Scribes feel piracy's bite

Christopher Keyser has faced one large disappointment inside the first five several days of his tenure since the 30th leader in the Authors Guild of America West -- last month's stalling of Hollywood anti-piracy legislation on Capitol Hill."Piracy's a very real problem for anyone because it takes money in our pockets," he notes. "Sadly, the lost control of what happen to be a very populist message if the increased being a little more about censorship."It's unusual for your guild to discover itself round the opposition from the censorship debate, but because piracy can be a bread-and-butter problem to individuals, Keyser mentioned it's apparent the will have to collect yourself but continue combating copyright-infringing activity. Since the guild prepares to recognition numerous its leading lights at Sunday's Authors Guild Honours, Keyser states he's really alert to how tough economic occasions required a toll on individuals who aren't marquee names. "It's difficulties for individuals middle-class people," according to him. "The particular problem for people is the best way to deal with what remains a very difficult economic period." For the reason, he showed up in this area intended for the Occupy Wall Street movement at the beginning of his tenure -- throughout the initial week of October -- and pledged the WGA West would remain vocal on issues that impact authors and get out right to people in politics via its political action committee. Keyser states the board's already relaxing the work for discussions while using Alliance of motion Picture & Television Producers around the successor deal to the current master contract, which expires in May 2014. He was part of the board through the final discussions cycle when the guild quietly showed up in an offer noisy . 2011 -- a obvious, crisp contrast for the previous round of discussions, which featured a hundred-day strike in 2007-08. WGA East leader Michael Winship, who's within the third term, claims the outreach to individuals is well showed up. "When you're planning for just about any settling cycle, you need to know relating to your constituents' concerns -- for instance parity in cable while using broadcast systems and late pay," Winship states. Keyser's not going any kind of conjecture regarding how a discussions might go after they start, watching that the end result is to produce settling points of interest consequently of "consistent communication" while using membership. Both Keyser and Winship remain positive for growing guild jurisdiction. The WGA East has acquired some accomplishments in organizing non-fiction cable tv at Atlas, Lion, ITV and Optimem. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Ratings: CSI Rises on a Night of Lows

After re-entering the competition following her Last Chance Kitchen victory and earning a spot in the final four, Beverly Kim's second Top Chef stint came to a quick end when she lost all three rounds in the Olympics-inspired tasks. "I was eliminated twice! How many people can say that? I think it was easier to watch this time, but it was still very heartbreaking for me," she tells TVGuide.com. "I really did want to win and I definitely wanted to go all the way. I wasn't ready to go so early the first time. I think this time was OK. I hoped for more, but given the circumstances, I gave my best. I'm really glad that I made it far enough to show my cooking, so now people can see who I am." But the Chicago-based chef couldn't show off her culinary style completely in the challenges that were more Top Athlete than Top Chef. Does she think the challenges were unfair? And does she hold any grudges toward Sarah, Lindsay and Heather? Find out below. Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Tom ColicchioTop ChefPadma LakshmiBeverly KimEdward LeeHeather TerhuneLindsay AutryNyesha ArringtonSarah Grueneberg

Pilot Season: Autumn Reeser Joins ABC's Last Resort

Autumn Reeser Autumn Reeser, who co-starred on ABC's No Ordinary Family last season, will return to the network in Shawn Ryan's drama pilot Last Resort, Deadline reports.Pilot Season: Andre Braugher lands lead in Shawn Ryan's Last ResortThe project follows a U.S. nuclear submarine crew led by Capt. Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher), who defies orders to fire nuclear missiles. As a result, they set up a camp on an island that is home to a NATO listening station.Reeser will play Kylie, a lobbyist for her family's weapons manufacturing company."Just booked an amazing role in @ShawnRyanTV's pilot 'Last Resort'... so excited!! :) :) :)" Reeser tweeted Thursday night.Pilot Season: Daisy Betts cast in ABC's Last ResortEarlier this week, Daisy Betts (Harry's Law) was also cast in the pilot as Grace Shepard, the gutsy newbie to the submarine crew who is a family friend of Chaplin's.

Senator raises coin to boost production

Senator Entertainment, which inked an exclusive output deal with Relativity Media in December, is looking to raise more than 10 million ($13.3 million) via a share increase later this year to prepare for a significant boost in investments.In addition to its slate of upcoming Hollywood titles, the Berlin-based company is also maintaining a focus on German and European productions.Senator is partnering with producer Christoph Mueller on an adaptation of Hermann Hesse's medieval tale "Narcissus and Goldmund."Senator CEO Helge Sasse said the film will be a big-budgeted, English-language international production with a British-American cast.Senator has yet to announce a director for the project, although industry insiders are betting on Florian Gallenberger, director of the 2009 historical Nanking drama "John Rabe," taking the reigns.Gallenberger has previously expressed keen interest in adapting the novel, which is set against turbulent historical events and follows the lives of two friends whose lives take very different paths as one becomes a wanderer and artist, the other a scholarly and controlled monk.Local and European productions make up one of two main pillars at Senator, the other being U.S. content -- the company is celebrating the success of French comedy "Intouchables," which has grossed a jaw-dropping $33 million, making it the most successful Gallic pic ever in Germany. Last year, "King's Speech" took in more than $22 million, becoming one of the most successful releases in Germany in 2011.Sasse also has high expectations for Daniel Cohen's upcoming "Comme un chef" (The Chef), starring Jean Reno, which unspools in Berlin's Culinary Cinema sidebar.Looking forward, Senator is planning to spend considerably more as part of the Relativity deal, which will increase its releases from 20 to about 30 pics a year."About half of our films come from the U.S. and they are very successful," said Sasse. "We wanted to have a more predictable situation and greater product security."The Relativity agreement will give Senator German rights to such films as "Safe Haven," "Hunter Killer" and "Afterburn."The upcoming capital increase follows another $13.3 million the company raised last year through a bond issue.Senator's other U.S. titles include Curtis Hanson's surfer pic "Of Men and Mavericks," starring Gerard Butler; "Our Idiot Brother," "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D," "W.E." and "2 Days in NY," which Senator co-produced. Contact Ed Meza at ed.meza@mannaa.de

Watercooler: Top Chef's Lady Business

Beverly Kim, Sarah Grueneberg, Lindsay Autry There's absolutely no way to convey this gently, therefore we are simply gonna put it available: The most effective women relating to this season's Top Chef are dreadful.Whether or not this is not the seeming ineptitude of flaky "Last Chance Kitchen" returnee Bev, it's been the grotesque self-congratulatory attitude of Sarah or perhaps the incessant bitching of Lindsay. Honestly, that little blonde should have been the spitfire to root for, but like her equally unappetizing brothers and sisters-in-chef jackets, she's now another reason this season leaves an undesirable type of our mouths.Last evening, the three of those handled to go into towards the finals, and for that reason there exists a handful of more days to feed their nonsense. So here's wanting Paul smokes these - rather than solely for your just desserts both deserve for creating such culinary contempt. He's furthermore a category act together with a killer prepare...it may be sweet as hell to actually go to a nice guy finish first.What can you consider Chef's ladies? How has this season been to suit your needs?Indication as much as TV Guide Magazine now!

Emmet/Furla helps U load '2 Guns'

BERLIN -- Emmett/Furla Films and Universal Pictures are joining to completely finance the $80 million crime actioner "2 Guns," which sees "Contraband" helmer Baltasar Kormakur reunite with Mark Wahlberg. Mark Damon's Experience Limitless and John O'Shea's The Exchange is shopping the project to purchasers in the European Film Market in Berlin now. Although foreign purchasers happen to be told that Denzel Washington is placed to topline, no deal continues to be inked and also the thesp's participation continues to be up in mid-air. Kormakur is pointing from the script by Blake Masters ("Brotherhood"). Pic, which Uni will release locally at the end of 2013, is definitely an adaptation of Steven Grant's graphic novel "2 Guns," which sees a DEA agent as well as an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who've been assigned with looking into each other but find they've both been setup through the mob - the org the 2 males believe they've been stealing money from - to steal $81 million in the CIA. Marc Platt will produce with Randall Emmett and George Furla. Picture Entertainment's Stepan Martirosyan and Remington Chase, who conserve a film fund with Emmett/Furla, will professional produce. Principle photography around the pic is skedded to start on June 1. Project is going to be shot in Boise State Broncos and Louisiana. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Gary Oldman Driven To Motor City

He'll threaten Dominic CooperAfter becoming shabbily heroic for Mess Tailor Soldier Spy (and scoring a properly-gained Oscar jerk for his work), Gary Oldman gets into the villain business for thriller Motor City.Book Of Eli co-director Albert Hughes is busy establishing the film, that will discover the Devil's Double's Dominic Cooper like a small-time criminal who's presented and sent off and away to the slammer. Launched years later, he swears revenge as well as looks to obtain back the lady he loves (Amber Heard).Regrettably for him, she has to visit facing a shady kingpin (Oldman) that has been adjusting occasions behind the curtain and it has treatments for Heard. It will be something of the reunion for Hughes and also the actor, as Oldman also won the theif gig in Eli.If all goes well, Hughes will start pointing the film, working from the script by Chad St John, in April. It's being backed by Joel Silver's Dark Castle, which introduced the planet last year's annual Liam Neeson punch-fest Unknown.Oldman will feature this season both in John Hillcoat's fantastically cast Wettest County. He'll also return as Commissioner Gordon for that Dark Dark night Increases.