everyone at FX is very grateful to Kurt Sutter, his many writing, directing and producing collaborators and his masterful cast for making such a compelling and beautifully crafted show, FX president John Landgraf said. It is no small challenge to bring the themes of a great, ancient play like Hamlet into a wholly original television setting and to tell this complex story in a way that is both riveting and accessible to a broad audience. Sutter executive produces SOA with John Linson, Art Linson and Paris Barclay. FX Prods and Fox 21 are producing.

Comedy Central Developing Comedy From 'Tosh.0' EP

Comedy Central is looking to mine the Tosh.0 writers' room for more hits. The male-skewing network has ordered Review with Forrest MacNeil, a half-hour comedy pilot fromCharlie Siskel, a writer and executive producer behind the network's unscripted hitTosh.0. Joining him on the project,based on the Australian show Review with Myles Barlow, is fellow writer and executive producer as well asstar Andrew Daly, who will playForrest. Review, developed in-house, is a dark comedy revolving around an overly earnest critic who reviewssome of life's most difficult experiences --as decided by his TV audience-- by living them. In this case: the adrenaline rush of stealing, the trauma of divorce, the harrowing effects of murder and the wonder and joy of anonymous sex.The married father then rates each of his experiences on a scale of one to five stars. Siskel has a lengthy history with the network, having served as an executive producer on the network's sketch-variety seriesImportant Things With Demetri Martin before joining Tosh in 2010. The latterhas become Comedy Central's No. 1 show on Tuesday nights among the coveted male 18-34 demographic, averaging 4.2 million total viewers and a 2.9 rating in the 18-49 demo. The Daniel Tosh clip comedy vehicle was renewed for a fourth season in June. Siskel is repped by CAA and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine; Daly, whose recent TV credits include Eastbound & Down and The Life & Times of Tim, is repped by CAA and Principato-Young. Related Topics Comedy Central TV Development

McG's This Means War will receive a trailer

McG's action romcom This Means War, has showed up a trailer, which is... well, take a look by yourself.Generally, a completely new Micrograms project isn't something we'd be salivating over, nevertheless the cast (Tom Sturdy, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine) had our interest snared.Despite the fact that it's tough to judge in the two-minute promo, it's searching as being a cacophony of clichés within the action and romcom hands books, plus it makes True Lies and Mr. & Mrs. Cruz appear such as the epitome of cinéma vérité realism.Sturdy and Pine are a handful of "the CIA's best", and additionally they're really bestest buds.Their friendship is shaken after they uncover they're dating the identical girl (Witherspoon, who seems being essaying one of the least likeable romcom leads for some time), and so they make use of all the CIA assets open to ruin another man's chances.It's basically a brief teaser, but it's not filled with promise. Nonetheless, maybe the charm in the stars and several decent set pieces could make for entertaining Saturday evening fare.See the trailer here:This Means War opens on 17 February 2012.You can now read Total Film magazine on apple apple iphone and iPad via Apple Newsstand!To find it round the Uk Application Store, follow the link. To find it round the US Application Store, follow the link.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Hollywood Republicans still undecided

