Watch Taylor Kitsch's MTV First Right Now!

Clear eyes, full hearts, must watch: "MTV First: John Carter" kicks off right here, right now! Tune into the video below to see Taylor Kitsch in an exclusive clip from "John Carter," his new Disney sci-fi adventure. Keep watching for more of the actor's thoughts on his latest flick, plus updates on his other upcoming projects like "Battleship" and "Savages." Join the conversation on Twitter by using #MTVFirst or #AskKitsch. It all starts here and now, only on MTV.com.

2012 Film Independent Spirit Honours -- Individuals who win List (Up-to-date)

Movieline's backstage within the Film Independent Spirit Honours, where Seth Rogen is hosting (and absolutely killing it) within the annual celebration of indie filmmaking, inside a tent round the beach in Santa Monica. Want the irreverent, no holds-barred celebrity-skewering monologue that Billy Most certainly will not deliver tomorrow evening? Stay up-to-date for clips of Rogen striking the airwaves tonight. Meanwhile, follow along on Twitter (at @movieline) and search back here to look for the 2010 individuals who win up-to-date simply because they happen! Individuals who win layed out in bold below simply because they happen. BEST SUPPORTING MALE Albert Brooks Drive John Hawkes Martha Marcy May Marlene Christopher Plummer Beginners John C. Reilly Cedar plank plank Rapids Corey Stoll Evening amount of time in Paris BEST FIRST Script Mike Cahill, Brit Marling Another Earth J.C. Chandor Margin Call Patrick DeWitt Terri Phil Johnston Cedar plank plank Rapids Will Reiser 50/50 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Joel Hodge Bellflower Benjamin Kasulke The Off Several hours Darius Khondji Evening amount of time in Paris Guillaume Schiffman The Artist Jeffrey Waldron The Dynamiter BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Jessica Chastain Take Shelter Anjelica Huston 50/50 Jesse McTeer Albert Nobbs Harmony Santana Gun Hill Road Shailene Woodley The Descendants JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD Bellflower Circumstance Hello Lonesome Pariah The Dynamiter BEST MALE LEAD Demin Bichir A Far Greater Existence Jean Dujardin The Artist Ryan Gosling Drive Woodsy Harrelson Rampart Michael Shannon Take Shelter BEST DOCUMENTARY An African Election Bill Cunningham NY The Interrupters The Redemption of General Butt Naked I Had Been Here BEST Script Ernest Cedar plank plank Footnote Michel Hazanavicius The Artist Tom McCarthy Mutually Advantageous Mike Mills Beginners Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash The Descendants BEST Worldwide FILM A Separation (Iran) Melancholia (Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany) Shame (Uk) The Child Getting a bicycle (Belgium/France/Italia) Tyrannosaur (Uk) ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD Margin Call BEST FIRST FEATURE Another Earth Inherited Margin Call Martha Marcy May Marlene Natural Selection BEST DIRECTOR Michel Hazanavicius The Artist Mike Mills Beginners Rob Nichols Take Shelter Alexander Payne The Descendants Nicolas Winding Refn Drive BEST FEMALE LEAD Lauren Ambrose Consider Me Rachael Harris Natural Selection Adepero Oduye Pariah Elizabeth Olsen Martha Marcy May Marlene Michelle Williams My Week with Marilyn BEST FEATURE 50/50 Beginners Drive Take Shelter The Artist The Descendants

Soph laffers keep 'Hope' alive

Fox's 'Raising Hope' and ABC's 'Happy Endings' have produced unspectacular ratings. 'Happy Endings'ABC's "Happy Endings" and Fox's "Raising Hope," two sophomore sitcoms that are well-liked by their respective networks, would appear to be no better than 50/50 propositions to return for a third season. Neither has distinguished itself despite the advantages of airing behind the top-rated half-hour on each network. "Happy Endings" has averaged a 3.0 same-night Nielsen rating among adults 18-49, but this represents just a 56% hold of its "Modern Family" lead-in on Wednesday (5.4). The retention has been steadily in the 50%-60% range throughout the season, which has to be disappointing to ABC -- even if "Modern Family" is the kind of show that has become appointment television for many who watch little else on broadcast primetime. As a young-singles, big-city comedy, "Happy Endings" isn't a great fit with the three suburban family ABC comedies on Wednesday; and the Alphabet may feel that the show's best shot at thriving in a third season would be to pair it with a more compatible skedmate. When "Happy" ends its season in a few weeks, it will be replaced by another young-singles comedy, "Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23." If "Trust" performs well in its short run, it would likely return in the fall -- while also perhaps improving the chances for "Happy," which would have a more suitable skedmate. At Fox, "Raising Hope" originals have averaged a 2.4 same-night rating in adults 18-49 this season, retaining on average 65% of its lead-in from rookie success "New Girl" (3.7). "Hope" is down about 15% from its year-ago average when it followed the stronger "Glee," and has often placed fourth in its 9:30 p.m. half-hour. And like "Happy Endings," the family comedy "Raising Hope" is something of an odd fit behind singles laffer "New Girl." Fox will take some pressure off the show, and get a better indicator of its strength, by moving "Hope" to 8 o'clock for five weeks as part of a four-comedy lineup while "Glee" rests. It will lead into the family-ish "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" and could be something of a Tuesday template the net has in mind for next fall. Certainly, the networks are cheering for these shows, as they are a favorite of execs and are also produced inhouse. "Hope" comes from Twentieth TV, while "Happy" hails from ABC Studios in conjunction with Sony. But after two seasons of unexceptional ratings, the nets will have to weigh if they have seen enough to suggest there might be an upside to a third season. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Start Searching: Courteney Cox Directs Cougar Town

Assault Gets worse and Courteney Cox Courteney Cox thinks that "situations are better" with ranch dressing, but that will not be around Assault Gets worse.On Tuesday's Anderson, Cooper surprises the Cougar Town star getting an enormous bowl of her favorite salad condiment and watches as she dips veggies and guzzles the bowl. It's awkward, strange and, frankly, lame to date as talk show surprises for site visitors go.Which begs the question: Is Cooper trying too much?Look at out photos of Anderson CooperWhile Anderson remains restored for just about any second season, the show is virtually no hit, hanging out millions of audiences and routinely getting beaten by daytime rivals like the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Jerry Springer. Aware of the struggles, the show features in the new executive producer and changed the format, featuring multiple segments instead of one - like last week's equally, or maybe more, kooky segment through which Cooper gave the little children & Tiaras moms the identical pageant refurbishments their kids get.It absolutely was always apt to be tough for just about any hard-striking newsman to go to the soft news and tabloid-craze route, but everyone knows Cooper can entertain us while using less serious stuff, just what gives?You think Cooper is trying too much, or possibly is he still just searching for his daytime footing?Watch a clip of Cooper, Cox as well as the ranch dressing below:

AB lines up 'Waterloo' miniseries

PARIS -- AB Group, France's biggest pay TV group, is beefing up its production activity and purchase of premium content. The organization, which works 16 channels in addition to brokering TV privileges, is developing "Waterloo," an British-language historic three-parter, which is created with worldwide partners. Richard Maroko, AB Group's mind of programming and acquisition, stated he's in talks with ZDF Businesses, the distribution arm from the German pubcaster, and French pubcaster France Televisions in the future aboard. The miniseries is allocated between $ten million and $15 million. The Fight of Waterloo, which happened in 1815 near The city, saw in france they military of Napoleon Bonaparte undertake the British-brought allied forces, commanded through the Duke of Wellington. The defeat from the French military put an finish to Napoleon's reign. " 'Waterloo' is going to be full of epic fight moments and will also be very ambitious when it comes to renovation, decor and costumes," Maroko told Variety. It will likely be shipped in 2015 to mark the 200th anniversary from the fight.The organization can also be creating a TV adaptation of Frederic Dard's popular crime books, "Dallas,Inch which focuses on the adventures of the French police captain. Released between 1949 and 2001, the Dallas anthology is among the best-selling French novel number of all occasions, getting offered an believed 200,000 copies. Maroko stated the main one-hour drama series has been produced for primetime and the organization is within talks having a French network. "We are searching to produce strong franchises to enhance our catalog," stated Maroko.AB Group, which signed an offer with Vital last year, is ongoing to enhance its purchase of American hit drama series. Recent pick-ups include "Hell on Wheels," "Flashpoint" and "Hot in Cleveland," in addition to Irish crime drama "Jack Taylor" and Austrian cop series "Go Forward.Inch Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

French comic 'Billy and Buddy' heads to bigscreen

Studiocanal is reteaming with Cyril Colbeau-Justin and Jean-Baptiste Dupont's production outfit LGM on Belgian comicbook-based "Boule et Bill" (Billy and Buddy), a 20 million ($26.3 million) live-action family comedy.The 1970s-set pic will topline French thesps Marina Fois ("Polisse") and Franck Dubosc ("Welcome on Board") as the parents of a 7-year-old boy and his newly-adopted cocker spaniel, who turns the family life upside down and eventually binds everyone closer together.Studiocanal will distribute in France and rep the film in international markets.Pic was penned by Alexandre Charlot and Franck Magnier, the scribe duo behind Dany Boon's hit "Welcome to the Sticks."Lensing is skedded to kick off in the spring.Created in 1959, "Billy and Buddy" is one of the most popular French-language comic strips ever. More than 25 million copies have been sold worldwide."Billy and Buddy" could strike the same chord as 2009's highest-grossing French film "Little Nicholas," another period comedy based on a beloved comicbook centering on a child and his parents.Studiocanal is also working with LGM on "Cloclo," Florent Emilio Siri's biopic of French singer and icon Claude Francois. It's one of the most anticipated Gallic films of 2012.Studiocanal will release "Cloclo" in France on March 14. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Naomi Watts Cast to Play Princess Diana in Big Screen Biopic

Naomi Wattshas signed to play British icon Princess Dianain Oliver Hirschbiegel's big screen portrait "Caught In Flight."The movie is being touted to buyers in Berlin by producers Ecosse Films, the U.K. production and finance banner behind a host of movies including "Charlotte Gray," "Becoming Jane"and "Brideshead Revisited."Tim Haslam, the former Hanway Films chief executive, is handling worldwide sales under his upstart company Embankment Films.Hirschbiegel directs Watts based on the screenplay byStephen Jeffreys, with production set to begin in the U.K. later this year.Billed as a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales during the last two years of her life, the script charts her search for personal happiness as she turned into a major international campaigner and humanitarian.Watts, who will next be seen starring in "The Impossible"opposite Ewan McGregor, described her casting as "an honour to be able to play this iconic role - Princess Diana was loved across the world, and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen."Hirschbiegel said Watts has enough in her acting armoury to embody "the warmth, humanity and empathy of such a global icon as Princess Diana." The Hollywood Reporter

Two drawn on for Film Society

Klainberg Chaisson Film Society of Lincoln subsequently Center makes a set of new employs, tapping producer Lesli Klainberg as controlling director and Anne Chaisson as connect director of corporate sponsorships.The soon-to-be-vacant publish many experts get their eye on, program director, does not possess a successor. Longtime leader Richard Pena will ankle after this fall's NY Film Festival.In her own new position, Klainberg, who had been a producer of last year's NYFF, will oversee all FSLC programs, fests, venues, and education and community initiatives, while ongoing on because the producer of NYFF. Her company Orchard Films has a listing of doc credits including "Indie Sex," "Fabulous! The Storyline of Queer Cinema" and "Directed by Alan Smithee." Chaisson has headed development for that Hamptons and Nantucket fests, but for the latter years created the Gotham Independent Film Honours. She also offers experience developing and creating indie films, including 2002 outing "Rodger Dodger."Film Society is preparing because of its annual team-track of the Museum of contemporary Art, the brand new Company directors/New Films fest, in March, by having an initial slate of seven photos lately introduced. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Osnes has 'Pipe Dream'

OsnesLaura Osnes will topline the Encores! staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein tuner "Pipe Dream" this spring.Osnes ("Anything Goes") recently starred as Bonnie in Rialto tuner "Bonnie and Clyde" before that short-lived production shuttered last month. She's recently been tapped to topline Gotham readings of the upcoming Broadway revival of "Cinderella."The production at Encores!, the NY City Center series that presents semi-staged concert readings of often overlooked musicals, will rep one of the few times "Pipe Dream" has been performed in the last 20 years; it had previously been kept out of circulation by an underlying rights issue."Pipe Dream" is based on the John Steinbeck novel "Sweet Thursday," which follows the romance between a marine biologist and a woman (Osnes) who hitchhikes into town.Other Encores! offerings this seaons are "Merrily We Roll Along" in February and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" in May. Helmed by Marc Bruni, "Pipe Dream" runs March 28-April 1. The Encores! program has yielded Main Stem transfers including "Chicago" and "Finian's Rainbow." Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Gamemaker puts on CES schmooze

Santiago'Journey'For a trade event recognized for items based on entertainment, the client Electronics Show isn't recognized for being content-focused -- particularly for gamemakers, who typically use other shows like E3, Comic-Disadvantage or perhaps the Global Gaming Expo to show their latest game game titles.But Kellee Santiago, leader of thatgamecompany, sees an opportunity for content designers to make the most of CES."Personally, I'm searching toward just seeing what's approaching, what's going to be accessible to date as new items and new technology that people will desire to incorporate into future encounters," mentioned Santiago.Santiago co-founded thatgamecompany with creative director Jenova Chen in 2006 following the wealth of "Cloud," a game title title they created while former pupils inside the interactive media program at USC's School for Movie Arts. That game created 120,000 downloads and motivated the pair to create more game game titles that could provide engaging alternate encounters for the mainstream videogame market.Game game titles for instance "flOw" and "Flower" have since become downloadable hits for Sony's Ps Network.Santiago will demo "Journey" at CES, among four games which will be featured inside the The brand new the new sony pavilion.In "Journey," players awaken in the virtual desert and really should climb a mountain while finding the mysteries in the virtual world, a celebration many at CES might recognize after four occasions of wandering the Las vegas Convention Center.It is not only the information producers scouting innovative touchscreen shows and new audio systems that will benefit from the marketplace of ideas at CES.The show may also be an opportunity for people content designers to inspire the hardware and technology leaders who may not realize the smoothness and depth of interaction some gaming companies are going after.InchIt isn't always apparent to hardware manufactures or technology producers in the breadth that games can contact players and the way unique the understanding might be,In . mentioned Robin Hunicke, a producer at thatgamecompany. "Lots of people still think platform or simply a racing game. It's a excellent chance for people to demonstrate them really artistic and various content."Thatgamecompany's game game titles, a mixture of experimental action, elegant graphics together with a dash of high-minded philosophy, attract audiences from within the gaming spectrum.At CES, Santiago hopes to trap clients which will be receptive for the distinct interactive action her company offers."People allow us with interactive technologies that are ageing," she mentioned. "Our tastes are ageing but hardly any mainstream videogames have really presented a wider quantity of encounters for people ageing tastes." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Variety honors Charlize Theron

Variety's Timothy Gray with Shailene Woodley Directors Gareth Evans, Zal Batmanglij, Phillipe Falardeau, Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh, Gerardo Naranjo, Matt Piedmont, Michael Roskam and Lynn Shelton join Variety s Steven Gaydos at Palm Springs brunch. Variety's Indie Impact and 10 Directors to Watch 2012 brunch unspooled under vivid blue desert skies Sunday at the Parker Hotel in Palm Springs. Honoree Charlize Theron said, "I have the career I have today because of independent films," crediting "Monster" helmer Patty Jenkins with seeing her potential. All the directors she's worked with deserve credit, she concluded, "even the bad ones." Variety's Steven Gaydos introduced the 10 helmers to watch, saying, "What they have in common is a commitment to indie cinema -- even when they make a studio film, it feels independent." Among the directors at the relaxed event were Mexican helmer Gerardo Naranjo, who said he's almost hoping "Miss Bala" doesn't get Oscar nommed so he can get off the campaign trail and back to work. "Sound of My Voice" helmer Zal Batmanglij said his next film, "The East," will also feature "Voice" star Brit Marling, this time in a story about a woman who infiltrates an anarchist group. Also brunching on the Parker lawn were Palm Springs Film Fest director Darryl Macdonald, fest chairman Harold Matzner and artistic director Helen du Toit, as well as thesps Shailene Woodley, Robert Forster and Ed Lauter. Contact Pat Saperstein at pat.saperstein@variety.com