Reese Witherspoon launches new banner

WitherspoonPapandrea Reese Witherspoon and "Warm Physiques" producer Bruna Papandrea have teamed to produce a brand new production banner, Off-shore Standard. Duo will fold numerous projects in to the partnership using their pre-existing shingles Type A Films making Movies. Off-shore Standard has lots of qualities prepared to visit to the marketplace, including an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's approaching "Wild," which informs the storyline of the 1100-mile solo hike that stops working a youthful lady spinning from catastrophe and brings her to existence. Witherspoon and Papandrea anticipate with the associations they have forged with filmmakers, stars and authors to create wise, character-driven, commercial films both small and big. "I have been astounded by Bruna's taste and her abilities like a producer," stated Witherspoon. "I am very excited to become dealing with her. It is a pleasure to collaborate with someone so wise, fun and formidable." "In Reese I've discovered a like-minded and extremely passionate partner who truly shares exactly the same goals," added Papandrea. "I have were built with a wonderful time creating movies individually however i could not become more looking forward to the organization and brand we'll create together." Witherspoon gained her first creating credit for "Legally Blonde 2: Red-colored, Whitened & Blonde," and continued to create "Four Christmases" and "Penelope" through her Type A shingle. Thesp acquired Peggy Lee's existence privileges and joined with Marc Platt on the biographical film that Nora Ephron will write for Fox 2000. She also setup the initial comedies "Who Asked Her?" together with Gary Promote at DreamWorks, "My Husband's Wife" with Ryan Seacrest's company at Universal and also the Courtney Search-directed indie "Rule #1" with Kaira Epstein at Emmett/Furla Films. Papandrea lately created Jonathan Levine's zombie pic "Warm Physiques" for financier Summit Entertainment. Pic, which stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, is skedded for release February. 1, 2013. Papandrea's development slate includes Jennifer Smith's approaching novel "The Record Possibility of Love in the beginning Sight" and Emily Giffin's best-selling book "Love the main one You are With." Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

cell mates u . s .

Hollywood -- When Meryl Streep showed up in the Governors Ball, she was welcomed by Wolfgang Puck, and scurrying beside them would be a press person yelling to visitors, "Mobile phones away, please!" Apparently, the customs of twenty-first century technology are a new comer to that guy. When James Earl Johnson introduced "the legendary" Tony Bennett, who sang a couple of tunes, visitors rushed towards the feet from the stage to capture the perf via mobile phone. Streep visited the Engraving Room, in which a team screwed metal nameplates onto the bottom of winners' trophies. She sitting with Octavia Spencer, Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo while people swarmed around them and a large number of photography enthusiasts clicked away, until Streep finally stated, "OK, there you have it, fellas." Simultaneously, Jean Dujardin was undetected by many people partygoers because he sitting with three youthful women, the Oscar between his ft because he gladly ate sushi. At Vanity Fair's fete, Catherine O'Hara skyrocketed with delight at meeting Katy Perry. In recognition from the football star attending, Jonah Hill attempted his best Tim Tebow pose. Although the traditional In-N-Out hamburgers made the models in the Sunset Tower, Liam Hemsworth elected for any chili aioli slider. But his date Miley Cyrus rejected, observing, "I have already had one a lot of.Inch The Elton John Helps Foundation Oscar-viewing party made its new house inside a tent in West Hollywood Park, in which a quiet auction came Steven Tyler, Gwen Stefani, Quincy Johnson, Whoopi Goldberg and Heidi Klum, who invest in such products like a tennis lesson with Rafael Nadal (it offered for $190,000, two times), an in-home cooking class with chef Cat Cora (offered for $100,000 to Steve Tisch) along with a set trip to "Vampire Journals," plus lunch with John and David Furnish ($80,000). Timothy M. Grey and Kirstin Wilder led for this report. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Star Trek' Leaks Are 'A Bummer,' Zoe Saldana Says

