Content Takes On Nicholas McCarthys Fright Film The Pact

Content Media has come aboard to finance and distribute Nicholas McCarthy’s feature ghost story The Pact, which is based on the writer-director’s short that appeared at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and just completed production — a quick turnaround, even for a genre film. Preferred Content’s Ross Dinerstein is producing and Content Film president Jamie Carmichael is executive producing. Caity Lotz stars alongside Haley Hudson, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Sam Ball, Agnes Bruckner and Casper Van Dien; in addition, all the crew from the short stayed on for the feature, which centers on a woman who struggles to come to grips with her past after her mother’s death and discovers an unsettling presence in her childhood home.Preferred Contents Kevin Iwashina will handle the North American distribution rights and Content will rep international rights.

AFI Honours looking for Jan. 13

AFI is accepting distribution for that 2011 AFI Honours, with due dates pending. The ultimate days for distribution are March. 28 for television and November. 4 for film. The honorees is going to be introduced 12 ,. 11 and also the honours ceremony will occur on Jan. 13 in a private lunch. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Winehouse Album Becomes Centurys Bestseller

FIRST Released: August 24, 2011 1:49 PM EDT LONDON, U.K. -- Amy Winehouse continues to be striking music key events after her untimely dying recently. Britains Official Charts Company states Winehouses Grammy-top rated To Black is just about the best-selling album within the U.K. these days. The organization, which tracks music sales within the U.K., stated Wednesday that To Black overtook James Blunts 2005 debut album to assert the title now. Winehouses second album had leaped towards the No. 1 just right the charts soon after the soul singer was discovered dead in her own London town house on This summer 23. A preliminary publish-mortem unsuccessful to find out reason for dying, and Winehouses family stated Tuesday that toxicology tests demonstrated she'd no illegal drugs in her own system when she died. An inquest into Winehouses dying starts in October. Copyright 2011 by Connected Press. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Conan', 'Fright Night', 'Spy Kids 4D' Flatline 'The Help' Needs No Help At #1, 'Apes' #2

SATURDAYPM,second UPDATE:Amounts beginning in the future in... Full analysis and delicate amounts to follow along with: 1. The Assistance (DreamWorks/Disney) Week 2 1/2 [2,690 Runs] Friday $5.8M, Saturday $8M, Weekend $20M (-22%), Cume $71.5M 2. Rise From The Planet From The Apes (Fox) Week 3 [3,471 Runs] Friday $4.6M, Saturday $7M, Weekend $17M, Cume $134.4M 3. Spy Kids 4D (Dimension/Weinstein) NEW [3,295 Runs] Friday $4M, Saturday $4.2M, Weekend $11.5M 4. Conan The Barbarian (Nu Image/Millenium/Lionsgate) NEW [3,015 Runs] Friday $3.6M, Saturday $3.8M, Weekend $10.5M 5. Fright Evening (DreamWorks/Disney) NEW [3,114 Runs] Friday $3M, Saturday $3.1M, Weekend $8.8M 6. The Smurfs - three dimensional (The new sony) Week 4 [3,427 Runs] Friday $2.2M, Saturday, Weekend $9M, Cume $118.7M 7. Final Destination 5 - three dimensional (New Line/Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,155 Runs] Friday $2.4M, Saturday $3.3M, Weekend $8.2M (-45%), Cume $32.8M 8. half an hour Or Less (The new sony) Week 2 [2,888 Runs] Friday $2M, Saturday $2.5M, Weekend $6.5M (-41%), Cume $26M 9. Eventually (Focus Features) NEW [1,719 Runs] Friday $1.8M, Saturday $1.9M, Weekend $5M 10. Crazy, Stupid, Love (Warner Bros) Week 4 [1,944 Runs] Friday $1.5M, Saturday $2M, Weekend $5M, Cume $64.5M FRIDAY PM UPDATE: Anecdotal reviews reaching me all over say this moviegoing weekendredefines the terms "soft" and "flat". As you studio professional explained, "It appears just like a ghosttown in theaters." Rarely have I seen such utter confusion in the United States box office consequently, particularly with believe it or not than four wide-release studio films opening today.All of my sources were built with a different 5 Best list all day long -- there wasn't a consensus until tonight that DreamWorks' holdover The Assistance (which needs none) is Friday's No. 1 movie. The issue could be that the new releases -- Dimension/Weinstein Co'sSpy Kids 4D, Nu Image/Millenium/Lionsgate's Conan The Barbarian, and DreamWorks/Disney's Fright Evening -- are bunched together behind another holdover, Rise From The Planet From The Apes. Not remarkably, Conan and Fright Evening received only 'B-' CinemaScores while Spy Kids received a 'B+'.Also, it appears like Focus Features' romance Eventually is opening strong thinking about its middling release. Full analysis and delicate amounts coming.

'Fright Night': The Way The Original Can Inform The Remake

There are only able to be one original, but that never stopped Hollywood from attempting to remake the most popular films. Not one other genre appears as bloated with remakes as horror, although not every retelling is really a terrible factor. "Lars and also the Real Girl" director Craig Gillespie can have us what he is able to do with Tom Holland's 1985 horror classic, "Fright Evening," a few days ago -- also it got us considering our favorite moments in the much-loved horror-comedy. The very best movie remakes bring new things towards the table, but respect the initial material. Listed here are five things we'd like to see within the new "Fright Evening" that pay homage towards the original story in regards to a sexy, but harmful, vampire who goes mind-to-mind by having an inquisitive senior high school student. Doin' It In The Dance Club Our kingdom for any cheesy sexytime scene in a dance club. It will not possess the feathered hair, new wave music, or Cosby sweater-on-disco clothes, however, many type of jerk towards the amusing but still sultry dance sequence within the original "Fright Evening" could be bullets. Chris Sarandon made Jerry totally crushable, and the smooth progresses the party area that they accustomed to seduce Charlie's girlfriend Amy is among the movie's most memorable moments. Every Vampire Requires A Henchman Dracula had Renfield, and Jerry had Billy. The brand new Jerry requires a henchman, a partner, a best friend who's prepared to battle to the dying to safeguard his dawg. It's vampire law or something like that. What the heck was Billy, anyway? (Apart from being some type of too-close-for comfort weirdo that gave everybody rape eyes once they attempted to obtain near Jerry.) Billy Cole experienced the fate of each and every 1980's horror fiend when he attempted to protect Jerry those of the inevitable melting effect, which switched him right into a pile of eco-friendly, bubbling goo. That's soul mates and brings us to the next point. Dear 3-D: Respect Your Elders The 1985 "Fright Evening" plays with a serious horror fanboy/girl love. It references a lot of old-fashioned frightening stuff. The character of Peter Vincent is really a tribute to horror stories Peter Cushing and Vincent Cost. This is exactly why the movie's practical Forex, though terribly dated now, work. There is clearly lots of love put in creating individuals melty faces and ill-fitting fangs. The brand new film is promising 3-D horror, but we'd kill for any couple of true blue effects that do not involve some type of computer. And please, no CGI bloodstream. Payback Is Really A Bitch Brainiacs. Will. Attack. Let us face the facts, within the original film Charlie's type of a jerk for disregarding his girlfriend, as being a tool to closest friend Evil (who, yes, can easily dish it), and usually acting just like a little jerk. That is what causes it to be so sweet when his highly quotable, best bud Evil Erectile dysfunction reveals a can of whoop ass and becomes empowered together with his newly found fangs after Jerry transforms him right into a bloodsucker. You would like the crabby and crazy horror nerd to win! Here's wishing Christopher Mintz-Plasse may bring it. Killer Dialogue Director/author Tom Holland did an excellent job using the original "Fright Night's" script. There's some curious subtext, that is unpredicted for which was said to be a b --grade horror movie, in addition to wise and truly funny lines. Former "Buffy the Vampire" scribe, Marti Noxon, gets control script responsibilities for that remake, even though her knowledge about vamps previously and penchant for writing strong, interesting figures causes us to be hopeful the dialogue will not suck, there is no telling until we are for the reason that theater chair. To date a dark tone from the trailers have pitched the film as super serious. Hopefully you will see lots of space for any couple of good laughs too. Inform us what you would like to determine transported over in the original "Fright Evening" into this week's remake within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Crulic -- The Path to Beyond (Crulic -- drumul spre dincolo)

An Aparte Film, Fundacja Im. Ferdynanda Magellana, Romanian Ministry of Culture and Romanian Heritage, Editura Videow, Krakow Festival Office production. (International sales: Wide Management, Paris.) Produced by Anca Damian. Co-producer, Arkadiusz Wojnarowski. Directed, written by Anca Damian. (Color); editor, Catalin Cristutiu; music, Piotr Dziubek; artwork/animation, Dan Panaitescu, Raluca Popa, Dragos Stefan, Roxana Bentu, Tuliu Oltean; sound (Dolby Digital), Piotr Witkowski, Sebastian Wlodarczyk. Reviewed at Locarno Film Festival (competing), Aug. 7, 2011. Running time: 71 MIN.Narrators: Vlad Ivanov, Jamie Sives. (Romanian, English, Polish dialogue)Beautiful artwork and a powerful story are the key elements of animated docu "Crulic -- The Path to Beyond," recounting the Kafkaesque history of a Romanian man arrested in Poland and abandoned by everyone until his death following a hunger strike in 2008. Sophomore helmer Anca Damian doesn't prettify the subject, but rather uses the animation as an illustration of miscarried justice, told with a certain detached irony until the live action news reportage at the closing credits. The rising popularity of socially conscious animated pics could help "Crulic" move from fest screens to a small arthouse release. Thesp Vlad Ivanov voices the first-person narration from the grave, recounting Claudiu Crulic's life in detail and providing a psychological profile that probably offers greater glimpses into character than a traditional docu format could. Pic opens with Crulic talking about his postmortem repatriation, and how his mother and half-sister couldn't recognize his body, 66 pounds lighter than when they last saw him, and looking closer to 70 than his actual age of 33. By early adulthood, Crulic was making frequent trips to Poland, where he'd buy low-cost goods and sell them back home in northern Romania. Then in 2007, he was arrested for stealing a judge's wallet; although it was later proven he was in Italy at the time of the theft, authorities dismissed his protestations of innocence, believing previous arrests for theft established his present guilt. Letters to the Romanian consul in Poland were either ignored or replied to in a condescending manner, and even a note to his half-sister asking for help was dismissed. Crulic went on a hunger strike, yet authorities disregarded his actions, with prison doctors claiming he was in good health despite his gradual deterioration. Only when nearing total biological system failure did doctors apply for a permit to force feed him, but the needle perforated his lung, leading to further meltdown. After Crulic's death, authorities tried to wash their hands of responsibility, though eventually a few heads rolled. Damian ("Crossing Dates") tells the story in a relatively straightforward manner, letting the information sink in rather than trying to manipulate sentiment toward righteous indignation. For the most part the idea works, though she has the animators illustrate every line, and the pileup (for example, a list of things in the prison facility) doesn't allow time to process it all. A beautifully drawn sequence at the end, of Crulic's shroud floating away, works against the buildup of outrage and stymies a sense of catharsis until the credits sequence and the insertion of real news reports, which bring home the shockingly cold-blooded nature of the responsible parties. Animation is especially appealing, featuring attractive watercolors and lovely washes forming the background to an imaginative use of drawings, cutouts and photos. Even if overloaded at times, the individual frames are beautifully rendered and clear, accompanied by Piotr Dziubek's seamless and understated compositions. Ivanov's voice maintains a level of sympathetic detachment not without its share of ironic humor, offering exactly the right amount of personality without playing anything up. English narration by Jamie Sives details Crulic's medical breakdown as well as the chilling bureaucratic nightmare responsible for his death. A credit at the end explains that certain details have been adapted or invented, a statement that needs clarification, at least in the press book. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

10 First Impressions of the New Machine Gun Preacher Poster

I’m sworn to secrecy regarding my recent previewing of Machine Gun Preacher, director Marc Forster’s forthcoming biopic about Sam Childers, a Pennsylvania junkie ex-con-turned-born-again-orphanage-building-gunslinging savior of Sudan. But there’s nothing that I or anybody else can say about the film that isn’t summed up in its new one-sheet featuring star and co-producer Gerard Butler, which is like whoaaa. [Click right for full-size image.] Not to take the easy, cynical way out either — Childers’s real-life story is genuinely mindblowing — but Jesus Christ indeed, pray for this poster. What to even say about it? · Gerard Butler Packs Heat, Orphan in New Machine Gun Preacher Poster · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: No Condescending Racial Overtones at All, Nooooo · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: Say Hello to Gerard Butler’s Little Friend · Orange Blood, White Messiah All Over New Machine Gun Preacher Poster · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: Is That an Orphan in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Me? · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: Have Sad African Child, Will Travel · Hope For Another Machine Gun Preacher Poster is the Greatest Weapon of All · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: What Kind of Buddy Movie is This? · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: Hand Over the Oscar, and No Sudanese Kid Gets Hurt · New Machine Gun Preacher Poster: That’s Racist [via IMDB]

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Director Talks Possible Sequel

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' is less than a week old but people are already discussing the sequel -- and the idea director Rupert Wyatt has for it sounds pretty frickin' cool. Get this: it would be 'Full Metal Jacket' with apes. "There's so much we could do... The ideas I've had are all sorts of things, ranging from Full Metal Jacket with apes ... You could start this story again eight years from where we left off," Wyatt told Bleeding Cool. "The next generation of apes, those that have come from our protagonists, perhaps going in to a conflict with humans and showing real fear, in the same way as going into war for young soldiers in this day and age, telling their story." We can already imagine the scene: an ape voiced by R. Lee Ermey shouting instructions at apes trying to build their own guns. [Bleeding Cool via Movieline] Image courtesy of Fox

ROLL CALL: Lady Gaga Goes In Drag

by Jesse SperoLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Its A Drag For Gaga!: The ever-changing style of Lady Gaga has taken a turn for the masculine! The style icon has gone in drag of the cover of her upcoming single, You And I. You will never find what you are looking for in love, if you dont love yourself, the singer Tweeted, with a link to the songs cover art. Check out Gaga dressed as a man HERE! The Beckhams Out-Cute Everyone!: Another day, another moment for the Beckham family to outdo the rest of the world in the cute department. I took this beautiful picture and wanted to share it with you, baby Harper cuddling Daddy! Victoria wrote in a Tweet on Sunday, while posting a photo of husband David and their newborn Harper. (See the adorableness HERE!) Also check out Davids new Harper tattoo, HERE! Are Joe Jonas Exes Pals?: Taylor Swift and Ashley Greene appear to have bonded over their time spent with Joe Jonas. The duo was spotted at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards on Sunday night sitting together along with the nights big winner Selena Gomez. Check out the Joe Jonas-connected pair, HERE! More Teen Choice Fun!: Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, Glee, Bieber, Swift, Timberlake, Efron, JLo and DJ Pauly D were just some of the many stars honored at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards on Sunday. Get the entire rundown of who walked away with a surfboard trophy, HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TCA: 'Man Up!' Just Wants To Be One Of The Guys

Diane Haithman is contributing to Deadline's coverage of TCA. Because they are introducing a show about men into the traditionally female-skewing ABC primetime lineup, the producers and performers of Man Up! were called upon to spend much of their time addressing reporters at TCA today about what it means -- or doesnt mean -- to be a man in America in 2011.The show stars Christopher Moynihan (also the creator and one of the executive producers), Mather Zickel and Dan Fogler (Tony winner for his role in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as three confused guys in their late 30s who would love to grow up if they could only figure out how. One reporter went so far as to ask that, in a new season that includes many of what the network has been calling female empowerment shows, if Man Up! might actually be a show about male emasculation.Fogler thinks not. [It] reflects whats going on with people right now in society, he said. I feel very close to my character, Kenny -- I have a lot of friends out there who will watch thats me up there, man I think theyll dig it. I dont think the show is about men being emasculated; [its about men] finding themselves.Moynihan joked that the three, being actors, are soft guys already face it, I have a lot of product in my hair. On a more serious note, he called current thirtysomethings the generation that has not been made to do anything and has had the luxury of a volunteer army rather than having to man up and face the draft. Cast member Teri Polo cited Susan Faludis book Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women as having a lot to say about todays confusion of gender roles. Our generation of men arent quite sure. Should I mow the lawn, honey? Should I not mow the lawn? What do you want me to do? she said.Producer Victor Fresco, at age 53 somewhat older than the characters in the show, pointed out that TV men have been searching for what it means to be a man since The Honeymooners. Still, he acknowledged that todays technological society has changed the concept of work for both men and women. Life hasnt gotten easier, its just gotten different ... somethings gone wrong," he said. After the session, Moynihan and Fresco were asked whether the recent cancellation of AMCs critically acclaimed but low-rated Men of a Certain Age might represent a bad omen for man shows. Although he acknowledged that there might be something in the ether about examining mens issues right now, Moynihan thinks his new show stands on different turf. Those characters are 10 years older -- they have more serious problems, he said. Fresco pointed out that CBS has had a big success with male-skewing shows, proving that the male audience is in fact out there. I dont think theres any trend, he said. [Men of a Certain Age] was a great show; the cancellation was probably a matter of economics.

Biography - The Actor-brad Pitt

Stories the existence from the eccentric, sensual, uncompromising, and media-shy star of Pirates from the Caribbean. The Actor-brad Pitt rebelled against his early image like a Hollywood hunk, choosing to experience complex figures such movies as Edward Scissorhands and What's Eating Gilbert Grape?. On the way, he romanced actress Winona Ryder and model Kate Moss before wedding French singing sensation Vanessa Paradis.

Kim Kardashian's Wedding to Air on E!

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian Bet you didn't see this coming: Kim Kardashian's wedding will air on E! Shocking, right?Kim Kardashian is engagedKim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event will be broadcast in two parts on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 8/7c and the following day at 9/8c. The special will chronicle the planning and the day of the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star's nuptials to the New Jersey Nets' Kris Humphries. The actual wedding will take place on Aug. 20.Kardashian and Humphries got engaged in May after six months of dating.Will you tune in?

Warner Bros. buys 'Outsider' spec

Warner Bros. is searching to "The Outsider," nipping up Andrew Baldwin's spec script preemptively and establishing the Yakuza drama with Linson Entertainment.Studio confirmed the offer Monday. Art Linson and boy John Linson, who emerged using the idea, will produce.Story's depending on a united states who's a prisoner of war in Japan throughout The Second World War and turns into a person in the Yakuza, the highly organized Japanese crime syndicate.The Linsons teamed on "The Runaways" and therefore are professional producers about the series "The Sons of Anarchy."Sarah Schechter and Chris Gary are managing the work for Warner Bros.Baldwin is repped by CAA. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com