AFI brings trophy premieres to honours season

The AFI Fest, which starts Thursday in Hollywood, has become as much about honours season since it is about getting new voices for the city, which is not basically determined by serendipitous timing. Despite the fact that it takes place several days following a Venice-Toronto-Telluride trifecta, the fest remains capable of program high-profile game game titles that play with an industry audience within the hometown."There's something that's unique about going to a festival that's occur La,Inch mentioned AFI Fest director Jacqueline Lyanga. "Not everyone can click on Cannes and Berlin and South by Southwest. Oftentimes, the is creating ground round the crowd is at November."A few this years premieres -- "J. Edgar" as well as the 3-D "The Adventures of Tintin," because both versions will debut at Grauman's Chinese -- provide trophy-sized bookends with a schedule of films inside the honours-season conversation. The fest, which runs through November. 10, occur in the Egyptian Theater, Hollywood and Highland as well as the Hollywood Roosevelt. "The Artist" and "We must Discuss Kevin," because both versions opened up in Cannes, will screen, as will "My Week With Marilyn," which opened up within the NY Film Festival, and "Shame," which first demonstrated at Venice."The value of festivals grows, particularly if you're a festival that's in a position to help much to advertise and promote a film and promote filmmakers," Lyanga referred to.Although fests have observed trouble getting in high-quality narrative films, AFI Fest has relaxed its premiere must have the ability to broaden the sorts of films that are within the program."In case your film will take part in the NY Film Festival, it is not really prone to cash from the impact on our audiences in La,Inch mentioned connect director of programming Lane Kneedler. "We now have ignore searching to obtain premieres and rather just focus on showing the most effective films we could.InchThis season the festival will again partner while using American Film Market, which happens November. 2-9 in Santa Monica. Aside from the connection offer extended marketing options together with a far more worldwide audience, it offers an industry tie-in."A massive a part of our audience includes industry -- that provides numerous options for filmmakers," Lyanga mentioned. "We very frequently area calls from agents or managers and producers once they have experienced a film, specifically in our Youthful Us citizens or New Auteurs sections, trying to find new talent."The partnership, additionally for you to get director Pedro Almodovar as guest artistic director, dovetails nicely into AFI's promotion of world cinema, which highlights the influence American filmmakers dress yourself in other nations and the other way round. Several Academy foreign-language film distribution will screen within the festival, including Germany's "Pina," Iran's "A Separation," Mexico's "Miss Bala" and Hungary's "The Turin Equine.""Miss Bala" director and AFI Conservatory graduate Gerardo Naranjo states being recognized for the festival felt prefer place to showcase the film."There is no better place to visit and promote a movie. I'm in some manner like being home," Naranjo mentioned. However, the isn't the festival's sole focus. couple of years ago, AFI began offering free tickets for the public, delivering a apparent message about its persistence for making filmgoing important beyond the restrictions of the marketplace. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

ABC Sets Return Date for The Bachelor

Ben Flajnik Get your roses ready: The Bachelor returns to ABC at 8/7c on Jan. 2, the network announced Wednesday.ABC Names Ben Flajnik as the Next BachelorThe 16th installment of the reality series will feature Ben Flajnik, a 29-year-old Sonoma, Calif. native who first appeared on The Bachelorette. Although he was rejected by Ashley Hebert on her season of The Bachelorette, the winemaker will continue his search to find "the one."See photos from The Bachelor The show, which is hosted by Chris Harrison, will air Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.Are you excited for the new season?

'Project X' Trailer: Teens Get Rowdy, Raunchy in Movie Created by 'Hangover' Director Todd Phillips (Video)

Director Todd Phillips has investigated the aftermath of the evening of hanging out both in The Hangover and it is follow up. Now, he's switched his focus on what goes on throughout the party itself.our editor recommends'Hangover II' Director Defends Decision to fireplace Mel Gibson'Hangover' Director Todd Phillips Sides with Theater Proprietors Against Studios' VOD PlanSylvester Stallone, Todd Phillips Projects Scheduled for Release in 2012'Hangover II' Co-Author at the begining of Talks for Third Installment The helmer has created a minimal-budget teen comedy, Project X, that focuses on three senior high school senior citizens who throw a large birthday party to create a reputation for themselves, but things rapidly get out of hand as word from the party will get around. VIDEO: Todd Phillips and Aaron Sorkin Slam the WGA at THR Honours Roundtable The R-ranked movie includes a cast of beginners, including Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown and Oliver Cooper. Warner Bros. launched the very first trailer for that movie on Wednesday, also it shows a raucous, rowdy party featuring scantily clad teens, a vehicle driving right into a pool along with a house fire. VIDEO: THR's Honours Watch Roundtable: The Authors "Is large enough to become awesome?" among the senior citizens tossing the party asks. "Game altering," replies another. The film, which marks the directorial debut of Nima Nourizadeh, opens March 2. Related Subjects The Hangover Todd Phillips The Hangover Part II

Bieber wades into piracy debate

New anti-piracy legislation might have nixed Justin Bieber's early career. Rivals of latest anti-piracy legislation are adopting a music sensation to produce their point the recommended law happens to be an overreach: Attacking Youthful Boys, who considered in throughout the interview getting a Washington, D.C., music station. Bieber mentioned that Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) needs to be "securedInch for sponsoring a bill that can make benefiting from illegal streaming of copyrighted content a legal. "People should have the freedom...people need to be capable of sing tunes. I merely think that's absurd," he mentioned. There's although some people might question regarding simply how much the 17-year-old Canadian understands the legislation. Bieber came out to own been informed in regards to the bill with the radio show host and required to discover that particular of the chief sponsors can be a lady, not just a guy. The advocacy group Fight money for hard times remains using Bieber's title and image online referred to as FreeBieber.org, proclaiming that even user-created videos of fans covering tunes, which aided skyrocket Bieber to fame, would risk legal charges. Although Bieber was round the radio raging the recommended legislation, his lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to fight money for hard times, proclaiming that they're breaking his trademark, publicity and privacy rights inside their campaign in the bill. Advocates in the legislation, pending inside the Senate and introduced in your home, condition that Bieber and Fight money for hard times are mischaracterizing just what the bill would do. A speaker for Klobuchar told the StarTribune in Ontario, "Attacking Youthful Boys must have been misled in regards to the content from the bill. It is not about people posting their personal attempt to the internet. The total amount only covers the intentional commercial robbery of things like books, commercial music and flicks, including foreign piracy." Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

SAG, AFTRA Back Anti-Piracy Bill

SAG, AFTRA Back Anti-Piracy Bill By Daniel Holloway October 27, 2011 Several entertainment industry unionsincluding the Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television and Radio Artistshave became a member of together to convey support for any new anti-piracy bill introduced within the U.S. House of Reps yesterday. The legislation would broaden the Justice Department's energy to bar use of so-known as "rogue" websites that distribute copyright-breaking material. It had been created by Reps. Lamar Cruz, R-Texas John Conyers, D-Mich. Bob Goodlatte, R-Veterans administration. and Howard Berman, D-Calif."Without positive measures such as the Stop Online Piracy Act, rogues sites continues to siphon away wages and advantages of people from the creative community, greatly compromising our industry's capability to promote creativeness, provide possibilities, and be sure good jobs," the unions stated inside a written statement. The Stop Online Piracy Act is recognized as a companion bill towards the Safeguard IP Act, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this season with bipartisan support but immediately were built with a legislative hold positioned on it by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Safeguard IP has loved the backing from the entertainment industry, however it has additionally been belittled by organizations for example Google, the American Library Association, and Human Privileges Watch. Public advocacy groups spoke out yesterday to convey their displeasure using the similar Stop Online Piracy Act."It is really an omnibus grab bag of corporate treats which will hurt customers, stifle innovation, foment censorship, and alter the Internet as you may know it for that worse," David Segal, executive director from the progressive activist organization Demand Progress, stated inside a written statement. "It is so over-the-top that we are not confident that you should be laughing or crying." SAG, AFTRA Back Anti-Piracy Bill By Daniel Holloway October 27, 2011 Several entertainment industry unionsincluding the Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television and Radio Artistshave became a member of together to convey support for any new anti-piracy bill introduced within the U.S. House of Reps yesterday. The legislation would broaden the Justice Department's energy to bar use of so-known as "rogue" websites that distribute copyright-breaking material. It had been created by Reps. Lamar Cruz, R-Texas John Conyers, D-Mich. Bob Goodlatte, R-Veterans administration. and Howard Berman, D-Calif."Without positive measures such as the Stop Online Piracy Act, rogues sites continues to siphon away wages and advantages of people from the creative community, greatly compromising our industry's capability to promote creativeness, provide possibilities, and be sure good jobs," the unions stated inside a written statement. The Stop Online Piracy Act is recognized as a companion bill towards the Safeguard IP Act, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee captured with bipartisan support but immediately were built with a legislative hold positioned on it by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Safeguard IP has loved the backing from the entertainment industry, however it has additionally been belittled by organizations for example Google, the American Library Association, and Human Privileges Watch. Public advocacy groups spoke out yesterday to convey their displeasure using the similar Stop Online Piracy Act."It is really an omnibus grab bag of corporate treats which will hurt customers, stifle innovation, foment censorship, and alter the web as you may know it for that worse," David Segal, executive director from the progressive activist organization Demand Progress, stated inside a written statement. "It is so over-the-top that we are unsure if you should be laughing or crying."

Latest Dragon Tattoo Poster Comes Forth in the Thaw

Another day, another goodie from the viral treasure chest also known as Mouth Taped Shut. The official Girl With the Dragon Tattoo repository has unveiled a new poster borrowing — as recently promised by director David Fincher — the Swedish adage that we’ve already seen accompany two other Dragon Tattoo properties. Anyway, let’s not belabor this… see below for the latest. [Mouth Taped Shut] Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

5 Great 'Sesame Street' Celebrity Appearances

5 Great 'Sesame Street' Celebrity Appearances By Christy Lemire October 21, 2011 LOS ANGELES (AP) The documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" opens this week, about every toddler's favorite red monster and the man who brings him to life, Kevin Clash.One of the joys of watching Clash in action besides marveling at how effortless he makes it all look is seeing how seamlessly he relates to both children and adults. And the segments he does with celebrities, as Elmo learns a lesson or explains a new word, are among his best. So here's a look at five of the greatest celebrity appearances over the four-plus decades "Sesame Street" has been on air. As the mother of a 2-year-old son, compiling this week's list was one of the most enjoyable yet. Stevie Wonder performs "Superstition" (1973): This sort of thing doesn't happen on "Sesame Street" anymore. Sure, they have plenty of top artists perform all the time. But this is young Wonder at his thrilling best, singing one of his most enduring songs with a full band behind him, and the energy is just incredible. Check out the little kids playing maracas on the stairs and rocking out on the fire escapes. Plus, the clip is nearly 7 minutes long which would be unheard of today on any type of TV show and it even features a shout-out to Cookie Monster. Ricky Gervais sings a lullaby to Elmo (2009): A great example of how Clash skillfully straddles the line between appealing to kids through Elmo's innate sweetness and making adults laugh with more knowing, playful humor. When Elmo's having trouble falling asleep at night, Gervais shows up with a guitar to sing him a lullaby about the letter N. The song starts out with harmless words like nice, nuzzle and nightcap, but it eventually gets noisy as Gervais cranks it up for the chorus. He is, as always, hilarious. But also be sure to notice the variety of expressions Clash coaxes out of Elmo's furry, red noggin. Lena Horne sings "Bein' Green" with Kermit the Frog (1974): This clip is so lovely, so delicate and yet so powerful, it makes me want to cry every time. It's a classic "Sesame Street" song with its poignant message of self-acceptance. But here, Horne sympathizes with Kermit, who looks so lonely and forlorn at the beginning of the song in Jim Henson's masterful hands. By the end, he's singing along with her, having taking the lyrics to heart: "It's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be." Horne made several appearances on "Sesame Street," and this performance exemplifies her beauty and grace. Johnny Cash sings "Nasty Dan" to Oscar the Grouch (1974): Can you imagine a more perfect collaboration than this? With a knock of his black guitar on Oscar's rusty, dented trash can, Cash sings a song that's music to the grouch's ears. Oscar is transfixed by such lyrics as: "He'd growl and yell and I heard tell he never took a bath." At the end of the song, Cash deadpans, "Have a rotten day," and he's off with the same quiet cool he had when he arrived. Cash showed up a few times on "Sesame Street" but this one stands out because it's quirky and strangely sweet. Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts explain the word "exchange" with Elmo (2011): This is a recent one from the current season, actually but it cracked me up so I had to include it. Schreiber, Watts and Elmo have various toys to trade with each other, but the running gag is that Schreiber keeps getting nudged out, and he becomes increasingly exasperated. It's funny because Schreiber and Watts, who are a couple with kids in real life, are just so cute together he's 6 feet and 3 inches and she's petite and they have this fuzzy, red puppet bopping around in between them but also because these are serious actors doing a scene involving purple balls and stuffed ducks. Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 5 Great 'Sesame Street' Celebrity Appearances By Christy Lemire October 21, 2011 LOS ANGELES (AP) The documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" opens this week, about every toddler's favorite red monster and the man who brings him to life, Kevin Clash.One of the joys of watching Clash in action besides marveling at how effortless he makes it all look is seeing how seamlessly he relates to both children and adults. And the segments he does with celebrities, as Elmo learns a lesson or explains a new word, are among his best. So here's a look at five of the greatest celebrity appearances over the four-plus decades "Sesame Street" has been on air. As the mother of a 2-year-old son, compiling this week's list was one of the most enjoyable yet. Stevie Wonder performs "Superstition" (1973): This sort of thing doesn't happen on "Sesame Street" anymore. Sure, they have plenty of top artists perform all the time. But this is young Wonder at his thrilling best, singing one of his most enduring songs with a full band behind him, and the energy is just incredible. Check out the little kids playing maracas on the stairs and rocking out on the fire escapes. Plus, the clip is nearly 7 minutes long which would be unheard of today on any type of TV show and it even features a shout-out to Cookie Monster. Ricky Gervais sings a lullaby to Elmo (2009): A great example of how Clash skillfully straddles the line between appealing to kids through Elmo's innate sweetness and making adults laugh with more knowing, playful humor. When Elmo's having trouble falling asleep at night, Gervais shows up with a guitar to sing him a lullaby about the letter N. The song starts out with harmless words like nice, nuzzle and nightcap, but it eventually gets noisy as Gervais cranks it up for the chorus. He is, as always, hilarious. But also be sure to notice the variety of expressions Clash coaxes out of Elmo's furry, red noggin. Lena Horne sings "Bein' Green" with Kermit the Frog (1974): This clip is so lovely, so delicate and yet so powerful, it makes me want to cry every time. It's a classic "Sesame Street" song with its poignant message of self-acceptance. But here, Horne sympathizes with Kermit, who looks so lonely and forlorn at the beginning of the song in Jim Henson's masterful hands. By the end, he's singing along with her, having taking the lyrics to heart: "It's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be." Horne made several appearances on "Sesame Street," and this performance exemplifies her beauty and grace. Johnny Cash sings "Nasty Dan" to Oscar the Grouch (1974): Can you imagine a more perfect collaboration than this? With a knock of his black guitar on Oscar's rusty, dented trash can, Cash sings a song that's music to the grouch's ears. Oscar is transfixed by such lyrics as: "He'd growl and yell and I heard tell he never took a bath." At the end of the song, Cash deadpans, "Have a rotten day," and he's off with the same quiet cool he had when he arrived. Cash showed up a few times on "Sesame Street" but this one stands out because it's quirky and strangely sweet. Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts explain the word "exchange" with Elmo (2011): This is a recent one from the current season, actually but it cracked me up so I had to include it. Schreiber, Watts and Elmo have various toys to trade with each other, but the running gag is that Schreiber keeps getting nudged out, and he becomes increasingly exasperated. It's funny because Schreiber and Watts, who are a couple with kids in real life, are just so cute together he's 6 feet and 3 inches and she's petite and they have this fuzzy, red puppet bopping around in between them but also because these are serious actors doing a scene involving purple balls and stuffed ducks. Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.