WB relationship Tom Cruise for 'A Star is Born'

CruiseBeyonceWith professionals buzzing about his performance becoming an 80s rock star in Warner Bros. and New Line's approaching musical "Rock old range," Tom Cruise finds themselves being courted by WB to topline Clint Eastwood's "A Star makes the worldInch along with Beyonce. Cruise starts shooting Universal's untitled, Ernest Kosinski-directed sci-fi pic inside a couple of days, and after wrapping production on that film, he's skedded to star in Doug Liman's "You Simply Need Kill" for Warners. While there were not any discussions, as well as a deal, the studio remains talking with Cruise to gauge his fascination with the project, a prospect that Cruise didn't immediately reject, because of the chance to make use of Eastwood the first time. It's unclear whether WB could be ready to accommodate Cruise's schedule, but should he pursue the project, he'd play an over-the-hill music artist who falls for just about any youthful singer who he's attempting to make a star. Within the this past year, WB has eyed Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Leonardo DiCaprio for your plum part. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Phase 4 Films snags privileges to 'Bindlestiffs'

Berry Meyerowitz's Phase 4 Films has acquired U.S. and Canadian privileges to Andrew Edison's raunchy teen comedy "Bindlestiffs" and can release the pic through its new "Kevin Smith's SModcast Pictures Presents" banner. Pic made its world premiere in The month of january in the Slamdance Film Festival, where it won the crowd Award for the best Feature Narrative. Edison authored the script with Luke Loftin, and also the duo created our prime school laffer with Mike Akel and Matt Patterson. Edison and Loftin star alongside John Karna. Trio play wise-mouthed virgins who flee towards the inner city to reside the plot of "The Catcher within the Rye" after being suspended from soccer practice on the graffiti charge. Phase 4 will release the film in June included in a theatrical tour which will features Q&A's with Cruz and also the filmmakers. A few days ago, Meyerowitz and also the Phase 4 team is going to be on the floor with Cruz and the SModcast Pictures team at SXSW searching to get other films for that label. "'Bindlestiffs' is the best first film for all of us to produce under our new partnership with Kevin Cruz," stated Meyerowitz. "It's raunchy, crazy and shockingly funny, and showcases the immense talents of Andrew Edison and Luke Loftin. The support that people and Kevin brings towards the film will expose it to countless fans and help transform it into a classic." "SModcast Pictures Presents is ecstatic about our first feature, a ballsy senior high school comedy which was created by real, live high schoolers (who're really way more amusing compared to 20-something grown ups who usually play teens in movies)," stated Cruz. "This mind-bendingly original and stomach-bustingly hysterical first film is really with confidence made and something-of-a-kind, I am unable to wait to face on the stage near the 'Bindlestiffs' boys and smell the area following the audience has pissed themselves poking fun at their debut film." "We're beyond stoked to possess Kevin Cruz present 'Bindlestiffs,'" stated Edison and Loftin. "If he did not already pave the way in which with 'Clerks' for films like ours to locate a crowd, he's certainly doing that now in the partnership with Phase 4. For all of us, this really is a classic dream become a reality.Inch Phase 4 and SModcast Pictures' distribution partnership, that was introduced at the begining of 2012, allows Phase 4 to get exclusive privileges to demonstrate and distribute as much as 12 films each year under Smith's banner. Phase 4 will release four of those films theatrically every year, which includes an active tour with Cruz. The offer for 'Bindlestiffs' was discussed by Phase 4's Ray Greenberg and Katharyn Howe with William Morris Global and Quality Media with respect to the filmmakers. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Major Spoiler: Desperate Average women Trial Discloses Who's Dying on Sunday!

