With Broadway's lights dimmed, actors mull pandemic's impact on their lives

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A week after the bright lights of Broadway theaters in New York City were dimmed for a month to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, two actors weighed in on how the closures were affecting their daily lives.Joel Hatch, who plays real-life mayor Claude Elliott of Gander, Newfoundland in the award-winning “Come From Away,” said he agreed with Broadway’s temporary closure.

The musical is set in tiny Gander, Newfoundland, where dozens of planes were forced to land after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington D.C., stranding thousands of passengers, who were then taken in by the locals.Hatch compared the musical to the coronavirus outbreak in New York.”They thought about, ‘We’re all in this together.’ And so I think that’s a story that’s worth adhering to right now,” he said. “We have to stop thinking about ourselves personally and think about the general common good.”

People should be “doing healthy things, staying distant from each other, staying clean and trying to create less of a disaster for the people on the frontlines in our hospitals,” Hatch said.Roe Hartrampf was making his Broadway debut in the starring role as Prince Charles in “Diana,” a two-act musical chronicling Princess Diana’s courtship and marriage to Charles and their eventual separation.

Speaking of the royals’ outreach to lower-income communities and at-risk youth, Hartrampf said: “I think we can take a cue from that in this moment and make sure that we are thinking about those who are actually at greater risk than we are.”

Broadway was shaken last week when an usher who had worked at two New York theaters tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The venues’ owners said they had ordered deep cleaning, and their shows went ahead on Wednesday.The Broadway League said in a statement that shows would be suspended until April 13.On the temporary closure of theaters, Hartrampf said: “In terms of global public health, it’s really important that we follow directions and commit to the social distancing aspect of it.”Some 14.8 million tickets were sold for Broadway shows in the 2018-2019 season that ended in May, bringing $1.8 billion in box office receipts, according to the Broadway League. More than six out of 10 theatergoers were from outside the United States or outside New York.

Reporting by Roselle Chen; Editing by Bernadette Baum

Oscars organizers invite new members in diversity push

Organizers of the Oscars, facing an outcry over the lack of diversity on its voting board for the film awards, said on Wednesday it has invited nearly 700 new members with a focus on female and minority talent.

Actors Idris Elba, America Ferrera, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Eva Mendes and this year's Best Actress Oscar winner Brie Larson were among the 683 potential new members, the academy said in a statement.

Forty-six percent of those invited are female and 41 percent are people of color, aged 24 to 91, said the organization, whose members also include directors, producers, cinematographers and composers.

"This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today," Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in the statement.

"We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry."

All 20 acting Oscar nominees this year were white for a second consecutive year, prompting criticism with the online hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Oscars host Chris Rock provided biting commentary during the awards show, which was boycotted by director Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

The largely white, male and older roster of film industry professionals who belong to the academy has long been cited as a barrier to racial and gender equality at the Oscars.

The organization responded by announcing a sweeping affirmative action program, pledging to double female and minority membership by 2020.

The potential new members would boost the academy's female roster to 27 percent from 25 percent last year, it said. People of color would make up 11 percent of the total voting body, up from 8 percent in 2015.

If all 683 invited professionals join, the academy would have 7,789 members, it added.

The academy has also introduced new membership rules to help diversify its makeup by stripping some older members of voting privileges.

Under the new rules, lifetime voting rights would be conferred only on academy members who remain active in the film industry over three 10-year terms, or have won or been nominated for an Oscar.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Richard Chang)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mila Kunis Engaged to Ashton Kutcher

They started off as costars on That '70s Show, and now Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are set to become husband and wife – they're engaged, a source confirms to PEOPLE.

Following widespread speculation that the actors could soon walk down the aisle, Kunis, 30, stepped out with a diamond sparkler on her ring finger while shopping with her mother on Thursday.

"Ashton and Mila have talked about getting married for quite a while," a business source close to Kutcher told PEOPLE in December. Adds another Kutcher pal: "They're incredibly happy together."

Kutcher, 36, and Kunis were first rumored to be dating in April 2012, and from then on, the former costars appeared to be inseparable, enjoying some well-documented PDA and lavish vacations together.





"Ashton loves to travel and so does Mila, so they have seen a lot of new places and both are charged at the idea of doing it more, even living part-time abroad," an insider says. "They seem to have a lot in common, and that helps keep a relationship strong."

It's not the first time the couple has prepared for a wedding: In December the couple attended the marriage of Kunis's brother Michael in St. Petersburg, Fla. Later that month, the two traveled to Kutcher's home state of Iowa to spend time with his family for the holidays, then celebrated his own brother's nuptials earlier this month.



The engagement news comes after it was revealed in November that Kutcher's divorce from Demi Moore had been finalized, nearly two years after the ex-couple separated.




Last year, Moore sought spousal support and legal fees from Kutcher, as the two were reportedly at odds over how to split up their estimated fortune of more than $300 million.

Back in July, another source told PEOPLE that Kutcher was "set on proposing [to Mila]" and added that the actor "really wants to marry her and is so annoyed that there [was] still the hold-up with the divorce" from Moore.

E! Online was first to report the news. Reps for the actors have not responded.

source: people.com

Why Piolo Pascual won't play gay roles

MANILA -- While several actors have recently scored hits by playing gay roles whether in movies or on TV, actor Piolo Pascual is not about to jump on the bandwagon.

"Siguro hindi naman ako tanga para ilagay ang sarili ko sa sitwasyon na pagtatawanan ako at pag-iisipan ako ng hindi maganda," Pascual said during a press conference for his Sunpiology Fun Run, which will happen this November 23 at the Bonifacio Global City.MANILA -- While several actors have recently scored hits by playing gay roles whether in movies or on TV, actor Piolo Pascual is not about to jump on the bandwagon.

"Siguro hindi naman ako tanga para ilagay ang sarili ko sa sitwasyon na pagtatawanan ako at pag-iisipan ako ng hindi maganda," Pascual said during a press conference for his Sunpiology Fun Run, which will happen this November 23 at the Bonifacio Global City.

"I'd rather choose what I can do para hindi ko na kailangan ng isa pang intriga para sumikat pa," he added.

Pascual had admitted of being traumatized by the backlash he received after his breakup with actress KC Concepcion two years ago, which sparked questions about the actor's sexual preference.

Pascual said he will now be more choosy when it comes to accepting projects, especially after his critically acclaimed movie "On The Job."

The award-winning actor is now finishing his latest movie, where he is paired with actress-host Toni Gonzaga, under the direction of Olivia Lamasan

"Gusto ko piliin 'yung mga trabaho na tatanggapin ko. Actually nagtaka nga ako, 'yung movie with Toni (Gonzaga) ayaw ko na kasing gumawa ng romcom (romantic-comedy) pero this one naman kasi romantic drama. And how can you say no to direk Olive Lamasan and Toni Gonzaga?" he said.

Pascual acknowledged that Star Cinema is known for producing successful romantic-comedies, such as the box-office hit, "It Takes A Man and a Woman," with John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geromimo.

But for his film with Gonzaga, he noted that they are trying "to innovate with the execution," citing, for instance, playing around with different camera angles.

"I'm thankful because at my age, Star Cinema is giving me projects na masasabi kong mainstream at nakaka-partner ko pa si Toni," said Pascual, who is already 36.

"I'd rather choose what I can do para hindi ko na kailangan ng isa pang intriga para sumikat pa," he added.

Pascual had admitted of being traumatized by the backlash he received after his breakup with actress KC Concepcion two years ago, which sparked questions about the actor's sexual preference.

Pascual said he will now be more choosy when it comes to accepting projects, especially after his critically acclaimed movie "On The Job."

The award-winning actor is now finishing his latest movie, where he is paired with actress-host Toni Gonzaga, under the direction of Olivia Lamasan

"Gusto ko piliin 'yung mga trabaho na tatanggapin ko. Actually nagtaka nga ako, 'yung movie with Toni (Gonzaga) ayaw ko na kasing gumawa ng romcom (romantic-comedy) pero this one naman kasi romantic drama. And how can you say no to direk Olive Lamasan and Toni Gonzaga?" he said.

Pascual acknowledged that Star Cinema is known for producing successful romantic-comedies, such as the box-office hit, "It Takes A Man and a Woman," with John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geromimo.

But for his film with Gonzaga, he noted that they are trying "to innovate with the execution," citing, for instance, playing around with different camera angles.

"I'm thankful because at my age, Star Cinema is giving me projects na masasabi kong mainstream at nakaka-partner ko pa si Toni," said Pascual, who is already 36.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com