NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Sarah Jessica Parker could soon have her first project after "Sex."
The actress is in talks with Warner Bros. to star in "The Ivy Chronicles," a story of class and the single woman in contemporary New York.
Based on Karen Quinn's novel of the same name, the project is described as following in the vein of "The Devil Wears Prada" and "The Nanny Diaries" as well as Gigi Levangie Grazer's "The Starter Wife," which became a successful limited series on USA.
It centers on Ivy Ames, an Upper East Side woman who, after losing her high-powered job and getting divorced, starts over again in a less ritzy downtown apartment. After pulling her children from private school, Ames starts a business to help upper-middle-class women get their children into elite kindergartens.
Warners is keen to cast Parker in another project after "Sex and the City" became one of the blowout hits of the summer, earning more than $300 million worldwide. Several projects were presented to the actress, who sparked to the single-mother tale.
About eight months before "Sex" became a summer smash, Parker had signed on to a romantic comedy titled "The Late Bloomer's Revolution," which HBO Films was to have produced for Picturehouse; with the dissolution of the arthouse studio, that project's status is uncertain.
Parker has had mixed big-screen results outside of "Sex." Her recent academia dramedy "Smart People" earned only $10 million at the box office, though "Failure to Launch," a film in which Parker had a leading role opposite Matthew McConaughey, earned nearly $90 million domestically for Paramount in 2006.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Monday, 30 June 2008
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Simmons' Wife Asks For $480,000-a-year For Kids
Rap mogul RUSSELL SIMMONS' estranged wife KIMORA LEE SIMMONS is demanding $480,000 (GBP240,000) in child support as part of the couple's divorce settlement.
In documents filed on Wednesday (25Jun08) at Los Angeles Superior Court, the fashion model-turned-designer is asking for $20,000 (GBP10,000) per month for each of the couple's two daughters.
The papers suggest Def Jam Records co-founder Simmons' should be expected to pay the huge sum each month until 2019 for Ming Lee, eight, and 2022 for Aoki, five, according to TMZ.com
The couple wed in 1998 and split in 2006, citing irreconcilable differences.
The pair are seeking joint physical and legal custody of their children.
Both parties are also asking the court to deny spousal support for the other.
In documents filed on Wednesday (25Jun08) at Los Angeles Superior Court, the fashion model-turned-designer is asking for $20,000 (GBP10,000) per month for each of the couple's two daughters.
The papers suggest Def Jam Records co-founder Simmons' should be expected to pay the huge sum each month until 2019 for Ming Lee, eight, and 2022 for Aoki, five, according to TMZ.com
The couple wed in 1998 and split in 2006, citing irreconcilable differences.
The pair are seeking joint physical and legal custody of their children.
Both parties are also asking the court to deny spousal support for the other.
Clint Eastwood On 'Changeling' With Angelina Jolie, 'Gran Torino' And Reuniting With Morgan Freeman
It's tempting to qualify Clint Eastwood as the finest filmmaker still working in his or her late 70s, but it somehow diminishes what he's been able to accomplish. Just look at his work in the last two decades: "Unforgiven," "Mystic River," "Million Dollar Baby," "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters From Iwo Jima." Take out the age qualifier and ask any film lover: He's one of the best, period.
And while he's happy to look back (check out part one of our Eastwood interview all about the new "Dirty Harry" DVD), it's very clear his eye is on the future. With "The Changeling," starring Angelina Jolie, set for a fall release, he's about to shoot another film astoundingly also set for release in just a few months, "Gran Torino."
Little has been known about the project until now. Eastwood revealed to MTV News why "Torino" inspired him to act again, why Jolie was cast in "Changeling" and whether he's entertaining thoughts of retirement.
MTV: It was rumored that the next film you're going to direct, "Gran Torino," would be another Dirty Harry film.
Clint Eastwood: "Gran Torino" is a different sort of thing. He's more of a retired Sergeant Highway [from "Heartbreak Ridge"] than he is a Dirty Harry.
MTV: You spoke about essentially coming out of retirement only to do the "Million Dollar Baby" role. Why did "Gran Torino" lure you back again?
Eastwood: It speaks to prejudice and understanding and generational gaps. I can understand how this guy feels. It's very cleverly laid out. It's a guy who's lived in the same neighborhood for 50 years among all people of his nationality, and all of a sudden, it's become a different neighborhood. And he has a difficult time adjusting to a lot of things in his life. But then he ends up befriending some people and becoming very involved. It's a nice idea.
MTV: You haven't been directed by another director in 15 years. That's shocking to me.
Eastwood: Yeah, I don't know why that was. It was "In the Line of Fire." I was always developing projects that I was intrigued by. That became interesting for me. [They offered] "In the Line of Fire" to me to direct and act in. I had just finished "Unforgiven" and didn't want to both act and direct right away.
MTV: Would you say this is the most gratifying period of your professional life?
Eastwood: I'd say so, yeah. I've enjoyed directing a lot. I've done it for 38 years. I think now that I'm not thinking about acting, it becomes more logical. By and large, I've been trying to fight my way off-camera, where I can stand around in comfortable shoes and never have to worry about wardrobe.
MTV: You have "The Changeling" coming out with Angelina Jolie. Was casting her your idea?
Eastwood: They would have gone with whoever I wanted. [Brian] Grazer and Ron Howard were the ones who sent it to me, and they asked who I liked. They said Angelina Jolie is someone who's very interested in it. Her face is one that works both contemporarily and in a period. And so I said, "Yeah, let's go with her." It was kind of a no-brainer. I've worked with a lot of wonderful actresses. I can't say I've worked with anybody more professional.
MTV: And you're going to be reteaming with Morgan Freeman, directing him as Nelson Mandela in "The Human Factor"?
Eastwood: Yes, that's something we're talking about doing around the first of next year. Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. It's a very good script.
MTV: Is there any role in that for you?
Eastwood: Nope. "Gran Torino" is a short movie. It's very condensed. It won't take very long. I'll do that one for me and then I'm back ...
MTV: In the comfortable shoes?
Eastwood: ... in the comfortable shoes behind the camera. Maybe forever. But you never say never.
MTV: You haven't even shot "Gran Torino," but it's supposed to come out later this year. How and why do you work so quickly?
Eastwood: I think it comes from the forefathers in the movie business. People used to make a lot of films, more than they do now. Sometimes it's a fear factor. They're afraid to step forward. They're afraid to fail. You can't sit there thinking, "Who's going to go see this?" I can't worry about that. I just have to do the best I can and make it.
MTV: Some of your friends have opted for retirement. It hit me the other day that we will probably never see another new Gene Hackman movie. That's a sad thing.
Eastwood: It is a sad thing. I know his agent and I saw him recently, and he said, "Can't you talk Gene into coming back?" I said, "I'd love to see him come back, but I think it's not very nice to ride him." He's too good an actor not to be performing, but by the same token, he probably thinks that's enough.
MTV: Is there anything else you're itching to direct after these next two?
Eastwood: We're talking about a couple other things, but these next two will keep me busy for a while and then maybe ... who knows? Everybody asks me if I've thought about retirement. Every once in a while I think maybe this is enough. I'll smell the roses. But to me, working is smelling the roses.
Check out everything we've got on "The Changeling" and "Gran Torino."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
See Also
Benny Andersson
Artist: Benny Andersson
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
Klinga mina klockor
Year: 1987
Tracks: 11
Producer/songwriter/keyboardist Benny Andersson co-produced the mega-hits of '70s Swedish pop grouping ABBA along with colleague ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus. Listening to ABBA, one canful see a definite Phil Spector/Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys influence (the thick vocal harmonies) on their records, understandable since Andersson cites the grouping as a favorite.
Benjamin Kubelsky Andersson was born on December 16, 1946, in Stockholm and comes from an accordion-playing family, which spawned his interest in picking up the instrument as a child. After discovering Elvis Presley, he began playing in rock bands. Choosing non to follow his don into the construction business, Andersson resign his tutelar job to play piano with the Hep Stars. The grouping had 15 chart records in Sweden, including Andersson's song "Sunny Girl." After being uncovered to the recording studio apartment, Andersson's interest was piqued.
Later he met Björn Ulvaeus and they began collaborating. The duette decided to use their girlfriends, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog, on "People Need Love," which became a hit single. They decided to turn the chemical group Bjorn, Benny, Anna and Frida in 1974. The quartette performed their "Waterloo" at the televised Eurovision Song Contest and won number 1 pillage. Because of the brobdingnagian exposure, "Waterloo," an Atlantic Records single, became an outside hit, exit to number six-spot on Billboard's pop charts in summer 1974.
ABBA's other charting singles were "S.O.S.," "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do," "Mamma Mia," "Fernando" (identification number one adult contemporary), the shimmering million-selling "Terpsichore Queen" (identification number one drink down), "Knowing Me Knowing You," "Money,Money,Money," "The Name of the Game," the gold "Take a Chance on Me" (identification number three drink down), and "Does Your Mother Know"; the group's utmost big hit was "The Winner Takes It All" (identification number eight drink down, number one adult present-day). Their biggest albums were the gold LP Reaching (early 1977), the atomic number 78 LP The Album ("Get hold of a Chance on Me") from 1978, the gold Voulez-Vous (summer 1979), the amber Super Trouper (late 1980), and The Visitors (early 1982).
ABBA, which disbanded in 1982, was profiled on a 1999 segment of VH1's Where Are They Now.
F.D.Project
Artist: F.D.Project
Genre(s):
Ambient
New Age
Discography:
Mountainway
Year: 2005
Tracks: 10
Blue Visions
Year: 2004
Tracks: 9
Electronic Dreams
Year: 2003
Tracks: 14
Good Vibrations: Brian Wilson joins Newport lineup
British Sea Power
Artist: British Sea Power
Genre(s):
Indie
Discography:
Open Season
Year: 2005
Tracks: 11
The Decline of British Sea Power
Year: 2003
Tracks: 11
It Ended On An Oily Stage (CD1)
Year:
Tracks: 1
A sort of conceptual indie set -- unitary that's been compared more than in one case to Joy Division -- British Sea Power is a quartette from Brighton, England, comprising members named Hamilton, Noble, Yan, and Wood. Formed in recent 2000, their unrecorded shows began to receive notice early on, thanks in no small character to the large stuffed birds that perched on phase and the militaristic uniforms worn by the band members. Rough Trade's Geoff Travis was taken aback by unmatched of the group's (literally) groundless performances and sign them; by the end of 2001, they had 2 singles in the racks: Fear of Drowning on Golden Chariot and Remember Me on Rough Trade. After an amazing show window at SXSW in 2003, British Sea Power prepped for the fall firing of The Decline of British Sea Power. Open Season follwed in 2005.
R&B singer Jully Black gearing up for Calgary Stampede experience
CALGARY - Juno Award-winning R&B singer Jully Black seems to be the busiest woman in showbiz these days.
Black, who won a Juno as R&B singer of the year in Calgary earlier this year, signed on as a cast member for "Canadian Idol" for this season.
The Toronto vocalist, who has also reported for "ETalk," is serving as a mentor, confidante, critic and coach to competitors of the CTV singing competition.
On Tuesday she put on a different hat - in the form of a white Stetson - as she served as master of ceremonies at the media kickoff for the 2008 Calgary Stampede. The ensemble did not include blue jeans or cowboy boots, as she stuck with her traditional short skirt and high heels.
"Today is the first time I actually put something on my head and messed my hair up," she chuckled.
Black sang three songs, including her runaway hit "Seven Day Fool," as she gave the audience a taste of what to expect when she performs during the Stampede which runs July 4-13.
The singer, who grew up in Toronto's Jane and Finch area, notorious for gangs, drugs and violence, has never been to the Stampede but knew it by reputation.
"Of course I've heard of it. My best friend Erica Savage, she's from out here, and she was like 'Oh my gosh, you're doing Stampede!' " she said.
The Stampede announced its entertainment lineup for what is billed as the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." In addition to Black there will be shows by Kid Rock, Natasha Bedingfield, James Taylor, the Judds, Sugarland, Hedley and Puddle of Mud.
The president of the Calgary Stampede said it's important that the 10-day festival, celebrating the cowboy way of life, remains current.
"Half these groups I don't even know their names, for heaven's sakes - but the kids say you're having so and so and I say is that good?" said George Brookman, who has become a big fan of Black.
"She's huge. I just loved her," he said.
It was the Stampede organizers who contacted Black.
"I didn't get dragged into it - the organizers called and that's the beautiful thing, that they see what I do and they're playing it forward," said Black. "They're spreading the word about Jully Black and the music, and I'm playing it forward and telling people about the Stampede."
Many in the crowd were already into the Stampede spirit, with a sea of cowboy hats, boots and jeans at the Stampede Roundup Centre.
"The beauty of it is businessmen, women, families, kids involved in its culture - and I think that represents equality and just letting things go," Black said. "I'm looking forward to it."
News from �The Canadian Press, 2008
See Also
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Hot 100 Seals Its 1,000th Hit with Katy's "Kiss"
Katy Perry just smooched her way to No. 1, and into the history books.
Her single "I Kissed a Girl" leapfrogged over Coldplay to top Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart,...
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