Page 836 - Entertainment Culture
Nandita Das joins rally for gender parity at Toronto
High-profile celebrities from the film world, including Indian actress-director Nandita Das, called for gender equality in showbiz at a rally at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Pence denies discussing 25th Amendment against Trump
US Vice President Mike Pence has denied being a part of discussions to invoke the 25th Amendment in order to remove President Donald Trump from office.
'Call Me by Your Name' sequel will happen: Armie Hammer
Actor Armie Hammer has confirmed that a sequel to his Oscar-nominated film "Call Me By Your Name" is in the works. During a recent interview with Variety at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hammer, who played Oliver in Luca Guadagnino's critically acclaimed film, said people are already working on the idea for the sequel. "Call Me By Your Name" is a story of an unexpected first love between 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet) and 24-year-old American student Oliver. While studying abroad in the North of Italy during the summer of 1983, Oliver stays in Elio's family home when the two fall in love. "It will happen because there are already people working on it and trying to make it happen," Hammer said. The actor, however, did not share any further details about the project. "How much do I know and how much could I tell you are two very different things. I know a lot, but I can't tell you anything," he said. In the past, Guadagnino has expressed his desire to make a ...
Emmys make history with actors of colour sweeping guest-acting categories
For the first time in the history of Creative Arts Emmys all four guest-acting prizes have gone to actors of colour. The guest acting trophies went to Tiffany Haddish for her hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live"; Katt Williams for his role as Willy in "Atlanta"; Ron Cephas Jones as William Hill on "This Is Us" and Samira Wiley for Moira on "The Handmaid's Tale". Both Jones and Wiley had been nominated previously, while Williams and Haddish won in their first nod.The awards were all the actors' first Emmys, reported Variety. The four guest categories have been awarded to actors of colour before, including in 2003, when Charles S Dutton won for "Without A Trace" and Alfre Woodard won for "The Practice," as well as 2014, when Uzo Aduba triumphed for "Orange is the New Black" along with Joe Morton for "Scandal".
It's a daunting proposition: Minissha Lamba on theatre debut
Thirteen years after her first Hindi film released, Minissha Lamba has made her theatre debut but the actor says performing on stage is a "daunting proposition" for her. Lamba's first show, "Mirror Mirror", premiered in Delhi Saturday. The solo performance, that stretched around 75 minutes, saw her segueing into 13 different characters for the psychological thriller. The English-language play, interspersed with a few Hindi phrases, is written and directed by Saif Hyder Hasan, who has previously helmed critically and commercially acclaimed "Ek Mulaqat", "Gardish Mein Taare" and "Mr and Mrs Murarilal". In an interview to PTI, Lamba, known for her roles in films such as "Yahaan", "Bachna Ae Haseeno" and "Well Done Abba", said she was equally nervous and excited for her theatre debut. "It's difficult because I don't have any other actor to play off as kind of support right out there on the stage. Most of the times you are looking at the audience and it is just you talking to your ...
Talent, hard work, perseverance needed to make name in any cinema: R. Madhavan (IANS Interview)
R. Madhavan, who began his acting career on the small screen and went on to make his name in both the southern and Hindi film industry, says a combination of talent, hard work and perseverance is needed to cement one's space in cinema anywhere in the world.
GoT, black actors shine at Creative Arts Emmy Awards
"Games Of Thrones" got the maximum honours with seven wins out of its 15 announced categories at the first night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which hit a diversity milestone as black actors swept all guest categories.
Nick Jonas reveals love story with Priyanka Chopra
"The story sort of wrote itself," American singer-actor Nick Jonas said of his romance with "Quantico" star Priyanka Chopra, opening up for the first time about how they met and what led to their engagement.
From dance music to a vehicle of happiness, different ways to look at jazz (Music Feature)
Jazz -- a genre with the ability to embrace varied cultures -- has evolved exponentially in the past century-and-a-half and is today a major form of musical expression. But what is it that exactly gives a "jazzy characteristic" to a musical note?
Nandita adds voice to TIFF's equality call
Key movie industry women from across the world, including Indian actor and director Nandita Das, took the stage Saturday morning for the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival's 'Share Her Journey' rally to draw attention to the urgent need for gender equality behind the camera and on the screen. Coming less than a year after Harvey Weinstein was knocked off his position of immense power by sexual assault allegations, the initiative recognised that the industry, and the world, would be a better place if it gave more space to women's voices. Canadian singer-songwriter Molly Johnson got the crowd, half of which was male, into the swing of things by crooning the rally anthem: Sing your protest song as you march along. Activists carried placards declaring that "man of quality do not fear equality" and wore badges that said "I stand with women in film". Das, the second speaker of the day after Oscar-winning actor Geena Davis, said, "We all have multiple identities, but I cannot get away .
Performed my most liberating character in Manmarziya: Taapsee
With just a few days left for her much-anticipated film 'Manmarziya', Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu shed light on how her character in the movie has been one of the most liberating roles so far.The 31-year-old shared a picture on social media which is all about 'smile and shine'. With her million dollar smile, Taapsee can be seen sporting a plain blue kurti and loose curls to compliment the mood."I don't know this smile is more for the fact that it was the most liberating character to perform or for the fact I know my red hair is getting a kickass backlight so just "smile n shine"! Jitters have to still seep in ... 5 days to go.... #Manmarziyaan" wrote the 'Pink' star.'Manmarziyaan' will see the return of Abhishek Bachchan to the big screen after a gap of almost two years. The junior Bachchan was last seen in the 2016 rom-com 'Housefull 3'.The film also stars Vicky Kaushal in a pivotal role.Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the flick will hit the big screens on September 14.
Best filmmakers are always unsure of their films: Anurag Kashyap
More than a decade and over a dozen films later, Anurag Kashyap's filmmaking process remains the same -- start a movie "blindly" and find it's voice along the way being unsure of the outcome. Kashyap says he has always tried to find his films in the process. "I know a lot of filmmaker friends of mine who have figured their film out before they go to shoot. Shooting is execution for them. For me, shooting is the process of finding my film, my voice, articulating what I am trying to say," Kashyap told PTI. The director, who has helmed several award winning features like "Gangs of Wasseypur" series, "Gulaal", "Dev D" says he always get his films "only at the end of it." "I feel 'oh, this is done! And then I move on. I always start blind. The only film that I haven't started blind was 'Bombay Velvet'. Everything was too prepared. First time I worked with an organised AD system and there were proper shoot hours," he adds. Working in a set up like this might make filmmakers constantly ...
Enriching to discover various cultures in 'The Extraordinary Journey of The Fakir': Ken Scott
Canadian writer-director Ken Scott's latest directorial venture "The Extraordinary Journey of The Fakir" features Indian, French and American artistes, and the filmmaker says it was an enriching experience to have a blend of different cultures in one movie. The film was shot across India, France, Belgium and Italy with a diverse star cast and Scott says his attempt was to make the movie look authentic. "It was great to discover India, Mumbai and to discover Indian culture and how Indians tell stories, how they work with actors, etc. The film brought a lot of cultures together in one place. So for me it was a great learning experience. It was an enriching experience," Scott told PTI. On set, Scott was influenced by different cultures as he had Indian actor Dhanush, Argentinean-French actor Berenice Bejo, American actor Erin Moriarty, Somali-American actor Barkhad Abdi and French actor-director Gerard Jugnot all in the movie. For the director, it was a pleasure to be working with actors
It is illogical to keep taking risks: Shahid Kapoor
It's his passion for acting that makes Shahid Kapoor push himself as a performer, but he is also aware of the fact that taking too many risks as a an actor is "illogical". Shahid made his way into the hearts of the audience with his charming looks in films like "Ishq Vishk", "Vivah" and startled everyone with his performance in "Kaminey", "Haider" and "Udta Punjab". "It is illogical to keep taking risks and doing different things but there is a need to rediscover yourself every time. Today, audience wants different things," he told PTI. "I want to grow and reach out to a wider audience. I want to tell stories that are new, different and exciting without having to sacrifice on any creative cravings that the team might have. It is a tough combination," he added. The actor said the continuous media glare and scrutiny does not bother or scare him. "These days you get noticed a lot, it has all changed. I think the kids who are starting out and who are new should worry about it. I don't ...
Never want to reach a comfortable space as a director: Kabir Khan
In his over a decade long career Kabir Khan has tried his hands in various genres, ranging from spy-action thrillers to human dramas, and the director says he makes sure to be experimental with his choices as he does not want to be in a "comfortable space". The filmmaker says he does not want to play safe as a story-teller. "For me the point is not to earn money and be safe. To remain safe and make safe films and be successful that can be a boring way of living life. I believe in taking risks some films work, some don't. "If I think this is what I am good at, then the journey is over for me. I hope till the end of my career I will be trying to discover myself and see what excites me and what are the different things I can do. I never want to reach a comfortable space," Kabir told PTI in an interview. After delivering back-to-back blockbusters "Ek Tha Tiger" and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Kabir's last two films "Phantom" and "Tubelight" did not do well but that does not stop him from taking .
Jude Law plays 'devout warrior' in 'Captain Marvel'
Hollywood star Jude Law has revealed few details about his character in the upcoming superhero film "Captain Marvel", featuring Brie Larson as the titutlar character. In the film, Larson's Danvers/Captain Marvel is part of the military team on the Kree planet of Hala alongside Djimon Hounsou's Korath and Gemma Chan's sniper Minn-Erva. Law did not reveal his character's name, but shared that he leads the group, and is a complete Kree. "He is driven by a belief in the divine leadership of the Kree people. So he's almost a devout warrior unquestioning, conservative, but inspirational," Law told Entertainment Weekly. The actor also views his character as a mentor to Danvers. "These extraordinary powers she has, he sees them as something of a blessing and something that she has to learn how to control. That's a motif throughout the piece, the element of learning to control one's emotions and to use your powers wisely," he added. "Captain Marvel", one of the most awaited films from the ...
Burt Reynolds didn't film Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' before his death
Cinema legend Burt Reynolds will not appear in Quentin Tarantino's next film, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". Reynolds, who passed away on Thursday following reports of a heart attack, was set to star in the film alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Al Pacino. "My uncle was looking forward to working with Quentin Tarantino, and the amazing cast that was assembled," Reynolds' niece Nancy Lee told People magazine. Production on the film began earlier this summer, but Reynolds, according to Variety, was not meant to start filming until the end of September. "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is set during the time of the Manson murders in 1969 and follows a television actor and his stunt double who to try to make it in the industry. Reynolds was set to play George Spahn, the nearly-blind ranch owner whose property was invaded by Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) and his notorious 'family' in the months leading up to the crime.
Edward Berger to direct Cumberbatch, Gyllenhaal's thriller 'Rio'
Director Edward Berger is set to helm thriller "Rio" starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jake Gyllenhaal. The actors are also producing the project, reported Variety. "Call Me by Your Name" helmer Luca Guadagnino had been attached last year to direct "Rio" but fell out due to scheduling commitments. The story, written by Steven Knight, revolves around two old friends who meet again in Rio de Janeiro one, a journalist played by Gyllenhaal, and the other, a hugely successful financier, portrayed by Cumberbatch.
Aretha Franklin's costumes to go up for auction
Aretha Franklin's most famous outfits and accessories are to be sold at auction in New York on November 10. More than 30 of her history-making looks will go on display between November 5 to 9 with highlights including the red sequinned dress she donned on stage at Radio City Hall back in 1991. The clothing, estimated in value between USD 800 and USD 4,000 per item, includes a red Arnold Scassi dress from a 1991 event at Radio City music hall, a black Oleg Cassini dress from the 1993 Essence Awards and a Judith Ann Plus dress worn at her concert. According to the Hollywood Reporter, bidders can also win Franklin's pink beaded bustier and skirt from a 1993 AIDS benefit concert, her silver leather jumpsuit by Jean Claude Jitrois and an exclusive denim jacket awarded to The Blues Brothers crew. "Julien's Auctions is honoured to present this auction event celebrating the tremendous talents, power and grace of America's greatest singer of all time, Aretha Franklin. "Franklin was also a ...
Sony working on Ol' Dirty Bastard biopic
A biopic about Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard is in the works at Sony's Columbia Pictures. O.D.B. (born Russell Tyrone Jones) was a founding member of the Staten Island rap collective with cousins RZA and GZA. Wu-Tang's first album 'Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers' propelled the group to popularity in the crowded 1990s hip-hop space. O.D.B. released his first solo album, 'Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version', in 1995, which received critical praise and earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap album. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the search for a director for the Columbia project is already underway.