For awards, 'getting younger' comes at a price

The Oscars, with host Billy Crystal, was enjoyable to the 50-plus crowd, but theres a push to change the kudocasts. Before Oscar season gives way to Emmy voting, let's consider how the desire to invigorate these cobwebbed ceremonies has allowed one of Hollywood's uglier traits to creep into the discussion -- namely, ageism, usually via handy euphemisms like the membership being "stodgy" or "out of touch."In both cases, there are voices who advocate shaking up the entertainment industry's academies in the name of fostering bolder choices among the nominees. On its face, this certainly sounds like a good idea.Yet the primary concern here isn't necessarily about overlooking quality. Few would argue movies like "The Hurt Locker" and "The Artist," or series like "Mad Men," don't deserve accolades. It's the fact not enough people saw them, coupled with the arbitrary determination (in real-world terms, anyway) these titles don't attract enough people in the hallowed under-50 age group sought by sponsors.Now, never mind young adults weren't weaned on award shows and grew up amid a dizzying number of kudocasts, which makes marquee events less unique and special. Because they're where the money is -- and for whom summer tentpoles are designed -- that's whom the shows need to reach.Will choosing movies or TV programs dearer to this group's heart actually move the needle, ratings-wise? The evidence is far from conclusive, but hope springs eternal.Admittedly, there have been lapses in the academies' vision -- creative cataracts, if you will -- when it comes to certain genres. There is such a thing as a firstrate superhero movie or zombie drama, and there have been omissions in recognizing as much.For the most part, though, the issue isn't older people having lousy taste; it's because they've resisted honoring projects aimed at the key targeted demo. Or, as Los Angeles Times columnist Patrick Goldstein put it, "For years, we've suspected that the academy's aging membership was about as connected to today's turbulent pop culture as the Council on Foreign Relations."So what's the solution? According to Goldstein, retire members -- say, those over 85 -- to "open up the membership rolls to a younger, more vital constituency."But if that's truly the goal, why stop there? Ousting anybody over 65 would free up even more real estate, and potentially introduce more members who aren't burdened by unhelpful memories, like having seen often-superior original versions of movies the studios keep remaking.It's worth noting this lament is hardly unique to the Oscars. Last year, for example, producer Kurt Sutter skewered Emmy voters for overlooking his FX biker drama "Sons of Anarchy." Among the less colorful barbs via Twitter: "If my mom and dad were alive this Emmy snub would kill them. That's not true, they were too old to understand my show. Just like the Academy."OK, so I've mostly ignored this in the past. At times I've participated in the cheap laughs that come from teasing the academies' for possessing more than a touch of gray.Pursuing a youth-movement agenda, however, requires a few acknowledgements. One is understanding people with more experience are deemed acceptable judges well beyond Hollywood. Perhaps that's why you don't see a lot of 30-year-old CEOs or Supreme Court justices.The second is whatever the stated objective, seeking to revise the profile of these professional academies means prioritizing one constituency at the expense of another. So while I understand the desire -- even the need -- to be younger, and becoming more inclusive is always a laudable goal, there's no way to spray perfume on purging the old to make way for the new, or grading on a curve hoping your award rosters will suddenly become more "in touch."As it happens, the Oscars arose in conversation over the weekend with a friend's mother. She enjoyed this year's show, and wondered why they were so desperate to change it -- potentially alienating people like her -- to chase younger viewers who frankly don't give a damn (and probably have no idea that's a reference "Gone With the Wind").It's a perfectly reasonable question. And I didn't relish telling her given how the current winds are blowing, those gold-plated statuettes she professes to love are trying to let her and viewers like her down easy, in order to go out and find somebody younger. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

VIDEO: The Bachelor Ladies Switch on One Another on Women Tell All Episode

Zachary Quinto has signed onto another season of yankee Horry Story, based on Deadline. Quinto, who recurred among the deceased former proprietors from the Murder House in Season 1, will return the coming year like a series regular, but playing a completely different character. Find Out More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Jessica LangeZachary QuintoHeroesAmerican Horror Story

Miscast Roles: The Problem For Mark Ruffalo in Rise in the Planet in the Apes

You understand this movie, and chances are that you just loved this movie -- aside from your one role that almost destroyed everything. Miscast Roles is when Movieline which is site visitors swap out people roles making it right. Among last years surprise critical and commercial darlings, Rise in the Planet in the Apes, impressed audiences, stoked many an honours-season debate and vitalized an important sci-fi franchise - all while still controlling to draw in moviegoers new to the first 1968 film (or that film's 1963 source novel). As chief chimp Caesar, Andy Serkiss performative collaboration while using motion capture prodigies from WETA will be a great spectacle, showing audiences getting a superbly made CGI-animated character. Yet one consistent flaw in Rise left me itchiness my thoughts: James Francos oddly aloof performance as investigator Will Rodman. The film presents Rodman becoming an Alzheimers disease investigator who states have found an answer that necessitates extensive animal testing and, subsequently, results in a race of intelligent, self-aware chimpanzees, together with the titular rise in the primate-centered culture in which the relaxation in the series relies. Imagining Franco just like a brilliant investigator during the most effective of performances might be, enables be realistic, a bit of stretch. But add the fact this character is motivated having a have to cure their very own father in the debilitating outcomes of the problem in mind - in addition to Rodman's somewhat unhealthy attachment for the first subject of his animal tests - and you've got a complicated emotional palette that made an appearance to flat-out confuse Franco. A better choice for this role might have been the functional Mark Ruffalo, an actress in a position to interacting just what was needed in the Rodman character in this particular story. This is not to convey that Franco can be a bad actor, definately not it. His talents are merely misplaced here: Franco is much better at lengthening the emotional distance between character and audience, arresting audiences attention through enigma and idiosyncrasy, rather than connecting up through direct emotional appeal. He rarely enables the viewer into his mind space, which role really needed someone with whom everyone else could immediately connect. Ruffalo, meanwhile, has socialized strongly by 50 percent films particularly - You'll Be Able To Depend on Me and Shutter Island - that needed exactly the two traits most critical for the Rodman character: a palpable sense of sympathy plus an capacity to experience a straight-guy to more eye-catching lead. Rodmans psychology, hanging between helplessness plus an ambitious determination to produce things right, is built to parallel the emotional instability of his primate friend Caesar, since the latter scales from animal behavior within the steps of human cognitive development. Franco consistently hit an unacceptable notes within the interaction with Serkiss Caesar, and sometimes left John Lithgow, who carried out the dementia-stricken father, adrift in scenery eating overtures. The moments between father and boy didnt work like they couldve, as well as the possible ways to cast the conflicting motivations competing for Rodmans attention if this involves Caesars own dual character went unrealized. In Ruffalos breakthrough role inside you Can Depend On Me, he shown huge emotional range since the wayward brother to Laura Linneys maternally protective large sister character. You'll Be Able To Depend On Me highlights a young men staggering crisis of identity, as carried out out in the family drama. [Clip NSFW] The film is really a extended assurance by Ruffalos character that, wherever he might wander inside the greater world, the bonds of family holding him and also the sister together still remain. Appear familiar? Rise in the Planet in the Apes features a strikingly similar theme, though its identity crisis and settlement of familial loyalty covers an inter-species bond. Inside You Can Depend On Me, Ruffalo plays the Caesar role to Linneys large sister he's the primary one breaking out into new territory of self-determination, while its Linney who plays the concerned, yet ultimately quiescent protector. But Ruffalo reverses that relationship within the mentorship of Linneys youthful boy, carried out by Kieran Culkin, there he shows some very good Rodman-type characteristics. Meanwhile, Ruffalos pensive second fiddle to Leonardo DiCaprios go-for-broke investigator in Shutter Island also satisfies the appropriate qualifications for walking to the Rodman part. Ruffalo stays without anyone's understanding in the drama for a lot of of Shutter Island, enabling DiCaprio to be the fixed center for the films horrifically shifting sense of reality. The fact everyone else isn't stated to become searching too carefully at Ruffalo eventually eventually ends up being important, given plot developments. Yet when all is revealed, and Ruffalo is finally capable of communicate what his careful, subdued presence inside the film really entails, he sticks out. Watch Ruffalos eyes inside the final scene of Shutter Island inside the clip below, and imagine how using that level of cla of character contributing to Will Rodman in Rise in the Planet in the Apes may have accomplished good results the whole production. Nathan Pensky is certainly an connect editor at PopMatters together with a contributor at Forbes, among a number of other shops. He can be found on Tumblr and Twitter too.

The Colbert Are accountable to Return Monday After Sudden Hiatus

Josh Charles [WARNING: This story consists of spoilers from Sunday's episode from the Good Wife. Read at the own risk.] He made it the wrath of Peter Florrick and also the State's Attorney office, and can Gardner (Josh Charles) wasn't any match for that Illinois Condition Bar Association on Sunday's episode from the Good Wife. Confronted with the potential of losing his law license forever, Will required responsibility for your $45,000 loan and decided to a six-month suspension. So what's next? The way his time from the law change Will? The way Lockhart Gardner Lockhart and Affiliates, and Alicia (Julianna Margulies), change without him? TVGuide.com spoken with show bosses Robert and Michelle King to obtain our burning questions clarified. Matthew Perry joins the cast from the Good Wife How lengthy has this experienced the whole shebang? Robert King: We began this season thinking the theme could be about risk. It switched fairly rapidly into being about effects. Our individuals have lots of close scrapes and obtain off. That one felt enjoy it should come lower like lots of bricks on Will's mind. And that we did not wish to just disbar him completely. Why maybe it was essential for Will particularly to type of face more severe effects? Michelle King: It felt real. There have been large risks against Will and that we desired to reveal that yes, actually he would have the discomfort and there have been likely to be alterations in his existence as well as in the show.Robert King: It's such as the newbie when there is a contest between Cary and Alicia. There is a term TV authors known as 'Schmuck Bait,' the concept that you will find some plots you know aren't going to take place, like Superman won't die. Getting Cary really be fired in Season 1 felt like i was taking these risks very seriously and staying away from 'Schmuck Bait'. For Will, it felt like there really must be consequences from this. The way Will still be an element of the show if he can't practice law or visit the firm?Robert King: He's in each and every episode, but it's a fragile dance. There's the dance of what you're permitted to complete like a business partner for the reason that firm, and what you are avoided from doing like a lawyer. This really is hard for Will and that he desires to recognition the suspension too. The Great Wife start looking: Meet Will's siblings! Will audiences just see him both at home and is he going to occupy new hobbies or simply a job?John King: We are likely to see his home and meet his siblings. This enables us to spread out up a bit more of Will's private existence. How's he going handle getting away from what the law states within the lengthy-term?Robert King: Within the episode, Diane states, 'You can't take six several weeks. It'll kill you.' There's part of Will that really wants to prove people wrong. That there's items that he's reserve. He desires to take this seriously and rebuild his private existence and who he's. It provides for us a brand new flavor in who'll is.But however, our prime intensity operate in what the law states is really a drug. You will find distributions connected with this. There's something included in Will that's competitive which is another corner cutter. A few of these things can not be exercised of him and they are just likely to find other shops. Since he's more spare time, maybe there is new someone special in the existence?Michelle King: You will need to stay tuned to determine. Watch full instances of The Great Wife The way Will's absence affect Alicia?Robert King: It will likely be interesting to determine just how much they are able to pivot to a different level within their relationships/working associations particularly with this monkey wrench tossed into Will's existence. Alicia feels guilty, but she doesn't wish to stoke fires that may take her inside a harmful direction. You are able to prevent yourself from being place in places in which you obtain that type of emotional connection.Michelle King: Additionally to that particular, Alicia's existence will get more difficult because among the primary partners is on suspension and all of a sudden everybody within the firm needs to undertake more work including Alicia. How else will his suspension modify the relaxation from the firm?Robert King: Will was somebody that transported a great deal from the load for that firm. Lots of that will get disbanded and gleam energy vacuum which attracts lots of interlopers. It can make things a lot more complicated. ... We are likely to see David Lee, Julius Cain and Eli Gold fight constantly because we simply appreciate it. The 3 of these playing together is much like watching the Marx Siblings. How lengthy will this suspension last on the program? Will this continue into next season? Robert King: I believe we are likely to claim that the six several weeks takes us with the finish of the season. The way the firm change throughout his sabbatical?Robert King: The truth is you need to fight the right path back through because, in lots of ways, you've lost your customers with other lawyers. You do not just return with the clout that you simply playing. The Great Wife airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.

ICM film lit trio to exit

The shakeout at ICM ongoing now as word made an appearance in the pending departures of three agents in the movie lit wing. Nick Harris, Aaron Hart and Ava Jamshidi will leave the organization when their contracts expire within the finish of March. Harris happen to be co-mind in the percentery's department dedicated to adapting books into features Josie Freedman remains becasue it is solo topper. ICM, beneath the direction of prexy Chris Silbermann, is certainly going via a high-to-bottom summary of methods since it transforms in to a partner-possessed structure. Among much industry chatter from the major housekeeping later on, sources the company is predicted to merely make numerous changes (like the film lit trio) prior to the the partnership are situated. Next, ICM may be searching for new utilizes, that is already grooming its next-generation ranks while using promotions of eight organizers to agent status (Daily Variety, Feb. 14). The pending departure of Hal Sadoff, the agency's longtime indie and worldwide film topper, appeared to become confirmed now. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

After Navy SEAL Pic Act Of Valor, Bandito Brothers and sisters Rev High-speed Racing Pic

EXCLUSIVE: Bandito Brothers and sisters, the expansion partnership that produced and funded the arrival Navy SEAL action drama Act of Valor, will target undercover racing for next large film. Scott Waugh, who co-directedAct of Valor, will helm High-speed, a gritty, stylized vehicle chase film that's being put together by Greg Russo. Like Act of Valor, the film will probably be created with the Bandito Brothers and sisters and produced by Bandito partners Waugh, Max Leitman and Jay Pollak. The story centers across the best high-speed police pursuit drivers within the u . s . states, come up with just like a unit to avoid and elusive, high-finish undercover racing circuit hellbent on running deadly point-to-point races through major American Urban centers. Bandito Brothers and sisters is shaping around be an intriguing operation. Like the Kurt Johnstad-scripted Act of Valor–an action adventure featuring real active duty Navy Shuts coping with terrorism–High Speed will probably be funded and fully self-created through Bandito Brothers and sisters. This is a complete service article promotion studio whose eight partners hatch, produce and finance immersive content different from features to documentaries and ads and programming for TV and digital. Waugh directed Act of Valor with fellow Bandito Brother Mouse McCoy. They elevated the $12 million budget and travelled individually distinct until they were prepared to accept finished film for the marketplace. Relativity Media won a investing in an offer fight and paid out $13 million for distribution. Once the picture becomes a success, Bandito Brothers and sisters in addition to their traders stand to produce a fortune, simply because they own 50%. They intend to continue self-creating their films, aided with the 50,000 sq foot . facility they own in Culver City including publish production, VFX and appear stages. It isn’t apparent yet if High-speed will probably be sought out distribution before its production start, nevertheless the script needs to be ready by Cannes and they're going to likely shoot a demo reel to enhance financing. Waugh is obviously good at action while he can be a former stuntman. Production on High-speed likely won’t start until 2013, because Waugh and McCoy have a very summer season start date on Black Sands, a film funded by QED that will star Arnold Schwarzenegger. ICM reps both Bandito Brothers and sisters and Russo, who's spinning Heatseekers for Vital and Platinum Dunes, and whose action spec Autobahn fka I-95 has Mark Steven Manley installed on direct. His spec Lower has Marcel Langenegger pointing for Relativity Media, which releases Act Of Valor on February 24. Besides being populated by Navy Shuts inside the starring roles, Act of Valor will get an incredible volume of cooperation within the elite pressure. The amount of film premieres possess a phalanx of Shuts parachuting as you're watching theater on Sunset Blvd? (video below).

Malin Akerman Tapped For Smart One Lead, Eamonn Walker Joins Chicago Fire

Malin Akerman, who had been pursued for multiple comedy pilots this season, is set to star opposite Portia de Rossi in ABC’s dueling sisters comedy pilot The Smart One. The project, written by Don Todd, centers on a brilliant and successful woman (de Rossi) who has to go to work for her less brainy but more popular sister (Akerman) a former beauty queen, weather girl and now big-city mayor. Jean Smart was just cast as the sisters’ mother. DeGeneres, Todd and Lauren Corrao are executive producing for Warner Bros TV. Akerman, who co-starred on Lisa Kudrow’s cult HBO series The Comeback, has been focused primarily on features for the past few years. She will next be seen in Wonderlust and Rock Of Ages. Eamonn Walker (Oz) is the first actor cast in NBC’s ensemble drama pilot Chicago Fire, executive produced by Dick Wolf. In the action-driven drama exploring the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department, Walker, repped by ICM and Joan Fields Management, will play Chief Walter Boden, a former Golden Gloves champ who is mulling retirement. Jeffrey Nachmanoff is directing the pilot from a script by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt.

Exclusive: Cleaning soap Full Lauralee Bell Spoofs Paula Abdul on Castle

Stephen Colbert The Colbert Report takes an unpredicted break. "Because of unforeseen conditions, the show will air repeat episodeson Wednesday, Feb 15 and Thursday, Feb 16," Comedy Central stated inside a statement. VIDEO: Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart vow to not coordinate, poke fun at Super PAC Just before Wednesday's tape, audience people received a final-minute email stating that their bookings needed to be canceled. No further particulars were provided. Are you going to miss Colbert Report now?

Top Moments: Idol's Scary Fall and It's a Wonderful Life for Gibbs on NCIS

American Idol Our top moments of the week: 13. Lamest Dirty Talk: It took time, but The Bachelor's Jamie finally decides she's going to kiss Ben. Despite being a self-proclaimed prude, Jamie straddles Ben and tells him exactly how she is going to plant one on him. But she doesn't stop there. She keeps flapping her gums, even while the two are kissing, which just makes Ben laugh. If first kisses say it all, then it seems clear why Jamie didn't get a rose. 12. Best Surrender: Realizing he lacks the duende (read: passion) to get the job done, Mr. Schue steps down as McKinley High's Spanish teacher to give the job to the more energetic David Martinez (guest star Ricky Martin). The move not only opens the door for a possible return visit from Martin - and hopefully slams the door on this ill-advised outfit ever happening - but it also shows that Mr. Schue is a grown-up after all and able to admit when he's wrong. Now if we could just get Holly Holliday to stop by and give Will some pointers on making history fun. 11. Best Opening: Jasmine breaks the news to Crosby that she's moving in with Dr. Joe on Parenthood. But just when it seems that all hope is lost for this charming couple, Crosby unknowingly saves the day when he gives her a custom-made doorknob made from the ends of ballet barres. Jasmine, a dancer, is rendered speechless by the gift and longingly looks at Crosby in a way that says "Don't sign the escrow yet, Dr. Joe!" 10. Best Double-Cross: On Ringer, Siobhan comes clean to Henry about her and Bridget's shady switcheroo. They watch together as Bridget walks into a building, and then Siobhan stuns him when she confesses that Bridget's pretending to be her - and that she, the real Siobhan, is still pregnant with his baby. Now will Henry play along? 9. Worst Way to Prove a Point: When Nick can't get Remy, his shady landlord, to fix anything in their apartment on New Girl, Jess decides to take a shot. He agrees to the repairs, butNick says it's because Remy wants to sleep with her. To prove him wrong, Jess invites Remy over. It's then that they learn that ol' Remy had a threesome in mind! Jess admits defeat, which is good because we're not sure we could sit through another scene of Jess trying to say "penis." 8. Worst Surrender: Blair wants to be all Runaway Bride and run off to the Dominican Republic to get a quickie divorce without Prince Louis' consent on Gossip Girl. But her plan is foiled when Louis and his mother demand that Blair go on the honeymoon with her husband, lest she have to pay the hefty dowry stipulated in the prenup. Knowing her mother can't afford to pay up, and even though her friends are among the wealthiest denizens of NY City, Blair foolishly decides to give in. Cut to Blair posing somberly for paparazzi pictures with her prince as they jet-set to Bali. Hmm, get divorced from a man you hate so you can be with the man you truly love, or spend a year in a horrible marriage so that you can say you did it on your own? Being an independent woman never sounded so depressing. 7. Most Awkward Flirting: We know who David Letterman thinks is the Sexiest Man Alive. As Denzel Washington discusses his new flick Safe House on The Late Show, Letterman lets the actor know what was going through his mind when he saw a screening of the movie. "I'm a heterosexual and even I was caught up in the conversation about how good-looking you are," Letterman says, while Washington squirms in his chair. The flirting doesn't end there: Minutes later, after the topic of Washington's handsomeness was dropped, Letterman seductively places his hand on top of Washington's. "Dave, you've been working too hard," Washington quips. "You need a vacation!" Yeah, with you, big guy! 6. Most Musical Display of Happiness: It's safe to say that no one enjoys going to the dentist more than Happy Endings' Brad (after all, the dude has earned a "no plaque" plaque.) So when he goes in for his pre-Valentine's Day checkup, his obvious excitement takes the form of a delightful and impeccably choreographed dance number to Dean Martin's peppy "Ain't That a Kick in the Head." Sadly, his perfect-teeth record comes to a screeching halt when he finds out that he has a cavity. Brad's loss is our gain though: A loopy nitrous oxide high results in impressive drool-acting, a hilarious scene involving chocolate fondue and a clever nod to the critics who say the show is too much like Friends. 5. Best Blast from the Past: Guess Christina Aguilera isn't good with names... or faces. After Tony Lucca, her old Mickey Mouse Club co-star, performs on The Voice, Aguilera has nary a clue that the two worked together nearly 20 years ago. But as soon as Lucca leaves the stage - after he chooses Team Adam, natch - Aguilera's jaw drops and she runs after him. "Oh, my God! I didn't even recognize you," she squeals to Lucca backstage. "How are you? And no hard feelings! ... Britney [Spears] had the biggest crush on you. She'd talk about you all the time - and she wouldn't mind me saying that." (Fun fact: Lucca dated fellow Mouseketeer Keri Russell.) Reunion aside, we wonder: Did X-Tina really recognize him or did a little birdie whisper something into her earpiece? 4. Worst RSVP: In a super WASP-y town like Southampton, proper etiquette and Emily (Post, not Thorne) dictates that you should always RSVP to an event. But one returned engagement party invite hits a little too close to home on Revenge when Emily walks into her home and finds her super-secret hatch - aka the spot where she keeps a written copy of her "revengenda" - open. Inside is an RSVP from Emily Thorne saying, "I will attend," in all caps and red ink. The note poses many questions: Is this a message from the real Emily? What else did she take? Will she wreak havoc at the party? At least we can already surmise what color she's wearing to the fire and ice ball for, you know, color coordination purposes. 3. Most Tear-Jerking Reunion: Sure, we love all the It's a Wonderful Life "what if?" moments on NCIS' landmark 200th episode (Tony and Kate have a kid! Abby and McGee are a couple!), but no moment is greater than when Gibbs chats with his mother, who left Gibbs and his father when he was young. In a series of three Kleenex-worthy scenes, Mama Gibbs (a redhead, unsurprisingly) tells her son how proud she is of him and not to put all the blame for her abandonment on his father. Although Gibbs lost his mom at a young age, it's clear she shaped him into the type of man he's become. 2. Best Apology: For House's good doctor, being a brilliant diagnostician means never having to say you're sorry. Unless your outlandish methods end up getting one of your team members stabbed in the heart and at risk of paralysis. Although arbitrator Dr. Cofield (brought to life powerfully by Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright) rules that Chase's unfortunate run-in with a psychotic patient was officially "nobody's fault," House blames himself and even goes as far as to interrupt Chase's physical therapy to apologize. After an episode like this, it makes us sorry to hear that this season will be its last. 1. Most Exploitative Cliff-Hanger: American Idol's first Hollywood Week episode quickly turns sour when 16-year-old contestant Symone Black performs. After singing Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," Black collapses and falls off the stage, hitting her head on the ground. How does Idol handle the incident? They exploit it, of course! In a "tune in to see what happens!" fashion, we're left to wonder about the fate of the poor girl, not to mention if Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson will ever run to Black's aide. (She's fine, by the way.) Sure, it's a sleazy move - but would you expect anything less? What were your top moments?

'French Family' closes sales

Paris-based Wide Management has closed a bevy of key territory deals on Pascal Arnold and Jean-Marc Barr's dramedy "Sexual Chronicles of a French Family."Pic was snatched up by IFC Films for North America, Metrodome for the U.K., Pierrot Le Fou-Alamode for Germany, Fine Films for Japan and Line Tree Entertainment for South Korea. Deals cover all rights.Clementine Hugo, Wide Management's head of international sales and acquisitions, said she was closing Russia and has received offers from other territories.Pic, which will screen at the EFM today and Monday, deals with a French family that's turned upside down when the youngest child is caught masturbating in biology class.Wide Management has also taken international sales rights to Serbian Maja Milos' feature debut "Klip," a Rotterdam standout that nabbed the Tiger Award and the Dutch film critics' KNF nod, and caused some controversy with its depiction of postwar Serbian teens. Film House's Bas Celik produced. Hugo's team has sold the pic to Vladimir Kokh and Gregoire Marchal's French distribution outfit KMBO. Wide Management will host "Klip's" EFM screenings on Monday and Tuesday. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Top Moments: Kristen Bell's Sloth Meltdown and OMG! Gossip Girl Revealed

Kristen Bell Our top moments of the week: 13. Most Bitter Reminiscence: During an appearance on The Tonight Show, Madonna, a newly minted director, confesses that in her acting days, she really hated auditioning. "I really sucked at some," she says. when Jay Leno presses for details, she crosses her arms like a petulant child. "I'm not telling," she says. She does, however, offer a hint: "You audition for something, like, eight times ... It's like a kind of torture ... and I ended up not getting the part and that's not very pleasant. I have a voodoo doll of that director." We've got fifty bucks that says that she's talking about Chicago. 12. Weirdest Face-Off: The Real Housewives have always been known to fight rough (wig-pulling, table-flipping, etc.), but Sheree and Marlo's blowout takes a particularly weird turn when they argue about a party in Capetown. Marlo accuses Sheree of being poor and having to return everything she buys at Neiman Marcus (okay...?) and before you know it, both women are moving their heads from side to side and speaking in high-pitched gibberish. Sheesh, it's hard enough to understand what these women are saying when they speak English. 11. Best Reason for a Divorce: David Letterman grills Late Show guest Jennifer Lopez about her modern-day, Sonny-and-Cher-style relationship with estranged husband Marc Anthony, with whom she co-produces Q'Viva!, a reality show on Univision. "It's fun because we know each other so well and we really work well together," Lopez says. "But it has its moments. The same things that ... didn't really work sometimes come up." Letterman, who marked his 30th anniversary in late-night TV Wednesday, presses for examples. "Communication. You're talking and you don't agree on something, and then you're like, 'Oh, be quiet!' You'll see it on the show a little bit," Lopez says. "So Marc would say 'Be quiet!' to you?" Letterman asks. "No," J. Lo bashfully admits before bursting into laughter. 10. Best Check Mate: She makes desserts, she crochets and she wears a hat made entirely of ribbons. I think it's safe to say that New Girl's Jess is a "girly girl." But when her precocious, doe-eyed ways put her at odds with Nick's girlfriend, Julia, she tries her best to mend fences, until she realizes that no amount of twee baked goods is going to melt Julia's hard exterior. Instead, Jess owns her girlishness. "My checks have baby farm animals on them, bitch," she proclaims, a little too proudly. But seriously, who doesn't love baby farm animals? 9. Highest Times: If you've ever wanted to watch a 78-year-old woman get stoned, WE is the network for you! On Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best, Joan Rivers and a friend park in a nondescript cul-de-sac with her pal Lynne so she can smoke her weed - prescribed for "stress," duh - in a pipe named Louis XIII. The two get so high that Joan has to call Melissa to pick them up. But the high jinks don't end: They stop at a food truck for some munchies ("Look at that sky," Joan says. "You know how many people are looking at the same sky?") and, after Melissa puts them to bed, Joan and Lynne sneak out to the hot tub, jump in fully clothed and drink the pool water out of her high heels. When Melissa comes out to reprimand them, Joan pulls her daughter into the tub. "it's like Natalie Wood was in this pool," Joan cracks. 8. Best Dilemma: Fueled by her love for Finn and her devastation over not receiving a letter from her dream school, NYADA, Rachel accepts Finn's proposal on Glee. However, in the last few moments of the episode, her finals-acceptance letter arrives! But when Kurt asks Rachel if she's told Finn yet (completely unaware that he put a ring on it), Rachel stares blankly, leading us to believe she's reconsidering marital bliss. Don't worry, Rachel! There's already a master plan for a NY-based spin-off for you, Kurt and Finn, which means everything has to work out! Oh, wait... 7. The Perfect Storm (Out) Award: Alicia is subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury about allegations of Will bribing judges on The Good Wife and it gets ugly fast. Prosecutor Wendy Scott-Carr makes Alicia confess to carrying on a sexual relationship with Will in front of a room of strangers, as well as her estranged husband's second-in-command, Cary. But as soon as Wendy tries to connect the dots and insinuate that Alicia is successful at work because of her affair with Will, she stands up, tells Wendy she's out of control and leaves in the middle of her testimony, daring Wendy to arrest her. Don't make her get the baseball bat! 6. Naked Truth Award: On The Bachelor, Courtney, cunning as ever, isn't satisfied with sharing Ben on a group date, so she makes up her own rules and goes to his hotel room for a nightcap. While he appears surprised, Ben wastes no time inviting her in and uncorking a bottle of wine. But Courtney has another idea: skinny-dipping. "I'm going to rock your world," she tells him, as they strip down on the beach and run into the water. At least Ben's not worried about shrinkage. 5. Best Family Reunion: On The Vampire Diaries, a very angry Elijah decides to undagger his two brothers and sister, so that they outnumber Klaus and then abandon him. But just as the tears rolled down the Original's eyes, the final member of the family arrived - Esther, Klaus' mother - who had been locked away in a mysterious coffin. But instead of joining in on the resentment towards him, Esther says, "You are my son and I am here to forgive you. I want us to be a family again." 4. Worst Reason for a Divorce: What was the last straw in Kim Kardashian and Kris Humprhies' marriage? Closet space. Really. As they prepare to leave the Big Apple on the season finale of Kourtney and Kim Take NY, Kris tells her that he's going to ship his boxes to her house in L.A. Makes sense, right? Husband and wife living together. Not to Kim. She has "panic attacks" at the thought and tells him to just bring a bag. "If I was Kris, I would hate you," Kourtney tells her. "You're such a bitch." "It's true, Kim," Kris adds. "You're not ready for someone in your life." Kim cries mascara tears and sobs to her sisters and Scott Disick about how she wanted a fairy-tale wedding and cannot have Kris' stuff in her house. "You do realize you're married, right?" Scott logically asks. Hey, Kim, you do realize how ridiculous you're being to make Scott sound like the voice of reason, right? 3. Most Bittersweet Farewell: On the Chuck series finale, Sarah loses her memories of the last few years - coincidentally, the same span of time it took her to fall for and marry Chuck - through a spy-centric plot device (a faulty computer that uploaded into her brain). The series bypasses a huge action-packed ending and instead concludes with a kiss - a kiss that has all the magical potential of Sleeping Beauty's and Snow White's iconic smooches to wake Sarah from her amnesia. But before we can decide if this only-on-TV solution works, the screen fades to black , and Chuck is no more. 2. Best OMG Moment: Gossip Girl celebrates its 100th episode in true Upper East Side-style - an over-the-top royal wedding and not one, but two OMG cliff-hangers: First, Blair calls Dan - and not Chuck - to rescue her from her fairy tale-turned-nightmare nuptials. But then, there's a real jaw-dropper when Gossip Girl herself is revealed to be master manipulator Georgina! We're still sticking by our theory that Georgina is just a GG proxy, but considering her personal vendettas against the entire crew, that's one heck of a scary future. 1. Funniest Meltdown: It's her birthday and she'll cry if she wants to. During an appearance on Ellen, Kristen Bell recounts how her fiancé, Dax Shepard, surprised her on her birthday by hiring her favorite animal, a sloth, to attend the festivities. Let's roll the tape! Before he can even bring the tree-dwelling creature in, Bell - who cries if she's not "between a three and a seven on the emotional scale" - sensed its presence and, unable to manage her excitement like any true sloth lover, curls up in the fetal position and has a full-fledged (and hilarious) emotional meltdown. Ellen nearly re-creates the video magic when she pretends that she's going to bring out another sloth, which prompts the actress to tear up and hyperventilate. (Cold, Ellen!) Either way, good luck topping that this year, Dax. What were your top moments?

