Clare Fischer dies at 83

Clare Fischer, a Grammy-winning composer who authored scores for television and films and labored with legendary music artists including Dizzy Gillespie, died Thursday, Jan. 26, in Burbank after having suffered cardiac arrest two days earlier. He was 83. An uncommonly versatile music performer, Fischer labored like a composer, arranger, conductor and pianist in excess of six decades. He's most widely known for his plans for Prince, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Branford Marsalis, Raphael Saadiq, Usher and Brandy. Nominated for any Grammy 11 occasions within the best instrumental arrangement category, Fischer won for his album "Free Fall" in 1986 as well as for "Salsa Picante plus 2+2" almost 30 years ago. His film credits including Prince's "Underneath the Cherry Moon," that he was orchestra composer and arranger. Born in Durand, Mich., Fischer got his start playing piano and writing jazz-inspired plans for that Hi-Lo's, a b capella quartet popular within the nineteen fifties. He labored because the arranger on Gillespie's "Jazz Portrait of Duke Ellington." Fischer recorded 51 albums over his lifetime together with his boy Brent Fischer. The background music ranges in fashion from jazz to salsa to symphonies. "Clare Fischer would be a major affect on my harmonic concept," Herbie Hancock is cited as saying on Fischer's website. "(Fischer) and Bill Evans, and Ravel and Gil Evans, finally. You realize, this is where it truly originated from. Many of the harmony which i play could be tracked to 1 of individuals four people and whomever their influences were," Hancock stated. Clare Fischer is made it by his wife, Donna two sons along with a daughter and three grandchildren. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

George Clooney, Kristen Wiig to supply at SAGs

George Clooney, Kristen Wiig George Clooney, Kristen Wiig and Kathy Bates would be the variety of presenters for Sunday's Screen Stars Guild Honours, executive producer Rob Margolis introduced Thursday.Clooney, which has received four SAG Honours, is nominated for his starring role inside the Descendants, while Kristen Wiig can be a first-time nominee on her behalf role in Bridesmaids.SAG Honours: Come with an exclusive consider first the seating chart!Bates, a couple-time SAG Award recipient and eight-time nominee, is nominated for just two honours this year Body on her behalf portrayal of Gertrude Stein in Evening amount of time in Paris and also the other on her behalf role as Harriet Korn in Harry's Law.Modern Family rules SAG nominationsOther presenters for your evening include Jessica Chastain, Mister Ben Kingsley, Melissa McCarthy, Kaira Pitt, Zoe Saldana and Owen Wilson.The 18th annual SAG Honours air Sunday at 8/7c on TNT and also the best spinner's.

Geoffrey Hurry Named Australian of the season

SYDNEY - Geoffrey Hurry continues to be named the Australian Of The Season, receiving his award on Wednesday from Pm Julia Gillard for his services towards the arts.The honours citation stated that "being an worldwide acclaimed and recognized actor, Geoffrey remains extremely grounded in the neighborhood, his country and also the Australian arts industry."He was famous for his 40-year career throughout which he's accomplished "the rare worldwide distinction from the "Triple Crown" - an Oscar, a Tony as well as an Emmy. Younger crowd has three Australian Film Institute honors, three British Oscars, two Golden Globes, four Screen Actors' Guild Honours, and this past year was awarded with a ranks of Australia's elite having a Helpmann Award.The Australia Day Council also acknowledged Rush's act as an innovative mentor, supporting youthful stars and arts companies.Hurry was among five runners up and among 5000 nominated through the public for that award and it is the 2nd actor to get the recognition because the award's establishment in 1960. Paul Hogan received the award in 1975. The 60-year-old stated in the acceptance speech "This can be a great recognition for any carrying out artist in theatre and film. Personally i think certain my co-workers might find this being an endorsement in our national story of creativeness."Being an Australian he stated he's a part of an excellent tradition of story tellers."I understand very difficult-wired into every Australian of the many background we like acting the goat, using the mickey, cracking a tale, spinning a yarn. We survive a tropical that features the earliest nation on the planet," talking about the indigenous culture. "There's a motivation immediately, where performance traditions are in the centre of their being - our Fantasizing," he added.The award, while realizing work that's spanned 4 decades in film and theater, caps a substantial twelve several weeks for Hurry, who received an Oscar nomination along with a BAFTA award for his role as Lionel Logue within the The Nobleman Speech, which younger crowd offered being an executive producer, made an appearance in "Pirates from the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" starred in and executive created Fred Schepisi's "The Attention from the Storm," starred in Belvoir St Theatre manufacture of "Diary Of The Madman" in NY and Sydney and performed Lady Bracknell within the Melbourne Theatre Company's manufacture of "The significance of Being Serious." He seemed to be named inaugural leader from the Australian Academy of Cinema and tv Arts (AACTA) which is incorporated in the cycle of their new honours season.After meeting his Australia Day obligations on Thursday as Australian Of The Season Hurry will visit La to assist present at Friday's inaugural AACTA Worldwide Honours ceremony, before coming back for that Australian AACTA Honours ceremony in the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday. The Hollywood Reporter

Sundance/Mahindra tap four

Four filmmakers have been tapped to received the 2012 Sundance Institute/Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award, which provides support for the creatives' upcoming projects.Each kudo winner receives a $10,000 cash prize as well as a round of industry meetings during the Sundance Film Festival, year-round mentoring, a spot in Sundance's Feature Film Program Lab and other creative and strategic support.From South Africa, Etienne Kallos nabbed the prize for "Vrystaat (Free State)," a modern-day rite of passage set during an annual corn harvest in the Free State of South Africa, while Aussie Ariel Kleiman scored for "Partisan," a feature about a criminal whose reign at a secluded commune is threatened.Chilean filmmaker Dominga Sotomayor took the award for "Late to Die Young," about a trio of women facing a forest fire, while Indian creative Shonali Bose got the nod for "Margarita. With a Straw," about a woman who dreams of being a Bollywood songwriter.Awards, an initiative that pairs Sundance with global conglom Mahindra Group, were announced at a private ceremony during the current fest. The three-year partnership of the two orgs also includes the Mumbai Mantra/Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab, a developmental workshop for Indian scribes. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Anthony Mackie talks Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter

Earlier within the week we introduced the latest poster for supernatural action flick Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter, and today Anthony Mackie has considered along with a couple of more particulars by what don't be surprised in the film.Mackie plays William, Lincoln's childhood friend switched valet, who assists the Leader in the night time endeavours to slay the forces of evil."We did a lot of training," states Mackie. "I'm able to honestly state that Timur [Bekmambetov] is amazing while he shot this film enjoy it would be a real biography of Abraham Lincoln subsequently, however the action sequences are unlike anything you have ever seen before. "He recognized this fabricated story is to date available he needed to go completely to have great results. So he just went so far as he could using the CGI which trademark Timur turning of shots and also the storytelling."And Mackie even goes so far as to check the finished article to among the seminal science-fiction movies from the 1990's."I seem like the truly amazing factor about [my career] is having the ability to perform a enjoyable mixture," described Mackie. "Just lately I could perform a play, two independent films and something large crazy studio film. But Abraham Lincoln subsequently is much like the Matrix of generation x. It is going to do in order to film exactly what the Matrix did to film."Quite the claim. You can observe whether Mackie continues to be over-egging the pudding once the film comes to the United kingdom on 2 August 2012.

Wahlberg Says He Wants To Meet Reputed Mob Boss

First Published: January 14, 2012 3:06 PM EST Credit: FilmMagic BOSTON, Mass. -- Caption Mark Wahlberg attends the Taco Bell Foundation For Teens Graduate to Go Studios launch at Boys & Girls Club of L.A. Harbor in San Pedro, Calif., on August 31, 2011 Mark Wahlberg says hes considering a jailhouse meeting with James Whitey Bulger, but a victims relative is criticizing the actors interest in the reputed former mob boss. Wahlberg told Bostons WAAF-FM radio Friday that Bulger has reached out and speculated Bulger wants to give him rights to his story. Bulger is accused of participating in 19 murders. He was caught last year after 16 years on the run. Steven Davis sister, Deborah Davis, was allegedly strangled by Bulger. Davis tells the Boston Herald that Bulger ruined his family and shouldnt be glamorized. Wahlberg says he feels for loved ones of Bulgers victims, but the story has tremendous potential. A Massachusetts legislator has proposed a bill that allow only Bulgers victims to profit from his story. Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Intl. 3d Society reveals award individuals who win

The brand new the new sony could possibly get three mentions when the Worldwide 3d Society hands out its kudos at its 2012 3d Technology Honours in Hollywood on Jan. 19. In many, 14 honours will be provided: Blu-ray Disc Association - "Blu-ray 3d Specs"Cameron/Pace Group - "Shadow D Technology as well as the Shadow D System" Fuji - "Fujifilm Finepix Real 3d W3 Camera"Full HD 3d Glasses Initiative - "FHD3DGI Standard"Panasonic SamsungSonyXpandGoPro - "3d Hero System"High-definition multimedia interface Certification - "Standardization of 3d Formats inside the High-definition multimedia interface Interface. Specs Version 1.4a"LG Electronics - "LG Cinema 3d TV"Panasonic - "AG-3DA1 Twin Lens 3d Camera Recorder" Peter Wimmer - "Stereoscopic Player"Plastic Imaging - "SI-3d Stereo system system Digital Cinema Camera System"The brand new the new sony - "HDR-TD10 3d Handycam Camcorder"The brand new the new sony - "Ps 3"Vizio - "Theater 3dInchYoutube . com - "3d Funnel"Records were examined with the Society's 3d Technology Honours Committee for fulfillment throughout 2011."The Honours Committee considered 3d technologies with tabs on people that are genuine advances for the condition in the art," mentioned Lenny Lipton, chairman in the society's honours committee. "You need to shine a spotlight on worthy products that lead to professional and consumer programs.""Our theme for 2012 is Ensure It Is 3d, which year's honored organizations have met industry challenges with superb technical innovation," mentioned society prexy Jim Chabin.Panasonic and Korea Telecom are I3DS "signature" sponsors. Founding sponsors include Dolby, DreamWorks Animation, IMAX, MasterImage 3d, Pixar, RealD, The brand new the new sony, Wally Disney and Xpand 3d. Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com