Berlinale bows residency program

BERLIN -- The Berlin Film Festival has unveiled an initiative to lure filmmakers to the German capital: the Berlinale Residency. The international fellowship program will invite six filmmakers and their new projects to a four-month stay in Berlin beginning this fall. At a presser Tuesday, fest organizers also unveiled the complete lineups of the various sections, most of which had already been announced in piecemeal fashion. Wang Quan'an's Chinese drama "Bai lu yuan" (White Deer Plain) rounds out this year's Competition selection. A total of 23 films will screen as part of the main Competition lineup, with 18 of those, including "White Deer Plain," vying for the Golden and Silver Bears and five showing out of competition. Promising a star-heavy affair, this year's fest boasts the likes of Robert Pattinson, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Jake Gyllenhaal, who is serving on the international jury. Nearly 400 films will unspool in Berlin, among them Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod's "Bel Ami," Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire," Angelina Jolie's "In the Land of Blood and Honey," Billy Bob Thornton's "Jayne Mansfield's Car," Hark Tsui's "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate," Nikolaj Arcel's "A Royal Affair," Phyllida Lloyd's "The Iron Lady" and Benoit Jacquot's historical drama "Farewell My Queen," which opens the fest. The Berlinale Residency, meanwhile, is the latest initiative aimed at promoting international film production. "The Berlinale Residency is a logical progression of the previous Berlinale initiatives," said fest topper Dieter Kosslick. "The fellowship serves as a follow-up project for filmmakers who already had a feature in the official program of a festival, who were selected with projects in the Berlinale Co-Production Market or Berlinale Talent Campus, or who were supported through the World Cinema Fund. However, we are also looking forward to receiving other filmmakers from around the world, whom the program will entice to Berlin." Kirsten Niehuus, managing director of regional funder Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg -- one of the initiative's main sponsors -- said the program not only works on traditional story development, but also in close relationship with the market and industry experts. "Audience orientation and effective analysis are more important today than ever before." The six selected projects will include feature and documentary films and cross-media works. The Berlinale Co-Production Market and the Guadalajara Film Festival, also a Berlinale Residency partner, will serve as initial presentation platforms for the projects. The Berlinale is also considering possible partnerships with co-production marts in Buenos Aires, Durban and Sarajevo. The Berlinale Residency's other main backers include the Nipkow Program, the Berlin-based European fellowship program, and the EU's Media Mundus Program. The residency program kicks off in September. The first call for entries will be at the Berlinale, which runs Feb. 9-19. The fest also announced Tuesday that it will honor engineer Ray Dolby for his contribution to cinema. The fest is presenting Dolby -- the man behind Dolby Stereo and Dolby Surround -- with its Berlinale Camera award "in recognition of his work as one of the most important engineers and inventors in the film industry." "Dolby revolutionized sound in cinemas and contributed greatly to making films the amazing acoustic experience we know today," the fest said. By installing multiple loudspeakers and applying multi-channel technology, Dolby surround sound introduced viewers to the feeling of being fully immersed in the action. Dolby introduced Dolby Stereo, his first surround sound technology, in 1975. It was quickly adopted by movie theatres worldwide as films like "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" were released in the new sound format. Dolby Digital surround sound followed, which also later became the standard for home cinema audio with the introduction of DVD. Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965 and remained on its board of directors until his retirement last year, although he remains director emeritus. Contact Ed Meza at staff@variety.com

Oscar 2012 Snubs & Surprises!

First Published: January 24, 2012 11:37 AM EST Credit: Fox Searchlight Caption Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love / Michael Fassbender in ShameLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The 84th Annual Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday morning with some surprising nominees but not all of this years favorite big screen performances and films were honored with a nomination. Martin Scorseses Hugo surprising led the nominations with 11, edging out silent film The Artist for most nods, which earned an equally impressive 10 nominations. Demian Bichir, who might be best known for his role on Showtimes Weeds where he played the father Mary-Louise Parkers baby, is up against Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt and George Clooney in the Best Actor race for his work in A Better Life. Another surprise was the love the Academy gave Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullocks post 9/11 drama, which has polarized audiences and critics. The movie scored a Best Picture nomination and a Best Supporting Actor nod for Max von Sydow. Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy was a nice surprise nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category for her hilarious performance in the breakout comedy. Co-star Kristen Wiig and writer Annie Mumolo also earned a nomination for Best Original Screenplay for raucous box office hit. And then there are the stars whose phones did not ring with good news this morning. Despite his powerful performance and nod of approval from George Clooney at the Golden Globes Michael Fassbender was shut out for his role in Shame. Ryan Gosling who went into award season with major buzz for three films Drive, The Ides of March, and Crazy Stupid Love was also snubbed. Other acting snubs included Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar, Albert Brooks for Drive, Tilda Swinton in We Need To Talk About Kevin, Charlize Theron for Young Adult, and young star Shailene Woodley, who many thought would earn a nomination for her work as George Clooneys daughter in The Descendants. The snubs continued with Steven Spielberg who failed to earn a Best Director nomination, even though War Horse was honored with a nod for Best Picture. The Hollywood veteran did earn a nod for producing War Horse. A surprise snub came in the Best Animated Feature category for The Adventures of Tintin, which took home the Golden Globe in the same category, but failed to get any Oscar love. And there wont be any musical catfights on Oscar night between Elton John and Madonna (or Eltons partner David Furnish), who were shut out of the Best Song category. For a complete list of this years nominees, CLICK HERE! Find out who will take home Oscar gold on February 26, with host Billy Crystal, live on ABC at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ticketmaster sets Facebook app

Moving its business into a new social-networking realm, Ticketmaster has launched a fully functioning ticketing app on Facebook. On the popular site, users will be able to browse events, purchase any Ticketmaster ticket directly, view events their Facebook friends are attending and RSVP to shows, read reviews and build an "I want to go" list of upcoming shows. App will also enable an "I just bought tickets" message on Facebook. Significantly, the app delivers personalized "recommended events" by integrating listens from music services like Spotify and also based on the artists and sports teams a user has "liked" on the site. Marc Hazan, Spotify's global head of deal operations, said in a statement: "Spotify's social integration with Facebook already gives music fans the ability to discover, enjoy and share more music than ever before. The integration of Spotify into Ticketmaster's 'Recommended Events' takes this to the next level, creating a seamless experience for music fans, from discovery and sharing to the fun and excitement of the live event." With a flourish, Facebook announced a partnership with Spotify in September. But the close integration of the social network and the music streaming service -- which includes the posting of Spotify plays on Facebook -- initiated widespread complaints, forcing Facebook to enable a "private listening" function. New Spotify users cannot sign up for the service without a Facebook account. Ticketmaster exec VP of e-commerce Kip Levin said, "The Ticketmaster app on Facebook reaches our fans, in their social space where they already spend time, provides them another convenient ticket purchasing option and enables us to present them the most relevant suggestions for upcoming events." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Saura, Querejeta re-team on '33 dias'

MADRID -- Spain's Carlos Saura is mounted on direct "33 dias," about Pablo Picasso's emotional turmoil because he colored masterpiece "Guernica." Title refers back to the time Picasso allocated to the mural, which taken his response to the destruction of Basque capital of scotland - Guernica in 1937 through the Nazi Luftwaffe throughout the The spanish language Civil War. Project re-teams Saura with Elias Querejeta, producer of numerous of Saura's modern classics: "The Search," "Raise Ravens" and "Deprisa, deprisa." Saura and Querejeta composed the script alongside French author Louis-Charles Sirjacq. Allocated over Euros6 million ($7.7 million), pic is created by Bilbao-based Idem 4. Production company Cinevedas, with offices in France, Canada and India, will co-produce. Triple Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro ("Apocalypse Now," "Yellows," "The Final Emperor") is within advanced discussions to become listed on the project, producer Alberto Rojo told Variety. "33 dias" would mark Saura and Storaro's seventh collaboration. In France They- and The spanish language-language shoot comes next summer time in Paris and Guernica, where producers will reproduce Picasso's Paris studio. Producers are speaking for an worldwide cast that may include French thesp Jose Garcia as Picasso. A few of the new project's narrative, drama and key images will use Saura's prior fiction photos with Storaro, for example "Goya in Bordeaux," "Tango" and "Io, Don Giovanni," Rojo added. Within the film, Saura shows how painting "Guernica" was near salvation for Picasso in a moment of private crisis. "Dias" "concentrates on Picasso's relationship with (his lover) Dora Maar, an amazing character," Saura told The spanish language newspaper El Pais. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Summit deal drives Lionsgate stock surge

Lionsgate shares hit a 52-week filled with early trade, opening greater than 5% at $9.04 utilizing their close of $8.60 on Friday following the organization introduced purchasing Summit Entertainment. Lionsgate also mentioned in SEC filings that Summit's entrepreneurs could pocket around $7.5 million far beyond the indie studio's cost once the latter "Twilight" movies "exceed suggested thresholds." The business revealed some particulars, like the bonus for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1" and "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 2," in the $412.5 million merger agreement in the Opportunities and Exchange Commission filing Tuesday whilst Wall Streeters carrying out a extended holiday weekend began to weigh in round the deal, introduced Friday. The response remains upbeat although traders continue being trying to find particulars on Summit financials that Lionsgate mentioned within the filing it might problem later on. "Twilight" is vital since there's hardly any downside inside the franchise. "We percieve the sale as positive even supposing the non-Twilight Summit films generate negative returns. The strong earnings from Twilight and several merger synergies increase the risk for deal positive. We await more financial disclosure regarding Summit to look at our rating but uncover the priceOrfunding as positive," mentioned Ben Mogil of Sifel Nicolaus in the note Tuesday morning. The sale incorporated $343.5 million in cash, $49 million cost of stock -- about 5.8 million shares -- plus an additional $20 million in both cash or stock or some combination due within two several weeks of last Friday's deal closing. The business may even partly fund the transaction by providing to $45 million cost of fourPercent convertible senior subordinated to Kornitzer Capital Management. Kornitzer principal John Kornitzer will be a key ally helping Lionsgate evade the clutches of corporate raider Carl Icahn in the fight a year ago over control for that organization. The notes come due in 2017 and can be transformed into common shares of Lionsgate anytime right before maturity or repurchase through the organization, the SEC filing mentioned. The very first conversion cost in the notes will probably be $10.50. Interest will probably be due on Jan. 15 which summer time 15 of each and every year starting in This summer time of 2012. A credit agreement though JPMorgan Chase offers a four-and-a-half-year senior guaranteed term loan to Summit in the principal volume of $500 million repayable in quarterly obligations of $13.75 million, while using balance round the final maturity date in September, 2016. The lent funds may also be repayable periodically for the extent in the excess earnings created by Summit which is subsidiaries. Lionsgate has mentioned it must pay for this lower just before maturity. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

New poster for that Words

A brand new poster has showed up for Bradley Cooper's What, where the Hangover star plays a battling author who bakes an remarkable discovery.The film, directed beginning with-time helmers John Kluger and Lee Sternthal, follows Cooper's character because he finds an old but brilliant manuscript and passes the job off as their own.Overloaded by critical acclaim, Cooper finally accomplishes very good he's lengthy craved, however it is not lengthy before his conscience begins to possess second ideas...Cooper is going to be became a member of by Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Ben Barnes, and JK Simmons within an impressive ensemble cast. For the poster, it is a rather eye-catching affair, taking the feeling of mental turmoil felt by Cooper's character. Oh, also it features plenty of words, as with the title.What will premiere only at that month's Sundance festival, by having an official release date not yet been confirmed. The film is anticipated to get an over-all release later around.

Watch First a few minutes of 'Haywire' Online

Watch First a few minutes of 'Haywire' Online By Jenelle Riley The month of the month of january 10, 2012 Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images The other day, I'd the pleasure of attending the premiere of "Haywire," the completely new action flick from Steven Soderbergh starring MMA champion Gina Carano. The plot focuses on Carano's black procedures agent Mallory Kane, who finds herself the fall guy (or lady) in the setup when she tries to leave her current employer. It is a little convoluted honestly, considering many of us are just there to check out Carano kick some ass. And does she ever--it's a thrill ride from start to finish, which i usually be grateful each time a movie shows me new things. In this situation, it's Carano using her upper upper thighs just like a weapon, climbing up walls, and basically coming the mind without any assistance of wires or effects. Also, I appreciate the man chocolate: the cast includes Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, and also the tasty Michael Fassbender.One person within the after party complained that Carano wasn't "an excellent actor." That I believe that: Who cares? She's a lot of fun to check out fight but she acquits herself nicely in the role not requiring Shakespearean training. Anyway, judge by yourself: you will see the initial a few minutes in the film totally free online. It gives you a great feeling of a bad tone and what you should expect for your relaxation in the film. Embedding is disabled, so click the link to check out it! Discover More About Behind The Curtain Watch First a few minutes of 'Haywire' Online By Jenelle Riley The month of the month of january 10, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images The other day, I'd the pleasure of attending the premiere of "Haywire," the completely new action flick from Steven Soderbergh starring MMA champion Gina Carano. The plot focuses on Carano's black procedures agent Mallory Kane, who finds herself the fall guy (or lady) in the setup when she tries to leave her current employer. It is a little convoluted honestly, considering many of us are just there to check out Carano kick some ass. And does she ever--it's a thrill ride from starting to finish, which i usually be grateful each time a movie shows me something totally new. In this situation, it's Carano using her upper upper thighs just like a weapon, climbing up walls, and basically coming the mind without wires or effects. Also, I appreciate the man chocolate: the cast includes Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, as well as the tasty Michael Fassbender.One person within the after party complained that Carano wasn't "a great actor." That I believe that: Who cares? She's a lot of fun to check out fight but she acquits herself nicely in the role not requiring Shakespearean training. Anyway, judge by yourself: you will see the initial a few minutes in the film totally free online. You will have a great feeling of a bad tone and what you should expect for your relaxation in the film. Embedding is disabled, so follow the link to check out it!Discover More About Behind The Curtain

'How to Succeed's' Beau Bridges on Taking Chances

'How to Succeed's' Beau Bridges on Taking Chances By Simi Horwitz January 6, 2012 Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Perhaps it seems unexpected for Beau Bridges to be tackling a Broadway musical at this stage of his career, but for him it's the logical next step. He recently replaced John Larroquette as corporate bigwig J.B. Biggley in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and will be on board through July 1. Though Bridges is best known for his extensive film and TV work, he points to his roster of theater credits on Broadway and in Los Angeles, including playing Sarah Brown's wise grandfather Arvide Abernathy in "Guys & Dolls" at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009, where he sang "More I Cannot Wish You." Like any other project Bridges is attracted to, "How to Succeed" is a great story, he says. Further, "it's already up and running, so all I have to do is jump in," he continues. "How could I turn it down? I've always loved music, my family has been jamming for years, and as I watched my brother Jeff getting into music after starring in 'Crazy Heart,' I was inspired." Bridges' career is on an upswing, not least thanks to his featured role as George Clooney's greedy hillbilly cousin in "The Descendants." But Bridges is especially excited about a play he has co-authored with his daughter, Emily, based on Richard Boleslavsky's 1933 book that Bridges' father, actor Lloyd Bridges, gave him when Beau was a youngster. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Acting: The First Six Lessons." "It's all about the Stanislavsky method and also the relationship between an acting teacher and his student, who he calls 'the creature.' " Bridges explains. The two-hander, which he and his daughter performed at Theatre West in 2010, has been published by Samuel French, and Bridges hopes to bring it to the East Coast. Bridges is every bit the family man, has four sons and one daughter, and is proud of his legendary Hollywood heritage.1. Water Everywhere. Bridges admits that his father opened doors for him. "I was lucky to have a dad in the industry who got me my first job in the film 'Zamba,' when I was 6," he recalls. "Later I appeared in 'Sea Hunt,' and so did my brother." "Sea Hunt" was a popular TV adventure series that starred Lloyd Bridges and ran from 1958 to 1961. Lloyd was an enthusiastic actor and loved his profession, Bridges recalls. But he was no stage parent, and neither brother was initially that serious about acting. Indeed, Bridges was interested in sports; his sights set on a basketball career, he played at UCLA and later at the University of Hawaii, where he phased out his college education and turned his attention to surfing.At the same time, he was landing spots on TV shows as he slowly moved back into the family business. But performing in the antiVietnam War play "Trial of the Catonsville Nine," by Daniel Berrigan, at the Mark Taper Forum, grabbed his attention and focused his efforts, partly because it spoke to his politics during those heady Vietnam years. "I recognized the entertainment aspect of stories, but every once in a while you get the chance to be in a play that talks about issues and that's exciting," he says.2. The Family That Plays Together. Looking back, he concedes, his family name may have magnified the scrutiny he received, but not much more than for anyone else who is doing relatively well. "It's a little unnerving to know people want to see you fail, but the positives far outweigh the negatives," Bridges says. "And the people who are scrutinizing me are giving me jobs. There are no jobs without an audience." Establishing his own artistic identity evolved naturally, he says, adding jealousy was never an issue in his close-knit clan. "I love working with my family," he says. "As Jeff and I got going, Dad would call and say, 'Anything for me?' There's never been a competitive aspect in our relationships. We enjoy watching each other's victories, and we're there for each other when one of us has a defeat." A personal and professional high point was appearing with his brother in "The Fabulous Baker Boys," and an ideal future project is its sequel, Bridges says. " 'The Fabulous Baker Boys Go to Kauai and Lie Around.' " He's only half-kidding.3. Constantly Evolving. Besides his father's tutelage, Bridges never studied acting formally. But then, Dad gave him the basics. "He told me, 'You want to tell the truth when you go out there. As long as it's your truth, it will seem like it's coming from a real place,' " Bridges remembers. "But every time I work, I'm learning." His ongoing relationship with Theatre West is a case in point. Whenever actors perform, their work is critiqued by colleagues. Bridges also cites the usefulness of David Ball's book, "Backwards & Forwards: A Technical Manual for Reading Plays." It has given him a new perspective on how to consider a play, its characters, and their relationships, he says.Bridges is a man of many interests and keeps his options open. Consider how he launched his singing career. As he tells it, he had been privately writing songs for quite a while but had not thought much of it until his wife asked him to record the songs for her birthday. His walking buddy, the great trumpet player Arturo Sandoval, expressed interest, and the two recorded five songs in Sandoval's studio. Friends and family were enthusiastic, and now the songs are available online. Recording them played a role in his willingness to try his hand at a Broadway musical, he says. "The big challenge for me in the show is the dancing."4. The Next Big Adventure. Bridges refuses to reflect on what he might have done differently in his career. "I appreciate my life, my opportunities, and I want to look beyond the past and be excited about what's coming down," he says. "I'd like to realize the play with my daughter. That's where my head is." Transience makes the business exciting. "Little births, little deaths, and melancholy when it's over," he says. "You think you'll never work again, and along comes another venture around the bend." "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" is playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., N.Y. (212) 239-6200. telecharge.com. howtosucceedbroadway.com. Outtakes Appeared on Broadway in William Inge's "Where's Daddy?" and Peter Ustinov's "Who's Who in Hell" and at the Geffen Playhouse in Jane Anderson's "Looking for Normal" Has been featured in dozens of films, including "Norma Rae," "The Other Side of the Mountain," and "Sordid Lives"Guest-starred on "Brothers & Sisters," "My Name Is Earl," "Desperate Housewives," and "The Closer"Received 11 Emmy nominations; won Emmys for "The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom," "The Second Civil War," and "Without Warning: The James Brady Story" also won Golden Globes for the latter two 'How to Succeed's' Beau Bridges on Taking Chances By Simi Horwitz January 6, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Perhaps it seems unexpected for Beau Bridges to be tackling a Broadway musical at this stage of his career, but for him it's the logical next step. He recently replaced John Larroquette as corporate bigwig J.B. Biggley in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and will be on board through July 1. Though Bridges is best known for his extensive film and TV work, he points to his roster of theater credits on Broadway and in Los Angeles, including playing Sarah Brown's wise grandfather Arvide Abernathy in "Guys & Dolls" at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009, where he sang "More I Cannot Wish You." Like any other project Bridges is attracted to, "How to Succeed" is a great story, he says. Further, "it's already up and running, so all I have to do is jump in," he continues. "How could I turn it down? I've always loved music, my family has been jamming for years, and as I watched my brother Jeff getting into music after starring in 'Crazy Heart,' I was inspired." Bridges' career is on an upswing, not least thanks to his featured role as George Clooney's greedy hillbilly cousin in "The Descendants." But Bridges is especially excited about a play he has co-authored with his daughter, Emily, based on Richard Boleslavsky's 1933 book that Bridges' father, actor Lloyd Bridges, gave him when Beau was a youngster. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Acting: The First Six Lessons." "It's all about the Stanislavsky method and also the relationship between an acting teacher and his student, who he calls 'the creature.' " Bridges explains. The two-hander, which he and his daughter performed at Theatre West in 2010, has been published by Samuel French, and Bridges hopes to bring it to the East Coast. Bridges is every bit the family man, has four sons and one daughter, and is proud of his legendary Hollywood heritage.1. Water Everywhere. Bridges admits that his father opened doors for him. "I was lucky to have a dad in the industry who got me my first job in the film 'Zamba,' when I was 6," he recalls. "Later I appeared in 'Sea Hunt,' and so did my brother." "Sea Hunt" was a popular TV adventure series that starred Lloyd Bridges and ran from 1958 to 1961. Lloyd was an enthusiastic actor and loved his profession, Bridges recalls. But he was no stage parent, and neither brother was initially that serious about acting. Indeed, Bridges was interested in sports; his sights set on a basketball career, he played at UCLA and later at the University of Hawaii, where he phased out his college education and turned his attention to surfing.At the same time, he was landing spots on TV shows as he slowly moved back into the family business. But performing in the antiVietnam War play "Trial of the Catonsville Nine," by Daniel Berrigan, at the Mark Taper Forum, grabbed his attention and focused his efforts, partly because it spoke to his politics during those heady Vietnam years. "I recognized the entertainment aspect of stories, but every once in a while you get the chance to be in a play that talks about issues and that's exciting," he says.2. The Family That Plays Together. Looking back, he concedes, his family name may have magnified the scrutiny he received, but not much more than for anyone else who is doing relatively well. "It's a little unnerving to know people want to see you fail, but the positives far outweigh the negatives," Bridges says. "And the people who are scrutinizing me are giving me jobs. There are no jobs without an audience." Establishing his own artistic identity evolved naturally, he says, adding jealousy was never an issue in his close-knit clan. "I love working with my family," he says. "As Jeff and I got going, Dad would call and say, 'Anything for me?' There's never been a competitive aspect in our relationships. We enjoy watching each other's victories, and we're there for each other when one of us has a defeat." A personal and professional high point was appearing with his brother in "The Fabulous Baker Boys," and an ideal future project is its sequel, Bridges says. " 'The Fabulous Baker Boys Go to Kauai and Lie Around.' " He's only half-kidding.3. Constantly Evolving. Besides his father's tutelage, Bridges never studied acting formally. But then, Dad gave him the basics. "He told me, 'You want to tell the truth when you go out there. As long as it's your truth, it will seem like it's coming from a real place,' " Bridges remembers. "But every time I work, I'm learning." His ongoing relationship with Theatre West is a case in point. Whenever actors perform, their work is critiqued by colleagues. Bridges also cites the usefulness of David Ball's book, "Backwards & Forwards: A Technical Manual for Reading Plays." It has given him a new perspective on how to consider a play, its characters, and their relationships, he says.Bridges is a man of many interests and keeps his options open. Consider how he launched his singing career. As he tells it, he had been privately writing songs for quite a while but had not thought much of it until his wife asked him to record the songs for her birthday. His walking buddy, the great trumpet player Arturo Sandoval, expressed interest, and the two recorded five songs in Sandoval's studio. Friends and family were enthusiastic, and now the songs are available online. Recording them played a role in his willingness to try his hand at a Broadway musical, he says. "The big challenge for me in the show is the dancing."4. The Next Big Adventure. Bridges refuses to reflect on what he might have done differently in his career. "I appreciate my life, my opportunities, and I want to look beyond the past and be excited about what's coming down," he says. "I'd like to realize the play with my daughter. That's where my head is." Transience makes the business exciting. "Little births, little deaths, and melancholy when it's over," he says. "You think you'll never work again, and along comes another venture around the bend." "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" is playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., N.Y. (212) 239-6200. telecharge.com. howtosucceedbroadway.com. Outtakes Appeared on Broadway in William Inge's "Where's Daddy?" and Peter Ustinov's "Who's Who in Hell" and at the Geffen Playhouse in Jane Anderson's "Looking for Normal" Has been featured in dozens of films, including "Norma Rae," "The Other Side of the Mountain," and "Sordid Lives"Guest-starred on "Brothers & Sisters," "My Name Is Earl," "Desperate Housewives," and "The Closer"Received 11 Emmy nominations; won Emmys for "The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom," "The Second Civil War," and "Without Warning: The James Brady Story" also won Golden Globes for the latter two

Rachel McAdams 'Glamour' Profile Enrages Anti-'Cool' 'L.A. Times' Writer

It might not have the far-reaching social ramifications of the feud between A.V. Club critic Scott Tobias and 'The Blind Side,' but could Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman be in the middle of the first Twitter scuffle of 2012? Doubtful! But that doesn't mean she's a fan of the new Glamour magazine profile of Rachel McAdams. Wrote Kaufman, an entertainment writer for the Times, on Twitter: Could this lede BE WORSE? alsdkfaskldfjasdjklfadjsd. glamour.com/entertainment/... - Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) January 3, 2012 Harsh words ... until you actually read the lede. "Rachel McAdams is just so cool. When I meet the 33-year-old actress for tea at a London hotel, she's wearing a loose sweatshirt, and her hair, in a dozen tiny buns, makes her look kind of adorably crazy." So cool, indeed. It gets better -- provided your definition of "better" is a first question about said "tiny buns." Click through to Glamour to read the whole profile. [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook