Sky bringing Sinbad into the 21st Century {TV}

Posted on by

The search is on to find a leading man to play Sinbad in a contemporary re-imagining of the 8th Century legend for Sky 1 and BBC Worldwide.

The new Sinbad will be treading the line between Hero and Villain. On the run from his home town of Basra and under a curse for a killing that led to the death of his much-loved brother, the streetwise Sinbad finds himself cast out to sea. Surviving a violent and magical storm, both Sinbad and his intriguing fellow ship-mates are forced to band together to face their inner demons, hopes, loves and fears. Our flawed hero embarks on an epic and emotional quest to rid himself of the curse and embrace his destiny. “When mystical meets muscle anything can happen…”

Produced by Impossible Pictures (who also produced ITV’s Primeval), Sinbad is part of Sky1’s multi-million pound HD drama investment fund.

Elaine Pyke (Head of Drama, Sky 1) commented: “Our SINBAD is 21, reckless, utterly charming and cursed. Mysticism, magic, monsters and high octane action adventure, this SINBAD is always exciting and sometimes challenging. This unique series will have the ambition of LOST, the pace of 24 and take the viewer to visually stunning locations on both sea and land. Sky’s SINBAD will be a multi-layered series for today’s prime time audience.”

Sophie Gardiner (Exec Producer, Impossible Pictures) added: “This is a hugely ambitious project and we’re thrilled to partner with Sky to reinvigorate this much loved action hero. We’re confident that SINBAD will confound audience’s expectations and create a big, noisy series for Sky 1.”

Shooting is expected to start in February 2011 in Malta and Sinbad is scheduled for premiere on Sky 1 HD in Winter 2011.

Stuart Murphy also unveiled a whole host of new commissions and acquisitions including:

Dogumentary, A brand new observational documentary from the makers of Pinapple Dance Studios (Pulse Films) centres on the world of dog grooming salons, doggy day care centres and vets’ clinics where cameras will follow the people who work at them, as well as their clients. But in Dogumentary the stars of the show are the pampered pooches themselves, and these are no ordinary canines – they can actually talk. In surreal moments, the mutts talk to each other in funny and off-the-wall exchanges about their lives, loves and observations on the world.

Ross Kemp Extreme World. The BAFTA®-winning documentary team (Tiger Aspect) return as Ross Kemp reports from some of the most dangerous places on Earth. Over five hard-hitting episodes, Ross travels to Mexico, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and Chicago to learn how international organised crime, terrorists and local criminal networks have created alliances that are destroying millions of lives. Plus, in a UK-based episode, he reveals the grim truth about people trafficking in Britain.

Prince William and The Tusk Trust Project (Working Title). In an exclusive 1hr long documentary by Spun Gold, presented by conservationist and adventurer Ben Fogle, Sky 1 HD gains unprecedented access to Prince William’s first official visit to Africa as he travels to Botswana, the home of wildlife conservation charity Tusk Trust. Marking the charity’s 20th anniversary, royal patron Prince William talks about his love of Africa, his passion for conservation and staying grounded, before challenging Ben to run a fund-raising marathon in Kenya.

Also announced are aquisitions from the US including: Raising Hope from the makers of My Name Is Earl. The Middle, from Warner Bros International about an ordinary family struggling to survive life – and each other – in Middle America. Ride-Along, A gritty new police drama from The Shield creator Shawn Ryan and Lone Star, a 20th Century Fox Production in which newcomer James Wolk is Robert/Bob Allen, a charismatic schemer who has meticulously constructed two lives for years without arousing any suspicions… until now.

This follows the news that Sky has agreed to become the UK home for HBO.

Sky 1 to become UK home for HBO {TV}

Posted on by

BSkyB (Sky) and Home Box Office (HBO) have entered into a multi-year output deal which will see Sky become the home of HBO programmes in the UK and Ireland. The agreement is part of Sky’s ongoing mission to invest in standout content that differentiates the pay-TV experience and creates more reasons for customers to subscribe.

Under the agreement, all new HBO-commissioned programmes and series will be broadcast exclusively, and in HD, on Sky channels. The first HBO production to be seen on Sky as part of the output deal will be ‘Boardwalk Empire’, the much-anticipated Prohibition-era drama from acclaimed director and Oscar winner Martin Scorsese. With a cast including Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt and Kelly Macdonald, ‘Boardwalk Empire’ is scheduled to make its US debut on HBO in September 2010, with a UK and Ireland premiere on Sky to follow shortly after.

Future HBO productions to be broadcast by Sky will also include ‘Game of Thrones’, the fantasy drama based on the series of books ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ by George R.R. Martin, and ‘Luck’, executive produced by David Milch and Michael Mann and starring two time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman. In addition, future seasons of existing HBO shows – such as ‘Entourage’ and ‘Big Love’ – will be broadcast exclusively on Sky channels in the UK and Ireland at the conclusion of their current broadcast rights agreements. 

 

Sky will also offer access to HBO programmes through its on-demand platforms, including the soon-to-launch Sky Anytime+ service.  In addition to availability of the new HBO productions airing exclusively on Sky channels, the on-demand services will offer access to HBO’s library of classic shows such as ‘The Sopranos’  and ‘Six Feet Under’. 

Musical Style {Style}

Posted on by

With new artists continuously emerging from all walks of life there is constantly something fresh on the music scene however when an artist comes to the forefront of the public eye, it’s not just their music that makes them famous. It is their personality, their style and of course their fashion.

Fashion and music are inexplicably linked.

This idea is of course, is not a new phenomenon, think back to ‘The Beatles’ and their iconic suits, ‘Kiss’ and their unmistakable face paint, as well as Run DMC and their Adidas. In the case of Run DMC, fashion even influenced their music with the song ‘My Adidas’ which was a result of the group “rockin” their “superstars/shelltoes” with the tongue sticking out and no laces, making a huge impact on both hiphop and future generation styles.

More recently, Lilly Allen started the idea of wearing prom style dresses accompanied by trainers and Oasis set an example which Manchunians especially still emulate to a certain extent, with the casual-smart way of dressing.

Even hair styles are copied, this is seen again with the Oasis style; they are more dated now but even back in the 1980’s the long curls on men were copied from artists such as Brian May from Queen, amongst others.

A lot of these music producing fashion trends emerge and continue to appear for years to come. For example, Run DMC’s style; the fashionable street/sports wear, this is still very obviously apparent within the hip-hop music scene, take a look at Jay-Z or Justin Timberlake, but new versions are constantly evolving as well such as the N-Dubz, ‘Dappy-hat’ is a particularly obvious and surprisingly popular one of these.

An infamous trend which emerged some time ago is the Punk Music scene, which although materialized up to thirty five years ago, remnants of it are still constantly surfacing.

Vivienne Westwood is a prime and noted example of this but these characteristics are seen across the board with even high street stores using qualities of the style. For example tartan dresses and ripped jeans.

Fashion will always be influenced by music, the only question is, whose is your favourite artist?

Foot Phobia – Dressing our Feet for Summer! {Style}

Posted on by

It’s an everyday scenario that when the sun comes out, so too do our feet. Our feet which have been locked away in the chastity belt encasements of lace-up shoes, trainers, and brogues have spent most of their time being battered through the winter months; toes are stubbed on bed steads , objects are kicked, and some have walked the distance from earth to the moon to the requirements of the lunch-break dash for the shops, lost car keys, housework, and trips to the supermarket (amongst other things).

As we look forward to our summer holidays away in Benidorm, Scarborough and the like, us girls especially, will almost certainly have a fit of panic (duration of a personal choice) when we look to our footwear, and hence contemplate the exposure (god forbid) of our feet. One must assess the situation with calmness and rationale and then organise the mandatory pedicure of the year pronto. If on a budget then a home kit will be satisfactory, but a speed read through the instructions shouldn’t go amiss.

Personal foot issues are not rare, the odd protruding fourth toe, or a ‘stumpy’ shape (always over exaggerated by the foot’s owner) for example, will have some walking around Ibiza in wetsuit boots. But this phobia can be overcome with some gentle persuasion and a friendly open door into the magic world of shoe engineering and design.

