Digital free-for-all may loom

Netflix loomed so large over digital distribution this year that its shadow may have obscured the emergence of a more diversified ecosystem feeding off of Hollywood content. It was hard to escape the Los Gatos, Calif.-based streaming service in 2011, from the stratospheric growth of its subscriber base and stock price to a series of ill-advised strategic decisions that triggered the plunge of its market capitalization as well as acquisition rumors. Even Hollywood got caught up in the drama, moving from the cold shoulder Time Warner topper Jeff Bewkes first gave the new competish to a warm embrace many congloms offered Netflix for ordering its first original series and signing a plethora of licensing pacts that rained revenue like manna to their bottom lines. But there's many more digital players that will command the attention of studios and consumers in 2012, from would-be Netflix rivals to those sporting entirely different business models and aiming to deliver TV programs and movies to every screen in U.S. homes. The 22 million subs Netflix brings in validated its approach as it collects monthly fees in exchange for which customers can get all the programming they can stream or snag by snail mail. But CEO Reed Hastings' success created an entirely new category, known as subscription VOD, that spawned imitators with the potential to steal away market share. Hulu, for one, built an SVOD component, Hulu Plus, off its massive ad-supported base that has nabbed 1 million subs in over a year. Like Netflix, Hulu began commissioning original content and locking up exclusives on catalog fare, though it didn't spend anywhere near as much on either front. Netflix is set to revive the Fox comedy "Arrested Development" and adapt BBC drama "House of Cards," starring Kevin Spacey. These are huge commitments that have spawned smaller original efforts like Hulu's own original unscripted series featuring Morgan Spurlock. With more growth could come grander programming ambitions on par with what Netflix is developing. Studios that had difficulty selling anything that wasn't typical aftermarket fare like hourlong procedurals found that Netflix was willing to fork over high-six-figure sums for highly serialized dramas like "Mad Men," effectively creating a new market for syndie distribs. But Hulu should stay competitive here, having made its own deals for shows that would have fetched very little in traditional broadcast and cable syndication, including NBC's cult-fave laffer "Community" and Fox reality hit "Hell's Kitchen." How exactly Hulu will try to close the gap with Netflix remains to be seen after its owners, News Corp., NBCUniversal and Disney, decided to take the joint venture off the auction block and run it for the foreseeable future. Regardless of how it plays out, the subscription revenue derived from Hulu Plus will be central to their plans. Amazon's own SVOD spinoff could be even more challenging to Netflix because it has the deep pockets to nab the kind of content that will differentiate the Amazon Prime offering from the rest of the pack. Jeff Bezos' company has already stepped up to make big catalog deals approaching the scale of Netflix pacts with CBS and 20th Century Fox TV. It's possible that Netflix hasn't even seen all of its SVOD competition yet. Verizon may enter the space in conjunction with Redbox, which has been sitting on the sidelines without a digital strategy for long because it has the clout to take its time. The emergence of SVOD has eclipsed market entrants that paved the way in digital distribution by offering a la carte digital rental options, including Apple's iTunes. It's the king of a rather small kingdom given data showing the volume of transactions in so-called iVOD category is dwarfed by that of SVOD, but there's no shortage of market entrants that could make trouble especially if they go the SVOD route, including Walmart's Vudu and Dish Network's Blockbuster. Facebook poked a toe in the iVOD water this year with some one-off movie offerings from studios including Warner Bros. Although Facebook has talked a lot about having more of a presence in the content world, there's only a vague sense of what its plans actually are. Microsoft's Xbox Live was the first to try a third digital-distribution model for video that everyone from Verizon to Sony has been reported considering: the virtual MSO model, which bundles a bunch of linear channels