New TV spot for The Grey

A new TV spot has been released for Joe Carnahan's survival movie The Grey, in which Liam Neeson contends with a plane crash, lots of snow and some very toothy wolves.The new spot features a raft of Twitter reactions from fans, most of which go along the lines of "OMG, Liam Neeson is a f**king badass!" And to be fair to them, the footage on display here would appear to bear that out.In terms of exposition, we pretty much know what we're dealing with here (plane crashes in the frozen wastes of Alaska; oil-drilling team attempt to survive against the odds) which allows the trailer to plough straight into the action.And what action it is, with Neeson baring his teeth and going head to head with a pack of angry wolves. We don't think we've seen anything more kick-ass this year, than the snarling Irishman running full-pelt at one of the startled looking predators!Take a look at the new spot here... The Grey is released in the UK on 27 January 2012. Mother Nature had better watch out... Liam Neeson is coming to give her a bloody nose!

Rapper Baba Brinkman Will get Positively Medieval

NY (AP) Most emcees boast regarding their intellect, but couple of get out there and really obtain a masters degree in medieval and Renaissance literature to allow them to spit better rhymes.On the other hand, most emcees aren't Baba Brinkman.The 33-year-old Canadian, who when speaking is equally as prone to quote from Ice-T as create a mention of the transformative psychology, has put his existence in the service of stylish-hop, a kind of music he sees as unlimited in the energy.To prove it, he's rapped a version of Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century "The Canterbury Tales." He's also waded into science, dealing with Charles Darwin's "The Foundation from the Species," and it has rapped about market financial aspects."Every message is favorable for this medium," he states. "People would say, 'Well, maybe theoretically. But whoever else got?' This is where the 'Canterbury Tales' idea came into being: Basically can rap medieval poetry, then which will show people the boundarylessness from the genre."Brinkman, together with his frequent DJ collaborator Jamie Simmonds, is presently returning to Chaucer using their "The Canterbury Tales Remixed" in the SoHo Playhouse carrying out a effective run there of "The Rap Help guide to Evolution" this fall.The show sandwiches three from the Canterbury Tales between your epic poems of Gilgamesh and Beowulf, turning these dusty old works that torture adolescents in classes into remarkably current and vivid tales."This really is larger than me it's larger than you, larger than rap," Brinkman states towards the top of the show. "It's larger than fingers on triggers and larger than gangsters slingin' the crack/That's only the latest version of the ancient story/The trend of players hungry for fame and glory."Throughout performances, Brinkman prowls happens in a set of jeans along with a hoodie, and frequently interacts with Simmonds, who scratches out beats on his decks and it is vulnerable to layer Mobb Deep cuts over strings.The 2 met in 2008 within the southeast British town of Brighton and instantly glued over their passion for stylish-hop. Simmonds, a 36-year-old Englishman, originated from a recording studio background was more accustomed to spinning records to tipsy ballroom dancers in nightclubs than supplying the background music for any rap about behavior designs of primate species."We simply really connected. I truly loved it was something so different. It type of opened up an entire " new world " for me personally too. The theater world was something I'd never been part of,Inch Simmonds states. "I truly have a challenge. And that is what it really was. It had been putting myself from my safe place."Browse The BACK STAGE Overview Of "THE CANTERBURY TALES REMIXED" Brinkman originates from Vancouver, Bc, and grown trees within the Rocky Mountain tops every summer time for more than ten years. At Simon Fraser College, his masters thesis came parallels between your mobile phone industry's of stylish-hop music and literary poetry.After graduation, Brinkman, who had been born Dirk Brinkman, has had his award-winning stylish-hop theater shows to a large number of metropolitan areas all over the world, including several stops in the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. One show frequently creates a commission for an additional from audience people stunned that Brinkman's raps can tackle any complex idea."Everything we all do is really a tribute to stylish-hop. I believe I am pretty rare for the reason that I really got an British masters degree because I thought about being a far more versatile MC," he states."I needed to describe to individuals that rap isn't 4 decades old. I am talking about, stylish-hop like a culture is 4 decades old and the one thing we call rap today is 4 decades old, but rhymed storytelling is ancient. Every culture's got a bit of variation."In lots of ways, his remixed Chaucer is really a go back to his roots. After you have his masters, Brinkman together with having a version of "The Canterbury Tales," which at that time incorporated The Miller's Tale and also the Wife of Bath's Tale. For that new show, he's rewritten everything and worked with with Simmonds on original music.Determining to rap about "The Canterbury Tales" constitutes a perverse sense. Brinkman describes that Chaucer authored a wealthy and elaborate tapestry of medieval social existence, mixing pictures of classes, from nobles to employees, from priests and nuns to drunkards and thieves.There is one more reason, too: "He's dirty," states Brinkman, laughing."He's the Clever Ron of this era," Simmonds adds."'The Canterbury Tales' are extremely unashamed along with a totally piercing portrait of human instinct and human mistakes. And i believe rap is the fact that too. It does not blush if this examines human behavior," Brinkman states. "It's all regulated displayed in rap hpv warts and all sorts of. And that is what 'The Canterbury Tales' is, too."Within the show, Brinkman's lyrics carried out over Simmonds' moody, orchestral score explain the job via a cheeky modern lens. Within the Pardoner's Tale, Brinkman raps the title character is "a medieval televangelist. He's Creflo Dollar, he's Ted Haggard, she has mad swagger like Jimmy Swaggart."Within the same tale, Brinkman offers a method to comprehend the three drunken males seeking to kill Dying: "Think Boyz within the Hood think Menace to Society/Just in the Dark Ages, from the Flemish variety."His focus on Chaucer brought to "The Rap Help guide to Evolution," ''The Rap Help guide to Human Instinct" and "The Rap Help guide to Business," that they was commissioned to create to welcome a brand new class at NY University's Stern School of economic.InchIndividual capital, it's difficult to evaluate," he rapped in a single song. "But without them your company won't survive/Human capital, it's difficult to evaluate/You have to provide people not only a 9 to 5.InchBrinkman and Simmonds have both gone to live in NY and therefore are planning to make the most of their three-year work visas. Their evolution rap will tour early in the year and also the Chaucer jobs are now taking pleasure in a run until early The month of january, and could tour too.The 2 are plotting a brand new rap guide, possibly on religion or possibly on global warming. Anything, it will not be fluffy. "I am not quite attracted to small talk," states Brinkman. "Being an MC, I wish to tackle probably the most questionable, interesting things on the planet.InchCopyright laws 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Taylor Quick CoverGirl Ad Banned for Excessive Photoshopping

Taylor Quick The Nation's Advertising Division has banned Taylor Swift's CoverGirl mascara print ad within the U . s . States due to excessive Photoshopping, Business Insider reviews.According the NAD, the ad for CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara made "superior performance claims," for example "2X more volume" and "20 % lighter," that may 't be substantiated.Take a look at photos of Taylor SwiftProcter & Gamble, parents company of CoverGirl, did possess a disclaimer in small print within the ad nevertheless Swift's lashes were "enhanced in publish production," but that wasn't enough to appease the NAD, that was "particularly troubled" through the final product."You cannot make use of a photograph to show the way a cosmetic will take care of it's put on a ladies face after which - within the rodents type - possess a disclosure that states 'OK, not necessarily,Inch NAD Director Andrea Levine stated.United kingdom restrictions "sexually provocative" perfume ad featuring Dakota FanningThe ruling may be the initial one through the NAD, that is following within the actions from the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority in cracking lower on beauty advertisements which are misleading customers. In This summer, the ASA drawn advertisements featuring Jennifer Aniston for Lancome and Christy Turlington for Maybelline due to digital retouching. Recently, the watchdog group banned a "sexually provocative" scent ad with 17-year-old Dakota Fanning.

'Young Adult' behavior

Diablo Cody and Ben Kingsley.Megan Colligan, Make the most of Moore and Kaira Grey celebrate within the Academy Theater.Patton Oswalt with Jason Reitman Mindy Kaling and Charlize Theron On Thursday evening, Charlize Theron celebrated what is the news of her Golden Globe nom earlier tomorrow while using relaxation in the "Youthful Adult" cast within the Vital pic's preem.But, clearly, the task is what really counts. "I practically stalked him for a while,Inch Theron mentioned of helmer Jason Reitman. "So that it was great when he finally introduced us a task he thought might be well suited for me."Joining the festivities within the Academy Theater were Paul Rudd and "Youthful Adult" co-star Patton Oswalt. Each of them came out earlier your evening in the reading through through of "The Princess Bride" at LACMA that Reitman had develop.

Martha Stewart in 'Active Discussions' on New Hallmark Deal

She may not have been born this way, but Lady Gaga was pop's top-earning woman in 2011.our editor recommendsTony Bennett's Nude Lady Gaga Sketch Available on EBayLady Gaga Reveals 'Dream' of Working With Woody AllenThe Scene at THR's 2011 Women In Entertainment Power 100 Breakfast PHOTOS: THR's 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100 According to Forbes, Lady Gaga earned $90 million from album sales, touring and endorsements -- double the estimated earnings of Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, who made $45 million and $44 million, respectively. In Gaga context, that's over $5 million for each of the pop provocateur's nearly 17 million Twitter followers, or $2 million a piece for her Facebook little monsters. The numbers reflect earnings between May 2010 and 2011. COMPLETE LIST: 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100 That calendar means Adele, who notched $18 million and ninth place with only a few months of record-keeping for her chart-ruling 21, may be tough competition for Mother Monster in 2012. Rounding out the top 10 list was Beyonce ($35 million), Rihanna ($29 million), Pink ($22 million), Carrie Underwood ($20 million), Celine Dion ($19 million) and Britney Spears, who tied with Alicia Keys at $10 million for the No. 10 spot. Overall, U2 was Forbes' top act in music, with the band notching $195 million. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 54th Annual Grammy Nominees: Kanye West, Adele, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Katy Perry Related Topics Katy Perry Lady Gaga Taylor Swift

SAG/AFTRA Merger Committee Changes Into High(er) Gear Sets Unequalled Marathon Meeting to use on Plan

Getty Images Universal has acquired U . s . States rights for the untitled Jennifer Aniston-Luc Besson drama. Jolie will star inside the project, that's known to love a "dramatic thriller with action."which is mentioned to become mix between Besson's own much-respected movies The Professional as well as the Fifth Element. Besson written the script for your new project and may produce and direct. The studio is providing this as Besson's return to the genre through which he gained his title. Universal acquired eighty percent of worldwide distribution rights for the project, which solutions the question from the products movie Jolie can do next. PHOTOS: Jennifer Aniston and Hollywood's 10 Finest-Paid out Stars The actress, which has her directorial debut Inside the Land of Blood stream and Honey opening 12 ,. 23, has several projects competing on her behalf attention. Our prime-profile ones add a biopic of Gertrude Bell and Scarpetta, the 2nd which would be to establish at Fox. Universal remains monitoring the development of the Bell biopic, which has Ridley Scott installed on direct, which is wanting to land it. The completely new movie will begin shooting April 2012 in Paris. Email: Boyrs.Package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Jennifer Aniston Luc Besson

Broadway 'Venus' moves orbit

Manhattan Theater Club's non-profit Broadway production of "Venus in Fur" will get a commercial transfer to the Lyceum Theater, where the show picks up perfs in February. Stars Hugh Dancy and Nina Arianda are both set to move with the show to its new venue, where "Venus" is skedded for a limited run of about four months. Well-reviewed production hasn't been logging B.O.-busting grosses, in part due to the MTC subscribers who in most cases pay less for individual ducats than single-ticket buyers. Besides, MTC's Main Stem theater, the Friedman, is one of the Rialto's smallest with 650 seats. Weekly sales for the show have barely topped the $400,000 mark. However, attendance has been on the upswing, with the production filling seats to between 97% and 100% of capacity in the frames since reviews hit. At nearly 950 seats, the Lyceum will add some 300 seats per perf (or 2,400 per week) to fill. Broadway shift is the latest step for a show that originated in a 2010 Off Broadway preem at Classic Stage Company. That run, in which Dancy did not appear, provided Arianda with the breakout turn that landed her on the Rialto in "Born Yesterday" last season. Based on an 19th century erotic novel, adaptation by David Ives centers on the power play between a theater writer-director (Dancy) and an actress (Arianda) auditioning to play a role. Walter Bobbie ("Chicago") helms. "Venus," which will shutter at the Friedman Dec. 18 to make way to MTC's upcoming revival of "Wit," begins perfs Feb. 7 for a limited stint set to finish June 17. Lyceum run will be produced by Jon B. Platt, Scott Landis, Manhattan Theater Club Prods., Jessica R. Jenen, Scott M. Delman and Classic Stage Company. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

