Law & Order: SVUs Chris Meloni Joins HBOs True Bloodstream As New Regular

Former Law & Order: SVU star Chris Meloni has arranged his next series gig, a normal role around the approaching fifth season of Cinemax’s drama True Bloodstream. Series creator/executive producer Alan Ball told TVLine.com, which broke this news, that Meloni will have an old, effective vampire who supports the fate of Bill and Eric in the hands. The offer required a very long time to shut over arranging difficulties with the Guy Of Steel Superman movie, by which Gersh-repped Meloni plays a significant role. This marks Meloni’s go back to Cinemax where he co-starred on prison drama Oz.

Rejoice, Drive Fans: The BFCA Just Saved Your Awards Hopes

Good news for those Drive fans who’ve spent the last three months wondering who they had to head-stomp to get some awards recognition around here: The Broadcast Film Critics Association has singlehandedly boosted the film back into the seasonal spotlight, nominating Drive for eight Critics Choice Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. That tied with The Help’s showing, and while it isn’t quite the haul enjoyed by The Artist and Hugo — which nabbed 11 nods apiece — it’s something! Be encouraged! Read on for more notes and the complete list of this year’s Critics Choice nominees. I know, I know: “But it’s just the Critics Choice Awards!” Fair enough, but as Steve Pond astutely notes this morning, the BFCA’s Best Picture category “generally coincides almost exactly with the Academy’s.” This year might be a slight exception with that whole 5-percent rule; nevertheless, finally finding Drive in the company of frontrunners like The Artist, The Descendants, War Horse and, apparently, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has to brighten even the glummest countenance. Also of note: “Andrew” Serkis broke through Rise of the Planet of the Apes’s mo-cap barrier for a Supporting Actor nomination, Glenn Close was snubbed in favor of Elizabeth Olsen, and Margin Call, which has camped squarely on the awards bubble for last month or so, is nowhere to be found. Literally not one thing for J.C. Chandor’s acclaimed, buzzy debut. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo didn’t fare much better, earning recognition only for Best Score and Best Editing. Womp wommmmp. Fingers crossed for the Golden Globes! And now your complete list of nominees: BEST PICTURE The Artist The Descendants Drive Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close The Help Hugo Midnight in Paris Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse BEST ACTOR George Clooney - The Descendants Leonardo DiCaprio - J. Edgar Jean Dujardin - The Artist Michael Fassbender - Shame Ryan Gosling - Drive Brad Pitt - Moneyball BEST ACTRESS Viola Davis - The Help Elizabeth Olsen - Martha Marcy May Marlene Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin Charlize Theron - Young Adult Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn Albert Brooks - Drive Nick Nolte - Warrior Patton Oswalt - Young Adult Christopher Plummer - Beginners Andrew Serkis - Rise of the Planet of the Apes BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Berenice Bejo - The Artist Jessica Chastain - The Help Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids Carey Mulligan - Shame Octavia Spencer - The Help Shailene Woodley - The Descendants BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS Asa Butterfield - Hugo Elle Fanning - Super 8 Thomas Horn - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Ezra Miller - We Need to Talk About Kevin Saoirse Ronan - Hanna Shailene Woodley - The Descendants BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE The Artist Bridesmaids The Descendants The Help The Ides of March BEST DIRECTOR Stephen Daldry - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist Alexander Payne - The Descendants Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive Martin Scorsese - Hugo Steven Spielberg - War Horse BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius 50/50 - Will Reiser Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen Win Win - Screenplay by Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni Young Adult - Diablo Cody BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Descendants - Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - Eric Roth The Help - Tate Taylor Hugo - John Logan Moneyball - Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY The Artist - Guillaume Schiffman Drive - Newton Thomas Sigel Hugo - Robert Richardson The Tree of Life - Emmanuel Lubezki War Horse - Janusz Kaminski BEST ART DIRECTION The Artist - Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan Hugo - Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo The Tree of Life - Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank War Horse - Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales BEST EDITING The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion Drive - Matthew Newman The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall Hugo - Thelma Schoonmaker War Horse - Michael Kahn BEST COSTUME DESIGN The Artist - Mark Bridges The Help - Sharen Davis Hugo - Sandy Powell Jane Eyre - Michael O’Connor My Week With Marilyn - Jill Taylor BEST MAKEUP Albert Nobbs Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 The Iron Lady J. Edgar My Week With Marilyn BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Rise of the Planet of the Apes Super 8 The Tree of Life BEST SOUND Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Super 8 The Tree of Life War Horse BEST ANIMATED FEATURE The Adventures of Tintin Arthur Christmas Kung Fu Panda 2 Puss in Boots Rango BEST ACTION MOVIE Drive Fast Five Hanna Rise of the Planet of the Apes Super 8 BEST COMEDY Bridesmaids Crazy, Stupid, Love Horrible Bosses Midnight in Paris The Muppets BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM In Darkness Le Havre A Separation The Skin I Live In Where Do We Go Now BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Buck Cave of Forgotten Dreams George Harrison: Living in the Material World Page One: Inside the NY Times Project Nim Undefeated BEST SCORE The Artist - Ludovic Bource Drive - Cliff Martinez The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Hugo - Howard Shore War Horse - John Williams BEST SONG “Hello Hello” - performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin - Gnomeo & Juliet “Life’s a Happy Song” - performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie - The Muppets “The Living Proof” - performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman and Harvey Mason, Jr. - The Help “Man or Muppet” - performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie - The Muppets “Pictures in My Head” - performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman - The Muppets ###

Occupy Wall Street Protests the Group of Law & Order: SVU

Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mariska Hargitay Occupy Wall Street has occupied the group of Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit. People from the movement collected late Thursday evening in NY's Foley Square, in which the NBC procedural noted for "ripping in the head lines" was apparently re-creating the scene of Occupy Wall Street's former camping in Zucotti Park. Scoop: Law & Order: SVU swears in Kevin Pollak for guest place "Law & Order was by using this like a backdrop for many salacious story," part of the Occupy Wall Street press team told The Huffington Publish. "People made it happen within the spirit of absurdity and fun, and that we prefer to get together in public places space and share ideas and show our vision through our action. ... We are doing that tonight with some jest and large body fat smiles on our faces."NBC rejected to comment, but executive producer Warren Leight taken care of immediately the occasions on Twitter. "Saddened by last night's occasions," he tweeted. "We understand OWS feelings run high, as well as protestors' anxiety about getting their images and historyco-elected by corporate media. The irony this is actually the scene we could not shoot described OWS inside a supportive lightand most of the union authors, crew and hang contractors who done preparing the scene are encouraging from the movement." Based on MSNBC, no busts were made and production rapidly started wearing down the set. See video in the incident:

On The Ice Sets Distribution Through PMK*BNC Films, With Help From Sundance

EXCLUSIVE: After winning Best First Feature in its debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and then playing over 30 festivals, the Andrew Okpeaha MacLean-directed On The Ice will find its way to theaters early next year. The film will be released theatrically by On the Ice LLC and PMK*BNC Films, starting with a platform release February 10 in NY, Los Angeles and Alaska (where the film was shot). On the Ice is a suspenseful drama about two teen boys who grow up like brothers in an isolated Alaskan town. On a seal hunt with another teen one morning, an argument breaks out between them escalates and leads to a tragic accident. The two best friends, bonded by this dark secret, create one cover story after another to survive in a small community that is highly suspicious of what happened. This is the kind of film that often slips through the cracks, but the film utilized the Sundance Institute’s Artist Services initiative, and the filmmakers were able to raise P&A through Sundance Institute’s partnership with Kickstarter. On The Ice stars Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuq Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith, Adamina Kerr, John Miller, Rosabelle Kunnunna Rexford and Sierra Jade Sampson. It was produced by Cara Marcous, Lynette Howell, Marco Londoner and Zhana Londoner. Sundance Institute’s Artist Services associate director Chris Horton called On The Ice “exactly the kind of innovative and powerful storytelling that deserves to connect with audiences and we’re proud to be playing a small part in making that happen.” Here’s a trailer for the film:

India fest fetes 'Porfiro'

MUMBAI -- Helmer Alejandro Landes' Colombian dramedy "Porfirio" nabbed the Golden Peacock for film and $80,000 within the 42nd Intl. Film Festival of India that brought to Goa on Saturday. Pic was produced within the Sundance Institute and carried out at Cannes Directors' Week. Asghar Farhadi won the Silver Peacock for director and $30,000 for Iranian marital drama "A Separation." India's entry for your language Oscar, "Adaminte makan abu," directed by Salim Ahmed, won the Special Jury award and $30,000. Sasson Gabai was named best actor for contempo Israeli drama "Restoration," directed by Yossi Madmoni. Nadezhda Markina won best actress for Russian helmer Andrei Zvyagintsev's "Elena" that won the Not Sure Regard jury prize at Cannes. Both acting honours possess a cash prize of $20,000. Fest closed with Luc Besson's "The Lady.Inch Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Olivier Marchal's star increases in France

MarchalOlivier Marchal has converted his police roots into films and television, including latest pic, 'A Gang Story.'PARIS -- Together with his latest film, "A Gang Story," nearly offered out worldwide before its release date, cop-switched-filmmaker Olivier Marchal has cemented his status because the kingpin of French crime around the bigscreen -- as well as on TV. "A Gang Story" opened up in France on November. 30 with 440 copies and it has were built with a more powerful bow than "36," Marchal's greatest success up to now while his series "Braquo" is constantly on the deliver auds for paybox Canal Plus."My films pay homage towards the legendary filmmakers I was raised admiring -- Michael Mann, Sidney Lumet, Jim Jarmusch, Sergio Leone -- and French masters (Jean Pierre) Melville and Claude Sautet, to title a few. All mixed well with my cop sensibility," states the 53-year-old French thesp-director. He cites Leone's "Not so long ago in the western world,Inch Sean Penn's "The Pledge" and Lumet's "Serpico" as three photos that exerted a significant affect on him." 'Serpico' may be the film that helped me want to become cop," states Marchal, who became a member of Versailles' crime-busting unit in 1980 and then labored within an anti-terrorist brigade, before switching to acting and helming. His previous three directorial efforts -- "Gangsters," which gained $1.8 million in the box office "36" ($16.9 million) and "The Final Deadly Mission" ($7.4 million) -- have gained critical praise and were in a commercial sense effective -- all offered to major areas. The very first season of "Braquo," which broadcast last year, broke the record for French fiction dramas on Canal Plus, drawing typically 1.two million audiences, 18.6% of Canal Plus customers. The 2nd season, composed by Abdel Raouf Dafri ("A Prophet") and co-created by Marchal, is presently airing and it has been taking a typical share of 20%. "Braquo" has additionally been acquired by worldwide systems, such as the U.K.'s Forex, along with a U.S. remake deal is within settlement. Through his work, Marchal states he's shown that "you may be an auteur, stay in keeping with yourself making entertaining genre films and television series." Individuals so-known as French auteur dramas where one can have lenghty sequence shots of the couple in mattress or two men inside a kitchen -- they are not created using a crowd in your mind plus they bore me beyond words," states Marchal. "That isn't my concept of cinema." Cecile Gaget, prexy of worldwide sales at Gaumont, that has been disbursing and selling all Marchal's photos, aside from "Gangsters," states the helmer has loyal fans."Marchal is just one of France's top four company directors, together with Jacques Audiard ("A Prophet"), Fred Cavaye ("Point Blank") and Jean-Francois Richet ("Public Enemy Number 1Inch) who are able to make effective, modern cop thrillers and crime movies that attract worldwide audiences," states Gaget, mentioning that they and co-worker Yohann Comte offered the film to half the planet with different eight-minute promo at Berlin, while other areas, such as the U.S. (using the Weinstein Co.), were closed this summer time after Gaumont revealed a cut from the film.Showing the field of cops from inside, Marchal's photos happen to be breaking from the stereotypes of numerous French procedurals, giving a far more authentic and nuanced look at cops and gangsters.With "A Gang Story," Marchal strayed from his usual police drama to inform a tale from the gangster's perspective -- younger crowd labored together with his greatest budget yet, some $20 million. Up next, Marchal has signed his next two new projects, "Bronx" and "Montespan" with Gaumont and Paris-based production shingle LGM, headed by Cyril Colbeau-Justin and Jean-Baptiste Dupont. Referred to by Marchal as his "French 'Miami Vice,' " "Bronx" is occur in france they Riviera and handles the Georgian mafia. "Montespan" is definitely an epic melodrama activating Louis XIV's favorite mistress Even though it seems like a departure in the gritty realm of cops and thieves he's noted for, Marchal states "Montespan" weaves together a few of the same styles as his police thrillers, despite it as being a period piece, adding that it'll be very dark and modern, a la Stanley Kubrick's "Craig Lyndon," among his favorite films.Around the TV front, Marchal is developing "Section Zero," a cop thriller occur 2030 Paris, for Canal Plus.Meanwhile, Marchal states he's been agreed to direct an adaptation of Mario Puzo's "Omerta" but prefer to make his British-language having a Western within the vein of Henry Fonda starrer "Warlock." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Hulu Nabs 'Community' in Digital Syndication Deal

The Amy Winehouse Foundation is on the way to making good on its pledge to donate $780,000 (500,000 pounds)in its first year of existence.our editor recommendsAmy Winehouse's Parents to Anderson Cooper: 'There Was No One There to Rescue Her'Amy Winehouse's 'Our Day Will Come' Tribute Video Premieres (Video)Amy Winehouse 'Not Suicidal' Before Death, Inquest RevealsAmy Winehouse's Father Physically Fought Her Drug DealersAmy Winehouse's 'Black to Black' Dress Sells for $68,000Related Topics•Amy Winehouse The charitable organization, run by the singer's parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, made their first monetary gift, to London's Little Havens Children's Hospice east, reports the Associated Press. PHOTOS: Amy Winehouse Funeral The $15,600 donation was accompanied by a visit from the Winehouses, who lost their daughter July 23. The coroner ruled it a "death by misadventure" in Oct. Winehouse had more than five times the legal limit of alcohol in her system when she was found dead at her North London home. "We want to go and visit people because people loved Amy, the children loved Amy" Mitch, who is also writing a book about his daughter, told the AP. PHOTOS: Amy Winehouse Career in Pictures "I would say this is what we do for a living but we don't get paid to do it," he said. "Amy's left us in the fortunate position where we don't have to worry about going to work like we had to, as long as we're sensible and careful, but all of our efforts are now channeled into the foundation." VIDEO: Coldplay Pays Tribute to Amy Winehouse Winehouse's posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, will be released Monday, Dec. 5, and features 12 previously unreleased tracks. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Hollywood's Notable Deaths Related Topics Amy Winehouse