Malin Akerman's 'Inferno' Has 'No Porn,' Is 'Very Dark'

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Mary Tyler Moore: Idol of capri to acting icon

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick van Dyke on 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'Mary Tyler Moore has spoken at many panels to offer awareness on diabetes, from which she has long suffered. There have been few TV actresses who have been beloved as Mary Tyler Moore, who played a writer at a Minneapolis news station in her self-titled '70s CBS comedy. 'Ordinary People'When Brooklyn-born Mary Tyler Moore took tap, ballet and modern jazz classes as a young girl, a career in dancing was the goal.Though her legacy would be in acting, what signifies her greatest roles very much relates to the dancer's ability to know when to shine with a partner -- as one half of the warmly funny Petrie couple on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" -- and when to bravely go solo, as she did as groundbreakingly independent Mary Richards on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."The Screen Actors Guild's latest Life Achievement Award honoree remembers what dancing first taught her, though, about the profession she would ultimately go into: "It taught me to be relaxed about myself and forget myself," reflects Moore. "which is the essence of acting."Another lesson? "Do it better next time," she says, laughing.Her career is practically a testament to that credo. She started out in commercials in the 1950s, dancing across the screen as an appliance mascot -- the Happy Hotpoint girl -- but hoping for something more. "You keep trying, and believe that it's not forever," she says.If conquering show business comes in bits and pieces, Moore's breakthrough role seemed to exemplify that, literally. As the sexy telephone operator on "Richard Diamond, Private Detective," only her voice, legs, and eyes were featured."It certainly caught the audience's attention," says Moore.It wasn't long before Carl Reiner picked Moore to play housewife Laura Petrie, which she turned into an especially vivacious version of the sitcom spouse: caring, opinionated and occasionally a crying mess.Moore parses her gift for comedically decorum-bursting tears -- whether a neurotic Laura meltdown or a Mary Richards stress-filled outburst -- this way: "Let those awful gurgles happen, and let yourself not be able to finish the sentence because you've run out of breath from trying so hard to be real. Just try to remember the last time you cried as an adult."She also made capri pants wildly popular. But as Moore points out, they started out as an acting choice."Every housewife on television wore these floral frocks, with little bowties around the waist," she remembers. "I want to do what I do in real life, what my friends do, and that's be a realistic wife who wears pants and doesn't care how she looks."Moore's Emmy-winning turn as Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was so culturally imprinted that when "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was being developed in 1969 through her just-formed company MTM Enterprises, it was determined that the character of new-to-Minneapolis, single Mary Richards couldn't be divorced. (Imagined average viewer: "You mean she left that lovely Dick Van Dyke?")What emerged, though, over the seven-year-run of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was a television persona every bit as memorable as her '60s portrayal of domestic bliss: an independent woman on her own, motivated by work, supported by female friends and a peer of the men in her life rather than a romantic object.TV news producer Mary Richards wasn't necessarily the perfect modern woman, but her struggles and triumphs meant something to female viewers, and they often let Moore know."I still hear it," says Moore, who won her second Emmy for her groundbreaking self-titled show and saw a bronze statue of the character's iconic opening-credits hat toss erected in Minneapolis. "I hear, 'You made me feel that there was hope for me to be successful.'?"There was still another facet to her acting abilities to show the public, however, and that came when Robert Redford cast her as brittle, grief-paralyzed and seemingly unconscionable mother Beth Conrad in the 1980 film "Ordinary People." The performance earned her an Oscar nomination and a decided change in people's reactions to her on the street."If I would run into somebody, they would rush over, then you could see them almost take a few steps back, as if they were scared," says Moore, laughing. "It's one of the highpoints of my career, my recognizing that I did perhaps have some talent."Moore has also used her celebrity to raise awareness about diabetes, a condition she's dealt with for over 40 years."I've been one of the lucky ones," she says of her health. "But to be able to talk to kids, to tell them not to lose hope, not to assume the worst about yourself, that gives me a wonderful feeling. I know how much it would have meant to me if there had been someone like me talking to them."Colleagues shine light on Moore"I had heard that when they were casting 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' it was suggested that they contact the gal who supplied the legs on 'Richard Diamond, Private Detective.' They brought her in and, ever since then, she has proved to the world that the legs are only the beginning of an enormous talent that rises to her beautiful lips and her golden voice." -- Ed Asner"Mary and I were close friends even before 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' ever happened. My beloved husband, Allen Ludden, and Mary's then-husband, Grant Tinker, were best friends. In fact, Mary and Grant were the first of Allen's friends he took me to meet when we started going together. He and I were in the original 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' pilot audience with our fingers and toes tightly crossed. It worked obviously. My first memory of working with Mary was the way she captured any scene she was in, no matter what the dialogue was. She could say, 'Won't you sit down,' and the scene was hers. It has been that way ever since. Needless to say, we still love each other with all our hearts."-- Betty White"Mary's talent and sense of humor come from a place of compassion, courage and understanding. She deserves every honor that comes her way." -- Dick Van Dyke"Not one but two major TV shows owe a debt of gratitude to Mary Tyler Moore and her extraordinary talents. She can do it all: act, sing, dance, and melt the hardest of hearts. I salute you, Mary, and I will continue saluting you."-- Carl ReinerSAG AWARDS 2012Idol of capri to acting icon | Howard talks up AFTRA merger | Acad, SAG share same voter pool | Partygoers relax, revel after the show | Stunts given due | Brisk pace gives winners last word | Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Helmers go first

Elizabeth Banks and Sarah ChalkePic's Genesis Rodriguez with Summit's Take advantage of Friedman Mike Worthington and Asger LethElizabeth Banks felt no fear at Monday's preem in the Chinese for "Guy on the Ledge." Filming the Summit thriller seemed to be fairly terror free -- despite a lot of the experience happening at 21 tales up in midtown Manhattan."I am a thrill seeker and so i anticipate such things as high cliff diving and also the curler coasters at Cedar plank Reason for Sandusky, Ohio," Banks noted. "I loved doing the ledge moments, but we did need to take a rest every 45 minutes approximately. You receive totally exhausted."Asger Leth remembered the ledge moments needed that seven blocks all around the Roosevelt Hotel needed to be closed lower for that shoot, forcing the development to shoot only on weekends. "We began around the ledge on the very first day of shooting, I went around the ledge first because I could not request the stars to get it done basically did not get it done myself," stated Leth.

Large prize, diverse program pull in bizzers

'Avalon'The opening film as of this year's edition in the Goteborg fest is "Avalon" from Swedish helmer Axel Petersen, a dark tale of techniques fast things goes wrong when fate takes a turn for your worse.The film, which acquired professionals award at Toronto last September, is most likely the eight Scandinavian and Nordic Films competing for your Dragon Award."Avalon" notifies the story of Janne, a classic club promoter whose ambitious expects to show his existence around by opening a distinctive nightclub fail carrying out a terrible accident that he's responsible. His progressively desperate attempts to extricate themselves only exacerbate his volitile manner.The $140,000 award -- Goteborg's premier prize -- was elevated tenfold a year ago, reflecting the worth the festival places on getting in top-quality regional film and marketing talent.Past individuals who win include Lisa Aschan, whose considerably acclaimed study on the strange relationship between two teenage women, "She Apes," had its world premiere in Goteborg before becoming effective at other fests and "Let the most appropriate one In," the paranormal thriller that put the spotlight on helmer Tomas Alfredson -- whose interpretation of John le Carre's "Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" has furthermore been worldwide popular.Large prize purse guarantees that core competition programs are very triggered.Fest sidebars that capture the artistic or political zeitgeist are really hits with auds. This year they add a focus on Chinese documentaries, presented in colaboration using the Rotterdam Film Festival it'll include talks by a few Chinese documentary filmmakers in what it's prefer to utilize film in China.Gleam seminar on Danish film. "The ultimate few years are actually great for Danish documentary films." states artistic director Marit Kapla. "It's in documentaries much creative energy is targeted.In . The seminar may even have a look at how Danish documentary company company directors are crossing to movies.Fest Traveler: Goteburg Film Festival A 'dragon' getting a high fest too Large prize, diverse program pull in bizzers Arab spring in Sweden Publish and vfx thrive in northern places Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

ABC lays off 'Work it'

'Work It'ABC has dropped controversial and critically panned sitcom ''Work It'' from its schedule after two airings.This past Tuesday, ''Work It'' drew a 1.6 rating and 5 share among those 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall, approximately a 30% drop from its ''Last Man Standing'' lead-in and a 20% drop from the previous week. ''Work It'' had also been assailed on its content on multiple fronts, including those who felt it was insensitive to the transgender community."While many of ABC's positive and groundbreaking portrayals of LGBT people have been critical and popular successes, the public had little interest in this outdated show," GLAAD senior program and communications director Herndon Graddick said. "As a result of this campaign, an important dialogue has been started in Hollywood and mainstream media about the real discrimination faced by transgender people today."Women's advocacy groups and members of the Puerto Rican community have also criticized the show's premise and jokes.ABC will air ''Last Man Standing'' repeats in the 8:30 p.m. Tuesday timeslot for the time being. Veteran comedy ''Cougar Town'' remains on the Alphabet net bench waiting to return to the network's lineup.''Work It'' is the second new show to meet the axe after failing to hold the ''Standing'' aud. ''Man Up'' lasted eight episodes from October through December, also drawing 4.8 million viewers overall for its final episode (Dec. 6). Exec produced by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen (''Friends,'' ''Rules of Engagement''), ''Work It'' was produced by Bonanza Prods. in association with Summer School Prods. and Warner Bros. Television. Ben Koldyke and Amaury Nolasco starred. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Changes afoot for polarizing piracy bill

