IFC Midnight nabs thriller 'ATM'

Eve Peck Geraghty IFC Midnight has acquired all U.S. rights to David Brooks' thriller "ATM," which stars Brian Geraghty ("The Hurt Locker"), Josh Peck ("The Wackness"), Alice Eve ("Entourage"). Trio play co-workers who make a latenight visit to an ATM and find themselves fighting for their lives when they become trapped by an unknown man. Script was penned by Chris Sparling, whose previous credits include the Ryan Reynolds starrer "Buried." Gold Circle Films prexy Paul Brooks and Peter Safran produced the pic, while Scott Niemeyer and Dan Clifton served as exec producers. Paul Brooks negotiated the deal with Arianna Bocco of Sundance Selects/IFC Films. IFC Midnight recently released "The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)" and will soon distribute festival pics "The Catechism Cataclysm" and "Kill List." Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Shannen Doherty Marries for the Third Time

Shannen Doherty and Kurt Iswarienko Shannen Doherty has gotten married for the third time, exchanging "I dos" in Malibu, Calif., with celebrity-portrait photographer Kurt Iswarienko, People reports. Saturday's ceremony was a black-tie affair and took place at a private estate in front of 170 guests. The nuptials reportedly will air on the season finale of Doherty's upcoming WEtv reality series with her husband about planning for the wedding. The show is set to premiere in 2012. Shannen Doherty to star in new reality series Doherty and Iswarienko have been dating since 2009. The 40-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed actress was married to Ashley Hamilton for seven months in 1994 and Rick Saloman for nine months in 2002.

REVIEW: Almodvar's The Skin I Live In a Twisty, Sci-Fi Psychosexual Melodrama

The idea of building a person to spec — especially when that person is some form of ideal woman — is one that’s haunted the movies in variations from My Fair Lady to Vertigo to Bride of Frankenstein to Weird Science. It’s an echo of the constructing of a character that results in what you see on screen — a figure who’s the joint creation of an actor, director, writer, makeup artist, dialect coach, costume designer, ad infinitum. But it’s also a concept that provides a counter to the typical romance saga in which two people who are perfect for one other come together. Why search for your match when you can make one? It’s fair to say that the human experiment at the heart of The Skin I Live In, Pedro Almodvar’s latest, is motivated by loneliness, if also revenge and mourning. And, naturally, craziness — lots of craziness. One character, after dumping a load of soap-opera-on-acid exposition in the form of a monologue, notes that the film’s protagonist was “born insane.” “I’ve got insanity in my entrails,” she adds for good measure. Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas, reuniting with Almodvar for their first film together in over two decades) may be more than a little off, but he’s also a brilliant plastic surgeon who’s been working on a synthetic skin that’ll resist many of the normal weaknesses — say, fire — inherent to the more fragile organ with which we’re born. Like any mad scientist worth his salt, his work pushes the boundaries of what his colleagues consider ethical and acceptable, especially his use of transgenesis. Lord knows what they’d say if they saw what he’s been up to in his spare time. The object of Ledgard’s fixation and his own personal guinea pig is Vera (a memorable Elena Anaya), a beautiful, lithe woman we first see contorting herself in a yoga stretch in a flesh-colored body stocking and looking like a doll being bent into an impossible angle. It’s not an accidental resemblance — constructed figures litter the background of The Skin I Live In, from the nudes on the walls of Ledgard’s house to the mannequins in the window of clothing store in town. And Vera is one of them, though her consent in the matter is obviously questionable — she’s kept in a locked room with a surveillance camera through which Ledgard likes to observe her, though she’s also delivered meals, an Alice Munro book and material for her art projects via a dumbwaiter. She doesn’t seem completely stable either, with her closet of shredded clothes and bout of self-harm. She could be patient or victim. I’m reluctant to give away any more details of this story, which contains some wild twists involving how Vera ended up where she did and Ledgard’s tragedy-filled backstory. What’s distinctive about The Skin I Live In, beyond even these nutso developments, is how reserved it is in terms of filmmaking choices. Aside from his usual bold color schemes, Almodvar has managed a remarkably restrained telling of what’s in essence a sci-fi psychosexual melodrama set in the very near future of 2012 Toledo. He’s much quoted as describing the film as “a horror story without screams or frights,” and he receives assistance in that regard with straight, unwinking performances from Banderas, Anaya and Marisa Paredes as the housekeeper Marilia. While it’s never short on tension, with the addition of disturbing details like the delivery of a container of animal blood to a kitchen table, or the reveal that “Gal,” the name Ledgard has given his synthetic skin, is also the name of his late wife, the film approaches its tale as a psychological mystery, unraveling the question of how these people came to be in their strange situation, and prodding at the malleability of the human exterior and interior. The Skin I Live In approaches its present from two angles — its first half essentially offering Ledgard’s view, the second Vera’s, circling around a disruption to the pair’s routine caused by a wild animal, or rather a man (Roberto lamo) in a tiger costume that changes the status quo in the isolated household. It’s a deliberately silly prod fitting for such a determinedly oddball narrative, and it speaks to the consistency of the film’s tone that what takes place when the tiger comes into the house doesn’t seem any more unexpected than what happened before he got there. Ledgard’s controlling devotion has created a shared psychosis into which everyone around him seems to have been pulled — “You and I aren’t like anyone,” he says to Vera when expresses a wish for the pair of them to live a more normal life. How true that is in the underlying question of the film — Ledgard has capability to shape someone’s outside, but the mind and soul are something else that no surgeon’s knife can reach.

5 Successful '80s Remakes -- and Why They Worked

This Friday, a duo of ’80s remakes, The Thing and Footloose, hit the multiplex. And that’s just the beginning — because Hollywood is currently in various stages of redrafting your favorite films from that decade including Red Dawn, War Games and Dirty Dancing. In honor of this trend, let’s take a look at the most successful ’80s remakes so far and see what made them work. Just click here to launch the slideshow.

Exclusive: Ringer to Have a Buffy Reunion!

Buffy Maybe this will help the weak ratings: Sarah Michelle Gellar will reunite with one of her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-stars on Ringer.Amber Benson will guest-star in Episode 10 of the freshman series, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. Benson, who portrayed Willow's girlfriend Tara Maclay on Buffy, will play Mary Curtis, a stripper who is also an informant for Agent Machado (Nestor Carbonell).Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Then and nowLast seen taking a bullet aimed for Buffy in Season 6, Benson has gone on to appear in several TV series, including Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and Supernatural.Ringer airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on the CW.

New Academy Museum Could Feature Oscar on its Historic Facade

Double the amount size and half the fundraiser burden.our editor recommendsMotion Picture Academy Takes Key to Create Museum in Former May Co. Department StoreInside the Oscar Museum's Past Troubles and Uncertain Future Individuals would be the rough metrics from the Academy of movement Picture Arts and Sciences' intend to open a museum within the former May Co. building around the La County Museum of Art campus -- rather than in a Hollywood property which the business decided to construct a $400 million project. The museum could open within 3 years -- also it could even have an picture of Oscar etched around the building's distinctive gold cylinder. It might be operated by AMPAS within lengthy-term lease agreement with LACMA, based on Academy leader Tom Sherak, who spoke using the Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. "The truth that we do not have this in L.A. -- the house of the film -- we have to change that," he stated. STORY:Within the Oscar Museum's Past Troubles and Uncertain Future The Academy's board of governors on Tuesday evening became a member of their LACMA alternatives by saying yes to sign a memorandum of understanding to operate in good belief to determine a film museum within the 300,000-square-feet former mall building, that is situated at 6067 Wilshire Blvd. around the western fringe of the LACMA campus within the Miracle Mile district. The memo paves the way for that two organizations to go over the next contract but for the Academy, which creates the huge most of its revenue in the purchase of broadcast privileges towards the Academy awards show,to build up fundraiser plans. But several questions remain: Sherak didn't offer specifics around the terms or entire lease the Academy would sign with LACMA, except to express, "I will not be around when this lease is completed.Inch Despite the fact that he didn't divulge the believed price of the project -- that could take as lengthy as 5 years to accomplish -- Sherak stated AMPAS "will just raise 1 / 2 of what we should required to raise" for that now-scuttled Hollywood museum development on Vine Street. "We're beginning the fundraiser campaign now which determines how quickly this building rises," stated Academy Boss Beginning Hudson. AMPAS would retain autonomy total facets of the museum, while depending on LACMA's knowledge of museum management and construction, Hudson stated. The first kind mall, built-in the Streamline Moderne style, opened up in 1939 LACMA acquired it in 1994 and re-named it LACMA West. The May Co. structure is renowned for the gold cylinder that comprises some of their facade, that has been designated historic through the city's Cultural Heritage Commission. LACMA Boss Michael Govan stated that there has been discussions regarding the potential of integrating the legendary Oscar statuette in to the round area of the building's facade. "It had been just screaming to become an Oscar," stated Govan, adding that you will find methods to alter that area of the building "that might be in line with its historic designation." Based on the La Conservancy, the town's Office of Historic Assets would review any suggested changes towards the cylinder. STORY: Film Academy Takes Key to Create Museum in Former May Co. Mall Despite its new direction, the Academy still intends to open exhibition space in the Vine Street property it once imagined as the house of a film museum, though its lengthy-term plans for that property are unclear. "The main one factor we will not do -- the Academy won't do and also the board won't allow it to be achieved -- we will not abandon that website,Inch Sherak stated. However the new LACMA plan marks a significant change in AMPAS' previous movie museum efforts and it is a blow to Hollywood stakeholders who had wished a film museum would assist in the ongoing revitalization from the area. The Academy had lengthy planned to construct a 144,000-square-feet development on Hollywood property it started obtaining in 2005 at the expense as high as $50 million. French architect Christian p Portzamparcdesigned a sleek, modern edifice, but simply before a substantial fundraiser campaign might have begun, the project was derailed through the economic collapse that started in serious in fall 2008. The Three.5-acre site, that is situated across from ArcLight Movie theaters on Vine, has sitting vacant for a number of years in August area stakeholders told THR it had become an eyesore. Sherak stated the Academystill intends to create an exhibit space within the structures to begin and there's been discussion about hosting periodic outside tests. The Academy has started razing some structures and cleaning the home, that is next to its Pickford Center for Film Study. "I'm glad to determine the museum is continue which AMPAS is firmly devoted to trading in and developing its Hollywood property near Sunset [Boulevard] and Vine. The entertainment industry has lengthy been essential to our local economy and performed a substantial role within our global culture," La City Council Leader Eric Garcetti stated. "AMPAS' new assets will celebrate that background and take it to existence for future decades." But Sherak stated he wasn't sure the way the property could be used when the movie museum opens, though he recommended that potential features for example an outside theater could remain being used when the museum opens. "Why would that has to disappear to ensure that it stays? It does not need to go away. So there's lots of planning that should be done," he stated. STORY: Beginning Hudson: Job as Academy Boss Offers 'Global Platform' on her Passion for Film Sherak stated that discussions with LACMA started informally in spring 2010, and were initially headed by former Academy leader Sid Ganis, who met with Govan and talked about the requirement for an AMPAS museum. "We spoken about how exactly sad it had been this had not quite drawn itself together yet," Govan stated. Talks grew to become more severe once Hudson was named the brand new Boss from the Academy in April. Sherak stated that in a June 1 AMPAS board of governors meeting, Hudson, former mind of Film Independent, homed in around the potential project. "Out of the blue it had been as an arrow towards the bull's-eye. Next factor I understand, Michael and she or he were speaking and that we were built with a committee come up with,Inch Sherak stated. The LACMA campus continues to be substantially changed throughout the final half-decade with the help of two new structures. In 2008, the museum opened up the Broad Contemporary Art Museum and this past year the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion put open its doorways. Included in a 3-phase plan, the May Co. building ended up being to are also renovated. However, Govan stated that Metropolitan Transportation Authority's intend to build the Westside Subway Extension, which may incorporate a visit a corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, triggered LACMA to re-think its plan. "We paused and stated, 'that is a very important building also it really should have something fantastic inside it,AInch Govan stated. "It must be a destination inside it of itself. This can become again, because it was, probably the most famous structures in La. We're pleased to move our plans around with other spaces." The mark museum may be the most powerful signal up to now that LACMA expects to bolster its connections towards the movie business. Captured LACMA introduced it would reboot its film-screening program this fall. It's created a partnership with Film Independent, the audience behind the Spirit Honours and also the La Film Festival, and it has hired film critic Elvis Mitchell as curator. STORY: Academy Taps Beginning Hudson, Ric Robertson to exchange Bruce Davis "LACMA is definitely an eclectic museum with a lot of collections in several different areas -- film appears just like a slam dunk," stated Terry Semel, co-chair from the LACMA board of trustees and former chairman of Warner Bros. The museum's board now includes a slew of entertainment business gamers, including Willow Bay, John Grazer, Michael Lynton, Carole Bayer Sager, Barbra Streisand and Steve Tisch. As well as on Monday it had been introduced that CAA partner Bryan Lourd is joining the 64-member board. Also, in September, LACMA introduced that it is inaugural Art + Film Gala -- slated to become held November. 5 -- will recognition Clint Eastwood and conceptual artist John Baldessari. The gala is supposed simply to boost funds to aid LACMA's "initiative to create film more central towards the museum's curatorial programming," the museum stated inside a pr release. Email: Daniel.Burns@THR.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller Related Subjects AMPAS LACMA

IATSE, Teamsters set sights on healthcare

Healthcare pricing is proving itself to be the important thing problem in next year's contract discussions for Hollywood's two below-the-line unions, the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees and also the Intl. Brotherhood of Teamsters. No settlement dates happen to be looking for the actual contracts, which expire This summer 31, but both unions have ramped up their activity in order to increase membership awareness around the specifics among rising health care costs. IATSE held a townhall meeting Saturday in Burbank -- the very first of 4 planned confabs -- where IATSE leader Matthew Loeb designed a presentation to many hundred people. The meeting also featured presentations by health care expert and consultant John Garner and David Westcoe, professional administrative director using the Film Industry Pension and Health Plan. The Teamsters Local 399 covers about 3,200 motorists in 13 Western states contributing to 1,000 fundamental craft employees, as the IATSE deal covers 15 local people around the West Coast encompassing a lot more than 20,000 people. Local 399 has set its very own townhall meeting for The month of january, and also the unions are joining on the health advantages survey carried out by David Binder Research to poll people beginning on March. 10. Health insurance and pension have typically been one of the top focal points for that unions, alongside salaries and dealing conditions, however the developments underline the uncertainty over healthcare among a battling economy. Additionally they show an unparalleled degree of outreach to people together with a readiness through the unions to cooperate with one another. Settlement dates using the Alliance of movement Picture & Television Producers haven't been set yet and no orgs would comment. However the moves through the unions really are a strong signal that IATSE and also the Teamsters may negotiate collectively around the pension and health problems while holding separate contract talks on wages, working conditions and also the other aspects of their contracts. The 2 unions joined right into a formal alliance in August, 2010 -- two days after Teamster Local 399 motorists arrived at an offer using the AMPTP and synched up its contract expiration using the IATSE deal. Loeb, who changed the retiring Thomas Short in 2008 because the mind of IATSE, continues to be credited with fostering closer ties between your two unions. Furthermore, IATSE people are actually facing stiffened qualifications to entitled to the health plan, that is overeseen by reps from the unions and also the showbiz companies and funded from residuals and ancillary marketplaces. IATSE agreed last year to some hike within the qualifications threshold throughout the ultimate year from the pact needing that people need to work 400 hrs over six several weeks to qualify, up 33% in the previous 300-hour requirement -- a big change that stirred an uproar among below-the-line employees once the pact went for ratification. Within the 2010 discussions, Teamsters searched for a 3% in annual wage hikes however the companies was adamant on the 2% wage gain, that the Teamsters recognized with several sweetening together with exactly the same 1.66% hike in benefits included in the earlier IATSE deal. The Teamster deal set web site for discussions earlier this fall and winter using the Screen Stars Guild, the American Federation of Televison & Radio Artists, the Company directors Guild of America and also the Authors Guild of America -- by using 2% hikes in minimums and all sorts of using the chief gain becoming an increase of just one.5 per dollar in employer contributions towards the pension and health plans. Another manifestation of the predominance of healthcare being an problem came early this month when casting company directors repped through the Teamsters decided to a 1-year successor contract to some three-year deal. The Teamsters indicated at that time the companies had searched for a shorter-term because of uncertainty within the impact of rising health care costs. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com