Germany's Fine, But Where Should Woody Allen Film Next?

Following the recent success of Midnight in Paris and the filming of Bop Decameron in Rome, Woody Allen is apparently planning to set his next film in Germany. Exciting! And maybe a little predictable, but I’m enjoying the minor Zelig flashback this news conjures. Do you have visions for locales in the next leg of Allen’s film career? There’s one hope I refuse to let go… I’m craving a Midwestern Woody Allen movie. Yes, Allen’s muses are urbanity, grand romance, city-dwellers, and metropolitan madness (here are 15 European stops Movieline suggested back when Bop Decameron was announced), but ever since the Coen Brothers’ Allenesque A Serious Man came out in ‘09, I’ve waited for him to address the corn belt in film. The overseas locales can get a little misty and precious. You can’t really do the Midnight in Paris thing too often, otherwise the cloying, golden-lit vistas start to seem compulsory. I’m hoping for a down-and-dirty lady-led drama between the coasts. Something between Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. No one in the past 40 years has crafted as many fabulous female roles as Allen, and it might be nice to see one who isn’t living it up in a Starry Night wonderland for awhile. I’m rooting for Julie Bowen for the lead, personally. As always. Where do you think Allen should venture next? Should he stay in Europe or return stateside? Germany next stop on Woody Allen’s European Tour? [THR]

Google Will Pay License Fees For Indie Music Clips On YouTube

Google has agreed to pay royalties to songwriters repped by the National Music Publishers Assocation when their songs appear in videos on YouTube. The deal, which covers roughly 3,000 mainly indie songwriters, resolves a copyright lawsuit brought by the organization in 2007 and sets up the two sides to share ad revenues generated byvideos on YouTube. We are pleased to have resolved NMPAs litigation claims and to work with YouTube in providing a new licensing opportunity for songwriters and publishers, NMPA president and CEO David Israelite said on the group's web site. This is a positive conclusion for all parties and one that recognizes and compensates the work of songwriters and publishers going forward. The largest music publishers, EMI Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainmenthavetheir ownlicensing contracts with YouTube and are not part of this agreement.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Red Tails' Trailer And Poster Fly Online

Before last guy, they'll fight so say all of them within the new trailer for "Red-colored Tails," the The Second World War aerial combat drama from producer George Lucas. An early on "Red-colored Tails" trailer showed up online late recently, now, we have got a unique first consider the movie's latest trailer, in addition to a completely new poster for that film. Watch a clip within the video above, and click on beyond the jump to determine the most recent poster! In "Red-colored Tails," moviegoers can be found the opportunity to think back in an important slice of yankee history using the moving true story from the Tuskegee Airmen, an accumulation of segregated black aircraft pilots who have been given second-rate planes and deadly missions after being shipped to combat throughout The Second World War. But despite their hands-me-lower supplies as well as their harmful projects, the Tuskegee males literally and figuratively rose towards the occasion again and again within the bloodstream drenched skies of world war ii. "Red-colored Tails" boasts an exciting-star cast using its gifted roster including Oscar-nominated actor and former "Iron Guy" hero Terrence Howard, "Breaking Bad" badass Bryan Cranston, Oscar champion Cuba Gooding Junior, Method Guy, Ne-Years old and Nate Parker. The film is directed by "Treme's" Anthony Hemingway and godfathered by George Lucas, the "The Exorcist" mastermind that has had his vision for "Red-colored Tails" in development for more than 2 decades now. It appears like good stuff arrived at individuals who wait, in line with the new trailer and as you can tell below the most recent poster for that movie. Inform us that which you think about the "Red-colored Tails" trailer and poster within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Kim's 'Amen' preems at San Sebastian

MADRID -- Appearing out of the blue, Kim Ki-duk's latest feature, "Amen," will world preem at September's San Sebastian Film Festival. A late Competition entry, "Amen" is backed by South Korea's Fine Cut, and turns on a Korean girl's mysterious voyage and her encounters with a man on her trail. Pic was shot under the radar in Europe. It comes just months after "Arirang," Kim's docu-drama, shared Cannes' top Un Certain Regard prize. The pic offered a self-portrait of Kim as a purportedly near terminally washed-up filmmaker. Amen" is joined in main Competition by "Rampart," from Yank helmer Oren Moverman ("The Messenger"). Based on a James Ellroy script adapted by Moverman, "Rampart" toplines Woody Harrelson as an LAPD cop under investigation. It co-stars Ice Cube, Ben Foster, Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver and Steve Buscemi. In further San Sebastian titles unveiled Wednesday, South Korean Lim Woo-seong's "Scars," Chilean Alejandro Fernandez Almendras' "By the Fire" and Brit Dexter Fletcher's "Wild Bill" will compete for San Sebastian's Kutxa-New Directors' Award, which carries a Euros 90,000 ($130,000) cash prize. Relating the sufferings of a woman with an unfaithful husband, "Scars" is Lim's follow-up to 2010 Sundance screener "Vegetarian." Fernandez Almendras' "Fire," about the love story between a man and a terminally ill woman, received a $72,000 award from Berlin's World Cinema Fund and played the Toulouse Festival's Films in Progress showcase this year. It is the helmer's second pic at the fest, following "Huacho." Wild Bill," the directorial debut of Brit actor Fletcher ("Kick Ass"), is a comic take on an ex-con' tribulations after he becomes a single parent. Ranging widely, the New Directors' lineup also takes in Yank director Simon Arthur's first feature "Silver Tongues," a tale of deceit and sexual control, which split critics at Slamdance, docu "Ending Note (Death of a Japanese Salesman)," from Japan's Mami Sunada, relating the last months in the life of the director's father, and German helmer Jan Zabeil's "The River Used to Be a Man," about a German man lost in Africa, seen at this year's Munich fest. Iceland's Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurosson competes with youngster buddy dramedy "Either Way," and Austrian director Sebastian Meise with family strife drama "Still Life." The kibbutz-set "A Beautiful Valley," from Israel's Hadar Friedlich whose 2003 short "Slaves of God" played Directors' Fortnight, rounds up the nine just-announced New Directors contenders. Fest runs Sept. 16-24. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

The Modification Up

Becoming an adult together, Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) and Dork (Jason Bateman) were inseparable close friends, but as time have passed they have gradually drifted apart. While Dork is definitely an overstressed lawyer, husband and father of three, Mitch has continued to be just one, quasi-employed guy-child who may never have met an obligation he loved. To Mitch, Dork has everything: beautiful wife Jamie (Leslie Mann), kids who adore him along with a high-having to pay job in a exclusive lawyer. To Dork, living Mitch's stress-free existence without obligation or consequence will be a dream become a reality. Carrying out a drunken evening out together, Mitch and Dave's mobile phone industry's are switched upside lower once they awaken in each other peoples physiques and go to panic. Regardless of the freedom using their normal programs and habits, the men soon uncover that every other peoples lives are not near as rosy because they once appeared. Further further complicating matters are Dave's sexy legal connect, Sabrina (Olivia Wilde) and Mitch's estranged father (Alan Arkin). As time passes this is not on their side, Mitch and Dork comically find it difficult to avoid completely wrecking each other peoples lives before they are able to try to obtain original copies back.

Unrestricted 'District': S. Africa widens focus

'Jock of the Bushveld,' the first locally made 3D animated feature released in South Africa, was an unqualified hit.Mukunda Michael Dewil, center, directs Joe Mafela in 'Retribution,' which preemed in Durban.CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA -- At the July Durban film festival, the mood was upbeat among the local filmmakers and biz players, who are in the midst of a production boom that's not only led to higher-quality regional pics but has also attracted bigger-budget foreign shoots. As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats, and with the success of 2009's "District 9," an increasing number of South African projects are now targeting global audiences, while local film commissions are wooing more and more overseas shoots.Mukunda Michael Dewil's "Vehicle 19" illustrates the drive of local filmmakers to reach global auds. Currently in production, the actioner stars Paul Walker, and was funded by the Industrial Development Corp. (IDC) and the Dept. of Trade and Industry's (DTI) rebate. Apart from Walker, the only American involved is Peter Safran, who is co-producing through Safran Co.Sales company K5 Intl. has already closed a raft of deals including the U.K. (Optimum/StudioCanal), Germany (Kinowelt/StudioCanal), Australia (Madman) and the Middle East (Falcon).Safran believes the brisk presales show the film has the potential to travel. "It's like 'Taken,' which was set in Paris, or 'Unknown,' which takes place in Germany; it's a classic action movie (featuring) a stranger in a strange land."Forefront Media's Ryan Haidarian, the former head of production and development at the National Film and Video Foundation, is the other co-producer. He sees the project as a sign of the way people are paying a lot more attention to script, pointing out that Dewil has had an "amazing growth path" over the last five years, developing three projects through the NFVF. Durban festival programmer Nashen Moodley notes an increase in quality in terms of both the local and other African films at last month's fest, in which "Skoonheid" (Beauty) was named best South African Film and Kenyan co-production "The First Grader" won the Audience Award. "We are seeing new filmmakers emerging and they are making innovative films in new ways," Moodley says.Film Afrika's David Wicht agrees. "South Africa has produced about 20 local films per year for the last three years, which has been a great opportunity for our writers and directors to practice their craft," he says. "Practice makes well, not quite perfect, but better."Moonlighting is one of South Africa's larger service companies, but it has recently moved with the market into co-producing local pics like "Skoonheid" and Dewil's "Retribution," which both had their African premieres at Durban.Moonlighting's Philip Key agrees that the improvement in quality is due to the increased quantity. "More films are being made than ever before due to the National Film and Video Foundation funding and the Dept. of Trade and Industry's rebate, as well as cheaper, high-end shooting solutions. Most of these films are being made for a fraction of a conventional 35mm shoot."Given the low budgets, box office returns have been promising. "Jock of the Bushveld," the first locally made 3D animated feature released in South Africa, was the most watched film in the country at the start of August, grossing R2.4 million ($337,000) on opening weekend. Another local pic, "Schucks Tshabala's Survival Guide to 2010," topped the box office last year, grossing more than $5.2 million.But while South Africa's local content industry is definitely growing, the backbone of the industry remains its service sector.Safran can understand why. "I have absolutely loved shooting here," he says. "There are tremendous crews and the locations are limitless. Desert, beach, urban, jungle whatever you want to shoot, it exists in South Africa. There are active and supportive funds, like the IDC, which is increasingly rare internationally. And it's a much less expensive place to shoot, but you don't sacrifice anything for that reduction in cost," he says, noting that "Vehicle 19" would have been twice as expensive to shoot in the U.S. Key maintains South Africa is "not cheap but still the best value for money. Our productivity is very high, allowing shorter shooting schedules and more value on the screen."All major international production insurers and bonders are active in South Africa. "And the premiums qualify for the rebate, which makes the local bond and insurance rates unbeatable," Wicht says.Recent projects to shoot in South Africa include Toronto player "Machine Gun Preacher," with Gerard Butler; Daniel Espinoza's "Safe House," an action thriller for Universal starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington; Twentieth Century Fox's "Chronicle"; Working Title's "The Borrowers"; and DNA Films' "Dredd."Most of these shot at Cape Town Film Studios, which opened toward the end of last year to fill what Moonlighting's Genevieve Hofmeyr called the last "missing link" in South Africa's film infrastructure -- offering soundstages and infrastructure to rival facilities in the U.K. and Canada. The Cape Film Commission's CEO, Denis Lillie, says a number of films and TV series are rumored to shoot in South Africa before the end of the year. These include the next "James Bond"; Ridley Scott's miniseries adaptation of Kate Mosse's bestseller, "Labyrinth"; Gavin Hood's "Ender's Game"; and a history of Great Britain inspired by the success of the Emmy-winning "America: The Story of Us," which was shot in South Africa. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'How to Make It in America' EP Julian Farino Inks Overall Deal at HBO (Exclusive)

Julian Farino has landed a two-year overall deal at HBO.our editor recommendsEd Burns, 'Entourage' Creator Team for HBO Pilot'How to Make It in America' New Trailer Hits the Web (Video)'How to Make It in America' Star Bryan Greenberg Talks Music, Kid Cudi His first project under the pact is to execute produce and directEntourage creator Doug Ellin's upcoming comedy pilot, 40,starringEd Burns and Michael Rappaport. Jim Lefkowitz, David Knoller and Ellin join Farino as EPs. The arrangement, which makes Farino exclusive to HBO for U.S. TV producing and directing,will also have him developing original projects in both drama and comedy.Meantime, he's executive producing HBO's How to Make It in America. His other credits include HBO's Entourage, Big Love, Rome, Sex & The City andThe Office as well as UK projects Bob & Rose and 14 Up 2000.Over on the big screen, Farino's The Oranges, staringHugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney and Alia Shawkat, will make its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Farino is managed by Stephen Levinson and co-repped with WME by Greg Hunt at Independent in the UK. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Topics Entourage How to Make It in America HBO The Office Big Love

Sean Kingston Walks First Red Carpet Since Accident

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Sean Kingston was all smiles as he walked his first red carpet since his harrowing May watercraft accident. I feel good, I feel like nothing ever happened, Sean told Access Hollywood, referring to the accident in Miami that landed him in the ICU. Its a blessing to be back, the Beautiful Girls singer continued. Working on my music. Im working with a lot of new producers so, its going to be amazing man. Im excited, I cant wait! Sean told Access he was excited to show up and support his friend and collaborator Justin Bieber, who has been a huge support to him in recent months. Thats my lil bro thats a great friend. Hes a loyal friend, the singer said. Hes been there with me since I came out the hospital. As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Sean was released from a Miami hospital in June, almost a month after crashing his watercraft into a bridge. Upon his release, he Tweeted, Feeling alot better! GOD IS GREAT! Thanks for all the prayers and support! Love you ALL! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Hosts And Producer of 'The Chew' Defend Show

AMC Leader On 'Breaking Bad' Order, 'Walking Dead' Budget & 'Mad Men' Deal

RELATED: 'Breaking Bad' Thinking of getting Two-Season Final Run EXCLUSIVE: For any network which has only 5 shows about the air, AMC has developed in the head lines with series-related issues a great deal throughout yesteryear 8 several weeks, first within the difficult and incredibly public discussions with Mad Guy creator Matt Weiner and much more lately within the abrupt exit from the Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont and also the ongoing discussions for Breaking Bad. I swept up tonight with AMC leader Charlie Collier who rejected to go over the specifics all around the Breaking Bad talks with producer The new sony Pictures TV and Darabont's departure but addressed other issues which have been the topic of lots of speculation, including rumored budget cuts on Walking Dead which some have associated with Darabont's exit and reported AMC demands for any 6-8-episode fifth season of Breaking Bad. Deadline: Have you cut your budget about the Walking Dead in Season 2? Collier: Should you take a look at pilot budgets versus. pattern budgets usually pilot finances are much greater than eventually ends up being the pattern budget. Using The Walking Dead, rather than doing an airplane pilot, we went right to 6 episodes because we supported they and also the talent in-front and behind your camera. Only then do we returned having a 13-episode second season, and amortization over 13 episodes is extremely diverse from over 6. But we settled into among the greatest pattern budgets for any fundamental cable series. Deadline: So the entire plan for Season 2 is gloomier compared to Season 1 due to the amortization factor? Collier: We went right to series, using the first season serving in lots of ways like a pilot, therefore we have settled right into a 13-episode pattern budget. Deadline: Did AMC wish to truncate season 5 of Breaking Bad? Collier: There's been a great deal reported relating to this settlement, but we'd never discuss a wide open settlement within the press. There has been a variety of situations about how exactly to create Breaking Bad back on our air, we suggested many situations not merely one format. The fact is that we now have productive discussions with The new sony hoping to do right by both companies and also the fans of the great show. Deadline: Matt Weiner's deal was very lucrative, believed at $25 million-$$ 30 million. So how exactly does that impact your opportunities in other programming? Collier: The Mad Males deal is a that people are really happy with. We'd 2 goals starting the discussions: first, to create back Matt Weiner and next, to make sure the show not only begins on AMC, but that after Matt is prepared, it will likewise conclude on our air. But to reply to your question, the Mad Males negotiationhad nothing related to our other programming. Going into Mad Males we understood that directly behind it might be discussions on Breaking Bad, The Killing yet others. The discussions for Mad Males were considered into our plans. Some have reported the Mad Males deal has affected our assessment of other programming and absolutely nothing might be more wrong. Deadline: AMC has developed in the head lines with many different much talked about issues lately. May be the network getting growing pains? Collier: Discussions, staffing issues, negative and positive reviews, it's a part of the company. Ours are actually just a little greater profile at this time. We're feeling fortunate to become telling the best tales on tv and dealing with probably the most gifted people in the commercial.

Charlyne Yi Joins 'House' As New Regular

Actress/comedian Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up) has been cast as a new regular on Fox's medical drama House next season. Along with fellow new cast addition Odette Annable, Yi will play a new member of Dr. Gregory House's (Hugh Laurie) diagnostics team at Princeton-Plainsboro. Yi, repped by UTA, and Mosaic, also wrote, executive produced and starred in the documentary Paper Heart.