Dialect coach Robert Easton dies

Character actor and Hollywood dialect coach Robert Easton, whose achievements include teaching Forest Whitaker to talk like Idi Amin within the 2006 movie "The Final King of Scotland," died of natural causes on Monday, 12 ,. 16, at his home within the San Fernando Valley. He was 81. Whitaker won the Oscar for the best actor for his performance within the film. Easton was created in Milwaukee but resided in Texas for some time and attended the U. of Texas at Austin. Like a youthful actor, Easton frequently performed country bumpkins on television due to his drawl. Fearing he could be typecast, he done different accents and learned he could mimic regional speech designs. He gained a large number of credits on films and television shows like a dialect or dialogue coach, becoming referred to as Henry Higgins of Hollywood and dealing with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlton Heston, Laurence Olivier, Liam Neeson, Dennis Hopper, Hathaway As Catwoman, Ben Kingsley and Robert Duvall, amongst others. Easton first started in showbiz within the nineteen forties around the radio show "Quiz Kids" because the among the youthful, high-IQ rivals. Younger crowd made an appearance on other radio programs including "Fibber McGee and Molly" and "The Fred Allen Show." He earned his first film appearance, uncredited, in 1949's "Undertow" by 1951 he gained his first credit like a dialect coach, around the film "Havana Rose." Easton also gained dialect-coach credits on "The Molly Maguires," "Scarface," miniseries "South and northInch and "Good Will Hunting." His movie credits like a thesp include "Fresh paint Your Wagon," "Pete's Dragon," "Working Girl," "Pet Sematary II" and "Primary Colors." On tv, he made an appearance on instances of "Gunsmoke," "Father Knows Best," "The Munsters," "The Beverly Hillbillies" (he later made an appearance within the bigscreen adaptation), "Petticoat Junction," "Lost in Space," "Perry Mason," "Get Wise," "Mod Squad" and "The Bionic Lady," among a number of other programs. He'd a normal stint like a voice-over actor around the animated series "Stingray" in 1964-65. Easton's wife June died in 2005. He's made it with a daughter and daughter. (Connected Press led for this report.) Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean Weds Longtime Girlfriend

First Published: December 18, 2011 1:54 PM EST Credit: WireImage LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption AJ McLean and Rochelle Deanna Karidis hold hands at Perez Hiltons 2011 One Night In Los Angeles Concert Series at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on August 27, 2011 A.J. McLean married longtime girlfriend Rochelle DeAnna Karidis on Saturday, according to multiple reports. The Backstreet Boy, 33, and his bride tied the knot under a tent at the Beverly Hills Hotel, in a ceremony officiated by celebrity photographer Tyler Shields, according to JustJared.com. The couple, who got engaged in January 2010, said their vows under a gazebo embellished with white hydrangeas, according to People, while guests were surrounded by glowing chandeliers. Surrounded by friends and family including fellow BSBers Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell, as well as comedienne Kathy Griffin and New Kids on the Blocks Joey McIntrye the bride wore a gown by Vera Wang and walked down the aisle to Guns N Roses power ballad, November Rain, Us Weekly reports. The singer took to Twitter to express his wedding day jitters on Friday, Tweeting, Wedding is tomorrow, Ro and I could barely sleep last night, I think were a little excited! Im so nervous and excited for tomorrow, he added. As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, A.J. proposed to Rochelle nearly two years ago at his Las Vegas solo concert, where the singer took the stage on the eve of his 32nd birthday, brought out his lucky lady and popped the question to the delight of the audience. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Children Richard Hatch Seeks Show On His Kids From Sperm Donations

First Launched: December 13, 2011 6:32 PM EST Credit: NBC NEWPORT, R.I. -- Caption Richard Hatch within the cast shot for your Celebrity Apprentice, 2011Reality star Richard Hatch, who was simply freed now from prison around the tax evasion sentence connected together with his $millions of Survivor winnings, mentioned Tuesday that he's wanting for just about any new reality show about his relationship while using children produced from his sperm donations. Hatch, 50, was released Monday from prison for smashing the regards to his supervised release inside the extended-running situation. Hatch keeps his innocence and states he does not owe money for the Irs. Here' am, uncovered to a thing that is only able to be known to as institutionalized bullying, mentioned Hatch, who spent nine several days in prisons in five states. Hatch won the inaugural season in the show in 2000. He was billed in 2006 of two counts of attempted tax evasion then one count of signing an inaccurate taxes. He was released from prison this past year but bought to return carrying out a federal judge ruled he not successful to file for for amended tax statements for 2000 and 2001. Shortly before returning to prison in March, Hatch, who lives in Rhode Island, mentioned he met a 22-year-old biological boy who's dwelling in Nj. Hatch mentioned he met the man, whom he recognized only as Devin, using the Sister Donor Registry, which supports connect contributor and youngsters. They needed a DNA test to ensure their genetic ties, he mentioned. Hatch mentioned another biological child, whom he recognized just like a 22-year-old Maine lady named Emily, visited him jail time. It absolutely was in addition hard to be wrongfully jailed knowning that these children were coming forward, Hatch mentioned. I told legal court that ahead of time. I referred to this is often a fascinating in time my existence once i is at a location where I desired to understand these individuals who're the children who've come forward and would like to understand me. More youthful crowd sights the show in order to profit the public know the associations between offspring and contributor. The offspring want connections utilizing their biological contributor because of an array of different reasons from health to emotional to anything they're, mentioned Hatch. Hatch mentioned a production company was associated with plans for just about any TV series about his encounters along with his children but that no plans are actually completed. He declined to title the expansion company. Hatch also provides an adopted boy, who attends the school of Rhode Island. Hatchs discovery is amongst the fascinating felt by Wendy Kramer, executive director and co-founding father from the Sister Donor Registry. Kramer mentioned shes known Hatch for any very long time which they have spoken about concentrating on a tv project. Hatch mentioned he's no regrets about getting involved in Survivor and wish to compete inside the Amazing Race, which airs on CBS. Hatch remains on supervised release for an additional couple of years and a pair of several days. Beneath the regards to his release, Hatch have to pay one fourth of his gross earnings for the IRS to pay back his taxes for 2000 and 2001, court public record information show. More youthful crowd cannot leave the country without court permission. Hatch mentioned the travel restriction means he is not absolve to visit his spouse, who lives in Argentina. Hatch, who's gay, mentioned he married eight years in Nova Scotia. He claims any taxes owed on his $millions of Survivor prize aredue for the government in Malaysia, where the series was shot. Hatch also states its around CBS or perhaps the shows production company to cover any tax bills. A CBS speaker did not immediately return a request comment Tuesday. Federal prosecutors mentioned the federal government calculated Hatch owed $1.7 million in taxes, penalties and interest by April 2010, which Hatch disputed. Never features a cent been likely to be due, he mentioned. Nevertheless the court has examined evidence in Hatchs situation numerous occasions and determined he isn't paid out taxes he owes, mentioned Jim Martin, a representative for Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha. The U.S. Tax Court may also be searching at Hatchs situation. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IFC Acquires Privileges To Mary Harrons The Moth Journals

IFC Films introduced today that it's purchasing U.S. privileges to Mary Harron’s sensual medieval film The Moth Journals, which performed this season in the Toronto and Venice film festivals. Harron also authored the script, which is dependant on Rachel Klein’s novel the film comes from Alliance Films and Edward R. Pressman. Lily Cole, Sarah Gadon, Sarah Bolger and Scott Speedman star within the story of Rebecca (Bolger), students in an exclusive female boarding school who's haunted by her father’s suicide and flows her heart in a diary mostly dedicated to her beloved roommate Lucy. Her sanity is examined though when Lucy abandons her for any mysterious new student, and Rebecca’s jealously and accusations rise after she starts to think the new girl is harmful, evil along with a vampire. Karine Martin and David Collins created, with Sandra Cunningham, Pressman, Mark Slone, Jean-Francois Doray, Louis-Simon Menard, Norton Herrick, Zygi Kamasa and Jon Katz executive creating.

Lamar Odom Exchanged to Dallas Mavericks Khloe Kardashian Tweets About Husband's Swap

So that they can maintain competition on rival network talk shows, CBS's Sunday political talk show Face the country is going to be doubling its airtime.our editor recommendsMary Hager Named 'Face the Nation' Executive ProducerBob Schieffer on Jesse Trump's Obama Comments: 'This Is definitely an Ugly Strain of Racism'Musical Chairs: Basic steps Christiane Amanpour Employs Ousted Katie Couric Professional Anchor Bob Schieffer made the announcement today on his show, adding, "This really is happening because increasingly more of you've been tuning to manage the country throughout this campaign season. Therefore we thanks. You managed to get possible." Nation's primary rivals, NBC's Satisfy the Press with David Gregory and ABC's Now with Christiane Amanpour, happen to be an hour or so long. Schieffer assured audiences the added airtime won't alter the content from the show. "We don't intend to change a factor," he stated Sunday. "No features. We'll just keep sitting the important thing newsmakers lower, activating the illuminates there and communicating with them. Only then do we'll generate professionals from in and outdoors CBS News for analysis. We'll simply have additional time to get it done. We'll do good to help keep asking the questions you would like clarified." CBS has not said if the change could be permanent. Based on the Connected Press, CBS News Leader David Rhodes states the extended length can last a minimum of with the political conventions next summer time, after which it the broadcast time is going to be examined. Related Subjects Now

Sundance Unveils Lineup Of Narrative, Documentary, Animated Shorts

Sundance Institute unveiled Tuesday the short films selected for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Sixty-four short films were chosen from a record 7,675 submissions a 16% increase over submissions for the 2011 fest. The festival runs January 19-29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The 2012 short film program is presented by Yahoo, which will feature some of the shorts on Yahoo! Screen, Yahoo’s premium video destination, where viewers can vote for their favorite. The winning filmmaker will be presented with the Yahoo! Audience Award at the end of the festival. U.S. SHORT FILMS This year’s 32 U.S. short films were selected from 4,083 submissions. U.S. NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS 92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card (Director: Todd Sklar, Screenwriters: Todd Sklar, Alex Rennie) Jim and Dave are brothers who haven’t spoken in years and don’t like each other very much, but are forced to come together for a week when their dad dies in Kansas City. A limited edition 1992 Skybox Series Alonzo Mourning rookie card is a point of contention. The Arm (Directors and screenwriters: Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos, Jessie Ennis) In an attempt to keep up with social pressure in a technologically advanced world, Chance starts a texting relationship with Genevieve, a girl he meets at a yogurt shop. The Black Balloon (Directors: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie) The Black Balloon strays from the herd and experiences what life as an individual is like. He explores NY City in the deepest way, seeing all of its characters. Dol (First Birthday) (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Ahn) A gay Korean American man yearns for a family life just out of reach. Famous Person Talent Agency: Pearls of Asia (Director: Ivan Hurzeler, Screenwriter: Cami Delavigne) Jackie Diamond is a luckless talent agent who never stops dreaming. He believes in his clients and he believes in show business. Jackie reaches for the stars from a shabby office in Queens the Famous Person Talent Agency. FISHING WITHOUT NETS (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey) A story of pirates in Somalia, told from the perspective of the pirates themselves. The Fort (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Renzi) On a rainy day, a young boy builds a fort in the woods when a man appears and offers to help. FOURPLAY: TAMPA (Director: Kyle Henry, Screenwriter: Carlos Trevino) Louis loops into a local mall to grab lunch in the food court and a quickie in the public restroom. Paranoid about his own small package and clearly nervous about the situation, he scouts for possible partners, letting his imagination take over when reality proves thoroughly unsatisfying. Hellion (Director and screenwriter: Kat Candler) Little seven-year-old Petey falls prey to his older brothers’ hellion ways. Henley (Director: Craig Macneill, Screenwriters: Craig Macneill, Clay McLeod Chapman) Meet nine-year-old Ted Henley, budding motel manager and roadkill entrepreneur. L TRAIN (Director and screenwriter: Anna Musso) Sunny is a self-regarding teenager fighting her way through an inner city blizzard, until she encounters someone who forces her to consider an altruistic, if not absurd, action. Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke (Director: Jillian Mayer, Screenwriter: Lucas Leyva) A modern Miami adaptation of the 1962 French short film La Jetee, the film recounts Luke’s (Uncle Luke, legendary rapper from the hip-hop group 2 Live Crew) rise to fame as he changes the face of hip-hop and fights for first amendment rights- and later as he ushers Miami into a golden era of peace and prosperity as Mayor. OK BREATHE AURALEE (Director and screenwriter: Brooke Swaney) Auralee wants a baby and will go to great lengths to get what she wants. Rolling on the Floor Laughing (Director and screenwriter: Russell Harbaugh) Two grown brothers return home for their widowed mother’s birthday, only to find themselves competing with a strange man for her affection. Song of the Spindle (Director and screenwriter: Drew Christie) An animated, humorous and informative conversation between a sperm whale and a man. Each one tries to convince the other that his brain is bigger. spoonful (Director and screenwriter: Jene LaMarque) Three sisters return to their childhood home after the death of their father in order to pack up the family house. To make matters worse, the oldest sister has been separated from her baby for the first time. The Thing (Director: Rhys Ernst, Screenwriters: Rhys Ernst, Avery McTaggart) Zooey has spent weeks planning a road trip to a mysterious roadside attraction known as ‘The Thing’ in the hopes that she and Tristan will reconnect. Both Tristan, an FTM transman, and his fluffy cat Steven struggle to find places to comfortably pee, while Zooey learns the open road isn’t everything she hoped it would be. UNA HORA POR FAVORA (Director and screenwriter: Jill Soloway) A woman hires a day laborer for an hour and gets more than she bargained for. U.S. DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS AQUADETTES (Directors: Drea Cooper, Zackary Canepari) The Aquadettes are a group of elderly synchronized swimmers from Leisure World, a retirement community nestled in Orange County, California. One of them, Margo Bauer, is fighting multiple sclerosis and using medical marijuana to ease her pain and to keep on swimming. The Debutante Hunters (Director: Maria White) In the Lowcountry of South Carolina a group of true Southern belles reveal their more rugged side, providing a glimpse into what drives them to hunt in the wild. Family Nightmare (Director: Dustin Guy Defa) A dizzy trip through the mid-1990s with a dysfunctional American family. Reliving a distracted child’s birthday party, an emotionless wedding, a Halloween in a garage and a Christmas marked with alcohol, drugs and perversion, the film is a crumpled letter from a filmmaker to his family: a shattered kaleidoscope of the destructive patterns that have trapped and wounded its members. The Meaning of Robots (Director: Matt Lenski) The benevolent Mike Sullivan, age 65, has been shooting an epic stop-motion robot sex film in his apartment for the last 10 years. Obsessed with constructing the miniature robot porn stars, his apartment now overflows with thousands of them. The Movement: One Man Joins an Uprising (Directors: Greg I. Hamilton, Kurt Miller) In 2004 Rick Finkelstein was paralyzed in a ski accident on Aspen Mountain. With a severed spine and severe internal trauma, he wasn’t expected to live. Six years, nine surgeries, and a lifetime of rehab later, cameras captured his dramatic return to Aspen and skiing. Odysseus Gambit (Director: lex Lora Cercs) A gambit is a chess opening in which a player sacrifices a pawn with the hope of achieving a resulting advantageous position. The protagonist is a Cambodian American guy looking for his place in the game. Pluto Declaration (Director: Travis Wilkerson) Restore the classical definition of planet! Bring back planet Pluto! The solar system is 12! The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (Director: Lucy Walker) Survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan’s recent tsunami find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. A visual haiku about the ephemeral nature of life and the healing power of Japan’s most beloved flower. U.S. ANIMATED SHORT FILMS 38-39 C (Director and screenwriter: Kangmin Kim) A man with a big birthmark on his back enters an old public bathhouse. He falls into a dream where he confronts his father who has the same birthmark. Avocados (Director and screenwriter: Kataneh Vahdani) A journey with many characters in one day through a city. Dr Breakfast (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Neary) One day at breakfast, a man’s soul bursts out of his eyeball. A surreal meditation on the quirky but rejuvenating nature of friendship. Its Such a Beautiful Day (Director and screenwriter: Don Hertzfeldt) Bill wakes to find himself in a hospital struggling with memory problems, in this third and final chapter to Don Hertzfeldt’s EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. Night Hunter (Director and screenwriter: Stacey Steers) In this handmade film, composed of more than 4,000 collages and shot in 35mm color, the actress Lillian Gish is seamlessly appropriated from silent-era cinema and plunged into a new and haunting role. Once It Started It Could Not End Otherwise (Director and screenwriter: Kelly Sears) Terrifying and strange happenings descend on a 1970s high school. INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS This years 27 international short films from 16 countries were selected from a record 3,592 submissions. INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS Barbie Blues / Israel (Director and screenwriter: Adi Kutner) When Mika, a suburban teenager finds a disturbing creature in her swimming pool she asks her neighbor Gershon for help. What starts off as a friendly encounter between two neighbors turns into an unexpected lesson on the borders of control. BEAR / Australia (Director: Nash Edgerton, Screenwriters: Nash Edgerton, David Michd) Jack means well, but sometimes good intentions have horrible consequences. Dont Hug Me Im Scared / United Kingdom (Directors: Joseph Pelling, Rebecca Sloan) A short film about teaching creativity by This Is It Collective. Frozen Stories (Opowiesci z chlodni) / Poland (Director and screenwriter: Grzegorz Jaroszuk) Two worst employees of a supermarket have been ordered to find a goal in their lives. Fungus (Svamp) / Sweden (Director and screenwriter: Charlotta Miller) Katrin decides to face her old boyfriend, who is back to collect some of his stuff. Girl / Sweden (Director: Fijona Jonuzi, Screenwriter: Gustaf Boman Brnngrd) Hanna, 32, randomly finds a party consisting of of five 20-year-old boys. At first she feels uncomfortable, but after a little adjusting, she soon feels like shes one of them. The Hidden Smile (El somriure amagat) / Spain (Director: Ventura Durall, Screenwriters: Ventura Durall, Miguel Llans) Following a 10-year-old kid who arrives at the Ethiopian capital after escaping from his home and his misfortunes to integrate into a street children group, The Hidden Smile constructs a realistic tale on the values that flourish in a society formed by children. Juku / Bolivia (Director: Kiro Russo, Screenwriters: Gilmar Gonzales, Kiro Russo) The dark mass between the screen and the room can beat again like once the first darkness did. Deep in it a man moves. He has a lamp, and the light it makes forms the rocks that will end up taking over the screen. About ten thousand people enter daily into Posokoni, the largest tin mine in Bolivia. Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys / Sweden (Director and screenwriter: Jens Assu) Nine scenes unfold in the grey area between black and white, where national politics and strategy have unforeseen consequences on a young teachers life. Las Palmas / Sweden (Director and screenwriter: Johannes Nyholm) A middle-aged lady on a holiday in the sun tries to make new friends and have a good time. LAZAROV / France (Director and screenwriter: Nieto) Refusing to accept the decline of the USSR, a handful of Russian scientists work secretly to resurrect the Soviet power. Here are some new images of the mysterious program Lazarov. Long Distance Information / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Douglas Hart) Da always said not to talk to strangers…but you’ve got to phone home sometimes. Moxie / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Irwin) A pyromaniac bear misses his mother. Playtime (Spielzeit) / Germany (Director and screenwriter: Lucas Mireles) A seamless journey of German youth and innocence on a Sunday afternoon. Random Strangers / United Kingdom (Director: Alexis Dos Santos, Screenwriters: Laurence Coriat, Alexis Dos Santos) Rocky and Lulu live in opposite sides of the planet: they bump into each other in ChatRoulette and decide to stay in touch. Using video diaries, secret confessions, fictional representations of facts of their lives made with toys, dance performances and songs, they create a place where they can truly be themselves. But how real is their world? The Return (Kthimi) / Kosovo (Director: Blerta Zeqiri, Screenwriter: Shefqet Gjocaj) A man comes back from a Serb prison to his wife and son. Much has changed since he was declared missing and continuing where they left off four years ago may not be as easy as it seems. Surveillant / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Yan Giroux) It’s another quiet summer day in Park Dufresne. The neighborhood youth loiter around the park until a new park monitor appears for his first day of work. Two universes clash and a territorial struggle begins. Tootys Wedding / United Kingdom (Director: Frederic Casella, Screenwriters: Laura Solon, Ben Willbond) A young couple’s marriage hilariously hits the rocks during a weekend wedding in the country. Tumult / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Johnny Barrington) A tribe of Norse warriors traipse across a barren land after battle. Bloodied and wounded, their chief is near death. He is about to hand over power to his son when an army of a completely different kind descends upon them. INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS Into the Middle of Nowhere / United Kingdom (Director: Anna Frances Ewert) The documentary is about the uniqueness of childhood and the exploration of the human mind. In an outdoor nursery based in the woods, children create their own individually constructed worlds and can test out the boundaries of reality. Stick Climbing / Austria, Switzerland (Director: Daniel Zimmerman) A contemplative walk leads to a bizarre climbing tour going from everyday village life to a seemingly impossible ascent. INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT FILMS 663114 / Japan (Director: Isamu Hirabayashi) I am a 66-year-old cicada. There was a big earthquake. There was a big tsunami. There also was a big accident. Belly / United Kingdom (Director: Julia Pott) Oscar is coming of age, against his better judgment. In doing so he must experience the necessary evil of leaving something behind, but he can still feel it in the pit of his stomach. BOBBY YEAH / United Kingdom (Director: Robert Morgan) Bobby Yeah is a petty thug who lightens his miserable existence by brawling and thieving stuff. One day, he steals the favorite pet of some very dangerous individuals, and finds himself in deep trouble. He really should learn, but he just can’t help it. A Morning Stroll / United Kingdom (Director: Grant Orchard) When a NYer walks past a chicken on his morning stroll, we are left to wonder which one is the real city slicker. Robots of Brixton / United Kingdom (Director: Kibwe Tavares) The trials and tribulations of young robots surviving at the sharp end of inner city life, living the predictable existence of a populous hemmed in by poverty, disillusionment and mass unemployment. Slow Derek / United Kingdom (Director: Dan Ojari) The tale of Derek, an office worker, as he struggles with the true speed of planet earth. NEW FRONTIER SHORT FILMS An electrifying celebration of innovation in filmmaking, these New Frontier shorts, through bold color and thought-provoking messaging, electrify and energize the mind. The Conquerors (Les Conqurants) / Canada, France (Directors and screenwriters: Sarolta Szabo, Tibor Banoczki) What exactly we need to build new civilization? Bravery? Courage? Power? Or the only thing we need is to successfully destroy an already existing one. The Diatom / U.S.A. (Director: Chris Peters) The diatom is the most numerous species on the planet, the basis of the aquatic food chain, produces most of the oxygen on earth, and is a key scientific indicator of the health of a water system. In order to understand our place in the world this mixed-mode ‘science film’ observes renowned Utah-based scientist Sam Rushforth and his team in the wide isolated landscape then in the lab and finally goes through the microscope to the diatom itself. Fragments of Dissolution / U.S.A. (Director: Travis Wilkerson) A poetic, anguished cry from the heart of a rotting empire. Four women describe their own unique hells. Children, brothers, and friends burned alive while simply trying not to freeze. Husbands and sons deployed over and over, who kill themselves rather than fighting again. From Ft. Lewis to Detroit, the empire is devouring its own intestines. Moving Stories / Belgium (Director and screenwriter: Nicolas Provost) Two young passengers adventure towards a mysterious future. SEEKING THE MONKEY KING (Director: Ken Jacobs) The film could have well been called KICKING AND SCREAMING but that only describes me in the process of making it, questioning its taste. Cut through the flashy swastikas and one sees the German Nazis were Christians fulfilling historic obligation (The Final Solution) with relatively few so well-read as to imagine themselves Nietzscheans. SEEKING THE MONKEY KING is a reversion to my mid-20s and that sense of horror that drove the making of STAR SPANGLED TO DEATH.

