Who Is the TV Star of the Year?

Zooey Deschanel We at TVGuide.com have already picked our favorite shows, movies, TV moments and performances of 2011, but there is still one more category left to decide - and we're calling on you for help.We want to know: Who do you think is the TV star of the year? Is it the "adorkable" New Girl Zooey Deschanel? What about Two and a Half Men's newest man Ashton Kutcher or perhaps his predecessor Charlie Sheen (let's not forget those tiger blood-infused TV interviews)? Or is it perhaps Dancing with the Stars' inspirational champ J.R. Martinez? Or (gulp) Kim Kardashian for her made-for-TV nuptials?Check out the best and worst of 2011Who do you think should get the honor? Share your picks in the comments below! And be sure to follow us on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook to see which of your choices make the final list!

Performer Hurt in Fall During 'Faust' at Met Opera

NY (AP) Mezzo-soprano Wendy White has been hospitalized after falling about eight feet from a platform to the stage during a performance of Charles Gounod's "Faust" at NY's Metropolitan Opera.The Met Opera says White is in stable condition and undergoing further tests. Her injuries do not appear to be serious.White was performing the role of Marthe in Saturday's performance.Met spokesman Peter Clark said in a statement that White fell as she entered backstage during Act III onto a platform that is connected to the scenery. The opera did not say how she fell.A black curtain was brought down and intermission announced.White was seen by the house doctor and taken by ambulance to the hospital.The performance resumed with Theodora Hanslowe substituting in the role of Marthe.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. NY (AP) Mezzo-soprano Wendy White has been hospitalized after falling about eight feet from a platform to the stage during a performance of Charles Gounod's "Faust" at NY's Metropolitan Opera.The Met Opera says White is in stable condition and undergoing further tests. Her injuries do not appear to be serious.White was performing the role of Marthe in Saturday's performance.Met spokesman Peter Clark said in a statement that White fell as she entered backstage during Act III onto a platform that is connected to the scenery. The opera did not say how she fell.A black curtain was brought down and intermission announced.White was seen by the house doctor and taken by ambulance to the hospital.The performance resumed with Theodora Hanslowe substituting in the role of Marthe.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Judge Grants Pay Bump For Jackson Estate Admins

First Released: December 19, 2011 2:08 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Michael Jackson leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria on May 25, 2005LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The executors of Michael Jacksons estate are becoming a pay raise. A judge on Monday approved a request through the two males running the late celebrities estate to get additional compensation for his or her professional services. Jacksons estate is overseen by attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain. They are saying in the court filings they have to date been compensated under the ten percent of gross entertainment-related earnings from the estate they decided to split for controlling the performers business matters. The offer enables Brancas lawyer to bill individually because of its work, that was formerly a part of his share. McClain will be taken care of utilization of his recording studio. Jacksons estate has gained a lot more than $300 million since his June 2009 dying. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Watch the Best-Worst Dracula Trailer You'll Ever See, Courtesy of Dario Argento

If Movieline ran a feature to accompany Bad Movies We Love called Bad Trailers We Love, the gory sales preview for Dario Argento’s monsterpiece Dracula 3D would be spotlighted this week. It features everything that is awful about bad horror movies — but in such a straightforward way that you can’t help but watch the trailer in knee-slapping awe. Beware: One gratuitous sponge bath, buckets of movie blood and spoilers galore await you. Argento’s take on the Bram Stoker classic stars Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong) as Dracula, Rutger Hauer (Hobo With a Shotgun) as Van Helsing and Asia Argento (actress and daughter of the director) as Lucy. Shot last summer, this “sales trailer” appears to have been cobbled together from the film’s most climactic scenes before the visual effects have been completed. Enjoy then, the after-school-special quality of acting on both the parts of the humans and the animals (sadly, the woman confronted by wolves did not have minibar booze bottles handy to fend off these beasts). If Uggie were reviewing this movie, which he appears fully capable of doing, he would give this two paws down and a tortured whimper. Also, for those keeping count at home, Dracula 3D does appear to feature: · 1 19th century character with breast implants · At minimum, 3 untraceable accents · 1 fully nude woman baring her fangs while on all fours for no apparent reason · 1 GIGANTIC PRAYING MANTIS WITH OCTOPUS ARMS · 1 man being crudely decapitated by another man’s claws · 1 actor who hisses like a cat every time he reveals his fangs No word yet on when Dracula 3D will see the light of day. VERDICT: I may not admit to it afterward, but yes, I would watch Dracula 3D. [via BadAssDigest.com]

'Help,' 'Artist' lead SAG race

"The Help" has received plenty of help from Hollywood thesps as the drama dominated Screen Actor Guild award nominations with four, follwed by "The Artist" with a trio of nods. "The Help" took nods for cast, Viola Davis for lead actress, and Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer for supporting actress. "The Artist" scored for cast, Jean Dujardin for lead actor and Berenice Bejo for supporting actress. The SAG noms, announced Wednesday morning, also offered a surprise boost to "Bridesmaids" with a pair of nominations for cast and Melissa McCarthy for suopporting actress and to "A Better Life" with Mexican thesp Demian Bechir scoring a lead actor nomination for a film that grossed $1.8 million. "It's a huge surprise in one way and not so much in another because I've always wanted people to know my work," Bechir told Variety."It's a tremendous honor since it's from a place where there are so many great actors." "Albert Nobbs," "The Descendants," "J. Edgar," "Moneyball" and "My Week with Marilyn" also received two noms while single SAG nods went to "A Better Life," "Beginners," "The Iron Lady," "Midnight in Paris," "Warrior," "We Need to Talk About Kevin." Noms were announced by Judy Greer and Regina King at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. "Modern Family" dominated in TV nominations with five, with individual actor nods for Ty Burrelll, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara. "30 Rock" and "Dexter" scored three noms each while "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones," "The Good Wife," "The Office," "Too Big to Fail" and "Mildred Pierce" each took a pair. Alec Baldwin, who has won the comedy series actor award for five consecutive years for "30 Rock," received another nom in the category as did last year's drama series winners Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" and Steve Buscemi for "Boardwalk Empire." Betty White, who won last year's SAG lifetime achievement award and the comedy series trophy for "Hot in Cleveland, remained a fave among thesps with nominations for "Cleveland" and "Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine" in the miniseries category. Besides "The Help" and "The Artist," the ensemble cast noms went to "Bridesmaids," "The Descendants" and "Midnight in Paris." With actors comprising about 23% of the voters in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the SAG nominations are a closely watched indicator of Oscar sentiment. "The King's Speech" won the SAG cast award last January and went on to win the Oscar for best picture. The SAG cast winner has matched the Oscar best picture winner in eight of the past 16 years. Besides Dujardin and Bechir, lead actor noms went to a trio of Hollywood heavywights -- George Clooney for "The Descendants," Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar" and Brad Pitt for "Moneyball." It was the fourth individual SAG nomination for both Clooney and DiCaprio and the second for Pitt. Besides Davis, lead actress noms went to Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs," Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady," Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn." Close was also nominated for actress in a TV drama series for "Damages." The supporting actor category offered a mix of veterans -- Kenneth Branaugh in "My Week with Marilyn," Nick Nolte in "Warrior" and Christopher Plummer in "Beginners" -- and relative newcomers with Armie Hammer in "J. Edgar" and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball." Besides McCarthy, the supporting actress category saw Melissa McCarthy of "Bridesmaids" and Janet McTeer of "Albert Nobbs" join Bejo, Chastain and Spencer. McTeer was nommed in 2000 for "Tumbleweeds" while the other supporting actress contenders are first-time nominees. Notable awards season contenders overlooked by SAG voters included Albert Brooks in "Drive," Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia," Michael Fassbender in "Shame," Judy Greer and Shailene Woodley in "The Descendants," Woody Harrelson in "Rampart," John Hawkes and Elizabeth Olsen in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Ben Kingsley in "Hugo," Rooney Mara for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Charlize Theron in "Young Adult" and Max von Sydow for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." The SAG nominations are based on voting by two panels -- one for film and one for TV -- each composed of 2,100 randomly selected guild members. Winners, based on voting by SAG's 120,000 members, will be announced Jan. 29 in ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. To be eligible, voters must be dues-current and vote by Jan. 27. The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations are:THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURESOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleDemin Bichir / Carlos Galindo - "A Better Life" (Summit Entertainment)George Clooney / Matt King - "The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)Leonardo Dicaprio / J. Edgar Hoover - "J. Edgar" (Warner Bros. Pictures)Jean Dujardin / George - "The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)Brad Pitt / Billy Beane - "Moneyball" (Columbia Pictures)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleGlenn Close / Albert Nobbs - "Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions)Viola Davis / Aibileen Clark - "The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Meryl Streep / Margaret Thatcher - "The Iron Lady" (The Weinstein Company)Tilda Swinton / Eva - "We Need To Talk About Kevin" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)Michelle Williams / Marilyn Monroe - "My Week With Marilyn" (The Weinstein Company)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting RoleKenneth Branagh / Sir Laurence Olivier - "My Week With Marilyn" (The Weinstein Company)Armie Hammer / Clyde Tolson - "J. Edgar" (Warner Bros. Pictures)Jonah Hill / Peter Brand - "Moneyball" (Columbia Pictures)Nick Nolte / Paddy Conlon - "Warrior" (Lionsgate)Christopher Plummer / Hal - "Beginners" (Focus Features)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleBrnice Bejo / Peppy - "The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)Jessica Chastain / Celia Foote - "The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Melissa Mccarthy / Megan - "Bridesmaids" (Universal Pictures)Janet Mcteer / Hubert Page - "Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions)Octavia Spencer / Minny Jackson - "The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)Brnice Bejo / PeppyJames Cromwell / CliftonJean Dujardin / GeorgeJohn Goodman / Al ZimmerPenelope Ann Miller / Doris"Bridesmaids" (Universal Pictures)Rose Byrne / HelenJill Clayburgh / Annie's MomEllie Kemper / BeccaMatt Lucas / GilMelissa Mccarthy / MeganWendi Mclendon-Covey / RitaChris O'Dowd / RhodesMaya Rudolph / LillianKristen Wiig / Annie"The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)Beau Bridges / Cousin HughGeorge Clooney / Matt KingRobert Forster / Scott ThorsonJudy Greer / Julie SpeerMatthew Lillard / Brian SpeerShailene Woodley / Alexandra King"The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Jessica Chastain / Celia FooteViola Davis / Aibileen ClarkBryce Dallas Howard / Hilly HolbrookAllison Janney / Charlotte PhelanChris Lowell / Stuart WhitworthAhna O'Reilly / Elizabeth LeefoltSissy Spacek / Missus WaltersOctavia Spencer / Minny JacksonMary Steenburgen / Elaine SteinEmma Stone / Skeeter PhelanCicely Tyson / Constantine JeffersonMike Vogel / Johnny Foote"Midnight In Paris" (Sony Pictures Classics)Kathy Bates / Gertrude SteinAdrien Brody / Salvador DaliCarla Bruni / Museum GuideMarion Cotillard / AdrianaRachel Mcadams / InezMichael Sheen / PaulOwen Wilson / Gil PRIMETIME TELEVISIONOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie Or MiniseriesLaurence Fishburne / Thurgood Marshall - "Thurgood" (HBO)Paul Giamatti / Ben Bernanke - "Too Big To Fail" (HBO)Greg Kinnear / Jack Kennedy - "The Kennedys" (Reelz Channel)Guy Pearce / Monty Beragon - "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)James Woods / Richard Fuld - "Too Big To Fail" (HBO)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie Or MiniseriesDiane Lane / Pat Loud - "Cinema Verite" (HBO)Maggie Smith / Violet, Dowager Countess Of Grantham - "Downton Abbey" (PBS)Emily Watson / Janet Leach - "Appropriate Adult" (Sundance Channel)Betty White / Caroline Thomas - "Hallmark Hall Of Fame: The Lost Valentine" (CBS)Kate Winslet / Mildred Pierce - "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick J. Adams / Mike Ross - "Suits" (USA)Steve Buscemi / Enoch "Nucky" Thomson - "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)Kyle Chandler / Eric Taylor - "Friday Night Lights" (DirecTV)Bryan Cranston / Walter White - "Breaking Bad" (AMC)Michael C. Hall / Dexter Morgan - "Dexter" (Showtime)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesKathy Bates / Harriet Korn - "Harry's Law" (NBC)Glenn Close / Patty Hewes - "Damages" (DirecTV)Jessica Lange / Constance - "American Horror Story" (FX)Julianna Margulies / Alicia Florrick - "The Good Wife" (CBS)Kyra Sedgwick / Dept. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson - "The Closer" (TNT)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesAlec Baldwin / Jack Donaghy - "30 Rock" (NBC)Ty Burrell / Phil Dunphy - "Modern Family" (ABC)Steve Carell / Michael Scott - "The Office" (NBC)Jon Cryer / Alan Harper - "Two And A Half Men" (CBS)Eric Stonestreet / Cameron Tucker - "Modern Family" (ABC)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesJulie Bowen / Claire Dunphy - "Modern Family" (ABC)Edie Falco / Jackie Peyton - "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime)Tina Fey / Liz Lemon - "30 Rock" (NBC)Sofia Vergara / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - "Modern Family" (ABC)Betty White / Elka Ostrovsky - "Hot In Cleveland" (TV Land)Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble in a Drama Series"Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)Steve Buscemi / Enoch "Nucky" ThompsonDominic Chianese / Leander Cephas WhitlockRobert Clohessy / Ward Boss Jim NearyDabney Coleman / Commodore Louis KaestnerCharlie Cox / Owen SleaterJosie & Lucy Gallina / Emily SchroederStephen Graham / Al CaponeJack Huston / Richard HarrowAnthony Laciura / Eddie KesslerHeather Lind / KatyKelly Macdonald / Margaret SchroederRory & Declan Mctigue / Teddy SchroederGretchen Mol / Gillian DarmodyBrady & Connor Noon/ Tommy DarmodyKevin O'Rourke / Mayor Edward Bader Aleksa Palladino / Angela DarmodyJacqueline Pennewill / LilianVincent Piazza / Lucky LucianoMichael Pitt / Jimmy DarmodyMichael Shannon / Agent Nelson Van AldenPaul Sparks / Mickey DoyleMichael Stuhlbarg / Arnold RothsteinPeter Van Wagner / Isaac "Icky" GinsburgShea Whigham / Sheriff Elias ThompsonMichael Kenneth Williams / Chalky WhiteAnatol Yusef / Meyer Lansky"Breaking Bad" (AMC)Jonathan Banks / MikeBetsy Brandt / Marie SchraderRay Campbell / Tyrus KittBryan Cranston / Walter WhiteGiancarlo Esposito / Gus FringAnna Gunn / Skyler WhiteRj Mitte / Walter White, Jr.Dean Norris / Hank SchraderBob Odenkirk / Saul GoodmanAaron Paul / Jesse Pinkman"Dexter" (Showtime)Billy Brown / Chicago MikeJennifer Carpenter / Debra MorganJosh Cooke / LouisAimee Garcia / Jamie BatistaMichael C. Hall / Dexter MorganColin Hanks / Travis MarshallDesmond Harrington / Joey QuinnMaria Doyle Kennedy / SonyaRya Kihlstedt / MichelleC.S. Lee / Vince MasukaEdward James Olmos / Professor GellarJames Remar / Harry MorganLauren Velez / Lt. Maria LaguertaPeter Weller / LiddyDavid Zayas / Sgt. Angel Batista"Game of Thrones" (HBO)Amrita Acharia / IrriMark Addy / King Robert BaratheonAlfie Allen / Theon GreyjoyJosef Altin / PyparSean Bean / Lord Eddard "Ned" StarkSusan Brown / Septa MordaneEmilia Clarke / Daenerys TargaryenNikolaj Coster-Waldau / Ser Jaime LannisterPeter Dinklage / Tyrion LannisterRon Donachie / Ser Rodrik CasselMichelle Fairley / Lady Catelyn StarkJerome Flynn / BronnElyes Gabel / RakharoAiden Gillen / "Littlefinger" Petyr BaelishJack Gleeson / Joffrey BaratheonIain Glen / Ser Jorah MormontJulian Glover / Grand Maester PycelleKit Harington / Jon SnowLena Headey / Queen Cersei LannisterIsaac Hempstead Wright / Bran StarkConleth Hill / Lord VarysRichard Madden / Robb StarkJason Mamoa / Kahl DrogoRory Mccann / Sandor CleganeIan Mcelhinney / Barristan SelmyLuke Mcewan / RastRoxanne Mckee / DoreahDar Salim / QothoMark Stanley / GrennDonald Sumpter / Maester LuwinSophie Turner / Sansa StarkMaisie Williams / Arya Stark"The Good Wife"(CBS)Christine Baranski / Diane LockhartJosh Charles / Will GardnerAlan Cumming / Eli GoldMatt Czuchry / Cary AgosJulianna Margulies / Alicia FlorrickChris Noth / Peter FlorrickArchie Panjabi / Kalinda SharmaGraham Phillips / Zach FlorrickMakenzie Vega / Grace FlorrickOutstanding Performance By An Ensemble in a Comedy Series"30 Rock" (NBC)Scott Adsit / Pete HornbergerAlec Baldwin / Jack DonaghyKatrina Bowden / CerieKevin Brown / DotcomGrizz Chapman / GrizzTina Fey / Liz LemonJudah Friedlander / Frank RossitanoJane Krakowski / Jenna MaroneyJohn Lutz / LutzJack Mcbrayer / Kenneth ParcellTracy Morgan / Tracy JordanMaulik Pancholy / JonathanKeith Powell / Toofer"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)Mayim Bialik / Amy Farrah FowlerKaley Cuoco / PennyJohnny Galecki / Leonard HofstadterSimon Helberg / Howard WolowitzKunal Nayyar / Rajesh KoothrappaliJim Parsons / Sheldon CooperMelissa Rauch / Bernadette Rostenkowski"Glee" (Fox)Dianna Agron / Quinn FabrayChris Colfer / Kurt HummelDarren Criss / Blaine Anderson Ashley Fink / Lauren ZizesDot Marie Jones / Coach BeisteJane Lynch / Sue SylvesterJayma Mays / Emma PillsburyKevin Mchale / Artie AbramsLea Michele / Rachel BerryCory Monteith / Finn HudsonHeather Morris / Brittany PierceMatthew Morrison / Will SchuesterMike O'Malley / Burt HummelChord Overstreet / Sam EvansLauren Potter / Becky JohnsonAmber Riley / Mercedes JonesNaya Rivera / Santana LopezMark Salling / Noah 'Puck' PuckermanHarry Shum, Jr. / Mike ChangIqbal Theba / Principal FigginsJenna Ushkowitz / Tina Cohen-Chang"Modern Family" (ABC)Aubrey Anderson-Emmons / LilyJulie Bowen / ClaireTy Burrell / PhilJesse Tyler Ferguson / MitchellNolan Gould / LukeSarah Hyland / HaleyEd O'Neill / JayRico Rodriguez / MannyEric Stonestreet / CameronSofia Vergara / GloriaAriel Winter / Alex"The Office" (NBC)Leslie David Baker / Stanley HudsonBrian Baumgartner / Kevin MaloneCreed Bratton / Creed BrattonSteve Carell / Michael ScottJenna Fischer / Pam Beesly HalpertKate Flannery / Meredith PalmerEd Helms / Andy BernardMindy Kaling / Kelly KapoorEllie Kemper / Erin HannonAngela Kinsey / Angela MartinJohn Krasinski / Jim HalpertPaul Lieberstein / Toby FlendersonB.J. Novak / Ryan HowardOscar Nuez / Oscar MartinezCraig Robinson / Daryll PhilbinJames Spader / Robert CaliforniaPhyllis Smith / Phyllis Lapin-VanceRainn Wilson / Dwight SchruteZach Woods / Gabe LewisSag Honors For Stunt EnsemblesOutstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture"The Adjustment Bureau (Universal Pictures)"Cowboys & Aliens (Universal Pictures)"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros. Pictures)"Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (Paramount Pictures)"X-Men: First Class" (20th Century Fox)Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series"Dexter" (Showtime)"Game Of Thrones" (HBO)"Southland" (TNT)"Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena" (Starz)"True Blood" (HBO)Life Achievement AwardMary Tyler MooreAWARDS TALLYTheatrical Motion Pictures With Multiple Nominations"The Help" - 4"The Artist" - 3"Albert Nobbs" - 2"Bridesmaids" - 2"The Descendants" - 2"J. Edgar" - 2"Moneyball" - 2"My Week With Marilyn" - 2Primetime Television Programs With Multiple Nominations"Modern Family" - 5"30 Rock" - 3"Dexter" - 3"Boardwalk Empire" - 2"Breaking Bad" - 2"Game Of Thrones" - 2"The Good Wife" - 2"The Office" - 2"Too Big To Fail" - 2"Mildred Pierce" - 2 Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Forging forward

Mikros Image worked on the 3D conversion of Tarsem Singh's 'Immortals'Paris-based visual effects and post-production company Mikros Image is expanding, both because its toppers want it to, and because they feel it has to."We are into a more global business now, where we face a transforming industry. So there is a lot of restructuring going on," says managing director Gilles Gaillard.The company, which has an annual revenue of 32 million ($43.2 million), has a firm base in France, where it handles around 40 films a year as well as advertising -- which contributes 65% of its revenue -- and TV work.But it has also set up subsidiaries in Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada, and has established partnerships with companies in the U.S. and Switzerland.Among the many projects the company is involved with are Michael Haneke's "Amour"; the next pic from "A Prophet" helmer Jacques Audiard, "Un Gout de rouille et d'os"; and "The Congress," a half live-action, half animation sci-fi pic from Ari Folman, the director of "Waltz With Bashir."Gaillard says the longterm prospects for the vfx industry are good, as demand for entertainment product and advertising continues to grow."The key thing is business models -- trying to find ways of financing this creativity," he says. "We are moving toward consolidation, which our industry needs."To handle the cost of larger projects effectively, he says, the sector needs to rationalize into a fewer number of groups. "We think there is a model where there are core companies -- like ours -- and partnerships (with smaller shops), so that you have the full benefit of the community for all the players involved," he says.In France, the vfx and post-production sector has benefited from the tax incentive for foreign production, as well as the support provided for domestic film and TV production. The company can then complement that with the tax incentives offered in Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada, which is why it set up subsidiaries in those countries.Its pact with Eight VFX in Santa Monica helps bring in biz from Hollywood, and allows Mikros Image to benefit from Eight VFX's local knowledge."When we are dealing with American films, the relationship has to be through the visual effects supervisors, which is sometimes more complex to handle. So that's why we have been partnering with Eight VFX, because we needed to have someone who was more familiar with their way of handling things," he says.Mikros Image recently worked on the 3D conversion of Tarsem Singh's "Immortals."FRENCH VFX & ANIMATION:Mooning over Melies | Universal benefit in Mac Gruff accord | Forging forward Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com

COO John Edwards ankles Relativity

After under six several weeks at work, John Edwards leaves his publish as Chief Operating Officer at Relativity Media, the 5th high-level professional to ankle Ryan Kavanaugh's fledgling studio in under annually. The lengthy string of departures started in The month of january, when CFO Bill Sutman quit, then marketing and distribution prexy Peter Adee in April leader Michael Joe in May and senior Vice president of acqusitions Joe Matukewicz, news of whose exit broke Monday. And also the exodus might not be over: Current prexy Steve Bertram, marketed from COO when Joe left the organization, apparently stated he's weighing whether or not to remain at Relativity, where his contract expires in the finish of the season. The turnover also may come as the studio's talks with JP Morgan, that was being courted like a alternative for primary investor Elliot Management, have ground to some halt, as Variety first reported November. 10. Elliot, the NY-based hedge fund that assisted get Relativity off the floor by backing its co-financing handles Universal, is incorporated in the procedure for cutting its ties towards the studio, departing Kavanaugh around the search for any new backer. Edwards became a member of the organization in May from Mark Burnett Prods. and left Relativity in October, the studio confirmed Thursday. An experienced entertainment attorney, Edwards is really a former COO and general counsel at DreamWorks, and that he also held exactly the same posts at Burnett's company. The business's large-budget epic "Immortals" has made $77 million in The United States, and it is $100 million Snow Whitened pic "Mirror, Mirror" hits U.S. theaters in March. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Redbox to Team With Verizon on Internet-Streaming Business

CBS has nabbed a police procedural from the Queen. The network has made a script deal for an untitled cop show from Queen Latifah. The project, about a street savvy Philadelphia woman who realizes her calling as a homicide detective after a defining moment, hails from Flavor Unit Entertainment and CBS Studios. Charles Murray (V, Castle, Criminal Minds) will pen and executive produce the drama, withLatifah (Single Ladies, Let's Stay Together) set to executive produce through her production banner Flavor Unit Entertainment.Flavor Unit's Shakim Compere and Shelby Stone along with production company Rocklin/Faust's Nicole Rocklin, Blye Faust and Renata Adamidov are attached as executive producers. If it ultimately makes it to air, the project will join other Latifah-produced entries, including VH1's Single Ladies and BET's Let's Stay Together. Latifah is also prepping a daytime talk show with Sony Pictures Television. Murray, who is writing and directing indie drama Things Never Said, is repped by UTA, Industry Entertainment and Morris-Yorn; Latifah is repped by WME and Eisenberg, Tanchum & Levy. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 20 Best and Worst Music to Movie Crossovers Related Topics Queen Latifah CBS TV Development

Nielsen, Tremor in measurement deal

Nielsen introduced its first deal Wednesday to create TV-style measurement to movie. A pact with Tremor Video, a broadly used ad platform, will apply gross rankings points to movie. Nielsen Online Campaign Rankings, which mixes measurement data from TV an internet-based sections, could be readily available for Tremor clients through Videohub, the business's statistics console. The offering provides simplified metrics for gauging the number of people saw an advertisement across platforms, how good it carried out with assorted census and also the effect on the company being marketed. "Entrepreneurs wish to cleanly compare the achieve of movie media with other media - primarily TV," stated Steve Hasker, leader, media items and marketer solutions at Nielsen. "Nielsen Online Campaign Rankings supplies a standard GRP across platforms, to ensure that online could be measured exactly the same way we measure GRPs on television.Inch Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Neil Patrick Harris Apologizes for Saying "Tranny" on Live!

Neil Patrick Harris Neil Patrick Harris apologized Friday for applying the word "tranny" throughout Thursday's Accept Kelly. After Kelly Ripa and Harris, who's guest-hosting as Live searches for an enduring alternative for Regis Philbin, inhaled sulfer hexafluoride - "helium's evil twin" - within a science experiment, the The Way In Which I Met Your Mother star joked, "I have not appeared a great deal a lot more like a tranny throughout my existence." Dancing's Derek, Jerry O'Connell, Josh Groban to Guest-Host Live! "Truly sorry for saying the word 'tranny' on Live now. Two occasions! Should have been more thoughtful. Didn't whatsoever mean to offend," he tweeted Friday. GLAAD recognized Harris' apology, watching, "It's heartening to find out a hollywood of Harris' stature recognize and apologize for applying the slur within this timely manner, too for greater media attention being paid out towards the use." Have a look in a clip of Harris on Live:

Report: Lily Allen Gives Birth

First Published: November 25, 2011 7:17 PM EST Credit: FilmMagic LONDON, UK -- Caption Lily Allen attends a private view of works by five leading artists who have created pieces inspired by Reeboks Zig Tech technology hosted by Reebok and style magazine Wallpaper* at The Great Room, London, on July 28, 2011Lily Allen has given birth to her first child, according to a report out of the UK. The singer, 26, who now goes by Lily Cooper since her summer wedding to Sam Cooper, reportedly gave birth to her little girl on Friday, the UKs Daily Mail first reported. Totes Amaze, Lily Tweeted earlier in the day, although it was not known if her Tweet was directly related to the birth. Singer Boy George was one of the many who wished Lily well on Twitter. Congrats to Lily Allen on her sprog, the singer wrote. DJ Seb Chew, a former boyfriend of Lilys-turned-friend, Tweeted, sending out love to lily, sam and mini cooper YES. A spokesperson for the singer declined comment to the Mail. Lily and Sam, a builder, became engaged last Christmas, before marrying in June. The birth of Lilys baby comes a little over a year after her tragic miscarriage in October 2010, which occurred when she was 6-months pregnant. The singer also had a miscarriage in January 2008. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

New You'll be able to Gov. Andrew Cuomo Taps Hollywood for Re-Election Cash (Exclusive)

Even though the 2014 NY gubernatorial election remains couple of years away, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is heading west to La to enhance his campaign coffers,The Hollywood Reporterhas learned.our editor recommendsSteven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg Support Wendy Greuel For L.A. MayorBox Office Politics: The Flicks and Stars Dems versus. GOPers Love (and Prefer to Hate) PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Really really make a difference inside the 2012 Elections The governor -- still fresh from his victory obtaining marriage equality in NY -- will arrive on December 2 for just about any reception and dinner co-situated by Hollywood reliables Make the most of and Michele Reiner, Steve Bing, Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams, Chocolate Spelling, Darren Star, Chris Albrecht, Kevin Huvane, and Laura and Casey Wasserman, among others. PHOTOS: 10 Artists Dems and Republicans Prefer to Hate The large event will probably be locked in the La home of interior designer and White-colored House decorator Michael S. Cruz and also the partner, Cinemax executive James Costos. (Cruz and Costos, who also keep a residence in NY, are becoming key Democratic fund-rasiers, getting into additional than $millions of for Obama's re-election campaign. ) Cuomo has extended been a Hollywood favorite, partially because of your family title. Industry politicos have held fund-raisers for every office he's ever looked for.But this time around around around, it's different. It's much more personal, particularly for that's marriage equality activists, who seen in awe as Cuomo masterminded NY's gay marriage law. PHOTOS: Stars Who've Carried out People in politics Hollywood political consultant Chad Griffin, one of the leaders in eliminating against Prop. 8, may also be hosting the number, along with Wallis Annenberg, Vanessa Williams and MPAA Chairman Christopher Dodd. L.A. mayoral candidates -- Wendy Greuel and Austin Beutner -- may also be listed as sponsors. Tickets change from $1,000 for cocktails to $12,500 for supper. Related Subjects Politics

THR Flashback: Regis Philbin's Other High-Profile TV Exit

Regis Philbin, who at 80 is departing Live! With Regis and Kelly (though not retiring from TV), found themself at the middle of a media storm in 1968 when he was the Erectile dysfunction McMahon-type partner to Joey Bishop. The year before, Philbin had arrived the task with Bishop -- whose 11:30 p.m. ABC talk show taken part with Johnny Carson -- but he quit 15 several weeks later throughout a tape.our editor recommendsRegis Philbin's Last Show: Luminaries Avoid 'Live!' HostWhy Regis Philbin Says Farewell to 'Live!': Within the Talk Show Host's DepartureRegis Philbin Continues Media Blitz Throughout His Final Week On AirRegis Philbin Attempts to Get Another Hug from David Letterman on 'Late Show' (Video)Related Subjects•Live! With Regis and Kell... VIDEO: Honoring Regis Philbin's 80th With 8 Memorable Moments The Hollywood Reporter's Rambling Reporter column stated Philbin, then 36, heard "an ABC professional or two have been bum-rapping him and advocating Joey to exchange him 'for the great from the show.' So Regis told Joey he loved him an excessive amount of to endanger his show and walked off." The network was flooded with letters following the telecast, and Philbin came back. Bishop told Newsweek then that his announcer was "just like a boy in my experienceInch and "among the best persons I've ever met." Three decades later, however, he told The Dallas Morning News that Philbin's motivation for giving up would be a salary dispute, known as him "an ingrate" and stated "he gives plenty of aspire to those who have no talent." Bishop died in 2007. PHOTOS: The Hollywood Reporter's 80th Anniversary 'Legends' Problem Inside a 2006 Archive of yankee Television interview, Philbin spoke concerning the incident. "I didn't understand how it would go," he stated. "I had been wishing that might be the actual way it switched out, and that i was glad it did." Bishop's show was canceled in 1969. Philbin continued to host myriad local talk shows before his daily program with Kathie Lee Gifford joined national distribution in 1988. Related Subjects Regis Philbin Accept Regis and Kelly

Grading Jason Segel's First Five Tweets

comments: 0 || add yours Jason Segel, the roving Apatow muse and Jim Henson scion, has joined Twitter in a last-minute PR blitz for The Muppets, which hits theaters November 23. Thus far he’s tweeted about five times, which means we should rate each 140-character quip and help Mr. Segel to better his tweeting skills. I’m ready to judge! #embedly_twitter_43019708{background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme1/bg.png) #C0DEED;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_43019708 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@jasonsegelJason Segel Hello tweet universe! This is Jason Segel and this is my first official tweet! Thank you for having me. I look forward to meeting you all!Nov 11 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply Congrats on your first tweet, Mr. Segel. It’s a cheerful, but staid introduction. You sound like the MS Word Paperclip, and you’re already showing signs of exclamation point abuse. We expect more flavor in the future. 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I’m @jasonsegel and I’m now officially on Twitter!!Nov 11 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply This is an @reply, so regular judgments don’t apply. Still, the peppy voicelessness is a concern. 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So many new friends already. I will do my best to make equal time for most of youNov 11 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply “Equal time for most of you”? That strikes me as very unlikely. We’re talking about 100,000+ followers, after all. Also, the phrase “new friends” was Twitter-patented by Ellen Barkin weeks ago. Please do not tread on the masterworks of Ms. Barkin. Score: 1 #embedly_twitter_31794538{background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme1/bg.png) #C0DEED;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_31794538 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@jasonsegelJason Segel In the process of getting verified. In the meantime I thought this might help!!! Thanks for being so nice!! http://t.co/whpuVEsnNov 11 via Photos on iOSFavoriteRetweetReply Credit where it’s due: He tweeted a cute pic. Abuse of Twitpic-ing is a celebrity disease, but for the purposes of account verification, he’s done well here. Score: 4 #embedly_twitter_52617167{background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme1/bg.png) #C0DEED;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_52617167 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@jasonsegelJason Segel As a thank you to all fellow Muppet lovers out there, I’ll be tweeting pics from the PREMIERE TOMORROW. Truly a dream come true. Go Muppets!Nov 11 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply An explanatory tweet, but a decent one. We’re going to need typical tweet jokes about Starbucks patrons, pederast uncles, and the nerve of Kim Kardashian soon, but for now he’s skating by on an overall B-. Score: 2 [@JasonSegel] Tagged: jason segel, the muppets, twitter

AFM: Foreign Deals Fast For Hurry

La, CA (November ninth, 2011) While using American Film Market drawing with a close, Exclusive Media Group (Exclusive) has confirmed numerous key sales in primary areas for one of the most popular game game titles of Fall market the Ron Howard directed epic, Hurry. Alex Walton, Leader of Exclusive Films Worldwide has completed all rights handles StudioCanal (formerly Optimum) for your Uk, Alliance Films for Canada, Aurum for that country, Universum/RTL for Germany, E1 for brand new zealand and australia, MisLabel for Scandinavia, and Independent in Benelux. In addition, Exclusive has completed deals in a lot of the relaxation around the world. Universal Pictures is delivering the film in the usa in 2012. Set in the golden ages of Formula 1 racing, Hurry shows the short-paced, action-packed and exhilarating true story of a few the best rivals the game has ever observed James Search versus Niki Lauda in addition to their illustrious Formula 1 racing teams, McLaren versus Ferrari. Principal photography will begin on Hurry inside the Uk and Germany in February 2012. The film will probably be shot about 2 legendary Formula 1 tracks in Silverstone and Nrburgring.

UPDATED: Brett Ratner Resigns As Producer Of 2012 Oscars

First Published: November 8, 2011 7:51 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Brett Ratner attends the AFI FEST 2011 Presented By Audi - J. Edgar Opening Night Gala at Graumans Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, on November 3, 2011Brett Ratner has resigned as producer of the Oscars, Access Hollywood has confirmed. This morning, Brett Ratner submitted his resignation as a producer of the 84th annual Academy Awards to Academy President Tom Sherak, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement on Tuesday evening. Ratner then issued an open letter to the entertainment industry in which he explained his decision. The news comes just days after Ratner used a homophobic slur during a Q&A session at the Los Angeles ArcLight Cinema, following a screening of his latest film, Tower Heist. When asked about his rehearsal process, he said, Rehearsal is for fa*s. It was a dumb way of expressing myself, Ratner later said in a statement, by way of apology. Everyone who knows me knows that I dont have a prejudiced bone in my body. In addition to his homophobic remark, Ratner also recently slammed Olivia Munn, and suggested he had slept with the starlet, when he appeared on her former program, G4s Attack of the Show. He later apologized for his G4 remarks during a visit to The Howard Stern Show.When Ratner resigned from the Oscars on Tuesday morning, he also penned an open letter to the Hollywood community. In Ratners open letter, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the director admitted he has been criticized in the days since he uttered the gay slur. As difficult as the last few days have been for me, they cannot compare to the experience of any young man or woman who has been the target of offensive slurs or derogatory comments. And they pale in comparison to what any gay, lesbian, or transgender individual must deal with as they confront the many inequalities that continue to plague our world, he wrote in his letter. So many artists and craftspeople in our business are members of the LGBT community, and it pains me deeply that I may have hurt them. I should have known this all along, but at least I know it now: words do matter, his letter continued. Having love in your heart doesnt count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted. Ratner added that he plans to put work in on the fight against bigotry, and noted he has already reached out to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Please know that I will be taking real action over the coming weeks and months in an effort to do everything I can both professionally and personally to help stamp out the kind of thoughtless bigotry Ive so foolishly perpetuated, he wrote. Academy President Sherak said Ratners decision to resign was the right one. He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself, Sherak said in a statement. Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Movie mavens see healthy signs for industry

'The Help'It's unlikely that lots of will appreciate everyday the condition from the economy this year and passionately croon, "It had been an excellent year," but as Endgame Entertainment Boss Jim Stern prepares to accept stage for that Condition from the Film Industry panel in the Variety Way forward for Film Summit, he's confident about the healthiness of the company.InchHowever I would have been confident about film within the nineteen thirties when there is a depression happening and film was thriving," Stern states. "I have always cast a jaundiced eye when someone states, 'We're inside a worse quarter than i was this past year, and so the marketplace is heading down.' Well, possibly, but it is also since the movies aren't nearly as good. Therefore it is due more to quality than alternation in consumer habits."The got what's promising a week ago if this was reported that the amount of spec scripts offered in October -- 18 -- may be the greatest monthly tally in 2 years, and also the 86 offered to date this season is much more than 2009 and 2010 combined."It implies that purchasers are helping to loosen their purse strings, it implies that authors are writing what they need to create, instead of what they are being commissioned to create, that we think means a very level of quality of scripts," states panelist Ron Nicita, Morgan Creek co-chairman and COO.Simultaneously, Hollywood continues to be processing the financial crisis in A holiday in greece, that is threatening to destabilize the whole Eu."In the past, when there is a large (economic) hiccup, many overseas marketers went bankrupt and films which were lucrative films fell in to the red-colored because individuals were not getting compensated," Stern highlights. So, today, "when films are funded having a strong perspective of the items people are likely to return overseas, it is a serious concern."However the greatest question for panelists may be, with DVD revenues foundering, it is possible to chance VOD and streaming is going to be riding to save the day in the near future?InchI believe we'd all like to say video is performed and VOD is within,Inch states panelist David Glasser, COO from the Weinstein Co. "It isn't this way by yet, but hopefully this is where we are headed."RELATED LINKS Photos plug into buzz Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

MTV Systems Professional Describes How MovieTracker Quantifies Social Buzz Around Films (Q&A)

Time Warner on Wednesday reported enhanced third-quarter financials becasue it is film unitposted accurate documentation modified operating profit inside the latest period since it accomplished good success within the final installment in the Harry Potter franchise. Time Warner on Wednesday reported enhanced third-quarter financials becasue it is film unit greater than bending its primary point here striking an every three several weeks record thanks simply for the final installment in the Harry Potter series. Around the business call, management mentioned that 2011 is really a record year for TW's Warner Bros. studio if this involves the final outcome and spoken about how exactly recent Netflix and Hulu deals will heighten the financial performance in the CW network. The entertainment conglomerate, introduced by Boss Rob Bewkes, released an every three several weeks profit of $822 million, up 58 percent within the $520 million recorded around-ago period. The newest figure handily beat Wall Street anticipation. Revenue rose 11 percent to $7.1 billion, marking the business's finest rate of growth since the third quarter of 2007. TW elevated its full-year guidance for modified earnings per share from "no less than low double digit" growth with a forecast of rise in our prime teens. "Our results demonstrate the wealth of your time Warner's focus on buying and selling in great content that audiences love and leading the evolution of techniques it's shipped," mentioned Bewkes. "Warner Bros. stood a record-setting quarter, introduced by Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which made $1.3 billion within the box office globally, ranking since the third-finest grossing film ever and capping an unequalled franchise run." More youthful crowd famous Warner Bros. for "a great beginning inside the new TV season" with returning series, such as the Large Bang Theory and two and a half Males, and new shows, including 2 Broke Women, Suburgatory and Person of curiosity. Film unit revenue at TW rose 19 percent to $3.3 billion and modified operating earnings rose 153 percent to $528 million, an every three several weeks record, since the final Harry Potter film, Contagion and Horrible Bosses and greater TV costs within the off-network ease of access to Large Bang Theory greater than offset weakened home theatre results. Bewkes famous the studio's "fantastic performance" and mentioned the Potter franchise can keep going carrying out a final film's DVD release together with your offers just like a behind-the-moments tour set to create london in 2012. Advance sales just started and blew away the business's anticipation, he mentioned. Management predicted a effective fourth quarter for your film unit by utilizing sequels to some Virtual Detective and Happy Foot. TV systems unit revenue rose 7 percent to $3.2 billion on ongoing affiliate fee gains and 9 % advertising growth. But modified operating profit declined four percent due to greater expenses, including for marketing and programming. Bewkes mentioned his team was "pleased with the very first success in the Large Bang Theory around the best spinner's, illustrating how our content could make value over the organization." CFO John Martin mentioned that supposing there will not be any Basketball games in our quarter, TW's TV systems unit will dsicover no material financial impact despite lower ad revenue. More youthful crowd mentioned that scatter ad prices is presently up slightly from scatter around-ago period. The business's Wednesday earnings business call with experts also featured discussion recent digital distribution deals in the CW, which TW co-has with CBS Corp., with Netflix and Hulu. Bewkes mentioned that TW's stake inside the CW had been lucrative, since it offers an invaluable platform to create new series, nevertheless the new deals will "substantially improve" the network's financials. Martin mentioned they are worth hundreds of vast amounts in revenue for your Warner Bros. TV arm, while using fourth quarter vulnerable to go to a recognition of a little a lot more than $100 million in revenue adding to half that estimate profit. Bewkes mentioned the deals are consistent with TW's view that there are room for Netflix while others to acquire older and serialized shows if needed online. More youthful crowd stressed the deals add money for the TV eco-system, since they help better monetize content. Martin confirmed round the call that TW is evaluating its NY property possibilities, but didn't provide a timeline whenever an option round the future standby time with the Time Warner Center together with other company office structures could come. More youthful crowd mentioned the conglomerate is trying to find techniques to chop corporate costs after pension together with other previous changes have created savings inside the 100s vast amounts range. Speaking about digital film proper strategic business plans, Bewkes mentioned TW's Flixster service will convince add more features soon, just like a complimentary movie offer when people sign up for a completely new consider digital locker UltraViolet and an opportunity to convert Digital video disks that people own into digital copies. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Time Warner Rob Bewkes Earnings

Time Warner Cable 3Q Results Lacking Anticipation As Video Subs Fall

No. 2 cable operator reported net gain of $356M, lower 1.1% versus exactly the same period this past year, on revenues of $4.9B, up 3.7%. Earnings arrived at$1.09 a share, missing the $1.14 that experts expected. Additionally they thought revenues could be slightly greater at $4.95B. The miss came as Time Warner Cable lost 128,000 residential video clients, ending the quarter with 11.9M. The organization states the drop in subs in addition to inrevenues from premium channels and transactional VOD outweighed the extra cash the organization saw from cost increases and obligations for installation charges and Digital recording device services. The amount of home broadband clients elevated 9.2% to 9.8M within the quarter — but the organization lost 8,000 residential phone customers, ending with 4.5M. All in all, Boss Glenn Britt states that the organization “posted steady financial progress” and definitely will still “focus our efforts on making the most of our growth possibilities.” Still, some experts are worried. “If broadband may be the anchor product, then video is progressively this is the anchor,” Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett states. “Subscribers are falling, pricing is rising, and margins are contracting.”

'Nanny' heads for Brazil

'The Nanny'Sony Pictures Television has inked its first scripted format production deal in Brazil. A three-year co-production pact with No. 4 web Band TV will kick off with a local version of SPT's hit sitcom, "The Nanny." As part of the agreement, SPT and Band TV will produce two other primetime sitcoms based on SPT's scripted format catalog or original productions. Both will share distribution of the skein worldwide. All three sitcoms will be produced by Sao Paulo-based Floresta, a joint venture between SPT and production exec Elisabetta Zenatti. Floresta produces the Brazilian version of "The Dr. Oz Show" for SPT. Consisting of 180 episodes, the Brazilian "Nanny" will be stripped Monday through Friday on Band TV next year. Local versions of "The Nanny" have been produced in nine countries including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Russia. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Couric talk show clears most of marketplaces

CouricKatie Couric's approaching talk show "Katie" continues to be removed in over 60 % of the nation based on distributor Disney-ABC Domestic Television. The syndie yakker continues to be offered in 14 from the top 15 marketplaces to stations possessed by a number of cable operators. Recent clearances include ABC affiliate marketers in Dallas Boston Atlanta Washington, D.C. Detroit Polk, Fla. and Phoenix, and NBC affiliate KING in Dallas. The series is placed to premiere in September 2012 and it is area of the Disney/ABC Television Group's bigger multiplatform cope with the first kind "Today" and "CBS Evening News" anchor. Couric left CBS captured when her contract using the Eye ended she's presently slated to interview Regis Philbin to have an ABC News special in November. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

'Prize' tops Morelia fest

'The Prize'Mexico City-- Paula Markovitch's "The Prize" shown itself properly named once again Saturday since it needed best fiction feature within the ninth Morelia Worldwide Film Festival, wrapping today.The drama set among Argentina's Dirty War also won best picture at Guadalajara in March and acquired two Silver Bears within the Berlin film festival for artistic achievement. Handled by Urban Distribution Intl. for worldwide sales, the version examined now stood a particularly transformed ending and will be a strong favorite beginning the best day's the festival.Within the closing ceremony, fest veep Cuauhtemoc Cardenas stated round the film's winning streak, "I am hoping her next film is called 'El Oscar'."The jury prize acquires Markovitch support for digital distribution in Mexico within the distrib wing of Canana Films, the indie shingle founded by thesps Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.Everyone else prize visited "Expiration Date", the initial outing for Kenya Marquez - a classic director in the Guadalajara Worldwide Film Festival. "Date" also acquired a jury special mention as did Hari Sama's "The Imagine Lu" and Michel Lipkes' "Malaventura".Best documentary visited "Silvestre Pantaleon" by Roberto Olivares Ruiz and Jonathan D. Amith. Doc shows just a little indigenous town's struggle to get the money to do a traditional ceremony.The pic will screen at next year's Ambulante Documentary Film Festival - a project run by Canana's sister documentary division - furthermore to Mexican digital distribution support within the shingle.Special mentions visited "Practicing any War" by Juan Manuel Sepulveda and "The Smallest Place" by Tatiana Huezo, which acquired a distinctive prize for top documentary directed having a lady.Short fiction champion "Mari Pepa" by Samuel Isamu Kishi is qualified for Oscar consideration similar to the 2 animation shorts that shared that category's prize "Black Toy" by Sofia Carrillo and "Requiem for Eternity" by Alberto Resendiz Gomez.Emerging within the festival's production workshop Morelia Lab, several projects acquired co-production honours. The Imcine Prize, worth about $3,800 plus goodies, was presented with for the winning Mexican project "Temporada Baja" by Nicolas Celis. From Argentina, Daniel Andres Wernes' "La Turista" acquired the similarly sized Cinepolis Prize for top LatAm project.Distrib/shingle Argos Cine made the decision to provide about $230,000 in co-production funding to Socorro Mendez's production "Haz por Venir", as well as the lab jury also gave mentions to producers April Shannon (Mexico) for "La Noche p Franco", "Vacia Casas" from Hatuey Lavielle (Mexico), Alejandro Prieto's (Colombia) "Esperando a los Barbaros", "Primate" from Cynthia Gabrenja (Argentina) and "Uncut" produced by Laura Pino (Mexico). Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Viacom Replaces Celebrity Lawyer on Eve of YouTube Appeal

