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Olivia Wilde is a Shining Star

By
Rebecca Murray
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Olivia Wilde at the Tron: Legacy Premiere
Olivia Wilde at the ‘Tron: Legacy’ Premiere (Photo © Richard Chavez)

So says the 2011 Maui Film Festival. The star of House, Tron:Legacy and Cowboys and Aliens, Olivia Wilde, has been tapped to receive the 2011 Maui Film Festival Female Shining Star Award at a ceremony to be held June 15-19th at the Wailea Resort in Maui.

“As the festival with a reputation for honoring film artists for their lifelong achievement as well as those luminaries very much still in the ascendance of her journey, the Maui Film Festival is thrilled to honor Olivia Wilde with the 2011 Maui Film Festival Female Shining Star Award,” said Festival Director Barry Rivers.

From the Maui Film Festival:

The Female Shining Star Award honors a film artist, still in the ascendance of her career—with many magnetic performances both behind and ahead of her—whose very presence on screen guarantees as much light as heat.  Wilde will be presented the Female Shining Star Award at one of evenings at the Celestial Cinema located at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course.

Following her Award Presentation, there will be a screening of Sun City Picture House, a new short film, Executive Produced by Wilde and Maria Bello.  Sun City Picture House is a stunning and uplifting documentary about building a movie theater amidst the rubble of the aftermath of the powerful 2010 earthquake, which devastated Haiti and the last of the island’s old colonial movie theaters.

Wilde will next be seen opposite Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in the Universal fantasy-action film Cowboys & Aliens, being released on July 29th. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film takes place in the year 1873 and tells the story of a stranger who stumbles into the rough and tumble desert town of Absolution.  Wilde will also be seen in five other films; the physical comedy The Change Up, to be released in August, starring opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman; Andrew Niccol’s futuristic thriller, Now will hit theaters starring Justin Timberlake; The Weinstein Company’s quirky political satire Butter, starring Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman and Ty Burrell; Stefan Ruzowitzsky’s Blackbird, with Eric Bana; Alex Kurtzman’s directorial debut, Welcome to People with Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks.

Wilde’s previous film credits include Tron: Legacy, The Next Three Days, Year One, Alpha Dog, Bickford Schmeckler’s Cool Ideas, and Conversations with Other Women.




First Photo of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Jennifer Lawrence The Hunger Games Photo
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games’ (Photo © EW)

Lionsgate’s big screen adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is heading to theaters next March with Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role of Katniss Everdeen. Director Gary Ross cast the 20-year-old Oscar nominee (Winter’s Bone) to play the role of the 16-year-old heroine of the story, and fans didn’t immediately embrace his decision. Lawrence is older than Katniss and her coloring’s different, but Ross is convinced fans will be won over by her performance.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly just days before shooting was about to begin, Lawrence recalled her first meeting with Ross. “He was asking me what the experience was like,” said Lawrence, “and I just kind of opened up and said, ‘I feel like a rag doll. I have hair and makeup people coming to my house every day and putting me in new, uncomfortable, weird dresses and expensive shoes, and I just shut down and raise my arms up for them to get the dress on, and pout my lips when they need to put the lipstick on.’ And we both started laughing because that’s exactly what it’s like for Katniss in the Capitol. She was a girl who’s all of a sudden being introduced to fame. I know what that feels like to have all this flurry around you and feel like ‘Oh, no, I don’t belong here.”

And Lawrence admitted to EW she wasn’t initially sure whether to take on the role. “I knew that as soon as I said yes, my life would change,” she says. “And I walked around an entire day thinking ‘It’s not too late, I could still go back and do indies, I haven’t said yes yet, it’s not too late.'”

But ultimately she found she just couldn’t say no. “I love this story,” said Lawrence, “and if I had said no, I would regret it every day.”




Sony and MGM Collaborate on ’21 Jump Street’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum (Photo © Richard Chavez)

The big screen version of the ’80s cop show 21 Jump Street set to star Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill has picked up MGM as a financial backer.

From MGM:

MGM will become a financial partner on the upcoming Sony Pictures Entertainment film 21 Jump Street, it was announced today by MGM Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum and Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal. Sony will handle marketing and distribution, while MGM will handle select international television licensing for the film.

21 Jump Street is part of the recently announced agreement between Sony and MGM to explore co-financing opportunities on future motion pictures produced by each of the respective studios for the next five years. They have most recently partnered on the highly anticipated Bond 23, set for worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

In recent years, the two studios have collaborated on numerous films, including Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, 21, Yours, Mine and Ours, The Pink Panther, and the summer tent pole Kevin James comedy Zookeeper, which opens nationwide on July 8, 2011.

21 Jump Street is based on the television series, which focused on young cops with youthful appearances who work undercover in high schools and colleges. The film is being directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, from a screenplay by Michael Bacall based on a treatment from Hill and Bacall. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film with Stephen J. Cannell, who will receive posthumous credit.

The film is set to be released on March 16, 2012.




Arclight Gets in Bed with ‘Tracey’s Slumba Party’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Filming will begin in late 2011 on Tracey’s Slumba Party, according to Arclight Films.

From the studio:

Arclight Films horror/sci-fi unit Darclight has picked up foreign rights to director Louise Alston’s (All My Friends are Leaving Brisbane) next film, a horror musical spoof entitled Tracey’s Slumba Party.  Darclight will take charge of foreign sales outside Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Arclight Managing Director Gary Hamilton announced that the film would be produced by Michael Robertson and Kent Smith under their new genre banner Croweater Entertainment, a production alliance between Robertson’s Prodigy Movies and Smith’s producer/distributor Kojo Pictures. Darclight will produce with Croweater.

The film centers on a teen girls’ sleepover gone wrong that quickly evolves from “manicures and boy talk to murder and mayhem,” says Smith.  Alston expects to start filming later this year in South Australia with stars Kate Geck and Mel Sano from the cult punk girl group “Toxic Lipstick.”

“Darclight are pleased to support this exciting new production team,” says Hamilton.  “Both Michael and Kent are experienced producers in the world of low budget, genre-driven films, and their talents in Croweater present a potent combination. We’re looking forward to Tracey’s Slumba Party helping keep Darclight at the forefront of horror films aimed at young audiences worldwide.”

Tracey's Slumba Party
A scene from ‘Tracey’s Slumba Party’

Forbes Says Lady Gaga is 2011’s World’s Most Powerful Celebrity

By
Rebecca Murray
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Lady Gaga The Edge of Glory Remixes
Lady Gaga The Edge of Glory Remixes
Lady Gaga has done the impossible: she’s knocked Oprah Winfrey out of the top spot on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list.

From Forbes:

Lady Gaga tops our power list not just because of her $90 million in earnings, but also because of her 32 million Facebook fans and 10 million Twitter followers, who helped move 1 million copies of her hit single, “Born This Way,” in just five days. The earnings power of The Celebrity 100 dropped slightly in 2011, with this year’s stars having earned a collective $4.5 billion during the past year, down from $4.7 billion in 2010.

Justin Bieber debuts on the list at No. 3, and is also the youngest, at 17 years old. He earned $53 million over the last 12 months, and in addition to concerts, movie sales and a 3-D documentary movie, his “Baby” hit song video was viewed 500 million times, a YouTube record. He is joined by other notable newcomers, among them musician Katy Perry (No. 12), actor Christopher Nolan (No. 47), actress Natalie Portman (No. 75), television actor Mark Harmon (No. 98) and reality TV star Bethenny Frankel (No. 42). Frankel is among several celebrity entrepreneurs featured in the June 6 issue cover story, “The New Celebrity Money Makers” (p. 65), who illustrate that power is more than earnings and followers – it’s also about building a brand and a business.

Donald Trump (No. 17) breaks into the Top 20 (from No. 32 in 2010) thanks to his increased media attention around the birther issue. Leonardo DiCaprio (No. 15) is the biggest gainer, up from No. 71 a year ago, with two huge films, Shutter Island and Inception. Notable drop offs include Britney Spears (who was No. 6 in 2010, but fell off because she didn’t tour) and Daniel Radcliffe (who ranked 82nd last year) of Harry Potter fame. Sixty-seven of the 100 people on the list this year are men, and they pull in 73% of the total earnings. Musicians rule the 2011 list (in fact, six of the Top 10 spots are held by musicians).

2011 Rank and Earnings:
Lady Gaga, $90 million
Oprah Winfrey, $290 million
Justin Bieber, $53 million
U2, $195 million
Elton John, $100 million>
Tiger Woods, $75 million
Taylor Swift, $45 million
Bon Jovi, $125 million
Simon Cowell, $90 million
LeBron James, $48 million




Steve Carell and Keira Knightley Star in ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Keira Knightley and Steve Carell in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Keira Knightley and Steve Carell in ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ – Photo © Focus Features

Focus Features announced filming has begun on Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. The pre-apocalyptic comedy will be written and directed by Lorene Scafaria.

From the press release:

Confirmed as joining the two lead actors in the cast are – in alphabetical order – Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), Adam Brody (Damsels in Distress), Roger Aaron Brown (The District), Tonita Castro (The Sarah Silverman Program), Rob Corddry (Mandate’s Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay), two-time Academy Award nominee Melinda Dillon (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), Rob Huebel (Human Giant), Gillian Jacobs (Community), Derek Luke (Focus’ Catch a Fire), Melanie Lynskey (Focus’ Away We Go), T.J. Miller (Cloverfield), Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives), Patton Oswalt (United States of Tara), William Petersen (CSI), Lindsay Sloane (Horrible Bosses), and Bob Stephenson (Jericho).

Two-time Independent Spirit Award nominee Tim Orr is the film’s cinematographer; the production designer is Chris Spellman (Indian Paintbrush’s Jeff Who Lives At Home). Kristin Burke (Insidious) is costume designer; Zene Baker (Mandate’s 50/50) is editor.

Set in a too-near future, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World explores what people will do when humanity’s last days are at hand. Can one man find his greatest love at the worst possible time? As the respective journeys of Dodge (Carell) and Penny (Knightley) converge, the two spark to each other and their outlooks – if not the world’s – brighten.

Ms. Scafaria, who wrote the original screenplay, is making her feature directorial debut with the film. She wrote the screenplay adaptation for the 2008 feature Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, also for Mandate, which starred Michael Cera and Kat Dennings.




‘Scream 4’ Cast Interviews from the Red Carpet Premiere

By
Rebecca Murray
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The cast of Scream 4 hit the red carpet for the film’s world premiere in Hollywood, CA, on April 11, 2011 to promote the latest film of the successful horror franchise. Among those showing up to chat with the NowLive crew were Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Erik Knudsen, Anna Paquin, Wes Craven, Emma Roberts, and Adam Brody. Marley Shelton, Nico Tortorella, Kristen Bell, Lucy Hale, Alison Brie, Aimee Teegarden, Marielle Jaffe, and Anthony Anderson also put in appearances at the film’s Hollywood premiere.

Watch the video for what the stars had to say about bringing the masked-wearing serial killer, Ghostface, back to the big screen.

The Plot: It has been many years since the Ghostface Killer cut a deadly path through the town of Woodsboro. In order to get over the trauma of those horrific events, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has written a self-help book. She returns to Woodsboro for her book tour, and reconnects with old friends Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette). However, Sidney’s arrival also sparks the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney and everyone she loves in danger.

Oscar Isaac Joins ‘Still I Rise’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Oscar Isaac stars in 'Inside Llewyn Davis'
Oscar Isaac stars in ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ – (Photo Courtesy of CBS Films)

Oscar Isaac is going from playing the lead villain in Zack Snyder’s action fantasy Sucker Punch to the more grounded in reality drama, Still I Rise, so says Variety. Isaac will be playing a “sexy, ukulele-playing teacher” in the Walden Media/20th Century Fox project, which begins shooting this month.

Isaac joins a cast which already includes Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis as moms who fight to reform an inner-city school. Daniel Barnz (Beastly) wrote the current draft of the script and is directing.

In addition to Sucker Punch, Isaac’s been busy with the action thriller Drive starring Ryan Gosling, Ten Year with Channing Tatum, and the historical drama Cristiada co-starring Eva Longoria and Peter O’Toole.

Tribeca Film Loves ‘Romantics Anonymous’ with Isabelle Carre

By
Rebecca Murray
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Benoît Poelvoorde and Isabelle Carré in 'Romantics Anonymous'
Benoît Poelvoorde and Isabelle Carré in ‘Romantics Anonymous’ (Photo Credit: Tribeca Film)

The French film Romantics Anonymous has found a home with Tribeca Film following its premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

From Tribeca Film:

Jean-Pierre Améris directed and co-wrote the film with Philippe Blasband. The producers are Nathalie Gastaldo and Philippe Godeau. StudioCanal released the film in France, where it has taken in more than $9 million to date at the box office, and also has handled international sales.

The film tells the story of Angélique Delange (Isabelle Carré, Private Fears in Public Places), an unemployed but gifted chocolate-maker with a lifelong case of uncontrollable shyness that prevents her from properly sharing her confectionary talents. Jean-René Van Den Hugde (Benoît Poelvoorde, Coco Before Chanel) suffers from a similar case of terminal abashment and runs a fledgling chocolate company in desperate need of a new direction. When Jean-René hires Angélique as the new sales associate, the two nervous Nellies must face their deepest fears. With the chocolate business hanging in the balance, they are forced to fess up to their hidden sweet affections for each other.

“French films have the rare ability to transcend boundaries and bring audiences together. We’re enormously pleased to have reached a deal in Cannes for this film, which has great comic moments, wonderful characters and extraordinary performances,” said Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative officer, Tribeca Enterprises. “Romantics Anonymous is universal in its appeal and its treatment of love and romance. We look forward to bringing it to a wider audience in the U.S.”

“At Tribeca Film Festival the audience welcomed Romantics Anonymous with such warmth, when we debated after the screenings people were so connected to the humor and emotion of the film, that I am particularly happy to know the film will be distributed in the United States and this conversation with American audiences will carry on,” said Jean-Pierre Améris.

Watch the trailer:




Kristin Chenoweth to Release ‘Some Lessons Learned’ in September

By
Rebecca Murray
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Kristin Chenoweth to Perform on the 2013 Oscars
Kristin Chenoweth – Photo © Richard Chavez

Multi-talented actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is set to release a country music album called Some Lessons Learned on September 13, 2011.

From Sony Masterworks:

Her debut single, “I Want Somebody (Bitch About)” is a tongue-in-cheek song about finding unconditional love. All of the songs on Chenoweth’s new album are very personal and explore her life experiences as a woman. The single will be available for sale on May 31.

The music video for “I Want Somebody (Bitch About)” which takes place in a retro hair salon makes its debut on Country Music Television (CMT) on June 6. During that week Chenoweth will be very involved in Nashville’s annual Country Music Fest. She is set to appear on the 2011 CMT Music Awards and perform on the finale of CMT’s Next Superstar.

This is Chenoweth’s fourth album on Sony. “Look at my recording career and it’s kind of funny. It’s all so different!” says Chenoweth who counts Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire and Linda Ronstadt among her major influences. “This album is more along the lines of what I grew up singing, like the music I sang in church in Oklahoma. When I was hired at nineteen to sing at Opryland in Nashville, that’s what I wanted to do. I never anticipated my career going in all these great directions — which I’m grateful for! I’m finally getting to do what I want.”

Some Lessons Learned is the culmination of a natural progression for Chenoweth as a recording artist. She singles out the title track “Lessons Learned”: “It’s about what we learn and how we learn — and what we do with it.”

Hence, she relied heavily on one of contemporary pop’s most prolific songwriters, Diane Warren, who wrote a number of songs on the album. “I feel so lucky to be able to have worked with Diane.  Her songs really capture who I am.  She pushed me and gave me confidence to go for it!” says Chenoweth. Warren also hooked her up with Ezrin, “and it became a great partnership,” she adds. “On paper you wouldn’t think of having Pink Floyd’s producer, but it really worked!”

Ezrin has certainly succeeded in bringing out Chenoweth’s hopeful, humorous, and inspirational qualities. Additionally, Some Lessons Learned showcases the work of “some of the best songwriters and musicians in Nashville,” notes Chenoweth, who also points to her sole duet, “What If We Never,” with Randy Travis, not to mention the cover of Dolly Parton’s “Change.”

“I’m so glad that as an artist, I’m in a position to work with such incredibly talented people,” Chenoweth concludes. “I’ve always wanted to make this album, especially in Nashville, where the musicians are amazing and everyone is so wonderful to work with.  I can’t wait to go back!”




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