Terence Davies adapting 'Sorrows'

Davies 'Mother of Sorrows'British auteur Terence Davies is creating a feature according to "Mother of Sorrows," the prize-winning 2005 debut novel by American Richard McCann.Davies is focusing on the project with Leopardrama, the fiction arm based in london and NY-based production group Argonon. They've development funding in the EU's Media program."Mother of Sorrows" includes 10 intertwined tales about two teenage siblings coping with the dying of the father and also the influence of the strong, complex mother. The novel won the John C. Zacharis First Book Award and was nominated for that Stonewall Book Award for gay fiction."It is really an important story since it touches the humanity in most people,Inch Davies stated. "I really like the delicacy from the book and it is gentle journey from publish-World war 2 optimism for that American Paradise to some much deeper knowledge of both maternal and filial love as well as an acceptance of mortality by giving up towards the light."Davies most lately directed nineteen fifties-set melodrama "The Dark Blue Ocean," starring Rachel Weisz, and it is next set to shoot his lengthy-looked forward to adaptation of classic Scottish novel "Sunset Song," compiled by Lewis Grassic Gibbon in 1932.His last film shot within the U.S. was "The Neon Bible" in 1995, though younger crowd modified Edith Wharton's novel "Home of Mirth" in 2000, using Glasgow for NY.Leopardrama, headed by Joey Attawia, Jez Swimer and David Chikwe, co-created low-budget Brit thriller "The Holding" this past year making "An Englishman in NY," starring John Hurt, in '09.Mother or father company Argonon has additionally introduced that it is three dimensional film of Matthew Bourne's manufacture of the ballet "Swan Lake," that is due in U.K. movie theaters this season, continues to be acquired by specialist arts distrib More2Screen for release in additional than 600 theaters worldwide. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'RoboCop' Reboot: This Is The Way You're Doing So

by Joel Hanek With little-known about this apart from an expectation that each overview of this movie includes the term "gritty," the "RoboCop" reboot has loomed over us for several weeks but with little information. With Jose Padilha in the helm (a director who's no stranger to action and police corruption as observed in his "Elite Squad" films) and film writer Nick Schenk ("Gran Torino") aboard the project, the film has lots of possibility of an incredible adaptation. But unless of course it finds an ideal mixture of action, allegory, and camping that Paul Verhoeven concocted, there's lots of possibility to fall flat. This is exactly why we are here to assist. Keep reading through for methods to correctly reboot "RoboCop" for any modern! WHY We Want IT: I'll admit I had been a late comer towards the original 1987 Verhoeven sci-fi classic, but when I cured that absence from my film repertoire, it instantly grew to become certainly one of my faves. Sure, searching back the results and anachronistic ideas for the future within the 1980s have parts feel hokey, however the story is timeless: corporate corruption, police corruption, distrusting the machine, and standing for what's right. The 99% crowd can certainly fall behind the styles concerning the blue collared robot in the Rustbelt. Apart from everything: you will find cyborgs, some awesome murder-bots that may make use of a CGI facelift, and the quantity of gore inside it will make even Eli Roth and also the Human Centipede him/herself blush. Who'll PLAY DETROIT'S FAVORITE CYBORG ENFORCER? Officer Alex Murphy is really a tricky role: in the beginning, he's the over-the-top, almost naive, do-gooder and when he's changed in to the RoboCop he's the stoic face that in some way still instructions a monosyllabic charm. While Michael Fassbender's title continues to be tossed around because the successor to Peter Weller's metallic exoskeleton, the most recent murmer in the rumorsphere points to "The Killing" star Joel Kinnaman on offer the role. These two men could answer the phone call to duty - why not play in the "Everyman" part of the role - also known as, a non-action star? Someone using the cold authority of the Michael Shannon or even the familiar dashing scowl of Jon Hamm. To juxtapose the ruled attitude of RoboCop, the film's villians are crazy and adorned to fill the area. Why don't you choose an actress who'll enjoy it and listen to it large? The center-American druglord Clarence Boddicker might be performed by someone who's always around the edge of shouting on the watch's screen, just like a Phillip Seymour Hoffman or John C. Reilly. Items To Bear In Mind WHEN Restarting: Steer clear of the CGI. Certain facets of Robocop might be up-to-date having a sophistication and fluidity that CGI offers like the Erectile dysfunction-209 robots that stalk Delta City - however when it involves the cyborg themself, leave that towards the costume (quite simply: don't "Eco-friendly Lantern" that one, everyone). Officer Anne Lewis. Offer her a bit more character development, please! But for the passion for Verhoeven, please include this somewhere within the movie! The inevitable reboot treads heavily around the hallowed ground in our beloved classic movies. Since Hollywood's likely to destroy everything you have ever loved anyway, let us ride along with the Four Horsemen and embrace the apocalypse in our motion picture nostalgia! Tune into Reboot for additional sardonic stupidity, or subject you to ultimately it voluntarily by using @joelhanek on Twitter!

'Saturday Night Live's' Abby Elliott Nabs Lead in Fox Comedy Pilot

"Saturday Night Live" could be losing Abby Elliott.The actress has been tapped to star in "Ben Fox Is My Manny," the Fox comedy pilot from "Couples Retreat" scribe Dana Fox, a studio rep has confirmed to "The Hollywood Reporter."In the project Elliott would play a single mother who gets an assist from her brother who moves in with her in a bid to help her raise her baby. The title character is described as a heightened version of Fox's brother, Ben Fox.The writer, whose credits include "What Happens in Vegas" and Adult Swim's "Children's Hospital," is repped by WME and Anonymous Content.Should "Ben Fox" receive a series order, Elliott would depart Lorne Michaels' NBC late-night sketch series in favor of the primetime slot at Fox.Elliott, who joined "SNL" in 2008, is best known on "SNL" for her impersonations of Angelina Jolie, "Glee's" Lea Michele and "New Girl's" Zooey Deschanel.She joins the previously cast Maggie Jones and Echo Kellum in the single-camera project from 20th Television and Chernin Entertainment. The Hollywood Reporter

Inside Tennis Channel's fight with Comcast

Tennis Channel topper Ken Solomon, center, with Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova at the U.S. Open in 2009.In the nation's capital, Golf Channel can be found on channel 11 of the Comcast lineup; Tennis Channel is at 735. You might think that it's just indicative of the Beltway, but to Ken Solomon, the CEO of Tennis Channel, the disparity is an injustice played out across the country. And he's succeeding in an effort to convince federal regulators, in this case an administrative law judge of the FCC, that the Goliath of the cable biz has discriminated against one of the Davids in its universe. Comcast owns Golf Channel, but doesn't have a stake in the independently owned Tennis Channel. The case, Solomon says, is about more than ensuring that the court gets equal footing with the club, but of the evolution of cable programming itself, where it is harder for indie networks to compete with those owned by conglomerates. Tennis Channel, he says, has been "thrust into this position of carrying the flag for any independent voice." "In the cable world, there is a point at which it ceases to be a free market," Solomon says. "In the cable world, we blew by that point a long time ago." Of course, that is not how Comcast sees it. Although administrative law judge Richard Sipple ruled in December that Comcast was in violation of Section 616 of the communications act -- a "program carriage" law governing cable provider treatment of channels in which they do not own a stake -- they believe that the provision is being used to rewrite the terms of a contract private contract between parties. The terms of that 15-year agreement, Comcast points out, gives Comcast the right to carry Tennis Channel "on any tier, including the sports tier." They also say that Tennis Channel filed the complaint after seeking broader carriage, including offering cable operators equity stakes, but Comcast declined. The most immediate battle is over when Comcast has to immediately abide by Sipple's ruling. Although FCC staffers have said that Comcast has to implement it now, the cabler says that it shouldn't have to until it exhausts other administrative remedies, like taking their case to the full FCC. Doing so now, it says, would be "time consuming, complex and costly to implement." Moreover, it would be confusing to subscribers it reshuffled its line up to make room for Tennis Channel in the lower tiers, then ultimately prevailed in its claim on appeal. "Comcast's First Amendment rights will be infringed, as its ability to speak through its own networks will conditioned on broader distribution of Tennis Channel, a decision that both usurps Comcast's editorial discretion and penalizes its own speech," the company said in an FCC filing. Solomon thinks the free speech argument is "specious." "We didn't wake up and force Comcast to put Tennis Channel on the air," he said. "They elected to do so on their own volition. What they have to do, once they make that determination, they have to give us fair treatment once they get similar situated networks." Solomon, who before Tennis Channel founded Fine Living and was president of Universal Television, speaks with the same showman's eagerness about the case that he does of the channel's ability to win rights to major tournaments. Tennis Channel, founded in 2003, is owned by a consortium of investors including Apollo Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, DND Capital Partners, sports management firm IMG and Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. According to Derek Baine, SNL Kagan senior media analyst, the channel has close to $100 million in annual revenue and went into the black in 2010. Although a new placement on Comcast systems could eventually lead to an uptick in advertising dollars, not to mention a big boost in subscribers, the case is being seized on by other independently owned channels as a kind of hangover from the year-long regulatory wrangling that led to the government's approval of Comcast's combination with NBCU. Bloomberg LP, which along with Tennis Channel was a critic of the NBCU transaction, seized on Sipple's ruling to call attention to its own FCC complaint against Comcast over the placement of its business channel within the same "neighborhood" as news channels, one of the conditions placed on the transaction. Again, Comcast disagrees. Even before the FCC and Justice Department gave the merger the greenlight, it had vowed to add 10 independently owned channels to its lineup over the next eight years. But to Solomon, it's not so much a matter of adding new channels but finding them. There's a voluminous case file in the public record on the case, but he says it's actually kind of grade-school simple to understand: "What you do for yourself, you have to do for others." Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

The Artist sweeps the 2012 BAFTAs

Quiet cinema developed a large noise within the BAFTA 2012 honours ceremony last evening. Black-and-white-colored charmer The Artist needed home seven honours, like the coveted Best Film prize.The BAFTA jury clearly had eyes for starters film at a negative balance-colored carpet event, kept in London last evening, since the Artist also needed home the most effective Director, Original Script, Lead Actor, Costume Design, Cinematography and Original Music honours.Also reaping helpful benefits from loving were Octavia Spencer for your Help and Christopher Plummer for beginners inside the Supporting groups, while Meryl Streep added another Leading Actress award to her groaning cabinet for your Iron Lady.Meanwhile, Thor stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston both missed around the Orange Rising Star award, which visited The adult years actor Adam Deacon.Round the British aspect, Mess Tailor Soldier Spy nabbed the Outstanding British Film prize (by divine intention so), while Paddy Considine's phenomenal Tyrannosaur was granted the Outstanding Debut gong.See below for your full report on individuals who win...BEST FILMThe ArtistThe DescendantsDriveThe HelpTinker Tailor Soldier SpyOUTSTANDING BRITISH FILMMy Week With MarilynSennaShameTinker Tailor Soldier SpyWe Need To Discuss KevinOUTSTANDING DEBUT Having A BRITISH Author, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCERAttack The Block - Joe Cornish (Director/Author)Black Pond - Will Ho (Director/Author), Tom Kingsley (Director), Sarah Brocklehurst (Producer)Coriolanus - Take advantage of Fiennes (Director)Submarine - Richard Ayoade (Director/Author)Tyrannosaur - Paddy Considine (Director), Diarmid Scrimshaw (Producer)FILM NOT Inside The British LANGUAGEIncendiesPinaPoticheA SeparationThe Skin I Live InDOCUMENTARYGeorge Harrison: Dwelling Within The Fabric WorldProject NimSennaANIMATED FILMThe Adventures Of Tintin: The Important Thing In The UnicornArthur ChristmasRangoDIRECTORMichel Hazanavicius - The ArtistNicolas Winding Refn - DriveMartin Scorsese - HugoTomas Alfredson - Mess Tailor Soldier SpyLynne Ramsay - We Must Discuss KevinORIGINAL SCREENPLAYMichel Hazanavicius - The ArtistAnnie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig - BridesmaidsJohn Michael McDonagh - The GuardAbi Morgan - The Iron LadyWoody Allen - Evening amount of time in ParisADAPTED SCREENPLAYAlexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash - The DescendantsTate Taylor - The HelpGeorge Clooney, Grant Heslov, Love Willimon - The Ides Of MarchSteven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin - MoneyballBridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan - Mess Tailor Soldier SpyLEADING ACTORBrad Pitt - MoneyballGary Oldman - Mess Tailor Soldier SpyGeorge Clooney - The DescendantsJean Dujardin - The ArtistMichael Fassbender - ShameLEADING ACTRESSBerenice Bejo - The ArtistMeryl Streep - The Iron LadyMichelle Williams - My Week with MarilynTilda Swinton - We must Discuss KevinViola Davis - The HelpSUPPORTING ACTORChristopher Plummer - BeginnersJim Broadbent - The Iron LadyJonah Hill - MoneyballKenneth Branagh - My Week with MarilynPhilip Seymour Hoffman - The Ides of MarchSUPPORTING ACTRESSCarey Mulligan - DriveJessica Chastain - The HelpJudi Dench - My Week with MarilynMelissa McCarthy - BridesmaidsOctavia Spencer - The HelpORIGINAL MUSICThe Artist - Ludovic BourceThe Girl While Using Dragon Tattoo - Trent Reznor, Atticus RossHugo - Howard ShoreTinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Alberto IglesiasWar Equine - John WilliamsCINEMATOGRAPHYThe Artist - Guillaume SchiffmanThe Girl While Using Dragon Tattoo - Rob CronenwethHugo - Robert RichardsonTinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Hoyte van HoytemaWar Equine - Janusz KaminskiEDITINGThe Artist - Anne-Sophie Bion, Michel HazanaviciusDrive - Pad NewmanHugo - Thelma SchoonmakerSenna - Gregers Sall, Chris KingTinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Dino JonsaterPRODUCTION DESIGNThe Artist - Laurence Bennett, Robert GouldHarry Potter As Well As The Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillanHugo - Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo SchiavoTinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonaldWar Equine - Ron Carter, Lee SandalesCOSTUME DESIGNThe Artist - Mark BridgesHugo - Sandy PowellJane Eyre - Michael O'ConnorMy Week With Marilyn - Jill TaylorTinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Jacqueline DurranMAKE UP & HAIRThe Artist - Julie Hewett, Cydney CornellHarry Potter As Well As The Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Amanda Dark evening, Lisa TomblinHugo - Morag Ross, Jan ArchibaldThe Iron Lady - Marese Langan, Mark Coulier, J. Roy HellandMy Week With Marilyn - Jenny ShircoreSOUNDThe Artist - Nadine Muse, Gérard Lamps, Michael KrikorianHarry Potter As Well As The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 - James Mather, Stuart Wilson, Stuart Hilliker, Mike Dowson, Adam ScrivenerHugo - Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty, Tom Fleischman, John MidgleyTinker Tailor Soldier Spy - John Casali, Howard Bargroff, Doug Cooper, Stephen Griffiths, Andy ShelleyWar Equine - Stuart Wilson, Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Manley, Richard HymnsSPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTSThe Adventures Of Tintin: The Important Thing In The Unicorn - Joe LetteriHarry Potter As Well As The Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Tim Burke, John Richardson, Greg Butler, David VickeryHugo - Make the most of Legato, Ben Grossman, Joss WilliamsRise In The Planet In The Apes - Joe Letteri, Serta Lemmon, R. Christopher WhiteWar Equine - Ben Morris, Neil CorbouldSHORT ANIMATIONAbuelasBobby YeahA Morning StrollSHORT FILMChalkMwansa The GreatOnly Appear RemainsPitch Black HeistTwo And TwoTHE ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD (selected for with the public)Adam DeaconChris HemsworthChris O'DowdEddie RedmayneTom Hiddleston

Jane by Design's Dasher: Jane's Double Life Comes In Between Her Relationship With Nick

Erica Dasher, Matthew Atkinson Jane by Design's Jane Quimby finally shared a kiss with longtime crush Nick, but soon her double life as a high school student and fashion house assistant will get in their way. "She can't fill him in on her double life so he starts to feel like something else is going on and he starts to question things," star Erica Dasher tells TVGuide.com. Betsey Johnson, Paulina Porizkova add authenticity to ABC Family's Jane By Design Viewers already have a seen a big change from the more awkward Jane in the premiere to the poised Jane. Dasher credits the quick transformation to Jane's gig as assistant to Donovan Decker head honcho Gray Chandler Murray (Andie MacDowell). "By following her passions and working in the fashion world, she starts to develop a confidence there and carries that to school with her. I think that's why Nick starts to notice her," Dasher says. As Jane changes, Dasher says you'll see a new side to both Murray and her nemesis India (India de Beaufort). "The villains become more vulnerable and the good guys start to make mistakes," Dasher says. MacDowell adds: "Last [episode] you saw Gray's admiration for Jane and you'll start to see a little more of that and the reasons why [Gray] is the way she is." Jane by Design airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC Family. Watch an interview with Dasher about Jane's love life below:

Happy Birthday John Williams: 'Star Wars' Composer Turns 80 years of age!

John Williams, the best film composer ever (and possibly the best living American composer, period) turns 80 years of age today. Theres a lot of to say on Williams with this particular short space, but right here are a handful of stats... » Composed music more than 100 films » Acquired 47 Oscar nominations (including two this year for War Equine and Tintin) and five wins » Ongoing collaboration with Steven Spielberg has made it over 3 decades » Mentioned three spots on AFIs report on the 25 Finest Film Scores ever, like the #1 spot for Alien Episode IV Along with his accomplishments in film, Williams offered as music director for your Boston Jumps Orchestra for 14 seasons and composed styles for four Olympic games. Last Season he received the country's Medal of Arts, the finest award presented to artists with the U.S. government. Williams title has become so synonymous with film music that it's impossible to visualize a common culture without him. Heres to numerous more years of memorable movie music later on! My top favorite John Williams scores: 1. Alien Episode IV and Episode V (tie) 3. Raiders in the Lost Ark 4. Harry Potter as well as the Sorcerers Stone 5. Home Alone 6. Schindlers List 7. 1941 8. Superman 9. Hook 10. Empire in the Sun Got a well known John Williams film score? Inform us inside the comments below, or give to us a shout on Twitter!

Time to partay

The Grammy Week gallop begins in serious Wednesday, as music biz pros dart from venue to venue to schmooze inside the run-around Sunday's Grammy Honours show at Staples Center. It's a difficult task, but somebody's gotta take action. This is a narrow your research of the extremely twinkling occasions: Wednesday: It Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing fetes Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine within the Village Recorder in Westwood. Thursday: Sharon Osbourne hosts the Grammy Foundation's Music Upkeep Project show within the Saban Theater. Mavis Staples, Robert Cray and Johnny Lang are headlining. Friday: MusiCares Person of year party honors Paul McCartney. It Acad appears intent upon topping itself each year using this gig enjoying useful benefits its charitable arm. Barbra Streisand needed happens a year ago, as well as the ticket is simply as hot this year as Coldplay, Foo Mma fighters, Katy Perry, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Norah Manley, James Taylor and Neil Youthful & Crazy Equine are among people who'll salute Macca. Saturday: Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Symbols. If Grammy Week is about making the scene, this annual schmoozefest within the Beverly Hilton Hotel might be the showstopper of pre-honours nights. The brand new the new sony Music Entertainment chief creative officer Davis has presided inside the pre-Grammys function -- the official NARAS affair -- for any very long time. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson is year's honoree. Expect a parade of top talent and a lot of passionate greetings within the loquacious host. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Warner set for Batman toy bonanza

'The Dark Knight Rises' action figureFunkos 'The Dark Knight Rises' Batman vinyl POP figure. 'The Dark Knight Rises' Bane Movie Masters figure With its PG-13 rating, "The Dark Knight Rises" isn't a kids' movie. But Warner Bros. is sending up the bat signal that it's ready to sell a lot of Batman-related toys. Warner Bros. Consumer Products is using the start of the Intl. Toy Fair today in Nuremberg, Germany, and the American Intl. Toy Fair in NY later this month to tout one of its largest licensing programs around a Batman film. Even though Christopher Nolan's dark film is targeted at older auds, the studio still wanted to create products that would appeal to all audiences and age groups. Concept is key to how WB wants to treat all of DC Entertainment's characters and properties moving forward. By hyping one property, in this case the film set to hit theaters July 20, all of WB's projects that feature the Caped Crusader -- animated series, videogames, older homevideo fare -- can benefit from the buzz. Warner Consumer Products already mints $6 billion a year, but with a broader push, the division is aiming to generate even more revenue, aided by the release of a new summer tentpole.Batman is a perennial property for WB given the various media platforms in which the character has appeared over the years. But the studio is expected to release 30% more Batman-related products on stores shelves worldwide because of "The Dark Knight Rises." And it expects Batman merchandise to earn 100% more in 2012 over last year, when it didn't have a film in theaters. It hopes to earn that extra coin from the sale of traditional action and collectible figures from Mattel, the Noble Collection and Sideshow, Hot Wheels and Hornby Hobbies cars and remote control vehicles, Funko and Mezco bobbleheads and vinyl figures, role-play toys from Thinkway and Rubie's costumes. The studio's deal with Lego to produce figures and playsets based on all of DC's superheroes, including Batman and his villains, lets younger kids participate in the "Dark Knight" fever. Mattel is even getting in on toddler-targeted action with Fisher-Price's DC Super Friends Imaginext toy line, which generated $115 million in sales last year. The younger lines didn't exist when "The Dark Knight" bowed in 2008, earning $1 billion at the box office. "Batman is among the most iconic superheroes in popular culture, and this year's merchandise program, highlighted by 'The Dark Knight Rises,' reflects the incredible legacy of Christopher Nolan's trilogy, as well as the longevity of the character over the course of time across all forms of entertainment," said Karen McTier, exec VP of domestic licensing and worldwide marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. At the toy fairs, the studio is also promoting "The Looney Tunes Show," "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated," "ThunderCats" and the new DC Nation block featuring "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" and "Young Justice," all on Cartoon Network -- and with their own slew of toy partners, including Mattel and Lego. Division also has the films "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," out in December, and next year's "The Hobbit: There and Back Again." "While Batman leads the way for us this year, we are also excited to have the most diverse portfolio of toy partners we have had for some time -- and the content to support them," said Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com