Anna Maria Muehe: Followed family into biz

Anna Maria MueheIf that name seems to ring a bell, it should. Berlin-born Anna Maria Muehe's parents were both thesps: her mother is East German Jenny Groellmann, and her father, Ulrich Muehe, is best known internationally as the star of "The Lives of Others," which won the foreign-lingo film Oscar in 2006.For Muehe, another career was a possibility ("Like anybody, I was considering different things"), but after shooting her first feature at the age of 15 -- Maria von Heland's "Big Girls Don't Cry" (2001) -- she found the lure of showbiz too great to resist.A year later, she won the actress award at the Copenhagen Film Festival for her lead role in Achim von Borries' "Love in Thoughts," and has since appeared in Julie Delpy's "The Countess," Til Schweiger's "1 1/2 Knights" and Christian Schwochow's "November Child," for which she received a German Film Award nomination."I think my great fortune, so far, is that every movie I've made, I've worked with brilliant actors. For example, last year I played alongside Otto Sander, a man who's acted for such a long time, and in so many different films, yet who's never lost the joy in what he does," she says.Does she consider herself a European or a German actress? "I don't really see any difference. To get me hooked, it just needs a great script and an interesting director; it's not important whether it's a German or an international project -- the work and the preparation are the same."For example, one of my favourite directors is Dominik Graf. I'm really fascinated by his way of dealing with projects and the way he works with actors. But then, there are so many outstanding directors all over the world. It would be an honor to work with any of them."Return to the Berlin Preview >> Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

VIDEO: Local News Station Re-Enacts Trial with Puppets

The Puppet's Court Whenever a Cleveland judge banned news cameras in the court docket for any federal corruption trial, a nearby news station required an unusual, amusing key to covering it: They re-passed the trial using puppets. "The testimony is real, the puppets aren't, tonight... within the Puppet's Court," an un named but clearly amused WOIO anchor states. Take a look at much more of present day top videos But simply since the testimony has been read by cute, fluffy creatures does not mean it's G-ranked. Watch being an innocent-searching squirrel holds forth about hookers, genital hpv warts and stolen fridges:

Warners, Lin away and off to 'Otherland'

Warner Bros. will "Otherland," acquiring feature rights to Tad Williams' sci-fi book series and setting up it with Serta Lin to produce. Studio has attracted on John Scott III to script the film, using the four books launched by DAW-Penguin USA between 1996 and 2001 as "Capital of scotland - Golden Shadow," "River of Blue Fire," "Mountain of Black Glass" and "Sea of Silver Light." Story for your adaptation is positioned a hundred years afterwards and follows several unforeseen heroes who must escape an assassin and cope with epic digital cell phone industry's to resolve a conspiracy that expects to get rid of humanity. Seanne Winslow Wehrenfennig at Lin Pictures assists as co-producer and oversee for Lin Pictures. Lin's a producer on "An Online Detective: Wager on Shadows" which is in publish-production on period drama "Gangster Squad," starring Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, and Sean Penn, directed by Ruben Fleischer. He's also creating "Lego: the part of Resistance," written and directed by Chris Burns and Phil Master, with Warners arranging a 2014 release. Scott's zombie script "Maggie" made the most effective 10 in the 2011 Black List known as the very best title in the 2011 Blood stream List, the most effective 13 most-loved unproduced scripts inside the horror, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, and dark comedy/drama genres. "Maggie" is at pre-production with Henry Hobson pointing, and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Matt Baer, and Trevor Kaufman creating. Scott may also be adapting Isaac Asivmov's "Caves of Steel" for Fox, also with Hobson installed on direct. WME signifies the "Otherland" book rights. Scott is repped by CAA and handled by Trevor Kaufman. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

The American Idol Show Episode 1: Singin' in Savannah and Seacrest's Evil Twin

You're ready to cozy on the couch and bust out your ice-cold can of Coca-Cola... because Idol. Is. Back. (Individuals were dramatic Ryan Seacrest-esque breaks.) Through the season, you will see levels (a la Kelly Clarkson's "Respect"), and generally, you will see lows (William Hung's "She Bangs"), however the important factor to keep in mind here's that we are within this together. OK? Before we arrive at the night's best entertainers, are we able to just obtain the worst part taken care of first? Together with his black v-neck and offensive faux spray-tan, let us all agree that Seacrest is really as deplorable as always. Possibly probably the most frightening area of the evening was our chance ending up in Rob Kraisman - Seacrest's doppleganger and subsequently my new worst nightmare. Around the cheesiness scale, this person is sort of a hunk of bleu which has been decaying during my fridge for 3 several weeks. Since that's off my conscience, we shall follow the positive! Here are the participants which were outlined today - they're in no way fantastic - they are only the ones we all know are dealing with to Hollywood. David Leathers, Junior. (a.k.a Mister "Steal Your GirlfriendInch) Before singing a superbly carried out ballad, S.Y.G. alleges that he's 17, but everybody watching knows this can be a blatant lie. He's really 9. Another fun fact: he's taken part against Idol champion Scotty McCreary inside a singing competition - and required to begin with! Gabi Carrubba If Gabi Carruba were the kind of girl to publish within the personal ads portion of C-list, her ad would read "tap dancer-cum-singer and lover of Nigel Lythgoe." Which is not saying much. She's a sweet-sounding voice, however it was a little generic-sounding. I doubt she'll stick out enough to really make it towards the final 24. Stephanie Renae She's the doe-eyed 15-year-old that nails a rendition of "Within Your Paradise," even though she's undeniably gifted, I believe her youth and lack of experience will obtain the best of her. She causes it to be right through to Hollywood with two thirds "yes's." Randy's critique? "Not." Schyler Dixon We are reminded that Schlyer really auditioned this past year together with her brother Colton. This season she's elected to test sans her brother or sister - she's 16 and seeking to become a person, damn it! However the idol judges may have none from it. "Generate Colton!" "Coltonnn!!!" they yell in the poor girl, who's determined to forever reside in her brother's shadow. So Schyler does a really impressive version of "Break Even" through the Script, but Colton follows her, and steals the show. Throughout his performance, Schyler looks on, stabbing her brethren together with her piercing blue eyes. Both of them visit Hollywood, but sadly, Colton won't ever allow it to be there because Schyler has contracted popular guy. Lauren Mink Up to this time, it has been by pointing out youngsters, then when 25-year-old Lauren takes happens, she appears like she ought to be in geriatric care! She's got a separate voice along with a girl-next-door look - as well as, she works in a program for grown ups with disabilities. Total package? I believe so. Shannon Magrane She's the six-footer having a size 11 shoe who brings her girltourage and very large father into her audition. Shannon has got the fresh-faced look, and guy does she have soul. I believe she's not going anywhere soon. Amy Brumfield The 2011 version of Very Bowersox lives inside a tent because, as she stated, she can not afford $100/week accommodation. (Though I'd need to make a $100/week accommodation could not considerably of the upgrade in the tent). What's promising for Amy is the fact that according to her first audition, it is a near certainty she'll be moving forward from that tent very quickly. She's remarkable and different. Ashlee Altise I had been really expecting the braided, bunny-hopping Ashlee to become a complete train-wreck. Which she was - but she just also happened with an incredible voice. The idol judges loved her (J. Lo known as her "crazy," within the best possible way, obviously), and sent her right through to Hollywood. She's talent along with a great shot of which makes it to the peak 12. She'll have to laid off the meth first. (I kid!) W.T. Thompson All of this-American boy quit his job in a federal prison to audition for Idol, which most likely is not probably the most proper move whenever your wife is six several weeks pregnant. But like Martin Luther King Junior. before him, the guy were built with a dream! And it is a positive thing younger crowd had supportive idol judges. W.T. did possess a "sparkle" as Jennifer stated, but regrettably, I do not think he'll last very lengthy. Brittany Kerr She's the National basketball association dancer (along with a Blake Lively/Barbara Underwood hybrid) who single-handedly demonstrated the male idol judges are powerless to some beautiful lady. Brittany certainly has pipes, but let us face the background music - she was nothing special. Yet she experiences to Hollywood. Phillip Phillips The man so nice they named him two times! Save for his awkward fist-clenching, Double-Phil was awesome. Potentially my personal favorite from the evening. She has the dreamy blue eyes and raspy voice that The American Idol Show dreams are constructed with. Still dying over that acoustic version of "Thriller"? Because I'm. I'm not extending its love to waste space within this recap by acknowledging the disaster which was Maweno Kodjo. The 2nd-hands embarrassment I felt as you're watching was similar to a kindergartner pissing his pants while watching whole class. Which is I am going to say of that. Another factor that traumatized me -- and that one I'll discuss, since it is said to be cathartic or something like that - may be the oversexed Steven Tyler fans speaking about his "ten inch record." Worst of all of them? The only whitened female from Zoysia, N.Y. who grabs his ass and claims he's her future ex-husband. Incidentally, he's of sufficient age to become her grandfather. Ok, now it is your turn! Who had been your preferred? Your least favorite? Would you, too, lust after Steven Tyler's 10-inch-record? Go forth, and comment, Idol fans! show less

Protests staged at NY senators' offices

Hundreds of protesters turned out Wednesday outside the Upper East Side offices to NY Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to protest the controversial antipiracy legislation now wending through Congress. But the event was a far cry from the raucous crowds that gathered a few months ago for the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. A sense of calm prevailed, with protesters mostly refraining from chanting too loudly, and a few police herding compliant onlookers into well-maintained protest zones. Third Avenue was blocked off between 48th and 49th streets to allow for the protest. The speeches, however, were rousing: "The Stop Online Piracy Act will not actually do much to stop online piracy!" said NYU teacher and "Cognitive Surplus" author Clay Shirky, who proposed that the name of the legislation be changed to the First Amendment Sunset Act. "You can't just shut people up if you don't like what they're saying!" he told the cheering aud. Hollywood took its lumps at the rally, organized by the networking org NY Tech Meetup. "When Hollywood lobbyists show up with $94 million as they did last year, both Democrats and Republicans line up," said Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. MoveOn.org's Eli Pariser was even more adamant: "You have groups like MoveOn all the way over to groups like (conservative coalition) Red State who think this is a bad idea," he said. "The only people who think this is a good idea are the crumbling old legacy media who want to go back to VHS tapes and CDs and congresspeople." Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com