South Korean filmmaker seeks laughs in new comedy

Cast members including actor Tong Dawei (center) attend a press conference. [Photo / China Daily]
Despite being known for horror films, South Korean director Ahn Byeong-ki seems eager to use comedy to win the hearts of Chinese moviegoers.

His upcoming film Scandal Maker charmed an audience in a preview screening on the weekend; moviegoers wore brain wave-monitors on their head. Through analyzing the data transferred from the monitors to computers, the movie was found to be very "relaxing and funny", according to the monitor’s providers.

Ahn says there is a similarity between comedy and horror films: Both need to create "exciting moments" to lure viewers.

A Chinese remake of the namesake South Korean film screened in 2008, Scandal Maker features an established broadcaster, 38, who lives a comfortable bachelor's life until the peace is broken by two visitors, who insist he is the grandfather of a 5-year-old child.

The Sino-South Korean coproduction, mainly financed by Chinese studios, will open in Chinese mainland theaters on Nov 11, which is Single's Day in China.

The star-studded cast is led by actor Tong Dawei and Taiwan actress-singer Michelle Chen.

"Just imagine one day a stranger calls you grandpa but you’ve never seen the child before. The script is very interesting. I could not stop after reading the first several paragraphs," says Tong.

"The movie transfers a positive message: Family is the most important connection for every person," he says. Source: China.org.cn
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Ekta’s inspired by Hollywood

By www.filmitadka.in, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18096760
Ekta Kapoor is always open to new, creative advancements. Being a modern-day producer, Ekta always wishes to give audiences new stories and experiences when they go to the cinema. Recently, when she announced her tie-up with Dolby Atmos for her upcoming film, Azhar, Ekta had an interesting take as to why she adapted to this new technology. Ekta confessed that Hollywood films are what truly inspire her creatively and it was the incredible sounds in the movie Mission Impossible that astonished and inspired her to bring such experiences for the Indian audiences. Ekta was heard saying, “I was so mesmerised by movies such as Gravity and MI-4 that as a director-producer I felt the need to get similar technology to Bollwood. A movie is all about the story – direction, costumes, acting — but what adds that added zing is the sound.”Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/
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If the product is right, you can make your mark, says Divya Khosla!

Actress-turned-producer Divya Khosla believes that if a filmmaker's product is good, he or she will succeed. Divya, who started her career in Bollywood as an actor with 2004 "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo", believes that everything in life comes to you when the time is right. She made her directorial debut with "Yaariyan". Even with a new cast and modest budget, she did an honest job. "I worked hard to be here. I trained for two years, directed successful music videos, honed my skills, worked on my script, casting, locations, music and then 'Yaariyan' was born. If the product is right, you can make your mark," Divya said. She told the cast was apt for the script. "The story is always the heart of the film. Then comes the power of good storytelling. The cast needs to suit the film and not vice versa." The romantic-comedy featured Himansh Kohli, Serah Singh and Rakul Preet Singh and it released along with Madhuri Dixit-starrer "Dedh Ishqiya" Jan 10. If required, she is open to work with stars. "The film drew bigger initial response... My confidence rests with my product. If stars are required, they will be there," she told. Divya, who is wedded to T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar, feels that she is a creative person and that is why she delved into movie-making business. "Creativity has always been my forte. As the creative director of T-series, I have worked on all products. But between production and direction, I enjoy direction more," she told. However, the director does not take the husband's position for granted and that is why it took her so long to direct her first movie. "If you want to make your mark, put in your best. Your family can back you, but you alone are responsible for your failure or success," she told. Source: Garam Gossips
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James Cameron announces three sequels of 'Avatar'

James Cameron announces three sequels of 'Avatar'
Hollywood director James Cameron plans to shoot three sequels of his movieAvatar simultaneously and release them in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 
Director James Cameron has announced three sequels to his 2009 hit Avatar.  "Avatar" 2, 3 and 4 will be shot simultaneously, with production kicking off next year, and they will be released in December of 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, reports eonline.com. The 58-year-old has called aboard screenwriters Josh Friedman of "War of the Worlds", Shane Salerno from the movie "Savages", Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" to help him work on the three scripts. "Building upon the world we created with 'Avatar' has been a rare and incredibly rewarding experience," James Cameron said in a statement. "In writing the new films, I've come to realise that 'Avatar's' world, story and characters have become even richer than I anticipated, and it became apparent that two films would not be enough to capture everything I wanted to put on screen. And to help me continue to expand this universe, I'm pleased to bring Amanda, Rick, Shane and aboard Josh - all writers I've long admired - to join me in completing the films' screenplays," he added. Source: ApunKaChoice
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Oscar 2013 preview

The 85th Academy Awards takes place this Sunday (February 24), with Steven Spielberg's Lincoln leading the pack on 12 nominations. For an Oscar nominees roster featuring shocking snubs and surprises, it seems the battle for the Best Actor race may be the only category not stumping awards analysts this year. While the category boasts esteemed actors whose performances range from a bipolar man returning to his family after a stint in a mental institution to a reformed prisoner hunted in 19th century France for breaking parole, Daniel Day Lewis is considered the stand-out favorite, according to film critics. In the category of Best Picture presented: "Amour" - a 2012 French-language drama film written and directed by the Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke.
"Argo" - a 2012 American dramatic thriller film directed by Ben Affleck.

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" - a 2012 American fantasy drama film directed by Benh Zeitlin and written by Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar from Alibar's one-act play Juicy and Delicious.
"Django Unchained" - a 2012 American epic western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.
"Les Misérables" - a 2012 British musical drama film produced by Working Title Films and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film is based on the musical of the same name by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg which is in turn based on Les Misérables, the 1862 French novel by Victor Hugo.
"Life of Pi" - a 2012 American 3D adventure drama film based on Yann Martel's 2001 novel of the same name. Directed by Ang Lee, the film is based on an adapted screenplay by David Magee, and stars Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Gérard Depardieu, Tabu, and Adil Hussain.
"Lincoln" - a 2012 American historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as United States President Abraham Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln.
"Silver Linings Playbook" - an American romantic comedy-drama film directed by David O. Russell, from a screenplay by Russell, adapted from the novel of the same name by Matthew Quick.
"Zero Dark Thirty" - a 2012 American historical drama film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal. Billed as "the story of history's greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man," the film is a dramatization of the United States operation that found and killed Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda. It was produced by Boal, Bigelow, and Megan Ellison.
In the category of Actor in a Leading Role presented: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) - an American actor. He first gained recognition in the television series Alias. He later appeared in a supporting role in Wedding Crashers (2005), Yes Man (2008), and He's Just Not That into You (2009). He achieved fame with his roles in The Hangover (2009), The A-Team(2010), Limitless (2011), and Silver Linings Playbook (2012). His work in Silver Linings Playbook earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 2011, People magazine named him the "Sexiest Man Alive". Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) - an American actor, music video director, producer, musician, and social activist. Phoenix started his career as a child actor and came to wide attention for his portrayal of Commodus in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as well as nominations for theGolden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild, Satellite Award, and BAFTA Award. He received wider recognition for his portrayal of musician Johnny Cash in the 2005 biographical film Walk the Line. His performance earned him several accolades and nominations, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He received his third Academy Award nomination for his critically acclaimed performance in the 2012 film The Master. Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) - an English actor with both British and Irish citizenship. Day-Lewis, who grew up in London, is the son of actress Jill Balcon and Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis. Despite his training in the classical presentational acting style at the Bristol Old Vic, he is a method actor, known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles. Often, he will remain completely in character for the duration of the shooting schedule of his films, even to the point of adversely affecting his health. He is known as one of the most selective actors in the film industry, having starred in only five films since 1998, with as many as five years between roles. He has twice won the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his portrayals of Christy Brown in My Left Foot (1989) and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood (2007). Denzel Washington (Flight) - an American
actor, film director, and film producer. He has received much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Melvin B. Tolson, Frank Lucas, and Herman Boone. Washington is a featured actor in the films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and was a frequent collaborator of the late director Tony Scott. Washington has received two Golden Globe awards and a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1989) and Best Actor forTraining Day (2001). Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables) - an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television. Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as superhero, period, and romance characters. He is known for his long-running role as Wolverine in the X-Men film series, as well as for his leads in Kate & Leopold, Van Helsing, The Prestige, Australia, Real Steel, and Les Misérables. His work in Les Misérables also earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy in 2013. He is a singer, dancer, and actor in stage musicals, and won a Tony Award for his role in The Boy from Oz. In November 2008, Open Salon named Jackman one of the sexiest men alive. Later that same month, People magazine named Jackman "Sexiest Man Alive." A three-time host of the Tony Awards, winning an Emmy Award for one of these appearances, Jackman also hosted the 81st Academy Awards on 22 February 2009. In the category of Actress in a Leading Role presented: Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) - an American theater, film and television actress. She played guest roles in several television shows before making her feature film debut with the 2008 independent film Jolene. In 2011, Chastain gained wide public recognition for her starring roles in seven film releases; for her performance in The Help she received Best Supporting Actress nominations at the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awardceremonies. In 2012, Time magazine featured her as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World". Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) - an American child actress. She is known for her leading role as Hushpuppy in the critically acclaimed drama film Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), for which she became the youngest actress ever to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) - an American actress. Her first major role was as a lead cast member on TBS' The Bill Engvall Show(2007–2009) and she subsequently appeared in the independent films The Burning Plain (2008) and Winter's Bone (2010), for which she received nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Satellite Award, Independent Spirit Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress. At age 20, she was the second-youngest actress ever to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. At age 22, her performance as a recovering sex addict in the romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook (2012) earned her the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and a second Academy Award nomination, amongst other accolades, making her the youngest person ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actress. Naomi Watts (The Impossible) - a British-Australian actress who began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! (1990), Brides of Christ (1991), E Street (1991) and Home and Away (1991). Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone. Emmanuelle Riva (Amour) - a French actress, best known for her roles in the films Hiroshima mon amour (1959),Léon Morin, Priest (1961), and Amour (2012). In 2013, Riva received the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in Amour, and was nominated for an Academy Award for the same role. She is the oldest actress ever to have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She had previously been BAFTA nominated in 1960 for her role in Hiroshima mon amour. Full list of nominees on Oscar official website. Oscar.go.com, Digital Spy, ABC, Wikipedia, Source: Voice of Russia
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Lincoln, Life Of Pi & Les Mis Lead 2013 Oscar Nominations (Full List)

Lincoln
This year's Oscars host, Seth MacFarlane, was accompanied by actress Emma Stone Thursday morning to announce the nominees for the 85th annual Academy Awards. Over 400 media representatives from around the world attended the 5:30am (Pacific) press conference to find out which films and stars are this year's cream of the crop. Not surprisingly, Steven Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln biopic Lincoln led the pack with a whopping 12 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Daniel Day Lewis), and Best Director (Spielberg). There were few surprises amongst this year's nominees, most notably the Best Director snub of Ben Affleck for his political thriller Argo, which landed seven nominations including Best Picture. Silver Linings Playbook pulled in eight nominations, including one in each acting category -- the first time a film's cast has had a nomination in all four in over 30 years - for leads Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, and supporting stars Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver. Only 14 films have achieved the feat, the last one being 1981'sReds. Thats' not the only interesting fact about this year's acting nominees, Amour's Emmanuelle Riva (85) becomes the oldest woman to land a Best Actress nod, while Beasts of the Southern Wild's Quvenzhane Wallis (9) is the youngest. Tom Hooper's musical update of starpulse also garnered eight awards, including Best Picture; however Hooper did not land a Best Director nod. Best Director and Best Picture usually go hand-in-hand, and a film's chance of winning best picture without its director getting a nod usually has little chance of winning. The same goes for Kathryn Bigelow, whose Zero Dark Thirty landed a Best Picture nomination but not a Best Director nod. The Academy Awards airs live on Sunday, February 24, 2013 on ABC. Check out the full list of nominations below...
Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards, (1) Performance by an actor in a leading role: (a) Bradley Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook", (b) Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln", (c) Hugh Jackman in "Les Miserables", (d) Joaquin Phoenix in "The Master", (e) Denzel Washington in "Flight" (2) Performance by an actor in a supporting role: (a) Alan Arkin in "Argo", (b) Robert De Niro in "Silver Linings Playbook", Philip Seymour Hoffman in "The Master", Tommy Lee Jones in "Lincoln", Christoph Waltz in "Django Unchained", (3) Performance by an actress in a leading role: Jessica Chastain in "Zero Dark Thirty", Jennifer Lawrence in "Silver Linings Playbook" Emmanuelle Riva in "AmourQuvenzhane Wallis in "Beasts of the Southern WildNaomi Watts in "The Impossible" (4) Performance by an actress in a supporting role: Amy Adams in "The Master", Sally Field in
"Lincoln", Anne Hathaway in "Les Misérables", Helen Hunt in "The Sessions", (5) Best animated feature film of the year: (a) Jacki Weaver in "Silver Linings Playbook", (b) "Brave" Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, "Frankenweenie" (c) Tim Burton, "ParaNorman" Sam Fell and Chris Butler, "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (d) Peter Lord, "Wreck-It Ralph" (e) Rich Moore, Achievement in cinematography, "Anna Karenina" (f) Seamus McGarvey, "Django Unchained" (g) Robert Richardson, "Life of Pi" (h) Claudio Miranda, "Lincoln" (I) Janusz Kaminski, "Skyfall" (J) Roger Deakins, (6) Achievement in costume design: (a) "Anna Karenina" Jacqueline Durran, (b) "Les Misérables" Paco Delgado, (c) "Lincoln" Joanna Johnston, "Mirror Mirror" (d) Eiko Ishioka "Snow White and the Huntsman" (f) Colleen
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Review: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' A Trip Through Middle Earth At 48 FPS

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They're back -- the orcs, goblins, dwarfs, dragons, wizards and Mr. Hobbit himself, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman).
Shot in 48 FPS (frames per second) instead of the usual 24 FPS (it's also in 3D), Peter Jackson has once again created a visually stunning, exciting, magical film that takes us on a journey through Middle Earth. The film opens with a prologue. The aged Frodo (Ian Holm) tells a story and we are instantly transported to the kingdom of the Dwarfs (Erebor). They are all quite happy living in their golden city until one day they are paid a visit by a fire breathing dragon. Are there any other kinds? This dragon known as Smaug not only destroys the dwarf's homeland but makes off with their Arkenstone; a beautiful gem that yields enormous power (supposedly). After this visually stunning opening we travel back in time where
 Bilbo,a young Hobbit, is living a peaceful, orderly existence in a neighborhood known as Bag End. Well, it doesn't take long for that to change. Quite out of the blue, Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) comes to visit. He is followed by 13 very unruly dwarfs led by their leader; a very sexy, very legendary warrior named Thorin (Richard Armitage). Gandalf uses every trick in his arsenal to convince the super reluctant Bilbo to accompany the dwarfs on a trek into the Dark Mountain to help find their stolen treasure and reclaim their homeland. Bilbo can't help but wonder if Gandalf has picked the right guy for the job. Little did our adorable Hobbit know that this journey would be an adventure of a lifetime and change his life...forever. The journey takes the dwarfs and Bilbo through treacherous lands swarming with goblins, orcs, deadly wargs, giant spiders and sorcerers; and of course ending with Bilbo's encounter with a
It's here, by an underground lake separated from the dwarfs, our hobbit discovers the depth of his courage - as the stuff he's really made of (he better, the fate of Middle Earth hangs in the balance).
creature named Gollum (Andy Serkes) and his Precious. For those of you who can't get enough of 'The Hobbit' don't worry. This is the first in a trilogy. Did I love this film as much as I did 'Lord of the Rings'? No, at times the comedy was a bit too much and bordered on corny. Also I would have loved to see more of Hugo Weaving (Elrod) and Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) as well as Christopher Lee (Saruman). But I'm sure their roles will be expanded in the next two films. As for the 48 FPS, I didn't mind it. But I do know many people who absolutely hated it. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, opens in theatres Friday December
14, 2012 and I do urge everyone to see it, whether you're a fan or not. It's a spectacular piece of filmmaking by Mr. Jackson. Not perfect, but really, really good. I gave 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey many more bagels than John, of course. Check out our video for our bagel rating and for more of our banter. Please SUBSCRIBE to our channel on YouTube and LIKE us on our Two Jews on Film Facebook page. Only need 35 more to reach 1000. Thanks everyone and please share your thoughts with us. © 2012 Starpulse.com, Photo Credits: Warner Bros. Review: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' A Trip Through Middle Earth At 48 FPS - Starpulse.com
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Ang Lee’s Life of Pi opened International Film Festival of India

Ang Lee’s Life of Pi will opend the International Film Festival of India at Goa’s Panaji on Tuesday. Adapted to the screen from Yann Martel’s 2002 Man Booker Prize winning novel, Life of Pi is a tempestuous tale of a boy whose ship is wrecked in a killer storm on high seas. The boy, Pi, loses his mother, father and kid brother along with their little zoo when the family is sailing from their hometown of Puducherry or Pondicherry (close to Chennai in India) to Canada. In the end, Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with the most unlikely of companions, a Royal Bengal Tiger. Forced to spend many, many weeks on the tiny boat drifting on the waves, Pi learns to survive against not just Nature’s fiercesome odds, but also a deadly beast. While New Delhi’s Suraj Sharma’s essays the young Pi, whose carelessness on a cyclonic night costs the life of his parents and brother, Irrfan plays the older Pi. During a recent chat with me, Irrfan said that it was an impossibly difficult book to adapt for a movie. It was extremely complex and Lee shot the first parts of the film in Puducherry where the story actually begins, later moving to his native Taiwan for the more complex scenes. He recreated the Pacific Ocean, where Pi’s family perishes on a night of killer waves, in a disused airport. A gigantic water tank was built to simulate the effects of the hurricane in the 3D movie. With the production company, Fox, pulling out all stops, the shoot seemed so easy. As Irrfan averred, money was never a problem and the challenge of getting the tiger and the boy together was not as imposing as it had appeared in the beginning. “They had got four tigers from Canada or Russia, but, of course, in the end, it was all about computer graphics.” Irrfan has only a small role to play in the film and unlike the young Pi, who had a physically punishing and dangerous part to do, the older Pi had to grapple with mental challenges. Sharma was merely 16 when he signed for Lee’s first three-dimensional adventure. "After three years, the movie is now complete and being a part of the film has been a life-changing experience," Sharma said during a recent chat. "It has really changed me and how I perceive the entire world in many ways… People say that I have grown up personally after this movie. Like I went there as a 16-year-old boy. Now, sometimes I feel like I am 40 years old." "Earlier, I used to live in my own little shell and everything was small. Now I have realised that the world is this open place with opportunities. Now I know how to deal with situations in a better way and I can work five times harder without it affecting me because I have already worked like that. I've just become more ready for things," Sharma added. Irrfan agreed with this and said in an important way, the shoot itself had been as perilous as the actual story, where the boy kept the tiger alive and the tiger kept the boy alive. For each, the other was not just a distraction, but a point of hope, a point of survival. Pi wanted to outwit and outlive the animal, while it must have probably felt the same about the boy. So, both gave each other some kind of meaning to exist. “Perhaps the tiger would not have lived had it been alone on the boat. It was the presence of the boy that probably encouraged it to continue its fight to find food and sustain itself.” Irrfan felt that it would be very difficult for an Indian director to replicate Lee’s work in Life of Pi. “We are just not prepared for that kind of complexity.” Also, Indian movie companies and helmers are quite content with what they are producing. They have little desire to reach out to an international audience. However, Irrfan hoped that the new crop of directors would learn to understand the grammar of cinema better, in a way that their own films would hold out a great promise of appealing to a world audience. “Yes, funding would still remain an issue”. Irrfan, who has done some extraordinarily interesting roles in equally fascinating films like Pan Singh Tomar, Yeh Saali Zindagi and earlier Maqbool (based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth), is now shooting for Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Sahib Bibi Aur Gangster 2. Part one did not have Irrfan in it and he is stepping into Randeep Hooda’s shoes, who played the gangster. Irrfan is also doing Nikhil Advani’s latest yet-to-be titled work. With Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Michael Winterbottom’s A Mighty Heart, Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar behind him, Khan is all set to dream big. But those like Tabu who helped him evolve (Maqbool, The Namesake) continue to be in his dreams. During a recent promotional campaign for Life of Pi in Chennai, when Tabu said that she appears in Lee’s work much earlier than Irrfan does and does not share screen space with him, the actor had a wonderful rejoinder. “But you are always in my dreams.” I am sure she is, but Irrfan’s dreams must now include still greater performances than what we have already seen. Of course, I have little doubt about this. Source: Hindustan Times
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You don’t go to Switzerland without Yash Chopra: SRK

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Actor Shah Rukh Khan admits to an “emotional and mental” void in his life after father figure, late filmmaker Yash Chopra, passed away last week. So much so that the 46-year-old has cancelled the shoot of the last song of Chopra’s film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ), in his favourite outdoor location, Switzerland. “We don’t feel emotionally and mentally ready to go to Switzerland and shoot without Yash ji. You don’t go to Switzerland without Yash Chopra,” says the actor, who will now be a part of a grand farewell in ode to his guru with a lavish premiere of the film on November 12. What happens now to the swan song in Switzerland that was due to be filmed for JTHJ? We could not shoot for it as Yash ji was unwell. After he passed away, Karan (Johar) said, ‘Should I shoot it?’ But Adi (Aditya Chopra) said, ‘No we are not going to shoot it.’ If the song is not being shot by Mr Yash Chopra in Switzerland, then even I don’t want to shoot it. None of us wants to. The song will now be played in the background. We’ll use some scenes from what Yash ji’s already shot. What is the thought behind doing a gala premiere of the film? Shah Rukh kisses father-figure Yash Chopra on his last birthdayYash Chopra always released his films on Diwali (JTHJ releases on November 13), because his ideology was that it’s a festival of life and happiness. Hope it’s not seen in a wrong sense, but the fact that he’d been making films for the last 50 years, and just 10 days after he made his last film, he passes away — I think in a strange sense is the happiest a filmmaker can be. We as people who’ve experienced him should celebrate what a wonderful and happy life he had. We shall carry forward the reason he made films for, and that was to celebrate life. We are going to have this huge premiere, Insha Allah, on the 12th (of
November). To me it has become a little more than a film. That sensuous song Saans: MORE ON JAB TAK HAI JAAN: JTHJ: SRK-Katrina get groovy for Yash Chopra's swan song The foot tapping number is in contrast with the gloom that has set in after movie mogul Yash Chopra's demise. Jab Tak Hai Jaan's latest song Ishq Shava released on the same day the King of Romance passed away. And it trended heavily on Twitter all night. Unlike the romantic number Saans, which showed a scintillating chemistry between SRK and Katrina, Ishq Shava seems to be a peppy number. WATCH SONGJTHJ: Yash Chopra to direct last-ever scene: Yash Chopra prepares to say goodbye to direction with Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ), his assistant directors (who have worked with him for years) are busy designing a spectacular souvenir for the king of romance. They want this to be their special gift to their mentor. LAST-EVERJab Tak Hai Jaan: Yash Chopra to miss his last take? For the shoot of the last remaining song in Jab Tak Hai Jaan, director Yash Chopra had a grand vision: a sari-clad Katrina Kaif romancing Shah Rukh Khan in the lush meadows of the Swiss Alps. But unfortunately, his illness, caused by a bout of dengue, stymied the plan for the song, which would have reflected his trademark directorial style. UNFINISHED BUSINESSIs SRK's Challa from Jab Tak Hai Jaan inspired? AR Rahman's Challa song might be creating waves on the internet, but it has emerged that the song is not exactly err.. original. It is in fact inspired by Eagle-Eye Cherry's number Save Tonight from his album Desireless. The opening notes of Challa, where SRK is strumming the guitar, is uncanningly similar to Save Tonight's music. Challa is sung by Rabbi Sheirgill. Check Out The Videosis the best way of giving a tribute or the best way to mourn for Yash Chopra’s passing away and to celebrate the fact that he was a part of our lives. ‘I was never a part of this game’ A newspaper in Pakistan has reported that Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ) will be banned there and the promos have been pulled off air. Are you aware? I never read the posts that come in newspapers anymore. I don’t know about this. You’ll have to ask the distributors. Your Diwali release clashes with Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardar. Does that worry you? I find this talk of competition within films and actors to be redundant. It’s actually the sensibility of outsiders who don’t know this business or who don’t feel the film. I feel the film. My film is not mathematics. I don’t believe in numbers. I know people think I’m a rich capitalist, a well-to do star. Ya, I’m a rockstar. But all that follows the belief that I’ll only do a film which my heart tells me to. I don’t need to know which other film is coming when my film is coming. With all humility and honesty, when my film comes, then only my film comes. I’m not being derogatory to anyone. But my film comes from the heart. If it’s just about the business, then I hope everyone else’s film does more business than mine. Trade experts are predicting collections of over Rs. 200 crore for JTHJ. What are your expectations? I’ll tell you two things. I am not a trade pundit. I am not an astrologer. I am an actor and that’s what makes me unpredictable. I hate numbers. It is so being tunnel visioned to be confined by numbers. I don’t even understand why people celebrate birthdays. You’re just getting older. It’s really stupid to be confined by numbers. Have you passed on the same outlook towards business of cinema to your kids? I’ll never be able to teach my son or daughter to be successful in the business of cinema. But they will know how to tell a story from the heart. My son has gone to study abroad. He looks a little educated now. I’ve been an outsider here. I was never a part of this game. Have you began working on the sequel to RA.One? Films like that take a little while. I am making three films already (Chennai Express, Happy New Year and A for Apple, B for Billi, C for Cutta). I need to take out some time, which I don’t see happening. It’s huge pre-production work to look into the VFX. It takes about a year. So not right now. Is it true that you have postoponed Chennai Express to avoid a clash with Salman Khan’s Brindavanam during Eid next year? Again, utter crap and nonsense of newspapers, with all gentleness and kindness. You are a very loyal ambassador when it comes to brands you endorse such as Tag Heuer that have become a part of your life through your trademark red glasses and watch. What keeps it going? I have been fortunate to have had employers who have had an association with me with the mindset of continuing it for a lifetime. Tag Heuer and Hyundai are among those. It has been close to 10 years with Tag now and they have never forced me to promote it in my films. It’s by default that I keep showing off pieces like this Tag Heuer Carrera India Racing Edition Chronograph that I am in Delhi to launch. When I need money, I work, otherwise I attend Tag functions (laughs).About the song: The song, we hear, was supposed to be as intensely romantic as Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai from Yash Chopra's Daag, the first film that Sr Chopra directed for his home banner Yash Raj Films in 1973. The song was to be shot in the snowfall capturing the same desperate romance between Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif that Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore projected in Daag. For the shoot of the last remaining song in Jab Tak Hai Jaan, director Yash Chopra had a grand vision: a sari-clad Katrina Kaif romancing Shah Rukh Khan in the lush meadows of the Swiss Alps. But unfortunately, his illness and then his sudden death stymied the plan for the song, which would have reflected his trademark directorial style. It is now also believed that the film's stars Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma will work together to ensure that the film proves to be a fitting tribute to the Bollywood stalwart. Watch theSPOTTED: SRK-Anushka shoot in Ladakh Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma are currently shooting for the last stretch of Yash Chopra's untitled romantic film in Ladakh. PIC INSIDE Kashmir makes SRK relax, unwind after years: Shooting for Yash Chopra's yet untitled movie in this picturesque south Kashmir hill station seems to have helped Shah Rukh Khan unwind himself from an otherwise boring routine of lights and camera. "Slept for 10 hours after a long time. God I feel rested... even my beard seems fresh," Shah Rukh posted on his widely followed Twitter account Friday. INTERVIEW INSIDESRK revives Pahalgam's romance with B-town: A favourite haunt of the Bollywood since 70's, Kashmir's picturesque hill station Pahalgam on Monday saw actor Shahrukh Khan shooting his first ever movie in the valley and bringing back the destination, with a very few movies shot since turbulent years of 1990s, on the film industry's map. READ MORE SPOTTED! Anushka Sharma shoots in Kashmir: Actor Anushka Sharma joined Shah Rukh Khan in Aru, Kashmir for the shooting of their untitled Yash Chopra film on Wednesday. The actor was seen walking through a lush green hill station in a ganji and cargos, as soldiers and fans looked on from a distance. Security has been beefed up to keep the crowds away. MORE INSIDE Jab Tak Hai Jaan will be my last film: Yash Chopra: Chopra's disclosure, made at an event marking his 80th birthday with actor Shah Rukh Khan by his side, took the Indian film industry by surprise. "I think I've had enough, Shah Rukh," Chopra replied when Khan asked him about his next project. READ MORE Poster of Jab Tak Hai Jaan a rip off? The poster of Yash Chopra’s upcoming film, Jab Tak Hain Jaan (JTHJ), has an uncanny resemblance to the poster of the 2011 French war adventure film, Forces Speciales. Fans have been writing about the similarity on online forums. JTHJ features Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, and will release around Diwali. COMPAREJAB TAK HAI JAAN: Trailer releases, trends on Twitter, Soon after Yash Chopra revealed the name of his latest romantic flick, we get to see the trailer of Jab Tak Hai Jaan also! Trending heavily on Twitter, the trailer shows Shah Rukh Khan romancing in his signature style with both Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. TRAILER INSIDE, Shah Rukh Khan turns poet, translates Jab Tak Hai Jaan poem, When Shakespeare asked that what's in a name, he probably didn't forecast the announcement of the title of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan. TRANSLATION INSIDESRK-Katrina’s film titled Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum: Buzz is that director Yash Chopra’s comeback film has finally got a title. The film, that stars actors Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, will reportedly be titled Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum. MORE INSIDESRK-Katrina chemistry should be good: Salman Khan: Salman Khan feels that the chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif in Yash Chopra's next will be good. VIDEO INSIDE (With additional inputs), Source: Hindustan TimesImage: flickr.com
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Ekta knows tricks of the trade: Tusshar Kapoor

tushar ekta kapoor 200x192Actor Tusshar Kapoor is impressed with his sister Ekta Kapoor’s business sense, and says she has understood the tactics of survival in the industry after years of hard work. “Ekta has learnt the tricks of the trade, but there is a lot of hard work too which she put in all these years. She has come to a stage where now she knows she has got a good team and now she can go ahead. One takes time to understand a business,” Tusshar told IANS. The 35-year-old agrees that after churning out films like “Kyaa Kool Hai Hum” and “The Dirty Picture”, his home production Balaji Motion Pictures has become popular for its bold films. He feels proud such films have been a hit with the masses. “A lot of our films have been bold and they have done as well. There is a way to mix commercial and art and that is what Ekta has learnt to do,” he said. Tusshar plans to follow his sister’s footsteps, and wants to produce a film as well. But he’s waiting for a good corporate tie-up with a nice director and script. Source: Bollywood World
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I don't want any clash with Aamir Khan: Ekta Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor, who is producing "Shootout At Wadala", has decided to push the release date of the film to 2013 to keep away from any clash with Aamir Khan's "Talaash". She tells she doesn't want to take on such "mammoth" competition. "'Talaash' is coming on Nov 30. How can we decide to take on the mammoth Aamir Khan? I don't want to compete with him, absolutely not," Ekta said. "Shootout At Wadala", a prequel to "Shootout At Lokhandwala", was earlier supposed to release Dec 7. But since Aamir's "Talaash" will either release in November-end or in the first week of December, "Shootout At Wadala" will now hit the screens Jan 18, 2013. Ekta assures that audience have a lot to look forward to in the Sanjay Gupta-directed "Shootout At Wadala", which features Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Kangna Ranaut, Sonu Sood, Manoj Bajpai, Tusshar Kapoor, Ronit Roy and Mahesh Manjrekar. Source: GaramGossips
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Karan Johar makes fun of Katrina Kaif’s poses


By Gahoi Ad Online Media: Recently, news had it that filmmaker Karan Johar had taken a potshot on Katrina Kaif’s style of posing on magazine covers. However, when questioned, he denied making any such comments. “Absolutely crazy media report suggesting I have said something about Katrina! I have not! Its totally baseless and a lie,” posted the 39-year-old. If media reports are to go by, Karan Johar was overheard making fun of Katrina Kaif’s poses. Not jus that. Johar also mimicked a few of her poses. Rubbishing all reports, Karan tells, “Katrina is not only a dear friend but also a supremely talented and hard-working superstar! And all this reportage is ridiculous,” he tweeted. Source: GaramGossips
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Can 'The Dark Knight Rises' Deliver Gold?

Bane10,9,8,7… Over here in London the countdown’s been ticking for years…6,5,4…
The big event’s almost here. The biggest show on Earth, featuring the finest male and female talent from around the world, at the peak of their powers. Expectation rises. A nation expects. The world expects. Can The Dark Knight Rises deliver gold?  GOLD-STANDARD COACH: A blizzard of publicity batters London: glossy magazine ads, arresting posters plastered all over double-deckers and the underground, Youtube trailers. Truth is, I don’t need any of this to tell me The Dark Knight Rises is going to be gold. ‘Directed by Christopher Nolan.’ That’s all I need to know. Nolan’s a leader with a proven, (frankly unbelievable), track record – Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception. And when there’s an intelligent, visionary master in charge with a clear game plan for his team, you know everything’s going to play out perfectly. You know that the script, cast and action will all be top class. I put ‘script’ first because Nolan does too. He only ever goes into a movie if he feels he’s got a story he HAS to tell. If only every director had that approach. Summer blockbusters are so often a bewildering, disappointing mess, overloaded with fights, chases and explosions, all at the expense of plot. With Nolan you know, yes there will be fights, chases and explosions, (and judging by the trailers, they’ll be
staggering), but they will be tied to a story you’re gripped by, involving characters you care about, played out by mesmerizing, gold-standard GOLD-STANDARD TEAM: actors. Christian Bale. Anne Hathaway. Tom Hardy. The names are all-star, even in the smaller roles, (Caine, Oldman, Freeman), all carefully chosen by Nolan not just for their immense talent, but for how perfectly they fit into his Batman ethos. Nolan’s Dark Knight is a dark, brooding, secretive force – and the team he surrounds himself with is exactly the same. Sent out into the spangly, superficial world of Hollywood gossip shows, to a man (and woman) the stars of The Dark Knight Rises are elusive, reluctant, and fiercely loyal to the movie. Bale is the perfect Batman for the role AND for the media circuit. You’ll never pin him down. Or his teammates. Like any great team, they’re devoted to their leader and his vision. Many of the cast had to read The Dark Knight Rises script at Nolan’s house. Others were given only the sections of script they needed. All were sworn to secrecy. But if even the team aren’t completely sure what’s going on, how can we
be completely sure The Dark Knight Rises will deliver gold? GOLD-STANDARD ACTION: Slowly, but surely, golden glimpses have been caught. ‘There’s a storm coming,’ Anne Hathaway (Catwoman) says as one trailer begins. A sh*t-storm’s coming, more to the point. Evil reigns in Gotham - in the hulking, menacing, muzzle-faced form of Bane (Tom Hardy), who’s running the city and the show. Meanwhile, Batman’s in a bit of a hole. …I mean, literally, he’s in a big hole, held captive at the mercy of Bane. Can he escape and save Gotham? The trailers are packed with sumptuous set-pieces and mind-blowing visuals: Landscapes crumble before your eyes, planes and bridges explode, thousands of gun-toting prisoners pour out of a bombed jail into the streets of Gotham, Batman drives some kind of bat car off a skyscraper and it flies. It’s relentless. You don't know what to expect next from The Dark Knight Rises. Expect gold. Nothing less. © 2012 Starpulse.com, Photo Credits: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Source: Starpulse.com
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Ekta Kapoor and Vidya Balan grace the cover of Verve India – June 2012

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'Rowdy Rathore' box-office success fuels sequel talk


Mumbai, The makers of Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Rowdy Rathore' may come up with a sequel to the just-released action film. Akshay's 'rowdy' avatar has become an instant hit with the fans and has kept the cash registers ringing at the box-office. The film has joined the Rs 100 crore business club. And, inspired by its roaring success, the makers are planning a sequel. “As of now, we want to celebrate success. Be it sequel or prequel, we want to sit down and discuss. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Akshay Kumar, Prabhu Deva...we all will sit together and decide,” the film's producer Siddharth Roy Kapoor said. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, one of the producers of 'Rowdy Rathore', said “We are definitely thinking about a sequel.” Asked to react on filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's recent comment about “rubbish films” making Rs 100 crore, Bhansali said, “He (Chopra) is my mentor. If he has said something like this, then I am happy.” Directed by Prabhu Deva, 'Rowdy Rathore', a remake of the 2006 Telugu hit 'Vikramarkudu', marked Akshay's comeback to action films after seven years. “People must be happy and that is what really matters. I will continue making action films. Within one or two week the announcement (about sequel) will come from production house,” Prabhu Deva said. Source: Indian Express
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Raj Kapoor's 'Awaara' in Time's 100 greatest films

MUMBAI: Time magazine has included Raj Kapoor's 1951classic Awaara among 20 new entries added to its All-Time 100 list of the greatest films made since 1923, the beginning of the prestigious US periodical. Rethinking the movie masterpieces, Time critic Richard Corliss describes Raj Kapoor as "the great star-auteur of India's postcolonial golden age of movies - Cary Grant and Cecil B. DeMille in one handsome package." "The '50s films he headlined and directed became huge hits not just in his newly freed homeland but also across the Arab crescent from Indonesia to North Africa," Time noted. Kapoor, who modelled his screen persona on Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp, was 26 when he filmed Awaara (The Tramp). Time calls Awaara as "a glistening showcase for Kapoor and the great India siren Nargis (his lover onscreen and off)." "And of course it's a musical, whose main song, Awaara Hoon, by the famed Shanker-Jaikishan duo, soared to the top of the pop charts in India, the USSR and China." The original All-Time 100 list published in 2005 included Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy, Mani Ratnam's Nayakan and Guru Dutt's Pyaasa. Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman's score for Mani Ratnam's Roja (The Rose), the tale of a woman whose lover is kidnapped by terrorists, was also among 10 Best Soundtracks. Last week, Time magazine ranked Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 film Devdas eighth among the ten greatest movies of the millennium (thus far).Source: Sam Daily Times
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Madhur Bhandarkar takes one step ahead for patch up with Big B

By Gahoi Ad Online Media; Aishwarya Rai’s pregnancy news caused rifts between Madhur Bhandarkar and the Bachchan family. On the other hand, if reports are to be believed, all’s well now between the two. It all happened last week at a suburban five-star. An eye-witness disclosed, “The cold war is a thing of the past. Bhandarkar actually walked up to Bachchan while he was shooting for a commercial at the hotel. Bachchan looked at him, smiled and met him very warmly. After that, the two were seen chatting quite animatedly. Both appeared very gracious toward each other.” The witness further told, “It was difficult to overhear what the two of them were saying but it was clear that they had put the past behind them. While onlookers were surprised, it was quite a heartwarming sight.”Source: GaramGossip
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Karan Johar is happy to direct newcomers

GaramGossips, By Gahoi Ad Online Media : Karan Johar is engaged with his next directorial "Student Of The Year", which is the launch pad for three new actors, and tells it is joyful to work with newcomers. "The joy of directing newcomers! Their acting innocence can never be replaced...am enjoying playing part director part teacher," Johar wrote on Twitter. "Student Of The Year" will see Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, making their Bollywood debut. While Siddharth is a model-turned-actor, Varun is director David Dhawan's son, and Alia is filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's daughter. The film is a co-production by Johar's Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment. Source: GaramGossips
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