Hollywood filmmaker and director Christopher Nolan speaks during a panel discussion on the importance of celluloid in the digital age - ´Reframing the Future of Film´ in Mumbai on March 31, 2018-AFPMUMBAI: Hollywood director Christopher Nolan on...
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Nolan bats for celluloid filmmaking on India trip
Hollywood filmmaker and director Christopher Nolan speaks during a panel discussion on the importance of celluloid in the digital age - ´Reframing the Future of Film´ in Mumbai on March 31, 2018-AFPMUMBAI: Hollywood director Christopher Nolan on...
Indian actor Vinay Pathak says he’s glad to be visiting Pakistan
Indian actor Vinay Pathak. Photo: FileIndian actor Vinay Pathak on Friday said he's glad to be visiting Pakistan.The actor who is visiting Pakistan for the first-time ever told Geo News, "I am so glad I decided to visit Pakistan and want to...
Shafqat Amanat Ali serenades crowds in UK after nearly five years
Photo: FileLONDON: Music maestro Shafqat Amanat Ali has been serenading crowds in the United Kingdom as he tours the country after nearly five years.The singer who was invited to the country to perform two live gigs by Rock On Music left fans...
Friday, March 30, 2018
Filmfare honours Fawad Khan with Best Cinematic Icon award
Photo: InstagramPakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan has been honoured by Filmfare once again. Fawad was honoured with the title of Best Cinematic Icon Pakistan/India at a Filmfare event held at Bollywood Parks in Dubai last night.The actor is in Dubai...
Schwarzenegger wakes from heart surgery declaring: ‘I’m back!’
Arnold Schwarzenegger developed complications while in hospital to have a catheter valve replaced, according to reports. Photo: File LOS ANGELES: Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger is in a stable condition after undergoing emergency...
Sohai Ali Abro tells all about upcoming film Motorcycle Girl
Pakistani actor Sohai Ali Abro has said her upcoming film Motorcycle Girl aims to empower more women to ride motorcycles.
"The idea behind the film is to make it okay for women to ride motorcycles on the streets of Pakistan and get rid of the notion that it is something abnormal," Sohai said during her appearance on Geo Pakistan.
The actor lamented that when women are seen riding motorcycles in Pakistan it's seen as abnormal and people take pictures of them and post them on social media. "It shouldn't be this way," she asserted.
Sohai who learnt to ride a motorcycle especially for the role further recalled that she started off with learning how to ride a bicycle.
"I was born in 1993 so in my time we had scooties and I didn't even know to ride a bicycle forget a motorcycle," she said.
But Sohai learnt it well and fast through training from Women on Wheels. "The director and I were scared that I might be involved in an accident, however, it went pretty smoothly."
"There was only this one incident in which I gave too much race and the motorcycle went over rocks but I gained control and didn't fall of," she added.
Discussing that the film is based on Zenith Irfan, who is believed to be the first Pakistani woman to take a solo bike trip through the country's north, Sohai said, "It was her father's dream to ride his motorcycle from Lahore to Khunjerab." The actor added that Zenith lost her father when she was 11 months old and growing up she used to question her mother regarding her father's unfulfilled dreams so she could fulfil them.
The film revolves around an independent and strong-willed girl who is constantly breaking stereotypes.
Further, she said that as a person she's "very different from the character so it was a challenge." She said, "I am very loud as a person and the character is very quiet."
However, Sohai dismissed that the movie is a serious documentary and said, "It has a lot of comedy."
The actor who gave stellar performances in two of 2015's biggest blockbusters Wrong No and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani (JPNA) explained that she took a break from the screen as she didn't find any script offered to her at the time compelling.
"I just felt that as an actor the kind of work I was getting was stereotyping me into the role of a patakha larki. I wanted to do something intense and substantial," Sohai said.
She added that she met Adnan Sarwar at a social event and when he discussed he was making a new film she immediately said she wanted to be a part of it as she "was a huge fan of his Shah."
