‘Stargate’ Roars at Canada’s Leo Awards

With so much fuss being made about J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot, it's easy to forget that there is another successful franchise out there with Star… in the title. That would be Stargate, which is due for its own sort of makeover later this year with the premiere of Stargate Universe. This is no sign that the concept is struggling, though. Indeed, the slew of awards that Stargateproductions won at the recent Leo Awards in Vancouver, British Columbia (the home base of CinemaSpy) shows that it continues to be admired.
The LEO Awards are presented by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of B.C.. They were established in 1998 to celebrate excellence in film and television productions that are made in the province. Stargate series and movies are largely filmed in Vancouver. At this years Celebration and Gala Ceremonies for the Leos, which took place on May 8 and 9, two productions - Stargate Continuum and Stargate Atlantis – won 12 awards between them. Moreover, Robert Cooper and Brad Wright, co-creators and executive producers of the three television series that make up the Stargate franchise, received one of the 2009 Leo Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
Stargate Atlantis, which ended its run after five seasons earlier this year, dominated the Dramatic Series category, winning nine of the 17 awards presented, including Best Dramatic Series. In the Feature Length Drama category, Stargate Continuum won three awards, one of which went to actor Michael Shanks for his performance as Stargate SG-1 series regular, Daniel Jackson. Shanks won Best Lead Performance by a Male.
Stargate alumni were also rewarded for their work on the series Sanctuary, which won four Leo awards. Those included Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for Amanda Tapping, one of the stars of Stargate Continuum. Tapping plays Samantha Carter in the Stargate franchise and has appeared in Stargate Atlantis and was also a regular on Stargate SG-1. Stargate Continnum is a feature length spin-off from the latter and is reviewed on CinemaSpy here.
The full list of winners in the Feature Length Drama and Dramatic Series categories are given below. A list of winners in all categories can be found on the Leo Awards website.
FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA
Best Feature Length Drama
Fifty Dead Men Walking – Shawn Williamson, Stephen Hegyes, Peter La Terriere, Kari Skogland, Guy Collins, Stephen Margolis, Michael Ryan, Nicole Carmen-Davis, Karyn Edwards, Elsie Choi, Kyle Lundberg (Producers)
Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama
Anne Wheeler – Living Out Loud
Best Screenwriting in a Feature Length Drama
Brad Wright – Stargate Continuum
Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama
Attila Szalay – Iron Road
Best Picture Editing in a Feature Length Drama
Fred Thorsen – Stone of Destiny
Best Overall Sound in a Feature Length Drama
Paul Sharpe, Iain Pattison, Graeme Hughes – Stargate Continuum
Best Sound Editing in a Feature Length Drama
John Taylor, Chester Bialowas, Jeff Jackman,Ken Biehl, Rick Senechal – Joy Ride 2
Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Drama
Ben Mink – Fifty Dead Men Walking
Best Production Design in a Feature Length Drama
Linda Del Rosario – Iron Road
Best Costume Design in a Feature Length Drama
Maya Mani – Iron Road
Best Make-Up in a Feature Length Drama
Joanne Kinchella – Iron Road
Best Visual Effects in a Feature Length Drama
Steve Hodgson, Adam Stern, Richard Patterson, Doug Campbell, Terry Hutcheson – Impact
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Chang Tseng – Dim Sum Funeral
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
Lauren Lee Smith – Helen
Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Michael Shanks – Stargate Continuum
Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
Babz Chula – Mothers & Daughters
DRAMATIC SERIES
Best Dramatic Series
Stargate Atlantis – Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Carl Binder, Martin Gero, Alan McCullough, John Smith (Producers)
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
Robert Cooper
Stargate Atlantis – Vegas
Best Screenwriting in a Dramatic Series
Alan McCullough
Stargate Atlantis – The Queen
Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series
Michael Blundell
Stargate Atlantis – Vegas
Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series
Mike Banas
Stargate Atlantis – Vegas
Best Overall Sound in a Dramatic Series
Kelly Cole, Patrick Ramsay, Bill Mellow, Joe Watts, Hugo De Le Cerda, Kevin Belen
Stargate Atlantis – Enemy at the Gate
Best Sound Editing in a Dramatic Series
Steve Smith, Matthew Wilson, Kirby Jinnah, Jay Cheetham, Jason Mauza
Stargate Atlantis – Enemy at the Gate
Best Production Design in a Dramatic Series
James Philpott
Smallville - Quest
Best Costume Design in a Dramatic Series
Valerie Halverson
Stargate Atlantis – The Queen
Best Make-Up in a Dramatic Series
Todd Masters, Nicholas Podbrey, Sarah Pickersgill, Harlow MacFarlane
Sanctuary – Warriors
Best Visual Effects in a Dramatic Series
Mark Savela, Shannon Gurney, Kodie MacKenzie, Viv Jim, Dan Weir
Stargate Atlantis – First Contact
Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Ryan Robbins
Sanctuary - Edward
Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Gabrielle Rose
Sanctuary - Edward
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Benjamin Arthur
Less Than Kind – Top of the Class
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Eve Harlow
The Guard – Boom
Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Tyler Labine
Reaper - Coming to Grips
Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Amanda Tapping
Sanctuary - Requiem

