Tom Sturdy Will get His Motor Runnin'

For any new biker movieWarner Bros. clearly realized that whenever Beginning and the approaching role at nighttime Dark night as Bane, Tom Sturdy would be a talent they ought to retain in close connection with. It had not been a surprise, then, to understand now he had signed an initial-look cope with the studio. Using the ink barely dry around the documents, he's introduced his first project: starring within an outlaw biker drama. John Linson, you never know a few things about two-wheeled terrors because of his creating responsibilities on Sons Of Anarchy, emerged using the original idea and handed it to Vacancy's Mark L. Cruz to party out a script.Sturdy will have a wounded Vietnam vet who comes back home to Bay Area in the center of the culture clash melee in 1969. He decides to create war instead of love, and increases being the best choice of California's most violent outlaw biker club. Heck, it can also be a prequel to Clay, Jax and also the relaxation at SOA...As they might want to forget he was ever within this Means War (even when he was entertaining inside it), Sturdy has got the Dark Dark night Increases next, and we'll all discover when we can know very well what Bane says on This summer 20.

Lionsgate Prone To Heist Action No. 1

The storyplot of Nic Cage's stolen comic...What "Nicolas Cage heist comedy" may picture a number of concepts within your fevered creativity... but possibly not that certain. As they're not going to always are available in the film, Cage is really a character in Lionsgate's Action No. 1, using the true story in the robbery of his valued posession.The initial problem of Action Comics was where a certain Superman made his debut in 1938. Cage possessed a replica, nevertheless it was stolen in 2000, and merely retrieved a year ago. Cage, who'd mentioned his insurance in those days, was without it fixed, plus it continued to be while using LAPD for a while, before fetching accurate documentation $2.16m at auction last November.The script is simply by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, who co-written Evening Within The Museum and Balls Of Fury, and were the designers of Comedy Central's Reno: 911! Their imaginary undertake the particular occasions involves several brainiacs planning the geek heist in the century. Clearly, the film was written using the expectation that Cage would play themselves, but sadly, that doesn't seem to become happening. Whether someone else could possibly get to see the arch-warlock, or maybe the film will in some manner circumvent his absense, remains to look.There's no start-date or potential cast yet, but we'll have a very beady eye on that certain. So when you have not seen his costume test for your abandoned the 19 nineties Tim Burton version, often be grateful this is really the closest Cage is most likely now to access a Superman movie...

