Academy awards 2012: Because It Happened

In the red-colored carpet towards the last award..Thanks for visiting Empire's live coverage from the Oscar red-colored carpet and also the ceremony. We'll be leaving comments around the Academy Awards' best (and worst) outfitted because they arrive around the red-colored carpet - after which leaving comments on all of the those who win and nonwinners as they are introduced. Relax, grab a brew of the favourite beverage and relish the evening around....

Spirit Awards: Weinstein Near-Sweep: The Artist, Michelle Wlliams, Jean Dujardin, Michel Hazanavicius, Guillaume Schiffman

SANTA MONICA The Artist won 4 awards. But its distributor The Weinstein Company swept 5 at today’s 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture, Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Director and Best Cinematographer.Hosted bySeth Rogen, the 27th annual awards ceremony took placeduring aluncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.The Spirit Awards celebrate artist-driven filmmaking and recognizes the best achievements of todays independent filmmakers. This year the weather was cooperating: sunny and warm as the looky-loos lined up on the sand to snapa picture andgrab a handshake from their favorite stars arriving in afleet of black limos and cars. Seth Rogen opened the show by continuing the Spirit Awards’ long tradition ofprovocative standup,saying: “I have no fucking clue why were in a tent right now. There are previously existing structures where we could have done [the awards].You know you are at a class awars showif they have porto-potty.”… He notes how he’s “hosted a few Seders” before this. I dont know what the opposite of selling out is, but I want that to happen.” He tells the audience, “Im committed to watching all your movies. I made it through the first 5 minutes of every single one of them. Some start out slow, pretty fuckin slow. [He draws that out so its funnier.) ... Rogen lampoons Spirits for giving awards for Tallest Horse, Prettiest Pig"... He calls Spirits "the only awards show that is completely inconsequential. Nothing will come of this, absolutely nothing. It wont help you get paid any more. If anything, it proves youll work for nothing." Of all the four seasons there's no season like awards season. Without awards season we wouldn't know what a horrible bigot Brett Ratner is." ... "The Grammy's seem much more forgiving than the Oscars altogether. At the Grammys you can beat the shit out of your girlfriend and they'll ask you to perform. Twice." Rogen made fun of The Artist: "Didn't we learn anything from Roberto Bernini?" And he gave some backhanded compliments to George Clooney. "I loved The Descendants. I now know how George Clooney would look at a Jimmy Buffet concert: pretty fuckin sexy. You know a movie is good when it makes you feel bad for George Clooney." ... Rogen said it made him want to "hold him, caress him, undress him, then fuck the shit out of him." About the movie Drive, Rogen joked, "It made Jews look so scary I thought Mel Gibson made it... About the film Shame, Rogen noted how "Michael Fassbender's dick almost got the role of the knob in Albert Nobbs." Rogen went on to say, "Great year, I just learned there was another Olsen. The best one. Where were they keeping her?" Later, during the Spirit Awards show, Patricia Clarkson led a toast to the memory of independent film executive Bingham Ray who passed away at the most recent Sundance Film Festival: In January, we lost Bingham Ray. He was an independent film. He was gutsy, ingenious, a little out of focus, heartbreaking, unforgettable, and way too many curse words for PG-13. Please join me in a toast for this man that we loved very much. To Bingham. Thank you, Bingham. Wish you were here. Cheers, thank you. 2012 Film Independent Spirit Award Winners BEST FEATURE The Artist - Producer: Thomas Langmann Langmann onstagetalked about how hard it is getting film financing, thengave special thanks to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fremauxand The Weinstein Co's Harvey Weinstein. Backstage, Langmann was at first asked a question in French, drawing howls of protest from the English-speaking press. But the accommodating producer joked, I dont speak French,then immediately translated the question:It's about Harvey Weinstein, what is most important about him. [It is] his weight, he said, to laughter. I mean, hes big. And this is the end of our American career. He went on to praise Weinsteins tenacity in getting the movie made.”He came. He flew. We were totally unknown, and he went to see a movie that was silent and black and white.Our stars were not known here. He thought there was something that made it worth flying to come to see the movie. And he did, and here we are today. I have nothing bad to say. He called having this movie recognizeda tribute to Hollywood cinema,a dream come true. When director Michel Hazanavicius arrivedbackstage to join Langmann and actors James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller, Langmann deferred to the director. This is Mr. Magic, he said. SaidHazanavicius, There is no recipe to build magic, and credited luck and hiring talented people.He joked about the demands of constantly appearing atawards showsthis season. Its not the worst job you can find.People say you are nice guy, you are talented, you have a very charming French accent.And we have the police come to escort us from the airport. That was great! The director said he’s feeling a little stage fright for tomorrows Oscars. I can’t say Im super cool.But today -this is important too. This means a lot because it is a small movie, its not expensive, we did it with small money, and its black and white and silent.” But, with another apparent wink to Weinstein,”Small money, but his money,” the director added. BEST DIRECTOR Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist The Artist filmmakers just landedfrom the French Casar Awards and drovehere with a police escort (your tax dollars at work), according to Hazanavicius in his acceptance speech: “We just arrived from France five minutes ago. We came from the airport with a police escort so it was like a theme from Drive. As for independent film, you’re never really independent because you always need somebody.” BEST SCREENPLAY Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The Descendants BEST FIRST FEATURE (given to the director and producer) Margin Call – Director: J.C. Chandor; Producers: Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa, Zachary Quinto Chandor said backstage: “There was a tremendous concern inbringing this property to the screen and in shopping this around we could notfind the money to do it.There was trepidation about it.” Chandor noted that Quinto helped get his friends to take roles.”Castingwas always a big moving puzzle.But one by one, it came together.” Quinto said backstage: “The thing that actors respond to is material.When I read the script, it was unequivocally clear that I wanted to get behindthis project.J.C.’s affability, his ability to articulate his point of viewput actors at ease and disarmed them.I think all the credit goes back to J.C.Everyone signed on because of him and his screenplay. I just had to twist somearms.” Quinto said he’sproducing Chandor’s follow-up which is goinginto pre-productionsoon. BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Will Reiser – 50/50 Reiser onstage said he “had to give credit where credit is due — to cancer”. (At 24, Reiser was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Six years later, he got a clean bill of health andwrote afilm comedy based on his cancer experiences.) The best part of winning, Reiser said backstage, was being part of a “prestigious list of names, writers who have been major influences. To be listed amongst those names is really special. I had no idea how much the movie would connect with people, because it was so personal to me and the guys, Seth and Evan.” He was affected by “how it has really touched people and connected with people, especially people who have been affected by cancer who can really relate to it.”He added that winning an Indie award was especially gratifying because in commercial film there “is less and less room for films like these.” And if you thought cancer was funny, Reiser says his next project is a comedy about Alzheimer’s disease based on a vacation he took with his grandmother who was in the early stages of the disease. He and grandma mistakenly ended up at a Jamaican couples resort. “And I lost her,” Reiser said. JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD Given to the writer,directo, and producer of the best feature made for under $500,000 Pariah Writer/Director: Dee Rees; Producer: Nekisa Cooper Rees said onstage: “Anytime we can have two whiskies before noon is alright…” “Pariah is a film about identity,” said director and writer Dee Rees backstage. “It’s a universal concept that everyone can relate to.I only referenced one other film in making this, and it was Paris Is Burning. The filmmakers of that movie thrust you in, exploring their world. We trusted the audience and didn’t want to overexplain.This award is meaningful to me because Cassavetes is one of my favorite directors.” Producer Nekisa Cooper said backstage:”You make a film for a half a million dollars and you’re always a winner.It took a village to make this film –IFP, Sundance Institute, Spike Lee. Our D.P. built lights to try to figure out ways to make shots better.We shot in 18 days, and we had a creative and technical crew. Our production designer transformed a 4-story brownstone into 10 different locations.”Cooper gave this advise towannabe filmmakers: “Find a good producer. Someone who’ll support a good vision around your film.” Presented by Anne Heche who reminded the audience, “There’s no such thing as a small film. Just a cheap film.” BEST FEMALE LEAD Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn Williams said onstage: “I came here to the Spirits for the first time 10 years ago and I wore my own clothesback then, they were not very good, and cut my ownhair,not so good.But I still remember the feeling that in this room, unlike others, that was OK. Because this was a room full of misfits, outlaws, loners, dreamers, mumblers, dropouts, just like me. Thank you for supporting me and welcoming me and making me feel at home in this room and this community. All the way back then, and now, when the only thing that I own that I am wearing is my dignity.” Backstage, Williams said that her friends think, “She’s the Susan Lucci of the Indie Spirit Awards” after not winning for nominated roles in Brokeback Mountain, Land Of Plenty, Wendy And Lucy, and Blue Valentine. About each film, she said, “I’m lucky to work with better and better people.” (She did share an ensemble award for 2008′s Synecdoche, NY.) Aboutportraying Marilyn Monroe, “Sometimes I can’t believe I did this role. I had to remove the fact that shewas an icon and put that out of my mind. I tried to think of her as an ordinary girl, which is how she wanted to be remembered. There wasn’t one pathway to her. The only way for me into her was time, so much time, and letting Marilyn dictate and letting the information about her take shape, rather than me controlling it. The most challenging thing in prepping a role like this is going through whatevermoments you’re facing at the time.” Does Williams feel sexier after playing the bombshell? “No, not really,” Williams deadpanned. BEST MALE LEAD Jean Dujardin – The Artist Dujardin was not here to accept, apparently because the plane carrying The Artist‘s talent and filmmakers coming into Los Angeles from the Cesar Awards in Paris hasn’t yet landed. Penelope Ann Miller accepted for Dujardin. Dujardin’s brother Marc Dujardin was supposed to accept for him but couldn’t be found. (“Perhaps he’s out having a cigarette” the person who came to accept said…) BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Shailene Woodley – The Descendants Woodley said onstage: “To Fox Searchlight, Alexander Payne, and everyone in this film. They taught me tobe a better human being. I know that sounds so cheesy, but it’s true!” Backstage, the young actress who also stars in ABC Family’s The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, said she was shocked to win today over Oscar favorite Octavia Spencer — apparently not realizing that Spencer wasn’t nominated for a Spirit Award because The Help was ineligible. “She is such a nice woman, I definitely didn’t expect it,” Woodley said.”Im so grateful. I dont know if surprise is the right word. I think gratitude says it all.The role transformed me as a human being. I was surrounded by gentle kind grateful souls. Being on the film and experiencing it at 18 was kind of a catalyst for me as I was coming into my own.”As for herSecret Life colleagues, “Everyone is super stoked for me, it’s a beautiful supportive family.” She has no more movies in store and plans to continue to concentrate on the TV show, she said. BEST SUPPORTING MALE Christopher Plummer – Beginners Plummer said onstage: It’s taken me the longest time to realize the Spirit AwArds has nothing to do with booze. Pity really… I raise my glass to the dear Michael Mills who’s given me an extraordinary gift. Also to Ewan McGregor, that scene-stealing swine… Taking the microphone backstage, Plummer joked to a reporter motioning to him “What is it, do you want me to come sit down besides you?!” Despite all the notoriety this season for his role of Hal Fields in The Beginners, Plummer mentioned his role of Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music – something he rarely talks about.”My old persona seems to chase me around every year. Every generation of child has to go through Sound of Music. However, this film Beginners hasn’t been seen by a tremendous amount of people.By winning, I hope it helps this amazing film be seen again. I know it’s on DVD, but hopefully they’ll reissue it.” As far as what’s next, Plummer is going to do an HBOproject. “I’m going to croak any minute, so I have to keep going.” On how Plummer prepared for his Beginners role of an older man who comes out of the closet later in life, Plummer joked, “The whole crew was gay!…Actually, the director wrote a role with so much affection. I took the role because it was so human.”He had plenty of praise for his canine co-star in Beginners. “I think our Cosmo was much more human than Uggie from The Artist. That Uggie is just a trickster.” Later onstage, Goran Visnjic, who played Christopher Plummer’s young lover in Beginners, said: “I never thought I would get to work with the amazing Christopher Plummer, much less make out with him.” BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Guillaume Schiffman – The Artist Schiffman was on that plane carrying The Artist‘s talent and filmmakers coming into Los Angeles from the Cesar Awards in Paris and which hasn’t yet landed. Penelope Ann Miller accepted for him. BEST DOCUMENTARY(given to the director and producer) The Interrupters – Director/Producer: Steve James Producer: Alex Kotlowitz James already received a special distinction trophy for 1994′s Hoop Dreams. He said backstage: “This award means a lot for a film like this because it’s about urban violence in Chicago, and for this film to culminate with an award it means a lot.” The Interrupters tells the story of three community activists inChicago and the violencethat impacted the city. “Wherever you live, there are people trying to deal with this issue. The film was inspired by an article my producer Alex Kotlowitz wrote in The NY Times magazine,” explained James. “As far as being a filmmaker in Chicago, it’s a great place to be. When I went to Sundance, I was always asked if I was from Los Angeles or NY. Chicago is a great filmmaking and documentary community and all the filmmakers are close knit. We pull for each other. It’s the quintessential American city where you can tell every story.” James said he and Koslowitz plan to work together again, with an eye on feature collaborations. BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (given to the director) A Separation(Iran) – Director: Asghar Farhadi Onstage in Farsi, Farhadi said: “These must be independent awards because I’ve never received an award ina tent by the beach…” PIAGET PRODUCERSAWARD (honors emerging producers who,despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, andvision required to produce quality, independent films.Includes $25,000 unrestricted grant.) Sophia Lin – Take Shelter SOMEONE TO WATCHAWARD (recognizestalented filmmakerof singular visionwho hasnot yet received appropriate recognition.Includes$25,000 unrestricted grant) Mark Jackson – Without TRUER THAN FICTIONAWARD(presented to an emergingdirector of non-fiction features who has not yet received significantrecognition.Includes$25,000 unrestricted grant.) Heather Courtney – Where Soldiers Come From ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD(given to one films director, casting director, and its ensemble cast) Margin Call Director: J.C. Chandor; Casting Director: Tiffany Little Canfield,Bernard Telsey; Ensemble Cast: Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, PaulBettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, KevinSpacey, Stanley Tucci Zachary Quinto accepted the award and said onstage. “As an actor in this film, I have great memories. As a producer, every day was abig fucking nightmare. Like having two Oscar winners and their schedules.I will take these lessons less happily with me but with a lot of newknowledge.” (Deadline contributors: Brian Brooks, Anthony D’Alessandro, Diane Haithman)

NextMovie's Oscar Picks: Best Picture And Director

You'll find only a couple of days left prior to the 2012 Academy awards start, meaning the frantic last-minute Oscar predictions have began. MTV Movies and our pals at NextMovie are actually putting our heads together to go over who we be ready to win large as of this year's ceremony, the final two videos for that informed guesses to find the best Picture and greatest Director are actually revealed. Not remarkably, it seems like "The Artist" might be the leading-runner in groups. The little film that could remains both an important darling and well-received with the public (no less than for just about any black and white-colored quiet movie of a quiet film star), plus it seems fair to visualise that it's going to collect the primary Best Picture and greatest Director statues too. But that's not to imply "The Artist" might be the film that lots of warrants the Oscar gold. Click following a jump to look for the other films MTV Movies' Josh Horowitz and NextMovie's Kevin Polowy have to say on who got snubbed and who might be the dark equine champion. Considering MTV Movies Blog has manage a feature round the movies we feel should have had that tenth Best Picture nomination, it shojuld 't be an unexpected that there has been an acceptable volume of movies Horowitz and Polowy thought were snubbed this year. Where were "Drive," "Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," "The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo" and "Bridesmaids" when you wish them? For the most effective Director category, the primary one major snub that Horowitz and Polowy both made the decision on was David Fincher for "The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo." I still uphold the argument he was most likely probably the most deserving candidate for your Oscar a year ago, though he ultimately lost to "The King's Speech's" Tom Hooper, not to really score a nom can be a double slight against online assets suspense. Even though the most effective Director statuette seems like it's Michael Hazanavicius' to eliminate, the MTV duo predict that Martin Scorsese is most likely not ruled in the race at this time around for your amazing work he did on "Hugo." The MTV Movies team gets the 2012 Oscars covered! Stay with us for all that you should know just before the honours show, and also on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. ET for that three-hour red-colored-colored-carpet live stream and updates round the night's large individuals who win.

Nachmanoff Shooting American Assassin

He'll dominate the thrillerIt's all change for that adaptation of Vince Flynn potboiler American Assassin, as Jeffrey Nachmanoff has signed onto dominate writing and pointing responsibilities from Erectile dysfunction Zwick.The Love Along With Other Drugs co-author/director has dropped out because he will be too busy pointing Legendary East's The Truly Amazing Wall and CBS Films has made the decision it did not wish to watch for him to be shown.Now Nachmanoff will tackle pointing it which, although it's Flynn's eleventh within the series, flashes to stick to the origin story from the central hero, Mitch Rapp.It works out that Rapp have been a higher-flying university student and promising athlete until an emergency saw him switch career pathways and be probably the most devoted terrorist predators dealing with the CIA.No decision has been created on who'll play Rapp: while stars like Matthew Fox, Gerard Butler and Colin Farrell have been options once the film would be a straight adventure, the producers are actually searching for someone just a little more youthful.Nachmanoff has some knowledge about spies and double crosses, getting co-written and directed Traitor. He's been working behind your camera for ace US conspiracy series Homeland. And the script for Last Stand will quickly be on the watch's screen, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger because the small town sheriff who needs to cope with a criminal offense the almighty creating a bolt for that Mexican border through his territory.

YouTube Enlists Big-Name Help to Redefine Channels

CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) YouTube is enlisting Hollywood's help to reach a generation of viewers more familiar with smartphones than TV remotes.The online video giant is aiming to create 25 hours of programming per day with the help of some of the top names in traditional TV. The Google-owned site is spreading its wealth among producers, directors, and other filmmakers, using a $100 million pot of seed money it committed last fall. The fund represents YouTube's largest spending on original content so far.YouTube believes it is laying groundwork for the future. While the number of traditional TV watchers has leveled off in recent years, more and more people are watching video on mobile phones, tablets and computers, especially the 18- to 34-year-old age demographic that advertisers covet.The idea is to create 96 additional YouTube channels, which are essentially artists' home pages, where viewers can see existing video clips and click "subscribe" to be notified when new content goes up.Well-funded videos by a select roster of stars are likely to be more watchable than the average YouTube fare of cute cats and webcam monologues. YouTube is betting that a solid stream of good content will attract more revenue from advertisers, bring viewers back frequently and bolster its parent company's fledgling Web-connected-TV platform, Google TV.The cash has enticed some of TV's biggest stars, including "Fast Five" director Justin Lin, who directs episodes of "Community," ''CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker and Nancy Tellem, the former president of CBS entertainment.Zuiker is teaming up on a horror series for YouTube after observing his own family's behavior. His three pre-teen sons spend more time on phones, iPads and computers than watching TV these days."We want to jointly take the risk with YouTube and roll the dice on the future," Zuiker says. "The old regime is going to falter because everybody thinks the TV is the only device that really counts, and that's just not the case."For producers, it's a chance to create shows that are completely free of meddling from major studios. They can also stay relevant with a younger crowd whose viewing is moving increasingly online.Several new channels such as the extreme sports-focused Network A and Spanish-language Tutele have launched already. YouTube hopes to have them all up and running by this summer."This was really about galvanizing the ecosystem at large," says Alex Carloss, global head of original programming for YouTube. "We see the portfolio (of funded channels) really representing the best of TV meeting the best of the Web."YouTube isn't the only Web video service that has started to pay for original content. Netflix Inc. recently launched the original series "Lilyhammer," while Hulu premiered "Battleground." But YouTube videos tend to be under 10 minutes, instead of fitting into traditional half-hour or hour-long TV slots. And aside from a few guidelines, ultimate control is given over to the artist, including what is uploaded and when new episodes appear.YouTubers also get away with far edgier stuff than the middle finger that rapper M.I.A. flashed during the Super Bowl halftime show.Although YouTube's entire investment is less than half of what some studios spend on one blockbuster movie, about a third of the new channels were awarded to scrappy YouTube veterans who already know how to make it big online while keeping production costs low.YouTube expects to recoup what it spends on the grants by sharing ad revenue the new videos generate.At Maker Studios, which received money for three new channels, the funds have turbo-charged an already teeming operation that has about 160 full-time staff spread across several buildings crammed with props and computers in the west Los Angeles suburb of Culver City.On a recent visit, two scenes were being shot in an alley. One was for a parody of a Christmas movie trailer. The other was for a new series about a crime-fighting van called "Si, Es I, Pepe."Maker cranks out about 300 YouTube videos each month at a bare-bones cost of about $1,000 each.The studio's videos generate a whopping 500 million views each month, thanks largely to established hits that include Ray William Johnson's roundup of crazy videos and such viral giants as "Epic Rap Battles of History."Advertisers pay up to $10 per thousand views for video ads that precede the featured content, according to TubeMogul, a major buyer of YouTube ads for the nation's biggest advertisers including Proctor & Gamble Co. and News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox movie studio.Established YouTube partners share roughly half of their revenue with the site. So if Maker videos generate $1 or $2 in ad revenue per thousand views, it would just be scraping by.Maker co-founder Danny Zappin, who quit film school to buy a high-end camera to start a career on YouTube, says it's a "tricky balance" to keep the studio's share of ad revenue higher than the cost of video-making. The undisclosed amount it got from YouTube, on top of the $4 million venture capital it received about a year ago, lets Maker put up more videos without waiting for the views and cash to roll in."It gives us resources and runway that we wouldn't otherwise have," Zappin said.For other less-established players in online video, the money has given them an added reason to get involved.Former CBS executive Tellem teamed up with TV entrepreneur Brian Bedol to create Bedrocket Media Ventures, an upstart production company behind several new YouTube channels, including Network A. The funding "allowed us, or caused us, to focus on YouTube ahead of other platforms," Bedol says.Analysts believe YouTube has made a wise investment at a time ad rates for online video are rising.YouTube can be successful with just a few big hits think of Rebecca Black's "Friday" even if thousands of videos fall flat. It's similar to the hit-or-miss approach to traditional TV and movies."The investor community does not look at this as money wasted," Macquarie analyst Ben Schachter says.Since promising to share ad revenue with its most popular uploaders in 2007, YouTube has invested in original content mainly by paying for equipment and training new artists, but it was never as big as this.Backing up its new strategy, YouTube also revamped its homepage to prioritize channels and recommendations above just the most-viewed videos. The revamp allows advertisers to target popular channels or categories of content more easily.YouTube's funding plan takes a page from Apple Inc.'s playbook. When the iPhone maker launched its App Store in 2008, a $100 million seed fund created by Silicon Valley investor John Doerr spawned hundreds of thousands of new apps."Our developers are not software engineers," YouTube's vice president of global content partnerships, Robert Kyncl, told a convention in January. "Our developers are Hollywood stars, are online stars, are regular folks like you and I."If nothing else, the injection of funds will spawn content never before been seen on any screen, large or small."Fast Five" director Lin, who is teaming up with YouTube stars Ryan Higa and Kevin "KevJumba" Wu on the "YOMYOMF" channel, said his focus is not to try to find audiences with stereotypical Asian-American content. Rather, the idea is to give a platform to people who have unique voices but haven't been heard yet.He says Higa and Wu didn't follow any set rules when they jumped to popularity with a mix of oddball humor, brutal honesty and rap."They just did what they loved, and people came," Lin said. "If we're going to fail, I would rather go out with that philosophy."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Ryan Nakashima February 21, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) YouTube is enlisting Hollywood's help to reach a generation of viewers more familiar with smartphones than TV remotes.The online video giant is aiming to create 25 hours of programming per day with the help of some of the top names in traditional TV. The Google-owned site is spreading its wealth among producers, directors, and other filmmakers, using a $100 million pot of seed money it committed last fall. The fund represents YouTube's largest spending on original content so far.YouTube believes it is laying groundwork for the future. While the number of traditional TV watchers has leveled off in recent years, more and more people are watching video on mobile phones, tablets and computers, especially the 18- to 34-year-old age demographic that advertisers covet.The idea is to create 96 additional YouTube channels, which are essentially artists' home pages, where viewers can see existing video clips and click "subscribe" to be notified when new content goes up.Well-funded videos by a select roster of stars are likely to be more watchable than the average YouTube fare of cute cats and webcam monologues. YouTube is betting that a solid stream of good content will attract more revenue from advertisers, bring viewers back frequently and bolster its parent company's fledgling Web-connected-TV platform, Google TV.The cash has enticed some of TV's biggest stars, including "Fast Five" director Justin Lin, who directs episodes of "Community," ''CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker and Nancy Tellem, the former president of CBS entertainment.Zuiker is teaming up on a horror series for YouTube after observing his own family's behavior. His three pre-teen sons spend more time on phones, iPads and computers than watching TV these days."We want to jointly take the risk with YouTube and roll the dice on the future," Zuiker says. "The old regime is going to falter because everybody thinks the TV is the only device that really counts, and that's just not the case."For producers, it's a chance to create shows that are completely free of meddling from major studios. They can also stay relevant with a younger crowd whose viewing is moving increasingly online.Several new channels such as the extreme sports-focused Network A and Spanish-language Tutele have launched already. YouTube hopes to have them all up and running by this summer."This was really about galvanizing the ecosystem at large," says Alex Carloss, global head of original programming for YouTube. "We see the portfolio (of funded channels) really representing the best of TV meeting the best of the Web."YouTube isn't the only Web video service that has started to pay for original content. Netflix Inc. recently launched the original series "Lilyhammer," while Hulu premiered "Battleground." But YouTube videos tend to be under 10 minutes, instead of fitting into traditional half-hour or hour-long TV slots. And aside from a few guidelines, ultimate control is given over to the artist, including what is uploaded and when new episodes appear.YouTubers also get away with far edgier stuff than the middle finger that rapper M.I.A. flashed during the Super Bowl halftime show.Although YouTube's entire investment is less than half of what some studios spend on one blockbuster movie, about a third of the new channels were awarded to scrappy YouTube veterans who already know how to make it big online while keeping production costs low.YouTube expects to recoup what it spends on the grants by sharing ad revenue the new videos generate.At Maker Studios, which received money for three new channels, the funds have turbo-charged an already teeming operation that has about 160 full-time staff spread across several buildings crammed with props and computers in the west Los Angeles suburb of Culver City.On a recent visit, two scenes were being shot in an alley. One was for a parody of a Christmas movie trailer. The other was for a new series about a crime-fighting van called "Si, Es I, Pepe."Maker cranks out about 300 YouTube videos each month at a bare-bones cost of about $1,000 each.The studio's videos generate a whopping 500 million views each month, thanks largely to established hits that include Ray William Johnson's roundup of crazy videos and such viral giants as "Epic Rap Battles of History."Advertisers pay up to $10 per thousand views for video ads that precede the featured content, according to TubeMogul, a major buyer of YouTube ads for the nation's biggest advertisers including Proctor & Gamble Co. and News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox movie studio.Established YouTube partners share roughly half of their revenue with the site. So if Maker videos generate $1 or $2 in ad revenue per thousand views, it would just be scraping by.Maker co-founder Danny Zappin, who quit film school to buy a high-end camera to start a career on YouTube, says it's a "tricky balance" to keep the studio's share of ad revenue higher than the cost of video-making. The undisclosed amount it got from YouTube, on top of the $4 million venture capital it received about a year ago, lets Maker put up more videos without waiting for the views and cash to roll in."It gives us resources and runway that we wouldn't otherwise have," Zappin said.For other less-established players in online video, the money has given them an added reason to get involved.Former CBS executive Tellem teamed up with TV entrepreneur Brian Bedol to create Bedrocket Media Ventures, an upstart production company behind several new YouTube channels, including Network A. The funding "allowed us, or caused us, to focus on YouTube ahead of other platforms," Bedol says.Analysts believe YouTube has made a wise investment at a time ad rates for online video are rising.YouTube can be successful with just a few big hits think of Rebecca Black's "Friday" even if thousands of videos fall flat. It's similar to the hit-or-miss approach to traditional TV and movies."The investor community does not look at this as money wasted," Macquarie analyst Ben Schachter says.Since promising to share ad revenue with its most popular uploaders in 2007, YouTube has invested in original content mainly by paying for equipment and training new artists, but it was never as big as this.Backing up its new strategy, YouTube also revamped its homepage to prioritize channels and recommendations above just the most-viewed videos. The revamp allows advertisers to target popular channels or categories of content more easily.YouTube's funding plan takes a page from Apple Inc.'s playbook. When the iPhone maker launched its App Store in 2008, a $100 million seed fund created by Silicon Valley investor John Doerr spawned hundreds of thousands of new apps."Our developers are not software engineers," YouTube's vice president of global content partnerships, Robert Kyncl, told a convention in January. "Our developers are Hollywood stars, are online stars, are regular folks like you and I."If nothing else, the injection of funds will spawn content never before been seen on any screen, large or small."Fast Five" director Lin, who is teaming up with YouTube stars Ryan Higa and Kevin "KevJumba" Wu on the "YOMYOMF" channel, said his focus is not to try to find audiences with stereotypical Asian-American content. Rather, the idea is to give a platform to people who have unique voices but haven't been heard yet.He says Higa and Wu didn't follow any set rules when they jumped to popularity with a mix of oddball humor, brutal honesty and rap."They just did what they loved, and people came," Lin said. "If we're going to fail, I would rather go out with that philosophy."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Oscar Countdown: Sherak On Kodak Movie theaters New Title, Show Ratings And Star Energy

Word is CIM, the dog owner for your Hollywood and Highland complex where the Oscars are held has asked for the Academy of motion Picture Arts & Sciences Not to announce on air the honours come from the Kodak Theatre. Rather the Academy opening announcement will say it's being broadcast live from Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, California. “That is what the dog owner has asked for us to accomplish which we're gonna take action,” mentioned Academy PresidentTom Sherakduring a pre-tape of KABC’s local public matters show,Eyewitness Newsmakers (airing thisSunday). CIM remains searching for a alternative for Kodak which won the rightlast week to from theirmulti-big naming seek the theatre in which the Oscars together with other occasions for instance Cirque Du Soleil’s Iris occur. Once I spoke to Sherakover the weekend to discussprogress with this particular year’s showhere-stressed the Academy isn't associated with who'll take overthe title in the theatre apart from veto rights . He described they'd never restrain approval as extended since it’s not some completely inappropiate title which will clashwith the Academy’simage. Basically don’t be ready to hear , “Live within the Hooters Theatre , thank you for going to the Academy awards”. Sherakalso reiterated his previous statement that through the Academy is onlycurrently settling with CIMregarding where the Oscars will probably be held after next season’s show, but is at no hurry to find out. Clearly there's a lot of leverage since Kodak has attracted from the deal.”You would ever guess there is available a lot of interestfrom other venues but at this time around we are only talking with CIM,” according to him. Sherak states he's pleased with the direction this year’s Oscarcast, under producers John Grazer and Don Mischer, takes up to now however asked for if he was worried they might certainly can be found in second inside the ratingsto the Grammy Honours the first time ever.The Academy awards are routinely the finest rated entertainment special of year usually drawing an audience second only to the Super Bowl. They have never been usurped by another honours show but on February 12ththe Grammys came nearly 40 million audiences (second finest ever for your music show) due to interest sparked by Whitney Houston’s sudden dying yesterday. That’s more than several Oscar broadcasts in the last decade including a year ago’s considerably drubbed show. As well as, since obtaining a rooting fascination with the flicks nominated is often response to ratings, it’s a reminder sign that only one of the nine nominated Best Pictures (The Help) made greater than $100 million within the box office. Sherak was sanguine relating to this. “It’s true we don’t have $300 million movies but you'll find some real equine races. Look the Grammys was the most effective concert show I have observed in an exceedingly very long time. I seen it and i am not everyone else. It absolutely was a great concert. We are an honours show,” he mentioned with full confidence predicting a substantial tune-in due to host Billy Very andthose tightraces in much spoken about acting groups. “We are carrying out the most effective show possible. And Let me tell you our research signifies there are many fascination with seeing Billy host. I have stumbled upon a couple of from the show up to now plus it’s smart and funny and our new authors create a large difference.” He’s confident audiences will definitely stay updated for Billy’s opening in addition to their mission is to make sure that they are there for the whole show. One way they can do that's with comedy, much like Grazer guaranteed once i spoke to him soon after the nominations announcement. Among thepresentersnamed up to now are Will Ferrell, Zach Galfianakis, Tina Fey, Ben Stiller , Chris Rock, Kermit and Miss Piggy as well as the host, Very all made and also hardwearing . laughs coming. There’s furthermore a higher quotient of star energy among presenters too including Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston , Tom Hanks , Jennifer Lopez and Michael Douglas among others. With much spoken about celebrity nominees like Kaira Pitt , George Clooney and Meryl Streep inside the”Hollywood and Highland Center” theatre Sherak is content. “One factor is for several. We are not gonna have trouble identifying who to reduce to inside the audience,” according to him. Which he’s also promising some strong musical elements whilst I mentioned the producers have made a decision not to permit the two song nominees, Real In Rio and Guy Or Muppet be completed around the program, an option that triggered a sizable outcry on the internet. “It is true we won’t be undertaking the song nominees but that is not the first time that’s happened,” according to him . That’s true but one of the two occasions the tunes were jettisoned was the infamous Allan Carr-produced Oscars , generally considered the worst ever. Sherak states conductor Hendes Zimmer has created a great appear for your show which you'll visit a large orchestra pit the first time inside a few years. He's also excited that Cirque Du Soleil is creating a special “one time only” performance for your show while using greatest volume of Cirque artists ever collected together. Since Cirque also provides a extended running show , Iris at Hollywood and Highland I asked for when the appearance will be a tie-in and then try to mix plug that relate but according to him you've got nothing associated with another. For Sherak it’s full steam ahead and ABC is heavily marketing the big evening. Really each night now, Uggie your pet star of Best Picture front runner , The Artist is turning up round the network’s Because Of Due To Jimmy Kimmel late evening show to find the individuals who win in the top groups (he’s also recorded just a little with Very for your Oscars). On Tuesday’s show the photos in the five nominees to find the best Actor were placed on the floorwith hotdogs on top of everybody. Uggie went straight for George Clooney without hesitation , even missing their very own co-star Jean Dujardin. Is always that a sign? Hey, maybe the ratings would have the roof whenever we let dogs decidethe individuals who win as opposed to the Academy.

Friends, family remember Houston

HoustonClapping hands and swaying to gospel hymns in the church where Whitney Houston's powerful voice once wowed her congregation, the biggest names in entertainment sang along with the choir to remember the pop superstar at her hometown funeral Saturday."We are here today, hearts broken but yet with God's strength we celebrate the life of Whitney Houston," the Rev. Joe A. Carter told the packed New Hope Baptist Church after the choir behind him sang "The Lord is My Shepherd."Mourners including singer Jennifer Hudson and Houston's mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, stood, swayed and clapped along in the aisles as gospel singers BeBe Winans and the Rev. Kim Burrell joined with pop stars like Alicia Keys in paying tribute to the 48-year-old pop superstar who first began singing in the Newark church."You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime," said music mogul Clive Davis, who shepherded Houston's career for decades.Others were more mournful; singer Ray J., who spent time with Houston during her last days, broke down crying. His sister, singer Brandy, put her arm around him. Cissy Houston and Houston's daughter, 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina, clutched each other in the front of the row.Actor Kevin Costner, her co-star in "The Bodyguard" that spawned her greatest hit, remembered a movie star who was uncertain of her own fame, who "still wondered, 'Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?'""It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," Costner said.Filmmaker Tyler Perry praised Houston's "grace that kept on carrying her all the way through, the same grace led her all the way to the top of the charts. She sang for presidents."Stevie Wonder and Oprah Winfrey were among the biggest names gathered to mourn Houston, along with Hudson, Monica, Brandy and Jordin Sparks -- representing a generation of big-voiced young singers who grew up emulating her. Houston's voice, a recording of "I Will Always Love You," was to close the funeral.Houston's mother was helped by two people on either side of her as she walked in and sat with her granddaughter and other family to begin the service. Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, briefly appeared at her funeral, walking to the casket, touching it and walking out. Security guards said Brown was upset that he would have to sit separately from the people he arrived with, and left. A Brown representative didn't immediately comment.Mourners fell quiet as three police officers escorted Houston's casket, draped with white roses and purple lilies. White-robed choir members began to fill the pews on the podium. As the band played softly, the choir sang in a hushed voice, "Whitney, Whitney, Whitney."Close family friend Aretha Franklin, whom Houston lovingly called "Aunt Ree," had been expected to sing at the service, but she was too ill to attend. Franklin said in an email to The Associated Press that she had been up most of the night with leg spasms and sent best wishes to the family. "May God bless and keep them all," she wrote.A program featuring a picture of Houston looking skyward read "Celebrating the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, a child of God." Pictures of Houston as a baby, with her mother and daughter filled the program."I never told you that when you were born, the Holy Spirit told me that you would not be with me long," Cissy Houston wrote her daughter in a letter published in the program. "And I thank God for the beautiful flower he allowed me to raise and cherish for 48 years.""Rest, my baby girl in peace," the letter ends, signed "mommie."The service marks one week after Houston, one of music's all-time biggest stars, was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel in California. A cause of death has yet to be determined.To the world, Houston was the pop queen with the perfect voice, the dazzling diva with regal beauty, a troubled superstar suffering from addiction and, finally, another victim of the dark side of fame.To her family and friends, she was just "Nippy." A nickname given to Houston when she was a child, it stuck with her through adulthood and, later, would become the name of one of her companies. To them, she was a sister, a friend, a daughter, and a mother."She always had the edge," Jackson said outside church Saturday. "You can tell when some kids have what we call a special anointing. Aretha had that when she was 14. ... Whitney cultivated that and took it to a very high level."A few fans gathered Saturday morning hours before the service as close as they could get to the church, some from as far away as Washington, D.C., and Miami. Bobby Brooks said he came from Washington "just to be among the rest of the fans.""Just to celebrate her life, not just her death," said Brooks, "just to sing and dance with the people that love her."Others were more entrepreneurial, setting up card tables to sell silk-screened T-shirts with Houston's image and her CDs. But only the invited would get close to the church; streets were closed to the public for blocks in every direction. But their presence was felt around the church, with a huge shrine of heart-shaped balloons and personal messages that covered the street corner around the church entrance.Houston's death marked the final chapter for the superstar whose fall from grace while shocking was years in the making. Houston had her first No. 1 hit by the time she was 22, followed by a flurry of No. 1 songs and multi-platinum records.Over her career, she sold more than 50 million records in the United States alone. Her voice, an ideal blend of power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like "Saving All My Love For You," ''I Will Always Love You," ''The Greatest Love of All" and "I'm Every Woman." Her six Grammys were only a fraction of her many awards.But amid the fame, a turbulent marriage to Brown and her addiction to drugs tarnished her image. She became a woman falling apart in front of the world.Her last album, "I Look To You," debuted on the top of the charts when it was released in 2009 with strong sales, but didn't have the staying power of her previous records. A tour the next year was doomed by cancellations because of illness and sub-par performances.Still, a comeback was ahead: She was to star in the remake of the movie "Sparkle" and was working on new music. Her family, friends and hard-core fans were hopeful.The funeral is for invited guests only. Houston is to be buried next to her father, John Houston, in nearby Westfield, N.J. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Roush Review: Very Little R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Super Bowl Advertisements

Melanie Amaro If Melanie Amaro was pinning her publish-X Factor career hopes on her behalf Super Bowl evening Pepsi ad, only then do we most likely were not the only real ones who have been disappointed. Probably the most legendary component of her $5 million prize package, this supposed showcase (airing at the start of the game's first quarter) rather found her playing diva-licious second blueberry to Elton John's queeny king, a royal Simon Cowell taking great pleasure in plunging sub-componen entertainers via a trap door, crowing "No Pepsi for you personally.Inch No such fate looked forward to Lady Melanie, who shattered the throne's stained glass window while wailing a piece of her cover of Aretha Franklin's classic "Respect."Her high note seemed to be the ad's high point, because then she was known as upon to talk. Because the Pepsi Nazi contacted her having a "Pepsi for you personallyInch reward, she flatly responded, "No. Pepsi for those,Inch tossing the can therefore it outings a lever delivering His Royal Elton-ness in to the dungeon alongside Flavor Flav. Melanie's singing was fine, but her efficiency and presence instantly forgettable - much similar to the night's overblown ad selection.The impact of the better advertisements was largely blunted by lots of them being leaked and disseminated online ahead of time. What was once a shared and eagerly anticipated communal experience on Super Bowl evening, similar to the overall game itself, has been reduced, the web once more trumping TV on a single of TV's greatest nights. A night time which should seem like the climax from the Ad Bowl rather came off as anticlimactic so that as old-hat as Madonna's stubbornly stiff halftime performance. So kudos towards the Titans and Patriots for delivering a game title which had us glued towards the last play. If perhaps the marketers were as devoted to wearing an excellent show for his or her captive audience. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Eurekas Erica Cerra Expecting Her First Child

Erica Cerra Erica Cerra is pregnant along with her first child, People reviews. "I am so thrilled I'll be considered a parent,Inch Cerra notifies playboy. "I fall crazily for each other a little more each time my baby moves. Up to now, pregnancy is easy. Sciatica can be tough, otherwise I have been very fortunate. Ultrasounds are likely the most popular - seeing my child. It's all regulated controlled an amazing experience." See the relaxation of current day news The Eureka star and husband Raffaele Fiore, who got married in November. 2010, expect the newborn in May.

'Honeymoon' got married to Toronto run

Tony Danza will topline the tuner version of 1992 comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas," preeming in Toronto this fall before a structured Broadway run. Gary Griffin ("The Color Crimson") helms the musical, with tunes by Jason Robert Brown ("Parade," "13") together with a magazine with the Castle Rock pic's author-helmer, Andrew Bergman. Choreography is actually Denis Manley, a skilled Rialto dancer within the first Broadway-specific gig just like a choreographer. Project has elevated the works best for quite a while but recently acquired some momentum undertaking a Gotham workshop in October. Danza came out inside the workshop alongside T.R. Dark evening and Mary Faber. Story concentrates on a relationship-phobic guy who whisks his girlfriend to Vegas for just about any quickie wedding, only to offer the proceedings complicated having a gangster (Danza) who falls for your lady because she looks similar to his dead wife. Danza's prior Broadway credits include "The Producers," "A View Within the Bridge" and "The Iceman Cometh." Bergman composed the 1986 Rialto play "Social Security." Dena Hammerstein, Roy Gabay, Serta Farah and Katie Face Prods. produce "Honeymoon," considering a Toronto run in November within the Royal Alexandra Theater. Further casting and exact Broadway timeline be set. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Keck's Exclusives: A Kristen Wiig Variety Show?

Kristen Wiig, Saturday Evening Live I really like Kristen Wiig's zany figures on Saturday Evening Live. Would she ever consider doing her very own Carol Burnett-type variety show? - Jill, Colorado I really like that idea, too, but Kristen informs me, "I have never really considered it. You are the very first person to request me that, although Carol Burnett would be a huge, huge affect on me." Otherwise a range show, then how about spinning off certainly one of her many colorful figures right into a feature film? "I'm not sure if anybody want two hrs of them,Inch she states. While that's certainly the case with the prospective Lady, Kristen did bite inside my suggestion of the film chronicling the glamorous backstory of stage star-switched-game show flubber Mindy Grayson: "A Mindy Grayson movie," she states. "Oh, that's advisable!Inch Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Transformers ride will get Super Bowl pre-show look

Universal will tout the brand new Transformers attraction at Universal Galleries Hollywood within an immersive Super Bowl ad. After showing up in 2 Super Bowl advertisements this past year to advertise Paramount's third "Transformers" and Chevy's Camaro, Hasbro's robots have returned to hype Universal's new amusement park ride. A 30-second place starring Optimus Prime and Megatron will air throughout NBC's pre-show from the Large Game on February. 5 to start the ad campaign for Transformers: The Ride three dimensional, which Universal Galleries Hollywood opens in May. Universal Galleries Orlando similarly used the Super Bowl this year to produce its marketing effort for that Wizarding Realm of Harry Potter. Borrowing character designs in the film trilogy, the brand new motion-based "Transformers" ride will inform an authentic story and employ effects and three dimensional pictures produced by Industrial Light & Miracle to place visitors in the center of the fight between your Autobots and Decepticons. Franchise-director Michael Bay consulted around the ride that Steven Spielberg professional created. Spielberg, who works as a creative consultant towards the amusement park division, has additionally assisted develop "Jurassic Park: The Ride," the "E.T. Adventure," "Jaws" and "War from the Mobile phone industry's" points of interest. Universal Parks & Resorts licensed "Transformers" from Hasbro to produce what U is asking its "most ambitious ride ever produced." As the Super Bowl ad can give audiences an initial consider the attraction, the place will even launch the internet game PrepareForBattle.com. In the overall game, gamers compete to increase in the military ranks by finishing missions including exclusive videos, downloads and trivia. A great prize includes a vacation to go through the "Transformers" ride. NBC is charging marketers as much as $4 million for every 30-second ad that airs throughout Sunday's championship game between your Gambling and NY Titans, but U gets a price reduction because the "Transformers" place will bow prior to the teams hit the area. A trailer for Universal Pictures' actioner "Battleship" will have throughout the overall game. An archive 111 million people viewed last year's Super Bowl, ensuring Universal a significant audience, before the overall game. "In only thirty, thrilling seconds, we'll have the ability capture how exhilarating this mega-attraction is going to be if this formally opens at Universal Galleries Hollywood this might,Inch stated Ray Kurzweil, leader, Universal Galleries Hollywood. The "Transformers" ride may be the latest accessory for Universal's Hollywood amusement park, following the opening of "King Kong 360 three dimensional," included in its backlot tram tour. Park is making room to include its very own version of Florida's Wizarding Realm of Harry Potter. U rejected to reveal simply how much it'll spend to create the attraction, but the organization is stated to become investing considerably a lot more than the roughly $40 million it ponied as much as build "The Simpsons Ride." The same "Transformers" ride already is open at Universal Galleries Singapore. The project, which replaces the "Backdraft" attraction and Effects Stages, may be the second time Universal Creative, which designs points of interest for U's amusement parks, has joined having a major effects house on the ride we have spent with Weta Digital on Peter Jackson's "King Kong 360 three dimensional," which opened up this year. Intends to build the ride were first introduced 4 years ago (Daily Variety, March. 28). Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com