Pilot Season: The CW Orders Dramas From J.J. Abrams and Mark Harmon

J.J. Abrams The CW has acquired three drama aircraft aircraft pilots from J.J. Abrams, Mark Harmon, Mark Schwahn, and Kim and Eric Tannenbaum.From Abrams and Bryan Burk, and put together by Schwahn (One Tree Hill), Shelter is positioned inside a historic Colonial summer season resort where the new and returning staff cope with the needs from the site visitors while moving their particular associations, rivalries and romances.Pilot Season: Fox builds up Physician/GYN comedy starring Mindy KalingHarmon will team while using Tannenbaums and Martha Haight (Chaos) to executive-produce Joey Dakota, using the Israeli series Danny Hollywood. Inside the time-travel musical, a documentary filmmaker travels towards the the 19 nineties, where she meets and falls deeply deeply in love with the rock star/subject of her film. When she all of a sudden returns to supply day, she need to get her sometime ago for the past to reunite with him and prevent his untimely dying. Bert Royal (Easy A) written the script.The Next pilot, The Option, is dependent round the approaching book series by Kiera Cass. The project is certainly a legendary romance set 300 years afterwards of a poor youthful lady who's selected by lottery to register in the competition being the next filled with the war-torn nation inside a crossroads. Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain (Vampire Journals) will write and executive-produce.

Catherine Zeta-Jones Gets Side Effects

She's on for Soderbergh's latestAs he turns his attention to getting pharmaceutical psycho-thriller Side Effects made, Steven Soderbergh has obviously been raiding his Rolodex. He's added another former collaborator to the cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones is now on board to play a character called Dr Eric Siebert. Hmm. We wonder if that first name will change following her casting.She's joining fellow repeat Soderbergh performers Jude Law and Channing Tatum in a story that will see Blake Lively playing a very troubled young woman.Desperately struggling with depression and anxiety over the pending release of her husband (Tatum) from prison, Lively's character begins swallowing lots of prescription drugs in order to help her cope. But things begin to go badly wrong, and the situation is not helped when she starts a relationship with her doctor (Law).Effects is described as a potboiler throwback script (think Basic Instinct) written by Informant and Contagion writer Scott Z Burns. He had been set to direct project himself, but has had to stand aside because he's too busy at the keyboard.Zeta-Jones, of course, worked with Soderbergh on Traffic, while Law co-starred in Contagion and Tatum has become a real regular, featuring in Haywire and Soderbergh's next planned release, stripper drama Magic Mike.The actress will next be seen in Stephen Frears' Lay The Favourite (which, like so many other movies at the moment, just debuted at Sundance) and musical adaptation Rock Of Ages. She's currently busy shooting Broken City.Side Effects itself has suffered somewhat of a road bump as Variety reports that financial backers Annapurna have apparently dropped out, leaving Soderbergh looking for new cash. Given the casting, we're sure he'll lock some soon enough.

Melissa McCarthy Sells Second Comedy Project to CBS

CBS is moving with Melissa McCarthy again.The "Mike & Molly" network has bought an untitled half-hour comedy script from Ray Dorf ("MadTV") and McCarthy's husband and "Bridesmaids" co-star Ben Falcone.The project, which arises from Warner Brothers and sisters TV, concentrates on the level of smoothness of David Gell, who finds out that you will find room like home... unless of course obviously home is your parents' house and you're simply 37 years old.Falcone and Dorf, Groundlings alums who co-written the spec project, might have supervisory producer and co-author credits. McCarthy requires a non-writing co-executive producer credit.What is the news comes some four several days after Emmy champion McCarthy and Falcone offered amulticamera comedy of a lady in their mid-40s which has a middle age crisis to CBS. The pair is aboard to co-write and co-executive produce.McCarthy and Falcone are repped by CAA.Additional verifying by Lesley Goldberg. The Hollywood Reporter

'Filth' off and away to a start

Financing and production plans for Steel Mill Pictures' comedy thriller "Filth" have firmed up, with principal photography set to begin in a few days. Cast includes James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Marsan, Joanne Froggatt and Imogen Poots. In line with the novel by Irvine Welsh ("Trainspotting"), "Filth" is written and directed by Jon S. Baird ("Cass"), who's also creating through Logie Pictures. Ken Marshall of Steel Mill is creating together with Jens Meurer and Egoli Tossell Film. Financing the film as well as creating are Maven Pictures' Trudie Straightener and Celine Rattray, Film House Germany, Film I Huge and inventive Scotland. Will Clarke professional produces. Sierra/Affinity introduced throughout Cannes last May it would represent worldwide sales on "Filth" for Steel Mill, with Lionsgate delivering within the U.K. and Icon disbursing around australia. Story is dependant on an Edinburgh police detective who manipulates everybody in the path to have a promotion and regain his wife and daughter. Shooting is placed for Scotland, mainly Glasgow, in addition to locations in Sweden, Belgium and Hamburg. It is the second feature for Maven, that is in publish on "Imogene," starring Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening and Matt Dillon. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Young children Cuss Word On Modern Family Draws Ire

First Launched: The month of the month of january 18, 2012 10:19 AM EST Credit: ABC Caption Jesse Tyler Ferguson representing Mitchell Pritchett, and Eric Stonestreet representing Cameron Tucker are proven with Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, who plays their adopted daughter Lily in the scene from Modern FamilyLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- An anti-profanity crusader has asked for the ABC television network to tug this days Modern Family episode in which a toddler appears to employ a bleeped curse word. Our primary goal is always to preclude this from happening, McKay Hatch, an 18-year-old college student who founded no Cussing Club in 2007, mentioned Tuesday. Whenever we dont, no less than ABC sees that people around the world should not have a very 2-year-saying the F-blast on tv. Hopefully they do know better, mentioned Hatch. Hes asking his clubs people, whom he mentioned number 35,000 within the united states . States adding to 3-dozen other nations, to complain to ABC. ABC has yet to retort, he mentioned Tuesday. The network did not have comment, a speaker mentioned. Inside the episode titled Little Bo Bleep airing on Wednesday evening, 2-year-old Lily shocks parents Mitchell and Cameron (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet) along with her first expletive. The fathers, that are planning Lily for everybody as flower girl in the wedding, will have one more being a parent challenge. The tot is carried out by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, who states the word fudge throughout tape. It'll be bleeped round the air and her mouth will probably be hidden by pixilation, and audiences could possibly get the sense that her character used the specific F-word. Steven Levitan, creator and executive producer in the TV comedy with Christopher Lloyd, told the television Experts Association the other day that hes proud and searching toward the obscenity plotline that ABC was convinced allowing. We believe it is a very natural story since, being a parent, weve all experienced this, Levitan mentioned to EW.com. We are not really a sexually charged show. It provides a very warm tone so people accept it more. I understand well involve some detractors. The program, which won the Emmy Award to find the best comedy last fall, was named best musical or comedy series at Sundays Golden Globes ceremony. Hatch, who's from South Pasadena, California, and attends Brigham Youthful College in Rexburg, Idaho, mentioned he began his anti-profanity club in 2007 because he observed how rampant cursing what food is at his school and the way it absolutely was connected with bullying. If children have the effect of their options, then grownups needs to be too, including media, he mentioned. TV profanity was an problem just before the U.S. Top Court the other day, which heard arguments about whether controlling curse words and nudity on broadcast stations is wise when satellite and cable services offer channels with handful of restrictions. An option is predicted by late June. Copyright 2012 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Berdugo's Cite pushes out 'Son'

PARIS -- Raphael Berdugo, former who is the owner of Roissy Films, among France's flagship production-sales houses, is within business. Playing off a Friday screening within the Unifrance Paris Rendez-vous, Berdugo's new Paris-based shingle Cite Films licensed Lorraine Levy's "Another Boy" to Italy's Teodora. Haut et Court, producer-entrepreneurs of Palme d'Or winning "The Course,In . will handle French distribution of "Boy," a Jerusalem-set identity drama of a youthful Israeli who discovers his parents were Palestinian. Starring Emmanuelle Devos, Pascal Elbe, Jules Sitruk and Mehdi Dehbi, "Son's" French release is skedded for March 28. The deals mark the initial major-territory pacts round the Cite production. In the one-two move Berdugo states he'll make an effort to repeat on other game game titles. Cite both co-produced "Boy" -- with Rapsodie Production -- and reps worldwide sales rights, establishing both the very least guarantee for sales, plus co-production equity. Cite pre-offered "Boy" on its script to top-notch arthouse entrepreneurs in Benelux (Cineart), Europe (Frenetic) and Canada (Seville), normally one of the greatest areas to fall on French game game titles given operator French-speaking populations. Berdugo licensed Sweden (Tri Art Films) at Paris and reviews "strong interest" from Germany, U.K., Australia and Belgium. "Boy" reps an even more serious turn for Levy ("The First Time I Used To Be 20") after her male divorcee romancer "Mes Amis, mes amours" in 2008. Berdugo left Roissy within the finish of June three years after he offered it for 28 million ($35.7 million) to Luc Besson's EuropaCorp. At Roissy he produced and offered Nadine Labaki's "Caramel" and Emanuele Crialese's "Respiro." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Matt LeBlanc Calls First Golden Globes Win Gravy In Post-Friends Life

First Published: January 16, 2012 4:29 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Matt LeBlanc poses in the press room with the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy award for Episodes at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, on January 15, 2012LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Although hed been nominated over the years for his role as Joey on Friends, and Joey on Joey, it was his role as himself on Showtimes Episodes that finally landed Matt LeBlanc a Golden Globe on Sunday. This is [my] fourth nomination and first win, Matt told Access Hollywoods Billy Bush backstage on Sunday night at the ceremony. Its great, Matt added of picking up the statue for playing a fictionalized version of himself on the show, opposite Brits Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig. I cant say enough about the writing. I mean, its really David Crain and Jeffrey Klaric. The writers on that show are just so brilliantly gifted. Every word counts, Billy chimed in. Yeah, theres no fat on it. Its so streamlined and good and jokes drive [the] story and develop character, Matt said. Its just really, really well drafted. In Showtimes Episodes, Matt plays a fictional version of himself, who decides in order to make a bit of extra money so he can open a restaurant hell sign on for a show penned by Stephen and Tamsins characters Sean and Beverly Lincoln. The Lincoln family isnt exactly happy that Matt is playing the lead in their show (which is being translated from a fictional highbrow British comedy), nor are they happy with the way the faux network is handling things. So did the change of pace after Friends with Episodes make Matts win sweeter? Its really hard to compare this to Friends, Matt told Billy. Friends was such a once in a lifetime thing To be one of those six actors on that show was something Ill never forget as long as I live. Everything else, the rest of my career, I look at it as just gravy. I mean its not supposed to get that good ever and it did. And the now the fact that I can go work on something else to make this happen? I cant wait to see my mom give her a big hug and say, Look at this! Filming for Season 2 is in full swing and after the major cliffhanger at the end of Season 1 (SPOILER ALERT) the show the Lincolns were writing got picked up stateside just as they were ready to head back to London, and right after Sean found out about his wifes infidelity with Matt thanks to some cinnamon-scented Joey cologne the actor said things are heating up. This second season is bigger and broader and funnier than last year. Its going to be funny, he said. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Pair join indie thriller 'Drones'

Matt O'Leary and Eloise Mumford are toplining Whitewater Films' miltary thriller "Drones," opposite William Russ, Whip Hubley and Jacob Wysocki."Drones" is directed by Whitewater Films founder Ron Rosenthal ("Approaching Sophistication") and presently filming in La getting a script by TV producer Matt Witten ("House") based on his play of the title. Rosenthal, Jim Hart, Trent Broin, Witten and Nick Morton are coming up with.Tale follows two Air Pressure aircraft aircraft pilots operating an RPA (remote piloted aircraft) in the trailer in Nevada getting a mission is always to surveil a web-based compound inside the rugged Afghan hills wishing identifying and assassinating a target thought to become high-ranking part of Al Qaeda.O'Leary most recently came out in Andrew Niccol's "I'm Mortal for Fox" and HBO's "Cinema Verite." He wrapped "Body body fat Kid Rules the earth,In . Matthew Lillard's directorial debut for Whitewater, which is in Disney's approaching "The Lone Ranger."Mumford stars in ABC's approaching supernatural horror series, "The Stream.Inch She made her debut in "Lone Star" recently wrapped a starring role inside the film "So Undercover" for your Weinstein Co.O'Leary is repped by ICM and Lena Roklin of Luber/Roklin Mumford is repped by Paradigm Wysocki is repped by Osbrink Talent Agency and Brittany Kahan of just one Talent Management and Rosenthal is repped by APA. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

A Running Diary of 'The Demon Inside' Screening: Probably the most Miserable Nights of My Existence

Last evening, I saw a film known as 'The Demon Inside.' I'm not keen on horror movies -- especially "found footage" movies like 'Paranormal Activity' -- because, frankly, they scare me. I had been designed to watch Liam Neeson fight baby wolves in 'The Gray,' but the one who determines my daily employment status recommended which i see 'The Demon Inside' rather. This could turn to be probably the most miserable nights of my existence. On the way, I stored a running diary of my evening. 6:54 p.m. Upon my arrival in the Union Square Regal 14 in NY City, a guy outfitted just like a priest greets me in the door towards the theater. His crucifix appears less "local clergy" and much more "Madonna from 'Desperately Seeking Susan.'" 6:55 p.m. Besides this being not really a critics' screening -- not just can there be a real audience attending -- there is however a DJ playing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.' 7:09 p.m. The DJ has become playing 'Monster Mash.' I am within my 30s and also have never heard this song outdoors the 3-day window surrounding Halloween. 7:10 p.m. The DJ interrupts 'Monster Mash' to request if anybody within the crowd comes from Nj. A couple start entertaining. 7:15 p.m. The DJ -- who announces that his title is DJ Juanyto -- experiences each and every borough of NY City in order to incite a far more jovial response. DJ Juanyto works as he reaches Brooklyn. 7:20 p.m. DJ Juanyto interrupts 'Up All Night' by Drake (featuring Nicki Minaj) to shout, "Let us listen to it for Eli Manning!" 7:21 p.m. I am midway through my resignation letter. 7:30 p.m. Five males outfitted as priests address the crowd. Their leader states, "You're considering in the future here by yourself freedom.Inch A minimum of for me personally, this isn't true. 7:30 p.m. He continues: "I don't endorse you seeing this movie." Something informs me I'm going to be saying exactly the same factor in 2 hrs. 7:34 p.m. DJ Juanyto states, "I am likely to shut up now, the film is going to start." DJ Juanyto got his greatest round of applause for that evening. 7:35 p.m. This movie might well be being lit having a flamethrower. I can not even consider the screen since it is so vibrant. 7:36 p.m. Text notifies us the Vatican didn't endorse this movie. It is really an odd statement because I am fairly sure the Vatican didn't formally endorse 'Larry Crowne' either. 7:40 p.m. The gist from the story appears to become that in 1989 a possessed lady wiped out her entire family, except her daughter. Last Year, a movie has been created concerning the daughter and her tries to reconcile together with her possessed mother. 7:41 p.m. The daughter, Isabella -- whom I suppose may be the primary character -- only agreed to be requested, "The reason for carrying this out film?" I do not think her pause of reflection is 100-percent acting. 7:45 p.m. The crowd appears to become poking fun at stuff that I do not think were said to be funny. 7:47 p.m. Isabella, asking her new exorcism-expert priest friend, Ben, about being possessed, inquires, "How are you aware when it is real?" He responds, "You realize.Inch I promise you this exact type of dialogue come in the following Kate Hudson movie. 7:50 p.m. Isabella visits her institutionalized mother who wiped out three people, and she's include a room together with her, alone. I'll admit, it is a creepy scene, however it appears as an unlikely situation. 7:54 p.m. Why would a demon possess an institutionalized person? How's that fun? Basically were a demon and that i possessed someone, once they are institutionalized, I am out. The enjoyment and games are gone. Seriously, why don't you move ahead and still have a global leader? Or perhaps a baseball player? Or even the guy who plays McLovin'? 8:04 p.m. Ben provides a solo interview and states that, as he would be a child, he discovered that his uncle gave exorcisms. This, to him, was like discovering that his uncle was Superman. OK? 8:05 p.m. Ben states that, by age 18, he'd seen four exorcisms. That is ironic because when I had been 18, I'd seen four Superman movies. 8:14 p.m. Ah, yes, here's that "limber" possessed girl in the trailer. (And also the picture towards the top of this publish.) 8:15 p.m. Throughout her exorcism, there's vaginal bleeding. This may obtain the intended reaction in the audience. 8:18 p.m. The possessed girl breaks free and scales a brick wall. I am now questioning if she's really possessed or was bitten with a radioactive spider. 8:19 p.m. Ben yells at her, "Bow lower before God!" Since he's a Superman fan, I am confident he designed to say "Zod." 8:22 p.m. This movie is not very frightening. And That I scare effortlessly. 8:24 p.m. Ben's exorcism partner, David, is really a smoker. I am talking about, seriously, if you cannot even take control of your own devils... 8:30 p.m. Throughout an attempted exorcism of Isabella's mother, Maria, mom utters a homophobic slur. Not just is Maria possessed, but her bigoted demon just cost her any possibility of ever creating the Oscars. 8:35 p.m. If only I were watching 'Star Wars.' 8:36 p.m. Apparently an individual can catch a demon from the possessed person. Like catching a chilly, or syphilis. 8:45 p.m. Demon-possessed priest having a gun alert! 8:55 p.m. OK, now that's a rapid ending. 8:55 p.m. The crowd is booing. They're booing very noisally. I have to note: the crowd just saw this movie free of charge. 8:56 p.m. Though they clearly thought the film was silly, the crowd was, inside a strange way, kinda in to the film until that ending. It is amazing. I have never witnessed a crowd switch on a movie that significantly. 8:57 p.m. I've no clue if there's an after credits scene or otherwise, but I am not likely to hang in there to discover. I'm afraid there can be a riot. 8:58 p.m. When I exit, a guy inside a priest costume hands us a card that asks me to Tweet about my ideas around the film. I believe I is going to do exactly that. 8:58 p.m. The guy within the priest costume attempts to hands the lady behind me that same card. The lady asks the guy within the priest costume, "Hey, priest, exactly what the fuck expires with this ending?" 9:00 p.m. I'm able to only presume that, somewhere, DJ Juanyto is smiling. Mike Ryan may be the senior author for Moviefone. He's written for Wired Magazine, VanityFair.com, GQ.com, NY Magazine and Movieline. He likes The Exorcist a great deal. You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Santa Barbara fest completes program

The Santa Barbara Film Fest, running Jan. 16-Feb. 5, features the program due to its 27th edition. Nearly 200 films from 44 nations will screen, along with retrospectives for Lawrence Kasdan together with a focus on Warner Bros. archives.Fest will close with Nadine Labaki's Lebanese pic "Which Side We Proceed Now,Inch which won the Toronto audience award. The formerly-introduced opening evening film is Kasdan's "Darling Companion," as the focus gala is impressionistic docu "Samsara," from "Baraka" helmer Ron Fricke."Our program this year reflects invigorating change," remarks SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. "Once I grew to become part of SBIFF ten years ago, I set to create the festival's program which is sidebars to reflect the city of Santa Barbara just like a city, which is community. This year we've taken that concept much more. There exists a fantastic, awesome, all encompassing program."On Jan. 28, the fest will give you sections on screenwriting, creative women, producers and pointing, with Variety's Peter Bart moderating the helmer's panel.Digitally restored classics within the Warner Archives include "A Clockwork Orange," "Ben Hur" and "Dangerous Liaisons." The Kasdan retrospective includes tests of "Body Warmth," "Grand Canyon" as well as the Large Chill."Among the subject types are Cinema Nouveau for French films, Cinesonic for films about artists, Kolnoa for films on Jewish and Israeli styles, Screen Cuisine and also the the spanish language language/Latin American cinema.Among the honours being granted are audience award, independent film, worldwide feature and docu. Contact Pat Saperstein at pat.saperstein@variety.com