You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2008.
It’s interesting to note that actor George Clooney has joined Michael Douglas and Yo-Yo Ma as a UN messenger of peace, focusing on raising public awareness for the Darfur crisis in Sudan. I personally think that this is a fantastic move for Clooney and the UN, but this is something that hasn’t exactly been free of controversy. Russia along with several other nations has objected to his role in Sudan, stating that they consider it to be inappropriate.
Clooney, however has been a staunch advocate for resolving the issues in Darfur, having been nominated for a Nobel Prize (along with actor Don Cheadle) for his efforts. My only concern would be his ability to act diplomatically within the confines of the UN, given his strong opinions and actions. But I do believe that any voice celebrities can lend to significant causes, particularly those involving international development, is immensely helpful to the cause. Celebrities have a unique position of power in that they are able to raise awareness in a way that no other person ever could, and in an industry of luxury and self-abundance I feel that any celebrity efforts are to be commended.
The recent deaths of Heath Ledger, Suzanne Pleshette, Brad Renfro, and Christian Brando (all within ten days of each other), alongside the ongoing writer’s strike, falling revenues at the box office, and the invasion of the paparazzi are all adding up to a mighty black period in Hollywood’s history.
Well, so far 2008 is going along just swimmingly.
I’m still in a bit of a shock over the news that Heath Ledger has died in New York. I had the pleasure to get to know Heath over the last year or so and I can honestly say that he was one of the most brilliant, normal people I’d ever met.
My thoughts go out to his daughter and family.
Lucky number 23. Woo hoo!
I’ve come up with a title for the novel I’m writing — Hinterland. The story takes place in the backwoods of Canada, and is esentially a reflection on Canadian culture and identity, so I think the title fits.
This is going to be fucking epic.
Actor Brad Renfro was found dead at his home this morning, due to an unknown cause (overdose?). Renfro had been battling an addiction to heroin for the last few years, but was said to have cleaned up early last year. He just finished shooting The Informer with Winona Ryder, to be released later this year.
A tragic ending to a tragic life. I really think that Brad was one of Hollywood’s finest young actors, and could have accomplished so much, had he not been on drugs. His performances in The Client, Apt Pupil, and Ghost World were stellar. Well, at least I can look forward to seeing him one last time in The Informer.
Atlantic Records has confirmed that P!ATD’s new record Pretty. Odd. will be released on March 25/08. I’m looking forward to it, but I doubt that it’ll be as good as their first album. Guess we’ll find out.
They’re also headlining the 2008 Honda Civic Tour, if anyone cares.
We incorporated Rock & Hammer Productions yesterday, first big leap forward! The first project that we’re working on is StarvingandFabulous.com, which will launch its beta phase in June.
Then, of course, there’s the magazine. After several failed attempts, I feel that we finally have a product that is marketable and fairly easy to sell. We’ve come up with a new name — Dada Magazine. I think this better represents what the magazine is about than the last two names we came up with (Esque and Tether), so we hope to launch in January 2009. I’m going to be taking a bit of a break from the company until early April, when we will finish off the development of S&F and then start production on the magazine in May/June. And hopefully in June we’ll be working on a series of events in Montreal as well.
And hopefully in the fall I can start working on producing our first film (the third facet of the company). Add to this, occassional freelancing and that forever in-progress novel, and 2008 looks like it’s going to be a pretty busy year!
Breaking news on TMZ… Britney Spears has been rushed to the hospital for a psychiactric evaluation after a four-hour police confrontation at her home in LA. When police arrived, they apparently found her intoxicated, refusing to hand over her children to Kevin Federline.
I think this can only be a good thing for Britney. I still think she is suffering from bipolar disorder (and has been for some time), and has been refusing treatment. Depending on what happens over the next 72-hours, the courts can now mandate psychological treatment and finally get her the help that she needs.
Of course, she’ll also lose her kids…. for a long time.
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