Athlete & other

Wednesday, 3 September 2008

Something's waiting for Sean Connery way out there

EDINBURGH () - Acting icon Sean Connery may have stopped-up making films, but he believes something still awaits him out there.

Connery illustrious his 78th birthday with an appearance on Monday on the final day of the Edinburgh International Book Festival to launch his long-awaited autobiography, "Being a Scot."

During a question-and-answer sitting before a packed and audience of nearly 600, Connery was asked if he had achieved all he treasured.

"I don't think so. I've come into a unlike cycle since I decided not to do whatever more (films)," he replied.

But he added: "I've a feeling in that respect is something cooking. I don't know what it is even."

Sharing the point with him was Scottish film maker Murray Grigor, who collaborated with Connery on the book. Grigor said they had sought a "kinky" approach.

Connery is regarded as having defined the picture role of Ian Fleming's British secret agent James Bond following his number one appearance as agent 007 in Dr No in 1962. He was asked what gave him his first break.

"I realized after 70 eld that my first swelled break was when I was phoebe: I conditioned to read and write ... so that for me was the break."�

More info

Sunday, 24 August 2008

Jack White: 'James Bond Instigated Alicia Keys Collaboration'

Raconteurs frontman Jack White says James Bond was influential in finally brining his forthcoming collaboration with Alicia Keys to fruition.

Keys has long made her desire to work with White world but other recording commitments have prevented the musicians from running together.

Earlier this summer, however, they finally entered the studio to record book the subject for the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

Speaking for the first base time near the song, 'Another Way To Die', White praised the singer, saying that she put "some electric energy into her breath that cemented itself into the magnetized tape. Very inspiring to watch.�

The sung dynasty, which will appear on the soundtrack to the movie, as well features the Memphis Horns, as well as some of �Nashville's finest�, White said.

�We treasured to push soul into those tapes, and join the family of Barry, Bassey, Connery and Craig,� he added.

Quantum of Solace, which stars Daniel Craig, will be released ecumenical on November 14th.

More information

Thursday, 14 August 2008

Hawke's Bay to star in global movie industry

Hawke's Bay�is about to audition for a star role with international movie-makers.

Gilly Lawrence, word of the late Bruno Lawrence, came up with the mind of turning Hawke's Bay into a film-friendly area for national and international film-makers.

Now he and Hastings production company Cloud South Films, which is enjoying international success with its documentary One Man, One Cow, One Planet, have established Hastings Film Central to bring the estimation to fruition.

The body will promote Hawke's Bay as a victorious film venue.

Mr Lawrence will draw on 15 days of work in the industry to establish a locations database, including beaches, mountains, wineries, orchards, or Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture.

Other assets such as good climate and light, and a strong artistic acculturation will too go on the list.

Hastings Film Central will link up with the established screen hubs of Auckland and Wellington, offering info and contacts to smooth the route for those interested in working in Hawke's Bay.

Hastings City Marketing is helping to push Hastings Film Central by liaising with councils and businesses.

Hastings City Marketing director Natalie Stevens said Hawke's Bay had world-class physical beauty combined with accessibility.

"Mountains that could pass for wilderness anywhere, deserted beaches and the kind of wild places that get been swallowed up in most of the developed world."

Ms Stevens said the economic benefits of establishing Hawke's Bay as a film-making centre would be bigger than those of tourism.

More info

Wednesday, 6 August 2008

Projekct X

Artist: Projekct X

   Genre(s):
Rock

Discography:

Heaven and Earth

Year: 2000
Tracks: 15

Friday, 27 June 2008

Sigourney Weaver - Hollywood Mourns Special-effects Star Winston

Stars including SIGOURNEY WEAVER, JON FAVREAU, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER and STEVEN SPIELBERG gathered at the funeral of special effects guru STAN WINSTON, following his death from cancer.

The Oscar-winning visual effects artist died at his home in Malibu, California on 15 June (08), aged 62.

Winston won Oscars for his work in Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Jurassic Park.

He also created notable visual effects for hit films including Predator, Edward Scissorhands and Batman Returns.

His most recent work can be seen in summer (08) blockbusters Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Friends, relatives and showbusiness associates all gathered to pay their respects to Winston at a memorial service on Sunday (22Jun08) in Los Angeles.

Legendary director Spielberg led the afternoon's tributes, telling the gathering, "What Stan did is that he took our dreams - he took all of our dreams - and he blended them with his own dreams.

"He then workshopped those dreams with pencil, clay and later years on the computer. He would basically give life to all of our ideas. He would make them come to life."

See Also

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Two Davids to do battle on "American Idol" finale

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A baby-faced high school student likened to an old-fashioned crooner and a scruffy bartender who sings alternative rock music will compete in next week's season finale of U.S. television's "American Idol."

Guitar-playing rocker David Cook, 25, and 17-year-old piano balladeer David Archuleta beat out the final female contestant, Syesha Mercado, 21, after voting was revealed on Wednesday's broadcast of the most popular U.S. television show.

"After 56 million votes, America has decided that the two people going head-to-head in our finale next week are David Archuleta and ... David Cook," the show's host Ryan Seacrest said during the live broadcast, sending Mercado home.

On Tuesday, each contestant had to perform three songs -- one picked by a judge, one chosen by the performer and one selected by the show's producers.

Throughout the seventh season, the two Davids have been favorites among the show's judges and pundits, while Mercado came close to elimination on several occasions.

More than once, judges suggested she was more likely to make it big singing on Broadway than as a pop star. Still, her performances impressed them increasingly in recent weeks until Tuesday, when they said she struggled.

Her rendition of Peggy Lee's "Fever" on Tuesday was drubbed by no nonsense "Idol" judge Simon Cowell as "a lame cabaret performance."

But as she was voted off the hit show on Wednesday Mercado remained gracious, saying to her fans, "I just want to say thank you" before singing on "Idol" for the last time -- performing the Alicia Keys hit "If I Ain't Got You."

Thursday, 12 June 2008

Maximo Park Help Launch 'Rock Band' Competition

Maximo Park have joined Microsoft in a search for the best European rock band.

The competition, which will be judged by Maximo Park and MTV, began this weekend in Ibiza and will travel to the UK, Germany and France in it's search for a winner.

Singer Paul Smith said of the competition, "All the best rock bands have got amazing star quality and whilst they've got to play their instruments well, they've also got to have the showmanship to excite a crowd."

"From outrageous outfits and haircuts, to amazing postural performances, we are looking for a group who give us all of this and more on top!"

Entrants in the tournament, named Xbox 360 Presents Rock Band Live, will be required to perform tracks by artists such as Radiohead, The Clash and David Bowie, amongst others.

The winners will recieve a weeks holiday at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel with a full VIP lifestyle.