James Franco in Talks to Play Hugh Hefner in Porn Drama

Here’s one way to deflect attention from NYU GradeGate: Variety reports that James Franco is in talks to play Playboy impresario Hugh Hefner in Lovelace, the porn biopic starring Amanda Seyfried as the titular XXX actress Linda Lovelace, of Deep Throat fame. Unfortunately — or fortunately? — Franco’s role would be limited to a one-day cameo, which sounds like something along the lines of his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Green Hornet appearance. The film is currently shooting in Los Angeles. [Variety]

Marion Cotillard Whines (and Wins) in John Cameron Mitchell's 5-Minute Lady Dior Ad

Before I gift you with John Cameron Mitchell’s cute and funny five-minute short film for Dior where Marion Cotillard endures a panic attack during a photo shoot, let me acknowledge one unsettling truth: When she’s wearing banana curls and pink lipstick, Cotillard is a dead-ringer for Katy Perry. I DID NOT MAKE THE RULES. I’m sorry I discovered this, and I hope we can join hands and chuckle as we watch this silly photoshoot parody. “Open up that neck for me!” Best lines: “We really, really love your movie! I can’t wait to see it”; “What do you think of this? Tibetan prayer flags laced with Aztec gold. Isn’t that clever?” And of course, “There are people — tiny little people in the real world — who are counting on you.” The short is based on a Richard Avedon short film from the ’70s starring Lauren Hutton, and the mania of it is pretty similar. Every time I see Cotillard, it’s like I’m adoring her for the first time. Her conniption at the end is priceless. L.A.dy Dior The Film - Starring Marion Cotillard [The Beauty Shop]

Las Vegas crix say 'The Artist' tops

''The Artist'' continues its winning ways among critics' as the Las Vegas Film Critics Society 2011 bestows its highest honor on the silent pic. In addition to winning the Sierra for best picture, the Michel Hazanavicius flick also took home wins for best actor for Jean Dujardin, best score for Ludovic Bource, costume design for Mark Bridges and art design for Gregory S. Hooper. In the other acting categories, Michelle Williams won best actress for her turn in ''My Week with Marilyn,'' while Albert Brooks (''Drive'') and Melissa McCarthy (''Bridesmaids'') rounded out the supporting nods. Brooks was also honored with the org's William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award. Nicholas Winding Refn won for best helmer for ''Drive.'' The LVFCS is made up of selected print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. Contact Erin Maxwell at erin.maxwell@variety.com

Brad Pitt Would Star in an Angelina Jolie-Directed Film 'In a Second'

Ever since 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been one of Hollywood's most-famous star couples (sorry, Jen!), but with the exception of that 2005 action film the pair haven't worked together onset since. Now that Jolie has stepped behind the camera for 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' will that change? If Pitt has his way, absolutely. In an interview with Extra, Pitt said that he'd work with Jolie, the director, 'in a second.' When that quote was relayed to the actress, whose directorial debut opens later this month, she seemed pleased. "Well, you know, I'd be extremely lucky to [direct him," she said. "He's one of my favorite actors! He's so extraordinary, so I'd be lucky, but still shy. I'd be shy to give him direction. We'll talk about it tonight." Jolie used Pitt as a sounding board while writing the script for 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' a love story set against the backdrop of the Bosnian war. "I don't watch TV and I wasn't reading anything. So I started writing. I went from the beginning to the end. I didn't know any other way," she told Vanity Fair earlier this year, before revealing that she passed the script along to Pitt. "He called and said, 'You know, honey, it's not that bad.'" Jolie, who was at the center of a 'Blood and Honey' lawsuit controversy earlier this week, is not in 'Blood and Honey,' but her directorial debut hits on Dec. 23 in limited release. [via Extra] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Martha's running a business

The sea of dark suits within the UBS Media Conference got a dash of star energy as Martha Stewart in the spangled sweater developed a surprise entrance within the tail finish from the presentation by professionals from the organization she founded, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. ''I want to say 'hi.' It's my first-time here in the market sector within our company and i am thrilled to be with Thanks everybody,'' Stewart mentioned Wednesday. Traders crowded around to congratulate the entire of homemaking whose return to the spotlight marks the conclusion from the five-year stop with the Opportunities and Exchange Commission from being a professional inside a public company. In the starting point, Stewart rejoined the MSO board of company company directors in September. Asked for if she planned to visualise the title of chairman or Boss Stewart hesitated. ''TBA,'' she mentioned -- being introduced. Stewart's legal troubles started in 2003 when she was indicted with the government for opportunities fraud and obstruction of justice highly relevant to her acquisition of shares in biotech company ImClone. Throughout monthly-extended media circus from the jury trial, the Department of Justice mentioned that Stewart avoided a loss of profits -- of $45,673 -- by selling her ImClone shares in the finish of 2001 based on material, nonpublic information from her broker which she tried to cover the transaction. She is discovered guilty in March, 2004 of obstruction of justice and making false states federal scientists and visited jail for five several days. Stewart's re-emergence Wednesday coincided getting a vital announcement that store J.C. Penney was acquiring a 16.6% stake in Martha Stewart Omnimedia for $38.5 million, or $3.50 a share. The chain is trying to find new title brands to buck up sales. MSO shares skyrocketed, up 33.65% at $4.17 in midday purchasing and selling. The business made its title just like a magazine venture after a while Corporation. for your flagship Martha Stewart Living. Stewart extended rapidly into TV and retail, buying out Time Warner in 1997 and taking Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia public couple of years later. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Milla Jovovich Tweets A Spooky Holiday Greeting from the Resident Evil Set

Milla Jovovich is not just an arresting Fifth Element star and an above-average Project Runway judge — she’s also a roving reporter on the set of her own movie, Resident Evil: Retribution. Jovovich tweeted a holiday-themed video from “Camp Evil,” and her version of Santa Claus will haunt you until Christmas day. It’s beginning to look a lot like the antichrist! Something is just refreshing about watching a classy dame like Jovovich interact with an undead Santa Claus mannequin. “I can’t say anything because he’s dead, but…” [via @MillaJovovich]

'The Cabin inside the Woods' Trailer: Joss Whedon's Non-Superhero Movie

The moment 'Avengers' Joss Whedon fans are actually waiting for. For a long time. The initial trailer for 'The Cabin inside the Woods' has turned up! Starring Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford, 'Cabin' was written and produced by geek god Whedon this past year and hang up for release this season -- extended before Hemsworth even came out in 'Thor.' Sadly, studio finance issues triggered the film to sit down lower available for just two years. Fogged headlights you've been missing. 'The Cabin inside the Woods' features several college students, who spend a weekend inside a cabin in the heart of nowhere. However, initially this film appears being definately not your typical kids-in-distress slasher flick. Apparently, the cabin is inside some type of forcefield, where unsavory figures try to capture and terrorize the crowd. 'The Cabin inside the Woods' is slated striking theaters April 13, 2012 -Body month just before the Whedon-directed 'Avengers' drops. [via Yahoo!] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Pell : 'SNL' scribe plays for bigscreen laughs

Paula PellDuring her 17 seasons just like a author on "Saturday Evening Live," Paula Pell has seen the pattern participate in over and over."People will say, 'I desire to write a movie this summer season,' but with the finish of the year, you're just destroyed," states Pell, who also provides recurring roles as Paula Hornberg on "30 Rock" and Ron Swanson's (Nick Offerman) mother, Tammy, on "Parks and Entertainment." "You start and you also quickly say, 'Oh, I'll think I'll do that next summer season.' "After dealing with numerous family conditions as well as the dying from the friend who had just completed concentrate on her retirement home, Pell recognized arrived to obtain your entire day or, more precisely, the off-season.She spent summer season 2010 on-set writing additional jokes for "Bridesmaids," co-put together by Annie Mumolo and "SNL's" Kristin Wiig, who also starred. Then, last summer season, she co-produced and did dialogue punch-ups and rewrites on author-director Judd Apatow's approaching Universal feature "That Is Forty."This season, Pell has reduce the quantity of "SNL" episodes she's concentrating on so she'll dedicate more hours to have an untitled comedy script she's writing for Universal that Tina Fey will produce via her Little Stranger banner.The script is inspired by her teenage journals and her relationship along with her older sister. Pell was elevated theater-obsessed in Joliet, Ill., attending Catholic schools that mounted lavish musical productions with full orchestras. When she was in the heart of secondary school, her family gone after Orlando, Fla., and after graduation within the U. of Tennessee getting a diploma in theater, she returned for the city and situated behave as a artist within the theme parks. She later grew to become part of the SAK Comedy Lab, a close improvisational troupe, which introduced her for the target the producers of "SNL," who hired her in 1995."I've experienced my ft in 'Saturday Evening Live' and my heart there in lots of ways, however i am really pushing myself to accomplish these new projects," the WME client states. "It's frightening as hell, but it's fun to own alternative activities to keep my creative brain cooking."TEN SCREENWRITERS To Check Out 2011:Josh Applebaum & Andrew Nemec Jay Baruchel & Jesse Chabot Justin Britt-Gibson Neil Mix Andrew Haigh Kurt Johnstad Lauryn Kahn Paula Pell Jon Spaihts John Yorkey Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

The Book Of Mormon Nominated For Grammy For Best Musical Theater Album

After getting their show to Broadway, winning nine Tony Awards including Best New Musical, what else is there for Bobby Lopez, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, composers/lyricists for The Book of Mormon? Well, just a day after Deadline reported the musical went into the black and investors will turn a profit on their $11.4 million investment, The Book of Mormon original Broadway cast recording was nominated for a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. We connected with Lopez and Parker (his South Park co-creator Stone was either mum, elsewhere or both) in the middle of a conference call Wednesday night after nominations were announced, and the guys sounded pretty jazzed. Who wouldn’t? They have a genuine affection for musicals — Parker mentioned that he and Stone grew up in Colorado “listening to cast recordings and local performances” and Lopez chimed in that he had similar experiences. Because they’re up against a Cole Porter musical, Anything Goes, we asked what was their favorite Porter song? Parker: “Anything Goes.” Lopez: “Kiss Me Kate.” The other musical revival they’re up against for Best Musical Theater Album is How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Favorite Frank Loesser song? Both: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” Ummm, not Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 or 2? “Oh yes, both of them.” On that note it seemed best to let Lopez and Parker get on with celebrating, but we did ask if they had plans for another musical. Parker allowed they “would have time to think about that” when preparing for the upcoming productions of Mormon in Denver and in Chicago. “It took us seven years to pull this one together, and we have a great respect for the effort that goes into these things” so they wouldn’t want to speak prematurely about any specific idea “and then have it fall apart.”

Elmo heads for Afghanistan

Sesame Workshop is bowing educational tyke show "Baghch-e-simsim" (Sesame Garden) in Afghanistan along with local stations Tolo TV and Lemar TV on 12 ,. 1. With merely a small proportion of Afghan children offered with the country's kindergarten system, "Baghch-e-simsim" is built to fill that void by educating youngsters with two-to-three minute small-documentaries, 13 that might be in your town produced. The series will stress literacy, math, existence capabilities and school readiness, and may place one more concentrate on girls' education, cultural awareness and diversity. Sesame Street people Elmo, Large Bird and Grover, and puppets from nations including Egypt, Bangladesh, Mexico and Russia will probably be available. "Baghch-e-simsim," produced in consultation with Afghanistan's Secretary of condition for Education, will air in Dari and Pashto languages. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

James Murdoch Steps Back From Senior U.K. Newspaper Positions

LONDON - James Murdochstepped lower from a number of senior positions managing the group's British newspapers in September without creating a public announcement, it emerged Wednesday.our editor recommends'James Murdoch Arrested' Tweet Taken Lower by Sky NewsJames Murdoch Confesses News Corp. Put British MPs Under Covert SurveillanceNews Corp.: 35% of Investor Votes Opposed James Murdoch Rupert Murdoch Was Requested by Parents of Killed Schoolgirl to 'Put Things Right' at News Corp. Over Phone-HackingRelated Subjects•Rupert Murdoch Per documents filed at Companies House on Sept. 16, it seems that Murdoch walked lower two several weeks ago from his position as director of News Group Newspapers, which manages The Sunand This News around the globe, so that as director of Occasions Newspapers, which runs The Timesand The Sunday Occasions. He's also walked lower as director of Director of News Worldwide Holdings. PHOTOS: News around the globe's Top Ten Scams News Group Newspapers remains involved in many criminal and judicial research into alleged criminal activities in the posting group. However, he'll remain in many much talked about positions that advise a ongoing relationship using the newspaper operation that's been so broken through the phone-hacking facts that eventually forced the closure from the News around the globe. Murdoch remains executive chairman of News Worldwide - the division that puts out The Sun's Rays, The Occasions, The Sunday Timesand formerly This News from the Worldand he remains director from the Timesnewspaper board. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas News Worldwide reps haven't given a reason for that failure to announce such key changes once they happened but stated they just reflected Tom Mockridge's appointment as leader of News Worldwide. "Following a appointment of Tom Mockridge as Boss of News Worldwide, in September James Murdoch walked lower in the boards of numerous News Worldwide subsidiary companies including News Group Newspapers (NGN) and Occasions Newspapers Ltd (TNL). He remains Chairman of NI Group Ltd (News Worldwide) along with a director of Occasions Newspapers Holdings Ltd (TNHL), the holding company of Occasions Newspapers," the organization stated inside a statement. Mockridge, the first kind Boss of Sky Italia, was hired to operate the newspaper operation after his predecessor Rebekah Waderesigned, and was shortly after that arrested in This summer. James Murdoch also remains non-executive chairman of BSkyB, that is 39 percent-possessed by BSkyB. Meanwhile, News Ltd Australia has unconditionally refused claims it attempted to bribe an old Australian senator, Bill O'Chee. "News Limited chairman and leader John Hartigan unconditionally refused accusations of improper conduct by the organization that have been released within the Fairfax press today," the organization stated inside a statement reported through the Wall Street Journal, a part of News Corporation. Australia's Federal Police has confirmed towards the newspaper that it's looking into claims the former Queensland senator have been offered favorable news coverage in return for supporting specific digital television legislation. Related Subjects Worldwide News Worldwide News Group Newspapers James Murdoch Phone Hacking Scandal

Asa Butterfield, 'Hugo' Star, Offered 'Ender's Game'

You might not know Asa Butterfield just yet, but the young star is about to blow up. Not only is he playing the titular Hugo Cabret in Martin Scorsese's upcoming film 'Hugo,' but Deadline reports that he's been offered the lead role in Summit Entertainment's adaptation of 'Ender's Game.' Based on the popular book by Orson Scott Card, 'Game' focuses on the aftermath of an alien invasion, when the government recruits "gifted" children to fight back against the extra-terrestrial oppressors. 'Ender's Game,' from director Gavin Hood ('X-Men Origins: Wolverine'), will hit theaters on March 15, 2013. Butterfield can be seen in 'Hugo' when its released next week. [via Deadline] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Suburgatory': Jeremy Sisto Teases a 'Sticky' Situation With Cheryl Hines, Guys' Trip and What's Ahead (Video)

Suburgatory could have a full season to build up its cool number of figures, but suburbia has already been fraught using its own type of drama.our editor recommends'Jersey Shore's' The Problem Guest Starring on 'Suburgatory''Suburgatory's' Alan Tudyk on His Many Faces for MTV's 'Good Vibes'ABC Gives Full Seasons to 'Revenge,' 'Suburgatory' Orders More 'Happy Endings''Suburgatory' Star Jane Levy Is not Afraid the Show Will Offend Suburbanites Jeremy Sisto (also known as Elton on Unaware or Billy on Six Ft Under, your pick) lately came by The Hollywood Reporter offices to talk about ABC's newcomer comedy and where his character George, just one parent who moves his teenage daughter Tessa (Jane Levy) towards the and surrounding suburbs, is headed. "The connection with Dallas (Cheryl Hines) and George will get sticky," Sisto states. "There's some items that happens that's not what buddies do together." In Wednesday's episode, George finds themself underneath the proper care of nosy neighbor Sheila (the lately marketed series regular Ana Gasteyer), which begs the question: If he was tied to Dallas or Sheila for that finish of your time, who'd he prefer? "Dallas, obviously,Inch Sisto replies having a laugh. "I'm not really a large fan of Sheila, George isn't. Funny character, though. I can tell [Dallas and George] together. I can tell them being an old couple. So far as I understand, they haven't dated. They've kissed. Shh." He adds: "It's not something which either people would like to confess, that people have feelings for one another, however they're certainly there." (Further complicating matters is the presence of Dallas' husband Steven, performed by Jay Mohr.) But Sisto adds that Suburgatory, produced by Emily Kapnek, continues to pay attention to George and Tessa's unique father-daughter dynamic. "More central is he type of finds themself inside a similar situation together with his daughter he is at once they left Manhattan, so around he attempted to prevent that stage of existence, of his daughter getting men, it's something he's not able to complete,Inch he states. "Whenever you push something away, you're going to need to cope with it in a much more intense form." The wedding scene Sisto has shot so far? "We visit Atlantic City using the boys, that is me, Alan Tudyk (Noah), Chris Parnell (Fred) and Jay Mohr," he shares. "Remember individuals two men who might appear like they could be gay, however they were really married with females. They are available along too." Suburgatory airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. ABC Suburgatory Jeremy Sisto

Winfrey eyes return to acting

Oprah Winfrey's movie credits include her Oscar-nominated performance in 1985's 'The Color Purple.'1998's 'Beloved.'When Oprah Winfrey received the call from the Academy about being tapped with the Hersholt Award, she simply said, "Huh?""I love acting, but I don't have a strong repertoire of films, so I was surprised and understood the criticism from people about me getting it," explains Winfrey, who presented the same award to Quincy Jones years ago. "There are many other actresses who are or would be deserving. I am pleased to get it and really honored for the opportunity to be able to stand with my peers and accept it in the name of trying to do something good for people."Winfrey has packed punch in the handful of projects she's boarded, even receiving an Oscar nomination for her supporting turn in "The Color Purple." But nearly 15 years have elapsed since Winfrey the actress last performed in front of the camera in Jonathan Demme's "Beloved."Now that her 25-year run as host of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is over, she says she is toying with the idea of returning to acting."For years, I couldn't do it," says Winfrey, because the taping schedule of her talkshow wouldn't permit. With the show over, she has more flexibility. "If a film comes along that I feel really speaks to me, I would do it."She says she is talking to helmers Tyler Perry, Lee Daniels and Demme about potential roles."I am the most relaxed I have ever been in my life doing a film because it's the only real vacation I get (and) I no longer have to be myself," she says. "I just love the opportunity to submerge into somebody else's life and not to have to deal with my own for a while."Eye on the Oscars: Governors AwardAfter 50 years, Jones is still the Man | Smith remade makeup field | Winfrey wages quiet war on shame | Winfrey eyes return to acting Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Benicio Del Toro: J.J. Abrams' New 'Star Trek' Villain?

Here's a good sign that development is moving forward quickly on "Star Trek 2": J.J. Abrams reportedly wants Benicio Del Toro as his villain in the upcoming sci-fi sequel. Variety reports that an offer is in Del Toro's hands, though there's no word on who the Oscar winner might be playing. Indeed, even Del Toro supposedly doesn't know what the role is in an effort to keep it secret. Needless to say, the baddie will probably be someone even more evil than Eric Bana's Nero, and maybe even a familiar face. Check out some possibilities for Del Toro's character beyond the jump! Khan Noonien Singh Khan is easily the most beloved of all the "Star Trek" villains, and the 1982 movie "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is arguably the best of the series. It would make sense for Abrams to bring Khan in for his "Star Trek" sequel the same way Christopher Nolan brought in The Joker for "The Dark Knight Rises." A Klingon If there's one thing that the first "Star Trek" film was lacking, it's Klingons. Though they were often portrayed as allies in the original series, we could see Abrams pulling some strings and turning them into bad guys this time around. It would be a fun way to introduce them as a race, and also a good way to cross-pollinate the many "Star Trek" TV series' with this movie franchise. Besides, BDT in full Klingon makeup would be totally awesome. Someone New Abrams created a different universe in his "Trek" movies for a reason. Why not bring in a new villain unique to his films, veering away from the original continuity even further? It would be nice to see him separate from the source material and continue steering his franchise in its own wholly original direction. Who do you think Del Toro should play in "Star Trek 2"? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Nathan Lane, Cheyenne Jackson to Star in New USA Comedy

Nathan Lane, Cheyenne Jackson Nathan Lane will star in and executive-produce a new comedy on USA, the network introduced Friday. The untitled Douglas McGrath Project stars the Tony champion becoming an unlucky actor whose Broadway aspirations have to be positioned on hold and return to his Texas hometown when his father's health takes a turn for your worse. Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock, Glee) and Ken Jenkins (Scrubs) may even star. See the relaxation of current day news "Nathan Lane is amongst the versatile comedy forces inside the entertainment industry.We're thrilled by having an actor his stature and Doug McGrath's masterful script aligned while using launch within our comedy brand," mentioned Bill McGoldrick, Senior V . P . of Original Scripted Programming at USA Network. "We're not surprised the mix of Nathan and Doug quickly attracted such high-quality and notable stars as Cheyenne and Ken." Oscar nominee McGrath will write and direct the pilot, additionally to executive-produce alongside Lane.

