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EXCLUSIVE: The Beatles Set for 2014 Grammy Awards Tribute, All-Star 50th Anniverary Concert

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EXCLUSIVE The Grammy Awards will come earlier than usual in 2014, and will have something extra special. Ringo Starr confirmed for me tonight that The Beatles will likely be celebrated twice–once during the Grammy Awards, and then again the next night. The plan right now is for a special Beatles segment during the Grammys on January 26th to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their arrival in America on February 7. 1964.

Then, on January 27, the Monday night after the Grammys, there will be a special Beatles show in Los Angeles at the Convention Center. Right now it’s supposed to entail a lot of different acts playing Beatles songs. Ringo says that so far he and Paul McCartney have discussed only the “possibility” of their participation. “It’s not like we’re not going to do it,” he told me. “But it might be cool to have all these other bands doing our stuff, and we’re watching.”

Knowing Paul and Ringo, though, it might be hard to keep them off the stage. And for a true Beatles anniversary celebration, it would be cool to have Dhani Harrison, Sean and Julian Lennon, James McCartney, and Zak Starkey all on stage.

All of this news explains why Grammy producer extraordinaire Ken Ehrlich was hanging out yesterday at Ringo’s press conference for his All Starr Band tour in South America and his beautiful new book of Beatles pix called “Photograph.” You can look it over at http://www.genesis-publications.com/photograph-ringo-starr/#.UmnHLhDCZqU  Ehrlich is producing the Monday night show as well.

An ebook version of “Photograph” is already on iTunes for $12.99.

What a weekend if this all comes together: on Friday night MusiCares honors Carole King; Saturday night is the NARAS Clive Davis dinner and show; Sunday would bring the Grammys with lots of Timberlake, Thicke, and (hopefully) Elton John; and then Monday the Beatles. Tuesday January 28th will have to be declared a national holiday!

Clooney “Monuments Men” Set for Feb 7, May Open Berlin Film Festival

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George Clooney’s “Monuments Men” has been moved to an opening date of February 7, 2014. I’m told there’s a great likelihood it could open the Berlin Film Festival on February 6th. Certainly that makes sense from a marketing point of view. “Monuments Men” should have big international appeal. And there’s no place better to launch it for the world– especially Europe– than Berlin. Imagine the press in Germany’s most forward thinking city. So stay tuned, and remember you heard it here first. Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bob Balaban, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, and Bill Murray co-star/ Now there’s a red carpet!

Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Kate Moss Rock Out in New Paul McCartney Video

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Do you think Meryl Streep lights up a screen? Watch her rock out in Paul McCartney’s new video for “Queenie Eye.” The centerpiece song from his “New” album has a star studded video that also features former lovers Johnny Depp and Kate Moss, as well as James Corden a slew of other stars including “Star Trek” actors Chris Pine and Alice Eve. I’m sorry, but Meryl–on the verge of another Oscar nomination–just glows. She’s radiant. The video made at Abbey Road, of course.

Also featured: Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, Jeremy Irons, Tracey Ullmann.

Here’s the video:

And watch the Making of:

Janis Joplin Finally Getting a Hollywood Star 42 Years After Her Death

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The great and legendary Janis Joplin was just 27 when she died in 1971. That was FORTY TWO years ago. I guess in that time no one thought to give her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, at long last, she’s getting one. Janis will be honored on November 4th. Her siblings, Laura and Michael Joplin, will accept the award. Kris Kristofferson will be there, and he’ll play “Me and Bobby McGee”– the song he wrote with which Janis hit number 1. Clive Davis, who signed Janis to Columbia, and memorably rocked out to her live performance in DA Pennebaker’s “Monterey Pop,” will also be on hand.

Janis Joplin did not have a clothing line or an endorsement deal, by the way. She didn’t pose naked on a wrecking ball, dress like a meat sandwich, or desecrate historical landmarks like the Anne Frank house.

Do you think any of the women on the charts now can do this? Nope.
 

Gotham Awards Surprise: Isaiah Washington Rises Like a Phoenix from “Greys Anatomy” Scandal

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12 Years a Slave and Inside Llewyn Davis scored Best Picture nominations this morning for the Gotham Awards. But the big story is that among the best actors nominees is Isaiah Washington for Blue Caprice, a very indie movie. Washington was made into the town pariah five years ago after an incident on his TV series “Grey’s Anatomy.” A fine actor, but his career looked like it was ruined. Nice to see him back. Of the Best Picture noms, I don’t really get “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints.” which sank without a trace, or the little known “Upstream Color.” But why not? In Breakthrough Actor and Director, I say Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler for “Fruitvale Station,” which should have been nominated for Best Picture.

Best Feature
12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen, director; Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon
Milchan, Anthony Katagas, producers. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints
David Lowery, director; Tony Halbrooks, James M. Johnston, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Amy Kaufman,
Cassian Elwes, producers (IFC Films)
Before Midnight
Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Sara Woodhatch, producers
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Inside Llewyn Davis
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, directors; Scott Rudin, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, producers (CBS Films)
Upstream Color
Shane Carruth, director; Shane Carruth, Casey Gooden, Ben LeClair, producers. (erbp)

Best Documentary
The Act of Killing
Joshua Oppenheimer, director; Signe Byrge, Joshua Oppenheimer, producers (Drafthouse Films)
The Crash Reel
Lucy Walker, director; Julian Cautherly, Lucy Walker, producers (HBO Documentary Films)
First Cousin Once Removed
Alan Berliner, director and producer (HBO Documentary Films)
Let the Fire Burn
Jason Osder, director and producer (Zeitgeist Films)
Our Nixon
Penny Lane, director; Brian L. Frye, Penny Lane, producers (Cinedigm and CNN Films)

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station (The Weinstein Company)
Adam Leon for Gimme the Loot (Sundance Selects)
Alexandre Moors for Blue Caprice (Sundance Selects)
Stacie Passon for Concussion (RADiUS-TWC)
Amy Seimetz for Sun Don’t Shine (Factory 25)

Best Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis (CBS Films)
Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (Focus Features)
Robert Redford in All Is Lost (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)
Isaiah Washington in Blue Caprice (Sundance Selects)

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine (Sony Pictures Classics)
Scarlett Johansson in Don Jon (Relativity Media)
Brie Larson in Short Term 12 (Cinedigm)
Amy Seimetz in Upstream Color (erbp)
Shailene Woodley in The Spectacular Now (A24)

Breakthrough Actor
Dane DeHaan in Kill Your Darlings (Sony Pictures Classics)
Kathryn Hahn in Afternoon Delight (The Film Arcade and Cinedigm)
Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station (The Weinstein Company)
Lupita Nyong’o in 12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Robin Weigert in Concussion (RADiUS-TWC)

Fifteen writers, critics and programmers participated in the nomination process, considering 203 eligible
submissions. The Nominating Committees for the 2013 Gotham Independent Film Awards were:
Nominating Committee for Best Feature and Breakthrough Director:
Scott Foundas, Lead Film Critic, Variety
Eric Kohn, Lead Film Critic, Indiewire
Christy Lemire, Film Critic, ChristyLemire.com and co-host, What the Flick?!
Andrew O’Hehir, Film Critic, Salon.com
Dana Stevens, Movie Critic, Slate
Nominating Committee for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Breakthrough Actor:
Justin Chang, Senior Film Critic, Variety
Noah Cowan, Artistic Director, TIFF Bell Lightbox
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post Film and Theater Film Critic
David Rooney, Film & Theater Critic, The Hollywood Reporter
Leah Rozen, freelance entertainment writer

Nominating Committee for Best Documentary:
Charlotte Cook, Director of Programming, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
Ben Fowlie, Founder & Executive Director, Camden International Film Festival
Cynthia Fuchs, Film-TV Editor, PopMatters
Mike Maggiore, Programmer and Publicist, Film Forum
Sky Sitney, Festival Director, AFI Docs
Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant

Justin Bieber-Associated Charity: Salaries, Travel Expenses Exceed Grants According to Tax Filing

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Tonight, the only charity associated with money making teen machine Justin Bieber throws its annual fundraiser. Pencils of Promise will salute, among others, newly elected New Jersey senator Cory Booker. Bieber’s huge increase earnings is tied directly to the sudden rise in income of Pencils of Promise.

The charity was founded in 2008 by Adam Braun, brother of Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun. But it’s only in the last two years that Pencils for Promise has real assets– over $2.2 million according to its most recent tax filing for 2011.

Of that money, almost $585,000 was spent on salaries. By contrast, only $159,167 was given in grants.

The Bieber difference has meant a lot to Adam Braun: an increase in his own official salary (included in that $585K total) from 2010 to 2011 from $59,100 to $99,500 for example. Contributions to the charity rose by almost a million dollars from 2010 to 2011. (The 2012 tax filing has not been published yet.) The charity finished 2011 in fine form: $1.8 million in assets, up a whopping $800,000 from the previous year. That’s thanks to having portions of tickets from Bieber concerts thrown into the till.

Pencils of Promise focuses on “giving every child” an education in three countries: Laos, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. They build schools, or rather classrooms, and there’s lots of evidence they’ve done just that. They were recently praised for investing $33,000 in schools in Ghana: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309251534.html

But their costs were high: $89,601 seems like a lot for travel considering Braun is the main staffer. Pencils of Promise also spent $76,864 on advertising and $40,000 on office expenses.

Meantime, PoP, as it’s called, has so far attracted little interest from A list celebrities other than Bieber-Braun friends Usher and Jaden Smith. Tonight’s event will be emceed by Sophia Bush, TV star of “One Tree Hill.”

 

 

New 50 Shades of Grey Star Jamie Dornan Comes from Underwear Modeling

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The new star of “50 Shades of Grey” is several steps down from Charlie Hunnam, the actor who resigned the post two weeks ago. Jamie Dornan is famous for being a Calvin Klein underwear model and the face of Dior cologne. His resume is pretty thin– just bit parts on minor TV shows. So there’s no place to go but up. Of course, Mark Wahlberg turned his Calvin Klein career into life as a respected actor and producer.

Will lightning strike twice? It remains to be seen. But now the “50 Shades” movie is shaping up as a true translation of the so called book from which it hails. If this doesn’t meet the standards of “Showgirls,” “Glitter,” and other notable guffaw fests, I’d be mighty surprised. Dornan’s best known role is boyfriend for two years of Keira Knightley.

And now: ten months of tabloid items goosing the public’s appetite for what will be much ado about nothing.

PS to Charlie Hunnam: you dodged a bullet.

UPDATE: “12 Years A Slave” Poised for Big Weekend

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UPDATE: It’s been pointed out to me that Fox Searchlight has separate distribution and marketing from “big” Fox. So “12 Years” looks like it’s going to have a big weekend. Stay tuned…

Earlier: You know that Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” is so important, so well made, so good, and one of the top 10 movies of this year or any year. But it’s having a little trouble in its launch. On Tuesday,  every other movie in release posted big gains over Monday– Tuesday is typically a big night out for adults at the cinema. But not “12 Years a Slave.” It actually dipped 6%. Tuesday night serious filmgoers should have flocked to this film. Even some of what I’d call the second tier movies did well last night– Rush, Prisoners, even Runner Runner. “Rush” posted a 35% increase over Monday. But the McQueen movie isn’t translating well. Of course, come December there will be a slew of nominations. But Fox– currently overhauling its marketing departments–may have to rethink how it’s presenting “12 Years.” And if you’re reading this, get to a theater pronto. I said it before: this is the “Schindler’s List” of the black experience.

Lady Gaga Will Pay $100 A Day to Kid Musicians to Back Her on You Tube Awards Show

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Lady Gaga is up to something. She’s looking for a bunch of real kid musicians who can play her songs on the YouTube Awards (November 3). She sent out a casting call today. Her fee? She’s offering $100 a day including rehearsals and day of show. Plus you can grill a steak off her costume. Right now kids all over the Tri State area are figuring out the chords to “Born this Way.” Casting company is called EJ Casting. I have no info on them.

SEEKING:
[YOUNG MUSICIANS] aged 10– 18 years old, who are proficient at pop/rock to play live onstage.
While we definitely want to cover piano, bass, guitar, drums, we would love horns, strings and
anything very unique like French horn or xylophone. We are hoping you might be able to recommend
young musicians who would be right fit for this. The casting time frame is very tight, we are casting
this week, Wed 10/23, Thurs 10/24, Friday 10/25 in NYC with callbacks either Sat or Sun. Rehearsals
ALL week starting Mon 10/28. (Please note: We are open to Skype and video submissions if an in
person audition is impossible.) Lady Gaga fans a plus.
Please note: For audition, all young musicians must prepare a Lady Gaga song.
MUST HAVE IN NOTES: how long talent has played instrument, what instrument they play, level of
talent (beginner/intermediate/etc), and please send any links or videos

Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order SVU: “We’re on a Roll”

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Mariska Hargitay has a lot of reasons to be happy. I ran into her and actor husband Peter Hermann last night as they returned from watching her niece participate in a Boston regatta. “It’s a five hour drive!” Mariska cried. “But it was exciting.” The Hermanns were among the many celebs who wandered into the very exclusive Bar Centrale in New York’s theater district.

We talked about “Law & Order SVU”‘s ratings comeback. Over at tvbythenumbers.com, the experts say the show will definitely be renewed for fall 2014. “We’re on a roll,” Mariska said. “The ratings have been great and so have the reviews.” The season opener was a huge hit on both fronts, and set the tone for a hot season. They’ve already done shows about Paula Deen, Trayvon Martin, and Anthony Weiner.

Meanwhile, Peter has a big role in “Philomena” starring Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. The much acclaimed film opens at the end of November.

Also at Bar Centrale: British superstar Stephen Fry, who’s starring in alternating Shakespeare plays opening soon. And Bill Pullman came in with his wife Tamara. They’d just come from seeing “The Glass Menagerie” with Zachary Quinto and Cherry Jones. Minutes later, Quinto walked in with agent Bryan Lourd. It was that kind of night. Pullman, by the way, is an all star off Broadway production this fall with Ed Harris and Amy Madigan called “The Jacksonian.” And oh yes, Marin Ireland was entertaining her parents after a performance of “Marie Antoinette.”

And that’s how New York rolls on a Tuesday night.