Cable Chiefs Discuss Reality Programming, Apple Model And Blackberry Obsession

Ray Richmond is contributing to Deadlines TV coverage AMCs EVP original programming Joel Stillerman claimed not to be concerned about the fact that Mad Men will have been off the air in originals for some 17 months by the time it finally returns for its fifth season on March 25. Speaking this afternoon at an HRTS Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton billed as a Cable Programming Summit, Stillerman expressed that Mad Mens audience has proven to be among the most loyal in all of television, adding, So while its never easy to make scheduling decisions that keep a show off the air longer than perhaps youd like, I think its going to benefit the show in the long run, I really do. Mad Men Jon Hamm had a slightly different view of the situation when appeared on Late Show with David Letterman last week. When billionaires fight, it takes a lot longer to settle,” he said. “So we had some very wealthy people determining how long we would be off the air. The event, moderated by Access Hollywoods Billy Bush, also featured Turner programming chief Michael Wright, MTV programming head David Janollari, ABC Family programming/development EVP Kate Juergens, and Starz managing director Carmi Zlotnik. All of the panelists agreed that nonscripted programming needs to be an increasing part of their overall original slates. We should have been in the nonscripted space two years agi, Wright admitted, so were moving there very quickly now. Wright also took the opportunity on the day the iPad 3 was announced to praise the Apple model. The thing Ive always admitted about that company, he said, is it seems to have such a finger on what people want. They seem to have built a business based on products the user actually wants. For television, we should (also) create things the viewer actually wants. We really need to stay better attuned to that. A lighter moment came at the end of the discussion, when Bush asked the panelists if they ever wake up in the middle of the night, grab their Blackberry, and start to answer emails. Yes, Zlotnck admitted, and my wife says, Put it down. Quipped Bush: Were talking about your Blackberry, I assume?

Emmy Rossum To Board Beautiful Animals Cast

Emmy Rossum (Shameless) is within final foretells star opposite Viola Davis and Emma Thompson in Beautiful Animals. Richard LGravenese (P.S. I Really Like You) will direct the supernatural love story from his adaptation. Rossum’s credits include credits include Mystic River, The Phantom from the Opera and also the Next Day Of Tomorrow.

Harvey Weinstein to Join French Legion of Honor, Of Course

This just in: "French President Nicolas Sarkozy has named Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company (TWC), a recipient of the 2012 Lgion d'Honneur, in recognition of Weinsteins contributions to cinema and his decades of work producing some of the most highly regarded films of our time." And those are just the ones on his shelf! Read on for the full release. Seriously, though: How else would you expect Harvey Week to end? You didn't think that the guy who acknowledges he was introduced to foreign film because he thought The 400 Blows was porn was just gonna let all that French post-Oscar goodwill get away, did you? Sigh. Anyway, this happened. Congrats, Harvey. Will raise a glass or 70. ====== Paris, France March 2, 2012 French President Nicolas Sarkozy has named Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company (TWC), a recipient of the 2012 Lgion d'Honneur, in recognition of Weinsteins contributions to cinema and his decades of work producing some of the most highly regarded films of our time. Weinstein was nominated personally by President Sarkozy on July 22, 2011 and will receive the award in a ceremony to take place in Paris. President Sarkozy wrote the following upon nominating Weinstein to the Lgion d'Honneur: This prestigious distinction, which I wanted to come from my personal allocation, is a testimony of the admiration of millions of French citizens for the exceptional quality of the films that you have produced. It also expresses our gratitude to someone who has always shown great friendship towards our country and our cinema which you have enabled so many Americans to discover. Said Weinstein, I am honored and humbled by this recognition from President Sarkozy and the people of France. All my life, I have loved and been inspired by French cinema. I am still the young boy who walked two miles to The Mayfair movie theater in Flushing, NY to see films by the greats Lelouch, Godard, Renoir and my personal favorite Franois Truffaut. They inspired me and led me to the place I am in today. I hope to continue my friendship with France and its filmmakers for many years to come. France's oldest and highest distinction, the Lgion d'Honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is awarded to outstanding individuals who have contributed to France and to the ideals it upholds. Past recipients include Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Akira Kurosawa, Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Satyajit Ray, and Steven Spielberg to name just a few. Weinstein requested to keep the honor private until now to avoid any conflict of interest with Academy Award Best Picture winner THE ARTIST. Weinstein will enter the Lgion d'Honneur with the grade of Chevalier. Weinstein has been bringing interesting and cutting edge independent films to audiences for three decades, first as founder and Chairman of Miramax from 1979-2005, and subsequently as founder and Co-Chairman of TWC, launched in 2005. In spring 2011, he acquired Michel Hazanaviciuss THE ARTIST, a French production that went on to win five 2012 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Over the years, the cultural impact of some of his most well known films PULP FICTION, GANGS OF NY, THE AVIATOR, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE PIANO, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, GOOD WILL HUNTING has been recognized and awarded on many levels. Weinstein has been responsible for the distribution and promotion of more than 30 French films in the United States, including previously released EDITH AND MARCEL (EDITH ET MARCEL, 1983); DELICATESSEN (1991); THREE COLORS: BLUE (TROIS COULEURS: BLEU, 1993); THREE COLORS: RED (TROIS COULEURS: ROUGE, 1994); THREE COLORS: WHITE (TROIS COULEURS: BIALY, 1994); AMLIE (2001); LE CONCERT (2009); SARAHS KEY (ELLE SAPPELAIT SARAH, 2010); and upcoming releases including box office sensation THE INTOUCHABLES (UNTOUCHABLES, 2011); A GANG STORY (LES LYONNAIS, 2012); WAR OF THE BUTTONS (LA NOVELLE GUERRE DES BOUTONS, 2012); and PLAYERS (LES INFIDELES, 2012). LETTER TO HARVEY WEINSTEIN FROM PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY July 22, 2011 Dear Mr. Weinstein, I have great pleasure of informing you that I have signed a decree which nominates you to the order of the Legion DHonneur. This prestigious distinction, which I wanted to come from my personal allocation, is a testimony of the admiration of millions of French citizens for the exceptional quality of the films that you have produced. It also expresses our gratitude to someone who has always shown great friendship towards our country and our cinema, which you have enabled so many Americans to discover. I would like to express my personal congratulations for the well deserved distinction which France has bestowed on you. Yours sincerely, Nicolas Sarkozy ###

EXCLUSIVE: A Dog, a Gun, and a Serial Killer's Eerie Charm in Clip from Aussie Thriller The Snowtown Murders

"Shoot the dog." In the vein of powerhouse Aussie import Animal Kingdom comes The Snowtown Murders, a chilling thriller based on the true story of charismatic charmer and sociopathic serial killer John Bunting, who led a band of criminals in South Australia as they kidnapped, robbed, terrorized, and murdered victims from their own community during the '90s. Get a glimpse of the masterful manipulation skills that helped Bunting earn the notorious title of Australia's worst serial killer in Movieline's riveting exclusive clip, featuring Daniel Henshall as Bunting and Lucas Pittaway as his emotionally vulnerable protege -- tasked here with proving himself by committing a heinous act at Bunting's behest. In her review of the film, Movieline's own Alison Willmore described Henshall's Bunting as "an unassuming monster," and as you can see in the clip below Henshall is wonderfully, and chillingly, unsettling. Director Justin Kurzel's slow-burn pic introduces the notorious killer as a do-gooder savior who steps in to pull an ailing Australian community up by its bootstraps, drawing his group of brethren deeper and deeper into adopting and, frequently, aiding in his own ultraviolent tendencies; by the time the most heinous atrocities have been committed, it can at least be understood just how these neighbors and friends had fallen under Bunting's destructive spell in the first place. First screened at the Cannes Film Festival (where it won the FIPRESCI Prize -- special mention) as Snowtown, The Snowtown Murders is quite an unsettling but powerful watch, but is worth seeing especially if you're curious about the so-called Australian New Wave. The film hits theaters in limited release today (NYC Friday at IFC Center, 3/15 in LA at the Egyptian) but can already be viewed now on IFC Midnight VOD. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.