Twilight's Taylor Lautner "Out & Proud" People Cover Is a Hoax

Taylor Lautner The year may be winding down, but the celebrity hoaxes are still going strong. The latest misinformation making the Internet rounds is a purported People magazine cover that proclaims Taylor Lautner is "Out & Proud." The real People magazine confirmed to Gossip Cop that the supposed Jan. 7 issue is "absolutely fake." From a Bones baby to the Royal Wedding: 2011's top social TV moments The phony cover features the 19-year-old Lautner with the text, "Tired of rumors, the Twilight star opens up about his decision to finally come out" and the fabricated quote, "I'm more liberated, and happier than I've ever been." At least one person was fooled by the sham. Russell Simmons initially tweeted, "Proud of Taylor Lautner for his bravery and his courage" before replacing the tweet with "Disappointed that people would joke about someone coming out about their sexuality. Let Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be." Were you fooled by the bogus cover?

'Forrest Gump,' 'Lambs' Put into National Film Registry

WASHINGTON (AP) Bambi, Forrest Gump and Hannibal Lecter have a minumum of one factor in keeping: Their motion picture adventures were selected through the Library of Congress to become maintained within the world's biggest archive of film, TV and seem tracks."The Silence from the Lamb" (1991), a harrowing mental thriller concerning the cannibalistic murderer Lecter, and "Forrest Gump" (1994), starring Tom Hanks because the guileless hero who thinks "existence is sort of a box of chocolates," were critical and commercial achievements that won the Academy Award for the best Picture. The animated Disney classic "Bambi" is amongst the beloved movies available.Most the 25 game titles selected this season for inclusion within the National Film Registry are lesser-known including quiet films, documentaries, avant-garde cinema as well as films. The Library of Congress introduced the choices Tuesday.The registry started in 1989 under an action of Congressand now includes 575 films. Its goal isn't to recognize the very best movies available but to preserve films with artistic, cultural or historic significance. Previous game titles selected vary from "The Birth of the Nation" to "National Lampoon's Animal House.""Forrest Gump" has its own critical detractors but was recognized because of its technical accomplishments, such as the seamless incorporation from the title character into historic footage.A lot more than 2,200 films were nominated for that registry this season. The Nation's Film Upkeep Board pares them lower before Librarian of Congress James H. Billington helps make the final choices."Every year, we all do attempt to pick among the game titles the public nominated probably the most, and 'Forrest Gump' was way available online for on that list," stated Stephen Leggett, program coordinator for that National Film Upkeep Board. "Everything out there is susceptible to dissenting opinion."Staffers in the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Av Conservation in Culpeper, Veterans administration., work to make sure that each title is maintained for future decades, packing away original disadvantages or unreleased prints in to the facility's massive vault and working together along with other preservationists, movie galleries and independent filmmakers."These films are selected due to their long lasting significance to American culture," Billington stated inside a statement. "Our film heritage should be protected because they motion picture treasures document our culture and history and reflect our hopes and dreams."Leggett stated he was pleased through the inclusion of "The Negro Soldier," a 1944 documentary created by Frank Capra which was groundbreaking because of its realistic and positive depiction of African-People in america. It grew to become mandatory viewing for soldiers entering the military within the latter stages from the war and was proven in commercial theaters."It had been type of ironic since the official Military policy at that time was still being segregation. You'd a movie that was unconditionally otherwise clearly marketing integration," he stated.Films should be a minimum of ten years old that need considering for that registry.The earliest movies selected this season are generally from 1912. "The Cry from the Children" is one of the pre-The First World War child labor reform movement, and "Relief from Pokeritis" stars John Bunny, regarded as because the American film industry's earliest comic celebrity."Many people would reason that the humor is type of dated," Leggett stated of Bunny's films mostly short domestic comedies by which he performed a henpecked husband. "He actually was a significant figure at that time. It does not help your status when individuals like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton come once you.InchChaplin's first feature, "The Little OneInch (1921), seemed to be selected for that registry.It had been a large year for actress Sally Area, who co-starred in "Forrest Gump." ''Norma Rae" (1979), featuring her Oscar-winning performance like a single mom who fought against to unionize a Southern textile mill, also chose to make this year's list.One of the other game titles selected: "The Large Warmth," a 1953 film noir starring Glenn Ford "The Lost Weekend," Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning alcoholism drama "Porgy and Bess," starring Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge "Stand and Deliver," starring Edward James Olmos being an inspiring East La math teacher and John Ford's epic 1924 Western "The Iron Equine."One of the lesser-known game titles selected this season, "Some Type Of Computer Animated Hands" (1972) by Pixar Animation Galleries co-founder Erectile dysfunction Catmull was among the earliest good examples of three dimensional computer-produced imagery. The main one-minute film shows a hands turning, frequent lowering and raising.Documentaries selected for that registry include "Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment," which concentrates on Gov. George Wallace's make an effort to prevent two African-American students from signing up for the College of Alabama and also the response of Leader John F. Kennedy. "Becoming An Adult Female" from 1971 was among the first films to document the women's liberation movement.Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Belvaux's '38 Witnesses' to spread out Rotterdam

The planet preem of helmer Lucas Belvaux's crime drama "38 temoins" (38 Witnesses) will open the Rotterdam Film Festival on Jan. 25. With different novel by Didier Decoin, pic involves Louise (Sophie Quinton), who returns home following a business travel to uncover her street was the scene of the crime. Initially there seem to be no witnesses, but with time she discovers that 38 people heard or saw something which evening, including her husband Pierre (Yvan Attal). It is the eighth feature in the Belgian helmer, who works mainly from France, and the second collaboration with Attal after kidnap drama "Rapt" last year. World sales are addressed by Films Distribution, with Diaphana set to distribute in Gaul. Rotterdam shuts February. 4 with helmer Daniel Nettheim's mental drama "The Hunter," starring Willem Dafoe like a mercenary, sent with a shadowy biotech company to Australia to search the final Tasmanian tiger. In line with the eponymous novel by "Sleeping Beauty" helmer Julia Leigh, pic preemed in the Toronto Film Festival. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Janice Dickinson Attempting TV Comeback With Sober Model House

Janice Dickinson Janice Dickinson, the self-styled "first supermodel," is returning to television. She has teamed up again with Stuart Krasnow Productions (The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency), to launch Sober Model House, which will be based out of London, The Insider reports. Has Dr. Drew sold out? As the name would suggest, the series will focus on a group of models who have moved into the same residence to get clean. Sober Model House will begin shooting in January. No word yet on whether or not a network is attached. Dickinson, 55, has her own struggles with anorexia, bulimia, anxiety and alcoholism. She appeared on the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which she claims "really worked on me."

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Rio De Janeiro Premiere Live: Watch Tom Cruise and Company Storm Brazil (VIDEO)

Your mission -- should you choose to accept it -- is to watch the Brazilian premiere of 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' at 4 p.m. EST right here at Moviefone. On hand for the festivities: Tom Cruise, the cast and crew of 'MI4' and Tiesto, a Dutch DJ who will be doing a remix of the 'Mission: Impossible' theme song. Fans will also be treated to some new clips and the dulcet tones of thousands of screaming Rio De Janeiro residents cheering on Mr. Cruise. Watch the premiere below starting at 4 p.m. EST. 'Ghost Protocol' arrives in IMAX theaters on Friday; it screens around the country starting next week. [Photo: Paramount] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Its Official: Amy Powell Is Paramounts New Leader Of Digital Entertainment

Amy Powell remains formally named leader of digital entertainment at Vital Pictures, which fills the career that opened up up in September when the studio separated ways with former digital chief Tom Lesinski. That move came incorporated inside a restructuring at Vital that created a home Media Distribution division to streamline methods and boost the studio’s library and new content for TV, pay and home video. In those days, the Lesinski-run Vital Digital Entertainment was folded into other divisions in the studio, and Powell, the EVP Interactive Entertainment, added the introduction of content for digital an online-based games to her responsibilities. Now she adds digital leader together with the title of leader of micro-budget film studio Insurge Pictures. For digital entertainment, Powell reviews to Vital Pictures vice chairman Make the most of Moore. For Insurge, she reviews to film group leader Adam Goodman. For interactive marketing she is constantly account to marketing and distribution leader Megan Colligan and chief marketing officer Josh Greenstein.

TV TEASER: HBOs Game Of Thrones

HBO tonight unspooled a new teaser for the upcoming second season of fantasy series Game Of Thrones titled Cold Winds Are Rising. The GOT trailer premiered before the second season finale of Boardwalk Empire. Both series landed slots on AFI’s list of the 10 Best TV Programs of the Year released this afternoon.

Equity Accepting Noms for Diversity Award

Equity Accepting Noms for Diversity Award By Daniel Holloway December 8, 2011 Actors' Equity Association introduced today that it's accepting nominations because of its 2012 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The recognition is offered yearly for an individual or institution having a proven history of employing, marketing, or casting women, ethnic unprivileged, or even the disabled. The award was produced in 1989 and named for that first recipient, Rosetta LeNoire, founding father of NY's Amas Repertory Theatre (now Amas Musical Theatre). Past honorees include Frederick Papp and also the NY Shakespeare Festival, Ellen Stewart of los angeles MaMa ETC in New You are able to, Dennis Zacek and Marcelle McVay of Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater, and also the Shakespeare Center of La. Programs and supporting material are due February. 10, 2012. For more details, contact Luther Goins, Equity's national equal employment chance coordinator, at (312) 641-0393, ext. 237, or lgoins@actorsequity.org. Equity Accepting Noms for Diversity Award By Daniel Holloway December 8, 2011 Actors' Equity Association introduced today that it's accepting nominations because of its 2012 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The recognition is offered yearly for an individual or institution having a proven history of employing, marketing, or casting women, ethnic unprivileged, or even the disabled. The award was produced in 1989 and named for that first recipient, Rosetta LeNoire, founding father of NY's Amas Repertory Theatre (now Amas Musical Theatre). Past honorees include Frederick Papp and also the NY Shakespeare Festival, Ellen Stewart of los angeles MaMa ETC in NY, Dennis Zacek and Marcelle McVay of Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater, and also the Shakespeare Center of La. Programs and supporting material are due February. 10, 2012. To learn more, contact Luther Goins, Equity's national equal employment chance coordinator, at (312) 641-0393, ext. 237, or lgoins@actorsequity.org.

Detective work

Todd Phillips and Jon Favreau flank Robert Downey Junior. at Soho House. Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace Guy Ritchie with producer Lionel Wigram Tuesday's preem of "A Virtual Detective: Bet on Shadows" in the Village in Westwood transported a surreal sense of Noomi Rapace, who's making her British-language debut like a gypsy."My dad would be a flamenco dancer in The country and so i think my carrying this out was intended to be," she stated in the publish-preem party at Soho House in BevHills. "I met Susan and Robert Downey at their office along with a couple of days later i was shooting. I am still becoming accustomed to that."Rapace is better noted for representing hacker Lisbeth Salander within the original "Dragon Tattoo" trilogy.Director Guy Ritchie stated he's relieved in excess of just finishing the film. "I travelled into L.A. throughout the large windstorm and extremely got knocked around," he stated. "I made use of up lots of someone's best of luck.Inch

Appeals Court Ends Four Decades of Lawsuits Over Bank Robber Who Inspired 'Dog Day Afternoon'

Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection On August 22, 1972, a 27-year-old man named John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan bank and held several employees hostage for 17 hours. The events of that day were captured in an article for Life magazine and later in the 1975 classic Sidney Lumet film, Dog Day Afternoon, starring Al Pacino.our editor recommendsHarlan Ellison Drops Lawsuit Claiming 'In Time' Ripped Off His Story (Exclusive) After the film came out, Wojtowicz, whose attempted robbery was intended to finance a transsexual operation for his lover, wrote a letter to the NY Times, saying he was outraged how filmmakers had misrepresented the truth. He also felt "exploited," saying that Warner Bros. had breached a deal to pay him 1 percent of the profits. He took the studio to court with the help of a fellow inmate named George Heath, his so-called "jail-house" lawyer. Now, nearly four decades after the original bank robbery, a NY appeals court has finally ordered that the litigation must stop. For his work in helping Wojtowicz get his claimed due, Heath was to be entitled to more than 16 percent ofWojtowicz' take. PHOTOS: Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) Wojtowicz died in 2006 at the age of 60. Throughout much of Wojtowicz' late life, he was on public assistance. NY law allows the government to recover benefits to a decedent within 10 years of death by making claims upon his or her estate. And so, the Human Resources Administration in NY put a lien on Wojtowicz' property, including the royalties he was getting from Warner Bros. After Wojtowicz died, this left Heath in the lurch. When the government tied up the funds, Heath argued, among other things, that the statute of limitations should exempt the lien and that the distribution of the royalties should be handled differently by Warner Bros. At one point, Heath submitted a motionto have Time Warner held in contempt for failure to pay him his share of royalties. In 2009, a judge lifted the lien, saying it had been fully satisfied, but Heath was back to court to gain more royalties. STORY: Sidney Lumet Tribute -- THR's Todd McCarthy Remembers the 'Dynamic' Director The final straw came last month when NY's appellate division denied Heath's attempt to get anything more than the 16 2/3 % of 1% of royalties owed to Wojtowicz. The appeals court also decided it had had enough of the Dog Day Afternoon royalties saga. According to the ruling: "Given plaintiff's pattern of continuous and vexatious litigation concerning this subject matter for the past few decades,an injunction barring him from commencing new actions or proceedings seeking royalties from the film is warranted." Thus ends the aftermath of what happened forty years ago in a Chase bank in Flatbush, NY. Here'sthe fascinating letter the letter thatWojtowicz sent the NY Times after seeing the film. He was critical of the film overall, explaining why he felt exploited, and describing some of his legal troubles, such as an inability to get legal papers notarized. But he called Al Pacino's Oscar-nominated performance "out of sight." E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) Sidney Lumet

Comic Patrice O'Neal dies

Standup comedian Patrice O'Neal died Tuesday, November. 29, in NY from complications of the stroke experienced March. 19 following a lengthy fight with diabetes, his booking agent, Matt Frost, confirmed. He was 41.O'Neal made an appearance in September on "The Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen" and captured with an episode of "Late Evening With Jimmy Fallon." He would be a regular guest on "Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn" coupled with guested on "Letterman," "Ellen" along with other talkshows. He seemed to be a normal guest on radio's "The Opie and Anthony Show."The comic also guested on sitcoms, together with a recurring role as Lonny on "Work,Inch and made an appearance in films including "25th Hour," "Mind of Condition" "Within the Cut" "Frightening Movie 4" and "Furry Vengeance."O'Neal is made it by his wife, Vondecarlo a stepdaughter a sister and the mother. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Giladi attracted on as Icon U.K. Boss

LONDON -- Aviv Giladi remains attracted on as Boss of Access Industries' Icon U.K. Group. The appointment, that's effective immediately, will dsicover Giladi oversee Icon U.K.'s entire methods, including its Brit distribution arm, Icon Film Distribution, Icon Entertainment, worldwide sales arm Icon Entertainment Intl. and London-based Regal Films and tv. Giladi's appointment is predicted to herald Icon's change toward an even more production focused business, which will goal to purchase projects chilling out the $15 million to $20 million mark. Sources indicate the audience is presently in predicts back Paul Greengrass' approaching project "Memphis," in regards to the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, which Universal Pictures dropped taken. Giladi is presently chairman of Israeli media group R.G.E. Group, which is experienced in many content and production activities, and produces and works Television stations in Israel. He controls 33% from the organization, alongside Access Industries' Russian billionaire owner Len Blavatnik, who also provides a 33% stake in R.G.E. Giladi also sits round the board of Ealing Art galleries, through which he may serve as non-executive director. The appointment will come in the sun's rays of numerous changes prone to unfold inside the approaching several days with Icon U.K's strained business. In October, Variety reported that Blighty's film biz happen to be abuzz with reviews that Access, which bought Icon's U.K. methods couple of years ago, was shopping their U.K. library to potential customers carrying out a distrib's recent weak performance available on the market (Weekly Variety, March. 29). It's believed that Giladi remains one of the key figures, along with Access' European Counsel Thomas Harding, behind manipulating the possibility acquisition of Icon's U.K. library to customers. As recently like a few days ago, this U.K. library have been looked to customers with Access showing fascination with selling this fraction in the biz once the cost was right. While Giladi's appointment is positive in by doing this it seems there's movement and direction happening within the group, will still be unclear what is going to happen to the group's Brit distrib arm and equally unclear about what can happen for the positions of joint controlling company company directors Hugo Grumbar and Ian Dawson. Sources indicate that, up to now, nobody has yet ankled the business, but as they are typical when gears change in the company, there can be casualties. Further changes are needed being introduced inside the organization soon. Blavatnik's Access Industries bought Icon U.K. Group in November 2009 and placed former PolyGram and UIP topper Stewart Till within the helm. Till's intention to create Icon becoming an worldwide distribution network was averted when he could not find appropriate purchases in Italia, The nation, France and Germany inside a realistic cost. In November 2010, Till sidestepped to chairman of Icon, and Grumbar and Dawson walked around the dish manipulating the worldwide sales division and U.K. operation correspondingly. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

'Joy Behar' to finish HLN run in December

"The Pleasure Behar Show" on HLN goes from the air in the finish of 2011 after 2 yrs around the Turner news cabler. HLN has not introduced a alternative, however the show saw a 38% year-on-year rankings improvement within the third quarter that can make that it is hard to top. Originals for "Behar" will finish in mid-December, with reruns airing in the slot before the first of the season. "Pleasure and her team created over 500 instances of a reveal that featured newsmaking interviews, great conversation and lots of humor," HLN prexy Scot Safon stated within an e-mailed statement on Thursday. "We thank Pleasure for that many memorable moments she gave the HLN audience." Behar stated that they was "happy with the reveal that we produced at HLN, and that i owe tremendous because of the show team who managed to get possible." An unspecified quantity of positions is going to be removed using the finish from the skein on Jan. 3 TVNewser reviews that staffers are asked to re-apply for other positions within the organization. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

'Alcatraz' Co-Creator Liz Sarnoff Steps Lower as Showrunner

A large change is happening behind the curtain at Fox's midseason drama Alcatraz.our editor recommendsComic-Disadvantage 2011: 'Alcatraz' Will 'Embrace' Its Resemblance of 'Lost,' States Executive Producer'Alcatraz': 'Lost's' Jack Bender Joins as Air, Director Co-creator Liz Sarnoff, who had been becoming a professional producer and showrunner from the ambitious series, is walking lower from her publish. Rather, Cold Caseand Chase executive producerJennifer Manley and Miami Vice and Fracture writerDaniel Pyne happen to be drawn on to consider over day-to-day showrunning responsibilities. Sarnoff (Lost, Deadwood) is anticipated to get the title of executive consultant on Alcatraz. Captured, Sarnoff and company made the visit to Comic-Disadvantage in North Park to tout their new show, drawing evaluations to a different serialized effort which had a similarly complex premise: Lost. "This show comes with an incredibly aggressive story engine. There's likely to be a theif to trap each week. ... You want to answer the questions. It's about mixing individuals things and [fitting them] into 1 hour of television," stated Sarnoff in This summer. The Warner Bros. TV and Bad Robot-created drama focuses on several inmates jailed on Alcatraz island who start coming back in modern-day Bay Area. Sarah Johnson, Jorge Garcia, Parminder Nagra, Jeffrey Pierce, Robert Forster and Mike Neill co-star. Though no official premiere date continues to be looking for Alcatraz, the hourlong will air within the Monday at 9 p.m. time slot. Related Subjects Alcatraz

'Corman's World' Trailer: New Doc Goes Within the presence of Cult Cinema's Godfather

If the involves making B-movies, Roger Corman always supplies a b+. Since his first production in 1954, the legendary filmmaker makes somewhere inside the ballpark of 380 low-budget horror and action movies in route he increased to become mentor to Oscar-winning company company directors (like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and James Cameron) and gave large-title stars (Robert P Niro, William Shatner) their first break. If you're searching for a fast studies inside the director's almost-60-year career filming bikini babes and rubber monster suits, you're going to get all taken up while using approaching documentary 'Corman's World: Exploits from the Hollywood Digital digital rebel,' featuring interviews with everyone from Jack Nicholson to Pam 'Foxy Brown' Grier, To whet your appetite for that grindhouse mayhem, see the just-released trailer and poster from Anchor Bay Films. 'Corman's World: Exploits from the Hollywood Rebel' can get to select theaters on 12 ,. 16. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Shailene Woodley, 'Descendants' Star, Does not Wish to Learn About Oscar Buzz, George Clooney's Fart Machine