How Controversial Antipiracy Laws Could Be Enacted Even Without Congress (Analysis)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century-Fox"Avatar" is the most pirated movie of all time according to a study by TorrentFreak. On December 15, the House of Representatives is scheduled to take up debate of the controversial "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA). The antipiracy legislation has set off a firestorm in recent months thanks in large part to provisions that would allow the government to cut access to rogue foreign piracy websites and open up legal avenues by which third parties would be blocked from doing business with the offending sites. Critics fear the end of the Internet as we know it, and in reaction to cries of "censorship," the movie industry says it will at least tone down some of the language in the legislation.our editor recommends'Avatar' Is The Most Pirated Movie Of All Time But even if the bill doesn't pass, courts could eventually put the effects of the bill into force anyway with de facto blacklisting of websites deemed to be facilitating infringement. A couple of recent judicial decisions illustrate this potential. PHOTOS: Netflix's 10 Most Rented Movies of All Time Can search engines like Google be ordered to scrub a website deemed to be enabling copyright and trademark infringement? Can payment services like Visa or PayPal or ad-support businesses be enjoined from doing business with a website hosting illicit activities? Could domain registrars like GoDaddy be told to undercut these websites by changing access info? In 2007, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals appeared to foreclose these possibilities in denying an attempt by adult entertainment publisher Perfect 10 to hold Visa liable for infringing photographs found on websites using Visa's credit card services. The justices determined that Perfect 10 hadn't shown that Visa had induced or materially contributed to the infringements. But now, some courts are entertaining motions to grant extraordinary injunctive relief against third parties in ex parte proceedings. For example, in November, one judge in a case involving Chanel luxury products took action against hundreds of websites being used to sell knock-off handbags, wallets, shoes, and other items. Of particular note, the judge's order not only hit the websites themselves, but according to the Technology & Marketing Law Blog, also hit a host of tech companies that weren't parties to the action. GoDaddy was ordered to change registration info. And services like Google, Facebook, Bing, and Twitter were told to "de-index and/or remove [the domain names] from any search results page." PHOTOS: Hollywood's Biggest Blunders In other words, the websites were eradicated from ever having existed. The same blog in a separate post noted another case involving a website, pharmatext.org, which had pointed users to allegedly infringing copies of textbooks published by Elsevier. In January, a judge ordered two advertising networks to stop helping these websites generate ad revenue. The ad networks had to stop serving up advertisements and freeze money. Last week, after one of the ad networks, Chitika, complained, the judge reversed course because Chitikahadn't been shown to have requisite knowledge of the infringement. The judge, however, left open the possibility that Chitika could have liability upon a takedown/cut-off notice from Elsevier. Had Elsevier sent a legal warning and Chikita continued to do business with pharmatext.org, tech legal expert Eric Goldman thinks the judge would have knocked down Chikita's objections to the ex parte injunction. Meaning, pharmatext.orgwould essentially have been blacklisted in much of the same manner as SOPA intends. "Rightsowners like Elsevier probably can get 90%+ of the benefit of SOPA Section 103 simply by sending cutoff notices to ad networks," writes Goldman in summing up the implications of the decision. Even if Hollywood fails to bring lawmakers on board to pass the latest anti-piracy measures, it's likely we'll see alternative attempts by copyright holders to attain injunctive relief against search engines, social media sites, advertising networks, and domain registrars. If the MPAA is successful in its lawsuit against Hotfile, for instance, the next step might be wiping off the company from the face of digital Earth. The MPAA is already collecting data on its many affiliates.The future of copyright cases looks to be a dragnet. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Netflix's 10 Most Rented Movies of All Time

UBS: Viacom sets $20 bil stock buyback

Viacom Boss Philippe Dauman implied Monday the fluctuation in Nielsen sample houses might be behind a obvious, crisp ratings degeneration at Nickelodeon this fall but he recognized that you will find no clearness round the drop which put Wall Street for just about any loop lately. Still, Dauman impressed traders round the opening day's the three-day UBS Global Media and Communications confab in Gotham with news the organization expects to purchase back an impressive $20 billion cost of stock over the following five years, accelerating a formerly hefty repurchase program. Asked for if tying up a great deal cash could preclude major purchases, Dauman mentioned Viacom's dedicated to growing "organically," beefing up worldwide, film and tv content which is nascent film animation biz. He stressed the combo from the new stream of animated photos plus Nickeleon's legendary TV fare can provide the business significant added muscle in consumer products, where Nickelodeon already features a large footprint. Now, nonetheless the kid's network, which went in to a ratings tailspin just while watching crucial holidays, is clearly resulting in him some grief. "Nielsen might be the only real game around for the moment therefore we must accept it," Dauman mentioned throughout his lunch keynote presentation. "We percieve anomalies formerly. To not this extent." Dauman revealed on November. 10 while speaking about quarterly earnings the generally steady kids' cable network saw a really unusual 15%-20% ratings drop in mid-September. The business mentioned it had been coping with the ratings agency, and analyzing independent set-top box data. The web may also be adding a spate of latest animated and live-action programming. Traders remain baffled. "We don't know what's happening yet. We'll know next quarter" once the organization announces a completely new number of financial results, mentioned one attendee. Earlier inside the conference, a trio of forecasters predicted that global advertising growth this year would prove resilient, although lagging earlier estimations. Zenith Optimedia's mind of worldwide Steve King sees advertising rising 4.7% in 2012 after growing 3.5% this year one of the economical uncertainty convulsing Europe, natural and nuclear issues that hit Japan as well as the Arab spring that has rocked Egypt together with other key areas. The amounts fall shy of Zenith's previous estimations of, correspondingly 5.3% and three.6% for 2012 and 2011. Trading next season, while still considered lower with the Euro-zone crisis, will uncover a play the Olympic games london and, Stateside, within the presidential campaign, King mentioned. MagnaGlobal, the media unit of Interpublic Group, mentioned Latin America released probably the most effective gains this year Up over 13% -- adopted carefully by Central and Eastern Europe. The Eu sales rose a meager 1.6%. The U . s . States elevated 3.1%. Probably the most effective growth rates came from from Argentina -Up 38%. The least expensive from unhappy A vacation in a holiday in greece -- lower 19.3%. Round the digital side, according to GroupM, among WPP, digital media investment could make up 43% in the global ad dollar rise in 2012. Digital ad trading is predicted to attain nearly $85 billion this year, a 16% hop over 2010, and rise to $98 billion in 2012. GroupM sees digital made up of 22% percent of measured ad acquisition of mature western economic climates in 2012, and 12% percent inside the faster-growing world. "The predicted particular digital growth rates in 2012 are 11% and 37%, and so the faster-growing world is creating ground fast," mentioned GroupM Futures director Adam Cruz at UBS. Global ad trading on paid out inventory in social media will most likely be around $5 billion this season, or about 6% of measured online ad investment. Cruz mentioned this really is the greatest single growth component in paid out-for digital today, around the trajectory, that may double to $10 billion within couple of years. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Hot Trailer: The Grey

The Liam Neeson-starring thriller The Grey is due out January 27 from Open Road Films and centers on an expert in survival skills whose plane crashes in the arctic wild. He must lead a group of survivors to safety while fighting off some bad doggies. So is it the winter weather that’s finally upon us or director Joe Carnahan’s action scenes that are responsible for the shivers we get when watching this?

Talkback: What Is the Greatest Penis Moment in Movie History?

Since our friends at Next Movie totally went there, why not bat this one around Movieline HQ? It’s Friday! Live a little. In honor of Michael Fassbender’s infamous display of total nakedness in this week’s Shame — emotional and physical, to be fair — Next Movie ran down the nine greatest “penis moments” in the movies. Yes, Ewan McGregor. You made the list. Also receiving honors were The Crying Game (of course) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, although I’d argue Dirk Diggler’s Dirk Diggler deserves higher placement in the rankings. And though this is quite thorough work, I have just one word: Antichrist. (That said, the “greatness” of its penis moments is debatable. Awesome high five sexytime great? Not so much.) But again, it’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on some cinematic schlong talk. I open the flood gates to you, Movieliners! Discuss: Are there any glaring omissions to the list? What’s with Ewan McGregor’s exhibitionist streak? If you were on the fence before despite the glowing reviews and critical acclaim for Fassbender’s performance, is all this talk of a Fassboner enough to get you to see Shame this weekend? [Next Movie]

P. Diddy Buys Two Works of art, Helps Open Art Basel Miami Beach

Under per month determination plea for traders to keep his movie-review show going, Roger Ebert introduced that Ebert Presents: In the Movies goes on hiatus in the finish of the season.our editor recommendsRoger Ebert around the 'Golden Chronilogical age of Film Criticism' (Q&A)The Conclusion LINE: Melissa McCarthy's 'SNL' review, Roger Ebert on '50/50,' The Actual Billy BeaneRyan Dunn's Dying: Roger Ebert Not Finished Tweeting YetRoger Ebert's Facebook Page Suspended After Questionable Ryan Dunn TweetsBam Margera Breaks Silence on Ryan Dunn's Dying, Jams Roger EbertFilm Critic Roger Ebert Enrages Fans with 'Insensitive' Ryan Dunn Tweet "This move is essential to permit the general public television stations that carry our show to organize their programs for the start of the brand new year," the film critic authored on his Chicago Sun-Occasions blog. "We held off as lengthy as you possibly can but we needed to give notice today." PHOTOS: 18 Stars Who've Dropped It All Ebert stated he and the wife, Chaz, who produces alongside her husband, continue to be exploring different ways to boost the funds to find the show back around the air. The 2 happen to be footing the balance -- alongside a $25,000 contribution in the Kanbar Charitable Trust -- for that show because it first showed Jan. 21. He authored that they're still talking with "the very best professionals of countless channels and film marketers, charitable fundamentals, Web delivery services, potential corporate sponsors and crowd-funding sources," the second which could incorporate a Kickstarter campaign, that was recommended by Ebert's fans. Ebert remains hopeful the show will return, saying he hopes the hiatus is going to be "brief." VIDEO:Roger Ebert: I Didn't Know I'd Never Have the ability to Speak Again "We actually have confidence in this show and it is pursuit to offer an intelligent spot for the discussion of movies inside a forum available to the general public as well as in a fashion that's easily understood yet that feeds the thirst for entertainment and understanding," he authored. In the Movies, located by Christy Lemire and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, features exactly the same format that made Ebert a family group title when he examined movies alongside the lateGene Siskel: two film experts giving their thumbs-up or thumbs-lower opinions on approaching releases. Ebert, who had been left not able to talk after losing his lower jaw to thyroid and salivary gland cancer. also offers made an appearance on multiple episodes. VIDEO: Roger Ebert Regains Capability to 'Speak' Because of His Computer Early recently, he required to his blog to request for donations to help keep the show going. "Unless of course we discover an angel, our television program goes from the air in the finish of their current season," he authored. "There. I've stated it. Usually in television, people use evasive language. Not me. We'll go away. I wish to be truthful about why this really is. We are able to't manage to finance it any more.Inch He and Chaz taken care of the screen test, pilot, game titles, set, lighting, work place, design and upkeep of the web site and salaries of individuals who work on the program, though he and the wife don't take an income. He stated he wasn't quite obvious that will be when he first offered the show. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Hollywood's Riches to Rags: 18 Stars Who've Dropped It All Related Subjects Roger Ebert

SAG individuals who win frequently mind to Oscar glory

Released: Tue., November. 29, 2011, 4:00am PTBy SAG's feature ensemble award has switched that need considering a comparatively uncanny barometer of Oscar's best pic race. Since SAG first introduced the course in 1995, the two orgs have made the decision around the champion eight occasions from 16, and merely two occasions hold the individuals who win for starters org not been nominated with the other inside their particular top groups.By SAG champion Oscar best pic YEAR SAG Champion OSCAR BEST PIC1995 Apollo 13* Braveheart 1996The Birdcage The British Patient** 1997 The Whole Monty* Titanic** 1998 Shakespeare for one another Shakespeare for one another 1999 American Beauty American Beauty 2000Traffic*Gladiator** 2001 Gosford Park* A Stylish Mind** 2002Chicago Chicago 2003 Master in the Rings: Return in the KingLord in the Rings: Return in the King2004SidewaysMillion Dollar Baby** 2005CrashCrash2006Little Miss SunshineThe Departed** 2007 No Country for Old MenNo Country for Old Men2008Slumdog MillionaireSlumdog Millionaire2009Inglourious Basterds*The Hurt Locker** 2010 The King's SpeechThe King's Speech * nominated for top Picture with the Acad ** nominated for just about any SAG ensemble award SAG Honours: The Ensemble:Hunting in pairs Jay shows novelty helmet for rising talent Expert opinions Primetime wholes composed of great parts SAG individuals who win frequently mind to Oscar glory Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

SAG Foundation President JoBeth Wiliams Praises Silent Philanthropists

In her post as president of the nonprofit and philanthropic Screen Actors Guild Foundation, JoBeth Williams manages a slew of outreach programs. Here, the veteran of film ("The Big Chill") and television ("Dexter") shares the biggest and most rewarding challenges of her guild post.The Hollywood Reporter: You've been a SAG member since 1979, when you made your film debut as Dustin Hoffman's girlfriend in "Kramer vs. Kramer." How did you get involved with the SAG Foundation? JoBeth Williams: I was on the national board of the guild, and actress Bonnie Bartlett asked me if I knew about the foundation's work. I didn't. She told me all about the wonderful programs, and [actor] Esai Morales told me he'd been involved with our literacy program, BookPals. I loved the idea of actors helping other actors. Our profession is so up and down no matter the level of success, we all go through periods of not having what we need. I really wanted to be involved, so they elected me to the board. Two years later, in 2007, they elected me president.THR: This is a volunteer job. How much time do you spend doing this? Williams: Right now, I'm very involved as we have a new executive director, Jill Seltzer. I'm also on every committee, so there are some months I'm devoting 30 to 40 hours. I'm on the phone a lot; I'm sending e-mails, trying to get people to come to events and contribute. We are always looking to bring on new board members. And, of course, I'm also a working actress.THR: The foundation oversees many outreach programs, like BookPals, and provides financial assistance to members who need medical care or can't pay rent. What is your biggest challenge in managing these needs? Williams: Funding for all of it, obviously, but also getting our members to even know about the programs. For example, with BookPals, I really hope we get more funding for it. It's fairly easy to execute in L.A., but we are a national organization, and in certain areas, where there aren't as many members, we need donations. The foundation is separate from the guild and funded wholly by donations; no dues are used. We are essentially a charity.We recently did this incredible golf tournament to raise money for our catastrophic health program and had wonderful actors like Ray Romano, Ron Perlman and Scott Bakula participate. Many of them told me, "I didn't know about the SAG Foundation." Now Ron wants to join the board. He told me, "I want to get the message out to my fellow actors about these programs."THR: What areas have the greatest need right now? Williams: We always have strong need for emergency health care assistance. Also, our literacy programs, like [the streaming video site] Storyline Online, are growing quickly. We get millions of web hits around the world for Storyline. Annette Bening just read a book online, and James Earl Jones did one too. Teachers love it, and kids all over the world can see these incredible actors. It'd be great to get strong funding for Storyline since it reaches so many young people.THR: What is the most meaningful thing SAG has done to impact Hollywood?Williams: SAG established the rules that prevent actors from being taken advantage of. The 12-hour turn-around, meal breaks things that we take for granted now but you look back on and realize that these regulations weren't always in place. THR: What moments during your tenure stand out as particularly poignant? Williams: When people come to us and say, "I can't afford to pay health insurance because I'm ill and can't work." We've had an incredible number of well-known names come to us in times of need we never say who they are, of course and that's always amazing to me. The actor's life is a roller coaster. You never know when it's going to happen to you. The Hollywood Reporter

'Breaking Dawn' shines at B.O. with $12.5 mil

Nearly doubling Wednesday's second place title, Summit's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" kick started Thanksgiving weekend with $12.5 million, while Disney's "The Muppets" followed with an opening day tally of $6.6 million."Breaking Dawn" has tallied so far $171.5 million domestically in just six days.In third place, Warner Bros.' second-week holdover "Happy Feet Two" collected $2.9 million, bringing its current Stateside cume to $28.3 million.The holiday's remaining debut pair, Sony's "Arthur Chrismas" and Paramount's "Hugo," came in within hailing distance of each other in Wednesday grosses, earning $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively. "Arthur Christmas" is expected to pull ahead of "Hugo" over the long weekend, with more family appeal, while "Hugo," which pre-weekend tracking services had pegged to earn in five days in the low-double digits, is playing mostly to a adult prestige crowd.Meanwhile, weekend estimates for "The Muppets" are somewhere in the $40 millions for five days.Moviegoing traffic will slow down considerably today, but is expected to pick up after the holiday through Sunday, especially with the frames family-skewing product."Breaking Dawn" collected roughly $1.5 million less than "New Moon," when it played during this exact corridor in 2009. That pic grossed over the long Thanksgiving holiday $66 million. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

'Red Dog' has its day at Oz kudo

BRISBANE -- Feelgood Aussie pic "Red Dog" fetched seven kudos at the Jameson Inside Film Awards kudocast Wednesday night in Sydney. Pic, which tells the story of how a canny canine unites a small Aussie town in the remote Pilbara region, won the top kudo for best film while Josh Lucas took actor. "Red Dog" also took home kudos for direction, script, cinematography, music and box office achievement for its haul of over $20 milllion at the B.O. The actress prize went to Emily Watson for her role in "Oranges and Sunshine" while movie reviewers Margaret Pomeranz and former Variety critic David Stratton were named Living Legends. The Inside Film Awards are people's choice awards and screen on pubcaster SBS. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Sarah Palin Angered Roger Ailes by Not Announcing Presidential Campaign Plans on Fox News (Report)

Sarah Palin upset her bosses at Fox News when she decided to announce her decision not to run for president on the cable news network, NY Magazine reported, citing anonymous sources.our editor recommendsSarah Palin Calls For Hanging of Jerry Sandusky During Fox News Appearance (VIDEO)Orlando Jones Apologizes for Advising Liberals to 'Kill Sarah Palin'Sarah Palin Book Publisher, Author Under Fire After Personal E-mails LeakLevi Johnston and Sarah Palin Book Debuts Bomb The Fox News commentator -- and former reality star and governor of Alaska -- reportedly angered network chief Roger Ailes by choosing to announce her intentions on Mark Levin's talk-radio show Oct. 5. The reveal came after months of speculation about her plans and got a bit lost amid the news of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' death. PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections Later that night, she gave a follow-up interview on Fox News' On the Record With Greta Van Susteren. Ailes was reportedly so upset by Palin's handling of the announcement that he considered refusing to put her on the air again and letting the remainder of her $1 million contract expire in 2013. PHOTOS: 10 Entertainers Democrats and Republicans Love to Hate "I paid her for two years to make this announcement on my network," Ailes is said to have told Fox News executive vp Bill Shine at the time. Shine then called Palin's reps, who discussed the matter with Palin, who then apologized. PHOTOS: Actors Who've Played Politicians As for why she reached out to Levin to make her announcement rather than Fox News, Palin is said to be upset that Fox News regularly employs Karl Rove as a contributor. The two have a history of feuding with each other. Meanwhile, the NY Magazine reports that Palin and Ailes' relationship is still tense, with Palin not providing the ratings boost he was expecting when he hired her. Related Topics Sarah Palin Roger Ailes Fox News Channel Politics

'Breaking Dawn' Vampire Baby & 10 Other Nasty Movie Births

Even if you are less smitten with "The Twilight Saga" since the lots of screaming tweens across the country presently missing school to find out "Breaking Beginning Part 1," the film might be worth searching at just for that bananas birth scene within the film's finish. Youthful Edwards Friend Jacob, heavy-laden with Edward Cullen's vampire seed, switches into labor, then when a knife can't penetrate the placenta and release the bloodsucking fetus, her husband starts noshing on her behalf account tummy. The whole scene is bloody and cheesy and absurd and, although not quite worth the price of admission, is obviously most likely probably the most memorably nuts movie sequences of 2011. In using this method, the "Breaking Beginning" having a baby joins a extended and every so often venerable report on nasty movie birth moments. Discover about many of them below. "Conan the Barbarian" As if we needed any longer evidence that Ron Perlman might be the very best dude in the world, he swoops in from nowhere to do a mid-fight cesarean on his wounded wife. Then he holds little Conan above his mind like he just acquired the winning touchdown within the Super Bowl which is gonna spike the child on the ground. "Knocked Up" Mtss is a person's gross only because we didn't notice coming. Not for just about any second did we assume Judd Apatow would train his camera on Katherine Heigl's stunt vagina. But he did. Which i was left thinking everyone else to tweak what Jay Baruchel had declared minutes earlier inside the movie shouldn't walk inside. "The Brood" It is not enough this lady asexually created which is moving her baby outdoors her body due to the deranged ministrations of her psychotherapist? She then must grasp her mutant dwarf baby and lick it clean of blood stream, placenta and who knows what else? No, for David Cronenberg, it had not been nearly enough. "The Fly" Using what is only able to be known to as Cronenberg's effort to out-Cronenberg themselves after "The Brood," the director has poor Geena Davis afraid they gives birth with a mutant freak after Rob Goldblum heavy-laden her dream they is getting an infant with a huge bloody larva earthworm factor. "Freddy Got Fingered" When Tom Eco-friendly finds themselves in the hospital room alongside a girl in labor, his OBGYN instincts make him asking the newborn to think about his hands, biting using the umbilical cord along with his teeth, and looking to "awakenInch the newborn by swinging it as being a lasso above his mind. Tom Eco-friendly is not your physician. Nor should he be allowed to produce, direct and star in the movie. "The Slopes Have Eyes 2" Discuss an embarrassment of gross-birth riches: the film opens getting a naked prisoner disgorging a bloody mutant baby after which it getting her skull crushed by her captor. No less than she'll never are stricken by postpartum depression. "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" Anybody who'd been wondering how Leatherface became a member of our world got an answer in this 2006 horror flick once we saw the long run killer squashed within an awful meatpacking plant and thrown in the nastier rubbish. The little tyke did not come with an chance! "Males in Black" A apparently normal traffic stop turns into a really bizarre miracle-of-alien-birth scene each time a squid-ant extraterrestrial peeks from from the pregnant woman's legs and starts flinging Will Cruz around as being a ragdoll. The world defender will declare the kid is cute if the pukes throughout him. Here come themen covered in baby vomit? "Beginning in the Dead" As being a zombie mother taking a shower out her zombie spawn will most likely be anything aside from f--king disgusting. "Ace Ventura: When Character Calls" By which Jim Carrey is birthed in the rhinoceros' butthole. Reveal everything you consider the "Breaking Beginning" birth scene inside the comments section and also on Twitter!

John Shea Joins NBCUniversals Integrated Media Business as Executive VP and CMO

NY - MTV Networks veteran John Shea has joined NBCUniversal's Entertainment & Digital Networksand Integrated Media division as executive vp and CMO of integrated media, the company said Wednesday. The content creator and marketing executive will report directly to Lauren Zalaznick, who is chairman of the unit. Shea, who also is known for developing and producing shows, has also entered a first-look development deal with NBCUniversal, giving the company and its units access to his programming ideas, the company said. "John is a highly creative content producer and strategic marketer, who is one of thetop experts in this field," said Zalaznick. "His leadership will help build on NBCUniversal's strong position in the integrated media business." Shea will be charged with "driving incremental revenue across the company by creating innovative content and marketing solutions for advertising partners across the company's vast spectrum of TV and digital properties," the company said. He will have strategic oversight for several company-wide content, research and marketing initiatives, including Women at NBCU, Hispanics at NBCU, Green Is Universal and Healthy at NBCU.He will also collaborate on all cross-company integrated media marketing efforts. "NBCUniversal- with its unmatched portfolio of properties, access to talent, and deep consumer insights-isextremely well positionedto develop innovative content that engages the consumer and travels acrossall screens," said Shea. His group will also closely work withthesales and marketingleads at NBCUniversal's digitalproperties, such as Fandango, iVillage and DailyCandy. During the first quarter of 2011, Shea served astheintegrated mediagroup's "CMO inResidence." Shea spent much of his career at MTV Networks. He created Fresh Takes, starring Alicia Keyes, as the first-ever short form linear/digital mini-series on MTV and executive produced MTV series Gamekillers in partnership with Unilever. Shea previously also led the DreamWorks/Universal location-based entertainment co-venture Gameworks, where he was responsible for consumer advertising and trade brand building. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics NBCUniversal Lauren Zalaznick

The Biz: Analyzing This Season's Talk Shows

Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell Large changes and familiar faces have stirred within the talk-show arena this season. Here's what it's shaking to date. EllenEllen DeGeneres was prone to make use of the famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey's departure in daytime and up to now, she's. The syndicated chatfest expires six percent year-to-year, calculating 3 million audiences. The ChewABC professionals expected ratings to lower after they transformed My Children using the Chew and so they were right - year-to-year, the foods-oriented talker is off fifteen percent. Nevertheless the production prices is really a more compact amount and audience levels are actually ticking upward, getting a season lots of 2.2 million audiences watching a couple of times of October 31. The TalkCBS transformed the chairs across the coffee table (Leah Remini and Carol Robinson Peete were transformed by Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler), nevertheless the audience level has continued to be close to last year's average of 2 million and recently hit its season high. AndersonAnderson Cooper's show is drawing 1.7 million audiences, too as with occasions of fragmented audience, that's enough for just about any Season 2 in distribution. "In the event you show some promise, Tv producers tend to be patient," states Telepictures leader Hilary McLoughlin. The Rosie ShowIt's difficult to suppose Rosie O'Donnell's new show on OWN is among Oprah's favorite things. It's been losing since its premiere week, calculating a puny 171,000 audiences overall together with a scant 58,000 inside the 18-to-49 demo. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Russell Simmons Proposes Constitutional Amendment at Occupy Boston

Def-Jam co-founder Russell Simmons is backing a suggested contitutional amendment that will bar private donations to candidates for federal public office.our editor recommendsMedia Stored at Distance as NY Police Obvious Occupy Wall Street EncampmentHeavy D's Friend and Friend, Russell Simmons, Takes note of the Rapper (Video)Frank Burns Trashes Occupy Movement, Calls Protesters 'Thieves and Rapists''Dark Dark night Rises' Star Frederick Gordon-Levitt Films Zuccotti Park Police RaidRelated Subjects•Occupy Wall Street Simmons presented the legislation to Occupy Boston protesters Tuesday. He told The Hollywood Reporter he find the city introducing the amendment because "Boston includes a history... from the American Revolution.. it's only the perfect place. And also the timing with the attacks, the illegal attacks by Mayor Bloomberg around the protesters and also the disregarding of the order from the court to permit them in. Downloading copyrighted movies, a 1 percenter. "Just one percent from the 1 % don't want america to become better which was a good example of one. He broke what the law states.Inch PHOTOS: 'Occupy Wall Street Hollywood': Artists on Scene of Protests The amendment was written with a "leading senior congressman" whose identity has been withheld until he gathers more support for this in Congress. The amendment reads: Section 1. All elections for Leader and people from the U . s . States House of Reps and also the U . s . States Senate will be openly funded. No political contributions will be allowed to the federal candidate, from the other source, such as the candidate. No political costs will be allowed meant for any federal candidate, or towards any federal candidate, from the other source, such as the candidate. Nothing within this Section will be interpreted to abridge the liberty from the press. Section 2. The Congress shall, by statute, provide restrictions around the amounts and timing from the costs of these public funds and supply criminal penalties for just about any breach of the section. Section 3. The Congress shall possess the energy to enforce this short article by appropriate legislation. Section 4. This short article will be inoperative unless of course it's ratified being an amendment towards the Metabolic rate by conventions within the several States, as provided within the Metabolic rate. PHOTOS: The Scene at Occupy Wall Street Simmons is a vocal proponent from the Occupy movement right from the start, interacting with protesters in NY and encouraging people to "offer the 99 %Inch via his Global Grind website and the Twitter account. He told THR, "Everything that ill effect the 99 % are in some manner attached to companies getting priority over people. I'm not to imply capitalism isn't good, [that] companies shouldn't sit around and conspire regarding how to go ahead and take money from people's pockets -- they ought to do this, that's their job, make money for their traders, however it should not be any job to repay political figures. That's the core of demands of all the jobs." Related Subjects Russell Simmons Occupy Politics

New Writer For Godzilla

David Goyer makes way for Max Borenstein"Everyone's got a very strong opinion aboutGodzillaand what it should be," director Gareth Edwards told Empire earlier this year. And it seems that plenty of people are being given the opportunity to have their say: the news this morning is that Legendary's take on the atomic Japanese titan has just gained yet another writer.Max Borenstein is the latest incumbent at the writing desk, and like his predecessor David Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight), he's got plenty of history with Legendary, having worked on the screenplays for the gestating Jimi Hendrix biopic, and The Seventh Son, the adaptation of Joseph Delaney's The Spook's Apprentice. There's also Art Of The Steal, which Warners are developing with Zac Efron.The first writer we knew about, following the splash of early publicity announcing Legendary's scoring the Godzilla rights from Toho, was David Callaham, who wrote The Expendables and Doom. There were then reports of rewrites by Edwards himself when the Monsters director came aboard; presumably those will be ongoing, since he remains top dog. Goyer then arrived over the summer, but after a few months of musing it appears that all concerned still believe there's work to be done.The project remains wrapped in secrecy, so there's still no real indication of what shape this new Godzilla will take, aside from Legendary's oft-repeated promise that they want to go the Batman route of updating but remaining true to the character's roots. Producer Brian Rogers also teased other monsters from the Godzilla pantheon last year.But that initially-promised summer 2012 release date is now pretty definitively out. We're choosing to believe that Legendary and Edwards are trading momentum for quality: keen to get their Godzilla absolutely right, in the wake of Roland Emmerich's unloved 1998 version.

