Philippa Kaur

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    'Fantastic Four' Director Was Blocked From Casting Black Actress in 2015 Remake

    20th Century Fox

    Josh Trank claims he wanted a black Sue Storm and black Franklin Storm in the 2015 superhero reboot but faced ‘a lot of pretty heavy pushback’ from the top heads.
    Jun 8, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Josh Trank wishes he’d fought harder to cast a black actress for the role of Sue Storm in his 2015 movie “The Fantastic Four”.
    While speaking with website Geeks of Color, the filmmaker opened up about his career regrets and admitted there were “a lot of controversial conversations that were had behind the scenes” during the making of the flick.
    “I was mostly interested in a black Sue Storm, a black Johnny Storm, and a black Franklin Storm,” he shared. “But also, when you’re dealing with a studio on a massive movie like that, everybody wants to keep an open mind to, like, who the big stars are going to be.”
    However, when it came to casting the part, Josh says he “found a lot of pretty heavy pushback on casting a Black woman in that role… when I look back on that, I should have just walked when that realisation sort of hit me, and I feel embarrassed about that, that I didn’t just out of principle.”
    He added, “I’m somebody who always talks about standing up for what I believe in, even if it means burning my career out. I feel bad that I didn’t take it to the mat with that issue. I feel like I failed in that regard.”
    Kate Mara starred as Sue in the film opposite Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, and her future husband Jamie Bell.

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    Robert Downey Jr. Makes Surprise Appearance at 'Perry Mason' TV Panel

    WENN

    The ‘Iron Man’ actor crashes a panel at the online television festival to announce the premiere of date of a new TV show ‘Perry Mason’ starring Matthew Rhys.
    Jun 8, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Robert Downey Jr. made a surprise appearance at the “Perry Mason” panel on Friday, June 5, 2020 during the virtual ATX Television Festival to reveal the show’s premiere date.
    The 55-year-old actor and his wife Susan are executive producers on the HBO show, which stars Matthew Rhys as the title character, and Robert’s cameo occurred when the moderator asked panellists when the show would premiere.
    To everyone’s surprise, the “Iron Man” star popped up on the screen to answer the question, joking, “I have been on my heels for 92 minutes!”
    “First I would like to say the usual: you’re welcome,” he added before revealing “Perry Mason” would debut on June 21 at 9 P.M. ET on the primetime network.
    “That’s the slot, by the way. That 9 P.M. Sunday slot, that’s the good one,” he added.
    Back in January, it was announced the “Avengers: Endgame” actor and his wife and production partner had signed a one-year deal to create and develop new projects with the premium cable network.

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    Diana Ross' Daughter Reluctant to Sing in New Movie for Fears of Being Compared to Legendary Mom

    WENN

    Tracee Ellis Ross reveals she was initially afraid of showing off her vocals in ‘The High Note’ because she’s afraid of being compared to her Motown star mother.
    Jun 7, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Diana Ross was reduced to tears after hearing daughter Tracee Ellis Ross’ songs from her forthcoming movie “The High Note”.
    The 47-year-old “Black-ish” star is set to appear as singer Grace Davis in the new movie and, speaking to Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper, she opened up on the “I’m Coming Out” hitmaker’s reaction to her vocal recordings.
    While Diana hadn’t seen the movie at the time of the conversation, Tracee recalled, “I picked her up and we sat in my car. We were holding hands and crying as the songs played. It was a special moment.”
    While the star was met with approval from Diana, she confessed she “thought it was unfair I was being asked to sing” over fears she’d be compared to her Motown legend mum.
    However, she reflected she found it easy to distance herself from the “Chain Reaction” star in the studio – because Diana always kept her music and family life separate.
    “My mom recorded while we were sleeping, so she could be available when we were awake,” she said. “So, I didn’t get to sit and sleep in a recording studio.”
    “I knew where the mic was, but I didn’t know what the controls were for. For Christ’s sake, doesn’t someone just press the red button?!” she joked
    Tracee performs six numbers in the movie, also starring Dakota Johnson, which is available digitally now.

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    'Star Wars' Composer John Williams Lauded at Princess of Asturias Awards

    Instagram

    Along with fellow composer Ennio Morricone, the ‘Star Wars’ composer receives the arts prize at the prestigious event for his extensive works in movie industry.
    Jun 7, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Revered composers John Williams and Ennio Morricone have been feted as part of Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Awards in recognition of their work in film.
    The musicians were chosen to receive the arts prize for having “enriched hundreds of films with their talent.”
    In a statement released on Friday, June 5, 2020, the jury members in charge of deciding the winners explained the two “demonstrate complete mastery of composition as well as narrative, building emotion, tension and lyricism at the service of cinematographic images.”
    American composer Williams is known for his work in the “Star Wars” franchise as well as Steven Spielberg movies “Jaws”, “Jurassic Park”, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, and the “Indiana Jones” series while some of Italian maestro Morricone’s most recognised scores feature in director Sergio Leone’s films “The Good”, “The Bad & The Ugly”, and “Once Upon a Time in the West”.

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    in Television

    Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody Gets His Own Radio Show

    Instagram

    The Snow Patrol frontman is expected to explore his personal record collection and shares his personal stories in a new radio show dubbed ‘All Things All at Once’.
    Jun 7, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody will explore his personal record collection for a new six-part series for a BBC radio show.
    The “Gary Lightbody Show: All Things All at Once” will air on BBC Radio Ulster and will include personal stories as the chart-topping “Run” hitmaker reflects on the records that influenced him and explain what each song means to him.
    “I’ve dreamt of having my own radio show since I was a teenager, but no one would give me one,” he shared. “I’m very grateful to BBC Radio Ulster for the opportunity.”
    “I also realise that I’ve been given something that other DJs don’t get – which is free rein to play whatever the heck I want.”
    He continued, “Loving music feels like a life’s pursuit – and I’ve always wanted an opportunity to share my favourite songs on the radio. And you don’t know what you’ve let yourself in for – ‘cos my music taste is all over the place. It’ll be a little mad musical journey through my brain.”
    The “Chasing Cars” star vowed to play music across a broad spectrum of genres, including “rock, metal (don’t be frightened!), funk, soul, hip hop, dance music, folk and country… anything that takes my fancy at any given moment.”
    “If a song comes up you don’t like, stick with me – the next one you’ll love, I promise. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the journey,” he added.
    The “Gary Lightbody Show: All Things All at Once” begins on BBC Radio Ulster and on BBC Sounds on June 14, 2020 at 4 P.M. BST.

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    Whoopi Goldberg Lends Voice to Short Animated Film About Climate Crisis

    WENN

    Speaking of ‘The Gigantic Change’, co-director George Lewin recalls being left in shock when the Hollywood legend agreed to take part in the three-minute movie.
    Jun 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Whoopi Goldberg has partnered with Extinction Rebellion activists on a new short film aimed at helping to combat the climate crisis.
    The Hollywood legend lent her voice to “The Gigantic Change”, a three-minute animated movie about the perils of climate change, in honour of World Environment Day on Friday, June 05.
    George Lewin, who co-directed the short with Nicola Jane Francis, was shocked when Whoopi, a former UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and one of only 15 people in history to join the EGOT club by winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award, agreed to take part in the film.
    “Her (Goldberg’s) iconic voice (would) bring a perfect sense of gravitas to the performance,” director Lewin explained to Variety. “Plus she is outspoken on environmental issues and had the potential to inspire many of her followers to take action. So we sent the script to her agent, and she came back quickly saying ‘I’m in.’ We couldn’t believe it.”
    Whoopi voices a grandmother from the future who reads a story about how humans cleaned up the planet to rescue humans and other species from the devastating effects of the climate crisis.
    [embedded content]
    The movie can be viewed at TheGiganticChange.com.

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    Sam Mendes Says U.K. Theater Industry Is in 'Grave Danger' Following Pandemic

    WENN

    The ‘Skyfall’ director urges the British government to put together a ‘rescue package’ to save the the theater industry in the United Kingdom from disappearing altogether.
    Jun 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Director Sam Mendes has implored British government officials to put together a “rescue package” to save the U.K. theatre industry in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
    The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the live events sector to a standstill since March 2020 and without productions to put on, many venues and companies are facing the prospect of going out of business – unless authorities step in and lend their support.
    In a Financial Times op-ed, published on Friday, June 5, 2020, Mendes, who has found success in film and on the stage, declares the coronavirus crisis “the biggest challenge to Britain’s cultural life since the outbreak of the Second World War,” explaining theatre and live entertainment are in “grave danger” of disappearing altogether.
    He notes how streaming services have surged in popularity during the lockdown period, with many of the cast and crewmembers featured in streaming content getting their start in the theatre world, which he describes as “an ecosystem that supports us all.”
    “It would be deeply ironic if the streaming services – Netflix, Amazon Prime et al – should be making lockdown millions from our finest acting, producing, writing and directing talent, while the very arts culture that nurtured that talent pool is allowed to die,” he shares as he calls on streaming company bosses to “use a fraction of their Covid-19 windfall” to benefit those in the performing arts.
    Mendes goes on to outline his proposal for saving the industry, including a tax relief programme, calling for a government fund to help struggling freelancers and self-employed artists, and suggesting politicians in charge view theatre as potential financial investment. “This is not a request for a handout, or for long-term life support,” he maintained. “It is an offer for the government to become partners in a successful business.”
    London’s West End is expected to remain shuttered until at least August 2, 2020 amid continued coronavirus concerns.

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    'Vanderpump Rules' Only Black Cast Faith Stowers Recalls Former Co-Stars Calling Cops on Her

    Instagram

    During an Instagram Live chat, the former SUR employee opens up about her experience appearing on the fourth and sixth season of the Bravo’s all-white cast series.
    Jun 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Faith Stowers is sharing her side of the story behind her exit from “Vanderpump Rules” and her move to MTV. Being the only black cast member on the Bravo series, the 31-year-old reality star finally opened up about the incidents leading to former castmates Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute calling a cop on her.
    During an Instagram Live chat with “Floribama Shore” star Candace Rice, the former SUR employee first addressed her hook-up with Jax Taylor, who was at-the-time dating his now-wife Brittany Cartwright. “I felt like after their friend did something that we both were involved in that he’s done like, a thousand times…they wanted to attack me instead of him,” she recalled.
    “It was like they wanted to attack, attack, attack, attack, attack. ‘I was wrong and I was this and I was that,’ calling me names, saying my hair was nappy, which is weird coming out of their mouths,” she said of her former co-stars. “And I believe it hit the ceiling for me, and made me really want to run for the hills, when Kristen and Stassi decided they were going to call the cops on me.”
    The “Ex on the Beach” star went on to note that it had become too much for her to handle. “This is when I quit – like, I left the show,” she explained. “I was invited back to tell my truth, but decided it wasn’t going to do anything for me. So, I ended up not coming back, so I decided to go over to MTV. Once I did that, I felt like they got upset with me.”
    Stowers’ touble, however, did not stop there. She went on to spill that her former castmates later reported her to the police after spotting a news article about a black woman wanted for theft. “There was this article on Daily Mail where there was an African American lady. It was a weird photo, so she looked very light-skinned and had these different, weird tattoos,” she shared.
    “They showcased her, and I guess this woman was robbing people. … The woman was at large. … and they called the cops and said it was me. This is like, a true story,” the TV personality further claimed, adding that she “heard this from actually Stassi during an interview” as referring to Schroeder’s 2018 appearance on the Bitch Bible podcast.
    Per RealityTea, Schroeder claimed she and Doute compared the photo published by Daily Mail with “video footage stills” of Stowers before reporting her to the police. During the interview, she further claimed that when they tried to push the investigation further, the police ignored them.
    On the Schroeder and Doute’s allegations, Stowers commented during the Live chat, “It was just funny, because they thought it was me because it was a black woman with a weave. So, they just assumed it would be me, and they called the cops on me…It didn’t work, so they were upset about that.”
    Elsewhere in the interview, Stowers also shared her thought on her never getting a chance to do any “confessional” interviews. “I didn’t have anything like that,” she admitted. “It could be different on their end, but in my opinion, I thought it was weird that everybody on the show got to do interviews and confessionals and I didn’t even get a chance to do that, to tell my story.”
    “Which was a very interesting story, being a black woman in the military at the time. At the time, I was still in the army…leaving military drill…to come film with y’all…,” she added. “I didn’t feel like they appreciated that.”

    Stowers first appeared as a recurring character in season 4 of “Vanderpump Rules”. She briefly returned to the show as a guest on season 6. Following her candid confession on the Instagram Live, she told E! News that she has received much support.
    “It’s crazy…It’s been overwhelming and it makes me feel like I was actually heard this time,” she admitted, before clarifying, “I just want to say this is not an attack on ‘Vanderpump Rules’. It wasn’t done on the show.”

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