Jump to content
JJFP reunite for 50 years of Hip Hop December 10 ×
Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince Forum

will smith news, articles and more


mixenmasta.b

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 117
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Members
Final Preparations Are Going Swimmingly for Tomorrow's World Premiere of Dreamworks Animation's 'Shark Tale' in Venice
Thursday September 9, 5:13 pm ET


GLENDALE, Calif., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The giant screen has been inflated and more than 5,000 chairs have been put in place as preparations are nearly completed for the world premiere of DreamWorks Animation's new computer-animated comedy "Shark Tale" on September 10. The film's stars Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie and Michael Imperioli will be among the estimated 5,000 people expected to attend the premiere, which sold out in a matter of hours.
The premiere is being held outdoors in the city's historic Piazza San Marco. The Piazza, which had never before been closed for a major movie premiere, has been transformed into an outdoor theatre for the event. The movie will be shown on the largest inflatable screen in the world, measuring more than six stories tall and over 3,900 square feet. Inflating the screen required approximately 20,000 cubic feet of air, and the screen is being stabilized with a ballast of more than 50 tons of water.

The approximately 190 tons of equipment was brought to the site on barges, and barges are also holding the three generators that will provide the more than one million watts of electricity needed to power the event.

Opening nationwide on October 1, 2004, "Shark Tale" stars the voices of Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, Martin Scorsese, Doug E. Doug, Ziggy Marley, Michael Imperioli, Vincent Pastore, Peter Falk and Katie Couric. The film was directed by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron and Rob Letterman from a screenplay by Michael J. Wilson and Rob Letterman. The producers are Bill Damaschke, Janet Healy and Allison Lyon Segan, with Jeffrey Katzenberg serving as executive producer. The Shark Tale Soundtrack, featuring such artists as Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Will Smith, Justin Timberlake, Ziggy Marley, Sean Paul, JoJo, D12, Ludacris, India.Arie, and others, will be released on September 21 on DreamWorks/Geffen Records.

DreamWorks SKG was formed in October, 1994, by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network and cable television programming; home video entertainment; books; toys; and consumer products
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
[img]http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-09-10/sharktale1.jpg[/img]Shark Tale descends on Venice
By Pamela Tan
The Straits Times Interactive

ON A night of many firsts, Dreamworks Animation's latest offering Shark Tale will premiere with a big bang at the 61st Venice Film Festival on Saturday morning (Singapore time).


An artist's impression of the movie premiere to be held at the Piazza San Marco.
It will mark the first time an animation feature is being screened at the renowned film fest. On top of that, for the first time ever, the historic Piazza San Marco in Venice will be closed just for the screening.

And that's not all.

Guests will watch the film on the largest inflatable screen to be erected. Measuring more than six storeys tall and over 362 sq m in surface area, the screen will require 560,000l of air to become fully inflated. Upon inflation, more than 50,800kg of water will be needed to keep it stabilised.

Impressive? Indeed.

Which is no surprise then that big names like Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie and Michael Imperioli will be among the estimated turnout of 5,000.


The Piazza San Marco will be closed for the first time ever, just for the screening of the animation feature.
Directed by multiple Oscar-nominated director Martin Scorsese, Shark Tale stars the famous voices of Smith, De Niro, Jolie, Imperioli, Renee Zellweger and Jack Black.

It tells the story of Oscar, a fast-talking fish (Smith) who always manages to get himself in and out of trouble. A great white lie soon turns him into an unlikely hero. But there's always a day when even heroes fall. So when the truth threatens to be revealed, Oscar needs to find a way to bail himself out of trouble again.

As you read this, works are under way to transform the Piazza San Marco into a large outdoor theatre so that in less than 24 hours' time, a star-studded turnout of 5,000 will be able to enjoy a tale of the sea under the twinkling stars and beautiful skyline of Venice.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Getting a movie made is never easy, even in the best of circumstances. So consider what it was like for black director Melvin van Peebles when he was trying to attract backing for his breakthrough drama "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" in 1970.

"Hollywood liked to show us clowning, but America wasn't in a laughing mood -- especially black America," notes Melvin, as he reflects back on his childhood, in which he regularly watched now-cringe-worthy portrayals of black men as shuffling servants, lazy slaves or witch doctors.

