Vancouver Production Update

Lots of production taking place here in Hollywood North this month, from returning skeins Smallville, Supernatural, Stargate Atlantis, Reaper and Eureka, to new series Harper's Island and a Shaun Cassidy-produced pilot featuring Tricia Helfer entitledInseparable.
Meanwhile, the Battlestar Galactica telefilm is currently lensing, as well Roland Emmerich's epic, 2012 (now labelled Farewell Atlantis). Below is the complete list:
100 Mile Challenge Reality
Lifestyle Apr 8 – Oct 17 '08
Battlestar Galactica 2009 Movie
MOW Sep 2 – Sep 29 '08
Cats & Dogs 2
Feature Film Sep 8 – Dec 17 '08
Chop Shop Reality
Lifestyle Jul 30 – Dec 19 '08
Eureka - Season 3
TV Series May 14 '08 – Feb 13 '09
Farewell Atlantis (2012)
Feature Film Jul 28 – Dec 12 '08
George Lopez Untitled Project Digital
Feature Aug 21 – Sep 26 '08
Glutton For Punishment – Season 3
Reality / Lifestyle Jun 6 – Dec 20 '08
Harper's Island
TV Series Aug 8 – Jan 28 '09
Inseparable
TV Pilot Sep 9 – Sep 26 '08
Keeping It Real
Documentary Series Aug 28 – Dec 12 '08
The L Word – Season 6
TV Series Jul 2 – Oct 1 '08
Night at the Museum 2
Feature Film Jun 9 – Sep 23 '08
Psych – Season 3
TV Series Apr 28 – Oct 21 '08
Reaper – Season 2
TV Series Jul 22 – Dec 18 '08
Smallville – Season 8
TV Series Jul 7 '08 – Apr 3 '09
Smart Cookies – Season 2
Reality / Lifestyle Aug 12 – Dec 12 '08
Stargate Atlantis - Season V
TV Series Feb 19 – Sep 23 '08
Storm Hawks
Animation Nov 17 '07- Dec 22 '08
Supernatural – Season 4
TV Series Jul 3 – Mar 27 '09
Tidal Justice
MOW Aug 27 – Sep 11 '08
Trust
MOW Sep 3 – Sep 18 '08
Untitled Twisted Pictures Project
Feature Film Sep 2 – Oct 2 '08
Word Travels – Season 2
Reality / Lifestyle May 27 – Sep 7 '09
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy
Animation Nov 1 '07 – Feb 1 '09
Zeke's Pad
Animation Mar 17 – Jan 2 '09

‘Stargate’ Roars at Canada’s Leo Awards

With so much fuss being made about J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot, it's easy to forget that there is another successful franchise out there with Star… in the title. That would be Stargate, which is due for its own sort of makeover later this year with the premiere of Stargate Universe. This is no sign that the concept is struggling, though. Indeed, the slew of awards that Stargateproductions won at the recent Leo Awards in Vancouver, British Columbia (the home base of CinemaSpy) shows that it continues to be admired.
The LEO Awards are presented by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of B.C.. They were established in 1998 to celebrate excellence in film and television productions that are made in the province. Stargate series and movies are largely filmed in Vancouver. At this years Celebration and Gala Ceremonies for the Leos, which took place on May 8 and 9, two productions - Stargate Continuum and Stargate Atlantis – won 12 awards between them. Moreover, Robert Cooper and Brad Wright, co-creators and executive producers of the three television series that make up the Stargate franchise, received one of the 2009 Leo Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
Stargate Atlantis, which ended its run after five seasons earlier this year, dominated the Dramatic Series category, winning nine of the 17 awards presented, including Best Dramatic Series. In the Feature Length Drama category, Stargate Continuum won three awards, one of which went to actor Michael Shanks for his performance as Stargate SG-1 series regular, Daniel Jackson. Shanks won Best Lead Performance by a Male.
Stargate alumni were also rewarded for their work on the series Sanctuary, which won four Leo awards. Those included Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for Amanda Tapping, one of the stars of Stargate Continuum. Tapping plays Samantha Carter in the Stargate franchise and has appeared in Stargate Atlantis and was also a regular on Stargate SG-1. Stargate Continnum is a feature length spin-off from the latter and is reviewed on CinemaSpy here.
The full list of winners in the Feature Length Drama and Dramatic Series categories are given below. A list of winners in all categories can be found on the Leo Awards website.
FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA
Best Feature Length Drama
Fifty Dead Men Walking – Shawn Williamson, Stephen Hegyes, Peter La Terriere, Kari Skogland, Guy Collins, Stephen Margolis, Michael Ryan, Nicole Carmen-Davis, Karyn Edwards, Elsie Choi, Kyle Lundberg (Producers)
Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama
Anne Wheeler – Living Out Loud
Best Screenwriting in a Feature Length Drama
Brad Wright – Stargate Continuum
Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama
Attila Szalay – Iron Road
Best Picture Editing in a Feature Length Drama
Fred Thorsen – Stone of Destiny
Best Overall Sound in a Feature Length Drama
Paul Sharpe, Iain Pattison, Graeme Hughes – Stargate Continuum
Best Sound Editing in a Feature Length Drama
John Taylor, Chester Bialowas, Jeff Jackman,Ken Biehl, Rick Senechal – Joy Ride 2
Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Drama
Ben Mink – Fifty Dead Men Walking
Best Production Design in a Feature Length Drama
Linda Del Rosario – Iron Road
Best Costume Design in a Feature Length Drama
Maya Mani – Iron Road
Best Make-Up in a Feature Length Drama
Joanne Kinchella – Iron Road
Best Visual Effects in a Feature Length Drama
Steve Hodgson, Adam Stern, Richard Patterson, Doug Campbell, Terry Hutcheson – Impact
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Chang Tseng – Dim Sum Funeral
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
Lauren Lee Smith – Helen
Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Michael Shanks – Stargate Continuum
Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
Babz Chula – Mothers & Daughters
DRAMATIC SERIES
Best Dramatic Series
Stargate Atlantis – Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Carl Binder, Martin Gero, Alan McCullough, John Smith (Producers)
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
Robert Cooper
Stargate Atlantis – Vegas
Best Screenwriting in a Dramatic Series
Alan McCullough
Stargate Atlantis – The Queen
Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series
Michael Blundell
Stargate Atlantis – Vegas
Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series
Mike Banas
Stargate Atlantis – Vegas
Best Overall Sound in a Dramatic Series
Kelly Cole, Patrick Ramsay, Bill Mellow, Joe Watts, Hugo De Le Cerda, Kevin Belen
Stargate Atlantis – Enemy at the Gate
Best Sound Editing in a Dramatic Series
Steve Smith, Matthew Wilson, Kirby Jinnah, Jay Cheetham, Jason Mauza
Stargate Atlantis – Enemy at the Gate
Best Production Design in a Dramatic Series
James Philpott
Smallville - Quest
Best Costume Design in a Dramatic Series
Valerie Halverson
Stargate Atlantis – The Queen
Best Make-Up in a Dramatic Series
Todd Masters, Nicholas Podbrey, Sarah Pickersgill, Harlow MacFarlane
Sanctuary – Warriors
Best Visual Effects in a Dramatic Series
Mark Savela, Shannon Gurney, Kodie MacKenzie, Viv Jim, Dan Weir
Stargate Atlantis – First Contact
Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Ryan Robbins
Sanctuary - Edward
Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Gabrielle Rose
Sanctuary - Edward
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Benjamin Arthur
Less Than Kind – Top of the Class
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Eve Harlow
The Guard – Boom
Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Tyler Labine
Reaper - Coming to Grips
Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Amanda Tapping
Sanctuary - Requiem