Ashton Kutcher Known as 'Idiot,' 'Ignorant' After Tweeting Joe Paterno's Firing Was 'in Poor Taste'

finds themself needing to apologize for an additional questionable tweet.our editor recommends'Two . 5 Males:' , Jon Cryer Hug (Video)CBS Won't Do Something After Ashton Kutcher's 'Two . 5 Men' PlugsAshton Kutcher: Don't 'Assume' Anything Breaks Silence Among Demi Moore Split RumorsAshton Kutcher's Naked MomentsDemi Moore Joins Husband Ashton Kutcher's 'Naked Campaign' By Tweeting Semi-Nude Photo of HerselfJoe Paterno's Weekly Penn St. Press Conference Canceled Among Jerry Sandusky Sex Scandal Two several weeks afterhis 9/11 gaffe -- once the 2 . 5 Males star tweeted it was the "finest day of the seasonInch due to the beginning of football season -- he sent a note about Penn Condition football coach Joe Paterno's firing. PHOTOS: 's Career Over time The 84-year-old Paterno, that has were built with a effective 46-year training career, was fired Wednesday among a young child-abuse sex scandal together with Leader Graham Spanier. The move arrived the wake of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky being billed a week ago with 40 counts of sexual abuse of kids. Paterno continues to be belittled for neglecting to contact government bodies when he was told about possible misconduct by Sandusky nine years back. "How can you fire Jo Pa? #insult #noclass like a hawkeye fan I've found it in poor taste," Kutcher tweeted Wednesday evening to his 8.3 million Twitter fans. The content instantly trigger a barrage of reactions from people admonishing him and calling him names including "idiot" and "ignorant." "Today's lesson? @aplusk Think (get details) before you decide to tweet! #yikes," authored Laurie Good. Added Nate Burns: "F--- you. He hidden child rape you sick, geriatric f---." STORY: Charlie Sheen Disses 'Two . 5 Males' Reasons Show's Decreasing Rankings And Tommie Sunshine authored: "With 8 million fans, you might want to book your opinions before you be aware of whole story." However it appears Kutcher -- who runs the Demi & Ashton Foundation with wife Demi Moore, which activly works to fight child sex slavery -- wasn't conscious of the details. Kutcher required lower the initial tweet about half an hour later after which tweeted: "Heard Joe was fired, fully recant previous tweet! Didn't have full story. #admitwhenYoumakemistakes" Which was then two more mea culpas: "It is really an insane story, I simply heard paterno was fired, obtaining the relaxation from the story now... Wow" and "Being an advocate in fighting against child sexual exploitation, I possibly could 't be more remorseful for those active in the Penn St. situation." Meanwhile, some of the insulting messages were retweeted by Kutcher, who apparently went of his method to say he'd get it wrong with the addition of comments including "correct thatInch and "agreed." STORY:'New Year's Eve' Poster: , Jum Michele and much more Play 'Hollywood Squares' To folks who known as him a fool, Kutcher authored, "I'mInch and "Honestly just had half details guy my bad" and "U r right, I want 2b more responsible 4 my voice." And that he responded "ignorant indeed" towards the tweeter who known as him exactly that. The mea culpa comes just two several weeks after his Sept. 11 tweet got him in serious trouble. "This certainly the finest day of the season!Inch he authored at that time. "Hello football my old friend. Let's us mingle for the following 5 several weeks. TY #National football league TY #Jesus." But he rapidly backpedaled, adding: "I acquired mad respect for anyone that experienced in 9/11. Please don't twist my enthusiasm. /Hindsight...Yeah, which was most likely a poorly phrased tweet." PHOTOS: Hollywood Solutions 'Where In Which You on Sept. 11?' As well as in This summer, he involved in a war of words using the Village Voice following the paper went a tale critical of his and Moore's anti-sex-slavery efforts. Then he tweeted the publication's marketers recommending they finish their relationship using the paper. "Hey @disney @dominos, did you know you're advertising on the site that is the owner of and works an electronic brothel?" he authored. Related Subjects 2 . 5 Males

WTF moves in 'House,' 'Chop'

Dimitri Stephanides' WTF has acquired international sales rights to "The Bleeding House" and "Chop." The new Paris-based sales house specializes in genre films and will rep titles that have strong international potential, explained Stephanides. He worked as senior VP of sales at TF1 Intl. for seven years where he developed connections with buyers handling sales on pics including "Caged," "Mutants" and "Hobo With a Shotgun." A Southern horror tale, helmer Philip Gelatt's "The Bleeding House" was released in the U.S. in April by Tribeca Films. Helmed by Trent Haaga ("Deadgirl") and penned by Adam Minarovich ("The Walking Dead"), "Chop" was picked up by Bloody Disgusting Selects in the U.S. " 'Chop' is a wild ride evoking the 'Saw' movies, transposed to a comic Californian setting," said Stephanides. At AFM, WTF is also shopping Michael Biehn's grindhouse horror pic "The Victim," which preemed at Sitges in Spain this year. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Can Allegedly Raped 'Real World' Star Beat MTV's Strict Cast-Member Contract?

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images Right now, it's pretty much known that reality TV stars sign pretty producer-friendly contracts for that pleasure of showing up on tv and potentially becoming famous. However when theVillage Voiceobtained a duplicate of MTV's standard Real Life cast member contract two several weeks ago, many remained as shocked precisely how far it went and if the network really required to insulate itself from liability from such functions as cast people possibly being humiliated or forced into "non-consensual physical contact." Now, that contract will probably be front-and-center after former Real Life cast memberTonya Cooley filed a suit on Thursday against MTV and Bunim/Murray Productions, alleging she was victim to much sexual abuse throughout the Thailand season from the The Real Life/ Road World Challenge. Cooley is alleging some pretty nasty stuff, including being raped with a toothbrush by two other participants when she was given out. But nonetheless, MTV doesn't have legal exposure due to the waiver, right? Not too fast. In her own complaint, Cooley is providing a theory that MTV has violated various labor laws and regulations. At problem may be the question of whether TV reality stars like Cooley are actually network employees. In Cooley's complaint (below), she makes some pretty graphic accusations concerning the nightmare she experienced on the program. The accused are stated to possess provided limitless alcoholic drinks to encourage participants to take part in scandalous behavior. Male participants are stated to possess done items like intentionally getting rid of female swimsuits and touching intimate regions of female cast member physiques. And a few the participants are purported to have involved in rape, as referred to above. When Cooley introduced her concerns to producers, she was allegedly told to "just cope with it." Meanwhile, the producers are stated to possess compensated scandalous behavior with perks for example being named team leaders and becoming more air time. Eventually, following a slapping incident, the producers are stated to possess "ended" Cooley and sent her home. Now Cooley is suing for sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination along with other violations at work law. MTV and Bunim/Murray Productionshasn't yet taken care of immediately our demands for comment. However the accusations are significant enough that prior to the suit was filed, the partiesentered into a contract to toll the statute of restrictions, which Bradley Boyer, a lawyer atRopers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley, states indicates an interior analysis through the networkand some attempts through the parties to solve the problem prior to the accusations went public. Within the complaint, Cooley frequently states either the agreement she signed with MTV was a work agreement or that her relationship using the network might be considered being an employer/worker relationship by California labor code. Is the fact that true? Once the Village Voice released thestandardReal Worldcast member contract, lots of attention was attracted up to the more salacious particulars, including participants stipulating they may die, suffer a nervous breakdown, contract STDs, get raped, get their e-mail supervised, or never escape the glare of the camera. A smaller amount attention was compensated to paragraph #17, which states, "I further agree that, should i be selected by Producer to become a participant, my appearance like a participant within the Program isn't a performance and isn't employment..." The agreement goes onto grant "special worker" status "exclusively" for that reasons of employees' compensation laws, but waives for producers "obligation or liability by reason associated with a such injuries, illness, disability, or dying." Cooley's accusations are without doubt troubling, and when true, may be cause of criminal analysis or some more self examination from reality TV producers regarding their moral responsibility to make sure they're not encouraging inappropriate behavior. But from the legal perspective, Cooley should first convince a judge that despite saying yes she wasn't an worker, she is really one, and therefore ought to be given the advantage of California's strict labor code. Maribeth Annaguey, a labor lawsuit lawyer at Lining Grode, states the wonder if the Real Life cast member contract is enforceable is going to be an problem made the decision within this situation. Area of the answer here could rely on a judge's view if the supposed assumption of risk on something similar to "non-consensual physical contact" is definitely an unconscionable contract term, but as this is a labor situation, set up situation proceeds or otherwise will definitely come lower towards the employment uncertainty. "The exam for employment is definitely an intensely factual one," she states. "Does the alleged employer possess the right of control, whether worked out or otherwise, within the alleged worker, both regarding the way the alleged worker works regardless of the services are in addition to regarding getting a chance to possess the worker perform other services while employed?" The solution will settle if Cooley is considered an worker or otherwise, states Annaguey. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner MTV The Real Life

Darrell Hammond Discusses Cocaine and Crack Abuse in New Memoir

Darrell Hammond Darrell Hammond discloses about his substance destructive destructive addictions within the new memoir "God, If you're not On The Internet For, I'm F*cked." "I saved a pint of Remy throughout my desk in the office,In . the comedian produces, in line with the NY Publish. "The consuming settled my nerves and quieted the disturbing images that sprang into my thoughts ... when consuming didn't work, I cut myself." Watch clips of Darrell Hammond inside our Movie Guide Hammond, 56, spent 14 seasons on Saturday Evening Live. According to him he began using cocaine in 2002 and must be "creative" along with his use so his co-employees wouldn't uncover relating to this. He later visited rehab, but relapsed this past year. "I'd the brilliant idea I will try crack," according to him. Hammond eventually ended his addiction after several days of treatment. Although Hammond also produces about his fellow SNL stars inside the book, he's no concern with their reply to it. "I have absolutely nothing bad to express of anybody there," he told the Publish. "These really went far beyond the telephone call personally.In . "God, If you're not On The Internet For, I'm F*cked" will probably be released by HarperCollins on November. 8.

