'21 Jump Street' Extended Red Band Clip Is 'Extremely Vivid'

We have an extended red-band look at "21 Jump Street," and over the course of the five minute clip, you'll get a pretty good idea of what the world's worst undercover cops are like. Take a look below, but warning: not safe for work material here. In the film, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play two reject officers who are recruited to go undercover at a local high school to bring down a drug ring. Unfortunately, for the two police officers, you just don't go undercover at a local high school. There are cliques and bullies and social pressures to deal with that the cops don't handle particularly well. Needless to say, things get a little out of control. Rob Riggle's head turns into an ice cream cone. Jonah Hill gets stabbed, and Channing Tatum turns into a nerd. Preview audiences have been raving about "21 Jump Street" for the past few weeks, so if you're looking for a better idea of what they're talking about, the extended sneak peek should give you some of that and more. What did you think of the extended red band trailer for "21 Jump Street"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Vincent Graeff dies at 80

Vincent Graeff, a child actor who appeared in the "Our Gang" series of shorts with the likes of George "Spanky" McFarland and Robert Blake, died Feb. 8 in Henderson, Nev. He was 80. Credited as Billy Ray Smith, Graeff made his debut at the age of 6 in 1937's "The Pigskin Palooka." In the early 1940s he appeared in MGM shorts including "Baby Blues," "Fightin' Fools," "Robot Wrecks," "Helping Hands" and "Going to Press." As he grew a bit older, the young actor appeared in many uncredited feature roles, including in notable films such as "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," "The Valley of Decision," "The Harvey Girls," "The Dark Corner," "Sister Kenny," "The Babe Ruth Story," "The Set-Up" and "Cheaper by the Dozen." Graeff ended his acting career in 1951. Born in San Ysidro, Calif., Graeff served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart. He had a career as a sheet metal worker. Graeff's brother Paul, who also appeared in films as a child actor, died in 2010. Graeff is survived by his wife, Pat; five children; and a number of grandchildren and great-children. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Oscars 2012: Live Coverage!

Empire's live ceremony commentaryWelcome to Empire's live coverage in the Oscar red-colored-colored carpet as well as the ceremony. We'll be departing comments round the Academy Awards' best (and worst) fitted simply because they arrive round the red-colored-colored carpet - then departing comments on all the individuals who win and nonwinners because they are introduced. Relax, grab a brew from the favourite beverage and like the evening around....

Spartacus, Episode 5: Items That Made Us Go "Ew!"

Dustin Clare On Friday's Spartacus: Vengeance, Gannicus has came back! But what havoc does the prior Champion of Capua wreak within the old gladiator stomping grounds? Don't have a look at Gannicus. Calculates it's Spartacus' males that are behind the finest, baddest arena bloodbath so far. Spartacus and Co. find new digs within an abandoned structure and learn that Rhaskos, Crixus and Oenomaus ought to be carried out. Spartacus surrender to trying in order to save them, even if this means entering an arena full of Romans who had been hunting him. Meanwhile, Gannicus has returned to Capua too as with his mind, becoming Oenomaus' executioner can provide the prior Doctore the glorious, noble gladiator's dying he warrants. That will totally replace sleeping along with his wife before she died! No awkward reunion whatsoever. From Wager on Thrones to Spartacus: TV's unsexiest sex moments Sparty and Agron disguise themselves incorporated within the Roman guard, while Mira leads several males to produce fire for the arena infrastructure. Within the height in the fighting, the stadium begins to interrupt lower. Row upon row of site visitors drop to the fiery dying below. Mayhem! Stress! Inside the chaos, Spartacus accidentally warrior warrior spears Cossutius (he was pursuing Glaber) and Albinius dies inside the big chunks of rock... by Glaber's speaking hands after he'd uncovered his disloyal wife's plan to divorce him and marry Varinius. But her father Albinius can't grant the divorce since he's dead! The save party leaves with Gannicus, an unconscious Oenomaus and hurt Crixus, who finally will probably be reunited with Naevia. Aww! Enough story... to the great stuff! The Physiques - Gannicus likes his wine and girls, which visit to a brothel is decidedly less bloody than that massacre within the premiere. And in line with the prostitute, he's certainly a god in their female arena. Nonetheless, the episode was somewhat light on sex to produce way of the slaughter. The Blood stream - A lot of the dying was implied since the site visitors who perished were consumed by flames offscreen. There's however still plenty of gross onscreen bloodshed to possess. Using the much to choose from, listed below are the standouts:1. One gladiator while using finest discomfort threshold ever is actually capable of progressively remove a spear that impaled his torso, remain true and wield it. Wow.2. The completely new retiarus (internet and trident guy) advances on another victim and there's much distance trained in blood stream spurting within the poor man's neck3. Thank you for going to the Spoliarium, where we'll take proper proper care of all your dead gladiator disposal needs. Just drag the unfortunate fellow in, slice the hands or legs, remove the entrails... and dump them inside the undercover water reservoir?!?4. Sooner or later Spartacus slashes at one fighter's belly, too as with the helpful overhead shot, we view part of the man's innards peeking out. We feel we are in a position to identify what he'd for supper (once we are losing ours)!5. Glaber killing Albinius wasn't an clearly gory scene, nevertheless it had been disturbing to look for the prater coldly get huge stone spar when it comes to remains after which it slam it lower on his dear father-in-law's face. If Ilithiya understood the thing that was ideal for her, she wouldn't wreak havoc on Glaber! Which moments disturbed you most? Which have been your chosen deaths? Spartacus: Vengeance airs on Fridays at 10/9c on Starz.

Edi Gathegi & Martin Landau Among Latest Pilot Castings

Edi Gathegi (Twilight) is set to co-star opposite Kyle Bornheimer in ABCs comedy pilot White Van Man. The single-camera is a blue collar ensemble based on the British format and centers on Jack (Kyle Bornheimer) who is forced to put his dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father Tony (J.K. Simmons). Gathegi will play Darren, one of Tony’s workers. Also cast in the pilot is Johnny Pemberton as Tony’s teen nephew. The series takes its name from the UK phrase that describes the stereotype for drivers of light commercial vehicles, often self-employed or owning small businesses such as handyman services. The ABC Studios-produced adaptation was written by Bobby Bowman. Michael Fresco is directing. Gathegi, repped by ICM and Framework, recently starred in Tracy Letts play Superior Donuts at the Geffen Playhouse. Veteran Martin Landau has joined ABC’s untitled Roland Emmerich drama pilot, from ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Co. Written by Emmerich and Harold Kloser and to be directed by Emmerich, the project centers on Carter (Max Thieriot), an astrophysics grad student in NYC who learns that he is the chosen one to destroy the forces of evil. Landau, repped by TalentWorks, will play Mr. Armin, a blind former German soldier in World War II who is the executor of Carter’s father’s estate and one of Carter’s only true friends. Nicole Gale Anderson (Jonas) and newcomer Nina Lisandrello have been cast in the CW’s drama pilot Beauty And The Beast. Loosely based on the 1980s CBS series starring Linda Hamilton, CWs Beauty And The Beast is described as a modern-day romantic love story with a procedural twist. It centers on Catherine (Kristin Kreuk), a tough-minded NYPD homicide detective and the Beast, Vincent Koslow, the survivor of a military experiment that went disastrously wrong. Lisandrello, repped by Leading Artists andInvictus Entertainment, will play Tess, Catherine’s partner and friend on the Homicide Squad. Anderson, repped by Paradigm and The Marshak/Zachary Co., will play Catherine’s younger sister. She has been recurring on ABC Family’s Make It or Break It. Summer Lyn Beard has joined Living Loaded, Foxs single-camera comedy pilot from the Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia duo of Rob McElhenney and Rob Rosell and FX Prods. Based on the book of the same name by Dan Dunn, Living Loaded centers on Dan (Mike Vogel), the loose partying blogger of the popular Living Loaded blog who is forced to change his career plans when he becomes an NPR radio host. Beard will play Dan and Bobby’s (Michael Marc Friedman) BFF.

But his heart belongs to Shaw

Scribe John Logan says even though his 'Hugo' came out this year, he prefers tragediesMelissa McCarthyMichelle WilliamsToday, playwright-screenwriter John Logan will receive the Oscar Wilde Award -- which recognizes the achievements of Irish-Americans in Hollywood -- at a ceremony in Santa Monica hosted by the U.S.-Ireland Alliance.Logan has had a good run in the past year or so: Recent credits include "Hugo," for which he is Oscar-nommed; "Rango," which is nommed in the Oscars' toonpic category; and the film adaptation of "Coriolanus," which Ralph Fiennes helmed.The Wilde Award recognizes a body of work that includes "Gladiator," for which Logan was Oscar-nommed alongside David Franzoni and William Nicholson; "The Last Samurai," "The Aviator"; which earned Logan another Oscar nom, and Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd."And then there's his stage work, including his 2010 Tony Award-winning play about Mark Rothko, "Red."The pace has shown no sign of slacking. He co-wrote James Bond pic "Skyfall," which Sam Mendes is lensing now, he is adapting tuner "Jersey Boys" for the bigscreen, and is collaborating with Patti Smith on a film adaptation of her memoir, "Just Kids."Logan cherishes his Irish heritage -- his parents were both emigrants from Ulster, and he has many relatives there -- but he sees it as a little ironic that he will be a recipient of an award bearing Wilde's name. Although Logan loves many Irish writers, he is not that fond of Wilde, as a playwright at least."He is a playwright I never warmed to," Logan says. "In those sort of bi-polar decisions you make as you go through life, where you have to decide 'Am I drawn to Ibsen or Strindberg?' you get to the point where you say, 'Am I drawn to Wilde or Shaw?' I'm drawn to Shaw."In an onstage interview at BAFTA last fall, Logan spoke of his "Irish attraction for the melancholy." He concedes that he is drawn to the darker side of life."Well, whether it has something to do with my Irishness or something else, who knows?, but Ireland is a land of bleak moors and crags and tors and cold Irish sea, and -- despite the fact that this year I happen to have 'Rango' and 'Hugo' come out -- I'm drawn toward darker material, and I always have been. You come to that point as a playwright where you think, Am I a tragedian or a comedian?, and I have always been a tragedian, in terms of things I'm interested in. So the stories I choose to write about, whether it is Mark Rothko in my play 'Red,' or anything from 'Gladiator' to 'Coriolanus' to 'The Aviator' to 'Sweeney Todd,' have very murky and morally complex and dark protagonists, and even something like 'Hugo' I always looked at as a very serious story."Logan advises budding screenwriters to study the works of the great playwrights, from the ancient Greeks to the present day, taking in all of Shakespeare's plays, and the works of Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg."The key to what we do as screenwriters and playwrights is we are dramatists. We are not novelists, we are not poets, and that means we do a very specific thing: we write lines for actors, and we write scenes for directors and producers and lighting designers, and it is about the engagement with other artists. And I believe that part of the way you learn that -- maybe the only way to learn that -- is to look at the continuum of the art form, see what you can learn and be inspired by those who have come before you. I think that is equally true for screenwriting: if you look at great screenplays from the past it'll help you, but it's much more important to go back thousands of years and look at Aristotle, in terms of the bedrock of dramatic literature, as opposed to prose, as opposed to poetry."And the next thing I will always say," he concludes, "is after you have versed yourself in the classics of drama start reading poetry because poetry will teach you about language, and part of the job of the playwright and the screenwriter is to create arresting language." And Michelle & Melissa make it threeReceiving Oscar Wilde Awards alongside John Logan will be thesps Melissa McCarthy and Michelle Williams.Both actresses have been nommed for Academy Awards this season: McCarthy for her supporting role in "Bridesmaids," and Williams for the leading role in "My Week With Marilyn," for which she won a Golden Globe.McCarthy, who won an Emmy last year for CBS comedy series "Mike & Molly," has recently completed writing feature pic "Tammy."Williams, whose agent is U.S.-Ireland Alliance advisory board member Hylda Queally, will next be seen in Sam Raimi's "Oz, the Great and Powerful." Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com

Fall 2012 TV Scorecard: Which Shows Are Returning? Which Aren't?

This week's episode of Alcatraz was short on new mysteries, nevertheless it did raise a few pre-determined questions. Namely, because the crooks and pads of Alcatraz are returning to supply day, would they start aging again? The returning '63 now, Johnny McKee (Adam Rothenberg), poisoned 70 people, mostly since they weren't nice to him. Within our day, he works in the bar together with expensive hotels pool to root out bullies which makes them pay. To locate McKee, Rebecca (Sarah Manley) switched to his former cell neighbor, Jack Sylvane (Jeffrey Pierce), who offered up five words that might be crucial in identifying the story in the '63s. See which other new mysteries this week's Alcatraz elevated: Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Jeffrey PierceLeon RippyParminder NagraSam NeillJorge GarciaSarah JonesDavid HoflinAdam RothenbergAlcatraz

Shawn Levy Talks New Frankenstein

Monster(s) will be mo-capVarious Frankenstein projects have been coming together on the operating table in recent years; two have had the necessary surge of studio power to help them rise up; and Real Steel director Shawn Levy has just been talking to Collider about the one that belongs to him.Broad details about Max Landis' screenplay have already emerged, not least from Landis himself. The Chronicle writer explained in a great interview with Shock last year that he's attempted to coherently combine elements from Mary Shelley's original novel, and from the unwieldy subsequent Frankenstein mythologies that have built up over the years. His story is from the point-of-view of Igor, who 'everyone knows' is Frankenstein's hunchback lab assistant... except that he isn't, and kind of never was. Check out Shock's interview for the full history...So the big reveal from Levy is not the story but the approach: his monster will be achieved with the same technology that brought the Real Steel robots to life."My whole approach with Frankenstein is based on a mo-cap SimulCam playback," Levy explains (if "explains" is quite the word). "I'll go to Europe, shoot the movie, do scenes with the real actors and I'll be able to see the motion-captured monster in real time due to SimulCam.It's not a dude with scars on his face. It's not just kind of latex and a costume; it will be a motion-capture performance of the monster, and I can give away maybe not too much by saying there's more than one monster in our version."Levy says that, rather than causing a potential problem per se, Stuart Beattie's I, Frankenstein, adapted from Kevin Grevoux's comics and starring Aaron Eckhart, has made Fox raise their game."I, Frankenstein is a wildy different movie to ours," says Levy (it's a modern-day story that casts the monster as a hero in a war between clans of immortals), "but in the culture it's another Frankenstein movie, and it's gonna come out next year. So if anything, that movie has kind of raised the bar for the studio and I to cast the living hell out of our Frankenstein. Everyone now knows, because people have seen Chronicle,that Max Landisis a hell of a goddamn writer and his script for Frankensteinis awesome.We've gotta make sure we cast it really, really right, and so that's the moment we're in right now."There's no start date yet, but while you're waiting, make sure you catch Chronicle while it's still in cinemas.

Pilot Season: Fox Orders Comedy from HIMYM's Craig Thomas, Carter Bays to Star Becki Newton

Becki Newton Becki Newton will have a regular TV gig soon. The Ugly Betty alum will star inside the Goodwin Games, lifting the cast contingency round the comedy which Fox just bought to pilot. Pilot Season: Have the scoop! The comedy, from Generate An Income Met Your Mother designers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, follows three siblings and siblings, one of these simple carried out by Newton, who must reunite following a dying from the father, who leaves them his fortune only if they accept his terms. Fellow Generate An Income Met Your Mother producer Chris Harris may also be installed on write and executive-produce.

Start Looking: Disney Produces a brand new Dance for Phineas and Ferb's Platypus Day

The cast of Austin & Ally Make room, Macarena. Disney Funnel is wishing to begin a brand new dance craze timed to "Platypus Day," a vacation produced through the cable network to celebrate Perry the Platypus, the teal-colored, duck-charged secret agent from Phineas and Ferb. The 2011 Platypus Day, which happens on Saturday, March 3, will feature the development of "The Platypus Walk," a surf-rock tune that accompany an associated dance choreographed by Rosero McCoy (Camping Rock 2: The Ultimate Jam). The song will debut today on Radio Disney, and Disney Channel's website includes a tutorial towards the dance. Disney Funnel will air 11 hrs of Phineas and Ferb episodes from 9 a.m. to eight p.m. on March 3, timed towards the "holiday," while sister network Disney XD will air 12 hrs. Both channels also debut a music video for "The Platypus Walk," featuring Disney Funnel sitcom stars from Best Of Luck Charlie, Shake Up, Jessie, Kickin' It and Austin & Ally. Disney will even celebrate "Platypus Day" via occasions at its Disney Stores within the U.S. as well as in Canada as well as on Radio Disney stations. The big event may be the latest brand extension for Phineas and Ferb, that has already created merchandise, a TV-movie, soundtracks as well as an approaching feature film. Phineas was no. 1 animated series among kids 6-11 and 9-14 this year. Here is a start looking at a part of "The Platypus Walk" music video, featuring various Disney Funnel talent: Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Pilot Season: ABC Orders Mistresses

ABC logo design ABC has purchased the drama Mistresses from executive producer Bob Sertner, whose credits include No Regular Family and Revenge.ABC orders pilot for Shonda Rhimes' period dramaWritten by K.J. Steinberg (co-executive producer of Gossip Girl and also the Nine), the series follows four women buffeted through the scandalous romantic lives they are leading.

'C Foundation' tops L.A. film shoots for week

Offlot production in Los Angeles stayed solid last week with 649 days of shooting -- up 12% from the 2011 weekly average. Features gained ground by 35% and spots were up 4% while TV slid 10%. Overall production in Los Angeles edged down 2% compared with the same week last year, according to figures provided Tuesday by the FilmL.A. permitting agency. Indie feature "The C Foundation" was the most active film shooting last week, with lensing at properties located on Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights along with a day at the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena. Other features shooting locally included "Channeling," "Smart Ass," "Susie Chambers," "The Shift," and "The Vortex/Crazy Town." TV shooting was led by Fox's drama "Touch" with 13 days. Other TV shoots included "Easy Chinese 2," "Germany's Next Top Model," "Hollywood Girls," "Stevie TV," "The Biggest Loser," "Bones," "Ringer," "The Client List" and "The Mentalist." As usual, TV dominated activity with 404 days. That number should begin spiking later this month due to pilot production. "Based on work volume, we've not yet seen the rush," said FilmL.A. spokesman Philip Sokoloski. "A low level of pilot production activity now takes place here year round, though." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

First images from Disney's Wreck-It Take advantage of

The initial handful of images have turned up for Disney's Wreck-It Take advantage of, the arcade-set animation a great unloved character in the popular videogame.The film stars John C. Reilly as Take advantage of, the in-game villain who longs being as fashionable as designated "good guy", Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Frustrated with playing second fiddle, Take advantage of handles to sneak his distance to some completely new game, a preliminary person shooter where they can prove his gallantry.However, all doesn't go near plan, it is also not extended before Take advantage of sets loose a deadly enemy that expects all of the games inside the arcade. His hope? A game title title-sabotaging glitch named Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) who could be capable of throw a spanner inside the works...As premises go, it's pretty available, but you will see how Disney's trademark humour can come up, with many different videogame clichés to lick with.A lot more encouraging will be the film's lush pictures, as you have seen within the new images. The FPS section looks particularly exciting, and who'd wager against it being released becoming an actual videogame before too extended? Wreck-It Take advantage of opens inside the Uk on Boxing Day 2012.

Viola Davis books two feature roles

DavisWith an Oscar nomination and SAG Award in hands, Viola Davis finds her next two projects, landing supporting roles in Summit Entertainment's "Ender's Game" too as with Warner Bros. and Alcon's "Beautiful Creatures.""Beautiful Creatures" will probably be helmed by Richard LaGravenese. Erwin Stoff, Alcon cake cake toppers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Manley and Molly Cruz are coming up with. The LaGravenese-composed adaptation in the Margaret Stohl-Kami Garcia tome follows two teens who must confront a curse that has haunted the girl's family for many years. Davis plays a librarian and friend in the teenage boy's deceased mother who loves him as being a boy and can do whatever she'll to guard him.Alcon's also acquired rights to a different two books inside the Stohl-Garcia trilogy, "Beautiful Darkness" and "Beautiful Chaos."Summit will sell foreign rights to "Beautiful Creatures" at Berlin. Lensing will start in April in New Orleans.Gavin Hood is helming "Ender's Game," starring Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford.Hood composed the variation of Orson Scott Card's novel. Occur Earth's future, story follows a genius strategist employed with the government to help destroy a bug-like alien race.Davis may have a military mental health specialist who runs the emotional welfare of youthful students. She helps as well design the games that test their capabilities and resilience.OddLot, K/O Paper Products and Digital Domain are production partners on "Ender's Game." OddLot's Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough are coming up with with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman via their K/O Paper Products banner, additionally to Lynn Hendee, Robert Chartoff and Card. OddLot's Bill Lischak and K/O's Mandy Safavi will professional produce with Digital Domain's High high cliff Plumer and Erection dysfunction Ulbrich. Sierra/Affinity is handling foreign sales for your pic.This program is ideal for Davis to shoot "Ender's Game" first, with "Beautiful Creatures" following later around.Davis might be the 2nd actress nominee now to have a completely new project -- on Monday, Rooney Mara showed up the feminine lead in Steven Soderbergh's "Undesirable Effects."Davis may also be developing an untitled skein for Cinemax with "Pariah" helmer Dee Rees.She's repped by APA, Principal Entertainment and Michael Adler. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

ESPN Reporter Forges "Feud" With Take advantage of Lowe

Take advantage of Lowe Twitter was buzzing after Parks and Recreation's Take advantage of Lowe tweeted that Indiana Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was likely to retire - news that came like a huge surprise to fans and particularly to a single reporter since the National football league. Inside a passive-aggressive (although funny) make an effort to zing Lowe for encroaching on his territory with false reviews, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted, "Growing chatter that Parks and Entertainment gets canceled."Watch full instances of Parks and Entertainment Lowe has yet to fireplace in reaction to Schefter's "rumor," but he did retweet his son's feelings around the matter: "@MatthewELowe @RobLowe It's okay father, Johnny and that i still adore you even when you probably did awaken the twittersphere... even around the blackout. #SOPA #Faceplam"Lowe's repetition didn't immediately react to a request comment.Watch Schefter enter his on-air injections at Lowe and the show:

Up-to-date: Kelsey Grammer & Wife Expecting Twins

First Launched: The month of the month of january 15, 2012 11:15 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh cope with towards the 69th Annual Golden Globe Honours locked in the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Slopes, Calif. around the month of the month of january 15, 2012 Kelsey Grammer has baby Five and six along the way! In Control star who won a Golden Globe to find the best Actor in the TV Drama series and wife Kayte Walsh Grammer, 32, expect twins. Im really searching toward meeting these new arrivals, the actor told reporters backstage within the Golden Globe Honours after his win. Fatherhoods always different, in line with the level of smoothness which involves your existence. They arrive and let guess what happens you must do, he ongoing. [Kayte is] amazing. Shes most likely probably the most loving, amazing, warm people Ive ever met. Shes funny and high all concurrently. Shes an amazing person but spend blow [the kids] away. The twins will probably be Kaytes first children. She formerly experienced a miscarriage this season. Kelsey, 56, is father to boy Jude, 7, and daughter Mason, 10, while using Real Regular folks of Beverly Slopes star Camille Grammer. He's also father to Greer, 19, with Barrie Buckner, and Spencer, 28, with Doreen Alderman. The longtime TV, film and stage veteran is yet another grandfather to Spencers boy Emmett, who's 3 several days old. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IATSE, Teamsters focus on health care

With healthcare costs expected to dominate, Hollywood's below-the-line unions have set March 5 as a start date for contract negotiations with the congloms -- less than four months before the current master contract ends July 31. The first round of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers should last for several weeks. The unions -- the West Coast locals of the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees and Local 399 of the Intl. Brotherhood of Teamsters -- are expected to negotiate jointly on healthcare and retirement issues while holding separate bargaining on the remainder of their contracts. Reps for IATSE, the Teamsters and the AMPTP had no comment on the negotiations. Both unions have ramped up their activity to heighten membership awareness on the specifics amid rising healthcare costs with a series of explanatory sessions for members, which have included presentations by healthcare expert and consultant John Garner and David Westcoe, exec administrative director with the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan. The Teamsters have scheduled a Jan. 22 town- hall meeting in Burbank, according to a message to members this week from longtime Local 399 secretary-treasurer Leo Reed. "The cost of healthcare benefits has become one of the most important issues facing our members," Reed said. "Costs of care and insurance coverage have been going up at an alarming rate for the last decade or more. Indications are that costs will rise an average of 9% to 10% a year for the next five years." Reed noted that the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health trust, which administers the benefits package paid approximately $500 million in healthcare costs last year for actives and retirees. "If the projections are accurate, next year's costs for just health care will increase by approximately $50 million," Reed said. "The $50 million more a year is just to stay even. There are also the increased pension cost, and the reduced reserves caused by the 2008 market crash." Health and pension have traditionally been among the top priorities for the unions, alongside salaries and working conditions, but the developments underline the uncertainty over health care amid a struggling economy. "Health care costs have increased at a faster rate than anyone was able to predict," Reed said in the missive. "All over the country, people have seen rising costs for medical services, doctor visits, tests, prescription drugs and hospital care." The Teamsters Local 399 covers about 3,200 drivers in 13 Western states and about 1,000 basic craft workers, while the IATSE deal covers 15 locals on the West Coast encompassing more than 20,000 members. The two unions entered into a formal alliance in August 2010 -- two weeks after Teamster Local 399 drivers reached a deal with the AMPTP and synched up its contract expiration with the IATSE deal as IATSE president Matthew Loeb, who replaced the retiring Thomas Short in 2008 as the head of IATSE, has attempted to foster closer ties between the two unions. Additionally, IATSE members are facing tightened eligibility to qualify for the health plan, which is overeseen by reps of the unions and the showbiz companies and funded from residuals and ancillary markets. IATSE agreed in 2009 to a hike in the eligibility threshold during the final year of the pact requiring that members work 400 hours over six months to qualify, up 33% from the previous 300-hour requirement -- a change that stirred an uproar among below-the-line workers when the pact went out for ratification. In the 2010 negotiations, Teamsters sought 3% in annual wage hikes but the companies insisted on a 2% wage gain, which the Teamsters accepted with several sweeteners along with the same 1.66% hike in benefits contained in the earlier IATSE deal. The Teamster deal set the template for negotiations in late 2010 and early 2011 with the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Televison & Radio Artists, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America -- all with 2% hikes in minimums and all with the chief gain being an increase of 1.5 per dollar in employer contributions to the pension and health plans. The Teamsters Local 399 contract is negotiated jointly with four other Basic Crafts unions: Local 40 of the Intl. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Local 724 of the Studio Utility Employees; Local 755 of Plasterers and Cement Masons; and Local 78 of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry. Reed noted in his letter that the plans face the dual impact of rising costs and the aging of the industry's population, leading to greater use of health benefits. "Part of the blame for rising insurance costs is due to escalating costs for medical care, pharmaceuticals, and other health care expenses," he said. "A new mandate in the federal health care overhaul is also a factor in making insurance more expensive, by allowing adult children to remain on their parents' insurance policies until age 26." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Preston Beckman set for Fox segue

Longtime Fox Broadcasting Co. skedding topper Preston Beckman, the reigning dean of network program planning execs, will transition at the end of the TV season to a new role as senior strategist for Fox Networks Group.The new role calls for Beckman to offer skedding, programming and research insights across all Fox Networks Group outlets, reporting to Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox Networks Group."Fox has been incredibly fortunate to have Preston guiding our schedule for the past decade and seven consecutive years of No. 1 finishes," Rice said in announcing Beckman's segue. "His strategic mind and love of television make him the Muhammad Ali of scheduling executives, and we all look forward to working closely with him, here at Fox, for many more years."Beckman has been with Fox the past 11 years, serving as exec veep of strategic program planning and research. Before Fox, he spent nearly 20 years at NBC and was a key member of the Peacock's programming team in its 1990s heyday."In my job, you're only as good as the people who bring us their ideas and the executives who nurture and market the shows. I have been very fortunate to work with the best in the business and to have a scheduling team that is second to none," Beckman said. "I also want to thank Peter for persuading me to remain in the FNG family and for giving me the opportunity to transition over the next three years to whatever path I choose to follow."Beckman is known in the biz for his colorful personality and for the candid observations he shares on his Twitter feed, where he's dubbed "The Masked Scheduler." Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Gallic laffers get guffaws

Gaumont comedy 'Intouchables' had notched up an remarkable $116.4 mil within the French box office by 12 ,. 20.At 2008's Unifrance Paris Rendez-Vous, foreign entrepreneurs jeered their heads off watching Pathe's "Thank you for going to the Stays." But nobody considered buying it.That was then. Meanwhile, the world biz has experienced credit and Eurozone crises, entrepreneurs are becoming more risk-averse, arthouse auds happen to be have contracted -- as have TV sales and DVD areas over much around the world.InchGeneral, prices come in freefall since the economic meltdown in 2008, apart from Germany, Russia and China, where they've elevated,Inch states EuropaCorp worldwide sales mind Marie-Laure Montironi.Global Gallic B.O. walked from $549 million in 2008 to $457 million this past year and $442 million a year ago, Unifrance estimations.Knowing by these amounts, France's sales sector should practically maintain mourning, but that's not the problem whatsoever.Whatever their box office, Gallic sales agents' revenues on French film exports rose a muscular 26.1% this season to $225.2 million, the most effective result since French CNC film agency began tallying sales in 2004.Several factors have been in play.Once easily wiped off as local product, comedies are really prime export fare. Some say like auds like feel-good films in feel-bad occasions.Introduced by Dany Boon's "Nothing To Declare," Franois Ozon's "Potiche" and Jean Becker's "My Days With Margueritte," eight laffers, plus two dramedies, figure among France's finest-grossing exports (see chart).Since Boon's 2008 laffer "Stays" received an eyecatching $53.7 million within the B.O. outdoors France, Gallic comedies have attracted more customers, states Pathe Intl.'s co-intl. sales mind Muriel Sauzay.French dramedy "Intouchables," which received $116.4 million in France through 12 ,. 20, looks set to assist goose comedy sales.Repping combined revenues for sales agents of $15.7 million, Belgium and French-speaking Europe, where French comedy stars are huge, ranked together as French films' third greatest export territory this season, trailing only the U.S. and Germany.Frequently more middle-of-the-road than edgy dramas, comedies can also enjoy well on tv, a continuously-more valuable distributor concern, states Other Position prexy Olivier Albou.Other key areas also provide rallied."At Toronto as well as the AFM, Korea and japan were buying a little more in comparison to previous years," states Films Distribution partner Nicolas Brigaud-Robert."The U.S. companies are more dynamic when compared to a couple in the past,In . reviews Gaumont Worldwide mind Cecile Gaget. "New players Open Road and Film District, for instance, have revived industry. The Weinstein Co. and IFC remain very essential for European cinema."Thrillers and actioners now command "high costsInch in Russia, Sauzay adds.The occasions when movie revenues depended on theatrical have remaining. Genre films may hardly register on B.O. charts but pack good ancillary sales, Brigaud-Robert argues. "Particularly for foreign movies in several places that P&A is extremely high, ancillary is strong and flicks aren't cast-driven, cash is not created from theatrical any longer.InchInchInternational TV and DVD sales aren't that disastrous," adds Camille Neel, Le Pacte's worldwide sales mind. "We've been making good catalogue sales on films that labored better in the TV format than theaters."States Gaget: "Small-budget French genre films from emerging company company directors sell well should they have got a effective concept that's original enough (and) a great script -- which is easier if they're backed by producers getting a brief history.InchA completely new generation of French company company directors for instance Fred Cavaye ("Point Blank") and Frederic Jardin ("Sleep deprived Evening") are turning out cost-contained thrillers that, like genre, pack large ancillary potential."Industry has reduced for dark, intimate French dramas, whether there's a cast or else,In . Gaget states. "These films is only able to be employed in theaters, need top reviews and great festival exposure."Nonetheless, on art films generally, customers still buy films they love, which regularly leads to investing in an offer wars simply because they frequently love the identical films, states Pyramide leader Eric Lagesse.But, it's the bigger films have a tendency to punch the big sales amounts: Pathe's $64 million-allotted "Oceans" and $26 million "Declare" drove up agents' sales figures this season, states Sauzay.France's finest-grossing films of 2011 might use be two major worldwide movies, both French minority co-productions: "The Three Musketeers" and Studiocanal co-produced "Unknown," getting an overall total $133.millions of gross.Any $40 million-plus Gallic movie runs the risk of with different U.S. buy for recoupment along with its French backers needing to setup the big Stateside P&A costs.Techniques to sidestep over-reliance upon the U.S. cut different ways. Plus, lots of Gaul's finest films -- for instance, the $33.3 million "Would I Lie, However? 3" -- are juggernaut comedies that largely recoup from France.Also, companies are paring budgets and restricting exposure via co-production. "Budgets come down substantially in the last two to three years," one producer states."Oftentimes, we've handled to pre-finance films without any U.S. deal, most likely through pre-sales or worldwide co-productions," Sauzay adds, stating the $40.5 million toon pic "Why I Did not Eat My Father,Inch pre-funded worldwide with Italian and Chinese companies.Revenues is a factor, profits another. And nowadays everybody has one eye in the base line.RELATED LINKS: Distribs, exhibs flock to Paris Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com