France Honors Lenny Kravitz With Greatest Award

First Released: November 30, 2011 6:29 PM EST Credit: Getty Images PARIS, France -- Caption Lenny Kravitz works at Terminal 5 in NY City on August 31, 2011 France has compensated tribute to Grammy champion Lenny Kravitz using its greatest award, the Legion of Recognition. Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand praised the 47-year-old singer-songwriter in a Paris ceremony on Wednesday, telling him you freed yourself from the obstacles between black and whitened seem. Kravitz told The Connected Press he got his first large break in a 1989 music festival within the western French town of Rennes that changed his career overnight. He stated Yes, it seems like a story book nevertheless its true. Kravitz was created to some black mother and whitened father, and the latest album, Black and Whitened America, takes up interracial issues particularly what his parents familiar with sixties NY. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Foreign exchange Announces Midseason Schedule

Foreign exchange has set its midseason selection, which will feature the return of Justified and Archer as well as the debut of latest animated comedy series Not being watched. The Next season of drama Justified will premiere The month of the month of january 17 after which air Tuesdays at 10 PM. Comedy Archer will open its third season The month of the month of january 19 and may air Thursdays at 10 PM. The animatedArcher will probably be coupled with Not being watched, whose premiere follows Archer around the month of the month of january 19 at 10:30 PM. Not being watched, that is animated by Archer executive producers Adam Reed and Matt Thompson, concentrates on two positive close buddies moving the harsh landscape of teenage existence and looking to accomplish what’s right without any parental guidance.The series, created and executive produced by Make the most of Rosell, Scott Marder and David Hornsby, features a voice cast including Justin Extended, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Romany Malco, Kaitlin Olson and Alexa Vega, along with Rosell and Hornsby. Not being watched is produced by Foreign exchange Prods, in colaboration with Make the most of McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton’s RCG Prods and Floyd County.

OSCAR: Hugo Helmer Martin Scorsese Ponders 3D Future And How Taxi Driver Would Have Benefited

Martin Scorsese long ago established himself as one of the pillars of contemporary films, an auteur steeped in the history and culture of cinema who makes movies that are usually brutal, visceral and, quite often, Oscar-nominated too. His 2006 release, The Departed, finally brought him his best director Oscar, after five previous nominations left him just short, and the film also won best picture and two more awards that night. But anyone who thinks they have Scorsese pegged will be in for a shock with his latest, Hugo. Its a childrens story, based on the best-selling novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and its the filmmakers first foray into 3D. Less surprising is that Hugo revolves around the early days of cinema, with pioneering French filmmaker Georges Mlis (Ben Kingsley) playing a prominent role. And its figuring regularly in Oscar buzz. So, Hugo isnt entirely out of character for Scorsese. The director took a few minutes recently to talk to me about the influence of his young daughter on his latest film, his new-found embrace of 3-D technology, and what his Oscar wins in 2007 meant for his family. AWARDSLINE: What were you looking for that made Hugo fit so well as your first family film? MARTIN SCORSESE: The book by Brian Selznick is so compelling and beautifully done, particularly the illustrations. But the story, the mystery of it, really became interesting and I felt an affinity with the 12-year old boy, his isolation and ultimately his trying to find a reason for his life and its tragedies. Ultimately all of that gets resolved through the invention of cinema. AWARDSLINE: Youd found a personal frame of reference? There are also themes of film preservation, a passion of yours, and the origins of cinema. SCORSESE: That seemed to be like a natural. But really, it was mainly the young children that first got me involved with it. And the fact that it resolves itself with Melies and early cinema was something that kept drawing me back. Well, apparently it must have been that but I didnt quite realize it until I was shooting and friends in my life would say This is very much you. [Laughs] While I didnt think of that, all my close friends felt it was totally natural. AWARDSLINE: How long had you wanted to work in 3D? SCORSESE: Since I saw my first 3D film back in 1953, House of Wax. AWARDSLINE: As you watched 3D develop through the years, its gone from something that jumps out at you to an immersive feel. How have you felt about the evolution? SCORSESE: I have always been fascinated by it. Even before I saw 3D films, I remember getting a packet of 10 postcards that were stereoscopic from the late 19th century and looking at them through a little device. Then theres the wonderful View-Master which had beautiful stereo images. Not only did it immerse you in the picture, but was like a story. I was fascinated by depth and I placed such moments carefully in Hugo. There are a number of things that do pop out at you, but we tried to have our cake and eat it too. Ideally you dont realize the effect occurred. By the time its over, youre onto something else. It was about placing you inside this boys world; the memory of a child. If you think back at your childhood, you think about where you grew up and if you ever go back there, its different. It has a different feel to it from what a child sees and perceives. I thought that would be amazing in 3D plus the fact that he lives in the walls of a train station with the mechanisms of the clocks which always fascinated me. I remember a little glass ball of a clock that my grandfather had. He gave it to me. I was always fascinated because on the back of it, you can actually see magnified; the workings of a clock and since I was a child I was fascinated by that. AWARDSLINE: The technology certainly allowed you to see the inner workings of the clocks that are prevalent in the film. SCORSESE: I go back to that old clock my grandfather had and I still have in the house now and I was fascinated by that. Im not mechanically inclined but Im fascinated by the mechanisms, and what they suggest. The stories that come out of them. The measurement of time itself. Movies being the illusion of motion, and then it is seen and it is an experience that disappears–into time. And in many cases, it has strong, profound, powerful reactions that can change your life. It certainly did mine. AWARDSLINE: Theres a wonderful moment where an audience watching a moving picture for the first time scatters as a train rushes through the camera. In your life and career, what film innovation compares to that? SCORSESE: Well, two things really. It was the use of 3D back in 53. Obviously, there are two or three films better than all the others House of Wax, Phantom of the Rue Morgue and Hitchcocks use of it in Dial M for Murder. AWARDSLINE: What was the other? SCORSESE: Im going back to theatrical experiences for this one. It was the first use of wide screen and the Cinemascope image on a wide screen at the NY Roxy theater which was really very thrilling. But the 3D I preferred, because in the first use of Cinemascope, it was rather static, but the 3D was not for some reason, particularly in House of Wax. I was always fascinated by these technical innovations and never thought I would get to make one. It was only 2 years ago that I was talking to some filmmakers in Cairo of all places, saying 3D is going to be amazing, but that it has to be in the script. I said, Ill never get to make one but thats the nature of where everything is going anyway. Ever since storytelling started, whether it was rock paintings or campfires, or the Shaman, its been about telling stories with motion, color, sound and depth, which leaves you what? Holograms. AWARDSLINE: And just two years after saying you wouldnt make one, were talking about your first 3D film. What changed for you? SCORSESE: Well, the story of Hugo. The climate of what Jim Cameron did with Avatar and 3D seemed right and the subject matter was just perfect for it. And it was time to take a chance with it. AWARDSLINE: How did you feel after watching Avatar? SCORSESE: There was extraordinary visual storytelling in that picture. Cameron is a great innovator and leader in cinema. It made it (3D) very welcoming. If you suggest 3D, from that point on, it was taken seriously. But I just think 3D is open to any kind of storytelling. It shouldnt be limited to fantasy or sci-fi. Look at (Werner) Herzogs use of it (in Cave of Forgotten Dreams), Wim Wenders with Pina. It should be considered a serious narrative element and tool, especially when telling a story with depth as narrative. AWARDSLINE: Which of your movies might have most benefited from being shot in 3D? SCORSESE: Thats an interesting question. Lets seeAviator, maybe? Maybe Taxi Driver because of the intimidation of the main character , his presence is everywhere, a frightening kind of presence. AWARDSLINE: What was the hardest part about getting use to shooting with this format? There must have been a learning curve, figuring out how to frame shots to take advantage of that dimension. SCORSESE: The high depth was very helpful and beautiful to work with. The rigs we had at the time were big, and that was problematic, though we were luckily shooting in a studio so we could keep it on a crane and move it around. Now, the rigs are smaller and more flexible. As I lined up each shot, we had to rethink how to tell a story with pictures. And so each shot was a separate surprise, a separate journey, even though I designed a lot of the 3D effects in the movie way before shooting started. I just didnt want to waste the depth, even if it was a medium shot of a person speaking . This was something that [cinematographer Robert] Richardson, myself, my AD Chris Surgent, my second unit director Rob Legato. We all worked on it heavily, every day, adding to the frame, try things, making mistakes. Pull back, go forward, try something we werent supposed to do. This was the key. AWARDSLINE: Is it that much more challenging than shooting a 2D film? SCORSESE: Eliminating the idea of the heavier equipment which is now getting smaller and flexible, I dont think theres very much of a difference. It shouldnt frighten the filmmaker, it shouldnt be an obstacle or an impediment. Break through it. Think differently about it. Dont let people tell you what can and cannot be done. I shot the film in the way Im used to shooting. Its designed with editing, its a montage at times, but imagine somebody doing one long take in two hours in 3D, where the element of space really becomes part of the very fabric of the narrative, as we tried to accomplish here in our editing? Its so unlimited. So yes, there are certain technical issues to deal with as you go ahead and work on a picture, but those are choices you make and you work it through. I wouldnt be intimidated by it. You should really try and be bold. AWARDSLINE: Recently, 3D has been knocked as an excuse for studios to charge higher ticket prices. Now were seeing more filmmakers like you, Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Ridley Scott shooting in it. Would you prefer to shoot all your movies in 3D going forward? SCORSESE: Quite honestly, I would. I dont think theres a subject matter that cant absorb 3D; that cant tolerate the addition of depth as a storytelling technique. We view everyday life with depth. I think certain subject matters arent meant for 3D but you have to go back to Technicolor; when it was used in 1935 with Becky Sharp. For about 10-15 years, Technicolor was relegated to musicals, comedies and westerns. It wasnt intended for the serious genres, but now everything is in color. And so its just a different mindset. Granted once the technology advances and you can eliminates glasses that are hindrances to some moviegoers, so why not? Its just a natural progression. AWARDSLINE: This is a family film with a sophisticated message. What concessions did you make so that kids would be engaged in Hugo? SCORSESE: I have a young daughter whos going to be 12 in a few weeks. By living with her everyday, I began to see things differently. So I was always checking on how a child would perceive this, every frame, including the station inspector, all these tricks, his sense of authority which is subverted by his, at times, his ridiculousness. It was always about what would a child think about this scene? How would they see it? Thats why we had to heighten the look of the picture and the train station. We designed the picture to call back to a very special kind of dream-like palace that Ren Clair used or designed in 1930, to give a feeling of a fairy tale world, but yet to speak to a reality. The station inspector [Sacha Baron Cohen] might be funny at times, but he still has the authority to put children in the orphanage. So I always tried to see it through a childs eyes. AWARDSLINE: Your films always factor in the discussion during Oscar season. Youve been nominated five times as director before you won with The Departed. What was the most gratifying part of getting the Oscar? SCORSESE: I made Departed as an attempt at a gangster thriller. It was really remarkable that of all the films I made, that picture was singled out. And I think I was most happy for my family. Everybody always gets up and thanks their family, but the reality is that they were so excited, including a few of my aunts. One of my aunts just passed away, she was the last of my father and my mothers world. She was excited. She was in tears. It meant a great deal to them. Its not that (the award) doesnt mean a great deal for me, but it fulfilled a long journey that many were on with me. And it was very sweet. AWARDSLINE: Youve tried to adapt the Shusaku Endo novel Silence, about 17th Century Jesuits who risk their lives to bring Christianity to Japan. It isnt commercial, it has been hard to finance, but it looks like youll finally get your chance to make it. Why has it been so important to you? SCORSESE: My initial interests in life were very strongly formed by what I took seriously at that time, and 45-50 years ago I was steeped in the Roman Catholic religion. As you get older, ideas go and come. Questions, answers, loss of the answer again and more questions, and this is what really interests me. Yes, the Cinema and the people in my life and my family are most important, but ultimately as you get older, theres got to be more. Much, much more. The very nature of secularism right now is really fascinating to me, but at the same time do you wipe away what could be more enriching in your life, which is an appreciation or some sort of search for that which is spiritual and transcends? Thats one of the reasons why I made the George Harrison documentary. Silence is just something that Im drawn to in that way. Its been an obsession, it has to be done and now is the time to do it. Its a strong, wonderful true story, a thriller in a way, but it deals with those questions. AWARDSLINE: Are the questions youre asking here similar to the questions that drew you to Last Temptation of Christ? SCORSESE: Yes, but this is a different line of questioning. AWARDSLINE: We Catholics are always struggling for answers. SCORSESE: There are no answers. We all know that. You try to live in the grace that you can. But there are no answers, but the point is, you keep looking. Because people tell you science tells us everything. Science doesnt! They just have discovered these Neutrinos that go faster than the speed of light. And there is this idea that once we got to a point in the mid-20th century and now the 21st century where everything is known in a sense, right? Well, we dont! We dont really know everything. I mean, yes, we dont know what happened in the Big Bang, but we understand the idea of progress. But have we really progressed? Weve progressed on the outside, but what about inside? What about the soul and the heart? Without trying to sound pompous and ridiculous, I can tell you this is where my interest is. AWARDSLINE: When a director with your accomplishments keeps challenging his beliefs and asking questions like this, does that show youve still got the capacity for growth? SCORSESE: I hope! [laughs] I hope! Thats what Im trying for!

Taylor Swifts Fantastic American Music Awards Night With Her Brother

First Published: November 21, 2011 9:52 AM EST Credit: WireImage LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Taylor Swift and brother Austin Swift are seen at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on November 20, 2011Taylor Swift had a huge night on Sunday at the American Music Awards, winning three awards including Artist of the Year and she was overjoyed to share the experience with her brother, Austin. It really was wonderful that my brother was here to see that, Taylor told Access Hollywood guest correspondent Tim Vincent backstage at the AMAs. Hes usually at college. He goes to college and just lives a completely different life than me, the 21-year-old singer explained. To take him into my world for a second, it made me feel really good to be winning. Taylor was also excited to have close friend Selena Gomez in the audience on her big night. I was on stage, and I was just like, I love all my friends. I love my family. I love you, Selena. It was just this stream of consciousness because I honestly had no idea what to say, she said of her speech, where she thanked the fellow star along with her brother. Even after taking home three trophies, Taylor appeared to be in awe backstage. This is a huge night for me. I cant believe that tonight went the way that it did and that my fans were so amazing. Three awards-- its wonderful, she told Tim. I was hoping for one. You hope, thinking, Wouldnt it be cool to win one? That would be great. Then one happened, and I was like, This is amazing. This has been such a fantastic night. Then its just like, Oh, theres another one. Then theres the giant crazy category of artist of the year, she said. Adding, I cant believe that happened. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'The Iron Lady' Star Meryl Streep is Under-Appreciated (Analysis)

It's tough to reason why the actress Meryl Streep -- which has received 16 Oscar nominations (greater than almost every other guy or lady ever), a few which brought to wins -- is under-appreciated with the Academy. That, however, is strictly things i have felt the necessity to complete since screening the newest film through which she stars, Phyllida Lloyd's "The Iron Lady," this year's week.If anybody needed a indication that Streep might be the earth's finest living actress, this performance can it be. She transforms -- body, soul, and, obviously, accent -- into former British pm Margaret Thatcher, who's less than history's most enjoyable or encouraging character, but who's humanized with the actress to have an extent that we i i never thought imaginable. It's almost close to the indicate discuss the film overall, since Streep's performance so rules it. Sure, Alexandra Roach is excellent since the youthful version of Maggie Jim Broadbent does his usual solid character behave as the older version's put-upon husband Denis Thatcher and Alexander Thoughts are perfectly fine as Thatcher's political ally-switched-challenger Geoffrey Howe. However the truth is the truth that there's one reason to find out "The Iron Lady:" it features the most effective actress that individuals have working near the top of her game.The question, clearly, is if that's sufficient for your Academy, which has, on 14 occasions, nominated Streep but selected to recognition someone else -- including three in the last five years, even though she was perfectly worth victory on her behalf amazing be employed in "The Demon Wears Prada" (2006) and/or "Doubt" (2008) and/or "Julie & Julia" (2009). It is not like the performances that beat hers -- Helen Mirren in "The EntireInch (2006), Kate Winslet in "The Visitors" (2008), and Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" (2009) -- were substantially better. (Really, I'd reason why only Mirren's even might have been worthier.) Which is nothing beats Streep is unliked -- really, she seems being respected and revered by her peers. (Indeed, both Winslet and Bullock particularly acknowledged her within the podium when delivering their Oscar acceptance speeches, with Winslet saying, "In my opinion many of us can't believe we're in the category with Meryl Streep whatsoever!")How do we explain it?Here's my theory: lots of people -- including Academy people -- aren't exactly on the Oscar stats. Whatever they find out about Streep is always that she seems being nominated every year, which she doesn't campaign to win as strongly as her rivals, so, naturally enough, they conclude they remains properly taken proper proper care of over time ("She must have six Oscars at this time!In .) and isn't especially hungry for additional recognition ("Because situation, let's give someone else an chance this time around around!").The cold, hard particulars, however, tell another story, and may be noted by voters henceforth. Consider the next amounts...29 -- That number it has been since Meryl Streep last won an Oscar -- basically, an entire generation of people, including myself, came old without ever getting seen her honored on her behalf sort out the Academy.3 -- The quantity of best actress Oscars that Katharine Hepburn -- the actress to whom Streep is most often in contrast as well as the only other one which ever seems to top lists in the finest celebrities of-time -- had won when she was Streep's current age (62) Hepburn would look at win another to produce her total to four.1 -- The quantity of best actress Oscars that Streep has won. It came for "Sophie's Choice" (1982) her first Oscar, which came three years earlier for "Kramer versus. Kramer" (1979), was for top supporting actress. To put things in a few perspective, this really is really exactly the same volume of best actress Oscars that have been won by Cher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon.2 -- The quantity of best actress Oscars that Hilary Swank has won. In mentioning this disparity I'm speaking about no disrespect to Swank, who's an incredible actress within their right... however think that even Swank would acknowledge it is a little messed up they has two occasions as much best actress Oscars as Meryl Streep. The Hollywood Reporter

Nick Cannon On Relationship With Mariah Carey: Were A Genuine Couple

First Released: November 17, 2011 4:56 PM EST Credit: ABC Caption Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon with twins Moroccan and Monroe on Basic steps 20/20LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Nick Cannon doesn't have trouble with wife Mariah Carey acknowledging in her own newest interview with Barbara Walters that they only trusts her husband sometimes. Thats us. Thats how it truly is. Were a genuine couple and that we dont pull any punches for that media, Nick told Access Hollywood at T-Mobile & Googles Launch of Google Music in La on Wednesday evening. Its as with every relationship, should you request a lady if she trusts a guy, shes certainly gonna say, Sometimes. Mariah really removed some misconception herself within an interview with Gayle King lately, as she marketed her Jenny Craig weight reduction, telling Gayle that troubles inside a past relationship triggered her to possess trust difficulties with males. And for that weight reduction of 30 pounds because the birth of Nick and Mariahs twins Monroe and Moroccan Nick stated he supported his wifes efforts. Its amazing that shes doing the work, Nick stated. Ive been happy with her because the beginning, this whole process being mom of the kids and knowing exactly what she experienced, and all sorts of the sacrifices that they needed to make after which to even recover is certainly impressive. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

's Time Warner Cable Really, Finally, Near To An Offer To Provide Cinemax Go?

It’s stange that the former corporate cousin of Cinemax — Time Warner Cable — continues to be greatest pay TV company that also doesn’t offer customers the chance to gain access to the Cinemax Go digital streaming service. But which will change “soon,” Time Warner Cable COO Robert Marcus informs Bloomberg. Marcus rejected to express what’s holding some misconception — and that we’ve been hearing for several weeks that the deal only agreed to be nearby. Still, if Marcus’ conjecture is correct, it means the Cinemax clients among TWC’s 12.1M customers will have the ability to watch shows for example Boardwalk Empire, Hung, Bored To Dying, and Real-time With Bill Maher when needed from Web-connected products including pills and cell phones. It’s vital that you Cinemax because TWC serves a couple of its greatest marketplaces, Manhattan and La. TWC and Cablevision would be the only major cable, satellite, and telco video companies that also don’t offer Cinemax Go.

Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Aniston Among People's Choice Nominees

Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Aniston Among People's Choice Nominees By Sophie Schillaci November 9, 2011 Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Robert Pattinson Kaley Cuoco, who will serve as host of the 2012 People's Choice Awards, hit The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to announce the lucky nominees for this year's ceremony.Joined by Elisha Cuthbert, Julianne Hough, Joe Jonas, Jennifer Morrison, Sharon Osbourne, Busy Phillips and executive producer Mark Burnett, the announcement marked the first day of voting in all 43 categories. Fans can visit PeoplesChoice.com to cast their votes until Dec. 6, 2011, where registered voters are automatically entered to win tickets to the show each time they participate. Options for voting are also available via Facebook, Twitter and Android mobile devices.The show is slated to air live on CBS from Nokia Theater, L.A. Live on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Now in its 38th year, the People's Choice Awards celebrates music, movies, television, and everything in between. The Hollywood Reporter Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Aniston Among People's Choice Nominees By Sophie Schillaci November 9, 2011 Robert Pattinson PHOTO CREDIT Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Kaley Cuoco, who will serve as host of the 2012 People's Choice Awards, hit The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to announce the lucky nominees for this year's ceremony.Joined by Elisha Cuthbert, Julianne Hough, Joe Jonas, Jennifer Morrison, Sharon Osbourne, Busy Phillips and executive producer Mark Burnett, the announcement marked the first day of voting in all 43 categories. Fans can visit PeoplesChoice.com to cast their votes until Dec. 6, 2011, where registered voters are automatically entered to win tickets to the show each time they participate. Options for voting are also available via Facebook, Twitter and Android mobile devices.The show is slated to air live on CBS from Nokia Theater, L.A. Live on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Now in its 38th year, the People's Choice Awards celebrates music, movies, television, and everything in between. The Hollywood Reporter

UPDATE: Viacom Says Nielsen Snafu Led To Decline In Nickelodeon Toy Ads; Forecasts Strong 2012 Despite Economic Headwinds

The Sumner Redstone-controlledentertainment giant says it will buy back $10B worth of its shares, up from $4B — which is sure to make investors happy. But they’ll also like the fiscal 4Q results: Viacom’s continuing operations had net earnings of $583M, up 19% from the period last year, on revenues of $4.05B, up 21.7%. Analysts thought revenues would come in at $3.75B. And earnings from continuing operations, at $1.06 a share, exceeded forecasts for $1.03. Paramount’s filmed entertainment unit was the star with revenues up 46% to $1.8B. The company says that was mostly due to the strong box office sales for Transformers: Dark Of The Moon. The media networks — the largest operation with cable channels such as MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon — were up 8% to $2.3B. Ad sales were up 7% while rate increases boosted affiliate fees 11%to $883M. “Our financial position is as strong as it has ever been, which allows us to continue to invest in the growth of our businesses, including new branded television networks in the U.S. and internationally, and Paramount’s recently launched animation label,” CEO Philippe Dauman says. The studio is “benefiting from a disciplined franchise-centric approach that has produced an unprecedented number of hits,” headds, while the new stock repurchase effort shows “our confidence in Viacom’s long-term outlook.” The company spent $2.5B in the latest fiscal year buying back 19.7M shares, and has $7.2B left in its newly raised $10B authorization. Redstone says that the financial results illustrate “the value of our focused strategy and strong leadership.”

Screen Gems Closes Deal to Remake Toronto Sensation 'The Raid'

"The Raid" Well, it's official: Screen Gems has announced it's closed the deal on the remake rights for The Raid, the hot Indonesian action movie written and directed by Gareth Evans.our editor recommendsScreen Gems in Negotiations to Remake 'The Raid' (Exclusive)'The Raid' Director Signs with Management 360Toronto 2011: Hot Indonesian Action Movie 'The Raid' Sells Out the World (Exclusive) The pic won the Toronto Film Festival's Midnight Madness Audience Award and told the story of a SWAT team that becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster, armed with two highly violent martial arts killers and an army of machete-swinging, machine gun-toting dealers and thugs. THR/Heat Vision first broke the news of the remake in September. According to Screen Gems, "the remake will be produced by XYZ Films, which produced the original film as well. Evans will executive produce the project but will not write or direct this new English language film." And most interestingly, the fight choreographers of the original film will also be involved with this remake. That last part is key since a lot of the buzz generated from the movie is due to the on-screen showing of the Indonesian fighting form called silat. International

Still together, still crazy

Alums from the NY Comedy Festival, now entering its eighth year, include Came Carey, Susie Essman, Denis Leary, Margaret Cho and Louis C.K.Louis Faranda, Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox prepare another laff confab. Because the NY Comedy Festival comes into its eighth year this month, the huge event orchestrated by Caroline Hirsch, Andrew Fox and Louis Faranda from the Caroline's on Broadway comedy club appears like a highly-oiled machine, with more than 50 shows featuring the nation's top comics happening in Manhattan and beyond. But getting here wasn't as simple. Comedy never is simple. "It had been very hard whenever we began, without a doubt. It had been crazy in the beginning," recalls Faranda, who's the talent producer for that fest along with the club. "The very first two, 3 years were crazy, because you will find there's famous club, but i was not festival marketers. We were not theater marketers. But one thing that Caroline accustomed to tell me constantly was that people could get it done much better than anybody, because we live comedy, we live it and breathe it every single day in our lives." The concept for that fest coalesced in 2003 when Hirsch and company celebrated two decades of Caroline's having a large show at Carnegie Hall. "It had been this type of grand event, people had the optimum time,Inch the comedy impresario recalls. "Everyone was like, 'Oh my God, you must do this more frequently!' So that's the way it began. It had been additionally a way that i can use individuals who had graduated in the club and gone onto the concert circuit and that i could be involved."So by using her wife, lawyer and business connect, Andrew Fox, plus Faranda, Hirsch leaped to the festival biz. "The very first year we incorporated in regards to a 100 different comics within 20 shows through the city," she recalls. With Comedy Central along for that ride right from the start, it had been an excellent start. However things got rocky. Really, really rocky."Following the first couple of years, the 3 people, Caroline, myself, and Andrew Fox were fighting so bad, since it am crazy attempting to make it work," confesses Faranda, that has been the talent booker at Caroline's within the last 16 years. "Caroline was prepared to throw me out, and Andrew and that i were not speaking, it had been just nutty. It had been a level within the festival, because all of us finally made the decision that individuals would like to see us just fail and leave behind the entire factor. And that we were not likely to allow that to happen." The trio battled with the hard occasions, in what Faranda calls their collective "deep associations" with numerous world's top comics. "It's become to the stage in which the industry sees us as great producers. We now have won over their rely upon these eight years," he states. It's clearly assisted to possess Comedy Central within their corner forever that area of the puzzle of assembling a effective comedy festival really came easily. Mitch Fried, senior Vice president from the network's live entertainment, states, "I have known Caroline and Andrew Fox a very long time, then when Andrew contacted me initially concerning the festival, being it's within our backyard, we thought about being involved. "Caroline is among the leading people in the market if this involves knowing comedy and also the nuances from it, and getting an awareness from the different amounts of talent," Fried continues. "She's a significant eye, to determine that up-and-comer that has that potential. And that is something which Comedy Central is honored on too. We grow them on the way, and thus does Caroline. Therefore it would be a real natural fit between her approach and our method of comedy generally.InchMarketing the NY Comedy Festival with "just a little exposure around the network" at first has morphed right into a larger presence, both via TV and also the Internet. "We have grown it a great deal as time have passed by," Fried states. "We have extended what we should do pretty significantly. This past year we introduced a unique show known as 'Comics to look at,A that is really youthful comics who had didn't have exposure on tv before, that people chose together with Caroline's. We are streaming that demonstrate on our website this season. And we are also shooting the J.B. Smoove show throughout the festival to air afterwards the network, too."Plus, Fried was instrumental within the greatest alterations in the 2010 festival."I have had lots of heart-to-heart conversations with Caroline and Andrew about growing the festival out, which makes it bigger and larger," states the Comedy Central professional. "We actually desired to learn how to allow it to be more inclusive then sell more great comedy. It isn't nearly people in Manhattan, or NY City visiting the shows, it is the NY tristate area. People who reside in Connecticut and Nj and New York are likely to drive in or go ahead and take train directly into begin to see the shows, so why wouldn't you take it to the outer boroughs, too?"They're literally taking their show on the highway this season, going beyond such classic Manhattan venues as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Radio City, Beacon Theater, Town Hall and also the Tribeca Center for Carrying out Arts they have used through the years, and at risk of newer and more effective places."We always spoken about visiting the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which year it had been available, and that we had the best person to get it done there, that is Sarah Silverman, therefore it made sense. And we are delivering Louis C.K. to Staten Island, so that's very worthwhile,Inch Hirsch states. "This is along with what we have produced in NY with New york city & Co. (the marketing arm from the city). A few days from the festival is known as Comedy Week, and it is a part of getting comedy towards the whole city. We've got some small shows in Queens, too, and J.B. Smoove come in Williamsburg."Adding venues and "quadrupling the amount of comics this season,Inch based on Faranda, is clearly great for business. "We have gone from selling 20,000 tickets early onto selling 50,000 tickets!" Hirsch announces. Include the "over $ten millionInch the annual Fully stand up for Heroes benefit kickoff event (this season featuring Jon Stewart, Ough Gervais and Bruce Springsteen) has introduced in, and there is little question the shaky start is lengthy behind Caroline and company."We'll put this festival on until I can not get it done anymore,Inch she vows. HIGHLIGHTSNov. 9What: The fifth Annual Fully Stand Up for Heroes BenefitWhere: Beacon Theater, 8 p.m.Who: Annual benefit for that Bob Woodruff Foundation, featuring Ough Gervais, Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Bruce Springsteen and also the Max Weinberg Large Band.What: Comics to WatchWhere: Carolines on Broadway, 7 p.m.Who: Jeffrey Ross hosts this showcase of up-and-coming comics, new talent hands-selected by Carolines and Comedy Central, also streaming on Comedy Central's website.November. 10What: "Wanda Sykes Live"Who: Wanda SykesWhere: NY Comedy FestivalWhat: "Back on Ground"Who: Russell PetersWhere: Carolines on Broadway, 7:30 p.m.What: "Louis C.K. Live"Who: Louis C.K.Where: Beacon Theater, 7:30 p.m.November. 11What: "That's What You'll GetInchWho: Bill BurrWhere: Carnegie Hall, 7:30 p.m.What: "The KnowledgeInchWho: Tracy MorganWhere: Beacon Theater, 8 p.m.What: "Louis C.K. Live"Who: Louis C.K.Where: St. George Theatre, Staten Island, 8 p.m.November. 12What: "Tired Hooker"Who: Kathy GriffinWhere: Carnegie Hall, 8 p.m.What: "A Night Time with Bill Maher"Who: Bill MaherWhere: Beacon Theater, 7:30 p.m.What: "Sarah Silverman and Buddies"Who: Sarah SilvermanWhere: Brooklyn Academy of Music, 8 p.m.November. 13What: "Existence from NY...Attorney At Law using the 'SNL' Writers'Who: Seth Meyers, Erik Kenward, John Mulaney, Colin Jost, Marika Sawyer, moderated by Steve GaydosWhere: Paley Center for Media, 4 p.m.What: "JB Smoove One-Hour Comedy Central Special"Who: JB SmooveWhere: Music Hall of Williamsburg, 7 p.m.What: "A Conversation with Ough Gervais"Who: Ough GervaisWhere: 92nd Street Y, 7:30 p.m.RELATED LINKS Comics flock to NY Comedy Fest Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Campion to direct Sundance/BBC small

Sundance Funnel and BBC Worldwide have inked an offer to co-produce "The surface of the Lake," a seven-episode scripted miniseries directed by "Vibrant Star" helmer Jane Campion and Garth Davis, and starring "Mad Males" thesp Elisabeth Moss and Campion's "Piano" collab (and Oscar champion for that role) Carol Hunter. The small, composed by Campion and Gerard Lee, will even star Peter Mullan and David Wenham, and will also be created by See-Saw Films' Emile Sherman and Iain Canning ("The King's Speech"), and Escapade Pictures' Philippa Campbell. It is the second scripted greenlight from Sundance now, using the net's first wholly-possessed project, scripted drama "Rectify," damaged by Variety the 2009 week. You will find more in the future, based on Sundance g.m. and professional veep Sarah Barnett. "We are carrying out a lot more than we have ever needed to scripted drama on Sundance," Barnett stated inside a phone interview. "You want to unveil a proper quantity of scripted shows." Requested the way the internet would distinguish itself from drama-centric sister cabler AMC because it ramped up its slate, Barnett stated she thought the city was large enough for the pair of them. "They are led by something which kind of defies formula, much like we," she stated. "You will find lots of great projects -- enough for everyone, therefore we don't be concerned about walking on toes." Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

See Frederick Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Modine and two Pink Under garments around the Group of 'The Dark Dark night Rises'

Matthew Modine was among the last stars cast by Christopher Nolan in 'The Dark Dark night Increases,' and the top-secret role was apparently from the heavy variety. In May, Showbiz411 author Roger Friedman says Modine would play Nixon, "a politician along with a key villain" within the long awaited 'Dark Knight' follow up. Awesome! Though knowing from all of these new set photos of Modine filming 'The Dark Dark night Rises' in NY, Modine's "Nixon" is not an regular politician. For just one, he comes with Frederick Gordon-Levitt's character and also the relaxation from the Gotham City Police Department for an additional, he likes experimenting with... ladies pink under garments? Really, maybe he's a politician. Browse the new spy photos ahead. 'The Dark Dark night Increases' Hits NY See All Moviefone Art galleries » 'The Dark Dark night Increases,' now filming in NY, hits theaters on This summer 18, 2012. [Top Photo: Jose Perez/Splash News] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Brett Ratner Is Hunting Eichmann

Tower Heist director targets MossadBest noted for commercial actioners and comedies such as the Hurry Hrs and also the imminent Tower Heist, Brett Ratner looks to become getting serious for just one of his future projects: a Nazi-hunting drama about Hunting Eichmann.Adolf Eichmann would be a high-ranking SS officer throughout world war ii, and one of the leading figures behind the conception and facilitation from the Final Solution: he organised the logistics behind the mass deportation / removal of Jews towards the ghettos and concentration camps of Eastern Europe.Following the war he fled to Argentina, where he labored like a foreman inside a Mercedes-Benz factory. He was finally located in 1960 through the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, attempted for crimes against humanity, and hanged in 1962, the only real execution ever to derive from a civil trial in Israel.Because the title indicates, it's his publish-war analysis and pursuit that concerns Hunting Eichmann, a thriller concerning the Israeli agents privately entering Argentina around the war criminal's trail. Ann Peacock (The Lion, The Witch And Also The Wardrobe) is writing the script, with Anthony Bregman (Eternal Sunshine From The Spotless Mind) creating for Mandalay Pictures.Eichmann was performed by Stanley Tucci in Frank Pierson's brilliant 2001 TV-film Conspiracy, by Thomas Kretschmann in Robert Young's 2007 Eichmann.