Laurie Holden and Jeffrey DeMunn [Warning: This story consists of major spoilers about AMC's The Walking Dead and also the comic series that inspired it. Read at the own risk.] The Walking Dead has constantly shocked fans and comic visitors alike because the AMC series is constantly on the deviate from Robert Kirkman's source material. Last week's surprising dying would be a best example. After investing two seasons because the group's moral compass, Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) met his demise far sooner than his comic counterpart. Due to this, the lengthy-looked forward to and surprising relationship between Dale and Andrea (Laurie Holden) created within the comics won't ever begin to see the light of day around the hit Tv show. TVGuide.com swept up with Holden to obtain her undertake the large dying and just how the audience will grieve continuing to move forward. Plus: It's all regulated Carl's fault, right? three reasons we are annoyed through the Walking Dead's latest dying How have you experience Dale's dying? Holden: It had been heartbreaking. I did not realize it was coming until a script was shipped to my trailer and that i was browsing through it and found that scene and literally I'd the response enjoy it was real, like someone I truly loved died. I burst into tears and went from my trailer and visited my various colleagues and stated, "Perhaps you have look at this? Is true? Is true?" I had been pretty bereft, I must admit, for a lot of reasons. To start with, I really like Shaun DeMunn and that i loved every moment of dealing with him. I have done two other movies with him and also the third time's a charm. Personally i think so fortunate to possess had that have. But additionally, I really like the Dale-Andrea dynamic and that i felt like we'd a lot more story to understand more about together also it was cut a little short. Had you been impressed by his dying since Andrea and Dale eventually experienced rapport within the comics? Holden: Yeah, because which was always the program, but it is not a secret the tv program does veer removed from the graphic novel also it would be a creative decision that [executive producers] Glen Mazzara and Robert Kirkman emerged with and was behind. It made sense when it comes to story and just how we are continuing to move forward. This past year you pointed out that you simply were excited for that Dale-Andrea relationship and stated the show would recognition the comics for the reason that regard. At that time, have you think these were heading down that path? Holden: Absolutely. Absolutely. This tough factor about our show is the fact that we must help remind ourselves it's a zombie apocalypse, the rules change, that any character will go anytime and often you will find likely to be diversions in the source material. This just been the main one character Irrrve never expected it to occur to. Did AMC's website spoil a significant event around the Walking Dead this year? Given all of the dying lately, how worried are you currently about Andrea's fate? Holden: To tell the truth, I am not worried. Should you browse the latest problem from the graphic novel, she's alive and powerful. Personally i think certain that Andrea's likely to be around for some time. Using the group still divided when it comes to Ron (Andrew Lincoln subsequently) and Shane (Jon Bernthal), will Andrea affiliate with Shane? Holden: I believe she has, to tell the truth. Like she stated within the episodes, it is simply his presentation that lacks something to become preferred. She admires Shane, but is not exactly fond of how he's gone about doing things. But the earth has transformed and he's made some pretty wise moves. Does she think Shane is bad or good for that group? Holden: She thinks he's an excellent guy, but you need to realize that she's not privy to numerous his personal conversations with others. She's not aware of what went down between him and Dale. She's not necessarily conscious of the fighting between Ron and Shane. Individuals are isolated situations. All Andrea knows is the fact that he's been a very awesome cat that actually mentored her and demonstrated her how you can safeguard herself and shoot a gun, and often he will get a little hot headed and she's searching at him like, "Hey, you have to type of have it together." But apart from that I believe that they still really thinks in him. The Walking Dead Boss: Lori is becoming Lady Macbeth So how exactly does the audience handle the dying of Dale? Holden: Clearly the dying of Dale is extremely difficult on Andrea because it is on Glen (Steven Yeun) a lot more than anybody else within the group. There's lots of guilt and lots of regret. She wasn't particularly easy on him for quite a while and Andrea wasn't in an exceedingly good mind space. When Dale passes, every move that Andrea makes from there forward is all about praising Dale, which means as being a leader, getting a more powerful moral compass, being compassionate and extremely lending her hands much more than she'd have before. I recall noticeably for that relaxation of year, each and every factor which i did before every scene, I figured, "Andrea, you have to recognition Dale." And when there is ever a caption to explain Andrea's mind space, there you have it. The way Carl (Chandler Riggs) handle Dale's dying since he's partly to blame? Holden: Bless his little heart. There's a lot hate for your character at this time, and that i keep telling everyone on Twitter that he's only a child. He earned an error. He's an infant. Provide him some slack. The guilt and remorse that that poor child will carry, I would not wish that on anybody. And So I hope people can understand that he's 12 and forgive him since i don't believe that he will have the ability to forgive themself. The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

Shawn Christensen To Write The Man From Nowhere Redo For Dimension Films

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Weinstein and SVP Matthew Signer acquired rights to the South Korean action thriller The Man From Nowherethis year and will supervise development of their English-language take. Weinstein personally sought out Shawn Christensen after reading the spec draft of the writer’s Abduction, which was sold last year in a bidding war to Lionsgate. Directed by Lee Jeong-beom, the original Nowhere follows aquiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past who takes on a drug- and organ-trafficking ring to save the child who is his only friend. The film opened No. 1 at the Korean box office in August 2010 and held the top spot for five weeks in a row, becoming that year’s highest-grossing Korean film. Christensen recentlywon the International Audience Award for Curfew, which he wrote, directed and starred in, at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival in France, one of the world’s most important short film events. Lionsgate will soon release Enter Nowhere, which he co-wrote with Jason Dolan. He previously sold the Black List spec Karma Coalition to Warner Bros and is developing Sidney Hall with Scott Free, which he co-wrote with Dolan.Christensen is repped by Verve, Caliber Media and attorney Alan Hergott.

Could Netflix Evolve In To A Premium Cable Funnel? Possibly, Boss States

Pay TV companies already “know how to overcome Cinemax and wish to have a very competitor to Cinemax,” Netflix Boss Reed Hastings mentioned today within the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference. So even though he doesn’t expect Netflix to participate the pay TV line-as reduced funnel soon, “it’s inside the natural direction over time” and “might be extremely effective, especially after we have an overabundance original content.” But Hastings won’t quit the business in return for carriage, the means by which many cable channels have. Also according to him that in any distribution arrangement it’s necessary that “the consumer knows they’re using Netflix and possess our application round the TV.” Meanwhile, according to him that cable operators have justification to like getting Netflix on broadband — despite their frequent complaint the recording services really are a bandwidth hog. “They’re developing a fortune,” according to him. “Comcast while others sell a (broadband) service for $40, $50, $60, $70 monthly with no content costs.” Hastings states that Netflix will benefit from getting exclusive content, including re-runs of Mad Males, but notes it wasn’t initially an element of the organization’s strategy. Tv producers and cable systems that buy syndicated shows “won’t inform us. They’re just following rules capitalists. Therefore we must buy more exclusives.” Now he must improve his trading on original unique content. He notes that Cinemax stays about 60% of the programming dollars certification movies from art galleries, adding to 40% on original content. “Maybe we’ll make it.” But he still likes buying re-runs. Indeed, he defended Comcast’s new movie service due to its clients, Streampix, which some consider a possible Netflix competitor even though it initially will contain older content. “You might say, it’s only re-runs. But have a look in the best spinner's. It’s a very valuable franchise.” For the moment Hastings states that Amazon . com . com will most likely become among his finest rivals — but he’s not concerned. “Amazon’s strength is that they’re super lengthy-term (coordinators) and everyone taking a chance, especially me.”But because the online shop might have “some business,” according to him that Netflix can fight by supplying a far greater buyer experience. “We’re not trying to win when you're broad. That’s their game. We’re super focused” on particular kinds of content — and becoming an imaginative interface which will help clients locate the types of content they need. “When you mix (if needed) with personalization you obtain high several hours and satisfaction,” according to him. “When you select within the handheld handheld remote control might be as soon as of truth. Can you turn on the energy power grid, or can you turn on Netflix?”

Salma Hayek Helps Make The Prophet

Creating Kahlil Gibran adaptationIt was initially released in 1923 and stays among the best-selling books ever, therefore it appears remarkable that nobody has attempted a movie adaptation of Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet before. That's going to change, within an ambitious project being shepherded by Salma Hayek and producers Clark Billings and Ron Senkowski.Gibran's book is really a lengthy-form poem (designed in British, although Gibran generally authored in Arabic), the narrative which sees the prophet Al-Nabi going to attempt an sea voyage, but waylaid on his method to the docks with a succession of people that prompt him into discussions of existence, the world and everything. It is a "spiritual classic", but adaptable to any or all faiths, whether deeply or delicately held, because it does not stick to any sort of religion.Like a film, the program would be to make an animated anthology shipped by multiple company directors. One of the contributing factors are Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis), Tomm Moore (The Key Of Kells), Nina Paley (Sita Sings The Blues), Joan Gratz (Hireling Shepherd Climbing down A Staircase), Mohammed Saeed Harib (Freej) and Bill Plympton (Guard Dog). Each will require an instalment, and also the connecting story is going to be thanks to Roger Allers (The Lion King)."The Prophet continues to be an amazing supply of knowledge and inspiration for huge numbers of people around the globe,Inch states Hayek. "Being of Lebanese descent, I am particularly proud to participate a task which will present this masterpiece to new decades, in ways never witnessed before."Harib states, "This is an immense recognition to have the ability to translate the whole shebang of among the Arab world's most valued authors in to the visual realm. I'm thrilled to become among such esteemed animation company directors designated to create The Prophet towards the giant screen and also to the twenty-first century.InchBefore-production starts later this month.

Academy awards: Hotel Rwanda Author-Director Terry George Takes Shorts Cut To 3rd Nomination