akin to how a cable operator does, but with much fewer channels at a much lower price point. All the while, Xbox stays in the iVOD biz via its Zune marketplace. Like Microsoft, Google is a company to watch because it's not relying on any one digital-content business model. Google has poured at least $100 million into an original-content strategy that has reconfigured YouTube into a more channel-centric outlet while beefing up the premium-content supply to its rental offerings. The company is even contemplating a virtual-MSO strategy via a broadband network being built for the test market of Kansas City. What Google needs most is content to support its platforms, whether its own nascent Google TV service or the myriad handhelds powered by its Android software. Apple is thinking similarly, leaving perhaps the biggest question market hovering over the entire playing field: Will there be an Apple-branded TV set introduced to the market next year? Such a product would be an instant gamechanger if it comes to fruition. Last but not least, don't underestimate the incumbents all these digital players are trying to marginalize: the MSOs. Whether a cable operator like Comcast or satcasters DirecTV and Dish, they have the resources and relationships with programmers to innovate with real impact if they're willing to experiment with offerings that might go head-to-head with their legacy businesses. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Angelina Jolie's Luc Besson Movie Expires Next

Jennifer Aniston will get her "Fifth Element" on, it seems, as reviews of her approaching sci-fi action collaboration with director Luc Besson are starting to warm up increasingly more today. Meanwhile, Harrison Ford may have finally found his Jackie Robinson, Michael Shannon's "Iceman" killer finds his bride-to-be-to-be, and "Burt Wonderstone" is crushing the amounts. It's December 13, and you're simply tuning into current day Casting Call! Angelina Jolie's Besson Collaboration Inches Closer It's searching progressively much more likely that Jennifer Aniston and Luc Besson will indeed be joining together for just about any large new sci-fi project. Deadline reviews that Universal bakes an offer to secure 80% in the approaching film's distribution rights, including within the united states . States. The film is predicted being Jolie's next, though handful of to no particulars are presently known beyond the two key players involved cheap it's tonally similar to Besson's earlier efforts "The Professional" and "The fifth Element." Basically: awesome. Jackie Robinson Found In addition to gentlemen, now batting, number forty-two: Chadwick Boseman! Variety looks at the relative newcomer remains cast as legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson inside the approaching Legendary Pictures biopic "42." Boseman will most likely star opposite Harrison Ford, who was simply formerly introduced incorporated within the project. John Helgeland will direct using their own script. Ryder Marries The "Iceman" Avoid them, Winona! He's a killer! Oh--oh, it's just a movie? Okay, that is not so bad. Seems like Winona Ryder, most broadly known recently in a nutshell looks in "Black Swan" and "The Exorcist,Inch features a killer new role up her sleeve. According to Deadline, she'll star in thriller biopic "The Iceman" as Deborah Kuklinski, who didn't have clue that her husband (carried out by Michael Shannon) was independently a contract killer. Chris Evans also stars just like a fellow killer-for-hire. Garrett Meets "Wonderstone" Much like everybody loves Raymond, also does everybody love "Burt Wonderstone." Or, no less than, "Raymond" vet Kaira Garrett can be a large fan. THR reviews that he's joining the Steve Carell-introduced "Wonderstone" in the supporting role becoming an accountant that Carell's magician character fires. The cast includes Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi. Cooper's "Summer season" Vacation THR also notes that Dominic Cooper will enjoy "Summer season in February." The "Devil's Double" actor has signed on for your novel adaptation that's known to as "an authentic tale of love, liberty and scandal one of the Edwardian artists colony in Cornwall." Serta Stevens and Ophelia Lovibond also star. Got any casting news to feed along? Send it in my opinion @roundhoward! Inform us everything you consider current day Casting Make contact with should be genuine section and also on Twitter!

Liz Hurley Shares Her Strategies For Remaining Slim & Fashion After 40

First Released: December 12, 2011 3:56 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Liz Hurley constitutes a personal appearance to boost awareness for Cancer Of The Breast Awareness Month at Edinburgh, Scotland on October 4, 2011 Elizabeth Hurley might be 46, but shes turning heads alongside Blake Lively and Leighton Meester on Gossip Girl, and she or he described among the large tips for searching good as she inches toward 50. [After I was more youthful], I possibly could look very good on three hrs sleep, Liz told United kingdom magazine Zest, per The Daily Mail. Now, I seem like a lunatic basically dont reach least double that. During my 20s I did previously have the ability to exist on coffee, cigarettes and crisps, however, a few days of this now and Id feel and look really frightening! Beyond getting her beauty sleep, Liz, that has a bathing suit line, which she herself models, accepted it is not hard to maintain the motivation to sort out, especially during the cold months. I put myself pressurized to stay slim because I still model my very own bikinis but it's a lot more hard to feel motivated within the gloomy winter, she stated. I wrap myself up and then try to walk every single day with my dogs and often pressure myself to operate a little however i hate it. I really like Bikram yoga and yoga but, again, am more prone to do them early in the year and summer time. And Lizs new love, Australian cricket star Shane Warne, helps out too. Hes naturally very sports because hes been an expert sportsperson for more than two decades. He keeps threatening to create me run with him, but Ive opposed to date, she added. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

FilmDistrict weighs in at in at future plan

FilmDistrict's decision to create several game game titles, including "Red-colored-colored Beginning," via Open Road Films (Variety, 12 ,. 6) is the one other instance of an indie distrib that's found the going tough inside the mid-sized pic market. It's among several options for FilmDistrict continuing to move forward inside the distribution game. Despite experienced professionals and solid backing, maintaining a effective domestic distrib operation entails considerable risk for mid-sized labels for instance Relativity Media and CBS Films. The down sides of acquiring superbly listed game game titles commercial enough to see wide in the sluggish theatrical climate have shown a lot of for a number of. "It is a difficult business," mentioned one distrib professional. "You can't undertake lots of films." FilmDistrict saw success taken with "Insidious" and "Soul Surfer," because both versions were bought through the new the new sony Pictures Worldwide Purchases. (Sony's TriStar Pictures distribbed the 2nd pic, with FilmDistrict co-marketing -- another potential way of the shingle.) Summer season releases "You Should not Panic from the Dark" and "Drive" completed adequately, though some experts mentioned FilmDistrict overspent on P&A for "Drive," wanting the arty Ryan Gosling pic would crossover to mainstream auds. Still, the combined $125 million domestic gross all films totals greater than almost every other start-up's first four films within the last 15 years, showing that there has been other tensions affecting stability at FilmDistrict. The go to offload photos to start Road comes monthly after Bob and Jeanne Berney introduced their exit as FilmDistrict's top distribution and marketing professionals, a rapid change for your start-up that's packing up its NY office and moving to La. The Berneys continues handling FilmDistrict releases until March 1, including Angelina Jolie's Christmas release "Inside the Land of Blood stream and Honey." Beneath the three-picture deal between Open Road and FilmDistrict, Open Road will release sci-fier "Avoid M.S. One," starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Sophistication, on April 20, as well as the "Red-colored-colored Beginning" remake on November. 2. The Next film is not selected. Why partner with another start-up like Open Road, rather than an experienced major? To start with, Open Road features a wide-open sked next season, with only two photos dated up to now throughout the initial quarter -- "The Grey" on Jan. 27 and "Quiet House" on March 9. Headed by former The brand new the new sony worldwide matters and purchases topper Peter Schlessel, FilmDistrict seems to experience a natural partner inside the Culver City studio, having its numerous delivering labels including TriStar and Screen Gems. However The new the new sony features a packed 2012 slate it'll, however, distribute FilmDistrict's Sept. 28 release "Looper" as well as the "Evil Dead" retread, because both versions were based on prior contracts. Schlessel also provides an effective relationship with Open Road Boss Tom Ortenberg, from Schlessel's time in the new the new sony. Whether FilmDistrict decides to stay the course just like a distrib (it'll release "Only God Forgives"), or becomes an purchases and production label using distribution partners, its partnership with Open Road could provide a template due to its future direction. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

CBS CEO Leslie Moonves: 'We Want a Healthy Netflix'

Comedy Central is bulking up on its comedic offerings. In an effort to expand its slate, which already includes such shows as South Park, Workaholics and Tosh.0, the Viacom-owned network has ordered scripts for three more projects, two of which are animated. There'sGajillionaires, a half-hour animated show about the uber-wealthy Benjamin and George Krabbe and their misadventures in the world of big business.Bailouts, corrupt senators, sycophantic cronies like Chef Boyardee and Dick Cheney and an undying love for Tipper Gore are all along for the ride. PHOTOS: 10 Broadcast and Cable TV Show Most Watched by Men The project, created, written and produced by Yoni Brenner (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs), countsJoel Kuwahara, Scott Greenberg andMark McJimsey of Bento Box along with Peter Principato, Paul Young and Tucker Voorheesof Principato/Young Entertainment as executive producers. Among the other scripts Comedy Central has ordered:Grubstein & Grubstein, an animated comedy created and co-executive produced by Arthur Jones andKarl Ackerman based on two twenty-something brothers who inherit a Brooklyn brownstone filled with oddball tenants. Finally, the network has nabbed a script for Upstate, a half-hour narrative based on two guyswho return to the summer town of their youth and live like they are sixteen again, complete with bonfires, jet-ski races and stealing Uncle Gary's pot.The project is written and co-executive produced by its stars,Jon GabrusandJustin Tyler. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Topics Comedy Central TV Development

Work of Art's Michelle on which Went Wrong, the Kymia Debate and Why Poop Is really a Positive Thing

Michelle, Thing Of Beauty Jerry Saltz selected Thing of beauty contestant Michelle Matson to win the entire factor - her first couple of pieces "The Eternal Woodsman" and "Dirty Playground" made her a leader in early stages. However when she was confronted with needing to create something from the bits of a Fiat 500, Matson's anthropomorphic vision of the happy/sad vehicle got her only the boot. On a trip abroad, the 29-year-old Brooklyn artist who is an expert in unusual paper-based masterpieces, told TVGuide.com via e-mail by what went wrong, the Kymia debate and her dependence on poop. Jerry is virtually devastated to possess sent you home. Does that cause you to feel much better? He creates that behind the curtain, he really attempted in order to save the whole bottom three. Michelle Matson: It can make me feel amazing to possess this type of well-regarded as critic during my corner -- even when Used to do finish up getting told to go home. However, I'd have loved it as we counseled me permitted a pardon! Mental hiccup!! Work of Art's The Sucklord how the children challenge destroyed him Had you been surprised to possess been cut? What have you think about the critique of the piece? Why do you consider Lola and Kymia were able to escape? Matson: I had been surprised, although not shocked. I felt like the 3 people made pretty poor pieces and for me the critique was fair. Someone needed to be told to go home. Given another chance, can you have tied to your original body made from vehicle parts idea? Or even the steamy, sinful vehicle home windows? (In the recap, Jerry creates that the first idea could have been your "best piece" yet.) Matson: Looking back, If only I'd tied to my original idea. It had been the piece I had been most excited by and i believe it might have switched out perfectly. Why do you consider you second-suspected yourself now? Even if Simon did not appear offered because of your Diet Coke can in Pop Art Week, you tied to it. Matson: Well, it is not as simple as everything. Throughout the Pop Challenge I designed a second piece which Simon and that i talked about thorough. Simon is an extremely intelligent guy along with a convincing mentor. I respect his opinion, and desire I'd made better options with this challenge. Work of Art's Bayete: I could not pull it together whatsoever Why have you and Lola ignore Kymia when she was asking to make use of the computer systems throughout Street Art Week? Exactly why is everybody annoyed by her? Have you also stick peel off stickers on her behalf street art or was that simply Lola? Matson: When a lot of artists will work in close closeness to each other it creates lots of noise and distraction -- you learn how to tune stuff out to be able to concentrate. It's like reading through around the subway. I believe Kymia was feeling the strain from the challenge and overreacted to some perceived slight. Lola and that i directed everyone else to stay the peel off stickers everywhere. There have been peel off stickers throughout DUMBO. It had been great -- everyone else was just like a swarm of bees. I revisited the website lately and you will find still little tiger cigarettes in some places, stuck under guardrails as well as on stop signs. Which piece that you simply made on the program are you currently most happy with and why? Matson: Most likely the children challenge, I had been really loving the grassy landscape and vines growing throughout that piece. It's really inspired my latest body of labor -- it is a completely new direction for me personally. Character! Why poop? It had been a topic additionally you wanted revisit throughout movement week. Matson: I really like the way the body works, it's this unique perfect/imperfect factor. Birth, dying, growth, digestion, cell regrowth, bodily failure, reproduction... it's all regulated fascinating in my experience. Poop is just one of individuals things that's equal parts necessary, gross and kinda enjoyable. Everybody feels better following a good poop. What's next for you personally? Matson: I am showing some completely new pieces the following month only at that amazing artist-run project space: Youth Group Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. The outlet is The month of january 27th.

Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj Headline Billboard's Women in Music Ceremony

Donald Trump may not have been successful in his bid for a Republican presidential nomination, but NBC'sThe Apprentice host has found another way to get involved with the race.our editor recommendsDonald Trump Doc Maker Orders Iranian Regime To Cancel Illegal Screening of His FilmDonald Trump Accuses Jon Stewart of 'Racist Rant' about Herman Cain (Video)Donald Trump Loses Libel Lawsuit Over Being Called A 'Millionaire'Donald Trump Charging $10,000 for Invitation-Only Meet and GreetDonald Trump: I Will Not Be Running for PresidentRelated Topics•Politics PHOTOS: NY City Power List Newsmax Media, a conservative magazine and website, has tapped Trump to moderate a presidential debate in Des Moines, IA Dec. 27, the NY Times reports. "Our readers and the grass roots really love Trump," Christopher Ruddy, chief executive of Newsmax Media, told the paper. "They may not agree withhim on everything, but they don't see him as owned by the Washington establishment, the media establishment." PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections The Republican candidate participants have not yet been named. Candidates were sent their debate invitation Friday, the same day Trump's moderatorship was announced. Some of the presidential hopefuls have already met with Trump this year. Gov. Rick Perry dined with him Sept. 14. Michelle Bachmann has sat down with him on several occasions and Mitt Romney met with him privately in Sept. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Top Earners The real-estate mogul explored a possible White House bid earlier this year before ultimately announcing he would not run in May. "This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country," he said in a statement at the time. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Box Office Politics: The Movies and Stars Dems vs. GOPers Love (and Love to Hate) Related Topics Donald Trump NBC Politics Rick Perry Mitt Romney

The Women of 'The Help' Work Together to Bring a Bestseller to Life

The Women of 'The Help' Work Together to Bring a Bestseller to Life By Back Stage staff November 30, 2011 Photo by Dale Robinette/DreamWorks Time and again, the lack of good movie roles for women has been bemoaned. Or a female-centric film does well at the box office, spawning articles on how there really is an audience for such stories. This year, two films with primarily female casts became critical and box office hits. First came "Bridesmaids," in which Kristen Wiig and company proved they could tackle gross-out comedy as well as the boys. Then there was "The Help," in which a group of fine actors assembled to bring Kathryn Stockett's bestseller to life.The film, directed by Tate Taylor, centers on African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi who decide to tell their stories to an ambitious young journalist. Heading the cast are Viola Davis, in her first lead film role, as quiet domestic Aibileen Clark, and Emma Stone as Skeeter, the writer who tells the women's stories. The supporting cast is full of outstanding actors, from Bryce Dallas Howard as a spoiled socialite to Sissy Spacek as her adorable mother, as well as two of the biggest breakouts of the year: Jessica Chastain, who is also earning raves for her work in "Take Shelter" and "The Tree of Life," charms as social outcast Celia Foote, and Octavia Spencer shines as her maid Minny, a role that Spencer inspired Stockett to write.On how they got involved with "The Help" Viola Davis: I was a fan of the book. I just thought [Kathryn] really humanized these women who in history have never been given a voice. As soon as I read it, I said, "Oh, this has got to be a movie, and I've got to option it, and I've got to play Aibileen. Then I found out that Tate Taylor had it. And from there it just went from us having mutual friends and me finding out that he actually did have me in mind for the movie. Jessica Chastain: Celia was the role I was asked to audition for, and it was the role I truly wanted. I think sometimes people get in the trap of saying, "Oh, I want the lead," or "Oh, I want a hit." But I read the script and immediately I wanted Celia because she is so different from anything I've done. I'm not kidding when I say I cried while reading the screenplay. And I said, "This is a woman I want to know for a while."Octavia Spencer: I met Kathryn about eight or nine years ago in New Orleans. Tate had talked about us meeting. We were there doing the sound mix on his short film "Chicken Party." Kathryn came down for the day, and Tate decided we should take a walking tour of the city. It was hot, I was on a diet, starving and grumpy, and we start on this tour. And then the complaints began from me. And from there, I think, Minny was born. But she's not based on me. I say it jokingly, but it's true: Minny is short and round; I am short and round. Minny speaks her mind all the time; I don't have a problem speaking my mind. But here's the thing: I did have to audition for it, and why not? When you think about it, it's an unknown director with a hot property who wants to cast an unknown in one of the leads. Mo'Nique has just won an Oscar, Jennifer Hudson has just won an Oscar, and you have amazing actresses out there like Queen Latifahwhy would they cast me? [The studio was] very gracious to allow me to come in and audition, and I was never made to feel like it wasn't an easy decision for them.On preparing for the role Davis: A teacher once told me you can never have too much information about a character. You just have to arm yourself with information. So of course, I found every type of information about that period. I felt I had to saturate myself with that because I am a 21st-century girl. A lot of what existed in that time period is so foreign to me. Of course, intellectually I know, but I felt I had to arm myself with more information. So I watched documentaries. Some I had already seen, like "Eyes on the Prize," and documentaries on domesticshow they feel. Everything about Freedom Summer in Mississippi. And also I started with what I feel as an actor is the bible, which is the text itself, which is the book and the script. And then after that I always feel like I need a person to focus on, because I feel like a lot of actors create in a vacuum, that performance is really dynamic but only in the confines of a classroom, but you can never look at a character and go, "I know someone like that" or "Those characteristics are palpable to me." So I always have to have a vision of a person in my head. And that person was my mother and my grandmother, who when they walk into a room nobody would ever notice themjust, in the most beautiful way, ordinary. I felt like I had to start with that. I had their experiences very much in my head, stories my mother had told me about my grandmother being a maid and herself being a maid. And everything else I just had to make up, use my imagination in terms of filling her out. On the most challenging scene to shoot Davis: Definitely the last scene. Probably not for any of the reasons that people think, and for all the reasons people think. Because even reading the book, it was very challenging for me to read that part. That story really touched me the most. When Aibileen and Mae Mobley were separated in the end, it totally devastated me as a reader. So the actual shooting of it was very difficult. Emotionally, it was difficult because for me I felt like it was Aibileen making peace with letting Treelore, her son, go. I felt that was that whole connection. And certainly when you go to that place as a person, it's very difficult. I understand how it feels that someone is gone. That is how I was able to get through that scene, number one. But number two, it was challenging because it was cut up. The first part of the separation scene was an interior scene, and the other part of the scene is exterior. They were shot two different days, and yet when you ultimately see it, it is one long scene. That is very challenging as an actor. And it's also very challenging working with a 3-year-old who doesn't understand that concept. So you're trying to really get it out of them at the same time you have your own work to do. So the constant kind of stepping out of my body to be kind of a facilitator for her just to hit her mark and to say her lines and to look at me, and then stepping back into myself to play Aibileen. Spencer: Actually, there were three. One didn't make the final cut. It's a scene where I finally leave Leroy, and I'm beaten up and the kids are with me and I'm at a phone booth. That was hard. But equally difficult is being in the scene where Celia loses the baby, because I've fallen in love with Jessica Chastain and it's hard to see your friend like that. Same thing with Aibileen, when she tells the story about losing Treelore and why it's important that the book be published. Seeing her go through that pain was hard, because I love Viola. Those were things where I had one or two words to say, but they were just very difficult to shoot.On working with the other actors Davis: It's one of those dream situations where you're with other actresses who are not competitive. That's the best way to put it. Usually people don't want to encourage you to do your best, because they feel it's a reflection of what they're not doing or their failure. But [on "The Help"], my excellence was their excellence. It's my same experience working with Meryl Streep [on "Doubt"]. It felt like her giving 150 percent during my close-up was just as important as her giving 150 percent during her close-up. And those are the kind of people you want to be creating withtotal lack of ego. And so many people have asked this too: "What's it like working with so many women?" It was fabulous! It was exactly how it should be. You know, comrades. It certainly was a whole lot of fun being in Mississippi, in a small community, just us, because we weren't going back to our apartment or homes. We were going to each other's homes. Eating, having just the best time.Chastain: I loved this cast. With Octavia, it was love at first sight for me. She was my reader at my audition. And at my very first audition, I said, "I need to do this movie just because I want to be in scenes with Octavia, because our chemistry's so good." I loved Celia and was excited about it, but when I went in, that's when I was like, "I have to do this." You don't always have that chemistry between people, and usually it's between men and women when they talk about it, and they mean it in an intimate way. But I thought our chemistry was so good. For comedy, for the more touching, emotional scenes. I love working with actors so muchthat's my favorite part of being an actor, the relationships you develop. I became obsessed with the project, and I knew I had to do it. On awards buzz for their performances Chastain: It's funny. I'm in other films this year, and someone told me I needed to strategize or I'll cancel myself out. But I don't know if that's something I can do. To even have people talking about the films I'm in, I'm just overwhelmed. I think more about my co-stars. Like, I think Michael Shannon should be recognized. I think Octavia Spencer should be recognized. This year has been so good, I don't know if I can take anymore!Spencer: You know what? It's every actor's dream to win accolades, but it's not something that we can control. And I'm a control freak. So I'm learning to be healthy and recognize I can't control it and just live in this moment. And in this moment, I got to work on a great film that I'm getting to promote, and I've made great friends. That is a great reward. If anything else happens, I'll be over the moon, but I can't even allow myself to think about it. I will say this: Oscar is my type of guy. He's bald and full of bling. The Women of 'The Help' Work Together to Bring a Bestseller to Life By Back Stage staff November 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Dale Robinette/DreamWorks Time and again, the lack of good movie roles for women has been bemoaned. Or a female-centric film does well at the box office, spawning articles on how there really is an audience for such stories. This year, two films with primarily female casts became critical and box office hits. First came "Bridesmaids," in which Kristen Wiig and company proved they could tackle gross-out comedy as well as the boys. Then there was "The Help," in which a group of fine actors assembled to bring Kathryn Stockett's bestseller to life.The film, directed by Tate Taylor, centers on African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi who decide to tell their stories to an ambitious young journalist. Heading the cast are Viola Davis, in her first lead film role, as quiet domestic Aibileen Clark, and Emma Stone as Skeeter, the writer who tells the women's stories. The supporting cast is full of outstanding actors, from Bryce Dallas Howard as a spoiled socialite to Sissy Spacek as her adorable mother, as well as two of the biggest breakouts of the year: Jessica Chastain, who is also earning raves for her work in "Take Shelter" and "The Tree of Life," charms as social outcast Celia Foote, and Octavia Spencer shines as her maid Minny, a role that Spencer inspired Stockett to write.On how they got involved with "The Help" Viola Davis: I was a fan of the book. I just thought [Kathryn] really humanized these women who in history have never been given a voice. As soon as I read it, I said, "Oh, this has got to be a movie, and I've got to option it, and I've got to play Aibileen. Then I found out that Tate Taylor had it. And from there it just went from us having mutual friends and me finding out that he actually did have me in mind for the movie. Jessica Chastain: Celia was the role I was asked to audition for, and it was the role I truly wanted. I think sometimes people get in the trap of saying, "Oh, I want the lead," or "Oh, I want a hit." But I read the script and immediately I wanted Celia because she is so different from anything I've done. I'm not kidding when I say I cried while reading the screenplay. And I said, "This is a woman I want to know for a while."Octavia Spencer: I met Kathryn about eight or nine years ago in New Orleans. Tate had talked about us meeting. We were there doing the sound mix on his short film "Chicken Party." Kathryn came down for the day, and Tate decided we should take a walking tour of the city. It was hot, I was on a diet, starving and grumpy, and we start on this tour. And then the complaints began from me. And from there, I think, Minny was born. But she's not based on me. I say it jokingly, but it's true: Minny is short and round; I am short and round. Minny speaks her mind all the time; I don't have a problem speaking my mind. But here's the thing: I did have to audition for it, and why not? When you think about it, it's an unknown director with a hot property who wants to cast an unknown in one of the leads. Mo'Nique has just won an Oscar, Jennifer Hudson has just won an Oscar, and you have amazing actresses out there like Queen Latifahwhy would they cast me? [The studio was] very gracious to allow me to come in and audition, and I was never made to feel like it wasn't an easy decision for them.On preparing for the role Davis: A teacher once told me you can never have too much information about a character. You just have to arm yourself with information. So of course, I found every type of information about that period. I felt I had to saturate myself with that because I am a 21st-century girl. A lot of what existed in that time period is so foreign to me. Of course, intellectually I know, but I felt I had to arm myself with more information. So I watched documentaries. Some I had already seen, like "Eyes on the Prize," and documentaries on domesticshow they feel. Everything about Freedom Summer in Mississippi. And also I started with what I feel as an actor is the bible, which is the text itself, which is the book and the script. And then after that I always feel like I need a person to focus on, because I feel like a lot of actors create in a vacuum, that performance is really dynamic but only in the confines of a classroom, but you can never look at a character and go, "I know someone like that" or "Those characteristics are palpable to me." So I always have to have a vision of a person in my head. And that person was my mother and my grandmother, who when they walk into a room nobody would ever notice themjust, in the most beautiful way, ordinary. I felt like I had to start with that. I had their experiences very much in my head, stories my mother had told me about my grandmother being a maid and herself being a maid. And everything else I just had to make up, use my imagination in terms of filling her out. On the most challenging scene to shoot Davis: Definitely the last scene. Probably not for any of the reasons that people think, and for all the reasons people think. Because even reading the book, it was very challenging for me to read that part. That story really touched me the most. When Aibileen and Mae Mobley were separated in the end, it totally devastated me as a reader. So the actual shooting of it was very difficult. Emotionally, it was difficult because for me I felt like it was Aibileen making peace with letting Treelore, her son, go. I felt that was that whole connection. And certainly when you go to that place as a person, it's very difficult. I understand how it feels that someone is gone. That is how I was able to get through that scene, number one. But number two, it was challenging because it was cut up. The first part of the separation scene was an interior scene, and the other part of the scene is exterior. They were shot two different days, and yet when you ultimately see it, it is one long scene. That is very challenging as an actor. And it's also very challenging working with a 3-year-old who doesn't understand that concept. So you're trying to really get it out of them at the same time you have your own work to do. So the constant kind of stepping out of my body to be kind of a facilitator for her just to hit her mark and to say her lines and to look at me, and then stepping back into myself to play Aibileen. Spencer: Actually, there were three. One didn't make the final cut. It's a scene where I finally leave Leroy, and I'm beaten up and the kids are with me and I'm at a phone booth. That was hard. But equally difficult is being in the scene where Celia loses the baby, because I've fallen in love with Jessica Chastain and it's hard to see your friend like that. Same thing with Aibileen, when she tells the story about losing Treelore and why it's important that the book be published. Seeing her go through that pain was hard, because I love Viola. Those were things where I had one or two words to say, but they were just very difficult to shoot.On working with the other actors Davis: It's one of those dream situations where you're with other actresses who are not competitive. That's the best way to put it. Usually people don't want to encourage you to do your best, because they feel it's a reflection of what they're not doing or their failure. But [on "The Help"], my excellence was their excellence. It's my same experience working with Meryl Streep [on "Doubt"]. It felt like her giving 150 percent during my close-up was just as important as her giving 150 percent during her close-up. And those are the kind of people you want to be creating withtotal lack of ego. And so many people have asked this too: "What's it like working with so many women?" It was fabulous! It was exactly how it should be. You know, comrades. It certainly was a whole lot of fun being in Mississippi, in a small community, just us, because we weren't going back to our apartment or homes. We were going to each other's homes. Eating, having just the best time.Chastain: I loved this cast. With Octavia, it was love at first sight for me. She was my reader at my audition. And at my very first audition, I said, "I need to do this movie just because I want to be in scenes with Octavia, because our chemistry's so good." I loved Celia and was excited about it, but when I went in, that's when I was like, "I have to do this." You don't always have that chemistry between people, and usually it's between men and women when they talk about it, and they mean it in an intimate way. But I thought our chemistry was so good. For comedy, for the more touching, emotional scenes. I love working with actors so muchthat's my favorite part of being an actor, the relationships you develop. I became obsessed with the project, and I knew I had to do it. On awards buzz for their performances Chastain: It's funny. I'm in other films this year, and someone told me I needed to strategize or I'll cancel myself out. But I don't know if that's something I can do. To even have people talking about the films I'm in, I'm just overwhelmed. I think more about my co-stars. Like, I think Michael Shannon should be recognized. I think Octavia Spencer should be recognized. This year has been so good, I don't know if I can take anymore!Spencer: You know what? It's every actor's dream to win accolades, but it's not something that we can control. And I'm a control freak. So I'm learning to be healthy and recognize I can't control it and just live in this moment. And in this moment, I got to work on a great film that I'm getting to promote, and I've made great friends. That is a great reward. If anything else happens, I'll be over the moon, but I can't even allow myself to think about it. I will say this: Oscar is my type of guy. He's bald and full of bling.