One of Hollywood's largest movie studios starred in a disastrous sequel Sunday as a fire ripped through a lot at Universal Studios, destroying a set from 'Back to the Future', a King Kong exhibit and a streetscape seen frequently in movies and TV shows.
It was the second fire at the historic site in nearly two decades, leveling facades, hollowing out buildings and creating the kind of catastrophe filmmakers relish re-creating. This time around, thousands of videos chronicling Universal's movie and TV shows were destroyed in the blaze.
But Universal officials said that they were thankful no one was seriously injured at the theme park and that the damaged footage can be replaced.
"We have duplicates of everything," said Ron Meyer, NBC Universal president and chief operating officer. "Nothing is lost forever."
The blaze broke out on a sound stage featuring New York brownstone facades around 4:30 a.m. at the 400-acre property, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said. The fire was contained to the lot but burned for more than 12 hours before the final flames were extinguished.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage was expected to be in the millions of dollars.
The iconic courthouse square from 'Back to the Future' was destroyed, and the famous clock tower that enabled Michael J. Fox's character to travel through time was damaged, fire officials said. Two mock New York and New England streets used both for movie-making and as tourist displays were a total loss, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said.
An exhibit housing a mechanically animated King Kong that bellows at visitors on a tram also was destroyed.
All three sites were either damaged or destroyed during another fire at Universal Studios in November 1990. That fire caused $25 million in damage and was started by a security guard who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to arson.
Hundreds of visitors who had waited for hours outside the park gates were turned away after officials decided not to open the area. On a typical weekend day, about 25,000 people visit Universal Studios. NBC Universal said in a statement that the park would reopen Monday morning.
Universal CityWalk, a shopping promenade, was also closed. The MTV Movie Awards, broadcasting live Sunday night from the adjacent Gibson Amphitheater, went on as planned.
Mike Herrick of San Diego watched the fire on television from his hotel Sunday afternoon before deciding to return to Universal Studios for a second day with his wife.
"By gosh, we're going to go and get whatever we can out of it," Herrick said. On Saturday, Herrick had ridden the tram that winds around the studio lot, snapping photos of the King Kong attraction, among other sights.
The fire broke out along New York Street, where firefighting helicopters swept in for drops and cranes dumped water on the flames. A thick column of smoke rose thousands of feet into the air and could be seen for miles.
"It looked like a disaster film," said Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge.
Several firefighters suffered minor injuries. One firefighter and a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy were slightly hurt when a pressurized cylinder exploded inside the building housing the videos.
The streetscape that burned recently served as a backdrop in such films as 'Bruce Almighty' and television shows including 'Monk', 'Crossing Jordan' and 'House', said NBC Universal spokeswoman Cindy Gardner.
Meyer estimated there were 40,000 to 50,000 videos and film reels in a vault that burned but said duplicates were stored in a different location. Firefighters managed to recover hundreds of titles.
The videos included every film that Universal has produced and footage from television series including 'Miami Vice' and 'I Love Lucy'.
Universal Studios, nine miles north of downtown Los Angeles, has thrill rides and a back lot where movies and television shows are filmed, including scenes from 'War of the Worlds', 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Scrubs'.
Source: AP
Monday, June 2, 2008
Christian Bale Reveals Being Broke
He might be starring in the biggest grosser of recent times, but Batman star Christian Bale was so broke five years back, that he even had his house repossessed, revealed the actor himself.
Though he was cast in American Psycho in 2000 and Reign of Fire in 2002, his low earnings had landed him into deep debt, because of which he and his wife Sibi Blazic had to be forced out of their house.
However, the Welsh-born actor claims that he is not the only celebrity to face such a situation, as many before have also been through hard times.
“I don't believe that there's an actor alive who hasn't been in that position - and in that position many years after people recognise you and have a very wrong impression of what they imagine your life to be like,” The Sun quoted him, as telling Details magazine.
When asked about when exactly he had his encounter with debt, he said: “I know absolutely when it was. I'm just trying to decide how comfortable I am talking about it. (It's) only going back five years. House repossession - all that.”
Bale also said that he did all those big screen roles just to earn buck to clear his debt, including one particular movie that he refused to name.
The actor, whose second Batman film, 'The Dark Knight', is releasing in July, said: “I won't tell what it was, but it was following closely on the heels of (the repossession). It ended up that I found a great many experiences from it - but the motivation was completely keeping the head above water.”
After doing roles in The Machinist, Batman Begins Harsh Times in 2004 and 2005, Bale became one of Hollywood's highest earners.
Source: ANI
Daniel Craig Lined Up for Honorary Green Beret!
English actor Daniel Craig is being lined up for an honorary Green Beret by the British Royal Marines.
The British Royal Marines were the ones who had first escorted him along the Thames when he announced his appointment as 007.
To receive the honour, all Craig has to do is complete a test of endurance. Once he passes, he will earn his place among one of the world’s most elite military units.
As revealed by a source at the Royal Marines training centre in Lympstone, near Exmouth, Devon, Craig was very enthusiastic about the work of the Marines.
“We were the ones who took Daniel to the press conference when he was revealed as the new James Bond,” the Daily Express quoted the source as saying.
“He was great – a really good guy – and he was very appreciative of our work.
“He supports the RNLI and is very interested in the Royal Marine Commandos too.
“We’re trying to get him down here to do one of the Commando tests so he can get his honorary Green Beret. It’s just about trying to find the time. He’s so busy,” the source added.
If the 40-year-old actor succeeds with the endurance test, he will be the first James Bond to be a real-life Royal Marine.
As it is, his character’s full name is Commander James Bond, who had joined MI6 after a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.
The endurance test would not be such a difficult feat for Craig, who has been spending the past few months doing stunts for his second Bond film, Quantum of Solace, including work acrobatics, fighting and stunt driving.
If he earns an honorary Green Beret, he will be following in the daring footsteps of, Sir Jimmy Savile, 88.
Source: ANI
Britney wont be designing Furniture!
Britney’s furniture designer dreams shattered
Britney Spears’ plans of starting a sideline career as a furniture designer have been shattered.
Earlier it was reported that the fallen pop princess’ dad, Jamie, had worked out a deal with Danish entrepreneur Claus Hjelmbak where she would endorse a line of shabby-chic Scandinavian furniture - specifically, creating a piece called a “Woofy”.
“It was a plastic dog that retails for over $200 and hides electrical wires in your home,” the New York Post quoted a source, as saying.
“Britney wanted to do a pink-and-blue Woofy,” the source added.
But later Jamie pulled out of the deal because he didn't feel “comfortable” with Claus, who he thought was just using Britney for publicity.
Source: ANI
Transformers Wins Best Film Award
The 'Transformers' have another chunk of metal added to their collection.
MTV Movie Awards
The blockbuster about robots in disguise took home the golden popcorn trophy for best film at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night, and Johnny Depp won two buckets for best comedic performance and best villain.
Accepting the best film award with director Michael Bay, 'Transformers' co-star Megan Fox trotted out some R-rated language to describe how good the film's sequel is going to be. Bay said the film would begin shooting the following day and take place two years after the first film.
And Rainn Wilson — who presented best kiss wearing nothing but a teddy bear — told on the gold carpet that he would play a college professor in 'Transformers 2'.
"I just love the idea of me being in giant Michael Bay movie," Wilson said.
A couple of hundred yards downhill, the final remnants of a disastrous fire that ripped through Universal Studios was extinguished as the ceremony got under way.
While there was no mention of the fire, there was definitely smoke during the over-the-top ceremony: Presenters Seth Rogen and James Franco, stars of the upcoming stoner comedy 'Pineapple Express', pretended to smoke marijuana before handing out the popcorn trophy for new category of best summer movie so far.
"Kids, don't really smoke fake weed like this," Rogen sarcastically told the crowd at the Gibson Amphitheatre.
As they pulled out the 'contraband', the cameras pulled away to a wide angle, staying that way until Rogen and Franco left the stage. The awkward moment made some in the audience laugh, but left Robert Downey Jr. — who accepted the award on behalf of 'Iron Man' — with a puzzled look.
"Thanks fellas," he said, "for that intoxicating introduction."
Franco later said backstage that MTV put them up to the joke, but that someone from the network decided at the last minute that they couldn't go through with it. By then, it was too late to pull back.
"MTV wrote it! ... Then backstage there was this big commotion: 'You guys can't say that,'" Franco said. "It says right in the script: 'Lights fake joint.'"
The nearby studio fire broke out 4:30 a.m. on a soundstage featuring a New York brownstone facades at the 400-acre property. It was contained to the lot but burned for more than 12 hours before the final flames were extinguished.
"I actually came here early because I wanted to see it," Chris Brown said before the show. What did he expect to see? "A whole lot of chaos."
Winners were threatened to keep their speeches short by a man resembling Javier Bardem's character from "No Country for Old Men" — complete with the bob hairdo and pneumatic cattle gun. Best female performance winner Ellen Paige from "Juno" escaped unscathed, but best fight winners Sean Faris and Cam Gigandet were ushered off stage by the menacing lookalike.
Host Mike Myers and Dana Carvey resurrected their 'Saturday Night Live' characters Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, the cable access hosts of 'Wayne's World'. They acknowledged it's been awhile since they've been together ('1994. That's a while', said Wayne) and presented a risque top ten list of adult film titles (No. 8:'I Am Legend ... In Bed'; and No. 1 'Iron Man').
The mood backstage was calm as stars schmoozed during the show. Cruise posed for photos with his arm around Ben Stiller while wife Katie Holmes stood a few steps away. She wasn't by herself for long: Sarah Jessica Parker chatted Holmes up, and Sandler and Smith both had their children with them behind the scenes.
Depp showed up to accept his trophies for best comedic performance for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and best villain for 'Sweeny Todd'. While the crowd was visibly excited — including a nearly swooning Diablo Cody — 'Superbad' actors Jonah Hill and Rogen shot shook their fists at Depp and give him the thumbs down.
Depp kept his first acceptance speech short.
"You can ask anybody," he said quietly. "I'm not a very funny person. I'm not even remotely funny."
Tom Cruise presented Adam Sandler with the Generation Award, the MTV Movie Awards' highest honor, for his various comedic and 'stupid' performances over the years. Sandler sang a live version of "Nobody Does It Better" alongside a bevy of backup dancers clad in skintight gold outfits. Among them: Rob Schneider.
Sandler, who took a guitar solo on his gold Les Paul, changed the lyrics to "baby, I'm the best."
"That was probably the most arrogant thing I've ever done," Sandler said, moments after Cruise got on his knees to hand over the golden popcorn.
Coldplay performed 'Viva la Vida' amid a flurry of confetti, which at one point found its way in lead singer Chris Martin's mouth. Later, the Pussycat Dolls danced in front of a giant lit-up sign broadcasting the group's name alongside 'America's Best Dance Crew' winners JabbaWockeeZ to 'When I Grow Up'.
Other winners during the ceremony included Will Smith for best male performance for 'I Am Legend'; Zac Efron for best breakthrough performance for 'Hairspray'; and Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman for best kiss in 'Step Up 2: The Streets'.
Source: AP
Sex Sells!!
Sarah Jessica Parker and her gal pals have not lost their sex appeal. The big-screen 'Sex and the City' — reuniting Parker and TV co-stars Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — strutted to a $55.7 million opening weekend, far exceeding Hollywood's box office expectations.
'Sex' sells: Women give Carrie & Co. $55.7M debut
That was nearly twice the forecast by distributor Warner Bros., whose head of distribution, Dan Fellman, said he had hoped the movie might deliver a $30 million debut.
"Women power," Fellman said. "It was outstanding this weekend."
Analysts had figured Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might stay atop the box office heap, but it slipped to second place with $46 million in its second weekend. 'Indiana Jones' raised its 11-day domestic total to $216.9 million.
'Sex and the City' put up numbers never before seen for a movie aimed mainly at women, who do not tend to rush out in huge numbers for opening weekends the way males do.
"Sex and the City," released under Warner's New Line Cinema banner, had the best debut ever for an R-rated comedy, topping the $45.1 million opening of 'American Pie 2'.
The movie landed at No. 5 on the all-time list among R-rated films, behind 'The Matrix Reloaded' ($91.8 million), 'The Passion of the Christ' ($83.8 million), '300' ($70.9 million) and 'Hannibal' ($58 million).
"This is a blockbuster for women. This was to women what `Indiana Jones' and `Star Wars,' let's say, are to men," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers.
The movie picks up four years after the series finale, in which Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and her Manhattan buddies left behind their randy ways to settle into monogamous relationships. In the film, they deal with family and commitment issues while still flaunting their bawdy humor and trendy sense of style.
Hollywood skeptics had doubted the commercial prospects for a movie adaptation of 'Sex and the City', which ended its six-year run in 2004. Originally airing on premium cable channel HBO, the show had a loyal but limited fan base and held little appeal for young males, the backbone of the box office.
However, 'Sex and the City' mania grew as the movie's release approached, with many women organising girls-night-out parties to see it with friends on opening day Friday.
"That's why Friday was quite a frenzy," Fellman said. "There were women that came in and bought out entire theaters in advance and invited all their friends."
Women made up 85 per cent of the audience on Friday, Fellman said.
The movie pulled in $26.9 million on Friday. On Saturday, however, it took a steep drop with ticket sales dwindling to $17.7 million. Most big films take in more money on Saturday than Friday, so the decline was a sign that the audience for 'Sex and the City' could dry up quickly.
Still, the film was on its way to becoming a $100 million hit that could spawn more sequels.
The weekend's other new wide release, Universal's fright flick 'The Strangers', debuted solidly at No. 3 with $20.7 million. It stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a couple terrorized by masked invaders at their vacation home.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released on Monday.
Source:AP
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sharon Stone Apologizes!
French fashion house Christian Dior said it has dropped Sharon Stone from its Chinese ads and released a statement from the actress apologising for saying China's earthquake may have been bad karma for its treatment of Tibet.
The 50-year-old actress said she was "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people with her remarks in an interview last week. Stone models for Christian Dior SA, and the company's Shanghai office issued the statement.
Stone's comments caused considerable anger in the Chinese media. The official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary on Thursday she was the "public enemy of all mankind."
The public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai who gave only her surname, Guo, said Stone would no longer appear in the company's advertisements in China.
"Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," Stone said in the statement. "I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."
Chinese media have erupted in indignation over foreign criticism of the country ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August. During the international leg of the Olympic torch relay, many Chinese reacted strongly to protests over China's rule of Tibet.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said he had taken note of Stone's apology.
"We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship," he said.
Stone's original comments were made last week during a Cannes Film Festival red-carpet interview.
"I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else," Stone said. "And then this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"
Source: AP
Amy Comes Late to Show!
Amy Winehouse showed up late for her first concert since leaving rehab, giving an underwhelming performance in front of 90,000 people Friday at a Lisbon music festival.
Amy Winehouse late for first post-rehab concert
The Grammy-winning jazz-pop diva turned up almost an hour late for the outdoor show. She apologised for having a sore throat, and her voice cracked during the 55-minute set.
Winehouse, wearing a short dress, appeared distracted during her performance. She paused to talk to members of her band, fiddled at length with her microphone, sucked throat candy and at one point dashed offstage but quickly returned.
She had cuts on her left arm, and her right hand was bandaged.
Winehouse's musical career has flourished despite her erratic behavior, missed concerts and stints in drug rehab.
"Hey Lisbon," Winehouse told the crowd, which had booed when she failed to show up on time. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said.
The sell-out crowd, gathered in a park for the Rock in Rio festival, warmed to Winehouse as the 24-year-old sang hits including her breakthrough song "Rehab," soul classics and reggae songs.
The crowd wasn't thoroughly thrilled, though, and she walked off stage without playing an encore. The crowd remained subdued.
Winehouse was the third act of the day on the festival's main stage, coming on before headliner Lenny Kravitz.
Winehouse's management told the festival organizers she would not speak to the media.
The singer is booked to play at a series of music festivals in Europe this summer. She said she is set to perform next month at a concert in London honoring Nelson Mandela.
Last week she won an Ivor Novello award, a prestigious British prize, for 'Love Is a Losing Game' from her 'Back to Black' album. Her father received the prize after Winehouse arrived late to the ceremony.
Earlier this month, the singer was arrested and questioned by police about video footage that appeared to show her inhaling fumes from a crack pipe. Authorities said the singer would not be charged.
Last year she canceled a series of British concerts and postponed a tour of the U.S. and Canada after British media reported that she was in and out of rehab.
Source: AP
No Twins For Brangelina?
'Entertainment Tonight' first reported on its Web site Friday that the actress had given birth in France. The TV show stood by its story Friday night, with host Mary Hart saying on the air that "just this morning, a source who says she was inside the delivery room tells us yes, the babies were born and yes, mother and babies are fine."
Pitt's manager, Cynthia Pett-Dante, said: "We have no comment except the story is not true."
Several celebrity news outlets also reported the story was false. A spokeswoman for 'Entertainment Tonight' did not return a call for comment Friday.
Jolie has said previously that her twins are due in August. She and Pitt have four other children: 6-year-old Maddox, 4-year-old Pax and 3-year-old Zahara, who are adopted, and 2-year-old Shiloh.
In southern France, where locals say the couple recently moved, officials at the Etoile Maternite Catholique de Provence in Aix-en-Provence, one of the region's top maternity clinics, said that Jolie had not been there and did not appear scheduled to come.
Privacy rules about health matters are extremely strict in France.
The pair recently moved into the Miraval Estate villa in the French hamlet of Correns, in the Provence region, according to the mayor and a local inn owner.
Traditionally, the region has lured tourists mostly for rock-climbing excursions on the rolling hills of the verdant region and leisurely strolls in its quaint medieval villages.
Mayor Michael Latz trumpets Correns as France's first town where all locally grown produce is organic — and his villagers teem with pride about that reputation, and seem mostly bemused about the invasion of Hollywood buzz.
"I like to joke that I'm happy to be able to contribute to the image of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, because Correns is so well known," Mayor Michael Latz said with a smile outside the ochre-colored town hall.
Latz said that Tom Bove, an American businessman who owns Miraval, recently told him that Jolie and Pitt had agreed to a three-year lease on the property, known for producing high-quality organic wine.
The couple is "in the process of moving in," said Latz, adding that he hadn't met them and knew nothing about whether Jolie had given birth or not.
"They are people who I hope will live normally here," he said. "I would think the choice of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ... is tied to the quality of life in Correns."
Latz also rejected speculation about an imminent wedding, and said that under French law they'd need to alert local authorities if they want to officially tie the knot here.
Security guards were blocking the gates to the estate Friday, while a postal truck and other maintenance vehicles regularly passed in and out. The castle and accompanying buildings can't be seen from public roads.
Onno Stijl, owner of the L'Auberge du Parc inn, said it was a good thing they were moving in and could help business. He said he gets his wine from the estate's vineyards.
"It's a couple living here now like everyone," he said.
The area, he said, "is a bit isolated but that gives it a certain ... privacy."
According to its Web site, the Miraval estate dates from pre-Roman times. It includes fountains, aqueducts, moats, a lake and vineyards that produce an organic wine distributed worldwide.
Pitt and Jolie may be Miraval's first movie stars in residence, but Miraval has seen its share of rock stars. The estate includes a studio which has hosted the likes of Sting, the Cranberries and Pink Floyd, who recorded tracks for "The Wall" album there.
Source: AP
The Dark Knight Coming Soon!
'The Dark Knight' would hit the theatres on July 20.
In 'The Dark Knight', Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organisations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger ('Brokeback Mountain') stars as arch-villain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays District Attorney Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast in the role of Rachel Dawes. Returning from 'Batman Begins' are Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Jim Gordon; Oscar winner Michael Caine ('The Cider House Rules') as Alfred; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman ('Million Dollar Baby') as Lucius Fox.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Christopher Nolan film, 'The Dark Knight'. Nolan is directing the film from a screenplay written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan. Charles Roven, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan are producing the film, with Kevin De La Noy, Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan serving as executive producers. 'The Dark Knight' is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes two-time Oscar-nominated director of photography Wally Pfister ('The Prestige', 'Batman Begins'), Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley ('The Prestige'), Oscar-nominated editor Lee Smith ('Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World') and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming ('Topsy-Turvy').
'The Dark Knight' will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Cast: Christian Bale,Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman
Release Date: 20th July
Sean Connery the Hottest Of them All!
Former Bond star Sean Connery has topped a poll of celebrities women think about most when working out.
The football star David Beckham came in second, reports contactmusic.com. The survey was conducted by Cancer Research UK's Race For Life 2008 series to find out which celebrities women turned to for inspiration while exercising.
"It was surprising to find that Sean Connery beat David Beckham, who regularly tops the poll of the world's best looking men. But whether it is a famous heartthrob or a family member, it's always a good incentive to have someone waiting for you at the finish line, and we're sure there will be lots of people supporting our Race for Life participants at the events this year," said Natasha Woodford, head of the Cancer Research UK's Race for Life.
Chef Gordon Ramsey came in third followed by Prince William. The "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell is on fifth position.
Source: Indo-Asian News Service
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