Disney Acquires Mom Blogger Platform Babble Media

NY - The Walt Disney Co. said Monday that it has acquired Babble Media, an online parenting platform featuring more than 200 influential mom bloggers. Disney described Babble as the "premier blogging platform for a new generation of connected parents," highlighting that it covers such topics as pregnancy, child care, health, food, family activities as well as lifestyle topics such as home, fashion and family products. Financial terms of the deal, first reported by AllThingsD, weren't disclosed. Babble is a NY-based start-up launched in 2006. It will remain headquartered in NY, Disney said. Co-founders Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman will join the Disney Interactive Media Group unit. Disney Interactive will infuse its moms and family evergreen content into Babble, the company said. "Parents' relationships with Disney are founded in stories, and Disney's best stories are about families," said Brooke Chaffin, senior vp of moms and family, Disney Interactive Media Group, in a statement. "We believe that Babble and Disney can harness the power of storytelling to inform, entertain and empower parents everywhere. With more than 3.9 million mom blogs in the U.S. alone, Disney Interactive recognizes and values the important and powerful role moms have taken on in new media." Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics The Walt Disney Company

Pipeline full for Mr. 'Deeds'

Tyler Perry (with Cicely Tyson around the group of 2006 film 'Madea's Family Reunion') intends to to produce new Madea film in 2012 although not before his next onscreen appearance.Tyler Perry's fans have lengthy viewed the multihyphenate pull an outfit over his 6-feet-5 frame and perform as Madea, the grandmother together with her great amount of opinions.However in the approaching several weeks, Perry's fans will are able to determine him like a leading guy.First, Perry will star because the romantic lead in the own film, "Good Deeds," slated for release February. 24. Perry authored the film and meant to cast another person to star."I had been looking for another person to experience the role, but all the stars I needed used to do other movies, and so i made the decision I needed to get it done myself," he states. " 'Good Deeds' is really a total departure for me personally: It comes down to a man looking for his way through existence. It is the nearest in my experience that individuals have seen.InchPerry spent August and September in Cleveland and Detroit, shooting "I, Alex Mix," modified in the best-selling books by James Patterson. Perry is going to be playing the title role, which Morgan Freeman initially made famous within the films "Hug the Women" and "Along Came a Spider." No release date continues to be set yet.Most stars discuss their lengthy days allocated to set, but starring inside a film was absolutely nothing to Perry."It had been just like a vacation, really," he states. "I'd a lot down-time on set which i wound up writing two movies."Individuals movies are in early stages, but Perry states another Madea movie is going to be being released the coming year, although he isn't sure when and that he has not entitled it yet.On tv, Perry has two series, "House of Payne" and "Satisfy the Browns," on The best spinner's as well as in broadcast distribution.Another one -- "For Better or Worse," in line with the hit movie "Why Did I Got Married?" -- is in route using its 10-episode test to air on The best spinner's this month.Perry also offers lengthy stated he want to start their own network, similar to uncle and mentor, The famous host oprah Winfrey, has been doing with OWN. Lionsgate, which can serve as Perry's distribution partner, backs the concept.In August, Lionsgate Boss Jon Feltheimer pointed out within an earnings call that this type of network, possibly to become known as Tyler TV, was in early works. Perry verifies that but additionally states a real launch is really a ways off yet."I am moving cautiously towards a network," states Perry. "I am doing that deliberately because I wish to make certain it is the right fit. You will find huge numbers of people who've supported me through the years who're longing for this."Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne' 200th Episode:'Payne' yields pleasure for Perry, The best spinner's Perry's wager on themself takes care of handsomely Charitable organisation no rarity Pipeline full for Mr. 'Deeds' Areu is appropriate-hands guy inside Perry's empire 'Payne' cast reflects on the top reminiscences Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Haywire' is AFI's 'secret' pick

Steven Soderbergh's revenge-thriller "Haywire" has been tapped as the "secret screening" at the AFI Fest -- two months prior to its domestic launch by Relativity. Pic will be screened at 9:30 pm Sunday at the Chinese. "Haywire," Soderbergh's 25th film, stars Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Angarano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton and mixed martial arts star Gina Carano in the lead role as a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Daisy-Cinergy shows AFM 'Money'

Daisy-Cinergy Entertainment is repping Korean helmer Im Sang-soo's "Taste of Money," which has just started lensing.Described by the helmer as an extended edition of "The Housemaid," which unspooled in Cannes competition last year, Im's erotic suspense drama can be compared to a Korean "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps." Pic revolves around desire, sex and murder in a wealthy family, including a middle-aged heiress, her private male secretary and a Filipino housemaid.Daisy-Cinergy Entertainment has launched an international sales team at the AFM this year. The company has acquired a significant slate, including "Pompeii 3D."It started local film production and distribution in 2009 and released South Korean box office hits including "Goodbye Mom."Besides "Taste of Money," the sales team also represents titles including helmer Hur Jin-ho's period drama "Last Princess of Korea." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Thessaloniki opens among Greek turmoil

'The Descendants'The Thessaloniki Film Festival starts today like a vacation in a holiday in greece wrestles having its decision to just accept an $18 billion bailout within the EU rather than go under and face expulsion within the eurozone. No matter the economical turmoil, the fest is always that rare local phenom -- a cultural event getting the next guaranteed for an additional couple of years by EU funding. Carrying out a year beneath the leadership of prexy Dimitri Eipides, Thessaloniki remains completely sleek while not with techniques that website site visitors might find, according to him. Still offers honours different from 10,000 ($13,800) to $41,200. Fest opens with Alexander Payne's family drama, George Clooney starrer "The Descendants," and occasions will unspool in Thessaloniki's harbor arts space, a location now being reclaimed from years of disuse. It possesses a new Open Horizons section praising indie photos. It provides Iranian exile Amir Naderi's "Cut," of a Japanese filmmaker trying to create his next movie fellow Iranian Mohammad Rasoulof's "Goodbye" and helmer Dorota Kedzierzawska's Polish/Japanese "Tomorrow Will Improve,Inch three Russian immigrant children. Photos by Gaul's Bruno Dumont, Mathieu Kassovitz and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne plus options from Russia's Alexander Sokurov and Andrey Zvyagintsev and Spain's Montxo Armendriz complete the section. Site visitors prone to draw crowds include company company directors Payne, Ole Christian Madsen and Ulrich Seidl plus roundtables on comparative production in Israel, Romania along with a vacation in a holiday in greece. Agora market and Crossroads co-production forum can have rising Greek talent. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Will Ferrell Comedy 'Casa p mi Padre' Acquired By Pantelion Films

Christopher Polk/Getty Images Pantelion Films has acquired U.S. rights to Casa p mi Padre, the NALA Films and Gary Sanchez Productions comedy starring Will Ferrell. The business plans a March 16 release. PHOTOS: 'SNL' Stars Salute Kennedy Center Honoree Will Ferrell Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, Adrian Martinez, Pedro Armendáriz Junior. and Nick Offerman also star inside the The the spanish language language-language film, directed byMatt Piedmont. An homage for the telenovela, Padre concentrates on a Mexican ranchman who'll get confused getting a nearby drug our god and also the brother's girlfriend their father's ranch dangles inside the balance. STORY: Will Ferrell being Granted Mark Twain Prize for American Humor "We can not create a better vehicle thanCasa p mi Padreto demonstrate what sort of The the spanish language language language film can attract a comprehensive mainstream audience," mentioned Pantelion Boss Paul Presburger. "We are enthusiastic about joining forces with NALA Films relating to this project and believe Will, Matt and Andrew have proven when it is funny, most of us laugh inside the same language." Along with Lionsgate and Grupo Televisa,Pantelion Films focuses on delivering entertainment for Hispanic audiences.NALA Films funded the project. Will Ferrell

Collaborators

A National Theater presentation from the play by 50 percent operates by John Hodge. Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Mikhail Bulgakov - Alex JenningsJoseph Stalin - Simon Russell BealeVladimir - Mark AddyYelena - Jacqueline DefferaryGrigory - William PostlethwaiteVassily - Patrick GodfreySergei - Pierce ReidDoctor - Nick SampsonPraskovya - Maggie ServiceYou're a effective playwright however, your work continues to be suspended due to your country's dictator. Nevertheless the stop will probably be lifted in the event you write a play formally adoring mentioned dictator. What now ?? This is actually the real-existence dilemma faced by Mikhail Bulgakov (Alex Jennings) and Stalin (Simon Russell Beale) recreated by John Hodge's new play "Collaborators." Nicholas Hytner's satirical production goes overboard attempting to become zany, but despite two terrific central performances, the play feels over-extended. That is no formulaic "When X Met Y" -Place your individual real-existence names -- trotting out a historic feud via expository-heavy dialogue. The opening make that apparent, a boldy comic nightmare sequence with Stalin bursting using a wardrobe in the blast of appear and smoke to terrorize Bulgakov. Rather, we watch Bulgakov among his higgledy-piggledy household fighting in straitened conditions. Everything changes while using feared knock round the door: The Soviet Secret Service, introduced with the leather-covered Vladimir (amusingly bumptious Mark Addy), makes him the "offer" that, in most probability, he cannot refuse. Faced using the job of writing "Youthful Stalin" within monthly for your man's sixtieth birthday, Bulgakov draws a clear until unforeseen help involves the type of Stalin themselves. The 2nd truly will be a fan -- he saw Bulgakov's "The White-colored Guard" 15 occasions. Hodge runs with this particular, inventing the concept that Stalin is entranced by the idea of cooperating. Subsequent moments between each of them sweating around the hot typewriter are deftly intercut while using changing fortunes inside the outdoors lives of Bulgakov and also the threatened artistic circle. Not remarkably, Hodge is covering what continues when artists ally themselves too carefully with repressive energy. How can you don't let yourself be bought off? Is it possible to remain pristine? Where does necessary compromise finish and dangerous collusion begin? Bulgakov's descent from principle to pragmatism and beyond -- he and Stalin swap roles and Bulgakov starts signing condition orders -- is charted with exquisite detail by Jennings. He seems to age physically throughout his character's ordeal. Worry, initially flicked away with intellectual disdain, progressively infects and corrupts his body since the situation he thought he commanded slips inexorably from his grasp. He's matched up track of a masterly Russell Beale. It's a brilliant little bit of disguise, and not really inside the literal sense although his hairpiece and costume lend him an uncanny resemblance. No shrieking despot, his regionally outlined Stalin leads to as gently childlike, a blunt but quietly spoken honest innocent with only flashes of contorted fear. Only very late on does Russell Beale allow audiences to find out quite how canny his Stalin is, getting hidden frighteningly tricky energy beneath a "who me?" exterior. Sadly, the down sides from the moments isn't matched up up elsewhere. As Bulgakov's wife, plaintive Jacqueline Defferary has little to accomplish but look progressively dismayed and a lot of the other figures are essentially functional. Hytner's intentionally over-vibrant staging uses every possible trick to disguise this. Composer George Fenton dresses up moments with perky, spoof-Shostakovich underscoring and designer Bob Crowley transforms the region in to a traverse stage, a substantially moved, Soviet Constructivist-style path in red-colored-colored and grey which comically screams non-naturalism. This gives full flower for the absurdist elements, eliciting cleverly exaggerated small roles and blackly comic entrances and exits. It helps to make the stars look awkward and self-conscious. In dinner-table moments, cast people cannot move their chairs in so tight a squeeze. The expansion stresses Hodge's intended headlong hurry of Bulgakov's fall. It's odd, therefore, it offers an unearned intermission which saps the second act of hysteria. Trimming would remove a couple of from the more schematic elements and would create continuous flow to mask the conceptual defects.Sets and costumes, Bob Crowley lighting, Jon Clark appear, Paul Arditti music, George Fenton production stage manager, David Marsland. Opened up up, examined November. 1, 2011. Running time: 2 Several hours, 30 MIN.With Sarah Annis, Marcus Cunningham, Michael Jenn, Jess Murphy, Perri Snowdon. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com