Friday B.O. goes 'Grey'

'The Grey'Yesterday's bow for "The Grey" was anything but drab as the Open Road opener grossed $6.5 million from the domestic B.O.Pic is the second release from the fledgling distribbery after "Killer Elite," which cumed $25 million domestically last year. "Grey" will likely make between $16 million and $18 million through Sunday.Both of the frame's other two openers paired with online coupon merchants in hopes of a B.O. boost, and Lionsgate's "One for the Money" got just that. Despite modest midweek interest, sales boosted by Groupon participation bumped the Katherine Heigl-starrer to second place with $4.1 million Friday and full weekend estimates in the mid-teens.It is hard to say, however, how much of that coin Lionsgate will actually receive. One insider suggested "Money's" $6 coupon rate, which goes wholly to the exhibitor, is being added to weekend estimates at full-price ticket costs, artificially inflating the film's reported gross.Summit, conversely, sold tickets through Livingsocial and earned $2.5 million for fifth place yesterday. The mini-major, recently acquired by Lionsgate which is distributing a direct competitor this frame, is anticipating around $7.5 million for the weekend.Holdovers comprised the rest of the big players. Sony/Screen Gems' "Underworld Awakening" earned $3.4 million for third, followed by Fox's "Red Tails" with $2.8 million yesterday. Pics have cumed $36 million and $26 million Stateside, respectively. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' Is 'Mind-Blowing,' Says Mary Elizabeth Winstead

In MTV News' recent visit to the set of "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," we learned that the movie will be anything but a traditional look back at the life of our 16th president. Most biopics about Lincoln don't involve Honest Abe utilizing his own custom form of axe-centered martial arts. "It's a very unique take," Mary Elizabeth Winstead told MTV News at the Sundance Film Festival, in what may be the biggest understatement in movies this year. We caught up with Winstead, who was in Park City for her new movie "Smashed," to talk about playing the woman behind the presidential undead killer, Mary Todd Lincoln. Unfortunately for the actress, her role as Mary Todd doesn't involve much axe-throwing. "I'm kind of on the sidelines, but I'm very suspicious of my husband's [actions] and what's going on in his life," she said. "I know that he's hiding something from me. You sort of see me piecing things together." "Vampire Hunter" comes out of the twisted minds of author Seth Grahame-Smith and the film's director Timur Bekmabetov. Having not seen the finished product yet, Winstead couldn't even begin to explain what we'll all see when the movie opens in June. "I honestly have no idea what to expect, even though I'm in the movie," she said. "It's really hard to promote in a way because I haven't seen it, but I know it's going to be just mind-blowing. It's not something I can really visualize myself, because it's so unique to him visually." Are you looking forward to seeing "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Era dates for 'Mirror,' 'Expecting'

Relativity Media and Lionsgate made slight date changes Thursday to particular female-specific game titles "Mirror Mirror" and "What to anticipate When You are Expecting.""Mirror Mirror," initially slotted for any March 16 release, moved back two days to March 30, while early summer time title "What to anticipateInch knocked back per week to May 18.In the new date, "Mirror Mirror," Relativity's undertake the Snow Whitened story, will bow alongside Warner Bros.' "Wrath from the Leaders." Meanwhile, "What to anticipate,Inch according to author Heidi Murkoff's pregnancy tome, now faces Universal's large-budget male-driven pic "Battleship."Date changes should position each pic as hopeful female counterprogramming. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

ROLL CALL: Zac Efron & Taylor Swift Getting Flirty?

First Published: January 20, 2012 2:22 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium Caption Taylor Swift and Zac Efron attend the 2011 Peoples Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on January 5, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Flirty Or Just Friends?: Taylor Swift has been linked to Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner and Jake Gyllenhaal but is Zac Efron next? Us Weekly reports that the pair had a flirty dinner earlier this month at Los Angeles Pace. They were reportedly deep in conversation and very giggly. But a source close to Swift says The Lorax co-stars are just friends. They were in L.A. doing press stuff together, and after they were done, they decided to grab dinner, the source told the mag. And a Zac source added, They have been friends a long time. If they ever do decided to date, were onboard! Katy Unfollows Russell: In what may be the ultimate online slam, Katy Perry has unfollowed estranged husband Russell Brand on Twitter. Russel however, is still following Katys Tweets. #divorcesucks Rihanna Continues To Show The Skin: Just a day after Rihanna showed off some skin while on an elliptical machine (which she Tweeted to Khloe Kardashian), the singer was spotted in just a bikini in Hawaii while enjoying some time on a paddle board. CLICK HERE to enjoy a whole lot of RiRi! In Case You Missed This Cuteness!: Well end the week with Roll Calls The Cuteness Thing Weve Seen All Week Award and it goes to Sandra Bullock and son Louis. Just try not to smile when you look at THIS! - By Jesse Spero Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

HBO with sprinkles on top

Laura Dern and Mike White celebrate her win. Peter Dinklage and Jason Momoa Idris Elba wins and Ricky Gervais unwinds. Mila Kunis with Mark Wahlberg Jeff Garlin, Judd Apatow and Steven Levitan party with HBO. Sue Naegle and Sarah Michelle Gellar Martin Scorsese Around 9 p.m., just as the Golden Globe parties were hitting their stride, the partygoers at the Bev Hilton were given a small surprise: rain. The sudden shower sent the hordes fleeing inside at the HBO party, which offered shelter and protection in the poolside space where the iconic hotel swimming hole had been drained for the occasion to make room for extra tables and tents. Decked out in silver branches and glittery two-story high drapes, the cabler's shindig quickly became a crowded affair of stars from HBO shows and specials, past and present: big winners Peter Dinklage and Laura Dern (with mom Diane Ladd), nominees Guy Pearce and Evan Rachel Wood, Thomas Jane, Jeff Garlin and "True Blood's" Alexander Skarsgard and Sam Trammell. Other folks who came in out of the rain included nominees Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson and winners Idris Elba and Claire Danes. The shoulder-to-shoulder huddle at the bash only lasted a little while, as the rain soon gave way to clear skies and a chance for those in floor-length dresses to walk without fear. Contact Erin Maxwell at erin.maxwell@variety.com

New Film writer Will get Goosebumps

Darren Lemke in talks for kiddie horrorIt's making for 4 years since Columbia acquired the privileges to RL Stine's hoard of Goosebumps books. A movie continues to be gradually oozing through development since, and it has now potentially obtained a brand new film writer in Jack The Large Killer's Darren Lemke.A the nineteen nineties posting phenomenon that's still going strong, Goosebumps is definitely an enormous number of kids' horror books through the prolific Stine (who, abnormally of these things, is indeed a author and never a pseudonym for any franchise collective). Stine was America's best-selling author for 3 consecutive years, and was named best-selling kids author ever in 2003 through the Guinness Book Of Records. He's since been surpassed by JK Rowling, despite the fact that she authored merely a piffling seven Harry Potters to Stine's hundred-plus junior spookfests.Previous script drafts happen to be attempted by1408's authors Ray Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, and Carl Ellsworth, who authored Disturbia,and also the Last House Around The Left remake. Ellsworth was focusing on an authentic story, instead of an adaptation of the books, so most probably exactly the same is applicable to Lemke, who, if he comes aboard the project, is going to be beginning on your own. His credits apart from Jack includeShrek Forever After and also the approaching Dreamworks animation Turbo. Therefore, he's possibly a sign that Columbia opting for someone with increased kids' screenwriting experience than horror chops this time around. Maybe the prior versions were too frightening.Neil Moritz, nearly as prolific in film as Stine is within children's books, is creating what he hopes would be the oncoming of a household franchise.

High-end capture's top shots

After shooting "The Social Network" with an older version of the Red camera, Jeff Cronenweth upgraded to the Epic for "Dragon Tattoo."After extensive testing, d.p. John Schwartzman chose the Red Epic cameras for his 3D photography on 'The Amazing Spider-Man.'Will 2012 be a tipping-point year for 4K motion pictures? On the capture side, three digital cameras are garnering attention in today's high-end production world: The Red Epic, the camera that broke the ice for 4K origination, was used by Jeff Cronenweth on "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." The 2K Arri Alexa is in use on many television productions, and is making headway in the feature realm on such productions as "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," the 3D "Hugo" and "Rampart." And Sony is in the process of raising the bar with its F65, which uses an 8K sensor to capture light and downsamples that information to "nearly uncompressed" 4K. The Red Epic was an upgrade for Cronenweth, an Oscar nominee for "The Social Network," shot with an older edition of the Red. The Epic came with advances in data management that allowed Cronenweth and director David Fincher to take a more hands-on approach with the images on "Dragon Tattoo." "When we started the project, you had to send your footage back to Red, and they transcoded it for you," says Cronenweth. "Fincher likes to cut while we shoot, so we shot with the Red One until the software for the Epic became available and we could do it ourselves." Cronenweth was pleased with the Red Epic. "Film and digital are so close now, especially with the enormously powerful tools you can utilize after photography," he says. "I think we are really dead even. On 'Tattoo,' we had to live through cold, rain, sleet, snow, low light levels -- and the camera performed well. "I love film, and the magic of the photochemical process doesn't happen with a digital capture system," he says. "But the degree of control you have with digital from beginning to end is worth the sacrifice. It allows you to have a clearer understanding when you're collaborating and interpreting someone else's story." After extensive testing, John Schwartzman chose Red Epic cameras for his 3D photography of "The Amazing Spider-Man," due later this year. The ability to record images in the ArriRaw format using the Codex Onboard recorder was a major factor behind the decision by two-time Oscar winner Chris Menges and director Stephen Daldry to choose the Arri Alexa for "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close." The Alexa's chip starts by capturing roughly 3.5K of information. "It has a great ability at night, because you can boost the ASA so easily," says Menges. "It's got a very good, vibrant color presence. But best of all, particularly when you're dealing with a child actor, is the Codex hard drive, which can run for 50 minutes." Cinematographers are looking forward to Arri's next generation of digital cameras, led by the Alexa Studio model, which will feature an optical viewfinder, a mechanical shutter and a 4x3 sensor. The more-square sensor is well-suited to 2x anamorphic photography in which the taking lens squeezes the image, which is eventually displayed in a widescreen 2.4:1 aspect ratio. Most digital cameras use a 16x9 chip. The latest entry in the digital camera sweepstakes is the Sony F65, which starts with an 8K sensor and promises "true 4K" after downrezzing. Onboard recording is handled with a proprietary solution that uses SR cards. Jon Fauer, a NY cinematographer who publishes Film and Digital Times, had the opportunity to test a prototype. "My initial reaction was that the F65 has a very high exposure index, and a very wide dynamic range," he says. "The 4K output is truly 4K, and really good. I think this camera is going to attract the attention of many heads of production. It's basically an 8K camera that delivers 4K images with minimal compression. We're not going to stop at 4K, and Sony has shown with this camera that they realize it." Fauer saw a 4K end-to-end demonstration at Sony headquarters in Tokyo. "It's totally immersive, almost 3D-like," he reports. "I think 2012 could be the year of 4K." Costs estimates for these cameras vary widely, in part because of the range of packages available. Red One owners have the option to trade up at a discount. And rental prices must amortize the cost of a digital camera over a presumably shorter life span compared to film cameras, which can remain useful for decades. That said, the rough estimate for a Red Epic basic package starts at about $60,000. The Arri Alexa begins at $70,000, with the newer Studio models costing roughly $144,000. The Sony F65 was reportedly available in late December for about $85,000, but that number went up after the first of the year. All those figures are considerably smaller than the cost of a brand new 35 mm film camera. But such cameras are not being manufactured. The irony is that film could become the lower-budget alternative, especially with cheaper options such as the 2-perf 35 mm and Super 16. The speed with which digital technology is superseded makes life difficult for rental houses. "The economics are changing quickly," says Fauer. "One of film's strengths is archivability. We don't have a good long-term archive answer yet for digital, and that's going to be part of the argument in the coming year."HIGHLIGHTSTechnologists Eye the Future of Entertainment Presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers Description: Senior-level technology execs from the top studios predict what's next in the movie and home entertainment experience. Moderator: Guy Finley, executive director Media and Entertainment Services Alliance (MESA) Speakers: Darcy Antonellis , president, Warner Bros. Technical Operations; Chris Cookson , president, Sony Pictures Technology; Arnaud Robert , senior VP of Technology, Walt Disney; Ed Leonard , CTO, DreamWorks Animation The New Technorati: How Today's Youth Are Shaping the Future of Digital Media and Content Presented by Pamela Kaufman,chief marketing officer at Nickelodeon Networks Keynote conversation with Jonathan Miller Description: A conversation with Miller, chairman and CEO of News Digital Media and chief digital officer at News Corp. Interviewer: Andrew Wallenstein, Variety TV editor Masters of Film and Technology Breakthroughs Description: Content creators and studio execs discuss social media and emerging digital services for film production, promotion and distribution. Moderator: Richard Whittington, SVP of Media & Entertainment, SAP Speakers: Lori MacPherson , EVP, global product management, Walt Disney; John Calkins , EVP, global digital and commercial innovation, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; Ira Rubenstein , EVP, digital marketing, 20th Century Fox; Matt Jacobson , head of market development, Facebook; John August , screenwriter; Thomas Gewecke , president, Warner Bros. digital distribution Technology All-Stars of Today and Tomorrow Description: Current and future digital media mavens discuss the companies, challenges and trends that are guiding successful entrepreneurs. Moderator: Xavier Kochhar, managing partner, Media Link Speakers: Drew Buckley , COO, Electus; Jon Kraft , COO, UberMedia and co-founder, Pandora; Ross Levinsohn , EVP of the Americas, Yahoo; John Sviokla , principal and innovation leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Jim Mollica , VP digital marketing, Nickelodeon Networks; Andrew Osis , CEO, Poynt Corp. In-Car Entertainment Description: Automakers such as Audi, BMW and Sony are increasingly making in-dash infotainment systems part of their brand. Speakers: Paul Mascarenas , chief technical officer and VP, Ford Research and Innovation; Shelly Palmer , host of NBC Universal's "Live Digital with Shelly Palmer" RELATED LINKS Arthouses debate 3D conversion Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Psych' restored for seventh season

'Psych'USA Network has given its longest-running series, "Psych," a 16-episode seventh season. Renewal may come as the skein's rankings within the 18-49 and 18-34 demos happen to be in an all-time high when Digital recording device rankings amounts are incorporated. Dramedy stars James Roday and Dule Hill and it is created by Universal Cable Prods. Professional producers are Steve Hot dogs, Kelly Kulchak, Chris Henze, Mel Damski and Bill Callahan. The other half of their sixth season starts on February. 29. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Andy Cohen Prepared To Dominate Late Evening, Planning Rob Fiennes Pajama Party

First Released: The month of january 8, 2012 5:44 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Host/executive producer Andy Cohen talks onstage throughout the timepiece What Goes On: Live panel throughout the Bravo NBCUniversal area of the 2012 Winter TCA Tour in the Langham Huntington Hotel and Health spa, Pasadena, on The month of january 7, 2012LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Andy Cohens Watch What Goes On: Live starts its new trend tonight, growing to 5 nights per week, and also the Bravo executive and host has some large things available for that first couple of episodes. Four words: Rob Fiennes Pajama Party, Andy told reporters in the Television Experts Association Winter Session in Pasadena, on Saturday, from the approaching event, set to air survive The month of january 20. Per week from Thursday we've our first annual Rob Fiennes Pajama Party. We've me, Rob Fiennes and Carol Hunter in PJs within the clubhouse. Other visitors arranged for that first couple of days include Rosie ODonnell and Jimmy Fallon. The late evening Bravo show, which unlike the relaxation recently evening, really airs instantly (for that New England), and does not pre-interview visitors, also sets itself apart using its small set The Clubhouse patterned after Andys own living room. The show also serves its visitors cocktails. Weve had individuals who dont drink and everybodys welcome, Andy stated. You do not have to drink, its optional. Andy is wishing to grow the kind of visitors his show draws in since its five nights per week, and the wish list includes St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese. He won the planet series for all of us, I believe hes amazing I believe Michelle Obama could be incredible, its an election year, Andy stated, adding, Dont laugh, when a few of the room jeered. Madonna could be amazing, Diana Ross, a number of my diva symbols and that i love funny people, I especially love funny ladies, so fill the clubhouse with funny as well as Im good, he added. Sandra Bernhard joins the show like a correspondent, and Andy stated spend leave her with own unique undertake current occasions. Sandras destined to be perched in the bar and shes gonna perform a live rant concerning the week in popular culture as only she will do, he stated. Watch What Goes On: Live begins tonight at 11 PM EST/PST on Bravo. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keri Russell Welcomes Second Child

Keri Russell Keri Russell and husband Shane Deary have welcomed their second child, Us Weekly reports. Keri Russell pregnant with baby No. 2 The Felicity star, 35, gave birth to daughter Willa Lou Deary on Dec. 27. Willa Lou joins brother River, 4. Russell and Deary, a carpenter, married on Valentine's Day 2007. The Golden Globe winner, who last starred on Fox's Running Wilde, will next appear in the romantic comedy Austenland.

ABC dominates New Year's Eve ratings

ABCs 'Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve With Ryan Seacrest' beat the combined deliveries of NBC, CBS and Fox. Forty years on, Dick Clark and ABC are still packing in television audiences on New Year's Eve -- racking up their third straight year of viewership gains. The Alphabet devoted all of primetime to New Year's festivities, including a two-hour clips show of past musical performances, and that momentum only boosted the net's ratings fortunes as the ball dropped in NY at midnight. ABC beat the combined ratings deliveries of its Big Four rivals on the night. According to preliminary Nielsen estimates, ABC's two-hour spec "New Year's Rockin' Eve: The 40th Anniversary Party" averaged a 2.4 rating/9 share in adults 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers overall -- easily beating the combined output for repeat programming on ABC, CBS and NBC. Show built with each half-hour, peaking at 9:30 p.m. with a 3.3/12 in the demo and 10.5 million total viewers. And then the usual 10-11 p.m. portion of ABC's Dec. 31 festivities, "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest," averaged a big 4.1/15 in 18-49 and 12.9 million viewers overall -- up by 46% in the demo and by 3.7 million total viewers vs. last year for the special's biggest numbers since it premiered in 2000. In that 10 p.m. hour, ABC drew more than four times the rating for NBC's competing 10 p.m. program, "New Year's Eve With Carson Daly" (prelim 0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million). Overall, ABC enjoyed its highest-rated primetime Saturday in more than two years -- since college football's Big 12 Championship game in December 2009. From 11:30 p.m. to 1:15 a.m., "Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" averaged a huge 7.4 rating in adults 18-49 22.6 million viewers -- ABC's top scores for any entertainment telecast since the Academy Awards last winter. Detailed info wasn't available for ABC's competition, but NBC's "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" averaged a 4.3 household rating/10 share in the metered-market overnights from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and Fox's new entry, "American Country New Year's Eve," did a 2.0/4 from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. -- both well behind ABC's special, which did a 10.7/26. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com