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Monday, February 28, 2011

Taylor Swift Gwyneth Paltrow and Selena Gomez - Vanity Fair Oscar Party! 2011

Taylor Swift - Vanity Fair Oscar Party!

Taylor Swift - Vanity Fair Oscar Party!
Taylor Swift arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party held at the Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunday (February 27) in West Hollywood, Calif.
The 21-year-old country cutie chose a Zuhair Murad gold and silver beaded strapless dress with corset back, Jimmy Choo “Crown” platform sandals, and a Jimmy Choo “Candy” clutch.
Taylor met up with her BFF Selena Gomez at the party, as well as with Gwyneth Paltrow.
The night before, Taylor and her pal Emma Stone attended the Montblanc Cocktail Party.










Sunday, February 27, 2011

Colin Firth - Oscars 2011 Red Carpet

Colin Firth - Oscars 2011 Red Carpet

Colin Firth - Oscars 2011 Red Carpet
Colin Firth walks the red carpet with his wife, Italian producer Livia Giuggioli, at the 2011 Oscars held at the Kodak Theater on Sunday (February 27) in Los Angeles.
The 50-year-old The King’s Speech star met up with co-star Geoffrey Rush and 127 HoursAron Ralston before heading inside for the show.
Colin is up for Best Actor, along with Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, and Oscar co-host James Franco.
FYI: Colin accessorized with a Chopard watch featuring a black dial set in white gold.





Oscars: Colin Firth gets a well-deserved win for 'The King's Speech'

Oscars: Colin Firth gets a well-deserved win for 'The King's Speech'

The Academy Award lead actor winner's remarkable turn as King George VI earned the crown.

Colin Firth
Colin Firth accepts his Oscar for Best Actor during the show of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on February 27, 2011. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Learn another language, live in a different body — that's fundamentally what "The King's Speech" required of Colin Firth if he was to give the stammering King George VI an authenticity that could be sensed in every tortured sentence he delivered.

Stuttering isn't just a twisted tongue, but a range of complex emotional issues that take hold of the entire body. In Firth, we had someone always in command of the rebellion.

In taking on the reluctant British monarch, the actor tied himself up in knots in such exacting ways that we became as lost in the struggle as he did. The effect was a kind of exquisite pain, leaving us to bear witness as the words refused to come, as the shame and guilt of every failure seeped in. At times, I had to cap my hand over my mouth not to shout out whatever was eluding him.




We can thank screenwriter David Seidler for creating that tongue-twisting gantlet. Line after line, the script was as unrelenting as it was elegant. The stammering itself was a constantly mutating force, demanding that Firth find purchase in so many different ways — fluid with his kids, frustrated with his teacher, flummoxed around his subjects.

Then director Tom Hooper made the camera as unforgiving as the microphone the monarch was constantly forced to face, allowing us to be privy to that test of wills. What we were really privy to was a performance of remarkable nuance and depth. Triumph has never been sweeter than when the king is called upon to calm fears as the storm clouds of World War II build. Breaking the silence in that momentous moment, the words finally come. Slowly, but strong and clear.

Last year, there was a sadness when Firth's immersive turn in "A Single Man" didn't win. Sunday, there was only satisfaction. A king finally crowned.

betsy.sharkey@latimes.com

Oscars: Lead actress: 'Black Swan's' Natalie Portman made worthy sacrifice for her art

Oscars: Lead actress: 'Black Swan's' Natalie Portman made worthy sacrifice for her art

As a troubled ballerina in 'Black Swan,' Natalie Portman made all the right moves, no matter the price.

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman at the Academy Awards. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The agony and ecstasy of Natalie Portman's "Black Swan" is a kind of gothic perfection.

It is her passion play, as much as a performance, born of a long desire to take her acting into the world of ballet that she fell in love with as a child. Perhaps if her dreams had unfolded differently, we might know her as the featured ballerina from one company or another. More likely, we would not know her at all, and the artistic world would be poorer for it.

Certainly there is movie magic in the ritualistic sacrifice of director Darren Aronofsky's film as Portman's prima ballerina suffers stigmatas of ripped skin and sprouting feathers. But there was pain enough of the real kind too. Nine months at the ballet barre before shooting began. Hours in solitary practice, pushing past exhaustion, bruised toes and aching muscles, raising her craft to dizzying heights.


Maybe we would still feel the searing pain of her doomed dancer had she not forced herself to wring the very soul out of her woman-child, but I doubt it. The work pared the body down to nearly nothing, as if her bones themselves were looking to escape the punishing regime she demanded.

Ultimately, though, what makes Portman's performance so singular is not just the dance, which is breathtakingly beautiful, but all the ways she deconstructs as the demons close in. Whimpering under a blanket as she tries to escape the lash of her mother's tongue, trembling in the embrace of the Machiavellian master who will determine her fate, the terror of the known and unknown never leaving her eyes.

The performance is fearless, frighteningly so. She stands before us emotionally naked, only her talent on the line. After last night, no questions remain. The swan soars.

betsy.sharkey@latimes.com

Winners and Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards Oscars

Winners and Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards

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83rd Academy Awards Nominees

Actor in a Leading Role

  • Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
  • Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
  • Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
  • Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
  • James Franco in “127 Hours”

Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
  • John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
  • Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
  • Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
  • Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role

  • Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
  • Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
  • Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
  • Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
  • Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
  • Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
  • Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
  • Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
  • Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Animated Feature Film

  • “How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
  • “The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet
  • “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Art Direction

  • “Alice in Wonderland”
    Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara
  • “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”
    Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
  • “Inception”
    Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
  • “The King's Speech”
    Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
  • “True Grit”
    Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Cinematography

  • “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique
  • “Inception” Wally Pfister
  • “The King's Speech” Danny Cohen
  • “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth
  • “True Grit” Roger Deakins

Costume Design

  • “Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood
  • “I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi
  • “The King's Speech” Jenny Beavan
  • “The Tempest” Sandy Powell
  • “True Grit” Mary Zophres

Directing

  • “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
  • “The Fighter” David O. Russell
  • “The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
  • “The Social Network” David Fincher
  • “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Documentary (Feature)

  • “Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz
  • “Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
  • “Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
  • “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
  • “Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Documentary (Short Subject)

  • “Killing in the Name” Jed Rothstein
  • “Poster Girl” Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block
  • “Strangers No More” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
  • “Sun Come Up” Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
  • “The Warriors of Qiugang” Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Film Editing

  • “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum
  • “The Fighter” Pamela Martin
  • “The King's Speech” Tariq Anwar
  • “127 Hours” Jon Harris
  • “The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Foreign Language Film

  • “Biutiful” Mexico
  • “Dogtooth” Greece
  • “In a Better World” Denmark
  • “Incendies” Canada
  • “Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” Algeria

Makeup

  • “Barney's Version” Adrien Morot
  • “The Way Back” Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
  • “The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Music (Original Score)

  • “How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell
  • “Inception” Hans Zimmer
  • “The King's Speech” Alexandre Desplat
  • “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
  • “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)

  • “Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
  • “I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
  • “If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
  • “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Best Picture

  • “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
  • “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
  • “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
  • “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
  • “The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
  • “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
  • “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
  • “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
  • “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
  • “Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

  • “Day & Night” Teddy Newton
  • “The Gruffalo” Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
  • “Let's Pollute” Geefwee Boedoe
  • “The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
  • “Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)” Bastien Dubois

Short Film (Live Action)

  • “The Confession” Tanel Toom
  • “The Crush” Michael Creagh
  • “God of Love” Luke Matheny
  • “Na Wewe” Ivan Goldschmidt
  • “Wish 143” Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Sound Editing

  • “Inception” Richard King
  • “Toy Story 3” Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
  • “Tron: Legacy” Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
  • “True Grit” Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
  • “Unstoppable” Mark P. Stoeckinger

Sound Mixing

  • “Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
  • “The King's Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
  • “Salt” Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
  • “The Social Network” Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
  • “True Grit” Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

Visual Effects

  • “Alice in Wonderland” Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
  • “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
  • “Hereafter” Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky and Joe Farrell
  • “Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
  • “Iron Man 2” Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

  • “127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
  • “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
  • “Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
  • “True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
  • “Winter's Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Writing (Original Screenplay)

  • “Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh
  • “The Fighter” Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;
    Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
  • “Inception” Written by Christopher Nolan
  • “The Kids Are All Right” Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
  • “The King's Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler

Last Airbender rules Razzies as worst picture

Last Airbender rules Razzies as worst picture
Sun Feb 27 09:27AM by Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The action fantasy 'The Last Airbender' — about people who can command fire, air, water and earth — now controls something else: the Razzie awards for Hollywood's worst film achievements of 2010.

