'Snowtown' towards the top of five wins at first Aussie Acad honours

SYDNEY -- Real-crime drama "Snowtown" introduced the kudo wins nevertheless it was feelgood local hit "Red-colored-colored Dog" that fetched top honors in addition to pic within the inaugural Australian Academy of Cinema and television Arts honours within the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday evening."Red-colored-colored Dog" was the finest local pic of a year ago within the box office, getting a boffo $22.3 million haul. "Snowtown" needed home best director for Justin Kurzel actor for Daniel Henshall, as killer John Bunting supporting actress for Louise Harris, among the numerous non-pros attracted on for your film modified script kudo for Take advantage of Grant, and greatest appear and editing.Kurzel recognized the non-pros as well as the "synchronicity" of meeting Harris in the retail complex.He added that, despite the fact that pic was belittled For opening old wounds, it absolutely was being well recognized worldwide."It absolutely was just released inside the Uk plus it did perfectly there plus it seems to become story that people overseas find really compelling as well as other,In . Kurzel mentioned.Pic opens Stateside in March.Judy Davis snagged best actress for "The Interest in the Storm" while Hugo Weaving won best supporting actor for "Oranges and Sunshine."AACTA was created last summer season to switch the Australian Film Institute, that have repped the in excess of fifty years.The AACTA honours transformed the AFI honours and introduced a completely new worldwide component which was presented in La on Friday evening by AACTA prexy Geoffrey Hurry.Hurry was available for your Sydney kudocast as was AACTA ambassador Cate Blanchett. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

WGAW taps Verrone for Morgan Cox kudo

Former Authors Guild of America West leader Patric Verrone -- best known to as public face in the guild through the authors strike -- remains attracted onto obtain the WGA West's Morgan Cox Award in recognition and services information for the guild. Verrone will probably be honored within the Authors Guild Awards' West Coast ceremony on Feb. 19 within the Hollywood Palladium. "Patric Verrone has devoted lots of his professional existence operating with this guild also to its people," mentioned WGA West leader Christopher Keyser. "He's the embodiment of all the qualities the Morgan Cox Award takes note of known as the unanimous choice of this year's committee. While he has honored us, it's our great pleasure to recognition him now." Verrone grew to become part of the WGA later and done "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Simpsons" and "Futurama." He's most broadly noted for becoming WGA West leader for just two terms (2005-09) and leading the WGA using the 100-day authors strike of winter 2007-08. Verrone was selected for the WGA West board in 1999 then offered two terms as secretary-treasurer in 2005. Keyser defeated Verrone last be lured through the presidency. Verrone's been nommed for nine Emmys and won for "Futurama" in 2002 and 2011 too for "Muppets Tonight!" in 1998. He received the WGA West's Animation Writing Award in 2002 for lifetime achievement in animation writing. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

SAG Ensemble Award: Casting a Vote For Perfect Mix

LOS ANGELES (AP) Alexander Payne, director of "The Descendants," likens it to "inviting people to my home for dinner.""Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig describes it as spending hundreds of hours waiting for that "one aha moment."Tate Taylor, who wrote and directed "The Help," uses starker terms when describing the process of crafting the perfect acting ensemble: "One bad casting choice, one weak link, can spell death for your movie. That's why you see tons of people and you don't stop until it's right.""The Help," ''The Descendants" and "Bridesmaids," along with the silent movie "The Artist" and Woody Allen's "Midnight In Paris," are all vying for the Screen Actors Guild's ensemble trophy at Sunday night's 18th annual SAG Awards.SAG began giving its movie ensemble award in 1994, after an equivalent trophy for favorite television cast proved popular in its inaugural awards show a year earlier. The honor, says SAG Awards producer Kathy Connell, originated with the guild and reflects its desire to "acknowledge the creativity of chemistry and the teamwork that actors do."Which is fine by the directors of this year's nominees, many of whom spent more time casting their movies than making or editing them.Payne began casting "The Descendants" nine months before filming began, starting with George Clooney, whom he had politely rejected for the lead role in his last movie, "Sideways." Payne takes a unique approach to building an ensemble, working with a single casting director, longtime associate John Jackson, for hiring the lead roles, the locals and the extras."I don't like the Hollywood system of hiring three different people for casting," Payne says. "I don't want to explain myself three times over. I think one person should be in charge of all the flesh in front of the camera and bring a single vision to that."Critics frequently praise Payne's knack for placing actors in unlikely roles. (Think Kathy Bates' twice-divorced mother who enjoys a "white hot" sex life in "About Schmidt.") He and Jackson did that several times over in "The Descendants," starting with casting Clooney as a clueless father who wears, as the actor puts it, "khakis up to his armpits.""If I cast against type, I do so unwittingly," Payne admits, "because in reality I don't see that many contemporary American films. So I don't know the actor's type to begin with."That wasn't the case for Taylor, who, when adapting longtime friend Kathryn Stockett's best-seller, wrote the roles of Minny and Charlotte specifically for two other dear friends Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney, respectively. In fact, Taylor and Spencer were roommates in Los Angeles when Taylor wrote the screenplay.Taylor also wanted Viola Davis for the lead role of maid Aibileen, and pushed the film's start date to accommodate her schedule. Determined not to "cast from the covers of magazines," Taylor threw the doors open for the rest of the movie's large ensemble, hiring, among others, Emma Stone and Jessica Chastain before they became in-demand actresses.Three weeks before filming, Taylor brought the cast to Mississippi, rehearsing in the locations where they eventually filmed."Mississippi infiltrated the cast and a family dynamic formed," Taylor says.Rehearsals were critical for the "Bridesmaids" ensemble as well, Feig says. The cast met two months prior to filming, reading through the script and then going through rigorous improv sessions so Feig and the movie's writers could tailor new material to the actresses' strengths and personalities.During this revision process, the filmmakers expanded Melissa McCarthy's part, most notably, putting her in a key, emotionally layered scene opposite Kristen Wiig late in the movie. McCarthy wound up being the one individual "Bridesmaids" cast member nominated for a SAG Award."It's when you're rehearsing more and more, you start to think, 'Wow. These girls together are strong," Feig says. "That's also when, as a director, you get nervous. You're thinking, 'Oh boy. I'm the only thing that could throw this all off.' "Since SAG began giving its ensemble awards, other groups, like the Broadcast Film Critics Association, have jumped on the bandwagon. Television's Emmy Awards added three casting categories in 2000 and some in the industry, like "Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan, believe an acting ensemble award should be added, too.Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which added an animated film category in 2001, has no plans to supplement its four acting honors.As it stands, members of popular ensembles, like Chastain and Spencer in "The Help," often find themselves in competition for a film's top accolade."If the actors give distinctly different performances, they stand on their own and don't cancel each other out," says Kristopher Tapley, executive editor of awards coverage website In Contention.The beauty of SAG's ensemble award, says Taylor, is that, for one night at least, "everyone's on the same team.""It's going to be a great reunion," Taylor adds. "It might get a little loud, though."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Glenn Whipp January 27, 2012 LOS ANGELES (AP) Alexander Payne, director of "The Descendants," likens it to "inviting people to my home for dinner.""Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig describes it as spending hundreds of hours waiting for that "one aha moment."Tate Taylor, who wrote and directed "The Help," uses starker terms when describing the process of crafting the perfect acting ensemble: "One bad casting choice, one weak link, can spell death for your movie. That's why you see tons of people and you don't stop until it's right.""The Help," ''The Descendants" and "Bridesmaids," along with the silent movie "The Artist" and Woody Allen's "Midnight In Paris," are all vying for the Screen Actors Guild's ensemble trophy at Sunday night's 18th annual SAG Awards.SAG began giving its movie ensemble award in 1994, after an equivalent trophy for favorite television cast proved popular in its inaugural awards show a year earlier. The honor, says SAG Awards producer Kathy Connell, originated with the guild and reflects its desire to "acknowledge the creativity of chemistry and the teamwork that actors do."Which is fine by the directors of this year's nominees, many of whom spent more time casting their movies than making or editing them.Payne began casting "The Descendants" nine months before filming began, starting with George Clooney, whom he had politely rejected for the lead role in his last movie, "Sideways." Payne takes a unique approach to building an ensemble, working with a single casting director, longtime associate John Jackson, for hiring the lead roles, the locals and the extras."I don't like the Hollywood system of hiring three different people for casting," Payne says. "I don't want to explain myself three times over. I think one person should be in charge of all the flesh in front of the camera and bring a single vision to that."Critics frequently praise Payne's knack for placing actors in unlikely roles. (Think Kathy Bates' twice-divorced mother who enjoys a "white hot" sex life in "About Schmidt.") He and Jackson did that several times over in "The Descendants," starting with casting Clooney as a clueless father who wears, as the actor puts it, "khakis up to his armpits.""If I cast against type, I do so unwittingly," Payne admits, "because in reality I don't see that many contemporary American films. So I don't know the actor's type to begin with."That wasn't the case for Taylor, who, when adapting longtime friend Kathryn Stockett's best-seller, wrote the roles of Minny and Charlotte specifically for two other dear friends Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney, respectively. In fact, Taylor and Spencer were roommates in Los Angeles when Taylor wrote the screenplay.Taylor also wanted Viola Davis for the lead role of maid Aibileen, and pushed the film's start date to accommodate her schedule. Determined not to "cast from the covers of magazines," Taylor threw the doors open for the rest of the movie's large ensemble, hiring, among others, Emma Stone and Jessica Chastain before they became in-demand actresses.Three weeks before filming, Taylor brought the cast to Mississippi, rehearsing in the locations where they eventually filmed."Mississippi infiltrated the cast and a family dynamic formed," Taylor says.Rehearsals were critical for the "Bridesmaids" ensemble as well, Feig says. The cast met two months prior to filming, reading through the script and then going through rigorous improv sessions so Feig and the movie's writers could tailor new material to the actresses' strengths and personalities.During this revision process, the filmmakers expanded Melissa McCarthy's part, most notably, putting her in a key, emotionally layered scene opposite Kristen Wiig late in the movie. McCarthy wound up being the one individual "Bridesmaids" cast member nominated for a SAG Award."It's when you're rehearsing more and more, you start to think, 'Wow. These girls together are strong," Feig says. "That's also when, as a director, you get nervous. You're thinking, 'Oh boy. I'm the only thing that could throw this all off.' "Since SAG began giving its ensemble awards, other groups, like the Broadcast Film Critics Association, have jumped on the bandwagon. Television's Emmy Awards added three casting categories in 2000 and some in the industry, like "Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan, believe an acting ensemble award should be added, too.Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which added an animated film category in 2001, has no plans to supplement its four acting honors.As it stands, members of popular ensembles, like Chastain and Spencer in "The Help," often find themselves in competition for a film's top accolade."If the actors give distinctly different performances, they stand on their own and don't cancel each other out," says Kristopher Tapley, executive editor of awards coverage website In Contention.The beauty of SAG's ensemble award, says Taylor, is that, for one night at least, "everyone's on the same team.""It's going to be a great reunion," Taylor adds. "It might get a little loud, though."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ford, Wesley join Prescreen board

Prescreen, a startup movie marketing and distribution platform, has attracted on IM Global topper Stuart Ford and Blockbuster professional Tim Wesley as people of the lately produced board of experts. Ford founded IM Global in April 2007, initially along with Internationalmedia AG, and three years later offered a large part stake within the organization to Reliance Entertainment. Wesley co-founded Milestone Entertainment and contains labored at Vital, The brand new the new sony, Maverick Films, Ripe Digital Entertainment Corporation. and Neustar Media. Prescreen also mentioned its VOD rental showcase remains extended to feature no more than 15 Sundance options from previous years on its site. Prescreen states it's the only website including all the available trailers with this particular year's festival options. Partners for your Prescreen Sundance Festival include Kino Lorber Monterey Media Strand Delivering First Run Features Indie Blitz and Film Movement. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Cinemax Sets loose New Bet On Thrones Teaser

First Released: The month of january 17, 2012 4:05 PM EST Credit: Cinemax Caption Tyrion leaves the Vale with Bronn after winning his freedom (Jerome Flynn, Peter Dinklage) in Bet on Thrones, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Cinemax has launched a brand new featurette to advertise the approaching Season 2 of Bet on Thrones. Producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are questioned within the piece, and discuss shooting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, which stands set for Nobleman Landing within the drama in line with the books by George R.R. Martin. PHOTOS: Bet on Thrones Stars In Street Clothes Additionally, it features interview footage with Emilia Clarke (Daenerys) and Emmy and Golden Globe champion Peter Dinklage (Tyrion) discussing their ideas around the locale. PHOTOS: Peter Dinklage To determine the piece, which debuts on Cinemax on Wednesday at 4:30 EST/1:30 PST around the network, at this time, Click The Link! Bet on Thrones returns at 9 PM on April 1 on Cinemax. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Globes more in line in comparison to year's past

'Bridesmaids,' with Golden Globe nom Kristen Wiig, left, was one of the handful of comedies a year ago to obtain near unanimous acclaim. The annual eruption of critical snark trigger with the announcement in the Golden Globes nominations is usually a sheepish admission: The majority of the options were in line with the thing that was expected.Really, the outlier may be Oscar. In many celebrated instances lately, it has been the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., and not the Academy, that has hewed closer to the critical consensus. A year ago, the HFPA selected "The Social MediaInch in addition to drama -- as had the L.A., N.Y., London, Chicago and Boston experts, the country's Board of Review, the country's Society of Film Experts together with a litany of other orgs. The Oscar visited "The King's Speech." In 2007, when the Academy went for "Crash," the Globes selected "Brokeback Mountain," as had a lot more.This season, there's no apparent one-on-one "Social"/"King" face-off, nevertheless the reaction remains sincere."I truly think the HFPA found innocent themselves quite nicely this year,In . states Entertainment Weekly's Dork Karger in the HFPA's options, echoing many of the response to a range one studio publicist calls predictably "eccentric and starry," but which largely reflected options made elsewhere inside the run-around Oscar madness.People options incorporated movie drama noms for a lot of very apparent suspects -- including "The Descendants," "The AssistanceInch and "Hugo" -- additionally to lots of passion for "The Ides of March" together with a properly-timed assist for which can be the year's comedy showcase, "Bridesmaids."History being how it is, however, the Globes choices are forever checked out for favoring studio, and not indie, fare a powerful dislike to anything remotely provocative or questionable ("The Tree of Existence," "Melancholia") together with a inclination toward nominating both films and stars that provide plenty of star energy."I realize so many people are worried about the Jennifer Aniston nomination for foreign film, however her movie will get strong reviews," Karger states in the Jolie-directed "Inside the Land of Blood stream and Honey." "It is a more compact amount embarrassing than giving her and also the Actor-kaira Pitt lead-acting nominations for 'The Tourist' a year ago.InchAlso, I'm a huge 'Ides of March' fan and so i am happy with George Clooney acquiring a slot to find the best director. I fully expected those to nominate Mel Gibson for 'The Beaver' or Ashton Kutcher for 'Two . 5 Men' just for the eye, nonetheless they clearly opposed the requirement.InchStates one studio professional: "I still think a film like 'Tree' could easily get inside the Oscars, as it is that kind of film. I'm interested in 'The Artist,' too, and what is going to happen from it.InchThe Weinstein Co.'s Gallic B&W movie, "The Artist," can be a candidate inside the comedy-musical category, that could only further its campaign one of the year's quirkiest success tales.Elsewhere, exception was arrived at what may be an essential character problem while using HFPA."In my opinion the exclusion of 'Extremely Noisy & Incredibly Close' reflects the foreign press' failure for hooking up for the well of emotion still mounted on Sept. 11," states Joe Neumaier, critic for your NY Daily News. "Its late screening for your HFPA certainly didn't help, and i'm surprised Sandra Bullock and Max von Sydow weren't incorporated. Concurrently, though, it's not an unexpected to discover a mental block involving the HFPA which movie's hyper-local undertake tragedy."Neumaier also points for the omission from the supporting perf, and what he saw since the disconnect involving the character as well as the HFPA's foreign perspective."It may be that Melissa McCarthy's Megan in 'Bridesmaids' was too gauche and too 'American" on their own account,Inch according to him. "To ensure that they elected for lead Kristen Wiig. Alternately, though, In my opinion the romance they shown for 'Ides of March' is partly because it felt as being a look behind the American political curtain."There has been other films that reflect American sensibilities that got a little of HFPA love.The setting of drama nominee "Moneyball," for instance, features the fundamental American pastime, baseball. Extended a U.S. passion, the overall game is essentially overlooked in many the comfort around the world, but HFPA audiences needed the story of Concord A's g.m. Billy Beane to heart.Plus there's "The Help,In . which examines how African-American service personnel were treated inside the American south inside the sixties. Clearly, author-director Tate Taylor's pic resonated to people who have been unaware in the abusive treatment people women experienced inside the racially slanted region in the U.S. What: Golden Globe Honours When: 5 p.m. PT Sunday Where: BevHilton Web: internet.hfpa.org GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS FOR ACTING LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA George Clooney, "The Descendants" Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar" Michael Fassbender , "Shame" Ryan Gosling, "The Ides of March" Kaira Pitt, "Moneyball" LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs" Viola Davis, "The AssistanceInch Rooney Mara, "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo" Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady" Tilda Swinton, "We must Discuss Kevin" LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY/MUSICAL Jean Dujardin, "The Artist" Brendan Gleeson, "The Guard" Ernest Gordon-Levitt, "50/50" Ryan Gosling, "Crazy, Stupid, Love" Owen Wilson, "Evening amount of time in Paris" LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY/MUSICAL Jodie Promote, "Carnage" Charlize Theron, "Youthful Adult" Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids" Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn" Kate Winslet, "Carnage" SUPPORTING ACTOR Kenneth Branagh , "My Week With Marilyn" Albert Brooks , "Drive" Jonah Hill, "Moneyball" Viggo Mortensen , "A Dangerous Method" Christopher Plummer, "Beginners" SUPPORTING ACTRESSBerenice Bejo, "The Artist" Jessica Chastain , "The AssistanceInch Jesse Mcteer, "Albert Nobbs" Octavia Spencer , "The AssistanceInch Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants" Award Season Focus: The Actor & The ActressYoung stars bring fresh approach to roles Does evil connect to have an Oscar shortcut? Indie Spirits breathe existence into smaller sized films Feel-good photos make strong showing for SAG Globes more in line in comparison to year's past Experts options might predict Oscar chances Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Kyle Richards Branches By Helping Cover Their New Book, TV Pilot

First Released: The month of january 6, 2012 10:35 AM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Real Average women of Beverly Hillsides star Kyle Richards stops by Access Hollywood Survive October 11, 2011NY, N.Y. -- Paris Hilton might have put her familys title around the reality TV map, but her aunt Kyle Richards is hot on her behalf tail with a brand new book along with a TV pilot about her existence. Richards open personality offered her well growing up actress becoming an adult in Hollywood, going mind-to-mind together with her feisty castmates on Bravos The Actual Average women of Beverly Hillsides, and many lately doling out relationship, fashion and lifestyle advice in her own new book, Existence Isn't a Reality Show: Keeping It Real Using the Housewife Who Everything, released by HarperOne. Within the book, Richards, that has been married for 17 many may be the mother of 4 women, offers tips about from coping with infidelity to ways to get her signature smooth locks. Inside a recent interview, she talked about her new projects, her sister Kim Richards stint in rehab and her greatest Housewife blowout. AP: How have you develop the concept for the book? Richards: I was raised inside a house of women. You realize, my mother, my grandmother and my siblings (Kim Richards and Kathy Hilton). And when they will come home, my mother would switch the sunshine on and would say, OK, let me know all you did in the date, from starting to the finish. I did previously lay there and pretend I had been sleeping and pay attention to every little crumb the things they did wrong, the things they didnt do. It had been the very best education you can actually get. And when I began the show the ones saw my relationship with my hubby, I acquired a lot of comments and questions about Twitter which i really thought it might be fun to discuss stuff that labored for me personally. AP: What is among the greatest mistakes that ladies make in associations? Richards: A great deal people want love, however they dont provide. I see lots of my buddies using their husbands it normally won't believe that they require exactly the same attention once we do. I would like my hubby to seem like that's not to like and adore him like I actually do. Youd be amazed whenever you give that just how much adore you get in exchange. AP: Have you got any regrets relating to this season from the Real Average women of Beverly Hillsides? What about your argument with castmate Brandi Glanville on Game Evening? Richards: Brandi and the overall game Evening factor is most likely my greatest regret of all things weve done around the Average women. Even much more compared to limo fight with my sister (Kim). Because within the limo with my sister, despite the fact that I acquired lots of warmth from that, everyone was angry, thats things i was feeling however with Game Evening, thats simply not who I'm, period. I wasn't being in keeping with myself and also to me thats the worst factor that may happen. AP: How's Kim doing in rehab? Richards: Shes good. You realize, you will find gossips that they had left rehab, she didn't. Shes doing very well, and Im just really happy and happy with her to make that decision. AP: So what is next? Richards: I simply offered an airplane pilot, one half-hour sitcom. I cant say which network, nevertheless its about my existence. Its essentially my existence as being a juggling mother, wife and standing on a real possibility show. AP: If you do not play yourself, which Hollywood celebrity do you want to play you? Richards: I'd would like it to be a person thats really funny and may capture the humor to be a mother and all sorts of the humor that accompany standing on a real possibility show, so perhaps Jennifer Aniston or Jenny McCarthy. I have no idea, someone really funny. Copyright 2012 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Despite Adele, British music sales slip

Despite sales of three.8 million for Adele's album "21" -- the greatest single-year tally ever in England -- and record singles sales, the BPI reported a general decline of 5.6% in British album sales throughout 2011. The U.K. music trade org tied the drop to rampant piracy. Biz's loss came despite a 26.6% rise in digital album sales (to 26.six million models) 15 albums offered a lot more than 100,000 digital copies. Sales of digital singles rose 10.4% to 26.six million models. However, Compact disc album sales slid 12.6% to 86.two million models. The Compact disc continued to be the main format within the U.K., comprising 76.1% of sales, versus. 23.5% for digital and .3% of vinyl. The second format grown nevertheless, climbing 43.7% this year. Adele single-handedly propped up music in her own native country: Her chart-topping album was the year's domestic bestseller, while her renascent 2008 debut "19" placed No. 4 one of the year's top game titles. Her tunes "YouInch and "Moving within the Deep" placed first and ninth one of the best-selling singles of the season. Still, unrestrained piracy torched Blighty biz, based on BPI leader Geoff Taylor. "British artists still produce incredible music that resonates both at home and all over the world,Inch Taylor stated inside a statement. "But while other nations take positive steps to safeguard their creative sector, our government takes too lengthy to do something on piracyUnless decisive action is drawn in 2012, purchase of music could fall again -- an innovative crunch which will destroy jobs and mean the following Adele might not get her opportunity to shine around the world stage." Nielsen SoundScan is scheduled to produce U.S. year-finish figures on Wednesday. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com