Whenever talk pops up about getting rid of certain Oscar groups — or at best taking them from the primetime telecast — inevitably leading their email list would be the three video clip groups: Documentary Short, Live Action Short and Animated Short. They represent an application that isn’t seen much in theaters any longer and the majority of the nominees aren't recognized to everyone watching. For a lot of, their sole purpose would be to function as tiebreakers at work Oscar pools. However a few of these films are really much better than many features nominated, but for the past couple of years because of ShortsHD and distributor Magnolia Pictures they've been finding progressively bigger audiences with compilation theatrical releases featuring 5 challengers in each one of the three groups. Last week,The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012 opened up on 120 screens over the U.S. and Canada and broke its previous record from the prior year having a gross of $412,304, that is up a lot more than $100,000 from 2011′s release. The businesses plan to achieve the programs on over200 screens prior to the Oscarsnext weekend. This season’s nominees for Live Action Shortare Norwegian (Tuba Atlantic), German (Raju), Irish (Pentecost and also the Shoreline)and American (Time Freak)productions, which makes it a noticeably worldwide selection. Only one of individuals, The Shoreline, really caught my attention because it originates from author-director-producer Terry George, a 2-time screenwriting Oscar nominee and prominent feature director who presently has handled to seize his third nomination by downsizing to everything about shorts. He’s also proud to possess managed to get a household affair and it is part ofone from the couple of father-daughter combinations in Oscar history to become nominated together. Daughter Oorlagh George, who created the film, shares thehonor with father. For Terry George, it had been pure frustration with getting his feature projects off the floor that brought him for this moment. “In 2010 I'd done lots of script work and rewrites and focusing on projects that didn’t fly for any year . 5 approximately, and ok last one, the awful Dream House, and was type of exhausted because of it all, and so i thought I'd return to things i make and stuff I actually do,” stated the director of these films as Some Mother’s Boy (1996), Reservation Road (2007)and Hotel Rwanda (2004).The second introduced him 1 of 2 screenwriting nominations together with Within The Title From The Father (1993),that they distributed to director Jim Sheridan. George requested his daughter if she may find the cash to perform a short story he'd develop, and she or he did. The film concerning the love triangular and reunion of two boyhood buddies (performed by Ciaran Hinds and Conleth Hill) who have been divided for twenty five years within the “troubles” in Northern Ireland grew to become an immediate family theme, with Oorlagh as producer, George’s boy as second AD and the sister as costume designer. The 30-minute film was shot in six days essentially in the Northern Ireland yard, but he wasn't afraid of the schedule since younger crowd has been doing plenty of TV — most lately Dustin Hoffman’s new Cinemax seriesLuck. He has turned into a large believer within the video clip process. “The film (together with another nominees) averaged $18,000 in the IFC Center in NY last week,” he stated. “That’s a lot more than most films available. With iTunes, Netflix TV sales, there’s a larger existence into it, possibly a larger existence than say Reservation Road,which rapidly disappeared [laughs]. It’s interesting. It’s a mix of the web, and individuals’s attention spans and the requirement for shorter material, so it features a good existence I really hope”. He’s additionally a believer within the video clip groups, that they hopes aren’t endangered. “I have serious competition. This ain’t a walk-in-the-park when it comes to your competition. They all are great especially visual and powerful,” he stated. “Next year they're altering the procedure to ensure that screeners goes to all of the Academy, which’s great (presently people must go to special showings of allshort films nominated and election at individuals specific tests). It’s an application that accustomed to exist, there is a brief film prior to the feature in theaters. You have to distill the storyline lower in individuals 29 or half an hour and understand it properly. And So I think it ought to be compensated more attention. And given how hard it is to buy money for independent features now, it’s something which makes it possible for youthful filmmakers or any filmmaker that has a tale to visit off and get it done and progressively look for a market,” added George, who wouldn’t mind doing the work again using the right project. However, he's already completed his next feature –Whole Lotta Sole,starring Brendan Fraser and Colm Meaney, that will premiere in the Tribeca Film Festival in April. “I am always doing lots of college lectures and telling students that it is now time when youthful filmmakers should escape and merely shoot a movie themselves, therefore it grew to become type of ‘practice that which you preach’ ” he stated. “With shorts you literally are the own fundraising event, producer, crew, editor, postproduction supervisor and marketing person.” Doing everything, Terry George is going to discover if he'll finally nab that elusiveOscar if you take thedo-it-yourself “shorts” cut towards the Oscars.

Era date for that Wolverine

Because of the off-again on-again character of X-Males Roots follow up The Wolverine, we'd almost quit on seeing Hugh Jackman don the claws again for an additional giant screen outing.Indeed, The Wolverine has gone through a lot of false begins it must surely be regarded as because the new go-to example for explaining the saying "development hell".Adverse climate conditions, company directors with cold ft, arranging conflicts... take your pick, The Wolverine has suffered it. However, there does finally appear to become some light in the finish from the tunnel, with Fox announcing the official release date for that super hero follow up.That date is 26 This summer 2013, giving director James Mangold annually for the most part to obtain the film within the can. Considering that Jackman has additionally yet to shoot L'ensemble des Miserables, that appears like a significant squeeze, but hopefully it should not detract in the finish product an excessive amount of.The most recent draft from the script continues to be composed by Mark Bomback, and can see an amnesia-suffering Wolverine going to Japan to locate solutions concerning his past. Although there he falls for each other and finds themself tangling having a effective warrior referred to as Silver Samurai.We actually do hope the brand new release date stays this time around around, although because of the project's troubled history, we will not be holding our breath...[brightcove]970188212001[/brightcove]

Pilot Season: Kyle Bornheimer Lands Role in ABC's Whitened Guy Van

Kyle Bornheimer Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer has arrived a job on ABC's comedy Whitened Guy Van.Pilot Season: ABC orders Mandy Moore comedy Compiled by Bobby Bowman, the show concentrates on a guy (Bornheimer) who's instructed to put his dreams on hold to consider on the family renovator business from his father. Bowman's credits include becoming a professional producer of I'm Earl and author for Raising Hope company, Dear.The pilot is dependant on the British comedy of the identical title.Apart from his role on Worst Week, Bornheimer has made an appearance in NBC's Perfect Couples and ABC's Romantically Challenged.

Shirley MacLaine Joins Downton Abbey

Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine has became a member of the cast of Downton Abbey, Variety reviews.The Oscar champion will have Martha Levinson, Lady Grantham's mother, within the third season, which starts filming the following month.Shirley MacLaine to get AFI Existence Achievement Award"My late grandfather [Ronald Neame] directed Shirley MacLaine in Gambit in 1966 so it's a delight for me personally that they is going to be joining us on Downton Abbey," producer Gareth Neame stated. "Julian [Fellowes] has written another brilliant character in Martha Levinson, who definitely are an excellent combatant for Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess and that we are excited at the possibilities of Shirley MacLaine playing her."The gig marks MacLaine's first regular TV series role since her dramedy series Shirley's World, which survived one season (1971-72).Season 2 of Downton Abbey is presently airing on PBS stateside. Season 3 will premiere on ITV within the U.K. in September.

ProSieben in deal for Warner films

Pan European broadcaster Pro-SiebenSat.1 Group has signed a multi-year license agreement with Warner Bros. Intl. Television Distribution for exclusive free TV rights to upcoming WB pics and library content for its German webs.Pact covers "Superman: Man of Steel," "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the first four pics in the "Harry Potter" franchise. WBITD will also supply ProSiebenSat.1 with new series. The deal also covers WB Germany productions shown in cinemas from 2013 on. Contact Bobbie Whiteman at bobbie.whiteman@variety.com

Octavia Spencer remembers women who inspired 'The Help'

FreemanSpencerFor Octavia Spencer, it seemed appropriate that her win for supporting actress for "The Help" would come on the eve of Martin King Luther Jr. Day.Spencer was eloquent backstage in paying tribute to the women who inspired the drama, set in Mississippi during the turbulent era of 1960's civil rights movement. She said the movie was an example of how film can help educate and enlighten."I knew that for people 40 or over, this movie would strike a chord or be too painful to visit," Spencer said. "People don't like to go to the painful part, but the only way to grow and heal is to acknowledge that pain."These women represent scores of people," she added. "How can we not pay homage to them?"Cecil B. DeMille honoree Morgan Freeman also spoke of the role that film plays in changing perceptions over time."One of the more effective avenues for learning American history is movies," Freeman said. "I would like to think that because of the trajectory of my career I might have had a little input in some of America's history and some of the changes that have taken place in Hollywood." Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Playwright Jon Robin Baitz Shakes Off Failure

NY (AP) It was F. Scott Fitzgerald who famously wrote there are no second acts in American lives. It is Jon Robin Baitz who says that's utter baloney."There's nothing but second acts," the playwright says over coffee in the caf of a Greenwich Village hotel.He should know: Baitz was a well-regarded writer of such plays as "The Film Society" and the Pulitzer Prize finalist "A Fair Country" when he left NY for Hollywood in 2002 to create the TV show "Brothers & Sisters."But finding frustration at every turn, Baitz lasted only a few years before being fired and fleeing back East. He has re-emerged with the drama "Other Desert Cities," easily his best-reviewed play and the first of his original works to make it to Broadway."I always felt that there was something else to come," says Baitz. "I sort of wake up every day in a kind of weird state of gratitude. It feels like a war ended for me, actually."Baitz in person is soft-spoken and utterly charming, happy to talk about any topic with a dash of wit and plenty of wisdom. Over the course of an hour interview at the Jane Hotel in Manhattan, which he points out sheltered some surviving crewmembers of the Titanic, he references the last days of World War I, Elia Kazan, W.H. Auden, Allen Ginsberg and paintings by Eric Fischl, which inspired his play "The Paris Letter."Things are lately looking up for a man who admits that he's usually prepared for the worst. The young-looking 50-year-old is digging his roots deep into the city his apartment is being renovated and he has the first draft of a new play written. He's eager to concentrate on plays now."I think having gone through the experiences I did particularly with Hollywood it now seems churlish to do anything other than write plays for as long as I possibly can," he says. "I had to teach myself how to write for myself again.""Other Desert Cities" is about a dysfunctional, politically divided family wrestling with a deep secret in their past. The cast includes Stockard Channing and Stacy Keach, who have been with the show since it made its debut a year ago at Lincoln Center Theater. Former "Brothers & Sisters" star Rachel Griffiths and Judith Light of "Ugly Betty" have joined the Broadway show.Baitz often writes with actors in mind and did so this time as well. "You hear one or two people for parts in your head and then you have a sort of tiny, tiny team on the bench, waiting," he says. "All those people are in the play pretty much."One of them is Keach, who Baitz calls an actor with "majestic depths of dignity and sorrow." Keach returns the compliment, calling Baitz a cross between Noel Coward and Anton Chekhov. "The characters he writes are endlessly fascinating. Every performance is an adventure," says Keach, who also starred in Baitz's "Ten Unknowns," at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, in 2003.For Baitz, it's no coincidence that the latest play comes Phoenix-like from the ashes of his wretched TV experience. "It was fairly quickly evident that the level of ambition that I had for it had nothing to do with the situation on the ground," he says. "The level of subtext could be dwarfed by a paramecium."He left NY and his playwriting career following a series of unhappy events 9/11, the death of his father and the breakup of his relationship with director and actor Joe Mantello, who nevertheless directs "Other Desert Cities.""I think I was probably so avidly attempting to flee whatever pain there was, thinking I could do it by changing the scenery," Baitz says, ruefully. "You can never do it."He had high hopes to create a vivid, sad-funny drama about an American family but thinks "Bothers & Sister" probably should have landed at Showtime or HBO, and not in a Sunday night slot at ABC.Though the show had a great cast in Griffiths, Sally Field, Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe, Baitz had to endure writing by committee and constantly pleasing executives less interested in quality than cash. "My ambitions for it were unrealistic and I think they have to be unrealistic."He began "preposterously non-confrontational" but emerged as probably too eager to fight for his show and was canned. "I'd like to think that it's a testament to my survivor instinct kicking in that I managed to get myself ejected," he says, laughing."I think because I felt so muted there, so shackled, it's one of the things that allowed me to write a play about a politically divided family, which is sort of one of the things I tried to do there."Baitz was born in Los Angeles but lived for years in Brazil and South Africa when his father was posted abroad for the Carnation evaporated milk company. His experience in apartheid-era South Africa taught him how evil governments could be and that anyone can assimilate into a nasty system if they are comfortable.He says "Other Desert Cities," which takes its name from a California highway sign outside Palm Springs, is about complicity and how as people mature they must accommodate many truths. "It's maybe the clearest expression of my constant theme, which is, 'You have no idea what you believe in until you're tested,'" he says.He points to the example of Kazan, the brilliant director who was reviled by many for naming names during the Hollywood blacklist era. "That's what I live with every day," he says. "I'm certain I would name names."Baitz writes all the time and keeps a list of evolving ideas in a little notebook. "Eventually, they fight like weasels in a pit and one idea is slightly triumphant, though deeply bruised and battered. Then I think about it and think about it some more," he says."Eventually, I'll start writing words."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Mark Kennedy January 11, 2012 Jon Robin Baltz PHOTO CREDIT Craig Schwartz NY (AP) It was F. Scott Fitzgerald who famously wrote there are no second acts in American lives. It is Jon Robin Baitz who says that's utter baloney."There's nothing but second acts," the playwright says over coffee in the caf of a Greenwich Village hotel.He should know: Baitz was a well-regarded writer of such plays as "The Film Society" and the Pulitzer Prize finalist "A Fair Country" when he left NY for Hollywood in 2002 to create the TV show "Brothers & Sisters."But finding frustration at every turn, Baitz lasted only a few years before being fired and fleeing back East. He has re-emerged with the drama "Other Desert Cities," easily his best-reviewed play and the first of his original works to make it to Broadway."I always felt that there was something else to come," says Baitz. "I sort of wake up every day in a kind of weird state of gratitude. It feels like a war ended for me, actually."Baitz in person is soft-spoken and utterly charming, happy to talk about any topic with a dash of wit and plenty of wisdom. Over the course of an hour interview at the Jane Hotel in Manhattan, which he points out sheltered some surviving crewmembers of the Titanic, he references the last days of World War I, Elia Kazan, W.H. Auden, Allen Ginsberg and paintings by Eric Fischl, which inspired his play "The Paris Letter."Things are lately looking up for a man who admits that he's usually prepared for the worst. The young-looking 50-year-old is digging his roots deep into the city his apartment is being renovated and he has the first draft of a new play written. He's eager to concentrate on plays now."I think having gone through the experiences I did particularly with Hollywood it now seems churlish to do anything other than write plays for as long as I possibly can," he says. "I had to teach myself how to write for myself again.""Other Desert Cities" is about a dysfunctional, politically divided family wrestling with a deep secret in their past. The cast includes Stockard Channing and Stacy Keach, who have been with the show since it made its debut a year ago at Lincoln Center Theater. Former "Brothers & Sisters" star Rachel Griffiths and Judith Light of "Ugly Betty" have joined the Broadway show.Baitz often writes with actors in mind and did so this time as well. "You hear one or two people for parts in your head and then you have a sort of tiny, tiny team on the bench, waiting," he says. "All those people are in the play pretty much."One of them is Keach, who Baitz calls an actor with "majestic depths of dignity and sorrow." Keach returns the compliment, calling Baitz a cross between Noel Coward and Anton Chekhov. "The characters he writes are endlessly fascinating. Every performance is an adventure," says Keach, who also starred in Baitz's "Ten Unknowns," at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, in 2003.For Baitz, it's no coincidence that the latest play comes Phoenix-like from the ashes of his wretched TV experience. "It was fairly quickly evident that the level of ambition that I had for it had nothing to do with the situation on the ground," he says. "The level of subtext could be dwarfed by a paramecium."He left NY and his playwriting career following a series of unhappy events 9/11, the death of his father and the breakup of his relationship with director and actor Joe Mantello, who nevertheless directs "Other Desert Cities.""I think I was probably so avidly attempting to flee whatever pain there was, thinking I could do it by changing the scenery," Baitz says, ruefully. "You can never do it."He had high hopes to create a vivid, sad-funny drama about an American family but thinks "Bothers & Sister" probably should have landed at Showtime or HBO, and not in a Sunday night slot at ABC.Though the show had a great cast in Griffiths, Sally Field, Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe, Baitz had to endure writing by committee and constantly pleasing executives less interested in quality than cash. "My ambitions for it were unrealistic and I think they have to be unrealistic."He began "preposterously non-confrontational" but emerged as probably too eager to fight for his show and was canned. "I'd like to think that it's a testament to my survivor instinct kicking in that I managed to get myself ejected," he says, laughing."I think because I felt so muted there, so shackled, it's one of the things that allowed me to write a play about a politically divided family, which is sort of one of the things I tried to do there."Baitz was born in Los Angeles but lived for years in Brazil and South Africa when his father was posted abroad for the Carnation evaporated milk company. His experience in apartheid-era South Africa taught him how evil governments could be and that anyone can assimilate into a nasty system if they are comfortable.He says "Other Desert Cities," which takes its name from a California highway sign outside Palm Springs, is about complicity and how as people mature they must accommodate many truths. "It's maybe the clearest expression of my constant theme, which is, 'You have no idea what you believe in until you're tested,'" he says.He points to the example of Kazan, the brilliant director who was reviled by many for naming names during the Hollywood blacklist era. "That's what I live with every day," he says. "I'm certain I would name names."Baitz writes all the time and keeps a list of evolving ideas in a little notebook. "Eventually, they fight like weasels in a pit and one idea is slightly triumphant, though deeply bruised and battered. Then I think about it and think about it some more," he says."Eventually, I'll start writing words."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Truly Amazing Wife: Parker Posey and Amy Sedaris Returning For Star-Studded Sweeps Episode

Parker Posey, Amy Sedaris Parker Posey and Amy Sedaris, who play Eli Gold's ex-wife and work rival, correspondingly, will return to The Truly Amazing Wife in the special sweeps episode that will restore the majority of the legal drama's finest guest stars, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Rita Wilson, Edward Herrmann, The Big C's John Benjamin Hickey, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jack Contractor will all reprise their roles inside the same hour, as first reported by Entertainment Weekly. The Truly Amazing Wife exclusive: Court is within session for Denis O'Hare Denis O'Hare, whose return was formerly reported by TVGuide.com, may even return to the bench as Judge Abernathy because episode, set to air Feb. 19. Frequent Glee guest star Jonathan Groff may even appear. Inside the episode, Lockhart & Gardner lead a category action suit against a credit card applicatoin company that permit the Syrian government "disappear" U.S. people. The Truly Amazing Wife airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.

Killer Chiller fare

Documentary "The American Scream" is among the numerous original projects set to premiere this year on NBCUniversal horror net Chiller. NBCUniversal horror net Chiller spent last year focused on beefing up its viewership base and promoting its move into original telepics. Now, the cabler is doubling down on original programming, with the filmmakers behind the 2009 docu "Best Worst Movie" prepping a new feature titled "The American Scream" to debut this year. In "Scream," documentarians Meyer Shwarzstein and Lindsay Stephenson follow haunted-house enthusiasts, in much the same way that "Worst Movie" explored the evolution of 1990 monster movie "Troll 2" from a critically maligned flop to a cult favorite. Just like sister net Syfy caters to science fiction and fantasy aficionados, Chiller aims to tap into different veins of horror fandom with its new slate. Author cred is a big deal at the net: Michael Laimo's novel "Dead Souls," about a teen who inherits his crazy preacher father's mysterious house, will get a telepic adaptation alongside the previously announced "Brian Keene's Ghoul." Meanwhile, horror hyphenate Larry Fessenden is developing a suspense horror pic dubbed "Beneath," set in a leaky, oarless boat floating in the middle of a lake with a monster in it. None of the scripted films have airdates. "American Scream" is set for October. Chiller is also booking new specials -- AEP Media's "Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies" features Katrina Weidmanan, who appeared on "Paranormal State" on A&E. The show looks into the true stories that inspired horror flicks including "Silent Hill," "The Amityville Horror," "The Mothman Prophecies" and "Poltergeist." The second series is "Can You Survive a Horror Movie?," from Savannah Media, which answers pressing questions about subjects including the actual speed of a zombie invasion and exactly how long a person can survive being buried alive. Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

Glees Jonathan Groff Lands Guest Spot on The Good Wife

Jonathan Groff Glee's Jonathan Groff will guest-star on an episode of The Good Wife, TVLine reports. Groff will appear on an episode scheduled to air during sweeps in February. He'll take on the role of Jimmy, the brother of a woman who goes missing while protesting in Syria. In the episode, Groff will head to court in an attempt to sue a software company. Glee Scoop: Jonathan Groff returns as Jesse St. JamesThe actor will also return to Glee later this season as the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline.The Good Wife airs on Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.

Sword master Bob Anderson dies aged 89

Bob Anderson, the sword-master who done Alien, The Master In The Rings as well as the Princess Bride, has died aged 89.He died on 1 The month of the month of january, according to a disagreement with the British Academy of Fencing (via BBC News).Brit Anderson was an Olympic fencer before he moved to the movies. He began his film career concentrating on stunts, before becoming sometimes known beneath the undeniably awesome job title of Sword Master.Among the highlights on his filmography are Craig Lyndon, Highlander, The Princess Bride, The Master In The Rings trilogy as well as the Pirates In The Caribbean: The Curse In The Black Jewel.Anderson donned the legendary black helmet to see Darth Vader inside the lightsaber duels from the Wild Bunch and Return In The Jedi.Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson introduced the tributes via his Facebook page: "I used to be thrilled when Bob Anderson made the decision to honestly board The Master In The Rings as our sword-master."Really, it needed a while with this to sink because I'd get moving concentrating on the same guy who had aided create numerous cinema's finest fight sequences - in the Exorcist for the Princess Bride. Bob will be a brilliant swordsman together with a gifted teacher I'll remember him just like a wonderfully patient guy, possessed from the terrific sense of humour."Anderson is managed to get by his wife and three children.

China bows three dimensional TV service

BEIJING -- China, the earth's greatest TV market, marked the brand new Year having a trial run of their first three dimensional TV service, that will go wide for that Lunar Year on Jan. 23. The service, known as China three dimensional TV Trial Funnel, is collectively operated by pubcaster Closed-circuit television and native Tv producers in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Shenzhen. Programming will initially concentrate on carrying out arts, cartoons, movies and sports. Additionally, it promises programming in the London Summer time Olympic games, which run This summer 27 to August. 12. It broadcasts daily from 10.30 a.m. to night time. The service could provide possibilities for overseas content companies because, while China's TV industry has broadened significantly recently, still it needs overseas content to fill the agendas. The entire revenue from the country's radio and television industry was 210 billion yuan ($33 billion) this year, up 26% from the year before, based on research website sarft.internet, operated through the effective Condition Administration of Radio, Film and tv. Tight limitations on content causes it to be a hard sell to navigate however. "The launch from the three dimensional trial funnel is really a significant part of the introduction of China's television," SARFT mind Cai Fuchao told the Xinhua news agency. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

China bows 3D TV service

BEIJING -- China, the world's biggest TV market, marked the New Year with a trial run of its first 3D TV service, which will go wide for the Lunar New Year on Jan. 23. The service, called China 3D TV Trial Channel, is jointly operated by pubcaster CCTV and local TV stations in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Shenzhen. Programming will initially focus on performing arts, cartoons, movies and sports. It also promises programming from the London Summer Olympics, which run July 27 to Aug. 12. It broadcasts daily from 10.30 a.m. to midnight. The service could provide opportunities for overseas content providers because, while China's TV industry has expanded dramatically in recent years, it still needs overseas content to fill the schedules. The total revenue of the country's radio and TV industry was 210 billion yuan ($33 billion) in 2010, up 26% from a year before, according to research website sarft.net, operated by the powerful State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Tight restrictions on content makes it a difficult market to navigate however. "The launch of the 3D trial channel is a significant step in the development of China's television," SARFT head Cai Fuchao told the Xinhua news agency. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com