The seasons’ trend of gladiator sandals, along with a strong nail colour, have enabled us to really make a fuss of our feet. And whether we like it or not, those feet will be exposed sometime during the summer, even if it’s only to a household pet. So the only thing to do is to embrace this opportunity; get to Superdrug straight away and start buying out a range of incandescent nail varnishes. Then elaborately paint those toenails to one’s desires. Its carte blanche baby, rainbow colours all the way!

One can complement their foot shape, be it short, long, wide, narrow, etc, with a sandal. However, this is not just any sandal. With so many on the market, especially gladiator sandals, one can really pick and choose one that will show, or hide, the foot appropriately. For example, chunky ankles may require sandals with an ankle cuff like these from Dorothy Perkins £28. 

Alternatively, a long elegant foot may require little embellishment, hence a sandal with just a minimalist thong will do, such as these from ASOS.com.

.

.

.

.

.

A sandal which encases the entire foot, almost like a shoe, would suit a wider foot as the lines will create the illusion of a more slender form, try these from Schuh for size. £39.99.

If walking around a lot, it’s worth investing in some rubber soled sandals. Hideous as this may sound, one can always fall back on a lifelong pair of Birkenstocks. This may well save you the humiliation of walking around in trainers for the forthcoming weeks on your return. But above all, ‘tis the season to have fun with your feet!!

By Katie Fremantle

Rainbow Stripes {Style}

Posted on by

Stripes have been around for decades but this summer they are hitting the shops hard and in their masses. Whether your guilty pleasure is jackets, shirts, skirts, shorts or trousers, there will be no struggles in finding something suitable within this trend. If you find bold or subtle stripes, bright or muted colours appealing, there is plenty on offer. The best part about this trend is that you can work it into any outfit because if the clothing isn’t your thing, there is even a huge range of accessories readily available.

John Lewis Stripe Shoulder Bag, Plaited Handle

.

.

John Lewis has some nice women’s bags like this women’s fabric bag shoulder bag with plaited handle. £20, John Lewis.

.

.

.

Paul Smith Strips BagPaul Smith has a stunning range for you gents, plus Paul Smith also has a great range for this look overall with their signature stripe flaunting the style.

.

Fendi Nautical Striped Dress

The current stripes have heavy nautical influences encouraging the boundaries between stripe directions to become blurred with some diagonal stripes emerging.

The varied nature of stripes means that every person will be able to find something appropriate and complimentary to them. Those who wish to make a statement might go for a full outfit, more on the girl side with a dress perhaps; Fendi has an interesting and unusual nautical striped shift dress currently available.

If you wanted to be a little more reserved perhaps a scarf would do this trick, LemLem has a nice nazret cotton striped scarf which is available from www.net-a-porter.com, £65.

There are some great trousers and shirts which fit in with this trend, Kitsune has my personal favourite in both these with a decent selection of stripy wear.

.

The great thing about stripes is that the garments you buy can be easily layered in to your other favourite trends such as with your shorts or blazers and can be mixed and matched with other easily for a more unique and outgoing look. This fabulous trend can even be carried over into your interiors,  striped wall paper or sofa even striped bedding from Lulu Guinness are all readily available and are there to bring that added extra to your love of fashion.

Michael Moore To Broadcast San Francisco Kent State Truth Tribunal

Posted on by

West Coast witnesses and participants are invited to record their stories

First New Media Truth-seeking Initiative Documents 1970 Campus Shooting of Kent State University Students

On Aug 7-8, 2010 filmmaker Michael Moore will livecast the hearings of the Kent State Truth Tribunal, streaming in real-time the accounts of participants and witnesses to the events surrounding the 1970 Kent State shootings, that left four students dead and nine injured. This livecast is a continuation of the first real-time broadcast of a truth-seeking initiative on Kent State and will be broadcast on www.MichaelMoore.com from 9am-5pm PT. The Tribunal in San Francisco follows a four-day tribunal in Kent, Ohio in early May which marked the 40th anniversary of the campus shootings and assembled over 70 testimonies.

The Kent State Truth Tribunal in May resulted in an outpouring of original participant testimonies, some who shared their stories for the first time since the shootings, forty years ago. Demand for participation was immense at the 40th anniversary yet many witnesses and participants in the events surrounding the shootings were not able to travel to Ohio.

“San Francisco was a cultural and political hub in the sixties and seventies and it is no accident that so many young people scarred by the events of Kent State headed west after the tragic events of May 1970. Forty years later, the west remains a progressive mecca and many Kent State participants made the west coast their home, like me. We will collect their experiences of the Kent State shootings to continue to try to learn the truth about Kent State in 2010,” said Laurel Krause, tribunal founder and sister of Allison Krause, one of four students killed at Kent.

The Kent State Truth Tribunal was convened by family members of students killed at Kent State in order to record and preserve the stories of those directly affected by the shootings and reveal the truth of what happened on that day 40 years ago. The Ohio National Guard, who opened fire on the protesters, has never publicized the findings of its internal investigation into command responsibility for the shootings.

Michael Moore commented on the truth tribunal: “40 years after the Kent State killings, justice still has not been served. The Kent State Truth Tribunal brings us closer to that goal by sharing first-hand accounts with the public. I am grateful for their efforts and hopeful that some day the truth will come out.”

Three days after the original Kent State Truth Tribunal the Cleveland Plain Dealer broke a major story about a recorded order to fire given to the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970. Then on June 15th, in the U.K., British Prime Minister David Cameron apologized for the killings of Bloody Sunday, a strikingly similar event in 1972 where British paratroopers fired on demonstrators, killing 14 people.

Tribunal organizers are asking the United States government to acknowledge the ‘wrongs’ of May 4, 1970, in the hope of reclaiming what was lost that day – freedom to protest and to peacefully assemble and the democratic right to question the government and hold it accountable for wrongdoings.

The Truth Tribunal is generating a comprehensive historical record of the Kent State massacre. Interviews are being conducted by award-winning filmmaker Emily Kunstler and like the 40th anniversary hearings, will be simultaneously livecast on the home page of www.MichaelMoore.com Archived interviews can be found on http://truthtribunal.org/testimonials. The footage and mementos from the tribunal will be physically archived and available for viewing by the public as part of the permanent collection at the renowned Tamiment Library at New York University.

The west coast tribunal will take place over the weekend of August 7 & 8, 2010 at 150 Green Street, San Francisco, California. Organizers are asking for all original participants and witnesses of the event surrounding the 1970 Kent State shootings to pre-register at www.TruthTribunal.org/preregister. An East Coast Tribunal will follow in New York City on September 25 & 26.

On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting America’s invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. In a day that changed America, four students were killed and nine were wounded as they protested against the war. The incident triggered national outrage in a country already divided. In immediate response to the Kent State shootings, more than four million students rose up in dissent across 900 campuses, generating the only nationwide student protest in U.S. history. No one has been held responsible for the deaths and injuries that resulted from the shootings.

Lizzie Mary Cullen Helps the Homeless with First Solo Show! All profits donated to The Big Issue.

Posted on by

9 September 2009

Award winning international artist & designer Lizzie Mary Cullen is hosting her first solo exhibition in London UK, in aid of the homeless.

All proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the Big Issue, the social enterprise, magazine and charity that helps homeless people in Britain earn a legitimate income and help themselves.

A former Production Assistant for Warner Bros, Lizzie worked on the Harry Potter films prior to venturing into the art world. She is securing support from a number of high-profile cast members from the blockbusters, and their celebrity friends pals to be present on the opening night.Mainstream press and key figures from the magazine and charity will also be present. The artist expects to raise at least £20,000 for the Big Issue at the exhibition

Having raised funds for various charities and supporting worthy causes, Emmanuel Ray says he is proud to be partnering with a successful and talented artist who, just like him, is using her growing popularity to help those in need. “It is not only a privilege but also great fun to be working with one of the most talented contemporary artists Britain has ever produced. Lizzie is a visionary artist and the intricate detail in her work, the magical symphony of colours and her ability to make even black and white drawings look enchanting and inviting, is highly impressive and a visual treat!” he added.

Last year saw Lizzie Mary Cullen sashaying into the design world with confidence and scooping up two prestigious awards; Association of Illustrators New Talent 2009 and New Designers One Year On 2009. At 24 Lizzie is enviably successful. Having graduated from Goldsmiths in 2008 she exhibited her work internationally. Her recent exhibitions have included A View of London at The London Transport Museum UK, and New Designers One Year On where she won her second award. Currently touring into 2010 is the Association of Illustrators Images 33 Tour, in which Lizzie’s award-winning iconic illustration Tower Bridge is being exhibited.

Lizzie’s big break came when popular Italian restaurant chain Zizzi commissioned her to design and hand-draw large scale wall murals in a number of their restaurants throughout the UK as part of their national re-brand, revamping 105 branches. Lizzie has also designed their national menus has already completed murals in various Zizzi restaurants in the UK; Covent Garden-Bow Street, Camberley, Tunbridge Wells, Marlow, Newcastle Metro Centre, Sevenoaks, Maidstone and Nottingham, to start with.

Lizzie has been featured in numerous publications including the acclaimed Beyond Architecture:
Imaginative Buildings and Fictional Cities, and Martin Dawber’s The Big Book of Contemporary Illustration. She had a cover feature in Design Week magazine as the next New Design Star. She was also featured in Icon Magazine and Blueprint Magazine. Computer Arts Magazine named her one of the design world’s up-and-coming talents. She also writes for Design Week and Illustration Magazine. Lizzie has just completed a spread for Illustration Magazine’s Summer 2010 issue and has given an exclusive interview for Digital Arts magazine.

She has also just finished editing her first illustrated children’s book about a family of modern fairies living in London. Lizzie exhibited at Grand Designs Show 2010 in Excel London, where she received a number of ad hoc commissions. She has also worked with MTV, Design Week and Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movie series. Her illustrations will feature on his new website to promote his debut album with Six String Productions. Lizzie will also design the album artwork. Tom Felton and Daniel Radcliffe are expected to attend the exhibition and support the lady who worked in the film that made them international stars!

Lizzie Mary Cullen The First Solo Show opens on 9 September at the Artefact: The Framers Gallery in London’s West End and will run until 25th September.

Partying for a Purpose to Host Its Annual Lucky 7 Fundraiser at Playboy Mansion.

Posted on by

Partying for a Purpose to Host Its Annual Lucky 7 Fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion

Hugh Hefner will be honored with the ‘Taking Care of Business Award’ for his generosity to the cause.

Partying for a Purpose is hosting its 7th annual fundraising event Lucky 7 at the Playboy Mansion on August 21 benefiting It’s All About The Kids Foundation, a cause dedicated to enhancing the lives of less fortunate children. Playboy Playmate 2004 Pilar Lastra and Playboy Cyber Girl Melissa Dawn Taylor will be the weekend hosts, which will include three parties from Friday August 20 through Sunday August 22.

During the Lucky 7 party festivities at the Playboy Mansion, Mr. Hugh Hefner will be honored with the “Taking Care of Business Award.” The award is in memory of Scott Brannon, who was murdered in 2006.

“We have had the privilege of having six successful annual events at the Playboy Mansion,” said Angela Brannon, Co-Founder and Executive Director of It’s All About The Kids. “Because of Mr. Hefner’s generosity, our high profile events have helped us build awareness with new audiences, and the funds raised will enable us to continue to assist under privileged children in San Diego and around the world. We are so excited to honor him! To date, we have served over 10,000 children. At this year’s party, are also supporting the Seeing Stars Foundation and Global H2O.”

Lucky 7 guests will be partying for a purpose at The Hyatt Century Plaza for three days, including a Friday Casino Night with a hosted VIP cocktail party, Saturday pool party and a “RECOVERY” pool party on Sunday. Casino Night guests will enjoy roulette, blackjack and a live auction for the chance to body paint models. Winning bidders will arrive at to the Mansion early on Saturday evening to help paint their beauties.

Only Four Hundred tickets are available for the weekend-long event, with 100% of the proceeds going to It’s All About The Kids. All donations are 50% tax deductible. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.PartyingForaPurposeMansionParty.com. For media inquiries, contact Richie Matthews of DIALOGO at richie@prdialogo.com