Nominee reaction: Octavia Spencer

SpencerEven after her win within the Golden Globe Honours, Octavia Spencer didn't need to get her hopes up excessive a great Oscar bid until Tuesday morning. Really, numerous "The AssistanceInch gang stood a sleepover to help each other deal with a nervous evening."I am never presumptuous because most of these the situation is beyond our control which i didn't wish to be setup for disappointment," Spencer mentioned. "The majority of us really visited dinner last evening and rested over and dreamed of being together once we discovered, so just just in case we was without that call we dreamed of being nice hungover." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

'Awakening' slays weekend B.O.

'Underworld Awakening'Year-to-date domestic box office continues to outperform 2011 totals, with the newest market leader, Sony-Screen Gems' "Underworld: Awakening," scoring an estimated three-day bow of $25.4 million."Underworld," which also tallied an estimated $13.4 million from 36 day-and-date overseas territories, beat the top Stateside player this time last year: Paramount's "No Strings Attached" debuted with $19.7 million domestically."We're in really good shape - not just domestically, but worldwide, as well," said Sony distribution exec Rory Bruer. "Underworld" was budgeted for a reported $70 million.This weekend, overall domestic box office was up a whopping 32% over 2011's comparable frame.Helping push the needle, Fox's $19.1 million-grossing No. 2 title, "Red Tails," did better than 2011's second-place pic, "The Green Hornet," which tallied $17.7 million in its soph sesh. "Red Tails" far exceeded industry expectations; pic was widely expected to bow at just north of $10 million.Playing to expectations, Warner Bros.' "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" scored $10.5 million from an expanded 2,630 Stateside runs, while Relativity Media's debut title "Haywire" bagged an estimated $9 million through Sunday. "Extremely Loud" has cumed $11.2 million domestically.At the specialty B.O., meanwhile, Fox Searchlight's Golden Globes-winning drama "The Descendants" passed the $50 million Stateside mark, boosted by a $2.5 million weekend perf. That reps a 17% increase over last weekend with 100 fewer locations.The Weinstein Co. broadened its Globes-feted pair, "The Iron Lady" and "The Artist," grossing an estimated $3.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively. "Iron Lady," which screened at 1,076 playdates, reached $12.6 million domestically; "The Artist" has cumed $12.1 million from almost half the locations (662). Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

On Location: Jersey Shoreline Returns to Seaside Levels for Season 5

Jersey Shoreline It's a drizzly winter mid-day in Seaside Levels, and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi - her lately slimmed-lower body put in to a skintight dress that barely covers her backside - sits within the bar, legs joined. Unlike the drunken, foulmouthed clown she seems to embody more often than not round the MTV reality hit Jersey Shoreline, Snooki is quiet, even modest, thanks only to being beneath the weather. "I used to be depleting last evening," she states. Her fever is supported having a an aching throat and inflamed glands. But, she states, "I realize when you turn on the switch." And switch it on she does, along with her seven other cast mates - Deena Cortese, "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio, Jenni "JWoww" Farley, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Mike "The ProblemInch Sorrentino - scattered with the Beachcomber Bar and Grill inside the town that launched them into pop-culture infamy. The gang, who wrapped filming several days ago, has reunited inside a favorite haunt in recognition of Season 5. (The premiere broadcast The month of the month of january 5.) The climate is totally celebratory, with many different smiles and hugs. "This," states JWoww, "is home." Coming "home" the 2009 summer season will be a welcome change of pace within the two previous several days in Florence, Italia, where the cast felt isolated and abnormal. "After they [came back], In my opinion everyone licked the wood round the boardwalk," states professional producer SallyAnn Salsano. "It absolutely was a sizable exhale." Much less it absolutely was touring. To start with, Vinny's mood dropped. He was homesick for Staten Island - Seasons 4 and 5 shot back-to-back - and temporarily left. "I preferred a relaxation,Inch states Vinny. "Plenty of drama was happening in Italia, so when you're finished with that, you have to return home, have your bed mattress - forget about drama." Losing the cast member who's possibly most likely probably the most levelheaded will be a blow for the group, particularly simply because they didn't have clue if he'd return - or possibly be transformed having a completely new roomie. "I had been scared - we didn't want others in your home,In . states Snooki. "Him departing was very strange. It felt like something did not have inside our family." Clearly, Vinny couldn't stay away - after of a week, according to him, he returned to Seaside. "All I am in a position to think are that we needed a relaxation, I left, plus you've got to determine which continues,Inch Vinny states. He wasn't the only real person taking part in high drama. Look for Deena to likely be a part of (a lot more) girl-girl action. Pauly will attract another "stalker." Sammi and Ronnie, unlike tumultuous seasons past, relish their on-off courtship. "Our relationship was awesome," states Sammi. "It absolutely was fun, it absolutely was romantic - we'd an enjoyable experience together." (Following filming, the pair split again - both decision was mutual.) JWoww and love Roger Mathews continue their love story, praising the primary one-year mark. Meanwhile, expect lots of crackling tension between Mike and Snooki that began in Italia, where he states they smushed while she was dating her boyfriend Jionni. "Mike lied - he gained up stuff to destroy me and Jionni up. In my opinion he wanted airtime or something like that like this,Inch Snooki states. (For your record, Snooki states any time being separate "for, like, each week,In . she and Jionni spent virtually every subsequent evening together in Seaside, and so are now shaping expects to marry "and possess, like, four kids.") Precisely how does Snooki cope with sleeping beneath the same roof since the enemy? "Once I dislike someone, I pretend they don't exist," she states. "That's what it's been. I don't need pals such as this throughout my existence." Not remarkably, Mike is constantly stay with his version of occasions. "Only me and Snooki be familiar with real truth," according to him. That bottomless friction knows this group, together with the entire year showed up, gossips are swirling this might be curtains for Jersey Shoreline. Pauly D already has their very own spin-off show, focusing on his career just like a DJ and slated to premiere in the finish of spring. Snooki and JWoww have one which goes for them that begins shooting this winter. And ratings for your mothership dropped a year ago - Season 4 dipped from an 8.8 million high to 6.6 million audiences for your finale - raising the question: Gets the GTL gimmick began to use thin for audiences? The cast, no less than, is showing no signs the conclusion is near. (MTV has options on these for starters more season.) "I am hoping [there is a Season 6] - I'd miss this place," states Pauly. "I enjoy be around every summer season." Seconds Salsano, "Essentially been there my way, I'd visit Seaside Levels every summer season until I die. As extended as people keep watching, I am unable to imagine everyone not going." Jersey Shoreline airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

New f/x company, 32Ten, rises

Anthony Shafer, Scott Smith, Geoff Heron, Nick d'Abo, Vince De Quattro, Greg Maloney, Tim Partridge, Marty Rosenberg, Marty Brenneis, Sean House, Greg Beaumonte of 32Ten Studios.Former employees of Industrial Light & Magic and the failed Kerner Optical have banded together to form a new practical effects company, 32Ten Studios. Name of the new outfit comes from the location: 3210 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael, Calif. Address was previously home to Kerner Optical, and before that was the longtime location of Industrial Light & Magic. ILM left the location when it spun off its model shop and moved its digital vfx operation to a new HQ in San Francisco's Presidio. Tim Partridge, who was most recently at Kerner Optical overseeing practical effects and 3D, will be president of the new entity. He said the entity is "completely employee owned, and the intention is to keep it that way." Greg Maloney is chief operating officer. Greg Beaumont is head of the camera engineering department. Head of IT is Scott Smith. Geoff Heron ("Terminator Salvation") is practical f/x supervisor. They are the only permanent staff right now; company will ramp up staff as it gets work, but Partidge told Variety "I need to keep it lean and mean. I'm going to keep the overhead to a minimum while employing as many people as possible. The core facility for 32Ten Studios is a soundstage 81 feet wide by 83 feet deep, with a giant greenscreen. Company is already in talks to provide practical effects on two projects. Unlike its predecessor, Kerner Optical, it will offer digital visual effects as well as practical f/x and model/minature f/x. Kerner Optical began as ILM's original models and miniatures shop, the unit that created the effects for the original Star Wars pictures and other classic titles before computer graphics took over most f/x work. After ILM spun it off, Kerner tried a series of high-tech initiatives, but it failed last year amid recriminations among its current and former owners -- who included a convicted pyramid scheme operator -- and accusations of mismanagement and criminality. (Daily Variety, Sept. 30, 2011) Company will bid for commercials, features, television, new media and any other available work. "It is all about the community," said Partridge. "I've been up in that area now for two years and got to know the workers who do this stuff. And there really is a sense of Northern California in the film industry. It lacks a hub and I'm hoping we can become that hub, attracting other companies to that complex. Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Healthy Hollywood: Wellness Wednesday - Lose Weight Safely In The New Year!

First Published: January 4, 2012 1:05 PM EST Credit: FilmMagic NY., N.Y. -- Caption Sandra Bullock attends the Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on December 15, 2011 in NY CityHappy New Year! Did you make your list of healthy resolutions? If so, chances are weight loss is on the list. So, now that weve entered into the New Year, its time to start taking off those excess pounds. Need some inspiration? Just look at Hollywoods crew of recently slimmed down stars from Sandra Bullocks newly sculpted shape to Kelly Prestons 39-pound weight loss to Ricki Lakes major body transformation. Looking good, ladies! While, a speedy lose 10 pounds in a week program sounds like a good way to kick off the New Year chances are any pounds shed wont be sustainable. Quick fixes never work because you lose on a quick fix diet, but it becomes too difficult to really follow long term. Making good food choices are better to make and making a new lifestyle change of following an exercise program and a sensible diet, advises nutrition expert Rich Gaspari. The former bodybuilding champ developed his own line of supplements, Gaspari Nutrition, to help folks obtain their weight loss goals. Again, staying lean is staying on a healthy eating and exercise program. Not restricting foods or following fad diets, adds Rich. Folks on a healthy weight loss program can expect to lose about 1 to 2 pounds of fat per week anymore is likely to be water weight and if you lose too fast you regain the weight back. Rich shares his regimen for a healthy day of eating, I eat 6 meals a day with 3 of the meals using a protein powder supplement. I also eat a diet of 40 percent protein, 45 percent carbohydrates and 15 percent fats. My diet consists of whole grains, sweet potatoes, fruits and vegetables with lean meats like chicken breast, lean red meat, fish, and egg whites. Yes, folks there are no miracle solutions its all about eating wholesome and nutritious foods. So, if you want to start thinking Healthy Eating 2012 Rich shares 5 simple tips with Healthy Hollywood. 1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Keeps you hydrated and metabolism humming. 2. Eat a healthy breakfast. People who skip breakfast tend to weigh more. 3. Eat 6 smaller meals as opposed to 2 3 big meals. This speeds up the metabolism. 4. Stay clear of white flour and white sugar. They are empty calories. 5. Eat foods more in its natural states, like fresh fruits and vegetables, as opposed to deep fried foods or baked foods with butter. For more healthy tips, head to www.gasparinutrition.com. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.