Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
South African actress Charlbi Dean dies at age 32 - CP24
The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, August 30, 2022 4:55PM EDT
Last Updated Tuesday, August 30, 2022 4:55PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) - Charlbi Dean, the South African actor and model who had a breakout role in “Triangle of Sadness,” which won this year's top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has died at age 32.
Dean died Monday at a hospital in New York from a sudden unexpected illness, her representatives said Tuesday.
Dean also had a recurring role as the assassin Syonide on the DC Comics television series “Black Lightning,” which aired on the CW from 2018 to 2021.
She was born Charlbi Dean Kriek in Cape Town, where she was also raised.
Dean began modeling as a child, making frequent appearances on fashion runways and magazine covers in the decades that followed.
She survived a near-fatal car accident in 2009.
She made her acting debut in the 2010 film “Spud,” an adaptation of a popular South African novel about a boys' boarding school starring Troye Sivan and John Cleese. She reprised her role in a 2013 sequel.
In “Triangle of Sadness,” the first English-language film from Swedish “Force Majeure” director Ruben Östlund, Dean and Harris Dickinson play a celebrity fashion-model couple on a cruise for the ultra-rich that descends into chaos. It also stars Woody Harrelson as the ship's captain.
The film won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in May and opens in the U.S. and most of Europe in October.
At the festival before the film won the award, Dean told The Associated Press, “For me, I'm like, I've already won. I'm already at Cannes with the movie. That's so unbelievable. Anything is just a cherry on top at this point for me, you know?”
South African actress Charlbi Dean dies at age 32 - CP24
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Meghan speaks about 'forgiving' Royal Family - CTV News
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, says that "just by existing," she and her husband Prince Harry "upset the dynamic of the hierarchy" when they were in the U.K.
The former actress made headlines in Britain on Tuesday with comments made during an interview with U.S. magazine The Cut. In the interview published Monday, the duchess said it's not easy to "forgive" when asked if there was room for forgiveness between her, the Royal Family and her own family. She also referred to Harry's strained ties with his father, Prince Charles.
"I think forgiveness is really important. It takes a lot more energy to not forgive," she said. "But it takes a lot of effort to forgive. I've really made an active effort, especially knowing that I can say anything."
Meghan, 41, and Harry, 37, have been in a tense relationship with the Royal Family since they stepped away from royal duties and left the U.K. in early 2020, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.
Since their move to California, where they are now settled with their two young children, they have publicly discussed their unhappiness with the Royal Family. In a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Meghan spoke about racism within the monarchy and Harry said Charles had stopped taking his calls.
Asked about Meghan's privacy lawsuit against a British tabloid, The Cut -- part of New York Magazine -- said the duchess spoke about the terrible impact of "toxic tabloid culture" on both her and Harry's families.
"Harry said to me, `I lost my dad in this process.' It doesn't have to be the same for them as it was for me, but that's his decision," she told the magazine.
A spokeswoman for Meghan later clarified that the duchess was referring to losing her own estranged father, Thomas Markle, and saying that she hopes this does not happen to Harry and his father.
The couple have signed deals with Spotify and Netflix, and the first offering, a podcast featuring Meghan as a host in conversation with celebrities, has just launched.
Meghan speaks about 'forgiving' Royal Family - CTV News
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Sunday, August 28, 2022
Win Butler accused of sexual misconduct - Entertainment News - Castanet.net
Photo: BANG Showbiz. All rights reserved.
Arcade Fire's Win Butler has been accused of sexual misconduct by four people.
The 42-year-old singer is said to have behaved inappropriately between 2015 to 2020 when he was aged 34 to 39 and his alleged victims were between the ages of 18 and 23, but he has insisted the encounters between them were consensual.
A gender-fluid individual who uses they/them pronouns told Pitchfork Butler had sexually assaulted them twice in 2015 when they were 21 years old, while three women told the outlet their encounters with the Butler involved unwanted touching, kissing and photos of genitalia, and were “inappropriate given the gaps in age, power dynamics, and context in which they occurred.”
Butler has issued a lengthy statement in which he told how he was going through a period of depression and drinking heavily at the time, but maintained the "relationships" were consensual and his wife, bandmate Regine Chassagne, is aware of what happened.
He said in a statement: “I love Régine with all of my heart. We have been together for twenty years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soulmate and I am lucky and grateful to have her by my side. But at times, it has been difficult to balance being the father, husband, and bandmate that I want to be. Today I want to clear the air about my life, poor judgment, and mistakes I have made.
“I have had consensual relationships outside of my marriage.
“There is no easy way to say this, and the hardest thing I have ever done is having to share this with my son. The majority of these relationships were short lived, and my wife is aware – our marriage has, in the past, been more unconventional than some. I have connected with people in person, at shows, and through social media, and I have shared messages of which I am not proud. Most importantly, every single one of these interactions has been mutual and always between consenting adults. It is deeply revisionist, and frankly just wrong, for anyone to suggest otherwise.
