Adam Lambert & Boyfriend Arrested After Gay Bar Brawl

First Published: December 22, 2011 1:14 PM EST Credit: FilmMagic Caption Adam Lambert and Sauli Koskinen step out at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on November 20, 2011HELSINKI, Finland -- American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert and boyfriend Sauli Koskinen were both arrested in Helsinki, Finland, on Thursday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Adam, 29, and Sauli, 26, winner of the Finnish version of Big Brother, had a dispute at local gay bar Dont Tell Mama, which led to them both being ejected from the establishment. The fight then reportedly continued on the street, where Finnish beauty queen Sofia Ruusila who was partying with the pair was allegedly struck in the face during the fracas. Police then reportedly arrived on the scene and arrested the pair, who were later released Thursday afternoon (Helsinki local time). The What Do You Want From Me singer later took to Twitter confirming the incident and his arrest. Jetlag+Vodka=blackout. Us÷blackout=irrational confusion. jail+guilt+press=lesson learned. Sauli+Adam+hangover burgers= laughing bout it, the singer wrote. Sauli blogged about the incident, writing, Fame is not easy. Celebrities are only human. Love is not easy either, but it is forever! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Discovery Sued By Woman Who Claims 'Weed Wars' Was Her Idea

Prashant Gupta / FX FX and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter have prevailed in a lawsuit filed by an ex-Hell's Angel biker who claimed the idea for the hit drama series was stolen.our editor recommends'Glee,' 'Sons of Anarchy' Added to Amazon Prime Instant Video Streaming Service'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Kurt Sutter on Season 4's Bold Finale and Season 5 PlansFurious 'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Tells DirecTV Viewers 'You're Getting F---ed Over'; Reveals Banned Script Chuck Zito sued FX for $5 million in June 2010 claiming he had developed a show called Nomads (later The Wild Angels) and had agents at ICM set up a pitch meeting in 2004 with FX chief John Landgraf, during which Zito says he discussed ideas for a show about a motorcycle club. FX passed on the project but later developed Sutter's Sons, which ICM packaged and which recently concluded its 4th season as a big hit for the network. "FX was obligated to pay Zito the reasonable value of his ideas, hire him to work on the series and afford him screen credit as creator," the lawsuit alleged. "Defendants breached an implied-in-fact contract with defendant." VIDEO: 'Sons of Anarchy': Ron Perlman Says Season 4 Was a Challenge At the time, Sutter took to his twitter account to blast the lawsuit, saying: "HAVING THE F***ING IDEA IS NOT THE SHOW. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE TV DRAMAS PITCHED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. NONE OF THEM HAS MADE IT TO SERIES, EXCEPT SOA. BECAUSE THEY SUCKED." STORY: 'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Kurt Sutter on Season 4's Bold Finale and Season 5 Plans Today a Los Angeles Superior Court judge agreed, ruling on summary judgment that Sons was independently created and Zito doesn't have a case. The judge relied on declarations submitted by Sutter, Landgraf and talent agent Matt Solo (now with WME), among others, showing Sutter's development process and the fact that Sons was pitched to several networks, including HBO and AMC, before arriving at FX, which bought the project in a bidding war. The judge saw no reason for the case to continue past the summary judgment phase. We've reached out to Zito's attorneys for comment. FX is represented by Scott Edelman at LA's Gibson Dunn firm and Rick Stone at Jenner & Block. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'Sons of Anarchy' Red Carpet Premiere

Beef of the Day: John Cleese, Eric Idle Wage War Over Spamalot Royalties

First came the real talk from Eric Idle revealing why he recently canned fellow Monty Python mate John Cleese from the touring production of Spamalot, the stage musical adapted from their 1974 comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. “I fired John Cleese — surgically removed him,” Idle told the Telegraph. “It wasn’t mean — he’s had millions of dollars from it. He charges people a fortune for using his voice. He’s always been in financial crisis.” A miffed Cleese took to Twitter to strike back at “Yoko Idle.” #embedly_twitter_49323781{background:url(http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/1360852/smiley-lemur_sm.jpg) #000000;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p a {color:#097112;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 a {color:#097112;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_49323781 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@JohnCleeseJohn Cleese I see Yoko Idle’s been moaning (again), about the royalties he had to pay the other Python’s for Spamalot. Apparently he paid me “millions”Dec 14 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply #embedly_twitter_42455235{background:url(http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/1360852/smiley-lemur_sm.jpg) #000000;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p a {color:#097112;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 a {color:#097112;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_42455235 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@JohnCleeseJohn Cleese … actual rough figures last time we checked - Yoko Idle $13m, Michael Palin $1.1m, the others just under a million each…Dec 14 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply To add insult to injury, Idle had also brought up the subject of Cleese’s marital problems in his chat with the Telegraph. “His ex wife was married to him for 20 years. I wouldn’t take 13 million to be married to him. I don’t feel guilty. I gave him a million dollars. Has he sent me a Christmas card? No, he’s too busy on the road.” Ouch. Not cool, Yoko. Spamalot debuted on Broadway in 2005 and has been touring since to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars; meanwhile, Cleese’s one-man show An Evening with John Cleese continues to tour because, as he told Yahoo last month, “I have fallen on hard times… partly, because I am now on the far-side of romantic leading roles, but also because I’ve just been through a costly and acrimonious divorce…” [@JohnCleese, Telegraph]

'Cinderella' targets Broadway

Beane Goodman A completely new version of Rodgers and Hammerstein tuner "Cinderella" is concentrating on a Broadway run, skedding a spring workshop staging before a recommended Rialto berth inside the 2012-13 season.Scribe Douglas Carter Beane ("Xanadu," "The Little Dog Jeered"), whose musical "Lysistrata Manley" opens inside a couple of days on Broadway, produces the all-new book, including the familiar mythic elements but offers the tale a lady-energy twist. Robyn Goodman ("Avenue Q," "Bengal Tiger within the Baghdad Zoo") and her shingle Aged in Forest Prods. will produce.Composed for TV, the 1957 "Cinderella" has not carried out Broadway, although legit adaptations began striking stages immediately after bow of TV tuner, which starred Julie Andrews. Subsequent tube incarnations add a 1965 version toplined by Lesley Ann Warren together with a 1997 adaptation that starred Brandy.An Urban Area Opera version most recently carried out Gotham in 2004, while another adaptation -- getting a magazine come up with from multiple versions in the musical -- is playing at Seattle's fifth Avenue Theater.Because the original clocked in at under 80 minutes, most newer versions interpolate other tunes within the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalog. The newest version does the identical, although many of them are tunes that have been cut off their tuners, like the opening number, according to Goodman.Production targets the all-age groups crowd that has aided propel shows for instance "The Lion King" to B.O. success, while using producer explaining Beane's adaptation just like a balance between kid-friendly fairytale trappings together with a smart, satirical tone.Producers are planning for just about any developmental workshop staging in April. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

New 'The Lorax' Trailer: More Fuel For Fox Business

.post-content img {display:none;} The official trailer for 'The Lorax' has arrived, and it won't be calming the fears of the folks at Fox Business. 'The Lorax,' based on the popular Dr. Seuss book, tells the story of the evil Once-ler (Ed Helms), who cuts down all the Truffula Trees in the town to make money. The only thing in his way is the Lorax, an orange creature who speaks for the trees. The Lorax is voiced by Danny Devito, who also narrates the trailer. The last time Devito narrated a film, it was 2003's 'Duplex.' Hopefully 'The Lorax' will be a whole lot better than that mess. 'The Lorax' hits theaters March 2, 2012. [via ComingSoon and Yahoo!] [Photo: Universal] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Why Was Alec Baldwin Tossed Off His Flight?

Alec Baldwin Alec Baldwin was began a united states Air carriers flight departing from La on Tuesday for implementing a technological device. "Flight attendant on American reamed me out for playing 'Words With Friends' in the end sitting in the gate, not moving," the 30 Rock actor tweeted Tuesday mid-day. "But, oddly, 30 Rock plays flying on American." Watch full instances of 30 Rock A police force official told The La Occasions that Baldwin was escorted from the plane, but that police weren't involved. The state didn't specify why Baldwin was taken off the flight, except to express it had been between Baldwin and also the air travel. The state Twitter account of yankee Air carriers told the Emmy champion, 53, that they're considering the problem and requested him to transmit his contact details. Another passenger on the airplane, former MTV Systems Leader and Chief Operating Officer Michael J. Wolf, first tweeted that Baldwin have been removed the plane departing from La Airport Terminal. Fortunately, Baldwin wasn't grounded for too lengthy. The actor tweeted he was re-reserved on the 3 p.m. American Air carriers flight. "The flight family and friends already look.....wiser," he authored.

'Star Trek 2' Villain Watch: Benicio Del Toro's Khan Connection, Peter Weller Joins Cast

"The Exorcist 2" news is starting to warm-up with shooting set to commence in the little around the month, and a lot of the recent talk has devoted towards the sci-fi sequel's villains. Everyone knows Benicio del Toro is at talks for one of the key villain roles, there's however another theif apparently inside the mix too. More recent and much more effective updates round the "Star WarsInch enemy front emerged in the last weekend, including conflicting reviews on who BDT is signing up for, together with the enrollment of RoboCop. Get everything plus much more following a jump! » Late Friday (December 2) evening, Latino Review's El Mayimbe released a scoop that Del Toro's character is the best Khan Noonien Singh, the fan-favorite "Trek" villain carried out infamously by Ricardo Montalban. Nothing official yet, clearly, but El Mayimbe posseses an excellent history for many of these scoops, including posting the initial word on Heath Ledger's casting since the Joker in "Dark Dark evening." » However, El Mayime's scoop faces one serious detractor: the best J.J. Abrams themselves. The "Star WarsInch director told HitFix that reviews of BDT playing Khan are "not the situation.Inch Anything, nothing less. It behooves a director to guard his film's secrets, clearly, but that's a significant firm denial in the guy who's most certainly aware. Consider this mystery unsolved as before. » In less murky news, Deadline reviews that "RoboCop" and "Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai" actor Peter Weller is joining the cast of "The Exorcist 2" inside an unknown capacity. But it's already known that you've a second, older villain inside the "Trek 2" mix aside from BDTcould Weller have showed up that dubious role? We certainly hope so! Reveal everything you consider the newest "Star WarsInch casting news inside the comments section and also on Twitter!

Britney Spears Giving Free Concert in Mexico City on Sunday

It's been a few months since Beyonce officially announced her pregnancy during a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, and as interviewer Katie Couric said, "Pregnancy really becomes her."our editor recommendsBeyonce Fields Katie Couric's Baby Interrogation During '20/20' Special (Video)Beyonce Debuts Noir-Themed 'Dance For You' (Video)Pregnant Beyonce to Design Her Own Maternity LineBeyonce's Pregnancy Questioned After Video Sparks Surrogate Rumors "Physically I was starting to show, so it was only a matter of days before someone zoomed in. So I just wanted it to be from me, and I wanted it to be something that was a celebration of something so beautiful," Beyonce said of the decision to stop mid-performance at the VMAs to rub her belly, in a sit-down interview with Couric airing Friday. "I figured the biggest statement was to ... just be." PHOTOS: Top 10 Highest Paid Music Artists Her reaction following the reveal was of relief. "Honestly, I just felt free. I really did, because I'd been holding the most exciting thing in for so long, and I just felt like, 'Wow, now I can enjoy and now I can just experience this the way that every woman should,' " she said. "I felt like, 'Oh, I can breathe and be happy. It was a beautiful feeling. ... I went straight off the stage and cried. I hugged my mom, I hugged Jay and just cried. It was a beautiful day." Beyonce revealed that she hasn't been having any off-the-wall pregnancy cravings, even though there were rumors that she liked ketchup on everything and ice-cream with hot sauce. PHOTOS: MTV VMAs Red Carpet Arrivals "I was on a plane and the flight attendant came and was like, 'I have your hot sauce and pickles and bananas,' " she recalled. "And I'm like, 'That is absolutely disgusting, what are you doing?' He's like, 'I read it on the Internet.' " Other rumors that have surfaced include Beyonce having a fake baby bump and her using a surrogate. "I've been really conscious and I've been trying my best not to lose control because I've met so many people who say, 'My second baby, my third baby, I learned my lesson,' " she said, calling her pregnancy "exciting." "I haven't been going crazy. I know that it's important that I don't lose myself." She said later: "I know it's going to be difficult at times and I know that, like my mother, I'm going to get on my child's nerves but it's all out of love and I'm just ready. I'm ready for the next chapter." Beyonce also discussed the slew of Roseland concerts in August (before the VMAs), during which she wore a sequined piece that conveniently covered her stomach. When asked if she was disappointed she couldn't go on a proper tour to promote 4, Beyonce expressed joy that she was able to perform at all. (The concerts were made into a film: Live at Roseland: Elements of 4.) Aside from concert footage, home videos were also shown; Beyonce indicated at one point during the interview that she felt safest while performing, that she knew at an early age what she wanted to do and that her mother helped her figure out what she was passionate about. "I hope to do the same thing with my children," Beyonce told Couric. The singer, who launched her own production company called The Parkwood Group (Parkwood is the street she grew up on in Houston), discussed -- and showed -- for the first time the gown she wore when she married hip-hop artist/mogul Jay-Z in 2008. "There were many magazines and people that asked for us to give pictures and that's not what the wedding was about," she said. "It was so private and it was only a few people there, it was in our home. My mother designed that dress and I'm so proud of that dress because she did such a beautiful job. It's my favorite dress I've ever worn." Though Beyonce did not reveal details on when she was expecting her first child, Couric said that in the "making of" video for "Countdown," Beyonce said she was six months pregnant in late September. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery MTV VMAs: Best and Worst Moments Related Topics Beyonce Katie Couric 20/20

Box Office Report: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Leads Ho-Hum Weekend With $5.5 Mil Friday

The weekend after Thanksgiving is one of the slowest of the year, and 2011 is no different.our editor recommendsBox Office Preview: 'Shame,' Oscar Contenders Jockey for Position as Awards Season Heats Up 'Shame': What the Critics Are Saying'Shame' Director Steve McQueen on Making His NC-17 Sex Addiction Drama (Video)New Movie Reviews: 'Shame,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' 'Coriolanus' Hitting Theaters With no new wide releases, Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 continued to top the domestic box office, grossing $5.5 million on Friday for a cume of $235.9 million. The pic is on track for a $16.8 million weekend. Disney's kids pic The Muppets held at No. 2, grossing $2.8 million on its second Friday for a winning domestic cume of $48 million and projected $12 million weekend. PHOTOS: Films that Narrowly Avoided an NC-17 As expected, movies saw steep drops from the previous Friday, a holiday. Breaking Dawn was down 67 percent from the previous Friday, while Muppets fell 77 percent. But overall, box office revenues for the weekend aren't expected to fall behind 2010 levels. The real action is among award contenders. Martin Scorsese's Hugo upped its theater count by more than 500 on Friday after being named best film of the year by the National Board of Review (Scorsese also won best director). Hugo, distributed by Paramount, grossed $2 million on Friday, putting it at No. 3. VIDEOS: THR's Awards Season Roundtable Series 2011: The Directors Hugo, now playing in 1,840 locations, will be in a close race Saturday and Sunday with Sony and Aardman's 3D family film Arthur Christmas. Arthur Christmas, playing in far more theaters, grossed $1.7 million on Friday from 3,376 locations for a domestic cume of $19.6 million. Both Arthur Christmas and Hugo are projecting a $7 million weekend. In addition to Hugo, award contenders Shame, The Artist, The Descendants and My Week with Marilyn all did good business on Friday. COVER STORY: Martin Scorsese Talks 'Hugo,' How His 12-Year-Old Rules the Roost Shame's performance is particularly impressive since it's rated NC-17. From Fox Searchlight, the film grossed $110,476 from 10 theaters in five cities. Directed by Steve McQueen, Shame stars Michael Fassbender as a sex addict. Carey Mulligan also stars. Searchlight's The Descendants, directed by Alexander Payne and headlining George Clooney, did well enough on Friday to come in No. 6, grossing $1.4 million from only 574 locations for a cume of $14.3 million. Silent film The Artist grossed an impressive $55,574 on Friday as it expanded its reach into the San Francisco area. From the Weinstein Co., the awards darling is now playing in six theaters in Los Angeles, NY and the Bay Area. The Weinsteins' awards hopeful My Week with Marilyn, starring Michelle Williams as the iconic Marilyn Monroe, came in No. 12 on Friday, grossing $345,000 from 244 locations in top markets for a cume of $1.4 million. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Dirty Dozen: Films that Narrowly Avoided an NC-17 Related Topics Box Office The Muppets Shame Hugo