New ‘Blade Runner’ Webisodes Coming

As part of a remarkably ambitious expansion plan, the UK's Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire has applied for a new 100-acre film set representing streets in New York, Paris and Venice, according to theBBC.
Pinewood Shepperton has submitted the application to South Buckinghamshire District Council for Project Pinewood.
The £200m plans would include up to 1,500 homes—a mix of apartments, town and detached houses, a school, theatre, cinema and sports facilities.
Pinewood became famous in the 1950s and 1960s for the 'Bond' and 'Carry On films'.
Recent films coming from the studio include Bond's Quantum of Solace, Brideshead Revisited and The Dark Knight.
"Project Pinewood is the most innovative and forward looking strategic initiative in the UK screen and related industries," said the studio, "designed to achieve economic efficiencies in filming and reduction in carbon emissions."
The development would feature backdrops, including a Venetian canal, a Roman amphitheatre, a Tudor marketplace for period dramas and street scenes from downtown New York, French Quarter New Orleans, and a Chicago suburb. Pinewood said the project would offer directors and production designers a range of streetscapes reproducing the architectural style and atmosphere of the original locations abroad.
The studios said every aspect of the plans would take into account the importance of sustainability, from greener building design to the provision of alternative transport choices.
"Production companies will be able to reduce costs by not having to travel abroad and therefore reduce carbon emissions," it said.

Concept Art for Marvel’s $1B Dubai Theme Park

Now that Disney has absorbed Marvel into its giant maw, a proposed Marvel superhero theme park for Dubai may not be as safe a bet as planners had originally hoped. Back in 2007, United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. announced a partnership that would bring Marvel's full roster of Super Heroes — including 'Spider-Man', 'Iron Man', 'The X-Men', 'Incredible Hulk', 'The Fantastic Four' and 'Silver Surfer' — to Dubai for a major new theme park destination being developed by AAG.
Scheduled to open in 2011, the $1B theme park has faced some delays and is now being slated to open in 2012, assuming, of course, that Marvel's new parent company, Disney, doesn't balk at the investment, given that the Dubai economy has slowed in 2009…along with the rest of the world economy.
When the project was announced the press release said that "New technology and unparalleled visitor experiences will be the hallmark of the theme park creating a new standard for theme parks around the world."
Meanwhile, concept art for the park, which will feature rides and sections based on 'Spider-Man', 'Iron Man', 'The Hulk' and 'X-Men' has arrived online, and shows rollercoasters, a Spidey freefall ride and 3-D theaters.
As if one needed another reason to visit Dubai, which is fast becoming a playground mecca for big, unique ideas.
You can check out a few of the concept images below which depict various possible attractions, and click on over to DisneyAndMore for the rest.

‘Fringe’s’ Anna Torv Goes Topless

Here at CinemaSpy, yours truly has always admired Anna Torv's approach to her Fringe character of Agent Olivia Dunham. The actress has imbued her FBI alter-ego with a mix of steely determination, curiosity and sensitivity…and always managed to balance the three believably.
And while Torv is an attractive woman even with the uniform, a new photo shoot by Esquire magazine reveals a side of the Australian actress that might just leave a few of you breathless.
You too, guys.
Here's how Esquire describes Torv, referring to her as one of the women they love:
The sunny-haired star of Fox's Fringe—who looks a lot more comfortable without that bulky FBI uniform—finally reveals what she thinks you need to know about life, love, Vegemite, and women. Specifically, her.
Fringe wrapped up last week, but the Vancouver-filmed series returns April 1. Meanwhile, enjoy a couple of revealing photos below, then click on over to Esquire for the full set.

George Lucas Apparently Believes the World Will End in 2012

Right. So out of left field we learn today that George Lucas allegedly — and we do say allegedly here because you'll have to carefully consider the source on this — believes that the world will end in 2012…along with the Mayans, half a dozen cults, and anyone else who's dropped acid whilst reading Nostradamus.
Actor Seth Rogen told the Toronto Star that he recently met his filmmaking idol, and after about 25 minutes found himself incredibly confused. No, not because Lucas tried to explain why he's interested in making another Star Wars trilogy, but because he's certain the world will soon end.
You heard us correctly.
Rogen was meeting with Lucas (and Steven Spielberg) to discuss a new movie project when the Star Wars creator apparently dropped the personal belief bombshell.
“George Lucas sits down and seriously proceeds to talk for around 25 minutes about how he thinks the world is gonna end in the year 2012, like, for real. He thinks it," Rogen told the Star. “He’s going on about the tectonic plates and all the time Spielberg is, like, rolling his eyes, like, ’My nerdy friend won’t shut up, I’m sorry.'"
At first Rogen thought Lucas was joking but soon realized he wasn't. He claims he asked Lucas if the filmmaker had built a spaceship and if Rogen could have a seat on it.
“He claimed he didn’t have a spaceship, but there’s no doubt there’s a Millennium Falcon in a garage somewhere with a pilot just waiting to go… It’s gonna be him and Steven Spielberg and I’ll be blown up like the rest of us,” Rogen said.
Surreal experience, or masterful leg pulling…? You be the judge.
On the other hand, perhaps the truly surreal thing here is that Rogen was actually in a meeting with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg about a movie.
We just have one question before you ponder: If Lucas really believes that the world will end next year, then why is he planning more Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies…to say nothing of all the other film and television projects he has in development?
OK…maybe he's not CERTAIN certain.

Is Tarnish Dulling Oscar’s Lustre?

Hollywood’s biggest night of the year has come and gone, and it seems many could care less. Last night’s 83rd Annual Academy Awards show wasn’t as dreadful as many critics have charged, but it wasn’t lustrous, either — not the way it has been in decades past — leading many to wonder if the ceremony is: a) losing its relevance; b) compromised by the down economy; c) an indicator of the changing state of both the film and broadcast industry.
The turn of the 21st century has seen the celebrated awards show take a hit. Changes over the past decade seem to have aversely affected the program, including shifting the broadcast from Monday at 9pm to Sunday at 8:30pm in 1999. During the TV writers strike in 2008, just over 32M viewers watched the Oscars, the least viewed ever.
This year the Academy Awards show fell to an 11.7 adults 18-49 rating, down 12% vs. last year’s 13.3 adults 18-49 rating. The average viewership fell to 37.6M viewers, down 9% below last year.
Last night’s ceremony felt more mechanical than usual. Folks showed up and did what they were supposed to do, but with little passion or fanfare. Despite hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway’s combination of dry humor and goggle-eyed ardor, respectively, the two seemed largely unsuited for hosting duties. Burdened with banal scripted material, the pair managed to inject the show with energy, but little majesty or self-effacing levity.
The two hosts had been recruited to attract a younger viewing audience…you know, the same audience that felt slighted when the ‘In Memoriam’ segment of the awards show failed to honor Corey Haim, the Lost Boys actor who died of pneumonia complications last year at age 38.
Of course, it wasn’t exactly a banner year for mainstream nominations, either, so it’s hard to level blame at either the Academy or ABC. The King’s Speech, which took best picture, director and actor awards, is a great film, but of little interest to the throngs of sub-30 year-old audiences primarily targeted these days. True Grit was good, but overrated. And Black Swan, a personal favorite of yours truly, is powerful, but far too darkly esoteric for mainstream audiences (despite Natalie Portman’s deserved and poignant best actress win).
Are the Academy Awards falling victim to a perfect storm of economic restraints, shifting audience tastes and a changing industry? Let us know what you think below. Meanwhile, the complete list of Oscar nominations and winners follows…
BEST PICTURE:
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Darla K. Anderson, Producer
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions), Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
DIRECTING:
Tom Hooper - The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
David O. Russell – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
David Fincher – The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen – True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Javier Bardem – Biutiful (Roadside Attractions)
Jeff Bridges – True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)
James Franco – 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Natalie Portman – Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole (Lionsgate)
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions)
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine (The Weinstein Company)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christian Bale – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions)
Jeremy Renner – The Town (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Melissa Leo – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Amy Adams – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom (Sony Pictures Classics)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions), Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Seidler
Another Year (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Mike Leigh
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Written by Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
In a Better World (Sony Pictures Classics), Denmark
Biutiful (Roadside Attractions), Mexico
Dogtooth (Kino International), Greece
Incendies (Sony Pictures Classics), Canada
Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi) (Cohen Media Group), Algeria
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
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Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Lee Unkrich
How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation), Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
The Illusionist (Sony Pictures Classics), Sylvain Chomet
ART DIRECTION:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures), Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Warner Bros. Pictures), Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Wally Pfister
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Matthew Libatique
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Danny Cohen
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Roger Deakins
COSTUME DESIGN:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures), Colleen Atwood
I Am Love (Magnolia Pictures), Antonella Cannarozzi
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Jenny Beavan
The Tempest (Touchstone Pictures), Sandy Powell
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Mary Zophres
FILM EDITING:
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Andrew Weisblum
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), Pamela Martin
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Tariq Anwar
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Jon Harris
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Inside Job (Sony Pictures Classics), Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Exit Through the Gift Shop (Producers Distribution Agency, Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz
Gasland (Rooftop Films), Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
Restrepo (National Geographic Entertainment), Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
Waste Land (Arthouse Films), Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley
MAKEUP:
The Wolfman (Universal Pictures), Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
Barney’s Version (Sony Pictures Classics), Adrien Morot
The Way Back (Newmarket Films), Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
ORIGINAL SCORE:
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation), John Powell
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Hans Zimmer
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Alexandre Desplat
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), A.R. Rahman
ORIGINAL SONG:
“We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Coming Home” from Country Strong (Screen Gems), Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
“I See the Light” from Tangled (Walt Disney Pictures), Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
“If I Rise” from 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
SOUND MIXING:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Salt (Columbia Pictures), Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
SOUND EDITING:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Richard King
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
TRON: Legacy (Walt Disney Pictures), Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
Unstoppable (20th Century Fox), Mark P. Stoeckinger
VISUAL EFFECTS:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures), Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Warner Bros. Pictures), Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
Hereafter (Warner Bros. Pictures), Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
Iron Man 2 (Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios), Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick
DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Strangers No More, Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
Killing in the Name, Jed Rothstein
Poster Girl, Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block
Sun Come Up, Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
The Warriors of Qiugang, Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon
ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
The Lost Thing, Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Day & Night, Teddy Newton
The Gruffalo, Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
Let’s Pollute, Geefwee Boedoe
Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary), Bastien Dubois
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
God of Love, Luke Matheny
The Confession, Tanel Toom
The Crush, Michael Creagh
Na Wewe, Ivan Goldschmidt
Wish 143, Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Despite Recent Setbacks, Ron Howard Still Bullish on Dark Tower

Tina Fey, creator and star of NBC’s sitcom30 Rock, has publicly expressed support for her co-star on the show, Tracy Morgan, amid a storm of controversy over a joke the actor/comedian is alleged to have made in a recent stage show. During the stand-up performance in Nashville, Morgan reportedly went on an ‘anti-gay tirade’ and is said to have joked that he’d “pull out a knife and stab” his own son if he were gay.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the allegations against Morgan were made by Kevin Rogers, who attended the show and said that before the show he was a fan of the Saturday Night Live alumnus. Rogers subsequently posted a piece on Facebook titled “Why I No Longer ‘Like’ Tracy Morgan – A Must Read.” The story was later picked up by the website of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that campaigns against anti-gay extremism.
Morgan himself has since said sorry for any offense that he caused. In a statement to the trade paper he apologized to his fans and the gay & lesbian community for his “choice of words.”
“I’m not a hateful person and don’t condone any kind of violence against others,” Morgan said. “While I am an equal opportunity jokester, and my friends know what is in my heart, even in a comedy club this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.”
Fey, also a former SNL star, has now offered her support to Morgan. Although she admitted that “the violent imagery of Tracy’s rant,” disturbed her, she indicated that homophobia was not something she associated with her co-star.
“It also doesn’t line up with the Tracy Morgan I know, who is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person,” The Reporter quotes her as saying.
“I hope for his sake that Tracy’s apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian coworkers on30 Rock, without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket,” she added.
Meanwhile, NBC exec Robert Greenblatt had said he was pleased that Morgan has apologized. At the same time, however, he gave a thinly veiled warning to the actor and other stars of the network’s shows that NBC won’t take kindly to being embarrassed in this way again.
“We will always recognize an artist’s freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said no matter what the context,” said Greenblatt. “Unfortunately, Tracy’s comments reflect negatively on both 30 Rock and NBC – two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations – and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”
The controversy may have exploded too late to make the judges at the 51st Monte Carlo Television Festival’s Golden Nymph Awards think twice about rewarding Morgan for his role in 30 Rock. The star was named Outstanding actor in a Comedy Series at the event on Friday night.

NOLLYWOOD CELEBS & THEIR BETTER HALVES!

1. Desmond Elliot and his wife Vickie;(above) the two met as high school sweethearts and have been inseperable ever since. Vickie who is a banker keeps Desmond grounded and focused; well with family of four (two sets of twins) and a large retinue of dogs, who wouldnt? Big ups to both of them!
Nollywood celebrities; we have loved them, cried with them, signed autographs and hugged them but do we know their better halves? Those silent, patient souls that stand silently aside as their other half recieve so much adulation and praise. They put up with alot; the frantic adoration of fans who sometimes ignore them like their not there. Then those love scenes in the movies! Ooh lala! How do they cope? The stories, the lies, the rumours! Would you want to be in their shoes? Do you honestly think you have what it takes to be the strong silent one behind a successful actor or actress? Many really can't deal with it but for those who do, I duff my hat! Ladies and gentlemen, here's presenting the spouses of some of our more popular Nollywood actors!
2. Omotola and Matthew Jalade-Ekeinde;The couple just celebrated their 15th year anniversary! Wow! No small feat in Nollyweird! Matthew met Omo T in her teens and recognizing a good thing, married her almost immediately. The union has produced four lovely children and they continue to wax strong despite the pressures of fame and public scrutiny.
3. Ramsey and Emilia Nouah; Heart throb, beef cake, loverboy, martinee idol... whatever you want to call him, Ramsey is a director's dream; able to interprete any role you give to him if he is tasked enough. Forget that directors like to box him into the 'loverboy mode'. Ramsey is also a devoted father and husband to Emilia who he has been married to for several years and they have three children.
4. Ini Edo and Philip Ehiagwina; Nollywood sweetheart, Ini Edo has been the object of alot people's fantasies but sorry, she got snapped up a couple of years ago by American based business man, Philip Ehiagwina! lol! He's the man that goes home to that sugar! hahaha! Chocholate brown and perfectly built, Ini continues to woo her fans with her flawless acting. Shedding several pounds, she now sports a svelte, sleek look making her look even more fantastic.
6. Omoni & Nnamdi Oboli; Lovely couple Omoni and Nnamdi continue to be the couple to emulate. Sweet and cute looking together, they met earlier on in life when Omoni just started acting in Nollywood. A long hiatus from the industry and a stint in the U.K produced, three lovely boys. Undeterred by the strapping of motherhood and long absence from the industry, Omoni determinedly forged ahead and has become one of most sought after actresses in Nollywood.
7. Daniel and Doris Ademinokan; Lovely couple Daniel and Doris continue to woo fans where ever they go! He is a handsome director and she is a lovely actress and together they make magic together. Though they both startted in the Yoruba film industry, they sometimes cross over into the English movie genre. Daniel and Doris sometimes work together, and he has to direct her sometime as a love interest opposite an actor!! How does he handle that?! hahaha! The two have a lovely son together and continue to make great movies together!
Van and Adjoa Vicker: Ghanaian actor and heartthrob, Van Vicker might have legions of fans all over the world but he remains very much in love with his wife Adjoa! The lovely couple live in Ghana with their three children

Star Actor, Desmond Elliot Completes Twin Duplex in Lekki!

This is a period of great tidings for entertainers in this part of the world.
Barely days after news hit town that top rate D.J, Jimmy Jatt –
real names Oluwaforijimi Amu- just moved into a Ten Million Naira per annum residence, gist of another heart warming development has started making the rounds.
Popular actor, Desmond Elliot just completed his personal house.
The property is described as a Twin Duplex.
And according to an insider it is located inside high brow area Lekki Lagos.
Though it is yet to be confirmed whether the notable make believe expert has moved into the newly completed building – sources claimed that he has taken a couple of very close knit friends to the site.
Those that have seen the handsome actor intimate friends of the development described him as a 'personification of prideful achievement’
Desmond Elliot, father of twins is one of the movie industries most celebrated actor- and a budding singer.

Michael Jackson Seemed Healthy, Strong During Concert Rehearsals

Two days before he died, Michael Jackson appeared strong during one of the final rehearsals for his highly anticipated comeback concerts, a promoter told jurors Wednesday as the involuntary manslaughter trial of the pop superstar's physician entered its second day.
Paul Gongaware, an executive for AEG Live, said Jackson appeared engaged and energetic during the session.
Prosecutors called Gongaware to show the importance of Jackson's comeback concerts and in an apparent attempt to show that both the singer and his physician were deeply engaged in preparations for the show before Jackson died on June 25, 2009.
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Gongaware also testified that he saw Dr. Conrad Murray at one of Jackson's rehearsals after people affiliated with the planned concerts complained that the singer had been missing some of the sessions.
Prosecutors wrapped up their direct questioning of Gongaware before defense attorney Ed Chernoff briefly questioned the executive.
Under the cross-examination, Gongaware acknowledged the concert giant is being sued by Jackson's mother for negligent supervision of defendant Murray when he worked with Jackson.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death.
Prosecutors allege Murray caused Jackson's death by providing him with a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives without the proper lifesaving equipment or skills.
Another AEG employee, attorney Kathy Jorrie, testified about drafting a contract for Murray to work as Jackson's personal physician.
At one point in negotiations, Murray requested his contract be modified to allow him to hire another physician in case he was tired or unavailable while Jackson was performing in London, she testified.
"He wanted to make sure that there was somebody else available to be of assistance," Jarrie said.
Prosecutors also planned to call one of Jackson's bodyguards and his personal assistant, who Murray frantically called after he found the singer unconscious.
In opening statements Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said Murray delayed summoning emergency crews and lied to doctors and medics when he failed to reveal he had been giving Jackson the medications to try to help the entertainer sleep.
Chernoff claimed Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of medication in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.
He said Murray had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol, but the entertainer kept requesting it on the day he died.
"Michael Jackson started begging," Chernoff said. "When Michael Jackson told Dr. Murray, `I have to sleep. They will cancel my performance,' he meant it."
He told jurors that Jackson swallowed enough of the sedative lorazepam to put six people to sleep before ingesting propofol. The combination, which Chernoff called a "perfect storm" of medications, killed Jackson so quickly that he didn't even have chance to close his eyes.
Prosecutors rejected Murray's version and told jurors the Houston-based cardiologist also had a tremendous stake in Jackson appearing in the concerts.
The doctor had initially asked to be paid $5 million a year for working with Jackson, but Gongaware said he immediately rejected the proposal. Instead, Murray accepted an offer to become Jackson's doctor for $150,000 a month -- a sum he was never paid because his contract hadn't been signed before Jackson's death.
If convicted, Murray could face up to four years in prison and have to relinquish his medical license.

Multiple-award winning singer

Multiple-award winning singer, Tuface Idibia, has said he is not going to marry again.
Tu Baba, as he is fondly called, told Life and Beat, “I’m not going to get married. Did I tell you I was getting married?” When asked why he said he wasn’t getting married, he replied, “Do you even know if I’m married?”
His marital status notwithstanding, the guy is busy adding more feathers to his cap. And it looks as if this is time for more endorsements.
Not too long ago, Airtel made him one of the brand’s ambassadors. The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has also made the African Queen crooner its ambassador.
He recently recorded a theme song for FASPAC (Fake And Sub-standard Products Awareness Campaign) project being spearheaded by Hypertek/Now Muzik in collaboration with Promotie, with the support of NAFDAC.
The single, Man Unkind, produced by J. Sleek, and the accompanying video directed by Emma Gecko for Buckwyld Media Network, was shown to a select few at a media launch in Lagos earlier in the week.
Tuface said he didn’t collect a dime from NAFDAC to produce the song.
“This is just my own contribution to create awareness on substandard and fake drugs. The menace of fake drugs and sub-standard edible products is one evil every Nigerian has a responsibility to fight for obvious reasons. People involved in the trade are merchants of death and their targets are us – ourselves, family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and compatriots,” the singer/song writer said.
TuFace played an active role alongside Gen. Yakubu Gowon in earning Nigeria a WHO guinea-worn free certification. He is currently involved in mass awareness and fund raiser for Little Big Souls – the foremost not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the care of children born prematurely across Africa.

Top Celebrities Storm Silverbird Galleria For "Mirror Boy" Premiere

Beyond the premiere of 'Mirror Boy', the movie profiled internationally as the future of Nollywood, Silverbird Galleria will on Friday, August 5, 2011 become another stars arcade as the line up of stars and celebrities expected at the event is almost endless.
With increasing buzz and expectation as count down begins to the 'Mirror Boy' premiere, the producer of the movie Obi Emelonye and publicist Prestige Platform has stepped out to say the success of the movie will surpass all its earlier successes in UK and Ghana.
Their boast is obviously not baseless as 'Mirror Boy' though yet to hit the cinemas, was nominated for 12 ZAFFA awards in the following categories; best film, best film editing, best story, best sound editing, best child performance male, best screenplay, best cinematography, best producer, best director, best supporting actress (Gam Fatima Jabi), best lead actress (Genevieve Nnaji) and best actor (Osita Iheme).
'Mirror Boy' was the first African movie ever to be premiered at the Empire Leicester Square in London, UK; it survived at the British cinemas for weeks, coming up among the top five in the first week and top twelve in the second week. It had a mind-blowing effect on the Ghanaian cinemas thereby making it the highest selling Nollywood movie of all time in Ghana. At the 2011 AMAA award, 'Mirror Boy' won the Best Young Actor Award and was nominated for the Best Film and Best Supp Actor. 'Mirror Boy' was nominated for Best Film and Best pan African Actor at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2011 and for her role in 'Mirror Boy', Genevieve Nnaji won the award for The Best Breakthrough Performance at the Monaco Films Awards.
Written, produced & directed by Obi Emelonye, an award winning UK based Nigerian film maker, 'Mirror Boy' is an enthralling journey as seen through the eyes of a London- born 12 year old African boy, Tijani. After a London street fight on 13th of June, in which a local boy is hurt, Tijan's mother decides to take him back their roots, to Gambia. On their arrival in Banjul, Tijan encounters a strange apparition, a boy smiling at him in a mirror and vanishing. Seeing the same boy in a crowded street market the next day sets in motion a chain of events, with Tijan finding himself lost. While Tijan's panic-stricken mother struggles to find her son, Tijan is left alone in the company of the enigmatic Mirror Boy, seemingly only visible to him. A cathartic climax helps TIJANI to unravel the mystery of the MIRROR BOY. It also provides him with a rather mystical explanation for the way his life has cascaded from the 13th of June towards this inter-twined fate with a father he has never met.

Support Disaster Relief Efforts in Japan and Non-Nuclear Groups Worldwide

LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Morello, John Hall, Kitaro, Jonathan Wilson, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and special guests are coming together for a special benefit event on Sunday, August 7, atShoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Proceeds from the concert will be distributed to Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) to support Japan disaster relief efforts, and organizations worldwide working to promote safe, alternative, non-nuclear energy. The presenting sponsor VantagePoint Capital Partners(www.vpcp.com) is the leading global investor in energy innovation and efficiency. The show will begin at3 PM. Children 10 and under admitted free on the lawn with an adult ticket. Tickets go on sale Monday,June 27 at 10AM at Livenation.com, Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Reserved seats are $99.50, $50.00 and $35.00 and general admission lawn tickets are $19.50, plus applicable charges. Special Gold and Silver circle seats are available through the Guacamole Fund (www.guacfund.org).
“The disaster in Fukushima is not only a disaster for Japan. It is a global disaster. We come together now across cultural boundaries, political and generational boundaries, to call for changes in the way we use energy, and in the ways we conduct the search for solutions to the problems facing humanity,” saysJackson Browne. “We join with the people of Japan, and people everywhere who believe in a non-nuclear future.”
“From solar power plants and next-generation wind turbines to energy-efficient LED lighting and electric vehicles, we see technology innovations solving our most important energy needs,” says Alan Salzman, Managing Partner of VantagePoint Capital Partners, a global leader in funding the transformative energy companies of the 21st century. “We join with the many artists involved in this concert to raise funds for the Japan disaster relief efforts and call for sensible and clean energy solutions.”
It was shortly after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered multiple meltdowns at theFukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan that the decision was made to coordinate a benefit. Shoreline Amphitheatre was chosen because of its close proximity to the Pacific Rim, Northern California’s history and deep association with Japan—and because nuclear reactors on the California coast store spent fuel rods in the same manner as at Fukushima. The concert date falls between the anniversaries of atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945).
“The MUSE concert will not only be a great show, it will hopefully entice the public to become better informed of the tremendous dangers of nuclear power,” says Graham Nash. ”We have to keep real and true information flowing so that people can act on it.”
“We’re so lucky to have been able to bring back some of the original MUSE team to collaborate with some new and younger artists for MUSE 2, so that we can immediately help with the Japan relief effort and raise funds and awareness for the no nukes issue,” says Bonnie Raitt. ”I’m excited to be a part of this important and truly collaborative effort. It’s going to be a very special, one of a kind event.”
Pat Simmons, of The Doobie Brothers, who performed at the original MUSE shows adds, “We are so proud to be reuniting with so many of our talented friends, who share our concern for the safety, and sustainable future of our fragile planet. Current events have brought us to a turning point in our human existence. It’s time to consider alternatives to the present course of energy production that have been forced upon us by an aggressive corporate power structure. We join together to generate funds to help our Japanese friends, as they recover from the devastation that they have had to endure, due to man’s careless use of nuclear energy, and nature’s unpredictability. Through these efforts we also hope to raise public awareness of the challenges we are faced with, and the important responsibilities we share in moving us towards a safer, nuclear free future.”
The concert stage will be powered by an integrated system of clean, alternative energy sources, using solar, biodiesel, and wind technologies. The energy-saving GRNLite LED lighting rig for the show has been donated by Bandit Lites, and Schubert Systems has donated the sound rig. In addition, Shoreline is the largest Green certified concert venue in the United States and is a founding member of the Green Music Group. One goal is that the concert will inspire musicians in other areas to organize shows that both employ and promote safe energy alternatives, and that raise funds for disaster relief efforts and for groups—local, regional, national, and international alike—advocating non-nuclear programs and initiatives.
“As Japan struggles to subdue meltdowns at Fukushima, and Ft. Calhoun Nuclear in Nebraskastruggles to keep its reactor and spent fuel above the Missouri’s floodwaters, we once again face a crucial choice,” says John Hall (who, in addition to being a musician, was aU.S. Representative from New York, 2007-2011). ”Will we, as a country, invest in clean, renewable sources of energy, or will we continue to use taxpayer dollars to indemnify and subsidize the dirty, deadly old technologies that are making our planet unlivable?”
“Even though the news cycle has moved on from the Fukushima disaster, this is another massive world energy disaster from which there will be long-term effects,” addsJason Mraz. “I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing show that will not only help those in Japan, but that will also call attention to the urgent need to embrace safe, clean energy alternatives.”
Japanese musician and multi-instrumentalist, Kitaro, joined the bill as a way to give thanks “for all of the support for Japan from the world, and to all of the Japanese, who are helping each other.” He adds, ”It is time to consider the change to alternative clean energy instead of nuclear power.”

The end of the world: R.E.M. calling it quits

NEW YORK (AP) — R.I.P. to R.E.M.
The alternative rock group that shook up the music world with its experimental, edgy sound and then earned multiplatinum success and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced on its website Wednesday that it has "decided to call it a day as a band."
"A wise man once said — 'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it," frontman Michael Stipe said in a statement on the website.
"I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way."
The Grammy-winning group, now composed of Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck and bassist Mike Mills, released its debut album "Murmur" in 1983; at the time it was a quartet, with drummer Bill Berry. He left the group in 1997, two years after he suffered symptoms of an aneurysm onstage.
The group got its start in Athens, Ga., coming out of the region's flourishing indie-rock scene. The band was credited for helping launch college radio with songs such as "Radio Free Europe."
Later, the mainstream caught on, and R.E.M. became chart-topping rockers, selling millions of albums with hits like "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," ''Losing My Religion" and "Everybody Hurts."
Stipe, the band's chief songwriter, crafted songs that were atypical of the standard rock fare. "Man on the Moon" was about the late comic Andy Kaufman. "Losing My Religion" was not about religion at all, but about trying to relay the feelings of a crush.
The band's videos also became staples on MTV in the 1990s, including the eye-catching "Losing My Religion" and the stark "Everybody Hurts," which had Stipe walking through a highway traffic jam.
R.E.M. became one of the more forceful voices of 1990s rock, and came along around the same time as another rock quartet — U2. But whereas U2 managed to maintain (and even increase) its popularity over the years, R.E.M. stumbled commercially in recent years, and their hits dwindled.
The band continued to create music that resonated with critics and their core group of fans; the group's last album, "Collapse into Now," was released in March and a greatest hits retrospective is in the works.
But Mills said the band was running out of ideas.
"During our last tour, and while making 'Collapse Into Now' and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'What next?'" he said. "Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together."
Buck said the band parts as "great friends" and thanked fans for their support.
"One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us," said Buck. "It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you."
Warner Bros. Records chairman and producer Rob Cavallo said, "To call R.E.M. one of the greatest bands in contemporary music is an understatement. They leave behind a body of work whose breadth, honesty, creativity and power has not only inspired millions of fans around the world, but also has influenced — and will continue to influence — generations of songwriters and performers for years to come."
Warner Bros. is releasing the greatest hits retrospective in November.

NBC wins last ratings week before the new season

NEW YORK (AP) — Sunday night football and the climax of "America's Got Talent" led NBC to victory in the week before the fall television season's official start.
The most-watched prime-time shows on two broadcast networks last week were football games: the Sunday night NFL matchup between Philadelphia and Atlanta on NBC, and Saturday's college game pitting Florida State and Oklahoma on ABC, the Nielsen Co. said Tuesday. The NFL game was the week's most popular program by far.
There were a couple of attempts to get a jump on the new fall season. NBC showed its new sitcom "Up All Night" after the season finale of "America's Got Talent" and was rewarded with a heavy sampling of nearly 11 million viewers. The comedy "Free Agents" was less successful 30 minutes later with 6.1 million viewers, Nielsen said.
Beauty pageants no longer have much interest among audiences. The 5.3 million who saw the Miss Universe contest on NBC ranked below a rerun of "America's Funniest Home Videos" on ABC.
For the week, NBC averaged 8.2 million viewers (5.2 rating, 9 share), CBS had 7.1 million (4.6, 8), ABC had 5.9 million (3.8, 6), Fox had 4.8 million (3.1, 5), the CW had 1.9 million (1.3, 2) and ION Television had 1.2 million (0.8, 1).
Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision led with a 3.7 million average (2.0 rating, 3 share), Telemundo had 1.1 million (0.6, 1), TeleFutura had 410,000 (0.2, 0), Azteca had 200,000 and Estrella 170,000 (both 0.1, 0).
NBC's "Nightly News" topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8.2 million viewers (5.5, 11). ABC's "World News" was second with 7.2 million (4.9, 10) and the "CBS Evening News" had 5.7 million viewers (3.9, 8).
A ratings point represents 1,147,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 114.7 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
For the week of Sept. 12-18, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: 1. NFL Football: Philadelphia at Atlanta, NBC, 23.42 million; "Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick," NBC, 18.3 million; "America's Got Talent" (Wednesday), NBC, 14.37 million; "America's Got Talent" (Tuesday), NBC, 13.67 million. "Football Night in America, Part Three," NBC, 13.39 million; "60 Minutes," CBS, 12.48 million; "Emmy Awards," Fox, 12.44 million; "Up All Night," NBC, 10.95 million; "Survivor: South Pacific," CBS, 10.74 million; "NCIS," CBS, 10.26 million.
___
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. CBS is owned by CBS Corp. CW is a joint venture of Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp. Fox and My Network TV are units of News Corp. NBC and Telemundo are owned by Comcast Corp. ION Television is owned by ION Media Networks. TeleFutura is a division of Univision. Azteca America is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V.

'Moneyball' doesn't quite knock it out of the park

You don't have to know about VORP — or WHIP, or OPS — to enjoy "Moneyball," the story of how a bunch of stat geeks changed the way baseball teams assess and acquire players.
Sure, it helps if you're a fan of the sport and if you've read Michael Lewis' breezy and engaging best-seller "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game." Sabermetrics — the process of applying statistical formulas, rather than on-field appearance and general makeup, to determine a player's worth — wouldn't seem like an inherently cinematic topic. But Lewis made lesser-known guys like Scott Hatteberg and Chad Bradford leap off the page. And the cajoling patter from Billy Beane, the Oakland A's general manager who pioneered this experimental philosophy, would seem tailor-made for screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who co-wrote the script along with fellow veteran scribe Steven Zaillian.
Still, what's most pleasing about the film doesn't really have to do with baseball.
As Beane, Brad Pitt is at his charismatic best — a little weary, a little weathered, but that complexity only makes him more appealing. He's persistent and persuasive as he tries to change the mindset of the baseball lifers who surround him. We see him rage in his infamously volatile fashion when things go wrong, but we also see him make himself vulnerable: He's embracing this approach as a result of his own failure.
Tall, good-looking and naturally athletic — a five-tool guy, as they say — Beane was a highly-touted high school prospect who turned down a scholarship to Stanford to play for the New York Mets. But his professional career was brief, and he never lived up to the hype. This inspired him to value players for more pragmatic reasons than the traditional methods old-school scouts use. The most important thing, he reasoned, is getting on base. And some of the players who get on base most often happen to be undervalued, perhaps older or a little banged-up, and they come at bargain prices — which is crucial when you've got a fraction of the payroll of big-market teams.
As he ventures into this brave new world at the start of the 2002 season, having lost in agonizing fashion to the New York Yankees in the 2001 post-season, his trusty sidekick is Peter Brand, a 25-year-old Yale economics graduate and follower of sabermetrics guru Bill James. (The character is an amalgamation of several young, up-and-coming baseball executives who subscribed to this belief). Jonah Hill is at his best here, too, as Brand: the perfect foil for a force of nature like Beane. Halting and almost humorless, Hill ultimately finds the quiet confidence in this character, and he and Pitt bounce off each other beautifully. The scenes in which they banter represent the best "Moneyball" has to offer.
Yes, they're talking about baseball, but the intelligence of their interactions and the bond they forge transcend sport. And watching them upend a bastion of American culture can be thrilling.
Similarly, though, the things that are wrong with the movie have nothing to do with baseball, either. Insiders and hardcore fans will probably find reasons to nitpick, as is their wont; if there's a group of people more obsessed with details and arcania than movie nerds, it's baseball nerds. But more fundamentally, there's a problem with the pacing in director Bennett Miller's film.
Miller's feature debut was "Capote," which earned Philip Seymour Hoffman a best-actor Oscar (and Hoffman shows up here in a barely developed role as A's manager Art Howe, who bucks Beane at every opportunity). As rich a character study as "Capote" was, it also offered suspense as it traced the author's rise and fall. "Moneyball" never feels like it's building toward anything, even if you know how the A's season unfolded that year. It plays out in starts and stops, and then all of a sudden, we're in the midst of the team's historic 20-game win streak.
Perhaps this is a product of the script's development in pieces, with Zaillian starting it, Steven Soderbergh (who initially was set to direct) revising it and Sorkin submitting the final draft. Whatever the cause, the end result often feels disjointed.
A subplot involving Beane's daughter, which wasn't part of the book, also seems like a wedged-in device to humanize him. And ultimately it seems odd to romanticize this figure who sought to strip the sport of its long-held romanticism.
But like the A's themselves at this time, "Moneyball" has enough unlikely pieces that do work — and it generates enough underdog goodwill — to make you want to stick around for the final out.
"Moneyball," a Columbia Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for some strong language. Running time: 126 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Emmy presenter Sheen wishes his old show well

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charlie Sheen turned a surprise appearance on the Emmys into a platform to offer his blessing to his old series.
He was on hand Sunday night as presenter of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which he wryly described as "my old category."
But the actor, who had a rancorous parting last season from "Two and a Half Men," took a moment before reading the nominees to wish his former series well.
"From the bottom of my heart," he said, "I wish you nothing but the best for this upcoming season. We spent eight wonderful years together and I know you will continue to make great television."
On Monday, the new season begins with Ashton Kutcher replacing Sheen in the CBS hit.

Olivia Wilde shoots down romance rumors, gives advice to young actresses

 
Olivia Wilde has quickly become one of the hottest women in Hollywood.
The “Cowboys and Aliens” star is on the October cover of Allure magazine, where she opens up about her divorce, making out with Mischa Barton and all those pesky rumors about who she is dating.

 

On rumors about her dating life:
“In order to be dating all the people they think I am, I’d need four vaginas! It’s impossible!”
On her favorite beauty products:
“I steal from makeup artists a lot.”
On kissing Mischa Barton on “The O.C.”:
“We did a lot of kissing. It was a relationship. It wasn’t a weird sensationalized moment that was just for sweeps week. These two young women were really falling in love. Women tell me that it helped them figure out their sexuality.”
Her advice for young starlets entering the business:
“If I could tell young actresses anything, it would be to just be yourself through and through. I mean, really be hard-core about sticking to your identity, because what makes you unusual is what’s going to assure your success.”
On her divorce from Italian Prince and film director, Tao Ruspoli:
“(It was) the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with. I got married at a very young age, so I sort of jumped into a stage of adulthood prematurely. I learned quite a lot.”
The new issue of Allure hits newsstands September 20.