Daily Variety articles from February 2012

Daily Variety archives from February 2012

Thesp Eyes 'Noah' Trip
February 29, 2012... After being courted for months, Russell Crowe is in negotiations to play the title character in Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic "Noah." Previous reports indicated Aronofsky was eyeing Crowe for the role, while the actor teased his Twitter...

DWA profits drop as discs plummet.(DreamWorks Animation)
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DreamWorks Animation's week isn't off to a good start. Profits at the toon studio plunged 72% during the fourth quarter to $24 million on revenue down 21% to $219 million, as the decline in DVD sales continued to...

Par Touts Toon Vision: Investor Confab: Dauman Slates 'SpongeBob'; Bewkes Talks Tech Hurdles; Carey Assesses 'Idol.'
February 29, 2012... Philippe Dauman talked up Paramount Animation's plan to release its first pic, a "SpongeBob SquarePants" vehicle, in 2014. Jeff Bewkes urged investors to get tough on the media biz to make on-demand services more user friendly lest showbiz...

Post-merger pinkslips hit Summit.(Summit Entertainment )
February 29, 2012... In the wake of its acquisition by Lionsgate, layoffs at Summit Entertainment began this week, cuts that will include a handful of senior execs including TV distribution head Alex Fragen and home entertainment chief Steve Nickerson. Bobby...

Broadband Price Ploy
February 29, 2012... Time Warner Cable is starting small in a bid to bill broadband subscribers differently, but there could be big implications for such streaming services as Netflix if it expands across the MSO's customer base. Launching in just a handful of...

Leaping Ahead to Media Future Squawk
February 29, 2012... NBC's "30 Rock" had some recent fun lampooning the idea of Leap Day in an episode that otherwise mostly served as a reminder how improbable it is the modestly rated sitcom, introduced in 2006, lived to see a second leap year. Still, there is...

Time Is Right for PR Chief
February 29, 2012... Teri Everett, who recently ankled as head of PR for News Corp., has jumped to Time Inc., where she'll oversee corporate communications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everett's former News Corp. colleague Gary Ginsberg has led corporate...

Jacobson Adds Exec to Force
February 29, 2012... Brad Simpson has joined production company Color Force as a partner as part of plans by "The Hunger Games" producer Nina Jacobson to amp up the 5-year-old banner. Simpson produced the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" films with Jacobson and will focus...

Strand picks up noir drama 'Crazy Eyes'.(Strand Releasing)(Brief article)
February 29, 2012... Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to Adam Sherman's contempo noir drama "Crazy Eyes," starring Lukas Haas and Madeline Zima. The film, which will have its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival next week, follows a young man whose...

4 Mount Up for 'Ranger'
February 29, 2012... Disney has found four thesps to round out the cast of its Gore Verbinski-helmed actioner "The Lone Ranger." Matt O'Leary and Harry Treadaway will play members of Butch Cavendish's gang, and W. Earl Brown and Leon Rippy have also joined the...

A Rare Win for ABC: Net Hopes Oscarcast Boosts Debuts
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Big ratings for the Oscars on Sunday lifted ABC to a rare primetime ratings victory last week and, the net hopes, should help kickstart its spring sked. ABC doesn't benefit from monster football ratings like the...

Col Sets 'Taped' Redo
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Columbia Pictures has acquired rights to develop the Dutch thriller "Taped" as an English-language pic to be produced by Red Wagon Entertainment's Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher. Dutch film follows a young couple...

USA raises digital exec.
February 29, 2012... Jesse Redniss has been upped to senior VP of digital at USA Network. With his new title, Redniss' responsibilities include spearheading the cabler's social-media initiatives, technology innovations, monetization strategies and content...

Brand, Sheen Shows Set FX Debut Date
February 29, 2012... FX has set June 28 for launches of its new series "Anger Management" and "'Strangely Uplifting" as well as the return of comedies "Louie" and "Wilfred." "Anger Management" is a half-hour laffer starring Charlie Sheen, based on the feature...