The most common misperception is that Hollywood is bereft of Republicans, making it a waste of time for the now-solidified field of 2012 contenders to court donors and supporters in the land of the left.But while the celebrity activists, politically active creative types and executives on the right and center-right may be smaller in number than their counterparts, they are not insignificant, and compared with the last presidential cycle, there are ample signs that this time around, they will be better organized and energized.Just not yet.So far, Hollywood's reticence on the right is reflective of the herky-jerky nature of the race itself, where Mitt Romney looks like the front-runner, yet Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and now Herman Cain threaten to make him work hard for the nomination. Romney has garnered the support of such industry execs as Harry Sloan, and Cain has received the high-profile endorsement of comedian and radio host Dennis Miller, while such disparate figures as Vince Vaughn and Barry Manilow favor Ron Paul. But by and large, industry conservatives have yet to coalesce around a candidate.Flash back four years ago at this point, and industry Republicans were lining up largely behind Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, who courted coin and endorsements from figures like Robert Duvall, Sylvester Stallone and Jerry Bruckheimer.By contrast, the present GOP candidates have not been as aggressive in mining showbiz dollars and support. McCain and Giuliani, celebrities in their own right, had long-time Hollywood ties, while few in the current GOP field have that kind of cachet. The ones that do, like Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, teased candidacies but chose not to run.There's also a certain wariness in lining up behind a candidate too soon. Giuliani drew politically active supporters like Kelsey Grammer and Jon Voight, but backers watched in disappointment as his late-in-the-game primary strategy fizzled in Florida. On the day he dropped out of the race, in fact, he was to have appeared at a fundraiser at the home of producer Joel Surnow. "The Republican community in Hollywood is not very much different from Republican primary voters everywhere. It is very much a wait-and-see attitude," says writer-producer Rob Long. "You are looking at an electorate that really doesn't feel a need to make a decision. It is a weird year; I am not sure the Hollywood right has a candidate." He adds, "In a lot of ways this is a dream for someone in Hollywood, because it is a long way to the third act, and it's the longest second act in history."When McCain was the nominee, he also rallied industry support, with a high profile fund-raiser at the Beverly Hilton hotel, but his campaign skidded in the fall."I think people remember that, and they are treading lightly here," says producer Craig Haffner. "People don't like being backed into a decision for something that is out of their control or feel that they have to settle for something."Haffner has been backing Jon Huntsman, who ostensibly would have fit the bill as the fiscally conservative, socially moderate candidate industry Republicans like, but Haffner admits to being disappointed in Huntsman's campaign. Others are on the sidelines. Voight, one of the more visible figures on the Hollywood right who campaigned for Giuliani and then McCain in the last cycle, plans to endorse whoever the nominee is, but isn't endorsing yet. "We are all patiently waiting to see who it is going to be," says his manager, Dorothy Koster. Grammer, who endorsed Giuliani and hit the trail for McCain -- and has been upfront about running for office himself one day -- nevertheless will not "get involved publicly" in the campaigns, says his spokesman, Stan Rosenfield.There's little doubt that, as much as Republicans in the past have criticized Hollywood and liberal excess, they also crave the attention that showbiz support can bring to a campaign. The sheer novelty of a showbiz Republican seems to magnify attention. Mike Huckabee's enlistment of Chuck Norris for a series of kitschy Web video spots in 2008 certainly helped raise his visibility and perhaps his fortunes in Iowa. And even as McCain chided Obama for his "celebrity" in a spot that linked the Democrat to tabloid creatures like Paris Hilton, the McCain campaign nevertheless sought out young Hollywood support.Romney has collected more high-profile endorsements than other candidates, but polls continue to show that most Republican primary voters have hardly made their minds up, while such influential figures as Rush Limbaugh question his conservative credentials. The fellowship of industry conservatives known as Friends of Abe, organized by actor Gary Sinise and others, has grown in stature since the last election cycle, but Romney has yet to address the group. Friends of Abe is heavy in rank-and-file industry workers as opposed to executives, and sources say many seem to be taking a hard look at Cain as someone who can better shake up the system. He is expected to address the org in November. If Romney solidifies his status, the wait-and-see attitude could start to change. While not at the level of Giuliani or McCain, he does have some ties to the biz. His senior strategist, Stuart Stevens, has worked as producer-writer on several TV shows, including "Northern Exposure," "Commander in Chief" and "I'll Fly Away." If Obama is weak in the polls, there are hopes a Romney candidacy could pick off support from Hollywood's corporate ranks, or at least get them to hedge their bets. The Obama administration has been pushing a key industry issue -- protection of intellectual property -- and Romney's campaign has been responsive as well. Andrea Saul, a Romney campaign spokeswoman, says the candidate would "take aggressive action to confront nations that do not protect American ideas and creations." Other campaigns did not respond to requests for positions on anti-piracy issues.As great as the ideological gulf may be between the industry's Republicans and Democrats, they do share something in common when it comes to choosing candidates. Even if there's hesitancy to jump in now, there's also a feeling the situation will change with a nominee in place. And for those still dissatisfied by the nominee or fatigued by the process, there's the evergreen question: Where else are they going to go? Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Art of Discovery

Back Stage asked a variety of artists to write about discoveries they made over the course of their work. As always, we expected great thoughts but instead got amazingly great thoughts. Here's what industry notables observed when they opened their minds to the world around them.Oskar Eustis on Discovering a New TalentI t must have been the fall of 1985. I was living in San Francisco, running the Eureka Theatre, and visiting NY. As always, I was trying to cram in as much theater as I could.Stacy Keach on the Mystery of Discovery Discoveryhow it happens is still a mystery to me. Sometimes it comes like a thief in the night or a child taking its first stepsunexpected and unplanned.Debra Zane on Discovering a Young Actor Over a dozen years ago, a friend of mine told me about an actor. Evidently, a neighbor of his was in a showcase, and so he went to check the neighbor out. It was another actor who caught my friend's eye.Michael Ritchie on Discovering Stage Management and Stage Managers Many years ago, before I ran the Williamstown Theatre Festival or Center Theatre Group, I was a stage manager. I had never been trained for that job, in either an academic or a professional setting.Austin Pendleton on Discovering Immediacy Onstage In December of 1961, I was able to getthrough the kindoffices of my friend Nancy Donahue, who introduced me to her agent Deborah Colemanan audition for Arthur Kopit's play "Oh Dad, Poor Dad"Ivana Chubbuck on Discovery Through the Craft Actors have the unique obligation in their work to not only find the truth of the character, but to make that character's journey one that empowers and creates revelation for the actor and therefore the audience.Michelle Rodriguez on Discovering Acting I am actually a success story for Back Stage. I had been doing extra work in NY for about two years, interested mostly in learning about the art of writing scripts, and I became interested in becoming an actress.John Leguizamo on Discovering How Admiration Looks Better With Age There are a couple of actors I saw who impressed the living life out of me. I saw Al Pacino in "American Buffalo," and I saw John Malkovich in "True West."Tara Rubin on the Many Discoveries Made in the Casting Business Here are the discoveries I've made in 25 years as a casting director:Kathy Connell on Discovering Meryl Streep In early 1976, I went to see "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" at the old Playhouse on West 48th. Out came a pretty young actress.Todd Haimes on What Happens After the Joy of Discovery Discovering an exciting new artist is obviously thrillingthat moment when you know you've met someone with a talent that doesn't come along very often.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Instinctive to spread out in L.A.

Germany's Instinctive Film is starting a United States division, located in La.The Berlin-based finance, development and production outfit has partnered with film traders Tony and Trina Rollo, proprietors of Winnipeg Insurance Brokers, because of its expansion plan.Producer Cole Payne will oversee the operation and concentrate on creating and financing photos in addition to expand Instinctive's production.The organization is starting Instinctive Management to nurture emerging thesps, scribes and helmers, headed by Jeremy Loethen, formerly of Raw Talent."It has been a rollercoaster year for all of us,Inch stated Instinctive Boss Darryn Welch. "We've been busy trying to broaden the organization and it is activities to adjust to the ever-altering environments in the market. Our plan's to possess greater management over sales, marketing and distribution for that films we develop and convey.InchThe Rollos works alongside Welch within an advisory capacity. They funded Instinctive and Preferred Content's mental thriller "The Divide," helmed by Xavier Gens, which their boy, Nate, would be a producer. Anchor Bay compensated low seven figures for U.S. privileges at SXSW fest in March.Welch lately co-professional created "Retreat," toplining Jamie Bell, Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton.Instinctive is within publish on helmer Eron Sheean's scientific thriller "Errors of the bodyInch plus Nick Jaffe and Jack Rath's adventurer docu "Between Home." It's casting romantic drama "Posthumous," which is co-created with Flying Box Prods. and it is skedded to lense in March in Berlin. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Monday, October 10, 2011

Hank Jr. Writes Song About Fox & Friends

First Published: October 10, 2011 9:04 AM EDT Credit: NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Caption Singer Hank Williams Jr. appears on the field before a NFL game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 12, 2011 Hank Williams Jr. is about to have his say. Williams has cut new song Ill Keep My , calling out Fox&Friends and ESPN after an interview last week on the Fox News talk show led to the end of his association with the sports network and Monday Night Football, long home to his Are you ready for some football? theme. Hes also scheduled to appear on The View and Hannity on Tuesday to discuss the uproar that sprung up after he made an analogy that President Barack Obama and House Speaker Rep. John Boehner golfing together was like Nazi leader Adolph Hitler and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu playing a round. ESPN decided to pull Williams intro from last Mondays MNF telecast after the comments and the move became permanent Thursday when both sides said theyd decided to pull the spot. Williams wrote the topical third verse of Ill Keep My when he woke up Friday morning and he and a group of players laid it down in a Nashville studio by Friday afternoon. It could be on iTunes late Monday or early Tuesday. In the song Williams, son of country music icon Hank Williams, says Fox&Friends hosts twisted his words: So Fox n Friends wanna put me down/Ask for my opinion/Twist it all around. He finishes the verse: Well two can play that gotcha game youll see. Early in the song, he says the U.S. is going down the drain and says its becoming The United Socialist States of America. He mentions keeping Fox&Friends and ESPN out of your home toward the end of the song. Williams comments last Monday drew unlikely reactions with many commentators and comedians coming to his defense, claiming ESPN was infringing on his right to free speech. His defenders included the left-leaning Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar of The View and Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and on the other side of the political landscape Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. The brouhaha prompted Williams also to start selling Hank Jr. for President T-shirts on his website. Williams theme song has been part of MNF since 1989. The song was a version of his hit All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight that he altered to match each weeks game. He owns the song and all the rights to it, so ESPN will not be able to use it in any way. Instead, the network says it will use an intro featuring Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders and soul singer Jimmy Scott prior to the Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions game Monday night. The introduction will change each week. (Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed) Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Steve Jobs dies at 56

Steve Jobs, pictured here in 1979Steve Jobs with U2 in 2004.Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up the new iPhone that was introduced at Macworld on January 9, 2007 in San Francisco.Steven Jobs, the pioneering mogul who led Pixar Animation and Apple to banner success and became a leader in the computer, consumer electronics and animation industries, has died. He was 56. Hollywood did not always agree with Jobs -- there were tiffs over the pricing of music and other offerings in the iTunes store and over the fact that Apple rendered iTunes content unplayable on non-Apple devices. But in an environment in which huge numbers of consumers were illegally downloading music and other content from P2P file-sharing sites, the series of devices Apple introduced under Jobs -- the iPod in conjunction with the iTunes Music Store, the iPhone and the iPad -- made the legal (and therefore, for showbiz, at least potentially profitable) consumption of digital content possible and popular, weaning some consumers of the piracy habit.Jobs first gained fame as one of the "two Steves" -- Steve Wozniak was the other -- who co-founded Apple Computer in a garage in 1976. He lost control of the company in 1985 and saw his reputation and personal fortune dwindle over the next decade. But during that time he acquired from George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic, at a bargain price, a small computer-graphics unit that was quickly remonickered Pixar. Jobs put his own cash into the money-losing company and saw it deliver the blockbuster "Toy Story" and make him a billionaire.In time, Disney bought Pixar, and Jobs became the Mouse House's largest shareholder, with holdings dwarfing those of any other individual, and a member of its board. By then, he was a well-established entertainment executive, having returned to Apple and led it to market domination in a new arena: music. Under Jobs, Apple introduced the first popular system for legal music downloading: the combination of iTunes software, the iTunes Music Store and the iPod music player. The iPod, dismissed by critics at its introduction for being too expensive, too quirky and too tied to Apple's software, became an iconic entertainment product and transformed Apple into a key player in electronic distribution, including TV shows and movies. Personally, Jobs was one of the corporate world's most effective pitchmen. His appearances at trade events, especially the Macworld tradeshow in San Francisco, always clad in his trademark black mock-turtleneck shirt, were among any year's most anticipated tech events. Apple fans would hang on every word, waiting for the famous "One more thing" at the end, which often signaled some astonishing new product, like the iMac or iPod. He was famous for his ability to persuade -- or bully -- people into doing the impossible, or at least convince them that the impossible was possible. Those who worked closely with him often described an abrasive, arrogant and occasionally petty leader who did not brook disagreement. Companies or people that ran afoul of him were often "Steved" -- fired on the spot. But for better or worse, Jobs' commitment to high-quality, cutting-edge products made him indispensable for the companies he ran. His career resurrection after his first flameout with Apple was, as the unauthorized biography "iCon" put it, "The greatest second act in the history of business." Born in San Francisco and given up for adoption, Jobs was raised in the Northern California area that would eventually be called Silicon Valley, growing up around many of the future leaders of the digital revolution, including Wozniak. He entered Reed College after high school but soon left. After traveling in India, he teamed with Wozniak in a venture to make and sell small, pre-assembled computers, something no company had ever tried before. The success of their Apple II created the personal computer industry almost from scratch, but the market came to be dominated by the cloneable IBM PC design and Microsoft's operating system. Apple responded in 1984 with the Macintosh, the first personal computer to successfully mass-market a graphical interface.Even the launch of Macintosh had a hint of Jobs' future. Ridley Scott helmed a "1984"-themed commercial touting the launch of the Mac, and the commercial became one of the legendary spots in TV history. Jobs was forced out of Apple in 1985.Just the next year, George Lucas -- needing cash for his divorce settlement -- sold the nascent Pixar to Jobs for just $10 million. Pixar was a money pit at first, though its Renderman software became the first and most popular computer animation software. Jobs' funds and patience were running low, but when Pixar's "Tin Toy" won the animated short Oscar, he negotiated Pixar's first feature deal, for "Toy Story." The picture opened to rapturous reviews and socko B.O. When Pixar took its stock public days later, Jobs became a billionaire."Toy Story" was the first in a three-picture deal with Disney and the beginning of an unprecedented run of hits from Pixar.Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and began a rapid turnaround. The company's products quickly came to reflect Jobs' personal tastes. He loathed buttons on handheld devices, and the result was the sleek, uncluttered interface of the iPod, iPhone and iPad.Apple's success with iTunes and the iPod made it a major player in entertainment, but record labels chafed at Apple's insistence on a flat 99 for every song. ITunes helped reduce but did not end illegal downloads, so it didn't put vast sums in labels' coffers. The primary beneficiary, went the complaints, was not artists or labels but Apple itself.With Jobs in charge of Pixar and the prickly Michael Eisner running Disney, negotiations over a renewal of Pixar's distribution deal with the Mouse became highly contentious. Disney retained sequel rights to several Pixar titles, including the "Toy Story" franchise, and began developing its own "Toy Story 3" without Pixar involved. Meanwhile, in a notorious 2004 investor call, Jobs mocked Disney's toons, singling out "Lion King 1 1/2" as "embarrassing." An impasse in the negotiations seemed unavoidable. Jobs wouldn't sell Pixar for cash, and Disney wouldn't pay what Jobs was asking. The solution, it turned out, was for Disney essentially to pay Pixar to take over its own animation efforts. Disney paid $7.4 billion in 2006 to merge with Pixar. Jobs acquired a 7% stake in Disney and a seat on the board but gave up his posts as Pixar chairman and CEO, and Pixar execs Ed Catmull and John Lasseter took charge of the Disney animation slate. Jobs pulled another techno-shocker in 2007, unveiling the long-rumored Apple iPhone. With its smooth touchscreen face and media-centric design, neither of which had been anticipated by tech-watchers, the iPhone proved a game-changer for the cellular phone/PDA business, just as the iPod had been for the music business. But Jobs' health was beginning to fail even as his companies were achieving their greatest success yet. He was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2004. He seemed to recover but looked gaunt in public appearances in 2007 and 2008, sparking rumors about a recurrence of cancer and even rumors of his death. He announced late in 2008 that he had a hormonal imbalance that was causing him to lose weight, and on Jan. 14, 2009, he took a medical leave of absence from Apple. It was later revealed that he underwent a liver transplant during his leave. He remained gaunt, however, and took another health-related leave of absence in late 2010, amid rumors his cancer had returned and he was near death.Jobs abruptly resigned as CEO of Apple on Aug. 24, 2011, and was elected chairman of the board. He recommended Tim Cook as his successor; Cook had already been serving as Apple CEO since January, when Jobs took a third medical leave from the company, though he still made most of the major decisions at Apple. Jobs disliked publicity about his personal relationships, which could be difficult. He found his birth parents and biological sister, the novelist Mona Simpson. He is survived by his wife, Laurene Powell; a son; and three daughters. Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Watch X-Men: First Class Full Movie