The Black List 2011: By Managers

The Black List 2011: Script Roster The Black List 2011: By Agencies MANAGERS – by quantity of scripts Management 360 5 Variety 4 Kaplan/Perrone 3 Benderspink 3 H2F 3 Circle of Confusion 3 The Gotham Group 3 The Safran Company 2 Energy Entertainment 2 Four Floor Productions 2 Oasis Media Group 2 Quality Media 2 3 Arts Entertainment 1 Industry Entertainment 1 Infinity Management Worldwide 1 Brillstein Entertainment Partners 1 Madhouse Entertainment 1 Magnet Management 1 Anonymous Content 1 Hopscotch Pictures 1 New School Media 1 New Wave 1 Quality Media 1 Prolific 1 Quiet R Management 1 Tariq Merhab Management 1 Gotham Group 1 Generate 1 The Schiff Company 1 Tom Sawyer 1 Subterranean Films and Management 1 Zero Gravity Management 1 MANAGERS – by quantity of votes The Safran Company 143 Tariq Merhab Management 84 Management 360 68 Industry Entertainment 59 Anonymous Content 53 Circle of Confusion 46 The Gotham Group 45 Quiet R Management 43 Kaplan/Perrone 43 Four Floor Productions 38 H2F 30 Benderspink 28 Energy Entertainment 26 Magnet Management 23 Oasis Media Group 22 Quality Media 22 3 Arts Entertainment 17 Brillstein Entertainment Partners 17 Gotham Group 14 Variety 14 Infinity Management Worldwide 14 Zero Gravity Management 13 New School Media 10 Quality Media 10 Prolific 8 Hopscotch Pictures 8 Generate 7 Subterranean Films and Management 7 The Schiff Company 7 New Wave 6 Tom Sawyer 6 Madhouse Entertainment 6

'War Horse': The Making of Steven Spielberg's WWI Epic

This story first appeared in the Dec. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.our editor recommendsAndy Serkis on Who Sends Him Hate Mail; Why Oscar Should Rethink Animated Category (Q&A)Why 'Tintin' and 'Rango' Stand Out Among This Year's Animated Awards Contenders (Opinion) For most of Academy Awards history, animation and visual effects have competed in separate categories. But as the line between VFX and animation gets increasingly blurry, animated films like Kung Fu Panda 2 or Puss in Boots -- as well as the performance-capture-based The Adventures of Tintin -- could emerge as contenders in the VFX category. The VFX branch made a loud statement about what constitutes a visual effect in 2007 when it put CG-animated Ratatouille and motion-capture-based Beowulf on its list of 15 Oscar contenders. PHOTOS: The Big Screen's Evolution of Talking Animals So what's the difference between animation and VFX? "It's ambiguous," admits DreamWorks Animation's Alex Parkinson, VFX supervisor on Kung Fu Panda 2. "Everything you see in an animated movie is a visual effect." One notoriously tough effect to render in live action is computer-generated water -- which is also tough to animate. "The tools and techniques are exactly the same," says Parkinson. "The difference is that on a traditional live-action movie, you are matching a plate, which has its own complications, and on an animated movie, you are creating the world from scratch and defining the rules of the world a lot more." PHOTOS: 10 Inappropriately Sexy Cartoon Characters That may amount to no difference at all in the animation-acclimated eyes of VFX branch voters. The CG water in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 could be judged alongside the CG water created for Tintin and Panda. Not since Tim Burton's 1993 stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas has animation earned a VFX Oscar nomination. This time, 2012 could be the year. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 2010's Animated Movie Box Office Scorecard Related Topics Oscars Kung Fu Panda 2 Oscars 2012 Puss in Boots The Adventures of Tintin Animation

The Help guide to Thursday TV: Bones, A Workplace Customer, A Rustic Christmas, and much more!

Bones Always a well known (if sometimes contentious) subject during my Request Matt forum, Fox's Bones refutes any notion that it is heart is not in the best place within this week's ultimately touching episode (9/8c). Rob Waite (forever Papa Walton to a lot of us, though nowadays also known as Jethro's father on NCIS) constitutes a welcome return as Booth's grandfather, bearing some uncomfortable news which has the pregnant Bones (Emily Deschanel) wondering just how to achieve to a closed-off Booth (David Boreanaz, who's in especially fine form). "I ought to have the ability to help Booth, should not I?" she frets to some supportive Angela. It can be her pregnancy the body's hormones and also the irritatingly swelling breasts, but Bones relaxes her guardedness enough doing guy with an emotional rough patch that invokes reminiscences both good and bad. For this week's situation, which returns Tina Majorino as gung-ho Agent Shaw - who'd do anything whatsoever to thrill Booth - let us just say it gives new meaning towards the publish office's "dead letter" operation. Piecing together this puzzle means assembling an appearance discovered in multiple shipping boxes - yet another day at work for that squints.Want more TV news? Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!ER's Maura Tierney returns to NBC's Thursday evening selection - going to Work (9/8c) because the wife of enigmatic new Boss Robert California (James Spader), who's searching to locate a role for his spouse at Dunder Mifflin. Elsewhere on NBC's comedy selection: Leslie continues trial on Parks and Entertainment (8:30/7:30c) Shaun and Shirley synergy to seize control from the school's foosball table on recently christened TV Guide Magazine "fan favorite" Community (8/7c), while Annie makes matters worse when she attempts to hide the truth that she broke Abed's Dark Dark night DVD as well as in a bizarre preview of sorts to impending midseason changes, Chelsea Handler visitors like a counselor on Whitney (9:30/8:30c) within an episode entitled "Up Through The Night." Since you may often hear, Whitney is going to be vacating Thursdays within the year, changing with Up Through The Night and developing a brand new Wednesday block with Are You Currently There, Chelsea? - which might be a moot question if these shows don't pull how much they weigh inside a typically hard time period for NBC.A couple of musical notes: It is a double elimination on Fox's The X Factor (8/7c), meaning regardless of how it plays out, a minumum of one from the "women" or "men" is going to be removed from Simon Cowell's or L.A. Reid's teams - maybe one from each if Josh Krajcik, the final (and finest) from the elders, handles to outlive (though he battled on Michael Jackson evening having a bad, and badly overproduced, number). And knowing from individuals amusing cutaways Wednesday evening towards the bored-searching Jackson kids within the audience, if sour-faced little Blanket Jackson had his way, everybody could be going home. ... Noticeably missing in the X Factor ranks is anybody in the country persuasion. Therefore if that's more for your taste, ABC obliges with CMA Country Christmas (9/8c), a 2-hour holiday music hootenanny featuring The American Idol Show alums Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina and Kellie Pickler, together with this type of-listers as Belief Hill, Martina McBride, Kaira Paisley, Keith Urban - as well as in a jerk towards the box office, Vince Gill inside a duet using the Muppets' Miss Piggy.Among popular features of World Helps Day-related programming: Logo design starts a 2-evening presentation from the brilliant Cinemax miniseries version of Tony Kushner's epic Angels in the usa (10/9c concludes Friday at 10/9c), featuring Al Pacino and Meryl Streep among an amazing ensemble. ... Showtime's focal point inside a evening of Helps-related documentary programming is Have a Child Alive With Alicia Secrets (9/8c), where the music performer brings five contest those who win to Nigeria to go to sites in which the "Have a Child Alive" foundation provides health care and moral support to children and families impacted by Aids/Helps.Implies that demand to become taken moderately: TLC discloses the effects to be billed with D.U.I. (9/8c) inside a new COPS-like series shot in Oklahoma, where police crack lower on drunk motorists, who cameras follow-through area sobriety tests through arrest and sentencing. ... Discovery stories the Weed Wars (10/9c, simulcast on Discovery Fit & Health) on the planet of medicinal marijuana, following the employees of Concord, CA's Harborside Health Center, referred to as "the country's biggest medicinal cannabis dispensary," serving 94,000 patients. Snoop Dogg works the series' original title track towards the surprise of simply no one.What exactly else is on? ... It's less than as legendary or as enjoyable as Rudolph, which once more demonstrated a rankings champion for CBS the 2009 week, however the 1970 Rankin-Bass Father Christmas Is Comin' to Town (ABC, 8/7c) is tonight's bid for classic-cartoon supremacy, with Fred Astaire narrating and Mickey Rooney supplying the voice from the youthful Kris Kringle, who memorably knots using the odious Burgermeister Meisterburger. ... OWN's Documentary Club presents One Lucky Elephant (9/8c), that is really concerning the unlucky Flora, an orphaned African elephant who had been adopted and trained with a circus owner who eventually realizes he or she must look for a home on her after she retires. Much easier in theory. ... Tonight's Mentalist repeat from last season on CBS (10/9c) is notable because of its guest turn by Morena Baccarin, so terrific on Showtime's Homeland this year, being an alluring matchmaker who Patrick Jane thinks might have killed her husband.Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Sundance unveils Next, Midnight lineups

'The Pact''Grabbers''I Am Not a Hipster''Kid-Thing''Sleepwalk With Me'Sundance's edgy Next and Park City at Midnight lineups have taken on a higher profile lately, with buyers finding offbeat titles such as "Bellflower" among the selections. The Sundance Film Festival also unveiled lineups today for its Spotlight best-of-fests section and the experimental New Frontier selection.Director of programming Trevor Groth said the Next sidebar, inaugurated in 2010 to call attention to innovative no-budget work, continues to gain in importance.Other films from last year's Next section that found distribution include "The Lie" and "Sound of My Voice." To that end, Groth and fest topper John Cooper have added one more title to the section, bringing it to a total of nine world premieres.That leaves one less title in the fest's Park City at Midnight showcase, which consists of seven horror-thrillers and dark comedies. Selection includes "Black Rock," from Sundance alum Katie Aselton ("The Freebie"); "Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie," directed, written by and starring the out-there comedic duo of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim; and "V/H/S," an unusual collaboration among six directors including Joe Swanberg, Ti West and Adam Wingard.The best-of-fests Spotlight slate, dedicated to "cinema we love" from around the world, includes foreign-language Oscar submissions "Declaration of War" and "Monsieur Lazhar," Toronto audience-award winner "Where Do We Go Now?" and Cannes' Un Certain Regard prizewinner "Elena."The fest's experimental New Frontier section includes five features complementing previously announced installations and performances.Premieres and Documentary Premieres titles for the Jan. 19-29 fest in Park City, Utah will be announced Monday. SPOTLIGHTThe nine films in this section have all premiered at previous festivals."Corpo Celeste" (Italy) - Directed and written by Alice Rohrwacher. A Dardennes-esque study of a teenage girl's spiritual journey within and beyond the barriers of a strict Catholic community in southern Italy. Stars Yle Vianello, Salvatore Cantalupo, Anita Caprioli and Renato Carpentiere."Declaration of War" (Belgium) - Directed by Valerie Donzelli, written by Jeremie Elkaim and Donzelli. A young couple discover their newborn child is very ill. With Donzelli, Elkaim, Cesar Desseix."Elena" (Russia) - Directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev, written by Oleg Negin. An older woman faces a moral dilemma when her wealthy husband falls ill. Features Andrey Smirnov, Nadezhda Markina, Elena Lyadova and Alexey Rozin."Monsieur Lazhar" (Canada) - Directed, written by Philippe Falardeau. In which an Algerian immigrant teacher takes over a Montreal middle-school class shaken by his predecessor's suicide. With Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Emilien Neron, Danielle Proulx and Brigitte Poupart."The Orator" (New Zealand) - Directed, written by Tusi Tamasese. A Samoan villager must defend his land and family from powerful adversaries. Stars Fa'afiaula Sagote, Tausili Pushparaj, Salamasina Mataia, Ioata Tanielu."The Raid" (Indonesia) - Directed, written by Gareth Evans. An elite SWAT team seeking Jakarta's most notorious crime boss must fight its way through successive levels of a run-down apartment building. Features Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Joe Taslim, Doni Alamsyah."Where Do We Go Now?" (France-Lebanon-Italy-Egypt) - Directed by Nadine Labaki, written by Labaki, Jihad Hojeily and Rodney Al Haddad, with the collaboration of Thomas Bidegain. Lebanese women try to ease religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village. With Claude Baz Moussawbaa, Layla Hakim, Nadine Labaki, Yvonne Maalouf, Antoinette Noufaily."Wuthering Heights" (U.K.) - Directed by Andrea Arnold, written by Arnold and Olivia Hetreed. A raw, revisionist update of Emily Bronte's wind-swept classic. Stars Kaya Scodelario, James Howson, Solomon Glave, Shannon Beer and Steve Evets."Your Sister's Sister" - Directed and written by Lynn Shelton. Mourning his brother's recent death, a man gets more than he bargained for when he retreats to a friend's family cabin. Stars Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass. PARK CITY AT MIDNIGHTThe seven films in this section are all world premieres and, unless otherwise specified, from the U.S."Black Rock" - Directed by Katie Aselton, written by Mark Duplass. Three childhood friends reunite for a girls' weekend on a remote island off the coast of Maine, only to find themselves fighting for survival. With Katie Aselton, Lake Bell and Kate Bosworth."Excision" - Directed and written by Richard Bates Jr. A disturbed high-school student with medical aspirations seeks the approval of her controlling mother. Features AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Ariel Winter, Roger Bart and John Waters."Grabbers" (Ireland-U.K.) - Directed by Jon Wright, written by Kevin Lehane. Having a high blood-alcohol content becomes a survival tactic for residents of an Irish fishing village beset by mysterious blood-suckers. Stars Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey and Bronagh Gallagher."The Pact" - Directed and written by Nicholas McCarthy. A woman struggles to come to grips with her past in the wake of her mother's death. Stars Caity Lotz and Casper Van Dien."Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie" - Directed and written by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, who star as two guys trying to win back a billion dollars by rehabilitating a rundown shopping mall."V/H/S" - Directed by Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg and Radio Silence, written by Simon Barrett, Bruckner, West, McQuaid and Radio Silence. A group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a house and find a rare VHS tape. With Swanberg, Calvin Reeder, Wingard, Sophia Takal, Kate Lyn Sheil."Shut Up and Play the Hits" (U.K.) - Directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. A documentary that unfolds over 48 crucial hours in the life of LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy. NEXTThe nine films in this section are all world premieres and from the U.S."Compliance" - Directed and written by Craig Zobel. A prank caller convinces a fast-food restaurant manager to interrogate one of his employees. Stars Ann Dowd, Pat Healy, Dreama Walker, Bill Camp and Philip Ettinger."I Am Not a Hipster" - Directed and written by Destin Daniel Cretton. An exploration of love, loss and creativity in the face of tragedy set against the indie music and art scene. With Dominic Bogart, Alvaro Orlando, Brad William Henke, Tammy Minoff, Kandis Erickson and Lauren Coleman."Kid-Thing" - Directed and written by David Zellner. A rebellious girl's crooked routine is interrupted one day when she hears a woman calling for help from a hole in the ground. With Sydney Aguirre, Susan Tyrrell, Nathan Zellner and David Zellner."Mosquita y Mari" - Directed and written by Aurora Guerrero. Two 15-year-old Latinas discover a sexual undercurrent in their friendship. Stars Fenessa Pineda, Venecia Troncoso, Joaqun Garrido, Laura Patalano and Dulce Maria Solis."My Best Day" - Directed and written by Erin Greenwell. A small-town receptionist's life is turned upside down when the father she never knew calls for a refrigerator repair. With Rachel Style, Ashlie Atkinson, Raul Castillo, Jo Armeniox, Robert Salerno and Harris Doran."Pursuit of Loneliness" - Directed and written by Laurence Thrush. When an anonymous, elderly patient dies in a county hospital with no known next of kin, four people try to find a family member to contact. Features Joy Hille, Sandra Escalante, Sharon Munfus, Kirsi Toivanen and Natalie Fouron."Sleepwalk With Me" - Directed by Mike Birbiglia and Seth Barrish, written by Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Joe Birbiglia and Barrish. A budding standup comedian has an intense struggle with sleepwalking. Stars Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn and Cristin Milioti."That's What She Said" - Directed by Carrie Preston, written by Kellie Overbey. Two best friends and a mysterious young interloper have a series of misadventures while seeking love in NY. Stars Anne Heche, Marcia DeBonis and Alia Shawkat."Twenty-Eight Hotel Rooms" - Directed and written by Matt Ross. A couple's long-term affair is fragmented into a series of hotel rooms. With Chris Messina and Marin Ireland. NEW FRONTIERThe five films in this section are from the U.S. unless otherwise specified."Bestiaire" (Canada-France) - Directed by Denis Cote. Explores the boundaries we place around animals. World premiere."An Oversimplification of Her Beauty" - Directed and written by Terence Nance. After a mystery girl stands him up, a quixotic young man journeys various live-action and animated landscapes. With Terence Nance, Namik Minter and Chanelle Pearson. World premiere."The Perception of Moving Targets" - Directed and written by Weston Currie. A journey into the dreams of four neighbors. With Brighid Thomas, Cherie Blackfeather, Gerald Casey, Tom Wood and Jin Camou."Room 237" - Directed by Rodney Ascher. A docu exploration of the numerous theories about the real meaning of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining." World premiere."whiteonwhite:algorithmicnoir" (U.S.-Kazakhstan) - Directed by Eve Sussman, written by Sussman, Kevin Messman and Jeff Wood. A live algorithmic performance featuring a film noir assembled by a computer program from raw visual and audio elements. With Jeff Wood and Marina Fedorenko. Contact Justin Chang at justin.chang@variety.com

Casting Standout: 'Young Adult'

Casting Standout: 'Young Adult' By Melinda Loewenstein November 30, 2011 Photo by Paramount Pictures The first time that writer Diablo Cody teamed up with director Jason Reitman, the result was "Juno." Their latest collaboration, "Young Adult," tackles such topics as regret, reliving the past, and whether or not an individual can change.Charlize Theron plays the unlikable, entitled, and bitchy young-adult novelist and wannabe home-wrecker Mavis, who decides to return to her hometown and win back her old high-school flame after her book series ends. With a failed marriage and a faltering career, Mavis is determined to fix her life, but things don't work out quite the way she expected. While in town, she reunites with former classmate Matt, who is also trying to overcome the past, and the duo forge an unexpected bond. Patton Oswalt plays Matt, who is permanently disabled from a beating in high school.Casting directors Jessica Kelly and Suzanne Smith got the job done in about five weeks. They say Reitman's involvement in the casting sessions was a perk and that the best part of the process was watching him direct in the audition room. According to the CDs, he always knew the right thing to say, and his direction was always interesting and out of the box.As the majority of the movie is set in a small fictional town in Minnesota, Smith and Kelly say they wanted to create that world as realistically as possible. To that end, they were looking for funny, charismatic, inventive actors who gave the impression they actually lived in this small town but who could also deliver "Diablo Cody lines."The role of Buddy, Mavis' old flame, now a happily married family man, was the easiest to cast, the CDs say: Patrick Wilson walked in and was undeniably Buddy. For Buddy's wifethe kind-hearted, sympathetic BethElizabeth Reaser stood out early on as a favorite.One of the more difficult roles to cast was Mavis' mother, as the part required certain qualities to work. Smith and Kelly say they needed someone a bit Midwestern, with a sweetness that couldn't be acted but was innate; otherwise the character could come off as silly or too judgmental. They ended up finding those qualities in Jill Eikenberry.Other cast members include Collette Wolfe, as Matt's shy and awkward sister Sandra, and J.K. Simmons, who has appeared in all of Reitman's features, as Mavis' editor, who is heard but never seen.Casting Directors: Jessica Kelly and Suzanne SmithDirector: Jason ReitmanWriter: Diablo CodyStarring: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, J.K. Simmons, Elizabeth Reaser, Patton OswaltThe Pitch: A fiction writer (Theron) returns to her hometown after her divorce, intent to rekindle a romance with an ex-boyfriend (Wilson) who is now married with a child. To read Back Stage's complete coverage of Awards Season, please get our FREE SAG Nomination Committee Guide. Or follow all our daily coverage with Back Stage's new online Awards Season section. Casting Standout: 'Young Adult' By Melinda Loewenstein November 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Paramount Pictures The first time that writer Diablo Cody teamed up with director Jason Reitman, the result was "Juno." Their latest collaboration, "Young Adult," tackles such topics as regret, reliving the past, and whether or not an individual can change.Charlize Theron plays the unlikable, entitled, and bitchy young-adult novelist and wannabe home-wrecker Mavis, who decides to return to her hometown and win back her old high-school flame after her book series ends. With a failed marriage and a faltering career, Mavis is determined to fix her life, but things don't work out quite the way she expected. While in town, she reunites with former classmate Matt, who is also trying to overcome the past, and the duo forge an unexpected bond. Patton Oswalt plays Matt, who is permanently disabled from a beating in high school.Casting directors Jessica Kelly and Suzanne Smith got the job done in about five weeks. They say Reitman's involvement in the casting sessions was a perk and that the best part of the process was watching him direct in the audition room. According to the CDs, he always knew the right thing to say, and his direction was always interesting and out of the box.As the majority of the movie is set in a small fictional town in Minnesota, Smith and Kelly say they wanted to create that world as realistically as possible. To that end, they were looking for funny, charismatic, inventive actors who gave the impression they actually lived in this small town but who could also deliver "Diablo Cody lines."The role of Buddy, Mavis' old flame, now a happily married family man, was the easiest to cast, the CDs say: Patrick Wilson walked in and was undeniably Buddy. For Buddy's wifethe kind-hearted, sympathetic BethElizabeth Reaser stood out early on as a favorite.One of the more difficult roles to cast was Mavis' mother, as the part required certain qualities to work. Smith and Kelly say they needed someone a bit Midwestern, with a sweetness that couldn't be acted but was innate; otherwise the character could come off as silly or too judgmental. They ended up finding those qualities in Jill Eikenberry.Other cast members include Collette Wolfe, as Matt's shy and awkward sister Sandra, and J.K. Simmons, who has appeared in all of Reitman's features, as Mavis' editor, who is heard but never seen.Casting Directors: Jessica Kelly and Suzanne SmithDirector: Jason ReitmanWriter: Diablo CodyStarring: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, J.K. Simmons, Elizabeth Reaser, Patton OswaltThe Pitch: A fiction writer (Theron) returns to her hometown after her divorce, intent to rekindle a romance with an ex-boyfriend (Wilson) who is now married with a child. To read Back Stage's complete coverage of Awards Season, please get our FREE SAG Nomination Committee Guide. Or follow all our daily coverage with Back Stage's new online Awards Season section.