'The Birds' Mystery Solved: Was Poison responsible?

Within The month of the month of january -- if the made an appearance just like you couldn't deal with eventually without reading through through of a rash of bizarre bird deaths -- you might have been pardoned for adding 'The Birds' for the Netflix queue wishing of finding techniques to outlive the arrival birdpocalypse. The 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film remains one of the most frightening cautionary tales ever, if possibly because of its mystery: Hitch based the film, simply, around the 1961 incident in Monterey Bay, California, where seabirds rammed themselves into houses. Fifty years later, it seems the impetus behind the bizarre occurrence continues to be viewed as. "I am pretty thinking the wild wild birds were poisoned," mentioned ocean environmentalist Sibel Bargu of Louisiana Condition College in Baton Rouge to USA Today, most most likely while a thunderclap skyrocketed behind her. The reason behind the poisoning? Not just a platinum blonde trying to find revenge, but plankton. According to Bargu and her team, who questioned the items in the stomach of turtles and seabirds acquired from Monterey Bay in 1961, "contaminant-making algae were found in 79% in the plankton the creatures ate." The contaminant created was nerve-dangerous, which meant the wild wild birds experienced from confusion, seizures and eventual dying. According to USA Today, the same contaminant destroyed four folks Canada's Prince Edward Island later, after they consumed contaminated mussels. In the circle of existence twist, the wild wild birds likely ate infected anchovies, that have eaten the plankton. And the way did the plankton get infected themselves? Likely from seeping septic tanks, which have been set up in early sixties following a housing boom in Monterey Bay. [via USA Today] [Photo: Everett Collection] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Money free of charge? Sounds good in my opinion

Charlie Sheen made a lot of money since the star of two and a half Males, but more youthful crowd offered within their settlement to go away the show.For any very long time, I've talked about folks Hollywood being paid out exorbitant sums not to work. Professionals fired with years remaining on contracts. Producers paid out penalties must be pilot or series didn't get bought. Stars signed to lucrative holding deals that found nothing.Until recently, though, it never happened in my opinion this is often a choice in newspapers. I Rapidly saw reviews that outgoing NY Occasions Boss Jesse Robinson will probably be paid out as much next season ($4.5 million) not to get results for the business as she'd have observed she continued to be in their job.Granted, Robinson's in management, but that's still a very Hollywood-style exercise in something-for-nothing within the Old Gray Lady. In addition, it makes sense lavish severance packages for the former Boss of Gannett, which creates USA Today, and professionals at Tribune.Had I known it had been possible, I'd have looked into auctioning off my non-services age groups ago.So this is a thought -- or really, a great deal a lot more like another-world fantasy, a la "It's a Wonderful Existence" -- prior to the holidays: Pool assets if needed, creating a deal to put me out of your misery.To people who find my reviews obnoxious, ill-informed and every once in awhile mean-spirited (and you're simply available I have emails to prove it), it shouldn't take much to exile me with a beach somewhere. Me -- unlike my midsection, developed through painstaking years of cheesy food and sedentary TV viewing -- are relatively modest, especially with the standards of, say, exactly what it needed not to-employ Charlie Sheen.With little prodding, I am in a position to consider several reality-TV producers who'd welcome the opportunity to place me to pasture -- along with a couple of them could probably ft the total amount from petty cash. Either that, or from whatever dazzling pawn-shop/storage/gold-mining "finds" are discovered in their shows.Incidentally, let's Not selfish and limit this proposal in my opinion. My conjecture is there's an entire selection of cranky experts and journalists who'd happily keep their lacerating pans and tricky queries privately beneath the proper conditions.So forget pay-or-play deals. Spend, and a lot of ink-stained wretches would happily pass time getting fun with Wii consoles, and watching black-and-white-colored classics on TCM.Consider that certain instance where ill-become Hollywood cash will truly buy you something tangible: Peace in the world and good will toward males? Well, no, but no less than less bad will toward absurd plot twists, groan-inducing punch lines and staged "spontaneous" moments.The bottom line is, by having to pay experts not to criticize, you would be reaping helpful benefits from bang (by bang, I'm speaking concerning the peace of virtually no bang) for that dollars. How often is it possible to condition that?Earlier throughout my career, I strongly remember a senior executive getting unceremoniously left by his network (OK, ABC), and mentioning to at least one of his co-employees it made an appearance as being a shame."Are you currently presently kidding?" he asked for. "Everybody should get fired such as this only one time.InchEven though a lot of journalists are actually cut lower lately, relatively handful of have seen exactly what it feels want to be fired "such as this.In . At the risk of speaking on their own account, I'm confident many could be ready to learn.Inefficient? Maybe, but an recognized (if every once in awhile griped about) cost of performing business.As they say in latenight advertisements, there's more! Beyond just promising not to have a look at shows, I won't even watch them. Really, I'll throw because part just like a bonus in the event you order at this time around.Also sure, I hear negative people available and naysayers insisting simply how much we'd miss getting platforms to vent our opinions, that's certainly true. Yet around I like the job, I don't relish the options of watching a few dozen midseason aircraft aircraft pilots between now as well as the Rose Bowl a great deal that we couldn't conjure an additional way to take some time if pressed (and not incidentally, unburdened by concerns about mortgage obligations).However, I suspect many in Hollywood would independently miss reading through through critical venom keen on others -- especially pals and neighbors -- but hey, you can't make an omelet needing to break some eggs. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com

Controversial Vanity Fair Writer Christopher Hitchens Dies at 62

Christopher Hitchens Controversial writer Christopher Hitchens, whose works slammed religion as well as such public figures as Mother Teresa and Henry Kissinger, has died, according to the Vanity Fair. He was 62. Hitchens, who was a contributing editor to the magazine for nearly two decades, died of pneumonia at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after a long battle with esophageal cancer. See the celebs we lost this year "Christopher Hitchens was a wit, a charmer, and a troublemaker, and to those who knew him well, he was a gift from, dare I say it, God," Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter wrote. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a writer who could match the volume of exquisitely crafted columns, essays, articles, and books he produced over the past four decades." Born in Portsmouth, England, Hitchens studied at Oxford before writing for the left-wing magazine The New Statesman. He eventually moved to the U.S. and in the 1990s began appearing on cable television where he famously criticized then-president Bill Clinton. In 1992, he joined Vanity Fair, where he wrote controversial essays about such high-profile people as Michael Moore, Mel Gibson, George W. Bush and Mother Teresa. In a 2004 piece for Slate about Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, Hitchens wrote, "Fahrenheit 9/11 is a sinister exercise in moral frivolity, crudely disguised as an exercise in seriousness. It is also a spectacle of abject political cowardice masking itself as a demonstration of 'dissenting' bravery." Hitchens also wrote many books, including the 2007 bestseller, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. The author published his final collection, Arguably, this past September. Hitchens, who was married twice, is survived by his three children. Watch a recent interview with Hitchens:

Keanu Reeves Can Be A Guy Of Tai Chi

Funding guaranteed for directorial debutWe've noted for a while that Keanu Reeves was trying challenging a eco-friendly light from someone for his dream project. And he's now finally been effective, with Village Roadshow and Universal walking around finance and distribute Guy Of Tai Chi, along with China Film Group and Wanda Media.Reeves will direct the film, additionally to co-starring with Tiger Chen, who they are fully aware from his Matrix days. Chen was part of the extensive team that made sure that Keanu would "know kung fu". Plot particulars are scarce, but we're apparently searching within the tale from the youthful martial artist who must face some difficult options. Reeves has mentioned he'd love playing the villain, there's however no confirmation on that up to now.That which you know for several is always that Reeves is planning Guy Of Tai Chi becoming an afectionate himage to classic kick-ass cinema. "There's 18 fights," he revealed in April. "We've timed it. It comes down lower to forty minutes of fighting. If only to produce a good, solid kung fu movie. Good story, good plot - but let's find good quality kung fu going!" The film's occur Beijing, and may shoot in Mandarin and British.Village Roadshow's Glen Basser mentioned today that, "We are thrilled to announce Guy Of Tai Chiunder the Village Roadshow Pictures Asia label also to extend our extended-standing relationship with Keanu." (Village Roadshow were also behind the Matrix trilogy).Universal's David Kosse meanwhile, considered together with, "Guy Of Tai Chihas an amazing pedigree of filmmakers and that we are thrilled to get familiar with Keanu's directorial debut."Keanu's cameras start submiting February. Meanwhile, he'll receive his fighting styles on in 47 Ronin late in 2012, that people are rather excited.

Frederick Gordon-Levitt Along With Other Golden Globes Nominations We are Psyched About

Since we are as a direct consequence from the Golden Globe nominations the ones everywhere are concentrating on the snubs and robberies, this is an important time for you to think about the options we're absolutely deeply in love with. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association did have the ability to acknowledge a number of the 2011 best product regardless of the annual longlist of snubs, here would be the picks you want to applaud out of this year's area of challengers. Fixing the SAG Mistakes Most likely the greatest good the HFPA did this season was fixing the oversights committed for the Screen Stars Guild. The stars union snubbed a few of the year's best performances including Michael Fassbender for "Shame," Albert Brooks for "Drive," and Shailene Woodley for "The Descendants." These omissions were undoubtedly probably the most glaring for that SAGs and also the HFPA did the best factor and increased their chances for Oscar nominations. Two for that Gos To put it simply, the guy had an amazing year. Ryan Gosling not just starred in three of the greatest films of the season, but handed in consistently stellar performances. I'll ignore the Lead Actor - Drama nomination came for "The Ides of March" rather than for "Drive," but his jerk for "Crazy, Stupid, Love" was both unpredicted and entirely deserved. Frederick Gordon-Levitt for '50/50' No entirely surprising nomination, but Frederick Gordon-Levitt deserved it for his operate in "50/50." He's established themself recently among the best youthful stars in Hollywood, so anytime JGL will get honours recognition, it's proof the HFPA is having to pay attention right stars. Brendan Gleeson for 'The Guard' He's been silently stealing moments for a long time, therefore it is nice to determine Brendan Gleeson get recognition for that under-seen "The Guard." Gleeson plays a bigger than existence local officer that may have gained him more severe honours consideration when the movie have been pressed harder. Fortunately, the HFPA searched for it and rightfully recognized Gleeson for his hilariously dark performance. Retroactively Nominating the Cast of 'The Wire' Both Idris Elba and Dominic West walked away with nominations for his or her focus on television, and frankly, it feels as though justice. Once the reveal that lots of people consider among the best drama series ever, "The Wire," initially broadcast, it did not score a singal nomination in the HFPA association. Now, finally, it appears like Stringer Bell and Jimmy McNulty are becoming their due. Inform us that which you think about the nominations within the comments as well as on Twitter!

TV TEASER: HBOs Wager On Thrones

Cinemax tonight unspooled a completely new teaser for your approaching second season of fantasy series Wager On Thrones titled Cold Winds Are Rising. The GOT trailer opened up just before the 2nd season finale of Boardwalk Empire. Both series showed up slots on AFI’s report on the ten Best TV Programs of year released this mid-day.

The Amazing Spider-Man And The Dark Knight Rises Roll Out New Posters

New posters for The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises appeared within 24 hours of each other Friday and Saturday. With the clock running out on 2011 Sony and Warner Bros aren’t wasting time looking back. It’s all about what’s next. Marc Webb’s reboot of the Spider-Man franchise with Andrew Garfield as the webslinger makes it to theaters July 3, followed by the third installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman triptych with Christian Bale on July 20.

It's Almost Here: Movieline's Walk of Shame Hits New you are able to city on Saturday

You’ve seen the locations. You’ve (hopefully) seen the film. Now, NYers, you are requested to reside in out no less than regions of Michael Fassbender’s acclaimed Manhattan journey on Saturday throughout Movieline’s Walk of Shame. [UPDATE: We’re livetweeting in route! Continue reading through for particulars…] I cordially invite you to definitely certainly join me, West Coast editor Jen Yamato, together with other special site visitors on 12 ,. 10 after we convene for drinks and holiday cheer at three in the bars featured in Steve McQueen’s celebrated new film. The festivities commence within the building where the film’s protagonist lives, proceeding forward for the Flatiron Lounge, the traditional Hotel and our terminus within the Parkside Lounge. (Refresh your memory in the film’s locations with Movieline’s interactive Shame map of Manhattan). More particulars is to follow fathers and moms ahead, but for the moment, please consider saving the date and adding some or our Saturday itinerary for your own personel (all occasions EST): 5 p.m.: Meet first quantity of participants at Brandon’s apartment building (9 W. 31st Street) for walk to Flatiron Lounge 5:30 p.m.: Reach Flatiron Lounge (37 W. 19th St) 6:30 p.m.: Depart for Standard Hotel 6:50-7:00 p.m.: Reach Standard Hotel (848 Washington St.) take elevator to top floor (The Boom Boom Room) 8:30 p.m.: Depart break for supper 10 p.m. - ?: Reach Parkside Lounge (317 E. Houston St.) to seal out evening. We’ll be livetweeting the proceedings while using the hashtag #walkofshame, which you'll want to lead with the idea to just like a participant or following along at Movieline. Spread the word, NYers, and make sure presenting her. Hopefully that will help you in route!

Rand Holston joins Paradigm

CAA alum Rand Holston is joining Paradigm as an agent. Holston will be in the motion picture department and will also work closely with Andrew Ruf in the agency's Motion Picture Finance Group. During his tenure at CAA, Holston was active in the international finance scene and was part of the team that helped open and manage CAA's Beijing office. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Producers Guild Announces 5 Documentary Nominees

He made a generation of moviegoers afraid to go canoeing. Bill McKinney, the actor who played one of crazed mountain men in Deliverance and famously ordered one particularly unfortunate camper to "squeal like a pig," died Thursday at the age of 80. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths A prolific artist up until his death, McKinney's career included dozens of film credits (including 7 Clint Eastwood titles) and appearances on television series such as In The Heat of the Night, Baywatch and Walker, Texas Ranger. But McKinney was always associated with Deliverance. The 1972 film, starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty, followed a group of men on an ill-fated river trip into the Appalachian wilderness where they are hunted down by a group of sadistic locals. McKninney, credited only as "Mountain Man," appeared in the movie's infamous rape scene. He seemed to relish the role, operating his official website under the domain www.squeallikeapig.com. His death was confirmed Dec. 1 on his Facebook page. "Our dear Bill McKinney passed away at Valley Presbyterian Hospice," reads the statement. "An avid smoker for 25 years of his younger life, he died of cancer of the esophagus. He was 80 and still strong enough to have filmed a Dorito's commercial 2 weeks prior to his passing, and he continued to work on his biography with his writing partner. Hopefully 2012 will bring a publisher for the wild ride his life was. He is survived by son Clinton, along with several ex-wives." Today the angels play "Dueling Banjos": PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Hollywood's Notable Deaths Related Topics

Within the Art Basel Fair: Miami's A-List Party

Vital Pictures"Hugo" The Nation's Board of Review, a NY-based panel of film professionals, teachers, historians, and students that's been meting out best-of-the-year movie honours since 1909 -- two decades more than the Academy -- selected its 2011 honorees the 2009 mid-day, and provided an attention-boost for several challengers that certainly needed one.our editor recommendsBAFTA Los Angeles' Britannia Honours Recognition Ben Stiller, Helena Bonham Carter'The Artist,' 'Take Shelter' Dominate Indie Spirit Award Nominations'The Artist' Wins NYFCC 2011 Best Picture AwardWhat the Gotham Honours Results Mean -- And Do Not (Analysis)Gotham Honours 2011: 'Tree of Existence,' 'Beginners' Tie for the best Feature The greatest beneficiary from the announcement was most likely Vital's three dimensional family-fantasy-adventure flick Hugo, which won best film, as well as for which Martin Scorsese won best director. The film -- i'm happy to report, I have to admit -- has skyrocketed with experts (94 percent on Rotten Tomato plants) and audiences (it designed a fortune last week in limited release), as well as before today was beginning to resemble a solid wager for any best picture Oscar nom, but this showing indicates that this kind of result's now more likely these days. Scorsese is really a favorite of numerous people from the group, because he is both a local NYer along with a champion of film background and upkeep (a couple of a common causes), but Hugo was still being a somewhat surprising choice for the NBR's top honors, thinking about the group has in the past gravitated towards films with greater gravitas, relevance to the current, and academic value. Indeed, the final two best film those who win, Up up and also the Social Networking, worked using the implications of globalization and modern-day communications neither won the very best picture Oscar, but both were nominated for this. PHOTOS: BAFTA La' Britannia Honours Another best picture Oscar hopeful that needed a pick-me-up was Fox Searchlight's The Descendants, which lost the 3 honours that it had been nominated at Monday's Gotham Honours after which on Tuesday had its leading guy, George Clooney, refused a nomination for top actor Indie Spirit Award. Today, the film brought the NBR area with four wins: Clooney for the best actor Shailene Woodley for the best supporting actress Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash for the best modified script and also the film itself among the top ten of the season. Clooney's award may have been described away as just wanting the A-lister to appear for their party, however the script win, especially the win for Woodley -- who's rapidly proving itself to be main threat to Octavia Spencer (The Assistance) in the Academy awards -- reveal that the audience has real affection for that film. PHOTOS: Gotham Honours Red-colored Carpet Arrivals The NBR's choice of Christopher Plummer (Beginners) for the best supporting actor wasn't unpredicted, because the veteran thespian continues to be obtaining statuettes right and left for his performance like a guy who decides late in existence to be released as gay. That which was not even close to expected, however, was Tilda Swinton (We have to Discuss Kevin) would bag the prize for the best actress -- not since the veteran Oscar champion isn't in a high regard (even though NBR, unlike the Academy, had not before honored her), but because her film, which stories the evolution from the relationship from a mother and her troubled boy over a long time, has heretofore shown to be incredibly divisive and upsetting. This attention could re-inject her in to the best actress discussion, although she'll need to battle two more youthful challengers who have been also identified by the NBR today. Felicity Johnson (Constantly), coming from a large win for the best breakthrough actor in the Gothams, and Rooney Mara (The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo), that has only started to screen, tied for the best breakthrough actor. The NBR is known for distributing its love around among many films -- simply, a minimum of, because it draws in more stars for their honours dinner as well as enables these to sell tables to some greater quantity of galleries. This season wasn't any exception, with 39 films symbolized among their choices: 13 Assassins (among the year's 5 best foreign fllms) 50/50 (among the year's top ten independent films) Another Earth (among the year's top ten independent films) The Artist (among the year's top ten films) Beginners (best supporting actor Plummer, among the year's top ten independent films) A Much Better Existence (among the year's top ten independent films) Born to become Wild (among the year's 5 best documentaries) Buck (among the year's 5 best documentaries) Cedar plank Rapids (among the year's top ten independent films) Crime After Crime (NBR Freedom of Expression Award) A Harmful Method (Spotlight Award champion Michael Fassbender) The Descendants (best actor Clooney, best supporting actress Woodley, best modified script) Drive (among the year's top ten films) Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (among the year's 5 best foreign fllms) Footnote (among the year's 5 best foreign fllms) George Harrison: Residing in the fabric World (among the year's 5 best documentaries) The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo (best breakthrough actor Mara, among the year's top ten films) J. Edgar (among the year's top ten films -- Wesleyan College film professor Jeanine Basinger, Eastwood's friend and chronicler, is really a prominent person in the NBR, and also the group honors him each time he constitutes a film, even when it isn't broadly accepted by virtually other people, out of the box the situation with that one) Harry Potter and also the Deathly Shallows: Part 2 (special achievement in filmmaking and among the year's top ten films) The Assistance (best ensemble), Jane Eyre (these Fassbender) Hugo (best picture, best director Scorsese) The Ides of March (among the year's top ten films) Le Havre (among the year's 5 best foreign fllms) Constantly (best breakthrough actor Johnson) Margin Call (best debut director J.C. Chandor, among the year's top ten independent films) Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (best documentary) Pariah (NBR Freedom of Expression Award) Point Blank (among the year's 5 best foreign fllms) Project Nim (among the year's 5 best documentaries) Rango (best animated feature) Senna (among the year's 5 best documentaries) A Separation (best language film) Shame (these Fassbender, among the year's top ten independent films) Take Shelter (among the year's top ten independent films) The Tree of Existence (among the year's top ten films) War Equine (among the year's top ten films) We have to Discuss Kevin (best actress Swinton, among the year's top ten independent films) Mutually Beneficial (among the year's top ten independent films) X-Males: Top Class (these Fassbender) Significant snubs range from the Iron Lady, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Night time in Paris, Moneyball, My Week with Marilyn, and Mess Tailor Soldier Spy. Very Noisy and extremely Close, however, was not prepared for the audience just before voting. An enjoyable fact: both best film and also the best animated feature those who win -- Hugo and Rango, correspondingly, were compiled by exactly the same guy, John Logan, who may potentially enroll in a really small club of individuals to become nominated for the best modified script Oscar and also the best original script Oscar within the same year for individuals two films. The NBR those who win is going to be feted in a gala dinner in NY City at Cipriani's 42nd St. on Jan. 10, 2012. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Gotham Honours 2011: The Red-colored Carpet Arrivals George Clooney Martin Scorsese Shailene Woodley Tilda Swinton Alexander Payne We have to Discuss Kevin The Artist Beginners The Descendants Hugo

Michael Lohan Undergoing Heart Surgery

Michael Lohan Michael Lohan is undergoing heart surgery Friday after being hospitalized with chest pains and high blood pressure, Reuters reports.Lohan, who was rushed to Florida's Gulf Coast Hospital Thursday night, is having a stent inserted and a blood clot removed from his lungs, his rep, Gina Rodriguez, said. He is expected to recover in a week.Michael Lohan jumps off third-floor balcony to escape arrestAccording to Rodriguez, Lohan, 51, had not received his blood pressure or heart medicine in a week at the court-ordered treatment center where he's staying.Lohan, whose heart problems were documented on Celebrity Rehab last season, was arrested last month on suspicion of domestic violence on his ex-girlfriend Kate Major. He was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to spend the first four months at a treatment center in Fort Myers, Fla.Lohan had surgery in February to clear a blockage in an artery in his heart.

'Lassie' Owner Files $1 Million Lawsuit Against TV Dog Commercial (Video)

Hulton Archive/Getty Images When a family is in peril, which dog will it turn to for help?The owner of the famous fictional collie dog known as "Lassie" has an idea about that. Classic Media has filed a $1 million copyright lawsuit against financial services firm J.G. Wentworth and its advertising agency for making a TV commercial with a dog that allegedly is too similar to its iconic character. Lassieran on TV between 1954 and 1973 and also spawned 11 feature films. Now the question is whether Lassie's owner can sink its teeth into unfriendly folks who want to use the image of a heroic collie on television. According to a complaint filed in NY federal court, during Lassie's long run on television, the show had a memorable recurring storyline where Lassie is sent by his fictional owners, including Timmy Martin, to go seek help. "During her search, Lassie is shown running through a field, forest, or other rural areas until she finds humans who can save her companions," says the lawsuit. In J.G. Wentworth's commercial, entitled "Get Help Girl," a mother and son sit in a 1950s farmhouse-styled kitchen and are dressed to clearly indicate they are from that era. The mother is distressed. "Mom, what's wrong?" questions the boy. The mother responds by saying, "Oh, Eddie, we've got to come up with some money or we'll lose the ranch." The boy is confused. "But mom, don't you get structured settlement payments each month?" The mother answers, "I do, son, but the amount I get just isn't enough. We need a lump sum of cash to pay it off..." Enter the dog, who races through fields, forests, and other rural areas to get to J.G. Wentworth for help. Here's the commercial with further info and analysis below: In the complaint, Classic provides some evidence that Lassie was on the minds of the advertiser when making the spot. In December, 2009, Steve Pimsler, a vp at the co-defendant advertising agency, Karlin + Pimsler, contacted an employee in Classic's licensing department to discuss licensing the Lassie character for a client. The two exchanged e-mails, including one where Pimsler noted that "[o]ur idea is to set up a situation similar to the Lassie TV show..." But the discussions didn't go anywhere, and Classic says it never heard anything after January 6, 2010. The commercial spot debuted on television two months later. Classic believes the ad infringes its copyright and is a derivative work of its property. The plaintiff is demanding at least $1 million in damages and all gains, profits and advantages derived by the alleged use of its property. In the past, courts have ruled that fictional characters can receive protection. For example, James Bond and Godzilla were copyrightable because of an identifiable set of traits. But the plaintiff must also show that the supposedly infringing work is substantially similar to the original work. Would a normal observer recognize the above commercial as being a copy of Lassie? It's not an easy question. For example, in the early 1980s, ABC had a show entitled The Greatest American Hero about a character named Ralph Hinkleywith superhuman speed and strength, the ability to fly, imperviousness to bullets, and holographic vision. Warner Bros. sued, alleging it was a copyright rip-off of its Superman character. Here's what the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals had to say: "Ultimately, care must be taken to draw the elusive distinction between a substantially similar character that infringes a copyrighted character despite slight differences in appearance, behavior, or traits, and a somewhat similar though non-infringing character whose appearance, behavior, or traits, and especially their combination, significantly differ from those of a copyrighted character, even though the second character is reminiscent of the first one. Stirring one's memory of a copyrighted character is not the same as appearing to be substantially similar to that character, and only the latter is infringement." (boldface ours) Ultimately, the appeals court affirmed a federal judge's summary judgment for the defendant, finding that the "overall perception" of the Hinkley character was different from the Superman character. The two characters shared some traits but looked and acted differently. In the opinion, the appeals court imagined that a court examining the question of bringing a Superman-like facsimile into a new context like "in the service of the underworld" would be a much closer issue, with factual determination by a jury. One might imagine that Classic will argue in trying to defeat a summary judgment motion that putting a Lassie-type dog into the service of a financial services company is something similar. Then again, maybe in this down economy, a heroic dog that saves a family from financial trouble is a fair use parody. We'll wait for the judge to bark on this. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner

Is Justin Timberlake the next Large Worldwide Star?

Due to middling reviews and mediocre box-office results, you almost certainly haven't given much thought to 'In Time' -- or, worse, you've written it well entirely because the second instance of Justin Timberlake's inadequate movie-star muscle. Relating to this: despite producing only $30.7 million within the U . s . States to date, 'In Time' makes an thought $53.7 overseas, the fifth straight film with Timberlake that has seen foreign grosses exceed domestic. Which enhances the question: is J.T. the completely new Will Cruz? Maybe! Timberlake's summer season two-numerous 'Bad Teacher' and 'Friends with Benefits' each made more worldwide in comparison towards the U.S., with 'Benefits' producing nearly double it did stateside. Before that, both 'Yogi Bear' (where Timberlake voiced Boo-boo) and 'The Social Network' were bigger abroad too, although on a little more compact scales. This doesn't always Timberlake might be the following globe-trotting A-lister -- in league with Cruz, Tom Cruise and also the Actor-kaira Pitt -- nevertheless it does speak with how giant his celebrity is worldwide. Ultimately, you don't see Ryan Reynolds yanking lower worldwide amounts similar to this. J.T.: getting sexy -- and celebs -- back. [via LAT] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Lionsgate Grants Netflix Exclusive Movie Streaming Rights For UK And Ireland

This announcement comes one week after Netflix landed a similar deal with MGM to show movies in the pay TV window in the UK and Ireland. Here’s the release for the new agreement with Lionsgate: BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 14, 2011– Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and Lionsgate UK, a subsidiary of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: LGF) today announced a new multi-year licensing agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive subscription streaming service in the UK and Ireland for first-run feature films from the studio. Lionsgate UK titles will be available for Netflix members in the UK and Ireland to watch instantly in the pay TV window on their televisions, tablets, game consoles, computers and mobile phones, for a low monthly price. Netflix announced last month that it would launch its service in the UK and Ireland early in 2012. Appearing exclusively on Netflix within one year of their theatrical release will be such films as “The Hunger Games,” the highly-anticipated film based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling teen novel and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth; “The Expendables 2,” the sequel to the blockbuster hit starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis and Jet Li and the recently-announced remake of the beloved 1987 classic “Dirty Dancing.” Among recent Lionsgate UK hits available to watch instantly in the UK and Ireland are “The Mechanic,” “Saw 3D” and the original “The Expendables” as well as great catalogue titles including “Reservoir Dogs,” “Blair Witch Project,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Good Night and Good Luck.” “Lionsgate is an important and successful supplier of television series and movies to us in all of our territories,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “We are proud to be the exclusive Pay TV home for Lionsgate theatrically-released films in the UK and Ireland.” “Netflix is the leading worldwide brand in steaming movies and they have an incredible service in North America. We are very excited to be working with them as they launch their service and bring our movies to audiences in the UK and Ireland,” added Zygi Kamasa, Lionsgate UK CEO.

Amazon . com Uncovers Media Applications For Amazon Kindle Fire

Named wars are intensifying because the holiday shopping season approaches: Amazon . com started some misconception today by announcing that Amazon Kindle Fire clients will just complete one form to join up for multiple media services including Netflix, Rhapsody, The planet pandora, Facebook, and also the Weather Funnel — and games from companies for example Zynga, EA, Gameloft, PopCap, and Rovio.What’s more, individuals who undergo Amazon . com to purchase the applications for his or her tablet will even have the ability to access them on other Android products including cell phones. The organization will begin to ship Amazon Kindle Fire pills on November 15. The announcement follows Barnes & Noble’s announcement on Monday it’s new Nook Tablet includes applications for Netflix, Hulu Plus, and The planet pandora.

'Dancing While using Stars': Gavel Falls on Nancy Sophistication, Just Shy in the Semifinals

ABC Your competitors will get tight -- irritatingly so. With only four open spots to vie for your Season 13 finale, what remains of Dwts' close-knit cast faced its hardest elimination yet on Tuesday evening.our editor recommendsNancy Sophistication: Conrad Murray 'Should Have Grown To Be Murder One'Ricki Lake's Latest 'Dancing While using Stars' Injuries: A Bruised Ego Only one competitor only agreed to be really guaranteed a location in week 9, that was J.R. Martinez, whose two dances with partner Karina Smirnoff acquired him a perfect 60 throughout Monday's performance show. PHOTOS: 'Dancing While using Stars' Season 13: Rehearsals That left Ricki Lake and Hope Solo tied for second round the leader board, then Make the most of Kardashian and, much farther in the future, the lower-scoring Nancy Sophistication. So did fans election while using idol idol judges? Yes. Nancy Sophistication ended her healthy operate on this program, carrying out a show of endurance that many likely surprised plenty of audiences. She and partner Tristan MacManus got unhealthy news near the top of the hour. HLN will probably be conned of her live legal commentary forget about. Did the very best dancer return home? And, more to the stage, which has the required steps making it for the November. 21 finale? Dwts

'Where's Waldo?' Headed for the Silver Screen Via MGM

MGM has guaranteed rights to Classic Media's Where's Waldo?, giving the lanky, chocolate candy striped-shirt wearing character his first movie ever.our editor recommendsMGM Signs With Netflix for Exclusive Streaming in U.K., Ireland The Where's Waldo? movie is really a live-action family adventure, with MGM's v . p . of production, Cassidy Lange, controlling the project, that is professional produced by Mike Gornall. PHOTOS: 10 Finest Book-to-Silver Screen Adaptations in the Latter-and-a-half decades MGM's Jonathan Glickman mentioned Monday, "We are thrilled being obtaining the mission for Waldo for the silver screen. Along with our partners at Classic Media, we anticipate developing a worldwide adventure that will attract Where's Waldo? fans of all ages.Inch "Waldo is regarded as the looked-for character on earth,In . mentioned Eric Ellenbogen, co-Boss, Classic Media. "With due to MGM, fans everywhere will uncover Waldo in movie theaters along with his film debut." Where's Waldo? was created by Martin Handford and first launched later. Inside the books, site visitors search for Waldo among various figures or situations. Greater than 55 million Where's Waldo? books are actually offered worldwide. Related Subjects MGM

'Tower Heist,' 'Harold & Kumar' And More In NextMovie's MovieTracker!

FROM MTV MOVIES: For the past few days, following an early Times Square screening, the MTV Newsroom has been buzzing about "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas." "Can you believe it was actually damn funny?" one movie nerd would say to another. "I mean, the last one stunk." That's the buzz in here. And out there too, a fact that our friends at NextMovie have made abundantly clear with their new MovieTracker, a cool application boasting a fancy-schmancy algorithm that measures what people are saying on Twitter and Facebook and lets us know which movies people are psyched about. Think of it like a Billboard music chart, but instead of tracking album sales, it tracks Internet movie buzz in real time. » Read more at MTV Movies! » Check out NextMovie's MovieTracker!

Paul McCartney To Help Restore Motown Piano

First Launched: October 29, 2011 6:33 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images DETROIT, Mich. -- Caption Paul McCartney attends the fifth anniversary celebration in the Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil show within the Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las vegas, June 21, 2011During a summer season visit to a Motown recording studio, former Beatle Paul McCartney preferred to operate his fingers along an 1877 Steinway grand piano carried out by some Detroit music best he sights idols. He was disappointed once we told him it didnt play, Motown Historic Museum leader Audley Cruz Junior., told The Detroit News for just about any story Saturday. Undaunted, the legendary rock and curler from England told museum government bodies undertaking a This summer time concert at Comerica Park he preferred to assist restore it. On Monday, the piano will probably be acquired within the Detroit museum and shipped to Steinway&Sons in NY for restoration. The task is predicted to think about to five several days. The piano company must appraise the pianos condition before a cost can be discovered. Steinway&Sons is honored to bring back the historic Steinway piano that was employed by such tales as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Question and to get this done within the identical NY factory where it absolutely was initially built-in 1877, Steinway&Sons Leader of Americas Ron Losby told the newspaper in the statement. Were especially proud, becoming an American company, to help the Motown Museum in safeguarding the legacy in the Motown Record Company, whose artists and albums carried out such a huge role inside the great eras of yank music. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Spielberg: More Indy & Jurassic Park?

Will there be more Jones / T-Rexes?This month's issue of Empire magazine (the December issue, fact fans, featuring Mission:Impossible on the cover) contains part two of ourStevenSpielberg special, following last month's in-depth look at TheAdventures OfTintin:The Secret Of The Unicorn. This time, we largely focused on War Horse, but we did find time to ask about the much-rumoured Jurassic Park IV and Indiana Jones V.On his dinosaur series, the signs are good."The screenplay is being written right now by Mark Protosevich. I'm hoping that will come out in the next couple of years.We have a good story. We have a better story for four than we had for three..."Since the third instalment wasn't that shabby as story goes, that's got to be a good thing, right? But what of Indiana Jones?We asked Spielberg about his reaction to the critiques of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as well as his future plans for the archaeologist. Where do things stand right now?"You have to ask George Lucas. George is in charge of breaking the stories.He's done it on all four movies. Whether I like the stories or not, George has broken all the stories.He is working on Indy V. We haven't gone to screenplay yet, but he's working on the story. I'll leave it to George to come up with a good story."And Crystal Skull?"I'm very happy with the movie.I always have been...I sympathise with people who didn't like the MacGuffin because I never liked the MacGuffin. George and I had big arguments about the MacGuffin. I didn't want these things to be either aliens or inter-dimensional beings. But I am loyal to my best friend. When he writes a story he believes in - even if Idon't believe in it - I'm going to shoot the movie the way George envisaged it. I'll add my own touches, I'll bring my own cast in, I'll shoot the way I want to shoot it, but I will always defer to George as the storyteller of the Indy series. I will never fight him on that."And on the specifics of the criticisms, Spielberg takes some of them as a badge of pride. "The gopher was good. I have the stand-in one at home. What people really jumped at was Indy climbing into a refrigerator and getting blown into the sky by an atom-bomb blast.Blame me. Don't blame George.That was my silly idea. People stopped saying "jump the shark".They now say, "nuked the fridge". I'm proud of that. I'm glad I was able to bring that into popular culture."The Adventures Of Tintin:The Secret Of The Unicorn is out now, and War Horse will follow on January 13 in the UK. Pick up the new Empire for the full story from Spielberg on the making of that war opus.

Paul Master Could Proceed To Brick Mansions

Also known as The American District 13...Luc Besson continues to be threatening an american-based remake of District 13 (Also known as Banlieue 13) for some time now, and it is finally obtaining the pieces into position for that film, that has the slightly less evocative title Brick Mansions. District star David Belle has already been arranged for any role and Paul Master is presently in talks to accept other lead.Belle, obviously, was among the individuals who came from Parkour, the activity that has heavily both in District 13 and it is follow up, District 13: Ultimatum. In america version from the first film, Master is going to be an undercover Chicago detective chasing after ammunition of mass destruction in to the titular ghetto. His primary issue in the area may be the local drug dealer, who rules the area, but Master can get the help of Lino, who will not bow lower to anybody. Based on Deadline, a couple of Hollywood types were circling the Lino role, but Besson has held firm to creating sure Belle stays aboard.Whilst Pierre Morel directed the initial film, he's busy along with other things, so producer Besson, that has co-written the script with Robert Mark Kamen, is likely to hands the task to a different protégé, not yet been introduced. Master, meanwhile, will probably squeeze shooting the film in before sitting down again within the driver's chair for that Fast And Also The Furious 6.

'Just Friends' Financier to Recover $3.4 Million After Tax Credit Money Goes Missing

A financier of the 2005 film Just Friends, starring Ryan Reynolds, has been awarded more than $3.4 million from the film's foreign sales agent. At issue in the case was who was responsible for the financial burden when one of the film's producers absconded with millions of dollars received from a Canadian tax credit. The lawsuit was brought by Cinezeta Internationale, which put up $9 million in equity funding plus another $9 million in the form of a revolving production loan for the making of the comedy about a man who confronts his high school crush. In 2004, Cinezeta entered into two written contracts for the film -- a sales agency agreement with defendant Inferno Distribution and a production services agreement with Just Friends Productions and Mooseface Productions. Under the terms of the agreements, Inferno Distribution was to pay Cinezeta $7,694,100 so it could be the exclusive sales agent for the film in all territories other than the United States and Canada. The agreement laid out how this money would be guaranteed, including presales agreements, a letter of credit, and $3.6 million worth of tax credits from the government of Saskatchewan, a prairie province in Canada. The film was released in more than 20 international territories in 2005, but Cinezeta never received any payments in connection with the Canadian tax credits. According to details revealed by the judge's decision on Monday, a man by the name of Bill Vince is said to have "absconded" with the money and Cinezeta has been unsuccessful in efforts to recover it. The decision doesn't go into details about what happened there, but Vince is a Vancouver film producer who died in 2008, having worked on dozens of films in his career, including The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Underworld, Saved!, and Capote. Regardless of the details, a dispute erupted as to whether the millions of dollars in missing money should be counted as having been paid by Inferno Distribution to Cinezeta. Inferno claimed that assignment of the tax credits reduced the amount due under the Sales Guarantee, but Cinezeta believed that the money was merely designated as "collateral" for the Sales Guarantee, and the defendant was responsible for making it up. Reading the specific language of the contract, in reference to the assignments of the tax credits, California federal judge John Walter sides with Cinezeta's theory. According to the decision: "The Assignment specifically provides that: 'Cinezeta acknowledges that its receipt of the Tax Credits shall be used to reduce the Tax Credit Guarantee as defined in the Guarantee Agreement." Accordingly, there would be no reduction of the amount due under the Sales Guarantee, unless and until Cinezeta actually received the Tax Credits. Indeed, the Production Guarantee Agreement provides that the only way the amount of the Saels Guarantee can be reduced are from the waterfall payments or from any payments received directly by Cinezeta." In his partial summary judgment decision, Judge Walter refutes Inferno Distribution's argument that Cinezeta's only remedy for the non-payment is a termination of the sales agency agreement, and also rejects the defendant's side contention that the film producers didn't live up to their side of the contract by providing timely delivery of all materials per the agreement. The judge is ordering Inferno Distribution to make up a $3,427,914.44 shortfall to Cinezeta, but isn't giving the plaintiff prejudgment interest because of Cinezeta's late written notice of the breach. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner

Sin City 2 to feature Marv and Nancy Callahan

Everything's gone quiet again on Sin City 2 since TF reported in August that the project seemed to be back on track.However, if comic-book guru Frank Miller is to be believed, production will begin to roll early in 2012."Robert Rodriguez and I are finishing off the script and could be shooting as early as this spring," Miller told MTV.Miller also revealed that there has only been "sporadic contact" between him and Rodriguez in the years since Sin City was made but that they started collaborating again "since this project started coming alive"."Sin City 2 is primarily an adaptation of the book A Dame To Kill For," Miller added."It also features the short story, Just Another Saturday Night and two new stories. One involves Jessica Alba's character, Nancy Callahan, that I came up with for the movie in order to tie things together and make it be more united with the first."That revelation means there's just one more title to be revealed, as Miller told San Diego Comic Con that The Long Bad Night would be one of the other new stories.The big question is whether previous cast members will return for a sequel?Alba seems likely given that she loves to work with Rodriguez (Machete, Spy Kids 4) but Rourke previously seemed lukewarm about returning to the role of Marv and having turned down a chance to star in The Expendables 2 may stick to his guns.

Verizon's FiOS TV Subscriber Growth Slowed in Third Quarter

NY - Telecom giant Verizon said Friday that its FiOS TV service now has 4 million subscribers, with 131,000 net additions in the third quarter. The subscriber momentum in the latest quarter was weaker than Wall Street observers had predicted with the company mentioning a strike and bad weather as factors. It was also weaker than the 184,000 net additions in the second quarter and the 204,000 additions in the third quarter of 2010. Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce had projected 160,000 net subscriber additions. And Barclays Capital analyst James Ratcliffe said after the earnings report that FiOS TV net adds came in below his estimate of 181,000. The quarterly update came a day after competitor AT&T had also reported weaker-than-projected TV subscriber growth, kicking off earrings season for pay TV distributors with less momentum than expected. Analysts have predicted lower pay TV subscriber losses in the third than in the second quarter. But Verizon was bullish on the current fourth quarter. "With the clearing of FiOS installation backlogs caused by the storms and strike, Verizon expects to add at least 200,000 FiOS Internet and 200,000 FiOS TV customers in fourth quarter 2011," the company said in its earnings report. Verizon added 138,000 FiOS broadband subscribers in the third quarter, below Ratcliffe's 170,000 estimate and down 38.9 percent from the year-ago period. The company lost 118,000 DSL subscribers though, for a net gain of 20,000 broadband users. Verizon said it had a total of 4.6 million FiOS broadband subscribers as of Sept. 30. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics Verizon Communications

MGM shuts Eminem pic 'Southpaw'

EminemFuquaWhen DreamWorks place the Eminem-brought boxing pic "Southpaw" into turnaround in August, many industry associates wondered whether another studio could be willing to go into the ring with director Antoine Fuqua, film writer Kurt Sutter and it is questionable star. But Paul Rosenberg and Stuart Parr at Eminem's Shady Films banner and also the father-and-boy creating team of Alan and Peter Riche fought against difficult on its account, as well as their collective efforts have recently compensated off, as MGM has closed an offer to create the gritty drama, which is written by The new sony Pictures. MGM didn't have discuss the offer, though associates near to the process say the organization leapfrogged fellow suitors Alcon Entertainment and Summit Entertainment after being seen because the underdog as lately as a week ago. Story finds Eminem playing a welterweight boxer who fights his method to the title, simply to see his world collapse after tragedy strikes. The film follows Eminem because he fights to reclaim his past glory and regain the affection of his youthful daughter. The title refers that Eminem is really a lefty (a harmful factor inside a boxing ring) and also the project is going to be fueled through the struggles that inform Eminem's music and mirror his existence. Eminem has not made an appearance around the bigscreen since his breakthrough perf in Curtis Hanson's 2002 rap drama "8 Mile." He's switched lower numerous movie offers within the years since, permitting "Southpaw" for everyone because the follow-as much as his acting debut. Eminem is repped by ICM and manager David Schiff, who'll professional produce the pic, that is likely to start production sometime the coming year. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

H'wood orgs support Iranian filmmakers

Nine Hollywood organizations have emerged to assist jailed Iranian filmmakers and pressure the us government to free them.In the statement launched Wednesday, the groups reported last month's arrest of Naser Safarian, Mohsen Shahrnazdar, Hadi Afarideh, Shahnam Bazdar, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and Katayoun Shahabis on charges of espionage and treason after they labored while using BBC. Iran has since released Safarian and Shahrnazdar nevertheless the fate from the co-employees is unknown.Furthermore they protested the ongoing house arrest of director Jafar Panahi as well as the detention of actress Marzieh Vafamehr, who was simply sentenced with a year jail time and 90 lashes.The orgs are the Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Cinema Editors, the American Society of Cinematographers, the organization company directors Guild of America, the Intl. Documentary Assn., the Producers Guild of America, the Screen Stars Guild, the Authors Guild of America West as well as the WGA East. The AMPAS board of governors mentioned the issue demands "serious" attention. "These filmmakers -- while others -- are artists, not political combatants. We join our co-employees around the globe in calling positively of those filmmakers' safety, release, and return to filmmaking," the board mentioned. "They deserve the identical, full freedom of expression the overwhelming the majority of our people love each day, wherever they are from, wherever they work, no matter what their values."SAG noted that Iran features a strong tradition of artistic expression reaching back millenia. "That tradition is under attack in the contemporary Iran that has apparently switched against its own artists," SAG mentioned. "Screen Stars Guild deeply deplores the persecution of Marzieh Vafamehr as well as the filmmakers together with other entertainment and media industry reps now under attack in Iran. We add our voices for the thousands of artists worldwide getting in touch with the Iranian government to instantly free Marzieh as well as the other artists and filmmakers jailed because of their artistic and cultural endeavors."A Tehran appeals court recently upheld a six-year jail sentence against Panahi additionally to some 20-year filmmaking and travel stop round the helmer. Panahi reaches home in Tehran pending the execution in the jail sentence. His lawyer, Farideh Ghairat, attracts Iran's Top Court. The filmmaker was arrested in March 2010 when government physiques objected with a documentary he was mentioned being making in regards to the disputed 2009 re-election of Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He happened for 3 several days just before being released under house arrest. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'Immortals' Mondays: Behind-The-Scenes Look At Fight Training

"Immortals" Mondays forges on with another exclusive look behind the scenes of the upcoming Greek mythological epic. Last Monday, you learned a little bit more about Theseus, played by Henry Cavill. This week, we take a look at the work that went into the fight scenes even before Cavill and the rest of the cast showed up on set. It takes a lot of hard work to look like an expert Grecian warrior, and this week's video shows us just the kind of training the stunt team from Montreal went through to become the soldiers you'll see on screen. Check back next Monday for more exclusives from "Immortals," which hits theaters November 11. Also, let us know what you what you think in the comment section below and on Twitter!

Was Shakespeare a Fraud? 'Anonymous' Screenwriter John Orloff Sure Thinks So

Sony has been promoting Roland Emmerich's upcoming literary thriller 'Anonymous' with the Joker-esque tag line "Was Shakesperare a Fraud?" Which sounds like yet another insulting Hollywood dumb-down of history -- until you realize that Emmerich, 'Anonymous' screenwriter John Orloff, and his on-screen narrator, the esteemed Shakespearean actor Derek Jacobi, all believe that the answer is yes. Turns out the debate between Stratfordians, who believe Shakespeare's works were indeed written by William Shakespeare of Stratford upon Avon, and anti-Stratfordians, who don't, has been raging for quite some time. As any anti-Stratfordian will tell you, Mark Twain was one of the first writers to point out just how difficult it is to believe that the mind that produced 'Hamlet,' 'MacBeth,' 'The Merchant of Venice,' and so many other immortal works could have belonged to some knucklehead commoner from Nowheresville, England. But so far, within the Ivory Tower at least, the anti-Stratfordians have been treated like TMZ photographers at a George Clooney cocktail party. (You can find an impassioned defense of the Stratfordian view here.) The release of 'Anonymous' could change that. The movie advances an intriguing, if far-fetched, scenario involving a nobleman who has been an anti-Stratfordian favorite since the 1920s: Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. I'll let John Orloff, whom I interviewed at length on the subject, take it from here. I know that this is a screenplay that you've been living with for a long time. Fifteen, 20 years. What was the original impetus? I was in my early 20s when I became interested in the Shakespeare authorship question. I thought, "Wow, that would be a really fantastic film." The problem was, I was young, not British, and had only written a couple of scripts at UCLA film school. It just seemed a little too intimidating. Then I met my now-wife, and she worked in the movie division of HBO at the time and would bring home these long-form, non-fiction scripts. And I would read them and say, "Fuck, these suck! This person has an agent? You're thinking of hiring this person -- you're crazy!" So I pitched her this as a movie. She said, "Yeah. If it's no good, nobody has to read it." I spent about two years, from the age of 30 to 32, researching -- also known as procrastination. The long walk to the typewriter. But it was fun. I just read everything I could about Elizabethan England, because it's such an amazingly rich culture. It's so complicated, and way darker than people think. People just go, "Oh, look, Queen Elizabeth, Golden Age." She killed anybody who was a problem. She was ruthless. And so were the people around her. So I did tons of research and finally wrote it. And did you become persuaded of any particular view? I'll be honest with you: I am a firm anti-Stratfordian. I don't think Shakespeare wrote the plays. I am a likely Oxfordian. I'm also thinking -- I'm evolving, I've spent 20 years on this and I'm wondering more about the group theory. I definitely am Oxfordian, but I think there's room for Oxford to have been part of a larger group. Let me ask you this: What's the single most compelling reason to think Shakespeare didn't write the plays? What's the single, compelling reason that he did? I'm gonna ask you, because there's not a single piece of paper that has ever been discovered that's written by William Shakespeare. But I'm asking the questions here. [Laughs] To me, there are two issues that are the nagging issues. First, there's no documentary evidence. That's a big one. We have no letters to or from William Shakespeare at all. There's not a single piece of paper that's ever been discovered, ever written by him. So, we have to assume, if Shakespeare wrote the plays, that history has done this terrible thing to us -- taken every single piece of paper he's ever written, and made them burn, or get in floods, or who the fuck knows? And we have those kinds of records for other playwrights of the time? Oh, absolutely. There are letters to and from people you've never heard of. Dante, Cervantes, these people wrote letters and said, "Wow, I'm writing this thing called 'The Inferno' and it's really hard." We have these letters. We have letters from Ben Johnson, who's a contemporary of Shakespeare. We have original poems written by John Dunn, by John Milton, by Johnson. Nothing by Shakespeare. Right, so that's one thing. That's one. Number two is education. The other problem has always been, How did the kid from Warwickshire gain the knowledge to write these plays? Because whoever wrote the plays had to speak Greek, Latin, Italian, and French. That's just a fact, because Shakespeare had a tremendous amount of source material that was not yet translated into English. As an actor, wouldn't he have been exposed to a lot of oral traditions, so he could've heard these stories from other cultures without necessarily reading Greek? No, no, because you can get into very specific minutiae of Greek poetry that are used in Shakespeare's plays. That aren't just sort of, "Oh, let's talk about making a play, and oh, yeah, I remember this great Greek poet that nobody's heard of that said blah blah blah -- why don't we use that? Why don't we steal that?" I don't particularly think that works. OK, let's hear another reason. All of Shakespeare's characters, all of his heroes, are noblemen. They are not servants -- as opposed to Ben Johnson, for example, who's the exact opposite. Johnson was a commoner and wrote about common men. Shakespeare's characters are nobles, and they know things about falconry, a nobleman's sport. When you get into the totality of that, you start to say, Where did this person, from Warwickshire, get this education? But Shakespeare's plays have people from every caste. Name some of the names of the lower caste. Falstaff. Impotent. Bottom? I mean, he makes fun of these characters. Those aren't the heroes. Those are the people that are made fun of in his plays. And it's a classist piece of work, Shakespeare's work. It is pro-nobility. It also happens to be pro-Tudor. They're very political pieces of work. OK, so the evidence gives you reason to doubt that Shakespeare wrote the plays. Now let's talk about Oxford. That gets interesting. In 1920, I think it was, a guy [J. Thomas Looney, author of 'Shakespeare Identified'] said, "I don't buy this Shakespeare." Now you have to remember, Mark Twain wrote a whole book on why he didn't think Shakespeare was the author of those plays. The last book he ever wrote was called 'Shakespeare's Debt.' His basic thesis was, "I could not have written about the Mississippi had I not been a Mississippi River boat pilot. My life experiences are what made those books work. And there is no way you're going to tell me that the kid from Stratford had the life experiences to write 'Hamlet,' or whatever play you want to insert here." So in the early 20s, this guy said let me just do some research.' He discovered this man named Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, who was claimed by several contemporaries to be the greatest playwright of his time but who had to use a pseudonym. We have a document that says that. There's a document that says that? Oh, yeah. That doesn't mean he wrote the Shakespeare plays. All of the evidence is circumstantial. There is no smoking gun. The closest to the smoking gun is the Geneva Bible. We have De Vere's Bible where he underlines things, and those things that are underlined happened to end up in the plays. Is it a smoking gun? No, it's just one more little tiny piece. Anyway, so this guy Thomas Looney said, "Let's think of it like a murder mystery. What are the things that the guy who wrote the plays would've had to have been?" Well, the languages I told you about. He was probably a lawyer, because the law in Shakespeare is incredibly accurate. He probably went to Italy, because there are a dozen plays set in Italy, and they're pretty fucking accurate about what the place and time was like. He probably knew the ocean, because there's so much sea-craft metaphors in the plays. He probably was a nobleman, for reasons you can argue with. So he finally came across this guy Edward De Vere, and he starts reading this guy's biographies and learning about him, and he goes, "Holy fuck! It's Hamlet!" Everything that happens to Hamlet happened to Edward de Vere. Everything that happens to Prince Hal and Falstaff happens to De Vere. You can go on and on and on, and suddenly you're not talking about these plays as though they've come out of the ether, like they're imagined out of nowhere, which you have to say if Shakespeare wrote them. You kind of say, It was like God touched him and he made this shit up out of nowhere, right? I noticed in the film that there are a couple of parallels -- there's a Hamlet-killing-Polonius moment in De Vere's life, for instance. You picked up on that! Polonius in 'Hamlet' is Burghley, the David Thewlis character -- everybody agrees. Whether you are a Stratfordian or an Oxfordian, Polonius is a caricature of Lord Burghley. Lord Burghley's daughter is this woman named Anne. Polonius' daughter is this woman named Ophelia. Oxford marries Anne; Hamlet is in love with Ophelia. The whole speech that Polonius gives, "Neither a lender or a borrower be," is an actual caricature of a letter that Lord Burghley wrote to his son. We have that piece of paper, and it's almost the same thing. Like Hamlet, De Vere's father died when he was 12, 13. His mother married six months later in an over-hasty marriage. He was captured by pirates when he was 20 years old -- no, he really was! I think his cousin is named Rosencrantz, I can't remember, first cousin, second cousin. I mean, there's all this shit where you just sort of go, 'Oh, wow!' And what happens is, suddenly you see reason for things in the plays. So you resisted the urge to embellish -- the screenplay is as factually accurate as you could make it, is that a fair assumption? It is. You could have gone in and said, "OK, I'm going to make a dramatic case and pull the five most famous things from Shakespeare's plays and make them happen in De Vere's life," and you decided not to do that. No, my thing was, this movie is not going to -- it's not built to prove the case. This is not a documentary, it is not a book. It is a piece of drama, and it should first and foremost tell a really, really cool fucking story. It should be thematically driven, because all the best movies are thematically driven. They're not plot-driven, they're not trying to prove anything. They're just trying to get you emotionally engaged and maybe speak to a wider truth. I mean, I happen to be an Oxfordian, I happen to be an anti-Stratfordian, but as I worked on it and as I got older and as Roland and I worked on it, it becomes about something else. The movie's really about, Is the pen mightier than the sword? Is might more powerful than intellect? I mean, it's kind of trite to say the pen is mightier than the sword, but it's not trite. Right now, we're in a struggle about intellect versus might, you know? Are ideas more important than power? As Johnson says in the film: "If anyone ever remembers any of us, it's because of these plays." And he's not wrong. In the film, Shakespeare is portrayed not just as not the author of the plays but as a complete buffoon and horrible person. Tell me about that choice and are you concerned about that? No, I love that. What's interesting is that I wrote the movie before 'Shakespeare In Love' came out. So my initial idea was: I'm going to make him like a movie star. He's going to be like Brad Pitt. And then, of course, Joseph Fiennes made 'Shakespeare in Love' and we all thought, "Oh my God, Shakespeare is a sexy, young, hot guy." So that idea was kind of gone. That was taken. But I had already written Shakespeare as ambitious and aggressive. So then I just sort of made the choice: well, what are actors like? Well, you know, they're ambitious, they're self-obsessed. I just made him an actor. You know you're going to piss off a bunch of people, but beyond that, do you have a goal of gaining acceptance for the anti-Stratfordian view within the academy? Absolutely. Listen, I have no issue with somebody who's a firm Stratfordian. The evidence does point that way. I just happen to think it's not beyond a reasonable doubt. There is a conversation to be had, and hopefully the movie will open up the conversation. Even if at the end of the day, you say, "That's all hogwash. Shakespeare wrote the plays. Orloff and Emmerich are all fucking crazy" -- well, at least we had the conversation. At least we've talked about Shakespeare's plays in a meaningful interesting way. But it does tip the scales of the conversation a bit, to have a however-many-million-dollar popular film on your side. But there's already been a however-many-million-dollar fictional film with Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth. Nothing's true in that film. That's their version of what happened, and here's our version of what happened. And yes, you're right: cinema gives the patina of legitimacy to everything. And you're right: that's one of the goals I wanted to have with this movie. Let's say, "Hey! You know what? There's another story here that may be true and maybe we should talk about this." I remember being in seventh grade reading 'Romeo and Juliet' for the first time and reading that seven-page biography about the author, William Shakespeare, not realizing that those seven pages are all guesses. We know nothing about Shakespeare, really. Not even seven pages' worth. What we do know has been stretched into thousand-page biographies of guesses and assumptions and must-haves. That was the biggest thing for me, like, Wait a minute, you're presenting facts to me that aren't facts. They're guesses. At least say they're guesses and go from there. And so you can do the same thing with the facts available to you. Exactly. 'Anonymous' is in theaters on Oct. 28 [Photo: Sony Pictures/Columbia Tri-Star] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

New You are able to Comic Disadvantage: Electricity Entertainment Creative Chief Hopeful for 'Green Lantern' Film Follow up

Thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures NY - Geoff Johns, chief creative officer at Electricity Entertainment, one of your time Warner's Warner Bros., expressed hope here Friday that you will see another Eco-friendly Lantern film. Speaking on the panel at NY Comic Disadvantage, he stated: "There's anticipation that people will ultimately see one." The Warner Bros. film that centered on the super hero captured was seen as an box office disappointment. Johns sooner or later throughout Friday's panel stated relating to this summer time's Eco-friendly Lantern film that "clearly, you would like it to be as large as Titanic." But he added: "Hopefully the smoothness will get another film, and it'll be live-action again - I guarantee." TW chairman and Boss Shaun Bewkes stated formerly this summer time's release, featuring Ryan Reynolds, "didn't meet anticipation - fell fairly far lacking individuals." A choice on the potential follow up will come "in the end," Bewkes also stated. Sources formerly told The Hollywood Reporter though that Warner Bros. wasn't quitting on the follow up. Speaking throughout a panel titled "Eco-friendly Lantern All Access," Johns on Friday stated that although experts stated the film didn't have sufficient character development - a sense also expressed by a crowd member throughout the panel - he was happy it introduced the Eco-friendly Lantern character to numerous new people. "There is lots of great stuff within the movie," Johns stated, adding that the director's cut DVD that's being marketed at this time includes added moments that increase the protagonist's story and character. Johns also pointed out the approaching animated Eco-friendly Lantern series on TW's Cartoon Network. "Using the new animated series, Eco-friendly Lantern will simply develop,Inch he stated. Highlighting that it's the first CGI animated series with different Electricity character, Johns also guaranteed fans that "you will see more" such series. He didn't provide further particulars though. Also at NY Comic Disadvantage on Friday, Johns introduced the Robot Chicken series on TW cable network Adult Go swimming is going to do a Electricity Comics special next summer time that'll be within the vein from the show'sStar Wars special. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai

Fox Renews Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance and MasterChef

Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance You should get some dancing footwear as well as your best apron because Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance and MasterChef are returning for additional. Fox introduced pick-ups for shows Thursday. Dance judge and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe first broke this news about his series via twitter. "FOX has acquired #SYTYCD for it's ninth season, it had been introduced today by Mike Darnell, Leader of Alternative Entertainment, Fox. [HOORAY]," Lythgoe authored. Take a look at our fall preview for art galleries, scoop, premiere calendars and much more! A lot more than six million audiences viewed Melanie Moore go ahead and take Season 8 Dance title this summer time. MasterChef, from Gordon Ramsay, snapped up 6.5 million audiences because of its Season 2 finale in August. Dance's renewal occurs the heels of 1 of their most significantly acclaimed seasons. The show received Emmy nominations for the best reality competition program and host Cat Deeley. No return dates happen to be introduced, but MasterChef starts casting for Season 3 on March. 29 in La. Are you currently excited these shows are returning?

Box Office Report: 'Moneyball' Tops Friday, But 'Dolphin Tale' Projected to Win Weekend With $15 Million

Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros.' family pic Dolphin Tale is headed for first place in its second weekend with $15 million, followed by fellow holdovers Moneyball and The Lion King.our editor recommendsBox Office Report: 'Lion King,' 'Dolphin Tale' and 'Moneyball' Lock-Out New FilmsBox Office Shocker: 'Lion King' Set to Become No. 3 Animated Pic of All Time Thanks to Re-releaseBox Office Preview: 'Lion King,' 'Moneyball,' 'Dolphin Tale' in Close RaceDream House: Film Review But the biggest surprise of the weekend is the strong performance of Sherwood Pictures and TriStar's faith-based movie Courageous, which grossed $3.1 million on Friday and is looking at an opening weekend gross of $9 million - besting the three other new films, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen's cancer dramedy 50/50, Anna Faris-Chris Evans R-rated comedy What's Your Number? and the Daniel Craig-Rachel Weisz horror pic Dream House. PHOTOS: Top 10 Grossing Films Courageous, about four police officers who grapple with their faith, is playing on only 1,161 screens, a fraction of the number of its competitors. It received a glowing A+ CinemaScore, as did Dolphin Tale last weekend. Moneyball, Sony's critically acclaimed Brad Pitt baseball drama, topped the Friday box office with $3.9 million, followed by Dolphin Tale with $3.5 million and Disney's Lion King with $3.3 million. Dolphin Tale is widely expected to pull ahead over the weekend, while Moneyball and Lion King are expected to vie for No. 2 with grosses in the $12 million range. PHOTOS: 'Moneyball' Premiere in Oakland Morgan Creek's Dream House opened to No. 5 on Friday with $2.9 million, and is on course to gross $8 million for the weekend. The movie, which Universal is distributing, received a B CinemaScore. 50/50, from Summit Entertainment, opened softer than expected, considering it is a critical darling and received an A- CinemaScore. The movie grossed $2.87 million to all but tie with Dream House, but Summit expects it to pull overtake Dream House with a weekend gross of $8.6 million. What's Your Number?, from Fox and New Regency, trailed with an even softer Friday opening of $2.1 million. The pic is now only expected to gross $5.5 million to $6 million for the weekend. Related Topics Brad Pitt Chris Evans Joseph Gordon-Levitt Rachel Weisz Seth Rogen Box Office Daniel Craig Anna Faris 50/50 Moneyball Dolphin Tale

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Chuck Recruits Stan Lee For Guest Place

Stan Lee Spider-Guy co-creator Stan Lee will swing into Chuck next season, HitFix.com reviews. Lee, 88, will guest-star within the seventh episode from the spy drama's fifth and final season. The website reviews that Chuck (Zachary Levi) will come across Lee "within the most unpredicted places." (Maybe Lee can also be employed by the CIA?) Fall Preview: Get scoop in your favorite coming back shows "To express we are excited to possess Stan Lee come along on the program is definitely an understatement," series co-creator Chuck Fedak told the website. "His legendary figures and also the epic mobile phone industry's he imagined happen to be inspirations to most of us focusing on Chuck." Lee, who's credited with co-creating a large number of Marvel's most well-known comic figures such as the Hulk, Fantastic Four and X-Males, lately designed a cameo appearance in Captain America: The Very First Avenger. Chuck returns to action on Friday, March. 21 at 8/7c on NBC.

Roman Polanski Uses New Documentary to Apologize to Lady He Sexually Attacked

ZURICH, Europe -- Director Roman Polanski openly apologized to Samantha Greimer, the lady he sexually attacked 33 years back, inside a new documentary which had its world premiere Tuesday in the Zurich Film Festival.our editor recommends'Carnage' Trailer: Kate Winslet and Jodie Promote Panic in Roman Polanski's Film Adaptation (Video)Kate Winslet, Jodie Promote Shooting Roman Polanski's 'God of Carnage' in ParisFrom 'Avatar' to Roman Polanski, the very best Entertainment Tales of the season OverseasRead Roman Polanski's Dismissal Request...For Those Who Have Each Day To KillRoman Polanski Accepts European Film Award Via Skype "She's a double victim: my victim along with a victim from the press," the Oscar-winning director states close to the finish of Laurent Bouzereau's Roman Polanski: A Movie Memoir. But individuals wishing this new documentary provides further evidence for or against Polanski within the situation that brought him to leave America in 1978 is going to be disappointed. The film, shot while Polanski was under house arrest in Europe 2 yrs ago waiting for possible extradition, offers little new information not already within the criminal record. STORY: Roman Polanski Informs His Side from the Story in New Documentary It's also unlikely to sway anybody undecided within the Polanski situation. The film -Body lengthy, wide-varying conversation between Polanski and the old friend and friend, producer Andrew Braunsberg -- will not make any claim that they can objectivity. It repeats charges of legal manipulation and corruption within the original 1978 trial which were first raised in Marina Zenovich's 2008 doc Roman Polanski: Wanted and Preferred, which first reignited curiosity about the situation. But it doesn't bring any new evidence or facts towards the table. Rather, what Bouzereau's film offers is Polanski's version from the story of his existence. If you will find any surprises available in Roman Polanski: A Movie Memoir, they might be for individuals expecting a monster to determine rather a person, thoughtful, eloquent and emotional because he reflects on which, by any accounts, continues to be an remarkable existence. STORY: Roman Polanski Receives Standing Ovation at Zurich Film Festival The Greimer situation occupies merely a small part of the film. The majority is devoted to Polanski's childhood in German-occupied Belgium, including his avoid the Warsaw ghetto and the early existence and career. The film is principally Polanski themself speaking, with periodic questions and insights from Braunsberg and short clips of Polanski's films, specially the 2002 Oscar champion The Pianist. Polanski made a decision to make use of the 2011 Zurich Film Festival because the platform for that world premiere from the documentary, picking the date almost 2 yrs towards the day when he was arrested here on the way to a ceremony to get an eternity achievement award. STORY: Roman Polanski Returns to Scene of 2009 Arrest He finally acquired the Zurich lifetime recognition Tuesday and received a thunderous standing ovation in the crowd, which incorporated Laurence Fishburne, this season's mind from the Zurich Jury. "Better late than never," Polanski quipped. The 78-year-old director then thanked everybody who supported him throughout his incarceration and eight-month house arrest before a Swiss judge ruled to not extradite. Particularly, he thanked the people from the Zurich prison staff to make his stay 2 yrs ago manageable. "I'm not kidding, not even close to it," he added, following the line got fun in the audience. Related Subjects Worldwide Roman Polanski

Michael Fassbender Wanted For Robocop

He's the surface of Jose Padilha's wishlistLess a casting announcement plus much more a disagreement of directorial intent, Elite Squad director Jose Padilha has states he needs to talk with Michael Fassbender regarding his pending Robocop remake. It's early yet, Padilha recognized around the Brazilian Tv program, however i like Michael Fassbender. I'll consult with him. There's possible.... Definately not concrete then, but a sign the the director expects to fill the metal suit by getting an actress greater than in a position to some affecting wiped out-cyborg emoting, alongside the serving in the public trust, safeguarding in the innocent and looking after in the law. Peter Weller's are large robot boots to fill (Robert Burke's, less), but Fassbender is presently playing another synthetic elsewhere.... Would he are interested?The completely new Robocop happened through the MGM shenanigans, and lost its mooted director Darren Aronofsky in route. We could only imagine what his version might have found, but after talking to the type of Robert Rodriguez and David Slade, the studio's alighting at Padilha is certainly an intriguing, notable and exciting choice. The grittily excellent Elite Squad films made more earnings within the Brazilian box office than Avatar, and another factor to consider may be the 2010 Brazilian nomination for Oscar consideration. Padilha is presently fine-tuning the Robocop script with buzzy youthful author Josh Zetumer, as well as the director certifies the experience will occur, as before, in dystopian Detroit. He's presently in LA, hammering the particulars that will enable him to start shooting in the year.

Figures in transition

'Sunshine Craig as well as the Disco Worms'Czech and Eastern European animation was previously popular across Europe, delivering an even more soulful -- and greatly less costly -- choice to U.S.-made fare.The look is much less apparent nowadays, say purchases folk from European systems, because of the very fact EU nations have walked around the dish with smart, appealing and awesome figures and tales.Cartoon Forum, within the 21st edition this year, is how to witness the increase of independent European animation production. The co-production session brings greater than 700 producers and customers together each fall, meeting this year in Sopot, Belgium.Backed with the European Commission's Media program, the nonprofit event, part of the bigger Cartoon Support, is credited with recuperating from 400 projects produced, mainly TV series. It's also pressed the introduction of homegrown product in Europe, which has largely divided the once-sacred assumption that Hollywood animation is content that continental audiences ever need.Cartoon Forum general director Marc Vandeweyer, who states animation remains considered too often the "poor relation" in the European audio-visual sector, adds the bradenton area has furthermore proven most likely probably the most impressive growth and development of any genre since the Media org was founded. Ongoing EU support, particularly for creating distrib systems, will probably be essential, he argues, because European artists now face plenty of competition in the type of Disney, DreamWorks, Pixar and Warners.Still, it's encouraging, states Vandeweyer, that formerly year Polish auds showed up at some 600,000 for regionally produced figures for instance "The Actual Story of Puss 'n Boots" and "Sunshine Craig as well as the Disco Worms."Cartoon Forum participants for instance Jean-Loeck van Kollenburg, a buyer for Nederlander channels Z@pp/ Z@ppelin, are presently favoring the task of shingles such as the Nederlander Telescreen and U.K./French Millimages, who've offered him on series for instance "Conni" and "64 Zoo Lane."Czech figures use a "wealthy traditional style," van Kollenburg fondly recollects, but a lot of the distribs delivering his audiences nowadays are European, Canadian or Australian -- and frequently still American.Some worldwide co-productions we acquire might have Czech production partners," according to him. "I don't always understand specifically, in truth.InchLaurence Blaevoet, who scouts new animation for Canal Plus France, states five-to-20-minute adventures and comedy will be the hot tickets nowadays -- a location where traditional Eastern European producers have fallen behind."Most toon material within the former East bloc is "not modified for the worldwide audience," she states. "It's too edgy."Better bets for your French major are recent buys for instance "Masha & Michka" from Est Ouest Production/Animaccord of France. However, "Log Jam" from Studio Baestart of Hungary, was well worth the cost too, states Blaevoet.Czechs, meanwhile, still give consideration to animation, which now forms an progressively significant part of feature film output -- the Czech/Slovak/German graphic novel adaptation "Alois Nebel," a dark story from the haunted stop agent shot in arty black-and-white-colored rotoscope, switched heads as of this year's Venice fest.And celebrated surrealist Jan Svankmajer is constantly emerge his unique hands-wrought animation too, preeming "Bugs" this year, a pic that interweaves Karel Capek figures and winged crawlies.Neither, for better or worse, will most likely hit French or British TV screens on any 'life was imple' soon.VARIETY JUNIOR Blasts from past energy int'l kids sales Books and toys aren't fail-safe TV fodder Kids animation making bigger worldwide play Figures in transition Pop go the platforms Disney Junior acing frosh year DQE grabs chance in Indian animation biz Shingle dabbles in 'Baby' babble Argentina teen fare evolves in publish-Cris Morena era Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

One Tree Hill (Finally) Casts Brooke Davis' Father for Last Season Another Cast Member Returns!

Richard Burgi After eight seasons of 1 Tree Hill, Brooke Davis' father is really a no-show no more! Richard Burgi (Desperate Average women) continues to be cast within the recurring role, TVGuide.com has learned. He'll be visiting town like a grand daddy since his estranged daughter Brooke (Sophia Rose bush) is really a new mother to twins, Davis and Jude. Take a look at our fall preview for art galleries, scoop, premiere calendars and much more! Only Brooke's mother Victoria (Daphne Zuniga) continues to be seen on-screen, although Papa Davis continues to be pointed out through the run from the show. In Season 2, he lost his job, forcing the household to re-locate of the palatial home. Soon after, both mom and dad moved away departing Brooke alone in Tree Hill. In Season 8, Brooke was once more disappointed when her father would be a no-show to her wedding. Chad Michael Murray to come back for just one Tree Hill's final season Also showing up around the CW show's ninth and final months are former cast member Barbara Alyn Forest, who plays N Scott. While the reason behind her return has been stored under systems (although we can not imagine it's to rekindle her romance with Abilities!) it's likely related to her boy Nathan, James Lafferty, who are only showing up for area of the season. Forest joins original cast member Chad Michael Murray, who returns for just one episode once the show premieres midseason. Cure would you like to see on a single Tree Hill's final season?

Hart of Dixie

Shot in Wilmington, N.C., by Fake Empire in colaboration with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Galleries. Executive producers, Leila Gerstein, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Len Goldstein, Jason Ensler producer, Kelly Van Horn director, Ensler author, Gerstein.Dr. Zoe Hart - Rachel Bilson Lemon Breeland - Jamie King Lavon Hayes - Cress Williams Wade Kinsella - Wilson Bethel Rose - McKaley Burns George Tucker - Scott Porter People on tv tend to be more beautiful, we are told, explaining away all of the runway models playing cops and prosecutors. Still, it's difficult to consider a wider gap between actor and role than Rachel Bilson being an ambitious thoracic surgeon in "Hart of Dixie," a seafood-out-of-water concept that handles to become condescending towards the seafood and pond alike. This CW show is really silly and light-weight it could possess unpredicted appeal because of its sheer camping factor, along with the chance to determine the South portrayed like a place as exotic because the negative side from the moon. If you wish to be considered a heart surgeon, then you need to work by yourself,Inch a mentor informs Bilson's hard-charging physician Zoe Hart in early going. Well, she did not obtain the promotion she wanted despite her gifted hands, and she's just split together with her boyfriend. How to proceed? Oh wait, there's the old country physician who keeps writing, advocating her in the future have a job at his small practice in Alabama ... In no time, Zoe disembarks a bus in the center of nowhere, putting on a comically short skirt. Fortunately, the very first person the "new lady physician" meets is George (Scott Porter, "Friday Evening Lights"), a dreamy galoot inside a pickup who assures her small-town folk are actually wonderful should you just open and become familiar with Them. Therefore it goes, with Zoe aghast through the cotillion gowns she encounters and getting a chilly reception, a la "Everwood," in the town's only other physician (Tim Matheson), while taking in maternal advice in the office manager (Nancy Travis, who's departing due to dedication to ABC's "Last Guy Standing"). Zoe will prove her mettle, obviously, although not before several awkward encounters, winning her buddies such as the town mayor (Cress Williams) but instantly attaining a bitchy rival (Jamie King). About all that's separating the second from Scarlett O'Hara may be the exclamation "Fiddle-dee-dee." Granted, the CW has gained its stripes with exaggerated youth-oriented soaps -- including "Gossip Girl," where "Hart" author Leila Gerstein has strained. Even though Bilson -- reunited with "The OC" producer Josh Schwartz -- certainly sticks out like a potential CW star, she's so miscast and psychologically scattered there's nary an opportunity to subscribe to her character, however lovely she may be. A whitened lab coat just makes her seem like a resident in Barbie's medical dream house. Clearly, Zoe's missionary operate in Hicksville (production really changes to Burbank following the pilot) is supposed to mature her like a physician -Body able to seeing patients as "individuals to help," not problems to resolve, that is heart-warming within an old-fashioned way. More practically, it's tough to determine this latter-day "Eco-friendly Acres" baling much hay in a single of TV's best timeslots. Which is not just whistlin' Dixie.Camera, Robert Gantz production designer, Mayling Cheng editor, Shaun Granzow music, Jeremy Adelman casting, Molly Lopata. 60 MIN.Hart of Dixie With: Nancy Travis, Tim Matheson, JoBeth Williams Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com

Universal Plotting Another Scarface

But not a remake?Given that the basic story of Scarface powered both the tale of an Italian-born gangster in 1932 and the even more iconic Tony Montana (Al Pacino) in 1983, it's somehow not surprising that Universal might be thinking it could work for an even newer generation. So try not to let your eyes widen much further in shock that the studio is now planning another version. Yes, according to Deadline, Universal is now in active development, with producer Martin Bregman - who helped make the '83 take - meeting writers to flesh out the latest take. The plan is to shove the update into today's world while maintaining the core element of an immigrant who ends up becoming a criminal kingpin. Just don't go calling it a remake: while Brian De Palma's version itself faced plenty of anger when it was originally announced (after all, the 1932 original was by Howard Hawks!) it has since gone on to become an iconic crime film. Read more about that here. It's too early to tell whether update could bottle the lightning a third time, but we'll have to wait and see. But here's the question for you lot: is it necessary? Do we need another anti-hero? Or will anyone involved say hello to a leetle friend?

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Jon Turteltaub In Talks For Last Vegas

Jon Turteltaub is at discussions to direct CBS Films and Mandate Pictures’ comedy Last Vegas, that involves four close buddies inside their late 60s who finalise to escape retirement and throw a Las vegas bachelor party for that only person of those who continued to be single. Serta Fogelman written the script the project will probably be produced by Ray Mark and Mandate, with Mandate leader Nathan Kahane executive creating. Maria Faillace and Alex Ginno are controlling for CBS Films, and Nicole Brown is controlling for Mandate. Turteltaub, repped by WME and Oasis Media Group, directed the country's Treasure movies and several recently helmed The Wizard’s Apprentice.

Knuckle Documentary Trailer: Bare-Knuckle Boxing With the Fam!

The Sundance selection Knuckle, Ian Palmer’s documentary about feuding Irish families who engage in illegal bare-knuckle fights to bring honor to their clans, is more than scary: It’s angry. The new trailer shows all the hateful grit, bloodied torsos, and familial sanctity you can imagine, and it even throws in a few shots of the children fighting too. The gloves are off, and the intimidation is on. (Who am I, Gene Shalit?) Lock up your sons, and watch the trailer after the jump. As a documentary, I imagine Knuckle falls prey to the fact that the families are obsessed with presenting themselves in the right light outside the ring. That still doesn’t mean a line of gravely serious dialogue like “Your man will be going to the hospital, because I’m going to hurt him any when I can” is any less chilling; this trailer bursts with seething conviction, and I’m particularly interested in hearing from the mothers and children of these pugilists. Did you not wince watching the kids punch each other? With their giggly McDonald’s Playland faces? I need about eight Enya ballads to undo my damage. Knuckle is officially released December 2. Verdict: Somebody Up There Hates Me (and My Family) ‘Knuckle’ Theatrical Trailer [/Film]

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Exclusive: Sense Trailer

Everything's gone GreenThe finish around the world will get harder concerning the silver screen. In the past it always involved a sizable old asteroid, some rogue aliens with wanderlust and lots of rayguns, or maybe a defense mechanisms becoming self-aware and delivering a bajillion nukes. For anyone who is Roland Emmerich's laptop, it absolutely was possibly the 3. Nowadays we've got entire planets heading our way (Melancholia), global outbreaks breaking out (Contagion) or perhaps the kind of mystery virus Ewan McGregor and Avoi Eco-friendly need to face in this new trailer for Sense. We're supposing the 'perfect sense' part relates towards the thriving, tender bond that evolves involving the pair - her, an analysis investigator him a chef - because the occasions unfolding around them look firmly fileable inside the 'abnormal' basket. Seriously, who hits a wall getting a bicycle wheel? It is a measure from shoe throwing. Director David Mackenzie, who's double-barrelling his romances getting a different sort of love story, You Rather, now, has set look around the concept of affection in the deeply uncertain world. Whether or not this appears like 4 days Later reimagined by Mills & Boon, that'd get it done a injustice. Relating to this evidence, McGregor and Eco-friendly generate enough chemistry to influence us using the tumult. . The novelty helmet-eyed among furthermore, you'll have spotted a Trainspotting reunion inside, with McGregor's old mucker Ewen Bremner showing up as his new mucker inside their restaurant kitchen. Click below for a close look within the new quad poster (no Spud incorporated). . Sense is going on October 7.