Van Peebles' pitch: "A street brother turns revolutionary -- and gets away with it." His concept: Put "all the faces Norman Rockwell never painted" on the screen in down-and-dirty detail, with plenty of violence, sex and authentic inner-city flavor.


From Our Advertiser




Peddling this idea to the cinematic establishment in a period in which the major studios were pouring millions into soon-to-bomb megamusicals like "Song of Norway" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" qualifies as either completely crazy or amazingly brave. Either way, it makes for an entertaining behind-the-scenes tale in "Baadasssss," directed by Melvin's son, Mario, who also played a key role in the making of "Sweetback."

Mario co-wrote the screenplay of "Baadasssss," which was in turn based on Melvin's autobiography. In a twist that should delight any psychoanalysts in the audience, Mario plays his father in the film, too.

The combination of these two perspectives (separated by that old '70s bugaboo, the generation gap) helps "Baadasssss" to score both as an atmospheric, often funny look at the wild world of independent moviemaking and as a surprisingly touching story of father/son bonding. Melvin originally insists that Mario refer to him by his first name instead of calling him "Dad," but by the time the two have survived the filming and grueling post-production of "Sweetback" -- a period that involved battles with the Screen Actors Guild, brushes with unsavory money-men, visits to psychedelic orgies and lots of hectic hustling to keep the project alive -- their relationship has changed significantly.

No wonder the proudly profane "Baadasssss" is subtitled "A Love Story": It's certainly about one man's passion to get across what he sees as a vital message, but it's also an examination of how tough times can either shatter a family or bond the members into an invincible little army.

The Van Peebles' story is told with flair and, one suspects, a bit of playful exaggeration that enhances the comedy. The excellent cast includes Nia Long as Melvin's incredibly tolerant lover, Joy Bryant as Melvin's starry-eyed secretary, David Alan Grier as a debonair producer of smut films and Khleo Thomas as the young Mario.

"Baadasssss" also offers a few valuable insights into how the entertainment world has changed over the last three decades. Today, when the names of Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry and Denzel Washington always seem to be on a marquee somewhere, it's difficult to imagine a time when producers couldn't picture white audiences turning out for a movie with a black star other than Sidney Poitier. It's equally startling to consider that even if those films got made they might wind up, as "Sweetback" did, in the hands of some low-rent distributor that traditionally marketed things like "Pregnant Teenage Mom" ("the story your parents won't tell you," according to its poster).

The surprise success of "Sweetback" changed not only the face of independent film, but also the mindset of the motion picture industry, which gleefully launched a barrage of "blaxploitation" movies that retained the violence and sexual content of "Sweetback," but generally threw out the black-power message Melvin had fought so fervently to hold on to.

The dilution has continued over the years, and it would be fascinating to hear Melvin's thoughts on the rash of "urban comedies" -- including the recently released "The Cookout" -- that essentially recycle those ancient stereotypes he despised as a kid and pretend they are no longer as offensive as they really are.

There's a sad coda to the "Sweetback" saga, and unfortunately it's playing at a theater near you.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
LATEST NEWS
Nelly's Two Albums To Drop Next Week And Plans To Debut Them Exclusively On Satellite Radio!

Ludacris To Receive Humanitarian Award And Continues To Make Charitable Donations!

P. Diddy Says Increase In Child Support 'Crazy'!

Baby Phat To Enter The Fragrance Sector!

XM Satellite Radio Launches Music Programs For Fall 2004 Featuring Snoop Dogg And Quincy Jones!

Kayne West Dominates Source Awards Nominations!

List Of Nominees For The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards 2004!

Sixshot Bits: 'Goodies' At No. 1, Andre 3000's 'Revolver' And Destiny 'Lose Their Breath'!






NEWS HEADLINES

Ludacris To Receive Humanitarian Award And Continues To Make Charitable Donations!

Posted: 9/10/2004 9:25:20 AM by foxxylady

Ludacris is hoping to boost both his and hip-hop's image by donating cash from his new commercial to charity.

Luda who was ditched by Pepsi after Fox News' Bill O'Reilly campaigned against his placement due to his lyrics, has earned his first major endorsement deal since his dismissal with Boost Mobile - and he plans to hand over the cash he earns.

Ludacris returned to his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, recently to film a commercial with Kanye West and The Game which is currently being aired on TV.

Starting this month, Boost Mobile will offer exclusive ring tones by the three stars, with all proceeds from sales being donated to charities selected by each artist, including the Ludacris Foundation, the United Negro College Fund and the Chicago State University Foundation.

Ludacris says, "Now people can finally associate my name - and hip-hop - with something positive."

In related news, Luda will will be recognized for his contributions to the community in a formal awards ceremony on April 17, 2005 in Atlanta at the 1st Annual Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival where films influenced by hip-hop culture as well as notable hip-hop musicians who have transitioned from music to film will be recognized.

As previously reported, other celebrity award recipients include Ice Cube, Mos Def , Queen Latifah and Will Smith. An award will also be presented in honor of the work of Tupac Shakur.

Ludacris is currently filming Hustle & Flow. Him and Three 6 Mafia are all pitching in material to the soundtrack.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
SEAN "P Diddy" Combs has been named as the richest entertainer under 40 in America.

The rap mogul, 34, beat off competition from stars such as Julia Roberts, Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez.

Finance magazine Fortune calculates he took home £175million last year. His ex Lopez, 35, is third on the rich list with £142million.

As well as being a rap star and music producer, P Diddy runs Sean John clothing and has just opened a flagship store in New York.

- J-LO's £60,000 yacht was destroyed in Miami by hurricane Frances.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Sept. 10, 2004 — When the zombies attack, they don't care if you're wearing a miniskirt, and even a Calvin Klein model-turned-action-hero isn't going to bring them back to life.




Milla Jovovich returns in a sequel to 2002's video game-inspired Resident Evil. In Resident Evil: Apocalypse, opening today, her character has been genetically enhanced with superstrong fighting skills, which the former model is definitely going to need.

"I'm a warrior, I love martial arts," says Jovovich with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the campy elements of the sequel.

"I love to feel powerful in that sense," she says with a laugh during an interview to promote the film. "I definitely have a talent with violent objects. Maybe it's my Yugoslavian background. I'm always ready for battle — it's that crazy barbarian thing coming back from the abyss of my DNA."

The 28-year-old Jovovich, who has graced the cover of more than 150 magazines, wasn't kidding around when it came to preparing to be an action hero. Her four-month training regiment included stick fighting and weapons instruction under Phil Spangengerger, who counts Mel Gibson and Will Smith among his students.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Speaking of naked

Rap mogul Sean ``P. Diddy'' Combs stunned guests at a Miami Beach party by serving dinner on a naked woman.

According to witnesses, the collection of celebs seemed a bit taken aback by the unusual table piece until actor Will Smith lightened the mood by eating fruit from the nude beauty's body.

One guest told World Entertainment News: ``It was certainly an unusual buffet. I think everyone was shocked to begin with, but then Will took some fruit and everyone joined in.''
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
I guess Will Smith is a little tired of the big action movie cause his upcoming movie is a romantic comedy. It's his first step into this genre and from the trailer, it looks like it's pretty much Big Willy doing what he does best. The movie was called LAST FIRST KISS at some point but now it looks like it's called HITCH, after Will Smith's character's name. In it, Smith stars as a dating expert who helps a bumbling Kevin James (from King of Queens) out with women. It also co-stars the scrumptious Eva Mendez. Check it out HERE

[img]http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/willsmith981.jpg[/img]



n the sophisticated romantic comedy LAST FIRST KISS, Will Smith stars as Alex “Hitch” Hitchens. Most men have difficulty finding love because it’s hard to be yourself when your “self” thinks you should be someone else. That’s where Hitch comes in. As a tactical adviser who specializes in first impressions – he customizes and orchestrates a client’s first three dates – Hitch has been secretly responsible for hundreds of New York City weddings. Eva Mendes co-stars as Sara, a gossip reporter for a daily tabloid who, after a chance meeting with Hitch, finds her professional life and personal life on a collision course. She makes Hitch re-evaluate his game and teaches him that love is not a feeling, it’s an action.


Directed by: Andy Tennant
Written by:
Cast: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James
Studio: Sony/Columbia
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Official Site: N/A
Release Date: February 11, 2005 (wide)
Buy: Posters / DVD / Soundtrack / Merch
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...