Colony

The inexplicable phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder leaves landscapes of empty beehives all over America, threatening not just the beekeeping industry but our food. As researchers and beekeepers look for the reason, Colony captures the struggle inside the beekeeping community in order to save the honeybee and themselves. Colony documents a time period of unparalleled crisis on the planet from the honeybee with the eyes of both veteran beekeeper, David Mendes, and Lance and Victor Seppi, two youthful siblings engaging in beekeeping when the majority are escaping .. As Mendes attempts to save the country's falling apart hives, the Seppi's keep their business alive amongst a falling apart economy.

Tahrir, Liberation Square (Tahrir)

A Picofilms, Dugong production, in association with Rai 3. Produced by Penelope Bortoluzzi, Marco Alessi. Directed, written by Stefano Savona.(Arabic, English dialogue)Helmer Stefano Savona ("Cast Lead") took his camera to Cairo's Tahrir Square toward the beginning of the 2011 revolution, using his pure docu style to generally good effect in "Tahrir, Liberation Square." As with his previous works, there's no narration and no interpretation other than editing and, of course, choosing what to film. As an instant response to momentous events, "Tahrir" is a worthy early entry in what's sure to become an avalanche of similar product, though by the very nature of his methods, Savona's view is limited. Fests and smallscreen play should prove popular. Savona hightailed it to Cairo soon after the revolution began, starting filming Jan. 30, the sixth day of the popular uprising. That's the only indication of dates, which thereafter remain unclear. Savona trains his lens on three young people, Noha, Ahmed and Elsayed, all apparently from the working-class and all determined to oust president Hosni Mubarak without giving much thought to what will follow. What comes across most is the heady, almost miraculous strength of people power, which stood its ground in the face of vicious attacks and stayed focused without a clear-cut leader. The docu is best at chronicling the shifting mood in the square, the protestors cycling through periods of euphoria, exhaustion, determination and anger, but most of all, solidarity. The helmer never makes clear what information is getting into the square, which means only those familiar with the sequence of events will be able to contextualize moments such as the melee outside the Egyptian Museum, or scenes of protestors prying up pavement stones to use as weapons. The sense of urgency never flags; neither does the protestors' deeply affecting pride in being Egyptian and finally taking control of their destiny. As one woman says, "We have our dignity back." Less clear is the almost fly-by-the-pants strategy behind protests that seem more reactive than proactive; it remains for another docu to delve into backroom discussions. At times Savona had impressive access with his camera, including Feb. 9, when activist Wael Ghonim passionately addressed the protestors onstage. What's missing is a sense of the enormous diversity in the square, only glimpsed in general crowd scenes, and auds may question how much the three subjects are perhaps unconsciously performing for the camera. Viewers will need to stay through the last credits for Savona's real coup, when a young woman harangues the jubilant but exhausted crowds leaving after Mubarak's resignation, reminding them that the revolution is not over and they must remain ever-vigilant. It's a crucial moment, easy to overlook, and more than anything reveals Savona's deeper consideration of the events. Vid quality is exceptional, and sets "Tahrir" above the plethora of amateur footage readily available from news sources and YouTube. Given the Egyptians' famed ironic humor, it's a pity there are no subtitles translating the protest signs.Camera (color, HD); Savona; editor, Penelope Bortoluzzi; sound, Jean Mallet. Reviewed at Locarno Film Festival (noncompeting), Aug. 6, 2011. Running time: 93 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Two sign up for 'Seminar'

RabeLinklater Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater will join Alan Rickman in the cast of "Seminar," the Theresa Rebeck play now set for a run at Broadway's Golden Theater.Rabe, nommed for a Tony last season for her perf in "The Merchant of Venice," recently toplined the Williamstown Theater Festival production of "A Doll's House," also directed by "Seminar" helmer Sam Gold ("Circle Mirror Transformation"). Linklater ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") had a recent stage stint in Off Broadway play "The School for Lies," as well as a role in "Merchant" before it moved to Broadway.Rabe and Linklater are two of the four thesps to play young novelists in "Seminar," in which Rickman stars as a literary giant teaching the scribes in private writing classes.Design team for the commercial production of the show's world preem includes David Zinn (sets and costumes), Ben Stanton (lights) and John Gromada (sound). Smuggler Films, the production company behind an upcoming biopic of Jeff Buckley, has come aboard as a producer, joining Jeffrey Finn and Jill Furman."Seminar" begins previes Oct. 27 ahead of a Nov. 20 opening. Two more cast members remain to be announced. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

An Illustrated Guide to the Silliness of Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Illustrator/writer Lisa Hanawalt saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes over the weekend, and came away feeling a bit overwhelmed. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this movie, it’s that apes are CONSTANTLY jumping through glass windows. The shattering glass must feel good on their fur?” [The Hairpin]

How Jay-Z and Kanye West Beat the Leakers With 'Watch the Throne'

When Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative album Watch the Throne hit iTunes earlier this week, many expressed amazement that the album hadn't leaked, as nearly every hip-hip album in recent memory has.our editor recommends'Watch the Throne' Claims iTunes Album Crown in 23 Countries'Watch The Throne': Inside Jay-Z's Private Listening SessionJay-Z and Kanye West's 'Watch the Throne': Celebrities, Fans ReactIndependent Retailers' Open Letter to Jay-Z and Kanye West About 'Watch The Throne' ExclusivesJay-Z, Kanye West Debut 'Otis' Video From 'Watch the Throne'; Fans React STORY: Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Watch the Throne': Track-by-Track What they didn't realize was the months of near-military-scale planning required to keep the album under wraps. Taking C.I.A.-like precautions to ensure that the album was released on their own terms, the duo successfully staved off hackers with a leak-proof strategy -- an anomaly for an industry consistently brought to its knees by web-savvy individuals eager to share unreleased material with the world. "It was really important to [Jay] that people experienced this album in its entirety when they first listened to it," says a Roc Nation executive, who asked to remain anonymous. "That was really the driving force of it, to create that nostalgic moment of unwrapping the CD and listening to it for the first time." VIDEO: Jay-Z, Kanye West Debut 'Otis' Video; Fans React Conceived during three iterations in Australia, New York City and Paris, Watch the Throne was kept secure by three core engineers -- Mike Dean, Anthony Kilhoffer and Noah Goldstein -- who disabled their computers' Wi-Fi at pop-up studios constructed in hotel rooms. Due to compromising hacker attempts for West's 2010 release My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, outside producers such as the RZA and Swizz Beatz were asked to appear in-person for works-in-progress -- no emailed song drafts were allowed. To combat pre-release piracy, Kilhoffer, Grammy Award-winner for West's Graduation and John Legend's Get Lifted, claims that all sessions were saved offsite to hard drives in Goldstein's locked Pelican briefcase over the course of nine months. "Everywhere we went in hotels, we were locking hard drives and Noah took them with him," says Kilhoffer, who now travels with external memory units that can only be accessed by biometric fingerprints. The technology, which Kilhoffer implements while traveling on West's current European tour, takes a live scan of one's finger to serve as key to access protected material. For less than $100, devices such as the Eikon Digital Privacy Manager and Zvetco Fingerprint Reader measure the finger's ridges and valleys with conductor plates, transmitting imprints through a USB cord to safeguard hard drive contents. While on the road, Kilhoffer and Dean are the sole gatekeepers to unlock the digital safes. STORY: Jay-Z Tops Forbes' Hip-Hop Cash Kings List Again Sent to a manufacturing plant days ahead of its digital unveiling on August 8, Watch the Throne was later shipped to major retail outlets like Best Buy, serviced with exclusive deluxe edition, in time for the album's physical release today. Only two New York City listening sessions -- one at the Mercer Hotel, the other at Hayden Planetarium -- invited the outside world to hear the completed work. While Jay-Z and Kanye West managed to record one of hip-hop's most hotly anticipated albums without compromise, some label executives agree that the method could set an example for an industry still struggling to adapt to the digital renaissance. "I think there are a lot of people looking at this and saying, 'Wow, maybe these guys are onto something. That might be the way to go,'" says the Roc Nation executive. "I'd be surprised if many other artists don't use this strategy as well." (This is an abridged version of Steven J. Horowitz's article in the August 20 issue of Billboard titled "Protecting the 'Throne'." For the full article, head here to purchase the issue, and here for a subscription, which gets you the magazine, charts, bulletins and much more.) Related Topics Jay-Z Kanye West

ROLL CALL: Is Paula Abdul Asking Staffers To Call Her Warrior & Gift?

by Jesse SperoLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Forever Our Gift!: Paula Abdul is back and some are saying shes a gift and we couldnt agree more! According to Us Weekly, a few interesting tidbits have surfaced about alleged demands The X-Factor judge has recently been making from her staffers. The mag claims that Paula asks that she be called warrior, survivor and gift. She also reportedly wants all of her conversations recorded because she doesnt trust her own conversations. A mag source also claimed, She also makes them check the TiVo for any mention of her and put it on a DVD. We may never know if these claims are true, but theres no denying that Paula is truly a gift regardless! Lil Lohan Gives Good Face!: Ali Lohan is stepping into the spotlight. Lindsay Lohans 17-year-old sister is now a model. The first pics of Alis campaign for PRVCY Premium denim has surfaced. Check out the shots HERE! Supermodel or still just Lilos lil sis? Lil Schwarzenegger Gives Good Chest: Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, is also basking in the spotlight shirtless. The 17-year-old is featured in a billboard ad for Hudson jeans, which is prominently displayed on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. According to Radar, Patrick is hoping to land more work with Ralph Lauren and Armani. See his billboard, HERE! Depp? Mayer?: A man, who TMZ claims is John Mayer, surfaced yesterday looking a lot like Johnny Depp. After a detailed analysis and repeated viewings, were still not sure who it is! Check out the mystery man, HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Box Office Goes 'Ape' For $53M Weekend; Ryan Reynolds Flops In $14M 'Change-Up'

SATURDAY PM, 5TH UPDATE: Another strong day for Fox's Twentieth Century Fox's prequel Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes which scored a $19.2M Saturday (only -3% from Friday, indicating word of mouth was goodabout those CGI animals and Andy Serkis). That makesfor a 3-day weekend of $53M, so very much more than the $35M which Hollywood expected. No doubt about it: origins story movies are working this summer if they're done as well as this and X-Men: First Class which was another prequel on a Fox franchise.The other major studio new release, Universal'sThe Change-Up, surprisingly ticked up(+8%) from Friday for $5.2M Saturday but that's still a very disappointing$14M weekend. Full analysis and more numbers coming... SATURDAY AM, 4THUPDATE: Twentieth Century Fox's prequel Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is leaping to an easy box office lead in 3,648 North American theaters. Hollywood initially thoughtthe origins story withdigital animals, Andy Serkis,and James Franco would follow the same trajectory as last weekend'sCowboys & Aliens which went on to a $36.4MFriday-Saturday-Sunday.But, remember, that pic got Smurf-ed. The far better reviewedApes is faringstrongerwith a very healthy $19.7M Friday (including a low-key $1.254M midnights in only 1,124 locations) for a projected $50M weekend or even higher. ItsCinemaScore was an 'A-'and exit polls showedmales making up 54% of the audience which was59% at oroverage25. Nice win for former News Corp No. 2-turned-showbiz producer Peter Chernin and his film lieutenant Dylan Clark. "Phenomenal opening validating a sensational marketing effort led by Oren Aviv and Tony Sella," a Fox exec gushed to me Friday night. And that'swithout the hype and pedigree of DreamWorks/Universal's Cowboys & Aliens which fell -64% from last Friday to 3rd place this week but at half the budget ($93M, or so Fox claims). Sony Pictures' The Smurfs held -55% for 2nd place. But this weekend's other major studio release, Universal's The Change-Up, is bottoming in 4th place with $4.7M Friday and just an estimated $13.4M for the weekend from 2,913 venues. This truly isn't Ryan Reynolds' summer of stardom after the collapse of Green Lantern here and abroad.It's a disastrous start considering that stars like Reynolds are supposed to open movies to at least $20M. "It's disappointing. We're kind of confounded by it," a Uni exec tells me about the raunchy comedy witha $50M budget from the director of Wedding Crashers and writers of The Hangover. "This movie tested unbelievably well and played like the best R-rated comedies we have." But reviews have hammered this lame body-switching premise. Full analysis and refined numbers coming. Overall moviegoing this weekendlooks like $150M, which isup +12% from last year. Here's the Top 10: 1.Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (Fox) NEW [3,648 Theaters] Friday $19.7M, Estimated Weekend $50M 2.The Smurfs - 3D (Sony) Week 2 [3,395 Theaters] Friday $5.9M (-55%), Estimated Weekend $18M, Estimated Cume $73M 3.Cowboys & Aliens (DreamWorks/Universal) Week 2 [3,754 Theaters] Friday$4.7M(-64%), Estimated Weekend $15.6M, Estimated Cume $66.6M 4.The Change-Up (Universal) NEW [2,913 Theaters] Friday$4.7M, Estimated Weekend $13.4M 5.Captain America - 3D (Marvel/Disney/Paramount) Week 3 [3,620 Theaters] Friday$3.7M, Estimated Weekend $13M, Estimated Cume $143.2M 6.Crazy, Stupid, Love (Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,020 Theaters] Friday$3.7M(-43%), Estimated Weekend $11.5M, Estimated Cume $41.6M 7. Harry Potter/Hallows Pt 2 - 3D (Warner Bros) Week 4 [3,175 Theaters] Friday $3.3M, Estimated Weekend $12M, Estimated Cume $342.6M 8. Friends With Benefits (Sony) Week3 [2,398 Theaters] Friday $1.4M, Estimated Weekend $4.5M, Estimated Cume $49.3M 9. Horrible Bosses (New Line/Warner Bros) Week 5 [2,025 Theaters] Friday $1.3M, Estimated Weekend $4.5M, Estimated Cume $105M 10. Transformers 3 - 3D (Paramount) Week6 [1,854 Theaters] Friday $850K, Estimated Weekend $3.3M, Estimated Cume $344.5M

First Look: Ryan Murphy's "Psychosexual Thriller" American Horror Story: It's No Glee!

Dylan McDermott, Taissa Farmiga and Connie Britton Glee fans, this one may not be for you. To paraphrase series co-creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy, if Nip/Tuck was about transformation, and Glee is about underdogs, his next show, American Horror Story, is a portrait of marriage. Well, that and other things that should scare the sh-- out of you. Ryan Murphy talks new FX show American Horror Story: Everyone was freaked out by the creature The show, Murphy's first since Glee, introduces us to the fragile Harmon family: Ben (Dylan McDermott), a therapist, and his wife Vivien (Connie Britton) move with their daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) to Los Angeles after Ben makes a terrible mistake that jeopardizes their family. The only problem? Their maybe-haunted new house may not be the best place to start over. Murphy and series co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk unveiled a rough cut of the first episode of the FX show to TV reporters Tuesday, describing it as a "psychosexual thriller." "The monster in the closet is infidelity," Murphy said. Falchuk said they were inspired by horror films from the 1960s and '70s like Rosemary's Baby and Don't Look Now. (Murphy and Falchuk are busy men these days; they plan to continue to work on both American Horror Story and Season 3 of Glee.) Here's what you can expect to see from American Horror Story. Mild spoilers ahead: No, seriously, this is a horror show. Don't ignore the sure-to-be-prominently-displayed TV-MA rating: This show isn't for everyone, and certainly not for younger Glee fans. "It's a really scary piece in many ways," Britton said, adding that she was both "impressed and scared to death by [Murphy and Falchuk's] vision." To be sure, American Horror Story requires a strong stomach. In the first episode alone, we'll see vivid depictions of murder, at least two possible sexual assaults, a homicidal Victorian-era infant, an enigmatic man in a rubber suit, a grotesque burn victim, angry twin redheads, demonic murals and children smoking cigarettes! Wait, a man in what kind of rubber suit? The kind that is worn during sex, which you'll see a lot of on this show. As Ben and Vivien attempt to repair their marriage, various sexual temptations arise, including a mysterious housekeeper, the aforementioned besuited man and, well, masturbation. Tami Taylor is gone without a trace. Friday Night Lights fans, be warned: Britton's supportive, "y'all"-spouting housewife does not live here. Instead Vivien is a cold, remote woman scorned recovering from a gruesome miscarriage. No vampire or werewolf types lurk, but the house seems to be a magnet for the damned and unhinged. Constance (Jessica Lange), a very nosy neighbor who speaks with a noxious Southern drawl, appears to know an awful lot about the house's history, but isn't exactly forthcoming with anything resembling a warning. Her mentally challenged daughter Adelaide, regularly dooms the house's occupants to death with a shy giggle. Larry, aka "The Burn Guy" (Denis O'Hare), stalks the Harmons with dubious intentions. Moira (Frances Conroy), the family's officious housekeeper, has very different rapport with Ben and Vivien. Any shades of Glee at all? Well, there's music, you just won't exactly want to sing along. Take the benign 1956 Patience and Prudence ditty "Tonight You Belong To Me," which takes on a decidedly darker tone when you hear it echoing through the darkened corners of the Harmons' terrifying basement... which is where the baby with bloody fangs and claws lives. American Horror Story is slated to premiere Wednesday, Oct 5 at 10/9c on FX.

Alfred Hitchcock's Lost White Shadow Turns Up in New Zealand

The gods of cinema and/or the slow news day have smiled on film buffs worldwide with the discovery of The White Shadow, a long-lost silent 1923 melodrama by a young director named Alfred Hitchcock. It’s no Vertigo, but hopes are that it’ll help us determine how The Master got there. According to a report from Wellington, New Zealand, archivists discovered the film’s first three reels just sitting around in the national collection, where it had been received years ago from the estate of a late film projectionist and collector. Hitchcock, who made the film at age 24, contributed The White Shadow’s script, sets and editing. “This is one of the most significant developments in memory for scholars, critics, and admirers of Hitchcock’s extraordinary body of work,” said Hitchcock biographer and National Society of Film Critics chief David Sterritt. The movie’s three other reels remain AWOL, but at least there’s a thought-lost John Ford comedy, 1927’s Upstream, in the collection to help make up for it. You take what you can get. Meanwhile, copies of The White Shadow are currently being made and planned for US delivery soon. See you in line. · Lost Alfred Hitchcock film found in New Zealand [Telegraph via @AwardsDaily]

Marvel looks to make Doctor Strange next Iron Man

Marvel has started working on plans to make neurosurgeon-turned-super-sorcerer Doctor Strange into their next big movie franchise.Thomas Donnell and Joshua Oppenheimer (Conan the Barbarian) have handed in a script, and Marvel are so excited by what they've read they've already started shortlisting directors.After a flurry of successful films released by Marvel in recent months, not least Captain America, many will be questioning this attempt to bring out one of their rather more obscure characters.For those who've never heard of Doctor Strange (he's only the big daddy of the Marvel Universe) here's a selection of his many, many talents..."Doctor Strange can use magic to achieve virtually any effect he desires, such as telepathy, energy blasts, teleportation, astral projection, the creation of materials, creating planet-wide protective shields, restoring himself from bodily destruction, or resurrecting the dead."Strange is capable of stopping and reversing time on a planetary scale, sealing black holes, restoring universes, absorbing power enough to unconsciously destroy any surrounding galaxies, growing to the size of and merging with universal concepts, and helped to channel the mass of the entire Marvel Universe."So he's essentially a superhero Swiss army knife then...