PHOTO GALLERY: Oscar Parties

Duncan Stewart, director of casting at National Artists Management Company, talks about opening every submission and what he wants to see in a headshot.; casting; Duncan Stewart; headshot; NY city; open submissions; Duncan Steward, director of casting, talks about what he wants from an actor in a general meeting, mainly truth, likability, and lack of ego.; advice; casting; Duncan Stewart; NY city; tips; Duncan Stewart, director of casting, talks about what he expects from an audition and common mistakes actors make.; advice; auditions; casting; Duncan Stewart; NY city; Alaine Alldaffer breaks down the real role of a casting direcor.; Alaine Alldaffer; casting; casting director; Grey Gardens; play; stage; theater; Casting director Alaine Alldaffer talks about casting "Saved" and all the misconceptions about being an actor in NY City.; Alaine Alldaffer; casting director; NYC theatre; play; saved; NY casting director Bernie Telsey describes what actors need to know before walking into an audition. (Part 1 of 2) ; Bernie Telsey; casting director; We spoke with casting director Mark Teschner about working on soap operas. (Part 1 of 3) ; General Hospital; Mark Teschner; soap opera; NY casting director Bernie Telsey describes how to give your best audition. (Part 2 of 2) ; Bernie Telsey; casting director; We spoke with casting director Mark Teschner about working on soap operas. Need only beautiful people apply? (Part 2 of 3) ; General Hospital; Mark Teshner; soap opera; We spoke with casting director Mark Teschner about auditioning for soap operas. (Part 3 of 3) ; General Hospital; Mark Teschner; soap opera; Videos for the Back Stage News & Features section.

'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.

Will Sacha Baron Cohens The Dictator Character Walk The Oscar Red-colored-colored Carpet?

BREAKING: The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is anxious that, on Sunday, Sacha Baron Cohen may come for the Oscars and walk the Red-colored-colored Carpet. While ordinarily that could be fine since he’s a sizable worldwide star, the Academy is dismayed he’ll come fitted since the title character within the approaching Vital comedy The Dictator. That proposal remains sailed while using Academy, which i’m told that everyone mixed up in ceremony is adamantly against it for that reason it comprises a mockery from the products Hollywood sights its most exclusive event. An Oscars representative values the gossips but isn’t certain that it’s really likely to occur. Mentioned the representative: “We would hope that every studio sees that this is often a bad idea. The Red-colored-colored Carpet is not about stunting.” I’ve heard his plan's later on fitted since the Dictator after which it be a tuxedo and attend the Oscars. He’s not scheduled to supply an award, but he could certainlyarrive incorporated within the Vital contingent. That studio features a Best Picture nominee inside the Martin Scorsese-directed Hugo. Why the subterfuge?Because at 2007′s Oscars,Baron Cohen was asked for to become presenter and mentioned he'd take action only if they're in character as Borat. As Well As The Forces That Be mentioned, “No way.” But purists think that the Oscars is not any place for such within your face promotion. The Academy hasn’t even allowed movies being promoted through the Oscarcast, until this year. Even though it will certainly be interesting to hear his answer when the Red-colored-colored Carpet’s TV hosts request who he’s wearing, Baron Cohen might be exceeding anticipation. However, since the alteration of producers is created, these Oscars are actually incredibly sedate. The options of Baron Cohen’s Red-colored-colored Carpet walk might be the closest step to drama I’ve discovered this show. This would not be Baron Cohen’s first-time upstaging an honours show. To market Bruno, he travelled using the air within the MTV Movie Honours and showed up along with his crotch when faced with Eminem, who later recognized the stunt was practiced. Together with a trailer for your Dictator it had been one of the raciest ever allowed with the MPAA through the Super Bowl, where Baron Cohen’s character was hilariously described controlling an aggressive race while and leg-shooting rivals getting a starter pistol simply because they got close to him. I'll add Vital’s response once i obtain one within the studio. Below might be the Super Bowl ad for your Dictator:

99-Year-Old Oscar Voter Down on Artist, Up on Brad Pitt

Academy Awards ballots are due today at 5 p.m. PT, and procrastinators in the actors' branch might do well to take note: One of your eldest peers has an upset or two in mind. The Los Angeles Times had a fun set of features over the weekend exploring some of the principals and predilections set to influence this year's Oscar vote, none more illuminating than this profile of 99-year-old (and still active!) actress Connie Sawyer. In a nutshell: Sure, she's squarely Team Streep in the Best Actress category. But Sawyer's preferences in Picture and Actor defy the easy generalization of rank-and-file Academy voters as pliant, disengaged blue-hairs: Sawyer, who was a 15-year-old living in Oakland in 1927, when The Artist's story begins, wasnt so enamored of the black-and-white film. The movie was enjoyable enough, she says, but she frankly doesnt understand what all the fuss is about. Hasnt anybody seen old films? Sawyer asked in exasperation. Theyre easy to make and easy to act. All you have to do is overact. I saw a lot of those films in my day. [...] For lead actor, the category in which The Artist star Jean Dujardin is favored by some, Sawyer picked Brad Pitt for his starring turn as Oakland As General Manager Billy Beane in the baseball drama Moneyball. The film, she said, was the best work hes done. Of course, this from a former Oakland girl and a woman who calls the Oscar itself "the most legitimate movie award there is in the whole world." Ahem. Still! No better time than the present for a second wind among contenders and observers alike. I love you, Connie Sawyer. [LAT]

'Dr. Phil' now No. 1 daytime talk show

'Dr. Phil' has emerged as syndication's most-viewed talkshow.Midway with the Feb sweep, CBS Television Distribution's "Dr. Phil" is cementing its status as syndication's most-viewed talkshow, finally getting the layer from Dr. Phil's mentor, The famous host oprah Winfrey.Until CTD's "The The famous host oprah Winfrey Show" left daytime last fall, "Dr. Phil" didn't have opportunity to be TV's top talker since it was contractually forbidden from competing against "The famous host oprah." That stored "Phil" from 4 p.m. time slots, the timeframe which has the greatest amounts of watching people television in daytime.With "The famous host oprah" gone, "Dr. Phil" continues to be upgraded in four marketplaces, which could take into account a few of the show's growth, but not every one of it. The show also offers guaranteed several high-profile exclusive interviews and stuck near to the cultural climate."Dr. Phil" closed the November sweep up 7% over this past year to some 3.2 same-day household average, based on Nielsen. 5 days in to the Feb sweep, "Dr. Phil" is calculating a 3.3 household rating, a 6% hop over last year's Feb sweep.That "Dr. Phil" is holding its very own is really a large reversal over 2009, once the show had rejected 22%, bowing in a 2.5 same-day household rating. Today, it's to its pre-2009 levels."Dr. Phil" is especially strong on CBS' KYW Philadelphia, where it's calculating a 3.7 rating/9 share at 4 p.m., up 37% from news this past year, or more 28% from this past year if this broadcast at 5 p.m. It is also succeeding on CBS' WUSA Washington, D.C., where it's up 22% at 4 p.m., in comparison with CTD's "The Doctors," which occupied the slot this past year. On Belo's independent Phoenix station, KTVK, "Dr. Phil" is enhancing two periods of time at 1 p.m., where it's up 44% and 7 p.m., in which the show expires 7%.Though typically the most popular talkshow overall, "Dr. Phil" is running second for that season in grown ups 18-49 (.9 rating), well behind "Maury" (1.3). It's closer in grown ups 25-54, where "Phil" is simply a tick behind "Maury" (1.1 versus. 1.2). Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Forex guru talks Avengers opening sequence

It requires many people to make sure a movie around the scale from the Avengers looks just like it will, and SFX specialists Hydraulx would be the team billed with making certain Iron Guy and chums are in their most aesthetically dazzling. Effects supervisor Chris Wells has had break from his hectic agenda to decrease an update in regards to the movie's opening sequence, and in the sounds from it, it will likely be epic..."We are doing what basically boils lower towards the prelude from the movie," he stated. "There is a whole intro that occurs before you begin even obtaining the game titles and it is pretty large. There is nothing small within this movie." "I visited a screening with the temporary visual effects also it was pretty fleshed out," continues Wells. "It is a lengthy movie however it does not seem like it. Of all the comic movies and franchises I have done, this is actually the right one I have seen to date."To place that into context, Wells has done Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, Eco-friendly Lantern and also the X-Males series. The guy knows his super hero movies."I promise you it will not be boring," he states. "This factor went so large that Marvel are dwarfing their other franchises. For those who benefit from the comics and haven't really loved the way in which a few of the figures were treated in other movies, I believe they are likely to be more appeased by that one." "Particularly the Hulk," he continues, enticingly. "They allow the Hulk be Hulk and that is great. He functions a lot more like the comic Hulk. It's fun. My greatest trouble with each and every super hero movie is I do not think the payback ever matches the develop. That one certainly does."The Avengers opens within the United kingdom on 27 April 2012.[brightcove]1213024251001[/brightcove]

Host in the coast

Viola Davis with fest's Roger Durling Samuel L. Jackson, Octavia Spencer and Myrlie Evers-Williams meet in the Viola Davis tribute. SBIFF opening nighters include Craig Sonnenfeld, Andy Davis, Lawrence Kasdan and James Newton Howard. Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline along with a "darling companion" open the festival. Christopher Plummer takes happens with Mike Mills.WB's Ned Cost unspools a restored "Clockwork Orange" at fest. Martin Scorsese talks photos in the American Riviera Award Tribute. The forces behind the 27th Santa Barbara Film Festival really understand how to pick Them, weight loss than 20 of the year's Oscar nominees happen to be skedded to accept ride in the coast during the period of the 11-day extravaganza. The new sony Pictures Classics opened up the fest Jan. 26 using its "Darling Companion." Viola Davis and Christopher Plummer required home honorary acting awards over the past weekend. As well as on Monday evening, Martin Scorsese received the American Riviera Award for his body of labor. A 1000 from the director's greatest fans jammed the Arlington Theater on Condition Street to become listed on the "Hugo" helmer inside a evening of recollections and celluloid remembrances. Leonard Maltin put the questions, Scorsese clarified in the rapid-fire staccato style, and also the rapt crowd, including Ben Kingsley, cheered, chuckled and sighed in appreciation. "Scorsese is really a filmmaker who not compromise, a huge from the cinema who not relaxation on his laurels," stated SBIFF professional director Roger Durling, even though the 69-year-old director accepted to feeling the requirement for some relaxation right now. "The honours circuit is becoming very arduous," stated Scorsese, who then proceeded to regale the aud for near to three hrs with tales and clips from his photos. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com