Kino Lorber nabs 'Kumare'

Kino Lorber has bought U.S. rights for the documentary ''Kumare,'' which first demonstrated at South by Southwest this year. Pic's directed by Vikram Gandhi and produced by Brendan Colthurst and Bryan Carmel with the Disposable Television banner. The executive producer is Stephen Feder. Kino Lorber introduced the sale Thursday. After its world premiere at SXSW, ''Kumar '' received the festival's Audience Award for feature documentary. It won the Jury Prize for top Documentary Feature within the Even Caribbean Cruise ships Film Festival and carried out noisy . November at DOC New you are able to city in NY City. This deal was talked about between Kino Lorber Boss and Leader Richard Lorber, Cinetic's Dana O'Keefe and Vikram Gandhi. Kino Lorber will probably open ''Kumar '' country wide in May or June just before making the film on major VOD platforms through the summer season and early fall. Bond Strategy and Influence, which done ''Exit Using the Gift Shop,'' ''Senna'' and ''The Way,'' will probably be joining track of Kino Lorber round the theatrical relieve ''Kumare.'' ''Kumar '' can be a guru within the East who indoctrinated several fans within the civilized world -- as well as the alter ego of yank filmmaker Vikram Gandhi who inpersonated a spiritual leader regarding a social experiment designed to challenge most likely probably the most broadly recognized taboos: that basically a little ''1%'' can connect the comfort around the world with a greater energy. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

CBS considers live-stream of 'Morning' show

Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill will host 'CBS This Morning.'CBS is considering a plan to make its new ayemcast "CBS This Morning" available via Web streaming simultaneous with its live broadcast.Eye insiders emphasized that no final decision has been made but it is under consideration. Live streaming of a regular network program would undoubtedly raise some hackles with CBS affiliates, because it could draw viewers away from local stations. CBS would be able to restrict the stream by time zone, meaning that a viewer in Los Angeles would not be able to stream it until the show aired in its 7-9 a.m. slot on the West Coast."This Morning" is set to replace "The Early Show" on Jan. 9. The show will be anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King, and Erica Hill.

Oscar Index: Your Guess is As Good As Mine

The exhaustion levels are high and the confusion levels are even higher at Movieline’s Institute For the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics, where the white-coated minions responsible for the Oscar Index have struggled to assay the state of the awards race through this week’s persistent turbulence. Read on for their results. [Click the graphs for full-size images.] The Leading 10: 1. The Artist 2. The Descendants 3. Hugo 4. The Help 5. Midnight in Paris 6. War Horse 7. The Tree of Life 8. Moneyball 9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 10. Drive Outsiders: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2; Bridesmaids; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn; My Week With Marilyn; Margin Call Remember the good old days when all the noise we had to parse was the faint, fuzzy signal coming from the National Board of Review and a handful of other awards bodies? Those days are over: Led by the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, something like 400 critics groups selected their annual award-winners this week. The relatively incidental AFI 10-best list overlapped with those, and all were followed this morning by the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations — which, to be honest, felt like the equivalent of a bracket-busting day of upsets in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. On the one hand, I love that we’re facing an Oscar season of utterly unsure things. This is the awards culture we should have: more movies to see, more movies to discuss, and tough choices across the board. On the other hand, the only votes that matter are those cast by the Academy, and beyond a few irretrievably sunk also-rans (cough, J. Edgar, cough), what’s to say they aren’t just going to default to the historical groupthink that can prevent such wild variations like those in the SAG, BFCA and other critical showcases? Why shouldn’t we think that, say, War Horse has the competition right where it wants it? I can think of a few reasons, actually: · SAG and the Academy share members. And the actors’ branch is the largest in the Academy. Thus the natural inclination of studios, distributors and other awards campaigners to scan right past the individual categories to the Ensemble nominations — which is to say, in admittedly generalizing terms, the film as a whole. Finding The Artist, The Descendants, The Help, Midnight in Paris and Bridesmaids (!) in that class doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything come Oscar-nomination morning, and it certainly doesn’t mean that War Horse or Moneyball are in grave danger with a flexible number of Best Picture nominations. But it does illustrate what an very influential voting bloc is thinking in mid-December, and it underscores what specific work campaigners have cut out for themselves in the month ahead. · Heat rises. The Ides of March and J. Edgar fell off the pace not for lack of trying; in fact, neither Sony nor Warner Bros., respectively, have yet abandoned their sweeping awards campaigns for each. They fell off because neither film has even scratched the zeitgeist compared to films like The Artist, The Help, Midnight in Paris and — I can’t believe I’m about to write this — Drive. I mean, we knew it had art-house appeal, but what we didn’t know was the quality and volubility of its devotees. And I’m not even counting the BFCA’s Critics Choice Awards, which bestowed eight nominations on Nicolas Winding Refn’s violent, moody thriller; Oscar oracle Mark Harris also foresaw a comeback last week after an informal reader poll cited Drive — “by a landslide” — as the movie most deserving of a profile boost. SAG can snub Albert Brooks all it wants (and we’ll get to that in a bit), but it only galvanizes the faithful. That said, RuPaul “really loved” The Descendants, so maybe everyone just kind of broke even. · The variations aren’t that wild. Among all the winners and nominees remain the same high-functioning heavy-hitters we’ve seen populating the Index and every other Oscar barometer known to man. The most that you could say is that for every awards group that warmly embraces Hugo, another ignores it entirely. · We (still) look forward to the Daldry. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close remains under such an airtight embargo that even Scott Rudin can’t talk about it. This one has Academy groupthink in its DNA — Stephen Daldry has notoriously earned three Best Director nominations in three tries, screenwriter Eric Roth has hardware for Forrest Gump and remains as A-list as it gets, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock and Scott Rudin are… well, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock and Scott Rudin — yet early word from critics and insiders sworn to secrecy is that it will be precisely as polarizing as it looks. Whatever. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re still on the sideline this late in the game, you’re either coaching or you’re a back-up. We’ll see which ELAIC is soon enough. · The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is circling the drain. Steve Pond rounds up the awards-allergic consensus on David Fincher’s adaptation of the Swedish blockbuster — hardly a dismissal of the very, very good film so much as our reality check about a filmmaker who’s otherwise a perennial awards-darling. Unless… · Thursday’s Golden Globe nominations will shake things up yet again. I cant believe I spent more than even five minutes breaking all this down just so a roving gang of swag goblins can upend the whole thing tomorrow. Moving on! The Leading 5: 1. Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist 2. Alexander Payne, The Descendants 3. Martin Scorsese, Hugo 4. Steven Spielberg, War Horse 5. Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Outsiders: Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive; Tate Taylor, The Help; Bennett Miller, Moneyball; Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Did I mention the Golden Globes? Literally any of the directors cited above are fair game for nominations. But as things specifically pertain to the Oscar race… Enh, it’s pretty much the same. Scott Feinberg reminded us that despite zero membership overlap, the Best Picture nominations for both the Critics Choice and Academy Awards historically tend to coincide — which, as Academy history would have us believe, means that the top eight or nine directors here (give or take Fincher) are pretty much the ones we’ll see fighting for nominations of their own over the next five weeks. I know — I’m really going out on a limb here. Kudos forensics will only get us so far! Your guess is as good mine.

