The very best spinner's Builds up Vince Vaughn-Steve Byrne Comedy Pilot

The very best spinner's is banking on Vince Vaughn's model of comedy. The Turner-possessed cable network has bought a comedy pilot of Sullivan and Boy, half-hour project starring comedian Steve Byrne.The comedy, that's prone to begin shooting later this year, concentrates on the legendary Pittsburgh bar, which may serve as the unofficial "town hall" in the working-class neighborhood. In this situation, Steve Sullivan (Byrne) might be the boy in the current bar owner as well as the grand boy of the founder who leaves his effective corporate attorney gig in NY to think about over Sullivan & Boy. The series tales his search for an even more rewarding existence behind the bar. Byrne is positioned to pen the project, which will count Make the most of Extended (Cheers) as showrunner.Vaughn and Peter Billingsley (Iron Guy) will join Extended as executive producers round the project, which arises from Vaughn's Wild West Picture Show Productions and Warner Horizon Television. Related Subjects Vince Vaughn The very best spinner's TV Development

Tom Cruise is the Greatest Auteur Slut of Our Time

What keeps Tom Cruise relevant after 30 years in Hollywood? Take this hint from his Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird: “You look at the directors he’s worked with […] It’s a who’s who. Scorsese and Kubrick and Spielberg and Oliver Stone — when Oliver Stone was making better movies — and Michael Mann and Sydney Pollack and on and on and on. It’s kind of stunning. Not every one of them was a great movie, but he’s worked with great directors over and over again, and you can engage him in those conversations.” Or Paul Thomas Anderson. Or Ridley Scott. Or Brian De Palma. Or John Woo. Or Neil Jordan. Isn’t Quentin Tarantino hiring at the moment? Let’s make that happen. [LAT]

Disney's 'Lone Ranger' Near to Riding Again After The Actor-brad Pitt, Jerry Bruckheimer, Gore Verbinski Reduce Costs

This piece seems within the new problem from the Hollywood Reporter. Clickhereto begin to see the cover.our editor recommendsMelissa McCarthy Focusing on Comedy with 'The Help' Director How 'SNL' Made Her CryJohnny Depp's 'The Lone Ranger' Shut Lower By Disney Box Office Smackdown: Kaira Pitt's 'World War Z' to spread out Against Johnny Depp's 'Lone Ranger'Disney's 'Lone Ranger' Will get December 2012 Release So how exactly does a film which was considered dead and hidden get cut back to existence? Request Disney's studio chief Wealthy Ross, who seems to become around the edge of resurrecting The Lone Ranger with star The Actor-brad Pitt, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski all remaining aboard. After budget discussions that pulled on before film skipped its fall start date, the project appears like it could crawl back in the precipice because of some unusual financial work. ANALYSIS: Why Disney Will Make 'Lone Ranger' -- Unwillingly The fantasy Western, once allocated in an eye-popping $250 million, is going to be cut lower to $215 million. To reach that figure (along with a eco-friendly light), the creatives involved will reduce their costs: no $20 million for Depp, no $ten million each for Bruckheimer and Verbinski, out of the box their norm on tentpoles. A resource also states the filmmakers will sacrifice their back-finish participation when the film is available in over budget, a substantial incentive to operate a good ship. One of many planned train sequences continues to be scrapped, and numerous CGI-heavy features happen to be removed. But what's most surprising of is the fact that an insider informs The Hollywood Reporter that suppliers focusing on the film, for example effects houses as well as hotels, are now being requested to simply accept reduced guaranteed costs to be able to secure the company from the production. STORY: 'Lone Ranger': Director, Producer Offer to Trim Costs as Budget Fight Rages While particulars are sparse, top professionals at other galleries say they've never heard about such shared sacrifice on the major studio release. As well as with all of individuals credits, many think your budget continues to be way too top- and remain skeptical that Verbinski can meet it. Disney hasn't introduced whether Lone Ranger can continue to hit theaters by its planned holiday 2012 release date. Related Subjects Jerry Bruckheimer The Actor-brad Pitt Wealthy Ross The Wally Disney Company Gore Verbinski The Lone Ranger

Japan's TV Asahi into China

Tokyo, japan, japan -- TV Asahi, among Japan's five terrestrial tv producers, aims to start production in China. In the press conference on Tuesday, network prexy Hiroshi Hayakawa mentioned that it's going to send staffers to Shanghai Media Group with the finish of year incorporated within an exchange program. SMG employees are actually going to TV Asahi in recent several days for learning Japan. The Tv Asahi staffers will survey china market just like a preliminary for beginning local production and broadcasting as well as SMG. Furthermore to standard broadcasting, TV Asahi aims to connect to SMG to bow Internet streaming services. Facing stagnation inside their core biz in your house, Japanese media companies are trying to grow into other areas, with China a great target. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Karl Urban Joins Riddick 3

Down again one of the NecromongersTheir source is unclear as you would expect, but BD believe they've exclusive word that Karl Urban has signed onto Riddick 3, to reprise his Stories role of Vaako.Vaako, you'll recall, was commander from the all-overcoming Necromongers, assigned last time through the The almighty High Marshall with lowering Vin Diesel's Riddick and coming back together with his mind. He was married to Thandie Newton, the lucky demon, coupled with designs around the LHM's throne, but [Stories spoiler] was avoided from presuming energy through the shiny-eyed Richard B, who won the authority to lead the Necromonger troops because, "You retain that which you kill" and that he wiped out their large boss.Urban's return is not an excellent surprise, since various scripts featuring Vaako have appeared across the route to Riddick's production. How big that role has not yet been revealed, however. The script monikered Dead Guy Stalking was stated to feature Vaako heavily 18 several weeks ago, but newer reviews from the casting sheet appeared to point some thing like a cameo.In either case, anything you think about Stories, it is good to determine the series a minimum of keeping some continuity, instead of choosing to have an embarrassed reboot. The slimmer, meaner, more-along-the-lines-of-Pitch-Black Riddick threequel is preparing to have an imminent shoot, having a release planned for sometime the coming year. As before, it's directed by David Twohy.

Four boost road grosses

Four from the seven shows drawn in additional than $a million in Week 16 (Sept.12-18). Total box office rose 4.8%, using the first company of "Wicked" moving to Atlanta. First company of "Wicked" also brought all shows, using more than $1.8 million in sales. Total gross for that week was $8,419,178.ATLANTA Wicked (M-first Co.) Fox Theater ($73 4,440, $2,189,856) (9/14-10/9/11).PW, $1,456,140 in Hartford, Conn.Last (first) wk, $1,845,000. COSTA MESA, CALIF. West Side Story (M-first Co.) Segerstrom Center for that Arts ($100 3,039 $1,488,540) (9/13-9/18/11).PW $1,032,452.Last (second) wk, $1,136,785. MEMPHIS, Tenn. L'ensemble des Miserables (M-first Co.) Orpheum Theater ($92 2,424 $1,156,949) (9/12-9/18/11).PW, $1,349,895 in Colorado.Last (first) wk, $1,086,840. OMAHA, NEB. Jersey Boys (M-first Co.) Orpheum Theater ($80 2,570, $1,357,740) (9/12-9/18/11).PW, $891,016.Last (second) wk, $953,958. PITTSBURGH Wicked (M-second Co.) Benedum Center ($82 2,806, One Dollar,640,056) (9/7-10/2/11).PW, $1,612,690.Last (second) wk, $1,730,923. SALT LAKE CITY Mary Poppins (M-first Co.) Capitol Theater ($85 1,834, $1,094,200) (9/1-9/25/11).PW $766,159.Last (3rd) wk, $722,282. SYRACUSE, N.Y. The Lion King (M-first Co.) Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater ($100 1,926 $1,242,700) (9/6-10/2/11).PW, $922,112.Last (second) wk, $943,390. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

China to Submit 'The Flowers of War' in Foreign-Language Oscar Race

Beijing New Picture FIlm Co Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War, starring Christian Bale, will probably be China's submission to find the best foreign-language film Academy Award, China's Film Bureau introduced on Friday. STORY: Top U.S. Customers Get First Look at Christian Bale's 'The Flowers of War' Modified by film author Liu Heng from Yan Geling's historic novel 13 Flowers of Nanjing and produced with the director's extended-time creating partnerZhang Weiping, the film is occur Nanking in 1937 since the Japanese Imperial Military overruns China's capital. Bale plays John Haufman, a u . s . states missionary who aided safeguard several schoolgirls and hookers within the entering military. PHOTOS: Toronto Film Festival: 13 Films to know The film, with dialogue in Mandarin and British, cost $90 million to produce. It absolutely was executive produced by DengChaoyingand David Linde. Glen Basner's FilmNation Entertainment, that's handling worldwide sales, previewed footage through the current Toronto Worldwide Film Festival, and several U.S. customers are presently circling the project. The Next time may be the charm for Zhang, who directed the opening occasions in the Beijing Olympics. Despite getting been nominated formerly with Ju Dou and lift the Red-colored-colored Lantern, Zhang has yet to produce home an Oscar. Composer Su Cong increased being the initial citizen of individuals's Republic of China to win an Academy Award, for his use David Byrne and Ryuichi Sakamoto round the soundtrack for Bernardo Bertolucci's The Ultimate Emperor. Hunan province-born Tan Dun later won for top Original Score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Flowers can get full China domestic release in December. No U.S. release date is positioned, despite the fact that Oscar nomination will spur interest. Toronto Worldwide Film Festival Oscars Worldwide Asia Christian Bale Oscars 2012 Zhang Yimou

Box Office Report: Kaira Pitt's 'Moneyball' and Family Pic 'Dolphin Tale' in Close Race

Kaira Pitt baseball drama Moneyball and family pic Dolphin Tale will be in an in depth race within the weekend box office, which causes it to be tough to call which movie will score the winning homerun.our editor recommendsDolphin Tale: Film ReviewAbduction: Film ReviewMoneyball: Toronto Review Early returns show both films grossing inside the $20 million range for your weekend, although Moneyball is predicted to win the the Friday race itself. Consider family films frequently gain traction on Saturday or sunday, Dolphin Tale -- from Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., the identical team behind The Blind Side -- could pull ahead. Still, Sony's Moneyball is not any slouch and could search in. The film is drawing glowing notices, particularly for Pitt's performance, which is enjoying useful advantages of strong interest among males and older women. PHOTOS: 'Moneyball' Premiere in Concord The weekend's two other films -- Rachelle Lefervre thriller Abduction and Jason Statham-Robert DeNiro action pic Killer Elite -- depends heavily on evening time business, so early returns make predictions difficult. However, box office experts put weekend grosses for your two films at $hundreds of an incredible number of to $13 million, in line with pre-release anticipation. Directed by Bennett Burns, Moneyball stars Kaira Pitt since the real-existence Billy Beane, the gm in the Concord A's who switched the franchise around no matter the team's bleak finances. Moneyball, also starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Jonah Hill, is founded on Michael Lewis' 2003 book of the title making its world premiere within the Toronto Film Festival. Dolphin Tale also boasts strong awareness and good reviews, which is monitoring well with women and families. Directed by Charles Martin Cruz, the sensation-good film is founded on an authentic story of a bottlenose dolphin saved in the Florida Coast after her tail was hurt. VIDEO: Rachelle Lefervre's 'Abudution' Premiere: What's Next for your 'Twilight' Actor? Alcon and Warner Bros. marketed the film -- starring Harry Connick Junior., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman -- both to belief-based audiences and general moviegoers, simply because they did with Blind Side. The very first strength of Dolphin Tale is an additional win for the family members genre. Last weekend, Disney's 3d re-relieve The Lion King assigned el born area office chart getting an outstanding $30.2 million opening. Lion King is predicted to fall about 50% within the second outing. Lionsgate's Abduction might be the apparent choice among teen ladies and youthful as well as could easily over-perform. Inside the action-thriller, directed by John Singleton, Lautner plays a teenager who finds out his parents aren't who they are in the beginning sight when he sees his picture around the missing children's website. The film, that's recieving poor reviews, also stars Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver, Maria Bello and Freema Agyeman. Killer Elite might be the very first release from Tom Ortenberg's Open Road Films, the independent purchases and distribution company backed by AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment. Killer Elite is leading to plenty of interest among males, but will have to deal with Moneyball. The film also stars Clive Owen and was directed by Gary McKendry. Moneyball and Killer Elite aren't really the only game game titles playing within the recent Toronto Film Festival to bow a couple of days ago within the domestic box office: Relativity Media opens Gerard Butler action biopic Machine Gun Preacher in four theaters in NY and La before growing into 15 additional areas on Sept. 30. Relativity acquired U.S. distribution rights to Machine Gun Preacher from Lionsgate. Related Subjects Kaira Pitt Rachelle Lefervre Moneyball Dolphin Tale Killer Elite

Nico Minardos dies at 81

Actor Nico Minardos, who appeared in film and television during a three-decade career and was the subject of a 2010 documentary, died of natural causes on Aug. 27 in Los Angeles. He was 81.Minardos was a contract player at 20th Century Fox, making his first (uncredited) film appearance in 1952's "Monkey Business" with Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant. Film credits also include "Istanbul," with Errol Flynn; 1960's "Twelve Hours to Kill," in which he starred opposite Barbara Eden; "It Happened in Athens," with Jayne Mansfield; and 1977's "Assault on Agathon," which he produced and starred in with Marianne Faithfull and John Woodvine.Minardos also made appearances on dozens of TV shows starting in 1956. Credits included "Maverick," "The Twilight Zone," "Perry Mason," "The Flying Nun," "Mod Squad," "Mission: Impossible," "Ironside," "Alias Smith and Jones" and "The A-Team."He was also the subject of Owen Prell's 2010 feature documentary "Finding Nico."Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Minardos attended the Sorbonne in Paris and graduated from UCLA.He was briefly married to Deborah Jean Smith, who later married Tyrone Power.Minardos is survived by his second wife, Julie Minardos; son George Minardos; daughter Nina Aloni, who is married to CAA agent Dan Aloni; and three grandchildren. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

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ANALYSIS: Behind New Women Remarkably Large Opening And Also The iTunes Experiment

New Girl Opens Large, Tops Evening The very first time inside a decade, Fox know that it features a live-action half-hour comedy hit on its hands with New Girl, which blew past all rankings forecasts to spread out having a large 4.8/12 in grown ups 18-49 (10.3 million audiences overall). New Girl‘s great rankings performance caught everybody unexpectedly, including Fox’s mind of selling Joe Earley. As they is elated today, just a few days ago he was very worried because the network’s dangerous promo stint of putting the brand new Girl pilot on iTunes, VOD, hotels, planes and Hulu for just two days in front of the premiere had began to obtain beyond control. Fox had made the offer to boost awareness for that series starring Zooey Deschanel because the show’s intent to see levels have been consistently high nevertheless its awareness amounts remained as lagging. In return for obtaining the pilot free of charge streaming, the marketers devoted to promote the show across their platforms, together with a prominent positioning around the home page of iTunes, that was going for a pre-premiere window on the show the very first time. Following the first week, things looked good — awareness for brand new Girl was up by 6%, something Earley stated couldn't happen to be accomplished through the network’s standard advertising campaign alone. (Free press for that sneak look experiment may have assisted, too.) After awareness increased, the excitement metrics also began jumping, and chatter on the program elevated 400%. “People were speaking peer-to-peer, also it was extremely positive,” Earley stated. “So we figured any viewing lost (through the marketing streaming) could be changed by individuals who didn’t plan to watch.” However a truly alarming trend developed. “The amounts began climbing and climbing in a much greater rate,” Earley stated. “When we hit millions of sights, I began being nervous, whenever we hit two million, I began to interrupt in a chilly sweat. Over two million audiences had consumed this show before it even opened!” Fox couldn’t stop the promotion because they were built with a resolve for their distribution partners but started considering methods to decelerate the speed of use of the pilot, like tugging back on promotion. “But there is no slowing down it lower, everyone was taking pleasure in it,” Earley stated, observing the huge most of audiences viewed the entire pilot, something rarely observed in free previews of recent series. What’s more, the marketing streaming window didn’t finish until yesterday the brand new Girl premiere, further chipping away at potential repeat viewing. So Earley and also the relaxation from the Fox brass found accept the truth that the promo streaming stint would most likely depress viewership for that opener but hopefully raise the series’ lengthy-term prospects by compelling lots of people who tried the show to use it their Digital recording device season pass. Using the massive pre-premiere viewing and Fox’s (not too good) history of starting live-action comedies, the network was ready for a premiere 18-49 rating within the high 2s and wishing for just one within the neighborhood of last fall’s Raising Hope, which released to some 3.1, then a sluggish build. The very best-situation scenario was if New Girl held onto its Glee lead-in. Rather, the rookie’s demo rating increased by 20% from Glee. How did which happen? 1. The show was good, so word-of-mouth and critical response was great. However the same was true for ABC’s Modern Family 24 months ago, and New Girl surpassed even that premiere by 12%. What New Girl had extra was: 2. A large, pleasant star. Fox made Deschanel the middle of its marketing push, which ranged from traditional advertisements and Web ad banners to speaking video advertisements in departmental stores to Deschanel filming special promotions to air throughout syndicated comedies on Fox stations. Furthermore, Fox drawn on directly into Deschanel’s large group of followers and Internet following, including marketing the show on her behalf popular blog, HelloGiggles. Earley thinks the rankings spike from Glee to New Girl could be described with Deschanel “bringing in new people” towards the network who don’t always watch television or Fox. Furthermore, New Girl had: 3. Great repeatability, something which assisted offset some from the pre-premiere online viewing as some people who had already seen the pilot viewed it again last evening. Overall, we'll most likely don't know just what brought to New Girl’s remarkable opening number. It had been “some good alchemy happening,” Earley known as it, observing that, as the free installing experiment ultimately labored, he'd get it done in a different way the next time, beginning the marketing window per week earlier and ending it per week prior to the series premiere. Still, was there a quick fix? “Yes,” Earley stated. “It was Zooey Deschanel.”

Acad cracks lower on Oscar campaigns

The Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences features new rules controlling the marketing of Oscar competitors, banning Academy people and nominees from certain non-screening occasions after nominations and adding social media for the whole world of restricted speech -- but still time eliminating obstacles to tests with filmmakers' live participation.These campaign rules play a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity in the Academy awards process as well as the distinction in the Oscar," mentioned Academy Leader Tom Sherak. "Most of all, we wish Academy individuals to determine movies simply because they were supposed to have been seen, in the theatrical setting."Possibly compared to that finish, voters will probably be allowed to visit tests situated particularly for Academy individuals with sections and filmmaker Q&A -- additionally to focused receptions -- as lengthy because they occur just before the nominations. Formerly, filmmakers and cast were forbidden (as were receptions with refreshments) at any screening held for voters, no matter season.Nonetheless, anybody filmmaker are just allowed to check out two Academy tests after nominations, that is introduced The month of the month of january 24, 2012.It can possibly be the initial year that art galleries will probably be allowed to digitally distribute screeners to Academy people, provided people copies stick to established rules for dvd disks.But possibly most likely probably the most pointed change was keen on parties: From nominations for the close of polls, both Academy people and nominees are nixed in the non-screening event that "encourages or honors a nominated movie or individual nominee." That rule would most most likely have placed on several high-profile occasions held a year ago (though not Sony's "Social MediaInch DVD-release party at Spago, which was well-attended by filmmakers and cast but happened just before the nominations). Really the only exceptions: Academy-approved occasions and honours occasions presented by various orgs like guilds and critics' associations.And add social media for the report on places where both bad-mouthing and tubthumping are, as they've been, verboten. Specific penalties add a one-year suspension for first-time violations and expulsion for subsequent violations for individuals.Oscar's new rulesAmong the completely new campaign rules are crackdowns on receptions and negative campaigning.ScreeningsPrior nominations, tests presented by or funded by film companies may be a Q&A session by persons connected while using film. Such tests may be preceded or a reception including food and beverage. After nominations are introduced, anybody person connected getting a movie, nominee or else, may skip greater than two tests including Q&A periods. In addition, throughout this time around around period, tests of nominated films (with or without Q&A periods) may not include food and/or beverage.After nominations are introduced, no Academy member may be listed just like a "host" from the screening at all unless of course obviously that member is directly connected while using film. ScreenersScreeners may also be distributed to individuals digitally, via download or streaming, as lengthy because the delivery of people movies changes to all or any other provisions of individuals RegulationsMusicBefore nominations are introduced, Dvds of qualified scores may be shipped to individuals in the Music Branch only. No Dvds of tunes may be shipped to the Academy member before nominations are introduced. After nominations are introduced, Dvds of nominated scores and tunes may be shipped to the Academy member. Non-Screening EventsAfter nominations are introduced, no member may be requested to or attend any event, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, parties and receptions, that at all encourages or honors a nominated film, a nominee, or possibly is attended having a nominee or anybody getting an immediate link with a nominated film, except as permitted under Rule 1. These rules affect nominees additionally to Academy people, and nominees are similarly prohibited from attending such occasions.Excluded using this prohibition are approved occasions and honours occasions presented with the various guilds, experts groups together with other organizations.References along with other Nominees. Ads, mailings, websites, social media (e.g., Facebook) or other kinds of public communication by anybody directly connected by getting an qualified film attempting to advertise a particular film or achievement by casting a detrimental or derogatory light around the competing film or achievement will not be tolerated. Particularly, any tactic that singles out "your competitionInch by title or title is particularly forbidden. Academy people who violate this Rule 16 will probably be prone to single-year suspension of membership for first-time violations, and expulsion for nearly any subsequent violations.Complete rules can be found in the Academy's website Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Dolores Hope Dies At 102

FIRST PUBLISHED: September 19, 2011 7:21 PM EDT LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Dolores Hope, who was married to entertainer Bob Hope for 69 years and sang at his shows, has died at age 102. Hope family spokesman Harlan Boll says Hope died Monday at home in Los Angeles. A specific cause of death was not available. Bob Hope died in 2003 at age 100. Dolores Reade was a nightclub singer before she married Bob Hope in 1934. She mostly stayed home with their children before Hope began his Christmas trips to entertain U.S. troops during World War II. She sang for U.S. troops and on his television specials. The Hopes made their last visit to troops overseas in 1990. Dolores Hope sang White Christmas in Saudi Arabia during the run-up to Operation Desert Storm. Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Gary Oldman Knows the Ending to 'The Dark Dark evening Rises'

'The Dark Dark evening Rises' isn't being launched until next summer season, but fans are actually lucky (or unlucky, for that way relative it is) enough to find out plenty of photo and video leaks within the begins Pittsburgh in La. However, what these particulars does not exhibit might be the particular ending in the film. Not remarkably, director Christopher Nolan isn't telling many individuals relating to this -- apart from Gary Oldman. "Christopher doesn't want anybody to ruin [the ending] which i realize fully that," Oldman told Contact Music. "The greater recent people round the film visit his office to determine the script. They sent mine out, nevertheless it must be hands shipped right to me and nobody. As well as the final handful of pages were missing. I went along and spoken to Christopher and personally in regards to the ending. I Rapidly locked it away throughout my thoughts.Inch To echo just what the good folks at CinemaBlend written, you'll most likely have to water torture Oldman to obtain the ending from him. (Much less you'd ruin the entire movie by yourself, anyway.) [Contact Music via CinemaBlend] Image because of Getty

'Lights' does touchdown dance at Emmys

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" was the onscreen mantra of "Friday Night Lights" dating back to its first season, but one that was constantly tested offscreen.From its ceaselessly uncertain future as an NBC drama to its virtual abandonment by TV Academy voters (one Emmy victory in its first four years, for casting), there was always someone trying to pin a loss on "Lights."Sunday at the Primetime Emmys, however, "Lights" did its touchdown dance.Capping a run that was extended three seasons only by a virtually unprecedented production deal between NBC and satcaster DirecTV, "Lights" won two high-profile drama kudos, one for lead actor Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor, the other for exec producer Jason Katims' script for the series finale."Sometimes it takes a while for your moment to come around," said David Nevins, who was president of "Lights" producing shingle Imagine Television before becoming Showtime's entertainment topper last year. "But I couldn't be happier -- Jason and Kyle are two of the most talented and most menschy people I've ever worked with."Though continually praised by critics for its nuanced, powerful writing and acting, "Lights" operated so far under the radar that it did not receive a nom in either of those categories until 2010, after the series' second season of firstrun episodes on DirecTV. That year, Chandler and co-star Connie Britton each were tapped, as was writer Rolin Jones for an episode that dealt with a character (Zach Gilford's Matt Saracen) coming to grips with the death of his father.Delicate handling of such serious material, without becoming maudlin, was the series' hallmark, but it was widely perceived that for a series relegated to the outskirts of the TV world, "it's an honor to be nominated" was the new mantra.But quietly, the groundswell of support for "Lights" grew. This year, not only were Chandler and Britton were nominated again, alongside Katims for writing, but the show received its first drama series nom.Though it lost to four-peater "Mad Men" for the drama series grand prize, "Lights" had to knock off some serious competition to win its two Emmys. All Chandler had to do was outpoll Steve Buscemi ("Boardwalk Empire"), Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Hugh Laurie ("House") and Timothy Olyphant ("Justified").In the drama writing category, the on-field rivals included "Game of Thrones," the pilot of "The Killing" and two episodes of "Mad Men," including the ballyhooed episode "The Suitcase" written by showrunner Matthew Weiner.Taking the Emmy stage to accept his award, the unexpected triumph wasn't lost on Katims."To the Academy, I will cherish this," he said, before uttering one more time, "Clear eyes, full hearts - can't lose." Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

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Gun Van Sant on Restless, Test-Screening Nightmares and Why He Went Out For Breaking Dawn

After bookending the summer with prestigious appearances at festivals in Cannes and Toronto, acclaimed auteur Gus Van Sant brings his latest film, Restless, to theaters this weekend in limited release. The outcome of an unusual creative collaboration including co-producers Ron Howard and his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard, her former NY University colleague and screenwriter Jason Lew, and the visionary for hire Van Sant, Restless stars Mia Wasikowska as a terminally ill teenager who sparks up a star-crossed love affair with a gloomy, funeral-crashing, imaginary friend-confiding orphan (played by Henry Hopper). The two-time Oscar-nominated director sat down with Movieline this week to discuss Restless’s festival reception, the one-size-fits-all perils of test screenings, the 20th anniversary of his classic My Own Private Idaho, and what he was thinking when throwing his name in the hat to direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. You were up in Toronto with this, and you met a NY audience the other night. What’s your sense of how viewers are receiving Restless? It seems really positive. I’m pretty happy. Do you actually like this part of the process? The exchange with the audience? No, I don’t. But I know they do, so that’s nice. Do test screenings or what audiences say in general ever influence you? Yeah. I mean, I totally take advice for the audience, but sometimes the test is not just for advice. It might also be for approval. The tests have different ways you can count up the scores. It asks you, “Do you like the lead character? Who’s your favorite character? Would you tell a friend about it? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, poor?” There’s a way to count those up so you get a score, but it’s a score based on these arbitrary questions; the score is different than the other part of the test, like, “Are there any scenes that were too slow? Are there any scenes that are too fast? How did you like the ending? Did it begin too slow?” Questions about pacing, communication and so forth. Those can be one thing. But there can also be this concern about the overall adding of the score, because then it becomes more like a grade on a paper in high school or college ow wherever. So you want it to be A+. And a 90 is an A-, a 95 is an A, a 99 is an A+. And an 85 is a B, and a 75 is a C. So you want it to be 90. Do you remember the highest grade you ever got? Yeah. I’ve gotten in the 90s like… three times? What’s the lowest you ever got? 33. 33? No, wait. 32. On what? To Die For was 32. You got a 32 on To Die For? And that’s the reason I don’t necessarily look at the score. You can interpret that wrong. The people who are interested in the score, then that’s the score. To them, it’s like high school: “If it’s 32, it’s failing. It’s a failure. That means the movie’s gonna be a failure.” There thinking of it like a grade in college. Their bosses are thinking of it like a grade in college. Their shareholders are thinking of it like a grade in college. And what they do is based on their interpretation of that number. But you can get a score like that if you say, “Here’s a really funny Robin Williams movie. Come to it and laugh!” and then you show them a serious downer Robin Williams movie like One-Hour Photo. They give you a 32 and you say, “What’s wrong?” Like it must be a failure, you know? You didn’t test it right. You can screw the test up. And in the particular case of some tests, it can be that you’re trying to change the profile of the movie. I often make dark comedies. [To Die For] is a dark comedy. The dark comedies tend to be in a non-releasable area. There can be romantic comedies. There can be dramas. But there’s no “dark comedy” inbox for the advertising. So they might test it as a romantic comedy when it’s actually a dark comedy, and as a result you’ll get a low score. You’re saying, “Bring your date! You’re going to get laid on this one!” And then Nicole [Kidman] kills her husband, and the score is D or F because I’m not going to get laid now. And you wonder, “Gee, what went wrong?” And it’s all because you’re trying to make it into something it’s not. Are you ever enlightened at all about your past films by talking about them? Either with fans, or in interviews, or wherever? [Long pause] Yeah, I guess. James Franco is recutting My Own Private Idaho, so I learned something new about that one because I’ve seen the old footage. But I don’t really by talking about them. I like hearing people talk about them; maybe you learn something new about people’s reactions to them. But I don’t necessarily learn about the film. My Own Private Idaho turns 20 this year. What are your reflections two decades later — particularly in light of James Franco’s work revising it? That was the one film — well, in that era, before 2000 — it was the one film that was sort of my own. Some of them, I adapted other people’s books. That was the one I kind of cobbled together with different elements. There was a little bit of Shakespeare in it. It was like this collaged story. So there’s that aspect I like to remember. Do you have a personal relationship with your films over time? Does your impression of them or their memories ever change? No. I mean, they exist as films that other people mention, but there’s no particular relationship.