ProSiebenSat.1 shuffles chiefs

BERLIN -- Pan-European broadcasting group ProSiebenSat.1 is reshuffling management both at home and abroad because it grows its executive board and streamlines procedures locally. Joachim Kosack, co-controlling director from the group's flagship funnel Sitting.1, will helm the net by himself. Sitting.1's other co-controlling director, Andreas Bartl, who also heads ProSiebenSat.1's German TV procedures, will fully concentrate on his publish as chairman of ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland, which includes four channels. Bartl has offered as co-mind of Sitting.1 since Feb 2010. "Joachim Kosack, as my co-manager, and that i have previously situated Sitting.1 well in recent several weeks, in order to give the broadcaster to him in good belief," Bartl stated. Bartl stated he'd focus on his responsibilities as German TV chairman, concentrating on the proper growth and development of the unit's programming portfolio, the co-ordination of their group of channels and finding new possibilities for programming and purchasers. Additionally, Jochen Ketschau, so far Vice president German fiction at Sitting.1, will replace Kosack as senior Vice president German fiction at ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland. Parent group ProSiebenSat.1 also hired two people to its executive board. Conrad Albert, that has offered as general counsel at ProSiebenSat.1 since 2006, will mind the recently established department, legal matters, distribution and governmental and regulating matters, while Christian Wegner, that has been in the group in a variety of capabilities since 2004, will manage new media and diversification. Markus Breitenecker, who runs ProSiebenSat.1's Austrian procedures, will assume responsibility as cluster mind for Romania and Hungary. ProSiebenSat.1 Boss Thomas Ebeling stated Breitenecker had developed an extremely effective business for that group in Austria. "Because of his expertise in this area I consider him the perfect person to mind our marketplaces in Central Europe," he stated. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com

Julianne Hough and Russell Brand Searching for Diablo Cody's Directorial Debut

You are prepared to become accustomed to seeing Julianne Hough round the silver screen. The first sort two-time champion of 'Dancing While using Stars' hits the silver screen the next month inside the remake of 'Footloose,' stars since the female lead in next summer's 'Rock old range,' and contains now found herself an elegant indie: the formerly titled 'Lamb of God,' the directorial debut of Oscar-winning film author Diablo Cody. Hough needs to be fairly comfortable inside the new film, if possibly because it also features her 'Rock of Ages' co-star Russell Brand. Per the news release, the untitled film follows a protected girl (Hough) who handles to get rid of her belief after which makes it with an plane crash and "revels inside the decadence of Las vegas." It's there where she meets an "unlikely companion" (Brand) who helps her find herself. Mandate Pictures will produce, with production scheduled to do this spring. [via Deadline] Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Related: 'Young Adult' set photos 'Young Adult' Set Photos See All Moviefone Galleries »

Meet the Japanese Subway Cars That Have Lightsabers Installed in Them

Apparently it was unofficially 'Star Wars' week here at Moviefone. It's not something we planned for -- it just sort of happened. First, Daniel Radcliffe admitted to never seeing 'Star Wars,' then there were those crayons in the shape of 'Star Wars' characters and finally, the 'Star Wars' Blu-ray set global sales records. Now, we have Japanese subway cars with lightsabers. To help market the release of the new Blu-ray box set, Lucasfilm has adorned subway handles in Japan with lightsaber decals (photo below). It's a pretty sweet idea for a marketing campaign, but, as the folks at OhGizmo! point out, it's not nearly as ambitious as turning the BT Tower in London into a giant lightsaber, which was done late last week. [via OhGizmo!]

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John Turteltaub Off To Last Vegas

Directing senior citizens' stag nightEighteen months ago the offer was out to Jack Nicholson to star in the geriatric bachelor party movie Last Vegas. It looks as if he either passed or is biding his time, but Last Vegas has now gained a director, in National Treasure's John Turteltaub. It's been all change at the top, since Turteltaub is replacing Peter Chelsom (Shall We Dance, Hannah Montana) who has departed for reasons unspecified. Turteltaub inherits a script by Dan Fogelman (Cars, Bolt, Crazy Stupid Love) about four long out-of-touch friends from the 50s who reunite in Vegas for the wedding of Billy, the group's playboy and supposedly confirmed bachelor. The thing is, widower Paddy also takes a shine to Billy's lounge singer fiance.... It's Bachelor Party meets The Bucket List; or The Hangover meets Grumpy Old Men; or a gift for making lazy sound-bitey descriptions out of older films. The project is underway at Mandate pictures, with Larry Mark (Dreamgirls) producing and Nathan Kahane (Juno) exec-producing. Nicholson aside (and Nicholson isn't in it yet), there's no cast so far, but given that the director made both National Treasures and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, surely he can make room for Nicolas Cage to revisit the city that won him his Oscar.... An unscrupulous croupier maybe? Billy's wayward son, along for the ride and the chicks?

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Avengers short previews online

A teaser for that Marvel Comics One-Shot movie An Interesting Factor Happened In Order To Thor's Hammer has made an appearance online, thanks to the short's cinematographer David Myrick."They would like to perform some shorts about a few different days within the existence of Agent Coulson. Some ligament between your movies,"ClarkGregg stated in August once the first short was introduced.Just like The Consultant, An Interesting Factor Happened... features Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson which new incident happens between Iron Guy 2 and Thor.The entire short is anticipated to look on theDVD and Blu-ray releases ofCaptain America: The Very First Avenger.

NBC Shoots Lower Gossips Network Desired To Fire Christina Aguilera In The Voice

La, Calif. -- NBC has shot lower a study the network planned to axe Christina Aguilera following the next season from the Voice. There's simply no truth towards the rumor, Paul Telegdy, NBC Executive V . P ., Alternative Programming, told Access Hollywood on Monday. Earlier within the day, X17 stated producers in the Voice, NBCs reality singing competition, planned to fireplace the pop singer as coach for Season 3. She does not spend some time together with her participants like shes designed to. She does not participate, a resource apparently told X17. She stays the majority of her time on set together with her boyfriend. A repetition for Christina Aguilera had no comment when approached by Access Hollywood concerning the report. The Voice Season 2 begins following the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb 5. The show will proceed to its regular evening, beginning, Monday Feb 6 at 8 PM ET/PT. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Angel takes stake in Union

Saskatoon-based film and TV producer Angel Entertainment has acquired minority possession in Toronto-based Union Pictures, the companies introduced Saturday within the Toronto Film Festival. Angel cake cake toppers Bob Crowe and Wally Start mentioned the completely new partnership is specific toward growing the domestic industry for Canuck movies. "The distribution sector is rapidly altering -- we are impressed while using team's plans for growing associations with filmmakers as well as the Canadian marketplace," Crowe mentioned in the statement. Angel is much better known in Canada for your popular supernatural crime series "Rabbit Fall," that's compiled by eOne TV Intl. Cam Haynes, who went the Toronto fest's Film Circuit for quite some time, founded Union in 2008 the business will probably be delivering Barbara Willis Sweete's "Billy Bishop Visits War," world preeming within the festival, and contains several projects in development. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Participant Media Can Boast Contagion #1 & The Assistance #2 Warrior #3 In Less Runs Bucky Larson Tanks Kevin Hart Still #10?