Mike Fleming: Let Me Rant More Than Rave About The Film Climate In Hollywood Now

I spent Oscar week in Los Angeles, and after lengthy chats with film executives and agents, I detail below the long-term issues concerning Hollywood. But first, to sum up: I’m convinced they’ve never seen their business in a greater state of disarray than it is right now. Vets who’ve done this for decades admit they feel less confident than ever about the formula to create hits, and are perplexed why it has become next to impossible to create movie stars anymore (Channing Tatum was on all their lips after The Vow, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy less so after This Means War, but beyond Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Adam Sandler and Will Smith, do any actors draw reliably at the box office?). And there was a palpable lack of excitement for the Oscars, which is clearly hamstrung not by the imagination of its producers, but rather the Academys unwillingness to get off its high horse and start showing audiences around the world what they really want to see. We are in a period where major studios have been burned enough by tentpole bets that nearly all have become infatuated with making films that cost under $10 million. One exec held his arms wide to express the divide that has become the priority for studios. One side represented films that cost nothing and had no stars, while the other represented $100 million-$200 million bets that are concept- and not star-dependent. Theyve almost completely vacated that middle space where star-driven movie were a staple of the slate, the executive told me. These found footage movies may bring opening weekends, but good reviews are hard to find. The current uncertainty is the result of a business in transition that will eventually evolve into new consumer-friendly distribution models, but that process needs to speed up. The recent box office momentum provided by films like Safe House and The Lorax figures to screech to a halt this weekend with the opening of A Thousand Words and John Carter. The Eddie Murphy comedy shot four years ago harkens to a pre-financial crisis time before studios stopped paying prime sums to stars who dont ensure opening-weekend grosses. Murphy once had a quote of $12 million-$15 million against gross, but who’d pay that now after his string of flops? A Thousand Words had to come out some time, and found its way on the calendar when Murphy was set as Oscar host. He bailed on that gig and now Paramount distributes a $70 million legacy from its days owning DreamWorks, which produced it. Ive heard each studio is quietly pointing the finger at one another. The same kind of thing is going on with Disneys softly tracking film John Carter, which cost $250 million or maybe more, depending on whom you believe. Current management has credited this one to Dick Cook, even though he hasn’t been on the lot since being fired in September, 2009. My colleague Nikki Finke has predicted John Carter might be the biggest write down in film history based on soft early tracking, and it will likely be far short of the $70 million needed to turn such a pricey film into a hit. Cook supporters say current management should have put politics aside and not allowed Andrew Stanton to be given more rope than perhaps any first time live-action director since Orson Welles. This was a political minefield, because Stanton is a gold mine for Disney-owned Pixar — writing or directing such cash cows as WALL-E and Toy Story– but $250 million or more for a movie with no discernible audience awareness for the material, and a marketing campaign that didn’t help matters? Cook supporters also point out that nobody at the Mouse House tossed Cook the bouquets when Alice In Wonderland grossed over $1 billion. Here are some of the long-term issues that executives were most concerned about, starting with the reason I was out there, the Academy Awards: Why cant the Academy face the fact that its stuffiness and stubbornness has turned movies most important night into the Super Bowl for dress designers? The red carpet pre-show has become a more anticipated event than an awards show that focuses too much on a Hollywood past the masses dont care about, technical awards the masses dont care about, and movies from last year that audiences either saw or decided not to see a long time ago. By comparison, the recent Grammy Awards handed out awards for last year’s tunes, but the show started with Bruce Springsteen singing a song off his new album, and a parade of talent kept tickling its audience with whats next. Why can’t the movie business do the same thing? Instead of Cirque du Soleil, what if Oscar promised an exclusive clip of Tom Cruise singing an ’80s rock number in his decadent hair band rock icon character from Rock Of Ages? A clip showing the giant dragon Smaug or a battle scene from Middle Earth from The Hobbit? A killer scene from The Hunger Games? One from Prometheus, Ridley Scotts revisit to Alien terrain? The Dark Knight Rises? An action scene marking the return of James Bond in Skyfall? You get the idea. All of these scenes would be exclusive, and this could become a tradition which could be promoted and would give a global movie-loving audience more to embrace than dresses that actresses are wearing. Insiders say this hasn’t happened because the Academy is intransigent in its fear that the integrity of the awards would be compromised. After all, they only just started allowing movie ads during the telecast. Hey, Academy: join the 21stcentury. And while were at it, doubling the number of Best Picture nominees has mostly added a few more films most people didnt see. Why not create some other awards that honor the best comedy or best ensemble, which might give the unwashed masses something to root for? And when you have a year where Harry Potter was again ignored for Best Picture after an eighth installment that marked the end of an unprecedented achievement of an engrossing serial that grossed $8 billion, why not INVENT AN AWARD that gives the cast and filmmakers the chance to take a final bow in front of a grateful global TV audience? One exec suggested if the Academy cant get it together, perhaps the best move is to return to the old days when the awards were bestowed during a dinner party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. This dovetails into the other prevailing gripe among film executives and agents: the need for studios and exhibitors to wake up to the fact that audiences want what they want when they want it, on the delivery system they want it on. The snails pace revenue run of a movie from opening weekend to DVD and VOD takes too long and is too expensive to support, particularly when most movies do the bulk of their box office the first three weekends. One agent wondered why the industry, after having its sell-through business crushed by kiosks charging $1 for rentals, doesnt go back to the old system of high-priced DVDs, until VOD matures to the point where DVDs become obsolete. The prospect of movies coming out in ancillary form months after a movie has played out seems as ridiculous as the old style Hollywood journalism I practiced most of my career at Variety, where I would polish stories all day and turn them in at day’s end so I could tell you tomorrow what I knew today. Isn’t it better to let Hollywood know Chris Nolan’s agent Dan Aloni was leaving CAA while he was being escorted out of the building? With continued advancements in home viewing systems, studios are probably going to have to change terms with exhibitors and cut them in on the proceeds so that films can be released day and date or weeks later for premium prices on VOD. But it isn’t happening nearly fast enough. Until that happens, the current climate of contraction — the Summit-Lionsgate mash-up eliminated a buyer and left good execs on the street, and DreamWorks is stalled waiting to reup with Reliance — has film agents proactively pushing talent into television. HBO, Showtime and the cable nets made series work a viable option for feature stars, but did you ever imagine Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver and so many other movie stars would be doing pilots? Agents tell me that until the movie industry is righted, the money is better on TV over elusive feature roles at take it or leave it prices. More feature directors and writers are also jumping into TV, crowding out established small screen talent.