BBC America Plans Sci-Fiers
February 29, 2012... BBC America is developing two new series with Blighty's Clerkenwell Films, with BBC Worldwide distributing. Sci-fi drama "Wired" comes from Steven Volk ("Afterlife") and takes place in a universe similar to ours except that it is occupied by...

Assistance
February 29, 2012... Assistance (Playwrights Horizons; 198 seats: $70 top) A Playwrights Horizons presentation of a play in one act by Leslye Headland. Directed by Trip Cullman. Set, David Korins; costumes, Jessica Pabst: lighting, Ben Stanton: sound, Jill BC...

Waltzing to B'way: London Tuner 'Matilda' Set to Jump Pond
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Royal Shakespeare Company will bring its big London hit "'Matilda" to Broadway early next year, issuing preemptive confirmation of the much-anticipated news ahead of the imminent start of adult auditions for the...

Weitz lassoes film duo to play.(Paul Weitz casts Topher Grace and Olivia Thirlby in Lonely, I'm Not)(Brief article)
February 29, 2012... Paul Weitz has recruited film thesps Topher Grace and Olivia Thirlby for the upcoming Off-Broadway preem of his new play, "Lonely, I'm Not," at Second Stage. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Grace, making his legit debut, stars as a post-flameout...

Hyde Pierce, Hall Head to Williamstown
February 29, 2012... A gangster-themed revival of "The Importance of Being Earnest" helmed by David Hyde Pierce, a world preem by scribe Katori Hall and a new Richard Nelson translation of "A Month in the Country" are among shows rounding out the 2012 slate at the...

Crime Pays for BBCW: Biz Brisk at Showcase
February 29, 2012... Drama is selling strongly at BBC Worldwide's annual Showcase U.K. sales mart, being held for the first time in Liverpool, in northern England. Crimers are doing particularly well at the four-day event, which wraps today. Japanese...

Cannes.(World News)
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marilyn Monroe graces the Cannes fest official poster.

Bankruptcy Hits Target
February 29, 2012... U.K. TV distributor Target Entertainment has gone into administration, the U.K. version of Chapter 11, 18 months after being acquired by Metrodome for $1.2 million. Metrodome said there was little prospect that Target would return to...

Sales Continue to Rack Up after Berlin
February 29, 2012... Territory deals continue in Germany in the wake of the Berlinale's European Film Market, which reported record attendance of close to 8,000 participants from 100 countries, up 15% on last year. Swiss-German entertainment group Ascot Elite...

Rendez-Vous Pics to Play in 40 Cities
February 29, 2012... Gallic promotion org Unifrance has partnered with Emerging Pictures to screen seven French films across 40 U.S. cities the same day they play at Rendez-Vous in New York, which kicks off today. Selected from 23 pics at the event, the seven...

Sony Betting on 'Pelayos'
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sony Pictures Releasing has snagged Spanish theatrical and home entertainment rights to adventure-movie "The Pelayos," starring Daniel Bruhl. Pic is based on the true story of the Pelayos, a Spanish family that...

Goodbye to All That
February 29, 2012... Goodbye to All That (Royal Court Upstairs. London; 87 seats; 20 [pounds sterling] ($32) top) A Royal Court Theater presentation of a play in one act by Luke Norris. Directed by Simon Godwin. Sets and costumes, Tom Piper; lighting, Matt...

Gaul Pics Have Fun, Will Travel: Hot B.O. at Home and Abroad Keeps Auds and Distribs Happy
February 29, 2012... PARIS "The Artist" is on a roll, sweeping trophies around the globe--but that s only one sign that Gallic cinema has got its mojo back. In 2010, Franch-language films made 85% of their gross outside France. That number dropped to 52% in...

Gaul's Players: New Generation
February 29, 2012... BERENICE BE JO From breakout artist to Oscar nominee, it has been a wild ride recently for the Argentinean-born Bejo. She had a small part in Brian Helgeland's "A Knight's Tale" early in her career but really started making a name for herself...

Black Butterflies
February 29, 2012... Black Butterflies (Germany-Netherlands-South Africa) Directed by Paula van der Oest. Screenplay, Greg Latter. Reviewed at Tribeca Film Center, New York, March 31, 2011. With: Carice van Houten, Liam Cunningham, Rutger Hauer, Graham Clarke,...

Boy
February 29, 2012... Boy (New Zealand) Directed, written hy Taika Waititi. Reviewed at Sundance Film Festival (World Cinema--competing), Jan. 22, 2010. With: James Rolleston, Taika Waititi, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, Moerangi Tihore, RickyLee Waipuka-Russell, Waihoroi...

Last Days Here
February 29, 2012... Last Days Here (Docu) Directed by Don Argott, Demian Fenton. Reviewed at London Film Festival (World Cinema), Oct. 22, 2011. With: Bobby Liebling, Sean Pelletier, Hallie Miller, Diane Liebling, Joe Liebling, Geof O'Keefe, Greg Mayne,...

Let the Bullets Fly
February 29, 2012... Let the Bullets Fly (China-Hong Kong) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Directed by Jiang Wen. Screenplay, Zhu Sujin, Shu Ping, Jiang Wen, Guo Junli, Wei Xiaon, Li Bukong, from "Ye Tan Shi Ji" by Ma Shitu. Reviewed nt Tribeca Film Festival...

The Salt of Life/Gianni e le donne.(Movie review)(Brief article)
February 29, 2012... The Salt of Life (Gianni e le donne) (Italy) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Directed by Gianni Di Gregorio. Screenplay, Di Gregorio, Valerio Attanasio. Reviewed at Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale Special), Feb. 11, 20li. With: Gianni Di...

The Snowtown Murders.(Movie review)(Brief article)
February 29, 2012... The Snowtown Murders (Australia) Directed by Justin Kurzel. Screenplay, Shaun Grant, inspired by the books "Killing for Pleasure" by Debi Marshall, "The Snowtown Murders" by Andrew McGarry. Reviewed at Adelaide Film Festival (Australian...

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
February 29, 2012... Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Directed, written by Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim. Reviewed at Broadway screening room, New York, Jan.12, 2012. With: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Will Ferrell, William...

Theodore Mann
February 29, 2012... Theodore Mann, a Tony Award-winning director and producer who championed Eugene O'Neill and was a driving force behind Circle in the Square Theater and its school, died Friday in New York of complications from pneumonia. He was 87. "His...

Jan Berenstain
February 29, 2012... Jan Berenstain, who with her husband, Stan, wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books that have charmed preschoolers and their parents for 50 years, resulting in two television series, a number of TV specials and even a videogame,...

Bernie Barron.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 29, 2012... Bernie Barron, a former executive at Columbia and Fox, died Feb. 20 in Palm Springs after a three-year battle with lung cancer. He was 83. Barron helped to pioneer TV broadcasting at WLH television in Cincinnati. After relocating to Los...

Mike Melvoin
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, former Recording Academy president and prolific studio musician Mike Melvoin died Thursday in Burbank. He was 74. Sporting a recording resume that included the Beach Boys' "Pet...

David Lewin
February 29, 2012... David Lewin, who was editor of the publication that would become Screen Intl. during a multidecade career as an entertainment journalist, died of natural causes on Feb. 19. He was 89. The Englishman did a stint as a news reporter at the Daily...

Nielsen Primetime Ratings Report
February 29, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Top shows in 1849 1. 84th Academy Awards (ABC) 11.7/27 2. Oscar's Red Carpet-3 (ABC) 6.2/16 3. The Voice (NBC) 6.0/15 4. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 5.3/16 5. American Idol-Wed....

Lionsgate Sees Bids for TV Guide Net
February 29, 2012... Lionsgate and JP Morgan Chase & Co.'s One Equity Partners wing has received several written offers from potential buyers for the TV Guide Network cabler and TVGuide.com website. A rep for Lionsgate declined comment Monday but a source...

Dear 'Abbey': you're in a new Emmy class.
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The move of PBS' "Downton Abbey" from miniseries to drama series for this year's Primetime Emmy race could be the impetus for the TV Academy to expand the drama series category to 10 nominees next year. So says John...

'Office' thesp clocks out.
February 28, 2012... James Spader is leaving "The Office" early. The network confirmed Monday that the Emmy-winning actor isn't going to return for a ninth season of the NBC series, a decision that was made at the actor's behest. "James always wanted this to...

Future Shock: The Awards Season Has Barely Ended, but Bizzers Are Already Making Plans for 2013 and Fretting about the Time Factor
February 28, 2012... Just days before Sunday's Oscarcast, the Producers Guild, Directors Guild and Screen Actors Guild announced dates for their 2013 ceremonies, eliciting a collective groan from an industry still looking for the light at the end of a long...

Kudos' Aud Crystallizes
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The uptick in viewership for the Academy Awards this year can likely be traced to two factors: the rise of social media and the return of Billy Crystal. Despite the lack of a...

CW crowns its 'Carrie'.
February 28, 2012... The CW has found its young Carrie Bradshaw. After a long search, AnnaSophia Robb has been tapped for the lead in "The Carrie Diaries," a prequel of sorts to HBO's "Sex Robb and the City." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The project from "Gossip...

Merger Foes Up Ante: Say Proponents Should Reimburse SAG
February 28, 2012... With ballots beginning to hit members' mailboxes, opponents of the SAG-AFTRA merger have amended their lawsuit against SAG to ask for a jury trial and monetary damages. Move comes a week after the four-count civil complaint was filed in Los...

CAA enlists 'G.I.' pic's new recruit.('G.I. Joe: Retaliation' star D.J. Cortona signs with Creative Artists Agency Inc.)(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... D.J. Cotrona has inked with CAA. Best known for his role on ABC "Detroit 1-8-7," Cotrona has his big break this summer with a starring role in Paramount's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cotrona was part of the cast...

Nashville shuffle.
February 28, 2012... EMI Nashville president-CEO Mike Dungan is exiting the country powerhouse for Universal Music Group Nashville, where he will take over as chairman-CEO. An official announcement of the move is expected this week. A UMG spokesman had no...

Issue-oriented pics lure producer.(Carol Polakoff to produce issue-oriented movies)
February 28, 2012... Filmmaker Carol Polakoff is ramping up a development slate of issue-oriented projects through her New York and Paris-based banner Carol Polakoff Prods. Intl. Polakoff has tapped Israeli helmer Eran Riklis ("Lemon Tree") to direct the...

Carriage deal for Bounce TV.(partnership with WWOR-TV New York)(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... Startup digital multicast channel Bounce TV is getting a big distribution boost through a carriage agreement with Fox-owned WWOR-TV New York. The African American-targeted channel bowed Monday as a multicast channel on WWOR. Bounce TV said it...

Bard on the menu for busy West End.(LEGIT)
February 28, 2012... The West End's dance card for later this year is filling up with the announcement of three incoming productions, including a transfer of a Shakespeare double bill toplined by Mark Rylance. Also on tap is a London move for the Royal...

Goodman books 'Jungle'.(LEGIT)(Goodman Theater lines up 'The Jungle Book' play)(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... The world preem of the Mary Zimmerman-helmed stage adaptation of "The Jungle Book" is among the shows lined up for the 2012-13 season at Chicago's Goodman Theater, with new plays by Christopher Shinn, Dael Orlandersmith and Quiara Alegria Hudes...

'Phantom' flies high: vet's B.O. spikes in solid sesh overall.(LEGIT)
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Looks like the publicity garnered by "The Phantom of the Opera" for its 10,000th perf a couple of weeks ago may be paying off: The 24-year-old Broadway stalwart saw sales spike last week, standing out in a frame that...

Broadway top 10: February 2026, 2012.(LEGIT)
February 28, 2012... Broadway Top 10: February 2026, 2012 Show Week's gross (Theater)(Prod. category) receipts Potential Prev. week's (Seats) gross receipts Gross receipts Wicked ...

Makin' more bacon: 'Epic Meal' producer pacts for Japan.(Yoshimoto Kogyo and Next Time Prods. to jointly produce 'Epic Meal Time Japan')
February 28, 2012... Japanese media conglom Yoshimoto Kogyo has partnered with Next Time Prods. to adapt its popular YouTube cooking show "Epic Meal Time" for Asian audiences, signaling that web series may soon start migrating to foreign markets, giving creators...

Aussie exec to shine USA.(Paul Franklin's appointment as Shine USA's executive vice-president of programming)(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... Paul Franklin is relocating from Australia to Los Angeles for a newly created position as Shine USA's exec VP of programming. Franklin will report to president Eden Gaha. Among the series Shine USA produces are "The Biggest Loser" for NBC,...

Charter reduces losses.
February 28, 2012... Charter Communications, with new CEO Tom Rutledge at the helm, said net losses narrowed last quarter to $67 million from $70 million a year earlier. Revenue at the struggling St. Louis-based company formerly owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul...

Tribeca Film to bow Donovan's debut.
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tribeca Film has picked up U.S. rights to Martin Donovan's "Collaborator," the comedy-drama that bowed last year at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Written and directed by thesp Donovan in his directorial debut, pic...

'Dead' finds governor.(Castings)(David Morrissey joins the television program entitled 'The Walking Dead')(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... David Morrissey has been added to the cast for the third-season of "The Walking Dead." He will play the Governor, a character from the Robert Kirkman graphic novel on which the net's top-rated show is based. The Governor is the leader of...

FX acts to secure 'Valor'.
February 28, 2012... FX has sealed a deal with Relativity Media for broadcast rights to "Act of Valor," the actioner that led the B.O. this past weekend. Deal continues FX's streak of snapping up the broadcast window for new theatricals, following deals with...

OZ producers merge: Cordell jigsaw pacts with Zapruder.(World News)
February 28, 2012... Australian mid-size production companies Cordell Jigsaw and Zapruder's Other Films have merged to create the country's biggest privately owned producer. Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder will be one of the most prolific providers of local skeins with...

Seydoux feels kind of 'Blue'.(World News)(Lea Seydoux to star in the movie entitled 'Blue Is a Hot Color')(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lea Seydoux, the rising French thesp last seen in "Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol" and Berlin opener "Farewell, My Queen," has joined the cast of Abdellatif Kechiche's "Blue Is a Hot Color." "Blue," a 3.98...

Teutons tote Berlin buys.(World News)(Studiocanal Germany, Prokino and Wild Bunch Germany's movie acquisitions at Berlin, Germany's European Film Market)(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... German distribs stocked up on movies this month at Berlin's European Film Market, which saw bustling business. Studiocanal Germany picked up Leslye Headland's Sundance screener "The Bachelorette," starring Kirsten Dunst; Regis Roinsard's...

Helmer's happy to adapt 'Sorrows'.(World News)
February 28, 2012... British auteur Terence Davies is developing a feature based on "Mother of Sorrows," the prize-winning 2005 debut novel by American Richard McCann. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Davies is working on the project with Leopardrama, the fiction arm of...

Fest offers peeks at pix.(World News)
February 28, 2012... The Guadalajara Festival, Mexico's biggest movie meet, has unveiled six pics taking part in its Guadalajara Construye, one of Latin America's key sneak-peeks at films in post-production from up-and-coming helmers. Laura Astorga's "Red...

Standing room only.(V: THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)(after-parties)
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Governors Ball started right when the show ended, but non-stop interviews delayed Meryl Streep's arrival until...

Awake.(Television program review)
February 28, 2012... (Series: NBC, Thurs. March 1, 10 p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by Letter Eleven and Teakwood Lane Prods. in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Executive producers, Howard Gordon, Kyle Killen, Jeffrey Reiner; co-executive producer,...

CQ/CX.(Theater review)
February 28, 2012... (Peter Norton Space; 160 seats; $65 top) An Atlantic Theater Company presentation of a play in two acts by Gabe McKinley. Directed by David Leveaux. Sets, David Rockwell; costumes, Jess Goldstein; lights, Ben Stanton; music and sound, David...

Rally backs reality show union effort.
February 28, 2012... About 60 supporters of the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Intl. Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 399 attended a Monday morning rally outside the Burbank, Calif., headquarters of Original Prods. as part of a push to unionize...

Sahkanaga.(Movie review)
February 28, 2012... A Gran Gran Pics presentation. Produced by John Henry Summerour, Miky Wolf. Executive producer, Tara Anderson. Directed, written by John Henry Summerour. Camera (color, Super 16), Damian Ward; editor, Miky Wolf; music, Paul Damian Hogan;...

Lionsgate tweaks dates.(Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. transfers screening dates for the movies 'Sinister' and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D')(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... Newly merged companies Summit and Lionsgate are coordinating their distribution efforts by moving "Sinister" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D" to maximize each pic's box office potential. "Sinister," originally slotted for Aug. 24, moves two...

Iranians politicize win.(Academy Awards 2011 Best Foreign Language Movie 'A Separation')(Brief article)
February 28, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Iranian state TV on Monday trumpeted the country's first Oscar win, for Asghar Farhadi's "A Separation," as a victory against Israel, which was also competing in the foreign-language film category. The jingoistic dig...

Hurt Village.
February 28, 2012... (Signature Center; 245 seats; $25 top) A Signature Theater Company presentation of a play in two acts by Katori Hall. Directed by Patricia McGregor. Sets & projections, David Gallo; costumes, Clint Ramos; lighting, Sarah Sidman; sound,...

Weekend at the B.O.
February 28, 2012... $132.6 million Feb. 24-26, 2012 +20.5% -17.6% vs. last year vs. last weekend Screen scene The weekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit) Gross 1 Tyler Perry's Good Deeds ...

Film box office wrap.
February 28, 2012... DAILY VARIETY Film box office wrap for the weekend of Feb. 24-26 Ranking Reported This Last weekend Week Week Title...

Will wins translate to box office victory?(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)
February 27, 2012... Oscar's top-prize winner also looks to be the biggest box office beneficiary of the kudos race. "The Artist," which nabbed four other statuettes (actor for Jean Dujardin, director for Michel Hazanavicius, score for Ludovic Bource and costume...

'Artist' best pic as Oscar revels in retro, int'l zing.(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)(The Artist)
February 27, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On a night tinged with international flair and homage to a bygone age of moviemaking, "The Artist" put the final strokes on its masterpiece of an awards season, winning the best-picture Oscar and four other awards to...

B&W and gold all over.(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)
February 27, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oscar telecasts always wage an internal struggle--balancing tradition and stateliness against the perceived need for risk and edge to attract younger viewers. After last year's rightfully mocked experiment with youthful...

Parlez-vous Oscar? French just one of evening's accents.(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)
February 27, 2012... There could be no better example of the ever-increasing globalization of the film biz than the number of translators working backstage at the Oscars. "This is for Italy," proclaimed Francesca Lo Schiavo, who shared the art direction trophy...

Long kudos journey for 'Separation'.(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)
February 27, 2012... Asghar Farhadi's family drama "A Separation" rolled through awards season with a string of prizes in the midst of highly tense relations between the United States and Iran. "A Separation" is the first Iranian film to win the foreignlanguage...

Bource underscored B&W pic's shadings.(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)
February 27, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] French composer Ludovic Bource's original score win for "The Artist" surprised virtually no one, as it plays a critical role in the pacing, humor and emotional context of Michel Hazanavicius' film. And Oscar likes...

And the Oscar goes to ...(THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS)
February 27, 2012... PICTURE "THE ARTIST" La Petite Reinc/Studio 37/La Classe Americaine/JD Prod/France3 Cinema/Jouror Prods./uFilm production; Thomas Langmann. producer (the Weinstein Co.) Thomas Langmann paid tribute to the role Harvey Weinstein played in...