Nokia Truer Than Fiction Award: Heather Courtney

Courtney Har'el DennisHeather Courtney Five years ago, Heather Courtney returned to her small hometown of Hancock, Mich., to make a documentary about growing up in rural America. The result is "Where Soldiers Come From," which follows the four-year journey of three Afghanistan-bound soldiers forever changed by war.Though Courtney traveled to the mountains of Afghanistan, she doesn't consider her work a film about war."At its core, it's a coming-of-age story about a group of friends, their town and how a faraway war changes all of them," she says.Courtney intentionally steered clear of any politics and focused instead on larger social issues through personal stories. It's a principle she stuck by while helming her previous immigration-related docs "Letters From the Other Side" (2006) and "Los Trabajadores" (2001).As for her next project, Courtney says it's always hard to switch gears: "It's a really a big hurdle to get the funds to start another film. This award was just the boost and encouragement I needed."RUNNERS-UP Alma Har'el "Bombay Beach" Israeli musicvideo helmer Har'el's non-fiction hybrid "Bombay Beach," about the idiosyncratic inhabitants of the Salton Sea, includes choreographed dancing and other surreal touches. "I used many different techniques that some purists might not accept as documentary," Har'el says. "But I don't really think defining it as something else would be accurate."Danfung Dennis "Hell and Back Again" Dennis' debut, the Oscar-nominated "Hell and Back Again," captures a Marine's life during and after his stint in Afghanistan. "Through my work I hope to shake people from their indifference to war, and to bridge the disconnect between the realities on the ground and the public consciousness at home," he says.FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS 2012FIND finds fresh Spirit guidesHonoreesPiaget Producer's Award | Audi Someone to Watch Award | Nokia Truer Than Fiction Award Contact Addie Morfoot at news@variety.com

MPTF Uncovers New $350M Fundraiser Campaign

Movie Television Fund board member George Clooney today introduced the launch of the $350 million fundraiser drive in the organization within the next 3 years. Throughout a breakfast in the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hillsides, MPTF brass stated that $238 million was already elevated within the effort, with key contributions from the kind of Clooney, Steve Bing, Tom Cruise, Craig Diller, Fox Entertaiment Group, David Geffen, Michael Lewis, Jerry Perenchio, Joe Roth, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Todd Phillips, Patrick Soon-shiong, Thomas Tull and John Wells, amongst others. That’s additionally towards the $100 million already available based on Katzenberg, chairman from the MPTF Foundation. In the last two decades, the fund has elevated $200 million. MPTF leader Bob Beitcher stated the fundraiser push may come as an75,000 baby seniors is going to be retiring in the industry within the next two decades. “This is really a back-up on their behalf,” he stated today.The fund’s greatest fundraiser event of the season, the annual “Night Before” Oscar party, is placed for Saturday in the Beverly Hillsides Hotel. It’s been an assorted bag of news in the MPTF — Clooney, a board member for any year, stated today that Katzenberg told him, “If you believe the Sudan is difficult, just try the MPTF.”The organization that delivers lengthy-term healthcare and services for people from the entertainment industry was penalized $80,000 through the condition yesterday because of its part within the dying of the patient this year. Beitcher addressed the citation today, saying the MPTF introduced in outdoors safety consultants and carried out special practicing staff so “this won’t happen again,” he stated. “This is essential but is ancient history for all of us.”The Woodland Hillsides-based nursing facility recently introduced it had reorganized enough to reverse a 2009 decision to seal it lower — a move that came critique and legal cases. The reopened facility will house as much as 40 patients at any time moving forward.Final week, the MPTF also introduced a tie-track of UCLA Health System and it is Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital which will offer ageriatric psychiatry unit in the fund’s Wasserman Campus. It'll provide inpatient and outpatient services and it is likely to be ready to go at the begining of 2013.

Ratings: The Forest Runs Weakly NCIS Sustains Strong Amounts with 200th Episode

Joe Anderson, Paulina Gaitan ABC's thriller The Forest first demonstrated to a smaller amount strong amounts than a few of the network's other drama premieres this year's season (along with a couple of them got canceled). Still, it exercised better for your network than any type in the time is right slot since the fall ending of Dwts. The season's top show, NCIS, marked its 200th show with another large audience, although trumping Fox's Glee inside the coveted grownups-18-to-49 demographic. The CBS ratings stalwart didn't set a collection record, however. See the relaxation in the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: NCIS 20.82 million audiences (4.1 demo rating)ABC: Last Guy Standing 7.75 million (2.3) Last Guy Standing 7.96 million (2.5)Fox: Glee 7.72 million (3.2)NBC: The Finest Loser 6.35 million (2.3) CW: 90210 1.36 million (.7) 9 p.m.CBS: NCIS: La 16.12 million audiences (3.1 demo rating)ABC: The Forest 7.51 million (2.4) Fox: New Girl 6.92 million (3.5) Raising Hope 4.67 million (2.2)CW: Ringer 1.15 million (.5) 10 p.m.CBS: Memorable 11.70 million audiences (2.2 demo rating)NBC: Motherhood 4.64 million (1.6)

'Smash' helmer to direct NBC drama pilot

As "Smash" readies because of its premiere in a few days, NBC has drawn on helmer Michael Mayer to direct another Peacock pilot, "Don' Harm." The Jekyll and Hyde-designed drama involves an excellent neurosurgeon who wresles together with his harmful alter-ego. David Schulner composed the pilot and professional producers with Rachel Kaplan and Peter Traugott for Universal TV. Mayer will function as a co-professional producer. Mayer makes his mark on Broadway recently after helming tuners "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot." NBC's tuner-drama "Smash" marked his first TV pilot. He most lately helmed the Primary Stem revival of "On the Obvious Day You Can Observe Forever" with Harry Connick Junior. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Producers Guild Honours The Artist

Searching strong but quiet for OscarsThe temperature around the honours season kettle increased another couple of levels last evening because the Producers Guild of America introduced their honours, and also the Artist ruled triumphant. TheAdventures Of Tintin:The SecretOf The Unicorn required the Animated category, and Beats, Rhymes and Existence: The Travels of the Tribe Known as Mission required the Documentary prize.The PGA honours (to not be mistaken with golf) are most likely the only best predictor of the greatest Picture champion in the Oscars - although an archive of picking 15 from the last 22 those who win is in no way an ideal score. Still, it'll have because of the Oscar about both Michael Hazanavicius and StevenSpielberg a lift in front of tomorrow's AcademyAward nominations and Feb 26' ceremony.The entire listing of Producers Guild those who win is below:The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Movies:THE ARTISTBRIDESMAIDSTHE DESCENDANTSTHE GIRL Using The DRAGON TATTOO The Assistance HUGO THE IDES OF MARCH Night time IN PARIS MONEYBALLWAR HORSEThe Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion PicturesTHE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN CARS 2 KUNG FU PANDA 2PUSS IN BOOTS RANGOThe Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion PicturesBEATS, RHYMES & Existence: THE TRAVELS Of The TRIBE Known as QUESTBILL CUNNINGHAM NYPROJECT NIMSENNATHE UNIONThe television nominees and those who win are:The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Lengthy-Form TelevisionCinema VeriteDownton AbbeyThe KennedysMildred PierceToo Large To FailThe Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy30 RockThe Large Bang TheoryGleeModern FamilyParks and RecreationThe Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, DramaBoardwalk EmpireDexterGame of ThronesThe Good WifeMad MenThe Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television The Colbert ReportThe Ellen DeGeneres ShowReal Time with Bill MaherSaturday Evening LiveThe 64th Annual Tony AwardsThe Award for Outstanding Producer of Competition TelevisionThe Amazing RaceAmerican IdolDancing using the StarsProject RunwayTop ChefThe Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television30 for 30American MastersAnthony Bourdain: No ReservationsDeadliest CatchUndercover BossNews ProgramsAnderson Cooper 360BBC World News AmericaNBC News with John WilliamsThe Rachel Maddow Show60 MinutesSports Programs (*There is a tie, and that's why you will find six nominees.)Monday Evening FootballReal Sports with Bryant GumbelSports Center30 for 302010 FIFA World CupU.S. Open Tennis ChampionshipChildren's ProgramsDora the ExploreriCarlyPhineas and FerbSesame StreetSpongeBob SquarepantsWeb SeriesAsk a NinjaThe GuildParks and Entertainment Presents: 'April & Andy's Road Trip'30 Rock Presents Jack Donaghy, Executive SuperheroWeb Therapy

10 Large Shockers Approaching on Glee: It's Proposal-O-Rama on "Yes/No"

Glee Valentine's comes early to McKinley Filled with Tuesday's new episode of Glee (8/9c, Fox). TVGuide.com got an early on think about the love-drenched hour (titled "Yes/No") - that is love-drenched. You'll find a few plans, a shotgun wedding, broken hearts, an Oscar champion together with a genuine Regular folks star at their bitchiest, a great encouraging Coach Sue... wait, what?! Large shockers ahead. Have a look at 10 teases: Start Searching: Glee's Michael Jackson tribute 1. The amount of occasions might be the question sprang? No less than three people increase the risk for grand gesture. THREE! Only one will receive a solution. Which, kids, happens when you spell high high cliff-hanger. 2. Oh, and someone returns to school already betrothed. Surprise! The epiphany happened at Wendy's as well as the knot was tied inside the holiday getaway, elopement-style. 3. Why, it might be Grease lightnin'! No, the glee club isn't mounting a spring output of the enchantingly raunchy musical (darn!) but this week's episode does start getting a unique, shot-by-shot remake in the oh-so-swoony "Summer season Lovin'" - and you also get only one guess regarding which couple might be reminiscing in what happened over people several days. Clearly, Kurt and Santana split the role of Rizzo. 4. The week's whitened board assignment? Romance Emma. Mr. Schue will enlist the kids to help him romance the socks off Emma. (It's Glee - overcome it, people.) Fortunately, these kids carry out the most awesome job ever. (If you possess the looked the net for your playlist, you realize it will appear good, mind to ft.) Ultimately though, only one of the ideas - Sam's wet and wild one - will get the job done. The most effective and worst performances on Glee (up to now!) 5. Mercedes kinda sorta totally makes her mind up about Mike and Shane. How? She'll be singing one of the better love tunes as well as the winning man's face just jumps into her mind - much less she's prepared to do just about anything relating to this immediately. 6. Here's something Helen Mirren reaches say since the inner voice of [SPOILER!]: "Let go, haters. OK, get realz." Right?! OK, OK, here's another: "No Chang do - I'm no grain full." Oh, to become fly round the wall when Mirren hit it studio... 7. Speaking about Chang: Artie + Mike = Gold. First, they gave us "PYT," now they achieve move like Jagger. Swoon. We're not able to wait to find out them reunited again inside the Michael Jackson episode. A specific Warbler will give them something to, ahem, scream about. 8. Coach Sue stays the entire episode being encouraging. That's correct. It's like she's still got the Christmas spirit running through her veins or something like that like this. And acquire this: Her advice is on the way to handle associations. Just call her McKinley's new guidance counselor! You now request ,: How extended does it last? Helen Mirren to cover a royal visit to Glee 9. Finn can get some deeply troubling information from his mother. It will turn his world upside lower and propel him to produce a existence-changing decision. The good thing? Finn and also the mother will break your heart in to a million pieces which is definitely welcome. 10. Someone's got a nipple that's under another. And chances are it will strange out guest-star NeNe Leakes Coach Roz. Furthermore a no-no? Pee inside the pool. Excited to find out what is going to happen next? Who you think was already married? Who's got nipple issues? Is there a problem to find out happen next on Glee? Appear off inside the comments below.

My Eye post house taps Feingold

Feingold Kiers Former Fox Entertainment senior VP and Landmark Entertainment exec Rodd Feingold has been tapped chief financial officer at post production house My Eye Media.The Burbank, Calif.-based company has also upped Ken Kiers to executive VP of post production services. He formerly was senior VP of operations, and will now lead the charge in developing the company's digital workflows.In his new role, Feingold will be responsible for shephering the strategic fiscal growth of the post house."Rodd brings significant expertise and experience in corporate and entertainment finance," said My Eye Media CEO Michael Kadenacy. "We are very fortunate to fill the CFO post with such an accomplished and proven executive who possesses exemplary business skills, judgment, and a seasoned approached to cultivating financial resources for robust expansion and development.""Similarly," continues Kadenacy, "promoting Ken only underscores our commitment to progressing our business and aligning our management team, as we quickly move toward the realization of My Eye Media as a leading, full capability post facility."Founded in 2004, My Eye Media provides postproduction services to Hollywood's studios and independent producers. It boasts one of the largest digital file testing facilities on the West Coast, and connects its Burbank headquarters to downtown Los Angeles with a 10 gigabit-per-second fiber optic connection. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

First picture of Jermain Clement that face men In Black 3

A completely new on-set image remains launched inside the Nz Herald, giving us our start searching at Jermain Clement that face men In Black 3, and boy does he look hairy!Sporting an enormous grey beard, some Aviator shades together with a black bandana, Clement looks every inch the badass biker. The fact he's searching in a large motorbike helps for the reason that too...Clement may have Yaz, the villain in the piece who attempts to kill Agent K (Tommy Lee Manley) formerly, compelling Agent J (Will Cruz) to start a period of time-travelling save mission.According to Clement, his character is, "creepy but charming." He ongoing to explain that, "I am an alien with prosthetics which i look hideous. But it's funny, there are many action."Exactly how he evaluates to Vincent D'Onofrio's grotesque parasite remains to look, but no less than the Flight In The Conchords star will most likely bring some laughs to proceedings. Males In Black 3 is released inside the Uk on 25 May 2012.

Demi Moore Added to Lovelace Cast

Alongside Adam Brody & Eric RobertsNow that Howl duo Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman are hard at work shooting Linda Lovelace biopic Lovelace, they're adding a few faces to the cast, with Demi Moore, Adam Brody and Eric Roberts all signing on.Lovelace tells the tale of Linda Boreman (Amanda Seyfried) who shot to infamy as the world's first erotic superstar when she was plucked from obscurity by Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard) to star in Deep Throat. But her life was filled with addiction, abuse and depression and she eventually campaigned against pornography.Moore is aboard to play Gloria Steinem, the activist who founded Ms Magazine and penned a key article about Lovelace's unhappy life. Brody is on as Throat co-star Harry Reems, while Roberts will be Nat Laurendi, who carried out a lie detector test on Linda at the request of the publisher when she wrote her memoir Ordeal.The three newcomers join a cast that already includes Seyfried, Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Wes Bentley, Hank Azaria, Bobby Carnavale, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick and, assuming he has the time, James Franco in a cameo as Hugh Hefner.Moore will be seen this month in Margin Call, Brody's next is The Oranges and Eric Roberts will show up in Intent.