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

China woos Hollywood

The suggested Hollywood Movie World would have a CityWalk-style complex of shops and entertainment. An artist's rendering from the suggested Hollywood Movie World in China. Searching to take advantage of the growing quantity of production ad banners Hollywood is establishing in China, a consortium of traders is ponying up $3.3 billion to back the very first phase of the studio lot, amusement park and CityWalk-style entertainment complex outdoors Beijing.The venture, top quality Hollywood Movie World East, is skedded to become performed by 2015. The studio includes soundstages, publish-production and animation facilities to deal with films and Television shows once completed.Backing the expansion may be the government-run China Culture Industry Investment Fund, together with production shingle CC2 Media, which is the owner of an undisclosed bit of Hollywood Movie Works, created to handle the entertainment complex. Regardless of the title, no galleries haven't yet sign onto back the project or add movie-designed points of interest towards the planned amusement park, reps told Variety. Many remain careful after getting rapidly signed onto license their names meant for several high-profile entertainment complexes in the centre East, a few of which wound up never being built.That's largely because designers -- brought by several American expats who setup shop in China to see for companies seeking a means in to the country -- only have just started to achieve to the majors for deals, in addition to global brands to sponsor important elements like hotels along with other planned locations.To date, Legendary Entertainment, Relativity Media, DreamWorks Animation, twentieth century Fox, The new sony and Warner Bros. happen to be probably the most active in China.What may help attract entertainment partners is the fact that Gary Goddard's North Hollywood-based Goddard Group is handling the appearance of the different phases.Goddard's firm designed several high-profile projects for Universal Galleries, including its "Amazing Adventures of Spider-Guy" and "Jurassic Park" rides, and "Terminator 2/three dimensional: Fight Across Time" attraction, in addition to the conceptual growth and development of Six Flags' Dubailand and Six Flags Qatar. Additionally, it produced the "Star Trek: The KnowledgeInch for that Vegas Hilton, Sanrio's "Hello Cat"-based Puroland park in Japan, and also the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. "The objective of the project would be to offer an official headquarters for that global film industry in China," stated Ong Hong Hoon, leader from the New China Culture Industry Investment Fund, created in 2005.For the time being, Hollywood Movie Works will finance and convey photos through CC2 Media and Hong Kong-based film shingle Sil-Metropole. Productions includes British-language films with Chinese styles, but attract worldwide audiences, the businesses stated.CC2 Media is really a subsid of ChinaClicks2 Group, a talking to firm run by co-chairman Susan Pattis, an old Edelman PR repetition in China, who now helps brands operating in China. She also done Beijing's Summer time Olympic games campaign. Pattis also can serve as co-chairman of HMW, with John Robison, a Beverly Hillsides-based venture capitalist. Sil-Metropole is handled by China's Condition Administration of Radio, Film and TV, enabling it to partner on co-productions with foreign galleries seeking distribution in the united states.The whole Hollywood Movie World has been developed as eight phases to become built over ten years, for around around $30 billion, with other people to incorporate the amusement park, hotels and retail, offices, residential housing, sports facilities along with a film school, based on HMWE's reps.The 6.5-sq.-mile venture can be found within 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 amusement parks from coast to coast, that have sprouted because of government stimulus money in the government to encourage consumer investing. Many have battled to make money.However the Chinese government sees films being an benefit to bring business to Mentougou."I'm delighted to determine real progress occur between China and filmmakers in the west," stated Toni Leonte, chairman of recent China Culture Industry Investment Fund. "China is trading tremendously more capital in the quantity of physical screens and expecting more films to interrupt with the $100 million mark in the box office. "For a long time we've been dealing with our partners in China to recognize the most effective devote China to find this grand vision. Nothing beats this will happen without government support and use of the whole from the assets that Beijing and Mentougou can positively provide." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Ty Pennington Jumps Aboard The Revolution for ABC Daytime

Ty Pennington Ty Pennington will have great results alongside Project Runway's Tim Gunn on ABC's approaching daytime show The Revolution, the network introduced Monday. The longtime host of ABC's Extreme Transformation: Home Edition also joins fitness and diet expert Harley Pasternak around the daily program about health insurance and lifestyle changes. Particularly, The Revolution aims to assist audiences within the regions of family, fashion, home design, personal finance, food, jobs and overall well-being. Can The Revolution work exactly the same miracle? Browse the most dramatic celebrity weight reduction "Ty's passionate and deep link with everybody he helps makes him an ideal option to join The Revolution," Disney/ABC television group's leader of daytime, John Frons, stated inside a statement. "The power he brings with him is a superb complement to the formerly named hosts, Tim Gunn and Harley Pasternak. Our goal would be to include inspiring and informative motivators once we build The Revolution team and attempt to evolve our selection with the kind of lifestyle programming that daytime audiences are curious about seeing." The Revolution is created by 3Ball Productions, exactly the same company behind The Greatest Loser and Extreme Transformation: Weight Reduction Edition. The show will replace departing cleaning soap One Existence to reside on ABC's daytime schedule and it is set to premiere in The month of january 2012. Are you going to stay tuned for that Revolution?

Monday, October 3, 2011

Nz sets 'Orator' for Oscar

It is a story of firsts for brand new Zealand, as tyro helmer Tusi Tamasese's pic "The Orator" is becoming New Zealand's first-ever foreign-language Oscar entry. Backed through the Nz Film Commission and also the Samoan Government, the pic bowed at Venice where it received a unique mention and Commission topper Graeme Mason states he hopes it's the to begin many records for that Off-shore region that has been underrepresented previously.Pic informs the storyline of the small-statured Samoan named Saili who must fight for his land and the pride and it is shot on and round the islands of Upolu in Samoa."It's fantastic lyrical search for bravery and love," states Mason who also chaired the choice committee. "But in addition it's also an remarkable portrait of the place along with a life-style and i believe that's a thing that resonates using the foreign-language voters." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Django Unchained' Replaces Kevin Costner With Kurt Russell

Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" is getting a bit of a casting make-over. First up, Kurt Russell is reuniting with his "Death Proof" director in the upcoming film. He'll be replacing Kevin Costner as the psychotic Ace Woody, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Also reuniting with the director is "Kill Bill's" Laura Cayouette, who THR reports will be playing Leonardo DiCaprio's widowed sister. In related news, THR has learned that Christoph Waltz injured his pelvis during training for "Django Unchained," and that's why he was unable to attend the NY premiere of "Carnage" on Friday. Check out the rest of today's casting news after the jump! Kevin Kline Joins Charlie Kaufman's "Frank Or Francis" Variety has learned that Kevin Kline will have one and a half roles to play in Charlie Kaufman's upcoming sophomore feature, "Frank or Francis." The veteran actor will play the brother to the movie's main character, a director, as well as an animatronic disembodied screenwriting head. Steve Carell is in talks to play the director, and Jack Black will play a blogger who berates him. Nicolas Cage is also in talks to star in the flick, which begins filming in January. Steve Carell To Join Bennett Miller's "Moneyball" Follow-Up In addition to potentially joining "Frank or Francis," Variety has learned that Carell has joined Bennett Miller's next film, "Foxcatcher." Like his previous feature "Moneyball," Bennett's "Foxcatcher" is a true story. It will follow the murder of an Olympic wrestler by John du Pont, the owner of a wrestling training facility. Production on the movie is set to begin in March. Melissa Leo And James Badge Dale Taking "Flight" Robert Zemeckis just landed two more actors for his upcoming film "Flight," The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Melissa Leo and James Badge Dale are in talks to join the drama that currently stars Denzel Washington. Also starring in the movie is Bruce Greenwood, while Don Cheadle and Kelly Reilly are also currently in negotiations. Leo will play an investigator determined to find Washington's character guilty of drug use while flying a plane, while Dale will play a dying cancer patient. Woody Harrelson Set For "Zombieland" Reunion Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg could be starring in another movie together, but this time about magicians instead of zombies. Variety is reporting that Harrelson is in discussions to join Louis Leterrier's magician heist pic "Now You See Me." He'll be joining Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher and Melanie Laurent. CBS Films To Co-Finance "In Bruges" Follow-Up If you, like me, have been long-anticipating writer/director Martin McDonagh and actor Colin Farrell's follow-up to "In Bruges," then your wait is almost over. Deadline is reporting that CBS Films is in negotiations to co-finance their next project together called "Seven Psychopaths." The movie is about a screenwriter struggling to write his next script, and gets dragged into the dognapping escapades of his friends (played by Sam Rockwell and Chris Walken). Tell us your thoughts on today's Casting Call in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Watch The Hangover 2 For Free