“Reach out,” Luke Skywalker tells Rey, “What do you see?” “Light, darkness — and something else,” she replies. “It’s calling me.” Check out the latest promo for Star Wars: The Last Jedi above. In the spot titled “Tempt,” Mark Hamill’s crusty warrior tries to keep Daisy Ridley’s fresher warrior from leaning the wrong way. Will he succeed? Is that really what’s at stake here? These questions and more hang heavy in the latest installment of Disney and Lucasfilm’s…...
- 11/21/2017
- Deadline
James Corden recruited the four male teenage stars from Stranger Things to join him in the Upside-Downs, a fake Motown vocal group, on the latest episode of The Late Late Show.
During a Behind the Music-like prelude, Corden quickly established the Upside-Downs' backstory: The Late Late Show-host met Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp after being held back many, many years in school. "The boys and I, we have so much in common," Corden explains. "We like playing video games; we all love taking naps.
During a Behind the Music-like prelude, Corden quickly established the Upside-Downs' backstory: The Late Late Show-host met Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp after being held back many, many years in school. "The boys and I, we have so much in common," Corden explains. "We like playing video games; we all love taking naps.
- 11/9/2017
- Rollingstone.com
On a scale from one to ten, we’re giving this Motown medley an Eleven.
James Corden on Wednesday ditched the carpool lane for an in-studio performance with the cast of Stranger Things, forming late-night’s funkiest supergroup The Upside-Downs. The Late Late Show host was joined by TVLine’s Performer of the Week Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp on a crowd-pleasing selection of R&B classics, including Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” The Temptations’ “My Girl” and The Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
RelatedStranger Things Season 2 Recaps
The performance...
James Corden on Wednesday ditched the carpool lane for an in-studio performance with the cast of Stranger Things, forming late-night’s funkiest supergroup The Upside-Downs. The Late Late Show host was joined by TVLine’s Performer of the Week Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp on a crowd-pleasing selection of R&B classics, including Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” The Temptations’ “My Girl” and The Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
RelatedStranger Things Season 2 Recaps
The performance...
- 11/9/2017
- TVLine.com
Bill Nye the Science Guy (Bill! Bill! Bill!) is on a mission to save the world in his documentary titled -- what else? -- Bill Nye: Science Guy. But first, everybody's favorite scientist-turned-pop culture icon must survive the legions of fans who want to snap a selfie with him.
In this clip, debuting on Et, Nye shows the very efficient way he handles fans' requests, along with some tips for taking a celebrity selfie: "You don't need a countdown, just go for it." "Catch up! How hard can it be? I'm not sprinting." "Reach out, man. You're too close."
"I was asked to talk about 'selfie fatigue,' and I have it," he deadpans. "I'm pretty sure it shortens your life."
Photo: PBS
In their directors' statement, David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg explained why Nye is the dream documentary subject. "He is someone everybody knows of, but no one really knows," they said. "Where...
In this clip, debuting on Et, Nye shows the very efficient way he handles fans' requests, along with some tips for taking a celebrity selfie: "You don't need a countdown, just go for it." "Catch up! How hard can it be? I'm not sprinting." "Reach out, man. You're too close."
"I was asked to talk about 'selfie fatigue,' and I have it," he deadpans. "I'm pretty sure it shortens your life."
Photo: PBS
In their directors' statement, David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg explained why Nye is the dream documentary subject. "He is someone everybody knows of, but no one really knows," they said. "Where...
- 11/6/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The Internet has a habit of picking apart Hollywood blockbusters to within an inch of their life, but Star Wars takes things to a whole new level.
No other franchise on the planet generates the same amount of hype as Lucasfilm’s prized asset, and that’s something we saw in full effect early last month, when Disney staged the global merchandise event known as Force Friday II. Over the course of a single weekend, the Internet was teeming with The Last Jedi action figures, tie-in anthologies, and more porgs than you could shake a lightsaber at.
But now, with little under two months until the film’s release, Making Star Wars has uncovered a raft of Hasbro figures modeled on four of The Last Jedi‘s principal characters: Luke, Rey, Leia and DJ, the engineer played by Benicio Del Toro. Each toy is able to spout lines of dialogue,...
No other franchise on the planet generates the same amount of hype as Lucasfilm’s prized asset, and that’s something we saw in full effect early last month, when Disney staged the global merchandise event known as Force Friday II. Over the course of a single weekend, the Internet was teeming with The Last Jedi action figures, tie-in anthologies, and more porgs than you could shake a lightsaber at.
But now, with little under two months until the film’s release, Making Star Wars has uncovered a raft of Hasbro figures modeled on four of The Last Jedi‘s principal characters: Luke, Rey, Leia and DJ, the engineer played by Benicio Del Toro. Each toy is able to spout lines of dialogue,...
- 10/26/2017
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Stars are coming together to raise money for those affected by recent natural disasters, in Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Mexico and more.
Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Anthony held One Voice: Somos Live, a disaster relief concert on Saturday, that broadcast on Univision, Telemundo and NBC from both Miami and Los Angeles, featuring performances from Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Maroon 5, Ricky Martin, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige and more.
In addition to the performers, many celebs -- including Kim Kardashian West, Ellen DeGeneres and Selena Gomez -- turned up to the event to drive awareness and raise money for the American Red Cross, Reach Out Worldwide, United Way, United for Puerto Rico and more.
Read on to see who attended and what they said.
Watch: Demi Lovato Absolutely Crushes 'Hallelujah' at 'Somos Una Voz'
More: Jennifer Lopez Locates Missing Family Members in Puerto Rico
For more information and/or to donate...
Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Anthony held One Voice: Somos Live, a disaster relief concert on Saturday, that broadcast on Univision, Telemundo and NBC from both Miami and Los Angeles, featuring performances from Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Maroon 5, Ricky Martin, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige and more.
In addition to the performers, many celebs -- including Kim Kardashian West, Ellen DeGeneres and Selena Gomez -- turned up to the event to drive awareness and raise money for the American Red Cross, Reach Out Worldwide, United Way, United for Puerto Rico and more.
Read on to see who attended and what they said.
Watch: Demi Lovato Absolutely Crushes 'Hallelujah' at 'Somos Una Voz'
More: Jennifer Lopez Locates Missing Family Members in Puerto Rico
For more information and/or to donate...
- 10/15/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The red carpet before the world premiere of Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel” has has been canceled. The event was scheduled to take place before the movie’s world premiere on Saturday, October 14, in the closing night spot of the 55th New York Film Festival. The decision to cancel the red carpet was reportedly made by the movie’s distributor, Amazon Studios, and not the Film Society of Lincoln Center
The decision to remove the red carpet comes in the immediate aftermath of Amazon announcing that Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, has been put on a leave of absence following allegations of sexual harassment. That news follows a week in which Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment scandal has made headlines around the world, and resurfaced concerns about Allen’s own past. Allen has been accused of sexually abusing his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow.
“Wonder Wheel” is the latest...
The decision to remove the red carpet comes in the immediate aftermath of Amazon announcing that Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, has been put on a leave of absence following allegations of sexual harassment. That news follows a week in which Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment scandal has made headlines around the world, and resurfaced concerns about Allen’s own past. Allen has been accused of sexually abusing his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow.
“Wonder Wheel” is the latest...
- 10/13/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
“Lore” is a very successful podcast, but its televised adaptation does very little to earn the new medium. Yes, the six-part series pulls out every trick in the TV playbook in an attempt to make these factual explanations of urban myths visually stimulating: There are creepy animated sequences, choice bits of archival footage, and a number of live-action scenes performed by familiar character actors.
And yet its Aaron Mahnke’s blunt narration and gag-inducing sound effects that make up the best bits of the first three episodes, both of which stem from the series’ origins — and more effective incarnation, being audio storytelling.
Read More:‘Lore’: Watch the Disturbing True Story of a Man Who Sacrificed Himself for Spiritualistic Science — Exclusive
“Lore” is an episodic anthology series, telling a different fact-based tale every episode. Each entry clocks in between 39 and 45 minutes, and opens with a disclaimer: “Everything you’re about...
And yet its Aaron Mahnke’s blunt narration and gag-inducing sound effects that make up the best bits of the first three episodes, both of which stem from the series’ origins — and more effective incarnation, being audio storytelling.
Read More:‘Lore’: Watch the Disturbing True Story of a Man Who Sacrificed Himself for Spiritualistic Science — Exclusive
“Lore” is an episodic anthology series, telling a different fact-based tale every episode. Each entry clocks in between 39 and 45 minutes, and opens with a disclaimer: “Everything you’re about...
- 10/13/2017
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Jennifer Lopez is thankful to have finally made contact with her family members who were affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
The 48-year-old entertainer had been doing everything she could to get in touch with her missing relatives, and on Wednesday took to Instagram to share the good news.
"After a long 6 days we found the last of the family! Now the rebuilding begins!! #tiotomás #titiadela #familia #puertorico #unidosporpuertorico #Love #lovemakestheworldgoround #TioNegroImissyou," Lopez wrote alongside a video of her aunt Adela and Uncle Tomas.
Related: Jennifer Lopez Delivers Passionate Plea for Puerto Rico's Hurricane Relief Efforts
In the video, her aunt and uncle talk about how Lopez has always been so generous and giving and how they remembered her from when she was a little girl. While they live so far away, her aunt says she loves Lopez so much and is grateful that people have come to make sure that they are doing okay.
Related:...
The 48-year-old entertainer had been doing everything she could to get in touch with her missing relatives, and on Wednesday took to Instagram to share the good news.
"After a long 6 days we found the last of the family! Now the rebuilding begins!! #tiotomás #titiadela #familia #puertorico #unidosporpuertorico #Love #lovemakestheworldgoround #TioNegroImissyou," Lopez wrote alongside a video of her aunt Adela and Uncle Tomas.
Related: Jennifer Lopez Delivers Passionate Plea for Puerto Rico's Hurricane Relief Efforts
In the video, her aunt and uncle talk about how Lopez has always been so generous and giving and how they remembered her from when she was a little girl. While they live so far away, her aunt says she loves Lopez so much and is grateful that people have come to make sure that they are doing okay.
Related:...
- 9/28/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez announced new initiative, Somos Una Voz (We Are One Voice), a humanitarian alliance with influential figures across different industries, to help Puerto Rico in the devastating wake of Hurricane Maria. The U.S territory endures in dire need of many basic necessities, including running water, electricity, and forms of communication. The former couple recruited an impressive roster of participants, among them Alex Rodriguez, Bruno Mars, Daddy Yankee, Ed Sheeran, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis Fonsi, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, Vin Diesel and many others.
The initiative uses the 1 billion followers on social media that these...
The initiative uses the 1 billion followers on social media that these...
- 9/27/2017
- by Thatiana Diaz
- PEOPLE.com
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are bringing big names together for disaster relief.
The former couple launched Somos Una Voz (We Are One Voice), a new initiative promoting awareness and humanitarian aid, on Tuesday, in response to recent natural disasters that have devastated many areas, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Florida, Texas and more.
Lopez's boyfriend Alex Rodriguez, Bruno Mars, Pitbull, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ed Sheeran and Lin-Manuel Miranda are just a few of the celebrities who have signed on for the star-studded initiative, which aims to raise money for American Red Cross, Reach Out Worldwide, United Way, United for Puerto Rico, as well as more charities to come.
For more information and/or to donate, visit somosunavoz.com.
