With the inherited ease of downloading films and movies on the internet, DVD copying software has become a must have on any computer nowadays.
This has however caused problems for companies such as block busters and other movie rental companies especially in the current economic climate - why spend £4 renting a movie for a night when you can download it for much cheaper and (if using a decent DVD copying programme) the quality is just as good not to mention the fact that scratched discs causing poor quality are not an issue as every movie would be burned onto a brand new disc.
DVD coping software has had problems though such as the case against RealNetworks who were forced to stop selling RealDVD software by a US court a few years back. The company was sued by six major movie studios when the DVD copying programme was launched.
Although DVD copying software is useful when looking at the odd DVD every now and again for personal use, mass production via this route is still way off being produced - so DVD Copying firms have nothing to worry about with some them holding major contracts with the big players in the industry.
Mickey Rourke was favourite to win an Oscar for his performance in The Wrestler but as we all now know, he was beaten at the post by Sean Penn for his role in the Milk.
Rourke has not a bad word to say about the man that stole his Oscar saying he was ‘pleased’ that Sean’s work in Milk had been recognised and had been rewarded.
“He’s a great actor and a great friend of mine,” he said. “He deserved it.”
Penn had previously helped Rourke through some hard times which Rourke had been very thankful for saying:-
“He got hold of me and told me exactly what to do and not to do.”
Rumours of feuding between the two have been dismissed after they were seen enjoying drinks in Hollywood earlier this month.
As expected, it was Slumdog Millionaire that took most awards at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles last night. It won an incredible 8 awards including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, the score, song, cinematography, editing and sound mixing.
Also actress Kate Winslet finally got her Oscar after 5 failed nominations for best actress for her role in The Reader’. Micky Rourke didn’t duplicate his Bafta success as Sean Penn took away the award for Best Actor for his role in Milk.
Danny Boyle was thrilled with his win for Best Director saying:-
“My kids are too old to remember this now, but when they were much younger, I swore to them that if this miracle ever happened that I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from Winnie The Pooh and that’s what that was.”
Other winners were the late Heath Ledger for best supporting actor in The Dark Night for his portrayal of The Joker and Penelope Cruz won best supporting actress for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
First there was Meet The Parents and then there was Meet The Fockers but now a new sequel is due called The Little Fockers.
It has been confirmed that Ben Stiller will return as Gaylord Focker whilst Robert DeNiro will revive his role as disapproving father in law Jack.
Others also being cast for the comedy sequel are Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) as Gaylords wife and Kevin Rawley (Owen Wilson) who had cameo roles in the first two films being Pam’s x boyfriend adored by her parents in ‘Meet The Parents’ and the priest who married them in ‘Meet The Fockers’. However, he is to play a much bigger part in this movie.
The film will not be directed by Jay Roach like the previous two because he is still busy working on other projects however, David Wain, Paul Weitz and Peyton Reed are all being considered.
There are tough times in TV and Christine Bleakley has felt it having been asked to accept a pay-cut for presenting The One Show with Adrian Chiles.
Bleakley has been on £100,000 contract with the BBC and has now confirmed a further 2 year contract deal but at a much lower salary than she is used to.
A source said:
“The BBC played serious hardball over this. Their view was that nobody is worth holding on to at any cost anymore. They figure there are plenty of stars out there who can replace people who demand too much.”
However she hasn’t caused a fuss and excepted the amended deal. The reason being that she enjoys working on the show and understands the financial pressures the BBC is under due to the current economic climate.
Well its almost that time of the year when the red carpet is lit in Hollywood.
On the 27Th February Hollywood will be bursting full of high profile actors and actresses dreaming of winning an Oscar for the work they have put into movies and films from the past year.
The Oscars started in 1927 at M-G-M’s studio by Louis B. Mayer and three of his guests – actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblo and producer Fred Beetson who decided to create an organisation where members of the film industry were credited for there participation. Winners are awarded with what used to be called ‘The Academy Award of Merit’ which is now more commonly know as an ‘Oscar’ after Academy librarian, Margaret Herrick, remarked that the statuette resembled her Uncle Oscar, and the staff began referring to it as such.
The Oscars have grown to be the most pretigious award given to someone in the film industry.
This year there is a bit of a dog fight for the big awards ‘Best Actor and Actress’ with nominees such as Mickey Rourke, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn for Best Actor and Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie for Best Actress. Rourke and Winslet won a Bafta (Britains version of the Oscars) earlier this month for the same category.
However, winning isn’t everything! The little Statue is just the icing on the cake when there are a range of Promotional Merchandise are available for just appearing to the show. In past years it has included the latest ultra-thin mobile phone, free holidays, a $1,500 voucher for dinner a coffee maker, which together with a toaster and kettle carries a price tag of $700 - not bad for just turning up.
This year should prove to be an award ceremony to remember!
Channel 4 Reality TV show Boys And Girls Alone has raised concerned with childcare specialists. They have called for the show to be canceled due to ‘emotionally abusing’ participants..
The programme sees kids left in cottages in Cornwall where they live on there own, without their parents for 2 weeks. Channel 4 have already shown two episodes with only two left to air however, Cornwall County Council have written directly to Channel 4 and TV watchdog ‘Ofcom’ in an attempt to get the final two installments axed.
The letter was written by Ruby Parry, Cornwall County Council’s assistant director for social care and family services. It says that the experiment raised safeguard issues and affects the ‘emotional and psychological welfare of the children’.
The head of factual entertainment at Channel 4, Andrew Mackenzie has defended the show saying that the children’s welfare was top priority whilst filming and all the episodes were made within Ofcom guidelines.
Have channel 4 gone too far this time or is this just another case of ‘political correctness’ gone mad, comments are welcome…..
Nicolette Sheridan who plays , the man eater of wisteria lane has confirmed that she is to exit the hit American TV show Desperate Housewives at the end of season five.
Sheridan, aged 45, was one the original cast members of the show along side Marcia Cross (Bree Hodge), Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayers), Felicity Huffman (Lynette Scavo) and Eva Longoria Parker (Gabrielle Solis) in the ABC drama.
There has been no news released on how she will leave the show as the storyline has been kept secret. Her final episode will not be shown on US TV until April.
“She had a great time on the show and is looking forward to her next project,” her rep told People.
The Saturdays have confirmed that they are feeling the pressure about the up and coming new Comic Relief Single they have been asked to release.
They will be recording a cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. The aim is of course to raise money for charity but due to the success of previous singles produced for Comic Relief the nerves have started to set in.
Rochelle Wisem said:-
“There is a lot of pressure on us because Comic Relief singles have gone to No.1 in the past and we want to sell enough.”
Another member of the band, Frankie Sandford has said that she has approached her boy friend Dougie Poyner from McFly for his advice. McFly released ‘All About You’ for comic relief back in 2005 and was a major success.
“McFly did a good job and got really involved when they released a song for Red Nose Day, and Dougie and I talked about it, absolutely,”
“We discussed how it’s normal to want to get involved with things, and give it your best. We feel the same and just want to do our bit.”
The British Academy Film Awards took place earlier this week at the Royal Opera House.
The ceremony used to happen in April or May, but this was changed back in 2002 so that is could precede the Oscars. The awards are mostly open to all nationalities, though there is an award for Best British Film and Best Newcomer.
It was Slumdog Millionaire that took the most awards at the Baftas this year against stiff competition like The Reader, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Doubt etc.. with a total of 7 awards.
The film was awarded with best film, best director (Danny Boyle), best music, best adapted screenplay (Simon Beaufoy) amongst others.
Although nominated for best actor, Dev Pate missed out to Mickey Rourke’s performance in The Wrestler and Kate Winslet walked away with best actress for her role in The Reader.
As expected, the late Heath Ledger was awarded best supporting actor for his fantastic version of the Joker in The Dark Knight.
As a surprising twist, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button only won three awards for best hair and makeup, best visual effects and best production despite being nominated for 11 Baftas.
Guests were all given complementary gifts for there participation in the show, consisting of various different promotional merchandise from the different sponsors.
