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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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: