Corbis launches Greenlight Music

Corbis, the certification agency noted for its huge photo library, has stepped in to the music certification biz with Greenlight Music, which launches today. The brand new venture, a spinoff of Corbis subsidiary Greenlight (a clearance house that handles the personality privileges of these estates as Steve McQueen and Johnny Cash in addition to entertainment content), is bowing with using the cooperation of 4 major music label groups: EMI Music Posting, Warner, Universal and The new sony/ATV. Clients include Hallmark, using its audio handmade cards, and toymaker Hasbro. The L.A.-based company bills itself as "a breakthrough online solution that can take music certification from the complicated process that can days, to some simple online experience needing merely a couple of clicks," based on Gary Shenk, ceo of Corbis. John Monaco, professional Vice president sales & proper marketing for EMI Music Posting, put in an argument the label is "dedicated to finding methods to simplify the sync certification process" and calls Greenlight Music a platform that "uses technology to get rid of obstacles and go ahead and take chance into new directions." Using the four label groups as partners, Greenlight touts itself like a one-stop-look for use of a lot more than a million tunes from well-known artists and songwriters, settling licenses and rates with all of relevant content proprietors. "There exists a million clients all over the world who arrived at us every single day for legendary media," Shenk told Variety, "and that we believed that adding music towards the mix was absolutely critical." Shenk described that what sets Greenlight Music aside from exactly what the labels are designed for by themselves is the fact that "the truth is marketers and labels can't administer 80% from the licenses (asked for of) them because they do not possess the manpower to give consideration to numerous the more compact deals which come in. They are excellent at advertising, television and film certification. But many of the stuff that's driving new demand -- on the internet, within companies, in online presentations -- they are unable to administer effectively. "90-nine percent of popular music isn't possessed by one entity -- it's possessed with a label in most cases multiple marketers. So (labels) have switched that to us. Yes, we are a middleman, but we are a middleman that the very first time has aggregated the field of popular music online." Contact Steve Chagollan at steve.chagollan@variety.com

Forget About Muppets For Jason Segel

Gary's going for a puppet breakIs he a guy, or perhaps is he a Muppet? Jason Segel appears to possess made his decision. In the end heard a week ago that the follow-as much as the perfectly revivified Muppets was now within the planning stages, Segel has confirmed to Collider he will not be engaged.InchIt is true but it is totally friendly," Segel states. "Transpire ended up being to bring The Muppets back. Used to do things i set to do, and today I wanna pursue more human-related projects. All I needed to complete ended up being to set happens to allow them to do anything they wanted. I am sure I'll return in certain capacity in some places, but which was half ten years of my existence, 5 years of effort. I am ready for any little puppet break."The truth is, he's quite right. As welcome a name because he is at The Muppets, Jason was careful not to really make it The Segel Show. The heavens were Kermit and co., out of the box only right and proper. No human interloper has ever ongoing through several Muppet movie, and whatever is planned for future years, the Muppets' anarchic non-template up to now most likely dictates it will not be considered a straight-up follow up.The "safe hands" Segel mentions are Nick Stoller and James Bobin, although they are only dedicated to script responsibilities so far, and there is no indication yet of whether Bobin will direct again.We'll next see Segel in Shaun, Who LIves In Your Own Home, in the United kingdom on April 20.

Five Reasons To See 'Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie'

by Ryan Rigley Let's just go ahead and get this out of the way: some people will not enjoy this movie. It definitely isn't for the faint of heart. With that said, "Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie" is one of the funniest films of the year by far. Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, of Adult Swim's "Tim and Eric's Awesome Show: Great Job!", have never been the most convential comedians. Their sense of humor can be described as "so smart that it seems stupid," purposefully going out of their way to make the audience feel as strange and uncomfortable as humanly possible. "Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie" tells the story of two friends, Tim and Eric, who receive a billion dollars to make a movie and then squandor it all on "Hollywood makeovers" and fancy living. In order to make their money back, Tim and Eric decide to invest what little they have left into a run-down shopping mall with the hopes that they can revitalize it and finally make a profit. But, of course, things aren't always as easy as they seem. This movie is worth seeing for the sole purpose of telling people that you saw it, if nothing more. Here are five key reasons why you should give all of your money to Tim and Eric. 5. Anti-Comedy Much like Andy Kaufman, Tim and Eric thrive on telling jokes that are purposefully un-funny. The fact that the audience is expecting something funny to happen makes it twice as funny when that joke doesn't happen at all. Instead, Tim and Eric will hit you with something that's either really disturbing and scary or something that's so disgusting it'll have you in tears. 4. Super Satire Unlike "Tim and Eric Awesome Show: Great Job!", "Billion Dollar Movie" actually looks like a big budget film. Which is hilarious in and of itself being as the actual budget was much less than a billion dollars. This movie does a terrific job of very subtly poking fun at modern day Hollywood tropes and traditions. Even the beginning of the film has an unnaturally long string of fake production company logos, not unlike the fake trailers before 2008's "Tropic Thunder." 3. Robert Loggia How Tim and Eric got Robert Loggia to be in this movie remains a mystery. This eldery actor, best known for his roles in "Scarface" and "The Sopranos," is a seriously scary antagonist to the two bumbling idiots that are Tim and Eric. Loggia, who plays the rich mogul that foolishly lends his billion dollars to Tim and Eric, will stop at nothing to get his money back, going so far as to torture old women and murder young children. It's funnier or, at least, more shocking than it sounds. 2. Celebrity Cameos Robert Loggia isn't the only big name actor that appears in this film. Comedy powerhouses, such as Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, lend their comedic prowess to the insanity as well. Joining them are long time Tim and Eric collaboraters: John C. Reilly, Will Forte, and Bob Odenkirk. And let's not forget about Jeff Goldblum, who plays a character named Chef Goldblum. 1. SHRIIIIIIIIIIIMM "Sounds like shrim-p." Fans of the show will be happy to know that Tim and Eric's signature style of editing, quick-cuts and awkward video transistions, comes into play in huge way for the movie. Although the majority of the film has a straightforward narrative, there are a ton of various cutaways and fake commercials that are reminiscent of the sketches on "Tim and Eric Awesome Show: Great Job!", which feature average looking people that are clearly not professional actors. Hilarity ensues. Tell us what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!

