Idol's album uncovered

The cover has been unveiled on the Internet for American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert's debut album For Your Entertainment, which will hit stores on Nov 23.

MTV's website describes the outer space-tinged cover photo shoot "as spectacularly over-the-top and jaw-dropping as (Lambert's) memorable American Idol performances."

But in contrast to the mainstream reaction to the glam-style singer's cover artwork, Lambert's fans have posted positive comments about it on his official website.

Lambert's album features a lineup of experienced musicians, including Rob Cavallo, Linda Perry, American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and rising pop star Lady Gaga.

Lambert, who finished second in season eight of American Idol, stood out from all the contestants with his soaring soprano vocal style.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Heath Ledger music video debuts 20 months after his death

Actor Heath Ledger poses during a photocall at the 56th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin in this February 15, 2006 file photo.[Agencies]

SYDNEY - A rap music video directed by the late Australian actor Heath Ledger was posted on video sharing website YouTube on Friday, nearly two years after he died from an accidental drug overdose.

The 3- minute video of a song called "Cause An Effect" by rapper N'Fa, also known as No Fixed Abode, was shot on a single camera in the actor's home garage in Sydney shortly before his death at the age of 28 in January 2008.

It is believed that "Cause An Effect" was the last project over which Ledger had complete creative control (here).

N'Fa, previously known as Nfamas from the Australian hip hop band 1200 Techniques was born in London but raised in Ledger's home town of Perth in western Australia. The pair were childhood friends.

The video "Cause An Effect" features close-ups of N'fa, daubed in black, white and red paint. It was included in a tribute to Ledger shown during the Rome Film Festival earlier this month.

"The idea was to keep it very artistic so that is what we did," N'fa said in an accompanying video (here).

"Heath directed it really well and I was really happy with the outcome ...I know Heath was happy with the work.

"I've often felt uncomfortable talking about working with Heath and making the video but I figure it's necessary to explain the idea behind the work and what we were doing and to show genuine appreciation for his time he gave to me."

Ledger also created music videos for guitarist Ben Drake and U.S. alternative rock band Modest Mouse.

Ledger died of an accidental prescription-drug overdose in his New York apartment in January 2008. In February he won a posthumous Oscar for his supporting role as The Joker in last year's Batman movie "The Dark Knight."

Ledger's final film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," will open in December.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Lindsay Lohan's model love?

Lindsay Lohan has been spotted canoodling with a male model.

The 23-year-old actress - who has been in an on/off relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson since 2008 - met Petey Wright during a photo shoot at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont hotel on Wednesday (28.10.09).

Sources on the set claim the pair couldn't keep their hands off each other during the shoot, running to her nearby hotel room as soon as the photographer said he was finished.

An insider told X17Online: "Lindsay was all over Petey during the sexy photo shoot, and it continued when the shoot ended. They headed into a room at the Chateau for two hours and Lindsay couldn't keep her hands off of him - and vice versa!"

Lindsay and Petey finally emerged from the hotel at 1.30am and drove to nearby Wonderland club, where they spent just under two hours kissing and cuddling in a corner.

A staff member said: "Oh my god! I was at Wonderland club tonight and Lindsay was there with some hot model guy named Petey.

"She posted a picture of him on her Twitter! She had her hand on his leg the whole time between kisses, and they stayed for two hours. I can't believe it!"

Lindsay - who left the club alone - later posted a photo of Petey on her Twitter account, with a message about how much she enjoyed working with him.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Reese Witherspoon following "Rule #1"

Actress Reese Witherspoon, who gives voice to Ginormica in the movie, poses at the premiere of "Monsters vs. Aliens" at the Gibson amphitheatre in Universal City, California March 22, 2009. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Reese Witherspoon will star in and produce "Rule #1," which centers on a New York woman who befriends a Puerto Rican girl with attention deficit disorder.

Fox Searchlight bought the screenplay by Terrel Seltzer, who wrote the comedy "How I Got Into College" and co-wrote the George Clooney/Michelle Pfeiffer romantic comedy "One Fine Day."

Witherspoon most recently starred in "Four Christmases" and lent her voice to DreamWorks Animation's "Monsters vs. Aliens." She next will appear in the untitled James L. Brooks feature hitting theaters in December 2010.

Through her Type A Films, Witherspoon has produced "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde," "Penelope" and "Four Christmases." She is also developing "Around the World in 80 Dates" and "Bell Witch."

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Little Miss Sunshine's new role

Teenage actress Abigail Breslin, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the movie comedy Little Miss Sunshine, will play Helen Keller in her debut on Broadway next year.

Producer David Richenthal on Wednesday announced previews for the production of the William Gibson play, The Miracle Worker, would start on February 12 next year at the Circle in the Square Theatre with the opening set for March 3.

Set in the South in the 1880s, The Miracle Worker tells the story of real-life Medal of Freedom winner Helen Keller, born blind and deaf, and the extraordinary teacher who taught her to communicate with the world, Annie Sullivan.

Alison Pill, who starred in the movie Milk, will play Keller's teacher Annie Sullivan.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Bruni-Sarkozy's ex-home on sale

The historic home in the Italian hills where French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy spent her early childhood in Turin, Italy, is staking a "for sale" sign once again, just months after a Saudi billionaire bought the palatial property for $25 million.

Castello di (the castle at) Castagneto Po is in the hills northeast of Turin where Bruni-Sarkozy lived before the family relocated to Paris in the early 1970s. It was sold by the family earlier this year and Saudi Arabia's billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is now flipping the 21,000-square foot castle for about 19 million euros ($28 million).

Bruni-Sarkozy's father, Italian industrialist Alberto Bruni Tedeschi, bought the 40-room castle, which dates back nearly 1,000 years, in 1952 and had it extensively restored and lavishly appinted.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy hit "Fury Road"

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the premiere party of the film "The Burning Plain" in Los Angeles, September 14, 2009. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are in negotiations to star in "Fury Road," this century's installment of the "Mad Max" movie series from writer-director George Miller.

Despite his long association with the fourth movie, Mel Gibson is not reprising his iconic role of Max Rockatansky, the hardened ex-cop in a future beset by gas shortages and marauding gangs.

That job goes to Hardy, the British-born actor who stole scenes as Handsome Bob in Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla." ("RocknRolla" has proved to be a launch pad for Hardy, who booked a role in Christopher Nolan's "Inception" as well. He also starred in "Bronson.")

Theron is playing the female lead.

Story details are being kept under wraps; what's known is that the movie takes place a short while after the story detailed in 1985's "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," which would keep Mad Max relatively young.

The filmmakers are eyeing a summer 2010 shoot in Australia. The movie will be an Australian production that Warner Bros. will distribute.

"Road" has been in the works for more than a decade, with Gibson attached to star at one point.

Theron appears next in this fall's "The Road," the big-screen adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Zhou gets The Message

"When I get out of here, I will buy you a big dinner," actress Zhou Xun says in the spy thriller The Message (Feng Sheng). In the movie her character is killed, but Huayi Brothers, the film's producer, arranged a banquet last night in Beijing for the cast and crew.

They deserve it. The film has raked in 220 million yuan ($32 million) since its premiere at the end of September. Zhou won the Best Actress award at the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, the equivalent of China's Oscars.

But not all the news was good. According to Southern Metropolis Weekly, fireworks in Zhou's suburban villa caused a fire in the nearby woods on the night of Oct 18. Firefighters put out the fire in half an hour.

The report implied the fire started when Zhou's boyfriend was celebrating her 35th birthday and the award.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Leona Lewis had Justin crush

Leona Lewis had a crush on Justin Timberlake.

The British singer has confessed she was attracted to the 'SexyBack' star for a long time, but her crush went away once she met him.

Leona - who worked with Justin on new track 'Don't Let Me Down', which appears on her upcoming album 'Echo' - said: "I had a big thing for Justin before I worked with him, but I lose my crush when I meet people. Which is probably good news for my boyfriend Lou!"

The 24-year-old pop star - who is in a long-term relationship with Lou Al-Chamaa - has also revealed she turned down the chance to kiss 'Gossip Girl' heartthrob Chace Crawford in the video for her single 'I Will Be'.

She said in an interview with the latest edition of Sugar magazine: "They wanted me and Chace to kiss in the 'I Will Be' video. But I said no way. I'd just have been too embarrassed, he's my friend! He's so beautiful, I mean, look at him - he could be a girl. He'd be a really pretty girl. But I just don't think of him like that. And it wouldn't be fair to Lou to kiss other guys."

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Adam Lambert's new album cover unveiled

The cover of Adam Lambert's debut album "For Your Entertainment"

The cover has been unveiled on the internet for 'American Idol' runner-up Adam Lambert's debut album "For Your Entertainment", which will hit stores on November 23.

MTV's website describes the outer space-tinged cover photo shoot "as spectacularly over-the-top and jaw-dropping as [Lambert's] memorable American Idol performances.".

But in contrast to the mainstream reaction to the glam-style singer's cover artwork, Lambert's fans have posted positive comments about it on his official website.

Adam's album features a lineup of experienced musicians, including Rob Cavallo, Linda Perry, "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi and rising pop star Lady Gaga.

Lambert, who finished second in season eight of "American Idol," stood out from all the contestants with his soaring soprano vocal style.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

This Is It proves to be a thriller

A Beijing fan dressed in Jackson's trademark black and white dances at the ceremony held before the premiere of the movie This is it.

Michael Jackson fans gather at Solana Plaza in Beijing for the premiere of the movie.

The deceased King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who never held a concert in China during his lifetime, has finally thrilled his fans here with the movie, This Is It.

The singer's cancelled London concert This Is It will forever remain a painful loss for his fans. But the movie, which is based on footage of his London concert rehearsals, provides at least some compensation.

At 9 pm on Tuesday, a ceremony for the official premiere of This Is It was held outside Saga Cinema. Thousands of Michael's fans gathered at Solana Plaza in northeastern Beijing, and many were dressed in Jackson's trademark black and white. Guest stars such as movie director Jia Zhangke, singer Zhang Jie and actress Chen Shu walked the red carpet and were followed by performers from Jackson's Chinese Fan Club.

As the ceremony drew to a close, everybody sang Heal the World, waving fluorescent sticks.

At midnight, This Is It blazed across all screens of the cinema, simultaneously.

At the same time, the cinema hall in northwest Beijing's Zhongguancun area began to fill with Jackson fans, almost all of whom were 20-35 years old.

The movie keeps to the order of songs in the rehearsals for Michael's planned London concert. All the footage is from the period March to June.

While the singer looks thin, he seems healthy and energetic. There is nothing in the voice or moves to suggest this is coming from a 50-year-old man. The footage shows a devoted artist who liked to be involved in all aspects - from the auditions and training of the background dancers to sound-system checks. Some melodies and movements are totally spontaneous and vintage Michael.

The movie also reveals the many incredible high-tech effects that were supposed to form part of the London concert. For example, during the song Smooth Criminal, Michael and Greta Garbo appear together in a story of the 1930s and Thriller comes in a 3D version, with Michael emerging from a huge spider on stage.

When the theme song This Is It played at the film's end, the audience stood up and clapped heartily, clearly loathe to leave the hall.

At the Zhongguancun cinema, long after the last song ended, more than 30 people remained in their seats, waiting quietly. Finally, Wang Xin, the theater attendant, had to ask them to leave. "Seldom has the audience been so unwilling to leave," Wang said.

"It's such a moving film," said Zhang Jinmao as he stepped out of the cinema. Many others said they would see it again - and again.

Since Michael Jackson's tragic death on June 25, numerous memorial events have been held around the world. His Chinese Fan Club named October 2009 as "Michael Jackson Month", and organized a series of events, such as publishing the Chinese version of Jackson's autobiography, Moonwalk. The fan club also co-organized the worldwide Thrill the World project in China this year. Thrill the World first began in Canada in 2006, with 62 people performing Michael Jackson's most famous song Thriller simultaneously, and setting a Guinness World Record.

Ever since, the record has been broken several times. With the superstar's sudden death, the event has become even bigger and spread wider. China is participating for the first time, and thousands of people in 14 cities are involved.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

"This Is It" heats up box office on first day

Actress Jennifer Lopez poses at the premiere of the documentary "This Is It" in Los Angeles October 27, 2009.[Agencies]

LONDON/LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson fans poured out of cinemas on Wednesday applauding the new "This Is It" movie of the late pop star's final concert rehearsals and ringing up sales at box offices worldwide.

Columbia Pictures, the studio behind the movie, said the film took in $2.2 million in late Tuesday night screenings in North America following its Los Angeles premiere, and early Wednesday matinee showings were surpassing that figure.

In international markets, where the film is expected to play strongly given the "Thriller" singer's huge global appeal, box office figures are still being collected, but "early indications already reveal strong attendance," Columbia said.

Fan excitement at the heavily hyped release of "This Is It" was mixed with sadness that one of music's biggest stars and most troubled celebrities died before he could bring his live comeback to the stage.

"This Is It" was cut from 80 hours of film of the singer's rehearsals for 50 London concerts planned from July which he envisioned both as a return to the limelight after years of life as a recluse and a final farewell to live performance.

The nearly two-hour film features Jackson singing and dancing to some of his biggest hits, including "Beat It," "Thriller," "Black or White" and "Man in the Mirror." Throughout the film, audiences see Jackson working with his singers and dancers to create a show that would wow his fans.

"It's great!" wrote Karen Portem on the Facebook social networking site, having seen the movie on its first day of release in the Philippines. "But it's so sad to think that people ... aren't able to see M.J. perform it live."

Critics have been largely positive, describing the film as a fitting tribute to a star who fascinated the world with his slick dance moves and versatile vocals as well as his increasingly bizarre appearance and legal troubles.

By midday Wednesday, "This Is It" had scored an 79 percent positive rating on website rottentomatoes.com, which combines reviews from around the United States.

Entertainment Weekly magazine's Owen Glieberman gave the movie a grade of "B," saying "'This Is It' is fun, but it's a slightly airless experience. If the movie allows you to bask in Michael Jackson's aura, it also uses his image to foster 'nostalgia' for a concert epiphany that never quite was."

LEGEND LIVES ON FILM

Jackson died suddenly on June 25 in Los Angeles at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest only weeks before he was to have begun the "This Is It" concerts, denying him the chance to erase the stigma of a sensational 2005 trial when he was acquitted of child molestation charges.

He grew up as one of Motown legends The Jackson 5, made the gliding "moonwalk" famous the world over and still has the best-selling album of all time with his 1982 "Thriller."

After a star-studded opening in Los Angeles Tuesday night and premieres in 16 other cities, the film began playing in 99 countries Wednesday and will expand to about 110 territories by the weekend.

In Tokyo, pop star and Jackson friend Lionel Richie said he hoped the movie would bring out the ordinary in Jackson.

"The part that you're going to see tonight is the part of him being the real Michael, which is the hard-working guy but at the same time so easy to get along with -- the guy I know," he said.

Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures bought the film rights from concert promoter AEG Live for $60 million and has described ticket demand as "phenomenal." Columbia has said the movie will be extended beyond its two-week run if ticket demand is high, and it plans a DVD release in 2010.

Meanwhile, the soundtrack to "This Is It" has generated sales roughly in the middle of expectations since hitting record stores Monday. Estimates suggest it should sell between 300,000 and 350,000 units in its first week, according to Silvio Pietroluongo, director of charts at Billboard magazine.

The final number depends on how many people see the movie and then feel inspired to buy the album, but regardless of the exact figure, Jackson "certainly looks like being number one (on the charts) by a considerable margin," Pietroluongo said.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Baz Luhrmann's "Australia" snubbed in home film awards

Actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman arrive for the premiere of the film "Australia" in Madrid December 2, 2008. [Agencies]

SYDNEY– Australian director Baz Luhrmann's outback epic "Australia" was passed over on Wednesday for the top film awards in his home country, presented by the Australian Film Institute.

"Australia," starring Australian actors Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman who have carved out Hollywood careers, failed to make the list of nominees for the AFI best film award despite high hopes for the $130 million 20th Century Fox movie, the most expensive ever made in Australia.

Neither Kidman nor Jackman were among the nominations for best lead actor or actress.

Instead the nominations for best film included "Balibo," Rachel Ward's directoral debut "Beautiful Kate," "Blessed," "Mao's Last Dancer," "Mary and Max" and "Samson & Delilah," a film about the desperate state of many Aboriginal communities.

"Australia," which runs for 2 hours 40 minutes, was among the nominees for the new member's choice award and received nominations in five other categories including best sound, original music score, production design, costume design, and best supporting actor.

"Balibo," directed by Robert Connolly, earned 14 nominations, the most for any film. The film is about the execution of five foreign journalists, including two Australians, during Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor.

"Beautiful Kate" earned 10 nominations and "Mao's Last Dancer," the real-life story of Chinese dancer Li Cunxin who defected to the United States, won nine. Li is now a stockbroker living in Australia.

For the AFI international award for best actor, Russell Crowe was in the race for his role in "State of Play" against Martin Henderson of TV show "House," Anthony LaPaglia from TV show "Without A Trace" and Guy Pearce from "Bedtime Stories."

The contenders for the AFI international award for best actress were Rose Byrne in "Damages," Toni Collette in "United States of Tara" and Melissa George and Mia Wasikowska from "In Treatment."

The young stars of "Samson & Delilah," Marissa Gibson and Rowan McNamara, earned lead acting nominations against Sophie Lowe, Frances O'Connor and Sacha Horler in the actress category and Anthony LaPaglia, Ben Mendelsohn and Hugo Weaving in the male category.

The AFI awards will be presented on December 12 and 13.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Rumors urface Jackson autopsy photo is obtained by ‘restaurant owner

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- A new report surfaced Wednesday suggesting a photo of the body of Michael Jackson on the autopsy table has been leaked.

On Wednesday, The Daily Beast’s Gerald Posner reported that a person described as a “prominent restaurant owner” in Los Angeles reportedly has “a high-resolution copy of what is evidently a photo from the Jackson autopsy.”

Posner writes that the restaurant owner has allegedly showed the photograph, which is allegedly on the person’s Blackberry, to a handful of television executives, and told at least one of the execs that he received the photo from a “high-ranking police friend.”

Two of the TV executives, whom Posner did not name, described the picture. One of them said it was “not a cell phone picture. The quality was far too good.”

It allegedly only shows the late star’s head from the left side.

The description of the photo matches several reports that surfaced earlier this year when the autopsy was being conducted, including that Jackson’s face had no make up on it and the front half of his skull was shaved. Previous reports in the U.K. press suggested Jackson was actually partially bald under a wig he wore, in part the result of severe burns he received while shooting a Pepsi ad in the 1980s.

Jackson also had a scar on his face, which was reportedly visible in the alleged photo.

Posner claims he contacted the restaurant owner about the photo and the person allegedly replied with the text message, “Thnk u, but at this time I’m not interested.”

When contacted by Access Hollywood, Los Angeles Chief Coroner Ed Winter said in his opinion, there cannot be any photos “floating around” from the official autopsy report.

The photos are under “lock and key,” separate from the autopsy report, he told Access on Wednesday.

Winter added that he had seen two unrelated photos of Jackson’s body, one of the pop star lying down “somewhere” and another of him supposedly in a casket. His opinion is that both images are computer-generated.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Jay-Z's video game rage

Jay-Z used to "mercilessly" beat his nephews at video games - but now he always loses.

The 38-year-old hip-hop star was once a talented gamer but now his nephews can "destroy" him.

Jay-Z - who is married to 28-year-old singer Beyonce Knowles - said: "My nephews didn't beat me their entire lives, until now. They can destroy me now. I would never let them win because that meant they controlled the household, so I would just beat them mercilessly."

He added: "I'd let them build a little character, 'Suck it up kid,' you know, dunk on them, different plays."

Jay-Z, 38, claims he was so talented his friends and neighbours used to challenge him to try and take his console crown.

The rapper - who features in new computer game 'DJ Hero Renegade Edition' - added to website GlobalGrind.com: "I used to be really good, I was the guy in the neighborhood that other people went and got.

"But not anymore, I'm finished now."

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Cancer "didn't beat" Patrick Swayze, wife Lisa says

Lisa Niemi, wife of the late Patrick Swayze, speaks at the Women's Conference 2009 in Long Beach, California October 27, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES- "Dirty Dancing" star Patrick Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi, said that even though her husband's battle with cancer lasted nearly two years, that did not prepare her for his death in September.

"This is all new to me, and I thought during the 22 months of my husband's illness that it gave me all this time to get used to the idea of losing him," Niemi said on Tuesday, in her first public appearance since Swayze's death.

"I found for myself that when I actually got to that point, I said, 'No, no, no.' It wasn't the same at all. The actual loss is an animal of its own," she said at a panel discussion on grief at the Women's Conference in Long Beach, California.

Niemi was joined California first lady Maria Shriver, actress and activist Susan Saint James and Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards, who has herself battled cancer.

"Cancer may have taken Patrick, but it didn't beat him," Niemi said. The "Dirty Dancing" star died on September 14 at the age of 57.

Niemi will talk more about loving and losing her husband of 34 years to pancreatic cancer, in an interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey due to air on Friday.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Ashlee Simpson selling house

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are selling their house

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are selling their house.

The singer-and-actress and her Fall Out Boy star husband have put their $4.5 million home in Beverley Hills, California, on the market after deciding it wasn't "kid friendly" enough for their son Bronx.

A source told Life and Style magazine: "The house is built into the side of a giant hill and it doesn't really have any yard.

"Now that Bronx is getting older they realised that really isn't a child-friendly house."

"They are going to sell this house and look for something that will be better suited to young children."

The four-bedroom house is built over four floors with swimming pool, gym, media room, gourmet kitchen and a master bedroom with his-and-her baths.

The couple, who married in March 2008, bought the mansion in January 2007, but need more space for 10-month-old Bronx Mowgli and his planned siblings.

Speaking about his wish to expand his brood, Pete, 30, said: "Everything is awesome about being a dad. Eventually we want to be able to have our own soccer team!"

The couple - who put baby plans on hold while Ashlee, 25, was shooting 'Melrose Place' - may now start trying for a baby following news last week that Ashlee has been dropped from the show.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Forget recession, let's throw a "Mad Men" party

Actor John Slattery as Roger Sterling in a scene from "Mad Men".[Agencies]

NEW YORK - With the country in the midst of the worst recession in decades, some Americans are finding comfort in clothing, martinis and parties inspired by the award-winning retro TV series "Mad Men."

Now on its third season, the show set in the advertising industry in New York has sparked a revival for the tailored suits, skinny ties, pearl necklaces and pencil skirts of the early 1960s.

"It's a portrait of another time in America and I think from everyone there is a connection and enchantment with it," said Sarah Capozzi, a clinical social worker from New Hampshire who is organizing a "Mad Men" party.

Although she is excited by the dress-up sense of the series, she also finds it a "bit comforting and therapeutic during hard times.

"(It's) a chance to step outside of ourselves and come to a place in society where people answer the phone politely and wear fedoras to work or gloves while driving ... it's civilized!" she added.

"Mad Men" follows the lives of sexist, unfaithful men and unhappy suburban wives living in a stylish world during an era when the civil rights movement was fighting to end segregation and achieve racial equality.

The New York Times newspaper said the series offers consolation to a generation beaten by "skyrocketing unemployment, plunging retirement savings and mounting home foreclosures."

Even the characters' chain-smoking and cocktail guzzling seems to add to their appeal.

The International Advertising Association New York (IAA), which is planning a "Mad Men" Christmas party this year, plans to deal with the smoking issue by offering candy cigarettes to guests.

Jill Cohen, IAA's New York executive director, said the event aims to show people things can be fun again after one of the most depressing years in the advertising industry in decades.

"That era was when advertising really kicked off as an industry," she explained. "And everybody that we talk to is totally excited about the 1960's allure."

"Mad Men" is also good news for vintage shops and retailers.

"I've been selling a lot of looks from the late 1950's and 1960's with all these 'Mad Men' parties going on," said Lillyan Peditto, the owner of Family Jewels, a Manhattan vintage clothing shop.

Retail stores have also joined the craze with Banana Republic and Brooks Brothers launching lines inspired by the series.

"It's definitely influencing designers," Cohen said. "It's becoming more and more mainstream."

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Lady GaGa: 'Bad Romance'

Considering all she's crammed into her first year of pop stardom, no one would hold it against Stefani Germanotta if she padlocked her wardrobe, hopped on a plane to somewhere exotic and spent a couple of weeks slobbing about in an old 'Frankie Says Relax' T-shirt. Not that she's about to do anything of the sort, of course.

Trailing an album reissue featuring eight brand new songs comes 'Bad Romance', a single with just as much bravura as 'Just Dance' or 'Poker Face'. We could draw your attention to the humongous chorus, the fabulously deranged vocal performance or the fact that RedOne's still saving his best and most bombastic productions for her, but really it suffices to say that GaGa begins the track by singing this: "Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah / Ro-mah-ro-mah-mah / GaGa-ooh-la-la". Thank God/New York/Fashion/Whatever for inventing her.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Ricky Gervais says Golden Globes is "perfect gig"

British comedian Ricky Gervais smiles backstage at the 66th annual Golden Globe awards in Beverly Hills, California in this January 11, 2009 file photo. Gervais will host the 2010 awards and will be the first official host of the Golden Globes ceremony since 1995. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Ricky Gervais is known as an edgy comedian, and the Golden Globes are considered the least stuffy of film and television awards shows. So it's little wonder that Gervais sees his hosting job for the 2010 ceremony as a match made in Hollywood honors heaven.

"Everyone is sitting around and drinking. I'm going to be drunk, and I'm not going to rehearse. So, it's the perfect gig for me," Gervais told Reuters on Tuesday, with a laugh.

The Golden Globe Awards, which will be given out on January 17, 2010, are one of Hollywood's biggest awards show, but the atmosphere is less formal than the film industry's Oscars or TV's Emmys.

Winners in both film and TV categories, who are picked by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are named after a fine dinner where cocktails and champagne flow freely, and the ceremony is often dubbed Hollywood's biggest party.

Monday's announcement that Gervais would host the upcoming show surprised many industry watchers because the Golden Globes have not had a host since 1995. But it also delighted those who see Gervais as a strong choice.

The British comedian, 48, created hit mockumentary show "The Office," about workers in their hum-drum jobs, which was imported to the United States where a version starring Steve Carell has been a popular and critical hit.

Gervais still jokes that people think Carell created the show. He recently left David Letterman's talk show and overheard a man say, "There's Ricky Gervais. He played the Steve Carell part in the English version of 'The Office.'"

Gervais laughs. "Oh, I don't care, as long as I get my 50 percent of everything."

He is known for off-the-cuff remarks on awards shows that tweak the sensibilities of industry executives, such as playing up the rivalry between film and TV stars.

The comedian said he does not yet know what he will do as host because he hasn't had much time to think about it.

"Just keep it loose, keep it fun," he said. "I'm not going to try to offend people. I'm not going to try to go for controversy. I'm going to do my brand of humor, and I think people know that when I say something off color or cheeky or a little more cutting edge than you might see on network TV, it comes from a good place."

One thing is certain, there will be no Ricky Gervais singing and dancing, like recent Oscar host Hugh Jackman.

"Uh, no, I won't be doing that," he said. "It's too much effort.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Aniston, Winfrey deny chatshow rumours

Representatives for both Jennifer Aniston and Oprah Winfrey have dismissed claims that the pair will collaborate on a forthcoming chatshow.

The former Friends star was reported to be producing and starring in a weekly programme for the Oprah Winfrey Network with Winfrey as her co-host.

However, a spokesperson for the Marley & Me actress has called the reports "absolutely false", says Us Weekly.

A rep for Winfrey's network also refuted the speculation, adding: "OWN is not in discussions with Jennifer Aniston to host a weekly talkshow."

Last year, Aniston appeared on her chatshow and gave $30,000 (£15,000) to seven competitors who took part in a charity fundraiser.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Taylor Swift dating namesake?

Taylor Swift is reportedly dating Taylor Lautner.

The 19-year-old singer - who recently said she is looking to start dating again following her split from Jonas Brothers star Joe Jonas last October - fuelled rumours of a romance with her 17-year-old 'Valentine's Day' co-star after they were seen at a Los Angeles Kings hockey game together last weekend.

Swift had her driver pick up the actor from Los Angeles LAX airport before they headed to the game together, where Lautner did his best not to be spotted.

A source said: "Taylor Swift was all dolled up and looked super pretty, she didn't seem to mind the attention.

"Taylor Lautner, on the other hand, was hiding under a sweater."

This is not the first time the pair have been romantically linked.

Earlier this year, the 'Twilight' star was seen "gazing adoringly" at the 'Love Story' hitmaker during a concert in Chicago, when she stepped down from the stage to give him a "very special hug".

The couple shared a kiss on 'Valentine's Day', and Swift said the experience was "life changing".

Speaking about her co-star, she said recently: "I love him, he's so cute."

Lautner has also admitted to having "a crush" on the singer, saying she is "definitely" his type.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Jay-Z talks World Series, Broadway and DJ Hero

FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2009 file photo, Jay-Z performs with Alicia Keys during the MTV Video Music Awards in New York. [Agencies]

NEW YORK – The New York Yankees have been blasting Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" during their playoff run. Now, the team is having the rap king perform the song live to kick off Game 1 of the World Series.

Jay-Z and fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys are set to perform the hit on Wednesday, as the Yankees take on defending World Series champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.

"Thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee," the Brooklyn native said in an interview Monday.

He calls the opportunity a "once in a lifetime experience" and says though the jam has become an unofficial New York anthem, he's not pushing for it to be the city's theme song.

"I'm not pitching it for anything, it's just a song I made for New York City," he said.

"Really it's about inspiration, it's about hope — I think that's what connects with people. The song connects outside of New York. Every night I play it, there's a monster response, no matter if we're in Providence or whenever."

The 39-year-old rapper was busy Monday promoting the new "DJ Hero" video game, out Tuesday. A special edition of the game — "DJ Hero Renegade Edition" — features a turntable controller as well as a two CDs, one from Jay-Z and another from Eminem.

Jay-Z, who has released eleven albums, says this was an opportunity for him to release his "best of" material.

"I picked a song from each of my albums. I've never had a greatest hits, so it's pretty much like my greatest hits," he said.

He also said the new video game may make its players overconfident about their DJ skills in real life.

"It's very challenging and fun and you get lost and you start believing that you can deejay a party," he laughed. "I think some kids may go out and try to deejay a party and really mess up really bad and realize it's not as easy as it seems."

Jay-Z will also be getting involved in the Broadway play, "Fela," an Afrobeat musical about the life of Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

"It's kind of early," he said of his involvement in the musical, which also finds Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith participating.

"I went to see the play a couple months ago and it was fantastic," he said.

"Fela" opens Monday, Nov. 23 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Fans snap up tickets to Michael Jackson theater Thriller

Tickets to the screening of This Is It sold out in two days at Saga Cinema.

Thousands of Michael Jackson fans are counting down the hours to This Is It, the documentary about the King of Pop's final days, which opens in cinemas at midnight.

Zhang Rui, the 27-year-old founder of Michael Jackson's fan club in China, said there is a lot of excitement about the 110-minute film, which opens in major cinemas in Beijing at midnight on Wednesday and will run for two weeks.

It will open in other cinemas around the city later on Wednesday.

"A lot of my friends cannot help counting down to the moment," Zhang told METRO yesterday.

"Some of us will sob or cry when we sing his songs, I am sure.

"But we will not simply be mourning for him. It is a tribute to his legacy, because we feel quite warm when we sing those melodies," he said.

This Is It is a documentary that records Jackson's rehearsals for his London concert before his death on Oct 28. Beijing will screen the film 12 hours ahead of many other cities around the world because of the time difference.

In the 1,100-seat Saga Cinema, located in Solana shopping center in Chaoyang district, more than 1,000 film tickets sold out in just two days.

"That has never happened before," said a cinema spokesman.

"The best premiere record used to be Transformers. But the MJ documentary is even better than that (and) don't forget the fact that this premiere is going to be held on a working day," he said.

The theater at Solana will hold a party attended by celebrities including well-known film director Jia Zhangke and songwriter Zhang Yadong, to celebrate the premiere.

The documentary will be screened in English, with Chinese subtitles. It is a combination of interviews and backstage footage of Jackson that have never been seen before.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Scarlett Johansson to make Broadway debut

Scarlett Johansson poses for photographers at Selfridges department store in Oxford Street where she made a promotional appearance, in central London July 31, 2009. [Agencies]

NEW YORK - Actress Scarlett Johansson will make her Broadway debut starring in a revival of American playwright Arthur Miller's drama "A View from the Bridge," the show's organizers said on Monday.

Amid a growing trend of Hollywood stars appearing in Broadway plays, Johansson, 24, will appear on the Great White Way opposite actor Liev Schreiber in the drama set in 1950s America about a Brooklyn dockyard worker obsessed with his 17-year-old niece, to be played by Johansson.

Previews will begin December 28 and the show will run for 14 weeks.

Johansson's list of films include "The Horse Whisperer", "Lost in Translation" and Woody Allen's "Match Point" in 2005. She also released an album this year with U.S. singer Pete Yorn. Schreiber has already appeared on Broadway several times, including winning a Tony award, as well as in films.

Other high-profile film actor's to have appeared on Broadway this year include Jude law, Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Strong ticket sales in the 2008/2009 Broadway season have been credited to the concentration of big name stars and Broadway producers have said it is now essential to have Hollywood stars to ensure big profits in plays on Broadway.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Jackson kids said to be in therapy after dad's death

Michael Jackson's children Paris Jackson (L), Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as Blanket) and Prince Michael Jackson I appear onstage at a memorial service for their father at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, July 7, 2009. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Paris Jackson wears her father's shirts every day, but her brother Prince does not want to watch the King of Pop's DVDs. All three of Michael Jackson's kids are in therapy, La Toya Jackson has revealed.

The "Thriller" singer's sister told the British newspaper The Mirror that the three children were dealing in very different ways with their father's death four months ago.

Prince, 12, Paris, 11 and Prince Michael II, 7, also known as Blanket, are being raised by their grandmother Katherine Jackson who was appointed their legal guardian after Jackson's sudden death on June 25.

"Blanket is just a very sad, shy little boy. He cries -- he really does cry. It's so painful for him," La Toya said.

She said Paris had covered her bedroom in Michael Jackson posters. She watches old videotapes of him, and is upset that she never got to see him performing live.

"Paris thinks and writes about her father all the time. She's doing very well, writes a lot and she wears his shirts every day," La Toya told The Mirror.

She said Prince "just doesn't want to speak about it. He won't even watch the DVDs...it's too soon.

"They all go to therapy and I truly hope Prince especially will be able to open up," she said. All three children are being home-schooled in Los Angeles.

La Toya's comments were published a few days before the worldwide opening on October 28 of Jackson's "This Is It" movie, put together from rehearsal video for his planned concerts in London.

According to U.S. celebrity media, the singer's parents and siblings are divided about seeing the movie and it is not known whether Jackson's children will watch it.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

'Promises, Promises' set for Broadway next spring

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2009 file photo, Kristin Chenoweth arrives at the FOX Winter All-Star Party in Los Angeles.[Agencies]

NEW YORK – Forget "Mad Men."

The '60s will live again on Broadway next spring in a revival "Promises, Promises," the musical based on the Academy Award-winning movie "The Apartment."

The musical will star Sean Hayes as an ambitious insurance company employee who lends his apartment to company executives for romantic flings and Kristin Chenoweth as his love interest.

Producer John Gore said the production will open April 25, 2010, at the Broadway Theatre with preview performances beginning March 28.

"Promises, Promises" features a book by Neil Simon and a score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The musical will be directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. Among its best known songs are "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," made popular by Dionne Warwick; "Knowing When to Leave" and the title tune.

Hayes, who will be making his Broadway debut, is best known for playing Jack on the television series "Will & Grace." Chenoweth last appeared on Broadway in the 2006 revival of "The Apple Tree" and was Glinda in the original cast of "Wicked."

The original "Promises, Promises," which starred Jerry Orbach and Jill O'Hara, opened on Broadway in 1968 and ran for more than 1,200 performances. The film, which won a best-picture Oscar, starred Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray.

taken from : China Daily
Read more...

Madonna returns to Malawi to launch girls school

A picture taken in March 2009 shows US pop diva Madonna (R) with her son, Malawian adoptee, David Banda (L) at the Mphandula Child Care Centre -- built by Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi -- in Lilongwe.[Agencies]

LILONGWE, Malawi – Madonna arrived in Malawi Sunday to visit the girls school she is building in the impoverished country where she adopted two children, an official for the star's charity said.

The official who could not be named because he was not authorized to speak on the matter said Madonna arrived at about 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT; 8:30 a.m. EDT) on Ethiopian Airlines.

The 51-year-old celebrity was accompanied by her four children — Lourdes, 13, Rocco, 9, as well as her two adopted children. Madonna adopted the Malawian-born Mercy, 3, this year and David, 4, in 2008.

The official said Madonna would take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the school on Monday.

Madonna's Raising Malawi, a charity founded in 2006 when she first visited the country, helps feed, educate and provide medical care for some of Malawi's orphans.

