NEW YORK, United States - Lady Gaga cleaned up at MTV's Video Music Awards Sunday, an unorthodox show that paid socially distanced homage to New York City as themes of voting and racial justice punctuated the night.
The 2020 VMAs -- a show known more for ostentatious performances, made-for-Twitter moments and wild costumes than the actual awards -- was scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, with performances held at outdoor spaces and many celebrities accepting prizes via video.
Host Keke Palmer, known for her role in last year's film "Hustlers," opened the show with an emotional cold-open paying tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, who just died after of cancer.
"We dedicate tonight's show to a man whose spirit touched so many," she said of the performer who portrayed James Brown and Jackie Robinson, and was the first Black superhero in "Black Panther."
Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd -- whose wins included the coveted Video of The Year -- then launched into a performance of the hit "Blinding Lights" atop a viewing deck protruding off a Manhattan skyscraper, 1,000 feet in the air.
"It's really hard for me to celebrate right now," he said in accepting his moon man trophy for Best R&B.
"I'm just going to say justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor," he continued, referring to recent black victims of police violence.
It was one of many nods to the Black Lives Matter movement, acknowledging a year that has seen months of anti-racism protests.
Several stars also encouraged voting during the show where the Joe Biden campaign bought a number of advertisements in a bid to reach youth in his campaign against President Donald Trump.
Lady Gaga took home trophies including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Rain on Me," her collaboration with Ariana Grande.
The pair staged a futuristic performance atop the Empire State Building, both masked, with Gaga in a BDSM-esque corseted get-up, one of her many eccentric costumes of the night.
The 34-year-old -- who famously wore a dress crafted of raw flank steak to the 2010 VMAs -- also won the show's inaugural "Tricon Award," which recognizes an artist who is highly accomplished across three or more disciplines.
"This has not been an easy year for a lot of people, but what I see in the world is a massive triumph of courage," she said.
"Stay safe. Speak your mind and, I might sound like a broken record, but wear a mask. It's a sign of respect."
EXEMPT FROM QUARANTINE
The show featured sweeping pans of New York, a city devastated in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and that originally was meant to host the VMAs at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
In addition to the Empire State Building, performances were also held at the waterfront Skyline Drive-in theater, with an audience watching from spaced-out cars.
Performers and crew at this year's VMAs were exempt from New York's statewide mandatory two-week quarantine imposed on travelers coming from areas with high rates of Covid-19.
The state's Department of Health said those involved with the show were required to quarantine when not working and submit to "rigorous testing."
This year's edition included new awards recognizing the tumultuous year in music, with the pandemic halting tours and festivals worldwide in a devastating blow to the industry.
The show also honored healthcare workers with a tribute to doctors and nurses singing and dancing in crowd-sourced videos.
Grande and fellow pop star Justin Bieber won Best Music Video From Home for "Stuck With You," while Latin boy band CNCO won Best Quarantine Performance for "Unplugged At Home."
And while American pop regulars including Gaga, Grande and Taylor Swift all took home trophies, they were upset in their genre's primary category by Korean megastars BTS, which won for Best Pop for "On."
The group held a green-screen performance that placed them in front of the Brooklyn Bridge in a shot recalling the classic film "Once Upon A Time in America" that starred Robert DeNiro.
Miley Cyrus meanwhile performed "Midnight Sky" while swinging on a disco ball, recalling her "Wrecking Ball" music video.
Colombian singer Maluma won Best Latin for "Que Pena" featuring J Balvin, as R&B prodigy H.E.R. won MTV's Video For Good, which honors work with a social message, for "I Can't Breathe."
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion -- currently basking in the glow of her recent success with Cardi B for their raunchy hit "WAP" -- won Best Hip Hop for "Savage."
The star accepted her award from home, popping champagne wearing spandex shorts and a T-shirt.
Agence France Presse
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Almost 21 million Americans watched the “One World: Together At Home” global special on Saturday in support of frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic, according to Nielsen data released on Monday.
Nielsen said that the two-hour concert, which featured appearances and performances from their homes by multiple celebrities including Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones, Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce, was aired on 26 U.S. television networks.
The event, the biggest celebrity effort during the coronavirus outbreak, was viewed by an estimated 20.7 million viewers in the United States, Nielsen said. Audiences in other nations and on streaming platforms were not available.
The concert, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and nonprofit Global Citizen, raised some $127 million from corporations and philanthropists for the work of the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Members of the public were not asked to donate but were encouraged to practice social distancing and handshaking and to show their appreciation for healthcare, grocery, delivery, transport and other workers.
Saturday’s two hour broadcast special was preceded by a six-hour streaming event which featured musicians and other celebrities from as far apart as Asia and the Middle East.
Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Christopher Cushing
Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey on Saturday headlined a special broadcast of music, comedy and personal stories celebrating those around the world on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.
The two-hour “One World:Together at Home” event, broadcast across multiple television channels in the United States and overseas, featured a Who’s Who of pop culture in the biggest celebrity gathering so far to mark the effects of the virus.
Contributions, all filmed in their homes, also came from Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, British soccer star David Beckham, former U.S. first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Billie Eilish, Bill Gates and dozens of others.
“I’m so grateful for the healthcare workers, the medical workers, all the grocery store workers and delivery people, the postal workers, all the other nonprofits that are working so hard,” said Gaga, who helped organize the event.
“This is really a true love letter to all of you all over the world, and I hope a reminder of the kindness that’s occurring right now,” she added.
The event, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the nonprofit group Global Citizen, told the personal stories of teachers and healthcare, grocery, delivery, postal and other workers.
It showed social media postings and news clips of doctors and nurses being applauded by communities around the world, deserted world landmarks, families greeting each other through windows, and acts of kindness in support of those who are isolated and frail.
“We aren’t asking for money tonight,” said Stephen Colbert who hosted the broadcast alongside his U.S. late night television rivals Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
Instead of seeking public funds, the event encouraged philanthropists and companies to contribute to the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Corporate and other donors have already contributed some $150 million, organizers said.
“What I’d like tonight, if I can, is to give you the permission for the moment to... ‘Smile’,” said Gaga, kicking off the evening by launching into a version of the ballad made famous by Nat King Cole.
Beyonce did not perform but sent a video message in which she noted the disproportionately high death rates from COVID-19 in the black community.
“This virus is killing black people at an alarming rate in America,” she said, urging viewers to protect themselves.
Swift, on piano, gave an emotional rendition of her ballad “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which was originally written during her mother’s battle with cancer.
The Rolling Stones, filmed in four separate locations, sang “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards playing acoustic guitars.
“We all appreciate the healthcare workers but never like now,” Winfrey said in a video message. “They truly are the best of us... We need to ensure that governments step up now and provide healthcare workers with the equipment and the funds they need.”
Wonder played the late Bill Wither’s classic “Lean on Me,” while McCartney, recalling that his mother was a nurse and midwife, sang “Lady Madonna.”
“You know the coronavirus is trouble when a Beatle gets involved,” quipped Kimmel.
Earlier on Saturday, pop, classical and rap musicians from the United States, Asia and the Middle East took part in a six-hour livestream that featured Latin star Luis Fonsi, R&B singer Jennifer Hudson, Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, India’s Vishal Mishra and Emirati musician Hussain Al Jassmi.
Celebrities called on people to stay at home, wash their hands regularly, practice social distancing and put pressure on their political leaders to introduce widespread testing for the disease.
-reuters-
LOS ANGELES, United States—Lady Gaga has lined up her next feature film and will play the wife of a murdered heir to the Gucci fashion dynasty, Hollywood media reported on Friday.
Gaga, whose first lead movie role in "A Star is Born" last year was critically acclaimed, will play Patrizia Reggiani, who served 18 years in an Italian prison for orchestrating the 1995 murder in Milan of her husband Maurizio Gucci, according to Variety, the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
Reggiani, dubbed the Black Widow in what was one of the most scandalous high society crimes in Italian history, was released from prison in 2016.
Ridley Scott will direct and produce the movie, the publications said. Representatives for Scott and Gaga, who was born in New York and has Italian heritage, did not respond to requests for comment.
The film will be the first for Gaga since she took her music career to the big screen in "A Star is Born," which brought her an Oscar for best original song "Shallow" and a best actress nomination.
No title or date for the film's release was given.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
Pop star Lady Gaga on Tuesday announced a line of beauty products exclusively for sale on Amazon in a boost to the online retailer's cosmetics business.
The brand, Haus Laboratories, will launch in September for shoppers in nearly a dozen countries, including the United States, Germany and Japan, Amazon said.
The move underscores how the world's biggest online retailer is increasing competition with traditional cosmetics sellers like Ulta Beauty and Sephora-parent LVMH, which recently launched a beauty brand by singer Rihanna.
Lady Gaga, who shared an Academy Award this year for the original song "Shallow," said Amazon was the right partner because it embraced her message of self-acceptance.
"There are companies that see me and what I stand for and the way that I view the world, and if it's not perfectly in line with what they do ... they'll be like, 'Can you just change half of the equation?'" the singer told publication The Business of Fashion, which reported the news earlier Tuesday. "The answer is no. No deal."
Amazon's push into cosmetics includes a private label skin care brand called Belei.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
NEW YORK - Lady Gaga electrified thousands of revelers who gathered in New York on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ rights movement, exhorting the crowd to honor the past by using its "power" to extend and defend a half-century of progress.
Her warm-up speech and a subsequent rally, part of a series of World Pride events in New York this week, commemorated the so-called Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969.
Early that morning, patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar called the Stonewall Inn rose up in defiance of police harassment, triggering days of rioting. Their resistance gave birth to the national and global movement for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer people.
Lady Gaga, a Grammy Award-winner whose signature song "Born This Way" has become an LGBTQ anthem, fired up the crowd, which began gathering in the park and public square outside the Stonewall hours earlier.
Appearing with a rainbow-colored jacket and thigh-high boots, she declared that Stonewall was the moment when LGBTQ people said "enough is enough."
"I may not, to some people, be considered a part of this community, even though I like girls sometimes. I would never degrade the fight you have endured," she told the cheering crowd. "You have the power. You are so, so powerful, and I hope you feel that power today."
Later the rally alternated between political speeches and block-party gaiety. Musical performances and rhythmic dancing rattled windows in the low-slung neighborhood. Drag queens sang '80s hits like "I'm So Excited" in between speeches by activists from countries such as Uganda and Chechnya.
US politicians including presidential hopefuls Kirsten Gillibrand, one of New York state's 2 US senators, and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also took the stage ahead of what organizers are calling the largest gay pride parade in history set for Sunday, when some 150,000 marchers and 4 million spectators are expected.
In between featured speakers, impromptu rallies formed and dispersed outside the bar, with people waving homemade signs such as "Closets are for Clothes!" and "Gay Liberation Front," paying homage to the radical group that formed immediately after Stonewall.
"Get laid, get drunk, and have a party," said Martha Shelley, one of the Gay Liberation Front founders. "And then go home, roll up your sleeves, and fight."
While the anniversary has a celebratory air, activists see the occasion as a way to protest US President Donald Trump's record, which many consider hostile to LGBTQ people. They also want to highlight the still-precarious position of LGBTQ people in many parts of the world.
Police raided the Stonewall, a Mafia-owned gay bar, ostensibly to crack down on organized crime. But their mistreatment of the patrons, part of a pattern of abuse against LGBTQ people, touched off the uprising.
While celebrating 50 years of progress, many LGBTQ activists are sounding the alarm about Trump administration initiatives, including a ban on transgender people in the military, cuts in HIV/AIDS research and support for so-called religious freedom initiatives that eliminate LGBTQ protections.
The White House claims Trump has long advocated LGBTQ equality, noting that he has backed a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality.
"President Trump has never considered LGBT Americans second-class citizens," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.
The message has been lost on many LGBTQ people, as the Trump administration opposes extending anti-discrimination protection to gay or transgender workers under federal employment law, a legal issue currently before the US Supreme Court, with a ruling due within a year.
In nearby Washington Square Park, some 500 pro-transgender activists staged a Trans Day of Action, where some held up "Black trans lives matter" signs, lamenting that 10 transgender people have been murdered in the United States in 2019 after 26 were killed in 2018 and 29 in 2017, according to the LGBTQ advocacy right Human Rights Campaign.
"Trump has really proliferated this hate towards us," said Qweenb. Amor, 30, a trans Latina. "It's something we're going to have to face every single day for the next 20 years, despite who wins the next election because these people who put Trump in power are people we have to work with every day of our lives."
source: news.abs-cbn.com
NEW YORK -- Pop superstar Lady Gaga made a grand entrance at New York's annual Met Gala on Monday (US time), wearing a voluminous bright pink dress that she shed on the red carpet to reveal three other outfits layered underneath, including a bra and underwear, her interpretation of the evening's theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion."
The invitation-only event, famed for its A-list celebrities and haute couture gowns, is a benefit for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and also marks the opening of the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit.
Gaga shed her blazing pink Brandon Maxwell gown on the red carpet to reveal a strapless black gown by the designer. Next came a figure-hugging hot pink gown. Her final reveal before a makeup touch-up on the carpet was a black bra, panties and sky-high platform boots.
"Roar" singer Katy Perry came dressed as a chandelier, even wearing one on her head. "I like to be of the light and obviously be the light, she said about her 40-pound costume by Moschino.
Anna Wintour, the American Vogue editor-in-chief who hosts fashion's biggest night each year, was one of the first up the red-carpet-turned-pink for the evening wearing a shimmering Chanel gown topped by a cape of pink feathers that was tipped in black, a nod to the night's mascot, a flamingo.
Camp, a theme that embraces humor, exaggeration and liberal interpretation, was inspired by writer Susan Sontag's 1964 essay "Notes on 'Camp.'" Trends on the pink carpet included gold lame and sequins, feathers, neon, and oversized sleeves, skirts and trains.
Performer Billy Porter, dressed in head-to-toe gold, summoned ancient Egypt when he was carried into the gala on a litter by six shirtless men.
The night's fashion also referenced camp icons including a glittery high-collared cape by designer Christian Siriano intended to pay tribute to the late Vegas showman Liberace. Singer Celine Dion wore a feathered headpiece and full-length fringe by Oscar de la Renta that was reminiscent of a Cher costume.
Kris Jenner, mother and manager of reality stars Kim and Khloe Kardashian, told reporters on the red carpet she was channeling singer David Bowie in a coat with wings made of tulle over a blue Tommy Hilfiger jumpsuit.
The frontman of British brand One Direction and gala co-host Harry Styles arrived wearing a black Gucci ensemble with mesh detail on the top and painted black fingernails.
Tennis star Serena Williams stayed true to her brand, pairing Nike sneakers with a custom neon yellow dress from Italian fashion house Versace.
Others with the sought-after invitation to dinner for 550 included NFL star quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez and comedian Chris Rock, and the billionaire CEO of Amazon.com Jeff Bezos.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LONDON - Worldwide music sales rose by nearly 10 percent in 2018, a fourth consecutive year of growth fuelled by online streaming, according to figures released on Tuesday by an industry body.
Revenues reached $19.1 billion last year, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents the recorded music industry worldwide, said in its Global Music Report 2019.
"We are now much more optimistic," said IFPI chief executive Frances Moore, describing the period prior to recent growth as a "mourn-fest" when "we only had bad years".
However, the overall growth of 9.7 percent in sales masks a discrepancy within the industry, with streaming buoyant -- accounting for almost half of revenues -- while downloads and physical purchases continued to drop.
The streaming sector, which includes subscription fees and advertising income, grew by 34 percent to reach $8.9 billion in 2018.
There were 255 million users of paid streaming services at the end of year, according to the report.
But paid downloads fell by 21.2 percent and physical sales of music were down by 10.1 percent.
Despite the growing presence of paid streaming services, piracy remains a problem with an estimated 120 million online users illegally ripping music from streams each month, Moore said.
"They are hacking and downloading the music... at the price of the stream, and very often they are not paying at all," he said.
"And whole discographies can be downloaded with bittorrent and other forms," Moore added.
Marked regional disparities exist within the positive global growth picture.
For a second year running, Latin America saw the largest increase, with total sales up 16.8 percent.
In North America, where the transition from physical to digital music formats is well advanced, sales also jumped, by 14 percent last year.
However, in Europe sales rose a miniscule 0.1 percent.
Meanwhile, the IFPI's annual singles chart saw rising Cuban-American star Camila Cabello, Canadian rapper Drake and Briton Ed Sheeran top of the pile.
In the album rankings, the soundtrack of smash hit musical movie "The Greatest Showman", South Korean boyband BTS and US star Lady Gaga were the biggest sellers.
Vinyl, an increasingly popular format for audiophiles and nostalgic listeners, also saw sales grow for the 13th consecutive year.
It now represents 3.6 percent of the industry's total turnover.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES -- There will not be a host and Sunday's Oscars ceremony will not open with the traditional monologue in which celebrities and politicians are skewered.
Yet, with rock band Queen, pop superstar Lady Gaga and two musicals in the race for best picture, the highest honors in the movie industry will have an unusually strong music vibe as the Oscars seek to regain television audiences.
British band Queen, featuring Adam Lambert as lead vocalist, will open the Feb. 24 show with a live performance celebrating the box-office success of best picture nominee "Bohemian Rhapsody," a representative of the band told Reuters.
Bette Midler, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez and record producer Pharrell Williams are also set to attend or present, along with James Bond actor Daniel Craig, tennis champion Serena Williams, "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman and comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Details have been scant about the first Academy Awards ceremony in 30 years to go ahead without a host, bringing a curiosity factor to the last and biggest awards show of the season. Comedian Kevin Hart withdrew from the host job in December after past homophobic tweets resurfaced.
"Hollywood is all about suspense," said Tom O'Neil, founder of awards website Goldderby.com.
One thing is certain: it will not be shorter. A pledge to broadcaster ABC to keep the show to three hours was wrecked last week when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bowed to protests and scrapped plans to hand out four of the 24 Oscars during commercial breaks.
In 1989, the last time there was no host, the telecast opened with an 11-minute song and dance number featuring Rob Lowe and an actress dressed as Snow White that was widely derided.
Under pressure to deliver a compelling show for viewers after last year's TV audience hit an all-time low, producers have made the most of the best original song contenders.
Lady Gaga and actor-director Bradley Cooper will perform a live duet of her hit song "Shallow" from their best picture contender "A Star is Born," while Jennifer Hudson has been tapped to sing "Fight" from documentary "RBG."
Midler will do the honors for the "Mary Poppins Returns" song "The Place Where Lost Things Go" and country duo Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will perform ""When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings."
"That is one of the places where the star wattage can make a difference," said Alison Willmore, critic and culture writer at BuzzFeed News.
"Lady Gaga is a music superstar and I would imagine her hard core fans will be tuning in for her," Willmore added.
Organizers have not said whether rapper Kendrick Lamar will perform his Oscar-nominated song "All the Stars" from superhero movie "Black Panther."
The academy on Wednesday said that Serena Williams, talk show host Trevor Noah and Congressman John Lewis would appear to talk about what the best picture nominees mean to them. Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, musician Tom Morello and Barbra Streisand will also be among those introducing the nominees.
Sunday's show is also expected to dispense with the segments between award handouts that in recent years have focused on pizza deliveries or surprising people on bus tours.
"I'm not going to miss a lot of those little bits. That often feels like the part that makes the ceremony long, so maybe without a host it won't feel like it's dragging," said BuzzFeed's Willmore.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES -- "This is America," Childish Gambino's searing indictment of police brutality and racism, scored a breakthrough for rap on Sunday at the Grammy awards, where the top prize went to country artist Kacey Musgraves.
It won both record and song of the year, becoming the first hip hop track to win either of the top Grammy categories in 61 years. "This is America" also took Grammys for best music video and best rap performance.
However, Childish Gambino, the music alter ego of actor Donald Glover, was not around to accept the honor.
Both Glover and leading nominee Kendrick Lamar were Grammy no-shows in what was seen as a snub by the rappers for past disappointments when socially incisive rap material lost out to pop or R&B at the highest honors in the music business.
"I really wish he (Glover) was here right now. All of this was his vision and he deserves this credit," said songwriter Ludwig Goransson, who worked with Glover on the track.
"It speaks to people, it calls out injustice, celebrates life and reunites us all at the same time," Goransson said, accepting the award on Glover's behalf.
The album of the year Grammy went to Musgraves for "Golden Hour," reflecting a show and a year that was dominated by female performers and winners across multiple genres.
"I would have nothing without songs. It's all about the songs," said Musgraves, who also won three other Grammys.
SPRINGING A SURPRISE
Popular rapper Cardi B, who wore a black and silver mesh body suit to perform her song "Money," won her first Grammy, taking best rap album for "Invasion of Privacy."
The outspoken New Yorker seemed uncharacteristically overwhelmed by the win.
"Ooh. The nerves are so bad," she said, accepting her Grammy. "Maybe I need to start smoking weed."
Lady Gaga won three trophies and British pop singer Dua Lipa was named best new artist. Canadian rapper Drake, who was also not expected to show up, made a surprise appearance to accept the Grammy for best rap song for "God's Plan."
Drake, the biggest streaming artist of 2018, told musicians not to worry about winning prizes.
"The point is you've already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you're a hero in your hometown," Drake said in his acceptance speech.
"If there's people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain and the snow and spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don't need this right here, I promise you," he said.
Music, old and new, ruled in a live telecast that was largely politics-free, in contrast to U.S. awards shows in the past two years.
Hosted by Alicia Keys, the show featured rousing performances by Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, Camila Cabello, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monae and Katy Perry, as well as a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.
The Grammys sprang another surprise by bringing on former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama for an opening segment in which she joined Lady Gaga, Keys, Lopez and actress Jada Pinkett Smith to talk about the power of music.
"From the Motown records I wore out on the (Chicago) Southside to the 'Who Run the World' songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story," Obama told the cheering celebrity audience in Los Angeles.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
BEVERLY HILLS, California -- Pop singer Lady Gaga, Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and African-American filmmaker Spike Lee were among scores of Oscar nominees who gathered for a group photo on Monday ahead of the Academy Awards ceremony in three weeks time, when only a handful will go home as winners.
Actors Glenn Close, Bradley Cooper, Rami Malek and Amy Adams, along with dozens of producers, editors, costume designers, documentary makers and musicians in 24 categories were also among those attending the annual Oscar nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills.
John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences whose members vote on the Oscar winners, said the class of 2019 was notable for its diversity.
"This year has the largest class of women nominees. Far from parity, and of course we need to do better. Gender parity is an industry matter, not just an Academy matter," Bailey told the guests.
"Inclusion, diversity, racial, ethnic and gender equality are not just buzzwords. They go to the heart of what our Academy is doing," he added.
The luncheon took place with still no official word on whether the February 24 Oscar ceremony would go ahead without a host for only the second time in its 91-year history.
The Oscar show producers urged the eventual winners to keep their acceptance speeches short on the big night, particularly as the Academy has pledged to cut this year's telecast by about 30 minutes to three hours.
Producer Glenn Weiss said the goal was to deliver "an enjoyable and entertaining evening while we work hard to produce a three-hour show for the first time."
Cuaron's "Roma" and Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos comedy "The Favourite" lead nominations for the Oscars with 10 apiece.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA - The creator of Lady Gaga's shoes, which found instant fans in other celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian among others, is looking to expand its footprint in a fast-growing, trendy Asian market, according to Rem D Koolhaas, founder and creative director of global footwear brand United Nude.
Koolhaas, who described his brainchild as an "affordable design company" and whose products are "exclusive by design, and not by price," is on his second visit to the Philippines, following UN's flagship opening at Resorts World Manila in Dec. 2018.
There are also talks of opening more stores in the horizon, but Koolhaas was quick to add that there was no need to rush into the fresh market.
"One of the reasons I think that we are popular in Southeast Asia is because there have been a lot of economic growth over the past decade. And therefore, there's a lot of interest and newness, and there's not so much retrospect in a new market like that," said Koolhaas in an exclusive chat with ANC's "The Boss."
Unlike its European counterpart, which Koolhas has described as "conservative" and "casual" citing the influence of established heritage brands. Asia, he said, has a higher interest in fashion, taking note of the women who tend to dress up "a little bit more."
The California-based Dutch native also revealed plans to venture beyond fashion and into hospitality like United Nude Hotel or into property with Filipino real estate billionaire Robbie Antonio of Revolution Precrafted, the Philippines' first Unicorn startup.
"We're always interested to find a collaborator, but we also get a lot of requests for collaboration," said Koolhaas.
Among United Nude's current collaborations include Lady Gaga's choreographer Richard "Richy" Jackson, and African-American Shaun Ross, the world's first albino male model.
Established in 2003 with Galahad Clark, a seventh-generation scion of the Clark shoe brand, United Nude's shoes are sold in over 50 countries with concept stores in places, such as Vienna, Tokyo, and Beijing, among others. Its roster of other high-profile creative collaborations include Iris van Herpen, Linda Farrow, and the late Zaha Hadid. - Jan Yumul, Eah Antonio, Christel Lagdameo, and Cathy Yang, ABS-CBN News
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES -- Pop superstar Lady Gaga looks set to crown her debut as a major movie actress on Sunday at a Golden Globes ceremony where romance "A Star is Born" could reap rewards.
Fresh off an acclaimed series of new concerts in Las Vegas, the "Born This Way" singer is the front-runner for her first big award as a lead actress when the Golden Globes kick off the annual countdown to the Oscars in February, award watchers say.
Gaga, 32, also looks certain also to take home the Golden Globe for best original song, for her hit single "Shallow," while "A Star is Born" is a strong contender for the top prize of best drama film.
The third remake of "A Star is Born" goes into Sunday's ceremony with five nominations, including two for Bradley Cooper as actor and director.
But there is stiff competition from box-office hits "Black Panther," and "Bohemian Rhapsody," which stars Rami Malek in an acclaimed performance as late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. Despite being musicals both "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Star is Born" are competing in the more prestigious drama race.
Political comedy "Vice" got the most Golden Globe nominations - six - but the film's scathing portrait of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has proved divisive among both audiences and film critics.
"'Vice' director Adam McKay really take chances with that movie. Sometimes he goes too far, and some people love it and some people are having a hard time with that," said Tim Gray, awards editor at Hollywood publication Variety.
However Christian Bale's performance as Cheney is favored to beat Lin-Manuel Miranda ("Mary Poppins Returns") and Viggo Mortensen ("Green Book") as best comedy actor on Sunday.
A strong line-up of comedies and musicals, including "Crazy Rich Asians" and bawdy historical movie "The Favourite" starring British front runner Olivia Colman, are likely to set the tone for a light-hearted ceremony in Beverly Hills. Comedian Andy Samberg and "Killing Eve" actress Sandra Oh, who is also nominated, will host for the first time.
Unlike some previous years, a hefty dose of popular films were nominated for Golden Globes rather than art house fare.
"It's a lot more like what awards shows used to be," Samberg said ahead of the ceremony.
The Globes also give out awards for television, where movie stars like Julia Roberts ("Homecoming"), Michael Douglas ("The Kominsky Method"), and Hugh Grant ("A Very English Scandal") are nominated alongside favorites like Candice Bergen for "Murphy Brown" and Debra Messing for "Will & Grace."
The television races are harder to predict. Four of the five best comedy series nominees are first time contenders, and all five drama series in the race have never been Golden Globe nominated before.
The Golden Globes, chosen by the small Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be televised live on NBC on Sunday, starting at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES - Musical drama remake "A Star is Born" led a wide range of contenders for the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Wednesday, landing 4 nominations, including best movie ensemble.
The film will compete for SAG's top movie prize in a diverse group that includes superhero movie "Black Panther," romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians," rock biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," and director Spike Lee's historical drama "BlacKkKlansman."
"A Star is Born," released by AT&T Inc's Warner Bros, features Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in a classic story about a young woman trying to make it in the music business. Both actors were nominated for individual awards for their performances.
The SAG awards are closely watched as an indicator of likely Oscar success because actors form the largest voting group in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In the last 23 years, only one film has won the best picture Oscar without being nominated for SAG's top ensemble prize, last year's "The Shape of Water."
SAG award winners will be announced on Jan. 27 at a ceremony in Los Angeles.
"Black Panther" and "Crazy Rich Asians" were both heralded as milestones for diversity in Hollywood, which has faced criticism for under-representation of actors and filmmakers of color.
"Black Panther" was the first big-budget superhero movie to star a predominantly black cast, while "Crazy Rich Asians" was the first film with an all-Asian cast from a major Hollywood studio in 25 years.
"Vice," which garnered the most Golden Globe nominations, earned SAG acting nods for Christian Bale and Amy Adams for their roles as former Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne.
Other actors nominated for leading roles included Rami Malek for playing Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody," Viggo Mortensen for road-trip comedic drama "Green Book," and John David Washington for "BlacKkKlansman."
In the running for lead actress were Emily Blunt in the musical sequel "Mary Poppins Returns," Glenn Close for drama "The Wife," Olivia Colman for British historical comedy "The Favourite," and Melissa McCarthy in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Blunt scored a second acting nod for her supporting role in horror film "A Quiet Place." Adams and Emma Stone also earned 2 acting nominations each.
In TV, Amazon.com Inc comedy "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and Netflix Inc drama "Ozark" topped the list of SAG nominees with 4 nods each.
"Black Panther" and "Mary Poppins Returns" were released by Walt Disney Co. "Bohemian Rhapsody," "The Favourite," and "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" were distributed by Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.
In addition to "A Star is Born," Warner Bros released "Crazy Rich Asians," while "The Wife" was distributed by Sony Corp .
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LOS ANGELES — Political comedy “Vice” led movie nominations for the Golden Globes on Thursday with six nods, followed by musical “A Star is Born,” historical comedy “The Favourite” and road trip movie “Green Book.”
Limited series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” won the most nominations in the television category with four nods.
The Golden Globes, chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be handed out at a ceremony in Beverly Hills on Jan 6.
“Vice,” a satirical look at the career of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, won nominations in all major categories, including for lead actor Christian Bale and director Adam McKay.
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper were both nominated in the lead actor race for their remake of “A Star is Born,” which also won a directing nod for Cooper and one for “Shallow” as best original song.
“Vice” will compete in the best musical or comedy race with “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Green Book,” “The Favourite” and “Mary Poppins Returns.”
The best film drama contest race is made up of two racial injustice movies - “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and director Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” - along with superhero movie “Black Panther,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “A Star is Born.”
Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron’s much admired “Roma” was nominated in the foreign language category.
Following is a list of key film nominations:
BEST DRAMA
“A Star is Born”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
BEST COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Crazy Rich Asians”
“The Favourite”
“Green Book”
“Vice”
BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Bradley Cooper - “A Star is Born”
Rami Malek - “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Willem Dafoe - “At Eternity’s Gate”
John David Washington - “BlacKkKlansman”
Lucas Hedges - “Boy Erased”
BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Lady Gaga - “A Star is Born”
Glenn Close - “The Wife”
Melissa McCarthy - “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Nicole Kidman - “Destroyer”
Rosamund Pike - “A Private War”
BEST ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christian Bale - “Vice”
Lin-Manuel Miranda - “Mary Poppins Returns”
Viggo Mortensen - “Green Book”
Robert Redford - “The Old Man and the Gun”
John C. Reilly - “Stan and Ollie”
BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Emily Blunt - “Mary Poppins Returns”
Olivia Colman - “The Favourite”
Constance Wu - “Crazy Rich Asians”
Elsie Fisher - “Eighth Grade”
Charlize Theron - “Tully”
BEST DIRECTOR
Bradley Cooper - “A Star is Born”
Alfonso Cuaron - “Roma”
Peter Farrelly - “Green Book”
Spike Lee - “BlaKkKlansman”
Adam McKay - “Vice”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali - “Green Book”
Timothee Chalamet - “Beautiful Boy”
Adam Driver - “BlacKkKlansman”
Richard E. Grant - “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Sam Rockwell - “Vice”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - “Vice”
Claire Foy - “First Man”
Regina King - “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Emma Stone - “The Favourite”
Rachel Weisz - “The Favourite”
BEST ANIMATED FILM
“Incredibles 2”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
“Mirai”
BEST FOREIGN FILM
“Capernaum” - Lebanon
“Girl” - Belgium
“Never Look Away” - Germany
“Roma” - Mexico
“Shoplifters” - Japan
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
All the Stars - “Black Panther”
Girl in the Movies - “Dumplin”
Requiem for a Private War - “A Private War”
Shallow - “A Star if Born”
Revelation - “Boy Erased”
Reporting by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Richwine; Editing by Nick Zieminski
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TORONTO - Lady Gaga, making her debut as a movie actress in "A Star is Born", said on Sunday she was humbled by the role, calling herself "just a girl from New York who couldn't get an audition."
Gaga, the "Born This Way" singer best known for her flamboyant stunts on stage, plays an aspiring singer in the third remake of the romance between an aging star and a newcomer.
"I've always wanted to be an actress and this is more than I ever imagined," she told reporters on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday. "I am just so honored and grateful and humbled."
Gaga insisted that all the songs in "A Star is Born" were performed live, including those by her co-star Bradley Cooper, a novice musician.
"Singing live, there really was no question," Cooper, who also directed the film, told a news conference earlier on Sunday.
"When we first met, Stefani was very adamant about it," said Cooper, referring to Lady Gaga by her real name, Stefani Germanotta.
"A Star is Born" tells the story of country music singer Jackson Maine (Cooper), who meets, nurtures and falls in love with aspiring musician Ally (Lady Gaga). As Jackson deals with addiction and tinnitus and his own star wanes, Ally's career takes off.
As well as marking Cooper's directorial debut, the film is also the first to showcase his voice, songwriting and musical abilities. The "Silver Linings Playbook" actor has said he took singing and music lessons for six months.
"Preparation was the hardest thing," he said. "Starting to sing and realizing that I really couldn't; starting to learn guitar and piano and realizing I couldn't."
Gaga made her television acting debut in "American Horror Story: Hotel" winning a Golden Globe in 2016. But taking the lead role in "A Star is Born" was a big leap.
"At the beginning of making this film, we shook hands literally, and he said to me, 'You're an actress'," Gaga said. "And I said to him, 'You're a musician'."
The movie's concert scenes were shot on the stages of some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Coachella in California and Glastonbury in England.
"A Star is Born" is the third remake of the original 1937 film. It was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland, and in 1976 with Barbra Streisand.
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ROME -- Global superstars Lady Gaga, Ryan Gosling and Vanessa Redgrave descend on Venice this week as the annual film festival kicks off Wednesday to controversy over the inclusion of Netflix productions and there being just one female director in competition.
Some 21 features will be locking horns for the prized Golden Lion, which will be awarded on September 8 at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Venice Lido, the iconic setting for Luchino Visconti's masterpiece "Death in Venice."
The festival jury is chaired by Guillermo Del Toro, last year's winner with "The Shape of Water."
Australian Jennifer Kent is the only woman gunning for the Golden Lion this year, with "The Nightingale."
The lack of female directors was blasted by feminist associations in an open letter sent on August 11 to the festival's artistic director Alberto Barbera.
The letter was a reaction not just to the festival's male-centric selection but also to statements by Barbera, who in a recent press conference explained that he made his choices based on "the quality of the film and not the sex of the director."
"If we impose quotas, I resign," he said, defending a selection criticized as "politically incorrect," especially compared to the latest edition of Cannes, which saw a call for gender equality in cinema.
A number of films being shown in Venice have been picked up by streaming service Netflix, including the the Coen Brothers' "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs."
Starring Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco and Liam Neeson, "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" features six tales about the Wild West narrated by Joel and Ethan Coen.
The inclusion of Netflix films and their contemporaneous release in theatres and online has drawn the wrath of Italy's two major cinema associations Anec and Anem, who feel people will stay at home rather go out to watch the movies.
"I can't see any reason why a film by (director of Golden Lion contender "Roma" Alfonso) Cuaron or the Coens should be excluded just because they're produced by Netflix," Berbera said during the press conference presenting the festival to reporters last month.
'FIRST MAN'
The star-studded festival kicks off with "First Man", the new film from the Oscar-winning director of "La La Land" Damien Chazelle.
The film, which stars Canadian Ryan Gosling, follows the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong in the years leading up to 1969, when he became the first man to walk on the moon.
However the most eagerly awaited appearance on the red carpet will undoubtedly be that of provocative pop superstar Lady Gaga, who stars in the out-of-competition "A Star is Born."
Bradley Cooper plays a hard-drinking country artist who discovers a young singer played by Gaga and is also making his directorial debut with the film.
The pair also wrote and recorded new songs for the film, the third remake of the entertainment industry romance classic.
Among the major names expected on the lagoon are Frenchman Jacques Audiard -- who this time is taking on the Western genre with "The Sisters Brothers" -- and his countryman Olivier Assayas, in competition with the comedy "Non-Fiction," starring his favorite actress Juliette Binoche.
Grand Prix winner at Cannes in 2015 and Oscar winner for best foreign film the following year with his first feature film "The Son of Saul," the Hungarian Laszlo Nemes will return to big competition with "Sunset."
Big things are also expected from "The Favourite," a period drama by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos that plunges viewers into the court of Queen Anne at the beginning of the 18th century and stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.
As every year, the festivfal will award two Golden Lions for their career to 2 film giants, in this case the 81-year-old British actress Vanessa Redgrave and Canadian director David Cronenberg.
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Pop star Lady Gaga on Tuesday announced a residency in Las Vegas with twin shows to display her two sides -- extravagant and glitzy, and stripped back and jazzy.
At 32, Lady Gaga is unusually young and culturally prominent to launch a residency in Sin City, generally the preserve of older artists who either want to set up elaborate productions away from the rigors of the road or to cash in on the nostalgia of tourists.
Lady Gaga said her shows would begin on December 28 at the newly rebranded Park MGM, a giant complex on the Las Vegas Strip which was initially built as the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in the style of the Mediterranean gambling hub.
The synth-pop star once known for her eye-popping attire and ultra-extroverted sexuality plans two shows, with one, entitled "Lady Gaga Enigma," promising more of her theatrics.
"We're creating a show unlike anything I've done before. It will be a celebration of all that is unique and different within us," she said in a statement.
"The challenges of bravery can be overcome with creativity and courage that is grown out of adversity, love and music."
The other show, "Lady Gaga Jazz and Piano," will star her singing minimalist versions of her songs as well as pop standards.
Gaga refashioned her career four years ago when she teamed up with classic crooner Tony Bennett, who is six decades her senior.
She similarly adopted a more mature sound on her latest album, "Joanne," which veered into country music with lyrics about family ties.
Lady Gaga announced "Enigma" shows through November 2019 with only a handful of the stripped-back concerts.
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MANILA – The trailer for the romantic drama “A Star is Born” featuring the team up of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga has finally been released.
One of the highlights of the two-minute clip is their duet of “The Shallow.”
The movie tells the love story of a seasoned musician, Jackson Maine (Cooper), who discovers and falls in love with struggling artist Ally (Gaga).
Just when Ally was about to give up on her dream of making a name for herself as a singer, Jackson coaxes her into the spotlight. But as Ally’s career takes off, Jackson has to fight his own internal demons.
“A Star is Born” marks the directorial debut of Cooper. It is also Gaga’s first lead role in a major motion picture.
The movie is slated to be released in Philippine cinemas on October 10.
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Pop superstar Lady Gaga and the psychedelic rapper Childish Gambino will perform at the Grammy Awards on January 28, organizers of the music industry's biggest night announced Thursday.
Unveiling the first acts for the televised gala, the Recording Academy announced the return of Gaga, who at the 2016 Grammys put on a hi-tech medley of David Bowie songs in tribute to the late rock legend.
Gaga was shut out of the four main categories at the Grammys but Childish Gambino took surprise nominations for Album of the Year and Record of the Year, which recognizes best song.
Childish Gambino, the stage-name of the actor and comedian Donald Glover, won acclaim and viral internet attention for his funk-infused album "'Awaken, My Love!'" and its key single "Redbone," a sultry song touching on race and infidelity.
Pop singer P!NK and country quartet Little Big Town will also perform at the Grammys, which are returning to New York from Los Angeles for the first time since 2003 to mark the 60th edition of the awards.
To showcase New York, the Grammys will honor Broadway with a tribute to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leonard Bernstein led by "Dear Evan Hansen" star Ben Platt, the Recording Academy said.
Broadway mainstay Patti LuPone, who appeared in the original Broadway cast of Lloyd Webber's "Evita" in 1979, will return to the Grammys to sing the musical biopic's signature song, "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina."
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