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With the Iowa Caucuses less than a year away, writer-director Brent Roske has released the first official trailer for “Courting Des Moines,” a political drama about a woman running for president — which debuts exclusively on TheWrap. “Courting Des Moines,” is a sequel to Roske’s 2012 web series “Chasing the Hill,” which chronicled a fictional California Congressional campaign. The sequel features many of the same characters — now seeking higher office — including Samantha Clemons, played by “The West Wing” actress Melissa Fitzgerald. “Pretty Little Liars” star Brandon Jones co-stars in “Courting Des Moines” alongside Steve Lewis, Carolyn Hennesy, Gina Belafonte and Catherine Urbanek.

Award-winning movie and TV veteran Sally Kirkland has signed on to play a socialite-turned-desperate pizza delivery lady in new movie Alice Stands Up.

The Oscar-nominated Anna star, 70, will reteam with her African Chelsea director Brent Roske for the new film, in which she plays a well-to-do woman who discovers her life savings have gone due to a bad business deal set up by her late husband.

Her character has to deliver pizzas and work as a door-to-door saleswoman to make ends meet, while reconnecting with her estranged daughter and autistic son.

Kirkland tells WENN, "I laughed on almost every page. Brent pitched it to me as a drama but I think it's very, very funny. I'm so excited to get to work again with Brent. He's an actor's director and really lets you discover the scene and play."

And producer Shane Stanley is convinced the film will be a hit - because so many people have found themselves having to resort to desperate measures to survive the global economic crisis.

He adds, "The script is about people picking themselves up during tough times."...

After Taylor Swift has joined, some would argue that any Les Miserables casting news from here on out is a step up. If so, take some solace in THR‘s story, which informs us that Gossip Girl actor Aaron Tveit will appear in Tom Hooper‘s film as Enjolras, a young man “who leads a student rebellion in the streets of Paris and orders Javert’s (Russell Crowe) execution.”

The rest of the lineup includes Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter, though THR claims those lattermost two aren’t yet confirmed. But, with production ready to go forward in the near future, one imagines they’ll get locked in sooner rather than later. (I’m hoping that goes through, though there isn’t much concern on my part, at the end of the day.)

Deadline has more casting updates, with a...

Sally sings a lullaby she wrote in "African Chelsea"A confession: I've never been this caught up in the drama of the short film categories before. But this year I await Oscar's finalist list on pins and needles. At least four former Oscar players are involved in shorts from the long 70ish wide semi-finals list (the actual list has been hard to come by with no AMPAS press release detailing it). One of them is 80s nominee Sally Kirkland who I've always felt a certain kooky fondness for. She campaigned tirelessly for the actressy drama Anna back when campaigning wasn't so loudly expected of people. She was rewarded with a spot in the 1987 Best Actress list which turned out to be one of the greatest in Oscar's entire history. There's not a dud or even a "just good" performance in that shortlist; they're all freaking great. Sometimes you've got to...

Hope springs eternal. Each time an underdog character actor pushes into surprise Oscar contention, it brings back the hope that anything is possible. Especially when a micro-indie boasts an Oscar-nominee, publicists send movie scribes pitches like this one (pasted below), for a live-action short starring Sally Kirkland, who famously landed a nomination for Anna by taking out her own ads. One note to publicists: "surefire" is the one word you should never use in a pitch. Sally Kirkland leading the Campaign- African Chelsea’ Emerges as “Sure Fire” 2012 Oscar Nominee Contender Los Angeles - Oct 4, 2011 - Seducing critics with a mesmerizing story and powerful performances, Oscar nomination buzz for filmmakers Brent Roske's drama African Chelsea is heating up. The “Gripping and provocative masterpiece,” ...

Don't Fall Asleep seems to have taken their title from a Nightmare on Elm Street film, yet, the film has an original plotline that involves "bloodlust" (Don't Fall). The film is independent and utilizes an ensemble crew to write an interesting tale of sleepwalking, jealousy, and murderous rumours. Don't Fall Asleep has just finished production and the film's story is interesting and definitely horror themed.

The synopsis for the film here:

"'Don't Fall Asleep' follows Janice and Sam, a young couple moving into their first house on Isabelle Street. They start hearing stories from the neighbors about the woman who used to live there - Isabelle - in fact, the street is named after her. Back in the 50's Isabelle flew into a jealous rage when she found her husband with another woman - her lover. She killed both of them but her bloodlust wasn't sated. Now, 50 years later, Janice...