Difficulties: 'Politicians are Sh*theads'

As he is not raging the Kardashians, Difficulties is getting his anger on political figures. "Political figures are shitheads," Craig apparently stated inside a new interview with Men's Journal (not online). "That's the way they become political figures, the high quality ones. We are stars, we are artists, we are excellent to one another. They'll change and stab you within the fucking back." Craig removes the majority of his aggressions on former British Pm Tony Blair. "Tony Blair began it a lot more than anybody's ever done. 'Go and also have tea at 10 Downing Street.' It might be 'Mephisto,'" the 'Dragon Tattoo' star stated, conflating political elbow-rubbing these days using the 1936 novel a good actor saddling track of the Nazi party to enhance his career. Obviously, Craig is vulnerable to speaking his mind. "Consider the Kardashians, they are worth millions. Millions!" he apparently told the British edition of GQ recently. "I do not think these were that badly off to start with, however take a look at them. The thing is might you believe, 'What, you mean all I must do is become a fucking idiot on tv after which you'll pay me millions?'" You can observe an infinitely more staid version of Craig onscreen now in 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo.' He returns towards the scren as 007 when 'Skyfall' has gone out in theaters the coming year. [via Huffington Publish, NYT/ArtsBeat] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Reviews migrate from TV to Web

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert located 'At the films,A TV's benchmark film critique show.When Roger Ebert introduced a week ago he had unwillingly put his TV series "Ebert Presents in the Movies" on hiatus, it might have marked the finish of the genre he assisted create a lot more than 35 years back: the public film-critic debate."It's difficult. Our problem wasn't audiences but financing," Ebert describes within an email. Outdoors of the $25,000 grant, Ebert bankrolled the show themself."Our rankings pleased public television, and that we would be around the air had we found financing," he adds, "but in this tight economy public television is struggling with lack of underwriting. In my opinion time is here now for PBS to think about more permissive recommendations for sponsorship."In 1975, Ebert, the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic from the Chicago Sun-Occasions, and the mix-town rival Gene Siskel, from the Chicago Tribune, produced "Sneak Previews" for any local TV station. It gone to live in PBS and rapidly grew to become among its most widely used series.Ebert and Siskel left that demonstrate in 1983 to host a number of syndicated shows, usually using the phrase "In the Movies" within the title. Siskel died in 1999, so when Ebert was identified with thyroid cancer in 2006, he continued to be a producer around the series, which eventually wound up pairing Richard Roeper and also the Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips within the balcony.Ebert left once the studio searched for a more youthful audience using the unskilled critic Ben Lyons (whom Ebert considered "a tragedyInch). The year after, producers corrected course and cut back Phillips, alongside the NY Times' A.O. Scott. The show stopped production this year.InchWe'd favorable rankings in marketplaces where we'd favorable timeslots," Phillips states. "Marketplaces (with) early-morning slots were not doing us any favors. I believe people assumed i was selling Gold Bond body powder."Couple of have tried to replicate Siskel and Ebert's entertaining bickering chemistry. PBS ongoing "Sneak Previews" to diminishing returns for an additional decade. In 2000, Forex introduced the short-resided "The Brand New Movie Show," having a critics' roundtable talking about movies and trends.The proliferation of online movie sites might have broken the genre, though Ebert highlights, "Our rankings on public TV dwarfed the audiences for netcasts."Still, states AP film critic Christy Lemire, who seems on "Ebert Presents" and also the vlog "Exactly what the Flick?," "People want what they need plus they need it now. Why hold back until 6 p.m. on the Sunday to look at my show when you are able use the internet? Hopefully, ('Ebert Presents') provides another degree of analysis."You will find benefits and drawbacks" to TV and vlogs, she adds. "What's fun about 'What the Flick?' is you will find there's a bit more space. It's like watching buddies getting a conversation, that is exactly what it's. The advantage of standing on TV is, you need to reach your points succinctly making them count. Let me think we are inside a world where both shows aren't mutually exclusive.""It is a strange period if you are a thoughtful film critic -- -- there's hardly any perspective about movies before 1975, particularly from people offering those reviews free of charge online," states Alonso Duralde, who seems with Lemire on "Exactly what the Flick?" He worries the shelf-existence from the genre might be ending. "If Ebert can't get it done, it is a little nerve-wracking for other people going for a stab in internet marketing.InchPhillips is not as pessimistic: "You are able to yak all that's necessary concerning the dying of film critique, but it is not disappearing anymore compared to film market is disappearing. General audiences and cinephiles alike will always be searching for a genuine broker within the opinion game. There's a method to get intelligent discuss the films into the national conversation. You simply need the best people along with a format that actually works, and does not feel busy or gimmicky."EYE Around The Academy awards: CRIX PICKS Chatter splatter Regional experts flex muscles in Oscar race Reviews migrate from TV to Web Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

German cartel office clears Liberty cable deal

BERLIN -- Germany's federal antitrust watchdog, the Bundeskartellamt, has approved Liberty Global's 3.16 billion ($4.1 billion) acquisition of regional cabler Kabel Baden-Wuerttemberg. Liberty will probably merge Kabel BW having its Unitymedia, Germany's second-finest regional cabler, which John Malone's company acquired this past year for a lot of $5 billion. The watchdog mentioned on Thursday it had removed the sale "prone to conditions and obligations." In October the cartel office expressed concerns in regards to the deal, stating that could strengthen the oligopoly inside the country wide certification market presently centered with the country's finest cable operator, Kabel Deutschland, Unitymedia and Kabel BW. Because the antitrust regulator mentioned the planned merger may have a bad impact on the feed-in market indicated with the competitive relationship involving the cable network operators and tv channels, it added that Liberty had made the decision to several obligations which will increase competition options of third companies. Housing associations in Unitymedia and Kabel BW's parts of operation will probably be granted special contract termination rights, which causes it to be achievable to look for less pricey cable companies. "Liberty undertakes to grant special termination rights for large contracts for retail TV services also to finish its file file encryption of digital free TV programs. The business has furthermore made the decision to forgo certain exclusivity clauses and possession claims or rights to dismantle household contacts,Inch the watchdog mentioned. Bundeskartellamt prexy Andreas Mundt added, "This merger could just be removed with far-reaching obligations with the companies involved. We presently see the chance of more competition inside the cable areas. While using obligation to start up large extended-term contracts while using housing marketplace, and quit further contractual rights together with the essential file file encryption of digital free TV programs, the unwanted effects in the merger are compensated out." For Liberty, the victory comes 10 years after cartel government physiques foiled Malone's plan to buy Germany's entire cable system for $5 billion from telco giant Deutsche Telekom. Contact Erection dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com

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."

Randy's rules to find the best seem

Randy ThomSound designer and Oscar champion Randy Thom has already established an enormous affect on the skill of film seem through both his work and the writing. Couple of have described so clearly what adopts making great seem for movies.Variety spoke to Thom and requested him to put out his core ideas, then spoke to seem pros from a number of the 2011 movies about how exactly these ideas affect their pictures. We split the solutions in to the two Oscar seem groups, seem mixing and seem editing.Sounds should be articulated clearlyEven when you are knee deep within the sonic landscape of the action film, sounds need to be distinct. Move them forward or to keep your overall seem from getting muddy.Make room for silence between soundsMoments of silence or quiet are very important within the overall seem style of a movie. Much like breaks in musical composition, individuals occasions provide the audience a rest and in addition they make whatever uses the quiet appear more impactful and significant.Moderate using dialogue Other sounds requires a back chair whenever someone's speaking. Films which use dialogue sensibly open themselves up for greater utilization of seem.If you need to choose, choose dramatic sense over technical precision Sometimes the seem of the actual explosion will not have a similar emotional impact as another seem changed to represent what you are seeing onscreen. In the event that boom works out to become the noise of the cent rattling around in vacuum, expect.Attention around the Academy awards: Vfx, Seem & Editing Thesps up f/x respect Longtime teams keep work fresh Randy's rules to find the best seem Seem editing: Always make dramatic sense Seem Mixing: Which makes it all feel real Digital tools add quality, spend less Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'X Factor U.K.'s' Little Mix Become First Female Group To Win Series

Fox Searchlight Pictures The Descendants, Alexander Payne's drama of a family in Hawaii dealing with an urgent situation, was named best film of year with the La Film Experts Association. The Fox Searchlight release won over another Searchlight title The Tree of Existence, which was runner-up.our editor recommendsDoris Day to obtain Career Achievement Award From La Film Experts AssociationNew tunes, rarities on Chemical Brothers and sisters set But Terrence Malick was named best director of year for Existence, his meditation around the idea of everything. His nearest competition came from from Martin Scorsese, who acquired runner-up status for Hugo. Professionals group attracted an unpredicted from the hat by choosing South Korean actress Yun Jung-Hee becasue it is best actress on her behalf performance just like a lady facing Alzheimer's in Poetry. Runner-up was Kirsten Dunst for Melancholia. Michael Fassbender was presented with the most effective actor award for his four films: Shame, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre and X-Males: Top Quality. The course's runner-up was Michael Shannon for Take Shelter. Jessica Chastain was named best supporting actress for your six films through which she came out this year: The Tree of Existence, The Help, Your Financial Troubles, Take Shelter, Coriolanus and Texas Killing Fields. Jesse McTeer was runner-on her performance in Albert Nobbs. Christopher Plummer was designated in addition to supporting actor for his turn just like a widower who arrives late around in Focus' Beginners. Because category, Patton Oswalt was recognized as runner-up for Youthful Adult. A Separation, the Iranian submission to find the best foreign-language Oscar, acquired the script award for Asghar Farhadi, who also directed the film. The Descendants checked in as runner-up due to its authors Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Inside the foreign film category, though, A Separation was runner-up, while using award going rather to Lu Chaun's Capital of scotland - Existence and Dying. Dante Ferretti, who created the elaborate Parisian stay in Vital's Hugo, was paid out while using prize for production design. Maria Djurkovic acquired runner-up honors for your spy tale Mess Tailor Solider Spy. The cinematography award visited Emmanuel Lubeski for Terrence Malick's regal The Tree of Existence, released by Fox Searchlight. Cao Yu was selected runner-up for Capital of scotland - Existence and Dying. Caffeine Brother's score for Focus' thriller Hannawas named best score withCliff Martinez's use Driveas runner-up. Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams, the director's 3d have a look at prehistoric cave pieces of art, needed the prize for top documentary. Clio Barnard's The Arbor was runner-up. Rango was named best animated film, while using Adventures of Tintin as runnerup. The Doublas Edwards Independent/Experimental Award visited Bill Morrison's Spark to become. LAFCA gave its New Generation award for the creative team behind Martha Marcy May Marlene: Author/director Sean Durkin, producers Antonio Campos and Josh Mond and actress Elizabeth Olsen. Inside a previous meeting in October, the crowd also introduced it's adoring Doris Day having its Career Achievement Award. LAFCA 2011 champion and runner-up complete list: BEST PICTURE Champion: The Descendants Runner-Up: The Tree of Existence BEST ANIMATION Champion: Rango Runner-Up: The Adventures of Tintin BEST DIRECTOR Champion: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Existence Runner-Up: Martin Scorsese, Hugo BEST ACTOR Champion: Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Males: Top Quality Runner-Up: Michael Shannon, Take Shelter BEST ACTRESS Champion: Yun Jung-Hee, Poetry Runner-Up: Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia BEST INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL Champion: Spark to become BEST DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION Champion: Cave of Forgotten Dreams RunnerUp: The Arbor BEST Script Champion: Asghar Farhadi, A Separation Runner-Up: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Champion: Christopher Plummer, Beginners Runner-Up: Patton Oswalt, Youthful Adult BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Champion: Jessica Chastain, Coriolanus, Your Financial Troubles, The Help, Take Shelter, Texas Killing Fields, The Tree of Existence Runner-Up: Jesse McTeer, Albert Nobbs BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Champion: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Existence Runner-Up: Cao Yu, Capital of scotland - Existence and Dying BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Champion: Dante Ferretti, Hugo Runner-Up: Maria Djurkovic, Mess Tailor Soldier Spy BEST MUSIC/SCORE Champion: Caffeine Brothers and sisters, Hanna Runner-Up: High high cliff Martinez, Drive PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'The Descendants' Premiere Red-colored-colored Carpet Arrivals PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Your building of 'The Descendants' Christopher Plummer Jessica Chastain Michael Fassbender The Tree of Existence Hanna Hugo

Scott Rudin on 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' Waiting Game: 'It's a Movie, Not a Worm on the End of a Hook'

For Scott Rudin quote aficionados , this has been a banner five days. The brusque super producer began the week by blasting NYer film critic David Denby in an email for breaking the 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' embargo. "The needs of the magazine cannot trump your word," Rudin wrote in an email. "The fact that the review is good is immaterial, as I suspect you know. You've very badly damaged the movie by doing this, and I could not in good conscience invite you to see another movie of mine again." Burn! But it's not just Denby who gets wrath-y emails from Rudin -- it's the NY Times too. For an article about 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' -- the new Tom Hanks/Sandra Bullock film that Rudin produced, and the last remaining major Academy Awards contender to screen for critics and tastemakers this year -- Rudin was asked about his latest bit of "Oscar bait." "Feel free to write what you want, as I don't especially care," Rudin wrote in an email to reporter Brooks Barnes. "It's a movie, not a worm on the end of a hook." Double burn! You just know Denby is reading this right now and sniggering to himself. Whether 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' capitalizes on its positioning as an Oscar film is probably of minimal consequence to Rudin. The producer -- who won a Best Picture Oscar in 2007 for 'No Country for Old Men' -- also produced the aforementioned 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' and 'Moneyball,' two other high-profile Academy Award contenders. 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' hits theaters in limited release later this month. [via NYT] [Photo: Warner Bros.] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

12 Galleries-Marketers, 29 Films, 9 Moguls: The Challengers Deadline Hollywood Event

Deadline Hollywood has always attempted to innovate while other showbiz media shops basically imitate. So Ive produced a 2-day event totally free to participants and guests known as ‘THE Challengers’. Each studio and distributor, major and indie, willmake an exhibition of the Award contender films straight to asked Academy Of Movement PictureArts & Sciences membersand choose Hollywood Guild people. Guests can chooseto come for just one day or both days.This free event includes gratis Buffet Lunch focused by premium La restaurants Craig’s (Saturday) and also the Capital Grille (Sunday). ‘THE Challengers’has chock-full so quick that people’re now openinga second theatre to accomodate everyone else. Individuals current AMPAS people who didn’t receive their invites for reasons uknown (we'd lots of complaints about our mailing house) can stillgain admittance by contacting RSVP@deadline.com or calling the RSVP line at 310-484-2572 before Friday noon.Like a last measure current AMPAS memberscancome straight to the Landmark Theatre on 10850 West Pico Blvd in La Saturday and/or Sunday. ‘THE Challengers’ event has gotten official notification it falls inside the Academy’s approved recommendations. Current AMPASand choose Hollywood Guild people ought to know that entrance and seatingto ‘THE Challengers’ is on the ‘first come, first serve’ basis and it is in no way guaranteed. Noguests permitted. Each invitee must go through security clearance and showAcademy or Guild identification cardsto gain admittancethroughout your day. But we recommend you're able to the theatre as soon as 9 AMon Saturday and/or Sunday to make sure prime seating.Check-instarts at 10 AM and presentations continue until 5 PM.Remember that theMogul Q&A Sections at 2 PM Saturday (majors) and Sunday (indies) will fill rapidly. Sponsors:Rentrak, Screen Engine, Paradigm, Dell, Barnes and Noble.

Popular Cinema's Dude-Sex Drought

I think it’s the best thing ever, but others’ mileage seems to vary — convincingly so, regarding films like The Hangover Part II and The Change-Up: “It’s ridiculous; it’s like, one minute the skeevy dude in the married dude’s body is like ‘I’M GOING TO BANG YOUR WIFE’ and then he’s overcome by feelings and can’t and the uptight dude in the player-dude’s body is like ‘I’M GOING TO BANG THIS HOT WONDERFUL CHICK’ and then he just can’t because of also his feelings. So… somehow, no one ends up having sex.” Hmm. May I suggest Shame? [The Awl]

High School Romances and Hip Family Dramas: Sundance 2012 Competition Slates Announced

comments: 0 || add yours It’s nearly December which means that it is time for the Sundance Film Festival to announce their competitive programming selections. This year, the slates are varied containing two (2!) Mark Webber features, one Jonathan Kasdan teen rom-com, another Lena Dunham-penned dysfunctional NYC family drama and a number of titles that span genres and the globe. Among the actors featured in the line-up: Joel Edgerton, Michael Cera, Amanda Seyfried, Danny Glover, John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby, Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, John Hawkes, William H. Macy and Helen Hunt. Look through the full press release below to predict who might be this year’s Elizabeth Olsen and what might be this year’s Take Shelter. ——— Park City, UT — Sundance Institute announced today the films selected for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Film Festival will take place January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The complete list of films is available at www.sundance.org/festival. Robert Redford, Founder and President of Sundance Institute remarked, “We are, and always have been, a festival about the filmmakers. So what are they doing? What are they saying? They are making statements about the changing world we are living in. Some are straight-forward, some novel and some offbeat but always interesting. One can never predict. We know only at the end, and I love that.” John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, “In these challenging economic times, filmmakers have had to be more resourceful and truly independent in their approaches to filmmaking. Looking at this year’s submissions, the result is more fully realized visions and stronger stories; we are proud to see the Festival emerging as a key indicator of the health and creativity of our filmmaking community. The overall quality of the films in the 2012 Competition section will make for an exciting Festival and a remarkable year ahead for independent film audiences everywhere.” For the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, 110 feature-length films were selected, representing 31 countries and 46 first-time filmmakers, including 26 in competition. These films were selected from 4,042 feature-length film submissions composed of 2,059 U.S. and 1,983 international feature-length films. 88 films at the Festival will be world premieres. In addition to the four Competition categories, the Festival presents feature-length films in six out-of-competition sections. Films in the Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, NEXT <=> and New Frontier sections will be announced on December 1. Films in the Premieres and Documentary Premieres sections will be announced on December 5. On Day One, the Festival will screen one narrative film and one documentary from both the U.S. and World Cinema competitions, as well as one shorts program. Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “The enthusiasm and optimism of John Cooper and his programming team this year is infectious; we are all excited to unveil and experience their selections for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. On behalf of my colleagues at the Sundance Institute we are pleased to introduce new storytellers to our audience, welcome new and returning filmmakers to the Festival and kick off a lively cultural dialogue for 2012.” U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION The world premieres of 16 American narrative feature films. Beasts of the Southern Wild / U.S.A. (Director: Benh Zeitlin, Screenwriters: Benh Zeitlin, Lucy Alibar) — Waters gonna rise up, wild animals gonna rerun from the grave, and everything south of the levee is goin’ under, in this tale of a six year old named Hushpuppy, who lives with her daddy at the edge of the world. Cast: Quvenzhan Wallis, Dwight Henry. The Comedy / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Robert Donne, Colm O’Leary) — Indifferent even to the prospects of inheriting his father’s estate, Swanson whiles away his days with a group of aging Brooklyn hipsters, engaging in small acts of recreational cruelty and pacified boredom. Cast: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Kate Lyn Sheil, Alexia Rassmusen, Gregg Turkington. The End of Love / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Mark Webber) — A young father unravels following the loss of the mother of his child. Cast: Mark Webber, Shannyn Sossamon, Michael Cera, Jason Ritter, Amanda Seyfried, Frankie Shaw. Filly Brown / U.S.A. (Directors: Youssef Delara, Michael D. Olmos, Screenwriter: Youssef Delara) — A Hip Hop-driven drama about a Mexican girl who rises to fame and consciousness as she copes with the incarceration of her mother through music. Cast: Lou Diamond Phillips, Gina Rodriguez, Jenni Rivera, Edward James Olmos. The First Time / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jonathan Kasdan) — Two high schoolers meet at a party. Over the course of a weekend, things turn magical, romantic, complicated and funny, as they discover what it’s like to fall in love for the first time. Cast: Brittany Robertson, Dylan O’Brien, Craig Roberts, James Frecheville, Victoria Justice. For Ellen / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: So Yong Kim) — A struggling musician takes an overnight long-distance drive in order to fight his estranged wife for custody of their young daughter. Cast: Paul Dano, Jon Heder, Jena Malone, Margarita Levieva, Shay Mandigo. Hello I Must Be Going / U.S.A. (Director: Todd Louiso, Screenwriter: Sarah Koskoff) — Divorced, childless, demoralized and condemned to move back in with her parents at the age of 35, Amy Minsky’s prospects look bleak - until the unexpected attention of a teenage boy changes everything. Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Blythe Danner, Christopher Abbott, John Rubinstein, Julie White. DAY ONE FILM Keep the Lights On / U.S.A. (Director: Ira Sachs, Screenwriters: Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias) — An autobiographically inspired story of a passionate long-term relationship between two men driven by addiction and secrets but bound by love and hopefulness. Cast: Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth, Julianne Nicholson, Souleymane Sy Savane, Paprika Steen. LUV / U.S.A. (Director: Sheldon Candis, Screenwriters: Sheldon Candis, Justin Wilson) — An orphaned 11-year-old boy is forced to face the unpleasant truth about his beloved uncle during one harrowing day in the streets of Baltimore. Cast: Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton. Middle Of Nowhere / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ava DuVernay) — When her husband is incarcerated, an African-American woman struggles to maintain her marriage and her identity. Cast: Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Touissant, Edwina Findley. Nobody Walks / U.S.A. (Director: Ry Russo-Young, Screenwriters: Lena Dunham, Ry Russo-Young) — Martine, a young artist from NY, is invited into the home of a hip, liberal LA family for a week. Her presence unravels the family’s carefully maintained status quo, and a mess of sexual and emotional entanglements ensues. Cast: John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby, Rosemarie DeWitt, India Ennenga, Justin Kirk. Safety Not Guaranteed / U.S.A. (Director: Colin Trevorrow, Screenwriter: Derek Connolly) — A trio of magazine employees investigate a classified ad seeking a partner for time travel. One employee develops feelings for the paranoid but compelling loner and seeks to discover what he’s really up to. Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karen Soni. Save the Date / U.S.A. (Director: Michael Mohan, Screenwriters: Jeffrey Brown, Egan Reich, Michael Mohan) — As her sister Beth prepares to get married, Sarah finds herself caught up in an intense post-breakup rebound. The two fumble through the redefined emotional landscape of modern day relationships, forced to relearn how to love and be loved. Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Martin Starr, Geoffrey Arend, Mark Webber. Simon Killer / France, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Antonio Campos) — A recent college graduate goes to Paris after breaking up with his girlfriend of 5 years. Once there, he falls in love with a young prostitute and their fateful journey begins. Cast: Brady Corbet, Mati Diop, Constance Rousseau, Michael Abiteboul, Solo. Smashed / U.S.A. (Director: James Ponsoldt, Screenwriters: Susan Burke, James Ponsoldt) — Kate and Charlie are a young married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of music, laughter and… drinking. When Kate decides to get sober, her new lifestyle brings troubling issues to the surface and calls into question her relationship with Charlie. Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally. The Surrogate / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ben Lewin) — Mark O’Brien, a 36-year-old poet and journalist with an iron lung, decides he no longer wishes to be a virgin. With the help of his therapist and the guidance of his priest, he contacts a professional sex surrogate to take him on a journey to manhood. Cast: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy. U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION The world premieres of 16 American documentary films. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry / U.S.A., China (Director: Alison Klayman) — Renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has garnered international attention as much for his ambitious artwork as his political provocations and increasingly public clashes with the Chinese government. The Atomic States of America / U.S.A. (Directors: Don Argott, Sheena M. Joyce) — In 2010, the United States announced construction of the first new nuclear power plant in more than 32 years. A year later, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Fukushima Power Plant in Japan sparking a fierce debate in the U.S. over the safety and viability of nuclear power. Chasing Ice / U.S.A. (Director: Jeff Orlowski) — Science, spectacle and human passion mix in this stunningly cinematic portrait as National Geographic photographer James Balog captures time-lapse photography of glaciers over several years providing tangible visual evidence of climate change. DETROPIA / U.S.A. (Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady) — The woes of Detroit are emblematic of the collapse of the U.S. manufacturing base. This is the dramatic story of a city and its people who refuse to leave the building, even as the flames are rising. ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare / U.S.A. (Directors: Matthew Heineman, Susan Froemke) — What can be done to save our broken medical system? Powerful forces are trying to maintain the status quo in a profit-driven medical industry, but a movement to bring innovative methods of prevention and healing is finally gaining ground - potentially saving the health of a nation. Finding North / U.S.A. (Directors: Lori Silverbush, Kristi Jacobson) — A crisis of hunger looms in America and is not limited to the poverty stricken and uneducated. Can a return to policies of the 1970s save our future? The House I Live In / U.S.A. (Director: Eugene Jarecki) — For over 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests, made America the world’s largest jailer and damaged poor communities at home and abroad. Yet, drugs are cheaper, purer and more available today than ever. Where did we go wrong and what is the path toward healing? How to Survive a Plague / U.S.A. (Director: David France) — The untold story of the intensive efforts that turned AIDS into a manageable condition - and the improbable group of (mostly HIV-positive) young men and women whose amazing resilience broke through a time of rampant death and political indifference. The Invisible War / U.S.A. (Director: Kirby Dick) — An investigative and powerfully emotional examination of the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the U.S. military, the institutions that cover up its existence and the profound personal and social consequences that arise from it. Marina Abramovi The Artist is Present / U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Akers) — Marina Abramovi prepares for a major retrospective of her work at The Museum of Modern Art in NY hoping to finally silence four decades of skeptics who proclaim: ‘But why is this art?’ ME at the ZOO / U.S.A. (Directors: Chris Moukarbel, Valerie Veatch) — With 270 million hits to date, Chris Crocker, an uncanny young video blogger from small town Tennessee, is considered the Internet’s first rebel folk hero and at the same time one of its most controversial personalities. The Other Dream Team / Lithuania, U.S.A. (Director: Marius Markevicius) — The 1992 Lithuanian National Basketball Team went from the clutches of Communism to the Summer Olympics in Barcelona - a testament to the powerful role of sports as a catalyst for cultural identity. The Queen of Versailles / U.S.A. (Director: Lauren Greenfield) — Jackie and David were triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America - a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot palace inspired by Versailles - when their timeshare empire collapses and their house is foreclosed. Their rags-to-riches-to-rags story reveals the innate virtues and flaws of the American Dream. DAY ONE FILM Slavery By Another Name / U.S.A. (Director: Sam Pollard) — As slavery came to an end with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, a new system of involuntary servitude took its place with shocking force, brutalizing, terrorizing and ultimately circumscribing the lives of hundreds of thousands of African Americans well into the 20th century. Love Free or Die: How the Bishop of New Hampshire is Changing the World / U.S.A. (Director: Macky Alston) — One man whose two defining passions are in conflict: An openly gay bishop refuses to leave the Church or the man he loves. We’re Not Broke / U.S.A. (Directors: Karin Hayes, Victoria Bruce) — As American lawmakers slash budgets and lay off employees, leaving many people scrambling to survive, multibillion-dollar corporations are concealing colossal profits overseas to avoid paying U.S. income tax. Fed-up Americans are taking their frustration to the streets. WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION Fourteen films from emerging filmmaking talents offer fresh perspectives and inventive styles. 4 Suns / Czech Republic (Director and screenwriter: Bohdan Slma) — Immature Fogi attempts to straighten up and accept his responsibilities as a new husband and father, as well as role model to his troubled son from a previous relationship, but finds himself unable to change his nature, leaving him to watch haplessly as his family begins to crumble. Cast: Jaroslav Plesl, Aa Geislerov, Karel Roden, Ji Mdl, Klra Melkov. World Premiere About the Pink Sky / Japan (Director and screenwriter: Keiichi Kobayashi) — A high school girl finds a wallet full of money and tracks down its owner, leading to unexpected consequences for the girl and her friends. Cast: Ai Ikeda, Ena Koshino, Reiko Fujiwara, Tsubasa Takayama, Hakusyu Togetsuan. International Premiere Can / Turkey (Director and screenwriter: Rasit Celikezer) — A young married couple live happily in Istanbul, but their decision to illegally procure a child threatens their future together. Cast: Selen Ucer, Serdar Orcin, Berkan Demirbag, Erkan Avci. World Premiere Father’s Chair (A Cadeira do Pai) / Brazil (Director: Luciano Moura, Screenwriters: Elena Soarez, Luciano Moura) — Following the trail of his runaway teen son, Theo confronts his own identity as a son, a father and a man along the way. Cast: Wagner Moura, Lima Duarte, Mariana Lima. World Premiere L / Greece (Director: Babis Makridis, Screenwriters: Efthymis Filippou, Babis Makridis) — A man who lives in his car gets caught up in the undeclared war between motorcycle riders and car drivers. Cast: Aris Servetalis, Makis Papadimitriou, Lefteris Mathaios, Nota Tserniafski, Stavros Raptis. World Premiere The Last Elvis (El Ultimo Elvis) / Argentina (Director: Armando Bo, Screenwriters: Nicols Giacobone and Armando Bo) — A Buenos Aires Elvis impersonator who believes that he is the reincarnation of the King struggles to shake free from reality and live his musical dream. Cast: John McInerny, Griselda Siciliani, Margarita Lopez. World Premiere Madrid, 1987 / Spain (Director and screenwriter: David Trueba) — The balance of power and desire constantly shifts during the meeting of an older journalist and a young student, of two generations completely foreign to one another. Cast: Jos Sacristn, Mara Valverde, Ramon Fontser. International Premiere My Brother the Devil / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Sally El Hosaini) — A pair of British Arab brothers trying to get by in gangland London learn the extraordinary courage it takes to be yourself. Cast: James Floyd, Sad Taghmaoui, Fady Elsayed. World Premiere Teddy Bear / Denmark (Director: Mads Matthiesen, Screenwriters: Mads Matthiesen, Martin Pieter Zandvliet) — Dennis, a painfully shy 38-year-old bodybuilder who lives with his mother, sets off to Thailand in search of love. Cast: Kim Kold, Elsebeth Steentoft, Lamaiporn Sangmanee Hougaard, David Winters, Allan Mogensen. World Premiere Valley of Saints / India, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Musa Syeed) — Gulzar plans to run away from the war and poverty surrounding his village in Kashmir with his best friend, but a beautiful young woman researching the dying lake leads him to contemplate a different future Cast: Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, Mohammed Afzal Sofi, Neelofar Hamid. World Premiere Violeta Went to Heaven (Violeta se Fue a Los Cielos) / Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Spain (Director: Andrs Wood, Screenwriters: Eliseo Altunaga, Rodrigo Bazaes, Guillermo Caldern, Andrs Wood) — A portrait of famed Chilean singer and folklorist Violeta Parra filled with her musical work, her memories, her loves and her hopes. Cast: Francisca Gaviln, Thomas Durand, Luis Machn, Gabriela Aguilera, Roberto Faras. International Premiere Wish You Were Here / Australia (Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith, Screenwriters: Felicity Price, Kieran Darcy-Smith) — Four friends embark on a carefree holiday, but only three return home. Who knows what happened on that fateful night? Cast: Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Felicity Price, Antony Starr. World Premiere. DAY ONE FILM WRONG / France (Director and screenwriter: Quentin Dupieux) — Dolph searches for his lost dog, but through encounters with a nympho pizza-delivery girl, a jogging neighbor seeking the absolute, and a mysterious righter of wrongs, he may eventually lose his mind… and his identity. Cast: Jack Plotnick, Eric Judor, Alexis Dziena, Steve Little, William Fichtner. World Premiere Young & Wild / Chile (Director: Marialy Rivas, Screenwriters: Marialy Rivas, Camila Gutirrez, Pedro Peirano) — 17-year-old Daniela, raised in the bosom of a strict Evangelical family and recently unmasked as a fornicator by her shocked parents, struggles to find her own path to spiritual harmony. Cast: Alicia Rodrguez, Aline Kuppenheim, Mara Gracia Omegna, Felipe Pinto. World Premiere WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION Twelve documentaries by some of the most courageous and extraordinary filmmakers working today. REVOLUTION / Denmark (Directors: Omar Shargawi, Karim El Hakim) — In January 2011, two filmmakers captured the reality of the Egyptian revolution as it occurred out of view from the world’s media in the alleyways and streets away from the square - and in the process were arrested by the secret police. North American Premiere 5 Broken Cameras / Palestine, Israel, France (Directors: Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi) — A Palestinian journalist chronicles his village’s resistance to a separation barrier being erected on their land and in the process captures his young son’s lens on the world. International Premiere THE AMBASSADOR / Denmark (Director: Mads Brgger) — What happens when a very white European man buys his way into being a diplomat in one of Central Africa’s most failed nations? Welcome to the bizarre and hidden world of African diplomacy, where gin and tonics flow and diamond hustlers and corrupt politicians run free. North American Premiere **BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*** / Sweden (Director: Fredrik Gertten) — The behind-the-scenes story of a full-scale attack on freedom of speech. When Dole set its sights on the WG Film production Bananas!* in May 2009, confusion was the method, aggression was the tactic and media control was the story. North American Premiere China Heavyweight / Canada, China (Director: Yung Chang) — In central China, where a coach recruits poor rural teenagers and turns them into Western-style boxing champions, the top students face dramatic choices as they graduate - should they fight for the collective good or for themselves? A metaphor for the choices everyone in the New China faces now. World Premiere Gypsy Davy / Israel, U.S.A., Spain (Director: Rachel Leah Jones) — How does a white boy with Alabama roots become a Flamenco guitarist in Andalusian boots? A tale of self-invention and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of the cost to others. International Premiere The Imposter / United Kingdom (Director: Bart Layton) — In 1994 a 13-year-old boy disappears from his home in San Antonio, Texas. Three and a half years later he is found alive thousands of miles away in Spain with a shocking story of kidnap and torture. But all is not what it seems in this tale that is truly stranger than fiction. World Premiere Indie Game: The Movie / Canada (Directors: Lisanne Pajot, James Swirsky) — Follow the dramatic journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world. World Premiere The Law in These Parts / Israel (Director: Ra’anan Alexandrowicz) — Israel’s 43-year military legal system in the Occupied Palestinian Territories unfolds through provocative interviews with the system’s architects and historical footage showing the enactment of these laws upon the Palestinian population. International Premiere Payback / Canada (Director: Jennifer Baichwal) — Based on Margaret Atwood’s best-selling book, Payback explores how debt is a central organizing principle in our lives - influencing relationships, societies, governing structures and the very fate of this planet. World Premiere Putin’s Kiss / Denmark (Director: Lise Birk Pedersen) — 19-year-old Marsha is a model spokesperson in a strongly nationalistic Russian youth movement that aims to protect the country from its enemies. When she starts recognizing the organization’s flaws, she must take a stand for or against it. North American Premiere Searching for Sugar Man / Denmark, United Kingdom (Director: Malik Bendjelloul) — Rodriguez was the greatest ’70s US rock icon who never was. Hailed as the greatest recording artist of his generation he disappeared into oblivion - rising again from the ashes in a completely different context many miles away. World Premiere. DAY ONE FILM The Sundance Film Festival A program of the non-profit Sundance Institute, the Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most ground-breaking films of the past two decades, including sex, lies, and videotape, Maria Full of Grace, The Cove, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Precious, Trouble the Water, and Napoleon Dynamite, and through its New Frontier initiative, has showcased the cinematic works of media artists including Isaac Julian, Doug Aitken, Pierre Huyghe, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Matthew Barney. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors - Entertainment Weekly, HP, Acura, Sundance Channel and Chase SapphireSM; Leadership Sponsors - Adobe Systems Incorporated, Bing, Canon, DIRECTV, Focus Forward, a partnership between GE and CINELAN, Southwest Airlines, Sprint and Yahoo!; Sustaining Sponsors - Bertolli Frozen Meal Soups, FilterForGood, a partnership between Brita and Nalgene, Grey Goose Vodka, Hilton HHonors and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, L’Oral Paris, Stella Artois, Timberland, Time Warner Inc. and YouTubeTM. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations will defray costs associated with the 10-day Festival and the nonprofit Sundance Institute’s year-round programs for independent film and theatre artists. www.sundance.org/festival Sundance Institute Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, I Am My Own Wife, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. # # Tagged: sundance film festival, sundance2012

