Tom Hardy rides with WB biker film

HardyUnder his new first-look deal with Warner Bros., Tom Hardy is on board to star in and produce an outlaw biker feature.The "Dark Knight Rises" star is partnering with Art Linson and John Linson of Linson Entertainment to produce via his newly minted Executive Options banner, which Variety first reported Wednesday. Story, penned by "Vacancy" scripter Mark L. Smith and based on an original idea from John Linson, centers on a wounded Vietnam veteran who returns home to San Francisco at the height of unrest of 1969. Amid clashing cultures of the Haight Ashbury district, he emerges to become the leader of California's most violent outlaw biker club.Sarah Schechter overseeing for the studio.Hardy came on board in late 2010 to portray the villain Bane in the studio's "The Dark Knight Rises." The English actor's recent roles include "This Means War," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Warrior."The Linsons, Hardy, and Smith are represented by CAA. Hardy is also represented by Lindy King at United Agents UK and attorney Jason Sloane.Smith is managed by Anonymous Content. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Gravitas, Variance pact on indies

Gravitas Ventures and Variance Films are teaming to acquire and co-release seven to eight independent films a year theatrically in the U.S. and Canada and on VOD.Companies made the announcement Thursday, a day before the opening of South by Southwest, where the companies plan to use their acquisitions teams to seek out independent, documentary and foreign films that will benefit from a day and date theatrical/VOD release. Both companies will also continue to acquire films separately for their individual slates.The partnership will utilize a P&A fund created by Gravitas while retaining key long-term rights. Variance will execute the theatrical release Gravitas will handle the film across VOD operators.The companies touted the alliance as a natural extension of a relationship built over the last two years where Variance has handled theatrical and Gravitas has handled VOD include "American: The Bill Hicks Story, "Amigo," "Ip Man," "Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster," "Until the Light Takes Us," "Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen," "The Lottery," "White on Rice" and "Passport to Love.""This partnership breaks down yet another barrier for filmmakers, creating an exciting and financially viable new alternative for those who might otherwise be forced to either accept a less-than-adequate arrangement or be forced back into the world of fundraising to search for P&A," said Dylan Marchetti, founder of Variance Films.Six-year-old Gravitas is owned by founder Nolan A. Gallagher and financed by cash flow. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Fremaux spotlights Lumiere brothers

Just as Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" is popularizing George Melies, Cannes topper Thierry Fremaux was in Madrid recently at the Filmoteca Espanola's Cine Dore to underscore the efforts of two other French founding fathers of film, Louis and Auguste Lumiere. The presentation said a lot about the Lumieres, and about Fremaux, as he advances on the lineup for Cannes in May. Via an improvised Spanish-language audio commentary over a 69-minute anthology of the Lumieres' 50-second movies, Fremaux sought to enthuse a largely young crowd with cinema's origins. "Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory" -- whose exhibition at Paris' Grand Cafe on Dec. 28, 1895, marks cinema's birth, by the reckoning of some -- screened in three versions: two with workers and a horse; yet another sans horse. That means, Fremaux quipped, that the Lumieres made not only the first film but also the first remake. There was a serious purpose to the presentation. As director of Institut Lumiere in his home city of Lyon, Fremaux dispelled century-old notions, such as -- quoting Wikipedia -- that the brothers called cinema "an invention without any future." That, Fremaux argued, was a ruse to discourage competition, including from Melies himself who, attending the Grand Cafe screening, sought to buy the Lumieres' Cinematographe camera-projector patent. Commenting on many of history's oldest films, then leading a Q&A, Fremaux spotlighted his faith in the future for film thanks to the collective experience of cinemagoing, the nearest movies come to a live event. Cannes' red-carpet glam, world preems and auteur attendance gives its movies natural event status. But Fremaux has begun to take this sense of moviegoing as live communal entertainment further afield. Prix Lumiere ceremonies for Clint Eastwood, Milos Forman and Gerard Depardieu at the Lumiere-Grand Lyon Festival, launched in 2009, pack a 4,000-seat auditorium at a festival dedicated to retros, revivals and restorations. With plans to expand the European Film Week and the Institut Lumiere celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, Fremaux's enthusiasm for cinema as an event both historic and contemporary will manifest in even wider spheres. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Nicole Kidman to star in 'Railway Man'

LONDON -- Nicole Kidman has been cast as Colin Firth's wife in ''The Railway Man,'' replacing Rachel Weisz in the role.Weisz was forced to drop out of the project because she's required to do additional shooting on ''The Bourne Legacy'' and ''Oz: The Great and Powerful.''''The Railway Man,'' directed by Jonathan Teplitzy, is in pre-production to start shooting in April. A U.K.-Australian co-production backed by Lionsgate Intl., it's based on Eric Lomax's autobiography about his horrific experiences as a Japanese prisoner in World War II, and his remarkable reconciliation with one of his captors 30 years later.Lomax's wife Patti, who will be played by Kidman, took a key role in helping him to face up the longstanding psychological damage caused by his wartime horrors, and in bringing him back together with one of the Japanese officers who had participated in his torture.Jeremy Irvine (''War Horse'') plays the younger Lomax in the WWII scenes.Producer Andy Paterson co-wrote the adaptation with Frank Cottrell Boyce.''The Railway Man'' will shoot in Scotland with Firth and Kidman, before moving to Australia's Gold Coast for the WWII section. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive: Revenge Enlists Breaking Bad Mom for Mysterious Guest Spot

[Warning: This story contains major spoilers about AMC's The Walking Dead and the comic book series it originated from.] AMC may have just spoiled what might turn out to be the worst-kept TV secret of 2012. On the AMC website early Thursday, The Walking Dead's second season limited edition Blu-ray set was being promoted. One problem: The item's description included a major spoiler, touting that the bonus features include... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Glen MazzaraFrank DarabontThe Walking DeadJon Bernthal

Warren Buffett searching for the Starz

Warren Buffett, one of the world's richest people as well as the nation's most celebrated traders, is putting cash behind Starz as his holding Berkshire Hathaway boosts its media profile. The Oracle of Omaha has mostly shied from showbiz since the time of the old Capital Urban centersOrMastening numbers before Wally Disney bought in 1996. But he recently acquired 1.7 million shares of John Malone's Liberty Media, with different Opportunities and Exchange Commission filing now, in addition to elevated Berkshire's stake in DirecTV to twenty.3 million shares from about 4.2 million. Wall Streeters think the move may reflect no less than this is the influence of numerous new investment managers Buffett's triggered since the 81-year-old views succession. Fund managers Todd Hair hair combs and Ted Weschler have extended Berkshire's portfolio in technology and, now, media. The nearly $1 billion position in DirecTV makes Berkshire one of the company's top single traders. The SEC filing revealed Berkshire's U.S. equity holdings by 12 ,. 31. Last fall Liberty Media introduced expects to combine monitoring stocks of the Liberty Starz and Liberty Capital models and increase share buybacks, as have media companies, to draw traders. It labored. The stock rose continuously inside the fourth quarter. It hopped 2% Wednesday on news of Buffett's endorsement. Englewood, Colo.-based Liberty Media's primary possibilities are Starz, the Atlanta Braves baseball team and TruePosition, along with interests in Sirius XM and Barnes&Noble and minority stakes with time Warner and Viacom. Monitoring stock Liberty Interactive controls QVC and HSN. And Liberty Global has cable, satellite and telco assets in Europe, Latin America and Australia. Berkshire Hathaway can be a former textile company that is now offering stakes inside the apparel and retail, insurance and financial, energy, building products together with other industries. It's possessed one newspaper, the Zoysia Evening News, sine 1977. Coca-Cola is its greatest position at $14 billion. On tv, Buffett aided to purchase Capital Cities' acquisition of ABC in exchange for any slice from the combined company. More youthful crowd features a history with Disney. In the 1991 lecture at Notre Dame, he infamously known to how he bought 5% of the mouse button for $4 million in 1966 as Wall Street overlooked it. "The whole company was selling for $80 million. "Mary Poppins" had just emerge. "'Mary Poppins' made about $Thirty Dollars million that year, and many years later you'll probably show it to kids the identical age. It's like getting an oil well where all the oil seeps in." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'Guard' nabs five prizes at Irish Awards

John Michael McDonagh's "The Guard" was the big winner at the ninth Irish Film & TV Awards on Saturday evening at Dublin's Convention Center, taking five prizes including best film.McDonagh won for director, script and the Rising Star award, while "The Guard's" Fionnula Flanagan was named best supporting actress. Flanagan also received the Lifetime Achievement Award.But "The Guard" didn't have everything its own way. Michael Fassbender took the actor prize for "Shame" ahead of Brendan Gleeson, while Ryan Gosling won the international actor award for "Drive" ahead of Don Cheadle.Saoirse Ronan was named best actress for "Hanna." Glenn Close won the international actress prize for "Albert Nobbs," which also took awards for makeup and hair, sound and original score.Best supporting actor went to Chris O'Dowd for "Bridesmaids," while "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" won the prize for best international film.Consolata Boyle nabbed the costume design award for "The Iron Lady," and Seamus Garvey won the cinematography prize for "We Need to Talk About Kevin."Feature documentary laurels went to "Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey," while "Corp & Anam" won the special Irish language award, and "The Boy in the Bubble" won the animation prize.On the TV side, the second season of local gangster drama "Love/Hate" repeated last year's triumph with seven wins, including drama, director, writer and actor (for Aidan Gillen), supporting actor and supporting actress. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Casting Directors Set for Pilots From Louis C.K., 'GoodFellas' Writer

Casting Directors Set for Pilots From Louis C.K., 'GoodFellas' Writer By Daniel Lehman February 10, 2012 Photo by Starz/Chuck Hodes "Boss" Lauren Grey Casting will cast Louis C.K. and Spike Feresten's comedy pilot for CBS. The untitled project centers on an ensemble of young people who are trying to achieve their creative dreams in these tough financial times. Shoot dates are TBA.C.K. is a stand-up comic who also produces, writes, directs, edits, and stars in "Louie" on FX. Grey is the casting director for the Showtime series "Boss," and she has worked as a casting associate on feature films such as "Moneyball," "Milk," and "Tropic Thunder."Also for CBS, Sheila Jaffe and Gail Goldberg are casting the pilot for an untitled period drama based on the true story of Ralph Lamb, a former cowboy who became a longtime Las Vegas sheriff and made enemies of the mob and the Hell's Angels. The project is set in Las Vegas in the 1960s. "GoodFellas" screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi and "Without a Trace" writer Greg Walker will write and executive produce. James Mangold ("Walk the Line") will direct the pilot, which shoots in March.Jaffe has cast film and television projects since 1990. Her film credits include "Contraband," "The Fighter," "City Island," and "Observe and Report." Jaffe also cast the HBO series "Entourage," "The Sopranos," and "How to Make It In America." Goldberg's feature film casting credits include "You Again," "The Princess Diaries." and "10 Thing I Hate About You." Casting Directors Set for Pilots From Louis C.K., 'GoodFellas' Writer By Daniel Lehman February 10, 2012 "Boss" PHOTO CREDIT Starz/Chuck Hodes Lauren Grey Casting will cast Louis C.K. and Spike Feresten's comedy pilot for CBS. The untitled project centers on an ensemble of young people who are trying to achieve their creative dreams in these tough financial times. Shoot dates are TBA.C.K. is a stand-up comic who also produces, writes, directs, edits, and stars in "Louie" on FX. Grey is the casting director for the Showtime series "Boss," and she has worked as a casting associate on feature films such as "Moneyball," "Milk," and "Tropic Thunder."Also for CBS, Sheila Jaffe and Gail Goldberg are casting the pilot for an untitled period drama based on the true story of Ralph Lamb, a former cowboy who became a longtime Las Vegas sheriff and made enemies of the mob and the Hell's Angels. The project is set in Las Vegas in the 1960s. "GoodFellas" screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi and "Without a Trace" writer Greg Walker will write and executive produce. James Mangold ("Walk the Line") will direct the pilot, which shoots in March.Jaffe has cast film and television projects since 1990. Her film credits include "Contraband," "The Fighter," "City Island," and "Observe and Report." Jaffe also cast the HBO series "Entourage," "The Sopranos," and "How to Make It In America." Goldberg's feature film casting credits include "You Again," "The Princess Diaries." and "10 Thing I Hate About You."

The Truly Amazing Wife Start Searching: Meet Will's Brothers and sisters!

Josh Charles Will Gardner (Josh Charles) remains obtaining a tough number of several days round the Good Wife. First, he got left with the adoration for his existence, Alicia. Then, he was indicted having a grand jury for judicial bribery. And very soon, he'll face possibly losing his law license. Fortunately, there's help round the strategies by the kind of moral - through the looks of things, musical - support from his brothers and sisters, carried out by Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever and Nadia Dajani (The Big C). Watch full cases of The Truly Amazing Wife Inside the March 4th episode, titled "Following a Fall," Wever steps to the role of Will's youthful, irresponsible and fun-loving sister, Audra and Dajani may have his bossy, Type-A older sister Sara. Who understood that Chicago's 16th most qualified bachelor could play guitar? Maybe he's practicing an affection song to sing to Alicia? (We kid, we kid. This really is really the great Wife, not Glee, ultimately). Really the only alarming factor about these pictures? The re-emergence of casual Will. Is his inadequate business attire made to signify the disbarment proceedings don't go perfectly? Or possibly is he just finally discovering how to possess a break? The title "Following a Fall" doesn't give to us much comfort. The Truly Amazing Wife airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS. Are you currently presently excited to fulfill Will's brothers and sisters?

New viral site for your Amazing Spider-Guy

If you're anything like us, you will have spent lots of yesterday beaming being an idiot inside the new trailer for your Amazing Spider-Guy. However, among your excitement over Peter Parker's new adventure, perhaps you have place the hidden message within the finish in the teaser?In the event you visit again a clip below, you will notice a very faint message written on one of the metallic bars when the film's release date is proven. It's round the two:28 mark, towards the end left-hands corner in the screen.Attempt to put it, below... What read "Mark in the Spider-Guy." Nothing thrilling relating to this, it may seem, except if you add .com round the finish, you obtain rerouted with this brand-new viral site.Now, at this time there's nothing online except a sextet of screens showing static interference, and Spidey's aforementioned symbol. However, we'd wager that some footage can make itself apparent on people screens sooner or later.Preserve checking the web site inside the future and inform us if you place things. The Astounding Spider-Guy will open inside the Uk on 4 This summer time 2012.

First teaser poster for Resident Evil: Retribution

Carrying out a recent relieve the film's first official trailer, The brand new the new sony have consolidated their Resident Evil: Retribution publicity drive while using relieve a preliminary teaser poster.In some manner, the studio have handled to address cramming each of their latest products to the completely new one-sheet (start to see the first twenty seconds roughly in the trailer if you don't know very well what we mean), towards sheer, unadulterated carnage.The film's tagline is "Evil goes global", which motto is borne within the poster, which shows global landmarks for instance Large Ben and Moscow's Red-colored-colored Square laid lower the sink with the latest zombie outbreak.Meanwhile, the ominous logo design design in the Umbrella Corporation looms large over proceedings, it being their deadly T-virus that has transformed our world in to a playground for your living dead.There's no symbol of the catsuit-clad Milla Jovovich for the reason that one, but we'd bank on her behalf account returning in many her latex glory when the next poster arrives. Resident Evil: Retribution will open inside the Uk on 14 September 2012.

'Idol' Alum Constantine Maroulis Heading To Broadway

NY (AP) An old "The American Idol ShowInch contestant is going to Broadway having a character who, it's reliable advice, is really two-faced.Constantine Maroulis will have the title dual role inside a revival of the musical "Jekyll & Hyde" that's slated arrive at NY in spring 2013 following a 25-week national tour that begins in San Diego on March. 2, Nederlander Presentations Corporation. introduced Sunday.Maroulis, who had been a finalist around the 4th season of "American Idol," were built with a three-year run in Broadway's "Rock of Age range" and received a best actor Tony nomination along with a Drama League nomination for his performance. Younger crowd performed the role of Roger Davis inside a recent national tour of "Rent."Maroulis made his Broadway debut in "The Marriage Singer" and it is presently within the title role of "Toxic Avenger" in the Alley Theatre in Houston. His debut album, "Constantine," was launched by himself label, Sixth Place Records."Jekyll & Hyde" includes a story and lyrics by two-time Oscar champion Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn, who co-created the musical. It will likely be directed and choreographed by Shaun Calhoun.Additional cast and inventive team, in addition to tour metropolitan areas, is going to be introduced later.Wildhorn has already established trouble on Broadway lately, with back-to-back implies that have unsuccessful. His show this spring known as "Wonderland," an up-to-date telling of "Alice's adventures in wonderland," was poorly examined and the "Bonnie & Clyde" lately closed early this year.InchJekyll & Hyde" made its Broadway debut in 1997 with your tunes as "This is actually the Moment," ''A New Existence" and "You,Inch generating four Tony nominations. It informs the storyline of the London physician who accidentally sets loose his evil alternate personality in his mission for stopping his father's mental illness.Robert Cuccioli performed charge, and Sebastian Bach and David Hasselhoff later required over. After 1,543 performances, the production performed its final performance on Jan. 7, 2001.Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Mark Kennedy The month of january 30, 2012 Constantine Maroulis NY (AP) An old "The American Idol ShowInch contestant is going to Broadway having a character who, it's reliable advice, is really two-faced.Constantine Maroulis will have the title dual role inside a revival from the musical "Jekyll & Hyde" that's slated arrive at NY in spring 2013 following a 25-week national tour that begins in North Park on March. 2, Nederlander Presentations Corporation. introduced Sunday.Maroulis, who had been a finalist around the 4th season of "The American Idol Show,Inch were built with a three-year run in Broadway's "Rock of Age range" and received a Tony nomination along with a Drama League nomination for his performance. Younger crowd performed the role of Roger Davis inside a recent national tour of "Rent."Maroulis made his Broadway debut in "The Marriage Singer" and it is presently within the title role of "Toxic Avenger" in the Alley Theatre in Houston. His debut album, "Constantine," was launched by himself label, Sixth Place Records."Jekyll & Hyde" includes a story and lyrics by two-time Oscar champion Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn, who co-created the musical. It will likely be directed and choreographed by Shaun Calhoun.Additional cast and inventive team, in addition to tour metropolitan areas, is going to be introduced later.Wildhorn has already established trouble on Broadway lately, with back-to-back implies that have unsuccessful. His show this spring known as "Wonderland," an up-to-date telling of "Alice's adventures in wonderland," was poorly examined and the "Bonnie & Clyde" lately closed early this year.InchJekyll & Hyde" made its Broadway debut in 1997 with your tunes as "This is actually the Moment," ''A New Existence" and "You,Inch generating four Tony nominations. It informs the storyline of the London physician who accidentally sets loose his evil alternate personality in the mission for stopping his father's mental illness.Robert Cuccioli performed charge, and Sebastian Bach and David Hasselhoff later required over. After 1,543 performances, the development performed its final performance on Jan. 7, 2001.Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Biz wide-eyed over narrowcasting

CSI creator and executive producer Anthony E. Zuiker, left, and MediaLink chairman-CEO Michael Kassan discuss niche channels at CES. It wasn't quite tea and a madeleine, but last week's Entertainment Matters/YouTube keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show conjured remembrances of things past. One thing, anyway.Robert Kyncl, YouTube's VP of global content, painted a picture of myriad channels tailored to narrow interests. Noting there are 17 million yoga enthusiasts in the U.S. and twice that worldwide, he said, "I guarantee within a year or two you will find a wonderful yoga channel on YouTube delighting viewers on a global basis and providing smart, innovative brandholders the reach of an audience that is incredibly targeted and incredibly passionate."In the panel that followed, "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker said, "The ability to tell stories on a categorical niche makes possible not just the future of entertainment but possibly the extinction of TV as we know it."Their ideas bounced off the previous day's keynote at the Variety Entertainment Summit by Jonathan Miller of News Corp., who said, "I think we're at the beginning of the video age," saying increasing bandwidth and proliferating high-quality video screens, including on mobile devices, will drive more video consumption. "That's good news for television producers," he said, "but it's not limited to TV. I think we're going to see the channelization of the web, I think that's going to be a big 2012 event -- there'll be really good channelization of the web."I came out of the event duly impressed and enthusiastic, but then, as I settled in with a hot drink and a snack, a single word from the depths of memory surfaced: narrowcasting.If you're a certain age, that word may bubble up in your memory, too. "Narrowcasting," niche programming and niche channels, was the promise of cable TV, remember?In 1972, Dick Burgheim, director of CATV program projects for Time-Life Broadcast, wrote in Variety, "Clearly, the awesome gaps left by American broadcasting can be filled by, to use the catchword, cable 'narrowcasting.' Channels will be available and production costs will theoretically be normal enough to allow access to all the interests priced out of over-the-air TV."Ethnic groups and the inner city can speak to themselves in their own vernacular. The deaf can use sign language. A man who is not rich can wage an election campaign. Cable can, in short, lesson the alienation of the blacks, the disaffection of the young, the feeling of powerlessness and anomie of all citizens."Burgheim was unduly optimistic about elections, but much of that promise was actually fulfilled. Today, we have Turner Classic Movies, a plethora of sports channels including dedicated networks for several major sports leagues, Black Entertainment Television, networks in numerous foreign languages, and more.Yet many niche channels on cable have been diluted. Syfy has sci-fi, yes, but it tried a food show and has a reality competition show. The former Learning Channel became TLC and is only vaguely connected to learning anything. The History Channel last week showed "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (Hey, it's set in the past, and it was made in the past, so it's historical, right?). American Movie Classics became plain ol' AMC and now thrives with "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Men." There's lots of niche programming, but niche channels are under pressure to diversify in pursuit of ratings.It turns out that slots in the cable channel lineup are still dear, and it's hard to get carriage. Running a cable channel is expensive, and programming may be cheaper and easier to make than it was in 1965, but professional looking programs still don't come cheap. So there's a certain drift away from narrowcasting.I searched the Variety archives for "narrowcasting." The term pops up as early as 1950, as FM radio came in, with the same promise of niche programming. FM was very niche-oriented when it was new, but it's a lot less so now.So will web video go the same way: niche-oriented when it's new but drifting toward broad-aud blandness as it succeeds? Or will we really get our narrowcast channels this time?I spoke to the moderator of the panel at the Entertainment Matters keynote, Medialink CEO Michael Kassan, about why narrowcasting might really become a reality. He noted the lower barrier of entry -- anybody can create a YouTube channel for free and get instant global distribution -- and added, "People like Anthony Zuiker who historically have worked with much larger budgets can produce quality content at a much lower cost."And the gatekeepers are no longer the three network heads or the four network heads. The gatekeeper is the public," Kassan said. "Let the consumer decide. The consumer's going to decide everything else these days. Why not let them decide what they want to watch and what's going to be this year's hit, rather than have somebody telling them?"Kassan added, "The sky's the limit. Right now we can blow this stuff in ways we never anticipated in our wildest imagination. I hate to sound dramatic, but I think truly we're watching the dawn of a new era."I'm inclined to think he's right, but we've heard these promises before, and they've never entirely come true. I can't help but wonder if some Variety columnist in 2052 will be writing about the promise of direct neural interfaces and their ability to bring narrowly tailored, niche-oriented experiences to consumers' brains, finally relieving us from the dispiriting sameness of broadcast, cable and Internet programming.Bits & BytesAt last week's Moody Gardens Digital Cinema Symposium, Qube Cinema demonstrated a digital cinema server delivering 4K 3D (that is, 3D with 4K resolution for each eye) off a single Digital Cinema Package. It was the first public demo of 4K 3D off a single server. The setup used two Barco 4K projectors and an 80-foot-wide screen. Demo included content shown at 24, 48 and 60 frames per second. Testronic Labs is hosting the round-robin test for the Blu-ray industry today and tomorrow at Testronic's Burbank facility. The annual Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat has been set for Feb. 14-17 at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, Calif. Deluxe subsidiary Company 3 and Mumbai-based post facility Futureworks have pacted to give commercial clients in India access to Company 3 artists based in Santa Monica, Atlanta or London. 3D technology provider Cameron Pace Group has opened an office in Melbourne, Australia. It's the first CPG office outside the U.S. Andrew Wight, who produced the 3D feature "Sanctum" with CPG co-topper James Cameron, will run the new CPG office.NewTek has named Carter Holland executive VP, worldwide marketing. Holland is a former marketing VP at Avid. Hollywood Center Studios has tapped Jerry Cole as director of visual and broadcast services, a new position. He will oversee virtual production services for webcasts, broadcast and TV production. Cole was most recently head of business development at Hayden Studios in Culver City.Panasonic has received a Technology & Engineering Emmy for its removable solid-state media for video camera/recorders and their creation of the P2 video recording format. Cinedeck is shipping its Cinedeck RX rack-mountable recording system with solid-state memory. All Mobile Video in Gotham has installed the system. Cinedeck has also made changes to its exec team. Alan Hoff has left the CEO post, though he will remain a board member. Co-founder Charles Dautremont is acting CEO. Robert Stacy, CEO and co-founder of Asia Media Products is now Cinedeck's VP. Jane Sung has been promoted to director of operations. The reboot of "Dallas" is using MTI Film's Remote Control Dailies.D-Box has announced some of the titles that will use the motion-seat tech in early 2012: "The Grey," "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," "Act of Valor," "John Carter" and "The Hunger Games." Cinedigm Digital Cinema has passed 10,000 screens in its digital cinema deployment in North America. Eventually it will deploy almost 1/3 of all North American digital cinema screens. Cinedigm has also llied with Independent Cinemas Assn. of Australia (ICAA) for D-cinema deployment in Australia and New Zealand. D-cinema integrator Beyond All, LLC, has signed a letter of intent with 15 Brazilian exhibitors for digital cinema deployment on about 1,000 screens. The Virtual Print Fee agreements will expedite the deployment of d-cinema. Beyond All's partners include Cinedigm for technical services and MKPE for negotiation.The Siggraph computer graphics conference will return to Anaheim, Calif., in 2013 and to Vancouver, Canada in 2014. Last year's Vancouver confab marked the first time Siggraph was held outside the United States, and according to the show's parent org the event broke all conference attendance records. Creatasphere's Digital Asset Management conference will be at the BevHilton Feb. 22-23.U.S.C. has joined forces with Vicon Technologies to upgrade the motion capture system at the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts. System originally had 20 cameras when installed in 2006. Now it has 46 cameras on a 1,700-square-foot stage. School is already eyeing another expansion of the mo-cap facility.E-on software has shipped Vue 10 RenderNodes for Linux, the company's first Linux-basd rendering solution. DreamWorks Animation is already using the software. Assimilate has shipped version 6.1 of its Scratch digital intermediate finishing tool. New version includes support for the new RED SDK 4.2 and Tangent's Element control panel, as well as a new SDI output architecture.Post facility Incendio has purchased two Image System Nucoda Film Masters with Precision panels for their creative color and finishing pipeline. Sky Deutschland's new Sky Sport News HD channel has equipped his studio using Vitec Videocom brands for automated production. Net is using a robotic camea system with six Vinten Radamec Fusion FP-188 robotic pedestals and two Telemetrics cameras controlled by a Vinten Radamec HDVRC. Studio is equipped with Litepanels LED lighting. Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Jordan joins 'Newsies'

Jeremy Jordan is placed to star within the Broadway change in "Newsies," reprising the role he produced within the tuner's well-received regional preem. Casting was broadly expected, considering that the commitment that will have stored him from showing up around the Primary Stem within the part -- his gig among the title figures in "Bonnie and Clyde" -- evaporated when that short-resided musical sputtered out 12 ,. 31. Jordan's perf in "Newsies" was broadly recognized by experts within the musical's world preem at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse this past year. If "Bonnie and Clyde" had survived with the spring, "Newsies" would has progressed to the Rialto with a brand new thesp within the role. In "Newsies" Jordan will have a newsboy who leads several ragamuffins inside a strike against a newspaper magnate. Presently the actor can also be around the bigscreen in gospel feature "Pleased Noise." In line with the 1992 Disney pic, the legit version of "Newsies" has music by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein. Shaun Calhoun, who also directed "Bonnie and Clyde," helms. "Newsies" starts previews March 15 in front of a March 29 opening in the Nederlander Theater. Show is presently penciled set for a restricted run around 100 perfs, but appears poised to increase should B.O. warrant. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

War Equine Premieres London

Spielberg and co ride into townWe're going to rein inside the equine gags relating to this, nevertheless it was with mounting excitement that individuals welcomed the London premiere of War Equine yesterday - a royal premiere, surprisingly, with Steven Spielberg in attendence. Wait, no, we're being told it had been the presence of Prince William and theDuchess of Cambridge that handled to obtain a royal affair.The Odeon Leicester Square carried out host for the world's most broadly used royalty, thousands of fans as well as the stars in the film - everyone from Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Irvine and Emily Watson to, er, the equine star in the film. Knowing with the screaming, everyone was equine hoarse once the film got started.Equine Uk PremiereWar Equine is going this Friday The month of the month of january 13 at cinemas up minimizing the country. For further round the film, arrive and are available along at 5pm today for just about any live webchat with star Tom Hiddleston.

Warren Buffett, crooner

BuffettBeijing-- This is often a truly wealthy approach to see around in the Dragon.Billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett keeps growing his repertoire beyond canny stock-picking to sing and play guitar round the "Chinese Lunar Year Gala" on pubcaster CCTV's website.The 81-year-old investment guru, known to as "Oracle of Omaha," has recorded his performance, that is broadcast on Jan. 23, the condition Xinhua news agency mentioned. The song title wasn't revealed. The Berkshire Hathaway prexy has showbiz form, getting fitted as Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose a year ago to sing by having an advert for Geico Insurance, through which he's shares."Each year we invite Chinese and worldwide stars to complete and send greetings," mentioned Luo Yan from Extended Legacy Intl. Communications, a company with each other holding the large event with China Network Television. "Buffett is a.InchThe gala will probably be broadcast on CNTV.cn, in addition to feature Hong Kong multihypenate Jackie Chan. A condensed version in the show will air on Closed-circuit television.Buffett, along with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, remains active in encouraging China's growing military of super-wealthy to find yourself in giving their huge wealth to charitable organization, while he does. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'Artist' helmer goes on 'Search'

Rome-- French helmer Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist") has announced that his next project will be a drama inspired by the 1948 Fred Zinnemann film "The Search," but set in contempo war-torn Chechnya."The Search" is about a displaced mother's tireless search for her son, a young Auschwitz survivor, in the aftermath of WW2."In the original film, the story revolved around a young boy who survived a concentration camp," said Hazanavicius, speaking at the Capri, Hollywood fest in Italy, where he was feted."In my film, the focus will be on the special relationship between a woman and a young boy as well."Hazanavicius has attached his wife and "The Artist" co-star Berenice Bejo as the femme lead who works for an NGO in present-day Chechnya, a region in tatters after years of fighting for independence from Russia."The Artist" producer Thomas Langmann will produce the pic, which is in early development.Announcing the project at the informal pre-awards shindig on the isle of Capri, Hazanavicius said the pic will be in color with dialogue, "totally different from 'The Artist,' " which was silent and in black and white."The Artist" is nominated for six Golden Globes, including director and already tops many critics' list.After "The Artist," Hazanavicius shot a segment of omnibus sex comedy "Les Infidels," scheduled for release next month in Gaul via Mars Distribution.Bejo will next shoot Gallic helmer Nicolas Bary's adaptation of Daniel Pennac's book, "The Scapegoat" (Au bonheur des ogres), also starring Emir Kusturica. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

The Biz: Campaigning for Sunday Ratings

George Stephanopoulos, Christianne Amanpour With 24-hour utilization of video journalism on cable, your smartphone or iPad, nobody must hang about until Sunday morning to uncover just what the presidential candidates have to say, right? Don't tell that for the news divisions at CBS and ABC. Are both likely to boost the stakes on the planet of Sunday inside-the-Beltway talk shows simply because they try to stay the key TV platform in the presidential campaign season. Beginning The month of the month of january 8, George Stephanopoulos will return to the moderator's chair at ABC's Now, while possessing his duties at Hello America. In April, Face the nation, half-hour program since it opened up on CBS in 1954, will expand to have an hour to aid more conversation and research in to the White-colored House race. Bob Schieffer, the program's moderator throughout the final 2 decades, welcomes the chance to compete mind-to-mind using this Week as well as the perennial leader, NBC's Fulfill the Press with David Gregory, for just about any full hour. "I appear like I've been going to home plate after a little League softball softball bat while everyone else features a large-league model," states Schieffer. For ABC, repairing Stephanopoulos is certainly an acknowledgement of techniques the Sunday habit is tough to change. Christiane Amanpour, most likely probably the most respected worldwide correspondent in television, was hired with this particular Week this season with assurances they could provide an even more global focus. But also for decades, the bread and butter of Sunday-morning programs remains American politics. During 2011, yearly of enormous worldwide tales, audiences fled from Amanpour's Now, which fell with a distant third inside the ratings while Fulfill the Press and Face the nation are actually fighting it for first. The return of Stephanopoulos is seen being an argument by ABC News it's dedicated to getting the program to the roots. "George can be a fine interviewer and he'll probably get some good of people audiences back," states Schieffer. "I am hoping we acquired enough because they was away." Some Washington affiliates believe the venerable programs forget about "drive the conversation" as they say, and suggest Morning Joe has converted into a frequent venue for politicos and opinion leaders within a couple of days. Because the MSNBC coffee klatch might be the show as soon as, the Sunday programs still own political news at the outset of a completely new week. While you network news executive notes, "Google Fulfill the Press on Sunday mid-day and discover what you'll receive.In . The Sunday shows offer decades of tradition and prestige which will make them a pressure being thought with. The press convenience of candidates is measured because when frequently they appear round the programs (which include Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace and CNN's Condition in the Union with Chocolate Crowley). Another aspect in their favor: They are still lucrative due to being relatively reasonable for create. States Schieffer, "We must turn the lights on and ask for the questions." Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Demi Moore, Adam Brody Join Porn Biopic 'Lovelace'

Demi Moore toplines the new additions to the cast of the Amanda Seyfried-led Linda Lovelace biopic "Lovelace" as female rights activist Gloria Steinem. Meanwhile, Elton John knows which famous pop star he wants to play him in a biopic and a new rumor says Arnold Schwarzenegger might be an angel in his upcoming film. It's January 3, and you're tuning into today's Casting Call! Demi Moore, Adam Brody And Eric Roberts Join "Lovelace" The cast is all coming together for "Lovelace." The Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman-directed biopic of the life of "Deep Throat" porn star Linda Lovelace has its major cast lined up, and now is making the finishing touches on its secondary characters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Demi Moore will play feminist Gloria Steinem in the upcoming flick, while Adam Brody will play Lovelace's "Deep Throat" costar Harry Reems and Eric Roberts will play lie detector expert Nat Laurendi. They'll join Amanda Seyfried as Lovelace, Peter Sarsgaard as her husband Chuck Traynor, Hank Azaria as "Deep Throat" director Jerry Diamano and James Franco as Hugh Hefner, as well as Sharon Stone, Chris Noth, Juno Temple, Wes Bentley and more. Elton John Wants Justin Timberlake For His Biopic Golden Globe nominee Elton John has been working on a biopic depicting his life, and apparently he has some big news about the upcoming film on the horizon. The "Hello, Hello" singer spoke with The Los Angeles Times recently and said that he and his people have a director lined up for the project who they'll announce soon. And while they don't have a star yet, John said Justin Timberlake is "no. 1 on my wish list" because he was "superb" playing him before in David LaChapelle's video of "Rocket Man." Apparently the biopic will be more in the manner of "Moulin Rouge" instead of a traditional biography film, and will start with John going into rehab in 1990 and end when he comes out. Ralph Fiennes Teases "Skyfall" Role It took so long getting a confirmation that Ralph Fiennes had a role in Sam Mendes' upcoming James Bond movie, "Skyfall," that we've given up hope that we'd find out the character he's playing any time soon. Fortunately Fiennes gave a nugget of a clue to UK newspaper Daily Record that gives us a general idea of his character. The self-proclaimed life-long Bond fan said he is "allowed to say that I'm a government agent," but that's it. Well, something is better than nothing. He'll join Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris and more in the upcoming action film. Is Arnold Schwarzenegger An Angel? Put this one on the "we'll believe it when we get official confirmation" table. A new report from TheArnoldFans says that Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to be playing an angel in his upcoming film "Black Sands." The site doesn't attribute the quote where Schwarzenegger allegedly confirms this, but the news -- if it is true -- would change what we know about the movie. Originally it was reported to be like "High Plains Drifter" meets "Man on Fire," but the new report calls "Black Sands" "a cross between 'Constantine' and 'Commando'." /Film says the supernatural element could be part of a rewrite on "Black Sands," or just newly-reported old info. Tell us your thoughts on today's Casting Call in the comments section below or on Twitter.