'The Smurfs' Land In Central Park In New Photo

"The Smurfs" might not be invading New York City until August 2011, but that doesn't mean that they won't remind us that they're coming. In a new image from the upcoming film, Papa Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Smurfette, Grouchy Smurf, Gutsy Smurf and Panicky Smurf just landed in Central Park on a nice sunny Manhattan day. [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/12/22/the-smurfs-new-photo/

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'Tron Legacy' And Jeff Bridges: Behind Film's Most Challenging Effect

Visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba reveals how his team pulled off 61-year old Bridges' stunning 3-D reverse-aging.
By Eric Ditzian


Jeff Bridges in "Tron Legacy"
Photo: Disney

For the last few days, MTV News has been taking you inside some of the coolest aspects of "Tron Legacy," from the creative process behind Daft Punk's violins-meet-synthesizers soundtrack to the generation of the film's neon-pulsing motorcycles and warships. Now we're going to take you behind the creation of the film's single-most jaw-dropping visual effect: turning Jeff Bridges from 60-something Oscar-winner into the Bridges of 1984's "Against All Odds."

We caught up with visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba, the driving force behind the CG work on "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," for which technicians both aged Brad Pitt into an old man and turned back time to capture the actor's 20-something look. What they managed to accomplish was nothing short of astounding, and Barba won an Oscar for his efforts.

But what Barba and director Joseph Kosinski set out to create for "Tron Legacy" was something far different — and far more challenging. "It's the hardest thing that's ever been done in visual effects," Barba explained.

See, the film stars two different versions of Bridges' character Kevin Flynn. One is the Flynn who's been trapped inside a computer-generated world for 20 years and who looks exactly like a 60-something Bridges. The other is Clu, a digital manifestation who does not age and thus still looks about 35 years old. To create Clu, Barba's team essentially had to wrap a CG mask around Bridges' face, making him look young again.

What made that task harder than the one in "Benjamin Button" was that, for "Tron," Barba had to do everything in 3-D. "What scared us with Jeff was that we're at the beginning of this technology," he said. "People were very happy with the way Benjamin came across. But there's leeway because we've never seen Brad Pitt as an old man. This was 10 times harder. We all know what Jeff Bridges looks like at 35. Right off the bat, we were setting ourselves up for other people's expectations."

To begin, the filmmakers brought in makeup-effects master Rick Baker ("Men in Black") to build a likeness of a young Bridges' head that would serve as a basis for their CG work. But that likeness soon had to be thrown away, after filmmakers decided they wanted an even younger version of the actor. There was no time to build another head, so Barba's team had to re-sculpt everything in the computer. Then in came Bridges himself.

"We had to derive the face from Jeff's performance, so we built this four-camera, head-mounted system that Jeff would wear on set with the other actors," Barba said. "We'd take the data from those four cameras and triangulate each point and get a floating, 3-D point cloud of his face. We ran that through sophisticated software we wrote and it rebuilt his performance on the younger visage."

Yet that was just the beginning. The effects team also had to mirror the particular movements of Bridges' face — muscles, skin, expressions and the like — so that the CG face would approach a photo-realistic representation rather than dipping into the much-dreaded "uncanny valley" in which CG creations fail to look appropriately human.

Early viewers have been split over the success of Clu: Some have applauded the work, while others have argued the character has not escaped that digital valley. The filmmakers knew exactly what they were getting themselves into when they started out, and Barba remains ecstatic over what they were able to accomplish.

"We knew Clu would be a much, much more difficult challenge then Benjamin," he said. "But hey, someone's got to take those chances and those risks and go for it. We thought this was a great project to do that."

Are you going to check out "Tron Legacy"? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Tron Legacy."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654516/20101217/story.jhtml

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Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me' Could Be Next Single

Pop star's yet-untitled new album is due in March.
By James Dinh


Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Britney Spears, who has kept relatively quiet since her high-profile guest spot on "Glee," is reportedly readying the release of a new single called "Hold It Against Me" off her yet-untitled new album, due in March.

According to PopJustice.com, "Hold It Against Me" will be first single from her new album and features production credits from Spears hitmaker Max Martin and Dr. Luke (Ke$ha, Katy Perry). Rumored lyrics to the tune recently surfaced on the Internet, but Dr. Luke took to Twitter to dismiss them: "I / we never wrote a song called 'don't hold it against me'.... BewaRe of InaccuraTe info kids ;-) We did write 'hold it against me' but those lyrics are NOT the lyrics ...."

Spears hinted about her work with the duo just a few weeks ago tweeting, "Just finished recording a monster with @TheDoctorLuke and #MaxMartin. Get ready..."

Word of new Spears music originated from the pop star herself one week ago, when she thanked fans for their birthday wishes and announced that her new album would drop in March. "I'm almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March," she said on Twitter. "I AM IN L-O-V-E WITH IT!"

But what would Britney's music be without her signature choreography? It looks like the megastar is also gearing up to reunite with her former dancer/choreographer Brian Friedman, who worked with the singer on the remix clip for her tune "Overprotected." In a Facebook message, the dance mastermind wrote, "Hey everyone... won't be back from London till the late teens of December. Y'all better get your dancing shoes out cuz it's time for me to 'Hit you baby one more time...' Yes, Britney and I are back in action! Werque!"

If that weren't enough, the songstress also announced on Twitter that she teamed up with high-fashion photographer Mario Testino for a new photo shoot.

Are you excited for new Britney music? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653912/20101209/spears_britney.jhtml

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Lea Michele, Pre-'Glee': See Her, At Age 12, Talk Showbiz

'I can do anything,' actress says in video from 1998 interview.
By James Montgomery


Lea Michele in 1998
Photo: MTV

On "Glee," Lea Michele has won over fans and critics alike with her diva-licious portrayal of Rachel Berry. As it turns out, Michele probably didn't have to dig all that deep for the role. And we've got the footage to prove it.

As first seen on MTV's "The Seven," a 12-year-old Michele (who had already wowed critics with performances in Broadway productions of "Les Misérables" and "Ragtime") was interviewed in 1998 by a documentary crew. And, even at a young age, it was apparent she was a star in the making.

"In sixth grade, I tried to going to regular school, which was very difficult, because some days, I'd come late, and they'd be like, 'Well, why are you late?' And I'd say, 'Because I'm tired. I have a show to do,' " Michele says in the footage. "And then I have my friends that are like, 'Wow, you're on Broadway,' which I hate to be treated that way. That, I think, has been the worst part of being in the theatrical business."

She also emphatically states that she considers herself "a normal kid," but at one point, her diva-tude is in full display as she expertly directs a makeup artist to apply powder to her chin and nose, while her mother rolls her eyes.

Michele also shows that she was destined for fame, explaining how she's managed to make a go in the cutthroat world of showbiz.

"Being in the business has kind of made me grow up so fast, because I'm around so many older actors that I just learned so much so fast," she says. "Everyone says, 'You know, you're so mature!' ... I can do anything, and that's how I kind of stay sane in this really tough, dog-eat-dog business."

Comment on Lea Michele's 1998 interview below!

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654759/20101221/story.jhtml

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'Cast in Metal: Airbourne Frontman Joel O'Keefe

If AC/DC aren't cranking out albums fast enough for you and Rhino Bucket don't get your engine revin,' then check out the new Airbourne album 'No Guts, No Glory.' The second disc by these Aussie/DC obsessives is a feast of sleazy, slammin' rhythms, jagged flesh-cleaving guitars and howled melodic vocals that sound like Angus-and-company on [...]

Source: http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/05/24/cast-in-metal-airbourne-frontman-joel-okeefe/

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Usher Shows Off Fancy Footwork At AMAs

Swedish House Mafia join Ush for an electronic mash-up.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Usher performs at the American Music Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/DCP

Usher's protégé, Justin Bieber, scored more hardware than the "OMG" singer on Sunday night (November 21) at the 2010 American Music Awards, but the veteran superstar was far from a step behind the teen sensation.

With his fleet footwork, Usher teamed up with dance-world superstars Swedish House Mafia to ignite the stage with a mash-up of his "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and their "Miami 2 Ibiza" and "One" that certainly qualified as one of the evening's high points. Decked out in black military garb and sporting a starter mohawk, Usher partied and pranced around onstage to his club-happy single.

"I feel like a zombie gone back to life," Usher sang. "Hands up, and suddenly we all got our hands up/ No control of my body/ Ain't I seen you before?/ I think I remember those eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes."

Usher and his gang of dancers showed off moves that would have tripped up teen stars. At one point, his backup dancers launched him into the air and Usher landed and jumped right into his next step.

A full explosion followed behind him and he carried the energy into the hook.

" 'Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again," he crooned. "Yeah, baby tonight/ The DJ got us falling in love again/ So dance, dance, like it's the last, last night of your life, life."

After picking up an award earlier in the evening, Usher acknowledged his veteran status. The 32-year-old thanked his supporters, plugged his OMG Tour with Trey Songz and shouted out longtime fans. "I been doing this 18 years," he said.

What did you think about Usher's performance? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652774/20101121/usher.jhtml

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