Project X Sequel In The Works

And Michael Bacall talks Les Grossman...You'll know by now that to say we weren't fans of found footage party pic Project X would be like saying that the goat had a tough time of it in Jurassic Park. But audiences across the pond apparently connected with the movie, as it debuted this past weekend with $21 million at the box office. Now Warner Bros. has quietly asked co-writer Michael Bacall to start cooking up a treatment for a sequel. Actually, Bacall has been brainstorming for a few weeks now, with the studio and producer Todd Phillips likely looking to get moving on things should it have a bona fide hit on its hands. Given the low budget and lack of expensive stars in the cast, it was a much safer bet that many blockbusters.So what can we expect from Project X 2: The Pukening or Project Y (we really don't feel they thought ahead with the title, as there's only Project Z left after that unless you get into even crazier subtitles)? No one yet knows and Bacall's not saying. Given that the first movie was supposed to showcase the ultimate party and breached plenty of laws in its plot, it can surely only follow that with an apocalypse...Everything is open for now: it's not yet clear whether the story will include original actors Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper or Jonathan Brown, or move on to some other hard-partying teens. Perhaps they could go in a completely different direction and set the next one in a retirement home, where everyone goes off their rockers (literally) on tainted Sanatogen.In related Bacall writing gig news, the Scott Pilgrim/ 21 Jump Street scribe has also talked about his work coming up with a movie starring Tom Cruise's Les Grossman producer character from Tropic Thunder. Despite things being awfully quiet on that spin-off front, Bacall has been beavering away, working with Cruise to craft something that would show Les as a little more sympathetic than the blowhard cameo allowed."I felt really great about that from the beginning because I loved the character," Bacall tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Tom had an incredible idea on how to tell this story, and give it some real emotion and heart. And as soon as he hit on that idea, it was off to the races. But I feel really good about that project, and I hope that it will happen."According to Bacall, we'll be getting some explanation for why Grossman is such an arse, with an actual character arc this time. "The guy will be a force of nature, but we want to have some kind of emotional connection to him." When will we see it? So far, Bacall could only offer that he "hopes" it will happen. So don't start queuing at your local fleapit just yet.

China's film quota cracked

Dodd China's agreement to loosen its restrictions on foreign films will give Hollywood what it's wanted for years -- a bigger piece of China's exploding media marketplace. The decision to allow the importation of 14 more 3D or large-format films per year and a profit-sharing increase from 13% to 25% for foreign film companies is a major victory for U.S. negotiators, who revved up their efforts to seal the agreement in the days leading up to last week's visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. While the world has spent years trying to loosen China's borders to Hollywood, Friday's decision ultimately relied on 11th-hour dealmaking. "It kind of came down to the last few weeks," Antony Blinken, national security adviser for Vice President Joe Biden, told Variety. Blinken has spent the last week accompanying Biden on his trip to Los Angeles, where the VP played an instrumental role in getting leader-in-waiting Xi to help reach an agreement. Chinese box office surpassed $2.1 billion in 2011 and could grow to $5 billion by 2015. Analysts have said that even allowing 10 more films could mean half a billion dollars per year for major studios, so 14 premium-priced titles could return even more revenue than that to Hollywood. The film business will likely seek to open Chinese borders even further. "I think, overall, people feel like it's important to get movement here and then go back to the drawing boards and push for more openers," MPAA chairman Chris Dodd told Variety. Tentpoles such as "Avatar" and "Inception" will continue to be favored, but the agreement will also boost 3D conversions of 2D titles like "The Lion King" and "Titanic." "Given the fact that we're now going to have a new ceiling here, I think it incentivizes the industry to look at that format both in terms of new production and transformed product," Dodd said. The proposed increase in the profit-sharing percentage for foreign film companies was debated all day Friday. Blinken noted that in the morning, the number hovered just north of 20%. But the White House had wanted 27%, and Biden consulted with toppers including Bob Iger and Jeffrey Katzenberg to see what number could really work for the industry. "The only way we could move forward was if he could convince (Xi) to move to 25%," he said. Xi and Biden sat next to each other at a lunch on Friday, hours before the announcement, where both leaders took part in some last-minute dealmaking. "Biden leaned over to Xi and said, 'Look, we're very close to this film deal. It's a good deal for one of our most important industries and, I think, a good deal for China. If we could get to 25% we'll have a deal, and if you could do it while you're in Los Angeles, that would also be very symbolic.'" By the afternoon, officials from each administration began receiving word that preliminary commitments were to be signed, with the agreement officially set for inking the following week. With the potential for hundreds of millions more in annual box office revenue from China, execs expressed satisfaction with the accord. Walt Disney Co. CEO Iger said the agreement "represents a significant opportunity to provide Chinese audiences increased access to our films." "We applaud this breakthrough agreement and thank Presidents Obama, Hu, Vice Presidents Biden and Xi, the MPAA and Ron Kirk and his team at USTR for their tireless efforts to promote market access in the filmed entertainment industry," said Warner Bros. chairman Barry Meyer. Jeff Small, president and COO of DreamWorks Studios, said, "Chinese consumers are showing a high demand for quality American product, and this decision will allow them to see our films in their theaters with greater ease. We're looking forward to much more business in this fast-growing market." Independently produced films could also benefit from loosened quotas. "For the first time, through this agreement, there is a promise of creating a commercial foundation that will allow independent producers to participate more fully in the Chinese marketplace," said Jean Prewitt, CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance. On Friday, the White House said that the agreement "will allow significantly more job-supporting U.S. film exports to China and provide fairer compensation to U.S. film producers for the movies being shown there." Agreement will be reviewed after five years, and the U.S. can return to the WTO to seek relief. In 2009, the WTO ruled against Chinese restrictions on importing and distributing films, DVDs, music, books and journals, but in practice, the quota of 20 foreign films per year remained in place in China. Chinese leaders were concerned that opening up barriers would cause a flood of foreign films to wipe out the local movie industry. But some observers say that limiting the new increase to 3D and Imax movies addresses those concerns. "Most of the Chinese moviemakers, they are not making Imax, they are not making 3D movies anyway," Qiang Bai, CEO of 3D China Ltd., told Variety. Dan Mintz, CEO of L.A.- and Beijing-based DMG, cautioned that the new agreement looks great on paper, but it does not mean the market will become a free-for-all. "At the end of the day, every movie trying to get in will still have to go through censorship. If the government doesn't want your movie in, it won't. And just because a movie is in, it doesn't mean that it will be shown in all of the screens in China," said Mintz, who is overseeing DMG's $300 million fund to bring co-production tentpoles to China. He noted that China Film Group owns 50% of screens in China, and it is also promoting domestic films. "So, at the end of the day, anyone trying to enter Hollywood still has to have relevance as well as strong access in the market," Mintz said. (Clifford Coonan in Beijing contributed to this report.) Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

ESPN Takes Action Against Pair For Comments About Knicks Star Jeremy Lin

The sports network today said it has fired one employee and suspended another for 30 days following separate inappropriate race-sensitivecomments about NY Knicks guard Jeremy Lin. A third incident involving comments about Lin — who is Chinese-American, born of Taiwanese parents and was raised in Palo Alto, Calif. — occurred Friday on ESPN Radio NY but no action was taken because the commentator is not an employee. After the Knicks lost to New Orleans on Friday — the team’s first defeat with Lin, a Harvard graduate and free-agent point guard, in the starting lineup — ESPN Mobile ran a story under the headline “Chink in the armor”. The headline was only up for a half hour or so, but the editor responsible for it was fired. On Wednesday, ESPNNews achor Max Bretos made the same comment during an interview.Bretos has been suspended for 30 days, according to a statement released today on the ESPN website. “We again apologize, especially to Mr. Lin,” it reads in part. “His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community, including the Asian-American employees at ESPN. Through self-examination, improved editorial practices and controls, and response to constructive criticism, we will be better in the future.” Lin has been the talk of NY since his emergence, and even spurred Time Warner Cable and Knicks network MSG to resolve a 48-day carriage dispute that had kept the team — and Lin — off the airwaves in about 2.5 million homes in NY.

Cinemark names Tim Warner CEO

Warner Cinemark, the nation's third-largest theater chain, has tapped Tim Warner to succeed Alan Stock as CEO of the company.News came Wednesday from Cinemark chairman Lee Roy Mitchell.Stock, who has served as CEO of Cinemark since December 2006, plans to retire. He'll serve in a transitional role through May 1 before taking on an advisory role as a consultant for the company for two years."I am proud to have contributed to the company's growth during my 26-year tenure," Stock said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Tim and the management team to ensure that we effect a seamless transition and continued success for the company."Warner has been with Cinemark for 16 years, serving most recently as prexy and chief operating officer since 2006."Throughout our careers at Cinemark, Alan and I have worked closely to enhance the theatergoing experience while driving domestic and international growth," Warner said. "We thank Alan for his outstanding contributions to the company and for his initiatives to promote high standards across the industry and strong relations among its various constituents."Cinemark operates 448 theaters with 5,096 screens in the U.S. and Latin America. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Fox moves more MLB games to primetime

Trying to establish a bigger baseball beachhead on Saturday nights, Fox said it would broadcast MLB games in primetime for eight consecutive weeks, the network's most ever. The games will be regionalized, beginning May 19 with five possibilities including Boston against Philadelphia and Chicago's White Sox vs. its Cubs. Every team in the U.S. will appear at least twice during the run. "We're pleased that we were able work with our partners at Major League Baseball to develop our most extensive primetime schedule yet," said Fox Sports co-prexy and COO Eric Shanks. "Our hope is to increase viewership and by featuring so many teams, create additional exposure for the game's many stars so they become more familiar to a broader fan base." Fox began experimenting with regular-season Saturday night broadcasts in 2010, most notably in a game between the NY Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers that June. A year ago, three baseball Saturday nights in May averaged approximately 4.2 million total viewers. While ESPN has long offered weekly primetime games -- "Sunday Night Baseball," for example, has been in place for more than two decades -- this will be the biggest primetime effort by a broadcast network for MLB regular-season games in one season since the shortlived "Baseball Network" that ABC and NBC combined to attempt in 1994-95, an effort that was short-circuited in part by the 1994 players' strike. Before that, you'd have to go back to the 1980s -- prior to ESPN's first major deal with MLB in 1989 -- to find regular primetime MLB game coverage on a broadcast network. Fox's new schedule could impact local cablers and broadcasters, who aren't allowed to broadcast MLB games during Fox's Saturday window. Traditionally, teams have moved non-Fox games away from the afternoon window into the night, but presumably would have to reverse course during this eight-week stretch. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

The West Wing's Allison Janney to Guest-Star on The Big C

Allison Janney The West Wing's Allison Janney is set to guest-star on the upcoming season of The Big C, Showtime announced Tuesday. The Emmy-winning actress will play an ultra-successful Hollywood producer who wants to purchase Cathy (Laura Linney) and Paul's life rights in order to tell their story on the big screen. Other notable guest-stars coming this season include Susan Sarandon and Victor Garber. Pilot Season: Tony Shalhoub, Allison Janney going to NBC's Friday Night Dinner Janney, whose credits also include ABC's short-lived Mr. Sunshine, recently landed the lead in The Office boss Greg Daniels' adaptation of British comedy Friday Night Dinner. The Big C will return for its third season on Sunday, April 8 at 9:30/8:30c on Showtime.

