Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Robert Redford, Diane Keaton Eyeing The Most Wonderful Time At Relativity Media

EXCLUSIVE: Relativity Media is acquiring The Most Wonderful Time, a holiday comedy package built around a Steven Rogers script that has Robert Redford and Diane Keaton circling to star, and Jessie Nelson to direct. Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer will produce with Nelson. Kim Roth and Rogers will be executive producers. Rogers, whose credits include P.S. I Love You, Kate & Leopold and Stepmom, this time focuses on the chaos of a family around Christmastime, featuring storylines with multiple characters that intersect. Rogers wrote the project on spec and brought in Nelson, who last directed I Am Sam, and the project was packaged with Redford and Keaton. Relativity Media is in the midst of optioning the script before beginning to make the other deals. Rogers describes it as an ‘Amelie-esque story about people who live for the future or hang onto the past, which prevents them from living in the moment, and not appreciating what is right in front of them.” Nelson’s repped by WME, Rogers is repped by ICM. Keaton is repped by WME and Redford by CAA.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Tate Taylor: Paul Selvin Award honoree

Tate Taylor, around the group of 'The Help' with Emma Stone and Viola Davis, found echoes of their own existence in the friend Kathryn Stocketts storyMississippi native Tate Taylor used his knowledge about the grey regions of associations between black and whitened women within the south to paint his adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's "The Assistance.InchInchFrequently subjects such as this coping with that area of the country (are) obvious cut -- good versus. evil, black versus. whitened. I truly desired to show the humanistic points from the struggles," Taylor states.Taylor, who also directed the pic, gets the Selvin Award, for that scribe "whose script best brings together the spirit from the constitutional and civil privileges and protections that are indispensable towards the survival of free authors everywhere."In "The Assistance,Inch Taylor outlined bonds forged among figures despite obstacles produced by race and prejudice. Which has captivated intense discussions among auds. Taylor states getting his film be a conversation starter "is only the finest factor that may ever occur to a painter.InchTaylor was "co-elevated" with a health professional and the single, working mother. Recalling his mother's closeness to his health professional, Taylor was attracted to Minny and Celia's kinship, which "broke most of the stereotypical ways the thing is black and whites cohabitate on film."That parallel between Celia and Minny's partnership and also the story of his mother and health professional, he states, "is the reason why it meant a great deal to me. It been around and that i resided it."WGA Honours 2012Truth elbows out gags Good timing for WGA prexyHonoreesKress & McDuffie Eric Roth Tate Taylor Patric Verrone Zwick & Herskovitz Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jason Bateman and Wife Welcome Second Daughter

The fall TV season is taking shape. Networks have ordered dozens of new pilots starring familiar faces including Zachary Levi, Mindy Kaling, Mandy Moore and Sarah Silverman, and from proven producers like Josh Schwartz, J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti and Kevin Williamson. Also making a comeback this year: Iconic characters including Green Arrow, Carrie Bradshaw, Sherlock Holmes and Beauty and the Beast. To keep track of who's doing what, read our complete list of all the series projects in contention and check back for updates on their status. Here are the NBC pilots: (Click here for ABC, CBS, CW and Fox.) Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Andrea ParkerFrances ConroyJames MurrayMandy MooreSarah SilvermanKevin WilliamsonGreg BerlantiJud TaylorMegalyn EchikunwokeZachary LeviJ.J. AbramsJohn WellsJosh SchwartzMadisen BeatyShamelessAmerican Horror StoryMADtvNancy PimentalMichael McDonaldMindy KalingPatrick Heusinger

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Zina Bethune dies in hit-and-run at 66

Zina Bethune, a child actress who was later a soloist with the NY City Ballet and a choreographer who founded her own company in Los Angeles and was repeatedly recognized for her work with disabled students, died Sunday night after she was struck by two cars on Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles. She was 66 and had stopped on the road to assist an injured possum. Bethune was artistic director and choreographer for L.A. nonprofit Bethune Theatredanse (later Theater Bethune), which she founded in 1980. The company has toured widely. Bethune also founded the dance and performance outreach effort Infinite Dreams, working with children who have mental or physical disabilities through schools across Southern California. More than 8,000 students have graduated from the program.As a child, Bethune studied at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet; she began her association with the NY City Ballet at age 14. She also appeared in daytime soaps including "The Guiding Light" and as the daughter of Ralph Bellamy's FDR, handicapped as a result of polio, in the 1960 film "Sunrise at Campobello." She succeeded as a dancer despite her own battles with scoliosis and hip dysplasia, making her Broadway debut at age 11 in Frank Loesser musical "The Most Happy Fella." Bethune had a substantial career in television as well. She starred as Amy in a 1958 TV adaptation of "Little Women," guested on "The Judy Garland Show" in 1963 and a was a regular on the daytime soap "The Doctors and Nurses" from 1962-65. Later she guested on series including "Gunsmoke," "Emergency!" and "CHiPs."She starred opposite Harvey Keitel in Martin Scorsese's early bigscreen effort "Who's That Knocking at My Door." In 1992 she returned to Broadway for a role in "Grand Hotel."Bethune's last screen role was as a ballet teacher in a 1995 episode of "Party of Five."Infinite Dreams has been commended by the National Endowment for the Arts and by Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton.Bethune was born in NY City. Her mother, Ivy Bethune, is an actress; her father was a sculptor and painter who died when she was young. In addition to her mother, Bethune is survived by her husband, Sean Feeley. Donations may be made to Theater Bethune at Theatrebethune.org. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sales flow to 'Amazonia'

Announcing early business at the European Film Market, Jean Labadie's Paris-based Le Pacte has clinched a swath of international sales on the 15 million ($19.7 million ) 3D Amazon jungle adventure, "Amazonia."Territories closed include Germany (Polyband), Belgium (Cineart), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), former Yugoslavia (MCF) and Canada (Seville).Directed by "White Planet" helmer Thierry Ragobert, "Amazonia," said to be the biggest-budgeted take to date on the Amazon, has also sold to Russia (Luxor), the Czech Republic (Hollywood CE), China (Hualu) and India (Picture Works).Le Pacte will release "Amazonia" in France. Delivery is skedded for spring 2013.Currently in the middle of its shoot, "Amazon" follows the fictionalized odyssey of a capuchin monkey who grew up in captivity and suddenly finds himself released in the wilds of the Amazon rainforest after the plane he is being transported on crashes.His battle for survival also illustrates the vast natural wealth of the Amazon rainforest."Amazonia" is produced by France's Biloba Films and Gullane Filmes in Brazil. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Friday, February 10, 2012

The best spinner's Orders Comedy Series From Vince Vaughn

Steve Byrne The best spinner's Orders Comedy Series Sullivan and Boy From Vince VaughnTweet: The best spinner's has purchased the comedy series Sullivan and Boy from Vince Vaughn lnk @tbsveryfunnyTBS has purchased the comedy series Sullivan and Boy, the network introduced Friday.Created by Vince Vaughn, the show happens inside a legendary Pittsburgh bar Sullivan & Boy and stars comedian Steve Byrne, who'll also function as executive producer. Byrne plays Steve Sullivan, a company attorney from NY who brings his girlfriend, Ashley (Brooke Lyons), for any home town visit just like his Irish-American father, Jack Sullivan (Serta Lauria), and Korean mother, Ok Cha (Jodi Lengthy), are planning to market the bar and retire.Obtain the complete scoop on pilot season"Sullivan and Boy is really a wise, funny, place of work comedy in the distinct comedy voices of Steve Byrne and Take advantage of Lengthy," Michael Wright, The best spinner's programming mind, stated inside a statement. "The stools at Sullivan's bar are full of crazy, unique figures, and Steve and Take advantage of have produced a superb world by which they are able to shine. We're very happy with this show and anticipate investing many nights tossing one back using the regulars at Sullivan & Boy."The Ten-episode first season will premiere within the summer time.