'The Last Airbender' led Saturday's Razzies with five awards, among them worst picture, worst director and worst screenplay for M. Night Shyamalan.

The movie also received Razzies for worst supporting actor (Jackson Rathbone, who was cited for both 'The Last Airbender' and 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse') and for a special award, worst eye-gouging misuse of 3-D.

A spoof of the Academy Awards, the Razzies were announced the night before the Oscars, Hollywood's biggest party.

'Sex and the City 2' took three Razzies, including worst actress, a prize shared by co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, worst screen couple or ensemble for its entire cast, and worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel.

Ashton Kutcher was picked as worst actor for 'Killers' and 'Valentine's Day,' while Jessica Alba took the Razzie as worst supporting actress for four 2010 releases, 'The Killer Inside Me,' 'Little Fockers,' 'Machete' and 'Valentine's Day.'

Shyamalan has been on a downward spiral since 1999 Oscar best-picture contender 'The Sixth Sense,' which earned him directing and writing nominations at Hollywood's highest honors. He won Razzies as worst director and worst supporting actor for his 2006 fantasy flop 'Lady in the Water.'

Despite terrible reviews, 'The Last Airbender' managed to find a decent audience, pulling in $300 million (£186 million) worldwide at the box office. Shyamalan adapted the movie from the animated TV series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.'

"He managed to take a cartoon property and make it even less lifelike by making it with real actors," said Razzies founder John Wilson. "Most people who like the show, and this would include my 14-year-old son, hated the movie. It made no sense whatsoever."

'The Last Airbender' was among movies that critics knocked for smudgy, blurry 3-D images. The movie was shot in 2-D and converted to digital 3-D to cash in on the extra few dollars theaters charge for 3-D screenings.

"They call it converted. We call it perverted," Wilson said. "The more times you trick the public and charge them that fee and don't really deliver, eventually it's going to be like Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football. Fool me ten times, I'm done."

Wilson said the characters of 'Sex and the City 2' were getting too old to cavort the way they do, calling the movie "'The Expendables,' but with estrogen," referring to Sylvester Stallone's tale about aging action heroes.

'Sex and the City 2' also was offensive, Wilson said, showing Parker and her gal pal co-stars disrespecting Arab culture on a trip to Abu Dhabi and flaunting their privileged ways.

"It was released in the middle of a period of American history when everyone's scrounging not to lose their homes, and these women are riding around in Rolls-Royces, buying expensive shoes and just throwing money around like they're drunk," Wilson said.

Aronosky wins best director, Franco best actor at Spirits

Aronosky wins best director, Franco best actor at Spirits

Cholodenko, Blumberg nab original screenplay kudo

Franco in '127 Hours'Franco in '127 Hours'
Update: Darren Aronofsky has picked up the best director trophy for "Black Swan."James Franco, meanwhile, won the Spirit Award for best actor for "127 Hours."
Dale Dickey and John Hawkes won the supporting categories for "Winter's Bone."
"It was a crazy crazy experience," Franco said of the true-life drama in his acceptance Saturday afternoon. "I don't think there will ever be another film like it."
Franco was the only Spirits nominee also up for an Oscar in the category. He topped Ronald Bronstein for "Daddy Longlegs," Aaron Eckhart for "Rabbit Hole," John C. Reilly for "Cyrus," and Ben Stiller for "Greenberg."
Eligibility for the awards, conducted by Film Independent, is limited to US films made for under $20 million. "The King's Speech" won the foreign language trophy -- the only category in which it was eligible.
The 26th annual awards show returned to its usual spot in a beachside tent in Santa Monica amid chilly winds.
"Exit Through the Gift Shop" took the documentary award with Thierry Guetta accepting on behalf of the mysterious Banksy.
"Get Low" won the first feature for director Aaron Schneider and producers David Gundlach and Dean Zanuck.
Lena Dunham won the best first screenplay award for drama-comedy "Tiny Furniture" and thanked her parents. "I feel very lucky to have been born to my two best friends," she said.
Matthew Libatique won the cinematography trophy for "Black Swan."

