Mueller set being Rome fest topper

ROME -- Rome Film Festival prexy Gian Luigi Rondi resigned on Friday, paving the means by which for former Venice topper Marco Mueller being soon hired Rome's new artistic director.Rondi's resignation follows a protracted political deadlock over whether Mueller -- ousted from Venice in December 2011 in the energy struggle after an positive eight-year stint -- should proceed and take Rome reins. Rondi, a 91-year-old film critic, was adamantly against prospecting Mueller. He wanted former Rome artistic director Piera Detassis, whose mandate expired in December, being reupped. However Rondi's mandate may have exipired in June. Ultimately, that did not give Rondi enough muscle to push Detassis through."I sacrificed myself to be able to save the arrival edition in the festival, which risked not happening," Rondi told journos, after walking lower.There's no immediate comment from Mueller, whose candidacy was backed by Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno and Lazio Region governor Renata Polverini, who both lean right politically.Part of Rome's center-left camping rather opposed Mueller. Nevertheless the fierce fight blurred party lines, with several leftist pols fighting rather the veteran fest meister, with a lot of worldwide contacts and cachet, had the most effective qualifications.Mueller's Rome appointment appeared to become backed by Italy's movie association ANICA. "You are prepared to disarm," stated ANICA prexy Riccardo Tozzi. "Now politics will need to take one step to permit the professionals do their jobs." The following factor is perfect for any new Rome board being installed, with outgoing Warner Bros. Italia topper Paolo Ferrari expected as prexy.Inside a couple of days, the completely new board, consequently, is predicted to appoint Mueller as artistic topper getting a mandate to relaunch and reshape the seven-year-old Eternal City event, now prone to transfer to some late November slot. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Prescreen Partners With Facebook For VOD

Movie sites and marketers still tout their close ties with Facebook, permitting their prepared to be utilized and shared with the massive social media site. Streaming video when needed site Prescreen revealed intends to make its lengthy form content available via Facebook’s Open Graph Platform. For any 60-day window customers can view trailers from Prescreen’s curated choice of films and rent preferred choices on-demand. Prescreen game titles include 100s of films from film festivals worldwide. The website can also be spotlighting the arrangement with Prescreen because of “real-time statistics and detailed demographic information supplied by content customers,” permitting entrepreneurs to focus on audiences through internet marketing along with other channels. Customers may have a choice to show business social configurations and Prescreen states it'll only share trailer viewing history, not rental or sales records.

Warner Bros. Wants To Adapt Bleach

Peter Segal overseeing the projectWith Akira's engine still idling away in development hell, you might think Warner Bros. would shy away from trying to adapt any more popular manga/anime titles into movies for now. But you would be wrong! The studio has now teamed up with Peter Segal to produce and possibly direct a new take on Bleach.Originally crated by Tite Kubo, Bleach follows teenager Ichigo, a lad with more than a few problems on his plate, including the ability to see ghosts. His family is attacked by a powerful, malevolent lost soul known as a "Hollow" and the incident leaves our hero with the ability to hunt the spiteful spirits. But instead of simply going on a rampage, Ichigo chooses to use his newly extended powers to protect the innocent and help lost souls find peace.Bleach has been wildly successful around the world, not least in Japan, where it has more than 75 million print copies in circulation. The manga title has already been adapted into a long-running anime series, which has 16 seasons under its belt. "I've always been a huge fan of Bleach and have great respect for its creator and the truly original and amazing world he has created in this manga," Segal blabs to Variety.While we're concerned about a man who has mostly spearheaded comedies taking on something like this, it's still at an early stage. So far all the project has is a writer, with Wrath Of The Titans' Dan Mazeau taking the first crack at the script.

Bill DeCinces dies at 84

Bill DeCinces, an art director who ended his 53-year stint at Universal as senior V . p . in the art galleries operation group, died on Feb. 10 from complications of Parkinson's disease in Tarzana, Calif. He was 84. Born in La, William D. DeCinces adopted inside the actions of his father, who labored at Universal's still lab, coping with his first job within the studio -- just like a laborer digging ditches -- at 16. At night just like a grip too as with set lighting, he settled inside the art department, moving from assistant art director to art director and, eventually, in your thoughts in the department. Becoming an assistant art director or art director he done hundreds of television episodes his credits incorporated "Ford Theatre," "Shotgun Slade," "Whispering Cruz," "Thriller," "M Squad," "Alcoa Theatre," "Laramie," "The Virginian," "Wagon Train," "McHale's Navy," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "G.E. True Theatre" and "Ironside." Film credits incorporated "The Plainsman," "Texas Within the River," "Gunfight in Abilene," "The Reluctant Astronaut," "Games" and "Eye in the Cat," which younger crowd done numerous telepics, including "Stranger on the go,Inch "Quiet Evening, Lonely Evening," "You'll Like My Mother" and "That Specific Summer season." Through the sixties he not only increased being mind of Universal's art department but furthermore acquired permission becoming an architect. He designed the Universal Art galleries Florida production facilities in Orlando. Inside the mid-'70s DeCinces was promoted to backlot methods manager after which it to senior V . p . in the art galleries operation group, a scenario through which he ongoing to become until his retirement in 1999. DeCinces was area of the Academy of motion Picture Arts & Sciences as well as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. DeCinces' wife of 54 years, Lynn Dickey predeceased him in 2004. Children add a daughter, a boy, three grandchildren and a pair of great-grandchildren. Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Actress Judi Dench States She's Fighting Blindness

LONDON (AP) Actress Judi Dench is fighting to be able to save her sight.The Jason Bourne star mentioned inside an interview launched Saturday that she'd been recognized with macular degeneration, a wrist watch condition that could cause blindness, which her eyesight have been so bad that they couldn't even read her scripts.The 77-year-old told the Daily Mirror they was based on pals and family to keep her current along with her lines."It's frequently my daughter or my agent or possibly a buddy and extremely I love this, because I wallow inside it and think about the storyline in my opinion,In . she told the newspaper throughout the interview inside a London hotel. "Probably the most distressing factor is at a coffee shop or restaurant during the night I am unable to start to see the person I get dinner with."The Mirror didn't say wherever or when the interview needed place. Messages left for Dench's agent were not immediately returned Saturday.Dench made her Shakespearean debut in 1957 at London's Old Vic and it has since adopted an enormous volume of theater, film and television roles.She won an Academy Award on her behalf role as Full Elizabeth I in Shakespeare for one another which is most broadly recognized to worldwide audiences as intelligence boss M inside the Jason Bourne series.Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Judi Dench PHOTO CREDIT Getty Images LONDON (AP) Actress Judi Dench is fighting to be able to save her sight.The Jason Bourne star mentioned inside an interview launched Saturday they have been recognized with macular degeneration, a wrist watch condition that could cause blindness, which her eyesight have been so bad that they couldn't even read her scripts.The 77-year-old told the Daily Mirror they was based on pals and family to keep her current along with her lines."It's frequently my daughter or my agent or possibly a buddy and extremely I really like that, because I wallow inside it and think about the storyline in my opinion,In . she told the newspaper throughout the interview inside a London hotel. "Most likely probably the most distressing factor is at a coffee shop or restaurant during the night I am unable to start to see the person I get dinner with."The Mirror didn't say wherever or when the interview happened. Messages left for Dench's agent were not immediately returned Saturday.Dench made her Shakespearean debut in 1957 at London's Old Vic and contains since adopted an enormous volume of theater, film and television roles.She won an Academy Award on her behalf role as Full Elizabeth I in Shakespeare for one another which is most broadly recognized to worldwide audiences as intelligence boss M inside the Jason Bourne series.Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Is The Voice Moving to the Fall?

The Daily Show, Ricky Gervais and Jon Stewart Our top moments of the week: 14. Most Shocking Reveal, Runner-Up: As if it wasn't gross enough that Jess came thisclose to using her super-sized box of condoms to have a one-night stand with Schmidt on New Girl, the camera cuts to the other side of Schmidt's door to show that he's already getting busy... with Cece! The next morning, an embarrassed Jess calls Cece to confess her close call with Schmidt, just as Schmidt rolls over and snuggles Cece's neck. Please, ladies, no catfights. It will just make it all that much more pathetic. 13. Most Cliched: Ivy gets a callback for the role of Marilyn Monroe on Smash and does her best to wow the producers, writers, director and casting agent. It seems that all her years of hard work have paid off when she lands the part! But oh, what's this? She's also sleeping with the director? Complicated! Don't worry, Team Karen. If you're upset that the small-town girl lost out on the part of a lifetime because of her sound Midwestern morals, fear not! We have it on good authority that the competition to play Norma Jean is far from over. 12. Worst Room Service: Amber, 19, and her 28-year-old boss, Bob, take a business trip together on Parenthood, but after their steamy kiss last week, things don't stay professional for long. As the couple is making out on his bed, Amber's aunt Kristina barges in and demands that Bob - who is also Kristina's boss - leave the room while she packs up Amber's stuff and drags her home. Lesson learned: Never pack a suitcase full of high-heels and lingerie in front of your nosy cousin -- especially when you're a Braverman! 11. Best First Kiss: It's been two years since Hotch's ex-wife Haley was murdered, so it's time for Criminal Minds boss Hotch to get back into the dating pool. After weeks of flirting, er, training with Beth for his triathlon, Hotch nervously and clumsily (hey, it's been a while!) asks her out. He shows far more conviction later, when he surprises her with an impromptu date on Valentine's Day. But Hotch isn't the only one with a spontaneous trick up his sleeve: Beth stuns him with a kiss before they even leave her doorstep. "Thought we had to get that out of the way," she says. "Spare us any awkwardness." Now that's another way to get your heart racing! 10. Best Return: Bree's recent turn for the slutty on Desperate Housewives nets her a very persistent admirer, who hits on her at Ye Olde Tavern for Wanton Housewives and then follows her outside when she rebuffs his advances. He takes her keys and forces himself on her in the parking lot - that is, until a good Samaritan rolls (yes, rolls) out of nowhere and tasers the perp before threatening him with pepper spray. It's Orson! Who says a knight and shining armor needs a white horse? Orson's wheels work just fine! 9. Keep Your Eyes on the Road Award: Fearing that Rick may have fallen prey to the walkers while going to town to get Hershel on The Walking Dead, Lori decides to get in a car and go after him - without telling anyone. Of course, the second she takes her eyes off the road to consult a map (she has no idea where she's going, of course), she hits a walker, which mysteriously causes her entire car to roll over. Oh, and she's pregnant! 8. In Too Deep Award: On Castle, the mystery writer and Beckett question Dr. Nelson Blakely, a professor who pioneered the linchpin theory - a small event triggers a larger one, like, say, the end of the world - behind the CIA's back. Complying with Blakely's wishes, they drive him to a pier, where the professor nearly comes clean about everything, including what the linchpin is, But at the sight of a flock of pigeons (seriously), he dashes from the car and is shot. The hitman's next target? Castle and Beckett, duh. A car rams into theirs from behind, pushing them off the pier and into the water. Will they die? Spoiler alert: Of course not! But how many more life-threatening situations can they find themselves in before they finally confess their feelings for each other? 7. Best Bullseye: Justified's Raylan Givens has been pretty much keeping his gun holstered this season, in part because his aim has been off since being shot. But when faced with death at the hands of a group of organ smugglers, Raylan's aim is once again true. Lying in a bath tub groggy from a sedative, Raylan is still able to shoot through one of the kidney-hungry thugs and kill the cute-as-a-button ringleader (Psych's Maggie Lawson). It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "body shot." 6. Seven-Year Itch Award: Lonely, depressed Ted finds a kindred spirit in Robin on their apartment rooftop on How I Met Your Mother. It seem s that after Robin accepted Kevin's proposal earlier in the episode, he broke it off when he learned that she never wants to have kids. "He couldn't look past this," she says. "I mean, who could?" "I could," Ted replies. "I love you, Robin." So are we back to square one? For the love of Barney, who the heck is the mother?! 5. Worst Matchmaker: Since her own love life -or lack thereof - is such a disaster, Gossip Girl's Blair focuses her energy on playing Cupid for others by reuniting exes Serena and Dan on Valentine's Day. It's a fine plan, until Dan instead kisses Blair at Nate's V-Day party, and to her own shock, she kisses him back! Chuck and Serena catch them canoodling, of course. Don't worry, Patti Stanger; your job is safe. 4. Most Romantic Way to Prove a Point: It perhaps makes sense that Jules, Cougar Town's most predictable woman in Florida, craves more spontaneity in her life. Well, boy does Grayson deliver, with an elaborate marriage-proposal plan. He tricks Jules into thinking she's TP'ing a house belonging to neighborhood hoodlums. In fact, the house is her own listing (oops). Grayson shows up, dressed as a cop, to scare her, but then gets on one knee under a surprisingly romantic canopy (made of toilet tissue) and pops the question, with the rest of the Cul de Sac Crew as witnesses. Somebody pass the Charmin - our eyes are getting misty! 3. Best (Unplanned) Tribute: In a case of really eerie timing, Mercedes performs "I Will Always Love You" on Glee just three days after the death of the woman who made it famous, Whitney Houston. The song fits perfectly with the story line - she loves Sam, but can't be with him because she's unsure of herself after cheating on Shane - but Amber Riley's powerful rendition makes the song more than a plot point and a goodbye to Sam, but rather a moving tribute to one of the world's foremost vocalists. 2. Most Shocking Reveal: Revenge finally answers the season's burning question during the final moments of the long awaited Fire & Ice Ball. After Charlotte screams bloody murder - literally - from the beach, Victoria & Co. run to the sand, and she kneels over a lifeless body, begging her son to wake up. She turns over the body to reveal that it is actually Tyler. Daniel, with blood on his shirt, slowly walks toward her. "Don't say a word," Victoria orders her son before embracing him. Are we glad they didn't kill the hot guy? Sure, but did they really have to sacrifice one of this TV season's best villains to save him? RIP Tyler! Oh yeah, who shot him? Daniel? Amanda? Takeda? 1. Best Dirty Talk: The last time Ricky Gervais dropped by The Daily Show, he and Jon Stewart floated the idea of a Stephen Hawking talk show. This time? They talk about panda sex! It all starts when Gervais laments that pandas aren't doing all they can to prevent their own extinction. "We're all rushing around going, 'Let's save the panda' ... but they're not meeting us halfway. They're not having sex," he says, noting that the Chinese are now giving Viagra to pandas. It gets a little racier from there, but trust us when we tell you that you must watch their genius improvisational interplay. Can Gervais come back every day, please? What were your top moments?

Exclusive Motherhood Sneak Look: Will Max's Asperger's Keep Him Sidelined in class Forever?

Max Burkholder and Peter Krause Since first learning their boy has Asperger's, Parenthood's Adam (Peter Krause) and Kristina Braverman (Monica Potter) have fought against against non-stop to supply Max every available chance rather than let it dictate his existence. But how will you safeguard your boy or daughter when the relaxation around the world doesn't notice by doing this? In Tuesday's episode (10/9c, NBC), Adam and Kristina push Max (Max Burkholder) not to abandon the love of basketball and distribute of gym class. However, there's more to Max's sudden decision to back in the sport than what you know already. Watch full cases of Motherhood "I realize I have got a great lay-up, which i tell another kids that, nonetheless they still don't pass me the ball," Max states. "Should i be so excellent at basketball, then how come I buy selected last?" "I am unsure, friend," Adam states. Watch this exclusive (and heart-breaking) clip below: Motherhood airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.

Soul Train Creator Don Cornelius Dead of Apparent Suicide

Diana Ross, Don Cornelius Soul Train creator and longtime host Don Cornelius was found dead at his home Wednesday morning in Sherman Oaks, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reported. The Los Angeles Police Department discovered Cornelius' body about 4 a.m., and sources said a family member found him with a gunshot wound to the head that apparently was self-inflicted.See other stars we've lostAuthorities have ruled out foul play. Detectives have not found a suicide note.Born in Chicago, Cornelius, who was 75, started his career as a radio personality and later went on to create and host the musical variety show, Soul Train, in 1971. The series aired in syndication until March 2006, and spotlighted R&B, soul and rap performers. It was often called "the black American Bandstand"-an analogy Cornelius himself disdained.The show claimed in its last seasons that it was the "longest-running, first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history." More than 1,100 episodes were produced.The impeccably dressed host was known for ending each show by saying in his distinctive baritone voice: "I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!" He stopped hosting the show in 1993.Check out the rest of today's newsSoul Train also spawned the Soul Train Music Awards in 1987. The 2011 Soul Train Awards aired last November on BET.BET planned to pay tribute to the late TV host with an airing of the documentary Soul Train: Hippest Trip in America Wednesday at 8/7c."We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Don Cornelius. He was a pioneer in the television and music industries and his legacy and influence on American culture will continue to live on for many generations to come. He made Soul Train a destination for lovers of black culture and music and connected the world to our culture and we are forever grateful," said BET Networks Chairman Debra L. Lee.Check out a clip from an episode of Soul Train: