Tag Archives: Nationality

In Columbia Pictures’ White House Down, Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx).
Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save his daughter, the president, and the country.
The film is directed by Roland Emmerich, written by James Vanderbilt, and produced by Bradley J. Fischer, Harald Kloser, James Vanderbilt, Larry Franco, and Laeta Kalogridis.

Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News

Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired North American distribution rights to writer-director Joe Swanberg’s DRINKING BUDDIES, starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston.
Produced by Dark Arts’ Alicia Van Couvering and Andrea Roa; Burn Later?s Paul M. Bernon and Sam Slater; and Swanberg, the film premiered this month at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. The film was executive produced by Mike Witherill, Ashley Bernon, Jessica Klapman, David Kaplan, Anish Savjani, and Wilde. Magnolia Pictures is planning a theatrical release for later this year.
DRINKING BUDDIES follows the lives of Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) who work together at a craft brewery. They have one of those friendships that feels like it could be something more. But Kate is with Chris (Ron Livingston), and Luke is with Jill (Anna Kendrick). And Jill wants to know if Luke is ready to talk about marriage. The answer to that question becomes crystal clear when Luke and Kate unexpectedly find themselves alone for a weekend.
“Joe Swanberg has been evolving steadily as a filmmaker, and with DRINKING BUDDIES, he’s delivered his best work yet?a truly funny, smart and insightful film about real adult relationships,? said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson and the rest of the cast also deliver some of the best work of their careers. We’re raising an imperial pint in celebration.?
“I feel tremendously privileged to work with such a smart, energetic and exciting company,” said Swanberg. “I had an amazing time working with the Magnolia family on V/H/S and I can’t wait to be their drinking buddy again. I just know they will do great things with the film.?
The deal for the film was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions Peter van Steemberg, with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers and producers.
Swanberg’s prior films include HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS, ALEXANDER THE LAST, UNCLE KENT, SILVER BULLETS, and V/H/S.
Photo by PRPhotos.com
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News

The Recording Academy ® — the organization internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards®— will present its 2013 GRAMMYs on the Hill ® Awards in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 17 at the Hamilton . Known as “Washington’s most interesting mix of music and politics,” the event will honor GRAMMY® and Academy Award® winner Jennifer Hudson for her artistic achievements and generosity as a philanthropist.
“We are elated to recognize Jennifer Hudson as not only a gifted musician and actress but as an extraordinary humanitarian who has selflessly contributed her time and talent to numerous worthwhile causes,” said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. “She is one of the industry’s most enduring, giving and gifted women, and we are privileged to be honoring her artistry, her commitment, and her generosity.”
GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards: April 17
The GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards will take place on April 17 at the Hamilton with special guest presenters and performers, and will recognize Hudson with The Academy’s Recording Artists’ Coalition Award (named for The Academy’s artists’ rights program founded by Don Henley and Sheryl Crow). The event will include a cocktail reception and dinner preceding the awards ceremony, and will also thank key legislators who help improve the environment for music makers. Proceeds will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation®’s Signature Schools, which provides support for underserved music programs throughout the country, and a GRAMMY Foundation Signature School that has demonstrated excellence in music education will receive a grant to support its music initiatives. The evening is sponsored by SESAC.
GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day: April 18
The day after the Awards ceremony, The Recording Academy will host GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day, where hundreds of music professionals from across the country will visit with legislators to advance pro-music policies that improve the environment for music and its makers. Now in its eighth year, it is the music community’s only annual advocacy day in Washington, and features a morning briefing with keynote speeches by leading legislators and lobbying members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
About Jennifer Hudson
An Academy Award-winning actress, GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist and bestselling author, Jennifer Hudson is an extraordinary talent. From humble beginnings, Hudson began singing in a small Chicago church where, week after week, she brought the congregation to its feet. From there, she’s gone on to worldwide acclaim.
In 2007, Hudson won an Academy Award for her role as Effie in the smash hit Dreamgirls, an [...]

Among its many other faults, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone makes a solid case for the old ‘television is better than the movies’ argument.
The film is written by four different screenwriters all swimming in television writing experience and directed by a man who has directed almost nothing but television since 1990 and all of their various television projects are likely, by default, better than this film.
It features two actresses (Olivia Wilde and Gillian Jacobs) who did shine or are currently shining in well-developed three-dimensional roles on episodic television and uses them here merely as props for the boys to screw or ogle. It contains a script seemingly written by committee that features less wit and smarts than any one of the 38 episodes of 30 Rock by director Don Scardino. But putting aside the film vs.
TV debate, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is an inexplicable missed opportunity, showcasing subject matter that isn’t the least bit timely and highlighting the unmerited ‘redemption’ of a pointlessly horrible human being whose downfall is completely his own fault. More importantly, save for Jim Carrey’s supporting turn and a few grace notes along the way, it isn’t very funny.
To read more go to Mendelson’s Memos
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Pictures announced today that they’ve acquired US rights to MUSCLE SHOALS, a documentary about the legendary Muscle Shoals recording studio inAlabama that spawned some of the greatest records of all time. Directed by Greg ‘Freddy’ Camalier, and produced by Stephen Badger and Camalier, the film features interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Gregg Allman, Clarence
Carter, Alicia Keys, Bono and many others.
The film premiered at Sundance, and is debuting in Austin today at the Paramount Theater in the SXSW Film Festival. MUSCLE SHOALS tells the incredible and unlikely story of a small Alabama town by the Tennessee River, where a man named Rick Hall overcame crushing personal hardship to put together a recording studio and house band (the Swampers) that became legendary for its electrifying musical chemistry. Luring some of the biggest figures in 20th century pop music, like Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, theStaples Singers, the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Simon and Garfunkle, the studio produced all time classic songs like ‘Mustang Sally,’ ‘I Never Loved a Man,’ ‘Wild Horses’ and many more, uniting black and white musicians in the deep south during an incendiary period of racial hostility.
‘MUSCLE SHOALS is a great accomplishment,’ said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. ‘It captures the elusive magic of a truly special place that birthed some of the most exciting music ever made. Music fans of all ages are going to find this story revelatory.’
“Stephen and I are thrilled for MUSCLE SHOALS to find such a wonderful partner in Magnolia Pictures who will help bring this amazing heretofore unknown tale to the world,” said Camalier.
The theatrical deal was negotiated by Magnolia’s SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley with Josh Braun, Dan Braun & David Koh of Submarine. Submarine also announced it has sold US TV rights to Independent Lens for broadcast on PBS and all Canadian rights to Films We Like.
“At its heart, MUSCLE SHOALS is a social issue doc that looks at how music transformed culture,” said Lois Vossen, Independent Lens Senior Series Producer.
Those deals were negotiated by Koh, Josh & Dan Braun along with Lois Vossen, Independent Lens Senior Series Producer, and Ron Mann, President of Films We Like.
About Magnolia
Magnolia Pictures (www.magpictures.com) is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically-integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that also includes the Landmark Theatres chain [...]

It is on The Great Gatsby by Australian director Baz Luhrmann, that the curtain will rise at the inauguration of the 66th Festival de Cannes, on Wednesday 15th May, in the Grand Théâtre Lumière du Palais des Festivals, out of Competition in the Official Selection.
Adapted from the famous novel by American author Francis Scott Fitzgerald and set against the roaring twenties on the East Coast of the United States, the film depicts the romantic and tragic figure of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), as narrated by his friend Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire). Carey Mulligan is Daisy Buchanan, whose husband is played by Joel Edgerton.
This prestigious occasion will also be graced with the presence of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, as well as the American pop star, rapper Jay-Z
To read more go to Festival de Cannes
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News

Oscar voting has closed, so I can say this: Robert DeNiro can do anything. And so now, the nominee for “Silver Linings Playbook” is taking on his bravest project yet. He’s going to direct the Broadway musical of “A Bronx Tale,” the movie he directed in 1993.
Chazz Palminteri, who wrote the original movie and acted in and the Broadway play (which he also wrote), is writing the book for the musical now. David Bryan of Bon Jovi, who won the Tony for “Memphis,” is writing the songs. (Expect a lot of doo wop– they should call Richard Perry.) Sergio Trujillo — of Jersey Boys and Addams Family fame– is working on the choreography.
I know all this because the one and only Tommy Mottola is producing the musical, and he told me all about it yesterday. (Mottola is in partnership with Broadway’s The Dodgers.) Tommy and I were talking about his own musical memoir, the autobiography called “Hitmaker” in book stores now.
Mottola called me from Miami where he’s working on two more books–including one about the Latin culture and “the whole demographic.” Mottola is also working on a musical version of Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly,” directed by Bill T. Jones– aimed for Broadway next winter. Curtis Mayfield is hot hot hot–first “Sparkle,” now “Superfly.”
To read more go to www.showbiz411.com
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News

Six time GRAMMY winner Carrie Underwood will bring her critically acclaimed ‘Blown Away Tour’ to AXS TV for a LIVE full concert performance from Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on Sunday, March 3rd.
Named the top female country touring artist of 2012, Underwood is currently on the second leg of the highly successful ‘Blown Away Tour,’ which continues through May throughout the U.S., Canada, and across the pond to the UK and Ireland.
‘The Blown Away Tour’ Live 2013 is not Underwood?s first appearance on AXS TV. The multiple award-winning artist gave the network’s nightly live music news, trends and interview program, AXSLive, an exclusive backstage interview and live look in to ‘The Blown Away Tour’ when it stopped at STAPLES CENTER located in the heart of the network’s home campus, L.A. LIVE. Video: http://youtu.be/hBmlPBv3YTA.
Underwood says, “I’ve had the opportunity to play in so many wonderful cities and venues on this tour and still have many more to go, but I am so excited that AXS TV has given us the opportunity to be able to share the concert experience live with fans at home. It’s going to be a great night!”
“Carrie Underwood and AXS TV share two undeniable traits: a love for live music and passionate country music fans. I am thrilled to personally welcome Carrie to the AXS TV cadre of live LIVE artists. Fans will not be disappointed by the front row seat we give them to The Blown Away Tour on March 3rd,” said AXS TV Chairman Mark Cuban.
Concert review critics praised Carrie throughout ‘The Blown Away Tour’s’ 2012 run?
‘Carrie Underwood very well may be the most powerful vocalist in all of country music- not just right now, when she?s considered the reigning queen of the genre, but of the last decade or two.’ -Orange County Register.
‘Underwood is, without question, one of her generation?s most formidable vocalists.’
-Fort Worth Star Telegram
‘Underwood showed why she is one of popular music’s most widely celebrated and adored performers with brow-raising notes few can hit, much less consistently sustain. Each note on her range, belted high or softly sung, showed why she was the best in the country and continues to grow.’
-Tulsa World
AXS TV is the premier destination for 100% live concerts on television. With more pure live events than any other network, AXS TV brings fans an unparalleled music experience designed specifically [...]

I can’t confirm this offhand, but I’m pretty sure Snitch has the biggest opening weekend of all time for a film based on a Frontline documentary.
The ‘mandatory minimum sentences are evil’ action drama debuted with $13 million this weekend. That’s not a huge figure, but it’s above the sub-$8 million debuts from Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jason Statham in the last two months. Lionsgate/Summit procured the film for just $5 million, so this is a solid win all-around. The picture played 77% 18-49 and 53% male, earning a B from Cinemascore.
The solid 3.17x weekend multiplier, especially considering the predicted Oscar drop today, means that the film may have legs and an outside shot at $45 million. It’s not a massive success, and it means that Dwayne Johnson needs a viable franchise to be ‘box office’, but for a film with nothing but The Rock to sell, this isn’t a bad debut at all (it’s higher than the $8 million debut for 2010′s Faster, for example). Johnson still has G.I. Joe: Retaliation next month and the sure to be *huge* Fast & Furious 6 on tap for May, so this almost qualifies as his “one for me” art film. It’s a good movie that I hope finds an audience and it’s clearly a better choice for action junkies than A Good Day to Die Hard.
To read more go to Mendelson’s Memos
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News

William Ross will conduct the Oscar orchestra for the Academy Awards®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today.
“We are happy to have Bill Ross conduct the Oscar orchestra,” said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “With a show so rich with music, we are so pleased to have someone as talented as Bill on our team.”
Ross, who conducted for the 79th and 83rd Academy Awards®, is a prolific award-winning composer and arranger whose work encompasses feature films, television and the music recording industry. He has arranged music for artists such as Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Kenny G., Sting, Quincy Jones, Seal, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. The records on which he has worked have sold a total of over 250 million copies in the United States.
Ross has written original scores for such films as “The Tale of Despereaux,” “Ladder 49,” “Tuck Everlasting” and “My Dog Skip.” He also adapted and conducted the score to “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”

Oscars® for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. For more information go to Oscar.com or download the official Oscars app.
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News