Componen Animation sets 'SpongeBob' as first pic

The very first release in the nascent Vital Animation unit is a "SpongeBob SquarePants" pic in 2014, Viacom topper Philippe Dauman told traders on Tuesday.Componen is enhancing an interior toon production operation because it preps for that finish of their distribution pact with DreamWorks Animation. Dauman told Wall Streeters in the Deutsche Bank media confab in Palm Beach, Fla. he needs Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob" franchise to develop a warm reception all over the world.But apart from shedding the title, Dauman did not offer any particulars concerning the project, which isn't thought to possess a author, director or producer attached yet.Componen formerly launched "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," which drawn in $140 million worldwide in 2004. Dauman noted that Nickelodeon did not possess the global presence then it has today.Par's animation push occurs the heels from the studio's Oscar win on Sunday for animated feature film for "Rango," that was created prior to the studio formally setup an animation wing.Viacom introduced the development of the division last This summer, preempting discussions with DreamWorks Animation on the distribution deal that's set to run out in the finish of the year. Disney alum David Stainton was employed to operate the division, but he resigned as Componen Animation prexy a week ago following a four-month tenure. Componen movie group topper Adam Goodman will oversee the animation team of developers.Dauman did not mention DreamWorks Animation in the remarks Tuesday. He stated the animation division may have thirty to forty people and "we're well on our method to staffing that up." Overhead is going to be modest. "You will find many organisations available, most of which we've been dealing withInch to obtain the business released, he stated.The toon push has been matched having a major growth of consumer items, which Dauman stated has additionally been silently staffing up and will also be more carefully integrated with every content division. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Keck's Exclusives: How Desperate Average women Stars Would Finish the Show

Katharine McPhee Nick Jonas might be popping in tonight to experience an old theater kid-switched-sitcom star, but it is Katharine McPhee's Karen who matures - and develops a spine - when rehearsals for Marilyn: The Musical finally get arrived. "We'll see her walk into her very own,Inch states the triple-threat stunner, whose character will get a significantly-needed lesson in working what she gets, thanks to some useful fellow chorus people along with a kick-ass Adele tune. McPhee's own evolution continues to be equally applause-worthy, as she's gone from Idol runner-as much as battling pop star for an acting breakout. Fitting, since which was her plan in the get-go. "Lengthy before I continued The American Idol Show, I had been enthusiastic about acting and understood that is what I needed to complete,Inch she states. "Music only agreed to be something I fell into." It is a positive thing, though, because it was her stint on Idol that caught the attention (and ears) of Smash executive producer Steven Spielberg. "After I learned about this show, I had been like, 'What doorways must i bust lower to obtain this?!'" states McPhee. So be careful about your back, Ivy Lynn. If the girl can break lower doorways, you simply know she will bring lower the home, too! Smash airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

PaleyFest opens door to online TV lovefests

'Sons of Anarchy'Now that the film biz's silly season is over, the smallscreen is back in the spotlight with the 29th annual Paley Festival, which kicks off Friday with a gabfest about FX's edgy drama "American Horror Story."For those who cannot make it to the seshes for such buzz shows as "Community," "Sons of Anarchy" or "New Girl," the Paley Center is partnering with Livestream to offer live streaming of the gatherings, a first for the event. PaleyFest runs through March 14 at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills.Paley has also pacted with Hulu to make nine of the 13 seshes available via Hulu and Hulu Plus as of March 15."At its heart, PaleyFest is about the communal experience of television, and the unique relationship between TV audiences and their favorite series," said Paley Center prexy and CEO Pat Mitchell.Other new elements to PaleyFest this year include a live online auction of memorabilia and "unique experiences" tied to shows featured in this year's lineup as well as past PaleyFests.The Gotham branch of Paley Center will host viewing parties for Saturday's "Community" panel and the March 9 gathering for "Castle" -- complete with a pep rally for the hard-core "Community" buffs and a scavenger hunt for "Castle's" mystery lovers.Other frosh series getting a PaleyFest showcase include "Once Upon a Time" (March 4) and "Revenge" (March 11). Veterans on display include "The Office" (March 6), "Two and a Half Men" (March 12) and "Modern Family" (March 14). Contact Shalini Dore at shali.dore@variety.com

Oscars Winners List 2012: Octavia Spencer, A Separation, The Iron Lady, The Artist, Hugo

Nikki Finke: Live-Snarking The Oscars Actress in a Supporting Role Octavia Spencer in “The Help” Foreign Language Film “A Separation” Iran Makeup “The Iron Lady” Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland Costume Design “The Artist” Mark Bridges Art Direction “Hugo” Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo Cinematography “Hugo” Robert Richardson Film Editing Sound Editing Sound Mixing Documentary (Feature) Animated Feature Film Visual Effects Actor in a Supporting Role Music (Original Score) Music (Original Song) Short Film (Live Action) Screenplay (Adapted) Screenplay (Original) Documentary (Short Subject) Short Film (Animated) Directing Actor in a Leading Role Actress in a Leading Role Best Picture

Morrissey put into 'Walking Dead' cast

David Morrissey continues to be put into the cast for that third season of "The Walking Dead." Thesp will have the Governor, a personality in the Robert Kirkman graphic novel where the net's top-ranked show relies. The Governor may be the leader of Woodbury, a little settlement of children, and becomes the main antagonist for Ron Grimes (Andrew Lincoln subsequently) and the group. Morrissey, a U.K. native, has made an appearance in lots of television programs in Britain inside a career that goes back towards the early eighties. Credits include "Condition of Play," "Meadowlands" and "Blackpool." Production around the 16-episode third season of "The Walking Dead" starts this spring in Atlanta. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Warner Bros Pulls Sly Stallone-Starrer Bullet Towards The Mind From Schedule

Bullet Towards The Mind comes from Joel Silver’s Dark Castle, and Warner Bros is aboard to distribute and sell it off only — maybe which makes it simpler to maneuver than the usual studio-created movie. Butthe Sylvester Stallone-starrerwon’t be launched on April 13, 2012 as planned. It's a full weekend for releases, with Fox’s The 3 Stooges and Lionsgate’s The Cabin Within The Forest also set for your Friday. Bullet, in line with the French graphic novel, is directed by Walter Hill and focuses on a hitman (Stallone) who forms an alliance having a cop to exact revenge around the killer of the particular partners. Jason Momoa, Sang Kang and Christian Slater co-star. Stallone won’t need to wait lengthy hitting large screens though:The Expendables 2 arrives August 17. In other Warners news, the studio has transformed the title of their Will Ferrell-Zach Galifianakis comedy from Rivals towards the Campaign. The discharge date for that Jay Roach-directed pic remains August 10, 2012, in the actual warmth from the presidential election season.

Andy's circus

Rooney Mara and Demian Bichir meet backstage. Andy Serkis wows the Virtuosos Award Tribute audience. Producer Jim Burke and Actress Shailene WoodleyTake two nervous gals, one Latin hottie, a chubby funnyman, a shirtless question together with military services weapons Oscar nominee and whomever else got? This is actually the assemblage the Santa Barbara Film Fest anointed utilizing their Virtuosos Award on Friday within the Arlington Theater. More than a thousand fans of Rooney Mara, Shailene Woodley, Demian Bichir, Patton Oswalt, Andy Serkis and Melissa McCarthy jammed the venue for any evening of conversation while using six rising stars, simply to uncover that McCarthy will be a no-show, the victim of laryngitis.Bichir introduced the talks, trading his "A Far Greater Existence" perf to "my Mexican paisanos, the 11 million individuals who help this community proceed with pride and.InchMara quietly whispered to the mic they is "a workaholic, and eager revisit work" round the two sequels to "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo." Oswalt cracked jokes about his sex moments with Charlize Theron, while Serkis did a shirtless chimpanzee imitation. "Acting with motion capture is just the identical whatsoever from acting with makeup on," he was adament. "It's simply yet another way of recording an actor's performance."Woodley found the final outcome the talks. "My movie vocabulary stretches to 'The Goonies' and 'Dirty Dancing.' That's it. And this has all been pretty intimidating," she mentioned in the honours swirl. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com