VIDEO: Here's One Second of Hunger Games Footage

· It’s come to this: on Sunday, MTV will air a special first look preview of The Hunger Games, and today the network has released a preview of that preview. Want to see Jennifer Lawrence in the highly anticipated release? Don’t blink and click through to watch. Your Thursday Buzz Break is here. Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, ‘The Hunger Games’ Movie Page [via MTV] · Hilary Duff has officially been dropped from The Story of Bonnie and Clyde. If the producers are looking for some suggestions to replace her, Movieline has a few. [THR] · Here’s a possibly spoiler-y picture from the set of The Avengers. Or maybe not. [Superhero Hype] · According to Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn, real hero Ryan Gosling may be working with Terrence Malick on a new film. Dude is everywhere. [Film School Rejects] · The always great SplitSider looks at the lost roles of Paul Rudd. Did you know he almost starred in Funny People? [SplitSider]

Diane Keaton Lands Development Deal at HBO

Diane Keaton has inked a development deal with HBO.our editor recommendsDiane Keaton set for HBO comedyDiane Keaton Launches Tabletop Line for Bed Bath & Beyond With writers already aboard to develop vehicles, the Oscar-winning actress is poised to be back in a leading role at the premium cable network. The news comes mere months after HBO passed on Tilda, a blogger comedy inspired by Deadline Hollywood creator Nikki Finke. Keaton led the cast as a ruthless and unethical entertainment blogger. At the time, HBO said of the Cynthia Mort, Bill Condon project, "Despite everyone's best efforts ultimately this was not the right show for us at this time." The veteran actress, whose big screen credits includeAnnie Hall, The Godfather and Father of the Bride, is repped by WME. Related Topics Diane Keaton HBO

Mayor: Hollywood, Silicon Valley should team on incentives

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Jon TurteltaubLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa believes Hollywood needs to link arms with Silicon Valley to lobby for state tax incentives to encourage job creation -- and he's vowing to try to play matchmaker between the state's key hubs of media-centric industry."We're seeing more collaboration between the digital arts and Hollywood so there needs to be some kind of grand bargain," Villaraigosa said Wednesday during a brainstorming sesh held with producers, studio execs and location managers. The confab drew about 50 participants including producers Jon Turteltaub, Albert Berger, Andy Frazier, Chris Ranta, Natalia Petrosva and Jeff Valdez, California Film Commissioner Amy Lemisch and FilmLA chief Paul Audley. The 90-minute session -- aimed at provoking suggestions to improve the showbiz climate at the ground level -- included ideas such as Turteltaub's notion to make on-location filming sites more tourist-friendly by offering specific info about the productions rather than trying to keep those details under the radar."The only people who object will be one or two stars," Turteltaub quipped during the sesh hosted at the offices of Variety and LA 411.Villaraigosa didn't offer specifics as to how to form such a Hollywood-Silicon Valley alliance other than saying that the two sectors should be working together since they're both creating jobs in a balky economy. "One of the things I've been saying is that we need to package this going into the future," he added. "We really have to exploit the power of job creation."Villaraigosa's comments stemmed from discussion about pending legislation in the state Assembly for a five-year extension of California's 3-year-old Film & Television Tax Credit Program, which has allocated $400 million in credits so far. The bill, currently awaiting approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee, faces extinction until next year's legislative sessions if it's not moved out of the panel by the end of Thursday.The mayor, who served as Speaker of the Assembly between 1998 and 2000, touted the partnership with Silicon Valley due to the problems that showbiz traditionally faces in getting Sacramento to back production incentive bills."The Northern California Democrats never saw the value of this," he noted, adding that he'd lobby Sen. Darrell Steinberg, chair of the appropriations panel, to push ahead on the bill. Steinberg's home district is in Sacramento.Audley noted that Villaraigosa's made it a priority to improve the filming environment through such efforts as making most municipal facilities, including the Mayor's City Hall office, available for filming without charge along with a free parking program. He also noted that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has also installed power utility nodes for use by film productions (instead of generators) at the Los Angeles Zoo, the Department of Water and Power John Ferraro Building and City Hall. "Entertainment production is the backbone and birthplace of our City's success," Villaraigosa said. "It represents a first-class economic anchor defined by creativity and innovation. I am committed to keeping Los Angeles film-friendly and creating more jobs within this industry." The mayor, who's in his second term, said the confab's part of his push for more jobs."We are committed to creating jobs in Los Angeles," Villaraigosa said. "Our city is one of 75 across the country facing double-digit unemployment. We cannot wait for Washington, D.C. to act. We must invest in our key industries and creating jobs here in LA with effective incentives."Lemisch, who administers the credits program, cited a study said the first three years of the tax credit program have generated $2.8 billion in economic activity, more than half of which has been in below-the-line expenditures. She noted that producers aren't able to use the credits until after post-production is completed. "So the economic impact comes first," she added. "The program's able to target productions that are at risk to leave California."Line producer Alex Moon urged the confab that fees for he'd like to see permit and fire marshal fees reduced or eliminated -- noting that there are no such fees in locations such as Rhode Island. "As a line producer, a quick fix would be to waive those kind of fees," he added. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Cheers & Jeers: Parker Posey Wilts on The Big C

Parker Posey Jeers to The Big C for bringing out the worst in Parker Posey. Want more Cheers & Jeers? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now! In its second season, Showtime's cancer-themed comedy has embraced its aggressively quirky side, much to its own detriment. Even the deservedly Emmy-nominated Laura Linney can't keep the show grounded in reality anymore. And The Big C only got more irritatingly twee with the addition of indie-film curio Posey as Poppy P. Kowalski (even her name, an in-joke on the actress' own floral moniker as well as her Superman Returns henchwoman Kitty Kowalski, is annoying). Poppy creepily meets Linney's teenage son, Adam (Gabriel Basso), in a Kids with Cancer chatroom and proceeds to accompany him to the funeral of his uncle's miscarriage. (Don't ask.) How do we know Poppy is a free spirit? She wears a knit cap! And drives an AMC Pacer! And screams "I don't have an inside voice!" in the middle of a café! The episode's clichéd moral was "Don't delay the happy," but if this series keeps Posey around much longer, the happy might not just be postponed - it could be Cancelled with a Big C. What grade would you give Season 2 of The Big C? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

MTV orders second season of 'Awkward'

Ashley Rickards in "Awkward" MTV has renewed comedy "Awkward" for a second season of 12 episodes, to air in 2012. "Awkward" launched July 19 and drew 1.7 million overall viewers. After a slight post-premiere decline, the half-hour improved to 1.9 million in its most recent tally Aug. 9. It also grew 21% in the 12-34 demo from the previous week to a 2.0 rating. "It really has completely delivered on its promise as far as we're concerned," MTV programming topper David Janollari told Variety. "We think creatively it is just wonderfully executed, and so brilliantly and smartly written. It's hilarious while also being able to be honest and emotional at the same time." Ashley Rickards stars in "Awkward," exec produced by Lauren Iungerich. MTV greenlit a second project from Iungerich, "Dumb Girls," to pilot in July. "Lauren pitched us that project after we had begun work on the series of 'Awkward,' somewhere in all of her spare time she found time to bring us (that)," Janollari said. "Lauren's writing is exquisite as she's demonstrated on 'Awkward,' and ("Dumb Girls") has the same high-caliber quality comedy mixed with dramatic underpinnings." The growth of "Awkward," which follows "Teen Mom" on MTV's Tuesday schedule, along with other successes including "Teen Wolf" enabled MTV to part ways last week with "The Hard Times of RJ Berger," which fell below 1 million viewers at the end of its second season. But MTV intends to continue pursuing both male- and female-skewing programming in drama, comedy and animation. "Our main mantra going forward is diversity," Janollari said. "We want a multitude of different genres on our schedule at any time. "I think that the core target remains the same, which is kind of reflecting our lives amplified. How do we reflect our audiences' lives and their feelings and their thoughts and their desires in an exaggerated or heightened comedic way or dramatic way?" Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

See Bon Jovi and Lea Michele Duet in First Image From New Year's Eve

Your mind has likely been blown by the sheer number of stars featured in Garry Marshall’s New Year’s Eve trailer — including (deep breath) Robert De Niro, Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vergara, Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Katherine Heigl, Zac Efron, Josh Duhamel, Jon Bon Jovi, Seth Meyers, Til Schweiger, and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. But how about a more intimate glimpse at the holiday-themed ensemble rom-com? Warner Bros. has the remedy for that in the form of the film’s first official image. Rock on, Lea Michele and Bon Jovi! Forget Ashton Kutcher’s pajama pants, Katherine Heigl’s relationship woes, Sarah Jessica Parker’s designer aspirations or Michele Pfeiffer’s bad wig and remember what New Year’s Eve will really be about: Lea Michele singing a New Year’s Eve duet with a rock superstar — above a crowd waving NIVEA products. (Wonder what song they’re singing? “Bad Medicine”?) Anyway, New Year’s Eve is due in theaters on Dec. 9. Who’s excited? Raise your glasses already. (P!nk reference!) [via Collider]

'The Help' Review: An Adaptation That Would Make Any Author Proud

'The Help,' adapted from Kathryn Stockett's 2009 bestseller, is a story of friendship, rivalry, racial injustice, and female empowerment set against the backdrop of one of the ugliest periods in American history. While a lot of men out there might write it off as one for the women, those guys won't know what they'll be missing. Here are our thoughts on the big-screen version of one of the most popular books of the past two years: What's It About? Set in 1960s Jackson, Miss., in the midst of the civil rights movement, 'The Help' is story of Aibileen and Minny, two African-American women who have worked as maids in white households their entire lives, and Skeeter, a white woman whose moral compass starts spinning after her friends strike up an initiative to build outdoor bathrooms for "the help." Just out of college and itching to pursue a career in journalism, Skeeter pitches an idea to a publishing house in New York for a book told from the perspective of Southern black women who spend their lives raising white babies only to have those babies grow up and become their new employers -- and, in many cases, tormentors. After getting the go-ahead, Skeeter convinces Aibileen and Minny to meet with her in secret to document their stories in the hopes of getting their voices heard, despite the considerable dangers to their safety and livelihoods. How Does It Compare With the Book? We've read the book and we liked it, but, surprisingly, we liked the movie more. Tate Taylor's script, to its credit, stays quite true to the events and characters in the book that worked so well. While certain events have been moved around and some of the finer details are left out, nothing detracted from the movie as a whole. If you're a student who was assigned the book for summer reading, you might miss a couple points here and there, but you could probably just see the movie and still pass the test with ease. (Not that we recommend that!) For the most part, the transfer from the page to the screen couldn't be better. The only downside of the adaptation is that, with so many characters and plot points to cover, the perspective jumps around an awful lot. The novel is also told from the varying perspectives of the three central characters, but the film sometimes feels staggered when certain characters find themselves in the spotlight at one point, then disappear completely for the next 15 or 20 minutes until the focus changes and their story picks back up. This would be a bigger problem if every actress didn't make the absolute most out of her screen time, but since that's a non-issue across the board, it's more something you just get used to than it is a glaring drawback. As far as emotional roller coasters are concerned, this one does the novel justice and then some. Reading the book, we got a lump in our throat maybe once or twice over the course of some 500 pages; watching the movie, we were fighting back tears (along with everyone else in the theater) a handful of times over the course of two hours. While Kathryn Stockett did an amazing job of creating these characters in the first place, seeing them in the flesh really drives it all home -- which isn't a slight on the book as much as it is a compliment to the film. This really is a doozy of a tear-jerker, never careening toward the melodramatic and as genuine as anything we've seen all year. Is It as Controversial as the Book? Yes, but that's an element that we didn't have much issue with in the first place. Race relations is always a touchy subject, and when you consider the time, setting and different viewpoints from which the story is told, controversy was inevitable. In 'The Help,' we see full-fledged super-racists who worship the Jim Crow laws like they were scripture, but we also see an arguably stereotypical image of Southern African-American women. While some might have more of a problem with that depiction than others, we have a tough time pointing any fingers at the movie since it doesn't change or sugarcoat anything we read in the book. How's the Cast? It's one of the strongest ensembles we've seen since 'The Fighter,' and the best female cast we've seen in years. This one's all about the women, and they do an exceptional job all around. One performer who now has a strong chance at an Academy Award nomination -- or even a win -- is Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark. Davis, who was robbed of an Oscar three years back for her incredible supporting role in 'Doubt,' turns in a raw, intense, vulnerable performance that shook us to the core time and time again. If only she'd had more screen time. The biggest surprise is probably Bryce Dallas Howard as the pie-loving mega-bigot of Jackson, Hilly Holbrook. This is Howard's best role to date, and we admire how she sinks her teeth into such an insanely conniving and outrageously unlikable character. Emma Stone does a fine job as Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, even if she doesn't shine quite as brightly as her dazzling co-stars (Stone can do no wrong in our book after being so amazing in 'Easy A'), while Octavia Spencer is perfect as Minny Jackson. Jessica Chastain is utterly delightful as Minny's ditzy employer, Celia Foote, and the great Allison Janney is just that as Skeeter's mom. Sissy Spacek, as Hilly's mother, effortlessly turns an otherwise-minor character into one of the sharpest and most memorable roles of the bunch. Like we said, this is a big cast, but everyone here really does deserve mentioning. Coming after 'Bridesmaids' earlier this summer -- another instance where the girls showed up the boys -- 'The Help' feels like a natural progression in a year in which actresses are raising the bar left and right. Is it worth seeing? Even having read the book, we weren't quite sure what to expect here, but long before the credits started scrolling, it became plain that this film is something special. Regardless of your gender or your familiarity with the novel, 'The Help' is affecting and well worth seeing. It's rare to find an adaptation that manages to trump its source material, but thanks to a clear appreciation for the book from director Tate Taylor and a powerhouse ensemble, it does just that. VERDICT: 8/10 Helping Hands Photos courtesy of Touchstone Pictures.

Wal-Mart Closing MP3 Download Store After Seven Years

Wal-Mart is getting out of the digital music business after seven years, music industry blog Digital Music News reported Tuesday. The company said Tuesday that it will close its MP3 store at the end of the month. "We recently notified our music partners that we've made a business decision to no longer offer MP3 digital tracks as of Aug. 29, 2011," the company said. "All content in the storewill be disabled and no longer available for download from the store." Wal-Mart began selling music digitally in late 2003, just months after Apple launched iTunes. The discount store sold tunes for 88 cents, compared to iTunes' 99-cent price. The store has since raised its prices for most new songs to $1.24, 5 cents less than iTunes. But the store failed to create any real competition to Apple's industry-dominant service. In its announcement, Wal-Mart said it will continue to sell "physical record music products" online and in retail stores. It also will continue to support customers who bought restricted files in the WMA format. Related Topics

Bruce Campbell Joins 'Oz: The Great And Powerful'

"Oz: The Great And Powerful" just got a heck of a lot more exciting now that Bruce Campbell has announced he's been cast in it. "I. Am. In. Oz. Sam Raimi refuses to tell me what character I will portray. Just know that the role is PIVOTAL," the "Burn Notice" actor tweeted. Considering James Franco has already been cast as the titular wizard-to-be and Campbell likely isn't playing one of the female witches, our guess is he plays some sort of mentor to Oz. Or we could be totally surprised and he'll end up playing a Munchkin or flying monkey. Regardless, we're thrilled by this casting news. Check out the rest of Hollywood's casting updates after the jump! Nicki Minaj Makes Her Big Screen Animated Debut "Ice Age: Continental Drift" already has a colorful array of voice actors lined up, but the recent addition of Nicki Minaj is certainly the most exciting. MTV News' RapFix reported on the news, saying Minaj will "surely be at ease playing the as-yet-unnamed character in the film." She'll be joined by fellow performer Drake, as well as Jennifer Lopez, Wanda Sykes and Aziz Ansari. Jesse Eisenberg Meets "The Double" Vulture has the scoop that Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as the lead in Richard Ayoade's indie adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella "The Double." Described as "'Fight Club' for bureaucrats," the flick stars Eisenberg as a government clerk whose life falls apart after the spitting image of himself starts working at his office. Ayoade is best known for directing "Submarine" and starring in the British sitcom "The IT Crowd." Amanda Seyfried And Mark Ruffalo Join "Now You See Me" Amanda Seyfried and Mark Ruffalo are in discussions to join another Eisenberg flick, "Now You See Me," which also stars Melanie Laurent. The movie is about a group of FBI agents who are trying to take down a renegade group of illusionists. Variety has learned Ruffalo would play the lead FBI agent, while Seyfried would be a master technician for the illusionists. James McAvoy Gets "Filth"-y With Jamie Bell And Alan Cumming The Playlist has learned James McAvoy is likely to come on board the adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel "Filth." According to the site, Jamie Bell and Alan Cumming are also looking to join the project, which starts filming in January. Welsh will be producing and his friend Jon S. Baird will be directing the flick. Benjamin Walker To Get "Paradise Lost" Director Alex Proyas has found his archangel Michael in "Paradise Lost," Deadline is reporting. According to the news site, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" star Benjamin Walker is in talks to come on board the adaptation of John Milton's epic. Bradley Cooper is already attached to star as Lucifer in the movie, which is set to be released in 2013. Tell us your thoughts on today's casting news in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Jason Statham Buys Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor's 10-Bed room Estate

The Hollywood Reporter has found that Jason Statham has bought Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor's house and it has been thirstily telling buddies. The Ten-bed room Mediterranean in Outpost Estates (close to the Hollywood Bowl) features a guesthouse and had been offered for $11.5 million. It clearly pays to become an action hero. Stiller and Taylor bought the house at 2427 Castilian Drive for $1.825 million in December 1999. They'd first listed it available last year for $12.5 million and re-listed it earlier this spring in the reduced cost. Meanwhile, observed in the Sunset Tower Hotel lately: a lady checking in and requesting an area -- for any couple of months. "The house continues to be available for some time,Inch she described to some desk clerk. "Then tonight, Steven Tyler and the girlfriend walked in and made the decision to purchase it with everything else inside it and pay cash basically could leave tonight." Searching at the quantity of luggage she'd, it had been obvious she required them on it. Reps for Statham, Stiller and Tyler didn't return to THR. Related Subjects Christine Taylor Steven Tyler Ben Stiller

Rankings Corporate Jungle: So-So Premiere For ABC's 'Take The Cash And Run'

Three systems -- NBC, Fox and ABC -- offered all-original lineups last evening, such as the OK though not spectacular debut of ABC's new reality series Go ahead and take Money and Run (1.9/5 in 18-49, 5.a million audiences),from producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Bertram van Munster,at 9 PM. It held onto 95% of their Wipeout (2./6) demo lead-in and increased its lead-out Combat Hospital (1./3), up a tenth from a week ago. Still, despite the supports, ABC finished third for that evening both in 18-49 and total audiences. Fox (2.5/8, six million audiences) edged NBC (2.4/7, 9.3 million) for that top place in grown ups 18-49 using its Gordon Ramsay block of Hell's Kitchen (2.6/9, 6.two million) and MasterChef (2.4/7, 5.8 million), while America's Got Talent (2.9/8, 11.six million) from 9-11 PM was once more the very best-ranked and many-viewed program from the evening, helping NBC to win the nightly race in 18-49. Hell's Kitchen being with a week ago in 18-49 or more 3% as a whole audiences to log its biggest audience this summer time. Talent was lower 6%. Its lead-in, NBC's new game show It's Worth What? (1.2/4), was lower 14%. CBS broadcast reruns and 48 Hrs Mystery.

Moszkowicz to get Variety award

MoszkowiczBERLIN -- Constantin Film's Martin Moszkowicz will get Variety's Achievement in Worldwide Film Award only at that year's Venice Film Festival. Moszkowicz, Constantin's mind of film and tv, has progressively get to be the face of Germany's leading independent producer-distrib recently, managing such diverse fields as film and TV production, domestic and worldwide distribution, certification, purchases and marketing. Moszkowicz has done a lot more than 100 movies, becoming producer, professional producer or production company mind on such commercial and critical hits as Soenke Wortmann's "Maybe... Not,Inch Michael Herbig's "Manitou's Shoe," Caroline Link's Oscar-winning "Nowhere in Africa," Tom Tykwer's "Perfume: The Storyline of the Killer," Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Downfall" and Uli Edel's "The Baader Meinhof Complex." Moszkowicz's newer productions include Link's "Last Year in the winter months,Inch Herbig's "Vicky the Viking," Wortmann's "Pope Joan," Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe's animated hit "Creatures U . s ." and Paul W.S. Anderson's "Resident Evil: Afterlife," that has become Constantin's greatest worldwide hit ever having a global box office of $300 million. This season, Constantin is delivering Anderson's "The 3 Musketeers," an in-house production, and Roman Polanski's "Carnage," a Constantin co-production that premieres in the approaching Venice Film Festival. Moszkowicz, that has been at Constantin since 1991, is managing numerous projects within the works, including a fifth "Resident Evil," a CGI-animated "Tarzan" and historic actioner "Pompeii," which offers to be Constantin's greatest worldwide production yet. Variety will show the award in Venice on Sept. 3. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com