'The Help' nabs three kudos at SAG Honours

Spencer'The Help' cast"Modern Family" castDujardin Hollywood stars bathed support on "The Assistance,Inch giving the ensemble drama a trio of Screen Stars Guild trophies for ensemble, lead actress Viola Davis and supporting actress Octavia Spencer. Thesps also demonstrated affection for "The Artist," giving Jean Dujardin the acting award in what's probably the most carefully contested groups. Christopher Plummer won a mans supporting actor trophy for "Beginners." A psychological Davis received the cast and finest actress trophies consecutive in the finish of Sunday night's events in the Shrine Auditorium. "It has been this type of pleasure to take part in this cast," she stated in her own second acceptance speech from the evening. "Many of us can inspire change -- every one people.Inch The SAG cast award -- an- nounced by Kaira Pitt -- cheers the Oscar prospects for "The AssistanceInch because the champion has matched up the very best picture Oscar champion eight occasions within the last 16 years, most lately this past year when "The King's Speech" required home an actress as well as an Oscar. In '09, the 2 groups diverged when "Inglourious Basterds" won the SAG trophy and "The Hurt Locker" required best picture. Although "The AssistanceInch and "The Artist" happen to be an element of the trophy conversation for several weeks, Sunday's wins bring more clearness to some race that's been indicated as missing management. "The AssistanceInch -- that has made $170 million locally for DreamWorks/Touchstone -- won the cast award within the Weinstein Co.'s"The Artist," Universal's "Bridesmaids," Fox Searchlight's "The Descendants" and The new sony Classics' "Night time in Paris." Davis and Spencer were forecasted faves, but a couple of surprises emerged -- the greatest being Dujardin winning over George Clooney in "The Descendants." Davis capped two stars who had won Golden Globes, besting Meryl Streep ("Iron Lady") and Michelle Williams ("My Week With Marilyn") Spencer's early win for "The AssistanceInch portended a large evening for that civil-privileges drama. All five SAG nominees, including Spencer's castmate Jessica Chastain, also received Oscar nominations within the supporting category. Plummer added another award to his string this year for Focus Features' "Beginners." He's also won the nation's Board of Review, a Golden Globe and also at Critics' Choice. The nominations in SAG's four acting groups matched up 17 from the 20 Academy Award noms introduced a week ago. The guild honours are carefully viewed throughout honours season since the acting branch from the Academy of movement Picture Arts and Sciences may be the biggest voting contingent for that Academy awards using more than 20% of AMPAS voters. Among SAG's eight TV-acting groups, Alec Baldwin would be a large champion because he tallied up his sixth consecutive victory within the lead comedy actor category for NBC's "30 Rock" and mounted happens by yelling "omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod." "Boardwalk Empire" required probably the most trophies within the TV category because the second season from the Cinemax series repeated for drama cast as well as for Steve Buscemi as top drama actor. Betty Whitened repeated having a win as comedy actress for TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland," denying Tina Fey a 4th SAG Award for "30 Rock." Jessica Lange won the drama actress kudo for FX's "American Horror Story." Paul Giamatti required the miniseries actor award for HBO's "Too Large to Fail" while Kate Winslet won the actress category for your cabler's "Mildred Pierce." Mary Tyler Moore was honored using the 48th annual Existence Achievement Award in the ceremony. The SAG Honours were broadcast survive TNT and The best spinner's.The Those who win:MOTION PICTURECAST"The AssistanceInchActing professional Jean Dujardin -- "The Artist"ACTRESS Viola Davis -- "The AssistanceInchHelping ACTOR Christopher Plummer -- "Beginners"SUPPORTING ACTRESS Octavia Spencer -- "The AssistanceInchStop ENSEMBLE"Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"PRIMETIME TELEVISIONDRAMA CAST "Boardwalk Empire"COMEDY CAST"Modern Family"DRAMA ACTOR Steve Buscemi -- "Boardwalk Empire"DRAMA ACTRESSJessica Lange -- "American Horror Story"COMEDY ACTOR Alec Baldwin -- "30 Rock" COMEDY ACTRESS Betty Whitened -- "Hot in Cleveland"ACTOR Inside A TV MOVIE/MINISERIES Paul Giamatti -- "Too Large to Fail"ACTRESS Inside A TV MOVIE/MINISERIES Kate Winslet -- "Mildred Pierce"STUNT ENSEMBLE"Bet on Thrones"LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDMary Tyler Moore Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Startup surge at bazaar

Activity at the markets main venue, the Martin Gropius Bau, looks to be brisk.While some parts of the pic biz are consolidating, the film sales arena is quietly expanding, and with the role of the sales agent becoming an increasingly complex one -- many are getting involved in financing and production at ground level -- the new shingles are capitalizing on opportunities in the marketplace. This year, buyers in Berlin will see many familiar faces on the sales side, but under new banners. Lisa Wilson, former exec at Graham King's GK Films and affiliate Parlay Films, recently ankled the company to launch her own startup sales outfit, the Solution Entertainment Group, which she and fellow Brit Myles Nestel, a film financier, will be bowing at the European Film Market. The shingle will present a slate of pics including "Writers," written and helmed by newcomer Joshua Boone and produced by Informant Media and Judy Cairo ("Crazy Heart," "Hysteria"), and "Hector and the Search for Happiness," directed by Peter Chelsom. Likewise, former Hyde Park Intl. prexy Mimi Steinbauer ankled Ashok Amritraj's outfit back in September for her own international sales company. Steinbauer will unveil her venture, Radiant Films, at the Berlinale with titles such as Tom Shadyac doc "I Am" and "Lullaby" on the slate. International sales stalwart Brian O'Shea, former topper of Affinity Intl. who put together pics such as "Drive" and "Rabbit Hole," resurfaced just before AFM in November with his new venture the Exchange. Company saw a robust market in Santa Monica, where it co-repped Juno Temple thriller "Magic, Magic" with 6 Sales and sold Vera Farmiga's directorial debut "Higher Ground." O'Shea will also descend upon the Berlinale this year with fresh titles for buyers. The fallout from the world economic crunch a few years ago meant that less product was available but what was getting made was better quality -- a boon for experienced international sales agents. "We've been able to get really good product very quickly because of all of our experience and history and knowing how to handle product," says O'Shea, who recruited former After Dark Films exec Laura Ivey and Indie Film Depot exec Giovanna Trischitta. "I feel like the market is very much in flux right now," he says. "But there's no question that our focus is theatrical films that play to a worldwide marketplace as that's easier to sell and generates more cash for distributors." He describes the business as one that aligns producers with the right information allowing them to bring financing to the table. "Our mantra is to never change the way or focus of information," he says. "The landscape is changing so quickly and we understand this." Eventually, says O'Shea, the company will start to put financing into pictures. And while the Exchange, which will focus primarily on U.S. pics, has been self-financed entirely by O'Shea, other outfits are relying on more capital. Wilson, who has more than four decades of experience in the biz having headed international sales at Nu Image and Hyde Park Intl., aligned herself with former investment banker Myles Nestel, who has plowed more than $1 billion into 75 film and TV projects including "Machete" and "Machine Gun Preacher." This fusion of sales and capital was key, says Wilson. "There are certain sales agents who are aligned with producers who are high-net worth individuals but on the other side of the coin, many good producers don't have access to money," she says. "So in that sense, it's important." Nestel agrees, saying as a financier, he realized that what is fundamental in the market when a company has capital is "to control the sales process and have your own sales function within the company in terms of distribution and sales." He adds that aligning with Wilson was "hand in glove." "In this competitive environment you have to be able to show your competitive advantage," Nestel says. "Our ability to bring capital to the table is very important." The Solution is in the process of raising a "large fund" in Wall Street. Steinbauer, who prior to Hyde Park Intl. worked as a sales consultant on pics such as "The Hurt Locker" and headed up international sales at Franchise Pictures, says her decision to launch Radiant Films is due to the fact that she wants to be able to choose the titles she works on. "I wanted to be a little bit more in control of the product and how buyers are supported in terms of distribution," she says. "It was important to be able to put them altogether." Backed by a private equity source, the banner will start as a traditional sales agent and then, with some financing in place, eventually be able to plug financing into pics. "I think there's a lot of opportunity out there now," says Steinbauer. "There is a lot of good theatrical product out there and I'm seeing wonderful scripts. While it is a competitive and challenging time in the sales arena, if you have the basis and the experience, there is a huge opportunity to be starting a new company, especially considering the new roles that sales companies play these days." EOne is also ramping up its sales and financing activities: In November, the company moved its main sales headquarters to the U.K. and tapped industry vet Sally Caplan managing director of the London-based international sales division. In Berlin, Caplan and her team will be taking the opportunity to explain what sorts of things will be changing in the future for the company. "On the international side, we will be looking for bigger, broader and more mainstream pictures going forward," says Caplan, who adds that the division will still be involved with Canadian and specialist pics, for which its Toronto-based operation is well known. "I love film and being involved in the business," says Caplan, who's worked in all facets of the biz at outfits such as PolyGram, Momentum Pictures and Icon. "It's great that now we've got deeper pockets to be able to bring films together and make them happen." Return to the Berlin Preview >> Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Studiocanal acquires 'Charlie Casanova'

LONDON -- Studiocanal has acquired U.K. and Irish privileges to Terry McMahon's questionable feature "Charlie Casanova," that has five nominations in the Irish Film & TV Honours including best film. The self-funded, no-budget drama stars Emmett J. Scanlan like a sociopathic Irish yuppie who kills a woman inside a hit-and-run accident, after which uses handmade cards to determine his fate. It had its world premiere at South By The West this past year, before winning the prize for the best first feature in the Galway Film Festival. Studiocanal intends to release the pic this spring. The film has triggered very divided response by experts and audiences. "It sets to viscerally provoke as numerous questions as you possibly can, and answer not one of them,Inch stated McMahon, an old actor who also authored for Irish TV cleaning soap "Fair City." He taken care of the 11-day shoot from their own pocket after prospecting cast and crew via Facebook. Dublin facilities house Windmill Lane provided extensive publish-production services free of charge. McMahon stated he was "shocked and incredibly amazedInch through the pic's IFTA nominations, which incorporated best film, director, script and editing, along with a Rising Star jerk for Scanlan. The those who win is going to be introduced February. 10. "It's inspiring to determine IFTA and it is people show the moral and esthetic courage to aid a movie as individually divisive as 'Charlie Casanova,'" he said. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Mark Wahlberg Apologizes For 9/11 Comments

First Published: January 19, 2012 11:35 AM EST Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Mark Wahlberg attends the 2011 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street, NYC, January 11, 2011Mark Wahlberg has apologized for asserting that he would have stopped terrorists from flying an airliner into NYs World Trade Center on Sept. 11 if he had been on the plane. The star of the film Contraband issued his apology Wednesday after comments he made to Mens Journal drew criticism. He told an interviewer in the February issue that had he been on American Airlines Flight 11 with his children it wouldnt have went down like it did. Terrorists flew the plane with 92 people aboard into the north tower on Sept. 11, 2001. In his apology, Wahlberg said to speculate was ridiculous to begin with. He said that to suggest he would have done anything differently than the passengers on that plane was irresponsible. Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Former Full House Sweetheart Jodie Sweetin Turns 30!

First Published: January 18, 2012 5:11 PM EST Credit: FilmMagic LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Jodie Sweetin arrives to support The Gay and Lesbian Centers gala An Evening With Women at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills on April 16, 2011 Its been 25 whirlwind years since Jodie Sweetin got her start on Full House as the precocious Stephanie Tanner. Now a proud mother of two, the actress who turns 30 on Thursday is happy, healthy and back on track on the eve of her three-decade mark after facing a few derailments in recent years. The trouble started early on following Jodies eight-year run on Full House. While attending Southern Californias Chapman University, the actress married LAPD officer Shaun Holguin in 2002. Two years later, during a break from acting, Jodie experimented with crystal meth and rapidly developed a crippling habit which she openly discussed in her 2009 tell-all memoir, UnSweetined. I wanted to prove that I wasnt the girl from Full House, that I could get more trashed than everyone else, she writes in her book of what drove her to abuse drugs and alcohol. Jodie successfully kept the addiction from her husband until 2005, when she was hospitalized following a night of partying. After a stint in rehab, she and Shaun divorced in 2006. Jodie met her next beau, Cody Herpin, while she was in sober living with people from her rehab center and the two began dating. They married in July 2007 (after just two months of dating), and Jodie gave birth to her first child, daughter Zoie, via C-Section in April 2008. Sadly, the new parents happiness was short-lived, as Jodie filed for legal separation from her then-husband in November 2008 just seven short months after their daughters arrival. The divorce documents revealed a rocky union between the pair. Our house is in foreclosure, our water has been shut off twice Currently, all of our other utilities are overdue, Jodie alleged in the court papers obtained by Access Hollywood at the time. Jodie claimed that Cody, who she stated was a driver and transportation coordinator when they met, stopped working after they were married except for the month of October 2007, and kept finding one excuse after another for his failure to even attempt to find employment. The contentious situation took a turn for the worse in December 2008, when a judge ruled that Jodie could only see her then 8-month-old daughter when she was at her parents home or in their presence, after Cody raised questions about Jodies sobriety during an emergency court hearing, alleging his estranged wife had fallen off of the wagon. Nearly one year later, Jodie spoke with Access Hollywood about her battles with drugs and alcohol, and multiple stints in rehab, comparing her struggles with those of Lindsay Lohan. Ive done that, Jodie told Access during a November 2009 interview when asked about Lindsays highly-publicized hardships. Ive gone through [rehab] a couple times and Ive gotten sober and not sober and sober and not sober and The saddest thing is knowing that theres nothing anybody can do until that persons ready. You cant save anybody. They have to do it themselves Thats exactly the person that I used to be. After finalizing her divorce with Cody in April 2010, the actress found love with Morty Coyle, a DJ, and became pregnant for the second time, announcing the happy news in May 2010. Morty and Jodie welcomed daughter Beatrix Carlin Sweetin Coyle on August 31, 2010. Jodie was amazing and is doing great, Morty said at the time. Were already madly in love with Beatrix and are so grateful for the support from our family and friends. And we cant wait for her big sister Zoie to meet her. Jodies 29th birthday ushered in another blessing an engagement. Morty proposed to his now-fiancee at her birthday party last year with a 2.5-carat sapphire ring, surrounded by 18 diamonds. The pair is happily enjoying their engagement, and has no plans to rush to the altar. Were big supporters of marriage equality, Jodie told Access in February 2011. So until everybody has the right to do this, were gonna hold off on [getting married]. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Prior to the Experts Choice after-party

