Chris Lilley Plays Six Roles in HBO's 'Angry Boys'

NY (AP) Three years ago in his mockumentary "Summer Heights High," Chris Lilley played a trio of characters at an Australian high school, including a flamboyant drama teacher and a mean society girl named Ja'mie.Now Lilley is back with the even more ambitious "Angry Boys," a 12-episode showcase where he tackles a half-dozen personalities in an examination of boys and men who are misunderstood, self-deluding and typically at odds with the opposite sex. By turns painful, bitterly funny and illuminating, the series premieres on HBO on Sunday at 10 p.m. EST, with two half-hour episodes airing weekly.Lilley's pantheon includes identical twins Nathan and Daniel Sims, an angry, constantly bird-flipping pair of 17-year-olds. They have a troubled dynamic: Nathan was left deaf and mentally addled by an accident, and Daniel, who loves him yet hates him for being disabled, teases Nathan cruelly while defending him against the rest of the world.Lilley is also the boys' grandmother, Gran, a devoted but often inappropriate prison officer at the Sydney Garingal Juvenile Justice Center for teenage boys. To keep the mood light, Gran likes to play mean jokes, such as telling a young inmate his sentence has been cut by nine months, then yelping, "Gotcha!"Another of Lilley's characters is S.mouse, a rich-kid rapper in Los Angeles who scores with an embarrassingly stupid novelty song and dance, "Slap My Elbow" ("You do it like thiiiiis," he raps on his video: "Slap my el, slap my bow, slap my elllllbooooooow"), but is bitter at his father's derision and, worse, his lack of hip-hop outlaw cred.Lilley is Jen Okazaki, the soft-spoken and almost psychotically exploitative mother of an aspiring skateboarding champion whom she is bullying into the big time. And he is also a 38-year-old burned-out championship who lost his testicles to a stray bullet in a gang fight.This spectrum of characters and the geographic range they represent speaks to the higher stakes for which Lilley (who created, wrote, co-produced and co-directed the series) is playing this time around.Declaring "Summer Heights High" to be " contained and small," Lilley speculates his fans "figured they'd worked out my formula find a work environment and throw in some characters and expected my next series should be in a hospital or a police station. But a part of me wanted to rebel against that. I wanted to do something on a massive scale with a story that was woven together in a trickier way."With its documentary format, "Angry Boys" seems to unfold spontaneously, but Lilley says it was tightly scripted, even storyboarded, before shooting started.Lilley spent a year writing the series while scouting locations. Filming consumed seven months, and editing took a year after that."I don't make things easy for myself," he says, "but why give myself limitations? I don't need a deadline. I just work until it's ready."On a recent visit to Manhattan from his native Melbourne, the 37-year-old Lilley is in T-shirt and jeans, with a day-old stubble on a cherubic face that can readily adapt to playing women as well as men, and youngsters as well as adults.Unlike a chameleonic performer such as Tracey Ullman, who wildly transforms her appearance with makeup and costumes, Lilley keeps disguises to a minimum."A big part of the show is that it has the same person playing a number of the characters, so I don't want to be too disguised and made up," he says. "More important, I think you lose the expressive qualities of your face if you're covering it too much."Bottom line: Lilley doesn't transform himself into his characters so much as channel them."People go, 'You're a great mimic,' which I sort of hate to hear because it's never my motivation," he says. "I'm not even that fussy about accents. I love writing the characters, I think about them a lot, and then they're just there."Stepping into fantasy identities began early for him. He and a childhood friend would act out scenes when they were walking around."All of a sudden I'd launch into a character, my friend would go along with it, and the story would sort of evolve," recalls Lilley. "Or we would exchange long letters as the characters, so we could rely less on improv and really think the story through."It's exactly what I'm doing now."Lilley, who had early success playing five characters on his 2005 series, "We Can Be Heroes: Finding the Australian of the Year," claims to have no interest in roles that don't inhabit a universe he masterminded."Most of what I'm doing is on the writing and producing side," claims Lilley, apparently a social anthropologist as much as entertainer. "I don't think of myself as an actor-for-hire."Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Frazier Moore December 29, 2011 NY (AP) Three years ago in his mockumentary "Summer Heights High," Chris Lilley played a trio of characters at an Australian high school, including a flamboyant drama teacher and a mean society girl named Ja'mie.Now Lilley is back with the even more ambitious "Angry Boys," a 12-episode showcase where he tackles a half-dozen personalities in an examination of boys and men who are misunderstood, self-deluding and typically at odds with the opposite sex. By turns painful, bitterly funny and illuminating, the series premieres on HBO on Sunday at 10 p.m. EST, with two half-hour episodes airing weekly.Lilley's pantheon includes identical twins Nathan and Daniel Sims, an angry, constantly bird-flipping pair of 17-year-olds. They have a troubled dynamic: Nathan was left deaf and mentally addled by an accident, and Daniel, who loves him yet hates him for being disabled, teases Nathan cruelly while defending him against the rest of the world.Lilley is also the boys' grandmother, Gran, a devoted but often inappropriate prison officer at the Sydney Garingal Juvenile Justice Center for teenage boys. To keep the mood light, Gran likes to play mean jokes, such as telling a young inmate his sentence has been cut by nine months, then yelping, "Gotcha!"Another of Lilley's characters is S.mouse, a rich-kid rapper in Los Angeles who scores with an embarrassingly stupid novelty song and dance, "Slap My Elbow" ("You do it like thiiiiis," he raps on his video: "Slap my el, slap my bow, slap my elllllbooooooow"), but is bitter at his father's derision and, worse, his lack of hip-hop outlaw cred.Lilley is Jen Okazaki, the soft-spoken and almost psychotically exploitative mother of an aspiring skateboarding champion whom she is bullying into the big time. And he is also a 38-year-old burned-out championship who lost his testicles to a stray bullet in a gang fight.This spectrum of characters and the geographic range they represent speaks to the higher stakes for which Lilley (who created, wrote, co-produced and co-directed the series) is playing this time around.Declaring "Summer Heights High" to be " contained and small," Lilley speculates his fans "figured they'd worked out my formula find a work environment and throw in some characters and expected my next series should be in a hospital or a police station. But a part of me wanted to rebel against that. I wanted to do something on a massive scale with a story that was woven together in a trickier way."With its documentary format, "Angry Boys" seems to unfold spontaneously, but Lilley says it was tightly scripted, even storyboarded, before shooting started.Lilley spent a year writing the series while scouting locations. Filming consumed seven months, and editing took a year after that."I don't make things easy for myself," he says, "but why give myself limitations? I don't need a deadline. I just work until it's ready."On a recent visit to Manhattan from his native Melbourne, the 37-year-old Lilley is in T-shirt and jeans, with a day-old stubble on a cherubic face that can readily adapt to playing women as well as men, and youngsters as well as adults.Unlike a chameleonic performer such as Tracey Ullman, who wildly transforms her appearance with makeup and costumes, Lilley keeps disguises to a minimum."A big part of the show is that it has the same person playing a number of the characters, so I don't want to be too disguised and made up," he says. "More important, I think you lose the expressive qualities of your face if you're covering it too much."Bottom line: Lilley doesn't transform himself into his characters so much as channel them."People go, 'You're a great mimic,' which I sort of hate to hear because it's never my motivation," he says. "I'm not even that fussy about accents. I love writing the characters, I think about them a lot, and then they're just there."Stepping into fantasy identities began early for him. He and a childhood friend would act out scenes when they were walking around."All of a sudden I'd launch into a character, my friend would go along with it, and the story would sort of evolve," recalls Lilley. "Or we would exchange long letters as the characters, so we could rely less on improv and really think the story through."It's exactly what I'm doing now."Lilley, who had early success playing five characters on his 2005 series, "We Can Be Heroes: Finding the Australian of the Year," claims to have no interest in roles that don't inhabit a universe he masterminded."Most of what I'm doing is on the writing and producing side," claims Lilley, apparently a social anthropologist as much as entertainer. "I don't think of myself as an actor-for-hire."Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Watch the very first Nine Minutes of Revenge's Midseason Return

Emily VanCamp and Gabriel Mann As they say, revenge is really a dish best offered cold... however for crazy Tyler (Ashton Holmes), it is best offered in a clam bake. Revenge's seedy and energy-driven Tyler will aspire to get his due as he supports the Graysons and Emily (Emily VanCamp) at gunpoint at Daniel's birthday celebration within the midseason return of ABC's new hit drama. Is he going to flourish in getting what he wants? Discover by watching the very first nine minutes of Revenge's return, with a sweet reconciliation between Nolan (Gabriel Mann) and Emily. (And also the Nolan-Emily 'shippers go wild!) Revenge returns Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 10/9 on ABC.

Relativity taps Liz Jones for digital marketing

Posted: Thu., Dec. 22, 2011, 5:45pm PTBy JEFF SNEIDER Relativity Media has tapped Liz Jones, a veteran of the mobile and entertainment industries, as senior VP of digital marketing, a position that will see her creating and executing marketing campaigns across all digital platforms for Relativity's slate. Jones, who will report directly to theatrical marketing prexy Terry Curtin, will soon begin work on digital marketing of Steven Soderbergh's action thriller "Haywire" (Jan. 20), the Navy SEAL action pic "Act of Valor" (Feb. 24), Tarsem Singh's adventure comedy "Mirror Mirror" (Mar. 16) and the comedy "21 and Over," as well as Antoine Fuqua's "Hunter Killer" and Lasse Hallstrom's Nicholas Sparks adaptation "Safe Haven," which heads into production next April. With over 15 years of experience marketing and developing content, Jones most recently co-founded Appency, a full-service marketing agency dedicated to promoting mobile applications, where her clients included National Geographic, TheFind and Ravensburger Digital. Previously, Jones worked as a consultant and helped several media agencies start mobile and/or interactive divisions. Jones also spent 10 years at 20th Century Fox in both the Fox Mobile Entertainment group and the film division. During her tenure at FME, Jones founded Fox Mobile Studios, a dedicated studio for the development and production of made-for-mobile content. As VP of digital marketing for 20th Century Fox Filmed Entertainment, she built online and mobile marketing campaigns for more than 100 films, garnering numerous awards including two CLIOs, a Key Art Award and a One Show Award. Mobile Marketer also named her one of 2011's "Mobile Women to Watch." Jones earned her degree in political science from Boston University and began her career as an assistant for acclaimed director Norman Jewison ("Moonstruck"). Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Q&A with Tom McCarthy

