Tag Archives: book

Beyonce Can’t Pick Her Favorite Jay-Z Song

‘I can’t tell you which one is my favorite. It’s just too many,’ singer tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Beyonc

‘Deathly Hallows’ Director Says ‘Tender’ Hermione/Ron Scene Was Cut

‘They’re both very funny in it, but it ended up on the DVD because the overall tone of our film is quite intense,’ David Yates tells MTV News. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” Photo: Warner Bros. Now that filmgoers have finally had the opportunity to feast their eyes on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” it’s time for the inevitable overanalyzing of what didn’t make the cut — specifically for the “Potter” fanatics, which pages in the book didn’t make the film version. When MTV News caught up with director David Yates, we asked him what cuts were particularly hard for him to make and which of those will end up on the DVD extras. ‪”There are a couple of things that we’ve lost that just didn’t quite survive,” he said. “I did this wonderful scene between Hermione and Ron. I wanted to explore their relationship a little bit more, so when Ron leaves it really breaks your heart. ‪”There was a scene we shot up in Scotland; it’s a scene where Ron is showing Hermione how to throw a stone on a lake, how to spin a stone on the lake, and Hermione is being really girly about it. She’s got a really rubbish throw, and she has to insist that Ron show her how to spin the stone to sort of entice tactility and physical contact, and it’s a really funny, tender and moving scene,” Yates described. “They’re both very funny in it, but it ended up on the DVD because the overall tone of our film, as you know, is quite intense.” ‪Yates went on to say that he had the scene in the film, but it just didn’t quite fit. “We tried to keep as much of the stuff we felt was important as possible,” he said. Luckily for fans wanting to see that scene, they can look for it on the DVD. ‪”The DVD extras, I would guess there is about 10 or 12 or 15 extra minutes,” Yates revealed. ‪ What scene do you want to see on the DVD? What scene do you wish had made the movie? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we’ve got on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 1’ Clips Related Photos ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Premieres In NYC ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 1’

More:
‘Deathly Hallows’ Director Says ‘Tender’ Hermione/Ron Scene Was Cut

Judge orders Gawker to pull Palin book pages

NEW YORK — A federal judge on Saturday ordered Gawker Media to pull leaked pages of Sarah Palin's forthcoming book “America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag” from its blog. The injunction prohibits Gawker from “continuing to distribute, publish or otherwise transmit pages from the book” pending a hearing on Nov. 30. HarperCollins Publishers had sued Gawker after it published images on Nov. 17 from Palin's book before its release next week. Full Story: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40293752/ns/today-books/?ocid=MSNToolbar215# added by: Radical_Centrist

Pusha T Says Cryptic ‘So Appalled’ Verse Is ‘Self-Explanatory’

Clipse MC opens up about apparent reference to incarcerated ex-manager on Kanye West track, on ‘RapFix Live.’ By Alvin Blanco Pusha T Photo: Sohyung Kang/MTV News Pusha T has been getting plenty of mainstream recognition lately thanks to his G.O.O.D. Music co-sign and standout guest appearances on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. When the younger half of Virginia rhyme duo the Clipse dropped by “Rap Fix Live” on Thursday, he opened up about trips to Hawaii to craft “Runaway” with ‘Ye , but he also talked about brother and rhyme partner Malice as well as his incarcerated former manager. “Everybody knows that we’ve been through the wringer as far as the whole music and the whole street situation,” Pusha said. “Our family, our management, our friends. I lost five of my closest friends in ’09; like 30 years, 15 years [in prison] or better. A lot of what you see me doing right now is just so that none of that goes in vain, [like], I’mma show y’all that this is not in vain.” Pusha’s onetime manager Anthony “Geezy” Gonzalez was charged in 2009 with leading a $10 million drug-trafficking ring and sentenced to 32 years in prison. Asked whether a lyric from West’s “So Appalled” (“I speak of gospel, hostile/ Tony doing time for what he did to nostrils”) referred to Gonzalez, Pusha, who has typically been guarded about his ex-manager in the press, would only say, “That’s self-explanatory.” According to Pusha, it was the instrumental for “So Appalled” that inspired him to deliver such a spirited verse. “It’s Kanye, the beat brings the ghost out of you,” he said. The Virginia MC gave an update about Malice, who he said has been busy preparing for the release of his memoir, “Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind, and Naked,” with a provocative series of vlogs that include excerpts from the book. “People always say the dichotomy of the Clipse is, I’m the more brash one and Malice is the more introspective one, and [those are] the roles we play in the group,” Pusha explained. “But when you take Malice out of the group and you sit him down and he talks to you, well, writing to you in this book, it’s not rhyming, it’s just these are his words, these are his thoughts, these are his experiences. I think people are going to be blown away by this guy’s mind.” What do you think of Pusha’s verse on “So Appalled”? Share your reviews in the comments. Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Pusha T Related Artists Pusha T

Here is the original post:
Pusha T Says Cryptic ‘So Appalled’ Verse Is ‘Self-Explanatory’

Ultra Music Festival Blames Winter Music Conference For Scheduling Conflict

Fans, artists remain unsure of March plans because of rival dates for Miami electronic dance music events. By Adam Stewart Winter Music Conference 2010 Photo: MTV News The ongoing debate between the Winter Music Conference and the Ultra Music Festival is beginning to morph into a strange amalgamation of a boxing match and a presidential election. Each side has spoken its initial case, and now both are in the midst of a battle to secure artists, events and the masses of fans that come along with them. While choosing not to respond to the breach-of-contract claims alleged by Winter Music Conference officials, the Ultra Music Festival did begin to address some of the other looming questions regarding the awkwardly disjointed Miami dates. In a press release posted on the UMF website Thursday, UMF officials claim that the factors leading to the festival dates falling outside of WMC week were completely out of their control, implying that WMC organizers — who’ve scheduled their festival to begin March 8, a full two weeks earlier than expected — are the ones to blame. In a press release posted Wednesday evening, WMC organizers admitted they chose their conference dates based strictly on venue availability, which will for the first time land them at the Miami Beach Convention Center. According to the Miami Beach Convention Center website, the facilities were not available during the last week in March due to another large-scale event. Bill Kelly, owner and co-founder of WMC, told MTV News that the Convention Center was someplace they had always hoped to be, due not only to its prime South Beach location, but also its ability to accommodate the conference’s expanding size. But Ultra sees this claim as nothing more than an excuse used by WMC, which has intentionally detached itself from UMF. Ultra organizers insist that they “aligned [themselves] with every contact and resource [they had in] Miami Beach to try and secure a host hotel [for WMC].” Kelly claims that WMC officials did their best to find an accommodating location during the last week in March but came up empty-handed. Additionally — and as first reported by MTV News on Thursday — UMF officials validated speculation that its inability to move its three-day event to within the official WMC time frame was a direct result of the massive Calle Ocho street fair, which takes place on March13. UMF confirmed that its hope to align dates with WMC week “was rendered impossible by the City of Miami police department as they [would] not have the resources to host Ultra Music Festival and Calle Ocho in Miami on the same weekend.” WMC reminds us that the dates and locations of its conference have varied considerably over its 26-year run, falling between February and late March with locations between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Conversely, Ultra officials insist that in recent years, the electronic dance music industry as a whole has come to recognize and embrace the last week of March as the true WMC week, and that many of the artists’ tour schedules have already assumed the late March dates. “Large-scale events and festivals traditionally do not move their dates around year to year,” says the Ultra statement, adding that “a move like this [should] have to be done well over a year in advance to allow time for proper planning.” So what does this mean for the hundreds of thousands of bewildered fans who feel left out in the rain? Some new information suggests there is the potential for two epic music- and party-saturated weeks in the Miami sun. Thursday afternoon, the Miami New Times contested an MTV News report in which Club Space owner Louis Puig claimed the City of Miami Beach would not issue pool and beach party permits outside of the official WMC dates. Upon further investigation, Miami Beach official Max Sklar told MTV News that the city “considers a number of different factors before approving or denying an application.” He went on to explain that the “special-event permit approvals are not based on whether the event occurs during [WMC].” That said, the dozens of pool and beach parties that traditionally take over the Collins Avenue hotels now have some serious decisions to make and potential allegiances to declare. Online EDM retailer Beatport has thrown one of the premier must-see WMC pool and beach parties each year since its launch and is just one of the many entities faced with this difficult and potentially costly decision. “We throw our free Miami parties and events to connect the DJs we love with as many hard-core fans as possible,” says Beatport CEO Matt Adell. “The fracturing of some of the other events across the entire month of March certainly complicates our planning, as I am sure it does for thousands of others. We are working on a revised plan for Miami in March and will share it with the community as soon as it is fully baked.” Who will side with whom in the WMC/UMF debate? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check in at MTVNews.com for the latest on the unfolding situation.

More here:
Ultra Music Festival Blames Winter Music Conference For Scheduling Conflict

Leonardo DiCaprio To Star In JFK Assassination Flick

In ‘Legacy of Secrecy,’ actor will play FBI informant who claimed that Mafia boss ordered president’s murder. By Eric Ditzian Leonardo DiCaprio Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images Perhaps Leonardo DiCaprio is planning to clone himself. That might be a wise move, considering the slate of potential projects he’s been lining up recently. The three-time Oscar nominee has already signed on for the Clint Eastwood-directed “Hoover,” a biopic about the controversial FBI director. Then there’s the potential for “The Wolf of Wall Street” with director Ridley Scott, Baz Luhrmann’s take on “The Great Gatsby,” a starring role in an adaptation of the best-selling nonfiction book “The Devil in the White City” and a slew of other flicks in various stages of development. To that hefty roster, add one more project: DiCaprio is set to star in “Legacy of Secrecy,” an adaptation of a book about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. According to Variety, he’ll play FBI informant Jack Van Laningham, who allegedly learned that a Mafia boss had ordered the president’s murder. According to the book, which incorporates declassified FBI files detailing the FBI operation, Carlos Marcello, a known Mafia godfather, confessed to Van Laningham that he was responsible for JFK’s assassination. Many of Marcello’s associates were questioned in connection with the assassination, but Marcello himself was not named in the Warren Report, the official investigation into the tragedy. Warner Bros. is planning a potential 2013 release, though there’s no word about when production might begin. DiCaprio, who signed on to produce the film through his Appian Way slate after his father introduced him to the book, hasn’t been seen on the screen since this summer’s “Inception.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos The Evolution Of: Leonardo DiCaprio

More here:
Leonardo DiCaprio To Star In JFK Assassination Flick

‘Deathly Hallows – Part 1’: Everything You Need To Know

We revisit all of the magic that went into creating the first of the ‘Harry Potter’ series’ two-part finale. By Eric Ditzian Ralph Fiennes in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” Photo: Warner Bros. After the first five films in the franchise cast a combined $4.5 billion spell on the movie-going public, it was inevitable: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” J.K. Rowling’s final, 759-page book in the boy-wizard series, was going to be split into two separate movies. ” ‘The Deathly Hallows’ is so rich, the story so dense and there is so much that is resolved that after discussing it with [Rowling], we came to the conclusion that two parts were needed to do it justice,” producer David Heyman said in a statement explaining the move at the time. The announcement came in March 2008, well before “Half-Blood Prince” added a cool $934 million to that already gargantuan total. Good call, Warner Bros.! Now, part one of “Deathly Hallows” is upon us, and MTV News has got coverage of the flick stretching back to when the one-into-two-movies decision became public. Before you hop on your broomstick and swoop into the multiplex — or, you know, just take a car — check out everything there is to know about “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.” The Split OK, so we knew the book would be divided into two movies, but the big question was where the first movie would end and the second begin. We put that query to Emma Watson , a.k.a. Hermione Granger, in ’08. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I am as intrigued as you are. I am waiting at the moment to receive the script. It’s a tough call. I’m sure it will be some cruel cliffhanger.” Right. Later, director David Yates dropped us a hint about the split. “We’ve had three or four different ideas about where to cut off the seventh film,” he said. “Traditionally, the movies have ended with a death or a bereavement, some sort of passage or arrival. This time we think we will end with more a cliffhanger.” For a while, there was a rumor that “Part 1” would indeed end with a cliffhanger: Harry and his friends would be captured and brought to Malfoy Manor, but that didn’t turn out to be true. The film, it turned out, would end when Voldemort gains control of the Elder Wand, one of the three Deathly Hallows that allow the holder to conquer death. And that, we learned after a recent screening, is exactly when the credits roll . The 3-D As “Avatar” made its record-breaking climb to box-office immortality, Warner Bros. announced that “Deathly Hallows” would be getting a post-production conversion to 3-D . ” ‘Harry Potter’ is already an epic film , but having that added dimension will make it even more epic, and that seemed like an opportunity that was too hard to pass up,” producer Heyman told us in March of this year. By that point, though, the conversion process still hadn’t been started. Would it be finished in time? And would the 3-D be high-quality enough to please fans jaded by substandard three-dimensional fare like “Clash of the Titans”? Apparently not. The studio announced in October that it was canceling 3-D for “Part 1.” “We do not want to disappoint fans who have long anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey,” Warner Bros. said in a statement. Staring Into the ‘Hallows’ The shoot got started in early ’09, and months before production wrapped, we’d already received our first official look at the film. It was rather uninspiring, a simple photo of Hermione, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). Eh. Thankfully, subsequent peeks at the flick more than fulfilled expectations. Look, there’s Harry with his trusty wand . There’s the first trailer , with a Voldemort vs. Harry throwdown and a peek at footage from ‘Part 2.’ And a snap of Harry riding shotgun with Hagrid. And a final, high-intensity, super-dark trailer . As Rufus Scrimgeour says, “These are dark times, this is no denying.” What the Kids Have to Say About ‘Potter’ The fun kicked off in London last week during the London red-carpet premiere , the boys looking spiffy in their ties and the girls all glam in their haute couture. MTV News traveled across the pond for some one-on-one time with the cast. Both Watson and Radcliffe had some funny stuff to say about their surprising onscreen smooch. “It was only the day before that they said, ‘Oh, by the way, we hope it’s all right, but we want you to be topless , and we’re going to cover you in silver paint,’ ” Watson told us. “It was awkward enough as it was without the silver paint and the strapless bra, but whatever. It works. It looks good for the story.” Said Radcliffe , “I thought it was going to be a kind of a slow, sensual thing, and Emma really went for it.” We flew back to New York for another red-carpet premiere, just days before Friday’s (November 19) release. “It’s sad, absolutely,” Radcliffe said about the series coming to an end. “[But] we’re going out on a high note. To sustain this level of quality for 10 years is a very rare thing in a big franchise. I think it’s us and ‘Toy Story,’ to be honest. I think we’ve done amazingly. I’m thrilled.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Daniel Radcliffe MTV Rough Cut: Emma Watson Related Photos ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Premieres In NYC Behind The Scenes With The Cast Of ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’

See the rest here:
‘Deathly Hallows – Part 1’: Everything You Need To Know

Jay-Z Defends Rap As An Art Form On ‘The Daily Show’

Hov gives Jon Stewart a lighthearted version of the purpose of his book, ‘Decoded.’ By Alvin Blanco Jay-Z appears on “The Daily Show” on Wednesday Photo: Comedy Central Jay-Z’s whirlwind promotional tour for his just-released book, “Decoded,” landed him on Wednesday night’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.” The banter between Hova and Stewart was lighthearted — the rapper, businessman and author threw up the Roc hand sign while taking his seat — but still managed to touch on the weightier aspects of hip-hop culture. “The basis of this book was, I care about the culture and about rap and it being a respectable form of art,” Jay-Z said, echoing what he told MTV News earlier this week. “The book is surrounded around these songs, but it’s also about a generation of kids. We grew up around the same time as rap. … It’s basically a story behind those songs, you know, context.” After some talk about rappers going from admonishing police to actually needing them in light of their newfound fame, the topic shifted to rap music’s maturation. “Every art form has its pie in the face, more low-brow,” Stewart said, comparing hip-hop to comedy. “But then there’s always been the poets. I’ve always seen rap as more almost the embodiment of, like, Richard Pryor. How Richard Pryor started out, he didn’t really talk about his real life, he was doing shtick, and then he grew into an artist and began to explore himself. It seems like the story of rap is that same story.” Jay-Z agreed with Stewart’s sentiment and also noted the genre’s use as a scapegoat for America’s ills. To this Stewart drew laughs when he quipped, “As a Jew, I want to thank you for that. … When you guys came along, it really took the heat off our shoulders.” Stewart then inquired if rappers felt they were being unfairly targeted for their form of expression. “Of course, I’m not talking about all rap, because some of it is sh–, and some of it is great,” Jay-Z deadpanned before adding that hip-hop gets attacked for troubles that regardless of its existence “were going on in the community daily … no pun intended.” And when Stewart asked if rap’s success had lead to increased scrutiny, Jay-Z talked of “reverends in our community driving bulldozers over our CDs,” likely alluding to Reverend Calvin O. Butts III’s threats to drive a steamroller over rap CDs in 1993 to protest offensive lyrics. The televised segment ended with Stewart asking Jay-Z if he had another five minutes for more questions. The extended (and uncensored) version of the interview, in which they discuss the natural progression of rapper to entrepreneur and how hip-hop will mature in the coming days, is now posted on TheDailyShow.com . What did you think of Jay-Z’s appearance on “The Daily Show”? Talk about it in the comments. Related Videos Jay-Z’s ‘Decoded’: A Closer Look Related Photos Jay-Z “Decoded” Book Release And Conversation In NYC Related Artists Jay-Z

Continue reading here:
Jay-Z Defends Rap As An Art Form On ‘The Daily Show’

FLASHBACK: PENN JILLETTE CALLS COPS ON GROPING TSA AGENT

Last Thursday I was flying to LA on the Midnight flight. I went through security my usual sour stuff. I beeped, of course, and was shuttled to the “toss-em” line. A security guy came over. I assumed the position. I had a button up shirt on that was untucked. He reached around while he was behind me and grabbed around my front pocket. I guess he was going for my flashlight, but the area could have loosely been called “crotch.” I said, “You have to ask me before you touch me or it’s assault.” He said, “Once you cross that line, I can do whatever I want.” I said that wasn’t true. I say that I have the option of saying no and not flying. He said, “Are you going to let me search you, or do I just throw you out?” I said, “Finish up, and then call the police please.” When he was finished with my shoes, he said, “Okay, you can go.” I said, “I’d like to see your supervisor and I’d like LVPD to come here as well. I was assaulted by you.” He said, “You’re free to go, there’s no problem.” I said, “I have a problem, please send someone over.” They sent a guy over and I said that I’d like to register a complaint. I insisted on his name and badge number. I filled it out with my name. The supervisor, I think trying to intimidate me, asked for my license, and I gave it to him happily as he wrote down information. I kept saying, “Please get the police,” and they kept saying, “You’re free to go, we don’t need the police.” I insisted and they got a higher up, female, supervisor. I was polite, cold, and a little funny. “Anyone is welcome to grab my crotch, I don’t require dinner and a movie, just ask me. Is that asking too much? You wanna grab my crotch, please ask. Does that seem like a crazy person to you?” I had about 4 of them standing around. Finally Metro PD shows up. It’s really interesting. First of all, the cop is a BIG P&T fan and that ain’t hurting. Second, I get the vibe that he is WAY sick of these federal leather-sniffers. He has that vibe that real cops have toward renta-cops. This is working WAY to my advantage, so I play it. The supervisor says to the cop, ‘He’s free to go. We have no problem, you don’t have to be here.” Which shows me that the Feds are afraid of local. This is really cool. She says, “We have no trouble and he doesn’t want to miss his flight.” I say, “I can take an early morning flight or a private jet. ” The cop says, “If I have a citizen who is saying he was assaulted, you can’t just send me away.” I tell the cop the story, in a very funny way. The cop, the voice of sanity says, “What’s wrong with you people? You can’t just grab a guy’s crank without his permission.” I tell him that my genitals weren’t grabbed and the cop says, “I don’t care, you can’t do that to people. That’s assault and battery in my book.” The supervisor says that they’ll take care of the security guy. The cop says, “I’m not leaving until Penn tells me to. Now do you want to fill out all the paper work and show up in court, because I’ll be right there beside you.” The supervisor says it’s an internal matter, and they’ll take care of it. “If you want to pursue this, we’re going to have to go through the electronic evidence.” Full Story Here: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash9p.htm added by: im1mjrpain

The Creepy Sex Manifesto by the Author of The Pedophile’s Guide [Excerpts]

Philip Greaves gained instant notoriety on Wednesday when his book The Pedophile’s Guide to Love & Pleasure became a sudden, bizarre bestseller . But The Pedophile’s Guide isn’t the only book Greaves has written. More