“I have never touched a woman against her will, and any implication that I have is simply false. I vehemently deny any suggestion that I forced myself on a woman or demanded sexual favors. That simply, and unequivocally, never happened. While these relationships were all consensual, I am very sorry to anyone who I have hurt with my behavior. Life is filled with tremendous pain and error, and I never want to be part of causing someone else’s pain."
The singer went on to detail the struggles in his personal life but insisted he wasn't making excuses.
He said: “I have long struggled with mental health issues and the ghosts of childhood abuse. In my 30s, I started drinking as I dealt with the heaviest depression of my life after our family experienced a miscarriage. None of this is intended to excuse my behavior, but I do want to give some context and share what was happening in my life around this time…
Butler went on to apologize.
He concluded: “I say to you all my friends, family, to anyone I have hurt and to the people who love my music and are shocked and disappointed by this report: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the pain I caused – I’m sorry I wasn’t more aware and tuned in to the effect I have on people – I f***** up, and while not an excuse, I will continue to look forward and heal what can be healed, and learn from past experiences. I can do better and I will do better.”
The singer has the support of his wife, and she is "certain" he hasn't done anything his accusers had not agreed to.
Regine said in her own statement: “Win is my soulmate, my songwriting partner, my husband, the father of my beautiful boy. He has been my partner in life and in music for 20 years. And for all of the love in our lives, I have also watched him suffer through immense pain.
"I have stood by him because I know he is a good man who cares about this world, our band, his fans, friends, and our family. I’ve known Win since before we were ‘famous,’ when we were just ordinary college students.
"I know what is in his heart, and I know he has never, and would never, touch a woman without her consent and I am certain he never did. He has lost his way and he has found his way back. I love him and love the life we have created together.”
Win Butler accused of sexual misconduct - Entertainment News - Castanet.net
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Saturday, August 27, 2022
Famous Churchill portrait swapped with copy in Ottawa hotel, staff doesn't notice for months - CNN
A famous portrait of World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was stolen from an Ottawa hotel and replaced with a copy without staff noticing for months.
It took officials at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel at least eight months before they realized the photograph, which may be worth more than $100,000, had been swapped, CNN affiliate CTV reported.
"We are deeply saddened by this brazen act," hotel general manager Geneviève Dumas wrote in a Facebook post. "The hotel is incredibly proud to house this stunning Karsh collection, which was securely installed in 1998."
The portrait, created by Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, is "one of the most widely reproduced images in the history of photography," according to Karsh's website. In 2016, the photo became the face of the Bank of England's five pound note.
The original hung in the Chateau Laurier Hotel until a date officials believe likely ranged between December 25, 2021, and January 6, 2022, the hotel's general manager Geneviève Dumas told CTV.
Last weekend, hotel employees noticed the photograph was hung improperly, and the frame didn't match the others in the space, CTV reported. Hotel officials then used photos sent in by the public to help establish when the original portrait and frame was switched out.
The Chateau Laurier Hotel's marketing director told CNN an investigation into the portrait's disappearance is ongoing.
The theft was likely an "inside job," Robert Wittman, a former art crime investigator with the FBI, told CTV.
"So usually when a situation like this occurs, it's not a shoplifting, it's not just a burglary; it's someone from the inside who had access, who knew what they were looking for, knew what the security measures were that were protecting the piece and that (they) were able to defeat those measures because they had inside information," Wittman told CTV.
The beloved black and white photograph captures Churchill scowling moments after Karsh plucked a cigar from the prime minister's mouth to snap the shot.
"By the time I got back to my camera, he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me. It was at that instant that I took the photograph," Karsh had written about the photograph. "I knew after I had taken it that it was an important picture, but I could hardly have dreamed that it would become one of the most widely reproduced images in the history of photography."
The photographer lived at and ran his studio from the hotel for two decades, according to his estate, and when he moved away, Karsh left the hotel a collection of his photographs -- including the one of Churchill.
"His association with the hotel was very deep and very warm," Jerry Fielder, the director of Karsh's estate, told CTV. "This was a very special print to him, and it was a really beautiful print. So it does have very special significance."
The Fairmont Château Laurier urged anyone with information on the stolen photograph to immediately contact local authorities.
Famous Churchill portrait swapped with copy in Ottawa hotel, staff doesn't notice for months - CNN
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Friday, August 26, 2022
Comic enthusiasts, film fans and cosplayers unite: Fan Expo Canada is back in all its glory - CBC.ca
The Fan Expo Canada convention for enthusiasts of comics, anime and sci-fi is back in its full glory this year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Canada's largest pop culture event attracts thousands of fans in Toronto until Sunday
Comic enthusiasts, film fans and cosplayers unite: Fan Expo Canada is back in all its glory - CBC.ca
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Elton John & Britney Spears Drop New Duet ‘Hold Me Closer’: Listen - HollywoodLife
Britney Spears began her music comeback on August 26 with help from a fellow living legend. Britney, 40, joined Elton John for “Hold Me Closer,” the long-rumored remix of his 1971 hit, “Tiny Dancer,” and fans went wild when it dropped at midnight. This new version was everything they expected and more, with an infectious techno-infused beat and Britney’s signature warble throughout. And fans agree, as the song is already charting at #1 on iTunes.
