Sheen sells 'Anger' at NATPE

Charlie Sheen and Lionsgates Jon Feltheimer were chummy at the companys NATPE bash. At Monday night's blowout party for "Anger Management," Charlie Sheen was, for the first time in a while, a picture of contentment. "I'm excited to be in a work environment that's a playground for the imagination and not a f---ing, you know, a quagmire of oppression," Sheen told Variety at the Fontainebleau Resort's Arkadia nightclub. The party capped off the first full day of NATPE, and, as Lionsgate's TV and digital distrib topper Jim Packer put it later, "A little bit of the you-can-still-have-fun-and-work came back." Along with Starz skein "Boss," Sheen's first post-"Two and a Half Men" project has generated plenty of interest for Lionsgate at the show. "The last few years at NATPE have been a slog and everybody's wondering if we're going to make it, but to see Katie Couric want to come hang out with Charlie Sheen. ... I just felt like we were the cool kid, the hipster at the bar." Nobody threw a true bacchanal at NATPE last year, but the "Anger Management" party was one for the books. Local live entertainment company Zhantra supplied two girls in full-blown mermaid gear to swim in the club's extravagant pool and pout for the camera while guests posed with them. Other models were "living tables," extending like centerpieces from the center of tables loaded with wine and champagne. "The bash was mostly to say thank you," Packer said Tuesday morning, adding that "Anger Management" is "going to be one of the best-selling shows we've ever had." The series is a smallscreen version of the 2003 Jack Nicholson/Adam Sandler starrer and features Sheen as a therapist whose counseling methods cause his patients plenty of problems. It's run by writer-producer Bruce Helford, a crucial pick after Sheen's public falling out with "Men" co-creator Chuck Lorre, and Sheen has nothing but praise for his new boss, whom he called "the best showrunner in the business." Packer said he has faith in Sheen's ability to deliver the goods, despite the "Men" meltdown. "Regardless of what you think of what happened, the guy made hundreds of episodes of television," Packer said. "We trust he can deliver a show. Assuming he doesn't have his problems, he can deliver a hundred episodes." Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

Technicolor beefs up French biz

PARIS -- Technicolor is striving being key player in France's publish-production and film distribution biz using purchasing most of the bankrupt Quinta Industries' subsidiaries. A French commercial court greenlit Technicolor's bid to think about over audio companies Auditorium of Joinville (ADJ) and SIS additionally to write-production house Scanlab, which gives digital conversion, including VOD and digital cinema package learning. Technicolor formerly possessed 17% of Tarak Ben Ammar's Quinta Industries -- which went bankrupt lately -- but didn't include an operational role. "Technicolor was already a worldwide leader in digital publish-production and distribution, specifically in Hollywood, Canada, Italia, U.K., The nation and Asia, which i was trying to find an opportunity to bolster our position in France, which has one of the world's best film industries," mentioned Michel Vaquin, prexy of Technicolor Entertainment Services France, the recently launched banner that will collect yourself the prior Quinta companies. Added Vaquin, "Celebrate sense for people to experience a bigger presence in France, especially since our headquarters will be in Paris and that we take presctiption the Paris stock market." Technicolor aims to earn millions of ($13 million) this year in the Gallic arm, Technicolor's Boss Frederic Rose told business trade Ces Echos. Vaquin mentioned the business uses its credibility, research assets, huge network and expertise to exhibit french shingles into profit-making clothes. Technicolor can keep on 70% of ADJ, SIS and Scanlab's work force -- some 34 staffers. Furthermore, Technicolor is investing in an offer to obtain Quinta's Duboi, Gaul's top vfx and publish-production shingle. Once the purchase meets the approval from the courts, Technicolor will hire 20 more staffers from Duboi. Technicolor Entertainment Services France has furthermore introduced the opening from the dubbing facility for film and tv content near Paris. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'Players,' 'Seeds,' 'Dads' meet at Rendez-Vous

PARIS -- Wild Bunch's "The Players," with "The Artist's" star Jean Dujardin which is helmer Michel Hazanavicius, Memento's "Bad Seed items" and Pathe's "Sunday Fathers" will screen within the 14th Rendez-Vous With French Cinema. Our planet's finest national film showcase, the Rendez-Vous starts Wednesday getting a gala screening of Sylvie Testud's Kinology-offered "Another Woman's Existence," toplining Juliette Binoche and Mathieu Kassovitz, a greater-concept romantic dramedy. Put together by Dujardin and Gilles Lellouche, star of Magnolia U.S. pick-up "Point Blank," "Players," a seven-part sexcom, is amongst the-anticipated films in the tests. This can be due to its subject, a Judd Apatow-ant undertake thirty-something male infidelit its cast, introduced by Guillaume Canet ("Last Evening") which is star company company directors, including Hazanavicius, Fred Cavaye ("Anything on herInch), Dujardin, Lellouche and Eric Lartigau ("The Big Picture"). A dark tale of two schoolboys' kidnapping a teacher, "Seed items" is Nebbou's follow-around critical hits "Dumas" and "Mark from the Angel." Compiled by Pathe in France, social comedy "Fathers" reps the directorial debut of Louis Becker, boy of Jean Becker ("My Days With Marguerite"). Of other lately revealed RDV screeners, Studiocanal will showcase "The Adopted," the directorial debut of Melanie Laurent ("Inglourious Basterds"), and movies du Losange has Tony Gatlif's "Indignados," a Berlin Panorama player. Sales companies will talk up movies in a number of stages of production. Potential buzz game game titles include Agnes Jouai's "Beneath the Rainbow," provided by Indication, EuropaCorp's spy thriller "Mobius," with Dujardin, Gaumont's "The Chef," with Jean Reno, and Valerie Donzelli's "Commitment of War" follow-up "Submit Hands," repped by Wild Bunch. Around 450 customers will attend. Forty-three in the 82 films screening are market premieres. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

MTV Movie Brawl 2012: 'Dark Knight Rises' Vs. 'Avengers'

The MTV Movie Brawl 2012 is officially on! After the initial play-in and wild card rounds, 16 films have been selected to compete in a series of head-to-head single elimination matches in our March Madness-style bracket. In the end, only one of these flicks can be crowned the can't-miss movie of the year, and the choice is entirely up to YOU. Which movie will win the brawl for it all? Vote at MTV Movies Blog and make your choice known! Two of the most important comic book movies of 2012 heck, of all time are about to enter the arena in a head-to-head match-up that many would agree is a long time coming. In one corner, the hero that Gotham needs. In the other, Earth's Mightiest Heroes. How can one superpower-less crime-fighter defeat a veritable army of superheroes? Well you do know he's Batman, right? (3) "The Dark Knight Rises" vs. (6) "Marvel's The Avengers" Christopher Nolan's conclusion to his Batman trilogy, "The Dark Knight Rises," is easily one of the most anticipated movies of the year. But the exact same could be said for "The Avengers," Marvel's answer to DC's biggest effort of 2012. Two rival universes are about to collide as the Caped Crusader charges headfirst at Iron Man, Thor, Cap and their allies in this first round battle. Both movies performed well beneath our expectations in round one, so our guess is as good as yours. We do know this, though: whoever wins, it's going to be one hell of an epic fight. Watch our MTV Movie Brawl 2012 analysis!

Richard Schiff joins 'Man of Steel'

SchiffRichard Schiff has became a member of the cast of Warner Bros.' "Guy of Steel," playing a personality named Dr. Hamilton.The Zack Snyder pic continues to be lensing in Vancouver and Chicago.Schiff, an Emmy champion for his role on NBC's "Free Airline Wing," has most lately guested on numerous TV skeins, including ABC's "Not so long ago," NBC's "Up Through The Night" and USA's "Whitened Collar." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

VIDEO: "Less Gigantic" Charles Barkley Returns to Host SNL Pay back Scottie Pippen!

Charles Barkley, Saturday Evening Live Charles Barkley situated Saturday Evening Love the next time that may only mean one factor - Scottie Pippen now owes him $75,000! For his monologue, Barkley offered the particular (and extremely simple) explanation behind five-month Basketball lockout that merely ended lately. "The end result is, the problem is - since i have left - the NBA's been garbage and everybody's broke. The conclusion.Inch Mister Charles also discussed searching "less gigantic" after losing 38 pounds on Weight Audiences. "Numerous you might be saying, 'Charles, isn't Weight Audiences for women?A However inform them, 'Shut up, Jordan! ... And champion inside your engagement.": Watch more videos from Saturday Evening Live Mocking typically the most popular Twitter hashtag of the title, Barkley investigated white-colored people difficulties for a faux Analysis Discovery show. Problems incorporated not sitting together on the airplane, unsure whether a chicken costs nothing-range together with a breaking crisis on the way to not-invite pals for the summer season house: Barkley fitted in drag to see Joann broke the big news to her pals - that's she a lesbian. "I'm just shocked - provide credit,In . one friend mentioned, clearly mentioning to her large frame and deep voice. "You're this kind of girly girl," added another friend:

VIDEO: 5 SAG Award Nominees Discuss Their Careers

Duncan Stewart, director of casting at National Artists Management Company, talks about opening every submission and what he wants to see in a headshot.; casting; Duncan Stewart; headshot; NY city; open submissions; Duncan Steward, director of casting, talks about what he wants from an actor in a general meeting, mainly truth, likability, and lack of ego.; advice; casting; Duncan Stewart; NY city; tips; Duncan Stewart, director of casting, talks about what he expects from an audition and common mistakes actors make.; advice; auditions; casting; Duncan Stewart; NY city; Alaine Alldaffer breaks down the real role of a casting direcor.; Alaine Alldaffer; casting; casting director; Grey Gardens; play; stage; theater; Casting director Alaine Alldaffer talks about casting "Saved" and all the misconceptions about being an actor in NY City.; Alaine Alldaffer; casting director; NYC theatre; play; saved; NY casting director Bernie Telsey describes what actors need to know before walking into an audition. (Part 1 of 2) ; Bernie Telsey; casting director; We spoke with casting director Mark Teschner about working on soap operas. (Part 1 of 3) ; General Hospital; Mark Teschner; soap opera; NY casting director Bernie Telsey describes how to give your best audition. (Part 2 of 2) ; Bernie Telsey; casting director; We spoke with casting director Mark Teschner about working on soap operas. Need only beautiful people apply? (Part 2 of 3) ; General Hospital; Mark Teshner; soap opera; We spoke with casting director Mark Teschner about auditioning for soap operas. (Part 3 of 3) ; General Hospital; Mark Teschner; soap opera; Videos for the Back Stage News & Features section.