Nepotism has long been the way in the business of show. Children of actors and other famous people often get first crack at auditions, or get walked into a role with the backing of their parents or famous friends of the family. In fact, you’d be surprised at the number of today’s stars that come from show business families. Not Channing Tatum though. I’m really not sure how he broke through the hard way.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The daughter of director Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, Gwyneth originally studied Art History at the University of California. She then realized, “Hey, what the f*ck am I doing?” and dropped out. She was then cast in her first notable role in Hook. Ah, the ol’ dropping out of college and immediately being discovered by Spielberg. It’s a story as old as time itself.

Sofia Coppola

At first, Sofia Coppola came off as the lucky benefactor of nepotism when her famous father cast her in a lead role in The Godfather III. However, her performance sucked worse than terrible, which caused a lot of backlash from critics and audiences. She then refocused her efforts behind the camera to become one of the more noteworthy arthouse directors working today. Her films are so well-received that she may have even broken through without the family backing.

Colin Hanks

Colin Hanks got his first taste of Hollywood when he was cast as a page in the Tom Hanks-directed That Thing You Do! Being that close to and seeing the success of fellow celebrity kid Liv Tyler must have inspired him, as he’s worked pretty consistently since college. He can currently be seen doing creepy religious stuff on the current season of Dexter.

A word from Bryce: ”I’ve always had the perspective that roles come into my life when I need them most and sort of teach me lessons. The same can be true of films, films are released into society to aid in a lesson, inspire people, comfort people.”

4 photos'Looper' Set Photos: Future Cars Don't Look Futurey Enough

Seth Rogen addresses Reiser at the top of the trailer as one of his “best friends.” But then he goes and co-stars as the goofy best friend. Is he imitating himself? Could be. Though at first I thought he was imitating the character Dan Fogler always plays.

So it’s with great optimism that I report that Ron Howard’s daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, is attempting to repair the damage to her family name by directing The Originals, which will be her first feature-length movie. She also wrote the script which is said to be “about 20somethings.” Here’s a little more about the plot:

“The film centers around a group of childhood friends who reunite in young adulthood when their former teacher falls into a coma, and has been described by Howard as ‘a Breakfast Club for my generation.’”

Maybe this will be enough to make America forget about Ron Howard’s numerous offenses against good taste and moral order. If that doesn’t work, narrating the Arrested Development” movie might do the trick. (via /Film)

Warner Bros has dropped the new trailer for Clint Eastwood‘s Hereafter. It tells the story of three people who are haunted by mortality in different ways. One of them is Matt Damon, who talks to the dead. Another is French journalist, who has a near death experience by almost drowning. And the last is a London schoolboy, who loses someone close to him and wants answers. He asks Damon for help and gets yelled at. Don’t you know that the power he possesses is a curse, not a gift?! Scram, Kid!

Aw, don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll eventually contact his dead whomever for him.

Hereafter materializes in theaters October 22, 2010.

Check out the trailer after the jump…

Hereafter Trailer – Watch more Movie Trailers

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jay Mohr, Cecile De France, Richard Kind

Synopsis: A supernatural thriller centered on three people — a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy — who are touched by death in different ways.

Release Date: October 22nd, 2010

Bryce Dallas Howard sure turned out hot considering she’s got Richie Cunningham genes plugging up her human genome. She made M. Night Shymalan‘s The Village easier to bear, and Lady in the Water, well, even if her mermaid character was topless she couldn’t have saved that movie.

A word from Bryce: “Right now as an artist, what I want to do is be a part of works that are unignorable. I couldn’t be less interested in how people receive it, honestly. As long as it’s unignorable.“

If you want to be a part of something that’s unignorable go clean up oil on the Gulf Coast, not star in a movie about vampires with stripper diamond dust on their skin.

More pics of the fiery red head after the jump.

Today’s the big day… Judgment Day has happened… the Machines have Risen… but Salvation is on our doorsteps.  Despite a 34% score on RottenTomatoes (as of this post), Terminator Salvation, which opens today, will most likely pack ‘em into theaters like a Harvester bagging meatsacks.  And Bryce Dallas Howard (above) is another reason to go see it.  Unless you’re listening to Harry Knowles’ scathing review, which states that all Bryce was did during the film was "open her eyes really wide." 

In the film, Bryce plays Kate Connor, the wife of John Connor – a role originated in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, by Claire Danes.  And as you’ll see from the picture above and the ones after the jump, if there’s any actress whose baby blues we’d like to see widening repeatedly on screen, it’s Ms. Howard.

Narrow your eyes in the blinding beauty of Bryce photos after the jump.