Syfy skein produces Twitter 'Haven'

'Haven'It's hard to become a first at anything on television, but Syfy's "Haven" certainly has something it may tweet about. The hourlong series, now in the second year, grew to become the very first primetime show to integrate Twitter into an on-air story. Its August. 12 episode, the 5th of year, released a concurrent subplot about the microblogging site for seven episodes until its season finale on Sept. 30. Series airs Fridays at 10. "So far, the only method individuals have attempted to make use of Twitter is really as a 1-off event, like live-tweeting a show," states "Haven" co-creator Jim Dunn. "We are attempting to use Twitter like a medium for telling a tale. It happened to us we're able to operate a parallel story like a lengthy-term method to engage fans, and obtain into some areas that do not merit screen time however the fans would appreciate, for example more to do with the figures." The aim would be to drive viewership, using a brand new audience while giving audiences one more reason revisit the mystery drama, by which each episode is closed-ended. "Haven" is dependant on Stephen King's mystery novel "The Colorado Kid" and stars Emily Rose as FBI agent Audrey Parker, who occupies residence within the small capital of scotland - Haven, Maine -- a longtime refuge for individuals with an array of supernatural capabilities -- and starts to uncover the town's many secrets. Because the parallel plot originates on Twitter, audiences will hear that plot recommended inside a type of dialogue or catch glimpses from it within the show, like a register a cafe, where they will be forwarded to stick to the Twitter conversation through two figures. Vince (Richard Donat) and Dork (John Dunsworth) run Haven's newspaper, as well as in the show join Twitter as beginners towards the microblogging site. Audiences who follow their figures (@VinceHaven, @DaveHaven) might find them connect to a mysterious Twitter user (@ColdInHaven) you never know an uncanny amount about Haven's secrets. The brand new character won't appear onscreen within the story arc, however the subplot serves to setup her introduction for future episodes inside a forecasted third season. "We actually desired to utilize Twitter with real-time interaction, distributing information in addition to engaging the very first time ever within the content of the show," states co-executive producer Lloyd Segan. "This medium enables us to show character aspects and also the humanity displayed within the tales we tell. It is a procedural, but at its core is its heart and humor, which is a different way to have that across." The producers and Syfy labored with Twitter's media integration team in Bay Area within the development process. "They requested questions regarding the way they might make it Twitter-y," states Robin Sloan, manager of media close ties at Twitter. "Our message was essentially about how exactly they might fit Twitter into among the tales they tell so well naturally. It's amazing how they have leaped along with both ft, immediately seeing the creative potential." To measure audience reaction to digital arc, Twitter will pull stats from the statistics systems within the seven-week period, and employ "Haven" like a example for other series that are looking to dive into Twitter, Syfy digital g.m. and senior Vice president Craig Engler states. Syfy will conduct research following the finale from the show, which received 2.67 million total audiences in the first three excursions. Meantime, the cable internet is watching the amount of Twitter fans rise -- Vince and Dork each had a lot more than 10,000 within 5 days from the initial Twitter episode. "The 'Haven' website did its best day's traffic on August. 12, and 44% of this was from Twitter integration," Engler states. "We are able to measure buzz by seeing who's while using hashtag (#HavenNews) and just how so many people are speaking about this. Hopefully, we'll become familiar with a couple things, because this is something you determine in the process.Inch All this isn't to express that audiences that do not take part in Twitter is going to be omitted. "For that viewer you never know nothing relating to this, it plays like a perfectly natural season, however for individuals on Twitter, it plays by having an added degree of meaning," Dunn states. "A few of the secrets and mythology within the Twitter story will return to roost within the concluding episode." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Digital drives music sales up 4.8%

The good news continues for the music business, as Nielsen SoundScan reported Thursday that overall music sales have increased 4.8% so far this year, with some of the brightest gains coming in the digital sphere. All told, total music sales climbed to 277 million units vs. 264 million for the same period in 2010. Nielsen senior VP of entertainment analytics David Bakula presented the figures during a NARM Web seminar. Overall album sales gained 2.4% gain to 195 million units through the week ended Aug. 21 vs. 190 million at the same point last year. Physical album sales, down 4%, continued to drop year to year, but Bakula noted that 2011's gains in digital sales, which flattened in 2010, made up for the decline. Digital album sales grew 19.1% to 63 million units, while digital track-equivalent albums (measured as one album for 10 digital tracks, in order to account for the more a la carte purchasing habits of digital consumers) gained 10.9% to 82 million units. The digital side now accounts for 32% of all album sales, with electronic music the leading genre, taking 49% of the pie. Bakula attributed part of the rise in digital music sales since last November to the RIAA's successful efforts to shut down pirate site LimeWire. "We think it's pushed a lot of people over to legal purchasing," he said. The widely publicized launch of the Beatles catalog on iTunes also lifted the digital sector. The gains in digital music sales are recharting the retail landscape: Chain retailers' sales dropped 9.7% and indie stores slipped 8.5%, but digital retailers saw a 14.3% boost through Aug. 21. Current album sales have dipped 2.4%, but catalog sales rose 8.5%. Catalog titles now account for just over 50% of business. Vinyl remains a niche format success story. SoundScan is projecting a 30% gain in LP sales to 3.7 million units by year's end. The top genres so far this year were gospel, classical, new age, country, electronic and rock; Bakula noted that individual releases, like a Kirk Franklin gospel title, can skew these rankings dramatically. Rock remained the leading genre with 32% of sales, followed by R&B (17%), alternative (17%), country (12%), hard music (10%) and rap (7.8%). To date, the year's top sellers include Adele's "21" (3.1 million units), Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (1.7 million), Mumford & Sons' "Sigh No More" (1.1 million), Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" (1 million) and Bruno Mars' "Doo Wops & Hooligans" (769,000). The latter three titles are 2010 releases. Noting a strong release schedule in the forthcoming months, Bakula concluded, "I think the year will end very positively." While year-to-year figures could be skewed by the late 2010 release of Taylor Swift's "Speak Now," which has topped the 3.6 million-unit mark, he pointed out that a late-year release of Lady Antebellum's follow-up to the smash "Need You Now" should level the field. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Report: Disney Channel's Brenda Song and Trace Cyrus Expecting a Baby

Brenda Song and Trace Cyrus Brenda Song, best known for playing privileged yet neglected rich girl London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, is pregnant, Celebuzz reports. She's expecting her first child with Miley Cyrus' older brother Trace Cyrus. Song, 23, and Cyrus made their first public appearance together in May at the Nylon party but they've reportedly been seeing each other for months. Lizzie McGuire's Hilary Duff expecting first child Besides The Suite Life and its spin-off, Suite Life on Deck, Song has also appeared on Disney's Hannah Montana (starring her boyfriend's famous sis), The Wizards of Waverly Place and the TV movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior. On the big screen, she recently played the clingy, fire-loving girlfriend to Eduardo (Andrew Garfield) in The Social Network. Cyrus, 22, is the adopted son of Billy Ray Cyrus and once played in the band Metro Station before it broke up. The site for his clothing company, Southern Made Hollywood Paid, features Song as a model. Neither Song nor Cyrus' reps could be reached for comment.

Djimon Hounsou May Be The Angel Of Dying

For Alex Proyas' Paradise LostThere is yet another angel in paradise tonight... Cinematically speaking, a minimum of, as Alex Proyas just added Djimon Hounsou towards the cast of Paradise Lost. According to John Milton's epic 17th century poem, the storyline will expand upon the huge spat in paradise between squabbling archangels Lucifer (Bradley Cooper) and Michael (Ben Master), who've a large disagreement over God's sudden fascination with his new creation, humans. Lost's plot will even detail the angels' role in Adam and Eve's fall from sophistication. Hounsou's been selected for any apparently fitting role - the imposing actor will have Abdiel, the angel of dying. He denounces Lucifer's intend to have his fellow seraphs revolt and brings word of his treachery to God, simply to uncover that he's already conscious of occasions and it is planning His forces to battle. Question if the angelic chorus begins singing Eye from the Tiger to function them up?Having a script in hands which has seen contributions from the kind of Byron Willinger, Stuart Hazeldine, Philip p Blasi, Lawrence Kasdan and Ryan Condal, Proyas will begin shooting later this season, making use of performance capture technology to create the different angels to existence.

Inbetweeners' breaks U.K. records

LONDON -- U.K. teen laffer "The Inbetweeners" has loved the greatest weekend opening ever for any Brit comedy and native indie pic within the territory, taking 13.two million ($21.8 million) from 455 sites in Blighty and Ireland. The figures, including 2 days of previews ($4.3 million on Wednesday and $3.two million on Thursday), trumped the prior greatest Brit comedy opening, "Bridget Johnson: Fringe of Reason," which made $17.two million in the first weekend in 2004. The $5.8 million pic, that is written by Entertainment Film Marketers and it is created by Film4, is really a spinoff from Funnel 4's eponymous hit sitcom four socially troubled teenage boys as well as their adventures in senior high school. Within the feature pic version, the gang mind to The island for 2 days to party without any parents, no instructors with no money hoping of meeting youthful women. The whopping opening figure also far surpassed opening weekend figures of top Brit pic of 2011, "The King's Speech," which made $5.5 million in the first weekend as well as outperform opening weekend figures for Disney's "Pirates from the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" ($19.a million) and "Transformers: Dark from the Moon" ($17.7 million). Pic is composed through the program's original designers and authors Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, while Ben Palmer directs and Christopher Youthful produces. Pic toplines Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison. In Cannes, IM Global was selling the pic, that was quickly acquired by a few worldwide areas, including The country (Aurum), Canada (Walnut Pictures), France (French Connection) and Germany (Where You Started Entertainment), a task for this type of localized comedy. Pic does not possess a U.S. distrib. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

New Kids' Joey McIntyre Heading to CSI: NY

Joey McIntyre New Kids on the Block's Joey McIntyre is hitting the block(s) of New York for a guest-spot on CSI: NY, Entertainment Weekly reports. The singer, who recently wrapped the NKOTBSB tour with the Backstreet Boys, will play Ray, a man caught up in a shooting that involves one of the CSIs. Is CSI: NY on your Watchlist? Add it and your other favorites now and never miss an episode McIntyre's episode is slated to air Oct. 14. He will also appear in an episode of Psych later this season. CSI: NY returns Friday, Sept. 23 at 9/8c on CBS.

MasterChef's Joe: Satisfy the Final 3

Master Chef Hello MasterChef fans, Monday evening we viewed the ultimate 4 compete within the second season of MasterChef USA. During the last two several weeks, it had been Suzy, Jennifer, Adrien and Christian who rose up from 1000's who used, so that as we had today, undertake and don't is able to venture out with no fight! Right now our remaining foursome have suffered a continuing stream of intense and psychologically draining tasks -- perhaps more fair than the others, but have continued to be passionate and resilient. We felt these were ready and competent to go one stage further by representing their country before a panel of highly revered worldwide MasterChef idol judges. Competing on your own is a factor, but knowing your speed and agility will potentially do or die the status of the country's food culture is very another. This concern is really a large deal! Although MasterChef is comparatively new in america, the show includes a worldwide phenomenon with versions airing in India, Australia, and France, simply to title a couple of. Not just may be the level of skill in our home cooks under scrutiny, they'll be in comparison against home cooks from nations having a much more potent and much deeper food history than our very own. Within the eyes of great importance and around the globe, we haven't yet shed our status because the worst problem junk food nation -- purveyors of cheap, mass-created food, ready willing and able to invade Shanghai or Antwerp using the next five-story Carl's junior. To place something about the plate that's poor with its execution, however in its conception, is only going to solidify us because the land of Junk e-mail and Lean Cuisine. We do not need any help for the reason that department. Splitting the runners up into two teams of Jennifer and Adrien in blue, versus the Red-colored Team of Christian and Suzy, we once more find Christian at the middle of turmoil and discord. The Red-colored Team unsuccessful to speak and didn't are unit, which is obviously what turned up about the plate. Although Christian includes a lengthy good reputation for strife within this competition, I have to take Suzy to job for her role within their team's undoing. She really did not give Christian around an inch, however again, who are able to blame her? She has been coping with his personality such a long time you can observe where he's worn her lower. Christian states he's still fighting his only opposition is themself at this time. I really hope he watches these episodes and realizes a couple of things: 1)he includes a real gift with the cooking, and a pair of) he's teetering about the fringe of throwing everything out your window. Such a shame that might be. Nowhere Team's place prawn and lobster dish won ultimately, however they were definitely not without some incidents that belongs to them. Not washing the prawns? Seriously? Sitting at this table alongside our esteemed guest idol judges, I had been screaming inside. Overall, both dishes help with were decent, but Jennifer and Adrien created better results, and labored together together superbly. For that pressure test, Suzy must have had the lemon meringue cake within the bag. And despite the fact that the cake itself was scrumptious, the meringue was disappointing and also the crust was unvevenly done. Sadly, this sent her home. Tuesday evening may be the large dance, and concludes a lengthy and arduous, although exciting journey because of not just the remaining runners up, however for us idol judges too. It's been a privilege to look at these gifted and spirited home cooks pursue their dreams. Who definitely are the final guy or lady standing? Stay tuned at 8/7c on Fox and discover. It will likely be an excellent evening! Thank you for reading through, and thank you for watching! Joe Who do you consider should win - Adrien, Christian or Jennifer?

Exclusive: Tim Sullivan talks Chillerama

A week ago TF said how Tim Sullivan had shipped a finished cut of Chillerama towards the studio and also, since he then required time to talk to us solely about his horror anthology film.Sullivan told TF the way the original idea changed within the 12-year period from pitching to production, too revealing how he put 'the band' together to produce the 4 segments from the film."Chillerama was created on my own and Adam Rifkin in 1998 whenever we were focusing on Detroit Rock City, that they directed and that i co-created. We glued at that time over our mutual fascination with drive-in movies, Hug, Mad Magazine and so forth," Sullivan discloses."At that time, we contacted the then editors of Famous Monsters magazine about doing an anthology film known as Famous Monsters that will occur in a drive-in and have four segments that might be small-movies - similar to condensed or edited versions of complete films such as the Super 8 digest versions we accustomed to collect as kids.""When utilizing famous monsters did not exercise, we felt the concept was too good to waste, and thus we emerged using the title Chillerama. But like several things, existence will get in the manner, and thus we sitting about the idea for a long time going on do other projects."On the way, we grew to become buddies with Adam Eco-friendly and Joe Lynch, our pathways always crossing at various genre occasions. Eventually i was telling Eco-friendly and Lynch about Chillerama, along with a giant lamp just continued and me and Rif understood we'd finally found an ideal partners for that 'band', as they say."And today, here i am this year- the 4 people just dropped this bad boy off at Image, our distributor. Feels as though the longest pregnancy ever. I want a glass or two!InchChillerama will get its European premiere at FrightFest 2011, that is joined by Total Film and happens in the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square between 25-29 August. Tickets could be reserved by calling 08714 714 714 or by going to world wide web.empirecinemas.co.united kingdom.Adam Eco-friendly and Joe Lynch may also be in conversation with Ray Fessenden and a number of other US horror company directors in a special panel located by Total Film on 26 August.

Bride and groom Brooke Burke & David Charvet Share Excitement Over Marriage

La, Calif. -- Brooke Burke and David Charvet were engaged for 5 years (coupled with two children) just before getting married in St. Barts on Friday, however the gorgeous couple appears to become more for each other than ever before. Delivering my first hello tweet as Mrs. CharvetIts true, we finally made it happen with love and certainty, Brooke Tweeted on Sunday. OMG, I'm a married lady!!! The stunning Dwts co-host also expressed her pleasure to ModernMom.com (Brooke can serve as Boss from the website), and mused about altering her surname to incorporate those of her new husband. Yes it is true, Brooke told the web site. After almost two decades, David and that i tied the knot within our favorite place on the planet, St. Barts. It had been the best time, within the perfect place, for the right reasons. I'm so happy, so for each other, and thus content. My only real question is, Brooke Burke-Charvet or Brooke CharvetWhat do you consider? she added. David, 39, also shared his excitement within the couples amazing wedding on his Twitter page. Awaiting my spouse mrs charvet!! he Tweeted on Sunday. @brookeburke holy [expletive]!! cant believe we made it happen. It had been amazing! As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, Brooke and David started dating in 2005, and grew to become involved in 2006. They've two children together daughter Paradise, 4, and boy Shaya, 3. Brooke also offers two kids Neriah, 11, and Sierra Sky, 9 from her previous marriage to cosmetic surgeon Garth Fischer.Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Saving Shiloh

The third and final entry into the popular series of Shiloh films, based on the writings of author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and detailing the captivating journeys of a young boy and his loyal canine companion, find a maturing Marty standing by his troubled neighbor Judd during the drunken townie's most desperate hour. A local man has gone missing, and when authorities find out that he was last seen fighting with Judd, who is already suspected in a series of thefts, they are quick to finger Marty's neighbor as the prime suspect in the unsolved mystery. Though local gossip quickly convicts the weary loner before his case ever even goes to trial, Marty, his father, and his understanding teacher are quick to point out that in the American justice system people are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Which Movie Stars Can We 'Blame' For the Tumbling Stock Market?

Why do celebrities ring the New York Stock Exchange bell? Is it because they have a project to promote, a longtime fascination with the stock market, a complex fetish for percussion instruments and stressed-out traders in suits? Who knows! But a lot of celebrities have gotten to ring the opening bell the past few years, and thanks to a new article in The Atlantic, we now know which movie stars are responsible for kicking off the biggest drops in recent memory. Be forewarned: Captain America may be able to protect the country against Nazis but his mighty shield cannot protect the NYSE. Hilary Duff, December 23,2008 Project: ? Change: -99.16 Elijah Wood, September 18, 2009 Project: 9 (Yeah, I didn’t remember that either) Market Change: +35.45 Meatloaf, June 21, 2010 Project: ? Market Change: -105.49 Sylvester Stallone, August 19, 2010 Project: The Expendables Market Change: -139.94 Chris Evans, July 11, 2011 Project: Captain America Market Change: -150.01 The Smurfs, July 29, 2011 Project: The Smurfs Market Change: -96.04 We’re not saying you should blame Chris Evans, but some folks take their stocks very seriously. Can he reverse his entirely coincidental impact on your portfolio by returning to the NYSE floor with his next, more thematically relevant film, What’s Your Number?. · Have Celebrities Been Cursing the Stock Market? [The Atlantic]

NBC orders 'Frankenstein' revival

NBC has purchased a drama script charged like a modern-day undertake the legend of Frankenstein. Script originates from a couple of the professional producers of "House," Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner, via that series' studio, Universal Media Galleries, and BermanBraun. "House" is approaching on its eighth and likely final season Fox has signaled it doesn't plan to go further, though UMS has got the choice to shop it elsewhere. UMS is really a logical home for any Frankenstein revival considering the fact that Universal Galleries is the owner of the intellectual property privileges to classic movie monsters including Dracula, the Wolfman and also the Mummy. Frankenstein has demonstrated a well known subject about the feature side, with a minimum of six different productions in development at twentieth century Fox, Summit, Universal and Lakeshore Entertainment to title a couple of. Friend and Lerner are writing partners who've been on "House" since 2005, graduation to professional producers within the 4th season. Their previous credits include "Martial Law," "Smallville," "Roswell" and "Boston Public." Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

'Smurfs' spawn a cure for vfx blues

'The Smurfs'"The Smurfs" may seem like an easy assignment for its visual effects team compared with, say, "Transformers 3." The little critters themselves are very cartoony, and appear to lack the complexity of shape-shifting robots. But visual effects challenges, and the innovative solutions they spawn, pop up in unexpected places. In the case of "The Smurfs," the vfx artsts at Sony Imageworks had to develop a lighting pipeline that not only helped deliver the Smurfs in just the right shade of blue, but will improve -- and speed up -- the vfx work on at least two 2012 Imageworks tentpoles: "Men in Black III" and "The Amazing Spider-Man." Faced with the challenge of making the Smurfs appear as though they were living beings inside a real world but never letting them lose their Smurf-like qualities, the film's vfx crew found innovative ways to use equipment, notably a Spheron HDRI camera and a Trimble laser scanner. The two were combined in a new way to capture lighting and depth information on the live-action set, and that information was used later by the digital artists who had to put the Smurfs into the scene. The gear captured so much information about the live-action lighting that there was little of the usual guesswork when vfx artists had match it. Digital effects supervisor Daniel Kramer says with this approach, the lighting department could light a scene pretty much at the same time the animation department was working on the characters, instead of having to wait -- impatiently -- for animation to turn the shot over to them. This lighting pipeline, which was also used on "Green Lantern," stands to speed up Imageworks' output. Says vfx supervisor Rich Hoover: "The more you can use tools like these to gather this kind of lighting information, the more time you have to explore ways to really get the performance from a character you need for the movie to work the best it can." The Smurfs themselves had to be handled very carefully, as their brilliant blue skin doesn't easily fit into realistic environments. "One of the things that indicates that Smurfs are small is the translucency of their skin," Kramer says. "So there's going to be a color underneath their skin, just like we have the color of our blood mixing with our skin tone." And it turns out that Smurfs have red blood. "Without that red undertone, the Smurfs didn't integrate into the scenes at all; we let the lighting around the Smurfs influence their skin tone in the same way it would influence anyone's skin tone in a scene," Kramer says. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com