Chris Dodd urges tech teampup

At the SMPTE confab Wednesday, the MPAA's Chris Dodd spoke of Hollywood as a source of innovation just like Silicon Valley. MPAA chairman Chris Dodd spoke to Hollywood's foremost technical groups Wednesday and sought to portray showbiz as being on the cusp of innovation despite perceptions that it is clinging to outdated business models and often pitted against the interests of Silicon Valley. Seven months into his job as the leader of the studios' chief trade association, Dodd told the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers Conference, "There are those who would pit these two communities against each other in a manufactured conflict more reminiscent to the Washington D.C. Beltway chatter I learned to ignore on my last job. "To listen to some in the tech community, we in the film and TV industry are dinosaurs, they like to say, clinging desperately to a broken business model and stubbornly refusing to evolve. But this criticism, in my view, ignores a century of innovation in film and television." He said showbiz not only must adapt -- embracing technology "as our friend" -- but must "innovate in our own right." "The truth is, Hollywood and Silicon Valley have mutually benefitted from their partnership for a long time -- and one of my top priorities at the MPAA will be to grow and strengthen that partnership," he said. "We cannot survive without each other." He plans to visit Silicon Valley tech firms next month. Yet the MPAA, other industry trade associations and the guilds and unions are running up against some in the tech sector, including Google and Yahoo, in pushing for passage of legislation that would target websites, particularly those overseas, centered on infringing activities. The legislation would give the government more authority to block domain names as well as provide measures to choke off support of the sites from ad firms, payment processors and search engines. A House version of the bill was introduced Wednesday; the Senate Judiciary Committee passed its own version unanimously last spring. Google's Eric Schmidt has been a vocal opponent of the bill, citing free-speech concerns, and on Wednesday, the NetCoalition, of which the search giant is a member, said the House bill "will regulate the Internet" and lead to a "morass of legal and regulatory uncertainty." Speaking to Variety before his speech, Dodd said of Google: "I regret that they are taking that position. I think they are wrong about it. It is exaggerated hyperbole in my view. How do you justify providing a search engine for someone to go and steal something?" He said he would be willing to meet with Google leaders but said they are an "outlier" in their opposition, noting that both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO support the legislation. He said ad firms, search engines and payment processors that provide support to infringing sites act as "accessories" to content theft. "I voted for Net Neutrality," said Dodd, who ended a 30-year career in the Senate in January. "I never voted for the idea that because it was neutral, you could go in and steal from me. Where does that right come from?" He added, "When the Chinese told Google that they had to block sites or they couldn't do [business] in their country, they managed to figure out how to block sites." Dodd called on SMPTE to join its campaign to press for the new antipiracy legislation, part of an overall effort to try to engage the Hollywood rank-and-file in what has been up largely a policy matter inside the Beltway. He also called on industry donors to make the case for strong copyright protection when they attend fund-raisers for the flood of candidates who trek to Hollywood to seek campaign cash. "While the industry gets involved in causes that are about domestic issues, the environment, jobs, foreign policy, there has been a reluctance on the part of the industry to talk about itself, to talk about its needs," he told Variety. He added that when he was in the Senate, "I never felt offended when I spoke to some industry and they wanted to tell me what their point of view was. I respected that. They had every right to do so. I think we need to get the (entertainment) industry to step up and do more of that." When studios chiefs announced Dodd's appointment earlier this year, some expressed frustration that Hollywood had lost its image as a bastion for innovation and hoped that Dodd would help refine the message. In his speech, Dodd several times mentioned Steve Jobs as an innovator who understood the tech-showbiz symbiosis and noted that Jobs, shortly before he died, told Fox co-chairman Jim Gianopulos: "Don't let what happened in the music business happen to yours -- keep coming up with better ways to provide people with your content." Dodd said the industry was "threatened" by piracy but cited not just legislative efforts but UltraViolet, the system hatched by studios, tech and electronics firms that will allow consumers to buy a movie and watch it in multiple formats and on various devices. Dodd also spoke of better engaging young consumers to view content theft as harmful, saying that the industry's creativity could better be used to spread messaging and be as effective as campaigns against smoking and drunk driving. He even talked of "idea placement," in which shows like "Glee" could embed messages of the perils of piracy within their storylines. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Pretty Little Liars Star: A Completely New "A" Suspect Arises in Halloween Prequel

Pretty Little Liars Pretty Little Liars star Sasha Pieterse has two suggestion for audiences watching the Halloween episode: Take notice. "It amplifies evidence additionally to a different suspect arises," Pieterse states. "They is someone you haven't really considered before, or individuals who've, there is not much evidence to aid it.Inch Will Pretty Little Liars' Ezra get ready for fight against Aria's parents? The arrival prequel is told within the point-of-take a look at Alison (Pieterse), whose mysterious dying might be the reason for series. The first time, audiences will dsicover Alison outdoors of flashbacks. "It shows her vulnerable side ... and her first encounters along with her competitors," she notifies TVGuide.com. Pieterse, 15, elaborates: "Take notice [to] the initial opening scene. Keep searching at their surroundings. We have seen Alison's room the first time. Have a look at her room for a lot of interesting things inside.Inch Pretty Little Liars finale: burning questions clarified! An important element is Jenna's arrival to Rosewood. An amazing scene involving the two suggests that Alison once employed Jenna (Tammin Sursok) into her group. "Alison always hated Jenna, however, you do not define why which ties my way through. She wanted her on her behalf account side because she recognized Jenna had potential," she states. Pieterse states the information uncovered in Wednesday's episode will probably be addressed when the show returns for your partner of Season 2 within the month of the month of january. "The audiences know things from Alison's perspective that [Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily] haven't determined. It will get worse next and they're going to soon get together using the audiences," she states. Watch a clip of Alison and Jenna's first meeting within the episode airing Wednesday at 8/7c on ABC Family.

Mariella Perez takes incentive program to Hollywood

When Film District's "The Rum Diary," starring The Actor-brad Pitt, opened in La on March. 14, Mariella Perez, the film commissioner of Puerto Rico was one of the visitors. And no surprise. The film shot positioned on the area.But Perez also had all business within the film capital. She spent the majority of the week ending up in executives from The new sony, Disney, Fox, Relativity yet others galleries to provide Puerto Rico's new film incentives program, that has been around the books since March. The area has lengthy attracted Hollywood, getting located projects varying from Disney's "Pirates from the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," Universal's "Fast 5," Warner Bros' "The Nonwinners," ABC's "From the Map" (that Puerto Rico bending for Hawaii), USA Network's "Royal Pains," and HBO's "Eastbound and Lower." While making the studio models, Perez's intent ended up being to persuade decision-makers to increase their production around the Island much more. Throughout her whirlwind tour she spoke to Variety:Variety: How frequently would you visit L.A.?Perez: We come here more often than once annually, but this time around particularly we are marketing our new incentives program. What the law states which was in position going back ten years was refurbished on March 4, 2011, stretching not just the amount of qualified projects but getting rid of the 50% principal photography requirement, (reducing) million-dollar spend needs to $100,000, and including an above-the-line credit. Variety: How large a noticable difference may be the new law?Perez: It's more aggressive. The prior law incorporated merely a 40% incentive on obligations to citizens. This bill not just adds an infrastructure incentive, but additionally adds the above mentioned-the-line credit that people did not have before - a 20% credit on nonresident talent, including stars, stunts, extra supplies - everything that's on-screen.Variety: How lengthy will what the law states maintain place?Perez: Once we described towards the galleries, until 2019. Variety: Typically, that do you talk with in the galleries?Perez: Finance professionals - people in the budgeting and estimate departments. They would like to understand how to increase the credit and just how it'll affect their budgets. It's pretty informal. They request us questions like the number of deck hands will we have, what is the turnaround time on credits, how's it not the same as Louisiana, Hawaii along with other states. We did lots of homework to update our program making it more competitive.Variety: As to the extent does Puerto Rico also contend with other nations?Perez: A great deal. Another component that has led to Puerto Rico being more the main attraction is the fact that due to safety concerns for that cast and crew you are able to no more go shoot in Rio or Mexico City or Colombia how you could a couple of years back, therefore we double for Mexico and a lot of Latin American nations.Variety: When it comes to crew base, the number of large features can Puerto Rico accommodate concurrently?Perez: Two.Variety: How about soundstages?Perez: Regrettably we do not have soundstages yet. We now have groups thinking about building stages. But we all do have several government-possessed warehouse spaces you can use for filming. "The Rum Journals" did almost all their inside in 2 warehouses by which they built sets. Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

HBO Developing Merritt Johnson-Penned Dark Comedy With Don Johnson Producing & Potentially Starring

EXCLUSIVE: HBO is reteaming with Temple Grandin scribe W. Merritt Johnson, this time on the series side. The pay cable network has in the hopper a dark comedy project written by Merritt, which is being developed as a starring vehicle for Don Johnson. Johnson is executive producing the project with his manager Jason Weinberg and Merritt. The dark comedy, based on an idea from Merritt and Chris Carmona, who will serve as supervising producer, centers on a suicidal game show host, the role earmarked for Johnson, who is trying to avoid the downward spiral of his life while dealing with the headache of his family and work life. The project expands Don Johnson’s relationship with HBO where he has been recurring on the off-beat comedy series Eastbound & Down. The Gersh-repped actor did 2 episodes last year and will return in the upcoming third season to reprise his role as Eduardo Sanchez. In addition to the HBO comedy, Merritt Johnson has a drama in the works at Showtime about the Ball LGBT subculture, which he is writing as well as executive producing with Lee Daniels, who is attached to direct. Merritt Johnson, repped by CAA and Leverage, previously worked on the HBO half-hour drama In Treatment.

Academy awards: Michael B. Seligman Returns As Supervisory Producer

Beverly Hillsides, CA Michael B. Seligman continues to be named supervisory producer from the 84th Oscars telecast, marking his 35th year of connection to the show, telecast producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer introduced today. “Michaels experience around the Academy awards is unmatched,” stated Ratner and Mischer. “With his understanding of other nutritional foods Oscar and the diverse associations through the industry, we needed to get him to on we.” Using more than 300 major television occasions to his credit, Seligman is an expert in creating live broadcasts around the world. He presently is becoming executive producer for NBCs two-hour live show “The American Giving Honours.” Seligman has gained an overall total of nine Emmy nominations, including nods received this season for his focus on the 83rd Oscars and “Stand As much as Cancer, a multiyear fundraiser program which has broadcast on four systems and many cable channels concurrently. He's received seven nominations for his focus on Oscar telecasts alone. Seligmans other creating credits include “America Remembers This summer fourth at Fords Theatre “Americas Millennium, a 3-hour live New Years Eve celebration the NBC special “Funny Women of Television” and “Return towards the TitanicLive!” Oscars for outstanding film accomplishments of 2011 will be provided on Sunday, Feb 26, 2012, in the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and public live and eat the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation will also be public reside in a lot more than 200 nations worldwide.

Influential Hollywood Agent Sue Mengers Dies

Sue Mengers Sue Mengers, most likely probably the most influential Hollywood agents through the sixties, '70s and eighties, died following several small strokes, Vanity Fair reviews. She mentioned being 78 years old, however, many sources mentioned she was 81. According to Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter, Mengers died Saturday at her Beverly Slopes home ornamented by close pals, Ali MacGraw, Joanna Poitier (widow of Sidney) and Boaty Boatwright. Remember other stars we lost this year Mengers was produced in Germany and gone after the united states . States along with her parents in 1938 through the Holocaust. She started inside the entertainment industry in 1955 when she labored inside a receptionist at MCA, your William Morris Agency. She left the 2nd company in 1963 being a realtor and her initial few large clients incorporated Broadway actress Julie Harris and Psycho's Anthony Perkins. Until her retirement in 1986, Mengers labored at Creative Management Affiliate marketers and Worldwide Creative Management and was one of the pioneering female agents available. Her clientele incorporated Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, Cher, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Sidney Lumet, Steve McQueen, Nick Nolte, Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd and Barbra Streisand, who offered as Mengers' maid-matron of honour in their 1973 wedding to Belgian author-director Jean-Claude Tramont. (Tramont died in 1996). Mengers appeared to become the muse for your character referred to by her client, Dyan Cannon, inside the 1973 film All the Sheila. Mengers maintained a stronghold inside the film community extended after her retirement in the commercial side. "When she wound her career lower inside the eighties, Agent Sue increased being Hostess Sue-and he or she being more efficient in their new vocation," Carter written within the tribute. "Dinner at Sue's was like walking in to a Hollywood you imagined, but rarely experienced."

Much deeper Dark evening Increases footage hits the web

Starring Wally Pfister as DP and Christopher Nolan since the Guy, this Dark Dark evening Increases footage shot in downtown La may be the finest we view for a while.Bob Nolan's shoot presently consists of cop cars, Softball softball bat automobiles and moody shots in the Dark Dark evening wandering lower an alley using what seems such as the incorrect part of town (you'll be able to right part of town in Gotham?).Plus, awesome Gotham Police Department SWAT truck. Want!