Hollywood Updates
When the paparazzi chased Jennifer Hudson look alike
Los Angeles: Jennifer Hudson has offered her sympathy to a woman
who was chased by paparazzi after they mistook her for the actress.
The female, whose name is unknown, bears a striking resemblance to Hudson. She was caught amid paparazzi who were convinced that she was the real one, reports contactmusic.com.
The 32-year-old took to micro-blogging website Twitter to clear the confusion about her look alike with a photograph of her doppleganger.
"Cute girl! But that ain`t me! I know the poor girl was like, `Why are they taking pictures of me!` Wow," Hudson tweeted.
The female, whose name is unknown, bears a striking resemblance to Hudson. She was caught amid paparazzi who were convinced that she was the real one, reports contactmusic.com.
The 32-year-old took to micro-blogging website Twitter to clear the confusion about her look alike with a photograph of her doppleganger.
"Cute girl! But that ain`t me! I know the poor girl was like, `Why are they taking pictures of me!` Wow," Hudson tweeted.
Will 'Trophy Wife' Be Sabotaged by Its Own Title?
Can a title really hurt a show's chances at ratings success? Ask the cast and creatives behind Cougar Town. The
Courtney Cox vehicle was canceled after three low-rated seasons at ABC
before getting a new life over at TBS. Fans resent the sitcom's
sensational and inaccurate moniker for chasing away its potential
audience. Cougar Town sounds like a Real Housewives spin-off, when it's actually a goofy, Scrubs-like (Bill Lawrence is the creator of both) comedy about drinking wine and throwing pennies into a can. "Penny caaaan!"
Now ABC has itself right back in the same situation with debut comedy Trophy Wife.
The pilot airs Tuesday, Sep. 24, but has been available on iTunes and
Hulu for a few weeks. The first two episodes are helmed by Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore, and the cast includes stalwart TV talent like Marcia Gay Harden and Bradley Whitford
supporting film funny girl Malin Ackerman in the title role. The kids
are funny and not overly precocious. Ackerman is endearing, and a gifted
physical comedienne. It has potential, but not if viewers are turned
off by the icky, borderline offensive name.
Trophy Wife is also smack in the middle of ABC's all-over-the-map Tuesday lineup. It starts off with Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then 180's to comedy with novelty '80s sitcom The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife, followed by soapy lottery drama Lucky 7. It's doubtful that a collection of series this varied will keep viewers tuned in all night, so this show might be dead in the water if the marketing campaign doesn't give America a compelling reason to click back over. Then again, maybe the Trophy Wife title will intrigue the audience of the gimicky Goldbergs. One thing's for sure: when we have so many viewing options at our fingertips, it's unfair for a show with as much promise as Trophy Wife to be crippled by a crappy title.
Trophy Wife is also smack in the middle of ABC's all-over-the-map Tuesday lineup. It starts off with Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then 180's to comedy with novelty '80s sitcom The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife, followed by soapy lottery drama Lucky 7. It's doubtful that a collection of series this varied will keep viewers tuned in all night, so this show might be dead in the water if the marketing campaign doesn't give America a compelling reason to click back over. Then again, maybe the Trophy Wife title will intrigue the audience of the gimicky Goldbergs. One thing's for sure: when we have so many viewing options at our fingertips, it's unfair for a show with as much promise as Trophy Wife to be crippled by a crappy title.
Not Just A Pretty Face: Zoe Saldana's Career Heads In A New Direction
There may have been a time when Zoe Saldana
was pegged as just another pretty face in Hollywood. By now, we all
know the type: gorgeous, thin, kinda racially ambiguous, and talented
enough to make it all work. But it seems that the actress has no
intention of playing eye candy any longer. Over the past few years she's
taken on projects like The Words and Colombiana, and even her roles in Avatar and the Star Trek
franchise have allowed her to branch out. Considering the movies she
has lined up right now, it looks like Zoe is making some truly exciting
career moves. Here's a look at three new movies we can all get psyched
about.
Nina
The web practically exploded with rage when it was announced that Zoe
Saldana would be taking on the role of legendary jazz singer and
activist Nina Simone in the upcoming biopic, due mostly to the fact that
Saldana is lighter-skinned and more conventionally Hollywood-pretty
than the fierce and fabulous Simone. Now that the fury has died down,
and Zoe herself has spoken out about her decision to take the lead in Nina,
we can't help but get excited about the movie. At the very least, it
seems only fair that audiences take Zoe's advice and see the film before
passing judgment. Here's hoping that Zoe -- a completely capable
actress -- surprises the naysayers.
Blood Ties
Starring alongside Mila Kunis, Marion Cotillard, and Clive Owen, Zoe joins a seriously impressive cast in the new film from French director Guillaume
Canet. The Brooklyn-set crime drama will be a gritty new look for Zoe,
but she also brings some romance to the film, playing lover to Billy Crudup's character Frank.
Out Of The Furnace
It is impossible to not get excited about this one. Zoe will be in excellent company with Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, and Forest Whitaker
on board. Although she's playing another love interest, we expect
things to get really intense, really fast, and Zoe will certainly have
the opportunity to prove that she can play hard with the big boys.
Nina
Blood Ties
Out Of The Furnace
No flirting on stage, say The Saturdays members
Los Angeles: Members of band The Saturdays are confident that they will never follow singer Miley Cyrus and flirt on stage.
Cyrus recently left a bad impression after she flirted with singer Robin Thicke on stage at an award ceremony.
But singers Mollie King, Rochelle Humes, Vanessa White, and Una Healey will not be seen doing that anytime soon, reports dailystar.co.uk.
"We won`t be copying her. I don`t think anyone wants to see me swinging around naked," said Healey.
But Humes thought Cyrus` performance added the fun to the award ceremony: "I thought she brought a bit of fun to it."
Cyrus recently left a bad impression after she flirted with singer Robin Thicke on stage at an award ceremony.
But singers Mollie King, Rochelle Humes, Vanessa White, and Una Healey will not be seen doing that anytime soon, reports dailystar.co.uk.
"We won`t be copying her. I don`t think anyone wants to see me swinging around naked," said Healey.
But Humes thought Cyrus` performance added the fun to the award ceremony: "I thought she brought a bit of fun to it."
At 62, Jane Seymour poses in bikini
Los Angeles: Actress Jane Seymour has stripped down to a bikini for a photoshoot at the age of 62.She
posed in a skimpy turquoise two-piece swimsuit on the beach outside her
home in Malibu, California for a series of shots taken by her
photographer son Sean Flynn, reports contactmusic.com.