Getty ImagesTed Olson The second Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard Viacom's arguments whya judge wrongfully ignored its billion-dollar copyright violation suit against YouTube. The government courthouse was full of Viacom employees, Google lawyers yet others in costly suits who had proven as much as witness a hearing that may shape the way forward for the web. STORY:Viacom, Google Prepare For Battle in Appeals Court Over YouTube Copyright Issues But there is one individual not attending: Ted Olson, the celebrity attorney from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher who Viacom had hired with much fanfare to deal with its appeal before a 3-judge circuit panel. Around the eve from the hearing, Olson have been changed because the lead litigator by Paul Cruz, chair from the appellate practice at Jenner & Block and the other person in the Viacom team. Why? The Hollywood Reporter attended the hearing Tuesday and spoke with several people within the viewer's gallery who're attached to the situation. Here's the things they stated: EXCLUSIVE: Google Solutions Viacom in YouTube Appeal Within the days prior to the situation, each side carried out mock proceedings to ready with this important appeal. Google's team expressed confidence after watching the meticulous preparation of their lead litigator, Quinn Emanuel's Andrew Schapiro. Meanwhile, while several folks apparently associated with Viacom expressed their very own belief within the situation, the large talk encircled Olson, who, based on one person who stated to possess been aware of the rehearsals, have been changed because of not being adequately ready to discuss a vital problem: how YouTube had derived "direct financial benefit" from hosting copyrighted material on its servers -- among the prongs in creating vicarious liability underneath the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. THR arrived at to Viacom, Olson and also the Gibson firm to describe his absence from Tuesday's hearing and to reply to the chatter within the gallery. ANALYSIS: Viacom's Appeal within the YouTube Situation Gibson rejected to comment. Viacom's general counsel Michael Fricklas informs THR inside a statement: "Ted Olson and the team happen to be and will still be a vital a part of our appellate strategy. I had been fortunate to possess two great appellate lawyers that may argue the situation, and made the decision that Paul Cruz, who had been active in the earliest times of this lawsuit, seems for Viacom today." Olson, the first kind solicitor general from the U . s . States, is among the most prominent lawyers in the united states. His selection of cases involve winning Rose bush v. Gore, the landmark Top Court decision that put an finish to recounts within the 2000 presidential election, and finding some success in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the situation that challenged the constitutionality of the California ballot proposition barring same-sex partnerships. STORY: Viacom Buddies Back Benefit of YouTube Decision Viacom highlights that although Olson didn't attend the hearing, among his fellow Gibson co-workers was there. But the organization doesn't dispute that the conscious decision is made to possess someone apart from Olson handle dental arguments Tuesday. "Viacom is fortunate to become symbolized by exceptional counsel which includes experienced lawyers from Gibson Dunn, Jenner & Block and Shearman & Sterling," the organization states inside a statement. "Paul Cruz was selected to provide Viacom's arguments today due to his outstanding experience on these problems and the qualifications like a highly respected appellate lawyer." E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner Viacom YouTube

Iron Guy 3 begins next round of sequels resulting in Avengers 2

Following the first official Avengers trailer taunted us a week ago, Marvel stopped off in the NY Comic-Disadvantage where studio mind Kevin Feige spoke about what's next for that Marvel franchise. Feige stated that Iron Guy 3 will be the first film "Within the second phase from the Avengers initiative," which essentially means the following wave of Marvel sequels that will begin to the build to Avengers 2.Feige also confirmed to fans that Marvel has already been focusing on Iron Guy 3 with director Shane Black.Feige stated that Iron Guy 3 is going to be "the very first of the items we kind of make reference to as phase a couple of this saga which will culminate, God willing, in Avengers 2." So, it may sound like Marvel is going to be moving out Iron Guy 3, Captain America 2 and Thor 2 before we obtain our The Avengers follow up.Regrettably it does not seem like Avengers 2 is going to be striking the giant screen until 2014 in the earliest, as Iron Guy 3 is scheduled for any May 2013 release, Thor 2 for November 2013 and Captain America 2 does not actually have a release date by yet!No matter all of the release date nonsense, it's still exciting for Marvel fans to listen to by what the way forward for the franchise needs to offer. Talking about which, fans is going to be delighted to understand that Fiege has confirmed an Iron Guy 3 teaser trailer in the finish from the Avengers, so make certain you remain sitting or you will be more upset than Tony Stark finally orders.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo exits The Crow

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has attracted in the approaching reboot in the Crow, according to reviews.The the spanish language language director Fresnadillo (4 weeks Later, Criminals) can also be helming the Highlander reboot that is feasible for organizing conflicts involving the two productions triggered him disappear The Crow.Blade's Stephen Norrington was made to directThe Crow remake nevertheless the project continued to be staggering in October 2010 when he all of a sudden departed. The film was stated to stay in production at this time.Highlander only agreed to be put in line taken when the RCR Media Group pitched straight into help Summit Entertainment finance the film. That production is slated to begin spring of 2012.Good 1989 comic-book miniseries by James O'Barr, The Crow was converted to a 1994 film starring Brandon Lee, who tragically died on set carrying out a mix-tabs on guns.

MTV Renews Ridiculousness For Season 2

MTV has restored Make the most of Dyrdeks series Ridiculousness for just about any second season. The show, inside the vein of America’s Funniest Home Videos and Tosh., airs at 10 PM and features Dyrdeks undertake funny amateur viral videos. Make the most of can be a giant talent getting a extended history with MTV, and also the model of comedy, from ‘Ridiculousness’ to Fantasy Factory,is a perfect fit on our network, MTV mind of programming David Janollari mentioned. Ridiculousness is really a promising new series for MTV, calculating single.8 P12-34 rating and 1.9 million audiences. It's professional produced by Dyrdek, Rob Tremaine, Shane Nickerson andChristian Duguay.

Brand-new Lady In Black Trailer

Radcliffe can get the fright of his lifeWe've seen an acceptable handful of The Woman In Black trailers now, within the original teaser in April for the proper trailer in August now this, another, bigger, more frightening, most shocking version of August's taster.Because it is an unpleasant-movie-fillum, we'll spare the particular particulars in the trailer and permit you to excited/worried/scared good and proper, but know this:it's searching promising.Plus, if you would like seeing the-guy-who-once-was-Harry-Potter acquiring the bejesus scared from him, compared to is most definitely a clip to suit your needs - you sick, sick puppy.The Woman In Black will probably be on February 10 next season.

Donald Trump Hoping Rosie ODonnells Talk Show Will Be Successful

First Published: October 13, 2011 4:47 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Donald Trump attends the 2010 NBC Upfront presentation at The Hilton Hotel, NYC, May 17, 2010Its too soon to know if Rosie ODonnells The Rosie Show is working on the Oprah Winfrey Network viewership dropped from around 500,000 in her first show to 417,000 on Tuesday. In a shocking twist, Rosies former verbal sparring partner, Donald Trump, is hoping she finds success. I felt badly that her ratings were so bad, Donald told Access Hollywood on Thursday. Actually, I would like to see her be successful because everything Oprah does, ultimately, is successful, so I think Rosie will be successful, Donald added. While it seems relations between the two have warmed up, Donald has no plans to appear on the program. If she called, would you do the show? an Access producer asked. I dont think so, but I think shell be successful, he said. The Rosie Show airs weeknights at 7 PM on OWN. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Tyrannosaur', 'Guard' tops at Dinard

London-- Paddy Considine's pointing debut "Tyrannosaur" and John Michael McDonagh's "The Guard" won two honours each within the 22nd Dinard British Film Festival, France's leading showcase for Uk cinema. "Tyrannosaur" acquired the Golden Hitchcock award for top film as well as the Allianz award for top script. "The Guard" needed the Kodak Award for top cinematography as well as the Prix Public, selected with the audience. The Golden Hitchcock provides financial aid for the French distributor as well as the filmmaker, plus a advertising campaign round the Cine+ channels throughout time from the film's theatrical release. This Years Dinard fest opened up up March 6 with David McKenzie's "Sense,Inch and closed March 8 with Sue Bourne's "Jig." The jury was chaired by French actress Nathalie Baye. Kristof Bilsen won the most effective online video award for his doc "White-colored Elephant." The prize is selected from a range of shorts within the UK's National Film & TV School which is French equivalent FEMIS. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Will 'Army in the Dead' Function as Most Questionable Zombie Movie Ever?

It feels as if you will discover about two 1000 'Snow White' films in production at this time around (actually, you will discover only three). The images within the latest problem of EW range from Lily Collins/Jennifer Aniston 'Snow White-colored,' not to be mistaken using the Billy BurkeOrBob Hemsworth 'Snow White'. The photos certainly are a first glimpse at Roberts since the evil full (who, no less than inside the images, does not look everything evil), additionally to Collins since the princess. Yahoo! Movies also first demonstrated their unique number of photos. Mind onto EW and Yahoo! to consider the whole set. [via Yahoo! and EW] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

30 Rock: Will James Marsden Sweep Liz Lemon Off Her Feet?

James Marsden James Marsden will drop by 30 Rock when the NBC comedy returns for its sixth season, Entertainment Weekly reports. The X-Men actor, 38, will appear in at least one episode, and possibly more, but NBC would not reveal what character he will play. Last month, 30 Rock put out a casting a call for the recurring role of Liz Lemon's new love interest. The unnamed character was described as an easygoing California native with liberal values and a youthful innocence. Could Marsden fit that bill? You decide. Fall Preview: Get scoop on your favorite returning shows Marsden most recently starred in the remake of Straw Dogs and had a memorable guest appearance on Modern Family last season as Cam and Mitch's charming neighbor squatter. Other guest stars for this coming season include Denise Richards, who tweeted about her appearance early Wednesday, and Will Arnett, who will reprise his Emmy-nominated role as Devon Banks. 30 Rock is set to return sometime midseason on NBC. No premiere date has been announced.

Netflix And Showtime Eye Potential New Arrested Development Limited Series

UPDATED: Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurtwitz dropped another bombshell today, telling a panel at The NYer Festival that he plans to bring the Emmy-winning series back to television for a limited 9-10 episode run before proceeding with the long-gestating Arrested Development movie. He didn’t specify where the potential series would air as it doesn’t necessarily have to run on Fox, which carried the mothership series. I have learned that 20th Century Fox TV, which co-produced Arrested Development with Imagine TV, has had talks with Netflix, which has been on the hunt for original programming, and Showtime, whose new entertainment president David Nevins shepherded Arrested Development when he ran Imagine TV. 20th TV declined comment. According to attendees at the panel, where Hurwitz was joined by series stars Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, Jeffrey Tambor, David Cross, Alia Shawkat and Jessica Walter, Hurwitz laid out his plan to have each installment focus on a different member of the Bluth clan. Bateman later weighed in on the announcement on Twitter. “It’s true,” he wrote. “We will do 10 episodes and the movie. Probably shoot them all together next summer for a release in early ’13. VERY excited!” That would mean launching the follow-up limited series on the 10th anniversary of the original, which premiered in 2003.

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Winter Classic a brand new outside tradition

While nfl and college football has lengthy had an imprint on New Year's Day sporting occasions, the NHL is creating a serious toehold too. Having a proceed to outside arenas by playing before a lot more than 70,000 visitors, the league's annual Winter Classic has turned into a bonafide hit. This is a consensus both among hockey fans along with the on-ice participants. This season's contest is going to be performed at Philadelphia's People Bank Park (capacity 43,500 for baseball) in which the Flyers will require on the longtime rivals the NY Rangers. The overall game will pressed back each day to Jan. 2 and telecast on NBC. "It's only ten or twenty yards from Broadway to Broad Street, and through the years, these not-so-neighborly teams have given a variety of memorable games," states NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in marketing the match-up. Rankings ought to be strong. Last year's game featured another bitter competition -- the Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins, performed at football venue Heinz Area -- that came 4.5 million audiences around the Peacock. That signifies probably the most-viewed regular season game within the U.S. in 36 years. Not just has got the Winter Classic, which started in 2008, been a boon for NBC, however for Cinemax too. The very first time this past year, the pay cabler used its effective sports docu series "24/7" for hockey which season "Flyers/Rangers: Route to the NHL Winter Classic" will start its to begin four episodes 12 ,. 14. The series gives an close up and private consider the gamers and coaches for every team, and provides fans an internal-the-lockerroom experience rarely seen before in hockey. "Taking '24/7' in to the NHL demonstrated to become a perfect fit," describes Cinemax Sports professional producer Nick Bernstein. "The franchise is fashioned on bigger-than-existence personas, engaging story lines and unrestricted access. Clearly, we'd all individuals elements last December and also the NY-Philadelphia competition should spark another terrific series." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Internet internet marketer Marvin Levy draws jerk

Levy Veteran film internet internet marketer Marvin Levy will be the first inductee into Variety's Film Marketing Hall of Fame on Tuesday through the 2011 Film Marketing Summit.Levy, who works carefully with Steven Spielberg together with other principals at DreamWorks Art galleries, is presently concentrating on marketing campaigns for "The Adventures of Tintin" and "War Equine," which he recently done "The Help.InchVariety's Film Marketing Summit, co-produced by Variety and Stradella, Road, runs Tuesday and Wednesday within the Universal Hilton and may feature movie marketing chiefs in addition to their technology partners speaking about the best way to target film audiences. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Real Steel

Hugh Jackman backs slightly robot that could in Disneys Real Steel. A Wally Disney Art galleries Movies relieve a DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment presentation from the 21 Laps/Montford Murphy production. Produced by Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Shawn Levy. Executive producers, Jack Rapke, Robert Zemekis, Steve Starkey, Steven Spielberg, Josh McLaglen, Mary McLaglen. Co-producers, Ron Benattar, Eric Hedayat. Directed by Shawn Levy. Script, John Gatins story, Serta Gilroy, Jeremy Leven, based simply round the short story "Steel" by Richard Matheson.Charlie Kenton - Hugh Jackman Max Kenton - Dakota Goyo Bailey Tallet - Evangeline Lilly Finn - Anthony Mackie Ough - Kevin Durand Deborah Barnes - Hope Davis Marvin Barnes - James Rebhorn Tak Mashido - Karl Yune Russian Robot Owner - Olga FondaThough occur the following where boxing is becoming so intense only high-tech robots have the required steps to compete, "Real Steel" still trusts an excellent, old-fashioned father-boy drama to supply the thrills. Like the high-fructose-laced soda given front-and-center product positioning, this underdog sports story is nice corny -- in an ideal measure to satisfy the general public, especially 10-year-old boys and Dale earnhardt junior . fathers who never lost touch utilizing their inner-child. A effective eleventh-hour marketing push can purchase the opening, giving Hugh Jackman his finest non-"X-Males" hit since "Van Helsing," while putting junior co-star Dakota Goyo round the energy power grid. Goyo plays 11-year-old Max, a Dr. Pepper-chugging, videogame-obsessed urchin who appears within the breaking reason behind the career of onetime heavyweight contender Charlie Kenton (Jackman). While Jackman is clearly the bigger star, "Real Steel" so deeply identifies with Max's perspective, there can be no question the pic was created to draw in youthful auds. Although online reactions have mistaken "Real Steel" just like a live-action version in the Rock'em Sock'em Robots game, pic's actual inspiration was Richard Matheson's hardscrabble short story "Steel," formerly modified becoming an episode of "The Twilight Zone." Adding the child character is one kind of many departures inside an approach that borrows the robot-boxing concept but hardly anything else in the pulp source material. Consistent with director Shawn Levy's "Evening within the Museum" series, "Real Steel" exploits the stress from the deadbeat father and also the estranged boy, serving up some serious wish fulfillment to be able to reconciliation involving the decades. John Gatins' script (with story credit prone to Serta Gilroy and Jeremy Leven) is almost cruel within the presentation in the problematic father figure: Jackman plays an alarmingly selfish disadvantage guy who owes his creditors nearly $100,000 and who sells custody of the children from the kids of his boy for a similar sum. After Charlie sees his last robot reduced to scrap metal within a rodeo run-together with a bull, the empty-handed opportunist appears in the courtroom to sign away Max to his aunt (Hope Davis) and her filthy-wealthy husband (James Rebhorn). Since the kid's parents-to-be use a fancy trip planned, Charlie unwillingly confirms to think about proper proper care of Max for just about any month roughly -- the required time for something different of heart to occur. As being a 21st-century Bogart (with substantially better physique and teeth), Jackman has mastered the ability of affable surliness. Goyo holds their very own in the star, though Levy uses the adorable youthful guy more for mouth area-pinching appeal than to make a well-rounded character. While widescreen lensing allows for further visual audacity than his previous features, TV-trained Levy loves closeups -- a tactic that plays better on homevideo than Imax screens -- and Goyo's the kind of dewy-eyed child actor on whom they can depend for emotional cutaways. Actually, "Real Steel's" most endearing character isn't human whatsoever, but an obsolete second-generation robot named Atom. With neon-blue eyes glowing behind what seems just like a mesh fencing mask, Atom appears being more alive in comparison to gleaming, cutting-edge options he faces inside the ring. "Don't get worried, your secret's safe with me at night,In . Max notifies him, though pic leaves it alluringly open-ended what that "secret" might be -- much like it allows for that chance that Charlie is probably not Max's actual father. A smaller amount ambiguous might be the example between Atom's roots (after Father destroys two pricey fighting bots, Max digs the battered android in the grime in the dangerous landfill raid) as well as the scrappy status of his two trainers. Charlie has essentially disposed of his youthful charge, and that he is not definately not being tossed in the small-time circuit themselves. Still, something relevant for this robot -- needing a beating and often will not stay lower -- inspires these to challenge most likely probably the most advanced robot in the world Robot Boxing League, an autonomous, constantly altering pile driver named Zeus. Such concentrate on character helps it be obvious to determine why the story would connect to youthful auds. The uncanny factor about "Real Steel" is just how gripping the ideal moments are Sugar Ray Leonard offered just like a consultant for the motion-capture artists responsible for pantomiming the machines' moves. Atom is different because he features a "shadow mode," further anthropomorphizing the level of smoothness since the bot finds out to mimic the moves of the trainer. As future-set tales go, the pic doesn't alter much in regards to the present. Rather, Levy takes note of your truck-driving, can-do spirit in the heartland, adapting professional producer Steven Spielberg's all-American attitude to more blue-collar crowd. Seamless visual effects and-duty appear design complete the illusion of fast-moving fighting machines, while Danny Elfman's inspiring score leaves no heartstring unstrummed. Camera (color, widescreen), Mauro Fiore editor, Dean Zimmerman music, Danny Elfman music supervisor, Jennifer Hawks production designer, Tom Meyer supervisory art director, Seth Reed art company company directors, Jason Baldwin Stewart, Rob Wisniewski set decorator, Victor J. Zolfo costume designer, Marlene Stewart appear (Dolby Digital/SDDS/Datasat), Steve Cantamessa appear designers, Warren Hendriks, Craig Henighan supervisory appear editor, Henighan re-recording mixer, Paul Massey stunt coordinator, Garrett Warren animatronic supervisor, John Rosengrant live-action animatronic and robot effects, Legacy Foreign exchange effects supervisor, Joey DiGaetano visual effects supervisor, Erik Nash visual effects, Digital Domain, Cantina Creative Digital Neural Axis, Ockham's Razor connect producer, Ron Ames assistant director, Josh McLaglen casting, David Rubin, Richard Hicks. Examined at Company company directors Guild of America, La, Sept. 22, 2011. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 126 MIN. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

Weekend B.O. Brawl! Lion King 3D Still #1, Moneyball Edges Dolphin Tale For #2, Twilighter Taylor Lautners Abduction #4, De Niro/Statham/Owens Killer Elite #5

SATURDAY PM, 4THUPDATE: This has been ashifting-like-quicksandweekend for North American box office, with the Top2 order changing again as of Saturday night. Everyone agrees that Lion King 3D is No. 1 but Moneyball and Dolphin Tale are neck-and-neck for #2. Some studios are picking the baseball tale while others are choosing the maimed mammal. On Friday night,I also couldn’t get claritybecause ofRentrak hiccups during the day.Can’t we all just get along, especially whenI’m supposed to be on vacation? This order could change again Sunday morning, but for now: 1. Even Disney is surprised that its Lion King 3D is infirst place tonight from 2,330 theaters after its huge first-place finish last weekend. But rival studios tell me it got a boost Friday from the rain back East for a $6M Friday for an excellent hold. And another giantkiddie matinee bump on Saturday for as much as $9.5M. That’s a $22M weekend as well and only a modest -30% decline. This re-release is projected to hit a cume of as much as $61.5M by Monday. Here’s my question: Why is it that in all the promotional hype I’ve been sent by the studio about this pic, no one at Disney is thanking Jeffrey Katzenberg for micro-managing the original? C’mon, Mouse House, give credit where credit is due. Even if Jeffrey is a big pain in everyone’s ass. 2. Sony’s much-hyped newcomerMoneyball is now officially the best baseball-themed opening ever (Not accounting for inflation or higher ticket prices, it beat Benchwarmers’ $19.6M, The Rookie’s $16M, and A League Of Their Own‘s $13.7M.) It openedNo. 1 Friday with$6.7M and then soared +27% to $8.5M Saturday from 2,993 theaters. (As a Sony exec told me, “$6 million would be great. $7 million amazing. $8 million would be a triumph.”) With that healthy adult bump, it’s looking at a $21M weekend which is on target with the studio’s expectations. That solid number helps keep Brad Pitt’s star wattage shining and his awards chances climbing because ofthis well-reviewed male-centric sports movie that scored 94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. (As Deadline Hollywood’s Awards columnist Pete Hammond opined out of the Toronto Film Festival: “This is a classic movie star role in the tradition of something that Robert Redford or Paul Newman would have done in their prime. He has never been better, and the movie is the best sports film since Bull Durham, a real triumph considering the long and winding road it took to get to the screen.”) Audiences really liked this pic: it received all A’s — male, female, young, old — from CinemaScore. But a rival studio exec points out thatalmost 60% of that audience was over age 50.Sonybelieves Moneyball could play strongly through the Fall generating a multiple that could very well exceed 4X and 5Xits opening. Marketingtargeted adult moviegoers and was designed to appeal to both men and women. Call me sexist, but I thought targeting women was hopeless for a picbased on the true story of Billy Beane who rebuilt theOakland As in 2002through computer-driven statistical analysis long ignored by the baseball establishment. This stuff makes my eyes glaze over, even though Michael Lewis wrote a great book about it and producer Rachael Horovitz recognized the bones of a great movie about it.To build awareness among men, Sony had a strong presence in sports programming, especially baseball where the campaign kicked off during the MLB All-Star Game in July.Trailers aired on the MLB Network, while spots also ran in high-profile NFL games including the season opener. In recent weeks, Moneyball‘s presence was in MLB games across FOX, ESPN, and TBS andselect NCAA football games.The TV campaigntook advantage of primetime premieres and high-impact specials, including the Emmys and MTV’s VMAs. On cable, Moneyball had sneak peeks onSons of Anarchy, Tosh.0, Conan and ESPN’s SportsCenter. To reach women, Sonybought spots on Dancing With the Stars and Glee while Pitt appeared on Ellen this week and was pretty much omnipresent as both producer and star. Like most movies these days,Moneyball had a twisted and tortured history to the big screen. Initially, baseball freak Steven Soderbergh was involved but passed because of other commitments. Eventually Sony brought in producer Michael De Luca to join Horovitz and, 5 years later in 2009, Soderbergh was back to direct. Butin a well-chrincled case of creative differences, the Oscar-winning director was jettisoned from the film just 72 hours before production was to begin when the studio changed its mind about his changes to Steven Zaillians adaptation. (Soderbergh’s primary addition included Reds-like testimonials from real-life players.) Conventional wisdom had it that the pic was a goner. But Pitt stayed on board throughout. The project really got back on track with executive producer Scott Rudinalong with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who did a polish on Zaillians script (both get credit now). Pitt himself credits director Bennett Miller (an Oscar nod for Capote first-time out), who replaced Soderbergh and then had the vision to “crack” the film’s outsider/insider themes by making an unconventionalfilm about them. 3. Very close behind is Alcon Entertainment’s Dolphin Tale distributed into 3,507 theaters by Warner Bros.It opened with $5.1M Friday and zoomed to $8.6MSaturday heading for a$20Mweekend.Alconexpectedthe heartstrings-pulling pic to jump 60% on Saturday because of the family film bump and did +70% more. Remember,it’s also playing in the most theaters.According toCinemaScores, parents and kidsaudiences are giving it an A+. “The film is very inspirational, and tracking is terrific.We will own the family marketplace,” an exec told me.Warner Bros was looking to give Moneyball a run for No. 1this weekend, but didn’t anticipate the continued strength of Lion King 3D. The strategy for Dolphin Tale was to reach primarily parents and kids with this real-lifestory andfine ensemble cast. The studiodevised a very long trailer campaign in order to get maximum exposurebeginning in April and playing through the summer on everything from Rio to Cars 2.The TV strategy wasrobust, covering everything from kids cable in late summer before school started, through key season premieres such as Dancing With The Stars and Biggest Loser,to a wide array of sponsorships with Discovery, Teen Nick, Lifetime, Nation Geographic, Disney XD, MTV, and more.Warner Bros crafted an aggressive word-of-mouth screening program that involved 3 full roundsin the top 60 markets. Military and home schoolers were targeted as well asyouth groups and other family-oriented orgs. The director and cast completed a 7-market PA tour that includeda junket to accommodate Winter, the real-life star of the film who had her ownlive Winter-cam.Online, there was afirst-time integration with the Spongebob Squarepants Facebook page given thesea theme. 4.Lionsgate’s Abduction in 3,118 theaters ended up with $3.8M Friday but went up +20% Saturday for $4.5m andan$11M opening for the weekend. (So it wasn’tfront-loaded like what happened to Zac Efron in Charlie St Cloud.)Through Sunday,Hollywood eyes have been focused onits starTaylor Lautner in his first leading man role in an action thrillerbecause he’s been very much in demand — presumably because of his enormous Twi-hard fan base and aggressive promotion of his films –but not because of any solo box office which the 19-year-old has done yet. Then again, I’velearned thatLautner’s $36M-budget action thriller was outspent 4-to-1 in marketing dollars by both Sony and Warner Bros leading up to this weekend. (Shame on Lionsgate’s Jon Feltheimer for tying everyone’s hands even after powerless Alli Shearmur pleaded.)So the jury is still out on whether this Twilight kid can open an envelope,especially in as rotten a reviewed movie as this one was directed by John Singleton. (“Silly” and “convoluted” were the words used most often to describe it.) Audiences didn’t think it was quite as bad as critics, giving it a B- CinemaScore.Too bad Lionsgate can’t seem to make a decent movie (Conan The Barbarian) or market one anymore (Warrior). An $11Moutcome is less than the $15M it appeared to be earlier Friday and not the$12M-$14M range which the studio told me it needed to show a “nice profit” for the film.”ButTaylors a great kid. Hes worked hard for us, doing about 8 national TV shows and endless amounts of press,” one of the execs said to me. “We know the opening weekend box office averages for Taylors Twilight co-stars, so this falls in the zone of what was to be expected. There are lots of movies opening this weekend to a variety of audiences, but ours is laser-targeted to tweens and we hope to dominate that market.”Lionsgatesimultaneously streamed the premiere to an additional 20 regional markets and broadcast the Red Carpet online as ‘The Abduction Fan Premiere Live Event’with 50M impressions.Media promotions included ABC Family andChannel One, the in-school network that reaches 2.3 million teens aged 1517.Other youth-focused exploitation includedan announcer spot for Tay-Tay at the VMAs (tied to a sweepstakes to ‘Get Abducted’ to the awards). It wasn’t nearly enough. 5. Open Road Film’s Killer Elite looks likeonly $9.5M for the weekend from 2,986 theaters. But when the veteran star trio of Robert DeNiro, Jason Statham, and Clive Owencan’t knock off Lautner solo in a lousy movie, that’s worth noting. The pic went upto only $3.7M on Saturday after its $3.3M debut Friday. CinemaScore was aB. I hear Open Roadacquired the film for nothing, only P&A, so it’ll be nicely profitable. Not bad for the company’s first release.A few notes about the Killer Elite marketing campaign: it had the predictablyheavy presence in sports including an ‘NFL on FOX’ TV promotion with a “Killer” prize of trip to LA to hang out with the Fox sports on-air guys, apromotion with Spike TV’s UFC Fight Night, and even Comedy Central’s Charlie Sheen Roast.De Niro made a rare late-night talk show appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live where he sat down with Kimmel’s security guard-turned celeb interviewer Guillermo. AndMTV Networks did a direct email campaign to target demos within their very largecustomer database. Here’s the rest of the Top 10: 6. Contagion (Participant/Warner Bros) Week 3 [3,136 Theaters] Friday $2.6M,Saturday $4.1M, Weekend $9M, Cume $57.5M 7. Drive (FilmDistrict) Week 2 [2,904 Theaters] Friday $1.8M (-50%),Saturday $2.4M, Weekend $6M, Cume $21.6M 8. The Help (Participant/DreamWorks/Disney] Week 7 [2,695 Theaters] Friday $1.3M,Saturday $2M,Weekend $4.5M, Cume $154.5M 9. Straw Dogs (Sony) Week 2 [2,408 Theaters] Friday $685K (-65%),Saturday $900K, Weekend $2.1M, Cume $8.5M 10. I Don’t Know How She Does It (Weinstein Co) Week 2 [2,490 Theaters] Friday $677K (-57%),Saturday $875K,Weekend $2M, Cume $8M FRIDAY 4 PM: On vacation. So box office is brought to you from a sunny climate where the palm trees sway in time to the dancing trade winds… But back home there’s a fierce fight going on. These are very early grosses, and my sources say Rentrak has been experiencing problems today — thus giving Hollywood even more Maalox moments than usual. Sony’s Moneyball starring Brad Pitt will be No. 1 with approx $8M Friday and possibly mid-$20sM for the weekend. That solid number helps Brad Pitt’s awards chances in this well-received male-centric sports movie. Right now Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dolphin Tale and Lionsgate’s Abduction are battling for No. 2 with around $6M today and what could be high teens for the weekend. Interesting, because the heartstrings-pulling pic was tracking much better. Then again, Taylor Lautner’s action thriller is playing in 389 less theaters. So anyone who claimed this Twilight kid couldn’t open an envelope is wrong, wrong, wrong: there are major stars who would be thrilled with that outcome, especially in as rotten a reviewed movie as this one. Open Road’s Killer Elite looks a notch lower – maybe $5M today, and low teens for the weekend. Frequent updates coming with full analysis.

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