'Rampart' Trailer: 'Shield' the film?

There is plenty of early Oscar buzz for Woodsy Harrelson's performance inside the approaching film 'Rampart.' Mind for the movie's trailer page on Apple which is peppered with quotes adoring his role as Dork Brown, a corrupt LAPD officer -- employment that fans of 'The Shield,' the considerably acclaimed police drama on Foreign exchange, will uncover quite familiar. The show, which went from 2002-2008, adopted Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a vigilante cop in L.A. who eventually eventually ends up jeopardizing his career and family. Not only will be the plot points between 'The Shield' and 'Rampart' similar, nevertheless the look, dialogue and overall tone are, too (just take a look as of this Mackey photo and compare it with Harrelson's inside the poster right). Whether 'Rampart' can be a 'Shield' copy remains to look. Audiences in NY and La will uncover on November. 23. 'Rampart,' which stars Ice Cube, Anne Heche and Sigourney Weaver, develops wider in 2012. Mind to Apple to find out a clip in HD. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

LA Sheriffs Department Reopens Analysis Into Natalie Forest Dying

First Released: November 17, 2011 10:12 PM EST Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner throughout Look Magazine Party at Jimmys Restaurant in Beverly Hillsides, Feb 14, 1979The analysis in to the dying of West Side Story star Natalie Wood continues to be reopened nearly 3 decades after her dying. The La Sheriffs Department introduced this news on Thursday mid-day, somewhat under two days prior to the 30th anniversary from the actress dying. On November 29, 1981, Natalie Wood Wagner drowned while boating from the Isthmus of Catalina Island. At that time, the drowning was looked into through the La County Sheriffs Department and also the La County Coroners Office. The drowning was ruled any sort of accident, a release in the LASD to gain access to Hollywood read. Lately Sheriffs Homicide Researchers were approached by persons who mentioned they'd more information concerning the Natalie Wood Wagner drowning. Because of the extra information, Sheriffs Homicide Bureau has made the decision to visit again the situation, the discharge ongoing. Wood, the star of films such as the James Dean vehicle Digital rebel With No Cause and Miracle on 34th Street, died at age 43, abandoning her husband Robert Wagner and 2 children. The actress dying because of drowning happened throughout a remain on her yacht with husband Robert, and actor Christopher Walken. On Thursday evening, a repetition for that Wagner family released an argument to NBC News within the analysis reopening. Although nobody within the Wagner family members have been told by the LA County Sheriffs department relating to this matter, they fully offer the efforts from the LA County Sheriffs Dept. and trust they'll evaluate whether any new information relevant towards the dying of Natalie Wood Wagner applies, which it develops from a credible source or sources apart from individuals simply attempting to make money from the thirty year anniversary of her tragic dying, the statement read. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Deadline Advisory: Movie Awards Coverage

Deadline will ramp up its movie awards season coverage starting today. Of course Awards Columnist Pete Hammond will continue to be Deadline’s linchpin to all honors including Oscars, Golden Globes, WGA, PGA, SAG, and the Hollywood arts and crafts.Mike Fleming and Nikki Finke will be weighing in frequently with breaking news and Q&As with major players. And life wouldn’t be worth living without Nikki’s awards show live-snarking… What’s new this year is Nikki’s first annual Oscars event calledThe Contenders on December 10th and 11th at the Landmark Theatre with 11 major and indiefilm studios showcasing their awardscontenders directly to Academy Motion Picture Arts & Sciences members… And, again, there will be awards print editions. For the last2010-2011 movie awards season,Deadline’s Nikki Finkeplanned, designed, and edited 7 Oscar awards publications, as well as 2 Emmy awards print editions. Those 9Deadline publicationsare finalists in the ‘Best Of’ category of the Annual National Entertainment Awards. This 2011-2012 awards season will usher in thepermanent print publicationcalled Awards|Line planned, designed, and written by a mostly freelance staff. It will repurpose online content from Deadline,and some of the freelance content from Awards|Line may be repurposed on Deadine.Once again, therewill be7 Awards|Line print editions coveringproducers,directors, writers, actors,actresses as well as the animation, foreign language, music, specialeffects, cinematography, costumes, and other categories. The first issue is published today.

Eric Roth is at predicts pen 'Cleopatra'

Roth"Very Noisy and very Close" scribe Eric Roth is at predicts reteam with producer Scott Rudin around the new the new sony Pictures' "Nefertiti," which has Jennifer Aniston installed on star since the Egyptian full.David Fincher is circling the pic, which John Helgeland initially modified from Stacy Schiff's best-selling book "Nefertiti: A Existence." There is no offer place yet for Roth, despite the fact that The brand new the new sony wouldn't confirm his participation, sources near the project confirm he's been approached and may likely begin writing next a few days.Movie will state Cleopatra's story in the woman's perspective, displaying just like a master strategist if the involves both politics and war.Rudin acquired it which is creating the pic, that's likely to possess a substantial cost, though Jolie has proven herself just like a bankable actress who is able to open a movie. Her latter live-action photos, "The Tourist" and "Salt," correspondingly made $278 and $293 million worldwide for that new the new sony.It remains unclear whether "Nefertiti" will probably be shot in 3d, which was James Cameron's plan when he was considering pointing the project.Roth formerly written Sony's Muhammad Ali biopic "Ali" for director Michael Mann, and several recently written "The Curious Situation of Benjamin Button" for Jolie's partner, Kaira Pitt. Scribe is repped by CAA. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Join An L.A. Evening With... 'Take Shelter'

Back Stage presents a free screening of "Take Shelter," followed by a Q&A with the film's star, Michael Shannon. The event will be Saturday, November 12th at 11 a.m. at the Pacific Design Center, Silver Screen Theatre, 8687 Melrose Ave. West Hollywood, CA.To RSVP, email EveningWith@backstage.com with "Take Shelter" in the subject header. Indicate if you plan on bringing a guest. Parking will be validated.Michael Shannon recieved an Oscar nomination for his work in the film "Revolutionary Road." He currently stars on "Boardwalk Empire" as Prohobition agent Nelson Van Alden.About the film:Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.Curtis LaForche lives in a small Ohio town with his wife Samantha and six-year-old daughter Hannah, who is deaf. Curtis makes a modest living as a crew chief for a sand-mining company. Samantha is a stay-at-home mother and part-time seamstress who supplements their income by selling handmade wares at the flea market each weekend. Money is tight, and navigating Hannah's healthcare and special needs education is a constant struggle. Despite that, Curtis and Samantha are very much in love and their family is a happy one.Then Curtis begins having terrifying dreams about an encroaching, apocalyptic storm. He chooses to keep the disturbance to himself, channeling his anxiety into the obsessive building of a storm shelter in their backyard. His seemingly inexplicable behavior concerns and confounds Samantha, and provokes intolerance among co-workers, friends and neighbors. But the resulting strain on his marriage and tension within the community doesn't compare to Curtis' private fear of what his dreams may truly signify.Faced with the proposition that his disturbing visions signal disaster of one kind or another, Curtis confides in Samantha, testing the power of their bond against the highest possible stakes.

Cheers & Jeers: Sons of Anarchy's Perlman from the Hour

Ron Perlman Cheers to Sons of Anarchy for releasing the animal in Ron Perlman. Want more Cheers & Jeers? Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now! FX's motorcycle-gang drama has sometimes soft-pedaled the wonder and also the Animal vet's character, SAMCRO prez Clay Morrow, showing him weight loss of the arthritic pussycat than the usual ferocious tiger. However in SOA's superb Season 4 - and particularly within this week's standout episode, "Hands" (directed by Robocop's Peter Weller) - Perlman made contact with together with his inner Hellboy. Clay purchased popular on stepson Jax's old lady, Tara (Maggie Siff), and was not able to prevent it once he learned Jax as well as their kids could be together with her. The botched result: Tara's hands got crushed, together with her career like a surgeon. As well as in the hour's shocking climax, Clay savagely beat his wife, Gemma (Katey Sagal), leading her to swear revenge, via Jax. Without doubt about this: SOA's central dramatic conflict - and Perlman's compelling performance - is actually getting excited. What have you think about Ron Perlman on last night's Sons of Anarchy? Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Kris Jenner: Kim Kardashian "Really Needed to Talk" to Kris Humphries

Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner Why did Kim Kardashian fly to Minnesota to see Kris Humphries over the weekend?"She really needed to talk to him," her mother Kris Jenner tells Extra. "She's just trying to figure it out. ... She's trying to do the right thing, follow her heart."Kim Kardashian flies to Kris Humphries' hometownJenner says he doesn't know if her daughter, who filed for divorce last week after 72 days of marriage, was looking to reconcile with Humphries. During the trip, the estranged couple met with the pastor who officiated their lavish August wedding. "They [need to] show their emotions," Jenner says. "She needs to do what she's doing now and cry and figure it out."She admits the divorce filing caught her by surprise. "I wish that I would have been able to help her along with that, but I wasn't, but at this point I can only let her know that she is loved beyond belief and whatever she decides is OK," Jenner says.Kris Humphries: I'm devastated that Kim filed for divorceJenner adds that Kardashian will likely speak out about the situation once the "dust settles.""Whatever decisions Kim is making right now, she's a very smart girl and she's gonna do the right thing,"she says.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Blue Velvet' Blu-Ray Outtakes

Who is able to neglect the classic chuckle-fest that was David Lynch's hallucinogenic portrait in the American small town, "Blue Velvet"? Emerge, it absolutely was a lot of fun to produce. In this particular exclusive outtakes featurette within the approaching extra-loaded Blu-ray relieve the 1986 classic, we get through to the start to see the lighter side from the movie that begins while using discovery from the severed human ear. The 25th Anniversary Blu-ray, which will be stores today (November 8), features a fascinating bloopers catch the feeling film. The "Blue Velvet" Blu-ray comes complete with many different accessories worth searching at. Furthermore for the bloopers reel, the release offers 50 minutes of formerly unreleased removed moments. Incorporated within this are among David Lynch's favorite moments which was never, in which a lady lights her hard nipples burning. Oh, "Blue Velvet," around your exact same techniques two-and-a-half decades later! "Blue Velvet" could be acquired on Blu-ray today (November 8). Whoever else consider the bloopers? Inform us inside the comments below and also on Twitter!

AFM 2011: Hayden Panettiere, Melissa Leo Join Racing Thriller 'Over the Wall'

Melissa Leo and Hayden Panettiere are joining the cast well over the Wall, a racing thriller compiled by Steven Christopher Youthful, who's also making his directorial debut.our editor recommendsMelissa Leo on her behalf Questionable Advertisements: The Academy awards Are About 'Pimping Yourself Out'Hayden Panettiere Handles 'Harsh' Spotlight of Playing Charged Killer Amanda KnoxRelated Subjects•AFM 2011 The film, which stars Nick Stahl andFreddy Rodriguez, will shoot in Ohio early in the year. New York can also be around the location list. PHOTOS: On Set using the Leading Ladies of Hollywood Wall is really a love story occur the field of stock vehicle racing and follows a husband, wife, surrogate mother and closest friend handling a tragic event. Ray Meistrich and Ken H. Keller are creating. Executive producers are Steven Beer and Rodriguez. AFM 2011: THR's Complete Coverage Indomina Group, which the 2009 week introduced it had been focusing on two Cabin Fever prequels, is handling worldwide sales and presenting the project to purchasers at AFM. Related Subjects AFM Hayden Panetierre Movie Casting Melissa Leo AFM 2011

'NCIS' pair power Tuesday triumph for CBS

Fox's Tuesday lineup returned from its baseball-dictated hiatus to lower numbers this week, as CBS swept the night's three hours in key demos. NBC's combo of ''The Biggest Loser'' and ''Parenthood'' looked better, as did CW's rookie drama ''Ringer.'' CBS saw all three of its dramas win their hours in demos and total viewers despite week-to-week declines. ''NCIS'' (3.9/11 in 18-49, 19.4 million viewers overall) easily led at 8 o'clock , by 3 shares in 18-49 and by 7 shares in adults 25-54 , and ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' kept the net on top at 9 (3.4/9 in 18-49, 15.6 million viewers overall). At 10, ''Unforgettable'' was on the low side (2.3/6 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall) but still led in all categories. Fox's ''Glee'' (2.9/8 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) and ''New Girl'' (3.5/9 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) were down nearly 20% from their last originals four weeks ago; while some declines were expected following such a delay, Fox will have its fingers crossed that the shows bounce back in coming weeks. At 9:30, ''Raising Hope'' (2.5/6 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall) was down 14% from its last original. For the night, Fox ran second to CBS in adults 18-49 while remaining on top among the 12-34 crowd. ABC's Tim Allen comedy ''Last Man Standing'' dipped some more in its fourth week (2.6/8 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall), as did lead-out ''Man Up'' in its third (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall); combined, they tied NBC for third place in 18-49 for the hour. The ''Dancing With the Stars'' results show followed with a week-to-week uptick (2.8/7 in 18-49, 15.2 million viewers overall), as did 10 p.m. drama ''Body of Proof'' (2.0/5 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall). NBC's ''The Biggest Loser'' (2.3/6 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) bounced back from last week , when it faced special competition from Fox's ''The X Factor'' , and joined 10 p.m. drama ''Parenthood'' (2.2/6 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) in matching season highs. ''Parenthood'' enjoyed its most competitive position relative to CBS' ''Unforgettable'' to date, pulling into an 18-49 tie at 10:30. At the CW, ''Ringer'' (0.8/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million viewers overall) held steady in broad categories but was up a tick vs. its most recent original episode in both adults 18-34 (0.8/2) and women 18-34 (1.2/3). Kicking off the night, ''90210'' (0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.5 million viewers overall) was in line with its previous new episode. Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: CBS, 3.2/9; Fox, 3.0/8; ABC and NBC, 2.3/6; Univision, 1.5/4; CW, 0.7/2. In total viewers: CBS, 15.4 million; ABC, 11.0 million; Fox, 7.0 million; NBC, 6.0 million; Univision, 3.5 million; CW, 1.6 million. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

At Actorfest LA, Learn the Secret to Success in Voice-Over

At Actorfest LA, Learn the Secret to Success in Voice-Over November 2, 2011 In the Succeeding in Voiceover panel at Actorfest LA, six industry professionals give you the insider's view of what it takes to succeed as a voiceover actor. Learn how to get cast as a Voice-Over Actor in Commercials and on Radio and TV.Voicebank's CEO Jeff Hixon leads this panel of top casting directors, voiceover artists, and agents, and they shares their best tips on breaking into this lucrative field, including how to build a career in voiceover.Speakers include: -- Jeff Hixon, CEO, Voicebank-- David Stieve, Voiceover Agent, AKA Talent Agency-- Terry Berland, Casting Director, Terry Berland Casting-- Rick Zieff, Producer, Director, Casting Director, Voiceover Talent and Coach-- Bill Ratner, Actor-- Ashley Russo, ActorTo register for this dynamic workshop, visit actorfestla2011.eventbrite.com.Actorfest LA, which is brought to you by Back Stage, the Actor's Resource, will take place on Saturday, November 5th at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles. To help kickstart your career, Actorfest offers more than two dozen exclusive Workshops; Casting Calls; Meet & Drops with Top Casting Directors; a Networking Caf; and an enormous Exhibit Hall, at which you can meet with acting teachers, coaches, schools, headshot photographers, and many more vendors who will help you succeed in your career.To register for Actorfest LA, please visit actorfestla2011.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit www.ActorfestLA.com. As you register, take advantage of our special limited-time subscription offers.Enjoy your day at Actorfest! At Actorfest LA, Learn the Secret to Success in Voice-Over November 2, 2011 In the Succeeding in Voiceover panel at Actorfest LA, six industry professionals give you the insider's view of what it takes to succeed as a voiceover actor. Learn how to get cast as a Voice-Over Actor in Commercials and on Radio and TV.Voicebank's CEO Jeff Hixon leads this panel of top casting directors, voiceover artists, and agents, and they shares their best tips on breaking into this lucrative field, including how to build a career in voiceover.Speakers include: -- Jeff Hixon, CEO, Voicebank-- David Stieve, Voiceover Agent, AKA Talent Agency-- Terry Berland, Casting Director, Terry Berland Casting-- Rick Zieff, Producer, Director, Casting Director, Voiceover Talent and Coach-- Bill Ratner, Actor-- Ashley Russo, ActorTo register for this dynamic workshop, visit actorfestla2011.eventbrite.com.Actorfest LA, which is brought to you by Back Stage, the Actor's Resource, will take place on Saturday, November 5th at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles. To help kickstart your career, Actorfest offers more than two dozen exclusive Workshops; Casting Calls; Meet & Drops with Top Casting Directors; a Networking Caf; and an enormous Exhibit Hall, at which you can meet with acting teachers, coaches, schools, headshot photographers, and many more vendors who will help you succeed in your career.To register for Actorfest LA, please visit actorfestla2011.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit www.ActorfestLA.com. As you register, take advantage of our special limited-time subscription offers.Enjoy your day at Actorfest!

Fox Axes Affion Crockett Sketch Show

Affion Crockett Fox has canceled the primetime sketch show Within the Flow with Affion Crockett, Entertainment Weekly reviews. The series, which went for six episodes in August, was executive-created by Jamie Foxx as well as in Living Color authors Fax Bahr and Adam Small. It released Sundays at 9. Fox to air two In Living Color special offers Fox a week ago introduced that will revive In Living Color for 2 half-hour special offers set to debut in spring 2012. Of their own sketch comedy show, Affion Crockett formerly told TVGuide.com, "It's an In Living Color 2011 and beyond-type flavor." Appears like there wasn't room for 2...

Hollywood Conglomerate Earnings Season: Ad Outlook, Digital Deals to Be in Focus

NY -- CEO commentary on the state and outlook of the advertising market will take center stage when entertainment conglomerates report their latest quarterly financials over the next couple of weeks. Stocks of sector biggies had a rough third quarter amid concerns about a potential relapse of the U.S. economy into recession, but last week's third-quarter GDP report came in better than expected and showed the strongest economic growth in a year. "The recent market improvement and not-apocalyptic third-quarter GDP results should bolster the incremental buyer, and will likely support a positive management tone on earnings calls over the next two weeks," said Davenport & Co. analyst Michael Morris. Echoed RBC Capital Markets analyst David Bank: "Third-quarter results and fourth-quarter outlook for most of the media and advertising players will likely bear little resemblance to the macro upheaval suggested in this summer's market activity." "While we understand that most investors will focus on the forward-looking commentary coming out of the calendar third-quarter earnings, we believe that reported numbers will likely be in line with consensus expectations," confirmed Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson. But he added: "We currently expect for all of our companies to experience a deceleration in advertising in the third quarter versus the strong growth in the first half of 2011." Most Wall Street observers expect cable TV networks units of Hollywood conglomerates to have had another strong quarter driven by ad growth despite mixed ratings, and many a film unit is also projected to report quarterly gains amid solid box office growth. "On the ratings front, Comcast/NBCUniversal and News Corp. were the only large cap media companies to post revenue weighted ratings growth in the calendar third quarter," said Credit Suisse analyst Spencer Wang. On the film side, "the box office increased 54 percent for the four studios, including 129 percent at Viacom," said Evercore Partners analyst Alan Gould. And Bank said that among blockbuster movies in the third quarter, only Universal's/DreamWorks' Cowboys & Aliens "looks likely to be a write-down." On earnings conference calls, expect CEOs to once again tout their latest digital distribution deals, such as ones that CW owners Time Warner and CBS Corp. have recently struck with Netflix and Hulu. But they may also face questions whether the recent pace of deals is sustainable amid Netflix's recent missteps. "Management comments on affiliate fee negotiations and possible proliferation of tiered distributor pricing structures, rising content costs (particularly for sports rights) and additional content sales to digital distributors will also shape investor outlooks into 2012," Morris said. "We note that a weak third-quarter subscriber result from Netflix on Oct. 24 has increased concern that digital content deals may be limited in the future." Some industry executives are also expected to discuss the recent launch of digital content locker UltraViolet and promise continued dividend payments and stock buybacks to reward shareholders. Overall, Lazard Capital Markets analyst Barton Crockett said this week that he has maintained his positive stance towards big entertainment stocks "We see cable net advertising as a secular outperformer, recession resistant growth in program fees and healthy share repurchase as reasons to favor the group," he said. But Wang is less bullish than others on the outlook for Hollywood conglomerate stocks. "We maintain our "underweight" rating on the U.S. entertainment sector as we believe that the uncertain economy and secular forces continue to pose potential risks to both advertising estimates and the pay TV eco-system," he said in a recent report. Here is a look at what analysts expect from the big publicly traded U.S. entertainment companies this earnings season: Time Warner: Time Warner kicks off the week's big entertainment conglomerate earnings on Wednesday morning, and Gould said: "We would not be surprised to see management raise its full year outlook." He expects 7 percent revenue growth to $6.84 billion and adjusted operating profit growth of 16 percent to $1.57 billion. Film gains in revenue and profit will likely stand next to a TV unit revenue gain, but slight bottom line decline in TV due to higher NCAA costs and marketing expenses, according to Gould. "Harry Potter 8 led the film side, and the syndication of The Big Bang Theory drove the TV division," he explained. A possible loss of the NBA season, the studio's outlook after the end of the Harry Potter franchise and cable networks ratings and ad trends could be key conference call questions. Potential digital deals for the Warner library beyond Netflix's recent CW deal could also be in focus. After all, "TW has the largest TV library with over 50,000 episodes," Gould said. News Corp.: News Corp. will disclose its latest financials Wednesday afternoon. A revenue gain of 2 percent to $7.56 billion and operating profit growth of 13 percent to $1.30 billion is what Gould is looking for. But the $63 million breakup fee of the failed deal to buy full control of U.K. pay TV firm BSkyB will affect net earnings, he said. Stronger cable network ratings and advertising and affiliate fee trends, and growth in the broadcast TV segment will help the bottom line, but Gould expects a two percent film decline despite a 10 percent U.S. box office increase driven by Planet of the Apes. Of course, the press portion of the News Corp. conference call could once again focus on the latest fallout from the phone hacking scandal and questions on CEO succession issues. "We believe if there were any contagion to the U.S. properties it likely would have already been alleged," Gould said. "Despite the scandal, operations have been quite strong." CBS Corp.: CBS Corp. reports its third-quarter earnings on Thursday. Gould predicts 3.9 percent operating profit growth to $635 million on a 1.9 percent revenue gain to $3.36 billion driven by growth in the entertainment segment. "Digital content monetization could yet again potentially provide an upside surprise," predicted Bank. "We're expecting another solid quarter from CBS as more digital-streaming revenue is recognized, which, along with incremental retrans, should continue to boost entertainment segment margins, and trends across CBS's advertising platforms have remained relatively consistent with prior expectations." Analyst conference call questions "will focus on current advertising trends, the impact of Netflix's slowdown on digital licensing revenue" and two recent CW deals with Netflix and Hulu," said Gould. Viacom: Viacom reports its quarterly results next week Thursday. The analyst expects a 31 percent operating profit improvement to $1.10 billion on a revenue gain of 15.2 percent to $3.84 billion. Some ratings challenges in the company's cable networks unit could likely be overcome by continued ad gains, according to analysts. The film results could be a key highlight in that context, with Gould predicting more than a tripling of its bottom line. "Paramount's films grossed over $500 million at the domestic box office, up 129 percent, led by Transformers 3 and the Marvel/Disney title Captain America," said Gould. "Most of the marketing dollars for Transformers 3 were expensed in the June quarter making the film very profitable in the September period. Paramount should also show very strong pay TV results this quarter." Analysts will look for latest ad growth guidance after management previously reduced its forecasts a bit. Walt Disney: Disney wraps up quarterly earnings season for Hollywood conglomerates next Thursday afternoon with its first earnings report and conference call since CEO Robert Iger's contract with the company was extended through 2016. Gould expects Disney to post a 13.1 percent operating profit gain to $1.79 billion on a 6.6 percent revenue increase to $10.38 billion. He sees a double-digit increase in the cable networks unit's bottom line and a 4.6 percent film unit improvement, but a big decline in broadcast unit profits due to lower syndication profit and political ad money. "We estimate cable advertising will be up 5.5 percent during the quarter despite Disney's prime-time ad supported network ratings being down," he said. "We are projecting a very small gain at the studio. Disney's films were up an estimated 23 percent at the box office and last year Disney took a $100 million write-down on the studio that produced Mars Needs Moms. But this year there will be tough home entertainment comparison with Thor versus Iron Man 2 and most of the box office upside was from DreamWorks films, particularly The Help, which is simply a distribution deal." He did highlight though that the re-release of The Lion King in 3D grossed $72 million in the quarter and "should have been quite profitable." Conference call questions could include ones about the effect of the potential of a lost NBA season. Related Topics

Muppets guest on 'Raw'

Video: Muppets guest on 'Raw' With guest hosts like Hugh Jackman, Pee Wee Herman and Bob Barker, WWE's "Monday Evening Raw" has appeared as if "The Muppet Show" for quite some time. Tonight, it really becomes the Muppets' show. Like a promotion for "The Muppets" movie, out Thanksgiving weekend, Disney offered WWE its felt-covered stars for everyone as hosts from the company's weekly series, properly enough, throughout the business's Halloween episode, airing live from Atlanta.WWE had lengthy been searching for a method to use the figures, but could not develop the best reason -- until Disney greenlit the brand new Muppet movie. Nine from the film's figures, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, can look throughout segments of these two-hour show by which they communicate with WWE's wrestlers. The film's live action stars, Jason Segel and Can Be won't be present. Disney wanted to utilize WWE again after it arranged Jackman to host "Raw" on Sept. 19 to advertise DreamWorks' "Real Steel," by which he stars.That stunt ended up getting acquired by a lot of media shops, giving both companies a substantial PR payback. Both companies now expect the Muppets to create much more attention. WWE began marketing the Muppets' appearance on "Raw" in mid-September with promotions featuring Kermit and Miss Piggy throughout the business's shows and social networking platforms, giving Disney several weeks of exposure for "The Muppets" before its bow having a specific audience it might not normally achieve.Since WWE switched for an all-PG format in 2008, the organization has strongly courted families and youngsters to look at its programming in an effort to boost rankings and attendance figures of their live occasions, but additionally produce a following among a more youthful demo it hopes will develop using the brand. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Rayson exits Target Entertainment

RaysonLONDON -- The woman who founded U.K. distributor Target Entertainment, Alison Rayson, is walking lower as Boss after 13 years in the organization. Consequently Target, which was bought with the Metrodome Group a year ago, has attracted on former FremantleMedia professional Emmanuelle Namiech becasue it is controlling director. In the statement Rayson mentioned: "It has been an incredibly tough decision to produce, but furthermore an positive and friendly decision. "I am pleased with what measures Target originates since i have have founded it 13 in the past, however feel ready to explore new options throughout my professional existence." Rayson works on specific projects with Target but gave no indication of her future plans. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Report: Lindsay Lohan Offered Nearly $1 Million to Pose for Playboy

Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Lohan reportedly has found a new way to pay her legal fees: posing nude for Playboy. According to TMZ, the 25-year-old actress will receive nearly $1 million to strip down for the magazine. Lindsay Lohan briefly jailed; ordered to work at morgue "I can neither confirm or deny at this time," Lohan's rep told TMZ. Playboy did not immediately respond to TVGuide.com's request for comment. In other Lohan news, her father, Michael, was arrested early Tuesday morning in Tampa, Fla., after police responded to reports of a fight between him and girlfriend Kate Major.

Exclusive: New Marty Feldman Bio Goes Behind the Scenes of Young Frankenstein

This week brings film buffs and comedy devotees alike the pleasure of Marty Feldman: The Biography of a Comedy Legend, author Robert Ross’s revelatory new chronicle of the turbulent life and premature death of the titular British TV and film comic Feldman. An aspiring jazz musician-turned-comedian known predominantly for the pop-eyed visage he brought to his acting, writing and directing projects, Feldman’s broad influence on British comedy of the ’60s receives a close look from interview subjects including Michael Palin, Terry Jones and, from tapes recorded for his unfinished memoir, even Feldman himself. But his impact hardly ended there — as anyone who’s seen Young Frankenstein knows. In Movieline’s exclusive excerpt from Marty Feldman, filmmaker Mel Brooks and writer/co-star Gene Wilder recall the “gift from God” that helped make their collaboration an instant comedy classic. ======== “Perhaps it’s with hindsight,” muses Bill Oddie, “but it came as no surprise to any of us that Marty went to Hollywood. He had done the ATV series so we all knew he was being floated in those American waters, being lauded beyond these shores and beyond logic, frankly. He had done this bloody long series, cheated his way to a Golden Rose of Montreux and so it was only a matter of time until he was thrown to Hollywood. That was the next step. Take him over there and make him a star. They had done it with Peter Sellers and they would do it with Dudley Moore. It never ends well for our blokes over there.” The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine had indeed struck a chord with a huge number of Americans. His pursuit of work there was inevitable: “A mountaineer wouldn’t hang about in Wales,” he said. “He’d go to the Himalayas.” Although it hadn’t been the massive commercial success that ABC had hoped for, it did consolidate Marty’s cult status amongst students and the self-proclaimed intellectuals. It was certainly enough for a tempting five-year television contract to be put on the table. However, despite the promise that the series would make Marty a millionaire, he turned down this much needed financial boost in favor of a film to be shot in black and white over at the 20th Century Fox studios. For one of the great and good of American film comedy, who had been bewitched by The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine, was Gene Wilder: “I picked up my pad and pen and wrote the title Young Frankenstein. I had been a lover of movies ever since I was a child and I think the name Young Frankenstein came from the film Young Edison which I had loved as a kid. I just thought what sort of things would have happened to the great grandson of the original Frankenstein. I loved the original Frankenstein films. My script was particularly inspired by the 1931 original and The Bride of Frankenstein. In fact, originally, my Frankenstein was going to end up over the precipice and the monster was going to hook up with the fiance.” The concept also called for a comic grotesque to play the hunchback. A sort of cross between the hunch-backed assistant played by Dwight Frye and the broken-necked assistant played by Bela Lugosi in the Universal series. Marty Feldman was a gift from God. Indeed, having been inspired by the Comedy Machine, Gene Wilder wrote the part especially for Marty. It was he who gave Marty his big break in Hollywood. He practically told him to pack his bags and go West, young man. “I play the part of Igor [pronounced Eye-Gor for affectation] the assistant to Frankenstein,” Marty told a visiting Mexican television reporter on the set. “He’s actually a hunchback. I don’t have the hump with me at the moment. It’s optional. You only wear it in the evenings, you know.” “I am the only guy ever to appear in a horror film without make-up,” he quipped again making the first joke about his appearance before anybody else could. “Not even size six eyeballs.” Fortuitously, Marty was being represented by Wilder’s agent, Michael Medavoy. Delighted when Medavoy suggested doing a film with both Marty Feldman and Peter Boyle in the cast, Wilder was struck by the thought and asked, “How did you ever come up with that team?” He replied that: ‘I have all of you on my books!’” As Wilder solemnly mused: “Well, with a wonderful artistic basis like that, it can’t go wrong!” Marty remembered the moment when the film collaboration was hatched: “Peter Boyle and I were in this agent’s office and the agent suggested that we should do a film together. He said he knew just the guy for us to work with and he got Gene Wilder on the phone. ‘Hello,’ I said, ‘I’m Marty Feldman.’ Then we talked about ideas and Gene said he would send one in the post. One paragraph arrived the next day and within twenty-four hours they had a producer and director and a million dollar film had been set up.” The paragraph that had hooked Marty and everybody else was the train station meeting between Frankenstein and the hunchback. It was written exactly as it appears in the finished film and became something of a lucky mascot throughout the production, post-production and distribution of Young Frankenstein. It certainly appealed to director Mel Brooks. Gene Wilder remembers that Brooks was: “Mike Medavoy’s suggestion. He had read the script, loved it and said: ‘I think we can get Mel Brooks to direct this.’ I said: ‘I don’t think Mel would want to direct anything he hasn’t conceived himself, but if you can get him he’ll be wonderful.’ The very next day Mel called me and said: ‘What have you got me in to? And I said: ‘Nothing that you don’t want to get in to.’”

Expert: Jackson Didnt Give Themselves Propofol

First Launched: October 20, 2011 6:59 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images Caption Michael Jackson leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse on May 25, 2005LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Michael Jackson am heavily drugged inside the several hours before his dying he might have been incompetent at self-giving the large dose of propofol that destroyed him, physician stated Thursday within the trial of Jacksons physician. Dr. Steven Shafer, who presented numerous possible situations for Jacksons overdose, mentioned one caused by Dr. Conrad Murrays defense the star gavehimself the effective anesthetic is crazy. He cant give themselves a go if hes asleep, Shafer told jurors. A lot more likely scenario was that Murray placed Jackson by having an IV propofol drip round the morning of his dying then left later to produce a quantity of phone calls since the singer rested, Shafer mentioned. Jackson probably stopped breathing before Murray returned, as well as the entertainers bronchi cleared because the propofol saved flowing into his body, the witness mentioned. This fits all of the data in this situation and i am not aware of a single little bit of data that's sporadic using this explanation, Shafer mentioned. Earlier, Shafer needed the jury using a virtual chemistry class with diagrams and formulas forecasted around the large screen. He indicated the residue of medication found throughout Jacksons autopsy suggested Murray gave his patient larger doses of sedative drugs than he told police. More youthful crowd mentioned Jackson might have been very groggy within the drugs distributed by IV with the evening. Murray told police he was from Jackson for 2 primary minutes some time throughout the defense states the singer may have clicked up a syringe and given themselves additional propofol. People dont just awaken from anesthesia hell bent to obtain a syringe and pump it into the IV, Shafer mentioned, telling the jury the process was complicated. Its an outrageous scenario. More youthful crowd mentioned it absolutely was unlikely that Jackson injected themselves getting a needle because the celebs veins were too deteriorated as well as the procedure might have been very painful. Witnesses have mentioned Jackson understood the drug must be diluted with lidocaine inside an IV to prevent burning if the became a member of the veins. Shafer, a respected expert on anesthesiology who shows at Columbia College Med School, also rejected the report that Jackson may have consumed eight pills in the sedative lorazepam, also known as Ativan, resulting in his dying. Shafer mentioned the amount of lorazepam contained in Jacksons stomach was trivial and not connected with dental ingestion. He suggested Murray gave Jackson much more lorazepam by IV infusion in comparison to four mg he mentioned he did. After receiving lorazepam, another sedative known to as midazolam (Experienced) and propofol, Jackson might have been too groggy to deal with infusion more anesthetic by having an IV pump, Shafer mentioned. His opinions setup an expected clash while using sights of uncle, Dr. Paul White-colored, who was simply waiting to testify for your defense. The males are actually pals and affiliate marketers for thirty years. White-colored, who sitting inside the court room taking notes, has suggested for the defense in the written think that Jackson might have consumed a vial of propofol, composed of our prime amount of the drug within the autopsy. Nevertheless the defense introduced the other day it had abandoned the concept in May after running its own tests that shown to be wrong the concept. Coroners government bodies determined Jackson died on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication, and Murray has acknowledged giving the singer the drug just like a sleep aid. The government bodies reported other sedative drugs just like a adding factor. Murray has pleaded not prone to involuntary wrongful dying. Shafer stated Wednesday that Murray was directly responsible for Jacksons dying, stating what he mentioned were 17 egregious violations in the standard of care provided by doctors. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.