Last week, we posted about some photos from the set of "Star Trek 2" showing Benedict Cumberbatch and Zachary Quinto locked in some kind of struggle. Cumberbatch may be a villain or not; Quinto is almost certainly still Spock, unless the writers are going really weird with it. It was hard to tell what was going on, really. But whoever leaked the photos hasnt greatly endeared himself to director J.J. Abrams, who apparently wasnt too happy according to Zoe Saldana. When we caught up with Uhura at the Independent Spirit Awards, she revealed the mood on set after the accidental reveal. "J.J. was very upset," she said. "I have to say that. It's not going to stop people from intruding, but they are, and it's such a bummer because it only hurts them by stealing away the surprise." That makes an appropriate amount of sense -- why ruin a surprise months in advance when youre still going to pay money for the ticket, and when you have an approximately 0.01% chance of influencing any details of the film via organized Internet protest or blowback? But we do understand fan culture, and the pressing need to be satisfied with any iota of information. Taking it all in stride, Saldana turned light when we asked her about what Cumberbatch brings to the film. "Another yummy male actor in 'Star Trek' that's what he's adding, and I'm enjoying it," she said. What do you think of the "Star Trek 2" photo leaks? Tell us in the comments section or hit us up on Twitter!

Piracy Has Minimal Affect On U.S. Box Office: Study

Film piracy includes a hardly any effect on box office leads to the U.S. but likely cuts into studio profits overseas with respect to the time lag from a film’s American debut and rollout overseas. Individuals would be the surprising conclusions of the extensive study entitled “Reel Piracy: The Result of Online Film Piracy on Worldwide Box Office Sales,” headed by Brett Danaher of Wellesley College and Joel Waldfogel in the College of Minnesota and also the National Bureau of Economic Research. While scientists within the study acknowledge a rise in piracy — specifically for genres for example sci-fi and action films — U.S. audiences still like the theatrical experience. The research discovered that People in america are going to theaters in comparable amounts they'd have otherwise even without the piracy,recommending that possibly people choose to visit a film inside a theater despite a preliminary pass online, or person to person from the unlicensed copy of the film may push others towards the multiplex. The research also concludes that because the creation of piracy software Bit-torrent in 2003, the more the lag time from a film’s release abroad in comparison to the U.S. opening, the higher the depression in box office receipts. Generally, the research found worldwide returns were 7% reduced the sample set compared to what they could have been had piracy not been around.Hollywood films normally bow within the U.S. before heading abroad, with opening dates different based on country nations like Denmark, Finland, Italia, Belgium, and Poultry have longer lag occasions compared to United kingdom, Europe and Australia. Scientists discovered that in 2003-2004 a film launched overseas eight days after its U.S. premiere had lower returns by about 22% inside a given country. That figure increased to almost 40% in 2005-2006 as each additional week of lag time decreased returns for sci-fi and action game titles by an additional 1.3% in comparison along with other genres.

Ticket Discount on 'Memphis' for Actors' Equity Members

Ticket Discount on 'Memphis' for Actors' Equity Members February 16, 2012 Photo by Joan Marcus As part of the "Inspire Change" talkback series, Actors' Equity Association members will receive a discount at special performances of the musical "Memphis" at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., NYC. At shows on Feb. 16 and 23 at 8 p.m., patrons will be invited to participate in an after-performance talkback about the role of minorities in the performing arts. On Feb. 16, music critic and radio talk show host Dave Marsh will moderate, and on Feb. 23, radio host Julie James will moderate. To reserve your discount tickets, mention code MEMTALK at the Shubert Theatre box office on the day of the performance only. Discounted balcony seats cost $26.50, and rear orchestra and mezzanine seats are $66.50. You can also purchase tickets (use code MEMTALK) at Visit BroadwayOffers.com or by calling (212) 947-8844. Ticket Discount on 'Memphis' for Actors' Equity Members February 16, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT Joan Marcus As part of the "Inspire Change" talkback series, Actors' Equity Association members will receive a discount at special performances of the musical "Memphis" at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., NYC. At shows on Feb. 16 and 23 at 8 p.m., patrons will be invited to participate in an after-performance talkback about the role of minorities in the performing arts. On Feb. 16, music critic and radio talk show host Dave Marsh will moderate, and on Feb. 23, radio host Julie James will moderate. To reserve your discount tickets, mention code MEMTALK at the Shubert Theatre box office on the day of the performance only. Discounted balcony seats cost $26.50, and rear orchestra and mezzanine seats are $66.50. You can also purchase tickets (use code MEMTALK) at Visit BroadwayOffers.com or by calling (212) 947-8844.

Academy awards 2012: Why 'The Girl Using The Dragon Tattoo' Deserved A Best Picture Jerk

Nine films are nominated for the best Picture in the Oscars this season, pleading the question: who deserved a tenth just right that list? "Academy awards 2012: 10 Place" solutions that question, because the MTV Movies team highlights a number of 2011's finest films and argues why they deserved a jerk because the tenth Best Picture nominee. "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo" particularly highlights wrong using the Best Picture race this season. From the films within the conversation, David Fincher's adaptation of Stieg Larsson's best-selling novel did deserve a nomination for that Oscar top prize this year, but in any other year, I believe the snub could have been justified. That's because "Dragon Tattoo" has one factor that all the Best Picture nominees, except for "Tree of Existence," seriously lack: an advantage. Using the area almost entirely full of nostalgia movies ("Hugo," "The Artist," "Night time in Paris," "War Equine," "The AssistanceInch), deficiencies in variety bogs lower the race, departing it with no real feeling of drama. The flicks, while enjoyable, don't represent the gamut of subjects the medium can touch and create a fairly one-note race. "Dragon Tattoo" went dark and remained dark, and accomplished it without apologizing. By having an basically incompetent male protagonist, a lady rape-victim needs to use her intellect for everyone justice, so when the killer is cornered, he dies due to his lack of ability they are driving having a shattered jaw. Though its formulaic thriller plot ultimately reduces the story's impact, a nomination for "Dragon Tattoo" might have added spice towards the race and proven some daring for the Academy. Even disregarding the topic matter and also the story, Fincher designed a technically masterful film, because he has a tendency to do, and reaffirmed his place among the genre's best company directors, always prepared to innovate. Only at that level, the snub appears particularly insulting considering that Tate Taylor's by-the-amounts "The AssistanceInch gained a just right their email list. Also take into account that Fincher's loss towards the undeserving Tom Hooper finally year's ceremony must have qualified for that Academy's passion for payback. On the other hand, my whole argument has a caveat: I do not think "Dragon Tattoo" is exceptional, also it wouldn't deserve a nomination when the other nominees have been of the greater quality. The snub is available in line with the merits of comparison and never exclusively around the film itself. That being the situation, however, adding "Dragon Tattoo" towards the tenth place might have given a bit more respect to some category which i think sorely needs it. The MTV Movies team has got the 2012 Academy awards covered! Stick to us for all you need to know prior to the honours show, as well as on Sunday, Feb 25, tune into MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. ET for the three-hour red-colored-carpet live stream and updates around the night's large those who win.

Vampire Diaries Video: Kat Graham Says Bonnie Will Go Against Elena and Stand by It

Paul Wesley and Kat Graham The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham says her character Bonnie isn't always the fan favorite - and she's more than OK with that. "[They've] made Bonnie a character that people either worship or go against because she goes against the vampires," Graham told TVGuide.com on the Atlanta set. "All you can really ask for is that you give people those reactions, evoke something. I don't care what it is as long as you feel it." Is Esther for real? When is Tyler returning? Vampire Diaries burning questions answered On Thursday's episode, Bonnie is in a particularly sticky situation. She and her estranged mother Abby (Persia White) are an important piece of the puzzle for Esther to carry out her plan to eviscerate the Original siblings. Bonnie is further torn when her best friend Elena (Nina Dobrev) has reservations about killing Elijah (Daniel Gillies). "Bonnie's not a vengeful person, there's always a purpose behind [her actions]," Graham says. "Whether she's wrong or right by audience standards she firmly stands by it. If she goes against Elena, or even Elena going against Bonnie, it would be because they both have this conviction that what they're doing is right. That's important to remember watching the upcoming episodes." Vampire Diaries Video: Ian Somerhalder says Damon needs his mojo back With Abby on Bonnie's side, the two are not only exploring their strength as a mother-daughter witch team, but a possible relationship that they've never had. "Bonnie is making an effort and I think Abby is too ... to try and keep everyone in the town safe and to try and be there for each other. How successful they will both be is yet to be discovered or seen, but for right now the effort it being made," she says. Graham adds that the Season 3 take-charge Bonnie has grown leaps and bounds since the girl in the pilot. "There's a courage now," Graham says. "In the beginning she wouldn't have gone against so many people because she was still figuring out who she was. By the second season she knew who she was and by the third season it's her doing something because of who she is and she has the power to do it." And as Bonnie continues to puts herself in the line of fire, Graham warns that it could lead to grave circumstances for her. "I love that they play with my mortality so much," she says. "But I don't think there's anyone you shouldn't be worried about." Watch this week's Vampire Diaries Bite for more on Bonnie's romantic life and why Graham loves that "she's not a slut." The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

Russell Crowe Up For 'Noah,' 'RoboCop' Reboot?

Russell Crowe has been at the front of some of today's most intriguing casting rumors. A chain reaction of reports set off by a Deadline post places Crowe on the shortlist for two high-profile projects. Wednesday night (February 1), Deadline's Mike Fleming reported that he heard that Darren Aronofsky has his top choices picked for his biblical epic, "Noah." According to Fleming, Aronofsky wants Russell Crowe for the title role and Liam Neeson for a different character. The "Black Swan" director's first choice, Christian Bale, had to drop out due to a busy scheduling conflicts, and Crowe's credentials certainly qualify him as a suitable replacement. No deals have been signed for either actor, since the report only expressed Aronofsky's interest in the actors and not official moves to secure them. In the wake of Deadline's report, Variety's Jeff Sneider revealed over Twitter that Crowe "MIGHT" star in Jose Padilha's reboot of "RoboCop." Up until this point, the only major name even associated with the role of the cyborg in "RoboCop" had been Michael Fassbender, but his involvement only amounted to a passing mention from Padilha. Both of these casting rumors are less casting rumors than they are interesting rumors, and both only indicate that Crowe could conceivably star in the either film. Technically, he also "MIGHT" appear in the next "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie. Mention should also be made of the purported role for Liam Neeson, who according to reports would play a supporting character in "Noah." /Film's Russ Fischer hypothesized that it's possible that Neeson's character could be the villain the film's cinematographer, Matty Libatique, teased. Would you like to see Russell Crowe as either Noah or RoboCop? Let us know what you think in the comments below and on Twitter!

First 'Skyfall' Photo: Difficulties Helps Make The Bond

by Marvin Van Buren Finally, the official picture of Difficulties as Mission Impossible in Skyfall having a gun, believe it or not! Following a early "Skyfall" leak of Bond sitting with a pool, this new (and official) shot features Agent 007 carrying a gun and most probably staying away from recognition of his opponents. If the photo does not enable you to get excited for that film well, we are searching at different photos! Since production started on Skyfall, there weren't many substantial updates around the film. Obviously there's been casting news of villains in addition to vague plot particulars, but very little else in recent days. Quite simply, this photo signifies an item of the lengthy process. Skyfall continues to be stuck in development hell for several years, and today, acclaimed director Mike Mendes (Jarhead and Route to Perdition") is finally getting his opportunity to prove his weight in super-spy gold behind your camera. True, many fans and experts didn't favor Quantum of Solace like a worthy accessory for the Mission Impossible world. But when any director can revive the real essence of the items a Mission Impossible movie is, its Mendes. "Skyfall" marks the 3rd time Difficulties has had around the legendary role of agent 007. The very first time is at the 2006 adaptation of Casino Royale, as well as in 2008 Craig came back for Quantum of Solace." Following a hiatus in the role along with a slew of other film projects, Craig is once more in action as Bond. It has been a lengthy wait, but we are sure it will be worthwhile once this course of action blockbuster hits screens in November 2012. Exactly what do you think about the very first official "Skyfall" photo? Tell us that which you think about this change at Mission Impossible within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Octavia Spencer Brought To Tears Following Golden Globe Win

First Launched: The month of the month of january 16, 2012 11:19 AM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption The champion to find the best Performance by an Actress in the Supporting Role in the Film Octavia Spencer poses while using trophy within the 69th annual Golden Globe Honours within the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Slopes, The month of the month of january 15, 2012LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Octavia Spencer gave another acceptance speech at Sundays Golden Globes after winning Best Supporting Actress in the Film on her behalf role inside the Help, then when she left happens, her feelings needed over. I obtained backstage which i simply started crying, the actress revealed to get into Hollywoods Billy Rose rose bush after her large win. It's been very wonderful, the initial-time Globe champion ongoing. This really is really overwhelming. I cant even inform you. Im so overcome. Im still inside a condition of shock Its wonderful. Furthermore with a Golden Globe, the 41-year-old star Tweeted they showed up congratulatory kissed from George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, director Steven Speilberg in addition to produced a woman crush on fellow Globe nominee Charlie Theron. The actress told Billy they planned on praising along with her fellow The Help co-stars, but furthermore revealed she was searching toward sliding into something a little much more comfortable. I believed I'd party with the evening however i don't get it inside me. The most effective to go to home, clean my face, p-Spanx, she mentioned. I obtained to remove them. Im triple Spanxed tonight The most effective to pop them off! Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ludlum's Sigma Protocol Back In Line

Ben Hartman may be the new Jason Bourne (?)Last we heard, Robert Ludlum's typically doorstop-y thriller The Sigma Protocol was around the steps for success for movie development at Universal. The truth is, which was in the summer time of 2008 maybe there have been leaves at risk. Today though, comes this news that, because the Bourne franchise prepares to come back using the Bourne Legacy,The Sigma Protocol has additionally resurfaced, with veteran Irwin Winkler writing and creating.Released in 2001, The Sigma Protocol was Ludlum's final novel, and it is about Ben Hartman, a youthful investment banker on vacation in Europe,who finds out that the secret organization (composed of top corporate CEOs and nazi war crooks) has lengthy been manipulating the global economy. Seeing a killing will get him involved within the conspiracy, which sees him marked for dying and away from home having a female FBI agent."This is an regular guy who will get swept up in worldwide intrigue, and who teams with this particular operative who's declared a rogue through the CIA," states Winkler. "Unlike Bourne, who's an experienced assassin, it is really an innocent guy driving Europe who will get in way over his mind. And contains all of the great Ludlum intrigue."The final version from the script was by Iron Guy authors Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, however it sounds as though Winkler is going to be beginning on your own with this version. He's co-writing with Jose Ruisanchez, who began in visual effects but appears to possess moved into creating through a while as Winkler's assistant. He does not appear to possess every other writing credits.Plot-smart, this looks to possess a few of the key points of individuals travelogue 60s caper movies like Charade and also to Catch A Crook (that is up for any remake). Recent tries to revive that genre, however (Dark night And Day, The Tourist), worked out badly, so we are interested to determine where Sigma Protocol may be heading.Like a producer, Winkler was behind achievements like Rocky, The Gambler and Goodfellas, which have lately resurfaced in certain form (Rocky like a musical, Gambler like a remake and Goodfellas like a TV series). "It's nice to determine this activity on past films, also it's nice to possess some fresh action," he states.

Digital revenues: Bigger bit of cake

Ultimate pay-offAs Hollywood meets most abundant in important tech and hardware gamers at CES in Vegas, executives have one factor in your mind: how you can monetize digital distribution.Obvious Scope Partners provided the amounts within the chart, which represent some of the total film "ultimate." That final amount will be in comparison to some film's total expenses to find out a forecasted profit.With every new platform that comes out, individuals digital dollars carry on growing and may play a far more natural part in identifying which projects get created.Filmmakers frequently depend on full film ultimates to create a movie in a reasonable cost and secure bank financing."The best can be used by galleries and independents to handle their very own income and forecasted capital needs," stated Clark Hallren, controlling partner at Obvious Scope, an entertainment advisory and capital raising firm. "(It's) also utilized by banks like a grounds for lending to production and distribution companies."About eight week's following a film's release, marketers and outdoors firms can estimate the best amount of cash it'll earn throughout its first cycle (about ten years). For digital, which means including estimations for pay-per-view, VOD, electronic sell-through and rental fees. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

Law & Order: SVU Video: Fisher Stevens Channels Arrogant Director for Guest Role

Fisher Stevens The entertainment business is known for big personalities and bigger egos, so when Fisher Stevens was cast to play a theater director on Law & Order: SVU, he knew exactly who to use for inspiration. "There's a director that I've never worked with but I've tried to work with, and I don't really like him or his personality at all. I'm not even going to say his name. but in my mind, that's who I'm seeing," Stevens says. "His arrogance and narcissism are rampant, although he's talented." Exclusive: Miranda Lambert making acting debut on Law & Order: SVU In the episode airing Wednesday at 10/9c, Stevens plays Ted Scott, who's involved in an Special Victims Unit investigation when an actress' sexual assault is mistaken for a performance by a theater audience. "He's a very lonely man. You'd never know it because he's always surrounded by beautiful woman," Stevens says. "He preys on his students a bit. His ego is a bit out of whack." Watch the full interview with Stevens:

MTV Movie Brawl 2012 Bracket Open For Voting!

The MTV Movie Brawl 2012 is formally on! Following a initial play-in and wild card models, 16 films are actually selected to compete in many mind-to-mind single elimination matches inside our March Madness-style bracket. Ultimately, only one of these brilliant movies might be crowned the can't-miss movie of year, as well as the choice is entirely your choice. After first-round voting closed on Sunday mid-day, the MTV Movies selection team locked itself in the room with numerous food, a small volume of oxygen, then one all-important goal: seed this bracket. Compared to that finish, we considered numerous criteria to select each film's ranking. We noted first-round voting totals, overall buzz, potential box-office performance together with a slew of other benchmarks. The choices were tough. Some arguments were heated. But ultimately we walked away getting a 16-team bracket we're proud to supply up for your inaugural MTV Movie Brawl. But hey, differ around? Show us we first first got it wrong by voting for that favorite can't-miss flick of year. Ultimately, You are in control! Just click the bracket above and start BRAWLING!!! Watch our MTV Movie Brawl 2012 analysis!

Chris Davis dies at 65

Released: Mon., Jan. 9, 2012, 10:57am PTBy VARIETY STAFF Former worldwide telemarketer Chris Davis died Jan. 4 carrying out a extended illness. He was 65. The British-born Davis started inside the movie business forty years ago because the organization accountant for Avco Embassy Pictures, the U.K. subsidiary in the American production and worldwide distribution company. There he increased to understand the process of physical theatrical distribution and was deeply mixed up in U.K. relieve Oscar champion "Just a little Class" additionally to "Soldier Blue" and John Carpenter's "The Fog." Inside the mid-eighties he grew to become part of their worldwide division, where he was mixed up in distribution of films including "Avoid NY" and "The Howling." three years later he grew to become part of Lorimar Intl., concentrating on the sales and distribution of movies including "Victory," starring Sylvester Stallone, and Mike Fuller's "The Big Red-colored-colored One." He then needed employment as mind of worldwide distribution for Trans World Entertainment, where he was mixed up in marketing and customers of some 30 films. In 1988 he grew to become part of the lately produced Imperial Entertainment, possessed with each other by Scanbox Denmark, then labored briefly for Franchise Pictures as leader of worldwide distribution before returning to Imperial. When Scanbox Intl. was shuttered by new entrepreneurs in 2002, Davis was hired by production and development company Filmengine, where he was mind of distribution. Later, becoming an independent, he will be a consultant to producers including American Cinema Group and Filmwerks. Davis is managed to get by his wife, Maryl a boy and a pair of kids in the previous marriage. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Kudos kickoff

From this week on, bizzers will run a kudos marathon until the Oscars. Consider your dance card full until the end of February.With this week marking the start of the final leg of the Oscar race, bizzers are in for nothing but back-to-back hotel chicken dinners, film festival honors and DVD release parties, among other carefully crafted PR stunts. It's the time of year when gifting suites and beauty lounges are the only moments of relative peace (and personal grooming) any awards-season regular can find. This week alone is jam-packed with glitzy red-carpet events, including the Critics Choice Movie Awards, the AFI Awards, the BAFTA/LA Tea Party, the Independent Spirit Awards Brunch, and, of course, Sunday's Golden Globe fete.It's enough to make anyone long for a weekend getaway, but that getaway will probably take you to Palm Springs or Santa Barbara because there's campaigning to be done and speeches to be given.Oscar polls close on Friday, but don't count on any respite from the frenzy while PriceWaterhouseCoopers is stacking up ballots. It's just the calm before the storm.However, the next time you're squeezing into a mildly uncomfortable chair at a table of 12 that's clearly built to seat eight, remember that these are champagne problems. If it weren't important (and frankly, so much fun), you wouldn't keep coming back for more every year. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Hugh Jackman on Broadway Means Cold Cash

NY (AP) Hugh Jackman leaves Broadway with numerous broken hearts and records.The hunky Australian actor's one-guy Broadway concert show closed on Sunday mid-day within the Broadhurst Theatre after you have acquired $2,057,354 within the final week, the finest weekly gross recorded with the Shubert Organization, which has the Broadhurst and 16 other Broadway theaters.Over its 10-week run, Jackman acquired an impressive $14,638,428, producers mentioned. Lucrative has 10 in the 11 top grossing days within the Broadhurst.Jackman, most broadly considered to be the hairy Wolverine in "The X-Males" franchise, routinely offered the 1,176-chair theater generally released weekly grosses of $1.5 million, frequently more than rival musicals for instance "Jersey Boys," ''Mama Mia!" ''How to attain Business," ''Anything Goes" and "Follies."Only "Wicked" and "The Lion King," produced by other organizations, consistently outdid Jackman. But people shows also had much greater expenses.The last record within the Broadhurst happened with the Al Pacino-introduced "The Merchant of Venice," which needed in $1,175,750 taken. To date, the Shubert Organization's one-week finest haul was "Billy Elliot," which acquired $1,663,895 throughout an eight-show stretch a year ago.All through the run, Jackman elevated accurate documentation $1,789,580 for your charitable organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Helps. The run "not only certifies him one of the most bankable stars in Broadway's history but furthermore just like a fundraiser event," producer Robert Fox mentioned.Backed by an 18-piece orchestra and six leggy ballroom ballroom dancers, an attractive Jackman moored out about 24 musical theater tunes in "Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway." It absolutely was his third time round the Great White-colored Way, following "The Boy From Oz" in 2003 as well as the play "A Reliable Rain" with Difficulties this past year.The show featured his knowledge of tunes different within the sexy R&B tune "Fever" to "Rock Island," from "The Music Activity Guy" with a medley of classic movie tunes for instance "Singin' even though it is rainingInch and "Luck Be described as a Lady." The normal ticket went for $160, with top rates choosing for $350.A couple of from the highlights incorporated the eight-minute "Soliloquy" within the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Slide slide carousel," and an amount of tunes from Jackman's Tony Award-winning submit "The Boy From Oz" while wearing Peter Allen-inspired matching gold lame pants and jacket, and gold shoes.Jackman's other stage credits include Australian productions of "Sunset Boulevard" and "Beauty as well as the Animal." London he starred as Curly in Trevor Nunn's staging of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" Next season, he expects to star in the version in the musical "Ces Miserables."Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.