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Restored “Funny Girl” to Reopen Renovated Academy Theater in NYC

2010-11-06T09:31:00.007-05:00

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Monday Nights with Oscar^®” series returns with a screening of “Funny Girl” (1968), starring Barbra Streisand, on Monday, November 15, at 7 p.m. at the Academy Theater at Lighthouse International in New York City. The series had been on hiatus for most of the year as the theater underwent major renovations.

Nominated for eight Academy Awards^®, including Best Picture, “Funny Girl” is based on the hit 1964 Broadway musical. The film was directed by William Wyler from a screenplay by Isobel Lennart, who also wrote the Broadway book.

“Funny Girl” features an Oscar-nominated title song and score and such musical numbers as “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “People,” and “My Man.” Streisand, reprising her onstage role as legendary Ziegfeld Follies comedienne Fanny Brice, gave a star-making performance that garnered her a Best Actress Oscar. The film co-stars Kay Medford in an Academy Award^®-nominated performance, as well as Walter Pidgeon, Lee Allen, and Omar Sharif as Brice’s husband, troubled gambler Nick Arnstein.

This recently restored print from the Sony Pictures vaults displays the vibrant Technicolor cinematography of Oscar nominee Harry Stradling, as well as costumes by Irene Sharaff.

Tickets for “Funny Girl” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org or by mail (a printable order form is available in the Events & Exhibitions section of the website). Tickets may also be purchased at the box office prior to the event (subject to availability). All seating is unreserved.

The Academy Theater is located at 111 East 59th Street in New York City. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved. For more information, visit www.oscars.org or call (212) 821-9251.

Animator John Musker Filmmaker Speaker Series Event: November 9 in Palm Springs

2010-11-05T09:02:00.003-05:00

The Palm Springs International Film Society & the Rancho Mirage Public Library
present filmmaker speaker series highlighting the unsung heroes of the big screen

Tuesday, November 9th
BEHIND THE SCENES FILMMAKER SPEAKER SERIES
7:00 pm - ADMISSION IS FREE
Rancho Mirage Public Library
71100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA

John Musker is no stranger to successful animated films. He and partner Ron Clements helped to refresh the Disney catalog and the animation field as a whole with outstanding films such as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, creating a new generation of memorable characters. In a world of CG animation, Musker made a bold move to return to hand-drawn films which paid off by way of this year's Oscar nomination for The Princess and the Frog.

Musker went to college with Tim Burton, John Lasseter, and Brad Bird.

Selected Filmography: The Princess and the Frog, Waking Sleeping Beauty, Treasure Planet, Hercules, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective, The Black Cauldron, and The Fox and the Hound.

Please check www.psfilmfest.org or www.ranchomiragelibrary.org for more information.

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Paul Haggis to Remake 'Cell 211'

2010-10-31T10:37:00.013-05:00

CBS Films is acquiring the remake rights to Daniel Monzon's Spanish language film "Celda 211" and has attached Paul Haggis (Crash) to write the script and possibly direct under his Highway 61 Films banner. The Americanized version will be titled Cell 211.

Plot: A newly hired prison guard wants to make a good impression on his bosses by coming in a day early to get a tour of the facility. Suddenly, a brutal prison riot breaks out and he is knocked unconscious. When he awakens, the guard is forced to assume the role of a prisoner alongside the most dangerous killers alive. He tries to defuse the uprising and escape before the prisoners realize who he really is.

The film is an action thriller that's been described as "Die Hard" in prison. The original was released last year and ended up winning Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and five other awards at the Goya Awards (Spanish Oscars).

Source: Deadline

Guillermo del Toro Teaming up with Pixar Animator Rodrigo Blaas for Creepy Toy Story 'Alma'

2010-10-24T04:57:00.007-05:00

Guillermo del Toro has been getting involved with a number of animated films since signing a landmark deal with DreamWorks Animation last month.

DreamWorks is preparing to get creepy with a story about an ominous toy store and a little girl who gets sucked in by a rather familiar-looking doll.

Former Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas is in negotiations for his directorial debut to bring his hot short film Alma about dolls and child-snatching into a full-length movie for DreamWorks Animation. Del Toro will godfather and executive produce the film.

Originally from Spain, Blaas has worked in animation for more than ten years, in Spain and in the United States. While hard at work on Pixar movies like Up, Wall-e, Ratatouille, Cars, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, and Ice Age; animator Blaas decided to write and direct his own short called Alma his first short film as a director. This small passion project soon began winning awards like Best Animation at the L.A. Shorts Festival.

Blaas asked some of the best artists in their field to take part in this independent project: French animator Bolhem Bouchiba, character designer Carlos Grangel and Sergio Pablos, ArtDirector Alfonso Blaas, music composer Mastretta and sound designer Tom Myers.

Synopsis
Alma tells the story of children facing the specter of dark forces. Alma, a little girl, skips through the snow covered streets of a small town. Her attention is caught by a strange doll in an antique toy shop window. Fascinated, Alma decides to enter.

According to the LA Times Blaas is also in negotiations to co-direct, Trollhunters, with Del Toro, a movie based on a young-adult novel written by Del Toro.

There are similarities between Alma and Troll Hunters: Both are fairy tales about good children interacting with, and possibly victimized by, creatures that exist just below the surface of the world we know. Both have a Pan's Labyrinth vibe.

Since moving over from Disney, Del Toro has come on as a consultant and executive producer on the Kung Fu Panda sequel as well as Puss in Boots. But Alma and Troll Hunters take Del Toro in a more characteristically dark direction.

For the latest news on prolific multihyphenate Guillermo Del Toro's adventures in filmmaking join the Guillermo del Toro Facebook Group for fans.

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Source: LA Times

Guillermo del Toro Takes the 'The Fall' on the Late, Late Show

2010-09-29T10:22:00.016-05:00

Photosource: Gary Deocampo

"Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's THE FALL"

Guillermo del Toro is ready to his his own comedy talkshow, really! Look out Jay leno!

In this interview (below) on the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson he talks about his At the Mountains of Madness project with James Cameron, "monsters', and his 'big fat cat' who has been diagnosed as "lazy". At the end he drops the bomb announcing he is working on a TV project with David Eick, the Executive producer and writer for the Battlestar Galactica TV series! WooHoo!

Photosource: Gary Deocampo
"Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's THE FALL"

'THE FALL' BOOK TOUR DATES:

Wednesday, September 29

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
POWELL'S BOOKSTORE
Baghdad Theater 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214

Thursday, September 30

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
AMAZON

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
KIM RICKETTS BOOKS
325 Fifth Ave N Seattle Center Seattle, WA 98109

Saturday, October 02

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
BARNES & NOBLE
STE K 30 189 Grove Drive Los Angeles, CA 90036

Friday, October 08

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
CHELTENHAM LITERARY FESTIVAL

* Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact venue to confirm details.

Follow prolific multihyphenate Guillermo Del Toro's romp around the globe by joining the GDT Facebook Group.

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The Hobbit To Leave New Zealand?

2010-09-28T08:27:00.007-05:00

Hollywood executives have confirmed they are searching for a new location for The Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit in the wake of a dispute with New Zealand actors' unions.

All three previous The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in the country by director Peter Jackson. He will produce the prequel and has urged union executives to reconsider their planned boycott. Relocation would seriously harm New Zealand's entertainment industry.

The movie execs refuse to sign a deal with local unions amid allegations of "unfair treatment" of performers. Organisations in America, Canada and Britain have all backed the boycott.

Executives at the movie studios behind The Hobbit have now spoken out to condemn criticism of Jackson and his film crew, insisting they are "exploring all alternative options" to make sure filming goes ahead as planned.

The joint statement from New Line, Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) reads, "(We) are concerned by the recent allegations of unfair treatment of actors in New Zealand... we believe that in this case the allegations are baseless and unfair to Peter Jackson and his team in Wellington who have been tireless supporters of the New Zealand motion picture community.

"Motion picture production requires the certainty that a production can reasonably proceed without disruption and it is our general policy to avoid filming in locations where there is potential for workforce uncertainty or other forms of instability. As such, we are exploring all alternative options in order to protect our business interests."

The union dispute is the latest production delay drama to hit The Hobbit in recent months. The film is currently on hold due to ongoing financial problems at MGM. Director Guillermo Del Toro quit in May due to the lengthy delays.

Previous The Hobbit Coverage:

Guillermo del Toro Reveals the Reasons Behind 'The Hobbit' Delays

'The Hobbit' News: WETA's Richard Taylor on 3D Hobbit | Time-Warner Tops MGM Bids

Production on THE HOBBIT Pushed to Mid-Summer 2010

MGM on the Verge of Bankruptcy |'The Hobbit' & James Bond in Jeopardy

'THE HOBBIT' (Part I): MGM Studios CASTING information in New Zealand, LA and London

Production on THE HOBBIT Pushed to Mid-Summer 2010

Guillermo Del Toro's Monster Cameo Appearance in 'The Hobbit'

'The Hobbit' News: WETA's Richard Taylor on 3D Hobbit | Time-Warner Tops MGM Bids

Production on THE HOBBIT Pushed to Mid-Summer 2010

MGM on the Verge of Bankruptcy |'The Hobbit' & James Bond in Jeopardy

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President Bill Clinton Confirms He’s ‘Experimenting’ With Vegan Diet

2010-09-19T09:46:00.010-05:00

President Bill Clinton recently confirmed in an interview with journalist Willow Bay that he is indeed eating a mainly vegan diet. In the interview, the former president explains the reason behind his decision to go vegan.

“I’m trying to be one of those experimenters,” said Clinton. “Since 1986, several hundred people who have tried essentially a plant-based diet, not ingesting any cholesterol from any source, has seen their bodies start to heal themselves — break up the arterial blockage, break up the calcium deposits around the heart. 82 percent of the people who have done this have had this result, so I want to see if I can be one of them.”

Ecorazzi's source received exclusive information from a friend of Clinton regarding first-hand conversations with the former president about his vegan diet.

The source states Clinton decided to adopt the diet in the early part of May. While he does occasionally eat fish, the former president otherwise follows a strict vegan diet.

What made him go vegan? According to the source, Clinton has read many books on the topic, including books by T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Dean Ornish. Although losing weight was a benefit of the dietary change, the choice to go vegan was about more than just losing weight.

“I’ve never known him not to say what’s on his mind,” says the Ecorazzi source. “And he knows quite a bit and likely has a lot to say about the benefits of a vegan diet. He has read The China Study, and he knows the issues. With time, I think it’s likely he could become the most outspoken proponent of a complete vegan diet.”

Check out the interview below and hear the former president talk about the health benefits of a plant based diet.

"Getting away from dairy, anything with a mother (dairy), anything with a face (ie beef, chicken, fish). The major behavior that has to change is, interestingly enough, our food. " –Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn

WE Y YOU BILL!

Y Y Y

Source: Ecorazzi.com

Still Gagging from Gaga's Drop Dead Carcass Rag at 2010 MTV MVA's

2010-09-14T10:44:00.027-05:00

Lady Gaga, MTV's Video Music Awards 2010, "Video of the Year" recipient
Photo credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Ew . . . what's that smell?

As her final outfit at the MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga put some meat on her bones -- a Franc Fernandez dress (plus boots, hat, and purse) cut together from what appeared to be slabs of raw meat. The outfit echoed the controversial meat bikini she recently wore for the cover of Vogue Hommes Japan.

After the show, in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Gaga tried to explain that the dress was a political statement. Discussing how she'd been escorted to the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles by members of the U.S. military who had been discharged from the service due to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, Lady Gaga said: "It is a devastation to me that I know my fans who are gay ... feel like they have governmental oppression on them. That's actually why I wore the meat tonight."

Vegan DeGeneres, who speaks out on behalf of animal rights, pounced on the topic while keeping her distance from the dress. "It's certainly no disrespect to anyone that's vegan or vegetarian," Gaga responded. "As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the earth. It has many interpretations, but for me this evening, it's 'If we don't stand up for what we believe in, we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're gonna have as much rights as the meat on our bones."

AT the end of the interview DeGenerous presented Gaga with a kale bikini and grass skirt custom made for her. Maybe the next time she gets the urge to wear a garment fashioned from dead animal carcasses, she'll think twice.

Gesturing to the Japanese Vogue cover (above), she snarled and added, "And I am not a piece of meat." I hate to tell you this Gaga, but we are all made of meat -- no speciesism intended!

"I never thought I'd be asking Cher to hold my meat purse."

That was Lady Gaga's opening statement when she stepped onstage at MTV's Video Music Awards Sunday to receive her Video of the Year award from pop legend Cher.

The meat dress's designer, Franc Fernandez, has yet to issue any statements about his unusual gown -- or confirm whether it was truly made of actual meat -- but he retweeted Cher's compliment: "The way it was cut & fitted to her body was AMAZING ! Meat purse was genius ! As Art piece it was astonishing! No moral Judgement!" Fernandez, who has also dressed Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera, made the diamond headpiece Gaga wore in the video for "Bad Romance," which picked up seven of the singer's eight VMA wins last night.

PETA, was not a fan. The animal-rights advocacy organization quickly issued a statement condemning Gaga for her offbeat sartorial choice. "Meat is the decomposing flesh of a tormented animal who didn't want to die, and after a few hours under the TV lights, it would smell like the rotting flesh it is and likely be crawling in maggots -- not too attractive, really."

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Source:FrancoFernandez, Yahoo.com

'Priest' Official Trailer Released Online

2010-09-11T10:47:00.012-05:00

Paul Bettany and Josh Wingate © Screen Gems

Priest, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, is set in an alternate world -- one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church.

Lilly Collins and Paul Bettany © Screen Gems

When his niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on a quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece's boyfriend, a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.

Maggie Q © Screen Gems

Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, Lily Collins, Stephen Moyer, Mädchen Amick, Christopher Plummer, Brad Dourif, Casey Pieretti, Josh Wingate
Directed by: Scott Stewart
Release Date: May 13, 2011 (US), Worldwide
Official Site: www.priest-themovie.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PriestMovie

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Neill Blomkamp to Direct Hobbit movies -- Filming Begins Next Year

2010-09-10T23:00:00.005-05:00

TheOneRing.net reports Neill Blomkamp (District 9) will direct the two Hobbit movies based on J.R. R. Tolkien's books.

Martin Freeman is in negotiations with the studio to play the part of Bilbo.

Spyglass has filed a letter of intent to run MGM if a deal can be reached with MGM's creditors.

Filming of The Hobbit: PART 1 will begin next year.

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Oscar® Fans: Your Red Carpet Seats Await

2010-09-09T10:38:00.007-05:00

Oscar® fans will soon have a chance to vie for seats on the most coveted and glamorous spot on Hollywood Boulevard.

Beginning on Monday, September 13, at noon ET/9 a.m. PT, and continuing for only one week, fans from around world may apply online to take part in a random drawing for seats on the 83rd Academy Awards® red carpet.

There are only 700 seats available along the 500-foot-long walkway that leads into the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®. Those who are selected will watch and cheer Oscar nominees, presenters and other ceremony guests as they arrive at the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Following the red carpet arrivals, everyone seated in the bleachers will be invited to watch the Academy Awards telecast at a nearby location.

Red Carpet preparations showing bleacher seats at left. . .

The application form will be available at Oscars.org/bleachers. The online-only application process will close on Sunday, September 19, at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT.

To be eligible for the random drawing, an individual must complete the application form in its entirety. Applications may only be submitted online. Forms may not be returned via any other method.

Applicants may register for themselves and one guest. Duplicate registrations will not be accepted.

Those whose names are selected in the random drawing will be notified in late September. They will then be required to submit additional information for security purposes prior to final approval. Eligible attendees will receive a confirmation letter in early January with information pertinent to the event.

Only those individuals who have been pre-approved by the Academy will have access to the bleachers. Those who wait overnight to attempt admittance will not be granted entry.

The Academy will not be responsible for securing travel and/or hotel accommodations for bleacher fans.

In previous years, as many as 20,000 fans have applied online for the limited number of red carpet seats.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' Movie Trilogy & TV Series

2010-09-09T09:55:00.012-05:00

Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Televsion has acquired the rights to produce three films and an NBC series based on the seven novels, short stories and comic books from Stephen King’s The Dark Tower (2012). This massive undertaking comes from the Oscar-winning team behind A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code – Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Akiva Goldsman. Ron Howard will direct the first film and the first season of the TV show.

More than 30 million copies of The Dark Tower have been sold in 40 countries. After the series of seven books was completed, a prequel of comic books based on one of the characters was also published.

“I’ve been waiting for the right team to bring the characters and stories in these books to film and TV viewers around the world,” said King, in a statement. “Ron, Akiva, Brian along with Universal and NBC have a deep interest and passion for the The Dark Tower series and I know that will translate into an intriguing series of films and TV shows that respect the origins and the characters in The Dark Tower that fans have come to love.”

Howard told Deadline's Mike Fleming “The approach we’re taking also stands on its own, but it’s driven by the material. I love both, and like what’s going on in TV. With this story, if you dedicated to one medium or another, there’s the horrible risk of cheating material. The scope and scale call for a big screen budget. But if you committed only to films, you’d deny the audience the intimacy and nuance of some of these characters and a lot of cool twists and turns that make for jaw-dropping, compelling television. We’ve put some real time and deep thought into this, and a lot of conversations and analysis from a business standpoint, to get people to believe in this and take this leap with us. I hope audiences respond to it in a way that compels us to keep going after the first year or two of work. It’s fresh territory for me, as a filmmaker.”

The Dark Tower revolves around Roland Deschain, the last living member of a knightly order of gunslingers, and humanity’s last hope to save a civilization that will crumble unless he finds the Dark Tower. Howard and Goldsman describe the world as “an alternate Americana, one part post-apocalyptic, one part Sergio Leone.”

The plan is to start with the feature film, and then create a bridge to the second feature with a season of TV episodes. That means the feature cast—and the big star who’ll play Deschain—also has to appear in the TV series before returning to the second film. After that sequel is done, the TV series picks up again, this time focusing on Deschain as a young gunslinger. Those storylines will be informed by a prequel comic book series that King was heavily involved in plotting. The third film would pick up the mature Deshain as he completes his journey. The same sets could be utilized for cast and crew for the movie and TV, which could help contain costs on what will be a financially ambitious undertaking.

"We will certainly be looking to maximize both creative and fiscal opportunities by creating one enterprise that encompasses TV and movies," Goldsman said. "Some of the shooting will likely encompass both platforms, and that has never been done before. It's thrilling, we feel like kids in a candy story."

“The worlds of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series are richly detailed, inter-locking and deeply connected,” said Goldsman in a statement. “By telling this story across media platforms and over multiple hours—and with a view to telling it completely—we have our best chance of translating Roland’s quest to reach The Dark Tower onto screen. We are proceeding with tremendous excitement, fidelity to the source material and, quite frankly, no small amount of awe at this opportunity.”

Howard, Grazer and Goldsman will exec produce the TV series for Universal Media Studios. Kerry Foster will exec produce the first film for Weed Road, along with Imagine's Todd Hallowell and Erica Huggins.

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Source: Deadline.com

37th Annual Telluride Film Festival Releases Stellar Lineup

2010-09-02T21:20:00.036-05:00

Peter Weir, Danny Boyle, Mark Romanek and Errol Morris will be headlining this year's Telluride Film Festival, which kicks off tomorrow, Friday September 3rd and runs through Labor Day. The Telluride Film Festival is best known for its eclectic programming philosophy which keeps its film schedule secret until hours before the first screenings.

Attendees will have their choice of outdoor screenings, shorts programs, filmmaker panels and sneak peeks at some of the fall's new releases as the program unspools through Monday.

Unlike the Cannes and the Sundance Film Festival audiences, which are heavily composed of show-business types, or the Toronto International Film Festival, which has a more populist bent, Telluride is programmed by and for literate film geeks. Its attendees shell out $780 for passes year in and year out as an act of faith, having no idea what movies they will see after traveling thousands of miles to get there.

It's an intimate, high-altitude, real movie-lover's festival set in the lush box canyon in the western end of the San Juan Mountains -- at 13, 500 feet to be exact. The talent is not shuttling in an out of limousines like the pressure cooker of Toronto or Sundance. Stars are relaxed and at home in Telluride. Highlights of 2008 include chatting with actor Jeff Goldblum, director David Fincher, and scoring photo ops with Danny Boyle and Laura Linney at the Labor Day Picnic (below).

Director Danny Boyle & festival regular Terri "Cinephile" Atmore (right),
Telluride 2008

Telluride Film Festival regular actress Laura Linney, 2008

In recent years, Telluride patrons have been the first to see and embrace "Up in the Air," "Capote," "Brokeback Mountain," "The Last Station, "Lost in Translation," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "The Last King of Scotland" — and other gems.

Three years ago the audience reaction to Jason Reitman's "Juno" was so enthusiastic that Fox Searchlight promptly threw it on its holiday schedule, and "Juno" not only received four Oscar nominations (winning for original screenplay), but also grossed more than $143 million in domestic release. The studio's Telluride experience was just as good in 2008, where it premiered Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire." The movie went to win eight Academy Awards (including best picture), and grossed more than $141 million.

"Telluride is a unique film festival in that it is less dominated by industry insiders," says Steve Gilula, whose Fox Searchlight will have three movies in Telluride: 127 Hours, Boyle's account of how Aron Ralston (James Franco) was forced to cut off his hand after a hiking accident; Never Let Me Go, Romanek's adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian novel starring Carey Mulligan; and Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky's disturbing look at a ballerina (Natalie Portman) trying too hard to perfect "Swan Lake."

Boyle will officially be on hand to present a special Sunday morning screening of his 2005 film "Millions." It is widely expected that he will also sneak in his new film 127 Hours ahead of its Toronto screening. Fox Searchlight has a November theatrical release scheduled for the drama, which stars James Franco as a hiker trapped under a boulder in Utah for days.

The Way Back, © Exclusive Film

Six-time Academy Award nominee Peter Weir will be in town to receive one of the fest's special tributes, the Silver Medallion Award, which will highlight the career that produced "The Last Wave," "Witness," "Dead Poet's Society," "Fearless" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World." In addition to a special screening of his 1979 movie "The Plumber," the fest will screen his latest film, The Way Back, which features Ed Harris, Mark Strong and Colin Farrell as soldiers who escape a Siberian gulag in 1940 and walk all the way to India.

The other two Silver Medallion Award recipients include Claudia Cardinale and Colin Firth. The award recognizes an artist’s significant contribution to the world of cinema.

Italian film star Claudia Cardinale (8½, The Leopard, The Pink Panther) will receive the Silver Medallion followed by an onstage interview conducted by Hilton Als (Saturday) and Davia Nelson (Sunday). The program will include a screening of Valerio Zurlini’s Girl with a Suitcase (Italy, 1961).

Telluride audiences will be the first to see British actor Colin Firth’s performance in The King's Speech. The film will be preceded by a survey of Firth’s career (Pride and Prejudice, Girl with a Pearl Earring, A Single Man), the presentation of the Silver Medallion and an onstage interview with Davia Nelson (Sunday) and Todd McCarthy (Monday).

Alejandro González Iñárritu's 'Biutiful'
starring Javier Bardem to screen at Telluride

While Telluride is not known primarily as a sales festival, a handful of movies come to the festival without a domestic distributor and attract a deal in the days and weeks that follow — as was the case a year ago with the Leo Tolstoy drama "The Last Station." This year, the Telluride films looking for a home include Weir's prison escape drama "The Way Back," the animated musical "Chico and Rita," the Israeli-Palestinian documentary "Precious Life" and the inheritance drama "Incendies."

In keeping with Festival tradition, additional “Sneak Previews” are expected to surprise attendees over the weekend. Sneaks will be announced on the Telluride Film Festival webpage throughout the weekend.

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Source: TellurideFilmFestival

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses 'Junky Star' Hits Stores August 31st -- Hello Grammys!

2010-08-30T23:59:00.023-05:00

Oscar®-winning singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham's trademark voice is one stiff "Smokin' Americana" cocktail: one part each John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and Eddie Vedder -- shaken not stirred. His new album Junky Star produced by T Bone Burnett on Lost Highway Records hits stores August 31, 2010. Check out the killer single Depression (after the jump).
Great title song for a movie (directors -- give the album a spin).

This huge talent will clean up at the Grammy's BIG TIME -- mark my words! "The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®" will air live on the CBS Television Network on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 10 – 11 p.m. ET/PT, and set the stage for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards to be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles live on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011.

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses

Its been a winding road for Bingham. . .

Bingham talks about his early days on the road, and about writing and performing the Oscar nominated song, The Weary Kind for the soundtrack of the movie Crazy Heart.

Upcoming Tour Dates

SEPT 01 - Los Angeles, CA : The Grammy Museum (with Q&A and Autograph Signing)

SEPT 03 - Yosemite, CA : Strawberry Festival :

SEPT 05 - Denver, CO : Red Rocks Amphitheater (w/Willie Nelson) :

SEPT 06 - Park City, UT : Snow Park Amphitheater

SEPT 07 - Boise, ID : Botanical Gardens (w/Willie Nelson) :

SEPT 08 - Reno, NV : Knitting Factory (w/Willie Nelson) :

SEPT 10 - Laughlin, NV : Harrah's Fiesta :

SEPT 12 - Bakersfield, CA : B Ryder's

Official Site
Facebook Page

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62nd Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards Broadcast Sunday August 29th at 8PM ET | Nominees

2010-08-28T15:18:00.038-05:00

It is one of the biggest events in Hollywood, and coming up tomorrow Sunday (August 29) at 8:00 PM ET/ 5:00 PM PT. The 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be held at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and will feature Jimmy Fallon as this year’s host.

GREY GOOSE® Emmy®, is the signature cocktail of the 62nd Primetime Emmys Governors Ball. Watch how to make it for your Emmy Party guests and then settle in for a star-studded awards show evening!

Official 62nd Primetime Emmy ^® Awards At-Home Party Ballots

PDF download, 302kb

LIST OF MAJOR NOMINEES

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2000)

"Glee" (2009)

"Modern Family" (2009)

"Nurse Jackie" (2009)

"The Office" (2005)

"30 Rock" (2006)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

"Breaking Bad" (2008)

"Dexter" (2006)

"The Good Wife" (2009)

"Lost" (2004)

"Mad Men" (2007)

"True Blood" (2008)

OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE

Endgame (2009/I)

Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) (TV)

Moonshot (2009) (TV)

The Special Relationship (2010) (TV)

Temple Grandin (2010) (TV)

You Don't Know Jack (2010) (TV)

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES

"The Pacific" (2010)

"Return to Cranford" (2007)

OUSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock" (2006)

Steve Carell for "The Office" (2005)

Larry David for "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2000)

Matthew Morrison for "Glee" (2009)

Jim Parsons for "The Big Bang Theory" (2007)

Tony Shalhoub for "Monk" (2002)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Kyle Chandler for "Friday Night Lights" (2006)

Bryan Cranston for "Breaking Bad" (2008)

Matthew Fox for "Lost" (2004)

Michael C. Hall for "Dexter" (2006)

Jon Hamm for "Mad Men" (2007)

Hugh Laurie for "House M.D." (2004)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINSERIES OR MOVIE

Jeff Bridges for A Dog Year (2009)

Ian McKellen for "The Prisoner" (2009)

Al Pacino for You Don't Know Jack (2010) (TV)

Dennis Quaid for The Special Relationship (2010) (TV)

Michael Sheen for The Special Relationship (2010) (TV)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Toni Collette for "United States of Tara" (2009)

Edie Falco for "Nurse Jackie" (2009)

Tina Fey for "30 Rock" (2006)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus for "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (2006)

Lea Michele for "Glee" (2009)

Amy Poehler for "Parks and Recreation" (2009)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Connie Britton for "Friday Night Lights" (2006)

Glenn Close for "Damages" (2007)

Mariska Hargitay for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999)

January Jones for "Mad Men" (2007)

Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" (2009)

Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer" (2005)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Joan Allen for Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) (TV)

Claire Danes for Temple Grandin (2010) (TV)

Hope Davis for The Special Relationship (2010) (TV)

Judi Dench for "Return to Cranford" (2007)

Maggie Smith for Capturing Mary (2007) (TV)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ty Burrell for "Modern Family" (2009)

Chris Colfer for "Glee" (2009)

Jon Cryer for "Two and a Half Men" (2003)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson for "Modern Family" (2009)

Neil Patrick Harris for "How I Met Your Mother" (2005)

Eric Stonestreet for "Modern Family" (2009)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Andre Braugher for "Men of a Certain Age" (2009)

Michael Emerson for "Lost" (2004)

Terry O'Quinn for "Lost" (2004)

Aaron Paul for "Breaking Bad" (2008)

Martin Short for "Damages" (2007)

John Slattery for "Mad Men" (2007)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Michael Gambon for "Emma" (2009)

John Goodman for You Don't Know Jack (2010) (TV)

Jonathan Pryce for "Return to Cranford" (2007)

Patrick Stewart for Hamlet (2009) (TV)

David Strathairn for Temple Grandin (2010) (TV)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTTESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Julie Bowen for "Modern Family" (2009)

Jane Krakowski for "30 Rock" (2006)

Jane Lynch for "Glee" (2009)

Holland Taylor for "Two and a Half Men" (2003)

Sofía Vergara for "Modern Family" (2009)

Kristen Wiig for "Saturday Night Live" (1975)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Christine Baranski for "The Good Wife" (2009)

Rose Byrne for "Damages" (2007)

Sharon Gless for "Burn Notice" (2007)

Christina Hendricks for "Mad Men" (2007)

Elisabeth Moss for "Mad Men" (2007)

Archie Panjabi for "The Good Wife" (2009)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Kathy Bates for "Alice" (2009)

Catherine O'Hara for Temple Grandin (2010) (TV)

Julia Ormond for Temple Grandin (2010) (TV)

Susan Sarandon for You Don't Know Jack (2010) (TV)

Brenda Vaccaro for You Don't Know Jack (2010) (TV)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES

"The Colbert Report" (2005)

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (1996)

"Real Time with Bill Maher" (2003)

"Saturday Night Live" (1975)

"The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" (2009)

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION

"The Amazing Race" (2001)

"American Idol" (2002)

"Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I)

"Project Runway" (2005)

"Top Chef" (2006)

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY- COMPETITION PROGRAM

Jeff Probst for "Survivor" (2000) WINNER (previously announced)

Tom Bergeron for "Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I)

Phil Keoghan for "The Amazing Race" (2001)

Heidi Klum for "Project Runway" (2005)

Ryan Seacrest for "American Idol" (2002)

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM

"Food Revolution" (2010) WINNER (previously announced)

"Antiques Roadshow" (1997)

"Dirty Jobs" (2005)

"Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" (2005)

"MythBusters" (2003)

"Undercover Boss" (2010)

* * *

Christoph Waltz Rocks 'Paint it Black' Cover | First Set Stills from 'The Three Musketeers'

2010-08-28T09:13:00.034-05:00

Milla Jovovich and Christoph Waltz, 'The Three Musketeers' Photocall

Did you know the multi-talented Academy Award-winning actor Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds), a Vienna native, was once an opera singer? Watch him perform the classic opera Der Humpink on the BBC TWO Biography Special as seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live (below).

ARE YOU CRAZY IMPRESSED YET? IF THIS WASNT ENOUGH . . .

Waltz rocks it 'Roy Black-style' with his cover version of the Rolling Stones classic Paint it Black (below).

F**K! Did he kill it or what? My body is still reverberating from the MegaDoze of UberSweetness!!!

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers Photocall, August 20th, 2010 in Munich

Waltz is currently in Bamberg filming W.S. Paul Anderson's reboot of The Three Musketeers. He will portray Cardinal Richelieu alongside actors Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich, and Mads Mikkelsen. The action adventure also stars Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Juno Temple, and James Corden.

ComingSoon.net has received the first photos from the Bamberg, Germany set. You can check out Mads Mikkelsen as Rochefort, Logan Lerman as D'Artagnan and Anderson in the photos below. The Three Musketeers opens in 3D on April 15, 2011.

Additional links

Christoph Waltz, Milla Jovovich and Orlando Bloom in Munich Promoting ‘The Three Musketeers’

* * *

Guillermo del Toro's 'Julia's Eyes' Movie Trailer | TIFF 2010 Special Presentation

2010-08-26T12:14:00.026-05:00

Belén Rueda starred in the Guillermo del Toro produced film The Orphanage, which premiered at the Toronto Film Fest in 2007. Now Rueda is back in another GDT film: Julia’s Eyes, directed by Guillem Morales (The Uncertain Guest). Both films were shot by cinematographer Óscar Faura.

Julia’s Eyes will play as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival.

TIFF Synopsis
Julia, a woman suffering from a degenerative eye disease, finds her blind twin sister Sara hanged in the basement of her house. Julia decides to investigate what she feels is a murder case, entering a dark world that seems to hide a mysterious presence. As Julia begins to uncover the terrifying truth about her sister’s death, her sight deteriorates further, until a series of unexplained deaths and disappearances cross her path. The film stars Belen Rueda and Lluis Homar (Broken Embraces).

TIFF SCREENING TIMES
Sat Sep 11, 9:45 PM – SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2
Sun Sep 12, 12:30 PM – AMC 3
Sat Sep 18, 9:00 PM – ISABEL BADER THEATRE

Subtitled version of the trailer (new):

Spanish language version:

Juia's Eyes Official site [ES]
IMDB
Facebook
GDT fans Facebook Group

Actress Belen Rueda

Additional Links:
International Trailer & Stills From Guillermo Del Toro's ‘Julia’s Eyes’

Lensing Has Begun on the Guillermo del Toro Produced Thriller 'Julia's Eyes' (Los ojos de Julia)

Guillermo del Toro Boards Spanish Thriller 'Julia's Eyes'

* * *

Angelina Jolie Set To Write, Direct & Produce Bosnian War Love Story

2010-08-25T11:36:00.007-05:00

Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie is set to make her feature film directorial debut. A love story set during the Bosnian war in the early '90s, the film focuses on a Serbian man and a Bosnian woman who meet on the eve of the war and the effect the war has on their relationship. She is working on the flick with GK Films which was founded by Academy Award-winning producer Graham King in 2007.

Based on an original screenplay written by Jolie, the actors will be solely compromised of various ethnicities from the region of the former Yugoslavia.

Jolie will produce the film alongside GK Films’ Academy Award winning producer Graham King and King’s business partner Tim Headington.

Jolie will not be in the film, and filming is expected to take place this fall, with no locations being announced due to security concerns. The Goodwill Ambassador for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees frequently makes trips to the area, visited Sarajevo last weekend to discuss the refugee situation with some of the country's leaders.

"The film is a love story, not a political statement," Jolie said in a statement released by the UNHCR during her visit to the region last week. "I would like to involve as many local people as possible and learn as much as I can."

GK Films produced her upcoming Johnny Depp co-starring release, "The Tourist," set to hit theaters in December. She is also slated to star in Tim Burton's "Sleeping Beauty" as the film's evil queen, Maleficent, and will assume the title role in "Cleopatra."

* * *

Source: GK Films Blog, MTV

Guillermo Del Toro Boards Jovanka Vuckovic's Debut Short 'The Captured Bird'

2010-08-24T18:52:00.009-05:00

Former Rue Morgue editor-in-chief Jovanka Vuckovic is preparing to shoot her debut short film, The Captured Bird, Executive Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Oscar-winning director of Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy films franchise.

Vuckovic was recently named by the Horror Society as one of the top thirteen most important women in the history of horror, alongside Mary Shelley, Kathryn Bigelow and Vamipra.

"Jovanka's vision has been honed to perfection and combines true poetry with savage instinct," says del Toro. "[It's] lyrical and brutal. Just what the doctor ordered."

Adds Vuckovic, "Having Guillermo [del Toro] on board as Executive Producer is like a dream come true for a first time filmmaker. His well of inspiration is as limitless as his generosity. Plus, The Captured Bird is just too ambitious to make without his guidance. I'm very grateful to have him as part of the team."

Mike Elizalde's Oscar-nominated special make-up effects studio Spectral Motion (Hellboy II, X-Men: The Last Stand) will provide creature effects. Emmy Award-nominated visual effects supervisor Tammy Sutton (Avatar, Spider-Man 2) as well as filmmakers Douglas Buck (Sisters) and Karim Hussain (La belle bête), will be serving as editor and director of photography, respectively.

"The Captured Bird is inspired in part by a childhood nightmare, the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, the fables of the Brothers Grimm and the paranormal phenomenon referred to as The Shadow People," explains writer-director Vuckovic. "It's sort of a dark fable that I hope people will find haunting, poetic and beautiful."

The Captured Bird.com, a feature-packed website will track the development of the film with regular blog updates from Vuckovic. The site will also feature videos of the film's progress, including location scouts, production meetings, and interviews with well-known genre filmmakers about how to approach making your first movie. Filmmakers such as del Toro, George Romero (Night of the Living Dead), John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) and Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) provide input.

The website makes use of "crowdfunding." Fans and supporters can make a donation in any amount towards production, which to date has raised thirty per cent of its budget through Canadian broadcaster Bravo!, which has first-time Canadian broadcast rights. All funders will receive a thank you credit in the film and donors of a certain amount are given special rewards, some of which include an autographed copy of Jovanka's forthcoming coffee-table book on zombies or a Pan's Labyrinth script autographed by del Toro.

The Captured Bird is scheduled to shoot in the spring of 2011 for a film festival tour through 2012. It has already been accepted to the prestigious Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas and the Toronto After Dark Film Festival and several international festivals have also already shown interest.

For more information visit The Captured Bird

For the latest Guillermo del Toro breaking news join the GDT Facebook Group.

* * *

An Evening with Guillermo del Toro and 'The Fall' -- Event & Book Signing in San Francisco September 28th! Buy Tix Online

2010-08-21T09:54:00.008-05:00

Film fans, young filmmakers and vampire and horror novel fans alike won't want to miss this very special event with prolific multihyphenate multi award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro! The Fall, the second book in The Strain Trilogy book signing will follow a very special event at the Sundance Kabuki Theatre in San Francisco on September 28th.

A VIP ticket entitles you to a private pre-talk reception, at 6:30 PM, with Mr. Del Toro, including delicious food, a special bar drink, seat, and a copy of The Fall! Lucky you -- if you happen to be in San Francisco that day! Check it out ...

Date

From September 28, 2010 7:30 PM
Until September 28, 2010 9:00 PM

Location

Sundance Kabuki Theater
1881 Post Street at Fillmore
San Francisco, CA 94115

[map it!]

Price

$12.00 - $75.00

Info Line

415-863-8688

Website

http://www.booksmith.com

Contact

events@booksmith.com

Description

Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Guillermo del Toro made his feature directorial debut in 1993 with the film Cronos, and has since gone on to direct, among other films, Mimic, The Devil's Backbone, Blade II, Hellboy I, Hellboy II, and Pan's Labyrinth, which garnered enormous critical praise worldwide and won three Academy Awards. Del Toro has produced and written films numerous films. He is currently working on a remake of Frankenstein; it's been announced that James Cameron will produce Del Toro's 3-D At the Mountains of Madness, and that Del Toro will direct Disney's The Haunted Mansion.

With Chuck Hogan, Del Toro has become a novelist as well. Their first novel was The Strain, about which all that must be said is this:

They have always been here. Vampires. In secret and in darkness. Waiting. Now their time has come.

In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country.

In two months -- the world.

"I cannot wait to see where Del Toro and Hogan take us next." -- James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Doomsday Key

The wait is over! Guillermo Del Toro returns with The Fall -- the second blood-chilling volume in their critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling Strain Trilogy. The Fall picks up where The Strain left off -- with a vampiric infection spreading like wildfire across America as a small band of heroes struggles to save the dwindling human race from the vampire plague. Horror fiction and dark fantasy fans will be swept up in this epic story that bestselling author Nelson DeMille describes as "Bram Stoker meets Stephen King meets Michael Crichton."

In addition to his multiple screen ventures, Del Toro is, with Chuck Hogan, writing the third volume in The Strain trilogy.

Advance ticket purchase encouraged; tickets at the door may not be available.

General admission $12.

VIP ticket for private pre-talk reception, at 6:30 PM, with Mr. Del Toro, including delicious food, a special bar drink, seat, and a copy of The Fall $75. (21+ only)

NOTE: No one under 21 years old will be admitted.

Notes

General seating ($12 tickets) begins at 6:45 PM.

Reserved seating for VIP reception ticket holders ($75 tickets) begins promptly at 7:15

Buy tickets online now.

Pre-Order The Fall online now!

Join the Guillermo del Toro Facebook fans Group.

* * *

Christoph Waltz, Milla Jovovich and Orlando Bloom in Munich Promoting ‘The Three Musketeers’

2010-08-21T09:14:00.006-05:00

Shooting is about to begin on Paul W. S. Anderson's reboot of The Three Musketeers. Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich, Mads Mikkelsen and Christoph Waltz posed during a photocall (above) to promote the movie known in Germany as Die drei Musketiere on Friday, August 20th, 2010 in Munich.

Director Paul W.S. Anderson (hubby of Milla Jovovich) stated we can expect “a much sexier version” when his take of the French novelist Alexander Dumas’s adventure stories hit the big screen next September (2011).

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Credit: Denise Truscello; Photos: WireImage

Oh, and 33 year old actor Orlando Bloom and his new bride Miranda Kerr are expecting a baby.

Orly told the UKPA this morning that he already making plans to visit wife Miranda Kerr while he’s in Munich filming!

“I’ll go home as often as possible. I’m really excited about it, it’s great. She’ll come out here too,” Orly said.

More pictures from The Three Musketeers photocall at JustJared and AccidentalSexiness.

* * *

Naomi Watts and Sean Penn's 'Fair Game' Movie Trailer Released

2010-08-19T12:19:00.011-05:00

Naomi Watts (Valerie Plame) and Sean Penn (Joe Wilson) in Fair Game

Summit Entertainment has released the movie trailer for Doug Liman’s political drama Fair Game. The film stars Naomi Watts as real-life undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame and Sean Penn as her husband Joe Wilson.

The political story resulting from Plame’s identity leak is highly compelling. Check out the trailer after the jump.

Naomi Watts (Valerie Plame) in Fair Game

Official Synopsis
A suspense-filled glimpse into the dark corridors of political power, Fair Game is a riveting action-thriller based on the autobiography of real-life undercover CIA operative Valeria Plame (Naomi Watts), whose career was destroyed and marriage strained to its limits when her covert identity was exposed by a politically motivated press leak. As a covert officer in the CIA’s Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie’s husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and ignites a firestorm of controversy.

Fair Game opens on Friday, November 5th, 2010 (limited release).

Links:
Fair Game Official Site
Facebook
IMDB

* * *

Interviews with the 'Glorious' Christoph Waltz

2010-08-18T13:46:00.007-05:00

Christoph Waltz fans will enjoy watching two amazing interviews with the multi award-winning actor on the Charlie Rose show.

Actor Christoph Waltz for 'Inglourious Basterds'
Monday, February 15, 2010 (60 minutes)

Charlie Rose Greenroom with Christoph Waltz
March 1, 2010 (5:16 minutes)
Christoph talks about:
First Job
Advice
Career low and high points
Favorite films and actors
Childhood dream job
On acting

Enjoy!

Christoph Waltz as August Rosenbluth, on set of 'Water for Elephants'

Waltz recently wrapped his role as Chudnofsky in The Green Hornet, and August Rosenbluth in Water for Elephants. He is currently prepping for his role as Cardinal Richelieu in Paul W. S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers alongside Milla Jovovich (M'lady De Winter) and Orlando Bloom (Duke of Buckingham)

* * *

Ric and Lincoln O'Barry's 'Blood Dolphins' World Premiere on Animal Planet, Friday, August 27 at 11 PM

2010-08-16T11:34:00.014-05:00

Pro-dolphin activist Ric O'Barry (left) and filmmaker son Lincoln

Ric O'Barry, lead activist of the Oscar-winning film, The Cove - and his son, filmmaker are two men driven by a single passion.

In Blood Dolphins, a three-part series that premieres August 27, on Animal Planet at the special time of 11 PM ET/PT, former Flipper trainer Ric continues on his redemptive mission to save dolphins at the peril of man.

Blood Dolphins begins back at The Cove—the remote location in Taiji, Japan that is witness to an annual mass slaughter of dolphins. The pair, along with a small crew, discover that the brutal massacre portrayed in the Academy Award-winning film continues in spite of the success and international awareness of The Cove. Despite the many obstacles father and son encounter, they forge on, continuing their mission.

"Having a higher media profile is a tool," Ric said during the TV Guide show's Television Critics Assocation summer session. The drawback is that in Japan "I am a marked man." Ric said there are four major dolphin trade groups from which he has to stay away. "Two of my associates have been murdered," he said.

Still, Ric said, he'll continue the work of education. "In some ways, the Japanese people are victims because they don't have the information," Ric said. "But we're here to listen and learn... We're not cultural imperialists."

After leaving Japan, the team travels to the Solomon Islands—a small nation consisting of nearly 1,000 islands where dolphin dealing is legal and big business. The islands are the nerve center of dolphin slaughter and trade. Threatened by annual hunts, dolphins are slaughtered by the thousands. The O’Barry’s dangerous mission is to confront cultural, political and economic forces that affect the world's dolphins. They met with high hopes as they learn that a prominent dealer is thinking of leaving the business.

Dolphins are victimized by a highly lucrative (at times cutthroat) captive trade, where a "prime specimen" can rake in up to $200,000 for the dolphin entertainment industry. Either scenario is a sad fate for one of the most remarkable, intelligent and loved creatures on the planet.

“Dolphins are highly intelligent, self-aware, complex creatures that should swim free without the threat of slaughter or captivity,” says Ric O’Barry. “Dolphins’ primary sense is sonar sound, and living within small confines causes sensory deprivation and distress, while also extremely limiting their range of space. The most important thing I can do…that my son can do…is show the world through projects like ‘Blood Dolphins’ just how threatened dolphins are so we can all do something about it.”

Lincoln O'Barry in Blood Dolphins

The animals you see at theme parks are part of the problem, Lincoln said. Viewers who watch the show, "hopefully, they won't buy a ticket, and it will faze out."

"It's not conservation," Ric said. "Flipper was a blood dolphin."

Animal Planet’s Blood Dolphins premiers on Friday, August 27 at 11 p.m. ET/PT following the season finale of Whale Wars.

Watch Ric O’Barry and son Lincoln talk about Blood Dolphins on CNN.

* * *

Jazz Singer Abbey Lincoln who appeared in 'Nothing But a Man' and 'For Love of Ivy', Passes Away at 80

2010-08-15T10:16:00.013-05:00

Abbey Lincoln in The Girl Can't Help It

Abbey Lincoln, a legendary signature jazz singer, tersely poetic songwriter, and accomplished actress, died Saturday in Manhattan at age 80. She lived in the Upper West Side of New York. She had been declining in health for the past year. Her death was confirmed by friend and filmmaker Carol Friedman, who has been working on a documentary on Lincoln's life. Born Anna Marie Wooldridge in Chicago as the tenth of 12 children, Ms. Lincoln grew up on a farm in the small township of Calvin Center, Michigan. She has earned a place among the “greats” of jazz.

Her career encompassed outspoken civil rights advocacy in the 1960s and fearless introspection in more recent years. Lincoln made records and acted in films in the 1950s and '60s, then saw her career surge again in the 1990s when she found new voice as a songwriter. From her romantic lead in Michael Roemer's Nothing But A Man (1964) to the knowing cameo Spike Lee had her play in Mo' Better Blues the lady was fierce. She starred opposite Sidney Poitier in For Love of Ivy (1968).

Her biggest impact and best art was in the musical realm, from her vibrantly angry declamations on We Insist!, a 1960 collaboration led by her soon-to-be-husband Max Roach (they married in 1962, divorced in 1970), to the astonishing solo work of many years later. Abbey and Roach began collaborating quiet frequently during the end of the 1950s and throughout the 1960s. During this time, the Civil Rights movement was on the rise, and they, along with Charles Mingus, Oscar Brown, Jr., John Coltrane, and other jazz musicians, were right in the thick of it.

Her career renaissance was in the form of this amazing run of recordings (beginning with 1990's The World Is Falling Down), for which she assembled the most sensitive and wide-ranging groups of players and sang a mix of American songbook standards, jazz classics, and nakedly honest originals. Really an artist of genius. Listen to Lincoln's jazz profile on NPR.

When everything is finished in a world, the people go to look for what the artists leave. It's the only thing that we have really in this world -- is an ability to express ourselves and say, "I was here."

-- Abbey Lincoln

* * *

'Whale Wars' Stars & Cannes 'Biutiful' Best Actor Javier Bardem on Jay Leno Tonight! -- 'Biutiful' to Screen at 35th TIFF

2010-08-12T18:13:00.025-05:00

Sea Shepherd's Captain Paul Watson, star of Whale Wars getting ready for
the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Actor Javier Bardem in a scene from 'Biutiful'

Alejandro González Iñárritu's latest film Biutiful starring Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) will screen at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival.

This is the story of Uxbal (Javier Bardem). Devoted father. Tormented lover. Mystified son. Underground businessman. Friend of the disposed. Ghost seeker. Spiritual sensitive. A survivor at the invisible margins in today's Barcelona ... Uxbal's story is simple: just one of the complex realities that we all live in today.

Focus Features' Biutiful follows Uxbal a father with ties to illegal activity who is confronted by an old friend, now a policeman.

Bardem won the award for Best Actor at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for the role. Check out his stellar performance in the trailer after the jump.

Credits

Alejandro GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU - Director
Rodrigo PRIETO, ASC, AMC - Cinematography
Brigitte BROCH - Set Designer
Gustavo SANTOLALLA - Music
Stephen MIRRIONE - Film Editor

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu on set with actor Javier Bardem

Actors

Check out awards season buzz favorite Javier on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight, August 12th!

Captain Paul Watson (left) and Captain Pete Bethune (right)

Stick around to watch the amazing Sea Shepherd's Captain Paul Watson and Captain Pete Bethune from Whale Wars who are scheduled to appear right after Javier.

Captain Paul Watson has dedicated his entire life to saving and protecting wildlife in our oceans around the world, risking his life repeatedly in the battle over whaling. As founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, his supporters have followed him for decades. However, when his show "Whale Wars" hit the air on "Animal Planet" he became a national, if not controversial hero everywhere.

Check out this cool clip of Captain Paul Watson on the New Day Show after the jump.

* * *

James Cameron & James Stewart Discuss "3D" | Cameron Talks "Mountains of Madness", AVATAR & Sequels

2010-08-09T16:54:00.021-05:00

James Cameron (left), James Stewart of Geneva Film Co. (right)

WE ARE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE!

At this year's Banff World Television Festival most of the hype was focused on stereoscopic digital 3D. We were thrilled to learn about all the programming in the works for 3D mobile streaming devices (phones, iPad), television and film conversions. 3D is not dying -- it is here to stay!

Remember the line from Avatar "We are not in Kansas anymore"? Well, producer/director James Stewart said what James Cameron meant by that was we're going into stereoscopic 3D and we are not going back! 2010 had been called "The Year of 3D" by many people because 3D is digital and we have the technology to create perfect imagery throughout the process. It is very successful and will continue to be. Digital has changed everything. The process of filming Stereoscopic digital 3D is captured digitally, post-produced digitally and shown digitally.

Broadcasters in Canada and worldwide are launching 3D channels. From Avatar to iPhone, 3D is the future of digital media! James Stewart is president and founder of Geneva Film Co. and a leading authority in the emerging 3D universe, speaking alongside celebrated 3D authorities such as Jeffrey Katzenberg and James Cameron in Los Angeles, Sydney, Paris, London and Singapore. Watch Stewart's presentation from Banff TV 2010 (after the jump) about where 3D came from, how it works and why is it happening.

DOP Alan Lennox says the new portable equipment is democratizing 3D production as it is all digital and utilizes the existing infrastructure. Back in the old days, you had 2 giant IMAX or film cameras locked together in pairs. It was a big tangle. Now we're down to the same old steadicam, recording 2 bit 2K streams to a computer the size of an iPad. There are no wires or cables. The control is built in. "Its just regular equipment". See the 3DCC gear from 3D Camera Company in the demo video after the jump below.

CAMERON TALKS "AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS", AVATAR & SEQUELS

Avatar hits theaters August 27th exclusively on 3D screens with nine minutes of new, Pandora set footage. The new footage will include several new or extended scenes Cameron cut to keep the running time down to 162 minutes and introduce audiences to a new Pandoran creature, Sturmbeest, the object of a Na'vi hunt.

MTV reports Cameron is working on adapting his "scriptment" for Avatar into a novel.

As for Avatar 2 and 3, Cameron won't begin working on the screenplays until the deals with 20th Century Fox are locked in. Cameron is seriously considering filming Avatar 2 and 3 back-to-back for cost and logistical reasons.

MarketSaw recently did an in-depth audio interview with Cameron. The interview covers the Avatar Special Edition re-release on the 27th, Avatar 2 and 3, 3D post-conversion on Titanic, and producing Guillermo del Toro's upcoming adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness.

Here are just a few of the highlights from MarketSaw's interview:

* Cameron confirms he is producing Guillermo del Toro's At the Mountains of Madness. The movie will be shot in native 3D using next generation FUSION 3D cameras from Pace. The project came up only 2 or 3 weeks ago when when Cameron asked about if del Toro was still interested in it. As del Toro was ecstatic to do it, Cameron said "let's do it". They took it to Universal with both of them attached to the fast tracked project and now it looks like it will be going in the 2nd quarter of 2011.

* Cameron talks about 3D conversions. Titanic's conversion is taking 8 months to a year to complete.

* Cameron talks about Avatar 2's current status. He has an overall story arc for 2 and 3, but has some modifications for that after spending some time during the last few months with native tribes in the Amazon basin. The script is quite a way out yet for Avatar 2.

It is refreshing to hear it from Cameron, the man that really started it all for modern 3D in Hollywood. Give the cool MarketSaw audio interview with Cameron a listen!

Additional Links:
Guillermo del Toro's 'Mountains of Madness', 'Haunted Mansion' & 'The Fall' Book Tour Dates

Guillermo del Toro fans Facebook Group

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Christoph Waltz Leaps from Hornet to 'Villainous Lizard' -- Latest Spider-Man Reboot Rumor

2010-08-07T09:32:00.020-05:00

According to Production Weekly, Sony is currently looking at tapping Oscar®-winning thespian Christoph Waltz as the upcoming lead villain in Marc Webb's 3D reboot of Spider-Man which is currently in pre-production. The Playlist reports he would play The Lizard, which has been the rumored villain of choice since the film was originally announced.

Christoph Waltz as Chudnofsky in The Green Hornet
Photo: Jaimie Trueblood (2010 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.)

Having recently played the villain Chudnofsky in The Green Hornet, it is rather doubtful Waltz will sign on to play a villain in Spider-Man (been there, done that!). Waltz will probably take the meeting and pass on the project.

Christoph Waltz at Green Hornet Panel in 'Hall H', July 23, 2010

Perhaps a leisurely summer break is in order to recover from the insanity of SDCC 10 before hitting the set of Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers (2011) as Cardinal Richelieu.

Actor Andrew Garfield (right) with director Marc Webb
Photo: Sony, Casting PhotoCall

Andrew Garfield has been confirmed as the lead. The Untitled Spider-Man Reboot starts shooting in December and is scheduled to hit theatres On July 3, 2012.

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Source: Production Weekly, via The Playlist

Danny Boyle’s "127 Hours" Hits Theaters on November 5th and . . .TIFF?

2010-08-06T14:02:00.008-05:00

THR reports that Danny Boyle's follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire might make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 9 – 19th.

127 Hours is written by Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy. The film tells the story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), the mountain climber who had to amputate his own arm with a dull knife after a 2003 hiking accident. The film has two cinematographers and reportedly very little dialogue. James Franco, Clemence Poesy, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara and Lizzy Caplan star.

Synopsis

127 HOURS is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.

The Film Stage states that in telling the true story of a climber who is forced to amputate his arm after being trapped for five days, Boyle and James Franco certainly do a lot with a little. The cinematography by Boyle regular Anthony Dod Mantle and Enrique Chediak is beautiful and inventive. The score by Slumdog Millionaire composer A.R Rahman is strong as are a few well selected pop songs. The presence of supporting players is kept to a minimum as Franco aptly commandeers what is essentially a one man movie. The intensity of his situation is tempered by a good sense of humor, including a wonderful reference to Scorsese’s The King of Comedy.

Early screenings suggest the film will be a solid intense drama and a film that will shine come awards season.

Here's a video from the New York Times in which Aron Ralston recounts his ordeal:

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Source: TheMovieTrailer, Collider, THR, IMDB, Wikipedia,

Guillermo del Toro's 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' (2011) -- Teaser Trailer

2010-08-03T15:24:00.024-05:00

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark was one of the buzz films at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Word has it the R-rated teaser trailer scared and thrilled audiences in Hall H.

DBAOTD is based on the old TV-movie from the 1970s; is co-written and produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Troy Nixey.

Joined on stage by director Troy Nixey, del Toro unveiled a teaser for the film (see end of post). "What was that?!" yelled del Toro as the lights came up, exclaiming that he had just soiled his pants.

Official Synopsis

“Sally Hurst (Bailee Madison), a lonely, withdrawn child, has just arrived in Rhode Island to live with her father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) at the 19th-century mansion they are restoring. While exploring the sprawling estate, the young girl discovers a hidden basement, undisturbed since the strange disappearance of the mansion’s builder a century ago.

When Sally unwittingly lets loose a race of ancient, dark-dwelling creatures who conspire to drag her down into the mysterious house’s bottomless depths, she must convince Alex and Kim that it’s not a fantasy—before the evil lurking in the dark consumes them all.”

IGN.com reports the opening sequence from the film was screened for the Hall H crowd at SDCC. It's a prologue to the main story that takes place perhaps 150 years ago. We meet a young servant in the old house late one night. She's looking for her master, and heads down to the basement . She trips on the stairs and suddenly stumbled upon her now part-crazed employer. He pins the semi-conscious girl to the ground and aims a hammer and chisel at her mouth -- all toothless. The old man then smashes the girl's teeth out (offscreen...eeewwww). He goes about picking up the bloody things off the floor and collecting them in a plate, which he then places in a small access point in the wall. His child is trapped in that wall, and we can hear the boy's cries as he calls for his father. The old man is offering the teeth in exchange for the child to… whatever it is that took the boy. The sequence ends with the mostly unseen critters suddenly rushing the man and yanking him into the wall too as he screams in agony.

Whoa...WICKED! Deliciously EVIL! Can hardly wait until January!

Genre: Horror
Rating: R (for violence and terror)
U.S. Release Date: January 21, 2011
Cast: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison, Jack Thompson
Director: Troy Nixey
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Official Site

Previous Coverage

Miramax Plans to Release ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ Under a New Name

'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark' Director Troy Nixey's First Film 'Latchkey's Lament' [watch] & Happy Birthday to Guillermo del Toro !

Katie Holmes on the Set of 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'

Guillermo del Toro Facebook Group

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Source: IGN

Guillermo del Toro's 'Mountains of Madness', 'Haunted Mansion' & 'The Fall' Book Tour Dates

2010-08-02T16:07:00.004-05:00

Guillermo del Toro news and rumors are still flying since his recent visit to San Diego Comic Con.

At The Mountains of Madness

Since departing 'The Hobbit', Guillermo del Toro's next film has been the subject of many rumours. The most popular being that his next project will be At The Mountains Of Madness (2013), an adaptation of the HP Lovecraft tale that will be shot as a 3D film for Universal Pictures. The bonus surprise is that his good friend James Cameron will come aboard as a producer. A little known fact: Cameron helped del Toro out years ago when his father was kidnapped in Mexico.

GDT told the Comic Con crowd he'd set his next film shortly, and that it would be scary. At the Mountains of Madness fits that bill.

Set in the 1930s At The Mountains Of Madness reveals the existence of a remote frozen and ancient (non-human) city in the central wastes of Antarctica. Mankind's true origins are revealed (incidental 'playthings' created for amusement by the Great Old Ones). Many of the expedition members are killed, one (Danforth) driven incurably insane by the ancient knowledge and unpleasant events which overtake the expedition. The theme of 'forbidden knowledge' is echoed in the very opening lines of the story by the expedition's leader and survivor (Professor Dyer of the Miskatonic University): "I am forced into speech because men of science have refused to follow my advice without knowing why".

Those characters who attempt to make use of such knowledge are almost invariably doomed. Sometimes their work attracts the attention of malevolent beings; other times, evoking the spirit of Frankenstein, they are destroyed by monsters of their own creation.

The film will be a big ticket item, shot in 3D where Cameron's expertise can really help. Deadline.com reports the film will begin pre-production in the next few weeks, and shoot next summer.

Del Toro's company is making films like Frankenstein (2012) and the Kurt Vonnegut novel Slaughterhouse-Five at Universal. ATMOM was included in the multi-picture deal with Universal back in 2007. No official announcement has been made by Universal or del Toro.

In the meantime check out a cool "ATMOM fan faux trailer" after the jump.

The Haunted Mansion

At the Comic Con TRON panel del Toro announced that he (and writing partner Matthew Robbins) will be writing and producing a film called The Haunted Mansion (2012) inspired by the theme park ride.

The Hollywood Reporter's exclusive Q&A with del Toro revealed the following...

"It's going to be a thrill ride for the whole family but it's definitely going to be scary," GDT said. "(Walt) Disney is one of the creators of some of the scariest images in my childhood. People forget that he not only made sweet images but also images of nightmare. We need to honor that side of the legacy."

Disney envisions the new movie as one that will draw in the four-quadrant audience with real scares, drawing upon Del Toro's ability to summon up fantastic images like those he created in "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy."

"The result is a unique combination of dark and fun," said del Toro. "I want to really honor the two sensibilities."

'Hatbox Ghost' Designed by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily
Released in 2005

Specific plot details and creature characters are being guarded. However, one ghost that will appear is the Hatbox Ghost, who is dressed in a cloak and top hat, and whose head disappears and reappears in a hatbox the ghost holds in his hand.

"There are several mansions around the world and he is the spider in the center of the web of these mansions around the world," said del Toro. "He will be a pivotal figure in the screenplay."

Del Toro and Disney are anticipating a longer-than-usual development process. He wants to not only nail down a script but also the designs of the ghostly multitude.

He also wants to spend time creating a visually stylized world not just for the mansion but for the "real" world as well, mixing the ideas of the original concept drawing with his own visual signature. The last thing he wants is a mansion movie with a creaky musty tone.

"We want to make a haunted house movie for the 21st century," he said.

The Fall

Guillermo Del Toro's The Fall, the second book in The Strain Trilogy, launches in bookstores on September 21, 2010. Pre-order now.

He will be signing copies of The Fall at the following locations:

Tuesday, September 21

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
BLOOMBERG STUDIOS/Charlie Rose

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
THE NEW YORK TIMES/Times Talks
21st FL 620 Eighth AVE New York, NY 10036

Wednesday, September 22

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
BORDERS
10 Columbus Circle New York, NY 10019

Thursday, September 23

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
BRATTLE THEATER/Harvard Bookstore
40 Brattle St Harvard Square Cambridge, MA 02138

Friday, September 24

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
TATTERED COVER BOOK STORE
9315 Dorchester ST Highlands Ranch Town Center Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Monday, September 27

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
CBS-TV/Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Tuesday, September 28

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
GOOGLE
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Google - Building 42 Mountain View, CA 94043

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
BOOKSMITH/At the Kabuki Theater
601 Van Ness San Francisco, CA 94102

Wednesday, September 29

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
POWELL'S BOOKSTORE
Baghdad Theater 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214

Friday, October 01

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
AMAZON

Saturday, October 02

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
BARNES & NOBLE
STE K 30 189 Grove Drive Los Angeles, CA 90036

Friday, October 08

Guillermo Del Toro will be promoting The Fall
CHELTENHAM LITERARY FESTIVAL

Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact venue to confirm details.

For the latest Guillermo del Toro news join the GDT Facebook Group.

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Source: HollywoodReporter.com, Deadline.com, HarperCollins.com

'Inception' Opens in Theatres and IMAX® Today!

2010-07-16T11:06:00.019-05:00

Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in Inception, an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the best in the dangerous art of extraction: stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible--inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse; their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime.

But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a film by Christopher Nolan, Inception.

The film stars three-time Academy Award® nominee Leonardo DiCaprio ("Blood Diamond," "The Aviator"), Academy Award® nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai"), Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("500 Days of Summer"), Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose"), Academy Award® nominee Ellen Page ("Juno"), Tom Hardy ("RocknRolla," "Bronson"), Cillian Murphy ("Batman Begins"), Academy Award® nominee Tom Berenger ("Platoon"), Dileep Rao ("Avatar"), and two-time Oscar® winner Michael Caine ("Hannah and Her Sisters," "The Cider House Rules").

Inception was written and directed by Oscar® nominee Christopher Nolan ("Memento," "The Dark Knight"), who also produced the film with Emma Thomas. Chris Brigham and Thomas Tull served as executive producers, with Jordan Goldberg co-producing.

Nolan's behind-the-scenes collaborators included three-time Oscar®-nominated director of photography Wally Pfister ("The Dark Knight," "The Prestige," "Batman Begins"), production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas ("Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"), two-time Oscar®-nominated editor Lee Smith ("The Dark Knight," "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"), Oscar®-nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland ("Bullets Over Broadway," "Collateral"), and Oscar®-nominated special effects supervisor Chris Corbould ("The Dark Knight"). The music is by Academy Award®-winning composer Hans Zimmer ("The Dark Knight," "The Lion King").

Concurrently with the film's nationwide theatrical release, Inception: The IMAX Experience will be released in select IMAX® theatres. Inception will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology. With crystal clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and maximized field of view, IMAX provides the world's most immersive movie experience.

Inception has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of violence and action throughout.

In Theatres and IMAX® Friday, July 16th.

Watch the Inception Premiere & Live Performance with Hans Zimmer & Johnny Marr (after jump).

Official Site: www.inceptionmovie.com
Facebook
Inception: Mind Crime
IMBD

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Support the 'Humanitarian Lion' at Cannes

2010-07-10T15:37:00.015-05:00

Help convince the Cannes Lions Festival to create the Humanitarian Lion category. The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is the world's only truly global meeting place for professionals in the communications industry.

Spread the idea and support it on your site. Watch the videos after the jump.

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'The Sorcerer´s Apprentice' World Premiere & Red Carpet Presentation in NYC

2010-07-07T14:50:00.009-05:00

Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub present The Sorcerer’s Apprentice -- an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.

Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protege. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes The Sorceror's Apprentice.

WORLD PREMIERE TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010
New Amsterdam Theatre

A special red-carpet event was held in New York City recognizing July 6, 2010, as Sorcerer’s Apprentice Day.

Stars in attendance included: Nicolas Cage, Dave Stutler, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Omar Benson Miller, Gregory Woo, Jake Cherry, Peyton List, Jon Turteltaub (Director), Jerry Bruckheimer (Producer)

Special musical performances by OneRepublic and Alpha Rev in celebration of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Day. This "free" and open to the public concert event was held at Bryant Park after the screening.

FEATURETTE

In order of appearance:
Jerry Bruckheimer (producer)
Nicholas Cage "Balthazar Blake"
Jon Turtletaub (director)
Jay Baruchel "Dave Stutler"
Alfred Molina "Maxim Horvath"
Theresa Palmer "Becky"
George Marshall Ruge (Stunt Coordinator)

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is rated PG and magically materializes in theatres July 14, 2010.

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

IMDB

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Tilda Swinton and Udo Kier to Star in Ulrike Ottinger's 'The Blood Countess' [Die Blutgräfin]

2010-07-05T10:49:00.010-05:00

According to Director Ulrike Ottinger's website, Tilda Swinton (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Chronicles of Narnia) will be the latest actress to star as the psychotic (yet lovely) Countess Elizabeth (Erzsebeth) Bathory in The Blood Countess (Die Blutgrafin). She'll star alongside Isabelle Huppert, Udo Kier (Keyhole, Suspiria), Sophie Rois, Udo Samel, Irm Hermann, and Nicholas Ofczarek.

Elisabeth Bathory was a Hungarian countess whose legendary exploits as a serial murderer of young women in the 16th century have become a prominent figure in popular culture. Often considered the "female Dracula" for her practice of bathing in the blood of the young women she killed to preserve her youth, her story is set to hit the big screen again.

"Impatiently awaiting the arrival of her devoted maid Hermine, the countess Erzsébeth Báthory, also known as La Comtesse Sanglante, a tigress in human disguise, ascends into the open daylight. At breathtaking speed, the two women race through a Vienna of ghoulish beauty. This is a cracked journey to the roots of a myth that has lost nothing of its appeal: to the Vampyre Empire!"

Their entourage: Báthorys nephew Bubi, a vegetarian vampire who refuses to follow family traditions, his therapist, two wacky vampirologists, some members of the duelling fraternity "Vampiria", an all-female music ensemble, and many more.

"Wiener Blut", Viennese blood is shed by the buckets while the hearts of the present Habsburgians and Viennese beat high. Naturally, the showdown takes place at Vienna´s "Prater" - during a midnight supper on that fair´s famous Ferris wheel."

The inclusion of "whacky vampirologists" makes one wonder if the film will take a more comedic slant, or simply be some crazy experimental film.

Udo Kier is currently in Winnipeg filming Guy Maddin's latest ambitious feature film/webisode project titled Keyhole. Later this month he's off to Sweden to work on Melancholia, a film written and directed by Lars von Trier. The film deals with a variety of people trying to cope with the death of the planet. Plot details are being kept extremely quiet. Trier stated that there would be "no more happy endings! Also starring are Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgård and John Hurt.

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Source: UlrikeOttinger.com

The Legendary Udo Kier Celebrates Canada Day in 'My Winnipeg' with 'Keyhole' Cast

2010-07-03T00:41:00.036-05:00

Yours truly with legendary actor Udo Kier and Lorraine James (R)

Celebrating Canada Day at "The Esterhaus", July 1, 2010
Winnipeg, Canada

It's not everyday you get to celebrate Canada Day in my Winnipeg with the incomparable cult fav Udo Kier, star of such films as: Blood For Dracula, Flesh For Frankenstein, and My Own Private Idaho.

Jonathan and Danishka Esterhazy
"The Esterhaus", Winnipeg, Canada

I attended the annual Esterhaus Canada Day Party hosted by Winnipeg's coolest couple -- rising-star filmmaker Danishka Esterhazy (Black Field, Infectious, The Snow Queen) and web developer Jonathan Esterhazy.

Upon my arrival I spotted a rooftop patio filled with beautiful people and a very distinguished guest wearing a dapper red Canada Day bowler hat. OMG...it was the charming and ubercool Udo Kier! I was thrilled! I met the Palm Springs resident a couple of years ago at Helen Hunt's Then She Found Me Red Carpet Premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Kier is currently in Winnipeg playing the lead in beloved cult filmmaker Guy Maddin's latest film Keyhole which features a cast of old-school and new Maddin collaborators. After wrapping for the day, Kier and Montreal actor Louis Negin (My Winnipe g, Pontypool, The Saddest Music in the World) headed down to the exclusive (by invitation only) Esterhaus Par-tay which attracts a mix of artsy beautiful people -- local and international intellectuals, and creative types.

Actors Louis Negin (Montreal) and Lorraine James (Winnipeg)
"The Esterhaus", Winnipeg, Canada July 1, 2010

Actors, filmmakers, film crew, new media geeks and assorted arts types gather at the Esterhazys' trendy Artspace loft during the holidays -- to party, network and indulge in tasty vegan delights and trendy cocktails. Keyhole cast members Lorraine James (You Kill Me), Tyhr Trubiak (Faces in the Crowd; Fancy, Fancy Being Rich), the film's production manager Polly Washburn (Black Field), and filmmaker Aaron Floresco were spotted schmoozin' at rooftop and ground zero (hot tub) levels Thursday night. Danishka, is a former Maddin collaborator and worked as an associate producer on Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary.

Actor Tyhr Trubiak (Winnipeg)
"The Esterhaus", July 1, 2010
Winnipeg, Canada

With films like Brand Upon The Brain and Pages From A Virgin’s Diary (currently available on Netflix Watch Instantly), Guy Maddin has become one of today’s most globally recognized filmmakers with a huge following on both sides of the pond. Oh, and he's Telluride Film Festival's darling too. His last film, My Winnipeg, was one of his most beloved films.

It is a boom year for the local film and television industry here in Winnipeg. You can't walk far without bumping into a member of the film industry. Last week I ran into Maddin while he was picking up one of his cast members. He informed me that Keyhole would be his most ambitious project to date. He wasn't exaggerating!

After chatting at length with actors Kier and Negin I came to the quick conclusion that Maddin's project is an "epic event" and not a "feature film." Keyhole is an interactive choose-your-own adventure movie labyrinth. The feature length film is being shot concurrently with 120 short parallel "webisodes" which will be streamed online to pique interest. According to Negin, they are being shot on the same set and the same studio using some of the same actors.

"I'm remaking a lot of lost movies," Maddin told the Free Press. "All those directors from the first generation that straddled the silents and talkie period have one and sometimes 10 lost films," Maddin says.

"It's been haunting me my whole life and I figured the only way I'd ever get to see these things was if I just made my own versions of them," he says. "So a bunch of us are getting together and making, oh, about 1,028 lost films, some of them extremely short but some of them in the five- to 15-minute range.

The film also stars his long-time muse Isabella Rossellini, American actor Jason Patric (Speed 2, My Sister's Keeper) and Kids In The Hall alum Kevin McDonald.

Written by Maddin and his long-time collaborator George Toles, the screenplay is an Odyssian tale set within the confines of a house. Patric is Ulysses Pick, a gangster returning to his home after a long absence. Naturally, he is carrying a drowned girl, Denny, who has now come back to life and a bound-and-gagged hostage, who is actually his own teenage son. His odyssey is through his own house one room at a time until he arrives in the boudoir of his wife, Rossellini's Hyacinth.

"I've been haunted for years by dreams almost exclusively about architecture, buildings completely devoid of people. George and I figured out a way to make a film about the residents of a house that's every bit as much about the house itself, a movie in which setting and character are completely inseparable, ... each of these halves are in a constant state of haunting each other," Maddin told Playback Daily.

Asked how he came to cast Patric, Maddin said the two met at an Edward Hopper-esque diner in Illinois after a screening of James Foley's After Dark My Sweet. Both the film and the actor left a powerful impression on Maddin.

Maddin decided he would one day create a role for Patric. He added, "Given the right role, this guy can carry a movie, and its crew and all the picture vehicles and trailers behind him. Just harness him up and let him haul!"

The $1.2 million film is executive produced by Phyllis Laing of Buffalo Gal Pictures (Amreeka, The Stone Angel, The Saddest Music in the World) and distributed in Canada by E1 Entertainment. The project reunites Maddin with producer Jody Shapiro (My Winnipeg, Brand Upon the Brain).

If you happen to be visiting my Winnipeg this afternoon, Saturday July 3rd, be on the lookout for Udo Kier and Louis Negin. They'll be taking in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Winnipeg. You may spot the duo near the Government House, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Scotia Bank Stage at The Forks where Her Majesty will deliver an address at the 'Manitoba Homecoming 2010 Concert for Human Rights' celebrating Manitoba's ethnocultural diversity and Her Majesty's visit.

Happy Canada Day and 4th of July! Have a fun and safe long weekend!

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Source: WinnipegFreePress, PlaybackDaily

Virgin Celebrates New California-Toronto Route | Cheeky 'Toronto Provocateur' Contest

2010-07-01T12:06:00.055-05:00

Sir Richard Branson poses with members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
in front of 'Air Drake' to celebrate Virgin America's first international flight to Toronto
at Toronto Pearson International Airport on June 29, 2010. Getty Images

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Virgin America is now offering daily flights from Toronto to California’s west coast. The flights on the airline (a brainchild of British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, though mostly owned by Americans) began June 23, departing from Pearson and making stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“Toronto is one of the largest cities in North America and a world-class travel destination with strong ties to California—most notably in the entertainment and high-tech sectors,” Virgin America president and CEO David Cush said Tuesday.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), Virgin Group Founder
Richard Branson (C), and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson
celebrate Virgin America's first International destination to Toronto.
Announce airline's next new locations, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
SFO, June 29, 2010.

On Tuesday, Branson hopped on a Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Toronto, the first international destination to be added by the San Francisco-based airline. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom turned out to give kudos for bringing more jobs to the state, according to media reports.

Richard Branson, left, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
at San Francisco International Airport where a celebratory Virgin America flight
to Toronto took off, Tuesday June 29, 2010.
Photo credit: PRNewsFoto / Virgin America

Sir Richard Branson (L) and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the
main cabin of Virgin America's first international flight to Toronto
on June 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images

Virgin America brings some sweet flying perks to the table, including mood-lit cabins, Wi-Fi, in-seat power outlets and personal touch-screen entertainment systems. The airline’s Red™ touch-screen entertainment platform offers 25 films, live TV, Google Maps, music videos, videogames, and an on-demand menu that allows guests to order what they want, when they want it. Virgin America offers standard power outlets at every seat. In May 2009, Virgin America became the first airline to offer in-flight WiFi service on every flight.

Virgin America guests are among the first in the world to have the ability to offset their own flight footprint as they fly.

Sir Richard Branson shows Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger how travellers can
offset their carbon footprint on Virgin America flights right from their seat.
In-flight in Los Angeles, CA, June 29, 2010.

Airfares for the new route from Los Angeles start at $187 each way, based on a seven-day advance purchase. The introductory pricing is good for travel Tuesdays through Thursdays from July 6 to Nov. 17, but you must book by 11:59 p.m. PDT July 6.

Since its launch in August 2007, Virgin America has won a list of industry best-in-class awards for its topnotch service and fun, tech-savvy amenities. Virgin America offers more than 100 flights a day with service to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Orange County and Fort Lauderdale. The airline currently offers daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO, SFO to SNA and LAX to FLL and SFO to FLL.

Fabulous fares to fly by! Let the airline price competitions begin!

Actor Eric Roberts (L) attends the launch of Virgin America's first international
destination to Toronto at the Thompson Hotel on June 29, 2010 in Toronto.

VIRGIN AMERICA
'TORONTO PROVOCATEUR' CONTEST

Seeking one cheeky rabble-rouser with requisite skills to lead the charge and ensure Toronto is riled and ready to rock the world's loudest and sexiest airline. Be among the first to submit your video and show us why you deserve to be the Virgin America Toronto Provocateur. Who knows? You might WIN IT ALL, including free flights for a year on Virgin America. The search is on.

Your challenge is to create a video that proves you have the creativity, talent and vision to hold the coveted position of Toronto Provocateur. As Virgin America’s brand ambassador, you’ll be charged with spreading the Virgin gospel to let the great city of Toronto know how we deliver a travel experience unlike any other. You'll be given the proverbial soapbox to stand on and some helpful communication tools, but how you showcase yourself and the Virgin America message to the entire city will be largely up to you and your creativity. Our only requirements are that you love flying, entertaining and generally raising a little hell. Because, just like Virgin America itself, they want you to stir things up. And make some noise.

The Promotion ends on August 31, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PT (the "Promotion Period"). See Official Contest Rules for more details.

Good luck!

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Source: VirginAmericaProvocateur, LATimes.com, DayLife.com

Virgin America Goes to the Dogs in 'Operation Chihuahua'

2010-06-30T14:26:00.000-05:00

Virgin America crew welcomes Maximus, one of fifteen Chihuahua pups
flown to New York so they can be adopted into loving homes. Jan. 6, 2010 at SFO

VIRGIN AMERICA GOES TO THE DOGS

in 'Operation Chihuahua'

Too much time is spend covering negative news stories when really, we should give recognition to and applaud those positive heart-warming stories that surface from time-to-time. Okay. . . this may be old news for some but a must read for animal-lovers everywhere!

The overpopulation of Chihuahuas in California has forced the San Francisco Animal Care and Control to look to the ASPCA on the East Coast for help. Virgin America volunteered to fly the pups in Operation Chihuahua airlift and tracked their cross-country journey via in-flight WiFi.

“We’re pleased to help San Francisco Animal Care and Control fly these little guys out to the East Coast so they can be placed in adoptive homes,” said Ross Bonanno, Vice President of Airports and Guest Services at Virgin America. “As the only airline headquartered here in San Francisco, we take a great interest in our community – and many of our teammates and guests are dog lovers, so of course, we just had to do this.”

Virgin America pilots welcome Rebecca Katz of San Francisco's
Animal Care and Control (SF ACC) & Chihuahua pups being flown to New York.

Virgin America sent the dogs off in high-style with a red carpet departure from a San Francisco International Airport gate, complete with champagne cocktail “Chi-mosas” and cupcakes for flight guests and doggie treats and toys for the Chihuahuas. While onboard, the dogs were treated to a glimpse of the service named the best in America in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards. Virgin America offers guests and Chihuahuas alike a unique flying experience, complete with mood-lit cabins, touch-screen entertainment and Gogo® In-flight Internet on every flight. Dog-lovers got to find out what the Chihuahuas were up while in-flight by visiting Virgin America's Facebook Page which featured videos and photos posted from 35,000 feet via in-flight WiFi between 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET.

“We are glad to be given this opportunity to help meet demand for these dogs in New York and at the same time help find loving homes for San Francisco’s homeless animals,” said Gail Buchwald, Senior Vice President of the ASPCA Adoption Center. The public can learn more about the Chihuahuas by visiting ASPCA or calling 212-876-7700 ext 3210.”

Since its launch in August 2007, Virgin America has won a list of industry best-in-class awards for its topnotch service and fun, tech-savvy amenities. Virgin America offers more than 100 flights a day with service to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Orange County and Fort Lauderdale. The airline currently offers daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO, SFO to SNA and LAX to FLL and SFO to FLL.

Fabulous fares to fly by!

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Source: Virgin.com ,

'Darling Spuds' North American Launch at Starbucks Today | Queen Elizabeth II on Tour Across Canada

2010-06-29T14:47:00.071-05:00

Darling Spuds are hand-cooked creations from UK crisp connoisseur
co-founders Dave & Judy Willis at Salty Dog Brands Ltd

Darling Spuds have been invited to North America by Starbucks! Salty Dog Brands Ltd co-founder Dave Willi s emailed me with the stellar news this morning. Today is the official Starbucks launch day in US and Canada for the lovingly hand-cooked, high class vegetarian friendly/gluten free option at the posh end of the crisp market. Regal crisps fit for a Queen!

THE DARLING HISTORY

It was towards the back end of the C16th that Devon’s most dashing buccaneer, explorer, poet and royal favourite, Sir Walter Raleigh, returned to England’s shores and wowed Queen Elizabeth I and her entourage with a big sack of spuds, the ‘hot’ staple crop from South America (papas criollas) that was taking North American taste buds by storm.

How curious therefore, that some four hundred years later in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckinghamshire-based barge farers, Judy and David Willis have introduced their beloved Darling Spuds crisps (in exclusive to Starbucks packs) to the fine snacking fixture of some 5,700 Starbucks stores throughout North America today.

It would seem that Seattle’s favourite fine coffee virtuoso fell in love with Darling Spud’s good looks and simple, ‘Make the potato the hero’ philosophy. Intrigued by the brand’s unashamedly quirky English personality, they applauded the family business’s premium, hand-cooked positioning that champions discerning, vegetarian-friendly flavours that are all-natural and gluten-free.

According to co-founder Judy Willis, ‘Although it’s too early to say whether this is yet another example of the ‘special relationship’ that exists between our two nations, it’s really rather nice that our distinctly delicious brand of crisps now has the opportunity to return to its roots.’

Darling Spuds
6 Dashing Flavours

Crushed Natural Sea Salt

Sea Salt & Modena Balsamic Vinegar

West Country Cheddar, Leek & Pink Peppercorns

Fire Roasted Jalapeno Peppers

Sour Cream with a hint of Mexican Chili

&

Sun Ripened Tomato, Green Olive & Oregano (NEW)
(Mediterranean sun-ripened tomato, green olive and oregano flavour)

As in the UK, North American Crisp connoisseurs will enjoy Darling Spuds in 40g (1.41oz) bags.

Darling Spud’s US offering will be produced in Phoenix as part of a very deliberate strategy to keep the company’s carbon footprint to a minimum

In the first instance Starbucks will embrace the Sea Salt and Sour Cream with a hint of Mexican Chili variants in Starbucks branded bags although Darling Spuds intend launching their full portfolio state side in 2010.

As a bastion of magnificent premium British snackery, Darling Spuds also flourishes abroad, especially in Spain, Mexico, Poland, Japan and North America.

In the UK Darling Spuds is stocked in Fenwicks, Budgens, Massarella’s, Puccinos, Harrods, Thorntons Cafes, Wholefoods and a nationwide network of discerning delis, classy hotels, thoughtful independents and top-notch gastro pubs.

Darling Spuds is a leading branded light within the ‘Free From’ fraternity, providing a high class vegetarian friendly/gluten free option at the posh end of the crisp fixture

Darling Spuds is a proud ‘independent only’ offering which helps the brand distinguish itself further from those brands willing to gatecrash the major multiples snacking fixture.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II ARRIVES IN CANADA

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Montreal)

"The 'Crisp' Connection" . . . Darling Spuds hit North American Starbucks locations today, just in time for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Canada.

"It is very good to be home," the queen told hundreds of Canadians standing in blustery rain in hopes of catching a glimpse of Canada's titular head of state, according to Yahoo News.

Her Majesty is currently on a cross Canada tour and will be visiting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg on Saturday, July 3rd to present it with a stone from Runnymede, UK, the birthplace of the Magna Carta.

"Stellar 'Crisps' fit for a Queen". . . We hope Her Majesty has some Darling Spuds tucked away in her handbag to snack on during those long flights and limousine rides on the 9-Day Royal Canadian Tour.

Official Sites
Salty Dog: www.saltydog-grrr.com
Darling Spuds: www.darlingspuds.co.uk

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Guillermo Del Toro's Update From the Saturn Awards | Win a Trip to Meet GDT

2010-06-26T08:01:00.034-05:00

Guillermo del Toro at the 36th Annual Saturn Awards.
He'll be "shopping"the SDCC floor all 3 days!

Guillermo del Toro updated Collider on all projects including Hellboy III, Death: The High Cost of Living, Frankenstein and at the Mountains of Madness while backstage at the 36th Annual Saturn Awards.

The 20 minute video interview with GDT reveals the following highlights:

Frankenstein is still in the works and Doug Jones will play the monster. Sculpting is done and testing will be done with Doug soon.

Hellboy III will only happen after his next project.

Doesn't reveal what his next project is but says he wants to make something a bit smaller this time. He has narrowed his list of projects to 3 and they all have scripts much further along. The script he really wants to do he started 15 years ago!

He said that leaving The Hobbit was "the hardest decision he has made", and when asked if MGM sorted out their troubles, would it be a possibility he would get back on board, he said "it hurts me to even speculate".

A Death: The High Cost of Living movie still very much holds his interest, but both he and the other potential producers are convinced that the only director should be Neil Gaimen.

He'll be promoting Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark at Comic Con where he will be announcing a project he will be writing, producing and maybe directing. He'll be at San Diego Comic-Con for 3 days to do some "shopping" for his man cave (his second home).

He says that since he has come home from New Zealand, he has been approached to direct a lot of projects by various studios. He doesn't say anything specific, but reveals that there is "a lot of neat stuff cooking", and a lot of the films would be "geekgasms for everyone".

Talks Splice.

Says his brother is making for him the car from the movie The Car (1977) starring James Brolin! He’ll be driving around Los Angeles in 3 months in it. Love it! Director Sean McConville's (Deadline) latest supernatural film is by the same name, The Car. Ryan Davies is haunted by a ghost chick who convinces him to hunt down and kill her abductors while restoring his Pontiac Gto Le Manns.

Watch the hilarious interview with GDT below after the jump to discover more cool details.

Guillermo del Toro Talks THE HOBBIT, HELLBOY 3, FRANKENSTEIN, AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, SATURN AND THE END OF DAYS from ColliderVideos on Vimeo.

Win a Grand Prize Trip to Meet Guillermo del Toro in Los Angeles!

Enter online today at Fandango.com

GRAND PRIZE:

* Round-trip airfare for 2 to Los Angeles

* A 3 night hotel stay

* A meet and greet with Guillermo Del Toro

3 RUNNER-UP PRIZES:

* 1 copy of each of the 3 novels in The Strain Trilogy, signed by both authors, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan.

*No purchase necessary. See official rules for details, including how to enter by mail without making a purchase.

Fandango’s “Meet Guillermo Del Toro” Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the forty-nine (49) United States or the District of Columbia (void in Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and all overseas military installations) who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or older as of June 11, 2010.

Good luck!

For all the latest news on Guillermo del Toro join the GDT Facebook Fan Page.

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'Never Let Me Go' is Already Generating Oscar Buzz | Trailer Online Now

2010-06-25T09:29:00.002-05:00

Never Let Me Go is a science fiction movie for adults! The film was generating Oscar buzz before the trailer was even released.

In his highly acclaimed novel Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (Remains of the Day) created a remarkable story of love, loss and hidden truths. In it he posed the fundamental question: What makes us human? Now director Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo), writer Alex Garland and DNA Films bring Ishiguro's hauntingly poignant and emotional story to the screen.

Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) live in a world and a time that feel familiar to us, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. When they leave the shelter of the school and the terrible truth of their fate is revealed to them, they must also confront the deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to pull them apart.

Never Let Me Go opens in limited release in the U.S. on October 1. No Canadian or U.K. release dates have been announced.

* * *

IMDB

'The Green Hornet' - Starring Christoph Waltz & Seth Rogan: First Trailer & Images

2010-06-22T10:33:00.012-05:00

The first theatric trailer and images have just been released for Sony Pictures' The Green Hornet starring Seth Rogen, Christoph Waltz, Jay Chou, and Cameron Diaz. Waltz plays the lead villain.

SYNOPSIS
Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA’s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene – until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father’s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves – protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets.

Using all his ingenuity and skill, Kato builds the ultimate in advanced retro weaponry, The Black Beauty, an indestructible car equal parts firepower and horsepower. Rolling in a mobile fortress on wheels and striking the bad guys with Kato’s clever gadgets, The Green Hornet and Kato quickly start making a name for themselves, and with the help of Britt’s new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), they begin hunting down the man who controls LA’s gritty underworld: Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). But Chudnofsky has plans of his own: to swat down The Green Hornet once and for all.

The movie is scheduled to hit 3D and 2D theaters on January 14th, 2011.

See the trailer below after the jump.

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Become a Fan on Facebook
'The Green Hornet' on IMDB

Christoph Waltz to Team Up with Guillermo del Toro in 'Wizard of Oz' Remake? Van Helsing?

2010-06-21T11:20:00.011-05:00

Christoph Waltz and Guillermo del Toro are two of the hottest names in entertainment today.

Are these two huge talents teaming up on a project? Totally believable! A Wizard of Oz remake Guillermo del Toro style starring Christoph Waltz? Sound believable? Hmmm. So then just what might that project be? Maybe we'll find out at this year's San Diego Comic Con, July 21-25.

Christoph Waltz portrays August Rosenbluth
in 'Water for Elephants'
Photo Credit: Bauer Griffin

Waltz in currently in Filmore filming Water for Elephants. He portrays a cruel circus animal trainer for The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. He then moves onto his role as Cardinal Richelieu in Paul Anderson's remake of The Three Musketeers which is currently in pre-production.

Multihyphenate Guillermo del Toro recently quit The Hobbit which is stuck in development hell indefinitely. According to internet sources he is rumoured to be attached to many projects including a remake of the Wizard of Oz, a very dark version.

The latest internet rumour, first reported by Pajiba.com, is that he will write and produce a Van Helsing project.

Universal Pictures is developing another Van Helsing movie. Van Helsing is a 2004 American action horror film about vigilante monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing, written, produced, and directed by Stephen Sommers. The film stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. The film opened on May 7, 2004.

The titular character was inspired by Abraham Van Helsing from Irish author Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Distributed by Universal Pictures, the film includes a number of monsters such as Count Dracula and the Frankenstein's monster in a way similar to the multi-monster movies that Universal produced in the 1940s, such as Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and House of Dracula.

Del Toro's project is not a remake. It’s simply based upon the same fictional vampire hunter character from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a great character who was, by all accounts, given an unfair shake in Stephen Sommers’ awful 2004 Van Helsing movie.

The movie, which is being developed at del Toro productions, will be based on a forthcoming treatment written by Guillermo del Toro himself, which is being described as an “action horror story.”

Read Guillermo's official statement (below) from DelToroFilms.com

"Van Helsing (writing and producing) is still in talks and not quite certain. Even then, I would like to share my plans only at COMICON. I am taking it slowly and marking very, very carefully the calendar of projects that I will be involved as producer, writer, etc I will not announce the project I intend to direct until then . I am very happy to say that all the projects and partnerships being considered are both quite surprising and, I hope, powerful. Much as I want, I cannot say much more at this time but I anxiously await to share these with you. I will be shopping on the floor in San DIego for several days. See you there!!"

Don't expect to hear anything for certain about Guillermo's next project until the San Diego Comic Con, July 21-25.

Any collobaration between Guillermo del Toro and Christoph Waltz would be UberStellar! You heard it here first on Schmoozequeen.TV!

Christoph is "Feeling Blue" . . . until the news hits! Check out the video after the jump.

Christoph Waltz is Feeling Blue - The funniest bloopers are right here

* * *

Banff World TV to Award 'The Cove' Director Louis Psihoyos with Green Grand Prize Award

2010-06-10T08:07:00.016-05:00

Director Louis Psihoyos, The Cove

The Banff World Television Festival announced the recipients in three special achievement categories being awarded at the Alberta Film Awards Lunch on June 14, The Green Grand Prize to Oscar Winner and director of The Cove, Louie Psihoyos, The Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer will be presented to Temple Street Productions, and the Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award to Panavision.

“It gives us great pleasure to recognize such outstanding talent at this year’s awards. Each recipient has shown exceptional creative edge and insight in their respective categories.” says Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival.
More about the award recipients:

Green Grand prize award is being given to Louis Psihoyos, Oscar Winner and director of The Cove. The prize recognizes outstanding achievement in creating public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through the use of visual media. Psihoyos was selected as a result of nominations received from all around the world, honoring his tremendous impact on a global level. Dr. David Suzuki, president of the Banff Green Jury, will present the award to Mr. Psihoyos.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized not only for our documentary The Cove but also for my nonprofit’s ongoing commitment to exploring all of the critical issues facing our oceans worldwide,” said Louie Psihoyos, Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS). “We are fortunate to have a group of passionate supporters at the grassroots level, and given the mainstream popularity of “The Cove” we were also given the unique opportunity to testify at a Congressional Subcommittee hearing, bringing with it the potential to affect top-down policy change as well. We look forward to continuing our mission of inspiring people to save the oceans."

Temple Street Productions is being honoured with the Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award for its incredible achievement in television and digital media. This award recognizes the entrepreneurial excellence and achievements of an independent producer within the Canadian television industry. Temple Street are proven industry leaders, having produced an array of programming including prime-time television dramas and reality television, Projects include Being Erica (CBC), Wingin It (Family Channel)Canada’s Next Top Model (CTV) .

"Temple Street Productions truly embodies the spirit in which we created this award,” says Lionsgate President of Television, Kevin Beggs. "Since its inception, David and Ivan have used innovative means to grow their company, creating partnerships and collaborations at every turn."

Maple Pictures Co-President Brad Pelman adds, "Temple Street is respected by its peers and customers and we are pleased to present them this accolade this year."

Panavision, an innovator in the research and development of film, is the recipient of this year’s Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. Celebrating over 50 years of enabling clients to bring their creative vision to the screen, Panavision is an international supplier, designer, and manufacturer of high precision film and digital camera systems for the motion picture and television industries.

"It is a great accomplishment for Panavision to be recognized and appreciated in Canada by our industry and peers, including leaders like Deluxe, for our ongoing efforts as we strive to enhance our products and client service experience through innovation, technology and the hard work of our extremely knowledgeable staff,” says Bill Zacharuk, president, Panavision.

* * *

Source: ItNewsLink.com

Christoph 'August' Waltz on the Set of 'Water for Elephants'

2010-06-09T10:26:00.008-05:00

Christoph Waltz portrays August Rosenbluth
in 'Water for Elephants'
Photo Credit: Bauer Griffin

Austrian star Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz has joined Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon on the set of the dramatic film Water for Elephants in Los Angeles, California on Monday, June 7th, 2010.

Waltz is tackling the character named August Rosenbluth, husband to Witherspoon's character Marlena. He is also the head animal trainer and is known in the historical novel the film is based on.

The film, which began shooting in Los Angeles on May 22, also stars Hal Holbrook. The story follows Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) a veterinary student who abandons school and joins a traveling circus called The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth after his parents are killed.

More photos of Waltz can be seen at WFE.

* * *

Source: WaterForElephants.com