More: Alex Rodriguez Thanks Jennifer Lopez's Ex-Husband Marc Anthony for 'Teaming' Up to Help Puerto Rico
Since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and the Caribbean islands, J.Lo and Anthony have been vocal about mobilizing efforts for relief...
The former couple launched Somos Una Voz (We Are One Voice), a new initiative promoting awareness and humanitarian aid, on Tuesday, in response to recent natural disasters that have devastated many areas, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Florida, Texas and more.
Lopez's boyfriend Alex Rodriguez, Bruno Mars, Pitbull, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ed Sheeran and Lin-Manuel Miranda are just a few of the celebrities who have signed on for the star-studded initiative, which aims to raise money for American Red Cross, Reach Out Worldwide, United Way, United for Puerto Rico, as well as more charities to come.
For more information and/or to donate, visit somosunavoz.com.
More: Alex Rodriguez Thanks Jennifer Lopez's Ex-Husband Marc Anthony for 'Teaming' Up to Help Puerto Rico
Since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and the Caribbean islands, J.Lo and Anthony have been vocal about mobilizing efforts for relief...
- 9/27/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Busy Philipps is paying tribute to her friend, Jennah Ferrer-Foronda, who took her own life earlier this year.
The Vice Principals star took to Instagram on Sunday to pen an emotional message about her late friend, who committed suicide in March, and reflected on their friendship, which began when they met while they were both pregnant.
Watch: Busy Philipps Offers Her Best Advice to Moms: ‘Use Google Sparingly’
"She was so many things. She was a mother, a friend, an artist, A poet, a warrior, a f**king Instagram lover, a complex human being, a beautiful, beautiful sensitive soul," Philipps wrote. "She was my very first mom friend. I met her when we were both like 9 weeks pregnant with our kids. Our kids are still such good friends. Today we held a memorial for her at my house and did a kundalini prayer and had a sound bath and told stories and the kids did art and...
The Vice Principals star took to Instagram on Sunday to pen an emotional message about her late friend, who committed suicide in March, and reflected on their friendship, which began when they met while they were both pregnant.
Watch: Busy Philipps Offers Her Best Advice to Moms: ‘Use Google Sparingly’
"She was so many things. She was a mother, a friend, an artist, A poet, a warrior, a f**king Instagram lover, a complex human being, a beautiful, beautiful sensitive soul," Philipps wrote. "She was my very first mom friend. I met her when we were both like 9 weeks pregnant with our kids. Our kids are still such good friends. Today we held a memorial for her at my house and did a kundalini prayer and had a sound bath and told stories and the kids did art and...
- 5/30/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The competition has been heating up on Dancing With the Stars, and it's about to get even hotter!
The season 24 celebrities and their pro partners will be dancing to iconic songs from boy bands and girl groups, right in front of a guest judge who knows a thing or two about how to succeed in the ballroom.
Ahead of Monday's highly anticipated show, airing at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, we're breaking down everything you need to know about week six.
Watch: 'Dancing With the Stars' Week 5 Dance Recap: Best Lifts, Kicks, Tricks and Flips!
Who's on top of the leaderboard?
1. Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy: 39/40
2. Simone Biles & Sasha Farber: 38/40
3. Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigvintsev: 36/40
Who's in danger of elimination?
Although the fans voted them safe, David Ross and Lindsay Arnold received the lowest scores from the judges last week (29/40), followed closely behind by Bonner Bolton and Sharna Burgess, who were also...
The season 24 celebrities and their pro partners will be dancing to iconic songs from boy bands and girl groups, right in front of a guest judge who knows a thing or two about how to succeed in the ballroom.
Ahead of Monday's highly anticipated show, airing at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, we're breaking down everything you need to know about week six.
Watch: 'Dancing With the Stars' Week 5 Dance Recap: Best Lifts, Kicks, Tricks and Flips!
Who's on top of the leaderboard?
1. Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy: 39/40
2. Simone Biles & Sasha Farber: 38/40
3. Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigvintsev: 36/40
Who's in danger of elimination?
Although the fans voted them safe, David Ross and Lindsay Arnold received the lowest scores from the judges last week (29/40), followed closely behind by Bonner Bolton and Sharna Burgess, who were also...
- 4/24/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Backstreet’s back!
People can exclusively reveal that Monday’s Dancing with the Stars will feature iconic songs from famous girl groups and boy bands and Backstreet Boys’ own Nick Carter will be sliding into the guest judge’s seat. Audiences will also see the return of pro-dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who has been sidelined following his calf injury.
That’s not the only surprise: It’s Team Dances with men vs. women!
The boy band — Bonner Bolton, Nick Viall, David Ross and Rashad Jennings— will dance to a medley of “Dancing Machine” by Jackson 5, “You Got It (The Right Stuff...
People can exclusively reveal that Monday’s Dancing with the Stars will feature iconic songs from famous girl groups and boy bands and Backstreet Boys’ own Nick Carter will be sliding into the guest judge’s seat. Audiences will also see the return of pro-dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who has been sidelined following his calf injury.
That’s not the only surprise: It’s Team Dances with men vs. women!
The boy band — Bonner Bolton, Nick Viall, David Ross and Rashad Jennings— will dance to a medley of “Dancing Machine” by Jackson 5, “You Got It (The Right Stuff...
- 4/20/2017
- by Brittany King
- PEOPLE.com
Rob Leane Apr 19, 2017
Will the 'Chosen One' prophecy rear it's head again in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? We did some rampant speculating...
Spoilers for all the Star Wars films to date lie ahead, plus, er, Batman Begins...
See related The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 5 review The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 4 review The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 3 review The Last Kingdom series 2: politics, battles and arselings
By now you’ll have seen the first teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, aka Star Wars Episode VIII, in all it’s ‘Luke actually has dialogue!’ glory.
Although it was brief, this promo video gave us plenty to chew on. Two talking points seem to stand out: Rey mentioning “the balance” of the Force, and Luke saying “it’s time for the Jedi to end.”
But what if these two lines are actually linked? What if the idea of ‘bringing...
Will the 'Chosen One' prophecy rear it's head again in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? We did some rampant speculating...
Spoilers for all the Star Wars films to date lie ahead, plus, er, Batman Begins...
See related The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 5 review The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 4 review The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 3 review The Last Kingdom series 2: politics, battles and arselings
By now you’ll have seen the first teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, aka Star Wars Episode VIII, in all it’s ‘Luke actually has dialogue!’ glory.
Although it was brief, this promo video gave us plenty to chew on. Two talking points seem to stand out: Rey mentioning “the balance” of the Force, and Luke saying “it’s time for the Jedi to end.”
But what if these two lines are actually linked? What if the idea of ‘bringing...
- 4/18/2017
- Den of Geek
Paul Walker‘s family is keeping his memory alive.
The late-actor’s brother, Cody Walker, arrived at the Sydney, Australia charity premiere for the Fate of the Furious on Friday, while raising funds for his brother’s disaster relief charity, Reach Out Worldwide, which he now runs.
Paul died in a car crash while taking a break from filming Furious 7 in September 2016.
Cody and his wife, Felicia, arrived in Australia together. The actor, 28, announced that he was joining the tour in late March in a short Instagram video.
Felicia also posted on Instagram, taking a scenic photo beside her husband.
The late-actor’s brother, Cody Walker, arrived at the Sydney, Australia charity premiere for the Fate of the Furious on Friday, while raising funds for his brother’s disaster relief charity, Reach Out Worldwide, which he now runs.
Paul died in a car crash while taking a break from filming Furious 7 in September 2016.
Cody and his wife, Felicia, arrived in Australia together. The actor, 28, announced that he was joining the tour in late March in a short Instagram video.
Felicia also posted on Instagram, taking a scenic photo beside her husband.
- 4/15/2017
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
Unless you’ve been hiding in a galaxy far, far away, you probably heard that a new “Star Wars” trailer has dropped. Forty years into the most spectacular blockbuster franchise of all time, it’s hard to imagine a sneak peek into the universe generating anything less than religious fervor from its rabid fanbase, which is all the more reason to scrutinize this uniformly embraced nugget of sights and sounds for what it’s really doing.
The stars making publicity rounds at the Star Wars Celebration event in Florida could have blurted random “Star Wars” terms and found themselves showered with cheers. (“Stormtrooper!” “Yoda!”) At this point, it’s almost too easy for Disney to drive hysteria surrounding the latest entry in the current trilogy, “The Last Jedi.” After all, nobody’s seen “The Last Jedi,” and millions of people can’t wait to do just that, so even a...
The stars making publicity rounds at the Star Wars Celebration event in Florida could have blurted random “Star Wars” terms and found themselves showered with cheers. (“Stormtrooper!” “Yoda!”) At this point, it’s almost too easy for Disney to drive hysteria surrounding the latest entry in the current trilogy, “The Last Jedi.” After all, nobody’s seen “The Last Jedi,” and millions of people can’t wait to do just that, so even a...
- 4/14/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Cuba Gooding Jr. responds to the "Twitter noise" he caused when he lifted up his The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story co-star Sarah Paulson's skirt during a panel at the 4th Annual PaleyFest last month.
While at the 8th Annual FX All-Star bowling party on Thursday, the 49-year-old actor was quick to clarify his actions when chatting with Et, calling his American Crime Story co-stars "a family."
Getty ImagesGetty Images
"I see Sarah Paulson as my sister," he said. "I noticed there was some Twitter noise about a picture of her and I, but there is no disrespect. I love her like I do my daughter and other powerful women in my life."
Exclusive: Cuba Gooding, Jr. Reacts to Kato Kaelin Slamming American Crime Story on Twitter
Continuing to praise the 42-year-old actress, Gooding Jr. addressed the rumors that she is being considered to take on the role of Princess Diana in [link...
While at the 8th Annual FX All-Star bowling party on Thursday, the 49-year-old actor was quick to clarify his actions when chatting with Et, calling his American Crime Story co-stars "a family."
Getty ImagesGetty Images
"I see Sarah Paulson as my sister," he said. "I noticed there was some Twitter noise about a picture of her and I, but there is no disrespect. I love her like I do my daughter and other powerful women in my life."
Exclusive: Cuba Gooding, Jr. Reacts to Kato Kaelin Slamming American Crime Story on Twitter
Continuing to praise the 42-year-old actress, Gooding Jr. addressed the rumors that she is being considered to take on the role of Princess Diana in [link...
- 4/7/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Cuba Gooding Jr. is ready to officially end his marriage.
The 49-year-old actor has filed for divorce in response to wife Sara Kapfer's 2014 separation filing, according to docs obtained by Et.
Related: Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Wife Files for Legal Separation
Gooding is asking for joint legal and physical custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Piper. The couple also shares two sons, Spencer and Mason, who are no longer minors.
According to the court docs, the People v. O.J. Simpson star is willing to pay Kapfer spousal support but wants all of his earnings since the pair separated to remain his own.
Gooding and Kapfer were high school sweethearts, marrying in 1994.
Watch: Cuba Gooding Jr. Explains Why He Didn't Reach Out to O.J. Simpson About 'American Crime Story'...
The 49-year-old actor has filed for divorce in response to wife Sara Kapfer's 2014 separation filing, according to docs obtained by Et.
Related: Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Wife Files for Legal Separation
Gooding is asking for joint legal and physical custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Piper. The couple also shares two sons, Spencer and Mason, who are no longer minors.
According to the court docs, the People v. O.J. Simpson star is willing to pay Kapfer spousal support but wants all of his earnings since the pair separated to remain his own.
Gooding and Kapfer were high school sweethearts, marrying in 1994.
Watch: Cuba Gooding Jr. Explains Why He Didn't Reach Out to O.J. Simpson About 'American Crime Story'...
- 1/20/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
From the heartbreaking but brilliant Rang De Basanti, to the wonderful Delhi 6, to the inspiring Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has brought Indian cinema some of its greatest films.
With his film Mirzya, he has now turned his focus on the Punjabi folk tale Mirza-Sahiban, but presenting it in a unique way. Interweaving the legendary folklore with a contemporary version, this musical brings out the story of a love that will never die. Joining him in transforming this story is the esteemed writer and poet Gulzar. Adding to the worlds of Mirzya is music by the great Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.
Mirzya introduces Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher, along with Anuj Chaudhary. Also bringing the story to life are the screen masters, Om Puri, Art Malik, and K. K. Raina.
Some of my absolute favorite interviews to conduct are with directors because they just love talking about their movies.
With his film Mirzya, he has now turned his focus on the Punjabi folk tale Mirza-Sahiban, but presenting it in a unique way. Interweaving the legendary folklore with a contemporary version, this musical brings out the story of a love that will never die. Joining him in transforming this story is the esteemed writer and poet Gulzar. Adding to the worlds of Mirzya is music by the great Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.
Mirzya introduces Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher, along with Anuj Chaudhary. Also bringing the story to life are the screen masters, Om Puri, Art Malik, and K. K. Raina.
Some of my absolute favorite interviews to conduct are with directors because they just love talking about their movies.
- 10/3/2016
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Last Monday, Sept. 12, would have beenPaul Walker's 43rd birthday. And this year to honor the late actor his brother Cody, 28, along with family and friends, came together for the second annual Game4Paul fundraiser in Los Angeles at Attack studios on Saturday. "Paul was just the most real guy ever. The best big brother, the best son, and the best father. The best everything," Cody said through tears during the six-hour live-streamed event he hosted to raise funds for Reach Out WorldWide (Roww), the nonprofit disaster relief organization founded by Paul. "He was the heart and soul of Reach Out...
- 9/18/2016
- by Jennifer Heyde, @jenniferheyde
- PEOPLE.com
Vin Diesel is doing his best to preserve Paul Walker's memory. While showing support for Paul's charity, Reach Out Worldwide, on Saturday, the Fast 8 star signed on to Facebook Live and revealed the late actor was the inspiration behind his decision to have children. "Paul was very instrumental in my segue into fatherhood. He was the one that told me to go to the hospital. He's the one that told me to cut the umbilical cord. He told me to cut the umbilical cord! [He was] the only person, in California, that knew I was about to have a child," he revealed. Vin, who is now a father to daughters Hania and Pauline and son Vincent, continued, "He must've been godsend because he put me on the right path . . . When we were in the cars in between takes, he would tell me, 'Hey, Vin, it's not a scary thing to...
- 9/18/2016
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
Vin Diesel and the mother of his late co-star Paul Walker have teamed up to leave a special Facebook message for fans in order to get the word out about Walker’s charity, Reach Out World Wide. “I want to say thank you to all of you for all your support,” says Cheryl Walker in the emotional […]...
- 9/18/2016
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Vin Diesel is doing his part to make sure his friend and co-star's legacy will never be forgotten. The Fast & Furious star headed to Facebook Live Saturday evening to show his support for Paul Walker's charity Reach Out Worldwide. Along the way, fans got to hear another inspiring story of the actor who passed away too soon. "Paul was very, very instrumental in my segue into fatherhood. He was the one that told me to go to the hospital. He's the one that told me to cut the umbilical cord. He told me to cut the umbilical cord," Vin shared while hanging out with Paul's father. "He was the only person that knew, in California, that I was about to have a child." "He...
- 9/18/2016
- E! Online
Paul Walker was still filming the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise when he died. To finish the film, his brothers Caleb Walker and Cody Walker stepped in - doubling for the actor in critical scenes to help finish his storyline. Now, nearly three years later, the Walker brothers say that experience helped them grieve their loss. "We got to understand more about Paul, and what he was all about," Caleb told Cameron Mathison in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "We had to share Paul with a lot of people, in a weird way. He was gone a lot,...
- 9/16/2016
- by Dave Quinn, @NineDaves
- PEOPLE.com
Paul Walker was still filming the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise when he died. To finish the film, his brothers Caleb Walker and Cody Walker stepped in - doubling for the actor in critical scenes to help finish his storyline. Now, nearly three years later, the Walker brothers say that experience helped them grieve their loss. "We got to understand more about Paul, and what he was all about," Caleb told Cameron Mathison in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "We had to share Paul with a lot of people, in a weird way. He was gone a lot,...
- 9/16/2016
- by Dave Quinn, @NineDaves
- PEOPLE.com
James Schamus, who was one of the master teachers at the recent second edition of Doha Film Institute’s Qumra, says the new filmmakers are the most important and I agree. Even when I was “new” I knew that and now that I am “old” I still do.
Qumra is the prime opportunity to see the new filmmakers of Mena as they create their early works. Now three are here extending their visibility and learning more about the international film world.
Qumra’s second edition in March introduced an intensive workshop during which 10 Qatar-based filmmakers presented their short film projects, currently in development, to a group of international industry professionals, including script consultants, producers, lab representatives, programmers and buyers, all of whom are experts in the short form. Ten shorts is not too few so that the films are representative of a broad swatch of filmmakers and/ or stories but not too many for us to get to know all the projects and even the filmmakers on a more personal, deeper level.
The Qumra Shorts Group Tutorials gave me the chance to present “The International Festival Circuit”, which sets the stage for understanding how to present first films and next projects to film-business executives, possible co-producers, financiers, etc. My objective was to provide a practical overview of the key issues to consider in choosing the best festivals and/or market events that best suit scripts, projects in pre-production, or completed films. Emerging filmmakers can then create the ideal marketing campaign to advance their films and further their career while approaching buyers, distributors and financiers.
All the filmmakers are creating stories out of issues of identity. Each of the projects is indicative of these young emerging filmmakers’ intensely personal searches for identity within their environments. The transformation of the personal to the universal is, as we all know, key to artistic creation. I was deeply moved by these filmmakers daring to meet the challenge of every thinking person – young or old -- through their choices in creating works of fiction or documentaries which speak to this issue. Their honesty in facing themselves in their society today is brave.
Watch videos of the short filmmakers here (and other videos of Qumra too).
The Shorts of Qumra
“The World Is Blue”
Amna Al-Binali, a graduate of Qatar University English Literature and Linguistics major, directed her first short film, “Doctor’s Office” at the La Fémis Gulf Summer School in 2015. “The Notebook”, her second short film, had its premiere at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in 2015.
How people present themselves in our society today and how they feel about
it in reality is what this comedy/drama portrays. A young bride prefers to read a book rather than attend her own engagement party. The book is the evil object that prevents her from playing her role and coming out to the stage as a bride.
What Amna said in explanation of this film reminded me of how our weddings and Bar Mitzvahs and Quinceanera’s work as well.
“In the film, we see the different parts women play in society. There are young women lavishly dressed, elderly women completely covered, little children with little care in the world and pregnant women. These are the usual sights in a Qatari engagement party. Because I have been attending quite a few engagement parties recently, I have been observing how they all go on the same way, and how everyone acts and reacts the same. They don’t really talk to each other. They seem to be there only because it’s a social duty. You almost never feel that you are attending different engagement parties. It made me think about why these parties repeat themselves over and over. It felt like I was attending a play. Everyone was acting according to their assigned roles, whether it’s the bride, the mother of the bride, the cousin of the bride, etc.
The protagonists spends most of the story trying to finish the book she is reading. Through the narrative, she is trying to understand the fictional character’s emotional experience. Perhaps it will help her understand her own.”
She is dealing with psychological issues within the context of society’s strict adherence to engagement/ marital rules and customs.
The issue of identity plays out with the heroine not wanting to fit the same mold as everyone else, not satisfied with her sister’s answer that she will understand once she gets married…what will she understand? That she is now to have children who will take up her life? I admire the heroine for her intense questioning and wonder how it will be resolved.
"Amer : The Arabian Legend"
Jassim Al-Rumaihi works as a reporter at Al-Jazeera News Channel, covering news from Tunisia to Nepal. While studying at Northwestern University in Qatar, he took several classes in film production. Since then, he has worked on a two short films, and he is currently working on his third with the support of the Doha Film Institute. His film “The Palm Tree” (Qatar, No Dialogue, 2015) was made as a part of a documentary workshop in just over a week. With the film winning the Made in Qatar – Best Documentary Award at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2015, it is now receiving interest from film festivals and critics.
“Amer : The Arabian Legend” is his third short.
Sent as a gift to the late Emir of Qatar in the 1980s, Amer seemed like an average purebred Arabian. After he was taken to the tracks of Umm Qarn to train other horses, however, he showed his class, changing the face of Arabian horseracing forever.
Besides being a champion horse – he won nine of his thirteen starts – Amer is the most influential stallion in Arabian horseracing history. With a current stud fee of Us $60,000, the grey horse from the deserts of Arabia has sired more than 130 champions. Yet Amer’s extraordinary story is almost unbelievable for many, who speculate as to the legitimacy of his legacy.
“Amer” deals with the subject of identity. First of all, I had always heard all great race horses called “Arabian horses” but I had not really thought about the term. I find so many of my preconceptions are brought to consciousnss with my experience in Doha. I learned that what I have called Arabian is actually a western definition. The true Arabian horse: Is it built for racing or for endurance? Amer, a legendary Arabian stallion, is changing the definition of Arabian horse racing with Europeanized “Arabian” horses encountering the “upstart” genetically, and perhaps “out of line” horse Amer who most definitely is Arabian and his mixed progeny.
“Buqsha”
Director, Fahad Al Obaidly, is a researcher at the National Museum of Qatar as well as a curator and fashion designer. He introduced his brand Fahad Al-Obaidly in 2014. He completed his course in fashion design, specializing in casual menswear, at the Institute Marangoni. Being an Arab with a European vision of style in fashion greatly contributes to the philosophy behind his work. Al Obaidly has directed two short fashion films and directed one short documentary.
I had more time and more occasions to socialize with the film’s producer, Salwa Al Khalifa, during several activities at Qumra. She is so outgoing and engaging and her background is unique as she is a Sudanese filmmaker whose father moved to Qatar before she was born and yet she still grapples with what it means to be Sudanese-Qatari. She studied Mass Communication at Qatar University, and obtained a diploma in Documentary Filmmaking. She has directed a few short films, and has worked as an assistant director and script supervisor in a number of independent short films in Qatar.
“Buqsha”’s underpinning is modern day’s greatest philosophic dilemma: How can we venture into the past to look to the future? Here Fahad posits the question in terms of his own his wish to pursue a difficult line of artistic freedom as a designer which he knows has great import to his society, even though the society is not exactly eager for him to follow the path he has chosen.
Director-writer Fahad Al Obaldly and the producer Salwa Al Khalifa are both dealing with their personal issues of identity in an intense and creative way as seen in their previous autobiographical films.
Fahad is looking directly at his grandmother, a weaver of tents who incorporated coded language into the designs. Fahad’s definition of himself is found in this grandmother’s weaving and the sense of design that weaving brings to societies around the world. Design is not a trivial modern pursuit; it reflects society’s need for shelter and for clothing to protect us against the elements. And within the designs is the secret language of the society itself.
Fahad and Sara Al Obaidly journey around Qatar, capturing the beauty of the Doha landscapes while exploring the rich diversity of arts and ancestral traditions, as well as the impact contemporary and traditional culture have on each other. During their travels, they focus on “sedu” weaving, one of the most important of Qatari traditional textile crafts. They meet with and interview an expert to discover and learn the historical background of “sedu” in Qatar. Along the way they visit artisans and cultural experts, and explore their roles in preserving and promoting the cultural and ethnic heritage of Qatar.
A treasure trove of talent is also remaining at home in Qatar but their films will have lives extending beyond in the coming year. Here are the others which we discussed in Qumra.
“Love in the Middle East”
I loved this project. I was amazed to learn that Arabic has about 99 words describing different degrees and types of love; way beyond our English vocabulary. Mostafa Sheshtawy is an emerging filmmaker I think will become an important interpreter of mores in Mena of interest to the world today. His sense of humanity is very apparent.
To some people, love is the pursuit of happiness. Throughout the history of the Arab world, love has always been one of the most popular subjects of discussion, as we can see from poetry, literature and folktales. In a series of interviews and stories, the director, a 28-year-old Arab, explores what love means in the Middle East – how it is affected by culture and tradition, how much it is influenced by religion, and how it is perceived by different generations.
Filmmaker and photographer Mostafa Sheshtawy was born in Egypt and raised in Qatar. He began his film career by documenting the Egyptian revolution in 2011. Since then, he has worked on various productions in Egypt and Qatar with the Doha Film Institute, primarily in the camera department. His directorial debut was the short documentary ‘Immortalizing Memories’, which screened in the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in 2015. Sheshtawy’s first short narrative film is the romantic comedy ‘Love Blood Test’ (2015).
“A Ranged Marriage”
Dealing with society’s arranged marriages, and an unhappy one at that, this is daring and fantastical . Nora Al-Subai’s multi cultural upbringing -- a Qatari born and raised in France, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon in Computer Science – and her earlier film “My Hero” which already won for Best Short Film at the Ajyal Youth Film Festivla and was in Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand and other top festivals was a very well developed, well produced and well directed story about a little boy paying for his busy father’s time. Her other film, a Middle Eastern Cinderella story for today was also very well told. She has a sure hand directing and a flair for storytelling. These two previous films, both of which make comedies out of current societal issues, bode well for her ability to tell this story.
She does not tell her stories in a dark way; instead she uses lightness to illuminate what we would normally label “dark comedy”. In a way this reminds me of “Of Kind Hearts and Coronets” a classic British comedy of in 1949 dealing with murder in a light-hearted funny way.
Nora Al Subai says, “I have always been intrigued by the concept of arranged marriages, and people agreeing to live the rest of their lives with another person simply because they are “good people” or come from a good family. I wanted to explore the comical concept of an arranged marriage in which one partner decides that the best anniversary gift of all would be the death of their spouse. Since she is in an arranged marriage, however, Sarah finds it difficult to kill her husband when she realizes she doesn’t know anything about him.
“Qafas”
Mayar Hamdan’s previous film in live action was about a girl caught cheating in school. It was funny and whimsical in style, but is very subversive. It reminded me of Todd Solondz’ “Welcome to the Dollhouse”. Mayar said that people strongly objected to her film as if she were revealing something that should not be revealed. And that is what made it a brave story to tell.
“Qafas” is toned down. It is also to be animated. Thematically it fits into the issue of finding one’s true identity when confined within strictures not of one’s own choosing. It is the story of a young man who tries everything to escape the cage in which he is chained. Only when he realizes that the true obstacle to his release is not the chains, but rather his outlook on his situation, does he finally become free.
Mayar Hamdan is a recent graduate of Northwestern University in Qatar, where she studied Media Industries and Technology, with a concentration in Animation and Post-Production.
“More Than Two Days”
Ahmed Abdelnaser was born in Doha. A filmmaker and an editor, he became passionate about cinema at an early age. After winning two awards for best editing, he became a montage trainer with Avid. As a lecturer, he taught the art of film editing at the Aljazeera Media Training Centre. His first film, ‘Children of the Earthquake’ (2007) was shot in Pakistan with the support of Reach Out to Asia. His recent short film ‘I Exist’ (2014), filmed on the borders of Turkey, won five international awards for Best Short Film, and participated in more than 30 film festivals. ‘More Than Two Days’ (2015) was supported by the Film Training and Development Department of the Doha Film Institute.
Something has occurred that has cast a shadow on two brothers who are in the prime of their lives. Between silence, admonition, and a desire to reveal, the film dives into the implications of what has happened – a conflict that reflects on their lives, their relationship, and how each of them tries to deal with his new life. Over two days, the story focuses on the eruption of the conflict they face, and its weighty influence on the future of each of the brothers.
“Kashta”
A father takes his two sons out on a trip to the desert to go hunting, but the results are not quite what he was expecting. The story has a primal quality as it unfolds in the most beautiful desert valley. I could see filmmaker Aj Al-Thani’s fascination with “Star Wars” as she told me when we spoke. She and her producer Jaime Siordia are a unique team to watch.
Aj Al-Thani is a Qatar-born filmmaker. Her love for movies and moviemaking began at the age of six when she saw ‘Star Wars’ (1977) in the cinema in 1999. Al-Thani’s relationship with the Doha Film Institute began in 2010 when she participated in one of its first film workshops, which opened the door for many local filmmakers to pursue their passion. For almost six years Al-Thani has been developing her skills with the help of the Institute. She is now working on her first professional short film through a grant from the Institute.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jaime Siordia studied photography and cinema before beginning his film career. Spending several years on numerous sets, he wrote and produced television pilots and independent films throughout the United States. After spending a year as an event producer with Film Independent, he began working for film festivals including the Los Angeles Film Festival, Sundance and Tribeca, landing in New York where he returned to filmmaking. Now based in Doha, Siordia has produced films for clients including Qatar Airways, Vodafone, Barwa Bank and Al Jazeera.
“The Innocent Prisoner”
The story of a man trying to wash away his history of being a prisoner, determining his destiny by becoming a better person, and finding himself a place in his own society. ‘The Innocent Prisoner’ reveals stories of people who were jailed not because they committed a crime or broke the law, but rather because they were irresponsible or ignorant. When Yassir kindly took on a business loan taken out by his close friend Fadhil, all seemed well until his lost his job and was no longer able to make the necessary payments. Now he faces prison time for helping out his friend. This film asks why Yassir should face a future of unemployment after his release, and why society would punish him a second time by not accepting him.
Amina Ahmed Al Boluchi graduated from Qatar University with a BA in Mass Communication. She has directed ‘The Pearl of Qatar’s Concert: Abdulrahman Almanai’ (2013) and her graduation project, ‘Made in Qatar’ (2015). Most recently, working with the Doha Film Institute, she made ‘To My Mother’ (2015).
“I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. As such, society should support those of its members who need its understanding. It is the responsibility of every individual to help those with whom they share their community, and take into consideration that there will be always exceptional cases and irregular circumstances. With that in mind, I think people who experience being imprisoned deserve special treatment after finishing their years of punishment. They ought to be treated fairly and should have the rights of getting married and starting a new life, just like anyone else. I want this film to help those who have lost their chance to participate fully in their society because of their background.”
“I Want to Feel What I Feel When I Am Asleep”
In a post-apocalyptic world, in a ruined city, little of humanity remains. The residue of a poison has become a drug, which creates the illusion that life is still beautiful, and that everything is as it was before. The survivors wander through the rubble as though nothing had ever happened – except one woman. Unaffected by the poison, she sees the horrors around her. She begins to clean the streets and the buildings in the hope of recreating the reality that existed before the catastrophe.
Writer-DirectorAbdullah Al-Mulla grew up in Qatar until moving abroad to pursue his university studies. He first became involved in film through the Doha Film Institute, and has worked on 10 short films to date. He is currently working on his next screenplay and researching a larger work.
This version of a dystopian society is dealing with the same dilemma as “The World is Blue” though the circumstances differ. Everyone is totally accepting of a condition of life which the protagonist finds unacceptable.
It has resonance today with the ruined cities of Damsascus, Hons, etc. although I cannot say everyone is walking around thinking all is well; perhaps they are walking around in a daze; most likely they are struggling to survive, but it still has resonance.
And people in the fine world that has not been destroyed perhaps are the ones in a drugged state believing all is well in their world…when in fact, it is not, as in “The World is Blue”. Again, there is a resonance with “I Want to Feel”, a surreal synthesis of these two co-existing worlds.
Qumra is the prime opportunity to see the new filmmakers of Mena as they create their early works. Now three are here extending their visibility and learning more about the international film world.
Qumra’s second edition in March introduced an intensive workshop during which 10 Qatar-based filmmakers presented their short film projects, currently in development, to a group of international industry professionals, including script consultants, producers, lab representatives, programmers and buyers, all of whom are experts in the short form. Ten shorts is not too few so that the films are representative of a broad swatch of filmmakers and/ or stories but not too many for us to get to know all the projects and even the filmmakers on a more personal, deeper level.
The Qumra Shorts Group Tutorials gave me the chance to present “The International Festival Circuit”, which sets the stage for understanding how to present first films and next projects to film-business executives, possible co-producers, financiers, etc. My objective was to provide a practical overview of the key issues to consider in choosing the best festivals and/or market events that best suit scripts, projects in pre-production, or completed films. Emerging filmmakers can then create the ideal marketing campaign to advance their films and further their career while approaching buyers, distributors and financiers.
All the filmmakers are creating stories out of issues of identity. Each of the projects is indicative of these young emerging filmmakers’ intensely personal searches for identity within their environments. The transformation of the personal to the universal is, as we all know, key to artistic creation. I was deeply moved by these filmmakers daring to meet the challenge of every thinking person – young or old -- through their choices in creating works of fiction or documentaries which speak to this issue. Their honesty in facing themselves in their society today is brave.
Watch videos of the short filmmakers here (and other videos of Qumra too).
The Shorts of Qumra
“The World Is Blue”
Amna Al-Binali, a graduate of Qatar University English Literature and Linguistics major, directed her first short film, “Doctor’s Office” at the La Fémis Gulf Summer School in 2015. “The Notebook”, her second short film, had its premiere at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in 2015.
How people present themselves in our society today and how they feel about
it in reality is what this comedy/drama portrays. A young bride prefers to read a book rather than attend her own engagement party. The book is the evil object that prevents her from playing her role and coming out to the stage as a bride.
What Amna said in explanation of this film reminded me of how our weddings and Bar Mitzvahs and Quinceanera’s work as well.
“In the film, we see the different parts women play in society. There are young women lavishly dressed, elderly women completely covered, little children with little care in the world and pregnant women. These are the usual sights in a Qatari engagement party. Because I have been attending quite a few engagement parties recently, I have been observing how they all go on the same way, and how everyone acts and reacts the same. They don’t really talk to each other. They seem to be there only because it’s a social duty. You almost never feel that you are attending different engagement parties. It made me think about why these parties repeat themselves over and over. It felt like I was attending a play. Everyone was acting according to their assigned roles, whether it’s the bride, the mother of the bride, the cousin of the bride, etc.
The protagonists spends most of the story trying to finish the book she is reading. Through the narrative, she is trying to understand the fictional character’s emotional experience. Perhaps it will help her understand her own.”
She is dealing with psychological issues within the context of society’s strict adherence to engagement/ marital rules and customs.
The issue of identity plays out with the heroine not wanting to fit the same mold as everyone else, not satisfied with her sister’s answer that she will understand once she gets married…what will she understand? That she is now to have children who will take up her life? I admire the heroine for her intense questioning and wonder how it will be resolved.
"Amer : The Arabian Legend"
Jassim Al-Rumaihi works as a reporter at Al-Jazeera News Channel, covering news from Tunisia to Nepal. While studying at Northwestern University in Qatar, he took several classes in film production. Since then, he has worked on a two short films, and he is currently working on his third with the support of the Doha Film Institute. His film “The Palm Tree” (Qatar, No Dialogue, 2015) was made as a part of a documentary workshop in just over a week. With the film winning the Made in Qatar – Best Documentary Award at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2015, it is now receiving interest from film festivals and critics.
“Amer : The Arabian Legend” is his third short.
Sent as a gift to the late Emir of Qatar in the 1980s, Amer seemed like an average purebred Arabian. After he was taken to the tracks of Umm Qarn to train other horses, however, he showed his class, changing the face of Arabian horseracing forever.
Besides being a champion horse – he won nine of his thirteen starts – Amer is the most influential stallion in Arabian horseracing history. With a current stud fee of Us $60,000, the grey horse from the deserts of Arabia has sired more than 130 champions. Yet Amer’s extraordinary story is almost unbelievable for many, who speculate as to the legitimacy of his legacy.
“Amer” deals with the subject of identity. First of all, I had always heard all great race horses called “Arabian horses” but I had not really thought about the term. I find so many of my preconceptions are brought to consciousnss with my experience in Doha. I learned that what I have called Arabian is actually a western definition. The true Arabian horse: Is it built for racing or for endurance? Amer, a legendary Arabian stallion, is changing the definition of Arabian horse racing with Europeanized “Arabian” horses encountering the “upstart” genetically, and perhaps “out of line” horse Amer who most definitely is Arabian and his mixed progeny.
“Buqsha”
Director, Fahad Al Obaidly, is a researcher at the National Museum of Qatar as well as a curator and fashion designer. He introduced his brand Fahad Al-Obaidly in 2014. He completed his course in fashion design, specializing in casual menswear, at the Institute Marangoni. Being an Arab with a European vision of style in fashion greatly contributes to the philosophy behind his work. Al Obaidly has directed two short fashion films and directed one short documentary.
I had more time and more occasions to socialize with the film’s producer, Salwa Al Khalifa, during several activities at Qumra. She is so outgoing and engaging and her background is unique as she is a Sudanese filmmaker whose father moved to Qatar before she was born and yet she still grapples with what it means to be Sudanese-Qatari. She studied Mass Communication at Qatar University, and obtained a diploma in Documentary Filmmaking. She has directed a few short films, and has worked as an assistant director and script supervisor in a number of independent short films in Qatar.
“Buqsha”’s underpinning is modern day’s greatest philosophic dilemma: How can we venture into the past to look to the future? Here Fahad posits the question in terms of his own his wish to pursue a difficult line of artistic freedom as a designer which he knows has great import to his society, even though the society is not exactly eager for him to follow the path he has chosen.
Director-writer Fahad Al Obaldly and the producer Salwa Al Khalifa are both dealing with their personal issues of identity in an intense and creative way as seen in their previous autobiographical films.
Fahad is looking directly at his grandmother, a weaver of tents who incorporated coded language into the designs. Fahad’s definition of himself is found in this grandmother’s weaving and the sense of design that weaving brings to societies around the world. Design is not a trivial modern pursuit; it reflects society’s need for shelter and for clothing to protect us against the elements. And within the designs is the secret language of the society itself.
Fahad and Sara Al Obaidly journey around Qatar, capturing the beauty of the Doha landscapes while exploring the rich diversity of arts and ancestral traditions, as well as the impact contemporary and traditional culture have on each other. During their travels, they focus on “sedu” weaving, one of the most important of Qatari traditional textile crafts. They meet with and interview an expert to discover and learn the historical background of “sedu” in Qatar. Along the way they visit artisans and cultural experts, and explore their roles in preserving and promoting the cultural and ethnic heritage of Qatar.
A treasure trove of talent is also remaining at home in Qatar but their films will have lives extending beyond in the coming year. Here are the others which we discussed in Qumra.
“Love in the Middle East”
I loved this project. I was amazed to learn that Arabic has about 99 words describing different degrees and types of love; way beyond our English vocabulary. Mostafa Sheshtawy is an emerging filmmaker I think will become an important interpreter of mores in Mena of interest to the world today. His sense of humanity is very apparent.
To some people, love is the pursuit of happiness. Throughout the history of the Arab world, love has always been one of the most popular subjects of discussion, as we can see from poetry, literature and folktales. In a series of interviews and stories, the director, a 28-year-old Arab, explores what love means in the Middle East – how it is affected by culture and tradition, how much it is influenced by religion, and how it is perceived by different generations.
Filmmaker and photographer Mostafa Sheshtawy was born in Egypt and raised in Qatar. He began his film career by documenting the Egyptian revolution in 2011. Since then, he has worked on various productions in Egypt and Qatar with the Doha Film Institute, primarily in the camera department. His directorial debut was the short documentary ‘Immortalizing Memories’, which screened in the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in 2015. Sheshtawy’s first short narrative film is the romantic comedy ‘Love Blood Test’ (2015).
“A Ranged Marriage”
Dealing with society’s arranged marriages, and an unhappy one at that, this is daring and fantastical . Nora Al-Subai’s multi cultural upbringing -- a Qatari born and raised in France, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon in Computer Science – and her earlier film “My Hero” which already won for Best Short Film at the Ajyal Youth Film Festivla and was in Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand and other top festivals was a very well developed, well produced and well directed story about a little boy paying for his busy father’s time. Her other film, a Middle Eastern Cinderella story for today was also very well told. She has a sure hand directing and a flair for storytelling. These two previous films, both of which make comedies out of current societal issues, bode well for her ability to tell this story.
She does not tell her stories in a dark way; instead she uses lightness to illuminate what we would normally label “dark comedy”. In a way this reminds me of “Of Kind Hearts and Coronets” a classic British comedy of in 1949 dealing with murder in a light-hearted funny way.
Nora Al Subai says, “I have always been intrigued by the concept of arranged marriages, and people agreeing to live the rest of their lives with another person simply because they are “good people” or come from a good family. I wanted to explore the comical concept of an arranged marriage in which one partner decides that the best anniversary gift of all would be the death of their spouse. Since she is in an arranged marriage, however, Sarah finds it difficult to kill her husband when she realizes she doesn’t know anything about him.
“Qafas”
Mayar Hamdan’s previous film in live action was about a girl caught cheating in school. It was funny and whimsical in style, but is very subversive. It reminded me of Todd Solondz’ “Welcome to the Dollhouse”. Mayar said that people strongly objected to her film as if she were revealing something that should not be revealed. And that is what made it a brave story to tell.
“Qafas” is toned down. It is also to be animated. Thematically it fits into the issue of finding one’s true identity when confined within strictures not of one’s own choosing. It is the story of a young man who tries everything to escape the cage in which he is chained. Only when he realizes that the true obstacle to his release is not the chains, but rather his outlook on his situation, does he finally become free.
Mayar Hamdan is a recent graduate of Northwestern University in Qatar, where she studied Media Industries and Technology, with a concentration in Animation and Post-Production.
“More Than Two Days”
Ahmed Abdelnaser was born in Doha. A filmmaker and an editor, he became passionate about cinema at an early age. After winning two awards for best editing, he became a montage trainer with Avid. As a lecturer, he taught the art of film editing at the Aljazeera Media Training Centre. His first film, ‘Children of the Earthquake’ (2007) was shot in Pakistan with the support of Reach Out to Asia. His recent short film ‘I Exist’ (2014), filmed on the borders of Turkey, won five international awards for Best Short Film, and participated in more than 30 film festivals. ‘More Than Two Days’ (2015) was supported by the Film Training and Development Department of the Doha Film Institute.
Something has occurred that has cast a shadow on two brothers who are in the prime of their lives. Between silence, admonition, and a desire to reveal, the film dives into the implications of what has happened – a conflict that reflects on their lives, their relationship, and how each of them tries to deal with his new life. Over two days, the story focuses on the eruption of the conflict they face, and its weighty influence on the future of each of the brothers.
“Kashta”
A father takes his two sons out on a trip to the desert to go hunting, but the results are not quite what he was expecting. The story has a primal quality as it unfolds in the most beautiful desert valley. I could see filmmaker Aj Al-Thani’s fascination with “Star Wars” as she told me when we spoke. She and her producer Jaime Siordia are a unique team to watch.
Aj Al-Thani is a Qatar-born filmmaker. Her love for movies and moviemaking began at the age of six when she saw ‘Star Wars’ (1977) in the cinema in 1999. Al-Thani’s relationship with the Doha Film Institute began in 2010 when she participated in one of its first film workshops, which opened the door for many local filmmakers to pursue their passion. For almost six years Al-Thani has been developing her skills with the help of the Institute. She is now working on her first professional short film through a grant from the Institute.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jaime Siordia studied photography and cinema before beginning his film career. Spending several years on numerous sets, he wrote and produced television pilots and independent films throughout the United States. After spending a year as an event producer with Film Independent, he began working for film festivals including the Los Angeles Film Festival, Sundance and Tribeca, landing in New York where he returned to filmmaking. Now based in Doha, Siordia has produced films for clients including Qatar Airways, Vodafone, Barwa Bank and Al Jazeera.
“The Innocent Prisoner”
The story of a man trying to wash away his history of being a prisoner, determining his destiny by becoming a better person, and finding himself a place in his own society. ‘The Innocent Prisoner’ reveals stories of people who were jailed not because they committed a crime or broke the law, but rather because they were irresponsible or ignorant. When Yassir kindly took on a business loan taken out by his close friend Fadhil, all seemed well until his lost his job and was no longer able to make the necessary payments. Now he faces prison time for helping out his friend. This film asks why Yassir should face a future of unemployment after his release, and why society would punish him a second time by not accepting him.
Amina Ahmed Al Boluchi graduated from Qatar University with a BA in Mass Communication. She has directed ‘The Pearl of Qatar’s Concert: Abdulrahman Almanai’ (2013) and her graduation project, ‘Made in Qatar’ (2015). Most recently, working with the Doha Film Institute, she made ‘To My Mother’ (2015).
“I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. As such, society should support those of its members who need its understanding. It is the responsibility of every individual to help those with whom they share their community, and take into consideration that there will be always exceptional cases and irregular circumstances. With that in mind, I think people who experience being imprisoned deserve special treatment after finishing their years of punishment. They ought to be treated fairly and should have the rights of getting married and starting a new life, just like anyone else. I want this film to help those who have lost their chance to participate fully in their society because of their background.”
“I Want to Feel What I Feel When I Am Asleep”
In a post-apocalyptic world, in a ruined city, little of humanity remains. The residue of a poison has become a drug, which creates the illusion that life is still beautiful, and that everything is as it was before. The survivors wander through the rubble as though nothing had ever happened – except one woman. Unaffected by the poison, she sees the horrors around her. She begins to clean the streets and the buildings in the hope of recreating the reality that existed before the catastrophe.
Writer-DirectorAbdullah Al-Mulla grew up in Qatar until moving abroad to pursue his university studies. He first became involved in film through the Doha Film Institute, and has worked on 10 short films to date. He is currently working on his next screenplay and researching a larger work.
This version of a dystopian society is dealing with the same dilemma as “The World is Blue” though the circumstances differ. Everyone is totally accepting of a condition of life which the protagonist finds unacceptable.
It has resonance today with the ruined cities of Damsascus, Hons, etc. although I cannot say everyone is walking around thinking all is well; perhaps they are walking around in a daze; most likely they are struggling to survive, but it still has resonance.
And people in the fine world that has not been destroyed perhaps are the ones in a drugged state believing all is well in their world…when in fact, it is not, as in “The World is Blue”. Again, there is a resonance with “I Want to Feel”, a surreal synthesis of these two co-existing worlds.
- 5/5/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
In her new memoir, Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again, out April 5, Kimberly Williams-Paisley details how her close-knit family dealt with her mother Linda Williams' dementia, from mourning the loss of the woman they knew to constantly worrying about whether she would hurt herself - or others.Paisley's father, writer and editor Gurney Williams, who cared for his wife round the clock until he and his children placed her in a long-term care facility in 2012, shares the advice he wishes he had received when he was "20 years younger and had no clue I'd have to deal with dementia,...
- 4/1/2016
- PEOPLE.com
In her new memoir, Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again, out April 5, Kimberly Williams-Paisley details how her close-knit family dealt with her mother Linda Williams' dementia, from mourning the loss of the woman they knew to constantly worrying about whether she would hurt herself - or others.Paisley's father, writer and editor Gurney Williams, who cared for his wife round the clock until he and his children placed her in a long-term care facility in 2012, shares the advice he wishes he had received when he was "20 years younger and had no clue I'd have to deal with dementia,...
- 4/1/2016
- PEOPLE.com
If you weren't already a fan of Wentworth Miller, you'll probably be one after reading his latest Facebook post. And if you weren't already a fan of most people on the Internet, the responses to his post may restore your faith in humanity.
Like many people on our planet, he was mocked for his appearance, with someone creating a meme that compared his ripped "Prison Break" body to a photo of the actor in real-life a few years ago, having put on some weight. The "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" star used the opportunity to share about his personal struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts, leading to weight gain and destructive behavior. He urged his fans to help others who are struggling.
Here's the post:
Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time. This one, however, stands out from the...
Posted by Wentworth Miller on Monday,...
Like many people on our planet, he was mocked for his appearance, with someone creating a meme that compared his ripped "Prison Break" body to a photo of the actor in real-life a few years ago, having put on some weight. The "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" star used the opportunity to share about his personal struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts, leading to weight gain and destructive behavior. He urged his fans to help others who are struggling.
Here's the post:
Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time. This one, however, stands out from the...
Posted by Wentworth Miller on Monday,...
- 3/30/2016
- by Gina Carbone
- Moviefone
Actor Wentworth Miller is sending a message after becoming the subject of a fat-shaming Internet meme. The 43-year-old Prison Break star took to Facebook on Monday, revealing that he was once suicidal and addressing a meme highlighting his past weight gain. "Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time. This one, however, stands out from the rest," he wrote in the lengthy post. "In 2010, semi-retired from acting, I was keeping a low-profile for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I was suicidal." "I was looking everywhere for relief/comfort/distraction. And I turned to food,...
- 3/29/2016
- by Char Adams, @CiCiAdams_
- PEOPLE.com
Two new posters are here for The Other Side of the Door, and they’re refreshingly cool. It’s nice to see poster art getting back to being cool and not just littered with floating heads. Dig ’em courtesy of – one… Continue Reading →
The post Two New The Other Side of the Door Posters Reach Out and Grab Ya! appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Two New The Other Side of the Door Posters Reach Out and Grab Ya! appeared first on Dread Central.
- 2/26/2016
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
2016 is shaping up to be a very exciting time at the movies thanks to the many blockbusters, sequels, and original movies that will be here before we know it. I think just about every genre is covered, there’s even a new Star Wars movie!
Here is an alphabetical list of the highly anticipated movies I’m looking forward to the most – Note: Release dates are more than likely to change on some of these.
Reach out to us and share the movies you’re most looking forward to on Twitter and Facebook.
31
31 is an upcoming independent horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie. The film was crowdfunded online two times at fanbacked.com. There’s just something I love about a Rob Zombie movie; he’s fearless and seems to make movies he would want to watch, I dig that. Here’s what the plot of 31 looks like:...
Here is an alphabetical list of the highly anticipated movies I’m looking forward to the most – Note: Release dates are more than likely to change on some of these.
Reach out to us and share the movies you’re most looking forward to on Twitter and Facebook.
31
31 is an upcoming independent horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie. The film was crowdfunded online two times at fanbacked.com. There’s just something I love about a Rob Zombie movie; he’s fearless and seems to make movies he would want to watch, I dig that. Here’s what the plot of 31 looks like:...
- 1/1/2016
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
Conflicts, economic inequality and physical or mental challenges limit the involvement of a large section of youth in film and other cultural pursuits.
An important component of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in Doha is its partnership with the Giffoni Film Festival, youth’s foremost international film festival which was founded in 1971 by then 18-year-old Claudio Gubitose who remains its director and inspiration. This now year-long cultural event brings in children and young adults from 50 countries to Italy. It is now exported worldwide and Doha hosts its international summit.
Claudio Gubitosi, Director and Founder of Giffoni Experience, said that young people are the first victims of conflict, and through the Doha-Giffoni Youth Media Summit’s Planet-y, the creative community is taking tangible action to address the problems faced by youth globally.
Children in Conflict
“We want to focus on ways of including children who are not able to attend events such as Ajyal—because of conflicts, economic inequality, or physical and mental challenges. In the context of the global refugee crisis, now, more than ever, it is the time for inclusivity,” said Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute.
Empowering less fortunate children to share their stories was the focus of a session whose discussion was an emotional experience for the participants with heart-touching visuals and stories of the Syrian refugee crisis. Several panelists shared how to offer tools to young people around the world whose lives have been disrupted by sociopolitical conflict, illness and poverty to tell their stories.
Charlotte Giese, Specialist Advisor for Children & Youth at Danish Film Institute in Denmark, co-founder of the Buster Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children and Youth and former VP of the European Children’s Films Association (Ecfa) presented initiatives of the Danish Film Institute in Uganda, Palestine and Lebanon using film as a medium to promote self-expression by young people.
Presenting searing stories from the refugee camps, Mohammed Abu Asaker, Public Information & Communications Officer of Unhcr (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), choked on words as he narrated the story of a man who refuses to go home until late into night for fear of facing his children.
He reiterated the gravity of the refugee situation with the number of displaced people increasing to 42,500 per day now compared to 10,900 in 2010, the result of 15 wars that the world witnessed or continue to rage over the past five years. Adding that children pay the price for this, with 51% of all displaced people being below the age of 18, he said the crisis is unprecedented and the worst since the World War II.
Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, Reach Out to Asia (Rota), explained the work of the organization in making a tangible difference, including adult literacy trainings, youth leadership programs and those designed to benefit students and teachers. Recounting a program that Rota conducted four years ago and how it transformed a participant’s life, Al Mannai said that it is such positive stories that keep him inspired. He added that international human aid to promote education is critical.
Matthew Cassel, an independent multimedia journalist and filmmaker, who embarked on a personal journey at the age of 20 from Chicago to the Middle East, narrated how he works to engage children in Gaza creatively, encouraging them to take photographs. It also led to a touring exhibition of their works in the U.S., which was a defining experience for the young people.
Farooq Burney, Director of Al Fakhoora Education Above All, presented a human portrait of the refugees stating “they all had a life similar to your or mine, and all they have today is hope for a bright future led by education.”
Abu Asaker shared the story of a how ten children were asked to make a simple statement, ‘I am a good boy.’ Nine of them expressed it with great difficulty and a good deal of coaxing while one simply couldn’t state it. “They have been living the camps for five years and they are so wounded from inside. It will take a lot of work to help them.”
The session was moderated by Firdoze Bulbulia, award-winning producer and director who is also Chairperson of the Children and Broadcasting Foundation for Africa, former President of the International Centre of Films for Children and Young People and a co-founder of Africa’s Best Channel, a television channel for young people in Nigeria. After producing four feature-length films and several TV productions, she is currently producing “Mandela’s Africa”, a Nelson Mandela legacy project.
Again, underscoring the importance of encouraging children in conflict areas to tell their own stories, the Q&A session was equally engaging with participants discussing the importance of promoting the psycho-social welfare of the refugees.
The session concluded with a call to all of humanity to make a difference – in whichever way they can, as volunteers or through assistance, with Essa Al Mannai reminding the audience a quote by Booker Prize winning author Arundhati Roy: “To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you...To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
Planet-y, a ground-breaking initiative launched in 2014 in Doha in partnership with Italy’s Giffoni Experience now, at its third edition at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, has assumed tangible shape with the roll-out of five projects: One Platform, Many Voices – the Planet-y Video Channel, a speciality media channel by and for youth; The Magic Box – An Educational Radio Station for Syrian Children; Content is King – a Youth Production Program; Nomadic – a Festival Cooperation and Exchange Program; and Film Fun in Bed – a Hospital Outreach Program.
Discussions on Neuro-Communication – How to speak the language of the brain; and The Digital World – how to speak the language of youth, were also held. Over 40 delegates from across the world took part in the Summit with the common goal of engaging youth and enriching their lives.
Fatma Al Remaihi said: “Planet-y emerged from the need to identify a collective, industry-wide strategy to tackle the myriad challenges in the media sphere. Through our workshops, we aim to combine the experiences and wisdom of the Summit participants to create concrete takeaways and action plans. The deliberations of Planet-y have the power to shape the lives of children, and subsequently our own. Because in helping others we make our own lives meaningful.”
Doha-Giffoni Youth Media Summit aims to make the Planet-y projects beneficial for youth, said Al Remaihi. “We will follow up on each project and keep them growing. Next July at Giffoni, we will report back on the progress that was made. Many of these projects will take time, but I already see the collaborations coming out of the Summit now as a victory for Planet-y.”
Describing himself and the mission of the Summit as to be ‘producers of happiness and well-being,” Gubitosi said the time has come to act, not just think and pay lip-service to bright ideas that can bring positive change. “We have to stand together to find practical solutions through a culture of dialogue and knowledge exchange. Planet-y will help keep up with the ongoing cultural, social, economic and political evolution of younger generations.”
With world events today, this haven of safety and comfort is an important event creating dialogue in a field that we all profess to care about; certainly for our own children, and yet little is written or discussed in the international film circles. Why do films for, about and by children occupy a separate space in the international film world? Aren't the youth, after all, what all this is really about? Aren't we all involved in film to make the world a better place? And if so, then for whom? Why is there so little public discussion of this crucial area? Doha Film Institute, Giffoni and some children's film festivals around the world, like our own Children's Film Festival Seattle, or Tiff Kids, Lucas in Frankfurt, European Youth Film Festival Flanders in Belgium or Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival in Finland, the British Film Institute's Justin Johnson, Kineko International Childrens Film Festival of Tokyo were all here involved in lively panels sharing what has worked and what they would like to see working, embracing change as much as possible.
An important component of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival in Doha is its partnership with the Giffoni Film Festival, youth’s foremost international film festival which was founded in 1971 by then 18-year-old Claudio Gubitose who remains its director and inspiration. This now year-long cultural event brings in children and young adults from 50 countries to Italy. It is now exported worldwide and Doha hosts its international summit.
Claudio Gubitosi, Director and Founder of Giffoni Experience, said that young people are the first victims of conflict, and through the Doha-Giffoni Youth Media Summit’s Planet-y, the creative community is taking tangible action to address the problems faced by youth globally.
Children in Conflict
“We want to focus on ways of including children who are not able to attend events such as Ajyal—because of conflicts, economic inequality, or physical and mental challenges. In the context of the global refugee crisis, now, more than ever, it is the time for inclusivity,” said Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute.
Empowering less fortunate children to share their stories was the focus of a session whose discussion was an emotional experience for the participants with heart-touching visuals and stories of the Syrian refugee crisis. Several panelists shared how to offer tools to young people around the world whose lives have been disrupted by sociopolitical conflict, illness and poverty to tell their stories.
Charlotte Giese, Specialist Advisor for Children & Youth at Danish Film Institute in Denmark, co-founder of the Buster Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children and Youth and former VP of the European Children’s Films Association (Ecfa) presented initiatives of the Danish Film Institute in Uganda, Palestine and Lebanon using film as a medium to promote self-expression by young people.
Presenting searing stories from the refugee camps, Mohammed Abu Asaker, Public Information & Communications Officer of Unhcr (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), choked on words as he narrated the story of a man who refuses to go home until late into night for fear of facing his children.
He reiterated the gravity of the refugee situation with the number of displaced people increasing to 42,500 per day now compared to 10,900 in 2010, the result of 15 wars that the world witnessed or continue to rage over the past five years. Adding that children pay the price for this, with 51% of all displaced people being below the age of 18, he said the crisis is unprecedented and the worst since the World War II.
Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, Reach Out to Asia (Rota), explained the work of the organization in making a tangible difference, including adult literacy trainings, youth leadership programs and those designed to benefit students and teachers. Recounting a program that Rota conducted four years ago and how it transformed a participant’s life, Al Mannai said that it is such positive stories that keep him inspired. He added that international human aid to promote education is critical.
Matthew Cassel, an independent multimedia journalist and filmmaker, who embarked on a personal journey at the age of 20 from Chicago to the Middle East, narrated how he works to engage children in Gaza creatively, encouraging them to take photographs. It also led to a touring exhibition of their works in the U.S., which was a defining experience for the young people.
Farooq Burney, Director of Al Fakhoora Education Above All, presented a human portrait of the refugees stating “they all had a life similar to your or mine, and all they have today is hope for a bright future led by education.”
Abu Asaker shared the story of a how ten children were asked to make a simple statement, ‘I am a good boy.’ Nine of them expressed it with great difficulty and a good deal of coaxing while one simply couldn’t state it. “They have been living the camps for five years and they are so wounded from inside. It will take a lot of work to help them.”
The session was moderated by Firdoze Bulbulia, award-winning producer and director who is also Chairperson of the Children and Broadcasting Foundation for Africa, former President of the International Centre of Films for Children and Young People and a co-founder of Africa’s Best Channel, a television channel for young people in Nigeria. After producing four feature-length films and several TV productions, she is currently producing “Mandela’s Africa”, a Nelson Mandela legacy project.
Again, underscoring the importance of encouraging children in conflict areas to tell their own stories, the Q&A session was equally engaging with participants discussing the importance of promoting the psycho-social welfare of the refugees.
The session concluded with a call to all of humanity to make a difference – in whichever way they can, as volunteers or through assistance, with Essa Al Mannai reminding the audience a quote by Booker Prize winning author Arundhati Roy: “To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you...To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
Planet-y, a ground-breaking initiative launched in 2014 in Doha in partnership with Italy’s Giffoni Experience now, at its third edition at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, has assumed tangible shape with the roll-out of five projects: One Platform, Many Voices – the Planet-y Video Channel, a speciality media channel by and for youth; The Magic Box – An Educational Radio Station for Syrian Children; Content is King – a Youth Production Program; Nomadic – a Festival Cooperation and Exchange Program; and Film Fun in Bed – a Hospital Outreach Program.
Discussions on Neuro-Communication – How to speak the language of the brain; and The Digital World – how to speak the language of youth, were also held. Over 40 delegates from across the world took part in the Summit with the common goal of engaging youth and enriching their lives.
Fatma Al Remaihi said: “Planet-y emerged from the need to identify a collective, industry-wide strategy to tackle the myriad challenges in the media sphere. Through our workshops, we aim to combine the experiences and wisdom of the Summit participants to create concrete takeaways and action plans. The deliberations of Planet-y have the power to shape the lives of children, and subsequently our own. Because in helping others we make our own lives meaningful.”
Doha-Giffoni Youth Media Summit aims to make the Planet-y projects beneficial for youth, said Al Remaihi. “We will follow up on each project and keep them growing. Next July at Giffoni, we will report back on the progress that was made. Many of these projects will take time, but I already see the collaborations coming out of the Summit now as a victory for Planet-y.”
Describing himself and the mission of the Summit as to be ‘producers of happiness and well-being,” Gubitosi said the time has come to act, not just think and pay lip-service to bright ideas that can bring positive change. “We have to stand together to find practical solutions through a culture of dialogue and knowledge exchange. Planet-y will help keep up with the ongoing cultural, social, economic and political evolution of younger generations.”
With world events today, this haven of safety and comfort is an important event creating dialogue in a field that we all profess to care about; certainly for our own children, and yet little is written or discussed in the international film circles. Why do films for, about and by children occupy a separate space in the international film world? Aren't the youth, after all, what all this is really about? Aren't we all involved in film to make the world a better place? And if so, then for whom? Why is there so little public discussion of this crucial area? Doha Film Institute, Giffoni and some children's film festivals around the world, like our own Children's Film Festival Seattle, or Tiff Kids, Lucas in Frankfurt, European Youth Film Festival Flanders in Belgium or Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival in Finland, the British Film Institute's Justin Johnson, Kineko International Childrens Film Festival of Tokyo were all here involved in lively panels sharing what has worked and what they would like to see working, embracing change as much as possible.
- 12/6/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
It’s never easy to say goodbye to a friend, and when Sam Sarpong took his own life on Monday (October 26), longtime pal Wilmer Valderrama was understandably devastated.
The “That 70s Show” star, who co-hosted “Yo Momma” with the late Sarpong, took to his Instagram account to share his thoughts on the tragic loss.
Wilmer wrote, “I am so sad & so confused. Sam did it all, believed in dreaming bigger than anyone around him.. We made memories together that will last us forever, thank you for sharing your talent with me and the world.. You were a light everywhere you went and I couldn't be more proud of the journey you traveled.. You just left us too early Sam.. We will miss you and pray for you. Once again thank you for all those years you dedicated to our show, we couldn't have done it without you! Find your peace my brother!
The “That 70s Show” star, who co-hosted “Yo Momma” with the late Sarpong, took to his Instagram account to share his thoughts on the tragic loss.
Wilmer wrote, “I am so sad & so confused. Sam did it all, believed in dreaming bigger than anyone around him.. We made memories together that will last us forever, thank you for sharing your talent with me and the world.. You were a light everywhere you went and I couldn't be more proud of the journey you traveled.. You just left us too early Sam.. We will miss you and pray for you. Once again thank you for all those years you dedicated to our show, we couldn't have done it without you! Find your peace my brother!
- 10/29/2015
- GossipCenter
From Gamergate threats to her new autobiography, we chat to Felicia Day about being weird on the internet...
Being a nerd doesn’t mean what it used to.
In Back To The Future, Marty McFly travels to the fifties and discovered his father is the town punching bag. Being a nerd back then meant tucked-in pants, a shirt buttoned to the top, and a feeble, nasally willingness to do the jocks’ homework. George McFly was a cartoon of tropes, including a professed love for science fiction. But the key difference between the nerd as a high school stereotype and the nerd of 2015 is this: George McFly wasn’t a nerd because of his interest in science fiction – he was a nerd because he was insecure and hadn’t danced to a Chuck Berry riff yet. His interest in sci-fi was an accessory to add credibility to his nerdy identity.
But today,...
Being a nerd doesn’t mean what it used to.
In Back To The Future, Marty McFly travels to the fifties and discovered his father is the town punching bag. Being a nerd back then meant tucked-in pants, a shirt buttoned to the top, and a feeble, nasally willingness to do the jocks’ homework. George McFly was a cartoon of tropes, including a professed love for science fiction. But the key difference between the nerd as a high school stereotype and the nerd of 2015 is this: George McFly wasn’t a nerd because of his interest in science fiction – he was a nerd because he was insecure and hadn’t danced to a Chuck Berry riff yet. His interest in sci-fi was an accessory to add credibility to his nerdy identity.
But today,...
- 10/4/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Strictly Come Dancing has announced its full music and dance list for the first week of the 2015 show.
The list has been released by the BBC, but as always, this may not be the order that we'll see the couples on Friday and Saturday night.
Strictly Come Dancing 2015 winner: We rank the celebrities' chances of topping BBC One's dance-off
Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev will dance the Cha Cha to 'Thunder in My Heart' by Leo SayerDaniel O'Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff will dance the Waltz to 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' by Ruby MurrayKatie Derham and Anton Du Beke will dance the Jive to 'Roll Over Beethoven' by Chuck BerryJeremy Vine and Karen Clifton will dance the Cha Cha to 'September' by Earth, Wind and FireJamelia and Tristan MacManus will dance the Waltz to 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man' by Aretha FranklinIwan Thomas and Ola Jordan will dance...
The list has been released by the BBC, but as always, this may not be the order that we'll see the couples on Friday and Saturday night.
Strictly Come Dancing 2015 winner: We rank the celebrities' chances of topping BBC One's dance-off
Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev will dance the Cha Cha to 'Thunder in My Heart' by Leo SayerDaniel O'Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff will dance the Waltz to 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' by Ruby MurrayKatie Derham and Anton Du Beke will dance the Jive to 'Roll Over Beethoven' by Chuck BerryJeremy Vine and Karen Clifton will dance the Cha Cha to 'September' by Earth, Wind and FireJamelia and Tristan MacManus will dance the Waltz to 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man' by Aretha FranklinIwan Thomas and Ola Jordan will dance...
- 9/23/2015
- Digital Spy
On what would have been his 42nd birthday today, Paul Walker is being honored by his daughter Meadow with the launch of the Paul Walker Foundation, carrying on the late star’s legacy and philanthropic endeavors. The Fast & Furious franchise cornerstone dedicated himself to rescuing animals, saving the oceans, environment conservation and helping first response rescuers. He also quietly started an organization, Reach Out World Wide, to assist in disaster relief efforts…...
- 9/12/2015
- Deadline
The ever continuing process of healing...All love...Posted by Vin Diesel on Wednesday, May 20, 2015Vin Diesel's latest tribute to his late friend Paul Walker may be one of the most moving yet. He's honored Paul's memory several times since the actor died tragically in 2013, and this week, he shared a touching video of himself singing a slowed-down version of Tove Lo's "Habits (Stay High)" while a slideshow of Paul and his friends played behind him. Vin posted the video on Facebook on Wednesday, writing, "The ever continuing process of healing... All love..." The video comes just days after Wiz Khalifa hit the stage at the Billboard Music Awards to perform "See You Again," a song from Furious 7 that's dedicated to Paul Walker. Meanwhile, Cody Walker recently spoke out about how he's continuing his brother's legacy as the brand manager for Paul's disaster-relief organization, Reach Out Worldwide, and Paul's daughter,...
- 5/21/2015
- by Laura-Marie-Meyers
- Popsugar.com
A year and a half after Paul Walker's death, his brother Cody Walker is doing his part to continue his legacy. Cody is now the brand manager for Paul's disaster relief organization, Reach Out Worldwide, and at a recent fundraising event, he opened up to People about his late brother's character and how he affected other people. "Aside from acting, his daughter and Roww were the most important things in his life. He was very proud of Roww and the incredible people he had surrounded himself to make up that team. I'm just doing the best I can to keep his vision consistent." Cody also touched on how moved he's been by the love and support fans have shown in the wake of Paul's death. "Paul was a huge movie star, and I think really what I didn't realize about Paul that I've since learned, is how loved Paul was to this scale,...
- 5/13/2015
- by Laura-Marie-Meyers
- Popsugar.com
Universal chiefs have put the late Paul Walker at the forefront of the global marketing campaign for Fast & Furious 7, which is expected to break box office records when it roars into action this weekend.
The film, directed by Saw co-creator James Wan and known in the Us as Furious 7, will roll out in more than 14,500 theatres in 65 territories including the Us and is set to play in a record global Imax footprint of more than 800 venues.
Studio marketing executives and the film-makers have always regarded Walker, who died in a car accident on November 30 2013 during a break from shooting, as a key element in the $2.4bn franchise.
And they knew fans of the action series wanted to see their idol at the vanguard of the promotional campaign for Fast & Furious 7, which opened in France, Germany and South Korea on April 1 and debuts in North America and the UK on Friday.
The franchise...
The film, directed by Saw co-creator James Wan and known in the Us as Furious 7, will roll out in more than 14,500 theatres in 65 territories including the Us and is set to play in a record global Imax footprint of more than 800 venues.
Studio marketing executives and the film-makers have always regarded Walker, who died in a car accident on November 30 2013 during a break from shooting, as a key element in the $2.4bn franchise.
And they knew fans of the action series wanted to see their idol at the vanguard of the promotional campaign for Fast & Furious 7, which opened in France, Germany and South Korea on April 1 and debuts in North America and the UK on Friday.
The franchise...
- 4/2/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Universal chiefs have put the late Paul Walker at the forefront of the global marketing campaign for Furious 7, which is expected to break box office records when it roars into action this weekend.
The film, directed by Saw co-creator James Wan, will roll out in more than 14,500 theatres in 65 territories including the Us and is set to play in a record global Imax footprint of more than 800 venues.
Studio marketing executives and the film-makers have always regarded Walker, who died in car accident on November 30 2013 during a break from shooting, as a key element in the $2.4bn franchise.
And they knew fans of the action series wanted to see their idol at the vanguard of the promotional campaign for Furious 7, which opened in France, Germany and South Korea on April 1 and debuts in North America and the UK on Friday.
The franchise’s huge number of followers enjoy a special relationship with the Fast and Furious film-makers...
The film, directed by Saw co-creator James Wan, will roll out in more than 14,500 theatres in 65 territories including the Us and is set to play in a record global Imax footprint of more than 800 venues.
Studio marketing executives and the film-makers have always regarded Walker, who died in car accident on November 30 2013 during a break from shooting, as a key element in the $2.4bn franchise.
And they knew fans of the action series wanted to see their idol at the vanguard of the promotional campaign for Furious 7, which opened in France, Germany and South Korea on April 1 and debuts in North America and the UK on Friday.
The franchise’s huge number of followers enjoy a special relationship with the Fast and Furious film-makers...
- 4/2/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Michelle Rodriguez is finally ready to talk about Paul Walker's tragic death. The actress opened up about her "Furious 7" costar while chatting with Entertainment Weekly to promote the last installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Walker was killed on November 30, 2013 in a car crash after appearing at a charity event for Reach Out Worldwide to support typhoon relief in the Philippines. After Paul's death, Rodriguez revealed that she spun out of control. "I actually went on a bit of a binge," she told the site. "I went crazy a little bit -- pause -- I went pretty crazy. A lot of the stuff I did last year I would never do had I been in my right mind," she confessed. The 36-year-old infamously made headlines for her romances with British model Cara Delevingne and actor Zac Efron. She even partied with Justin Bieber at one point, too. "I was pushing myself to feel,...
- 3/23/2015
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Like an overstuffed deli sandwich that leaves your jaw and your stomach simultaneously dialing 1-800-Too-Much, The Voice jammed the end of its Season 8 Blind Auditions and the start of its Battle Rounds into a single two-hour telecast tonight.
To paraphrase Q-Tip’s verse on Janet Jackson’s “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” Now why you wanna go and do that Voice huh? Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh?
RelatedAmerican Idol Top 12 Theme Revealed!
Now that the action-packed telecast is done, however, I’m pleased to report I am not requiring a smoothie of Zantac,...
To paraphrase Q-Tip’s verse on Janet Jackson’s “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” Now why you wanna go and do that Voice huh? Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh?
RelatedAmerican Idol Top 12 Theme Revealed!
Now that the action-packed telecast is done, however, I’m pleased to report I am not requiring a smoothie of Zantac,...
- 3/10/2015
- TVLine.com
It was an emotional night for the family of the late Paul Walker, as they came together for last Friday’s Noble Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The group gathered to honor Paul’s younger brother, Cody, for carrying out the work Paul did with the humanitarian relief organization he founded, Reach Out Worldwide.
Access Hollywood was exclusively backstage when Cody, older brother Caleb, and Paul’s "Fast & Furious" family members Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson came offstage and straight to our interview spot.
Cody – who choked back tears while accepting the award, as mother Cheryl proudly ...
Copyright 2015 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The group gathered to honor Paul’s younger brother, Cody, for carrying out the work Paul did with the humanitarian relief organization he founded, Reach Out Worldwide.
Access Hollywood was exclusively backstage when Cody, older brother Caleb, and Paul’s "Fast & Furious" family members Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson came offstage and straight to our interview spot.
Cody – who choked back tears while accepting the award, as mother Cheryl proudly ...
Copyright 2015 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- 3/4/2015
- by access.hollywood@nbcuni.com (Access Hollywood)
- Access Hollywood
Chicago – Like the recent movie-to-stage-musical adaptations, “The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein,” Chicago has become the proving ground before a Broadway premiere. The latest is almost a no-brainer, “The First Wives Club,” adapted from the 1996 film that starred Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton.
The big news is that the original song writing team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland) have reunited to write new music for the show, adding to their familiar hits “Stop in the Name of Love,” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” 22 new songs have been added to “The First Wives Club” stage musical, representing the first new output in years from the famous songwriting trio.
Seán Murphy Cullen, Mike McGowan and Gregg Edelman of the new musical, ‘First Wives Club’
Photo credit: First Wives Club The Musical
Portraying the threesome made famous in the film by Midler, Hawn and Keaton is Broadway baby Faith Prince,...
The big news is that the original song writing team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland) have reunited to write new music for the show, adding to their familiar hits “Stop in the Name of Love,” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” 22 new songs have been added to “The First Wives Club” stage musical, representing the first new output in years from the famous songwriting trio.
Seán Murphy Cullen, Mike McGowan and Gregg Edelman of the new musical, ‘First Wives Club’
Photo credit: First Wives Club The Musical
Portraying the threesome made famous in the film by Midler, Hawn and Keaton is Broadway baby Faith Prince,...
- 2/18/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Michelle Rodriguez have taken to social media to remember Paul Walker one year on from his death.
The Fast & Furious actor was just 40 years old when he passed away after a car accident in Santa Clarita, California on November 30.
Post by Vin Diesel.
Diesel shared his memories on Facebook alongside a photo of his 6-year-old daughter sitting with the late actor.
"He was a part of so much in my life... long personal talks with my mother or babysitting the Alpha Angel... he took a certain pride in being uncle Pablo... after all, we were filming a scene in FF4 the day she was born, and he being the only one I told, encouraged me to go in and cut the umbilicle cord (sic)," he said.
"He was an important part of my transition into fatherhood... that healthy family member, with the most positive outlook on life.
The Fast & Furious actor was just 40 years old when he passed away after a car accident in Santa Clarita, California on November 30.
Post by Vin Diesel.
Diesel shared his memories on Facebook alongside a photo of his 6-year-old daughter sitting with the late actor.
"He was a part of so much in my life... long personal talks with my mother or babysitting the Alpha Angel... he took a certain pride in being uncle Pablo... after all, we were filming a scene in FF4 the day she was born, and he being the only one I told, encouraged me to go in and cut the umbilicle cord (sic)," he said.
"He was an important part of my transition into fatherhood... that healthy family member, with the most positive outlook on life.
- 12/1/2014
- Digital Spy
Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Michelle Rodriguez have taken to social media to remember their former Fast & Furious co-star one year on from his death.
The actor was just 40-years-old when he passed away after a car accident in Santa Clarita, California on November 30.
Post by Vin Diesel.
Diesel shared his memories on Facebook alongside a photo of his six-year-old daughter sitting with the late actor.
"He was a part of so much in my life... long personal talks with my mother or babysitting the Alpha Angel... he took a certain pride in being uncle Pablo... after all, we were filming a scene in FF4 the day she was born, and he being the only one I told, encouraged me to go in and cut the umbilicle cord (sic)," he said.
"He was an important part of my transition into fatherhood... that healthy family member, with the most positive outlook on life.
The actor was just 40-years-old when he passed away after a car accident in Santa Clarita, California on November 30.
Post by Vin Diesel.
Diesel shared his memories on Facebook alongside a photo of his six-year-old daughter sitting with the late actor.
"He was a part of so much in my life... long personal talks with my mother or babysitting the Alpha Angel... he took a certain pride in being uncle Pablo... after all, we were filming a scene in FF4 the day she was born, and he being the only one I told, encouraged me to go in and cut the umbilicle cord (sic)," he said.
"He was an important part of my transition into fatherhood... that healthy family member, with the most positive outlook on life.
- 12/1/2014
- Digital Spy
It's been a year since Paul Walker died in a tragic auto accident Nov. 30, 2013. Immediately after the news broke, tributes poured in from all over as friends, family and costars shared memories of their time with Walker. And even a year later, memories of the late actor are still fresh in people's minds. His daughter Meadow, 16, shared an old family photo on Instagram, writing, "I love you." I love you A photo posted by Meadow Walker (@meadowwalker) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:06pm Pst "Always in our hearts," wrote Fast & Furious costar Ludacris on Instagram. "Can't believe it's been a year already.
- 11/30/2014
- PEOPLE.com
It's been a year since Paul Walker died in a tragic auto accident Nov. 29, 2013. Immediately after the news broke, tributes poured in from all over as friends, family and costars shared memories of their time with Walker. And even a year later, memories of the late actor are still fresh in people's minds. "I am so lucky to have had him as a big brother," Walker's younger brother Cody, 26, told the New York Daily News via email Wednesday. Cody spoke of Reach Out Worldwide, a charity Walker was highly involved with, and the work it did this year in the...
- 11/30/2014
- PEOPLE.com
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