Tag: Hollywood

‘Black Panther’ Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Honored with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Famed costume designer Ruth E. Carter made history in 2019 at the Academy Awards with her Oscar win for her work on Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, and she made history again today when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Carter with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame making her the second costume designer, and first Black costume designer, to receive the distinction since its inception in 1960.

During the virtual ceremony, the costume designer received the 2,694th star in recognition of her more than three decade career in the industry. The ceremony acknowledged Carter’s ability to “wow audiences and dazzle critics alike with costumes inspired by traditional African tribal wear merged with a contemporary look, delivering fashion and function, incorporating technology, and creating such authenticity ownership and empowerment for the characters and viewers cementing her as one of the preeminent voices and experts on Afrofuturism.”

“What a pleasure it is to be celebrating today Ms. Ruth E. Carter on her historic Hollywood Walk of Fame induction,” exclaimed guest Oprah Winfrey. “I personally had the opportunity to work with Ruth on Lee Daniels’ The Butler and I could tell instantly that her passion for clothes, costumes and design were matched by her intention in creating a nuanced portrayal of a Black family through the decades. What I first observed on The Butler and then again on Selma was a woman who was deeply intentional about creating clothing to represent the culture and journey of African Americans because both of those stories involved African Americans. And now we all know her esteemed credit list, both fictional and historical, and what strikes me most is the ease in which she works to create an entire mood through her impeccable design choices, and what this does is allow any actress who is working with Ruth to really surrender.”

“Thank you for seeing the depth of culture, history, artistry, and welcoming my vision of Afrofuture into the lexicon of American filmmaking,” proclaimed honoree Ruth E. Carter. “Most of all, I dedicate this star to all the young and aspiring filmmakers. I drove to Hollywood 36 years ago…nothing was handed to me. Every moment, every sacrifice, every effort was hard work inspired by my passion. It’s my hope that anyone who sacrifices, who beats these streets of Hollywood, carrying their dreams in heavy garment bags full of costumes, desiring to be the best, like I did, that when you gaze upon my star feel my energy, feel the power of your own unique story to realize your dreams so you too can reach your star. Wakanda Forever.”

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Larry the Cable Guy destroys Hollywood celebrities over viral video of them singing ‘Imagine’

Comedian Larry the Cable Guy, whose real name is Daniel Whitney, blasted Hollywood celebrities this week over a viral video featuring more than a dozen celebrities signing John Lennon’s hit song “Imagine.”

Whitney highlighted the hypocritical nature of the video because Hollywood celebrities have largely ignored the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles.

“Here’s a message from people with a lot of possessions that can take a year off of work and not flinch telling everyone outa work to imagine a world with no possessions while people are living in the street a half mile away from ’em,” Whitney said.

Responding to a fan who said the video really “pisses me off,” Whitney called the celebrities “clueless.”

On Friday, Whitney clarified that he does not harbor ill-will toward Hollywood celebrities, but said the video was made in “bad taste — and said the founder of communism would approve of it.

“I have no animosity toward these folks. The song was in bad taste. Marx would be proud of that song,” Whitney said. “And I’m not imagining no heaven. Jesus gives hope. Government can’t give people a heart change or hope.”

Although John Lennon was not a communist, nor is “Imagine” a song directly about communism, Lennon said the song “is virtually the Communist Manifesto.”

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1962 Was The Year – Hollywood Elsewhere

At the end of each year there are always 20 to 25 films that qualify as excellent, very good or good. The creme de la creme is usually between five and ten, but the final tally of approvables is always around 20, and 25 if you want to be liberal about it. But 1962 was different. By my count nearly 50 films that anyone would rank as praiseworthy or seriously noteworthy were released that year. Roughly double the average. The HE rundown is below.

I’ve riffed off and on about the ’62 roster over the last 15 or so years, but now there’s a new book that celebrates this mid-Kennedy administration chapter — Stephen Farber and Michael McClellan‘s “Cinema ’62: The Greatest Year at the Movies” (Rutgers University Press). The pub date is 3.13.

For many years the general consensus has been that the greatest movie years were 1939, ’62, ’71 and ’99. Which others?

Excerpt: “Most conventional film histories dismiss the early 1960s as a pallid era, a downtime between the heights of the classic studio system and the rise of New Hollywood directors like Scorsese and Altman in the 1970s. It seemed to be a moment when the movie industry was floundering as the popularity of television caused a downturn in cinema attendance.

On the contrary, “Cinema ’62′ asserts that 1962 “was a peak year for film, with a high standard of quality that has not been equaled since.”

A decade or so ago I wrote about a BAM retrospective on 1962 films. NYFCC chairman Armond White, the apparent architect of the series, wrote at the time that 1962 “was equal to Hollywood’s fabled 1939 so we welcome this great opportunity to learn and revise film history.”

Here’s my updated rundown of 1962 worthies: David Lean‘s Lawrence of Arabia, John Ford‘s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Sam Peckinpah‘s Ride The High Country, Robert Aldrich‘s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Bryan Forbes‘ The L-Shaped Room, Howard Hawks‘ Hatari, Francois Truffaut‘s Shoot The Piano Player, Francois Truffaut‘s Jules and Jim, Agnes Varda‘s Cleo From 5 to 7, Luis Bunuel‘s The Exterminating Angel (10)

Orson Welles‘ The Trial, Vincente Minnelli‘s Two Weeks in Another Town, Denis Sanders‘ War Hunt (which costarred Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack), Philip Leacock‘s The War Lover, Masaki Kobayashi‘s Harikiri, Andre Konchalovsky Ivan’s Childhood, Gene Kelly‘s Gigot, Robert Wise‘s Two for the Seesaw, Herk Harvey‘s Carnival of Souls. (9)

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Meghan ‘trying to land a role as a Hollywood superhero in blockbuster film’ | Entertainment Daily

It’s been reported that Meghan Markle wants to land a role as a Hollywood superhero in a blockbuster film.

The former actress is apparently keen to get back to work after she and husband Prince Harry announced they would be stepping back from the royal family.

According to a source, Meghan’s agent Nick Collins has been busy trying to secure her an offer.

Meghan’s agent Nick Collins has reportedly been busy trying to secure her an offer (Credit: SplashNews.com)

The insider told the Mail On Sunday: “He has said she wants her return to acting to be part of an ensemble cast in something like a superhero film He’s actively seeking such a movie for her. He’s saying she is available and open to the best offers.

“Meghan is planning a series of meetings in Hollywood. She has already done the voiceover for Disney and now word is out that she’s looking for a superhero film, as a voiceover or even on screen.

“She knows she can’t carry a film as an actress. People won’t be able to get past the fact she’s Meghan Markle. But she’s determined to act again and she thinks a big, ensemble film is the way to go… something that pays big but which doesn’t put her front and centre.”

Meghan wants to land a Hollywood superhero role (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Earlier this year, it was reported that Meghan had signed a voiceover deal with Disney.

She inked a deal to work with Disney in return for a donation to an elephant charity, according to The Times.

Meghan, 38, was believed to have recorded her voiceover in November, before she and Harry, 35, left the UK for a six-week break in Canada with their son Archie.

Meghan has been in Canada for the past month with Harry and their nine-month-old son Archie.

Harry recently returned to Britain to attend engagements while Meghan stayed in Canada to look after their little boy.

Harry, Meghan and Archie have been in Canada (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Last month, Buckingham Palace confirmed Meghan and Harry’s official duties will end on March 31.

It was also revealed there will be a review after 12 months.

Harry will attend an engagement on March 5 and Meghan will then join him for another event at the Royal Albert Hall on March 8 to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story.

This content was originally published here.

Hollywood filmmaker quotes the ‘Communist Manifesto’ in Oscar acceptance speech


 

“American Factory,” a Netflix film produced by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, won an Oscar for the Best Documentary Film Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards Sunday night. During her acceptance speech, the film’s co-director, Julia Reichert, used a political slogan that raised eyebrows among some who watched the event.

“Working people have it harder and harder these days,” said Reichert, who is also battling cancer. “We believe that things will get better when workers of the world unite.”

“Workers of the world unite” is a famous rallying cry from Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels’ 1848 book, “The Communist Manifesto,” and it’s a call for international cooperation among the working classes to topple the wealthy.

The expression was also the official state motto of the Soviet Union (Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!; Proletarii vsekh stran, soyedinyaytes’!) and appeared in Soviet currency during the 20th century.

The ‘opening line of the f***ing Communist Manifesto’

As the DailyWire noted, communism is an evil ideology responsible for at least 100 million deaths. In the “Communist Manifesto,” Marx and Engels call for a violent overthrow of the upper classes, arguing that the ends of working people “can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions.”

Several leading conservatives slammed the director for quoting the controversial book.

The Dispatch’s Jonah Goldberg tweeted: “I love that most of my twitter feed thought the big game [sic] away from her speech was ‘go Buckeyes’ not the opening line from the f***ing Communist Manifesto.”

Twitchy editor Greg Pollowitz did not mince words in his denunciation while blasting Hollywood’s hypocrisy.

“[T]hese f*cks don’t want you to drink milk or eat meat and they’re quoting from the communist manifesto while taking private planes to film movies in New Zealand so they don’t have to pay union rates in California.”

This content was originally published here.

South Korea’s ‘Parasite’ beats Hollywood greats to make Oscar history – Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “Parasite,” a dark social satire from South Korea, won the Oscar for best picture on Sunday, making history as the first film in a language other than English to claim the movie industry’s highest honor.

“Parasite,” about the gap between rich and poor in modern Seoul, won a total of four Oscars, including best director and original screenplay for Bong Joon Ho and best international feature film. No film had ever won both international feature film and best picture at the Oscars.

It was a remarkable outcome for a film that played with subtitles in the United States, beating movies by major studios and Hollywood veterans such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. The win also came at the end of an awards season that had been criticized for lack of diversity.

Instead, the Oscars stage was crowded with South Korean actors and filmmakers, who mostly spoke to the audience through an interpreter.

“I am speechless,” said Kwak Sin Ae, one of “Parasite”‘s co-producers. “We never imagined this would ever happen. We are so happy. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now.”

When Bong got his first Oscar of the night – for best original screenplay – he gazed at the golden statuette in amazement.

He later paid tribute to his four fellow director nominees, saying, “I would like to get a Texas chainsaw and split the Oscar into five and share it with all of you.”

The ceremony, held without an official host, was peppered with jokes and sarcastic commentary about the exclusion of women from the directing category and the list of 20 acting nominees that included just one person of color.

“I thought there was something missing this year,” quipped comedian Steve Martin, opening the show with Chris Rock.

“Vaginas?” quipped Rock, to loud applause.

PHOENIX GIVES THANKS FOR SECOND CHANCE

The acting Oscars went as expected. Joaquin Phoenix won best actor for playing a failing clown who finds fame through violence in the dark comic-book tale “Joker,” and Renee Zellweger was named best actress for her performance as an ageing Judy Garland in the musical biopic “Judy.”

 

Phoenix, a strict vegan, gave a long, impassioned acceptance speech about climate change and animal rights but concluded on a personal note.

“I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been selfish, cruel at times and hard to work with, and I’m grateful that so many people in this room have given me a second chance,” he said.

World War One movie “1917,” from Universal Pictures, had been seen as the film to beat but won just three of its 10 nominations. They came for its stunning “one-shot” feel cinematography, for visual effects and for sound mixing.

Tarantino’s sentimental ode to Tinseltown, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” brought the first acting Oscar for Brad Pitt, who played a supporting role as a laid-back stunt man.

Laura Dern took the supporting actress Oscar, her first Academy Award, for playing a ruthless divorce lawyer in “Marriage Story.”

But Netflix movie “The Irishman” – a costly Mafia saga directed by Scorsese that had 10 Oscar nominations and starred Hollywood veterans Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci – came away empty-handed.

Music played a large part in the ceremony, with a surprise performance by rapper Eminem of his 2003 Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself” from the movie “8 Mile.”

Elton John won best original song for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from his biopic “Rocketman,” which he performed at Sunday night’s ceremony. And American teen Billie Eilish, who won five Grammys last month, sang the Beatles hit ballad “Yesterday” for the in memoriam segment.

“American Factory,” about the decline of manufacturing jobs in the industrial Midwest from former U.S. President Barack and first lady Michelle Obama’s new production company, won the Oscar for best documentary.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Additional reporting by Maria Caspani, Lisa Richwine and Nichola Groom; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Sandra Maler

This content was originally published here.

How Meghan Markle kept her Hollywood power lawyer and agent despite joining the royal family | royal family-Daily Mail Online

The elite Hollywood team Meghan Markle secretly retained throughout her time in the British royal family are poring over a host of multi-million dollar offers, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The former Suits actress kept on the high-powered team to look after her future career despite marrying into the Royal Family.

And with the announcement last week that Meghan and Harry are to step down as ‘senior royals’ and become financially independent, her team is now primed for the next chapter – and has already begun making moves, quietly relocating her business interests to the ultra-discreet state of Delaware.

Hollywood agent Nick Collins of The Gersh Agency, whose clients include Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx, is handling lucrative film, TV and philanthropic offers and opportunities on behalf of the couple from around the world, DailyMail.com can disclose.

Meghan Markle kept her Hollywood lawyer, agent and business manager despite joining the royal family so she could stay in the loop with lucrative deals, sources tell DailyMail.com 

Meghan’s Hollywood power lawyer Rick Genow (left) and business manager Andrew Meyer (right) are working behind the scenes planning her next major moves 

Hollywood agent Nick Collins of The Gersh Agency, is handling lucrative film, TV and philanthropic offers and opportunities on behalf of the couple. Collins is a long time friend of Meghan having represented her during Suits and he attended her and Harry’s royal wedding

Meghan’s Beverly Hills business manager Andrew Meyer is also working behind the scenes planning her next major moves, while Hollywood power lawyer Rick Genow is also heavily involved.

Entertainment firm partner Collins is a long time friend of Meghan having represented her during her Suits days and he attended her and Harry’s royal wedding in May, 2018.

It’s understood he will handle any talks with big money Silicon Valley investors, Hollywood studios, as well as TV giants like Amazon, Netflix and Hulu.

Interestingly, DailyMail.com can reveal that Meghan’s team has already discreetly made a significant move involving the Duchess’ company Frim Fram Inc – the firm behind her popular lifestyle blog The Tig.

According to Delaware business records, on December 30, 2019, Frim Fram Inc was registered as a new corporation in the state.

The following day, according to California business records, Frim Fram Inc California was ‘Merged Out’ and incorporated with the Delaware company.

This is significant because Delaware is known as a haven for firms seeking extreme corporate secrecy.

Registering a company in the east coast state does not require the disclosure of the identities of the owners and for as little as $50 the owners can hire a registered agent to represent them.

All financial information relating to the company is kept confidential.

The move shows that Meghan plans to keep her and Harry’s business as secret as possible.

Almost 65 percent of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware, making it the state with more corporations registered within its borders than people.

Frim Fram was the vehicle the Duchess used to run her website The Tig, named for her favorite wine, Tignanello, from Tuscany, Italy. It was a ‘hub for the discerning palate – those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion, and beauty’ and documented her lifestyle and views.

Just before her engagement to Prince Harry in November, 2017 Meghan shut down The Tig and its associated social media accounts.

At the time Rachel Meghan Markle was listed as the president of Frim Fram. Shortly afterwards business manager Meyer and lawyer Genow, took over and were listed as CEO and secretary.

In September last year Meyer filed to renew the trademark for The Tig. The palace said the move was intended to keep others using the trademark for bogus purposes.

But it now appears that Meghan is planning to reignite Frim Fram Inc, giving her a corporate vehicle for the earnings she can anticipate.

Experts say that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have the potential to rake in tens of millions of dollars annually, particularly if they choose to follow in the lucrative footsteps of Barack and Michelle Obama with public speaking opportunities, books, and TV deals. Additionally, Markle could endorse fashion and beauty products.

According to Delaware business records, on December 30, 2019, Meghan’s company Frim Fram Inc was registered as a new corporation in the very secretive state

The following day, on December 31, 2019, Frim Fram Inc California was ‘Merged Out’ and incorporated with the Delaware company

Genow and Meyer (right) posed together at The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyer’s Breakfast in March, 2019. They are pictured with lawyer and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ husband Douglas Emhoff (left) and Patricia Wheeler (center, left) 

A source close to Meghan, 38, told DailyMail.com: ‘Nick Collins has been keeping Meghan in the loop on offers from networks and filmmakers with a view to using those opportunities in the future.

‘Andrew and Rick are very much handling the business operation behind the scenes.

‘Meghan and Harry see themselves moving towards TV, multi-media and social media platforms and want to produce thought provoking content designed to highlight their causes.

‘They have been pondering for a long time what their next move will be.

‘And it became abundantly clear that Meghan and Harry felt that working alongside technology giants and Hollywood studios and creating their own media projects was a natural fit.

Meghan’s agent Nick Collins has been with her since she played Rachel Zane on Suits 

‘And this is the way they felt they could raise awareness and funds for their charitable foundation.’

The source said that former Suits actress Meghan has no plans to step back in front of the camera though – other than maybe to host or narrate.

She is more focused on producing ground-breaking content to promote her and Harry’s charitable causes.

‘The message is clear, this is about them being documentarians or charity leaders, using their popularity for good causes,’ the source said.

Key to the trio is Nick Collins, who is a partner in The Gersh Agency and its co-head of talent. The agency represents clients including Kristen Stewart, Adam Driver, Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx. Gersh has offices in Beverly Hills and New York.

Collins, based in LA, started at the agency as an assistant in 2005, working for Bob Gersh. He was promoted to agent in 2007 and was named partner in 2015.

Collins’ roster of clients includes Taylor Kinney, the star of drama series Chicago Fire and former fiance of singer Lady Gaga, Courtney B. Vance, who appeared in The People v. O.J. Simpson and Megan Boone, from NBC drama series The Blacklist.

Meghan’s silver-haired entertainment business manager Meyer is also no stranger to working with screen talent, having helped Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo, film actress and comedienne Kathryn Hahn, who starred in Anchorman, and Big Little Lies heartthrob Alexander Skarsgard.

Meyer, 50, is founding Partner at Beverly Hills based firm Freemark Financial, LLP.

According to the company website it is ‘a preeminent Wealth and Business Management Firm for individuals as well as their companies in the Television, Film, Music, Production and Publishing Industries’.

Meyer, who is a certified public accountant lives with his wife Stephanie in a $6million, six-bed, 6,000 sq ft property in the exclusive Holmby Hills in LA.

In November 2017, Rachel Meghan Markle was listed as the president of Frim Fram, just before her engagement to Prince Harry. Shortly afterwards business manager Meyer and lawyer Genow took over and were listed as CEO and secretary

Just before her engagement to Prince Harry in November 2017 Meghan shut down her blog The Tig and its associated social media accounts

Like Collins and Meyer, Meghan’s attorney Rick Genow is also based in Beverly Hills.

Genow is a founding partner of Hollywood powerhouse law firm Stone, Genow, Smelkinson, Binder & Christopher.

He has represented Sir Ben Kingsley, As Good as it Gets star Greg Kinnear, Black-ish star Anthony Anderson and Goosebumps actress Odeya Rush.

He also handles big Hollywood production companies including Vertigo Entertainment, which was behind The Departed and The Lego Movie; BenderSpink, known for A History of Violence, We’re The Millers; and Principato-Young Entertainment, producers of Black-ish.

The Harvard graduate and former Paramount Pictures executive lives with wife Mary Fulginiti, a former assistant U.S. attorney and national correspondent for ABC News turned cyber security firm boss, in their $5million four-bed property in upscale Pacific Palisades.

Genow, 56, also runs Traction Media, Sisso Inc and Marcus Stansel Productions Inc and according to IMDB is credited as executive producer on Patricia Arquette movie The Wannabe in 2015.

He also receives a ‘special thanks’ credit on several other movies, including 2016 raunchy comedy Fifty Shades of Black.

Genow and Meyer posed together at The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyer’s Breakfast in March, 2019.

An industry source in the US told DailyMail.com that Meghan was sensible to maintain her Hollywood links.

‘It is mind-blowing to know how many offers the royal couple receive on a monthly basis. It could honestly total up to a billion dollars,’ the source said.

‘But at the same time there are offers of help in philanthropic and fund raising circles through film studios, acclaimed Hollywood stars, billionaires and entrepreneurs.

‘Nick is a friend first, but is aware of the value of Meghan to the Hollywood community.

‘Together with Harry they could have any studio jump at their request for a viable project, which would generate vast sums of money. Meghan really does hold the cards.’

A source said that the former Suits actress has no plans to step back in front of the camera though – other than maybe to host or narrate.’It is mind-blowing to know how many offers the royal couple receive on a monthly basis. It could honestly total up to a billion dollars,’ the source said

The source added that there had been rumors in recent months in Silicon Valley of the royal couple receiving interest from the likes of Facebook and Amazon on projects.

‘Obviously the couple has other major highly influential show business and political friends like the Obamas, George and Amal Clooney and Oprah Winfrey,’ the source added.

The Hollywood team worked in the shadows, while in public Meghan and Harry’s team included PR chief Sara Latham, who was a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, working for them.

DailyMail.com previously revealed how The Duchess has been working closely with PR advisor and close friend Keleigh Thomas Morgan on building a U.S. strategy for her and Harry’s charity venture – Sussex Royal.

DailyMail.com reached out to Collins, Meyer and Genow for comment. A request for comment was also submitted to Meghan and Harry’s PR rep.

This content was originally published here.