'The Artist' wins big at the Oscars

'The Artist' won best picture, director and actor (Jean Dujardin, above).Meryl Streep won the best actress Oscar for 'The Iron Lady' at Sunday's 84the Academy Awards.Octavia Spencer took home the Best Supporting Actress kudo for 'The Help.'Plummer'The Artist' castClick here for the complete list of winners.On a night tinged with international flair and homage to a bygone age of moviemaking, "The Artist" put the final strokes on its masterpiece of an awards season, winning the best picture Oscar and four other awards to end in a tie with "Hugo" at five."The Artist" won several other key trophies, including best director for Michael Hazanavicius, best actor for Jean Dujardin, costume design and score.But any chance of the silent, black-and-white film sweeping its nommed categories was immediately wiped out when the first two awards of the evening went to "Hugo," which led the pack in overall nominations with 11, followed by "The Artist's" 10.Though Hollywood loves movies about movies, "The Artist" was actually the first such film to win Oscar's top honor. It was also the first French winner (only the second to be nominated) and, as noted many times, the first wordless movie to win since "Wings" in 1929 -- the first year of the Oscar ceremony.Harvey Weinstein was arguably the night's most decorated individual: Eight trophies in all went to films that TWC had been tubthumping this awards season. It was another command performance after last year, when "The King's Speech" took best picture, actor, director and original screenplay.There was no shortage of moments highlighting the growing international nature of the Oscars: Not only was "The Artist" created by a group of Parisians, but several winners gave shout-outs to countries around the globe, most notably foreign-language Oscar "A Separation" writer Asghar Farhadi, who dedicated his award to the people of Iran and to "the people who respect all cultures and civilizations, despise hostility and resentment."Adapted screenplay winner Alexander Payne threw out a quick line of Greek; documentary short winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who produced "Saving Face," dedicated her award to women in Pakistan working for change; winning art director Dante Ferretti ("Hugo") name-dropped Italy; and Sandra Bullock introduced the foreign-language film in German, while recognizing how many viewers in China were watching.Dujardin, ironically, kept it local -- for about a beat, anyway."I love your country!" were among the first words from his mouth (the last, however, was an over-the-top "Merci beaucoup!").Even Meryl Streep's win had a dusting of foreign influence, as the now three-time best actress winner was honored for her portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady.""Oh, come on!" Streep said in sincere disbelief as she took the stage, pausing for a moment to shake hands with fellow nominee Viola Davis ("The Help"). "When they called my name I had this feeling I was going to hear half of America going, 'Oh, no.'"Producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer, along with host Billy Crystal, played it safe for the telecast they inherited when Brett Ratner's controversial comments bounced him and Eddie Murphy. In a nod to the year of "The Artist," Crystal's opener began with a send-up of a silent, black-and-white thriller in which the nine-time emcee was being shocked into submitting to hosting duties by sinister villains.But by and large, the jokes, setpieces, presenter dynamics and look of the stage echoed past shows; one new installment was video of movie stars talking wistfully about their first moviegoing experiences and film in general.Other nods to bygone Hollywood appeared throughout, from the black-and-white interstitials with celebrities talking about their love of movies to a Christopher Guest short making fun of focus groups by depicting -- again, in black and white -- a hapless group reacting to "The Wizard of Oz" in the 1930s. Even Cirque du Soleil used monochromatic tones, period costumes and old movie clips in a acrobatic performance with a less-than-subtle pro-theatergoing message."Hugo" built its strength on the technical awards (echoing the five wins for Scorsese's "The Aviator" at the 2005 show, when Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" took home top prizes for directing and best picture). Cinematography honors went to Robert Richardson, and Dante Ferretti won for art direction -- a third Oscar for each artisan -- while the pic went on to win best sound editing, sound mixing and visual effects.At 82 years old, Christopher Plummer won his first Oscar for his supporting perf in "Beginners," becoming the oldest winner in an acting category in Academy history. The win couldn't have come as a surprise to anyone in the theater -- nor did Plummer's speech, packed with the grace and charm for which he's become known this season."Where have you been all my life?" Plummer said, regarding the trophy just handed to him. "When I first emerged from my mother's womb, I was already rehearsing my Oscar acceptance speech. Mercifully for you, it was so long ago that I've already forgotten it."Octavia Spencer, who was widely expected to win for supporting actress, took honors for her role as a maid with in "The Help." Clearly overwhelmed by the standing ovation, she followed the advice that Grazer and Mischer dispensed at the nominees luncheon: don't prepare a speech.Though she struggled to find words, she thanked the cast and crew of her film, quickly adding, "I share this with everybody: Steven Spielberg for changing my life, Stacey Snider for changing my life. 'Please wrap up.' I'm wrapping up. I'm sorry, I'm freaking out."Sunday's ceremony marked the culmination of a season that was notable mostly for its lack of consensus. Although "The Artist" earned several major precursor guild and critics awards and a Golden Globe for best comedy in January, other films like "The Descendants," "Hugo" and "The Help" continued to maintain momentum throughout the season, leaving many pundits wondering if there might be room for a surprise Oscar winner.Much of the past three months was dedicated to sifting for Oscar clues in awards shows great and small. The guild awards, considered reliable bellwethers, helped the case for "The Artist" when the film won at the Directors Guild and Producers Guild ceremonies. But the SAG ensemble award went to "The Help," leaving many wondering what that might mean for the Oscars, considering the largest contingent of voters in the Academy is actors.After the Jan. 15 Golden Globes ceremony, when "The Artist" and "The Descendants" earned comedy and drama kudos, it still wasn't entirely clear which films (or even how many, for that matter) the Academy would nominate for best pic. In an effort to force clarity on the race, prognosticators were declaring that "Tree of Life," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" had been snubbed -- and each film's Oscars chances were dead. All three went on to earn nominations, most likely because campaigners ignored the din and continued their strong push until ballots were due.In fact, by the time the nominations were finally revealed, most pundits had concluded with a dramatic yawn that a best picture Oscar was all but certain for the black-and-white silent movie.Yet for a season that supposedly ended as soon as the nominations were announced, the feverish campaigning continued up until the ballots were due to PricewaterhouseCoopers on Feb. 21. And for good reason. Campaigner extraordinaire Harvey Weinstein has navigated enough awards season to know that fortunes can turn quickly, no matter how certain the outcome might seem.The 84th annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 were presented at the Hollywood and Highland Center, and televised live on ABC in more than 225 countries worldwide.Click here for the complete list of winners. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

The Whole Pilot Report: Fox Has Kevin Williamson, Kevin Sausage and Zachary Levi!

Kevin Sausage, Zachary Levi The fall TV several weeks are materializing. Systems have bought a lot of new aircraft aircraft pilots starring familiar faces including Zachary Levi, Mindy Kaling, Mandy Moore and Sarah Silverman, and from proven producers like Josh Schwartz, J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti and Kevin Williamson. Also developing a comeback this year: Legendary figures including Eco-friendly Arrow, Barbara Bradshaw, An Online Detective and wonder as well as the Animal. To keep close track of who's doing what, read our complete list of all the series projects in contention and search back for updates by themselves status. Listed below are the Fox aircraft aircraft pilots: (Check out ABC, CBS, CW and NBC.) DRAMA The AssetA female agent getting a really specialized and questionable specialty area (Heroes' Ali Larter) works from CIA's NY City station. Josh Friedman (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Tales) will write and executive-produce. GuiltyAfter being wrongly billed of fraud and removed of his legal license, a great, morally questionable defense attorney uses his unorthodox strategies to resolve the events he's been prohibited from handling also to ultimately exact revenge round the guy who set him up. Marc Guggenheim will write and executive-produce with Brothers and sisters & Sisters' Greg Berlanti and Micrograms. Untitled Josh Berman/ Robert Wright projectA youthful female thoracic surgeon with Bridgeport roots is split between two cell phone industry's as she juggles her career and her long-term debt south Chicago mob. Drop Dead Diva's Josh Berman and Robert Wright will write and executive-produce with Justified's Michael Dinner. Untitled Kevin Williamson projectAn edge-of-your-chair thriller in regards to the complex relationship between diabolical killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) as well as the damaged FBI profiler, Ryan Sturdy (Kevin Sausage), who once needed him lower. After Joe escapes, Sturdy is reactivated and discovers that he's forget about just hunting one guy, but a massive cult of serial killings created and changed throughout Carroll's in time prison. Kevin Williamson will write and executive-produce. Shawn Ashmore and Valorie Curry may even star. Untitled Karyn Usher projectThe orphaned 17-year-old daughter from the CIA operative meets unknown rogue agent-assassin who may serve as both her surrogate father and professional mentor inside the spy world. Karyn Usher (Bones, Prison Break) will write, while Last Guy Standing duo Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements will executive-produce. COMEDY Ben Fox Is My MannyUnder the guise to become his niece's nanny, a free of charge spirited youthful guy moves together with his type-A, tightly wound sister and on the way might help her re-enter in the world. Dana Fox (What Continues in Vegas) will write and executive-produce with Terra Nova duo Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope. Maggie Manley and Echo Kellum will star. El JefeTossed from his Brentwood home, an affable but lost 30-year-some guy (Ryan Hansen) moves together with his longtime Latin American nanny, goes in person along with her strong-willed boy, and finds themselves in the family and worklife not the same as the primary one through which he was elevated. From Aliens in America's Moses Port and David Guarascio. The Goodwin GamesThree siblings and siblings, one of these simple carried out by Becki Newton, must reunite following a dying from the father, who leaves them his fortune only if they accept his terms. Generate An Income Met Your Mother's Carter Bays and Craig Thomas executive-produce with Chris Harris, who'll also write. Let It GoA couple - Chuck's Zachary Levi plays the husband - his nearest friend, and her sister navigate, negotiate, and frequently manipulate society's unspoken rules. 'Til Death's D.J. Nash will write and executive-produce alongside Save Me's Peter Tolan. Like FatherInspired by Bill Lawrence's real-existence encounters, this project will focus on a parent or gaurdian-boy relationship, with Eureka's Colin Ferguson playing the dad. Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town) will write, direct and executive-produce. Phil Lewis and Kevin Michael Martin may even star. Little BrotherFull House's John Stamos stars being an amount-headed guy who finds out he's half brother (T.J. Burns) who's an ex-disadvantage. Males from the Certain Age's Mike Royce will write and executive-produce with Last Guy Standing duo Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements. Rosa Salazar and Gillian Vigman may even star. Living LoadedA hard-chilling out blogger (Pan Am's Mike Vogel) must reexamine his laissez-faire career plan because he will receive a completely new job just like a host on public radio. It Definitely Is Sunny in Philadelphia's Make the most of McElhenney executive-produces. Michael Friedman may even star. Must HireAn uptight, youthful executive utilizes his father with an entry-level position which is shocked to discover that his new hire can be a difficult office clown. Wilfred'sReed Agnew and Eli Jorne will write the pilot and executive-produce alongside Happy Endings' Jamie Tarses. Prodigy Bully A youthful child prodigy by getting a mindset shakes up his Hogwarts-like academy whilst getting the rarified arena of his school the place to find his aggressive working class family. Glee's Mike O'Malley may have his father in addition to write and co-executive-produce with Shameless' John Wells. ReboundingA guy rebounds within the dying of his fiancée using the idiots on his pick-up basketball team, a few whom are carried out by Hayes MacArthur and Malcolm Barrett. Modern Family's Steve Levitan executive-produces with Joe Port, whose existence might be the muse for your show. Untitled Mindy Kaling project The Office's Mindy Kaling stars just like a youthful Bridget Manley-type Physician/GYN trying to navigate both her personal and professional existence. Kaling will write and executive-produce with Office producer Howard Klein. Which aircraft aircraft pilots appear interesting for you personally?

China film fund goes Hollywood

BEIJING -- Even while Hollywood seeks to enter china market, China's government is wishing to interrupt into Hollywood.The nation just setup its first condition-backed film fund make it possible for co-production between China and also the U.S. Known as China Mainstream Media National Film Capital Hollywood, the fund may have offices in Beijing and Beverly Hillsides and will also be brought by former China Film Group prexy Yang Buting, per local media reviews."Having a Western movie-making approach and management based on financing from China, the organization will end up a gateway partner to Hollywood," based on Yang. He gave no particulars about how big the fund, the main focus that would be to co-finance and co-produce projects which have worldwide box office potential.L.A.-based film financier Endgame Entertainment, brought by James D. Stern, is a partner within the initiative. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Keck's Exclusives: Heroes Star Breaks Up Office Romance

Sendhil Ramamurthy The Office's Ryan (B.J. Novak) and Kelly (Mindy Kaling) are splitsville - together with a Heroes star is always to blame! "We undergo a heart-wrenching break-up," B.J. unveils in my opinion exclusively a great approaching spring episode. "Ryan and Kelly finish off becoming bitter competitors at the office when she falls deeply deeply in love with an Indian physician. He's very handsome together with a significantly, much better match for Kelly than Ryan is." Considering that handsome Sendhil Ramamurthy - who carried out Mohinder on Heroes and presently appears as Jai on USA Network's Covert Matters - been cast becoming Ravi, I am likely to agree. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!