Custom Search

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Press conference for Documenting Bangladesh-3

By Mridul Mamun

April 15, 2009

Bangladesh Documentary Councile Organized a Press conference for deaclaring their national documentary film festival named Documenting Bangladesh-3. Today at 11:30 am on Lebaration War Musium thay had arrenged a press conference. in this conferance they told about the festival and about tha screening of selected film and many more. Yesterday 16 April, 2009 they will open the festival at 5 pm and this festival will end at 19 april, 2009.

Source: BD Documentary Councile.

Dawood linked to Bollywood piracy in big way: US Lawmaker

Agencies
Posted: Apr 15, 2009

Identifying Dawood Ibrahim as the "godfather" of India's organised crime, an influential US lawmaker has said the underworld don's D-company, which also supports al-Qaeda, is heavily involved in Bollywood and linked to piracy in a big way. 

"If you think about it, the godfather of godfathers, as he's called, of Indian organised crime, Dawood Ibrahim, is linked to piracy in a big way," Congressman Ed Royce said during a field hearing on piracy orgnaised by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in Los Angles. 

"Frankly he is a big supporter of al-Qaeda, and in the past, also the LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba)," Royce said and held him responsible for the series of Mumbai blasts in 1993. 

The Republican lawmaker said at the hearing last week that "D-Company is the operation" run by Dawood now. 

"It's (D-Company) now integrated into every part of the Indian filmmaking industry, from distribution to loan-sharking, and I guess a special irony here, for those of you who saw 'Slumdog Millionaire' is the fact that a lot was made of organised crime there and the way in which corruption has that insidious effect," he said. 

"Think, for a minute: the very people portrayed, the very organised crime syndicate, are involved today in pirating and undermining Bollywood, and undermining Hollywood," he said during the hearing, according to a transcript made available to reporters. 

"If they weren't tied to terrorists that were engaged in this kind of activity we'd have enough to worry about; but this should really focus our attention, I'm afraid. The high profit margins in this kind of crime make it little wonder why gangsters and terrorists have turned to piracy," Royce said. 

In his opening remarks, Congressman Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said India needs to seriously address the issue of Intellectual Property Rights protection and prevent piracy of movies, which is resulting in huge loss to the entertainment industry both in Hollywood and Bollywood. 

"Its own homegrown entertainment industry, Bollywood, is subject to many of the same concerns that plague Hollywood. We need to do better at protecting Bollywood films when pirated copies are sold in mom and pop shops here in the US," the Democrat said. 

"As evident with the crossover success and number of pirated copies of 'Slumdog Millionaire' viewed in India, India needs to enforce adequate protections for multinational innovation as well," he said.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

HBO all set to make a film on Barack Obama

ANI
Posted: Apr 15, 2009

US President Barack Obama’s life, and his run to the White House, would soon be turned into a new movie. 

HBO is said to have optioned a book on which the movie on Obama will be based. The channel has chosen Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's upcoming book ‘Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime’, a behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 election. Although casting for the movie has not started yet, bosses at HBO will soon be searching for stars to portray important characters of Obama and First Lady Michelle. Other roles would be of chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, former ABC correspondent-turned-Obama-adviser Linda Douglass and "Harold & Kumar" actor Kal Penn, who is about to join the White House Office of Public Liaison. 

According to experts, the combination of historical significance, generational shift and the style and energy surrounding the Obama administration seems tailor-made for film. 

"It's almost as if the country has elected someone from Central Casting, since the Obamas are so perfect," the ‘Telegraph’ quoted Robert J. Thompson, media professor at Syracuse University, as saying. He added: "

For young people especially, the White House can finally be seen as a cooler, younger place. And as a result, politics as a whole is certainly hip again."

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Recession may hit Britney Spears's 'Circus' tour

Agencies
Posted: Apr 15, 2009

Even pop princess Britney Spears has not been spared by the economic recession as it may bring the curtains down on her comeback 'Circus' tour much earlier than expected. 

Spears' father, Jamie Spears has been seeking permission from a judge to expand her current Circus tour, but economic recession may hamper those plans, it was revealed in a Los Angeles courtroom, People magazine online reported. 

"It hasn't yet been determined whether it's feasible to expand tours to the Europe or Australia legs. That will be determined in the future after everyone's seen the analysis, in terms of the economy and value of the dollar," LA Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz said. 

Jamie is trying hard to extend the dates and bring back Spears career back on track after getting indefinite legal control over his daughter following her two forced hospitalizations last year. The pop star, 27, is halfway into a 49-show tour through the US, Canada and the UK, with hopes to add more dates through Europe, Australia and a possible second US tour. 

"Britney's loving being onstage again," said a source close to the singer.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Jackman offers 100,000 for charity on Twitter

Agencies
Posted: Apr 15, 2009 

After admitting that assistants updated his Twitter blog, Australian actor Hugh Jackman now wants to appease his online followers by offering USD 100,000 to a fan's favourite charity. 

And now the 'X-Men' star has asked the fans on the micro-blogging site to tell him about their favourite charities - so he can donate USD 100,000 to the most worthwhile organisation. The move comes after the actor faced flak for calling Sydney's iconic 'Opera House' 'Opera Centre' on his Twitter blog and later admitting that the mistake was made by one of his assistants, who updated the blog on his behalf. 

Jackman has invited fellow 'tweeters' to recommend causes and has vowed to give the generous sum to the selected charity on behalf of the person who can deliver the most convincing and impassioned plea - within the short textual limit the website allows. 

"I will donate 100K to one individual's favourite non profit organisation. Of course, you must convince me why by using 140 characters or less. The more passion shown for your charity the better! Get the support of your friends and teach them the importance of giving," Jackman wrote on his official Twitter page.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Pinto loses 'most beautiful woman' title to Angelina Jolie

ANI
Posted: Apr 15, 2009

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has been named the Most Beautiful Woman in the World in a new Vanity Fair poll. 

The stunner pipped supermodel Gisele Bundchen to land the crown. The ‘Wanted’ stunner garnered 58 per cent of the vote compared to newlywed Bundchen's nine per cent and third-placed Halle Berry with four per cent, reports ‘Contactmusic’. Leonardo DiCaprio's current girlfriend Bar Refaeli tied for fourth place with Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Connelly with three per cent each. 

Other celebrities to make the countdown include Beyonce Knowles, Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto, Kerry Washington and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Michael Jackson's Auction Will Not Go On

By NICK HAZELL

April 15, 2009

Michael Jackson told a Beverly Hills auction house to beat it, and has canceled an auction of Jackobilia.

Julien's Auctions will return the gloves, statues, crowns and cars to Michael Jackson on April 25 rather than sell them to an eager public. 

"Both parties, Julien's Auctions and Michael Jackson, agree to halt the auction," Martin J. Nolan, Executive Director of Julien's Auctions told ABC News. "All items will remain intact as one collection and will be returned to Michael Jackson." 

"Both sides agree to make a generous donation to Music Cares, the charity founded by the Recording Academy," added Nolan. 

Prior to the Tuesday evening legal agreement, the auction was scheduled to run April 21 until April 25 and generate upwards of $30 million from the 1,390 items on sale. To placate Jackson's many fans, the collection will still be open to public viewing until April 25 for a charge of $20 per head.

Source: http://www.abcnews.go.com