The major sponsor of the Senate's version of controversial anti-piracy legislation said that changes are afoot, perhaps to one of the bill's most controversial provisions to block the domain names of sites dedicated to trafficking in infringing movies, TV shows and music. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) said that he is proposing more study of a provision of the Protect IP Act that would enable authorities to obtain a court order to get Internet service providers to use the domain name system to prevent access to so-called foreign "rogue" websites. "I remain confident that the ISPs -- including the cable industry, which is the largest association of ISPs -- would not support the legislation if its enactment created the problems that opponents of this provision suggest," he said in a statement. "Nonetheless, this is in fact a highly technical issue, and I am prepared to recommend we give it more study before implementing it." Leahy said that he and other co-sponsors "continue to hear" concerns about the provision from engineers, human rights groups, and others, that he has heard from his own constituents. Supporters had seen the provision as a major tool to curbing foreign websites that operate outside the jurisdiction of U.S. courts yet pose some of the greatest problems with piracy. Michael O'Leary, senior executive vice president for global policy and external affairs for the MPAA, said that Leahy's leadership "will forge an even broader consensus for this bill." But he added, "We are confident that any close examination of DNS screening will demonstrate that contrary to the claims of some critics, it will not break the Internet." The Protect IP Act is scheduled for a cloture vote in the Senate when it returns to session, allowing it to get to the floor. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), one of the bill's chief opponents, has vowed a filibuster. Wyden said that it was "welcome news" that supporters "are finally accepting that it contains major flaws." But he said that beyond the domain name provisions, the bill "still establishes a censorship regime that threatens speech, innovation, and the future of an American economy." He signalled that he still planned to try to block the legislation. The legislation has a list of 40 co-sponsors in the Senate, and a companion bill in the House, the Stop Online Piracy Act, is expected to pass the Judiciary Committee. And while the list of bipartisan supporters is met by a number of opponents from both parties, critics of the legislation have been successful in sounding the alarm. In the past copyright legislation has not generated much attention outside affected industries, but news of the bills have been via social media and the sites themselves, most often in opposition. Wikipedia said that it is considering a "blackout" to protest the proposed legislation, and other sites reportedly are considering the same. An industry rep told Variety that some Senate staffers say their offices are being flooded with emails in opposition, to the point where the legislation has become the No. 1 issue they are hearing about this week. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronics Assn., wrote an op-ed timed to the Consumer Electronics Show charging that the legislation is the result of "copyright extremists" with huge resources to influence the legislative process. Markham Erickson, executive director of the NetCoalition, a group that includes Google and other Internet companies, said that Congress has yet to consider the impact that the complex legislation will have on cybersecurity. Champions of the legislation, however, complain that it has been unfairly attacked as "breaking the Internet," even though it is aimed not at user-generated sites like YouTube but ventures that have the clear purpose of trafficking in pirated content. In the works are ad spots to run on TV in the districts of key supporters of the legislation. "The rhetoric is so divorced from reality," O'Leary said in an interview. "The truth is you can scare people and push 'send' pretty easily." Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Disney Gearing Up Hovercar Again

Superman Returns' Dan Harris scriptingThe trend for turning to young adult novels as likely source material for the hungry development machine shows no sign of abating with Disney thrusting a version of Matthew Riley's Hover Car Racer back into active development and hiring X2 / Superman Returns writer Dan Harris to craft the script.Simply titled Hovercar, the film version will still follow young hero Jason Chaser who enters an international school that trains up drivers for futuristic hover car races. Good thing his surname wasn't Slug Waste Cleaner Smith, then...It's not the first time that the Mouse House has attempted to shove Riley's book through the development process: it snapped up the rights back in 2004 and several writers, including David DiGilio, John Sayles and Blaise Hemingway have taken a whack at the script. Now the Disney team will be hoping Harris is the man to make it work with I Am Number Four co-writers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough on hand to oversee things as producers.There's no word on a director or any cast yet, but those will slot into place assuming the script is up to snuff...