Ascot Elite taps Otto

OttoBERLIN -- Ascot Elite Filmverleih, the German theatrical arm of Swiss-based Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, has tapped former Sony Pictures Television Deutschland exec Daniel Otto as head of acquisitions, sales and co-productions.Otto most recently served as director of acquisitions at Sony, where he also oversaw acquisitions and content for the group's pay TV channels AXN, AXN-HD and Animax, as well as the South African Animax.In his new post, Otto will report to Ascot Elite chief operating officer Stephan Giger and CEO Ralph Dietrich."Our German operations, namely our theatrical activities, are a very strong pillar of our distribution strategy in the territory," Dietrich said. "We are very proud to have Daniel on board. He is known for being an excellent and well connected buyer, and knows the international and German market by heart. Based on his background and personality, he will be a valuable addition to our team."Otto began his career in 1996 at the now defunct Kirch Media, where he headed feature film acquisitions. After a three-year stint at German sales company Peppermint and its parent company Helkon, he joined Deutsche Telekom's T-Online division in 2003 to help build its VOD business. He later moved to German pay TV platform Premiere (now Sky Deutschland), where he oversaw VOD rights acquisitions before joining Sony, where he worked the past four years.Ascot Elite's current German releases include John Michael McDonagh's "The Guard," and upcoming titles such as Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," Peter Jay Brown's "Confessions of an Eco-Terrorist" and Jeff Nichols' "Take Shelter," starring Michael Shannon ("Man of Steel"). Contact Ed Meza at staff@variety.com

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The Bard Goes Global With 37 Plays in 37 Languages

LONDON (AP) All the world's onstage a single stage as theater troupes from around the globe perform all of Shakespeare's plays in three dozen languages in the Bard's symbolic London home.Shakespeare's Globe theater announced details Tuesday of a festival that will see all 37 of William Shakespeare's plays performed in 37 languages, from Urdu to Swahili, over six weeks in 2012.The "Globe to Globe" festival includes companies from six continents, including the world's most populous countries, China and India, and the youngest South Sudan, which became an independent nation in July.Globe artistic director Dominic Dromgoole said a production of "Cymbeline" performed in the local Juba Arabic tongue would be the first time South Sudan has participated in an international cultural event, and a major achievement for the new country."The size of their desire to come here was simply overwhelming," he said.The festival, part of the cultural warmup to next summer's 2012 London Olympic Games, reflects the ability of Britain's most famous playwright to reach audiences in myriad languages and cultures.It kicks off April 23, Shakespeare's birthday, with "Troilus and Cressida" in Maori, performed by New Zealand's Ngakau Toa company, and includes what Dromgoole called a "lurid, tawdry, drugs-and-strippers" version of "Macbeth" from Poland.Also on the program are "Twelfth Night" in Hindi, "Pericles" in Greek and "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in Swahili, along with productions by both Israelis and Palestinians. Tel Aviv's Habima company performs "The Merchant of Venice" a play often accused of anti-Semitism while Ramallah-based Ashtar Theater stages "Richard II.""Henry VI," a three-part history of war and national identity, is being reinvented as a "Balkan trilogy" by the national theaters of Serbia, Albania and Macedonia.Participants range from large and well-established companies such as the National Theater of China performing "Richard III," a study of coercion and dictatorship to semi-underground troupes such as the Belarus Free Theater, whose members have been arrested and harassed by the former Soviet state's autocratic regime. It will perform Shakespeare's study of a dictator in decline, "King Lear."Afghanistan's Roy-e-Sabs will perform for the first time outside Kabul with a production of "A Comedy of Errors" in Dari. Until recently the troupe rehearsed in the British Council compound in Kabul, which was attacked by suicide bombers last month, sparking an eight-hour battle that killed eight people.Three productions come from the English-speaking world: The Globe's own production of "Henry V" and a hip-hop-flavored "Othello" from Chicago's Q Brothers. London company "Deafinitely Theatre" will perform "Love's Labor's Lost" in British Sign Language.The festival will be a complex logistical exercise, and producer Tom Bird said the ground rules given to participants were simple don't bring a set, rely on costumes and movement and "revel in the music of your own language."The Globe is a recreation of the open-air theater where many of Shakespeare's plays were first performed. Many patrons stand in the open air as "groundlings" like their Elizabethan predecessors.The festival is offering a variety of Olympic-themed ticket plans, from a two-play "biathlon" to a "marathon" of 26 plays. Adventurous and energetic theatergoers can see all 37 plays for 100 pounds ($160) if they are willing to stand.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Bravo Regrets Patti Stanger's Anti-Gay, Anti-Semitic Comments on Watch What Goes On Live

Andy Cohen and Patti Stanger Bravo regrets Patti Stanger's anti-gay and anti-Semitic comments on Watch What Goes On: Live Sunday evening, based on the Hollywood Reporter. Take a look at our fall preview for art galleries, scoop, premiere calendars and much more! The Uniform Matchmaker star sparked debate when she told Watch's Andy Cohen that "Jewish males lie," which "There's no curbing the gay guy." She went right into a extended discussion using the freely gay Cohen about how exactly gay males are not able to become monogamous. "Bravo regrets your comments ought to expressed by Patti Stanger on Watch What Goes On: Live last evening," a representative for that network told the trade. "Her surveys are not associated with the network's values and opinions. We apologize for that offense it triggered." Take a look at all of the familiar faces coming back to TV this season On Monday, Stanger tweeted her very own apology, stating, "Attn male Gays: I give you support & my discuss WWHL ended up being to a LA guy who aren't able to find commitment... So sorry - did not mean to offend anybody. Adore you all. X0" Stanger has yet to acknowledge the comment she made about Jewish males. Reps for Bravo's Watch didn't immediately react to TVGuide.com's request comment.

ABC Offers Fred Savage Happy Being

Fred Savage Fred Savage is positioned to direct and guest-star inside an episode of Happy Being, Entertainment Weekly reviews. The Question Years star will helm the second episode of ABC's sophomore comedy creating a cameo as themselves. Particulars concerning the plot are scarce, and reps for your series did not immediately respond to TVGuide.com's request comment, but EW states he'll connect with Alex (Elisha Cuthbert). Exclusive Start Searching: Get yourself a large taste of Happy Endings' second season The 35-year-old actor has directed cases of It Definitely Is Sunny, Modern Family, My Boys, Ugly Betty and Party Lower, among comedy series. Happy Being returns Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9:30/8:30c.

Okiura's 'Momo' to spread out wide

"Instructions to Momo"Tokyo, japan -- Kadokawa Pictures will release the Hiroyuki Okiura toon "Instructions to Momo" on 300 screens in next year's spring Golden Week holiday period, the organization has revealed. Seven years within the making, the toon is screening at Toronto within the TIFF Kids section. The storyline, in regards to a girl who, right after the dying of her father, moves to some remote island together with her mother, where she encounters supernatural goings-on, seemed to be scripted by Okiura. 3 hundred is really a large quantity of screens for any local toon produced from an authentic story, not really a comic or TV toon franchise. 2 yrs ago Toei toon "One Piece Film: Strong World" bowed on only 188 screens, but finished north of $50 million.Okiura last directed the fantasy-thriller toon "Jin-roh" in 1999. Other credits include stints being an animator on Satoshi Kon's "Paprika" (2006) and Mamoru Oshii's "Ghost within the Spend 2: Innocence" (2004). The development clients are Production I.G. Additionally to Toronto, the toon is skedded to screen in the Sitges and Busan fests. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

WATCH IT NOW: New Breaking Dawn Trailer!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Its finally here the brand new trailer for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1! In the trailer two minutes and 27 seconds of never-before-seen footage for the highly anticipated film, fans get a glimpse of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edwards (Robert Pattinson) wedding day. However, the honeymoon phase is short-lived, as the newlyweds must soon deal with the difficulties and dangers of Bellas pregnancy. Its crushing you from the inside out, a worried Edward tells his new bride in the clip. With Bellas life in peril both from the complications of her unborn baby and from the threat of outside forces Edward and the Cullen clan must come to the defense of their new family member. But, will Jacob (Taylor Lautner) stand by his longtime friends side especially when the wolfpack has other ideas? Will the Volturi prove to be too powerful to hold back? And, will Bella survive? CLICK HERE to check out the brand new trailer for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, which hits theaters November 18, 2011! The trailer also airs on Tuesdays Access Hollywood (check local listings). Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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USA Greenlights First Half-Hour Aircraft pilots

15 several weeks after it signaled a transfer to half-hour comedy development using its first half-hour script buy underneath the current regime, top-ranked cable network USA has greenlighted its first couple of half-hour comedy aircraft pilots in greater than a decade: an untitled Douglas McGrath project (formerly On We Go), executive created by Nathan Lane who's discussions to star, and Michael Feldman’s Paging Dr. Freed. The pickup of thesehalf-hour comedy aircraft pilots underscores our resolve for broadening the benefit of USAs entertainment brand, stated the network’s co-presidents Shaun Wachtel and Chris McCumber. The orders put USA well on the right track hitting its goal of getting half-hour series about the air through the fall 2013 launch from the systems high-profile off-network acquisition, ABC hit Modern Family. The network has more half-hour scripts in development. From the 12 series projects on its development slate introduced in the USA upfront in May, five were half-hour. One of these was On We Go. USA went several half-hour comedies underneath the systems old regime within the the nineteen nineties, including Strange Science, USA High and Campus Cops, before USA reconstructed its brand like a home of sunshine, character-driven hourlong series in the last decade. Listed here are explanations of USA’s recently acquired half-hour aircraft pilots: UNTITLED DOUGLAS McGRATH PROJECT (also known as ON WE GO) is really a half-hour single camera comedy a good unlucky actor whose Broadway aspirations should be placed on hold when he returns to his Texas home town upon his father’s health going for a turn for that worse. Nathan Lane will star and function as executive producer. Douglas McGrath (Bullets Over Broadway) will write and executive produce the pilot from Universal Cable Prods.Lane is presently filmingSnow Whitened opposite Jennifer Aniston and can segue towards the British Teacher with Julianne Moore. PAGING DR. FREED is really a half-hour comedy about two siblings taking within the reins of the father’s medical practice after his untimely dying. Its format — single-camera, multi-camera or hybrid — is not yet been determined. From Fox 21 and Universal Cable Prods, Michael Feldman (Thats so Raven) will write and executive produce with Katy McCaffrey and Kaira Manley becoming producers.

Toronto 2011: Places to stay, Eat and Use Town

For a long time, attending the Toronto Worldwide Film Festival meant creating a mad dash in one place to another. The 4 Seasons and also the Park Hyatt were the twin bastions of celebrity central in trendy, uptown Yorkville. The galas happened kilometers away at Roy Thomson Hall. Party locales appeared to become selected by dartboard. However with this past year's opening of TIFF's new headquarters, the Bell Lightbox, the experience has moved downtown. Here's an up-to-date help guide to the festival's new geography, the option hotels, the important thing theaters and TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey's own dining recommendations.our editor recommendsToronto Film Festival: 13 Films to KnowToronto 2011 Critic's Preview: Why the Festival Matters Toronto 2011: 10 Hot Game titles Purchasers Dare Not Miss HOT HOTELS 1 Fairmont Royal You are able to 100 Front St. The grande dame of Toronto hotels -- it opened up in 1929 -- has become a brand new lease on existence. Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis staged a shootout there for his or her movie Red-colored. At this past year's fest, guest Martin Sheen became a member of picketing hotel employees about the pavement outdoors. This season, movie companies from Vital to Fox Searchlight to Relativity can make it their headquarters. 2 Hotel Le Germain 30 Mercer St. Among the city's premier boutique hotels, additionally, it welcomes dogs. WME and UTA's indie film teams will operate from Le Germain's chicly hired suites. 3 Hyatt Regency Toronto 370 King St. West Simply to free airline from the TIFF Lightbox, it houses the hospitality suites for press and industry types and it is well-liked by purchasers. The Weinstein Co.'s sales pressure is going to be there, and Stuart Ford's IM Global has stated the presidential suite. PHOTOS: Toronto Film Festival: 13 Films to understand 4 InterContinental Toronto Center 225 Front St. West Within the shadow from the CN Tower, your accommodation is going to be publicity central throughout the fest, with DDA, Indie PR, MPRM and Ginsberg/Libby establishing shop. 5. Ritz-Carlton Toronto 181 Wellington St. West Literally the latest kid on the market, the luxe hotel opened up its doorways, just across from Roy Thomson Hall, in Feb. The ICM team rapidly reserved rooms because of its stay. 6 Soho Metropolitan 318 Wellington St. FilmNation, Glen Basner's production and purchasers company, has elected with this boutique hotel, that provides complimentary Lexus LS460 vehicle service. 7 Thompson Toronto 550 Wellington St. West Sleek, shiny and new, it opened up this past year. CAA's indie agents such as the place. Also it's also be a go-to party place. Fox Searchlight, which packed the home this past year to celebrate Black Swan and 127 Hrs, is coming back for an additional blowout this season. COVER STORY: David Cronenberg how the $20 Million 'Dangerous Method' Got Made KEY VENUES 8 Roy Thomson Hall 60 Simcoe St. A concert hall -- home from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra -- its distinctive, curved facade has turned into a local landmark. The festival begins here Sept. 8 using the world premiere of In the Sky Lower, Davis Guggenheim's documentary about U2. (It's the very first time a doc has opened up the fest.) And there after, there'll be considered a permanent red-colored carpet laid before its doorways as you gala follows another for movies like Rodrigo Garcia's Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close, Jim Area Cruz's Butter, starring Jennifer Garner, and Bennett Burns's Moneyball, with Kaira Pitt hitting GM Billy Beane. 9 Scotiabank Theatre 259 Richmond St. West Film festivals aren't an all-black costume-tie premieres. The majority of the fest's 339 films will have at theaters such as this Cineplex-possessed multiplex. There, press, industry and regular moviegoers queue up for movie to another, living about the theater's food court staples like Pizza Pizza, New You are able to Fries and Yogun Fruz. PHOTOS: Toronto 2011: 10 Hot Game titles Purchasers Dare Not Miss 10 Soho House 11 Duncan St. A unique 'pop-up' version from the worldwide people-only club will open an outpost in Toronto throughout the fest. Also it's certain to attract the A-list. George Clooney's crew in the Ides of March is heading there for any pre-screening reception. David Cronenberg and also the cast of the Harmful Method are required to party there following a screening of the film. Another publish-screening fete is planned for the Sister's Sister, starring Emily Blunt. And additional occasions take presctiption tap for that Ryan Gosling starrer Drive, Albert Nobbs along with a Dark Blue Ocean. 11 TIFF Bell Lightbox 350 King St. West TIFF's new house -- the fresh paint was still being wet if this opened up for this past year's festival -- houses five movie theaters along with the O&B Canteen, for food away from home, and Luma restaurant, for additional leisurely dining. The Lightbox will host various official festival functions like TIFF topper Piers Handling's announcement from the those who win from the Emerging Filmmakers Competition. DINING TIPS FROM CAMERON BAILEY The Very Best New Spots Out-of-towners frequently request for any 'Canadian' restaurant. Since nothing defines Toronto cuisine like Italian food cooked with a Tamil kitchen, it's an elaborate question. If you would like high-finish Canadian, Toca within the Ritz-Carlton uses in your area acquired elements combined in amazing fashion. There's also the cozy, glossy Scarpetta within the Thompson hotel, which just opened up for this past year's festival. Toronto 2011 Critic's Preview: Why the Festival Matters The Very Best Places for any Business Meeting Luma restaurant within our own TIFF Bell Lightbox. Great menu, great wine list (including some from Francis Ford Coppola) along with a private dining area for either publish-screening discussions or boldface canoodling. Employees has offered the kind of Tim Burton and David Cronenberg they are fully aware what film people want. Also Deq, the terrace bar in the new Ritz-Carlton. It feels as though a personal enclave. Having a comprehensive bar and brilliant poultry slider mobile phones, it might be where you need to finish the evening. The Cornerstones 12 Bistro 990 (990 Bay St.) has most likely seen more movie-driven lunches and dinners than everywhere else within the city. It's still serving excellent French food within an atmosphere of warmth and discretion. The restaurant in the 13 Drake Hotel (1150 Full St. West) may be the festival home base for that more youthful, hipper crowd. This season, they're planning for a nineteen forties La Chinatown vibe. The Very Best Ethnic Restaurants Lai Wah Heen within the Metropolitan Hotel is a good Chinese restaurant Hong Kong director Johnnie To has located dinners there. 14 Harlem Subterranean (745 Full St. West) is how Toronto's downtown, arty black crowd meets. One branch of 15 Terroni (720 Full St. West) has cornered the town's hipster Italian market. Related Subjects Toronto Worldwide Film Festival

Oxygen Accumulates Best Ink To Series

Oxygen has greenlighted Best Ink, a contest reality series featuring 12 tattoo artists competing for any cash prize. The hourlong project, initially introduced as with development at Oxygen’s upfront in April, has brought an 8-episode order for any winter premiere. Former The American Idol Show contestant Kimberly Caldwell, referred to like a “tattoo fanatic,” continues to be drawn on as host. Tattoo artist Joe Capobianco will function as a mind judge, became a member of by model/tattoo shop owner Sabina Kelley. Bunim/Murray is creating, with Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein and Rico Martinez becoming executive producers.

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