McCarthy at the top of Odd jobs

McCarthy "Mutually BeneficialInch author-director Tom McCarthy provides a 2-year first-look cope with OddLot Entertainment, covering film, TV and all sorts of media outdoors of McCarthy's acting work.OddLot will give you overhead and development fund for McCarthy. The banner's searching at McCarthy's next directorial project because the first project to come under the brand new deal. McCarthy and Kate Churchill, his director of development and production, depends in NY. Sierra/Affinity will repetition foreign sales on all films OddLot evolves and produces with McCarthy as director, producer or author.McCarthy's resume includes writing and pointing "The Station Agent" and "The Customer" and story credit with Pete Docter and Bob Billings on Disney's "Up." Acting credits include "Flags in our Fathers," "Syriana," "Night and Best Of Luck,Inch "Satisfy the Parents" and "Little Fockers" together with being featured within the final season of "The Wire."OddLot principal Gigi Pritzker stated, "Tom is indeed a visionary and talent. The love and intelligence comes through in the work."McCarthy stated of OddLot: "Their proven mission of supporting artists while supplying creative freedom is what I had been searching for inside a partner."OddLot would be a producer on "Drive" and it is in pre-production on "Ender's Game" according to Orson Scott Card's novel concerning the potential to deal with an extraterrestrial alien invasion. Gavin Hood will direct, and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will co-produce with OddLot's Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough, together with Card and Lynn Hendee. Digital Domain is another creating partner with Summit, that will release the pic in 2013.The offer was discussed by McCarthy's reps at Gersh and attorney Andrew Hurwitz of Schreck Rose by OddLot's Aaron Michiel. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Michele Bachmann's Campaign Manager Calls CBS News Producer a 'Piece of S---' Among 'Media Bias' Accusations

Bachmann Wanted and her campaign manager are accusing CBS News of "media prejudice" carrying out a CBS News producer erroneously sent an e-mail to her speaker suggesting the Republican presidential candidate would get less questions than her rivals throughout Saturday evening's debate.our editor recommendsRepublican Debate on CBS: Candidates Spar Over Foreign PolicyMitt Romney, Bachmann Desired to Boycott Univision Debate Due to Extortion Allegations'Butter': Jennifer Garner Campaigns just like a Bachmann Wanted Clone (Video) Jackie Mason States Bachmann Wanted Should Drop Her Presidential Election BidMichele Bachmann's Military Jacket Can get Wayne Newton's Election (Poll)Related Subjects•Politics Just before the controversy, a CBS worker sent an email to CBS News producer John Dickerson and Bachmann speaker Alice Stewart connected with Bachmann's participation in the publish-debate webcast, according to CNN. Dickerson was told inside the message that Stewart happen to be duplicated. PHOTOS: Best Presidents in Film and tv But Dickerson either overlooked that point or did not make sure to eliminate Stewart from his reply. He supported using this message for the worker: "OK, let's maintain it loose, though, since she's not receiving many questions and he or she's nearly in the charts wishing that individuals will get someone else.Inch Through the debate, backed by CBS and National Journal, the Minnesota congresswoman really wasn't asked for as much questions since the front-runners. "It's only sincere allowing the candidates to be capable of speak and not deliberately ahead of time decide to limit candidates' chance to talk with the U . s . states people,Inch she mentioned after it absolutely was over. "Clearly, it was a instance of media prejudice." PHOTOS: Stars Who've Carried out People in politics Bachmann's campaign manager, Keith Nahigian, was a little more blunt within the reaction. According to CNN, he "stormed using the spin room" within the Sc debate, saying: "John Dickerson needs to be fired. He's a little of shit. He's a fraud which he needs to be fired." Due to its part, CBS News mentioned the e-mail was "a candid exchange about view of the circumstances -- Bachmann remains at 4% inside the polls." Dickerson echoed that sentiment to CNN: "Bachmann reaches four percent inside the polls and contains been for a while. Other candidates aren't. I sent an e-mail based on that." PHOTOS:Bachmann Wanted as well as the Politics of favor Meanwhile, debate moderator and CBS Evening News host Scott Pelley mentioned he wasn't alert to the e-mail in regards to the chain, but he and also the co-host, National Journal's Major Garrett, tried to become fair inside the time they gave to each candidate. Related Subjects Scott Pelley CBS News Politics Bachmann Wanted

