Friday, 17 October, 2014
Bono apologises over unwanted downloads of U2 new album U2 frontman Bono has issued an apology to iTunes users over the release of their recent album Songs of Innocence. Users of the software had a free copy of the new album automatically downloaded to their accounts as part of a marketing stunt in September that tied in with the release of Apple’s new iPhone. U2’s latest album Songs of Innocence was given away free but the marketing stunt backfired, reported Contactmusic. The apology was prompted by a criticism from a Facebook user during a question and answer session. “Oops, I am sorry about that,” said Bono. “I had this beautiful idea and we kind of got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn’t be heard.” ONLINE
Christian Bale in talks to play Steve Jobs
Christian Bale is in talks to portray Steve Jobs in a biopic, a role that Leonardo DiCaprio was circling earlier. Sony has started negotiations with ‘The Fighter’ star, who was the original choice when David Fincher was in talks to direct the movie about the Apple co-founder, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Bale got involved in talks with Sony for the biopic after his negotiations with Fox for ‘The Deep Blue Goodbye’ hit a roadblock. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ helmer Danny Boyle is directing the untitled Jobs film, which is based on Walter Isaacson’s book and adapted by Aaron Sorkin and is one of the most anticipated biopics in recent years. Sony bought rights of the best-seller in 2011, around the time of Jobs’ death. Fincher, who was earlier slated to direct the biopic, reportedly left the project over compensation and control issues. The other actors in the race to play Jobs are Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Bradley Cooper. Joshua Michael Stern directed the other biopic titled ‘Jobs’ and starring Ashton Kutcher but the movie did not do too well critically or commercially. ONLINE
Neil Patrick Harris set to host Oscars 2015
‘How I Met Your Mother’ star Neil Patrick Harris will host the 87th Academy Awards in 2015. The 41-year-old actor, who has previously anchored the Tony Awards and the Emmys several times, will present the starstudded ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on February 22, reported Variety. Harris announced the news on Twitter by posting a video clip of himself telling an unidentified person, “I’m in” during a phone call. In the video, the ‘Gone Girl’ actor, who recently married his long-term boyfriend David Burtka, with whom he has four-yearold twins, Harper and Gideon, is then seen consulting his bucket list, which includes having children, getting married and meeting the president, and circling the final item that reads ‘host the Oscars’ with a black pen. ONLINE
ARTS
DeePika PaDUkONe NOt eyeiNg HOllywOOD, keeN tO featUre iN freNCH, iraNiaN filmS MUMBAI
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CTRESS Deepika Padukone is ready to work in films beyond Bollywood, but she is not gunning for Hollywood. The versatile Indian actress is instead, keen to do a French or Iranian film, and she has even identified directors she would like to work with. “I think French cinema is as beautiful as Indian cinema and like I said before, I don’t think the medium matters as much as the story and the script. If I find something exciting, I would do it,” the 28-year-old said at the 16th Mumbai Film Festival. “‘Priceless’ is one of my most favourite French films. I have watched some Iranian films as well. I do like some directors and I have identified
some directors I would like to work with,” she added. Deepika is currently busy promoting her mega commercial venture “Happy New Year”, which hits theatres Oct 24. Directed by Farah Khan, it also stars Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah.
KRISTEN STEWART NOT WORRIED ABOUT HATERS Kristen Stewart is fine with people who hate her as an actress. The actress, who played the lead role in vampire romance ‘Twilight’, says she is fine with people judging her on the basis of her initial movies. “Honestly, I don’t care. It’s fine. I’m really happy doing what I’m doing,” the actress, 24, told the Daily Beast. “I’m sure there are a ton of people out there who would hate (all) my
movies just as I’m sure there are people out there who are obsessed with Twilight and say, ‘I watched the series, and she completely let me down, and then I watched every one of her other movies, and I … hate her!’ And that’s cool! Just don’t watch my movies,” she said. Stewart will be next seen in ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’, ‘Still Alice’ and ‘Camp X-Ray’, in which she plays a green guard at Guantanamo Bay. AGENCIES
Jackson tops Forbes list of highest-earning dead celebrities NEW YORK: Five years after his death, singer Michael Jackson is generating a fortune and is the top-earning dead celebrity, raking in an estimated $140 million in the past year for his estate, Forbes said on Wednesday. He earned more than twice as much as singer Elvis Presley, who died in 1977 and came in second with $55 million, and three times more than cartoonist and Peanuts comic strip creator Charles Schulz, who took third place with $40 million. “Few celebrities prove the point that there is (financial) life after death better than
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Michael Jackson,” according to Forbes. It is Jackson’s second straight year atop the list. He regained the title in 2013, a year after being pushed into second place by actress Elizabeth Taylor. Jackson’s second album released after his death, “Xscape” debuted at No. 2 on the pop charts in the past year and the singer also appeared as a hologram at the Billboard Music Awards. Two Cirque du Soleil shows, “Immortal” and “One,” account for much of Jackson’s earnings along with his music catalog and publishing empire. AGENCIES
Harry Potter author’s new wizard movies due from 2016 LOS ANGELES: Harry Potter author JK Rowling is working on three new wizard-based movies to be released starting in 2016, studio giant Warner Bros announced Wednesday. The first, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” will be directed by David Yates, who directed the last four “Harry Potter” movies, and reunite the same filmmaking team. It is described as “set in an extension of her familiar wizarding world, featuring magical creatures and characters inspired by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbook and its fictitious author.” A second movie is set for release in 2018 and a third in 2012, the studio said. The first movie was announced last month. Rowling, who has sold more than 450 million copies of the Harry Potter books, announced in September that Warner Bros had approached her about doing “Fantastic Beasts.” “I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scaramander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult. “Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it,” she said, explaining her decision to write the screenplay. Warner Bros did not announce who will direct or star in any of the three new scheduled films. AGENCIES
GUL AHMED JOINS HANDS WITH OAKS TO SAVE PRECIOUS LIVES IN THAR The Karachiites have always been on the forefront when it comes to supporting people in times of need and this time too it is no different. The OAKS (Old Association of Kinnaird Society Karachi) has organized a fashion show, “Saving Thar” that has been especially put together to show their heartfelt support and aid in time of distress. Gul Ahmed has joined hands with OAKS in this noble cause and come forward to save the precious lives that are at risk due to famine and acute shortage of water in the desert. The fashion show “Saving Thar” was held on Saturday 27th September at a local hotel and was very much appreciated by people who showed their support by turning up in large numbers to attend the event. Gul Ahmed is one of the largest composite mills of Pakistan and manufactures high quality clothing and home apparel that is used domestically and exported aboard too. The company has become Pakistan’s premiere fashion giant and supports every cause related to fashion that contributes to country’s growth and development in the local as well as the international market.
Fashion show organised by OAKS and Gul Ahmed Textile Mills.
With versatile operations that range from spinning to retail, Gul Ahmed is without any doubt Pakistan’s leading textile company with more 50 flagship stores. The company offers fabric and made-ups that have taken the world of style by storm. Its formal line, G-Pret
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is particularly influenced by the current fashion trends and brings together simplicity and grandeur. Gul Ahmed has paved the way for fashion at great value and caters to customers from all walks of life by offering a diverse range of products for the entire family.
Gul Ahmed has also maintained an active profile when it comes to helping the underprivileged and deprived and has always made concrete efforts to support causes that make a difference in the lives of others and bring them hope and happiness. STAFF REPORT