Page 1297 - Entertainment Culture
Steven Spielberg to helm 'Blackhawk' film adaptation
Steven Spielberg is making his superhero genre debut with "Blackhawk", the film adaptation of the DC Comics. The action adventure film is based on the 1941 comic of the same name and centres on a team of World War II fighter pilots who are led by a mysterious man known as Blackhawk and face down fantastical threats. The "Ready Player One" director, along with his Amblin Entertainment, will produce the film for Warner Bros, and may also direct it, the studio has announced. "We are so proud to be the studio behind Steven Spielberg's latest hit, and are thrilled to be working with him again on this new action adventure. We can't wait to see what new ground he will break in introducing 'Blackhawk' to movie audiences worldwide," Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros Pictures Group, said in a statement. Speilberg's frequent collaborator, David Koepp, will be penning the script of the film. They have earlier worked on films such as "Jurassic Park", "The Lost World: Jurassic Park", "War of the
S Korean pop group BTS wins TIME 100 reader poll
South Korean pop group BTS has won the online reader's poll for TIME 'Person of the Year 2018'. BTS which stands for 'Bangtan Sonyeondan' or 'Beyond the Scene' easily dominated this year's poll, garnering over 15 per cent of the vote. South Korean President Moon Jae-in finised second with five percent votes, followed by former US President Barack Obama with three percent votes. TIME said the group has topped Billboard's Social charts for almost all of 2017 and 2018, won the Top Social Artist title at last year's Billboard Music Awards and earned a spot on TIME's list of the Most Influential People on the Internet in 2017. BTS, which consists of singers RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, is just one of a number of K-pop groups with massive fanbases. "But in particular they have proven themselves capable of transcending the Asian market with their hip-hop-meets-pop songs, sharp choreography and high-concept music videos," TIME said. While TIME editors are responsible for ...
Christina Aguilera celebrates her freckles
Singer Christina Aguilera went for a make-up free look, proudly flaunting her freckles, as she was getting a new piercing.
12-yr-old girl raped in Rohini
A 12-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in outer Delhi's Rohini, police said today. The accused also made a video of the act and circulated it, they said. The man who raped her was arrested and two others who shot the video have been detained. The accused took the girl along with him to his house where he called the two others for shooting the video, they added. They threatened the girl with dire consequences if she reported the matter. On Saturday, her mother received the video of the alleged act and informed the police. The video was also circulated to others, they added.
Veteran journalist T.V.R. Shenoy passes away (Lead, changing dateline)
Veteran journalist T.V.R. Shenoy passed away at a private hospital here on Tuesday night, family sources said. He was 77.
Launchpad organises Fantastic Mr. Fox Theatre Show, carnival
Amidst the lush green farms of Chattarpur, Launchpad lets you into a whole world of some crafty foxes with fun carnival vibes for kids and adults alike.A 45-minutes theatre adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox Theatre based on Roald Dahl's children novel of the same name was produced by Launchpad, directed by celebrated theatre actor/director, Lushin Dubey and Bubbles Sabarwal for children aged between 3-13 years. The staging of the play was the culmination of a three-month workshop offered by Launchpad amongst a range of other after school programs they run.More than 1500 young families of Delhi and Gurgaon came with their children to enjoy the production and have a fun day out in the open with selected food from some the coolest food brand handpicked merchandize pop ups and specially designed games for real parent-child bonding."Role-playing in drama is found to have a direct bearing in the development of emotional quotient of the kids. The workshop is primarily aimed to provoke the ...
It's nostalgic to shoot in Kashmir: Abhishek Bachchan
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who is here for the filmming of director Anurag Kashyap's "Manmarziya", says he has a special bond with Kashmir as he often accompanied father Amitabh Bachchan as a child during film shootings. "It is nostalgic for me because I have come here when my father used to shoot his films here. It is truly a heaven on earth and I am very happy to be back. It is still as beautiful as it used to be," the actor told reporters here. Kashmir was once the favourite shooting location for Bollywood films but things changed with the beginning of insurgency in the 1990s. Things have changed with a number of directors such as Kabir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Imtiaz Ali and now Kashyap exploring the location. "I am very sure that they will start coming back. In the past couple of years, we have seen a fair amount of films coming from all over India to shoot in Kashmir and I think that trend will grow," he said. "I think the kind of production help you get over here, the ...
Lars von Trier to make a comeback in Cannes
Seven years after he was declared a "persona non grata" at the Cannes Film Festival, filmmaker Lars von Trier is set to return to the Croisette. The director, who used to be a regular at the festival, was declared unwelcome at the festival following his controversial comments about Hitler during the 2011 press conference of "Melancholia". The festival's artistic director Thierry Fremaux confirmed von Trier's return during an interview with French radio station Europe 1, according to Deadline. Fremaux said Cannes President Pierre Lesucure has really worked over the past few days to "remove this persona non grata" status which von Trier received seven years ago, "thinking that it's maybe time to give him a spot again as a filmmaker". The festival head said, "There will maybe be an announcement" on von Trier's inclusion in the lineup, which was announced recently. When asked whether he would not like to make an announcement during the interview, Fremaux said, "Well I sort of just did a ..
What happens to rock band when a member gets hitched
If you go by the the rock n' roll lore which says that once a bandmate gets married, the party is over for the group, you could not be further from the truth, suggests new research that shows marriage diversity is actually good for both bands and businesses alike.
Replace chimpanzee with CGI: PETA to 'Gorilla' movie director
PETA India has asked the director of an upcoming movie to replace a chimpanzee, scheduled to feature in it, with computer-generated imagery (CGI) and never feature live animals in his films. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India, shot off a letter to director Don Sandy after learning that a chimpanzee named Kong will appear in his movie 'Gorilla', starring Jiiva and Shalini Pandey, the body said. PETA India's message also included a link to a video featuring a computer-generated chimpanzee contemplating suicide. It was created by top advertising agency BBDO and award-winning CGI production company 'The Mill'. The thought-provoking spot illustrates the tragic lives of animal "actors", it said. "Compassionate, forward-thinking film-makers would never dream of hauling sensitive wild animals to a chaotic movie set and force them to 'act' for the 'viewers' amusement. "PETA India is calling on Gorilla's director to cut the cruelty and switch to modern and humane CGI .
Missing Manipur man traced after 40 years, thanks to YouTube
Forty years after he went missing, a 66-year-old Manipuri man is all set to be reunited with his family -- thanks to his fondness for Hindi film songs and a video clip posted on YouTube. Khomdan Singh was 26 when he left his Imphal home in a huff in 1978. The family did not know where he was for 40 years till a neighbour brought the video of a grey haired and bearded man singing old songs to its notice. Mumbai photographer Firoze Shakir had spotted Singh singing on the city streets. Shakir got to know the man, shot a video of him while he sang old favourites and uploaded in on the video-sharing website last November. In the clip, the singer identified himself as Khomdan Singh of Manipur, which caught the attention of the neighbour. The family members thought it could be their missing Khomdan and approached the Imphal police, which got in touch with their counterparts in Mumbai. "They sent a photo of the young Singh to us. Based on that, we located the person at the Bandra railway ...
And 10 years went by: Amitabh Bachchan on completing a decade of blogging
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan today clocked in 10 years of blogging and said he did not realise how time flew by. The 75-year-old actor, who regularly shares his thoughts, said his personal blog was "the warmest and most hospitable in the entire world" for his Ef (extended family) of fans and followers. "10 years! April 17, 2008 a few words went out to the world of the airs... And in the waves of connection some of them carried a recognise of them and sent some sentiments back .. and the next and the next and the next... And 10 years went by... "I knew no one... And neither did any of you... And then we all came to know each other and built a home... The warmest and most hospitable in the entire world," Bachchan wrote. The veteran actor said for him, every day was a "celebration" and every day is lived in harmony was "the ultimate celebration". He added when his fans do not respond to his posts, he fears that there has been a "loss". "... It is not just the continuity of my writings... .
Have high BP? Listen to classical music after taking medicine
If you are suffering from high blood pressure, listening to classical music in addition to taking your medicines may give you some added advantage as researchers have found that music significantly enhances the effect of anti-hypertensive drugs.
'The Handmaid's Tale' is my happy place: Elisabeth Moss
"The Handmaid's Tale" star Elisabeth Moss says the dystopian drama, in which the actor plays the lead role of Offred, is her "happy place". The year-old actor, who also produces the Hulu series, says she is going to miss working on the sets of the show after wrapping up its the upcoming season two, EW reported. "It's what I really love to do, so for me, it's my happy place. When we wrap for this season I'm going to be sad to leave everyone and I'm going to miss playing June (the real name of her character in the show)," Moss said. The series, based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 classic novel, premiers on April 25. The new installment will have 13-episodes, which will revolve around and be shaped by Offred's pregnancy and her struggle to find her daughter inside Gilead. Talking about the second season, Moss said the audiences will see a change in her on-screen part as she becomes more vocal about her opinions and how she "rises like a phoenix" along the course. "For me, so much of what I'm
Not true Kangana declined my film: Majid Majidi
Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi said he had approached both Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone for "Beyond the Clouds" but things did not work out and he finally decided to cast Malavika Mohanan. "With Kangana, we could not work together. I heard something from her office and that made me upset. She had said 'I did not accept the role', which was not true. Then we followed it up and it was not Kangana but her office that had published this," Majidi told PTI in an interview. The director was perhaps hinting at a newspaper report where Kangana was quoted as saying that she declined the film as she found her character "submissive". "I mention this because I never reacted to what she said. I feel now I can say this. We did have some meetings, we talked together. I don't want to go into detail. The only thing I want to say is that it is not true that she did not accept the role," Majidi said. The filmmaker, however, hopes to work with Kangana in future. "She is a very good actress. (She ...
'Daas Dev' release postponed to April 27
The release of "Daas Dev" has been pushed by a week and the Sudhir Mishra-directed film will now arrive in theatres on April 27. Starring Rahul Bhat, Richa Chadha and Aditi Rao Hydari, the film is a modern-day retelling of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel "Devdas". It was earlier slated to release on April 20. The news of the date shuffle was announced on the film's Twitter page. A statement by banner, Saptarishi Cinevision Production, read that the team "voluntarily pushed/extended" the release date of the film to April 27 to avoid clash with films opening this week. Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi's first India-set film "Beyond The Clouds", Abhay Deol-Patralekhaa-starrer "Nanu Ki Janu" and "Rampage", featuring Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson, are among films set to release this Friday. "With around four Bollywood films and few regional films releasing on April 20, the makers felt that they required a cleaner window to reach out to the audience. Keeping this in mind producers
We're moving towards animalistic mentality, says Bhumi Pedneakar
Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who has featured in films laced with social messages, says incidents like the rape of an eight-year-old in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, shows people are moving towards animalistic and beast-like mentality.
'Simmba' different from 'Singham': Rohit Shetty
After "Singham", Rohit Shetty is all set to bring another cop drama in "Simmba", starring Ranveer Singh, but the director says both the storylines are completely different. "Creating a similar cop character would have been tough. This character is totally opposite of Bajirao Singham, he is notorious, flamboyant and the energy is totally different," Rohit told PTI. Shetty, who first worked with Ranveer for an advertisement, says the actor is "a superstar". Rohit is also full of praise for the leading lady of his upcoming film "Simmba", Sara Ali Khan, daughter of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, saying she doesn't want to restrict herself to just one genre or one kind of a film. "She is happy to be a part of this. In fact, Sara wants to be part of action film. I am happy to know that she wants to do all kind of cinema and doesn't want to get stuck to a film or genre. "She wants to do solo heroine film, ensemble film, hardcore commercial film, love story, comedy, women oriented subject...
8 nominations for Assamese film Xhoixobote Dhemalite' in US fest
In more good news for the Assamese film industry, a movie on children raised during a violent period in Assam has received as many as eight nominations at a US festival. "Xhoihobote Dhemalite" (Rainbow fields) directed by Bidyut Kotoky has received nominations for best feature film, director, screenplay, actor (Nakul Vaid), actress (Dipannita Sharma), supporting actor (Victor Banerjee), cinematography (Satya Prakash Rath) and score (Anurag Saikia) at the Love International Film Festival (LIFF), Los Angeles. The awards will be announced on July 7 at a ceremony in Beverly Hills. "It is indeed an honour. These recognitions are especially satisfying as it came from a festival whose goal is to bring the world closer together and promote love and healing through cinema," says Mumbai-based Kotoky. The film, based on true events, narrates the psychological trauma children went through during the Assam agitation in the 1980s. The film also features seasoned actors like Naved Aslam, Nipon ...
Drake's next album to release in June
Rapper Drake is all set to unveil his fifth studio LP 'Scorpion' in June. The 31-year-old recording artiste made the announcement on Instagram, where teased the artwork for his forthcoming album. It is a follow-up to his 2016's LP 'Views'. Drake shared a photograph with his back facing the front slaying in a bomber jacket with the album title and date on it. In his previous post, he shared the picture of a black locket with gold scorpion etched in the middle. He captioned the post as: "JUNE 2018 (sic)." The news comes in after the rapper recently dropped his single "Nice for What", which featured Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Tiffany Haddish, "Black Panther" star Letitia Wright, Michelle Rodriguez, Issa Rae and more. Drake started working on the album last summer.