Alastair Cook's poor form with the bat continued as the England captain was dismissed for another low score - but Gary Ballance put his off-field issues behind him as he scored his second Test century.
Friday 18 July 2014
Rory McIlroy makes birdie despite pheasant during The Open 2014 at Hoylake
Rory McIlroy scored two birdies on the par four ninth at Hoylake - as he managed to negotiate the hole in just three shots despite the presence of a local pheasant.
'The Big Bang Theory' Season 8 Threatened After Cast Demands Pay Raise
Bazinga! The joke's on you, CBS.
After renewing "The Big Bang Theory" through Season 10, the network and producing studio, Warner Bros. TV, have run into problems when it comes to the cast of the hit show. Deadline is reporting that contracts have yet to be locked in for the five core cast members, including Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco.
This isn't the first time a paycheck has caused problems for the series. In 2010, the original cast renegotiated their salaries after the massive success of the show's first few seasons. Now, reportedly, there's been "little dialogue" between the two sides, although more communication is expected to happen as the film deadline draws near.
While we're not sure how much the cast is asking when it comes to their new paychecks, Season 7 of the show saw Parsons, Cuoco and Galecki raking in $350,000 per episode. Deadline is speculating their new deal could see the actors reaching close to $1 million per episode for Season 8.
The Huffington Post's request for comment was not immediately returned by CBS.
[h/t Deadline]
After renewing "The Big Bang Theory" through Season 10, the network and producing studio, Warner Bros. TV, have run into problems when it comes to the cast of the hit show. Deadline is reporting that contracts have yet to be locked in for the five core cast members, including Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco.
This isn't the first time a paycheck has caused problems for the series. In 2010, the original cast renegotiated their salaries after the massive success of the show's first few seasons. Now, reportedly, there's been "little dialogue" between the two sides, although more communication is expected to happen as the film deadline draws near.
While we're not sure how much the cast is asking when it comes to their new paychecks, Season 7 of the show saw Parsons, Cuoco and Galecki raking in $350,000 per episode. Deadline is speculating their new deal could see the actors reaching close to $1 million per episode for Season 8.
The Huffington Post's request for comment was not immediately returned by CBS.
[h/t Deadline]
The Daily Show's Jessica Williams Takes On Army's New Hairstyle Rules With 'Operation Black Hair'
If you've been keeping up with the news on the Army's new grooming and appearance policies, then you know just how biased the new standards seem. Basically, the natural way in which our hair grows out of our head, including the hairstyles that help maintain those follicles, have been banned.
Silly, right? Well it definitely makes for some great comic relief when you get past the sad reality. And that is exactly what "The Daily Show" had in mind.
This week comedian Jessica Williams took on the hot hair topic for the Comedy Central program with a video entitled "Operation Black Hair." In her signature tongue-in-cheek humor, Williams attempts to educate the masses -- er, white people -- on how to maintain "an army without a lot of pissed of black ladies."
Check out the hilarious video above!
Silly, right? Well it definitely makes for some great comic relief when you get past the sad reality. And that is exactly what "The Daily Show" had in mind.
This week comedian Jessica Williams took on the hot hair topic for the Comedy Central program with a video entitled "Operation Black Hair." In her signature tongue-in-cheek humor, Williams attempts to educate the masses -- er, white people -- on how to maintain "an army without a lot of pissed of black ladies."
Check out the hilarious video above!
Today's New York Times Front Page Is Dominated By Women
There was something quite noteworthy about the New York Times front page Thursday morning.
Take a look:
Photo via Newseum
Female journalists reporting from war zones took control of A1 and outnumbered male writers above the fold. Jerusalem bureau chief Jodi Rudoren and Beirut bureau chief Anne Barnard covered the Israeli invasion of Gaza and science correspondent Sabrina Tavernise reported on the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash from Ukraine.
It's a refreshing sight to see and hopefully a step in the right direction following a recent Women's Media Center study on 10 top US newspapers that showed men dominate 63 percent of bylines -- nearly a 2-1 difference in content contributed by men than by women. The Times had the largest gender gap, its public editor Margaret Sullivan noted in May, with 69 percent of bylines attributed to men.
(h/t: Lydia Polgreen)
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Take a look:
Photo via Newseum
Female journalists reporting from war zones took control of A1 and outnumbered male writers above the fold. Jerusalem bureau chief Jodi Rudoren and Beirut bureau chief Anne Barnard covered the Israeli invasion of Gaza and science correspondent Sabrina Tavernise reported on the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash from Ukraine.
It's a refreshing sight to see and hopefully a step in the right direction following a recent Women's Media Center study on 10 top US newspapers that showed men dominate 63 percent of bylines -- nearly a 2-1 difference in content contributed by men than by women. The Times had the largest gender gap, its public editor Margaret Sullivan noted in May, with 69 percent of bylines attributed to men.