Access Hollywood Live Exclusive: Nicole Scherzinger To Do On X Factor

First Released: December 14, 2011 2:28 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Nicole Scherzinger stops by Access Hollywood Survive December 14, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Nicole Scherzinger will debut a completely new, never heard song on Thursdays The X Factor. The singer gave Access Hollywood Lives Billy Rose bush and Package Hoover the exclusive particulars about her performance. I'm carrying out tomorrow on X Factor, Nicole stated. Im really excited. Its a completely new flipping song. No ones heard it. I simply made it happen. Its like, literally hot. The brand new song can look on Nicoles approaching album, Killer Love. Its known as Pretty. I really like the song. Im really happy with it. Im carrying out it the very first time ever, she ongoing. Its just like a mid-tempo, nevertheless its good. Youre likely to like it. Billy also addressed the gossips that Nicole might be sent packing over the Atlantic for that UKs version from the reality singing competition. Are you back on X Factor the coming year? [You will find] silly gossips in regards to you visiting the United kingdom and Kelly Rowland coming here, Billy requested. No, that stuff is simply gossips, she stated. Thats all pretend stuff. The X Factor final four face off tonight at 8 PM on FOX. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SAG Awards TV: 'Modern Family' Leads Nominations, 'Homeland' Snubbed

The first teaser for The Dictator starts out with clips of some of President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among other leaders, talking about the tyrant who must be stopped.our editor recommendsMegan Fox Joins Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' (Exclusive)Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' (First Look) That tyrant, General Aladeen, is played by Sacha Baron Cohen, who puts on the garb and a serious beard to portray an evil ruler of a fictional third-world country who is exiled to the U.S. The film is clearly a thinly veiled satire of the infamous and often strange behavior of certain leaders, including the late Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi. FIRST LOOK PHOTO: Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' The film, which is also directed by Cohen, is inspired by the novel Zabibah and The King by Saddam Hussein. What else does the trailer show? A terrorist joke about the Empire State Building by John C. Reilly. A run-by-shooting on a track field. And sex with Megan Fox. In one of the funniest snippets, Fox is paid for sex with a handful of gems. PHOTOS: Sacha Baron Cohan and other Golden Globes Most Memorable Moments "What's this? A ruby? Is that a joke? What am I, a Kardashian?" she says. "No of course not, you're much less hairy," responds Cohen's character. The film, co-written by Cohen, is currently set for a May 11, 2012, release. Kim Kardashian Megan Fox Sacha Baron Cohen The Dictator John C Reilly

Will.i.am Sends Takedown Notice Over Megaupload 'Endorsement' Video (Exclusive)

Getty Images Universal has picked up North American rights to the untitled Angelina Jolie-Luc Besson drama. Jolie will star in the project, which is described as a "dramatic thriller with action."and is said to be a cross between Besson's own much-admired movies The Professional and The Fifth Element. Besson wrote the screenplay for the new project and will produce and direct. The studio is touting this as Besson's return to the genre in which he made his name. Universal picked up 80 percent of worldwide distribution rights to the project, which answers the question of what movie Jolie will do next. PHOTOS: Angelina Jolie and Hollywood's 10 Highest-Paid Actresses The actress, who has her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey opening Dec. 23, has several projects vying for her attention. The high-profile ones include a biopic of Gertrude Bell and Scarpetta, the latter which is set up at Fox. Universal has been tracking the development of the Bell biopic, which has Ridley Scott attached to direct, and is hoping to land it. The new movie will begin shooting April 2012 in Paris. Email: Boyrs.Kit@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Kit Angelina Jolie Luc Besson

ABC Daytime President Brian Frons Exits, Network Consolidates Daytime & Syndie Development In New Division

ABC Daytime president Brian Frons, a primary target of soap fans angry over the cancellation of the network’s veteran daytime dramas All My Children and One Life To Live, will depart ABC after the end of his contract in January, which coincides with the end of OLTL. The Disney/ABC Television Group will consolidate the development and current programming for daytime and syndication with the formation of Times Square Studios, a new division that will be added to the portfolio of ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee. It will be run by Vicki Dummer, SVP, Current Series & Specials, ABC Entertainment Group, who will be promoted to EVP, Times Square Studios, Current Series & Specials. She will also keep her existing responsibilities of head of current for ABC and will continue to report to Lee. (Frons used to report to Disney-ABC TV Group president Anne Sweeney.) With her background of a long-time ABC reality executive and co-head of the unscripted department, Dummer is a suitable choice to lead Times Square Studios as the division will focus its development in the areas of non-scripted lifestyle and health. (no more soaps!). The current series that will be folded in the new division going forward include ABC Daytime fare The View, General Hospital, The Chew and the upcoming The Revolution as well as the syndicated Katie and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Fellow syndicated series LIVE! with Kelly remains part of the ABC Owned TV Stations Group division. Ann Lewis Roberts, who has overseen development of syndicated programming for Disney’s Buena Vista TV, will serve as SVP, West Coast Current Programming & Development, Times Square Studios, while Abra Potkin has been hired as SVP, East Coast Programming & Development. Both will report to Ms. Dummer. Frons will assist in the transition to the new structure and will provide counsel to the management team. Brian Frons has been the driving force in our successful Daytime division since joining us in 2002, and while we understand his decision to leave at the end of his contract, were sad to see him go, Sweeney said. We took this opportunity to rethink our business, and the result was the creation of Times Square Studios. Having it be part of the ABC Entertainment Group, under the supervision of proven executives Vicki Dummer and Paul Lee, provides us the opportunity to bring greater creative resources, development strength and operational flexibility to this key area of our business. Frons has been at ABC Daytime for 9 years, for the past five-and-a-half years serving as president, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television Group, overseeing the creation and production of all programming on ABC Daytime, SOAPnet and ABC Media Prods. While my decision to try something new was not arrived at easily, nine years is a long time in television terms,” he said. Im proud of the performance of ABC Daytime over that time, and of all of the accomplishments that our team achieved along the way. Im especially pleased by the early results for The Chew and excited for the launch of The Revolution, which will be one more positive step in transforming ABC Daytime for our viewers. Ill miss my colleagues and the wonderful talent that makes our shows, but know they are in very capable hands with Vicki going forward. Cooking talk show The Chew, which replaced All My Children, has been doing well in the ratings, posting a series of all-time highs in the past few weeks. Still, he will remain in the annals of daytime history as the man who killed the soaps on ABC.

Brad Pitt Gives Pep Talk to Suicidal Moneyball Moviegoer

Brad Pitt Much like the come-from-behind Oakland A's general manager he played in Moneyball, Brad Pitt served as an inspiration for a troubled stranger at a recent movie screening, Us Weekly reports. During the Q&A portion of the screening, the man told Pitt, 47, that he had been feeling suicidal alone in his car before the film, but had "a renewed sense of hope" after watching the baseball drama at a screening in Culver City, Calif., on Sunday. Angelina Jolie: I'm very lucky I didn't die young "[Pitt] said, 'Look, man, life is up and down, it's a vicious cycle, but you have to go through it and deal with that,'" an observer tells the magazine. "'You can be down, but then you come back up again, and every failure can lead to success.'" Pitt, according to the witness, also stopped to talk with the man and offer more words of encouragement as he left the theater.