Shailene Woodley loves to say "fuck." Regrettably, because the star from the ABC Family series 'The Secret Existence from the American Teen,' she is not frequently given the opportunity to achieve this. That transformed throughout the filming of Alexander Payne's 'The Descendants,' an R-ranked George Clooney vehicle which has thrust Woodley in to the Oscar discussion. Just don't request her concerning the Oscar discussion. In 'The Descendants,' Woodley plays Alexandra King -- the frequently surly teenage daughter of Matt King (Clooney) -- who mustn't only deal with the truth that her mother is within a coma following a boating accident, but that her mother have been cheating on her behalf father. Moviefone spoke to Woodley about her much "buzzed-about" performance (a phrase she hates), her somewhat mixed feelings concerning the 2 yrs she's left on her behalf television contract, and why her late adolescence cost her the role of Kaitlin Cooper (a job she already had) on 'The O.C.' (It was among Woodley's last interviews during the day. Because this interview begins, i was joking about the quantity of occasions that they needs to answer exactly the same questions.) "You are inside a movie. What's that they like?Inch "What exactly is it like to utilize George Clooney?" The number of occasions are you currently requested that? Many. [Laughs] Many, many, many, many. And That I don't mind responding to because he's a high quality one to discuss. Right. It isn't like asking what it really was like dealing with Gaddafi. It may be weirder, yeah. I seem like many people inside your position, using the tv program that you are on, get cast in teen comedy movies or even the shitty horror movie, however, you got George Clooney's potential Oscar movie. For me personally it certainly is been about truth, as well as for standing on a show as lengthy as I have been in it -- and finding yourself in an agreement for an additional 2 yrs -- I have many userful stuff here about creating obligations and extremely having to pay focus on the fabric that you simply focus on. And I am so grateful for that show, my dear gosh, it has been this type of fun ride ... However when you pointed out finding yourself in an agreement for an additional 2 yrs, you've made a distressed face. What did which means that? Would you not wish to accomplish the show for an additional 2 yrs? No, no, no. I would like to get it done for an additional 2 yrs. I designed a commitment for an additional 2 yrs. But ... it certainly ... I am talking about, I believe doing anything in existence you learn things. And also the greatest learning lesson from which was really having to pay focus on that which you do. Because whenever you do sign an agreement, you need to do sign -- I'd rather not say a percentage of the existence -- however, you create a commitment. And also you stay with that commitment. And i believe with this particular movie, or perhaps in every movie -- I have been acting since i have was five -- it certainly is been really fun and not something that I needed to do or happen to be pressed to complete. It is something I have loved doing, therefore if I just read a script and it is cheesy -- I am talking about, everybody represents cheesy in a different way -- but when I do not feel anything inside me, then I am clearly not meant to achieve that movie. So when I just read this script, I acquired the greatest guttural sense of immense passion. Which was the signal that I wish to work with this. And, to become fair, whenever you signed that contract, you were not in 'The Descendants' yet. Yeah, but that is the entire strategy a part of acting and that i won't ever participate for the reason that because I believe it's all regulated Baloney. Are you able to screw yourself up by doing that? Not always. I understand many people who've tried it and they are very effective by using it. But, for me personally, acting is not my only passion in existence, and so i refuse allow it more than. And all sorts of that it's is fun. And I am enthusiastic about it and that i have fun doing the work. And when I must plan the way i do that to be able to do this, it's boring! And it is demanding also it makes me anxious and that is difficult whatsoever also it will make me wish to quit. So, I refuse to get familiar with the politics. Used to do the show because I figured it might be fun, not because I figured it might take me anywhere. After I reserved the film, everybody was, "Oh, you reserved the film since you did this show -- this is exactly why you have this movie." And Alexander [Payne] explained, initially when i first reserved it, "If only you had not done the show because I needed somebody that had not done anything." You are angry a great deal within this movie. I understand, it's acting, however it needs to originate from somewhere. Yeah, you realize, it had been fun. It had been really fun to argue and spar with George. Because, to begin with, he isn't George Clooney, quote, famous guy, finish quote, in my experience any longer. He's George Clooney, guy from Kentucky. Only a good guy. To have the ability to spar with him and argue -- and become inside a movie where you are permitted to express words like "fuck" and also the "t-word" -- I do not know basically should say it at this time... It is the Internet. All test is permitted. It's fun! In many movies they are like, "Oh, no, no. We want it PG-13 We can not state that.Inch And also to have the ability to say these to an actress like George Clooney, who are able to spit back to you -- it had been fun. I really like quarrelling. I usually state that I'll never win an actual fight, however i can invariably win a mental fight. I am talking about, not necessarily, because I never really argue with anybody. Is he still a prankster? That's always the storyline, "George Clooney is really a prankster!" We did not have any infamous "George Clooney pranks,' since it would be a very family based atmosphere because we'd a ten-year-old. But we ended up getting lots of practical jokes, such as the fart application on the telephone will come out. That seems like a really lame George Clooney joke, really. Usually they are elaborate. A fart application sounds quite disappointing. We did not have any typical George Clooney pranks. Listen, he is doing all individuals good pranks on like 'Oceans Eleven' and movie like this -- where it's him and every one of his pals. How does one describe your character, Alexandra? Ornery? I believe she's obtuse. Would you like her? Yeah. I am talking about, I believe she's an ordinary 17-year-old studying the disorder of the items it's enjoy having a household. Families is dysfunctional, whether you need to be honest or otherwise. Would you consider honours season? Um ... no. I am talking about, yes and ... I'm not sure. It's strange. Everybody today is much like, "Shailene, you are getting a lot buzz. So how exactly does the feeling?Inch It is the most odd question since it is like asking a youngster who experienced Cornell the way it feels to become the top your class at among the Ivy League schools. How can you answer that? You simply go, "I'm not sure." I did previously state that case the maraschino cherry on the top, but made the decision maraschino cherries are awful. So I am likely to begin right now preaching the Bing cherry on the top. Maraschino cherries are scrumptious. They are so filled with artificial chemicals! I understand they are harmful to you, however the chemicals are what's scrumptious. OK, they might be scrumptious, but they are so harmful to the atmosphere. Should you have had a sundae, can you favour a genuine cherry on the maraschino cherry? Oh, a genuine cherry. Without a doubt. But, yeah, I am just forever grateful and taking everything in stride. You need to go all in, "Goddammit, I would like an award." [Laughs] Honestly, it's flattering. As it pertains lower into it, I am only a girl who wears individuals five-finger strange foot footwear. You had been on 'The O.C.' as Kaitlin Cooper. You had been changed by Willa Holland. Have you take into account that a setback? No. I had been 11 and that i was on like a guest, recurring character, or whatever. My character visited boarding school so when they made the decision to create her back, they really re-auditioned me to create her back. However I did not undergo adolescence until late: I had been the 15-year-old who didn't have breasts. So, at 11, I had been just like a little mouse-child. I appeared as if an 8-year-old. That same year, I shot a film by which I had been playing a 9-year-old. So, there is no weirdness when Willa Holland first got it because she am clearly suitable for the role... and that i am clearly not [laughs]. [Photo: Fox Searchlight] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter

PTC to NBC: Don't Hire Howard Stern for 'America's Got Talent'

The Parents Television Council (PTC) is urging NBC not to "abandon and offend its family audience" by hiring Howard Stern as an America's Got Talent judge.our editor recommendsHoward Stern in Talks to Join NBC's 'America's Got Talent'Piers Morgan Set to Leave NBC's 'America's Got Talent'Howard Stern Defends Brett Ratner, Slams Hollywood As 'Loony' (Video) Piers Morgan, 'America's Got Talent' Co-Stars Tweet Farewell Wishes; Mutual AdmirationRelated Topics•Howard Stern Stern is in talks with the network to replace Piers Morgan, who announced his departure last week. PTC president Tim Winter said in a statement Monday, "If the rumors are true that NBC is considering the addition of radio shock-jock Howard Stern to the America's Got Talent judges table, the result will be the alienation of millions of families, and with it the alienation of tens of millions of advertising dollars." PHOTOS: Howard Stern Through the Years Saying the move "smacks of desperation by the once-proud peacock network," Winter continued, "Any short-term buzz from Stern's shock value will result in a longer-term decline as families abandon the show for more suitable programming." Earlier this year, the TV watchdog group lobbied against NBC's Playboy Club, calling on its members and others to contact local NBC affiliates, and asking advertisers whether the Playboy brand aligns with their corporate image. When the show was canceled in Oct., the PTC said, "We're pleased that NBC will no longer be airing a program so inherently linked to a pornographic brand that denigrates and sexualizes women." PHOTOS: PTC vs. TV: 10 Television Show Controversies According to sources, Stern is a big fan of the talent competition and is eager to be involved in the show. He would share judging duties with Sharon Osbourne and relative newcomer Howie Mandel,who replacedDavid Hasselhoffin 2010. Related Topics Howard Stern NBC PTC America's Got Talent

ROLL CALL: Olsen Twins Top Vogues Best Fitted List

First Launched: November 10, 2011 2:37 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen attend the Louboutin Party at Barneys NY in NY City on November 1, 2011 La, Calif. -- Your Day-to-day Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Mary-Kate & Ashley Best The Middleton Brothers and sisters: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen might have received their great deal of favor flack over time, but this year the twins are golden inside the eyes of fashion. The 25-year-old brothers and sisters top Vogues annual Best Fitted problem, which includes fellow celebrity siblings and siblings Dakota and Elle Fanning, Beyonce and Solange Knowles and Kate and Pippa Middleton. See the entire list, HERE! CMNay!: Speaking concerning the alternative of Best Fitted, we provide you with country singer Laura Bell Bundy within the CMA Honours last evening in Nashville did she think she'd a pool party? RippedNicki!: Jonathan Lipnicki is permitting it to any or all spend some time which we mean the guns as well as the abs! Have a look in a current photo shoot the first sort child star did where he showcases his very labored-out body. Too for more Lipnicki fun, have a look at his recent visit to Access Hollywood Live, HERE! Nics Wise Purchase: Oh Nicolas Cage, Roll Call isn't keen on requiring to inform people items to spend their funds on, but according to TMZ, the actor recently dropped two 1000 dollars around the knife! The actor apparently bought a Don Dezarn original at Northern Knives in Anchorage, AK, on Wednesday. The pricey edge features a mammoth ivory handle together with a novelty helmet engraved round the edge! And what is going to Nic apparently use his knife? He allegedly told employees in a shop he expects to make use of it just like a steak knife! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Disney reups Mayhem Pictures deal

