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

Cheers & Jeers: Law & Order: SVU Books Andre Braugher

Andre Braugher Cheers to Law & Order: SVU for landing a very Special guest star: Andre Braugher.Want more Cheers & Jeers? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine.The seven-time Emmy nominee returned to NBC - where he first began as Det. Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Existence all the time - to begin a multi-episode arc as Bayard Ellis, a formidable attorney who exchanged safeguarding drug lords to consider professional bono civil-protections cases. In the clever in-joke, Braugher did a double-take upon going through Richard Belzer's Homicide transplant, Det. John Munch, asking "Shall we be met?" Munch subsequently told Ellis, "I admire the next act."Fortunately, Braugher's had greater than two functions within the TV career: He's came back in the unfortunate cancellation of Males from the Certain Age and very easily segued into another complicated character: a man who may represent the wrong people for top reasons. Now, his commanding courtroom style aided win an acquittal in the rape situation. And was he striking on Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson inside the episode's coda? The jury's still on Braugher's latest alter ego-but this really is this is not on his talent.What can you consider Andre Braugher on SVU?Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Kal Penn on His Whitened House Stint, Harold & Kumar's Christmas, and Hollywood's Residual Color Barrier

A unique factor happened to Kal Penn in order to fame: in April 2009, after making two effective franchise-beginning Harold & Kumar comedies, showing up in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, and co-starring on television’s House, increasing actor elected to consider a 2-year sabbatical from Hollywood to operate within the Federal government. Now, he returns to screens as Kumar to John Cho’s Harold in an exceedingly Harold & Kumar Christmas, which finds the first kind hamburger-seeking BFFs facing new, daunting existence changes and, within the spirit from the holidays, reviving their friendship the traditional way: With giant spliffs, babies on drugs, and Claymation. The 3rd large-screen Harold & Kumar outing finds Kumar in an impasse left by his girlfriend (Daneel Harris) and started from mediterranean school, he stays his days in a condition of stoned depression. Worse: He’s lengthy since separated ways with Harold, who’s now married and residing in the and surrounding suburbs. Whenever a mysterious Christmas package brings the 2 former close friends together on Christmas Eve, shenanigans (and Santa shootings) ensue. Movieline swept up with Penn lately in La to go over his use Leader Obama, how you can bridge political divides, dealing with the RZA, and just how he still finds themself up facing old attitudes towards race and color-casting when he is out for roles. How did your 2 yrs within the Whitened House change you, and made it happen improve your outlook being an actor returning to film? This is not on the acting stuff, and also to me that’s the excellent factor the 2 mobile phone industry's are totally separate. Things I love about be resourceful is you're able to exercise one a part of your mind so when you’re being cerebral it’s an entirely different a part of your mind. However I you know what I truly walked away with would be a much deeper feeling of… so, politically I’m a completely independent, I’m not really a Democrat or perhaps a Republican. So getting had that have I recognize that individuals don’t speak with one another enough. We don’t frequently speak with people who disagree around. I'd the opportunity to maintain this meeting the Leader had with a few youthful people in Boston, in which the Leader states should you only talk to individuals who accept you, then politics will invariably dissatisfy you. And i believe that’s so true, especially you now switch on CNN or Fox News or MSNBC also it’s just mostly nonsense. It’s mostly people yelling at one another, which sells ad space, I recieve it. That’s their main point here as well as their revenue, however it doesn’t be truthful, ever. It’s always spin. What exactly was your greatest takeaway? I believe things i learned from employed in Washington is the fact that you will find a lot of excellent achievements the Leader especially does — I believe that’s confirmed since you will find there's do-nothing Congress - but he’s been pushing several things using that don’t result in the news, like educational funding reform or growing Pell grants or loans. A few everything has made this news, like ending the Iraq war and also the Don’t Request, Don’t Tell repeal. But you will find a lot of stuff that don’t result in the news that It strengthened my resolve for attempting to stay active in public places service — not politics always, but public service. Certainly in attempting to remain in politics to assist [Leader Obama], but outdoors of this, feeling such as the more active we're within our community, whether we agree or disagree with individuals, the best we are able to be. How can you start to bring varying sides together, then? The problems are identical, and that we don’t frequently think about that. Should you think about something which the media did a fantastic job of creating contentious, the health care quote-unquote debate, the things they never centered on were things that everybody decided on. Everybody agreed that that current health care was not sustainable, everybody agreed when you’re a youthful person you need to have the ability to remain on your parent’s medical health insurance a bit longer, that people should eliminate something known as pre-existing conditions if you’re sick you are able to’t get began of the medical health insurance when it's needed probably the most. The most popular sense things. Nobody really spoken about this. And So I think there's lots of energy in speaking to one another professionally as humans and never spinning it with nonsense. Particularly if you pay attention to people of Congress talk: They struggle to convince us when you disagree with one individual or any other, in some way one individual loves America a lot more than another. That’s probably the most laughably absurd factor I’ve heard. How did the Whitened House staff receive you joining the ranks? Just like everyone else. We'd labored together since 2007 around the Leader’s campaign, and so i had become the opportunity to become familiar with them perfectly for a few years before he got inaugurated. Things I loved about dealing with everybody would be that the approximately 200 individuals who labored within the Whitened House, every one people were built with a unique story of methods we wound up volunteering around the campaign or coming there, which means you’ve got people who put law school on hold, or people who are veterans, and those that are economy professors. Jumping in to the film, Harold and Kumar took a little of time off work too - it’s been a couple of years, they’re in completely different places within their lives and no more BFFs. Both of them undergo large existence changes - growing older, considering beginning families, taking responsibility — which isn’t precisely what one might expect from what is considered a stoner movie. I seem like I’ve never seen this like a stoner movie, that is funny to individuals who always seen it as being a stoner movie. Whenever we got the script for the first, you go through it so that as an actress your responsibility would be to believably take part in the relationship between your figures. So for me personally it had been a pal comedy, it had been a journey comedy, contrary it had been a film about hamburgers. And using weed through the figures wasn't that not the same as using alcohol by other figures. Then when the film arrived on the scene the ones stated it’s a stoner movie, it’s a hamburger movie, it’s a frat boy movie, it’s an Asian-American movie — anything they were setting into it — I type of felt, sweet! In the event that’s that which you originate from the film that almost implies that we did our obligation as stars, should you’re capable of taking what you would like from the buddy comedy. However the reason I didn’t think it had been a stoner movie was, in comparison to legit stoner movies like Cheech and Chong and Pineapple Express, Harold and Kumar aren't high greatly. Right - particularly in that one. And when they're, only bad unexpected things happen. So a tree will get burned lower, or Kumar’s girlfriend breaks track of him, or anything. It’s just the aftermath that instructors them anything. Right. So contrary, it teaches you that you simply shouldn’t partake! That’s why I would like to put people around a table who accept each side of this and find out what decision they are available to. Within this script, what moments had you been most surprised to see? Everything between your cover and also the last page. [Laughs] I am talking about, Claymation? Claymation was awesome. Claymation and also the Christmas Story stuff were most likely a couple of my personal favorite moments. They weren’t shocking, by itself, however they were both a hat tip to some Christmas Story and also the Claymation movies, and that we love individuals movies. We wanted to really make it a conventional Christmas movie additionally to 1 about crazy gags. You will find additionally a couple of special shout-outs towards the Wu-Tang Clan within this movie. I'd a lot of fun with this. Which came first, getting RZA to perform a cameo or Kumar shedding a Wu-Tang line to calm an infant? Shedding the road. Because RZA wasn’t designed in initially, the lines were designed in initially. After which there is an entire discussion once the RZA signed on I had been a large proponent that Kumar should acknowledge the RZA is selling them a Christmas tree. He’s an enormous Wu-Tang fan, we are able to’t pull off that! And also the push-back wasn't any we do, and i believe ultimately it was the best decision. Remember within the first Harold & Kumar when Kumar stops to pee within the forest and Jamie Kennedy plays this bizarre businessman that pees right alongside him? He will get in the vehicle and Kumar never informs Harold what went down. Ever. Like, whatsoever. Which was among individuals moments. I still think Kumar recognizes that the RZA offered them a Christmas tree, he’s simply not tipping off Harold or anybody else. He’s performing it awesome. A couple of in the past, once you hit it large with Harold & Kumar and were subsequently branching out into other sorts of films, some wondered should you could get out of the “White Castle Ceiling.” What’s your undertake the way your publish-Harold and Kumar options have transformed, and also the film options you’ve produced in branching out? Personally i think very fortunate. Look, I believe there’s without doubt which i might have lost some jobs because Harold & Kumar is seen inside a particular light. You believe so? I don’t know, because who knows. But we’ve also had the opportunity to use folks like Mira Nair, Bryan Singer, the men who did 24, and today The Way I Met Your Mother, which are individuals who understand the Harold & Kumar franchise. And So I feel totally fortunate for the reason that realm, however i think there’s still one bar in Hollywood. It’s become infinitely better within the last eight years, particularly in television. However, you still audition for things constantly plus they let you know, “We wish to ensure that it stays a bit more vanilla, so…” That really happened for you lately? A week ago there is a film which i was up for having a very prominent African-American actor and that i was told a primary reason I didn’t obtain the job was because they weren't confident with several people of color within the cast. So, still it happens. It takes place although less now of computer did eight years back, and hopefully it takes place less eight years from now of computer does today, but you will find regrettably some backwards-thinking producers left in Hollywood. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.