Garrett Hedlund (TRON: LEGACY, COUNTRY STRONG, and the upcoming  ON THE ROAD and INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS), Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins (THE VISITOR), Jessica Brown Findlay (PBS’ “Downton Abbey”), Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (DREAMGIRLS), Oscar nominee Terrence Howard and three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams (THE FIGHTER) will star in acclaimed fine artist Andrew Levitas’ comedy/drama LULLABY. It was announced today by Mimi Steinbauer, President and CEO of Radiant Films International, and producers Andrea Stone-Brokaw of Ananta Productions and Cary Brokaw (THE PLAYER, SHORT CUTS, ANGELS IN AMERICA, CLOSER) of Avenue Pictures. Radiant Films will be offering the film to international buyers of the Cannes Film Market.

Levitas will direct the feature film from his own script which is set to start shooting in June 2012 in New York City. The Producers are in discussion with several domestic distributors but the North American rights have not been licensed.

Filled with considerable comedic beats, LULLABY explores the power of life, its transformative moments and reconnections between loved ones. Estranged from his family, Jonathan (Hedlund) receives word that his father, Robert (Jenkins), who has been fighting illness for over a decade has chosen to take himself off life support in less than forty-eight hours. What follows is an unexpected journey of love, laughter, and forgiveness.

“Andrea and Cary have assembled a truly stellar cast for this life affirming tale of family and love. And in Andrew Levitas’ visionary hands LULLABY will unquestionably be an exciting film” said Steinbauer.

“Andrew Levitas has written a remarkable script and created a story that is as funny as it is moving and a part of life that everyone can identify with.” said Stone-Brokaw and Brokaw.

Hedlund made his leading breakout role in Disney’s action blockbuster TRON: LEGACY opposite Jeff Bridges before starring in COUNTRY STRONG opposite Gwyneth Paltrow. He will next star in Walter Salles’ Cannes 2012 Official Selector ON THE ROAD, where he co-starred with Adams alongside Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst and Viggo Mortensen and the Coen Brothers’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS opposite Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake, currently in post-production.

Jenkins will next be seen opposite Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta and James Gandolfini in KILLING THEM SOFTLY which will world premiere in the Official Selection of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. He received an Oscar nomination for his performance in THE VISITOR and can currently be seen in theatres in the box office horror hit THE CABIN IN THE WOODS for Lionsgate and Lawrence Kasdan’s DARLING COMPANION opposite Mark Duplass and Diane Keaton. His other upcoming films include Sundance hit LIBERAL ARTS, Robert Redford’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP and ONE SHOT opposite Tom Cruise for Paramount Pictures.

Findlay can currently be seen playing Lady Sybil Crawley on the popular PBS series “Downton Abbey”. She was nominated last year for a British Independent Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her lead performance in IFC FILMS’ ALBATROSS opposite Felicity Jones. She has several films in the works including WINTER’S TALE opposite Will Smith, Russell Crowe and Colin Farrell for Warner Bros Pictures, John McKay’s NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING and the comedy SHOPLIFTERS OF THE WORLD.

Hudson won the hearts of millions and an Academy Award for her electrifying performance in DREAMGIRLS. She also starred in THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and in the upcoming WINNIE.

Howard was nominated for Best Actor for his acclaimed performance in HUSTLE & FLOW. He also starred in FOUR BROTHERS, THE HUNTING PARTY, THE BRAVE ONE and IRON MAN. His upcoming films include Robert Redford’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP and Niels Arden Oplev’s DEAD MAN DOWN opposite Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace.

Adams is one of today’s most versatile actresses with three Oscar nominations under the belt, most recently for the Oscar winning THE FIGHTER opposite Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale and DOUBT opposite Meryl Streep. Last year she starred in Disney’s mega box office hit THE MUPPETS and will next be seen in ON THE ROAD, set for release through IFC Films and Sundance Selects in late Fall 2012. Her other upcoming films include TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE opposite Clint Eastwood, Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER co-starring Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Zac Snyder’s highly anticipated MAN OF STEEL for Warner Bros. Pictures in 2013.

Levitas is an internationally recognized artist. His paintings have exhibited world-wide, including the prestigious Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts 2008 exhibition at the Louvre. He is also a highly acclaimed photographer and creator of the photographic process Metalwork Photography. His work has been featured in the world’s top photographic journals as well as garnered attention through sales at the top auction houses and Museums worldwide. Levitas also recently produced the Fox Searchlight release THE ART OF GETTING by that made its debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Andrea Stone-Brokaw is a highly respected producer and casting director with a body of experience working in film communities the world over. She worked as Executive Vice President of Production for Viking Film based in Norway. Upon returning to Los Angeles she focused on her career as a casting director and has cast over 25 feature films working on films in the U.S., Spain, Australia and the U.K. She has cast many stars in some of their early leading roles including Colin Firth, Kevin Spacey, Benecio Del Toro, Viggo Mortensen, Josh Brolin, Matthew McConaughey, Vince Vaughn, and Patricia Clarkson. She was the resident casting director for Avenue Pictures from 1995 to 2000. Andrea has over ten films and two television series in development.

Cary Brokaw of Avenue Pictures is a two time Emmy award winning producer who won for HBO’s mini-series “Angels in America” starring Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson and Mike Nichols’ “Wit”. His film credits include the Oscar nominated CLOSER starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, and directed by Mike Nichols, MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons, and THE PLAYER, SHORT CUTS, and DRUGSTORE COWBOY are among his many other films.

Media House Capital and Three Point Capital are co-financing the film. Aaron L. Gilbert is an Executive Producer and Patrick Murray is a co-Executive Producer.

Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen at Number 9 Films are delighted to confirm that Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska will star in the new adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel CAROL (aka ‘The Price of Salt’).

Directed by BAFTA winning John Crowley (Intermission, ‘Boy A’), the acclaimed Phyllis Nagy (Mrs Harris) has written the adaptation based on renowned suspense author Patricia Highsmith’s novella (‘Strangers on a Train’, ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’). The film will be produced by Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley from Number 9 Films, and co-developed and co-financed by Film4. Filming starts February 2013 in London and New York.

CAROL is a love story about pursuit, betrayal and passion that follows the burgeoning relationship between two very different women in 1950s New York. One, a girl in her twenties working in a department store who dreams of a more fulfilling life, and the other, a wife trapped in a loveless, moneyed marriage desperate to break free but fearful of losing her daughter in the process.

HanWay will be handling international sales on the film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley at Number 9 Films commented: “We are thrilled to be working with Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska, two of the most talented actors working today, in this striking adaptation of one of the twentieth century’s most iconic writers, Patricia Highsmith. To be re-united with highly talented individuals, director John Crowley and writer Phylis Nagy is a testament to the quality of the project. We are delighted to have such a gifted team on board.”

Tessa Ross at Film4 commented: “Carol is a beautiful and heart-breaking story and it’s a testament to the talents of Phyllis and John that we’ve attracted actresses of Cate and Mia’s calibre to star at the heart of it. We are delighted to be working with Liz and Stephen at Number 9 to help put together what promises to be a truly wonderful film.”

Award-winning producing partners Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen established Number 9 Films after a long collaboration at both Palace and Scala Productions. In 2005 the company was awarded one of the much sought after Slate Development Funding schemes by the UK Film Council. The company quickly went on to establish itself as one of the UK’s leading independent production companies forging relationships with a wide range of talent in the UK, across Europe and in the States. The company aims to produce between 2 and 3 films a year with a young and vibrant production and development team, headed by Kate Lawrence, who has been with the company for over 8 years.

2010 saw the release of the UK number 1 hit Made in Dagenham, a social comedy set during the 1968 Ford machinists strike, written by Billy Ivory (‘Women in Love’), directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls) and starring Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike and Miranda Richardson. The film was nominated for four BAFTA awards. It was released in the States by Sony Picture Classics. Also released last year was Mark O’Rowe’s (‘Boy A’, Intermission) Perrier’s Bounty directed by Ian Fitzgibbon and starring Cillian Murphy and Jim Broadbent.

Number 9 Films is currently in post-production on two films. Firstly an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectationsscripted by David Nicholls (One Day), to be directed by Mike Newell, starring Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane and Jeremy Irvine (Spielberg’s War Horse). It will be lit by Oscar-nominated cinematographer John Mathieson, with production design by BAFTA-winning Jim Clay, hair and makeup by Oscar-winning Jenny Shircore and costume by Beatrix Aruna Pasztor. It will be released by Lionsgate UK.

Secondly, Byzantium, a vampire story written by Moira Buffini (Jane Eyre, Tamara Drewe) is directed by Neil Jordan and stars Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton.

Hyena, a low budget second feature by writer-director Gerard Johnson about a corrupt policeman working in London’s Albanian and Turkish communities, will go into production in mid 2012.

Future Number 9 projects include Strangers, a chilling ghost story adapted from a Japanese novella, The Limehouse Golem adapted from Peter Ackroyd’s novel by screenwriter Jane Goldman (X:Men, Kick Ass), and Their Finest Hour and a Half by Gaby Chiappe (‘Lark Rise to Candleford’).

Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established. Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, films like Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, Steve McQueen’s Hunger and Shame, Mike Leigh’s Another Year, Chris Morris’Four Lions , Richard Ayoade’s Submarine, Joe Cornish’s directorial debut Attack The Block , Lone Scherfig’s One Day, Ben Wheatley’s Kill List, and Paddy Considine’s debut feature Tyrannosaur.

Recent releases include, Ben Palmer’s The Inbetweeners Movie, Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights, Terence Davies’The Deep Blue Sea, Carol Morley’s Dreams of a Life, Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, Steve McQueen’s Shame and Pawel Pawlikowski’s The Woman In The Fifth.

Forthcoming releases include Bart Layton’s The Imposter, Sophie Fiennes’ The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology, Walter Salles’ On The Road, Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio, Roger Michell’s Hyde Park on Hudson, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers, Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, Danny Boyle’s Trance and Michael Winterbottom’s King of Soho.

Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer and Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairmen of Exclusive Media, Hammer’s parent company, announced today that Sam Claflin (SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES) has signed on to star opposite Jared Harris  in THE QUIET ONES.

Claflin will play BRYAN MCNEIL in THE QUIET ONES, a supernatural thriller/horror to be directed by John Pogue (QUARANTINE 2) which James Gay-Rees (SENNA, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP) will produce in association with TPSC Films. With the story and original screenplay by Tom DeVille, revisions by Craig Rosenberg, Oren Moverman and most recently John Pogue, the film is currently in pre-production and will start shooting in June 2012 in the UK.

Inspired by true events, THE QUIET ONES tells the story of an unorthodox, but charismatic Professor (Harris) who uses controversial methods and leads his best students off the grid to take part in a dangerous experiment:  to create a poltergeist from negative human energy.

Exclusive Media’s President of Worldwide Production & Acquisitions, Tobin Armbrust, is overseeing production alongside Director of Development, Shira Rockowitz. TPSC Film’s President, Steven Chester Prince, is a producer on the project for the newly formed independent film division of The Traveling Picture Show Company.

Alex Walton, Exclusive Media’s President of International Sales and Distribution, will be selling international rights to the film at the upcoming Marché Du Film in Cannes.

THE QUIET ONES marks Hammer’s next production after the worldwide box office hit, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, starring Daniel Radcliffe, which has taken over $130 million at the box-office worldwide to date.

Simon Oakes, President & CEO of Hammer and Vice Chairman of Exclusive Media said: “Sam is an exciting young talent and a perfect addition to this thrilling project. We couldn’t be happier to have him on board THE QUIET ONES.”

Claflin recently starred in Disney’s latest installment of the hit adventure fantasy franchise PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, WHITE HEAT (six part drama for BBC) and Channel 4’s critically acclaimed TV series ANY HUMAN HEART. He will next be seen in Universal’s Summer blockbuster release SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, starring opposite Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart, to be released in the UK and the US on June 1st.

Exclusive Media is a major force in the production and international distribution arena. Its current production slate, available to buyers at Cannes, include the recently announced Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro action comedy AGENT: CENTURY 21 to be directed by Adam Hashemi, Ron Howard’s epic RUSH starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl and produced with production partners Cross Creek Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Brian Grazer, and Revolution Films to be released in the US through Universal; END OF WATCH starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick and America Ferrera set for release through Open Road Films on September 28; SO UNDERCOVER starring Miley Cyrus; and SNITCH starring Dwayne Johnson and Susan Sarandon in post-production and to be released in the US through Summit Entertainment.

Exclusive Media will be offering a number of high profile third party productions at Cannes 2012 which currently include THÉRÈSE from producers Mickey Liddell and William Horberg, starring Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton and Oscar Isaac; HIT AND RUN (aka OUTRUN) from writer/director Dax Shepard who also stars with Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Tom Arnold to be released in the US by Open Road Films on August 24;  the ensemble DISCONNECT also produced by Horberg and Liddell with Jennifer Hilton; Sundance favorite ROBOT & FRANK starring Frank Langella to be released in the US through Sony Pictures and LOOK OF LOVE starring Annette Bening, Ed Harris and Robin Williams, from producers Julie Lynn and Bonnie Curtis of Mockingbird Pictures.

Golden Globe nominated Brendan Gleeson (THE GUARD, IN BRUGES) and Abbie Cornish (BRIGHT STAR, W.E.) are set to star in the new dramatic thriller AN ORDINARY MAN for Brad Silberling (CITY OF ANGELS, MOONLIGHT MILE) who will direct from his own original script.

The contemporary suspense tale centers on the unexpected relationship between a fictitious war criminal in hiding, and his only human contact — his maid.

Silberling produces the film through his Reveal Entertainment banner, in a co-production with Disruptive Media and producers Chris Miller, James Burke and Michael Richter.  David Lonner executive produces the film that is targeted to start principal photography in the Fall 2012 on location in Belgrade, Serbia.

Radiant Films International helmed by President and CEO Mimi Steinbauer will handle international rights to the film and will introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

On the announcement of the film Silberling said, “There’s no greater pleasure than crafting a tale for brilliant actors to sink their teeth into, and with Brandon and Abbie, I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. Watching them go toe to toe in this suspenseful tightrope walk of veiled intentions, cat and mouse psychology, and desperate gambling for human contact – it will be a filmmaker’s dream to capture. Having Mimi and her Radiant team squarely behind the film gives me a tremendous sense of security for the picture as it makes its way out into the world.”

“Disruptive is honored to be working with such incredibly talented artists as Brad, Brendan and Abbie, and are so excited to help bring this uniquely provocative story to audiences around the world,” continued Miller.

“Brad has written one of the smartest scripts I have read in awhile. It’s an intelligent, complex story and a great character study of people in conflict.  Brendan and Abbie are perfectly cast and in Brad’s hands we expect great things from this thrilling film,” commented Steinbauer.

Gleeson gained critical recognition for his roles in last year’s successful comedy THE GUARD opposite Don Cheadle released through Sony Pictures Classics and IN BRUGES opposite Colin Farrell; earning Golden Globe Award nominations for both performances. He won an Emmy and was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in HBO’s “Into the Storm.” His other credits include Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORK, playing the iconic Alastor Moody character in the worldwide box office hit franchise HARRY POTTER series, and TROY opposite Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. He was last seen in Universal’s SAFE HOUSE opposite Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds and is currently appearing in Relativity Media’s THE RAVEN co-starring John Cusack and Luke Evans. He will next appear in Robert Redford’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP opposite Redford, Shia LaBeouf and Julie Christie, currently in post-production.

Cornish caught the industry’s attention in Jane Campion’s BRIGHT STAR opposite Ben Whishaw, released through Apparition and for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards. She has since appeared in Relativity Media’s box office hit LIMITLESS opposite Bradley Cooper, Warner Bros. Pictures SUCKER PUNCH opposite Emily Browning and Vanessa Hudgens and Madonna’s W.E. with Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy released via The Weinstein Company. She recently finished shooting the comedy SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS co-starring Woody Harrelson and Colin Farrell set for release through CBS Films in 2013 and is receiving rave reviews for her performance in THE GIRL that made its debut at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Silberling previously directed the Warner Bros. Pictures’ romantic drama CITY OF ANGELS starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan as well as Touchstone Pictures’ MOONLIGHT MILE which he also wrote and starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon and Holly Hunter. His other directing credits include the family film, LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS with Jim Carrey, Emily Browning and Meryl Streep distributed through Paramount Pictures and Universal’s LAND OF THE LOST starring Will Ferrell. He will next direct a segment for JERUSALEM, I LOVE YOU, the next installment in the “Cities of Love” franchise alongside such acclaimed directors as Jerry Zucker, Lawrence Kasdan and Joseph Cedar.

Silberling and the film are repped by Rena Ronson at UTA Independent, which also is handling domestic sales.

Founded by international sales veteran, Mimi Steinbauer, who is President and CEO, Radiant Films International is a newly launched full service international sales company funded through private equity sources which plans to acquire and distribute between 6-8 theatrical titles per year. Other titles on Radiant’s slate include Andrew Levitas’ drama, LULLABY.

Relativity Media has closed a deal with two-time Oscar®-nominee Willem Dafoe (Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire) to join the cast of its gritty dramatic thriller currently titled Out of the Furnace.

Dafoe, playing the role of John Petty,  joins the previously announced award-winning cast including Oscar®-winner Christian Bale (The Fighter), Oscar®-nominated Casey Affleck (The Assassination ofJesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Oscar®-nominated Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff), Oscar®-nominated Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) and Oscar®-winner Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland). The film, which started shooting on April 13th on location in Braddock, Pennsylvania, is written and directed by critically-acclaimed Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart).

The film is a gripping and gritty dramatic thriller about fate, circumstance, and justice. Russell (Bale) and his younger brother Rodney (Affleck) live in the economically-depressed Rust Belt, and have always dreamed of escaping and finding better lives. But when a cruel twist of fate lands Russell in prison, his brother is lured into one of the most violent and ruthless crime rings in the Northeast – a mistake that will almost cost him everything.  Once released, Russell must choose between his own freedom, or risk it all to seek justice for his brother.

Dafoe can currently be seen in the acclaimed Australian film The Hunter, as well as John Carter and will soon be seen opposite Anton Yelchin in Odd Thomas directed by Stephen Sommers, as well as opposite Michelle Monaghan and Stephen Dorff in Tomorrow You’re Gone, directed by David Jacobson.

Producing are Appian Way’s Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) and Jennifer Killoran (The Ides of March) alongside Scott Free’s Ridley Scott (The Grey), Tony Scott (Man on Fire) and Michael Costigan (AmericanGangster) as well as Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter).

Relativity Media will release the film theatrically in the U.S. Red Granite, the Los Angeles based film production, finance and international sales company has acquired foreign rights outside of the U.S. and will handle international sales. Red Granite International President Danny Dimbort and Co-President Christian Mercuri will begin shopping the film to buyers in Cannes next month.

Dafoe was represented by ICM and D/F Management in the deal.

Academy Award-nominated actor Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”) and Cameron Bright (“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) have joined the cast of Charles-Olivier Michaud’s latest drama ONE SQUARE MILE. Written by scribes Josh Campbell and Jeff Van Wie, the film will be produced by Howard Burd and Micah Sparks of Phoenix Rising Motion Pictures, and Deborah Moore of Inner Primary Entertainment. Martin Harmon is executive producing for Phoenix Rising Motion Pictures. International sales are being handled by Lawrence Meyers, Bobby Meyers and Peter Rowley of Meyers Media Group. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in August with Seattle, Washington as a possible location.

ONE SQUARE MILE is ahighly charged, emotional story of a disenfranchised teen (Bright) living on the wrong side of the tracks. Desperate for a way out, his life collides with an old reclusive track coach (Jenkins), angry at the world with no purpose in life. The two form a reluctant bond that forces them to face their circumstances as they race to save each other and ultimately – themselves.

“We felt the writers always had Richard in mind when we were developing the script, and we couldn’t be happier now that he is on board,” said Burd. “Having Cameron Bright play opposite Richard is a strong acting combination that will produce a compelling and inspirational film that people will want to watch over and over again.”

This will be director Charles-Olivier Michaud’s first English-language film since hisSNOW & ASHES won the Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Narrative Film at Slamdance in 2010. Michaud, who is from Quebec, has recently helmed the French-language romance SUR LE RYTHME.

ONE SQUARE MILE is one of the titles Meyers Media Group will be representing at the upcoming Cannes Film Market, with additional titles for their slate still to be announced. Producers Howard Burd, Martin Harmon and Micah Sparks formed Phoenix Rising Motion Pictures in 2011 with the mission of producing films that will resonate with both domestic and international audiences past opening weekend.  Currently the company is in pre-production on an untitled second project alongside ONE SQUARE MILE.

Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer and Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairmen of Exclusive Media, Hammer’s parent company, announced today that Jared Harris has signed on to star as Professor Joseph Coupland in THE QUIET ONES.

THE QUIET ONES is a supernatural thriller/horror to be directed by John Pogue (QUARANTINE 2) which James Gay-Rees (SENNA, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP) will produce in association with TPSC Films. With the story and original screenplay by Tom DeVille, revisions by Craig Rosenberg, Oren Moverman and most recently John Pogue, the film is currently in pre-production and will start shooting in June 2012 in the UK.

Inspired by true events, THE QUIET ONES tells the story of an unorthodox, but charismatic professor who uses controversial methods and leads his best students off the grid to take part in a dangerous experiment:  to create a poltergeist from negative human energy.

THE QUIET ONES marks Hammer’s next production after the worldwide box office hit, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, starring Daniel Radcliffe, which has taken over $120 million at the box-office worldwide to date.

Jared Harris recently starred IN SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS and hit TV series Mad Men. He will next be seen in Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN, currently in post-production.

Exclusive Media’s President of Worldwide Production & Acquisitions, Tobin Armbrust, is overseeing production alongside Director of Development, Shira Rockowitz. Alex Walton, President of International Sales and Distribution, is handling international sales. TPSC Film’s President, Steven Chester Prince, is a producer on the project for the newly formed independent film division of The Traveling Picture Show Company.

John Pogue said: “Jared Harris is an extraordinarily talented actor and I’m thrilled that he will be playing the key role of Professor Joseph Coupland, who led his most ambitious students in a notorious 1974 experiment to create a poltergeist.  Jared has the perfect blend of charisma, intelligence and wit that the part of Professor Coupland demands, and I’m excited to watch him bring the role to life.”

Simon Oakes, President & CEO of Hammer and Vice Chairman of Exclusive Media said: “THE QUIET ONES is set to be an incredibly chilling and sinister picture that we are proud to be a part of.  It’s another unique horror movie which we believe will appeal to audiences around the world.”

Exclusive Media is a major force in the production and international distribution arena. Recent production titles include the box office hit THE WOMAN IN BLACK starring Daniel Radcliffe currently in theaters nationwide through CBS Films, and George Clooney’s THE IDES OF MARCH produced by Smokehouse Pictures and co-produced by Exclusive Media with Cross Creek Pictures.

Exclusive Media’s current production slate also includes Ron Howard’s epic RUSH starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl and produced with production partners Cross Creek Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Working Title Films, Brian Grazer, and Revolution Films; END OF WATCH, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick and America Ferrera; SO UNDERCOVER, starring Miley Cyrus; SNITCH, starring Dwayne Johnson and Susan Sarandon in post-production; and BONESHAKER, to be produced with Cross Creek Pictures.

Recent titles from Exclusive Media’s documentary film division, Spitfire Pictures, include the Academy Award winning UNDEFEATED currently in release through The Weinstein Company; the Grammy Award winning FOO FIGHTERS: BACK AND FORTH produced in association with Allentown Productions; and Martin Scorsese’s award winning GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD produced by Martin Scorsese, Nigel Sinclair and Olivia Harrison.

Additionally, Exclusive Media represents the international rights to a number of high profile third party productions which currently include THERESE from producers Mickey Liddell and William Horberg, starring Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton and Oscar Isaac; OUTRUN from writer/director Dax Shepard who also stars with Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Tom Arnold;  the ensemble DISCONNECT also produced by Horberg and Liddell with Jennifer Hilton; and Sundance favorite ROBOT & FRANK starring Frank Langella.

Originally founded in 1934, legendary British film studio Hammer has delivered a hugely successful run of films over the years includingDracula, Frankenstein Created Woman, One Million Years B.C. and The Vampire Lovers. Since 2008, the company has been part of Exclusive Media, which is reinvigorating this beloved global brand through investment across both traditional and new media.

Not in production since the 1980s, Hammer marked their return to features in 2010 with the release of the critically acclaimed Let Me In, an adaptation of the highly praised Swedish film Låt den rätte komma in. The film was written and directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) and stars Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road).

In 2011, Hammer released Antti Jokinen’s The Resident starring two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry,Million Dollar Baby), Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hammer legend Sir Christopher Lee, as well as the critically lauded Wake Wood directed by David Keating and starring Aidan Gillen, Eva Birthistle and Timothy Spall.

February 2012 saw the theatrical release of Hammer’s first ever feature ghost story The Woman In Black, directed by James Watkins, adapted by Jane Goldman from the book by Susan Hill, and starring Daniel Radcliffe. The film has taken over 100m worldwide making it one of the biggest indie horror films.

Hammer recently launched a new publishing imprint through Random House which has already published eight books. In February 2012 the imprint published its first original title with the much-praised “The Greatcoat” by Helen Dunmore, which will be followed by an original novel about the Pendle witches, by Jeanette Winterson, and “Coldbrook” by Tim Lebbon. Also publishing in 2012 are further new novelisations of classic Hammer films.

Hammer is also broadening its reach, with plans for a Hammer Theatre of Horror and a Hammer visitor attraction, as well as continuing to honour the company’s legacy with re-releases of classic films, official histories, merchandise, screenings and social media engagement.

DreamWorks Animation SKG today announced that Emmy Award™ winner Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and Max Charles (The Amazing Spider-Man, The Three Stooges) will voice the lead roles of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, respectively, in the studio’s MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN, which is scheduled to be released on March 14, 2014.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman is directed by Rob Minkoff ( Stuart Little , The Lion King) and produced by Alex Schwartz, who had previously served as Head of Development for the studio, and Denise Cascino (Megamind, Shrek the Third). It is being written by Craig Wright ( United States of Tara, Six Feet Under). Bullwinkle Studio’s Tiffany Ward and Classic Media’s Eric Ellenbogen are serving as executive producers on the film along with Jason Clark (Monster House, Stuart Little ).

“The brilliantly comedic and paternal sensibilities of Ty Burrell make him ideal for the role of the beloved Mr. Peabody and we are thrilled that he will join Max Charles as the leads of Mr. Peabody & Sherman,” said DreamWorks Animation Chief Creative Officer Bill Damaschke. “Combined with Rob Minkoff’s legendary pedigree and Craig Wright’s re-imagining of these classic characters, the stage is set for an unbelievable film experience.”

Based on Jay Ward’s classic cartoon, Mr. Peabody is the world’s smartest person who happens to be a dog. When his “pet” boy Sherman uses their time traveling WABAC machine without permission, events in history spiral out of control to disastrous and comical results. It’s up to this most unexpected of father-son teams to somehow put things back on track before the space-time continuum is irreparably destroyed.

Sienna Guillory, John Savage & Clint Howard have joined Kristy Swanson, Kevin Sorbo, Dominique Swain, Stelio Savante & Jeffrey Vincent Parise in the cast of the romantic comedy, THE WHOLE BANANA. Matthew Perry (Friends, The Whole Nine Yards) & Dean Cain (Lois & Clarke, Five Days Of War) will also play large cameo roles in the film which began filming last week in Los Angeles (Photo Stills Attached). THE WHOLE BANANA is based on Deb Norton’s play which was last performed in Los Angeles at West Hollywood’s Court Theater in 2003. Perry a lso work-shopped the play with his dad John Bennett Perry at the Court, after Norton’s Ojai ‘Theater 150′ debut went well.

The plot revolves around struggling artist Fran (Kristy Swanson) who is so discouraged by the men in her life, that she frequently prays to Greek god Hermes(Kevin Sorbo). Taken by her faithful appeal, Hermes ventures into Fran’s life and sweeps her off her feet. Unfortunately for Fran there is a two week limit on Hermes earthly vacation. Domenique Swain plays Swanson’s best friend and confidant and Stelio Savante portrays Swain’s long suffering husband. Matthew Perry will play Apollo, brother to Sorbo’s Hermes. Clint Howard (The Dilemma, How The Grinch Stole Christmas) and Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil) play Fran’s fellow nicotine anonymous addicts.

Brought to the screen by Magik Shoppe Pictures, Stephen Wallis (Rain from Stars, The Wicked Within) directs and produces along with John Bennett Perry, Stelio Savante and Tom Fox.

Bruce Willis will star in Five Against A Bullet, the action thriller being developed by producers Lorenzo DiBonaventura, Jordan Schur, and David Mimran for Columbia Pictures, it was announced by Hannah Minghella, president of production for Columbia Pictures.

Alex Litvak is writing the screenplay which centers on a Mexican politician who, after his father is killed by a drug cartel, hires the five best bodyguards from around the world to protect him through a contentious election.

Commenting on the announcement, Minghella said, “We have been excited about this project since acquiring the rights last year from Mimran Schur and believe Bruce Willis is the perfect actor to lead this cast. We look forward to moving Five Against A Bullet into production quickly.”

Sam Dickerman and Lauren Abrahams are overseeing the project for the studio. Erik Howsam, who first brought the project into Columbia Pictures, will oversee on behalf of DiBonaventura Pictures.

Bruce Willis has demonstrated incredible versatility with roles in such diverse films as Pulp Fiction, Nobody’s Fool, 12 Monkeys, In Country, The Sixth Sense, and his signature role as Detective John McClane in the Die Hard series. Willis was last seen in the Golden Globe nominated feature film RED opposite Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich and he will next be seen in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom and Rian Johnson’s sci-fi thriller Looper as well as this summer’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation & Expendables 2. Willis will soon begin production on A Good Day To Die Hard (the fifth installment in the popular Die Hard franchise).

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura worked at Warner Bros. Pictures from 1989 to 2003, rising through the ranks of the legendary studio to lead their production division and oversee their film slate. While president of production, he was involved in over 130 motion pictures, including Falling Down, A Time to Kill, the Matrix series, Three Kings, Ocean’s Eleven, the first three Harry Potter movies, and Training Day. Since forming his production company in 2003, the company has produced 14 pictures, including the box-office hits Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Salt, and RED. His most recent film is Man on a Ledge.

Mimran Schur Pictures was co-founded by Jordan Schur and David Mimran in early 2009. The company’s first project was Stone, a psychological thriller directed by John Curran and starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Milla Jovovich. They have also produced Henry’s Crime, directed by Malcolm Venville and starring Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga and James Caan, and Warrior, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison and Nick Nolte, who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of an alcoholic former champion.

JOHN WELLS TO DIRECT ADAPTATION OF TRACY LETTS’ PULITZER PRIZE AND TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAY

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY SLATED FOR FALL 2012

The Weinstein Company announced today that Academy Award®-winning actresses Julia Roberts (EAT PRAY LOVE) and Meryl Streep (THE IRON LADY) are attached to AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, based on the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning play by Tracy Letts, and directed by John Wells (“Shameless”, THE COMPANY MEN). The announcement was made by TWC Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein.

Bradley Cooper will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today.

Cooper will be seen next in “The Words” and, later this year, in “The Place Beyond the Pines” and “The Silver Linings Playbook.” His film credits include “The Hangover Part II,” “Limitless,” “Valentine’s Day,” “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “Yes Man,” “Failure to Launch” and “Wedding Crashers.”

Cooper joins a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters, including Halle Berry, Rose Byrne, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Ellie Kemper, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph, Emma Stone and Kristen Wiig.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

Download the official 2012 Oscars App

Matthew Perry, Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson and Dominique Swain have joined Kevin Sorbo, Stelio Savante and Jeffrey Vincent Parise in the cast of THE WHOLE BANANA, a romantic comedy based on Deb Norton’s play which was last performed in Los Angeles at the Court Theater in 2003.

Perry and Cain will largely play cameo roles in the film which begins lensing in Los Angeles in late February. The plot revolves around struggling artist Fran (Kristy Swanson) who is so discouraged by the men in her life, that she frequently prays to Greek god Hermes(Kevin Sorbo).

Taken by her faithful appeal, Hermes ventures into Fran’s life and sweeps her off her feet. Unfortunately for Fran there is a two week limit on Hermes earthly vacation. Swain plays Swanson’s best friend and confidant and Savante portrays Swain’s long suffering husband.

Brought to the screen by Magik Shoppe Pictures, Stephen Wallis (Rain from Stars, The Wicked Within) directs and produces along with John Bennett Perry, Stelio Savante and Tom Fox.

Swanson, the original Buffy recently appeared in the indie What If. She is repped by David Shapira and Inphenate. Sorbo is one of the stars of last year’s biographical drama Soul Surfer and is repped by Innovative Artists and Marsh Entertainment. Swain, repped by Buchwald /Fortitude and Leverage is best known for her well received roles in Lolita and Face Off. SAG nominee Savante recently appeared in the play 110 Stories and South African film A Million Colours. He is repped by Buchwald-Fortitude and Elevate Entertainment.

Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated 3D adventure, HUGO, was officially released nationwide today. (Check out our review right HERE) Last weekend, I was lucky enough to attend the NY press junket. Even without the presence of Martin Scorsese, the amount of talent at the press conference was intimidating. Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Chloe Grace Moretz, Asa Butterfield, Sir Ben Kingsley, producers Graham King and John Logan & author Brian Selznick were all in attendance. A lot was covered during the 40-minute event. Here are some of the highlights of what was said…

SACHA BARON COHEN on his character:  Well, there is actually, there is a bit of romance between myself and Emily’s character, which is actually the first romantic plot I’ve had that’s not been with a black prostitute or a man. So it was actually my first.  We didn’t actually have a kissing scene, but there was a bit of romance in there. So that was a little bit different.  And as for the rest, playing an authority figure, well, he’s a bumbling authority figure. And he’s dark, but he does have some beauty and softness underneath him. So a bit like my other characters.

ASA BUTTERFIELD on the difficulties of playing Hugo:  Well, Hugo, he’s an orphan and because he’s had to grow up far faster than anyone else his age should have, I found it quite hard to relate to him because of all the hardships he’s gone through in his life. So I just had to come up with false past for him that was similar to mine and relate to him in that way.

CHLOE GRACE MORETZ on her accent: I’d probably say the hardest part about it was I was trying to conquer the accent. That was probably the most challenging thing I had to do as a character…. My brother Trevor and I kind of created the voice, and we worked together on the whole thing really.

EMILY MORTIMER on Martin Scorsese: He doesn’t sort of tell you what to do, and guide you through every step of the performance. He just shows you all the people’s movies. He did that on Shelter Island as well. So it’s more like he just helps you to understand the world of the film by showing you other people’s films, which is his inspiration anyway.
(One of the films everyone was asked to watch is UNDER THE ROOFS OF PARIS)

SACHA BARON COHEN on the root of Evil: I mean certainly when I sort of approach the character of the station inspector; I wanted to know why was he so obsessed with chasing children? Was he actually, you know, a classic villain or was there reason for his malice? And, I sat down with John and Martin and we started talking about perhaps he was World War I veteran, and maybe he was injured. So we came up with the idea of the leg brace. Originally, it was a false leg, which the audience wouldn’t have realized until it was going to be the first chase. Then I was going to turn a corner and then my leg was going to fly off and go into camera in 3D. And that was going to be the first big 3D moment. Unfortunately, practically I was made aware that I would have had to kind of strap up my leg for four months in order to do that. So we kind of abandoned that, and I started wearing a leg brace instead.

SIR BEN KINGSLEY on staying in character:  I tended to stay in character because so many of many of my major scenes were with Asa. And in order to feed that relationship because action and cut can be shockingly short, that space you have to establish a deep rapport with your fellow actors. So I think I tended to. Also, my shape was so defined as older George. So like it was very difficult for me to snap back into Ben because I mean it just didn’t happen. I just stayed because I was stuck with George.

JOHN LOGAN on film: Brian Selznick’s amazing novel he talks about movies as dreams, as ways to dream, as ways for all of us to dream. I know, when I was a kid growing up, that’s what they were for me because I was asthmatic. I couldn’t go out and play. I have to be in a dark room, and watching movies on TV allowed me to liberate every thought I’d ever had. And when I read Brian’s book for the first time that’s really what struck me more than anything was it was touching the 8-year-old me. And so, for me it was always about how does that damaged child find the place that he belongs?

SIR BEN KINGSLEY on wounded souls:  Well, I think the core value of its magic is its fearlessness in putting wounded characters on the screen. That’s a very brave move.  It’s not very fashionable. It’s not sugar coated. A wounded man who is totally retired from his life. He almost committed suicide of the spirit, orphan, orphan, a girl who lost her brother in the Battle of the Somme in 1914, a dreadful way to lose a brother, and a chap who lost his leg. Wounded, wounded, wounded, wounded, wounded. And I think that’s an incredibly bold move to make in the present context. That’s where the magic comes from. And as Sacha was saying, where’s the wound? Because if there is no wound, the healer has no function and the healer is the youngest person on the screen who pulls all these threads together. But you won’t have an audience empathizing with you if nothing needs comforting. It won’t happen. So I think all of this individually paradoxically nourished that scar inside us in order to make the magic, in order to make him the greatest magician on the screen and make all the magic happen.

EMILY MORTIMER on technology: I was saying yesterday that there is something about Scorsese using the latest 3D technology to push the boundaries of filmmaking in 2012 or 2011 or whatever. To make a film about the very first technology ever used to put magic on the screen over 100 years ago is just so perfect.  And somehow you get a sense of every film that was made in between Mêlées and Scorsese.

SACHA BARON COHEN on the use of 3D:  If I could just continue that. It felt like here’s the logical extension of filmmaking that if Miller was alive that he definitely would have been using 3D.  That was the interesting thing because of the whole debate in cinema at the moment whether 3D is a gimmick or not.  Scorsese really showed that it was a logical development of the filmmaking process.

CHLOE GRACE MORETZ on Scorsese: You know, not only did I grow as an actor on this film with Scorsese, I grew in my knowledge of film history, which I’ve always been a history buff. Of course, I walked on the set knowing a little bit about it thinking oh I can have a conversation with him. And then you get into the conversation and he’s like dah-dah-dah-dah. And I’m like, “Okay, I’m not prepared for this.”

SACHA BARON COHEN on collaboration:  I think that’s the key about Scorsese that he’s totally collaborative, which I was surprised about.  Because I expected him to be some incredible author, which he is an author. But part of his power and part of the reason why his films are that successful and that enduring is the fact that he’s ready to collaborate fully with all his actors.

BRIAN SELZNICK on writing the book: I made this book thinking it could not be filmed because the book at the end of the story, the object of the book itself actually becomes part of the plot. And what happens when you turn the page because a big chunk of the narrative in my book is told with images like a movie.  But even so, it’s celebrating movies. It’s really about what happens when you turn the page, and the power of the book itself.  So I just imagined it couldn’t be a movie. And like I said, I got the call that Scorsese wanted to make it. And I thought, well, maybe this actually can be a movie. And, I realized I never would have thought of him. Like if someone had asked me, “Who would you imagine directing this movie?” But, of course, the second we hear his name, we all realize there was no one else who could have made this movie. It was if I had sat for 2-1/2 years at my desk during which time in real life I was thinking I was writing something no one would read because it’s a book about French silent movies for children. Which isn’t a guaranteed best seller.  You know, but it’s as if I did all of that for Marty.

BRIAN SELZNICK on his cameo: I had the great thrill of being put into the last scene of the movie. I got a line. I think a lot of you saw the movie. I’m sure you’re excited to meet me now because of that. But Sir Ben was incredibly generous with me. I suddenly found myself next to Sir Ben saying my line to Sir Ben. And we spent a lot of the day filming the last tracking shot in the kitchen waiting for the action and to do the three-minute tracking shot again. And the camera never goes into the kitchen, but we would open the cabinet doors and it was fully stocked with food.

SIR BEN KINGSLEY on the sets:  It’s a huge gift to us. It constantly fed us.  Between takes I used to wander around the station, and the detail was extraordinary. You never left that world, did you? I mean it was so embracing and so sustaining, a huge gift to the actors, all to scale and not a lot of CGI really. I mean compared to what there might have been, very little.

ASA BUTTERFIELD on the sets: And, the working clocks were incredible because they were real. You could actually wind them and they had weights on.  And it was just incredible. I mean, as Sir Ben said it was a gift to the actors to work that way.

SACHA BARON COHEN on the film’s target audience: It seems to me that Marty makes films for himself.  He is an artist, a true artist and he makes the movie that he wants to see. So my first line in the movie had the word malfeasance in it, which I barely understood. And I said, “Aren’t you worried that some of the children won’t understand this let alone the grown ups?” He said, “No, it’s the right word to use there.” And he’s one of the last remaining artists that is out there. And I think we should respect that. The movie is not focus grouped, and it’s not tailored for a 7-year-old in Iowa or Berlin or anywhere to appreciate it. Marty has made a work of art in the same way that Melies did.  So I think that is a beautiful thing and it’s an incredible achievement for a filmmaker still to be able to do that. Thanks to Graham for being able to fund that.

HUGO is now playing in 3D & 2D nationwide!

 Jerry Cavallaro – www.JerryCavallaro.com

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will celebrate the career of Oscar®-winner Vanessa Redgrave with its first-ever European tribute to an actor, on Sunday, November 13, in London. The event, hosted by David Hare, will include special guests Meryl Streep, Ralph Fiennes, Joely Richardson, James Earl Jones and Eileen Atkins. Past Academy President Sid Ganis will introduce the evening.

The salute will explore Redgrave’s dramatic range and exquisite skill. Hare has created three film sequences, each with its own narrative, showing the depth and array of characters that Redgrave has inhabited.

A member of the distinguished Redgrave acting family, Vanessa rose to prominence in 1961, playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Since then, she has made dozens of stage appearances and has appeared in more than 70 films. In addition to the Oscar she received for her supporting performance in “Julia” (1977), and her nominations for “Morgan!” (1966), “Isadora” (1968), “Mary, Queen of Scots” (1971), “The Bostonians” (1984) and “Howards End” (1992), Redgrave’s honors include Olivier, Tony®, Emmy®, Screen Actors Guild and Cannes Film Festival awards. She stars in “Anonymous,” now in release, and the upcoming “Coriolanus.” Redgrave is also appearing in the West End stage production of Driving Miss Daisy.

“An Academy Salute to Vanessa Redgrave” is an invitation-only event.

Pictured: Vanessa Redgrave backstage at the 1977 (50th) Academy Awards ceremony. Courtesy of A.M.P.A.S

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

ROURKE WILL BE THE 254th CELEBRITY TO HAVE HANDS &
FOOTPRINTS IN CHINESE CEMENT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 31st

(Hollywood, Calif., October 18, 2011)–The most famous place in Hollywood, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (www.chinesetheatres.com), is set to honor its 254th celebrity, Oscar(R)-nominee Mickey Rourke, with his own hand and footprints ceremony on Monday, October 31 at 11:00 AM. The masters of ceremony and guest speaker will be announced.

Up next, Rourke can be seen in the visually-stunning 3D epic adventure Immortals, starring Henry Cavill, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Stephen Dorff, and John Hurt. Directed by Tarsem Singh, written by Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides and produced by Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton and Relativity’s CEO RyanKavanaugh, Immortals tells the story of the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke), who leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity. A mortal chosen by Zeus named Theseus (Cavill) must lead the fight against Hyperion and his evil army with the fate of mankind and the Gods at Stake. The film will be released by Relativity Media on November 11, 2011.

Rourke received widespread acclaim for his performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and wins for Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards, BAFTAs and Independent Spirit Awards. Rourke’s career is one marked by his ability to create riveting performances and to leave indelible impressions on audiences. His impressive list of feature credits includes John Madden’s Killshot, Tony Scott’s Domino and Man on Fire, Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Larry Charles’ Masked and Anonymous, Steve Buscemi’s Animal Factory and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Rainmaker. Rourke earned a place for himself in Hollywood with his stellar ability to mesmerize audiences in earlier films, including Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours, Alan Parker’s Angel Heart, Mike Hodges’ A Prayer for the Dying, Adrian Lyne’s Nine 1/2 Weeks, Cimino’s Year of the Dragon, Stuart Rosenberg’s The Pope of Greenwich Village, Barry Levinson’s Diner, Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat, Francis Ford Coppola’s Rumble Fish, Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate and Steven Spielberg’s 1941. Rourke recently starred in the blockbuster sequel, Iron Man 2 and was also seen in The Expendables.

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre hands and footprints ceremony is rich in tradition and provides the four million plus people a year who visit the site an opportunity to experience the lore of Hollywood up close, for here lay the handprints and footprints of Hollywood’s most notable talents. Unlike any other award in Hollywood, be it an Oscar(R) or a sidewalk ceremony, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre handprints-footprints tribute is the most selective of all,since over the course of nine decades, only 250-plus such honors have been presented.

Movieexhibitor Sid Grauman, one of Hollywood’s best known and most creative showmen, opened The Chinese in 1927 and launched the handprints-footprints ceremony a year later. Among the first handprints and footprints were those of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Recent celebrants have included: Brad Pitt,George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston.

Today, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre forecourt is among the world’s most photographed tourist sites, annually attracting as many visitors as the Taj Mahal in India and the Prado Museum in Madrid. In any given year, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre hosts over 40 red carpet film premieres and since it opened, it has hosted three Academy Award(R) ceremonies and numerous world premieres, including those for internationally-acclaimed film franchises, such as Star Wars and Harry Potter.

Mickey Rourke’s ceremony will be broadcast live via streaming video on: http://www.chinesetheatres.com.

About the Chinese Theatres
Since 1927, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre has been the home of the most important, star powered red carpet movie premieres and special events, where Hollywood’s biggest and brightest talents have come to watch their movies. The most famous movie theatre on the globe is world-renowned for its unique forecourt of the stars, featuring cement hand and footprints of major movie stars, from Marilyn Monroe to Brad Pitt, and numerous stars from all eras of Hollywood. In addition to being amajor international tourist destination, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and its six adjacent cinemas, the Chinese 6, are everyday working movie theatres, hosting millions of moviegoers year round. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1968, and there has always been a restorationprogram in process to maintain the theatre’s beauty. With its current, on-going facelift and new added amenities and event spaces, guided by a new and vigorous ownership team, the Chinese Theatres and its famed “hands in cement” forecourt will continue to be the preferred location for tourist visits and the entertainment industry’s most prestigious red carpet premieres for years to come.

IMMORTALS
Release Date: November 11, 2011

DIRECTOR: Tarsem Singh (The Fall, The Cell)
WRITERS: Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides

CAST:  Henry Cavill- THESEUS (Superman: Man of Steel)
            Stephen Dorff- STAVROS (Somewhere)
            Isabel Lucas- ATHENA (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
            Freida Pinto- PHAEDRA (Slumdog Millionaire)
            Luke Evans- ZEUS (The Raven, The Three Muskateers)
            Kellan Lutz- POSEIDON (Twilight series)
            John Hurt- OLD ZEUS (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2)
            Mickey Rourke- KING HYPERION (The Wrestler)
PRODUCERS: Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Ryan Kavanaugh   
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tucker Tooley, Tommy Turtle, Jeff G. Waxman

Visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) transports us in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure. As a power-hungry king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful.

The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission.

As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion’s brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity. Immortals is produced by Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300) and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter).

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/immortals
Official Site: http://www.immortalsmovie.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/immortalsfilm

Whitney Houston has joined the cast of SPARKLE which began principal photography this week in Detroit, Michigan. SPARKLE is a remake of the 1976 film and tells the story of the title character Sparkle (Jordin Sparks), the youngest of three sisters and a music prodigy who struggles to become a star while facing issues that are tearing her family apart. Starring alongside Houston in the musical drama are Grammy® nominated and platinum recording artist Jordin Sparks (“American Idol” winner, Season 6), Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher, Captain America: The First Avenger), Mike Epps (Jumping the Broom, Friday After Next), Carmen Ejogo (I, Alex Cross, Pride and Glory), Tika Sumpter (What’s Your Number?, “Gossip Girl”), Omari Hardwick (Kick Ass, The A-Team) and Grammy® Award winner, Cee-Lo Green.

SPARKLE is being directed by Salim Akil (Jumping The Broom) from a screenplay written by Mara Brock Akil (“The Game”, “Girlfriends”) and produced by Debra Martin Chase (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Just Wright) along with Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil, T.D. Jakes and Curtis Wallace (Jumping the Broom, Not Easily Broken). Whitney Houston is also Executive Producing along with Gaylyn Fraiche (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2), and Howard Rosenman (Sparkle, The Family Man). Original music provided by multi-Platinum and Grammy® Award-winning artist R. Kelly. “SPARKLE is a movie I have wanted to remake for a long time and I am so glad to finally see my wish come true and to be part of this stellar team of actors and producers,” said Houston.

Last year, Whitney spent the majority of the year on a world tour in support of her album “I LOOK TO YOU” which to date has sold two million copies worldwide. After the tour, she lent her support to her manager and sister in law, Patricia Houston, who has created and developed a line of beautiful organic scented candles, MARION P, named after the nickname Whitney gave to Patricia. There are five different scents, which were chosen based on a trip Whitney and Patricia took to Israel a few years ago. “I’m delighted to be a partner with Pat Houston and the creation of her beautiful candle line. It’s the essence of everything pure. It’s not just a candle, it’s an experience. I have never endorsed anything before this. These candles are truly inspiring – they are 100% soy and also made with shea butter so that when the candle melts down, you can use it as a body moisturizer. Also, you are doing a good deed as a portion of the sales goes to Patricia’s teen mentoring program,” said Whitney. The candles are available on MarionPCandles.com and also through Whitney’s website, WhitneyHouston.com.

Whitney recently attended Teen Summit, Patricia’s annual teen mentoring event which “Rebuilds, Restores and Repairs” the lives of young teens. The event took place in North Carolina and Whitney spoke to the teens, alongside Kim Burrell, Rickey Minor, and Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) and others. The event was a huge success and a portion of the candle sales will go toward this charity, which is in its 6th year.

With over 170 million combined album, singles and videos sold worldwide during her career with Arista Records, Whitney Houston has established a benchmark for superstardom that will quite simply never be eclipsed in the modern era. She is a singer’s singer who has influenced countless other vocalists female and male. Music historians cite Whitney’s record-setting achievements: the only artist to chart seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits (“Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love Of All,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “So Emotional,” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”); the first female artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at #1 (her second album, Whitney, 1987); and the only artist with seven consecutive multi-platinum albums (Whitney Houston, Whitney, I’m Your Baby Tonight, The Bodyguard, Waiting To Exhale, and The Preacher’s Wife soundtracks, and My Love Is Your Love). In fact, The Bodyguard soundtrack is one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all-time (at 17x-platinum in the U.S. alone), and Whitney’s career-defining version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” is the biggest-selling U.S. single of all-time (at 4x-platinum).

Houston made her movie debut in The Bodyguard (November 1992), in which she co-starred with Oscar-winning actor/director Kevin Costner. The film not only broke box office records worldwide but was ultimately responsible for the biggest selling motion picture soundtrack album of all time, voted the Grammy-winning Album Of the Year. Her film work continued with Waiting To Exhale (which opened December 1995, preceded by the soundtrack album in November). The critically acclaimed film, starring Whitney with Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon, and directed by Forrest Whitaker, went on to gross over $70 million (in ‘90s dollars). She followed those up with “The Preacher’s Wife” with Denzel Washington and the Emmy winning “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” which was made for TV and garnered huge ratings for ABC TV at the time.

HBO’s press release: 

ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER STEVEN SODERBERGH AND
PRODUCER JERRY WEINTRAUB BRING
ACADEMY AWARD® WINNERS MICHAEL DOUGLAS AND MATT DAMON
TO HBO FOR HBO FILMS’ BEHIND THE CANDELABRA

STEVEN SODERBERGH DIRECTS FROM A SCRIPT BY RICHARD LAGRAVENESE; 
JERRY WEINTRAUB EXECUTIVE PRODUCES;
GREGORY JACOBS, SUSAN EKINS PRODUCE

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11, 2011 – Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Contagion,” “Traffic,” “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen”) and Emmy® Award-winning producer Jerry Weintraub (“Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,” “The Karate Kid” series, HBO’s Emmy®-nominated “His Way”) will bring the film BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, starring Academy Award® winners Michael Douglas (“Wall Street,” “Traffic,” “Solitary Man”) and Matt Damon (“Contagion,” “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,” “Invictus”) to HBO Films, it was announced today by Len Amato, president, HBO Films.

Executive produced by Weintraub and produced by Gregory Jacobs (“Contagion,” “The Informant!”) and Susan Ekins (“Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,” “The Karate Kid” series), BEHIND THE CANDELABRA takes a behind-the-scenes look at the tempestuous relationship between legendary entertainer Liberace and Scott Thorson, his younger live-in lover. Directed by Soderbergh from a script by Oscar® nominee Richard LaGravenese (“Water for Elephants,” “The Fisher King”), the film stars Douglas as Liberace and Damon as Thorson.

“This is a story that’s going to surprise a lot of people,” said Amato. “It’s funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us.”

Says Weintraub, “I’ve wanted to make a film about Liberace for a very long time, and after the amazing experience I had with HBO on ‘His Way,’ I knew that they were absolutely the right place for this movie. I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson.

I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson. Putting these two fine actors in the creative hands of Steven Soderbergh – it doesn’t get better than that!”

“From the inception of this project, we’ve had two priorities: getting it right creatively, and getting as many people as possible to see it,” says Soderbergh. “HBO’s fearless approach to original programming and their unparalleled ability to pull in viewers make them the perfect fit for us. Apart from my hair growing back, I couldn’t be happier.”

“Richard Plepler and I developed an enormous respect and affection for Jerry when we worked with him on his HBO documentary, and we hoped that it would be the beginning of a long and productive relationship,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “We are extremely excited that he is returning to HBO with this riveting film and sensational array of talent.”

BEHIND THE CANDELABRA will start production in summer 2012, with locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. Tara Grace, vice president, development and production, HBO Films, will serve as production executive on the project.

Big congrats to the St. Louis-based filmmakers over at Crunchy Cool Films. They’ve scored a major casting coup by securing three A-list horror villains for their upcoming shocker THE BLOODFEST CLUB which starts filming in our town soon. Horror vets Bill Moseley, Michael Berryman, and William Forsythe have all signed on for roles in the film!

BLOODFEST CLUB will be the second film from the writing team of Oscar Madrid and Jim Ousley. Their first, HOOCH & DADDY-O (2005), was an award-winning mock documentary (available on Netflix). about a fictional 80′s cop show. BLOODFEST CLUB will mark the directorial debut of Madrid and stars writer Ousley as Sonny Kane, a slow-witted, Chuck Norris-obsessed janitor at a High School that takes on a bloodthirsty alien roaming the hallways killing students.

Moseley will star as Dr. Colin Dante, the sinister history professor in search of lost artifacts on campus. Berryman will play Sensei Noddy Donigan, the janitorial mentor who doesn’t always dispense the best advice. Forsythe will appear as Principal Donald Bircher, the no-nonsense task-master of Chatsworth Academy. All three of these actors appeared in Rob Zombie’s THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005)

Here’s some more background on these actors:

Bill Mosely-

A Yale graduate, Bill Moseley first came to the attention of horror fans world-wide as ‘Chop-Top’ in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986). His reputation as a true horror film icon was cemented with his portrayal of Otis in Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and its sequel, The Devil’s Rejects. In 2008, he gained critical acclaim as ‘Luigi Largo’ in the horror opera Repo! The Genetic Opera. He has also appeared in the films Grindhouse (2007) and Halloween (2007), and has appeared on television, guest starring on ER, Carnivale, and The Practice.

Michael Berryman-

Michael Berryman is probably best known for his role as ‘Pluto’ in Wes Craven’s 1977 horror film The Hills Have Eyes and the 1985 sequel The Hills Have Eyes Part II. He has also made appearances in the science fiction and fantasy movies My Science Project (1985), Weird Science (1985), Armed Response (1986), Evil Spirits (1990) and The Guyver (1991). He appeared in the Academy Award-winning drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). In 2005, he starred in Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects.
William Forsythe-

William Forsythe has made a career of playing everything from quirky characters, to tough guys and villains in a wide range of films. He has appeared alongside Robert De Niro in Once Upon a Time in America (1984), starred in the Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona (1987), and portrayed ‘Flattop’ in Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy (1990). In 1996, he appeared in Michael Bay’s The Rock and nearly a decade later he endeared himself to the hearts of horror fans everywhere as ‘Sheriff Wydell’ in The Devil’s Rejects. Mr. Forsythe has brought his sizable talents to the small screen as well, in episodes of Entourage, CSI: Miami, and Boardwalk Empire.
For an earlier WAMG article on BLOODFEST CLUB with the trailer, go HERE and look for future coverage of the film here at We Are Movie Geeks.

America’s Highest Honor for a Career in Film to be Presented June 7, 2012

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9, 2011 -  Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the American Film Institute’s Board of Trustees, announced today the Board’s decision to honor Shirley MacLaine with the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film.

The award will be presented to MacLaine at a gala tribute on Thursday, June 7, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA. TV Land will broadcast the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute on TV Land later in June 2012. The event will celebrate MacLaine’s extraordinary life and all her endeavors – movies, television, Broadway, author and beyond.

“Shirley MacLaine is a powerhouse of personality that has illuminated screens large and small across six decades,” said Stringer. “From ingenue to screen legend, Shirley has entertained a global audience through song, dance, laughter and tears, and her career as writer, director and producer is even further evidence of her passion for the art form and her seemingly boundless talents. There is only one Shirley MacLaine, and it is AFI’s honor to present her with its 40th Life Achievement Award.”

Last year’s AFI Tribute brought together icons of the film community to honor Morgan Freeman. Sidney Poitier opened the tribute, and Clint Eastwood presented the award at evening’s end. Also participating were Casey Affleck, Dan Aykroyd, Matthew Broderick, Don Cheadle, Bill Cosby, David Fincher, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Ashley Judd, Matthew McConaughey, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Tim Robbins, Chris Rock, Hilary Swank, Forest Whitaker, Betty White, Renee Zellweger and surprise musical guest Garth Brooks.

The highest honor given for a career in film, the AFI Life Achievement Award is presented to a single honoree each year based on the following criteria as mandated by the AFI Board of Trustees:

“The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.”

About Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine’s illustrious career comprises more than 50 feature films highlighted by an Academy Award® win and six nominations, six Emmy® Awards nominations and the title of international best-selling author. Recently, MacLaine appeared in the ensemble film, VALENTINE’S DAY, and the Lifetime made-for-TV movie COCO CHANEL. She released her latest New York Times best-seller, “I’M OVER ALL THAT – AND OTHER CONFESSIONS” on April 5th, 2011. MacLaine can be seen next in BERNIE, staring Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey. She can also be seen on stage during her one-woman show tour as it hits cities across the globe.