Saturday, June 9, 2012

John Travolta accuser: I have proof

John Travolta has denied claims that he sexually assaulted a masseur in January but the accuser says he has "proof."

The unknown man filed a US$2 million (NZ$2.53m) lawsuit under the name of John Doe claiming that the A-list star made inappropriate advances towards him.

John's lawyer Marty Singer says the incident which allegedly happened at the Beverly Hills hotel is "complete fiction and fabrication" and the plaintiff would "regret" making the allegations.

"I have proof to support the truth that I'm telling," the accuser told RadarOnline but did not detail what evidence he has.

"I represent the 99 per cent of the population, the working class, and I was put in an inappropriate situation that I didn't put myself in. It is not for Mr Singer to deny me my right!

"I passed a lie detector test for the National Enquirer, and I'm telling the truth about what happened."

The accuser said that John "started out polite and charming, but then when things didn't go his way things digressed."

The Pulp Fiction star strongly maintains that the incident never occurred and he wasn't even in Los Angeles on the date in question.

- Cover Media

Britney walks off X Factor set

Britney Spears left the set of her new show The X Factor after reportedly being irked by a contestant's performance.

The pop songstress experienced her first day as judge on Simon Cowell's US TV talent programme Thursday.

TMZ reports that Spears, who co-judges with Cowell, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid, didn't appreciate one performer's rendition of her song Hold It Against Me.

When the unidentified crooner belted out her tune, Spears quickly left the judging panel. Audience members report that Spears was visibly upset.

A source close to production informed the website that Spears wasn't angered, the star simply "needed a break".

Spears took her time on her much needed respite, as four contestants performed to three judges and an empty chair.

She took to Twitter to express her thoughts on her first day on the job.

"Texas has a lot of talent - seriously! Loving @TheXFactorUSA auditions so far... (at X Factor)," she tweeted on Thursday.

The star is still the subject of a conservatorship order following her 2008 meltdown, which means her personal and professional decisions are overseen by her father Jamie and some others - including her fiancé Jason Trawick.

- Cover Media


Film review: The Well-Digger's Daughter

Well-Digger's Daughter

Cute couple: Romance is on the way.

The Well-Digger's Daughter, PG, 105 mins

In the weeks before World War I erupts, a romance springs up in rural France between a well-digger's daughter and the feckless son of the upwardly mobile Mazels, who own the local grocery. The 18-year-old daughter, Patricia Amoretti (Astrid Berges-Frisbey), has become caregiver to her sisters after her mother died. She's the perfect child, smart, obedient, prettily chaste in her peasant dresses. But rather than settle for Felipe (Kad Merad), the pal of her dignified, humble, strict-ish father, Pascal (Daniel Auteuil, also making his directorial debut), Patricia can't shake the suave cad, Jacques (Nicolas Duvauchelle). War arrives, and both Felipe and Jacques head off to fight.

It's based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol, who wrote Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, so warm sunshine endlessly bathes rippling fields and rows of olives, and the manoeuvring that gets Patricia away from Felipe and with Jacques during an airshow is delightful. Merad is more often a comic actor, and lends a lightness to the outclassed but ever-hopeful Felipe, who Patricia's younger, plainer sister is, of course, silently sweet on. Auteuil takes Pascal seamlessly through a father's voyage through pride, shame, anger and back, while Sabine Azema and Jean-Pierre Darroussin are perfect as Jacques' vain, overprotective mother and long-suffering father.

The ending might be a little sugary for some but the film's bedrock-solid acting and airtight script make it a story to fall into.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Parting shots from GC creator

For the past six weeks 10 tanned, toned and trendy Maori have divided the nation.

Thousands have been glued to their TV screens, lapping up the adventures of the young Kiwis – and their unique "lingo" – as they build lives on Australia's Gold Coast.

Critics have poured scorn on The GC, claiming it is cringe-worthy, and questioning why NZ On Air allocated it $420,000. But as the final show of series one nears, creator Bailey Mackey has fired back, questioning whether some of the criticism is race-based.

"There is still a section of New Zealand that isn't that keen to see Maori portrayed as doing well, and the heart of our show is young Maori taking control of their futures," he said.

The GC concept was born after Mackey visited the Gold Coast and was struck by how many Maori were living there, many in labouring jobs, earning more than they would in New Zealand. "They had a self-confidence that wasn't apparent when they were here."

The show was going to be called Golden Mozzies but feedback showed many Maori were offended by Mozzies – used to mean Maori Ozzies.

When the show aired on May 2 the 10-strong cast was labelled an embarrassment, the show was described as a new low, and NZ On Air's involvement was slated.

Prime Minister John Key even entered the debate. "I don't know whether it's a good show or not, but I've seen the controversy, and weren't they saying it was the highest-watched thing? If the test is whether people watch, then they've probably done their job, haven't they?"

Last month The GC was the most searched term on Google in New Zealand. On the evening it opened it was also the second-most commented Twitter topic.

Mackey is no stranger to high-profile local productions, and although some found critical acclaim, none has been the ratings success The GC has.

"I'd probably done 20-plus shows before it, but it will probably define my time as a broadcaster. It's been successful on a number of levels, in terms of creating a debate around a number of issues, and in its depiction of Maori.

"You can make a series that talks about Maori and the statistics Maori are often the top of, but at the end of the day you don't get attention for that. But you flip the coin and suddenly you get this massive response."

Mackey said time would determine how the show was judged. He is talking with TV3 about another series. NZ On Air's part remains unknown, but he says the eight shows made from the $420,000 provided was money well spent.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Lohan seen with ex-girlfriend

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson were seen "holding hands" in New York City.

The pair were reportedly partying at New York City nightclub Le Baron Tuesday night. Lindsay had a tumultuous 18-month relationship with the DJ, which ended in 2009.

The former flames may have been reigniting their romance during their night out on the town.

"Lindsay and Sam were whispering and laughing and they left the club holding hands," an onlooker told X17online.

The pair were reportedly unabashed by expressing their intense affection.

"They didn't care who saw them, and they definitely seem to be back on," the witness noted. "It was just like the old days -- they couldn't get enough of each other!"
Lohan has spoken before about how she feels about the possibility of reconnecting with Ronson romantically.

"I never really thought about women before, it kind of just happened with Samantha. It surprised me. We're still in touch. She has always been one of my best friends," Lindsay said in an interview with British newspaper The Sun soon after their split. "She's the only woman I've been attracted to. We love each other. We might reconcile the relationship maybe, I don't know."

- Cover Media

Film review: Prometheus

Prometheus

UNEASY MASH-UP: Logan Marshall-Green, Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender in Alien prequel Prometheus.

REVIEW: Sir Ridley Scott has now directed three science-fiction movies. With the first two, Alien and Blade Runner, Scott established himself as the most influential Western sci-fi director of a generation. George Lucas' Star Wars may have changed the way sci-fi was seen, and even made it a safe box-office bet, but the original trilogy was little more than a very old story restaged with spaceships and lasers.

Prometheus is Scott's attempt to go back and mine the very opening scenes of Alien. Way back then, we saw a group of humans stumble on the ancient carcass of a gigantic alien spaceship, and the remains of its hapless pilot. Prometheus, set in 2089 (about 30 years before the events of Alien) features another group of humans setting down on a distant planet, and encountering the detritus of an ancient civilisation. But the explorers this time are archaeologists, not wayward garbage truck drivers, and they have science and discovery on their minds. The planet, they think, is home to "the engineers", a supposed race of starmen who have been visiting Earth for millennia, and who have helpfully left pictures of their solar system for us to find them by.

And so we are immediately into Alien by way of a pretty liberal ripping-off of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Will our brave team of scientists discover something profound about the origins of humanity, or will they all be eaten, eviscerated, decapitated, disembowelled, and impregnated by a nasty intergalactic beastie before they can even hand in their essays?

Prometheus, as you may have guessed, is an uneasy mash-up of ideas. At one level, Scott and his team clearly can't wait to get back to the good old-fashioned fun of ripping the heads off the extras and support cast – of whom there are far too many – while at the same time he is trying to entertain the audience with a daft and ill-thought-through load of old codswallop about creation versus evolution, and whether those two concepts can exist together. It's a case of "give those adolescent Americans something to think about" but, from Scott, who has never felt the need to include even the faintest whiff of religiosity in his films before, it reeks of box office-seeking hypocrisy, and flabby-minded thinking of the worst kind.

Which is not to say that Prometheus is not a watchable, or indeed spectacular film. The set-pieces, especially in 3-D and on as big a screen as you can find, are sporadically quite stunning. And the creature and set design is as brilliant and occasionally quite beautiful as you would expect. Scott and his team have HR Giger's original and hugely influential Alien concept to draw from and, without giving away too many surprises, they do a pretty convincing job of establishing its whakapapa.

Working in and around the green screens and soundstages, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, and Michael Fassbender are the only standouts in an ensemble that is just too large to allow time for many personal stories to adequately develop. Alien told a more memorable yarn with a core cast of seven, most getting knocked off at regular intervals. Prometheus has actors climbing over each other to get in front of the camera, but only a few of them even register as characters.

Prometheus is grand to look at but lacks the brutal simplicity and rigour of its forebears. It's too long winded to pass as a horror, and too daft to really be anything else. Great marketing, shame about the film.

Prometheus
Rated:
R16
Runtime: 124 min
Directed by: Ridley Scott.
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender.

- © Fairfax NZ News


Stars that get better with age

For Justin Timberlake it was Sexy Back. For Ricki Lake it was that wedding picture. You know what we're talking about - that magical moment when the world sits up and says in unison: "Daay-um".

Here are 10 celebrities who are living proof that good things take time.

RYAN REYNOLDS

Have your elders ever told you to be grateful because "these are the best years of your life"? Well, they're not necessarily right - not if you're anything like Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds recently told Details magazine that a look back at some old snapshots was enough to make him embrace the ageing process. "I've got some weird facial hair, and my hair is glopped with about six pounds of gel," he said. Judging by the photos above, we'd have to agree that time has been kind to Reynolds.

ANGELINA JOLIE

There was a time when you could prove you were badass just by admitting to a crush on Angelina Jolie. The goth styling, the vials of blood, the knife fixation... we all thought it was either sexy or scary, or maybe a bit of both. While Jolie's ultra-thin frame has been cause for concern in recent years, there's no denying the glamorous old-school Hollywood styling she now favours is a lot more accessible.

GWEN STEFANI

In the late '90s, Gwen Stefani was a punk pin-up who wore her imperfections with pride. It's hard to believe this immaculate popstar/businesswoman is the same girl who tore up the stage with pink hair and braces as the singer for No Doubt. The lesson: Reverting to your natural hair colour - or at least a natural hair colour - is always a good idea.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Back in his boy band days, JT committed so many crimes against fashion that he should have been locked up for good. But in quite possibly the most successful reinvention of all time, the poodle-haired crooner has managed to make a respected name for himself in both the music and film industries. Now those of us who plastered our walls with 'N Sync posters 10 years ago are having the last laugh. We saw his potential!

NICOLE RICHIE

Nicole Richie has come a long way since she was Paris Hilton's less-glamorous sidekick on The Simple Life. Things were grim for a while as she publicly battled drug addiction and an eating disorder. But now the mother of two is a respected fashion designer and a bona fide style icon. Doesn't she remind you of a modern-day Audrey Hepburn?

TINA FEY

Remember the US elections of 2008? Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battled it out in the Democratic camp, then Obama took on Republican John McCain in a nail-biting presidential race. It was a tense time, and the political junkies among us sometimes liked to blow of steam by observing that McCain's running mate Sarah Palin, while not the sharpest tool in the shed, was disturbingly attractive. Enter Tina Fey. The comedienne had been quietly plugging away at Saturday Night Live for years, but she finally came into her own with her spot-on impersonation of Palin. Obama triumphed, Palin drifted back into relative obscurity and, in Fey, liberals had found someone to lust after who didn't offend their sensibilities so much. Everybody wins.

DANNY MASTERSON

Poor Danny Masterson's career has been well and truly overshadowed by fellow That '70s Show alumni Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, but it turns out he was putting his time out of the spotlight to good use by cultivating the ruggedly handsome lumberjack persona shown above. Ditching those earrings didn't hurt, either.

RICKI LAKE

Today's 20-somethings learned a lot from watching Ricki Lake's daytime talk show while off sick from primary school - and not all of it good. We'd almost forgotten about the ballsy TV host until she made headlines again by eloping with her second husband. When this wedding picture started doing the rounds, the verdict was universal - Lake had become drop-dead gorgeous. All together now: Go Ricki! Go Ricki!

ANNE HATHAWAY

A decade before Zooey Deschanel introduced "a-dorkable" into the venacular, there was Anne Hathaway. We first encountered Hathaway in Disney's The Princess Diaries, where she charmed us by being clueless and falling over a lot. Back then she was sweet but kind of gawky; now she's Catwoman. 'Nuff said.

BRUCE WILLIS

Ah, Bruce Willis. No discussion about ageing and/or balding would be complete without him. To be frank, when Willis had hair he was a little bit goofy-looking. When he shaved it off, he became an institution. So let's give Bruce a big thumbs-up for reassuring thinning men and giving women of all generations something to bond over. Roll on the next 10 years!

- © Fairfax NZ News

Friday, June 8, 2012

Posing makeup-free isn't brave

OPINION: It's not your imagination - celebrities have been exposing more and more of themselves for a few years now.

But one of the most fascinating trends, where famous women are photographed without makeup on, appears to be enjoying a revival.

It's partly due to the influence of Twitter, which, as we know, has enabled celebrities to luxuriate in unbridled contact with their fans and followers.

And for women like Rihanna, who like going without more than just mascara, it's proven mildly addictive.

The trend is also due, in part, to the current demand for a greater "authenticity" and intimacy from celebrities.

We are much more savvy than we were even five years ago and we feel reassured about our own humanness when we see that a celebrity has a slightly uneven skin tone, too.

People Magazine engaged in this "Look! No makeup!" stunt only last month. Which totally got on Jezebel's nerves. And they had a valid point.

Meanwhile, New York Magazine waded into the celebrity bare-faced beauty trend last week, tracing its origins back to US Magazine's promotion of its "Stars, just like us" pages and the philosophy that goes along with it - that just because they're ridiculously famous, (and wealthy) doesn't mean they don't wear leggings to the gym like regular people.

New York Magazine also pointed out that once upon a time (before the internet), being caught without their "face on" in public meant certain death for a female celebrity and certain wealth for the magazine that published the photo of their face sans war paint. But that was then.

Look at this - it's a bunch of super models without makeup. Thrilling, isn't it?

You'll notice that the lighting is different in the "no makeup" ones and there is also an element of distraction - serious cleavage is present in almost every pic.

When you're done, look at this. It's Lady GaGa, braving the world without kohl. But not, might I add, without semi-permanent eyebrow tint. Which brings me, at long last, to my point.

Anyone who has a Twitpic, instagram account, Tumblr blog or a Facebook page will tell you that when they upload that "casual" portrait it's usually the 10th shot that makes the grade. And that's just regular people.

May I suggest that these celebrities, even if they're posting on Twitter, are publishing the best photo of themselves in the best light possible? Which is, of course, fine. Hey, we all like to put forward our best selves.

But their "best selves" are still not and probably never will equate to everyone else's "best selves" - and makeup (or lack of it) is only part of the story.

These days you can have all kinds of things done to iron out your "flaws" even before you slap makeup on them.

So that photo you see of a 50-year-old female celebrity in a bikini and without makeup is not what a 50-year-old "civilian" looks like.

Because your average 50-year-old civilian has probably not had as many chemical peels or Botox or filler or anything else the celebrity has.

So it follows then that the celebrity is going to require makeup about as much as a baby does.

This is not limited to 50-year-olds. Let's look at stunning Victoria Secret model Doutzen Kroes without makeup on.

Utes is 26 and I don't think anyone will find it controversial when I suggest she had her lips freshly done when the photo was taken. Want proof? Here's Kroes on another day when they're slightly deflated.

Lady Gaga doesn't look as if she's had any "work done" in that Twitpic (apart from her well documented nose job). She also has tinted eyebrows.

This may be a small point but I'm not sure how we can then define what she's doing in her Twitpic as particularly revealing.

What about print? Just how reflective of reality is a "makeup-free" photo of a celebrity in a magazine anyway?

Every time a person, no matter who they are, is shot for a magazine, great care is taken to photograph them at their most flattering angle and in just the right light.

I know this because I've worked at magazines. Although I'm sure any reader could tell you the same thing.

The same principle applies to all these celebrities who now pose - gasp! - in the buff. This is rarely an average semi-naked woman you're looking at; this is a woman who has likely had her breasts augmented, her tummy tucked; her hips liposucked.

So even if she's not airbrushed (a common occurrence), she still looks as if she's undergone procedures - before the image even goes to print.

Again, this is fine. But calling it "brave" or "daring" or "courageous" is a misnomer. If anything it's perpetuating a laughable (and some might argue dangerous) myth that underneath the normal modicum of artifice is a person just like us. When, in reality it's just more artifice.

This is an article about Heidi Montag looking "surprisingly normal" without makeup. She doesn't look all that different because even with the makeup off she still has had:

Botox (she's 25)

A chin reduction

A nose job

Ears pinned back

Neck liposuction

Mini brow lift

And that's just her face. You can click here for confirmation of every procedure she has had done.

Remember when Russell Brand took that photo of his then-wife Katy Perry after she'd just woken up?

Notice how it didn't have studio lighting? Notice how it was extremely close up? Notice how Katy didn't seem to have any creative control over it? And those are the reasons it's speculated that the photo was quickly deleted.

Perry just released another "makeup-free" pic of herself as part of the promotion for her new movie.

Only, she doesn't look completely makeup free. It looks like there is mascara and lip gloss involved.

But that might just be my own perception - Perry's a beautiful woman. But there's some great lighting. She's also been photographed at a reasonable distance away from the camera.

I'm not suggesting we stop looking at photos of celebrities or that celebrities start taking photos of themselves sunburnt on the toilet (I mean, just for example).

It wouldn't solve much if we did - this just in: women, no matter what they do, are still being seen as objects and men as people.

I'm not suggesting, either, that celebrities "get real" and stop doing things to their faces, because they're not going to.

And here's another factoid: the actresses who have urged their famous friends to stop the insanity of plastic surgery appear as if they have already gone under the knife themselves.

What I am suggesting is that the next time a female celebrity chooses to go "without makeup" or clothes we don't laud it as brave, courageous or even authentic, and instead call it what it is: a cynical publicity stunt.

-Daily Life

Pregnancy rumours are 'interesting'

Brian Austin Green has refused to confirm or deny reports that his wife Megan Fox is expecting their first child.

The Beverly Hills 90210 alum told People magazine that he has become accustomed to pregnancy speculation about his Hollywood actress spouse.

The couple tied the knot in June 2010 but they were together for several years before that.

"I think it's interesting," Brian said of the rumours. "I think there is a part of Megan that people really love that is, at 18 she found a relationship and she stuck with it, and we've been together for coming on eight years now."

"It will be our two-year wedding anniversary, but we've been together for a long time. She doesn't represent what people are used to seeing in a young actress."

Green added that he hopes they will be going to Hawaii to celebrate their anniversary this year.

"I think we'll be going back to where we got married," he shared. "That's sort of our thing."

"Last year when we went, they had one tier of the same wedding cake that we had, and they decorated the room the same, so it was special all over again. They do it right."

- Cover Media

Victoria wants David's attention

David Beckham reportedly loves his wife Victoria's public displays of affection.

The high-profile couple have been spotted in some amorous clinches of late. Victoria is reportedly eager for David to shower her with attention - something which the soccer star is more than happy to do.

"Victoria can get a little competitive when David's mum and sister are with them - his family really spoil him and dote on him when they come over to visit," a source told British magazine Closer.

"When you see Victoria draped over David at a basketball game, it's not surprising if they're sandwiched between his mum and sister.

"She's so used to having his full attention... It's obvious he loves it though!"

Friends say the couple are always very affectionate behind closed doors.

The pair surprised onlookers when they were spotted enjoying an intense PDA at an LA Lakers basketball game, but insiders say this isn't uncommon for the husband and wife.

"David and Victoria are often all over each other. They had a big argument last week while she was away travelling, but are always quick to reconcile and, judging from their body language, they've obviously made up!" the source explained.

- Cover Media

Lawrence Arabia releases new album

Lawrence Arabia's highly anticipated second studio album The Sparrow will be released on July 6.

The Sparrow is Lawrence Arabia's follow up to his 2010 debut album Chant Darling, which won him the inaugural Taite Music Prize and contained Silver Scroll winning single Apple Pie Bed.

Venturing away from the harmony-laden, classic pop production of Chant Darling, The Sparrow is a more measured and minimalist work, drawing particularly on the influence of symphonic late-sixties production.

'I became totally enamoured with the mystique and aesthetic limitations of these late-sixties and early-seventies records where there was so much space in the arrangements and you can really luxuriate in the sounds of individual instruments.' musician James Milne, aka Arabia said.

The tour will see Lawrence Arabia perform with very special guests for each date - including a string ensemble who are prominent throughout the album.

The first single will be released shortly and available as a free download.

Until then, visit www.lawrencearabia.com for various videos and updates.

Lawrence Arabia Presents: The Sparrow tour
July 13, Christchurch,  St Michaels and All Angels - July 13
July 14, Dunedin, Sammy's
July 20, Auckland, Town Hall
July 22 Wellington, Opera House

- © Fairfax NZ News

One Direction set for movie

One Direction are set to star in a 3D film.

The British boyband - comprising of Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne - will star in a scripted comedy or documentary-style film, which will follow them promoting their hit album Up All Night.

"It's early days but it's something that their management and label are excited about. It may be documentary footage mixed with a concert film, or it could even be a comedy caper in the style of old Monkees films," a source told British newspaper The Sun.

"All options are open, though they're unlikely to get cracking on shooting it until next year."

Band member Harry can't wait for fans to see the five-piece in a different light.

"The film could be exciting. My hair would be poking in your eye," he shared.

Harry has previously expressed his interest in breaking into movies. The floppy-haired singer joked about their first choice of genre.

"Movies are something we would consider. But it would have to be what we want. We would love to do Romeo and Juliet, as depicted by One Direction, and we should play the parts - Niall would be Juliet!"

- Cover Media

Kylie's a British National treasure

Kylie Minogue has been formally recognised as one of the all-time singles queens by Britain's Official Charts Company.

The Australian pop star, who is currently celebrating her 25th year in the music business, was presented with seven Number One Awards to mark her seven official number one singles in the UK during an appearance on Alan Carr's Chatty Man show on Friday.

Minogue is the first female to receive the honour.

Her first number one single in the UK was I Should Be So Lucky back in February 1988. The other number one hits include Especially For You, Hand On Your Heart, Tears On My Pillow, Spinning Around, Cant Get You Out Of My Head and 2003's Slow.

Can't Get You Out Of My Head sold 1.15 million copies across the UK, with 300,000 selling in the first week of it going on sale in 2001.

"We are delighted to recognise Kylie's amazing achievements over the past 25 years - her seven Number 1 singles put's her amongst the the all-time great singles artists of the past 60 years, let alone the last 25," Martin Talbot, Managing Director of the Official Charts Company, said in a statement on the music charts' website.

"Having sold 10.1 million singles in the UK through her career, she is the 12th biggest singles artist of all time. She may have been born in Australia, but she is most definitely a British National treasure!" he said.

- AAP

Wilde regrets marrying at 19

Olivia Wilde felt like she was suspended in "arrested development" when she married at the age of 19.

The 28-year-old actress wed Italian prince and filmmaker Tao Ruspoli as a teenager.

The couple divorced in 2011 due to "irreconcilable differences".

Wilde believes that making such a huge commitment in her youth had an adverse affect on her.

"I really had a sense that I had stunted my growth," she said on TV talk show The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet, which airs this Thursday.

"I think that's one of the things that made me feel so uncomfortable in my marriage. It was really no fault of my husband. It was me realising that I had sort of arrested development.

"I knew the only way I was going to grow the f**k up was to learn to take care of myself."

Wilde is currently in a happy relationship with beau Jason Sudeikis.

She is elated with life at the moment.

"A lot of people say, 'Wow! I feel like I'm seeing an old friend who I haven't seen in years.' It's a good feeling," she said.

"I do feel more connected to myself and I feel more relaxed because I'm very open and raw. I feel like I've let people see me and I'm not longer trying to pretend I'm perfect."

Did you marry too young? What's the best age to tie the knot?

- © Fairfax NZ News


Cinderella set to sparkle again

Cinderella

CINDERELLA: RNZB dancer Lucy Green as Cinderella.

It may have lost the title of the Royal New Zealand Ballet's most popular show ever to Sleeping Beauty last year, but Cinderella is coming back to the stage to reclaim her crown.

Last seen on New Zealand stages in 2007, the lavish production from British choreographer Christopher Hampson is set to tour the country once more from early August.

"The story is classic... the cruel stepmother, the comedic stepsisters, a handsome Prince and a magical Fairy Godmother.  But composer Sergei Prokofiev has given us more than this.  For me his score shows growth, honesty, humility and love.  It is a tale that shows us a journey from dark to light," said Hampson.

Set and costume designer for international opera, ballet and theatre productions, Tracy Grant Lord's creations wowed audiences in the show's 2007 tour of New Zealand and China.

Crystals on the costumes were made especially for the RNZB by the Swarovski factory in Austria, including Cinderella's tutu and the cloak she wears to the ball.

Crystals have also been used to give sparkle to insect costumes and wings, the stepmother's negligee and the spider's web.

RNZB artistic director Ethan Stiefel says Cinderella is one of the most iconic rags-to-riches stories, and one of the most exciting to bring to life.

"As one of the most loved fairytales, Cinderella has been enchanting audiences of all ages around the world for many years. Our rendition of the story lifts the magic from the page and embraces the belief that dreams can come true, whilst elegantly showing off the dancers' talent and versatility."

The Royal New Zealand Ballet Cinderella season
August 2-5 and 8-11 - St James Theatre, Wellington
Book at Ticketek

August 14 - 15 August - Civic Theatre, Invercargill
Book at Ticket Direct

August 18 - 19 - Regent Theatre, Dunedin
Book at Ticket Direct

August 23 - 25 - Municipal Theatre, Napier
Book at Ticketek

August 28 - 29 - Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North
Book at Ticket Direct

September 1 -2 - Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna
Book at Ticketmaster

September 5 - 9 - ASB Theatre, Auckland
Book at The Edge

- © Fairfax NZ News

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Win with Usher!

To celebrate the release of Usher's new album, we are offering you a chance to prove you are the ultimate Usher fan with this bumper quiz.

Up for grabs are three prize packs of a back catalogue of Usher's albums, as well as his new release.

They include:

My Way
8701
Confessions
Here I Stand
Raymond Vs Raymond
Looking 4 Myself (The new album).

How to enter:

Take our quiz, and if you score about 75 per cent you'll receive a keyword. Send us an email including this keyword, along with your name, address, post code and phone number, to competitions@stuff.co.nz.  All entries must be received before 10am on Wednesday, June 13 to go in the draw. Please ensure the email subject line say Usher.

Terms and Conditions:

Prize winners will be determined from a random draw of eligible entries received before 10am on Wednesday, June 13. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash or other property.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

Review: Lady Gaga at Vector

Lady Gaga
JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax Media

HAIR SHE IS: Lady Gaga greets fans outside Auckland's Stamford Plaza.

OPINION: What can you say about Lady Gaga?  She's eccentric, she's iconic, she's controversial, she's a little bit terrifying.  And after seeing her in all her glory in the first of three New Zealand shows last night, she's really quite spellbinding.
 
One thing you can't say is that she is boring.  Or understated.  Or in any way subtle.  But that's what her "Little Monsters" love about her, she doesn't need to hide who she is or what she loves, and she doesn't want any one else to have to either - that, she made perfectly clear.
 
From the moment the classical hold music dimmed and Gaga emerged from her "Electric Chapel" - a three-storey medieval castle - perched on top of a unicorn, (okay, it may have been an old-fashioned two-person outfit), singing Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)  it was clear this was to be a night of excess. 
 
Welcome to the Born This Way Ball, Auckland.
 
The show clocks in at a meaty to two and a half hours, with 23 songs split into five acts, each with a different feel, and obviously many, many different outfits - this is Gaga we're talking about, after all.
 
There were all the things that have made her a household name, and headline fodder recently - the only-slightly-clothed, more-than-slightly-raunchy routines and somewhat sacrilegious lyrics (if you are that way inclined) were all present and accounted for.
 
She swore, she simulated sex acts, she did odd things with a motorcycle and at one point she sang Born This Way after being born again through a giant pair of legs.  There was a live band and a dance troop.  It's all shocking and it's all bizarre and, inexplicably, it's all compelling viewing.
 
But when she sang the line "I'm not that typical baby, I'm a bad kid baby" from Bad Kids, you got the sense she really will never change for anyone.  And why should she?

Bad Romance was performed while wearing white plastic, and punctuated with her screaming  "I'm singing Bad Romance, why would you be sitting down?" at fans.

Judas was a big ball of energy, but not as much as the brilliantly fun Telephone, even if Beyonce couldn't make it.

But it was old favourites Just Dance, Poker Face and Paparazzi that got the hair bows jumping. Even though she must have performed them thousands of times, Gaga still looked like she was enjoying herself.

 And it wouldn't be Gaga without a visit to the butchers.  Americano was performed in a meat-esque dress which magically transformed into a meat leotard. But the question has to be asked: how on earth did that make it through customs?

It wasn't just Mother Monster who was dressed to kill and ready to shock though.  People who didn't know better could have been excused for thinking Vector was hosting one of the most elaborate costume parties of all time, with skeletons rubbing shoulders with faceless monsters and girls wearing almost as little as Gaga herself.

And while the costumes and the sets and visual imagery were astounding - and they really were - there were moments when you couldn't help but be absorbed by the packaging rather than what it was wrapping.

And that's a shame, because what was being overwhelmed (and only at times, mind you) was a remarkable performance.  There is no doubt this girl can sing, and when you were able to focus in on that, especially on songs like the stripped back Hair and Edge of Glory, it was pretty special.

Of course, in saying all of that, there was no doubt the hordes of Kiwi Monsters packed into the arena couldn't have cared less.  They were there to see the new Queen of Pop and that was that, even though, in her own words she "doesn't want to be anybody's f*****queen, I just want to be your friend".  Long live Lady Gaga.

- © Fairfax NZ News


Happy Days row heads to court

Several former cast members frome Happy Days can argue to a jury that they are owed royalties from DVD sales of the hit series, a US judge says.

Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Allen White's ruling clears the way for a trial on whether actors Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Don Most, Erin Moran and the widow of Tom Bosley may still be owed royalties on the use of their images in DVD packaging.

CBS Studios and Paramount Pictures sought to have their claims dismissed, arguing the group was properly paid.

A trial is scheduled for mid-July, but it won't feature series stars Henry Winkler and Ron Howard, who are not parties to the lawsuit.

The actors' group initially sued CBS for US$10 million in April 2011, claiming they were cheated out of royalties from the sale of products including gambling machines, T-shirts, board games, greeting cards and drinking glasses.

Attorney Jon Pfeiffer says the group has received payments for several other types of merchandise and the unpaid royalties from DVD sales are worth an estimated US$320,000.

He said he learned after filing the case that Winkler and Howard had been paid for merchandise rights, but it was unclear how much.

Defence attorneys declined to comment.

- AP

Miley Cyrus, Hemsworth engaged

Miley Cyrus is engaged to her Aussie actor boyfriend of nearly three years, Liam Hemsworth.

Miley Cyrus is engaged.

The former Disney star has been dating The Hunger Games actor Liam Hemsworth on-and-off for three years. She has confirmed he has popped the question, explaining she is delighted.

"I'm so happy to be engaged and look forward to a life of happiness with Liam," she told People.

Hemsworth, 22, proposed on May 31. He presented his 19-year-old partner with a 3.5-carat diamond ring created by famed jewellery designer Neil Lane.

The couple haven't released any further details of the engagement and it is not known if they have started planning their wedding yet.

The pair met while they were making the 2009 movie The Last Song. They briefly split in August 2010 but reunited a year later and have been happy ever since.

Earlier this year, Cyrus sparked rumours she was engaged after posting a picture of a band on her ring finger on Twitter. She later denied the reports, saying she was just showing off a manicure.

"I'm not engaged," she wrote. "I've worn the same ring on this finger since November! People just wanna find something to [talk] about! It's a topaz people!"

- Cover Media

Barrymore shares wedding pics

Drew Barrymore says her wedding was "perfect".

The actress tied the knot with her fiancé Will Kopelman on June 2 at her home in Montecito, California.

Barrymore is thrilled with how her big day unfolded and can't wait to spend the rest of her life with her new husband.

"The day was perfect," Barrymore told People the day after the nuptials.

The 37-year-old star was married in a traditional Jewish ceremony, in front of 200 guests including Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth, Jimmy Fallon and Busy Phillips.

Barrymore was delighted so many of her closest family and friends could be there to share their happy day.

"Everyone we love and care about was there. It was as fun and meaningful as we ever could have hoped," she added.

Barrymore wore a stunning flower-embroidered Chanel gown designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

In one of the wedding photographs to accompany her interview with People, Barrymore is seen beaming up at Kopelman while he proudly touches her stomach. The couple are currently expecting their first child together.

During the intimate ceremony, Diaz is believed to have recited the romantic poem I Carry Your Heart, while Kopelman's sister read from popular children's book The Velveteen Rabbit.

Event planner Yifat Oren has revealed Barrymore and art consultant Kopelman "just wanted a backyard wedding".

Pink flowers, green garlands and vintage lace were used to create a "vintage romantic" and "ethereal" - themed fete.

- Cover Media

Coming soon: One Direction on film

One Direction
LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax NZ

UP ALL NIGHT: One Direction lads, from left: Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan.

One Direction are set to star in a 3D film.

The UK boyband - Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne - will star in a scripted comedy or documentary-style film, which will follow them promoting their hit album Up All Night.

"It's early days but it's something that their management and label are excited about. It may be documentary footage mixed with a concert film, or it could even be a comedy caper in the style of old Monkees films," a source told British newspaper The Sun.

"All options are open, though they're unlikely to get cracking on shooting it until next year."

Harry can't wait for fans to see the five-piece in a different light.

"The film could be exciting. My hair would be poking in your eye," he shared.

Harry has previously expressed his interest in breaking into movies. The floppy-haired singer joked about their first choice of genre.

"Movies are something we would consider. But it would have to be what we want. We would love to do Romeo and Juliet, as depicted by One Direction, and we should play the parts - Niall would be Juliet!"

- Cover Media

Ray Bradbury dead at 91

Ray Bradbury, a giant of American literature who helped popularise science fiction with poetic, cerebral works such as The Martian Chronicles has died. He was 91.

Bradbury brought not only futuristic vision but literary sensibilities to his more than 500 works published including Fahrenheit 451, a classic dystopian novel about book censorship in a future society, and other favourites such as The Illustrated Man and"Something Wicked This Way Comes."

"Mr. Bradbury died peacefully, last night, in Los Angeles, after a long illness," said a spokesman for his publisher, HarperCollins, on Wednesday (local time).

As a science fiction writer, Bradbury said he did not want to predict the future - but sometimes wanted to prevent it. Such was the case with Fahrenheit 451, a book published in 1953 about a totalitarian, anti-intellectual society where banned books are burned by "firemen." The title refers to the temperature at which paper ignites.

The novel, which Bradbury wrote on a rented typewriter at the UCLA library, featured a world that might sound familiar to 21st century readers - wall-sized interactive televisions, earpiece communication systems, omnipresent advertising and political correctness.

"In science fiction, we dream," he told The New York Times. "In order to colonise in space, to rebuild our cities ... to tackle any number of problems, we must imagine the future, including the new technologies that are required ...

"Science fiction is also a great way to pretend you are writing about the future when in reality you are attacking the recent past and the present."

INTERNET A SCAM

But for a futurist, Bradbury did not always embrace technology. He called the internet a scam perpetrated by computer companies, was disdainful of automatic teller machines and denounced video games as "a waste of time for men with nothing else to do."

He said he never learned to drive a car after witnessing an accident that killed several people and did not travel by aeroplane until much later in life.

Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois, and moved to Los Angeles as a teenager as his father sought work during the Depression. He roller-skated around Hollywood, chasing celebrities for autographs, and was strongly influenced by the science fiction works of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs.

He did not go to college, instead educating himself by spending hours reading in libraries, and began writing for pulp magazines. In 1950 Bradbury published The Martian Chronicles - a tale of Earthlings fleeing a troubled planet and their conflicts with residents on Mars. It was given a glowing review by influential critic Christopher Isherwood, which Bradbury credited with launching his career.

Isherwood was among the first to note the quality writing in Bradbury's work, which brought him literary credibility and new respect to the science fiction and fantasy genres.

Like The Illustrated Man, another of his best-known works, The Martian Chronicles was a collection of related stories.

In a career spanning more than seventy years, other well-known titles include Dandelion Wine, I Sing the Body Electric and From the Dust Returned and he wrote hundreds of short stories as well as numerous poems, essays, operas, plays, teleplays and screenplays.

- Reuters

Prometheus an epic task for Weta

As Prometheus lands in cinemas, Laura Westbrook speaks to Weta's Visual Effects Supervisor Martin Hill.

More than 33 years after Alien redefined science-fiction from kooky green men to terrifying aliens bursting from chest cavities, Ridley Scott has returned to his creation with the highly anticipated prequel Prometheus.

It's the iconic director's first trip out of orbit since 1982's Blade Runner, but with credits like Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven to his name, he hasn't been far from the spotlight.

The film is set towards the end of this century, with archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway discovering a series of cave paintings that provide a map to the stars.

They convince corporate giant Peter Weyland to fund an expedition to follow the map and discover the origins of life on Earth.  

Wellington's Weta Digital added to its already ground breaking portfolio of work by contributing more than 200 visual effects shots to the film, including the stunning opening sequence and all but one of the alien creatures.

Visual effects supervisor Martin Hill, a dyed-in-the-wool fan of the franchise, jumped at the chance to get involved.

"Ridley Scott was very open to suggestions. Although he has very strong idea of what he wants, there's a lot of extra details, like how does this creature move, what are the small design extras that you want to put in such as how does this engineer character disintegrate. He was open to us giving design input into those things."

Like many of the year's blockbusters, Prometheus was filmed in 3D, a technology Hill himself is a little divided on.

"3D is another tool to tell a story. It really suits some films, I think it was used very well in Prometheus and helped to give it a very epic scale and the same with Avatar.

"I think for some films it's put in as 'it's new and fresh and exciting and it might draw people to cinemas' and I think that sort of use will die out and it'll be used in the same way artistically as people might use black and white for a film or a silent film.

"I hope the more films that use it well like Hugo and Avatar and Prometheus the more it will encourage filmmakers to really think about why they're using it and how they can use it to better enhance the film rather than be able to put it on the poster to draw people in."

Prometheus may be Hill's first foray as visual effects supervisor on a big budget blockbuster, but the rising visual effects star has a wealth of experience.

He originally moved out to New Zealand from the UK to work on King Kong, and subsequently lent his talents to The Adventures of Tintin and Avatar as a shading supervisor.

"The main challenge was that almost every shot that we did in the film was completely different. On a film like King Kong, you've got many shots of one character and once you've got the character working you'll be able to put him into many shots and the more you do the easier they get.

"With Prometheus every sequence is completely different to the others and even within the sequences a lot of the shots have organic growth or escalation of effects so each shot is a continuation of the one before and the effect gets even more intense."

Just how the visual complexity of this film will play with audiences remains to be seen, with the doors opening today in New Zealand. However, the stunning imagery and breathtaking visual effects guarantee that this will be cinema on an epic scale.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Behind the scenes with Revenge

A pop song you deem too embarrassing to enjoy outside the privacy of your own earphones, a sentimental rom-com you're ashamed to admit you watch consistently on DVD, or a piece of trash television you sense is having a detrimental effect on your IQ.

The guilty pleasure permeates every pop-culture sphere.

And in its first season, Revenge - a night-time soap opera boasting preposterous plot lines, shoddy special effects and high-camp performances - has swiftly become the TV snob's guilty pleasure.

The show focuses on the travails of Amanda Clarke, who has rebranded herself Emily Thorne for the purposes of enacting vengeance on the Graysons, the family that framed her father for a crime he didn't commit before having him murdered in prison.

Canadian actor Emily VanCamp plays the Emily/Amanda role with a knowing sense of determination. The mostly measured on-screen hostility with her arch-rival, played by veteran Madeleine Stowe, is something to behold.

For Revenge's convoluted storyline, the above plot barely begins to describe the minutiae of this Hamptons-set series.

The writers revel in dealing with the ultra-rich and their predilection for drugs, conspiracy theories, corruption, murder, arson, marital affairs, phone and computer hacking, theft and power struggles.

VanCamp, 26, signed to Revenge following a run on another soapy drama, Brothers & Sisters.

''I'd promised myself I wouldn't work again until I found something that excited me,'' she says. ''I wanted to play this amazing young woman. There was a lot I could do with it.''

She met with producers at the beginning of last year but the American network decided to enter a protracted audition process. ''They said they were concerned with the darkness of the role,'' she says. ''They had never seen me play such a dark role. So I guess I showed them the darkness.''

VanCamp has since proved a revelation. Along with director Phillip Noyce, who helmed the elaborate pilot, and series creator Mike Kelley, she built Emily/Amanda from the ground up.

One of her defining characteristics, and that of any great soap actor, is the ''look'' - often scathing, sometimes merely shocked - she delivers through each episode.

''I don't know where they came from,'' she says. ''I've tried to find moments where the audience can connect with her and know what she's up to. I can't say it to the camera [with words], so it works in that way. Also, it reminds you of the pain and anger she has.''

When Revenge was launched in September in the US, hopes were not high. Retro-leaning series such as The Playboy Club and Pan Am were garnering most of the new-season buzz.

However, after about four episodes, confidence about the show began to build.

VanCamp admits she initially doubted the series could maintain momentum through a 22-episode season. She also concedes to feeling pressure in shouldering the lead role.

''Inevitably you do,'' she says. ''But I tried to repress those feelings. Early on, I had a little panic of, 'If this fails, it's on me.' If it got cancelled after one episode, it would be horrendous for me.''

Of less concern is the show's outrageous story arcs; VanCamp acknowledges the cast laugh frequently when they receive scripts.

''All the time,'' she says. ''But my job is to route some of the absurdities to make everything seem natural as possible. Sometimes it's comical, which is the soapy part of it, but sometimes it's quite moving. That's what makes our show work.

''We take some creative licence and go over the top but I think that's what people like. We're trying to entertain and make it as glamorous, crazy and silly as possible. But there [are] also complex characters who balance the silliness too.''

One such individual is Gabriel Mann's eccentric bisexual billionaire, Nolan Ross.

''Gabriel took that character and made it his own,'' she says. ''He took a risk, really. He's very funny but unbelievably professional. He brings comic relief to the show, and god knows we need that.''

Less conspicuous was 24-year-old novice British actor Josh Bowman, who plays Emily's fiance Daniel Grayson. Bowman and VanCamp travelled together as a couple while recently in Australia, although they refuse to confirm their relationship status in separate interviews.

''Emily has been doing this since she was 15,'' says Bowman, who modelled his character both on British (Prince Harry) and American (John F Kennedy jnr) royalty. ''She taught me a lot about being on a TV show. She's been doing this since [she was young].''

The inexperienced Bowman is candid about his own performance.

''To do the accent and embody the character was tough,'' he says. ''Looking back, critiquing myself, I wasn't so natural in the first half of the season. I picked it up more but I'm learning as I'm going.''

Does real-life Emily differ much from Emily Thorne?

''She's definitely got an element of ice queen,'' he says. ''You can't play that too much, it has to come from somewhere. But we laugh a lot. You have to. We're not saving lives. But I think that's also why people enjoy it so much.''

The tabloid attention the couple has received has required a stern adjustment for VanCamp. Bowman is on more familiar ground as a professional British rugby player turned model who also dated Amy Winehouse.

''It's something I'll never get used to,'' VanCamp says. ''I've been doing this a long time and I've managed to maintain a sense of privacy. Now there are moments where it's overwhelming. I don't like being followed. It really makes me uneasy, but I know it comes with the territory.''

With filming of season two starting next month, VanCamp is clearly enthused by the potential plotlines. Undoubtedly, the season one finale brims with unanswered plot threads.

''We'll deal with those and the repercussions,'' she says. ''There is a new villain who broadens the definition of revenge in that he takes it beyond the family and moves it into a whole other realm for Emily.''

For VanCamp, it's swiftly becoming a once-in-a-career role.

''I've had a couple of pinch-me moments,'' she says. ''Things have changed a little and moved to a different realm for me. It's been a whirlwind.''

How long can it last, though? Desperate Housewives, for instance, stretched to eight seasons. ''I think Revenge is shorter than that,'' VanCamp says. ''It's a difficult story to carry that long. But another few years would be amazing.''

- Sydney Morning Herald

Madonna done in Jersey Boy style

Musical star takes on songs by Queen of Pop

Jersey Boys actor Michael Griffiths is performing a Madonna show in Auckland

From Big Girls Don't Cry to Like A Virgin, Jersey Boys star Michael Griffiths is swapping one legendary songbook for another in his one man cabaret show, In Vogue: Songs By Madonna.

Griffiths plays Bob Crewe, the man often touted as the fifth Four Season in Jersey Boys, the stage show that has taken over Auckland's Civic Theatre for the past two months. But on Monday, for one night only, he is taking on a new role as Madonna.

The show, which has played around Australia and in New York, features Griffiths playing the Queen of Pop, telling her story through the songs she is famous for.

This isn't Stars in their Eyes though.

"I said if we were going to do this I need to be Madonna, but I'm not going to wear a wig and I'm not going to drag up - I'd already done Priscilla [Queen of the Desert], I'd had enough drag," Griffiths says.

Instead, he describes his on-stage look as "very Noel Coward-esque" as he brings Madonna to life with only his voice and a piano - no bells or whistles, just the songs speaking for themselves.

The show features 35 of the Material Girl's finest tunes and Griffiths says, like The Four Seasons' songs from Jersey Boys, there is something about Madonna's back catalogue that is instantly recognisable.

"You may not realise that you do know almost every single song, the same as Jersey Boys, [where audiences] might know Sherry, then they come along and there is song after song and they think 'that's right, this is good and I know this'. And that's the same with my Madonna show.

"Madonna transcends so many pop boundaries and cultures - she's just everywhere and people bring that to my show, whether they like it or not, they bring their experience of these songs."

And the Australian actor says the show proves Madonna is more than just an iconic voice.

"She writes good songs, but no-one ever thinks they are that clever... People just think of her as being a singer, dancer, controversial icon - which she is all of these things - but she's also, under it all, a very considered and very clever songwriter.

"When they are stripped away from the production and the film clips and her, they just stand as songs. And they are clever and they are winners, almost every single one of them."

Of course, you can't do a show about Madge without mentioning the bumpy road she's travelled. Her hit Papa Don't Preach has been re-worked to talk about her failed marriage to Sean Penn, and Griffiths doesn't shy away from her often iffy career choices.

"We talk a little bit about her failed movie career, because you can't not. It's good for a gag."

"And when we wrote the show, we all thought her career was over. We were certainly writing the show with her being in the twilight of her career, and when [her latest album] MDNA was announced, I thought 'oh no, it's going to be this huge hit and it's going to put her back on top' and it kind of hasn't. And that's great for us."

In Vogue: Songs by Madonna

WHEN: Monday, June 11 

WHERE: Wintergarden at the Civic in Auckland.

Tickets from Buy Tickets.

- © Fairfax NZ News

'Living off the land' inspires finalist

Growing up in the Waikato helped MasterChef finalist Chelsea Winter develop her passion for all things fresh.

The Hamilton-born-and-bred woman was named a finalist on the third season of the show on Tuesday night, after a nail-biting episode.

Her proud dad, Mark Winter, is looking forward to the grand finale as much as anyone.

With producers and contenders sworn to secrecy until the official show broadcast, he's in the dark as much as the viewers.

"I'm pretty chuffed, absolutely. It's totally unexpected that she's got as far as she has," he said.

"I'm in as much suspense as everyone else."

Ms Winter will join Waiheke-based Ana Schwarz in the final show, which began with 16 contestants.

Mr Winter remembers his daughter's love for cooking from an early age, while living on a Tamahere farm.

"Her farmland childhood has certainly influenced her style of cooking – her no-nonsense attitude, but that's also her nature and personality."

Ms Winter is a former pupil of Tamahere Country School, and of Hillcrest primary and intermediate, and said the best thing about growing up on a farm was living "off the land".

"Mum always had a giant vege patch growing everything under the sun, chooks roamed free so our eggs were always free range, and we'd have our own beef from home kills – a freezerload full of it," she said.

"Everything was homemade where it could be, and it was fresh, flavoursome, simple and tasted great."

Now an Auckland marketing executive, Miss Winter loved the chance to get back to the country.

"Dad still lived in Hamilton up until a year or so ago, and it was always nice to escape from Auckland's smelly, smoggy, traffic jams and chill in the Tron for the weekend. The Balcony used to be my favourite place for a special dinner."

But she's not the only Waikato person to feature on the grand finale episode, with 2011 masterchef contender, Putaruru's Cameron Petley, setting a special challenge for contenders.

Although Mr Petley wouldn't give away any details on the final result, he said his task was to create a wild game challenge, and to present a deer from which the girls would then create dishes.

He said the key to cooking venison was to do it quickly.

"The meat doesn't have much fat, so you have to be careful not to dry it out."

Mr Petley is now working at the Masters Table in Putaruru, and attributes his new edge in cooking to his time on MasterChef.

"I entered the competition knowing it would change my life, and if the finalists continue to cook and use what they've learnt in their time, I'm sure it will change theirs too."

Miss Winter said MasterChef was the best thing she'd ever done: "I'm sad that there's only one episode to go because I love watching it happen all over again."

The final episode will show on Tuesday from 7.30pm on TV1.

Hannah Morris is an AUT journalism student

- © Fairfax NZ News

Weta's part in making Prometheus

pro xs

HEAD SPACE: A spaceship crew discover a tomb-like room within the structure which may provide clues to the origin of life on Earth in Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

There are many memorable scenes in Sir Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien. Some are shocking and visceral, including the creature bursting out of actor John Hurt's chest. But others are simply haunting - and it includes one of the film's earliest scenes where the explorers enter an ancient dilapidated spaceship and see the fossilised remains of a giant space-suited entity in a cockpit-like chair.

What it was is never explored or answered in Alien, but the scene - designed by artist H Giger, who won an Oscar for his work - has fascinated fans of the movie ever since. They've even dubbed the entity the "Space Jockey".

Fast forward more than 30 years and one of the fans of the film, Weta Digital's Martin Hill, can't believe his luck. As part of the Wellington visual effects studio's contribution to Scott's new movie Prometheus, he and his team - which numbered up to 400 - got to revisit the "Space Jockey".

"We had to recreate the Space Jockey chair. I remember watching Alien and I must have been far too young to see Alien at the time. You saw the Space Jockey chair and the guy is sitting in it and you're like 'Whoa, who is that guy? What happened there?' That's a mystery that's been there since 1979. For me it was such a thrill to know that Prometheus was being made, let alone getting to work on it. You find yourself at work and you're discussing 'OK, we have to build the Space Jockey chair. How does it move? How does it articulate?' Then you step back and think 'it's the Space Jockey chair'!"

Prometheus is Scott's first sci-fi film since Blade Runner in 1982 - and the springboard for the film-maker was asking the same questions about the Space Jockey.

Prometheus is set more than 80 years from now, with the crew of the spaceship Prometheus exploring the moon of a gas giant. Their hope is to find an extraterrestrial origin for life on Earth. The film stars Noomi Rapace - best known for the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Michael Fassbender as an android (similar to that played by Ian Holm in Alien) and Charlize Theron as the representative of the giant Weyland Corporation.

Anyone who views Prometheus and has seen Alien will see the links, but in interviews Scott has tended to play down the idea that it's a literal "prequel". He's said it began life as one, but "evolved into another universe" and is a standalone film.

Weta Digital was not the only visual effects studio involved in the project, but contributed a substantial 200 visual effects shots. And Weta Digital's work literally opens and closes the film. It includes the creation of all but one of several Prometheus creatures, as well as one of the most important aspects - the alien "engineers".

The film opens with a stunning scene that combines a shoot at the giant Dettifoss waterfall in the volcanic landscape of Iceland and one of the "engineers" created in Wellington by the Weta Digital team.

Hill says that when they were first approached to work on the film Scott had a maquette - a scale model - of how he envisaged what an engineer would look like. "Ridley has never worked with full [computer-generated] creatures before. He's used bits in Robin Hood and Gladiator, but he's never had a fully digital character as this. He is very keen to capture as much as he possibly can in camera so he can direct and interact in the way he's used to in film-making. Doing something on computer is quite a different deal. He wanted to get some confidence in what we could produce."

Scott lit and filmed the maquette in the style of the film and sent the footage to Weta Digital as a starting point for the studio to then bring it to life as a computer-generated character. "They basically said 'can you match this'?"

But not only was Scott impressed with Weta Digital's results, the studio got to contribute to many pivotal scenes. To describe all of them would ruin some of the surprises and impact of Prometheus. But it is safe to at least say that one - which involves Rapace on an automated operating table - is likely to be one of the nail-biting moments audiences will talk about afterwards, as well as another that involves a tentacled creature the Weta Digital team dubbed a "trilobite" and another dubbed "the deacon" or "the ultramorph".

Weta Digital brought the creature to life after going back to the work of Giger on Alien.

Prometheus is Scott's first film shot using digital cameras and in 3-D - which Hills says heavily influenced what Weta Digital had to create, including the creatures.

However, Scott didn't rely solely on computer-generated visual effects, preferring many of the sets to be constructed at the giant Pinewood Studios in England, best known for the James Bond films. While Hill and his team did most of their work from Wellington, Hill had the privilege of visiting the Prometheus sets for a few weeks as part of his interaction with Scott and the film's visual effects supervisor Richard Stammers.

Like knowing that he was working on the Space Jockey, it was another magical moment for Hill, who with his Weta Digital team have also contributed to the film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which is released in August.

"I haven't seen production values on sets like that. The sets were just enormous in scope," he says, describing a giant tomb-like room dedicated to the engineers. "You felt that you were part of the alien world. I would say the same about the [space] ships. Walking around the stages and the way the floor sounded under your feet, it has a real sense of quality. You really felt that everyone who was working on it was really giving it their all."

Prometheus opens in New Zealand today.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Is it splitsville for Khloe and Lamar?

Khloe Kardashian and her husband Lamar Odom are reportedly taking some "time apart."

The couple, who have been married for over two years, have had a challenging few months with the basketball star getting traded from the LA Lakers and then being dropped by the Mavericks.

Khloe has also been dealing with trying to get pregnant and speculation that her late father Robert Kardashian may not be her real dad.

And OK! magazine claims that although they are still together as a couple friends fear that they may be drifting apart because they are spending more and more time away from each other.

"The time apart is turning out to be the best thing for them because they both need space," an insider told the publication. "They love each other, but they both need a break."

"Khloe is happy for the time [away from Lamar]. Since he said he was jealous that her sister Kourtney was pregnant with baby number two, she has been putting so much pressure on herself to conceive that she's happy to have some time off to not think about it."

Meanwhile, Lamar's main focus is said to be staying fit and ensuring he is picked up by a team for the next NBA season.

- Cover Media

Sheryl Crow has brain tumour

Sheryl Crow has revealed that she has a brain tumour.

The 50-year-old singer recently joked that her "brain's gone to s**t" after she forgot the lyrics to her song Soak Up the Sun during a performance in Florida.

She told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she went to see a doctor in November when she became concerned.

"I worried about my memory so much that I went and got an MRI," she told the publication. "And I found out I have a brain tumour. And I was like, 'See! I knew there was something wrong.'"

The rocker says that "it gives me a fit" but her medical team have assured her not to worry because it is benign.

Sheryl says that forgetting her lyrics is not new and at a gig in the 1990s she couldn't remember the intro to A Change Would Do You Good.

"Not only could I not remember the first line, I couldn't remember the first line to any of the verses," she recalled.

"I started laughing so hard! And I looked over at my guitar player, and he's bent over like he's gonna just start peeing."

Sheryl battled breast cancer six years ago and is mother to sons Wyatt and Levi.

- Cover Media

Lohan embraces Liz Taylor role

A new picture shows the actress made up as Elizabeth Taylor for the new film Liz and Dick.

Actor Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in the television biopic Liz & Dick is a casting coup if the first official photo is any indication.

Lohan channels the screen legend in a black and white photograph released to coincide with the start of shooting of the film, which also stars New Zealand's Grant Bowler as Richard Burton.

The biopic from the American cable TV network Lifetime looks at the enduring love story of the two acting greats.

Bowler, 43, is 18 years older than Lohan, while there was a seven-year age gap between Burton and Taylor, who married each other twice.

Taylor and Burton co-starred in Cleopatra, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Taming of the Shrew.

''When you see both of them [Lohan and Bowler] in full hair and make-up, it is the definition of movie magic,'' Liz & Dick executive producer Larry Thompson told the celebrity gossip website PerezHilton.com.

''It was just Fourth of July firecrackers going off in the room. We knew from the chemistry that Liz and Dick live again.''

Does Lindsay pull it off? Let us know in the comments below.

- AAP

Grim tales up for top book award

A look into two of New Zealand's darker tales have made the shortlist for this year's New Zealand Post Book Awards.

The finalists, selected from more than 160 entries, include a biography of Captain William Bligh, the target of naval history's most famous mutiny, and a detailed re-examination of the one of New Zealand's most shocking murders, the Parker and Hulme case.

Bligh: William Bligh in the South Seas, by Anne Salmond, and So Brilliantly Clever: Parker, Hulme and the Murder that Shocked the World, by Peter Graham, are two of the books vying for the country's top literary honour.

The vicious 1950s killing of a Christchurch mother which saw her teenage daughter Pauline Parker along with best friend Juliet Hulme spend five years in prison, also features in another book which has made the finals list - New Zealand Film: An Illustrated History.

Judging panel convenor Chris Bourke said the five finalists in each of the general and illustrated non-fiction categories were all unanimous decisions by the judges.

"The non-fiction categories feature writers who are working at the peak of their craft, finding new, original ways in which to portray New Zealand in print."

He said limiting themselves to just three finalists in the fiction and poetry categories was a far more difficult task however.

"Having all the categories restored to five finalists would more accurately represent the quality and breadth of New Zealand's writing.

"The same diversity is present in the fiction and poetry, and should be reflected in the shortlists," he said.

Chair of the awards governance group Sam Elworthy hinted at a return to the five-finalist format, saying  awards were under review and people could expect "exciting changes" next year.

"We are committed to ensuring writers are best served with these awards and the reduction in fiction and poetry finalists was made after extensive consultation with the literary community.

"Nonetheless, getting the right format for the country's premier book awards is all important. It is a challenge the governance group accept."

The panel of four judges, including writers David Eggleton, Mary Egan, Paula Green and also Bourke, chose the finalists for the awards - the overall winner of which will receive $15,000.

Winners of the four category awards will each receive $10,000, as will the winner of the Maori Language award. The winner of the People's Choice award, for which voting opens today,will take home $5000.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland on August 1.

THE FINALISTS

Fiction:

From Under the Overcoat, by Sue Orr (Vintage, Random House NZ)

Rangatira, by Paula Morris (Penguin Group, NZ)

The Trouble with Fire, by Fiona Kidman (Vintage, Random House NZ)

Poetry:

Bligh: William Bligh in the South Seas, by Anne Salmond (Viking, Penguin Group NZ)

The Broken Book, by Fiona Farrell (Auckland University Press)

The Hungry Heart: Journeys with William Colenso, by Peter Wells (Vintage, Random House NZ)

So Brilliantly Clever: Parker, Hulme and the Murder that Shocked the World, by Peter Graham (Awa Press)

Tupaia: The Remarkable Story of Captain Cook's Polynesian Navigator, by Joan Druett (Random House NZ)

Illustrated Non-Fiction:

A Micronaut in the Wide World: The Imaginative Life and Times of Graham Percy, by Gregory O'Brien (Auckland University Press)

New Zealand Film - An Illustrated History, by Diane Pivac with Frank Stark and Lawrence McDonald (Te Papa Press)

New Zealand's Native Trees, by John Dawson and Rob Lucas (Craig Potton Publishing)

Playing with Fire: Auckland Studio Potters Society Turns 50, by Peter Lange and Stuart Newby (Auckland Studio Potters Society, in conjunction with the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery)

Whatu Kakahu/Maori Cloaks, by Awhina Tamarapa (Te Papa Press)

People's Choice:
Voting is now open at www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz and closes July 6.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Disney bans junk food ads

There won't be any more candy, sugar cereal or fast food on US television with the morning cartoons.

The Walt Disney Co has become the first major media company to ban ads for junk food on its television channels, radio stations and websites, hoping to stop kids from eating badly by taking the temptation away.

First Lady Michelle Obama called it a "game changer" that is sure to send a message to the rest of the children's entertainment industry.

"Just a few years ago if you had told me or any other mom or dad in America that our kids wouldn't see a single ad for junk food while they watched their favorite cartoons on a major TV network, we wouldn't have believed you," said Obama, who has headed a campaign to curb child obesity.

The food that doesn't meet Disney's nutritional standards goes beyond candy bars and fast food meals. Capri Sun juice (too much sugar) and Oscar Mayer Lunchables snacks (high sodium) won't be advertised. Any cereal with more than 10 grams of sugar per serving is also off the air. A full meal can't be more than 600 calories.

Disney's rules - which won't take effect until 2015 - follow a controversial proposal in New York to take supersized drinks over 16 ounces (473ml) out of convenience stores, movie theatres and restaurants, removing choices to try and influence behavior.

Getting rid of junk food ads will make it easier to keep the family on a healthy diet, said Nadine Haskell, a mother of two sons, 8 and 11.

"If they see a commercial on TV, then the next time we go to the grocery store they'll see it and say they want to try it," said Haskell, of Columbus, Ohio.

Disney declined to say how much revenue it stands to lose from banning unhealthy food. CEO Bob Iger said there might be a short-term reduction in advertising revenue, but he hopes that companies will eventually adjust and create new products that meet the standards.

The ban would apply to TV channels such is Disney XD, children's programming on the ABC network, Radio Disney and Disney-owned websites aimed at families with young children. The company's Disney Channel has sponsorships, but does not run ads.

Aviva Must, chairwoman of the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, said Disney could succeed where the government has made little progress.

"There seems to be limited taste for government regulation," said Must, who has studied childhood obesity for decades. "So I think a large company like Disney taking a stand and putting in a policy with teeth is a good step."

Even though many fast-food chains and food companies are rolling out healthier options like apples and salads, Disney said it still could deny the companies' ads.

Leslie Goodman, Disney's senior vice president of corporate citizenship, says Disney will consider a company's broader offerings when deciding whether to approve ads.

"It's not just about reformulating a meal for a single advertising opportunity," Goodman said. The company will need to show that if offers a range of healthy options, she said.

Disney said there are ads currently running on Disney channels that would not meet the new standards. Two Kraft products won't make the cut: Oscar Mayer Lunchables meat-and-cracker snacks, which have 28 per cent of the recommended daily sodium intake, and Capri Sun, which has just 60 calories per serving but has added sweeteners.

Disney declined to name other companies' offerings but said most sugared cereals won't be allowed.

Kraft said it welcomed Disney's decision, noting that it advertises very few brands to children under age 12.

Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said that while some snack foods of limited nutritional value may still be advertised, the worst of the junk foods will be eliminated under the new policy.

"Disney's announcement really puts a lot of pressure on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network and other media to do the same," she added.

A spokesman for Nickelodeon declined to comment.

Disney launched internal nutrition guidelines in 2006, with the goal of making 85 per cent of the food and drinks served at its parks and resorts healthy. The remaining 15 per cent was reserved for special treats, such as cake for birthday celebrations. The company also stopped using toys in kid's meals to advertise its movies.

Disney on Tuesday also introduced its "Mickey Check" seal of approval for nutritious foods sold in stores, online and at its parks and resorts.

"The emotional connection kids have to our characters and stories gives us a unique opportunity to continue to inspire and encourage them to lead healthier lives," Iger said.

The Better Business Bureau and 16 major food companies, including Coca-Cola Co, Burger King Worldwide Holdings Inc and Mars Inc have also pledged to ensure by 2014 that ads aimed at children is devoted only to better-for-you foods.

McDonald's, which is part of the initiative, said in a statement Tuesday that it will continue a dialogue with Disney about its new guidelines.

- AP

Party in wings for Hobbit premiere

KERRY MCBRIDE AND TOM CARDY
Orlando Bloom

FLASHBACK: Orlando Bloom shows off his I Love NZ t-shirt at the world premiere of the Return of the King in Wellington, December 1, 2003.

Wellington will roll out the red carpet once again on November 28, when the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is held at The Embassy theatre.

The film is the first of two multimillion-dollar Hollywood blockbusters to be released by Oscar-winning director Sir Peter Jackson, telling the story of hobbit Bilbo Baggins' quest into the heart of a dragon's treasure-laden lair.

Wellington had become home for the films' cast and crew over the past two years, Sir Peter said.

"I know I speak for a company of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs when I say that this city holds a special place in all our hearts.

"We cannot think of a more perfect way to send The Hobbit off into the world than to celebrate with a huge party here in Wellington, where the journey began."

A spokesman for the film said it was hoped that the principal cast for the first film would all attend the Wellington premiere, including lead actor Martin Freeman, and Lord of the Rings stars Sir Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis.

Other big names who could also walk the Courtenay Place red carpet include Elijah Wood who has reprised his role as Frodo Baggins, and Cate Blanchett who plays the elf Galadriel.

Principal shooting for both Hobbit movies is expected to wrap up by the end of next month.

Wellington City Council said the event would be on a similar scale to The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King world premiere held in 2003, with a street parade and public entertainment.

The council had set aside $1.15 million in its draft annual plan for the premiere, funded through the Downtown Levy – a targeted commercial rate.

While the plan was yet to be finalised, 87 per cent of respondents in public consultation supported funding the premiere.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said The Hobbit was proof that great things could come from boutique-sized cities.

"We're very proud that The Hobbit was made in Wellington and we'll have a celebration to remember."

Prime Minister John Key said there were massive economic benefits from the films being produced here, and the premiere would put New Zealand on the world stage.

No further government funding had been requested for the premiere.

However, Warner Bros struck a deal with the Government in October 2010 to keep the production in New Zealand after actors' union disputes threw the project into uncertainty.

While it was unclear what economic benefits the premiere could have for Wellington, a McDermott Miller report estimated the 2003 Return of the King premiere contributed about $9.5m in new spending to Wellington's economy.

Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks said thousands of fans were expected to descend on Wellington for the big day, filling the city's hotels and restaurants.

"There is going to be a simply unmissable buzz pulsing through the coolest little capital in the world."

- © Fairfax NZ News

Review: Queen's Diamond Jubilee

OPINION: The French, in their resignedly insouciant way, say "Plus ca change" and, when it comes to television coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee over recent days, they've got a point.

The last time something this stonkingly big happened on the Thames, it was up to Canaletto to cover it – producing a magnificently detailed painting in his matchless style. But it was generally only seen by the wealthy. You didn't get your peasantry visiting art galleries.

This time, the load was rather more widely shared, with the stunning 1000-boat flotilla covered by the world's television media. But in this country, again, only the better off got to see it, because only pay channel UKTV, on Sky, carried all the footage live – or even a meaningful amount of it.

It's still hard, as a viewer, to get used to the idea that TVNZ is now only nominally our state broadcaster and, more often than not, either cannot afford or does not choose to run live coverage of major events. Even live coverage of local disasters can necessitate a trip to NZ On Air with the collection plate.

TV One screens the concert tonight, and it's well worth watching this delayed version.

But the lack of generally available live access was a pity because, for once, even the most ferocious of republicans could not help but be awed and thrilled through several hours of royal spectacle – not just by the sight of all those ships and boats, but by the vast sweep of history the flotilla represented. Sky's BBC-sourced coverage was meticulous and comprehensive as you'd expect, and punctuated with lots of jolly historians and other experts who could paint a picture – supplementary to Canaletto – of past such demonstrations of imperial and military might. The Thames used to be a lot wider, but quite a lot shallower; its banks spanned for a long time by just a single bridge. But even in past centuries, when communications and transport were glacial, and both beyond the means of your average Briton, a royal flotilla brought a staggering turnout.

The most churlish viewer would have to mark it high as a celebration of mankind's stewardship with boating. From the stately, garlanded royal barge, to the single-skullers, it was an inspiring sight. One would have to be extremely jaded with life not to be impressed by all those multi-oared craft, powered with equal effectiveness by Olympians and physically disabled folk.

Britain is up to its gills in recession, yet through a combination of private donations and a variant of Dunkirk spirit, managed to pull off a stunning show of strength and pride, nicely tempered with eccentricity and anachronism. (And the inevitable bloody-minded quantities of rain, which only served further to typify the British can-do spirit at its best). Arguably the whole thing – royalty, flotillas, bunting – is one giant anachronism, but what a magnificent one.

The BBC took its usual "oooh, aren't they scary?" approach to our waka crew's haka, and referred to "the New Zealand Prime Minister John Kay". But it was clear the Maori contingent was regarded as a highlight.

And then there was the concert. Again, the Brits struck the perfect tone, which could best be summed up by Kylie Minogue performing dressed as a Pearly Queen. Wit, charm, cheek and talent – a bit of affectionate subversion was a feature in every item in the show. There was Grace Jones, the 80s pop harridan, reprising her act with terrifying dignity, despite being dressed like a fungal version of Superwoman, and while whirling a hula-hoop around her waist. There was Tom Jones, still in great, knicker-magnet voice; Robbie Williams, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul, Sir Elton, Sir Cliff and – there's always a place for a silly in-joke – Sir Rolf. Royal Variety shows can be a chore, but this was a crowd-pleaser from start to finish, replete with corny but jolly song choices: Shirley Bassey doing Diamonds Are Forever and Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely? Even the notoriously irascible Duke of Edinburgh might be sorry he was too poorly to see it live.

The Prince of Wales, whose awkward PR history may well have made it his private nightmare to have to follow all these terrific acts, nevertheless charmed – although also rather surprised – the audience by referring to the Queen as "Mummy". If the royals go in for corporal punishment, he may get a clip across the ear for that, as she did not look terribly amused.

But a further fascination in these telecasts was a prolonged view of this elderly woman, and her even older husband, with the chance to marvel at how little, proportionate to their ages, they have slowed down. To stand about for hours, and to deal with being the focus of such intense attention for such a marathon bash, is quite remarkable.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Jessie J 'told to hide sexuality'

Jessie J was advised by record industry executives to hide her true sexuality, according to a revealing new book.

The unauthorised biography claims that the singer is gay but has been told to identify herself as bisexual to please all of her fans.

Author Chloe Govan writes in Jessie J: Who's Laughing Now that The Voice judge did what was recommended because she didn't want to lose her record deal, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper.

"Jessie might have been with boys in the past - but she is 100 percent gay," the tome alleges.

"She was advised not to come out though. Certain people thought being bi was trendy, exotic and a fashion statement. It would increase her allure.

"Being gay would alienate people. They knew how important image was and asked her to tone it down a bit.

"There are so many homophobes out and there were fears of a career-damaging backlash."

Jessie has admitted having a crush on Rihanna and was reportedly "incensed" at having to live a lie.

"If I meet someone and I like them, I don't care if they're a boy or a girl," she said recently.

- Cover Media