Lodgings and eateries at Sundance

Canyons ResortHyatt Escala LodgeAn estimated 40,000 to 50,000 Sundance festgoers descend on Park City -- which has a permanent population of a mere 8,000 -- during the annual film blowout, clogging streets, sidewalks and eateries, and creating transportation nightmares. Although screening venues in Salt Lake City may be less crowded, most industryites prefer to be where the action is: on -- or just off -- Park City's historic Main Street.By early January, lodging for the fest's first four days will be at a premium; however, day five through the fest's closing weekend typically offer more options. The least expensive stay in Park City is the Chateau Apres, with $45 per night/per person dorms (but limited availability). The booking firm Park City Crash Pads offers lower-cost properties with amenities such as free wi-fi.Just outside of town, but accessible by free Park City buses, the Canyons Resort has several plush apartment-style accommodations, in addition to the Waldorf Astoria Park City (opened in 2009). The Hyatt Escala Lodge (opened in November 2010) offers a discount for the second half of the fest.Salt Lake City hotels are less pricey; the drive to Park City is just under an hour depending on weather.Websites VRBO.com and Craig's List are another resource for last-minute bookings -- though if a deal is too good to be true, well, you know. Quick bites are a fest must, since most higher-end eateries are booked for private dinners. Open 24/7, Fresh Market (formerly Albertsons) offers a sandwich counter and in-store Starbucks. Burritos from El Chubasco (close to festival HQ at 1890 Bonanza Dr.) are handy for wait-list lines, and the year-old Sammy's Bistro (in the same minimall at 1890 Bonanza Dr.) has sandwiches, soups and salads. Often overlooked, the cafeteria at Park City Mountain Resort's Legacy Cafe is a reliable choice for breakfast and lunch, and is on a shuttle route.The Yard event space (formerly home to non-official gifting lounges) at a former lumber yard near the Yarrow Hotel will be an official festival venue this year, hosting New Frontier films. Onsite is a 400-car parking lot and a stop for the express shuttle to the Temple Theater. Within the Yard will be a cafe with a newly installed NY-style pizza oven. Run by the proprietors of the Blind Dog Restaurant and Sushi (also within the complex), the Yard cafe will open be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and then transform into the fest's latenight lounge.Other new eateries include: Park City's first-ever kosher restaurant, the Bistro at the Canyons Resort; the locally stocked Farm at the Canyons Resort; and for a high-altitude nosh, Yama Sushi at the Montage Resort in Deer Valley. Easy Street at the Sky Lodge recently added gluten-free menu items; the hotel's rooftop Sky Blue bar remains a civilized retreat above Main Street's frenzy.Music is an integral part of Sundance activities. Although the sheriff padlocked the city's largest music venue Harry O's earlier this year, it will be re-incarnated as Park City Live during the fest. The ASCAP Music Cafe returns to lower Main Street during the day; a program that changes nightly will showcase music from festival films -- an event that will require a fest credential along with tickets available at the main box office.Fest organizers will tweet scheduling changes, screenings and ASCAP Music Cafe nighttime shows via @sundancefestnow. A free Sundance festival mobile phone app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android users.The former Racquet Club Theater is back, rebuilt with 550 seats and renamed the MARC. Expect an expanded concession stand (from the same vendors at the Library Theater) as the popular Racquet Club Grill is no more.As always, warm socks and ibuprofen should be at top of any packing list. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Current crafts election strategy

Current TV made headlines early in the year for hiring Keith Olbermann on the heels of his messy exit from MSNBC. Bringing Olbermann into the fold was the start of a remake from a network centered on docus and user-generated material to a more traditional cable news operation. Current prexy David Bohrman said that the shift in focus was well timed as the 2012 presidential election season kicks into high gear next month. But is Olbermann's presence enough to make Current a contender in the 24-hour news cycle? It can't compete with its established rivals in breaking news, but it can offer in-depth political analysis, as long as its pundits and talking heads are not "shouting like in 'Crossfire' or (sticking to) continuous talking points," Bohrman said. For the coming electoral season, the plan is to monitor the debates on broadcast news and larger cablers and to sic the net's stable of pundits on the current crop of GOP hopefuls as they tear at each other. For the future, Bohrman wants to see the net wade deeper into the political fray, hosting debates and interviewing candidates. "Hopefully," he said, "we'll hold some politicians' feet to the fire." Columbia Journalism Review exec editor Mike Hoyt told Variety that Olbermann's influence is almost certainly diminished by his move to the smaller platform of Current, but the venue still has its benefits. "Olbermann surely lost viewers, when he left a network with a large number (of viewers) for a network with many fewer," Hoyt said. "But he surely gained a lot in terms of editorial control and influence over his network's programming. And maybe he can build on that." According to financial data provided by SNL Kagan, Current's operating revenue has grown to $115 million in 2011 from $99 million last year. But its programming expenses have ballooned as it shifts resources to personality-driven analysis programming and cuts personnel from Peabody-winning docu series "Vanguard." Estimates for programming expenses are up from about $52 million in 2010 to $64 million this year, with the addition of Olbermann, fellow MSNBC alum Cenk Uygur and former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm to the net's slate of contributors. Affiliate fees are up $10 million, though the rate remains flat at 12 per sub, and ad revenue is up to a little under $23 million from less than $16 million last year. Ratings info for the net is hard to come by, largely because of its size, but the snapshot provided by an exhaustive cable ranker from the week ended Dec. 4 is instructive. Current ranks No. 86 among the top 100 cablers, tied with boutique music channel VH1 Classics. Current is serious about the news network programming model. While most fledgling cablers start off trying to wedge themselves into a weak primetime slot one night a week (and widen from there), Current is focusing on stripped programming: Uygur's "The Young Turks," Olbermann's "Countdown," then Granholm's "War Room," running consecutively from 7 to 10 p.m. "All three programs every night, five nights a week are really what we're going to focus on," said Bohrman. "We've got a lot of room to grow here. We've really just been doing 'Vanguard' here for a while now. I'd like to grow out the daytime, which would require us to build out the broadcast operation." Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

Her cat, his hippo

Jim Gianopulos and helmer Cameron Crowe"Zoo" novelist Benjamin Mee meets Matt Damon in the Royalton. Scarlett Johansson with Elle Fanning Richard Lovett, Julie Yorn and Tom Rothman celebrate in Gotham. Ben Seeder and Dustin Ybarra enter into the "Zoo" spirit. Because the scene-stealing snakes, tigers, porcupines, apes and lions in Last Century Fox's "We Purchased a Zoo" were not asked either to the Ziegfeld preem or even the Royalton Hotel after-party, it appeared only appropriate to request the pic's flock of human stars which animal most reflected their personality. "I usually believed that basically thought about being a pet, I'd desire to be a home cat," stated Scarlett Johansson, "there is however no house felines within this movie. And So I guess a large cat." Just like a leopard? "Less regal like a leopard," the actress qualified. "I do not see myself in becoming predatory for the reason that way, although I suppose house felines are predatory if you are a mouse." Matt Damon deferred to his co-star's opinion. "Scarlett states I am a hippo despite the fact that there is not one out of the film,Inch he stated. "I believe she has been saying I have been overeating.Inch Elle Fanning selected a co-star in the film. "I really like Very, the capuchin monkey I really like people and she or he loves people, too. And That I like being wacky and she or he was pretty funny too, and thus cute," she added. "The lion, however the really type of smart, curmudgeonly lion, not the one which eats you," stated Thomas Haden Chapel. "The one which sits around and looks a bit smug that might be me." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

G.I. Joe: Retaliation can get a preliminary trailer

The initial trailer for G.I. Joe: Retaliation has showed up online, and since you may have expected, it's very large and extremely noisy. What you're able not need expected however, is always that it's also a pleasurable experience!The film sees the G.I. Joes ended bar a few children (including Adrianne Palicki and Dwayne Manley), who must go in person while using evil Zartan to have the ability to apparent their names.See the new trailer below...No matter the plot turning up to cope with more than a small resemblance compared to that of Ghost Protocol, we're cautiously tolerant of that certain. The knowledge looks very solid indeed (how about that mountainside sequence?), The Rock is fantastically badass and Bruce Willis can be obtained to supply additional awesome points.Top marks also for the electro control over The White-colored Stripes' Seven Nation Military. We'll be wanting the film can meet this strategy-packed teaser once they have it in Uk cinemas on 22 June 2012.

Film Incentives operate in New You are able to

Even while many states increase the controversy around the real worth of tax incentives to enhance film and tv production, the consensus in NY appears to become that such incentives get the job done. Which position now seems to possess received support in the latest data launched through the Bureau at work Statistics (BLS).NY state's incentives are stated to result in assisting to lure such projects as films "The Bourne Legacy," "Males in Black III" and "New Year's Eve" and television series "Blue Bloods," "Boardwalk Empire," "Damages," "Person of great interest,Inch "Glee," "Gossip Girl" and "Pan Am."Research into the data signifies the film and tv production industry accounts for a lot more than 141,000 jobs within the condition of NY, including direct production-related jobs in addition to indirect jobs in companies dealing with the development industry. The core production jobs covered within the 2010 jobs report from the NY Condition Comptroller are as much as 43,000, a rise of 20% in the 36,000 jobs in 2008, as well as an increase of 22% over 2009. (The development downturn last year is credited to uncertainty in those days concerning the incentives program.)With non-core production-related jobs put in, the amount of direct jobs reaches 48,690, up 13% (nearly 5,600) over 2009. (Annual overall job growth between 2009 and 2010 in NY Condition was flat countrywide it had been lower 1%. NY's production incentive includes a 30% refundable tax credit applied against qualified costs. Additionally towards the BLS report, the incentives' success can also be measured through the development in NY projects. This Year, the NY film incentive program received 91 programs for that incentives, including 71 movies, six television aircraft pilots and 14 television series. This Year, this program were built with a 66% boost, with 137 programs up to now, including 91 movies, 20 television aircraft pilots and 26 television series, based on NY Condition Governor's Office for Film and tv Development.In a single illustration of the neighborhood impact of filming, the feature "Arthur," which shot in NY for 48 days this year, spent a lot more than $26 million with local suppliers, making a lot more than 4,300 local employs, including 1,043 crew people."The brand new job figures launched by BLS confirm what many of us working around this industry know to be real, that film and tv production remains a catalyst for NY's economic recovery," stated Mike Jackman, co-chair from the NY Production Alliance, a business of guilds, unions, suppliers and people representing the film industry. "It's of no real surprise the only real dip in job growth came throughout 2009, annually funding for that NY Condition incentive briefly went dry," he added. "The NY Condition Film Credit, produced through the legislature and maintained under Governor Andrew Cuomo, is constantly on the create job possibilities for NYers over the economic spectrum." John Ford, leader of IA local 52, stated, "With respect to the males and ladies at Local 52, we're so pleased through the impact of those programs when it comes to real job growth. The robustness of production in NY implies that there's more chance and competition for professional studio mechanics, artists and craftspeople." "Film tax credits create jobs, stimulate local financial systems, and film productions in-condition," added Richard Masur, chair from the Screen Stars Guild national legislative committee and former Guild leader. "SAG people have experienced a rise in work because of these credits, together with a 30 % rise in background actor workdays. These extra times of employment keep stars working and enable them to to be eligible for a medical health insurance and pension benefits.""States realize that film and tv production bring elevated investment and good jobs, and that's why NY put incentives in position and the reason why you begin to see the positive year-after-year development in this sector," stated Vans Stevenson, senior Vice president of condition government matters in the Film Association of America. "Competition between states and Canada is fierce of these jobs since they're the sorts of work people want - with benefits as well as an average salary of $79,000 annually - which explains why a condition like NY concentrates on growing this sector."Stevenson also challenged recent claims the production tax credit was in some way directly affecting funding for public schools, specifically in NY City. "The assertion that public school students not have the educational assets because there's a financial budget allocation for that production incentive program is intellectually dishonest and factually incorrect," he stated. "For instance, last year the film and tv production companies spent $5.10 for each dollar invested through the condition within the program, based on the set of the Empire Condition Film Production Credit released August 2010 through the NY Condition Department of Taxation and Finance and also the NY Condition Governor's Office of movement Picture and tv Development. That's a really positive roi.Inch Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

Amazon . com . com Hopes Software Update Will Douse Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire Complaints

Amazon . com . com states that it's Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire tablet is”the best product weve ever launched” based on sales. But early adopters have observed a mixed reply to the sometimes jerky graphics, plus an off button in the base that some clients say they frequently occasions hit accidentally. The Fire place will receive a so-so 3.8 stars from 5 from three,477 testers at electronic products site Retrevo — and 4 stars from 5 from nearly 5,000 reviews on Amazon . com . com itself. The web store now states it’s round the situation: “In under 2 days, were leaving an over-the-air update to Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire that will improve performance, touch navigation, and supply clients careful analysis choose what items display round the slide slide carousel.” (Nothing they could do relating to this off button, though.) Clients shouldn’t be blown away. Our co-employees at BGR.com informed inside their review lately that”prospective customers should expect the periodic hiccup from first-generation software running on $200 hardware. Every computer, smartphone and tablet on the planet stutters once in awhile.”

Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

Rod Blagojevich Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Wednesday, The Associated Press reports. The former Illinois' governor's 18 felony corruption convictions included allegations that he tried to sell President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat for cash."When it is the governor who goes bad the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired," Judge James Zagel said.Rod Blagojevich found guilty in corruption trialBlagojevich, who had previously maintained his innocence, apologized in court to Illinois residents, the judge in his case, and to his family, before the sentence was read. "I have nobody to blame but myself for my stupidity and actions, words, things that I did, that I thought I could do," he said.Blagojevich allowed to appear on Celebrity ApprenticeThe 54-year-old Blagojevich - who appeared on Season 9 of Celebrity Apprentice and was fired on the fourth episode - was serving his second term as governor when he was removed from office in January 2009. He's Illinois's fourth governor to go to prison.

'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Kurt Sutter on Season 4's Bold Finale and Season 5 Plans

Ray Mickshaw/FOX A classic Universal Network Television worker might soon achieve give a jury claims that behind the curtain of Tv program House there's "hard-consuming, over-sexed, cussing, gun-transporting males" who made existence a difficulty on her behalf.our editor recommends'House' Star Hugh Laurie States He'll Retire From TV Acting Once Show EndsOlivia Wilde Makes Final 'House' Appearance Monday: 'I Notice just like a Vital Chapter throughout my Life' (Video) Within This summer time 2010,Carl Manley, who spent four years being an assistant property master round the Fox medical mystery show, suedHouseproducer Universal and a pair of of the staffers, proclaiming he was victim to sexual harassment and was fired when he spoke up about allegedly obnoxious behavior for his managers. After nearly yearly . 5 of extensive discovery and pre-trial motions, La Superior Court JudgeRichard Fruinindicated the other day his readiness to experience a jury decide whether Manley was retaliated against for objecting with a hostile workplace. Manley makes some wild accusations within the suit about back-stage behavior around the program. He targets his supervisorsTyler PattonandMike Caseyfor repeated bad functions and states his sex organs were groped that they was referred to as a "bitch," "faggot," "slave," and "pussy." Inside the prop trailer where Manley labored, the complaintant alleges that adult magazines and adult movies were around which his managers were hard customers who'd invite women within the wardrobe together with other production departments there to get familiar with sexual intercourse. Manley allegeshe was expected to cleanup semen and condom wrappers and is made fun of when he declined to go to to some close up-set strip club. The set ofHouseis also known to love a dangerous place to operate. Against Universal's recommendations, Patton allegedly introduced an authentic gun there and would throw knifes between bouts of tequila consuming. Manley states he was fired in March 2010, by an very drunk Patton, and he complained to Garret van der Meer, the show's co-executive producer/unit production manager. Manley states his complaints were overlooked, as well as the former staffer thinks that speaking up in what happening, including getting in contact with his union, introduced to retaliation, incorporated being "blackballed all Universal Productions." Manley states he acquired another job after his dismissal, but consequently to become situated on the blacklist, he wasn't able to find utilisation of the Fox lot, so he then lost that second job. Universal wanted a summary judgment dismissal from the suit, proclaiming that Manley had not successful to exhaust his administrative remedies, that his claims were time-barred, that the complaintant couldn't show "discriminatory motive based on his gender or perceived sexual orientation." The studio mentioned that each season was an unbiased one if this involves employment which careful analysis not rehire Manley for Season 7 of House couldn't be connected with Manley' accusations of sexual innuendo round the set. The defendant thinks that Manley' ideas about why he was overlooked are essentially speculative. For part,Patton and Casey intensely declined they active in the above pointed out-known to offensive conduct. Inside a hearing the other day, Judge Fruin considered a couple of from the evidence published in depositions up to now and tentatively made a decision you will discover enough triable issues to reject Universal's motions to dismiss discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. He released claims using the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and asked for additional briefings for just about any hearing scheduled for December 16. Once the judge stays to his tentative ruling, the problem may be on course being heard having a jury next season. Manley is represented byLawrence Organat Equality Law, and Universal continues to be repped byLori BowmanandMarrian Changat Ogletree, Deakins. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner House

Michael Bay May Return for 'Transformers 4': Report

Proving that even passion projects for high-grossing directors cost a pound of flesh, Vulture reports that Michael Bay may come back for a fourth 'Transformers' film -- provided the studio lets him make 'Pain and Gain.' "Without 'Pain & Gain,' there's not tit for tat," said a source to Vulture. "That's Paramount's leverage." Bay has been looking to make 'Pain and Gain,' based on a series of articles in the Miami New Times, since 1999. (The film -- described as 'Fargo'-esque -- follows two bodybuilders who wind up embroiled in a kidnapping and extortion plot to increasingly terrible results.) Per Vulture, if the deals for 'Pain and Gain' and 'Transformers 4' are reached, things could move very quickly; 'Gain' could shoot in the spring, with 'Transformers' headed to cameras by winter of 2012. While nothing is official yet, apparently Bay and the studio are "not far" from an agreement. During the press for 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,' it was thought that Bay was done with the series (Shia LaBeouf, who is done with the franchise, said as much), but it appears that isn't the case. What plot 'Transformers 4' will use remains to be seen, but it likely won't be a prequel. Vulture thinks this could all become official in the coming week; considering what happened with Benicio Del Toro, however, don't hold your breath for too long. [via Vulture] [Photo: Paramount] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook