MPAA to host 'Bully' screening

The MPAA will host a screening "Bully," the documentary that it is rankings board considered an "R" rating despite protest from producer Harvey Weinstein and activists. Weinstein will be a part of a panel following a March 15 screening in the MPAA's headquarters in Washington. Joining him would be the movie's director Lee Hirsch and Electricity Public Schools chancellor Kaya Henderson. The MPAA's rating triggered a petition drive where a Michigan senior high school student who was simply cajolled shipped some 200,000 signatures towards the trade association's Sherman Trees headquarters. Weinstein yet others have stated the "R" rating prevents them from showing the documentary in schools, and also to get its message to the crowd that it's to help. The "R" rating was handed towards the anti-bullying documentary for language. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

Will John Carter of Tennessee Watch John Carter of Mars?

"Yes, because everybody's giving me a ration about it. I wish they would have named it something else because I have a weird background and now people keep accusing me of being reincarnated." I see. How about John Carter of Oklahoma? "Why are you calling? Oh. Well, he's been dead for over 10 years." [Moviefone]

Elizabeth Olsen's 'Silent House' Is Uninterrupted Horror

"Silent House" is not the first movie featuring a lone female protagonist fighting unknown horrors, trapped in a house she cant get out of, unable to call for help -- its not necessarily new, we get it. But the way "Silent House" is filmed goes a long way towards altering the type of scare the audience receives from every scene -- something that star Elizabeth Olsen was quick to elaborate on when she talked to MTV News. "I think whats cool is that we cant frame up a shot and then you know somethings going to happen, like the winds going to blow or an open curtain or a window or the curtain will just start blowing," Olsen said when asked how "Silent House" is set apart from its horror peers. "You dont have those moments where you can assume whats going to happen next because everythings discovered in the moment because of the way we dont edit things together." "I think its really cool to figure out how can you still get jumps without actually using editing to your benefit," she continued. "I think it almost creates an immediate tension." Olsen scrunched up her face when saying the last bit, because no one ever wants to seem to considerate about their art. Those artistic considerations werent immediately apparent during filming, which went about in such an unconventional way -- close camera, no editing -- that it took Olsen a moment to realize what a challenge it might be. "The first one was in the lamp room with all the cluttered space, when a carpet falls down and basically I have to fall down in that scene," she said. "Usually when theres a fall in a movie you cut and you put some padding on and put something on the floor. We didnt have that so that was done like 26 times trying to find the right spot to fall on my body." Not that the persistent injuries got her down. " I actually documented my bruises throughout this film," she said. "I took pictures of them because I think bruises are fascinating." "Silent House" is out tomorrow! We cant wait, and neither should you! Tell us what you think in the comments section or hit us up on Twitter!

Summit To Premiere Twilight Trailer In Theaters Before Hunger Games

It’s another instance of the synergy between Summit and Lionsgate following a two increased being one inch The month of the month of january. It merges among Hollywood’s finest teen-centered movie franchises in what Lionsgate hopes is certainly an a good deal bigger deal. Here’s today’s release: Santa Monica, CA, March 8, 2012 – Summit Entertainment’s lengthy looked forward to THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING Beginning – PART 2 will debut a teaser trailer in theaters with Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012. The next and final chapter inside the TWILIGHT SAGA, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING Beginning – PART 2 can get to movie theaters on November 16, 2012. Academy Award champion Bill Condon directed both creation second part of the two-part finale starring Billy Burke, Rachelle Lefervre and Rachelle Lefervre. The project,using the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series, was put together by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer creating. Related: The Hunger Games Doing Twilight Saga-Large Online Advance Ticket Sales Sneak Take A Look At ‘Twilight: Breaking Beginning Part 2′

REVIEW: Project X, a Todd Phillips Production, Made for Those Who Find the Hangover Franchise Too Sophisticated

Im pretty sure I ruined the night of a pair teenage boys huddled in the back row of a recent screening of Project X, a party disaster movie targeted at kids who find the Hangover franchise too sophisticated. All I did was sit down beside them, but I may as well have poked my head up into their treehouse. Girls ruin everything, especially the unmitigated enjoyment of a new Todd Phillips movie. A few seconds after the lights when down, as a shrill junior impresario named Costa (Oliver Cooper) started shouting 2 Live Crew lyrics about wanting pussy, the one beside me began twisting in an agony I came to enjoy much more than the movie we were watching. Costa is not a complicated man. 2 Live Crew could actually do much of his speaking for him. This is hilariously ironic because Costa is a schlubby white kid who wears sweater vests and hangs out with two equally mollusk-like pals, JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown) and Thomas (Thomas Mann). The script, by Michael Bacall and Matt Drake, has enough "bitches" and "faggots" and midgets tossed into ovens to scandalize everybody, which seemed to be their best hope. When Project X begins Thomass parents are about to go away for the weekend to celebrate their anniversary, which also happens to be Thomass 17th birthday. Costa is pushing for a party, the big social event that will turn them into big time players at school. Oh, theres also Dax (Dax Flame), the kid who is documenting everything that happens. A note prefacing the movie (Warner Bros. would like to thank everyone who contributed footage) makes it clear that this will be another found footage exercise. After first drawing attention to the conceit, first-time director Nima Nourizadeh (Phillips is the producer and Project X is heavily branded with his name) lets it fade into the background. Especially once the party gets started, the ratio of intrepid, conceit-driven camerawork to slick video montages of booty-shorts bacchanalia is far enough out of whack that you wonder why they bothered with the construct in the first place. Phillips got his start in documentary, notably Frat House, the 1998 expos of fraternity life. Young Dax Flame, whom we glimpse once in a mirror shot, became a YouTube star by documenting his high school life in Texas. But Project X is not interested in showing us what its really like when a high school party goes nuclear. Like The Blair Witch Project and the recent Chronicle, it wants to apply the terms of found footage realism to an established genre. Although it behaves as if its closest antecedent is a John Hughes teen movie, Project X plays more like a blend of music video, College Rules-style porn, and apocalypse-gazing. Its all hyper-sensory flash and amateur titillation, aint it cool party-dogging and an ecstatic taxonomy of all the different ways you can drink a beer. Thomas, long, pale and apprehensive, does have a certain Alan Ruck vibe. And his father is quite protective of his fancy car. But further comparisons to Ferris Buellers Day Off will only make you want to cry. Over a thousand people show up at Thomass very swanky Pasadena house, and at every step his better judgment is overruled by the promise of popularity. A gorgeous neighborhood friend (Kirby Bliss Blanton) seems receptive, but Thomas is steered -- by Costa, who only gets more pointlessly awful as the night goes on -- to think more like a social climber, and go for the girl with the most cachet. Of course that girl, like all of the others, will remove her clothes more or less on command. Project X threatens to become slightly interesting just as the party enters a death spin and Thomas takes his first hit of ecstasy. Anyone who has thrown a bender while mom and dad were away and gotten in over his head knows the consequences really do feel like the end of the world. But the pitch of this amazingly fatuous, tediously low-toned, aggressively sensational movie is too erratic for the Im famous, bitch! nihilism of the finale to touch on anything real. It's just an adjustment of the volume in a movie that manages to look and feel as well as sound like endless noise. Follow Michelle Orange on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Associates: Professional shuffles

Fox News has marketed Irena Briganti to group senior veep of media relations for Fox News and Fox Business Network. She became a member of Fox News four several weeks before its bow in October 1996. NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and Cable Galleries has upped Rafael Gomez to veep of economic matters. Lori Lynem has became a member of the department as veep and Tehmina Jaffer continues to be drawn on director of economic matters. Gomez continues to be using the Peacock's cable wing since 2005. Tim Bruno continues to be upped to senior Vice president of event production, talent development and studio relations for Viacom Entertainment Group. He'll oversee tentpole occasions for that Comedy Central, TV Land and Spike TV cablers, among other responsibilities. Adam Lewinson continues to be upped to senior veep of programming and production for Fox Movie Funnel and Forex Movie Funnel. He's been with Fox since 2004. Kristy Scanlan has became a member of Technicolor as veep of economic development for that animation group. Scanlan was formerly mind of production at Threshold Entertainment. Laurie Luh continues to be elevated to veep of human assets at Participant Media. Luh became a member of the organization in 2004 and today runs all office procedures and HR. Bravo has marketed Maria Laino Deluca to veep of trade marketing. She'll help lead multiplatform promotions and get the cabler's upfront presentation strategy. Tara Duncan has became a member of Fuse Entertainment as Vice president of development. She was formerly director of script development at AMC. Take advantage of Wussler joins Twentieth Television as Vice president ad sales and integration. He'd been a sales veep at NBCUniversal Television Distribution. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Disney Pacts With China VOD Service You If Needed

The sale with Disney Media Distribution follows the same one with Lionsgate’s Asian arm Celestial Tiger Entertainment and continues the ramp-in the service, which already includes a deal with Warner Bros. Here’s the release: NY, Feb. 22, 2012 — YOU If Needed Holdings, Corporation.’s (OTCBB: CBBD / CBBDD) PRC partnership, a respected Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video If Needed (VOD) content company, today introduced it's signed an agreement with Disney Media Distribution, a distribution arm beneath the Wally Disney Company (New you are able to stock market: DIS), to distribute formally approved Disney films for Transactional Video If Needed (TVOD) and Subscription Video If Needed (SVOD) with the People’s Republic of China. Consequently from the deal, YOU If Needed is going to be adding Disney’s extensive library of game game titles, different from current hits like “The Help” and “Cars 2″ to Disney classics for instance “The Lion King,” “Mary Poppins” and “Beauty as well as the Animal” for the wide array of Hollywood hits inside you If Needed’s options. “We are very proud to make use of The Wally Disney Company to get the most effective work from home entertainment to China,” mentioned Shane McMahon, Chairman and Boss people If Needed. “Disney films define quality family entertainment which we’re thrilled that you just If Needed will probably be their showcase all over the world’s greatest television audience.”

Watch the very first 12 Minutes of Seem of My Voice: Brit Marling and Cult Jam

Festival darling Brit Marling burst to the scene last summer time using the sci-fi indie Another Earth (and will also be observed in the approaching fiscal thriller Arbitrage opposite Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon), but her turn like a mysterious cult leader within this April's Seem of My Voice may be the better summary of the charming up and comer. Hit the jump to look at the very first ten minutes of Seem of My Voice, thanks to Fox Searchlight, and discover for yourself. As observed in the outlet ten minutes, Seem of My Voice follows a few (Nicole Vicius and Christopher Denham) because they infiltrate a secretive cult, planning to film a documentary subjecting its leader like a fraud. However when they meet stated leader -- as Marling's Maggie, a youthful lady who states be in the future -- they fall much deeper in compared to what they ever imagined they'd. Seem of My Voice, directed by Zal Batmanglij, may be the second of Marling's Sundance 2011 photos hitting screens following Mike Cahill's Another Earth both were co-compiled by Marling and tested to acclaim around the festival circuit. Shot on the small budget, SOMV pulls off a significant amount with hardly any when it comes to the type of assets open to most sci-fi films, and like Another Earth it's greatly a romantic-scale indie that develops a larger sense for that world around it. But between your two -- to not invite comparison, however it inevitably happens -- SOMV enables Marling to flex her acting muscles with one of the most complex and layered female figures directly into arrive shortly. That alone is going to be well worth the cost of admission come April 27. Fox Searchlight, meanwhile, must discover a method to push SOMV farther of computer did Another Earth, which experienced from deficiencies in clearness in the ads and opened up to disappointing box office, for an of course small-scale film without any stars. This primary-10-minutes clip is a great start it doesn't only draw you to the plot of SOMV and provide you with a feeling of Batmanglij's shrewd pointing style and also the magnetic allure of Marling as Maggie, additionally, it features a number of "interactive" bonus features that look away to grow on ideas and ideas within the film, including viral clips such as this. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Aretha Franklin, Stevie Question to Sing at Whitney Houston's Funeral Clive Davis to talk

Rosanne Barr, Sarah Silverman The autumn TV months are materializing. Systems have purchased a large number of new aircraft pilots starring familiar faces including Zachary Levi, Mindy Kaling, Mandy Moore and Sarah Silverman, and from proven producers like Josh Schwartz, J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti and Kevin Williamson. Also creating a comeback this season: Legendary figures including Eco-friendly Arrow, Barbara Bradshaw, A Virtual Detective and sweetness and also the Animal. To keep an eye on who's doing what, read our complete list of all of the series projects in contention and appearance back for updates on their own status. Listed here are the NBC aircraft pilots: (Get more information at ABC, CBS, CW and Fox.) DRAMA Bad Women An unlikely number of women inside a federal prison -- together with a scandalous female warden, her new protégé as well as other inmates -- have a problem with loyalties to individuals inside and outdoors. Shameless' John Wells will executive-produce alongside The Best Factor scribe Nancy Pimental. In line with the lengthy-running British hit series. Beautiful People Set ten minutes later on, groups of mechanical people exist to service a persons population -- until a few of the mechanicals start to "awaken." MADtv's Michael McDonald will write and executive-produce. American Horror Story's Frances Conroy, James Murray, Patrick Heusinger, Madisen Beaty, Cody Allen Christian, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Jud Taylor, Andrea Parker, Tovah Feldshuh, David Conrad will star. Ernie Hudson will recur. Chicago Fire The complex and heroic males and ladies from the Chicago Fire Department are investigated within this action-driven drama. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt will write and executive-produce with Law & Order's Dick Wolf. Eamonn Master will star. County Parenthood's Jason Ritter stars within this Jason Katims drama about several youthful doctors, nurses and managers within an underfunded and morally compromising La hospital. Friday Evening Lights' Michael B. Jordan, Aimee Garcia, Jess Weixler and Agam Darshi will even star. Don' Harm An excellent neurosurgeon (Steven Pasquale) wrestles together with his harmful alter-ego that intends to ruin his personal and professional existence. The Event's David Schulner will write and executive-produce with Samantha Who?'s Peter Traugott. Law & Order's Alana p la Garza, Mousa Kraish and Ruta Gedmintas will even star. The Frontier Within an intense tale of survival, several disparate vacationers attempt an amazing mix-country adventure with the west where danger stalks them at each turn. Rob Cassidy will write and executive-produce alongside Free Airline Wing's Thomas Schlamme. Mike McLaughlin, Bridget Regan, Al Weaver, Gina Bramhill, Ethan Embry and Megan Ferguson will star. Night time Sun A lady FBI cult specialist begins an analysis in to the mysterious disappearance of the group living on the commune in Alaska and reveals a bigger conspiracy. In line with the Israeli format, The Event's Lisa Zwerling will write and executive-produce with Peter Traugott. Well known An opulent cleaning soap where a female detective returns towards the wealthy family by which she was raised- only she's undercover because the maid's daughter - to resolve the murder from the well known heiress who had been once her nearest friend. Mercy's Liz Heldens will write and executive-produce. Revolution A higher-octane action drama that follows several figures battling to outlive and reunite with family members inside a world where all types of energy have inexplicably stopped to exist. Supernatural's Eric Kripke will write and executive-produce with J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. COMEDY 1600 Penn What goes on when you are probably the most regular family on the planet, however your father may be the Leader from the U . s . States? Book of Mormon's Josh Gad will star, write and executive-produce with Modern Family's Jason Winer. Animal Kingdom A workplace-based comedy having a House-like vet (Weeds' Justin Kirk) who loves the creatures but hates their proprietors. Executive-created by Hangover Part II author Scot Remedy. Daddy's Women A youthful lady (Christine Forest) returns home from overseas to locate that her father is seriously dating the "mean girl" from senior high school (Nicky Whelan). From Friends' Dana Klein. Brenda Song and Cedric Yarbrough will even star. Downwardly Mobile Roseanne Barr stars because the proprietor of the rv park and surrogate mother to any or all the figures who live there. The Roseanne star will write and executive-produce with John Argent and Eric Gilliland. Roseanne's John Goodman will even star. Friday Evening Dinner Just one-camera comedy in line with the United kingdom format in regards to a cool family which has dinner together every Friday evening. The Office's Greg Daniels, who'll change and executive-produce alongside Ken Kwapis and Howard Klein. Monk's Tony Shalhoub and also the West Wing's Allison Janney will portray the mother and father while Kevin Bigley and Gil Ozeri will have the children. Aya Cash will even star. Continue While an irreverent yet charming sportscaster attempts to move ahead from loss, he unwillingly finds surprising solace in the people of his mandatory group therapy periods. Buddies author/producer Scott Silveri executive-produces. Isabel Marcia Gay Harden and Kevin Nealon take part in the parents of the middle-class family that needs to cope with the difficulties of raising a daughter (Sophia Mitri Schloss) with magical characteristics. Inspired through the French-Canadian series Le Monde P Charlotte now, the series is going to be executive-created by Howard Busgang and Tom Nursall. Skyler Gisondo, Abigail Mavity, Craig Shabaka Henley, Alex Desert and Bradley Whitened will even star. Save Me Anne Heche stars like a lady who begins to think that they is directing God after she's any sort of accident. Heche will even function as a producer around the project. John Scott Shepherd, Neal Moritz, Vivian Cannon and Scott Winant executive-produce. Alexandra Breckenridge, Louise Burns and Michael Landes will even star. The Brand New Normal A gay couple Body half performed by Book of Mormon actor Andrew Rannells - attempt to begin a family with the aid of a surrogate. Together with fellow Glee producer Ali Adler, Ryan Murphy will co-write and executive-make the project. Next Caller Please A gender comedy concentrating on a brash, alpha male DJ and the new plucky, feminist co-host. From Weeds' producer Stephen Falk. Untitled Jimmy Fallon project Three thirtysomething men benefit from the adventures of raising a child despite the fact that they haven't developed themselves. NBC late-evening host Jimmy Fallon will executive-produce. Untitled Kari Lizer project Two female buddies, one that apparently has got the perfect existence (Andrea Anders) and something who can't appear to have it together, can't do without one another. Kari Lizer (The Brand New Adventures of Old Christine) will write and executive-produce. Untitled Sarah Silverman project Sarah Silverman stars like a thirtysomething lady modifying towards the single existence following a decade-lengthy relationship finishes. Silverman will co-write the script with Serta Sterling and Jon Schroeder, who co-authored her Comedy Central show The Sarah Silverman Project. John Grazer and Ron Howard will even executive-produce. Lost alum Ken Leung, June Raphael, Harris Wittels and Tig Notaro will even star. Untitled Hilary Winston project After being left by her fiancé, a shy, focused lady sways on her behalf co-employees to assist her emerge from her spend and plot her revenge. Hilary Winston (Happy Being, Community) will write and executive-produce alongside Happy Endings' Jamie Tarses. Aubrey Dollar will co-star. Which aircraft pilots seem interesting for you?

New Cinemax Series 'Luck' Investigated for Equine Mistreatment

David Milch's new Cinemax series "Luck," a dramatic depiction in the dark and seedy side of thoroughbred equine racing and betting, remains investigated for dealing with its four-legged stars after two horses broke their legs and were offer sleep through the show's production, "The NY Observer" reported on Monday.One equine was put lower after getting experienced a significant fracture within a race sequence inside the pilot episode. Another equine was destroyed several days later, while filming a short race scene inside the forthcoming seventh episode of the year. The pilot does add a sequence in which a equine breaks its leg within a race and dies, but Cinemax assured "The Observer" that a mixture of trained horses and CGI was utilized to give the effect no horses were hurt because scene.Nevertheless, production was suspended following a second accident, while Cinemax cooperated while using American Humane Association to impose additional safety safeguards. These incorporated employing yet another vet, radiology in the legs connected having a horses being considered for your show, and keeping daily training and health records. "PETA frequently showed up at to series creator David Milch while others connected while using Cinemax production before shooting began, but our efforts were rebuffed," Jennifer O'Connor written on PETA's official blog around the month of the month of january 27. "Possibly if producers had considered the shown safety techniques that individuals may have suggested, these horses could be alive."The American Humane Association detailed the final results of the analysis in the detailed official statement. Read excerpts within the news release below:"A U . s . States Humane Licensed Animal Safety Representative was monitoring your dog action round the set when the occurrences happened and observed the vet round the set perform soundness assessments and approve the horses, right before racing them. An entire analysis and necropsy was completed for each accident immediately afterwards.InchThe amazing volume of equine work incorporated in this particular plotline known for many American Humane Association Licensed Animal Safety Reps to make certain that recommendations were met, like the additional safeguards, and many types of your dog action was supervised."The AHA also noted that it's press validating that "no animals were hurt" throughout filming is not incorporated inside the two episodes in mind. Rather, audiences saw the following statement: "The American Humane Association supervised your dog action." The AHA added, "No such occurrences happened in other episodes, which did let them achieve certification."For just about any more thorough explanation of techniques horses together with other animals are treated round the number of "Luck," see the American Humane Association's complete report online."Luck" airs Sunday nights on Cinemax. It absolutely was recently restored for just about any second season.

NBC Apologizes for M.I.A.'s "Spontaneous" Middle Finger Gesture During Super Bowl Halftime Show

M.I.A. It wasn't a "wardrobe malfunction," but Super Bowl XLVI's halftime show managed to stir controversy. M.I.A., who participated in the halftime show headlined by Madonna, flipped off millions of viewers in a blink-and-you-missed-it moment during the performance of Madonna's new single "Give Me All Your Luvin.'" Click here to see a photo. "We apologize for the inappropriate gesture that aired during halftime," NBC said in a statement. "It was a spontaneous gesture that our delay system caught late." Super Bowl halftime show: Did Madonna get all your luvin'? The NFL also issued an apology, but placed blame on NBC. "There was a failure in NBC's delay system," the league said in a statement. "The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans." M.I.A.'s "spontaneous gesture" will surely remind many of Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004, which resulted in new time delays in live TV and a record $550,000 fine the FCC levied against CBS (the fine was finally thrown out in court just last November). Did you see M.I.A.'s gesture on TV? Were you offended?

First look at new Dark Knight Rises toys

[brightcove]1336814813001[/brightcove]Right, we know we said you need to leave space on your Christmas list for the new LOTR Lego collection, but you're going to have to find a little more now, as pictures have been released of the new Dark Knight Rises toy range... and it's awesome.First up is a trio of vinyl pop figures of Batman, Catwoman and Bane, and if ever there were a cuter model of a masked psychopath than the latter, we've yet to find it.In addition to that, there's a new Batman action figure in the pipeline, with some interesting-looking accessories included. Is that some kind of drill attachment he's sporting there? How will that fit into the film, we wonder?There's also a model of Bruce Wayne's new vehicle, The Bat, which should probably find its way onto your list as well. But best of all is the Batman chessboard, which plays out atop Gotham City's skyline and features pieces shaped like Robin, Penguin and the Batmobile.If that isn't one of the greatest pieces of tie-in merchandising ever created, we'll eat our collective hat. The toys should be launched around June, so start saving those pennies now. Try not to justify it too much... it's best just to hand your money over!

Hazanavicius Wins at Directors Guild for 'The Artist'

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Directors Guild of America Awards are the latest Hollywood film honors to go silent.Hollywood's top filmmakers group presented its feature-film honor Saturday to Michel Hazanavicius for his silent film "The Artist," giving him the inside track for the best-director prize at the Academy Awards."I really love directors. I really have respect for directors. So this is really very moving and touching for me," said Hazanavicius, whose black-and-white silent charmer has cleaned up at earlier Hollywood honors and could emerge as the best-picture favorite at the Feb. 26 Oscars.The Directors Guild honors are one of the most-accurate forecasts for who might go on to take home an Oscar. Only six times in the 63-year history of the guild awards has the winner failed to win the Oscar for best director. And more often than not, whichever film earns the directing Oscar also wins best picture.French filmmaker Hazanavicius, whose credits include the spy spoofs "OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies" and "OSS 117: Lost in Rio," had been a virtual unknown in Hollywood until "The Artist." His throwback to early cinema centers on a silent-era star whose career crumbles when talking pictures take over in the late 1920s.First-time nominee Hazanavicius won over a field of guild heavyweights that included past winners Martin Scorsese for "Hugo" and Woody Allen for "Midnight in Paris." Past nominees David Fincher for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" also were in the running.Accepting his nomination plaque earlier in the ceremony from his stars in "The Artist," Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, Hazanavicius recalled his childhood education in great cinema, including Hollywood classics such as "Red River" and "Rio Bravo."Hazanavicius said he felt he was being welcomed by the Directors Guild for a language they had in common: cinema."Maybe you noticed, but I'm French. I have an accent. I have a name that is very difficult to pronounce," Hazanavicius said. "I'm not American, and I'm not French, actually. I'm a filmmaker. ... I feel like I'm being accepted by you not as Americans but as filmmakers."James Marsh won the film documentary prize for "Project Nim," his chronicle of the triumphs and trials of a chimpanzee that was raised like a human child. It was the latest major Hollywood prize for Marsh, who earned the documentary Academy Award for 2008's "Man on Wire."Scorsese went zero-for-two at the guild awards. He also had been nominated for the documentary award for "George Harrison: Living in the Material World."Robert B. Weide won the TV comedy directing award for an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," while Patty Jenkins earned the TV drama prize for the pilot of "The Killing."The award for TV movie or miniseries went to Jon Cassar for "The Kennedys."Other television winners were: Reality programming: Neil P. DeGroot, "The Biggest Loser." Musical variety: Glenn Weiss, "The 65th Annual Tony Awards." Daytime serials: William Ludel, "General Hospital." Children's programs: Amy Schatz, "A Child's Garden of Poetry." Commercials: Noam Murro.At the start of the ceremony, Guild President Taylor Hackford led the crowd in a toast to one of his predecessors, Gil Cates, the veteran producer of the Oscar broadcast who died last year.The Directors Guild awards were the first of two major Hollywood honors this weekend. The Screen Actors Guild hands out its prizes Sunday.Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Disney taps Ough Strauss mind of marketing

StraussFormer Participant Media prexy Ough Strauss remains named mind of marketing for Wally Disney Art galleries.Strauss, who also spent 16 years just like a marketing and production professional in the new the new sony, works MT Carney, who introduced her departure the other day carrying out a rocky 18-month tenure.Strauss will oversee global marketing for promotions, publicity, research and synergy across all distribution channels for movies released beneath the Wally Disney Pictures (including Wally Disney Animation and Pixar Animation), Marvel Art galleries, and Touchstone Pictures ads, including DreamWorks Art galleries photos released through Touchstone.Strauss had labored while using Disney team in recent several days in controlling marketing and outreach for your Touchstone-distribbed DreamWorks' hit "The Help.InchInchI'm very happy to welcome Ough Strauss for the Wally Disney Art galleries family. With two-and-a-half decades of industry experience, he brings an in-depth understanding of each and every aspect in the film business additionally to incredible skill in branding and cutting-edge marketing," mentioned Disney Art galleries chairman Ross. "He'll unquestionably boost the studios' creative bar after we enter 2012 and appearance ahead at featuring an incredible slate of films to audiences around the globe.InchStated Strauss: "Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and DreamWorks Art galleries are the world's best and smartest brands," mentioned Strauss. "I expect now to coping with make use of the exceptional team at Disney, doing most likely probably the most innovative marketing on the market.InchIt comes lower as not surprising that Carney's alternative features a deep resume inside the film biz. Strauss formerly labored just like a senior marketing executive and senior veep of production at Columbia/TriStar Pictures. The appointment of Carney, an advertising vet who was simply been trained in new media but did not have film background, switched that need considering a significant misstep for Disney. She was among Ross' initial utilizes, hired in April 2010, round the heels of his promotion from Disney Channels Worldwide boss for the film studio chief publish last year.Just before joining Participant in 2005, Strauss founded The brand new the new sony-based Ricochet Entertainment, where he professional produced the Cameron Diaz film "The Very Best Factor," among other projects.When Carney was hired couple of years ago, naysayers requested whether a person without any background in studio marketing could fill the role. Gossips of her exit began rapidly, but studio professionals frequently mentioned they were happy with her work. Since she signed on, "Pirates in the Kingfisher: On Stranger Tides" passed $1 billion worldwide, while "Cars 2" hit greater than $500 million but there has been also flops for instance "Mars Needs Moms."Strauss happens board with elaborate campaign for sci-fier "John Carter" already in place getting a March 9 launch. Key approaching game game titles for Disney are Marvel's "The Avengers" on May 4, Pixar's "Brave" on June 12, "The Odd Information on Timothy Eco-friendly" on August. 15, Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" on March. 5 and "Wreck-it Take advantage of" on November. 2. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Wednesday TV in Review: Chelsea, Face Off, Middle, Harry and much more

Face Off Knock knock. Who's there? Chelsea. Chelsea who? No, make that Chelsea why? The response to the question posed in NBC's squalid new sitcom Are You Currently There, Chelsea? (8:30/7:30c) is "not necessarily.Inch According to late-evening spitfire Chelsea Handler's potty-mouthed party-girl memoirs - but shedding the Vodka in the title because that could be, you realize, offensive - this smutty but toothless misfire puzzlingly reduces Handler to some supporting role: what mousy, whiny born-again sister towards the imaginary Chelsea, performed with that '70s Show's Laura Prepon having a one-note husky-voiced crassness that develops stale lengthy prior to the first scene (inside a women's jail cell) finishes with Glee's Us dot Marie Johnson leering at Chelsea. That is maybe the only real sexual advance Chelsea spurns. As lengthy as she will be on the top. Which she mentions a great deal. The smarmy and incessant innuendo is much more deafening compared to laugh track, but regardless of how low it stoops, still it lacks the zing and bite of Handler's cable antics. Inside a twelve months of so-far-dreadful new network comedies which has incorporated ABC's Arrange It and moves onto CBS' ineptly offensive Take advantage of on Thursday, Chelsea has got the distinction to be the one which should include a go of penicillin. The only real upside: It is a good match the equally puerile Whitney, by developing a simple-to-ignore block on Wednesday, releases NBC's Thursday selection for that return of 30 Rock (though at the fee for Community, unfortunately). Anybody with taste or self-regard is going to be watching ABC's Wednesday comedies anyway (more about that later), therefore if we are lucky, before lengthy whenever we search for Chelsea around the schedule (though why would we?), it really will not be there. Want more fall TV news? Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now! Not Only ANOTHER Good Looks: The changes on Syfy's fascinating competition show Face Off (10/9c) aren't your usual TV refurbishments. Unless of course, I guess, you usually imagined to be converted into a film monster. This addictive series, coming back for any second season, is much like Thing of beauty while using body like a canvas which are more macabre extremes of imagination. Participants really are a funky number of artists skilled in special-effects make-up, creature creation and sculpture, body painting and so on. Beauty is incorporated in the eye from the beholder, likewise the terrible and fantastic visions they execute in each challenge, once we watch the procedure unfold from design and sketches to toning and conforms to application to crowning glory-ups. The outlet round, created by the appealing host McKenzie Westmore, takes the gamers in the Universal Galleries backlot (home of numerous popular monster) to Hollywood Boulevard, using the elimination "Spotlight" challenge including the reinterpretation of the movie and literary classic: The Wizard of Oz. Namely, the scarecrow, container guy, cowardly lion and wicked witch. Symbols from the greatest order, and as the saying goes on shows like The American Idol Show, the aim is to ensure they are their very own. Plus they do, with decidedly mixed results - the container guy appears to actually stump them - but scarecrows are infamously frightening objects, and at the disposal of these craftspeople, they become something so fearsome in visage it might send Dorothy Gale to Kansas inside a heartbeat. Other large news for reality fans: Tonight may be the "restaurant wars" episode of Bravo's Top Chef: Texas (10/9c). Do you know the odds meat is going to be around the menu? In Which The FUNNY IS: Whether it's Wednesday, it should be on ABC, starting off with another inspired episode from the Middle (8/7c), by which we discover the Hecks coming back in the funeral of ancient Aunt Ginny - the episode is devoted to Frances Bay, who died last September at 92 - by having an extended scene of family banter within the vehicle that ranks one of the show's finest and funniest. When Frankie describes the idea of bereavement food, that "you are not designed to prepare" when you are sad, Brick pipes up, "Are you currently sad constantly, mother?" Score. Frankie is really sad, though, when she stops to consider how rapidly the year progresses and just how the household rarely stops to acknowledge the main key events. One particular milestone happens later within the episode, as Poor Sue (Eden Sher) becomes aware she might have a follower around the wrestling team. A real boyfriend? Aunt Ginny could be so proud. Suburgatory (8:30/7:30c) welcomes Cougar Town's much-skipped Serta Byrd, who's killing time such as the relaxation people until ABC finally agendas the blasted show already. He plays an undercover narc in school befriended by Tessa, who assumes he's gay - which still does not stop sad-sack Lisa from crushing on him. And Tessa's only some of the one out of her family jumping to conclusions, as George assumes Dallas' invitation to create her boutique is an additional type of seduction. (The way in which she eats a blueberry, who are able to blame him?) Within the episodes not provided readily available for preview, Modern Family (9/8c) puts Mitchell and Cam a measure nearer to their next adoption, because they talk with prospective birth moms and then try to keep their awesome (have fun with that) and there is a guest-star alert on Happy Being (9:31/8:31c), as Dave's father (Michael McKean) turns up together with his new girlfriend, who is actually Penny's mother (Megan Mullally). GOING APE: "Why Question Lady?" This is the question posed on NBC's Harry's Law (9/8c) being an psychologically unstable client (Smallville's Erica Durance) is charged with crude vigilantism after she assaults abusive husbands while putting on the classic super hero drag. Why indeed. This qualifies like a classic in-joke, mentioning to Law creator David E. Kelley's unsuccessful make an effort to revive Question Lady for NBC, probably the most well known unaired aircraft pilots in a long time. (It is actually a sight to behold.) The episode's other subplot involves a higher-functioning runaway zoo ape on whose account Harry (Kathy Bates) attempts to argue the problem of "personhood." Hey, he's a minimum of as credible as the absurd human creatures about this show, using its cloying mixture of the shateringly serious and also the quirkily precious. The maudlin storytelling helped me wish to digital rebel like Caesar in Rise from the Planet from the Apes. I am more intrigued by tonight's scenario for NBC's Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit (10/9c), apparently inspired through the interactive off-Broadway phenom Sleep Forget About (also featured lately on Gossip Girl). The crime of the day involves a rape that happens mid-performance, using the audience (in masks) thinking it's area of the show. Fisher Stevens visitors because the play's director, who most likely wasn't striving for your degree of realism. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!