Scarlett Johansson Breaks Silence On Leaked Nude Photos

First Released: November 1, 2011 11:20 AM EDT Credit: Vanity Fair La, Calif. -- Caption Scarlett Johansson around the December 2011 cover of Vanity FairScarlett Johansson is speaking out concerning the recent nude photos of herself that leaked online saying these were intended for then-husband Ryan Reynolds. I understand my best angles, she told Vanity Festivals December 2011 problem when requested concerning the photos that appeared recently. These were delivered to my hubby, she stated, mentioning to Ryan, who she split within December 2010. So far as the 26-year-old actress can be involved, she does not use whatever problems delivering nude photos to her husband at that time. Theres nothing wrong with this. It is not like I had been shooting a porno, she told the mag. Adding, Although theres nothing wrong with this either. In September, the actress spoke out about privacy following the photos first appeared, telling CNN, Simply because youre an actress or make films or whatever does not mean you aren't titled to your very own privacy. If that's sieged in some manner, it feels illegal. It feels wrong. For her split, Scarlett described that dealing with it within the press required its toll on her behalf. I did not fully realize what related to myself. It had been this type of strange time, she told the mag. I'd a really public separation. It had been difficult. I felt really miserable. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sierra Towers: The Strategies of L.A.'s Strange, Sexy Celebrity Condo Building

The way in which realtor Russ Filice takes note of it, eventually in early 2000s, he gave an excursion of the Sierra Towers condominium to Eddie Fisher, the first kind teen idol and singer, and the kids Tricia Leigh Fisher and Joely Fisher. The late performer's brood wanted him to maneuver in to the 31-story West Hollywood high-rise, and also the visit cut back reminiscences for Fisher, former husband to both Darlene Reynolds and Bette Davis, then in the 70s. "Whenever we were touring him together with his kids, he stated, 'Oh, I did previously party here constantly with Yul Brynner, doing cocaine.' Plus they stated, 'We know, Father, we all know,' " Filice recalls. "I figured, 'How interesting.' If these walls could talk."our editor recommendsHollywood's Greatest Property Deals each week: Matthew Perry, Val Kilmer, Jesse Trump (Photos) Indeed, Sierra Towers -- lengthy the option of Celebrities, rock 'n' roll gods and showbiz moguls alike -- is loaded with colorful tales which have only put into its appeal and mystique. There's not one other residential building in La which has located this type of different and large number of notables: former citizens include David Geffen, Sidney Poitier and Lindsay Lohan(see chart below).Cher, Elton John and Joan Collins are current citizens, and THR has found that Courteney Cox lately purchased a two-bed room, upper-floor unit in the 9255 Doheny Road tower. They've all clustered to some building that's noted for its jaw-shedding sights, sharp midcentury architecture, discreet staff and prime location around the eastern fringe of Beverly Hillsides at the bottom of the Hollywood Hillsides (Sierra Towers is nearby from Soho House). Your building is effectively not avoidable because current zoning limitations will make it hard to construct this type of tower in West Hollywood, where it's the highest building. These factors make Sierra Towers among L.A.'s most costly high-increases and assisted fuel a surge in prices and interest there since the boom from the mid-2000s. It is just one of only a number of L.A. condo structures where models routinely sell in excess of $1,000 per sq . ft ., a business benchmark. PHOTOS: Matthew Perry's $$ 30 million in tangible Estate -- Two Entries, One Purchase, One Purchase All Inside A Couple of Days Despite the fact that Fisher never ended up purchasing at Sierra Towers, his curiosity about it's illustrative: The 146-unit property attracts all decades -- it's a place where celebrity Lily Collins could share a dip within the pool or perhaps an elevator ride with Joan Collins or her Empire enemy, Diahann Carroll. "You need to be entirely makeup whatsoever occasions when you are getting within the elevator -- who knows who you will encounter,Inch states Nikki Haskell, the StarShape weight loss guru along with a Sierra Towers resident since 1990. She's testing the waters and it has put her two-bed room unit available on the market for $3.two million. Still, Haskell states selling it "would totally break my heart." You will find several apocryphal tales concerning the building's beginning that only increase its legend. Citizens state that the website for Sierra Towers was initially located in Beverly Hillsides, however when that city balked in the suggested height, the home was annexed by La County, which in turn permitted construction to maneuver forward. You will find also tales of benefits by organized crime to neighbors in nearby structures and houses who grumbled regarding their sights being destroyed another story involves Frank Sinatra helping to find the building completed after construction delayed while he wanted a spot for his mother to reside. Your building can also be stated to obtain its plural title from scuttled original intends to develop a second tower. (The metropolitan areas of Beverly Hillsides and West Hollywood along with the La Conservancy don't have any records or information that validate these tales.) PHOTOS: Hollywood's Greatest Property Deals each week: Matthew Perry, Val Kilmer, Jesse Trump What's known concerning the building's history is a lot more straightforward. Sierra Towers was created for $12 million by Walter and Leo Minskoff, whose family firm also built NY's Minskoff Theatre. Your building opened up in 1966, just like the adjacent Sunset Strip was roaring to existence, and grew to become the highest residential structure in La. The architect, Jack A. Charney, who analyzed under Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler, stated inside a 1965 La Occasions article he designed your building "to consider maximum benefit of sights of city, mountain tops and sea." To that particular finish, models within the building, including one-, two- and three-bed room homes, feature true floor-to-ceiling home windows and expansive balconies. Sierra Towers was initially operated like a apartment, but following its purchase by NY property investor Helmsley Spear Corporation., your building was transformed into condos in 1974. In those days, a 1-bed room condo might be had for $70,500 along with a three-bed room unit for $152,500, based on a 1974 La Occasions story. Your building came stars, socialites and performers The Fugitive star David Janssen settled in, as did star jockey Willie Shoemaker and then, Tawny Kitaen. Nowadays, Sierra Towers condos routinely fetch prices typically restricted to houses in Beverly Hillsides or Brentwood. This fall, for instance, Matthew Perry unloaded a 2-bed room unit for slightly under $3 million he'd purchased from John in 2005 for $3.two million. Based on data in the Mls, 10 models happen to be offered this year, by having an average cost of $2.a million ($1,080 per sq . ft .). That's up from 2010, when eight were offered to have an average cost of $1.six million ($850 per sq . ft .). Still, costs are lower in the boom years, when models offered in excess of $2,000 per sq . ft . and also at the peak from the recession last year, just one unit exchanged hands. But Filice cautions that recent sales figures don't tell the entire story because some deals are carried out from the market and don't come in sales databases. He stated there has been three such sales this season. EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood's Historic Taft Building available Filice knows your building well. A Bay Area transplant, he purchased a unit in The month of january 2002 for $725,000 after being fascinated through the sights, locale and -- possibly first and foremost -- an chance. The Sotheby's Worldwide Real estate agent felt the building, which at that time had fallen from favor using the celebrity set, might be repositioned to a different generation of Hollywood gamers. He states that his grassroots marketing campaign introduced a slew of recent citizens towards the tower, changing it right into a hotspot for youthful Hollywood. Throughout yesteryear decade, Lohan and Rachel Zoe moved in, amongst others. Within the boom years, some flippers -- including Vincent Gallo -- designed a fortune, turning models rapidly for profits within the millions. Citizens state that your building functions like a true community: A-listers are friendly within the hallways, quick to provide a smile or contain the elevator. "Everyone within the building includes a considerable amount of privacy -- it's its not all guy for themself," Haskell states. However the building's variety of outsize personas has created memorable moments for many citizens. A number of tales, actually, center around your building's elevators, which you will find just two -- an oversight through the developer that, Kitaen states, managed to get cumbersome to redesign her many homes (she resided in five models in the early eighties to 2008). With only two elevators, strange outings can happen. Filice, for instance, recalls one ride he required that ended using the doorways opening on Lohan, dressed only within an unbuttoned males's dress shirt, at the time of the argument with then-boyfriend Scott Storch, an archive producer. (Filice, who states he's offered a lot more than 100 models in the building, no more lives there.) One former resident recalls exercising during a workout session and looking to visit a "catfight between Alex Carrington and Dominique Deveraux" -- the Empire figures described by Collins and Carroll, correspondingly. (It didn't happen.) Over time, proprietors have cheated your building's design to re-imagine their models. Because Sierra Towers was constructed with crawl space between flooring, proprietors are given great versatility in rerouting plumbing along with other systems to various places in models. Among individuals who've take their own stamp on things: Charles S. Cohen, who owns the Off-shore Design Center, that has combined three models. Cher's unit may be the only two-story condo within the building -- it had been formerly possessed by Gallo and earlier, Geffen. For his part, John has produced a residence for his 10-month-old boy, Zachary, that's next to the singer's pad. Kitaen, Haskell yet others the building's staff of 37 -- including security personnel, porters and 11 valets, differentiates it using their company high-finish condo qualities, including Wilshire Corridor cornerstones like the Blair House and new additions such as the Century. That sentiment is echoed by Sotheby's agent Josh Greer, additionally a resident. "You will find more recent, glossier, fancy structures around the Corridor, but they're cent-a-dozen," states Greer, that has possessed several models within the tower through the years and offered seven there previously six several weeks. "I get home plus they hands me my FedEx packages and take my vehicle, that is perfectly cleaned through the valets. I'm not going to leave." Obviously, homeowner association dues are dear: A fee of roughly $1.20 per sq . ft . monthly implies that who owns a couple,100-square-feet, three-bed room unit forks over about $2,520 monthly. Greer likens Sierra Towers to some top-tier NY co-op, like the Dakota. But unlike Manhattan, where you will find several residential towers preferred with that city's elite, in L.A., a confluence of timing, location and Hollywood glamour has permitted Sierra Towers to face alone. News that five models are actually available on the market -- together with a $9.5 million penthouse -- excites Kitaen, who wants she could go back to your building she lengthy known as home. The onetime Whitesnake music video star longingly recounts her days at Sierra Towers, saying she awakens "considering it every day, going 'Goddamn it, why did I sell my place?'" Email: Daniel.Burns@THR.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller Related Subjects Property

Beverly Hills Cop IV Wars, and 5 Other Stories You'll Be Talking About Today

Happy Thursday! Also in this edition of The Broadsheet: A Farrelly-sanctioned Dumb and Dumber sequel gets moving (slightly)… Signs point to Still Seas for Guillermo del Toro… The only defense of Shame’s NC-17 that you’ll need… John Carpenter’s first student film discovered… and more. · As noted in Wednesday’s Buzz Break, Eddie Murphy himself has put the kibosh to Brett Ratner’s dream project Beverly Hills Cop IV, arguing that the scripts were never right but that a TV spinoff featuring Axel Foley’s son — with occasional cameos by Murphy as the titular detective — could be in the offing. No, no, no, no, said Ratner: “I think [the movie will be made] one day, I’m hoping, because it is one of the most iconic characters ever. Eddie does not go anywhere in the world where they’re not like, ‘Axel Foley, what’s up?’ more than ‘Eddie Murphy.’ It is something that our hope and desire is to get it made.” Fine: Let’s just do the 84th Academy Awards, hosted by Axel Foley for maximum international reach. Everyone wins, and we can stop talking about this goddamned movie that nobody but Brett Ratner wants. [MTV] · The Farrelly Brothers have planted the seed for a real follow-up to their Jim Carrey/Jeff Daniels classic Dumb and Dumber — and that’s the good news. The not-so-good (or at least not-so-encouraging) news? They’re not writing it. Those duties have gone to Sean Anders and John Morris, the team behind the upcoming Adam Sandler effort I Hate You Dad. If ever a trade report called for one of those :-/ emoticons, this might be the one. [Deadline] · Thanks to the ever-reliable Hollywood domain-registry trawl, word is that Guillermo del Toro and Warner Bros. have settled on Still Seas as the title of the filmmaker’s forthcoming creature flick; the project once known as Pacific Rim has gone by both titles throughout its early stages. [Fusible] · “That’s 26 total in 21 years. That’s not a functional adult rating. That’s playing the lottery.” Looping in Shame’s box-office interests and cultural stakes, David Poland hits the NC-17 nail on the head. Must read! [The Hot Blog/MCN] · John Carpenter’s 1968 student film Captain Voyeur has been discovered in the USC archives. Apparently a thriller in the mold of Halloween, it’s being restored and will no doubt be publicly embarrassing the horror maven in no time at all. [THR] · In the grand tradition of Awards-Season Trading Cards, how about Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy cards? Collect all 18! Or… not. [Hollywood Elsewhere] Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Libyan Dictator Almost Grew to become an associate of WME & CAA?

Ari Sandel (West Bank Story, which won the 2006 Academy Award for live action short) made thisvideo for WME’s Talent Department. You know, WME frequently puts togetherspoofs (‘Pinkberry: The Film’ here) due to its quarterly conferences. APA was to forward it because it pokes fun at both WME and CAA. Starring Maz Jobrani with cameos by Armie Hammer and Sofia Vergara and WME agents. Genius, and not because it mentions Deadline and me:

'Halloween' Director John Carpenter's First Student Film Unearthed

Just in time for Halloween, the first student film from famed horror director John Carpenter has been found in the archives at the University of Southern California and will be restored with the help of a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation.our editor recommendsAlfred Hitchcock's Earliest Surviving Film Found Carpenter wrote and directed Captain Voyeur for an introductory film class at USC's School of Cinematic Arts in 1969. About eight minutes long, the black and white film has visual and thematic ties to the writer-director's 1978 classic Halloween, according to Dino Everett, the archivist who discovered the preprint materials in a negative at USC's Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archive. Captain Voyeurfollows a man at a boring computer job who eyes a woman at work and follows her home. He dons a mask and attempts to kill her but is shot by his co-worker. PHOTOS: Iconic Horror Movies Everett told The Hollywood Reporter that at one point, the voyeur puts on a pair of glasses over his mask, much in the manner that Michael Myers wore glasses over the bedsheet covering his head in the Halloween prologue. Like the 1978 film, much of Captain Voyeur is shot from the point of view of the attacker, and the woman being stalked "could have been a young Jamie Lee Curtis," she resembled the Halloween victim so strongly, Everett noted. On the job for only a year, Everett said he heard rumors that Carpenter has "stolen his films" from the school, which owns the works. "I didn't believe that," he said. Everett pulled a negative -- "thankfully, it was in great shape" -- and in the middle of the film up popped a hand-written credit that says "Written and directed by John Carpenter." USC has not yet told Carpenter about the discovery. PHOTOS: 20 Best Taglines From Movies Over the Last 30 Years The Hefner archive will handle the restoration using the grant of $1,000 from the NFPF, which targets for preservation newsreels, silent-era films, documentaries, culturally important home movies, avant-garde films and endangered independent productions that fall under the radar of commercial preservation programs. Captain Voyeur would have been done before The Resurrection of Broncho Billy (1970), which Carpenter co-wrote, edited and composed the music as part of a team at USC. That film won an Academy Award for best live action short film. Films saved through NFPF programs are made available to the public for on-site research and are seen widely through screenings, exhibits, DVDs, TV broadcasts and the Internet. PHOTOS: Best and Worst Alien Movies Among the 27 other works also set for preservation announced Wednesday are a 1925 newsreel portrait of the celebrated African-American 10th Cavalry "Buffalo Soldier" regiment at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and home movies from opening day at Walt Disney World in October 1971. Since it was created by Congress in 1996, the NFPF has provided preservation support to 239 institutions and saved more than 1,850 films and collections through grants and collaborative projects. The NFPF also produces the Treasures From American Film Archives DVD series. The NFPF receives federal money through the Library of Congress to distribute as grants but raises all operating and project funding from other sources. Related Topics Jamie Lee Curtis John Carpenter

Gordon-Levitt Up For Django Unchained

He's in talks for Tarantino's latestAs if he didn't already have an embarrassment of acting riches in the cast for the exploito-rama Western-fuelled Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino seems intent on adding one more good actor to the team, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in talks.Variety reports that Gordon-Levitt apparently sat down over dinner with the director to talk about a possible, unspecified role in the movie, and has now moved on to negotiations about signing on. He's apparently dedicated to finding time, but first he'll have to figure out some scheduling issues.Django, which already features the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Don Johnson and Kurt Russell, is set to start shooting in New Orleans this coming January.It'll mark yet another respected director ticked off Gordon-Levitt's list, with him having recently worked with Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg (he's filming Lincoln now) and Rian Johnson. In related news, one of his other latest gigs, David Koepp's bike messenger thriller Premium Rush, has just had its release date shifted from January in the US (February over here) to an August release date in the States, which will likely mean it'll be here in late August/early September now...

Ali Fedotowsky & Roberto Martinez Not Planning Wedding

First Published: October 20, 2011 12:02 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images Caption Have Ali & Roberto Set A Date For Their Wedding Yet? (April 8, 2011) LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Former Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky and her fiance, Roberto Martinez, have hit another bump in their road to the altar. After announcing in August that they were postponing their wedding due to surgery she had after sustaining an injury to her femur, the reality star told People that she and Roberto are not currently planning their nuptials. Were still engaged; were still living together, the 27-year-old, who appeared on Season 6 of the hit ABC series, told the mag. We just dont feel the need to walk down the aisle right now. Regardless of rumors, Ali told the mag that her relationship is not on the rocks. We didnt meet in the most traditional way, she explained. We had a very short courtship and we only knew each other nine weeks before we got engaged We are still figuring out our lives as individuals At this point were not planning a wedding, the reality star continued. Does that mean were fighting? No. Does that mean were miserable? Absolutely not! Were happy where we are. When we have things figured out, well let you know. In April, Ali told Access that she and Roberto were being very choosy about who would attend their wedding. I dont want to meet people for the first time at my wedding unless its his family or something, he said at the time. We are being selective. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Britney Warrior warrior spears Debuts Racy Criminal Video

First Launched: October 18, 2011 11:25 AM EDT Credit: Getty Premium Caption Jason Trawick and Britney Warrior warrior spears cope with towards the 28th Annual MTV Video Music Honours at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in La on August 28, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Steamy shower sex, slaps for the face, kicks for the crotch, convenience store stick ups together with a criminal offense spree round the streets located in london Britney Warrior warrior spears new video for Criminal will be here! The pop star dropped her latest video late Monday evening, Tweeting, Ladies & gents, Im excited to maintain the recording for starters of the most popular tunes from Femme Fatale. Enjoy. British people real-existence boyfriend, Jason Trawick, stars since the entertainers hero inside the video, saving the pop star from an abusive British guy who slaps Britney inside a highbrow party. The entertainers modern-day Bonnie and Clyde musical adventure is full of various criminal functions intermixed with sex moments and shots in the star dancing in the hallway. It culminates in the massive slow-motion shootout while using police as Brit and Jason lock lips in the blaze of bullets after which it escape using the streets located in london. On Tuesday, Jason approached to get into Hollywood Live and told Billy Rose rose bush and Package Hoover the important thing behind his rock-hard abs he sports inside the video. [Im] maintaining a healthy diet plan, Ive been working out, he mentioned. I let myself go, I desired to create a move. Jason also revealed he wasnt too clear on his acting abilities before filming it. I used to be somewhat nervous, he told Billy and Package. Download Britneys Criminal video, HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Hasbro Third-Quarter Profit Increases 10% Aided by 'Transformers: Dark in the Moon' Business

NY - Toy giant Hasbro on Monday reported a 10 % grow in third-quarter earnings driven by simply greater entertainment and certification unit profit. The business mentioned its quarterly profit of $171. million when compared with $155.2 million around-ago period. Revenue rose five percent to $1.38 billion, accurate documentation for your quarter. The quarterly results showed up below the normal Wall Street anticipation, however the organization mentioned it Entertainment and certification segment revenue rose 69 percent to $46.3 million driven by rise in certification revenue connected using purchasing TV programming globally, additionally to movie and merchandise revenue connected with Transformers: Dark in the Moon, together with a $5 million one-time payment from studio partner Universal Art galleries. Entertainment and certification segment profit nearly tripled to $15.3 million. But Hasbro reported declines within the boys, ladies and games and puzzles companies. Transformers toy sales this year are presently trending later on between your organization's results in the last two Transformers movie years - $482 million in 2007 and $592 milllion this past year - carrying out a somewhat reduced start due to a smaller make the most of collector purchases, Hasbro leader and Boss John Goldner mentioned around the business call Monday. He added the company remains "a substantial contributor" to revenue growth which shipping are up greater than one hundred percent in a few areas. But Marvel and also the Exorcist toy sales for your year are trending lower compared to 2010, management mentioned. Around the business call with experts, more youthful crowd mentioned that Hasbro is constantly develop entertainment projects based on its brands - despite some delays. "We still positively develop numerous additional Hasbro films with great partners and authors, including Micronauts, Ouija, Candyland, Risk, Stretch Remedy, Clue and Monopoly," he mentioned. In 2012, Hasbro brands-based films include Battleship by Universal Pictures and Vital's GI Joe follow-up. Goldner mentioned Monday the organization's toy sales must also benefit from the 2012 releases in the Avengers, a 3 dimensional version in the first episode from the Exorcist as well as the Amazing Spider-Guy. Hasbro's part of the third-quarter insufficient kids cable network The Hub found $1.5 million, in contrast getting deficiencies in around $875,000 around-ago period, the business mentioned. But Goldner famous the funnel, a partnership with Discovery Communications, to get its best quarter inside the third quarter with 24 percent ratings growth among kids 2-11 in contrast while using second quarter. He wouldn't discuss when the funnel could break even next season, but he layed out it's making "great progress." Management reported greater My Little Pony toy sales inside the U.S., Canada plus much more recently the U.K. following a launch of Hasbro TV programming in people areas. Goldner mentioned the trends show "the value of television to driving our brands inside the worldwide areas." "We still be ready to deliver significant rise in both revenues and earnings per share for your full-year 2011 versus our 2010 reported full-year results," mentioned Goldner searching ahead. "Our performance this year demonstrates we are effectively carrying out our strategy globally." Which he mentioned early fourth-quarter are positive, positioning Hasbro well for your key holidays. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Transformers: Dark in the Moon Hasbro Corporation.

TruTV orders up 'Guinness ... Gone Wild'

KennedyTruTV has ordered a pilot for "Guinness World Records Gone Wild," in which contestants try to beat obscure Guinness records.Jamie Kennedy is on board as host of the pilot, produced by High Noon Entertainment ("Cake Boss").Among the more unusual records that contestants will seek to top are the fastest time to jump over three oncoming cars, highest dive into 12 inches of water, most kicks to the head in one minute, most live cockroaches held in the mouth and most paintballs to hit a person in 30 seconds.Exec producers are High Noon's Pamela Healey and Jim Berger, with Angel Annussek exec producing for TruTV and Rob Molloy as e.p. for Guinness World Records. Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

Basketball shelves initial few days

The Basketball introduced today it had canceled the initial 2 days of the 2011-12 regular season, with little sign you will see an answer towards the labor troubles soon.Even though the Basketball doesn't have a very significant broadcast TV presence each season (via its deal with ABC) until Christmas Day, cablers ESPN and TNT will probably be affected immediately, as well as Basketball-possessed Basketball TV. ''Despite extensive efforts, we've not had the chance to attain a completely new agreement while using players' union that allows all 30 teams to be capable of compete for just about any championship while fairly having to pay our players,'' Basketball deputy commissioner Adam Silver mentioned.The summer season happen to be schedule to start November. 1, but all games are actually removed until November. 15 within the earliest. The exhibition season had lately been shelved the other day.TNT were built with a dent-evening doubleheader featuring the safeguarding champion Dallas Mavericks playing the Chicago Bulls, then your La Opponents in the Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN stood a doubleheader for an additional evening while using Miami Warmth in the NY Knicks as well as the Opponents in the Golden Condition Gamers. Overall, the two cable systems had 127 regular-season game broadcasts scheduled entering the 2011-12 season. Venues for instance Staples Center, home for your Opponents and Clippers, are actually removed to produce dates through the cancellation period. According to ESPN.com, reps in the league as well as the players' union met for seven several hours Monday but did not rival bridging their settlement gap, including arguments inside the more understanding concerning the league's salary cap well as over which party should get 53% of league revenues. A 50-50 compromise has not acquired traction.The ultimate time the Basketball canceled games because of labor conflicts, the league carried out a 50-game season in 1998-99. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Ough Gervais Golden Globes return planned

Ough Gervais' debate-packed presentation from the year's Golden Globes was our favourite moments of 2011.Plus it seems like we'll receive lots of same in 2012, although really different format.Writing for your Wall Street Journal, Gervais revealed: "I don't think I will host the Golden Globes again, even if I'm asked for that is very unlikely, in truth...InchBut because of the best factor about society, freedom of speech, I am in a position to still host the Golden Globes, or any event on the planet.InchI'm utilizing a Californian technology company around the live webcast idea."People watch their TV concurrently as hearing me together with a few chums provide our personal alternative commentary.""This is not to steal anyone's thunder, or disrupt enjoyable society. It is simply a brand new horizon. Too for its sake."I have not a clue whether or not this works however i didn't determine whether podcasting works in 2005 once i launched The Ough Gervais Show."I didn't particularly care either. I used to be carrying it out for just about any laugh. You will discover very couple of better top reasons to do just about anything.InchWe cannot wait. Ultimately, Gervais required to run his jokes past the Golden Globes producers a year ago, which he still made mind lines around the globe.What is likely to he created if he's completely unfettered by any kind of censorship?Also, 'me together with a few chums' causes us to think that Karl Pilkington will participate in the webcast eventually.Karl Pilkington hosting the Golden Globes? Now that's something we'd pay to find out. Or give consideration to.

Global Showbiz Briefs: United kingdom, The country, Cuba

Summer time Movies Will Face Lots Of Competition in great britan Things dont look too rosy for that British summer time box office in 2012. Film Marketers Association Boss Mark Batey told BBC News that could to September is a difficult period. Competition can come from 2 1/2 days from the London Olympic games, plus Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix, the queens Gemstone Jubilee and also the Paralympics. Summer time films likeThe Dark Dark night Increases, Battleship,The Astonishing Spider-Guy andThe Bourne Legacy may have little opportunity to continue the British box office growth seen this season over 2010, Batey stated. The British box office presently stands at 872 million, 4% greater of computer was this time around this past year. The spanish language Sales Agency Freak Moves Into Movies Madrid-based short-film sales agency Freak is branching to movies. It introduced worldwide sales of Bernard Arellanos Between Day And Night and Celia Novis On Vampyres Along With Other Signs and symptoms. Arellanos movie won the Award in the recent San Sebastian Worldwide Film Festival, and Novis film is screening at horror fest Sitges on March. 12. Freak will also attend the American Film Market this fall along with the IDFA/Paperwork Available in Amsterdam. ‘Habanastation’ Is Cuba’s Oscar Pick Ian Padron’s Habanastation will represent Cuba within the Foreign-Language Oscar race. The film involves two class mates from different skills who spend each day together within the lower-class neighborhood among the boys lives in. The film won the Founders Greatest of the Fest Award at Michael Moore’s Traverse City festival this season.

Travolta Qantas Video Time Traveler Photo available on eBay

Travolta Qantas Video may be the latest celebrity to possess his likeness appear inside a photo dating in the 1800s.our editor recommendsNicolas Cage 'Vampire' Photo Available on eBayNicolas Cage 'Vampire' Photo Vanishes From eBay An eBay seller in Ontario, Canada has put a ruby glass ambrotype photograph from 1860 up for auction and also the guy within the photo looks amazingly like Travolta. Just two days ago, selling real estate on eBay published a photograph in the 1870s that appeared as if Nicolas Cage and thought the Oscar-winning actor was, actually, a vampire. The vendor from the Travolta photo doesn't turn to the supernatural to describe the likeness, however. He's leaning toward sci-fi. He creates, "For individuals individuals who don't know, Travolta Qantas Video is really a Scientologist and several Scientologists have confidence in a kind of reincarnation. Obviously Time travel can't be eliminated too.Inch Unlike the vendor from the Cage photo, who had been requesting millions of dollars prior to the photo disappeared from eBay, this seller, who's a self-announced collector of old photographs, is requesting a comparatively modest $50,000. The vendor gives not one other details about the guy within the photo, but by Thursday morning, four offers were already pending for that picture. Related Subjects Travolta Qantas Video

'Easy A's' Will Gluck Sells Family Comedy to Fox (Exclusive)

Fox is in business with Iceland duoWill Gluck and Andy Bobrow.our editor recommendsABC Accumulates Comedy Project From 'Easy A's' Will GluckJustin Timberlake Praises Will Gluck The network has bought an untitled single-camera family comedy project in the pair. The project, which originates from The new sony Pictures Television where Gluck includes a deal, focuses on the American Dream, being a parent and also the (freakin') neighbors. Bobrow will write and executive produce the project,with Gluck becoming an Air. Richie Schwartz, who became a member of Gluck's The new sony-based shingle captured, will co-executive produce. This news follows a flurry of deals for simple AandFriends With Benefits director Gluck, including ensemble comedy Walk of Shame (at ABC) as well as an untitled mucumentary (at NBC). Gluck and Bobrow, whose other small-screen credits include Community and Malcolm in the centre, are repped by UTA. Email: Lacey.Rose@Thr.com Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Subjects Easy A The new sony TV Development

Paramount Unveils Spoilery New Paranormal Activity 3 Trailer and Allows Fans To Pick Premiere Cities

Just because you’re not receiving mysterious VHS tapes in Austin this week — where rumor has it Paramount may premiere Paranormal Activity 3 tonight as a secret screening at Fantastic Fest — does not mean that you won’t get to see the franchise prequel before its October 21 release. The studio has just launched a Twitter campaign which allows fans to vote on 20 cities to host special pre-release premieres. And if that still isn’t soon enough for you Paranormal fans out there, Paramount has just released a majorly spoiler-filled new trailer for the film from Catfish directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. Click ahead at your own discretion. video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player To participate in Paramount’s “Tweet To See It First” campaign, simply go to the Paranormal Activity 3 website here, and select your city from the global map, which will also serve as the point of entry to create a tweet with a special set of hash tags that link directly to Twitter. Once your tweet posts, it counts as a vote. The competition is open to fans all over the world and will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 13th. The 20 winning cities — which will host special October 18th premieres — will be announced on Friday, October 14th. Paramount’s “Tweet To See It First” campaign is similar to a campaign led by the first film’s director Oren Peli in 2009 which asked fans to “demand” which city they would like to see Paranormal Activity open in next. [via /Film]

What A Friday Brawl! Moneyball Wins #1, Lion King 3D Holds #2, Dolphin Tale #3, Abduction #4 + Killer Elite #5 Underwhelm

FRIDAY11 PM, 2NDUPDATE: Finally, I have some clarityfollowing Rentrak hiccups during the day and early evening. Not to mentionevery studio’s confusion over the ordering of the Top 5 because of fierce fights going on at the North American box office throughout today. And, geez,I’m supposed to be on vacation: 1. My sources say Sony’s newcomerMoneyball has been rising as the night goes on for maybe the best baseball-themed opening ever. It’s definitelyNo. 1 Friday with approximately $6.8M from 2,993 theaters. (As a Sony exec told me, “$6 million would be great. $7 million amazing. $8 million would be a triumph.”) With a healthy adult bump tomorrow, it’s looking at a $21M weekend. That solid number helps keep Brad Pitt’s star wattage shining and his awards chances climbing because ofthis well-reviewed male-centric sports movie.Audiences really liked this pic: it received all A’s — male, female, young, old — from CinemaScore. But a rival studio exec points out, “The audience is very old – almost 60% of audience over 50.” 2. Even Disney is surprised that its Lion King 3D is in 2nd place tonight from 2,330 theaters after its huge first-place finish last weekend.But rival studios tell me itgot a boost today from the rain backEast for a $6.2M Friday foran excellent hold of-31% froma week ago.With the normal kiddie matinee bump, that’s a $21M weekend as well.This re-release isprojectedto hit a cume of $60M by Monday. Here’s my question: Why is it that in all the promotional hype I’ve been sent by the studio about this pic, no one at Disney is thanking Jeffrey Katzenberg for micro-managing the original? C’mon, Mouse House, give credit where credit is due. Even if Jeffrey is a big pain ineveryone’s ass. 3. Not far behind is Alcon Entertainment’s Dolphin Tale in 3,507 theaters.Distributor Warner Brossaid it opened with $5M today and rival studios think it’s headed to $17M for the weekend.Alcon is expectingthe heartstrings-pulling pic to jump 60% on Saturday because of the family film bump and win the weekend.Hmm. Remember,it’s also playing in the most theaters.According toCinemaScores, parents and kidsaudiences are giving it an A+. “The film is very inspirational, and tracking is terrific.We will own the family marketplace,” an exec told me.Warner Bros was looking to give Moneyball a run for No. 1this weekend, but didn’t anticipate the continued strength of Lion King 3D. The strategy for Dolphin Tale was to reach primarily parents and kids with this real-lifestory andfine ensemble cast. The studiodevised a very long trailer campaign in order to get maximum exposurebeginning in April and playing through the summer on everything from Rio to Cars 2.The TV strategy wasrobust, covering everything from kids cable in late summer before school started, through key season premieres such as Dancing With The Stars and Biggest Loser,to a wide array of sponsorships with Discovery, Teen Nick, Lifetime, Nation Geographic, Disney XD, MTV, and more.Warner Bros crafted an aggressive word-of-mouth screening program that involved 3 full roundsin the top 60 markets. Military and home schoolers were targeted as well asyouth groups and other family-oriented orgs. The director and cast completed a 7-market PA tour that includeda junket to accommodate Winter, the real-life star of the film who had her ownlive Winter-cam.Online, there was afirst-time integration with the Spongebob Squarepants Facebook page given thesea theme. 4.Lionsgate’s Abduction in 3,118 theaters may end up$3.8M Friday and what could be only a$10M opening for the weekend depending on how front-loaded it becomes. (That’s what happened to Zac Efron in Charlie St Cloud.)Through Sunday,Hollywood eyes will be focused onits starTaylor Lautner in his first leading man role in an action thrillerbecause he’s been very much in demand — presumably because of his enormous Twi-hard fan base and aggressive promotion of his films –but not because of any solo box office which the 19-year-old has done yet. Then again, I’velearned thatLautner’s $36M-budget action thriller was outspent 4-to-1 in marketing dollars by both Sony and Warner Bros leading up to this weekend. (Shame on Lionsgate’s Jon Feltheimer for tying everyone’s hands even after powerless Alli Shearmur pleaded.)So the jury is still out on whether this Twilight kid can open an envelope,especially in as rotten a reviewed movie as this one was directed by John Singleton. (“Silly” and “convuluted” were the words used most often to describe it.) Audiences didn’t think it was quite as bad as critics, giving it a B- CinemaScore.Too bad Lionsgate can’t seem to make a decent movie or market one anymore. A $10Moutcome is less than the $12M-$14M range which the studio told me it needed to show a “nice profit” for the film.”ButTaylors a great kid. Hes worked hard for us, doing about 8 national TV shows and endless amounts of press,” one of the execs said to me. “We know the opening weekend box office averages for Taylors Twilight co-stars, so this falls in the zone of what was to be expected. There are lots of movies opening this weekend to a variety of audiences, but ours is laser-targeted to tweens and we hope to dominate that market.”Lionsgatesimultaneously streamed the premiere to an additional 20 regional markets and broadcast the Red Carpet online as ‘The Abduction Fan Premiere Live Event’with 50M impressions.Media promotions included ABC Family andChannel One, the in-school network that reaches 2.3 million teens aged 1517.Other youth-focused exploitation includedan announcer spot for Tay-Tay at the VMAs (tied to a sweepstakes to ‘Get Abducted’ to the awards). It wasn’t nearly enough. 5.Remains to be seen if Abduction can edge out Killer Elite whichalso may be $10M for the weekend from 2,986 theaters. But when veteran stars like Robert DeNiro, Jason Stathem, and Clive Owenas an intriguing trio still can’t knock off Lautner solo in a lousy movie, that’s worth noting. Open Road Films is expressingoptimism that itspic will likely go upon Saturday after its $3.5M debut Friday. CinemaScore was a better B. I hear Open Roadacquired the film for nothing, only P&A, so it’ll be nicely profitable. Not bad for the company’s first release.A few notes about the Killer Elite marketing campaign: it had the predictablyheavy presence in sports including an ‘NFL on FOX’ TV promotion with a “Killer” prize of trip to LA to hang out with the Fox sports on-air guys, apromotion with Spike TV’s UFC Fight Night, and even Comedy Central’s Charlie Sheen Roast.De Niro made a rare late-night talk show appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live where he sat down with Kimmel’s security guard-turned celeb interviewer Guillermo. AndMTV Networks did a direct email campaign to target demos within their very largecustomer database. Here’s the rest of the Top 10 6. Contagion (Participant/Warner Bros) Week 3 [3,136 Theaters] Friday $2.8M, Estimated Weekend $9M, Estimated Cume $57.5M 7. Drive (FilmDistrict) Week 2 [2,904 Theaters] Friday $2M (-50%), Estimated Weekend $6M, Estimated Cume $21.6M 8. The Help (Participant/DreamWorks/Disney] Week 7 [2,695 Theaters] Friday $1.3M, Estimated Weekend $4.5M, Estimated cume $154.5M 9. I Don’t Know How She Does It (Weinstein Co) Week 2 [2,490 Theaters] Friday $700K (-55%), Estimated weekend $2M,Estimated Cume $8M 10. Straw Dogs (Sony) Week 2 [2,408 Theaters] Friday $600K (-62%), Estimated Weekend $1.8M, Estimated Cume $8.5M FRIDAY 4 PM: On vacation. So box office is brought to you from a sunny climate where the palm trees sway in time to the dancing trade winds… But back home there’s a fierce fight going on. These are very early grosses, and my sources say Rentrak has been experiencing problems today — thus giving Hollywood even more Maalox moments than usual. Sony’s Moneyball starring Brad Pitt will be No. 1 with approx $8M Friday and possibly mid-$20sM for the weekend. That solid number helps Brad Pitt’s awards chances in this well-received male-centric sports movie. Right now Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dolphin Tale and Lionsgate’s Abduction are battling for No. 2 with around $6M today and what could be high teens for the weekend. Interesting, because the heartstrings-pulling pic was tracking much better. Then again, Taylor Lautner’s action thriller is playing in 389 less theaters. So anyone who claimed this Twilight kid couldn’t open an envelope is wrong, wrong, wrong: there are major stars who would be thrilled with that outcome, especially in as rotten a reviewed movie as this one. Open Road’s Killer Elite looks a notch lower – maybe $5M today, and low teens for the weekend. Frequent updates coming with full analysis.

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Jennifer Salke, 'Chuck's' Zachary Levi being Honored at Operation Smile Gala

They needed him away. Everybody was throughout him. Just hanging out him. I couldn't see his face whatsoever." NBC Entertainment leader Jennifer Salke is recalling the tense moments following her boy Henry's birth. "My husband was leaning over him similar to this,In . she states, hands cupping her mind in imitation. "From the thinking to myself, 'Oh my God, there's something mortally wrong with my child.' " She continues, a now 12-year-old Henry sitting beside her in their Universal City office, "After they switched and came toward me, I'd among people moments where all of the appear dropped out." She breaks. "I believed to myself, 'These people will probably say something in my opinion at this time around that's prone to change my existence forever.' " Just what the doctors distributed to her tomorrow did change her existence, while not for your reason she thought it could. Henry was produced getting a cleft lip, a birth defect so common worldwide that every three minutes a youthful child exists with this particular or possibly a cleft palate. Fortunately for Jennifer, who for virtually 10 years offered just like a high-ranking executive behind such hits as Glee and Modern Family at last century Fox TV before joining NBC this summer season, it absolutely was a somewhat easy fix: Two early surgical treatments removed any real trace. (She then had twin kids who don't put on cleft conditions.) It isn't super easy for sufferers elsewhere in the world, where one inch 10 children born getting a cleft condition will die before their first birthday, frequently from insufficient diet. Since 1982, Operation Smile makes this its cause, delivering greater than 200,000 free and fairly simple surgical treatments to people using these together with other facial male organ deformation in third world countries. Hunting for a approach to do more, Henry created a fund-raising page round the Operation Smile website this past year. Within several days, he'd elevated $20,000, which he and also the parents were introduced to Smile founders William and Kathy Magee through mutual friend and Smile board member Billy Rose rose bush. Inside the two-plus years since, Henry grew to become one in the charitable organization's most active youth ambassadors. "He involves us getting a pad of paper and starts listing a number of these techniques to boost more earnings for surgical treatments," states Kathy Magee, ticking off good good examples for instance T-t t shirts and DJ benefits (his moniker is DJ Smile). Soon after a period of stateside fund-raising -- Henry's second round elevated $48,000, his third recently began -- and multiple speaking engagements, mother and boy visited to Rio p Janeiro for first nine-day Smile mission. (Operation Smile situated greater than 150 missions this season, delivering on-location surgical treatments and take proper care of cleft sufferers.) In Rio, they remained with patients, educating them in addition to their families. Jennifer traveled getting an image of Henry just like a cleft-lipped baby, which she shown frequently just like a indication from the products these doctors would be capable of do. The pair remained inside the operating rooms, which Henry confesses was "slightly frightening." On Sept. 23, Jennifer and Henry will probably be honored alongside Zachary Levi, Sue Tsao and Giuliana and Bill Rancic within the annual Operation Smile Gala in La. Next, the Salkes will begin planning their next trip: a grin pursuit to Africa. Related Subjects Zachary Levi Philanthropy Chuck NBC Entertainment

Judge Dismisses Copyright Suit Over Fox's 'Percy Jackson' Franchise

Doane Gregory/Fox 2000 Pictures A NY federal judge has overlooked a copyright suit that mentioned last century Fox, the Wally Disney Co. while others mixed up in making in the Percy Jackson quantity of books and film lifted material from numerous youthful-adult books. The suit was filed in May 2010 byRobyn and Tony DiTocco, authors in the Hero Perseus: A Mad Myth Mystery (2002) and Atlas' Revenge: Another Mad Myth Mystery (2004), which told the story from the character named Percy John Allen ("PJ"), a modern day-day teen who descended within the Greek mythological hero Perseus which is summoned to fight ancient battles to have the ability to save the earth while balancing the needs from the every-day teen. The claims collected some attention because the DiToccos were represented by Marc Toberoff, the attorney which has fought against large Hollywood art galleries combined with develop a complaint that listed hundreds of parallels involving the five Percy Jackson books by author Ron Riordan as well as the two books with the litigants. Nevertheless, copyright law suits alleging substantial similarity are tough, and here's another illustration showing a complaintant which has not successful to acquire past the initial threshold of showing misappropriated expression. In the decision on Tuesday, NY Judge Sidney Stein supplies a extended analysis why no reasonable jury could conclude the 2 works are substantially similar. A few good good examples: The PJ books are told in third person.The Percy Jackson books are told in first person by Percy themselves. The PJ books cover the protagonist's existence near to the finish of secondary school and into college. The Percy Jackson material is positioned when the primary character is age 12 to 16. The PJ books educate site visitors about Greek mythology by straight exposition within the messenger Hermes whereas Percy Jackson is told these myths through conversations with some other figures at Camping Half-Blood stream. To make certain, the judge values some parallels, starting with the fact both figures share the identical title. Take into account that title derives within the hero Perseus of Greek mythology, a personality the judge notes is "unquestionably inside the public domain," there's a simple explanation. Plus, other noted parallels for instance figures who've to deal with missing parents and display potency and effectiveness in battles with otherworldly forces are thought being commonplace inside the youthful male hero genre in works for instance Harry Potter and Spider-Guy. The bottom line is, look left at two works and uncover parallels look right and uncover dissimilarities and common ideas. As they are common practice nowadays, Judge Stein favors the medial side that dismisses the claims on summary judgment. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner Percy Jackson as well as the Olympians: The Lightning Crook

'The Notebook' Author Nicholas Sparks Sells Drama to ABC

Nicholas Sparks The Notebook author Nicholas Sparks finds a home at ABC. The author has offered The Audiences, a geniune drama concept, for the network. The project requires the Archangel Raphael, who after trading centuries just like a Watcher and invisibly delivering support to humans inside the amount of need, decides to reduce off his wings from passion for Sarah, a mortal lady, to make sure that they can truly be round her for your relaxation of her days. When Sarah's existence is cut short, Rafe remains to wander our world solo just like a fallen angel. Based on the kindness of others and hunted by angels formerly pointed out and below, Rafe travels undercover, undertaking miracles while he searches for this really is of loss and clues to Sarah's fate. Temple Hill Entertainment, the expansion company behind the feature adaptation of Sparks' Dear John, is aboard to produce alongside ABC Art galleries. Sparks and Kristin Hahn (Time Traveler's Wife) written the script for your project, while using best-selling author executive creating alongside Temple Hill. Numerous Sparks' books have effectively been modified for your silver screen: Message in the Bottle, A Stroll to think about, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John as well as the Last Song, while using Lucky One, Rut and The most effective of Me all in a number of stages of production. Audiences would mark the scribe's first original work with television. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com Twitter: @Snoodit ABC Nicholas Sparks TV Development

The Bird (L'oiseau)

A Ces Films du Losange relieve a Blue Monday Prods., Arte France Cinema production, in colaboration with Canal Plus, Arte France, Cinecinema. (Worldwide sales: Ces Films du Losange, Paris.) Produced by Bertrand Gore. Directed, put together by Yves Caumon.With: Sandrine Kiberlain, Bruno Todeschini, Clement Sibony, Serge Riaboukine, Alice Belaidi. (French, The the spanish language language, Romanian dialogue)A grieving Bordeaux kitchen worker favors solitude over empathy in French drama "The Bird," though an surprise avian caller seems to own missed the memo. Latest gently observational feature from scribe-helmer Yves Caumon ("Peekaboo," "Boyhood Loves") is his first getting a femme protag, and spindly star Sandrine Kiberlain ("The Women round the Sixth Floor") impresses becoming an earthy lady who just should be alone for a while, pigeons be damned. Though not idiosyncratic enough for wider breakout, fests, trendy satcasters and Francophone areas will allowed this to "Bird" fly. Charming and enigmatic in equal measures, anything-but-loquacious Anne (Kiberlain) is attacked having a handsome friend (Clement Sibony), though she's not interested -- no less than, not now. It progressively emerges, through small products of narrative shrapnel one of the deliberately quiet, normal existence she leads, that she's very easily racking your brains on what direction to go next following a dying of her boy and her separation from her husband (Bruno Todeschini). The divorce was possibly triggered by their opposing techniques for mourning, though Caumon's m.o. offers only clues, not certainties. Lensing is atmospheric, score spare but soulful, and appear design especially significant.Camera (color, HD), Celine Bozon editor, Sylvie Fauthoux music, Thierry Machuel production designer, Sophie Reynaud costume designer, Marie Le Garrec. Examined at Venice Film Festival (Horizons), Sept. 8, 2011. Running time: 91 MIN. Contact Boyd van Hoeij at news@variety.com

Ryan Gosling's 'Drive': A Stunt Driver's Perspective

Drive hits theaters today (September 16), and director Nicolas Winding Refns stylized, synth-soundtracked action flick is one of the best things youll see this year just trust us. We were blown away by the story of Driver (Ryan Gosling) a stuntman by day and a getaway wheelman by night who falls for a vulnerable neighbor in peril (Carey Mulligan), and finds himself embroiled in a twisted heist involving her husband (Oscar Isaac). Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman and Christina Hendricks deliver in top-notch supporting roles, and Albert Brooks is absolutely menacing as the villainous Bernie Rose. The movie is chock full of elaborate stunts, which got us thinking what was it like to coordinate the action of Drive? We sat down with Darrin Prescott, the films Stunt Coordinator and Second Unit Director, to find out. Darrin has been a member of the stunt crew on 95 films, including Independence Day, Blade, The Matrix Reloaded, Spider-Man 2, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Prescott enlightened us with behind-the-scenes knowledge of his work with Refn and Gosling, the collaboration involved in pulling off many of "Drives" sequences, and various other tricks of the stunt industry trade. MTV: Talking to you is kind of meta you were the stunt coordinator on a movie about a guy playing a stunt coordinator. Prescott: [Laughs] Yeah that was kind of funny it was a bit different for us, for sure. How did you get into the stunt industry was it always a dream of yours? I kinda grew up, like most kids, just jumping your bikes off of stuff and doing stuff that all kids do. My dad got me into motorcycles when I was pretty young, and my parents took me to the drive-in to see the movie Hooper with Burt Reynolds. I was probably 10 at the time, and thats all I wanted to do. I thought that was the greatest job ever. And from that point on I wanted to be a stuntman. In Drive, Ryan Gosling plays a stunt driver by day and a getaway driver by night have you or anyone you know been involved in using your talents for other purposes? [Laughs] No, not really. Back in the early days when I was becoming a stuntman, we used to rent cars and then go and find empty parking lots and learn how to slide the car and stuff like that, and then wed bring the car back and the tires would be bald and wed have rubber all over our faces and stuff and wed just turn the car back in. Did you get your security deposit back? Yeah we never had a problem theyd inspect the car and wed stand in front of the tires so they couldnt see that they were flat. There are a few behind-the-scenes moments in Drive that show Ryan Gosling as the driver on various sets as a stunt driver, how authentic are those? And even specifically when you were on set, did the stunt crew serve as a sounding board for creating a more realistic atmosphere? Yeah, Ryan came out and did a lot of driving himself we put him through a stunt driving training course. The guy who doubled Ryan is actually an instructor at probably the best stunt driving school there is. And he ran Ryan through a lot of the paces. Ryan is probably one of the best actors Ive ever trained hes a phenomenal driver, he did really well. As far as the actual choreography of the action goes, myself and my team would conceptualize different things based on what Nicolas had told us. We would take little matchbox cars and show him on a table what wed like to happen, and wed hone it in from there. How hands-on did Ryan get when it came to doing his own stunts, and aside from that, how do you handle say an actor who wants to be more involved in stunts but really cant handle it? Where do you draw the line? Well it really depends. Like I said, Ryan was really handy. Its something that we basically qualify on the day. I know by taking him out and with other actors how much I can get out of them safely, how confident they are, how well they listen, and things like that. It all depends if were not going to see Ryan driving, then theres no reason for Ryan to do it, theres no reason to take the chance. He may be able to go down the road and throw a 180 or something, but when they put a whole lighting package on the hood of the car and he cant see theres a lot of things that come into play. Its probably really helpful, too, that in some of the scenes Ryan was wearing a mask. Yeah, it helped for sure but the double couldnt see anything out of the mask, it was funny. The eyes were horrible. Thats kind of dangerous, then, isnt it? For a guy whos driving a car on set to not be able to see? Yeah, a little bit. We cut the eyes out so he could see better, and this is a guy has been on my team for a long time and if he says hes comfortable then he is, and if hes not then we need to fix something. What about working with Nicolas what was that like? He has a very original aesthetic, specifically with some of the slow-motion stuff. How did you plan for that? Yeah he had a tone that he wanted for the filmI was the second unit director, so I shot a bunch of the driving sequences, and we sat down together and he had discussed what he liked from different movies hes got a great vision, wed go through shot by shot and hed tell me what he wanted and I used every trick in the book to try to make it look fast and to make it work, but hes very specific with what he wants and that makes it easier for me. What are some of those tricks in the book youre talking about, as far as making driving scenes look faster? Well, he wanted to shoot pretty much everything on a super-wide lens, which can slow everything down as far as car chases go. So we ended up driving a lot faster than we wouldve normally. And then we had to play really close to camera and move camera quite a bit so the camera is never static. We also used a lot of foreground elements, a lot of wipes. We would take the cars when you see them leave the pawn shop and theyre racing down the street a lot of those cars theyre passing are actually parked, theyre not even moving. So it shows more of a speed differential. But we were cookin pretty fast there are certain camera rigs we used, and we pulled out as many of the stops as we could. There was a point where we were just throwing handfuls of dirt out onto the road so it would kick up dust and add something to the frame to add speed to it. There are a handful of major driving-related action sequences in the film which was the most challenging for your team to coordinate and shoot? Probably the most challenging was the pawn shop scene. Just because Nicolas wanted it really wide, and we didnt have a lot of time to shoot it. And they wanted a stunt that had never been seen before, which is not uncommon. That makes it challenging. Drive wasnt a $150 million picture that we could go out and rehearse and test and rehearse and test, so me and a couple guys on the team came up with an idea for a stuntand the problem is we only had enough money for one test and we set everything up and did the test and it didnt work. It didnt come off even remotely close to what we wanted. So we went back to the drawing board and everybody sat around the table and we said, So heres how the gag went if we had more money, wed test again and fix what we know went wrong and try and suss it out, and they said, Well we dont have any more money. And I said, Well Im happy to make the changes and do it on the day, but everyone has to be on board with the fact that we dont know what were going to get for a wreck. And Nicolas said, Great well do that! And we came in and the stunt didnt go the way we expected it to go, but nonetheless it was so cool Ive never seen a wreck happen like that. And Nicolas ended up loving it. Thats the one you end up seeing in slow motion behind Christina Hendricks head in the car, and it was just really different and organic. But it was definitely a challenge setting all that stuff up with the time we hadand that particular driving maneuver is pretty cool, where the guy goes from reverse its a reverse 270 out of a corner and they held it all in one shot, which I really like. So for that particular scene from the moment of conception to testing to shooting what tight time period are you talking? It was all kind of tight, because you have to figure out what these cars are going to do so then you can then give them to the special effects department and they can build cages. So it all needs to be agreed upon early. We only had a few days to conceptualize what the chase was going to be. I think we hadmaybe a couple days to shoot the car chase. It was really tight for everything we wanted to do at a few different locations. Frankly, that to me is the most memorable car chase scene in the movie. Thanks! Its kind of nice its been getting a lot of props. Ive done the bigger budget movies, and I dont want to say its easier but we go and do a Bourne or something and weve got months to shoot that second unit, and for people to look at this one and to say it stands up is really kind of cool. We certainly werent the budget of a Bourne or a Fast and Furious. It sounds like you had a lot of say in the way that these action sequences unfolded is every director as flexible and collaborative as Nicolas was with Drive? Its definitely a director-to-director basis. Nicolas is so egoless in his directing the nice thing about him is he knows what he wants, but hes open to suggestions within that scope, as long as youre on the same tonal path as him. We would sit down and discuss for example, the elevator fight, or a lot of the car stuff, and really dial it in, and he was just a pleasure to work with. That whole opening car chase the slow car chase a lot of people just couldnt get their heads wrapped around it, and Nicolas held to his guns and said, This is gonna be cool its in the tension, its not in the speed were gonna build tension from inside the car. And it worked, I thinkits a little different. It did work and its interesting that you bring up the fact that discussing the logistics of a slow-paced stunt scene can be as challenging as those of a higher-risk scene. From the stunt standpoint, it wasnt that hard because there wasnt that much stunt work in it, but from a choreography standpoint to make it interesting that was challenging. And you mentioned the elevator scene too along with the pawn shop scene, its really quite pivotal. Yeah that was another one that Nicolas was quite open to. Originally, they were supposed to leave the elevator and there was this whole fight outside the elevator, and we all discussed how cool it was that he kisses her and then the flipside to it where he just snaps and takes that guy out, and her leaving and the elevator closing. It was a great collaborative process with Nicolas holding to what he wanted, ultimately, but letting people weigh in on it. Its not a big fight we wanted it quick and dirty, and for Ryan to be just kind of violent, like he snapped. Have you ever been asked to perform or coordinate a stunt that you felt uncomfortable with, or straight-up refused to do? I have nottheres some things thatve been proposed where Ill find a different way to do them. Knock on wood, I have a great safety record no one has gotten hurt on anything Ive ever done and Id like to keep it that way. There are things that come along that directors or producers want or somethings written and well find a way around it, whether we have to do it in cutsthere are a million tricks to get what they want. I really cant imagine having the burden on my shoulders of not only my crews safety, but also that of huge A-list actors. There are definitely nights that I dont sleep that well. I try to lay it all out ahead of time well go out and scout something and well talk about it a million times, and you try to stress the danger zones and youll show up on the day and the DP wants to put a cameraman and an operator in a precarious spot, and theres contingency plans that you have in your pocket. The problem is that people are so used to seeing things go right, theyve almost become too comfortable. You have to prepare for the worst-case scenario. And with actors its tough, too. Thats where Ive had the most trouble not with Nicolas, he was great, but with other directors where they want to put the actor in as much as possible. If a stunt man breaks his hand or breaks his arm or something like that, its a big deal, but its not going to stop the show. If Ryan Gosling or someone like that breaks their arm, its all over the news its everywhere. Its way easier to do the stunt than to coordinate it. Tell us what you think of the stunt work in "Drive" in the comments section and on Twitter!

How a Boston Globe Reporter Tried to Reunite The Kinks and Ended Up With a Movie

In the most inspiring midlife crisis of any rock fan ever, Boston Globe arts reporter Geoff Edgers decided to try to reunite the Kinks, and film his attempt (with a lot of help from director Robert Patton-Spruill). The resulting documentary, Do It Again, debuts tonight on PBS. The Hollywood Reporter asked Edgers how he got that story. THR: You've toured the film fest circuit last year, and now Do It Again is on PBS. How do you feel? Geoff Edgers: I've gone through a whole string of different emotions. You see all these people who are in the film festivals who are incredible successes and doing it for a living. You do get tempted -- why can't my film be noticed in that way, you know? But Bill Flanagan told me, "You were never going to get rich off this thing and Ray was never gonna give you permission, so you should be pleased that you're going to on primetime." THR: Your problem was, the Kinks' Ray Davies kept eluding you, but his bandmate and brother Dave Davies and Sting, Clive Davis, Paul Weller, Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Buck, Warren Zanes and Zooey Deschanel did help. Edgers: Right before I started filming in April 2008, I met with Ray backstage in Boston. I handed him a sheet describing what I wanted to do. I had to get approval for [song and clip] licensing, he has to know about it. I'm a huge Kinks fan and I believe it would be good for Ray to have this film out there, it would be good for the Kinks. THR: Why doesn't Ray want us to see this film? Edgers: Control. The whole idea of a reunion is a very emotional thing that probably is very important to him. And to have this random guy in Boston suddenly cast himself into this issue, probably he might find it offensive. His brother participated in a way that's very very moving, I think. And, you know, it's clear that the Kinks can't be the Kinks without Dave. It's about more than just Ray. And I certainly play up the whole sibling rivalry and the problems they have, so that might also bother him. And then just on a simple level, like, he might find me annoying. I wanted the kind of thing you'd see on VH1. What I made was really the ultimate Kinks fan documentary. It's got all these stars in it, and this weird idea of me trying to get them to play with me. It's not a film that turns Ray into a villain, or turns Dave into a hero, but it does make an argument for Dave as an important figure. And somebody who, like, was...you know, was...treated poorly. And, you know, the fact is, Dave does get a voice. He talks about, you know, why he and Ray don't get along, and it doesn't make Ray look good. But it's not like I was out to savage Ray. THR: What's your budget? Edgers: Like $150,000. I raised about twenty grand on Kickstarter. I threw in probably $30,000 of my own money that I still haven't recouped. I raised around $70,000 just from other people. Two investment guys gave me $60,000. You know, my dad helped me out. I actually received incredible generosity from the folks who I'd licensed video clips from for the film. They just basically extended our film festival license -- I paid for the film festival, they extended that license for the PBS run, because they know I'm not gonna make any money off it. "To have a film and have only lost $30,000, that's actually pretty good. I'm a superfan gone mad, you know?" THR: And Sting was probably performing for less than his usual fee? Edgers: For a documentary, you don't pay them anything. Sting was unbelievable in this thing. We also got a couple people we didn't use, including Brian Wilson. And we got Kenny Jones, the drummer for The Faces. My biggest debacle may have been getting Paul McCartney to participate. I went to Las Vegas and filmed the full interview with him, and then after it was done, his managers blocked us from using it, strangely enough. Crazy, right? That was like, $25,000 from the budget right there. THR: What about Brian Wilson? Edgers: I love Brian Wilson. He...is just too difficult. THR: He talks in kind of a circumlocutious fashion. Edgers: He's a damaged soul. it just brought everything to a screeching halt when he would show up on the screen. It was almost cruel. We also didn't use Fountains of Wayne. They were just terrible. I love Fountains of Wayne, but they tried to play this song, and they didn't hit the note right. THR: What song? Edgers: "Better Days." They were having a bad day. THR: But you got some great people. Edgers: Pete Quaife, the Kinks' original bassist, who died last year, he was really, really helpful. He actually licensed an eight-minute home movie that he took during the sixties of his, like, traveling around with the Kinks. I found it actually from a bootlegger and talked to him and he said, "Oh, I had lost that over the years" and I said, "can I license that from you?" THR: So you lost money making your dream film. Edgers: Yeah, $30,000 so far. To have a film and have only lost $30,000, that's actually pretty good. I'm a superfan gone mad, you know? See a clip from Do It Again below: Untitled from Geoff Edgers on Vimeo. Related Topics Paul McCartney Zooey Deschanel Sting Clive Davis