Mary J. Blige and Gavin DeGraw to Perform on CBS' Celebrity Skifest Special (Exclusive)

Joe DeAngelis/ Persona PRBrandon Jay McLaren Brandon Jay McLaren is moving in with USA Network. The Killing's teacher has been tapped to co-star in White Collar creator Jeff Eastin's hourlong drama pilot for USA Network, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. McLaren, whose credits also include Being Erica and the feature Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, will play Dale Jakes, a quick-tempered U.S. Customs agent in the drama from Fox TV Studios that revolves around agents from various federal and state law enforcement agencies who all live in at an undercover house in Southern California. STORY: USA Network Back in Business With 'White Collar' Creator He joins Aaron Tveit (Gossip Girl), who will play a housemate/rookie FBI agent Mike Warren, in the project. McLaren will next be seen recurring on Season 2 of TNT's alien invasion drama Falling Skies. He's repped by Pakula/King & Associates, Hofflund/Polone and Trisko Talent Management. Eastin's White Collar was renewed for a fourth season in August; the Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay drama returns in January. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit TV Casting USA Network Jeff Eastin TV Development

George Michael Getting 'Better on an hourly basis,A States Boyfriend

La will quickly follow in NY's actions, disbanding its primary encampment of Occupy protesters.our editor recommendsOccupy Wall Street to produce Benefit AlbumFox News Anchor Calls Pepper Spray 'A Food Product' After Occupy Altercation (Video)Occupy Wall Street: News Organizations Complain About Police Treatment PHOTOS: The Scene at Occupy La Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a press conference Friday mid-day, telling the Occupy L.A. protesters that they have to leave their City Hall camping through the finish of Sunday. "The movement has awakened the nation's conscience, it's given voice to individuals who haven't been heard," Villaraigosa stated, adoring their motivations, but he was adamant the time had come to allow them to get a new venue for his or her protest. PHOTOS: 'Occupy Wall Street' Artists On Scene of Protests Roughly 485 tents are presently setup outdoors City Hall, something the mayor designed a reason for observing was not sustainable. "It's time to close the park and repair the causes,Inch he ongoing, "to ensure that we are able to restore public use of the park." Occupy L.A. leaders launched an argument Thursday they would reject orders to depart, and also the AP reviews this official order from Villaraigosa has yet to prompt the official response. PHOTOS: The Scene at Occupy Wall Street "I'm proud to the fact that this is a peaceful non-violent protest," Villaraigosa stated. "It's peaceful because we've made the decision to complete things in a different way in La. We've not looked one another lower across barricades and barbed wire." The town's official deadline for Occupy L.A. to abandon City Hall is 12:01 a.m. on Monday. Watch Villaraigosa's press conference below: PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'Occupy Wall Street Hollywood': Artists On Scene of Protests PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Scene at Occupy La Related Subjects Antonio Villaraigosa Occupy

Star Trek 2 Set for May 2013, Will Be in 3-D

With J.J. Abrams finally all-the-way onboard for sure, the Star Trek sequel is moving firmly ahead, settling into a May 17, 2013 release slot. What’s more? Abrams and LOST veteran Damon Lindelof are co-scripting with Trek writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. What’s even more-more? Star Trek 2 will reportedly be filmed in 3-D. Get ready for lens flares in yo’ face! Beam me up, Scotty — right into the freaking screen! Bring your own vintage, pre-annihilation Romulan ale and Federation perfume come May 2013 and make it a 5-D experience. Now that’d be going boldly where no filmmaker has gone before. [Deadline]

Bob Iger Says He's in 'No Rush' to Replace Regis Philbin on 'Live!'

While Regis Philbin ended his 28-year run hosting his ABC morning show Friday, his co-host Kelly Ripa has just locked in to a five-year deal at Live! with Disney-ABC Domestic Television.our editor recommends'SNL': 'Live! With Regis and Kelly' Holds Auditions for Regis Philbins Replacement (Video)Disney Chief Bob Iger Joins Apple BoardWho Will Replace Robert Iger as Disney's CEO? This means the show will extend through 2017, so the search is on for a quality, longtime co-host for Ripa. And Disney CEO Bob Iger says he is in no rush to lock in Philbin's replacement. STORY: Regis Philbin's Last Show: Luminaries Bid Farewell to 'Live!' Host "We're just not going to rush this," Iger told The NY Times after Friday morning's taping of Live! With Regis and Kelly. "It may take six months or longer. There is no deadline. If the press starts writing in six months that nothing is happening, that won't matter. We are going to take our time." Iger added that jumping to a new name would be disrespectful to the nearly three decades the 80-year-old Philbin devoted to the live talk show. "It's better to put a little space in there," he said. But he added: "This is a great job. We're hearing from a lot of people who want it." STORY: Why Regis Philbin Is Saying Farewell to 'Live!': Inside the Talk Show Host's Departure First up is Jerry Seinfeld, who will be stepping in as Ripa's co-host next week, while How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris will be co-hosting the following week. But Iger, who had a large part in recruiting Ripa for the show, pointed out that having a big-name celebrity co-host might not necessarily be the best move for the show. "Nobody knew Kelly," Iger pointed out. "Everybody thought we would pick a different name. But we took our time. And Kelly turned out to be a home run." Related Topics Bob Iger Regis Philbin Kelly Ripa Live With Regis and Kelly Disney-ABC Domestic Television

Dancing's Derek Hough: I Do Not Feel Pressure to Win

Ricki Lake, Derek Hough Derek Hough has already been the very first Dwts professional to win three Mirrorball trophies, and can he be the first one to win four? "Honestly, I do not believe pressure to win this year, so we'll see what goes on,Inch he informs TVGuide.com. "Previously, I have felt pressure to win, however i think this season, it's anybody's to win and no one's to get rid of.Inch Hough and Ricki Lake will dance it against J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff, and Take advantage of Kardashian and Cheryl Burke for Season 13 glory. Discover what Hough considers his competition, if he's concerned about his perfect record in finals and what he considers the judges' harsh critiques.Dancing's Cheryl Burke: Take advantage of Kardashian isn't distracted by Kim's divorceYou required a season off and you are already in the finals. That isn't too shabby.Derek Hough: Yeah! Initially when i first began practicing, I had been like, "Wait, how do you do that again?" [Laughs] However it just reminded me just how much I loved the satisfaction and fulfillment of taking someone who does not understand what they are doing and therefore are afraid or nervous to seeing these huge alterations in them, not only physically, but psychologically and personally. It is extremely fulfilling to determine that. It had been nice to understand that. I am so happy with Ricki. We are just attempting to appreciate it all now at this time. This really is Ricki's a week ago of ever being on the program and that i want her just to walk away stating that it's been an incredible experience and never "I'd never try it again!InchShe is were built with a couple of injuries. How's she doing?Hough: She's doing good. I believe you receive a second wind at this time. The thing is light in the finish from the tunnel. You simply go, "OK, we now have yet another week." It has been 13 days with no day off, therefore it is type of just like a countdown. It's exciting.You've four dances now. How's it going both handling it?Hough: It's crazy! A week ago, whenever we had three, because we'd a lot to complete, it had been almost laughable. It had been like, "We can not even cry about this. We must embrace it." I seem like this is the attitude now too - just embrace the workload and become excited and seem like you've won so far as getting this far and succeeding.Study Maks' Dancing blogYour freestyles will always be fun. What have you got your sleeve this time around? Hough: I actually do know. I have been experimenting by using it during my mind, however i haven't place it to paper yet, so I'd rather not say it aloud. But It might be really awesome whether it all goes based on plan. We'll observe how it shakes out.Exactly what do you think about Take advantage of and J.R.? The show has performed your competition with J.R.Hough: Yeah, but that is all in fun. It's nothing serious. We are all great buddies and happy to stay in the finals together. I believe Take advantage of in Week 1, you'd go, "He most likely would not be within the finals." I believe he'd the same factor. But it is literally been incredible to determine what lengths he's come, not only in dancing, but additionally like a person. But from Week 1, I certainly felt like J.R. could be here. He's certainly probably the most natural so far as ability goes and that i hope his ankle's okay. I believe he'll be fine. With Take advantage of and Ricki, both of them began from ground zero. There is however no competition between anybody. We stated after [Tuesday's] show, "Let us simply have fun." It will likely be a contented final. We are likely to get out there and have fun and whomever wins wins.There is some drama concerning the judges' critiques, beginning with Maks' comments that converted into a supposed "feud" between everyone. Hough: That was strange! I am unsure how that began. [Laughs] However the idol judges factor, I recieve it. The truth is, you need to do work so difficult and it is difficult to get critique. I recieve that, but it's their job to critique otherwise they are obsolete. When they just stated, "You probably did a fantastic job, carry on,Inch they would not be doing their job. I actually do seem like as harsh as they have been, they've sandwiched it with nice comments and individuals were overlooked [for] from the negative comments.Do you consider they ought to tone lower their negative remarks?Hough: Well, the way in which I view it would be that the idol judges happen to be exactly the same for 13 seasons. Nothing's transformed. So for me personally, they haven't transformed and they are not likely to change plus they should not change, so I must alter the way I prepare my partner to manage them every season. I only say, "Listen, this dance may be amazing. I believe you are fantastic and I really want you to think you are fantastic, however the idol judges may not enjoy it and merely be ready for your. I simply do not want you to definitely be amazed, so just appreciate it.Inch I am talking about, Bruno [Tonioli] puts his feet in the mouth lots of occasions, but it is fun since it is live television. He certainly has stated several things this year where I can tell why people would go personally, but he does not mean it.Take a look at photos from Dancing using the StarsNone of individuals were targeted at everyone, but did Ricki take anything they have stated hard?Hough: Yeah, I do not think they have stated items to her which were as harsh as a few of the stuff they have stated with other rivals. But honestly, this sounds bad, but nobody would judge her more roughly than I'd. I will be the first to inform her when the idol judges were too generous, like, "I am unsure we deserve that score." I believe due to that attitude, when they say something bad, she's not annoyed out because of it. As we perform a routine, she may not feel it's so good because I have informed her previously it had been better, but towards the viewer it could look great. I am tough on her behalf and due to that, she does not start out personally. But I am also her greatest supporter.Do you realize you've got a perfect record in finals?Hough: [Laughs] I'm and that i do not consider it. To tell the truth, previously haunt me, like, "I'd rather not result in the finals basically don't are able in winning." I do not view it like this any longer. I truly don't feel pressure to win. But I have never called it in and I have always labored very difficult and pressed my partners for their maximum ability, so we'll find out if it stays [perfect]!

Box Office Report: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Earns $30.3 Mil in Midnight Runs

Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 1 grossed $30.3 million in midnight runs as fans rushed to see the second-to-last installment in the blockbuster franchise.our editor recommends'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1' Black Carpet Premiere ArrivalsRed Carpet's Top 10: Twilight: Breaking Dawn Premiere'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Wedding Invitation Designer Revealed (Exclusive) PHOTOS: 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1' Black Carpet Premiere Arrivals The movie began playing in 3,251 theaters at 12:01 a.m. Friday, before moving into a total of 4,061 locations by mid-morning. Breaking Dawn narrowly set a new franchise record, coming in slightly ahead of the $30 million earned by The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in midnight runs in summer 2010, and notably ahead of the $26.3 million earned by The Twilight Saga: New Moon two years ago on the same weekend. Until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 came along this summer, the last two Twilight pics set records for best midnight performance. This summer, Deathly Hallows earned a massive $43.6 million in midnight grosses. Breaking Dawn now stands at No. 2 in terms of all-time midnight best. PHOTOS: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn': New Images From the Pentultimate Film in the Saga The movie's midnight performance suggests it will have no problems matching, or even besting, the $142.8 million debut of New Moon. PHOTOS: 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon': A Behind-the-Scenes Look Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, Breaking Dawn was directed by Bill Condon. As of Thursday, Breaking Dawn had already earned $8.9 million from a handful of foreign markets. Related Topics Robert Pattinson Taylor Lautner Box Office Twilight Kristen Stewart

How's Demi Moore Dealing With Split?

First Released: November 18, 2011 10:04 AM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Demi Moore attends the Margin Call premiere in the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, New york city, on October 17, 2011A next day of Demi Moore introduced that shes divorcing Ashton Kutcher red carpet years together, reviews have appeared concerning the condition from the actress following a split. She stated [she] would change for that better, a resource told Us Weekly. Adding, Which the time had come on her to pay attention to herself again and her women. The 49-year-old actress has three kids with ex Bruce Willis Rumer, 23 Scout, 20 and Tallulah, 17. Based on the mag, when requested about Ashton, Demi stated, He's his factor, but she wanted to pay attention to her. Most are wondering if Demi can change her Twitter handle, MrsKutcher, since she intends to divorce the 2 . 5 Males star. The happy couple were a couple of Twitters first celebs to embrace the micro-blogging website. This Year, Demis Tweets colored a significantly different picture from the couples relationship. you're the best. the best and i'm in love with you mr kutcher! Demi Tweeted in March 2010, based on People. After accusations of infidelity came about, her Tweets transformed. In September, the actress published a photograph of the damaged heart, writing, 2day can U feel some1 elses heart discomfort needs desires as U can seem to be your personal? Fundamentally counseled me reaching 4 exactly the same. By press time, Demi hasn't transformed her MrsKutcher Twitter handle. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Grey's Anatomy': Nia Vardalos and Peri Gilpin to Guest Star (Exclusive)

GettyNia Vardalos and Peri Gilpin A completely new group of brothers and sisters will probably be joining Meredith and Lexie on Grey's Anatomy. My Large Body body fat Greek Weddingstar Nia Vardalos and Frasier's Peri Gilpin will guest star by having an episode in the ABC medical drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Vardalos, whose TV work includes stints on Cougar Town, Drop Dead Diva and My Boys, may have Karen Winterbottom, while Ensure It Is or Break It's Gilpin may have her sister, Marcy, by having an episode in the Shonda Rhimes series. The bickering brothers and sisters may come to Dallas Sophistication within a chapter slated to air in mid-The month of the month of january. STORY: ABC Art galleries Developing Star Vehicle for 'My Large Body body fat Greek Wedding' Actress Vardalos' casting comes nearly 2 days after Grey's and Cougar Town producer ABC Art galleries introduced it absolutely was developing a comedy for your actress, who's married to Cougar Town's Ian Gomez. "Because Iangets treated perfectly onCougar Town,I desired to acquire that action," Vardalos mentioned in those days. STORY: 'Grey's Anatomy's' Kim Raver on Handling Tragedy: Teddy Can Change Than Izzie Gilpin, meanwhile, stars on ABC Family's Ensure It Is or Break It and carried out Roz Doyle for 11 seasons on NBC's Frasier. Vardalos is repped by Paradigm and Untitled Entertainment Gilpin is to apply Innovative Artists, Burstein Company and Blossom Hergott. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com Twitter: @Snoodit RELATED: 'Grey's Anatomy's' Kevin McKidd: Owen and Cristina Have 'Brushed A Good Deal Beneath the Carpet' ABC Nia Vardalos Peri Gilpin Grey's Anatomy

UTA Moving To New Beverly Slopes Location: 9336-9346 Social Center Complex Named UTA Plaza

Beverly Slopes (November 15, 2011) —- United states . Talent Agency and global property developer and owner Tishman Speyer today introduced that UTA, one of the cell phone industry's greatest talent and literary agencies, is moving its global headquarters. The organization has signed a extended-term lease for roughly 120,000 sq foot inside the 9336-9346 Social Center Drive complex in Beverly Slopes, that is re-named UTA Plaza. The 191,000 square-ft complex, formerly the planet headquarters for Hilton Hotels Corporation, comprises two four-story structures of a skybridge by getting an expansive outdoors plaza. UTA will be the sole tenant in the 9336 building and you will be a principal tenant in the adjoining 9346 building. The Two structures and campus will be in the best stages from the comprehensive expansion and restoration, and UTA will begin a unique multi-big interior and exterior build-at the begining of 2012. UTA expects to maneuver its 350 employees to the new building in the finish of 2012. Tishman Speyer acquired the house taken and immediately began concentrating on remodeling and rethinking it a premier space specific within the entertainment and media industry. UTA, presently located in Beverly Slopes Golden Triangular district, will be the latest entertainment and media company to uncover its global headquarters into this developing portion of Beverly Slopes, that's already where you can companies for instance Live Nation, YouTube, Netflix, America online.com and Relativity Media. After 20 great years on Wilshire we are excited to experience a new campus that will permit our ongoing growth and offer an enhanced atmosphere for that co-employees and clients, mentioned the UTA Board of Company company directors in the joint statement. UTA Plaza will give you all the amenities we have been looking for, additionally to advertise a sense of community for UTA. We are thrilled to have attracted UTA, one of the cell phone industry's leading entertainment firms, with this property, mentioned Tishman Speyer Regional Controlling Director Mark Laderman. After under yearly of possession, UTA Plaza was already well leased, an accomplishment that underscores the advantage of this property together with the effective development with the Capital of scotland - Beverly Slopes from the new entertainment business district. UTA has engaged award-winning worldwide architectural and design firm Rottet Studio to create out its new offices, with Rottet principals Richard Riveire, AIA, and Lauren Rottet, FAIA, AIA, leading the project. Rottet is presently creating the agencys new interior, which will add a condition-of-the-art 150+ chair screening room together with other amenities. Rottet may also be creating UTAs private outdoors spaces round the campus which will be useful for occasions and entertaining. Our goal is to make a space that reflects the first and dynamic culture of UTA together with the artistic brilliance from the clients, mentioned Rottets Richard Riveire. The completely new space allows us to picture the organization within the context from the bigger, more elegant plus much more technologically advanced interior set against a backdrop from the exciting new portion of Beverly Slopes. Its a great canvas which to use, and Rottet Studio is honored being entrusted using this project. UTA presently occupies 80,000 sq foot since the primary tenant of Wilshire Rodeo Plaza at 9560 Wilshire Blvd. The block-extended structure, situated between Camden and Rodeo Drives, remains the agencys home since its formation in 1991. Right before UTA, the structure was where you can Drexel Burnham Lambert inside the eighties. UTA was represented inside the lease settlement by its Chief Operating Officer Andrew Thau, Michael DeSantis of Cushman Wakefield in Century City and attorney Andrew Friedman of Friedman & Affiliate marketers of Beverly Slopes.

WME Signs Julian McMahon

EXCLUSIVE: Former Puppy nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon has signed with WME. He was with UTA. McMahon is better noted for playing womanizing cosmetic surgeon Christian Troy around the lengthy-running Forex drama Puppy nip/Tuck, which gained him a Golden Globe nomination. Around the feature side, the Aussie actor performed Dr. Victor Von Disaster within the Fantastic Four movie franchise. McMahon is handled by Will Ward.

Stock not only shock

Imagine if a Hollywood time machine whisked helmer John Ford from the set of 1935 release "The Informer," which earned him his first Oscar, to the shoot of "Brokeback Mountain" some 70 years later.The crusty master might have been taken aback by the newer pic's subject matter but he would have been quite at home with the actual process of shooting: 35mm film cameras, magazines, the shouts of "Action!" and "Cut." After all those years, moviemaking was still moviemaking.Yet just a few years later, filmmakers of that generation are reeling from future shock. Instead of film stock, it's digital files. No magazines, no need to cut, cameras can record continuously. Release prints are dying, replaced by DCPs. Digital 3D is the rage. Higher frame rates are on the horizon. Sound is moving to 7.1. Advances are about to put colors on the screen that film couldn't duplicate, and to expand the dynamic range of images to something like that of the human eye.It's a brave new world of possibilities, but it's turned movies into a kind of tech mad lib: 3D at 60p to the right of us; 4K with 7.1 to the left of us; Imax in front of us -- in 3D or 2D."For the first time, whether they will say it out loud or not, most everybody is looking at (the technological change) and beginning to realize that the industry that they knew isn't going to be the industry that is going to be there in, pick a number: a decade? Two decades?" says Ray Feeney of RFX, one of Hollywood's leading technologists. Even actors, notes Feeney, are seeing their craft evolve thanks to performance capture.Feeney is among those calling for an industrywide conversation to bring some order out of this chaos, and not just for the sake of finding something as stable as the 35mm film platform was. He notes that while the industry has sunk fortunes moving from 35mm to digital projection -- a lateral move in terms of quality -- the home-theater experience has improved by leaps and bounds."One of the most important things that has differentiated cinema in the past has been spectacle. Compared to any other way of getting your story presented, it's been head and shoulders above." But what qualified as spectacle even 20 years ago doesn't stand out anymore, compared to what auds can get at home today. Feeney says he's seeing a growing consensus that the industry must change, but suggestions range from 3D to more luxe accommodations at theaters.Peter Lude, prexy of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, says the industry needs to view this not as a problem but as an opportunity. "Theatergoers are going to see better quality images in a number of these ways," he says. "And it's not subtle."Today filmmakers have to choose which of these new features they want to work with, if only because the sheer amount of data of 4K/3D/high-frame-rate would be unwieldy at best. "I'd like not to have to choose between those technologies, but rather have a platform that the filmmaker could decide what's most appropriate for their particular story," Lude says.Feeney and Lude agree the industry needs to start talking, as it did when it created the Digital Cinema Initiative to set specifications for d-cinema. Says Lude: "I think everybody has skin in the game to map out the evolution. It's not a studio problem, it's not an exhibitor problem, it's everybody's problem. Or everybody's challenge: to be able to take what we've got and keep those growing to support future needs."HIGHLIGHTS9:45 a.m. Keynote Conversation with director Shawn Levy, interviewed by Variety's David Cohen.10:15 a.m. Keynote Conversation with director Roland Emmerich, interviewed by Variety film editor Josh Dickey.11 a.m. The State of Technology in Film: From Production to Exhibition. Speakers: Chris de Faria, Warner Bros.; Cliff Plumer, Digital Domain; Curtis Clark, chairman of the American Society of Cinematographers Technology Committee; Robert C. Bailey, Colorworks, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Moderator: David Cohen11:45 a.m. New Realities on the Set: How Are the Roles of the Film Crew Impacted in the Digital Age? Speakers: Steven Fierberg, d.p.; Oliver Bokelberg, d.p.; Bill Bannerman, co-producer and aerial unit director; Steven Poster, prexy of the Intl. Cinematographers Guild; Josh McLaglen, first AD/producer; Guy Hendrix Dyas, production designer. Moderator: Peter Caranicas, deputy editor at Variety1:45 p.m.What's Next for CGI Animation? CGI/Live-Action Hybrids, Motion-Capture, and More. Speakers: Cary Granat, Reel FX; Richard Hollander, Rhythm & Hues; Erik Nash, Digital Domain; Rob Bredow, Sony Pictures Imageworks; Steve Sullivan, Industrial Light and Magic.2:30 p.m. The New Technology Landscape. Speakers: John Schwartzman, d.p.; Peter Lude, president of SMPTE; Wendy Aylsworth, Warner Bros. Moderator: David Cohen3:15 p.m. Film Restoration. Speakers: Grover Crisp, Sony Pictures Ent.; Robert Heiber, Chase Audio by Deluxe; Andrea Kalas, Paramount Pictures; Moderator: Leonard Maltin.4:45 p.m. Masters of Technology: Making Movie Stars Out of Special Effects and Unique Imagery. Speakers: Steven Quale, director of "Final Destination 5"; Raja Gosnell, director of "The Smurfs," Chris Miller, director of "Puss in Boots"; Marti Noxon, writer "Fright Night" and "I Am Number Four"; Apurva Shah, supervising technical director on "Cars 2." Moderator: Variety's Karen Idelson Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Rewriting history to suit the demands of drama

'Iron Lady''Moneyball''Anonymous'Some of Hollywood's most honored films have tortured history into a question mark. Why would the Nazis of "Casablanca" have cared about letters of transit signed by Gen. De Gaulle? How could "Braveheart's" William Wallace have fathered England's Edward III, when the birth took place seven years after his death? Roman generals didn't sound British. Cole Porter wasn't straight. The "Bridge on the River Kwai" wasn't on the River Kwai.The thing is, no one cares, if the movies are good. But any notion that cinema has moved beyond fact-fudging will likely be quashed by this year's crop of reality-based projects, many of which dance blithely along the border between fiction and non-.Some of the infractions are relatively minor, and some are simply sins of omission: "Moneyball" sort of glosses over the fact that Billy Beane never did win a division championship with the Oakland A's, and the song his daughter sings in a pivotal scene didn't come out till six years after she reputedly sings it.In "W.E.," the Madonna movie about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, no mention is made of Wallis Simpson's rather infamous sexual history, pre-prince. And in "Anonymous" all bets are off: Not only did the Earl of Oxford allegedly write all the Shakespeare plays (a position many scholars agree with), but Shakespeare himself was a craven, illiterate lout; Elizabeth I had numerous illegitimate children, including the Earl of Essex (which will surprise fans of the 1939 Bette Davis film "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex"), and the old Virgin Queen was apparently pretty adept at performing oral sex.Elsewhere, the demands of drama naturally lead to the compression of time, characters and circumstances, whether the subject is a British prime minister, Marilyn Monroe or a comedy writer with cancer."I wanted to write the best movie possible," says Will Reiser, who based the screenplay for the cancer comedy "50/50" on his own experience. "But the movie is fiction. I didn't want to worry about my story and what happened to me, even though my arc and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's in the movie are pretty similar."Jason Keller, who scripted "Machine Gun Preacher," about the colorful Sam Childers, says he "had the opposite problem of screenwriters who have to tackle living people. I had so much material to sift through and research (that) I literally didn't start writing for almost eight months after I met him."The problem, Keller says, was the reality was occasionally too violent for the movies. "How do you talk about the violence of Central Africa," he asks, "and not tip over into a place where people simply cannot watch the screen?"What happens in "My Week With Marilyn," in which Michelle Williams inhabits the late movie goddess, is based on Colin Clark's memoir about his tenure as third AD on "The Prince and the Showgirl," in which Monroe starred with Laurence Olivier. "It's all conjecture," director Simon Curtis says of the star's alleged attraction to the young Clark (played by Eddie Redmayne). "Marilyn elsewhere in her life was always drawn to high-status alpha males, influential men. Michelle had an insight, though: In the 'Prince and the Showgirl,' her character is drawn to the young prince, not the Olivier character, and Michelle wondered if perhaps Marilyn was working out some kind of Method thing."Unlike "Moneyball," "50-50," or "Machine Gun Preacher," all of which required their director to make viewers care about subjects they likely didn't know anything about, "My Week With Marilyn" has the opposite problem. "For most people, she's a brand," says Curtis. "A poster, a Warhol. They don't know the performances, or the person." In other words, everybody thinks they already know her.In the case of some films this year, they know the subjects -- and don't like them. That's a problem shared by "The Iron Lady," helmer Phyllida Lloyd's story of Margaret Thatcher starring Meryl Streep, and "J. Edgar," Clint Eastwood's film about longtime FBI honcho J. Edgar Hoover, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Both have addressed the problem of long, politically charged lives by focusing on only a part of the story, and -- in the case of "Iron Lady" -- telling the tale from its subject's p.o.v."This story is not an objective biopic," Lloyd says of her film. "The story is all told from Margaret Thatcher's point of view and it's an imagined story of how it might it have felt to be the first female leader in the western world." She and screenwriter Abi Morgan tried to be extremely rigorous about the facts "but necessarily, there's some compression of time and one or two places where in order to make the story clear we've taken something out."On the whole," Lloyd says, "we're not nervous about being shot down in flames for our facts. We might be for the imagined part of the story."Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk," laughed at the idea that a subject's life has to undergo some alterations. "No, the movie is 77 years long," he says of "J. Edgar." "Every second of the man's life is in there."Seriously, he adds, you have to make tough decisions about what period of the person's life you want to tell. "In this case," Black says, "a cradle-to-grave version might not say anything. I'd done the research and I had this question: Why does this man replace the spot where love and family go with political admiration. What does that do to a man's soul?"The conclusion, Black says, was that Hoover's ruthlessness and inability to love had to do with his sexuality, and his times. Audiences may empathize, he says, even if they instinctively don't like Hoover."I'm not interested in a historical piece that makes people into good or bad solely, that have white-hat/black-hat caricatures," he says. "To me that's not truthful. Even if you loathe the character, you're not learning about them or learning something that could prevent a person like that from coming back into power."Ultimately, he adds, deciding what to leave in or cut "has to do with why you're making the film."EYE ON THE OSCARS: BEST PICTURE PREVIEWReading the voters' minds | Rewriting history to suit the demands of drama | Veterans back in action | Beyond the boardsAWARDS SEASON CALENDARNovember | December | January | February Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Colin Quinn Tweets That Will Ferrell Had a Bad Drug Problem

· I can’t quite tell whether he’s being facetious or aggressively bitter, but Colin Quinn tweeted today that Will Ferrell used to have a bad drug problem. Is he clowning? You tell me. Also in Buzz Break: Roger Moore bashes Quantum of Solace, Eddie Redmayne gets a fantastic new job, and Anderson Cooper uses his journalism powers to put the Kardashians in perspective. [ONTD] · My Week With Marilyn’s Eddie Redmayne, who might just be Cate Blanchett, is set to costar in Universal’s Les Miserables as Marius. Hugh Jackman will play Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe will play Inspector Javert, and Anne Hathaway is your new Fantine. [Deadline] · And the winner of the “Who Can Tear Down Kim Kardashian’s Marriage Best?” contest is… Anderson Cooper. [HuffPost] · Roger Moore called Quantum of Solace a “long, disjointed commercial.” Someone has a license to kvetch! [Cinema Blend] · Oscar producer Gil Cates died at 77. I hope his image will be broadcast six or seven times in the next “In Memoriam” reel. [Deadline]