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Box Office
Weekend Estimate
March 9-11, 2012 (*millions)
FILM GROSS/CUMULATIVE TOTAL
1 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (2012) $39.1M/$122M
2 John Carter (2012) $30.6M/$30.6M
3 Project X (2012) $11.6M/$40.1M
4 Silent House (2011) $7.01M/$7.01M
5 Act of Valor (2012) $7M/$56.1M
6 A Thousand Words (2012) $6.35M/$6.35M
7 Safe House (2012) $4.95M/$116M
8 The Vow (2012) $4M/$118M
9 This Means War (2012) $3.75M/$46.9M
10 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) $3.69M/$90.7M
Projects Announced
And The Wait For The Next “Mission Impossible” Movie Begins … Now With the absolutely monster success of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” proving with its $679 million worldwide gross (the best of the series so far) that there is still plenty of fuel left in the tank, it did not take long for sequel talk to start. Viacom (who owns Paramount) CEO Philippe Dauman recently popped his head in a shareholder’s meeting in New York City, and when asked if there are plans to develop an “additional sequel,” he responded by saying, “Oh, yes.” It’s also clear that Tom Cruise is still very much commander-in-chief of the ‘Mission’ team, and given that his star power is now flexing its muscle once again, you can bet he will be back for “Mission: Impossible [Insert Weird Subtitle Here]” Of course, it could be a ways off. Cruise’s schedule is packed through the end of the year. But considering the franchise has never been healthier, you can bet it’s on the top of the priority list for both Paramount and Cruise. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/viacom-chief-confirms-inevitable-mission-impossible-5-is-in-the-works “Saw 3D” Helmer’s Follow Up Nabs Impressive Pair A Lionsgate horror flick from “Saw 3D” helmer Kevin Greutert isn’t one to grab our attention, but their latest collaboration “Jessabelle” has scored two pieces of casting that has forced our hand. “Scott Pilgrim” star and all-round multi-hyphenate Mark Webber will star opposite rising Australian actress Sarah Snook in the film penned by Robert Ben Garant (“Night At The Museum”) which will follow a woman who is forced to return to her father’s home in Louisiana when a car accident leaves her without the use of her legs. It’s not long before she discovers a mystery surrounding her own birth, as well as an angry ghost determined to destroy her. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/rising-stars-mark-webber-sarah-snook-to-star-in-jessabelle-from-saw-3d-director-kevin-greutert Warner Keeps Its Domination Of All Things Graphic Novel-Related Going Just a few days after picking up the whimsical dinosaur-next-door title “Bolivar,” Warner Bros. have made a second deal with comics publisher Archaia. This time it’s for “Lucid,” and it’ll once again be developed and produced by Akiva Goldsman. Story’s set-up is in a slightly skewed version of our own world, where magic exists, and governments employ “combat mages” as spies to ward off international supernatural threats. Our hero is a rookie “Protector of the Realm”, taking on a dealer in black market occult technology. It is described as “Harry Potter,” if Harry Potter grew up and joined the CIA. The comic is by Michael McMillian (who plays Steve in “True Blood”) and Anna Wieszczyk. http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=33368 Disney Is Not Afraid Of The Sci-Fi Epic, Hires Writer For New Space Opera The studio behind “John Carter” is heading back to outer space. Disney has set Max Borenstein, the scribe behind Legendary Pictures’ in-development fantasy “The Seventh Son,” to write a space-set sci-fi adventure called “Paladin.” Secret Machine’s Justin Springer is producing the project, which he and Borenstein recently set up. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-sci-fi-space-adventure-paladin-298193 Steve Carell Is Clearly “SOLD!” On Doing More Magic Currently shooting magician comedy “Burt Wonderstone,” it looks like Steve Carell isn’t done playing with a magic wand just yet. The actor is reportedly attached to star in an adaptation of Terry Brooks’ “Magic Kingdom For Sale — SOLD!” No, it has nothing to do with Disney (though we imagine their lawyers might get a bit fussy about this title), instead it’s based on the series of books (of which this is the first) about a widowed lawyer named Ben Holiday, who finds an ad in a Christmas calendar for a magical kingdom. He forks over $1 million bucks and finds himself in Landover, where all is chaos, and he must unite the humans and all the various creatures to stop an evil demon. Craig Wright (“Lost,” “Dirty Sexy Money”) penned the script and the hunt will now be on for a director. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/steve-carrell-reportedly-attached-to-star-magic-kingdom-for-salesold Project Updates
If You’re Keeping Score, That’s Seydoux Out, Le Bon In To “Foam Of Days” Newcomer Charlotte Le Bon has replaced Lea Seydoux in the upcoming Michel Gondry film, “The Foam of Days.” The actress only has a couple of film roles to her name, most notably that of Ophelia in the Euro franchise pic “Astérix et Obélix: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” There is more casting yet to come, as the site notes that negotiations are still underway with more actors to be announced soon. For now, the film will find Le Bon acting alongside Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Gad Elmaleh and Omar Sy in the story that follows Colin, the wealthy inventor of olfactory-musical-instrument the “pianocktail.” He marries Chloe, but unfortunately, she falls ill during their honeymoon thanks to a water lily that enters her lung, and the only way to treat the ailment is to surround her with flowers — and the expense soon drains his funds. So yeah, right in Gondry’s wheelhouse. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/lea-seydoux-out-charlotte-le-bon-in-for-michel-gondrys-the-foam-of-days-shooting-starts-april-16th Indie Thriller Adds A Real Meaney To The Cast Colm Meaney, one of the co-stars of AMC’s “Hell on Wheels,” has joined the cast of “The Occult,” an indie thriller from LD Entertainment. Rufus Sewell and Anne Heche are already on board the project, which details the strange goings-on within a religious cult. When young girls start to go missing, older followers in the cult fear a long-told prophecy while younger members suspect abusive elders are killing them off. Christian Christiansen is directing. Mickey Liddell is producing. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hell-wheels-occult-colm-meany-298170 Richard Kelly Is Apparently Being Given Another Chance, And Now Edgar Ramirez Is Along For The Ride Richard Kelly, the director who came out of the gate with promise after “Donnie Darko, and then squandered that goodwill with the bellyflop that was “Southland Tales” and then the horror movie no one saw called “The Box,” has been trying to get “Corpus Christi” off the ground for the past few years. Now, a couple fellow genre specialists are helping him to get the movie rolling. Robert Rodrigeuz’s newly formed Quick Draw Productions will team with Kelly’s Darko Entertainment and Eli Roth to back “Corpus Christi.” And even more, “Carlos” and “Wrath Of The Titans” star Edgar Ramirez will take the lead. Set in the distant future of 2014, the film follows a mentally unstable Iraq war veteran named Paciencia “Patience” De La Rosa, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, who forges a strange and dangerous friendship with Ralph Salverson, a Texas industrialist. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/edgar-ramirez-to-star-in-richard-kellys-corpus-christi-produced-by-robert-rodriguez-eli-roth Damon And Krasinski Get Some Pretty Company In Their Upcoming Collaboration After a slight bit of turmoil earlier in the year when Matt Damon dropped out of the director’s chair, and Warner Bros. bailed on backing the picture (Focus Features and Participant are now teaming to produce), everything is back on track for “The Promised Land.” Gus Van Sant will direct and John Krasinski, who penned the script with Damon based off an idea by Dave Eggers, will also star. And now they’ve got another great addition. Rosemarie DeWitt has landed the female lead in the upcoming film. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the Capra-esque story will center on two rival executives, with Damon arriving in a small town and having his life turned upside down. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/rosemarie-dewitt-heads-to-gus-van-sants-promised-land-with-matt-damon-john-krasinski Ferrell And McKay’s “King Dork” Is Finally Moving Forward Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, through their Gary Sanchez production company, have been trying to get “King Dork” up and running for six years. Studios and directors have come and gone, but it’s now finally underway, with “Casa De Mi Padre”‘s Matt Piedmont at the helm. Ferrell and co. picked up the option on Frank Portman’s novel in 2006. The book revolves around school misfit Tom Henderson, the mysterious death of his father, and the life-changing discovery of JD Salinger’s “The Catcher In The Rye.” The screenplay is by DV DeVincentis, who wrote “High Fidelity” and “Grosse Point Blank.” http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=33371 Could Tom Join Clint And Beyonce In Long Stewing “Star” Remake? First “Rock of Ages,” now this? According to reports, Tom Cruise is being courted by Warner Bros. to star opposite Beyonce in Clint Eastwood’s remake of “A Star Is Born.” The film was originally set to begin production last month, however, plans were put on hold due to the pop singer’s pregnancy. Tom isn’t the first leading man to be considered for “Star.” Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Leonardo DiCaprio have all declined the lead role. “A Star Is Born” has hit the big screen three times previously: In 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, the 1954 version with Judy Garland and James Mason, and — perhaps most famously — in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. http://news.moviefone.com/2012/03/09/a-star-is-born-tom-cruise-beyonce_n_1335710.html Another Reason To Love Joss: “Avengers” Sequel “Should Be Smaller” “The Avengers” doesn’t open until May 4, but director Joss Whedon is already thinking of the sequel. Contrary to the usual Hollywood dictates, Whedon said in an interview that he’d like to go smaller, not bigger for a follow-up. Whedon said the only way to top the epic first assembly of the Avengers, is “by not trying to. By being smaller. More personal, more painful.” The always humorous creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” joked that he’d take a page from “The Godfather, Part II,” by adding flashbacks of young Vito Corleone: “Sequels are always better when that happens.” It hasn’t yet been announced which Avengers would be part of the planned sequel, but Marvel’s Kevin Feige has promised “new blood” and a “new dynamic” between any returning Avengers. http://news.moviefone.com/2012/03/09/joss-whedon-avengers-sequel-smaller_n_1335873.html Naomie Harris As Winnie Mandela? Um … Yes, Please! Naomie Harris is reportedly “in talks” to star as Winnie Mandela opposite Idris Elba’s as Nelson Mandela in the new biopic announced a few weeks ago. Justin Chadwick in also said to be in advanced talks to direct the film which will be based on “Long Walk to Freedom” — the autobiographical work written by Nelson Mandela himself, which highlights his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison. According to reports, the project will have an “epic sweep,” from a script written by “Gladiator,” “Shadowlands” and “Les Miserables” writer William Nicholson, and is likely to shoot in South Africa in May. http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/naomie-harris-in-talks-to-play-winnie-mandela-opposite-idris-elbas-nelson-mandela-in-biopic Today’s Best (?) News: Only 17 More Months Until The New “Robocop” Movie Arrives! After years in development, the “RoboCop” franchise is finally booted back up and ready to return. With “Elite Squad” Jose Padilha at the helm and “The Killing” star Joel Kinnaman newly minted as the man in the robot suit, MGM is ready to get this thing rolling, and has pegged a release date for the movie. “RoboCop” will clean up the streets on August 9, 2013. With Sony now distributing the film, it falls in line with their plan of recent years to drop genre offerings in late summer. 2010 and 2011 saw “The Other Guys” and “30 Minutes Or Less” in that frame, while this year will see “Total Recall” nab the slot. Currently, no other movies are scheduled on that weekend, but that will certainly change. http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/dead-or-alive-youre-coming-with-me-robocop-reboot-arrives-on-august-9-2013 Pilot Season
If It’s Monday, There Must Be Some Pilot Casting News! The bodies aren’t even cold yet, but “Desperate Housewives” alum Kyle MacLachlan has landed a new job. The longtime “Sex and the City” actor will be co-starring in the CBS legal drama pilot “Baby Big Shot.” The story centers on a working-class woman (Janet Montgomery of “Black Swan” fame) who uses her street smarts to compete with her colleagues as the head of a top Manhattan law firm. Often evil Neal McDonough will play a good cop on “L.A. Noir.” McDonough, who can currently be seen on “Justified,” will star in Frank Darabont’s TNT drama period thriller. The ’40s/’50s-era pilot centers on Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and boxer-turned-mobster Mickey Cohen, who has yet to be cast. “Heroes” alum Milo Ventimiglia was previously cast in the project. Former “Dexter” co-stars Julie Benz and Jaime Murray are joining Syfy’s “Defiance.” The dystopian drama finds humans and aliens coexisting on a war-ravaged Earth. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/desperate-housewives-casting-news_n_1334740.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29 Actor Lennie James Is Planning A Trip To “Gotham” Lennie James has been cast in the ABC drama pilot “Gotham,” which centers on Detective Annie Travers, who is stunned to learn that New York has a whole secret magical history of which she (and everyone else) was hitherto unaware. James will play Gabriel Riga, the magnetic and wealthy CEO running for Mayor of New York City. http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/lennie-james-lionel-richie The Squeal You Just Heard Is A Reaction To The News That Susan Lucci Is Coming To Prime Time Susan Lucci is returning to ABC. The former “All My Children” star has joined the cast of the network’s Marc Cherry drama pilot “Devious Maids.” The show, an adaptation of the Mexican format, revolves around four maids (Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Roselyn Sanchez and Dania Ramirez) with ambition and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/susan-lucci-marc-cherry-devious-maids-298184 ABC Keeps Adding To The IQ Of “The Smart One” ABC’s “The Smart One” is getting smarter. The comedy pilot starring Portia de Rossi and Malin Akerman has added two regulars to its cast in “The Onion News Network”‘s Matt Oberg and “The Closer”‘s Stephanie Beatriz. From Warner Bros. Television, show revolves around Jude, a brilliant and successful woman (de Rossi) who begrudgingly goes to work for Candy, her less-brainy but more popular sister — a former beauty queen, weather girl and now big-city mayor (Malin Akerman). Oberg will play Martin, Jude’s ex-associate who is described as a slick D.C. power- player who never betrays what he’s feeling. Beatriz, meanwhile, will play Natalee, Candy’s whip smart yet ditsy hairdresser who helped get the dim bulb elected mayor. The duo join a cast that also includes David Arquette and Jean Smart. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/smart-one-portia-de-rossi-malin-akerman-matt-oberg-stephanie-beatriz-298199 Anthony Edwards-Led Thriller Getting A Taste Of Sweden Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist has been tapped to star in ABC’s drama pilot “Zero Hour.” From “Prison Break” scribe Paul Scheuring, show centers on Hank Foley, who has spent 20 years as the editor of a skeptics magazine and, through a bizarre twist of fate, is pulled into one of the most compelling conspiracies in human history. “ER”‘s Anthony Edwards will star as Foley, with Nyqvist on board to play White Vincent, one of the villains at the heart of the global conspiracy, a mercenary with eyes somewhere between mystic and shark. He’s one of the world’s most dangerous assassins who has worked for dozens of governments and secret cabals and possesses a special connection to Foley (Edwards), that when uncovered delivers a shocking blog of gigantic proportions. Scheuring will also executive produce the ABC Studios drama alongside Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott. Pierre Morel will direct the pilot, which will film in Montreal. Nyqvist joins a cast that includes Addison Timlin, Carmen Ejogo and Scott Michael Foster. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mission-impossible-villain-michael-nyqvist-girl-with-dragon-tattoo-298156 Still Monday? Yup, More Mass Pilot Casting News … “Saturday Night Live” veteran Will Forte has signed on to star in a new sitcom pilot on Fox. Forte will play the lead role in “Rebounding,” a comedy about a man recovering from the death of his fiancée with the help of the guys on his basketball team. ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast” has cast Karen LeBlanc as Ehren, the leader of the rebel band that wants to see Emperor Dorian (F. Murray Abraham) dethroned. Carla Gugino will star opposite Sigourney Weaver in USA’s six-hour drama series “Political Animals.” Gugino will play a Pulitzer Prize–winning newspaper reporter determined to destroy the career of Weaver’s character, a former First Lady who’s newly divorced from her philandering husband and also the newly appointed Secretary of State. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/alyssa-milano-breaking-in_n_1335555.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29 It’s Been A While, But Carlton Cuse Is Coming Back To TV Carlton Cuse, who along with Damon Lindelof executive produced and acted as showrunners of ABC’s “Lost,” is boarding A&E’s “The Bates Motel.” A&E is developing the series, being produced by Mark Wolper and Roy Lee, as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” The 1960 horror classic featured an off-his-rocker motel manager named Norman Bates who murdered occasional boarders while under the watch of his even-more-psychotic mother. Bates Motel aims to tell the story of a young Bates and how his life with his deranged mother and her lover unhinged his mind, eventually turning him into a serial killer. If the show is picked up to series, Cuse will executive produce and oversee the writing and production what is being envisioned intially as a six-episode “event” that would lead to additional seasons. Kerry Ehrin, who worked on “Friday NIght Lights” and “Parenthood,” also is joining Bates Motel as a writer/EP and will work with Cuse. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lost-bates-motel-carlton-cuse-a-e-298201 “Guilty” As Charged, Actress Lands Role As Cuba’s Wife On the heels of the announcement that Cuba Gooding Jr. will star in the Fox Legal Drama Series “Guilty,” comes word that Sharon Leal is slated to play “Gooding’s savvy and pretty wife who must deal with her husband’s relentless and unending drive.” In the pilot, written by Greg Belanti and Marc Guggenheim, Gooding Jr. plays William “Billy” Remz, a morally dubious defense attorney who is unjustly convicted of fraud and consequently stripped of his license. Marc Guggenheim, who is set to direct the pilot, will executive produce alongside Peter Johnson. http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/sharon-leal-cast-as-cuba-gooding-jrs-wife-in-foxs-legal-drama-pilot-guilty Former “Undercover” Star Lands A New Show, Too Boris Kodjoe is slated to co-star in the Tony Krantz/Natalie Portman-executive produced “Scruples,” directed by Michael Sucsy (The Vow). The series, based on the novel by Judy Krantz, centers on a “rich and powerful clothing designer Billy Winthrop in a world of sex, revenge and scandal.” Claire Forlani stars in the pilot as the clothing designer named Billy; Kodjoe will play the attorney of her deceased husband. Jessica McNamee will also co-star. Show is written by Bob Brush and produced by Warner Bros. http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/boris-kodjoe-to-co-star-in-abcs-drama-pilot-scruples Apparently, Pilot Casting News Mass Updates Come In Threes Another “Friday Night Lights” alum has booked their return to TV. Zach Gilford has joined Josh Berman’s (“Drop Dead Diva”) untitled medical drama pilot for Fox, starring opposite “My Boys” alum Jordana Spiro. The show is about Grace Devlin (Spiro), a young surgeon who gets tangled up with the Chicago mob and is forced to moonlight as a mafia doctor to repay a debt. Gilford is set to play her wealthy coworker at the hospital, Dr. Brett Robinson. William Forsythe, James Carpinello, Jesse Lee Soffer and Jamie Lee Kirchner co-star. Vanessa Williams has booked her post-”Desperate Housewives” gig. Williams has joined ABC’s “666 Park Avenue,” the supernatural pilot about a couple that signs on to manage a historic apartment building in New York City. Williams will play the building owner’s (Terry O’Quinn) wife. “Nip/Tuck” alum Julian McMahon and Angela Bassett close to joining new CIA drama pilot. The “Untitled Karyn Usher Project” at Fox would have McMahon playing a rogue CIA agent and Bassett as his boss. And, finally, Luis Guzman has joined ABC comedy pilot. “Counter Culture” is about three aging sisters (Doris Roberts and Margo Martindale have nabbed two of those roles) who run their West Texas family diner together. Guzman will play the diner’s cook. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/10/zach-gilford-pilot_n_1336731.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29 Acquisitions/Film Festivals
Oscilloscope Stays In The Game, Picks Up Sundance Opener Oscilloscope Laboratories has taken North American rights to Todd Louiso’s divorce comedy “Hello I Must Be Going,” which was one of the opening night films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Melanie Lynskey as a a recently divorced New York photographer who moves back in with her parents at their suburban Connecticut home. Oscilloscope is eyeing an August release for the film. http://www.indiewire.com/article/oscilloscope-takes-sundance-opener-hello-i-must-be-going Kevin Smith Begins His New Career As An Impressario By Selling A FIlm To Phase 4 Phase 4 Films has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to writer-director Andrew Edison’s high school comedy “Bindlestiffs.” This is the first film released under the new “Kevin Smith’s SModcast Pictures Presents” banner. Flick is about “three smart-mouthed high school virgins, suspended from school on a graffiti charge, flee to the inner city to live out the plot of The Catcher in the Rye.” “Bindlestiffs” premiered at the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature Narrative. Phase 4 and Smith are currently at SXSW looking for more films to add to their roster. Phase 4 will release “Bindlestiffs” in June. http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/phase-4-films-acquires-bindlestiffs-the-first-film-for-new-kevin-smith-label Cannes Announces Opening Film, And To No One’s Surprise, It’s … The 65th Festival de Cannes will open May 16 with an American movie, “Moonrise Kingdom,” the new film from Wes Anderson (2009′s “Fantastic Mr. Fox”). Cannes will run from Wednesday May 16 to Sunday May 27. This year’s Cannes jury is headed by Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti (“We Have a Pope”). The dark family comedy “Moonrise Kingdom” is set in 1965 on an island in New England and stars Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman. Anderson co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Roman Coppola (2007′s “The Darjeeling Limited”). Born in 1969, Anderson also directed “Bottle Rocket” (1996), “Rushmore” (1998), “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001) and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004). http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-opening-film-is-wes-andersons-moonrise-kingdom Climate Change Doc Also Ends Up At Oscilloscope Submarine Entertainment has sold all U.S. rights (minus TV) for Jeff Orlowski’s feature documentary “Chasing Ice” to Oscilloscope Laboratories, following the film’s screening at SXSW Friday night. Oscilloscope plans to open the film theatrically later this year so that it will qualify for Oscar consideration before releasing the film on its DVD label and through its digital & VOD partners. “Chasing Ice” tells the story of a visionary artist who, in facing his own mortality, bequeaths the magic of photography and the adventure of the expedition to a new generation and captures the most visible sign of climate change on the planet today. http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sxsw-2012-oscilloscope-picks-up-doc-chasing-ice IFC Wants To Introduce Mike Birbiglia To American Audiences On The Big Screen IFC Films has confirmed that it has acquired North American rights — plus several foreign territories — to Mike Birbiglia’s Sundance comedy “Sleepwalk With Me.” The film won the audience award in Sundance’s NEXT category back in January. It stars Birbiglia as a New Yorker conflicted with a sleepwalking disorder, and Lauren Ambrose as his girfriend. Its inspired by Birbiglia’s own issues with REM sleep behavior disorder. Birbiglia wrote the script with Joe Birbiglia, Seth Barrish and “This American Life” host Ira Glass. http://www.indiewire.com/article/ifc-films-acquires-sleepwalk-with-me A Stunner In Guadalajara, As A “Gringo” Wins Top Prize Tom Gustafson’s musical drama “Mariachi Gringo” pulled off a big upset on Saturday at the Guadalajara Film Festival, winning best Mexican picture here in the nation’s mariachi capital. Many festival goers saw Rodrigo Pla’s “La Demora” (“The Delay”) and Gabriel Marino’s feature debut “Un Mundo Secreto” (“A Secret World”), both of which participated at the recent Berlin Film Festival, as favorites going in to Saturday’s awards ceremony. But “Mariachi Gringo,” the sophomore film of New York-based director Gustafson (“Were the World Mine”), won not only best Mexican feature but also best actress for Martha Higareda. The story revolves around a gringo who moves to Guadalajara to learn how to play mariachi music. The film has no sales agent nor distribution deals in place. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mariachi-gringo-guadalajara-film-festival-winners-298298 Business/Legal News
It’s Official: You Can Now Bounce Down The Dial To Watch Bounce In LA Following an agreement between Bounce TV and FOX Television Stations, the nation’s first and only over-the-air broadcast TV network for African Americans was launched in Los Angeles this week by KCOP-T. The move cements Bounce TV’s presence in the top five markets in the country. “We are very grateful to the Fox Television Stations group for bringing Bounce TV into these important markets,” said Martin Luther King III, member of Bounce TV’s founding group and board of directors. Bounce TV can be seen in LA on Fox-owned MNT affiliate KCOP on Channel 13.2. http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/bounce-tv-launches-in-los-angeles Martha Stewart Is Bringing Some Much Needed Class To “2 Broke Girls” Martha Stewart is testing her comedic chops. The Emmy-winning TV host has been tapped to guest star on CBS’ freshman hit “2 Broke Girls,” the network announced Friday. Stewart will cameo as herself in the May 7 episode, which see the crafty cook/entertainer/decorator attending a fashion gala at the Metropolitican Museum of Art where she’s scheduled to be a guest. In the episode, Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) will seek her out as they look to secure her stamp of approval on their cupcakes and budding business. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/2-broke-girls-martha-stewart-298202 Welcome Back To TV, Alyssa And Mekhi! We Hardly Knew Ye! Alyssa Milano is returning to Fox’s “Breaking In,” as Oz’s (Christian Slater) scheming estranged wife Amy. In Season 1 of the struggling Fox comedy, Milano first played Amy when she tried to plot against her estranged husband Oz by warming up to Cameron. But by episode’s end, Oz and Amy seemed on the verge of a reconciliation. Looks like we’ll have to wait until this season’s Episode 9 to see where Oz and Amy’s relationship stands now. Meanwhile, Mekhi Phifer and “Hung” alum Gregg Henry will guest star in the first two episodes of “White Collar” Season 4. Phifer will play FBI agent Kyle Collins, the Bureau’s top international fugitive-hunting specialist, who is tasked with catching Neal (Matt Bomer). Meanwhile, Henry will guest star as Henry Dobbs, a wealthy local with a secret past that could change Neal and Mozzie’s relationship forever. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/alyssa-milano-breaking-in_n_1335555.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29 “Fringe” Isn’t Dead Yet, If It’s Still Casting Guest Stars Aussie actress Georgina Haig is heading over to “Fringe” as a new agent. Haig will play Etta, the new partner of “Lost” alum Henry Ian Cusick’s character. The actress will make her debut in Episode 19. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/desperate-housewives-casting-news_n_1334740.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29 “90210″ Star To Move Out Of The Zip Code For A Spell To Get Well Tristan Wilds will be missing from a number of episodes of the CW’s “90210″ because of an illness, sources confirm to us exclusively. It is unclear exactly how many episodes the show’s 22-year-old leading man will skip, but we’re told it may be somewhere around four, and they will be the final episodes of the current season. Thankfully, producers have a pretty seamless storyline to write him out: Tristan’s character, Dixon, (who is a singer) will be going on tour and leaving the famous zip code behind. At the start of the current season, it was revealed that Dixon had spent his summer on a hip-hop tour, so this will be his second tour (but the first time Tristan will miss any episodes). http://www.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/90210_star_tristan_wilds_taking_break/299892?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories Industry Moves Clarence … Er, STEVE Beeks Re-Ups For More Time At Duke & Duke, Er … Lionsgate Steve Beeks has re-upped at Lionsgate as co-COO with a new longterm agreement. And Beeks has also added the position of president of Lionsgate’s motion picture group to his duties as he helps oversee the newly-combined Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment studio. Besides CEO Jon Feltheimer, Beeks will also report to Lionsgate motion picture group co-chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger in his new president role for that division. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steve-beeks-lionsgate-298081 Focus’ Latest Head Of Production Has That New SVP Smell Josh McLaughlin is joining Focus Features as senior vice president, production. He will be based in the company’s West Coast offices and report to Focus president of production Jeb Brody, who announced his appointment Friday. McLaughlin comes to Focus from Chernin Entertainment, where he had been serving as executive vp. Prior to that, he was executive vp and co-head of the motion picture division of The Mark Gordon Company, where he produced Kasi Lemmon’s “Talk to Me,” starring Don Cheadle, which was released by Focus. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/focus-features-josh-mclaughlin-senior-vp-production-298150 You Could See This Coming: Newly Merged Lionsgate And Summit Lay Off 80 Pink slips hit Lionsgate and Summit on Friday as the company, which is in the process of integrating two staffs following Lionsgate’s purchase of Summit in January, began laying off about 80 employees. Most of the layoffs came in the motion picture and home entertainment divisions, where the two companies had the most overlap and staff reductions were expected. The lay-offs represent 12 percent of the combined company. Lionsgate has had about 500 employees, while Summit has had about 175, for a total of 675. The goal, with additional employees expected to leave through attrition during the coming months, is to bring that number down to around 575. The company declined to provide any comment on the developments. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-summit-lays-off-80-employees-298187 Technology/Multi-Platform Content
Tugg Set To Test Its Mettle Again With Pair Of Titles The real test for the on-demand Tugg releasing model is films that have not been pre-sold via well-branded theatrical releases with ads and reviews. “The Tree of Life,” for example, is well past its first run, and is now reaching more moviegoers via Tugg. Exhibitors tend to be more gung-ho about filling up their theaters mid-week with on-demand programming, while distributors are keeping an eye on how this experiment plays out. The next Tugg test will be new release “The FP,” a microbudget dystopian gang actioner that debuted at Austin’s SXSW 2011 via Alamo’s own SXFantastic and goes out via both Alamo and Tugg on March 16. As of last Friday, fans can now sign up to bring “The FP” to their theater. And it’s no surprise that Paramount Insurge Pictures is jumping on the Tugg bendwagon with the release of horror flick “The Loved Ones” in theaters nationwide this June 2012. Fans can sign up today at to book a screening and invite friends to see one of the most buzzed about horror films of the summer. Those who sign up will be given notice when they can begin to set their June screenings. http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/next-tugg-test-paramount-insurge-launches-loved-ones-and-drafthouse-opens-the-fp FremantleMedia Wants To Be In The Hulu Business All The World Over Online video joint venture Hulu has struck an international first-look distribution deal for its original series with FremantleMedia Enterprises and signed deals for more than 30 documentaries that will be exclusive to the site. The Fremantle arrangement, which the partners say marks the first time that an international distributor has signed such an agreement with an online video service, will allow for content and format distribution deals across all platforms, including traditional media. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hulu-original-fremantlemedia-international-first-look-deal-morgan-spurlock-day-in-the-life-sxsw-298392 Around The Web
Were The John Carters Of Earth Planning To See "John Carter"? Hilariously, Some Yes, Some No, Some ... Dead — Moviefone
If You're Wondering Whether Or Not Your Favorite Shows Will Be Back Next Season, This Might Help — TV Squad
Looking For Some Tips On How To Survive On Set? Neal Moritz Has You Covered — THR.com
Because Jennifer Westfeldt Hasn't Received Enough Press Yet For her Directorial Debut — Indiewire
Some Of The Sillier Undercover Assignments In Movie History — EmpireOnline
Remembering Moebius, 1938-2012 — Comic Book Resources
Website to Watch
http://rightonredfilms.com/ Last week, we were invited to see a screening of the indie film, “Without,” written and directed by Mark Jackson. Our friend who invited us knew a couple of the people involved in the project, so we came along because we thought, what the heck, we like seeing new and interesting films, especially of the indie variety. What we didn’t realize until we got there was that this was part of a new screening series set up by Indie Hero Ted Hope, who saw the movie, loved it, and now wants to help it get distribution. Having seen it ourselves, we can agree. It is a unique piece of work, clearly shot for next to nothing, that packs something of an emotional wallop. We recommend heading to the production company’s site and checking it out, because some smart distributor is going to pick this up for a song and make stars out of some very deserving and talented filmmakers. FNB Editorial
And Thus, “The Year Of Joss” Begins It was only a matter of time, if you think about it. Joss Whedon has been more than just a writer-director for a while, now, but you knew once he was hired to write and direct “The Avengers,” the man was going to go completely supernova. This weekend, after premiering his long-on-the-shelf horror flick “A Cabin in the Woods” to what could only be described as an orgasmic response at South By Southwest in Austin, the process begins. Whedon didn’t direct “Cabin,” he just co-wrote it (with director Drew Goddard, a long-time Whedon protege) and produced it, but by all accounts, it’s very much a Whedon piece, doing to the horror genre what he does with most things, deconstructing it and then putting it back together. We weren’t in Austin this weekend, but know a couple people who were, and who saw the flick Friday night, and they have assured us that the movie is every bit as good as we expect it to be (the thing has been on the shelf for two and a half years because of MGM’s financial troubles, but now it’s got a scheduled release date of April 13). We’re not terribly surprised, because we are longtime Whedon fans in these parts (“Firefly” and “Serenity,” especially), and are eagerly awaiting the release of “The Avengers,” on May 4. But the point here is that, by the end of this calendar year, provided the Mayans were wrong and we will actually see the end of it, Joss will have certainly been elevated to that next level of filmmaker, that deified status wherein just his name alone will excite more than just Fanboys and will strike fear in the hearts of studio executives everywhere. It’s interesting, really, how certain things time out so that a person or entity can really reach the next level. Last year it was, in a sense, Jessica Chastain, who just happened to have six different movies (yes, SIX!) come out in a single year. This is different, though, because while the lovely and talented Miss Chastain must rely on others to keep her in the public eye. Mr. Whedon must rely only on himself. And now he is in that uniquely rarefied air where he can do pretty much whatever he wants, and people will line up to beg him to do it for them. Or, he can keep doing it for himself. Have you forgotten that he secretly wrote and directed an adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing” last fall while in post-production on “The Avengers”? Yes, that’s yet another Whedon flick to which we can look forward. Heck, maybe that means it’ll be a good year for us, right?
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