Michelle Williams: 'Oz The Great And Powerful' Is 'Like A Magical Wonderland'

Despite the fact that we know little-to-nothing about Sam Raimi's sure-to-be-excellent "Oz: The Great And Powerful," aside from its intriguing A-list cast and basic premise of course, we're pretty sure it's going to be one of our favorite movies of 2013. Raimi just seems like the perfect person to take us back to Oz, and since he has the likes James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Zach Braff with him for the ride, it just seems like a slam dunk. Anyway, the only problem with the film so far is that none of the parties involved will tell us anything about it! When MTV News happened upon the lovely yet reserved Ms. Williams at the Hollywood Awards Gala recently however, we did get a few good descriptors about what life has been like on set and working with Mr. Sam Raimi. "Oh I love Mr. Raimi. I'd follow Mr. Raimi anywhere and I do like to call him Mr. Raimi, he deserves the title, he always wears a suit," Williams gushed when asked about how things were going on set. "It's been like a playground, it's a great place to go to work. It is, it's like a magical wonderland going to work everyday." Williams is such a great tease! My imagination has run wild with what that set must look like... Also, we can't forget that in addition to having a whimsical, magical flare, Franco told us there will be plenty of humor in the story as well. "Sam Raimi is I think a master of capturing a feeling of old Hollywood charm and matching it with the latest technology," Franco told us. "So hes going to create the amazing world and take people to this place. The characters are very funny in a old Hollywood way." What do you think 'Oz' will be like? Magical original or whimsical re-telling? Tell us in the comments or on Twitter!

WB release a Soderbergh film

Warner Bros. has acquired Steven Soderbergh's drama "Miracle Mike" and hang it for release on June 29. Matthew McConaughey, Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer star. Tatum plays the title character, a stripper and dancer who takes Pettyfer's character under his wing and mentors him regarding how to hustle both off and on happens. McConaughey shows an old exotic dancer who now is the owner of the club where "Miracle Mike" works. Pic draws on Tatum's encounters being employed as a teenager stripper in Polk. Nick Wechsler and Gregory Jacobs are creating with Tatum and the 33andOut Prods. partner Reid Carolin, who also composed the script. "Mike" will open against Paramount's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation." Sony's "The Astonishing Spider-Guy" is placed for This summer 3. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Producers to Report First-Ever Annual Loss

NY - Gaming company Producers Co. mentioned Thursday it must report its first-ever annual loss for your current fiscal year. Japan company and creator in the Super Mario Bros. gaming franchise slashed its full fiscal year earnings forecast for your second time stating a rise inside the yen that was "beyond expectation level," additionally to weakened-than-expected sales of Producers DS hardware and Producers 3DS gaming software. Producers's 3DS handheld games device, launched this year, wasn't the wanted-for hit, leading to cost cuts reducing earnings anticipation. Producers now projects an annual insufficient 20 billion yen together with a complete-year earn money from methods of a single billion yen, lower 99.four percent around-ago period. The business also sees full fiscal year revenue of 790 billion yen, lower 22 percent. The firm's previous forecast from late This summer time had known for any fiscal year profit of 20 billion yen, 35 billion in operating profit and 900 billion yen in revenue. . For your six several days ended Sept. 30, Producers on Thursday reported a 41 percent decline in revenue to 215.7 billion yen together with deficiencies in 70.3 billion yen, a multiple of year-ago insufficient 2. billion. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Producers Earnings

Canal Plus set to takeover Poland's TVN

PARIS -- Vivendi's Canal Plus Group is holding exclusive negotiations with the ITI Group to acquire a controlling stake in Polish TV operator TVN. ITI expects to complete the sale of its 56% stake in TVN to Canal Plus by the end of the year, according to French newspaper Les Echos. TVN owns free-to-air channels, pay TV platform N -- the third largest in the country -- and website Onet. Canal Plus is already a major player in Poland through Cyfra Plus, which ranks as Poland's second largest satcaster with 1.5 million subscribers. The Polish pay TV market leader is Cyfrowy Polsat. Deal would allow Canal Plus to consolidate its position on Poland's pay TV market and step into the Polish free TV landscape. Earlier this year, ITI had initiated discussions with various potential buyers, including Time Warner, which was considered a frontrunner, along with Vivendi, to snap up TVN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Django Unchained' Versus Quentin Tarantino's Past Casts

Using the latest addition of Kerry Washington, the already impressive cast of Quentin Tarantino's next movie, "Django Unchained," got a bit more impressive. Toss in his other recent hire -- Don Manley -- and it is obvious the auteur can be his usual cool casting methods. Tarantino happens to be noted for his, ah, interesting options together with his ensemble casts, tugging from both mainstream Hollywood stars and also the dustiest corners of popular culture, and resurrecting the careers of fallen stars. "Django Unchained" isn't any exception, but exactly how will it compare using the relaxation of Tarantino's oeuvre? It's some lots of competition from what have grown to be legendary ensembles, so let us have a look at in which the new cast stands in contrast. "Reservoir Dogs" Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney The Rundown: The colour-coded cast set a dark tone for that relaxation of Tarantino's movies. Rounded out by mostly indie gamers and b-stars from film eras passed by, this mixture gave the bloody debut a distinctive flavor and features several stars who'd go onto become Tarantino regulars like Keitel, Madsen, Roth and Buscemi. Versus "Django Unchained": Tarantino's "southern" certainly beats "Reservoir Dogs" on star energy. Nobody even near to the degree of Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx, however the low quality charm and indie cred from the original Tarantino ensemble holds strong even from the large-budget masterdom of "Django." "Pulp Fiction" Travolta Qantas Video, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames The Rundown: "Pulp Fiction" began the Tarantino tradition of getting an actress back from obscurity within the situation of Travolta Qantas Video, making stars from the relaxation from the cast. Another enormous contribution Tarantino created using this movie was giving the planet the Samuel L. Jackson it knows and loves, and beginning a functional relationship that will continue through every subsequent release, minus "Dying Proof." Versus "Django Unchained": The tradition that started with Travolta continues here in many ways. Jamie Foxx could certainly take advantage of a repetition boost, as could Kurt Russell, but Tarantino reaches back even more by casting Don Manley and Dennis Christopher from "Moving Away.Inch Samuel L. Jackson returns within the greatest Tarantino role since his submit "Jackie Brown," his fifth collaboration using the director, hopefully signaling what to anticipate in the future career of Christoph Waltz. "Jackie Brown" Pam Grier, Robert DeNiro, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Chris Tucker The Rundown: Always the under-appreciated Tarantino film, "Jackie Brown" boasts the return of Pam Grier to her old "Foxy Brown" ways, the director's joining with Robert DeNiro and the other classic Samuel L. Jackson role as Ordell. Versus "Django Unchained": When the quest for Django was at its height, many gossips put Chris Tucker's title in to the mix like a contender for that role that ultimately visited Foxx. Tarantino happens to be someone to cast comedy stars in dramatic roles, and Tucker's role here's another illustration of that. However, "Django" will get the jerk for additional star energy and overall more exciting options. "Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and a pair ofInch Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah The Rundown: The large story here was another attempt for work revival. David Carradine because the titular Bill demonstrated everyone around you that the "Kung Fu" star still held onto just of awesome from his past as Caine. Tarantino also came in the movies he loved growing up using the casting of Sonny Chiba. Versus "Django Unchained": "Kill Bill"'s greatest link with the latest movie is the fact that it's Tarantino's first western that is not a western. The cast within the two-parter has perhaps probably the most identifiable faces too, and revivals "Django" for the reason that regard, so we'll need to see when "Django" hits theaters next Christmas whether or not this can contend with the Deadly Viper Murder Squad. "Dying Proof" Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Mary Elizabeth Winstead The Rundown: For his 1 / 2 of "Grindhouse," Tarantino made the interesting selection of casting stunt badass Zoe Bell as herself and making his first attempt for a properly-deserved comeback for Kurt Russell. Versus "Django Unchained": Tarantino made the decision to choose a significantly lesser-known cast than he'd labored with formerly. Except for Russell, Dawson and Rose McGowan, the majority of the cast were other people to some wider-audience. In comparison to "Django"'s cast of identifiable stars and Tarantino regulars, "Dying Proof"'s ensemble is a lot more low key. Anybody acquainted with Russell's body of labor must have their fingers entered, wishing the comeback stays better this time around around with "Django." "Inglourious Basterds" Kaira Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger The Rundown: Within the a long time, movie goers will appear back at "Inglourious Basterds" and thank it for starting some good careers for any couple of European stars. "Basterds" marked most US audiences' introductions to Waltz, who won the Oscar, Fassbender and Laurent, who all have previously entered over or began to in large ways. Versus "Django Unchained": Except for Pitt, "Basterds" was mostly concerning the until-then unknown European stars. "Django" falls closer in to the tradition of rehabbing the pictures of older stars, however in the situation of DiCaprio and Pitt, both films mark the very first collaboration of Tarantino along with a major star. Which cast you need to do think is the greatest? Tell us within the comments below or on Twitter.

NBCs Midseason Drama Awake Stops Production To Work On Scripts

Five episodes into its 12-episode midseason order, NBC’s drama series Awake is temporarily shutting down production to allow writers to catch up on scripts. The unplanned hiatus, which is expected to last a couple of weeks, is being done upon request from Awake creator/executive producer Kyle Killen and executive producer/showrunner Howard Gordon. It will be used to plot out the rest of the series’ first season. “This is a creatively challenging show as anyone who has seen the pilot can imagine,” Gordon said. Awake stars Jason Isaacs as a detective who finds himself living in a dual reality after a fatal car accident, one where his wife survives and one where his son does. The series intertwines his two lives, each with its own family dynamic, workplace and a different psychiatrist for the lead. “Because were not on a tight delivery schedule, it wasnt an expensive shutdown and just gives us an opportunity to get it right,” Gordon said, adding that the reaction from both NBC and Awake‘s studio 20th Century Fox TV to the already produced episodes has been positive. Gordon also noted a similar shutdown for rewrites on his previous series, Fox’s 24, in the fall of 2008, which allowed the writers to reshape the second-to-last season’s creative direction. Like Awake, 24 was a midseason series, giving the producers more leeway scheduling-wise.

With 'Stronger,' Clarkson Finally at Ease

LOS ANGELES (AP) It may have taken some time, but Kelly Clarkson seems to finally be releasing an album without any drama on the side."Everything is good, everything is happy," she said, laughing brightly during a recent interview to promote "Stronger," released this week.It's a different scenario than her last two albums: She went through public disputes with legendary executive and mogul Clive Davis over her third album and with OneRepublic singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder after her last album was released.They were typical of the bold stances she's taken that proved her to be more than the passive, malleable product of a hit TV competition, establishing her as an artist instead of just a voice."I've been a fighter since I started walking," she said, adding casually and genuinely a line that could be lifted from one of her inspirational songs: "We get one life. You want to make sure that you're living it how you want to live it."Since Clarkson became the first "American Idol" a decade ago, she's established herself as one of pop's most formidable, and successful singers. She's sold over 20 million albums worldwide and landed seven singles in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, including "Breakaway," ''My Life Would Suck Without You," "Miss Independent," and perhaps her biggest hit, "Since U Been Gone."Clarkson has maintained creative control of her music and career since her "Idol" days, and has written on all of her albums. But her determination to chart her own course has not come without a few battles. In 2007, Davis became concerned over the less commercial sound of Clarkson's third album, "My December," which Clarkson revealed publicly after rumors of a rift; Clarkson later mended fences and called the tension overblown. Then in 2009, Clarkson called out Tedder for musical similarities between "Already Gone," which he wrote for Clarkson, and Beyonce's "Halo," which he also wrote.Clarkson calls her new collection of 13 songs "the easiest record that I've made with my label." But she makes clear that's because the suits bent to her will not the other way around."I think people project on you like the formula that has worked in the past. And then they get to know you," she said. "(Now) they know me better as an artist, they know me better as a person. They know what I'm going to do and what I don't like, and it just really works."Sonically, "Stronger" doesn't tinker much with the formula that has helped Clarkson become the top-selling "Idol" artist ever, blending clean pop-guitar riffs with contemporary dance synths. But there is an undertone of loneliness and sadness coursing throughout, including some downbeat lyrics co-written by Clarkson herself."Hello, is anybody listening? Won't somebody show me that I'm not alone," she sings on "Hello.""If you look at my whole catalogue, there are far more sadder songs than happy," the Texan acknowledges in her Southern drawl. "But that's only because writing is a form of therapy. So obviously the things that you're getting out are the things that you've been going through and struggling with. You want to keep all the happy inside. If I'm going through a hard time, I write it out."In person, Clarkson is bubbly and quick to laugh, sharing that in her time off, she picked up the violin and started learning Italian with Rosetta Stone. "I'm horrible at it so far," she laments lightly.But she never comes close to revealing the subject of "Stronger's" multiple scornful breakup and kiss-off songs. "You don't know a thing about me," she sings on the first single, "Mr. Know It All." And it's true that the 29-year-old retains an enigmatic air, despite her down-to-Earth image.Toby Gad, who co-wrote and produced two songs on "Stronger," had planned on a 10-minute meeting with Clarkson when the two first met, but ended up at a two-hour dinner."She's a very strong survivor, and very organic and very real," he said. "You can connect with her on a very human level."Still, after the dinner and several days of revising lyrics alongside the pop star, he said he doesn't remember if she ever mentioned her own relationships to him.While Clarkson seems to sing almost exclusively about the ups and downs of love, her songs are often deceptively universal. Clarkson says "Mr. Know It All" could apply to her own record label or to the media, and Gad's "The War Is Over" functions as a coda to a romance or to an actual war."That's the underlying theme for her, to vent emotions that we all feel in our relationships," Gad said.And Clarkson will continue to vent as she sees fit."I'm always vocal," she said. "People ask me and I tell them. If I have a problem, I say it. I'm never malicious about it, I just say what happened. And I think a lot of people don't do that. So I think it maybe catches people off guard. But I don't know any other way to be but honest musically or personally. So I guess that just comes through."Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Ryan Pearson October 26, 2011 Kelly Clarkson PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Matt Sayles LOS ANGELES (AP) It may have taken some time, but Kelly Clarkson seems to finally be releasing an album without any drama on the side."Everything is good, everything is happy," she said, laughing brightly during a recent interview to promote "Stronger," released this week.It's a different scenario than her last two albums: She went through public disputes with legendary executive and mogul Clive Davis over her third album and with OneRepublic singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder after her last album was released.They were typical of the bold stances she's taken that proved her to be more than the passive, malleable product of a hit TV competition, establishing her as an artist instead of just a voice."I've been a fighter since I started walking," she said, adding casually and genuinely a line that could be lifted from one of her inspirational songs: "We get one life. You want to make sure that you're living it how you want to live it."Since Clarkson became the first "American Idol" a decade ago, she's established herself as one of pop's most formidable, and successful singers. She's sold over 20 million albums worldwide and landed seven singles in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, including "Breakaway," ''My Life Would Suck Without You," "Miss Independent," and perhaps her biggest hit, "Since U Been Gone."Clarkson has maintained creative control of her music and career since her "Idol" days, and has written on all of her albums. But her determination to chart her own course has not come without a few battles. In 2007, Davis became concerned over the less commercial sound of Clarkson's third album, "My December," which Clarkson revealed publicly after rumors of a rift; Clarkson later mended fences and called the tension overblown. Then in 2009, Clarkson called out Tedder for musical similarities between "Already Gone," which he wrote for Clarkson, and Beyonce's "Halo," which he also wrote.Clarkson calls her new collection of 13 songs "the easiest record that I've made with my label." But she makes clear that's because the suits bent to her will not the other way around."I think people project on you like the formula that has worked in the past. And then they get to know you," she said. "(Now) they know me better as an artist, they know me better as a person. They know what I'm going to do and what I don't like, and it just really works."Sonically, "Stronger" doesn't tinker much with the formula that has helped Clarkson become the top-selling "Idol" artist ever, blending clean pop-guitar riffs with contemporary dance synths. But there is an undertone of loneliness and sadness coursing throughout, including some downbeat lyrics co-written by Clarkson herself."Hello, is anybody listening? Won't somebody show me that I'm not alone," she sings on "Hello.""If you look at my whole catalogue, there are far more sadder songs than happy," the Texan acknowledges in her Southern drawl. "But that's only because writing is a form of therapy. So obviously the things that you're getting out are the things that you've been going through and struggling with. You want to keep all the happy inside. If I'm going through a hard time, I write it out."In person, Clarkson is bubbly and quick to laugh, sharing that in her time off, she picked up the violin and started learning Italian with Rosetta Stone. "I'm horrible at it so far," she laments lightly.But she never comes close to revealing the subject of "Stronger's" multiple scornful breakup and kiss-off songs. "You don't know a thing about me," she sings on the first single, "Mr. Know It All." And it's true that the 29-year-old retains an enigmatic air, despite her down-to-Earth image.Toby Gad, who co-wrote and produced two songs on "Stronger," had planned on a 10-minute meeting with Clarkson when the two first met, but ended up at a two-hour dinner."She's a very strong survivor, and very organic and very real," he said. "You can connect with her on a very human level."Still, after the dinner and several days of revising lyrics alongside the pop star, he said he doesn't remember if she ever mentioned her own relationships to him.While Clarkson seems to sing almost exclusively about the ups and downs of love, her songs are often deceptively universal. Clarkson says "Mr. Know It All" could apply to her own record label or to the media, and Gad's "The War Is Over" functions as a coda to a romance or to an actual war."That's the underlying theme for her, to vent emotions that we all feel in our relationships," Gad said.And Clarkson will continue to vent as she sees fit."I'm always vocal," she said. "People ask me and I tell them. If I have a problem, I say it. I'm never malicious about it, I just say what happened. And I think a lot of people don't do that. So I think it maybe catches people off guard. But I don't know any other way to be but honest musically or personally. So I guess that just comes through."Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

A 'Hard' spot to be

The most recent pic within the Die Hard franchise will not be filming in Prague. Czech industryites are worried after actioner "Die Hard 5" elected to not shoot in Prague due to defects within the film incentive system. Czech Film Commission topper Ludmila Claussova stated the neighborhood biz feared that Hollywood would think hard about filming in the united states because, unlike its neighbors, the 20% cash-back system adopted this year isn't written into law and also the funds go out rapidly. She traveled to L.A. captured with foreign minister Karel Schwartzenberg to tubthump the film business, after which Fox producers for "Die Hard 5" were thinking about the rebate readily available for shooting in Bohemia. However, this is dependent around the Czech parliament approving the rebate fund of $16.six million for an additional year, stated Claussova, who'd also want to see the total amount elevated. Although it's likely to pass, the doubt is sufficient to delay producers who require to organize several weeks prior to a shoot. Hungary is really a more appealing location, using its year-round 20% rebate system and surfeit of contemporary galleries and expert deck hands. Local industryites say it's obvious Czech sweetening need modifying. The incentives, like others in Germany, Hungary, France and also the U.K., offers rebates on local stays for productions that meet EU-approved criteria. But unlike others, the Czech coffers could run dry after just two large-budget productions, an issue local producers happen to be cautioning the federal government about because the system was released. Michael Schwarz, a producer for miniseries "Borgia," which did film within the Republic, stated, "Confirmation the rebate will certainly be accessible should come the vast majority annually or even more before (shooting begins) otherwise there's no planning security and financing can not be closed." Lack of "Die Hard," that was likely to lense for 3 several weeks in Prague starting in Feb, is acutely felt at at any given time when you will find not one other major films reserved. Czechs remain hopeful that another Fox production, Kaira Pitt-starrer "The Grey Guy," that has already guaranteed a Czech rebate of $233,000, will be 2012. Fox didn't react to demands for comment. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Spike's 'Ways to Die' endures

Spike has bought a fourth season of "1000 Techniques to Die," set to premiere in March with 13 new episodes. The series, that's more than twelve segs into season three (through which its 41 episodes are put into three parts), is doing well for Spike, calculating 1.6 000 0000 audiences, according to Nielsen. "1000 Ways" recreates unorthodox deaths using stars and CGI and includes expert commentary and historic info with each public demise. Series is produced by FreMantle Media's Original Prods. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Burglary Crew Copies Tactics From 'The Town'

Five males in NY were allegedly while using the tactics found in this year's film The Town to tug of real-existence robberies. The NYPD pointed out the audience completed 62 robberies using the majority of the moves shows inside the film, which was directed and starred Film Clip.our editor recommendsBen Affleck's 'The Town' Plays Role with debt Ceiling TalksAnatomy from the Contender: Making of 'The Town' The crowd started gradually wrecking companies in NY in August 2010, cutting energy for his or her target's store and ultizing headlamps to navigate at night time. Furthermore they decorated bleach on Automatic teller machines and money drawers to get rid of DNA evidence. PHOTOS: The Most Effective 11 Oscar Snubs NYPD representative mentioned Tuesday the suspects told detectives they'd seen the figures inside the Town perform the identical actions, according to NBC-NY. This Year's drama centered around long-term pals who make the most of banks and armored trucks in Boston. Jeremy Renner was nominated with an Academy Award for top Supporting Actor for his role PHOTO: Film Clip Debuts Change On 'Argo' Set Shop dead the particular-existence crooks made offered by $217,000 after gradually wrecking delis, pizzerias together with other stores in Brooklyn and Queens. This wasn't the initial real-existence crime inspired with the 2010 film. In May, bank thieves in Chicago used the identical nun costumes the thieves used in the film. Related Subjects Film Clip Jeremy Renner The Town

Legendary Illustrator Chris Foss Recalls His Blowout With Stanley Kubrick and Antics on 'Alien' Set

Chris Foss has had the sort of career many young men would dream of. He has worked as a visual consultant on some of the most influential movies of our time, including 'Alien,' 'Superman' and Alejandro Jodorowsky's famously scrapped version of 'Dune.' He even had the chance to tell off a director he once admired greatly: Stanley Kubrick. The two butted heads constantly when Foss was brought in to work on Kubrick's 'AI,' resulting in a blowout that ultimately led to Foss being frozen out of the project altogether. Foss got his first big break illustrating for Penthouse magazine when it was in its infancy. Shortly afterwards, he was asked to illustrate the groundbreaking book 'The Joy of Sex' -- which was a risky venture at that time in England -- but the rabble-rouser in Foss delighted in the controversy. The classic book is now celebrating its 40th anniversary, and even Foss is surprised by its longevity. Of course, he is probably best-known for his prolific production of iconic book covers for science-fiction novels by everyone from Isaac Asimov to E.E. 'Doc' Smith. British publisher Titan Books has just released a collection called 'Hardware: The Definitive Works of Chris Foss,' which showcases some of his most memorable pieces, from the covers to his conceptual work for 'Alien,' 'AI' and the ill-fated 'Dune.' Foss spoke with Moviefone from his London home about everything from sneaking around the 'Alien' set to his famous blowout with Kubrick. How did you react when you were asked to illustrate 'The Joy of Sex'? Were you worried about an obscenity lawsuit? Yes. In England we were very, very stuck in our ways. We had a famous obscenity trial called the Oz trial, around a magazine called Oz that did a schoolgirl's edition. Then up came this project, and the editor I was dealing with used to give me these little furtive briefings. He said it's a sex education book. It was quite unheard of to have actual sexual situations being so openly published. We got them to write a good contract whereby they agreed to defend us if it was ever taken to court. There was always a risk in the UK of some prurient little so-and-so making a show-trial out of it. What was the process of working on it like? I would sit in the publisher's office while he would describe these rather erotic positions. The other artist Charles and his lovely German wife actually posed for all of the positions. We had this hilarious situation where I'm trying to shoot it all in a flat where the power was being turned off at regular intervals [due to the miner's strike at the time]. We would try to get through X number of positions, like a checklist. Was 'Dune' the first film you did concept work for? It was. And I wish it had not been the first because I thought all films were like that. 'Alien' only happened because of 'Dune.' And 'Dune' in turn fathered so many other films and concepts. Alejandro was this extraordinarily quixotic person, and quixotic in every sense of the word. From there, did you move on to 'Superman'? We were all waiting to restart 'Dune' after Christmas; we had total loyalty to 'Dune.' And then the 'Superman' people came along. My initial reaction was, 'What a stupid thing, to make a film of a strip cartoon.' And there you go, history's proven me different. They wined and dined me and insisted I come and worked on 'Superman.' I thought, well, I'll do it until 'Dune' starts up, and of course 'Dune' never did. So I worked on 'Superman.' Meanwhile, Dan O'Bannon, who was going to be the special effects man on 'Dune,' went back to America and had no money and slept on his friend's sofa. They dug up some of their old stuff, including a script called 'They Bite'. Then the moneymen said 'Hey, there's money in this science fiction, what have we got?' So 'Alien' went from being a fledgling concept to having huge amounts of money pumped into it. Incidentally, the great famous scene where the alien pops out of the guy's stomach is based on Dan, who had the most terrible food poisoning and had to be taken to the hospital and imagined that an alien was trying to burst out of him! How did that experience compare to working on 'Dune'? Well, of course, the contrast could not have been bigger. I ended up being installed in a Hollywood producer's house and so I saw the whole background to the thing. And the whole thing was as two-faced as it came. It made me realize what a wonderful thing 'Dune' was. Then the last one I worked on was for dear Stanley Kubrick [on 'AI'], and that was an experience. I was installed up in his mansion in St. Albans. What was that like? I know you were really influenced by his early work. In a way, it was quite sad. Stanley is legendary for treating people quite badly, wanting just to beat them down. As you can well imagine, I won't take much stick from anyone. So he was fairly confrontational but always backed down. What do you think the secret to his success was? As a creative person, how could he get such great work treating people like that? Well this is the puzzling thing! The staff were all failed actors, and he beat them down and convinced them that they were nothing. It looked like a 1920's horror film, everyone was sort of hunched over. One day I came back after what we would call a rather good lunch, and Stanley is standing in my room scowling at the picture, and this has been repainted more times than you've had hot dinners. He said, "This picture's not working," and I absolutely blew up. I said, "Stanley, this picture is not working because the concept is not working, because the film is not working, because there is no clear concept!" And he hit the wall and said, "OK, no clear concept, no clear concept" and walked out. And then the next week when I called to say my car wasn't working, I was late, they said, "Well actually, Chris, you don't need to come back." But you see, in '2001,' there's no ending! A friend of mine had been hired to visualize concepts because Stanley could not work out '2001,' and it has no ending, as you well know. It sounds like 'Dune' was your favorite film project. Of the others, do you have any favorite moments? We had terrific fun in Los Angeles on 'Alien.' We were hidden away in funny little washrooms because me and Ron Cobb, the other artist, were non-union. One day we were working in our funny little set of rooms, and this voice comes up: "This is the police, come out with your hands up!" And we got down below the window and said, "Don't shoot! We've got hostages!" This guy ran up the stairs and it became obvious they were doing a take of 'Starsky & Hutch.' You mentioned in the book you have an idea for a movie, 'The Crab.' Can you tell me a bit about the concept? I don't want to say too much because people always steal these things. Basically these two girls have found a highly mutated crab on one planet, and realized it could be quite valuable and decide to take it to another planet to make some money. And of course this thing still keeps mutating. Two problems they have is a) it keeps devouring all forms of plastic, which of course is the standard material and he's actually eating bits of the ship and b) it's growing at a rapid rate. And that's the actual theme of the thing. Would you direct it yourself? Who knows? With films you've got to be in the right place at the right time with the right money. Check out the work of Chris Foss at

Joel Schumacher on His Career, His Critics, and Why It's OK to Laugh During Trespass

There’s no stopping Joel Schumacher, the 72-year-old filmmaker who returns to screens this week with the thriller Trespass. Though to invoke his name in some circles is to invite wishes he would stop; Schumacher has never been an especially popular director among the critical elite, and his latest film, a wild home-invasion potboiler co-starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman, won’t necessarily change things. But you know what? That’s a good thing — at least for Schumacher. “There are some people who are infuriated with my success,” Schumacher recently said in a candid, freewheeling interview with Movieline, covering subjects from his screenplay for The Wiz to how much creative rope to allow intense actors like Trespass’s Cage and Ben Mendelsohn. “But the truth is that if I knew I was going to be this successful, then I would have been born more talented for them.” The engaging, self-effacing director had plenty more to discuss about Trespass, haters, revisionism, melodrama, dark humor, and the debacle that was his previous film, Twelve. Why did you want to make Trespass? I try to make different movies every time, and not do the same film. A lot of times journalists want to know, is there something that’s the same in all my movies? The only thing I can think of is that I do very flawed people — sometimes people you don’t like all the time. Secondly, I put them in a pressure cooker and then see how they’re going to turn out. I seem to follow that theme a lot, even if it’s more lighthearted. That’s the only thing I can figure out from my own movies. And that obviously there are a lot of gorgeous, sexy people in the movies that also act. “Where’s the harm?” I say. What was your vision for it? Well, just to keep you on the edge of your seat. I also like to do a lot of levels, and some people get the levels. If they just go to the movie and get some entertainment, I’m so thrilled. If it gives them a few chills and thrills, I’m so thrilled. And maybe we have a few plot twists that they would enjoy. And certainly great actors in the film, and an intelligent script. But there are other levels to it. I think we all know that right now in the United States there are too many rich and too many poor and a shrinking middle. I don’t know how long it’ll be before the have-nots go and grab what the haves have. And then sometimes, as we find out in Trespass, the haves don’t have what they think we have. So there are a lot of those themes in it. I think the Ben Mendelsohn character and Nic Cage character — and both their families, if you will; there are two families on the screen — are men who overreach for the American dream, one legally and one illegally. And they’re both left with the consequences of that. When the movie begins, we’re very much watching what’s happened in a lot of families because the father’s working all the time to keep up. It’s not even keeping up with the Joneses anymore. It’s just keeping up with extravagantly rich people. He’s working all the time, and the wife feels that the love story that started the marriage doesn’t exist anymore. And then there’s the teenage daughter. At the beginning of the story, there are three separate people in that house living three separate lives. They’re extremely disconnected. And of course when life and death are on the line, everything else changes. All they have is each other. And all three sacrifice so much for each other. At the end of the film, I hope you felt that they’re a family. Certainly those three people in life will never be the same. You’d worked with both Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman previously. What made you think they were right for this? Well, I always want to work with Nicole — and we’ve tried many, many times. I think Nicole can do anything. I love to watch her act; I love to watch her. And so I wanted her to play the wife. Especially playing an architect who’s [designed] a beautiful house; she would have such great, simple taste that you would believe that from her. I think you’d believe it. And finally it was a chance to work together again. I also know with Nicole, as with Nic, when the camera rolls, they give 200 percent in every take. In a movie like this, every single second the actors are in are crucial to the intensity of the piece — the reality, the emotion. I wanted to work with Nic again… I never tried to do a movie with Nicole and Nic before, but I’ve tried to work with both of them. It just never worked out, even though we had success. It just never jelled. Some projects never come together. And I wanted Nic because he’s Nic. And also when the camera rolls, they will both surprise you. Every take is fresh, original, new. It inspires them. They raise the bar very high. And fortunately, I was able to get a cast of people lesser-known who were right up to that bar. How much rope do you give a guy like Cage or Ben Mendelsohn when you know how intense and over-the-top they can be? How heightened is too heightened? Ben was Nicole’s idea. They were old friends from Australia. I give my actors tons of rope, especially in a piece like this. We rehearse for two weeks, but it’s still totally spontaneous when the cameras go. I give them a lot of rope, because why not? My job is to hire the most talented people and just keep reminding them how talented they are. How heightened is too heightened? I think we all love over-the-top. One big director said, “No one ever paid money to see ‘under-the-top.’” I’ve got to be honest: Parts of this movie were very, very funny to me. I mean, I enjoyed myself quite a bit, but— But, you know, it’s meant to be that way, too. There’s so much dark comedy in there. I’m so glad you saw that. In fact, when we showed it in Toronto, I said to everyone before the movie began, “You have permission to laugh!” Especially because there’s so much funny shit in there — as there is in Phone Booth, as there is in Falling Down. There are really sick jokes in 8mm. But I think life’s like that! It’s hilarious, certain parts of Trespass! I mean, like laugh-out-loud! For me! I think when Dash Mihok’s phone rings, and it’s the big boss, and he says, “I don’t know. How’s it going, Elias?” I think it’s hilarious! It kind of marries a few different genres — obviously it’s a thriller, but there are threads of horror, romance, even classic melodrama strung through there. These are recurring elements in many of your films. Did you pick up on them in Trespass’s script, or do they more organically occur on the set? Well, it always was a drama. I’m never quite sure what the difference between melodrama and drama is. I think melodrama is supposed to be bad drama, but I don’t think it is. I think it’s just drama. I don’t know how, if you’re in that situation, emotions aren’t over the top. I don’t know who’s just calm and sweet as a viewer through that, especially when you know for all the reasons in the world that Nic can’t give them what they want, and how he has to hide that and pretend. I just hope people have some experience watching my films, whatever it is. Do you think “melodrama” and “camp” are bad words? Or that an otherwise serious film can only be in touch with its camp side at its own risk? Well, I think you felt those things when you saw this movie. But I’ve done so many interviews where some people are just scared shitless. I think you’re projecting how you saw it, which is fine. That’s what they’re there for.

Rachael Harris To Guest-Star on Fox's New Girl

Rachael Harris Who's that girl? It's Rachael! Rachael Harris will guest-star with an approaching episode of recent Girl, TVGuide.com has confirmed. The consummate comedian - whose credits range from the Hangover, Buddies, Notes in the Underbelly and far, a lot more - will have Tanya, the vice principal in the school where Jess (Zooey Deschanel) is really a teacher. As first reported by Entertainment Weekly, she'll help Jess out by lending the gang a bus for Schmidt's birthday around the condition that they can spend time together. Fox pulls New Girl until November Harris, who had been slated for any multi-episode arc on NBC's ill-fated Free Agents, will first appear later this year and could recur. As formerly introduced, Fox will not air the following two instances of the sitcom to ensure that The X Factor can expand from 1 hour 30 minutes to some full two hrs. Which means we will not visit a new episode of recent Girl until Tuesday, November. 1.

Apples Steve Jobs dies aged 56

The Total Film office was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Steve Jobs this morning.The co-founder and former CEO of Apple passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56 years old.Famous for making some of the world's most desirable tech goods, Jobs was behind some gadgets that were so slick, easy-to-use and downright pretty, it was easy to forget how complex and groundbreaking they were under their shiny shells.It wasn't just the technology sector that Jobs influenced; he also had a profound effect on the movie industry, most notably via his investment in a fledgling company called Pixar.For an insightful article on how Jobs' changed the movie industry, head here.Tributes have been flowing in, with Apple releasing the following statement:"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."Barack Obama said, "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it."Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg also paid their respects.Jobs is survived by his wife and three children, and his daughter from a previous relationship.

Kristin Cavallari Can get the Boot on Dwts

Kristin Cavallari Do not let the scattered boos within the audience fool you: The Dwts crowd wasn't everything upset when reality star Kristin Cavallari was told she was headed for your slopes. There's nothing near the outrage displayed throughout DWTS's most shocking elimination ever, in Season 5, when the super-gifted and full of personality Disney kid, Sabrina Byran (also became a member of by professional Mark Ballas), was sent packing.No, aside from mind judge Len Goodman crying foul, it had been small wave of protest over saying goodbye with a worthy competitor when several others - including Chaz Bono, Carson Kressley and Nancy Sophistication - don't have half of her dancing ability. But you, she didn't attract enough votes to stay.It may be because Cavallari started the show in defensive mode, telling audiences the first evening that "I'm not a real bitch," after playing one effectively round the Slopes. Or even for the reason that her personal story on Monday evening, which featured dances based on "The Key Year of My Existence," couldn't hold a candle with a wounded Iraqi war veteran (R.J. Martinez), a divorcee talk show host who handles to get rid of her home in the fire (Ricki Lake), a youthful child adoring his deceased father (Make the most of Kardashian) or perhaps the social isolation and fear one should overcome when one discovers they are gay (Kressley) or wants to become different gender (Chaz). Cavallari's finest hurdle was choosing involving the entertainment industry go to college. "Maybe my story wasn't emotional enough," states Cavallari.Or well-known enough. "I didn't know who she was," mentioned one lady inside the crowd Tuesday evening. "Therefore I won't miss her."What wound up getting everybody else excited was hearing that Cher are available in everyone else next Monday evening to cheer on her behalf account boy, who steered obvious of elimination once again despite finding yourself in the finish in the leader board. Another crowd-pleasing news was that former professional Julianne Hough, that is an actress, will return on Tuesday for results evening incorporated in her own publicity push for your remake of "Footloose." Hough will dance along with her co-star inside the movie, Kenny Wormald. But, you will notice a sister dance, too, states her brother, Derek: "We're cooking something up."Whoever else consider the newest DWTS elimination?Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine today!

Apple's Tim Cook: 5 Things to Know About the New CEO

1. He's Mr. Inside to Steve Jobs' Mr. Outside.our editor recommends5 Questions For Tuesday's Rumored iPhone 5 Launch Since joining Apple in 1998, Tim Cook has focused on making the trains run on time, handling the company's logistics and operations. He closed plants, outsourced manufacturing, instituted a just-in-time supply model, and developed long-term relationships with key component suppliers that froze out rivals for key parts like the sophisticated iPod touch screens. The result: Apple has some of the highest margins in the computer industry. PHOTOS: 9 Highest Paid Entertainment CEOs 2. He's a workaholic. Cook is known to start emailing subordinates as early as 4:30 am and his eighteen-hour workdays are legendary even at Apple. Cook probably gets his stamina from being a fitness buff and is said to be a fan of cyclist Lance Armstrong. 3. He's more personable than Jobs on email with Apple fans. Steve Jobs was notorious for responding to the occasional customer email with a terse one sentence or even one word answer. In his first month on the job, Cook signed an email "War Eagles Forever," a reference to Auburn University where he attended college. His office at Apple is reportedly packed with Auburn football memorabilia. PHOTOS: Super Bowl's Most Iconic Commercials, Including Apple's 1984 Macintosh Ad 4. He changed Apple's charitable donations policy. Under Jobs, Apple did not have a corporate policy matching charitable donations by employees. Less than a month after assuming the reigns, Cook announced that Apple would now match employee donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. 5. Is he gay? He might be America's most important gay business executive. The 50-year-old lifelong bachelor has never spoken publicly about his sexuality and he's notoriously discreet about his private life. But Out Magazine felt confident enough about the whispers to rank him first on its Power 50 list of the most influential gay and lesbian Americans. Related Topics Steve Jobs Apple

James Marsden's Wife Files for Divorce

James Marsden and Lisa Linde X-Males star James Marsden and also the wife Lisa Linde have become divorced, TMZ reviews. Linde declared divorce on Sept. 23, stating irreconcilable versions because the reason for separation, according to court papers. She's seeking spousal support and joint custody of the children from the children in the couple's two children. "It had been a mutual decision," Marsden's repetition told the web site. "They are dedicated to raising their kids together and remain great pals." See other stars who've separate this year Marsden, whose film Hay Dogs is becoming in theaters, married Linde in 2000. They have two children together, Jack, 10, and Mary, 6.