CBS repeats impress on Tuesday

Fox had mixed results with its first night of a four-comedy Tuesday block, edging ahead of the competition on the night among young adults. Still, even a night of repeat dramas had CBS competitive in 18-49 while the net won easily in its core categories.According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, Fox rested ''Glee'' to form a two-hour comedy block, faring best as expected at 9 p.m. with ''New Girl'' (3.0/8 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall), which was low but not bad given its soft lead-in from ''I Hate My Teenage Daughter'' (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall), a first-year half-hour that aired on four Wednesdays in late fall. Best news for the net had to be the time-period premiere of ''Raising Hope'' at 8 (2.1/6 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall), which did about the same as it had been at 9:30 p.m. following ''New Girl.'' And closing out the block was ''Breaking In'' (1.7/4 in 18-49, 3.6 million viewers overall), the Christian Slater show that aired seven times in spring of last year; it ran third among the broadcasters in 18-49, retaining 57% of its 18-49 lead-in from ''New Girl'' and outperforming its final original episode last May (1.3/3 in 18-49).CBS impressed, tying Fox for the 18-49 lead in their common hours and easily topping the night among adults 25-54 and total viewers. In the opening hour, ''NCIS'' (2.4/7 in adults 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) won its timeslot with an 18-49 score that was higher than all but two firstrun hours on ABC, NBC and Fox last week. It was followed by ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' (1.9/5 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall) and ''Unforgettable'' (1.4/4 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall), both of which led their time periods in 25-54.At NBC, ''The Biggest Loser'' hit a low (1.9/5 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall), though the network disrupted its lineup in multiple cities for coverage of Super Tuesday, and some stations aired the weight-loss competition from 9 to 11; it's expected that ''Loser'' should improve a tick or two in the nationals. Also murky was the performance of the NBC News special ''Decision 2012,'' which aired at 10 p.m. in much of the country but at 8 p.m. in the West.ABC aired a repeat ''Last Man Standing'' (1.4/4 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall), followed by ''Cougar Town'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall), which was in line with Fox's ''Teenage Daughter'' in 18-49 at 8:30. Drama ''The River'' seems to have found its core audience (1.5/4 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall), holding steady vs. last week, and the night wrapped with a repeat ''Body of Proof'' (0.9/2 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall). For the night, ABC had to settle for a fifth-place finish among the broadcasters in 18-49, falling a tick short of fourth-place Univision.At CW, ''90210'' returned with its first original episode in a month (0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall), followed by ''Ringer'' (0.5/1 in 18-49, 1.2 million viewers overall), which posted its best women 18-34 score (0.8/2) since late November.Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 2.1/6; CBS, 1.9/5; NBC, 1.6/4; Univision, 1.4/4; ABC, 1.3/4; CW, 0.6/2.In total viewers: CBS, 11.5 million; NBC, 4.9 million; ABC, 4.6 million; Fox, 4.5 million; Univision, 3.3 million; CW, 1.3 million. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Frankenweenie Bow Includes IMAX 3D

Los Angeles, CA Mar. 6, 2012 IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and The Walt Disney Studios today announced that Tim Burtons stop-motion, animated film, Frankenweenie will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX 3D format and released in IMAX digital theatres worldwide day-and-date on Oct. 5, 2012. The film marks the first black and white Hollywood feature and first stop-motion animated movie to be presented in IMAX. From Disney and directed by Tim Burton, Frankenweenie: An IMAX 3D Experience features the voices of Catherine OHara, Martin Short and Winona Ryder. The film is a remake of the live-action short directed by Tim Burton in 1984.

Closes storm B.O., sans SAG card

Toplined by real-existence Navy Closes, 'Act of Valor' brought the domestic box office. Give them a call heroes, heroines as well as box office stars. Just don't give them a call stars. Although the eight active-duty Navy Closes who topline "Act of Valor," which snapped up $24.5 million within the February. 24-26 frame, shipped scripted dialogue, they were not included in SAG's collective negotiating agreement. Actually, the mere reference to SAG place the project's uniformed participants in defense mode. "We are not getting into that whatsoever," states the film's co-producer, Capt. Duncan Cruz, when requested when the recently minted celebrities have grown to be SAG people. "These were representing themselves. They were not playing service station mechanics or school instructors. These were playing Navy Closes dealing with training. We labored with SAG. This is the way these males works inside a Navy ad. Same situation." Still, it's not uncommon for any policeman who plays a police officer from the law inside a Hollywood production to concurrently hold a badge and SAG card. But "Valor's" filmmakers explain that unlike their film's uniformed gamers, SAG-covered cops are this is not on duty throughout production and therefore are needed to consider a compensated leave throughout lensing. "(These Closes are) not playing a component,Inch describes Scott Waugh, who directed the Relativity action thriller with Mike (Mouse) McCoy. "They are playing themselves. They're government employees. It might be illegal to allow them to take another contract and become compensated." SAG was not able to explain why the Closes were granted an exemption. So rather than taking conferences at CAA or WME, the mono-monikered Closes -- who dropped their last names for that film's credits because of Navy protocol -- say they immediately accompanied their 18-month "Valor" stint with increased dangerous (and clandestine) projects. Meanwhile, the filmmakers were equally cryptic about budget issues. Waugh rejected to go over "Valor's" cost, that your source called at $12 million. Distributor Relativity, that was not involved with financing the pic, set up just north of $30 millionfor P&A. "We funded a great deal from it ourselves," notes McCoy, who rejected to title additional traders. "This can be a true indie film. We did not possess a studio are available in and also have us ensure changes." The origin adds that Legendary also set up gold coin and nixed any notion the government funded "Valor," which some experts have compared to some feature-length recruitment video with Hollywood production values. McCoy states the Navy's participation was limited. "The Navy gave us complete creative control around the story," he adds. "However they needed to (ensure) that people did not hand out any classified information." Waugh, who choose McCoy includes a background like a stunt coordinator as well as in docus, describes the film like a hybrid -- part narrative feature, part quasi-documentary. He notes that unlike most action films, "Valor" eschews CG and stunt doubles, giving a feeling of real effects. "We are certainly starting unchartered territory," notes Waugh, who'll next team with McCoy around the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle "Black Sands." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

First John Carter Reviews: A Problematic But Useful Epic?

Negative speculation and prognostication continues to be brewing for several weeks for Disney's sci-fi actioner John Carter because of dismal monitoring and gossips of bloated budgets, but Disney's finally launched their review embargo for that March 9 would-be blockbuster. So what is the early buzz in the first critiques of Andrew Stanton's undertake the Edgar Grain Burroughs saga, in regards to a Civil War veteran named John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who lands in the center of a civil fight against Mars? Because of the naysaying hype, the very first batch of comments are remarkably... positive. Well, mixed positive, typically -- experts agree with most of the film's talents, in the well-crafted CG realm of Barsoom (that's Mars, to us humans) towards the spirited action sequences Pixar veteran Stanton has drawn off. (Search for Movieline's John Carter review to publish in a few days.) "A few of the items that Stanton pulls off in John Carter is mind-coming," enthuses Badass Digest's Devin Faraci. "You will find a couple of sequences that feel simply classic, like very well be mentioning for them for many years. Theres one scene, where John Carter stands alone (well, with Woola) against a rampaging military of nine feet tall, four armed Tharks, that's an exciting-timer." Talking about individuals Tharks -- the 4-armed eco-friendly Martian players that first enslave John Carter and pressure him to battle on their behalf -- Stanton's CG background pointing Finding Nemo and Wall-E appears to possess assisted him create credible, dimensional figures with a mix of CG animation and gratifaction capture. HitFix's Came McWeeney was particularly astounded by the CG-heavy figures. "The Tharks, brought here by Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe), are compelling masterpieces," he creates. "With a couple of moments to their time onscreen, I ended taking into consideration the technical trick involved with getting these to existence and just recognized them just as real.Inch Meanwhile, actress Lynn Collins came kudos on her portrayal of Martian princess Dejah Thoris, a science-minded warrior princess who can serve as Carter's romantic foil while holding her very own together with her inteligence and her sword. "Lynn Collinss feisty Dejah Thoris is the greatest kick-ass sci-fi princess since Leia, and she or he looks stunning too together with her Martian tats," states SFX Magazine. Additionally to potentially starting youthful teenage boys into adolescence together with her sensual, revealing costumes (the skimpiness which Dejah a minimum of appreciates having a wink), she's among the finest-written and abnormally strong female figures in the future along in genre filmmaking shortly. Or, as Faraci declares: "Dejah Thoris is the greatest female character in sci-fiOrdream cinema since Ripley." However the experts also agree where John Carter's defects are worried -- for example, the sprawling, frequently-unwieldy scope of their story and also the clumsy means by which Stanton and Co. filter it lower to some dense (maybe too-dense) feature-length runtime. Area of the problem is based on compacting Burroughs' Princess of Mars novel lower to 1 feature-length script while juggling the numerous moving parts -- John Carter's Civil War past, the mechanics of his Mars-assisted forces, the political machinations between your two warring city-states of Zodanga and Helium, the all-powerful Tharks who walk included in this tugging the strings, the warrior culture from the Tharks, as well as an Earth-bound framework device including Carter's nephew, Edgar Grain Burroughs, phew! -- while furthermore trying to create happens for sequels in the future. "Amongst the CGI conditions and constant plot machinations, the storyline veers between interesting, boring and borderline incomprehensive," stated Fan the fireplace Magazine. "You will find moments once the film soars, simply to stall and sputter on the well-meaning but extraneous - or overlong - character moment," gripes SFX Magazine, adding that "extended exposition moments and Martian politics are hampered by cod pomposity and also the dreaded 'silly-made-up-sci-fi-words' disease." Ultimately, if audiences react as CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell did, Disney's greatest problem on March 9 will reflect its early monitoring worries from days ago: Viewer indifference. "The majority of Carter [is] a difficult slog, despite some decent performances and also the admirable introduction of the tough-as-nails action heroine in Collins," O'Connell creates. "Arid, barren Barsoom is really a dull atmosphere for any sci-fi blockbuster, and also the effects from the conflicts happening on the watch's screen are small. John Carter never drawn me in." Find out more on John Carter here.

Jonah Hill Telling A True Story

Along with James FrancoSince Moneyball saw him A) switching successfully to drama, B) working with Brad Pitt, and C) scoring an Oscar nomination, it's no surprise to learn that Jonah Hill is planning a combo of at least the first two elements for an upcoming film. He'll star alongside James Franco in True Story.The script was adapted from Michael Finkel's memoir, and will find Hill playing Finkel, who was working for the NY Times magazine back in 2002 when he sniffed out a likely story. The FBI had captured criminal Christian Longo (Franco) after he'd spent a few years on the FBI's Most Wanted List for killing his family.So far, so standard crime tale, right? But here's the twist: Longo had been using Finkel's identity while on the run. And to add one more wrinkle, the NYT fired Finkel the day after Longo was nabbed after deciding he'd falsified chunks of a recent investigative article. But when Longo declared that Finkel was the only journalist he'd talk to, and that he wanted to prove his innocence, a weird relationship grew with Finkel looking into the mystery and trying to redeem himself as a writer...So where does Pitt factor into it, we hear you ask... Well, he's producing the movie via his Plan B company, having won the rights to the project back from Paramount. Rupert Goold is directing, and while there's no financing in place you, you've got to figure the combo of Oscar nominees would be enough to make investors ready to jump aboard.

Because Of Due To Jimmy Kimmel Locks Within The famous host the famous host oprah, Jason Bateman For Publish-Oscars Special

Late evening talk show host Because Of Due To Jimmy Kimmel is yanking out all the stops for his publish-Oscars special, airing around the month of the month of january 26. Up to now hes handled to book the very best The famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey, among a sea of several other A-listers set to avoid by. Jessica Biel, Jason Bateman, Qq Abrams, Steven Tyler, Tyler Perry, Edward Norton, Colin Farrell and Ryan Philippe happen to be confirmed, People.com reviews. The annual publish-show fete, Because Of Due To Jimmy Kimmel Live: Following a Academy awards, may even include looks from Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Martin Scorsese, additionally to some performance from Coldplay, EW.com adds. Oscar host Billy Very may even create a feel and look. Thinking about the show has launched such viral smashes like "F*@#ing Film Clip,Inch "Handsome Men's Club," "Hottie Body Difficulty Club" and "Tom Hanks's Young children in Tiaras, shenanigans are needed and due to the standard of talent Mr. Kimmel has reserved for your party (which will air on ABC right after news which will air right after the Academy awards next Sunday), we expect those to go hard or return home. Kimmel recently tweeted he needs This yr medicine best yet, and Vulture blog got their at work some funny posters spoofs that tease so what can happen through the show this year. Posters featuring gun and weapon-transporting Helen Mirren, Clooney and Tom Hanks tease the spoof M:TM, also called Movie: The Film. While little is well known in regards to the plot in the action film, it will include Charlize Theron, Don Cheadle, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Cameron Diaz, and Samuel L. Jackson. Are you currently presently excited for Kimmel's publish-Oscar special? Reveal inside the comments and also on Twitter!

'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace': The Reviews Were In!

"Star Wars: Episode I" returns to theaters today, in 3D. But lets flash back for a few moments to May 19th, 1999 the day The Phantom Menace was originally released. If you were a die-hard Star Wars fan, like I was, you were going to see this movie regardless of what the critics wrote about it. You ached to hear, once again, that familiar yet exciting 20th Century Fox fanfare before reading the opening crawl. You may have camped out on a dirty sidewalk for hours, days, weeks even, just so you could be one of the first to experience it. But if you werent one of those fans, you might have waited and checked out the reviews before making the decision to see The Phantom Menace. The following is a sampling of what youd have read. The Story The plot has something to do with a trade embargo being waged against a small planet called Naboo, an embargo that turns out to be a disguise for a planned full-scale invasion. Were never told what this tiny planet could possibly be worth to the enormous Trade Federation (the way we understand, in the first Star Wars, what the baddies stand to gain from the elimination of the rebel forces), so the storys basic conflict has no weight. Charles Taylor, Salon.com The Look There are new places here--new kinds of places. Consider the underwater cities, floating in their transparent membranes. The Senate chamber, a vast sphere with senators arrayed along the inside walls, and speakers floating on pods in the center. And other places: the cityscape with the waterfall that has a dizzying descent through space. And the other cities: one city Venetian, with canals, another looking like a hothouse version of imperial Rome, and a third that seems to have grown out of desert sands. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times The Gungan Yoda puts in a cameo, but the film's designated alien is Jar Jar Binks, a rabbit-eared ambulatory lizard whose pidgin English degenerates from pseudo-Caribbean patois to Teletubby gurgle. (Although Jar Jar can be construed as grotesquely Third World and the fish faces talk like Fu Manchu, the most blatant ethnic stereotype is the hook-nosed merchant insect who owns young Anakin.) Jar Jar and his fellow Gungans suck the oxygen out of every scene; their human costars seem understandably asphyxiated. J. Hoberman, The Village Voice The Kid Based on what we see here, it doesn't seem like such an ineffable mystery that this kid will end up a wheezing, intergalactic power-mongering control freak. A slave boy who already fashions himself a Jedi knight, Anakin is a precocious brat -- the kind of kid who, in our own galaxy, might commandeer a playground and run everybody else off the jungle gym. If the psychological richness of the Star Wars movies is grounded in Darth Vader's movement in and out of the light, then it may be high time to create a new myth -- i.e., a new franchise. Peter Rainer, NY Magazine The Final Word Nothing could live up to the hype of this film. Nothing. "Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace" is a movie. It's not the Second Coming. It's not even the First Coming, depending on your religious stance. It's just a movie. ... And while I'm saddened to report that it's a deeply flawed film in terms of both story line and character development, I'm happy to note that visually it's a marvel. Paul Clinton, CNN.com "Phantom Menace" discussed this week in Talk Nerdy!

The Berlin Film Festival: Why Still Matters for Hollywood

The Berlin Film Festival: Why Still Matters for Hollywood By Scott Roxborough February 7, 2012 Photo by Berlin Worldwide Film Festival It may be the sun and rain. It may be the frigid Berlin winter that inspires experts to repeat the identical bitter litany each year in regards to the Berlinale, that might be no stars, bad films, no new ideas.Several wags referred to as 2011's fest "the worst Berlinale ever." Really? A festival that incorporated Wim Wenders' groundbreaking 3d documentary "Pina," J.C. Chandor's furious financial drama "Margin Call" and also the astounding Iranian film "A Separation" -- which selected up Oscar nominations on Jan. 24?When the 62nd Berlinale opens Feb. 9, expect professionals being just like disgruntled. And basically as wrong. Berlin's broad, eclectic purchasing process helps it be harder to select which game game titles will be the large breakouts, but due to the festival's history, you will notice some. A combination part of possible standouts includes china imperial epic "White-colored Deer Plain" from Golden Bear champion Wang Quan'an ("Tuya's Marriage") "Home for your Weekend," a shattered-family drama within the always excellent German helmer Hendes-Christian Schmid ("Requiem") and Billy Bob Thornton's sixties period drama "Jayne Mansfield's Vehicle," featuring John Hurt, Kevin Sausage, Robert Duvall and Thornton themselves.Undertake and don't, however, will most likely return home while using Golden Bear. Berlin juries reserve the most effective prize for politically flavored cinema, so a betting guy would put his chips on Brillante Mendoza's "Taken" (about people using their company nations kidnapped by Filipino terrorists), Benedek Fliegauf's gypsy-focused thriller "Just the Wind" or Kim Nguyen's "Rebelle," which follows Komona, a 14-year-old soldier in Africa who's expecting a youthful child.There'll not substantially studio muscle on show in Berlin this year -- Warner Bros.' "Very Noisy & Incredibly Close," directed by Stephen Daldry, and Jason Reitman's "Youthful Adult" from Vital will be the only studio game game titles screening, neither of those competing. But Berlin never remains a studio launchpad and, since the Oscar nominations gone after mid-The month of the month of january in 2004, the studios' prestige films are starting earlier around, to the benefit of the fall fests and hindrance of Berlin. "Moneyball" bowed in Toronto, "The Descendants" in Telluride and "Hugo" in the surprise screening within the NY Film Festival. A far more compact studio presence means less stars, so Berlin has required to get creative to make sure sufficient red-colored-colored-carpet wattage. Since the only public festival of Europe's large three (Cannes and Venice are industry-only), Berlin needs its stars.Festival director Dieter Kosslick has needed to brushing the indie ranks for additional compact features, frequently directorial debuts, with large-title casts. And this year, Berlin gets the world premiere of "Bel Ami," a period of time piece from first-timers Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod that counts Rachelle Lefervre, Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas among its A-list talent James Marsh's Sundance entry "Shadow Dancer" with Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson and Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire," featuring Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender and Antonio Banderas. Jennifer Aniston will attend a distinctive screening of her directorial debut, "Inside the Land of Blood stream and Honey," and Meryl Streep will get a pre-Oscar Golden Bear in recognition of her life's work.For your industry, however, Berlin's real draw is its market. Again offered out and reserved solid, Berlin's European Film Companies are forecasted to become blockbuster, no less than in contrast while using staid and low-volume American Film Market in November.Pre-buys of in-development projects will probably be where the large money is, but expect a brisk business in pick-ups of finished films -- specially the more audience-friendly fare that screens in Berlin's Decades and Panorama sidebars. In Panorama, be cautious for "Iron Sky," in addition to-over-blown, extended- in-development Finnish "Nazis wideInch spoof, and "Cherry," an indie drama featuring Louise Graham just like a porno film director and James Franco just like a coke-addled lawyer.If the all systems Feb. 19, professionals likely will say it absolutely was an inadequate Berlinale and talk within the "amazing" selection likely to Cannes. The, meanwhile, will convince accumulate its deal memos and prebook Berlin's Grand Hyatt for 2013. The Hollywood Reporter The Berlin Film Festival: Why Still Matters for Hollywood By Scott Roxborough February 7, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT Berlin Worldwide Film Festival It may be the sun and rain. It may be the frigid Berlin winter that inspires experts to repeat the identical bitter litany each year in regards to the Berlinale, that might be no stars, bad films, no new ideas.Several wags referred to as 2011's fest "the worst Berlinale ever." Really? A festival that incorporated Wim Wenders' groundbreaking 3d documentary "Pina," J.C. Chandor's furious financial drama "Margin Call" as well as the astounding Iranian film "A Separation" -- which acquired Oscar nominations on Jan. 24?When the 62nd Berlinale opens Feb. 9, expect professionals being much like disgruntled. And basically as wrong. Berlin's broad, eclectic purchasing process helps it be harder to select which game game titles will be the large breakouts, but due to the festival's history, you will notice some. A combination part of possible standouts includes china imperial epic "White-colored Deer Plain" from Golden Bear champion Wang Quan'an ("Tuya's Marriage") "Home for your Weekend," a shattered-family drama within the always excellent German helmer Hendes-Christian Schmid ("Requiem") and Billy Bob Thornton's sixties period drama "Jayne Mansfield's Vehicle," featuring John Hurt, Kevin Sausage, Robert Duvall and Thornton themselves.Undertake and don't, however, will most likely return home while using Golden Bear. Berlin juries reserve the most effective prize for politically flavored cinema, so a betting guy would put his chips on Brillante Mendoza's "Taken" (about people using their company nations kidnapped by Filipino terrorists), Benedek Fliegauf's gypsy-focused thriller "Just the Wind" or Kim Nguyen's "Rebelle," which follows Komona, a 14-year-old soldier in Africa who's expecting a youthful child.There'll not substantially studio muscle on show in Berlin this year -- Warner Bros.' "Very Noisy & Incredibly Close," directed by Stephen Daldry, and Jason Reitman's "Youthful Adult" from Vital will be the only studio game game titles screening, neither of those competing. But Berlin never remains a studio launchpad and, since the Oscar nominations gone after mid-The month of the month of january in 2004, the studios' prestige films are starting earlier around, to the benefit of the fall fests and hindrance of Berlin. "Moneyball" bowed in Toronto, "The Descendants" in Telluride and "Hugo" in the surprise screening within the NY Film Festival. A far more compact studio presence means less stars, so Berlin has required to get creative to make certain sufficient red-colored-colored-carpet wattage. Since the only public festival of Europe's large three (Cannes and Venice are industry-only), Berlin needs its stars.Festival director Dieter Kosslick has needed to brushing the indie ranks for additional compact features, frequently directorial debuts, with large-title casts. And this year, Berlin gets the world premiere of "Bel Ami," some time piece from first-timers Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod that counts Rachelle Lefervre, Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas among its A-list talent James Marsh's Sundance entry "Shadow Dancer" with Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson and Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire," featuring Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender and Antonio Banderas. Jennifer Aniston will attend a distinctive screening of her directorial debut, "Inside the Land of Blood stream and Honey," and Meryl Streep will get a pre-Oscar Golden Bear in recognition of her life's work.For your industry, however, Berlin's real draw is its market. Again offered out and reserved solid, Berlin's European Film Companies are forecasted to become blockbuster, no less than in contrast while using staid and low-volume American Film Market in November.Pre-buys of in-development projects will probably be where the large money is, but expect a brisk business in pick-ups of finished films -- specially the more audience-friendly fare that screens in Berlin's Decades and Panorama sidebars. In Panorama, be cautious for "Iron Sky," in addition to-over-blown, extended- in-development Finnish "Nazis wideInch spoof, and "Cherry," an indie drama featuring Louise Graham just like a porno film director and James Franco just like a coke-addled lawyer.If the all systems Feb. 19, professionals likely will say it absolutely was an insufficient Berlinale and talk within the "amazing" selection likely to Cannes. The, meanwhile, will convince accumulate its deal memos and prebook Berlin's Grand Hyatt for 2013. The Hollywood Reporter

As well as the Annie really visits ...

Mace Neufeld with helmer champion Jennifer Yuh Nelson John B. Carls, Craig Wood, Gore Verbinski and Mark McCreedy celebrate their wins for "Rango" within the Annie Honours. Annie Honours host Patton Oswalt found save your day of presenters Tara Strong, Jason Marsden and Brittany Snow, who inadvertantly introduced a champion from turn at UCLA's Royce Hall on Saturday. After showing the nominees to find the best TV production-preschool, Snow opened up up her envelope and study the champion in the next category. After sorting everything out and looking to console a very upset Snow, Oswalt quipped for the trio, "Don't mix your fingers relating to this 'Yo Gabba Gabba' cameo."Joining ASIFA-Hollywood prexy Frank Gladstone within the pre- and publish-kudos parties for your animation biz were Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Gore Verbinski, Mace Neufeld, Judy Greer and ASIFA-Hollywood co-founder June Foray.

Food Network makes changes at 'Star'

Alton Brown will change from host to mentor on Food Network Star. As Food Network's "Food Network Star" heads into production because of its eighth season, premiering May 13, it's made plans for changes both onscreen and off. The truth competition skein will change the option of the growing season champion in the idol judges to some fan election that'll be held prior to the season finale. The grand prize remains a show on Food Network, but this time around around, it will likely be created through the winner's mentor. Additionally, Bobby Flay and Giada P Laurentiis will shed their knowing responsibilities and, together with first-time series regular Alton Brown, will each choose a team of runners up to mentor with the competition. "Bobby, Giada and Alton would be the the best in food television," stated Food Network g.m. and SVP of programming and production Bob Tuschman. "Combined, they have created 100s of hrs of award-winning programming. Using their abilities and instincts, those are the perfect individuals to allow us to find, develop and convey our next 'Food Network Star.' " Tuschman and Food Network senior veep of promoting, creative and brand strategy Susie Fogelson will go back to handle knowing responsibilities, assisted by a number of guest idol judges. Tuschman stated the intent from the changes would be to "dial-up your competition and also the excitement." CBS Eye Too Prods. produces "Food Network Star." Principal filming is moving to NY, the show's original home, after several seasons located in La. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Fashion Slam: What's Hot For 2012

First Launched: The month of the month of january 20, 2012 1:43 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Avoi Mendes poses onstage throughout the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations press conference within the London West Hollywood on November 30, 2010 I went shopping the first time yesterday since just before the holiday season and boy hold the stores developed a Technicolor transformation! Color, color, color was everywhere- there's no avoiding it! What else will probably be large? People StyleWatch provides the form scoop! Prints are hot this season, states Kate Dimmock, fashion director in the magazine. A few typically the most popular prints at this time around are florals and polka dots. With florals, the recognition this really is really the balance more bold paper, the higher. Choose vibrant colors, adding neutrals for add-ons to balance it. Polka dots are a fun way to update a classic look which makes it new. A polka us us dot top or dress might be chic, or perhaps a chuckle, mix the size and colors to create contrast. Color is showing up everywhere, which is a terrific way to welcome in the new spring season, states Dimmock. Some hot color trends: Mint eco-friendly might be the it pastel colour of year which is huge. Were seeing it on pants and dresses too as with even add-ons. Red-colored-colored lips are globally flattering. Jennifer Aniston had gorgeous red-colored-colored lips within the Golden Globe Honours plus it really attracted together her whole look. Blue-eco-friendly jewelry, these ocean inspired colors are perfect for add-ons. Were seeing this color combo on chunky bracelets and bold rings. Metallic heels are perfect for day and evening. They could amplifier up any spring outfit, and so they go for everything---from jeans to dresses! For further style and wonder inspiration, see the new problem of people StyleWatch. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Pair join Cruise in U sci-fi pic

KurylenkoRiseboroughUniversal has tapped Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough as the female leads opposite Tom Cruise in Joseph Kosinski's untitled sci-fi pic. William Monahan and Karl Gajdusek wrote earlier drafts of the script, which is currently being rewritten by Michael Arndt. Futuristic story follows a soldier stationed on Earth, the surface of which has been destroyed by aliens. When he discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod, it sets off a chain of events that cause him to question everything he knows. Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark are producing through Chernin Entertainment, along with Barry Levine of Radical Publishing and Kosinski. Jesse Berger and Dave Morrison will exec produce. Production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2012. It seems that nearly every high-profile young actress in town has been connected to the project at some point. As Variety first reported, Jessica Chastain landed the other female lead in September, but was forced to pull out after she signed on to Kathryn Bigelow's untitled Osama bin Laden pic and could not arrange her schedule to accomodate both films. Kurylenko tested for a role in August along with Chastain, Olivia Wilde and Noomi Rapace. But after Chastain landed one part, Kurylenko wasn't among a handful of other girls who tested with Cruise in November. Insiders say Cruise liked her from the original test, and remained in the mix despite not testing again in November. As for Riseborough, it's the first time her name has been linked to the project, as she didn't test for either part in August or November. Thesp will make her American debut with the film, as up until now, she has only toplined Brit pics including Madonna's "W.E." Thesp's next film, James Marsh's "Shadow Dancer," preems at Sundance next week. Kurylenko, who played a Bond girl in "Quantum of Solace" and will soon be seen on Starz's upcoming series "Magic City," recently wrapped Terrence Malick's untitled pic starring Ben Affleck. Kurylenko is repped by CAA and Tavistock Wood Management. Riseborough is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Independent Talent Group. Arndt is repped by Verve and McKuin Frankel Whitehead LLP. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

The Voice Star Blake Sheltons Father Dies, Forcing Concert Tour Postponements

First Released: The month of january 18, 2012 9:34 AM EST Credit: Getty Images NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Caption Blake Shelton works on NBCs Today in Rockefeller Center, NY City, on This summer 8, 2011Blake Sheltons father has died, forcing The Voice star to reschedule several tour dates. A news release states Dick Shelton died Tuesday encircled by family members in Oklahoma. The elder Shelton have been in decreasing health. Blake Shelton devoted his win finally several weeks American Country Honours to his father, who had been put in the hospital with pneumonia. Shelton thanked fans: Your support means the planet in my experience. I really like everyone. The nation singer will miss four shows within the Dakotas and Montana now. Individuals shows happen to be rescheduled for March. He'll go back to the street Jan. 26 in Columbus, Ga. Shelton will sing America the gorgeous with wife Miranda Lambert prior to the Super Bowl the following month. The Honey Bee singer can also be up for 3 Grammys. Copyright 2012 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Film Independent names grant visitors

Film Independent grants filmmakers of four features grants or loans or financial loans accumulated to $115,000 at its annual Spirit Honours brunch.Honours were presented Saturday at Boa in West Hollywood.The Jameson "Find Your Audience" award visited Benjamin Murray and Alysa Nahmias for "Incomplete Spaces" with $40,000 grant. The doc follows a trio of Cuban designers who created structures inside the newbie carrying out a 1959 revolution that introduced Fidel Castro to energy.Murray mentioned the grant for "Spaces," which has elevated the is utilized with a decade, will enable him and Nahmias to start setting tests next several several days at museums along with undertaking outreach."I never prone to win," he added.Another three honours each carry unrestricted $25,000 grants or loans or financial loans.The "Truer than Fiction" award visited Louise Courtney for "Where Soldiers Result From.InchThe Piaget Producers trophy visited Sophia Lin for "Take Shelter" as well as the "Anybody to look atInch award was presented with to Mark Jackson for "Without."Presentation opened up track of Film Indepedendent co-prexy Sean McManus stating, "You've inspired a lot of us along with your passion and creativity."The relaxation from the Spirit Honours individuals who win will probably be introduced at occasions held Feb. 26 in the beachside tent in Santa Monica. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

William Brent Bell Away And Off To The Vatican

Thriller time for Demon Inside directorGiven that he's just aided to influence a $millions of allotted found footage horror movie (The Demon Inside) to strong box office success in the united states, director William Brent Bell is probably not too surprised being fielding plenty of job offers at this time around. And he's already stored in a single deal, with Warner Bros. employing him to direct conspiracy thriller The Vatican. While Demon Inside will be a horror with religious overtones, Vatican will apparently whack together conspiracy ideas while using papal tradition. But you will notice some parallels, while using new movie including some found footage elements alongside classical plot lines.Hardly anything else is well known in regards to the movie aside from author David Cohen pitching it for the studio. Among his earlier scripts, Nobody Lives, was already chugging its way through publish-production with Like Evans inside the lead. More youthful crowd showed up round the 2011 Black List with Frankenstein-inspired tale Subject Zero, which sees a investigator developing a new drug to produce his boy to existence, only to to produce spook epidemic all over the world. We doubt you will notice many flesh-eating beasties rampaging using the Pope's gaff in Vatican, but we live in hope...

Marketing prexy Carney departs Disney

CarneyWith MT Carney's quiet exit as Disney president of worldwide marketing, the big question is how the studio plans to fill the position. Disney declined to comment Sunday, but sources said the departure is amicable. When Carney was hired in April 2010, skeptics questioned whether a person without a background in studio marketing could fill the role. Rumors of her exit began almost immediately, but studio execs repeatedly said they were happy with her work. Since she signed on, "Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides" passed $1 billion worldwide, while "Cars 2" hit more than $500 million. An elaborate campaign for the imminent "John Carter" is already in place, spearheaded by Carney.Carney let the studio know several months ago that she wanted to move back to NY, where she worked in the advertising biz and founded the U.S. offices of ad shop Naked. Her family also lives in Gotham. In hiring Carney, studio chief Rich Ross turned to an outsider after conducting an exhaustive search both in Hollywood and on Madison Avenue to market Disney and DreamWorks' films. So the question is whether he will look for another outsider, someone with film-marketing background, or promote from within. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Warren Buffett, crooner

BuffettBeijing-- This is a truly rich way to see in the Year of the Dragon.Billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett is expanding his repertoire beyond canny stock-picking to sing and play guitar on the "Chinese Lunar New Year Gala" on pubcaster CCTV's website.The 81-year-old investment guru, known as the "Oracle of Omaha," has already recorded his performance, which is to be aired on Jan. 23, the official Xinhua news agency said. The song title was not revealed. The Berkshire Hathaway prexy has showbiz form, having dressed up as Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose last year to sing on an advert for Geico Insurance, in which he has shares."Each year we invite Chinese and international celebrities to perform and send greetings," said Luo Yan from Long Legacy Intl. Communications, a company jointly holding the event with China Network Television. "Buffett is one of them."The gala will be broadcast on CNTV.cn, and will also feature Hong Kong multihypenate Jackie Chan. A condensed version of the show will air on CCTV.Buffett, along with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has been active in encouraging China's growing army of super-rich to get into donating their huge wealth to charity, as he does. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

O'Connor in tune with 'Albert Nobbs'

"Her voice is similar to a vintage fiddle," states John Byrne of Sinead O'Connor. "There's not one other voice in the world appreciate it.In . Which explains why the composer was thrilled when she made the decision to sing "Lay The Mind Lower," the conclusion-credits track for "Albert Nobbs," whose score Byrne written.The lyrics are by Glenn Close, the pic's star together with its co-author and producer. Yet establishing the track was almost an emergency.InchSinead loved the song, but she couldn't record it in Ireland because of an Eastern European tour," Byrne states.Consequently, a web-based set-up was arranged in Bulgaria -- with Byrne in Ireland and Close, connected on the phone, in the united states. Sadly, the equipment eliminate rapidly, and Skype must be utilized rather. "It's good for just about any conversation while not for just about any multitrack recording," Byrne notes.Additionally, O'Connor had barely examined the song just before the session. "The initial three several hours did not go well whatsoever," Byrne recalls. "Sinead would say, 'How does it appear?' And I'd say, 'I don't actually know.A Essentially, i had been rehearse-recording. Glenn finally stuck.InchThen, six and half several hours in, "Sinead was rocking. She mentioned she 'had it in their bones,'" Byrne recalls. "She sang the song 167 occasions, which we found the right performance about 120 in. It shouldn't have meet up. I still can't believe we actually have a very song."Eye round the Oscars: Song & Score Are acad rules from synch? 'Muppety' while not too 'Flighty' Pinch hitter Elizabethan notes culled from big chunks of rock Utility player orchestrates 'Miracle' Powell animated by quartet of pix Animal, mineral add 'Apes' score Gregson-Williams relishes the chase Byrne scores large 'Albert Nobbs' O'Connor in tune with 'Albert Nobbs' Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Engaged: Report

Guess Justin Timberlake wasn't kidding as he sang, "This ring here signifies my heart." Us Weekly is confirming that multi-hyphenate Justin Timberlake and the on-again, off-again superstar girlfriend Jessica Biel are engaged to become married. Insider sources demonstrate that JT sprang the question throughout a snowboarding trip within the mountain tops of Wyoming. Timberlake and Biel were first linked together at the begining of 2007 the pair split for a short period this past year but rapidly reconciled and started thinking about marriage. Expect plenty of gossipy particulars concerning the ceremony, the gown, the honeymoon along with a 1000 other particulars to softly leak in the exact proper time, within the next twelve to 18 several weeks. [Photo: FilmMagic] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Lysistrata' to shut

Lysistrata Johnson collected buzz downtown, however the undertake Aristophanes strugged to dive right in to Broadway. Cheerleader tuner "Lysistrata Johnson," that has battled to create a foothold by itself because it started Broadway previews in November, will shake its last pompom and shutter Sunday. A business buzzmagnet inside a shoestring downtown production this past year, "Lysistrata" was acquired by commercial producers wishing the comedy could snowball right into a sleeper hit around the Rialto. However the production demonstrated not able to beat the twin hurdles of the unfamiliar title along with a cast without any real stars. Show's weekly B.O. tended in the future in at $150,000 or less, using the holiday-increased tally from a week ago, $326,500, repping the best. A contempo college-kid redux from the Aristophanes play, "Lysistrata Johnson" follows a feisty cheerleader who convinces several youthful women to prevent creating before the basketball team wins a game title. Douglas Carter Beane ("Sister Act," "The Small Dog Chuckled") offers the books for any score by Lewis Flinn. Serta Knechtges helms a cast brought by Patti Murin, Liz Mikel, Josh Segarra, Jason Tam and Lindsay Nicole Chambers. Team of producers includes Paula Herold, Alan Wasser, Frederick Cruz, Michael McCabe and John Breglio, amongst others. "Lysistrata Johnson" wooden shutters Jan. 8 in the Walter Kerr Theater. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Goold to co-direct 'Lion'

Goold Broadway and London legit vet Rupert Goold ("Macbeth") will co-direct a new stage production of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" launching in London this summer.Show is the latest multimedia production from Threesixty, the company whose 2009 version of "Peter Pan" proved a hit in Blighty and went on to a U.S. tour, which most recently stopped in Boston. Goold, the a.d. of the U.K.'s Headlong Theater and an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, pens the adaptation and co-directs with Michael Fentiman.Like "Peter Pan," the new production will be staged in a 1200-seat tent surrounded by a circular screen on which 360-degree CGI images are projected. Live thesps and puppets also will be incorporated into the new version of the C.S. Lewis tale.Show will begin perfs May 8 in Kensington Gardens, a part of one of the Royal Parks of London. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

'Naked Boys' hides

Off Broadway longrunner "Naked Boys Singing" can give up within the finish in the month, finishing off a 12 1/2-year run. Show handled a extended commercial existence inside an Off Broadway climate where plenty of producers feeling of-profit stage productions are becoming a smaller amount viable as costs rise and marketing campaigns are surpassed by Rialto options. If the shuts, the musical might have carried out 3,069 perfs, while using show first opening within the Stars Playhouse in 1999 right before shifting to Theater Four in 2004 after which it to " " New World " " Methods in 2005. Show was elevated simply with the crazy novelty title that could attract the eye of tourist auds, frequently the most difficult demo for Off Broadway to capture. Production also provides focused to group auds for instance bachelorette parties while modifying its performance sked to enhance demand. Presently, the tuner plays just two perfs every week. Productions in the show offer carried out urban centers including Las vegas and L.A. additionally to London, where a production is presently round the boards, plus an approaching version in Sydney. Show was produced by Robert Schrock, who teamed getting twelve scribes (including Bruce Vilanch) to pen the revue. Jamie Cesa, Carl D. White-colored, Hugh Hayes and Tom Smedes produce. "Naked Males Singing" shuts Jan. 28. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com