McCarthy Paul Giamatti and Alex Shaffer in "Mutually BeneficialInch Author-director Tom McCarthy's "Mutually BeneficialInch signifies what's become his signature pointing style: a thoughtful character study with a lot of laughs incorporated within the conflict. McCarthy recently spoke on the phone with Variety's Christy Grosz about writing the first script and the way his behave as an actress notifies his pointing.Grosz: Whenever a concept sparks, can it be frequently a personality that starts the creative process to suit your needs or possibly could it be a predicament?McCarthy: If not a personality, a personality is quick round the heels to follow along with together with. For instance, with "Mutually Advantageous,Inch Joe which i'd this initial casual conversation about high-school wrestling and our encounters which sparked it. Immediately after, I started acquiring within this small-town lawyer in addition to small-town businessman -- because that's really what Mike Flaherty is -- and the way people people are coping now and who people people are. Once I was writing, there's a great deal discuss the middle class, specifically in politics, which i had been doing plenty of research. (I believed), who's this middle-class and exactly what are they coping with? Wrestling we understood which we understood it may be there once we needed it, however think finding these figures started to unlock the film for usCG: And why high-school wrestling?TM: Doesn't that question answer itself? I guess I'd request you, "Why not secondary school wrestling?" I'd say literally it absolutely was because i had been getting such a lot of fun talking about this, which i'd not seen it often (onscreen). I really think at first it absolutely was just that. Almost always there is that factor where you own an idea and it is an enjoyable idea. Then, after we started to flesh the smoothness soon after that, the idea (was) this person grappling along with his own sense of ethics. Then, further compared to that, there is something about wrestling where it's just an unusual sport. They have their particular code they have their particular world they relocate. They are kind of some a bastard sport. They are not a marquee sport like maybe football and basketball and baseball. There is something relating to this that made an appearance appropriate.CG: There is a extended resume becoming an actor, but if you started pointing, was getting a chance to direct from your own writing the tipping point to suit your needs?TM: At this time around, it's incredibly helpful, which i imply sincerely. It allows me to the film just like a director. When I have really labored using a script, I am able to achieve the script and discover the film. Much less there's hardly any discovery on that path from script to film, however really feel connected to the material also to the right path of individuals figures in addition to their world. I doubt I'll write my movies. Even if I needed a script from another author, I'd probably execute a director's spread it. That's an important tool for company company directors who email kind of go into the script and bought it a little. (But) I love the idea of cooperating together with other authors. In "Mutually Advantageous,Inch I labored with with Joe (Tiboni), a preliminary-time author who was simply incredibly impactful round the script. Joe is among my earliest pals, and then we had that shared reference to the town of latest Providence, where the movie is positioned. Joe (may also be) an elder law attorney like Mike Flaherty, so there's a great use within the private encounters. I made a decision to accomplish this with him as they has an ideal way of articulating and knowing the planet.CG: Do you'd like to rehearse before shooting?TM: I make an effort to do about 2 days of testing, according to an actor's availability and exactly how the task moves along. We spent lots of time (on "Mutually BeneficialInch) just dedicated to table reading through through. It's about digging a little much much deeper and achieving the actors' input, potentially tailoring the script to people stars. Some stars are uneasy with testing on films for reasons unknown, but my experience up to now is just about everyone has really loved that part of the process due to there being hardly any pressure. When you are on set, you kind of want to get it and proceed. There's an chance to request questions and feel it making mistakes.CG: Does your experience becoming an actor enable you to just like a director?TM: Any experience that pertains to the whole process of filmmaking is helpful. I experience how it is want to be inside the actors' position. I have labored with numerous very gifted company company directors, and possibly much less gifted, which i've encounters on sides therefore i showed up in internet marketing with a little more understanding. I take plenty of pride and enjoyment because part of the process. Casting after which it practicing after which it pointing stars is a factor I really enjoy.CG: You've labored getting a few in the cast people of "Mutually BeneficialInch before. Did the casting leave already-established associations?TM: It absolutely was a bit of the mixed bag. With Paul (Giamatti) and Amy (Ryan) and Bobby (Cannavale), I merely had them in your head. I am pals wonderful them, to make sure that only decided to be me handing them a script and asking them once they wanted to make it happen. I used to be alert to Melanie (Lynsky's) work however i didn't know her. (She) really put herself on tape for your role and sent it to us, which was great. Everybody else -- Margo Martindale and Jeffrey Tambor -- I used to be really just meeting with numerous these wonderful stars and becoming a conversation. With Alex (Shaffer) it absolutely was a more traditional kind of casting process where you have to really cast a sizable internet.CG: Perhaps you have write the script with people stars in your head or did that can come later?TM: Amy certainly and Bobby, too. Though (the Mike Flaherty character) my clearness round the page saved type of vacillating or oscillating or whatever-lating. I used to be searching for who this individual was. Until I realize that we can't really cast it. Once I finished it and sitting lower having a couple of stars and finally spoken to Paul relating to this, (I recognized I'd) been hearing his voice the whole time. As soon as he make out the print, that was that. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Jessica Biel hooks 'Truth About Fishes'

Getting wrapped an online insurance lead role in Sony's approaching reboot of "Total Recall," Jessica Biel is coming back towards the indie scene, as she's in final discussions to star opposite Kaya Scodelario in Francesca Gregorini's "Emanuel and the reality regarding Fishes."Gregorini authored the script, which follows Emanuel (Scodelario), a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda's "baby," that is really a really existence-like toy. She goes together with the delusion while befriending Linda, who is actually the spitting picture of Emanuel's late mother.Biel is within foretells play Linda, that has been completely traumatized through the dying of her child and today cares for that baby toy as though it were really alive.Matthew Brady is creating via his MRB Prods. banner together with Gregorini, while Paul Schiff, Kenny Goodman, Kevin Iwashina and Jonathan Grey will professional produce.Gregorini's "Tanner Hall" star Rooney Mara was initially set to experience the title character before production was pressed from summer time 2011 to early 2012.Biel, who are able to presently be observed in Garry Marshall's "New Year's Eve," next stars opposite Gerard Butler in Gabriele Muccino's comedy "Playing the Area," that is skedded for release on March 9. Thesp also toplines David O. Russell's lengthy-postponed indie "Nailed," in addition to Pascal Laugier's thriller "The Tall Guy."Biel is repped by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Karl R. Austen. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Universal taps scribe for 'Racing'

Mark Bomback is penning the variation of Garth Stein novel "The skill of Racing while it is rainingInch for Universal Pictures. Story follows a family's daily existence as seen with the eyes of the dog. Patrick Dempsey is onboard to star and convey alongside Original Film's Neal Moritz. Tania Landau and Joannie Burstein will professional produce. Tracy Falco, professional veep of production, and development connect Tara Situation oversee the work for Universal. Bomback's credits include Fox's "Easy" and "Race to Witch Mountain." He most lately did a rewrite of Fox's "Rise from the Planet from the Apes." He's repped by WME and Anonymous Content. UTA repped the novel with respect to Stein and book agents, Folio Literary Management. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

'Venus in Fur' to increase Its Operate on Broadway

NY (AP) The acclaimed Broadway manufacture of "Venus in Fur" is not slinking away quite yet.The Manhattan Theatre Club stated Monday that Walter Bobbie's play starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy will transfer to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre in Feb and run until June.The show is playing in the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and was scheduled to finish its operate on Sunday. Following the transfer, the show will resume production in the Lyceum from February. 7 to Next Month.The 2-character play explores energy dynamics within the audition room and thrilled audiences off-Broadway this past year in the Classic Stage Company with Arianda aboard.Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PHOTO CREDIT Joan Marcus NY (AP) The acclaimed Broadway manufacture of "Venus in Fur" is not slinking away quite yet.The Manhattan Theatre Club stated Monday that Walter Bobbie's play starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy will transfer to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre in Feb and run until June.The show is playing in the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and was scheduled to finish its operate on Sunday. Following the transfer, the show will resume production in the Lyceum from February. 7 to Next Month.The 2-character play explores energy dynamics within the audition room and thrilled audiences off-Broadway this past year in the Classic Stage Company with Arianda aboard.Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Barrymore On For Street Lights

She's attached to a Black List scriptIt's that time of year again: no, not Christmas, the time when the year's most promising unproduced scripts are slapped together on the Black List and we all get to take a look at what Hollywood agents, studio executives and the like have been going gaga about during the last 12 months. And while several of the titles are already in active development (more on that in a moment), one has just scored a big talent injection, with Drew Barrymore signing on to direct When The Street Lights Go On.Written by Eddie O'Keefe and Chris Hutton, the '80s set coming-of-age drama takes a leaf out of Stand By Me, following a teenage boy stumbling across the bodies of a 17-year-old beauty and the English teacher she was having an affair with. The story is related by our hero, Charlie, who fancies himself as a young filmmaker (shades of Super 8 here, too), and as the suspect list grows, he tries to figure out who might have committed the double murder.Right now, the script will simply get added to Barrymore's growing pile of possibilities. She's also attached to Heist Society from Whip It's Shauna Cross and New Line's rom com How To Be Single, which is based on Liz Tuccillo's novel.The rest of this year's Black List makes for interesting reading: for all those already bubbling away in development saucepans (such as Matthew Aldrich's Father Daughter Time: A Tale Of Armed Robbery And Eskimo Kisses), there are the intriguing newcomers including Evan Susser and Van Robichaux's Chewie, which recounts the behind-the-scenes drama of Star Wars through the eyes of Peter Mayhew and In The Event Of A Moon Disaster by Mike Jones, offering an alt-history take on the Apollo 11 moon mission that has the astronauts crash land. You can take a peek at the whole list right here.

Investors in Nicolas Cage Film 'Bad Lieutenant' Sue Claiming Bad Accounting

Columbia Pictures"The Blue Lagoon" Lifetime has greenlit a remake of The Blue Lagoon, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.our editor recommendsNeve Campbell to Star in Amish Drama for LifetimeLifetime Orders Additional 10 Episodes of 'Army Wives' The original 1980 feature, starring Brooke Shields, followed a shipwrecked boy and girl who are marooned on a tropical island and mature without the intervention of grown-ups. The Blue Lagoon grossed $58.9 million in the domestic box office that year. The success of the film spawned the 1991 sequel, Return to the Blue Lagoon, which introduced audiences to Milla Jovovich. Casting is already under way on the new film, with a start date being eyed for early next year. Neil Meron (Footloose, Smash), Judith Verno (The Craigslist Killer, Justice for Natalee Holloway) and Craig Zadan (Footloose, Smash) will serve as executive producers on the Lifetime project. Storyline Entertainment and Peace Out Productions will produce in association with Sony TV. This won't be Meron and Zadan's only venture with Lifetime. The duo is also adapting Steel Magnolias for the female-skewing cable network. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years

War Equine Star Emily Watson: Im Frightened Of Horses

First Launched: December 7, 2011 11:43 AM EST Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Emily Watson attends the Film Society of Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center screening of War Equine at Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Concentrate on December 5, 2011 in NY CityIts an optimistic factor nobody told Steven Spielberg when Emily Watson signed onto his new movie War Equine that shes frightened of horses. The actress mentioned she really didnt tell the director about her fear until just days after she began shooting the film in Devon, England, last fall. Watson states she required to overcome her fears because she am searching toward in the Spielberg film likely to be out 12 ,. 25. I am not so effective in animals generally, Watson mentioned in the recent interview. I really like domestic animals but large, large ones that could hurt me Im a bit of the wimp. Watson plays Rose Narracott, mother of Albert, a young guy who bonds while using equine who's offered for the British cavalry and shipped towards the trenches from the First World War. Watson mentioned War Equine is not only a tale of a boy together with a equine but furthermore a profoundly moving document of techniques warfare changed. She mentioned when British cavalry charged as well as the The spanish language people responded with machine guns that was an amount ever and our equine influences thick of the. Watson plays another mother facing another conflict as Jesse Leach inside the true story Appropriate Adult, which premieres round the Sundance funnel 12 ,. 10. The drama is founded on the complex relationship between Leach and Fred West, among Britains worst serial killings, carried out by actor Dominic West. Leach, a parent or gaurdian of 5, was Wests court hired Appropriate Adult - an british term for a person who sits in on police interviews to protect the rights someone in custody of the children from the children considered vulnerable. Leach carried out an important role in finding nasty serial killings committed by West and also the wife, Rosemary oil oil, between 1967 and 1978. Watson, who met with Leach, mentioned she will be a complex lady who ultimately was damaged by her experience. She does something really, great which is always to undertake the role of Appropriate Adult inside the renowned cases in British background she chases it and he or she stays doggedly in it but she oversteps restrictions left, right and center and he or she becomes far too close to this criminal. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Fox Searchlight Oscar-Fetes Mutually Beneficial, Shame, Descendants, and much more

Spirits were vibrant Wednesday evening in West Hollywood when Fox Searchlight celebrated the growing season using their annual party — really, just a reason to fete Oscar candidates Mutually Beneficial, Tree of Existence, Shame, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and also the Descendants like debs in a being released ball. Movieline swept up with Fox Searchlight’s hopefuls in the early honours-season shindig. One of the talents gunning for Academy and box-office recognition, it had been refreshing to determine Mutually Beneficial film writer/director Thomas McCarthy talking with fans and co-workers. His low-key Paul Giamatti movie arrived on the scene in March, despite the fact that it’s not soaring up Movieline’s Oscar index, it’s an unforgettably sincere take a look at a downtrodden suburban attorney who ends up housing and training a gifted senior high school wrestler (Alex Shaffer) after organizing some dubious business dealings by having an older client. “A large amount of people show up and say, ‘That’s my boy!’ or ‘That’s my daughter!’” McCarthy stated of his film’s deeply feeling wrestling wunderkind. “I think Alex Shaffer did an incredible job embodying this, but we wanted a youngster which was not excessively significant and articulate for something new. Most children at that age, they hear everything. They’re little sponges. They’re taking it in, they’re developing opinions, they’re developing their personas. They’re simply not always prepared to show us that. “They’re battling with a myriad of things — who they really are, what they're, what they need to become,” McCarthy added. “That, for a lot of of individuals kids, is an extremely private and frightening struggle. Lots of occasions how that manifests itself is an extremely deadpan approach around the world: ‘I’m not going to help you to see things i’m feeling until I’m prepared to really reveal that.’ It’s certainly a phase inside a kid’s existence — I view it constantly during my nieces and nephews.” Steve McQueen’s Shame was repped single-handedly by co-star Nicole Beharie, who remembered to Movieline the impetus that pressed her in to the film: Fear — of exposure, and also the nakedness the project needed. “There’s no room for vanity [in McQueen’s films],” she described. In another corner from the party, Descendants castmates Love Bridges and Robert Forster swept up, while recent Verge designee Shailene Woodley and Matthew Lilllard also made the models. Over the room, Martha Marcy May Marlene’s director, first-time feature helmer Sean Durkin, spoke humbly about riding the wave of honours season buzz and reveled within the stir triggered by his film’s ambiguous conclusion. (Searchlight sent his script for MMMM for scripting consideration in November.) Sarah Paulson, aglow after stumping for that film the prior evening in NY, stressed to Movieline just how much beginners Durkin and Elizabeth Olsen impressed her. “I’m for [Durkin], [Olsen], and John Hawkes,” she stated. For the lack of MMMM star Olsen — who, together with George Clooney, Michael Fassbender, and expected guest Emmanuel Lubezki, was noticeably missing in the celebration — Paulson stated the apparent. “She’s still in class!” For that latest Oscar-season analysis, jump to S.T. VanAirsdale’s Oscar Index. Additional confirming by Jen Yamato [Photo of Thomas McCarthy in the Third Annual Governor’s Honours, Getty Images] [Photo of Sarah Paulson in the 21st Annual Gotham Honours party, Getty Images] Follow Louis Virtel on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles Marries

Jennifer Nettles, Justin Burns Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles married entrepreneur Justin Burns Saturday, People reviews. Nettles, 37, used an Alexander McQueen gown for that intimate wedding, which happened close to the Smoky Mountain tops in Tennessee. Nettles' Sugarland bandmate, Kristian Rose bush, was one of the visitors attending. VIDEO: Sugarland works "celebratory" concert praising sufferers of stage collapse An old model, Burns made an appearance within the video for Sugarland's 2006 single, "Wish To.Inch The pair happen to be dating in excess of 2 yrs. Nettles is placed to do with Rhianna in the Grammy Nominations Concert Live, airing Wednesday at 10/9c on CBS, and can host the annual CMA Country Christmas special, airing Thursday at 9/8c on ABC.

Endemol Creditors Reject Time Warner Takeover Bid

Creditors of European reality TV powerhouse Endemol have decided to reject a 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) bid from Time Warner, according to a person familiar with the situation. Endemol officials declined to comment. A Time Warner spokesman also declined comment, but a source said the entertainment conglomerate has not been informed of any final decision about its bid. According to sources, Endemol, the company behind such international TV hits as Big Brother and Deal or No Deal, had told Time Warner that the firm would present creditors with a debt restructuring deal before considering any bid. Endemol and some of its lenders thought Time Warner's offer was opportunistic and too low. Endemol and its creditors, which include private equity players Apollo Management, Centerbridge and Providence Equity Partners, as well as such banks as Barclays and Goldman Sachs, seem ready to instead focus on finalizing a so-called debt-for-equity swap instead of doing a deal. The swap would convert debt into equity holdings in the company. Such a deal, likely to be completed by mid-December, could cut the company's debt and give it another chance to go it alone. According to Italian media reports, Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset and Italian equity fund Clessidra want to inject more money into Endemol and in the process raise their current 33 percent holding to 51 percent. When TW's $1.4 billion bid became public earlier this month, sources said that TW saw debt-ridden Endemol as an opportunity to add a popular international TV content creator to its existing studio operations. Company executives saw Endemol similar to MGM a few years ago when the studio also explored its options amid challenges, meaning TW was prepared for a potentially drawn-out affair. Related Topics Time Warner Silvio Berlusconi Endemol Mediaset

'Perez,' 'Martes,' 'Amapolas play Primer Corte

MADRID -- Alvaro Viguera's "Perez," Gustavo Trevino's "P martes a martes" and Juan Carlos Melo's "Section of Amapolas" unspool at Primer Corte, a films in first cut showcase at December's Ventana Sur. From 4-year-old Buenos Aires shingle Carrousel Films, which produced Natalia Smirnoff's Berlin 2010 Competition player and customers hit "Puzzle," "Martes," an ethical drama, triggers a lumbering factory worker who witnesses a rape. Most likely probably the most socially-charged of Primer Corte photos, "Amapolas" may also be the initial feature to shoot inside the Colombian region of helmer Melo's Narino, our prime flatlands near to the Ecuatorian border. Maja Zimmermann, whose "Porfirio" carried out Cannes' Directors' Week, produces with Chirimoya Films' Alexandra Yepes. Presented in the 15-minute cut at Locarno's Carte Blanche this August, "Amapolas" triggers a boy together with a woman who romp in Colombia's beautiful countryside with puppy Rufino. The question "Amapolas" poses happens when extended that could last. The boy's lately been displaced from his home village by paramilitaries. His father now toils for just about any drug baron his uncle expects to make use of him for just about any scam. "Amapolas" is not a movie about war," mentioned Melo. "The war is simply a stage which existence, dreams and hopes continues.Inch However when there is a dominant condition in Corte photos this year, it's more youthful decades of Latin Us citizens whose parents have not successful them, and -- the grand theme of Latin American cinema -- the insidious impact of macro occasions on innocent lives. Co-produced by Gregorio Gonzalez at Chile's Forastero, whose credits include Golden Globe-nominated "The Maid," "Perez" turns, for instance, around the father's strained re-encounter while using 22-year-old daughter he's overlooked. Actress Elisa Zulueta composed "Perez," adapting her own stage play. Helmed by Juan Sebastian Jacome, "Ruta p la luna" posseses an albino boy travelling from Panama And Nicaragua , to Panama for just about any bowling tourney, based on his estranged father. "A Concealed Collection," from France-born but South usa-based Bernard Attal, transfers Stefan Zweig's 1926 short story, a moving account in the outcomes of Germany's depression, south of Bahia, among destroyed cacao farms. In Uruguayan Guillermo Rocamora's "Solo," an Military trumpeter is abandoned by his wife, then flies for the Antarctic, a trip which will change his existence permanently. Co-funded with the Hubert Bals, Ibermedia and Icau funds, "Solo," at $millions of, might be the finest-allotted of Corte photos. Examined at first cut, Corte game game titles vie for just about any Haciendo Cine award, making sure publish-push services through to some 35mm print, together with a brand new award, Copia . Incorporated in Copia , U.S. exhibitor Cinemark will open the winning title in Argentina, Chile and Peru. "Latin American cinema has issues with exhibition all over the region. We should find solutions," mentioned Liliana Mazure, prexy of Argentina's Incaa Film Institute. Organized by Incaa and Cannes' Marche du Film, Ventana Sur runs 12 ,. 2-5. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Universal Music Sees Recorded Music Business Near Turnaround

NY - Top executives of Vivendi's Universal Music Group on Thursday said the industry was nearing a turnaround for the recorded music business, which has continued to decline in recent years. During an analyst meeting in Paris, which was webcast, Boyd Muir, global CFO of UMG, said: "We are approaching the inflection point for the recorded music industry." While he acknowledged that it is not here yet, he predicted it would arrive sooner rather than later. Pressed by an analyst for a more precise forecast, he predicted the inflection point could come towards the end of 2013, although "it might be a little bit sooner" or a bit later. Particularly signs from the big U.S. market are encouraging, Muir said. As the CD business has halved over the past eight years, digital growth has not been enough to offset the drop, he highlighted. That has left the recorded music business a $15.9 billion industry, down 32 percent since 2003, while music publishing has been "much more stable," he said. But now, the rate of decline of the CD is slowing, UMG's investor presentation highlighted. First-half 2011 global recorded music sales were down 7 percent, compared to a 2010 drop in 14 percent. And the U.S. is down only 4 percent year-to-date, Boyd highlighted. In the investor session, which was webcast, UMG management also discussed its plan to acquire EMI Group's recorded music business for $1.9 billion. The companies had announced the deal on Friday. UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grange said in Paris on Thursday: "I'm extremely excited about the opportunity." Boyd reiterated the company's goal of reaping at least 100 million euros in cost synergies and 500 million euros ($685 million) in divestitures of non-core existing UMG assets. Overall, he said the EMI deal was "financially compelling" and would be immediately accretive to UMG's earnings. A slide he showed emphasized the idea of a turnaround of the music business again. It said that the EMI deal comes "at a likely inflection point in the music industry cycle." Also at Thursday's investor meeting, Grainge highlighted that given the business challenges the music industry has seen, his team is focusing strongly on building business and financial success into the creative process.Margin and profit are "not dirty words," he said. Among key business focus areas for UMG are the need to align its cost base to reflect market reality, to accelerate the development of new music business opportunities and to maintain investment in creativity as A&R success and talent discovery are at the core of the business, management said in their presentation. Among new growth opportunities that diversify business, UMG executives on Thursday mentioned TV (where it has already partnered with The Voice and American Idol), Vevo (which has become the number one music video site for original artist content), strategic marketing partnerships, new businesses such as the Beats by Dre headphones, and international growth, particularly in Russia, China and India.In the area of new business opportunities, executives also said that UMG encourages the adoption of subscription services, particularly online, as superior consumer alternatives to piracy. Grainge, who took the reins at UMG in January, also said Thursday that he has in his first year also flattened executive structures to enable the company to act more quickly. He also highlighted that he moved UMG's head office from NY to LA to be in middle of things. UMG Thursday also addressed concerns that the unbundling of albums in the digital age were bad for business. "Digital has created a massive singles market that was thought lost," Muir said. U.S. third-quarter digital tracksales were up 10.6 percent from the year-ago to 952 million units. And while CD sales were down 3.6 percent, digital album sales rose 19.8 percent to 74 million units, a slide showed. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics Universal Music Group EMI

TV Station Groups Plan Social TV Push with ConnecTV

NY - A couple of of the nation's finest TV station groups are likely to launch a substantial social TV initiative next season. Plastic Valley-based start-up ConnecTV, an authentic-time social media created for TV audiences, on Tuesday mentioned it's struck a deal with 10 broadcast groups with 201 stations, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW and WB affiliate entrepreneurs, in areas that go over 76 million U.S. houses. The Tv groups include Belo Corp., E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television while others. The partners mentioned that most of the tv producers involved make an undisclosed acquisition of ConnecTV, that delivers another-screen experience for Browsers and pills. ConnecTV allows audiences to activate together with other fans watching the identical program. Furthermore, it possesses a number of content and marketing options connected using the programs. The station partners plan to promote the completely new service on air an online-based. The television stations might have local advertising inventory appear within ConnecTV. "Right from the start, television is surely a large part of the daily American discourse," mentioned Alan Frank, leader and Boss of Publish-Newsweek Stations. "In this digital era, thing dialogue now happens on social media platforms. As local tv producers, we love to that people are talking about our shows." "Our mission is ideal for ConnecTV being the social media that allows entertainment, news and sports fans to discuss the best moments in television," mentioned ConnecTV co-founder Ian Aaron. "Using more than five billion TV audiences as well as the explosion of pills and smart phones globally, we are truly in the start of an additional way to take a look at TV." Presently accessible within an "invitation only" sneak preview, ConnecTV will probably be beginning for the public noisy . 2012. The business was founded by interactive TV veterans Aaron, former leader of Gemstar-TV Guide and Boss of TVN Entertainment, Alan Moskowitz, former senior engineer at MobiTV and part of the founding engineering team at TiVo, and Stacy Jolna, former gm of TV Guide OnDemand and chief programming officer and founding executive team part of TiVo. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects

Crazy moments wrap N.Y. Comedy Fest

The NY Comedy Festival wrapped Sunday evening following a weekend that incorporated conversations with and perfs from comics for example Ough Gervais and Sarah Silverman, a panel using the cast of "Saturday Evening Live," along with a flasher.A lady fan briefly disrobed at Tracy Morgan's show for that comic's benefit Kathy Griffin, also attending and never to become surpassed, drawn up her shirt for that aud (she was putting on a bra).Gervais demurred when quizzed by moderator Bill Carter about whether he'd be hosting the Golden Globes after last year's much-talked about performance."I believe NBC have requested me to think about it," he stated, "but they'd need to convince the Hollywood Foreign Press. They (the second) possess a new leader now, that is good, since the 4g iphone I created by saying, 'I've just assisted him from the toilet and assisted him pop his teeth in.'"When pressed if he was way too hard around the stars finally year's show, Gervais defended his act. "You realize, they are not wounded soldiers," he stated. "They are the wealthiest, most fortunate people in the world.InchAshton Depp, at whom the comic required some highly promoted shots, is going to be on Gervais' approaching mockumentary series "Life's Way Too ShortInch on Cinemax. "He's most likely the wealthiest, most handsome guy on the planet,Inch Gervais stated of Depp. "'What?! Some little body fat guy from Reading through did not like "The Tourist?!" Oh, I am not going to get this done any longer!'"As they didn't do anything to claim that he would not be back in the Globes, Gervais did quell the gossips he had been seriously considered for that Academy awards throughout the brief period between Brett Ratner's departure and also the Academy's announcement of Billy Very because the new host. "They don't wish to visit a little oik much like me,Inch the comedian stated. "It is a evening of glamour. That's not necessarily a bad factor it is a reactionary, exclusive club. They do not want me. I'd need to either water it lower, that we wouldn't do, or get fired quickly, that we would do."The fest's sked attracted comics in addition to comedy fans. Inside a panel moderated by Variety's Steve Gaydos, ambitious authors and entertainers quizzed the "SNL" cast around the impossibility of entering writing, their associations with hosts and one another, and also the character from the authors-room meritocracy."Frequently you'll bring something towards the table, and will also die before 40 individuals who see lots of sketch," stated mind author Seth Meyers. "The final factor for you to do is continue TV and die before America."Author John Mulaney chuckled in regards to a scene with Horatio Sanz that featured a particularly aggressive chimpanzee. "I really like the scene wasn't cut," Mulaney sighed. "The chimp attempted to bite Horatio's finger off in testing and that we were really like, 'All right, well, following this, forget about chimp moments.'"Fest, created by Carolines on Broadway and Comedy Central, with media partners including Variety, honored Carolines founder Caroline Hirsch inside a ceremony on Saturday. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Indie 'Portrait' tops Thessaloniki

Twilight Portrait needed the Golden Alexander at Thessaloniki. Greek art has always prospered under adversity, in line with the Thessaloniki Film Festival prexy, as well as the 1,700 tests within the org's market prove the reason.Dimitri Eipides told closing-evening auds within the Olympian theater on Saturday the ten-day fest may have observed the collapse in the Greek government nevertheless the packed cinemas for 151 worldwide films offer cause of hope.Producers and helmer-scribes clearly aren't waiting for public funds to start their work."Law is just words," Eipides informed, mentioning to guaranteed condition subsidies that haven't come through -- and so are unlikely to due to the nation's debt crisis and political shakeup.Participants were upbeat nevertheless, entertaining for Russian vengeance story "Twilight Portrait," which needed the Golden Alexander for film. Helmer-scribe-producer Angelina Nikonova's pic -- shot for any more compact amount in comparison to $27,400 prize gold gold coin and produced without public funding by actress and co-scribe Olga Dihovichnaya -- typified the indie ethic sweeping the place.Czech pic "80 Letters," a family group memoir of separation by helmer-scribe Vaclav Kadrnka, won the Silver Alexander jury prize, worth $13,600, and Fipresci honors. It absolutely was furthermore a debut made without public backing.Alejandro Landes' docu-fiction portrait from the paraplegic highjacker, "Porfirio," a The the spanish language language-Argentine-French-Uruguayan co-production starring the billed felon themselves, Porfirio Ramirez, needed the Bronze Alexander for "originality and innovation."Helmer-scribe Mark Jackson acquired director kudo for U.S. debut "Without," while script honors visited John McIlduff for U.K. road movie "Behold the Lamb."Greek thesp Stefania Goulioti needed the actress kudo on her behalf submit social drama "J.A.C.E.," and Wotan Wilke Moehring won best actor for German polemic on injustice "The Fire place.InchMan Nattiv's "The Ton" won an innovative achievement kudo due to its ensemble perfs as well as the audience prize, while helmer-scribe Yorgos Gikapeppas' "The City of kidsInch acquired the Fipresci jerk for Greek pic.Gala closed with Sean Durkin's "Martha Marcy May Marlene" together with a blowout party with latenight swing ensemble at fest's Old Pier HQ. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Prolific Kenya biz looks for support

'The First Grader,' starring Lwander Jawar and Emily Njoki, will be a large champion at Kenya's film festival, but helmer Justin Chadwick required to go to the U.K. Film Council to invest in the pic. NAIROBI -- Justin Chadwick's "The Initial Grader," a BBC Films/U.K. Films Council co-production shot on location in Kenya, taken the honours at Kenya's recent film festival. However the wealth from the film, which is founded on an authentic story, underscored a couple of from the problems facing the fledgling industry in this particular East African nation.Though Kenya has frequently offered just like a attractive backdrop for big-budget foreign productions, the area biz has fought to discover its own footing, even when telling its own tales.Steep lensing costs and poor distribution systems have handcuffed independent helmers, because the thriving Riverwood industry, which churns out hundreds of low-budget, straight-to-video photos each year, hasn't created enough revenue to spur growth and get filled with-market audience.Filmmakers are wanting the extended-anticipated growth and development of the state film policy will address a couple of from the industry's finest challenges.According to Kenya Film Commission Boss Peter Mutie, an insurance policy will grant the roll-from a film fund the introduction of incentives for local and foreign productions the establishment from the national film institute and elevated coordination involving the various gov departments mixed up in filmmaking process.An insurance policy may even require Kenyan tv producers to produce a the least 40% in the content they air local, and may put pressure on pubcaster KBC to obtain more heavily inside the Kenyan industry both measures needs to be a try inside the arm for local filmmakers.But because the policy is comprehensive as drafted, it'll have a extended legal road ahead, according to Jim Shamoon, controlling director of production services company Blue Sky Films. The introduction of a completely new metabolism this year, which transfers lots of energy to municipality government bodies, suggests that the policy will have to be talked about with a lot of county legislatures."We don't think it'll be implemented soon,In . Shamoon states.Still, Shamoon states the us government has proven dedication to pushing an insurance policy through, and requires it to carry on doing this inside the industry's bid to boost its role just like a regional giant.With nearly 24 East African filmmakers requested to learn the ten-day festival, KIFF underscored the growing efforts to enhance cooperation involving the region's film industries.Rwandan helmer Eric Kabera, who recently launched East Africa's first film institute in Kigali, states regional filmmakers "should have a platform to discuss and exchange ideas."Despite the fact that last year's formation in the East African Community Customs Union should eventually enable the free flow at the office and goods involving the region's member states, Mutie also signifies the broadly spoken lingua franca of Swahili because the second advantage for East African filmmakers."The people within the region is almost 140 million," Mutie states. "This is a large industry for the film industry."Up to now, though, the necessity to integrate hasn't changed into concrete results. Just a few 5 member states in the East African Community obtain own film commissions, and talk of co-production treaties plus an East African film fund have postponed."To have interaction effectively, we want that structure (in other nations)," Mutie states. "You are as strong because the weakest link."East African filmmakers are nevertheless building ties on their own, with worldwide collaborations growing and expects to integrate local film festivals in to a regional network. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive Sneak Peek: SVU's Captain Cragen Is Ready to Go Undercover

Dann Florek Sure, he's been the head of the special victims unit for the last 12 years (and was top boss on the original Law & Order for three years before that). But on this week's episode of Law & Order: SVU, fans will see Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) as they've never seen him before when he goes undercover. In this exclusive clip from Wednesday's episode (airing at 10/9c on NBC), Cragen realizes he fits the description for a mail-order Russian Bride customer (a lonely, mature man with money) and volunteers himself for the job to ADA Cabot (Stephanie March). Although he openly admits he probably hasn't been undercover since before Cabot was even born, he's ready for the challenge. Exclusive: SVU drafts Treat Williams for guest spot "Remember, Captain, no matter how tempting it might be, you cannot get intimate with a suspect," Cabot warns him. "It will undermine your credibility at trial." "I'll try to control myself," he says. Watch the exclusive clip here: How do you think Capt. Cragen will do undercover?

Hacking Update: News Around The World Hired Private Agent To Spy On Sufferers Lawyers

Here's more fodder for your Uk parliamentary committee that's scheduled to hear testimony from News Corp deputy COO James Murdoch on Thursday: It seems like the conglomerate’s now-defunct News around the world hired an investigator to tail some lawyers that have been representing sufferers in the Uk tabloid’s phone-hacking scandal. The BBC reported the surveillance of Mark Lewis and Charlotte now now Harris happened through the 18 several days that James was executive chairman of News Worldwide, the Uk newspaper arm of News Corp as well as the parent company of NOTW. The practice incorporated getting Derek Webb, a classic officer who went an individual-eye agency, follow and film Lewis’ family — including his teenage daughter — to be able to search up muck round the lawyer and stop him from taking more cases since the scandal elevated (Lewis represented your family of Milly Dowler, the wiped out schoolgirl whose voicemails were jeopardized into by NOTW, a concept that lots of directly introduced for the tabloid’s demise). Mentioned News Worldwide in the statement: “While surveillance is not illegal, it absolutely was clearly deeply inappropriate throughout these conditions. This strategy wasn't condoned by any current executive in the organization.” The BBC mentioned Webb is speaking in regards to the practice because News Worldwide has not paid out him for his services he'd been employed the tabloid for eight years.

Siblings set 'Spy' screenplay at shingle

Screenwriter siblings Chris and Charlie Frazier have set their spy thriller screenplay "In the Company of Lies" with newly formed Sentinel Pictures and production/distribution company Pipeline MPG. Sentinel's Adam Brawer and David Beitchman will produce alongside Pipeline's Gary Ousdahl and Affirmative Entertainment's Nicolas Bogner. Pipeline MPG handles international sales and distribution. Principal photography is slated to begin in the summer. "Lies" centers on a woman who suspects her husband of having an affair, only to discover he is harboring a much darker secret that threatens her own life. The Fraziers are repped by APA, Affirmative Entertainment's Nicholas Bogner, and attorney Eric Suddleson. Roger Haber negotiated the deal on behalf of Sentinel Pictures. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Hollywood Producer Slams Michael Moore for Goldman Sachs Hypocrisy

This story appears in the Nov. 11 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.our editor recommends'Occupy Wall Street Hollywood': Entertainers On Scene of ProtestsThe Scene at Occupy Wall StreetMichael Moore, Susan Sarandon Make Appearances at Wall Street Protests One of the many things that bug me about the industry in which I work is the large population of phonies who claim to be liberal, caring, green and unaffected by their wealth and fame but in reality are just as self-centered and addicted to their huge, over-air-conditioned living spaces and private planes as those at whom they point their fingers. And none is more phony and finger-pointing than Michael Moore. PHOTOS: 'Occupy Wall Street Hollywood': Entertainers On Scene of Protests Moore seems to be everywhere of late, talking about the "occupy" movement and fashioning himself its spokesmodel. I saw him on CNBC blowing hard and receiving kid-gloves treatment from Carl Quintanilla. On Piers Morgan Tonight, Moore said, "How could I be in the 1 percent?" When Morgan made the statement that Moore is "worth millions," Moore responded with "No, that's not true." He went on to justify that comment by saying, "Even though I do well, I don't associate myself with those who do well." Although Morgan started off a bit confrontational, he, like most other interviewers, backed down fast. In my opinion, a lot of important issues are being brought up by the "occupiers," but overall, this protest would be better served if those speaking on its behalf were of cleaner hands and less hypocritical than Moore, who has suckled mightily at the teat of "those who do well." PHOTOS: 10 Entertainers Democrats and Republicans Love to Hate In 2005, the Weinstein Co. set up financing of about $500 million to fund production and distribution. The investment vehicle was created and syndicated by a little firm called Goldman Sachs. One of the films that was produced by TWC using funds from that investment was Moore's documentary Sicko. Given the success of his previous film, Fahrenheit 9/11, which he made with Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Moore was able to command a terrific deal for himself. STORY: Occupy Wall Street Protests Pose Unique Risk for Stars Who Get Involved By 2010, TWC had burned through the capital raised in the Goldman Sachs deal. Investors were forced to restructure their arrangement, meaning some suffered a devaluation of their investment. Goldman also lost some money it put in TWC, but it could handle the loss in part because it was a recipient of the government's TARP bailout. Some unlucky investors might never get back the money they put into funding TWC. Not unlike other bad investments set up by Goldman Sachs and others during this period, some people did make out quite well, while others, often lower on the food chain, suffered. One of those who did quite well using the TWC funds was Moore. STORY: Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon Make Appearances at Wall Street Protests While I don't know for sure what Moore received on his movie, given his previous success, it likely was several million dollars. Sicko, produced by TWC but released in 2007 by Lionsgate, did not perform as well as Fahrenheit, earning $36 million at the box office. But Celebritynetworth.com pegs Moore's net worth at more than $50 million, and Moore is suing TWC for $2.7 million more in profits from Fahrenheit. (Reports at the time of the lawsuit said Moore already had received $19.8 million from TWC for that film alone.) STORY: Occupy Wall Street: Hollywood Continues to Weigh In on the Protests If Moore really wants to be seen as someone outside the circle of those he is protesting, it would be great if he would disclose how much he has made off his TWC-backed movies and why he was willing to associate himself with financing set up by Goldman Sachs. Further, journalists should start showing more backbone in testing the veracity of statements made by those who use the media to disseminate a holier-than-though message. There are many reasons our country is in financial trouble, and some do relate to misdeeds by Wall Street executives. Calling attention to such misdeeds and issues of income inequality is a good thing. But the true fault of what put us in this situation resides with the government that gave leeway to those who contributed to political campaigns and provided jobs to those who ran between the various administrations and the private sector. Having a hypocrite blowing hard about groups of people in whose number he himself should be counted diminishes the impact and validity of the message. Polone is a manager and producer of such films as Panic Room, Zombieland and the upcoming Premium Rush. Follow him on Twitter at @gavinpolone. "This protest would be better served if those speaking on its behalf were of cleaner hands than Moore." Gavin Polone Related Topics Michael Moore Occupy

'American Reunion' Trailer: Tara Reid's in This One, Too!

.post-content img {display:none;} If you never got around to watching the wildly NSFW teaser for 'American Reunion,' some great sorta good news: the official teaser trailer has been released online, and while it's not as graphic as the previous video clips (no Jim masturbation jokes here!), it does contain Stifler attempting to pick up some high school girls. Dude's like 30; who is he, Wooderson? The possibilities of statutory rape aside, 'American Reunion' looks pretty funny? It certainly attempts to capitalize on the idea that you're nostalgic for another check-in with Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), Heather (Mena Suvari) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). Whether you are remains to be seen, but 'Reunion' appears to hit all the right notes. And, look: Tara Reid's involved too! [via Yahoo!] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Hollywood's Human Rights Problem(s), and 5 Other Stories You'll Be Talking About Today

Happy Monday! Also in today’s edition of The Broadsheet: Arnold Schwarzenegger sets another action comeback… James Franco gets kinky with James Dean… Doris Day draws love from the critics… Michael Shannon teases a bit of General Zod… and more. · Virtually every Hollywood controversy blows over in time, but Hilary Swank likely added some life to her Chechen despot birthday debacle over the weekend when she fired her manager and came thisclose to axing three of her agency squad at CAA. The moves follow Swank’s paid appearance at the 35th birthday party of Ramzan Kadyrov, whose reputation for torture and other human-rights abuses in Chechnya prompted an apology from Swank and the donation of her fee to charity. I mean, fine, but now who will she blame for New Year’s Eve? [The Independent] · Not to be outdone, Relativity Media is in hot water with human-rights watchdogs for filming parts of its Hangover-esque buddy comedy 21 & Over in the Chinese province of Shangdong, where blind dissident Chen Guangcheng remains under house arrest and subject to regular harassment from state authorities. Relativity dismissed the concerns in a statement, affirming its commitment to the coexistence of human-rights advocacy and foreign moolah: “As a company, we believe deeply that expanding trade and business ties with our counterparts in China and elsewhere can result in positive outcomes.” Of course. [Deadline] · Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comeback will reportedly include Black Sands, which will feature the ex-California governor as “a loner who wages war against a ruthless weapons manufacturer and his private army in the Southwest.” [Deadline] · From the same classy joint that brought you James Franco’s ass-y magazine cover, how about a glimpse into the actor-filmmaker’s raunchy Rebel Without a Cause-inspired art project? “Having sex with dolls with plastic dicks is fucking great […] because you get to examine that act without the onus of people just looking at it and saying, ‘That’s pornography.’ You can actually think about it for a second and ask yourself what is happening there when you’re doing that for real.’” Don’t look at me; I was gonna ask you. [THR] · Congrats to Doris Day on her forthcoming career achievement honor from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, news of which included the shocking snippet that Day hasn’t made a movie since 1968. Common knowledge? Sure, but still: How is that possible? [LAT] · Finally, Michael Shannon offers the critical distinction you were looking for between his Boardwalk Empire character and his Man of Steel villain: “General Zod is, I think, a bit stronger than Van Alden. General Zod would not go to the speakeasy and have a shot. General Zod will stop at nothing to get the job done. General Zod doesn’t have a supervisor.” Now you know. [EW] · What’s shakin’ in North Korea? Oh, not much, just an official government exile of workers based in Libya, lest they come back and spread a single word of revolutionary promise or potential. Utterly, utterly fascinating stuff. [The Telegraph]

Audition for NBC, Disney, mun2, Telemundo and More at Actorfest LA on Nov. 5th

Are you registered for Actorfest LA yet? The yearly event offers Workshops with Top Industry Professionals, Meet & Drops with Leading Casting Directors, as well as an array of Audition Opportunities with companies like Disney, NBC, Telemundo, mun2 and much more! Below is an overview of the casting opportunities at Actorfest LA, which takes place on Saturday, November 5th in downtown Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.ActorfestLA.com. To register for Workshops, Free Casting Calls or Free Meet & Drops, visit actorfestla2011.eventbrite.com. REGISTER NOW! WALT DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will be holding auditions at Actorfest L.A.Have the experience of a lifetime with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. We are continuously seeking Dancers and Character Look-alikes to perform in meet-and-greets, parades and stage shows at Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and even the Disney Cruise Line with itineraries to exotic locales such as Europe, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, and the Caribbean.Seeking:Males (5'9" - 6'2"): and Females (5'0" - 5'8"): to portray popular lead characters made famous in the following Disney features: Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Tinker Bell, The Princess and the Frog;Dancers: males (5'1" 6'2") and females (4'8" 5'8"), dancer/performers who move well, to appear in our Mainstage musical theatre productions, Disney Cruise Line, and in Disneyland Resort Parades. Some performers will appear as Disney Costumed Characters and Look-alikes for Meet and greets on board ships and others will step out into ensemble dancer roles. Candidates will be measured at the audition. Note: All Applicants must be 18 years or older.For more information and to sign up for an audition spot, visit the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts table in the Actorfest Exhibit Hall.Auditions will be held at Back Stage's Actorfest LA on Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. (sign-in 10:30 a.m.) and 4 p.m. (sign-in 3:30 p.m.) for Characters, and 2 p.m. (sign-in 1:30 p.m.) for Dancers at California Market Center, 110 E. 9th St. (between Main and Los Angeles Sts.) in Downtown Los Angeles.Bring pix & rsums. Dancers should wear appropriate dance attire and be prepared to learn a dance combination. Depending on the location, Individual Employment Contracts range in length from six months to one year. Benefits may include per diem, housing, medical/dental coverage, vacation/sick days, complimentary park entrances, employee discounts and more. There is no guarantee that everyone will be seen; early attendance is strongly recommended.General admission to Actorfest is free. Please be advised that no actor is guaranteed a role in a future production.NBC, TELEMUNDO AND MUN2 NBC, Telemundo and mun2 will be holding auditions designed to add diversity to their expanding talent pool.There Is No Guarantee That Everyone Will Be Seen; Early Attendance Is Strongly Recommended.What:NBC is seeking union talent (SAG or AFTRA members only); Males and Females, who can play ages 18 to 45.Telemundo is seeking Spanish-Speaking and Bilingual actors; Males and Females, all ages; union and non-union talent welcome.mun2 is seeking Spanish-Speaking, English-speaking and Bilingual actors; Males and Females, all ages; union and non-union talent welcome.When:Saturday Nov. 5, 2011Starting at 10:00 a.m. and continuing until 1:30 p.m. Callbacks will be held in the afternoon. Audition wait time may be several hours.Where:California Market Center, 110 East Ninth St., (between. Main and Los Angeles Sts.) in Downtown Los Angeles*** All talent under 18 years MUST be accompanied by an adult.***What To Prepare:-- Bring multiple copies of your picture & rsum, stapled together; must include contact info.-- If you are called back, you will be given a scene to prepare and read.What To Wear:-- Dress casualWhat To Expect:-- Audition time slots will be given out upon sign up. If you miss your time slot you will not be seen.-- The audition itself should not last longer than 1 2 minutes.-- A limited number of people will be notified at their audition that they have a callback.Important Info:-- There is no guarantee that everyone will be seen; early attendance is strongly recommended.-- Sign up for an audition time slot as early in the day as possible after arriving at Actorfest.-- General admission to Actorfest is free.-- There is no guarantee of being cast or called back.-- Headshots may be kept on file for possible future casting.-- We are not accepting any DVD's, CD's or Demo Tapes. Items left may be discarded.-- Please be advised that no actor is guaranteed a role in a future production.CASTING DIRECTOR MEET & DROPS The Meet & Drops at Actorfest provide you with the opportunity to have a 1-2 minute one-on-one meeting with a well-know casting director, and drop off a copy of your headshot and resume.This is a great opportunity to meet a knowledgeable casting director, ask questions you have been eager to know answers to, and get critical feedback on your pix & rsum presentation.Below are names of confirmed casting directors participating in Actorfest LA Meet & Drops:Kerry Barden, CSA: Casting Director/Partner, Barden/Schnee Casting with offices in NY and LA. Casts mostly feature films. Credits include: "The Help," "Machine Gun Preacher," "Winter's Bone," and "Conviction."Mark Teschner, CSA: Four-time Emmy Award-winning casting director for "General Hospital."Matthew Barry, CSA: Casting Director/Partner, Barry Green-Keyes Casting. Casts feature films. Works with Nick Cassavetes, credits include "My Sister's Keeper," "Alpha Dog," and the upcoming "Yellow."Dorian Frankel, CSA: Casting Director. Casts mostly for television. Credits include: "Parks and Recreation," "The Office," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."Craig Campobasso, CSA: Casting Director. Casts for feature films. Credits include: "Pizza with Bullets," "The Perfect Host," and the upcoming "Buffalo Bill" and "In Love and Death."Chadwick Struck: Casting Director and Producer of indie Feature Films. Credits include: "A Green Story," "The Drunk," and "Rockbarnes."Michael Testa: Casting Director/Partner, Shaner/Testa Casting. Casts mostly for television. Credits include: "Cold Case," "Ringer," and "Chase."Caroline Liem, CSA: Casting Director for television and feature films. Credits include: "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3," "Silent Witness," and "X2."Chris Game: Casting Director, Theater Director, Teacher. With 15 years of experience in the industry, Chris has cast a number of national commercial campaigns, for Harley-Davidson, Swiffer, Shell, and Burger King.Killian McHugh: Commercial Casting Director and Teacher. Works with Alyson Horn Casting.Fern Champion: Casting Director. Casts mostly feature films. Credits include: "Pet Cemetary," "The Mask" and recently "Beyond" and the TV mini-series "The Hatfields & McCoys."Russell Boast: Casting Director, Pagano/Manwiller Casting. Credits include: "Franklin and Bash" and "White Irish Drinkers." Russell also produces and directs theater in L.A.Meet & Drop sessions are available to all attendees who have registered for Actorfest. PIX & RSUM DROP BOXES Lots of casting directors will have drop boxes set up at Actorfest that you can use to drop off your pix & rsums for FREE. Back Stage will make sure that the boxes are shipped directly to the casting directors' offices so they'll have a chance to see your info.So make sure to bring multiple copies of your headshots and resumes (stapled together) to Actorfest. And make sure to drop off your pix & rsums in the boxes early, because the boxes will be promptly packed up before the end of the day.

Report: YouTube to Partner With Large Names to Unveil Shows for Niche Channels

YouTube Logo design design YouTube is predicted to announce Friday it's became a member of with several large names to supply TV-style channels that will feature properly produced shows, The Hollywood Reporter reviews. Although YouTube remains regarded as a hub for amateur-produced fare for instance crazy cat videos, makeup application training, backyard stunts or personally recorded greetings, it-talking about website is searching to branch by helping cover their programming that will deal with satellite and cable tv companies. Sesame Street YouTube funnel restored after being jeopardized with porn Even though official announcement hasn't happened yet, it's expected that YouTube desires to create 100 niche channels which will be created by the type of Ashton Kutcher, Parks and Recreation's Amy Poehler, MTV, Warner Bros., Ben Silverman's Electus, CSI creator Anthony Zuiker, Everyday Health, Legendary Entertainment, BermanBraun, World Wrestling Entertainment, HSN, Shaquille O'Neal, together with a Latin funnel featuring Modern Family's Sofia Vergara. A lot of the channels will launch in 2012 about 25 several hours of latest and original programming daily. An entire report on content partners is predicted being released Friday.

Fashion Slam: Halloween Style!

First Launched: October 28, 2011 5:41 PM EDT Credit: Access Hollywood La, Calif. -- Caption Ryan Patterson with daughter Harlow (fitted as Snow White-colored) for your Access Hollywood Live kids Costume show Today would be a particularly fun workday! 18 Access Hollywood kids (along with a couple of of the parents) arrived at be models for just about any day inside our Halloween fashion show today on Access Hollywood Live. My 2-year-old daughter Harlow was Snow White-colored and loved her sparkly dress and headband, but was especially passionate concerning the matching illuminate wand. Any mother from the girl knows the Disney Princesses are massively popular which we'd Belle (Hannah Jordan), Pocahontas (Nataly Roa), Rapunzel (Aubrey Castle) in addition to baby Belle, worn by 1-year-old Abbey. (Check out an image gallery of all the costumes.) The Avengers is large with boys of all ages. Large kid Scott Movie Mantz fitted up like Captain America, while four-year-old Jaden Farhan was the junior version. Thor (Anthony DeFranco), Iron Guy (Logan Brock), as well as the Hulk (Jayden Snyder) all hit our stage too. Much more about The Hulk laterhe will be a total scene-stealer. Who not love Sesame Street? The gang left typically the most popular street to go to our set. Eric Anderson, the Controlling Editor of AccessHollywood.com was Large Bird and also the cute 14-month-old Evan was baby Elmo. We'd an adult Elmo (3-year-old Jean) additionally to Cookie Monster! (We company directors three-year-old, Noah.) Snacks!!!!! There's furthermore several Angry Wild wild birds, (Thanks Joe, Ashley, and Drake!) which is amongst the broadly used trends this year. (It's the most looked subject on the web.) Thirty-four years later, Alien is very popular. AccessHollywood.coms Dish of Salt, Laura Saltman was Princess Leia moving her 6-month-old boy Brenner, fitted just like a baby Darth Vader. Our Stage Company company directors boy, Drake Sahm, developed a very dapper Luke Skywalker! And going for a little old-fashioned style, we'd an attractive Cat and Puppy worn by staff cuties Lucas and Milo. Our Publish Evening Change Coordinator Lenny Snyders boy stole the show! His 15-month-old Jayden, who was simply fitted just like a small-Hulk, created a amusing unscripted moment when he burst out in to a Noisy wail through the live tape. Billy Rose rose bush joked he was the newborn whisperer but got him to avoid! Classic! Due to all the families to become involved together with an enormous shout to the very patient producer Susan Moore, who develop this massive undertaking champion Susan! Happy Halloween everyone! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IM Global adds trio

CatlinPowell Rayford IM Global has added to its staff with a trio of executive hires -- Ben Shields Catlin, Elizabeth Powell and Juanita Rayford -- as the company preps for the American Film Market.The hirings were announced Thursday by founder and CEO Stuart Ford.IM Global noted the acquisitions, business and legal affairs, and finance departments are expanding to meet the growing demands from its film divisions -- Opus, Acclaim, Octane and Anthem -- and its Automatik production joint venture with Alliance.Catlin is joining as senior VP of acquisitions. He was most recently an acquisitions consultant at Relativity Media and was previously manager of production and acquisitions at Overture. Shields will work alongside the existing acquisitions team of Amal ElWardi, Babacar Diene, and Ben Rekhi.Powell has joined as VP of business and legal affairs, reporting to Exec VP of Finance and Operations Michael Roban as part of the company's five person legal team. Powell comes to IM Global from Essential, and currently serves on the Legal Committee for the Independent Film and Television Alliance.Rayford joins as collections manager, reporting to Financial Controller Miguel Palos to meet the growing demands of the sales and distribution business.Tatyana Joffe has been promoted to Exec VP of international sales and will continue reporting to International Sales President Jonathan Deckter. She's one of 28 staffers in the Los Angeles office."Business is strong, the company keeps growing, and I'm delighted to add three more talented people to the executive team," Ford said. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Will Katie Couric's New Talk Show Mean the Dying of 'General Hospital'?

This informative article initially came out inside the November. 4 problem in the Hollywood Reporter.our editor recommendsKatie Couric Discloses About Her New Talk Show (Q&A)Katie Couric Talk Show Will Probably Be Referred to as 'Katie' (Photo) Disney/ABC introduced March. 24 it's removed Katie Couric's syndicated Katie to air in than sixty percent of U.S. houses if the bows in fall 2012, fueling speculation about not able to the cleaning cleaning soap that has broadcast at 3 p.m. in lots of areas since 1963. ABC, which in September came the ire for cleaning cleaning soap fans by altering the extended-running My Children using the foodie chat show The Chew and jettisoning One Existence to reside in for the web, likely won't decide the fate of the last remaining cleaning cleaning soap prior to the spring. But General Hospital clearly is beneath the microscope. The cleaning cleaning soap will "compete based on ratings and chargesInch together with other options, states a network repetition. PHOTOS: 'All The Children': Famous Alums of ABC's Daytime Drama Chew is with an average start, tempting 1.9 million total audiences daily within the third week -- well below the 2.4 million the Kids came this past year. But Chew, together with the Revolution, a existence-style strip that will launch within the month of the month of january, costs a more compact add up to create when compared to a cleaning cleaning soap. Despite the fact that GH still earnings 2.43 million audiences, that's lower from 2.47 million a year ago and off twenty percent this season among women 18-to-49. PHOTOS: Katie Couric Talk Show Will Probably Be Referred to as 'Katie' "There's no extra reward for the way passionate people are of a show, specially when it will not function as right audience," states Mike Ford, an academic and co-editor in the book The Survival for cleaning cleaning soap Opera. Sources say Katie is creating lower distribution costs than Disney had wanted but nevertheless will pull in than $10,000 each week such areas as Atlanta, Detroit and Dallas. Disney-possessed stations in large areas will each pony up nearly $50,000 each week, aiding to create about $60 million yearly and giving systems strong incentives to air the show in plum time slots -- like the the one that GH occupies. Related Subjects ABC Katie Couric General Hospital

'Avengers' Trailer Proves Loyal to Comics' Roots

Zack Rosenthal/Marvel Studios This article first appeared in the Oct. 28 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.our editor recommends'The Avengers': Comics vs. Film'The Avengers': New Photos From Marvel's Superhero Film'Avengers' Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson Talk Fight Scenes and Injuries (Video)'Avengers' Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth On Hypothetical Fight Between Thor and Iron Man (Video)'Avengers' Tom Hiddleston Talks the Return of Loki (Video) Avengers assemble! The trailer for Marvel's The Avengers debuted Oct. 11, almost seven months ahead of its May 4 release. The initial burst of enthusiasm was strong: The preview for the Joss Whedon-helmed flick recorded more than 10 million downloads on iTunes during the first 24 hours, shattering all records for movie trailers on the service. But to ensure the film is a success, Marvel and its new owner, Disney, are first trying to pump up the hard-core fans, and since the trailer debuted, the comics cognoscenti have been poring over the 124 seconds of footage to see if it captures that Marvel Comics mojo. PHOTOS: 'The Avengers': New Photos From Marvel's Superhero Film The movie unites four major heroes (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk, who have collectively grossed $2.5 billion worldwide in six separate film efforts), adds two new heroes (Hawkeye and Black Widow) and tosses in another half-dozen major supporting players. It is trying to do something never before attempted: bring the central magic of the Marvel Comics universe -- the interconnectivity of its disparate heroes -- to the big screen in one place. Jonah Weiland of Comic Book Resources said the trailer "gives us a glimpse of the dynamic between the core members. Frankly, that's one of the biggest challenges with this 'team movie' concept." By greenlighting the reported $220 million budget, Marvel has a lot riding on the movie. If it works, Avengers will launch a new generation of interconnected franchises and secure Marvel's movie future. PHOTOS: New Generation of Superheroes Marvel has been building toward a cohesive movie universe with little cameos and Easter eggs here and there in its earlier films, but now it lays it all on the line with Avengers. So far, the trailer -- packed with nods to the classic stories, the visual look of legendary artist Jack Kirby (the brush behind nearly every major Marvel character from the 1940s through the '70s) and the influence of the popular 2002 comics reboot The Ultimates, which also influenced the Thor and Captain America movies -- has comics lovers gushing. Wrote one fan on comics site bleedingcool.com, "I had a geekgasm." With the full class roster revealed, the trailer unveils three key ways the movie plans to honor story lines that will have longtime comic book fans looking forward to May (while also bringing in an all new audience.) Don't Mess With the Class Prez Nick Fury originally was a secondary character, a cigar-chomping, Italian-American World War II vet with a dash of James Bond. In the Ultimates reboot, Fury was moved front and center as the leader of the Avengers and re-imagined as an ass-kicking, gun-toting, bald-headed team leader specifically modeled on Samuel L. Jackson. The updated Fury, on display in the trailer with guns blazing, is much more Bourne than Bond. Judging by the trailer, The Avengers will pack more action into it than any of Marvel's other films. Plus, the movie has Loki as the main villain, a nod to 1963's The Avengers #1, which brought the team together to face Thor's mischievous half-brother. STORY: 'The Avengers' Trailer Downloaded More Than 10 Million Times in 24 Hours Have the Big Men on Campus Bicker as Well as Bond The do-gooder Captain America and the smart aleck Iron Man have always had a complicated but important relationship in the comics. The heroes shared a book in the 1960s but have often clashed in recent years. Marvel's post-9/11 influenced story line Civil Wars had them on opposite sides of an effort to register all heroes, with Cap leading the resistance and Iron Man working with the government. The trailer shows that Whedon, who co-wrote the film's screenplay with Zak Penn, is smartly playing up the clash. Sure, Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man is going to get the best zingers, but don't underestimate Chris Evans' spot-on portrayal of the Star-Spangled Avenger to win fans. The trailer is also jammed with Marvel's trademark hero-vs.-hero fights, including teases of a sure-to-be-epic confrontation between Captain America and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). VIDEO: 'The Avengers' Trailer Hits the Web Make the New Kids Feel at Home Whedon is a huge comics fan. He penned an acclaimed 24-issue run of Astonishing X-Men, so it's no surprise that the trailer is littered with callouts to classic comic book shots -- Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) drawing his bow into the camera and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in action -- that suggest starring turns for these fan-favorite supporting characters. Plus, the Dutch angle shots of Thor throwing his hammer and Captain America leaping over a car show that Whedon is capturing the kinetic energy of the visual style of original Avengers artist Kirby. View photos that compare the comics with the upcoming Marvel film here. Avengers Joss Whedon Marvel Entertainment The Avengers

'Culling' scares up cast

Jeremy Sumpter, Bret Davern, Elizabeth DiPrinzio, Chris Coy, Lindsey Godfrey, Virginia Williams, Jonathan Schaech and Harley Graham are starring in indie horror thriller "The Culling," presently shooting in New Orleans.Craig Chapman ("Machine Gun Preacher"), Colin Bates and Peter Fruchtman ("Black Swan") are coming up with with Gary Safady professional creating. The film was written and directed by Rustam Branaman."The Culling" concentrates on several five college pals who mind on holiday for just about any fun-filled extended weekend however plans change after you have a 7-year-old girl alone within an empty cafe over the highway and possess no choice but they're driving her home. After they reach her house it's quickly apparent they are going to need to remain for your evening -- but what's not apparent might be the evil nightmare they are likely to encounter. Graham plays the 7-year-old and her parents are referred to by Schaech and Williams. She came out in "Thor" and basically reserved Gerard Butler's "Of Males and Mavericks."Sumpter was seen in "Soul Surfer," DiPrinzio in "The Demon Within" and Godfrey in "The House Bunny." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'Grand Thievery Auto' Headed to iPads for brand spanking new (Q&A)

In another sign the flourishing tablet marketplace is altering the videogame business, Rockstar Games is entering the portable space with Grand Thievery Auto III. The organization may also be adapting other key franchises, includingMax Payne, for Ipad and Android pills.our editor recommendsE3: How Take-Two Boss Strauss Zelnick Switched an income With no New 'Grand Thievery Auto' Release (Q&A)Cypress Hill Singer's $250M Suit Claims 'Grand Thievery Auto' Stolen From His Story Based on researching the market firm Gartner, global tablet sales are required to top 63.six million this season, up from 17.six million this year. GTA III marks a change within the depth of games that'll be readily available for pills, that have centered on shorter arcade and casual games like Rovio's Angry Wild birds and PopCap's Plants versus. Zombies so far. Grand Thievery Autois probably the most effective gaming franchises ever, selling a lot more than 114 million copies worldwide since 1997. GTA III, that is honoring its 10thanniversary, performed a huge role in integrating Hollywood stars like Robert Loggia,Kyle MacLachlan,Michael Rapaport,Joe Pantolianoand Frank Vincent in to the open world interactive entertainment experience. Serta Houser, vice president creative at Rockstar Games, informs The Hollywood Reporterin a unique interview why pills are ideal for complex games like Grand Thievery Auto III and just how his company has labored with Hollywood talent to create best-selling games like Red-colored Dead Redemption, LA Noire and Max Payne to existence. Do you know the challenges of converting a game title like Grand Thievery Auto III to pills? Serta Houser: You will find two teams of challenges. The first is the technical side of setting it up to operate, the same challenge you face on porting any game anywhere. And also the other is which makes it play within an interesting way. I believe our men have found some interesting solutions. The important thing to conquering the very first challenge is simply making the effort and getting good people focusing on the overall game. But for the second challenge, it's making certain that the overall game is not only an inexpensive port. In my opinion we are finding some interesting solutions, but we are still trimming everything stuff up correctly. Which makes it play inside a fun and interesting way around the tablet is essential into it being interesting. Individuals are improving in internet marketing, but nobody has fully nailed it yet. I believe we'll have a large step for the reason that direction. Grand Thievery Auto IIIfeatured a cast of notable Hollywood stars. What exactly are your ideas on using well-known stars in games? Houser: We've got tired of that. It had been really helpful on Ps 2, in which the animation and also the fidelity and detail were fairly limited. I was attempting to do stuff in a fairly broad brushstroke. We recognized that stars offered the animation many offered the figures more because you'd need them for any couple of minutes which could it have been. We made the overall game, Bully, that people thought would be a transitional game between PS2 and PS3 era stuff from old gen and current gen. From that moment on, particularly with GTA IV, we remained from top-tier famous stars. Why perhaps you have remained from identifiable Hollywood stars? Houser: You will find two reasons we do not make use of the famous talent any longer. The first is how long requirement for these men from the development perspective. Then from the purely greater perspective, we found believe that when the figures are designed so and also the facial animation gets so great, we have really moved past wanting the overall game to seem like its very own Television show or movie arrived at existence. We would like it to end up like our planet arrived at existence. Getting a famous person into that's annoying. It had not been only a practical problem, it had been additionally a greater problem that meant i was no more going after celebrities playing themselves, which is still interesting within the right context then one we'd certainly turn to do again. "Were in what we feel is excellent quality, although not famous talent, and having to pay a really high union day rate for them. These stars finish up employed by days and often several weeks at any given time for all of us, so its just like focusing on a Television show for them.Inch Have you ever encounter any difficulties with stars in your games? Houser: On GTA: San Andreas, among the famous stars got upset using the script along with a minor comedian stormed off while he did not like the truth that his character was gay. We've got the man who'd done the mo-cap to complete the part and that he was much better than every other people who auditioned. I had been doing this much pointing of those games and also the process have been so slow and ponderous. Which other guy was nailing it in 2 takes. And So I thought let us only use exactly the same people from mo-cap. How has technology enhanced the performances you are capable of getting from stars in games today? Houser: Back with GTA IV, there still could be two separate performances, but through the same person. After GTA IV, we really got a bit of new tech in the people who do our facial animation, therefore we now perform the mo-cap and also the facial animation simultaneously. That brought as to the i was after, that was an overall total integration of performance through physical acting and voice acting to create the figures really alive. Whenever we visited hd that grew to become extremely important. What impact has dealing with stars inside your newest games had around the storytelling experience? Houser: We are in what we feel is excellent quality, although not famous talent, and having to pay a really high union day rate for them. These stars finish up employed by days and often several weeks at any given time for all of us, therefore it is just like focusing on a Television show for them. Once they understand that the procedure might involve them putting on a scuba suit (for motion-capture), but otherwise is acting with hopefully good scripts and interesting flow it is just like other things they focus on in Hollywood. Grand Thievery Auto IIIis honoring its 10thanniversary. What exactly is it relating to this game, which franchise, which has survived the ages? Houser: There is a real resolve for making these encounters which are unlike encounters others are providing on games as well as elsewhere. It's a mix of unique videogame experience that enables gamers to understand more about these mobile phone industry's which are filled with a multitude of interesting content. It isn't trying to become a movie. It's a game title, however it has cinema-level production values. These games get their own undertake the planet, the industry mixture of gangsterness and cynicism. When combined, it gives this feeling of this factor that's alive and features its own perspective. I believe that's unique within these games. Very few games coping the contemporary world in quite that same manner. Music has performed an instrumental role within the Grand Thievery Auto games. How perhaps you have seen the role of games grow if this involves music? Houser: Radio is becoming rather stale. It had been never a location to listen to classics, and we are all of a sudden in a position to mine music which was classic whenever we were more youthful and introduce it to kids who've not a way of hearing stuff from 4 decades ago. That's showing that games really are a effective medium for music, partially since you spend such a long time with a game title. You'll spend an hour or so . 5 having a film and you will spend 100 hrs with a game title, in order that they hear this music in a lot of various ways while doing lot of different things in the overall game. It demonstrated that games, just like classic moments in film, basically may become an interactive pop video somewhat. People go through the music while performing these outlandish things, or perhaps cruising round the mountain while sunset. And whatever it may be, they fall deeply in love with the background music plus they find out about things they would not have otherwise discovered. That's am enormous privilege for individuals people that love music introducing individuals to. Related Subjects

Dwts Episode Recap: Tuesday, March. 18, 2011

Eight (and eighties Week) is enough! Dwts trims lower to seven couples. Did we lose a higher contender for your third week running? Uncover below!Brooke is rockin' some Cowardly Lion curls, am I right? In my opinion I like yesterday's shoulder-padded Empire glory.Instead of an encore, Len stays a few breathing departing comments round the past two weeks' premature eliminations. Season 13 is crazy as they imagined Kristin and Chynna inside the final, and apparently so did plenty of fans who complained to him regarding ousters. OK, maybe lots of people penciled in Chynna, but seriously, who legitimately thought Kristin was likely to be there? All people people she told inside the premiere not to consider her just like a bitch? Len states he notifies people fans they can't complain when they didn't election: "Don't moan if you don't phone." I'm confident this can be a slogan for just about any phone sex company somewhere.Ricki and Derek, and Hope and Maks would be the initial two couples up, as well as the whole factor is produced 10 occasions more awkward after they air a disheartened Hope crying inside the hall last evening because she thinks nothing she does is a great one. Maks' perfunctory pep talk doesn't help matters. They're totally apt to be one of the final two standing later... otherwise individuals departing.First safe couple:Ricki and DerekHope and Maks will be in risk.After Tom tries to woo Kelly Clarkson to participate the show next season (Dancing Idol?), you are prepared to use the Kleenex for your Spotlight Performance. This week's inspiring story is Charm Ladonna, who emerged from Compton, Calif., to bounce on tour with Madonna. She used her tour salary to cover her way through college now volunteers at her elementary school. Great story, but the most popular Compton accomplishments are Venus and Serena Williams. Tennis FTW!The most effective three pairs hit happens next. It's strange to consider David one of the top-scoring couples, however guess someone must be after we whittle lower. Plus, I'd supply him with three 10s for the awesome Len impression.Next two safe couples:J.R. and KarinaRob and CherylDavid and Kym will be in risk.Undertaking a Kelly encore, the bottom-citizens learn their fates.Next two safe couples:Chaz and LaceyNancy and TristanCarson and Anna join Hope and Maks, and Carson and Anna beneath the Red-colored-colored Light of Disaster. David and Kym feel at ease, but Hope and Maks and Carson and Anna aren't always the bottom two.As well as the couple departing is... Carson and Anna.Carson thanks the fans, the whole crew, cast as well as the idol idol judges. "It's been pure pleasure personally,In . according to him.InchThe very best injustice personally,In . Tom states without missing a beat, "7 days shy of Broadway Week!"The show really will not be the identical without Carson (as well as the masterdom that's Anna), however it was the best option. Good job, America! The entertainment factor is only able to carry you up to now if you don't really improve. You have to supply the guy extra props, though, for walking in in literally the ultimate minute after Ryan O'Neal dropped out because of a bum knee. (Yeah, I'm glad we didn't get Ryan and Anna either. Shudder.)Considerably enhanced Carson remains relieved of his dancing duties, will we election him as new co-host? Or otherwise new DanceCenter panelist? Pretty please?So that's that. Whoever else think? Did the very best person return home? Should Carson search for a lasting gig around the program? Can Hope get it together? Should Kelly do Dancing? Will David and Kym stop speaking in British accents? If you do not moan if you don't phone? Who's your current pick to win? show less