Paranormal Activity 3 Scares Up Biggest Horror Opening Ever At $55M Ending Hollywood B.O. Slump; Three Musketeers 3D And Johnny English Reborn Weak

SATURDAY PM/SUNDAY AM, 5TH UPDATE: Hollywood’s scary 3 months ofslumping North American box office is officially over — appropriately enough at the start of Halloweek. In factParanormal Activity 3 (which cost only $5M) recorded thebiggest horror openingof all time this weekendnot adjusted for inflation or ticket pricing, according to Paramount.For decades,studios have had to spend more and more to keep their big franchises aloft.Not the Paranormal Activity series, andin this economic climate thats become a very attractive model for the studios. 1. Paramount’s Paranormal Activity 3 as predicted is setting a franchise best with what rival studios say is $55M for the weekend after opening to $26.2M Friday and $18.2 Saturday in 3,321 theaters. (Paramount is low-balling at $53M. Maybe the real number is inbetween.)So kudos to Oren Peli and Jason Blum who returned to produce the small-budget big-secret feature. True, audiences gave it only a ‘C+’ CinemaScore. Then againhow many horror films are well-reviewed enough to receive 80% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with raves from Time Magazine and Entertainment Weekly? Rival studios say the weekend take is approaching $55M.(Of course, there was a -30% drop from Friday to Saturday. PA2 dropped -35%.) That’s because PA3 took in $8M midnights from 2,200 U.S. locations overnight Thursday which was +30% higher than the sequel Paranormal Activity 2 which earned $6.3M from 1,800 locations. Pre-release, Paramount was lowballing the threequel to gross at least $35M in domestic box office. But PA2 made $40.6M its 2010 pre-Halloween weekend, then competitor Saw 3D debuted the following Friday. PA3 has no such rival this time around. So Hollywood knew it would make a lot more money. PA3 is a game-changer since the track record in the U.S. for almost all franchises is that the sequel opens bigger than the first but then the threequelopens slightly lower than the second.Paranormal Activity 3s strong tracking for weeks showed wannasee not just with young males but also with older moviegoers. Exit polls showed that moviegoers were 46% male vs 54% female, 53%under age 25 vs 47% over age 25. So no surprisethis bloodless thriller is breaking Hollywoods 3-month-long box office slump this weekend. Not since Foxs Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes ($54.8M) on August 5th has there been a big grossing domestic opener beyond $30.1M (Disneys Lion King 3D). PA3 cost only $5M, making the low-budget high-grossing franchise the gift that keeps on giving, as a studio exec tells me. (PA1 did $108M/$85M foreign, while PA2 did $85M in the U.S. and $93M foreign.) I remember the marketing strategy for the first Paranormal Activity: midnight screenings in a few college towns, build word of mouth over several weeks, then slowly open it across the country. Nowthe 3rd in the franchise gets a wide release from the get-go. “We always market this franchise in a very specific way- we try to stay true to the fanbase,” A Paramount exec tells me. “We don’t betray the conceit that the footage is real, and we rely on core fans to spread the word by doing playful stunts and allowing them to see it first.” Paramount highlighted itsThursday midnightopening in all its media.The trailer launched with Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes on August 5th –just 2months before release, which is kinda late.The TV campaign consisted of lots of cable and very little network as well as the highest percentage of onlineof any movie Paramount has everhandled.”We spend half of what most other wide releases spend in P&A and continue to let fan buzz propel release,” a Paramount exec boasted. Then again, I have to laugh at whatAriel Schulman, who directed with Henry Joost,said about how they got the PA3 gig.Oh, to have been a fly on the wall of that studio meeting:”Catfish had a lot to do with it. Paramount were big fans and we had been on their radar. When we first interviewed with the president of Paramount, he actually said, If you tell me right now that Catfish is fake, youve got the job. And we just went real silent. And then I said, Im sorry, I cant tell you that. Because it was real.I think he figured that if we could create that authenticity dramatically, then we could do it again for this. Ultimately, we convinced them of exactly that. Catfish is completely real, but I think we have a knack for identifying the authentic moments in home video, and it plays like a narrative.” Internationally, Paranormal Activity 3 opened in France Wednesday and saw $521K opening gross which was +45% higher than PA2, Australia Thursday which saw $516K or +14% ahead of PA2, and almost every foreign territory Friday besides North America. Russia’s $550K opening gross was 45% higher than PA2. To pump up global grosses, Paramount indulged in a global stunt: the first-ever worldwide tweet-to-see-it-first contest.There were 20 round-the-world fan premieres in 8 countries after a contest based on the most Twitter activity. Out of 250 cities, the winners included Melbourne, Tel Aviv, London, Sao Paulo, NY, and Hollywoods Arclight, where thousands of fans turned out for gourmet food trucks and franchise star Katie Featherston. 2. DreamWorks/Disney’sReal Steal reeled in $3M Friday and $4.9M Saturday from 3,412 theaters at the start ofits 3rd week in release.There was another nice family matinee bounce on Saturday settting upa$10.9M weekend (-33% drop from a week ago) and $67M cume.So the pic moved into second place ahead ofFootloose. But DreamWorks can’t get what it needed on this film: a $125M domestic hit. 3. After a disappointing start last weekend, the Footloose reboot is having strong one-week hold for $3.4M Friday and $4.5m Saturday driven by word of mouth and its ‘A’ CinemaScore. Footloose is looking for an estimated $10.5M for the weekend (-33% from a week ago) with a $30M cume by Monday. 4. Summit Entertainment is distributing newcomerThree Musketeers 3D financed and produced by Constantin Film. Starring Milla Jovovich and Orlando Bloom, pic already opened in other parts of the world with ananemic international cume to date of $48.2M.A total of 23 additional foreign territories opened this past weekend, to bring the total to 40 currently in releaseincluding North America.But what has to be the 113th rendition of this pathetically played-out premise couldn’t make a box office dent even with (or because of, depending on your POV) Paul W.S. Anderson directing. It opened with only $2.9M Friday and $3.6M Saturday in 3,017 theaters for a weak $8.8M weekend. That’s well below Summit’s pre-release estimate of low teens. I’m told the West Coast didn’t hold up despite audiences giving it a ‘B’ CinemaScore. The film was tracking strongest with older male moviegoers and to reach them Summit focused the media spend on male-oriented programming with a concentration on sports.Constantinheld aworldwide press junket in London completed with set-up shots for media outlets in front of The Tower of London, which stars in the film.Orlando Bloom (he’s still acting?) was booked for North American talk show appearances. There alsowas a promotion tie-in with leading TV maker Viszio. Perhaps the most interesting marketing ploy was debuted on Friday byMilla Jovovich herself when she tookto Twitter tobitchslap Summitover the promotion for Three Musketeers 3D. Jovovich texted that the film wasnt marketed as a fun family film and that Summit is resting on their laurels because of the Twilight franchise and making no effort for her film. A sample:3 musketeers opens in the US 2night! Do you think ppl know abt the movie? Ask your friends! Do they know its a fun family film?…Summit hve swept 3 Musketeers, a grt family adventure film, under the rug in the US. Shame on them. SHAME ON YOU SUMMIT. I asked Summit last night what it thought of Milla’s accusations, and an executive pointed out that the actress had been up in Canada shooting the next Resident Evil installment”and probably didn’t see the campaign. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about and we don’t know where she’s coming from.” On the other hand, Jovovich is married to Three Musketeers 3D directorAnderson, so it’s hard to imagine she is completely clueless to how Summit marketed the film. Nevertheless, Summit pointsto awareness in the 80s as a sure sign that the movie was marketed adequately.”Wouldn’t you think she would call us first about this? It’s frustrating. it’s not the right way to behave. If she has a problem then come to the studio and talk about it.”Milla was tweetingon her flight to Japan whereThree Musketeers 3D is debuting at theTokyo International Film Festival. I wonder if Summit willcancel her car pickup and strand her at the airport for mouthing off. 5. Sony Pictures’ adult political thriller from George Clooney,Ides Of March, holds well again for $1.5M Fridayand $2.4M Saturday from 2,042 theaters at the start of its 3rd week in release and a weekend around $5.1M (-28%)for a $29M cume. 6. Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dolphin Tale 3D stays afloatfor $1.2M Friday and $2.1M Saturday from 2,858 theaters at the start of its 5th week in release and an estimated $4.7M weekend rising to 6th place for a $65M cume. 7. Sony Pictures’ Moneyball has another great hold for $1.3M Friday and 41.9M Saturday from 2,353 theaters at the start of its 5th week in release anda $4.4M weekend with $64M cume. 8. Universal’s low-budgetJohnny English Reborn (1,551 theaters) opened just $1.1M for Friday and $1.4m Saturday despite audiences giving it a ‘B’ CinemaScore. That translated to a poor $4M opening for the weekend.Butthe studio opened thisWorking Title picinternationally back on September 16th and the foreign gross has reflected star Rowan Atkinsons enormous popularity overseas. This weekend, the film is poised to reach $100 million at the international box office. It opened No. 1 in almost all of the 43 international markets where its been released and, with 20 international territories yet to open, its well on its way to grossing $200 million or more worldwide. The film opens in 6 more international markets this weekend, including France. Does the U.S. marketing plan really matter? Nah… 9. Not even Halloweek could help Universal’s horror holdoverThe Thing prequel which went down-59% from a week ago for $1M Friday and $1.3M Saturday from 2,995 theaters and a $3.1M weekend for $14M cume. 10. Summit’s 50/50 dramedyhangs in the Top 10 for $927K Friday and $1.3M Saturday from 1,932 theaters at the start of its4th week in release and a $2.9M weekend with just under $29M cume by Monday. FRIDAY NOON UPDATE: Unfortunately,Rentrak is unable to download any grosses thus far today, so there will not beany estimates based on noon averages.

Hammond: Can GOP Help One Oscar Hopeful?

