Woodley: Teen intersects fine line between comedy, drama

Shailene WoodleyImagine your first meaty movie role. Imagine it involves a long shoot in Hawaii. Then imagine George Clooney is playing your dad."Yes, on the surface that sounds pretty great, doesn't it?" Shailene Woodley says of being cast in the Alexander Payne drama "The Descendants." "Then being a part of it, that actual doing of it, was even better than I could have imagined."Woodley's nuanced work as the problem child daughter in "The Descendants" won raves when the movie premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September. Playing the combative Alex, Woodley displays both an edge and vulnerability as an adolescent who, in some ways, possesses more wisdom than her father and, in others, is simply yearning to give him a chance to act as her parent.The material, like Payne's previous films, varies in tone, which sometimes posed a challenge for the 19-year-old actress."While we were filming I was thinking, 'Are we doing a drama or a comedy?' " Woodley says. "We'd do a scene I thought was supposed to be serious and Alexander would say, 'No, I want you to come at it from this point of view.' And then you see the way he combined the laughter and the gut-wrenching moments. He knew what he was doing."The Simi Valley native began auditioning when she was 5 years old and landed her big break playing a con artist's daughter in the 2004 Hallmark TV movie "A Place Called Home." Woodley is finishing her fourth season of ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," which has followed her character from a pregnant 15-year-old to a young mother juggling a baby with the demands of school and relationships."I'm almost out of my teens," Woodley says, "so I feel ready to move on to more mature roles. Making 'The Descendants' gave me a great start."Lucky break: "Honestly, my big break was being born to my family. I started when I was 5 and my mom drove me to auditions, not because she pushed me but because I wanted to do this."Favorite film: "This is really dorky, but I love 'The Goonies.' I don't eat Spaghetti O's any more, but I still watch 'The Goonies.'"Career I'd like to emulate: "A mixture of Marcia Gay Harden and Natalie Portman. I worked with Marcia when I was 13 and just think the world of her. And every single role Natalie Portman chooses, it's out of passion."10 ACTORS TO WATCH 2011:Benedict Cumberbatch | Jean Dujardin | Luke Evans | Josh Hutcherson | Felicity Jones | Taylor Kitsch | Brit Marling | Elizabeth Olsen | Octavia Spencer | Shailene Woodley Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Barack Obama Campaign Strategy Keeping Hollywood Out of Sight

Like every Democrat, President Barack Obama covets Hollywood's financial support. But there's a growing sense that he doesn't want to be seen with industry figures.our editor recommendsThe First Lady Sends First Tweet (Video)Iraq Withdrawal: What the Media Are SayingWhite House Shows Support for Spirit Day PHOTOS: Best Presidents in Movies and TV A source close to the White House tells The Hollywood Reporterit was no accident stars were absent from an Oct. 13 state dinner for Korean president Lee Myung-bak. Industry attendees included only American Beauty producer Bruce Cohen and the evening's performers, the Ahn Trio sisters and singer Janelle Monae. Celebrities have long been a fixture at White House gatherings. Obama's previous state dinners have included such A-listers as Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. But Obama might want to put visual distance between himself and boldface names. Facing a close race, strategists might want to head off allegations that he is starstruck, as GOP candidate John McCain portrayed him in 2008 ads. PHOTOS: President Obama and Four More Memorable Oprah Winfrey Show Moments Obama seems to be positioning himself as a guy on the side of the middle and working classes. Being photographed with wealthy celebrities while preparing for a possible run against Mitt Romney could undermine his effort, especially if he intends to portray the former Massachusetts governor as a rich man who doesn't care about working people and who laid a fair number of them off. "State dinners need to make an imprint, but they shouldn't be ostentatious at a time when Obama is spending all day talking about jobs and the economy," says Donna Bojarsky, a public policy consultant. "Everyone gets it." The president's longtime friend George Clooney stayed mostly out of sight in 2008, saying he'd learned a lesson when his father lost a congressional seat after a campaign in which his celebrity son was very visible. Still, Obama will be back in Hollywood on Oct. 24 for private fund-raisers co-hosted by Eva Longoria, Melanie Griffith and Will Smith. Related Topics Barack Obama Politics

Robbie Williams Leaves EMI for Universal: Inside the Deal

Robbie Williams has long been one of EMI's marquee artists, having sold over 60 million albums worldwide (some 15 million in the UK alone), but 14 years after being signed as a solo singer, in what was then one of the biggest payouts to an artist on record -- an estimated $100 million for six albums upon renegotiating in 2002 -- the 37-year-old pop star is leaving for Universal.our editor recommendsEMI: With Bids Low, Company Considers Whether to Split Up or Postpone SaleQ&A: Roger FaxonCan Doug Morris Lead Sony Past Universal Music Group to Be the No. 1 Label? According to a source familiar with the deal, which covers international territories, Williams has joined the Universal Music Group roster for one album, which he has basically completed. The label designated to handle his future solo release -- be it Polydor, Mercury or Island -- has yet to be determined, but what is known is that David Joseph, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, will personally oversee the effort. STORY:CAA-Partnered Private Equity Firm, Owner of 'American Idol' CKx Consider EMI Bids "Having had the chance to listen to the music, I've no doubt that Robbie is currently at his most creatively inspired," Joseph tells British newspaper The Guardian, where Williams' longtime manager Tim Clark also comments: "This great new deal puts Robbie Williams firmly in control of his own destiny, but with the most muscular of partners." "The deal is customized around Robbie and what best fits him," says an insider who points to Williams' recent success with his original boy band Take That as proof of his continued relevance. Another reason for his exit? "He was fed up with EMI," adds the source. "He wasn't feeling the love and with the company's sale and constantly rotating management structure, there's something to be said for stability." STORY: EMI Gears Up for 'Possible Sale' Read CEO Roger Faxon's Memo to Staff No doubt it also helped that Williams and UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge go back and that Take That's reunion album, Progress, released by Polydor in 2010, has been certified eight-times platinum in the UK, moving more than 2.4 million copies (he left the group for a second time, mate and X Factor UK judgeGary Barlow revealed last month). In fact, Williams is the best-selling British artist ever, but in the U.S., where he remains a Capitol Records artist for at least another 12 months, he's struggled to find his footing in a fickle pop landscape. Although it's worth noting: in recent years, the American market has come around to the sort of dance-heavy pop that emanates from Europe. Still, his move certainly doesn't help EMI's current auction by corporate holders Citigroup, believed to be considerably short of the $4 billion price they hoped to bring in after the first round of bidding. According to Billboard.biz, the company has been "cleaning up" the second-round bids, but its owners are still considering whether to split up the label and publishing divisions or postpone the sale altogether. Among the reported bidders? Universal, which is in the running to acquire EMI's recorded music operation, home to Coldplay and The Beatles. A source tells THR that Citigroup is planning to announce its choice for preferred bidders in seven days. Williams' Universal debut is slated for release in fall of 2012. Twitter: @shirleyhalperin Related Topics The Beatles Universal Music Group EMI Coldplay Robbie Williams Lucian Grainge

A Round-Heeled Lady

Sharon Gless in "A Round-Heeled Lady"A John Eastman presentation from the play in one act written and directed by Jane Prowse, good true story of Jane Juska.Jane - Sharon GlessAt age 66, outdated San Fran schoolteacher Jane Juska placed an personal advertisements ad inside the "NY Summary of Books" stating she preferred to possess "plenty of sex getting a man I loveInch before her next birthday. She chronicled her resulting encounters in the memoir that has now been modified in to a star vehicle for Sharon Gless, which preemed a year ago in Miami. Even though venture clearly aspires to entertain and enlighten in regards to the emotional and physical details of golden-age sex, pedestrian text and adapter Jane Prowse's old-fashioned production comparable to a expected 100-minute narrative of self-discovery and redemption. There's an attempt inside a mildly shocking opener after we are welcomed through the look at Jane (Gless), resplendent in the flowing red-colored-colored nightie, lounging on her behalf account bed mattress and coping with the truly amazing part of a round of phone sex. But production determines it is a fact tone as, carrying out a laugh line, Jane "realizes" everyone else will there be and starts to cope with us directly. Show is basically a lengthy monologue, separate with passed moments between Jane and her various suitors (carried out with the multi-role stars Craig McCarthy, Neil McCaul and Michael Thomson), female buddies (Jane Bertish and Jesse Cordingly), and, since the therapeutic length of the narrative progresses, dead mother (Bertish) and estranged adult boy (Thomson). And guess what happens? The dating scene after 65 isn't that remote the higher mediatized encounters more youthful people: Jane meets a few cads, some nice-males-with-a-catch (addiction, disease), has some mediocre sex after which it progressively better sex, but eventually knows her real problem is self-acceptance and emotional skeletons inside the closet. The emotional terrain and narrative level here's redolent from the eighties-era Movie every week, an effect furthered with the handsome but stolid home-interior set (by Ian Fisher) and several interspersed moments of attempted comedy in the salsa dancing class with the sport Thomson attired being an extra from "Flashdance." Gless looks splendid which is never within likeable and understanding presence, but sometimes one feels her pushing to produce her charisma attain the rear from the 400-chair auditorium. She's being made to work too much to keep the whole evening afloat. A London run was most most likely produced because Prowse relies here, because the fabric features a running reference to the the task of novelist Anthony Trollope (the title can be a Trollope-era euphemism for just about any promiscuous lady). But show clangs as way too touchy-feely-American to produce much cultural sense in Blighty, though a touring or sit-lower future in seniors-oriented cities Stateside might be saleable.Sets, Ian Fisher costumes, David Blight lighting, Nick Richings appear and music, Matt Corey production manager, Digby Robinson. Opened up up, examined March. 19, 2011. Running time: 1 hour, 40 MIN.With: Jane Bertish, Jesse Cordingly, Craig McCarthy, Neil McCaul, Michael Thomson Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

The Agony as well as the Ecstasy of Jobs

Mike Daisey notifies evocative tales computer system culture which is cost in human suffering inside the Agony as well as the Ecstasy of Jobs. A Public Theater presentation from the play in one act by Mike Daisey. Directed by Jean-Michele Gregory. Set and lighting, Seth Reiser production stage manager, Pamela Salling. Opened up up, examined March. 18. Running time: 2 Several hours.With: Mike Daisey.If you're planning to visit Mike Daisey's "The Agony as well as the Ecstasy of Jobs,Inch you may want to prepare an essay for the benefit of your pals and family around the topic of "Why I am Tossing Out My Electronics." Daisey's effective, sometimes melodramatic call to arms is conditionally entertaining: In the event you permit you to ultimately have some fun hearing his evocative tales computer system culture which is cost in human suffering, you will definitely leave the theater changed. Daisey helps to make the situation for examined consumerism within the latest show, and, carrying out a course he occur "The Ultimate Cargo Cult" the ultimate chronilogical age of within the Public, decides for your prescriptive inside the contemplative. Along the way on your way, theatergoers receive fliers record reasonable ways you, everyone else, can definitely really make a difference. It's a sensible choice the anecdotes, statistics, and old-fashioned moral arguments the monologist puts forth within the latest show demand action. Taking this kind of firm stand, however, puts down to proof situated on Daisey. If this describes political theater, he'd better be capable of show us some theater before he trots out his politics. Which he is doing. Daisey's first story takes us to Shenzhen, China, the Special Economic Zone where the production facilities which will make your main electronics and mine are staffed day and night by impoverished employees. "The atmosphere is actually thick it's covering ubiquitous neon like most of us have done merely a liiiitle bit of LSD," Daisey describes, his voice bouncing and shivering in a single syllable to a different. Much (a lot of, frankly) remains talked about the monologist's unprepossessing appearance, but sit before him more than a few minutes and he'll disappear completely. Daisey's job got a lot more difficult March. 5, when the tech magnate who offers the show its title died carrying out a prolonged have trouble with pancreatic cancer. But Daisey handles simply to walk the tightrope between deferring with a hallowed dead guy who did plenty of bad things and neglecting the passing from the much-loved public figure. Jobs was loved, broadly and noisally. Inside the days that have adopted his dying, everyone from Apple fans to Jobs' own corporate peers have spoken up in regards to the impact Jobs has received around the lives. In "Agony as well as the Ecstasy," Daisey gives voice to individuals who're unlikely ever to experience a forum to convey a point of view of Apple, Corporation. One Shenzhen worker, his hands crushed having a metal press, wrecking his employment prospects, calls Daisey's iPad "a kind of miracle" while he runs his destroyed fingers within the glass. It is really an image unlikely to go away your mind's eye when you peruse your individual products. Helmer Jean-Michele Gregory (Daisey's wife) helps create a bond involving the artist as well as the audience that's essential for the show's emotional impact. Set and lighting designer Seth Reiser, too, offers the show some nice, off traffic touches, with numerous Introduced lines placed on a wall behind Daisey flickering when Apple problems and diminishing inside and out if the scores an industrial goal. "In the event you haven't thought in the deep way about picking a operating-system, you may be living an unexamined existence." The street, shipped at the beginning of the show, can get laughs, but walking in the theater, you'll naturally concede the reason. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Yahoo Beats Earnings Estimations and Stock Increases Following the Closing Bell

Yahoo shares were rising 4 % in after-hrs buying and selling after the organization reported that it is earnings capped the forecast of experts, despite the fact that revenue and per-share profit fell in the year earlier.our editor recommendsYahoo Readies Itself For Potential Purchasers Yahoo stated it gained 21 cents per be part of its fiscal 4th quarter, excluding certain products, while experts figured it might earn 17 cents. On that basis, the organization gained 29 cents last year. Revenue fell 4 % to $1.1 billion. Yahoo is hosting a business call right now to discuss its earnings, though Wall Street experts will probably be interested in what management needs to say about its visit a permanent Boss within the wake from the firing of Carol Bartz, as well as in searching for clues whether a buyout or partnership is incorporated in the works together with the kind of Microsoft, America online or perhaps a major media conglomerate. STORY: Carol Bartz Jams Yahoo's Board Shares of Yahoo were lower 1.5 % in regular buying and selling to $15.47, but were rising around 60 cents within the after-hrs session in front of the planned business call. Related Subjects Yahoo

Chris Tucker Jokes About $11.5 Million IRS Debt

Chris Tucker includes a spontaneity about his $11.5 million debt towards the IRS -- that could cost him his $six million Florida home.our editor recommendsChris Tucker in Talks for 'The Silver Textures Playbook'Chris Tucker's $six million Florida Home Faces Foreclosures "That's the final time I let Wesley Snipes assist me with my taxes," joked the Hurry Hour star, 39, lately throughout a Miami stand-up comedy routine (through the Miami New Occasions). Snipes is presently serving a 3-year prison sentence because of not filing tax statements. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Greatest Property Deals each week Of bill enthusiasts, Tucker stated, "They calling you acting as if you owe them the cash personally! I don't owe you s---! This really is between me and the organization!" Tucker quipped that he's so bad with money, he bought two houses alongside one another and wound up going door-to-door asking themself if he could borrow a mug of sugar. The Brand New Occasions states he got so ended in speaking about his financial troubles, he accepted he lost his train of thought -- before riffing on needing to fly coach rather than top class nowadays. "You receive in first, plus they set you track of some champagne and shrimp, and also you're all cozy and stuff, and exactly what do they are doing? They allow the coach people in thus making you feel all guilty," he stated. SunTrust Bank lately filed foreclosures papers on Tucker's 10,000-square-feet waterfront home, based on court papers first acquired through the Orlando Sentinel. Tucker signed a 2-picture cope with New Line Cinema in 2005 to have an believed $40 million. Hurry Hour 3 made a lot more than $250 million globally. Related Subjects Chris Tucker Hurry Hour

RIMs BlackBerry Outages Hit Hollywood

Well, this is going to make getting a hold of an agent this much tougher around Hollywood: BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has been posting updates on its U.S. site since Monday, when service outages were reported in Europe, India, Africa, the Middle East and throughout Latin America — but not here in the States. Well, that’s changed as of today, when the “core switch failure within RIM’s infrastructure” has begun affecting U.S. customers, who are experiencing messaging and browsing delays owing to a massive backup in data. From RIM this morning in its latest update: BlackBerry subscribers in the Americas may be experiencing intermittent service delays this morning. We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and we apologize to our customers for any inconvenience. We will provide a further update as soon as more information is available. It’s certainly impacting Deadline’s writers, who are having trouble receiving emails — and they gets lots of emails. They are just a few of BlackBerry’s more than 70 million customers worldwide. The company has been losing market share in the U.S. due to the growing popularity of rivals such asApple’s iPhone, but has been adding subs internationally; RIMs U.S. revenue fell 50% last quarter to $1.11 billion, while sales outside the U.S., U.K. and Canada grew 38% to $2.33 billion. RIM shares have lost about 45% of their value over the last 12 months and in late afternoon trading are down more than 2% today.

Danny Glover Much Less Old With This: 'Lethal Weapon' Star Talks at 'Occupy L.A.'

The Occupy Wall Street protest continues to be happening in NY since recently, but it is gradually distributing with other metropolitan areas throughout America. Occupy L.A. began two weekends ago, as well as on Saturday, the protest received a little of star energy thanks to Danny Glover. Glover, who had been arrested in Maryland this past year throughout a labor protest, spoke towards the crowd at City Hall in La, and advised these to stand-up for that unemployed and disenfranchised round the country and also the world. Watch his remarks below. [via LAist] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

'Downton Abbey's' Rose Leslie Joins 'Game of Thrones'

Chris Jackson/Getty Images Rose Leslie is following within the actions of her character, Gwen, on Downton Abbey: She got a brand new job. PHOTOS: Who's Who on 'Game of Thrones' An Cinemax representative verifies towards the Hollywood Reporter that Leslie continues to be cast around the second season of Bet on Thrones, as first reported by EW. She'll play Ygritte, who based on theA Song of Ice and Fire book series, is really a wildling lady and spearwifewho turns into a love interest for Jon Snow (performed by Package Harington around the Cinemax series). Apart from showing up because the housemaid with hopes for leaving of her station around the first season of Downton Abbey, Leslie also made an appearance around the six-part drama series from BBC1, Situation Histories. She won the Scottish BAFTA award for the best acting with a new talent for that 2009 TV film, New Town. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro RELATED: Bet on Thrones' Emun Elliott, John Hurt to Star in Labyrinth Miniseries 'Game of Thrones' Season 2 Teaser Launched (Video) More 'Game of Thrones' Coverage on THR Cinemax Bet on Thrones Downton Abbey

Tuners dream of Broadway landing

'Jesus Christ Superstar'To locally premiere a tuner and see it become a Great White Way cash cow is the trickiest of grails. Still, every "Memphis" keeps the dream alive for the likes of "Bonnie and Clyde," a La Jolla Playhouse alumnus from 2009 that's slated for a December opening at the Schoenfeld.Managements are usually coy about their hopes. Yet surely some secretly pray that, as with ART's "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," a boat'll be leavin' soon for NY for any of the following tuners."Jesus Christ Superstar"Des McAnuff's high-tech Stratford, Ontario, revival copped a La Jolla November slot when tuner hopeful "Finding Neverland" proved unready for primetime.Why It Could Soar: Believers and agnostics alike adore this score.Why It Could Sink: Overfamiliarity might elicit a general ho-hum."Chess"Entrepreneur Craig Revel Horwood thinks he's cracked the legendary material after a long U.K. tour. Toronto, September.Why It Could Soar: Marketing opportunities in the concept album's legions of fans, and Abba appeal rubbing off on Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.Why It Could Sink: Has it ever worked? Isn't all that Cold War stuff more than a little passe?"Some Lovers" After the promises, promises of another tuner after "Promises, Promises" (not to mention the Liv Ullmann movie musical "Lost Horizon"), Burt Bacharach returns for a modern spin on O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi," words by Steven Sater ("Spring Awakening"). Old Globe, December.Why It Could Soar: Everything old can be new again, including Bacharach's signature '60s swing. His tricky, cheerful rhythms could be an interesting fit with Sater's emotional near-rhymingWhy It Could Sink: Overfamiliar and overadapted source material risks a case of the Christmas cutes."Newsies"Extry! Punks pummel Pulitzer's papers; sing in solidarity. 1992 Disney cult pic transformed for Paper Mill Playhouse, September.Why It Could Soar: Oppressed laborers bonding against the Man could have resonance in these anti-union times.Why It Could Sink: Grit and authenticity will be needed to prevent the cadre of ragged-trousered newsboys from becoming a smarmy, precocious chorus line."Funny Girl"Lauren Ambrose steps into the shoes of whatshername for the Fanny Brice bio's first pro revival since 1964. Ahmanson, February.Why It Could Soar: Helmer Bartlett Sher revitalized under-revived classic "South Pacific." There'll be interest in whether the "Six Feet Under" star can channel her inner Second Avenue comedienne.Why It Could Sink: Tougher than replacing Streisand's memory may be cracking that second act, which was like watching paint dry as far back as '64."Nobody Loves You" A guy tries to reconnect with his ex via a TV dating show. Originally titled "Reality!" when workshopped in 2008, the romance features music by Gaby Alter and words by Itamar Moses. Old Globe, May.Why It Could Soar: Sounds like a smart and contempo premise, and though Alter's avowed influences are rock and pop he professes respect and reverence for the tuner form.Why It Could Sink: Alter has said he likes "catchy melodies and simple refrains," but Moses' playwrighting is fond of subverting genres and expectations. These guys might need their own reality show to make this marriage work."Los Otros"Chamber musical about a Mexican-American man and Southern Californian woman, from Michael John LaChiusa and Ellen Fitzhugh. Mark Taper Forum, June.Why It Could Soar: Why not? It sounds different, and a mix of the personal and political is never amiss.Why It Could Sink: LaChiusa has always been caviar to the general. Will the subject matter carry much punch east of the Rockies?"Sleepless in Seattle"Jeff Arch, who penned the 1993 hit pic, crafts a libretto to the tunes of rock- and jazz-based newcomers Michelle Citrin, Michael Garin and Josh Nelson. Pasadena Playhouse, June.Why It Could Soar: Lovers who meet only at the finale will have interesting opportunities for coast-to-coast ballads and comedy numbers. Guys dragged there by their dolls will at least know what they're in for, and tartness in the telling could offset the sentiment.Why It Could Sink: What can songs add to an already finely crafted vehicle? This one may hinge on casting. If Sam and Annie aren't totally winning, it could be one gloppy slog.BROADWAY AND THE ROAD 2011Road presenters bank on 'Book' | Tuners dream of Broadway landing | Winning and losing on stage in Vegas | Curtains up for Toronto legit | Tour is booked, options are open Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Moviefone Exclusive: Watch Jennifer Aniston Play Doting Mother towards the Future Ryan Reynolds in First 'Fireflies within the Garden' Clip

After premiering in the Berlin Film Festival in 2008, 'Fireflies within the Garden' will ultimately get launched on March. 14 in NY, La, Chicago, Bay Area and Austin by having an broadened roll-to follow. The film follows three decades of the family and just how their domineering father (Willem Dafoe) formed them through the years. Occur present with flashbacks, 'Garden' stars Jennifer Aniston because the family matriarch and Ryan Reynolds as her grown-up boy. Within the first clip in the film, Roberts consoles the near future Reynolds following a particularly rough quabble together with his father. Watch ahead. For additional on 'Fireflies within the Garden' click the link. The film comes to theaters on March. 14. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Paul Walker To Star In Thriller Hours, Written And To Be Directed By Eric Heisserer

Paul Walker has been tapped to star in the post-Hurricane Katrina thriller Hours, which Peter Safran’s Safran Co is producing and financing. Eric Heisserer, who has written the screenplays for New Line’s Nightmare On Elm Street redo, Warner Bros’ Final Destination 5 and Universal’s upcoming The Thing, wrote the script and will make his directorial debut on the project, which is prepping for a March 2012 production start in New Orleans. The subject matter of Hours would seem to be a departure from Heisserer’s genre work: The film centers on a father (Walker) who fights to keep his newborn daughter alive in a New Orleans hospital after Hurricane Katrina hits the city. Walker most recently starred in Universal’s hit Fast Five and just wrapped shooting the indie thriller Vehicle 19, which he also executive produced and Safran Co also produced. He is repped by UTA and Luber Roklin. Heisserer is repped by UTA and Artwork Entertainment; UTA Independent Film Group, which packaged the project along with Safran, is repping the film’s worldwide rights.

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Folk guitarist Bert Jansch dies at 67

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Bert Jansch, who defined the British folk music movement along with his solo performances and also the make use of the Pentangle, died Wednesday, March. 5, of carcinoma of the lung in the North London hospice. He was 67.Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jansch established themselves in Edinburgh before coming london within the month of the month of january 1963. Inspired just like a player with the work of yank bluesman Brownie McGhee and British picker Davy Graham (whose "Anji" would be a standard feature of his performances) to ensure that like a songwriter by his paramour Annie Briggs, Jansch burst towards the folk scene along with his self-titled Transatlantic album of 1965.Jansch have been well-established just like a dazzling finger-picker and songwriter -- plus an affect on players as diverse as Jimmy Page and Paul Simon -- when he co-founded a folk-based group in 1967 with fellow guitar virtuoso John Renbourn. The Pentangle (later known simply as Pentangle) incorporated singer Jacqui McShee, acoustic bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox. The act's eclectic releases on Warner Bros. aided spread the British folk gospel worldwide.Following a dissolution of Pentangle in 1973, Jansch briefly left music for farming, but he split along with his family and returned to recording in 1976. He regrouped with Pentangle at the begining of eighties.He recorded from time to time just like a soloist using the new millennium: His final release was 2006's broadly recognized "The Black Swan."Jansch is managed to get by his wife and boy. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'A Bird of the Air' Star Jackson Hurst Soars Toward His Dreams

'A Bird of the Air' Star Jackson Hurst Soars Toward His Dreams By Melinda Loewenstein October 5, 2011 Photo by Vanni Natola Jackson Hurst Slow and steady wins the racethat is the philosophy businessman-turned-actor Jackson Hurst, currently starring in Lifetime Television's "Drop Dead Diva," used to launch his second career. A Texas native, Hurst began acting in junior high and continued until he found himself pulled in too many directions in college. "I decided the 'smart' route would be to pursue academics and get my business degree, and if I still couldn't stay away from the acting, then I would pursue it," he reveals. After graduation, he began his career in business, but he also immediately started doing independent films. He juggled the two careers as long as he could, but when he was offered a role in Frank Darabont's "The Mist" and he had used up all his vacation time working on other films, he met a fork in the road. He "realized it was a sign that [he] had to pursue acting." So he quit his job, packed up everything that fit in his car, and moved to Austin.Patience Pays Off Working regionally wasn't always easy. "You're not going to be able to make a living in theater and film and television living in Texas or living in a lot of regions," he says. In addition to the economic struggle, Hurst was frustrated by the lack of satisfying roles. "Roles that would cast in the area would be the smaller roles that they had budgeted for scale or for regional actors. So that's the toughest part, because you wouldn't get the best roles and you wouldn't make that much money," he notes. Hurst feels that's one of the hardest things about acting for a beginner: "When you're not able to pay your bills and you are struggling for moneythat is a tough place to be in when you constantly doubt yourself. As a struggling actor, the toughest thing [is] constantly keeping confidence in yourself, to push forward even though you know that you may not be able to pay the bills next month."Even though working regionally was challenging, Hurst feels the ease of his transition from regional to L.A. was due to his patience. He says, "I didn't want to be another statistic coming out to L.A. Sometimes it was very difficult to stay patient staying in Austin, but I made myself do it before I got some good projects under my belt, like 'The Tree of Life' and 'Living Proof.' " Hurst stresses that gaining experience on set is invaluable: "I would just sit back, close my mouth, and observe." Working regionally gave him opportunities that he might not have had in L.A., like working with directors Terrence Malick and Robert Rodriguez.The experience led to more work. His producers on "Living Proof," Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, approached Hurst about the role of the love interest Grayson on "Drop Dead Diva," a legal fantasy-drama for Lifetime. After shooting the pilot and seeing the finished product, he had a great feeling about it and decided it was time to make the leap to L.A.Thriving on Challenges Early in his work on "Drop Dead Diva," which just completed its third season, Hurst had a discussion with the producers about his character: "They absolutely had a vision for where they would take him. He was going to go through hell, and that's what I liked. I like the challenge." And if Grayson isn't evolving from episode to episode, Hurst figures out a way to make him evolve. "I hate that feeling of being stagnant," Hurst explains. "Because getting in here and doing a badass scene where everything comes together, you can't duplicate that feeling. It's the best feeling on the planet. And I'd say [for] most people the reason they do [act] is because of that."While doing press for "Drop Dead Diva" in NY, Hurst met with Amanda Mackey, who was casting "A Bird of the Air" (formerly "The Loop"), a quirky romantic comedy about a solitary man breaking out of his shell by connecting with a parrot. She pitched him the project and sent him the script, which he fell in love with. " 'A Bird of the Air' was a life-changing experience," says Hurst. Initially, there's not a lot of dialogue for Hurst's character, Lyman, but he says, "I liked the fact that he didn't talk a lot because I wanted to be able to express what Lyman was going through just in the eyes. I think that's crucial, and I don't feel like you see a whole lot of that these days. It's a natural inclination for an actor to want to overdo it and want to talk a lot and want to express a lot of facial expressions. It was difficult at times, but once I really got into Lyman's skin it started to come a little easier. It's a role that made me really look at myself and dig really deep within myself and also take a collection of so many facets of other people's lives and make them part of my own." Another great aspect of the film was working with the birds. "It was fun; it was sometimes even easier than working with the humans," he notes. "There were actually three different birds. Each one was able to do different tricks." Hurst prepared by hanging out with birds and getting used to handling them. "An animal respects you if you are very much in control, and it's the same thing with the bird. I definitely bloodied up my hands a few times, but it's all part of the fun."Lessons Learned When Hurst was starting his acting career, he didn't get a lot of tips. He says he mostly heard " 'Why would you quit a high-paying corporate job to go pursue something that's completely unreliable?' " But that taught him to ignore the negativity and figure things out for himself. One of the most important things he learned was to stay focused. He says that "means you study and you stay away from stuff that is going to distract you. Everything that you do should be moving you towards your goal." And don't give up: "If it's truly what you're meant to do and what you feel is your destiny, you cannot give up. You do whatever it takes to make it happen because the odds of it eventually happening are very high. It's like the more you play the lottery, every time you play, the probability of you winning goes up. I'm a perfect example of that. I was in dire straits; I was in a bad placeemotionally, mentally, physicallyfor a while, and I cleaned my shit up and I went after it and made it happen. And I think anybody can do it." 'A Bird of the Air' Star Jackson Hurst Soars Toward His Dreams By Melinda Loewenstein October 5, 2011 Jackson Hurst PHOTO CREDIT Vanni Natola Slow and steady wins the racethat is the philosophy businessman-turned-actor Jackson Hurst, currently starring in Lifetime Television's "Drop Dead Diva," used to launch his second career. A Texas native, Hurst began acting in junior high and continued until he found himself pulled in too many directions in college. "I decided the 'smart' route would be to pursue academics and get my business degree, and if I still couldn't stay away from the acting, then I would pursue it," he reveals. After graduation, he began his career in business, but he also immediately started doing independent films. He juggled the two careers as long as he could, but when he was offered a role in Frank Darabont's "The Mist" and he had used up all his vacation time working on other films, he met a fork in the road. He "realized it was a sign that [he] had to pursue acting." So he quit his job, packed up everything that fit in his car, and moved to Austin.Patience Pays Off Working regionally wasn't always easy. "You're not going to be able to make a living in theater and film and television living in Texas or living in a lot of regions," he says. In addition to the economic struggle, Hurst was frustrated by the lack of satisfying roles. "Roles that would cast in the area would be the smaller roles that they had budgeted for scale or for regional actors. So that's the toughest part, because you wouldn't get the best roles and you wouldn't make that much money," he notes. Hurst feels that's one of the hardest things about acting for a beginner: "When you're not able to pay your bills and you are struggling for moneythat is a tough place to be in when you constantly doubt yourself. As a struggling actor, the toughest thing [is] constantly keeping confidence in yourself, to push forward even though you know that you may not be able to pay the bills next month."Even though working regionally was challenging, Hurst feels the ease of his transition from regional to L.A. was due to his patience. He says, "I didn't want to be another statistic coming out to L.A. Sometimes it was very difficult to stay patient staying in Austin, but I made myself do it before I got some good projects under my belt, like 'The Tree of Life' and 'Living Proof.' " Hurst stresses that gaining experience on set is invaluable: "I would just sit back, close my mouth, and observe." Working regionally gave him opportunities that he might not have had in L.A., like working with directors Terrence Malick and Robert Rodriguez.The experience led to more work. His producers on "Living Proof," Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, approached Hurst about the role of the love interest Grayson on "Drop Dead Diva," a legal fantasy-drama for Lifetime. After shooting the pilot and seeing the finished product, he had a great feeling about it and decided it was time to make the leap to L.A.Thriving on Challenges Early in his work on "Drop Dead Diva," which just completed its third season, Hurst had a discussion with the producers about his character: "They absolutely had a vision for where they would take him. He was going to go through hell, and that's what I liked. I like the challenge." And if Grayson isn't evolving from episode to episode, Hurst figures out a way to make him evolve. "I hate that feeling of being stagnant," Hurst explains. "Because getting in here and doing a badass scene where everything comes together, you can't duplicate that feeling. It's the best feeling on the planet. And I'd say [for] most people the reason they do [act] is because of that."While doing press for "Drop Dead Diva" in NY, Hurst met with Amanda Mackey, who was casting "A Bird of the Air" (formerly "The Loop"), a quirky romantic comedy about a solitary man breaking out of his shell by connecting with a parrot. She pitched him the project and sent him the script, which he fell in love with. " 'A Bird of the Air' was a life-changing experience," says Hurst. Initially, there's not a lot of dialogue for Hurst's character, Lyman, but he says, "I liked the fact that he didn't talk a lot because I wanted to be able to express what Lyman was going through just in the eyes. I think that's crucial, and I don't feel like you see a whole lot of that these days. It's a natural inclination for an actor to want to overdo it and want to talk a lot and want to express a lot of facial expressions. It was difficult at times, but once I really got into Lyman's skin it started to come a little easier. It's a role that made me really look at myself and dig really deep within myself and also take a collection of so many facets of other people's lives and make them part of my own." Another great aspect of the film was working with the birds. "It was fun; it was sometimes even easier than working with the humans," he notes. "There were actually three different birds. Each one was able to do different tricks." Hurst prepared by hanging out with birds and getting used to handling them. "An animal respects you if you are very much in control, and it's the same thing with the bird. I definitely bloodied up my hands a few times, but it's all part of the fun."Lessons Learned When Hurst was starting his acting career, he didn't get a lot of tips. He says he mostly heard " 'Why would you quit a high-paying corporate job to go pursue something that's completely unreliable?' " But that taught him to ignore the negativity and figure things out for himself. One of the most important things he learned was to stay focused. He says that "means you study and you stay away from stuff that is going to distract you. Everything that you do should be moving you towards your goal." And don't give up: "If it's truly what you're meant to do and what you feel is your destiny, you cannot give up. You do whatever it takes to make it happen because the odds of it eventually happening are very high. It's like the more you play the lottery, every time you play, the probability of you winning goes up. I'm a perfect example of that. I was in dire straits; I was in a bad placeemotionally, mentally, physicallyfor a while, and I cleaned my shit up and I went after it and made it happen. And I think anybody can do it."