Justin Bieber Takes On The Paparazzi In 'Believe' Film Scene

Justin Bieber Takes On The Paparazzi In 'Believe' Film Scene

 

Justin Bieber performs at Staples Center

While Justin Bieber is on tour, taking his Believe show around the world, director Jon Chu is hard at work putting the finishing touches on his next big-screen release with the teen star. The film, currently billed as "Believe," is being helmed by "Never Say Never" director Chu, who recently gave The Los Angeles Times a sneak peek at one of the scenes in the film.
In the scene, filmed in L.A. last summer, Bieber — all dressed up in a suit — runs around a warehouse trying to avoid paparazzi-like characters. The scene features his 2012 song "She Don't Like the Lights," which is all about a woman who doesn't like the media attention she gets when she heads out on the town with Bieber. That song's theme inspired the moment, Chu said. "It just evolved from there," he explained. "We thought it'd be fun to have a secret service team — a special-ops unit — going after him with cameras." Back in February, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, told MTV News that the follow-up to "Never Say Never" would play out more like a traditional concert film than a concert/documentary like the 2011 movie. But Chu said the film's concept has evolved since filming one of his January concerts in Miami. "It started as just a concert movie, but we've got so many other things now," Chu said. "We have footage of him writing the first song for his next album on a piece of paper with a pencil. Blank page, erasing, writing. That's where it starts." MTV News recently got the scoop on those writing sessions from Braun, who revealed that Bieber has been writing his "music journals" throughout his world tour. "Well, I don't ever disclose what our plans are, but I will say this: he's been writing one to two songs a day for the entire tour and he actually labels them by the city he writes them in," he explained earlier this week. "We started calling it his 'music journal' and we're talking about what should come next musically. And I think creatively he just wants to share all his thoughts through music." Chu added that there are no plans yet for when or how the film will be released, but added, "It's almost about a boy becoming an artist rather than a boy's life. Because his artistry is his life now."

source link: www.mtv.com

The music community reacts to the death of George Jones

 Music community reacts to the death of George Jones.

         George Jones

Artists as diverse as Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson are among those speaking out about the death today of celebrated singer George Jones. "It's a sad day for country music," said Loretta Lynn, while Paisley noted that Jones' hard-living life was evidence that "mistakes, missteps, and bad choices are not the end of the world." 

Jones, 81, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. He had been suffering from a fever and irregular blood pressure.
The baritone from East Texas astonished and delighted fans who had seen him struggle with alcohol and drug abuse, multiple marriages and divorces, lawsuits over his erratic behavior and brushes with death in motor vehicle accidents.
"He was a wonderful man and was my all-time favorite country singer. We recorded together, even performed shows together back in the '50s. He will surely be missed," said banjo luminary Dr. Ralph Stanley.
Jones, whose nickname was the Possum, won two Grammy Awards, was a five-time Academy of Country Music Awards winner and a seven-time honoree from the Country Music Assn. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2008, he was given a lifetime achievement award as part of the annual Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, D.C.

 Reactions from the music community on Jones' passing.

“The world has lost the greatest country singer of all time. Amen." -- Merle Haggard

“My heart is absolutely broken. George Jones was my all time favorite singer and one of my favorite people in the world. My heart goes out to Nancy and the rest of his family.” -- Dolly Parton

“It’s a sad day for country music and a great loss for those of us who knew him. I was blessed to call George my friend. He was one of the best country singers there ever was. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Nancy, and all of his family. It’s a sad, sad day.” -- Loretta Lynn

"There aren't words in our language to describe the depth of his greatness. I'll miss my kind and generous friend." -- Vince Gill

"The greatest voice to ever grace country music will never die.  Jones has a place in every heart that ever loved any kind of music." -- Garth Brooks

“George Jones' life is an example of so many wonderful things: How someone's God-given gifts can make this a richer, better place. How one human being can overcome adversity, addiction, and life threatening obstacles time and time again. That it is not the stumble or fall that counts, but the willingness to stand again. How a keen sense of humor and a twinkle in a person’s eye can still prevail even after all of life's hard knocks. How mistakes, missteps, and bad choices are not the end of the world if a person chooses to turn them into something good. And George's life is above all the strongest example of how the love of a great woman can get a man through anything. All of this made its way beautifully into every note of the greatest voice country music will ever know.  And one of the greatest friends you could ever have. We miss you already George.” -- Brad Paisley

"George Jones always spoke of my grandfather as his hero, which is funny today how he was easily one of my heroes. He wrapped his voice around a lyric in a way that I don't think I've ever heard before, with so much emotion pouring out seamlessly and simply. He was an outlaw, a rebel, and a hero. Elliott Smith once said his idea of Heaven was George Jones singing at the gates, I fully agree with him and I'm sure everyone up there is smiling. His music will never die." -- Holly Williams

"If I'm blessed enough to make it there, I look forward to you giving me the grand tour. Rest in peace George Jones!!!!!" -- Keith Urban

“Sad to hear about George Jones' passing. That man touched a lot of lives with his music. Thanks for setting the bar for the rest of us.” -- Kelly Clarkson

"Very sad to hear the news about the passing of my friend George Jones. He was a wonderful man and was my all-time favorite country singer. We recorded together, even performed shows together back in the '50s. He will surely be missed." -- Dr. Ralph Stanley