Can Presidential politics actually boost the profile of an under-the-radar Oscar hopeful? That could be a scenario the multitudes of awards consultants working on Summit’s summer indie, A Better Life, might consider as they try to draw voters’ attention to this well-reviewed June release. The film deals with the hot button issue of illegal immigration. But at itsheart this is really a touching father-son story about an undocumented Los Angeles laborertrying to forge a better life for his kid while keeping him away from gangs. At what was billed as a DVD release party this week,but whichreally served as an awards season campaign kickoff, I noticed several Academy members in attendance. The packed event at Culina in Beverly Hills had lots of political talk, much of itabout the GOP presidential debates where candidates are engaged intough ‘kick em out of the country’ rhetoricon the subject ofillegal immigrants in America. Tuesday night, Texas Governor Rick Perry wagged his finger and accused Mitt Romney of hiring illegal gardeners at his home several years ago.Perry was striking back after his conservative challengers and other right-wing GOP groups ganged up on him at a previous debate for signing a bill allowing children of illegal immigrants to have their tuition paid in the Texas educational system. Thehard right politico of a border statehad explained he thought it was the proper thing to do. The film which was released commericallyon DVD Tuesday, and a few weeks earlier was also the first serious Oscar contender to send out screeners to the Academy and other voting groups, grossed less than $2 million in its domestic release but stillhashigh Oscarhopes, particularlyto gain recognition for its star Demian Bichir in an uphill campaign against much higher profile Best Actor contenders like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Oldman, Ryan Gosling and others. “What can we doto helpthis film?” one frustrated consultant asked me while noting the competition out there. Other than parties, Q&Ascreenings and getting its lesser knownstar (in the U.S. at least)out there on the awards “circuit” in the same way Marion Cotillard did in her successful Best Actress campaign for La Vie En Rose , strategists just might want to look no further than the Hollywood-bashingGOP forsome ironic help.Along withthe state of Arizona (with its anti-immigration law)they are giving thisexplosive topic lots of recognition almost weekly during their contentious debates. Just tune in. Summit COOErik Feig (who is readying the November 18th release of Breaking Dawn Part One which hecalls the most emotionalTwilight movie yet and praises director Bill Condon) says he is very proud ofA Better Life andtold me he hopes people will continue to discover it. Clearly thoughSummit is not going to spend the kind of dollars that bigger movies have in their Oscar campaign war chests in order to chase after votes so it is going to take a grass roots-type effortto keep it alive. Year end recognition from critics groups could really help this one and it now stands at 86% positive on Rotten Tomatoes. Summit’s 2009 Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker also was a low grosser and a June releasebut saw its Oscar stock soar when it started winning those critics awards. A Better Life director Chris Weitz who had previously earned pointswith Summit by directingthe second Twilight film, New Moon took note of the Republican debates andtold me he’s outraged by the way politicians are using the plight of undocumented workers to score political points with the rabid right wing of the GOP. He says the whole experience of making the film has really “politicized” him in a way he hadn’t imagined before tackling theproject which has been in development in one form or another for 25 years, originally starting with producer Paul Junger Witt and picking up other producers along the long route to the screen including actress Jami Gertz (with partner Stacy Lubliner) and Christian McLaughlin who were all at the DVD launch telling tales of the journey andhoping itis able to gain traction thisawards season. Tagging on to the raging debate led by Republicansmight be one way to do that andkeep the film relevant , even in the shadow of the all the big contenders to come in the last two months of the year. Summit smartlyemployed that strategy with Hurt Locker when it hit the Oscar trail byemphazing its importance and credibilityafter initially marketing it as a suspenseful war movie. The film’s star, Bichir who is a major name in Mexico and also a co-star of Showtime’s Weeds (that series’ star Mary Louise Parker flew out to host the party in honor of the film Wednesday night), said he and Weitz had just come back from the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico where the movie made its Mexican debut to an audience that included a good number ofpeople suffering from the same plight as Bichir’s character does in the movie. He says it was interesting to see their reaction, a verygood one, since this is a rare “Hollywood” attempt to put a human face on what undocumented workers are now going through. The film , which uses both Spanish and English languages, is scheduled to open soon in Mexico. Bichir is also planning to return to thetheatre in Mexico soon as star of aSpanish stage version of the film aboutHollywood, Swimming With Sharks in which he gets to play Kevin Spacey’s role, a lethal vindictive producer who berates his assistant. Even with that gig he will be on the circuit as much as he can in the nextfew monthstrying to bring attention to this little-film-that-could that puts a very human face on a very hot-button political issue.

Piranha 3DD teaser bounces into view

Everyone loves waterparks, right? Appears the pre-historic school of bloodstream-thirsty piranhas that tore up Lake Victoria feels exactly the same way. How very modern of these.Indeed there's more breasts and bloodstream because the first teaser for Piranha 3DD will get a YouTube premiere because of a person who viewed the Spike TV Scream Honours last evening.Plus, there's more Ving Rhames as Deputy Fallon. Is he the toughest lawman since David Arquette's Deputy Dewey within the Scream movies? Judge on your own below...Piranha 3DD opens in 2012. No, we can not become more specific than that.

Week in Review: Stranger Than Fiction

Whew! It’s been quite the eventful week here at Movieline, what with Netflix’s Qwikster dying on the vine, indie theater owners giving Universal and VOD what for, and the crazy real life developments you couldn’t have dreamed up. (Random Task, we’re looking at you… in fear.) Hit your Friday Week in Review and come tomorrow for the weekend stylings of Louis Virtel. The Avengers trailered all over 10 million of us. At NYFF: Curtis unveiled Marilyn, Scorsese debuted Hugo, and Cameron previewed Titanic 3D. (Never let go, Jim… never let go…) Bond villains! ’80s remakes! We had your coffee break reading material covered. Qwikster died an ignoble death; Universal caved to the Tower Heist VOD pressure. Meanwhile: Random Task frightened us, that Crabbe kid proved Slytherin House is rotten, and Steven Seagal just… well, he blew our minds. Happy LGBT History Month! And a hearty thanks to our Movieline Interviewees Joel Edgerton, Hayden Panettiere, Craig Brewer, Julia Roberts and Dennis Lee, Joel Schumacher, and Willem Dafoe.

The CW orders more 'Ringer'

The CW has given a full-season order to rookie drama "Ringer." The Sarah Michelle Gellar vehicle has been the strongest addition to the net's schedule. The back-nine pickup represents The CW's first of the new season. The network saw "Ringer" rebound Tuesday to a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic from a downtick last week. It also registered an impressive 40% jump in the live-plus-7 rating for the Sept. 13 premiere "Ringer," bringing it from a 0.9 to 1.3. CW also gave "Ringer" a vote of confidence last week by giving it a second Wednesday time slot vacated by canceled "H8R." In other primetime news, NBC has ordered six more scripts for drama "Prime Suspect." The Thursday 10 p.m. entry has held steady at relatively modest ratings, but NBC is hoping to give it more exposure with repeats on Monday at 10 p.m., the time slot previously inhabited by canceled "The Playboy Club." "Ringer" is produced by Green Eggs and Pam Prods., B & Company Television and ABC Studios in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers are Pam Veasey, Jon Liebman, Joanne Colonna, Peter Traugott and Richard Shepard. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Gersh Signs David Krumholtz

EXCLUSIVE: Actor David Krumholtz has signed with Gersh. This marks Krumholtz’s return to the organization where he'd been a extended-time client. He was recently at CAA. Krumholtz co-starred on NBC’s short-were living drama series The Playboy Club which is already fielding new pilot/series offers carrying out a period drama’s cancellation the other day. Krumholtz formerly starred round the extended-running CBS procedural Numb3rs, employment he showed up while at Gersh. Round the feature side he'll next be viewed in a Harold & Kumar 3d Christmas, reprising his role as Goldstein in the earlier 2 movies inside the franchise. Krumholtz it's still repped by Rob Golenberg within the Collective and attorney Warren Dern.

Hebron leaves London legacy

HebronWhile the BFI London Film Festival will welcome a raft of fresh game game titles -- "Shame," "The Artist" and "Carnage" to title a few -- this years 55th edition, March. 12-27, will probably be investing in a avoid historic artistic director Sandra Hebron.Hebron, which has labored while using festival for 15 many is at the helm for nine of those, made the decision within this summer time to step lower.Former Sydney Film Fest topper Clare Stewart will replace her following a current edition finishes. Hebron is closing the curtain on her behalf account tenure around the high note: A year ago saw greater than 132,000 attending within the festival -- its finest number so far. She's departing at any time when the British film biz is certainly going via a shakeup: Incorporated within the lately up-to-date British Film Institute, the London fest artistic director will even oversee BFI's Southbank Theater, employment which in fact had formerly been a different one. But Hebron states her move will be a timely and one. "I'm as I've been putting my particular stamp round the festival for any very long time,Inch she states. "Yes, I've only been the artistic director since 2003, but I have been concentrating on it for more than that, so I've had an influence inside the festival more than 15 years, which i type of appear like that's enough."I'm a large believer in cultural renewal, and around I like the festival, I never preferred to stay onto it to some degree where I felt like I used to be just staring at the motions," Hebron continues. "Although I don't appear like this now, each couple of years, it might have been time."Hebron, like many fest company company directors, needed a circuitous road to the job: She began her career becoming an academic in Sheffield. She cites the city's "vibrant, independent filmmaking scene" as well as the Anvil -- a couple-screen cinema created by Dork Godin (who introduced Motown music for the U.K.) -- because the impetus on her behalf fascination with the film world."It suggests that if you've got the right people in people jobs, they're doing affect people lives," Hebron states. "Knowing Dork and seeing the movies he designed certainly assisted me wish to be more involved."Hebron moved into independent film distribution and went Manchester's well-loved indie cinema Manchester Cornerhouse before an chance within the London Film Festival emerged. London started just like a festival for your public, and situation mainly a festival for people who love film, Hebron keeps. However the simplest approach to ensure a topnotch fest is always to develop and excellent associations while using industry health club abroad. "Do not know good festival are wonderful films and interesting people there to go over them," Hebron states.Her record bears out that philosophy. World premieres unspooling throughout Hebron's tenure include "Fantastic Mr. Fox," which introduced George Clooney, Bill Murray and Wes Anderson for the capital and dealing Title's "Frost/Nixon." She also saved auds taking a chance by getting a yearly "surprise film," which has ranged from "No Country for Old Males" to "Sideways" to "The Wrestler."Ultimately, her philosophy remains simple."We don't always have to choose a movie for nearly every other reason than a really fine film (that) you need to show," Hebron states. "We're not a real festival that's predicated on premieres." Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com