New ‘Blade Runner’ Webisodes Coming

As part of a remarkably ambitious expansion plan, the UK's Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire has applied for a new 100-acre film set representing streets in New York, Paris and Venice, according to theBBC.
Pinewood Shepperton has submitted the application to South Buckinghamshire District Council for Project Pinewood.
The £200m plans would include up to 1,500 homes—a mix of apartments, town and detached houses, a school, theatre, cinema and sports facilities.
Pinewood became famous in the 1950s and 1960s for the 'Bond' and 'Carry On films'.
Recent films coming from the studio include Bond's Quantum of Solace, Brideshead Revisited and The Dark Knight.
"Project Pinewood is the most innovative and forward looking strategic initiative in the UK screen and related industries," said the studio, "designed to achieve economic efficiencies in filming and reduction in carbon emissions."
The development would feature backdrops, including a Venetian canal, a Roman amphitheatre, a Tudor marketplace for period dramas and street scenes from downtown New York, French Quarter New Orleans, and a Chicago suburb. Pinewood said the project would offer directors and production designers a range of streetscapes reproducing the architectural style and atmosphere of the original locations abroad.
The studios said every aspect of the plans would take into account the importance of sustainability, from greener building design to the provision of alternative transport choices.
"Production companies will be able to reduce costs by not having to travel abroad and therefore reduce carbon emissions," it said.

Tinseltown Determined to Plug Leaks

It's a job for Captain Obvious: understanding that if you're a Hollywood thesp that you shouldn't reveal info about a project on which you're working…especially if you've signed a contract, most of which have non-disclosure agreements. That means you don't tell your friends, your grandma…even fido. And you certainly don't tell the media. And guess what? Yes, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube now count as the media (you're welcome, Marshal Mclullen fans).
Still, it seems some Hollywood types haven't figured it out yet. According to The Hollywood Reporter's THR, Esq. page, a growing number of studio deals are containing new language aimed specifically at curbing usage of social-media outlets by actors, execs and other creatives.
According to the report, plugging leaks of disparaging or confidential information about productions on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube is the goal.
So what brought this all to a head? In part, s small crisis over at FOX a couple of weeks back when Hart Hanson, executive producer for the Fox series Bones, tweeted, "First time in Bones history we are shut down from production. Damn swine flu!" It was a joke, but was misconstrued when another news items arrived reporting that the series star, David Boreanaz also had the flu. Turns out he only had a mild case of the regular flu.
Oops.
Then there was American Idol judge Paula Abdul's dramatic resignation from the show this year on Twitter.
Professional.
All of this is a bit capricious, of course. Hollywood is not averse to using the social networking media as a means to release information virally about forthcoming projects…and they're OK with celebs doing the same—provided it's been sanctioned. What it's really about is control…and studios want to maintain it. Not that you can really blame them.
It seems the bottom line here is this: if you've signed a non-disclosure contract, that means you don'tdisclose info anywhere, and that including Facetube.

