Filmmaker Kevin Smith suffers 'massive heart attack'

LOS ANGELES -- Director and actor Kevin Smith, best known as the laconic sidekick "Silent Bob" of his 1990s cult comedies, said on Monday that he suffered a "massive heart attack" after taping a standup comedy show in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale.

The 47-year-old "Dogma" filmmaker said on Twitter that he fell ill after completing the first show of two scheduled performances on Sunday evening.

"The doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka 'the Widow-Maker')," Smith said. He was referring to the left anterior descending artery, or left coronary artery, which is considered the most important for blood supply to the heart.

"If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would've died tonight. But for now, I'm still above ground!" Smith said on Twitter.

Smith, who currently stars in the AMC TV reality series "Comic Book Men," earned critical praise for his satires on suburbia, romance and religion. 

He rose to prominence with his 1994 raunchy low-budget cult comedy "Clerks" about a day in the life of two convenience store workers. He won a screenwriting Independent Spirit Award for 1997’s "Chasing Amy."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Amazon signs deal with filmmaker Besson

LOS ANGELES, United States - Amazon said Friday it signed a multi-year content licensing agreement with the production company of renowned French filmmaker Luc Besson, marking something of a change of tack for the online giant.

The deal makes Amazon the exclusive premium subscription streaming platform for EuropaCorp's theatrical box office releases, a spokeswoman for Amazon told AFP in an email.

The films will come to Prime Video several months after their release in theaters, the spokeswoman said, with action thriller "The Transporter Refueled" to be the first one.

It is expected to be followed by the psychological thriller "Shut In" starring Naomi Watts and "Nine Lives," a comedy featuring Kevin Spacey.

Variety magazine said Amazon has previously signed distribution deals with A24, Open Road and other studios that "tend to release films that have an indie edge, whereas EuropaCorp's films are more mainstream and action-oriented in tone."

Besson started out in the 1980s with action flicks influenced by US movies. International success came with "The Big Blue," starring Jean Reno; "Nikita," about a female assassin; "The Professional," also with Reno and a very young Natalie Portman; and "The Fifth Element" starring Bruce Willis.

Since then, Besson has been raking it in with high-octane series -- "Taxi," "The Transporter" and "Taken" -- that have proven very lucrative in US releases.

Amazon, meanwhile, continues to gain ground in the entertainment business, grabbing five Golden Globe nominations Thursday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Filmmaker Michael Moore’s Michigan Mansion on the Market for $5.2M

Michael Moore’s most recent vacation home just hit the market. For those of you who haven’t heard the name in a while, Michael Moore is most commonly known for his outspoken opinions and the filmmaking of Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11.

Following the divorce of his wife, Kathleen Glynn, the ex-duo finally got through the legal proceedings and listed the property at $5.2 million. The vast size of this home gave it the name “Michigan Mansion.”

The glorious structure sits along the perimeter of the Torch Lake in northwestern Michigan. The body of this mansion encompasses 11,058-square-feet, and features rustic timber ceilings, a massive stone fireplace, a gym, a guest cottage and a dock.

Check out his beautiful house here:

source: totalmortgage.com