'Sister Act' will get Raven-Symone

Raven-Symone has kept in a stint like a alternative star of Broadway musical "Sister Act" inside a gig that begins later this month. Actress, making her Broadway debut, will have charge within the tuner in regards to a nightclub singer who hides out of the Mafia inside a convent. She replaces soon-to-exit Patina Burns, who obtained a Tony nom last season on her perf within the role. Raven-Symone involves the Rialto having a profile cultivated from her years because the star of Disney Funnel skein "That's So Raven." Whether it'll prove enough to draw in box office attention remains to appear. Even though it opened up last season, "Sister Act" has not handled to locate a secure foothold around the Rialto landscape, with changing weekly grosses and average attendance that from time to time drops underneath the 50% mark. A week ago the show drawn in around $480,000 and performed to houses that averaged 48% of capacity. Burns will have her final perf within the tuner March 18, with Raven-Symone set to consider over March 27. An understudy will have the role within the interim. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Locarno fest adds cash, prize

ROME -- The Locarno Film Festival is beefing-up its Filmmakers from the Present competition with increased cash along with a new jerk for the best emerging helmer. Filmmakers from the Present, which runs parallel towards the primary competition from the indie-friendly Swiss fest, is presenting the emerging director award, worth 20,000 Swiss Francs ($22,000). At the same time, section's primary prize, the Filmmakers from the Present Golden Pard, has been upped to $44,000 from $33,000. About 15 feature-length works, including docus, will compete. The 65th edition of Locarno is going to be held August. 1-11 Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Pixar Hits a Girl Power Bullseye with New Brave Trailer

Fingers are crossed that Pixar bounces back from the uncharacteristic critical disappointment that was Cars 2 with their next effort, Brave -- a foray into Disney princess territory about a headstrong young Scottish lass (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) who defies tradition in her parents' kingdom. A new trailer for the animated adventure promises no small measure of spunky girl power as our heroine Merida upends an archery contest where doofus candidates are vying for her hand in marriage. It's not a traditional trailer so much as it is a scene from the film, but it conveys a sense of what to expect, tonally. (Watch the first full trailer here.) From what's been released so far it seems Brave's story will be its strength; the round, cartoony CG-animated character design doesn't appeal much to me, but Merida's spirit is infectious in this twist on the familiar medieval archery scenario. (That's Billy Connolly voicing her father and Emma Thompson as her mom, in case you were curious.) Brave hits theaters June 22; leave your impressions below!

CDG's fashion platoon

Columbus Short, Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman party at BevHilton. Deborah Hopper and Marcia Gay Harden flank Clint Eastwood within the Costume Designers Guild Honours. Jennifer Eve, Lou Eyrich and Ryan Murphy celebrate a "Glee" victory Tuesday. David Fincher with Trish Summerville Jany Temime and Jane Lynch "I have not experienced a place due to a lot of well-fitted people," presenter Betty Kemper mentioned Tuesday within the Beverly Hilton. Indeed, they were. Jane Lynch emceed the Costume Designers Guild Honours, where kudos received to "W.E.'s" Arianne Phillips, "Harry Potter's" Jany Temime and "Dragon Tattoo's" Trish Summerville, among others. An honorary award visited they of Deborah Hopper and Clint Eastwood, who mentioned, "Everyone knows movies and tv are an ensemble. People discuss company company directors and auteurs. I never supported that kind of factor. It's a platoon."Kate Beckinsale also received an honorary trophy, which she mentioned belonged to all or any the costume designers who've fitted her. But, she quickly added, "I'm by using this award home because I'm I deserve something for that wrecking my stomach using the corsets you earn me placed on over time.Inch

VIDEO: Shame Prompts Awesome 'Den of Sin' Campaign in Sc

Remember Shame? The NC-17 one featuring Michael Fassbender just like a sex addict, Carey Mulligan as his off-kilter sister, a couple of well-known "late-evening fanatics" together with a thriving honours-season profile that imploded recently as being a dying star, apparently getting taken the film from it? Right, that particular. Now, based on the recommendations in the cosmos and/or art-house schemes in Columbia, S.C., that star has finally skyrocketed to awareness in probably the simplest possible way. The flier pictured above was spotted around Columbia inside the holiday weekend, promoting local moviegoers to avoid the "family room of sin" known to as Nickelodeon Theater. The 75-chair venue had finally reserved Shame for just about any run, and without the benefit of a sustained Oscar campaign for erstwhile front-runner Fassbender, the fliers made an appearance to see straight into hands of Nickelodeon management. Too good actually was? WLTX Funnel 19 is in this region! (Sorry in advance in regards to the commercial.) The Onion might be proud. Type of. Anyway, nicely carried out, Andy Cruz! [WLTX via Pullquote]

VIDEO: A History of Gangster Wife Couture

This really is fun: "After I was causeing this to be supercut, I had been especially astounded by The Godfather Part III. Broadly regarded as because the worst movie within the series, and perhaps among the worst movies ever, this motion picture mess had my personal favorite clothes." Fair enough, however i totally overlooked Lorraine Bracco's incredible Goodfellas wardrobe all this time around. Exactly what a fox. [via Worn]

New Piranha 3DD Posters Online

Something seems fishy...While there were some worries recently that the Piranha 3D sequel, cunningly titled Piranha 3DD, might be skipping UK cinemas altogether, that fear appears (happily) unfounded. And although there's no confirmed date for the film's release yet, there are a couple of posters on the web.{Piranha 3DD posters}The first, dug up by Zone Fears, finds the finned fiends swarming towards a woman, with their toothy mugs reflected in her shades. We're not quite sure how this one works, since she doesn't appear to be underwater, but we won't quibble over logic given the general tone of this franchise. The other, over at Bloody Disgusting, takes more of a Jaws approach, with the hungry hordes rising up towards a bikini-clad babe. You've got to hand it to them: they've found a theme they want to use to advertise this film, and they're sticking to it.Piranha 3DD features John Gulager in the directorial hot seat, wrangling a cast that includes original film survivors Ving Rhames, Paul Scheer and Christopher Lloyd as well as new cast members/fish food Katrina Bowden, Chris Zylka, Danielle Panabaker, Gary Busey, Elise Neal and Allison Mack. Oh, and David Hasselhoff, who we're hoping meets his maker in a suitably Baywatch-spoofing fashion.Piranha 3DD will swim in later this year.

Tight Race For #1: Safe House $23.5M, The Vow $23.1M, Ghost Driver $22.3M, Journey 2 $19.5M, This Means War $17.8M

SATURDAY PM, 3RD UPDATE:In my opinion we would like the U.S. electoral college to find out who’s winning box office this Presidents Weekend.Rival art galleries say that Universal’s Safe House is edging The brand new the new sony Pictures/Screen Gems’ The Vow for that 3-dayweekend as well as the 4-day holiday. However The new the new sony Pictures keeps the Vow remains on top withprojected grosses of $24M for Involves an finish-Sitting-Sun and $27.7M forFri-Sitting-Sun-Mon. The brand new the new sony hasSafe House with $23.3M FSS and $27M for FSSM.Tough call but I believe that majority rules for the moment. Either in situation holdovers are beating all the new films. Here’sTopFive (according to 3-day weekend amounts): 1. Safe House (Universal) Week 3 [3,121 Theaters] Friday $6.5M, Saturday $9.6M 3-Day Weekend $23.5M (41%)), Est 4-Day Holiday $27.5M, Est Cume $81.9M 2. The Vow (Screen Gems/The brand new the new sony) Week 2 [2,958 Theaters] Friday $7.4M, Saturday $9.3M (-43%), 3-Day Weekend $23.1M, Est 4-Day Holiday $27M, Est Cume $89.2M 3. Ghost Driver: Spirit Of Vengeance 3d (The brand new the new sony) NEW [3,174 Theaters] Friday $7M, Saturday $9M 3-Day Weekend $22.3M, Est 4-day Holiday $26.5M 4. Journey 2 3d (Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,500 Theaters] Friday $4.4M, Saturday $8.3M 3-Day Weekend $19.5M (-28%), Est 4-Day Holiday $25M, Est Cume $58.1M 5. This Means War (Fox) NEW [3,189 Theaters] Tuesday Sneaks $1.6M, Friday $5.6M, Saturday $7.1M 3-Day Weekend $17.8M, Est 4-Day Holiday $20.8M, Est Cume $22.4M FRIDAY PM/SATURDAY AM, second UPDATE: Another nailbiter. All the art galleries say the new the new sony Pictures/Screen Gems’hefty holdoverThe Vow will finish off #1 for Friday with between $7.1M and $7.5M according to whose amounts prove correct. Furthermore, it will capture the extended holiday, which causes it to be the finest Screen Gems movie ever. (Dear Johnmade $80M).However The new the new sony, whichis searching inside a 1-2 finish Friday,is cautioning me the outlet gross due to its 3d comic adaptationGhost Driver: Spirit Of Vengeance “could go greater since the evening continues”. And so the order might change by 'life was imple'.(But not likely, roughly the comfort of Hollywood predictions. “Ghost Driver‘s opening will probably be half from the 2007 original,” an foe studio professional notifies me.Snarks another: “Oncethey started advertising it with Nic Cage, it went downhill.”) A couple of days ago, Universal’s action holdover Safe Home will probably fight Ghost Driver 2 for second place all holiday extended. Clearly this 4-day Presidents Weekend box office is starting out perfectly — maybe $180M, ongoing the ‘up’ streak. That’s +4% over a year ago butshort in the 2010 Prez Day record of$238M which incorporated Valentine’s Day. What's apparent already is always that thosestrong Valentine’s Day sneak previewsdidn’thelp Foxdebut This Means War Friday far better.Not remarkably, after times of soppy monitoring and moving off its VDay release date, it’ll fall by Saturday behind Warner Bros’ holdoverJourney 2: The Mysterious Island because of its large family matinee bump. Gotta say: when Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Sturdy combined can’topen a movie to $20Mover a 4-day holiday with Micrograms pointing, something is hinky. In my opinion everyone is fatigued with romantic comedy, even if that certain had plenty of action and anot-too-lame premise, andis choosingThe Vow‘s romantic drama for something different-up.Disney had suprisingly low anticipation due to its latest Studio Ghibli toon from Japan. But even ifThe Secret Arena Of Arrietty looks likethis extended weekend’s large flop, Fridaywill function as finest opening from the Ghibli film. Full analysis when thenumbers firm. Relaxation Of Top (order according to Friday’s grosses): 6. Chronicle (Fox) Week 3 [2,556 Theaters] Est Friday $2M,Est 4-Day Holiday $10M,Est Cume $53.5M 7. Lady In Black (CBS Films) Week 3 [2,559 Theaters] Est Friday $1.9M, Est 4-Day Holiday $8M, EstCume $46.6M 8. Alien 3d(Luscafilms/Fox) Week 2 [2,655 Theaters] Est Friday $1.9M (-78%), Est 4-Day Holiday $10M, Est Cume $35.9M 9. Secret Arena Of Arrietty (Studio Ghibli/Disney) NEW [1,522 Theaters] Est Friday $1.7M, Est 4-Day Holiday $8M 10. The Grey (Open Road) Week4 [2,107 Theaters] Est Friday $785K, Est 4-Day Holiday $3.7M, Est Cume $48.6 — 1 PM: Rentrak gets issues with hourly grosses which put a pause on analyzing matinee amounts. Nevertheless it lookslikethis 4-day Leader’s Holiday weekend will finish off strong.At this time around for today,The brand new the new sony Pictures’sequelGhostrider: Spirit Of Vengeanceis opening just pennies from Universal’s holdover Safe House and also the new the new sony Pictures The Vow (because order).Fox newcomer This Means War isahead of Warner Bros’ holdover Journey 2.Order by weekend’s finish may be same.

Glee: Where Have Rachel's Fathers Been All Of Our Lives?

Jum Michele, Shaun Goldblum, John Stokes Mitchell Dear Glee producers, Fans finally reached meet Mr. and Mr. Berry on Tuesday's episode, and we must request: could it be too early to transmit them valentine's? Glee's Vanessa Lengies on Sugar's large breadstix party along with a new McKinley love triangular Hiram and Leroy Berry, performed by Shaun Goldblum and John Stokes Mitchell, showed up the only method males who elevated gold star-loving, solo-hogging Rachel Berry would: on the moving piano while singing "Chapel of affection.Inch What's to not like? Seamless chemistry, witty back-and-forth about ice-fishing with Tony Danza (it had been just one dream!) and Jennifer Hudson's vocal comes (this is exactly why she got began of yankee Idol, in the end)... swoon. Even if it appeared as if the Berrys were really super gung-ho to marry business teen, Papa Berrys revealed their true intentions. Obviously they would like to split up Finchel! Here Finn, have a look at what married existence - and Rachel's crazy beauty regimen - really means. A rather devious and completely controlling plan... err, sounds much like Rachel! Awww! Rachel's backstory is finally uniting! However the episode begged the question: Why haven't we met them sooner? Rachel finding her real birth mother, Shelby, in Season 1 would be a huge story, yet Hiram and Leroy were nowhere to appear. Since Rachel's time like a McKinley High student is drained faster than you are able to say Liza, are we able to please visit a lot of Berrys? Glee spoiler photos: Obtain a sneak look of what is ahead We all know Glee already has lots of other story lines and figures to service, but as graduation and her May wedding draw near, Rachel needs to rely on her fathers for emotional support and guidance, right? And, apart from individuals couple of bars of "You are the very best,Inch Goldblum and Mitchell haven't even become an opportunity to showcase their Broadway pipes. Seriously, Glee producers. Make it. The Berrys would be the funniest factor to occur towards the show since Brittany's last zinger in Episode 6. What have you think about tonight's episode? Do you consider Rachel's fathers do the best factor by laying for their baby? Would you accept Mercedes' tough decision? Nobody thinks that Rory is returning to Ireland? Seem off below!

Sarah Jones Teases More Alcatraz Mysteries

Sarah Jones As Det. Rebecca Madsen on Fox's Alcatraz, Sarah Jones tracks down the most notorious criminals from the past while uncovering her own family's secrets. The 28-year-old Florida native fills us in on her badass role and what mysteries lie ahead.TV Guide Magazine: What's the key to your character?Jones: I was intrigued by Rebecca's youth, the fact that she is a bit of a prodigy in her line of work, and how she has no reservations about challenging someone like Hauser [Sam Neill]. At the same time, she has a vulnerability that comes out through her partnership with Doc [Jorge Garcia] and relationship with Ray [Robert Forster].TV Guide Magazine: Did you go through any weapons or fight training for the part? Jones: I started running, boxing and learned how to shoot Rebecca's gun, which is a Glock 26.TV Guide Magazine: How will the truth about her grandfather affect Rebecca down the line?Jones: He killed her partner and she won't let that slide, regardless of whether he's family or not.TV Guide Magazine: Is Rebecca hiding any secrets?Jones: In one episode, there's a great line where Rebecca asks Ray, "What is it about Alcatraz that makes everybody into a liar?" That sums it up right there.TV Guide Magazine: What's the creepiest thing you've learned about Alcatraz?Jones: This is more ironic than creepy, but despite the fact that Alcatraz was notorious for being the worst prison, it had a reputation for serving the best food in the prison system.Alcatraz airs Mondays at 9/8c on Fox.Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

True Blood Trailer: Nothing Stays Buried Forever

Evan Rachel Wood and Denis O'Hare The return of the king?HBO's new True Blood teaser is pretty skimpy on footage, but it does feature the ominous tagline "In Bon Temps, nothing stays buried forever." Is it alluding to Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare), who was exhumed in the Season 4 finale? Or someone else?Twilight's Christopher Heyerdahl heads to True BloodSeason5 of True Blood will premiere in the summer. Check out the teaser: Season 5 - Buried Tease

Viacom Boss financials released

Viacom Boss Philippe Dauman's fiscal 2011 compensation totaled $43 million plus a $3.5 million base salary and hefty $20 million cash bonus Up from $11 million the last year, with different filing while using Opportunities and Exchange Commission late Friday. The quantity was paid out available and investment.His overall pay fell from $84 million this season when Dauman was the finest paid out Boss in corporate America.Chief operating officer Thomas Dooley acquired $34 million, his base salary of $2.5 million together with a $16 million bonus that was nearly double year earlier figure.As well as the company's billionaire controlling investor Sumner Redstone received $21 million in compensation getting a $1.75 million base salary together with a $millions of bonus, also nearly the double 2010 bonus.Viacom mentioned inside the filing that "The goal in our compensation programs could be to ensure that people hold the gifted professionals and employees we must achieve our proper plans and deliver financial returns to stockholders over temporary and lengthy-term. To accomplish this, we must attract and retain great managers and employees, and compensate them with techniques that encourages and rewards their performance."Viacom's fiscal year finishes Sept. 30. The business mentioned it'll hold its annual shareholders' meeting at its NY City headquarters on March 8. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

ABC greenlights pilot '666 Park Ave.'

ABC has given the greenlight to the drama pilot "666 Park Ave.," from scribe David Wilcox, Warner Bros. TV and Alloy Entertainment. Series revolves around a young couple who manage a historic Gotham apartment building where they begin to experience supernatural phenomena that endangers the tenants. Wilcox ("Fringe") wrote the pilot and is exec producing with Alloy's Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo. "Park Ave." is based on the Alloy book by Gabriella Pierce. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Platinum, Canton eye 'Atlantis' pic

Platinum Galleries is refreshing the film prospects of their "Atlantis Rising" comicbook, joining with "Immortals" producer Mark Canton to build up a possible new franchise from the property. An adaptation had formerly been setup at DreamWorks in 2008, with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who introduced the project towards the studio, mounted on produce at that time. Platinum Studios' "Cowboys and Aliens" was modified by Universal, DreamWorks and Imagine this past year. Since it's film privileges to "Atlantis Rising" in its possession, Platinum takes a brand new approach, restarting it with a brand new look and story. Produced by Platinum chief Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, "Atlantis Rising" was initially released like a five-problem miniseries. Property involves an underwater civilization that started over 10,000 years back and whose presence is unknown towards the surface population. "'Atlantis Rising' has got the franchise potential of 'Men in Black,' that we greenlit for Scott while at Sony's Columbia TriStar," Canton stated. "I am searching toward getting it towards the screen with Platinum like a dynamic, condition-of-the-art action thriller." Canton, chairman and Boss of Atmosphere Entertainment, is really a boardmember of Platinum Galleries. Atmosphere's recent credits include Relativity's "Immortals," that has gained a lot more than $210 million in the worldwide B.O., and Warner Bros.' "300," according to Frank Miller's graphic novel. "'Atlantis Rising' is really a provocative sci-fi thriller that at its core raises the question: whose planet is?Inch Rosenberg stated. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

'The Descendants' wins best drama Golden Globe

Film, DRAMA"The Descendants"ACTOR, DRAMAGeorge Clooney - "The Descendants"Film, COMEDY OR MUSICAL"The Artist"ACTRESS, DRAMAMeryl Streep - "The Iron Lady"ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL, MOTION PICTUREJean Dujardin - "The Artist"BEST COMEDY OR MUSICAL, TELEVISION"Modern Family" (ABC)BEST DIRECTOR, MOTION PICTUREMartin Scorsese - "Hugo"BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MOTION PICTUREOctavia Spencer - "The AssistanceInchActing professional, COMEDY OR MUSICAL, TELEVISIONMatt LeBlanc - "Episodes"ACTRESS, DRAMA, TELEVISIONClaire Danes - "Homeland"Language FILM"A Separation" ("Jodaeiye Nader az Simin") - IranSUPPORTING ACTRESS Inside A SERIES, Small-SERIES OR MOTION PICTUREJessica Lange - "American Horror Story"BEST Script, FilmInchNight time in Paris" - Woodsy AllenBEST ANIMATED FEATURE"The Adventures of Tintin: The Key from the Unicorn"SUPPORTING ACTOR Inside A SERIES, Small-SERIES OR MOTION PICTUREPeter Dinklage - "Bet on Thrones"ACTRESS , COMEDY OR MUSICAL, MOTION PICTUREMichelle Williams - "My Week with Marilyn"ACTOR Inside A Small-SERIES OR MOTION PICTUREIdris Elba - "Luther"BEST ORIGINAL SONG, FilmInchWork of artInch - "W.E." - Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy HarryBEST ORIGINAL SCORE, FilmInchThe Artist" - Ludovic BourceBEST DRAMA, TELEVISION"Homeland" (Showtime)ACTOR, DRAMA, TELEVISIONKelsey Grammer - "Boss"ACTRESS Inside A Small-SERIES OR MOTION PICTUREKate Winslet - "Mildred Pierce"BEST Small-SERIES OR FilmInchDownton Abbey" (PBS)ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL, TELEVISIONLaura Dern - "Enlightened"BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, MOTION PICTUREChristopher Plummer - "Beginners"THE CECIL B. DEMILLE AWARDMorgan Freeman Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

'Contraband' bests weekend beginners

'Contraband' Universal's launch of smuggling thriller "Contraband" easily corralled the very best slot in the domestic box office with $24.a million at 2,863 locations because of its Friday-Sunday opening. The Objective Wahlberg vehicle, co-created by Relativity and dealing Title for around $25 million, should find yourself the 4-day holiday frame with $28.4 million. The outlet of Disney's three dimensional publish-converted "Beauty and also the Animal" finished a good second with $18.5 million at 2,625 for that 72 hours along with a forecasted $24.7 million for that four days with impressive returns around the Monday school holiday to see the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King. Mouse distribution prexy Dork Hollis stated the "Lion King" conversion cost the studio $8 million to $9 million, making the return of "Beauty" nicely lucrative.Paramount's fifth frame of "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" narrowly won the 3rd slot with $11.5 million at 3,346, edging out Warner Bros.' opening of gospel music comedy "Pleased Noise" at $11.3 million at 2,735. Monday biz could reverse individuals positions with Componen-Skydance's "Ghost Protocol" on the right track to cume $14 million for that four days while "Noise" might take because $14.5 million."Ghost Protocol" is forecasted hitting a domestic cume of $189.two million through the finish of Monday.Overall biz for that frame involved even going to up slightly in comparison towards the year-ago weekend, following last weekend's 28% surge in moviegoing, fueled through the stunning opening of Componen Insurge's "The Demon Inside." Warner's fifth frame of "A Virtual Detective: Bet on Shadows" arrived fifth with $8.4 million at 3,155 for Friday-Monday to edge the soph sesh of "Demon" with $7.9 million at 2,551. "Demon," designed for $a million, should consume $9 million for that four days for any heavenly $47.3 million cume in the first 11 days."Demon" rejected by 77%, not really a surprise after setting an archive for the best early The month of january debut. A trio of holidays records adopted with respectable holds as Sony's 4th frame of "The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo" finished seventh, lower 40% to $6.8 million at 2,674 for that 72 hours as well as an $88 million domestic cume. "Girl" also required in $16.5 million at 3,920 screens overseas for any foreign cume of $49.7 million. Fox's fifth outing of "Alvin and also the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" arrived eighth, off 39% to $5.8 million at 2,849 along with a domestic cume of nearly $119 million. "Chipwrecked" also drawn in $14.4 million at 6,527 in foreign marketplaces for any $154.a million worldwide take.Disney/DreamWorks' 4th weekend of "War Equine" rode into ninth, lower 35% to with $5.six million at 2,856, having a four-day projection of $6.8 million for any $67 million domestic cume. Worldwide, "Equine" made $6.8 million inside a dozen marketplaces for any $17.3 million foreign cume.The Weinstein Co.'s aggressive growth of "The Iron Lady" required the ultimate slot within the top ten with $5.4 million at 802 for any cume of $six million. Its per-screen average of $6,716 was the 3rd very best in the very best 10, following $8,405 for "Contraband" and $7,044 for "Beauty and also the Animal."TWC's eighth frame of "The Artist" -- among the honours season management -- drawn in $1.two million at 216 to lift domestic cume to $8.8 million.Around the specialty front, Oscilloscope's launch of "We have to Discuss Kevin" first showed remarkably with $44,000 at two locations. The Tilda Swinton starrer presently has a cume of $83,297 including its one-week Oscar-being approved run.IFC's "Pina" ongoing to do well with $108,000 at six screens for any $540,000 cume for that Wim Wenders dance pic."A Virtual DetectiveInch was the dominant title in overseas marketplaces with $27.4 million from 57 marketplaces, together with a $3.4 million soph sesh around australia along with a $3.3 million Brazilian launch, to push foreign cume to $222 million. That's 13% in front of the original -- which in fact had your final foreign total of $315 million -- in the same reason for its release.Componen saw lots of foreign pop from the holdovers -- "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" ongoing minting foreign gold coin with $16.8 million at 5,847 in 58 areas to lift the worldwide total to $320 million while "Puss In Boots" snagged $14.six million at 5,679 for any foreign cume of $331.7 million. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

MSNBC looks for '12 gains

GriffinMSNBC is searching to determine election-year ratings gains in 2012, while not as large from the leap since the cabler needed in 2008. MSNBC prexy Phil Griffin was careful about projecting viewership growth since the presidential race will get warmer. ''We couldn't possibly have forty percent growth'' the cabler saw in 2008, Griffin mentioned through the cabler's sesh Saturday within the TCA press tour in Pasadena. Still, ''we're depending on that it's a large year,'' he added. The 2008 race marked MSNBC's breakout year after its transformation with a liberal choice to Fox News, plus it prospered round the competish among Dems to be successful George W. Rose rose bush inside the White-colored House. This time around around around, Griffin mentioned he's been surprised up to now within the more moderate response from audiences to political coverage within the cable news spectrum. ''Nobody blew it out'' the other day with coverage of Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, adding he ''expected a bigger evening from Fox News.'' MSNBC used its TCA time to give a large push towards the ''Morning Joe'' ayemcast. Griffin suggested the show's growth and recognition because of its focus on in-depth interviews and measured tone, when compared with other cable politico skeins. '' 'Morning Joe' grew to become one in the great brands in cable,'' Griffin excited. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

'Ghost Protocol' scares up $46 mil overseas

Paramount's "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" nabbed $46.2 million from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2, bringing its international cume to a terrif $227.6 million as it spent a third consecutive week atop the overseas box office.The pic, with a global tally of around $365 million through Jan. 2, is on track to become the franchise's highest-grossing installment, according to Par. The second "Mission" topped out at approximately $545 million worldwide in 2000.Large-screen exhib Imax has helped boost totals for "Ghost Protocol."The film's Imax presentation has collected north of $46 million worldwide, of which $13 million comes from international Imax wickets. Par released the film domestically for an exclusive week-early launch in Imax (the pic's domestic Imax tally has reached $33.1 million)."Ghost Protocol" opened in Blighty on Boxing Day (Dec. 26), topping the local B.O. with $12.7 million in its first seven days. (That's nearly 20% better than the third "Mission: Impossible's" initial-week gross in the U.K.)The pic also held pole position in holdover Asian territories, including Japan and South Korea, where after three go-rounds it has cumed $35.7 million and $34.8 million, respectively.Par has yet to release "Ghost Protocol" in several key markets, such as Italy, Argentina and China, where the pic is set to bow late this month. Because of the government-imposed blackout holiday period -- during which only local product is permitted -- China's Oscar foreign-lingo submission, "The Flowers of War," has had room to grow locally. The pic, which bowed Dec. 26, has scored $83 million at the Chinese B.O. in its first 17 days."Flowers" stands as the country's sixth-highest grossing film of all time. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com