Ciardi GrayDisney has reupped its first-look deal with Mayhem Pictures producers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, the duo best known for feel-good sports films like "Secretariat," "Invincible," "Miracle" and "The Rookie."Mayhem continues to develop sports pics, including an inspirational tale about Greek marathoner Stylianos "Stelios" Kyriakides, who competed in the 1936 Olympics; baseball project "Million Dollar Arm," and "McFarland," about a California high school track and field coach. But the producers are also branching out into other genres with the Reese Witherspoon comedy "Wish List" and fantasy series "Fallen," based on the young adult book series by Lauren Kate, as well as an adventurous take on Disneyland's Tomorrowland, all for the Mouse House.They also have the Chuck Russell-helmed actioner "Arabian Nights" in the works at FilmDistrict, and the Dwayne Johnson actioner thriller "Protection" with IM Global. Mayhem also collaborated with Johnson on the CBS Films thriller "Faster" and comedies "The Tooth Fairy" for Fox and Disney's "The Game Plan."Mayhem landed its deal at Disney in 2002, shortly after the success of "The Rookie." Their shingle had previously been housed at Revolution Studios, where they produced "The New Guy." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Leading Edge backs 'Looper,' 'Parker' pix

Leading Edge Films has committed to the approaching features "Parker" and "Looper" by supplying purchase of music budgets and music supervision for that films. Leading Edge introduced the deals Tuesday, to which it'll receive privileges towards the films' music later on. Three-year-old Leading Edge provides advance funding in excess of 140 films, most particularly "The King's Speech." "Parker," just wrapped and stars Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, and it is directed by Taylor Hackford. CEG's investment ended with Incentive Shot Entertainment, that is funding the film together with Current Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. "Looper," directed by Rian Manley from their own script, is funded by Endgame Entertainment and stars Frederick Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis. "These deals all involve films with large casts and noted filmmakers that experience the worldwide level, that is our sweet place," stated CEG chief professional Philip Moross. CEG's business design involves evolving funding for any film's music budget (including scoring, clearances and music supervision) too as with-kind services. After that it recoups its investment via soundtrack and written music sales, plus, certification and royalties from worldwide ticket sales and TV deals. Leading Edge introduced in May at Cannes it had committed to romantic comedy "Lola Versus" and Nicolas Winding Refn's actioner "Drive," starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Christina Hendricks. In 2008, Leading Edge received a preliminary investment of $15 million from investor Aberdeen Resource Management, and hang up its first multipicture cope with Joel Silver's Dark Castle Entertainment last year. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'MTV First: Breaking Dawn' Countdown: Your Number Five Favorite 'Twilight' Moment

FROM HOLLYWOOD CRUSH: With just four days until our MTV First special on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"complete with never-before-seen clips from the film and interviews with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautnerwe're getting antsy in the pantsy for our last-minute exclusive peek at the crushworthy culmination of Edward and Bella's big day. But before we get cracking on picking our new favorite moments from the penultimate chapter of "The Twilight Saga," we're counting down the top five fan favorite moments (voted by you!) from the "Twilight" movies we've already seen... and today, we've got your official No. 5. The verdict: Robert and Taylor's snarky sniping over a sleeping KStew in the "Eclipse" tent scene! The filmmakers may have been trying to skew viewers in favor of this one; Rob even confessed, "I think they tried to make it more erotic!" when he told us about some last-minute reshoots of the pivotal scene. But fun as it was to watch our favorite Forks hotties get snippy in the wilderness, this fan favorite moment still came in behind some of the more, er, explicit sexiness of scenes like the "leg hitch" from "Eclipse" or the first kiss in "Twilight." Read the full story at Hollywood Crush!

Taylor Quick Declines Nude Photo Is Her, Intends Law Suit

Taylor Quick is the middle of some undesirable attention, having a tabloid website Superstar Jihad posting an alleged nude photo from the singer -- and due to it, she may sue.our editor recommends'American Country Honours:' Zac Brown Band, Taylor Quick Score Noms Based on TMZ, Quick and her lawyers are threatening to file a lawsuit the web site for trademark violation when the "leaked" photo isn't taken lower, by which she claims she was wrongly recognized. The look shows a topless lady who appears like Quick and also the story's headline where the picture seems is the following: "Taylor Quick Topless Private Pic Leaked?." Quick's lawyers have sent on the letter towards the website, requesting these to take lower the look and story immediately, based on the report. The letter claims the website incorporated "false pornographic images and false 'news' " about Quick. Based on another report, the web site under consideration has yet to consider lower the look. Quick is presently in the center of her United States tour, Speak Now, as well as on November. 9, Quick is going to be competing for five honours only at that year's New Bands Association Honours. Related Subjects Taylor Quick

Virgin pacts with U.K. PBS

LONDON -- Your final-minute deal remains implemented to carry the completely new U.K. version of PBS on local cable platform Virgin Media. The move suggests that PBS will probably be available to clients of both primary British payboxes -- satcaster BSkyB and Virgin -- when the service bows in Blighty on November. 1. The agreement gives Virgin the rights to provide PBS content across its on-demand services together with the funnel receiving slot number 243 round the Virgin Electronic Program Guide. The U.K. PBS funnel bow is the first time the internet has launched a funnel outdoors the U.S. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

MTV's Killer Halloween: Ew, The Gross Factor!

Welcome to MTV's Killer Halloween! All week long, we're looking at ten of the greatest horror movie villains of all time, and with your help, we'll determine once and for all just how powerful these murdering psychopaths and evil masterminds really are. Our contestants: Freddy Krueger ("A Nightmare on Elm Street"), Jason Voorhees ("Friday the Thirteenth"), Michael Myers ("Halloween"), Ghostface ("Scream"), Leatherface ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"), Chucky ("Child's Play"), Norman Bates ("Psycho"), Pinhead ("Hellraiser"), Hannibal Lecter ("Silence of the Lambs") and Jigsaw ("Saw"). Having great style, effective weaponry and a killer personality is all well and dandy, but what really makes a horror killer so special is the gross factor. Whether it's the nausea you feel when gazing upon their faces, or the stomach-churning sensation you suffer on witnessing their grotesque acts of violence, a horror movie killer's bloodsoaked rampage is meaningless without a viewer's need to vomit. Thankfully, our competitors bring the gag reflex in spades. Vote on the Killer Halloween murderers' respective gross factors one being tame, five being impossibly revolting after the jump! Freddy Krueger After all these years of killing teenagers, it must be a point of pride for Mr. Krueger that he took out a young Johnny Depp in the first "Elm Street" movie, turning the future Captain Jack Sparrow into a fountain of blood. Jason Voorhees Check out a list of iconic horror movie kills and you'll always find one by Jason from the much-hated "Jason X." The kill involved liquid nitrogen, a steel table and a woman's head, not necessarily in that order. Michael Myers If Freddy is going to take credit for killing Johnny Depp, Michael should be noted for his love of sharp objects and putting a hockey skate through Joseph Gordon-Levitt's face in "Halloween H20." It's not quite the same, but gross nonetheless. Ghostface The "Scream" killer tends to keep things as simple as the name of the fictional movies he inspired, "Stab." Ghostface will, however, on occasion get creative, as he did in the first movie by trapping a girl in a doggie door and killing her with the garage door. Leatherface The man wears other people's skin on his face. On his face! Think about it. Then his family eats them. Chucky One of the grossest aspects about Chucky is entirely separate from how he kills people. Chucky has a tendency to get injured and reveal the human flesh beneath his doll exterior, such as when he was forced to tear his own legs off in "Child's Play 2." Norman Bates Like the rest of Hitchcock's oeuvre, the real terror is all about what you don't see. The demands of 1960s film making didn't allow for Hitch to show the gruesome details of the shower scene, but the kill becomes even more horrifying in your imagination. Pinhead For Pinhead, the name of the game is the pleasures of pain, and pain is what he brings throughout the series, pushing the limits of his victims as he tortures them in sadomasochistic ritual for all eternity. Hannibal Lecter It's hard to separate Hannibal from his most iconic on-screen kill, the murder of two security guards, one of whom he steals a face from. The scene remains one of the most graphic and iconic of the series. Oh, and there was also the time when he ate Ray Liotta's brains. That was pretty nasty. Jigsaw Jigsaw as a movie villain and "Saw" as a film series exist explicitly for the reason of the gross out. Whether you consider it torture porn or just a graphic scary movie, the series' love of gore is undeniable. Check out the results for Killer Halloween's personality poll! No surprise here: Freddy Krueger is your pick for biggest personality among our roster of horror movie killers. Hannibal Lecter makes his first major appearance on the board as the second place finisher, with Ghostface and Chucky close behind. Apparently, nobody thinks there's anything funny about Pinhead's desire to torture you for all of eternity, as he ranked lowest in personality. You just better hope he doesn't have the last laugh... Justify your votes in the comments section or hit us up on Twitter!

'X Factor' Showstopper: Paula Abdul Will get Stop by Host Steve Johnson Idol judges React

FOXSteve Johnson Possibly probably the most uncomfortable moments of X Factor's first live episode Tuesday involved midway with the two-and-a-30 minutes broadcast, once the show was managing a good two minutes behind and host Steve Joneswas instructed to stop Paula Abdul mid-sentence.our editor recommends'The X Factor' Redux: 5 Awkward Moments In the Judges' Houses (Video)'The X Factor' Redux: 5 Afterthoughts around the Shows Premiere 'New Girl,' 'Secret Circle' and 'X Factor': 10 Youngest-Skewing New Shows This Year (To Date)'American Idol's' Nigel Lythgoe Jams Twitter Fans Over 'X Factor''American Idol' Creator Sues Fox For Millions in 'X Factor' Money (Exclusive) In conclusion: The Maker Boys had been removed by their mentor once they sheepishly apologized because of not living as much as her anticipation. Fighting back tears, Abdul uttered a couple of words of encouragement but was quickly interrupted by Johnson, who was adamant they needed to move ahead. PHOTOS: 'X Factor' Top 17 Runners up: Become familiar with the performers "My producers were screaming, 'We're way over, we gotta move ahead, stop them,' " Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter following Tuesday's show. "It had been always an activity to showcase 17 functions in 2-and-a-half hrs. With 16, i was groing through, therefore it would be a huge task the production team drawn them back.Inch But at whose expense? Knowing by twitter reaction which from the studio audience, audiences were aghast in the perceived dis, after which came the inevitable question: Would Ryan Seacrest have sweated the time? PHOTOS: Behind the curtain: THR's 'X Factor' Cover Shoot "I don't wish to stop these folks quarrelling -- it's completely entertaining," stated Johnson. "But we're on short time, and so i needed to stop her from time to time." He will not make any apologies for his actions, either. "I'll never apologize for doing my job," he stated. "Paula was awesome, but she did look a bit annoyed." For his part, Simon Cowell appreciated within the drama. "I really like whenever we're around the wire such as this,Inch he stated. "I really like once the producers stop by throughout the break and go nuts. Plus they're literally going insane. And That I like because you can control might produce the tension. That's live TV. We're able to shoot this at 2 o'clock within the mid-day, but it might be probably the most boring factor on the planet. I love the truth that there's a feeling of danger." PHOTOS: An 'American Idol' to 'X Factor' Timeline For Abdul herself, a great hour following the closing credits, she clearly had not become regarding this. "It had been just a little awkward, to become completely honest," she told THR. "It had been right when Nathan Maker stated, 'I'm sorry, Miss Paula, that people didn't meet your anticipation.' I couldn't catch my breath, which's when Steve cut me off. It had been very hard that i can let visit the Maker Boys. I truly love individuals kids." Abdul stated she has been investing in extra-lengthy hrs dealing with the groups. On Tuesday, she'd been in the studio from 8 a.m. until 2 each morning. "I've been working 12-15 hrs each day nonstop," she ongoing. "They've never carried out on the television stage, to train them how you can interact with your camera, enunciate their words..." STORY: 'X Factor's' First Live Show: A View From The Inside Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid are, obviously, the brand new idol judges on the market, and somewhat, they've just as much to understand because the participants. Just how did they handle pressure of the live show? "I had been afraid," stated Scherzinger. "We have never carried this out before." Added Reid: "We attempted to remain short and tight, however, you can't really be worried about it." Just how far behind was the show? At its worst, two minutes, which later simplified to 50 seconds and lastly, the episode really wrapped early, stated Johnson. "I was up and lower," he stated. "But we drawn it back and within the last chunk, we really ended under. Therefore we turned it around. I was too great for our very own good." Nicole Scherzinger Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Antonio L.A. Reid Steve Johnson The X Factor

Dwts: Chaz Bono Goes Home

Chaz Bono, Lacey Schwimmer You are able to only think of the enormity from the pressure on Chaz Bono throughout his six-week operate on Dwts: He was the kid of Cher, among the world's greatest celebs, he'd bad knees and was terribly in poor condition, and there have been gossips of dying risks because his presence on the program made him the poster boy for that transgender community. Actually, the show's impressive security presence - large, beefy men who're scattered through the ballroom - was always increased when Chaz was on stage.But he continued to be a humble, dignified, good-humored guy, holding their own when confronted with low scores, sometimes-harsh critique, and endless media questions. He only lost his awesome once, Monday evening, after judge Bruno Tonioli in comparison him to "an adorable little penguin." But even that did not get him lower for lengthy. "I had been mad last evening," states Bono. "But that is not what this really is about, not things i came on here to complete. I came here to exhibit people a powerful, proud transgender guy. I am just grateful to possess already been through it. I am not departing this show bitter or angry or anything. It had been an excellent, existence altering experience."His elimination could also happen to be wish fulfillment. Behind the curtain, the term is the fact that Bono was a lot more than prepared to remove his dancing footwear. "He really was tired," verifies one of several sources in the show. "He was worrying about this all week. He did not think he could take care of the dancing. Chaz took it home."The only real other footnote in the show is: Throughout the videotaped segment that re-written the Monday evening throw-lower between mind judge Len Goodman and professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy within the dancing of Maks' celebrity partner Hope Solo, Goodman held his hands to his temple, shielding his eyes in the screen, and searching like he was suffering an Excedrin headache. If this was over, he did not look a little sorry, just glad he did not needs to pay attention to anymore.Tonioli did not look sorry either, after hearing Bono complain on tape the judge's "little penguin" comments made Bono seem like "some body fat troll dancing with this particular beautiful lady [his professional partner, Lacey Schwimmer]." Once the show visited commercial break, Tonioli put his hands to the studio audience as though to express, "Produce a rest.InchSign up to TV Guide Magazine Today!

9 Circles

Joe Holt listens as Patrick J. Adams plays a soldier caught up in the Iraq war in Bill Cains 9 Circles at the Bootleg Theater. A Bootleg Theater presentation of a play in one act by Bill Cain. Directed by Justin Zsebe.Pvt. Daniel Reeves - Patrick J. AdamsHot on the heels of the president's announced troop withdrawals from Iraq, the Bootleg Theater offers a disturbing vision of what that nine-year war has turned us into. "Us" is the operative word, for Pvt. Daniel Edward Reeves, the protagonist of Bill Cain's "9 Circles," is all too clearly drawn as a metaphor for America's descent into hell on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. Happily, a tour de force from Patrick J. Adams (of TV's "Suits") ensures we always see the character clear as both individual and symbol. Justin Zsebe has helmed a great production of an essential play. From the moment we enter the arena -- and it's the literal arena, Jason Adams' circular arrangement of individual bleachers containing upper tiers for adventurous patrons -- Pvt. Reeves greets us in full battle gear: your tax dollars at work. Standing atop crates, surveying the terrain (i.e. us) through impenetrable shades, he is the very picture of the reliable sentinel, being all that he can be. That implacable air and the trappings are systematically, literally stripped away in a series of nine scenes in which the consequences of his service are revealed to bring him down, and then further down, until we recognize (as he may not) exactly what he has become in the name of defending our freedom. Giving more away is possible but undesirable. Audiences deserve to be confronted with "9 Circles" with as little softening preamble as possible, and the more you know about its given circumstances the easier it may be to dismiss as familiar, or politically suspect, what Cain is trying to do here. Suffice it to say Pvt. Reeves is more than the cliched redneck taught only to kill, and those involved in determining his fate have more on their agenda than this one individual's redemption or punishment. What can be revealed is the versatility of Paul Dillon, Joe Holt and Arlene Santana who, despite individually vivid personalities, fully embody a range of military identities at multiple points on the ideological spectrum. They are complemented by Lap Chi Chu's dramatic lighting, and a host of theatrical effects Zsebe manages with bold assurance. Cain puts Adams through a wringer, and the thesp in turn does the same to us. This undereducated, bigoted, brawling youth with angelic looks and woebegone eyes is a mass of contradictions, of which Adams never loses a master artist's control. Whatever you assume about him, prepare to have Cain and Adams change your mind -- several times, probably -- as he is buffeted by forces beyond all control. By the end, when Reeves is down to his most elemental, it's difficult not to think of the Biblical announcement "Ecce homo": behold the man. And since that sentiment was spoken by judge Pontius Pilate during another legal proceeding, involving another defendant depicted in traditional art as staring at us to compel our identification with his suffering, it seems not inappropriate as well. The shakiness felt by anyone climbing up or down the rickety ladders to get to that upper tier is nothing compared to the shakiness you are likely to feel as this remarkable work comes to its melancholy end. Either way, it's an experience not to be missed or forgotten.Sets, Jason Adams, costumes, Kathryn Poppen; lighting, Lap Chi Chu; sound, Adam Phalen. Opened, reviewed Oct. 21, 2011. Runs through Nov. 12. Running time: 1 HOUR, 35 MIN.With: Paul Dillon, Joe Holt, Arlene Santana. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Sony has Assassins Creed in its sights

Sony is close to landing the movie rights to Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed videogame, following a bidding war between film studios.According to Variety, Sony is in final negotiations to tackle the big screen version of a games franchise that sees assassins in the past recover items for a secret organisation in the future.Ubisoft - which launched UbiSoft Motion Pictures earlier this year - apparently wants to maintain creative control over the development of its games for other platforms and feels Sony is the studio to allow that.Sony is also currently backing a number of other projects based on games, with adaptations of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and InFamous in development.In August, Ubisoft chief Yves Guillemot told the Gamescom conference in Germany that he also wants to produce bigscreen versions of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon.CanAssassin's Creed pull in the crowds?Even a disappointing performance by Disney's Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, which was based on a Ubisoft game, saw that film earn $335m worldwide.Surely an Assassin can take down a Prince?

'Bake Off' cooks up big ratings for BBC2

'The Great British Bake Off'LONDON -- It's been dubbed the most unlikely reality show ever, but a British baking contest is the surprise breakout hit of the U.K. TV fall season."The Great British Bake Off," produced by Love Prods., bowed last year on BBC2 with an average audience of 2.3 million.This figure more than doubled as the second season of "Bake Off" hit its stride in September and became BBC2's biggest show. By the time the series wrapped Oct. 4, an average of 4.56 million viewers (a 20 share) were tuning in, and the last 15 minutes of the final episode was watched by an audience of 5.1 million.The show pits 12 amateur bakers against each other in a weekly elimination contest to bake a cake, quiche or tart.Unlike more conventional reality fare like "The X Factor," there is little emphasis on the protagonists' emotional back stories.In other words, cooking rather than crying occupies stage center.The finished products are judged by septuagenarian U.K. food writer Mary Berry, who at 76 has published more than 70 books on cooking.Her homespun wisdom and warmth is about as far from Simon Cowell as it's possible to get."Whether it is baking a scone or a loaf of bread, 'Bake Off' is very much tied up with the idea of homeliness and cocooning," observes Janice Hadlow, head of BBC2, who sees the show as tapping in to cultural mores in the U.K. Casting for the third season is under way.Hadlow notes that auds are tuning in to brush up on their baking skills. "?'Bake Off' is nothing to do with lavish dinner parties or making an exquisite piece of patisserie. It is about the pleasure you can have in hard times. Baking at home is one way of having fun without spending a lot of money." The Independent's TV critic Tom Sutcliffe echoes Hadlow's assessment: "Yes, it's all about the technique that goes into the perfect biscotti and tense stand-off over ginger nut orthodoxy. But it's also about domestic affections: about recipes learned from much-loved grandmas and family favorites lovingly cooked for children."So could "The Great British Bake Off" emulate "MasterChef" and become an international hit with local versions rolled out globally? "The Great Barcelona Bake Off" anyone?Hadlow is skeptical. "I don't know if it would have the same cultural purchase in mainland Europe or the U.S." she says. "It taps into what baking means in the U.K. I am not sure baking has the same associations outside Britain." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Theater Actors to Watch 2011

Theater Actors to Watch 2011 October 21, 2011 Patti Murrin in "Lysistrata Jones" Patti Murin Where you've seen her: Patti Murin was most recently seen in an Off-Broadway production at the Judson Memorial Church, playing a determined basketball cheerleader in the Aristophanes-inspired musical "Lysistrata Jones" and garnering rave reviews. Written by Douglas Carter Beane and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn, the show is now slated to open on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Dec. 14. Previously, Murin understudied the roller-skating female lead in the 2007 Broadway tuner "Xanadu" and went on 40 times, she says. Prior to making her Broadway debut in that zany production, she performed at regional theaters across the country, playing leading or featured roles in close to 20 musicalssome of them revivals but most of them new works, including "Princesses," which almost made it to Broadway; "Clueless: The Musical" and "Give It Up," which morphed into "Lysistrata Jones."Upcoming projects: Besides preparing for her debut as a lead on Broadway, Murin is spending her limited free time participating in readings for various new musicals that are hoping to land backers. But her thoughts are focused on the challenges of doing eight shows a week in a lead and maintaining her physical and especially vocal health. "I never performed eight times a week; the most was seven performances," she says, adding, "I feel very strongly about not taking time off and missing performances because of vocal problems." On the other hand, she feels confident because she created the role and has had a chance to hone her acting and singing chops at the Dallas Theater Center, where the project began, and later Off-Broadway.Breaking in: Brought up in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Murin had her sights set on a musical theater career at an early age. She majored in musical theater at Syracuse University and moved to New York City two weeks after graduation in 2002. Her career trajectory to date has been steady and workmanlike. She concedes that she was lucky to land day jobsincluding an on-and-off three-year gig with an insurance companythat allowed her to take time off for auditions, callbacks, and work in various regional productions. Other day jobs, as a guide with the "Sex and the City" bus tour and as a freelance babysitter, have been equally flexible. She's now in the enviable position of being able to focus exclusively on her true vocation without worrying about day labor.Keeping a healthy perspective: Part of her good fortune, Murin says, is having a wonderful support system that includes friends, family, and, most central, her husband, actor Curtis Holbrook. Both are committed to the marriage, she says, and don't go out of town for long periods: "My marriage now determines a lot of what I do and don't do. Being married also reminds me that there is something else beyond the next audition." Indeed, she says, it's very important to have friends outside the business for added perspective. Another aspect of a healthy outlook is to make a genuine effort to mitigate feelings of envy when an actor friend walks off with a role you auditioned for, she says. "I now feel if I don't get a part, I should be happy for an actor friend who does. We have no control over it anyway, and whether you get a role or not has nothing to do with who you are. You may be just an inch too tall. So feel good for your friend."Simi Horwitz Edward Tournier Where you've seen him: Edward Tournier, who was born in Paris and grew up in Boston, has been active in Southern California theater since he moved to L.A. five years ago. His many successful and challenging stage roles include characters in "Futura" at Theatre @ Boston Court (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination), "Supernova" at the Elephant Theatre (LA Weekly nomination for best ensemble), and "Mercury Fur" for Needtheater (Ovation nomination for best ensemble). About his portrayal of an oversexed, alcoholic teenager in "Supernova," Back Stage wrote, "The superb Tournier juggles his character's boorish behavior alongside the hurt feelings that have festered in the family, creating a compelling portrait of inner turmoil." Tournier is a dedicated member of the theater company Rogue Machine, where he appeared in "Razorback," and has enjoyed the opportunity to cut his teeth as a producer and assistant director with the troupe. "I think those jobs fell to me because I was willing to step up and take them, as often happens in theater," he says. "As I did more and more plays, I got more familiar with how it all works, more skilled and experienced, and started seeing things from a wider point of view. Directing and producing seemed like a natural growth from acting." Tournier also has TV shows to his credit, including "Without a Trace" and A&E's "The Cleaner."Current project: Tournier is playing the unusual role of a bonobo (similar to a chimpanzee) in the world premiere of Henry Murray's "Monkey Adored," at Rogue Machine through Nov. 20. "This species of ape is known primarily for its democratic sex drive, not discriminating by age, gender, or status," the actor explains. The allegorical play, which includes several humanlike animals, is set in a brutally violent world where the repressed animal characters are planning a revolt. Tournier calls his role very challenging, physically and otherwise, but says it's "an absolute blast to play." He adds, "I get to really 'monkey around' and leave my inhibitions at the door."Breaking in: The role that Tournier believes got his career rolling was that of an aspiring actor, who grows from 16 to 26 years old, in "Secrets of the Trade," Jonathan Tolins' bittersweet play, which premiered in 2008 at the Black Dahlia Theatre and was later produced Off-Broadway. Tournier's ambitious young character forges a relationship with a famous middle-aged actor-director (played by John Glover), who becomes his mentor. "That was the first play I did in L.A. that got a lot of attention," says Tournier. "It was very popular with audiences and had a sold-out run. It was a critical success, and there were a lot of good things that came out of it."His philosophy: Tournier says something that happened in his career that he never planned for was working almost exclusively on new plays. He describes it as "incredibly rewarding." Beyond that, his vision includes making a living in film or TV. "That's why I'm out here," he says. "My passion and background are on stage, but when it comes to making a living, that only seems possible if you have a film or TV thing going." Yet he would feel especially fulfilled to be able to do it all. "That's the dream," he says.Les Spindle Annaleigh Ashford Annaleigh Ashford in "Rent" (Photo by Joan Marcus) Where you've seen her: Annaleigh Ashford has been a steady presence on the NY theater scene since she graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting from Marymount Manhattan Collegeat 19. "I was on the fast track," Ashford says. Months after graduating, she landed in the NY Musical Theatre Festival production "Feeling Electric"an early version of the Pulitzer Prize winner "Next to Normal"which she considers her big break. That show got her a gig in the first national tour of "Wicked," understudying Glinda. She went on to create the role of Margot in the musical "Legally Blonde" and play Jeannie in "Hair" on Broadway last summer. She also had a bit part in the first "Sex and the City" movie and is a recurring guest star on the NYbased Web series "Submissions Only."Current projects: Ashford is currently starring as Maureen, the volatile performance artist, in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent." While she was nervous about following in the footsteps of Idina Menzel, who originated the role on Broadway, Ashford brought her own experience to bear. "When I was in college, I knew quite a few performance artists who were working consistently downtown, so I've seen a lot of performance art," she explains of her new take on the bohemian lesbian activist. "I wanted to explore more elements of the physical. And they understood what I was going for, and it was extremely exciting." While her first love is the theater, she's excited about acting in all mediums. She'll appear in the much-anticipated midseason series "Smash" on NBC. "As an actor, I really would just love to work in any way that I can," Ashford says. "I've been given the opportunity to explore that mediumbecause it is so different from the theater, that's been exciting creatively. It's a different world. But the acting stays the same. The process stays the same. It's just a different medium. I'm partial to anything where I get to act." Endless auditioning: Like any actor, Ashford must deal with the unpredictability of the profession. "I always tell people that I have more job interviews in a week than most people have in their life," she says. "I think that's the hardest part about being an actor: You have to have the continual belief in yourself, in your craft." A self-proclaimed horrible judge of auditions, Ashford says she never knows how to feel after one: "When I auditioned for 'Legally Blonde: The Musical,' I thought I did a terrible job and there was no way I was getting a callback. And then I got a call literally the next morning saying I got the job in one audition." Always be creating: To keep her craft sharp, Ashford values her training. "Working in musical theater, it's like flexing a muscle," she says. She regularly takes dance classes and has kept up with voice lessons since she was 9. She trained in clowning with David Shiner while working on the Cirque du Soleil show "Banana Shpeel," and she has taken Bob Krakower's on-camera class and Craig Carnelia's musical theater class. "It's actually an important part of the creative process, to always be creating," she explains. Ashford's dream roles include Nina in "The Seagull" and Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "That's not going to happen for years," she says. "As an actor, your career is your whole life, or at least it should be. You can act until the day you die."Suzy Evans Hunter Parrish (Photo by Michael Muller/CPi Syndication) Where you've seen him: Hunter Parrish has been acting since he was about 6 years old but still considers himself a student, always willing to learn from his peers and veteran co-stars. Born in Richmond, Va., and raised in Plano, Texas, Parrish has guest-starred on several TV shows, such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." He has also appeared on Broadway as Melchior in the musical "Spring Awakening" and in the movies "RV," "Freedom Writers," "17 Again," and "It's Complicated." For the last six years, he has played Silas Botwin on Showtime's Emmy-winning drama "Weeds." Current project: Parrish is currently making his second appearance on Broadway, starring as Jesus in the revival of "Godspell," now in previews and scheduled to open Nov. 7. Though he's playing a biblical figure, the musical "is about love and community," he says. "People have their personal [ideas] for what or who Jesus is and what he means. I'm staying far away from that and I'm focusing on how much love he as a man had to offer and to teach other people how to spread their love as well."Breaking in: Parrish's interest in performing began at 5 years old. During a church service, he enjoyed singing alongside his family, and the next summer, he visited NY and saw "Cats" on Broadway. "I started crying," he remembers. "From watching people on stage moving, singing, dancing, I was like, 'I got to do that.' I wanted to be on stage." He soon took Peter Sklar's Beginnings workshop and starred in its end-of-term showcase, after which a manager offered to represent him. Parrish began working on stage and moved into film and television roles as he became older, though he never lost his affinity for theater. When he was about 17, he received the script for "Weeds." He was home in Texas at the time, so a friend taped his audition and he mailed it in. He heard nothing for some time and assumed the producers were not interested. Then he was told it was a choice between him and two other actors to play Silas, the son of a pot-dealing suburban mom played by Mary-Louise Parker. Parrish flew out to Los Angeles and won the role. "I guess they saw something," he says. Time leap: When he replaced Jonathan Groff as Melchior in "Spring Awakening," Parrish needed to play a character living in late-19th-century Germany. He found it an interesting challenge: "I spent a lot of time right before each show listening to music that wasn't necessarily from the time period but that took me from present day and focused me." He adds with a laugh, "I have a crazy personality, and my brain is incredibly scattered and needed that to bring myself down." What he's learned: "Trusting myself was the biggest obstacle, and still is," Parrish says. "Every time I sit down with any script, I read it closely and get into it, so I can see where to make big decisions and go for it, because that's what people respond to." Frank Nestor Andre Holland (Photo by Michael Tammaro) Where you've seen him: Andre Holland got bitten by the Shakespeare in the Park bug after his first year in NY University's MFA acting program, when he appeared in the ensemble of the Public Theater production of "Much Ado About Nothing." Last summer he returned to Central Park, playing Bertram in "All's Well That Ends Well" and Claudio in "Measure for Measure." He considers his first professional break after graduating from NYU in 2006 to have been the play "Blue Door" at Playwrights Horizons. "NY Times" critic Charles Isherwood wrote, "On the evidence of this blazingly good performance, I can confidently say that Mr. Hollandis an actor of some serious potential." In 2009, Holland made his Broadway debut in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," and in 2011 he received rave reviews for his work in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of "The Whipping Man." (Isherwood called him "one of the most engaging young stage actors of his generation.")Upcoming projects: This fall, Holland can be seen guest-starring on the fifth season of USA's "Burn Notice." The final episode of his short-lived TV show "Friends With Benefits" aired in September, and he is taking some time out now to work on writing projects. He's writing his first full-length screenplay, something he is "dying to do," he says. "I'm having a hard time finding the parts that I want to be doing next. I think it's up to me to create those opportunities for myself. Not only do you have to be a good actor, but you also have to be a good creator and care enough about it to go out and make it yourself if you have to. That's tough. But it's also equal parts exhilarating and exciting."Mama's boy: In Alabama, where Holland grew up, his mom was a champion for him and his two sisters, and she put him in a community theater production even though he was too young. "She sort of forced them to let me be a part of it," he remembers. His mother's "you have not because you ask not" philosophy has helped him throughout his career. "Be persistent," advises Holland, who wrote letters incessantly to the Public Theater requesting an audition that first summer. "If you want to do it and you know you want to do it, then knock on every door you can find. Audition for anybody that will let you audition for them. Really go after it."Permission to act: Holland didn't always have acting on his mind. He played baseball in high school and initially studied political science at Florida State University. Walking by the college theater building one day, he saw a flyer for a black theater festival run by Woodie King Jr. of Off-Broadway's New Federal Theatre. Using more of his mother's moxie, he convinced the department to let him participate in the event. "At the end of it," he recalls, "Woodie King Jr. caught me in the hallway and he said, 'Son, I want you to go home, call your mama, and tell her Woodie King Jr. said it's okay for you to be an actor." But he still wrestled with finding his place. While studying in London, he saw Adrian Lester in Peter Brook's production of "Hamlet," which changed Holland's outlook. "In my mind, I never put together [that] a black man could be playing Hamlet well," he says. "Seeing him do it really just broadened my horizons. It gave me permission to be where I am right now. To play in Shakespeare in the Park. Had I not been in that theater, I probably never would have had the courage to risk going after it."Suzy Evans Adam Chanler-Berat (Photo by Norma Walter McBride_Retna Ltd.) Where you've seen him: Adam Chanler-Berat created the role of Henry in the Pulitzer Prizewinning musical "Next to Normal," then went on to originate the character Peter in "Peter and the Starcatcher," the much-raved-about Off-Broadway adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's prequel to J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan."Current project: Chanler-Berat is now tackling one of the most iconic musical theater roles of the '90s, playing Mark Cohen in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent" at New World Stages. The show opened in August and has been well-received by critics and audiences.Big shoes: Stepping into an established role was not easy for Chanler-Berat after creating two originals. "It was a little shocking," he says. "It's tough. There is a certain idea of the role that I wanted to honor in some way." Having worked with Anthony Rapp, the original Mark Cohen, in "Next to Normal" (Rapp was the assistant director), Chanler-Berat was especially anxious to pay tribute to the character. "But I think getting caught up in that is just asking for trouble," he says. "And I think Michael [Greif, the director] was so gracious to let us really figure out who these people are."Born this way: "As clich as this sounds, I think it's true that you are born an actor, and I was born with this bug," Chanler-Berat says. "I tried to run away from it at a couple points in my life, and I just found myself back in its loving arms again." As a young boy, he performed for friends and family every chance he got. Every time a costume could be worn, he was in one. "I made a play about the Easter Bunny, and I'm not religious," he says. "And my family is pretty much Jewish. But I made up plays for any holiday I could. I've been doing it privately. Now I just get paid for it."Emily Cegielski Theater Actors to Watch 2011 October 21, 2011 Patti Murrin in "Lysistrata Jones" Patti Murin Where you've seen her: Patti Murin was most recently seen in an Off-Broadway production at the Judson Memorial Church, playing a determined basketball cheerleader in the Aristophanes-inspired musical "Lysistrata Jones" and garnering rave reviews. Written by Douglas Carter Beane and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn, the show is now slated to open on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Dec. 14. Previously, Murin understudied the roller-skating female lead in the 2007 Broadway tuner "Xanadu" and went on 40 times, she says. Prior to making her Broadway debut in that zany production, she performed at regional theaters across the country, playing leading or featured roles in close to 20 musicalssome of them revivals but most of them new works, including "Princesses," which almost made it to Broadway; "Clueless: The Musical" and "Give It Up," which morphed into "Lysistrata Jones."Upcoming projects: Besides preparing for her debut as a lead on Broadway, Murin is spending her limited free time participating in readings for various new musicals that are hoping to land backers. But her thoughts are focused on the challenges of doing eight shows a week in a lead and maintaining her physical and especially vocal health. "I never performed eight times a week; the most was seven performances," she says, adding, "I feel very strongly about not taking time off and missing performances because of vocal problems." On the other hand, she feels confident because she created the role and has had a chance to hone her acting and singing chops at the Dallas Theater Center, where the project began, and later Off-Broadway.Breaking in: Brought up in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Murin had her sights set on a musical theater career at an early age. She majored in musical theater at Syracuse University and moved to NY City two weeks after graduation in 2002. Her career trajectory to date has been steady and workmanlike. She concedes that she was lucky to land day jobsincluding an on-and-off three-year gig with an insurance companythat allowed her to take time off for auditions, callbacks, and work in various regional productions. Other day jobs, as a guide with the "Sex and the City" bus tour and as a freelance babysitter, have been equally flexible. She's now in the enviable position of being able to focus exclusively on her true vocation without worrying about day labor.Keeping a healthy perspective: Part of her good fortune, Murin says, is having a wonderful support system that includes friends, family, and, most central, her husband, actor Curtis Holbrook. Both are committed to the marriage, she says, and don't go out of town for long periods: "My marriage now determines a lot of what I do and don't do. Being married also reminds me that there is something else beyond the next audition." Indeed, she says, it's very important to have friends outside the business for added perspective. Another aspect of a healthy outlook is to make a genuine effort to mitigate feelings of envy when an actor friend walks off with a role you auditioned for, she says. "I now feel if I don't get a part, I should be happy for an actor friend who does. We have no control over it anyway, and whether you get a role or not has nothing to do with who you are. You may be just an inch too tall. So feel good for your friend."Simi Horwitz Edward Tournier Where you've seen him: Edward Tournier, who was born in Paris and grew up in Boston, has been active in Southern California theater since he moved to L.A. five years ago. His many successful and challenging stage roles include characters in "Futura" at Theatre @ Boston Court (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination), "Supernova" at the Elephant Theatre (LA Weekly nomination for best ensemble), and "Mercury Fur" for Needtheater (Ovation nomination for best ensemble). About his portrayal of an oversexed, alcoholic teenager in "Supernova," Back Stage wrote, "The superb Tournier juggles his character's boorish behavior alongside the hurt feelings that have festered in the family, creating a compelling portrait of inner turmoil." Tournier is a dedicated member of the theater company Rogue Machine, where he appeared in "Razorback," and has enjoyed the opportunity to cut his teeth as a producer and assistant director with the troupe. "I think those jobs fell to me because I was willing to step up and take them, as often happens in theater," he says. "As I did more and more plays, I got more familiar with how it all works, more skilled and experienced, and started seeing things from a wider point of view. Directing and producing seemed like a natural growth from acting." Tournier also has TV shows to his credit, including "Without a Trace" and A&E's "The Cleaner."Current project: Tournier is playing the unusual role of a bonobo (similar to a chimpanzee) in the world premiere of Henry Murray's "Monkey Adored," at Rogue Machine through Nov. 20. "This species of ape is known primarily for its democratic sex drive, not discriminating by age, gender, or status," the actor explains. The allegorical play, which includes several humanlike animals, is set in a brutally violent world where the repressed animal characters are planning a revolt. Tournier calls his role very challenging, physically and otherwise, but says it's "an absolute blast to play." He adds, "I get to really 'monkey around' and leave my inhibitions at the door."Breaking in: The role that Tournier believes got his career rolling was that of an aspiring actor, who grows from 16 to 26 years old, in "Secrets of the Trade," Jonathan Tolins' bittersweet play, which premiered in 2008 at the Black Dahlia Theatre and was later produced Off-Broadway. Tournier's ambitious young character forges a relationship with a famous middle-aged actor-director (played by John Glover), who becomes his mentor. "That was the first play I did in L.A. that got a lot of attention," says Tournier. "It was very popular with audiences and had a sold-out run. It was a critical success, and there were a lot of good things that came out of it."His philosophy: Tournier says something that happened in his career that he never planned for was working almost exclusively on new plays. He describes it as "incredibly rewarding." Beyond that, his vision includes making a living in film or TV. "That's why I'm out here," he says. "My passion and background are on stage, but when it comes to making a living, that only seems possible if you have a film or TV thing going." Yet he would feel especially fulfilled to be able to do it all. "That's the dream," he says.Les Spindle Annaleigh Ashford Annaleigh Ashford in "Rent" (Photo by Joan Marcus) Where you've seen her: Annaleigh Ashford has been a steady presence on the NY theater scene since she graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting from Marymount Manhattan Collegeat 19. "I was on the fast track," Ashford says. Months after graduating, she landed in the NY Musical Theatre Festival production "Feeling Electric"an early version of the Pulitzer Prize winner "Next to Normal"which she considers her big break. That show got her a gig in the first national tour of "Wicked," understudying Glinda. She went on to create the role of Margot in the musical "Legally Blonde" and play Jeannie in "Hair" on Broadway last summer. She also had a bit part in the first "Sex and the City" movie and is a recurring guest star on the NYbased Web series "Submissions Only."Current projects: Ashford is currently starring as Maureen, the volatile performance artist, in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent." While she was nervous about following in the footsteps of Idina Menzel, who originated the role on Broadway, Ashford brought her own experience to bear. "When I was in college, I knew quite a few performance artists who were working consistently downtown, so I've seen a lot of performance art," she explains of her new take on the bohemian lesbian activist. "I wanted to explore more elements of the physical. And they understood what I was going for, and it was extremely exciting." While her first love is the theater, she's excited about acting in all mediums. She'll appear in the much-anticipated midseason series "Smash" on NBC. "As an actor, I really would just love to work in any way that I can," Ashford says. "I've been given the opportunity to explore that mediumbecause it is so different from the theater, that's been exciting creatively. It's a different world. But the acting stays the same. The process stays the same. It's just a different medium. I'm partial to anything where I get to act." Endless auditioning: Like any actor, Ashford must deal with the unpredictability of the profession. "I always tell people that I have more job interviews in a week than most people have in their life," she says. "I think that's the hardest part about being an actor: You have to have the continual belief in yourself, in your craft." A self-proclaimed horrible judge of auditions, Ashford says she never knows how to feel after one: "When I auditioned for 'Legally Blonde: The Musical,' I thought I did a terrible job and there was no way I was getting a callback. And then I got a call literally the next morning saying I got the job in one audition." Always be creating: To keep her craft sharp, Ashford values her training. "Working in musical theater, it's like flexing a muscle," she says. She regularly takes dance classes and has kept up with voice lessons since she was 9. She trained in clowning with David Shiner while working on the Cirque du Soleil show "Banana Shpeel," and she has taken Bob Krakower's on-camera class and Craig Carnelia's musical theater class. "It's actually an important part of the creative process, to always be creating," she explains. Ashford's dream roles include Nina in "The Seagull" and Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "That's not going to happen for years," she says. "As an actor, your career is your whole life, or at least it should be. You can act until the day you die."Suzy Evans Hunter Parrish (Photo by Michael Muller/CPi Syndication) Where you've seen him: Hunter Parrish has been acting since he was about 6 years old but still considers himself a student, always willing to learn from his peers and veteran co-stars. Born in Richmond, Va., and raised in Plano, Texas, Parrish has guest-starred on several TV shows, such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." He has also appeared on Broadway as Melchior in the musical "Spring Awakening" and in the movies "RV," "Freedom Writers," "17 Again," and "It's Complicated." For the last six years, he has played Silas Botwin on Showtime's Emmy-winning drama "Weeds." Current project: Parrish is currently making his second appearance on Broadway, starring as Jesus in the revival of "Godspell," now in previews and scheduled to open Nov. 7. Though he's playing a biblical figure, the musical "is about love and community," he says. "People have their personal [ideas] for what or who Jesus is and what he means. I'm staying far away from that and I'm focusing on how much love he as a man had to offer and to teach other people how to spread their love as well."Breaking in: Parrish's interest in performing began at 5 years old. During a church service, he enjoyed singing alongside his family, and the next summer, he visited NY and saw "Cats" on Broadway. "I started crying," he remembers. "From watching people on stage moving, singing, dancing, I was like, 'I got to do that.' I wanted to be on stage." He soon took Peter Sklar's Beginnings workshop and starred in its end-of-term showcase, after which a manager offered to represent him. Parrish began working on stage and moved into film and television roles as he became older, though he never lost his affinity for theater. When he was about 17, he received the script for "Weeds." He was home in Texas at the time, so a friend taped his audition and he mailed it in. He heard nothing for some time and assumed the producers were not interested. Then he was told it was a choice between him and two other actors to play Silas, the son of a pot-dealing suburban mom played by Mary-Louise Parker. Parrish flew out to Los Angeles and won the role. "I guess they saw something," he says. Time leap: When he replaced Jonathan Groff as Melchior in "Spring Awakening," Parrish needed to play a character living in late-19th-century Germany. He found it an interesting challenge: "I spent a lot of time right before each show listening to music that wasn't necessarily from the time period but that took me from present day and focused me." He adds with a laugh, "I have a crazy personality, and my brain is incredibly scattered and needed that to bring myself down." What he's learned: "Trusting myself was the biggest obstacle, and still is," Parrish says. "Every time I sit down with any script, I read it closely and get into it, so I can see where to make big decisions and go for it, because that's what people respond to." Frank Nestor Andre Holland (Photo by Michael Tammaro) Where you've seen him: Andre Holland got bitten by the Shakespeare in the Park bug after his first year in NY University's MFA acting program, when he appeared in the ensemble of the Public Theater production of "Much Ado About Nothing." Last summer he returned to Central Park, playing Bertram in "All's Well That Ends Well" and Claudio in "Measure for Measure." He considers his first professional break after graduating from NYU in 2006 to have been the play "Blue Door" at Playwrights Horizons. "NY Times" critic Charles Isherwood wrote, "On the evidence of this blazingly good performance, I can confidently say that Mr. Hollandis an actor of some serious potential." In 2009, Holland made his Broadway debut in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," and in 2011 he received rave reviews for his work in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of "The Whipping Man." (Isherwood called him "one of the most engaging young stage actors of his generation.")Upcoming projects: This fall, Holland can be seen guest-starring on the fifth season of USA's "Burn Notice." The final episode of his short-lived TV show "Friends With Benefits" aired in September, and he is taking some time out now to work on writing projects. He's writing his first full-length screenplay, something he is "dying to do," he says. "I'm having a hard time finding the parts that I want to be doing next. I think it's up to me to create those opportunities for myself. Not only do you have to be a good actor, but you also have to be a good creator and care enough about it to go out and make it yourself if you have to. That's tough. But it's also equal parts exhilarating and exciting."Mama's boy: In Alabama, where Holland grew up, his mom was a champion for him and his two sisters, and she put him in a community theater production even though he was too young. "She sort of forced them to let me be a part of it," he remembers. His mother's "you have not because you ask not" philosophy has helped him throughout his career. "Be persistent," advises Holland, who wrote letters incessantly to the Public Theater requesting an audition that first summer. "If you want to do it and you know you want to do it, then knock on every door you can find. Audition for anybody that will let you audition for them. Really go after it."Permission to act: Holland didn't always have acting on his mind. He played baseball in high school and initially studied political science at Florida State University. Walking by the college theater building one day, he saw a flyer for a black theater festival run by Woodie King Jr. of Off-Broadway's New Federal Theatre. Using more of his mother's moxie, he convinced the department to let him participate in the event. "At the end of it," he recalls, "Woodie King Jr. caught me in the hallway and he said, 'Son, I want you to go home, call your mama, and tell her Woodie King Jr. said it's okay for you to be an actor." But he still wrestled with finding his place. While studying in London, he saw Adrian Lester in Peter Brook's production of "Hamlet," which changed Holland's outlook. "In my mind, I never put together [that] a black man could be playing Hamlet well," he says. "Seeing him do it really just broadened my horizons. It gave me permission to be where I am right now. To play in Shakespeare in the Park. Had I not been in that theater, I probably never would have had the courage to risk going after it."Suzy Evans Adam Chanler-Berat (Photo by Norma Walter McBride_Retna Ltd.) Where you've seen him: Adam Chanler-Berat created the role of Henry in the Pulitzer Prizewinning musical "Next to Normal," then went on to originate the character Peter in "Peter and the Starcatcher," the much-raved-about Off-Broadway adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's prequel to J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan."Current project: Chanler-Berat is now tackling one of the most iconic musical theater roles of the '90s, playing Mark Cohen in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent" at New World Stages. The show opened in August and has been well-received by critics and audiences.Big shoes: Stepping into an established role was not easy for Chanler-Berat after creating two originals. "It was a little shocking," he says. "It's tough. There is a certain idea of the role that I wanted to honor in some way." Having worked with Anthony Rapp, the original Mark Cohen, in "Next to Normal" (Rapp was the assistant director), Chanler-Berat was especially anxious to pay tribute to the character. "But I think getting caught up in that is just asking for trouble," he says. "And I think Michael [Greif, the director] was so gracious to let us really figure out who these people are."Born this way: "As clich as this sounds, I think it's true that you are born an actor, and I was born with this bug," Chanler-Berat says. "I tried to run away from it at a couple points in my life, and I just found myself back in its loving arms again." As a young boy, he performed for friends and family every chance he got. Every time a costume could be worn, he was in one. "I made a play about the Easter Bunny, and I'm not religious," he says. "And my family is pretty much Jewish. But I made up plays for any holiday I could. I've been doing it privately. Now I just get paid for it."Emily Cegielski

New 'Puss in Boots' Clip: Humpty Dumpty Has Returned Back Together Again

The 'Shrek' franchise isn't any stranger to fairytale figures -- Pinocchio, the 3 Blind Rodents and also the Gingerhead guy have made cameos within the series. Also out there may be the swashbuckling feline Puss in Boots, who, additionally to starring within the every 'Shrek' follow up, gets their own spinoff in the finish of the month. In 'Puss in Boots,' our hero will turn to take lower the murderous villains Jack and Jill. Joining the experience this time around around is going to be Humpty Dumpty, performed through the always amusing Zach Galifianakis. Within this new clip, we have seen Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) meet Humpty Dumpty the very first time within the movie. The 2 have the symptoms of a little of the tumultuous history, however, which Puss is extremely quick to indicate. 'Puss in Boots' hits theaters October 28. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook