Institut Lumiere honours 'Polisse'

MADRID -- "Polisse," directed by French actress-switched-helmer Maiwenn, has won the Lumiere Institute's eighth Jacques Deray Prize, an award created with the Lyon Institute's director Thierry Fremaux, also Cannes general delegate. Named following a Gallic director of 1970's small-time gangster movie "Borsalino," with Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo, the plaudit is provided to films created in France's extended and illustrious "policier" tradition of crime thrillers, cop dramas or film noirs. Among France's large 2011 breakouts, gritty ensemble drama "Polisse" puts a modern day spin round the genre, focusing on cops your Parisian Child Protection Unit. "Polisse" is produced by Alain Attal at Ces Productions du Tresor, the ambitious trendy production house behind Guillaume Canet's "Tell NobodyInch and "Little White-colored Lies." Growing in stature after an upbeat reception competing at Cannes, "Polisse" shown the next finest-grossing French movie of 2011, making Euros14.8 million ($19.2 million) after Mars Distribution topper Stephane Celerier made a decision to create the film last October around the bold 400-print run, advised by previews, concentrating on both inner-city theaters and mainstream multiplexes. Past award visitors include lots of France's most looked for-after company company directors your genre that's garnering good-to-great B.O. in your house, plus worldwide sales and remake deals abroad. Fred Cavaye, whose "Anything On HerInch was remade as Russell Crowe-starrer "The Next 72 Hrs,Inch won this season for "Point Blank" "The Artist" director Michel Hazanavicius needed home this year's plaudit for Jason Bourne lick "OSS 117: Lost in Rio," with "The Artist's" Jean Dujardin. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Kristin Chenoweth Heads to Hot in Cleveland

Kristin Chenoweth Cleveland will get even warmer. Kristin Chenoweth remains attracted onto guest-star inside an approaching episode of Hot in Cleveland, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Series executive producer Sean Hayes needed to Twitter Monday morning to announce Chenoweth's appearance, that's slated to air in May. Hot In Cleveland will receive a fourth season together with a spin-from the 43-year-old actress, who every once in awhile appears on Glee and may next star in ABC's GCB, will portray a pal in the women from L.A. who involves stick to them after separating along with her longtime boyfriend, a Beverly Slopes skin physician for the stars. The ladies must put the two back together again or face the potential for never getting another appointment while using exclusive physician again. Hot in Cleveland airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on TVLand.

Baldwin named to SAG Foundation publish

Baldwin The Screen Stars Guild Foundation has attracted on Alec Baldwin becasue it is first "Ambassador" to pay attention to its philanthropic programs in delivering a support system within the acting community.The announcement is created Monday by SAG Foundation Leader JoBeth Williams."It's personally crucial that you me that SAG people provide the SAG Foundation," Baldwin mentioned. "Through my participation, I am hoping to produce greater recognition towards the philanthropic and academic efforts."Videos clip showing Baldwin will premiere within the SAG Honours occasions Jan. 29. Baldwin's nominated for just about any SAG award in comedy series for "30 Rock."The SAG Foundation's programs include children's literacy program BookPALS (Undertaking Artists for Literacy in Schools), that 2000 stars read to around 100,000 children each month as well as the Catastrophic Health Fund and Emergency Assistance Programs, that offer school funding to stars battling with illness or injuries or fighting to help keep the essential necessities. The inspiration also works the SAG Foundation's Actor Center and Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab inside the same building as SAG's national headquarters in La. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Ratings: Giants-49ers Game Grabs Huge Audience for Fox

Eli Manning of the NY Giants Fox's NFC Championship that saw the NY Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers in sudden-death overtime grabbed a huge audience that's becoming typical for the conference championship game that airs in prime time, according to preliminary Nielsen data. Dan Bell, a Fox Sports vice president, tweeted that the game was the highest rated NFC title game in 17 years (going back to the 1995 game when the 49ers played the Dallas Cowboys). Kelly Clarkson to perform national anthem at Super Bowl XLVI The Giants will play the New England Patriots, who won the afternoon game on CBS, in Super Bowl XLVI - a rematch of four years ago in what's sure to be the year's most-watched program. (Kickoff is set for about 6:20/5:20c, Sunday, Feb. 5, NBC.) Madonna will star in Super Bowl halftime show ABC's lineup went relatively unscathed, while CBS' shows took a hit and NBC emptied its inventory of the final two episodes of Prime Suspect to relatively execrable numbers. The only downside for Fox was that the length of the game and subsequent postgame show pushed a Sunday edition of American Idol to 11 p.m. ET. (It'll be rerun Tuesday at 8/7c.) On Saturday night, Lifetime got huge numbers (for Lifetime) with its real-crime original movieDrew Peterson: Untouchable, starring Rob Lowe and Kaley Cuoco -- averaging 5.8 million total viewers, of which 2.2 million were in the coveted 18-to-49 demo, Nielsen said. Catch up on today's news 8 p.m.CBS: Undercover Boss 9.17 million viewers (2.2)ABC: Once Upon a Time 9.30 million (3.2)Fox: NFC Championship 54.40 million (19.5) {7-10:30 p.m.}NBC: Dateline NBC 5.98 million (1.3) 9 p.m.ABC: Desperate Housewives 7.46 million viewers (2.6)CBS: The Good Wife [rerun] 5.61 million (1.1)NBC: Prime Suspect 4.26 million (1.4) 10 p.m.CBS: CSI: Miami [rerun] 6.23 million viewers (1.4 demo rating)ABC: Pan Am 3.86 million (1.3)NBC: Prime Suspect 3.64 million (0.7)

Biz wide-eyed over narrowcasting

CSI creator and executive producer Anthony E. Zuiker, left, and MediaLink chairman-Boss Michael Kassan discuss niche channels at CES. It had not been quite tea along with a madeleine, but last week's Entertainment Matters/YouTube keynote in the Electronic Devices Show conjured remembrances of things past. One factor, anyway.Robert Kyncl, YouTube's Vice president of worldwide content, colored an image of myriad channels customized to narrow interests. Observing you will find 17 million yoga fanatics within the U.S. and two times that worldwide, he stated, "I guarantee inside a couple of years you'll find an excellent yoga funnel online delighting audiences on the global basis and supplying wise, innovative brandholders the achieve of the audience that's incredibly specific and extremely passionate."Within the panel that adopted, "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker stated, "A chance to tell tales on the categorical niche allows not only the way forward for entertainment but probably the extinction of TV as you may know it."Their ideas returned from the previous day's keynote in the Variety Entertainment Summit by Jonathan Burns of News Corp., who stated, "I believe we are at the outset of the recording age," saying growing bandwidth and growing high-quality video screens, including on mobile products, will drive more video consumption. "That's great news for television producers," he stated, "but it is not restricted to TV. I believe we are likely to begin to see the channelization from the web, I believe that will be considered a large 2012 event -- there will be great channelization from the web."I arrived on the scene from the event duly impressed and passionate, however, when i settled along with a hot drink along with a snack, just one word in the depths of memory appeared: narrowcasting.If you are a particular age, that word may appear with you, too. "Narrowcasting," niche programming and niche channels, was the commitment of cable television, remember?In 1972, Dick Burgheim, director of CATV program projects for Time-Existence Broadcast, authored in Variety, "Clearly, the awesome gaps left by American broadcasting could be filled by, to make use of the catchword, cable 'narrowcasting.' Channels is going to be available and production costs will theoretically be normal enough to permit use of all of the interests listed from over-the-air TV."Ethnic groups and also the inner city can talk to themselves in their own individual vernacular. The hard of hearing may use sign language. A guy who isn't wealthy can wage an election campaign. Cable can, in a nutshell, lesson the alienation from the shades of black, the disaffection from the youthful, the sensation of powerlessness and anomie of people."Burgheim was unnecessarily positive about elections, but a lot of that advertise was really satisfied. Today, we've Turner Classic Movies, an array of sport shows including devoted systems for many major sports leagues, Black Entertainment Television, systems in several languages, and much more.However many niche channels on cable happen to be diluted. Syfy has sci-fi, yes, however it attempted a food show and it has a real possibility competition show. The previous Learning Funnel grew to become TLC and it is only vaguely linked to learning anything. A Brief History Funnel a week ago demonstrated "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (Hey, it's set previously, also it is made previously, therefore it is historic, right?). American Movie Classics grew to become plain old AMC and today grows fastest with "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Males." There are many niche programming, but niche channels they are under pressure to broaden in search of rankings.It works out that slots within the cable funnel selection continue to be dear, and it is challenging carriage. Managing a cable funnel is costly, and programming might be cheaper and simpler to create of computer is at 1965, but professional searching programs still don't come cheap. So there is a certain drift from narrowcasting.I looked the range archives for "narrowcasting." The word appears as soon as 1950, as Radio arrived, with similar commitment of niche programming. FM was very niche-oriented if this was new, but it is much less now.Same goes with web video go exactly the same way: niche-oriented when it is new but moving toward broad-aud blandness because it works? Or can we really get our narrowcast channels this time around?I spoke towards the moderator from the panel in the Entertainment Matters keynote, Medialink Boss Michael Kassan, about why narrowcasting might really be realized. He noted the low barrier of entry -- anybody can produce a YouTube funnel free of charge and obtain instant global distribution -- and added, "People like Anthony Zuiker who in the past have labored with much bigger budgets can produce quality content in a reduced cost."And also the gatekeepers are no more the 3 network heads or even the four network heads. The gatekeeper may be the public," Kassan stated. "Allow the consumer decide. The consumer's likely to decide anything else nowadays. Why don't you allow them to decide what they need to look at and what is going to be the 2011 hit, instead of have somebody letting them know?InchKassan added, "There is no limit. At this time we are able to blow these items with techniques we never anticipated within our craziest imagination. I personally don't like to seem dramatic, however i think truly we are watching the beginning of the new trend.InchI am inclined to consider he's right, but we have heard these promises before, and they have never entirely become a reality. I can not help but question if some Variety writer in 2052 is going to be covering the commitment of direct neural connects as well as their capability to bring narrowly customized, niche-oriented encounters to consumers' brains, finally reducing us in the dispiriting sameness of broadcast, cable and Internet programming.Bits & BytesAt last week's Moody Gardens Digital Cinema Symposium, Qube Cinema shown an electronic cinema server delivering 4K three dimensional (that's, three dimensional with 4K resolution for every eye) off just one Digital Cinema Package. It had been the very first public demo of 4K three dimensional off just one server. The setup used two Barco 4K projectors as well as an 80-feet-lcd screen. Demo incorporated content proven at 24, 48 and 60 fps. Testronic Labs is hosting the round-robin test for that Blu-ray industry today and tomorrow at Testronic's Burbank facility. The annual Hollywood Publish Alliance Tech Retreat continues to be looking for February. 14-17 in the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, Calif. Luxurious subsidiary Company 3 and Mumbai-based publish facility Futureworks have pacted to provide commercial clients in India use of Company 3 artists located in Santa Monica, Atlanta or London. three dimensional technology provider Cameron Pace Group has opened up a workplace in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first CPG office outdoors the U.S. Andrew Wight, who created the three dimensional feature "Sanctum" with CPG co-topper James Cameron, will run the brand new CPG office.NewTek has named Carter Holland executive Vice president, worldwide marketing. Holland is really a former marketing Vice president at Enthusiastic. Hollywood Center Galleries has drawn on Jerry Cole as director of visual and broadcast services, a brand new position. He'll oversee virtual production services for webinars, broadcast and television production. Cole was most lately mind of economic development at Hayden Galleries in Culver City.Panasonic has gotten a Technology & Engineering Emmy because of its detachable solid-condition media for camcorder/recorders as well as their development of the P2 video recording format. Cinedeck is shipping its Cinedeck RX rack-mountable recording system with solid-condition memory. All Mobile Video in Gotham has installed the machine. Cinedeck has additionally made changes to the professional team. Alan Hoff leaves the Boss publish, though he'll remain a board member. Co-founder Charles Dautremont is acting Boss. Robert Stacy, Boss and co-founding father of Asia Media Items has become Cinedeck's Vice president. Jane Sang continues to be marketed to director of procedures. The reboot of "Dallas" is applying MTI Film's Handheld Remote Control Dailies.D-Box has introduced a few of the game titles which will make use of the motion-chair tech at the begining of 2012: "The Gray," "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," "Act of Valor," "John Carter" and "The Hunger Games." Cinedigm Digital Cinema has transpired 10,000 screens in the digital cinema deployment in The United States. Eventually it'll deploy almost 1/3 of United States digital cinema screens. Cinedigm has additionally llied with Independent Movie theaters Assn. of Australia (ICAA) for D-cinema deployment in New zealand and australia. D-cinema integrator Beyond All, LLC, has signed instructions of intent with 15 Brazilian participants for digital cinema deployment on about 1,000 screens. The Virtual Print Fee contracts will expedite the deployment of d-cinema. Beyond All's partners include Cinedigm for technical services and MKPE for settlement.The Siggraph computer graphics conference will go back to Anaheim, Calif., in 2013 and also to Vancouver, Canada in 2014. Last year's Vancouver confab marked the very first time Siggraph occured outdoors the U . s . States, and based on the show's parent org the big event broke all conference attendance records. Creatasphere's Digital Resource Management conference is going to be in the BevHilton February. 22-23.U.S.C. has became a member of forces with Vicon Technologies to upgrade the motion capture system in the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts. System initially had 20 cameras when set up in 2006. Now it's 46 cameras on the 1,700-square-feet stage. School has already been thinking of getting another growth of the mo-cap facility.E-on software has shipped Vue 10 RenderNodes for Linux, the business's first Linux-basd rendering solution. DreamWorks Animation has already been while using software. Assimilate has shipped version 6.1 of their Scratch digital intermediate finishing tool. Latest version includes support for that new Red-colored SDK 4.2 and Tangent's Element user interface, in addition to a new SDI output architecture.Publish facility Incendio has bought two Image System Nucoda Film Masters with Precision sections for his or her creative color and finishing pipeline. Sky Deutschland's new Sky Sport News HD funnel has outfitted his studio using Vitec Videocom brands for automated production. Internet is applying a robot camea system with six Vinten Radamec Fusion FP-188 robot pedestals and 2 Telemetrics cameras controlled with a Vinten Radamec HDVRC. Studio is outfitted with Litepanels Brought lighting. Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Seth Gordon set to helm U's 'Identity Theft'

Seth Gordon is set to direct "Identity Theft" for Universal Pictures.Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy are attached to star with Scott Stuber to produce through his Stuber Pictures alongside Bateman and Peter Morgan for DumbDumb.The pic revolves around a man whose identity is stolen by a woman.Steve Conrad wrote the initial draft and Craig Mazin is currently rewriting the screenplay. Scott Bernstein, U's exec veep of production, will oversee the project for Universal. The plan is for the pic to go into production in early 2012.While Gordon has several projects in development, "Identity Theft" marks his first since his comedy "Horrible Bosses" scored big at the box office, bringing in more than $115 million domestically.He is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

VIDEO: The Bachelor's Ousted Jenna Laughs Off Her Crying and Craziness

The Bachelor If first impressions are everything, The Bachelor's Jenna was condemned. She notifies TVGuide.com they "cringed" as you are watching her first review of Ben. "I used to be very nervous." The Bachelor's Chris Harrison: We thought Jenna is a front-runner! Jenna received a rose that first evening despite her clumsiness and hysterics, then was removed inside the second round, when she states she blew a "make-or break moment." Nevertheless the NY blogger is laughing it well and having her craziness. Bachelor's Harrison on Kacie's emotional date, Blakeley's outfit after which week's mystery lady Keep watching for Jenna's applying for grants a couple of from the other as well as what she really meant by her now infamous tampon line.

'Players,' 'Seeds,' 'Dads' meet at Rendez-Vous

PARIS -- Wild Bunch's "The Players," with "The Artist's" star Jean Dujardin and its helmer Michel Hazanavicius, Memento's "Bad Seeds" and Pathe's "Sunday Dads" will screen at the 14th Rendez-Vous With French Cinema. The world's biggest national film showcase, the Rendez-Vous kicks off Wednesday with a gala screening of Sylvie Testud's Kinology-sold "Another Woman's Life," toplining Juliette Binoche and Mathieu Kassovitz, a high-concept romantic dramedy. Written by Dujardin and Gilles Lellouche, star of Magnolia U.S. pick-up "Point Blank," "Players," a seven-part sexcom, is one of the most-awaited films of the screenings. This is thanks to its subject, a Judd Apatow-ish take on thirty-something male infidelit; its cast, led by Guillaume Canet ("Last Night"); and its star directors, including Hazanavicius, Fred Cavaye ("Anything for Her"), Dujardin, Lellouche and Eric Lartigau ("The Big Picture"). A dark tale of two schoolboys' kidnapping a teacher, "Seeds" is Nebbou's follow-up to critical hits "Dumas" and "Mark of an Angel." Distributed by Pathe in France, social comedy "Dads" reps the directorial debut of Louis Becker, son of Jean Becker ("My Afternoons With Marguerite"). Of other newly revealed RDV screeners, Studiocanal will showcase "The Adopted," the directorial debut of Melanie Laurent ("Inglourious Basterds"), and Films du Losange has Tony Gatlif's "Indignados," a Berlin Panorama player. Sales companies will talk up movies in various stages of production. Potential buzz titles include Agnes Jouai's "Under the Rainbow," sold by Memento, EuropaCorp's spy thriller "Mobius," with Dujardin, Gaumont's "The Chef," with Jean Reno, and Valerie Donzelli's "Declaration of War" follow-up "Hand in Hand," repped by Wild Bunch. Around 450 buyers will attend. Forty-three of the 82 films screening are market premieres. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Shonda Rhimes Committed To Greys Anatomy; Talks Whats Coming Up For Mer/Der, Teddy, Christina & More!

First Published: January 10, 2012 9:38 PM EST Credit: ABC LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Ellen Pompeo as Meredith on Greys Anatomy with baby ZolaShonda Rhimes wasnt talking about the elephant in the room the upcoming end of contracts for Greys Anatomy stars, including Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey on Tuesday at the Television Critics Association Winter Session, where she was promoting her new show for ABC, Scandal, but she confirmed her own commitment to the medical drama. I think that were all interested in doing the show as long as the shows interesting to do, Shonda told a small group of reporters after the Scandal panel. When Im done having interesting ideas for the show, I will be done with the show, but that doesnt necessarily mean the show will be done. Among those ideas, as revealed on last weeks Greys Anatomy, was giving Seattle Graces power couple Meredith and Derek (Mer/Der) their adopted baby back. Theyre going to get to be parents and I think youre going to see a lot of joy from them, Shonda told AccessHollywood.com. And I think its a really good evolution for their characters. But how long will their happiness last? I think its going to last for a while, Shonda told reporters. Its been a great evolution for their characters to see its been wonderful to see Meredith as a mother and what that is and weve been having a lot of fun with that. And Ellens amazing with the twins who play baby Zola Shes amazing with those babies and has been turning in amazing performances all season and really been bringing it. Its been really fun to watch. While happiness is there for Mer/Der, Kim Ravers character, Dr. Teddy Altman, is heading into a mourning period, following the death on the operating table, under Dr. Christina Yang (Sandra Oh) of her husband, Henry Burton, played by Scott Foley. I think its about what happens when something like that happens to you and whos to blame and how shes gonna deal with that, Shonda told Access of Kim/Teddys upcoming storyline. Still, she would have liked to have kept Scott and his character on the show. I wanted her [character] to be happy and I would have loved for the opportunity to keep Scott Foley, but it wasnt in the cards for us, unfortunately. Im dying to work with him again, because hes amazing. Literally, like, amazing. People were like weeping on set that he was going, but yeah, its part of the plan for her character, Shonda told Access. We have a story that were gonna tell and were excited about it. As for Christina (Sandra) and Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKdd), they have more drama in store over Dr. Yangs abortion. It felt like It wasnt closed for Owen, it was closed for Christina, but it wasnt closed for Owen, she said. There will be some happiness, however, for Chandra Wilsons Dr. Miranda Bailey. Bailey and Jason George (who plays Dr. Ben Warren) are having a romance and thats a really good thing. Its nice to see Bailey happy, she told Access. Shonda also revealed that Debbie Allen is heading back to play Dr. Catherine Avery in the coming weeks, because we love her. Beyond character updates, Shonda said shes excited about the upcoming alternate reality episode of Greys which will see Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) come back to Seattle Grace. I think I really like the alternate reality episode thats coming up because I think its pretty amazing, Shonda told reporters. Scandal premieres Thursday, April 5 at 10:00 PM EST/PST, after Greys. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Desperate Housewives Creator Not Planning Movie: Im Never Sending These Gals To Dubai

First Published: January 10, 2012 9:15 PM EST Credit: ABC Caption Marc Cherry with the cast of his show, Desperate Housewives on stage at the Television Critics Association Winter Session 2012, Pasadena, January 10, 2012LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Desperate Housewives ends its run on ABC at the end of its current season, but dont expect the ladies of Wisteria Lane to take a vacation together in a big screen installment of the franchise. Im just never sending these gals to Dubai, Desperate Housewives creator and executive producer Marc Cherry said on Tuesday at the Television Critics Association Winter Session in Pasadena on Tuesday, referring to Sex and The City 2. Cherry said that while hes actually congratulated SATC boss Michael Patrick King on the HBO series leap to the big screen, he knows his show is different and wont follow that path. Sex and The City only did a total of, I think, 69 episodes, so I always thought that the advantage for them was that they hadnt really plumbed the depths of those characters, Cherry said. After eight years, boy, I think were done. And Im happy about that. Thats not a bad thing. I feel very satisfied with where we are. Cherry said he knows what the ending of Desperate Housewives is, but declined to give any hints. He also refused to address his comments at the last TCA session, several months ago, that he wanted to pay homage to everyone whos been there which would include Nicollette Sheridans Edie Britt. Im sooooo not revealing what the end is gonna be, Cherry said. Its a surprise and Im being hyper protective of it. No comment on that. The show boss did reveal that they will bring back Susan Delphinos (Teri Hatcher) daughter Julie (Andrea Bowen), and that Cherry, himself, will appear in an upcoming episode before the show is over. Yeah, Im gonna do a Hitchcock, he said, referring to when the boss walks through a scene. And the hair and makeup people will go through more hell that day than theyve ever gone through. The cast, who were all present at the panel, said they are still surprised by the affect their show has had on fashion, culture and even television. All the Real Housewives shows, Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis) said when asked for an example of the things theyve seen as a result of the shows influence. I want a residual, Cherry chimed in, referring to the Bravo franchise. Desperate Housewives airs Sundays at 9 PM EST/PST on ABC. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Wild Bunch ink cope with Twisted Pictures

Pan-European sales and distribution group Wild Bunch has inked a 3-year output cope with Mark Burg's Twisted Pictures, the label behind the "Saw" horror franchise. Twisted Pictures needs to create two photos within the newbie underneath the deal, and one or two films every year after that. Wild Bunch will acquire and take care of worldwide sales privileges. Twisted Pictures is Evolution's genre arm, where Burg and prexy Michael Benchel continues to spearhead the expansion and production team. Shingle "produces genre pictures with compelling story lines along with a quality approach that increases over the crowd," stated Wild Bunch Boss Vincent Grimond. Burg stated, "From 'Sin City' to 'Paranormal Activity' to 'Insidious,' Wild Bunch's selection of movie picks continues to be around the innovative of the items youthful audiences are craving." Deal was arranged by Menchel and Continental Entertainment Capital's Benjamin Waisbren. Burg, Menchel and Waisbren assists as producers at Twisted Pictures. Burg founded Evolution within the late the nineteen nineties with Oren Koules and released Twisted Pictures in 2004 with Koules and also the late Gregg Hoffman. Burg split from Koules in June and rejigged the shingle, recruiting former CAA agent Menchel as prexy. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

MTV Movie Brawl 2012: 'Breaking Dawn' Vs. 'Star Wars'

The MTV Movie Brawl 2012 is officially on! After the initial play-in and wild card rounds, 16 films have been selected to compete in a series of head-to-head single elimination matches in our March Madness-style bracket. In the end, only one of these flicks can be crowned the can't-miss movie of the year, and the choice is entirely up to YOU. Which movie will win the brawl for it all? Vote at MTV Movies Blog and make your choice known! Sixteen movies. Fifteen battles. One must-see movie. Those are the stakes of the MTV Movie Brawl 2012, which after a weeklong play-in round, officially kicks off today with our March Madness-style bracket. Voting for the Brawl's Sweet 16 competitors is officially open, and we begin with a showdown between one of the most popular franchises in modern history as well as a series that first began a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. (1) "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2" Vs. (8) "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D" Despite being one of the mouthiest headlines of the MTV Movie Brawl 2012, "Twilight" versus "Star Wars" isn't exactly the first battle you think of when considering heated movie rivalries. But in this case, you have one series "Twilight" that took the world by storm in recent years, presenting us with a new trio of Hollywood's hottest actors. In the other corner is "Star Wars," a saga that isn't producing new movies these days (though the 3D theatrical rerelease of "Phantom Menace" is definitely worthy of fans' excitement) but still has one of the strongest fan bases of any film series out there. On paper, based on round one results, this shouldn't be much of an obstacle for "Twilight." But if "Star Wars" fans (and others who want to see "Twilight" go down early) band together, we could be in for one heck of a surprise. Watch our MTV Movie Brawl 2012 analysis!

Seacrest mum on 'Today'

SeacrestRyan Seacrest was mostly tight-lipped about his possible move to the "Today" show at TCA on Sunday.Following his sesh promoting the upcoming season of "American Idol," Seacrest said it was "flattering" that his name has been discussed as a possible replacement for Matt Lauer, whose deal with the NBC program ends later this year.He certainly was diplomatic in not trying to oust longtime ayem host Lauer from the "Today" seat he currently holds."The person who has that job will be there for as long as they want," Seacrest said.Seacrest, who is employed by NBCUniversal for his E! network duties and has his own production company that produces a handful of shows for the cabler, is accustomed to arising early in the morning. He's been a Los Angeles radio host for years and has kept that job while adding others to his already busy schedule.If Seacrest were to take on "Today," of course, his "Idol" duties would come to an end.Fox reality topper Mike Darnell said a Seacrest-less "Idol" would certainly be a radical change for the program's audience."I can't imagine the show without him," Darnell said. "Our expectation is he'll be on the show as long as we can have him."As for the influx of musical competition shows since "Idol" began nearly 10 years ago, exec producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said, "In the end, competition is good and you have to raise your game. That's the only thing you can do."Added Darnell, on the rivalry between "Idol" and NBC's "The Voice," which was a breakout hit for the Peacock last year: "We don't concern ourselves with other shows." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

David O. Russell Groping Situation Closed: No Charges Filed Against Academy Award-Nominated Director

Under 24 hrs after news broke of the bizarre incident including director David O. Russell and the transgender nephew Nicholas Peloquin, the Broward Sheriff's Office in Florida has made the decision to finish its analysis. "We're pleased the government bodies have investigated this matter and also have confirmed the analysis continues to be came to the conclusion and also the situation continues to be closed," Russell's reps stated inside a statement to Moviefone which was confirmed by Jim Leljedal, the Director Of Media Relations for that Broward Sherriff's Office. Stated Leljedal, "We required a study and we are done." That relate, that was launched to the web through the Smoking Gun, outlined an alleged incident between Russell and Peloquin, his 19-year-old pre-op transgender nephew. Peloquin, the boy of Russell's adoptive sister, stated the Oscar-nominated director wrongly touched his breasts throughout a good work out during a workout session in the Embassy Suites in Deerfield Beach, Florida a week ago. Russell was firm about his innocence, both towards the police as well as in an argument -- through his representative -- to Moviefone previously Friday. "David Russell undoubtedly declines any wrongdoing and it has cooperated fully with government bodies." The director, accountable for 'Three Nobleman,' 'I Heart Huckabees' and 'The Fighter,' is presently focusing on 'The Silver Textures Playbook.' That film, with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert P Niro, has gone out in theaters this November. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Corner offices

Who's who within the music departments in the galleries and networksFILM DreamWorks Galleries Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg. 4115, Universal City, CA 91608 Phone: 818-733-9669 Go to the WebsiteExecutives: Jennifer Hawks, professional Vice president, music Christopher Hogenson, music manager Tori Fillat, music coordinator Fox Music Address: 10201 W. Pico Blvd. La, CA 90035 Phone: 310-369-1000 Go to the Website Professionals: Robert Kraft, prexy Tom Cavanaugh, sr. Vice president, business and legal matters Danielle Diego, sr. Vice president, creative matters Amy Driscoll, Vice president, creative Ellen Ginsburg, Vice president, film clearance Patrick Houlihan, professional director, creative Trina Merenda, Vice president music, posting Rebecca Morellato, Vice president, film music production David Leiman, director, posting certification and inventive Alexander Beltran, director, music legal Lionsgate Music Address: 2700 Colorado Ave., Suite 200, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Phone: 310-449-9200 Go to the Website Professionals: Tracy McKnight, mind of film music Lenny Wohl, GM & professional Vice president, business matters Chris Brown, budgets/financial supervisor Karen Sidlow, contract administrator Willa Yudell, coordinator film music Jordan Hale, film music assistant NBC Universal Galleries Universal Pictures Film Music and Posting Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg. 1320 W., 3rd Floor, Universal City, CA 91608 Phone: 818-777-5549 (Mike Knobloch's office) Fax: 818-733-3810 Go to the Website Professionals: Mike Knobloch, prexy, film music and posting Philip M. Cohen, sr. Vice president, record companies matters Eric Polin, sr. Vice president, music posting Rachel Levy, Vice president, film music Christopher Saranec, professional director, music certification Pam Springs, professional director, music certification Angela Leus, director, film music Tiffany Johnson, director, film scoring Kyle Staggs, director, record companies matters Vital Pictures Music Address: 5555 Melrose Ave., La, CA 90038 Phone: 323-956-5000 Fax: 323-862-2014 Go to the WebsiteExecutives: Randy Spendlove, prexy, movie music Denise Luiso, sr. Vice president, creative, music Linda Springer, sr. Vice president, music Serta Butler, sr. Vice president, business matters and legal Linda Wohl, sr. Vice president, music legal Liz McNicoll, Vice president, business matters Robert Gasper, Vice president, music legal Jeremy Geltzer, attorney Denise Carver, Vice president, clearance Julie Butchko, Vice president, clearance Mary Jo Braun, director clearance Aron Pinsky, director clearance Jerome Hill, music coordinator clearance Jason Richmond, professional. director, music Kim Seiniger, director, music production Susan Siering, director, contract administration Jennifer Schiller, director, music contracts and certification Sheryl Carlin, director, certification Jeannie Pool, manager music archives Hallie Volman, manager, certification Adam Ehrlich, coordinator, soundminer Jennifer Cornett, coordinator, music Steven Lundy, coordinator, music Bob Bornstein, music copyist The new sony Pictures Entertainment, Music Address: 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Phone: 310-244-4000 Fax: 310-244-1324 Go to the WebsiteExecutives: Lia Vollack, prexy worldwide music Spring Aspers, professional Vice president, music creative matters Raul Perez, sr. Vice president, music administration Don Kennedy, Vice president, music certification The new sony Pictures Entertainment, Music Matters Group Address: 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Phone: 310-244-8389 Fax: 310-244-2258 Go to the Website Professionals: Shelly Bunge, professional Vice president, department mind Ray Kohorn, sr. Vice president, record companies and legal matters Paul Friedman, sr. Vice president, record companies and legal matters Merlene Travis, Vice president, music posting and administration Wally Disney Animation Galleries Address: 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-4970 Phone: 818-460-9552 Fax: 818-460-9080 Go to the Website Professionals: Tom MacDougall, Vice president, music Wally Disney Music Address: 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1759 Phone: 818-560-7495 Fax: 818-560-2500 Go to the Website Professionals: Chris Montan, prexy Matt Master, sr. Vice president, music Wally Disney Galleries Address: 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521 Phone: 818-560-5124 Fax: 818-560-5737 Go to the Website Professionals: Mitchell Leib, prexy, music and soundtracks, Wally Disney Galleries and Disney Group Scott Holtzman, professional Vice president, music matters Lesley Allery, Vice president, music certification Kaylin Frank, Vice president, creative, music and soundtracks Reggie Wilson, Vice president, music production Monica Zierhut, Vice president, music production Desiree Craig-Ramos, director, soundtracks, Disney Group Nancy Dolan, senior coordinator, creative music marketing Warner Bros. Music Address: 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 Phone: 818-954-5967 Fax: 818-954-3418 Warner Bros. Website Warner Bros. Music Website Professionals: Paul Broucek, prexy, music Darren Higman, professional Vice president, music Carter Remedy, sr. Vice president, music Erin Scully, sr. Vice president, music Lisa Margolis, sr. Vice president, record companies matters Bobby Thornburg, sr. Vice president, feature music clearances Dirk Hebert, Vice president, business & legal matters Niki Sherrod, Vice president, music Jason Linn, professional Vice president, WaterTower Music Genevieve Morris, Vice president, sales and product, WaterTower Music Joe Kara, Vice president, marketing, WaterTower Music Kevin Kertes, Vice president, promotion and digital development, WaterTower Music Sandeep Sriram, director, design and production, WaterTower Music The Weinstein Co. Address: 9100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700 W, La, CA 90212 Phone: 424-204-4800 Fax: 310-550-5759 Go to the Website Email: Richard.Glasser@weinsteinco.com Professionals: Richard Glasser, executive responsible for music film/TV Laine R. Kline, professional Vice president, business and legal matters TELEVISION ABC Television Network Address: 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521 Phone: 818-460-6446 Fax: 818-460-5375 Go to the Website Professionals: Peter DiCecco, sr. Vice president, global business and legal matters, music Beginning Soler, Vice president, TV music Carolyn Javier, Vice president, music, business and legal matters Wendy Leitman, Vice president, music, business and legal matters Shaun Lowy, Vice president, business and legal matters, music David Shea, sr. counsel Meghan Crowley, counsel Alex Springer, professional director Sylvia Webster, professional director, creative music services Faye Constantine, director, music posting Jennifer Drake, director, creative music services Caitlin Hill, director, creative music services Tony Von Pervieux, director, TV music creative Catherine Farley, director, TV certification Tom Lopinski, director, TV certification Missy Berkowitz, manager, TV music Paul Shin, music contract administrator Melyssa Hardwick, administrator, creative music services CBS Group Address: 6100 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800, La, CA 90048 Phone: 323-634-3407 Professionals: Roni Mueller, sr. Vice president, business matters Nicole Villalobos, executive assistant to Roni Mueller Karen M. Takata, Vice president, Music Take advantage of Langston, director, Group Julie Nguyen, director, Group Shirley Sadanaga, director, music certification Randy Brent, connect director, business and administration, TV music Samuel Diaz, connect director, TV music/music supervisor Robert Linden, connect director, TV music Nissan Thomas, legal certification administrator Leah Just, legal certification administrator Serta Glosser, sr. music administrator Joan Mateo-Bartoli, sr. music administrator Aldrex Caparros, sr. music administrator Robyn Buehler, sr. music administrator David Madden, sr. music administrator Bob Tsai, administrator, TV music certification Eileen Fresquez, administrator, TV music clearance Samatra Morris, administrator, TV music clearance Stephanie J. Anderson, administrator, TV music clearance Jacqueline Lewis, administrator, TV music clearance Helen Rose, administrator, TV music certification Corey Leventis, certification coordinator Karen Jackets, administrative assistant Ashley Tullgren, music assistant Nicholas Marrinson, music assistant CBS Group Address: 4024 Radford Ave., Studio City, CA 91604 Phone: 818-655-7405 Professionals: Amy Osler, Vice president, music creative John Naguit, music assistant, creative CBS Group Address: 1697 Broadway tenth Fl., NY, NY 10019 Phone: 212-975-3885 Professionals: Jesse Steever, manager, New England music procedures Jim Black, New England music procedures Zachary Mandell, New England certification coordinator The CW Television Network Address: 3300 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91505 Phone: 818-977-0200 Fax: 818-977-0210 Go to the Website Professionals: Leonard Richardson, Vice president, music Bekki Newton, sr. music coordinator Fox TV Music Address: 10201 W. Pico Blvd., La, CA 90035 Phone: 310-369-1000 Go to the Website Professionals: Geoff Bywater, sr. Vice president, television music Tom Cavanaugh, sr. Vice president, business and legal matters Carol Farhat, Vice president, TV music Trina Merenda, Vice president, music posting Rodney Griffis, professional. director, TV clearances Ward Hake, Vice president, TV creative Lifetime Television Address: 2049 Century Park East, Suite 840, La, CA 90067 Phone: 310-556-7500 Fax: 310-557-8317 Go to the Website Professionals: Marianne Goode, mind of music Lionsgate Music Television Address: 2700 Colorado Ave., Suite 200, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Phone: 310-449-9200 Go to the Website Professionals: Russell Ziecker, mind of TV music/artist amd repertoire Lenny Wohl, GM & professional Vice president, business matters Came Youthful, internet marketingOrTelevision soundtracks Chris Brown, budgets/financial supervisor Nick Manley, coordinator, TV music Karen Sidlow, contract administrator NBC Universal Television (La) Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg. 1320 W., fourth Floor, Universal City, CA 91608 Phone: 818-777-0001 Go to the Website Professionals: Alicen Catron Schneider, mind, TV music, creative Nicole p la Torriente, mind, TV music, business matters Stacy Wallen-McCarthy, director, music supervision & certification Janine Kerr, director, promo music services Dennis McCafferty, director, business David Quan, director, record companies matters Kerri Drootin, director, music supervision and certification Serta Rimas, director, music services Oliver Hild, manager, music supervision and certification Aaron Jamison, manager, business Heidi O'Dell, manager, promo music services Anthony Gavin, music administrator for "The Tonight Show" Charlie Haggard, music librarian Molly Hanrahan, coordinator and executive assistant to co-heads NBC Universal Television (NY) Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1627E, NY, NY 10112 Phone: 212-664-4444 Fax: 212-664-6644 Go to the Website Professionals: Cira Limoli Nisco, Vice president, music services Amie Bond, manager, music services Matthew Kappel, administrator, music services Elizabeth Lazarony, administrator, music services John Milius, administrator, music services Adrienne Ruiz, administrator, music services Anthony DeNunzio, manager, music services The new sony Pictures Television, Music Address: 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Phone: 310-244-8389 Fax: 310-244-2258 Go to the Website Professionals: Shelly Bunge, professional Vice president, department mind Ray Kohorn, sr. Vice president, record companies matters Tony Scudellari, Vice president, music creative matters Susan Slamer, Vice president, music certification Warner Bros. Television Music Address: 300 Television Plaza, Bldg. 137, Suite 2061, Burbank, CA 91505 Phone: 818-954-7338 Fax: 818-954-3469 Professionals: Bronwyn Savasta, sr. Vice president, music Gay Di Fusco, Vice president, clearance and certification Cindy Rodriguez, director, clearance and certification Tamar Chammou, director, music Wilson Yau, manager, music Leo Tee, manager, certification and contracts Kathy Matthews, director, music Esther Clauson, manager, music contracting Go back to MUSIC FOR SCREENS: WINTER 2012 Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com