Contender: 'Midnight in Paris'

'Midnight in Paris' See the Variety reviewDespite Woodsy Allen's insoluble link with NY (together with a far more-than-implied aversion to La), the writer-director found new vitality in the lighthearted sojourn abroad this year with "Evening amount of time in Paris" -- the newest in the series lately-career photos occur our planet's most scenic urban centers.But after opening the Cannes film festival in May, "Evening time" ongoing to seduce audiences like few other Allen pic before, which can't hurt its chances inside the pointing, original script and perhaps even performance groups. Set one of the literary Paris in the '20s, time-traveling fantasy charmed professionals, while word-of-mouth saved it in theaters with the summer season, making "Evening time" Allen's finest hit ever. (Getting an international cume more than $128 million, it positively dwarfs the closest Allen film, "Hannah and her Brothers and sisters." It's also remade its budget three occasions.)The director is really a regular title round the Oscar ballot since "Annie Hall" needed 1977's best picture, author and director honours, but, in the 18 nominations he's received since, really the only other time he won was for writing "Hannah" -- two-and-a-half decades ago.Once the Academy is hesitant to fete Allen themselves, acknowledging Corey Stoll's turn as Ernest Hemingway might be another way of recognizing a movie that has resuscitated the helmer's career.Release date: June 10 The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics See the Variety review Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Jason Statham Doesn't Play It 'Safe' In New Trailer

In Jason Statham's upcoming film "Safe," he's finally found a girl worth fighting for. Except, in this case, she's only 12 years old. The "Transporter" star plays a former NY cop who gets caught in a tricky situation when he spots some men attempting to capture a young girl in a subway station. After incapacitating them and rescuing the girl (could this technically be kidnapping? I guess we'll find out in the movie), he discovers that the reason the men are after her is because she has the ability to memorize anything placed in front of her, and this time she memorized something pretty darn important. The series of numbers she was forced to remember are a code, but a code for what? Apparently it's for something important enough to go to war over. Statham definitely seems in his element in "Safe," which hits theaters March 2. Kicking butt, taking names and being the all-around perfect action hero is just another day in the life of the British actor, who is currently filming "The Expendables 2." But it's nice that "Safe" will also showcase Statham's sentimental side, as he definitely ends up having a strong emotional connection with the young girl he has taken on as his ward. Arguably the best moment in the trailer comes at the end, when Statham admits to the gentleman standing next to him that he never knows "what to say in these moments." "What moments?" the man asks. "The ones before I kill someone," Statham replies, and then flies at the camera with guns blazing. He might play pretty much the same character in every action movie he stars in, but Statham is certainly an actor we love to watch on the big screen. What did you think of the "Safe" trailer? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Disney Beats Fiscal 4Q Estimates With Strong Results At ESPN And Theme Parks

The company reportednet income of $1.1B, up 30% vs the period last year, on revenues of $10.43B, up 7%. That comfortably beat Street forecasts for revenues of $10.36B. Earnings, at 58 cents a share, also topped predictions of 54 cents — and without one-time charges would have hit 59 cents. Disney’s cable channels led the charge with revenues up 9% to $4.8B and a 20% hike in operating profits to $1.46B. The company says that ESPN and the overseas channels led the way with higher affiliate fees and international ad growth — although the sports channel was hurt by rising costs for programming and marketing and a ratings drop from the loss of the FIFA World Cup. The networks figures include the ABC broadcast operation, where revenues were up 4% to $1.33B with a 37% increase in operating income to $201M. Although it didn’t have political ads, the unit benefitted from higher ad rates — partly due to an uptick in ratings for news and sports — and lower programming costs. The company says that scatter prices are 25% ahead of the upfront market. At the theme parks, attendance was up 1% but spending was up 9% due to price increases. That led to a revenue increase of 11% to $3.13B with operating income rising 33% to $421M. The company says that consumer spending was up — especially new guest offerings at Disney California Adventure and at the Disney Cruise Line,although sales were down at the Disney Vacation Club. The studio had mixed results with revenues down 8% to $1.46B and operating income up 13% to $117M. Home entertainment sales were down andCars 2 was no match for last year’s Toy Story 3 — but last year’s results included a $100M writedown from the closing of Robert Zemeckis’film studio in Northern California.

New funds support P&A

The independent sector is finally finding help to cover the marketing expenses of theatrical releases. On Friday, Endgame Entertainment revealed a prints and advertising fund worth $400 million-$500 million for that discharge of films for example helmer Rian Johnson's "Looper." Meanwhile, Patrician Resource Management just guaranteed its first investment from the non-U.S. institutional investor because of its varied film financing fund. Endgame Delivering, the new P&A fund, adds a basis of equity augmented with a turning senior debt facility from Comerica and Union Bank -- two cornerstones of lending towards the independent sector -- as well as mezzanine debt from London-based Octopus Opportunities. "There's versatility included in this structure," stated Endgame Entertainment leader Douglas Hansen. Endgame Delivering will concentrate on theatrical releases reaching a minimum of 1,800 domestic screens by having to pay their $20 million-plus theatrical marketing campaigns. The wide-release can also be went after by established P&A bankers Clarius Capital and Qualia Capital. "It's safer for all of us to invest $$ 30 million than $20 million," stated William Sadleir of Clarius. "That could appear counterproductive. A lot of producers say, 'How inexpensively can one understand this film available?' however the film fails." Amir Malin, controlling partner at varied media financier Qualia Capital, which provided P&A for The new sony Pictures' "Planet 51," stated, "The amount of distribution expires however the commercial stability is lower. The majority of the distribution we're seeing don't merit a viable commercial release." At Patrician Resource Management, Hollywood marketing executive and senior portfolio manager David Forbes stated that P&A is most effective when there is a slate of films, so risk is not concentrated in a single or simply a couple of movies. P&A, though needed, is usually difficult to find since it is structured because the last money place in and first money compensated from theatrical rental fees, video and possibly other ancillary revenue in the same film. The erosion of video revenue upended P&A recoupment information. "To gain access to money today, you need a really strong foreign sales component and ancillaries in position (video and TV deals) to exhibit the revenue returning, even when the film will get only limited exposure within the U.S.," stated Mark Borde, who's co-leader of Freestyle Delivering, which supplies theatrical distribution for films supplying marketing costs. As the theatrical pipeline is less clogged with less releases, effectively marketing more compact game titles remains an costly challenge. "There is an excuse for P&A funding," stated Clark Hallren, controlling partner at Obvious Scope Partners, a Rizvi Traverse media financer putting together a P&A fund. Small independents searching for one-picture P&A deals are frequently left to solicit wealthy people. "There's very little P&A money available for indie films," stated John Flock, Boss of W2 Media. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Sierra/Affinity sells 'Europa' to 12 buyers

LONDON -- Nick Meyer's Sierra/Affinity is off to a brisk sales start at the American Film Market this year having inked 12 international territory deals for Sebastian Cordero's "Europa."Pic has sold to Oz and New Zealand (Hopscotch), Gaul (Metropolitan Filmexport), Germany and Switzerland (Ascot Elite), South Africa (Ster Kinekor Entertainment), India (Tanweer) and the Middle East (Eagle Films). Title also sold to South Korea (Noori Pictures), Indonesia (PT Amero Mitra Film), Israel (United King Video) and Thailand (Media Film International). "Europa" toplines Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Daniel Wu, Anamaria Marinca, Christian Camargo and Karolina Wydra, and is penned by Philip Gelatt. Story follows a group of astronauts who are sent on a private mission to Jupiter's fourth moon. Misher Films' Kevin Misher and Wayfare Entertainment's Ben Browning will both produce. Pic is skedded to lense Nov. 7 in NY. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com