(h/t: Lydia Polgreen)
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1nTPeZ7
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The Daily Show's Jessica Williams Takes On Army's New Hairstyle Rules With 'Operation Black Hair'
If you've been keeping up with the news on the Army's new grooming and appearance policies, then you know just how biased the new standards seem. Basically, the natural way in which our hair grows out of our head, including the hairstyles that help maintain those follicles, have been banned.
Silly, right? Well it definitely makes for some great comic relief when you get past the sad reality. And that is exactly what "The Daily Show" had in mind.
This week comedian Jessica Williams took on the hot hair topic for the Comedy Central program with a video entitled "Operation Black Hair." In her signature tongue-in-cheek humor, Williams attempts to educate the masses -- er, white people -- on how to maintain "an army without a lot of pissed of black ladies."
Check out the hilarious video above!
from Style - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1jFAY64
via IFTTT
Silly, right? Well it definitely makes for some great comic relief when you get past the sad reality. And that is exactly what "The Daily Show" had in mind.
This week comedian Jessica Williams took on the hot hair topic for the Comedy Central program with a video entitled "Operation Black Hair." In her signature tongue-in-cheek humor, Williams attempts to educate the masses -- er, white people -- on how to maintain "an army without a lot of pissed of black ladies."
Check out the hilarious video above!
from Style - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1jFAY64
via IFTTT
Who Cares About the Price of Almond Milk?
As someone that works within the retail food sector, I am truly quite puzzled by the recent "news" pieces getting circulated regarding the price of almond milk. If you haven't heard, the gist is that some people seem to be outraged that almond milk is cheaper to make yourself, because almond milk is basically a small amount of almonds blended with filtered water.
What I find astounding, is that people 1) didn't already know this and 2) are shocked that it's cheaper to make food at home. I don't quite understand why almond milk is being targeted. Any food bought from the store is going to be cheaper to make at home.
An article on Mother Jones, claiming almond milk is a scam, points out that according to their calculations, there are about .39 cents of almonds in a $3.99 container of almond milk. Who cares? Almonds are just one ingredient and there are a lot of other costs that need to be considered before a product gets to a shelf.
Food manufacturers have packaging, labor, production, shipping, graphic design, marketing, etc. costs in addition to the cost of a single ingredient. The actual cost of producing the $3.99 container of almond milk is probably a lot higher than .39 cents.
After production, brokers typically sell the product to distributors, who in turn sell it to the retail outlet where the end consumers make their purchase. A markup and margin gets taken each step of the way. In other words, it's pretty elementary thinking to assume that since the almonds cost .39 per container that the company is profiting to the tune of $3.60 per unit.
This is why I am puzzled and confused about how this piece even began circulating. Does the author not realize that all food in a grocery store is marked up to make a profit? Do they not understand there are more costs to bringing a product to market beyond the cost of a single ingredient? Is anyone shocked that it's ultimately cheaper to make everything at home?
It really almost makes you wonder if this could be some sort of clever PR campaign by the dairy industry. Certainly, I'm not making any accusations, but it does all seem very curious indeed. Perhaps the idea that it's more cost-effective to cook at home is a revolutionary idea for some people.
Either way, almond milk isn't a scam and almond milk manufacturers aren't doing anything that any other retail food product isn't. There's no secret scandal and no one is getting ripped off. You can go ahead and drink your almond milk without feeling as though you're contributing to some sort of giant conspiracy.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1jYccyA
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What I find astounding, is that people 1) didn't already know this and 2) are shocked that it's cheaper to make food at home. I don't quite understand why almond milk is being targeted. Any food bought from the store is going to be cheaper to make at home.
An article on Mother Jones, claiming almond milk is a scam, points out that according to their calculations, there are about .39 cents of almonds in a $3.99 container of almond milk. Who cares? Almonds are just one ingredient and there are a lot of other costs that need to be considered before a product gets to a shelf.
Food manufacturers have packaging, labor, production, shipping, graphic design, marketing, etc. costs in addition to the cost of a single ingredient. The actual cost of producing the $3.99 container of almond milk is probably a lot higher than .39 cents.
After production, brokers typically sell the product to distributors, who in turn sell it to the retail outlet where the end consumers make their purchase. A markup and margin gets taken each step of the way. In other words, it's pretty elementary thinking to assume that since the almonds cost .39 per container that the company is profiting to the tune of $3.60 per unit.
This is why I am puzzled and confused about how this piece even began circulating. Does the author not realize that all food in a grocery store is marked up to make a profit? Do they not understand there are more costs to bringing a product to market beyond the cost of a single ingredient? Is anyone shocked that it's ultimately cheaper to make everything at home?
It really almost makes you wonder if this could be some sort of clever PR campaign by the dairy industry. Certainly, I'm not making any accusations, but it does all seem very curious indeed. Perhaps the idea that it's more cost-effective to cook at home is a revolutionary idea for some people.
Either way, almond milk isn't a scam and almond milk manufacturers aren't doing anything that any other retail food product isn't. There's no secret scandal and no one is getting ripped off. You can go ahead and drink your almond milk without feeling as though you're contributing to some sort of giant conspiracy.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1jYccyA
via IFTTT
26 Disney Channel Stars Come Together For A Fun Cover Of 'Do You Want To Build A Snowman?'
What could possibly unite 26 of Disney Channel's biggest stars? A new rendition of "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" from "Frozen," of course.
In honor of Disney's "Frozen" weekend, the stars got together to shoot a music video of one of the film's most popular songs. Featured in the video are stars from "Austin and Ally," "Liv and Maddie," "Good Luck, Charlie." and more. In the video above, you can see a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of this star-packed music video, including some sneak peaks of the song and a lot of goofing around.
The full music video is set to premiere today on the Disney Channel app, with the song also debuting on Radio Disney -- so yes, you're about to have the song stuck in your head for another month!
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1jYcaXt
via IFTTT
In honor of Disney's "Frozen" weekend, the stars got together to shoot a music video of one of the film's most popular songs. Featured in the video are stars from "Austin and Ally," "Liv and Maddie," "Good Luck, Charlie." and more. In the video above, you can see a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of this star-packed music video, including some sneak peaks of the song and a lot of goofing around.
The full music video is set to premiere today on the Disney Channel app, with the song also debuting on Radio Disney -- so yes, you're about to have the song stuck in your head for another month!
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Gary Neville awarded honorary doctorate by University of Salford for sustainability work
Gary Neville has added a doctor of science award to his career honours including eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions League victories.
Cyclist Jon Dibben out of Commonwealth Games after fracturing elbow in training
Cyclist Jon Dibben has had to withdraw from England's team for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games due to a fractured elbow.
Thomas Vermaelen poses with Robin van Persie amidst Manchester United transfer speculation
Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen might be on a holiday from football, but he still found time for a kick-about on the beach in Barbados.
Theo Walcott should return to Arsenal training in August, says Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger has revealed that Theo Walcott is expected to return to training in August and could be fast tracked back into Arsenal's first team.
Broadway Lights Will Be Dimmed In Elaine Stritch's Memory
NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway marquees will be dimmed in memory of a Tony- and Emmy-winning actress who epitomized New York and the theater world.
Elaine Stritch died Thursday at age 89 in her home state of Michigan. She was far from her longtime adopted home. But Broadway — and New York —immediately sent their love. The marquees of the Great White Way will be dimmed for one minute at 7:45 p.m. Eastern on Friday.
The feisty actress found new fans as Alec Baldwin's mother on television's "30 Rock." But she was best known for her stage work — especially her candid one-woman memoir and in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Company."
Broadway League Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin says Stritch will always be remembered as an important part of Broadway's rich history.
Elaine Stritch died Thursday at age 89 in her home state of Michigan. She was far from her longtime adopted home. But Broadway — and New York —immediately sent their love. The marquees of the Great White Way will be dimmed for one minute at 7:45 p.m. Eastern on Friday.
The feisty actress found new fans as Alec Baldwin's mother on television's "30 Rock." But she was best known for her stage work — especially her candid one-woman memoir and in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Company."
Broadway League Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin says Stritch will always be remembered as an important part of Broadway's rich history.
26 Disney Channel Stars Come Together For A Fun Cover Of 'Do You Want To Build A Snowman?'
What could possibly unite 26 of Disney Channel's biggest stars? A new rendition of "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" from "Frozen," of course.
In honor of Disney's "Frozen" weekend, the stars got together to shoot a music video of one of the film's most popular songs. Featured in the video are stars from "Austin and Ally," "Liv and Maddie," "Good Luck, Charlie." and more. In the video above, you can see a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of this star-packed music video, including some sneak peaks of the song and a lot of goofing around.
The full music video is set to premiere today on the Disney Channel app, with the song also debuting on Radio Disney -- so yes, you're about to have the song stuck in your head for another month!
In honor of Disney's "Frozen" weekend, the stars got together to shoot a music video of one of the film's most popular songs. Featured in the video are stars from "Austin and Ally," "Liv and Maddie," "Good Luck, Charlie." and more. In the video above, you can see a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of this star-packed music video, including some sneak peaks of the song and a lot of goofing around.
The full music video is set to premiere today on the Disney Channel app, with the song also debuting on Radio Disney -- so yes, you're about to have the song stuck in your head for another month!
Willie Tanner On 'ALF': 'Memba Him?
Max Wright is best known for place the out of this world patriarch Willie Tanner -- who plays host to the hilarious martian -- in the late '80s sci-fi comedy "ALF." Guess what he looks like now!
13 Facts You May Not Know About Stanley Kubrick's 'Eyes Wide Shut'
Fifteen years ago, on July 16, 1999, Stanley Kubrick's final film, "Eyes Wide Shut," opened nationwide. Setting records for the longest shoot in movie history, it was an excruciating labor of love for lead stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman -- one that would often be traced back to the alleged start of their marriage's decline. Throughout the process, cryptic reports implied that Kubrick's obsessive perfectionism had reached peak levels, which was especially eyebrow-raising given the film's sexual explicitness. The director, who won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for "2001: A Space Odyssey," died of a heart attack in March 1999, days after screening the final cut. Had he lived, perhaps we'd have more perspective on the movie's production -- or perhaps not, as Kubrick was notoriously reclusive.
An excerpt from Amy Nicholson's book, "Tom Cruise: Anatomy of an Actor," printed in Vanity Fair, offers details about the project's goings-on. Coupled with a 1999 Entertainment Weekly article pegged to the film's release and a Los Angeles Times report about its box-office expectations, the passage reveals some things you may not know about "Eyes Wide Shut."
1. Kubrick always intended to cast an actual married couple as the movie's leads, but Cruise and Kidman weren't who he had in mind. The initial pair he thought of was Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.
2. Sidney Pollack's role first went to Harvey Keitel, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
3. Jennifer Jason Leigh was originally tapped to play Marion Nathanson but left mid-production due to scheduling conflicts. Marie Richardson wound up playing that part.
4. When Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise arrived in London in the fall of 1996 to shoot the movie, they expected to be wrapped and back in Los Angeles by the following spring. Instead, the production didn't conclude until January 1998, making it the Guinness World Record's longest-running film shoot in history. (Kidman and Cruise reportedly signed open-ended contracts that stated they'd stick with the project no matter how long it took to complete.)
5. To say Kubrick is a perfectionist is an understatement: His intent was to film scenes so many times that it would wear down his actors and they'd forget the cameras existed. During the course of shooting "Eyes Wide Shut," the director filmed 95 takes of Cruise walking through a door.
6. Cruise was so anxious about giving the legendary director what he wanted that he developed an ulcer. He never told Kubrick.
7. Frenzied tabloids ran reports that Cruise and Kidman's marriage was crumbling in late '90s. If anything, that notion was only enhanced by their "Eyes Wide Shut" dynamic. Kubrick coaxed the couple into sharing their personal reservations about the marriage with him, in turn transferring those troubles onto their characters, Bill and Alice. Kidman called it a kind of "brutally honest" anti-therapy, as no one asked how they felt about each other's criticisms.
8. Director Todd Field ("Little Children," "In the Bedroom"), who starred in the movie as piano player Nick Nightingale, said of Kidman and Cruise: “You’ve never seen two actors more completely subservient and prostrate themselves at the feet of a director.”
9. Kubrick was terrified of flying, so instead of traveling to New York City to shoot in Greenwich Village, he built a top-secret replica of the neighborhood at England's Pinewood Studios. A set designer was sent to measure the exact width of the streets and distance between newspaper stands.
10. Kubrick allowed only a skeleton crew to remain on the set throughout filming. One rare outsider permitted to watch the action unfold was "Boogie Nights" director Paul Thomas Anderson. Cruise was in talks for the lead role in Anderson's "Magnolia" and had to sneak him past security. ''I asked [Kubrick], 'Do you always work with so few people?' Anderson recalled. "He gave me this look and said, 'Why? How many people do you need?' I felt like such a Hollywood asshole.''
11. Cruise isn't the only actor who filmed dozens of takes. Vinessa Shaw, who played the prostitute Domino, recalled having shot about 90 takes for a single scene.
12. Had Kubrick not died before the movie opened, he may still be making adjustments to it today, like he did with "The Shining" after its release. "I think Stanley would have been tinkering with it for the next 20 years," Kidman said. "He was still tinkering with movies he made decades ago. He was never finished. It was never perfect enough."
13. Warner Bros. wanted a $20 million opening weekend to consider the movie a success. It surpassed that, grossing $21.7 million across 2,400 screens. Marketing tracking studies for the film showed it had an awareness level of 78 but lacked the first-choice status among moviegoers that other summer fare like "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Big Daddy" saw.
Pollack, Kidman and Cruise at the movie's July 13, 1999, world premiere in Los Angeles:
An excerpt from Amy Nicholson's book, "Tom Cruise: Anatomy of an Actor," printed in Vanity Fair, offers details about the project's goings-on. Coupled with a 1999 Entertainment Weekly article pegged to the film's release and a Los Angeles Times report about its box-office expectations, the passage reveals some things you may not know about "Eyes Wide Shut."
1. Kubrick always intended to cast an actual married couple as the movie's leads, but Cruise and Kidman weren't who he had in mind. The initial pair he thought of was Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.
2. Sidney Pollack's role first went to Harvey Keitel, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
3. Jennifer Jason Leigh was originally tapped to play Marion Nathanson but left mid-production due to scheduling conflicts. Marie Richardson wound up playing that part.
4. When Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise arrived in London in the fall of 1996 to shoot the movie, they expected to be wrapped and back in Los Angeles by the following spring. Instead, the production didn't conclude until January 1998, making it the Guinness World Record's longest-running film shoot in history. (Kidman and Cruise reportedly signed open-ended contracts that stated they'd stick with the project no matter how long it took to complete.)
5. To say Kubrick is a perfectionist is an understatement: His intent was to film scenes so many times that it would wear down his actors and they'd forget the cameras existed. During the course of shooting "Eyes Wide Shut," the director filmed 95 takes of Cruise walking through a door.
6. Cruise was so anxious about giving the legendary director what he wanted that he developed an ulcer. He never told Kubrick.
7. Frenzied tabloids ran reports that Cruise and Kidman's marriage was crumbling in late '90s. If anything, that notion was only enhanced by their "Eyes Wide Shut" dynamic. Kubrick coaxed the couple into sharing their personal reservations about the marriage with him, in turn transferring those troubles onto their characters, Bill and Alice. Kidman called it a kind of "brutally honest" anti-therapy, as no one asked how they felt about each other's criticisms.
8. Director Todd Field ("Little Children," "In the Bedroom"), who starred in the movie as piano player Nick Nightingale, said of Kidman and Cruise: “You’ve never seen two actors more completely subservient and prostrate themselves at the feet of a director.”
9. Kubrick was terrified of flying, so instead of traveling to New York City to shoot in Greenwich Village, he built a top-secret replica of the neighborhood at England's Pinewood Studios. A set designer was sent to measure the exact width of the streets and distance between newspaper stands.
10. Kubrick allowed only a skeleton crew to remain on the set throughout filming. One rare outsider permitted to watch the action unfold was "Boogie Nights" director Paul Thomas Anderson. Cruise was in talks for the lead role in Anderson's "Magnolia" and had to sneak him past security. ''I asked [Kubrick], 'Do you always work with so few people?' Anderson recalled. "He gave me this look and said, 'Why? How many people do you need?' I felt like such a Hollywood asshole.''
11. Cruise isn't the only actor who filmed dozens of takes. Vinessa Shaw, who played the prostitute Domino, recalled having shot about 90 takes for a single scene.
12. Had Kubrick not died before the movie opened, he may still be making adjustments to it today, like he did with "The Shining" after its release. "I think Stanley would have been tinkering with it for the next 20 years," Kidman said. "He was still tinkering with movies he made decades ago. He was never finished. It was never perfect enough."
13. Warner Bros. wanted a $20 million opening weekend to consider the movie a success. It surpassed that, grossing $21.7 million across 2,400 screens. Marketing tracking studies for the film showed it had an awareness level of 78 but lacked the first-choice status among moviegoers that other summer fare like "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Big Daddy" saw.
Pollack, Kidman and Cruise at the movie's July 13, 1999, world premiere in Los Angeles:
Alexandra Shipp Replaces Zendaya In Aaliyah Lifetime Biopic
Lifetime found a new actress to replace Zendaya in its Aaliyah biopic. The iconic R&B singer will now be played by Nickelodeon star Alexandra Shipp, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed, before Lifetime tweeted the news:
Zendaya backed out of the made-for-TV movie last month and her rep confirmed she was "no longer involved with the film." At the time, Lifetime's PR department released a statement on Twitter: "We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold." She was scheduled to record four songs to appear in the movie.
Production will resume this summer and Lifetime still plans on releasing "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B" in the fall as planned. The project is set to trace Aaliyah's career from her first performance on "Star Search" to her untimely death in 2001. She was killed in a plane crash at 22. Wendy Williams has also joined the TV movie as an executive producer.
News of the biopic made waves with members of the late singer's family. Her cousin, Jomo Hankerson, has said publicly that they would make it hard for the network to gain rights, masters and images for the film. He also told the New York Daily News that members of the family weren't happy the film would be made for TV instead of the big screen. “This needs A-list actors, A-list talent that can breathe life into what we think is a phenomenal story," he said in June.
Shipp is best known for the Nickelodeon series "House of Anubis" in which she plays Kara Tatiana Rush. She is also featured in Season 2 of "Ray Donovan."
Alexandra Shipp to play Aaliyah. @AlexShipppp @lifetimetv http://ift.tt/1zRipAU
— LifetimePR (@LifetimeTV_PR) July 18, 2014 Zendaya backed out of the made-for-TV movie last month and her rep confirmed she was "no longer involved with the film." At the time, Lifetime's PR department released a statement on Twitter: "We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold." She was scheduled to record four songs to appear in the movie.
Production will resume this summer and Lifetime still plans on releasing "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B" in the fall as planned. The project is set to trace Aaliyah's career from her first performance on "Star Search" to her untimely death in 2001. She was killed in a plane crash at 22. Wendy Williams has also joined the TV movie as an executive producer.
News of the biopic made waves with members of the late singer's family. Her cousin, Jomo Hankerson, has said publicly that they would make it hard for the network to gain rights, masters and images for the film. He also told the New York Daily News that members of the family weren't happy the film would be made for TV instead of the big screen. “This needs A-list actors, A-list talent that can breathe life into what we think is a phenomenal story," he said in June.
Shipp is best known for the Nickelodeon series "House of Anubis" in which she plays Kara Tatiana Rush. She is also featured in Season 2 of "Ray Donovan."
From the Jerusalem Festival: Can Films Transcend Politics?
Watching movies for ten days at the 31st Jerusalem Film Festival might seem like an escape from the current reality of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel as well as the subsequent military retaliation of the Israeli government. But many of the Festival selections confront ethnic tension and inspire a deeper reflection than headlines can ignite.
At the Closing Night ceremony Thursday, Festival Founder and President Lia Van Leer thanked "those who came in our days of sorrow to help us make a great festival." This indomitable woman, 93 years young, set a tone for the rest of the evening that was both sober and hopeful. It included the awarding of the Festival's Achievement Award to actor Makram Khoury, a Palestinian who has incarnated both Jewish Holocaust survivors and Arabs onscreen.
Although he could not be present for medical reasons, actress Yael Abecassis read his letter aloud: "Cinema is not accepting reality as it is," he wrote. "We are creators of the impossible. ... and it is possible to live a good life here."
The film Dancing Arabs was to have screened at the 6,000-seat outdoor Sultan's Pool, but security considerations led the ebullient Festival director Noa Regev to move the event into the Cinematheque. Director Eran Riklis introduced his film by acknowledging that there has been "too much blood," adding, "the most important thing is to stop hating." He called Dancing Arabs "a modest contribution" to the dialogue.
Adapted by Sayed Kashua from his semi-autobiographical novel, this engrossing tale of identity centers on Eyad (Tawfeek Barhum), a bright, sensitive Arab youth trying to make a life for himself in Jerusalem. The combination of a Jewish director and an Arab writer results in a sensitive coming-of-age drama. A co-production of Israel, Germany and France, it begins in 1982: Eyad's home life is warm, but marred by the fact that his father (Ali Suliman, whose films include Lone Survivor, The Attack and Paradise Now) was arrested in his youth for suspected terrorist activity.
Tawfeek Barhum (left) and Yael Abecassis (right) in Dancing Arabs, Photo Credit: Eitan Riklis
By 1988, Eyad has been accepted at an elite boarding school: the only Arab student, he is misnamed "Ayid" (ironic in that the Yiddish pronunciation means "a Jew"). The humanist anchor of Dancing Arabs is Edna (Yael Abecassis), a Jewish lawyer who befriends Eyad after he volunteers to help with her disabled son Jonathan (Michael Monoshov). She even allows Eyad to use her son's passport to get a job as a waiter.
Perhaps the film's vision is crystallized in a rock concert: a male singer's lyrics are about redeeming Palestine after 20 years of Occupation, but he is then joined onstage by a female performer with a more peaceful reminder: she sings that Ishmael and Abraham were brothers.
Shifting identity is also the theme of Shira Geffen's Self Made, an Israeli black comedy that invokes David Lynch and Luis Bunuel. Michal (Sarah Adler), a famous Jewish conceptual artist, wakes up disoriented. After she calls an IKEA-like furniture company to complain about a missing screw, Nadine (Samira Saraya), an Arab factory worker, loses her job. When Nadine is stopped at a checkpoint, a female soldier (Na'ama Shoham) proves to be a third Israeli woman whose internal and external landscape are not in sync. Like Robert Altman's "3 Women," Geffen uses a disorienting logic of images and poetic overlaps, but in a politically charged context.
Samira Saraya (right) in Self Made, Photo Credit: Ziv Berkovich
Before the screening of Self Made at the Jerusalem Film Festival on Thursday, the director asked the audience to stand for a minute of silence in memory of the children killed in Gaza. While most stood up, a few audience members refused, angered that they weren't being asked to remember the Israeli who was killed delivering food to soldiers.
Lest it seem that the Jerusalem Festival was dominated by tense questions of Israeli identity, discussion of a gem like Michael Verhoeven's Let's Go! is in order. The German director of such classics as The White Rose and The Nasty Girl adapted the autobiographical novel of Laura Waco. It is a moving post-Holocaust drama about a survivor couple who try to create a life in Germany. Verhoeven cross-cuts between the late 1940s, when Hela (Katharina Nesytowa) gives birth to Laura, and 1968, when the grown Laura (Alice Dwyer) returns from California to Germany for her father's funeral.
Naomi Krauss (left) and Alice Dwyer (right) in Let's Go!, Photo Credit: Barbara Bauriedl
As she tries to embrace her bereaved mother (played by Naomi Krauss), Laura is rejected. Holocaust details are respectfully suggested rather than reenacted, often through a child's perspective. And the image of the Jewish protagonist -- the vulnerable victim of anti-Semitism -- is radically different from the provocative Israeli films at the Festival.
Like Dancing Arabs and Self Made, Let's Go! is part of an ongoing dialogue about Jewish identity, whether framed by the Holocaust or contemporary turmoil in the Middle East. By personalizing critical issues, these movies attempt what politics seem unable to achieve, exploring the needs, fears and aspirations that transcend national or ethnic boundaries.
At the Closing Night ceremony Thursday, Festival Founder and President Lia Van Leer thanked "those who came in our days of sorrow to help us make a great festival." This indomitable woman, 93 years young, set a tone for the rest of the evening that was both sober and hopeful. It included the awarding of the Festival's Achievement Award to actor Makram Khoury, a Palestinian who has incarnated both Jewish Holocaust survivors and Arabs onscreen.
Although he could not be present for medical reasons, actress Yael Abecassis read his letter aloud: "Cinema is not accepting reality as it is," he wrote. "We are creators of the impossible. ... and it is possible to live a good life here."
The film Dancing Arabs was to have screened at the 6,000-seat outdoor Sultan's Pool, but security considerations led the ebullient Festival director Noa Regev to move the event into the Cinematheque. Director Eran Riklis introduced his film by acknowledging that there has been "too much blood," adding, "the most important thing is to stop hating." He called Dancing Arabs "a modest contribution" to the dialogue.
Adapted by Sayed Kashua from his semi-autobiographical novel, this engrossing tale of identity centers on Eyad (Tawfeek Barhum), a bright, sensitive Arab youth trying to make a life for himself in Jerusalem. The combination of a Jewish director and an Arab writer results in a sensitive coming-of-age drama. A co-production of Israel, Germany and France, it begins in 1982: Eyad's home life is warm, but marred by the fact that his father (Ali Suliman, whose films include Lone Survivor, The Attack and Paradise Now) was arrested in his youth for suspected terrorist activity.
Tawfeek Barhum (left) and Yael Abecassis (right) in Dancing Arabs, Photo Credit: Eitan Riklis
By 1988, Eyad has been accepted at an elite boarding school: the only Arab student, he is misnamed "Ayid" (ironic in that the Yiddish pronunciation means "a Jew"). The humanist anchor of Dancing Arabs is Edna (Yael Abecassis), a Jewish lawyer who befriends Eyad after he volunteers to help with her disabled son Jonathan (Michael Monoshov). She even allows Eyad to use her son's passport to get a job as a waiter.
Perhaps the film's vision is crystallized in a rock concert: a male singer's lyrics are about redeeming Palestine after 20 years of Occupation, but he is then joined onstage by a female performer with a more peaceful reminder: she sings that Ishmael and Abraham were brothers.
Shifting identity is also the theme of Shira Geffen's Self Made, an Israeli black comedy that invokes David Lynch and Luis Bunuel. Michal (Sarah Adler), a famous Jewish conceptual artist, wakes up disoriented. After she calls an IKEA-like furniture company to complain about a missing screw, Nadine (Samira Saraya), an Arab factory worker, loses her job. When Nadine is stopped at a checkpoint, a female soldier (Na'ama Shoham) proves to be a third Israeli woman whose internal and external landscape are not in sync. Like Robert Altman's "3 Women," Geffen uses a disorienting logic of images and poetic overlaps, but in a politically charged context.
Samira Saraya (right) in Self Made, Photo Credit: Ziv Berkovich
Before the screening of Self Made at the Jerusalem Film Festival on Thursday, the director asked the audience to stand for a minute of silence in memory of the children killed in Gaza. While most stood up, a few audience members refused, angered that they weren't being asked to remember the Israeli who was killed delivering food to soldiers.
Lest it seem that the Jerusalem Festival was dominated by tense questions of Israeli identity, discussion of a gem like Michael Verhoeven's Let's Go! is in order. The German director of such classics as The White Rose and The Nasty Girl adapted the autobiographical novel of Laura Waco. It is a moving post-Holocaust drama about a survivor couple who try to create a life in Germany. Verhoeven cross-cuts between the late 1940s, when Hela (Katharina Nesytowa) gives birth to Laura, and 1968, when the grown Laura (Alice Dwyer) returns from California to Germany for her father's funeral.
Naomi Krauss (left) and Alice Dwyer (right) in Let's Go!, Photo Credit: Barbara Bauriedl
As she tries to embrace her bereaved mother (played by Naomi Krauss), Laura is rejected. Holocaust details are respectfully suggested rather than reenacted, often through a child's perspective. And the image of the Jewish protagonist -- the vulnerable victim of anti-Semitism -- is radically different from the provocative Israeli films at the Festival.
Like Dancing Arabs and Self Made, Let's Go! is part of an ongoing dialogue about Jewish identity, whether framed by the Holocaust or contemporary turmoil in the Middle East. By personalizing critical issues, these movies attempt what politics seem unable to achieve, exploring the needs, fears and aspirations that transcend national or ethnic boundaries.
Elaine Stritch Tells Me a Very Funny Judy Garland Story
When my interview with Elaine Stritch aired on "So What Else Is News?" - my Air America Radio show back in the day - someone wrote me saying I laughed way too hard in it.
I wrote back that it was because I was terrified of her.
Here's an excerpt from the segment (h/t Joe Zefran):
I wrote back that it was because I was terrified of her.
Here's an excerpt from the segment (h/t Joe Zefran):
Planes, Fire and Rescue: Disney Does It Again! Well, Sort Of.
Seated amidst an audience of mini people, I wondered what I was doing at this screening. When I put on my 3D glasses and sat back to munch my popcorn, I was pleasantly surprised by the stellar cast of voices and the terrific soundtrack. But alas, the plot is a cookie-cutter repeat of The Little Engine That Could. Still, it was enjoyable, as the special effects are fun and I found myself truly feeling that these cars, fire trucks, ambulances were people of sorts and had hearts. And heart is what this film is about.
In the end the audience applauded as I left, eager to see the first episode of Ray Donovan.
But I did not regret my experience to be a member of the audience of the citizens of tomorrow. The color is bold and the star power in the voices carries this Disney wonder. We have the voices of Ed Harris as Blade Ranger, Julie Bowen as Lil' Dipper, Hal Holbrook as Mayday, Terry Hatcher as Dottie, Stacey Keach as Skipper, Cedric the Entertainer as Leadbottom, Anne Meara as Winnie (as in Winnebago), Jerry Stiller as Harvey to name a few of the stars.
The plot is simple. Dusty Crophopper (Dane Cook), learns his plane is damaged and he may never fly again. Out of frustration and sheer courage, he joins the fire, rescue and rescue helicopter team, the Smoke jumpers. This film features a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from massive fires. Dusty is launched into the world of aerial firefighting and learns about becoming a real hero.
Aw shucks. I had a good time and your little tots will, too. I am pleased these great actors got a paycheck out of Hollywood, but I would have preferred to see their faces in an African Queen, On the Waterfront or Lawrence of Arabia. But Disney is not into these kinds of films. However, if you are, watch the latest TV installment of let's say, Ray Donovan, instead, and save your loot and leave Planes, Fire and Rescue to the tots.
In the end the audience applauded as I left, eager to see the first episode of Ray Donovan.
But I did not regret my experience to be a member of the audience of the citizens of tomorrow. The color is bold and the star power in the voices carries this Disney wonder. We have the voices of Ed Harris as Blade Ranger, Julie Bowen as Lil' Dipper, Hal Holbrook as Mayday, Terry Hatcher as Dottie, Stacey Keach as Skipper, Cedric the Entertainer as Leadbottom, Anne Meara as Winnie (as in Winnebago), Jerry Stiller as Harvey to name a few of the stars.
The plot is simple. Dusty Crophopper (Dane Cook), learns his plane is damaged and he may never fly again. Out of frustration and sheer courage, he joins the fire, rescue and rescue helicopter team, the Smoke jumpers. This film features a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from massive fires. Dusty is launched into the world of aerial firefighting and learns about becoming a real hero.
Aw shucks. I had a good time and your little tots will, too. I am pleased these great actors got a paycheck out of Hollywood, but I would have preferred to see their faces in an African Queen, On the Waterfront or Lawrence of Arabia. But Disney is not into these kinds of films. However, if you are, watch the latest TV installment of let's say, Ray Donovan, instead, and save your loot and leave Planes, Fire and Rescue to the tots.
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