"The country music singer of all time. The words 'Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes' has never been more true than today." -- Ricky Skaggs 

“End of an era. Travel safe, Possum.” -- Rosanne Cash

"Well, heaven better get ready for some great country music. While George was known for his wild and crazy days, I've known him for 25 years as a friend. He had grown into a real good man. Of course, he will always be the greatest singer and interpreter of real country music -- there'll never be another. Like the song says, 'You know this old world is full of singers, but just a few are chosen to tear your heart out when they sing. Imagine life without them.Who's gonna fill their shoes.'" -- Alan Jackson

"Years ago someone asked Coach Bum Phillips if Earl Campbell was in a class by himself. Bum replied, 'Well if he ain't, it sure don't take long to check roll.' I say the same of the late great George Jones. Rest in peace POSSUM. You were always kind to me … THANKS." -- Larry Gatlin

"The music world has lost one of the most original and innovative talents that the world has ever known. I feel such a personal loss of not only one of the greatest vocal influences of my life, but also I've lost a dear friend. Visits with George have always been full of joy and laughter. Every time I would see him, George would always greet me with a funny story or a joke. His legacy will put his name at the top of the most influential artists in history, right along with Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. His voice will be influencing singers 100 years from now and beyond." -- Travis Tritt

"George Jones has been a major part of my personal and professional life for a long time.  I have been inspired by his music for the last 50 years and for 42 of those, I had the pleasure of knowing him personally and professionally.  He was IT to me.  George was and will always be my guy.  I am luckier than a lot of people on this Earth because God let me be a part of George's life and him a part of mine.  And on this day, his song couldn't be more true: 'He Stopped Loving Her Today.'" -- Sammy Kershaw

"I met George when he came to Nashville and we became good friends.  I'm really going to miss him.  The world has lost the greatest singer to have ever lived." -- Mel Tillis

"George Jones may be gone but his music will live on forever.  What a great voice and a great friend." -- Ray Stevens

"Country music as we know it would be vastly different if it weren't for George Jones.  He's in our musical DNA.  All country artists will have to figure out how to even begin to live up to his kind of legacy. 'Honky Tonk Heaven,' here he comes ... though we're not ready to let go." --Pam Tillis

"The greatest most soulful voice in history is gone. RIP George Jones." -- Restless Heart

"We met George many times over the past 50 years. This is a terrible loss for his family, friends, the country music industry and the world. He's the most identifiable and inspirational country artist that has ever lived.” -- Doug Gray, Marshall Tucker Band

"George Jones was a mentor and a giant to my generation of country singers. He was there for my first Ralph Emery Show appearance. Backstage I was so nervous and expressed concern to George that if Ralph Emery didn't like me, my career may never get off the ground. The first thing George said to Ralph when they went on air was how nice of guy he thought I was.

"George Jones was our country music soul singer, no doubt. Who's gonna fill those shoes?" -- Billy Dean

"We've lost one of the greatest voices in history. Prayers and condolences to his family." -- The Bellamy Brothers

"Sharing the same vocal booth with George Jones on 'Traveller's Prayer' was without a doubt THE highlight of our career.  He was a true legend, generous and supportive and he will live on and on in our hearts." -- Sweethearts of the Rodeo

"I have no words to express my admiration and love for George Jones. To say he was my 'hero' does not do justice to the lifetime impression he made on me, both personally and professionally. George Jones is the foundation of country music and he's the reason I wanted to perform.  Hes the reason I'm still here in this business ... out there on the road.  He was my mentor and my teacher; George was my friend.  He paved the way for so many and I was one of the lucky ones to have enjoyed the opportunity to not only sing beside him, but just 'sit and visit' with him. When I was just starting out, we toured together; he was the headliner. After a few shows, he told me that I was going to close the shows (because he wanted to watch 'Andy Griffith'). For a newcomer, it was intimidating to open for him; there was even more pressure to close for him. George gave me strength and encouragement; he kept telling me 'you can do it, son.'  George Jones is the Father of Country. We will all miss his voice, and I will miss his voice to call me 'son." -- Mark Chesnutt

"Country music lost an icon today and I have lost a dear and beloved friend. With tear-filled eyes, I'm reminiscing this morning about all that I learned from and loved about George Jones. He was part of my 'country music education;' he made country music history and, in my opinion, George Jones is a song's best friend. No one will leave an imprint on my life like George did." -- Lorrie Morgan

"The first 8-tracks that I owned were recordings by Conway Twitty and George Jones. Long before my career got started, I was at a concert (Travis Tritt's homecoming show) and George Jones performed. I sat there and sang along to every word that George sang. A lady, who sat in front of me, turned around and said, 'do you know George Jones' music?' When my reply was, 'heck yeah,' she introduced herself; it was his wife, Nancy. Nancy brought me backstage that night to introduce me to George. That was three years before I signed my record deal and we've remained friends and stayed in touch since then. Right or wrong, in good times and in bad, people loved George Jones -- he made an impression. His music is his legacy and he will not only be remembered as the best country singer this world will ever know, but a great man that we all will truly miss." -- Mark Wills

source link: www.latimes.com

Gwyneth Paltrow named People's most beautiful woman

 Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow on Wednesday was named the world's most beautiful woman for 2013 by People magazine, knocking pop singer Beyonce out of the top spot.

 

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood

The 40-year-old mother of two credits a five-day-a-week exercise regimen for keeping her in shape as she grows older.
"It makes me look younger and feel strong," Paltrow told the magazine. "When I first started, I thought, 'I'll never be good at this. This is a nightmare!' But now it's like brushing my teeth, I just do it."
It is the fourth time Paltrow, who is married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin, has been named to the magazine's annual beautiful people issue, but the first time landing the coveted cover as most beautiful woman.
She joins the likes of fellow actresses Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston to top the list.
Paltrow reprises her starring role as Pepper Potts in the action film "Iron Man 3," which opens next month.
The actress has cut back her film work after giving birth to children Apple, 8, and Moses, 7, and released her second cookbook, "It's All Good," this month.
She is also the founder of lifestyle and clothing website Goop.com.
Paltrow won an Oscar for her role as William Shakespeare's muse in the 1998 film "Shakespeare in Love."

Source link:www.reuters.com

Nicole Kidman, Christoph Waltz And Ang Lee Join Steven Spielberg's Cannes Jury

Cannes Jury

Nicole Kidman

This year's Cannes Film Festival is already a bit more Hollywood than usual, with King of the Blockbusters Steven Spielberg on board to head up the jury for the prestigious festival. Now a handful of new names have made for an even glitzier lineup of people who will pick the art house favorites for the coming year. Among the lineup are two winners from this year's Academy Awards-- Ang Lee, who took home Best Director for Life of Pi, and Christoph Waltz, who won his second Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Django Unchained. Other names, according to The Los Angeles Times, are actors Nicole Kidman and Daniel Auteuil, directors Cristian Mungiu (previous Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) and Lynne Ramsay (We Need To Talk About Kevin), plus Japanese director Naomi Kawase and Indian actress Vidya Balan. Though none of us will be on the ground at Cannes this year (oh, the envy of the people who get to go), we'll be keeping a close eye on reviews thanks to the killer lineup of films premiering there, with new movies from the Coen Brothrs, Alexander Payne and Nicolas Winding Refn only the tip of the iceberg. if you want a dose of that Cannes excitement without leaving your house, check out this new trailer for Only God Forgives, which will premiere at Cannes ahead of its July 19 theatrical debut.

News Link: www.cinemablend.com

Justin Bieber Planning to Give Up Mally the Monkey, Says Munich Animal Shelter

 Mallygate is nearing an end, it seems!

Mally and Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber is allowing his pet Capuchin monkey Mally to go to a new home, per the Munich animal shelter that has housed Mally since his confiscation in March. Roberto Mioni Coltro, a spokesperson for Munich Tierschutzverein, tells E! News: "Justin Bieber's management contacted us and they will give up Mally." "They are asking us for a good home for Mally," Coltro tells E! News exclusively, adding that the authorities still need an official document from Justin's manager rather than just an email. The ultimate decision about Mally's future home, however, is up to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation rather than the shelter. Coltro explained, "We only can make a recommendation and we don´t want to send Mally in the zoo, because the zoos will only [publicize] Mally...We (Tierschutzverein) want Mally in a rescue center or some organization for primates." Nevertheless, Coltro assures us, the baby monkey will not have to part with his constant stuffed animal companion: "Mally will take the 'stuffed cat' with him!" Bieber first ran into trouble when he arrived via private plane at the Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich airport on March 28 for a concert and was confronted about the monkey in customs. Mally was taken into custody after the "Boyfriend" singer was unable to provide necessary paperwork for the pet and was subsequently detained by German officials. Bieber was reportedly charged a fine and the cost of the quarantine as a result of the incident. We hope Mally finds a good new home!

source link: www.eonline.com

Ben Affleck to live on $1.50 a day

Ben Affleck to live on $1.50 a day 

It's part of a challenge he's taking to shine a light on global poverty.

Ben Affleck

Could you live on $1.50 a day? For a week? Ben Affleck, Josh Groban, Sophia Bush and Debi Mazar are among the celebs who have committed to take the 2013 Live Below the Line challenge issue by The Global Poverty Project. They will live on $1.50 of food and drink a day (no Starbucks for him!) April 29-May 3 to raise awareness about extreme poverty. Live Below the Line aims to help people better empathize with the 1.4 billion people who face extreme poverty, and hopes to encourage fundraising to support partner organizations. The $1.50 figure is the current equivalent of the accepted global figure used to define extreme poverty. The stars hope to encourage others to support the cause and do the same. Josh Groban had such an eye-opening experience participating in last year's Live Below the Line campaign, that he not only signed up to do it again this year, but he has also included a song, Below the Line, on his new album. "It's amazing how much we take for granted not having to live in hunger," he notes in the announcement.

source link:www.usatoday.com

Justin Bieber fans 'convert to Islam' to win concert tickets on Norwegian TV

Bieber-Convert-Islam

Just how far would a Belieber go to win tickets to see their idol? This was the premise of a spoof TV show which challenged Justin Bieber’s Norwegian fans to convert to Islam. Five teenage girls were seen to agree to convert to the religion in the sketch on comedy show Ann-Kat Hærland. Two apparently Muslim men asked the girls to remove their makeup, put on hijabs and read what was alleged to be an Islamic creed in Arabic, before repeating a statement that said: “Justin Bieber is impure and probably gay.” TV show host Anne-Kat Hærland introduced the episode by saying: “We wanted to find out how far Norwegian Beliebers are willing to go for tickets to one of the concerts.” The two minute ‘conversion’ the five girls undertook in the sketch has been criticised by Bishop Halvor Nordhaug from the Norwegian Lutheran Church, who said the episode showed a lack of understanding of how much faith means to people. “This is an example of an idea where irony and lack of respect turns into something tragic. I believe [the contest] is a foolish statement and it shows a lack of respect for what faith means,” he told the Norwegian news site Dagen. The Canadian pop star, who had no involvement with the sketch, is rumoured to be back in a relationship with his former girlfriend Selena Gomez after tweeting an image of them together this weekend. Although the picture was soon removed from the social networking site. Bieber has also come under fire from his grandfather George Bieber this weekend, who criticised the pop star for not helping him and his wife financially after he was left unable to work after suffering from a back condition.

source link:www.independent.co.uk

Justin Bieber Ignites Selena Gomez Reunion Rumors With Deleted Pic

 Bieber posts then deletes photo of himself snuggling with Gomez, leaving fans to wonder if they are together again.

Justin Bieber's deleted Instagram photo with Selena Gomez

Are they or aren't they? Well, Justin Bieber kept fans guessing over the weekend when he posted, and promptly deleted, a photo of him snuggling with ex Selena Gomez. The photo featured Bieber in a baseball cap looking at the camera. Gomez is nuzzling up against his face. According to E!, he posted it to Instagram on Saturday night before it was removed. Gomez was reportedly spotted visiting the singer during a Believe tour stop in Norway Thursday night. "They were holding hands, hugging, and they kissed on the lips," a source told People about the visit. "They looked really in love, like no fights ever happened before. It definitely looked like they were back together." They initially broke up last November and briefly reconciled before breaking up again over the holidays. An Us Weekly source claims that despite their on-again, off-again relationship, "they have a crazy connection. They just can't seem to break their connection. It can be intense." In the days before she visited Bieber abroad, Gomez hit up the MTV Movie Awards, where she performed her brand-new single, "Come & Get It." And while Gomez has been pretty open about her single status in various interviews, including one with David Letterman in which she poked fun at her ex, fans will certainly be interested in knowing what the photo could mean about their status.

If they are looking for some clues, they won't find any on her summer album release. Producer Jason Evigan, one half of the production team the Suspex, opened up to MTV News about hitting the studio with Gomez during various stages of her relationship with Bieber. "She didn't really want to talk about the Justin stuff too much in her music," he recalled. "She didn't want to bash him. She never wanted to write songs about him." He later added, "She wants to be empowering for these girls not to dwell on guys when guys break your heart. She's a super uplifting, positive, amazing person who's, spiritually, she's really strong. And she's a really cool girl. I think she's gonna have a great year."

source link:www.mtv.com

'Oblivion' Box Office Impresses, Scoring Tom Cruise One Of His Biggest Openings

'Oblivion' Box Office Impresses, Scoring Tom Cruise One Of His Biggest Openings 

Tom Cruise's "Oblivion"

It was a good weekend for Tom Cruise as the actor's latest flick, "Oblivion" won the weekend box office. The futuristic film, which also stars Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, and Melissa Leo, among others, brought in $38.15 million at 3,783 theaters this weekend. Led by director Joseph Kosinski, "Oblivion" had an estimated budget of $120 million. The film is one of Cruise's biggest openings in his illustrious film career -- the opening weekend gross for "Oblivion" was only beat out by that of 2005's "War of the Worlds" and the films in the "Mission Impossible" franchise. "Oblivion" has received mixed reviews from critics and a CinemaScore of B- from moviegoers.
Coming in second for the weekend was Jackie Robinson biopic, "42." The Warner Bros. film continued its successful box office run, bringing in $18 million at 3,250 theaters this weekend. "42," which stars Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson, has reached a total domestic gross of $54.05 million since its April 12 release.
Animated flick "The Croods" continued to bring in major money at the box office. The family film has made $154.89 million since its release, grossing $9.5 million at 3,435 theaters this weekend. Featuring the voices of Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds, "The Croods" had an estimated budget of $135 million.
"Scary Movie 5" and "G.I. Joe Retaliation" rounded out the top five for the weekend box office, taking the number four and five spots, respectively. Horror spoof "Scary Movie 5" came in fourth with $6.29 million at 3,402 theaters. The latest film in the "Scary Movie" franchise has earned $22.9 million to date. Action film "G.I. Joe Retaliation" brought in $5.77 million at 3,175 theaters. The film, which stars Channing Tatum, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Bruce Willis, has reached a total domestic gross of $111.21 million.

Source Link: www.huffingtonpost.com

Amanda Bynes Twitter: Former Actress Lashes Out At Media, Threatens To Sue Us Weekly

Amanda Bynes Twitter: Former Actress Lashes Out At Media, Threatens To Sue Us Weekly 

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes is lashing out at tabloids she says are writing defamatory and untrue stories about her. The 27-year-old former Nickelodeon star took to her Twitter account over the weekend to say that she was suing Us Weekly and specifically pointed to magazine's "ugly Asian editor and the ugly women I met when I did a shoot with you."
The full Twitter message is below:

Yet again, I'm suing @UsWeekly for writing another false story. NOTHING is wrong with me! All Trash mags - contact me personally since you r talking to people I DON'T KNOW then claiming they know me. Please say names of those supposed sources, they sound like you made them up like the crazy person you're trying to portray me as in your ugly magazine. I'm talking to the ugly Asian editor and all the ugly women I met when I did a shoot with you. I am suing you every week you put up awful photos with a false "I'm crazy" story. You have never contacted me once to find out who I am or what I'm up to. Fuck You.

On Sunday, she followed up her message with further anger directed at the publication, writing:

This is DISGUSTING! I don't know why @UsWeekly thinks they are legally allowed to say I have a mental illness and need to be "Commited" - Shocked and horrified! It helps to have met them, it's run by the ugliest women and men I've ever met. I'm suing them for writing OFFENSIVE headlines about me weekly! Read my twitter! What about it makes me seem mentally ill? I've lost respect for everyone who works for @UsWeekly.

Bynes also explained her legal cause for suing, though it is unclear whether the former child star has actually made official action against any publication to date:

The reason I'm suing everyone I'm suing: defamation (of character) n. the act of making untrue statements about another which damages his/her reputation. If the defamatory statement is printed or broadcast over the media it is libel and, if only oral, it is slander.

This isn't the first time Bynes has threatened the media and specific persons in response to unflattering photographs and reports of odd behavior published about her. She previously posted a photograph of celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton and called him "scum of the earth" on her Twitter page. On Sunday, she also tweeted at the New York Daily News, writing, "I know your paper is run by a bunch of old folks but maybe stop writing the same retarded thing about me."

source Link:www.huffingtonpost.com

‘Macbeth,’ With Alan Cumming at the Barrymore Theater

 One Mad Power Grab, Many Dramatic Roles

Alan Cumming plays the title role

The Scottish play, or “Macbeth” as it is known to laymen and superstition-free theater folk, sounds more Scottish than usual in the Broadway production that opened on Sunday night at the Barrymore Theater. The murderous general of the title is portrayed by the Scotland-born Alan Cumming, whose rich, rolling accent brings a whiff of the green highlands with it.
The real novelty of this production lies elsewhere: Mr. Cumming does not just play Macbeth but also all of the other significant roles in what is essentially a one-man, one-act hurtle through this Shakespearean tragedy of ambition, murder and soul-corroding guilt, here set in the chilly chamber of a mental institution.
The harsh lighting snaps on to reveal a man looking dazed and disoriented as two minders remove his disheveled clothing and help him into hospital garb. His clothes are sealed into brown paper bags with the ominous word “evidence” stamped upon them. His demeanor is meek and subservient, but bloody slash marks on his pale flesh suggest that this fellow has perpetrated (or been the victim of) some bloody deeds that have left his mind shattered and prey to tormenting fantasies.
“When shall we three meet again?” he asks in a tone of frightened urgency as his stoic caretakers depart. This, the first line of the play’s text, spoken by one of the witches, unleashes the dark fury of Shakespeare’s tragedy, as one by one the characters take possession of this disturbed fellow, who flits manically around the green-tiled room as he snaps from one persona to the next, suggesting a swarm of bats let loose in a confined space.
Mr. Cumming, a Tony winner for “Cabaret” who currently appears as a canny political operative on the terrific television drama “The Good Wife,” is a versatile performer who here gets to indulge in the kind of high-hurdle challenge (or ego trip) that can prove irresistible to actors. He is also a born entertainer, who recently appeared with Liza Minnelli in a concert engagement at Town Hall. (Like many a celebrity in this era of all-platform saturation, Mr. Cumming also has his own line of fragrances.)
Watching him perform this personalized rendition of “Macbeth,” I was at times more intrigued by the battle going on between the serious actor and the shameless entertainer than I was by the tense struggles taking place in the divided mind of Macbeth, a noble warrior who knows that killing his king is an evil act, or by the scenes of seething conflict between Macbeth and his more ruthless wife, given a voluptuous sexual manipulativeness by Mr. Cumming.
Some choices made by Mr. Cumming and his directors, John Tiffany (“Black Watch,” “Once”) and Andrew Goldberg, tend to chase away the shadows in this corrosively dark drama. (However, the one passage of authentic comic relief, the sodden porter’s scene, is eliminated.) King Duncan is portrayed as a dizzy fop, speaking in fluty tones that make him seem like a featherweight leader whose dispatching might well be good for the country — an interpretation at odds with his depiction in the text as the generous, responsible antithesis of the ruler that Macbeth will become. Duncan’s son Malcolm, whose status as the king’s heir places him firmly in Macbeth’s cross hairs, is represented by an eerie-looking doll in a dingy dress, and Mr. Cumming uses a childish squeak to speak his few lines. With his innocent victims thus represented, Macbeth’s brutal acts are somewhat denuded of their malevolence. (The use of a child’s tiny sweater, symbolizing one of Macduff’s doomed sons, strikes a more haunting note.)
Macbeth himself evinces a mordant sense of humor now and then. After Macduff’s description of the disturbances in nature that took place during the night of Duncan’s murder — the “lamentings heard i’ the air” and “strange screams of death” — Mr. Cumming’s Macbeth says with a shrug, “ ’Twas a rough night,” eliciting peals of laughter from the audience. Hearing from one of the murderers he has hired that Banquo lies dead in a ditch, with 20 gashes in his head, Mr. Cumming uses the same offhand tone to reply, “Thanks for that.” More laughter.
In others ways, however, the production, from the National Theater of Scotland, lays on the macabre trappings thickly. The cello-heavy music by Max Richter adds ominous underscoring. Three video monitors hanging above the stage flash black-and-white videos (drawn from security cameras swiveling about like snakes) to magnify Mr. Cumming’s face as his features transform themselves, signifying a transition between two characters. Banquo’s ghost causes a jolt of terror by stalking onstage wearing a full-face leather mask, his corporeality all the more striking since we seem to be in the realm of one man’s “horrible imaginings.” And when an unsettled Macbeth seeks out the witches to query them at length about the future, he slowly pulls the entrails out of a dead crow — a long string of intestine grotesquely symbolizing Banquo’s line of descendants, for whom kingship has been prophesied.
But while the stylishly eerie trappings (the grungy sterility of the set, by Merle Hensel, is enough to give you the willies) and Mr. Cumming’s energetic flitting among characters keep us constantly entertained, the staging accrues little in the way of dramatic intensity or emotional power. Perhaps partly because he is playing all the roles (save for two small roles played by Jenny Sterlin and Brendan Titley), Mr. Cumming’s Macbeth never acquires the weighty, antiheroic stature that he should.
Mr. Cumming’s delivery of the major soliloquies is forthright and lucid but oddly weightless: the character’s descent into depravity has been sketched in brisk, light strokes that dissipate quickly, as if drawn in invisible ink. At times Macbeth — who speaks a full third of the lines in the original text — seems to be a supporting player in his own tragedy, and his death arrives with a bit of a whimper.
 In terms of stamina and ingenuity, Mr. Cumming’s achievement is certainly remarkable. But I came away from my second viewing of this production — I first saw it when it was presented by the Lincoln Center Festival last summer — with the confirmed impression that while Mr. Cumming had persuasively differentiated all the key roles, he had not fully inhabited any one of them.

 Macbeth By William Shakespeare; directed by John Tiffany and Andrew Goldberg; sets and costumes by Merle Hensel; lighting by Natasha Chivers; sound by Fergus O’Hare; video by Ian William Galloway; music by Max Richter; production stage manager, Kristen Harris; production manager, Juniper Street Productions; general manager, Bespoke Theatricals; associate producer, Hunter Chancellor. Presented by Ken Davenport, in association with Hunter Arnold and Carl Daikeler, Cody Lassen, Joan Raffe and Jhett Tolentino, Julia Broder, Luigi and Rose Caiola, Michael DeSantis, Neil Gooding Productions, John C. Hall, Marguerite Hoffman, Ken Mahoney, Elliott Masie, Dean Roth, Bellanca Smigel Rutter and Kat White. At the Ethel Barrymore Theater, 243 West 47th Street, Manhattan; (212) 239-6200, telecharge.com. Through June 30. Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. WITH: Alan Cumming, Jenny Sterlin and Brendan Titley.

source link:www.theater.nytimes.com

GLAAD Media Awards 2013

Bill Clinton, 'New Normal' Honored In Los Angeles 

BILL-CLINTON-GLAAD-AWARDS

LOS ANGELES — NBC's sitcom "The New Normal," FX's thriller "American Horror Story: Asylum" and NBC's daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" took home top TV honors at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards held Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The GLAAD awards pay tribute to "inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives."
The event, hosted by actress-producer-director Drew Barrymore, boasted such Hollywood heavyweights as presenters Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, Betty White and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Other winners included "Perks of Being a Wallflower," which was named outstanding film: wide release, and former President Bill Clinton was given the first advocate for change award.
On the arrivals line, longtime Clinton friend, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen, defended the former president's controversial honor. Under Clinton's administration came the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage, as well as the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy.

"Actually, ("don't ask, don't tell") was a sorrow for him," Steenburgen said. "So, I think he's spent a large part of his life making up for that. But I tell you this: He's never not had his heart in the right place, in terms of the gay community."
Many who walked the press gauntlet shared personal stories. Actor Justin Bartha said a brother's coming out moved him both personally and professionally.
"It was an inspiring moment – I'm sure for him and definitely me and my whole family," Bartha noted. "So, it was at the forefront of my mind when looking at (the role of half of a gay couple in "The New Normal")."
"Kyle XY" actor Matt Dallas discussed his decision to come out publicly earlier this year. MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts talked about the recent marriage to his male partner of 12 years. Entertainment blogger Perez Hilton detailed the challenges of being the single gay parent of a newly adopted child.

And transgendered Chaz Bono expressed hopes for the gay lesbian bisexual transgender community's future.
"I mean, I think the goal always has to be equality in all aspects under the law," he said. "You're never going to eradicate discrimination. We see that with other minorities. Racism is still, unfortunately, alive and well. But equal protection under the law makes a huge difference. So, I think, for me, that is the goal, that is the thing to strive for."
Additional 2013 GLAAD Media Awards were presented in New York on March 16. The final awards will be presented in San Francisco on May 11.

source link:www.huffingtonpost.com

Sandra Bullock's 'The Heat'

 Sandra Bullock's 'The Heat' to honor Boston cops with screening

Bullock, McCrathy, The Heat

Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy's buddy cop comedy "The Heat" will be screened in advance for Boston police officers and FBI agents. The city was stunned Monday after twin bombings at the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured scores more. Bullock, who plays an uptight "Miss Congeniality"-esque FBI agent sent to work on a case in Boston in the film, thought the screening was a small token of appreciation.
 "It's been an amazing tightknit community before this happened, and it just bonded a community even more," Bullock told CNN at tge CinemaCon gathering in Las Vegas. "I don't think a screening would ever be enough, feel like it's enough to do for them."
The Oscar winner, who partook in quite a bit of banter as she "hosted" the convention with her costar, also said that she was touched by the city's resilience during the tragedy.
"I think having been there, having had our entire crew around us all the time, who are all from Boston, you're just hoping," Bullock told the Associated Press. "And when you see the aftermath, I try to look on the other side, which is, 'Look how amazing the people were. Look at those people that ran toward everyone without thinking twice about themselves.' "
A spokeswoman for 20th Century Fox said the screening was "not pegged to a charity or recent events. Just a special screening in the town where it was shot."
"It's a remarkable place, an amazing city that's obviously going through a really tough situation," said McCarthy, who plays a testy Boston cop. "I have a sweet spot for it now."
Director Paul Feig, who previously directed McCarthy in "Bridesmaids," also had kind words for the city and equated his latest film to "a love letter to Boston."
 "It's not a movie where it's supposed to be New York but it's shot in Boston," he said. "This takes place in Boston. We have Boston natives in the movie, like Jane Curtin and [comic-actor] Bill Burr and [New Kids on the Block's] Joey McIntyre — all these famous Bostonians are in it. And if this movie can help Boston laugh, then that would be great."
The actresses' unlikely partnership film was well-received at the convention Tuesday, indicating it could be McCarthy's second box-office hit of the year, Movies Now reported.
"The Heat" hits theaters June 28.

Source Link:www.latimes.com

Nicole Eggert HOSPITALIZED

Nicole Eggert HOSPITALIZED After Botched High-Dive 

Nicole Eggert pcn-splash

 ANOTHER celebrity injury on the set of "Splash" -- TMZ has learned Nicole Eggert was hospitalized yesterday after bungling a high-dive and brutally back-flopping into the pool during a taping of the ABC show.

Sources tell us ... the "Baywatch" babe was trying to execute a dive that included multiple backflips ... but something went wrong, and she went crashing into the water back first ... hard.

We're told the impact looked so painful, on-site EMTs rushed in to pull the 41-year-old out of the pool ... and she went to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Sources tell us ... Eggert didn't break any bones, but docs wanted to make sure she didn't suffer internal injuries from the impact  -- they're monitoring her kidneys in particular.  Eggert was released from the hospital after a few hours.

News Link: www.tmz.com

'Ready for Love' pulled from NBC schedule

Ready for Love' pulled from NBC schedule after two episodes following low ratings 

Ready For Love Bachelor

NBC has pulled Ready for Love from its broadcast schedule after the new reality dating show's first two episodes delivered poor ratings. "It has not yet been determined when or where remaining episodes of Ready for Love will be aired," NBC said in a statement Friday.

Produced by actress Eva Longoria and hosted by Giuliana & Bill stars Giuliana Rancic and Bill Rancic, Ready for Love premiered April 9 and was airing two-hour episodes in the Tuesdays 9-11PM ET/PT time period.
However, Ready for Love's first two broadcasts delivered poor ratings even though it had The Voice -- the highest-rated program on NBC's schedule -- as its Tuesday night lead-in. Despite heavy promotion, Ready for Love's April 9 premiere averaged only 3.85 million viewers and an 1.6/4 rating/share in the Adults 18-49 ratings demographic -- an enormous dropoff from the 12.95 million viewers and 4.2/13 rating/share its The Voice lead-in delivered. Ready for Love's second episode delivered even worse ratings this week, averaging only 3.37 million viewers and an 1.3/4 rating/share in Adults 18-49. NBC will move Grimm, a drama series which currently airs on Friday nights, into the Tuesdays 10-11PM timeslot beginning April 30.
Ready for Love's first two episodes featured the show's three bachelors -- Benjamin "Ben" Patton, Tim Lopez and Ernesto Arguello -- each narrowing their pool of bachelorettes to eight women.

source link: www.realitytvworld.com

Justin Bieber's Hologram Enlisted For will.i.am's Futuristic '#thatPOWER' Video

 Bieber, will and his clones get their pop and lock on in clip for the new #willpower track.

Justin Bieber and Will.i.Am in "#thatPOWER" music video

will.i.am may have asked Justin Bieber to appear on his #willpower track "#thatPOWER," but he got a little help from Bieber's hologram for the just-released spacey video. The video doesn't have much of a story line but is all about setups that are meant to please the eye thanks to appearances from will, Bieber's hologram and a myriad of dancers. The fact that Bieber's cameo relies heavily on his hologram, and later on televised images of his face, makes sense given that he's currently on a world tour and probably couldn't make the multi-location shoot. While Bieber isn't the star of the show, Beliebers will be pleased that he pops up often enough to add one more player to will's futuristic team of performers. When Bieber isn't there, will and his dancers are doing "synchronized movement" anywhere their hearts desire — in traffic, on Japanese city streets, in office buildings and even on overpasses. The most visually stunning moment comes about midway, as will.i.am and his dancers get their groove on in a room with a mirrored floor as the lyrics of the song are projected on the walls in neon-colored lighting. will's fans may also appreciate a shot of the Black Eyed Peas frontman and his clones dancing on an escalator. The walls are mirrored, giving it all a kaleidoscope feel. "#thatPOWER" is one of the many tracks fans have previewed ahead of #willpower's April 23 release date. He also dropped "Scream & Shout" featuring Britney Spears and "Fall Down" featuring Miley Cyrus. Beliebers should also take note: This is the second music video in a week that Bieber has starred in. He dropped his "All Around the World" video last Friday. And while the clip for "#thatPOWER" is rather high-concept, "AATW" is more simplistic, featuring concert and behind-the-scenes footage of the 19-year-old as he travels, well, all around the world.

source link:www.mtv.com

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez in Norway at the Same Time

 Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez in Norway

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

 

Selena Gomez is in Oslo, Norway, right now—and so is Justin Bieber! Gomez was spotted getting off a plane at Gardermoen Airport at about 8:30 p.m. local time. She landed at about the same time that her ex-boyfriend was performing a concert in Oslo. No word on why Gomez has jetted to the Norwegian capital, but as far as we can make out she has no official business there. Bieber's next tour stop is in Denmark on Saturday. Gomez has been busy promoting her new single, "Come and Get It." She performed earlier this week at the MTV Movie Awards and Dancing With the Stars. She's scheduled to do the same on Late Night With David Letterman next Wednesday. Bieber and Gomez first broke up in early November. They have been spotted together a few times since then. Reps for both superstars declined to comment.
News Source:www.eonline.com

Fox hopes to turn Stiller's 'Walter Mitty' into 'Pi'-sized success

Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig

LAS VEGAS -- When 20th Century Fox unveiled footage of "Life of Pi" at CinemaCon last year, studio executives compared director Ang Lee to Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron. This time around, Fox devoted most of its presentation to its latest year-end awards hopeful, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," directed by and starring Ben Stiller. And when the studio's co-chairman, Jim Gianopulos, introduced Stiller to the crowd, this time he compared the star to Lee -- an association even Stiller seemed to find a bit over the top. "Yes, Ben Stiller and Ang Lee -- the two of us are constantly being compared," the filmmaker said as he walked on stage. "I think it started when Ang made 'Sense and Sensibility' and I made 'The Cable Guy.' Plus, we're both Asian and were bar mitzvah-ed in Israel." "Mitty," set for release this Christmas, stars Stiller as a Life magazine photo editor who forces himself out of his comfort zone as he traverses the globe in search of a missing negative. The $90-million production traveled from New York to Iceland to Greenland, and the beautiful scenery was one of the highlights of the footage shown to movie theater owners at the CinemaCon gathering on Thursday. "I think we all want love and adventure and excitement in our lives. That's why we're all here in Vegas, right?" Stiller kidded on stage, where he was joined by costar Kristen Wiig. "I hope it's funny but it's also serious, and it's epic and it's also small in places and it's kinda realistic but it's also sort of a fairy tale." That's a lot to wish for, but exhibitors indeed seemed pleased with the roughly 15 minutes of footage shown, gushing over how fantastic the film looked as they exited the Caesars Palace Colosseum. They were probably also on a bit of a high after seeing "The Heat" stars Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock bantering. "We're thrilled to be hosting CinemaCon," Bullock cracked. "I have always been a big fan of 'cinnamon,' " McCarthy followed. The two comic actresses then launched into a bit in which they compared themselves to famous on-screen pairings -- Robert Redford and Paul Newman, Bert and Ernie -- even Tom Hanks and his volleyball Wilson in "Cast Away." "I had never cared for anyone I've worked with," said McCarthy, "and at first on [this movie] I thought, 'Nope, nothing different here.' But two-thirds of the ways in I said, 'You're not terrible. You're not the worst.' " The actresses' buddy cop comedy played through the roof to exhibitors here Tuesday evening, indicating it could be McCarthy's second box-office hit of the year (following "Identity Thief") when it hits theaters in June.

News Source: www.latimes.com

Kristen Stewart's Snow White and the Huntsman, Pitch Perfect Sequels Coming in 2015!

Kristen Stewart's Snow White and the Huntsman

Happy sequels day! Universal just announced that the sequel to Kristen Stewart's Snow White and the Huntsman is officially a go with a 2015 release date. However, the studio has not said if the original cast or director Rupert Sanders will be back, too. Before the release of SWATH and her scandal with Sanders, KStew said she was game for a follow-up. "I would do it in a heartbeat," she told us about a year ago. "I know with the people involved it would only be done [because] it's very worthwhile and it's a good movie. We wouldn't just be cashing in." PHOTOS: Snow White and the Huntsman premiere pics And there's more! Universal also announced that Pitch Perfect will be getting a sequel in 2015. Again, no word if the original stars or director Jason Moore are attached. NEWS: Rebel's funniest MTV Movie Awards moments Just two days ago at the MTV Movie Awards (which featured a musical reunion of Rebel Wilson and her Pitch costars), Brittany Snow said plans were still up in the air. "We have been talking about it," she said. "We really want to do it. It's one of those things where it comes down to logistics and schedules but I really do think it could happen." (E! Online and Universal are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) Now we want to hear from you. Excited by SWATH and Pitch Perfect sequels? Leave your comments below.


News Source: www.eonline.com