Apple Says Steve Jobs Is Exiting As CEO

UPDATED: Steve Jobs resigned in a letter (see below) today effective immediately saying he could no longer meet his duties and expectations as Apple CEO.But he did not specifically address the state of his health.What do you think the effect on Hollywood will be? He reinvigorated animation at Disney through Pixar and helped engineer that studio’s purchase of the CGI toon hitmaker. His hardware and software have helped Big Media find new platforms for their content when DVD sales hit the skids. Analysts agree that the next arena for Apple to master is television and that newly namedCEO Tim Cook, formerlythe company’s COO, may be even better suited to guide the company there. Butwithout Jobs’ genius facility for imagineering and branding, Apple’s future remains unclear. Here’s Jobs’ letter: To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community: I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apples CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee. As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple. I believe Apples brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role. I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you. Steve — Here’s the Apple announcement: CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apples Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apples Chief Operating Officer, as the companys new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately. Steves extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the worlds most innovative and valuable technology company Steves extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the worlds most innovative and valuable technology company, said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. Steve has made countless contributions to Apples success, and he has attracted and inspired Apples immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration. The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO, added Levinson. Tims 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does. Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO. As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the companys worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apples supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apples Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace. Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Fox to bow 'Miss Bala,' 'Yellow Sea' in U.S.

'Miss Bala'Fox Intl. Prods., the studio's busy local-language production arm for overseas releases, is going to give a number of its slate a niche theatrical push within the U.S.: Gerardo Naranjo's Mexican crime drama "Miss Bala" and Hong-jim Na's South Korean crime thriller "The Yellow Ocean" can get limited domestic runs through twentieth century Fox. Studio will unspool "Bala" March. 14 in New You are able to while "Yellow" will even unspool a while within the fall. D Films prexy David Dinerstein is dealing with Fox to plan domestic marketing and distribution for photos, with discussions for future films within the works. Rollout arrange for "Bala" and "Yellow," however, is one thing of the trial run for Fox and FIP. As the studio is talking about other potential releases, both films' success will settle if the studio releases future Fox Int'l. pictures. News of both photos comes three several weeks after Fox introduced its Fox World Cinema label, made to take advantage of its northern border American ancillary worth of FIP films. Some earlier FIP game titles (for example last year's Indian romantic drama "I'm Khan") have unspooled via Searchlight or side stepped U.S. theaters entirely. "Miss Bala" opened in Cannes' Not Certain Regard section this might and it has guaranteed a place both in the Toronto Film Festival's Contemporary World Cinema selection and also the New You are able to Film Festival this fall. "Bala," professional created by Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Geminiano Pineda, is really a co-manufacture of Canana and FIP. "The Yellow Ocean" (also known as "The Killer") also performed in Cannes' Not Certain Regard section after its December 2010 Korean release and gained star Jung-woo ' best actor kudos in the Asian Film Honours. "Ocean" is really a Popcorn Film production in colaboration with Showbox/Mediaplex Corporation and FIP. Under mind Sanford Panitch, FIP produces some 25 films annually, only most of which are thought a great fit for any U.S. release. FIP along with other studio local-language production divisions generally goal for fare more commercial than typical U.S. foreign-language arthouse releases. They are usually created for specific areas and never likely to be launched locally. Sony's worldwide arm launched the monster hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" via its Classics arm greater than a decade ago to wild success, but couple of good examples of these synergy have adopted. Music Box's success using its "Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy of thrillers might be impacting on Fox plus some other galleries to re-think the possibility of the foreign-language fare. Dinerstein's D outfit has seen success with this particular year's roadshow rollout of Kevin Smith's "Red-colored Condition," accumulating large box office by tying tests to Smith's lecture looks. Just before creating his working as a consultant, Dinerstein was prexy of Lakeshore Entertainment and co-prexy of Vital Classics. Rachel Abrams led for this report. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

George Clooney's 'The Descendants' to Close New York Film Festival

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced that Alexander Payne's The Descendants, starring George Clooney, will be the Closing Night film at the 49th New York Film Festival. The festival's main slate consists of 27 feature films and the return of On Cinema, previously titled The Cinema Inside Me, which will feature an in-depth conversation with Payne. This year's festival will also feature programming to complement the main slate, including Masterworks programs. "In many of the films in this year's festival, characters pass from recognition of a problem or situation to actual resistance," says Richard Peña, selection committee chair & program director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. "This confrontational attitude is perhaps a sign of our increasingly polarized times." The Descendants will screen at Alice Tuly Hall on Sunday, Oct. 16 and marks Payne's third time to the NYFF. Sideways and About Schmidt were previously shown. "We are delighted to welcome back Alexander Payne to the New York Film Festival. Payne'snuanced character studies capture the moral chaos lurking just below the surface of everyday American lives," said Rose Kuo, executive director at The Film Society of Lincoln Center. The NYFF takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 16. The 49th New York Film Festival main slate: Opening Night Gala Selection CARNAGE Director: Roman Polanski Country: France/Germany/Poland Centerpiece Gala Selection MY WEEK WITH MARILYN Director: Simon Curtis Country: UK Special Gala Presentations A DANGEROUS METHOD Director: David Cronenberg Country: UK/Canada/Germany THE SKIN I LIVE IN Director: Pedro Almodóvar Country: Spain Closing Night Gala Selection THE DESCENDANTS Director: Alexander Payne Country: USA 4:44: LAST DAY ON EARTH Director: Abel Ferrara Country: USA THE ARTIST Director: Michel Hazanavicius Country: France CORPO CELESTE Director: Alice Rohrwacher Country: Italy/Switzerland/France FOOTNOTE Director: Joseph Cedar Country: Israel GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD Director: Martin Scorsese Country: USA GOODBYE FIRST LOVE Director: Mia Hansen-Løve Country: France/Germany THE KID WITH A BIKE Director: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne Country: Belgium/France LE HAVRE Director: Aki Kaurismäki Country: Finland/France/Germany THE LONELIEST PLANET Director: Julia Loktev Country: USA/Germany MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE Director: Sean Durkin Country: USA MELANCHOLIA Director: Lars von Trier Country: Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany/Italy MISS BALA Director: Gerardo Naranjo Country: Mexico ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan Country: Turkey PINA Director: Wim Wenders Country: Germany/France/UK PLAY Director: Ruben Östlund Country: Sweden/France/Denmark POLICEMAN Director: Nadav Lapid Country: Israel/France A SEPARATION Director: Asghar Farhadi Country: Iran SHAME Director: Steve McQueen Country: UK SLEEPING SICKNESS Director: Ulrich Köhler Country: Germany/France/Netherlands THE STUDENT Director: Santiago Mitre Country: Argentina THIS IS NOT A FILM Director: Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb Country: Iran THE TURIN HORSE Director: Béla Tarr and Agnes Hranitzky Country: Hungary/France/Germany/Switzerland/USA Related Topics George Clooney

Rosamund Pike Gets Female Lead In Tom Cruise's 'One Shot'

EXCLUSIVE: Rosamund Pike is negotiating for the female lead opposite Tom Cruise in One Shot, the Christopher McQuarrie-directed adaptation of the bestselling Lee Child novel series for Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions. Pike was among a small group of actresses vying for the role. The British actress played Andromeda in Clash of the Titans 2, and she recently wrapped the David Frankel-directed The Big Year opposite Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin, and the Rowan Atkinson comedy Johnny English Reborn. Cruise is playing Jack Reacher, the retired military policeman who wanders the country with only his passport, bankbook, toothbrush and the clothes on his back. He finds his way into scrapes, taking the side of the underdog. In One Shot, Reacher investigates a case in which a lone sniper murders five victims before being captured. Reacher discovers it's more than a simple open-and-shut case. Pike will play Helen Rodin, a local defense attorney defending the man arrested for the shootings. She works with Reacher to bring the true culprits to justice. Don Granger and Cruise will produce through Mutual Film Company and C/W Productions. Skydance's David Ellison and Dana Goldberg are producing as is Gary Levinsohn and Paula Wagner, and Ken Kamins is exec producer. UTA reps Pike with Shelly Browning and UK-based Dallas Smith.

'Spider-Guy: Switch Off the Dark' Actor Reeve Carney Nabs Lead Role in Shaun Buckley Biopic

First there is the questionable casting selection of getting Penn Badgley take part in the late alt-rock icon Shaun Buckley within the approaching biopic, 'Greetings From Tim Buckley.' Now Spinner has reported that 'Spider-Guy: Switch Off the Dark' actor Reeve Carney would be the next star to portray Buckley inside a separate biopic after beating out the kind of Taylor Lautner and James Franco for that role. In reaction towards the news of Carney's casting, Buckley's mother, Mary Guibert, spoke approvingly of getting the Broadway star aboard. "We're within the moon that Reeve has agreed to defend myself against this challenging role," stated Guibert. "He's been preparing with this all his existence. It certainly does not hurt he looks just like Shaun." Climax still untitled, the biopic will detail Buckley's existence up to his untimely drowning in 1997 at age 30. The film is going to be directed by Mike Scott and it is still waiting for a release date, but click to compare Carney's and Buckley's music videos to evaluate for her whether it is really a casting choice fitting of Buckley's legacy. While we are generally not really acquainted with Carney's work, it certainly seems like they have a voice for that part and, like Guibert stated, he's additionally a dead ringer for Buckley. Guess we'll have to wait and find out if his acting chops measure. You do too think Carney is a great pick to experience Buckley? [via Spinner]

Andy Serkis: 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes' Warrants Oscar Nomination

Thanks to Weta Andy Serkis, who plays the apes in Rise in the world from the Apes, thinks the Academy is looking over stars who operate in motion-capture suits. "I'm a little evangelical, I understand, but performance-capture continues to be misinterpreted," he informs the United kingdom Daily Protector. "10 years down the road, people say, 'Oh, which means you did the voice of Gollum?' Or people go, 'You did the actions for [King]Kong?' It's frustrating, because I play Gollum and that i play [King] Kong. It's acting." PHOTOS: 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes' Start Looking: The Numerous Faces of Andy Serkis "The emotional content of those performances live and die in what the stars provide the roles on set. I never approach an active-action role any in a different way to some performance-taken role. The entire process of acting is completely identical," he put in another interview using the BBC. "It ought to be recognized that you will find two parts towards the process. Part one is taking the performance. Only later down the road would you start to see the figures being colored over frame by frame using pixels," he stated. Rise from the Planet from the Apes: Film Review Serkis doesn't think a unique category ought to be produced in the Academy awards. "Performance-capture technology is usually the best way that people could bring these figures to existence," he stated. "It's the way in which Gollum was introduced to existence, and King Kong, and also the Na'vi in Avatar and so forth also it's really one other way of taking an actress's performance. That's all it's, digital make-up." Rise from the Planet from the Apes can always are available in at No. 1 in the weekend box office. It's facing The Assistance, Destination 5, Glee: The three dimensional Concert Movie and half an hour or Less. RELATED: Box Office Update: 'The Help' Launches to some Strong $5.5 Million Andy Serkis Rise from the Planet from the Apes

REVIEW: Opportunist Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Deserves a Slushie to the Face

One of the running gags in Fox’s effervescent hit high school series Glee is that no matter how things occasionally come up roses for the show choir freaks and geeks of McKinley High, there’s always someone, slushie in hand, waiting to take the Gleeks down a peg or two back to cold, brutal reality. Ironically, it’s that same multicolored frozen treat, globbed at the screen in slow-motion over the end credits of Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, that underscores a similar, sad burst of recognition that’s perhaps been long coming: For all the uplifting, inclusive good that Glee inspires in its young target demographic, it’s a property that’s become high on its own self-projected, self-congratulatory fantasy of “fuck the haters” do-goodingness. And there’s nothing more that Glee needs or deserves right now than a slushie to the face. Forget the ugly media storm over who is and is not graduating next year or who found out about it on Twitter or who blamed it all on egos and miscommunication (to the point that a potential spin-off for leads Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, and Chris Colfer was taken off the table seemingly out of spite); Glee as a property has more immediate problems to address in its first big-screen outing, a 3-D spectacle no less touted as a definitive cinematic experience for fans of the show. For starters: Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, filmed in performance during two 2010 East Rutherford, NJ, stops at the tail end of the Glee Live! In Concert! Tour, can’t make its mind up about what, exactly, it is. That identity crisis makes Glee 3D bizarrely uncomfortable to watch. (Say what you will about the show; its teen protagonists at least, for the most part, know who they are.) Glee 3D purports to be a concert documentary, but while director Kevin Tancharoen (of Fame remake fame and the Mortal Kombat Web series) dutifully mixes a ton of performances from the stage tour with backstage moments with the cast and copious footage of excited fans in and around the venue, he only partially conveys the experience of being at a Glee live concert. Instead, Tancharoen spends a surprising amount of time interviewing a handful of Glee fanatics at home, outcasts or misfits all, who credit the show with inspiring them, saving their lives, etc. There’s a bubbly teen girl who loves being a real-life Cheerio despite her dwarfism. The gay kid who credits Colfer’s Kurt for emboldening him to come out of the closet. The withdrawn young lady whose obsession with Brittany coaxed her out of her shell (and, were she instead an older man, might be cause for a restraining order or three). It’s like an episode of MTV’s True Life, which is fine and all, but we’re here to see the stars of Glee, not their adorably uncynical fans; Tancharoen spends so much time with these real-life Gleeks instead of advancing character or story from the show through any sort of narrative that it soon becomes clear that this isn’t a movie about Glee, exactly — it’s an ode to the cult of Glee. Setting aside the implications of that glib, self-serving conceit, what makes this worse for fans of the show who were hoping to see some sort of narrative from their beloved motley crew of singing heroes is the fact that the star-driven material is relegated to the performances. No, you’re not going to see Rachel and Finn stammer about their feelings or hear Tina rave about Mike Chang’s abs. Musical numbers, aped from the show right down to choreography and costuming, clip along with businesslike expedience, so you’ll have to bring your own context to the theater or else be lost wondering why Heather Morris is dressed just like Britney Spears singing (or apparently lip-synching, appropriately enough) to “I’m a Slave 4 U,” or how the kid in the wheelchair is able to suddenly leap to his feet, magically able-bodied, to gyrate to the tunes of “The Safety Dance.” Watchers of the show have seen this all before and understand why these things are happening. Nonfans, good luck following along. It’s not all that terribly complicated, anyhow.

Taylor Lautner's 'Abduction' to become Lionsgate's First Early-Release VOD Test

NEW You are able to - Lionsgate intends to use Rachelle Lefervre's Abduction because of its first early-release VOD test, Bloomberg News reported. The studio can make the film, which hits theaters on Sept. 23, on VOD three several weeks after its release, based on Bloomberg. Other galleries have used a two months window for his or her early-release tests within the so-known as premium VOD window. Based on Bloomberg, Abduction is going to be offered for $6.99 in standard definition and $7.99 in HD, well below the normal early release prices close to $30. Lionsgate is searching to create the film open to all pay TV VOD companies, along with the online procedures of these merchants as Wal-Mart for around ten days beginning 12 ,. 23, in front of the DVD release in The month of january, the report stated. Galleries captured released premium VOD tests with DirecTV. Related Subjects Rachelle Lefervre Lionsgate

In Defense of Brett Ratner Producing the Academy Awards

Content Film Nabs Foreign Rights On Documentary 'Sarah Palin: You Betcha!'

Content Film has acquired foreign rights toNick Broomfields documentary Sarah Palin: You Betcha!, with the exceptionof the UK, whereChannel 4 holds theTV rights.Cassian Elwes is handling domestic on the film, which has yet to find a U.S. distributor. Broomfield (Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam, Kurt & Courtney) directed the film with Joan Churchill. Marc Hoeferlin (Battle for Haditha) produced. News of the deal comes on the same day it was announcedthat thefilm willdebut at the Toronto Film Festival next month in the Reel to Reel Section. In July, ARC Entertainment gave a limited theatrical release to The Undefeated, another Palin documentary. That film will be available Sept. 1 on pay-per-view and video on demand, and will have a special edition DVD launch through Walmart.

Die Schlümpfe

Once the evil wizard Gargamel chases the small blue Smurfs from their village, they tumble using their magical world and into ours -- actually, smack dab in the center of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck within the The Big Apple, the Smurfs must try to return to their village before Gargamel tracks them lower.