ITV Galleries America, Leepson ink pact

ITV Galleries America has signed a general cope with David Leepson and Leepson Bounds Entertainment. Leepson is really a former primetime program development Vice president at TruTV, Vice president of national development and production for Fox Sports Internet and Cinemax Sports producer. His shingle has two Fuel TV aircraft pilots being produced. As controlling creative director tough Productions, produced, offered and executive created three shows to series orders. "David includes a stellar history in non-scripted, documentary and sports programming," stated ITV Galleries Worldwide controlling director and ITV Galleries America prexy-Boss Paul Buccieri. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Soul Surfer's AnnaSophia Robb Is The New Barbara Bradshaw

This just in: The manufacturers from the forthcoming CW spin-off series The Barbara Journals (a prequel to Candace Bushnell's franchise-starting Sex and also the City novel) have discovered their new Barbara Bradshaw in Soul Surfer/Race to Witch Mountain/Bridge to Terabithia star AnnaSophia Robb. The series "stories Carries transitional phase within the eighties when she asks her first questions regarding love, sex, friendship and family while seeking the mobile phone industry's of senior high school and Manhattan." Therefore it is essentially Gossip Girl having a Barbara Bradshaw who looks nothing beats the near future Barbara Bradshaw. Oh, fine. Why don't you? [Deadline]

Amended suit versus. merger seeks trial, damages

With ballots starting to hit members' mail boxes, competitors from the SAG-AFTRA merger have amended their suit against SAG to request for any jury trial and financial damages. Move comes per week following the four-count civil complaint was filed in La. Litigants allege the Screen Stars Guild and it is leaders are trying to merge using the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists "without performing the required research." SAG has labeled the suit "a obvious attempt for circumventing the desire from the membership" and "a pr stunt" and it has gone to live in write it off.Plaintiffs' attorney David Casselman of Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten told Variety that SAG is investing a lot more than $2.5 million around the merger. Ballots are now being mailed to 120,000 SAG people and 70,000 AFTRA people, offering the combo as giving entertainers more negotiating clout. To become approved, the merger must receive a minimum of 60% from the votes from each union.The suit is targeted at stopping SAG from counting the votes on March 30. The amended complaint alleges the litigants had asked for a delay in investing until SAG satisfied its very own fiduciary rules."The person accused deliberately and knowingly declined to follow the SAG constitutional needs, board resolutions as well as their fiduciary obligations towards the people," the complaint stated. "They ought to certainly be obligated to pay SAG for those funds consumed, whether by staff or otherwise, for time and money connected with this particular unnecessary and improper merger effort."The suit, filed by a lot more than 60 SAG people including Martin Sheen and Erectile dysfunction Harris, also suggests that SAG is breaking its very own rules by not performing an extensive analysis of mixing the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans -- that are operated individually in the unions and overseen by union-industry boards. The unions' review of the feasibility study, that contains opinions of seven lawyers with experience of the area, noted that hundreds of multi-employer pensions have merged in the last twenty five years which there's no legal obstacle to merging the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans.Monday's filings through the competitors incorporated a declaration by Alex H. Brucker, a lawyer with 30 years of expertise in worker pension and health plans, that blasted SAG for saying that merging the unions and also the plans would "only benefit" participants which "merger is the easiest method to safeguard our benefits.""These aren't supportable claims of fact," Brucker stated.Merger backers contend that mixing SAG and AFTRA can make it simpler to mix the plans like a foundation solving the issue that entertainers face for making contributions towards the separate plans after which not meeting the income qualifications. Brucker stated in the declaration the question of merging SAG and AFTRA is "indistinguishable" in the question of merging the plans and should not be looked at individually."I believe, according to my consideration of the problem, that the plan merger boosts complex issues, could create serious problems and conflicts and could cause lack of benefits for SAG and AFTRA people," Brucker stated. "The actual effect on plan benefits (or needed member and co-sponsor contributions) can't be correctly evaluated with no ERISA (Worker Retirement Earnings Security Act) Impact Report."SAG people switched lower merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both combinations.Casselman also filed a declaration by Patrick Byrnes, leader of Actuarial Consultants, who stated that the present SAG type of pension is "relatively more potent and much more advantageous" to SAG people, compared to existing AFTRA plan. "In most cases, according to my experience, it's not easy to merge an agenda with greater benefits along with a plan with lower benefits and (without additional funding) create a joint plan supplying the same as the greater benefit formula for those participants," Byrnes stated. Younger crowd stated that with no study to find out the way the pension plans could be merged, there is no method to predict the actual outcome. "But, in my opinion, chances are the mixture of the present SAG and AFTRA plans will either require additional funding or SAG benefits would need to be reduced," Byrnes added.SAG didn't have comment Monday concerning the amended complaint. Each side requested U.S. District Court Judge James Otero for any hearing on March 26.The guild filed pleadings Monday to dismiss the suit a pleading fighting the competitors lack standing to file for as well as an anti-SLAPP (proper suit against public participation) motion. Additionally, it filed a declaration by SAG national professional director David Whitened, including his assertion the merger continues to be talked about on numerous websites, webpages on well-known social networking sites, blogs, along with other online communication automobiles dedicated to internal SAG issues a few of which are member driven, most of which are maintained through the Guild and AFTRA, some by professional-merger groups, some by anti-merger groups, plus some that take no official position."Thus, the people of SAG and AFTRA have countless shops to think about the sights and knowledge of others around the merger question, and contributetheir own towards the debate," he stated. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Fox Business' Lou Dobbs Blasts The Lorax for Pushing Left Wing Agenda and Creating 'Occu-Toddlers'

With Universal's colorful animated tale The Lorax, "the President's liberal buddies in Hollywood [are] focusing on a more youthful demographic using animated movies to market their agenda to children," stated an annoyed Lou Dobbs now on Fox Business Network. Animated movies! A liberal agenda! HOW DARE THEY. What's the reason for permitting this "insidious nonsense" in to the vulnerable minds in our nation's youth? Bad raising a child, obviously. As conservative radio host Matt Patrick bellowed in the commentator pit, "We're creating Occu-small children!" Within the classic Seuss story -- modified right into a 3-D animated adventure which hits screens in a few days -- an enchanting creature known as The Lorax tries to intervene being an industrialist, driven by avarice, ravages a whole ecosystem. This could appear to create The Lorax much more "harmful" than previous Fox News concentrate on the Muppets, which required since it's villain a significantly larger and clearly unlikeable capitalist The Lorax is made to show audiences just how much they potentially share using the unwitting forest-killer The Once-ler, and that's why it is so effective to start with. My personal favorite thing about this madness happens when Patrick advocates intentional littering in cinemas as a way of protest from the Obama-brought agenda espoused through the Lorax (and also the Studio Ghibli animated pic The Key Realm of Arriety, that could lead youngsters lower the slippery slope of discussing things). Tossing popcorn containers on the floor would fly when confronted with everything Dr. Seuss's anti-deforestation, professional-atmosphere tale means, however it would also cause you to look absurd before your personal children. I believe the Lorax's face above states everything. Cause the Occu-small children! The Lorax hits theaters on March 2. [Media Matters through the Film Stage]

Ratings: The The American Idol Show Show Falls, But Nevertheless Wins Survivor Hits Series Low

When does frozen mousse trump perfectly cooked halibut? When you're on top Chef! Despite her nearly inedible, ice-hard confection, Sarah - having a couple of major backing from Tom Colicchio - handled to obtain for the finale with Paul over her friend Lindsay Autry, whose error-free, although less creative, dish sent her packing. "In my opinion they were really nitpicking in those days plus it came lower to doing something harmful like what she did against me being great, while not harmful enough," Lindsay notifies TVGuide.com. "I realize I didn't make any mistakes, however guess they preferred to determine more." Was she surprised that her well-made dish lost to such shoddy execution? Uncover below. Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Tom ColicchioTop ChefGail SimmonsPadma LakshmiBeverly KimEdward LeeGrayson SchmitzLindsay AutryNyesha ArringtonPaul QuiSarah Grueneberg

Golden Globes Trial: No Decision Likely Before Late March Or Early April

HFPA: Our Rights Are Increasingly Being Held Hostage Freelance journalist Dominic Patten is because the trial for Deadline. It seems like its apt to be a while before there's a choice inside the trial involving the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Dick Clark Productions over TV rights for the Golden Globes. Inside an order launched late Friday mid-day, Judge A. Howard Matz has totally totally reset the start clock low of February 28. To ensure that like a resource near the situation told Deadline, This may take 30 or two several weeks, so anticipate visiting a choice by no earlier than late March or early April. 7 days after closing arguments ended, the judge inside the two-week extended non-jury situation launched single-page order asking the litigants as well as the accused for just about any modified Recommended Findings of Fact. The judge bought the parties to supplement their formerly lodged Recommended Findings of Fact by delivering specific, concrete support within the trial record. Following closing arguments on February 10, Matz told the lawyers as well as the court that it'll be considered a while before I am in a position to reverse with this. Still understandably on this kind of situation with hundreds of vast amounts at risk the judge, who may have asked for supplements to every side’ formerly published evidence and documents through the trial itself, was very specific in what he wanted for that foundation for his decision inside the situation. Complaintant shall provide this support for sentences 25 through 96 of the Recommended Findings of Fact. Accused shall provide this support for sentences 15 through 151 from the Recommended Findings of Fact. These compounded Recommended Findings of Fact and will also be lodged by no after Tuesday, February 28, 2012. On February 7, the ultimate day's testimony inside the situation, Matz had advised lawyers Daniel Petrocelli for your HFPA and Marty Katz for DCP to talk to your unique clients get to their senses are available with a settlement. The Judge informed by using no settlement, which never materialized, and the choice for one for yellows inside the other, appeals frequently check this out still inside the courts once the 2013 Golden Globes seems. Whichever way he goes, an origin mentioned, he will wish to be bulletproof.

Michael Bay to direct 'Transfomers 4'

Bay Paramount's signed director Michael Bay to a two-picture deal for "Pain and Gain" and "Tranformers 4."Studio, which announced the pact Monday night, said Bay will commence shooting this spring on "Pain and Gain," then follow with the next installment in the "Transformers" franchise, to be released in the summer of 2014.Based on a true story, "Pain and Gain" follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Mark Wahlberg, long attached to topline, will be joined by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.Producers include Bay, Donald De Line and Ian Bryce.Par gave no details as to the plot of "Transformers 4," based on the Hasbro toyline. The third installment, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," took in $1.12 billion.Producers are Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce; and executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014."Michael has been working on 'Paid and Gain' for a number of years but has patiently waited for the perfect casting to trigger a start," said Adam Goodman, President of Paramount's Film Group. "Clearly his patience has paid off as we couldn't be more excited about this combo." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

'Trailer' trio reunites for vehicle comedy

TORONTO -- Stars from the Canuck cult comedy TV series "A Clip Park Boys" and it is two feature spin-offs are getting back for feature comedy "Race Dicks," it had been introduced Wednesday. "Trailer" trio Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay and Mike Cruz co-authored "Dicks," and can co-star as buddies competing inside a world-famous Newfoundland vehicle race and fundraiser for any TV funnel known as SwearNet. "Dicks" is created by Gary Howsam and Bill Marks, who'll also direct the Rollercoaster Entertainment and Vortex Words Plus Pictures production. Principal photography begins this season in Toronto, Halifax and Newfoundland, with 2013 the conclusion-line target for release. A 2-month online sponsorship campaign for "Dicks" was released recently. Howsam and Marks have producer credits on Damian Lee-helmed "The Reality,Inch starring Andy Garcia and Forest Whitaker, that is in publish. The happy couple were also producers on George Hickenlooper's "Casino Jack," starring Kevin Spacey. Wells, Tremblay and Cruz were stars, co-authors and professional producers on "The Drunk as well as on Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour," a cameo-packed comedy six-parter that broadcast on Shaw Media's Action funnel last summer time. The trio lately broadened its "Drunk, High and Unemployed" live theater tour, which went this year and 2011, to incorporate Aussie and Kiwi dates this season. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Celebrate Neil Patrick Harris Appreciation Day With 'A Very Harold And Kumar' Exclusive!

Neil Patrick Harris, we salute you. Both the real you, and the filthy, seemingly immortal version of yourself you portray in the "Harold and Kumar" movies. Few other humans can take a shotgun blast to the back and live to tell the tale. I know of no other to get kicked out of Heaven for making the son of God look like a game-less nobody. Plain and simple, straight up: you are awesome, NPH. So today, we're proud to be a part of Neil Patrick Harris Appreciation Day, celebrating the Blu-ray and DVD release of "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas." We even have an exclusive clip from the home video release for your viewing pleasure, but a warning: this is not safe for work by any means. Of course, the alternate universe NPH would have it no other way. Spread your Neil-worship on Twitter using the hash-tag #ILOVENPH today! "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" is available on Blu-ray and DVD today (February 7).

Cinemax renews 'Luck' for second season

HBO's 'Luck' opened to at least one.a million audiences Sunday.Cinemax is betting large on "Luck" and it has because of the series another season. The equine racing drama from creator David Milch and director Michael Mann opened to at least one.a million audiences in the first telecast Sunday which number increased to two.two million whenever you count its two same-evening repeats. A sneak preview of "Luck" in December following a season finale of "Boardwalk Empire" came 1.a million too, so up to now the pilot has received 3.3 million audiences, based on Nielsen. Individuals figures are far underneath the latter Cinemax dramas debuts, but rankings anticipation for "Luck" will always be modest. "Boardwalk Empire" came 4.8 million audiences because of its initial episode if this opened in September 2010 and "Bet on Thrones" attracted 2.two million if this released in April this past year. To be able to generate more awareness, the pay cabler made then the second episode on popular digital platform Cinemax Continue Sunday because the pilot was airing. Show stars Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte and John Ortiz, in addition to a number of other people who play figures whose daily existence happens in the racetrack. Production for that second season will start inside a couple of days. Cinemax has purchased 10 episodes which will air beginning next The month of january. "We could not become more thrilled using the critical reaction to this beautiful good article, and that we are extremely looking forward to where David and Michael intend to take these incredible figures," stated Cinemax programming leader Michael Lombardo. Milch, Mann and Carolyn Strauss are professional producers. Within the 9 p.m. timeslot Sunday, Showtime defeated "Luck" with a brand new episode of "Shameless." Skein came 1.3 million audiences which was then a million for Don Cheadle starrer "House of Lies." Both Cinemax and Showtime is going to be confronted with severe Sunday competition within the next couple of days in the broadcast side. A few days ago it is the Super Bowl on NBC, adopted not much later through the Grammys on CBS after which on February. 26 may be the Academy awards telecast on ABC. Last year's Super Bowl came 111 million, which makes it probably the most-viewed show in TV history. Having a game from the Gambling versus. the NY Titans, some are speculating the overall game might top that mark. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

'Spartacus' preem up versus. last season

"Spartacus:" Vengeance" came 1.3 million audiences because of its initial telecast Friday and a pair of.7 million combined from four showings over the past weekend. The 2 Friday telecasts were a tenPercent bump over last year's opening-evening premiere of prequel "Spartacus: Gods from the Arena." However, last Feb Starz was offered free of charge to Dish TV clients and roughly 9 million potential audiences were put into the Starz world. That certain-year promotion is placed to finish inside a couple of days, so anticipate seeing the "Spartacus: Vengeance" amounts drop substantially when individuals audiences do not have Starz available any longer. Actually, due to individuals additional 9 million audiences who could watch "Vengeance" earlier this weekend because of the promotion, the rankings for "Vengeance" were really less than "Gods from the Arena," despite more total audiences. Starz will offer you 10 instances of "Vengeance," lower in the 13 instances of the very first season. Following the dying of star Andy Whitfield because of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, charge character was recast with Aussie thesp Liam McIntyre. He co-stars with Lucy Lawless and Peter Mensah. Skein, that is created through the pay cabler, was produced by Steven S. DeKnight. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Sarah Jessica Parker is Demi's 'Lovelace' replacement

ParkerSarah Jessica Parker has been cast as Gloria Steinem in "Lovelace," replacing Demi Moore in the role.Producers made the announcement Friday, three days after Moore ankled due to seeking treatment for exhaustion. Chloe Sevigny recently joined the cast as a feminist journalist on assignment for a men's magazine to find out who the real Linda Lovelace is.Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman are directing the pic, which stars Amanda Seyfried as Linda Boreman, aka "Deep Throat" star Linda Lovelace. Peter Sarsgaard and Sharon Stone co-star alongside Juno Temple, Wes Bentley, Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick and James Franco."Lovelace" is a Millennium Films production that will be produced by Heidi Jo Markel for Eclectic Pictures, Laura Rister and Jason Weinberg for Untitled Entertainment and Jim Young for Animus Films. Exec producers include Boaz Davidson, Danny Dimbort, Mark Gill, W. Merritt Johnson, Avi Lerner, Trevor Short and John Thompson for Nu Image/Millennium Films.Steinem founded Ms. Magazine, which published the article "The Real Linda Lovelace," in which Steinem discussed Linda's relationship with her abusive pornographer husband Chuck Traynor, who she blamed for creating the myth that Linda "loved to be sexually used and humiliated." When Lovelace announced her first memoir "Ordeal," she was joined at the press conference by Steinem and other members of the feminist group Women Against Pornography. Steinem later wrote the introduction for Lovelace's 1986 memoir, "Out of Bondage."Production on the Andy Bellin-scripted pic began Dec. 20 in Los Angeles, and the film is being made with the cooperation of Boreman's estate. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Japan's Sono unveils new project

TOKYO -- Japanese helmer Sion Sono, a festival favorite with "Cold Fish," "Guilty of Romance" and "Himizu," is working on a new pic, "Kibo no kuni" (The Land of Hope). Set in Japan's northern Tohoko region, devastated in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, pic will focus on three couples whose lives are torn apart by the disaster. "The story depicts the bonds between husband and wife, between parent and child and between lovers," Sono explained at a Thursday presser. Shooting started on Jan. 13 and is skedded to wrap early February. A release date and distributor have not yet been decided. Sono's most recent pic, "Himizu," was also set in the disaster zone following a post-March-11 rewrite by the helmer. It screened in competition in Venice, with its leads, Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido, sharing the Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor and actress. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Pilot Season: CBS Orders Jerry Bruckheimer Drama Trooper

Jerry Bruckheimer CBS has ordered a pilot for Jerry Bruckheimer's Trooper. The one-hour drama centers on a sensible mother who becomes a NY state trooper. Heroes scribe Aron Eli Coleite will write and executive-produce alongside Bruckheimer (CSI franchise, The Amazing Race) and Jonathan Littman. KristieAnne Reed is also attached as an co-executive producer. Pilot Season: CBS orders comedy from The Muppets's Nick Stoller CBS previously picked up dramas Elementary, a modern take on Sherlock Holmes, and the legal series Baby Big Shot, along with the untitled Nick Stoller comedy.

One Tree Hill's James Lafferty: Nathan Actually Needs Dan In His Life This Season

James Lafferty Will One Tree Hill's Dan Scott gain forgiveness in this final season? As the resident villain, Dan (Paul Johansson) has long been shunned by his son Nathan (James Lafferty) and his family, but on the Season 9 premiere a much more broken-down Dan returned to town in hopes of convincing Nathan and his wife Haley to help him to get back on his feet. "In the past, Dan's presence has brought a lot of turmoil and conflict, but this year, the way he colors Nathan's life is much, much different," Lafferty tells TVGuide.com. "Nathan's actually going to need Dan a bit more this year." Tragedy, transformation and troubled couples: What to expect From One Tree Hill's last season But can Dan ever redeem himself for killing his brother Keith, among other things? Lafferty says, "That remains to be seen. That's largely at the heart of Nathan's storyline this season and that's one of the things we have to see him come to terms with - whether or not he can forgive Dan towards the end." The cast of One Tree Hill shares their all-time favorite episodes It only seems fitting that the series, which began by highlighting Nathan and Dan's intense relationship, comes full circle with the storyline - although it seems one of them might not make it out alive. When asked about that body Haley identifies in the season premiere, Lafferty says, "It definitely has something to do with Nathan's storyline, but I can't tell you how much." In addition to wrapping up a nine-seasons-long saga, Lafferty says the show will subtly nod to earlier times. "There's a prevalent feeling of nostalgia in our last couple of episodes. We allude back to the original structure of the show and we hint at the beginning when it was about the Ravens basketball team and when it was about Tree Hill high," Lafferty says. "We don't focus too hard on it, it's not as if we go back and play those roles again, but we definitely harken back to a time when things were simpler for our characters and their formative years." Lafferty, who's one of the few original cast members remaining, says that although fans will be "thrown for a loop," they'll ultimately be satisfied by the way Nathan Scott signs off. "Tying this relationship up between Nathan and Dan is something that was really needed for Nathan's storyline, Dan's storyline and probably the show as a whole. This season, Dan's back in a huge way and there's very close attention paid to that relationship between father and son that either needs a total break off or mending."

New Abe Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter Poster

Plus some fresh photos...We are still a couple of several weeks from the discharge of Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter, and there is no manifestation of a trailer at this time, though MTV went behind the curtain. However the team behind the film are searching to help keep it within our minds with a brand new poster and a few fresh images, which you can observe below.The poster, which arrives thanks to the IMP Honours site, is really a familiar lick to anybody who saw the 2 marketing pieces that showed up last month. While using Lincoln subsequently memorial, that one is constantly on the push the fundamental idea: that Lincoln subsequently, before and throughout his tenure because the 16th Leader of America, discovered the presence of vampires of the underworld and fought against to defeat their evil fanged plots no matter what.Ben Master may be the guy within the muttonchops and stovepipe hat, who swears revenge after his mother is wiped out with a vampire. Lincoln subsequently will get some help from friendly fanged fellow Henry Sturgess (Dominic Cooper) and should face lower the evil Adam (Rufus Sewell), who's dealing with slave proprietors to provide human fodder for his fellow nightwalkers.On the way, we see Lincoln subsequently become the presidential figure appreciated through background and obtain a look at his personal existence, including his marriage to Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).Wanted's Timur Bekmambetov is behind your camera for that one, with Seth Grahame-Cruz adapting their own genre-mashing book. Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter is going to be on August 2, once the large question is going to be whether or not this can be more entertaining than its title. The brand new pictures come via Germany's Movie-Infos.Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter Photos

Blu-ray up 20 % this year

Blu-ray increased Hollywood's homevideo biz this year, growing 20% to top $2 billion in sales the very first time since its launch in 2006. You will find now 40 million products that may play Blu-ray dvds in houses, up 38% in comparison to 2010, based on the Digital Entertainment Group, whose annual sales figures were launched Tuesday in the Electronic Devices Show in Vegas. Overall investing for that home theatre category was slightly lower 2% for that year, producing $18 billion, however the industry's sales performance clearly stable this year, the DEG stated. Total consumer investing on home shot entertainment for that other half of the season rose nearly 1% to $9.7 billion, driven with a strong third quarter which was up 5%, the very first quarterly increase since 2008. The purchase of dvds fell 13% to create nearly $9 billion, mainly due to reduced DVD sales. Around the rental side, traditional retail shops required the greatest hit this past year, shedding 29% to earn $1.6 billion. Kiosks, operated by Redbox along with other suppliers, demonstrated probably the most development in the course, up 31% to gather $1.7 billion in costs. The DVD-by-mail biz still saw 4% growth this past year, generating $2.4 billion. Any manifestation of growth -- particularly when it involves disc sales -- is nice news for galleries because they turn to keep their homevideo companies healthy through any means necessary. More lately, that's incorporated creating longer home windows between when new game titles are for sale to rent through Netflix, Redbox and Blockbuster once they hit store shelves to buy and adopting digital locker services like UltraViolet to encourage sales. The very best selling Blu-sun rays of the season were Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter - Deathly Hallows, Part 1," "Harry Potter - Deathly Hallows, Part 2," Disney's "Twisted" and "Cars 2," Paramount's "Transformers - Dark of Moon," Universal's "Bridesmaids," Fox's "Rio," "DreamWorks' "The Assistance,Inch Disney's "Lion King" and WB's "Hangover Part 2," based on Nielsen VideoScan First Alert. Five from the game titles offered a lot more than 2 million dvds. A lot more than 100 UltraViolet game titles is going to be offered by the main galleries this season which allow customers to gain access to the flicks in the cloud to experience on electronic products registered using the digital locker. The very first game titles grew to become available this past year through The new sony Pictures Home Theatre, Universal Galleries Home Theatre and Warner Home Video. Lionsgate and Vital Home Media Distribution launch their first game titles this season. Around the three dimensional front, sales of three dimensional Blu-ray dvds also have began to locate some traction, with available game titles a lot more than tripling this year, growing from 20 to 65, while unit sales elevated a lot more than six occasions within the same period. Films available as three dimensional Blu-sun rays include Fox's "Avatar," Disney's "The Lion King," "Cars 2" and "Pirates from the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." Other findings through the DEG: -- Electronic sell through (EST) was up 9% for that year to earn $554 million. -- VOD rose another 7% to $1.86 billion. -- Subscription-based streaming services like Netflix produced $993.six million. -- Both era and catalog sales of Blu-ray game titles saw double digit development of 20% this year. -- Total Blu-ray transmission this year leaped 38% (including BD set-tops, PS3s and home entertainment models) with total household transmission of Blu-ray compatible products now at nearly 40 million U.S. houses. -- You will find now a lot more than 74.5 million U.S. homes with HDTVs a lot more than 27 million HDTVs were bought within the U.S. this year. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Katee Sackhoff Joins Riddick

She'll play in the female leadWe've become accustomed to get all the news in regards to the presently untitled Tales Of Riddick follow-up from Vin Diesel's Facebook page it's almost an unpredicted to find out something appear elsewhere. But Deadline might be the website verifying that former Battlestar Galactica star Katee Sackhoff is becoming in final discussions to simply accept female lead.Sackhoff, who cemented herself into sci-fi history since the cigar-chomping, bar-brawling, viper-flying Starbuck, is acquiring in the deal to see Dahl, a Nordic mercenary around the quest for Richard B. Riddick.The actress was mentioned to become involved dating back November a year ago, along with Bokeem Woodbine and Dork Bautista, nevertheless the casting process was positioned on hold when the finances looked somewhat shaky and production round the new film was briefly shut lower. Things seem to become fully in line now, which we expect others to register shortly, supposing they haven't required to start other projects.They'll all join Diesel and Karl Urban, who's reprising his role as Necromonger Vaako. With David Twohy back on writing and pointing duties, Riddick (or whatever it eventually eventually ends up being referred to as) needs to be out either later this year or mid 2013.Sackhoff, meanwhile, gets the Haunting In Georgia, Lockdown and Sexy Evil Genius set to achieve inside the next season roughly, and contains also acquired employment in TV cop drama Longmire.

WGA Nominees Announced

The Writers Guild of America, West and Writers Guild of America, East have announced their nominees for the best screenplays of 2011, and it's a fantastic group. So happy that not only "Bridesmaids" snuck into the Original Screenplay category, but the wonderful "50/50" and "Win Win," as well. As expected, "Midnight in Paris" and "Young Adult" round out the category.In Adapted Screenplay, there were no real surpries. Oscar frontrunners "The Descendants," "Hugo," "Moneyball," and "The Help" all received nods. In addition, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" earned a spot.It's important to note certain films were not eligible due to the peculiar WGA rules. These include contenders like "Drive," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Beginners." CONTINUE READING ON BEHIND THE SCENES

Good BCS start for ESPN

The Rose Bowl scored the best non-NFL rating for ESPN since last years BCS championship game. ESPN is off to a pretty good start in its second season airing college football's Bowl Championship Series, as Monday's two high-scoring nailbiters produced solid ratings. The Rose Bowl game from Pasadena, in which Oregon topped Wisconsin 45-38, averaged 17.6 million viewers and an 11.8 coverage household rating from about 5:10-8:40 p.m. ET, according to Nielsen. While down from last year's huge 13.0 rating for the matchup of Wisconsin against TCU, it reps the best non-NFL rating for ESPN since last year's BCS title game (Auburn-Oregon). Game did a 34.8 in Milwaukee and a 29.7 in Portland, Ore. And the nightcap, an overtime contest that saw Oklahoma State outlast Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl from Glendale, Ariz., averaged 13.7 million viewers and a 9.7 coverage household rating -- up 37% over last year's 7.2 for the Fiesta matchup between Oklahoma and Connecticut. The local scores Monday night in Oklahoma City (36.7) and San Francisco (13.9) were the highest on record for an ESPN bowl game. Combined, ESPN's two-game household average of 10.7 was up 8% from last year's 9.9 and figured to make ESPN the top-rated network on Monday night when nationals and demo data are released. ESPN also noted that live viewership for both of Monday's BCS games soared on its ESPN3 online network. The Rose Bowl had 347,000 unique viewers (up 46% from last year) and the Fiesta Bowl saw 291,000 unique viewers (up 80%). On the broadcast side Monday, CBS aired original episodes of its lineup and was paced by "Two and a Half Men" (prelim 4.4/10 in 18-49, 13.8 million) and "2 Broke Girls" (prelim 4.3/10, 12.0 million). ABC kicked off its season of "The Bachelor" (prelim 2.4/6, 7.7 million), down 17% vs. last year but still ahead of the combined 8-10 p.m. showing for NBC's competing reality entries "Who's Still Standing?" (prelim 1.5/3, 5.6 million) and "Fear Factor" (prelim 2.5/6, 7.9 million). The Alphabet then did reasonably well at 10 p.m. with a special preview of "Celebrity Wife Swap" (prelim 2.4/6, 6.3 million), which ran second among the broadcasters to CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (prelim 2.9/7, 11.7 million) and outperformed the demo delivery of the two most recent original episodes of "Castle" to air in the Monday-at-10 slot. "Wife Swap" bowed in its regular Tuesday 9 o'clock slot last night. Due to the New Year's holiday, the primetime ratings report and Nielsen charts for the Dec. 26-Jan. 1 frame will appear in Thursday's paper this week. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

China checks culture

Jintao'Beginning of the Great Revival'China's President Hu Jintao is urging the country to resist what he calls hostile forces in the West that are using culture -- apparatchik-speak for Hollywood movies, among other things -- to sow division.He called on authorities to expand China's cultural influence in a speech to Communist Party leaders in October, made public in the Party magazine Qiushi (Seeking Truth) this week."We must clearly see that international hostile forces are intensifying the strategic plot of Westernizing and dividing China, and ideological and cultural fields are the focal areas of their longterm infiltration," Hu told the annual policy meeting of the Party's Central Committee, effectively the 365 most powerful people in China.Clearly the most hostile international force is the U.S., or more specifically Hollywood, and Hu's comments are in line with the Party's recent decision to boost the local culture industries, such as movies, books and art, while reinforcing socialist principles.The article in Seeking Truth, founded in 1958 by Mao Tse-tung, is most likely a sign that Hu is hammering home the policy of boosting China's cultural influence at the start of a new year.The Communist Party often characterizes efforts to push socialist values as an ideological struggle with the West, especially the U.S.The Party is trying to shore up support for its socialist principles at a time when there are mounting calls for greater representation from China's growing middle class plus rising anger at corruption and land grabs by property developers.The most popular films in China in recent years have been overwhelmingly Hollywood blockbusters, including "Avatar" plus the "Harry Potter" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchises, although there have been some local exceptions.The Party has tried its hand at its own blockbusters: 2009's "The Founding of a Republic" marking 60 years of Communist rule, was popular but last year's "Beginning of the Great Revival" was not a success.The Party keeps a tight grip on cultural output through censorship, and building up a cultural bulwark against calls for reform is crucial.Recently it rolled back freedoms for reality TV skeins, gameshows and talent programs on satellite TV. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Take advantage of Fiennes talks Skyfall

Concrete particulars concerning approaching Bond movie Skyfall are actually couple of in number since the film's official title was introduced, but Take advantage of Fiennes has revealed a little bit about what expect from his character."I'm allowed to convey I'm a government agent," revealed Fiennes for the Mail On Sunday. See, we stated it absolutely was only the briefest of clips!Larger rates of interest would be the reactivation of Bond's official website 007.com, that's been relaunched together with a countdown clock for the film's release, together with a welcome video recorded by co-producer Michael G Wilson.It is fairly light on detail, with Wilson while using chance by means of saying thanks to Bond fans for ongoing support since the famous theme increases without anyone's understanding. Slight it may be, nevertheless it was enough to rekindle our excitement for film number 23.Skyfall will probably be released inside the Uk on 26 October 2012. Hopefully we'll learn more to do with the completely new cast of figures inside the coming several days...