Malawi, a nation of 12 million, is one of the poorest countries in the world. About 500,000 children have lost a parent to AIDS.

Madonna will also meet with President Bingu wa Mutharika and visit some of the orphanages her charity supports.

The school she is building for poor girls is on the outskirts of the capital and is similar to the one built by talk show host Oprah Winfrey in South Africa.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

At 37, Paul Simon's son makes his musical mark

Singer Harper Simon poses for a photograph in New York's Central Park October 19, 2009. Picture taken October 19.[Agencies]

NEW YORK - Having suffered more than 15 years of false starts, failures and musical disappointments, singer-songwriter Harper Simon admits he has hardly charted the ideal path to pop stardom like his father, Paul Simon.

The young Simon had always shown musical promise. At age 4 he sang with his dad on the "Sesame Street" children's TV show. He also attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Now, at 37, the son of one of America's best known singer-songwriters has finally released his first album.

"Obviously I don't have the ideal career arch," Simon told Reuters in a recent interview, adding, "I'm in the game now."

Critics say it was worth waiting for the younger Simon's self-titled offering, released on October 13.

American Songwriter magazine wrote, "Harper Simon's debut tantalizes right now" and called him "a real star in the making." Rolling Stone called "Shooting Star," the first single from the album, "gorgeous." The magazine declared, "It was worth the wait."

Simon admits he was surprised at how long it all took.

"I didn't think this is how long it would take when I was 21 years old. I thought it would all fall into place, but it didn't happen that way," Simon said. "I suppose different kinds of artists find their voices at different times and when it's their moment, it's their moment."

Simon's setbacks began when he dropped out of Berklee after two years without graduating.

"You've got to be a pretty big loser to drop out of a music school," he said.

He did not respect the school, even though it has turned out everyone from Quincy Jones to Diana Krall: "Berklee is really like a trade school, it's how to make a living playing bar mitzvahs."

Returning to New York, Simon toiled to become a star to no avail, saying it was a decade of, "Trying and failing and trying again and failing some more."

He worked in the mid-1990s with Don Fleming, who produced Sonic Youth, Teenage Fanclub, and The Posies, but he never secured a record deal. He scored some movie soundtracks.

He moved to England to escape the pressure of living up to his heritage. He joined the band Menlo Park, which never hit the big time. He recorded with his father's wife, Edie Brickell. The pair released an album in 2008, featuring Brickell on vocals, under the name "The Heavy Circles."

"From every failed project I took away something which contributed to this album being out on the world," he said.

The solo album finds Simon playing with some big names.

Bob Johnston -- famed for producing Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde," Simon and Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence" and many other legendary records -- came out of retirement to co-produce the album.

As a backing band, Simon was joined by a group of session musicians from Nashville who had played with everyone from Dylan and Elvis Presley to Patsy Cline and Aretha Franklin.

Other guest musicians include childhood friend Sean Lennon, drummer Steve Gadd and Simon's father, who plays guitar on one song and contributed lyrics to another.

The record was self-financed, is released on his own record label and was a labor of love which took three years to finish. Diminutive and self-deprecating, Simon joked that the finished work was great, except for his own contributions.

"I am happy with all aspects of it that don't have to do with myself," he said. "I'm just not that much of a pleased-with-myself kind of person."

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Taylor Swift first U.S. tour dates sell in minutes

Taylor Swift arrives onstage after being invited by Beyonce to finish her previously interrupted acceptance speech for best female video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, September 13, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Tickets to four of country singer Taylor Swift's 2010 tour dates sold out in two minutes after going on sale on Friday, her publicists said.

All tickets released on Friday for 15 U.S. shows in the 19 year-old singer's 2010 Fearless tour sold "within minutes". The four shows in the New York area were the fastest to go, her representatives said.

Swift, the biggest selling U.S. artist of 2008, will play 37 shows in the United States and Canada in 2010 and seven in Australia starting in February.

The teen star, whose hits include "You Belong with Me" and "Love Story", has seen her popularity soar since September, when rapper Kanye West hijacked her acceptance speech for a best music video trophy at the MTV Video Music Awards show and said it should have gone to R&B singer Beyonce instead.

Swift was nominated for a leading six American Music Awards earlier this month and will perform on and host the popular U.S. late night TV sketch show "Saturday Night Live" on November 7.

West, on the other hand, canceled a planned concert tour of the United States and Canada earlier this month and was the subject of an Internet death hoax earlier this week which falsely claimed he had died in a Los Angeles car crash.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Is Lindsay Lohan working in fashion for free?

Spanish designer Estrella Archs (L) appears with Actress Lindsay Lohan at the end of her Spring/Summer 2010 collection for Emanuel Ungaro house during Paris Fashion Week October 4, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Just months ago, Lindsay Lohan earned a prestigious position as an artistic advisor to fashion house Emanuel Ungaro — an honor soon dimmed by poor reviews of her first collection for the line with designer Estrella Archs at Paris Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Week earlier in October.

But according to FOX News, the prestige – and a mountain of free clothes – may be Lindsay’s only payment for the gig.

“Ungaro is not paying her at all to be a consultant for them,” a source reportedly close to Lindsay told FOX’s FOX 411 blog. “Her team is working to get Lindsay some form of payment from the fashion house, but right now they will only give her free clothes.”

A source also claimed to the site that Lindsay’s much-delayed musical career is on the rocks.

“Casablanca [Records] has suspended all further recording sessions of her album and put their working relationship with her on hold,” the source told FOX. “Lindsay was committed to making music and has been working on it for 16 months. She is going to go what she can to keep her music career going.”

However, in a Times of London interview with Emanuel Ungaro CEO Mounir Moufarrige on Sunday, the executive disputed the fashion accusations, telling the newspaper that Lindsay is being paid “quite enough” for her new position.

“It’s expensive,” he said.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Brad Pitt's motorcycle accident reports deny paparazzi sabotage

Actor Brad Pitt, involved in a motorcycle accident this past week, was reportedly wrecked at a red light by a stalking paparazzi.

The New York Daily News originally reported the Inglorious Basterds star was "hit by paparazzo while riding motorcycle in Los Angeles", quoting TMZ as the source.

According to the report, "the bike was thrust forward into another car, causing him to lose his balance."

Shortly after reports went viral, spreading across media outlets everywhere, TMZ.com posted a correction to the story, saying on their site they had more "factual" news after seeing the wreck video.

"We just spoke to someone who has seen video of the incident - and we're told absolutely no one else was involved in the accident."

Furthermore, they wrote "We're told Brad tried to maneuver his bike between a parked car and a car stopped at a red light, and his handlebars clipped the parked car," the site explains. "He lost control and feel over."

Adding, still, the star's health goes undisturbed. "Everything is fine," the report adds.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Nicole's sex roles betray women in the real world

On the face of it, Nicole Kidman would seem to be a rum choice to be talking about violence against women. After all, she's been raped in one film (Dogville), and had kinky sex with Tom Cruise in another (Eyes Wide Shut). She had a bath with a rather young boy (in Birth) and shagged Billy Zane in Dead Calm, her Hollywood debut – all in the name of art, of course. But Nicole isn't just a highly successful actress who's managed her career so brilliantly she now earns over £7m a film; she's decided to do her bit for the less fortunate by becoming a "goodwill ambassador" for the UN Development Fund for Women.

A new piece of legislation aimed at tackling the global abuse of women (the International Violence Against Women Act) has got stuck in the US Congress – and Nicole pitched up in her goodwill role to plead its case. This is undoubtedly an important cause – Amnesty International claims that one in three women are beaten and abused during their lifetime, with the figure rising to 70 per cent in some countries. Clearly, these are shocking statistics, and women deserve better. But using Nicole Kidman to front a campaign – no matter how worthwhile – really does call into question the whole dubious notion of goodwill ambassadors.

Over the past decade, the number of "ambassadors" has grown like Topsy, as the UN tries to capitalise on our obsession with celebrity culture. A quick trawl on the internet reveals what a motley bunch they have become – once a small group, which included people like Roger Moore, Nelson Mandela and Leslie Caron, now the list is endless. All the various UN agencies – from Unesco and Unicef to the parts of the organisation dealing with culture and science, education, population control, famine, refugees and women's rights – have their bizarre list of goodwill ambassadors ready to fly around the world drumming up media coverage by being photographed in some of the poorest and most deprived places on the planet.

These unpaid worthies, according to the UN, "use their fame to draw attention to important issues". I question whether the majority of these actors, singers, sports stars, minor members of royalty, prime ministers' wives and high-profile dress designers really add anything worthwhile to the UN's cause. Do women the world over think twice about birth control because Geri Halliwell is an ambassador for the UN Population Fund? Do governments listen to the thoughts of a woman who chose to have a baby without including the father, who is still waffling about "girl power" rather than real power.

Other figureheads seem equally random choices – Unicef has just appointed Orlando Bloom, and Unesco can boast some assorted discus throwers, Shirley Bassey, Pierre Cardin, and Celine Dion. Other goodwill ambassadors include Claudia Schiffer, Charlie Boorman and the businessman Duncan Bannatyne. Claudia Cardinale promotes women's rights – now, that's a surprise. And we hardly dare make a donation these days without double-checking that Bono has deemed the cause worthwhile.

Nicole Kidman might claim that she has never taken a role which demeans women, but she's working in an industry where women are routinely chucked on the scrap heap after the age of 40, consigned to play character roles and ageing mums, while leading men in their sixties still have on-screen sex with girls young enough to be their granddaughters. The film industry is run by men, financed by men and marketed by men. Apart from Jane Campion and Agnès Varda, has any high-profile woman made a successful film recently? The whole notion of choosing well-known actresses to speak up for the rights of underprivileged and abused women in the developing world sucks.

Nicole told the Congress committee that violence against women was "the most widespread human rights violation in the world". Funny then, that she continues to work in an industry that chooses to routinely depict women as objects which can be tortured, treated like sex toys and disposed of in all manner of gruesome ways, and all in the name of entertainment.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber diagnosed with cancer

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2009 file photo British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber promotes his new production 'Love Never Dies' at a theater in London. The new musical continues the story of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. A spokeswoman for Andrew Lloyd Webber says Sunday Oct. 25, 2009, the composer has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer saying 'the condition is in its very early stages. Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year.' [Agencies]

LONDON – Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his spokeswoman said Sunday.

The 61-year-old Lloyd Webber's condition is in its early stages, a statement from his publicists said.

"Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year," the statement said.

Lloyd Webber recently announced plans for a sequel to his phenomenally successful musical "Phantom of the Opera." Called "Love Never Dies," it is scheduled to open in London in March and follow on Broadway in November. Rehearsals begin in the new year.

At a media event for the new musical earlier this month, Lloyd Webber said that while the story picks up where "Phantom" left off, he doesn't regard it as a sequel — "it's a standalone piece."

But Lloyd Webber said he was inspired to write the musical because "there's unfinished business."

In "Love Never Dies," the Phantom leaves Paris for Coney Island at the turn of the century, which Lloyd Webber said was like Las Vegas "and then triple it."

Producers say the original "Phantom" — a fixture of the London and New York stages — has been seen by more than 100 million people around the world. In September, it became the longest-running show in Broadway history, brushing aside Lloyd Webber's "Cats."

Lloyd Webber's other musical hits have included "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Evita." He owns several theaters in London's famous West End.

According to his Web site, Lloyd Webber has won seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. In 2006, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor.

Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992 and named to Britain's House of Lords in 1997.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Wedding planner Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham is paying for her sister's £50,000 wedding.

The former Spice Girls singer has offered to organise and fund every aspect of her younger sibling Louise's marriage to stockbroker Darren Flood on December 27.

A source said: "Victoria just told Louise, 'I don't care what it costs - it will be my Christmas present to you.' Louise was very emotional."

Victoria wants the event to be held at her 'Beckingham Palace' mansion in Hertfordshire, East England, and has even asked fashion designer Vera Wang - who created the gown Victoria wore for her 1999 marriage to David Beckham - to make Louise's dress.

But the star's generous offer has upset Darren, who wants to pay for the nuptials himself.

The source said: "He is insisting he gets the bill - it's why he is so respected and liked by the family. But Victoria normally gets her way."

It won't be the first time Louise has walked down the aisle at 'Beckingham Palace'.

Her first wedding was held there in 2002, but the couple split five years later in 2007.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

'Paranormal Activity' slays 'Saw' with $22 million

In this film publicity image released by Paramount Pictures, a scene from the film, 'Paranormal Activity,' is shown. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – "Paranormal Activity" has won a weekend battle of fright films over part six of the "Saw" franchise.

Paramount's upstart chiller "Paranormal Activity" went into nationwide release and took over the No. 1 spot with $22 million. That compares to just $14.8 million for the debut of "Saw VI," a franchise that has been an annual Halloween fixture since 2004.

It was the worst opening ever for Lionsgate's "Saw" series, whose previous low was $18.3 million for the original movie. Subsequent installments of the "Saw" franchise all opened at $30 million or better.

This time, horror fans simply gravitated toward "Paranormal Activity" instead of "Saw VI."

"`Paranormal' ate their lunch," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "There's no other way to explain it."

After four weeks in narrower release, Paramount slotted "Paranormal Activity" into 1,945 theaters. That still was just under two-thirds of the 3,036 theater count for "Saw VI."

"Paranormal Activity" raised its total haul to $62.5 million. The low-budget movie was shot for a reported $15,000 but has become a horror sensation because of online fan buzz. The fictional movie unfolds like a homemade documentary as a couple copes with apparitions and supernatural phenomena in their home.

It has a strong shot at topping $100 million, something none of the "Saw" movies ever managed. While "Saw," the grisly saga of a puppetmaster putting victims through savage moral tests, was embraced as a fresh twist by horror fans five years ago, it now is part of the Hollywood establishment compared to "Paranormal Activity."

"There's no question `Paranormal' offered a fresh alternative," said Rob Moore, Paramount vice chairman. "This movie definitely has achieved a place in our culture right now."

The overall box office declined, with Hollywood revenues totaling $121 million, down 9 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" debuted with $42 million and "Saw V" opened with $30.1 million.

The box-office should get a jolt over Halloween as "Paranormal Activity" expands to as many as 2,500 theaters and Sony's "Michael Jackson: This Is It" heads into its first weekend after debuting late Tuesday night.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, the Warner Bros. tale "Where the Wild Things Are," fell to No. 3, just behind "Saw VI" with $14.4 million. Spike Jonze's adaptation of the beloved children's book by Maurice Sendak raised its total to $54 million.

Among other wide releases, Summit Entertainment's "Astro Boy" opened at No. 6 with $7 million, Universal's "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" debuted at No. 8 with $6.3 million, and Fox Searchlight's "Amelia" premiered at No. 11 with $4 million.

"Astro Boy" features the voices of Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage in a sci-fi adventure based on the Japanese comic book and cartoon series about a superhero child robot. "Vampire's Assistant" stars John C. Reilly as a centuries-old bloodsucker who takes on a teenage apprentice in a traveling freak show. "Amelia" is a film biography of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank).

In limited release from IFC Films, Lars von Trier's graphic "Antichrist" had a modest debut, pulling in $73,500 in six theaters for a $12,250 average. The movie stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a couple whose relationship devolves into torture and self-mutilation after the death of their child.

Now that "Paranormal Activity" has a firm grip on audiences, Paramount is toying with the prospects for sequels or prequels.

"Given the success of this and the passion of the online community, I think our guys have got a number of different ideas they're percolating," Moore said. "Once we've gotten to the end of this run, we'll see what other fun we can have with this."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Paranormal Activity," $22 million.

2. "Saw VI," $14.8 million.

3. "Where the Wild Things Are," $14.4 million.

4. "Law Abiding Citizen," $12.7 million.

5. "Couples Retreat," $11.1 million.

6. "Astro Boy," $7 million.

7. "The Stepfather," $6.5 million.

8. "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," $6.3 million.

9. "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," $5.6 million.

10. "Zombieland," $4.3 million.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Kevin Costner scared of swine flu

Kevin Costner is terrified his children will catch swine flu.

The 54-year-old actor - who is currently touring Germany with his country band Kevin Costner and Modern West - has banned his family from travelling with him to keep them safe from the potentially fatal virus.

Kevin - who has six children, Annie, 25, Lily, 23, Joe, 21, Liam, 13, Cayden, two, eight-month-old Hayes, with three different women - said: "It is unusual that my family is not there, because they usually are always there.

"But I have been worried about swine flu, and didn't want my small children with me this time on this trip."

The 'Dances with Wolves' star also revealed how his wife, German model Christine Baumgartner, encouraged him to fulfill his dream of playing his music in Germany.

He is quoted by website tz-online.de as saying: "I wanted to bring my music to the people. And since my ancestors emigrated to America in the 17th century, I wanted to close the circle and return to Germany.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Bon Jovi to rock London

Bon Jovi have announced they will play a residency at London's 02 arena starting in June 2010.

Bon Jovi are to play a residency at London's 02 arena next year.

The band - Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres - will kick off the run of shows in June 2010 as part of their 'The Circle Tour' which begins in the spring.

Although it is not yet known how many concerts the rockers will play it is believed the residency could rival Prince's mammoth 21-night stay in 2007.

Speaking on behalf of promoters AEG Live, Rob Hallett said: "Bon Jovi are probably the best live band in the world. This one could run and run."

Bon Jovi were the first act to play The 02 when it opened in June 2007 and are the first musicians to announce an extended string of concerts at the venue since Michael Jackson - who tragically died in June just weeks before his sold-out 50-night 'This Is It' residency was due to begin.

The band announced their world tour yesterday (22.10.09) during a concert at the grand opening of The New Meadowlands Stadium, in New Jersey - where they will play on May 26 and 27 - in front of over 5,000 fans.

taken from : China Daily

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora

Read more...

Peter Andre has 'moved on'

Peter Andre has 'moved on'

'Behind Closed Doors' singer Peter Andre celebrated the end of his three-and-a-half year marriage to glamour model Katie Price yesterday (22.10.09) and vowed he has ''moved on''.

Peter Andre celebrated the end of his marriage to Katie Price yesterday (22.10.09).

The 'Behind Closed Doors' singer hugged his brother Michael Andre and agent Claire Powell in Brighton, South East England, after receiving his decree absolute, the legal documentation which states his three-and-a-half year union to the glamour model is officially over.

He told the pair: "It's over. I've moved on. It's been hard but you guys have always been there for me. I've been hurt by this but I'm a stronger man now. I can cope with anything."

According to friends, the 36-year-old singer - who has two children, Junior, four, and two-year-old Princess Tiaamii with Katie, and has raised her son Harvey, seven, like his own child - is planning muted celebrations to mark the end of the relationship.

One pal said: "On one hand he's delighted, but the separation has been far from pain-free. Of course he'll celebrate, but he has a lot of thinking to do."

Peter - who pledged to remain celibate until his divorce was finalised - is now looking forward to dating other women.

Another friend revealed: "He's a hot-blooded man and the last few months have been difficult. But he's always wanted to do the right thing by Kate and the kids. And that meant not being on the market until things died down. Now that moment has finally come. Pete was always 100 per cent faithful during their marriage and even when the divorce was going through."

Katie, 31, marked the divorce by claiming their marriage often felt like nothing more than a "business" deal.

The brunette beauty - who is now dating cage-fighter Alex Reid - said: "For me and Pete it is a business, we know the entertainment business is a fake world, not a real world."

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

Noel Gallagher says it's good to be free

Noel Gallagher says it's good to be free

Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher is ''not thinking about'' his brother Liam anymore, since he left the group.

Noel Gallagher is "not thinking about" his brother Liam anymore.

The former Oasis guitarist - who walked out on the group in August after a fight with his lead singer sibling - is concentrating on his own music rather than worrying about the fate of the band.

He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I'm having a good time and the support from my fans has been great. I'm looking forward to doing my own thing, bringing out my own music.

"I'm glad that's what people want to hear. I am not thinking about much else, Oasis or Liam, I'm just having a good time."

The 'Don't Look Back In Anger' rocker made his comments at the re-opening of London nightclub Chinawhite, where he drank champagne and vodka at a £5,000 VIP table with his long-term partner Sara MacDonald.

As Noel partied, former hellraiser Liam was spotted this week jogging with Prodigy star Liam Howlett - the husband of his wife Nicole Appleton's sister Natalie - in a London park.

Noel announced he was quitting Oasis after he and Liam had a fight just minutes before they were due on stage at a Paris music festival.

The brawl resulted in Noel smashing up one of his brother's treasured guitars and Liam retaliating by destroying a rack of his sibling's instruments.

The guitarist said at the time: "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I have quit Oasis. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."

Liam, 37, had been rumoured to be looking for a guitarist to replace 42-year-old Noel, but confirmed earlier this month the band are "no longer".

taken from : China Daily

Read more...

John Travolta holds family 'tighter'

John Travolta holds family 'tighter'

John Travolta has been brought closer to his family following the tragic death of his 16-year-old son Jett earlier this year, the 'Pulp Fiction' star's assistant and friend Ronnie Zupancic has revealed.

John Travolta's family has been brought closer together by the tragic death of 16-year-old son Jett earlier this year.

The Hollywood actor was left devastated when his beloved boy died in January following a seizure but it has made him appreciate the importance of wife Kelly Preston and nine-year-old daughter Ella.

The 'Pulp Fiction' star's assistant and friend Ronnie Zupancic said: "They think about Jett every day, they never stop. They recognise the fragility of life, and they all hold each other a little tighter now.

"It doesn't wear off. Jett is still with them. It's like it was yesterday. He's got a heavy heart. There is a hole."

On Wednesday (21.10.09), Travolta's extortion case - in which two men were accused of trying to get £18 million from the star following the death of Jett - ended in a mistrial, leaving him "upset" as the family is keen to move on.

His lawyer Mike Ossi said: "He was upset as he wanted closure. The family wants to privately begin the long and difficult healing process - as well as to properly honour Jett's memory - without the cloud of this litigation over their heads. But he said he is committed to cooperating with authorities so justice can be served."

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne - who was one of the medical team who treated 16-year-old Jett before he died in January - and his co-accused, former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, allegedly demanded the huge sum from Travolta and threaten to sell a story claiming the couple "intentionally killed" their son.

Senior Justice Anita Allen - who was overseeing the case - was forced to make the decision after a speech broadcast on the TV and radio hinted the jury would acquit one of the defendants.

taken from : China Daily

Read more...