Disney's Snow Full Defrosted

Retitled Frozen and due at the end of 2013It's been in ice at Disney for a long time, however it now appears that the thaw is approaching Uncle Walt's version from the Snow Full, that has just obtained a November 2013 release date, underneath the new moniker Frozen. That whole clever "thaw" line does not go a long way when combined with that title, but provide us with a rest, right? It's Christmas.The storyline, obviously, is Hendes Christian Andersen's and involves Kay, whose thoughts are twisted when his heart and eyes are pierced by shards of the evil troll mirror. He's then voluntarily kidnapped through the Snow Full, who travels the planet using the winter months. Kay's playmate, neighbour and sweetheart Gerda however, still thinks in him and sets on a legendary mission to retrieve him in the Snow Queen's structure.Animator Glen Keane (The Small Mermaid, Beauty And Also The Animal, Aladdin) was focusing on the project as soon as about ten years ago, but abandoned it towards Rapunzel, which emerged this season as Twisted. Adjective-based names are apparently extremely popular for Disney's current crop of fairytale animations.Previously it had been intended like a hands-attracted affair such as the Princess And Also The Frog, there is however no indication right now of whether that's still the situation, or indeed, from the current team behind the film.What we should can say for certain would be that the date of November 13, 2013 that Frozen just nabbed, was formerly reserved for Pixar and Bob Peterson's as-yet untitled Dinosaur movie. What are you doing with this then?

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Star Thomas Horn Dishes On Working With Sandra Bullock

First Published: December 16, 2011 12:34 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Tom Hanks, Thomas Thorn, and Sandra Bullock are seen at the Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close NY premiere at in NY City on December 15, 2011 Thomas Horn 13-year-old breakout star of the upcoming 9/11 drama, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close shared the screen with Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, and while working with the veteran actors could have been intimidating, the young star says Sandra went out of her way to make filming a positive experience. On camera our characters really had an antagonistic little thing going because we didnt really understand each other, but as actors we really got to know each other because we spent a good few days together, Thomas explained to Access Hollywood at Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close premiere in NY City on Thursday, of working with Sandra (who plays his mother in the tearjerker). Off camera, you know, we would talk and she was really concerned about making me feel comfortable on set. She would always give me encouragement and she did everything she could, he added. Sandra laughed off Thomas praise, telling Access her young co-star was being very generous with his compliments toward her, but said working with Thomas during the films gut-wrenching scenes was a joy. It was like going through a mini emotional war together. I couldnt have asked for a better partner, she told Access. You dont often get great partners and I was blessed with him so blessed. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which also stars Viola Davis and John Goodman, hits theaters on January 20. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Dominic Cooper can get Summer season In February

Former History Boy and Abba warbler Dominic Cooper has grew to become an associate from the cast of turn-of-the-century drama Summer season In February, using the well-received novel by Jonathan Cruz.He'll appear opposite Serta Stevens, most broadly noted for period cliché factory Downton Abbey (but whosefearless turnin Andrew Davies' superb miniseries The Street Of Beauty is proof of his considerable talent), and, erm,Mr Popper's Penguins' Ophelia Lovibond in the true story of 'love, liberty and scandal.'Cooper remains battling with tinnitus-like 'awards buzz' since his Devil's Double gig and may have a less frenetic performance as acclaimed painter Alfred Munnings, an connect in the bohemian Newlyn School of artists situated in Cornwall together with an adversary for one another to Stevens' land agent Gilbert Evans.Whether Evans, like Stevens' Downton version Matthew Crawley, will probably be needed to give the mean task of having a stylist to supply him blonde highlights inside the muddy trenches of war-torn northern France is not been determined.Jonathan Cruz has modified their very own book for your silver screen, while Stevens, a classic British pupil of his at Tonbridge School, will professional produce. Helming the $8 million pic will probably be Christopher Menaul, who recently made his film debut with opera comedy First Evening (not the primary one with Richard Gere).With aincreasingly accomplished cast and arich and resonant novel becasue it is source material, we feel this appears as an encouraging little Brit-flick.Summer season in February is predicted to achieve cinemas late in 2012.

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever: Theater Review

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures The San Francisco Critics Circle rallied around The Tree of Life on Sunday, naming it the best picture of the year and giving its best director award to the film's Terrence Malick. It also singled out the movie'sEmmanuel Lubezki for best cinematography.our editor recommendsGotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best FeatureThe Tree of Life: Cannes ReviewJessica Chastain 'The Tree of Life' Featurette The group, comprised of 31 Bay Area film critics, met at the Variety Club Screening Room, where it voted Gary Oldman best actor for his portrayal of a British intelligence officer in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spywhile hailing Tilda Swinton as best actress for portraying the mother of a severely troubled boy in We Need to Talk About Kevin. PHOTOS: Gotham Awards 2011 Red Carpet Arrivals: Tilda Swinton, Elizabeth Olsen and Other Supporting actor and actress awards went to Albert Brooks for Drive and Vanessa Redgrave for Coriolanus. The Tinker writing team of Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan took the best adapted screenplay prize, and J.C. Chandor received the best original screenplay prize for Margin Call. Rango was named best animated feature; Certified Copy, best foreign language film; and Tabloid, best documentary. STORY:Gotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best Feature A special citation for an underappreciated independent film was given to The Mill and the Cross. The National Film Preservation Foundation received the Marlon Riggs Award for courage and vision in the Bay Area film community. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'X-Men' & 'Tree of Life' Premieres Tilda Swinton Gary Oldman The Tree of Life Terrence Malick We Need to Talk About Kevin Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Who's the current Jim Henson?

Since 'The Muppets' has turned into a licensed hit, Kermit, Miss Piggy and also the relaxation from the gang have came back for their popular culture pedestal. While older audiences are wrapping themselves inside a nostalgia blanket, youthful audiences are finding the jokes of Fozzie Bear and also the mistimed stunts of Gonzo the truly amazing the very first time. However for these children at the moment finding the Muppets, their knowledge about the figures and films is going to be totally different from the kids from the 70s and 80s -- due to the lack of Jim Henson. Jim Henson was this type of distinct and caring presence for that youthful audiences that was raised together with his projects, they remain dedicated to his work despite this passing. Storytellers like this are rare, and the too-soon departure boosts the question: who are able to we call "the current Jim Henson"? If you are unaware of it, the touring exhibit 'Jim Henson's Fantastic World' offers incredible understanding of the job he put in his storytelling (and when you are going to NY City this holidays, it's worth seeing the show in the Museum from the Moving Image, before it shuts on Jan. 16). Henson's visual style is unshakable and apparent in each and every production he ever done. Even his Television show plans -- that will simply be seen by professionals for business reasons -- are embellished with full-color sketches using a number of textiles Henson's vision was complete, regardless of how early in to the production process it might have been. His understanding of world culture, joke telling and folk tales was apparent within the music and scripting of his projects. His technical curiosity led to a constantly-flourishing cast of artificial figures evoking real human connections with audiences. And many considerably, his outlook around the world and just how we ought to all treat each other never wavered it rooted itself in the upbringing and continued to be steady regardless of financial, professional or creative obstacle. It's these traits that changed his Television shows and films into cultural touchstones. And it is a great deal to meet for anybody who would like to be described as a "modern Jim Henson." Possibly the title could be presented upon Hayao Miyazaki, the acclaimed director of anime like 'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Spirited Away' like Henson, japan-born filmmaker informs earth-conscious tales including fantastical figures. Although, to become blunt, Miyazaki -- who had been creating work concurrently alongside Henson -- hasn't quite divided the mainstream cultural edges that can compare with a 'Sesame Street.' So perhaps that recognition of "modern Jim Henson" goes to Henry Selick, the stop-motion animator who directed movies like 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'Coraline.' Another possible candidate is Nick Park, the claymation wizard from Aardman Galleries, who produced 'Wallace & Gromit' and directed 'Chicken Run.' Both males use dazzling effects and also have literally hands-crafted beloved figures. But neither Selick, nor Park (or even the whole of Aardman for your mater) have ever arrived at as numerous audiences as Henson, plus they remain largely unknown to some casual public. Is the modern Jim Henson be somebody like Tim Burton or Guillermo del Toro? The blockbuster set of company directors possess idiosyncratic styles full of other-worldly animals their eye for design is quickly identifiable. However, while Burton is imaginative, it's been a very long time since he created a movie around an authentic idea nowadays he appears content remaking popular faves in the distinct, "plenty-of-retailing-chance" style. And Del Toro still appears mostly worried about the field of horror films he's become more associated with Dreamworks' animated family features, but ultimately he's simply not into making all-age range projects. (Slightly off-subject: this may cause me to feel question exactly what a Jim Henson horror movie would seem like.) Basically needed to take my best guess at that has exactly the same reference to audiences that Jim Henson had, it doesn't fit in with one individual, but a whole studio: Pixar. Beloved movies? Check. Colorful, comedy tales implanted with heart and integrity? Check. Possess the figures of Buzz Lightyear, Woodsy as well as their 'Toy Story' co-stars have arrived at exactly the same popular culture pedestal as Kermit and Miss Piggy? Check. The only real reason I wouldn't provide them with the jerk is because really are a company -- a business having a strong resolve for excellent storytelling -- but ultimately, I do not think it is the right comparison. It is a different atmosphere compared to Muppet training courses from the 70s and 80s which were manned by Henson along with a couple of close partners like Frank Oz or Richard Search. You can result in the argument that Pixar mind John Lasseter steers the ship within the same style as Henson, but Lasseter appears more content to become the businessman that Henson was itchiness to escape. Maybe the "modern Jim Henson" has not damaged through yet, or possibly they won't. Possibly Henson would be a once-in-a-lifetime artist, the type that's simply wired in a different way, like Mozart or Da Vinci the main reason he could produce the things he did was while he would be a genius in each and every feeling of the term. Still, even when this is the situation, it is a noble effort to create something as monumental because the Muppets. Which filmmaker do you consider is today's Jim Henson? Tell us within the comments. The Males Behind the Muppets Jim HensonFrank OzDave GoelzJerry NelsonRichard HuntPaul WilliamsJerry JuhlSteve WhitmireCaroll SpinneyBrian Henson See All Moviefone Art galleries » [Photo: Getty Images] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Island Def Jam ups Anokute

Chris Anokute remains elevated to senior veepee from the&R for Island Def Jam Group, the business introduced Thursday. Beginning his career becoming an intern at Def Jam about 10 years ago, Anokute subsequently gone after EMI, where he handled A&R for of Katy Perry's multiplatinum records for Capitol, additionally to Joss Stone's "Showing Joss Stone." He returned for the Universal Group fold taken, most recently as senior V . p . from the&R for Universal Republic. "Chris is very gifted, and i'm happy he's joining our A&R team," mentioned IDJ's professional V . p .-mind from the&R Karen Kwak, to whom Anokute will report. "His history for locating fresh and various talent is impressive." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive: George Lopez's First Publish-Talk Show Project Lands at Fox

George Lopez George Lopez is plotting his return to TV, but this time around around behind the digital camera. Fox certifies it's developing a comedy project from Lopez using the information on comedian Mark Viera. The untitled half-hour might be the very first project being created by Lopez because the best spinner's canceled his late-evening series Lopez Tonight in August. Viera stars just like a blue-collar guy who buys a building inside the Bronx to have the ability to stay close to his roots and train his boy street inteligence. Your final decision surprises his wife and backfires when his extended Latino family moves in. Chris Situation (Outdated at 35) is writing the script and may executive produce, along with Lopez and Leslie Kolins Small. Warner Bros. TV, which produced ABC's George Lopez sitcom, might be the studio. Case's other credits include Reba, Titus and Spin City. Very busy author also provides a script (with Joey Gutierrez) in contention at CBS. Viera, who indeed comes from the Bronx, was featured on Martin Lawrence Presents first Amendment Operate in addition to guested on 30 Rock. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

'Kung Fu Panda 2' leads Annie noms

Get more information at the entire listing of nominations''Kung Fu Panda 2'' leads a really mixed area within the 39th annual Annie Honours nominations. The DreamWorks Animation follow up acquired 12 bids, including best feature, adopted carefully by stablemate ''Puss in Boots'' and Vital/Nickelodeon's ''Rango,'' with nine each. The nominating committees of ASIFA-Hollywood opened up in the best pic area for 10 nominees, including Steven Spielberg's motion-capture toon ''The Adventures of Tintin.'' It is simply the 2nd motion-caption film to become nominated to have an Annie Award. Columbia's ''Monster House'' was nommed in 2006.Additionally to ''Panda 2,'' ''Puss,'' ''Rango'' and ''Tintin,'' best pic nominees are: ''A Cat in Paris'' (Fromage), ''Arthur Christmas'' (The new sony Pictures Animation), ''Wrinkles'' (Perro Verde Films), ''Cars 2'' (Pixar), ''Chico and Rita'' (Chico and Rita Distrib'n) and ''Rio'' (Blue Sky Galleries).The Annie Honours is going to be held on Saturday, February. 4, at UCLA's Royce Hall.Disney does skip the honours (Variety, August. 25, 2010).Get more information at the entire listing of nominations Contact Terry Flores at terry.flores@variety.com

Stephen Lang Joins Pawn

Together with Nikki Reed and Sean FarisWhile we are unsure Stephen Lang truly loved chomping the scenery in Conan or whether he's really getting fun grumping up like a sub-Colonel Quaritch-type colony leader on television sci-fi show Terra Nova, we are much more happy to determine him signing onto the cast of indie crime drama Pawn.We first reported around the movie a few days ago, if this already featured Michael Chiklis (who's also creating the pic) and Forest Whitaker within the tale of the hostage situation that begins to visit badly since the police force types and mobsters utilizing it like a twisted chess game have terrible moves.The cast has skyrocketed in dimensions, with Lang, Nikki Reed, Sean Faris, Marton Csokas, Jessica Szohr and Jonathan Bennett all jumping aboard.David A Remedy, a cinematographer who done some of the Saw franchise records, is onto direct, working from the script by Jay Anthony Whitened.Lang, meanwhile, will next be observed in another crime pic, Officer Lower, and murder drama Dancehall.

The Women of 'The Help' Work Together to Bring a Bestseller to Life

The Women of 'The Help' Work Together to Bring a Bestseller to Life By Back Stage staff November 30, 2011 Photo by Dale Robinette/DreamWorks Time and again, the lack of good movie roles for women has been bemoaned. Or a female-centric film does well at the box office, spawning articles on how there really is an audience for such stories. This year, two films with primarily female casts became critical and box office hits. First came "Bridesmaids," in which Kristen Wiig and company proved they could tackle gross-out comedy as well as the boys. Then there was "The Help," in which a group of fine actors assembled to bring Kathryn Stockett's bestseller to life.The film, directed by Tate Taylor, centers on African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi who decide to tell their stories to an ambitious young journalist. Heading the cast are Viola Davis, in her first lead film role, as quiet domestic Aibileen Clark, and Emma Stone as Skeeter, the writer who tells the women's stories. The supporting cast is full of outstanding actors, from Bryce Dallas Howard as a spoiled socialite to Sissy Spacek as her adorable mother, as well as two of the biggest breakouts of the year: Jessica Chastain, who is also earning raves for her work in "Take Shelter" and "The Tree of Life," charms as social outcast Celia Foote, and Octavia Spencer shines as her maid Minny, a role that Spencer inspired Stockett to write.On how they got involved with "The Help" Viola Davis: I was a fan of the book. I just thought [Kathryn] really humanized these women who in history have never been given a voice. As soon as I read it, I said, "Oh, this has got to be a movie, and I've got to option it, and I've got to play Aibileen. Then I found out that Tate Taylor had it. And from there it just went from us having mutual friends and me finding out that he actually did have me in mind for the movie. Jessica Chastain: Celia was the role I was asked to audition for, and it was the role I truly wanted. I think sometimes people get in the trap of saying, "Oh, I want the lead," or "Oh, I want a hit." But I read the script and immediately I wanted Celia because she is so different from anything I've done. I'm not kidding when I say I cried while reading the screenplay. And I said, "This is a woman I want to know for a while."Octavia Spencer: I met Kathryn about eight or nine years ago in New Orleans. Tate had talked about us meeting. We were there doing the sound mix on his short film "Chicken Party." Kathryn came down for the day, and Tate decided we should take a walking tour of the city. It was hot, I was on a diet, starving and grumpy, and we start on this tour. And then the complaints began from me. And from there, I think, Minny was born. But she's not based on me. I say it jokingly, but it's true: Minny is short and round; I am short and round. Minny speaks her mind all the time; I don't have a problem speaking my mind. But here's the thing: I did have to audition for it, and why not? When you think about it, it's an unknown director with a hot property who wants to cast an unknown in one of the leads. Mo'Nique has just won an Oscar, Jennifer Hudson has just won an Oscar, and you have amazing actresses out there like Queen Latifahwhy would they cast me? [The studio was] very gracious to allow me to come in and audition, and I was never made to feel like it wasn't an easy decision for them.On preparing for the role Davis: A teacher once told me you can never have too much information about a character. You just have to arm yourself with information. So of course, I found every type of information about that period. I felt I had to saturate myself with that because I am a 21st-century girl. A lot of what existed in that time period is so foreign to me. Of course, intellectually I know, but I felt I had to arm myself with more information. So I watched documentaries. Some I had already seen, like "Eyes on the Prize," and documentaries on domesticshow they feel. Everything about Freedom Summer in Mississippi. And also I started with what I feel as an actor is the bible, which is the text itself, which is the book and the script. And then after that I always feel like I need a person to focus on, because I feel like a lot of actors create in a vacuum, that performance is really dynamic but only in the confines of a classroom, but you can never look at a character and go, "I know someone like that" or "Those characteristics are palpable to me." So I always have to have a vision of a person in my head. And that person was my mother and my grandmother, who when they walk into a room nobody would ever notice themjust, in the most beautiful way, ordinary. I felt like I had to start with that. I had their experiences very much in my head, stories my mother had told me about my grandmother being a maid and herself being a maid. And everything else I just had to make up, use my imagination in terms of filling her out. On the most challenging scene to shoot Davis: Definitely the last scene. Probably not for any of the reasons that people think, and for all the reasons people think. Because even reading the book, it was very challenging for me to read that part. That story really touched me the most. When Aibileen and Mae Mobley were separated in the end, it totally devastated me as a reader. So the actual shooting of it was very difficult. Emotionally, it was difficult because for me I felt like it was Aibileen making peace with letting Treelore, her son, go. I felt that was that whole connection. And certainly when you go to that place as a person, it's very difficult. I understand how it feels that someone is gone. That is how I was able to get through that scene, number one. But number two, it was challenging because it was cut up. The first part of the separation scene was an interior scene, and the other part of the scene is exterior. They were shot two different days, and yet when you ultimately see it, it is one long scene. That is very challenging as an actor. And it's also very challenging working with a 3-year-old who doesn't understand that concept. So you're trying to really get it out of them at the same time you have your own work to do. So the constant kind of stepping out of my body to be kind of a facilitator for her just to hit her mark and to say her lines and to look at me, and then stepping back into myself to play Aibileen. Spencer: Actually, there were three. One didn't make the final cut. It's a scene where I finally leave Leroy, and I'm beaten up and the kids are with me and I'm at a phone booth. That was hard. But equally difficult is being in the scene where Celia loses the baby, because I've fallen in love with Jessica Chastain and it's hard to see your friend like that. Same thing with Aibileen, when she tells the story about losing Treelore and why it's important that the book be published. Seeing her go through that pain was hard, because I love Viola. Those were things where I had one or two words to say, but they were just very difficult to shoot.On working with the other actors Davis: It's one of those dream situations where you're with other actresses who are not competitive. That's the best way to put it. Usually people don't want to encourage you to do your best, because they feel it's a reflection of what they're not doing or their failure. But [on "The Help"], my excellence was their excellence. It's my same experience working with Meryl Streep [on "Doubt"]. It felt like her giving 150 percent during my close-up was just as important as her giving 150 percent during her close-up. And those are the kind of people you want to be creating withtotal lack of ego. And so many people have asked this too: "What's it like working with so many women?" It was fabulous! It was exactly how it should be. You know, comrades. It certainly was a whole lot of fun being in Mississippi, in a small community, just us, because we weren't going back to our apartment or homes. We were going to each other's homes. Eating, having just the best time.Chastain: I loved this cast. With Octavia, it was love at first sight for me. She was my reader at my audition. And at my very first audition, I said, "I need to do this movie just because I want to be in scenes with Octavia, because our chemistry's so good." I loved Celia and was excited about it, but when I went in, that's when I was like, "I have to do this." You don't always have that chemistry between people, and usually it's between men and women when they talk about it, and they mean it in an intimate way. But I thought our chemistry was so good. For comedy, for the more touching, emotional scenes. I love working with actors so muchthat's my favorite part of being an actor, the relationships you develop. I became obsessed with the project, and I knew I had to do it. On awards buzz for their performances Chastain: It's funny. I'm in other films this year, and someone told me I needed to strategize or I'll cancel myself out. But I don't know if that's something I can do. To even have people talking about the films I'm in, I'm just overwhelmed. I think more about my co-stars. Like, I think Michael Shannon should be recognized. I think Octavia Spencer should be recognized. This year has been so good, I don't know if I can take anymore!Spencer: You know what? It's every actor's dream to win accolades, but it's not something that we can control. And I'm a control freak. So I'm learning to be healthy and recognize I can't control it and just live in this moment. And in this moment, I got to work on a great film that I'm getting to promote, and I've made great friends. That is a great reward. If anything else happens, I'll be over the moon, but I can't even allow myself to think about it. I will say this: Oscar is my type of guy. He's bald and full of bling. The Women of 'The Help' Work Together to Bring a Bestseller to Life By Back Stage staff November 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Dale Robinette/DreamWorks Time and again, the lack of good movie roles for women has been bemoaned. Or a female-centric film does well at the box office, spawning articles on how there really is an audience for such stories. This year, two films with primarily female casts became critical and box office hits. First came "Bridesmaids," in which Kristen Wiig and company proved they could tackle gross-out comedy as well as the boys. Then there was "The Help," in which a group of fine actors assembled to bring Kathryn Stockett's bestseller to life.The film, directed by Tate Taylor, centers on African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi who decide to tell their stories to an ambitious young journalist. Heading the cast are Viola Davis, in her first lead film role, as quiet domestic Aibileen Clark, and Emma Stone as Skeeter, the writer who tells the women's stories. The supporting cast is full of outstanding actors, from Bryce Dallas Howard as a spoiled socialite to Sissy Spacek as her adorable mother, as well as two of the biggest breakouts of the year: Jessica Chastain, who is also earning raves for her work in "Take Shelter" and "The Tree of Life," charms as social outcast Celia Foote, and Octavia Spencer shines as her maid Minny, a role that Spencer inspired Stockett to write.On how they got involved with "The Help" Viola Davis: I was a fan of the book. I just thought [Kathryn] really humanized these women who in history have never been given a voice. As soon as I read it, I said, "Oh, this has got to be a movie, and I've got to option it, and I've got to play Aibileen. Then I found out that Tate Taylor had it. And from there it just went from us having mutual friends and me finding out that he actually did have me in mind for the movie. Jessica Chastain: Celia was the role I was asked to audition for, and it was the role I truly wanted. I think sometimes people get in the trap of saying, "Oh, I want the lead," or "Oh, I want a hit." But I read the script and immediately I wanted Celia because she is so different from anything I've done. I'm not kidding when I say I cried while reading the screenplay. And I said, "This is a woman I want to know for a while."Octavia Spencer: I met Kathryn about eight or nine years ago in New Orleans. Tate had talked about us meeting. We were there doing the sound mix on his short film "Chicken Party." Kathryn came down for the day, and Tate decided we should take a walking tour of the city. It was hot, I was on a diet, starving and grumpy, and we start on this tour. And then the complaints began from me. And from there, I think, Minny was born. But she's not based on me. I say it jokingly, but it's true: Minny is short and round; I am short and round. Minny speaks her mind all the time; I don't have a problem speaking my mind. But here's the thing: I did have to audition for it, and why not? When you think about it, it's an unknown director with a hot property who wants to cast an unknown in one of the leads. Mo'Nique has just won an Oscar, Jennifer Hudson has just won an Oscar, and you have amazing actresses out there like Queen Latifahwhy would they cast me? [The studio was] very gracious to allow me to come in and audition, and I was never made to feel like it wasn't an easy decision for them.On preparing for the role Davis: A teacher once told me you can never have too much information about a character. You just have to arm yourself with information. So of course, I found every type of information about that period. I felt I had to saturate myself with that because I am a 21st-century girl. A lot of what existed in that time period is so foreign to me. Of course, intellectually I know, but I felt I had to arm myself with more information. So I watched documentaries. Some I had already seen, like "Eyes on the Prize," and documentaries on domesticshow they feel. Everything about Freedom Summer in Mississippi. And also I started with what I feel as an actor is the bible, which is the text itself, which is the book and the script. And then after that I always feel like I need a person to focus on, because I feel like a lot of actors create in a vacuum, that performance is really dynamic but only in the confines of a classroom, but you can never look at a character and go, "I know someone like that" or "Those characteristics are palpable to me." So I always have to have a vision of a person in my head. And that person was my mother and my grandmother, who when they walk into a room nobody would ever notice themjust, in the most beautiful way, ordinary. I felt like I had to start with that. I had their experiences very much in my head, stories my mother had told me about my grandmother being a maid and herself being a maid. And everything else I just had to make up, use my imagination in terms of filling her out. On the most challenging scene to shoot Davis: Definitely the last scene. Probably not for any of the reasons that people think, and for all the reasons people think. Because even reading the book, it was very challenging for me to read that part. That story really touched me the most. When Aibileen and Mae Mobley were separated in the end, it totally devastated me as a reader. So the actual shooting of it was very difficult. Emotionally, it was difficult because for me I felt like it was Aibileen making peace with letting Treelore, her son, go. I felt that was that whole connection. And certainly when you go to that place as a person, it's very difficult. I understand how it feels that someone is gone. That is how I was able to get through that scene, number one. But number two, it was challenging because it was cut up. The first part of the separation scene was an interior scene, and the other part of the scene is exterior. They were shot two different days, and yet when you ultimately see it, it is one long scene. That is very challenging as an actor. And it's also very challenging working with a 3-year-old who doesn't understand that concept. So you're trying to really get it out of them at the same time you have your own work to do. So the constant kind of stepping out of my body to be kind of a facilitator for her just to hit her mark and to say her lines and to look at me, and then stepping back into myself to play Aibileen. Spencer: Actually, there were three. One didn't make the final cut. It's a scene where I finally leave Leroy, and I'm beaten up and the kids are with me and I'm at a phone booth. That was hard. But equally difficult is being in the scene where Celia loses the baby, because I've fallen in love with Jessica Chastain and it's hard to see your friend like that. Same thing with Aibileen, when she tells the story about losing Treelore and why it's important that the book be published. Seeing her go through that pain was hard, because I love Viola. Those were things where I had one or two words to say, but they were just very difficult to shoot.On working with the other actors Davis: It's one of those dream situations where you're with other actresses who are not competitive. That's the best way to put it. Usually people don't want to encourage you to do your best, because they feel it's a reflection of what they're not doing or their failure. But [on "The Help"], my excellence was their excellence. It's my same experience working with Meryl Streep [on "Doubt"]. It felt like her giving 150 percent during my close-up was just as important as her giving 150 percent during her close-up. And those are the kind of people you want to be creating withtotal lack of ego. And so many people have asked this too: "What's it like working with so many women?" It was fabulous! It was exactly how it should be. You know, comrades. It certainly was a whole lot of fun being in Mississippi, in a small community, just us, because we weren't going back to our apartment or homes. We were going to each other's homes. Eating, having just the best time.Chastain: I loved this cast. With Octavia, it was love at first sight for me. She was my reader at my audition. And at my very first audition, I said, "I need to do this movie just because I want to be in scenes with Octavia, because our chemistry's so good." I loved Celia and was excited about it, but when I went in, that's when I was like, "I have to do this." You don't always have that chemistry between people, and usually it's between men and women when they talk about it, and they mean it in an intimate way. But I thought our chemistry was so good. For comedy, for the more touching, emotional scenes. I love working with actors so muchthat's my favorite part of being an actor, the relationships you develop. I became obsessed with the project, and I knew I had to do it. On awards buzz for their performances Chastain: It's funny. I'm in other films this year, and someone told me I needed to strategize or I'll cancel myself out. But I don't know if that's something I can do. To even have people talking about the films I'm in, I'm just overwhelmed. I think more about my co-stars. Like, I think Michael Shannon should be recognized. I think Octavia Spencer should be recognized. This year has been so good, I don't know if I can take anymore!Spencer: You know what? It's every actor's dream to win accolades, but it's not something that we can control. And I'm a control freak. So I'm learning to be healthy and recognize I can't control it and just live in this moment. And in this moment, I got to work on a great film that I'm getting to promote, and I've made great friends. That is a great reward. If anything else happens, I'll be over the moon, but I can't even allow myself to think about it. I will say this: Oscar is my type of guy. He's bald and full of bling.