Category Archives: Arts and Culture

‘Contagion’ stars Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and more share medically approved PSAs about coronavirus: ‘Wash your hands like your life depends on it’

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Contagion, the 2011 movie about a fictional pandemic sweeping the globe, has resurged in popularity in the wake of the coronavirus.

Now, the team behind the film, including its stars Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Laurence Fishburne, is reminding people how to stay safe during what’s quickly become a global health crisis.

It’s part of a campaign, called Control the Contagion, that cast members, director Steven Soderbergh, writer Scott Z. Burns, production company Participant Media and scientists from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have created to promote accurate information about the pandemic. The result is several public service announcements, which have been fact-checked by medical experts, and feature an A-list cast, with more to come.

Damon, in his PSA, stressed the importance of social distancing. He debunked the myth that young people aren’t affected by the coronavirus and advised everyone to stay home.

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2020 BAFTA Awards: ‘Joker,’ ‘Once Upon a Time’ and ‘The Irishman’ Lead Noms

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By Creative Media Times

Just as Oscar nominations voting is wrapping up, nominations for the 2020 BAFTAs or British Academy Film Awards has been announced today, Tuesday.

Joker received the most nominations with 11. Not far behind were Martin Scorsese’s epic crime film The Irishman and Quentin Tarantino’s comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with 10 each. Sam Mendes’ epic war 1917 received nine.

All four films, along with Taika Waititi’s comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit, and Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy drama thriller Parasite, will be competing for BAFTA’S Best Film category.

Joaquin Phoenix, who played the title character in “Joker” and who recently won a Golden Globe for best actor in a drama on Sunday is nominated for lead actor, along with Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Driver, Taron Egerton and Jonathan Pryce.

The 73rd BAFTA Film Awards, which recognise the very best in film of the past year, is set to held on Sunday, Feb. 2 at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall. The awards will be broadcast on the BBC, with talk show host Graham Norton hosting.

See the full list of nominees below:

Best Film
“1917”
“The Irishman”
“Joker”
“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”
“Parasite”

Outstanding British Film
“1917”
“Bait”
“For Sama”
“Rocketman”
“Sorry We Missed You”
“The Two Popes”

Best Director
Sam Mendes (“1917”)
Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”)
Todd Phillips (“Joker”)
Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Bong Joon-ho (“Parasite”)

Leading Actress
Jessie Buckley (“Wild Rose”)
Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story”)
Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”)
Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”)
Renée Zellweger (“Judy”)

Leading Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”)
Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”)
Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”)
Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”)
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UK Honors Steve McQueen, Sam Mendes and More

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By Creative Media Times

Oscar-winning directors Steve McQueen and Sam Mendes have both received knighthoods in the New Year Honours. The two are among the 1,097 honored on Friday.

Also in the honours list were Grammy Award-winning singer Olivia Newton-John, playwright Christopher Hampton, and Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

Mendes, whose latest World War I film “1917” reshuffled the current award season contenders after a late December release, broke out in Hollywood in a big way after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Director in 1999’s American Beauty.

That film also won the Best Picture at the Oscars. He’s also directed blockbusters such as the crime drama Tom Hanks starrer Road to Perdition, and the last two James Bond installments Spectre and Skyfall. He is recognized for “services to drama”.

Critically acclaimed director Steve McQueen was recognized for services to film. He is the first black filmmaker to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, which he won for his 2013 historical drama 12 Years a Slave. He also directed erotic drama Shame (2011), and last year’s heist film Widows (2018).

The British-born Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John has been honoured with a Damehood for services to charity, cancer research, and entertainment. Newton-John has starred in hugely successful 70s musical Grease, the soundtrack of which is regarded as one of the most successful in history. She’s also a four-time Grammy award winner and achieved five number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sir Elton John was also made a Companion of Honour for services to music and charity.

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Miss South Africa Is 2019 Miss Universe

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By Armando

Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, was crowned Miss Universe.
Photo: Armando (aiphotoimaging.com

Zozibini Tunzi was crowned as the new Miss Universe after impressing the judges on her final question and answer portion, as well as her beauty and grace during the swimsuit and evening gown competitions. Miss Mexico and Miss Puerto Rico were the two runners-up.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my color skin, and my kind of hair is not considered beautiful,” Tunzi said on Sunday. “I think it is time that stops today. I want children to look at my face and I want them to see their face reflected in mine.”

Tunzi is an activist against gender violence. According to the Miss Universe organization, she is a “proud advocate for natural beauty and encourages women to love themselves the way they are.”

During final question and answer portion, Zozibini was asked about what we should teach today’s young girls, to which she replied: “I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time, not because we don’t want to, but because of what society has labelled women to be,” she said.

“I think we are the most powerful beings on the world, and that we should be given every opportunity. And that is what we should be teaching these young girls, to take up space, Tunzi added”

The event was held on Sunday at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. During the press conference, Tunzi added that it was “very special” to win the crown at the major studio complex owned by an African-American.

Miss Universe 2019 Pre-Show Arrivals
Photos: Armando (aiphotoimaging.com)
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Crowdfunding Campaign For Christopher Dennis aka Hollywood Superman’s Funeral Launched

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Christopher Dennis, AKA Hollywood Boulevard Superman, tragically passed away November 2 at the age of 52. Chris had been homeless, off and on, for three years prior to his passing, sometimes sleeping in shelters. Family, friends, and fans who had helped him find lodgings over the years, hope to raise funds to give him a final resting place where he can be at peace for eternity.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise funds for a funeral service, cremation, grave/niche plot, and a memorial plaque at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-service-for-hollywood-superman

The GoFundMe page was created on behalf of Christopher’s widow, Bonnie Finkenthal Dennis, by Vladislav Kozlov, his long-time friend and director, who produced of a short film starring Christopher, as himself, and film legend Franco Nero, called “The Kid,” and has been filming with Christopher for the hybrid documentary feature about Christopher’s life, called “American Superman” since 2013.
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Tom Hanks To Receive Cecil B. DeMille Award at Golden Globes

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By Creative Media Times

Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Sony Pictures Releasing

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is set to receive a lifetime achievement award at next year’s Golden Globe awards, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced on Tuesday.

The Golden Globes ceremony is set to air on NBC on Jan. 5, 2020.

“The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is proud to bestow the 2020 Cecil B. DeMille Award to Tom Hanks,” the Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Lorenzo Soria said in a statement.

“For more than three decades, he’s captivated audiences with rich and playful characters that we’ve grown to love and admire. As compelling as he is on the silver screen, he’s equally so behind the camera as a writer, producer and director,” Soria continued.

Hanks has received 15 Golden Globe nominations throughout his film career, including for “Big” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” before winning best actor awards in back to back years for “Philadelphia” (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). He won a third time in 2000 for “Cast Award”. His most recent nomination is for “The Post” in 2018.

He will next be seen in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” this November, where he portrays beloved TV personality Fred Rogers. His upcoming films include the WWII drama “Greyhound,” the post-apocalyptic “BIOS”, and the post-Civil War drama “News of the World.”

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Martin Scorsese To Be Honored By Visual Effects Society

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By Creative Media Times

The Irishman
Netflix

Award winning veteran director Martin Scorsese is set to receive Visual Effects Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th annual VES Awards on Jan. 29, 2020 at the Beverly Hilton, VES announced on Thursday.

“Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential filmmakers in modern history and has made an indelible mark on filmed entertainment,” said Mike Chambers, VES Board Chair. “His work is a master class in storytelling, which has brought us some of the most memorable films of all time. His intuitive vision and fiercely innovative direction has given rise to a new era of storytelling and has made a profound impact
on future generations of filmmakers. Martin has given us a rich body of groundbreaking work to aspire to, and for this, we are honored to award him with the Visual Effects Society Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Widely considered one of the most important and influential directors of all time, Scorsese won the Academy Award Best Director for The Departed, which also won Best Picture in 2006. He’s also directed classic films such as Mean Street, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas.

In 2011, Scorsese directed Hugo, which won five Oscars including Best Achievement in Visual Effects. The His upcoming film, “The Irishman”, showcases ILM’s (Industrial Light & Magic) work in de-aging actors and usual collaborators Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. “The Irishman” will be distributed for a limited theatrical run November 1, before hitting Netflix on November 27.

The VES Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizes an outstanding body of work that has significantly contributed to the art and/or science of the visual effects industry. VES will honor Scorsese for his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound gift for blending iconic imagery and unforgettable narrative on an epic scale. Scorsese’s steadfast ability to harness craft and technology to bring his unique visions to life has resulted in exceptional narratives that have transfixed audiences and captivated millions. And as a champion of film history, his work to preserve the rich legacy of motion pictures is unparalleled.

Previous recipients of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award include George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Stan Lee and Ray Harryhausen.

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‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Chernobyl, Lead 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Winners List

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Creative Arts Emmy Awards

HBO

Winners of the two night Creative Arts Emmys were announced this weekend, with HBO’s fantasy drama Game of Thrones dominating with 10 Emmys, while another one of HBO’s own historical drama Chernobyl followed closely with seven. Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also had a strong showing, winning six including for its actors Jane Lynch and Luke Kirby.

Thrones started the night with 18 nominations, and is also positioned to win big during the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 22.

It was also a big weekend for National Geographic’s documentary film “Free Solo”, which won every award it was nominated for, which is seven including Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Cinematography as well as Sound Mixing and Editing.

Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the documentary features rock climber Alex Honnold on his quest to perform a free solo climb of El Capitan in June 2017.

Honoring the year’s artistic and technical accomplishments across a variety of television genres, the ceremony took place at The Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

See below for some of the winners at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys. For a complete list, go to https://www.emmys.com.

Saturday Night Winners

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
Live In Front Of A Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All In The Family And The Jeffersons

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool

Outstanding Production Design For Variety Special
RENT

Outstanding Production Design For Variety, Reality or Competition Series
Saturday Night Live, Host: John Mulaney, Host: Emma Stone
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Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, Jeph Loeb To Receive Honorary Awards At The 4th Annual Saturn Awards

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Feige will receive the inaugural “Stan Lee World Builder Award,” John Favreau will be honored as a visionary director, and Jeph Loeb will receive the Dan Curtis Legacy Award

The Saturn Awards organization today announced the esteemed recipients of the three honorary awards that will be presented at the 45th annual awards show on Friday, September 13, 2019, including a brand-new annual award named after the legendary Stan Lee.

Kevin Feige will be honored with the inaugural Stan Lee World Builder Award. This new award will be given annually to the creative force who has, over an extended period of time, created a world with multiple stories and characters that have amazed and engaged fans worldwide at the most galactic level. This award also honors the legacy of the late Stan Lee and is exclusively available to The Saturn Awards from Lee’s POW! Entertainment. Feige is being honored for creating and guiding the Marvel Cinematic Universe across 23 films and 11 years from 2008’s Iron Man to this year’s Saturn Award nominated Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Gill Champion, President of Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, said: “As the safeguard of Stan’s iconic legacy, we’re thrilled to be associated with such an honorable award. Kevin played a significant part in Stan’s life – he had a lot of admiration for him. I know he would be proud to know this has been awarded to Kevin and we look forward to celebrating with him!”

Filmmaker Jon Favreau will be honored with the Saturn Visionary Award. After establishing himself as a vital voice in modern cinema, Favreau has gone on to establish himself as a groundbreaking visual artist with his films Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Jungle Book, and most recently, the retelling of The Lion King.

Jeph Loeb, Executive Vice President and Head of Marvel Television, will be receiving the Dan Curtis Legacy Award, honoring fellow masters of genre TV and quality programming. Loeb has long been lauded for his work across multiple mediums including film, television, and comic books.

The 2019 Saturn Awards will take place on Friday, the 13th of September at the historic Avalon Theater in Hollywood and will be available, for the first time, on a streaming platform to be announced.

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child To Be Featured At This Year’s SDCC

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The award-winning international hit stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be featured at this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego from July 18 to 21, 2019 with a booth and panel.

On Thursday, July 18 at 6pm, panel audiences will get an exclusive, never before seen insight into the world of the mind-blowing stage effects of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child when the show’s Magic and Illusions Designer Jamie Harrison and his associate Chris Fisher lead “Making Magic for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – An Interactive Masterclass.” With magical demonstrations, video footage and never-before told stories from the making of the show, audiences will learn how the magicians and actors use clever techniques and cunning psychology to make the impossible seem real – they’ll even learn to perform magic themselves.

The production’s booth, on display all four days at #3629 in the Exhibit Hall, will feature Tony Award winner Christine Jones’ set model for the Broadway production, along with an actual costume worn by Jamie Parker who created the role of Harry Potter in the original West End and Broadway productions.

The walls of the booth will be lined with exclusive content featured in the forthcoming book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Journey which will be released by Scholastic in the US on November 5, 2019. There will also be a photo booth where fans can show their Hogwarts House pride by posing with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin banners.
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