'Parks and Rec's' Jim O'Heir on Playing Jerry and Pilot Season

Round the NBC sitcom "Parks and Entertainment," which just completed production on its fourth season the other day, longtime Pawnee Parks Department worker Jerry Gergich can be a loving husband and father who also is undoubtedly a gifted painter and pianist. But audiences rarely look at this side of him because the other figures inside the show berate, humiliate, and abuse Jerry every week.InchWithin the writers' room, they have reached prevent approaching with terrible things for Jerry, since they can begin all day long lengthy," actor Jim O'Heir, who plays Jerry, states happily. "It's their preferred factor. But a few things i love about our showand you do not notice oftenis there's love between these figures. I don't take credit with this. I'm not scripting this brilliant stuff. We just have the prettiest authors."Back Stage: How will you maintain separation between yourself as well as the character you play? Jim O'Heir: You obtain fan mail from people, which is heartbreaking from many of them that are the "Jerrys" from the office. The primary distinction between people people and myself is always that after they yell "cut," I've got people adopting me and laughing together and becoming an enjoyable experience. Which individuals, they don't. They're that each from the office, which is heartbreaking. But we're stars. When you are getting an element, just purchase it. Jim O'Heir is not Jerry.Back Stage: At your job some gifted improvisers inside the cast, like Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, and Aubrey Plaza. Just how much the show is improvised? O'Heir: I visited improv school with people like Matt Walsh, who started the UCB with Amy. We did The Players Workshop in Chicago, and second City. He'd an improv group, I'd an improv group. However I have arrived at inform you, Amy Poehler is at another league. She's enchanting, plus it just seems super easy.Perform that which you call a "fun run" after every scene, meaning we're gonna repeat the process, and anything goes. But ninety percent within our show is what was designed in writing, because the authors are writing it so funny and fantastically they do not require us.Every every occasionally, something is important-add for your show. There's an instalment referred to as "Flu Season," and everybody was getting sick, and Leslie (Amy Poehler) was sick. Chris Pratt, from nowhere, states, "Oh, Leslie, I looked it using the pc, plus it states you may have 'network connectivity problems.'" That was just brilliant.Back Stage: Even though the show is well-loved by experts and youthful audiences, the ratings weren't sufficiently strong enough to make sure your renewal for just about any fifth season yet. How will you deal with the uncertainty? O'Heir: Becoming an actor, this can be pilot season at this time around. Therefore if you're in the show and consists of not been made a decision [be it being restored for the next season], they really don't have to inform you until May, plenty of aircraft aircraft pilots will not consider you. It puts an actress in the tough place, because we don't know. Essentially make an effort to get another pilot this season most of the places go, "No, we're not seeing him. Why would we shoot an plane pilot with him that individuals will have to reshoot if his show returns which we obtain acquired?" A year ago, in the start of March, we heard [that "Parks and Entertainment" happen to be restored]. So that it was like, "Okay, I'm good! I obtained a show! I'm able to savor the summer season, carry out some other work, and understand that within the finish of the summer time we're altogether again.Inch And Hopefully happens this year. I am unable to imagine not receiving them forever during my world. But it's the smoothness of television. No show continues forever.Back Stage: Many people might be watching "Parks and Entertainment" online, or by themselves phone, or on Digital video recorder, but people amounts still don't get counted much the same way as TV audiences at this time around. O'Heir: I have got a number of rental characteristics with youthful people dwelling inside them. They don't have Televisions. I walked right away to correct something, and i'm like, "Where's your television?" They don't acquire one. Everything they're doing is online.Back Stage: Wait, you handle the upkeep of people rental characteristics yourself? O'Heir: If something will need completed, someone's got to make it happen. As well as, things fail. There've been many Jerry moments when there's a hammer throughout my hands, believe me. (Laughs.)"Parks and Entertainment" airs on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Dwayne Johnson To Star In Ciudad, First Russo Brothers Feature Since 2006

EXCLUSIVE: Dwayne Johnson has signed on to star in Ciudad, an intense action thriller to be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The pic is being produced by Eric Gitter and Peter Schwerin of Closed on Mondays Entertainment (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), as well as Emmett/Furla Films partners Randall Emmett & George Furla. Emmett/Furla Films will finance the movie. Envision Entertainments Stepan Martirosyan and Remington Chase, who have a film fund with Emmett/Furla Films, will executive produce. The Russo Brothers will direct from a script written by Joe Russo. Ciudad is based on the upcoming Oni Press graphic novel that the Russo Brothers co-wrote with Ande Parks. Set in one of the most dangerous and corrupt cities in the world, the thriller will star Johnson as a black market mercenary hired by a Brazilian drug lord to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Since joining Fast Five, Johnson has been on fire. He’s become the face for two other pre-existing franchises; Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, which has grossed $270 million worldwide, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which opens in the summer. Johnson is also in early talks to play the title role in MGM’s Hercules: The Thracian Wars, which Brett Ratner will direct. Ciudad is Johnson’s second recent collaboration with Emmett/Furla Films as he’s also attached to star in the crime thriller Empire State, which Dito Montiel is directing. For the Russos — who have been working on the TV series Community, Happy Endings, and Arrested Development–Ciudad is their first feature since 2006′s You, Me And Dupree. Ciudad is their first foray into hard-core action. “Exploring genre has always been a driving motivation for us as filmmakers,” the Russos said in a statement. “This movie is the culmination of a long time ambition to bring our sensibilities to an action thriller.” Closed on Mondays Entertainment’s Joe Nozemack will executive produce and Steven V. Scavelli and Lisa Gitter will co-produce. David Guillod of Intellectual Artists Management will also executive produce. Johnson and the Russo Brothers are repped by WME and 3 Arts, as is Closed On Mondays and Oni Press.

Ralph McQuarrie dies at 82

Conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie, who designed the look of "Star Wars" characters including Darth Vader and Chewbacca, died Saturday, March 3, in Berkeley, Calif. He was 82 and had been suffering from Parkinson's. McQuarrie, part of the team that won an Oscar in 1986 for the visual effects in "Cocoon," worked on all three of the original "Star Wars" films and designed the spaceships in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial." He was also credited on "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and worked on the original "Battlestar Galactica" series. McQuarrie was born in Gary, Ind., but moved to California. He was a technical illustrator for Boeing at first, but also designed film posters and provided animation for CBS' coverage of NASA's Apollo missions. George Lucas hired him to illustrate scenes from his "Star Wars" script, and McQuarrie not only created the look of characters Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO but also of some of the sets, including of the desert world Tatooine. His conceptual drawings helped convince 20th Century Fox execs to finance the film. The artist even appeared in "The Empire Strikes Back," playing General McQuarrie, who was among the characters made into action figures. In a statement, Lucas said: "His genial contribution, in the form of unequalled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original 'Star Wars' trilogy. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph's fabulous illustrations and say, 'Do it like this.'" McQuarrie later worked on the films "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," "Batteries Not Included" and "Nightbreed" and was the conceptual designer of Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal Studios in Hollywood and Florida. He was later asked to work on the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy but declined. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Justin Hartley Can get Male Lead In CW Pilot First Cut

EXCLUSIVE: The CW‘s Grey’s Anatomy-esque medical drama pilot First Cut required its McDreamy in former Smallville co-star and CW heartthrob Justin Hartley. Put together by Jennie Snyder Urman and produced by CBS TV Art galleries, First Cut involves a lately minted female physician your hospital. Hartley may have Will, a handsome and sexy surgical intern, a golden boy that ladies want so far and many types of males desire to spend some time with. Hartley features a strong following from his role since the Eco-friendly Arrow on Smallville, which he will be a fans’ choice to reprise his role inside the CW’s pilot Arrow, a modern day retelling in the story of Electricity Comics character Eco-friendly Arrow. The part ultimately visited Stephen Amell, now Hartley will get a CW pilot lead that belongs to them.

Two More Aircraft pilots and something Direct-to-Series Pickup Get Casting Company directors

Two late pilot orders have attached casting company directors, Back Stage has confirmed.CBS' untitled comedy project from Ben Falcone and Ray Dorf is going to be cast by Dava Waite Peaslee. The pilot, from Warner Bros. Television, stars Falcone like a property investor who manages to lose my way through an offer gone bad and it is instructed to move in together with his family. Rachael Harris was already cast becoming Falcone's wife. Melissa McCarthy, Falcone's real-existence spouse, is serving among the show's executive producers. Plans will be to start shooting in mid March.Apart from her gigs on Showtime's "Weeds" and Fox's "Raising Hope," Peaslee can also be casting the NBC comedy pilot "Friday Evening Dinner.""Ignore It,Inch a Fox comedy pilot from The new sony Pictures Television, is going to be cast by Collin Greenstein and Brett Daniel. Plot particulars continue to be scarce on that one, that is only referred to like a single-camera comedy in regards to a husband and wife as well as their buddies because they find it difficult to navigate and manipulate social customs. Zachary Levi, star from the lately came to the conclusion NBC drama "Chuck," has signed onto star. No start date is placed.Additionally to "Ignore It,Inch Greenstein/Daniel are casting two other aircraft pilots this spring: Fox's "Ben Fox Is My Manny" and "Paging Dr. Freed" for USA Network. Additionally they cast the television Land series "Hot in Cleveland" and it is approaching spin-off starring Cedric the Performer, "Have Belief."Finally, "Mistresses," a task which was in contention for any pilot order but ended up obtaining a straight-to-series order for summer time 2013 rather, is going to be cast by Mary Jo Slater and Steve Brooksbank. The drama, which originates from ABC Galleries, is dependant on the BBC1 series four, well, mistresses whose various romantic entanglements result in a variety of problems. The series doesn't have start date yet. Slater/Brooksbank lately cast the very first season of TNT drama "Perception," set to premiere this summer time.

Costumers Designers Guild Awards: Dragon Tattoo, W.E., Harry Potter, Glee, Boardwalk Empire, Downton Abbey

LOS ANGELES, CA February 21, 2012 The winners of the 14th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards were announced tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The event was hosted by actress, Jane Lynch. The Guild handed out competitive awards for costume design excellence in seven categories including films, television and commercials: EXCELLENCE IN CONTEMPORARY FILM The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trish Summerville EXCELLENCE IN PERIOD FILM W.E. Arianne Phillips EXCELLENCE IN FANTASY FILM Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Jany Temime OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION SERIES Glee Lou Eyrich & Jennifer Eve OUTSTANDING PERIOD/FANTASY TELEVISION SERIES Boardwalk Empire John A. Dunn, Lisa Padovani OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINI SERIES Downton Abbey Susannah Buxton EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL COSTUME DESIGN Swiffer: Country Dirt Cowgirl Roseanne Fiedler In addition, four honorary awards were presented at the Awards Gala: This year, the Guild honored talented screen and stage actress Kate Beckinsale with the LACOSTE SPOTLIGHT AWARD. Beckinsale was presented with the award by Columbus Short, her costar in the film Whiteout. Renowned costume designer Marlene Stewart was honored with this years DISARONNO CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM AWARD. A montage highlighting her extraordinary career was introduced by model and actress, Amber Valletta. Two-time Emmy Award nominated costume designer, Lou Eyrich was honored with this years CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN TELEVISION AWARD. Ryan Murphy, co-creator and executive producer of Glee, presented her with the Award. The DISTINGUISHED COLLABORATOR AWARD was presented to Emmy award-winning costume designer, Deborah Hopper, and four-time Oscar winner, Clint Eastwood, who have collaborated on more than 22 films over the last 20 years. A montage featuring such critically acclaimed films as Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, Gran Torino, Invictus and most recently, J. Edgar was introduced by actress, Marcia Gay Harden. Actor Ken Watanabe (who worked with the duo on Letters from Iwo Jima) surprised the two when he came out from backstage to present them with the statuettes. In honor of their centennial anniversary, Western Costume was presented with a special SERVICE AWARD reflecting the company’s 100 years of professional contributions from the silent era to the present, as well as its continuous support of the Costume Designers Guild.

Orange alert

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Cicely Tyson and Viola Davis meet within the Shrine. Laurence Fishburne parties with Mara Brock Akil, Salim Akil and Pooch Hall. Samuel L. Jackson and George Lucas Keke Palmer and Jill Scott It absolutely was no shock that Viola Davis needed best actress honors at Friday's NAACP Image Honours. But "The AssistanceInch star's remarks backstage within the Shrine did surprise the press corp. "I decided it because of the color,In . Davis mentioned of her plunging orange Herve LeRoux gown. "I didn't realize my tatas might be so prevalent. I believed as extended since they're not hanging lower to my knees I'm good."After her "House of Payne" win, Keshia Dark evening Pulliam could not stop gushing about her blue Dolce & Gabbana, though she was concerned about the measures some women trip to obtain that perfect look. "Ladies, eat, please! It's good to look fabulous however, you'll need food. I'd garlic clove clove fries last evening to be able to talk."Jill Scott, who won outstanding female artist honors, stood a bone to select while using Grammys, which has stopped giving honours for gospel music. "There's a little of music without black folksbut hardly any,In . she mentioned. Keke Palmer needed home a statuette on her behalf "True Jackson, Private roomInch turn, but got flustered when explaining her first on-screen hug. "OMG!" she mentioned of Robbie Amell. "He'd his shirt off which he put me available....But no, he wasn't very challenging to your vision.In . Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Machete follow-up could film in April