Concept Art for Marvel’s $1B Dubai Theme Park

Now that Disney has absorbed Marvel into its giant maw, a proposed Marvel superhero theme park for Dubai may not be as safe a bet as planners had originally hoped. Back in 2007, United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. announced a partnership that would bring Marvel's full roster of Super Heroes — including 'Spider-Man', 'Iron Man', 'The X-Men', 'Incredible Hulk', 'The Fantastic Four' and 'Silver Surfer' — to Dubai for a major new theme park destination being developed by AAG.
Scheduled to open in 2011, the $1B theme park has faced some delays and is now being slated to open in 2012, assuming, of course, that Marvel's new parent company, Disney, doesn't balk at the investment, given that the Dubai economy has slowed in 2009…along with the rest of the world economy.
When the project was announced the press release said that "New technology and unparalleled visitor experiences will be the hallmark of the theme park creating a new standard for theme parks around the world."
Meanwhile, concept art for the park, which will feature rides and sections based on 'Spider-Man', 'Iron Man', 'The Hulk' and 'X-Men' has arrived online, and shows rollercoasters, a Spidey freefall ride and 3-D theaters.
As if one needed another reason to visit Dubai, which is fast becoming a playground mecca for big, unique ideas.
You can check out a few of the concept images below which depict various possible attractions, and click on over to DisneyAndMore for the rest.

Disney Releases Official Specs for Fantastic ‘Fantasia’ BD

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has official announced the full specs for its upcoming Blu-ray and DVD release of Fantasia. The former, which dates from 1940, has become one of Disney's most admired classics. If the quality of remastering for a hi-def release is anything like that of Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, animation fans are in for a visual and auditory treat.
The Blu-ray edition of The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition will be a 4-disc release that includes both the original film and its turn-of-the-millennium follow-up. Like the original, Fantasia 2000 is a lively mix of classical music and animated imagery. The 'cast' includes a host of famous names, including Steve Martin, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury, Itzhak Perlman and Quincy Jones.
Among the special features on the Blu-ray will be the Academy Award® nominated short Destino. Started in 1946 as a collaboration between Walt Disney and the painter Salvador Dali, Destino was not completed until 2003 when Roy E. Disney took on the project. The story of this classic short is told in a documentary included on the BD release titled 'Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino.'
The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition will also be available as a 2-Disc DVD. Both editions will be released on November 30.
For the full specs, read the official announcement below:
BURBANK, Calif., September 2010 — Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 — the magical, animated musical masterpiece and the contemporary classic inspired by it — debut in highly anticipated Blu-ray High Definition and DVD 2-Movie Collection Special Editions on November 30. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is opening the Disney vault to be able to present these two films that broke the boundaries of imagination in the highest quality possible.
The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition will be available in a 4-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack ($45.99 SRP) and a 2-Disc DVD ($39.99 SRP) for a very limited time only. The Blu-ray transformation of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will reveal the magic, music and majesty of both films as never before experienced, with state-of-the-art picture restoration of the original Fantasia and pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound. The Blu-ray combo pack is a tremendous value featuring, in addition to the two films in two different formats, a wealth of bonus features.
Among those Blu-ray special features is the highly requested Academy Award® nominated short Destino. Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, the seven minute film is the result of a unique collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali begun in 1946, but put on hold due to studio financial concerns. In 2003, Roy E. Disney worked with a team of modern day animators to complete the film as a tribute to Walt’s pioneering artistic vision. Accompanying the highly anticipated short is an all-new feature length documentary entitled “Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino,” which explores the origins of the relationship between Disney and Dali, their collaboration on Destino, and ultimately how the film came to fruition so many years after its inception.
Fantasia, an unprecedented and magnificent feast of music and animated images, was initially released by the Studio in 1940 as a “road show” release. The following year, at the 14th Annual Academy Awards, Fantasia earned two Special Awards. The first was given to Walt Disney and associates for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures, being the first commercial film released in multi-channel sound using a process called Fantasound, and the second to conductor Leopold Stokowski and his associates “for…unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music…thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form.”
Considered avant-garde during its time, Fantasia has gone on to become one of the most popular movies of all time and today is considered a classic. In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Stokowski, this groundbreaking film, which consists of animation set to eight musical pieces, is narrated by Deems Taylor and includes an appearance by Mickey Mouse (voiced by Disney himself).
Equally impressive is Fantasia 2000, the awe-inspiring extravaganza of sight and sound, executive produced by the late Roy E. Disney. Featuring an array of celebrity hosts including Steve Martin, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury, Itzhak Perlman and Quincy Jones, the film, like its predecessor, expertly visualizes classical music compositions with various forms of animation and live-action introductions. Fantasia 2000 is primarily performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by James Levine.
Synopsis: The dreams and visions of Walt Disney come to life in Fantasia, which blends music and film magic into an exhilarating movie-going experience. Unforgettable images are brought to life by some of the world’s best music, and highlighted by the comedy of Mickey Mouse as a troublemaking sorcerer’s apprentice, along with the beauty of winged fairies and cascading snowflakes, the majesty of Noah’s ark and even plump hippos performing ballet in tutus.
Motivated by his uncle’s foresight, Roy Disney continued the magic with Fantasia 2000 which begins where its predecessor left off. There are seven completely new segments, and viewers watch a bustling Depression-era metropolis in the style of Al Hirschfeld’s famous cartoons, a flock of flamingos with slapstick yo-yo talents, an ark full of animals gathered by Donald Duck as Noah’s first mate, and musical life breathed into a family of flying humpback whales.
Fantasia DVD Bonus Features:
New Audio Commentary with Disney historian Brian Sibley
Disney Family Museum (running time: approx. 5 minutes) – Walt’s daughter Diane Disney-Miller takes viewers on a tour of the new Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, California featuring a very large exhibit on Fantasia and most importantly, the Schultheis notebook with long lost Fantasia production notes found in more recent years in the walls of a convent.
Fantasia Blu-ray Bonus Features:
Everything on the DVD plus:
Disney View – This viewing mode maximizes the Blu-ray viewing experience with a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. Original artwork created by a Disney artist, in a style that complements the beauty of the film.
The Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure (running time: approx. 14 minutes) –An in depth look at the recently discovered Schultheis Notebook. The detailed log was created by Herman Schultheis, an effects man on Fantasia, and intricately breaks down the film from a technical view. Many of the special effects used in Fantasia were a mystery to modern day animato
rs until this notebook was recovered.
Interactive Art Gallery and Screensavers – Viewers can explore the artwork of Fantasia as never before, in HD resolution with unique Blu-ray interactivity and programming.
Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection
With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian John Canemaker, and Scott McQueen, manager of film restoration.
Audio commentary with interviews and story note recreations by Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker.
Fantasia 2000 DVD Bonus Features:
Musicana – Walt’s Inspiration for a Sequel (running time: approx. 10 minutes) – This documentary reveals rarely-seen art created for Musicana, a late 1970’s project intended as a Fantasia sequel with a focus on exploring other cultures via their greatest musical compositions. Viewers are offered a look at the origins of pieces that were started by Walt, such as “The Emperor and the Nightingale” which was then taken over by a very young John Lasseter. Ultimately, Musicana was stopped to begin production on “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” but the memories of this piece still live on with the animators who conceived it.
Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray Bonus Features:
Everything on the DVD plus:
Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino (running time: 82 minutes) – This feature length documentary explores the collaborative relationship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, revealing how and why the Destino short came to fruition under the lead of Roy E. Disney in 2003 so many years after its inception in 1946.
Destino (running time: approx. 7 minutes) – The legacy of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali lives on in this highly anticipated short film.
Disney’s Virtual Vault — BD-Live Feature
Original DVD Bonus Features from Legacy Collection
Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection (total running time: 84 minutes)
With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, and producer Don Ernst.
Audio commentary with the directors and art directors for each segment
To read about The Black Cauldron re-release, click over to the next page.
Disney is also releasing a 25th Anniversary Edition of its often forgotten animated feature The Black Cauldron. This one is only coming to DVD, though, and with a less extensive set of extra features.
The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition offers a new digital transfer with a small number of original bonus features. These include a never-before-released deleted scene and a game. These are in addition to the special features included on past releases.
In case you are one of the many people that The Black Cauldron has passed by, here are the official details:
The Black Cauldron, Walt Disney Pictures’ 25th animated feature-length film, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a Special Edition DVD release September 14 from Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Based on Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain books, this mystical, action-packed adventure debuts just in time for Halloween. The film tells the story of Taran, an apprentice pig keeper with dreams of becoming a great warrior, who embarks on a quest to find a magical and powerful Black Cauldron before the evil tyrant Horned King can possess it for his own diabolical purposes. Fantastical characters like the oracular pig Hen Wen, the willful princess Eilonwy, and the droll but annoying Gurgi face witches, elves, magic swords and other obstacles. As they journey through these thrilling escapades, Taran begins to learn the true meaning of what it is to be a hero.
New Bonus Features Include:
Deleted Scene—The Fairfolk: Viewers join Taran, Fflewddur Fflam, Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy as they travel into the depths of the earth and meet the Fairfolk.
The Witches’ Challenge Game—In order to defeat the dark powers of the Horned King, players must gain possession the magical sword from the Witches of Morva by solving their riddles.
Plus Classic DVD Bonus Features:
Still Frame Gallery—A compilation of behind-the-scenes artwork and photos.
Quest For the Black Cauldron—A trivia game in which players compete against the evil Horned King in a race to reach the Black Cauldron first.
Trick Or Treat—Classic Donald Duck cartoon from 1952.
The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition will be released on September 14.

‘Fringe’s’ Anna Torv Goes Topless

Here at CinemaSpy, yours truly has always admired Anna Torv's approach to her Fringe character of Agent Olivia Dunham. The actress has imbued her FBI alter-ego with a mix of steely determination, curiosity and sensitivity…and always managed to balance the three believably.
And while Torv is an attractive woman even with the uniform, a new photo shoot by Esquire magazine reveals a side of the Australian actress that might just leave a few of you breathless.
You too, guys.
Here's how Esquire describes Torv, referring to her as one of the women they love:
The sunny-haired star of Fox's Fringe—who looks a lot more comfortable without that bulky FBI uniform—finally reveals what she thinks you need to know about life, love, Vegemite, and women. Specifically, her.
Fringe wrapped up last week, but the Vancouver-filmed series returns April 1. Meanwhile, enjoy a couple of revealing photos below, then click on over to Esquire for the full set.

George Lucas Apparently Believes the World Will End in 2012

Right. So out of left field we learn today that George Lucas allegedly — and we do say allegedly here because you'll have to carefully consider the source on this — believes that the world will end in 2012…along with the Mayans, half a dozen cults, and anyone else who's dropped acid whilst reading Nostradamus.
Actor Seth Rogen told the Toronto Star that he recently met his filmmaking idol, and after about 25 minutes found himself incredibly confused. No, not because Lucas tried to explain why he's interested in making another Star Wars trilogy, but because he's certain the world will soon end.
You heard us correctly.
Rogen was meeting with Lucas (and Steven Spielberg) to discuss a new movie project when the Star Wars creator apparently dropped the personal belief bombshell.
“George Lucas sits down and seriously proceeds to talk for around 25 minutes about how he thinks the world is gonna end in the year 2012, like, for real. He thinks it," Rogen told the Star. “He’s going on about the tectonic plates and all the time Spielberg is, like, rolling his eyes, like, ’My nerdy friend won’t shut up, I’m sorry.'"
At first Rogen thought Lucas was joking but soon realized he wasn't. He claims he asked Lucas if the filmmaker had built a spaceship and if Rogen could have a seat on it.
“He claimed he didn’t have a spaceship, but there’s no doubt there’s a Millennium Falcon in a garage somewhere with a pilot just waiting to go… It’s gonna be him and Steven Spielberg and I’ll be blown up like the rest of us,” Rogen said.
Surreal experience, or masterful leg pulling…? You be the judge.
On the other hand, perhaps the truly surreal thing here is that Rogen was actually in a meeting with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg about a movie.
We just have one question before you ponder: If Lucas really believes that the world will end next year, then why is he planning more Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies…to say nothing of all the other film and television projects he has in development?
OK…maybe he's not CERTAIN certain.

Is Tarnish Dulling Oscar’s Lustre?

Hollywood’s biggest night of the year has come and gone, and it seems many could care less. Last night’s 83rd Annual Academy Awards show wasn’t as dreadful as many critics have charged, but it wasn’t lustrous, either — not the way it has been in decades past — leading many to wonder if the ceremony is: a) losing its relevance; b) compromised by the down economy; c) an indicator of the changing state of both the film and broadcast industry.
The turn of the 21st century has seen the celebrated awards show take a hit. Changes over the past decade seem to have aversely affected the program, including shifting the broadcast from Monday at 9pm to Sunday at 8:30pm in 1999. During the TV writers strike in 2008, just over 32M viewers watched the Oscars, the least viewed ever.
This year the Academy Awards show fell to an 11.7 adults 18-49 rating, down 12% vs. last year’s 13.3 adults 18-49 rating. The average viewership fell to 37.6M viewers, down 9% below last year.
Last night’s ceremony felt more mechanical than usual. Folks showed up and did what they were supposed to do, but with little passion or fanfare. Despite hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway’s combination of dry humor and goggle-eyed ardor, respectively, the two seemed largely unsuited for hosting duties. Burdened with banal scripted material, the pair managed to inject the show with energy, but little majesty or self-effacing levity.
The two hosts had been recruited to attract a younger viewing audience…you know, the same audience that felt slighted when the ‘In Memoriam’ segment of the awards show failed to honor Corey Haim, the Lost Boys actor who died of pneumonia complications last year at age 38.
Of course, it wasn’t exactly a banner year for mainstream nominations, either, so it’s hard to level blame at either the Academy or ABC. The King’s Speech, which took best picture, director and actor awards, is a great film, but of little interest to the throngs of sub-30 year-old audiences primarily targeted these days. True Grit was good, but overrated. And Black Swan, a personal favorite of yours truly, is powerful, but far too darkly esoteric for mainstream audiences (despite Natalie Portman’s deserved and poignant best actress win).
Are the Academy Awards falling victim to a perfect storm of economic restraints, shifting audience tastes and a changing industry? Let us know what you think below. Meanwhile, the complete list of Oscar nominations and winners follows…
BEST PICTURE:
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Darla K. Anderson, Producer
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions), Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
DIRECTING:
Tom Hooper - The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
David O. Russell – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
David Fincher – The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen – True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Javier Bardem – Biutiful (Roadside Attractions)
Jeff Bridges – True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)
James Franco – 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Natalie Portman – Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole (Lionsgate)
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions)
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine (The Weinstein Company)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christian Bale – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions)
Jeremy Renner – The Town (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Melissa Leo – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Amy Adams – The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom (Sony Pictures Classics)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions), Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Seidler
Another Year (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Mike Leigh
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Written by Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
In a Better World (Sony Pictures Classics), Denmark
Biutiful (Roadside Attractions), Mexico
Dogtooth (Kino International), Greece
Incendies (Sony Pictures Classics), Canada
Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi) (Cohen Media Group), Algeria
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
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Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Lee Unkrich
How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation), Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
The Illusionist (Sony Pictures Classics), Sylvain Chomet
ART DIRECTION:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures), Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Warner Bros. Pictures), Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Wally Pfister
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Matthew Libatique
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Danny Cohen
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Roger Deakins
COSTUME DESIGN:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures), Colleen Atwood
I Am Love (Magnolia Pictures), Antonella Cannarozzi
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Jenny Beavan
The Tempest (Touchstone Pictures), Sandy Powell
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Mary Zophres
FILM EDITING:
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Andrew Weisblum
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), Pamela Martin
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Tariq Anwar
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Jon Harris
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Inside Job (Sony Pictures Classics), Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Exit Through the Gift Shop (Producers Distribution Agency, Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz
Gasland (Rooftop Films), Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
Restrepo (National Geographic Entertainment), Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
Waste Land (Arthouse Films), Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley
MAKEUP:
The Wolfman (Universal Pictures), Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
Barney’s Version (Sony Pictures Classics), Adrien Morot
The Way Back (Newmarket Films), Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
ORIGINAL SCORE:
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation), John Powell
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Hans Zimmer
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Alexandre Desplat
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), A.R. Rahman
ORIGINAL SONG:
“We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Coming Home” from Country Strong (Screen Gems), Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
“I See the Light” from Tangled (Walt Disney Pictures), Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
“If I Rise” from 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
SOUND MIXING:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Salt (Columbia Pictures), Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
SOUND EDITING:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Richard King
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
TRON: Legacy (Walt Disney Pictures), Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
Unstoppable (20th Century Fox), Mark P. Stoeckinger
VISUAL EFFECTS:
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures), Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Warner Bros. Pictures), Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
Hereafter (Warner Bros. Pictures), Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
Iron Man 2 (Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios), Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick
DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Strangers No More, Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
Killing in the Name, Jed Rothstein
Poster Girl, Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block
Sun Come Up, Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
The Warriors of Qiugang, Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon
ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
The Lost Thing, Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Day & Night, Teddy Newton
The Gruffalo, Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
Let’s Pollute, Geefwee Boedoe
Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary), Bastien Dubois
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
God of Love, Luke Matheny
The Confession, Tanel Toom
The Crush, Michael Creagh
Na Wewe, Ivan Goldschmidt
Wish 143, Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Despite Recent Setbacks, Ron Howard Still Bullish on Dark Tower

Tina Fey, creator and star of NBC’s sitcom30 Rock, has publicly expressed support for her co-star on the show, Tracy Morgan, amid a storm of controversy over a joke the actor/comedian is alleged to have made in a recent stage show. During the stand-up performance in Nashville, Morgan reportedly went on an ‘anti-gay tirade’ and is said to have joked that he’d “pull out a knife and stab” his own son if he were gay.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the allegations against Morgan were made by Kevin Rogers, who attended the show and said that before the show he was a fan of the Saturday Night Live alumnus. Rogers subsequently posted a piece on Facebook titled “Why I No Longer ‘Like’ Tracy Morgan – A Must Read.” The story was later picked up by the website of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that campaigns against anti-gay extremism.
Morgan himself has since said sorry for any offense that he caused. In a statement to the trade paper he apologized to his fans and the gay & lesbian community for his “choice of words.”
“I’m not a hateful person and don’t condone any kind of violence against others,” Morgan said. “While I am an equal opportunity jokester, and my friends know what is in my heart, even in a comedy club this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.”
Fey, also a former SNL star, has now offered her support to Morgan. Although she admitted that “the violent imagery of Tracy’s rant,” disturbed her, she indicated that homophobia was not something she associated with her co-star.
“It also doesn’t line up with the Tracy Morgan I know, who is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person,” The Reporter quotes her as saying.
“I hope for his sake that Tracy’s apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian coworkers on30 Rock, without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket,” she added.
Meanwhile, NBC exec Robert Greenblatt had said he was pleased that Morgan has apologized. At the same time, however, he gave a thinly veiled warning to the actor and other stars of the network’s shows that NBC won’t take kindly to being embarrassed in this way again.
“We will always recognize an artist’s freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said no matter what the context,” said Greenblatt. “Unfortunately, Tracy’s comments reflect negatively on both 30 Rock and NBC – two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations – and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”
The controversy may have exploded too late to make the judges at the 51st Monte Carlo Television Festival’s Golden Nymph Awards think twice about rewarding Morgan for his role in 30 Rock. The star was named Outstanding actor in a Comedy Series at the event on Friday night.

Today would have been celebration galore

Today would have been celebration galore for most fans of Emeka Ike that stormed the Federal High court premises for the final verdict on who the authentic AGN president really is but that didn't come to be as the judge again strike out the case on technical grounds.
A disappointed Emeka Ike definitely not happy with the judge's decision left the court premises in annoyance and when he came out to his fans, he told them in these words " You guys should wait as i have been asked to go get some document and will be back in not less than 1 hour". This didn't happen as several hours later Emeka Ike the Maradona never showed up and calls to his mobile phone by some of his fans were returned unanswered. Well the bottom line is that Segun Arinze who is the AGN president the Industry knows is still in charge and will still be for a very long time to come. Is there hope for Emeka Ike in this legal battle? Some people say why is he not concentrating his energy on the growth of his private school and many other businesses? Why AGN; what is it that is not done right at the Guild that he wants to fix? Well over to you o my brother from another mother. We were told that the AGN president Segun Arinze or his lawyer were not at the sitting.

NOLLYWOOD CELEBS & THEIR BETTER HALVES!

1. Desmond Elliot and his wife Vickie;(above) the two met as high school sweethearts and have been inseperable ever since. Vickie who is a banker keeps Desmond grounded and focused; well with family of four (two sets of twins) and a large retinue of dogs, who wouldnt? Big ups to both of them!
Nollywood celebrities; we have loved them, cried with them, signed autographs and hugged them but do we know their better halves? Those silent, patient souls that stand silently aside as their other half recieve so much adulation and praise. They put up with alot; the frantic adoration of fans who sometimes ignore them like their not there. Then those love scenes in the movies! Ooh lala! How do they cope? The stories, the lies, the rumours! Would you want to be in their shoes? Do you honestly think you have what it takes to be the strong silent one behind a successful actor or actress? Many really can't deal with it but for those who do, I duff my hat! Ladies and gentlemen, here's presenting the spouses of some of our more popular Nollywood actors!
2. Omotola and Matthew Jalade-Ekeinde;The couple just celebrated their 15th year anniversary! Wow! No small feat in Nollyweird! Matthew met Omo T in her teens and recognizing a good thing, married her almost immediately. The union has produced four lovely children and they continue to wax strong despite the pressures of fame and public scrutiny.
3. Ramsey and Emilia Nouah; Heart throb, beef cake, loverboy, martinee idol... whatever you want to call him, Ramsey is a director's dream; able to interprete any role you give to him if he is tasked enough. Forget that directors like to box him into the 'loverboy mode'. Ramsey is also a devoted father and husband to Emilia who he has been married to for several years and they have three children.
4. Ini Edo and Philip Ehiagwina; Nollywood sweetheart, Ini Edo has been the object of alot people's fantasies but sorry, she got snapped up a couple of years ago by American based business man, Philip Ehiagwina! lol! He's the man that goes home to that sugar! hahaha! Chocholate brown and perfectly built, Ini continues to woo her fans with her flawless acting. Shedding several pounds, she now sports a svelte, sleek look making her look even more fantastic.
6. Omoni & Nnamdi Oboli; Lovely couple Omoni and Nnamdi continue to be the couple to emulate. Sweet and cute looking together, they met earlier on in life when Omoni just started acting in Nollywood. A long hiatus from the industry and a stint in the U.K produced, three lovely boys. Undeterred by the strapping of motherhood and long absence from the industry, Omoni determinedly forged ahead and has become one of most sought after actresses in Nollywood.
7. Daniel and Doris Ademinokan; Lovely couple Daniel and Doris continue to woo fans where ever they go! He is a handsome director and she is a lovely actress and together they make magic together. Though they both startted in the Yoruba film industry, they sometimes cross over into the English movie genre. Daniel and Doris sometimes work together, and he has to direct her sometime as a love interest opposite an actor!! How does he handle that?! hahaha! The two have a lovely son together and continue to make great movies together!
Van and Adjoa Vicker: Ghanaian actor and heartthrob, Van Vicker might have legions of fans all over the world but he remains very much in love with his wife Adjoa! The lovely couple live in Ghana with their three children

Distinguished ladies of entertainment

Some of them are talent managers, producers and still others play indispensable roles as scriptwriters . Others like Kate Henshaw-Nuttal who regularly deliver good tidings from Promised and Rita Dominic indisputably have built reputation for themselves as brand ambassadors. In this report, Samuel Olatunji explores what makes them tick.
Mildred Okwo
Very few will recognize her in public, but her work speaks volumes. She’s a talent manager par excellence and a wonderful producer and director. She manages Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Jim Iyke and Mike Ezuronye . A recent movie she produced didn’t say less. Genevieve Nnaji, who played the lead role in the movie, said she’s never had it so good. Why Mildred has not released the AMAA rated movie is best known to her.
Peace Anyiam Osigwe
She’s been “a godmother” of sorts for movie makers. She came up with the idea of the AMAA a while ago and it’s been Africa’s Oscars . She’s also a reputable producer and as a matter of fact she produced The GRA Women, a soap now running in Nigeria and Ghana.
Amaka Igwe
Her fans call her “the queen of the soaps” but Amaka does more than that. In recent times she’s been organizing workshops for aspiring filmmakers. Amaka is among the brains behind Checkmate, Fortunes and many other soaps of note .
Joy Ilibeno
Joy is the toast of movie lovers. She’s Head of Operations at Pan African Movies, West Africa. Now that Joy is distributing African movies in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, Joy is the arrowhead of movie producers who know their onions.
Emem Isong
In a male-dominated Nollywood , Emem Isong has carved a niche for herself and paved the way for aspiring female movie producers. From Games Women Play to Reloaded, Emem has left non in Nollywood in doubt that she still has a lot up her sleeves. She is reputed to have given Stella Damasus her first lead role, an opportunity which surely was instrumental in placing considerably ahead her peers. Nse Ikpe Etim also benefited immensely from Stella’s repertoire.
Vivian Ejike
Vivian Ejike is a banker-turned movie maker. Amongst her works are Silent Scandal, Private Storm and When the Heart Lies. She has a reputation of improving with very movie she produces which means she’s quite creative and dynamic . One of Vivian’s creative energy is Chelsea Eze who featured in one of her movies and now gradually carving a niche for herself in Nollywood