Woody Allen Joins Fading Gigolo

Co-starring with John TurturroIt's very rare these days that Woody Allen turns out as an actor in a film he isn't directing. So John Turturro must be feeling very privileged (or very pleased with his powers of persuasion) that Allen has agreed to appear in Fading Gigolo.Turturro wrote, and will direct and star in the film, which sees him playing the titular escort, with Allen as his pimp. No, really! According to Variety's synopsis, the pair are "cash-strapped best friends" who decide the gigolo business is their way forward, but attract the ire of their local Hasidic Jewish community in the process. They operate under the pseudonyms Virgil and Bongo, and there's a further complication when Turturro falls in love with a Jewish widow.That's "Virgil" and "Bongo".The widow hasn't been cast yet, but Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara are both confirmed for unspecified supporting roles.Allen's last major role in someone else's film was in Alfonso Arau's Picking Up The Pieces 12 years ago. Before that (not including the animationAntz, where he voiced the main character, co-starring with Sylvester Stallone) you have to go back to Paul Mazursky's 1991 Scenes From A Mall. But if he's only taking one unfettered acting gig per decade, we have to applaud him for choosing Fading Gigolo. It's sounding like mad genius to us.Shooting starts in April, and we'll next see Allen on-screen in his own Nero Fiddled (previously The Bop Decameron). That one's out in the US on June 22, and will hopefully reach the UK at around the same time.

'Horror Story' thesp Farmiga lands 2 roles

FarmigaWith "American Horror Story" behind her, Taissa Farmiga goes bigscreen, getting leading roles in Sofia Coppola's "Jewellery Ring" as well as the indie "Jamesy Boy." In "Jewellery Ring," Farmiga joins Emma Watson -- whose casting Variety first reported Wednesday -- just like a teen mixed up in true celebrity burglary ring story that Coppola is helming and writing. Coppola and her brother Roman will produce with Youree Henley. "Jamesy Boy" also stars Spencer Lofranco and you'll be written and helmed by Trevor White-colored. Story involves a young guy who ranges from suburban street gang with a maximum-security prison, where he's mentored having a billed killer. Farmiga plays the main character's love interest. Tim White-colored, Maria Norman, Steve Saeta, Galen Master, Scott Mednick are coming up with. Wayne Rogers and Bonnie Timmermann are professional produing. Plan's for Farmiga to shoot "James Boy" first and stick to it tabs on "Jewellery Ring." She carried out the daughter on "American Horror Story," that's recasting most primary players due to its soph season. Farmiga, the greater youthful sister of Vera Farmiga, is repped by ICM and Authentic Literary and Talent Management. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

PHOTO GALLERY: Oscar Parties

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'The Help,' 'Modern Family' top Publicists Awards

The publicity teams behind "The Help" and "Modern Family" received top film and TV honors at the International Cinematographer's Guild 49th annual Publicists Awards Friday."Harry Potter" franchise producer David Heyman and CBS' David Stapf received Showmanship Awards in the film and TV categories.Australian talk show star and "Tonight Show" regular Rove McManus emceed the luncheon.The annual gathering of the guild filled the international ballroom of the Beverly Hilton and gave behind-the-scenes publicists a chance to bask in the spotlight of their peers.But the event wasn't without its share of above-the-line star power.The Lifetime Achievement Award went to TV comedienne Carol Burnett, who received the honor from ICG president Steven Poster.Julie Andrews and Jodie Foster were on hand to dedicate the 2012 ICG Publicist Directory to longtime Disney publicist Arlene Ludwig in celebration of her 50th anniversary at the studio.Veteran publicist and awards strategist Tony Angellotti, who led the Oscar campaign charge for Universal's "Bridesmaids," earned the Les Mason Award, the highest honor publicists give to their peers.Other honorees include Press Award winner Susan King of the Los Angeles Times; International Media Award winner Elaine Lipworth of the United Kingdom; Excellence in Unit Still Photography Award recipients Frank Masi (film) and Hopper Stone (TV); and Warner Bros. publicist Sharon Black, who received the Bob Yeager Award in recognition of her work on behalf of animals. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Skyfall First Mission Impossible Film Hitting IMAX