VIDEO: Ellen Sends British Web Stars Sophia Grace and Rosie to the Grammys

Rosie and Sophia Grace, Ellen DeGeneres Meet the next stars of Hollywood. Ellen DeGeneres enlisted British web sensations Sophia Grace and Rosie, who have previously performed on her show, to work the Grammys red carpet. The young ladies, who became popular after a video of them singing Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" went viral, had a bubble party with Lady Antebellum and even sang "Moves Like Jagger" to Adam Levine. Check out the uber cuteness below:

Runaway cow heads to bigscreen

The story of a runaway cow that smashed through an electric fence and escaped to freedom in the Bavarian hills last year is making it to the bigscreen.Animation producer Max Howard, Munich's Papa Loewe Filmproduktion, Torsten Poeck of Munich financing outfit Clou Partners and U.K.-based writer-producer Kirsty Peart have joined up to produce the animated bovine adventure, "Cow on the Run," slated for a 2014 release.Raised on an Austrian farm before she was torn away from her calves and sold for slaughter, Yvonne the irate cow managed to flee and elude her captors for three months, outwitting expert trackers equipped with a helicopter and heat-seeking equipment.The producers are collaborating with the Gut Aiderbichl animal sanctuary in Bavaria, where Yvonne now lives in peace and far away from the slaughterhouse. Contact Ed Meza at ed.meza@mannaa.de

A Gifted Guy Boss: We're Very Hopeful About Coming back

Patrick Wilson and Margo Martindale Not able to CBS' A Gifted Guy can invariably be up in mid-air, but executive producer Neal Baer hopes the show has packed its remaining episodes with plenty of punch to earn another season.Convey more scoop inside your favorite shows inside our Winter TV previewFor starters, Friday's episode (8/7c, CBS) finds Dr. Michael Holt (Patrick Wilson) in the middle of a hostage situation after he testifies the youthful guy charged with wrongful dying and arson only committed the crimes as they was battling having a brain tumor. In their grief, the troubled mother (Robin Weigert) who lost a youthful child inside the fire breaks into Clinica Sanando after several hours and holds Michael, Kate (Rachelle Lefevre), Zeke (Rhys Coiro) and Anton (Pablo Schreiber) at gunpoint.Despite (or even because of) the drama, more recent and much more effective feelings will begin to emerge between Michael and Kate following a two shared a substantial hug in the last episode."That hug has some resonance for Michael," Baer states. "So certainly we have the element of that love triangular [between Michael] and Kate's husband carried out. It will get warmer."That triangular could grow a great deal larger round the Feb. 24 episode when Sons of Anarchy's Maggie Siff guest-stars as Michel's secondary school sweetheart, who's battling having a apparently irreversible condition. "It puts him to the toughest medical position of his existence," Baer states.Diane Neal to lawyer on the Gifted ManBecause Siff's character can be a pianist, the episode also reaches highlight Wilson's musical capabilities. (The Tony-nominated actor has completed in a number of Broadway shows, like the Full Monty and Oklahoma!). "We finally see Patrick since the talent he's,Inch Baer states. "He really sings and plays drums. He's capable of show his great musical chops."However, the season's penultimate episode may supply the series' finest moment yet. Eriq La Salle returns as Dr. E "E-Mo" Morris, and he'll be the first ones to really witness Michael's ongoing mention of the his dead ex-wife Anna (Jennifer Ehle)."No an individual's really seen Michael fighting or talking with Anna," Baer teases. "Possibly a few words occasionally, but let us say Michael were in the full-blown, outright argument with Anna and somebody walked in on that? How do you understand why? E-Mo walks in to a major blowout between Michael and Anna, and Michael has many attempting to show do. "10 bubble shows: Which will survive?Baer states the questions elevated with this experience will definitely be addressed with the season's finish. Plus, he teases that, inside the season finale, Tammy Blanchard (SVU, The Truly Amazing Wife) will portray a girl in need of funds a heart transplant who plays "an important role that literally breaks everyone's heart."However, Baer expects to depart some story lines dangling wishing returning next season. "There's plenty that you should for and question about, absolutely," Baer states. "You'll find certainly queries about what is going to occur in associations afterwards.InchAnd the way vibrant does the long run appear for your show? Baer is extremely carefully positive. "[CBS] really loves the show, which we've not spoken in regards to the future whatsoever except trying to merely do great episodes," according to him. "They're very encouraging in the show which i understand they like it, therefore we are extremely hopeful about coming back inside the fall."A Gifted Guy airs Friday at 8/7c. The best three episodes will air at 9/8c beginning Feb. 17.

Happy Birthday John Williams: 'Star Wars' Composer Turns 80 Years Old!

John Williams, the greatest film composer ever (and arguably the greatest living American composer, period) turns 80 years old today. Theres too much to say about Williams for this limited space, but here are a few stats... » Composed music for more than 100 films » Earned 47 Oscar nominations (including two this year for War Horse and Tintin) and five wins » Continuing collaboration with Steven Spielberg has lasted nearly 40 years » Claimed three spots on AFIs list of the 25 Greatest Film Scores of All Time, including the #1 spot for Star Wars Episode IV Along with his accomplishments in film, Williams served as music director for the Boston Pops Orchestra for 14 seasons and composed themes for four Olympic Games. In 2009 he received the National Medal of Arts, which is the highest award given to artists by the U.S. government. Williams name has become so synonymous with film music that its impossible to imagine a popular culture without him. Heres to many more years of memorable movie music to come! My top ten favorite John Williams scores: 1. Star Wars Episode IV and Episode V (tie) 3. Raiders of the Lost Ark 4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone 5. Home Alone 6. Schindlers List 7. 1941 8. Superman 9. Hook 10. Empire of the Sun Got a favorite John Williams film score? Let us know in the comments below, or give us a shout on Twitter!

Kerkorian on the prowl for acquisitions

Kirk Kerkorian, who bought and sold MGM three times, is on the prowl for acquisitions in the entertainment business, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal Sunday night, a development that could add a major wild card to the already complex and fast-changing landscape. In an interview with the paper, Jay Rakow, an exec at Kerkorian's investment firm Tracinda Corp., said the billionaire is looking at all types of deals including online film distribution, and in emerging markets. He said Kerkorian has hired MGM's former chief operating officer Charles Cohen to head the search and taken on Raine Group to advise him. There were no particular targets or dollar figures given. Rakow told the WSJ that Kerkorian's investment could include a technology company, a studio or mini-major. Kerkorian last exited MGM and the movie biz in 2005 when he sold the studio for $5 billion to a consortium led by Sony Corp. and including Comcast and private equity firms Providence Equity Partners and Texas Pacific Group. The deal didn't go well for the buyers and debt-laden MGM filed for bankruptcy in 2010. It emerged last year restructured and under new management. But given the high profile of the equity funds that lost their shirts and the large number of debt holders that were burned, its fall rocked the industry and some say is one factor behind the reluctance of Wall Street - private equity and hedge funds in particular -- to invest in Hollywood. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive The Woman In Black premiere report

[brightcove]1412779318001[/brightcove]Above, you will see a distinctive video report within the premiere in the Lady In Black, the Hammer chiller that delivers Daniel Radcliffe his initial role publish-Harry Potter.Around the options of concentrating on something quite different, Radcliffe states, "It's wonderful. It absolutely was very refreshing. Even on day one in the shoot, only to see my title alongside another character's title round the call sheet was wonderful."Radcliffe plays making it through lawyer Arthur Kipps inside the film, which he heads with a creepy village to remain the estate from the recently deceased lady.He's grew to become part of by Harry Potter As Well As The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 co-star Ciarán Hinds, who talks about coping with Radcliffe on movies.You'll find also contributions from director James Watkins and film author Jane Goldman, consider getting watching now.The Woman In Black opens on 10 February 2012.Read Total Film's The Woman In Black review.

Kinetic, Calamari team for 'Parole'

Kinetic Content and Calamari Prods. are joining forces on the new reality skein. First of all is "Parole," that provides understanding of the juvenile parole process and it is effect on youthful people, their loved ones and society. Calamari practical knowledge using the subject material, getting professional created MTV's "Juvies" and MSNBC's "Youthful Kids, Hard Occasions," and can access the juvenile justice system that couple of other shingles can provide. The partnership between Calamari, that is run by topper Karen Grau, and Chris Coelen's Kinetic Submissions are likely to include other projects. Before developing Kinetic this year, Coelen was the previous chief of reality giant RDF USA. NBC's "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" can also be around the Kinetic programming slate, together with "You Deserve It," which broadcast on ABC Kinetic is possessed by Red-colored Arrow Entertainment, a subsidiary or European-based ProSiebenSat.1 Media. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Rob Who Lives In Your House Trailer Arrives

Segel! Helms! Duplass brothers and sisters!After noodling inside the much much deeper area in the indie world for any very long time using the type of The Puffy Chair and Baghead, writing/pointing sister team Jay and Mark Duplass soundly cracked the top bigger awareness level with 2010's achingly sharp comedy-drama Cyrus. Now they're back by having an execllent cast together with a brand new comedy that wades over the line involving the bitter as well as the sweet, Rob Who Lives In Your House. The trailer's up at Apple.Rob (Jason Segel) is actually all accounts a directionless loser, content to lounge about inside the basement of his mother Sharon (Susan Sarandon) despite the fact that away his days on meaningless errands. His brother Pat (Erection dysfunction Helms), however, appears to own developed a existence for themselves, getting employment together with a wife (Judy Greer). But an chance meeting involving the siblings and siblings leads to details, fights then among the opportunity for the happy couple of these to bond. Specially when they stumble on Pat's wife meeting another guy...Within the looks from the, the brothers and sisters Duplass have develop another little made by hand delight. The film arrives here on April 20.

Noms searching for KidsPickFlicks honours

"Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," "The Muppets," "Diary from the Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules," "Mr. Popper's Penguins" and "Rio" will be the five PICK movie nominees for your sixth Annual KidsPickFlicks.com honours. Individuals who win will probably be introduced Feb. 20. KidsPicksFlicks offers children age groups 7 to 17 an area to see reviews. The web site was founded in 2004 by Cole McNamara at 9. While using KidsPickFlicks.com honours, kids election for favorite films and youthful stars online. "Diary" star Zachary Gordon also received a nom for PICK actor, and Madeline Carroll of "Penguins" was nominated inside the actress category. "Super 8" acquired two acting noms, for Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning, while "Dolphin Tale" was famous for thesps Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff. "Hugo" stars Asa Butterfield and Chloe Moretz are usually inside the running for your actor and actress groups. Also inside the mix are Dakota Goyo for "Real Steel" and Jordana Beatty for "Judy Moody as well as the Not Bummer Summer season." Inside the ICK movie category, through which kids select the photos that disappointed them, the nominees are "Eco-friendly Lantern," "Hugo," "Monte Carlo," "Red-colored-colored Riding Hood" and "Three Musketeers." The youthful theps nominated for Scene Stealer are Jonah Bobo ("Crazy Stupid Love), Colin Ford ("We Bought a Zoo"), Kerris Dorsey ("Moneyball"), Bailee Madison ("Pass Using ItInch) and Boo Boo Stewart ("The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning"). Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Best Laid Plans Trailer Online

Stephen Graham joins the ideal gameWe don't cover many British crime dramas around these parts, but the presence of Stephen "27%-er" Graham introduced that certain towards the attention. In Best Laid Plans, Graham plays a man in hock to gangsters and expected to steer uncle Ernest (The Thing's Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) through numerous unlicensed cage fights to have the ability to pay them.We'd say "that's what pals are for", except we're confident it's not. Clearly, the circumstances in which the two finish up puts a significant severe force on their friendship.Director David Blair is presently putting the finishing touches on Best Laid Plans. The cruel-as-tungsten Brit thriller will probably be in cinemas on February 3, and also on DVD and Blu-ray on February 20.

30 Rock to Address Kim Jong-Il's Death in Season 6

30 Rock Kim Jong-Il's death has sent the 30 Rock writers' room into a frenzy. Last season, Jack's wife Avery (Elizabeth Banks) was kidnapped in North Korea while on assignment, and forced to marry Jong-Il's son. Executive producer Robert Carlock says Jong-Il's death will eventually be addressed, but not until later in the season. Check out the rest of today's news "We sort of went back to the script, because we'd already shot eight or nine episodes, and we realized that luckily we hadn't referred to Kim Jong-Il by name yet - just to North Korea in general," Carlock told US Weekly. "We can't go back and address the changes there, but the fun puzzle is turning around and trying to figure out how to get her out of there and how to continue things." Carlock says they're looking at the possibility of having Margaret Cho reprise her role as North Korea's late leader, who died in December. "Maybe we'll have to have Margaret Cho showing up again having faked her death, because she wants to get a gig on a morning talk show," he said.

Is 'We Purchased a Zoo' So Sappy It Is Good? (And 24 Other Urgent Questions)

On Friday, a tale in regards to a family buying a zoo comes to theaters using the daring and bold title of 'We Purchased a Zoo.' Matt Damon ('The Rainmaker') stars as Benjamin Mee, a parent of two who buys the titular zoo. Is 'We Purchased a Zoo' so sappy it's good? Or are you going to drown within the sap and die? Like a service, we answer every question you could possibly have about 'We Purchased a Zoo.' Q: The number of occasions have you cry throughout 'We Purchased a Zoo'? A: Wait, what? Cry? I certainly did not "cry" throughout 'We Purchased a Zoo.' Q: So you are stating that you didn't, at any time, cry throughout 'We Purchased a Zoo'? A: OK, look, "cry" is really a powerful term... Q: Did moisture form within the general vicinity of the eyes at any time throughout 'We Purchased a Zoo'? A: Two times. (Also, I am only human.) Q: What's 'We Purchased a Zoo' about? A: It comes down to a current widower named Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) who purchases a zoo. Q: Wait, Benjamin Mee purchases that seventies PBS show? The main one using the kids within the candy striped t shirts? A: You are considering 'Zoom.' Q: How come Benjamin Mee purchase a zoo? A: Following the dying of his wife, Benjamin feels that the change is required -- especially following the bizarre behavior of his boy, Dylan (Colin Ford) -- and decides to maneuver. An ideal house is found, but, alas, additionally, it features a zoo. Q: What type of bizarre behavior? A: Dylan just been eliminated from his school for stealing and it has a inclination to attract pictures of decapitated physiques. Q: Did Matt Damon's wife in 'We Purchased a Zoo' died from Meningoencephalitis Virus One? A: No. The occasions that happened throughout 'Contagion' do not have anything related to the plot of 'We Purchased a Zoo.' Q: So how exactly does Benjamin Mee afford a zoo? Does he possess a high having to pay job? A: Really, he just quit his job like a journalist. Q: Even without giving up your work, would you afford a zoo? A: I am lucky to pay for Zoo Animal Crackers at this time. Fortunately for Benjamin Mee, he's a household inheritance. Q: Does Benjamin's family enjoy possessing a zoo? A: Benjamin's daughter, Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Johnson), is immediately smitten using the zoo. Dylan, however, is under thrilled and misses his buddies. But Dylan does create a crush on among the zoo's employees, Lily (Elle Fanning). Q: Who wouldn't wish to own a zoo? A: Me. Most likely you. Q: OK, what idealistic movie character wouldn't wish to own a zoo? A: The issue using this zoo is the fact that it isn't presently functioning and it is hemorrhaging money. So, with Mee's purchase, younger crowd needs to invest much more of their own time and expense into rebuilding the zoo -- and having to pay the salaries from the zoo's staff. Q: Does Kevin James, as Benjamin's zookeeper, keep your mood light -- even just in occasions of monetary despair? A: Kevin James isn't in 'We Purchased a Zoo.' You are considering 'Zookeeper.' Scarlett Johansson ('The Perfect Score') plays the zookeeper in 'We Purchased a Zoo.' Q: Should you needed to hire either Kevin James or Scarlet Johansson as the zookeeper, whom can you choose? A: This really is tough. Johansson's Kelly Promote appears better qualified, but James' Griffin Keyes is more amusing as he falls lower. I simply have no idea. Q: That which was the greatest surprise in 'We Purchased a Zoo'? A: It is good seeing Patrick Fugit in another Cameron Crowe movie, but, boy, did he get really tall since 'Almost Famous.' Q: Is 'We Purchased a Zoo' a great movie? A: Under most definitions from the word "good," I'd need to state that, no, it isn't particularly "good." Nevertheless its relentless goody-goody earnestness will win you over. It's really humanly impossible to face up to. Q: Must I see 'We Purchased a Zoo'? A: Sure, why don't you? Just make certain to create a tissue to wipe all the sap from the face. Honestly, this is actually the Gallagher of sappy movies -- people right in front row ought to be needed to defend themselves with plastic tarps. Q: Whether it's the Gallagher of sappy movies, must i also expect some racist and homophobic jokes? A: No, I had been just making an outdated mention of the the man who accustomed to smash watermelons having a hammer. Forget I pointed out that. Q: Is 'We Purchased a Zoo' probably the most serious movie being released a few days ago? A: Unbelievably, it isn't. 'War Horse' takes that one title. Q: What is the best factor about 'We Purchased a Zoo'? A: The background music. I am talking about, this can be a Cameron Crowe movie, in the end. Q: If there ever is really a follow up to 'We Purchased a Zoo,' what exactly are three possibly game titles? A: 'We Own a Zoo,' 'We Offered Our Zoo,' and 'We Purchased a Zoo 2: Goat Protocol.' Q: Do you know the odds that you simply lose your work over because you just authored what 'We Purchased a Zoo 2: Goat Protocol'? A: Forty-5 % chance. Q: Is either J.B. Smoove or Ken Jeong within this movie? A: Yes. Q: If I am in a party and I am requested what my opinions of 'We Purchased a Zoo' are, despite the fact that I've not seen 'We Purchased a Zoo', what should I only say? A: "Yes, this can be a sappy movie there's without doubt about this. Look, Nigel*, I understand this can be a cynical world, but Matt Damon's performance left me wanting that, a minimum of, every occasionally, we are able to just all take the time and relish the things in existence that people will have. For something new." (*I required the freedom of presuming that you'll be speaking having a guy named Nigel.) You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter [Photo: Fox] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Bond Producer Wants Difficulties For Five More Movies

Hey, if he ain't broke, why cast another Bond? Producer Michael G. Wilson desires to take that position if the involves Difficulties since the legendary super spy. In the recent interview with people Uk, Wilson states he hopes to keep the newest Bond around for just about any record-breaking eight movies. With Craig presently filming his third Bond movie, "Skyfall," which will mean five more movies to destroy the record set by Roger Moore. "Filming went perfectly up to now and Id love Daniel to exceed Rogers record and do eight pictures," Wilson told People. "Daniels been an entire pleasure to get along with as they takes the role so seriously. Theres really nobody more passionate about creating these films work than him hes a film makers dream." Producer and star have observed no discussions about damaging the record, and Wilson mentioned that talks would only happen once Craig wrapped on "Skyfall." "Lots of people have mentioned Daniels been their favourite Bond since Sean Connery which i cant argue together. Hes doing an admirable job,In . Wilson mentioned. Producer also spoke about why he's so excited for "Skyfall." According to Wilson, Craig and director Mike Mendes are pointing a kind of Bond which has not been around lately. "The director Mike Mendes and Daniel go to some 60s feel more Sean. In my opinion that's exactly what the fans wanted," Wilson mentioned. "There's an enchanting 'Goldfinger' feel surrounding everything. It's all regulated controlled thrilling. I am unable to watch out for people to start to see the movie because In my opinion we're developing a special Bond." Aside from hosting the initial Bond film since 2008's "Quantum of Solace," next season also marks the 50th anniversary in the classic series. To commemorate the momentous occassion, Wilson would ideally would rather gather all of the males who've carried out Bond formerly. "We'd enjoy to acquire all six together. We're searching for a technique for fans to celebrate around because they've been the primary reason the written text films are actually the success they have,Inch he mentioned. Would you like to see Difficulties in five more Bond movies after "Skyfall"? Inform us inside the comments below and also on Twitter!

David Fincher on 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' and Working on 'Return of the Jedi'

David Fincher is not happy with the trailer for his new movie, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.' He feels it gives off too much of an 'Inception' vibe, which is not conducive to the movie that he made. "I had screaming fights with Sony," he admits. His opinionated stance wasn't always the case. "I was much more collaborative then," Fincher reflected when discussing some of the concessions he made while shooting a George Michael video in the early 1990s. Today, Fincher has a reputation for being the feisty director of some of the most stylized films of the last 16 years -- from 'Se7en' to 'The Social Network' -- and he doesn't particularly like doing press, which, when you're sitting in a room with Fincher, is evident. Not in any sort of "I'm above this" disposition. What I found was a genuinely interesting person who, at least in this type of situation, could almost be described as shy. Fincher was manic at times, restrained at others, but always full of surprises. Put it this way: during the course of this interview, I certainly didn't expect to hear Fincher do an impression of Scooby-Doo. Yet I did. Three times. In 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,' Fincher gives us his version of Stieg Larsson's now famous Swedish best-seller. The story of, as Fincher was told, "a bisexual hacker in Stockholm who rides a motorcycle and fights misogyny and Nazis," is a pretty unlikely story to be translated into a Christmastime blockbuster -- but here we are. Fincher explained how 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' came to his attention in the first place (and how a certain Enya song will now forever be associated with one of the more horrific scenes from this movie), reflected on some of his more popular music videos -- which include artists Rich Springfield, Billy Idol and George Michael -- and broke down exactly what his job was on the set of 'Return of the Jedi.' [Warning: some spoilers about 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' follow] I was told you weren't eating lunch and I felt bad, but I'm happy to see that you are eating something. No, no. Never feel bad. Certainly one only need to take one quick look at me and know that I'm well fed. What are you talking about? You appear to be a very much in-shape person. Hardly. This is what happens when you watch a TV for a living. I've had Enya stuck in my head for the last week. I'm not sure whether to be happy or upset about that. Well, let's say that you had Enya stuck in your head for the right reasons. And nothing against "Orinoco Flow"... It's funny, we were sitting in a hotel room -- ironically just like this one, because it was a sister hotel in Soho. And we were saying that Martin [Stellan Skarsgard's character] should be this audiophile. But what song should he play? And Daniel Craig piped up and said, "Orinoco Flow!" And everyone in the room was like, "What is he talking about?" And he says, "No, no, no, and he went and grabbed his iPod [at this point Fincher runs across the room to simulate Craig's actions] and he went, "play." And we all just burst into laughter. I didn't know that's what it's called. If he had said "Sail Away"... I enjoyed that you acted that out for me. I felt like I was there. The funny thing was with his scamper across the room ... he was so pleased. I would have never guessed that song idea came from him. Daniel Craig is a fucking funny man. Before you got involved with this, what did you know about the books? Nothing. In 2005 or 2006 I was trying to get 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' made. Kathy Kennedy brought me an English language translation of the first book and said, "I want you to read this." I said, "Kathy, it's 600 pages. I don't have time to read a 600-page book right now. Tell me what it's about." She says, "It's about a bisexual hacker in Stockholm, rides a motorcycle and fights misogyny and Nazis." And I said, "Why are you doing this to me? I'm not getting this movie made." So I didn't read the book. And it was my bad and it was stupid and I apologized to her many, many times. But, five years later, the book has sold 25 million copies and a Swedish language movie was about to come out. I had just finished 'The Social Network' and I turned the movie in and Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal came to me and said, "We're making this movie. We want it to come out next Christmas. Can you do it after you finish 'The Social Network'? I read the book and I thought, Oh my God, what do you cut? You changed some things from the book. What didn't you like that you felt needed to be changed? Well, we needed to distill it as much as possible. I mean, how many Vangers can you keep in your mind at any given time. I mean, why see flashbacks when a film had already been made where you don't see the flashbacks? I like putting a face to Harriet. I like living through that day and seeing what Sweden was like in 1966. I liked all of those things that Steig chose to do and I like how it made this odd parallel between the girl who didn't fight back -- the girl who ran -- and the girl who does fight back. Also, in the Swedish version, when Henrick Vanger shows Mikael the flowers that he assumes are coming from the killer, I remember my first thought was, Why does it have to be the killer? I didn't feel that way with your version. It felt more subtle. Well, you don't know when you're reading subtitles, you don't know if that's how it plays out. I have seen interviews that I've given in Sweden, written in Swedish, and translated back into English and I don't recognize what I'm saying. So I think a lot gets lost in translation. There may be that kind of subtlety, I don't know. I know in the translation into English of the Swedish film I think there's some stuff in it that you go, "Why would you put it that way?" But I only saw it once. Now you've made two movies in a row in which watching people type on a computer is somehow enthralling. All day at work I watch people typing: not exciting at all. That seems like a very monotonous thing to do... [Laughs] Incredibly monotonous. Well, it's also ... Look, you just have a rule of thumb: It's got to be as short as you can possibly make it and make the point. And you have to ask yourself, "Am I asking the audience to conclude something from what they've seen? Or am I asking them to simply watch somebody who's masterful at interfacing with this technology?" If I have to have something take place on a screen and then I have to make it land -- it has to drop nine stories and land on its feet -- I've got to go to somebody's reaction. And as goofy as it is to ask actors over a 140 day shoot, or whatever, to go, "I need another Scooby-Doo"... Scooby-Doo? We'd call them Scooby-Doos [in a Scooby-Doo voice], "Huh?" You know, "We're going to need a Scooby-Doo from you here!" I just heard David Fincher do a Scooby-Doo impression. Yeah. But we were joking about that on the set and Rooney would be there and she'd ask, "At the end, do I [in a Scooby-Doo voice] 'Huh?'" And I'd be like, "Yeah, you've got to Scooby-Doo the ending." I'll never watch those scenes the same again. You have to ask yourself what you're doing, and then you have to go and get the pieces that it's going to take to do that. You had a quote recently where you said... Holy shit. I don't even know if it's true. You mentioned how if it were up to you, you wouldn't screen movies early. You're David Fincher, couldn't you just not screen them if you don't want to? I just assumed it was up to you. We didn't screen this movie. We didn't screen 'The Social Network,' we didn't go to a mall and recruit an audience and show it to them. We didn't. But you screened it for press. I was under the impression that's what you were talking about. No. I'm talking about the whole thing. I don't have it in for [NYer critic] David Denby [who ran a review early, breaking studio embargo]. I don't really care. I agree. That whole thing was nonsense. I just thought what you said about not screening movies early was interesting. What I care about is, in this day and age -- to the extent that this has bothered me in the past and to the extent that it has had to be addressed with me by other people -- I have had to sit with people from Sony and Scott Rudin's people who will show you studies done at major universities as to whether or not spoilers are bad. And the work being done now in that area would lead you to believe that spoilers don't actually hurt a movie to go in and experience. And part of this has to do with Pavlovian response people have to movie that have "2s" and "3s" after them. We're trying to turn audio and visual content into fast food. How has that affected you? The reason all trailers look the same ... you know, I had screaming fights with Sony. I loved the trailer for 'Inception.' I just don't want to make the trailer for 'Inception.' I appreciate what it was, but I don't want my trailer to go, "Whomb ... Whomb!" I feel that's their thing. They did it beautifully, more power to them. They branded a sound. They branded a way of this sort of throbbing call to action. Great. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is not that. It's a very different thing. You know, it's a much different experience. And I felt like we had bequeathed them when we handed over Karen O singing 'Immigrant Song' in this drive up to the Vanger manor in the snow and this flash cutting of sort of the highlight scenes from book you may love. There are similarities between the 'Inception' trailer and the first 'Dragon Tattoo' trailer. We had sort of given them a roadmap. Then when the trailer started being cut, all of a sudden it was 'Inception' and the television spots look like 'Inception.' Part of that is just the world that we live in. There's this wanting to make the promise of a Friday night experience. "How do we go to the thing that you last loved?" Well, that would be fine, but it precludes all of the hard work that [starts hitting the table] this specific story which is very different from that other story. Speaking of movies with "2s" and "3s," if 'Dragon Tattoo' does well, is it a done deal that you will direct the next two movies? No. Not a done deal. And, you know, this has to do well at a scale that ... a big scale. Let's make the assumption that you don't do another one, for whatever reason. OK... If another director asked you, "Should I do the sequel?" what advice would you give them? Because from what I've read, you didn't have the best experience taking over an established franchise when you did 'Alien 3.' It was a tough thing on 'Alien 3' because there was no need to make a movie for any other reason than it was a sound business decision. There was no story that everybody felt, "Wow, this is worth getting out of bed early for." It was simply, "We could do this or we could do that or we could do this." I don't think you have that with this. You have books that are beloved. Let me put it this way, you have a jumping off point. So it's just a completely different situation? Yeah. You had a different thing with 'Alien.' In 'Alien' you have one sort of returning cast member who desperately wanted the movie to be amazing. I desperately wanted the movie to be amazing. Even the guys who wrote it and produced it wanted the movie to be amazing. The degree to which we would all go to make the movie amazing was different. Sigourney and I had a lot to lose and we worked really, really hard not to embarrass everyone. And, in the end, it wasn't enough. The first thing that I ever saw you do, that was quite amazing when you're a 10-year-old kid... Uh-oh. The video for Rick Springfield's 'Bop 'Til You Drop.' All of a sudden Rick Springfield was in a 'Star Wars'-type video. That one got me out of ILM. I mean, I would make that video very differently today. That doesn't surprise me, but, come on it was 1984... Yeah. And for a 22-year-old and the first $150,000 I've ever had to spend ... yeah, we did the best we could with what we had. Rick was incredibly sweet to me to give me that opportunity, but I honestly don't know what any of that had to do with that song. At least it was different. I really didn't want to see Rick Springfield bop 'till he dropped, I wanted to see him run around with lasers. Well, there you go. You also directed the video for Billy Idol's 'Cradle of Love,' which, if I remember correctly, was challenging because Idol had just been in a serious accident. He couldn't stand. He was on crutches. We shot him from the waste up and put him in a bunch of different Warhols, or whatever. Did that almost give you more freedom with his limitations? I knew Billy. I liked that 'Rebel Yell' album -- it is a fucking amazing record, still, to this day. I didn't want to do a tie-in to a movie... 'The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.' Yeah. I didn't want to do that. And neither did he. He liked the sort of salaciousness of what that song was talking about. And we knew he would be limited to the amount of hours he could be on set. We had to build a little brace that he could kind of hold on to and move himself around. He was fucked up. His leg was really, really atrocious. So they came to me and said, "What's it going to cost to get you to do a movie tie-in video?" and I said, "There's not enough money in the world." They said, "Well, it's Billy Idol." And I said, "Oh, I might reconsider that." They game me the song and I liked the song. And I gave him my ideas and he thought they were funny. So we did it and then I think somebody came in later and cut the scenes from 'Ford Fairlane' into it. The clips of 'Ford Fairlane' don't flow with the rest of the video. Yeah, and there was that thing at the time with MTV where they were like, "Wait, we want to put MTV all over it, but we don't want you to be able to market anything else on the back of this high quality content." Then you did George Michael's 'Freedom! '90,' and Michael isn't in that video at all. Did he tell you that he wouldn't do it? No. He said, "I don't need to be in a video again." Yeah, there's a better cut of that. Our first cut of that was actually better. And it's one of those things that, you know, it is what it is. I was much more collaborative then. Something that I've always wondered, and you've mentioned ILM, what exactly was your role on 'Return of the Jedi'? I was loading cameras. Were you around ['Jedi' director] Richard Marquand? I met Marquand, but I was one of 9000 people getting the movie made. I did the Chicken Walkers [a.k.a. AT-ST Scout Walkers] -- I was working on the Chicken Walkers. They had a lot of shots that were panning and tilting in the Redwood Forest in Crescent City and my job was to figure out a way to match move that stuff, which hadn't been shot in motion control at all. So I was doing a lot of sitting in the dark and taking a mirror and taking registered interpositives and projecting them out of this vision cameras using ... fuck, it was like a -- I think we used little tiny leekos. It was crazy. I mean, when you think of ILM, you always think of this thing where it's like NASA, or something: this is so thrown together and so half-ass. And I would projectile the camera on to these big cards -- these big circular cards -- and I would put a line on a tree. I would sit there with Jerry Jeffress' early, early, early field motion control unit and program match move. I'd match move the plates for the pan and tilt, then I'd bring in the blue screen, bring in the go-motion unit, match the lighting, and put the Chicken Walkers into the shot. That was my job, I was 18 or 19 years old. Not a bad gig at that age. No. I was a pig in shit, man. That was as much fun as I could imagine standing up. I appreciate the time, and I will never listen to Scooby-Doo quite the same way again. [In a Scooby-Doo voice] Huh? You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook