The Hangover 3 Is Creeping Closer

Warners wants it shooting this summerThe Hangover 2 may not have been the best comedy last year. Actually, it probably didn't number among the 30 best comedies of 2011. But it did make a lot of people laugh, and stormed the box office, which in turn made Warner Bros. a lot of money. And though we've known this was on the way for a while now (mostly because director Todd Phillips said as much when he was out promoting the second film, the details are finally coming together for a shooting schedule and planned release.And from the sounds of the Hollywood Reporter's story on the matter, three other people are going to become both very happy and financially successful once they lock their deals in. Yes, stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis are currently deep in negotiations to return and since they're the lynchpins of the franchise, they're looking to score around $15 million each for their services. Most of the money, as on the second film, will hit their bank accounts once the movie goes into profit, but given that the first Hangover made $467 million worldwide and the second $581 million, there's little danger of that not happening.We're sure the studio will be happy to cough up the cash if it means a solid commitment to another entry. The current schedule is for the new outing to start shooting this summer ready for a late May 2013 release.And what of the plot? Writer Craig Mazin is hard at work thrashing that out now, and he's hopefully not just cutting and pasting the gags from the first two scripts into a new location. Phillips is on record as saying that he wants to change things up and the actors have also been putting that line across. We'll wait and see...

Advertisements, TV offset L.A. shooting dip

Mid-The month of january has seen a stable pace of offlot production in La, as strong performances by advertisements and television a lot more than offset a decline in feature shoots. Overall activity a week ago hit 639 days -- a rise of 10% within the same period this past year -- as advertisements leaped by 50% to 194 days, based on figures provided Tuesday through the FilmL.A. enabling agency. A Fiat place was the best choice with six days. La-area production within the advertisements category elevated 4.4% to 7,079 days this past year, setting an annual high by topping the 2005 record by 96 days. The very best commercial shoot this past year would be a Nissan place, shot by Wanted Guy Films, with 50 days. TV shooting acquired 5% to 351 days a week ago because the sitcom "Close Friends Forever" was probably the most active with 13 days. "CSI: NY," "Awake," "Southland," Raising Hope" and "Suburgatory" were also shooting a week ago. Features fell 20% to 94 days as "Black Forest" required the very best slot with 20 days. "Lovelace," "Burt Wonderstone" and re-shoots of "Rock of Age range" also shot a week ago. Top L.A. shoots Commercial projects most abundant in allowed production days this year Brand (Push. co.)Allowed push. daysNissan (Wanted Guy)50Bank of America (Anonymous Content)44Buick (Tool of The United States)43NACSA (Anonymous Content)35Fiat (Anonymous Content)31 Source: FilmL.A. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Obama states he'll launch trade unit to battle piracy

In tonight's Condition from the Union address, Leader Obama introduced the development of a "trade enforcement unit" that'll be assigned with looking into "unfair trade practices" in other nations, including China.Saying "it isn't right when another country allows our movies, music and software be unlicensed," Obama told some pot session of Congress the unit is going to be assigned with assessments "to avoid counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our edges."Obama's mention of problem of piracy is another jerk to Hollywood.A week ago, studio professionals were freely critical from the administration after it belittled lengthy-in-the-works anti-piracy legislation pending in Congress. The debts delayed out a week ago when confronted with common protest online, with activists charging the legislation was an overreach.It had been unclear the extent that the trade enforcement unit would target piracy --- or the way it will vary from existing initiatives released by customs authorities. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

Bizzers gather to remember Bingham Ray

As bizzers gathered Monday at the Sundance Film Festival to honor Bingham Ray, none could easily come to terms with the fact that the indie world had lost a fierce protector of independent filmmakers.Just a few hours after word spread that Ray had died from a stroke, industryites gathered in the cozy, dark wood-paneled High West Distillery on Main Street to raise a glass to his memory."Bingham was the heart and soul of the whole independent movement of which all of us were a part," said FilmDistrict's Jeannie Berney. Several hundred attendees dried their eyes, sipped on house whiskey and wine and began to come to terms with Ray's death."He was my role model. I would see him at film festivals, at Cannes. We would hang out," said filmmaker Ron Mann, struggling for a moment with emotion.John Schmidt, a 20-year business partner who was with Ray's family in the days after he fell ill, was unable to attend the impromptu gathering, but spoke to Variety about his friend."He had a profound impact, both in the sense of accomplishing things through business means, but also through what he stood for," Schmidt said. "He loved film, he knew it in encyclopedically, and he reflected that in how he did his work."Bizzers told many stories, reflecting his passion, humor and pugnacity: Acting as a Neal Cassady-esque figure with a 45-minute monologue on the company bus to a Neil Young concert during "Year of the Horse"; diving across the October Films conference table to land a perfect face-plant in his birthday cake; climbing over theater seats in Cannes to mix it up with Harvey Weinstein and calling him "a fat fuck" in a very loud voice; sitting through a 10-hour screening of Lars von Trier's "The Kingdom" and buying it on the spot; and immortalizing certain colleagues with his impromptu song lyrics.But the most common thread was how he fought tirelessly for the movies he loved so much."The thing about Bingham was that he was a ferocious protector of independent films," Berney said. "He would go to great lengths to bring a movie to the marketplace.""I think his memory is going to live on for a very very long time," said Danny Rosett, now a consultant, who worked with Ray when he ran United Artists. "He was as much an icon of this festival as anybody was. It's some source of comfort that all of us could be together at a time like this, at the festival, in hope that we can carry on in his tradition." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Kelly Clarkson Looking For Super Bowl National Anthem

First Released: The month of january 12, 2012 6:24 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Indiana, Ind. -- Caption Kelly Clarkson devices it onstage throughout VH1 Divas Remembers Soul at Hammerstein Ballroom in NY City on December 18, 2011American Idol Kelly Clarkson is placed to do at Americas most widely used sporting event: the Super Bowl. Clarkson continues to be selected to sing the nation's anthem prior to the National football league championship game at Indiana on February. 5, an individual acquainted with Super Bowl entertainment plans told The Connected Press on Wednesday. The individual spoke on the health of anonymity because no announcement has been manufactured. The league is anticipated to show the anthem singer later this month. Since becoming the very first champion of yankee Idol about ten years ago, Clarkson has offered a lot more than 20 million albums worldwide coupled with greater than a half-dozen singles achieve the very best 10 within the Billboard Hot 100. Among her hit tunes: Since U Been Gone and My Existence Would Suck Without You. Her latest album, More powerful, was launched this past year. Clarkson is presently on tour and made an appearance because the musical guest on Saturday Evening Live last week. Also slated to sign up within the Super Bowl pregame festivities at Lucas Oil Stadium: new bands couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, singing America the gorgeous. Grammy-champion Lambert launched her latest album, Four the Record, last fall. Shelton is really a judge around the Voice, a singing competition on NBC, that is broadcasting the Super Bowl this season. The National football league introduced in December that Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Madonna will work at halftime from the leagues title game. Finally years Super Bowl between your Packers and Steelers in Dallas, pop star Christina Aguilera flubbed a line while belting the national anthem. When she was designed to sing the road Oer the ramparts we viewed, were so gallantly streaming, Aguilera rather repeated an early on line, having a slight variation drawing lots of attention on social networking for example Twitter. After, Aguilera launched an argument saying: I only hope that everybody could feel my fascination with the united states which the real spirit of their anthem still came through. Other people who have carried out the nation's anthem in the Super Bowl include Barbara Underwood like Clarkson, a united states Idol product Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Gemstone, Beyonce and Mariah Carey. Copyright 2012 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Gifts By the bucket load For William & Kate On Overseas Trip

First Launched: The month of the month of january 11, 2012 9:47 AM EST Credit: Getty Premium Caption Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the Uk premiere of War Equine at Odeon Leicester Square london around the month of the month of january 8, 2012LONDON, U.K. -- The completely new Duchess of Cambridge was bathed with gifts from mind to feet on her behalf account first overseas visit included in the royal family. Structure records demonstrate that Canadian government bodies and well-wishers gave the prior Kate Middleton hats, tartan and peacock fascinators and three pairs of shoes throughout her visit to the country with Prince William a year ago. The couples office, Clarence House, has launched lists of all the gifts the pair received on excursions this season. Williams haul incorporated t t shirts, menrrrs cufflinks, a aircraft aircraft pilots helmet in the unit in the Royal Canadian Air Pressure together with a Canadian Ranger patrol knife. Governor General David Manley the representative in Canada of Williams grandmother, Full Elizabeth II gave the happy couple a quilt, while Canadian Pm Stephen Harper presented these with a woolen blanket, a presented photograph, souvenir edition Canadian magazines, two jackets, a bottle of whiskey together with a Canadian flag. Something special from Canadas health minister was possibly more practical two bug traps. The royal couple, who married last April at Westminster Abbey london, visited Canada as well as the U.S. between June 20 which summer time 10. The American leg in the tour needed in California, where they received an iPad from Gov. Jerry Brown and four coasters within the sheriff-coroner of Santa Barbara. Within a solo visit to Nz and australia in March, William was presented with items plus a papier mache kind of a cassowary a substantial flightless bird together with a jar in the savory spread Vegemite. Some gifts came from from government bodies and dignitaries, others from not named people from a range of baseball caps to big chunks of rock from structures destroyed inside the Christchurch, Nz earthquake. A structure official mentioned Wednesday all gifts are registered after which it either put in storage or positioned on display in royal houses. Copyright 2012 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Richard Hopkins dies at 47

Richard Hopkins, an british television producer who aided bring "DwtsInch for the U.S., died Saturday in the uk after an eight-month fight with cancer. He was 47.Over his 20-year career, Hopkins produced "Fame Academy" and "Fear Factor" in the uk and done the initial season of reality show "GovernmentInch before developing, pitching and creating popular dance contest "Strictly Come Dancing" for your BBC.He then introduced the format for the U.S., where the show was rechristened "Dwts.InchHopkins went the BBC's format entertainment division between 2003 and 2006, then launched Fever Media, a partnership TV company using the new the new sony Music.Fever Media joint controlling director David Mortimer mentioned he felt fortunate being both business partner and friend to Hopkins."Television is actually its character an ephemeral business, so handful of people can desire to have lasting legacy," Mortimer mentioned in the statement. "Richard will be a glorious exception with this rule, and the most effective producers of his generation, he quite literally got the earth dancing."Hopkins is managed to get by his wife and three kids. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Fashion Star: It's Not Just About the Fashion It's Also About the Shopping!

Nicole Richie, John Varvatos, Elle Macpherson, Jessica Simpson At first glance, NBC's upcoming Fashion Star may sound like a knockoff of Lifetime's Project Runway and Bravo's The Fashion Show. But executive producers, including original Runway co-creator Jane Lipsitz, insist Fashion Star goes one step further. As host and executive producer Elle Macpherson told reporters at NBC's winter TV preview Friday, it was important to "create a show that was just as much about shopping as it was about fashion." Premiering Tuesday, March 13 at 10/9c, Fashion Star's aspiring designers are judged not by fashion magazine editors or designers, but by buyers for Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and H&M. The buyers place competing bids on fashions they like and, also unlike Runway and Fashion Show, viewers will then be able to buy the clothes online immediately after the episode airs and the next day in stores. "You're voting with your pocketbook and you can wear the winner," executive producer (and former NBC Entertainment Chairman) Ben Silverman said. "This show lives and breathes because H&M, Macy's and Saks are in it. They make it that much better." Check out photos from Fashion Star The series was filmed in July and August to ensure the finished clothes would be ready to wear in time for the show's launch. Designers are mentored by celebrity designers including Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos and then present their clothes in runway shows that Silverman compared to Victoria's Secret annual televised fashion show. In any given episode, the buyers will have to compete against each other to carry particular designs exclusively in their stores. But in the end, the winner will be featured in all three stores in a prize Silverman values at more than $6 million. "The competition in the show is really fierce and fun," Silverman said. "They are investing their own money in the prize. They are creating the prize, which is valued over $6 million for the winning designer." Adds Macpherson: "It's for every women and every pocketbook. It really allows people from every economic situation to tap into what retailer works best for them."

Academy awards 2012 Trailer Features Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel And Robin Williams

Thank heavens for Funny or Die. The comedy website partnered using the Academy of movement Picture Arts and Sciences this season to produce easily the funniest trailer we have seen for that Academy awards dating back to we are able to remember. In the end aren't so sure Josh Duhamel and Megan Fox are really the 2 people the Academy would use currently of need, they actually sell their roles here. It's their task to visit find "The Host" -- also known as Billy Very -- and convince him to host the 2011 Academy awards. On the way they get purchased around by William Fichtner, receive some clues from Vinnie Johnson and obtain a ride inside a barge from Robin Williams. Because why don't you. The pleasure of the trailer is the fact that it's really really funny and clever, and much more epic in scale than previous Oscar advertisements. Should you remember, last year's Hathaway As Catwoman and James Franco advertisements featured them exercising on and on through a program to organize for his or her hosting responsibilities. We'd reason that this trailer appeals more towards the Academy's much desired more youthful demographic compared to employing of Hathaway and Franco did. Maybe the mixture of the wise advertising campaign -- thanks again, Funny or Die -- and also the return of Very being an Oscar host might help enhance the viewership amounts that dropped this past year. Have you find this new Oscar teaser funny? Are you currently searching toward tuning into the 2011 award show telecast? Inform us within the comments section below or on Twitter!

Variety CES Summit to supply free, multilingual stream

Variety's Entertainment Summit Wednesday at CES in Las vegas will stream totally free utilizing a new partnership with Ortsbo. Variety has became a member of while using digital broadcaster to supply content through Ortsbo's Live & Global platform, which allows audiences to check out occasions with multi-lingual closed captioning in than 50 languages. "It is important that Variety constantly evolves the way you deliver our content to audiences, that are quickly implementing new platforms and digital encounters," mentioned Neil Stiles, Boss and leader of Variety. The CES programming animals at 10 a.m. PST Wednesday at Variety.com/CES. Ortsbo Boss David Lucatch mentioned the equipment "allows tv producers around the globe to have interaction their audiences regardless of word the things they broadcast in." Sound system at Variety's Entertainment Summit include keynoter News Corp. chairman/Boss of News Digital Media Jonathan Burns, Warner Bros. prexy of digital distribution Thomas Gewecke, Yahoo professional V . p . in the Americas Ross Levinsohn, Facebook mind of market development Matt Jacobson and Lori MacPherson, mind of worldwide product management at Wally Disney Art galleries. Variety will even publish CES daily models, distributed with the Las vegas confab, Tuesday through Friday. Lots of Variety's future conferences, occasions and summits will stream on Variety.com through Ortsbo. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com