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

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      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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      Mark Hamill Moves 'Star Wars' Superfan to Tears With Surprise Meet-and-Greet

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      WENN

      The Luke Skywalker depicter has surprised a healthcare worker who’s also a loyal devotee of ‘Star Wars’ with a virtual meet-and-greet on the Jimmy Kimmel-hosted late night show.
      Jun 6, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Actor Mark Hamill reduced a California nurse to tears on Thursday, Jun2e 4, 2020 after surprising the “Star Wars” superfan with a virtual meet-and-greet.
      San Diego resident Chloe Ducos was invited to appear on late night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as part of the host’s #HealthCareHero segment through which he spotlights essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
      During the remote interview, the chat turned to Ducos’ love of all things “Star Wars”, revealing she had seen each of the sci-fi blockbusters more than 10 times – prompting Kimmel to bring Luke Skywalker actor Hamill into the conversation.
      “Oh my God! Hi!” Ducos said as the Star Wars theme music played in the background.
      [embedded content]
      “The force is strong with you,” Hamill responded as the nurse became visibly emotional.
      “I applaud you for having seen the Star Wars movies more than I have,” he quipped, before heaping praise on Ducos for her hard work at a coronavirus testing centre.
      “I’ve been reading about all you’ve done, six years as a nurse, teaching at night, you’re in the (testing) tents,” Hamill continued. “I mean, that’s so great. I mean to me, I’m a pretend hero, you’re the real life hero. So thank you for your service.”
      “I’m having (heart) palpitations and I’m crying!” Ducos exclaimed as she fought back tears.
      Kimmel and Hamill had extra surprises in store for the nurse as the TV presenter then announced she would be receiving $10,000 as part of the #PayPalItForward initiative, while her co-workers would also be receiving vouchers from officials at the PayPal payment app.
      Meanwhile, Hamill revealed he would be sending a signed lightsaber to Ducos to show his appreciation for her longtime support.
      “To me, Star Wars fans are more than just fans, they’re more like family…, and may the force be with you, always,” he said.

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      Oscars Accused of Snubbing 'Selma' After Cast Members Staged Police Brutality Protest at Premiere

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      Paramount Pictures

      According to actor David Oyelowo, the members of The Academy used their privilege to block the Ava DuVernay-directed film because they’re unhappy with the cast’s protest against Racism.
      Jun 6, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) objected to the cast of “Selma” ‘s police brutality protest at the film’s premiere, which resulted in it being snubbed at the 2015 Oscars, actor David Oyelowo has shared.
      Oyelowo starred as civil rights icon Martin Luther King in the 2014 film, directed by Ava DuVernay, which tells the story of the historic 1965 marches by civil-rights advocates during which they were clubbed and tear-gassed by state troopers.
      Speaking during the latest edition of Screen’s Screen Talks live Q&A series, the British actor recalled how he and his castmates’ tribute to Eric Garner, an African-American man who died after a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer put him in a chokehold during an arrest, subsequently upset Academy members, who decide on the Oscar nominations.
      “Six years ago,” he said, “Selma coincided with Eric Garner being murdered. That was the last time we were in a place of ‘I Can’t Breathe.’ ”
      “I remember at the premiere of Selma us wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-shirts in protest. Members of the Academy called in to the studio and our producers saying, ‘How dare they do that? Why are they stirring S-*-*-T?’ and ‘We are not going to vote for that film because we do not think it is their place to be doing that.’ ”
      Selma did pick up nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Song, with John Legend and Common taking home the latter prize, but no black actors were among the 20 nominees for acting prizes that year.
      “It’s part of why that film didn’t get everything that people think it should’ve got and it birthed #OscarsSoWhite,” continued Oyelowo. “They used their privilege to deny a film on the basis of what they valued in the world.”
      DuVernay backed Oyelowo’s claims, tweeting in response, “True story.” And on Friday, June 5, 2020 the Academy replied to DuVernay, writing, “Ava & David, we hear you. Unacceptable. We’re committed to progress.”

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      James Corden Dissed by Andrew Lloyd Webber Over His 'Cats' Performance

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      Universal Pictures

      The ‘Late Late Show’ host is criticized by the famed theater director over his onscreen performance in the 2019 musical film after the actor says he has no desire to watch the critically-panned movie.
      Jun 6, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed he wasn’t a fan of James Corden’s performance in the movie adaptation of his musical “Cats”.
      The British actor turned chat show host played Bustopher Jones in Tom Hooper’s film, which was critically-panned upon its release. And as he screened the filmed 1998 version of “Cats” in memory of his late cat Mika, who was killed last month, May 2020, Andrew also provided a live commentary for fans – during which he didn’t hold back as he slammed James’ portrayal of Bustopher.
      “Bustopher without interruption, as I wrote it,” he said of the character in the 1998 version. “Do not be beguiled by other versions. Other versions with unfunny interpolations which I begged to be cut out. I did manage to get the worst of them removed. I cannot tell you how absolutely un-Eliot it all was in this song.”
      T. S. Eliot penned “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” – a book of light poems which inspired Lloyd Webber to write “Cats”.
      Lloyd Webber’s comments come after Corden opened up about the film’s poor reception during an interview with the New Yorker, admitting that he hadn’t actually watched the movie himself.
      “I can’t imagine I’ll see it,” he said. “It’s important to say I had the best time making it. At some point you have to go, How am I going to judge my own experience? Am I only going to have enjoyed something if it was successful?”

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      Sylvester Stallone Finds It Lucky Original Ice Skating Scene Plan for 'Rocky' Was Scrapped

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      Chartoff-Winkler Productions

      ’40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic’ director Derek Wayne Johnson additionally admits there were several things that surprised him about the making of the iconic 1976 film.
      Jun 5, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Sylvester Stallone is glad his plans for an ice skating scene in his breakthrough movie “Rocky” fell through, because the end result was better than he could have imagined.
      The movie star has narrated new film “40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic”, which features home videos and behind the scenes footage from the 1976 classic, and in one segment he talks about the iconic skating scene he filmed with co-star Talia Shire, revealing it would have looked a lot different if he’d had his way.
      “I had written this scene for 300 extras,” he explains. “Adrian (Shire’s character) was supposed to be taken out on the ice by this incredible ice-skater and he’s showing off and Rocky is sort of humiliated. Then I get into a sort of a beef with the fella (as Rocky).”
      “I show up on the set and they said, ‘We’ve had to cut the extras back a little bit…’ And it was to none with no heads up. I had to rewrite it with just the two of us on the ice and since I can’t ice-skate Rocky runs alongside of her. She was not exactly Ice Capades either! It reflected that neither one of them was very graceful in life but together they’re a perfect fit. It turned out to be 1,000 times better than if there had been a big crowd, so I got very lucky on that day.”
      Meanwhile, the new documentary’s director, Derek Wayne Johnson, admits there were several things that surprised him about the making of the 1976 film, including the fact filmmaker John Avildsen had to shoot a pivotal boxing match around a beauty pageant.
      “The final fight, you find out in our documentary that a beauty pageant was scheduled in between filming,” Johnson explains. “So they had to film, wrap, set back up for a beauty pageant and then set back up the next day. I just thought that was so funny. It’s just low-budget filmmaking at its best.”

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      Lin-Manuel Miranda Pushes Back Movie Release in Solidarity With Black Lives Matter Activists

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      WENN

      The ‘Hamilton’ creator has decided to postpone the release of his new documentary ‘We Are Freestyle Love Supreme’ amid the nationwide protests against racial injustice.
      Jun 5, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda has put the release of his new documentary on hold in light of the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the U.S.
      The “Hamilton” creator and actor had been due to share “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme”, a film about his improv hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme, on Hulu this week, but he has since delayed the launch to show solidarity with social and racial justice advocates.
      “We will be postponing the release of the We Are Freestyle Love Supreme documentary and look forward to sharing it with you in the future,” reads a group statement posted on Twitter.
      The announcement also included ways for followers to help and support the Black Lives Matter movement.
      The message continued, “We are for the freedom of expression, creativity, inclusion, equality, and most of all, love,” the group said. “Our work has always centered around creating a safe space for those ideals to flourish. Our show does not exist without the operations of brilliant black artists that created two of our most beloved American art forms, jazz and hip-hop.”
      “Today our country, our world struggles to reach an end to this systemic racial injustice, intolerance, police brutality and hate. We add our voices to that fight.”
      “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme”, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, chronicles Miranda’s reunion with a number of his Hamilton collaborators, with whom he had performed improv shows before and after the show became a Broadway smash.
      A new launch date has yet to be revealed.
      It is thought to be the first film to have its release postponed in the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a white police officer in Minnesota last week.
      The news comes days after Miranda personally expressed his deep regret for not taking an official stand on police brutality, racism, and white supremacy issues sooner, branding his previous silence “a moral failure.”

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      Jordan Peele Assures John Boyega Won't Be Blacklisted After Actor Joins Black Lives Matter Protest

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      WENN

      Boyega’s ‘Star Wars’ co-star Mark Hamill and Lin Manuel Miranda also show their support for the Finn depicter after the British actor said, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this,’ during a protest in London.
      Jun 5, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Jordan Peele has got John Boyega’s back. The comedian/filmmaker has assured that the actor won’t be blacklisted in Hollywood after he joined a Black Lives Matter protest at London’s Hyde Park on Wednesday, June 3,
      During the protest, the 28-year-old delivered a powerful speech, while also revealing his fear about the future of his career. “I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this [speaking out], but f**k that,” he said to the cheering crowd.
      Seeing news about Boyega’s participation in the protest, Peele later let him know that he won’t be out of work after this. “We got you, John,” he simply wrote in response to the actor’s concern, while sharing photos of the British star holding his bullhorn.
      Many fellow actors have also shown their support for Boyega, with his “Star Wars” co-star Mark Hamill tweeting, “Never been more proud of you, John.” He affectionately signed off the message by referring to himself as Boyega’s “dad.”
      The official “Star Wars” Twitter account praised him, writing, “Lucasfilm stands with John Boyega and his message that now is the time. Black lives have always mattered.” It added, ” ‘Black lives have always been important. Black lives have always meant something’. The evil that is racism must stop. We will commit to being part of the change that is long overdue in the world. John Boyega, you are our hero.”
      Actor/writer Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted, “Oh god I WISH, Ojala! From Attack The Block to this day!”, referring to Boyega’s 2011’s film “Attack the Block”. Olivia Wilde posted, “I would be honored to work with @JohnBoyega and can only hope to have the chance. We’ve got your back, John. Don’t hold back.”
      Movie producer and writer Seth Grahame-Smith similarly assured the Finn depicter, “Any project. Any role he wants.” Rodney Rothman, the co-writer and co-director of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”, said he had immediate offer for the actor, “I have something great I would offer him today. Tell yer agents man.”
      Director Edgar Wright and playwright Jack Thorne said they would love to work with Boyega again, while Paul Feig joined the chorus of support as writing, “My hand is up high. It would be an honor to work with John.”

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      ‘Judy & Punch’ Review: On With the Horror Show

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      The Punch and Judy puppet shows, once a misogynistic staple of British seaside entertainment, have enthralled — and possibly traumatized — centuries of impressionable children. In them, a barely-changing slapstick (the term derives from Punch’s weapon of choice) tableau of wife-beating, sausage-scarfing and baby-tossing unfolds, usually with inept policemen joining the mayhem.Twisting the marionettes’ appeal into a bizarre feminist revenge fable, the Australian writer and director Mirrah Foulkes gives us “Judy & Punch,” a parable of toxic masculinity that slots almost too neatly into our #MeToo moment. Scurrying into a filthy public house in a 17th-century English village named Seaside (“Nowhere near the sea,” an on-screen note admits), the camera parks us in the midst of a raucous audience. It’s waiting for Professor Punch (a menacingly jovial Damon Herriman) and his wife, Judy (Mia Wasikowska), popular puppeteers who seem destined for wider fame.[embedded content]A philandering showman equally addicted to alcohol and applause, Punch longs to be discovered by a big-city talent scout. Judy, the real genius behind the string-pulling, is naïvely hoping that success will sober him up and settle him down.“The show seems to be getting punchier all the time,” she says, worriedly. Public opinion is changing, and even the revelry of “stoning day” — a self-explanatory spectacle designed to expose witches — is being questioned. And when, unwisely, Judy leaves their baby daughter in Punch’s care for an afternoon, the savagery that follows will force her to claim sanctuary with a band of forest-dwelling outcasts while her husband sweats to cover up more than one hideous crime.Presenting violence as a contagion and mob mentality as its superspreader, “Judy & Punch” courts equilibrium between domestic-abuse comedy and vicious morality tale. Dancing from brutal to wacky — in scenes that recall the dash and whimsy of ABC’s ditsy series “Galavant” (2015) — and from silly gallows jokes to grotesque seriousness, the movie intertwines humor and tragedy in imaginative, sometimes disturbing ways. Yet despite Mirrah’s inventiveness (in one lovely scene, Judy mimes animal shadows on the wall for her delighted daughter) and Stefan Duscio’s vividly grimy cinematography, one mood tends to wash out the other.What’s left is a baroque pantomime, a heavy-handed satire of intolerance whose fun fades faster than the livid bruises on Judy’s face.Judy & PunchNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes. Rent or buy on Apple TV, FandangoNOW and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. More