Seymour was given the bikini by her designer friend Cheri Ingle on her 62nd birthday."When
Cheri gave me her gift I said, `You must be joking! The last time I
wore a bikini I was 20, so I thought this was a big joke...In the spirit
of that joke, we just said, `Okay, let`s go down to the beach`. It was
no hair, no make-up, no retouching. Just a gift from a son to a mother
and a girlfriend to her friend," Britain’s Hello! magazine quoted
Seymour as saying.
Seymour says she was amazed to see her toned physique in the photographs.
"Oh,
my gosh, the pilates and gyrotonics have paid off! I`m not crazy about
working out. I do eat, drink and be merry. But I pay some attention to
my health too," she said.
Seymour was given the bikini by her designer friend Cheri Ingle on her 62nd birthday."When Cheri gave me her gift I said, `You must be joking! The last time I wore a bikini I was 20, so I thought this was a big joke...In the spirit of that joke, we just said, `Okay, let`s go down to the beach`. It was no hair, no make-up, no retouching. Just a gift from a son to a mother and a girlfriend to her friend," Britain’s Hello! magazine quoted Seymour as saying.
Seymour says she was amazed to see her toned physique in the photographs.
"Oh, my gosh, the pilates and gyrotonics have paid off! I`m not crazy about working out. I do eat, drink and be merry. But I pay some attention to my health too," she said.
'Argo' career high despite axed scenes: Taylor Schilling
London: Most of her scenes in Ben Affleck directed `Argo` ended
up on the editing floor but actress Taylor Schilling says the Oscar
-winning movie was still a career high.
The actress played Ben Affleck`s wife in the 2012 film and had a great time shooting the movie though her part was cut drastically, reported Contactmusic.
"Most of it got cut! I was in the last scene of the movie and it was an incredible experience. I love Ben Affleck so much, he`s an amazing director and his wife (Jennifer Garner) was so generous to me when the role got cut.
"It won Best Picture and I wasn`t in it! But honestly to be in a movie that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards... It`s one of the highlights of my career so far. Really, it was incredible."
The actress played Ben Affleck`s wife in the 2012 film and had a great time shooting the movie though her part was cut drastically, reported Contactmusic.
"Most of it got cut! I was in the last scene of the movie and it was an incredible experience. I love Ben Affleck so much, he`s an amazing director and his wife (Jennifer Garner) was so generous to me when the role got cut.
"It won Best Picture and I wasn`t in it! But honestly to be in a movie that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards... It`s one of the highlights of my career so far. Really, it was incredible."
How Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Could Make the 2014 Golden Globes Even Funnier
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey
are consistently the funniest part of any award show they attend. After
all, the pair easily stole the opening segment of last night's Emmy
Awards away from host Neil Patrick Harris, and fans have been
impaitently waiting for their next hosting assignment since the credits
rolled on the 2013 Golden Globes. They might not have to wait much
longer, though: on last night's red carpet, Fey revealed that she and
Poehler had been asked back to host this year's Golden Globes, and that
they were planning to discuss whether or not to take the gig that night.
In the hopes that they will accept NBC's offer, we've come up with five
ways for Fey and Poehler to rock the Golden Globes... not that they'll
need any help, of course.
Everyone Gets HeckledThe duo became, hands-down, the funniest part of last night's awards the moment they shouted at Harris to take off his pants and "twerk it." Armed with 3D glasses (so they could see his "business" up close) and buckets of popcorn, Fey and Poehler proved that they are the funniest showbiz team since Statler and Waldorf, and the drunkest night in Hollywood is the perfect place to have them heckle and snark on all of the winners and presenters. Who knows, maybe Meryl Streep will get a bit tipsy and join in.
Hold a Loser's Party Onstage
Amy Poehler has
never won an Emmy — it's heartbreaking, but true. This year, she and Jon
Hamm, her good friend and another perennial loser, decided to host an
after party to celebrate all of those talented people who didn't recieve
a statue last night. Held at the Soho House, losers got in for free,
but winners had to check their Emmys at the door and make a $1,000
donation to World Wide Orphans. Poehler should continue the tradition at
the Golden Globes and celebrate all of the losers from both television
and film during the ceremony so that viewers can finally live the dream
of partying with the funniest ladies in showbiz. Plus, we've got the
perfect co-host: Leonardo DiCaprio.
Interacting with the Stars
Whether they had Mandy Patinkin judge some singing or Glenn Close play drunk, some of the funniest moments in this past Globes ceremony occured when Fey and Poehler interacted with the crowd. It's always fun to see typically serious actors let loose and goof off, and nobody is better at encouraging silliness than these two. Sure, audience participation is a risky game, but they can always fall back on some of their reliably funny and game friends like Hamm and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Costumes — Lots of Costumes
Fey and Poehler crashed the nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie disguised as the stars of the fictional movie Dog President last year, and managed to steal all of the attention from the actual nominees without saying a word. The pair should bust out some more alter-egos this year, or at the very least, channel one of Poehler's famous Emmy skits and utilize some props. Both women are fantastic character actresses, and their time on Saturday Night Live has given each of them a vast repertoire of goofy and weird characters who would be perfect to liven up some of the ceremony's duller moments.
The Golden Globes Drinking Game
On the red carpet before last year's Globes, Fey and Poehler revealed that they had devised a drinking game for both the viewers at home and the stars in attendance to play. Rules included drinking every time someone cries during a speech, a wardrobe malfunction occurs, or if you've just had a difficult week. This year, they should take it to the next level and actually play the game onstage - our only request is that they honor the time-honored rule established by the cast of Bridesmaids and take a drink every time someone says "Scorsese."
Bonus: Amy Poehler Finally Wins
Sure, it's not an Emmy, but seeing Poehler recognized as the funniest woman on television would be the perfect cherry on top of the Fey-Poheler hosting sundae. And if that doesn't work, she can always be nominated for her hosting work at next year's Emmys.
Last night's Emmy Awards provided plenty of surprises
and plenty of... uneven moments. And shockingly, even though there are
more well-dressed and well-known people working in television now than
ever, the red carpet was pretty awful. Hardly a gasp was uttered at how
spectacularly a gruff actor cleans up or how a new actress takes to her
first big event. And our reliable, always stylish standbys? The blandest
and most ill-fitting of them all.
Everyone Gets HeckledThe duo became, hands-down, the funniest part of last night's awards the moment they shouted at Harris to take off his pants and "twerk it." Armed with 3D glasses (so they could see his "business" up close) and buckets of popcorn, Fey and Poehler proved that they are the funniest showbiz team since Statler and Waldorf, and the drunkest night in Hollywood is the perfect place to have them heckle and snark on all of the winners and presenters. Who knows, maybe Meryl Streep will get a bit tipsy and join in.
Hold a Loser's Party Onstage
Interacting with the Stars
Whether they had Mandy Patinkin judge some singing or Glenn Close play drunk, some of the funniest moments in this past Globes ceremony occured when Fey and Poehler interacted with the crowd. It's always fun to see typically serious actors let loose and goof off, and nobody is better at encouraging silliness than these two. Sure, audience participation is a risky game, but they can always fall back on some of their reliably funny and game friends like Hamm and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Costumes — Lots of Costumes
Fey and Poehler crashed the nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie disguised as the stars of the fictional movie Dog President last year, and managed to steal all of the attention from the actual nominees without saying a word. The pair should bust out some more alter-egos this year, or at the very least, channel one of Poehler's famous Emmy skits and utilize some props. Both women are fantastic character actresses, and their time on Saturday Night Live has given each of them a vast repertoire of goofy and weird characters who would be perfect to liven up some of the ceremony's duller moments.
The Golden Globes Drinking Game
On the red carpet before last year's Globes, Fey and Poehler revealed that they had devised a drinking game for both the viewers at home and the stars in attendance to play. Rules included drinking every time someone cries during a speech, a wardrobe malfunction occurs, or if you've just had a difficult week. This year, they should take it to the next level and actually play the game onstage - our only request is that they honor the time-honored rule established by the cast of Bridesmaids and take a drink every time someone says "Scorsese."
Bonus: Amy Poehler Finally Wins
Sure, it's not an Emmy, but seeing Poehler recognized as the funniest woman on television would be the perfect cherry on top of the Fey-Poheler hosting sundae. And if that doesn't work, she can always be nominated for her hosting work at next year's Emmys.
2013: The Worst Dressed Emmys Ever? — GALLERY
Last night's Emmy Awards provided plenty of surprises
and plenty of... uneven moments. And shockingly, even though there are
more well-dressed and well-known people working in television now than
ever, the red carpet was pretty awful. Hardly a gasp was uttered at how
spectacularly a gruff actor cleans up or how a new actress takes to her
first big event. And our reliable, always stylish standbys? The blandest
and most ill-fitting of them all.
The best dressed list is so short (it begins and ends with Zachary
Quinto, the end) there's not much reason to write it. But we can lament
those we expected to do better (Olivia Pope, how could you do this to
us?!), and celebrate those whose choices were so strange, they at least
gave us something to giggle at through yet another commercial
break. As such, check out our list of worst dressed celebs at the 2013
Emmys... an award ceremony destined to go down in history for this
accomplishment alone.
Hip-Hop Needs Azealia Banks To Drop That Album
Azealia Banks was hailed as the next big thing, like, a million years
ago (in pop culture time). But with all the album push-backs, and all the Twitter beefs, it's been easy to forget that the talented Harlem rapper could still be the next big thing! Broke with Expensive Taste is currently slated for a January 2014 release, and even though we were originally expecting it this year
(and before that in 2012), there's still plenty to get psyched about.
As we patiently wait to hear what a real, live Azealia Banks album
sounds like, let's give this Yung Rapunxel movement a little push. Here are five reasons we desperately need Azealia to become a true staple in Hip-Hop.
Her Beefs Make For Some Pretty Good Diss Records
Okay, so we're not really supposed to condone beef, but it is a part of Hip-Hop culture and it has made for some classic songs over the years. Azealia has beefed with everyone from Lady Gaga to Jim Jones (to Angel Haze, to Perez Hilton, to Lil Kim, etc.), and some of the tracks -- like "No Problems" -- have actually been pretty dope.
The Sausage Party Is Getting Old
Kanye West, Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rcoky, J. Cole, Drake, Lil Wayne, etc.-- we love you guys. Really, we do. But the sausage party is getting old, as sausage parties are wont to do. And although it's cliché to point out the lack of women in, well, anything, we simply need more women in Hip-Hop! From what we've seen, Azealia has her own brand of femininity that could definitely liven this party up.
We Need More Of Her Super-Dope Videos
Azealia is not afraid to pull on influences from a variety of genres, which makes her way more fun to watch than the average person. R&B, pop, rap, rave -- all genres are up for grabs. And when her eclectic style gets translated into visuals, it's always an experience.
She’s Sexy And Sexual, Without Making That The Foundation Of Her Appeal
This is hugely important, and almost impossible for a woman in Hip-Hop (or any other artistic movement) to achieve. Even though she was featured on the cover of Dazed & Confused blowing up a condom, and she definitely plays up on her sex appeal, Azealia manages to come off more New York funky-fashionista-turned-rapper than anything else. While artists like Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, and Nicki Minaj have surely influenced her (and paved the way for her to do her own particular thing) it's refreshing and exciting to see a femme rapper take a slightly different approach to her image.
"212" Is Still The Jam
It's hard to believe that Azealia's debut single dropped back in 2011, mainly because it is still the jam! "212" introduced listeners to a unique style, and it was seriously difficult to place Azealia in one particular box. All good signs of good things to come.
Her Master’s Voice
Didn’t
know there was a a Puppet Graveyard? This docu/mockumentary follows
ventriloquist Nina Conti on her soul-searching journey to say good-bye
to her mentor’s creatures at the Vent Haven Museum in Kentucky. (If
ventriloquism is your thing, make it a puppet-themed night and watch Dumbstruck right after.)
Life 2.0
Escaping life via the wonderful world wide web is not a strange notion in 2013 but Life 2.0 takes a look at those who take it one step further. Just how skewed can one’s perception of reality become when making a second identity for themselves?
Heart of the King
Elvis will never leave the building, according to these four die-hard fans and impersonators. What started as a mockumentary turned into a passionate tale of rock-n-roll and the men who will never let The King die.
Otaku
Some people really love anime, and many of them are Japanese males. This 1994 documentary explores an industry that was just emerging in their culture but has since become a world-wide phenomenon.
10th District Court
Chronicling three months in a French court room resided over by a female judge, 10th District Court deals with small trials and misdemeanors that are both telling of the human character and a look into society.
OC87
The door to discussion on mental illness is thrown wide open as Buddy Clayman documents the long journey he faced to become a filmmaker while struggling with both OCD and Asperger’s Syndrome.
