Viacom Boss financials launched

Viacom Boss Philippe Dauman's fiscal 2011 compensation totaled $43 million together with a $3.5 million base salary and hefty $20 million cash bonus Up from $11 million the prior year, based on a filing using the Investments and Exchange Commission late Friday. The total amount was compensated available and investment.His overall pay fell from $84 million this year when Dauman was the greatest compensated Boss in corporate America.Chief operating officer Thomas Dooley gained $34 million, his base salary of $2.5 million along with a $16 million bonus which was nearly double the amount year earlier figure.And also the company's billionaire controlling investor Sumner Redstone received $21 million in compensation having a $1.75 million base salary along with a $ten million bonus, also nearly the double 2010 bonus.Viacom stated within the filing that "The aim of our compensation programs would be to make certain that people possess the gifted professionals and employees we have to achieve our proper plans and deliver financial returns to stockholders over short term and long-term. To achieve that, we have to attract and retain great managers and employees, and compensate them in ways that encourages and rewards their performance."Viacom's fiscal year finishes Sept. 30. The organization stated it'll hold its annual shareholders' meeting at its NY City headquarters on March 8. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

James Murdoch to quit as GlaxoSmithKline director

James Murdoch will exit as an outside director of GlaxoSmithKline at its annual shareholders' meeting later this year, the giant pharmaceutical company said today. Pressured by a phone-hacking scandal in Britain, Murdoch resigned from the boards of News Corp.'s U.K. newspapers last fall. ''James has taken this decision to focus on his current duties as non-executive chairman of BSkyB, and following his decision to re-locate to the United States, as chairman and chief executive, international, of News Corporation,'' London-based GSK said.''On behalf of the board, I would like to thank James for the very strong contribution he has made since he was appointed in 2009 and wish him well for the future.''In November, News International said Murdoch no longer sits on the boards of News Group Newspapers, which publishes The Sun, or of Times Newspapers, which publishes The Times and The Sunday Times of London. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Netflix, Dogwoof ink Blighty deal

LONDON -- Niche distrib Dogwoof may be the latest company to partner with Netflix in Blighty. The offer will discover a raft from the distrib's docus, for example "Bobby Fischer From the World," "Gasland," "The First Page: Within the NY Occasions," "Burma VJ," "Mugabe and also the Whitened African" and "Age Stupid," become on the VOD service within the territory. Dogwoof founder Andy Whittaker and Netflix's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, discussed the offer. "Dogwoof and Netflix is a superb fit," stated Whittaker. "Two companies searching towards the future and altering the overall game for film and audiences. It is good to determine Netflix arrived at the U.K. and change the landscape." Netflix lately inked an offer with FremantleMedia Businesses, that will bring 115 hrs of content, for example shows like "Males Acting Badly" and "The Naked Civil Servant" towards the service. Netflix already has guaranteed a raft of handles content companies, including exclusive handles distribs Lionsgate U.K. and Alliance Pictures' Brit arm Momentum Pictures. The service, which competes with Amazon . com-possessed Lovefilm within the U.K., formally released in Blighty on Jan. 9. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Underworld Sinks Teeth Into Box Office With $25M

First Published: January 22, 2012 2:34 PM EST Credit: Screen Gems Caption Kate Beckinsale in Underworld: AwakeningLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kate Beckinsale is back with a vengeance, with her latest Underworld movie opening at No. 1 this weekend. Underworld Awakening made an estimated $25.4, distributor Sony Screen Gems reported Sunday. This is the fourth film in the vampire action saga. Beckinsale starred in the first two movies as the warrior Selene, then bowed out of part three but returned for this latest installment. Underworld Awakening was shown for the first time in 3-D as well as on IMAX screens, where it made $3.8 million. Thats 15 percent of the films weekend gross, which is a record for an IMAX digital-only run. Sony had hoped the film would end up in the low-$20 million range. But Rory Bruer, the studios president of worldwide distribution, says the fact that it did even better despite a snow storm that hit much of the Midwest and East Coast primarily has to do with Beckinsales return. She is such a force. Her character you just cant take your eyes off of her. I know the character is very dear to her, as well, and she just kills it, Bruer said. The 3-D aspect of the film also brings something, makes it a fun, visceral ride. Opening in second place was Red Tails from executive producer George Lucas, about the Tuskegee Airmen who were the first black fighter pilots to serve in World War II. It made an estimated $19.1 million, according to 20th Century Fox, which was well above expectations; the studio had hoped to reach double digits, said Chris Aronson, executive vice president of domestic distribution. I believe what George Lucas has stated all along: This is an important story and a story that must be told. It is a true story of American heroism and valorand audiences have really responded to this message, Aronson said. People want to feel good about themselves, they want to be uplifted. We have enough hard crud going on in this country right now. Times are tough, and if we look back and are told a story of some really fantastic deeds, thats really compelling moviegoing. Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian said a grassroots effort to get groups of people into the theaters to see Red Tails, along with positive word-of-mouth, helped its strong showing. The film saw an uptick from about $6 million on Friday to $8.65 million on Saturday. Overall box office is up 31 percent from the same weekend a year ago, Dergarabedian said, thanks to new releases as well as movies like Extremely Loud&Incredibly Close, which had limited runs for awards consideration at the end of 2011 and are now expanding nationwide. The Sept. 11 drama from Warner Bros., starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, came in fourth place with $10.5 million. Last weeks No. 1 film, the Universal smuggling thriller Contraband starring Mark Wahlberg, dropped to the No. 3 spot with $12.2 million. Its now made $46.1 million in two weeks. Meanwhile, Steven Soderberghs international action picture Haywire from Relativity Media, starring mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano in her first film role, opened in fifth place with $9 million, which was above expectations. This is a great, perfect January weekend. Youve got these holdover films and newcomers creating an overall marketplace that people are really responding to, Dergarabedian said. It sounds cliche but this marketplace really has something for everyone. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. Underworld Awakening, $25.4 million. 2. Red Tails, $19.1 million. 3. Contraband, $12.2 million. 4. Extremely Loud&Incredibly Close, $10.5 million. 5. Haywire, $9 million. 6. Beauty and the Beast (3-D), $8.6 million. 7. Joyful Noise, $6.1 million. 8. Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, $5.5 million. 9. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, $4.8 million. 10. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, $3.75 million ($15.7 international). Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Elizabeth Olsen ready to 'Kill Your Darlings'

OlsenElizabeth Olsen, Dane Dehaan and Jack Huston are joining Daniel Radcliffe in "Kill Your Darlings," the Killer Films and Benaroya Pictures thriller that tells the story of how a murder at Columbia University in 1944 brought together the young writers who would spark the Beat Revolution.Olsen, whose profile rose dramatically this year following her turn in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," will play Edie Parker, the wealthy art-student girlfriend of Jack Kerouac (Huston). Radcliffe will play Allen Ginsberg; Dehaan plays Lucien Carr, a classmate of Ginsberg's for whom he develops feelings.Killer Films' Christine Vachon, Michael Benaroya of Benaroya Pictures and Rose Ganguzza of Rose Pictures are producing from a script by John Krokidas, who will also make his feature directorial debut. Lensing is set to begin March 12 in NY at Columbia University.Olsen, whose resume was spare before bursting onto the scene at last year's Sundance Film Fest with "Martha Marcy May Marlene," will return to Park City this year with the paranormal drama "Red Lights." She also has "Silent House," "Liberal Arts" and "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding" with Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener on the way.DeHaan, who stars in the HBO series "In Treatment," will soon be seen in Fox's supernatural thriller "Chronicle" next month. Huston's credits include "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," and he was most recently seen on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire."Olsen is represented by Gersh; DeHaan is represented by CAA and The Schiff Company; and Huston is represented by UTA. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Kiefer Sutherland talks 24 movie

Kiefer Sutherland has had time to discuss the status from the lengthy-looked forward to 24 movie, using the actor revealing that filming could can start the finish of April if all would go to plan."The status around the movie is the fact that, hopefully, we are shooting the finish of April, beginning of May," confirmed Sutherland in the Television Experts Association Winter Press Tour, prior to going onto discuss what shape the film usually takes.InchI view it like a continuation," described Sutherland. "The script that we have nailed now, which I am very, very looking forward to, is comparatively an immediate continuation. It's within six several weeks in the finish from the last episode. We'll see where it is going after that.InchAt the same time, the star seemed to be in a position to make sure the film will depart in the traditional real-time structure from the television series."It's two hrs, representing 24 hrs," revealed Sutherland. "The film isn't instantly. It is a two-hour representation of the 24-hour day."All being well, we ought to have the ability to watch Jack Bauer torturing just about anybody around the giant screen at some stage in 2013. Prepare for another rash of individuals irritating CTU ring tones the moment that one is confirmed...

4 thesps hook 'Fishes'

Alfred Molina ("Spider-Guy 2"), Frances O'Connor ("A.I. Artificial Intelligence"), Jimmi Simpson ("Zodiac") and rising Brit thesp Aneurin Barnard are joining Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel in Francesca Gregorini's "Emanuel and the real truth about Fishes." Scodelario ("Skins") stars since the title character, a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda's "baby," that's a real really existence-like toy. She goes with the delusion while befriending Linda (Biel), who's really the spitting picture of Emanuel's late mother. Molina may have Emanuel's father, while O'Connor may have her stepmother. Simpson may have one of the protag's co-employees inside a medical supply store and Barnard may have her love interest. Matthew Brady is creating via his MRB Prods. banner along with author-director Gregorini, while Paul Schiff, Kenny Goodman, Kevin Iwashina and Jonathan Gray will professional produce. Production is skedded to start within the finish from the month of the month of january in La. On Thursday, Gregorini spoke to Variety in regards to the casting process as well as the tone in the story. "'Lars as well as the Real Girl' is an easy comparison, nevertheless it veers from that tonally," mentioned Gregorini. "I ponder over it a mental drama-thriller, with comedy elements. ... It handles dying, salvation and redemption, together with the measures we'll trip to deny our personal mortality. It comes down lower towards the secrets we tell ourselves and from each other, and the way intricate people lies are." For casting, Gregorini mentioned her process is always to "sit lower and consult with the heavens to acquire a sense of who they may be. Personally, the search is to discover whose essence is nearest for the character. The town has a range of youthful ladies and Kaya's essence resonated since the essence in the character I written. This is the way i cast Rooney Mara in [Gregorini's first film] 'Tanner Hall.'" Gregorini ongoing to confess that they didn't initially pursue Biel for your role of Linda. "She found me, which i had been cautiously open to it, however she's amazing along with her audition," referred to the helmer. "Jessica hasn't really received the opportunity to behave similar to this, but she will be a thought. I'm excited for people to discover this side of her." Molina is repped by WME, Hyler Management and Lou Coulson Associatesk O'Connor is repped by Gersh, Wishlab and Artist Rights Group and Simpson is repped by WME and Industry Entertainment Barnard is repped by UTA, Anonymous Content and Ken McReddie Affiliate marketers. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com