Celine, Rush in CBC tsunami benefit
TORONTO (CP) - In what organizers hope will be an unprecedented fundraising event that will make an international statement of generosity, CBC is assembling a live, three-hour broadcast to benefit the victims of the South Asian tsunami disaster.
Canada for Asia will air next Thursday night in prime time on CBC television and radio, and will feature an all-star Canadian entertainment lineup. Organizers have also issued a challenge to the country's private broadcasters to simulcast the show, which will originate at the network's broadcast centre in Toronto.
Performers will include Tom Cochrane, Blue Rodeo, Bryan Adams, Anne Murray, Rush, Molly Johnson, Oscar Peterson, Jann Arden, Barenaked Ladies, Bruce Cockburn and, in a special segment direct from her Las Vegas stage venue, Celine Dion.
In addition, non-musical celebrities will range from author Margaret Atwood to sports commentator Don Cherry to Bubbles of the Trailer Park Boys. Ron MacLean and Rick Mercer will serve as co-hosts.
"I would hope private broadcasters like CHUM, CTV, Global will accept this," said Senator Jerry Grafstein at a Friday news conference. Grafstein was one of the organizers of last year's SARS benefit concert, Toronto Rocks.
"If we get them all on air at the same time we will reach not only all of Canada - and that's a goal - it will be a golden and sterling moment."
Graftstein said that even in the U.S. there's no such ambitious plan, and if all Media join in it will have a major impact as an international statement. Agencies standing to benefit include World Vision, the Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam Canada, Care Canada, Save the Children Canada, Development and Peace and Oxfam Quebec.
On Thursday, CTV announced plans for its own live, commercial-free telecast of the Concert for Tsunami Relief on Jan. 29, to feature such artists as Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk and the Barenaked Ladies. The two-hour special from Vancouver's GM Place is a collaboration between CTV and Nettwerk Productions.
Nettwerk is also producing a second benefit in Calgary two days later with many of the same performers. Benefiting charities are Oxfam Canada, Care Canada, Doctors Without Borders and War Child Canada.
Asked about the dangers of donor fatigue setting in, Linda Tripp of World Vision said their experience shows there's no such thing.
"Canadians step up to the plate," she said, conceding the non-governmental aid agencies have no idea what the tally will be from the CBC telecast but that any effort is appreciated.
Viewers will be asked to contribute by calling a toll-free number (1-866-334-ASIA) or online at www.Canadaforasia.ca.
Graftstein also dismissed the donor fatigue theory and said corporate Canada's full voice has not yet been heard.
"This event, I believe, presents a fabulous window of opportunity for corporate Canada to join the thousands and thousands of individual Canadians in this incredible community effort."
Rita Karakas of Save the Children Canada said many NGOs are making long-term plans to rebuild schools and train teachers and midwives, for example, in the years ahead.
"That will take money," she said. "We all understand that nation rebuilding and community rebuilding and life rebuilding takes time."
Tripp agreed that beyond the current emergency relief, there are longer-term plans under way and she hopes donors understand that.
Karakas also challenged the Media to keep checking six or 12 months from now to ensure that world governments live up to their pledges.
Meanwhile, CBC organizers promise "a very moving show" that will air live to Atlantic Canada from 6 to 9 p.m. ET Thursday and will be tape-delayed hourly to the rest of the time zones. It will be almost entirely live, although Dion's Vegas segment is expected to be prerecorded.
Other benefit concerts are planned for Halifax's Metro Centre on Jan. 11, Toronto's Opera House Jan. 20 and Ottawa's Capital Music Hall and Winnipeg's West End Cultural Centre, both on Saturday. On Sunday, Toronto's Omni ethnic TV channels will hold a two-hour on-air fundraising appeal in partnership with Canadians for Tsunami Relief. In addition, parent company Rogers Communications has announced a $150,000 donation to the relief efforts.
And all the major networks are planning coverage of Saturday's noon ET national commemoration ceremony from Ottawa's Civic Centre. Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson and Prime Minister Paul Martin will attend the interfaith prayer service.
In the U.S., plans are proceeding for a Jan. 15 live benefit to be carried on NBC and its cable outlets CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Bravo, Trio and the Sci-Fi Channel.
The daylong disaster relief effort on CHUM's 65 radio and TV stations on Wednesday has so far netted $3.6 million in donations.
Nine Inch Nails finish new album, begin prepping for tour
Trent Reznor has completed "With Teeth," the first new studio album from Nine Inch Nails in almost six years, and is gearing up for a tour behind the set.
"'With Teeth' is finished," Reznor said in a message posted at his website on New Year's Eve. "The band is rehearsing. I can't wait to present this music to you--on your stereo and in your town."
Reznor will soon announce his first round of U.S. tour dates, and registered members of the Nine Inch Nails mailing list will have access to ticket pre-sales, according to the website.
Expected to hit stores in March, "With Teeth" is Nine Inch Nails' first collection of all-new material since 1999's "The Fragile," a sprawling, two-disc set that clocked in at over 100 minutes and featured a number of instrumental pieces.
"This is a more lyric-based record than 'The Fragile,'" Reznor said of "With Teeth." So far, he has only revealed one song title from the new set: "Only."
Reznor mixed "With Teeth" in the traditional-stereo and 5.1 surround-sound formats, and hopes to release both versions simultaneously.
Late last year, Reznor issued a deluxe edition of NIN's 1994 album, "The Downward Spiral," remixed in 5.1 surround sound.
Garbage Prepares To 'Bleed'
Rock act Garbage will release its first album in more than three years, "Bleed Like Me," April 12 in North America via Geffen and a day earlier internationally via Warner Bros. The band was previously signed to Almo Sounds/Interscope, which released 2001's "beautifulgarbage."
As previously reported, the new set was produced by the Dust Brothers' John King and features drum work from the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl on the track "Bad Boyfriend."
According to Garbage's official Web site, the track list is rounded out by "Run Baby Run," "Right Between the Eyes," "Why Do You Love Me," "Bleed Like Me," "It's All Over but the Crying," "Boys Wanna Fight," "Sex Is Not the Enemy," "Metal Heart," "Why Don't You Come Over" and "Happy Home."
"This new CD will be released a whole 10 years after our debut," writes vocalist Shirley Manson. "Ten f***ing YEARS?!?!?!?!?!?! The very idea blows my brain because the actuality of being the lead singer in a rock band still seems so very brand new to me."
Manson adds Garbage is "giddy with relief, excitement and a great sense of accomplishment" now that the album is finally complete. "The record is done and not only is it done but it's pretty f***ing stellar."
As previously reported, Manson guests on the new Queens Of The Stone Age album, "Lullabies To Paralyze," due March 22 via Interscope.
New Order Sings For The 'Sirens'
Veteran British rock act New Order will return this spring with a new album, "Waiting for the Sirens Call," according to its official Web site. The set is due March 28 in the U.K. via Warner Music, with the single "Krafty" arriving two weeks earlier.
"Waiting for the Sirens" will be released in North America via Reprise on a date to be announced.
Produced by Tore Johansson and John Leckie, "Waiting for the Sirens Call" will also feature the tracks "Jetstream" and "Sugarcane." The new set heralds a personnel change in the New Order lineup, with guitarist Phil Cunningham stepping in as a full-time member and keyboardist Gillian Gilbert exiting.
Gilbert skipped the 2001 tour in support of New Order's last album, "Get Ready," to care for her daughter by drummer Stephen Morris. Cunningham was on hand for that trek and previously played with New Order frontman Bernard Sumner in Electronic.
As previously reported, Sumner and bassist Peter Hook guest on the track "Real Thing," from Gwen Stefani's recent Interscope solo debut, "Love, Angel, Music, Baby."
In related news, a film based on the life of late Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis will be directed by famed photographer Anton Corbijn, according to the BBC. "Touching From a Distance," which shares its name with a 1995 book written by Curtis' widow, will be executive produced by Factory Records founder Tony Wilson.
Curtis committed suicide in 1980 at the age of 23 prior to a planed American tour. His surviving bandmates went on to form New Order.
THE HEAT IS BACK ON
Heat -- written, directed and produced by Michael Mann (Collateral, Ali, The Insider) -- will celebrate its 10th anniversary on February 22, 2005 with the Warner Home Video (WHV) release of a Two-Disc Special Edition. This tale of big city crime and obsession marks the first time that legendary actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro starred together on the big screen. Heat also features Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman and Natalie Portman.
Dive into five all-new documentaries exploring every angle of the movie; from the real life cops and robbers who inspired the film, the breathtaking bank shoot-out sequence, the 20 year history of the screenplay, the Los Angeles locations, and the historic on-screen showdown between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Eleven never-before-seen deleted scenes and an all-new commentary by director Michael Mann round out more than four hours of additional entertainment. The double-disc DVD will sell for $26.99 SRP.
The Two-Disc DVD Special Edition includes the following extras:
DISC ONE:
- Commentary by writer/director Michael Mann
- Three theatrical trailers
DISC TWO:
- 11 additional scenes
- Five new making-of documentaries featuring the cast and crew
- Return to the Scene of the Crime Location Manager, Janice Polley, and Associate Producer, Gusmano Cesaretti, visit the real life LA locations used in the film
- Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation Mann, cast and crew explore this historic on-screen showdown in the pivotal confrontation at Kate Mantellini's
- The Making of Heat: True Crime Michael Mann and Chuck Adamson, Technical Advisor and real life inspiration for the Lt. Vincent Hanna character, discuss the Chicago crime scene and the events surrounding the real Neil McCauley (who Adamson took down in the late 60s) that inspired the film
- The Making of Heat: Crime Stories Mann, cast and crew discuss the twenty year origin of the script, the film's genesis and the complexity of the characters portrayed on screen
- The Making of Heat: Into the Fire Mann, cast and crew discuss training for their roles, filming in LA, shooting the climatic downtown heist and post production
The DVD will be available in widescreen format and will include English and French 5.1 sound and English, French and Spanish subtitles.
'Fockers' Beats Horror Flick at Box Office
LOS ANGELES - The horror of meeting the in-laws beat out the fright flick at theaters this weekend. "Meet the Fockers" took in $28.5 million to remain the top movie for the third straight weekend, holding off the horror newcomer "White Noise," which debuted a strong No. 2 with $24 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The two movies paced Hollywood to a healthy start for the year, with the top 12 films grossing $98.3 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend in 2004.
That comes after a holiday surge sparked by "Meet the Fockers" lifted Hollywood to a record $9.4 billion domestic haul in 2004. Though the year's revenues were up, higher admission prices mean movie attendance was off about 1.7 percent, so the solid beginning positions the industry for a healthier 2005.
"The end of the year was stronger than expected, so headed into the first of the year, we have some momentum going," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "Studios just need to keep the momentum in the market place, because once you lose it, it takes a long time to get back."
Since opening just before Christmas, "Meet the Fockers" has taken in $204.3 million, topping the $166.2 million total of its predecessor, "Meet the Parents."
The comedy sequel reunites Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro as prospective in-laws with a shaky relationship, adding Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand to the cast as Stiller's zany parents.
The superstar cast and the movie's universal theme has made "Meet the Fockers" an easy sell to audiences.
"It hits home, doesn't it? Conflicts between in-laws, everybody's been there," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, which released "Meet the Fockers" and "White Noise."
Critics hated "White Noise," which stars Michael Keaton as a man convinced his dead wife is trying to communicate with him through his television. Yet scary movies tend to have a built-in audience of horror fans, who turn out in huge numbers over opening weekend.
The box office often plunges for fright flicks in their second weekend, though some manage stronger staying power, such as last year's $100 million hit "The Grudge," which most critics also panned.
"White Noise" producer Paul Brooks said he hopes his movie can defy the critics, too, and hold up well beyond opening weekend.
"It's always fascinated me, the way critics work," said Brooks, who also produced "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." "They have a particular view of a film which sometimes can be significantly at odds with what the man on the street and the lady on the street and the kid on the street want to see."
Two films embraced by critics, Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" and Terry George's "Hotel Rwanda," had strong showings as they expanded from limited release.
"Million Dollar Baby," starring Eastwood as mentor to a strong-willed boxer (Hilary Swank), took in $2 million in 109 theaters, up from nine theaters the previous weekend.
"Hotel Rwanda," featuring Don Cheadle as a real-life hotel manager who sheltered refugees during the 1990s Rwandan genocide, grossed $1.15 million in 105 theaters, up from seven the previous weekend.
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Meet the Fockers," $28.5 million.
2. "White Noise," $24 million.
3. "The Aviator," $7.6 million.
4. "Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events," $7.4 million.
5. "Fat Albert," $6 million.
6. "Ocean's Twelve," $5.4 million.
7. "National Treasure," $4.5 million.
8. "Spanglish," $4.4 million.
9. "The Phantom of the Opera," $3.4 million.
10. "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou," $2.7 million.
'9/11,' 'Passion' Tops at People's Choice
PASADENA, Calif. - Two controversial films that defied the odds to earn millions at the box office joined a familiar green ogre to take top honors at the 31st Annual People's Choice Awards on Sunday.
The Michael Moore film "Fahrenheit 9/11," which took a critical look at President Bush's actions after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, won the favorite movie award, while Mel Gibson's explicit "The Passion of the Christ" won in the favorite drama category.
Moore dedicated his win to the U.S. troops fighting overseas and said he was "amazed" that people voted his film their favorite.
"I love making movies and I'll take this as an invitation to make more 'Fahrenheit 9/11s,'" Moore said.
Gibson echoed Moore's appreciation, saying the award "means a lot more to me this time than anything before."
"I depended on you and you were there," Gibson said. "If it wasn't for you guys, we would have been dead in the water."
The animated "Shrek 2" swept a number of categories, being named favorite comedy, favorite sequel and favorite animated movie.
The character of Donkey in "Shrek 2," voiced by Eddie Murphy, was named favorite animated movie star, while the Fairy Godmother, voiced by Jennifer Saunders, won in the favorite movie villain category.
Perennial favorites took many of the top awards, including many of this year's new categories. Julia Roberts and Johnny Depp won for favorite female and male movie star. Matt LeBlanc and Marg Helgenberger won for favorite male and female TV stars.
"Will & Grace," won for favorite TV comedy. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was named favorite TV drama.
After votes cast via the Internet during the first hour of the live telecast were counted, "Joey" was named favorite new TV comedy, while "Desperate Housewives" won for favorite new TV drama.
The People's Choice Awards, hosted by Jason Alexander and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, were presented at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and broadcast on CBS. The awards covered 38 film, television and music categories, including a number of new ones.
The nominations were determined by editors at Entertainment Weekly, the People's Choice production team and a panel of pop culture fans. Winners were determined by Internet voting.
The complete list of winners:
- Motion picture: "Fahrenheit 9/11"
- Drama motion picture: "The Passion of the Christ"
- Comedy motion picture: "Shrek 2"
- Animated motion picture: "Shrek 2"
- Favorite sequel: "Shrek 2"
- Animated movie star: Donkey in "Shrek 2" (voiced by Eddie Murphy)
- Movie villain: The Fairy Godmother in "Shrek 2" (voiced by Jennifer Saunders)
- Favorite on-screen chemistry: Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in "50 First Dates"
- Female movie star: Julia Roberts
- Male movie star: Johnny Depp
- Female action movie star: Angelina Jolie
- Male action movie star: Will Smith
- Leading lady: Renee Zellweger
- Leading man: Brad Pitt
- Funny female star: Ellen DeGeneres
- Funny male star: Jim Carrey
- Television drama series: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"
- Television comedy series: "Will & Grace"
- New television comedy series: "Joey"
- New television drama series: "Desperate Housewives"
- Female television star: Marg Helgenberger
- Male television star: Matt LeBlanc
- Late night talk show host: David Letterman
- Daytime talk show host: Ellen DeGeneres
- Reality show competition: "American Idol"
- Reality show makeover: "Extreme Makeover Home Edition"
- Reality show 24/7: "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica"
- Crest fans favorite smile: Julia Roberts
- Pantene fans favorite hair: Jennifer Garner
- Cover Girl fans favorite look: Kate Hudson
- Favorite group: U2
- Female singer: Alicia Keys
- Male singer: Usher
- Favorite remake: "The First Cut is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow
- Favorite combined forces: "Yeah" by Usher/Lil Jon/Ludacris
- Country group: Brooks & Dunn
- Country female singer: Shania Twain
- Country male singer: Tim McGraw
Critics Group Names Eastwood's 'Baby' Best Film
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A group of leading U.S. film critics named director Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" as the best film of 2004, and its star, Hilary Swank, shared best actress honors with Britain's Imelda Staunton in abortion drama "Vera Drake."
The National Society of film Critics picked "Sideways," about two middle-aged men looking for love on a wine-soaked holiday in California, as the runner-up for the year's best movie, and the film earned three top honors.
"Sideways" screenwriters Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor won the award for best screenplay, and co-stars Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen were best supporting actor and supporting actress, respectively.
The 56 members of the National Society of Film Critics gather annually at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City to discuss films and performances; then they vote. The critics work for major newspapers and magazines across the United States.
Early critical picks and other awards often help narrow the list of potential nominees for Oscars, the U.S. film industry's top awards, given out in February by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
So far, "Million Dollar Baby," "Sideways" and romance "Finding Neverland" have shared some critics' awards. Still to come before the Oscars are the Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild awards and other competitions, where films like Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator" figure prominently.
In other categories, The National Society of Film Critics named Senegal's "Moolaade" from director Ousmane Sembene as the year's best foreign language movie, with "House of Flying Daggers" as runner-up and France's "Notre Musique," from director Jean-Luc Godard, as the No. 3 pick.
Payne, who also directed "Sideways," was the runner-up in the best director category to Chinese director Zhang Yimou for his martial arts film, "House of Flying Daggers." Eastwood was No. 3 in the category for best director.
Jamie Foxx was named best actor for two roles, soul singing legend Ray Charles in biopic "Ray," and a taxi driver who is held hostage by a murderer in "Collateral." Runner-up was Paul Giamatti for "Sideways" and No. 3 was Clint Eastwood as an aged trainer who teaches Swank's character to be a champion boxer.
The third spot in the best actress category belonged to Julie Delpy for romance "Before Sunset," which was the No. 3 movie of the year behind "Million Dollar Baby" and "Sideways."
The National Society of Film Critics named "Tarnation" as the year's best non-fiction film, and "House of Flying Daggers" was given the award for cinematography.