Paul Feig and Judd Apatow Penelope Ann Burns, Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo and Missi Pyle get physical at Critics' Choice Movie Honours. Enlivened through the film's best picture win in the Experts Choice Movie Honours, "The Artist" cast people clowned around backstage in the Paladium, obliging photogs with every imaginable pose lacking an individual pyramid before responding to reporters' questions."You will find a lot of beautiful people here I must pressure myself to not request for autographs," stated Michel Hazanavicius, who also required home the helmer recognition Thursday evening.But allow producer Judd Apatow, who won the comedy prize for "Bridesmaids," to strike back at experts and also require spurned him previously. "There's no afterparty. Have you considered that? That's how fucking cheap this type of person,Inch he joked prior to the Palladium aud.Apatow mustn't happen to be clued in to the fete lower the road at Boulevard3, where house band Licorice entertained the "Bridesmaids" crowd, including Paul Feig and Wendi McLendon-Covey.

Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm star in Friends With Kids trailer

A first trailer has arrived online for romantic comedy Friends With Kids, and happily, it reunites Bridesmaids quartet Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm, Chris O'Dowd and Maya Rudolph.The film follows a group of thirtysomething friends, two of whom (Jennifer Westfeldt and Adam Scott) decide that they ought to get together for one night only to create the baby both of them have always wanted.Take a look at the trailer below...Disappointingly, it doesn't look half as edgy as Bridesmaids was, although the presence of half of that film's cast does at least look set to guarantee a few laughs along the way.However, if you haven't already guessed where exactly the plot is going to go from the trailer above (gosh, is romance under their very noses after all?), you're really not thinking hard enough.Directed and written by Westfeldt herself, Friends With Kids will open in the US on 9 March 2012. A UK release date has yet to be confirmed.

Netflix offers WB lower DVD prices

Since Netflix has made the decision to hold back 56 days to supply rental costs of Warner Bros' newer game game titles, Variety finds that in exchange for that more window (up from 4 days), Netflix can get some cost credits on purchasing Digital video disks within the studio. WB's sister company, Cinemax went inside the other way alone deal with Netflix the other day. Still Netflix's new deal with WB isn't as lucrative since it was formerly: the last 28-day window gave the business cost breaks on streaming content they're not going to get this kind of discount now, sources near the companies mentioned. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Seem minds

Whether as mixers, editors or designers, these pros assisted shape the soundscapes of a few of the season's Oscar challengers.Anna Behlmer"Thor," "Super 8" and "Puss in Boots" mixer has "It" factorSound mixer Anna Behlmer has labored with premier helmers including Michael Mann and Steven Spielberg. This Year alone the ten-time Oscar nominee's work might be heard in "Thor," "Super 8" and "Puss in Boots." And she or he really wishes she could tell you just how she always wanted work in seem.Behlmer arrived connection with seem work when her then boyfriend and today husband, Curt, was being employed as a seem engineer. While going to him at the office, someone recommended she obtain a union card and begin employed in seem, so she leaped in and not looked back.Since that time, Behlmer has labored at notable seem houses like Todd-AO and also at Fox's seem department. Soon she'll start work on the brand new Technicolor facility around the Vital lot. She's also were built with a longtime collaboration with fellow seem mixer Andy Nelson, with whom she shares Oscar nominations. But she sees legendary Richard Portman being an a pivotal estimate her early career."I'm not sure if there is a minute after i understood I might be a good mixer," states Behlmer. "But Richard Portman, who had done 'The Godfather' and 'Deer Hunter,' trained us a lot about mixing and that he stated in my experience eventually, 'I've trained many people and also you know when someone has it so when they do not. And you've first got it.' "Craig BerkleyQuirky noises in favorite films inspire "Tree of Existence" seem designerCraig Berkey favors the types of small, cool and singular sounds he heard in the favorite films, lengthy before he'd ever labored like a seem editor or mixer. "In 'Barton Fink' there's this seem of the bell that you simply hear car hotel once the primary character is looking to get someone's attention," states Berkey. "I recall thinking at that time how great which was since it set the atmosphere and demonstrated you new things concerning the character."Nowadays Berkey is really a regular on Coen siblings projects. He was their seem designer and seem re-recording mixer on "A Significant Guy" and "True Grit," the second which introduced him Oscar noms both in seem editing and mixing.Berkey's seem sensibilities also have made him a frequent collaborator of Terrence Malick on such projects as "The " New World "" and "The Tree of Existence." He's now beginning focus on Malick's latest film."Carrying out a film with Terry (Malick) is excellent while he would like you to tell the truth with him and simply tell him what you believe, even if you can't stand something," states Berkey. "Hard part comes as he insists upon develop a seem that signifies awareness."Karen Baker LandersHearing-impaired father trained editor the significance of soundAs the daughter of the guy with severe hearing problems, Karen Baker Landers was acutely conscious of the energy of seem. "My father loved the seem of the thunderstorm," recalls Landers. "He loved all of the crackles, wind noises and also the seem from the rain. So shortly before he died, as he had almost completely lost his hearing, I gave him a recording of the storm he would pay attention to again and again again on his earphones."Landers, who required home an Oscar together with longtime collaborator Per Hallberg for seem editing 2007's "The Bourne Ultimatum," was handed a tape recorder to experience with growing up. She instantly loved taking all of the sounds round her or being able to play it well. Now a supervisory seem editor with Soundelux in Hollywood, Landers has done films as diverse as "Ray" and "The Proposal." This Year year her work might be heard in "Eco-friendly Lantern" and "I'm # 4.InchNevertheless, there's one sort of film she'd still like to do.InchI am dying to perform a horror film like 'The Sixth Sense' since you really reach have fun with the way in which seem could possibly get a crowd ready for any large scare after which scare them much more when tips over,Inch laughs Landers.Tom MyersThree-time Oscar nominee grows fastest at Skywalker SoundTom Myers understood he'd arrived somewhere special as he began work on Skywalker Seem. "There is this attitude here of discussing ideas and giving feedback on each other peoples work," states Myers, a 3-time Oscar nominee. "You are able to walk lower the hall and you've got the stories of seem like Gary Rydstrom and Randy Thom immediately if you would like a viewpoint on something."Myers, whose work could be heard in 2011's "Cars 2" in addition to past Pixar hits "Toy Story 3," and "Up," visited film school thinking he'd become an editor. Throughout his studies he recognized the large impact seem had around the overall results of a movie. He was hooked.Upon coming at Skywalker, Myers soon found that it had not been about using sounds which were an exact reproduction from the noises produced by whatever was on the watch's screen at that time. It had been more essential to make use of sounds that made dramatic sense, no matter their actual origin."On 'Cars 2' and 'Cars' in the beginning there is this concept of utilizing the seem produced by the precise brand name of vehicle which was within the scene in the beginning," states Myers. "However it wasn't quite working and that we wound up adding other sounds that felt suitable for the storyline rather."Eye around the Academy awards: VFX, Seem & EditingLong photos spur sly methods Oscar lacks home for 'designers' Seem minds Bakeoff buzz: Heart trumps hardware Shorter vfx reels demand new strategy 'Bridesmaids' editors required lengthy view Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

VIDEO: Kathy Griffin Strips Lower on CNN's New Year's Eve Live

Kathy Griffin Rather than shedding an F-explosive device, Kathy Griffin dropped her dress throughout CNN's New Year's Eve Live special Saturday evening. The comedienne, that has co-located the special from Occasions Square with CNN anchor Physical Violence Worsens during the last many years, removed lower to her bra and under garments shortly before night time. Griffin, 51, eventually put her clothes back on, although not before she danced before revelers striking on (married) CNN contributor and former Presidential agent David Gergen. Kathy Griffin to go to NBC's Whitney "Gonna admit, just a little annoyed I am not in jail, after my CNN new year's strip lower so Cher could appear with my Mother & bail [money]," Griffin tweeted late Saturday evening. Griffin formerly produced a stir by cursing around the air throughout CNN's New Year's coverage last year and 2010. She was relatively well-socialized this past year after CNN threatened to drag her from the air and get back her salary. Watch Griffin's strip-lower here: