MTV Video Music Honours: Beyonce's '4' Producer, The-Dream, Teases Her VMA Performance

Terius Nash, also known asThe-Dreamto his fans, has created for 2011 MTV Video Music Honours artist and nominee,Beyonce, for any couple of years, including her hit "Single Ladies (Put A Diamond Ring Onto It)" and her newest album4.our editor recommendsMTV Video Music Honours: 5 Things Been sent at Perez Hilton's Pre-PartyMTV VMA Preview: Katy Perry, Adele Fight for Moonmen, Rhianna to PerformMTV VMAs: Maroon 5's Adam Levine Jams the Award Show The R&B Singer, songwriter and record producer located the 2011 ASCAP VMA Bowling Mixer on Saturday evening where he taunted Beyonce's much-anticipated performance on Sunday, tellingThe Hollywood Reporter, "I can not let you know what she's carrying out, however the idea is excellent.Inch PHOTOS: MTV Video Music Honours: All of the Nominees Additionally to carrying out, Beyonce expires for 3 honours for "Run The Planet (Women)": Best Female Video, Best Choreography and finest Cinematography. And Also The-Dream thinks she warrants everybody. "She's so great. I type of began to comprehend why many people hate her a lot,Inch he informs us. "It's like 'I just hate you, lady, you are so great at everything.' She does an excellent show. She works her a-- off. And she's among the toughest employees, lady or guy, in the commercial.Inch The-Dream states that within the three approximately years he's been dealing with Beyonce, he's many userful stuff here about what must be done to remain on top within the music business. PHOTOS: VMAs Most Crazy Red-colored Carpet Fashion "I usually believed that work ethic will get you would like you would like ultimately and she's only the realization of this, working through tough occasions," he states. "When it is sweet, it's sweet," he continues. "But what really defines an individual, as she's proven, is the fact that working when it is the toughest, if you need to reprove yourself, you need to prove it once again. It's likeMichael Jordangetting three, retiring, after which he returns and will get three more. There is nothing much better than that." Discover the shocking truth that nabbed Beyonce three VMA nominations below. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro Related Subjects Beyonce MTV Video Music Honours VMAs 2011

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Hurricane Irene: Systems Interrupt Programming for Leader Obama's Address

As Hurricane Irene comes barreling toward the New England, systems are enhancing their coverage.our editor recommendsBox Office Preview: New England Theaters Brace for Hurricane IreneHurricane Irene: FEMA Urges Individuals to Tweet, Facebook Leader Obama addressed the country from his vacation just right the New England's Martha's Winery. STORY: Hurricane Irene Bumps Up Rankings, Website Traffic for that Weather Funnel NBC, ABC and CBS pre-empted their programming to air his short address, by which he introduced he'd spoken to governors of affected states and requested individuals to heed evacuation alerts. Fox, however, continued to be with an episode from the Dr. Oz Show. However the network doesn't possess a news division like NBC, ABC and CBS. The Elements Funnel is broadcasting news about Hurricane Irene night and day. MSNBC, Fox News Funnel and CNN will also be investing considerable airtime towards the impending storm. Related Subjects Obama

Hanks, Baldwin Endorse USAN as SAG N.Y. Race Gets Hotter

Since announcing its formation recently, One Strong Unionthe group challenging U . s . Screen Stars Countrywide for charge of the Screen Stars Guild's New You are able to divisionhas recommended its endorsements from numerous stars active in guild politics. Now USAN has hit back rich in-profile backing of their own. On August. 24, USAN introduced it has brought endorsements from Tom Hanks and Alec Baldwin."I support those who have led SAG throughout these last several weeks of enormous alterations in our art and industry," Hanks stated inside a written statement. "USAN continues to be vital in leadership positions and it has labored continually to create SAG and AFTRA together to produce One Union for everyone all of us. This is exactly why I support USAN."Baldwin added, "I strongly endorse the direction the union is certainly going in now, and that i encourage all N.Y. SAG people to carry on to aid USAN."USAN has received backing from SAG national leader Ken Howard and national secretary-treasurer Amy Aquino. The 2 top chosen officials, together with first national v . p . Ned Vaughn, will join current New You are able to division leader Mike Hodge and USAN's board candidates in a meet-and-greet August. 25 in New You are able to. The big event will occur at 6:30 p.m. at Gossip Bar & Restaurant, 733 Ninth Ave. (between West 49th and 50th roads), in Manhattan. SAG people can RSVP to reservation@usanforoneunion.com.One Strong Union has brought endorsements from Holter Graham, leader from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' New You are able to local, in addition to several SAG people involved with the founding of USAN greater than a decade ago. The brand new group introduced recently it would area a slate of candidates to challenge USAN within the New You are able to board elections. A number of individuals candidatesincluding Mike Robards, who's opposing Hodge within the race for division presidentwere formerly aligned with USAN.On August. 22, inside a letter published to 1 Strong Union's blog, Robards belittled the television-theatrical contract that SAG collectively discussed with AFTRA captured, indicating dissatisfaction using the deal's new-media provisions. In "2011 we didn't are actually excellent strides in new media, which disappointed me like a person in the settling team," Robards authored. "There is without trying to lessen streaming home windows, no thinking provided to alternate models for residuals obligations, for example percentage-based residuals."Both USAN and something Strong Union claim that they can support merger with AFTRA in their platforms. By Daniel Holloway August 24, 2011 Tom Hanks PHOTO CREDIT Jason Merritt/Getty Images Since announcing its formation recently, One Strong Unionthe group challenging U . s . Screen Stars Countrywide for charge of the Screen Stars Guild's New You are able to divisionhas recommended its endorsements from numerous stars active in guild politics. Now USAN has hit back rich in-profile backing of their own. On August. 24, USAN introduced it has brought endorsements from Tom Hanks and Alec Baldwin."I support those who have led SAG throughout these last several weeks of enormous alterations in our art and industry," Hanks stated inside a written statement. "USAN continues to be vital in leadership positions and it has labored continually to create SAG and AFTRA together to produce One Union for everyone all of us. This is exactly why I support USAN."Baldwin added, "I strongly endorse the direction the union is certainly going in now, and that i encourage all N.Y. SAG people to carry on to aid USAN."USAN has received backing from SAG national leader Ken Howard and national secretary-treasurer Amy Aquino. The 2 top chosen officials, together with first national v . p . Ned Vaughn, will join current New You are able to division leader Mike Hodge and USAN's board candidates in a meet-and-greet August. 25 in New You are able to. The big event will occur at 6:30 p.m. at Gossip Bar & Restaurant, 733 Ninth Ave. (between West 49th and 50th roads), in Manhattan. SAG people can RSVP to reservation@usanforoneunion.com.One Strong Union has brought endorsements from Holter Graham, leader from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' New You are able to local, in addition to several SAG people active in the founding of USAN greater than a decade ago. The brand new group introduced recently it would area a slate of candidates to challenge USAN within the New You are able to board elections. A number of individuals candidatesincluding Mike Robards, who's opposing Hodge within the race for division presidentwere formerly aligned with USAN.On August. 22, inside a letter published to 1 Strong Union's blog, Robards belittled the television-theatrical contract that SAG collectively discussed with AFTRA captured, indicating dissatisfaction using the deal's new-media provisions. In "2011 we didn't are actually excellent strides in new media, which disappointed me like a person in the settling team," Robards authored. "There is without trying to lessen streaming home windows, no thinking provided to alternate models for residuals obligations, for example percentage-based residuals."Both USAN and something Strong Union claim that they can support merger with AFTRA in their platforms.

ABC Buys 2 Projects From Feature Authors

Within the latest round of script purchasing, ABC has acquired two projects from feature auspices — a comedy from Buddies With Benefits authors Keith Merryman and David Newman, that is executive created by Mark Gordon, along with a drama from Altering Lanes scribe Michael Tolkin, that is executive created by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura. ABC TV Galleries, where Di Bonaventura and Gordon’s companies are based, is creating. This marks the very first purchase for Di Bonaventura Pictures Television, Di Bonaventura’s partnership with Serta McDermott released in June. Merryman and Newman’s Status Update is really a single-camera ensemble comedy in regards to a lady who's re-entering the field of dating equipped with the influences of recent technology and also the various opinions of her buddies and family. Gordon and Andrea Shay executive produce, with Merryman and Newman co-executive creating. Additionally to co-writing with Will Gluck the Justin Timberlake/Mila Kunis comedy Buddies With Benefits, Merryman and Newman, repped by APA and Circle of Confusion, also lately composed the film Think Just like a Guy, which just wrapped principal photography, in addition to a rewrite on Walden Media’s Mother’s Day. The untitled Michael Tolkin/David Zabel project, that has Tolkin set to create and former ER showrunner Zabel attached as showrunner, is really a drama in regards to a complex female ADA in Bay Area who runs against her boss and becomes the brand new DA. Tolkin, Zabel, Di Bonaventura and McDermott are executive creating. This is actually the third purchase for ABC Galleries-based Zabel this year, together with Western Gunslinger and 2 Streets, a drama with Jason Richman.

Colin Farrell on Playing 'Sensual, Erotic' Vampire in 'Friday Night'

Colin Farrell appreciated playing a vampire in "Fright Evening.""People will always be attempting to bend and manipulate time to stay in their favor and seeking to defeat the ravages old," he informs "Reuters" of his new movie, in theaters Friday. "And vampires of the underworld are forever youthful, although it'd most likely be very annoying to become converted into one at 97, or 6. After which the way they attack and feed off their prey appears very sensual and erotic -- biting the neck. It's not necessary to be considered a vampire to take part in such activity, however it takes it for an extreme. Bloodstream may be the liquid of existence."Putting on the fangs was "easy!" Farrell adds. "They are doing the mold, then file them lower, and also you don't even see them putting on them. And it is very exciting. You insert them in, and instantly, due to all of the films you saw like a kid, you begin acting a particular way."Farrell states he would be a "huge" horror fan like a kid."Becoming an adult I loved "Nightmare on Elm Street," "Halloween" and "Friday the thirteenth," and there is nothing beats being scared. But still even today, just relaxing in the cinema and being frightened and discussing laughter -- nothing can compare to it," he states.He was eager to defend myself against lighter roles this season.InchI felt like I'd had 4 or 5 years where I'd done more dramatic pieces and performed figures that were not really getting a great time within their lives for a number of reasons, and I'd wanted to behave lighter. Then both of these films ["Horrible Bosses" and "Fright Evening"] arrived also it was happy days -Time to visit and play," he states.To do a horror remake, "I had been dubious in the beginning," Farrell confesses. "I loved the initial and you love to think about yourself as mixing things a bit and being a little original -- and this can be a remake of the vampire film in three dimensional. That's type of three for 3 in unoriginality.""However I felt I had been in good hands with [director] Craig Gillespie who did "Lars and also the Real Girl." I had been a large fan of this, and that i just loved the script. I did not wish to enjoy it, however it would be a blast of the read," states Farrell. "And playing the villain was great, although I believe my character's more about the periphery than he is at the initial.Inch The Hollywood Reporter

Netflix Moving Into Piracy-Wracked Spain

The company is targeting a January 2012 target date for its debut ina country in which illegal downloads outstrip movie ticket sales by 4-1. Spain. There was no announcement from the streaming and DVD rental giant but Pedro Perez, president of the local producers association, confirmed that Netflix had contacted various Spanish producers ahead of its launch. Spain is on the International Intellectual Property Alliances Watchlist of offenders for piracy with 400 million illegal downloads per year, compared with 100 million tickets sold in the theatres. Several attempts by local producers and distributors to provide legal downloading sites in Spain have struggled so far. Apples iTunes store, which opened in Spainin November, has gotten off to a slow sales start.

Johnny Depp's 'Lone Ranger': Disney Hits The Brakes

by Sterling Wong Its a difficult economy available at this time, as well as Hollywood, chief creator of dreams and dreams, is feeling it. Despite proven box office rainmakers The Actor-brad Pitt and Gore Verbinski attached, word got out last Friday that Disney was shutting lower producing "The Lone Ranger due to its overblown $200 million cost. With franchises like Rise from the Planet from the Apes and Thor showing that cautiously allocated movies can continue to become hits, galleries have apparently stiffened their reins and be increasingly more not wanting to greenlight costly projects. Indeed, The Lone Ranger isn't the only large-budget project Hollywood has closed its doorways in recent several weeks following the jump, take a look at three other ambitious films which got the boot this season. "In the Mountain tops of Madness" The saga of Gullermo del Toros pet project continues to be well-recorded during these parts. Madness, a cult short story by horror author H.P Lovecraft, told the storyplot of the Antarctic expedition that finds out some fantastical and terrible ruins, including mythical animals. The film was ready to visit, with del Toro in the helm and Tom Cruise attached, until Universal condemned the brakes about the $150 million project over del Toros insistence release a it by having an R rating rather than a PG-13. Most probably the studio was worried that the R rating would limit the flicks audience making it harder for this to make money. Stop worrying though for all of us film nerds. Talking with MTV News a week ago, the director is certain that Mountain tops is going to be made at some point, saying, 'Mountains' may happen eventually. Cthulu willing, well have it made. Seems like a promise in my experience! "The Dark Tower" This ones not too surprising. Recently, Universal rejected to proceed with Ron Howards dangerous and ultra-daring adaptation of Stephen Nobleman classic 7-novel series starring Javier Bardem which was designed to include three movies and 2 television seasons. While no official reason was proffered, chances are the studio had commitment issues and wasnt prepared to splash its cash to shoot an misguided property consecutive across multiple media platforms. (Its not all series shot back-to-back works out such as the The almighty from the Rings obviously). It is possible that Howard continues shopping the Dark Tower project with other galleries that may greenlight it, but one imagines he may need to compromise, shoot the very first movie and range from there, instead of indulge his initial ambitious plan. "Oblivion" Heres a contented ending finally. Oblivion, a advanced sci-fi love story project directed by Tron: Legacy lensman Frederick Konsinki, was release by Disney in March since the studio felt that this didn't match the Disney brand. Also Disney wanted the film to become launched having a "PG" rating while Konsinki had specific a "PG-13". Fortunately for sci-fi fans, Deadline reported in May that Universal -- the identical ones who broke geek hearts using their decision to pass through on Madness and Dark Tower -- walked directly into finance the film, provided Kosinski will keep your budget around $100 million. Tom Cruise is placed to star (I suppose his schedule is obvious given "Madness"s no-go!) and cameras are going to roll in October. With mega-costly fare like Cowboys & Aliens disappointing in the box office, it's possibly understandable that Hollywood is under keen to invest in films with $200 million prices, unless of course they're proven franchise fare like Pirates, Transformers or Harry Potter. Simultaneously, within the cases of auteurs like del Toro, Howard and today Verbinski, possibly their financial needs are essential to satisfy their motion picture visions, not simply because they only desire to include an extraneous explosion in some places. Film nerds much like me only hope these filmmakers can in some way exercise handles galleries, as Konsinki did, therefore we will have the ability to catch their recognized ambitions about the giant screen, with artistic intents uncompromised. Inform us what you believe within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Panthro's Back! ThunderCats' Kevin Michael Richardson on the Missing Thunderian

ThunderCats Relax, ThunderCats fans. Panthro isn't dead. "I noticed a little bit of a rumor about that," Kevin Michael Richardson, who voices Panthro in the Cartoon Network remake, tells TVGuide.com. "Someone said that on Facebook, and I was like, 'Really?'" When ThunderCats made its triumphant return to television in July, fans were outraged that Panthro, an integral part of the original '80s-era ThunderCats team, was absent without a satisfactory explanation. In the reboot, Panthro is first reported to be killed in action. Later, a false Panthro is revealed to actually be the evil Mumm-Ra in disguise. After all of this misdirection, it's a relief to know that we'll see the real Panthro back, however briefly, on Friday's episode (8:30/7:30c on Cartoon Network). What's on your Watchlist? Create one and add favorites like ThunderCats In "Song of the Petalars," Lion-O and his gang are running from lizard assassins when they happen upon the Petalars, creatures who live their entire lifetime in 24 hours. Through this short-lived race, the ThunderCats learn a valuable lesson about keeping hope alive. Here's a peek at Lion-O's first encounter with the Petalars: "It was really a heartfelt episode," says Richardson, who's also known for voicing Cleveland Jr. on The Cleveland Show. "I saw a rough cut of it a couple months ago and I must say we were all in the room saying, 'Wow.' Atticus [Shaffer] (The Middle) played the young child in the episode. ... He was like a one-take wonder with the amount of lines he had to squeeze in such a short amount of time." Although Richardson doesn't divulge any details about where Panthro has been ("The show will address that," he says) or how he meets up with Lion-O, it's not difficult to guess. "I was very impressed with how they introduced him," he says. "I'm not really supposed to tell you. It's when you least expect it and it's when the team really needs him the most. It's brief but it's really action-packed and a very cool entrance, I must say. He'll show his silhouette and then he'll use the nunchaku, showing off his skills, but he uses the ThunderTank mostly. It is sweet. Just think of a pimped out version of the old one. It's bada--." Ho! Check out ThunderCats videos Here's more from the interview with Richardson, who identifies with Panthro. They're both bald!: What's your previous knowledge of ThunderCats? How were you approached to play the voice of Panthro?Kevin Michael Richardson: I remember watching it back in the '80s. I had some ankle surgery because of a sports injury and so I was in the hospital and it would come on every day more than once. Here I was, a big guy watching ThunderCats. I really enjoyed it. Panthro was my favorite, I must say. So when they approached me for this job, I was blown away. I had no idea that they were going to try to make a new one. The fact that I was cast in the role to boot was just the icing on the cake for me. Why was Panthro your favorite Thunderian? How has his character changed in the new version?Richardson: From the original, he's tough, he's strong and has that gravitas to him, but he also had some heart. ... It wasn't just this, big brash tough guy. He had wisdom to teach to the rest of the ThunderCats, even though he wasn't the appointed leader. I just loved him. In this new twist that they have on it, he's still a tough guy, he has some lightheartedness to him, however, he's a little more edgy. There's a lot less B.S. to him. He's a little scarred up. You can see some battle scars. I don't know how he got [the scar over his eye] yet. I think that's going to come up in some future episodes though. Since you were familiar with Earle Hyman's work as the previous Panthro, how did you try to make the voice for the updated Panthro different?Richardson: A lot of times when people cast me, they want this big, deep black voice ... And I tend to recycle them with different roles from time to time. Fortunately, Panthro is not really a big, black dude, but a big fat cat. From what you and I remember from back in the day, he did have this nice, smooth, ethnic touch to his voice. So I had no idea [what to do]. It could have been anyone: an Asian, a Puerto Rican, Caucasian, who knows? Richardson: When I went on tape, I said, "Who is this guy, really?" And I thought: tough, strong, silent type. That was all I kind of get in my head. It was kind of a Michael Clarke Duncan-ish, Keith David-ish feel. Two good friends of mine. So I tried to add a texture to him. ... It kind of flowed out a little differently from the other guys I do. I kind of loved what came out. ... I know they wanted an authoritative voice, a lot less B.S., almost brooding. ThunderCats photos Are you jealous of Will Friedle for the "ThunderCats, ho!" battle cry that he gets to do as Lion-O? Do you want Panthro to have his own?Richardson: No, actually I was cheering for him every time he said it. I just looked at him, and was like, "Dude, you get to say that every time!" So I'm like a little kid and grabbing his shoulder. I think he might have to see a chiropractor because I might have thrown his spine out of whack. They sit me across from him now because I used to grab him every time he said that line. What's your take on this new Mumm-Ra? Is he among the scariest cartoon villains of all time?Richardson: He's pretty hard core in this one. If you remember the same thing in the old series, he gets all big and strong and buff, when he turns into like, Super-Mumm-Ra. This guy, I don't know what they did to him, but they Hulked him out. This guy is pretty bada-- on this series. So how psyched are you that they found a bald Thunderian for you to play? Actually, he has more of a fringe thing going on than the previously fully bald Panthro.Richardson: (laughs) What are you trying to say? Yeah, is that what's going on with his face now? It's kind of designed almost like Hellboy's hairstyle. I noticed that. I thought that was kind of cool. Bald brotha, nothing wrong with that. But is he really "bald"? Aren't they cats covered with fur?Richardson: Yeah, so maybe it's really short fuzz. That's what we're looking at. How do these feline Thunderans maintain their hair? Do they shampoo?Richardson: You know what? I don't even want to go there because I know how my cat takes a bath. And if I were around Cheetara, forget it, my wife would probably punch me in the face. Did you have a cartoon crush growing up? I liked Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe and Speed Racer's Racer X.Richardson: Cheetara definitely sprouted a few [manly hairs] on me, I'd say. But the thing is I already hit puberty by then, but I think she helped a few more grow. Ain't it the truth. I'm trying to think back... it wasn't necessarily animation; it was more live action when I was a kid. It was Jaime Sommers on the Bionic Woman. I was this kid just fascinated by this chick who could kick my a--. How do you unleash your inner panther/Panthro? Is there catnip involved?Richardson: You'd have to ask the wife that. That's getting kind of personal. Here's one more peek at ThunderCats' "Song of the Petalars," which airs Friday at 8:30/7:30c on Cartoon Network.

Cannavale scrubs into 'Nurse'

CannavaleBobby Cannavale will join the cast of Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" for its fourth season. He'll play a tough hospital administrator sent by All Saint's new parent company. He'll appear in all 10 segs of the Edie Falco starrer, which begins production in September in Gotham for a 2012 premiere.Cannavale most recently starred opposite Chris Rock on Broadway in "The Motherfucker With the Hat." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Gavin DeGraw Cancels More Tour Dates After NYC Attack

Gavin DeGraw has canceled eight more performances after being attacked and hit by a cab in New York City earlier this week. "Due to the recent attack and resulting injuries, Gavin DeGraw has been advised by his doctor to take additional time to recover from his concussion, broken nose and other injuries," his rep tells The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. He had been performing with Maroon 5 and Train. Canceled dates include: Bethlehem, PA-August 14 Hersey, PA-August 15 Nashville, TN- August 17 Indianapolis, IN-August 18 Des Moines, IA-August 19 Chicago, IL-August 20 Clarkston, MI-August 21 Toronto, ON- August 22 He'll rejoin on Aug. 24 in Columbia, Md. The last dates are Aug. 25 in Syracuse, NY and Aug. 26 on Holmdel, NJ. DeGraw was released from the hospital earlier this week after undergoing surgery. He was attacked by three men in New York City's East Village around 4 a.m. on Monday, and then hit by a cab several blocks away. Related Topics Gavin DeGraw

Jon Cryer On Recent Two And A Half Men Drama: It Was An Awful Thing To Be A Part Of

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Jon Cryer is glad to be back at work and away from the drama that plagued Two and a Half Men earlier this year. It was an awful thing to be a part of, Jon said of the conflict between Charlie Sheen, CBS, Warner Bros. and Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre, on KTLAs morning show on Wednesday. Im glad that some measure of peace has come out of all of it, but I never want to go through it again. When asked about the rumored death of Charlie Sheens character, Charlie Harper, which is expected to occur in the season premiere on September 19, Jon said the plot is a little different than has been reported. I read that theres some sort of meat explosion. I dont want Americans to be afraid of their meat and meat by-products, he said. There is no meat explosion Im not allowed to say much about it. He did add, however, Its funny. Jon also said he has been enjoying working with Ashton. Theyve managed to bring in Ashton in a really terrific way, Jon said, turning his talk to the season premiere taping. He tore the roof off the joint. Hes just amazing. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Nigel Lythgoe: The 3 Idol Idol judges Coming back

FIRST Released: August 10, 2011 3:57 PM EDT La, Calif. -- Season 11 of yankee Idol may have three familiar faces in the idol judges table. The American Idol Show producer Nigel Lythgoe introduced on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on Wednesday morning that Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson together with host Ryan Seascrest would return pick up. In my opinion remained as awaiting the state bulletins however i am delighted to express that three idol judges, together with the brilliant host of yankee Idol has returned for the following season, Nigel stated. Based on Ryan, J.Lo, Steven and Randy is going to be facing Idol hopefuls shortly. Auditions with all of three begin in a few wks, Ryan Tweeted on Wednesday. The American Idol Show Season 11 will premiere on FOX in The month of january 2012. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Family of Real-Life 'Pizza Bomber' Not Laughing at 30 Minutes or Less

In Ruben Fleischer’s upcoming comedy 30 Minutes or Less, Jesse Eisenberg plays a pizza delivery man coerced into robbing a bank by two thugs (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) who strap a bomb to his chest and threaten to detonate him. Comedy ensues, of course, but the real-life 2003 event that loosely inspired the film didn’t end so hilariously, as the family of late Pennsylvania pizza man Brian Wells would like to point out. Wells’s story has unsettling parallels in the film, in which McBride plots to have his father killed for his inheritance and forces Eisenberg’s pizza boy to rob a bank in order to fund the operation: According to reports, on August 28, 2003, Erie, PA resident Wells, who worked delivering pizzas for Mama Mia Pizzeria, met with accomplices in a pre-meditated plot to rob an area bank using a fake bomb collar as a prop so he could feign innocence if caught; unbeknownst to Wells, his colleagues planned to strap an actual bomb to him, forcing him to chase a series of clues in hopes of defusing it in time. (Wells’s family maintains that he was an innocent victim in the plot.) Wells entered Erie’s PNC Bank and demanded $250,000, only getting $8,000. He then began frantically chasing down the clues that would release him from his bomb, left under rocks by his accomplices around town. When the police caught up to him, Wells pleaded for help removing the device. Less than an hour after he’d been strapped to the bomb it detonated, killing Wells. Understandably, Wells’s surviving family members have voiced their objections to Fleischer’s new film mining laughs from their tragedy. In an email to the AP, Wells’s sister Jean Heid admonished the filmmakers: “It’s hard for me to grasp how other human beings can take delight and pride in making such a movie and consider it a comedy. I don’t think it’s funny to laugh at the innocent who are victimized by criminals, who care nothing for human life.” Sony rep Steve Elzer responded, claiming filmmaker ignorance. “Neither the filmmakers nor the stars of 30 Minutes or Less were aware of this crime prior to their involvement in the film,” he said. “The writers were vaguely familiar with what had occurred and wrote an original screenplay that does not mirror the real-life tragedy.” It’s hard to completely buy the Sony defense, especially in light of the many parallels between the plot of 30 Minutes or Less’s (details clearly conveyed in the film’s marketing campaign): Real Life Case: Set in Eerie, PA 30 Min. or Less: Set in Grand Rapids, MI Real Life Case: Crime masterminded by Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, who sought to bankroll a $125,000 hit on her father to inherit his fortune, working with collaborators Kenneth Barnes, William Rothstein, and Floyd Stockton. 30 Min. or Less: Crime masterminded by Dwayne (McBride), who seeks to bankroll a $100,000 hit on his father to inherit his fortune, working with collaborator Travis (Swardson). Real Life Case: Wells gets a call to deliver pizzas to an empty lot, where his collaborators meet him and outfit him with a bomb collar against his will. He has 55 minutes to rob a bank. 30 Min. or Less: Nick (Eisenberg) gets a call to deliver pizzas to an abandoned stockyard, where his assailants meet him and outfit him with a bomb vest against his will. He has less than nine hours to rob a bank. Real Life Case: Wells robs the PNC Bank using a modified shotgun, then looks for the clues to removing the bomb collar. 30 Min. or Less: Nick and his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) rob a bank using fake guns, then look for clues to removing the bomb vest. You decide: Does the plot of 30 Minutes or Less “mirror the tragedy” of Brian Wells’s tale, or not? Better question — is it possible the filmmakers and stars were so unaware of the real-life tragedy while making the film (or “vaguely familiar,” in the case of writers Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan)… and how much do the answers to those questions matter to most moviegoers? [AP via CinemaBlend, Cleveland Plain-Dealer, CNN]

Olivia Wilde to experience porn star Linda Lovelace?

Olivia Wilde has suggested that they could play Deep Throat star Linda Lovelace within an approaching biopic.Within an interview with E! Online (through the Playlist), Wilde accepted she was thinking about the role: "I am being careful about my next project since I am now ready where I can be very picky."On playing Lovelace, she added: "It might be a significant honor... It's this type of awesome role. She would be a fascinating lady-with where she originated from to Deep Throat to then dealing with Gloria Steinem and Nora Ephron. It is fascinating."Simply to clarify things, Wilde is speaking in regards to a possible role inside a new project from Howl company directors Take advantage of Epstein and Jeffery Friedman. There's another Lovelace movie, titled Inferno, presently within the works.Inferno will star Malin Akerman (who changed Lindsay Lohan) because the porn star switched activist. Could this be another situation of two plainly similar movies coming within several weeks of one another, like Capote/Infamous, Deep Impact/Armageddon, Antz/A Bug's Existence et al?Lovelace (real title Linda Susan Boreman) grew to become worldwide famous with breakout skin flick Deep Throat, before later proclaiming that she was forced against her will into pornography by former husband Chuck Traynor.She continued being an open anti-pornography activist. Thinking about her fame, and also the drama and scandal that defined her existence, it's really no surprise that they continues to be designated for that movie treatment.If Wilde signs on, maybe it's a hell of the role on her, however the movie could suffer if Inferno is first from the gate.Wilde is presently taking pleasure in a run of box-office ubiquity: she'll be observed in Cowboys & Aliens and also the Change-Up this summer time, within Some time and Butter to follow along with later around.