Lunarcy!
The moon is pretty pivotal in our everyday lives but there are some people who it means more to then just wave schedules. (A former ventriloquist is also featured in this movie, who knew it was so huge an industry?)
Super, Girls!
China’s former singing contest was a way for girls to find grand fame in their country. Yi Jian follows ten of the contestants through their hopeful journey to stardom during the second, and final, season of “Super Girls Singing Contest.”
American Harmony
High-name salons may be on the rise, but barbershops aren’t going anywhere and neither are their singers — there’s even an International Championship of Barbershop Singing and the fight to the crown isn’t as quick of a cut as you’d think.
NoBody’s Perfect
Director Niko von Glasow was born disabled as a result of his mother taking thalidomide's during pregnancy. His search for those suffering the same consequences, missing limbs and handicapped, is riddled with both humor and compassion.
So, the 2013 Emmys were very, um, interesting. There were some standard Neil Patrick Harris song and dance numbers, some off-colored gay jokes from Michael Douglas,
an oddly dressed Melissa Leo, and Sarah Silverman being, well, Sarah
Silverman. And as for the actual award portion of the show? Well, it was
filled with a few pleasant surprises and some head-scratching upsets.
In the words of NPH: "This just in. Nobody in America is winning
their Emmy office pool. Surprises galore." Yup, that sounds about right.
Here's our take on the five biggest surprises of the Emmys:
Supporting Actress - Comedy
Winner: Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Merritt Wever, a newcomer to the Emmy race, was probably the most surprised person in the room when her name was called. It was definitely an upset (albeit, a good one) that Wever took home the award, considering she was up against Jane Krakowski of 30 Rock and Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen of Modern Family. And as a bonus, Wever gave the audience and viewers at home possibly the shortest and funniest speech of all time: "Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I gotta go... bye!" (If you're wondering why she looks so familiar, you've probably been watching her bring out Schmidt's inner nice guy on New Girl.)
Supporting Actor - Comedy
Winner: Tony Hale, Veep
Heyyy, brother. In one of the most pleasant surprises of the night, Tony Hale (of Arrested Development fame) took home the Emmy for his role on Veep, beating out Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live and basically the entire male cast of Modern Family. Bonus: He made Julia Louis-Dreyfus' acceptance speech for Lead Actress in a Comedy one of the most memorable of the evening by assisting her during her speech, a la his right hand man character from the HBO comedy.
Supporting Actor - Drama
Winner: Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire
Are they just repeating all the nominees? That's what we were all thinking when Bobby Cannavale, who plays Gyp Rosetti on Boardwalk Empire, nabbed the Emmy from the hands of Aaron Paul, Peter Dinklage, and Mandy Patinkin. Even more surprising, he's apparently dating Rose Byrne from Bridesmaids.
Lead Actor - Drama
Winner: Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
So let's get this straight. Somehow, Jeff Daniels' performance in the first season (that's the worst one) of The Newsroom wowed the voters more than Kevin Spacey's Francis Underwood, Damian Lewis' Nicholas Brody, Jon Hamm's Don Draper, and Bryan Cranston's Walter White? What? And to top it all off, Daniels ferociously chewed a piece of gum during his acceptance speech. Heisenberg and Underwood would never let that fly.
Variety Series
Winner: The Colbert Report
And in one of the best surprises of the night, Stephen Colbert finally put an end to The Daily Show's reign of victory with a win for the team at The Colbert Report. Looks like Jon Stewart shouldn't have taken such a long vacation...
The new sit-com Dads premiered last Tuesday and it had
gotten plenty of negative press before it even aired. People were up in
arms about stereotypes: an Asian woman was asked to dress up in a Sailor
Moon outfit, for one. The thing is, I'm not sure that it's warranted.
This is Seth MacFarlane (executive producer of Dads) we're talking about here. This is the guy who skewers EVERYONE on Family Guy. It's just a little more jarring to see it done with an actual live person instead of an animated one. People might be getting just a little too-PC here. Take deep breaths, folks. There. We feel a bit better, don't we?
I grew up in a time when All In The Family was on the air. Archie Bunker would have taken one look at this show and snorted, "Keep on keepin' on, guys." As the years have gone by, I'm just finding things to be more and more hypersensitive in terms of political correctness. They would have turned Bunker into a softer, kinder person on a show today.
Giovanni Ribisi is a great actor who deserves to have a strong run on a good show. MacFarlane is a creative genius who is not afraid to offend and the other Seth (Green)...well, let's just say that I like his work on Robot Chicken more, but I'll tolerate him on here. Martin Mull has also been enjoyable to watch, and Peter Riegert was the star of both Animal House and Local Hero, two of the best movies ever, so he gets a pass for life.
The show tried to actually turn the bad press into a positive, with ads showing people who had seen it saying, "Ignore the reviews!" We'll see if this all leads to a quick hook, like the live-action The Tick or the even more quickly yanked How to Be A Gentleman, or it eventually settling down somewhat like Family Guy or American Dad!. Heck, even if it does fail, MacFarlane's got his live-action The Flintstones to fall back on. I wonder if he'll turn Dino into a farting dinosaur...
They say boys mature more slowly than girls, but this is ridiculous.
A new Broadway production of the play opened this past week with Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad (Phylicia and Ahmad's daughter) in the title roles. As we all know thanks to the freshman required reading list, Romeo and Juliet are teenagers when they meet, fall in love, and screw everything up. (Because they're teenagers.) Orlando Bloom is almost 37, which makes the 26 year-old Rashad's casting almost age-appropriate. He's got a wife and a kid and probably can handle responsibility pretty well. What's going on here? Is this some comment on his generation's suspended adolescence?
But he's dreamy; he's got the chops; he looks good under a balcony — what's the problem? This situation shines a light on the fact that not all star-casting stage debacles happen because the actors can't cut it. Sometimes they happen because the actor is, unfortunately, not suited for his dream role anymore. Chances are, this Romeo & Juliet is happening because Bloom wanted to do it, not because the theater-going public was clamoring for another adaptation. That's not to say that he's not pulling down some fantastic reviews. But who knows how much better he could have been in a fitting role?
Okay, so we're not really supposed to condone beef, but it is a part of Hip-Hop culture and it has made for some classic songs over the years. Azealia has beefed with everyone from Lady Gaga to Jim Jones (to Angel Haze, to Perez Hilton, to Lil Kim, etc.), and some of the tracks -- like "No Problems" -- have actually been pretty dope.
The Sausage Party Is Getting Old
Kanye West, Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rcoky, J. Cole, Drake, Lil Wayne, etc.-- we love you guys. Really, we do. But the sausage party is getting old, as sausage parties are wont to do. And although it's cliché to point out the lack of women in, well, anything, we simply need more women in Hip-Hop! From what we've seen, Azealia has her own brand of femininity that could definitely liven this party up.
We Need More Of Her Super-Dope Videos
Azealia is not afraid to pull on influences from a variety of genres, which makes her way more fun to watch than the average person. R&B, pop, rap, rave -- all genres are up for grabs. And when her eclectic style gets translated into visuals, it's always an experience.
She’s Sexy And Sexual, Without Making That The Foundation Of Her Appeal
This is hugely important, and almost impossible for a woman in Hip-Hop (or any other artistic movement) to achieve. Even though she was featured on the cover of Dazed & Confused blowing up a condom, and she definitely plays up on her sex appeal, Azealia manages to come off more New York funky-fashionista-turned-rapper than anything else. While artists like Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, and Nicki Minaj have surely influenced her (and paved the way for her to do her own particular thing) it's refreshing and exciting to see a femme rapper take a slightly different approach to her image.
"212" Is Still The Jam
It's hard to believe that Azealia's debut single dropped back in 2011, mainly because it is still the jam! "212" introduced listeners to a unique style, and it was seriously difficult to place Azealia in one particular box. All good signs of good things to come.
10 Obscure Netflix Docs for Your Lonely Friday Night
Her Master’s Voice
Life 2.0
Escaping life via the wonderful world wide web is not a strange notion in 2013 but Life 2.0 takes a look at those who take it one step further. Just how skewed can one’s perception of reality become when making a second identity for themselves?
Heart of the King
Elvis will never leave the building, according to these four die-hard fans and impersonators. What started as a mockumentary turned into a passionate tale of rock-n-roll and the men who will never let The King die.
Otaku
Some people really love anime, and many of them are Japanese males. This 1994 documentary explores an industry that was just emerging in their culture but has since become a world-wide phenomenon.
10th District Court
Chronicling three months in a French court room resided over by a female judge, 10th District Court deals with small trials and misdemeanors that are both telling of the human character and a look into society.
OC87
The door to discussion on mental illness is thrown wide open as Buddy Clayman documents the long journey he faced to become a filmmaker while struggling with both OCD and Asperger’s Syndrome.
Lunarcy!
The moon is pretty pivotal in our everyday lives but there are some people who it means more to then just wave schedules. (A former ventriloquist is also featured in this movie, who knew it was so huge an industry?)
Super, Girls!
China’s former singing contest was a way for girls to find grand fame in their country. Yi Jian follows ten of the contestants through their hopeful journey to stardom during the second, and final, season of “Super Girls Singing Contest.”
American Harmony
High-name salons may be on the rise, but barbershops aren’t going anywhere and neither are their singers — there’s even an International Championship of Barbershop Singing and the fight to the crown isn’t as quick of a cut as you’d think.
NoBody’s Perfect
Director Niko von Glasow was born disabled as a result of his mother taking thalidomide's during pregnancy. His search for those suffering the same consequences, missing limbs and handicapped, is riddled with both humor and compassion.
2013 Emmys: The Night No One Won Their Emmys Office Pool
Supporting Actress - Comedy
Winner: Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Merritt Wever, a newcomer to the Emmy race, was probably the most surprised person in the room when her name was called. It was definitely an upset (albeit, a good one) that Wever took home the award, considering she was up against Jane Krakowski of 30 Rock and Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen of Modern Family. And as a bonus, Wever gave the audience and viewers at home possibly the shortest and funniest speech of all time: "Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I gotta go... bye!" (If you're wondering why she looks so familiar, you've probably been watching her bring out Schmidt's inner nice guy on New Girl.)
Supporting Actor - Comedy
Winner: Tony Hale, Veep
Heyyy, brother. In one of the most pleasant surprises of the night, Tony Hale (of Arrested Development fame) took home the Emmy for his role on Veep, beating out Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live and basically the entire male cast of Modern Family. Bonus: He made Julia Louis-Dreyfus' acceptance speech for Lead Actress in a Comedy one of the most memorable of the evening by assisting her during her speech, a la his right hand man character from the HBO comedy.
Supporting Actor - Drama
Winner: Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire
Are they just repeating all the nominees? That's what we were all thinking when Bobby Cannavale, who plays Gyp Rosetti on Boardwalk Empire, nabbed the Emmy from the hands of Aaron Paul, Peter Dinklage, and Mandy Patinkin. Even more surprising, he's apparently dating Rose Byrne from Bridesmaids.
Lead Actor - Drama
Winner: Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
So let's get this straight. Somehow, Jeff Daniels' performance in the first season (that's the worst one) of The Newsroom wowed the voters more than Kevin Spacey's Francis Underwood, Damian Lewis' Nicholas Brody, Jon Hamm's Don Draper, and Bryan Cranston's Walter White? What? And to top it all off, Daniels ferociously chewed a piece of gum during his acceptance speech. Heisenberg and Underwood would never let that fly.
Variety Series
Winner: The Colbert Report
And in one of the best surprises of the night, Stephen Colbert finally put an end to The Daily Show's reign of victory with a win for the team at The Colbert Report. Looks like Jon Stewart shouldn't have taken such a long vacation...
Does 'Dads' Deserve All The Negative Hype?
This is Seth MacFarlane (executive producer of Dads) we're talking about here. This is the guy who skewers EVERYONE on Family Guy. It's just a little more jarring to see it done with an actual live person instead of an animated one. People might be getting just a little too-PC here. Take deep breaths, folks. There. We feel a bit better, don't we?
I grew up in a time when All In The Family was on the air. Archie Bunker would have taken one look at this show and snorted, "Keep on keepin' on, guys." As the years have gone by, I'm just finding things to be more and more hypersensitive in terms of political correctness. They would have turned Bunker into a softer, kinder person on a show today.
Giovanni Ribisi is a great actor who deserves to have a strong run on a good show. MacFarlane is a creative genius who is not afraid to offend and the other Seth (Green)...well, let's just say that I like his work on Robot Chicken more, but I'll tolerate him on here. Martin Mull has also been enjoyable to watch, and Peter Riegert was the star of both Animal House and Local Hero, two of the best movies ever, so he gets a pass for life.
The show tried to actually turn the bad press into a positive, with ads showing people who had seen it saying, "Ignore the reviews!" We'll see if this all leads to a quick hook, like the live-action The Tick or the even more quickly yanked How to Be A Gentleman, or it eventually settling down somewhat like Family Guy or American Dad!. Heck, even if it does fail, MacFarlane's got his live-action The Flintstones to fall back on. I wonder if he'll turn Dino into a farting dinosaur...
Somebody Has to Say It: Orlando Bloom Is Too Old to Play Romeo
A new Broadway production of the play opened this past week with Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad (Phylicia and Ahmad's daughter) in the title roles. As we all know thanks to the freshman required reading list, Romeo and Juliet are teenagers when they meet, fall in love, and screw everything up. (Because they're teenagers.) Orlando Bloom is almost 37, which makes the 26 year-old Rashad's casting almost age-appropriate. He's got a wife and a kid and probably can handle responsibility pretty well. What's going on here? Is this some comment on his generation's suspended adolescence?
But he's dreamy; he's got the chops; he looks good under a balcony — what's the problem? This situation shines a light on the fact that not all star-casting stage debacles happen because the actors can't cut it. Sometimes they happen because the actor is, unfortunately, not suited for his dream role anymore. Chances are, this Romeo & Juliet is happening because Bloom wanted to do it, not because the theater-going public was clamoring for another adaptation. That's not to say that he's not pulling down some fantastic reviews. But who knows how much better he could have been in a fitting role?
Bollywood Updates
'Bigg Boss 7' diaries day 8: VJ Andy turns kaamwaali bai!
The first inmate has been eliminated from the house and from 15 there are now only 14 people in Bigg Boss’ house
Hazel Keech has been evicted from the house. Apparently the actor was getting really sick and vomiting a lot. Now we don’t know if it was ‘coz she was made to live in such poor conditions in Jahannum or something else.
Rajat Rawail is homesick
The day starts with Rajat Rawail getting emotional as he is missing his family and is seen talking about this to the heaven-mates. Due to his continuous bad health and depression, Rajat further starts packing his bags and says that he is leaving the house. As the captain, Tanishaa Mukerji requests Bigg Boss to send a doctor to examine Rajat as his health is getting worse.
Rajat revolts by removing her mike until the doctor is sent in. Bigg Boss finally calls Tanishaa inside the confession room and sends a doctor to examine Rajat. Inspite of that, Rajat continues to whine, wail and complain unbearable pain; Bigg Boss assures him and tell him that his family is doing well. He asks the Bodyguard actor to take care of his health.
Gauhar Khan and Kushal Tandon get close
Across the boundary, Kushal Tandon is seen blowing his own trumpet and boasting about the awards he has won so far to Ellie Avram. VJ Andy is seen working like a maid in the house and everybody starts calling him a kaamwaali bai. Later in the day, Gauahar Khan and Kushal continue to spend time together. Kushal tells Gauahar that she is one person in the house that he loves to trouble. The actor is then seen giving Gauhar a nice back massage. Ahem…ahem…
Nominations
The day comes to an end with the nominations wherein Bigg Boss asks the heaven-mates to nominate people from hell. Being the captain, Tanishaa is given a special power to nominate one person from the heaven side as well. Housemates are further seen discussing nominations and anticipating about the next swap that will be coming their way soon.
Hazel Keech has been evicted from the house. Apparently the actor was getting really sick and vomiting a lot. Now we don’t know if it was ‘coz she was made to live in such poor conditions in Jahannum or something else.
Rajat Rawail is homesick
The day starts with Rajat Rawail getting emotional as he is missing his family and is seen talking about this to the heaven-mates. Due to his continuous bad health and depression, Rajat further starts packing his bags and says that he is leaving the house. As the captain, Tanishaa Mukerji requests Bigg Boss to send a doctor to examine Rajat as his health is getting worse.
Rajat revolts by removing her mike until the doctor is sent in. Bigg Boss finally calls Tanishaa inside the confession room and sends a doctor to examine Rajat. Inspite of that, Rajat continues to whine, wail and complain unbearable pain; Bigg Boss assures him and tell him that his family is doing well. He asks the Bodyguard actor to take care of his health.
Gauhar Khan and Kushal Tandon get close
Across the boundary, Kushal Tandon is seen blowing his own trumpet and boasting about the awards he has won so far to Ellie Avram. VJ Andy is seen working like a maid in the house and everybody starts calling him a kaamwaali bai. Later in the day, Gauahar Khan and Kushal continue to spend time together. Kushal tells Gauahar that she is one person in the house that he loves to trouble. The actor is then seen giving Gauhar a nice back massage. Ahem…ahem…
Nominations
The day comes to an end with the nominations wherein Bigg Boss asks the heaven-mates to nominate people from hell. Being the captain, Tanishaa is given a special power to nominate one person from the heaven side as well. Housemates are further seen discussing nominations and anticipating about the next swap that will be coming their way soon.
Vidya Balan to star in 'Bobby Jasoos'
Mumbai: Actress Dia Mirza and beau Sahil Sangha have signed
Vidya Balan for their forthcoming feature `Bobby Jasoos`, to be produced
under their banner Born Free Entertainment.
Vidya, 35, will play the lead in the film.
"I found the idea of a lady detective irresistible as I did the title Bobby Jasoos. I`ve known Dia and Sahil for many years, they`re lovely people and one can sense that this will be their shared labor of love.
"That`s the kind of Producers everyone hopes to have. The final clincher was the script by Sanyuktha Chawla and Director Samar Shaikh who I`m really looking forward to working with," said Vidya.
Mirza is equally emphatic about the venture and said, "I`m thrilled to welcome Vidya into the Born Free family. The script of `Bobby Jasoos` bears testimony to the fact that being patient and investing in good stories usually reaps good dividends."
The shooting for the movie will start mid-November this year and will be ready for a summer 2014 release.
Dia and Sahil last produced `Love Breakups Zindagi`.
Vidya, 35, will play the lead in the film.
"I found the idea of a lady detective irresistible as I did the title Bobby Jasoos. I`ve known Dia and Sahil for many years, they`re lovely people and one can sense that this will be their shared labor of love.
"That`s the kind of Producers everyone hopes to have. The final clincher was the script by Sanyuktha Chawla and Director Samar Shaikh who I`m really looking forward to working with," said Vidya.
Mirza is equally emphatic about the venture and said, "I`m thrilled to welcome Vidya into the Born Free family. The script of `Bobby Jasoos` bears testimony to the fact that being patient and investing in good stories usually reaps good dividends."
The shooting for the movie will start mid-November this year and will be ready for a summer 2014 release.
Dia and Sahil last produced `Love Breakups Zindagi`.
Sanjay Dutt to act, dance in jail for charity
Pune: The acting and dancing bug has again bitten Bollywood
actor Sanjay Dutt who is serving a 42-month sentence at the Yerawada
Central Jail (YCJ) here.
Sanjay, 54, along with some four dozen other inmates, has been selected to perform in a stage drama at a welfare show organised by the state Prisons Department, here next Thursday.
The mega-annual show will be held at the Bal Gandharva Auditorium here, officials said.
Raring to do what he loves, Sanjay has been polishing his acting-dancing skills and furiously rehearsing for the show inside the YCJ premises since the past fortnight along with the other inmates.
Though jail officials remain tight-lipped on the show details, it is learnt that Sanjay and his team will perform the famous `Lungi dance` from the recent Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone blockbuster "Chennai Express."
Besides, he may also dance to a patriotic song and a number from his superhit movie, "Lage Raho Munnabhai".
The rehearsals for the two-hour final show are carried out in the community hall regularly without any of the inmates disturbing their routine of doing jail chores.
For instance, Sanjay has been assigned the task of making big and small paper bags which are sold to the outside world through NGOs and he also gets a nominal payment for his labour.
However, for the main show, Sanjay, who sports a long salt-and-pepper beard-moustache now, and the others are likely to be permitted saloon facilities to get a shave, hair-cut and pedicure-manicure. He will get a chance to get some make-up applied by a make-up man and don costumes to be brought in by a designer.
Sanjay and the performing inmates shall be transported to-and-from the Bal Gandharva Auditorium, around five kms away under tight security.
On May 16, Sanjay had surrendered before a Mumbai court and a week later shifted to YCJ, Pune to serve the remainder of a five-year sentence after he was convicted in the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
Sanjay, 54, along with some four dozen other inmates, has been selected to perform in a stage drama at a welfare show organised by the state Prisons Department, here next Thursday.
The mega-annual show will be held at the Bal Gandharva Auditorium here, officials said.
Raring to do what he loves, Sanjay has been polishing his acting-dancing skills and furiously rehearsing for the show inside the YCJ premises since the past fortnight along with the other inmates.
Though jail officials remain tight-lipped on the show details, it is learnt that Sanjay and his team will perform the famous `Lungi dance` from the recent Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone blockbuster "Chennai Express."
Besides, he may also dance to a patriotic song and a number from his superhit movie, "Lage Raho Munnabhai".
The rehearsals for the two-hour final show are carried out in the community hall regularly without any of the inmates disturbing their routine of doing jail chores.
For instance, Sanjay has been assigned the task of making big and small paper bags which are sold to the outside world through NGOs and he also gets a nominal payment for his labour.
However, for the main show, Sanjay, who sports a long salt-and-pepper beard-moustache now, and the others are likely to be permitted saloon facilities to get a shave, hair-cut and pedicure-manicure. He will get a chance to get some make-up applied by a make-up man and don costumes to be brought in by a designer.
Sanjay and the performing inmates shall be transported to-and-from the Bal Gandharva Auditorium, around five kms away under tight security.
On May 16, Sanjay had surrendered before a Mumbai court and a week later shifted to YCJ, Pune to serve the remainder of a five-year sentence after he was convicted in the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
Karisma Kapoor not ready for another film right now
Mumbai: After an unsuccessful comeback with `Dangerous Ishq` in
2012, Karisma Kapoor is not ready for another film, but doesn`t deny the
possibility of signing a project in future.
"I have not decided anything yet. I have just released my book, and I enjoy doing different things. I like doing new things," the 39-year-old said when asked about her next big screen project.
"My children are still very small, but you never know, I will definitely do something, but I don`t know when," Karisma told reporters at the Globoil India Awards 2013 Saturday.
A mother of two, Karisma recently released `My Yummy Mummy Guide`, a book that doles out tips to pregnant women and new mothers.
"I have not decided anything yet. I have just released my book, and I enjoy doing different things. I like doing new things," the 39-year-old said when asked about her next big screen project.
"My children are still very small, but you never know, I will definitely do something, but I don`t know when," Karisma told reporters at the Globoil India Awards 2013 Saturday.
A mother of two, Karisma recently released `My Yummy Mummy Guide`, a book that doles out tips to pregnant women and new mothers.
Why did Sara Khan call Pratyusha Banerjee a back biter?
Though the two television actors may have been friends for a
long time, it seems reality show Bigg Boss is getting better of their
friendship
Just last month, we hear Sara Khan and Pratyusha Banerjee were seen enjoying at the latter’s birthday party. But in the glamour world it doesn’t take much time for things to turn ugly between two friends, hai na? Pratyusha, who is currently an inmate in the Bigg Boss 7 house, said that Sara is her ex-boyfriends best friend and not hers. This didn’t go down well with the former Bigg Boss contestant and she shot back at her once-upon-a-time-friend. “Yes, I was never Pratyusha’s best friend for she would always bitch about me to others. To be honest, she never had friends. Anyone she knew, she would talk bad about me to them and the news would come back to me” said Sara in an interview.
In fact, Prats even told her fellow inmate Kushal Tandon that it was Sara who asked her not to talk to him. But Ms Khan has a different story to stay. Clarifying what she said about Kushal, Sara said, “The real truth is that she would tell us before entering Bigg Boss that Kushal would keep calling her requesting her to be friends before they entered. All I had told her was, if you are not comfortable don’t talk to him, that’s it. She is telling Kushal that I am not comfortable with her talking to him. Why should I have any issue, I have a secure guy since the past one and half year and we are also living in.”
Interestingly, Hazel Keech, who got eliminated from the reality show this week, said that Pratyusha has a tendency of provoking people. Looks like Pratyusha has done her home work well before entering the show. She knows just being a Bigg Boss contestant won’t help her career. Obviously, to grab limelight, she has to make some noise (read controversy). And going by the events unfolding outside and inside the Bigg Boss house, wethinks this lass has succeeded in her mission.
But we still feel bitching about your good friend isn’t the ideal way to go about it! Prats, you already broke-up with your boyfriend Makrand Malhotra and now lost a friend as well. Not worth for any amount of fame, missy!
Just last month, we hear Sara Khan and Pratyusha Banerjee were seen enjoying at the latter’s birthday party. But in the glamour world it doesn’t take much time for things to turn ugly between two friends, hai na? Pratyusha, who is currently an inmate in the Bigg Boss 7 house, said that Sara is her ex-boyfriends best friend and not hers. This didn’t go down well with the former Bigg Boss contestant and she shot back at her once-upon-a-time-friend. “Yes, I was never Pratyusha’s best friend for she would always bitch about me to others. To be honest, she never had friends. Anyone she knew, she would talk bad about me to them and the news would come back to me” said Sara in an interview.
In fact, Prats even told her fellow inmate Kushal Tandon that it was Sara who asked her not to talk to him. But Ms Khan has a different story to stay. Clarifying what she said about Kushal, Sara said, “The real truth is that she would tell us before entering Bigg Boss that Kushal would keep calling her requesting her to be friends before they entered. All I had told her was, if you are not comfortable don’t talk to him, that’s it. She is telling Kushal that I am not comfortable with her talking to him. Why should I have any issue, I have a secure guy since the past one and half year and we are also living in.”
Interestingly, Hazel Keech, who got eliminated from the reality show this week, said that Pratyusha has a tendency of provoking people. Looks like Pratyusha has done her home work well before entering the show. She knows just being a Bigg Boss contestant won’t help her career. Obviously, to grab limelight, she has to make some noise (read controversy). And going by the events unfolding outside and inside the Bigg Boss house, wethinks this lass has succeeded in her mission.
But we still feel bitching about your good friend isn’t the ideal way to go about it! Prats, you already broke-up with your boyfriend Makrand Malhotra and now lost a friend as well. Not worth for any amount of fame, missy!
Not against nudity, not for exploitation: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Leh: He presents his heroines mostly as the girl-next-door with
minimal makeup and a simplicity that screams emotions louder than the
cacophony of item numbers. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says he is not
against nudity in films, but he has strong views against exploitation of
women.
"I don`t see art there," Mehra said while talking about the current trend of raunchy item songs.
"I am not against nudity. If that`s a part of the story, please go ahead. It`s beautiful...our bodies are beautiful. But exploitation for money and exploitation on the part of the audience and society for titillation...," added the filmmaker as he mulled over the matter while chatting on the breezy and picturesque banks of Indus river here. He was here for the second edition of Ladakh International Film Festival.
The need of the hour is for filmmakers to own up the "responsibility" of avoiding "gender bias", for actresses to make the right "choice" and for the audience to "stop watching" anything that stands to exploit anyone.
This, he agreed, all the more at a time when constant "concerns" are raised against showbiz for giving a fillip to the escalating number of rape cases in the country.
"Filmmakers and performers are a part of the society. There is no reason to objectify. The only reason as I can think of is the lust for glamour, and greed for money, and you also get eyeballs. That has to be discouraged," said the 50-year-old looking relaxed in a white shirt teamed with denims.
He practices what he believes in.
Be it Soha Ali Khan in "Rang De Basanti", or Sonam Kapoor in "Delhi-6" as well as in her not-so-meaty-but-mighty role in "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" - Mehra`s female protagonists have never had to resort to skin show or sexy numbers to leave an impact. The fact that it has worked proves his point.
"Cinema reflects whatever is going on, and not in a good way, I would say. And when there`s gender bias in cinema, it`s a shameful act. I hang my head in shame when I see that... whether I have done it or not, I belong to that community. One has to own the responsibility," he added.
Also, the onus lies on the performer hugely.
"Why is anyone doing it? Is there a necessity? Is there someone dying at home out of hunger? Are there younger siblings for whom you have to pay the school fees? ... so there`s no `majboori` factor here at all.
"If there is lust for glamour and it is a girl who is dancing out there, it`s her choice! If she refuses, and she can, then there is nothing anyone (either a filmmaker or the audience) can do," he said.
The audience, especially needs to take a stand, according to Mehra.
"Don`t watch it! Nobody is forcing you. Don`t buy that product, stop buying it, and if there are no takers, one won`t make it," he said.
Away from the reel life, in real life, we need to look at ourselves in the mirrors as an individual, as a family unit and educational institutions, said Mehra.
"And that`s how reform can begin. It`s not easy, it won`t happen overnight. It`s a slow process, but I am confident that it can be turned around, has to be turned around, it should be turned around," he added.
"I don`t see art there," Mehra said while talking about the current trend of raunchy item songs.
"I am not against nudity. If that`s a part of the story, please go ahead. It`s beautiful...our bodies are beautiful. But exploitation for money and exploitation on the part of the audience and society for titillation...," added the filmmaker as he mulled over the matter while chatting on the breezy and picturesque banks of Indus river here. He was here for the second edition of Ladakh International Film Festival.
The need of the hour is for filmmakers to own up the "responsibility" of avoiding "gender bias", for actresses to make the right "choice" and for the audience to "stop watching" anything that stands to exploit anyone.
This, he agreed, all the more at a time when constant "concerns" are raised against showbiz for giving a fillip to the escalating number of rape cases in the country.
"Filmmakers and performers are a part of the society. There is no reason to objectify. The only reason as I can think of is the lust for glamour, and greed for money, and you also get eyeballs. That has to be discouraged," said the 50-year-old looking relaxed in a white shirt teamed with denims.
He practices what he believes in.
Be it Soha Ali Khan in "Rang De Basanti", or Sonam Kapoor in "Delhi-6" as well as in her not-so-meaty-but-mighty role in "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" - Mehra`s female protagonists have never had to resort to skin show or sexy numbers to leave an impact. The fact that it has worked proves his point.
"Cinema reflects whatever is going on, and not in a good way, I would say. And when there`s gender bias in cinema, it`s a shameful act. I hang my head in shame when I see that... whether I have done it or not, I belong to that community. One has to own the responsibility," he added.
Also, the onus lies on the performer hugely.
"Why is anyone doing it? Is there a necessity? Is there someone dying at home out of hunger? Are there younger siblings for whom you have to pay the school fees? ... so there`s no `majboori` factor here at all.
"If there is lust for glamour and it is a girl who is dancing out there, it`s her choice! If she refuses, and she can, then there is nothing anyone (either a filmmaker or the audience) can do," he said.
The audience, especially needs to take a stand, according to Mehra.
"Don`t watch it! Nobody is forcing you. Don`t buy that product, stop buying it, and if there are no takers, one won`t make it," he said.
Away from the reel life, in real life, we need to look at ourselves in the mirrors as an individual, as a family unit and educational institutions, said Mehra.
"And that`s how reform can begin. It`s not easy, it won`t happen overnight. It`s a slow process, but I am confident that it can be turned around, has to be turned around, it should be turned around," he added.
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