SATURDAY PM: This really is shaping as 2011′slousiest box office weekend in The United States with only $70M total grosses. Yes, a whole lot worse thanHurricane Irene’s. Lots of surprises within this weekend’s amounts along with a larger analysis is originating. But no real surprise which new United States movie isn't any. 1: 1.With $8M Friday and +20% for $9.7M Saturday, it’sa $24M weekend for Warner Bros’ Contagion playing in 42% more theaters — 3,222 — than its nearest newcomer.This Participant Media-backed disease movie appeared as if yet anotheryikes-you’re-all-going-to-die formula pic. However I’m surprised it didn’t generate more appeal what withOscar-winning Steven Soderbergh pointing 6Academy Awardwinners or nominees: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow,Jude Law, and Laurence Fishburne.(Visitors areurging me to incorporate Oscar-honored John Hawke and Elliott Gould too…) That added oomph tocredited script author Scott Burns’ material. “Yes, it was vital to beprovocative and also to scare people,” a Warner Bros professional informs me concerning the $60M-budget pic. “But both print and trailer and TV campaignpresent a far more well-rounded look at themystery. We did sell the visceral experience — a wise and thrilling take a look at a killer virus, the science behind it, and also the aftermath.” Warner Brostook the film to Venice to solid reviews and carried out anaggressive consumer campaign. Besides, adult movies will work in the box office. 2. Entering its fifth weekend in release, DreamWorks/Disney’s hit dramedy The Assistance also is backed by Participant Media made $2.7M Friday and $4M Saturday likely to $9.4M from 2,935 locations for that weekend.It’s estimatednew cume of $137.8M by Monday. 3.Thisseemingly anticipated mma drama Warrior starring Tom Sturdy (Bane within the next Batman) and Joel Edgerton was just launched for 1,869 runs. It openedwith $1.8M Friday and $2.1M Saturday for whatwasjust a dismal $4.8M weekend. Another very disappointing opening for Lionsgate that was high about this actioner. Did last weekend’s sneaks letsome wannasee steam escape? Will this hurt Sturdy whom Hollywood executives think about a hot soon-to-be-star? 4.Focus Features’ adult holdover Your Debt gained $1.4M Friday (-45% from the other day) from 1,874 theaters along with a forecasted $4.5M weekend to have an believed $21.6M cume by Monday. 5. The new sony Pictures’ holdover Colombiana made $1.1M Friday and $1.9M Saturday from 2,354 runs for any $4M weekend and $29.8M cume. However I get it on good authority that The new sony executives were hiding out in the Toronto Film Festival (where better-than-expected Moneyball formally opened Friday evening) instead of get labeled by its Columbia Pictures’ R-ratedBucky Larson: Born To Become A Star which in fact had probably the most annoying TV ad campaigns I’ve have you been attacked by. Thankfully, its box office take was tiny: $540K Friday and $570K Saturday for just a $1.2Mweekend. That wasn’t even enough to really make it in to the Top Ten a smaller amount The new sony’s wished-for $4M. Fortunately your budget is purportedlyjust $10M.Usually Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison production banner gives The new sony box office gold: stupid photos well-liked by audiences. But it was fool’s gold. Before I provide you with the relaxation from the Top Ten, you need to know thatKevin Hart’sLaugh Inside My Discomfort wasn't any. 10 Friday despite Hartbeat Productions and Codeblack Entertainment delivering it into only99 theaters. It opened up to$758K Friday and anestimated weekend of $2M.However it could eventually be beaten through the Weinstein Co’s Spy Kids 4D. (I’ll know Sunday AM.) Harts fans switched out with this profanity-filled film version of his recent stand-up tour. It provides under an hour or so of Hart onstage but additionally includes such bonus footage as Hart touring his old neighborhood in Philadelphia and faking a bank heist. Directed by Leslie Small, this 1-hour, 28-minute pic and it is entry in to the Top Ten now determines Hart like a bonafide star beyond just his YouTube videos that have attracted hundreds of an incredible number of sights. Search for the main galleries to take serious notice. 6. Rise From the Planet From The Apes (Fox) Week 6 [2,887 Theaters] Friday $1.1M,Saturday $1.8M,Weekend $4M, Believed Cume $168M 7. Shark Evening three dimensional (Relativity) Week 2 [2,848 Theaters] Friday $1M,Saturday $1.6M, Weekend $3.6M, Believed Cume $14.9M 8. Apollo 18 (Dimension/The Weinstein Co) Week 2 [3,330 Theaters] Friday $875K,Saturday $1.4M, Weekend $3M, Believed Cume $15.1M 9. Our Idiot Brother (The Weinstein Co) Week 3 [2,396 Theaters] Friday $835K,Saturday $1.1M,Weekend $3M, Believed Cume $21.7M 10. Laugh Inside My Discomfort (Hartbeat Prods/Codeblack Ing) NEW [99 Theaters] Friday $758K, Believed Weekend $2M

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'Glee' DVD Maker Gives to Music Education

NEW You are able to (AP) The producer from the "Glee" Dvd disks is giving $a million to college arts programs across the nation.20th Century Fox Entertainment introduced the donation Friday, saying it'll use the nation's Association for Music Education to find the money to schools. The organization states 73 schools will get grants or loans varying from $10,000 to $50,000.Fox's popular series is dedicated to a higher school singing group.Qualified high schools are now being requested to submit videos about why their schools deserve a grant. You will see a public election to winnow your competition and education association authorities can make the ultimate election.Last Century Fox is delivering a DVD and Blu-ray from the "Glee" second season in a few days.Copyright laws 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Exclusive: X-Men's Hellfire Club missed out on spin-off movie

The Hellfire Club from the X-Men comics almost had their own movie, according to X-Men: First Class producer Lauren Schuler Donner.Talking about their inclusion in X-Men: First Class, she revealed: "Bryan wanted to bring another element into it. I had always wanted to do the Hellfire Club because they're really fascinating. I almost wanted to spin them off into another movie. So I mentioned the Hellfire Club to him and he grabbed and said, 'That is a great idea.'"A movie based around some of the best comic-book supervillains sounds like a corking idea to TF, so what was the hold up?"It didn't get to script," Donner told TotalFilm.com. "It got to formulating who we would use and which story we would use because there's the whole Jean Grey part of the Hellfire story."Which would Donner have plumped for, given the option?"I like the whole Jean Grey involvement. I thought that was really interesting," she revealed.X-Men: First Class is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 9 September in the US and 31 October in the UK.

Toronto 2011: Buyers to See First Footage of Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper's 'The Place Beyond the Pines'

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper's generational thriller The Place Beyond the Pines will be shown this weekend to buyers gathering from around the world at the Toronto Film Festival.our editor recommends'Drive': Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan Share Passionate Kiss in an Elevator (Video)Ryan Gosling Breaks Up NYC Scuffle (Video)Michael Pena Joins Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin in 'Gangster Squad'Deauville 2011: 'Drive' Director Nicolas Winding Refn Accepts Award for Ryan Gosling Derek Cianfrance is currently shooting the high-profile indie title, which also stars Rose Byrne and Eva Mendes. The project reteams Cianfrance and Gosling, who worked together on the critically acclaimed Blue Valentine, a dark drama about a failing marriage. Nick Meyer and Marc Schaberg's Sierra/Affinity is selling Place Beyond the Pines internationally, while WME and CAA are co-representing domestic rights. Produced by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Place Beyond the Pines did brisk presales business when first introduced at the Cannes Film Market in May by Sierra/Affinity. A number of key territory deals were signed, including for the U.K. and France. Foreign distributors already securing rights to Place Beyond the Pines will be invited to see the footage, as well as distributors-including U.S. buyers--mulling a possible deal. In the movie, Gosling plays a professional motorcycle stunt riderwho turns to bank robberies to support his newborn son, but when he crosses paths with a rookie police officer, played by Cooper, their violent confrontation spirals into a tense generational feud tracing the intersecting lives of fathers and sons, cops and robbers, heroes and villains. "It looks spectacular. It's poignant, it's epic and Derek shows once again what a great filmmaker he is. The cast is fantastic, and the confidence that SKE showed in the producers and filmmakers is evident in what you see on the screen," Meyer said. The producers of Place Beyond the Pines are Sidney Kimmel, Lynette Howell, Alex Orlovsky and Jamie Patricof. Related Topics Toronto International Film Festival Ryan Gosling Bradley Cooper International

TV producer Don Taffner dies

Donald L. Taffner, an independent distributor and producer of television programming and live theater attractions, died of an aneurysm or blood clot in the heart on Tuesday, Sept. 6, after a brief hospitalization. He was 80. Taffner and his wife-business partner Eleanor Bolta were responsible for bringing to the U.S. such television shows as "Three's Company," "Too Close for Comfort" and "The Benny Hill Show."Taffner grew up above his family's candy store in Brooklyn. After graduating from St. John's College (now University), he began his showbiz career in 1952 with a job in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency. He had been an agent there for four years by the time he left WMA in 1959 for Paramount, where he built his expertise in television distribution by helping to begin the Television Distribution Program Dept.The Taffners were married in 1961 and launched their business D.L. Taffner Ltd in 1963. The company began as a worldwide distributor of TV programs but later, as DLT Entertainment Ltd., expanded to include TV and stage production. In the 1970s Taffner negotiated a deal with the U.K.'s Thames Television under which Taffner's company would produce an American version of "Man About the House" that became ABC's "Three's Company." Later he negotiated a similar deal to adapt Thames' "Keep It in the Family" as ABC's "Too Close for Comfort." Taffner also packaged "The Benny Hill Show" for syndication on American television.Later work included the popular BBC sitcom "My Family" and Judi Dench laffer "As Times Goes By."As an offshoot of his television business, Taffner became involved with the Theater of Comedy in the U.K., and the company continues to own and manage the Shaftesbury Theater on London's West End.In 1986, Taffner's contributions to the development of the industry were recognized by the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which presented him with its Founders Award Emmy "for setting new levels of creativity in the worldwide exchange of television programs."As a result of his work in British television, Don Taffner was awarded an OBE in 2002.Eleanor Bolta died a year ago. Taffner is survived by a son, producer Donald L. Taffner Jr.; two daughters, Karen Butler and Rhonda Taffner Cantor; and three grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Greenwich Village Funeral Home, 199 Bleecker St., followed by a luncheon at Villa Mosconi, 69 MacDougal St. Donations may be made to St. John's Bread for Life at Breadandlife.org. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Soundtrack Awards set Discovery noms

The composers behind "Hanna" (the Chemical Brothers), "X-Men: First Class" (Henry Jackman) and "Limitless" (Christopher Paul Leonard-Morgan) are among the nominees for the 11th annual World Soundtrack Awards' Discovery of the Year competition, to be handed out Oct. 22 at the 11th annual WSAs at the Kuipke Events Centre in Ghent, Belgium. Also nominated are Alex Heffes ("The First Grader," "The Rite") and iZLER ("Hamill," "Natural Selection"). Discovery award is significant in that more than one past honoree went on to win an Oscar for subsequent work, including Michael Giacchino ("Up") and Gustavo Santaolalla ("Brokeback Mountain"). Santaolalla was initially recognized by the WSAs in 2004 for his "21 Grams" score, while Giacchino was honored in 2005 for "The Incredibles." Last year's Discovery recipient, Abel Korzeniowski ("A Single Man"), went on to score Madonna's King Edward/Wallis Simpson biopic, "W.E.," which just bowed in Venice. Nominees are determined by the World Soundtrack Academy, which is made up of 313 international members from the film music world. Ceremony marks the closing night of the Ghent Film Festival, now in its 38th year and the first of a handful of fests that trains the spotlight on film music. Contact Steve Chagollan at steve.chagollan@variety.com

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When Kiran Met Karen

Bollywood actress Kiran has been hounded through the media for past indiscretions. She escapes out the rear of a press conference in New You are able to and it is instructed to share a cab with Karen, whom she soon finds out is really a journalist herself. But Karen could give a cover article which might save Kirans career so she agree's for an interview, which works out to become much more of a evening of sex, alcohol and drugs. It works out that Kiran's jealous fiancé and manager had organized the whole evening employing an actress named Amy to become Karen. Dork takes secret pictures of these together and releases these phones the general public, getting Kirans career for an abrupt and miserable halt.

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