SAG extends exec director's deal thru 2014

David White, the top exec at the Screen Actors Guild for the past three years, is signed to remain in that post until at least 2014 -- whether or not SAG merges with the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. A SAG spokesperson had said Wednesday that its national board had voted earlier this year to extend White's contract as national exec director into 2015 but later revised that information to say that the extension would be into 2014. The guild had not disclosed previously the extension and did not reveal salary terms.SAG leaders are in the midst of hammering out a merger plan with AFTRA and have not yet decided on the role that White -- and his AFTRA counterpart Kim Roberts Hedgpeth -- would play in a combined union. Reps of the performer unions have scheduled eight days of meetings starting Jan. 7 to sort out details of a possible final proposal that's scheduled to be submitted to the national boards at the end of January. Other details of the merger proposal haven't been revealed yet including the name of the new union, constitution, financing, entry requirements and dues. But it appears White's likely to play some kind of leadership role in a merger, given that he's managed to forge a solid relationship with the guild's national board, in contrast to his immediate predecessors.White was tapped as interim national exec director in early 2009 when the national board's self-styled moderates ousted Doug Allen amid frustration over Allen's failure to reach a deal with the majors on a primetime-feature master contract. Allen, a longtime exec with the National Football League Players Assn., had been tapped for the SAG post in the wake of the 2005 ouster of Greg Hessinger by the SAG board, when the self-styled progressives of the Membership First coalition came to power. In October 2009, the SAG moderates removed White's interim tag and gave him a two-year deal as he closed agreements on a half a dozen contracts and operated in a low-key manner that contrasted sharply with Allen's brash approach. White's initial contract, which ran through February 2012, elevated him into the chief negotiator post; he headed the SAG bargaining team for seven weeks in the fall of 2010, leading to a three-year successor deal on the feature-primetime contract.In his nine months as interim SAG chief, White oversaw cuts of about 35 staff slots as a result of a budgetary deficit. Since then, in addition to pushing for merger, he's also moved to heighten SAG's commitment to upgrading its technology. White served as the guild's general counsel from 2002-06 before becoming managing principal of Los Angeles-based Entertainment Strategies Group. He was a labor and employment attorney at O'Melveny & Myers before joining SAG in 2002.According to SAG's filing of its LM-2 form with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, White was paid a salary of $452,877 plus disbursements of $21,060 during SAG's fiscal year ended April 30. Roberts Hedgpeth, who's topped AFTRA since 2005, was paid $375,560 for the same period. Jay Roth, who's headed the Directors Guild of America since 1995, has the top exec salary at $736,430 in the DGA's filing for 2010. David Young, who's headed the WGA West since 2005, was paid $461,730 for the fiscal year ended March 31; Lowell Peterson, WGA East topper since 2008, received $253,834 in the most recent fiscal year.As for the possible SAG-AFTRA merger, the unions have been hush-hush but using the word "productive" to describe the four rounds of formal discussions by the AFTRA and SAG Group for One Union. Proponents have argued that a combined union would be more powerful and remove jurisdictional overlaps; opponents contend that the new union should be for actors only, but SAG voters have been backing pro-merger candidates overwhelmingly in recent elections.Should the proposal be approved by the national boards, members would be asked to OK the merger as early as this spring in a contest that would require 60% of those voting in each union to approve. SAG currently has about 120,000 members while AFTRA has about 70,000, with about 45,000 performers belonging to both unions.SAG members defeated merger proposals in 1999 and 2003. Merger was supported by 58% of those voting in the 2003 contest, when the combined union was to be called the Alliance of Intl. Media Artists. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Cheetah, Tarzan's Partner Chimp, Dies at 80

Tarzan, The Ape Guy Cheetah, one of many chimpanzees who starred within the Tarzan films from the nineteen thirties, died of kidney failure Saturday, based on People. He was apparently eighty years old. Among the original chimps who starred alongside Johnny Weissmuller within the classic Tarzan films, Cheetah, sometimes credited as Cheetah-Mike, was acquired through the Weissmuller estate prior to the chimp upon the market in the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Fla. Browse the relaxation of present day news "It's with great sadness the community has lost a dear friend and member of the family,Inch the sanctuary authored on its website now. Take a look at these classic clips of Cheetah: Chimpanzees live typically 45 years within the wild, while a chimp in captivity can live typically six decades.

Pedro Armendariz Junior. dies at 71

Mexican character actor Pedro Armendariz Junior., the boy from the superstar throughout the "golden age" of Mexican films within the nineteen forties and '50s, died Monday of cancer in NY City. He was 71. Armendariz was most widely known for taking part in sly, sometimes cynical figures he endowed with wit and charisma. The actor performed Gov. Riley within the 2005 movie "The Legend of Zorro" coupled with roles in 1989's "Old Gringo" and "Not so long ago in Mexico" in 2003. He behaved in additional than 100 films, such as the Mexican hit "The Crime of Father Amaro." Armendariz have been married and divorced two times and it is made it by a number of children. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Belvaux's '38 Witnesses' to open Rotterdam

The world preem of helmer Lucas Belvaux's crime drama "38 temoins" (38 Witnesses) will open the Rotterdam Film Festival on Jan. 25. Based on a novel by Didier Decoin, pic revolves around Louise (Sophie Quinton), who returns home after a business trip to discover her street was the scene of a crime. Initially there appear to be no witnesses, but over time she learns that 38 people heard or saw something that night, including her husband Pierre (Yvan Attal). It's the eighth feature from the Belgian helmer, who works mainly out of France, and his second collaboration with Attal after kidnap drama "Rapt" in 2009. World sales are handled by Films Distribution, with Diaphana set to distribute in Gaul. Rotterdam closes Feb. 4 with helmer Daniel Nettheim's psychological drama "The Hunter," starring Willem Dafoe as a mercenary, sent by a shadowy biotech company to Australia to hunt the last Tasmanian tiger. Based on the eponymous novel by "Sleeping Beauty" helmer Julia Leigh, pic preemed at the Toronto Film Festival. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Jos Angel Santana, James Franco's Former NYU Professor, States He Was Fired After Bad Grade

This time around this past year -- when James Franco was James Francoing his way on multilple web sites and also you could not make one mouse-click without tripping onto a tale about his latest art project, movie, school assignment, video clip, 'General Hospital' appearance or Oscar-hosting responsibilities -- it had been says while signed up for an NYU acting class, Franco received a D-grade. The irony! Well, it appears the professor who trained Franco in 'Directing the Actor II' was subsequently fired -- and he's about as pleased with that outcome while you were with 'Your Highness.' (CHEAP SHOT!) Jose Angel Santana has filed a suit against NYU after losing his job, possibly simply -- he claims -- due to unhealthy grade he gave Franco. "The college has bent over backwards to produce a Franco-friendly atmosphere, that's without a doubt," Santana told the NY Publish. "The college has been doing my way through its energy to curry favor with James Franco." This fall, Franco trained their own class at NYU. "For me, they have switched the NYU graduate film degree into swag for James Franco's reasons," Santana stated, "a possession, something you can purchase.Inch Santana states he gave Franco poor people grade due to excessive absences the star skipped 12 from 14 classes in the mission for any masters degree in fine arts. Within the complaint, which Roger Friedman at Hollywood411 states have, Santana places blame bigotry like a primary reason to be fired, and states that "another professor, Jay Anania, even the brother from the late Elizabeth Edwards, been with them set for him." Anania authored and directed this years film 'William Vincent,' which featured Franco. This past year, Franco -- who had been notoriously captured pics of asleep while attending a lecture at Columbia College in NY -- stated he was Comfortable with people underestimating his resolve for academia. "If they would like to fresh paint the image from the stoner likely to school, it's type of Comfortable with me since it really takes more pressure than normal off," he told Movieline. "In the event that's how they wish to illustrate me, it's fine. Because my schoolwork is not a performance. I am going there because I am getting a lot from it and I am dealing with work wonderful my personal favorite authors or professors. Therefore if that's how they would like to illustrate it, it isn't removing from why I am there. Also it takes pressure off. Which means you type of need to roll by using it.Inch Franco's reps haven't yet taken care of immediately Moviefone's request comment concerning the suit. [via NYP] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Top Makeup Contenders Vie For Oscar Short List: 'The Artist', 'Anonymous', 'Iron Lady', 'Albert Nobbs', and 'J. Edgar'

CBSJohnny Galecki in "The Big Bang Theory" Johnny Galecki was up early catching up on correspondence on his second day off from production on CBS hit comedy The Big Bang Theory when he started getting text messages with news of his first Golden Globe nomination from the publicity folks at the show's studio, Warner Bros. Television.our editor recommends'The Artist' Tops Golden Globe Nominations Golden Globe Awards Nominations: The Complete ListGolden Globe Awards Nominations: The Nominees' ReactionsGolden Globe Awards Nominations: Key Stats, Inclusions and Snubs (Analysis)'Homeland' EPs Lowered Expections After SAG Shutout, Rewarded With 3 Golden Globe Noms "They started texting me at 5:20 in the morning and I accused them of being misinformed and drunk," Galecki said with a laugh. "I replied with, 'You're misfiring texts to [The Mentalist star] Simon Baker or someone else, this can not be true." PHOTOS: Golden Globe Awards Nominees In true form to his on-screen alter ego, lovable nerd Leonard Hofstadter, Galecki needed further convincing of the accolade. "They told me, 'No, it's you, go to HollywoodReporter.com and they sent me the link because I couldn't believe it," he said of his nom for actor in a comedy series. With The Big Bang Theory shut out of the comedy series category after having picked up nominations in the field last year, Galecki said he considers his individual recognition representative for the show as a whole -- and for co-star Jim Parsons, who took home the trophy in the category last January. COMPLETE LIST: 2012 Golden Globe Awards Nominees "It's like a drum and bass circle -- my character doesn't work without his character and vice versa," he said. "I wish the show had been nominated, certainly. I don't feel the nomination singles me out by any means; so much goes into this character that happens without my being aware. I think all of these accolades will shift between all of us. Sometimes they'll be funneled through Jim, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar and Kaley Cuoco. I'm touched, proud and stunned to be chosen as that representative." Noting that he has leaned on two-time Emmy winner Parsons for tips on how to navigate awards season after picking up his first Emmy nom last year, Galecki said his co-star was one of the first to congratulate him on the kudos, suggesting he get back on the treadmill in a nod to how he handled his nervous energy on Emmy day. "I've been in the biz quite a bit longer than Jim but the last few years as these accolades have been spread out, I find myself going to him for days like today," he noted. The former Roseanne star already had plans to attend The Big Bang Theory's 100th episode party Thursday night and joked he'd celebrate the nomination there. "Maybe now I'll throw on a tie," he laughed. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Golden Globe Awards: The Nominees Golden Globes Johnny Galecki The Big Bang Theory Golden Globes 2012

One Existence to Live's Ilene Kristen Weighs in at in at In On Cancellation -- As Well As The Fate of Fraternity Row!

Ilene Kristen, One Existence to reside in It's bad enough One Existence to reside in goes in the air. The show's cleaning cleaning soap-within-a-cleaning cleaning soap, Fraternity Row, is just about the ax, too! But tend to Roxy Balsom save it? The dippy beauty consultant, carried out with this irrepressible diva Ilene Kristen, is Fraternity Row's # 1 fan (who understood?) which is leading the charge in Llanview to keep the show round the air. TV Guide Magazine spoken with Kristen who'll headline a distinctive fantasy episode of OLTL airing Monday, 12 ,. 19 through which Roxy faints while visiting the number of Fraternity Row. When she energizes, she's Lorraine, the important thing lady in the show! TV Guide Magazine: Just beneath the wire, Ilene Kristen can get her episode! It comes down lower to damn time.Kristen: Thanks! In my opinion the fans are gonna enjoy it. This complete cancellation of Fraternity Row is an extremely brilliant way of our authors to go over all the hell we coping at OLTL. It's great because I totally represent the audience of fans, all the wonderful fans who fought against against so desperately to keep OLTL round the air. I represent the fans who switched up within the ABC upfront last May and booed [former ABC Daytime chief] John Frons when he walked to the building. And i'm proud to get this done! They're a fervent group. TV Guide Magazine: So Lorraine might be the Erica Slezak of Fraternity Row?Kristen: Yeah! Roxy falls unconscious and subsequently factor she knows she's the star. And everyone else in Llanview is within the show, too. Lorraine is married to David Vickers. Viki and Clint are her maid and butler. It's hysterical together with a genuine valentine towards the audience. TV Guide Magazine: If possibly OLTL's cancellation will be a dream...Kristen: I really think I'm in the heart of an aspiration! A really, really bad one! It is so sad and unreal. In some manner I keep believing that if Roxy could keep Fraternity Row round the air, maybe Ilene are capable of doing the identical for OLTL. Crazy, I realize. I merely don't realize why The famous host the famous host oprah wouldn't save these soaps and run them on OWN. She's staggering. Throughout your day she's running repeats of Medical Miracles with no a person's watching. I don't understand her master plan. TV Guide Magazine: Speaking about master plans, what's your undertake the possibility Park fiasco?Kristen: Did there's an expert plan? Why would they start an activity to be able to save the soaps after which it have it fizzle out such as this? When Prospect Park mentioned they weren't ongoing with all the Kids, I absolutely assumed it absolutely was since they preferred to take a position their eggs in one basket with OLTL. Much less I desired to find out AMC die. But who thought this might happen? TV Guide Magazine: Maybe it had been simpler to like a few several days thinking OLTL stood a future? Or are you able to favour known the truth all along?Kristen: I guess dwelling in fairyland got us using the summer season a lot better than we'd have otherwise however think the majority of us may have done the ultimate six several days in different ways. I certainly may have started throwing out job feelers way just before this. I believed I still stood a job! Many of us did! [Laughs] I am unsure that we may have given a $500 contribution for the Ensemble Studio Theatre. I bought one of the kids I mentor a $250 makeup situation. Jeez. Now just of cash helps, specially when you don't know in which the next job is coming initially from from. But with techniques I'm glad we thought i had been going somewhere because it kind of saved me buoyant. TV Guide Magazine: The upside of delusion!Kristen: Yeah, right! Delusion. Collusion. Who knows what really ongoing there with Prospect Park? Allow me to be familiar with real story sooner or later. I used to be somewhat concerned once i heard the title from the [web platform] was the internet Network. I believed, this can be a little... dry. They needed a sensational, great title. I am unsure what happening inside their hearts and minds. Allow me to think they'd good intentions, quite a few people think it absolutely was all a trick to keep the fans from being upset. TV Guide Magazine: Everything seems just a little epic for just about any trick. These individuals ain't that smart.Kristen: And it may be counter-productive for Prospect Park being so deceitful. Since it is, their status just like a company might be a soiled at this time. Our union, AFTRA, only agreed to be too anxious to talk to them, and also the same factor goes for your Authors Guild. They cancelled plenty of visits while using unions which i do not believe that has been represented correctly inside the press. The fans need to know the unions preferred to do this. I used to be round the AFTRA committee with this particular whole project which we did plenty of work - conferences, lots of correspondence - plus it never really ever got lower for the particulars. It's like they weren't serious. Prospect Park hardly visited the cast people at AMC, however these were proclaiming the heavens there has been demanding all. Which am not the situation. It's very enigmatic. TV Guide Magazine: Now you'll find ignore Colonial soaps. You've been a fixture round the NY suds scene forever. Maybe you have think you'd look at this day?Kristen: Never! I had been elevated round the ABC soaps. I've labored there on / off since 1975 with Ryan's Hope. How do you Not on that network any more? It's very dangerous towards the NY stars to eliminate these shows. The Chew is battling, to date like me concerned. I believed maybe there'd be this factor where ABC would go, "Oh, this new show isn't working. We better keep these soaps round the air. We're best providing them with nowadays providing them with.Inch But that's me and my daydreams. [Sighs] I'm really gonna miss it! The ultimate six several days they've given me such great stuff to see. There's such history as of this show! I used to be searching at some old clips which i never recognized Maggie Cruz was on our show! TV Guide Magazine: She wasn't!Kristen: I saw a clip of her! TV Guide Magazine: Difficult. It never happened.Kristen: Well, you'd know. Was I hallucinating? [Laughs] Maybe I am Lorraine! You understand, it's funny. Much less I ever wanted Ryan's Desire to be over, however i am sadder about OLTL vanishing. I'd left Ryan's two different occasions combined using this type of strange history together, but my last four to five years there has been great. However also understood I wouldn't achieve play an excellent character when show didn't trigger the atmosphere. Roxy remains most likely probably the most fun you might have doing something legal. I've been in a position to carry out some amazing reasons for this show. Why would I look for another part when Prospect Park mentioned i had been ongoing? If you are in a position to still play Roxy, you don't look elsewhere. TV Guide Magazine: You'll recover. You typically do. You're Ilene Kristen for screaming noisy!Kristen: I realize I'll. I appear. That's what life's about. I appear places and unpredicted unexpected things happen. I merely believe it is so desperately to consider that ABC forget about loves everyone else that has saved their soaps round the air for several years. [Laughs] Something inside me just won't quit! If possibly I really could get my goddammed set from Foxy Roxy's Hair Haven and push the button somewhere and start my own, personal show - Request Roxy! We are able to make it happen real cheap like the old-time Soupy Sales Show. We are in a position to cause all the stars of OLTL. It might be, like, OLTL 2012: Following a Apocalypse! Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

'Prometheus' Poster: Teaser for Ridley Scott's Sci-Fi Epic

In the last few months, the news surrounding Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' has slowly trickled out. Despite several photos, and even a few quotes from the director himself, there aren't many details regarding the actual plot of the film (Scott says that the central metaphor of 'Prometheus' is about a "higher being" who challenges the gods). Unfortunately, this first poster won't be clearing up that story problem. Still, at least it's cool looking! Released by Twentieth Century Fox on Wednesday, the image features a woman -- or possibly a man, it's hard to tell -- walking toward a giant statue of ... well, that's hard to tell, too. Is that the "higher being" Ridley Scott has spoken of? Actually, if you look closely, it sort of resembles Darth Vader's helmet. It also has similarities to the original 'Alien' poster ('Prometheus' is supposed to exist in the same universe as 'Alien'). Either way, 'Prometheus,' which stars Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender Guy Pearce and Idris Elba, will hit theaters on June 8, 2012, so perhaps audiences will have to wait to find out until then. 'Prometheus' Gallery See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Van Dyke to provide SAG kudo to Moore

Dick Van Dyke will show the Screen Stars Guild's 48th Existence Achievement Award to Mary Tyler Moore at next month's SAG Honours.The show will occur Jan. 29 in the Shrine in La.Moore has been feted on her career achievement and humanitarian achievements.Moore and Van Dyke first labored together once they were cast as suburban couple Take advantage of and Laura Petrie in Van Dyke's sixties sitcom.The series gained four Emmys throughout the show's five-year run, three Emmys for Van Dyke and 2 Emmys along with a nomination for Moore.SAG made the announcement about Van Dyke on Tuesday. It had introduced Moore because the person receiving the existence achievement award in September. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Scarlett Johansson Talks Personal Ups & Downs Of 2011

First Published: December 12, 2011 3:57 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Scarlett Johansson chats with Access Hollywood in NY City on December 11, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- With her divorce from Ryan Reynolds finalized, nude photos leaked on the web and her love life under a microscope not to mention filming a slew of high profile projects Scarlett Johansson had a rollercoaster year in 2011. Ive had ups and downs. Certainly, this past year has been a lot of unexpected things in many beautiful ways, many challenging ways, the 27-year-old actress told Access Hollywood over the weekend, while promoting her latest movie, We Bought a Zoo. You just have to kind of embrace it. For me, the most important thing is that it doesnt affect my work and it doesnt affect my private life as much as possible, she continued. If I could keep that bubble around myself during my work, that is really whats most important for me. The actress, who filmed The Avengers and is currently shooting Under the Skin along with being the subject of dating rumors that included the likes of Sean Penn, Justin Bartha and Joseph Gordon-Levitt told Access she wants a more relaxing 2012. Im just looking forward to sleeping later than five in the morning. I just want to have a little vacation before I get back to finishing this job, and then just keep going, she added. We Bought a Zoo, which co-stars Matt Damon, opens in theaters on December 23. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Benji Cosgrove, Cory Palmer to create R-Ranked Comedy for Escape Artists (Exclusive)

ABC Beyoncéwon't be trembling a multi-billion dollar suit that alleges she walked from an offer to produce a motion-realizing dance gaming according to her moves. A NY Superior Court judge refused Tuesday the singer's motion to dismiss a suit introduced by gaming developer Gate Five.our editor recommendsWhy an Allegation That Beyonc Plagiarized Dance Moves Is Really Unique (Analysis)Pregnant Beyonce to create Her Very Own Maternity Line The suit was filed in April and claims the pop star "double entered" the recording company on the "whim" by abandoning growth and development of a dance game which was to become calledStarpower: Beyoncé. Gate Five had allegedly spent $6.7 million on the overall game prior to the singer required more compensation to maneuver forward. Her demands allegedly triggered the financier to out of the $19.two million financing deal, and Gate Five stated it required to laid off 70 people from the labor force per week before last Christmas. PHOTOS: 18 of Hollywood's Crazy Entertainment Legal cases Beyoncé retorted that they were built with a valid to exercise the termination provisions of her contract following the complaintant was not able to satisfy contractual obligations to acquire $5 million of "committed financing" for that project. The singer's lawyers put a few of the blame on Gate Five's chief financial backer and cited Gate Five's leader, who allegedly found this individual to become "overbearing" and somebody that had "joined the image and wound up disturbing the collaborative atmosphere" between your parties. Gate Five stated the concerns about financing were "disingenuous." Based on one court brief filed by the organization, Beyoncé couldn't have experienced any legitimate worry about a supposed insufficient $5 million in financing because, when she ended, Gate Five was around the eve of closing a $19.two million financing contract. Lawyers forBeyoncé advised the judge to consider an ordinary reading through from the contract, and Gate Five's side contended the doctrine of prevention barred her from depending around the "insufficient financing" excuse because that only happened because of her very own conduct. Furthermore, the recording game company stated the doctrine of estoppel applied because Gate Five had depended to the hindrance on her behalf assurances that the November 15th deadline for acquiring the funds was immaterial. With no written explanation, NY Superior Court judge Charles Ramos rejectedBeyoncé's motion to dismiss the suit on Tuesday. The move implies that discovery within the situation can move ahead, together with a possible depositing from the singer. Gate Five is seeking large damages within this suit. Based on the organization's complaint, theStarpower: Beyoncévideo game was likely to generate 100s of huge amount of money in profit for Gate Five. The organization can also be seeking an injunction that will avoid the singer from focusing on every other game titles. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Crazy Cases! 18 of Hollywood's Crazy Entertainment Legal cases Beyonce Game Titles

ROLL CALL: Pregnant Jessica Simpson: A Great Souffl Makes Me Cry!

First Published: December 8, 2011 2:52 PM EST Credit: WireImage LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Jessica Simpson shows off her baby bump at the 25th Annual Footwear News Achievement Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in NY City on November 29, 2011Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Keep The Souffls Away From Jessica!: Mom-to-be Jessica Simpson is experiencing a whole range of emotions during her pregnancy, that includes plenty of tears! The 31-year-old Fashion Star mentor revealed on an upcoming episode of Rachael Ray that carrying her first child had made her much more emotional. Ill cry at the drop of a hat, even a great souffl would make me cry, Jessica said in the episode airing December 12. As for pregnancy cravings, Jessica is enjoying an old classic with a bit of a twist. This week its peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, toasted, she said. And then, Ill put some salt on my hand like Im taking a tequila shot and then take a bite of the sandwich. Kris Makes A Cave: Now that Kim Kardashian is out of his life, Kris Humphries is making room for his manly side. The NBA star got the help of ex-Baltimore Ravens player Tony Siragusa in an upcoming episode of the DIY network show, Man Caves. According to TMZ, the star is creating a chill lounge at his Minnesota home, which includes multiple bars and a 120-inch projection screen. Check out his man cave, HERE! Which High School Musical Star Is Getting Naked In 3-D?: No, its not Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens or even Ashley Tisdale! According to former HSM star Corbin Bleu, hes showing off his assets in the coming movie, Nurse and its not going to be just any kind of naked! [I]will be naked in 3D, the actor told Us Weekly. You see my rear end its tasteful. Its done well. Courtney Stodden Turns Down A Reality Show: In news from our favorite teen bride, Courtney Stodden, it appears the 17-year-old and her 51-year-old husband actor husband Doug Hutchison wont be coming to the world of reality TV just yet. According to Radar Online, the pair was offered a spot on the upcoming Relationship Rehab. Though Doug and Courtney considered the offer, in the end they felt that this wasnt a perfect fit for the kind of show they wanted to do, a source told Radar. There has been a lot of speculation about their marriage and a lot of people are just waiting for the inevitable train wreck to happen, but Doug and Courtney have an incredibly strong relationship and seem very happy together. So doing a show about going into rehab just doesnt make sense for them. Maybe Style Rehab will come knocking on Courtneys door!? -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

E! Locks David Burtka Into Talent Deal

E! is adding Neil Patrick Harris' extended-time partner towards the stable of talent.our editor recommendsNeil Patrick Harris Talks Acting, Musical Theater and Receiving his Walk of Fame Star (Q&A) The celebrity-centric network has locked David Burtka in to a talent deal. Beneath the pact, he willserve as correspondent for E! News, additionally to reside at a negative balance-colored Carpet together with other E! special deals. He'll begin his duties within the month of the month of january. PHOTOS: Tony Honours 2011 Red-colored-colored Carpet Arrivals For E! News, Burtka will conduct celebrity interviews and cover popular culture occasions and breaking news. The second reason is a part of the growing intitiave under chairwoman Bonnie Hammerto be described as a bigger player inside the competitive breaking news landscape. Burtka brings with him a amazing colleciton of industry associations, additionally to some background in acting. The trained chef, who has a La based catering company, Gourmet M.D., has came out such shows asHow I Met Your Mother, Steven Spielberg'sOn All, andCrossing Jordan. He gained hisBroadway debut in Edward Albee'sThe Goatopposite Sally Area, then his acclaimed role as Tulsa in Mike Mendes'Gypsystarring Bernadette Peters. On Sunday, he completed with Harris at Trevor Live, a show enjoying useful benefits the Trevor Project, which gives crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for the LGBT community more youthful than 24. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Tony Honours 2011: Red-colored-colored Carpet Arrivals Related Subjects David Burkta Neil Patrick Harris

The Cast of 'The Artist' Speaks At Last

The Cast of 'The Artist' Speaks At Last By Jenelle Riley November 30, 2011 Photo by The Weinstein Company Audiences have been falling in love with "The Artist," a sweet valentine to the golden age of Hollywood about a silent-movie star who finds his career threatened by the advent of talking pictures. Ironically, this love letter to American cinema was brought to the screen by French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius, who decided that to pay proper homage to the genre, he would shoot "The Artist" in black-and-white and without spoken dialogue. To pull off this feat, he assembled a fantastic cast of faces familiar and newto American audiences, at least.In the lead role of George Valentin, the fading star, Hazanavicius cast Jean Dujardin, whom he had previously worked with in the "OSS 117" spy comedies. As Peppy Miller, the young actor who finds her career on the rise, Hazanavicius called upon Brnice Bejo, also a veteran of an "OSS 117" film and his wife in real life. Rounding out the cast are John Goodman as a studio head, Missi Pyle as a jealous co-star, Penelope Ann Miller as Valentin's disapproving wife, James Cromwell as his loyal servant, and a scene-stealing Jack Russell terrier named Uggie as Valentin's beloved dog.Back Stage: How did you come to be cast in "The Artist"? James Cromwell: My agent told me there was an offer for a silent, black-and-white film, by a French director and two actors I'd never heard of. Sounded intriguing. They sent me a bound book, more short story than script, including photographs, which were evocative of the period. I was even more intrigued. I had a very long meeting with the director, asked a lot of questions, liked him and his answers, and said, "Let's do it."Brnice Bejo: I wasn't cast for "The Artist," actually. Michel, the director, wrote the character for me and he wrote it for Jean. He had me and Jean in mind, and he started writing while thinking about me, so I was very lucky. I didn't have to do any audition for this movie. At the very beginning, he was all about the guy, George Valentin, and he said to me, "There's going to be a young actress, a young extra in the movie, but she's not going to be as big as George Valentin. But I really want you to do it." I had already done a movie with him, and he's my husband, so I was not going to say no. He started writing, and the character of Peppy became more and more involved in the story. Jean Dujardin: My collaborations with Michel began in a bar. With two beers. "Hello, my name is Jean." "My name is Michel." "Okay." We worked together for "OSS 117." I think, when shooting "OSS 117" in Brazil, he said to me, "I'd like to make a silent movie." And I said, "I'd like to go to the moon." It's a good idea, but it's impossible. It's impossible to finance this film in France and in the world. But he did it. Back Stage: Did you do anything to adjust your acting style for the genre of a silent film? Dujardin: I watched a lot of movies. F.W. Murnau's movies, "Sunrise," or King Vidor movies, "The Crowd," "City Girl." I watched a lot of Douglas Fairbanks movies, because like George Valentin, he always played the same role. There was always a mustache. And Vittorio Gassman for his Italian physicality. Gene Kelly for his smile, his movement, energy. And "Lassie," with Uggie the dog. I had fun pretending to be a movie star in the 1920s.Cromwell: As far as I was concerned, I wasn't in a silent film. I just didn't have many lines, and the ones I did have weren't recorded. I had to tell my story with expressions and gestures, and trust the director to tell me if it was over-the-top, because there wasn't any replay. But that's not new to me: I didn't have many lines in my first film, "Murder by Death," where I also played a chauffeur, and only 16 or so in "Babe." They both turned out pretty good.Bejo: I'm sorry, every time I have this question, I feel people are going to be disappointed. But no, because we had lines in the script and we had dialogue. I spoke on set. The difference is for you as an audience: You don't hear me, but you see what I say on cards. But for me, actually, I acted the same way. For me, the difference was I had to find the character. The character was in the 1930s, and it's a young woman, and she's American, so that was the beginning of my workhow was it to be a woman in the '30s and how was it to be a movie star in the '30s? That was the beginning of my research. And Michel, since the very beginning, he said, "I don't want any pantomime." He took us to see [Frank] Borzage and Murnau movies from the '20s, and I realized it was very modern. There was no pantomime. They were just acting, and it was not overacting; it was very, very modern. When I saw that, I thought, "Okay, I'll just focus on the character, who she is, and I'll just go from there."Penelope Ann Miller: I did do a film called "Chaplin" with Robert Downey Jr.; Richard Attenborough directed it. I played Edna Purviance, a silent-film actor at the time who did many of the Chaplin filmsand in fact she dated him. So I did have some experience doing a silent film, because we had to re-enact a couple scenes from some of the films they did together. So I had watched a lot of the Chaplin films. And I'm just an old-movie buff anyway. I love old black-and-white and silent film. So having that experience and having watched so many, that certainly helped. But certainly, getting into the wardrobe and the hair and makeup and the sets was incredible. All of that sort of helped me get into the spirit and the mood of the character. And the director did an amazing thing where he played music in the background during our takes, so he created a mood, which was really great. You can't do that, obviously, in talkies. Back Stage: Are you at all surprised by how much the film has been embraced by audiences, or did you know you were onto something special? Dujardin: Yes and no, because it's a universal story, it's a love story. Bejo: When I was filming it, I knew we were doing something unique and special because, you know, I'm never going to be able to do that again. I mean, I don't think so. So I knew it was something unique. Me and all the actors and the crew members, everybody was very excited about the project. But you can never, never tell if a movie is going to find its audience. What I could say is, when I saw the movie for the first time, I loved it so much. I said, "If the people are coming in the theater to watch the movie, I'm sure they will enjoy it. But how are we going to make them come? Because they're going to be a little scared about the fact that it's black-and-white and silent." I knew we had to do a lot of promotion and really talk about the movie so that people would get curious about it. It was actually released a month ago in France, and it's working so well and it's a huge success. I'm surprised, and at the same time I think the movie deserves that, because it's such a feel-good movie and it just speaks to you about Hollywood, and everybody loves Hollywood. Like, this is why I wanted to be an actress. It's because of these kinds of storiesvery simple: You dream, you lie down, and you look at the screen, and you're like, "This is a story."Miller: I'm incredibly surprised. I mean, I am and I'm not. I think when we were filming it, we knew we were coming into something really special when we came on the set. Michel, just his attention to detail and his perfectionism, was just so amazing. I've never quite seen anything quite like it. So I think we knew we were doing something special. But I kind of felt like it would be one of those art-house films. I didn't think it would reach a wide audience as much as it has. I think it's the timing; it's what's happening in our world right now. I think we're craving something like this; we're craving for an experience where we really get to participate as an audience, because we're so assaulted, I think, now with film and sound effects and special effects and 3-D. It's nice to sit back and be part of an experience that is so special and beautiful in its simplest, purest way, which is where it all began: The golden age of Hollywood. Why we all fell in love with the movies in the first place. It's so exciting to see it becoming this, just snowballing into this incredible event. People are experiencing this film and loving it and embracing it like they are. So I'm surprised by that, but I'm thrilled.Cromwell: It's no surprise, considering how brilliant the film is. I knew it was special the first day I visited the set and watched a scene on the monitor. In it, a group of writers and directors, sitting outside the producer's office, watch the actor, George Valentin, walk out on his career. It was uncanny. I'm sure I've seen a still from that period, somewhere, of that very grouping. One of them could have been my father. Of course, it's not the verisimilitude that entrances a contemporary audience. It's the artistry and the exuberance of the performances, and of the direction, the sheer joy of it all. But those little touches make it an authentic homage to a simpler, less cynical, more hopeful time in our industry, and in the country. It's that vision the audience embraces. The