La Feb 23, 2012 IMAX Corporation (New york stock exchange:IMAX TSX:IMX), Albert R. Broccolis EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Galleries, and The new sony Pictures Entertainment today introduced the lengthy-looked forward to next chapter within the famous Mission Impossible franchise, SKYFALL, is going to be launched in IMAX cinemas concurrently using the film’s worldwide release on March. 26, and it is domestic release on November. 9, 2012. This is actually the first IMAX installment from the legendary Bond film franchise. In SKYFALL, Bonds loyalty to M is examined as her past returns to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must find and destroy the threat, regardless of how personal the price. SKYFALL marks the return of Difficulties as Ian Flemings Mission Impossible 007, in addition to Judi Dench reprising her role as M. The film also stars franchise beginners Rob Fiennes, Javier Bardem and Naomie Harris. The film is directed by Mike Mendes from the script compiled by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are producers. SKYFALL would be the awesome, must-see event discharge of the autumn, and delivering the film in IMAX only stands for that, stated Rory Bruer, Leader, Worldwide Distribution for The new sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution. It's fitting by using SKYFALL marking the 50th Anniversary from the Mission Impossible franchise, we celebrate in epic style and what is more bigger-than-existence than IMAX joining the festivities, stated Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairman and Leader Officials of MGM. It's an recognition along with a privilege to take part in this legendary franchise, whose legendary figures and electrifying action are only increased within the IMAX format, stated Greg Promote, Chairman and Leader, IMAX Shot Entertainment. We're excited to rejoin forces with this buddies at The new sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM and thus pleased to utilize Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, and Mike Mendes to create their vision to IMAX and Bond fans all over the world. The IMAX discharge of SKYFALL is going to be electronically re-mastered in to the image and seem excellence of the IMAX Knowledge about proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-learning) technology. The very-obvious images combined with IMAX’s personalized theatre geometry and effective digital audio produce a unique atmosphere that can make audiences feel like they're within the movie.

How The Hunger Games Brought a Web Windfall to the World's Tiniest Island Community

Next month brings the launch of The Hunger Games, one of the most-anticipated releases of the 2012 calendar and the first installment of a hopeful franchise based on Suzanne Collins's bestselling young-adult adventure trilogy. In selling their film, studio execs at Lionsgate have ramped up all manner of marketing to immerse fans in the experience - and, in doing so, have made the least-populated jursdiction on the planet a financial beneficiary. The Hunger Games series features teenaged heroine Katniss Everdeen and concerns a North America remade into a dystopian dictatorship, renamed Panem and ruled by the governing body called The Capitol. As Lionsgate has expanded its promotional campaign, a wide array of affiliated websites has sprung up in an effort to make Panem as real as possible, many of those bearing obscure web addresses (e.g. www.Capitol.pn) to imply that the sites originate in the nation depicted in the film. This unique designation is not a studio fabrication, however. The .pn modifier is the domain offered up by the very real government of the Pitcairn Islands, a collection of four land masses comprising 18 square miles in the middle of the southern Pacific Ocean. This British territory rests over a thousand miles west of Easter Island and just as far east of Tahiti. So how did Pitcairn, with barely over 50 residents and intermittent electrical services, become the Internet home of a major Hollywood franchise? It's a happy coincidence," Bill Haigh, governmental registrar for the islands domain offices, told me in an e-mail correspondence. Lionsgate have found .pn useful to them, and it has been helpful for bringing benefit to the island." As the movie studio looked into creating an online presence for the film's fictional nation, a functional domain was already in place. The Pitcairn government offers up these domains primarily for corporations to establish and/or protect their brand, and Haigh explained that the proceeds go a long way toward the islands' infrastructural upkeep. "The sale of domain names is of great benefit to the 50 or so inhabitants of Pitcairn Island," he said, "because revenue thus gathered is used to bring modern telecommunications to this extremely remote spot on the globe via satellite. This is quite an expensive process. And it is not only for telecommunications but generally for supply shipping, children's education, medical care etc." The result is that The Hunger Games has become a boon for this tiny territory, one that lacks a movie theater and receives but two cable channels - CNN and Turner Classic Movies. While Haigh declined to divulge the number of Web addresses purchased by the studio (Lionsgate reps did not respond to requests for comment), he did direct me to an online registry where one can inquire about the availability and ownership of various selections. Along with already established Capitol.pn, and CapitolCouture.pn, there are registrations for Panem's various districts (District1.pn, through District13.pn), and each of the main characters have their own addresses (e.g. PresidentSnow.pn). Ultimately it's impossible to deduce exactly how many Hunger Games characters, phrases and permutations thereof have staked a .pn claim. After browsing the registry for a while, however, it seems safe to assume that Lionsgate may have vastly more addresses collected than there are Pitcairn residents. And based on the fee of $100 NZ (appx. $75 US) per registered address, Hunger brings in revenues well into the thousands of dollars - a tidy supplement to the islands' steady tourism business. As geographically remote as the Pitcairn Islands are, this Hunger Games dalliance does not make for their sole involvement with Hollywood. Most of the surnames found on the island are shared by characters from the oft-adapted novel Mutiny on The Bounty; the book and numerous films are based on historical events that occurred on and around Pitcairn. For this reason cruise ships are a common sight in Bounty Bay, where visitors will find the outpost isle's own capitol. However, as much of a windfall as Hunger Games may prove for the islands, it is doubtful Everdeen will appear anytime soon in the area phone books. Read Movieline's full Hunger Games coverage here. Brad Slager has written about movies and entertainment for Film Threat, Mediaite, and is a columnist at CHUD.com. His less insightful impressions on entertainment can be found on Twitter.

Academy awards 2012: Why 'Shame' Deserved A Best Picture Jerk

Nine films are nominated for the best Picture in the Oscars this season, pleading the question: who deserved a tenth just right that list? Academy awards 2012: 10 Place solutions that question, because the MTV Movies team highlights a number of 2011's finest films and argues why they deserved a jerk because the tenth Best Picture nominee. Allows understand this taken care of at this time: Yes, Shame is definitely The Main One Using The Penis Michael Fassbenders, more specifically. Nevertheless, it might be unfortunate (no pun intended) if thats all of this remarkable film is appreciated for. For many understanding of why Shame wasnt nominated for any Best Picture Oscar, we ought to discuss what this movie isn't: It is not a household film (see above re: The Main One Using The Penis). This movie is 100 % adult-oriented. You will find no brave horses, charming puppies or precocious kids in Shame. You will find only grown-ups doing very grown-up things. It is not populated by likeable figures. The brothers and sisters performed by Fassbender and Carey Mulligan are two seriously broken, dysfunctional individuals who sometimes behave horribly to one another. No heroes or heroines, no hearts of gold just folks discomfort who are attempting to cope with your day. It is not a period of time piece. Shame happens within the here (NY City) and today. The town isn't romanticized or disinfected its portrayed like a real place where real people live these days, coping with real issues. It is not a simple film to look at. Sure, theres lots of flesh displayed, however the sex moments aren't what youd call sexy. Fassbenders Brandon is really a sex addict. There is no love or affection given or drawn in these moments. And theres several pretty nasty, heartbreaking stuff thanks to Mulligans Sissy. Fascinating and interesting, yes. Sweet and beneficial? Certainly not. In a nutshell, "Shame" isn't Oscar bait. Steve McQueens drama is unconventional, raw, dangerous and current. In a perfect motion picture world these characteristics could be recognized and compensated. Alas, Oscar does not live for the reason that world quite yet. Maybe eventually theyll understand it properly. The MTV Movies team has got the 2012 Academy awards covered! Stick to us for all you need to know prior to the honours show, as well as on Sunday, Feb 25, tune into MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. ET for the three-hour red-colored-carpet live stream and updates around the night's large those who win.