Police have so far been unable to identify gunman in Friday shooting in Atlanta. By Rob Markman Slim Dunkin and Waka Flocka Photo: MTV News Waka Flocka Flame is taking the Friday shooting death of his friend and rap cohort Slim Dunkin very hard. “WISH IT WAS ME … MY F—ING RIGHT HAND IS GONE,” Flocka tweeted the day after the murder. The “O Let’s Do It” MC continued to vent over Twitter, writing , “damn I feel dead” and “IM LOST” in reaction to the tragic news. Dunkin, who was born Mario Hamilton, was fatally shot once in the chest after an altercation with another man inside an Atlanta recording studio. Slim was an up-and-coming rapper in Waka’s Brick Squad Monopoly crew and had collaborated heavily with both Flocka and BSM-affiliate Gucci Mane. Atlanta police have interviewed a number of witnesses who were on or around the scene at the time of the shooting, but police have been unable to identify the gunman. “Right now we’re just trying to … identify who may have seen what, really just trying to put the pieces together,” Atlanta Police Major Keith Meadows told The Associated Press. “It seems everybody witnessed something very different. We’re just trying to go back and make sense of everything.” Despite their musical beef, rival rapper Kebo Gotti explained that he was in no way involved in the murder of his onetime friend. “I just don’t know what to say rite now,” Kebo said in a statement issued to MTV News. “What can u say u know when people are pointing the finger at you saying you killed someone you cared about just [because] you just had a fight, what can you say, what are you supposed to say about something like that. He was my brother.” Kebo, who was an original member of Brick Squad, split from the crew and has been involved in a beef with both Dunkin and Waka for some time now. The drama has even gotten physical. In an edited viral video that surfaced on World Star Hip-Hop in October, Gotti spews numerous insults at Flocka and is seen having a street fight with Dunkin. On Halloween, Slim released Menace II Society, a 20-track mixtape featuring Gucci Mane, Roscoe Dash and Pastor Troy. Rest in peace, Slim Dunkin. Leave your condolences in the comments below. Related Artists Slim Dunkin Waka Flocka Flame
Limited release of ‘Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol,’ however, had record-breaking sales. By Kevin P. Sullivan Robert Downey Jr. in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” More disappointing returns and one record-breaking bright spot were the stories of this past weekend’s box office. The two new wide releases, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,” led the weekend receipts but failed to live up to the high expectations set by the previous movies in each franchise. But the limited IMAX release of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” signaled more of an uptick in ticket sales. “Holmes” may have won the weekend with an estimated $40 million, according to Box Office Mojo , but that figure fell far below the original’s $62.3 million in 2009. Lukewarm reviews may have contributed to the slump, but most critics said the sequel, at the very least, lived up to the original. The duo of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law couldn’t capture the same box-office magic as two years ago. “Chipwrecked” couldn’t come close to the numbers posted by the past two entries in the series, sinking to a distant second behind “Holmes” with an estimated $23.5 million during its opening weekend. That’s a $25.4 million drop from 2009’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” and a $20.8 million fall from the original. The tumble in tickets came despite a “B+” cinema score. “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” on the other hand, broke records with its limited open. The film launched on roughly 300 IMAX screens around the country and raked in an impressive $13 million. That broke the record for the highest-grossing limited opening ever. “Ghost Protocol” opens wide on Wednesday. Last week’s leader, the even more disappointing “New Year’s Eve” and “The Sitter” rounded out the top five with huge dips in their second weekends. “New Year’s Eve” fell 43 percent, earning just $7.4 million, and Jonah Hill’s “Sitter” dropped even further with $4.4 million. In smaller releases, despite snubs from the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden Globes , “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” continued to put up solid numbers. The spy film expanded from four to 16 theaters and added an estimated $452,000 to its 10-day total of $852,000. What movies are you planning to see this holiday season? Leave your comments below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Tune in to MTV’s ‘NYE in NYC’ special on December 31 at 11p.m. ET for an exclusive clip from the new prank series! By Kara Warner In the spirit of that familiar adage, everything old is new again, MTV is bringing back its favorite hidden-camera prank show, “Punk’d,” along with its mastermind/ executive producer Ashton Kutcher … and a new batch of soon-to-be embarrassed celebrities. Viewers will be treated to an exclusive first look at a clip from an all-new season of the series — which will return to the network in 2012 — during MTV’s annual New Year’s Eve party , set to air Saturday, December 31, at 11 p.m. ET, live from MTV’s Times Square studio. “NYE in NYC 2012” will be hosted by Demi Lovato and Tyler Posey of MTV’s hit series “Teen Wolf.” Performers include Selena Gomez, J. Cole, Jason Derulo and Mac Miller as well as Lovato. “Punk’d” aired on MTV from 2003 to 2007 and featured A-list stars (Beyonc
Pop singer sings ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ for Amnesty International anniversary album. By Jocelyn Vena Ke$ha Photo: Getty Images It’s hard to associate Ke$ha with songs about anything other than hot guys, body glitter and partying. But she’s defying her usual topics of interest for human rights organization Amnesty International. The singer is one of the many musicians on the org’s Chimes of Freedom compilation of Bob Dylan’s music, out January 24. When MTV News spoke with K-Dollar Sign last week about her all-star remix of “Sleazy,” she also opened up about switching gears vocally and emotionally for her version of Dylan’s classic “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” “I mean, I think it’s pretty well known that he’s one of, if not my most, favorite artists of all time and … one of the most amazing lyricists as well — the original storyteller,” she explained. “So I love Bob Dylan and this was just, like, a dream. When they asked me to do a cover, I was just, like, salivating and going through all my records. It was so fun. It was the best homework assignment you could possibly have.” K’s version of Dylan’s song is a slow-burning, heartbreaking ode to the already heartbreaking classic, where she channels Dylan through lyrics like “Still I wish there was somethin’ you would do or say/ To try and make me change my mind and stay/ We never did too much talkin’ anyway/ So don’t think twice, it’s all right.” Ke$ha had originally intended to record another Dylan track, but when she heard that someone else had their sights set on it, she settled on “Don’t Think Twice,” prompting a catharsis she could never have imagined. “This song was kind of an accident. I sat down and this is the first take that I ever sang,” she recalled. “I just sat down on my bed for the first time after months of being on tour and I just started crying, and it was kind of like an emotional purging, and you can hear it on the record.” In addition to Ke$ha and her contribution, the album will feature 75 other Dylan classics recorded by nearly 80 artists including Adele, Miley Cyrus, “Glee” star Darren Criss, My Chemical Romance, Evan Rachel Wood and Sugarland. The album pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Ke$ha Related Artists Ke$ha
Hugh Hefner tweets that actress’ January/February issue is selling well. By Jocelyn Vena Lindsay Lohan on the cover of Playboy Photo: Playboy Despite Lindsay Lohan ‘s leaked Playboy photos and cancellation of her appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” it seems the issue is doing quite well. After early reports surfaced that the magazine, which hit newsstands last week, wasn’t selling so hot, TMZ reported that her retro-themed shoot is starting to sell out. Sources say retailers in cities like Los Angeles and New York have had to order more issues, and subscriptions to the Playboy website have increased since the issue became available. The news seems to have pleased head honcho Hugh Hefner, who confirmed the report on Twitter. “The Lindsay Lohan January-February Double Issue is breaking sales records,” he wrote on Sunday. Last week, Lohan took to Twitter and opened up about the nude pictorial she had done in the style of Marilyn Monroe’s classic spreads. “Playboy on stands now!” she said . “I was so nervous! I hope people like it and pick up a copy!!! ….xoxo.” In the January/February issue, Lohan also talks about her ongoing problems. “Looking back, I probably would have listened to and taken more advice from the people whom I admire and would have followed through with it more,” she told the magazine. “My stubbornness at 18 and 19 years old got in the way. During the past five years, I’ve learned that time flies faster than you think, and because you only live once, you have to learn from your mistakes, live your dreams and be accountable.” Related Artists Lindsay Lohan
Talk That Talk singer tweets, ‘You know im already in trouble 4 this but, i like to keep yall in the loop.’ By Jocelyn Vena Rihanna in her video for “You Da One” Photo: Universal Rihanna is giving fans a taste of what they should expect from her forthcoming “You Da One” video. Over the weekend, the Talk That Talk singer tweeted a still from the clip. “#YOUDAONEVIDEO you know im already in trouble 4 this but, i like to keep yall in the loop,” she wrote in the tweet, which also included a photo of Rihanna , topless, leaning back in a chair as she blows smoke into the air. It’s a similar image to her deluxe-edition album cover , where she looks into the camera, also topless and blowing smoke. Helmed by her “We Found Love” director Melina Matsoukas, Rihanna dropped a behind-the-scenes video earlier this month. In the clip, filmed while the singer was on her Loud Tour, a mold is taken of her teeth to create a fanged grill for the video. “I’m getting a grill made for an upcoming video shoot for ‘You Da One,’ but I only want the bottom done with fangs, and they have to make a mold so they can send it to New Castle, ship it from New Castle, get it made, and then send it back to London for the video,” she explained, giving no other details about the grill’s presence in the video. Some photos from the set also leaked around the same time. Wearing a short blond wig with blunt bangs, Rihanna dons a tight white tank top, denim shorts, bold black tights with the word “Boy” written on them in white and a white bowler hat. The look fits the wardrobe she’s been wearing during this album phase, which is very street and punk-inspired. “You Da One” is the second single off the album. Produced by Dr. Luke, it follows up the success of “We Found Love.” “This is one of those records, it becomes very addictive,” she said about the track. “To me, it’s very infectious: The more you listen to it, the more you want to listen to it. It had a reggae vibe, but it’s a sweet little love letter. I love the record. It’s kind of dirty, I love it.” Related Artists Rihanna
Fincher, who says ‘I think there is a trilogy here,’ opens up to MTV News about ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,’ ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Goon.’ By Josh Horowitz Rooney Mara in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” Photo: Columbia Pictures If you’ve somehow missed the cultural phenomenon that is Stieg Larsson’s massively successful Millenium trilogy, it might be time to give in and see what all the fuss is about. MTV has already named David Fincher’s “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” the best movie of 2011, so you can bet we had plenty to discuss when we sat down with revered director of “The Social Network,” “Fight Club” and “Seven” on the eve of his much-hyped film’s opening. In a wide-ranging discussion, Fincher candidly addressed the microscope his latest project has been under, plus his plans to work with Angelina Jolie, the summer tent-pole movie he’s actually excited to helm and who the famously intimidating director actually fears pissing off. MTV : Congratulations on the film. You may have heard that MTV named it the best film of the year. David Fincher : I heard that! MTV : After a long debate, we came to a consensus. Fincher : Really? What possible debate could there be? [ laughs ] MTV : You’ve obviously had plenty of opportunities to helm a franchise and this, despite not being a happy-meal-friendly one, still is one. Fincher : There are a lot of those [franchise] expectations. I think there is a trilogy here, [but] I was looking it as a one off. I see a beginning, middle and an end in this first story. I would like for people to enjoy it. I would like for people to tell their friends. And I think it tees up two fascinating characters who I have really come to care about. There’s no doubt [Stieg Larsson] wrote it to be a rip-roaring yarn, but I don’t think he could have possibly imagined what it has become. There was no doubt that when we went to Stockholm that there were people asking, “Is this just a Hollywood land grab? Is this a co-opting of our cultural phenomenon?” I saw it as a ripping yarn and a partnership that I’d never seen before, and I like the idea of these two people who should never meet, much less sleep together, much less partner up. I had never seen that before and thought that’s kind of interesting. It was very Swedish and kind of sexy but also kind of oddly moving. Having no experience with the — I’m not saying these books are “Twilight” — but that message-board freak-out phenomenon that goes with it, I was unprepared for it, possibly because I’m just too insulated from the real world and because I’m kind of immune to that kind of sh–. MTV : The casting story became … Fincher : The casting story was blown out of proportion by a lot of people. I wasn’t prepared for that. The only way to win is to win on merit, and it’s the only satisfying way to win, and hopefully, that’s what we’ve done. In the end, I still work 14 hours a day whether or not people are doubting me. I doubt myself more, in much smarter and salient ways than people surfing the web. MTV : Your ending differs from the book’s. Was that a difficult choice? Fincher : It was an easy choice to make. I thought it was sleeker. I like the idea of someone who has been subjected to this kind of trauma learning to hide in plain sight. It’s a different choice than the one the book makes. Lisbeth manages to occupy in the shadows and margins. This is another way of doing that. And they are parallel stories. It’s silly not to think of them as that. MTV : Do you have the same affection for the other two books? Are they as cinematically interesting to you? Fincher : I think the second book is very cinematic. It suffers a little bit from a lack of Salander. I think it also ends in an odd way. I love the notion of really talking about sex trafficking. MTV : Rooney [Mara] was telling us she already has some ideas for her look the next time around. Fincher : We did a lot of exploring [the look]. We looked into the stitched, Sally from “Nightmare Before Christmas.” We’ve played around a lot. There are some things that we’ve learned. MTV : You’re not going to ask her to get implants, are you? Fincher : It’s interesting because when you go through the checklist of what Larsson did with [Salander], there were a lot of things [that seemed] like quasi-stripper Kardashian land. To me, that’s not who Lisbeth is. The guy created it. He’s not here to defend himself. I hold him in the highest esteem, but I don’t always agree with his choices. MTV : If he were around, what would you ask him? Fincher : I don’t know. Look, the person I wanted to impress the most on “Seven” was [screenwriter] Andy Walker. The person I wanted to impress most on “Fight Club” was [author] Chuck Palahniuk. I think my responsibility is first and foremost to the creator. MTV : Will Jules Verne be happy with what you do with “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”? Fincher : I think he would be. If we get to do what we’re planning on doing, it’s pretty interesting. MTV : Was that a book that was important to you as a young man? Fincher : No, not at all. I was alive when a man stepped on the moon. It was awe-inspiring, the notion of that much care that NASA took. I’m sure it was the same thing for the Manhattan Project. The idea of a post-Civil War version of science fiction and the notion of being able to breathe underwater was so radical in its thinking. That’s pretty cool. If you’re going to do big tent-pole teenage PG-13 summer movies, it’s kind of cool that it would be this. MTV : Is “Cleopatra” something you’re currently developing? Fincher : That’s something I would love to do with Angie [Jolie]. It’s something that was brought to me that you have to take seriously. [Producer] Scott [Rudin] has this wonderful book, and hopefully [screenwriter] Eric [Roth] can find a way in. I’m not interested in a giant sword-and-sandal epic. We’ve seen scope; everyone knows we can fake that. That stuff doesn’t impress in the way that it did even 10 years ago. We expect that from Starz [now]. So that’s not the reason to do that. What is it about this character that has purchased this place in our history and imagination that is relatable today? MTV : One film I’ve talked to you about in the past is “Rendezvous With Rama.” Should we keep talking about it, or should I drop it? Fincher : You should drop that. It’s great but it’s just a really expensive movie, and talk about the bones being picked by so many other stories … MTV : IMAX is something that filmmakers like Brad Bird and Christopher Nolan have lately been using. Does it interest you? Fincher : No. They’re going to have the digital equivalent of IMAX very shortly. I don’t like the idea of changing fidelity in the middle of a movie just to say, “Here comes some big sh–!” Whatever Brad Bird or Chris do is fine by me. I normally think in terms of homogenization. I want to be able to count on a kind of resolution and depth of field. I never saw “The Dark Knight” in IMAX. I could definitely see a difference in fidelity of the IMAX sequences. But to each his own. MTV : I saw you last at Comic-Con for “Goon.” How is that project looking? Fincher : We’re still trying. Eric [Powell] rewrote his script. He got away from the genesis story, and I feel like we need to go back to a little bit of what he had before. I don’t think you can tailor what Powell does to what Hollywood does. I think you have to allow for the disparity. I don’t think you can go into it saying, “We have to make it fit into this box.” Everything is a digression from what the main through line is. MTV : Is there anything else you’re looking to collaborate on with Trent Reznor? Fincher : We’ve talked about a lot of stuff. I would do anything for him. I feel so lucky to have had his attention for the year and a half that I’ve had it. I’m not going to push my luck. I’m walking on eggshells. I don’t want to piss that guy off. MTV : There’s always the “Fight Club” musical. Fincher : I keep trying! Check out everything we’ve got on “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Best Movies Of 2011 Debate
Andrew Jenks will hit the campaign trail to talk to young voters and GOP hopefuls in the doc ‘Our Voice,’ airing Tuesday at 4:54 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. By James Montgomery Andrew Jenks speaks with young voters in “Power Of 12: Our Voice” Photo: MTV News On Tuesday, MTV will officially launch the Power of 12 , our coverage of the 2012 election, beginning with the premiere of the documentary “Our Voice.” The doc follows filmmaker Andrew Jenks as he crosses the country — and hits the campaign trail — to speak with young voters about the issues that concern them most, and the Republican candidates that are vying for their support. “Our Voice” will debut Tuesday at 4:54 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. And if you think you know everything about the concerns of the nation’s 45 million voters ages 18 to 29 (or the GOP hopefuls currently courting them), well, you’re in for an eye-opener. Because, as the 25-year-old behind MTV’s doc-style series “World of Jenks” told MTV News, he thought he did too. It was only when Jenks hit the road that he discovered how much he didn’t know. Check out a preview of ‘Power of 12: Our Voice’! “You read blogs or you watch the cable news, and you keep hearing that young voters are disenfranchised, that they don’t trust the system or the politicians,” Jenks said. “And sure, there’s a feeling [among young voters] that the rug has been pulled out from underneath them, but at the same time, the thing that I kept hearing when I’d talk to them is, ‘I’m optimistic.’ They’re concerned about the future of the country, but they’re convinced it’s not too late. People my age feel that they have the power to change the system, even if they think it’s broken. “When I first learned I’d be covering the Republican candidates, I was excited because I knew we’d be able to use this as a platform, to look at these candidates and ask, ‘How are you going to speak to us, the young voters?’ ” he continued. “Because for really the first time, we do kind of have the power. We are 45 million people and we can tilt the election. They have to listen to us and speak with us, because we have the leverage.” “Our Voice” — which features interviews with GOP candidates Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and more — is just the first phase of MTV’s Power of 12 campaign, which aims to inform and engage young voters and amplify their voices throughout the 2012 elections. Upcoming specials include “When I Was 22,” an MTV News documentary kicking off in early 2012 that gives viewers a unique look at the lives of presidential hopefuls. Candidates will look back on their own lives — back when they were 22 years old. Each episode will paint a portrait of the candidate at a younger age, focusing on their dreams, triumphs, setbacks and the moments of resiliency that ultimately shaped their world view. Additionally, “Fantasy Election ’12,” an online game similar to fantasy baseball and football fantasy league games, that allows users to draft a team of candidates pursuing the White House, Senate and House of Representatives and rack up points. The first-of-its-kind game also rewards players for getting involved in the electoral process — they’ll get extra points for registering to vote, “checking in” to town halls and debates, and discussing issues with friends. MTV News will begin its coverage of the election on the ground in Iowa and New Hampshire, with Jenks and MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway at the helm. For more on MTV’s election coverage, check out the Power of 12 . And make sure to catch the premiere of “Our Voice” on Tuesday at 4:54 p.m. ET/PT on MTV!
Lucky fans who screened six-minute preview in NYC tell MTV News they love the action but can’t understand what Bane is saying. By Kevin P. Sullivan Christian Bale in “The Dark Knight Rises” Photo: Jared Wickerham/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Fans came out in droves Wednesday for a chance to take an early look at the first six minutes of Christopher Nolan ‘s final Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises.” The prologue screened as a part of a viral marketing campaign, which involved fans reading through “leaked” CIA documents and finding coordinates for cities around the world. When all the pieces fell into place, a secret website, OperationEarlyBird.com, revealed the locations and times for prologue screenings. A line formed early outside the AMC Loews Lincoln 13 on the Upper West Side, and the excitement was palpable. The anticipation only grew as fans filed into the IMAX theater to await the six-minute preview. Once the preview ended, the crowd applauded and demanded a second viewing, to no avail. Outside the theater, the most common reaction to the footage was jubilation, but some fans expressed reservations about Tom Hardy ‘s voice as Bane . “I thought it was really good,” Tom Dichiara told MTV News. “It was a lot of action, good opening sequence. You can’t really understand a whole lot of what Bane says, though.” “The action was crazy,” Brian Sansone said. “They did sh– in ‘The Dark Knight’ that I had never seen before, and they blew me away again. A lot more action-packed, just as intricate, just as crazy. If the rest of the movie is like that, they got my money.” “I loved it. Christopher Nolan just did an ingenious scene, a great action scene, something that will have your jaw drop. It was pretty amazing just watching it on the screen, saying, ‘I never thought that would be possible,’ ” said Tyler Rice, who liked Bane’s voice but struggled to understand it as well. “Bane’s voice sounded awesome, but you can’t understand what he’s saying. He had about two clear lines you can hear what he’s saying. Otherwise, it just sounded like awesome gibberish. It kind of sounds like Buffalo Bill [from ‘Silence of the Lambs’].” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Dark Knight Rises.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com .
Paris reveals best advice Michael gave her. By Gil Kaufman Paris Jackson appears on “Ellen” Photo: Warner Bros Paris Jackson will give her first-ever solo interview on Thursday morning (December 15) when she appears on “The Ellen DeGenres Show” to promote her upcoming acting debut. After a cloistered childhood, Paris, 13, the only daughter of late pop icon Michael Jackson , opened up to Ellen about her formerly sheltered life and how her dad’s music inspired her acting. In excerpts released before the airing, Paris explained that her dad helped her prepare for her upcoming first movie role, in which she’ll play Lundon in “Lundon’s Bridge and the Three Keys,” an adaptation of the fantasy series based on writer Dennis Christen’s novels. “When I was really little my dad was in the movie ‘Moonwalker’ and I knew he could sing really well but I didn’t know he could act,” she said. “I saw that and I said, ‘Wow, I want to be just like him.’ ” She said Michael also gave her at-home acting lessons. “We would do improv together. He would give us little scenarios. He would (say), ‘OK, in this scene you’re going to cry’ and I’d cry on the spot.” In one of the most (literally) revealing moments, Paris explained what it felt like for herself and her siblings, Prince and Blanket, to wear disguises for most of their young lives. “I’m like, ‘This is stupid. Why am I wearing a mask?’ But I kind of realized the older I got like he only tried to protect us and he’d explain that to us too,” she said. The masks, in fact, helped the three kids live as normal a life as they possibly could considering that their dad was one of the most-sought-after paparazzi targets on earth. “I do have like a regular childhood,” she said. “I mean, I’m treated the same. When I came to [my new school] they didn’t know who I was. I was like, ‘Yes, I have a chance to be normal.'” When asked if she realized how big a deal her dad was when she was a child, Paris admitted, “I just thought, ‘He’s got a few songs out,’ but I figured everyone did that.” In the action-animation hybrid “Lundon,” Paris will voice the lead character, a human, in a fantasy adventure in which “sea magic turns a dolphin into a human, a teenage boy into a dragonfly and a loving jellyfish queen into an evil fairy godmother.” Among the other voices in the movie are former CNN personality Larry King and his wife, Shawn, and ex ‘NSYNC member Joey Fatone. Paris told DeGeneres that her dad warned her before his surprise death in June 2009 that he would not be around forever. “He said, ‘If I die tomorrow always remember what I told you.’ I took his advice and I remembered everything he told me,” she said. Related Photos Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson
