Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Vodka Factory ((Vodkafabriken))

A Hysteria Films production in co-production with Arte GEIE, SVT, TVP 1, while using support in the Swedish Film Institute, the Polish Film Institute, along with YLE. (Worldwide sales: Arte France, Issy-ces-Moulineaux, France.) Produced by Russo Merenda. Co-producers, Anne Baumann, Ulla Nilsson, Barbara Pawlowska. Directed, put together by Jerzy Sladkowski.With: Valentina Barabina, Tatania Pronina, Danilo Barabin, Andrzej Fidyk.Truth proves more film than fiction in vet documentarian Jerzy Sladkowski's "The Vodka Factory." The enchanting story of Valentina Barabina, just one mother very setting her sights on fame in Moscow to leave the dead-finish Russian boondocks, plays prefer kind of narrative moviemaking the presence of the digital camera as well as the filmmaker's outsider p.o.v. appear to be able to boost the knowledge of all involved, supplying a benefit of desperation, bitterness and obsessed desire to the proceedings. By turns moving, amusing and terrible, this giant docu could score in theatrical release. Barabina and her youthful boy, Danilo, live in the Russian capital of scotland - Zhiguljovsk along with her extended-suffering mother, Tatiana Pronina, who works just like a bus conductor. Taking shameless advantage of her mother's fondness for your kid, tarted-up Barabina will all of a sudden appear and dump him round the bus for several hours while she excursions away and off to acting training or belly-dancing classes. Barabina intentions of departing her boy in their mother's care while she chases her thespian dreams inside the capital. But Pronina provides hiding for wants her, getting received an appreciation letter in the former flame she's not noticed in thirty years. Sladkowski even captures their first surprise meeting round the bus, their bashful exchange of confidences interspersed with fare collections. For Pronina, displaying grand boy means renouncing her newborn expect companionship. Mother and daughter money in keeping, both getting divorced drunken abusive males. Indeed, alcohol appears like it is the fuel that keeps Zhiguljovsk running furthermore to giving the film a appealing title, it provides employment for almost all the town's women, who bottle vodka throughout your day and consume it by evening. Barabina herself works inside the factory, and Sladkowski shoots several moments there as she interacts with female co-employees (men're largely conspicuous by their absence). The women gossip and supply unwanted critiques of Barabina's acting chops, condemn her heartlessness in abandoning her boy and predict her sordid downfall inside the large city, the rhythm from the conversation counterpointing their practiced setup-line moves. When the women congregate throughout the evening in one another's houses, rancor and despair flow as freely since the vodka, simply because they defiantly admit infidelity or express raw hate for offspring. In this particular context, Barabina's naive belief within their talent registers as less delusional than desperate. Indeed, despite her plump, mascara-heavy appearance, there is something touching in their single-minded wish to have transcendence. In their acting tutorial, she wrestles getting a text, frustrating her teacher with inadequacies in imagination or empathy making her unable to rephrase written lines. Yet she's selected employment that ironically mirrors her as she emotes on her behalf tutor too for Sladkowski's camera, her find it hard to communicate with her self-centered feelings produces a unique poignant authenticity. Tech credits are superb.Camera (color, HD), Wojciech Staron editor, Agnieszka Bojanowska appear, Shamil Ismailov, Aleksei Maisenko. Examined at Hamptons Film Festival (competing), March. 15, 2011. (Also in Hot Documents Film Festival.) Running time: 89 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Tim Burton Balloon Debuts at Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Warner Home Video's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 remained the top-selling DVD and Blu-ray Disc for the second consecutive week, topping both the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert overall sales chart and the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart.our editor recommends'Harry Potter' Films Dominate Home Video Chart Thanks to 'Deathly Hallows Part 2' Release'Harry Potter' And Blu-Ray Boom Keeps German Video Market Steady A trio of Walt Disney Studios titles took the next three spots on the overall sales chart for the week ending Nov. 11, as the holiday gift-buying season shifted into high gear with various Disney-themed promotions at top retailers, including Target stores. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides shot back up to No. 2 from No. 12 after five weeks in stores. The Lion King, in its seventh week in stores, shot to No. 3 from No. 19 the previous week. And Cars 2, the newest release of the bunch, remained in the top 5, slipping to No. 4 from No. 2. PHOTOS: 'Harry Potter' London Red Carpet On Nielsen's Blu-ray Disc chart, it was Potter-mania all the way, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I moving up a notch to No. 2 and the complete eight-film collection rising to No. 3 from No. 8 the previous week. On Home Media Magazine's weekly rental chart, Pirates shot to No. 1 from No. 86 now that its 28-day holdback from Netflix and Redbox is over. The No. 2 spot went to Warner's Horrible Bosses, which bumped Sony Pictures' to No. 3. The previous week's top renter, Paramount's Captain America: The First Avenger, slipped to No. 5, right behind Cars 2, which moved up two spots to No. 4. Related Topics Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Lee Pockriss dies at 87

Songwriter and composer Lee Pockriss, whose varied career involved creating for Broadway literary adaptations, Perry Como, bubblegum novelty performers and "Sesame Street," died in Bridgewater, Conn., on Monday, November. 14. He was 87. While Pockriss' most legendary composition might be the 1960 No. 1 hit "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Small Polka Us dot Bikini," that they co-authored with Paul Vance, he seemed to be accountable for era standards "Johnny Angel" and "Catch a Falling Star." Using a quantity of songwriting partners and lyricists, Pockriss was nevertheless most widely known for his collaborations with Vance. Born in Brooklyn, Pockriss analyzed musicology at NYU before becoming an aura Pressure cryptologist throughout World war 2. He started creating for television within the nineteen fifties, mainly for NBC's "U.S. Steel Hour," and subsequently met Brill Building songwriter Vance. The 2 notched their initial hit with Como's "Catch a Falling Star" in 1957, going onto collaborate on many other hits, including John Hyland's "Bikini" and "Four Little Heels (The Clickety Clack Song)," Clint Holmes' "Playground of My ThoughtsInch in addition to "Stagecoach to Cheyenne" for that 1966 remake from the John Ford Western "Stagecoach." Pockriss' first head to legit theater arrived collaboration with lyricist Anne Croswell for 1960's "Ernest for each other,Inch then 1963's Broadway hit "Tovarich," which provided lead Vivian Leigh having a Tony. In 1969, Pockriss modified Fitzgerald's "The Truly Amazing Gatsby" with lyricists Carolyn Lee and Hugh Wheeler -- the resulting tuner, "Gatsby," never was fully staged, although it was handed a concert performance in NY captured. In 1968, Pockriss composed the score for MGM's Martin Sheen starrer "The Topic Was Roses." Within the '70s Pockriss came back to TV composition, penning tunes for "Sesame Street" (Kermit the Frog's "My Polliwog Ways" particularly). Pockriss is made it by his wife Sonja along with a brother. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Demi Moore To Divorce Ashton Kutcher

First Released: November 17, 2011 5:13 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption and Demi Moore attend the launch party legitimate Males Dont Buy Women at Steven Alan Annex in NY City, on April 14, 2011 Demi Moore and have introduced they're ending their marriage red carpet years together. Moore, 49, told Access Hollywood on Thursday that shes intends to divorce Kutcher, 33, and it has great sadness along with a heavy heart. Like a lady, a parent along with a wife, you will find certain values and vows which i hold sacred, which is within this spirit which i have selected to proceed with my existence, she stated inside a statement to gain access to. Ashton also confirmed the split on Thursday, Tweeting, I'll forever cherish time I spent with Demi. Marriage is among the hardest things on the planet and regrettably sometimes they fail. Love and lightweight, AK (POLL: Are you currently surprised at the split? Election HERE!) In September, among spiraling gossips of trouble between your couple and accusations of infidelity, the 2 . 5 Males star Tweeted a hyperlink to Public Enemys 1988 hit, Dont Believe the Hype, on his Spotify account as well as authored, Whenever you ASSUME to understand everything you have no knowledge individuals make an ASS from U and ME. At that time, Demi also spoke on Twitter having a cryptic message. If we are upset at any guys fault, use yourself & study your personal foibles. Then you'll forget your anger. Epictetus, she authored at that time. Recently, Sara Leal, 22, the lady at the middle of Kutchers alleged affair, spoke to both Us Weekly and also the UKs The Sun's Rays newspaper, declaring she'd sex using the actor around the stars sixth anniversary at San Diegos Hard Rock Hotel on September 23. Leal stated that they along with a friend got naked inside a spa with Kutcher, and then, he suggested he was thinking about a threesome. After her visit to the restroom, Leal stated her friend left and she or he had unguaranteed sex with Kutcher. He was good, she told Us. We werent, like, having sex, however it wasnt strange or perverted. Demi and Ashton tied the knot in 2005 after 2 yrs of dating. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Rob Marshall To Receive CAS Award

Rob Marshall will receive the Cinema Audio Society Filmmaker Award at the 48th CAS Awards.our editor recommendsCANNES Q&A: 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' Director Rob MarshallTrue Grit Takes Top Cinema Audio Society Award PHOTOS: Inside 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Marshall's credits as a director include Chicago, which won six Oscars including best picture; Memoirs of a Geisha; and Nine. His honors for Chicago include the Directors Guild Award, an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA nomination. On Nine, Marshall worked with Scott Millan, who is this year's CAS Career Achievement Award honoree. PHOTOS: 10 Billion Dollar Babies: Movies That Have Crossed the 10 Figure Mark Marshall's most recent film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has grossed over one billion dollars at the worldwide box office. He is currently developing The Thin Man starring Johnny Depp. In television, Marshall's credits include NBC's Tony Bennett: An American Classic, for which he won a DGA Award and three Emmys; and Disney/ABC's Annie, which received 12 Emmy nominations and won the Peabody Award. A six-time Tony Award nominee and George Abbott Award winner, Marshall's stage work includes co-directing and choreographing the Broadway production of Cabaret and directing and choreographing the Broadway revival of Little Me. The CAS Awards will be presented February 18 at the Millennium-Biltmore Hotel. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'Pirates' Premiere PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery GALLERY: First Look at 'Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides' Nine Chicago Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Rob Marshall

Sunday, November 13, 2011

DreamWorks Denies Capri Festivals Claims That War Horse Is Galloping To Festival

UPDATE: Despite an official Capri-Hollywood International Film Festival announcement, DreamWorks reports that it has not booked Steven Spielberg’s War Horse to make its European premiere at the festival. It doesn’t appear likely that the film will go there at this point or that there was ever a commitment. We can’t recall a festival claiming it had booked a major awards season film, only to have that claim blow up in the face or organizers. On Sunday, the festival went so far as to issue this quote: “We thank the Maestro Spielberg and the Disney organization for granting us the privilege and the honor to host the European premiere of their film,” states Pascal Vicedomini, founder and producer of Capri, Hollywood. “There is a great anticipation for this event all over Campania even because of the love story that was born between our Region and the great American Maestro. Last summer, Spielberg and his family spent their holidays sailing around the jewels of the Bays of Naples and Sorrento on board their yacht. The highly anticipated screening of War Horse adds Vicedomini confirms the delicate role of Capri-Hollywood as a launching pad in the race for the International Film Awards, including the Oscar and consolidates the European leadership of the Blue Island as the ideal gathering point between Italian cinematic art and the great American showbiz.” According to insiders in Spielberg’s camp, that simply isn’t the case. EARLIER: The opening-night film at the Capri-Hollywood International Film Festival on December 27 will be the European premiere of Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, which unspools in the U.S. two days earlier on Christmas. It’s the latest move by Disney and DreamWorks to circumvent the traditional awards-season circuit but keep their movie in the conversation; they have been creating their own secret tour in tiny towns mostly in the Midwest or places like Bellevue, Wash. The Capri festival on the Italian island runs through January 2 and will feature a competition section and jury co-chaired by Melissa Leo, and tributes to Grace Kelly and British choreographer and filmmaker Lindsay Kemp.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

'The Help' and 'Mad Men' Win Hollywood Post Alliance Awards

"The Help," "The Social Network," "The Green Lantern" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" were all winners Thursday night as the Hollywood Post Alliance held its sixth annual HPA Awards at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.The HPA, the post-production community's professional organization, also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Cyril Drabinsky, president and CEO of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group.Engineering Excellence Awards were handed out to Dolby Laboratories for its Professional Reference monitor; Sony Professional Solutions of America for its OLED monitor; Lightcraft Technology for Previzion; and IBM for its Linear Tape File System.The Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation went to Testronic Labs for its File-Based QC Lab and to Steven J. Scott of EFILM for The Tree of Life's DI Environment.The HPA Awards, which honor talent working behind the scenes in motion pictures, television and commercials, also recognized work in the TV series "Mad Men," "Downton Abbey," "House" and "Boardwalk Empire." The Hollywood Reporter

Friday, November 11, 2011

China continues piracy attack

BEIJING -- China is attempting to underline it's intent on cracking lower on piracy by creating a distinctive office to help the campaign against breach of intellectual property rights and counterfeit products. Filmmakers, both domestic and foreign, regularly complain that rampant piracy in China helps it be a dangerous sell to be used in. What this means is, for example, that movies have little opportunity to create revenue streams aside from box office takings because IPR robbery is actually common. Work will probably be setup beneath the Secretary of condition for Commerce, the us government mentioned in the statement. "China faces a hard task fighting IPR breach together with the development and get of fake products, so greater administrative and police jobs are needed," it mentioned. Police were being advised to find out a combination-regional enforcement system to facilitate research. A attack launched in November a year ago saw good results, and many 28,000 criminal cases of breach of IPR and selling shoddy goods happen to be cracked. Over 6,700 criminal gangs who've been associated with wholesaling and marketing the items were destroyed. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Dylan Walsh Welcomes Daughter

Dylan Walsh Dylan Walsh is a dad. The 47-year-old Unforgettable star announced that he welcomed a baby girl, named Amelie Belle, on Sept. 25."My best moment of 2011 would definitely be the birth of my daughter six weeks ago, on Sept. 25," Walsh told People. There was no word on who the mother is.See other celebs who have had babies this yearIn December of last year, Walsh filed for divorce from second wife Joanna Going. The Nip/Tuck actor cited irreconcilable differences and asked for joint legal custody of the couple's 7-year-old daughter.Walsh has two other children - Thomas, 15, and Joanna, 14 - with first wife Melora Walters.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' Producers Fire Back at Julie Taymor

After Julie Taymor filed a lawsuit in NY claiming that Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, the most expensive Broadway production ever, violated her rights by continuing to use her work without compensation, the producers have issued a response saying that they "have repeatedly tried to resolve these issues."our editor recommendsJulie Taymor Sues 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' for Infringing Her Creative Input'Spider-Man' Musical's Ex-Director Julie Taymor Speaks Out'Spider-Man' Owes Julie Taymor $300,000, Union Says "Since Ms. Taymor's departure in March, we have repeatedly tried to resolve these issues. The production has indeed compensated Ms. Taymor for her contribution as a co-book writer," said lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris in a joint statement issued late Tuesday. The statement continues: "Fortunately the court system will provide, once and for all, an opportunity to resolve this dispute. Welook forward to a resolution in which everyone is properly compensated for their contribution to Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." The Oscar-nominated director left the musical production in March, before it officially opened, due to artistic differences. Turn Off the Dark received poor reviews early on and injuries to members of the cast, but the musical played to near-capacity crowd since November, when it opened on Broadway. After Taymor was let go, she filed an arbitration claim against the producers, alleging that they still owed her more than half a million in royalties. In this new lawsuit, Taymor claims that producers have continued to use her creative contributions without compensation. "Ms. Taymor regrets that the producers' actions have left her no choice but to resort to legal recourse to protect her rights," said her attorney, Charles Spada atLankler Siffert & Wohl. Eriq Gardner contributed to this report. Related Topics Julie Taymor Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Thursday, November 3, 2011

AFM: Myriad Nabs Foreign On Freeloaders

Thursday, November 3, 2011, Santa Monica Myriad Pictures has acquired all privileges outdoors The United States towards the comedy Freeloaders, directed by Serta Rosen (Dead Guys Curve). The film includes a stellar ensemble cast including Jane Seymour (The Household Tree, Wedding Crashers), Dork Foley (The Children Within The Hall), Olivia Munn (Date Evening, Iron Guy 2) and Clifton Collins, Junior. (Star Trek, Mindhunters). Myriad is selling the finished film in the American Film Market. The storyline follows several slackers who're living free of charge inside a rock star’s mansion. They uncover their valued lifestyle is threatened once the music performer decides to market his pad. The script was compiled by Rosen and Dork Gibbs. Creating for Damaged Lizard are lengthy-time lizard collaborator and producer Richard Perello and Julia Dray, underneath the five-member filmmaking comedy groups shingle. Damaged Lizard Industries is better noted for the comedy game titles Super Military, Beerfest, Club Dread and also the Slammin Fish. Freeloaders was introduced to Damaged Lizard in early stages of development to create and help obtain the project off the floor. Also creating are Thomas Gardner and Gregory P. Cimino II , and Adam Duritz, in the band Counting Crows. Matthew Pritzker is executive creating together with his production company, Turbo Streak Entertainment. Whenever we browse the script for Freeloaders, we leaped at the opportunity to help shepherd the filmmakers through, stated Jay Chandrasekhar of Damaged Lizard. Getting visited some pretty wild parties within our lives we understood this could create a very funny movie. We've been large fans from the Damaged Lizard comedies for a while, stated Myriad Boss Kirk DAmico. We're delighted to become dealing with the producers to create this comedy with large laughs towards the worldwide marketplace.

CBS Posts Quarterly Gains That Underwhelm Traders

CBS released third-quarter revenue that rose 2 percent to $3.37 billion and fell just shy of experts anticipation of $3.43 billion, delivering its shares reduced after-several hours purchasing and selling.our editor recommendsProducers Guild to Recognition Leslie Moonves With Milestone Award Internet earnings, though, rose 7 percent to $338 million, or 50 cents per share, which was about 4 cents greater than experts expected, and within a business call Wall Street experts were congratulating CBS professionals which one referred to as their "great amounts." Advertising revenue rose minimally to $1.99 billion while content certification and distribution revenue was up 5 % to $867 million and revenue from affiliate and subscription costs rose 7 percent to $438 million. Round the call, Boss Ces Moonves mentioned CBS "is defined for just about any record-breaking 2012," due to the fact political advertising will begin high gear through the presidential primary season and to the general election yearly from now. PHOTOS: 9 Finest Paid out Entertainment CEOs That optimism, though, didn't participate in so well on Thursday as CBS sitting out a effective Wall Street rally that sent the S&P 500 up greater than 2 percent, rather than a few percent decline for CBS.Following a closing bell , CBS sunk yet another 2 percent. CBS mentioned Thursday, really, it might increase its share repurchasing program by $1.5 billon after you have already bought $850 million offered by the prior authorization of $1.5 billion. Digital handles the type of Netflix and Hulu are playing a bigger role at CBS nowadays, and Moonves on Thursday credited these with making its share in the CW lucrative. Moonves also mentioned that CBS hasn't been hurt by losing distribution from the famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey's syndicated show. "I won't say it's terrific to eliminate The famous host the famous host oprah," he mentioned, but added that CBS benefits because shows situated by Judge Judy and Dr. Phil are becoming well-liked by Winfrey's absence. "The business's strong operating fundamental concepts and proper improvements towards the enterprize model still pay back. I realize that Leslie and also the team will achieve elevated levels after we use 2012 and beyond," executive chairman Sumner Redstone mentioned inside the earnings release. The release also suggested strong performances from Showtime Systems, CBS Sports Network and Smithsonian Systems. Related Subjects Ces Moonves Sumner Redstone Showtime Systems Smithsonian Systems The CW

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Scarlett Johansson's Nude Pics Explained

“I know my best angles,” the actress jokes in a wide-ranging new Vanity Fair cover profile. “They were sent to my husband [Ryan Reynolds, now Johansson’s’s ex]. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not like I was shooting a porno. Although there’s nothing wrong with that either.” Fair enough. But that bit about her and Woody Allen squirting Purell in each others’ hands is disgusting. [VF]