Isabella Ragonese: 'Door' opened doors

Isabella RagoneseJuggling careers as a playwright and actress, 30-year-old Palermo native Isabella Ragonese worked in theater before making her film debut in 2006 in Emanuele Crialese's "Golden Door."But it was her lead performance in Paolo Virzi's 2008 comedy-drama "Her Whole Life Ahead" -- as a college grad forced to work a series of increasingly demeaning jobs -- that provided her breakthrough, earning her the Premio Guglielmo Biraghi and a Nastro d'Argento nomination, a prize she would go onto win in 2010 for her perfs in "One Life, Maybe Two" and "Our Life."2011 saw her take the lead role in Giorgia Cecere's "The First Assignment," and she can soon be seen in Silvio Muccino's "Another World" and Massimo Venier's "Il giorno in piu." But she remains active in theater, with two of her own plays produced in 2011."Theater was my first love and it's a constant form of inspiration, because it's a place where I can experiment. Plus, there's the immediate rapport with an audience. And those elements are things that I carry with me onto the bigscreen. And even though my experience as a playwright has been minor, it's also been very important for me, because I strongly believe an actor has to be an author for himself also."But cinema is fascinating to me -- it's new and mysterious, and I want to take it further. It's a young love, but if you ask me, now, which one I love the most, it's hard to answer. If I have any ambition, as an actress, it's to live them both, while always being myself."Return to the Berlin Preview >> Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Spielberg: Empire of the stunner

'Jaws''Super 8''War Horse'When Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" landed ashore in the summer of '75, it marked a sea change. Not only did it give birth to the modern blockbuster, but the impact of Spielberg -- this year's Producers Guild of America's David O. Selznick honoree for lifetime achievement -- was immediate, and his influence on movies and moviemakers continues unabated."That was my first Spielberg experience," says J.J. Abrams, who recalls the "Jaws" effect on his boyhood. "That movie left an enormous impact. Not long ago, I was putting my son to bed, and I gave him this lacquered wooden plaque that I had made as a grade school project. I had made mine with the 'Jaws' poster. That's how big that movie is for me.""Jaws" was not the first film to breach the $100 million milestone stateside (that would be "The Godfather"), but with a 1975 tally of $260 million -- more than $1 billion today adjusted for inflation -- it established a new benchmark, and earned more than twice of any film released that year.The net effect on Abrams can be seen in the filmmaker's "Super 8," which is, as he terms it, an "unabashed" tribute to both Spielberg and specifically to "E.T.," another Spielbergian Saturday-matinee movie whose importance has allowed it to also be perceived as a more serious, Saturday-night movie. It's this ability to take the tropes of matinee entertainments and pitch them into high relief, with a cinematic brio and audacity to present images, effects and events on screen that have never before been done, that perhaps most distinguishes Spielberg's work as a producer and director.Without films like "Jaws," "E.T.," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Jurassic Park," it would be hard to imagine films like "Avatar," "Transformers," "The Lord of the Rings" and "Pirates of the Caribbean." It's as if Spielberg established the template to allow filmmakers like James Cameron and Peter Jackson, with whom he collaborated on "The Adventures of Tintin," to shoot for the moon.Even if Oscar best pic winner "Schindler's List" (1993) cast Spielberg in a more serious light, the gravity and weight of that Holocaust drama was counterbalanced by "Jurassic Park," released the same year. "Jurassic" raised the bar on CGI and grossed $47 million its opening weekend, going on to earn an unheard of $900,000-plus worldwide. To date, Speilberg's movies, whether he produced, exec produced or directed, have earned nearly $8.5 billion in North America alone.Abrams himself finds the best, briefest term for Spielberg's talent: "He's a showman. That means whether he's the director or he's in a producing capacity like he was with me on 'Super 8,' he's conscious of delivering a movie that combines emotions, interesting characters and ideas, but also more than anything entertains and is a crowd-pleaser. And he's certainly the greatest influence on me for that reason."My favorite movies," Abrams adds, "are B movies done A. So it may be easy to recall the shark attacks in 'Jaws,' but what makes that movie great are all the strong scenes between the characters, the sheriff (played by Roy Scheider), Robert Shaw's fantastic scenes on the boat."Another movie that Spielberg executive-produced last summer, the Jon Favreau-directed "Cowboys & Aliens," also happily flies in Spielberg's space in its good-natured combo of the western and sci-fi genres -- even though, surprising as it is, Spielberg has never himself made a western."He was my mentor," says Favreau, "and the main reason I took on the project was that Steven was producing, allowing me an incredible opportunity to work side-by-side with him, and learn. We come from really different backgrounds -- me from improv and comedy, him from cinema -- and I wanted to just take in his ideas, and even the way he went about his work."However, Spielberg doesn't view his role as producer through the lens of a mentor, but as a facilitator."I do believe my purpose when I'm producing is to give the full weight of my support to the director I've hired," he says. "I can be effective at getting the director what he wants, once the director knows what he wants, and that sometimes doesn't happen until the day of shooting."Since "making a movie is the most fluid art form in the world," Spielberg says, "things work and things fail 10 times a day. I can help a director by hiring experienced personnel (production managers, assistant directors, location managers) who will work with me to organize a production with enough contingencies in case of foul weather or an illness or mechanical breakdowns, that the director never has to worry about plotting those solutions. A good producer knows how to put out fires long before the director ever smells the smoke. It's also important for me to help get everybody out of (his) way, including myself."Favreau, like Abrams, says Spielberg the producer is ever-attentive and brimming with ideas and enthusiasm when he's in the room with you. During the phases when both directors were making their movies, Spielberg was either preparing or directing both "War Horse" and "Tintin," making it all the more remarkable that they echo each others' view that Spielberg worked with them "as if he had nothing else to do but this," says Favreau."As a gift, he gave me an iPad loaded up with classic Westerns," the actor-director adds, "so it was like a film school working with him. He screened 'The Searchers' for us, since the main storyline in 'Cowboys & Aliens' borrows from the quest plot in that film, and he did a running commentary as we watched it.""Steven is very optimistic," says Abrams. "He's someone who's able to see the best version of whatever project he's working on. He's got enormous ambition of things to be at their best, but what I found is that while he has a constant ability to imagine moments in scenes and maybe make them better, he also has the ability and sense to never mandate those suggestions. He'll let you consider his ideas, and take them, alter them or not. It's like when you were a kid and ordered the bottomless chocolate milk. He's like this bottomless idea factory."Favreau and Abrams both observe that Spielberg the producer never cites Spielberg the director, but instead mentions previous Hollywood masters and models -- his idols, just like Spielberg is their idol."He doesn't bring up his movies when we talk," Favreau notes, "but he'll bring up John Ford all the time, or guys like Billy Wilder. I think he's inherited Ford's DNA."Abrams stresses that Spielberg would "try to emphasize that, even though I was making a movie that drew directly from his own movies, with scenes and characters that totally parallel those in 'E.T.,' that he didn't come up with this stuff in the first place, but was drawing on others."While helmers who have worked with Spielberg can hardly stop talking about his collaborative tendencies, Spielberg himself says there are distinct limits to this: "There's plenty of room for collaboration, but no room for more than one chef in the kitchen."PGA NOMINATIONS:"The ArtistThomas LangmannPedigree*: Cesar nom for "Mesrine: Public Enemy #1" and "Mesrine: Killer Instinct" (2008)2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Alliance of Women Film Journalists; Boston Society of Film Critics; Detroit Film Critics; European Film Award nom; Golden Globe (musical/comedy); Independent Spirit Awards nom; Indiana Film Critics; Las Vegas Film Critics Society; NY Film Critics Circle; NY Film Critics Online; San Diego Film Critics; Screen Actors Guild nom (ensemble cast); St. Louis Film Critics; Vancouver Film Critics Circle; Washington, D.C., Area Film Critics Assn."BridesmaidsJudd Apatow, Barry Mendel and Clayton TownsendPedigree: Mendel Oscar-nominated for "Munich" (2005) and "The Sixth Sense" (1999), as well as a BAFTA nom ("Sixth Sense"); 2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Broadcast Film Critics Assn. nom (Comedy Movie); Golden Globes nom (comedy/musical); Screen Actors Guild nom (ensemble cast)"The Descendants"Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim TaylorPedigree: N/A2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Broadcast Film Critics Assn. nom; Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics; Golden Globe (drama); Houston Film Critics Society; Kansas City Film Critics; Los Angeles Film Critics; Satellite Awards; Screen Actors Guild nom (ensemble cast); Southeastern Film Critics"The Girl With the Dragon TattooCean Chaffin and Scott RudinPedigree: Three Oscar noms and one win ("No Country for Old Men," 2007), and three PGA noms and one win ("No Country") for Rudin; two Oscar noms and two PGA noms for Chaffin. 2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: N/A"The HelpMichael Barnathan, Chris Columbus and Brunson GreenPedigree: N/A2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Golden Globes nom; Screen Actors Guild nom (ensemble cast)"HugoGraham King and Martin ScorsesePedigree: Three Cesar noms and a PGA nom for Scorsese; two Oscar noms and one win ("The Departed, 2006)" and two PGA noms and a win ("The Aviator," 2004) for King. 2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Austin Film Critics; Golden Globes nom; National Board of Review"The Ides of MarchGeorge Clooney, Grant Heslov and Brian OliverPedigree: Heslov Oscar-nominated and PGA-nominated for "Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005); Oliver Oscar-nominated and PGA-nominated for "Black Swan" (2010)2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Golden Globes nom"Midnight in ParisLetty Aronson and Stephen TenenbaumPedigree: N/A2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Golden Globes nom; Screen Actors Guild nom (ensemble cast)"MoneyballMichael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad PittPedigree: De Luca Oscar-nominated and PGA-nominated for "The Social Network" (2010); Horovitz won the PGA award for "Grey Gardens" (2009)2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Golden Globes nom"War HorseKathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg Pedigree: Kennedy has six Oscar noms, three noms and a lifetime acheivement award (2008) from the PGA, and four BAFTA noms; Spielberg has five Oscar noms and one win ("Shindler's List," 1993), five Cesar awards and one honorary award; and three noms, six wins and a lifetime achievement award from the PGA. 2011 Best pic awards, noms to date: Golden Globes nom; AFI Award* Refers only to best pic awards and noms from the Academy, PGA, HFPA, BAFTA and CesarsPGA AWARDSSpielberg: Empire of the stunner | Long-gestating 'Lincoln' driven by performances | Guild draws line on producer credit Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Hulu orders first scripted original skein

Hulu has bought its first scripted original series. 13 cases of the half-hour dramedy "Battleground" will premiere on Feb. 13, the streaming service introduced at its first-ever TCA session Sunday. Hulu may also be acquiring an unscripted series produced by Richard Linklater and refreshing its first original unscripted series order, "Every Day inside the Existence," from Morgan Spurlock. "Battleground," which Fox Broadcasting Co. developed a year ago before losing the project, is certainly an internal think about a imaginary political campaign from JD Walsh, Hagai Shaham and Marc Webb ("The Astounding Spiderman"). Hulu's entry into scripted might be the most recent evidence of intensifying competition among digital energy players scrambling for audiences and entrepreneurs. "Battleground" happens the heels of one other portal giant, Yahoo, doing same just the other day, while using Tom Hanks-produced animated series "Electric City," though that project is short-form episodes. Netflix has bought 4 or 5 full-length scripted series within the this past year, plus a revival in the Fox comedy "Arrested Development." Due to the growing commoditization of catalog content like movies and tv shows, these companies are trading much more about either exclusive or original fare that could differentiate within the pack. "You ought to get content that fans don't similar to, but love," mentioned Andy Forssell, senior V . p . of content at Hulu. While Yahoo is relationship entrepreneurs and Netflix is tempting clients, Hulu does a bit of both given its business features a ft in the free, ad-supported realm via Hulu.com as well as the monthly sub game via Hulu Plus. All Hulu's original series are available on facets of its business. The first series orders are merely the newest instance of how Hulu has looked for to broaden its content options beyond next-day utilization of primetime series from tv producers possessed by its parent companies News Corp., Disney and NBCUniversal, which reconsidered selling the partnership late a year ago. With next-day utilization of Fox programming on Hulu pressed to eight days for audiences that do not placed on Hulu Plus or can't authenticate via monthly monthly subscriptions to participating multichannel companies--and ABC prone to follow--Hulu have to get new techniques they are driving value for the free a part of its website. Furthermore to making original series like "Battleground," Hulu has furthermore done handles different amounts of exclusivity for series as varied since the British cult hit "Misfits to NBC's "Community". Netflix has furthermore done same, acquiring up series including AMC's "Mad Males" and "The Walking Dead." But getting a geniune scripted series which has not elsewhere yet is the greatest tool to be bold with either entrepreneurs or audiences. Nonetheless, it's unlikely the cost of "Battleground" is on componen while using low seven-figure bill most half-several hours ring on television. While Forssell--who declined to specify your hard earned money--mentioned Hulu does not have limits in place which it could purchase programming, he added, "you want to help to keep costs low.In . Part of the way that's done is ideal for Hulu to strike handles producers that have terms that are tricky to locate inside the TV business, for instance not applying possession in the program. Forssell wouldn't discuss deal specifics for your new programming. Hulu has switched to former Fox Searchlight professional Charlotte now now Koh to develop original series, and her background is in line with a cutting-edge mandate Forssell recognized just like a guiding principle for that organization. "Why has creativity and excitement of indie TV never manifested itself in primetime TV?" mentioned Forssell. "A lot of it is really because it's structurally simpler associated with a closed-ended movie, but we're searching at the way you take advantage of the ecosystem to produce that kind of creativity?" New cases of "Battleground" will run every Tuesday beginning Feb. 14, with back episodes available throughout its run. Indie vet Linklater ("Before Sunrise") is delivering six cases of "Current,Inch through which Timothy "Speed" Levitch, who was simply featured in acclaimed doc "The Cruise," gives around locations nationwide. Spurlock's "Day," which opened up on Hulu in August, will probably be back with new episodes featuring stars including Marc Maron and Joel McHale. Forssell could not specify the amount of streams "Day" created given Hulu does not disclose series' individual performances. Both "Day" and "Speed" will bow inside the first half of year. The other day, Hulu revealed 2011 results that shown growth on fronts. Hulu revenues elevated 60% yearly to $420 million while its sub base showed up at 1.5 million. In the blog publish announcing his company's results, Boss Jason Kilar pledged to take a position $500 million on content in 2012. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Hunger Games Star Josh Hutcherson Talks Kissing Jennifer Lawrence

First Launched: The month of the month of january 12, 2012 11:15 AM EST Credit: Getty Premium Caption Josh Hutcherson reaches the 2012 Peoples Choice Honours at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in La around the month of the month of january 11, 2012LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson was all smiles round the Peoples Choice Honours red-colored-colored carpet when Access Hollywood asked for about kissing co-star Jennifer Lawrence inside the approaching silver screen adaptation from the finest-selling books. It absolutely was good, the 19-year-old actor who plays Peeta Mellark inside the movie mentioned, beaming. Jennifer Lawrence is beautiful, so I'm not prone to complain, he mentioned of his co-star, who plays the flicks lead, Katniss Everdeen. It absolutely was good. Adding, It absolutely was a really fun time shooting. The actor referred to to AccessHollywood.coms Laura Saltman the films team labored tough to shroud the brand new You are able to occur secrecy. They saved a very tight set. They were strict about letting people on / off and so they had black curtains up everywhere, Josh referred to. So, they preferred to maintain it locked lower. Josh also hopes fans in the books are content while using silver screen version of author Suzanne Collins books. Individuals would be the most loyal fans that you can get, its slightly intimidating but thrilling concurrently, he ongoing. Im searching toward it and extremely nervous. Similar to Katniss, many fans in the books are split between Team Peeta or Team Gale Katniss nearest friend and hunting partner Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) but Josh is remarkably an authentic existence part of Team Gale. Me and Liam got along immediately, were good buds, he referred to, saying they might even finish as roommates. We considered it. Its a effective possibility afterwards. The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

FOX Exec: No Spinoff For Glee, The X Factor To Undergo Changes

First Published: January 8, 2012 4:52 PM EST Credit: FOX / Getty Caption Lea Michele, Steve Jones, Ryan SeacrestLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kurt Hummel and Rachel Berry wont be the focus of a new show on FOX next season. On Sunday, FOXs President of Entertainment, Kevin Reilly, told reporters at the Television Critics Association Winter Session in Pasadena there will definitely not be a Glee spinoff. We are graduating the characters and whats come out of it is [co-Creator and Executive Producer] Ryan [Murphy] and the guys have come up with a really cool idea. There will not be a Glee spinoff, but those characters will graduate, Reilly told reporters. Its led to a very interesting idea that I think is gonna really give us something cool to dig into next season. While declining to clarify what will happen with so many of the main cast ready to leave the halls of McKinley High, Reilly said the upcoming episodes will create a unique path toward the 2012-2013 Glee season. I like where its gonna really set us up in that spring batch of episodes and where its gonna set us up for next season, he added. No spinoff characters graduating; cool show next year. Beyond talk of Glee, the FOX Entertainment President said X Factor will have some changes when it returns for Season 2, although nothing has yet been decided. When asked about X Factor host Steve Jones, who British tabloids previously reported would not return at the helm next year, Reilly seemed to add fuel to the fire. The hosting gig, the only thing I will say, is, as we know, it is a much harder job than meets the eye, he said. I think everyone has come to realize the value of a Ryan Seacrest. If you dialed the clock back 11 years, Im not sure everybody in this room would have given him all the credit at that time. Those are very hard jobs to do. So whether Steves the guy or not, it comes under the heading of Growth in general. There will be some tweaks to the show, but Ill tell you, Im very happy to have it and its gonna be part of us for a long time. As for Seacrest, who is at the end of his contract with American Idol, Reilly said he doesnt want to see the show end up with Seacrest out. Its very hard to imagine the show without Ryan, the FOX exec said. We certainly want to keep him. Theres no creative discussion there whatsoever. Its a deal issue Its a deal component and its a tough negotiation and one that I think will come to conclusion pretty quickly. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

In Recognition of year in the Dragon: Favorite Movie Dragons

Even if 2012 weren't formally the season in the Dragon (in line with the Chinese zodiac), dragons would declare it their year anyway. Audiences are eating up 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo,' mythic dragons rule on TV's 'Once Upon a Time' and 'A Wager on Thrones' and many of us are waiting for our first look at Smaug in Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' this Christmas. Seems pretty much as good a period of time every to revisit typically the most popular fire-breathers, from Elliott to Toothless to a lot of not named but nevertheless magnificent (and maleficent) monsters. Typically The Most Popular Movie Dragons Grendel's Mother ('Beowulf')The Tattoo ('The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo')Elliott ('Pete's Dragon')Dragon ('Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows Part 2')Smaug ('The Hobbit')Draco ('Dragonheart')Saphira ('Eragon')Uncle Deadly ('The Muppets')Dragon ('Shrek')Mushu ('Mulan')Maleficent ('Sleeping Beauty')Toothless ('How to teach Your Dragon') See All Moviefone Galleries » [Photo: Cinemax] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Amanda Seyfried joins 'Les Miserables'

Amanda Seyfried is at final discussions to see Cosette in Universal's adaptation of "Ces Miserables."Twitchfilm.com first reported that Seyfried might be joining the cast that already includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Hathaway As Catwoman and Eddie Redmayne.Tom Hooper will helm the script by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg changes the Victor Hugo novel. Story follows Jean Valjean, carried out by Jackman, the wise protagonist abroad throughout french Revolution. U has slated the film to bow on 12 ,. 7. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce for Working Title alongside Cameron Mackintosh and Debra Hayward.Seyfried will next be viewed in Summit's "Gone."She's repped by Innovative Artists. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com