Recording Academy sets honorees

It Academy features its lifetime achievement, Trustees and technical honours honorees for 2012. Visitors will probably be acknowledged inside a private NARAS event throughout Grammy Week in February. Next year's visitors of lifetime achievement nods are Southern rock originators the Allman Brothers and sisters Band, country-pop singer-guitarist Glen Campbell, late Brazilian singer-songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim, country singer George Manley, session stars the Memphis Horns (trumpeter Wayne Jackson and saxophonist Andrew Love), Supremes lead singer and Motown solo star Diana Ross and late singer-songwriter and rap progenitor Gil Scott-Heron. Trustees Award visitors, acknowledged for contributions in non-performance fields, are New Orleans producer, songwriter, arranger and bandleader Dork Bartholomew, late Apple co-founder Jobs and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Technical Grammy visitors, reported with the Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing Advisory Council and chapter committees additionally to NARAS trustees, are German audio firm Celemony and late engineer Roger Nichols. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Talkback: Was It Wrong To Use Kim Jong-il's Death For Free Dictator Publicity?

The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il this past Sunday inspired hope in some and fear (that Kim’s mysterious 20-something son Kim Jong-un will continue his father’s tyranny) in others. But for Sacha Baron Cohen — the comedic actor/writer/producer who reveled in staging uncomfortable situations in his mockumentaries Borat and Brno — Kim’s death inspired a publicity push for his upcoming comedy The Dictator. Early Monday afternoon, Paramount and ostensibly The Dictator star, writer and producer issued a statement from the perspective of his Dictator character — North African despot General Aladeen: I am saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend Kim Jong-Il. Our thoughts go out to his wife and 813 children. “K-Jo” was a great leader, good friend and average double’s badminton partner. He died as he lived, in 3-inch lifts. An extraordinary man, he did so much to spread compassion, wisdom and uranium throughout the world. On behalf of myself, Ahmadinejad, Chavez and Newt Gingrich, we would like to welcome his son, Kim Jong Un into the “Axis of Evil.” In addition to the statement, which quickly circulated online, Cohen & Co. used the North Korean leader’s death as an excuse to start a Twitter feed for his Dictator character — @RepublicWadiya — and tweet his eulogy. The opportunistic marketing scheme raises the question: Was it wrong, disrespectful or just in bad taste for Cohen to use Kim Jong-il’s death to market his film, especially considering the millions of North Korean people who starved to death, lived in poverty and otherwise fallen victim to Kim’s ruthlessness regime? Or is it wrong for us to expect anything less from a man who has made a living out of provoking people with politically incorrect statements and gestures on-camera? · Kim Jong Il Dies, Sacha Baron Cohen’s Dictator Releases Statement [HuffPo] · Twitter [@RepublicWadiya]

Alwaleed buys $300 mil stake in Twitter

Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a extended-term investor in News Corp. and Time Warner, mentioned his Kingdom Holding will receive a $300 million "proper stake" in Twitter, his first foray into social media together with a powerful election of confidence inside the micro-blogging site. "We're feeling social media will basically affect the media industry landscape in later on. Twitter will capture and monetize this positive trend," mentioned Kingdom's professional director of worldwide possibilities Ahmed Halawani in the statement. A good investment is created after several several days of discussions. Prince Alwaleed mentioned a good investment "reaffirms our ability in identifying appropriate options to buy promising, high-growth companies getting a worldwide impact." Twitter has 100 million active clients daily and 250 million tweets -- or short messages. It absolutely was used extensively among protestors to spread information through the Arab Spring uprising this year. The Prince, a greater-ranking part of the Saudi Royal family, features a internet worth mentioned being greater than $20 billion. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

NBC Buys Melodrama to become Executive Created by Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay NBC has purchased a script to become executive created legally & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, Deadline reviews. American Dream, from playwright Paul Kolsby, is definitely an hour-lengthy melodrama set behind the curtain of the reality show concerning the relationship between your network professionals and also the show's stars. See photos of Mariska Hargitay Kolsby has done his share of reality shows including Jersey Shoreline and Bridezillas. He developed the idea together with film producers Andrew Lazar and Steve Shainberg. Hargitay later came aboard after reading through the script. Do you consider you'll watch it?

Exclusive Trailer of MTV's I Just Want My Pants Back

I Just Want my Pants Back Jason Strider just wants his pants back. Is that so much to ask? In MTV's upcoming comedy series I Just Want My Pants Back, the Brooklyn-dwelling 20-something falls in love with a one-night stand - and subsequently commences a quest to find her (and his pants that she stole the next morning).The series, which premieres Thursday, Feb. 2 at 11/10c on MTV, is based on the book by David J. Rosen, and follows Strider and his three best friends as they struggle with postcollegiate life in NY.Check out the trailer:

Kenneth Branagh 'My Week With Marilyn' Live Q&A: Today at 2 P.M. EST!

If you enjoyed 'My Week With Marilyn,' here's some great news: today at 2 p.m. EST, star Kenneth Branagh -- who plays Sir Laurence Olivier in the new film -- will participate in a live web chat from Sweden where he'll answer your questions. Curious what it was like on the set of 'My Week With Marilyn'? Want to know Sir Kenneth's thoughts on his co-star, Michelle Williams, who plays the luminous Marilyn Monroe? Or just ask him something about his lengthy career? Here's your chance. Fans can participate by sending in their own questions -- head over to Huffington Post to participate or watch the streaming event below. 'My Week With Marilyn' is in theaters now. To find out more about the film, visit Facebook. [Photo: TWC] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Majors mull new trade charges in Argentina

Argentina hopes to improve trade charges to steer U.S. majors who bring films to the country for exhibition to export Argentinean content abroad, including films and tv series. This can help sustain production in the country where Hollywood rules el born area office. The us government requested professionals from Disney, Fox, The brand new the new sony, Universal and WB with a first round of talks Tuesday after delivering them the nuances of 120 films from 40 producers and a lot of TV productions offered by Dori Media Group, Endemol and Telefe Intl. among others. "You need to export grains, machinery, technology, but it's essential to export free airline, our values," Argentina's Leader Cristina Fernandez p Kirchner mentioned to noisy applause within the meeting. The costs already modify the vehicle industry where BMW, for instance, must export goods from Argentina to equal the requirement for the cars it sells for the country. Liliana Mazure, prexy in the Incaa national film board, suggested each major will have to export four to five Argentine features a year and various TV series. An expense for films and series might be searching for each territory, with obligations made upfront and not based on results. This can be a sticking point for your majors, which are looking in the government's proposal. Pablo Sahores, Disney's director of theatrical distribution in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, mentioned its affil, Patagonik Film Group, was already offerring local films. He thinks Disney "should not have difficulty in fulfilling the government's proposal, for film exports no less than.In . This really is really the government's latest push to boost production and expand shops for your most widely used film industry in Latin America, which produces 100 features a year. It's launched a DTT system for local producers and hiked taxes on foreign distribution, wanting to obtain additional screen in time a business where Hollywood rules 85% of admissions. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com