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Angelina Jolie Set To Write, Direct Bosnian War Film

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘The film is a love story, not a political statement,’ says actress, who will not appear in movie. By Jocelyn Vena Angelina Jolie Photo: Toni Passig/ WireImage Angelina Jolie is taking her act behind the scenes for her latest project. Jolie will write, produce and direct a film set during the Bosnian War in the early ’90s. She is working on the flick with GK Films , which made the announcement on its website. The film, about a Bosnian woman and a Serbian military man who fall in love during the war, when the Bosniaks and Serbs were fighting each other, will serve as Jolie’s feature directorial debut, according to The Hollywood Reporter. GK Films says that actors of “various ethnicities from the region of the former Yugoslavia” will be cast. Jolie will not be in the film, and filming is expected to take place this fall, with no locations being announced due to security concerns. The Oscar winner, who serves as Goodwill Ambassador for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and frequently makes trips to the area, visited Sarajevo last weekend to discuss the refugee situation with some of the country’s leaders. “The film is a love story, not a political statement,” Jolie said in a statement released by the UNHCR during her visit to the region last week. “I would like to involve as many local people as possible and learn as much as I can.” GK Films produced her upcoming Johnny Depp co-starring release, “The Tourist,” set to hit theaters in December. She is also slated to star in Tim Burton’s “Sleeping Beauty” as the film’s evil queen, Maleficent, and will assume the title role in “Cleopatra.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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Cee-Lo Calls Viral Explosion Of ‘F— You’ Single ‘Pretty Magical’

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s a pleasant surprise, I must say,” singer says of f-bomb-dropping song. By Gil Kaufman Cee-Lo Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Filmmagic There’s no denying the ear-candy magic in Cee-Lo Green’s f-bomb-dropping kiss-off soul nugget “F— You.” But even the Goodie Mob/ Gnarls Barkley singer himself has been a bit surprised at the viral explosion set off by the lyrics-only video for the first single from his upcoming The Lady Killer album, which has rung up more than 2 million views since it was released last Thursday. “It’s a pleasant surprise, I must say,” the singer told Entertainment Weekly ‘s music blog Music Mix. “I think it’s totally surpassed just about everyone’s expectations. We had a clue — I mean, it’s a very noticeable song — but this has been extraordinary.” Though he’s understating the shockingly catchy nature of the profanity-laced Motown-like ditty, the success is probably a bigger shock to the Smeezingtons production team behind it, which consists of the writing and production trio of Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine. The song came together almost two years into the recording of the singer’s third solo effort and, according to EW, when the producers played him a rough sketch of it in the studio, they weren’t even sure it was worth finishing up. “When Bruno first sung ‘F— You’ to me, they were still a bit indecisive on whether or not it could work at all,” Cee-Lo said. “I was like, ‘I like it. Let’s record it.’ ” Cee-Lo said he got heavily involved in finishing up the tune, pitching in many of the lyrics on the verses, which were somewhat based on his own experiences of being jilted by a lover who was looking for a man with deeper pockets. “I mean, it’s based on something true. … As far as me personally, it’s not a current event. It’s a figurative account. It’s not completely fictitious, though,” he said cryptically. Clearly taken by surprise by the instant success of the low-rent video — which consists of the song’s lyrics printed out over solid color backgrounds — Cee-Lo said his team is working on cooking up a more elaborate clip as well as a profanity-stripped radio edit called “Forget You.” Have you heard or seen the video for Cee-Lo’s “F— You”? Tell us what you think in the comments! Related Artists Cee-Lo

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Jay-Z, Kanye West And Drake Are Chris Bosh’s Hip-Hop Dream Team

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Those are the best three guys out right now,’ Miami Heat superstar tells Mixtape Daily. By Shaheem Reid Jay-Z Photo: C. Flanigan/ WireImage Celebrity Favorites: Chris Bosh Chris Bosh belongs to the Miami Heat’s “big three” along with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. And when it comes to hip-hop, his dream team is already lined up. “Jay-Z, Kanye West and Drake,” the All-Star said without blinking. “Easy! Well, just the fact of Jay-Z’s longevity. And he can really rap. Some of his stuff from ’01 and The Blueprint is stuff I’m just now getting. Like, ‘Ohhhh, that’s what he meant. OK, I get that line.’ He was so far ahead in what he rapped about and what he did. I’m just now catching up. Kanye is super creative in what he can do with the beat machine. And his words, he’s more a passionate type of guy. He puts his feelings out there and doesn’t care what anybody thinks. Drake is the smooth guy. He’s gonna come in and sing. Plus Drake, we share something in common: We pretty much started our professional careers in Toronto. And I think those are the best three guys out right now.” Bosh, a native of Dallas, obviously has his ears tuned into hip-hop and what’s going on right now. “I pretty much grew up on hip-hop,” he said. “I’m aware of what’s going on. They’re making dance music in Dallas. Being from there, it’s different, because I’ll be in Toronto or Miami, and when I go home, it’s always a new dance. ‘The Dougie’ at one point. D-Town Boogie. There was always dances in Dallas ever since I was in high school. But now the younger generation is like, ‘Man, you don’t know how to do that?’ I’m like, ‘No.’ ‘You don’t know that song?’ So I always have to play catch-up.” Bosh also said coming up as a youngster, he never danced. “Nah. That wasn’t my thing. I hooped,” he explained. “I played basketball. I just did a two-step just to get by, and that’s it.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Wale, Fabolous Related Artists Jay-Z Drake Kanye West

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Missy Elliott Remembers Aaliyah, Nine Years Later

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I miss her every day,’ late singer’s collaborator tells MTV News. By Jayson Rodriguez Aaliyah in 2000 Photo: Dave Allocca/Getty Images It’s been nine years since Aaliyah Dana Haughton died in a plane crash and left an immense void in the hearts of her family, friends and fans. The singer’s star was still rising when her life was cut short. She released multiplatinum albums and had just started her film career, but there was always a sense that her journey would be a long one, destined for greatness. Traces of her style and influence are apparent in contemporary artists, but her legacy is most evident in her collaborators, including Timbaland, Ginuwine and Missy Elliot. Missy spoke with MTV News via e-mail and shared some of her favorite Aaliyah memories. MTV : When you look around today at some of the current R&B stars, who do you see traces of Aaliyah’s influence in? Missy Elliott : I think it’s hard for Aaliyah to be duplicated, because she had her own lane. But Ciara is an R&B singer who loves to dance, and Aaliyah was that same kinda artist. We knew when she dropped a record, we couldn’t wait for the video. I think Aaliyah has influenced artists like a Ciara. MTV : How do you spend a day like this, where everyone is mourning the anniversary of your friend’s passing? Elliott : I plan to spend my day the same as any other day, because there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of [Aaliyah] or watch a video or play her music. I miss her every day. MTV : Do you know of any update on the plans for an Aaliyah movie? Elliott : As far as a movie for Aaliyah, I’ve been hearing some things but don’t know how true they are, and out of respect for her family, I would wait until they announce it. That way we will know it’s a fact. MTV : I’m sure you have so many memories of Aaliyah. What was it like the first time you met her? Elliott : When me and Tim first went to work with her, we were so nervous. She was such a big star, and I was scared she was gonna be some diva, sipping on tea, with people fixing her hair and nails, and she would say, “What is this music you got! It’s wack!” But when we walked in the studio, her smile made the whole room glow! She was like “Heyyyyy!” and gave us big hugs and made us feel like we were her cousins from down South. She was a very sweet spirit! Never seen her angry as long as I’ve known her, and in this business, that’s unheard of! MTV : What memory do you revisit most when you think about Aaliyah? Elliott : We’ve had so many memorable times. My most memorable is when me, her and Tim wore outfits alike! It was burgundy Pony outfits to the awards. Mind you, Aaliyah was petite so her Pony outfit looked so cute on her, but I kept looking at mine during the awards whispering to her saying, “I feel like a big-ass pony for real!” And we laughed and laughed! Too many memories to state them all! If she was still with us, she would still be at the top. Because she always stayed pushing herself to be better. Share your memories of Aaliyah in the comments. Related Videos Remembering Aaliyah Related Photos Aaliyah: A Life In Photos Related Artists Missy Elliott Aaliyah

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Taylor Swift Flashed Back To High School For Best Female Video-Nominated ‘Fifteen’

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I really wanted this video to kind of be an evolution for Taylor,’ director Roman White explains. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Taylor Swift in her music video for “Fifteen” Photo: Big Machine The dreamy landscape of her “Fifteen” video had Taylor Swift recalling her high school days, when she thought she was in love with that guy she was dating and she didn’t know what would become of her life. And when she worked on the Best Female Video-nominated clip last year with “You Belong With Me” director Roman White, he wanted to capture the essence of the song without getting too literal. “Well, I think I really wanted this video to kind of be an evolution for Taylor,” White said. “I mean, obviously it’s a high school song, but the last thing I wanted to do was shoot it in a high school. So I wanted to try something different, and I actually said to her, ‘I don’t think we should shoot in a high school.’ And I don’t think she wanted to either.” So how do you shoot a video about high school without actually staging it in a high school? “I kind of came up with this idea like, let’s take the literal meaning of this song and watch it evolve in front of us … almost as a memory in your head,” he said. “And create this world, so you walk in on this desolate desert and you start to sing about all these great memories you have … of everything you love [blooming] around you, and so we literally grew this garden around her.” But White decided to keep it a bit strange as well. “But also we added these surreal elements that came from the memory,” he said. “It’s kind of this cross between this surreal garden and this memory [and] she’s at the heart of this memory.” About the only thing in the video that wasn’t created on a computer was Swift herself. “The rain was all digitally created. All the trees, all the flowers, everything was created by mouse, everything was created by computers,” he explained. “The trees, the leaves, the rain, everything, the clouds. We had prop pieces of the desks and stuff … so even things we had actual props of we re-created in 3-D [on the computer].” The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, from now through September 12. Related Videos Frame By Frame: Taylor Swift’s Video For ‘Fifteen’ Related Photos Lady Gaga Leads The 2010 VMA Nominees Related Artists Taylor Swift

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Rick Ross Responds To Young Jeezy, Teflon Week-One Sales

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Ross responds to Young Jeezy’s “B.M.F.” freestyle and addresses his album sales. Photo: Thaddaeus Related Artists Rick Ross (Hip-Hop) Young Jeezy

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Katy Perry Says ‘Peacock’ Is ‘The World’s Biggest Innuendo’

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’m always looking for that one thing that’s really normal that you can make twisted,’ singer says. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway Katy Perry Photo: MTV News Katy Perry isn’t exactly the queen of nuance. In her “California Gurls” video she appeared wearing a bra that squirted whipped cream. Oh yeah, she was also naked. So on the cheerleader anthem off Teenage Dream, when she asks her dude to show her his peacock, she doesn’t mean his brightly colored feathers, if you know what we mean.

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Swizz Beatz Gets Personal On This Week’s ‘RapFix Live’

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘This time I have a lot to say. I’m more mature,’ Swizz says of his forthcoming album. By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by James Lacsina Swizz Beats Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage Swizz Beatz has a lot to talk about, from his forthcoming album to his recent nuptials to Alicia Keys. The multi-platinum producer said that on his new project , he’ll be revealing more than just the frenetic figure he’s known to be on songs with his peers. “I believe it’s my best work ever. It’s my ‘perception of greatness,’ which is the title,” he told MTV News, although on Monday, he posted on Twitter that he’s set to reveal a new title. The Ruff Ryders alum said the album will be his most personal yet, chronicling not only his career as a producer but also revealing parts of himself, Kasseem Dean. “I just wanna give everyone the unthinkable,” he said of the project. “When you think of Swizz, you think of a lot of party things. But this time I have a lot to say. I’m more mature. I just got a lot to talk about.” Will he share some of those things later this week? Swizz Beatz will join Sway on Thursday as the latest guest on MTV News’ “RapFix Live.” The show is interactive and features fans asking artists questions via video uploads at Your.MTV.com and tweets to @MTVNews , using the hashtag #rapfixlive. Swizz follows in the footsteps of “RapFix” guests Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Fat Joe, G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks and Soulja Boy Tell’em. Swizz was recently in the studio with Kanye West and the Neptunes’ Pharrell, as the three producers have been collaborating on each other’s projects. The producer said the creativity was flowing throughout as the trio worked alongside Q-Tip and others. Catch Swizz Beatz on the “RapFix Live” stream on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET! Related Photos Lovebirds: Alicia Keys And Swizz Beatz Related Artists Swizz Beatz

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Mine’ Reflects On One Of Her Crushes

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

New single about ‘a boy I liked at a certain time,’ says singer. By Jocelyn Vena Taylor Swift in her “Mine” video Photo: Big Machine Records Forget Drew, the inspiration for “Teardrops On My Guitar” or Joe Jonas, who sparked “Forever & Always.” . When Taylor Swift sat down to write her latest hit song, “Mine,” she had a different dude, who remains a mystery, on the brain. “I was reflecting back on a boy I liked at a certain time,” she told Rolling Stone about the tune, which will appear on her forthcoming album Speak Now . “The song is about what it would be like if I actually let my guard down.” Speak Now comes out on October 25, and Swift is bracing for the onslaught of craziness that will ensue as the drop date nears. But she loves the chaos. “I’m obsessed with being busy. It’s hectic and nonstop,” she said. “But I’m so ready.” What Swift wasn’t ready for was “Mine” leaking online earlier this month . After its early arrival, the song was rushed to radio and iTunes and subsequently debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Swift admits that while she appreciated the overwhelmingly positive response to the track, she in no way was expecting it to be released prematurely. “[My manager] said, ‘I don’t want you to panic.’ And I said, ‘The song leaked, didn’t it?'” she said. “I turned on my phone and there were texts saying, ‘Congratulations.’ A leak is so out of my comfort zone, but it ended up good in the end. It made me so emotional that I started crying.” The video for “Mine” premieres this Friday (August 27) at 8:30 p.m. ET on MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com. Are you excited for Taylor Swift’s new album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Taylor Swift

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The Swell Season To Go On Hiatus

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’ll go back to the Frames, and [Marketa Irglova] will make her own record at some point,’ Glen Hansard says after concert tragedy. By Jocelyn Vena The Swell Season’s Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard Photo: Jason Merritt/ FilmMagic After a fan leapt to his death at a Swell Season show in California last week, the duo has decided to go on hiatus. While the decision to part ways doesn’t seem related to the incident, the announcement comes mere days after it occurred at their show at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California. Glen Hansard, one half of the Oscar-winning band, tells Spinner.com that he and his bandmate, Marketa Irglova, plan to focus on separate projects, which include working with his former band for Hansard and solo music for Irglova. “I’ll go back to the Frames, and Mar will make her own record at some point,” Hansard said. “This band will eventually naturally end. But right now, all of us are just so grateful.” The Swell Season will continue to tour together through the fall. “Getting together and making music with Mar was a side thing for me, but it felt absolutely right,” Hansard said. “I followed through on it even when it felt like I might’ve been abandoning my band a bit. But I had to follow through. I knew there was something in this that I had to follow through on.” While Hansard will focus on the Frames, he is extremely excited about whatever solo music Irglova plans to pursue, raving about her new piano ballad, “Crossroads.” “It’s amazing,” Hansard explained. “I love the way she writes. I think she’s an incredible songwriter and I think she could make a really beautiful, beautiful record. I have no doubt, in fact. … She’s writing great songs. I’m very, very proud of her.” Related Artists The Swell Season

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