First look at The Beach Girls 5 (BG5) - Girl Group Video Introduction

The Beach Girls 5 Website



About The Beach Girl5
Brooke Adams, Dominique Domingo, Noreen Juliano, Mandy Jiroux, and Laura New are the five talented women who make up BG5. Before coming together as The Beach Girl5, The Girls were individually booked as part of the world class performers that entertained between matches for the 2008 AVP Tour (professional Volleyball), but after the 18 city tour ended, they decided to stay together and continue as a group. Last year the BG5 competed in Wango Tango’s Kiis FM Break Out Stars contest and won the top spot,10,000 thousand dollars and a slot to perform in front of thousands of concert goers. They recently flew to New York to perform at PopCon opening for headliners Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.
BG5’s songs have been featured in the hit shows “The Hills” and “DeGrassi”. Most recently the BG5 have completed filming several episodes of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” television show, which is airing in the United States this September. The girls are currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album.
BG5 believes in loving life, having fun, supporting one another, and being yourself. With original songs (produced by hit producers Armato/James) and high energy dance performances, BG5 are set to take the world by storm.
“Our music combines independence, sexiness and positive energy all at the same time.”


For all branding enquiries regarding BG5 please contact: zehra@aabtalentgroup.com 



Grammy 2011 Winners

Grammy 2011 Winners

EVENING BROADCAST GALA
Album Of The Year
The Suburbs — Arcade Fire
Record Of The Year
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
Best Rap Album
Recovery — Eminem
Best New Artist
Esperanza Spalding
Song Of The Year
Need You Now — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
Best Country Album
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
Best Pop Vocal Album
The Fame Monster — Lady Gaga
Best Rock Album
The Resistance — Muse
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Hey, Soul Sister (Live) — Train
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
The House That Built Me — Miranda Lambert
AFTERNOON WINNERS
Rock / Metal:
Best Rock Song
Angry World — Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Hammerhead — Jeff Beck
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Tighten Up — The Black Keys
Best Hard Rock Performance
New Fang — Them Crooked Vultures
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
Helter Skelter — Paul McCartney
Best Metal Performance
El Dorado — Iron Maiden
Pop:
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Bad Romance — Lady Gaga
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Just The Way You Are — Bruno Mars
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Imagine — Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Nessun Dorma — Jeff Beck
Best Pop Vocal Collaboration with Vocals
Imagine — Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
Best Pop Instrumental Album
Take Your Pick — Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Crazy Love – Michael Buble
Urban / Rap / Alternative
Best Alternative Music Album
Brothers — The Black Keys (beating Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs)
Best Urban/Alternative Performance
F— You — Cee Lo Green
Best Rap Song
Empire State Of Mind — Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane’t “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)
Best Rap Solo Performance
Not Afraid — Eminem
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
On To The Next One — Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Empire State Of Mind” — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
R&B:
Best Contemporary R&B Album
Raymond V Raymond — Usher
Best R&B Album
Wake Up! — John Legend & The Roots
Best R&B Song
Shine — John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Bittersweet — Fantasia
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
There Goes My Baby — Usher
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Soldier Of Love — Sade
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
Still – BeBe & CeCe Winans
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Hang On In There — John Legend & The Roots
Jazz:
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Stanley Clarke Band — The Stanley Clarke Band
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee — Dee Dee Bridgewater
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
Change Is Gonna Come — Herbie Hancock, soloist, off The Imagine Project
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Moody 4B — James Moody
Best Large Jazz Ensemble
Mingus Big Band Live At Jazz Standard — Mingus Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Album
Chucho’s Steps — Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Country:
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Til Summer Comes Around” — Keith Urban
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
As She’s Walking Away — Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
Best Country Instrumental Performance
Hummingbyrd — Marty Stuart
Best Country Song
Need You Now — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
Blues:
Best Traditional Blues Album
Joined At The Hip — Pinetop Perkins & Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Living Proof — Buddy Guy
Folk:
Best Traditional Folk Album
Genuine Negro Jig — Carolina Chocolate Drops
Best Contemporary Folk Album
God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise — Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs
Best Americana Album
You Are Not Alone — Mavis Staples
Gospel:
Best Gospel Performance
Grace – BeBe & CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Song
It’s What I Do – Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum
Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album
Hello Hurricane – Switchfoot
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Love God. Love People. – Israel Houghton
Bluegrass:
Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album
The Reason – Diamond Rio
Best Bluegrass Album
Mountain Soul II — Patty Loveless
Best Traditional Gospel Album
Downtown Church – Patty Griffin
Classical:
Best Classical Album
Verdi: Requiem — Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master; Christopher Alder, producer
Best Classical Crossover album
Tin, Christopher: Calling All Dawns — Lucas Richman, conductor
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
Daugherty, Michael: Deus Ex Machina — Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero)
Best Orchestral Performance
Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina — Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Best Opera Recording
Saariaho: L’Amour De Loin – Kent Nagano, conductor; Daniel Belcher, Ekaterina Lekhina & Marie-Ange
Best Choral Performance
Verdi: Requiem — Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master
Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24 — Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)
Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (without Orchestra)
Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement — Paul Jacobs
Best Chamber Music Performance
Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 — Parker Quartet
Best Small Ensemble Performance
Dinastia Borja – Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya
Best Classical Vocal Performance
Sacrificium — Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)
Latin / World:
Best Latin Pop Album
Paraiso Express – Alejandro Sanz
Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album
El Existential – Grupo Fantasma
Best Tropical Latin Album
Viva La Tradicion – Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Best Tejano Album
Recuerdos – Little Joe & La Familia
Best Norteno Album
Classic – Intocable
Best Banda Album
Enamorate De Mi – El Guero Y Su Banda Centenario
Best Hawaiian Music Album
Huana Ke Aloha – Tia Carrere
Best Native American Music Album
2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit’s Dance – various artists
Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
Zydeco Junkie – Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Best Reggae Album
Before the Dawn – Buju Banton
Best Traditional World Music Album
Ali and Toumani – Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks – Bela Fleck
General:
Best Short Form Music Video
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Best Long Form Music Video
When You’re Strange – The Doors
Best Dance Recording
Only Girl (In the World) — Rihanna
Best Electronic/Dance Album
La Roux — La Roux
Best Musical Show Album
American Idiot (featuring Green Day) – Billy Joe Armstrong, producer
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Crazy Heart – various artists
Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Toy Story 3 – Randy Newman composer
Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
The Weary Kind (from Crazy Heart) – Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett
Best New Age Album
Miho: Journey to the Mountain – Paul Winter Consort
Best Musical Album for Children
Tomorrow’s Children – Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends
Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs and Lullabies – Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the audiobook) – Jon Stewart with Samantha Bee, Wyatt Cenac, Jason Jones, John Oliver and Sigourney Weaver
Best Comedy Album
Stark Raving Black — Lewis Black
Best Instrumental Composition
The Path Among the Trees – Billy Childs, composer
Best Instrumental Arrangement
Carlos – Vince Mendoza, arranger
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Baba Yetu – Christopher Tin, arranger
Best Recording Package
Brothers – Michael Carney, art director
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set) – Rob Jones & Jack White III, art directors
Best Album Notes
Keep an Eye on the Sky – Robert Gordon, album-notes writer
Best Historical Album
The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings) – Jeff Jones & Allan Rouse, compilation producers
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Battle Studies
Best Engineered Album, Classical (tie)
Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina and
Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Rob Cavallo
Producer of the Year, Classical
David Frost
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Revolver (David Guetta’s One Love Club Remix)
Best Surround Sound Album
Britten’s Orchestra
Best Orchestra Performance
Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony: Deus Ex Machina

Friday, February 25, 2011

Bodyguard remake in the works


Fri Feb 25 03:06PM by Martin Howden


It spawned one of the biggest ballads of all time, showed off Whitney Houston's acting chops and featured Kevin Costner's new lovely cropped hair-do. Yup, 1992's 'The Bodyguard' had it all.

And now a new generation can appreciate the story, with news that Warner Bros. are going to remake the film according to movie source website, Deadline.

Starring Costner as a hard-as-nails former secret service agent, the film focused on his mission to protect a hugely successful but incredibly diva-ish singer (played by Houston, in a role far removed from her real life persona!).

Written by 'Raiders of the Lost Ark's Lawrence Kasdan, the film is perhaps best known for its hugely successful soundtrack. Houston's cover of 'I Will Always Love You' has become one of the most iconic love songs in pop history.
 

A sequel was once mooted, with Costner famously revealing that Princess Diana had expressed an interest before her death about starring in the follow up.

According to reports, Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer have been hired to write the script for the remake, which will focus on a former Iraq war veteran who is hired to protect a pop star. The new film will incorporate the perils of the Internet and Twitter, which make it easier for would-be stalkers.

No actors have been linked to the film as yet, but no doubt every young female pop star with acting aspirations will be banging the film studio's door down.

Beyoncé has several acting credits to her name already including 'Dreamgirls' and 'The Pink Panther', while Rihanna has launched her big blockbuster acting career in the forthcoming alien invasion movie 'Battleship'. Miley Cyrus is also a good shout for the lead female role, with plenty of acting and musical experience. Country music star Taylor Swift made her acting debut in last year's 'Valentine's Day' winning the Teen Choice Award for Movie Female Breakout. Katy Perry is said to feature in the new 'The Muppets' movie, while Lady Gaga would certainly be an interesting choice.

What do you think about the remake, and who do you think should play Costner and Houston's part?

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Amaya Louis out with Aiasha , Louisa Lytton , Elarica and Friends at The Linda Farrow Event, Movida


Some great Candid photos of Amaya Louis , Aiasha , Elarica and Louisa Lytton and others at the Linda Farrow event at Movida, London for London Fashion Week. (See My other Blog for AIASHA Here )

Cute snap of and



Two gorgeous girls @IamAIASHA and at  #LFW event          



Nice snap of with Zehra and Emina from



Stunning artist at 's fantastic Linda Farrow event        



Louisa Lytton and @IamAIASHA pose at the Linda Farrow party at    London



being interviewed by Fashion TV        

Beyonce causes a stir with her latest photo shoot

Beyonce in hot water over latest photo shoot

Beyonce causes a stir with her latest photo shoot - an homage to Nigerian icon Fela Kuti's life.…

Posted By Yahoo Lifestyle, Thursday, 24 February 2011 12:20 GMT
They say it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white – but Beyonce is has caused quite a stir by wearing blackface make-up in a recent photo shoot.
The singer darkened down her complexion to pay homage to Nigerian musician and humanitarian Fela Kuti – who has reportedly heavily influenced her fourth album – in French fashion magazine L’Officiel Paris.
Focused on the theme of “African rituals”, the photos show Beyonce donned in tribal-style clothing and accessories for the 90th anniversary of the glossy.
In the photos her face is distinctly black in contrast with the rest of her body, which has been left in her natural caramel skin tones.
The Crazy in Love star was reportedly inspired by Broadway musical "Fela", based on the icon's life and brave defiance against government corruption and of which her husband, Jay-Z, is a producer.
But the “African Queen” themed photos have come under fire in the blogging world, including from feminist blogger Jezebel.
“When you paint your face darker in order to look more "African," aren't you reducing an entire continent, full of different nations, tribes, cultures and histories, into one brown color?” wrote Jezebel.
“What makes someone black — or African, for that matter — is not her skin tone. The African diaspora reaches from Brazil to Haiti to the United Kingdom and Pakistan. It's one thing to feel moved by Fela Kuti, and quite another to treat blackness as a fashion accessory, like a pair of glittery heels you put on because it looks cool.”
Atlanta Post writer Charing Ball has also slammed the photos, saying: “While my adoration for Beyonce’s talent and work ethic are unparalleled, I’m not quite sure as to why she would agree to do a photo shoot that associates her with one of the most deeply rooted racist images in American history.”
L’Officiel Paris has defended the shoot, saying the Beyonce star was “paying homage to African queens” by replicating several African rituals in which paint is used on the face.
The use of blackface make-up on white models has become something of a trend in the fashion world.
French Vogue caused a racism uproar in 2009 when they ran a 14-page editorial featuring Dutch model Lara Stone in black make-up in their October issue. The issue was dedicated to “Supermodels” but did not feature any models with naturally black skin.
Rumours that Beyonce had actually contrastingly lightened her skin circulated earlier this month when she appeared with bleached blonde hair and what seemed to be a paler complexion.
In 2008 L’Oreal was also accused of digitally lightening her skin tone for one its commercials.