Some Film News ...

So recently I've been doing some writing for thefancarpet.com where I've been writing about some of the latest news in the film business. So here's the first few:

Nicole Kidman in talks to join the paper boy

Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman is in talks to take over the Sofia Vergara role in the Lee Daniels directed film The Paperboy.

The film has been plagued with drop outs as stars attached to the project such as Toby Maguire and Sofia Vergara have both left for different reasons. Now that Kidman is in talks to play role previously assigned to Vergara things are beginning to look back on track.

Actor Matthew McConaughey is still tipped to play the films lead role, a reporter who investigates the events surrounding a murder, along with his brother, which could lead to a prisoner on death row walking free.

Kidman’s character (if she signs to the film) is a woman with a sinister side to her and has a penchant for writing letters to inmates on death row, and initially brings the case to McConaughey’s characters attention.

With teen heartthrob Zac Efron also on board it appears as though the only cast member in need of replacement is Maguire. The film plans to begin filming in the late summer if the casting switch is successful.

Affleck set to star and direct!

Ben Affleck set to direct and star in his next film, Argo.

The political thriller set in 1979 will see Affleck play Tony Mendez, a CIA in disguise expert who, in order t help six American diplomats escape from Iran, creates a fake Hollywood production.

The film will be working from a script by Chris Terrio that had previously appeared on 2010s Black List.

Affleck has previously stepped behind the film camera and proven his abilities as a director with film such as Gone Baby Gone and The Town, but Argo will be his first ‘period’ film with a whole new set of challenges, but given his previous record it shouldn’t prove to be a big issue.

Other news surrounding the film is the talk that actors Alan Arkin and John Goodman are very close to signing up for Affleck’s latest venture on the big screen.

Given Affleck’s previous track record and the talk of the new signings, he looks set to prove why this film shouldn’t have been on the Black List.

Scarlett Johansson joins Judd Apatow/John Carney film

The Sunday Business post online has reported that screen siren Scarlett Johansson has been added to the cast of Can A Song Save Your Life?

The film is a musical picture that will be directed by Carney and will follow a “a washed-up A&R man who forms a passionate bond with a younger singer/songwriter (Johansson) from out of town.”

The film has been in the works for some time with writer/producer/director Judd Apatow stated way back in the summer of 2009 that he was working a movie with John Carey.

After two years the two men have finally cleared their busy schedules and began work together and the film is finally shaping up.

Carney said “I’ve been writing it for a year and a half.” He later added ‘I went out to Los Angeles to meet Scarlett a couple of months ago. She was everything you could imagine – very hot, elegant and she’s really smart.”

It comes as no surprise that Johansson will be singing in the new film after proving her worth as a vocalist over the past few years, with an album on Tom Waits covers and she collaborated with Pete Yorn on his album Break Up.

The film has a budget of $10 million and is planned to begin shooting next year in New York.

Madonna's W.E sent into Oscar race

Madonna’s narrative feature directional debutW.E will be released on December 9^th, during the heart of the awards season.

Following the stars critically panned directional debut Filth and Wisdom it appears that The Weinstein Company have some faith in her follow up feature.

“Madonna beautifully interweaves past and present in W.E. It’s a very smart film, and a stunning feature directorial debut,” said Weinstein. “I’m incredibly excited about this movie and I wanted to give it a prominent release date.”

The film looks at the fabled romance between American Willis Simpson and Britain’s King Edward VIII, who gave up the thrown to marry the woman he loved. More than six decades later, their story enthralls Wally Winthrop, a young woman who sees a stark contrast between her unhappy marriage and their devotion, an example she follows as she searches for true love.

Considering the film looks at what was happening off screen in The King's Speech, it makes perfect sense to release the film during award season given the success of the latter at this year’s award ceremonies’.

The films platform release will occur on the 9^th of December in New York and LA before going wide sometime in January.

Review: Franklin vs Com Truise - I Know

Originally posted on www.soundblab.com

Now, I had never heard of Franklin vs Com Truise and after researching online there still wasn't much I could find out about them, apart from the fact the song 'I know' was played on Lauren Laverne's Radio 6 show. 'I know' is described as a mix of electronic funk, mutant pop and old-school synths. However, the first song doesn't really have much to offer as it appears quite slow and a little bit boring. To be perfectly honest, you wouldn't find yourself dancing to it on a night out.

The second song, 'Great Society' isn't much better and sounds a little bit on the dreary side and if you heard it, it wouldn't be a must download song once you got home. Final song 'Hospital' follows suit in being yet another rather boring and dreary mix of vocals and synth sounds with what almost sounds like a nursery rhyme in the background, once again failing to capture the audience.

Overall, the songs are very underwhelming and I don't believe we will be hearing much more from these guys in the future.

Review: Thomas Tantrum - Mad By Moonlight

Originally posted on www.soundblab.com

Thomas Tantrum is an alternative indie band based in Southampton. The band first came to prominence in 2008 and boast famous fans such as Lily Allen. After spending much of that year touring with bands such as Dirty Pretty Things, The Futureheads and Glasvegas, they released their self-titled debut album Thomas Tantrum. Now they are back with their follow up albumMad By Moonlight.

The album starts off well but the first three tracks are nothing I haven't heard before and sound a little bit bland to be opening up a second album. However as we get to the middle of the album things get better. We start with the first two singles 'Sleep' and 'Hot Hot Summer' and then 'We are the People' which all once again reminded me of why I was excited to review this album. The albums eighth track 'Turning Blue' is another one of the better middle-track songs which stands out from the crowd.

However, with this said the majority of the songs on the album tend to blend into one not really standing out from the song before it. This album is definitely something you could enjoy listening to on a hot summers day, and with the recent weather it could get a few plays, but I'm afraid it may just blend into the background going unnoticed.

LGBT Domestic Violence

Originally posted on www.lgf.org.uk

Domestic violence is a term we have all heard of and understand as a terrible ordeal for anyone to go through, but it is something that isn't as widely acknowledged as happening within relationships in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGB&T) community.

Much previous research on domestic violence has concentrated on heterosexual relationships, with men widely being considered the perpetrator of the violence and women as the victims, the ordeal suffered by men and women within the LGB&T community is often ignored.

Due to the failure to acknowledge LGB&T relationships in much of the previous research on this subject, it is thought that this has played down the severity of the experience of domestic violence in LGB&T communities, as LGB&T people have only recently become aware of the seriousness of this problem, as their heterosexual counterparts.

A new study aims to find out more about incidents of LGB&T domestic violence.

Manchester Metropolitan University Post-Grad student, Laura M.Chant is looking for volunteers to explore their experiences anonymously.

Laura is a graduate of the University of Bolton is currently working alongside Greater Manchester Police on a research project entitled 'Same Sex Violence, Another Closet: Exploring the Victimisation of Unreported Abuse, and Associated Risk Factors, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis', which explores domestic abuse within a minority population, with the hope of helping people who are suffering.

The research being conducted will help explore domestic violence in LGB&T relationships through the eyes of the victims themselves, identifying the significant experiences for them, which according to the researcher, does not appear to be the primary focus in previous research carried out. The research will then focus on exploring the experiences in relation to the dynamics of abuse, associated risk factors and reasons for un-reporting, the report uses its pioneering approach to help form the general area for this research.

This work is ultimately setting up the ground work to help members of the LGB&T community and the final report will be used to help inform the police of the risk and prevalence of domestic violence, inform ways that the police can promote awareness and encourage victims to come forward.

The findings of this report will be compiled within a thesis that will be available at the Manchester Metropolitan University and within a review report for the Greater Manchester Police.

The research subjects have been given total anonymity within the research findings.

Remembering Queer as Folk USA!

Originally posted on www.differentscene.co.uk

Now most people have heard of Queer as Folk whether it’s the British version or the American version. But for this I am going to concentrate on the American version of the TV show (don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about the original UK version). Unlike its British inspiration, which ran for a mere yet unforgettable 10 episodes the American version ran for an incredible five series consisting of 83 episodes which when you think about it is a remarkable feat for an American TV show, considering the majority of them rarely make it past the mid-season finale.

Queer as Folk on the other hand was a huge success across the pond becoming the number one show on its broadcast channel Showtime and earned a huge amount through advertising.

The show concentrated on the lives of a group of gay men, a lesbian couple and a radical gay rights campaigning mother of one of the lead gay men living in Pittsburgh. The significance of this show was cemented in its unashamed forthright way of dealing with homosexual lives in the 21^st century concentrating on controversial storylines involving coming out, drug addiction and gay bashing along with topical storylines surrounding same sex marriage and gay adoption, and didn’t shy away from dealing with something most American television shows were a little afraid of showing; gay sex, which was demonstrated in its explicit portrayal of homosexual sex within its first episode and throughout the remaining 82 episodes.

I recently finished a marathon run of watching Queer as Folk USA, which I must say I enjoyed thoroughly. As a huge fan of the UK series I was a little afraid of an American remake (as I am sure a number of other people were or may still be worried about), and although the show may be very similar to UK edition in the first series at times, it adds its own twist and really comes through as a TV show in its own right, separate from the original. The show really comes into its own during the second series with its combination of humour and satire of gay culture along with its more political relevance towards the end of the series, and the continuous love between key characters Justin and Brian throughout is enough to get anyone hooked.

This show is a must watch for anyone gay or straight, and in particular fans of the original show, but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t seen that version as this show has plenty for you, and its significance in gay culture across the world should be more than enough to make you want to see it. So sit back and enjoy and get ready for the long haul, as this show will have you hooked almost instantly.

5 Things to do when you're bored

Originally posted on www.wikio-experts.com

1. The Internet:

The chances are that when you are bored you are bored at home. So why not get onto this amazing invention: the Internet. The Internet has millions of different websites which can help occupy your time and give you something to do. From the millions upon millions of Youtube videos featuring world famous funny videos which can occupy the time of any one and keep you engrossed for hours without even realising it. Or there are websites such as Stumbleupon.com which opens the gateway to numerous different and entertaining websites which you never even knew existed. It is just another way of having endless hours of fun.

2. Get out of the house:

Instead of sitting down and doing nothing, why do not you leave the house to help pass your time? Many people spend hours a day huddled up in their homes complaining of nothing to do when there are plenty of things for them to do on their own doorsteps. People tend to forget that there is a whole world of adventure to be had and they fail to notice the little things such as the sights around their areas. So, next time try leaving the house for an hour or two, it will cure your boredom for sure.

3. Cook:

If getting out is not your thing or you cannot go out due to interference from things like the weather, why not cook something you have never cooked before. Many people tend to eat pre-packaged meals and snack that they forget about the enjoyment of cooking and the pleasure you have once completing the cooking process and get to enjoy the tasty goodness of it all. So, if you have a few free hours, why not cook a nice meal ... Or even better, make some form of delicious dessert you have never heard of and then enjoy the eating process.

4. Computer games:

So, we are back to the Internet, but there are plenty of fun games to play online!

The Internet is a highway to gaming heaven. You can play games for free which you other wise have to pay for and will find some of which you might not have heard of, but will find you like will produce hours of endless fun just like other websites can do.

5. Make something:

Get creative! This is always something everyone enjoys. So, next time you're bored, why not whip out those old clothes, paints or pieces of paper and get creating a new masterpiece for you to enjoy ... Or to laugh at!

Welcome to South Wales

Originally posted on www.the-experts.co.uk

South Wales has a lot to offer for anyone considering spending the weekend in Wales or longer. Whether it's a short trip or an extended holiday, South Wales has a lot to offer, and the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

South Wales has a lot to offer and one thing that cannot be ignored is its beautiful scenery. From fields that stretch on for miles and miles full of wildlife to the huge Welsh hills, it can definitely be said that Wales is beautiful. You can capitalise on these beautiful landscapes by visiting places such as Caldicot Castle & Country Park with its medieval castle and 55 acres of parkland, gardens and grounds, which is a sure fire hit for any countryside lover. There are also plenty of places in Wales for the family (if you are holidaying with your family) and many of them are free, such as St. Fagans National History Museum where the whole family can experience centuries of Welsh history in acres of beautiful land. There's a Big Pit: National Coal Museum where you will be taken 300 feet under ground for a tour of real mining conditions. These are just two of the many great things Wales tourism has to offer. If this isn't really your thing, South Wales is also the home to two huge shopping cities, Cardiff, the Welsh capital and Newport. Both cities have just undergone huge revamps and are homes to some of the best High Street fashion retailers, vintage/charity shops and restaurants from around the world. A must visit for anyone spending their holidays in Wales.

The main negative about South Wales is the weather. If the weather is nice, then you will have an absolutely amazing time, but if it's bad, then you could possibly have the worst time of your life. However, as we all know, this can happen anywhere in the world. If you are planning on visiting Cardiff, remember that it does have a huge student population and binge drinking culture which can get a little out of hand. This is true of many major cities, so don't let it put you off. So, when you are thinking of your next holidays, why not consider Welsh holidays?

Britney Spears: Overpriced and Overhyped?

Originally published on www.the-experts.co.uk

Britney Spears is without doubt one of the biggest pop stars of the last 25 years. She has had countless hits and multiple platinum selling albums around the world and is the 8th best selling female artist in America.

But with the announcement of her latest tour, many people have been wondering whether there is much point in going to see her?

After the promotion for her latest album Femme Fatale, Britney was slated by a number of music critics and journalists due to her lacklustre promotional performances which mainly involved her lip-synching and walking aimlessly around a stage with dancers that engulfed her and practically covered her from view.

During her Circus Tour, the songs were great, the dance numbers were amazing and the staging was outstanding, but Britney herself was a little lacklustre.

She didn't sing, the dancing was brilliant but it was mainly the dancers doing the dancing, while Britney walked around and looked a little lost in the huge production.

If this last tour and the recent promotional performances are nothing to go by, then, fans will not be willing to pay £60 to watch her get lost in a world of dancers and extravagant stages.

Gus Van Sant

Originally posted on www.differentscene.co.uk

If I mention the name Gus Van Sant many of you may wonder, who? Unless you know a lot about film directing you probably wouldn’t have heard of him, but his films may ring a bell, Good Will Hunting anyone?

Van Sant is a two time academy award nominated director who’s background catalogue includes, films ranging from independent and art house projects such as My Own Private Idaho and the Palme d’Or winning Elephant to the Academy Award winning films Milk and Good Will Hunting. With an interest in film making that stems back to when he was boy, Van Sant attended the Rhode Island School of Design where he soon changed his course from painting to cinema after being inspired by the likes of Andy Warhol.

After spending much of the 1970s and early 1980s in Europe and Los Angeles where he worked as an assistant to Ken Shapiro, he moved to New York where he worked at an advertising agency before making his first filmMala Noche that he funded himself. The film gained Van Sant acclaim across the film festival circuit and introduced his themes that would become recurrent throughout much of his career such as unfulfilled romanticism and the refusal to portray homosexuality as something that required judgment.

As the 80s came to a close and the 90s began Van Sant was on top form after the success of his breakout pictureDrugstore Cowboy that stared Matt Damon. In 1991 one of his most well known films to date was released, My Own Private Idaho featuring Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix as two male hustlers. The film won him the Independent Spirit Award for his screenplay. As the 1990s progressed Van Sants next film Even Cowgirls Get the Blues failed to set cinemas alight and his subsequent directing venture To Die For met a similar fate. His directing career took a turn for the better and introduced him to huge worldwide success after the film release ofGood Will Hunting, which grossed $220 worldwide and was nominated for nine academy awards, including one for Best Director for Van Sant.

After another spate of films that failed to set the box office alight he returned to the Art House world where he directed his ‘Death Trilogy.’ He won the Best Director award at the Cannes film festival for the second film in the trilogy, Elephant.

His next major project once again catapulted him in the mainstream when he directed the film Milk, a biopic based on the first openly gay man to be voted to public office in California Harvey Milk. The film was a critical and commercial hit and received numerous accolades, including a second nomination for the Best Director Academy award.

At 58, Van Sant has endured some incredible ups and down in his directing career that looks as though it could be going for some time still, and I’m sure there is plenty more for us to see from this great director.