Ken Howard, best known for playing “The White Shadow” on TV, has been elected president of SAG-AFTRA. He beat out actor Esai Morales and a couple of other candidates. Howard was already president of SAG-AFTRA and had had two consecutive two year terms as president of SAG before the unions merged. Amy Aquino was elected secretary- treasurer.
Lindsay Lohan Launches Website with SpinMedia
Lindsay Lohan is on the move. She’s just launched www.lindsaylohan.com, her own website via SpinMedia. That company used to be Buzz Media before it bought what was left of Spin Magazine. They also operate some gossip sites, like Celeb Buzz and Just Jared, where Lohan is often harpooned. We’ll see how that works out. Anyway, Lindsay has put up a bio, clips from her Oprah interview, and the reworked trailer to “The Canyons” made by Kanye West. She’s also hawking fashion items, which is a quick way to make some cash. Maybe this will be her entrepreneurial phase.
How Jerry Seinfeld’s Ex Girlfriend Owns Six Beatles Songs
If this were a Seinfeld episode it would be called “How the Ex Girlfriend Came to Own Six Beatles Songs.” Yes, it seems that through a quirk of history, timing and legal maneuvering six very early Beatles hits are not part of the much vaunted Lennon-McCartney catalog at Sony/ATV Music Publishing. And now they belong, at least for now, to Josh Gruss, husband of ex-Jerry Seinfeld girlfriend Shoshanna Lonstein. Strange, but true.
The songs are “I Saw Her Standing There,” “I Feel Fine,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “She Loves You,” “From Me to You,” “Misery,” and “There’s a Place.” The songs were never part of the regular catalog because they were from the Beatles’ early and brief stay on VeeJay Records circa 1962. Last year, surprisingly, the owner of the song sold them for an unknown amount to tiny, new music publisher Round Hill Music.
This is where Shoshanna comes in: her husband, Josh, owns Round Hill. He partnered up with a financier called Adage. For some reason, the songs were not offered to Sony/ATV, or to Paul McCartney or Yoko Ono.
But the latter two may not mind so much. First of all, Round Hill only got the U.S. rights. And second, in 2018, as the songs turn 56, they will being reverting back to Lennon-McCartney under the Copyright Law of 1976. So Shoshanna is just babysitting them, via Round Hill, for the next five years.
What will happen in 2018? Paul McCartney will likely start taking back his rights to the songs he wrote with John Lennon. He has his own publishing company, MPL. Eventually he’ll get back everything Michael Jackson got when he bought the Beatles catalog in 1984. Jackson’s big Beatles part will be over by 2026. The loser could be Sony/ATV Music, unless they can strike a deal with McCartney to continue administering the songs and taking fees.
As for John Lennon: because he died during the term of copyright, his heirs have already been collecting a portion larger than McCartney. That’s thanks to the Songwriters Act of 1927. I’ve been told that the Lennon estate has already worked out a deal to stay with Sony/ATV even after 2018 kicks in. In that case, McCartney will be connected to the company anyway.
Exclusive Web Comic for Wong Kar Wai’s “The Grandmaster” — Very Cool
There’s a web comic for Wong Kar Wai’s “The Grandmaster.” Here’s the link: http://thegrandmaster.vice.com/intro.html. This is pretty cool– and another great reason to this extraordinary film. It will also help you understand it in advance of seeing it. Very helpful!!
Eminem Is Back: “I’m Not a Rapper, I’m An Adapter”
Eminem is back with a new song. “Survival” is included in the new “Call of Duty” video game. It’s from a new album that might be sprung on us at any moment– and not a moment too soon for Universal Music. The songs features Skylar Grey. Here are the lyrics, followed by the song. WARNING: the “F” is used liberally.
EMINEM “SURVIVAL”
This is do or die
This is the winner takes it all
So take it all
[Verse 1]
Wasn’t ready to be no millionaire, I was ill-prepared
I was prepared to be ill though, the skill was there
From the beginning, it wasn’t ’bout the ends
It was ’bout busting raps and standing for something, fuck an acronym
Cut the fucking act like you’re happy, I’m fucking back again
With another anthem, why stop when it doesn’t have to end?
It ain’t over ’til I say it’s over – enough when I say enough
Throw me to them wolves and close the gate up
I’m afraid of what’ll happen to them wolves
When the thought of being thrown into an alligator pit, I salivated it
Weight is up, hands up like it’s 12 noon, nah, homie
Hold them bitches straighter up, up wave ’em ’til you dislocate a rotator cuff
Came up rough, came to ruffle feathers, nah, egos
I ain’t deflate enough, last chance to make this whole stadium erupt
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
I can see the finish line with each line that I finish
I’m so close to my goals I can almost pole vault over the goal post
And if I don’t got enough in the tank, maybe I can just siphon enough
To fill up this last can, man will I survive in this climate or what?
They said I was washed up, and got a blood bath
I’m not a rapper, I’m an adapter, I can adjust
Plus I can just walk up to a mic and just bust
So floor’s open if you’d like to discuss
Top 5 in this mothafucka and if I don’t make the cut
What, like I give a fuck, I’mma light this bitch up like I’m driving a truck
To the side of a pump, 0 to 60 hop in and gun it
Like G-Unit without the hyphen, I’m hyping ’em up
And if there should ever come a time where my life’s in a rut
And I look like I might just give up, eh you might’ve mistook
Me for bowing out I ain’t taking a bow, I’m stabbing myself
With a fucking knife in the gut, while I’m wiping my butt!
Cause I just shitted on the mic, and I like getting cut
I get excited at the sight of my blood, you’re in a fight with a nut
Cause I’mma fight ’til I die or win
Biting the dust it’ll just make me angrier, wait
Let me remind you of what got me this far, picture me quitting
Now draw a circle around it and put a line through it, slut
It’s survival of what?
[Hook]
[Verse 3]
So get your ideas, stack your ammo
But don’t come unless you come to battle, I’m mad now jump in the saddle
This is it, it’s what you eat, sleep, piss and shit
Live, breathe, your whole existence just consists of this
Refuse to quit, fuse is lit, can’t diffuse the wick
I don’t do this music shit, I lose my shit
Ain’t got shit to lose, it’s the moment of truth
It’s all I know how to do, as soon as I get thrown in the booth, I spit
But my respect is overdue, I’m showing you the flow no one do
Cause I don’t own no diploma for school, I quit!
So there’s nothing for me to fall back on, I know no other trades
So you’d better trade your fucking mics in for some tool-box-es
Cause you’ll never take my pride from me
It’ll have to be pried from me, so pull out your pliers and your screwdri-vers
But I want you to doubt me, I don’t want you to buh-lieve
Cause this is something that I must use to suc-ceed
And if you don’t like me then fuck you!
Self es-teem must be fucking shooting through-the-roof cause trust me
My skin is too thick and bul-let proof to touch me
I can see why the fuck I disgust you
I must be a-llergic to failure cause everytime I come close to it
I just sneeze, but I just go atchoo then achieve!
Samuel L. Jackson: A Snakes on the Plane Sequel “Would Be Bigger Than Original”
The great Samuel L. Jackson is known for many films, but his all time stand out cult hit is “Snakes on a Plane.” Rarely has a bad film been so enjoyable. At this week’s premiere of Wong Kar Wei’s “The Grandmaster,” Jackson and I speculated about a sequel to “Snakes.” Jackson said, “A sequel would be bigger now than the original. Because no one knew the original. Now they’d be up for it and expecting a lot.” He’s right. There are two ways a sequel could go, he agreed. “Either Rats on a Plane, or Snakes on a Train. Or both!” As yet, no one has proposed either except for us.
Jackson wasn’t the only major name at “The Grandmaster” premiere. Susan Sarandon, Oscar winner and ping pong magnate, showed up to see the most lyrical, imaginative and poetic martial arts movie ever made. She and Jackson were each very interested in spending time with the director as well as stars Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang. Famous fashion designer Anna Sui installed herself at the head of a main table at Royalton restaurant ’44’ and accepted visitors, which was pretty weird. Natasha Lyonne and the very odd Judah Friedlander were among the guests.
But mostly people couldn’t stop talking about “The Grandmaster,” which will be Hong Kong’s entry for the Academy Awards this year. Wong Kar Wai has made probably his best and most expressive film, a masterpiece that will startle martial arts fans. It is not violent. And in its third section, martial arts all but give way to a romantic aspect and a history lesson. That’s because “The Grandmaster” traces the history of Bruce Lee’s teachers up to his introduction. It may be the most exciting action adventure film of the year. It’s without a doubt the most artistic. “The Grandmaster” opens on August 23rd.
Music: Robin Thicke Displaced by Civil Wars, Justin Timberlake Tweets Track List for New Album
Robin Thicke only got one week at number 1 with his “Blurred Lines”album. After a strong number 1 debut last week, “Blurred Lines” was succeeded by a new album from folkish duo The Civil Wars. The latter group has broken up since recording the album. But Adele is their pal and she sent out an endorsement Tweet to her followers. That did the trick. “Blurred Lines” fell 63% in its second week to third place– even though the single remains a massive hit and the song of the summer. Interscope should really get “Ain’t No Hat for That” out as a single, with a great video….
Meantime Justin Timberlake Tweeted out the track list for his “20/20 Experience Part 2” due on September 30th. The songs are: Gimme What I Don’t Know (I Want), True Blood, Cabaret, TKO, Take Back the Night, Murder, Drink You Away, You Got it On, Amnesia, Only When I Walk Away, Not a Bad Thing. I’m a little disappointed there’s no “Holy Grail” without Jay Z. But “Take Back the Night” is terrific. Looking forward to this second set.
Justin Timberlake – Take Back The Night from Celestine on Vimeo.
Early Look: Joseph Gordon Levitt Addicted to Porn in “Don Jon”
There are only a handful of reviews for “Don Jon” on Rottentomatoes.com, all from festivals. I was a little suspicious of Joseph Gordon-Levitt writing and directing himself in a first feature about a musclebound nitwit from New Jersey who’s addicted to porn. Right away you think, I’m not sure if I want to see that. Right?
So guess what? “Don Jon” — which has quite a cast including a knockout performance from Julianne Moore and lots of fine turns from star names like Scarlett Johansson, Tony Danza, and Glenne Headley — is quite the success. You wouldn’t think a movie about masturbation, complete with crumpled tissues, would be much good. Or that you might describe it as “sweet.” But JGL has done exactly the right things– he’s made a bunch of eccentrics incredibly likable.
JGL plays Jon, who is basically into cars, women, working out and porn. (He also loves cleaning his own apartment.) He cannot stop watching porn. He says real sex doesn’t measure up, and he has plenty of real sex with babes he picks up at clubs. His parents– Danza and Headley–worry about his lack of a relationship. Then he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson, hilarious) for whom he falls head over heels. But she is out to change him, slowly but surely taking everything that makes Jon unique in a non-Jersey Shore way.
Into the mix comes Julianne Moore as Esther. She and Jon meet in night school, where Barbara has sent Jon to improve himself. Moore was cited from Sundance as giving the memorable performance in the film. She’s spectacular in everything she does, so no one is surprised. But there’s a beautiful nuance to her work here. I doubt “Don Jon” will get to the Oscar level. But Moore deserves the Indie Spirit Award without a doubt. She is just lovely.
And that leaves JGL, maybe the future Batman, a star of “Inception.” He could have played Jon as a dimwit or The Situation, or any number of cliches. He doesn’t. Jon is extremely accessible, learning just enough about himself as the movie proceeds. Plus, JGL’s directing is fluid, and he gives many scenes to the other actors — in particular Danza and Headley. It was great to see them back on the screen.
So keep an eye out for “Don Jon.” It’s coming in early fall from Relativity. And it’s going to be a big hit on the indie circuit.
Debbie Rowe “Getting Ready for Court” in Michael Jackson Trial
For the second time in a decade, Debbie Rowe is taking the stand for Michael Jackson. She’ll testify in the Jackson wrongful death trial, as a witness for defendant AEG Live. But as she did in 2005, Rowe will come as a hostile witness, and likely make statements that are damaging to the side that’s called her. She Tweeted yesterday:
@JBsShawtyMane we sweetie I am getting ready to go to count I won't be home for a few days so I am trying to get stuff done o keep crying
— Painted Desert Ranch (@DJRJPDR) August 13, 2013
AEG’s lawyers may ask her a wider range of questions than in 2005, however, perhaps even trying to ascertain the true biological nature of her children with Jackson. She will also be asked about Jackson’s drug abuse, especially during the time she worked for his Demerol injecting dermatologist, Arnold Klein.
The AEG lawyers may also ask about Rowe’s financial arrangements with Jackson over the years.
Stay tuned…
Angelina Jolie Casts Finn Wittrock in “Unbroken,” Her Second Directing Job
EXCLUSIVE Angelina Jolie is starting to cast the players in “Unbroken,” her second directing effort. The film was written by Joel and Ethan Coen, with a polish by William Nicholson (“The Departed”). Jolie, I’m told, has cast Finn Wittrock to join Jack O’Connell in the World War II thriller. O’Connell plays Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by the Japanese forces during the war. Wittrock will play one of the soldiers in Zamperini’s outfit. Wittrock is currently filming “The Normal Heart” for HBO. Two seasons ago on Broadway he played Happy in Mike Nichols’ “Death of A Salesman” with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield. “Unbroken” starts filming in early 2014.