Dr. Conrad Murray Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison For Michael Jackson's Death

Getty ImagesFelicity Jones The 21st annual Gotham Independent Film Awards took place Monday night at NY's historic Cipriani Wall Street restaurant. As I cautioned when the Independent Filmmaker Project announced this year's nominees, there is little reason to believe that the results at the Gothams have any direct impact on the Oscar race -- sometimes both organizations happen to arrive at the same choice (see: The Hurt Locker), but the reality is that Gotham nods and wins are really a reflection of nothing more than the tastes of the five-person "committees" that are arbitrarily selected and assigned to the various categories by the IFP (some members of which have never worked on a film), whereas Oscar nods and wins are determined by thousands of people (virtually all of whom are filmmakers). Still, studios and talent whose work was recognized Monday night were unanimously exuberant, if only because it can't hurt to get a moment in the spotlight in front of a crowd packed with colleagues and journalists, to say nothing of the free print and online publicity that is afforded to the winners in the form of news coverage.our editor recommendsThe Scene: Inside the 21st Annual Gotham AwardsGotham Awards 2011: The Red Carpet ArrivalsGotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best FeatureDo Gotham Awards Nominations Actually Impact Oscar Race? (Analysis)Gotham Awards 2011: Honorees Charlize Theron, Gary Oldman Reveal the Inspiration Behind Their Work PHOTOS: Gotham Awards 2011 Red Carpet Arrivals That being stipulated, what/who was perceived to have gotten a bounce last night? And what/who was perceived to have taken a hit? Here's my take... Focus Features is justifiably feeling over the moon about their night. They went 3-for-3 in competitive categories, none of which they were expected to win: Beginners, which has been regarded as a long-shot contender for best picture and best original screenplay Oscar nods, beat The Descendants, among other high-profile films, to win both of the top two categories, best feature (it tied with The Tree of Life) and best ensemble, and Pariah filmmaker Dee Rees topped several bigger names to win best breakthrough director. Moreover, they got a cherry on their cake, as Gary Oldman, who is on the bubble in the best actor race for his understated performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, was the subject of a glowing tribute from Alec Baldwin, a great montage of his life's work and the night's only standing ovation afforded to an individual. STORY: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best Feature at Gotham Awards Paramount is pretty happy right now, as well. They have been campaigning aggressively on behalf of Charlize Theron (Young Adult) and Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), both of whom they'd like to sneak into the competitive best actress race, and their efforts got a big boost last night thanks to Theron's tribute (during which she and her co-star/best supporting actor hopeful Patton Oswalt stole the show) and Jones' somewhat surprising win over two other young women who have been seen as likelier bets for Oscar nods, including one of whom is competing in the same category: Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene). Fox Searchlight likely has mixed emotions. The Descendants and Martha Marcy May Marlene, which led the entire field with three nods each -- including the big two, best feature and best ensemble -- both went home empty-handed. However, their night was somewhat salvaged when The Tree of Life, their tough-sell best picture Oscar hopeful, won best feature (it tied with Beginners). Complete List of Gotham Awards Winners Roadside Attractions has to feel a little disappointed with the way things turned out for their films. IFP first denied Albert Nobbs any nominations, and then denied Margin Call -- a red-hot film at the moment -- a win in the one category in which it was nominated and really fit the bill: best ensemble. As great a film as the category's winner Beginners is, it's primarily a four-person flick (Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent, Christopher Plummerand Goran Visnjic), whereas its hard to even keep count of all of the impressive moving pieces in Margin Call (Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Penn Badgley, Mary McDonnelland the list goes on). Sony Pictures Classics can't be thrilled about its showing. While David Cronenberg, who directed its film A Dangerous Method, was the subject of a nice tribute, Take Shelter, its stronger Oscar contender -- which is thought to be on-the-bubble for best actor (Michael Shannon) and best original screenplay (Jeff Nichols) -- was shut out after scoring nods in the top two categories, best feature and best ensemble. STORY: The Scene Inside the 2011 Gotham Awards Oscilloscope is a small and young enough studio that it was probably happy just to have a ticket to the party. The fact that Meek's Cutoff came up short for best feature and Evan Glodell (Bellflower) didn't win best breakthrough director can't have knocked anyone's socks off. The Weinstein Co. had its Gotham hopes dashed long before Monday night -- oddly enough, its films weren't rewarded with so much as a single nomination! PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Gotham Awards 2011: The Red Carpet Arrivals Gotham Awards Alec Baldwin Charlize Theron David Cronenberg Patton Oswalt The Tree of Life Like Crazy Martha Marcy May Marlene Elizabeth Olsen Beginners The Descendants Felicity Jones

ON THE BRINK: Online Soap Opera Network May Fold, Spelling The End Of OLTL, AMC

EXCLUSIVE: This is potential very bad news for soap fans who feel thankful this Thanksgiving that canceled ABC series One Life To Live and All My Children may continue online. That now may not be happening. It was considered a bold and risky move when Rich Frank &Jeff Kwatinetzs Prospect Park in July made a licensing deal with ABC to keep OLTL and AMC alive for online distribution. The transfer from broadcast TV to the Web proved far more difficult than anyone anticipated. I hear that Prospect Park self-financed extensive research and its principals held hundreds of meetings with potential investors for their Online Network, which was originally slated to launch in the first quarter of 2012. (The latest plan has been for Once Life To Live to go on first, with All My Children put on hold.) In a sign of potential hurdles, Prospect Park in late July issued a statement that it was “in the process of working out the essential terms of our proposed collective bargaining agreements with the appropriate guilds and unions, which we must do prior to firming up deals with above- and below-the-line talent.” I hear that those negotiations proved difficult, mostly because there is no existing template for a broadcast program transitioning online. Word is that the guilds have been looking to hold OLTL and AMC to broadcast terms, which is somewhat understandable as the Prospect Park-ABC deal calls for the two series to continue to be delivered with the same quality andin the same format and length. But shows produced on broadcast terms are impossible to support with online vs. TV advertising. (ABC, which makes extra money on its soaps from off-network sales to SoapNet and foreign territories, claimed it was still losing money on OLTL and AMC, leading to their cancellation.) To make the target launch date, the soap writers hired by Prospect Park were supposed to start work earlier this month but they haven’t as there is no deal with the WGA. And all pacts with actors from OLTL and AMC that Prospect Park made over the past few months were contingent on clearances by the unions. Additionally, I’ve learned of potential issues with the online network’s tech partners. I hear that Prospect Park principals are still trying to find a last-minute solution to keep the soap online venture going but feel pressed into a corner after exhausting every possible avenue and may decide to pull the plug as soon as today.

Bollywood's Yash Raj to Hollywood

Prolific Bollywood producer Yash Raj Films has opened up up an outpost in Hollywood referred to as YRF Entertainment. Uday Chopra, boy of Yash Chopra and brother of Aditya ("Dilwale dulhaniya le jayenge"), will mind the business, and Jonathan Reiman will mind up development and production. The La-based shingle will produce and finance British-language photos for your U.S. and overseas market. "My family members features a deep persistence for making and disseminating quality films that entertain and enlighten audiences," Uday Chopra mentioned. "I share that passion, additionally to some passion for American films that I have had since childhood. It's that enthusiasm and my adoration for the creative process of filmmaking that drove me to do this startup company.Inch First around the docket is Jason Bateman starrer "A Lengthy Week." Written and directed by Peter Glanz, pic also stars Olivia Wilde and Billy Crudup. Following a original financier dropped the pic, Chopra met with Glanz and producer Neda Armian and very soon acquired the rights. "Week" centers around a man-child (Bateman) who lives along with his wealthy parents until he out of the blue finds themselves started out and disinherited. Wilde plays the love interest. Pic is shooting in NY. YRF intends to setup a slate of films that it's going to develop by yourself, beginning by getting an untitled action-comedy by Serta Ewen ("Opposites Attract") about two twentysomethings who synergy after running using their hick metropolitan areas. Contact Shalini Dore at shali.dore@variety.com

Idina Menzel on Being a parent, Being Pigeonholed and Her PBS TV Special

TORONTO - Stage and screen star Idina Menzel has came from the role from the eco-friendly-skinned Elphaba in "Wicked" and Maureen in "Rent."And also the Broadway belter includes a recurring guest star role as Rachel's biological mother on Fox's "Glee."But nothing even compares to when Menzel and husband and "Private Practice" star Taye Diggs were built with a baby boy, Master Diggs."In my experience, it had been a present to possess this intense fascination with someone who I'd never felt before, for a kid, which makes you are feeling much better than other things you have done,Inch Menzel stated backstage after carrying out over two nights to have an approaching PBS TV special recorded in Toronto in the Royal Conservatory of Music's Koerner Hall.She described being a parent has transformed her from the gifted, yet self-absorbed artist bedeviled by doubts to taking pleasure in first-time fulfillment."Since I'd my boy, I've much more of just one cup half-full perspective on existence he (Master) has given me," Menzel stated having a broad smile."Basically messed up a higher note, Time passes simpler on myself," she added, knowing like a mother she's an infant boy home who loves her.Menzel marked another milestone in Toronto, using the Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra and legendary maestro Marvin Hamlisch via a medley of hit tunes from "Glee," "Wicked" and "Rent," and tales from the career that required her from the wedding singer in New York, NY to arousing bravos on Broadway and screen looks.For Menzel, an initial-time TV special is all about showing fans that connect her success with role-playing that she's far not only a Belle of Broadway by having an acting bug."Everybody really wants to pigeon-hole you, during my situation like a eco-friendly witch for Wicked or perhaps a rock singer for rental," she stated."This (PBS special) provides you with an chance to become myself and become genuine and also to show a large spectrum of talents," Menzel added.That proposition is going to be examined in no time as Menzel's PBS TV special to air in March 2012 is going to be then an active album along with a DVD release.The opportunity to be herself also follows Menzel and Hamlisch sprucing up her one-lady concert show carried out with a number of orchestras within the U.S. and also at Royal Albert Hall working in london, England.Her solo amounts are connected with set-up tales that recall being relayed through a bandleader to continue singing throughout a marriage gig like a guy had heart disease around the party area "since the band always plays on, like it is the Titanic," or embarrassing herself in college by singing Cole Porter's "Love Available" to thrill an instructor she'd a crush on who switched to be gay.She also informs, and colorfully embellishes, a tale about being overlooked in a dining room table by Barbara Streisand after she carried out on her in a Kennedy Center Honors concert, simply to learn in the finish from the meal the Broadway legend didn't remember her glasses and did not write out Menzel carrying out on stage.Menzel also spoke of meeting Taye Diggs in 1996 around the Broadway group of Rent "Did a tad too much teasing back-stage, guess what happens I am talking about ladies?" as well as landing a recurring role on "Glee" after questioning she'd find yourself getting work again after being pregnant.InchI had been getting an infant, I had been really body fat and that i obtain a script for 'Glee,'" she remembered prior to the Gleeks within the Toronto audience exploded with cheers on her rendition of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face.""I believe you need to be vulnerable and intimate by having an audience," Menzel states backstage as round her the PBS production crew packed up for that morning flight home over the border.As though to underline that time, Menzel for the finish of her PBS special walked towards the front from the acoustically perfect Koerner Hall stage, dropped her microphone, and filled the quiet hall by having an a cappella version of "Permanently" from Wicked."'For Good,' that's my personal favorite area of the show. It's removed lower, there is no orchestra you are able to hide behind," she described. The Hollywood Reporter

Fox fights for primetime auds

Fox and also the Ufc are betting that mma is prepared for primetime.The bell rang November. 12 around the to begin four title matches which will air on Fox four occasions annually in primetime or latenight -- a match pitting protecting champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos inside a 9 p.m. ET slot. However the full deal does not start working until The month of january, a pact that places UFC programming across other Fox platforms for example Forex, Fuel TV and Fox Sports Internet. Six title matches and also the series "Ufc's Ultimate FigherInch will operate on Forex.The seven-year cope with Fox might find UFC tugging a reported $90 million annually on television privileges costs. Although that's a small fraction of the billions that baseball, football, hockey and basketball pull for broadcast privileges, the figure dwarfs the $35 million in annual privileges costs UFC wwas getting via its agreement with Spike TV.The move by UFC to Fox changes it from a pay-per-view model, which shipped a per-event return of $ten million to $15 million in revenues, based on the SportsBusiness Daily."Whenever you consider how large UFC has become within the last ten years, we have never been in a sports network. We are ready for primetime," states UFC leader Dana Whitened.UFC sees the offer with Fox in an effort to keep growing its core 18-to-34-year-old demo, while trying right into a larger spectrum of recent fans.To boost rankings, Fox used huge rotation of promotions on UFC on Fox, including regular spots throughout National football league, Dale earnhardt jr . and October's World Series. Fox Sports Media Group chair David Hill states that UFC on Fox will be presented exactly the same marketing weight as other programming inside the group.Fox will continue using UFC for production, but because of the jump to broadcast television for that major title fights, more background is going to be agreed to fans not formerly uncovered towards the sport. Whitened added that you will see more "storytelling" and explanation of methods the activity works than pay-per-view broadcasts have experienced.The November. 12 hoopla incorporated a 2-hour preview and red-colored carpet special on News Corp.-possessed Fuel TV prior to the bout, co-located by Jay Glazer and Kenny Florian, by having an eye toward reaching to new fans to UFC programming. Fox Deportes transported a The spanish language feed, with a lot more exposure on Fox Sports Radio and FoxSports.com. Fuel TV broadcast live weigh-inches yesterday the bout, in addition to a publish-fight special.The dimensions and scope from the multiplatform cope with a league is unusual, and can call to deal with the oversight talents of Fox Sports co-leader Eric Shanks and Fuel TV gm George Greenberg. "There is no manual," notes Hill. "We are finding our way."If you will find are still still concerns concerning the violent character of MMA visiting broadcast television, Fox and UFC performed it lower."I do not think you will see any backlash whatsoever. Personally i think the dramatic development of the activity, with America, but all over the world, has moved UFC from the niche to some mainstream sport, and that's why i was so pleased to utilize them," states Hill.Requested if any parental discretion advisory alerts may be presented, the Fox professional quips, "Yes. We'll tell audiences not to do this in your own home.Inch Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Harry Potter, Glee Lead People Choice Honours Nominations

Jum Michele, Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter may be over, nevertheless the gang at Hogwarts is not heading lower without any fight. The eighth and final installment in the series, Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, remains nominated for nine People Choice Honours, including favorite movie, favorite movie actor and favorite ensemble movie cast. With no Twilight film qualified for nomination, due to stop dates, the boy wizard will need on Bridesmaids, The Help, Pirates in the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Transformers: Dark in the Moon inside the favorite movie category. Daniel Radcliffe will get ready for fight with Twilight star Rachelle Lefervre inside the favorite movie actor category. Radcliffe and Pattinson, who's up for his be employed in Water for Tigers, may even deal with Hugh Jackman, The Actor-kaira Pitt and Ryan Reynolds inside the category. Round the TV aspect, Glee showed up in this area on top with seven nominations, including favorite network TV comedy and dual nods in the widely used TV comedy actor (Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith) and actress groups (Jum Michele and Jane Lynch). Glee will face The Big Bang Theory, The Way In Which I Met Your Mother, Modern Family and two and a half Males inside the comedy category. The Vampire Journals introduced the drama nominations with four, rising in the Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, House and Supernatural inside the favorite network TV drama category. Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev also acquired nominations for drama actor and actress, correspondingly. Have a look in a complete report on the nominees here.

'Monsieur Lazhar' heads to Japan

Quebecois scribe-helmer Philippe Falardeau's drama hit "Monsieur Lazhar" has been acquired by New Select and Zazie Films for distribution in Japan.Repped by Gallic shingle Films Distribution, "Lazhar" is Canada's candidate in the Oscar foreign-lingo race. Pic has been critically acclaimed and nabbed festival prizes, such as Toronto Film Festival's best Canadian feature award; and it picked up two nods at Locarno: Variety Piazza Grande award and UBS audience kudo."Lazhar" has also had a successful run at the Quebecois B.O. since being released on 28 prints on Oct. 28, grossing $247,225 in three days.Based on Evelyne de la Cheneliere's play, "Lazhar" follows the journey of a middle-aged Algerian immigrant who becomes teacher in a Montreal elementary school to replace a professor who has committed suicide.Pic was produced by Micro Scope, the outfit behind Denis Villeneuve's "Incendies," which was released in more than 30 territories."Monsieur Lazhar" has been acquired in France's UGC and the U.S.'s Music Box.The deal to Japan was brokered by Nicolas Brigaud-Robert from Films Distribution and Shoko O'Donnel for New Select and Zazie Films. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Excusive Poster Debut: Fly Into the Abyss With Werner Herzog

Movieline is pleased today to bring you your first look at the new poster for Into the Abyss, director Werner Herzog’s acclaimed documentary foray into the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and legal wilds of capital punishment in America. Or Texas, more specifically, where Herzog digs into the case of convicted murderer and condemned inmate Michael Perry. Abyss opened this week’s DOC NYC festival in NY after successful debuts in Telluride, Toronto, and London; the film makes its way to limited theatrical release next Friday, Nov. 11. Drop back by next week for a review and our latest chat with Herzog, and in the meantime, check out the striking new one-sheet below. Bonus: Check out the trailer as well below that. [Click image for bigger poster.]

Amanda Seyfried Cast As Linda Lovelace

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