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Starts Wrestling Company

Shareif Ziyadat/ABC On a quiet Thanksgiving evening, specials, movies and repeats ruled the roost on Thursday evening. The highest-profile program airing on primetime was Lady Gaga's much-anticipated (and hyped) 90-minute Thanksgiving special, which the singer conceived and directed herself. Featuring a slew of performances (one with Tony Bennett) and an interview wtih Katie Couric, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving (5.5 million total viewers, 1.6 rating in adults 18-49 demographic) proved to be beneficial for ABC, boosting the network's time period performance from last year (when it aired a Beyonce music special) by 23 percent in the core adults 18-49 demo and drew more than 1 million more viewers. The 90-minute special helped ABC post its best Thanksgiving ratings since 2007. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving drew slightly more viewers at 8 p.m., luring 5.7 million and averaging a higher 1.8 rating. But, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving was not the highest-rated or most-watched program of the night. That honor goes to CBS, which dominates even with reruns of top-rated and most-watched The Big Bang Theory (11.2 million, 3.6) and Rules of Engagement (7.9 million, 2.4). An encore of Person of Interest (8 million, 1.7) topped the 9 p.m. hour and a rerun of The Mentalist (7.8 million, 1.5) also helped the network win in the demo (2.1) and total viewers (8.4 million). Fox followed CBS in the demo with a 1.7 demo average. ABC placed third with a 1.6 in primetime. NBC, airing Horton Hears a Who (3.7 million, 1.1), placed fourth. The CW followed. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Lady Gaga's Fashion Forward Style TV Ratings

DGA ratifies 3-year cope with AICP

People from the Company directors Guild of America have ratified a 3-year successor collective negotiating agreement using the Assn. of Independent Commercial Producers. The DGA introduced the ratification Tuesday. The brand new contract adopts effect 12 ,. 1 through November. 30, 2014. ''We joined into discussions with the aim of safeguarding the superb health advantages loved by our people, retired people as well as their families, and acquiring the perfect deal for the people considering the ongoing difficult economic atmosphere facing the advertising production industry,'' stated DGA Leader Taylor Hackford. ''I am happy that people accomplished our goals with a brand new commercial contract that consists of substantial enhancements in each and every category.'' Discussions were brought by Connect National Executive Director/Eastern Executive Director Russ Hollander. ''We discussed using the AICP to locate solutions that will ensure the healthiness of e-commerce and our people working,'' stated Hollander. ''The new agreement accomplishes individuals goals while creating important additional provisions addressing safety recommendations, low quality contracts and producer versatility.'' The pact features a 15.8% increase for second second assistant company directors within the newbie from the contract together with elevated contributions towards the DGA Health Plan together with a 17.65% rise in the business contribution rate for those people plus additional contributions for company directors. The pact also incorporated a provision to deal with producers concerns in low quality and foreign advertisements by hiking low-budget thresholds from $250,000 to $300,000. The DGA's national board all approved anything on March. 15, triggering the ratification election. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'Tinker Tailor' scribe keeps stiff upper lip

"Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" was the ultimate script that Peter Straughan written along with his wife, Bridget O'Connor, before her dying at 49 carrying out a brief bout with cancer in September 2010, round the very day the film went into production. Yearly later, Straughan is finally starting to create again. But he's finding that it is hard to enjoy the acclaim and Oscar buzz around their considerably acclaimed distillation of John Le Carre's classic spy novel. "It might have been great once the conditions were different," according to him. "However look at this in a really strange light, because Bridget never saw the film. All I'm is relief the film switched out well, because it might have been very difficult if people thought the ultimate factor we did together wasn't useful.Inch "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" is dedicated to her memory. Same goes with John Madden's "Your Financial Troubles,In . which Straughan written a couple of years earlier , with uncredited the assistance of O'Connor. Even when her title wasn't really on his scripts, according to him, they written everything together. "She'd the downstairs office. I used to be always popping lower and asking whether she'd like a cupful of tea, and could she consider a line?" O'Connor was an award-winning author of plays and short tales. Aside from "Mess Tailor," many other shared feature credits with Straughan were "60 Six" (created by "Mess Tailor" producer Working Title) and "Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution." Straughan also written "How to drop Pals and Alienate People" and "The Males Who Stare at Goat's." That script, modified from Jon Ronson's nonfiction book in regards to the CIA, made Straughan's status in Hollywood extended just before the film is created, even though the finished film did less than satisfy the commitment of his script. He and O'Connor were hired to evolve the Le Carre novel we now have spent Title abandoned an early on attempt by Peter Morgan, who keeps an professional producer credit. They started anew, rewatching the legendary BBC TV series, after which it digging in to the book, while using encouragement of Le Carre to alter anything they believed necessary. Really, Le Carre aided these with a couple of from the finest changes. They invented a vacation party scene, inspired by an anecdote Le Carre stated thirstily over lunch a great actual MI6 party that got so boisterous police force maintained regarding seal it lower. When Straughan and O'Connor made a decision to alter the opening ambush in the forest with a shopping arcade, Le Carre advised them how the KGB may have mounted this kind of sting. "When the author is actually free along with his own material, it helps it be easier to evolve, but we tried to remain as faithful for the book after we could in the 120-page script," Straughan states. "A lot of the original material in this film came from from Bridget. She will be a very original and imaginative author, whereas I'm a much more the editor, the shaper." Probably the script's finest achievement is always to keep the pacing unhurried for just about any story using the much plot and therefore many figures. "There has been bad versions we didn't desire to make, with numerous MTV editing speed to match whenever you can in," Straughan states. "We felt it absolutely was more valuable to keep the autumnal tone, to go away that space, that air inside the script, instead of pack all the plot in."Asked for the actual way it feels to produce without O'Connor, Straughan solutions simply, "I am unsure how it'll be. I'm just getting started. I didn't cause use yearly. My whole existence has changed on lots of levels." He's recently began again concentrate on a couple of projects that have been waiting with persistence for his return inside the this past year. "Frank," a script co-written with Ronson, is loosely inspired by Ronson's experience just like a guitarist for cult comedy pop act Frank Sidebottom, who completed wearing a papier-mache mind to produce him appear just like a kids favourite. Backed by Film4, with Irish helmer Lenny Abrahamson onboard to direct, the project is casting to shoot next season. The script looks like it's leading to interest among Celebs. Straughan may also be adapting John Crowley's sci-fi novella "Great Work of the timeInch for Film4 and producer Stephen Woolley. Next, he's signed to evolve Hilary Mantel's Booker Prize-winning historic novel "Wolf Hall" just like a TV series for Cinemax as well as the BBC. George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse is hunting for a director for the next Straughan script, "Our Brand Is Crisis," good true story in the Washington spin doctors who done the Bolivian presidential campaign. And Straughan also desires to direct. In June 2010, before O'Connor fell seriously ill, he directed a short, "Gee Gee," they modified in the John Cheever story. He's an idea with an original script that Film4 is encouraging him to direct. n Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Regis Philbin Signs Off Live! After 28 Years

First Released: November 18, 2011 11:54 AM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Regis Philbin around the set throughout his final Live! with Regis & Kelly on November 18, 2011 in NYNY, N.Y. -- Coming a hug to his audience in excess of 28 years, Regis Philbin signed off morning television on Friday. Ill remember investing the morning wonderful you, the veteran show-biz personality stated, ending his final appearance as host of Live! With Regis and Kelly. Philbin, at eighty years old, has drenched a lot more than 17,000 hrs on tv inside a career that goes back towards the sixties. He acquired prime-time fame as host of Who would like to Be considered a Uniform about ten years ago. But his long lasting impact was like a morning show host, and the method of weaving something from nothing, turning tales in regards to a dinner out around town into compelling viewing. Philbin was dry-eyed, but co-host Kelly Ripa fought against tears as she remembered how afraid she was on her behalf first day as Philbins partner and just how he put her comfortable. You usually need to make me seem like millions of dollars, always, she stated. The show had opened up with cameras following Philbins walk from his dressing room to the level, the ultimate step knocking on Ripas door and walking by helping cover their her. I really like you, she stated silently because the lights increased. Ripas predecessor, Kathie Lee Gifford, is at the crowd but didn't have role within the finale. The crowd was stacked along with other celebs, including Katie Couric, Jesse Trump, Alan Alda, Meredith Vieira and Tony Danza. Others like Justin Timberlake and Hathaway As Catwoman offered brief shot tributes. The show was otherwise dedicated to emotion-filled clip sequences of hijinks with Ripa and celebs like Dana Carvey trying their Regis impersonation. Earlier within the week, David Letterman and VicePresident Joe Biden had stopped by to pay for respects. Philbin continues to be careful to express hes not retiring, and the immediate plans incorporate a tour to advertise his new book, The Way I Got By Doing This. Wheres Regis going? he stated. Regis does not know. Stop asking me! The show continues with Ripa. Much like when she changed Gifford, a succession of co-hosts will join her, some basically testing out for that permanent job. Philbins parting gifts were a vital along with a plaque. NY City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made an appearance by way of thanking Philbin to make the town a large a part of his show, and offered a symbolic key. Wally Disney Co. leader Bob Iger demonstrated a plaque praising Philbin that were placed on the outdoors from the building in which the shows studio is situated. I needed this to become a show where people would feel happier about themselves, to check out existence in different ways, a more amusing way, Philbin stated. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Survivor Restored For Just Two More Seasons

Survivor, Rob Probst CBS has restored Survivor for just two more seasons, keeping the reality competition series round the air through 2013, the network introduced Thursday. The 25th and 26th models in the series will both debut through the 2012-2013 TV season. Survivor had lately been restored for just about any 24th season, which will premiere Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 8/7c. Survivor host Rob Probst to debut talk show in fall 2012 "Survivor is certainly a superb franchise," mentioned CBS' Executive V . P . of Alternative Programming, Jennifer Bresnan, mentioned in the statement. "Its format guarantees fresh figures, exotic places and fascinating social dynamics every season. And, the show is backed with a b-plus production team that's as passionate since the die-hard Survivor fans. A lot of us at CBS are actually pleased with Survivor's ongoing success." Rob Probst may even return as host and executive producer for brand new seasons. Some-time Emmy-winning host will have to juggle his ongoing responsibilities on Survivor along with his job as host and executive producer in the approaching daytime talk show, Rob Probst. Produced by CBS Television Distribution, the completely new daytime show will debut in fall of 2012. "I am thrilled to continue concentrating on a lengthy-running reality competition show while using world's finest adventure crew for just two more seasons," Probst mentioned. "We are so grateful for your encouraging fans who remain around every season, which we promise to supply another year of quality television." Social TV: How Survivor's Rob Probst bridged the area between CBS which is audience Survivor's renewal can be obtained in the heart of the "South Off-shoreline" edition, that's been calculating 12.27 million audiences together with a 3.8 rating inside the grownups 18-49 demo. Are you currently presently glad Survivor is coming back? Where you think the show should travel next? Do you want those to do another all-stars edition?

Will Syndication Run Give 30 Rock Much Needed Ratings Boost On NBC?

NBC’s midseason schedule announcement yesterday contained some disheartening news for 30 Rock fans — for its upcoming sixth season, the Emmy-winning comedy has been assigned the tough Thursday 8 PM slot. A cult favorite and a major awards contender, the Tina Fey-Alec Baldwin starrer has never been a big ratings draw and can hardly be perceived as an 8 PM anchor material. Plus, this represents the umpteenth time slot change for the office comedy, which has previously aired at 8:30 PM, 9:30 PM and 10 PM on Thursday. But as daunting as seems,30 Rock’s uphill ratings battle might be aided by a secret weapon — the series’ additional exposure through its cable (on Comedy Central) and broadcast syndication launch this fall. As a newly-minted 8 PM comedy, 30 Rock joins 2 other returning half-hour sitcoms that air in the 8 PM time slot: CBS’ How I Met Your Mother on Monday and The Big Bang Theory on Thursday. The three have more in common than an airtime. Besides being a direct competitor to 30 Rock on Thursday, Big Bang too rolled out in cable (TBS) and broadcast syndication this fall, getting a ton of promotion, including during the baseball playoffs on TBS. The extra exposure may have boosted Big Bang‘s original airings on CBS — season-to-date, the comedy has averaged a 6.0 (most recent) 18-49 rating and 14.9 million viewers, up 15% in the demo and 14% in viewers from last fall. Meanwhile, How I Met Your Mother launched in cable syndication on FX this fall after languishing on Lifetime, where it had been mishandled last season. The added eyeballs (HIMYM continues to air on Lifetime too) may have helped the veteran comedy, which is hitting series highs in its seventh season on CBS — HIMYM (5.1 rating in 18-49, 11.4 million) is up a whopping 24% in 18-49 from last year and 19% in total viewers. It is probably not a coincidence that Big Bang and HIMYM are among the biggest ratings growth stories this season just as they got launched/re-launched in syndication. Previous examples of broadcasting series getting a ratings boost from initial exposure in syndication include CBS’ NCIS, NBC’s Law & Order and NBC’s The Office. Will 30 Rock be added to the list? Because of the comedy’s constant bouncing around the NBC Thursday schedule, it will be hard to do year-to-year comparisons to measure a possible syndie effect, but if 30 Rock performs better than the show it is replacing, Community, against a resurgent Big Bang, that will be considered a success, especially on ratings-starved NBC.

Misconceptions of 'Christmas'

Mariska Hargitay with boy August Bill Nighy and helmer Sarah Cruz Although the calendar states mid-November, there is lots of yuletide cheer at Sunday's Gotham preem of Sony's "Arthur Christmas." Screening and publish-party, held at Clearview Chelsea, came numerous thesps as well as their kids."Kids begin to request, 'How does Santa reach everyone's house?' which movie is really great since it solutions that question," stated Mariska Hargitay, with 5-year-old boy August, who's still "completely within the miracle, that is so beautiful. We want to help keep it this way.InchMeat Wilson, who supported his 5-year-old boy, Kalin, towards the mid-day party, also hopes to help keep any queries away for a while. "He's still completely within the stage of pleasure about Santa, and there is not really a shred of doubt," he quipped.Bill Nighy talked about giving voice to some lengthy-upon the market Santa. "The truly amazing factor about animation is you're able to play parts you would not have the ability to accomplish otherwise," he stated. "I am less than 136 years of age. I have teeth and hair." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Breaking Dawn': Billy Burke, Rachelle Lefervre, Rachelle Lefervre Pick 'Twilight' Props for your Smithsonian (VIDEO)

.publish-content img The 'Twilight Saga' is really a seminal experience for Generation Y, so that it visits reason the movies themselves deserve an area inside the Smithsonian for individuals Millennials to find out. Ultimately, the Smithsonian's pointed out vision is always to shape "the long run by safeguarding our heritage, finding new understanding, and talking about our assets while using world." Within 2011, our heritage is 'Twilight'! What within the saga should find itself within the walls of one of the world's most well-known museums? Moviefone asked for that very question to Billy Burke, Rachelle Lefervre, Rachelle Lefervre as well as the relaxation in the 'Breaking Dawn' cast. Watch above, making a world where your chosen 'Twilight' paraphernalia would actually finish up inside a museum. (Fans can dream, no?) Go back to Moviefone with the week for further on 'Breaking Beginning,' plus a live-stream of tonight's premiere in La, additionally to exclusive video interviews with Billy Burke, Rachelle Lefervre and Rachelle Lefervre. Interviews completed by Sharon Knolle RELATED: 'Breaking Dawn' stars cast the eighties version of 'Twilight' RELATED: 'Twilight' premiere photos with time Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Twit Wit: The 5 Best Tweets About J. Edgar, Immortals, and the Dreaded Jack and Jill

comments: 0 || add yours Three mockable movies, five prolific Twitter stars: Who most effectively skewered the achronological, bizarrely unlit J. Edgar, the gauzy Immortals, and the downright insulting Jack and Jill? Join us for a rundown of Twitter’s best quips about the weekend box office. 5. Braden Graeber, of the viral meme “Little Hipster Mermaid,” reports that Funny People may not be Adam Sandler’s only cancer-centric comedy. #embedly_twitter_64238973{background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/313066432/080702plaid.jpg) #94cdff;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p a {color:#4495b3;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 a {color:#4495b3;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_64238973 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@hipstermermaidbraden graeber Really bad news: Turns out the lump my doctor thought was cancer was actually a pair of tickets to see Jack and Jill.Nov 13 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply 4. Scrubs/Cougar Town guru Bill Lawrence (who is awesome) can’t hold in his disdain any longer. #embedly_twitter_3980847{background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/43666166/bl_doozerinc1.jpg) #000000;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_3980847 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@VDOOZERBill Lawrence I write Cougar Town, and yet, even I feel comfortable passing judgement on Jack and Jill.Nov 12 via Twitter for iPadFavoriteRetweetReply 3. Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof accurately traces Jack and Jill back to its horror beginnings. #embedly_twitter_78066485{background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/67933111/luke-yoda.jpg) #C0DEED;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 a {color:#0084B4;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_78066485 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@DamonLindelofDamon Lindelof I heard a disturbing rumor that Sandler came up with the idea for JACK AND JILL whilst “Buffalo Billing” in front of a mirror.Nov 13 via webFavoriteRetweetReply 2. Conan (O’Brien) vet Todd Levin thinks that J. Edgar won’t age well — because it didn’t do “age” well. #embedly_twitter_32395113{background:url(http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/168857741/016.jpeg) #d46108;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p a {color:#E25E06;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 a {color:#E25E06;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_32395113 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@toddlevintodd levin The closing credits of J. Edgar include this credit: “Old Age Makeup provided by Halloween Headquarters.”Nov 13 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply 1. This week’s winner: MTV vet and Twitter star Dave Holmes understands that beneath Kellan Lutz’s muscly exterior, he’s… really muscular. #embedly_twitter_4157769{background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/53322410/tumblr_ksq819pBYi1qzw3gpo1_500.jpg) #9ae4e8;padding:20px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px;padding-bottom:12px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p a {color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 p a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .embedly_timestamp{font-size:13px;display:inline-block;margin-top:5px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .components-above span.embedly_timestamp{font-size:10px;margin-top:1px;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 a {color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-screen-name {font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-full-name {padding-left:4px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions{margin-left:10px;font-size:13px;display:inline-block;width:250px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .components-above span.tweet-actions{font-size:10px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .controls{line-height:12px!important;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions a {margin-left:5px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions a b{font-weight:normal;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .components-above span.tweet-actions a b{vertical-align:baseline;line-height:12px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .components-above .tweet-text{font-size:13px;vertical-align:baseline;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-image {float:left;width:40px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-user-block-image {float:left;width:48px;height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-row {margin-left:40px;margin-top:3px;line-height:17px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-user-block {}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .stream-item {padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .simple-tweet-image img {margin-top:4px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .simple-tweet-content {margin:0 0 13px 0px;font-size:14px;min-height:48px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .in-reply-to-border {border-color:#EBEBEB;border-style:solid;border-width:1px 0 0;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .in-reply-to-text {margin-left:4px;padding-left:8px;padding-right:10px;color:#999;font-size:12px;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions i {background:transparent url(http://a2.twimg.com/a/1306889658/phoenix/img/sprite-icons.png) no-repeat;width:15px;height:15px;margin:0 4px 3px;outline:none;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions a.retweet-action i {background-position:-192px 0;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions a.reply-action i {background-position:0 0;}#embedly_twitter_4157769 .tweet-actions a.favorite-action i {background-position:-32px 0;}@DaveHolmesdave holmes You could go see Immortals, or you could flip through a Men’s Fitness while you watch someone play a video game.Nov 13 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply Follow Louis Virtel on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter. Tagged: bill lawrence, damon lindelof, dave holmes, hipster mermaid, immortals, j edgar, jack and jill

The Westbridge

Chetna Pandya and Fraser Ayres find love inside the ethnically mixed southeast London neighborhood of Peckham inside the Westbridge. A Royal Court Theater presentation from the play in one act put together by Rachel P-lahay. Directed by Clint Dyer.Soriya - Chetna Pandya Marcus - Fraser Ayres Georgina - Daisy Lewis Saghir - Paul BhattacharjeeThe world preem of "The Westbridge" brings the Royal Court Theater's production activity from the tony Chelsea headquarters for the economically less fortunate, ethnically mixed southeast London neighborhood of Peckham. Initiative, billed as Theater Local, determines a context of cultures meeting and mixing -- or even not -- extended with the substance of Rachel P-lahay's first play, where numerous ethnically mixed figures face mounting tensions around a difficult London housing estate. P-lahay produces with verve, but Clint Dyer's production, which places auds literally in the heart of the knowledge, puts a lot of force on a formerly complex narrative. Production is positioned around the deserted warehouse floor, with fashion fashion runways across the periphery where the action happens and auds relaxing in chairs facing a number of directions. This creates a fantastically resonant pre-show atmosphere, as site visitors are compelled to regard their neighbors. The plot concerns an alleged gang rape from the South Asian girl by youthful black males round the Westbridge estate. This starts several nights of unrest, and triggers disruption inside the microcosm of play's central relationship, between ambitious youthful Cambridge grad Soriya (Chetna Pandya), who's half-Pakistani and half white-colored, and her enterprising, half-black, half-white-colored boyfriend Marcus (Fraser Ayres). Adding complications may be the white-colored flatmate Georgina (Daisy Lewis), an out-of-work model who sways on Soriya financially and psychologically which is deeply deeply in love with Soriya's brother Ibi (Ray Panthaki), whose is lately inside an arranged marriage. Marcus is settling their very own entanglements with Andre (Ryan Calais Cameron), a young black friend within the estate who have attempted the rape. Play feels most within the stride within the depiction in the central trio, to whom the navigation of cultural restrictions and movement between cell phone industry's is certainly a day to day reality. They don't survive the estate, nevertheless it functions their metaphoric shadow, as well as the tensions seething there progressively infect their lives as Soriya (rather implausibly, given how with full confidence she otherwise presents herself) takes to heart an senior citizens neighbor's chiding that "Asian women needs to be for Asian males." Because the cast undertake their roles with intensity and integrity, there is a disconnect involving the naturalism needed in the dialogue as well as the staging of whole moments with figures speaking -- or, more precisely, shouting -- to each other from opposite sides in the room over aud members' heads. Playing the knowledge at various corners in the room, and interspersing domestic moments with noisy, frightening moments of anonymous violence produces an atmosphere of immersion and unease, but further weighs in at in at lower the already laden plotting, which causes it to be difficult to stay active in the eventual resolution in the rape story. Play will most likely be superior offered with the closeness in the Royal Court's Space Upstairs, where it transfers later in November. Having less synergy between play and atmosphere here parallels concerns in regards to the Theater Local initiative: Does moving away from West Finish theater to towns less offered with the funded arts positively address social inequities, or does it underline them? And that is that promising youthful author best offered having a production that adds lots of layers of attempted relevance it nearly stifles the brand new voice emerging out of this?Versions, and costumes, Ultz lighting, Katharine Williams appear, Emma Laxton production manager, Tariq Rifaat. Opened up up, examined November. 8, 2011. Running time: 1 hour, 40 MIN.With: Ryan Calais Cameron, Samuel Foray, Jo Martin, Ray Panthaki, Adlyn Ross, Shavani Seth. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Broadcast glut in Gaul?

PARIS -- When pay TV giant Canal Plus announced it was stepping into the free digital terrestrial television market with Bollore Media's channels Direct 8 and Direct Star, it rocked the French TV community and made the bosses of commercial networks TF1 and M6 fret over further market fragmentation.But the frosting on the competitive cake was the decision by CSA, France's broadcasting authority, to open a call for bids to create six more DTT webs -- after the European Commission banned the allocation of extra DTT frequencies to TF1, M6 and Canal Plus -- to offset expenses that are being incurred by the nation's switch to digital.Insiders now argue the CSA is simply thwarting the European Commission's ban in a counterproductive way. Nonce Paolini and Nicolas de Tavernost, presidents of TF1 and M6, respectively, recently voiced their discontent during a debate hosted by the ARP at the Rencontres Cinematographiques, a three-day confab of French film and TV execs, including all the network bosses. "It's an absurd idea to make the TV market more competitive than it already is at a time of economic crisis," Paolini says. De Tavernost concurs: "The increasing number of channels is driving prices down and will eventually handicap investments."While the the French DTT market has declined since its 2005 boom, TF1 and M6 have been able to sustain their leadership positions in terms of ratings and ad revs, and ride out the economic storm. For instance, the share for TF1 Group (including TMC and NT1), has dropped only marginally, from 51% in 2005, to 49.7% over the first half of 2011.But with Canal Plus and other players getting into the game, the competition figures to heat up.By next fall, Gaul will boast 24 DTT nets, second only to the U.K., says IHS Screen Digest's Daniel Knapp.TF1 owns two free-to-air DTT webs, TMC and NT1, in addition to TV Breitz, a free general-entertainment channel based in Brittany that has been reformatted to become a DTT channel.Meanwhile M6, which owns a single free DTT channel, W9, is hoping to snap up two additional such nets, Wiki TV and M6 Famille. It's unknown whether Canal Plus will apply for DTT channel Canal 20 now that it has bought a controlling share in Bollore's Direct 8 and Direct Star.With the CSA auction, TF1, M6 and Canal Plus (if it participates) will likely be granted additional frequencies, but they will be joined by other applicants -- and that's what Paolini and De Tavernost dread the most.A wide variety of indie players have submitted proposals. Candidates include NRJ Group and Next Radio TV -- both present on DTT with one frequency each; and newcomers like Allocine, with its channel dedicated to classic movies and film news.But industryites and analysts doubt these smaller entities will benefit the French TV and film market."The advertising market is near stagnation and the prognosis is pretty grim in the short and long term," says Francois Godard from Enders Analysis.Even if these independent DTT groups attract new advertising revenues and bring some dynamism into the sector, they could be detrimental to the local advertising market, because they'll undercut it by selling cheaper ads, Godard adds. Knapp says the key problem in France is that TF1 and M6 aren't allowed to bundle ad sales across all their channels as they do in Spain, for instance. "And as a result, they have difficulties monetizing their fragmented audience shares," he adds.Meanwhile, producers and filmmakers point out the new DTT nets won't bring extra coin to fund production, since they have little or no investment obligations. The CSA requires only general entertainment channels that program more than 52 films per year to invest 3.2% in the acquisition of European features, most of that in French pics. All DTT nets also have to invest 16% of their annual revs in French and European original programming, but insiders say there are too many ways to work around these obligations.Salome says he fears these newcomers could weaken the market altogether. "If the advertising revenues get more (fragmented), budgets for film and TV productions will suffer."On Gaul's two commercial networks, TF1 and M6, the number of films broadcast reached a decade low in 2010, according to the CNC. Only 8.3% of the films broadcast across all DTT channels in 2010 were new, and most were American pics (39 pics from U.S. vs. 13 French films, according to the CNC). "The CSA will need to step in and establish further guidelines for these DTT channels to invest in French content," Salome says.But the prospect of Canal Plus, France's most powerful backer of French cinema and homegrown fiction programs, entering the free DTT biz is perceived as a good omen for most of the industry -- apart for TF1 and M6 , which have a lot to lose in audience and advertising share.Rodolphe Belmer, exec VP of Canal Plus, who was attending the Rencontres Cinematographiques debate along with De Tavernost and Paolini, said the company's two free-to-air channels, Direct 8 and Direct Star, will allow the cabler to "put more money into original TV content" and better finance French cinema, which has been let down, he says, by TF1 and M6."We think local groups have the capacity to produce world-class programs, but we have an industry that isn't structured for that," Belmer says, adding that Canal Plus' priority is to strengthen its premium content to compete with global companies like Netflix, Google and Apple, rather than with U.S. productions, which spend three times more per episode than Canal Plus.In the past five years, Canal Plus has bolstered its image with ambitious French and English-language TV commissions, including Gallic crime skeins "Spiral," "Braquo" and "Borgia."Canal Plus will invest more than $1.3 million per episode in drama programming for the two nets.Manuel Alduy, head of film and TV series acquisition at Canal Plus Group, says the company aims to draw an additional $275 million in advertising revenues from Direct 8 and Direct Star within the next three years. And if the paybox group invests a portion of its advertising revenues from Direct 8 and Direct Star into original programming and films, as Belmer claims it will, the two DTT channels could become as vital to the French film and TV biz as Canal Plus is itself.Down the line, Knapp says Canal Plus will push TF1 and M6 to think harder about redefining their brands, and about developing ambitious exclusive content to draw new audience segments in order to maintain their leadership on the free-to-air landscape." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch the Snow White and the Huntsman Teaser Trailer: Breaking Dwarf

Here’s what I’ve gathered from the new Snow White and the Huntsman trailer: Charlize Theron’s Evil Queen is pissed, Kristen Stewart’s Snow White is innocent, and the color saturation of this fairytale world looks like a Crayola-dappled Middle Earth. Pretty spectacular. Looks like Theron is taking the cavalier rancor of her Young Adult character and elevating it to mythic proportions. Why can’t Patrick Wilson play Prince Charming while Patton Oswalt plays all the Dwarves? Yes, I’ve thought about this before. From Universal: In the epic action-adventure, Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Oscar winner Charlize Theron), who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with the huntsman (Chris Hemsworth, Thor) who was dispatched to kill her. Snow White and the Huntsman hits theaters on June 1, 2012. Snow White and the Huntsman’ Trailer [Apple]

King Lear

A Public Theater presentation of a play in two acts by William Shakespeare. Directed by James MacDonald. LearSam Waterston GonerilEnid Graham ReganKelli O'Hara CordeliaKristen Connolly Duke of AlbanyRichard Topol Duke of CornwallFrank Wood Earl of GloucesterMichael McKean EdgarArian Moayed EdmundSeth Gilliam Earl of KentJohn Douglas Thompson FoolBill IrwinSam Waterston has played Hamlet, Prince Hal, Benedick and Prospero, so it's only fitting that he would tackle King Lear for his 12th appearance at the Public Theater in a Shakespeare play. It's not a role he was born to play, being too generous (and perhaps too youthful) a performer to be entirely comfortable in the skin of this proud, fierce monarch. But by the end of the play, when the old king has been humanized by his suffering, Waterston has made his mark on the role. In true Public tradition, the other performances are up and down. The best part of this production are the great curses -- you just have to wait for them. Waterston makes his first entrance in too advanced a state of senility (or incipient madness) for the explosive scene in which Cordelia (a rather wan Kristen Connolly) refuses to compete with her sisters Goneril (the queen bitch in Enid Graham's chilly perf) and Regan (played with more impassioned cruelty by Kelli O'Hara) for her share of their father's kingdom. As a consequence, there's more bluster than magisterial rage in Lear's furious rant at Cordelia's reluctance to declare her love for him. But Waterston really lets it rip later in the play, when the king finally acknowledges the treachery of Goneril and Regan. Eyes open at last to their heartless cruelty, he calls down ghastly punishments on his daughters and whatever children they should be unfortunate enough to bear. Lear's curses are all the more affecting because Waterston allows us to see the deep sorrow fueling the anger of this shattered old man. More juicy curses flow from the Earl of Kent (John Douglas Thompson) when that honorable noble lashes out in a fury at Goneril's lackey, Oswald (Michael Crane), for his disloyalty to the King. Thompson's clarity of thought and purity of expression make Kent as memorable a figure as the thesp's recent remarkable turns as Othello and Macbeth. When Lear provides Waterston with his finest moments by wandering out on the heath in act two, he brings some good actors out there with him -- notably, Michael McKean (a most moving Gloucester) and Thompson again (in disguise as Caius). But Arian Moayed and Seth Gilliam don't bring much to Cain and Abel siblings Edgar and Edmund, and whatever Bill Irwin is going for with his garishly costumed and bizarrely played Fool is anyone's guess. The absence of a clear production style has to account for some of this unevenness. Helmer James MacDonald has done interesting things locally on stages like Lincoln Center ("Dying City") and BAM ("John Gabriel Borkman"). This staging produces a few strong theatrical effects -- a fierce storm on the heath (nice sound design by Darron L. West) and the dramatic drop of a metal mesh curtain (the best feature of Miriam Buether's set). But the bare-boned nature of the production doesn't offer enough guidance to establish order on the stylistic inconsistencies.Sets, Miriam Buether; costumes, Gabriel Berry; lighting, Christopher Akerlind; sound, Darron L. West; fight director, Thomas Schall; vocal consultant, Elizabeth Smith; production stage manager, James Latus. Opened Nov. 8, 2011. Reviewed Nov. 4. Running time: 3 HOURS, 30 MIN.With Michael Izquierdo, Che Ayende, Michael Crane, Herb Foster, Craig Bockhorn. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Academy awards: J. Edgar Campaign Comes Into High Gear With Eastwood, DiCaprio, W, Hammer At Packed Tests, Q&As

Using its splashy world premiere because the opening-evening film of AFI Fest on Thursday and a number of Q&As and receptions, Warner Bros’ campaign for J. Edgar — among its large Oscar hopefuls — thrown into high gear now. Additionally towards the hoopla round the premiere, director Clint Eastwood did a DGA screening and discussion with Academy pointing governor and fellow DGA and Oscar champion Kathryn Bigelow onTuesday evening stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi W and Armie Hammer made an appearance for any Q&A before a packed-to-the-rafters SAG audience onWednesday evening (I moderated that certain) as well as on Friday all of them made an appearance for yetanother screening, Q&A and reception in the LA County Art Museum. The second would be a prelude to Saturday evening’s inaugural Art + Film gala, where Eastwood has been honored. Warners plansmany morevoter opps such as these within the coming days. First reviews from the film that opens in a few days are mixed to get affordable based on that which you read and whom you speak with (Rotten Tomato plants has it at 57% fresh, only seven comments are up to date).But it's completed in classic and chic Eastwood style and,regardless of the ultimate commercial and criticalfate from the film,it's absolutely obvious DiCaprio includes a strong stake on the Best Actor Oscar nomination. Because the complex and questionable FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, DiCaprio age range from his 20s to late 70s with seeming ease and it has some heavy dramatic moments — including one out of that they dons his dead mother’s dress and the other fight/hug encounter with Hammer, who expertlyplays his constant companion Clyde Tolson (and might be a Supporting Actor contender themself). Older Academy voters who remember Hoover should particularly react to this well-crafted take a look at his complicated personal and professional existence. At Friday’s LACMAreception, Eastwood was his usual awesome self and incredibly thinking about the responses the film gets. When I spoken with him and producer John Grazer (Eastwood regular Robert Lorenz was another producer around the film), he described the way the project found him from Grazer, who started it and hired Milk Oscar champion Dustin Lance Black to create a script. “Brian were built with a cope with Universal, however it switched out they weren't exactly excessive on carrying this out story in those days, and so i agreed to go to Warner Bros, and comparable time Leo grew to become involved therefore we could have it going,” he stated. After I recommended that this isn't the type of heavy historic dramastudios need to make any longer, Eastwood stated they frequently don’t want stuff that later gain popularity with audiences. “I were built with a girl boxing dramaand they weren’t at the top of that, however it exercised OK,” he stated having a laugh about 2004′s Billion Dollar Baby, which won him another handful of Academy awards including Best Picture. Because the beginning of his A Star Comes Into The World remake continues to be postponed until summer time because of her pregnancy of leading ladyBeyonce,Eastwood hasplans to first operate in an acting gig in danger Using The Curve (to become directed by Lorenz, as Deadline first reported). Even at 81, Clint keeps in constant motion which’s a really positive thing for movie enthusiasts. Hammer, who got a large taste from the honours-season Q&A circuit this past year like a person in The Social Networking cast (recall the Winklevoss twins?), stated he really likes doing the occasions now. “What actor doesn’t like speaking about themself?” he requested. Black, also in the reception, stated that because Eastwood works so quick (the whole aim for the time film was 39 days), he and Leo would spend weekends honing the script and exercising moments. Usually, Eastwood shoots scripts because they are, but Black states he's much more comfortable focusing on changes throughout production havng spent considerable time in TV doing exactly that, therefore it would be a delicate balance. The dwelling from the script, returning and forth over time, is tricky, and far from the material regardingthe closeted character of Hoover’s personal existence and relationship with Tolson is necessarilyspeculative but stillconvincing in the manner it’s presented. For the scene by which Hoover puts on his mother’s dress and pearls, DiCaprio explained it had been really inside like a type of “wink wink” towards the audience to be able to undertake the unverified gossips that Hoover would be a mix-dresser. It plays now weight loss of the discuss Hoover’s incredibly dependent relationship on his mother (performed fantastically by Judi Dench). DiCaprio also spoken concerning the extensive makeup he wears — not really a process he loved. “It was difficult acting under all that,” he stated. But in line with the performance, he clearly found a means toget to within the guy he shows, which is exactly what it’s about. Itold DiCaprio I'd seen the 18-minute presentation of Titanic‘s three dimensional conversion prior to its April 6, 2012 re-release. He's notseen it but is clearly interested, specially when I told him they merely spent $18 million doing the transformation. “Eighteen million? That’s it? Wow. They will make a lot of money off it,” he stated, adding that his deal for your movie was completed in time before he'd the type of profit participations he is able to get now. I told him someone engrossed thinks it might make another $400 million-$500 million. He chuckled, saying, “I won’t receive a lot of that.”

Researching the using Process for College Acting Programs

No matter just how much research you must do before using for college acting programs, you may appear as if you are just itchiness the very best. You will discover lots of components for the application and audition processboth undergraduate and graduatethat it might be overwhelming. The Net can help you do an thorough search, but furthermore, it might cause you to exhausted.Everyone which has experienced this unique wringer has their ideas about the subject, and speaking to such veterans might be helpful. Back Stage recently spoken with students and faculty at three collegesIndiana College Bloomington, the school of Florida in Gainesville, and Fordham College in NY Cityand their advice should construct your search go easier.Loss the region A artist who already posseses an undergraduate degree but who would like an expert diploma will most likely subscribe to a specialist of a good Arts program. But also for people just graduation from secondary school, you'll first have to decide from the liberal arts program (where you'll practice a conventional college curriculum furthermore for the acting and theater-related classes and earn a Bachelor of Arts degree) together with a conservatory program (where your main school day will probably be spent perfecting your capabilities just like a artist and you'll graduate getting a Bachelor of a good Arts).Some schools give a hybrid of those two. Avoi Patton, theater program manager at Fordham, describes that her school's B.A. program provides strong preprofessional training that even compares to a conservatory approach. "It's truly prefer of both cell phone industry's," she states. And Indiana University's BFA type in musical theater performance includes 65 credit several hours of general education. States the program's mind, George Pinney, "I'm really considering students who think globally and know a good deal in regards to the world, because that certainly helps make the testing studio."Next, you will need to weigh additional circumstances. Which schools suit your budget? Can you in the event you should you prefer a large urban campus or possibly a little bucolic setting? Is it possible to handle living definately not family and home? How vital one factor you study in the major entertainment hub for instance NY, La, or Chicago?Clearly, no program, wherever it's situated, can promise a effective career. Paul Favini, acting director in the College of Florida's School of Theatre and Dance, signifies that schools outdoors the primary modems can be employed in training stars who you will need to work properly: "I have some students on tv. I have students that plays. I have students who work constantly.InchIdentifying your extended-term goals will help you further narrow your quest. Stephanie Lynge happen to be a artist in NY City for 15 years when she made a decision to locate an MFA. She'd done national tours and came out in "Beauty as well as the Animal" on Broadway. She'd also begun teaching acting classes, but she understood that obtaining a professional degree would take her further becoming an educator. Her search introduced her to Florida. The necessity to train "was a thing that this program did not pooh-pooh," Lynge states. "They are very encouraging from this.InchThe Web might be the logical beginning point your mission. Francesca Arostegui, a senior at Indiana, indicates CollegeConfidential.com. Clearly, a theater program's own website will give you thorough particulars on its curriculum together with other matters. Patton advocates "reading through through deeply" rather than skimming. She states prospective candidates should read faculty bios and uncover what productions the school has staged recently.Reading through through carefully will disclose potential make-or-break factors within your decision. For instance, performs this program present an industry showcase audition for graduation students? Does it cut numerous enrollees following a newbie? Both of these were key elements for Arostegui. She states of Indiana's "no cut" policy, "Essentially would spend tuition and work very difficult, I didn't need to get cut after I'd been recognized."Planning the Audition If whatsoever possible, you have to visit the schools you're most interested intouring the facilities, speaking with faculty, and using on classes. This might get pricey, however, particularly if you're looking at schools within the region. Many graduate school reps attend the schoolOrCitizen Theatre Association's unified auditions, which occur yearly in NY, Chicago, and San Francisco Bay Area and let you audition for multiple schools at the same time (it's where Lynge auditioned for your College of Florida). Some schools hold their unique annual auditions in NY and La others require that you just audition by themselves campus. Indiana's audition for prospective musical theater undergrads also works like a daylong review of the program and school.Each audition's needs is really a quite different, so refer to the instructions carefully. Many schools require two contrasting monologues and perhaps a sound lesson. Musical theater auditions will most likely add a dance call and ask for with an up-tempo song together with a ballad. For Arostegui's audition at Indiana, she'd prepared numerous tunes, which she could switch inside and out as appropriate. She also had several backup monologues ready."Students frequently goal excessive,Inch states Favini of auditions. "Whatever they ought to be doing is showing their absolute talents, even if that's surely a narrow place at this time around. You don't need to show us a to Z. You're going to school to understand to vary from A to Z."For tunes and monologues to avoid, it seems that everyone features a different list. Some programs' websites list particular monologues or tunes that are discouragedoverexposure being one of the bigger problems. This is why Patton suggests against using speeches acquired from books of audition monologues. However when you must do, she states, make certain to see the entire play to understand the character's situation in context. Favini signifies remaining from monologues that are connected getting an especially memorable performance (Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire," for instance), as undertaking them invites needlessand not likely flatteringcomparison.On her behalf Fordham audition, Marguerite Frarey selected a monologue for your call girl Claudia in Tom Topor's play "Nuts" and also the other for Cressida in Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida." Frarey connected using the sentiment of Claudia's speech (even though character's conditions were much different then her own) she found Cressida much like Shakespeare's Juliet, nevertheless the speech wasn't generally heard at auditions. Both pieces made an appearance in the beaten path. So Frarey was flabbergasted when she discovered that the auditioner preceding her would perform the identical "Nuts" monologue. Complete originality, it seems, does not appear possible.In planning their auditions, some artists solicit feedback from teachers or peers. The monologues that Frarey used were ones she'd completed in secondary school, so she didn't get additional training on themthough in hindsight, she states, it might have been helpful.Throughout and Following a Audition Remember, states Favini, your audition is essentially the job interview, so dress accordingly: "Students say, 'Well, you understand, the graphic T, that's my look. I'm not a real shirt-and-tie kind of guy.' And I believe that, 'I more expensive a designer to use a shirt and tie. However when it seems as if you are going out in your house around the Saturday mid-day, it doesn't appear like you need the job greatly.' "Through the all-day auditions at Indiana, states Pinney, he together with other faculty people note how students contact other candidates and the way they behave with other people inside the audition room. It is not smart, according to him, to don't thank the accompanist to be able to "snap the tempo inside the accompanist's face."You have to make an effort to remain in the moment throughout your audition and in a position to improvise. States Patton, "Sometimes someone is going to be and we'll receive this phenomenal exchange. Maybe something funny can happen while using proctor and we'll be laughing. We'll always greet them, because we'll know who's coming the entrance. So we'll say, 'Hi, Joe. How ya doin'? Seriously in.' After which it he'll stop and do this awkward change and say, 'Hello, i am Joe....' Which is like, 'We know! We've been speaking for you personally for 25 seconds. It's not necessary to do that introduction now.' "Following a audition, it's fine to deliver some thanks. But be cautious about beginning further correspondence unless of course obviously you're certain that managers and faculty approve. Patton suspects that candidates use such contact to make sure the school is keeping them in your head. "We've one student who's already e-mailed us six or seven occasions," she states, "which we all know who she's. Which is not necessarily an optimistic factor."Other schools welcome such correspondence. Lynge informed reps from her top schools that she'd named herself "the Question Full." "Lots of people were very tolerant of this,Inch she states. "They were like, 'Goodyou're thinking, you have an interest. Request away.' "The thing is, make certain your correspondence is sincere. Favini notes that sometimes students will say frequently, "Oh, you're my top choice," after which it, whenever a deal is extended, they announce they're utilizing a different school. Bad form. And many likely bad karma either.Technologically Speaking Interviews via Skype and other online services have grown to be more frequent for college acting programs, just since they're in operation. They're less beneficial just like-person interviews, states Favini, but they're useful in showing how comfortable students is before a camera. Also, candidates who can't visit auditions make the most of seeing individuals they're talking with, making Skype a noteworthy difference over phone interviews.Fordham as well as the College of Florida both allow audition distribution on DVD. At Indiana, a DVD submission is needed one of the steps inside the application. These distribution profit the selection committee eliminate about fifty percent the candidates. Each submission is examined by no less than a few. States Pinney, "I'd rather not invite students to campus once i know there's almost no [chance] a student might be recognized to the program. It saves a lot of money for everybody and a lot of time by doing this.InchPinney states students sometimes make an effort to "make lots of DVD than it truly is.Inch His school has become dvd disks that the pitch from the applicant's singing voice has clearly been "retouched" via Auto-Tune. Sometimes "extra little gimmicks" are actually place in an apparent try to impress. "For me most likely the very best Digital video disks are basically [shot] as you're watching camera," Pinney states, "giving a disagreement of why to do musical theater and basically being yourself doing thatjust being honest inside the moment."Patton values the limitations of DVD auditions: "It's certainly to someone's advantage to make it happen personally, because you will discover occasions someone will crash and burn the first time, after which it someone round the faculty will dsicover something and say, 'Why not do this again? Do this, do this.A And before how well you see, they transform and take action, which is like, 'Oh, my Godthey're fabulous!' Which we accept them. And you also can't do that getting a DVD."Relax, Everybody It's natural with the college application to acquire bogged reduced bureaucratic particulars and keyed tabs on nervous energy. Trying to complete a lot of can boost the stress. "I understood lots of people who did auditions at, like, 11 schools," states Frarey, "and so they were completely exhausted. They'd not the best finish of senior year since they were exhausted."Telling yourself your reason for dealing with all the fussing and worrying may help put things in perspective. "You have to be loving your work,Inch Frarey states. "And there has been a couple of occasions once i did not keep in mind that. I'd an excellent audition...however actually was led to, like, 'I would like to get to the school!' "Lynge indicates that you're best off if you give schools an authentic picture of what you're becoming an artist together with students. "Avoid something because you think it's what they desire,In . she states. "They're trying to understand you and your talent, so suggest to them.Inch