Redford To Have The Most Wonderful Time

Diane Keaton also up for the Xmas picYou know what has been a really underserved genre in recent years? Holiday-themed films with large ensembles. Yes, you can probably hear the sarcasm in every strike of the keys there. But though the latest effort, Garry Marshall's New Year's Eve, didn't enjoy the warmest critical reception, it did go on to make around $142 million worldwide, so the tide of treacly seasonal comedy is not going to stop just yet. Especially since Robert Redford and Diane Keaton are circling the leads in The Most Wonderful Time.P.S. I love You/Stepmom writer Steven Rogers has come up with the concept, which, according to Deadline he describes as an "Amelie-esque story about people who live for the future or hang onto the past, which prevents them from living in the moment, and not appreciating what is right in front of them." Err... Yay?Redford and Keaton are likely on to play the leads in a plot that will feature multiple strands interlinking and plenty of heart-warming Christmas cheer. Which director Jessie Nelson will probably bring together on a soundstage in the middle of a sweltering July summer. Nothing says Christmas like having to stop the air conditioning to shoot!

Oz's Cordell Jigsaw, Zapruder's merge

SYDNEY -- Australian mid-size production companies Cordell Jigsaw and Zapruder's Other Films have merged to produce the nation's greatest independently possessed producer. Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder is going to be probably the most prolific companies of local skeins with 14 shows on air, including "The Gruen Transfer," pubcaster ABC's greatest-ranked show, and "Mega Truck drivers," a success for paybox A&E Australia. The merger gives the organization the heft it must undertake rival production titans. "How can you contend with the likes of Shine, possessed by News Corp., Endemol, possessed by Mediaset or Fremantle, possessed by RTL?... That's who we are rivaling and that is without their format books and depending only by ourselves ideas," stated Cordell Jigsaw's Nick Murray. The solution ended up being to band together so that they have more powerful mix-pollination of development ideas, easier retain staff and also have an optimistic knock-on effect for worldwide distribution, per Andrew Denton, topper of Zapruder's Other Films. Cordell Jigsaw released a distrib arm this past year and today, with local hit documentary series "Return to In Which You Originated FromInch and also the privileges of "The Gruen Transfer" lately coming back to Zapruder's, it features a strong slate. "What we should have is a very interesting catalog of finished shows and formats that we'll be getting to promote at MipTV in April the very first time,Inch Murray stated. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'The Artist' wins best picture at Cesar awards

'The Artist' swept the major prizes at France's Cesar Awards, including best picture.PARIS-- Michel Hazanavicius' B&W silent homage to Hollywood's Golden Age, "The Artist" won top kudos Friday night at the 37th Cesar awards, including film, director for Michel Hazanavicius, thesp for Berenice Bejo, production design (Laurence Bennett), cinematography (Guillaume Schiffman), music (Ludovic Bource).Bejo, who previously earned a newcomer nod in Gerard Jugnot's comedy "Most Promising Young Actress," beat out strong contenders, notably Karin Viard and Marina Fois, who toplined in Maiwenn's daring police ensembler "Polisse."Since bowing at Cannes, "The Artist" has swept major prizes on both sides of the Atlantic, notably three Golden Globes, seven BAFTA's, one Goya and is contending for 10 Oscars on Sunday.But "The Artist" didn't have it all its way at France's top film awards. Underscoring the good health of Gallic cinema and the quality of the contenders, the Cesar kudos spread wider than at previous editions.French comic Omar Sy won over "The Artist" star Jean Dujardin in the actor category for his performance as a goofy caretaker from the projects in Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano's smash hit buddy dramedy "Untouchables."Pierre Schoeller's dense political drama "The Minister" won supporting actor for Michel Blanc, original screenplay for Schoeller and sound editing. Blanc was previously nominated seven times."The Minister" opened at Cannes' Un Certain Regard and nabbed the Fipresci nod."Polisse," which was nomed for a record 13 Cesar awards, took home two nods: female newcomer Naidra Ayadi and editing (Laure Gardette, Yann Dedet). Ayadi shared the newcomer prize with Clotilde Hesme for her performance in Alix Delaporte's feature debut "Angele and Tony," which also won male newcomer for Gregory Gadebois.Roman Polanski and Yasmina Reza won adapted screenplay for "Carnage" which is based on Reza's acclaimed play.Spanish thesp Carmen Maura who played the maid in the 1960s-set comedy "Service Entrance," took supporting actress.Christian Rouaud's "Leadersheep" took the docu award. It explores a traditional farming community fighting the government's plan to build an army training camp in their region.Joann Sfar and Antoine Delesvaux's "The Rabbi's Cat" took the animation nod. Sfar won last year's Cesar for her feature debut, "Gainsbourg."Sylvain Estibal's "When Pigs Have Wings" took the first film nod. Produced by Marylin Prods, "Wings" bowed at Tokyo. The Gaza-set dramedy turns on a penniless Palestinian fisherman.Brit thesp Kate Winslet was on hand to receive a honorary Cesar award from the hands of helmer Michel Gondry, who directed her in "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Winslet follows the footsteps of a platoon of Hollywood stars, notably Quentin Tarantino, Dustin Hoffman and Will Smith, who have been honored by the French academy of Arts and Sciences in the past 10 years."This French honor makes me feel that I'm part of an international film community in which we all get to play in," said Winslet in her acceptance speech. "I'm thankful to Michel Gondry who was my introduction to French filmmaking."Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi's "A Separation" won foreign pic. The Gallic box office sleeper hit beat out Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," Tom Hopper's "The King's Speech" and Lars Von Trier's "Melancholia," among others.A complete list follows:FILM "The Artist," Michel HazanaviciusDIRECTORMichel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"ACTOROmar Sy, "Intouchables"ACTRESSBerenice Bejo, "The Artist"SUPPORTING ACTORMichel Blanc, "The Minister"SUPPORTING ACTRESSCarmen Maura, "Service Entrance"NEWCOMER, ACTORGregory Gadebois, "Angele et Tony"NEWCOMER, ACTRESSNaidra Ayadi, "Polisse"Clotilde Hesme, "Angele et Tony"FIRST FILMSylvain Estibal, "When Pigs Have Wings"ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYPierre Schoeller, "The Minister"ADAPTED SCREENPLAYYasmina Reza, Roman Polanski, "Carnage"FOREIGN FILM"A Separation," Asghar FarhadiCINEMATOGRAPHYGuillaume Schiffman, "The Artist"ANIMATED FILM"The Rabbi's Cat," Joann Sfar, Antoine DelesvauxDOCUMENTARY FEATURE"Tous au Larzac," Christian RouaudMUSICLudovic Bource, "The Artist" Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Edgar Wright to direct The Actor-brad Pitt within the Evening Stalker

Disney has employed Rob From The Dead director Edgar Wright to helm a remake from the Evening Stalker, a 1972 television horror, and Johnny Depp's in place to star. It seems Depp and the creating partner Christi Dembrowski have experienced their hearts set on obtaining the remake produced for a while. The 1972 show, composed by I'm Legend novelist Richard Matheson, saw a Vegas reporter investigate a string of killings he suspected were committed with a vampire.After cult hits Rob From The Dead and Scott Pilgrim Versus. The Planet, Wright has turned into a searched for-after talent, together with his title already mounted on Marvel's Ant-Guy, in addition final entry within the Cornetto trilogy...Without any script written up to now, and Depp presently filming The Lone Ranger, we expect The Evening Stalker to begin shooting early the coming year.

Authors make quips at WGA honours

Don Roos and Lisa Kudrow Steven Levitan and Carol Leifer, Joel McHale and Bryan Cranston Stars Joel McHale (L) and Bryan Cranston"The Descendants" brings Jim Rash, Kaui Hart Hemmings and Nat Faxon for the Authors Guild of America Honours in Hollywood. Eric Roth accepts the Laurel Award for Screen. As honours shows go, the Authors Guild of America's annual confab isn't probably the most fashion occasions nevertheless it usually does produce top quality quips. Sunday's enter in the Palladium in Hollywood shipped on who advertise. "It's surprising he is not here!" co-host Joel McHale mentioned of Woodsy Allen's no-show for his "Evening amount of time in Paris" win. "Joel...you're embarrassing me before my potential nerd dates," co-host Zooey Deschanel told McHale. Departing comments on the feel of screenwriters, "The Descendants" co-scribe Jim Rash introduced, "Seems like they require the bald, attractive anyone to go first." Amy Poehler deftly introduced herself: "I'm comedy icon Amy Poehler." The WGA itself received attack. "Someone said 'Written By' round the short walk within the mailbox for the trash,Inch Mike Reiss mentioned in the org's in-house monthly. David Fincher appreciated meeting Eric Roth the first time. "Here was somebody that hated increasing numbers of people than I did so which i figured I really could develop that," mentioned the helmer. And Lisa Kudrow opined round the upside of her "Web Therapy" not nommed: "If you're not nominated then you definitely certainly can't lose therefore we have practically won." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Ticket Discount on 'Memphis' for Actors' Equity People

Ticket Discount on 'Memphis' for Actors' Equity People Feb 16, 2012 Photo by Joan Marcus Included in the "Inspire Change" talkback series, Actors' Equity Association people will get a price reduction at special performances from the musical "Memphis" at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., New york city. At shows on February. 16 and 23 at 8 p.m., patrons is going to be asked to sign up within an after-performance talkback concerning the role of unprivileged within the carrying out arts. On February. 16, music critic and radio talk show host Dork Marsh will moderate, as well as on February. 23, radio host Julie James will moderate. To order your discount tickets, mention code MEMTALK in the Shubert Theatre box office on your day from the performance only. Reduced balcony seats cost $26.50, and rear orchestra and mezzanine seats are $66.50. You are able to also purchase tickets (use code MEMTALK) at Visit BroadwayOffers.com or by calling (212) 947-8844. Ticket Discount on 'Memphis' for Actors' Equity People Feb 16, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT Joan Marcus Included in the "Inspire Change" talkback series, Actors' Equity Association people will get a price reduction at special performances from the musical "Memphis" at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., New york city. At shows on February. 16 and 23 at 8 p.m., patrons is going to be asked to sign up within an after-performance talkback concerning the role of unprivileged within the carrying out arts. On February. 16, music critic and radio talk show host Dork Marsh will moderate, as well as on February. 23, radio host Julie James will moderate. To order your discount tickets, mention code MEMTALK in the Shubert Theatre box office at the time from the performance only. Reduced balcony seats cost $26.50, and rear orchestra and mezzanine seats are $66.50. You can also buy tickets (use code MEMTALK) at Visit BroadwayOffers.com or by calling (212) 947-8844.

Academy awards Q&A: The Artist Do-It-All Michel Hazanavicius On Making Noise Together With His Quiet Film

Michel Hazanavicius had not been nominated to have an Oscar. Actually, he's never visited the Oscars. But he’s creating for your inside a large way this season as director-author-editor from the much acclaimed black-and-whitened quiet filmThe Artist, the honours-season darling that is a front-runner for top Picture Oscar among its 10 nominations overall — including for Hazanavicius particularly Best Director, Original Script and Editing.He earned his first feature Mes amis in 1999 consider then has centered on his Mission Impossible spoofs: the 2006 worldwide comedy hit OSS 117: Cairo, Nest Of Spies and it is 2009 follow up, OSS 117: Lost In Rio. Both starred Jean Dujardin and Hazanavicius wife Brnice Bejo, who also headline and therefore are Oscar-nommed for that Artist. Deadline Honours Writer Pete Hammond sitting lower with Hazanavicius to discuss his film, that has taken the planet by storm since its May debut at Cannes. That’s in which the Weinstein Company acquired it and sent it along its honours-season way. AWARDSLINE: Why did you need to perform a black-and-whitened quiet film? Nobody has truly had that idea within eighty years. HAZANAVICIUS: I have no idea. I suppose I simply wanted to get it done. You realize these movies it's a special experience to look at a quiet movie with others. I like how a story is told inside a quiet movie. Being an audience you play in the storytelling process. In ways Used to do a kind of crook factor. I scammed. I've the advantage of eighty years of sophistication, of narration, and that i required that old movies and that i did a contemporary one using the earliest ones. AWARDSLINE: Which means you really viewed a number of, you'd a number of inspirations to start with. That which was one of these you patterned this after? HAZANAVICIUS: I viewed a couple of from many nations however i find the 4 or 5 final many years of the American quiet era. City Girl, Sunrise, the Frank Borzage movies, the John Ford movies, Four Sons for instance. Everyone Else from King Vidor. Chaplin obviously. The Von Sternberg movies, Underworld and Docks Of NY. AWARDSLINE: What is the large challenge by doing this film now? HAZANAVICIUS: It had been within the writing. I needed to believe that I'd have the ability to shoot the succession without asking stars to do pantomime. I needed these to behave as they are doing usually. I must discover the good images to inform the storyline, however it needs to be achieved with images. That needed to be figured throughout the writing process. AWARDSLINE: It should be difficult to utilize a partly American crew in Hollywood as you are French. HAZANAVICIUS: Being French isn't an problem for me personally. I'm French by coincidence. I did not prefer to get French and extremely I dont care. After I work, prior to being French, I'm the director. For example I dont speak with the costume designer being an American, I speak with him like a costume designer. Ive made movies in South america, The other agents, France and around the globe. And it is exactly the same. Hollywood isn't especially American anyway. Hollywood is worldwide, it goes to everyone. And So I felt really legitimate. Used to do some investigation, read lots of books, viewed movies and checked out photos and so i think I understood the topic pretty much. I could communicate for an American crew, but first of all a crew. AWARDSLINE: The film includes a universal theme. HAZANAVICIUS: I truly think there's something beautiful using the quiet format. I believe the company directors, once they made the films in the 20s, they didnt come with an choice to do speaking movies, these were just doing movies also it would be a new kind of a universal language and i believe it's very touching if you notice the quiet movie since it doesn't have language so its just images and music. Its like works of art and all sorts of music. Its a real language with feelings and feelings and it is much deeper than speaking movies, I believe. AWARDSLINE: Do you know the influences around the film? HAZANAVICIUS: Really very few people knows the quiet era which is not something I calculated. I believe my film is really a homage towards the classical Hollywood movies. Music is actually essential in the quiet process and there is no music within the quiet era, but we made a decision to be reverent towards the classical Hollywood composers therefore it ranges from 40s and 50s until Vertigo. I gave my cinematographer 12 movies to look at and evaluate the feel of the items I needed. But in the finish during the day I told him we must forget everything and tell our very own story. I truly can borrow mood from movies from the 40s.For example, within the sequence whenever you uncover the seem test, you can turn to the beginning of Citizen Kane within the screening room. Its a powerful backlight. And That I wanted that. I needed the smoothness of George to refuse the seem right now and that he ranges from the sunshine towards the darkness. I desired that strong black-and-whitened light and shadow, and so i didnt would like it to be just in the quiet era. I needed so that it is all the classic movies. AWARDSLINE: And also the black and whitened is stunning. HAZANAVICIUS: Its so beautiful. For that stars they're magnified, its especially great. And i believe the aspect ratio of just one:33 its wonderful for that stars. You actually see their physiques. Whenever you perform a close-up in 1:33, it requires just the entire frame. Its really spectacular. AWARDSLINE: Are you able to discuss the scene in which you bring seem in to the film as the actor stays quiet? HAZANAVICIUS: Really it had been a choice for the whole script. At first it had been a choice to inform the storyline of the quiet actor and slowly and gradually the seem is visiting existence, but he stays quiet. I believed it was interesting, the main problem is if one makes a promise within the first fifteen minutes from the movie and say “OK, you will visit a quiet movie,” slowly and gradually youre cheating. And thats disappointing because you aren't carrying out a quiet movie. To ensure that would be a bad option. However I loved the first idea and so i stored it and set it in only one sequence. I believed it was very funny that something which am normal just like a glass or object just carrying this out natural seem can be quite shocking. You're completely shocked if you notice it since it is not the flicks convention, however it means something. I believed it was funny. (Hazanavicius photo: Getty Images)

Oren Peli Presents Chernobyl Diaries

The new name for Lawson OxfordIt's been without an official title ever since it was first announced in the middle of last year, but Oren Peli's mysterious ghost-town movie has now been officially named The Chernobyl Diaries. It's just been picked up for distribution by Alcon and Warner Bros.The Paranormal Activity director wasn't actually behind the cameras for this one, ceding the calling of the actual shots to Bradley Parker, an FX man with credits on Fight Club and Let Me In. Peli wrote the film with brothers Shane and Carey Van Dyke (grandsons of Dick). And he's producing, under the Paranormal Films banner that's also been home to James Wan's Insidious and Rob Zombie's Lords Of Salem.The Chernobyl Diaries, which rumour has it for some time was called 'The Diary Of Lawson Oxford', involves a group of friends who get stranded in the city of Prypiat, once home to the Chernobyl plant workers, but abandoned since thenuclear disaster of 1986. Nature (and, by the sound of it, something un-natural) has taken hold in the meantime, given the inhuman cries the Scooby Gang start hearing on the night air.It may sound like it's in very questionable taste, but Peli says it's "the kind of scary movie I know I'd happily stand in line to see."The cast includesJonathan Sadowski (the 2009Friday 13th), Devin Kelley (TV's The Chicago Code), Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek), and singer Jesse McCartney, and the film will be released in the States on Memorial Day weekend, which by our calculations means May 25th.There's no word of a UK release date yet, or of Peli's Area 51.

The Voice Blind Auditions Episode 3: Holler Should You Hate "Hello Delilah"

Ideas around the third episode from the Voice blind auditions coming to you...correct after someone revives me because I am still in shock that you will find individuals who choose "Hello Delilah." For anything. In Existence. OK, I am good. Let us do that. Oooh, mystery! Our first contestant is cloaked in shadows but immediately we all know this individual has short hair along with a high-pitched voice. Our guess? A woman! I am likely to proceed and say she. She informs us about individuals darn record labels loving her voice and never loving her look. (So superficial, the background music industry! However I do question: exist 40 facial piercings hiding at nighttime? Yellow eyes? Another nostril?) She hits happens, face still hidden through the camerawork, by having an inoffensive version of Lady Gaga's "We.Inch Cee Lo removes rapidly and that we obtain the large reveal: Sarah Golden, a lady having a boy haircut inside a button-lower shirt. Okaaaaaaay then. Anyways, X-Tina attempts to nicely say her voice just wasn't the perfect, and To be sure. Blake barely constitutes a situation to win her over, and she or he goes withCee Lo. Lucky her. Next, the season's first senior high school dropout Elley Duhe! The negative and positive news is the fact that she certainly seems like a teen attempting to impersonate Duffy. Alas for Elley, third-rate "Whim" is not exactly what the coaches are searching for plus they all pass. Blake pulls the ever-reliable "pitchy" as Elley's primary problem. Pip, no surname, is really a clean-cut 19-year-old who turns up in suspenders, a bow tie and red-colored kicks (he isn't a hipster, he's simply not awesome: i.e. if he was on Glee, he and Blaine could be fast buddies.) As he really sings, he's fine, particularly if your factor may be the Fray or Gavin DeGraw or anything from that generic pop-rock school. (I am trying hard to not judge you at this time.) Adam's trigger finger hits his button 20 seconds into Pip's "House from the Rising Sun" and the many other coaches follow. Pip selects Adam, that I only say, "Opt for God, Adam." Erin Willett's father has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and she'd prefer to win this factor for him. She sings quite a straight-forward undertake the Jackson 5's "I Really Want You Back," meaning I've no clue things to model of her personal style or what she'd end up like being an artist. X-Tina dares Blake to push his button first, so he is doing - however she does not! Sabotage? Erin's got a pleasantly effective voice. Maybe Blake knows how to consider it. Football coach David Sophistication states he does not seem like the typical singer people usually guess he's a UFC fighter or security. He sings "Sweet Home Alabama" and the voice is a touch around the light and slight side. The coaches try to coax each other to push buttons, but nobody does. Katrina Parker, 34, an underwriting administrative assistant, gone to live in Hollywood from New York with large dreams! But hidden mold in her own home has avoided her from singing the final 2 yrs. (Ew!) She gets a unique voice, and that i type of search it, even when she's not the most powerful specialist. Adam is the only person wise enough to identify it despite some issues. Coaches, all of you switched around for Pip. Get her together! Geoff McBride, a married father of three, commits his performance to his father, and it is not necessarily a bad tribute whatsoever. He is doing Stevie Wonder's "Greater Ground" good quality. Solid if unimpressive, but nobody so far is coming me away. Such as the coaches prefer to say, I've greater standards this year! Following the commercial break he selects X-Tina. Cee Lo functions annoyed, but he isn't that annoyed. He'd have switched his chair around quicker. I believe I already have trouble with Erin Martin, 27, an old model who states she's fed up with being judged on her looks! She's made the models using the record labels plus they all stated she needed development. Blind auditions or otherwise, she arrives outfitted for that runway, or as she puts it, being an "Egyptian warrior princess." Yes, certainly over her. However she type of seems like Bjork, only stranger with less conviction. That will be okay, but what's this? Bjork meets "Hello Delilah"? Hell no. That isn't fine. "Hello Delilah" isn't fine. I am out. Oh, and Erin selects Cee Lo over Blake. So about James Massone, I'd rather not be mean, but he seems like Justin Bieber's little brother, only like 238 occasions whinier with a Baaaah-ston, Massachusetts accent. I'm able to develop not good reason why his lazy undertake Drake's "Find Your ExInch will get everybody but Adam to show around. But, you realize, great for him. He puts themself on Team Cee Lo, meaning a minimum of they have some taste. Bold conjecture: He'll be gone regardless of who his levels of competition are throughout the fight models. Winter Rae cleans footwear and serves drinks in the Lucky Strike bowling alley. She gets half a shaved mind, blue hair and a lot of tats -- but you know what? Her favorite song is Mariah Carey's "Hero" and she's besties with Perez Hilton! I do not know things to say. She selects the complete wrong song for herself (Rihanna's "Have A Bow") and no coaches push their buttons. Wait, does not Perez have their own music label? How come she even have to do The Voice? This complete segment is confusing me. Chris Cauley, a 27-year-old from Atlanta, informs all of us about how exactly he misses grandmother, a bluegrass music performer he accustomed to sing with who lately died. But Chris really sings R&B and soul, and the version of Bruno Mars' "Grenade" is reduced, softer and fewer desperate compared to original -- for better or worse, I don't think he'd catch a grenade for ya. I'd pay attention to him again.He selects Adam, who values his "consistency" and finishing the song "with sophistication." A flurry of people that do not get their very own segments: Nathan Parrett would go to Adam, John Fuente, to team Blake and Moses Stone, the show's first-ever MC, is drafted by X-Tina. Last up, Jordis Unga, who choose the majority of tonight's participants loves her family a great deal and who, like poor Winter Rae, also offers many tats, although hers are hidden. She also accustomed to sing inside a punk band, so naturally she sings Paul McCartney's "Maybe I am Amazed" (so badass!) She's as solid as shades-sporting Geoff McBride and everyone's got nice items to say, consider Blake pressed his button first, she complements him. To sum it up, some nice performers, but nobody I am betting on at this time. What about everybody else? Must I relax my anticipation? Ideas on Pip and Erin Martin? Any one of you prepared to fully stand up for "Hello Delilah"? show less

Youthful ankles as Taormina fest topper

ROME -- U.S. film critic Deborah Youthful has ankled as artistic director of Italy's Taormina Film Festival. Throughout her 5 years at Taormina's helm Youthful increased the respected Sicily-based fest's profile, which makes it a summer time showcase for movies in the Mediterranean basin, whilst boosting its Hollywood star-energy wattage with visitors for example Robert P Niro, Jessica Lange and Oliver Stone. Youthful is walking lower because of variations using the fest's board, motivated by budget cuts in the Sicilian shindig, that is among Italy's earliest film occasions. Dates haven't been introduced for Taormina's 58th edition. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com