Cast of 'The Artist' Speaks At Last By Jenelle Riley November 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT The Weinstein Company Audiences have been falling in love with "The Artist," a sweet valentine to the golden age of Hollywood about a silent-movie star who finds his career threatened by the advent of talking pictures. Ironically, this love letter to American cinema was brought to the screen by French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius, who decided that to pay proper homage to the genre, he would shoot "The Artist" in black-and-white and without spoken dialogue. To pull off this feat, he assembled a fantastic cast of faces familiar and newto American audiences, at least.In the lead role of George Valentin, the fading star, Hazanavicius cast Jean Dujardin, whom he had previously worked with in the "OSS 117" spy comedies. As Peppy Miller, the young actor who finds her career on the rise, Hazanavicius called upon Brnice Bejo, also a veteran of an "OSS 117" film and his wife in real life. Rounding out the cast are John Goodman as a studio head, Missi Pyle as a jealous co-star, Penelope Ann Miller as Valentin's disapproving wife, James Cromwell as his loyal servant, and a scene-stealing Jack Russell terrier named Uggie as Valentin's beloved dog.Back Stage: How did you come to be cast in "The Artist"? James Cromwell: My agent told me there was an offer for a silent, black-and-white film, by a French director and two actors I'd never heard of. Sounded intriguing. They sent me a bound book, more short story than script, including photographs, which were evocative of the period. I was even more intrigued. I had a very long meeting with the director, asked a lot of questions, liked him and his answers, and said, "Let's do it."Brnice Bejo: I wasn't cast for "The Artist," actually. Michel, the director, wrote the character for me and he wrote it for Jean. He had me and Jean in mind, and he started writing while thinking about me, so I was very lucky. I didn't have to do any audition for this movie. At the very beginning, he was all about the guy, George Valentin, and he said to me, "There's going to be a young actress, a young extra in the movie, but she's not going to be as big as George Valentin. But I really want you to do it." I had already done a movie with him, and he's my husband, so I was not going to say no. He started writing, and the character of Peppy became more and more involved in the story. Jean Dujardin: My collaborations with Michel began in a bar. With two beers. "Hello, my name is Jean." "My name is Michel." "Okay." We worked together for "OSS 117." I think, when shooting "OSS 117" in Brazil, he said to me, "I'd like to make a silent movie." And I said, "I'd like to go to the moon." It's a good idea, but it's impossible. It's impossible to finance this film in France and in the world. But he did it. Back Stage: Did you do anything to adjust your acting style for the genre of a silent film? Dujardin: I watched a lot of movies. F.W. Murnau's movies, "Sunrise," or King Vidor movies, "The Crowd," "City Girl." I watched a lot of Douglas Fairbanks movies, because like George Valentin, he always played the same role. There was always a mustache. And Vittorio Gassman for his Italian physicality. Gene Kelly for his smile, his movement, energy. And "Lassie," with Uggie the dog. I had fun pretending to be a movie star in the 1920s.Cromwell: As far as I was concerned, I wasn't in a silent film. I just didn't have many lines, and the ones I did have weren't recorded. I had to tell my story with expressions and gestures, and trust the director to tell me if it was over-the-top, because there wasn't any replay. But that's not new to me: I didn't have many lines in my first film, "Murder by Death," where I also played a chauffeur, and only 16 or so in "Babe." They both turned out pretty good.Bejo: I'm sorry, every time I have this question, I feel people are going to be disappointed. But no, because we had lines in the script and we had dialogue. I spoke on set. The difference is for you as an audience: You don't hear me, but you see what I say on cards. But for me, actually, I acted the same way. For me, the difference was I had to find the character. The character was in the 1930s, and it's a young woman, and she's American, so that was the beginning of my workhow was it to be a woman in the '30s and how was it to be a movie star in the '30s? That was the beginning of my research. And Michel, since the very beginning, he said, "I don't want any pantomime." He took us to see [Frank] Borzage and Murnau movies from the '20s, and I realized it was very modern. There was no pantomime. They were just acting, and it was not overacting; it was very, very modern. When I saw that, I thought, "Okay, I'll just focus on the character, who she is, and I'll just go from there."Penelope Ann Miller: I did do a film called "Chaplin" with Robert Downey Jr.; Richard Attenborough directed it. I played Edna Purviance, a silent-film actor at the time who did many of the Chaplin filmsand in fact she dated him. So I did have some experience doing a silent film, because we had to re-enact a couple scenes from some of the films they did together. So I had watched a lot of the Chaplin films. And I'm just an old-movie buff anyway. I love old black-and-white and silent film. So having that experience and having watched so many, that certainly helped. But certainly, getting into the wardrobe and the hair and makeup and the sets was incredible. All of that sort of helped me get into the spirit and the mood of the character. And the director did an amazing thing where he played music in the background during our takes, so he created a mood, which was really great. You can't do that, obviously, in talkies. Back Stage: Are you at all surprised by how much the film has been embraced by audiences, or did you know you were onto something special? Dujardin: Yes and no, because it's a universal story, it's a love story. Bejo: When I was filming it, I knew we were doing something unique and special because, you know, I'm never going to be able to do that again. I mean, I don't think so. So I knew it was something unique. Me and all the actors and the crew members, everybody was very excited about the project. But you can never, never tell if a movie is going to find its audience. What I could say is, when I saw the movie for the first time, I loved it so much. I said, "If the people are coming in the theater to watch the movie, I'm sure they will enjoy it. But how are we going to make them come? Because they're going to be a little scared about the fact that it's black-and-white and silent." I knew we had to do a lot of promotion and really talk about the movie so that people would get curious about it. It was actually released a month ago in France, and it's working so well and it's a huge success. I'm surprised, and at the same time I think the movie deserves that, because it's such a feel-good movie and it just speaks to you about Hollywood, and everybody loves Hollywood. Like, this is why I wanted to be an actress. It's because of these kinds of storiesvery simple: You dream, you lie down, and you look at the screen, and you're like, "This is a story."Miller: I'm incredibly surprised. I mean, I am and I'm not. I think when we were filming it, we knew we were coming into something really special when we came on the set. Michel, just his attention to detail and his perfectionism, was just so amazing. I've never quite seen anything quite like it. So I think we knew we were doing something special. But I kind of felt like it would be one of those art-house films. I didn't think it would reach a wide audience as much as it has. I think it's the timing; it's what's happening in our world right now. I think we're craving something like this; we're craving for an experience where we really get to participate as an audience, because we're so assaulted, I think, now with film and sound effects and special effects and 3-D. It's nice to sit back and be part of an experience that is so special and beautiful in its simplest, purest way, which is where it all began: The golden age of Hollywood. Why we all fell in love with the movies in the first place. It's so exciting to see it becoming this, just snowballing into this incredible event. People are experiencing this film and loving it and embracing it like they are. So I'm surprised by that, but I'm thrilled.Cromwell: It's no surprise, considering how brilliant the film is. I knew it was special the first day I visited the set and watched a scene on the monitor. In it, a group of writers and directors, sitting outside the producer's office, watch the actor, George Valentin, walk out on his career. It was uncanny. I'm sure I've seen a still from that period, somewhere, of that very grouping. One of them could have been my father. Of course, it's not the verisimilitude that entrances a contemporary audience. It's the artistry and the exuberance of the performances, and of the direction, the sheer joy of it all. But those little touches make it an authentic homage to a simpler, less cynical, more hopeful time in our industry, and in the country. It's that vision the audience embraces.