Good new for fans of B-movie trashiness, as Robert Rodriguez has set the wheels moving for doing things follow-up Machete Kills. And additionally, it might be around sooner or later...Obtaining seen the initial film produce a respectable profit (a $44 million take against a $10.5 million budget), a script looks like it's in place for your follow-up, with Rodriguez wanting to start filming in April.Danny Trejo looks like it's in predicts reprise his role since the badass Mexican hit-guy, as well as in the sounds from this, the completely new plot is a lot more available in comparison to original.Machete Kills will dsicover Trejo's character attempting to foil the villainous machinations from the billionaire arms dealer, who expects to spread war all over the world with the aid of a mega weapon... wide.How Rodriguez has handled to address calling that certain Machete Wide is beyond us, however when the second film can be a success, we are capable of seeing him complete the trilogy with mooted second follow-up, Machete Kills Again.However, thinking about the extended-guaranteed Vegas 2 still remains no closer to fruition, we'd advise taking these grand plans getting a pinch of salt...

Indie Brit pix nab record U.K. share

LONDON -- Independent British films hit their finest ever recorded business within the U.K. box office a year ago, due to photos like "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy," "The Inbetweeners" and "The King's Speech." According to independent research within the British Film Institute, the business of indie U.K. photos from our B.O. was 14% -- the finest ever on record. Stellar is because of "King's Speech" and comedy "Inbetweeners," which both made $71 million, together with a $22.3 million gross for "Mess Tailor" counseled me key drivers inside the Brit indie surge. It absolutely was an excellent year for U.K. cinemas generally with admissions up 1.4% year-on-year at 172 million. U.K. B.O. sitting at $1.64 billion, up 5% from 2010, despite the fact that a few of the is credited for the 2.5% hike in Vat, which begin working at the outset of 2011. Business for individuals U.K. photos, including "Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" and "Sherlock Houses: A Game Title Title of Shadows," taken care of for 36% in the total box office, up from 24% this season. Total acquisition of U.K.-based film production showed up at $1.99 billion, which $1.6 billion came from from worldwide productions lensing inside the territory. Overall purchase worldwide productions was up 3%. While purchase film production in Blighty overall was up, the whole volume of U.K. photos produced with budgets of just a million ($789,000) or maybe more fell to 71, lower from 78 this season. 90-eight photos were made on budgets below $789,000, obtaining the entire volume of U.K. feature photos produced this season to 169, lower on 2010's 262 photos. However, the quantity of U.K. co-productions elevated by one third to 40, while co-productions recorded a U.K. spend of $93.millions of. BFI Boss Amanda Nevill noted that even though final results were positive overall, "it's still an unpleasant time for filmmakers trying to boost finance to produce independent films in this particular tough economic climate.In . Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Spartacus: What you should expect in Season 2 (Beyond the Blood stream and Physiques)

Liam McIntyre, Lucy Lawless "I am Spartacus." Newcomer Liam McIntyre claims these legendary words in Spartacus: Vengeance, which returns to Starz due to its second season on Friday at 10/9c. With techniques, the Aussie is stating the completely new regime, both since the slave who won his freedom and since the actor who walked into Spartacus' shoes after Andy Whitfield required to exit because of lymphoma. (Whitfield died in September.) McIntyre: Andy Whitfield's dying was the "saddest day" round the Spartacus set Since the new guy, McIntyre gets into in to a fantastically overwrought arena of gore, copulation and pseudo-period dialogue that fans are actually familiar. No matter the convoluted language and intense fight sequences requiring several days of training, it absolutely was the revealing sex moments he found most likely probably the most challenging. "The text I loved because I'd a Shakespeare background, so that it actually was fun to see,In . McIntyre notifies TVGuide.com "It's like revisionist Shakespeare or something like that like this. The fighting is similar to like a 10-year-old it's so enjoyable. Therefore I guess most likely probably the most challenging factor might be the nudity. It's just this kind of strange factor. It always works inside the story, it definitely is a mixture of an important moment... when you are an actress, it's just an unusual experience. People just don't bypass utilizing their clothes off." Nevertheless, McIntyre removed lower and walked up, getting Spartacus to existence once again in many his naked glory. Season 2 builds up with Spartacus leading the rebels who've won their freedom by overthrowing home of Batiatus in the bloody fight. Have a look at what else McIntyre, executive producer Steven DeKnight and co-star Lucy Lawless have to say on what's approaching this season: A Brothel Massacre. Crixus (Manu Bennett) is placed on obtaining information, and that he is not likely to let a house of ill repute enter his way. Naturally, his fellow rebels tend to be than attempting to participate. "In Episode 1, one of the early things we placed on the board inside the writers' room, was 'Brothel Attack," and you just can't fail getting a title such as this. There's a really emotional story that enhances that, but we thought about being, 'Well, you will not wish to only use and attack lots of males and acquire good info. They need to attack a brothel.'" VIDEO: Spartacus purports to "repay with blood stream" in Season 2 The Roman Upstart. Gaius Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker) only agreed to be seen briefly inside the first season, but has came back with elevated screen time while he sets to oppose Spartacus as well as the rebels. Bad the greater youthful generation of Romans aren't always on one page. "We certainly preferred to throw some roadblocks in the manner which is how we showed up with Seppius [Tom Hobbs] and also the sister Seppia. [Hanna Mangan Lawrence]," DeKnight describes, adding they "preferred to possess this youthful guy" cause Glaber some trouble. "In the beginning inside the season, there's a scene involving the two. They're just sitting and speaking, but it's among my faves of the year, the scene through which Seppius eats the fig. It's a energy fight." The Unforeseen Slave. As Spartacus and also the males travel the countryside, clearing slaves simply because they go, they encounter Tiberius (Pana Hema-Taylor) a young guy who isn't thrilled to own his master destroyed. "People like Tiberius challenge the notion that Spartacus has that everybody needs to be free," states McIntyre. "Rome is actually an oppressive regime that sometimes it's better the demon you understand than another factor. As well as as he was lashed and many types of people things, no less than they are fully aware where it's coming initially from from. Whereas the problem the rebels have within the get-go is always that we're round the lam. We're abroad within the law, as well as the law desires to kill you. Is always that a genuine better factor than receiving and fighting if this involves your money can buy? Is always that a far greater situation to remain in? In principle, yeah. The simple truth is not.Inch Not Just Figs. "I'm large inside the scripts about writing inside a couple of times when people are eating. It carries much more weight," states DeKnight. "It's one factor we started doing with Nick Tarabay, who plays Ashur. There's a scene in Season 1 where we'd the dailies, the other terrible was happening to somebody, which we cut to Ashur, and he's getting somewhat snack. And then we started writing that in. That really just spoke tons about his character." The Return in the Retiarus. Gnaeus (Raicho Vasilev), who wielded the trident and internet if this involves, may be dead this season, but another gladiator will need within the "fisherman's gear." "The retiarus, the trident and internet gladiator, in many the versions of movies and stuff, he's a inclination to appear absurd," DeKnight states. "But on our show - which may be the genius of [stunt supervisor] Allan Poppleton - he handled to obtain absolutely badass. You will observe really tridents and nets." A genuine fascination with Lucretia. The domina managed to get home of Batiatus slaughter, however isn't the Lucretia we once understood. Nevertheless, she still holds appeal not under one person. "Lucretia's lost everything," Lawless states. "She's lost her beloved husband, the little one she'd supply him with, the lover who enabled the little one, the home, status and for your reason the right response is understandable that she's lost her marbles meanwhile... but she includes two love interests. Somebody falls deeply deeply in love with her." Have a look at what else can be obtained for Lucretia inside our interview with Lawless: Will you stay updated for your new Spartacus? Which character are you currently presently excited to find out back?

'Devil Inside' Follow-up? Despite Horrible Reviews, Producer States Maybe

Within the files of "fool me once": inside an interview with TheWrap, "The Demon Inside" producer Steven Schneider mentioned that discussions can happen regarding whether or not to accept micro-budget horror film into franchise territory -- despite the fact that it absolutely was roundly hated. Created for just $millions of (with millions more allotted to marketing, natch), "The Demon Inside" stormed el born area office the 2009 weekend, producing a company shocking $34.5 million and departing huge amounts of individuals upset within the wake. The film, a found-footage exorcism thriller that "wasn't endorsed with the Vatican," acquired an amazing F-grade on Cinemascore, the least expensive score in recent memory. Lots of that has associated with the questionable ending, which found some audiences booing the screen in protest. "It's all regulated controlled type of componen for your course while using horror genre particularly," Schneider mentioned in regards to the visceral reactions to "The Demon Inside" which is finale. "Once the movie wasn't carrying this out well, nobody gives consideration that there are many bitterness or negative critical opinion. [...] Creating debate in order to stimulate more rates of interest really are a method that is not like we're individuals inventing it if the requires the horror genre." Translation: sorry, suckers! Even if "The Demon Inside" takes a colossal fall next weekend -- it could drop some seventy percent based on word-of-mouth -- expect when part two makes theaters soon. You will see the questionable film in theaters now -- just in case your pals haven't scared you off already. [via TheWrap] [Photo: Vital] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook