Antoine Fuqua in talks to helm 'Hunter Killer'

With multiple movies in development. Antoine Fuqua is hardly hard-up for work, but he's still in search of a greenlight that has eluded him thus far. Now the "Brooklyn's Finest" director may be one step closer to finding his next feature project, as he's in final negotiations to take the helm of Relativity Media's "Hunter Killer."Based on the novel "Firing Point" by George Wallace and Don Keith, story follows an untested submarine captain who must work with a Navy SEAL team to rescue Russia's president, taken prisoner during a military coup. The two sides team up to stop a rogue Russian general from igniting World War III. Script was written by Jamie Moss, John Kolvenbach and Arne Schmidt.Original Film's Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe are producing with Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh. Relativity's Tucker Tooley will serve as exec produce the pic, which is targeted to start production this winter. Fuqua may be one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood but his projects keep stalling out. He had been expecting to start production on the Eminem-led boxing movie "Southpaw" in January, but DreamWorks pulled the plug on the picture in August, and the filmmakers are now in the process of shopping the project to other studios. Helmer was supposed to spend the summer shooting Morgan Creek's Tupac Shakur biopic but that film still hasn't found its lead, and Fuqua is no longer attached to direct. In July, Fuqua signed on to direct an adaptation of John Huddy's non-fiction book "Storming Las Vegas" for Summit Entertainment, which also courted him to direct its jailbreak drama "The Tomb." He was also in the mix to direct both the "Wolverine" sequel and "Die Hard 5" for 20th Century Fox, but lost those high-profile gigs to James Mangold and John Moore, respectively.In November 2010, Fuqua began negotiating to direct the comic book adaptation "Afterburn" for Relativity, though there hasn't been any movement on the project since then. Most recently, CAA-repped Fuqua signed on to direct a feature-length documentary about Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight for Showtime. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

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Warner taps Salabe as Italo chief

ROME -- Paolo Ferrari will step lower as topper at Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia, that has hired Barbara Salabe to exchange the longtime studio professional. Ferrari, among Italy's respected film industryites, is retiring following a 21-year career with Warner Bros. in Italia. He'll remain using the studio until spring 2012. Salabe will join Warner Bros. on November. 7 from her current role as controlling director of Stage Entertainment. For the reason that role she setup the Italo operation of Europe's leading musical production company, founded by Joop Van living room Ende. Just before her tenure at Stage Entertainment, she spent 4 years as senior Vice president and controlling director, Turner Broadcasting System Italia. Salabe, who definitely are located in Rome, may have general oversight of Warner Bros. activities in Italia, including theatrical and home video production, marketing and distribution of both studio and native-language films, television distribution, consumer items, digital distribution and interactive entertainment. Warner Bros. also presently handles theatrical releases of The new sony product in Italia. Salabe will are accountable to chairman and Boss Craig Meyer, through Richard Fox, executive Vice president, worldwide, Warner Bros. "Barbara comes with an outstanding status within the Italian entertainment industry, as well as an impressive breadth of expertise across a variety of industries, including our sister company, Turner," stated Meyer. "I'm confident our Italian companies will thrive and grow under her leadership." Ferrari retires following a distinguished career within the Italian entertainment industry, spanning nearly five decades. Just before joining Warner Bros. Italia, Ferrari labored at Columbia Tri-Star Films Italia for 11 years. Before that, he spent 17 years at MGM. Ferrari is really a former leader of Italian film association ANICA, as well as Italy's anti-piracy association FAPAV. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Russia 'Burnt' by Oscar choice

MOSCOW -- There is consternation among Russian cineastes after director Nikita Mikhalkov's "Burnt through the Sun: The Citadel," which gained just $1.5 million in the box office, was selected Tuesday to represent the nation in Oscar's foreign-language category.Citadel" may be the second of the two-part follow up towards the original "Burnt through the Sun," which won the Academy Award in 1995.The $34 million pic was selected over Alexander Sokurov's Venice Golden Lion champion "Faust" and "Elena" by Andrei Zvyagintsev."Citadel," belittled like a bloated, sentimental undertake the disasters of Russia's war with Nazi Germany, updates the figures and story lines from the original film.It had been selected with a committee that incorporated Mikhalkov themself, his half-brother Andrei Konchalovsky, critic and Moscow Film Festival programmer Kirill Razlogov, director Vladimir Menshov, Mosfilm director Karen Shakhnazarov and three others.Your decision, backed by five from the eight committee people, surprised some industryites.Menshov -- whose "Moscow Doesn't Have confidence in Tears" won the foreign-language Oscar almost 30 years ago -- known as your decision from the committee he sits on scandalous.Talking with Moscow independent radio station Echo on Tuesday, Menshov stated "Citadel," launched in May, "had a complete critical drubbing ... it had been never proven anywhere worldwide it had been a catastrophe in the box office."Critical press comments named your decision cronyism as well as Konchalovsky considered in, saying your decision didn't "reflect the opinion of filmmakers."There is no comment from Mikhalkov, who won praise for his early operate in Soviet occasions being an actor and director but more lately has turned into a deeply divisive figure inside the film community here, accused by many people of playing politics and never art. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

20 Additional Albums From 1991 Cameron Crowe Should Are a Documentary

'Pearl Jam Twenty' -- Cameron Crowe's documentary on Gem Jam's landmark 1991 album 'Ten' and also the band's subsequent years the main attraction -- has gone out in choose metropolitan areas now. Why should Crowe stop with 'Ten'? You will find lots of other albums from 1991 that should get immortalized with documentaries! Ahead, Moviefone provides the director 20 more recommendations for his next documentary a good album from 1991. You are welcome, Cameron. 1. 'C.M.B.' by Color Me Badd 2. 'Mo' Ritmo' by Gerardo 3. 'Music for that People' by Marky Mark and also the Funky Bunch 4. 'Joyride' by Roxette 5. 'Extremely Live' by Vanilla Ice 6. 'Time, Love & Tenderness' Michael Bolton 7. 'Cooleyhighharmony' Boyz II Males 8. 'Spellbound' by Paula Abdul 9. 'Homebase'by DJ Jazzy Shaun and also the Fresh Prince 10. 'Of one's heart, from the Soul as well as the Mix: The Utopian Experience' by P.M. Beginning 11. 'Brand New Man' by Brooks & Dunn 12. 'fear' by Toad the Wet Sprocket 13. 'Naughty By Nature' Naughty By Character 14. 'Ropin' the Wind' Garth Brooks 15. 'Waking in the Neighbors' by Bryan Adams 16. 'Face the Nation' by Kid 'n Play 17. 'As Ugly as they like Be' by Ugly Kid Joe 18. 'Rush Street' by Richard Marx 19. 'Cool Hands Loc' by Tone Loc 20. 'Hook: Original Film Soundtrack' by John Williams Top Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter. Follow Moviefone on Twitter.

