Issue-oriented pics lure producer

Polakoff Filmmaker Carol Polakoff is ramping up a development slate of issue-oriented projects through her NY and Paris-based banner Carol Polakoff Prods. Intl.Polakoff has tapped Israeli helmer Eran Riklis ("Lemon Tree") to direct the politically charged drama "Secret Sky," written by Micah Schraft and Abdi Nazemian. Alexandra Stone of CMP Film Ltd. ("Fast Food Nation") will co-produce the project, which is based on the true 2004 story of an American human rights lawyer who grew up in Tehran and is summoned back to Iran to represent two teenage boys who are jailed for being gay.Polakoff, a former journalist and DGA award winner whose TV projects have been nominated for 18 Emmys, is committed to making socially conscious and commercially viable pics that will entertain global audiences."I want to make movies that provoke you and take you someplace you haven't been but you'll never forget," Polakoff told Variety. "My beat is drama with a social bent, but a project has to have entertainment value. "Polakoff has acquired the rights to Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's Pulitzer Prize-winning book "American Prometheus." Recipient of last year's Sundance/Sloan grant, "American Prometheus" tells the story of the McCarthy-era persecution of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Robert Edwards ("Land of the Blind") will write and direct the pic, which is described as a political thriller with an epic love story.Polakoff has also optioned James Verini's NY Times article "The Great Cyberheist," the true story of young criminals who pull off what is known as the greatest cyber crime in history. Polakoff is partnering with Doug Davison of Quadrant Pictures on the project, which will be exec produced by Steven Shin.An experienced screenwriter, Polakoff recently adapted Alan Jolis' book "The Last Night," a romantic thriller set during the chaos of the French Revolution. Story follows a police commissioner who spends a frantic night searching for the escaped Queen. Colleen Camp is producing with P. Jennifer Dana ("The Art of Getting By").Polakoff is financing development on her projects via a consortium of U.S. and European-based private investors who believe in the diverse slate of indie and commercial titles with justifiable budgets.Polakoff produced docs that aired on PBS including "Cuba: In the Shadow of Doubt" and "The Closing Door: An Investigation of U.S. Immigration Policy." Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

John C. Reilly Brings Country Act to L.A.'s Bootleg Theater

Funnyman actor John C. Reilly ("Step Brothers and sisters," "Talladega Nights," "Boogie Nights") is not any stranger for the microphone, but recently it seems he's focusing as much on singing tunes as cracking jokes.Last November, Reilly released two singles on Jack White's Third Guy Records label with Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark and folk singer Tom Brosseau (White-colored handled drums and production for).Reilly and and Stark covered country classics byRay Cost ("I am likely to be There") and "I'm Planning,Inch initially sang by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, with Brosseau, Reilly covered the Delmore Brothers' "Gonna Lay Lower My Old Guitar" and "Lonesome Yodel Blues #2".To ensure that as anyone who saw Reilly in Johnny Cash biopic parody"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story"should be aware of, he although possess a tune, but is a touch from the new bands aficionado. On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Reilly, Stark and Brosseau will need their grand ole jam for the Bootleg Theater in Echo Park, where Reilly is during the time of the main one-guy show referred to asInchBuddha" (Reillyis pointing the work on weekends until March 4). Unlike most rock shows within the Bootleg Theater inside the barroom, John C. Reilly and Friends' musical performance are available in the theater space with standard seating and cabaret style chairs and tables.Unsure yet on whether Reilly expects to consider his act on the road. Tickets and additional particulars take presctiption the Bootleg website. The Hollywood Reporter

'Star Wars' Fan To George Lucas: 'Stop Playing With My Yoda!'

The discharge date of The Exorcist: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3-D originates and gone, and also the news isn't so excellent for Mr. George Lucas. Although the film didnt exactly underperform in the opening weekend (it required in $22.5 million), three other new films did better. 4th place: theres not really a medal for your. I cant state that Im surprised most grown ups who've already seen the film most likely wouldnt choose to view it again, even just in 3-D. And also the new generation of youthful moviegoers was likely depressed by Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. For myself, there won't be any visit to the megaplex to look at Menace once more around the giant screen. But my avoidance of Episode I has little related to midi-chlorians or Mike Lloyd or Jar Jar Binks. Its due to probably the most heinous, sacrilegious act perpetrated through the Creator: the CG-ification of Yoda. Lucas appears very proud to the fact that he could replace the Yoda puppet in Episode I having a digital version to ensure that lucrative matches his alternatives in Episodes II and III. Evaluating it towards the relaxation from the new trilogy, my estimation of Menace had been, It is not good, but a minimum of that one continues to have old-school Yoda. Now it does not have that. I'm able to accept the majority of the changes Lucas makes towards the The Exorcist films through the years, but that one really was tough that i can take. For me personally, Puppet Yoda may be the only Yoda. CGI Yoda can suck it. Brooklynite Christopher Scheer, another Yoda fan, totally concurs beside me. Hes a little biased though hes a puppeteer. Best job ever, right? CGI enables you to definitely do something totally new, like have Yoda hop around just like a badass, Scheer appreciates. However I believe that we've lost a lot more when it comes to Yodas expression and presence within the moments, because its this prefabricated, very elaborate computerized illusion rather than puppetry. It is not that Puppet Yoda is anymore real than Digital Yoda. Youre speaking about whether a puppet that somebody has his submit and it is getting around is much more realistic than the usual computer image, states Scheer. However the puppet continues to be carrying out instantly and theres still a artist there following his impulses and creating subtleties within the performance. There is a quality of performance which i dont think you could ever get with CGI. The Puppeteer has spoken, nevertheless its past too far my beloved Yoda continues to be worked another blow. As Ive stated previously, The Creator has every to mess together with his own creation. But Mr. Lucas, if you are listening, If only youd remember these smart words: If when you start lower the dark path, forever does it dominate your future consume you it'll. Air your Yoda issues within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Era date for your Wolverine

Due to the off-again on-again character of X-Males Roots follow-up The Wolverine, we'd almost quit on seeing Hugh Jackman don the claws again for the next silver screen outing.Indeed, The Wolverine went through lots of false starts it has to surely be regarded as as since the new go-to example for explaining the old saying "development hell".Adverse conditions, company company directors with cold foot, organizing conflicts... choose, The Wolverine has experienced it. However, there does finally seem to become some light within the finish in the tunnel, with Fox announcing the state release date for your superhero follow-up.That date is 26 This summer time 2013, giving director James Mangold yearly typically to get the film inside the can. Thinking about that Jackman has furthermore yet to shoot Ces Miserables, that seems just like a significant squeeze, but hopefully it shouldn't detract within the finish product a lot of.Probably the most recent draft in the script remains composed by Mark Bomback, and may see an amnesia-suffering Wolverine likely to Japan to discover solutions concerning his past. However, there he falls for one another and finds themselves tangling getting a effective warrior known to as Silver Samurai.We really do hope the completely new release date stays this time around around around, although due to the project's troubled history, we won't be holding our breath...[brightcove]970188212001[/brightcove]

'Magician' reappears with Forster

Forster Getting lately wrapped Par's zombie tentpole "World War Z," director Marc Forster is setting his sights on another battlefront: World war 2.Forster is mounted on helm an adaptation of bestseller "The War Magician" for Lonetree Entertainment, with Lonetree partners Tony Eldridge and Colleen Camping creating.David Fisher book "The War Magician" informs the real story of British magician Jasper Maskelyne, who modified the core concepts of stage miracle to warfare with techniques that defied the imagination: Among his accomplishments, Maskelyne hid the main harbour of Alexandria Harbor, made the Suez Canal disappear and fooled Germany's Gen. Erwin Rommel having a phantom military that did not exist, a trick that ultimately brought to Rommel's defeat and grew to become a level of World war 2. A lot of Maskelyne's inventions continue to be found in warfare.Book was initially bought by Tom Cruise and hang up at Vital, with Cruise mounted on star, prior to the actor's cope with the studio fell through and also the option went on it.Task reunites Forster with Lonetree they are also joining on Sony's "The Equalizer," starring Denzel Washington. "The Equalizer" has been created by Eldridge, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Mace Neufeld, Alex Siskin and Michael Sloan.On Wednesday, Lonetree also acquired feature privileges to Raymond Benson's retro-super hero book series "The Black Stiletto." Project is presently to authors.Forster's "World War Z," starring Kaira Pitt and in line with the graphic novel by Max Brooks, hits theaters this Christmas.Forster is repped by CAA and Management 360. Contact Stuart Oldham at stuart.oldham@variety.com