New Victory award to Henson

HensonCheryl Henson has been tapped to receive the New Victory Arts Award, a kudo handed out as part of the annual gala for New 42nd Street, the nonprofit that operates the New Victory Theater as well as midtown studio spaces.Henson, prexy of the grant-dispensing Jim Henson Foundation, draws the laurel for her leadership and advocacy in the field of puppetry. She was exec producer of the Henson Intl. Festival of Puppet Theater from 1992 to 2000 and is currently on the board of the Jim Henson Co.Family-friendly New Victory Theater, run by New 42nd Street, has programmed a number of puppetry offerings since it began operations in 1995.Gala is skedded for Oct. 17 at the New Vic. Evening will consist of a perf honoring Henson, followed by a dinner. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Transformers 3 Dark Of The Moon Full Movie

Michael Nyqvist joins Disconnect

Casting for Henry Alex Rubin's internet-centric drama Disconnect has begun to gather pace, with no less than four actors confirmed to have joined the project.The film will explore the influence of the world wide web on an ensemble of characters, many of whom will find that technology isn't always a good thing.True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård will play a former marine searching for an online affair when his marriage hits the rocks, while The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Michael Nyqvist plays a man Skarsgard suspects of stealing his identity.Warrior's Frank Nillo has also joined the cast as a single father attempting to protect his son (Colin Ford) from the dangers of the net. His son has other ideas however, masquerading as a young girl to talk to another troubled teen online.Andrea Riseborough is expected to be the next big name to sign on. If she does so, she'll be playing a TV reporter following the story of a young man who gets his kit off for the benefit of his webcam-toting admirers.The film will be Rubin's first feature film, having previously directed the documentary Murderball about a group of quadriplegic rugby players.The premise of this one sounds a touch heavy-handed (the internet as a pandora's box of all evil) but the cast looks strong. Hopefully we'll have another Social Network rather than a second helping of The Net.

Hill Harper Meets Challenges on Screen and in Print

Hill Harper Meets Challenges on Screen and in Print By Melinda Loewenstein August 19, 2011 The third time was the charm for Hill Harper. After appearing in two short-lived CBS series, "City of Angels" and "The Handler," he landed the role of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on the network's popular "CSI: NY." In addition to returning for his eighth season of forensics, Harper is looking forward to the release of his fourth book, " The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place."His journey to an acting career wasn't a straight path, but Harper believes in learning and expanding one's knowledge, so he values all his education. "I studied theater in college, and I absolutely knew that I loved acting and I knew that I loved theater," he says. But he didn't know anyone in the entertainment industry, so he didn't know how to turn that love into a career. He loved education as well, so he continued his studies, eventually earning his law degree from Harvard and a master's degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. But he didn't stop acting."You've got to act and train and take class," Harper says. "There are so many actors that I meet that don't act enough. Definitely take class, definitely trainthat's the most important thing you do. Build your craft. Become better. I would say do your own thing as well. Take risks. Write your own material. Perform that. Create your own characters. All of that is out there for you."It's All About the Roles "Roles make the actor," Harper says. One challenging role he's most proud of is Alex Waters in "The Visit," a film based on the true story of a convict with AIDS trying to get released so he can die with his family. To meet the challenge, Harper began researching. "I think research is the only way, for me at least, that you get there," he says. "And it gives you wonderful ideas. You can use the information you get from research creatively and incorporate it into your character to give you much more of a layered performance." He notes that unless you're playing an extraterrestrial, there's always someone to interview to inform your portrayal.Another role Harper loved was Darnell on "The Handler," because he got to go undercover in a different persona every episode. "It gave me a real opportunity to shine, because I got to play so many characters," he says. The philosophy of embracing different roles carries over to his offscreen life: "I always say that one of the most destructive sayings that got popular [is] when people say, 'Don't be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.' I think that's so false. I believe we all have the capacity to be masters of many things and there's nothing that we can't do. You can be a great actor and also be a great writer. There's so many things that all of us have the capacity to do. But somehow life tries to convince us that we'd be lucky to do even one thing well, and I disagree. I think so many of us, everyone who's reading this right now, has the capacity to do great things in multiple areas of their lives, but they have to take risk and also train and learn in those areas."Harper's career has taken him in many directions, not all acting-related, and he recognizes the importance of learning from experiences. One audition decision he regrets is choosing to leave a hard-won recurring role on "MarriedWith Children" to screen-test with William Hurt for the movie "Smoke." Harper didn't book that role and says, "I'll never forget that and the lesson I learned from it, and also the pain, because it was a very painful lesson. But rejection is part of the actor's journey, and I've always said that if you don't like or can't handle experiencing rejection, then don't become an actor, because we get rejected so much."Write Your Future Because of his education, Harper was asked to give motivational talks at middle schools, high schools, and colleges. That experience led him to begin writing and to create Manifest Your Destiny, a nonprofit empowerment program for youth. While giving those talks, he would often meet young people who wanted his advice. When the number of questions and letters became overwhelming, Harper decided to write a book to address them: "Letters to a Young Brother: Manifest Your Destiny." He wasn't even sure the book would be published, so he was thrilled when it made the New York Times bestseller list and the American Library Association's list of the best books for young adults in 2007.His most recent book was also inspired by the feedback he was getting from his motivational talks: "People kept saying things like, 'I want to do this, but I can't afford it.' " So he decided to write a book to take away that excuse and teach people how to use money as a tool to create the life they want. As Harper began writing, the book evolved into something bigger. "When I started writing the book," he says, "I thought it was going to be a straight money finance book and redefining what money isit's a tool, not a resultbut then I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer." The book, which provides easy-to-understand financial tips, also takes readers on Harper's journey as he deals with his diagnosis and surgery.He acknowledges that it was difficult sharing something so personal and scary, but "I felt like if I'm asking people to take a look in the mirror at themselves and be truly authentic and honest, as the writer I have to be willing to do the same thing or else it's false. And that's one thing that I pride myself about in my books, that they definitely come from a true place and I'm willing to be just as vulnerable as I'm asking the reader to be."As an actor, Harper also understands the importance of knowing how to manage your money. "As artists, we really need to understand how to use the tool of money and how to save, because there will be times where we're making a lot and there will be other times when we're more lean, and one lesson I've learned is that if you want to keep your artistic freedom, you want to have that tool of money, because you don't want to be put in a situation where you're making artistic choices about your career and your life because of money. It's an important lesson to learn, an important thing to think about."Harper writes about setting goals, and he sets high ones for himself. Though his previous books have been New York Times bestsellers, for this one his goal is to make it to the No. 1 slot. He says, "I always want to feel like I'm progressing."Outtakes - Recently directed a short film, "The Truth," which will premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival this fall- Has been honored with six NAACP Image Awards- Is interested in expanding his writing career to fiction, especially children's books- Invites readers to follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/hillharper Hill Harper Meets Challenges on Screen and in Print By Melinda Loewenstein August 19, 2011 The third time was the charm for Hill Harper. After appearing in two short-lived CBS series, "City of Angels" and "The Handler," he landed the role of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on the network's popular "CSI: NY." In addition to returning for his eighth season of forensics, Harper is looking forward to the release of his fourth book, "The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place."His journey to an acting career wasn't a straight path, but Harper believes in learning and expanding one's knowledge, so he values all his education. "I studied theater in college, and I absolutely knew that I loved acting and I knew that I loved theater," he says. But he didn't know anyone in the entertainment industry, so he didn't know how to turn that love into a career. He loved education as well, so he continued his studies, eventually earning his law degree from Harvard and a master's degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. But he didn't stop acting."You've got to act and train and take class," Harper says. "There are so many actors that I meet that don't act enough. Definitely take class, definitely trainthat's the most important thing you do. Build your craft. Become better. I would say do your own thing as well. Take risks. Write your own material. Perform that. Create your own characters. All of that is out there for you."It's All About the Roles "Roles make the actor," Harper says. One challenging role he's most proud of is Alex Waters in "The Visit," a film based on the true story of a convict with AIDS trying to get released so he can die with his family. To meet the challenge, Harper began researching. "I think research is the only way, for me at least, that you get there," he says. "And it gives you wonderful ideas. You can use the information you get from research creatively and incorporate it into your character to give you much more of a layered performance." He notes that unless you're playing an extraterrestrial, there's always someone to interview to inform your portrayal.Another role Harper loved was Darnell on "The Handler," because he got to go undercover in a different persona every episode. "It gave me a real opportunity to shine, because I got to play so many characters," he says. The philosophy of embracing different roles carries over to his offscreen life: "I always say that one of the most destructive sayings that got popular [is] when people say, 'Don't be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.' I think that's so false. I believe we all have the capacity to be masters of many things and there's nothing that we can't do. You can be a great actor and also be a great writer. There's so many things that all of us have the capacity to do. But somehow life tries to convince us that we'd be lucky to do even one thing well, and I disagree. I think so many of us, everyone who's reading this right now, has the capacity to do great things in multiple areas of their lives, but they have to take risk and also train and learn in those areas."Harper's career has taken him in many directions, not all acting-related, and he recognizes the importance of learning from experiences. One audition decision he regrets is choosing to leave a hard-won recurring role on "MarriedWith Children" to screen-test with William Hurt for the movie "Smoke." Harper didn't book that role and says, "I'll never forget that and the lesson I learned from it, and also the pain, because it was a very painful lesson. But rejection is part of the actor's journey, and I've always said that if you don't like or can't handle experiencing rejection, then don't become an actor, because we get rejected so much."Write Your Future Because of his education, Harper was asked to give motivational talks at middle schools, high schools, and colleges. That experience led him to begin writing and to create Manifest Your Destiny, a nonprofit empowerment program for youth. While giving those talks, he would often meet young people who wanted his advice. When the number of questions and letters became overwhelming, Harper decided to write a book to address them: "Letters to a Young Brother: Manifest Your Destiny." He wasn't even sure the book would be published, so he was thrilled when it made the New York Times bestseller list and the American Library Association's list of the best books for young adults in 2007.His most recent book was also inspired by the feedback he was getting from his motivational talks: "People kept saying things like, 'I want to do this, but I can't afford it.' " So he decided to write a book to take away that excuse and teach people how to use money as a tool to create the life they want. As Harper began writing, the book evolved into something bigger. "When I started writing the book," he says, "I thought it was going to be a straight money finance book and redefining what money isit's a tool, not a resultbut then I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer." The book, which provides easy-to-understand financial tips, also takes readers on Harper's journey as he deals with his diagnosis and surgery.He acknowledges that it was difficult sharing something so personal and scary, but "I felt like if I'm asking people to take a look in the mirror at themselves and be truly authentic and honest, as the writer I have to be willing to do the same thing or else it's false. And that's one thing that I pride myself about in my books, that they definitely come from a true place and I'm willing to be just as vulnerable as I'm asking the reader to be."As an actor, Harper also understands the importance of knowing how to manage your money. "As artists, we really need to understand how to use the tool of money and how to save, because there will be times where we're making a lot and there will be other times when we're more lean, and one lesson I've learned is that if you want to keep your artistic freedom, you want to have that tool of money, because you don't want to be put in a situation where you're making artistic choices about your career and your life because of money. It's an important lesson to learn, an important thing to think about."Harper writes about setting goals, and he sets high ones for himself. Though his previous books have been New York Times bestsellers, for this one his goal is to make it to the No. 1 slot. He says, "I always want to feel like I'm progressing."Outtakes - Recently directed a short film, "The Truth," which will premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival this fall- Has been honored with six NAACP Image Awards- Is interested in expanding his writing career to fiction, especially children's books- Invites readers to follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/hillharper

Parents Just Don't Understand in the First Trailer for 'Carnage' (VIDEO)

Kids can be cruel, but that's nothing compared to their parents. Such is the thinking behind 'Carnage,' the next film from controversial writer/director Roman Polanski. Adapted from the play 'God of Carnage' by Yasmina Reza, the story revolves around two sets of parents who get together after one of their kids injures the other on a school playground. What begins as a civil conversation gradually escalates into a chaotic screaming match as tensions come to a boil. Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly play one set of parents, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz play the other. It isn't often that we see so much Oscar bait crammed into one space, but click through to check out the international poster and fantastic (if not slightly NSFW) debut trailer for 'Carnage.' Set for a December 16 release, home schooling never sounded so smart. So what do you think of the first 'Carnage' trailer? Photo courtesy of Empire.

Sarah Silverman's Comedy Project Sparks Major Putting in a bid War, Ron Howard Aboard

EXCLUSIVE: We now have the very first major putting in a bid war of year -- I hear ABC, NBC and Fox are in search of Imagine TV/twentieth century Fox TV's untitled Sarah Silverman comedy co-compiled by and starring the irreverent comedian, with a minimum of 2 systems, ABC and NBC, offering major obligations. (CBS hasn't heard the pitch yet). In addition, the only-camera comedy loosely according to Silverman's existence has turned into a pet project of Imagine principal Ron Howard. Imagine's TV division is underneath the oversight of Howard's partner, John Grazer, who can serve as a professional producer on all Television shows. Hardly ever has Howard taken personal curiosity about a TV project, becoming deeply committed to its development as was the situation with Imagine TV's Emmy-winning Arrested Development. That's the situation using the Silverman project, and Howard went along to any or all pitch conferences in the systems. Co-created by Imagine TV and 20th TV, the only-camera comedy stars Silverman like a lady readjusting towards the single existence following a decade lengthy live-in relationship. Silverman is writing with Serta Sterling and Jon Schroeder, who have been author-producers on Silverman's eponymous Comedy Central series. Silverman, Howard, Sterling, Grazer and Francie Calfo are executive creating.

Truce

youthful truck driver, Egor, from the small, nameless Russian town sparks on the journey which has no actual purpose with no verifiable destination. This slim pretext drives the virtually non-existent plot of Svetlana Proskurinas Truce. On his method to nowhere Egor meets his former school buddies, now small-time crooks he encounters several lovely ladies and briefly toys using the idea оf getting married to he helps his uncle obtain a large amount of cash from his banking account, after which helps him along with a local officer to find the money-back from individuals who had stolen it. The thin plot and also the feeble directorial attempt for a road-movie claim that the hero's journey ought to be read less an actual, but like a spiritual one. However, this journey does not appear to finish anywhere either.

'Big Brother' big on Sunday

"Big Brother" matched its audience among viewers 18-49 from the previous week and consequently led CBS to another Sunday primetime victory. Fox's "Teen Choice Awards" finished second in the demo to CBS from 8-10 p.m. but, fittingly, dominated its two hours among teen viewers. According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, 8 p.m. entry "Big Brother" (2.8 rating/9 share in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) performed at least 75% better in the demo than the next-best broadcast primetime program, "Same Name" (1.6/4, 5.1 million) at 9 p.m. CBS started primetime Sunday with the night's most-watched program, "60 Minutes" (1.2/4, 8.7 million) and finished it with "CSI: Miami" (1.2/3, 5.0 million), giving the Eye four of the top five programs among English-language broadcasters in 18-49. The lone non-CBS program in 18-49's top five was ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" (1.3/4, 5.3 million), which edged "60 Minutes" in the demo at 7 p.m. ABC followed with "Ty's Great British Adventure" (1.0/3, 3.8 million) and repeats of recently premiered summer skein "Take the Money and Run" (0.9/2, 3.1 million) and scripted drama "Body of Proof" (0.9/2, 3.6 million). "Teen Choice" (1.1/3, 3.2 million) averaged 2.9/10 among viewers 12-17. It was preceded on Fox by reruns of "American Dad" (0.7/3, 1.7 million) and "Family Guy" (1.1/4, 2.4 million). NBC's night peaked with "The Marriage Ref" (1.0/3, 2.7 million) at 10 p.m., which completed a steady rise in the demo from "Dateline NBC" (0.5/2, 3.2 million), "It's Worth What?" (0.7/2, 2.7 million) and a 9 p.m. "Marriage Ref" (0.9/2, 3.1 million). Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: CBS 1.7/5, Univision 1.2/3, ABC 1.0/3, Fox 1.0/3, NBC 0.7/2. In total viewers: CBS 6.6 million, ABC 4.0 million, Univision 3.2 million, NBC 2.9 million, Fox 2.8 million. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Key events for Mun2

Among a build-from original programming and marketing, NBCUniversal-possessed cabler Mun2 notched several rankings key events in This summer. The funnel that targets youthful Latinos with programs that blend The spanish language and British had its greatest total-day (8 a.m.-2 a.m.) aud ever recently with typically 46,000 audiences. In primetime, Mun2 averaged 69,000 audiences for that month, and was up 33% in grown ups 18-34 (28,000) and 38% in grown ups 18-49 (43,000). Driving the rankings gains were Mun2's original drama series "Revoltions per minute Miami,'' in addition to reality skeins "I Really Like Jenni,'' "Special gems and also the Boss,'' "The Look'' and "18 and also over.'' The cabler's website also drenched record traffic throughout the month. Mun2 and it is brother or sister broadcast internet Telemundo are becoming more attention in the new regime at NBCU, as parent company Comcast has reported development in The spanish language-language media like a priority. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Constantly adds trailer and poster

A trailer and poster continues to be launched for Constantly, giving online romantics their start looking in a film which melted the hearts from the Sundance Film Festival jurors.Director Drake Doremus' indie flick follows the lengthy-distance relationship from a US citizen (Anton Yelchin) who falls deeply in love with a lady British student (Felicity Johnson) who overstays her visa and it is forced revisit London.The love story scooped the Grand Jury Prize for the best film only at that year's Sundance, while Johnson required the Special Jury Prize for the best actress."This person emerged in my experience immediately after [the very first Sundance screening] and that he just stopped working and stated he'd just spoken for an ex-girlfriend he had not spoken to in 5 years, just there, there within the audience," Doremus told Entertainment Week."He stated, 'The movie inspired me to do something on something I have been feeling and thinking for several years.A I had been amazed."Constantly is going to be launched in United kingdom movie theaters on 3 Feb 2012.

Tokyo plans Kagawa retro

TOKYO -- The Tokyo Film Festival has unveiled the outline of its 24th edition, skedded to unspool Oct. 22-30.Under the slogan of "Believe! The power of films," the fest will present six sections, including a major retro dedicated to thesp Kyoko Kagawa, who worked with such Golden Age greats as Mikio Naruse, Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa and Kenji Mizoguchi. In cooperation with the National Film Center, the fest will screen nine Kagawa pics, including Mizoguchi's 1954 period meller "A Story from Chikamatsu" (Chikamatsu Monogatari).As well as continuing its annual eco theme, including a Green Carpet and energy-saving screenings, the fest plans to mount what it calls its "Arigato" ("Thank You") project to raise funds for victims of the March earthquake and tsunami. Finally, TIFFCOM, the fest's market, has revealed plans for its 6th edition, including a new project market, skedded for Oct. 26-27, designed to support co-prods between foreign producers and Japanese partners, as well as pitching sessions for new creators, both foreign and Japanese. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com