EMMYS: Lead Drama Actress Handicap

Ray Richmond is adding to Due dates 2011 Emmy coverage. Heres his scorecard assessing the Outstanding Lead Drama Series Actress race. Elisabeth Moss, Mad Males AMC Why She Was Nominated: The Television academy really didn't have choice. Although this is Moss third consecutive nomination for Mad Males (two for lead, one for supporting), its one which the very first time boosts Moss over the crowd. The posted episode, “The Suitcase” (compiled by creator-showrunner Matthew Weiner), is definitely an actress dream. It improves her towards the faves position each year when no past three category those who win (Kyra Sedgwick, Glenn Close and Sally Area) is incorporated in the running. Why She Needs To Win: From the moment it opened, “The Suitcase” episode of Mad Males continues to be praised because the shows obvious-cut accolade vehicle. It found Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Peggy Olson (Moss) hanging together at work after hrs when Don discovers a detailed friend has died. They get plastered on booze, and Draper allows loose in ways he rarely does. Moss a lot more than holds her with Hamm within an episode that stands to win a lot of people a lot of Emmys (Moss incorporated). This episode is absolute miracle, a producer informs me, and Elisabeth Moss is really a large reason. Why She Cant Possibly Win: Shes never won before, nor has other people from Mad Males — yet. Whether it does not happen this season, we are able to all start covering the cast being cursed. It is also a well known fact that Julianna Margulies could win here with no one will be the smallest bit shocked. Julianna Margulies, The Great Wife CBS Why She Was Nominated: Possibly no actress consistently provides superb workweek in and week out much better than Margulies does as Alicia Florrick on Good Wife. Consequently, she has a tendency to get nominated for Emmys a great deal. This is actually her eighth jerk returning towards the six she gained for ER and 2 in as numerous years on her CBS drama. Margulies may be the anchor that drives a reveal that in some way creates cable-level quality. Why She Needs To Win: Her peers like her, they like her. And after 3 years of praising stars on cable shows, voters may figure it is time to reward a traditional-fashioned network primetime artist. Another actor and TV academy member thinks, No disrespect to Kyra Sedgwick, however i heard lots of residual disappointment this past year after Julianna got passed over. There is a certain feeling this year, its her turn. Why She Cant Possibly Win: Margulies had all the momentum opting for her this past year heading in to the Emmys, getting virtually taken all the major honours — simply to hit an academy brick wall. Shes taken the prize only once in seven previous tries: the very first time she was nominated in 󈨣. Its now been a 16-year drought between triumphs. Quite simply, Margulies is in either case past due or condemned to stay underappreciated. Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law NBC Why She Was Nominated: Shes Kathy Friggin Bates, for this reason. You'll need more reason than that? OK, here you go: Shes an Oscar champion (1991 for Misery). Her performance as Harriet Harry Korn around the offbeat NBC legal hour from David E. Kelley is really as colorfully cool as get married expect. But a longtime TV author summed up well: When Kathy Bates is qualified, you nominate her. Why She Needs To Win: After getting gone winless in eight previous Emmy nominations covering eight different projects, Bates is much more than prepared to go for a walk towards the podium. Its likely to get a tad embarrassing if she will win an Oscar although not an Emmy. To be certain, Bates cinema pedigree gives her a good outdoors shot to consider home the golden girl. Older stars also often prosper within this category. The typical chronilogical age of the final five those who win is 53 Bates is 63. Why She Cant Possibly Win: There is not lots of love within the critical community for Harrys Law, which some dismiss among Kelleys worst creative efforts. Even when Bates increases over the shows overall quality, it is not exactly high-profile water-cooler material. Your competition figures to become too strong for Bates to crash this champion’s circle. Mireille Enos, The Killing AMC Why She Was Nominated: Enos was something of the thought within this newcomer AMC thriller, representing Dallas homicide detective Sarah Linden by having an easy lan. It had been sufficiently good to generate Enos first Emmy nomination. But she had been well-known to audiences of HBOs Large Love, where she described twins. Showing only a single character around the Killing needed to be considered a comparative breeze. Why She Needs To Win: The Killing grew to become not only appointment viewing but an obsession, which Enos both assisted to produce and achieved positive results from. I couldnt take my eyes from Mireille or this show, a producer accepted in my experience. There is a quality to her work that actually fascinated me. Her show airing on AMC also brings added weight to Enos candidacy. Why She Cant Possibly Win: It might take something of the miracle for Enos to win in her own try. Neither she nor her series are conversant enough towards the academy, therefore it was a significant task only for the series to earn six nominations (including for writing and pointing). But around the lower side, the backlash that exploded within the Killings unfulfilling conclusion in June cant help but cost its nominees votes. Connie Britton, Friday Evening Lights DirecTV Why She Was Nominated: Insufficient audiences supported Friday Evening Lights to help keep it from finally obtaining the ax, even because of the reduced anticipation of airing on DirecTV its latter seasons. But individuals who have been in it loved it with uncharacteristic devotion and enthusiasm, which extended to leads Britton (as Tami Taylor) and Kyle Chandler (as her husband, Coach Eric Taylor). Both gained Emmy nominations this past year and this time around, despite the executioner poised regarding this. Why She Needs To Win: Bill Prady, co-creator and showrunner from the CBS comedy The Large Bang Theory, counts themself among FNLs most ardent fans. He saw the football drama like a master class on paper and acting. Connie Britton has most really beautiful moments in her own performance. She certainly has got the sentimental election employed by her included in a set thats finally getting its due posthumously. Why She Cant Possibly Win: Any actress nominated for any canceled show from DirecTV is as simple as any measure a substantial underdog. Unless of course the support for Lights one of the TV academy membership is way more than imagined, it aint gonna happen for Britton. Whether it in some way does, the cheers in the group of followers may never subside. Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit NBC Why She Was Nominated: The Television academy bylaws were silently amended to mandate that Hargitay be nominated to have an Emmy each time shes qualified. This causes it to be eight nominations in as numerous years on her are Detective Olivia Benson on NBCs Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit. Solid, comfortable, reliable, like an excellent set of high-finish athletic shoes. Thats Hargitay. Why She Needs To Win: Um, Hargitay has won once formerly — in 2006. Which makes her possibly the pitch-dark of horses, but a equine nevertheless. Just in case voters wish to provide the statuette to some nominee from the broadcast series, but theyre not large fans of Margulies or Bates, it might fall her way. One author quipped in my experience, I believe Mariskas best chance could be when the presenter reads her title in error around the card. Why She Cant Possibly Win: You could result in the argument that the area of voters dont even realize Hargitay is nominated. Thats no shot at her or her talent, however it talks more that her network and studio arent dedicating much when it comes to assets to her candidacy.

9 Milestones in the Evolution of Ryan Gosling

In this weekend’s Drive, Ryan Gosling plays a Steve McQueen-esque movie stuntman by day and a getaway wheelman by night. How did Mr. Notebook transform himself from a 13-year-old Mickey Mouseketeer who soulfully sang cheesy lyrics alongside Justin Timberlake to one of our most respected movie stars and box office heartthrobs? You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor’s current success. As such, let’s look at nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Ryan Gosling. The Mickey Mouse Club (1993) Gosling grew up in Canada, performing with his older sister at weddings and with his uncle as part of an Elvis Presley tribute act. But when the blossoming actor turned 12, he graduated form his family’s stage and successfully auditioned for a part in The Mickey Mouse Club. There, Gosling acted, danced and sang weirdly sensual slow jams to the Disney audience opposite future stars JC Chasez, Keri Russell, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1999) A year later, Gosling hung up his Mickey Mouse ears and hit the auditioning circuit. After six years worth of bit roles in TV series like Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps, Gosling scored his first lead gig at the age of 19 in the Sam Raimi-executive produced Fox Kids series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The actor moved to New Zealand to star as the brawny son of Zeus in this adventure show. Only Gosling was not so brawny — so the make-up and wardrobe departments reportedly painted on muscle contours and redesigned his wardrobe to make him seem bulkier. In spite of the show’s future star power, Gosling’s breakout TV project only lasted one season. The Believer (2001) Attention all teen stars: If you want the public to consider you an adult performer and not just another studio mass-creation, do like Ryan Gosling did, and star as a Jewish anti-Semite in a controversial indie. As the self-hating aforementioned character Danny in Henry Bean’s The Believer, Gosling earned his first critical praise in addition to an Independent Spirit Award nomination. This was not only the jumping off point for Gosling’s film career but the first project where you can really detect that strange Brooklyn accent the Canadian actor adopted — so that he would sound tough “like Marlon Brando.” Murder By Numbers (2002) Gosling may have had a small part in the Denzel Washington sports drama Remember the Titans, but the actor did not earn his first significant studio credit until Murder By Numbers. Playing opposite his biggest co-star yet, Sandra Bullock, the Canadian actor starred as a wealthy high school student who helps plan “perfect murders” for sport. Although the Barbet Schroeder picture received mixed reviews from critics, it was a modest box office success proving that Gosling could deliver as a male lead.

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Seize the Day: Take a Sneak Peek at the Newsies Musical

Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken felt so strongly about the idea of his Newsies readapted Broadway stage show that he decided to compose the show himself. You can’t blame the guy — who doesn’t love the Burbank-y NY of Newsies, the ‘92 Disney flop about an old-timey newsboy strike? In footage from the new show, we hear from Menken, the show’s writer Harvey Fierstein, and the actors hawkin’ papes. The good news is that Newsies is more fit for the live stage than the big screen: The songs are anthemic, the acting is broad, and name of the game is “effervescence.” Smile, newsies! Wave! Dance! Make journalism jive out there! Hopefully this adaptation will avoid the major mistake in the movie version, which is sheer over-length. Since we don’t get Christian Bale again, we’ll have to settle for this small triumph. Couldn’t Menken and Fierstein smack each other around and fight for the title of ‘the king of NY’? Please? ‘Newsies’ [YouTube]

Matt Damon Will get His Jerry Maguire Moment in First Trailer for 'We Purchased a Zoo'

Since you may often hear, Scarlett Johansson is getting a tough Wednesday. Fortunately, better days are coming -- a minimum of appropriately. Knowing in the recently release trailer for 'We Purchased a Zoo,' Johansson and co-star Matt Damon might have a large, body fat holiday hit on the hands come December. Directed by Cameron Crowe -- who has not helmed a fiction film since 'Elizabethtown' bottomed out his career in 2005 -- 'We Purchased a Zoo' is dependant on Benjamin Mee's memoir, which recounts his tries to rebuild following a dying of his wife. (With 'Zoo' and 'The Descendants,' the holidays is chock-a-block with forlorn fathers.) For Mee, that incorporated buying a run-lower zoo within the British countryside and moving their together with his youthful children for Movie Mee (Damon), which means purchasing a zoo within the California countryside and giving his kids an "authentic American experience." It may sound contrived -- and reviews of Mee's memoir were mixed -- however the trailer hums along about the charm of Damon, Johansson, Thomas Haden Chapel and also the Sigur Ros song 'Hoppípolla' (that you remember in the trailer for 'Children of Men' Sigur Ros frontman Jónsi is scoring 'Zoo'). If you are still not convinced of the opportunity of 'Zoo,' observe that a clip also includes a 'Jerry Maguire'-like moment when Damon quits his job, 'Almost Famous' star Patrick Fugit and adorable zoo creatures. Welcome back, populist messiah Cameron Crowe! Mind to Apple to look at a clip in HD. 'We Purchased a Zoo' is within theaters on 12 ,. 23. Photo: Neal Preston/Last Century Fox

Toronto 2011: 'Goon' Sells to Magnolia Pictures' Genre Division (Exclusive)

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Magnolia Pictures' Magnet division has swooped in the hockey comedyGoon, starring Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber and Jay Baruchel. The image opened at Toronto and it has been building buzz since that time. Sources the purchase is incorporated in the roughly $two million range. PHOTOS: 13 Movies to understand in the Toronto Film Festival Goon concentrates on Doug Glatt, a bouncer (Scott) that has been touched through the fist of God. Upon finding both his right hook and skates, he joins a downtrodden hockey team and inspires them into new levels. Alison Pill and Marc-Andre Grondin are also within the movie. Michael Dowse directed. Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, the frequent collaborator of Seth Rogen, authored the script, inspired through the book Goon: The Real Story of the Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey, compiled by Doug Cruz and Adam Frattasio. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Toronto Film Festival Baruchel is another producer about the project, that is being created by DCP Productions' Don Carmody together with David Gross and Jesse Shapira. CAA, attorney James Feldman and Myriad Pictures repped the film making the offer. UPDATE: Magnolia has released a pr release verifying The Hollywood Reporter's story and adding the next comment from Magnolia/Magnet leader Eamonn Bowles: "Goon is really a pucking blast. It is a complete crowd pleaser which has all of the aspects of the next comedy classic." Email: Borys.package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Toronto Worldwide Film Festival Jay Baruchel Liev Schreiber Seann William Scott Worldwide

Low Quality 'Creature' Sets Low Box Office Record

A box office record was set over the past weekend, though not the great kind. The reduced budget horror movie Creature opened up on 1,507 screens and made only $331,000. That causes it to be the cheapest grossing opening weekend on record for any single movie opening on a lot more than 1,500 screens.our editor recommendsBox Office Report: Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion' Wins Weekend with $23.1 Mil As Box Office Mojo calculated it, each screening had a typical attendance of six having to pay clients. In comparison, its fellow weekend box office dud, Bucky Larson were built with a per screen average of approximately eight people. Just one other film, Proud American, from 2008 were built with a worse per screen average. Creature, in regards to a swamp creature about the loose in backwoods Louisiana, may be the work of very first time author-director Fred Andrews. However it's noticably credit is former MCA Leader Sid Sheinberg, who is a producer together with his own company, The Bubble Factory, since 1995. Sheinberg is broadly credited because the movie executive who "discovered" Steven Spielberg. The film received just 11 percent fresh reviews on Rotten Tomato plants, beating Bucky Larson's dreaded percent fresh rating. Based on the New You are able to Occasions the 76-year-old producer, who also stays time as vice chairman from the advocacy group Human Privileges Watch, made the decision release a the film themself when he unsuccessful to obtain studio distribution. So that they can one-up the large galleries, Sheinberg elected to pursue a guerilla advertising campaign through websites and also the movie ticketing service Fandango and ignore traditional print and TV advertisements. Related Subjects

'All My Children' Actress Mary Fickett Dies

Longtime My Children actress Mary Fickett died Thursday of Alzheimer's disease. She was 83.our editor recommends'All My Children' and 'One Existence to Live': Through the Numbers'All My Children' to Air Final Episode on Sept. 23'All My Children': 5 Stars Who Got Their Begin the Cleaning soap OperaRelated Subjects•Obituaries Fickett was an authentic cast member about the ABC cleaning soap and performed nurse Ruth Martin from 1970 to 1995, and again from 1998 to 2000. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths She won an Emmy Award in 1973 to have an episode by which her character expressed her worries concerning the Vietnam War. ABC stated inside a statement, "We at ABC were very saddened to find out about the passing of 1 of My Children's original cast people, Mary Fickett. Once we recognition My Children's 41 years on ABC, we can't help but recognize and don't forget Mary's wonderful depiction of Pine Valley's revered Ruth. Ruth's marriage to chief of staff Dr. Joe Martin provided the bedrock where the city of Pine Valley was built. Their marriage was always a backing pressure that symbolized "home" for a lot of.Inch The network will dedicate the Sept. 21 episode, which particularly concentrates on the imaginary Martin family, to Fickett. My Children's last episode airs Sept. 23. Additionally to any or all The Kids, Fickett also behaved in theater, film and primetime television in projects for example Sunrise at Campobello, The Nurses, CBS' morning sixties morning show Calendar. Children include daughter Bronwyn Congdon and boy Kenyon Congdon, eight grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, notes the La Occasions. Related Subjects Obituaries My Children

Keck's Exclusives: Modern Family's Biggest Losers

Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson Early this season, Modern Family's huggable gays will try and shed some weight via a couples diet."Cameron and Mitchell decide to go on a juice cleanse, which I have done personally and know the madness it can cause," says Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell). "It drives them to the brink of insanity!"Adds Eric Stonestreet (Cameron): "I tried a cottage cheese and beet diet once, and the cayenne pepper, lemon juice thing. So it's completely understandable to me why Mitch and Cam have a downward spiral."Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

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Toronto market's for mavens

Pics, such as "Burning Man," have to be cleverly shopped these days. With the Toronto Film Festival kicking into high gear, sellers are operating amid much trickier turf than in recent years."Knowledge of the buyers is the new game," notes Andy Peterson, producer of Aussie drama "Burning Man," which had its world premiere Saturday night at the festival.Peterson first approached festival programmers in April with "Burning Man," centered on an English chef, portrayed by Matthew Goode, who's dealing with complicated family issues. He'd hoped a TIFF slot would create the right amount of buzz for a sale once the pic, for which CAA is repping domestic rights, was screened."Five months later, you know a lot of work has gone into getting it ready," he said.But just because many new buyers also represent new distribution platforms doesn't mean they're ingenues, Peterson said."So my task as a producer is to deliver films to the market that it doesn't know yet that it wants," Peterson added. "It has to be about something that moviegoers haven't seen before -- so essentially, you're creating a completely new brand for the buyer."At first glance, it would seem that sellers have the upper hand, with the presence of new buyers -- Open Road, Relativity, FilmDistrict, CBS Films -- along with the usual array of buyers such as Fox Searchlight, the Weinstein Co., Focus, Sony Pictures Classics, Lionsgate and Summit here at the fest. Mix in new avenues of exploitation via digital and the picture becomes more complicated for sellers.The Weinstein Co. announced a push into the digital space two days before the festival started: Tom Quinn and Jason Janego will create a new TWC label to bring new films and other specialty entertainment to audiences simultaneously across multiple digital and traditional platforms. "It's part-and-parcel for sellers to be in the digital realm, which is changing by the hour," notes veteran exec Mark Gill, who spent many years with the Weinsteins at Miramax and was recently installed as president of Millennium Films."If you're selling, it requires much more study of who wants what," he notes. "There's so much stratification among the buyers, so figuring out what each of them wants can be elusive since everyone has their niche. There's really no such thing as a film that can cross over to all the buyers."Kevin Kasha, exec VP of worldwide acquisitions and co-productions for Anchor Bay Entertainment, agrees. Anchor Bay, which has handled 70 titles in three years, believes that sellers are facing a far more complex task."The business used to be about making a dollar, and now it's about making 10 dimes because of all forms of digital platforms," Kasha notes. "It used to be, 'Do we like the film or don't we like it?' Now we have to know who is it for."Anchor Bay made a first-day buy of the U.S. rights to "Thirteen," Gela Babluani's remake of his 2005 thriller "13 Tzameti." Stars include Sam Riley, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Ray Winstone, Alexander Skarsgard, Michael Shannon, Ben Gazzara, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Mickey Rourke and Jason Statham."I like to think that we're prudently aggressive since you have to be careful about what we call festival helium -- which means getting itchy fingers as a buyer," Kasha said. "You have to be ready for phone calls from buyers at 3 a.m. asking, 'Are you in or are you out?'"Bill Bromley, chief acquisitions officer for Image Entertainment, has reduced his buying in recent years as his label has scaled back releases to focus on more recognizable titles. "I hate to say this, but it's easy to pass on something that does not work on paper," he notes. "Sellers are more educated and coming in better prepared, but they're still wanting to be told what's going on while we're looking for very specific films that have to have a primary home. Negotiations are far more complicated for several reasons -- because we're competing with the studios, filmmakers still want to get a theatrical release and exhibitors still want a window before the VOD release."On the second day of TIFF, Image acquired U.S. rights to football drama "All Things Fall Apart," starring Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Alex Walton, prexy of international sales and distribution at Exclusive Films, notes, "Like last year, no one knew -- it wasn't expected to be as lively you've got a lot of U.S. indies who have had a great start." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

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In Darkness

Credits: A The new sony Pictures Classics (in U.S.) discharge of a Schmidtz Katze Filmkollektiv/Zebra Film Studio/the Film Works production using the support of Polish Film Institute, MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienfordefung, Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, DFFF Deutscher Filmforderfonds, FFA Filmforderungsanstalt, HessenInvestFilm, Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund, Rogers Telefund, Mongrel Media. (Worldwide sales, Beta Cinema, Munich.) Created by Steffen Reuter, Patrick Knippel, Marc-Daniel Dichant, Leander Carell, Juliusz Machulski, Paul Stephens, Eric Jordan. Executive producers, Wojciech Danowski, David F. Shamoon, Carl Woebken, Christoph Fisser, Anna Maria Zundel. Directed by Agnieszka Holland. Script, David F. Shamoon, in line with the book "Within the Sewers of Lvov" by Robert Marshall.With: Robert Wieckiewicz, Benno Furmann, Agnieszka Grochowska, Maria Schrader, Herbert Knaup, Kinga Preis, Krzysztof Skonieczny, Julia Kijowska, Marcin Bosak, Jerzy Walczak, Michal Zurawski.Thinking about the harrowing true-story roots of her latest World war 2 extreme survival story, Polish director Agnieszka Holland without doubt meant for "In Darkness" to become arduous. At nearly 2 1/2 hrs, the taxing drama stays the majority of it is time within the dank, rat-plagued sewers beneath Nazi-occupied Lvov, where several Jews depend on the local crook to give and safeguard them. Nobody needs Holocaust movies to become a simple sit, yet Poland's Oscar pick -- probably the most logistically demanding feature in the helmer whose "Europa Europa" demonstrated so gripping 22 years earlier -- lacks the fundamental characteristics to interact non-Euro crowds beyond arthouses. Considering its creepy undercover setting, "In Darkness" shares more that is similar to contempo horror films of computer does with Holocaust movies which have come before, but, not even close to accidental, that difference appears a carefully calculated facet of Holland's approach. The film comes up nearly as an response to Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List": Both concern a war time profiteer who risked his existence in order to save several Jewish criminals, but that one is not even close to black-and-whitened in the villainy and gallantry -- a creative choice certain to lead to mixed responses. Whenever we meet Polish sewer inspector-switched-scavenger Poldek Socha (Robert Wieckiewicz), he resents the Spanish people as their occupation has switched Lvov right into a combat zone, and that he hates the Jews because centuries of anti-Semitism have trained him this is the appropriate attitude. The Nazis' persecution from the local Jewish population spells chance for Socha and the accomplice Szczepek (Krzysztof Skonieczny), who enter abandoned structures, looting whatever belongings possible. "In Darkness" is hardly the very first film to illustrate the inhuman conditions from the ghettos where Jewish people were removed of the possessions and instructed to live like creatures. The surprising factor about Holland's strategy, however, would be that the director resists representing her Jewish protagonists as purely supportive sufferers. Rather, the core group includes disadvantage males, cheats and tight-fisted business proprietors who constantly fight and argue among themselves. One guy, Yanek (Marcin Bosak), abandons his wife and daughter to be able to bring his mistress (Julia Kijowska) along within the sewers, simply to abandon her, too, after she will get pregnant. In the past speaking, this harsh approach is easily the most honest, in conjuction with the hpv warts-and-all characterizations in Robert Marshall's nonfiction book "Within the Sewers of Lvov" and transported through David F. Shamoon's script. Simultaneously, in dramatic terms, it seriously jeopardizes audience identification, creating lengthy uncomfortable stretches by which we resist the figures and need they were not so petty when bigger concerns -- like survival -- are at risk. One of the Gentiles, Socha certainly is not your typical hero. Given his attitude in early moments, half-needs him to betray his charges and collect the reward money offered for submiting runaway Jews. It isn't before film's final reel that people realize the storyline, that has been so centered on the fate of their Jewish figures for that first couple of hrs, is really concerning the transformation of 1 man's soul. For that film to operate, Holland needs audiences for connecting as deeply using the trapped Jews as Socha eventually does. Except for the group's leader, movie-star handsome Mundek Margulies (German-born, worldwide recognized Benno Furmann), the figures are flat as shadows. Holland is out of her method to include numerous sexual encounters within the film, as though to express that even just in the direst conditions, guy finds time for you to have sex. Not even close to gratuitous, the moments reveal important connections between figures still, it's odd for that helmer to spotlight these particulars and omit nearly something that describes the dull routine of existence subterranean. As though detest to confront the monotony that has to have defined their lives, Holland rather represents the exceptional moments, like the tense finale where a sudden lue-sky turns the sewers right into a dying trap. In keeping with its title, "In Darkness" devotes lengthy stretches to low-lit moments, a number of them so obscure that moviegoers complained they could not write out the look whatsoever. Fortunately, a wealthy seem mix situates auds within the sewers, which look so authentic, it is a surprise to understand that production designer Erwin Prib re-produced the majority of the labyrinthine system on stages.Camera (color, HD-to-35mm), Jolanta Dylewska editor, Michal Czarnecki music, Antoni Komasa-Lazarkiewicz production designer, Erwin Prib art company directors, Katarzyna Sobanska, Marcel Slawinski costume designers, Katarzyna Lewinska, Jagna Janicka seem (Dolby Digital), Robert Fletcher seem design supervisor, Daniel Pellerin visual effects, TVT.Film+ VFX second unit director, Kasia Adamik second unit camera, Piotr Niemyjski, Adam Bajerski casting, Weronika Migon, Heta Mantscheff, John Buchan, Jason Dark night. Examined at Telluride Film Festival, Sept. 4, 2011. (Also in Toronto Film Festival -- Special Presentation.) Running time: 143 MIN. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

H'wood Film Fest to laud 'Rango'

"Rango" will get the Hollywood Film Festival's animation award. Kudo, introduced Tuesday, will presented in the festival's honours ceremony on March. 24 in the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Vital Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies feature was directed by Gore Verbinski and voiced by The Actor-brad Pitt, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant. Past readers from the fest's animation award include "Cars," "Ratatouille," "Toy Story 3," "Up," and "Wall-E." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Gandolfini Developing Large Dead Place

A potential new Cinemax comedy dramaIt's been 4 years since that divisive cut-to-black ending of HBO's legendary drama The Sopranos, and also, since then James Gandolfini has largely focused on his film career. But he's came back towards the funnel every once in awhile to create documentaries and appearance in a minumum of one TV movie (Cinema Verite). Plus, his production company Attaboy Films has already established an offer there to build up other possible shows for him, even though none have to date arrived at fruition, he's trying again, getting the privileges to Nicholas Johnson's memoir Large Dead Place. No, it isn't in regards to a quiet place for mobsters to bury corpses. This really stories Johnson's time employed by the united states Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station. As you may imagine, it requires a unique kind of person to voluntarily mind to among the last untamed frontiers on the planet and also the series will require a darkly comic consider the madness, fear and loathing that evolves between individuals who work on the frozen outpost. When the concept causes it to be towards the funnel, Gandolfini intends to take among the starring roles. Sounds somewhat intriguing concept (think The One Thing with no marauding, shape shifting alien) and Gandolfini's employed a good author to operate about the initial script, too, the same shape as Breaking Bad producer Peter Gould. We'll need to wait and find out if that one causes it to be to screens. Meanwhile, Gandolfini has lots of films browsing the wings: he'll appear in assassin drama Purple & Daisy, Oscar bait novel adaptation Very Noisy and extremely Close, music pic Twylight Zones (which sees him reunite together with his old Sopranos boss, David Chase) and Kaira Pitt mob crime thriller Cogan's Trade.