Motorcycle Girl will release in cinemas across Pakistan on April 20. It is written by Adnan Sarwar, whose first feature film Shah was based on the story of Pakistani Olympian Syed Hussain Shah.
Married actresses, mothers considered dead commodity: Rani Mukherjee
Actor Rani Mukherjee has opened up about the discrimination married actresses face in Bollywood and how she hopes that her upcoming film Hichki will change this perception.
In an interview with the Indian Express, the 40-year-old actress said, that despite being married and having a kid, nothing has changed about her.
Riding on the success of her recently released film, Hichki, the actress revealed that once an actress is married or has had children she is considered dead to the industry.
"There are basic prejudices that come with married actresses and those who are mothers. How we are a dead commodity. We don't sell and that no one wants to see us," she said.
"Actors don't get this. They have a successful career and parallelly lead their normal lives. Only actresses are made to choose marriage late in their lives because they feel our commodity dies once we are married".
For her, when speaking of her film's success it's the audience who matter. "The opinion of the audience matters. It's never the actor. It's the audience because as an actor I will always give my 100 per cent like I gave before I became a mother," she said.
She also shared the moment she fell in love with acting was right after Mujhse Dosti Karoge and Saathiya.
"Till then it was a job for me because I hadn't fallen in love with acting. I was just doing my job and coming home. But then the fan letters I used to get made me feel I need to give more. I felt this profession was more serious than I imagined it to be."
When asked about her change from being cautious and holding back to now being outspoken and opinionated, the actress said people are more accepting of a person now than they used to be in the past.
"Today, people are more accepting of you. They don't keep you on a pedestal. Everyone's looking at you as a normal person. That's also the persona you want to project that yes, we are stars but we are also attainable and we can make mistakes. Even if I have an opinion that doesn't mean it has to be everyone else's. No one's going to take it so seriously that they will change their lives. And if they do, then great but they are aware that Rani also has flaws".
Mahira, Sheheryar to share screen for third time in Asim Raza's next film
Director Asim Raza is set to return to the silver screen with his second film after the success of his first directorial Ho Mann Jahaan.
The film, Paray Hat Luv, will star Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar and will release on Eidul Azha 2019.
Mahira and Sheheryar also appeared in Raza's debut film, but the director promises the romantic comedy will be "very different" from Ho Mann Jahaan.
"A director has a signature style so that's that but Paray Hat Luv is very different from Ho Mann Jahaan," Raza said while speaking to Geo News.
"Ho Mann Jahaan was a serious drama film with a very different story and characters," he continued.
The director further said this time, Mahira and Sheheryar will be paired together unlike in Ho Mann Jahaan where Mahira was seen with Adeel Hussain.
Raza added that Paray Hat Luv is "is young, fresh and vivacious". "The content of the film is engaging and the canvas is larger and vibrant."
"The story plays on an underlying fear of today's generation to commit to anything in life. The story promises to be a journey of romance, emotion, drama and witty puns," he continued.
Regarding why he chose Mahira and Sheheryar, the director said, "Mahira first worked with me when she was very young and I have seen her grow as an actor and she's someone I can work with well."
"As a director, you choose stars according to who you can work with easily and who you know will deliver and fully commit to work over a period of six months," he added.
The director further said that the film will be produced by Sheheryar Munawar and has been written by seasoned writer Imran Aslam.
Azaan Sami Khan has been given the responsibility of music.
The cast of the film also includes Nadeem Baig, Hina Dilpazeer, Ahmed Ali Butt, Zara Noor Abbass, Rachel Viccaji and others.
Atif Aslam to sing track penned by Salman Khan
Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has been roped in for playback for a song penned by Salman Khan for his upcoming film Race 3.
"Atif has been a part of every Race film and we felt he would be perfect for this romantic song. It will be a surprise for the audience," producer Ramesh Taurani was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror.
According to the Indian daily, the song written by Salman Khan for his upcoming action-thriller is a romantic number, which is being choreographed by director Remo D'souza.
The video will be picturised in Abu Dhabi as part of the multistarrer's ongoing schedule.
Atif has been an integral part of the Race franchise in the past.
The singer previously gave hits such as 'Pehli Nazar Mein' for Race (2008) and 'Beintehaa' for Race 2 (2013).
However, this time his association with Race coincides with a renewed call for a ban on Pakistani artists in Bollywood.
Earlier this month, music director and composer Vipin Patwa backed Atif Aslam's decision to not promote his song in upcoming Bollywood film Daas Dev.
The Pakistani singer refused to promote his song Sehmi hai dhadkan after Indian politician Babul Supriyo asked for a ban on Pakistani artists working in the Hindi film industry to continue. Last month, Supriyo while objecting to the inclusion of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's voice in the Bollywood film Welcome To New York demanded that it be dubbed by an Indian singer.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Nandita Das says she's in Pakistan to break barriers with India
Indian actor and director Nandita Das is visiting Pakistan after nine years.
The actor-cum-director is in Karachi to attend the first Pakistan International Film Festival being held in the metropolis from March 29 to April 1.
Dismissing a ban on Pakistani talent in India, Das said, "There should be no restrictions on borders."
"I am in Pakistan to break these barriers," she asserted.
She added, "We are neighbours, friends and share similar food, language and culture so it's bizarre that restrictions are placed on us visiting the other country or viewing their works."
The filmmaker who visited Pakistan last during the Kara Film Festival and is currently directing a film on author Manto, said that Manto is both Pakistani and Indian and a "true South Asian".
"I'd love to bring Manto to Pakistan because he is also from here," she said.
Das further said she's fan of Pakistani music. "I've been listening to Pakistani singers for years now and I think it's very precious."
The PIFF is an initiative of the Karachi Film Society and is screening features, short films and documentaries from Pakistan and around the world.
PIFF management has also invited overseas delegates of filmmakers, artists and professionals.
Earlier, Indian film director and screenwriter SS Rajamouli said he is travelling to Karachi to attend the PIFF for the screening of his film Baahubali.
The director took to Twitter to announce the news. "Baahubali has given me opportunities to travel to a number of countries… The most exciting of them all is now, Pakistan. Thank you Pakistan International Film Festival, Karachi for the invite," he said.
British-Pakistani bus driver hopes his phone-shot film will inspire youth
MANCHESTER: A British-Pakistani bus driver, who now proudly calls himself an award-winning actor-director as well, hopes that his latest media-related achievement and hard work will inspire and encourage other youngsters to come forward and take interest in the entertainment industry.
Asif Raja has already inspired many others by creating an award-winning, Bollywood-style (as dubbed by the British media) feature film using just his mobile phone.
Ehsaas (Urdu for feeling/realisation), his phone-shot flick, was filmed at various locations around Yorkshire, over an eight-day period, on a Samsung S8+ phone and with zero budget.
Some drone shots were also used in the film, with its post-production taking three months and a trailer launched July last year.
A resident of Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and a presenter at the Asian Music radio station, Raja said his film was received well by the audience and has bagged two local magazine awards for best director and best actor.
"I was recently interviewed by BBC Leeds [BBC Radio Leeds, a local radio service for the West Yorkshire county] and articles about my film were published in various news outlets. I am getting very good feedback.
"As a director and an actor, it has been a wonderful experience for me and I hope to take this further," he said, adding that intends to produce bigger and better projects in future.
"I used local, British-Pakistani talent in the film … actors like Rafiq Butt, Abdul Shakoor, Khwaja Amjad, Tehmina, Kiran Khan, and Fareed Butt, [all of whom] are very talented.
"They are working on different projects but were never given proper chance to showcase their talent.
"Another actor in the film is Mehmood Sultan, who has worked in Pakistan and English films," Raja explained. Sultan, 66, had his first big role in the movie Actor In Law, wherein he played a judge.
Raja now looks forward to releasing his unique film in Pakistan later this year.
"I am already working on some of my future projects.
"I want to work with artists of any age, gender, [and] from all communities and backgrounds to promote community cohesion as it will surely give opportunities to local artists to stage their talent".
Written and directed by Raja himself, the romantic thriller is based on the story of online fraud and stock trading, and features a Bollywood-style song as well.
The film sticks true to its name — Ehsaas — and makes the audience root for the protagonist, who struggles to recover the money he loses due to a fraud.
Despite including a romantic side-plot — a mandatory element for every subcontinental film — the hero becomes the voice of justice and righteousness while the villain is on a power trip.
Owing to the zero budget, expenses incurred during post-production were supported by local businesses. Yet, Ehsaas has some amazing scenes that any Bollywood director would love to have.
Netflix series on corruption scandal angers Brazil's former president
BRASILIA: Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has accused Netflix of political bias and character assassination in its series based on the massive Car Wash corruption investigation that rocked Brazil's political establishment.
Since its debut on Friday, the series called "The Mechanism" has enthralled Brazilians with its dramatization of the political scandal that contributed to Rousseff's downfall and impeachment in 2016.
But it sparked mocking memes and angry tweets in Brazil with accusations including that some dialogue delivered by leftist ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the show resembled the words of a right-wing politician in a real-life wire tap.
Rousseff assailed the series as a travesty of history aimed at her Workers' Party and its founder Lula, who has been convicted of corruption for receiving a luxury seaside apartment as a bribe.
"Under the guise of telling the story of the Car Wash investigation in a series 'based on real events,' the director José Padilha distorts reality and spreads all sorts of lies to attack me and President Lula," Rousseff said in a statement.
The director, she said, "doesn't merely reproduce fake news. He has turned himself into a creator of fake news."
Padilha could not immediately be reached for comment, and Netflix did not respond to requests for comment. Padilha told Reuters this month that he hoped to remind viewers that rampant corruption in Brazil was not the fault of any particular politician or party.
"The series is trying to take a position that is non-ideological," he said in that interview.
Workers Party officials said they were consulting lawyers to see what legal action they can take.
Rousseff was impeached for breaking budget laws, ending 14 years of leftist rule by the Workers Party. Lula, still Brazil's most popular politician, faces a 12-year prison sentence and will likely be barred from running in this year's election, even though he is the front-runner in early polls.
The Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported that left-wing Brazilians canceled their Netflix subscriptions over the weekend angered by the depiction of Lula and his party.
"The Mechanism" opens a decade before the Car Wash probe was launched in early 2014 with federal police investigating money laundering in southern Brazil but failing to catch a key suspect.
They eventually unveil a kickback scheme involving politicians, construction companies and Brazil's state-run oil company called Petrobras in real life and Petrobrasil in the series.
Tobias Menzies to play Prince Phillip in The Crown’s season three
Tobias Menzies has been cast in the third season of The Crown to play Prince Phillip.
Menzies will replace Matt Smith who played the role in the first two seasons.
He is best known for playing Edmund Tully on Game of Thrones. Menzies has also starred in other shows such as The Night Manager and Outlander.
Menzies will be portraying the Duke OF Edinburgh from the 1960s to 1980s.
Paul Bettany was originally cast in the role, however, he dropped out due to other commitments.
The Crown recently came under fire following news that lead actress Claire Foy was paid less than her male co-star Matt Smith with the production company later issuing a formal apology to its former lead star.
Fawad, Deepika to share stage in Dubai tomorrow
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone and Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan will share the stage once again.
The two actors stole hearts with their sizzling chemistry when they walked the ramp for designer Manish Malhotra in 2016.
According to Pinkvilla, the actors will now be seen together on stage at an event in Dubai on March 30.
Apart from the two, Vidya Balan, Jackie Shroff and other stars will also attend the event.
Irrfan Khan was also going to be a part of the event, but he will not be able to attend as he is undergoing treatment for NeuroEndocrine Tumor in London.
Earlier, Fawad and Deepika had expressed desire to work together in a film.
Fawad had earlier said, "I would be very excited to work with Deepika. It would be an amazing experience. I am very excited and enthusiastic about it. It would be the two right words to describe my feelings about our collaboration."
It was reported earlier that Fawad was the first choice for the role of Rawal Ratan Singh in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmaavat.
A source had claimed that Deepika had recommended Fawad to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The source had said, "Deepika personally arranged for a meeting between Sanjay and Fawad. The two met and had a cordial chat. However, nothing came out of it. Sanjay did not see Fawad in the role of Deepika's husband."
Fawad, Deepika to share stage in Dubai tomorrow
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone and Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan will share the stage once again.
The two actors stole hearts with their sizzling chemistry when they walked the ramp for designer Manish Malhotra in 2016.
According to Pinkvilla, the actors will now be seen together on stage at an event in Dubai on March 30.
Apart from the two, Vidya Balan, Jackie Shroff and other stars will also attend the event.
Irrfan Khan was also going to be a part of the event, but he will not be able to attend as he is undergoing treatment for NeuroEndocrine Tumor in London.
Earlier, Fawad and Deepika had expressed desire to work together in a film.
Fawad had earlier said, "I would be very excited to work with Deepika. It would be an amazing experience. I am very excited and enthusiastic about it. It would be the two right words to describe my feelings about our collaboration."
It was reported earlier that Fawad was the first choice for the role of Rawal Ratan Singh in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmaavat.
A source had claimed that Deepika had recommended Fawad to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The source had said, "Deepika personally arranged for a meeting between Sanjay and Fawad. The two met and had a cordial chat. However, nothing came out of it. Sanjay did not see Fawad in the role of Deepika's husband."
Blog: Mahira has a magic cigarette; it burns honour
Everything a woman does is linked to Pakistan's honour.
Everything a man does, however, is for his pleasure and according to his will but God forbid it be linked to the country's honour.
As if trying to prove that it continues on a rotten downtrend, Pakistan has shown, once again, that it does not learn from its past errors and keeps stepping backwards.
A video emerged yesterday that 'caught' the Pakistani heartthrob smoking backstage at the Lux Style Awards. Although the event took place on February 20, 2018, the video was revealed on March 28, 2018.
Almost 15.6 million Pakistanis smoke tobacco — almost 7.77% of Pakistan's population. Over 80 per cent of that figure are men.
But it is only when Mahira Khan takes a puff of cigarette that health concerns are raised and the patriarchal ego is threatened. How convenient!
Honestly speaking, I do not understand the Pakistani men's perverse fascination with and public anathematisation of women's smoking habits. As okay as it is for males to smoke cigarettes in public or otherwise, so should it be for the females too.
Back in September last year, too, a similar incident had occurred when Mahira was snapped in New York enjoying a cigarette with Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor. At that time as well, it was Pakistan's collective honour that was dented.
The holier-than-thou argue, when asked what their problem is with Mahira smoking, that the habit is injurious to health. But the concern for women's well-being only applies when they smoke. What about all the other times that underage girls are abused, divorced ladies are shunned, females are sexually harassed, women are subjected to domestic violence, women are ogled at in the streets, catcalled, groped? I can go on and on.
These people — who, very likely, smoke themselves — also claim that a woman smoking in public will ruin the country's image around the world.
Really? And what about the hundreds of thousands of crimes, honour killings, rapes, cases of corruption, theft and petty crimes, and so many other wrongdoings that make headlines and damage Pakistan's reputation?
On social media, some think it is funny to make light of a feminist poster, while others portray Mahira as a hypocritical inspiration and warn her that "smoking kills". Yet others believe the actress should publicly smoke tobacco "and then weed", a statement eerily similar to how when women campaign for freedom of clothes, men lose their minds and stress that it would mean women would soon start appearing scantily clad.
The funny thing, nonetheless, is that it is not just men who are cursing Mahira but women too, with one even comparing strong relationships to "Mahira Khan and cigarettes".
A social media user was flabbergasted that Mahira, who claims to represent Pakistan, smokes. "Aesi han hmare tmhare mulk ki auraten jinko yeh reflect krti ha? Khule aam cigarette piti han? (Are the women of our country like what she (Mahira) represents? Do they smoke openly too?"
The tweet that perhaps generated the most shock and was subsequently deleted went as such:
'#MahiraKhan Caught Smoking Again. 3 times divorced, chain smoker and corrupt women are our celebrities and role models nowadays. We need to raise our standards a bit. #Shame pic.twitter.com/EKMxU2Oo0z' — Tehmoor Ali Abbasi (@TehmoorAAbbasi) March 27, 2018
Just FYI, Mahira is not a three-time divorcee.
It is commonplace to see older 'uncles and aunties', protective (and somewhat possessive) guardians of the izzat, reprimanding women smoking in public. Their rationale is: "Everyone is looking at you. Do you even realise what they are going to think about your family, your father, your respect?"
These elders, who are the biggest proponents and bearers of patriarchy, claim they "watch out" for these fahash (indecent) girls and attempt to bring them back to the right path. The male elders, however, further add that they are aware of how the onlookers' minds are 'indecent' and 'dirty' — and why wouldn't they be? They used to do the same in their youth.
None of these misogynistic, so-called upholders of honour realise the difference between a celebrity's public persona and personal life nor do they seem to understand that icons are human too — many maintain stars are "public property".
Add to that those who help the fragile masculinity rear its head by recording private moments from celebrities' lives and put them out for the public to shame. What they accomplish by such cheap acts is beyond me.
And then the media, which, somehow, ends up repeating the extremely biased, chastising headlines, as can be seen in the image below:
While talking about the 2017 incident on BBC's HARDtalk, Mahira had said she felt 'violated' when pictures of her "personal downtime moment" had caused such a massive 'uproar'.
It is not women who smoke, or even wear jeans, who are to be blamed for a corrupt society but those who perpetrate crimes and believe the honour of a society lies with females.
I had genuinely hoped the whole "oh-em-gee-Mahira-is-smoking-and-spoiling-Pakistan's-image-in-the-world" fiasco of 2017 would not be repeated after I heard 'news' that a new video of the talented actress had gone viral.
But who am I kidding? The macho man and the izzatdar woman are still threatened by an independent female.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Pedro Pascal joins cast of Wonder Woman 2
The Narcos and Game of Thrones star is all set to join the cast of the of Wonder Woman 2, directed by Patty Jenkin's, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Plot details are still being kept under wraps, as is the character Pascal will be playing.
This marks the second time Pascal collaborated with director Patty Jenkins after starring in TV movie Exposed. Pascal will join Gal Gadot who reprises her role as Princess Diana with Kristen Wiig playing villain Cheetah.
Pascal gained fame after appearing as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, followed by his role as DEA agent Javier Pena in Narcos. He recently starred in "Kingsmen: The Golden Circle" as Agent Whisky.
"Wonder Woman" has been a standout in DC's cinematic universe, grossing $821 million worldwide, including $412 at the US box office. The movie was praised by the critics, earning a nomination from the Producers Guild as one of the best films of 2017.
Indian director travelling to Pakistan for screening of his film 'Baahubali'
Indian film director and screenwriter SS Rajamouli is travelling to Karachi to attend the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF) for the screening of his film Baahubali.
The director took to Twitter to announce the news. "Baahubali has given me opportunities to travel to a number of countries… The most exciting of them all is now, Pakistan. Thank you Pakistan International Film Festival, Karachi for the invite," he said.
The second part of the film series, Baahubali: The Conclusion, played across 100 screens in Pakistan last year.
Both parts of Baahubali have toured several international film festivals, including Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan, L'Etrange International Film Festival in Paris and the Moscow International Film Festival.
PIFF 2018 will begin on March 29 in Karachi and run till April 1, 2018.
The four-day festival will screen features, short films and documentaries from Pakistan and around the world.
According to reports, other Indian films which will be a part of PIFF are Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan's Dear Zindagi, Rajat Kapoor's Ankhon Dekhi, Irrfan Khan and Pakistani actress Saba Qamar's Hindi Medium, Sanjay Mishra's Kadvi Hawa, Swara Bhasker's Nil Battey Sannata and Marathi movie Sairat.
Stanley Kubrick memorabilia goes under hammer in Italy
Symbols of the life and work of Stanley Kubrick went up for auction in Italy on Tuesday, with bidders splashing tens of thousands of euros for memorabilia from one of the 20th century's leading filmmakers.
Termed "the most important collection of material relating to the life and work of Stanley Kubrick ever offered at auction", the items began going under the hammer mid-afternoon and fetched nearly 90,000 euros ($112,000).
Props, promotional materials and costume items from groundbreaking films such as "Doctor Strangelove" and "2001: A Space Odyssey," and even Kubrick's old shopping lists, were all up for grabs.
Some went for eye-catching sums at the Bolaffi auction house sale in the northern city of Turin.
The jacket worn by horror icon Jack Torrance, masterfully played by Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" as he descends into madness while snowbound with his family in the Overlook Hotel, fetched 19,000 euros — almost double the minimum list bid of 10,000 euros.
The surprise sale of the afternoon however, was Kubrick's Writers Guild of America membership card, which smashed its asking price of 1,000 euros and sold for 13,000 euros.
"The Shining" dominated the big sales, with key chains from the Overlook Hotel going for 2,800 euros — almost triple the asking price.
A long fragment from the film, in which Torrance's stricken wife Wendy carries her son Danny, sold for more than double the starting price of 3,000 euros.
The cuts, which went for 6,500 euros, are particularly rare because Kubrick would burn all leftover film after editing.
Two rugs from the hotel's Colorado Lounge went for 13,000 and 4,600 euros respectively. Both were listed at 2,000 euros.
The collection was put up for auction by Emilio D'Alessandro, an Italian who emigrated to "the frenzy of Swinging London" in the early 1960s and worked with Kubrick from 1971 until the day the American director died in 1999, and his wife Janette.
Giant phallus
One buyer spent 750 euros on a yellow note from 1998 with a message for D'Alessandro, saying "have a good trip!"
But a price of 1,500 euros failed to attract bidders to lot 51, "Shopping with the Kubricks": a series of notes about food shopping, one of which asks Emilio not to buy any more radishes "because there are so many in the garden."
D'Alessandro, 76, started out as Kubrick's driver, before in his own words becoming "Mr Fixit, finally confident and trusted friend of one of the great geniuses of the 20th century."
His first job for Kubrick was to transport a "giant phallus" to the set of "Clockwork Orange", making his way across the icy roads of wintery London with the prop sticking out of the window.
"I thought to myself, 'this is shameful.' There were people out there waiting for the bus!" D'Alessandro said in an interview carried out for Bolaffi.
Now back in his hometown of Cassino, around 73 kilometres (120 miles) from Rome, the Italian has kept storerooms full of Kubrick paraphernalia because if he or the film crew hadn't taken it with them, he says, "they would have had to be destroyed."
Some people are even using crates from Full Metal Jacket as rabbit hutches, none the wiser as to its origins.
Asked what Kubrick would say if he were still alive D'Alessandro said "he would say to me, 'thank you for finding someone who will use these things.'"
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Academy President John Bailey cleared of harassment complaint
In a statement released on Tuesday night, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) said, "The Committee unanimously determined that no further action was merited on this matter."
The Academy also denied earlier reporting that it had received three complaints, saying that only one was submitted.
John Bailey came under fire after The Academy received three harassment claims, 15 days after the 90th Academy Awards which led to an investigation taking place immediately.
Bailey had responded to the allegations saying, the allegations were completely untrue and that it did not happen.
Bailey — a cinematographer whose credits range from Groundhog Day to How to Be a Latin Lover — said in the memo that media reports describing complaints to the academy were false and served only to tarnish his 50-year career, Variety reported.
In January, the Academy came forward with a new Standards of Conduct initiative on the heels of expelling Oscar-winning director and AMPAS member Harvey Weinstein after he was embroiled in sexual assault and harassment claims, prompting the formation of the #MeToo and the #TimesUp movements.
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