“Saw you dancing out the ocean/Running fast along the sand/A spirit born of earth and water/Fire flying from your hands,” the pair sing in unison off the top. Towards the end of the track, Britney belts out “Hold me closer,” proving she’s still got those iconic vocals.
Following its landmark debut, both Britney and Elton released a statement – praising each other for their contribution. “I was so honored when the incredible Sir Elton John asked me to join him on one of his most iconic songs. We are so excited for the fans to hear it! Thank you, Elton, for having me! I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to work with you and your legendary mind,” Britney said in the press release. Elton also thanked Britney for joining him and said, “I am absolutely thrilled to have had the chance to work with Britney Spears; She truly is an icon, one of the all-time great pop stars and she sounds amazing on this record. I love her dearly and am delighted with what we’ve created together.”
“Hold Me Closer” marks Britney’s first new music since December 2020, when she teamed with her fellow ‘90s icons, Backstreet Boys, for the song “Matches.” The song coincided with the re-release of her 2016 album, Glory (which included “Mood Ring” and “Swimming in the Stars,” one song that was unreleased from the Glory recording sessions and one song initially put out as a bonus track on the Japanese version.) Beyond that, Britney’s music career has been quiet since Glory, an issue she brought up around the end her 13-year conservatorship.
“I wanted to be nice but what they did to my heart was unforgivable!” Spears wrote in a December 2021 Instagram post. “I asked for 13 years to perform new songs and remixes of my old songs. … I had two months off in between each show settings for four years in Vegas. … and every time I asked, I was told, ‘No’! It was a setup to make me fail, yet I knew exactly what I wanted my fans to see.” Britney also write that it didn’t make sense how “network television shows are showcasing my music with remixes…yet the person who owns the music is told No!!!! They even gave remixes to my sister [Jamie Lynn Spears] but why was I always told no?”
“So much wasted time to only embarrass me and humiliate me and I guess it seems odd to most now why I don’t even do my music anymore,” she added. “Not doing my music anymore is my way of saying ‘F-ck You,’ in a sense when it only actually benefits my family by ignoring my real work.”
Britney’s conservatorship ended in November 2021, two months after she formally filed a request to “immediately terminate” the 13-year legal arrangement that stripped away her autonomy. “I have an IUD in my body right now that won’t let me have a baby, and my conservators won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out,” Britney said in one of the two hearings where she testified against the conditions of her conservatorship. “All I want is to own my money… and for this to end… and for my [then-boyfriend, now husband Sam Asghari] to be able to f-cking drive me in his car. And honestly…. I want to be able to sue my family,” she also said. “I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive.”
Elton John & Britney Spears Drop New Duet ‘Hold Me Closer’: Listen - HollywoodLife
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Comic enthusiasts, film fans and cosplayers unite: Fan Expo Canada is back in all its glory - CBC.ca
The Fan Expo Canada convention for enthusiasts of comics, anime and sci-fi is back in its full glory this year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Canada's largest pop culture event attracts thousands of fans in Toronto until Sunday
Comic enthusiasts, film fans and cosplayers unite: Fan Expo Canada is back in all its glory - CBC.ca
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Thursday, August 25, 2022
She-Hulk’s Wolverine Easter egg points to Marvel’s X-Men future - Polygon
Two episodes in, Marvel’s latest Disney Plus series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, is already proving to be a confluence of all things Marvel Cinematic Universe, albeit in the cheekiest way. As a lawyer for superheroes, Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) finds herself brushing against the turbulent lives of both heroes and villains, even when she — and the audience — are least expecting it. Even doomscrolling out of boredom can reveal something new about the ever-evolving MCU. Say, an eventual appearance of one of the most famous mutants ever created.
[Ed. note: The rest of this piece contains mild spoilers for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 2.]
And that’s exactly how Jennifer and Marvel fans wound up with a hint of X-Men in She-Hulk episode 2. At the top of the episode, we see the hopeful lawyer browsing a bleak listicle about alternative career paths. But on the side rail of the story, eagle-eyed viewers might spot a few other newsy updates from the MCU. “Why there is a giant statue of a man sticking out of the ocean” is an obvious nod to the end of Eternals, when Sersi’s matter-changing abilities turned Earth’s incubated Celestial into a giant statue of a man sticking out of the ocean. “Man fights with metal claws in bar brawl” could only be one thing.
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Those familiar with Logan’s incarnations in the comics, animated series, and various Hugh Jackman-led X-Men films know (1) Wolverine has adamantium claws, (2) the man loves a bar, and (3) he can never say no to a fight. In fact, the 2000 X-Men film, which counts MCU mastermind Kevin Feige as an associate producer from back when he was Avi Arad’s mentee, introduces Wolverine in a rowdy cage match which eventually escalates to a bar brawl.
But is this a clever nod to a now pivotal film in the timeline of comic book movies or an actual admission that there’s some mutant activity afoot in the Marvel movie universe? Considering She-Hulk creator Jessica Gao is yet another Rick and Morty alum granted access to the reference-friendly trove of lore that is the MCU, there’s reason to think it’s just a joke for the #fans. But this isn’t the first time a Marvel series has teased the inclusion of X-Men in the lineup; Ms. Marvel’s finale post-credits scene revealed that on top of magic tech, Kamala Khan has mutant DNA. And then they played the X-Men: The Animated Series theme music.
What the hell! This is bullying.
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There are currently no announced plans for a stand-alone Wolverine or X-Men movie or TV show in the already packed Marvel Cinematic Universe schedule that runs through 2025. But with D23 on the horizon in September, where rumors suggest Marvel will unload another set of announcements, anything seems possible. Feige and his crew intend to stage a Secret Wars movie in three years — and can you do Secret Wars without ol’ Wolverine?
Either way, there is some good news for X-fans: X-Men ’97, a continuation of the ’90s animated series spearheaded by Marvel Studios, is slated for a Disney Plus premiere in fall 2023.
She-Hulk’s Wolverine Easter egg points to Marvel’s X-Men future - Polygon
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Eternal Spring named Canada's submission for Oscars' best international film - CBC News
Eternal Spring, a documentary that follows Chinese activists' takeover of a state television station, will be Canada's submission for best international feature film, Telefilm Canada announced Wednesday.
Directed by Jason Loftus, the film will be the first animated, documentary and Mandarin-language submission from Canada for the Oscars' best international feature film category.
"This is a game-changer with the recognition that Canada's providing," Loftus said of the importance of the nomination in a Telefilm press conference shortly after the announcement was made. "So obviously we look forward to putting it in front of as many people as possible."
The film had its North American premiere at Toronto's Hot Docs festival earlier this year, and uses the animation of Chinese illustrator Daxiong, who took part in the rebellion the film showcases. It tells the story of how outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong hacked a Chinese state broadcaster to expose government disinformation and repression levied against them.
Loftus said he made the film with his partner, Masha Loftus, who is from Changchun city, where the events of the film took place. Production took nearly six years, during which time Jason Loftus says the Chinese government — upon learning of the documentary — began exerting pressure on them.
WATCH | Eternal Spring trailer:
Loftus says he was making a video game in the country during the same time period, when the Chinese government told the publisher he was working with to cut ties with him. He also said his wife's family received probing phone calls from China's public security bureau.
"There's definitely that moment where you think, is it worth it here?" he said. "And is there a potential risk, is there a potential blowback from doing this?"
"We felt it was important, despite that risk, to be able to still tell this story."
Eternal Spring joins a long list of Canadian submissions to the Oscars, though only seven have made it to official nominations. Of those, only one has won — Denys Arcand's The Barbarian Invasions in 2004.
Entries that made the final cut will be announced on Jan. 24, 2023, alongside the Oscars' full nominations list.
The Oscars themselves will take place on March 12.
Eternal Spring will hit theatres in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal on Sept. 23 of this year, with wider theatrical releases in Australia, the Netherlands, the U.S. and the U.K. this fall.
Eternal Spring named Canada's submission for Oscars' best international film - CBC News
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Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Meghan on dating Prince Harry and how her ambition was viewed - CTV News
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has said she did not realize ambition could be considered a "terrible" quality in a woman until she started dating her future husband, Prince Harry.
Meghan kicked off her new podcast, "Archetypes," which "dives into the labels that try to hold women back," with an episode on "The Misconceptions of Ambition with Serena Williams."
After starting with a recollection of her experience of successfully lobbying Procter & Gamble to change a sexist ad for dish soap at age 11, she went on to talk with Williams about "that dirty, dirty word when it comes to women -- ambition."
"I don't ever remember personally feeling the negative connotation behind the word 'ambitious' until I started dating my now husband. And, um, apparently ambition is a terrible, terrible thing -- for a woman that is -- according to some," said the duchess, who is an executive producer of the podcast, which is a co-production between the Sussexes' Archewell Audio, Gimlet and Spotify.
"So, since I've felt the negativity behind it, it's really hard to un-feel it. I can't unsee it, either, in the millions of girls and women who make themselves smaller -- so much smaller -- on a regular basis," she added.
Meghan started dating Prince Harry in 2016. They met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend in July of that year and, by November, Harry had released a statement asking for the abuse and harassment, which was often sexist and racist, of his girlfriend to stop.
In her podcast, Meghan spoke about the "pain" of being mischaracterized, adding that if a man is ambitious, it is "so celebrated," but, in a school classroom, "if a little girl is ambitious or raises her hand more, what is she called? Bossy."
Williams, whom Meghan said "embodies the spirit of ambition," agreed and said that "hopefully we can teach our girls to continue to raise their hand and to be fearless."
Earlier this month, the tennis star announced that she would "evolve away from tennis" after this year's US Open to focus on "other things that are important to me."
The 23-time grand slam champion said in the podcast: "My whole life has been one thing and so now I can focus on Serena Ventures, which I'm excited about."
She also said she wants to "expand" her family: "I've been fortunate enough to play tennis really well, but I think my best is being a mom. I think I can really be really good at that."
The tennis legend went on to speak about how "hard" it was to make the decision and the announcement, revealing, "I was in Switzerland and I was just sitting in the hotel at the desk, just typing and deleting and typing and thinking and then crying and sitting at my computer and tears streaming down my face as I'm writing these words and going back on these memories."
"Sometimes ambition in women also seems to suggest that you aren't afraid of anything," said Meghan. "But as you heard Serena say, of course, fears still exist. I've lived through them with her. The fear of making this recent decision."
"So, while Serena's soon closing her chapter of playing professional tennis, she's not shutting the door on her ambition. She's going to continue to do great things. To be the greatest of all time off the court. To be ambitious, and I think that's a beautiful thing," the duchess added.
Meghan on dating Prince Harry and how her ambition was viewed - CTV News
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Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Famous portrait of Winston Churchill missing from Ottawa hotel in suspected art heist - CBC.ca
One of the most famous portraits of Winston Churchill is missing from the Château Laurier's Reading Lounge after apparently being replaced with a copy, but exactly how long ago it disappeared is a mystery.
A staff member at the storied downtown Ottawa hotel, just steps from Parliament Hill, discovered on Friday night that the portrait hanging on the wall was a replica, not the original that was installed in 1998.
Specifically, the employee noticed its frame wasn't hung quite right and didn't match those of the other five portraits in the lounge, which were also taken by photographer Yousuf Karsh.
Karsh, one of the 20th century's most famous portrait photographers, took the photo in 1941 when the then-British prime minister was in Ottawa to address Parliament during the Second World War.
Jerry Fielder, who was hired by Karsh himself in 1979 and is now director of Karsh's estate, got a call from the Château Laurier's general manager on Saturday.
Like something out of a movie
The work that was supposed to be hanging there was made from a negative and signed by Karsh, but when Fielder asked to be sent a copy of the signature, he knew instantly that it was a forgery.
"It wasn't his signature," Fielder said.
The hotel then contacted Ottawa police, who confirmed to CBC on Monday that they are investigating the potential theft.
"I couldn't believe that anyone would do this," Fielder told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning on Tuesday. "It had been there for so long and had been such a part of the hotel. It was shocking and very saddening."
What happened to the original iconic image is unclear. Fielder said that the last time he saw it hanging in the hotel was in July 2019, and that "it was the real thing."
Removing the original and replacing it "was obviously thought out and planned," Fielder said.
"I would like [whoever took it] to give it back, but I don't think that's going to happen."
Michel Prévost, president of La Société d'histoire de l'Outaouais, said he didn't know how much the portrait was worth, but that no prints of Karsh's work have been allowed since his negatives were given to Library and Archives Canada in the 1990s.
"It's like a movie," Prévost said of the situation. "Famous hotel, and you have the security. And one of the most valuable portraits of your collection is stolen."
Karsh's history with the Château Laurier
Karsh had a long connection to the hotel. He and his first wife lived there for 18 years, and his studio was housed in the building until 1992, Prévost said.
The hotel said it has 15 original works by the photographer, six of which, including the Churchill portrait, were hanging in the lounge.
The remaining five have now been removed from the lounge until they can be better secured, according to a statement from the Fairmont hotel.
"We are deeply saddened by this brazen act. The hotel is incredibly proud to house this stunning Karsh collection, which was securely installed in 1998," the statement said.
The Roaring Lion's uncertain future
Karsh, originally from Armenia, made Ottawa his home from 1924 until the 1990s. He took pictures of 14,312 people in his career, according to Fielder, who says this portrait of Churchill launched him onto the international stage.
Fielder said the picture, known as The Roaring Lion, changed Karsh's life and has a lasting legacy — it's still the picture on the Bank of England's £5 note.
Part of the appeal might be the story behind the photo shoot. Churchill didn't want his picture taken, but permitted Karsh one photograph. To make the most of the shot, Karsh pulled the cigar from Churchill's lips and caught him glowering as a result.
"Then [Churchill] said, 'You may take one more.' And then he was smiling and looked very benign. But it's The Roaring Lion photograph that has become world famous," Fielder said.
"It was a very uncertain time in Canada, the United States and the world, and I think the portrait shows determination and strength. I think it gave people some courage."
Prévost, meanwhile, wonders how the story will end.
"I don't know if the Château Laurier will receive a call asking $5 million for the portrait. It could also be in the collection of a fan of Sir Winston Churchill," Prévost speculated.
"As a historian, I can speak about the past. I cannot speak about the future."
Famous portrait of Winston Churchill missing from Ottawa hotel in suspected art heist - CBC.ca
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Monday, August 22, 2022
Brendan Fraser to Receive Toronto Film Festival Award for The Whale - TheWrap
Actor Brendan Fraser will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF organizers announced on Monday.
Fraser is attending the festival for the North American premiere of Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” in which he stars as a severely obese man attempting to repair a fractured relationship with his teenage daughter (played by “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink). He will receive the award during the TIFF Tribute Awards, an in-person gala fundraiser that will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Also at that ceremony, another TIFF Tribute Award for Performance will go to the ensemble cast of “My Policeman,” including Harry Styles, Emma Corrin and Rupert Everett, as well as to “Empire of Light” director Sam Mendes.
“The Whale” is based on the stage play by Samuel D. Hunter and will be released by A24. In a press release announcing the award, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey called Fraser’s performance one “of staggering depth, power and nuance.”
The actor, who was born in the U.S. to Canadian parents, spent part of his youth in Toronto before beginning an acting career that has included “With Honors,” “Gods and Monsters,” the “Mummy” trilogy and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival will take place from Sept. 8-18.
Brendan Fraser to Receive Toronto Film Festival Award for The Whale - TheWrap
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Sunday, August 21, 2022
Dragon Ball fans flock to theaters in early box office reports - JoBlo.com
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is leading the weekend box office having pulled in a healthy $4 Million in Thursday previews on its way to an expected $21-$23 Million opening blowing past the $15 Million total that was expected earlier in the week. This is a big win for studio Crunchyroll’s release strategy for the film, picking what appears to be the perfect weekend to release a targeted film such as this.
Coming in second on the lower end of projections is the Idris Elba starring Beast. Reviews for the film have been fairly positive saying it doesn’t reinvent the wheel but is an enjoyable way to kill an hour and a half. Our own Chris Bumbray called it a pleasant surprise in his 8 out of 10 review of the film.
The rest of the box office is filled in with your summer hanger ons with Bullet Train, Top Gun: Maverick and DC’s League of Super-Pets rounding out the top five.
However, I must admit a miss in my earlier predictions, as the horror comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies is only expected to pull in $2.3 Million this weekend for a tenth place finish.
Were you part of the loyal fan base that rushed out to see the new Dragon Ball Super film? Or are you waiting for some bigger titles to hit before you make your way back to the theater? Let us know in the comments.
Dragon Ball fans flock to theaters in early box office reports - JoBlo.com
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Saturday, August 20, 2022
Actor Gary Busey faces sex offense charges at Monster Mania Convention in New Jersey - CNN
(CNN)Actor Gary Busey is facing sex offense charges that allegedly occurred during the annual Monster Mania Convention hosted at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey last weekend, according to police.
Cherry Hill Police responded to the hotel for the report of a sex offense. As a result of the investigation, the police department charged Gary Busey, 78, of Malibu, California, with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of criminal attempt/criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment.
CNN has reached out to representatives of Busey for comment. It was not immediately known if Busey had an attorney representing him in this matter.
Police did not identify him as an actor, but his age and hometown matched those of the actor. In addition, Busey was one of the attendees at the Monster Mania Convention event.
Busey is best known for his character portrayal of Buddy Holly in the 1978 movie "The Buddy Holly Story," for which he was nominated for an Oscar for best actor.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said, and anyone with additional information is urged to contact Cherry Hill Police Department at 856-432-8834.
Actor Gary Busey faces sex offense charges at Monster Mania Convention in New Jersey - CNN
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It feels like my daughter is saying goodbye forever as she leaves for college - CBC.ca
This First Person article is the experience of Miriam Edelson who is a writer and mother living in Toronto. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
"What do you mean you're going to school on the West Coast?" I say. "How can you possibly leave me?"
"I'm not leaving you. I got into a great program," says Emma. "Why can't you just be happy for me?"
This is the conversation with my daughter that I'll never have.
I do have it in my head though. There's a monologue racing through my mind, in two very different voices. One is quite hysterical.
"I gave birth to you. I raised you. And now you're moving thousands of miles away?! What about my grandchildren?"
Over the top for sure. They're not even conceived yet.
The other voice is of the mother I am trying to be.
"That's great, honey. What a terrific career move! I'm really proud of you."
In reality, that calmer voice is the one I share with her and with my friends and family when we talk about her approaching moving date. The supportive feeling is authentic, but reflects only part of my story.
Inside, I crumble. How will I manage without my one remaining child nearby?
It's not fair for me to burden her with the deep sense of loss I am experiencing as she prepares to leave, possibly never again to live in this city. I find ways to work through my feelings with close friends, my life partner, and a therapist. To make sense of the sadness I feel, and not let it drive my reactions to her in "real life."
It took me awhile to realize I was conflating her leaving with the permanence of my son's death. Emma's older brother was born with a rare, severe neurological disorder. His life, which so enriched my own, lasted only 14 years. One loss can trigger feelings of another and, for me, my daughter leaving became entangled with missing him. It can be confusing to marshal your best self while grappling with multiple losses.
My time with Emma now feels precious. I enjoy our evenings together after she finishes her busy work day. We lounge on the ample beige sofa in her apartment she shares with her boyfriend, Tyler, while we wait for pizza to arrive.
"I'm really going to miss you," she says, waving a strand of golden brown hair from her face, her dark blue-green eyes shimmering.
"Me too."
Apart from the whirring of the refrigerator, it is quiet for a moment.
"You were really good parents," she says. "I hope Tyler and I can be nearly as good as you and Dad have been."
"You will be," I say, taking in the delicious news that she thinks we did a good job. This is even more poignant to me because her father and I split up when she was young and I devoted a great deal of energy to ensuring we co-parented closely and well. It's also wonderful to hear about Emma and Tyler's growing readiness to start a family.
I thought when her father and I separated that I was shattering my little girl's world. She was four years old and it was rough for a while. She told her daycare buddies, "I'm getting separated," which would have been cute if not so heartbreaking.
Somehow, through all the twists and turns, we muddled through — just as I will muddle through this sadness and begin to embrace, ever so tentatively, the opportunity to visit her in Vancouver.
I'm already looking to reserve a cheap flight, months in advance of our first visit. Now I'll be the parent who arrives from away and receives all the attention. I recognize, too, that in her own way, she is saying goodbye to me. Taking stock and giving appreciation. We both are. I hope the diaphanous thread that attaches us still can stretch over thousands of miles. We both seem to want that.
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It feels like my daughter is saying goodbye forever as she leaves for college - CBC.ca
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Your daily horoscope: August 19 - The Globe and Mail
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IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY
A sun-Pluto link on your birthday will encourage you to be more assertive over the coming 12 months, and that’s no bad thing, but you must be sensible in the battles you choose to fight. There will be many occasions when you don’t have to fight at all.
ARIES (March 21 - April 20):
So many things have been going well for you of late that you may truly believe you can do no wrong, but today’s Sun-Pluto link will find ways to remind you what happens when pride becomes the driving force of your affairs. It may not be pretty!
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21):
The sun moves into the most dynamic area of your chart a few days from now, so start making plans and make them big. Picture in your mind the kind of life you want to be enjoying by the end of the year, then make it happen.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21):
According to the planets there is more to a situation than meets the eye, so do some digging and don’t be surprised if what you find is the opposite of what friends and colleagues have been telling you is true. You may never trust them again.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23):
With the sun at odds with Pluto today there is a real possibility you could go over the top when dealing with employers and other powerful people. Before you open your mouth and put both feet in it try imagining what the consequences might be.
LEO (July 24 - Aug. 23):
For some strange reason a certain individual seems to believe you owe them something of value and is doing their utmost to get it from you. Unless you have signed a contract to that effect you can and you must tell them to get lost.
VIRGO (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23):
You may be tempted to push yourself harder than usual today and over the weekend but it’s really not necessary. Bide your time until the Sun moves into your sign on the 23rd and you will get what you most desire with hardly any effort at all.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23):
If you must take a risk today make sure it’s the kind that won’t cost you a fortune if it goes wrong. Better still, get others to share the risk with you. If you can’t find any takers that may be a sign it’s not such a good idea!
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22):
Most of your worries have no basis in reality and what occurs over the next 24 hours will make that blindingly clear. If it’s true that your thoughts create your world – and it is – then it’s about time you looked at life in a more positive way.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21):
You may think you are tough but there will always be people who are even tougher than you and with power planet Pluto active today that’s something you forget at your peril. Try approaching life with a more co-operative attitude – it could work wonders.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20):
Why are you so anxious about a situation that cannot possibly hurt you? Whatever the reason you need to get past it and move on to matters of a more upbeat nature. In a matter of days something will happen that brings the smile back to your face.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19):
Both in your personal life and when dealing with colleagues and employers you must engage your brain before you open your mouth. Just because you have a thought does not mean you have to express that thought. Think before you speak – it’s not difficult.
PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20):
An event that happened in the distant past will prey on your mind today but while it may make you feel uncomfortable for an hour or two there is nothing it can do to actually hurt you. Look at it one more time, then let it go forever.
Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com
Your daily horoscope: August 19 - The Globe and Mail
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Friday, August 19, 2022
Woman says it was her, R. Kelly in key video at 2008 trial - Yahoo Canada
CHICAGO (AP) — A woman who has been central to R. Kelly’s legal troubles for more than two decades testified Thursday that the R&B singer sexually abused her “hundreds” of times before she turned 18 and that it was her and Kelly in a videotape that was at the heart of his 2008 child pornography trial, at which he was acquitted.
Jane — the pseudonym for the now 37-year-old woman as she testified — paused, tugged at a necklace and dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she said publicly for the first time that the girl in the video was her and that the man was Kelly.
When the prosecutor asked how old she was at the time, she said quietly: “14.” Kelly, 55, would have been around 30 years old at the time.
In addition to charges of child pornography and enticement of minors, Kelly faces charges of conspiring to rig that 2008 trial by intimidating and paying off the girl to ensure she didn't testify then.
Some jurors who presided over that 2008 trial, which was on state charges, said that they had no choice but to acquit the R&B star because the girl — by then an adult — didn't testify. On the stand Thursday, Jane conceded that she lied to a state grand jury in 2002 when she said that it was not her in the video.
“I was afraid something bad would happen to Robert," she told jurors about why she didn't tell the truth then, referring to Kelly by his full first name. “I was protecting him."
She added there was another reason she lied about the identity of the person in the video. “I also did not want that person to be me," she told jurors. “I was ashamed.”
Dressed in a white dress coat and removing a face mask before testifying, Jane remained on the witness stand for over four hours for the government. Kelly's attorney was scheduled to get her chance to cross-examine Jane starting Friday morning.
A prosecutor asked Jane toward the end of the day Thursday why she decided in recent years to begin speaking honestly about what happened with Kelly, who Jane said she continued to care for and sometimes live with into her 20s.
“I became exhausted living with his lies,” she answered. She added that federal prosecutors assured her she would not be charged with lying to authorities if she testified truthfully at this trial.
Earlier, Jane also became emotional when she was asked to explain why Kelly can be seen handing money to her in the video. She said it was a precaution against anyone accusing him of abusing a child if the video ever fell into the hands of authorities.
“If anyone saw the tape ... he wanted it to appear as if I was a prostitute," Jane said.
She described her parents confronting Kelly in the early 2000s about whether he was having sex with their daughter. Kelly dropped to his knees and begged her parents to forgive him, Jane testified. She said she later implored her parents not to do anything to get Kelly in trouble, telling them she loved him.
As she spoke, Kelly mostly stared down at the defense table and rarely looked up at her. She, too, rarely looked in his direction.
Earlier, she testified that Kelly sexually abused her “hundreds” of times before she turned 18 years old, starting when she was 15. She said they were having oral sex in the video and that she was 14 at the time.
Jane told jurors that in the late 1990s when she was 13, she asked the Grammy award-winning singer to be her godfather because she saw him as an inspiration and mentor.
She said within weeks, Kelly would call her and say sexual things. She told jurors she was 15 when they first had intercourse.
Asked by a prosecutor how she would know what to do sexually, Jane answered, “He would tell me what to do.” Asked how many times they had sex before she turned 18, she answered quietly: “Uncountable times. … Hundreds.”
A federal judge in New York sentenced Kelly to a 30-year prison sentence this year for his 2021 conviction for using his fame to sexually abuse fans.
During opening statements Wednesday, prosecutor Jason Julien sought to prepare jurors for the testimony of accusers including Jane, reminding them that a core issue at trial remained the exploitation of often scared and confused children — even though the accusers who would speak to jurors are now grown adults.
Kelly's lead attorney, meanwhile, implored jurors not to accept what she said was the prosecution’s portrayal of her client as “a monster," explaining that because of intellectual challenges including illiteracy, Kelly was forced to rely on others as his career took off and was sometimes led astray by those close to him.
Speaking softly and tentatively when she first took the stand Thursday, Jane described her upbringing in a musical family in a Chicago suburb, including that she was home-schooled because she was in a touring musical group that she joined when she was about 12.
Jane first met Kelly in the late 1990s when she was in junior high school. She had tagged along to Kelly’s Chicago recording studio with her aunt, a professional singer who worked with Kelly. Soon after that meeting, Jane told her parents that Kelly was going to be her godfather.
Prosecutors have said Kelly shot the video of Jane in a log cabin-themed room at his North Side Chicago home between 1998 and 2000. In it, the girl is heard calling the man “daddy.”
In the early 2000s, an aunt of Jane showed her parents a copy of a video she said depicted their daughter having sex with Kelly. When they confronted Kelly, he told them, “You’re with me or against me,” a government filing says.
The parents took it as a threat.
Kelly, who rose from poverty on Chicago’s South Side to become a star singer, songwriter and producer, knew a conviction in 2008 would effectively end his life as he knew it, and so prosecutors say he conspired to fix that trial.
Kelly has been trailed for decades by complaints and allegations about his sexual behavior. The scrutiny intensified after the #MeToo era and the 2019 six-part documentary “Surviving R. Kelly."
Kelly also faces four counts of enticement of minors for sex at the Chicago trial — one each for four other accusers. They, too, are expected to testify.
Two Kelly associates, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown, are co-defendants. McDavid is accused of helping Kelly fix the 2008 trial, while Brown is charged with receiving child pornography. Like Kelly, they also have denied wrongdoing.
___
Follow AP Legal Affairs Writer Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm
___
Find AP’s full coverage of the R. Kelly trial at: https://ift.tt/8YOiWtp
Woman says it was her, R. Kelly in key video at 2008 trial - Yahoo Canada
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