Fringe's Astrid Consuming Game: Now, You'll Be Sober

Jasika Nicole Finally, after four seasons of Fringe, Astrid is walking the main attraction when the Astrids from both galaxies meet up. At the beginning of Fringe's run, Astrid's plainly minimal dialogue increased being the topic of numerous a wager -- with fans betting the amount of lines she'd have inside an episode -- in addition to produced a consuming game through which audiences might have a glass or two every time Astrid reaches a scene, but never spoke a factor. "It's a great consuming game," portrayer Jasika Nicole jokes, but cautions that her juicy narrative in Friday's episode won't offer options for audience inebriation. "You'll be so sober with the finish of [Friday's] episode, you might be also disappointed." TVGuide.com taken track of Nicole to uncover what's available for your Astrids' meeting, the David Robert Manley (Jared Harris) showdown and Peter's timeline troubles. Fringe Scoop: Joshua Jackson teases David Robert Jones' return and Olivia's fate Exactlty what can you reveal in regards to the Astrids arriving person? Jasika Nicole: They're so basically unique of each other, a lot more in comparison to relaxation in the figures around the program. I believed that them meeting might be really just incredible and wonderful and strange, because I possibly could not imagine what it may be like. The Astrid that people are familiar with, the over-here Astrid, she's really personable, charming, emotional and she's a caretaker. Another Astrid within the alternate world is none of people things. They work as lovely foils for one another. The alternate-Astrid involves our planet because something really distressing had happened to her in their home world, and he or she doesn't have clue how to proceed next. Strangely enough enough, In my opinion that alternate Astrid and Walter (John Noble) may also be very similar since they're really tired of another people consider them. They're super-focused people, they're really smart, and they're completely in their own personal world. What can the two Astrids study on each other? Nicole: I question once the alternate-Astrid assumed the Astrid the following was "more normal," you understand, was without Asperger's the means by which she does. Some part of me thinks they probably assumed another Astrid was different then her, however don't think this Astrid had any reality that alternate-Astrid was as different then her as she's, it is therefore really shocking on her behalf doing by doing this. There is also different associations while using folks their lives, which is one other reason they finish off being introduced together. Exclusive: Michael Massee attracted on as Fringe's best theif Because the 2 galaxies must interact to think about lower David Robert Manley, what is going to we view inside the coming episodes? Nicole: He's still a part of what is happening, and also the moment we feel that we've got his number, which we learn how to proceed from that, another factor eventually eventually ends up happening that kind of takes us two steps back. So that it becomes really integral to each one of the Fringe teams to be capable of work carefully together rather than let ego stuff get in the way, which eventually eventually ends up becoming really significant involving the two Lincolns (Seth Gabel). We're beginning an instalment that's shot heavily while using two Lincolns in addition to their relationship with each other, and looking to pinpoint how different the humanoid shapeshifters are: Why they're different in cell phone industry's and the way we could control these, to make sure that we could stop all the dying and devastation that's happening. Peter (Joshua Jackson) is actually desperate revisit his time period. What is going to we view for your resolution of the narrative? Nicole: We actually will be in a location inside our season at this time around that handle this very particularly, but the resolution will surprise most of the fans because it certainly surprised me. There's this kind of push and pull while using two time lines, that the very first is better, that has figures the crowd people interact with more. We ended up fixing this problem inside an imaginative, interesting way, which i can not wait to uncover how everybody responds in it. I'd rather not condition that everything merges together, there's however apt to be an equilibrium involving the time lines that we think will in all probability be pretty satisfying for people. Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on Fox.

Start searching at LOTR LEGO collection

As if the production in the Hobbit weren't enough to deliver fans of Middle-earth in to a craze, LEGO have introduced a completely new Master In The Rings collection featuring the heroes and villains in the J.R.R Tolkien trilogy.A deal was signed a year ago allowing the toy company ease of access rights to all or any figures and designs within the LOTR trilogy, together with the arrival adaptation in the Hobbit.The initial choice of LEGO products is predicted to achieve in December, while watching Hobbit's release, and you'll be a heroes collection, featuring the type of Frodo, Aragorn and Gandalf (within the traditional grey attire).Next may come just a little choice of villains, like the Orcs of Moria, a Ringwraith and Gollum. Whether a Lego Eye of Sauron will probably be released remains to look, but we simply hope so.You want to pretend that people are extremely designed to become hopelessly excited with this particular, but there it's... nobody is. This Year's Holiday just written itself...

Exclusive: 'Phantom Menace' 3D Preview From 'Star Wars' Insider

As the "Star Wars" saga joins the 3D revolution with the coming theatrical release of "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" onFebruary 10th, our good friends at Star Wars Insider magazine are marking the occasion with a special celebratory issue. And we're marking that occasion with our very own preview of that upcoming issue, right here on MTV Movies Blog! We have an exclusive preview from the upcoming "Phantom Menace" themed issue, featuring an interview with IndustrialLight & Magics John Knoll. The interview gives the lowdown on the creativeprocess behind the new 3D format that "Star Wars" fans are about to enjoy. Take a look beyond the break. Star Wars Insider: How far back does the idea of Star Wars in 3D go? John Knoll: Toward the end of working on Episode III, Rick McCallum, George Lucas, and I started seeing 3D samples. I remember seeing a reel where a bunch of scenes had been ripped from DVD from various films, including Star Wars. I remember feeling that a lot of the space and the dimensions werent quite right on it, but I thought it was pretty neat and so cool to see it in 3D. I remember George saying at the time, Yeah, I think I want to do this. So when you start a conversion, do you start from the beginning or the middle or the end? We worked in an odd order, because with Episode I, we were also doing a restoration. One of the first questions that my Associate VFX Supervisor, Dorne Huebler, and I started asking, was that if we were going to take this movie and cut it up into 2,000 separate pieces, we had an opportunity to upgrade what those 2,000 separate pieces are. It seemed like we had a perfect opportunity to go back and create a cleaner, sharper and purer version of the movie. In fact, the window was closing on that; these archive tapes dont last forever and they havent been meticulously catalogued and archived because no one thought that was really the master of the film, so it wasnt clear that we were going to be able to find all of them. Where did you find them? They were in a variety of places. It was some work to find them and we found about 98 percent of them. So we went back to the original material, and if you look, youre actually seeing about eight percent more movie than in the original release. In the original, there was a little bit of cropping, so you lost a little bit of information. We have slightly more of an image now. So did George see the whole movie as it was improved? Yes. We werent doing the reels in order, so he saw individual reelsbut not in story orderuntil we had gotten an approval from him on all those reels. Then he saw a later iteration where wed done a final polish on all of those, and then we saw it all the way through, in order, so we could see how it ran as a full two-and-a-half-hour movie. Were there some scenes that worked really well or that you were particularly happy with? Its interesting that what makes good stereo opportunities is often very counter-intuitive. A lot of people think that the big stereo moments are going to be big space battle shots and, for instance, the Podrace. But much of the time youre looking at wide shots, which are where all the spectacle happens--but with nothing particularly close to camera, there arent a lot of great stereo opportunities. There definitely is depth, but its not eye-popping depth. The best stereo comes in the more quiet character moments, because youre in close with your characters and there are lots of depth opportunities there. What are your hopes for the movie? It was definitely not an objective to have an in-your-face, Wow, look at how stereo this is experience. The idea was to try and make it was as naturalistic as possible, as though we hadnt really shot it with stereo cameras. So, theres really no gimmicky stuff poking out into the camera; its really more of an immersive thing. To read more, pick up the new issue of StarWarsInsidermagazine, which hits stores inthe US and Canada on January 31stand in the UK and Ireland onFebruary 9th.

The Brad Pitt Interview

Brad Pitt is a bit of a puzzle. One of the best character actors working today, he's trapped in a leading man's bone structure. And his choices defy traditional Hollywood logic; after bursting onto the scene in 1991 as the small-time hustler who seduces Geena Davis in "Thelma & Louise" and as the beatific brother of 1992's "A River Runs Through It," he likely had his pick of big movie roles. Instead, he grew a wild beard, had his front tooth chipped by a dentist, and appeared not to wash his hair for weeks to play a crazed killer in the indie "Kalifornia."Pitt's career would continue this somewhat schizophrenic pattern; for every big-budget blockbuster he appeared in ("Interview With a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," "Ocean's Eleven," "Troy"), he would lend his star power to a smaller movie that likely wouldn't have gotten made without his participation ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "The Tree of Life"). Sometimes he found projects that combined prestige with box-office appeal, such as "Inglourious Basterds" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." But what seemed most important to Pitt was to work with the best filmmakers in the businessDavid Fincher, Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers, Terrence Malick. The size of his roles seemed secondary to being part of a great story.So it's no surprise that Pitt frequently cites great films of the 1970s and filmmakers such as Hal Ashby or actors such as Gene Hackman when talking about the works that inspired him. Last year, Pitt produced and starred in two features that he was drawn to largely because they reminded him of the films he loved growing up. In Malick's experimental drama "The Tree of Life," Pitt won raves for playing the strict father of two boys growing up in 1950s Texas. But it is "Moneyball" that has earned Pitt some of the best reviews of an esteemed career. As Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who implemented a scientific formula to assemble a winning baseball team with little money, Pitt charms, rages, and obsesses in a performance that is exhilarating to behold. And just this week, it earned Pitt his third Oscar nomination for acting.It would be easy to resent Pitt, an actor who makes everything he does look so natural. Take it from his "Moneyball" co-star Jonah Hill. "You know what sucks about Brad?" Hill says with a laugh. "Here's what sucks about him: He's super good at acting, he's got a great career, he's a great guy, and he's funnier than me! It's bullshitI am so sick of it. He can't let me have that one thing!"In addition to speaking at a recent Q&A, Pitt sat down with Back Stage to talk about his lengthy career.Back Stage: When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor? Brad Pitt: I grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri, and I just loved film. My folks would take us to the drive-in on summer nights, and we'd sit on the hood of the car. I just had this profound love for storytelling. I think it's just an amazing thing we get to do. We're so complex; we're mysteries to ourselves; we're difficult to each other. And then here's this storytelling that reminds us we're all the same. I consider it such a privilege. Back Stage: Did you have anyone who mentored you or really guided you in those early years? Pitt: When I first moved to L.A., I discovered Roy London. I didn't know anything about the arts, the profession; I had no technique, I knew nothing, I'm fresh from Missouri. I sat in on a few classes, and they just felt a little guru-ish and just didn't feel right to me. Until I met Roy. Back Stage: How did you find him? Pitt: I was taking all these odds jobs, and one of them was driving strippers around to bachelor parties. My job was to get them there, get them home, collect the money, play the music, and catch the clothes. For real. It was a very interesting education and paid really well, so I did it for three months and then decided I was going to move on. The boss said, "All right, but just come in one last night. I need you to do Sunday; I'm in a pinch." And this woman turned out to be dating an actor. I didn't know any actors or know anyone who knew any actors. She said she started this class an actor told her to go to. I asked for the name and went to check it out and felt like this was a really good direction. I learned so much from that man. I miss him. Back Stage: Did he teach a specific method or kind of create his own? Pitt: It was kind of based on Uta Hagen, but I think [Roy] really made it his own. He was tough, lovely, compassionate, tough. I give him full credit for pointing me in this direction. I studied with him for three years, I think, then started getting some work. Then I would work with him individually on projects. He loved film, and he loved storytelling. And he loved the individual and looking at what each person could bring to something.Back Stage: From the beginning of your career, you've made really interesting choices in your roles and collaborators. You could have just made big studio blockbustersand there's nothing wrong with those; I like them Pitt: You and me both. I enjoy them. But I actually wouldn't be very good at them. Back Stage: Why not? Pitt: It's just not my interest. I grew up on certain movies, particular movies that said something to me as a kid from Missouri, movies that showed me places I'd yet traveled, or different cultures, or explained something, or said something in a better way than I could ever say. I wanted to find the movies like that. It was less about a career than finding the films I wanted to see. Back Stage: You obviously play leading men, but I think of you as a character actor Pitt: I appreciate that!Back Stage: But because you are a star, did you ever worry you wouldn't get the character roles? Have you ever felt underrated as an actor? Pitt: No, I thought I could always get there or make that turn as long as they let me stay in the game. Listen, I've been pretty fortunate. And if I've been underrated, it's actually been something I've been able to work with; I can surprise people. It sets me up to exceed expectations, so I don't mind.Back Stage: What's your favorite part about being an actor? Pitt: I'm at an age now where I get to start looking back, I guess. And there are some really amazing people I've been able to hang out with and work with. Hollywood gets dubbed this place of extreme vanity and needinessand I guess it's therebut that's not the crowd I've seen or run with. I've found the most interesting, curious, engaging people in this funny thing we call storytelling. I love working with them, and I love the moment right before "Action" and the bell rings, and you don't know exactly what's going to happen; you just start following a vein of thought. And I love the surprises that come from that. And I love stories. I think it's an amazing thing we get to do; we get to contribute to the Zeitgeist of our time. I don't know how much relevance that haswe're not eradicating T.B.but I don't diminish it either. I think there's really something to getting to tell stories that investigate or laugh at what paradoxes and quizzical things we are.Back Stage: You've also gotten into producing, and spent years trying to get "Moneyball" made. How did the story find its way to you, and what attracted you to it? Pitt: Aaron Sorkin described the making of this film the other day. He said, "There are easy films, there are difficult films, then there's 50 feet of crap, then there's 'Heaven's Gate,' then there's us." It was an arduous undertaking. There was a first attempt at a script, and I felt there was something there, but it was geared to more of a major league kind of slant, more comedic. Then I read the book and became rather obsessed with this man's story, who was labeled a failure in some ways. And these ideas of valuehow we value ourselves, what are we worth to each other, and is this system even accurate? And then we started. Economics is not the most edge-of-your-seat subject matter, so it took us a few years to get it right. And we found [director] Bennett Miller. He's not getting enough credit for how much authorship he has of the film. I think he's going to be one of our best. Back Stage: What was the most unusual or difficult part about making the film? Pitt: Something that I think is particularly interesting to actors: Bennett was intent on bringing in real baseball insiders. Therefore they're not actors, a lot of the baseball players and scouts; they're not trained as we are. And he very wisely said, "Don't say the lines; put them in your own words." Then it became incumbent on us to respond to that, which can be very exhausting. You've got to be on your toes at all times. And these guys know baseball certainly more than we do. The interesting thingand it was the same thing in "Tree of Life," working with kids who didn't know the script and weren't actorsthere's a spontaneity that happens; there's a freshness that happens that's up on the screen that I really, really enjoy. I'm questioning myself how to bring it into future projects, because I think it makes that little bit of difference in what we do become more alive. You are really in the moment. I hope to be able to do more of that. Back Stage: You were also a producer on "Tree of Life." Is it true you didn't originally intend on acting in it? Pitt: Yeah. Our actor fell out, and suddenly the film was in jeopardy, and it was looking like it was going to go away. So I said, "Fuck itI'll do it." That movie was a challenge to get made and get the money for. Terry and I grew up in similar kind of country environments, and we certainly have a kinship.Back Stage: Another director you've collaborated with a lot is David Fincher. Pitt: He's a great friend. Sharp as a knife and wickedly funny. I will absolutely be working with him again. Back Stage: What do you make of his reputation for doing multiple takes of a scene? Pitt: It's not [Laughs.] You know, it's not true. There are times when it's a big technical thing and that happens. But it is this moniker he's received. But once it's down, it's there, it's in concrete. Back Stage: And isn't it a good thing to be able to do lots of takes? Pitt: It can be. But on "Tree of Life" we just did two takes on everything. And the second take was completely different from the first. So I can go either way.Back Stage: Although I'm assuming you haven't had to audition in years, what is your take on the audition experience? Pitt: Bennett talks about this a lot; a lot of times, what it takes to get elected to office has nothing to do with what it takes to govern. I find that true about the auditioning process, as well. You're sitting in a room, and you all kind of look alike, and you're all going over your lines, and you can hear the audition going on inside. And you have these few pages of black lines on white paper, and it says you smile here, you do this there. You start hearing the same thing over and over. Now you think of the people on the other side there, the people that are running the casting sessions. By the third, the fourth, the 10th, the 20th, they're hearing the same thing, and then suddenly somebody comes in and does something different. And it lands. Now you can't be different for different's sake, and this doesn't always work, but you have to separate yourself from the normal read. Of course, it has to be truthful. If it's not truthful, don't waste your time. I think that's a key thing that took me a while to figure out. Back Stage: Is there anything else you know now that you wish you'd known at the beginning of your career? Pitt: When you first get opportunities, suddenly you get surrounded by a lot of people who want to make money off you but also are there to help. But they start telling you so much what you need to be and what you need to do to maintain some idea of career maintenance. When you start out, it's very discombobulating, and you are ill-defined at that point as far as direction, what stories are personal to you. So there's two things I'm saying here; at that point, I wish I knew just to follow what was interesting to me. Because we're actors, we want to tell stories, we want to tell personal stories. And not just something you can plug any one of us in and basically get the same thing. Get into something that's really personal that means something to you, where you have something to say and is something really individualized. I wish I was more aware of that then instead of doing a few things I was told would be good for me. And they weren't, because it left me empty, so I didn't do a good job anyways. I think that's what's key to what we do: It's got to be personal.What's So Funny? At a Jan. 15 Q&A sponsored by Back Stage and SAG Foundation, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill spoke to a packed house about their work on "Moneyball." One topic of discussion was a blooper reel on the DVD that features Pitt laughing hysterically for almost a full three minutes. The scene in question is one near the end of the film, when Hill tries to show him video of a baseball player who hit a home run without realizing it, and Pitt attempts to collect himself several times, to no avail. When asked what he was laughing about, Pitt put the blame on his co-star. "I can't tell you what he said. It's so wrong. So wrong," Pitt said. "This is the guy who did 'Superbad.' Just head in that direction, then go further." Though he wouldn't reveal what he said, Hill responded, "Movie shoots, sometimes you're there for like 12 or 15 hours, and sometimes you get joy out of trying to make the other person laugh when you're not on camera. I think that is one of the gifts of being an actor, is trying to see how someone handles it when they're getting told the dumbest things on the planet, and they have to actually react like they're watching something serious or they're moved by something. I had a really great time." Quipped Pitt, "I know you did." By Jenelle Riley January 25, 2012 Brad Pitt in "Moneyball" Brad Pitt is a bit of a puzzle. One of the best character actors working today, he's trapped in a leading man's bone structure. And his choices defy traditional Hollywood logic; after bursting onto the scene in 1991 as the small-time hustler who seduces Geena Davis in "Thelma & Louise" and as the beatific brother of 1992's "A River Runs Through It," he likely had his pick of big movie roles. Instead, he grew a wild beard, had his front tooth chipped by a dentist, and appeared not to wash his hair for weeks to play a crazed killer in the indie "Kalifornia."Pitt's career would continue this somewhat schizophrenic pattern; for every big-budget blockbuster he appeared in ("Interview With a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," "Ocean's Eleven," "Troy"), he would lend his star power to a smaller movie that likely wouldn't have gotten made without his participation ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "The Tree of Life"). Sometimes he found projects that combined prestige with box-office appeal, such as "Inglourious Basterds" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." But what seemed most important to Pitt was to work with the best filmmakers in the businessDavid Fincher, Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers, Terrence Malick. The size of his roles seemed secondary to being part of a great story.So it's no surprise that Pitt frequently cites great films of the 1970s and filmmakers such as Hal Ashby or actors such as Gene Hackman when talking about the works that inspired him. Last year, Pitt produced and starred in two features that he was drawn to largely because they reminded him of the films he loved growing up. In Malick's experimental drama "The Tree of Life," Pitt won raves for playing the strict father of two boys growing up in 1950s Texas. But it is "Moneyball" that has earned Pitt some of the best reviews of an esteemed career. As Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who implemented a scientific formula to assemble a winning baseball team with little money, Pitt charms, rages, and obsesses in a performance that is exhilarating to behold. And just this week, it earned Pitt his third Oscar nomination for acting.It would be easy to resent Pitt, an actor who makes everything he does look so natural. Take it from his "Moneyball" co-star Jonah Hill. "You know what sucks about Brad?" Hill says with a laugh. "Here's what sucks about him: He's super good at acting, he's got a great career, he's a great guy, and he's funnier than me! It's bullshitI am so sick of it. He can't let me have that one thing!"In addition to speaking at a recent Q&A, Pitt sat down with Back Stage to talk about his lengthy career.Back Stage: When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor? Brad Pitt: I grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri, and I just loved film. My folks would take us to the drive-in on summer nights, and we'd sit on the hood of the car. I just had this profound love for storytelling. I think it's just an amazing thing we get to do. We're so complex; we're mysteries to ourselves; we're difficult to each other. And then here's this storytelling that reminds us we're all the same. I consider it such a privilege. Back Stage: Did you have anyone who mentored you or really guided you in those early years? Pitt: When I first moved to L.A., I discovered Roy London. I didn't know anything about the arts, the profession; I had no technique, I knew nothing, I'm fresh from Missouri. I sat in on a few classes, and they just felt a little guru-ish and just didn't feel right to me. Until I met Roy. Back Stage: How did you find him? Pitt: I was taking all these odds jobs, and one of them was driving strippers around to bachelor parties. My job was to get them there, get them home, collect the money, play the music, and catch the clothes. For real. It was a very interesting education and paid really well, so I did it for three months and then decided I was going to move on. The boss said, "All right, but just come in one last night. I need you to do Sunday; I'm in a pinch." And this woman turned out to be dating an actor. I didn't know any actors or know anyone who knew any actors. She said she started this class an actor told her to go to. I asked for the name and went to check it out and felt like this was a really good direction. I learned so much from that man. I miss him. Back Stage: Did he teach a specific method or kind of create his own? Pitt: It was kind of based on Uta Hagen, but I think [Roy] really made it his own. He was tough, lovely, compassionate, tough. I give him full credit for pointing me in this direction. I studied with him for three years, I think, then started getting some work. Then I would work with him individually on projects. He loved film, and he loved storytelling. And he loved the individual and looking at what each person could bring to something.Back Stage: From the beginning of your career, you've made really interesting choices in your roles and collaborators. You could have just made big studio blockbustersand there's nothing wrong with those; I like them Pitt: You and me both. I enjoy them. But I actually wouldn't be very good at them. Back Stage: Why not? Pitt: It's just not my interest. I grew up on certain movies, particular movies that said something to me as a kid from Missouri, movies that showed me places I'd yet traveled, or different cultures, or explained something, or said something in a better way than I could ever say. I wanted to find the movies like that. It was less about a career than finding the films I wanted to see. Back Stage: You obviously play leading men, but I think of you as a character actor Pitt: I appreciate that!Back Stage: But because you are a star, did you ever worry you wouldn't get the character roles? Have you ever felt underrated as an actor? Pitt: No, I thought I could always get there or make that turn as long as they let me stay in the game. Listen, I've been pretty fortunate. And if I've been underrated, it's actually been something I've been able to work with; I can surprise people. It sets me up to exceed expectations, so I don't mind.Back Stage: What's your favorite part about being an actor? Pitt: I'm at an age now where I get to start looking back, I guess. And there are some really amazing people I've been able to hang out with and work with. Hollywood gets dubbed this place of extreme vanity and needinessand I guess it's therebut that's not the crowd I've seen or run with. I've found the most interesting, curious, engaging people in this funny thing we call storytelling. I love working with them, and I love the moment right before "Action" and the bell rings, and you don't know exactly what's going to happen; you just start following a vein of thought. And I love the surprises that come from that. And I love stories. I think it's an amazing thing we get to do; we get to contribute to the Zeitgeist of our time. I don't know how much relevance that haswe're not eradicating T.B.but I don't diminish it either. I think there's really something to getting to tell stories that investigate or laugh at what paradoxes and quizzical things we are.Back Stage: You've also gotten into producing, and spent years trying to get "Moneyball" made. How did the story find its way to you, and what attracted you to it? Pitt: Aaron Sorkin described the making of this film the other day. He said, "There are easy films, there are difficult films, then there's 50 feet of crap, then there's 'Heaven's Gate,' then there's us." It was an arduous undertaking. There was a first attempt at a script, and I felt there was something there, but it was geared to more of a major league kind of slant, more comedic. Then I read the book and became rather obsessed with this man's story, who was labeled a failure in some ways. And these ideas of valuehow we value ourselves, what are we worth to each other, and is this system even accurate? And then we started. Economics is not the most edge-of-your-seat subject matter, so it took us a few years to get it right. And we found [director] Bennett Miller. He's not getting enough credit for how much authorship he has of the film. I think he's going to be one of our best. Back Stage: What was the most unusual or difficult part about making the film? Pitt: Something that I think is particularly interesting to actors: Bennett was intent on bringing in real baseball insiders. Therefore they're not actors, a lot of the baseball players and scouts; they're not trained as we are. And he very wisely said, "Don't say the lines; put them in your own words." Then it became incumbent on us to respond to that, which can be very exhausting. You've got to be on your toes at all times. And these guys know baseball certainly more than we do. The interesting thingand it was the same thing in "Tree of Life," working with kids who didn't know the script and weren't actorsthere's a spontaneity that happens; there's a freshness that happens that's up on the screen that I really, really enjoy. I'm questioning myself how to bring it into future projects, because I think it makes that little bit of difference in what we do become more alive. You are really in the moment. I hope to be able to do more of that. Back Stage: You were also a producer on "Tree of Life." Is it true you didn't originally intend on acting in it? Pitt: Yeah. Our actor fell out, and suddenly the film was in jeopardy, and it was looking like it was going to go away. So I said, "Fuck itI'll do it." That movie was a challenge to get made and get the money for. Terry and I grew up in similar kind of country environments, and we certainly have a kinship.Back Stage: Another director you've collaborated with a lot is David Fincher. Pitt: He's a great friend. Sharp as a knife and wickedly funny. I will absolutely be working with him again. Back Stage: What do you make of his reputation for doing multiple takes of a scene? Pitt: It's not [Laughs.] You know, it's not true. There are times when it's a big technical thing and that happens. But it is this moniker he's received. But once it's down, it's there, it's in concrete. Back Stage: And isn't it a good thing to be able to do lots of takes? Pitt: It can be. But on "Tree of Life" we just did two takes on everything. And the second take was completely different from the first. So I can go either way.Back Stage: Although I'm assuming you haven't had to audition in years, what is your take on the audition experience? Pitt: Bennett talks about this a lot; a lot of times, what it takes to get elected to office has nothing to do with what it takes to govern. I find that true about the auditioning process, as well. You're sitting in a room, and you all kind of look alike, and you're all going over your lines, and you can hear the audition going on inside. And you have these few pages of black lines on white paper, and it says you smile here, you do this there. You start hearing the same thing over and over. Now you think of the people on the other side there, the people that are running the casting sessions. By the third, the fourth, the 10th, the 20th, they're hearing the same thing, and then suddenly somebody comes in and does something different. And it lands. Now you can't be different for different's sake, and this doesn't always work, but you have to separate yourself from the normal read. Of course, it has to be truthful. If it's not truthful, don't waste your time. I think that's a key thing that took me a while to figure out. Back Stage: Is there anything else you know now that you wish you'd known at the beginning of your career? Pitt: When you first get opportunities, suddenly you get surrounded by a lot of people who want to make money off you but also are there to help. But they start telling you so much what you need to be and what you need to do to maintain some idea of career maintenance. When you start out, it's very discombobulating, and you are ill-defined at that point as far as direction, what stories are personal to you. So there's two things I'm saying here; at that point, I wish I knew just to follow what was interesting to me. Because we're actors, we want to tell stories, we want to tell personal stories. And not just something you can plug any one of us in and basically get the same thing. Get into something that's really personal that means something to you, where you have something to say and is something really individualized. I wish I was more aware of that then instead of doing a few things I was told would be good for me. And they weren't, because it left me empty, so I didn't do a good job anyways. I think that's what's key to what we do: It's got to be personal.What's So Funny? At a Jan. 15 Q&A sponsored by Back Stage and SAG Foundation, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill spoke to a packed house about their work on "Moneyball." One topic of discussion was a blooper reel on the DVD that features Pitt laughing hysterically for almost a full three minutes. The scene in question is one near the end of the film, when Hill tries to show him video of a baseball player who hit a home run without realizing it, and Pitt attempts to collect himself several times, to no avail. When asked what he was laughing about, Pitt put the blame on his co-star. "I can't tell you what he said. It's so wrong. So wrong," Pitt said. "This is the guy who did 'Superbad.' Just head in that direction, then go further." Though he wouldn't reveal what he said, Hill responded, "Movie shoots, sometimes you're there for like 12 or 15 hours, and sometimes you get joy out of trying to make the other person laugh when you're not on camera. I think that is one of the gifts of being an actor, is trying to see how someone handles it when they're getting told the dumbest things on the planet, and they have to actually react like they're watching something serious or they're moved by something. I had a really great time." Quipped Pitt, "I know you did."

ROLL CALL: Which Actress Used A Gown & Multiple Tuxes Towards The Golden Globes?

First Released: The month of january 16, 2012 2:31 PM EST Credit: Twitter Caption Zooey Deschanel showcases her tuxedo-colored finger nails that they used towards the 2012 Golden Globes on The month of january 15, 2012LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Your Everyday Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Zooeys 10 Little Dates: Recently single New Girl star Zooey Deschanel who declared divorce from with Dying Cab for Cuties Ben Gibbard in December elected to possess ten little men together with her at Sundays Golden Globes (together with sister Emily Deschanel). I'm putting on a gown but my nails are putting on tuxes!!! the actress Tweeted on Sunday, together with a photograph of her nails colored to appear tuxes. Take a look at her fun look, HERE! Super Madge: Madonna surprised many together with her Golden Globe win for Masterpiece, the song from her directorial feature debut, W.E., but how about her approaching much-over-blown Super Bowl halftime performance? The pop celebrity mostly continued to be mother around the particulars, but discover what she told Access Hollywood concerning the show, HERE! Access Globes Fashion!: Reese, Angelina, Sofia and Charlize counseled me knockouts around the red-colored carpet, but how about stars who skipped the style boat at Sundays show? See all of the fashion, glamour and odd getups, HERE! Best/Worst Outfitted?: Sounds off within the AH Nation! Was Piper, SMG, Zooey, a Glee star, Heidi or Amanda the worst outfitted? Election HERE! -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Golden Globes: Who Would you like to Win?

Damian Lewis The Golden Globes is here now! Because of so many newcomers within the running, can Homeland and New Girl dethrone protecting champs Boardwalk Empire and Glee? Will Claire Danes conserve a perfect record in the Globes? Can Viola Davis top Globe favorite Meryl Streep? Will The Artist cement its status because the Oscar front-runner?TVGuide.com's Golden Globes predictionsSound off below together with your forecasts for that large show!

Britney Warrior spears Posts Video of Boy Trembling His Groove Factor Watch It!

Britney Warrior spears Britney Spears' dancing genes must run in the household. Inside a video the singer published on her behalf official YouTube page, her boy Sean Preston shakes his groove factor for that gaming Just Dance - and also the 6-year-old has moves! (His father Kevin Federline seemed to be a dancer.) Britney Warrior spears Is Engaged Best moment? As he pushes his brother Jayden, 5, taken care of. Discover the shocking truth below: