Seidelman assembles team for basketball laffer

Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Melanie Griffith, Wanda Sykes and Camryn Manheim have signed to star in Susan Seidelman's basketball comedy "The Menopause Flashes." Shooting starts Feb. 13 in New Orleans. The film continues to be produced by Nina Henderson Moore, Kaira Hennig and Seidelman with Laurie Lacob professional creating. The film is individually funded by equity finance traders, a variety of it from as well as within the Plastic Valley. Lightning Entertainment is handling foreign sales and may introduce the film to customers within the European Film Market in Berlin. "The Menopause Flashes," composed by Hennig, concentrates on an unlikely basketball team of unappreciated middle-aged Texas women, all former secondary school champs, who challenge the current arrogant secondary school girls' condition champs to enhance money for breast cancers prevention. Sparks fly since the women visit comic extremes to prove themselves on / off legal court, be considered a national media sensation, and acquire a brand new lease on existence. "I used to be attracted with this script because of its comedy approach in addressing the negative stereotypes of aging," Seidelman mentioned. "Now you have women from the certain age were referred to on-screen in vibrant ways, and i'm convinced there is a large audience available who'll readily recognize this effective story." 5 stars will attend a basketball camping together in New Orleans right before filming. Former WNBA leader Donna Orender will lead the camping and performance the sports consultant for your film. Seidelman's pointing credits include "Anxiously Seeking Susan," "She Demon" "Boynton Beach Club" as well as the pilot for your TV series "Sex as well as the City." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Dimitra Arliss dies at 79

Dimitra Arliss, who carried out a hired killer alongside Robert Redford and Paul Newman inside the caper comedy "The Sting," has died in La. She was 79.Jaime Larkin, an agent for your Film and television Fund Hospital, states Arliss died Jan. 26 within the Woodland Slopes facility of complications in the stroke.The Ohio native began her acting career within the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. On Broadway, Arliss starred opposite Stacy Keach in "Indians" with Kevin Kline and John Malkovich in "Arms as well as the Guy."After turning up just like a "hit lady" inside the 1973 hit "The Sting," she was noticed in "Xanadu," starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, too as with Clint Eastwood's "Opera."Her numerous television credits include "Dallas," ''Quincy M.E.," and "Wealthy Guy, Poor Guy."Arliss is managed to get having a sister. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Came Carey Calls Off Four-Year Engagement

Came Carey and Nicole Jaracz There will not be wedding alarms for Came Carey and longtime fiancée Nicole Jaracz. The pair have cancelled their engagement after a lot more than 4 years, People reviews. Take a look at photos of Came Carey "He and Nicole have a lot of love and affection for each other," Carey's repetition told playboy inside a statement. "He it's still very associated with their son's existence." The Cost is appropriate host sprang the question to Jaracz, a chef, in October 2007. She's a six-year-old boy, Connor, from the previous relationship.

ABC orders 'Beauty as well as the Beast' pilot

Steinberg Permit the fight in the "Monsters" begin.ABC introduced Tuesday an order for just about any pilot using the "Beauty as well as the Animal" legend--7 days following a CW did same, although getting another undertake the story.From ABC Art galleries, ABC's "Animal" can be a fantastical reimagining in the classic mythic occur a mythical, dangerous world by which a stylish and difficult Princess discovers an unlikely mention of the a mysterious animal.The project originates from Jon Steinberg ("Jericho"), who'll executive produce with Mojo Film's Gary Fleder and Mary Jesse Basile.The CW's "Animal," from CBS TV Art galleries, is loosely using the CBS drama within the late eighties. It's known to love a contemporary-day romancer "getting a procedural twist." Jennifer Levin ("Without any Trace") and Sherri Cooper ("Brothers and sisters and Brothers and sisters") composed the pilot and professional produce with Paul Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow and Bill Haber. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

'Wettest' release pressed back

The Weinstein Co. has moved John Hillcoat's gangster drama "Wettest County" back four several days from April 20 to August. 31.TWC introduced the move Thursday. The April 20 date remains filled with Disney's "Chimpanzee," TWC's "Frightening Movie 5," Warner's "The Lucky One," FilmDictrict's "Lockout," Focus' "Seeking a pal within the Finish round the globeInch and Relativity's "House within the Finish of in the Street."August. 31 will dsicover openings of CBS Films' "7500" and Lionsgate's "The Possession.""Wettest" stars Shia LaBeouf, Tom Sturdy, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain. The film, using the novel by Matt Bondurant and modified by Nick Cave, concentrates on brother bootleggers (LaBeouf and durable) taking regulations to their personal hands through the Depression.Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick are coming up with alongside Michael Benaroya under his Benaroya Pictures banner and Megan Ellison via her Annapurna banner. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Ambassador returns to fundraise for Obama

Nicole Avant, the music activity executive who Leader Obama attracted on as ambassador for the Bahamas, has returned to La and may help boost his reelection fund-raising efforts, beginning by getting a celebration at her home on Jan. 31 featuring First Lady Michelle Obama, sources told Variety.Avant, who was simply one of the co-chairs of Obama's La finance team in 2008, was instrumental in growing Obama's base of contributor on the market and elsewhere in La, mainly in the music business using among prominent African-Us citizens. She and her co-chair, Charlie Rivkin, Boss of WildBrain, were each given ambassadorships following a inauguration. Rivkin is presently ambassador to France.Leader Obama trekked to La three occasions this season to enhance money for his reelection and Michelle Obama came once, despite the fact that their Hollywood-centric occasions offered out, it's not as basic to enhance money since it is at 2008, as some contributor have expressed disappointment, frustration or fatigue.Avant, who's married to Netflix's Ted Sarandos, will host the initial Lady at their Beverly Slopes home. Michelle Obama will attend another fund-raising event the very next day at home of attorney Michael Lawson and also the wife, Mattie, an internal designer, who also elevated money for Obama in 2008.V . P . Ernest Biden is predicted to slate a vacation to La some time over the following month, and plans will be in the entire shebang for the next visit by Leader Obama.Avant's primary cause of resigning wound up being to become closer to her family, as she'd been commuting from the Bahamas and La. She does not possess a situation round the campaign staff, and may convey a lot of informal role. Obama's La finance chairs for 2012 as John Emerson in the Capitol Group and Ken Solomon, Boss in the Tennis Funnel.Avant's departure as ambassador was introduced in the finish of October, as well as the embassy mentioned they preferred to "return to private existence and devote more hours to her family."The tenure of typical ambassadors is not greater than an entire presidential term. Even though they might be plum projects, for a number of appointees what this means is a pay cut, as salary tops out at about $150,000.The Obama event was reported with the Hollywood Reporter's Tina Daunt.Show biz is predicted being attracted on substantially through 2012 with the Obama campaign, using the aspiration that enthusiasm will get a lift each time a GOP nominee is selected and will be offering a apparent choice. In line with the NY Publish, Spike Lee will raise money for Obama on Jan. 19, with tickets at $38,500 per person. Lee remains critical of Obama at points, but is a type of supporters and contributor who've nevertheless handled to obtain apparent that they may still back him this year. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

Sword master Bob Anderson dies aged 89

Bob Anderson, the sword-master who worked on Star Wars, The Lord Of The Rings and The Princess Bride, has died aged 89.He passed away on 1 January, according to a statement by The British Academy of Fencing (via BBC News).Brit Anderson was an Olympic fencer before he moved into the movies. He began his film career working on stunts, before becoming better known under the undeniably awesome job title of Sword Master.Among the highlights on his filmography are Barry Lyndon, Highlander, The Princess Bride, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and The Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl.Anderson donned the iconic black helmet to play Darth Vader in the lightsaber duels of The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi.Peter Jackson led the tributes via his Facebook page: "I was thrilled when Bob Anderson agreed to come on board The Lord Of The Rings as our sword-master."In fact, it took a while for it to sink in that I was going to get to work with the same man who had helped create some of cinema's greatest fight sequences - from Star Wars to The Princess Bride. Bob was a brilliant swordsman and a gifted teacher; I will remember him as a wonderfully patient man, possessed of a terrific sense of humour."Anderson is survived by his wife and three children.