What the Kiwi gossip mags say & other: June 2008

Thursday, 26 June 2008

Wino's Hubby -- Pervy as Charged

Amy Winehouse's hubby Blake Fielder-Civil has finally admitted to being a pervert -- of justice.

Mr. Wino has copped to committing "grievous bodily harm" -- that's Brit for kicking somebody's ass -- on a pub owner and conspiring to "perverting to course of justice." Blake actually pleaded guilty last week, but the court just allowed the news to be reported. No word on what Blake's penalty's going to be.

Blake has been in jail almost the entire year that he and Amy have been married.

See Also

Monday, 16 June 2008

Canadians Invade London For New Bands Showcase

Six new Canadian acts will appear in London next week as part of showcase for the country's new and emerging talent.

The Canadian Blast will take place at The Borderline on June 19th and will feature The Dunes, Hunter Valentine and Laura Barrett.

Two Hours Traffic, Karen Young and Keith & Renee will also perform at the event.

Duncan McKie, president of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA), described the showcase as the perfect way to “ introduce these new acts to the world”.

"You never know where you'll find the next Feist, Nelly Furtado or Neil Young and Michael Bublé. Canadians have been producing hits and great artists for generations and the next group is just on the horizon,” he added.

The event follows a hugely successful Great Escape Festival for bands from Canada, including Black Mountain, who received warm reviews from critics.

See Also

Friday, 6 June 2008

Williams arrives in Perth for Ledger funeral

Michelle Williams and her two-year-old daughter Matilda have arrived in Perth, Australia for Heath Ledger's funeral, according to People magazine.
The magazine's website reports that Williams and her daughter arrived in the city earlier today under heavy security with more than five police officers and airport security helping to escort them through the airport.
Williams' arrival comes one day after Ledger's father, Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate all returned home from the US.
In a statement released earlier this week on Ledger's death, Williams said: "My heart is broken."
A private funeral for the 28-year-old actor - who was found dead in New York last month - is expected in the coming days.

Monday, 2 June 2008

Michael Bay conjures 'Ouija' movie

Platinum Dunes working on film based on Hasbro game

David Berenbaum and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes have been brought on deck to bring Hasbro's supernatural game "Ouija Board" to the big screen. The project is set up at Universal, where Hasbro has a six-year strategic partnership.

Platinum Dunes' Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will produce "Ouija" along with Hasbro.

Although the specific log line for the film is being kept under wraps, the film will be a supernatural adventure with the Ouija board playing an integral part of the story. The movie is not taking a "Jumanji"-like approach, which involved a game coming to life.

While divination or spiritual boards have been around for centuries, they began being sold as novelty items in the late 1800s, with the first Ouija board, one with an alphabet on it, being patented in 1890. Players' fingers are placed on a small planchette that mysteriously moves to letters and numbers in order to spell out messages from beyond the earthly realm.

The board has been produced by Hasbro's Parker Brothers since 1966, with millions being sold worldwide.

Bennett Schneir, Hasbro's senior vp and managing director of motion pictures will oversee the project for Hasbro.

Berenbaum penned "Elf" and worked on "The Spiderwick Chronicles," "Zoom," and "The Haunted Mansion." The scribe was approached by Hasbro before the company's partnership with Universal and his deal only very recently closed.

Platinum Dunes, known for its horror remakes, is working on "Unborn," an original supernatural thriller being directed by David Goyer.

The project is another example of WMA synergy at work: the agency reps Hasbro, Berenbaum and Platinum Dunes.

See Also

Winehouse Late, Again

It's nice to know some things never change.

British trainwreck Amy Winehouse was an hour late to her first post-rehab concert Friday night. The Grammy-winning soul chanteuse...

Meet the Miss Universe Australia winner

Newly crowned Miss Universe Australia winner Laura Dundovic hopes to follow in Jennifer Hawkins' stiletto steps.

The 21-year-old student from Sydney won the crown ahead of 28 other girls at a ceremony in Melbourne last night.

"I was shocked, to be honest. There were so many amazing girls this year," she told the Seven Network this morning.

She said Hawkins, who was Miss Universe four years ago and parlayed that into a successful modelling and television career, had been an inspiration.

"I think before beauty pageants used to cop a lot of flak, but Jennifer Hawkins has done so much for it," he said.

"Miss Universe Australia now is just amazing and we have her to thank for that. Probably because she did so well. That encouraged me.

"If I could have anything like she did, I'd be over the moon."

The international final of Donald Trump's Miss Universe pageant will be held in Vietnam in July.

*See a slideshow of the Miss Universe Australia pageant here.

See Also

Mel B Hires Strippers For Hubby's Birthday

Spice Girl Mel B knew just how to make husband Stephen Belafonte’s birthday a day to remember – she hired six strippers for his surprise 33rd birthday bash.
The kinky singer reportedly handcuffed her man and took photos as the topless girls rubbed up against him.
A source tells the U.K.'s Sun, “They were provocative. Mel loved it.”
We bet Stephen didn’t mind either.
The 200 guests at the wild L.A. bash also included chickens, a pony and five goats, according to the tabloid.
We're not sure we want to know what their role was in the proceedings.

Metallica launches site ahead of new album

Site offers song teasers, video, contests

NEW YORK -- As the September release of its first album in five years draws near, Metallica has launched the Web site Mission: Metallica to offer fans a wealth of exclusive content and teasers of new songs.
A preview clip shows the band recording and clowning around in the studio. Fans who sign up will be eligible to "win backstage passes to every show this summer," among other special offers.
Mission: Metallica also has a "platinum" level, entitling fans to a copy of the new album delivered on street date, weekly "fly on the wall" video clips, contests to travel to shows and/or Metallica's San Francisco compound, live show downloads, ringtones and more.
It is unclear what, if anything, the services will cost.
Metallica will be on the road this summer in advance of the as-yet-untitled album, beginning Wednesday with a show at Los Angeles' Wiltern LG. A European run begins May 28 in Chorzow, Poland.

Madonna set for Rock Hall of Fame

Madonna is to be inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame next year.
Billboard reports that she will join fellow inductees John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five for the 2008 ceremony, which will be held on 10 March at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Artists become eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their debut single or album.
Madonna's new album is due out next spring.

Fascinating Fact 5283

The SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN LEE MAJORS and his fourth wife FAITH renewed their wedding vows on the actor's 69th birthday last month (23Apr08) in Hawaii. The couple wed in 2002.

See Also