Strand Delivering will get 'Crazy'

Strand Delivering has acquired U.S. privileges to Adam Sherman's contempo noir drama "Crazy Eyes," starring Lukas Haas and Madeline Zima. The film, that will have its world premiere in the SXSW Film Festival in a few days, follows a youthful guy whose obsession for a woman he calls Crazy Eyes drives him towards the edge -- as his hard hanging out lifestyle conflict together with his familial duties. Mike Busey, Ray Smart and Tania Raymonde complete the cast. The film was created by Hagai Shaham. Strand plans an earlier summer time release. "Crazy Eyes" marks the 2nd film by Sherman to become written by Strand, which handled his "Happiness Runs" in '09. Sherman's other directorial credits include "Dead Toy." He created "Wristcutters: An Appreciation Story," which tested at Sundance and was written by Lionsgate. Haas lately starred in "Contraband" and Zima is at "Smashing the Girl." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Plans at WWE cause 4Q loss

Within the most popular periods of WWE's history, the organization is preparing to produce a brand new TV network, overhauling its battling film division, and preparing next month's "WrestleMania 28," featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Manley, all while creating its weekly shows, occasions and growing its presence overseas. A lot of the game required a toll on WWE's bottomline throughout the 4th quarter, with the organization confirming a internet lack of $8.six million (versus net gain of $8.a million) and revenue decreasing to $112.9 million, from $122.5 million throughout exactly the same year-ago period that wrapped 12 ,. 31. Company lined up declines to the TV, film an internet-based companies. "This Year, we examined several pathways for creating new programs and disbursing our content in ways that maximizes its value," stated Vince McMahon, chairman and Boss of WWE. "Performing this tactic effectively, such as the potential development of a WWE Network, has got the energy to change our business. Our ongoing investment to grow and maximize the need for our content is easily the most potent method for driving our future earnings." McMahon gave couple of new particulars on when its new WWE Network would launch this season, throughout a business call with traders. Executives there has been busy settling carriage handles a number of partners. It ponied up $4 million last quarter to staff up talent in the cable biz and convey a slate of series, so it fully is the owner of, including reality fare like "Stories House." Its TV certification biz required a success because its held back on disbursing shows "NXT" and "Celebrities" within the U.S. It is also creating a separate slate of series because of its refurbished YouTube funnel, designed like a marketing vehicle they are driving auds to WWE's Television shows. For WWE Galleries, McMahon wants to own film arm a while to develop under new mind Michael Luisi, who had been drawn on to supervise the division in last September (Daily Variety, Sept. 7). Instead of fully develop and convey its very own slate of films, Luisi continues to be busy obtaining films from festivals like Sundance and Toronto, co-creating projects along with other shingles, and securing lower handles Fox to develop its direct-to-homevideo franchisees like "The Marine" "to enhance the profitability in our movie business," McMahon stated. Company invested another $15 million to $25 million on as much as eight films this season, despite a string of disappointments -- films that did not attract WWE's fanbase. Film arm gained $4.3 million in revenue throughout the quarter (in comparison to $7.9 million last year), while profits arrived at $a million. Division was instructed to discount $12.two million in impairment charges throughout the quarter because of photos "The Reunion," "Bending the guidelines,Inch "Barricade," "See No Evil," "Knucklehead" and "The Chaperone" not carrying out in addition to expected on homevid. Previously, its photos have obtained limited theatrical runs before striking homevid. Films would play a sizable programming role on WWE Network, but may likely have more significant play in theaters through new close ties. Overall domestic retail revenue for homevid game titles rejected 14%, or $1.8 million, because of an 8% reduction in deliveries to 825,000 models along with a 5% decline in average effective prices to $13.50 throughout the quarter. Throughout the quarter, WWE saw dips in pay-per-view buys with "Hell inside a Cell" lower to 182,000 (versus 210,000) "Vengeance" at 121,000 (in comparison to 137,000 if this was known as "Boasting Privileges") "Survivor Series" at 281,000 (244,000) and "TLC" at 179,000 (195,000). Still, revenue from PPVs were up 2% to $14.six million. The business's greatest PPV, "WrestleMania 28" happens April 1, from Miami. Revenue from live and public entertainment business were off 2% to $81 million. Its 78 occasions (including 31 overseas), lower from 84 last year, gained $26.9 million, up 1%. TV privileges costs produced $33.9 million, removed from $35.7 million, because of the lack of "Celebrities." Meanwhile, revenue from consumer items decreased 15% to $18.7 million. Certification revenue fell to $9.5 million from $12.3 million, mainly from the 15% decline in toy sales throughout the holiday season, which required a toll of all toymakers. Magazine revs were $two million, lower from $3.a million, while digital media-related companies rejected 14% to $8.9 million. WWE published $483.9 million in revenue fro the entire year, up from $477.7 million, while net gain arrived at $24.8 million, lower from $53.5 million, again mainly because of opportunities in new content platforms. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Universal Buys Novel Manuscript Demonologist For ImageMovers

EXCLUSIVE: Universal has acquired Demonologist, a novel manuscript by Andrew Pyper. The book will be sold at auction shortly, but most important the film project will be produced by ImageMovers partners Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey. The studio made a preemptive deal for rights to the manuscript. The plot:When a professor who studies Paradise Lost accepts a free trip to Italy,a demonic spirit appears to kill his daughter, and he mustgo on a dark journey of discovery in hopes of getting her back.Pyper is repped by UTA and Toronto-based Anne McDermid & Associates.

'Werewolves' visits U.K., Korea

BARCELONA -- Kaleidoscope Ing. has clicked on up U.K. rights towards the the spanish language language comic fantasy "Wager on Werewolves" Sonamu Pictures has acquired Korean rights. Deals were closed within the Berlin festival's European Film Market, mentioned sources at Vertice Sales, the world sales arm from the the spanish language language conglom Vertice 360. Produced by Spain's Telespan 2000 and Vaca Films, "Werewolves" is helmed by Juan Martinez Moreno ("Two Tough Males"). Occur a web-based north-western The the spanish language language hamlet, "Werewolves" sees a aspirant author returning to his birthplace for inspiration to discover it threatened having a century-old curse. Deals increase a flurry of other "Werewolves" sales, including certification pacts to Germany (Senator), Japan (Shochiku), Indonesia and Malaysia (Visicom), as well as the Middle East (Gulf Film), showing that genre and genre-riffs for instance "Werewolves" remain among Spain's most powerful export staples. It world opened up at October's Sitges Fest, Europe's finest genre confab, where it's experts as well as the public in stitches. In November, it needed everyone else award within the San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Fest. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Charlie Sheen Resumes Two & Half Men Insults: Should FX & Lionsgate Be Worried?

Just as his new show, Anger Management, is gearing for production on its initial 10-episode order from FX, its star/producer Charlie Sheen embarked on the type of verbal rampage that got him in trouble with his previous employer Warner Bros. TV and ultimately got him fired from his previous show, CBS’ Two And A Half Men. Over the past 2 days, Sheen dropped the Mr. Nice Guy persona he had cultivated since he signed on for Anger Management last summer to return to his infamous warlock days. “Perhaps if Warner Bros. spent as much time and energy focusing on THEIR show, it wouldn’t be such a steaming pile of ass,” Sheen told TMZ on Wednesday in response to the cease-and-desist letter from the studio banning the use of images of Sheen as his Man character to promote his new show. Then today, he called into TMZ Live, also reverting to an old habit he had during his wild days a year ago when he would regularly call into live radio shows to vent. “I’m tired of pretending Ashton doesn’t suck,” he said, an 180 from the thumbs-up he had publicly given his replacement Ashton Kutcher. “I’m tired of lying … I’m tired of pretending the show doesn’t suck … I’m tired of pretending Ashton doesn’t suck…It’s nothing personal … I just feel bad for him … he’s saddled with such bad writing,” Sheen concluded, shifting his insults to his favorite target of last year, Two And A Half Men showrunner Chuck Lorre. There is no such thing bad publicity, they say, and a new show needs all the attention it can get. But I doubt this is the type of attention the marketing teams at FX and Anger Management producer Lionsgate TV are aiming for. Seeing glimpses of the foul-mouthed, loose-cannon Charlie Sheen of 2011 so early in the process on Anger Management will no doubt raise concern at FX, Lionsgate and especially Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury division, whose model’s success is tied to a show’s ability to go the distance, hitting the 100-episode mark and beyond. Was this a brief outburst provoked by the WBTV legal move or a sign of relapse? Or maybe Sheen is turning to Daniel Day-Lewis style of method acting, embodying his anger management issues-plagued character on and off-work.

Oprah Apologizes for Begging Nielsen Viewers to Tune into OWN

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey issued an apology on Monday for asking viewers with a Nielsen box to tune into OWN. "Every1 who can please turn to OWN especially if u have a Nielsen box," she wrote via Twitter on Sunday, just as the Grammy Awards telecast began opposite Oprah's Next Chapter. She later added, "Commercial Grammy people..u can turn to OWN." Check out the rest of today's news After Twitter followers began to accuse her of begging, Winfrey went on the defensive, firing off several tweets implying that she is not desperate for viewers. "Unethical a little harsh don't u think? Seemed like it made sense to me. Sorry if u're offended," she wrote in response to the messages. The original tweet mentioning Nielsen was later deleted, and with good reason. According to Deadline, networks sign agreements with Nielsen saying they won't openly solicit Nielsen box owners. "I removed the tweet at the request of Nielsen," Winfrey said in a statement Monday, obtained by Entertainment Weekly. "I intended no harm and apologize for the reference."

Sky Deutschland to boost $394 million

BERLIN -- Sky Deutschland introduced intentions of Thursday to boost 300 million ($394 million) this season to invest in opportunities in exclusive new content and new services. News Corp. will backstop the funding, which Sky intends to raise in 2 steps. The organization is searching to have a the least $130 million by March via a privileges offering, a personal positioning or perhaps a investor loan and also the relaxation by September. This may also problem a convertible bond included in the process. Sky lately inked a unique three-year multi-platform pay TV cope with Warner Bros., and it has also beefed up its high-definition TV choices. This Year, Sky handled to narrow its deficits before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by 42% to $203 million, while revenue rose 17% to $1.4 billion. Sky also surpassed the three million customer mark. "This Year we shipped numerous key key events in building our business for any lucrative future," stated Sky Deutschland Boss John Sullivan. "Overall our results reflect the very best performance within the good reputation for the organization: we're bringing in new clients in the quickest pace ever, and client satisfaction and recommendation levels are whatsoever-time levels. To possess over 3 million clients positively selecting Sky is an excellent achievement, but we expect more in the future and there's still more to complete. The extra funding introduced today will support us to help drive these efforts, to carry on building a thrilling service for the clients along with a valuable business for the investors." Sullivan needs Sky's performance to carry on to enhance this season and "to become considerably much better than 2011." Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com