AFTRA, music labels set talk date

Negotiations between dancers for music videos and record labels will resume Jan. 11-12 after a six-month break. The American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, which reps the dancers, made the announcement Thursday night. AFTRA also has scheduled a Jan. 6 rally in front of Sony Music offices in Beverly Hills to support the dancers. Board member Jason George and dancers Teresa Espinosa and Dana Wilson are set to speak. The moves come two months after AFTRA drew more than 160 dancers and choreographers to a standing-room-only "It's About Time" forum in North Hollywood to show support for the unionization move. AFTRA's current deal on its sound recording contract includes an agreement by the labels to bargain for a music-video agreement to replace an agreement negotiated in 1986. AFTRA negotiator Randall G. Himes complained at the October event that after a negotiating session on June 21, the labels had stalled in responding to AFTRA's proposal and setting dates for more talks. AFTRA contended that the 1986 agreement is outdated, especially with ad-supported streaming services, music videos generating growing revenues. The "It's About Time" campaign, launched with a series of videos to coincide with the MTV Video Music Awards in late August, calls for a contract that includes safety, fair pay, residuals and health and retirement benefits. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Slamdance uncovers special tests

"Old Dog" focuses on a shepherd safeguarding a valued mastiff. The Slamdance Film Festival has revealed its special tests and short programs, together with a Stan Lee documentary, Jonathan Demme's "Neil Youthful Journeys," the premiere of the never-before-seen Erectile dysfunction Wood television pilot and Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden's "Old Dog." The flicks introduced for Slamdance, released 18 years back instead of Sundance, include five world premieres, and 75 shorts competing -- such as the world premiere of the special program of recent Iranian shorts never witnessed outdoors the nation, "Produced in Iran: 7 Short Premieres." Slamdance introduced its competition selection, composed of 10 narrative films and eight documentaries, a week ago. Competition slots are restricted to first-time feature company directors dealing with budgets under $a million. Fest happens Jan. 20-26 in Park City in the Treasure Mountain Motel. The short films revealed Tuesday were culled from a lot more than 3,000 distribution. A jury will show honours to short films competing within the narrative, animation and docu sections competition shorts will also be qualified for that Spirit of Slamdance Award. Narrative films screening at Slamdance include "Holiday Road," a comedy anthology honoring the poignant and absurd facets of 12 American holidays "Old Dog," set around the Tibetan flatlands a good old shepherd trying to avoid his Tibetan mastiff from being offered for an urban Chinese dealer and "Unconditional," directed by Bryn Higgins, the psycho-love story of teenage twins who come under the spell of the charming guy. Concert film "Neil Youthful Journeys" is going to be tested included in the documentary series. "Journeys" first showed in the Toronto Intl. Film Festival and The new sony Pictures Classics acquired worldwide privileges, excluding Latin America, in October. Another paperwork within the screening series are "No Room for Rockstars," directed by Parris Patton and following a encounters of 4 music artists around the Vans Warped Tour "Terra Blight," directed by Isaac Brown inside a global study of the existence cycle laptop or computer consumption which has produced toxic wastes "Wild within the Roads," directed by Peter Baxter, by which 1000's of local people from rival sides of the rugged British town extremely compete within an ancient game that's the center from the community and "With Great Energy: The Stan Lee Story," directed by Will Hess, Nikki Frakes and Terry Dougas. That doc also features Nicolas Cage, Michael Chiklis, Roger Corman, Kirsten Dunst, Danny Elfman, James Franco, Samuel Jackson, Tobey Maguire, Avoi Mendes, Frank Burns, Seth Rogen, Bryan Singer, Kevin Cruz and Ringo Starr. The shorts tests range from the pilot "Erectile dysfunction Wood's Lost Film Final Curtain" and "Franchi Has ReturnedInch from director-film writer Alexandre Franchi, where the filmmaker discusses his bout with cancer. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Sean 'P. Diddy' Hair combs, Aaron Paul and Frank Vincent Funnel the Rat Pack for Ciroc Vodka Ad

Sean Hair combs -- also known as either P. Diddy, Diddy, Puff Dad or Puffy -- continues to be deeply in love with Rat Pack-style culture for pretty much ten years. "I had been watching 'Ocean's 11' and that i just could not connect with it," Diddy told the NY Daily News in 2005 concerning the George Clooney-fronted remake. "You've each one of these black symbols, Chris Rock or Chris Tucker in comedy, Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx in acting, me and Jay-Z in music, how about us? Now it's time to place the finest black symbols inside a film together. We are not playing around in 'do-rags and low riders any longer." Six years later, Diddy finally has their own 'Ocean's 11' -- climax only a 30 second vodka commercial, appears partly inspired by 'The Hangover' and does not include some of individuals large names pointed out through the rapper/actor formerly. Launched now is really a new ad for CIROC vodka -- the alcohol label Diddy is the owner of -- that stars Aaron Paul ('Breaking Bad'), Michael K. Williams ('Boardwalk Empire,' 'The Wire'), Jesse Williams ('Grey's Anatomy'), Frank Vincent ('Goodfellas,' 'The Sopranos') and Puffy themself like a faux Rat Pack tearing through Vegas. Which means "Luck Be considered a Lady" as sang by Frank Sinatra, along with a bevy of women in cocktail dresses, brought by 'Entourage' co-star Dania Ramirez. Exciting! Anthony Mandler does the pointing honors -- he's shot videos for everybody in the Murders to Eminem -- but that one certainly might have used the glossy touch of Brett Ratner. Maybe producer Ben Silverman too. Needs more whitened tigers and decadence. Discover the shocking truth above. Drink sensibly, y'all! Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Michel Gondry's 'Taxi Driver': The Director's Lo-Fi Take a look at Travis Bickle

By now, the American public can access a national treasure: 'Alvin and also the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.' The rambunctious rats are in it again in another madcap musical adventure this time around Alvin, Simon and Theodore as well as their Chipette alternatives Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor, continue a cruiseship holiday with the always-irritable Dork Seville. But Alvin's hijinks result in most six from the cute and also the affectionate chipmunks getting stranded on the deserted tropical island. They've got to understand to operate together to obtain home ... and use newer and more effective tunes on the way. You might read that plot description and think it's mindless fluff made to entertain just the littlest children, but you would be scoffing in the feature for any big juggernaut. Precisely how financially lucrative has got the 'Chipmunks' franchise been because it started in 2007? Moviefone has come up with an opportune graph to inform you! (Because the singing chipmunks were once lonely little orphans who have been saved by their talent manager, Moviefone made the decision to check the Chipmunks' movie dollars with a few real non profit organizations dedicated to animal welfare and art achievement. As well as in recognition from the island setting of 'Chipwrecked,' we put within an actual island for reference.) [Click image to enlarge] The very first 'Alvin' movie cost $60 million to create the 2nd one cost $75 million. Each movie then continued to create 100s of huge amount of money in ticket sales. Therefore if you are among individuals weirdos that hates the 'Chipmunk' movies, now you can understand the amount of an outcast you're why would a lot of people voluntarily give their cash towards the 'Chipmunks' movies when they were a poor factor? Watch a clip for 'Alvin and also the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' [Photo: twentieth century Fox] (Special because of Chris Spurlock for graph design.) Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows clip online

A new clip from hotly-anticipated super-sleuth sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows has found its way online.Thankfully the footage doesn't scrimp on the one thing we've come to love most about this new franchise: the bromantic banter between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law (AKA Holmes and Watson).Watson turns up at Holmes' Baker Street residence, but he can't find his elusive, chameleon-like partner...That's enough of our description, get watching it for yourself now.Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows opens in the UK this Friday. Why not pass the time until then by reading our review of the film?

American Horror Story Exclusive: Will Constance Go Down for the Murder of Travis?

Jessica Lange It's a bad time to be carrying concealed weapons in your purse, Constance. But is it understandable? Constance, after all, has just lost her daughter, learned that Tate impregnated his girlfriend's mom (possibly with the Antichrist!) and discovered that someone sawed her scrumptious boy toy in half. American Horror Story's Lily Rabe on Nora's heartbreak, head wound Wouldn't you carry a little something for self-defense? Or, revenge? Too bad the cops are starting to swarm. Check out this exclusive sneak peek of Wednesday's new episode of American Horror Story, "Smoldering Children," to find out what Constance is packing these days: American Horror Story airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX. Do you think Constance is doomed?