MUMBAI: Asif Kapadia – director of the documentary ‘Senna’, based on the life of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, is slated to now document the life of the late singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse in an untitled documentary. Focus Features would be introducing the project to buyers at Cannes this year.
Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, five years after rising to international fame with her “Back to Black” album.
‘Senna‘ producer James Gay-Rees will produce through it Playmaker Films, Gay-Rees and Kapadia’s new production entity. The film will be co-produced by Universal Music.
“This is an incredibly modern, emotional and relevant film that has the power to capture the zeitgeist and shine a light on the world we live in, in a way that very few films can,” Kapadia and Gay-Rees said. “Amy was a once-in-a-generation talent who captured everyone’s attention; she wrote and sung from the heart and everyone fell under her spell. But tragically Amy seemed to fall apart under the relentless media attention, her troubled relationships, her global success and precarious lifestyle,” they further added.
Category: International
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Amy Winehouse documentary on the cards by ‘Senna’ director
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Iconic Gibson Amphitheater makes way for a Harry Potter attraction
MUMBAI: NBCUniversal (NBCU) is demolishing the Los Angeles theme park‘s 41-year-old site in September to make way for a Harry Potter attraction and other "improvements." As reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The Gibson Amphitheater, a popular concert venue since its inauguration in 1972 as the Universal Amphitheater, will be leveled as early as October.
It’s been assumed for months that the iconic amphitheater would need to perish, since NBCU has been saying that its joint-venture attraction with Warner Bros. called ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ was to be constructed at the north end of the park, which is where the amphitheater is located. On Wednesday, the decision was made formal.
“This fall, a celebrated chapter in Los Angeles’ rich musical history will come to a close when the Gibson Amphitheater shuts its doors in September,” NBCU and Live Nation said in a release Wednesday. Live Nation leases the 6,200-seat amphitheater from NBCU.
Live Nation is organizing a special "finale" concert on or about 6 September (acts have yet to be announced) to celebrate the 41-year-old venue, but details still are being worked out. -
Focus snaps up Matthew McConaughey starrer AIDS drama
MUMBAI: Focus Features has acquired the rights to Mathew McConaughey starrer Dallas Buyers Club. The movie is based on a true life incident around Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) will be directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.
As reported by Hollywood Reporter, Focus plans to release the movie in the second half of the year. This makes it a possible contender for the Oscars and one could be looking at heavy Academy campaigning.
The movie tells the account of a 1980‘s Texan electrician, Ron Woodroof, who is diagnosed with AIDS and has been given six months to live. In a bid to fight the disease not only for himself, but also fellow AIDS affected patients, Woodroof starts smuggling alternative drugs into the Unites States of America. This lands him in trouble with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Apart from McConaughney, the film will star Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. It is produced by Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter while the executive producers are Truth Entertainment‘s Tony Notargiacomo and Joe Newcomb along with Nicolas Chartier, Cassian Elwes, Logan Lev, Nathan Ross and Holly Wiersma. The script is written by Craig Borten and Melissa Wallack.
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Angelina Jolie funds all-girls school in Afghanistan
New Delhi: Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie has opened an all-girls school in Afghanistan.
Jolie, the goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has funded a girls-only primary school outside the Afghan capital of Kabul, where there is a large refugee population and education of females is lacking.
The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict aims to reach a total of one million “children in conflict, post-conflict refugee and emergency situations,” Angelina said at a press conference announcing its launch.
She plans to build more schools around the world from profits gained from her jewellery collection, Style of Jolie, designed by Robert Procop. "We launched this collaborative collection with the intent that 100 percent of the profits will go to charity," Procop said.
Jolie was named Goodwill Ambassador for The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2001.
The organisation credits the actress with carrying out more than 40 field missions in remote regions around the world “to highlight the plight of millions of uprooted people and to advocate for their protection”, according to a statement on the UNHCR website. -
The Croods rakes in Rs 43 mn at Indian BO in opening weekend
MUMBAI: Fox Star Studios and DreamWorks‘ animated film ‘The Croods‘ has collected Rs 43.1 million in its opening weekend in India as a result of positive word of mouth.
This is the sixth release by Fox Star Studios in 2013. The film‘s opening figures are the biggest weekend for a non- franchise animation film also making it the fourth biggest animation opener in India. Other animated films to have received such a response at the Indian box office are Ice Age 4, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Madagascar 3.
Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh said, "We are delighted with the fantastic weekend opening of The Croods. With stunning visual content and power packed entertainment, it is the perfect holiday film for the entire family, and we expect the numbers to increase further during the week"
Set in the prehistoric era, The Croods features the voices of Hollywood actors Nicholas Cage, Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone. It is also the first DreamWorks Animation project to be distributed by Fox after the former‘s arrangement with Paramount Pictures ended in 2012. -
Seth MacFarlane approached to host Oscars again
MUMBAI: Seth MacFarlane may have shown reluctance to return as an Oscar host, but producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are apparently keen to bring him back for the high profile job.
While Zadan and Meron are making a return to oversee the Oscars in 2014, they reportedly want MacFarlane back for the hosting job though he has faced criticism from several quarters but ensured that the show generated good rating.
It is said that after defending his performance, the producers reached out to Seth and invited him back to host the show again.Immediately after his hosting stint, MacFarlane had said that he would not like to return for a second time. However, sources say that he is still considering the offer though he‘s not sure if he‘s going to do it, but he has to decide within the next couple of weeks.
The last Oscars, this year, drew 40.3 million total viewers but MacFarlane was criticised because of his controversial jokes on sensitive social issues. -
Jennifer Lopez to star in lesbian drama
MUMBAI: Crooner-actress Jennifer Lopez is set to feature The Fosters, a lesbian drama she is producing.
Though the American Idol judge will not appear in the first episode, but she is keen to take part later in the season, it is reported. The show features a same-sex couple and their family.
"She may be thinking about doing a cameo in the pilot, but there was some apprehension in deciding how early they wanted to feature someone like her into the show," said Jake T Austin, who plays her foster son. "So she`ll definitely come on but at this point, we just don`t know when," he added. -
Stevie Wonder to receive Service to America Leadership Award
MUMBAI: Legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder will receive the 2013 Service to America Leadership Award from the NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) for his important work as an activist, messenger of peace and his dedication to helping people with disabilities and children and families in need. The visually impaired singer who has been an inspiration to many the world over through his music will receive the award at NABEF‘s Celebration of Service to America Gala on 3 June.
The Service to America Leadership Award recognises individuals and organisations responsible for improving the lives of others through extraordinary public service. Considered NABEF‘s highest individual honour, the award will be presented at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.
"Stevie Wonder has touched millions of lives worldwide through his musical genius and through his tireless contributions as a humanitarian. It is for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of those in need that we proudly honour him with this prestigious award," said NABEF president Marcellus Alexander.
Wonder has amassed 32 #1 singles, 49 top-40 singles, 25 Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll and Songwriters‘ Halls of Fame, was the youngest recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, is a Commander of France‘s National Order of Arts and Letters, and became the second recipient of the Library of Congress‘ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Stevie Wonder has been pivotal in U.S. and world events. In 1983, he spearheaded a campaign in the U.S. to make Martin Luther King Day a national holiday and his advocacy for ending apartheid in South Africa is legendary. As an artist, songwriter and producer concerned with major humanitarian issues, his voice has lent itself to charities in support of disabilities, AIDS, cancer, diabetes, hunger and homelessness, domestic abuse and numerous other causes on behalf of children and adults. His numerous awards include recognition from the U.S. President‘s Committee on Employment of Handicapped People, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Children‘s Diabetes Foundation and the American Association of People with Disabilities. For 17 years, he has provided toys and gifts of joy for children and families in need with his annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert. As a designated U.N. Messenger of Peace with special focus on persons with disabilities, he continues to demonstrate the activism that has made him such a vital voice for social progress. -
Fast and Furious 7 due to release in 2014
MUMBAI: The seventh part of Fast & Furious has been scheduled to release on 11 July next year.
Said an excited Vin Diesel, “The next one is probably going to be the biggest one of them all.” He also said that there was a scope for more two or three movies down the road.
Now with the release date out, the James Wan directed action-packed film will now compete with Marvel‘s X-Men: Days of Future Past that will also release on the same day.
Diesel, who is also the producer of the action franchise, is currently promoting Fast and Furious 6 along with his co-star Paul Walker.
Fast and Furious 6 will hit theatres on 24 May. -
David O Russell re-titles his next film
MUMBAI: David O Russell, well known for his film Silver Linings Playbook has re-titled his next film as American Hustle, It was earlier titled American Bullshit.
It is said that Russell is repeating the cast of his earlier films The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook for the corruption-drama. The cast of American Hustle includes Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jack Huston among others.
The film is based on a sting operation conducted by FBI in 70‘s that led to conviction of a senator and five members of US House of Representatives on charges of bribery.
The film is being co-written by Eric Singer and Russell himself.The release date of the film is yet to be announced.