Tag Archives: church

Meet Tom Cruise’s (Alleged) Arranged Scientology Almost-Bride [PIC]

There’s a reason that the inner workings of Scientology are still a mystery to many, and that reason involves an army of lawyers. But we’re going to go ahead and tell you the following story, albeit with a disclaimer: We’re just repeating what Vanity Fair said, so please get mad at them, not us! Thanks! When Tom Cruise and his third wife Katie Holmes divorced earlier this year, rumors spread that Katie left because she was worried about the Church of Scientology’s effect on her daughter. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, according to a new Vanity Fair article that claims Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi (left) was set up to “audition” for the role of Cruise’s girlfriend just before he got together with Holmes. Nazanin (who you might remember from Iron Man [2008] or her role as Nora on How I Met Your Mother ) was allegedly chosen as a potential bride for Cruise after an extensive search in 2004, given a physical and mental makeover (including an intense moth-long session ” where she was audited every day, a process in which she told a high-ranking Scientology official her innermost secrets and every detail of her sex life “) and flown to New York to “try out” for the part of Tom Cruise’s girlfriend. According to Vanity Fair ‘s Maureen Orth, ” in November 2004 Boniadi was flown to New York, where she met Cruise. That’s when she first sensed that this was possibly going to be an arranged marriage. For their first date Cruise and Boniadi went to dinner at Nobu with an entourage of Scientology aides, then to the skating rink at Rockefeller Center, which was closed to the public especially for them. The two spent that first night together but, according to several sources, they did not have sex…She was given a second confidentiality agreement specifically about Cruise to sign. ” But after two months of dating, Nazanin was (allegedly) deemed not good enough for Scientology’s golden boy and sent to the Celebrity Center in L.A., where she was (allegedly) told Tom “ wants someone with her own power—like [ex-wife] Nicole [Kidman]. ” After an (alleged) tearful confession to a friend (allegedly) led to an assignment scrubbing toilets and digging ditches, Nazanin and her mother, also a (up to that point) loyal Scientologist, left the church for good. Nazanin Boniadi may be new to you, but we bet you’ve heard of celebrity Scientologists Elisabeth Moss , Juliette Lewis , Linda Blair , Laura Prepon , Bijou Phillips and Kelly Preston …and you can see more of them all right here at MrSkin.com!

Continue reading here:
Meet Tom Cruise’s (Alleged) Arranged Scientology Almost-Bride [PIC]

Dirty Dog Diaries: Married Pastor Popped For Spreading HIV To Several Women In His Congregation

Married Pastor Arrested For Spreading HIV To His Congregation A married, panty-pandering pastor was recently arrested after one of his mistresses in his church congregation discovered he was HIV positive and infecting others in the church. Pastor Craig Lamar Davis looks like any other healthy, happy, heterosexual pastor with good family values. He was once a preacher at the Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta and a pillar of leadership in the community. Also, like a lot of men at the front of the church, the pastor had a thing for the ladies. Another thing you might want to know about Davis, according to authorities, is that the pastor is HIV positive. He also didn’t seem to care who else became HIV positive after he slept with them. The pastor was arrested for reckless conduct after police found that he was sleeping with several women with whom he was not married. A woman by the name of Ronita McAfee says that she met the pastor on Facebook and began sleeping with him. Ronita says that she became concerned when one of the pastor’s ex-girlfriends called her to say that she had HIV. She claims that the pastor then counseled her (presumably leaning on the word of the good “lawud”) and told her to get tested. Davis then says that she noticed that the pastor himself was not interested in getting tested, even though she had also contracted HIV. This is what prompted her to seek out a warrant for his arrest. Ronita is, by our best guess, the first person to file for the arrest of someone who was found to maliciously spread HIV in Clayton, County, GA. When the investigation began, another woman in the church leadership stepped forward with her confession about interacting with Davis. The woman even claimed that she’d been celibate for 15 years before meeting him. She too is HIV positive. Just another reason why it’s so important to wrap it up at all times. And to not sleep with married men . Source

See the original post:
Dirty Dog Diaries: Married Pastor Popped For Spreading HIV To Several Women In His Congregation

George Clooney Raises $625K For Obama At Geneva Event; Noah Baumbach and Brian De Palma On Tap for New York Film Festival: Biz Break

Also in Monday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, the Hamptons International Film Festival revealed its list of the “10 Actors to Watch” for this October’s event. Minnie Driver joins a “horror musical.” A Toronto and Cannes film is headed for U.S. theaters. Abbie Cornish joins a Fellini pic. And two jail-bound punks flee Russia after being convicted of Russian Orthodox Church offense. Noah Baumbach, Brian De Palma, Abbas Kiarostami Set for NYFF Event Noah Baumbach and Brian De Palma will take part in the “On Cinema” conversation while Abbas Kiarostami, David Chase and Robert Zemeckis will participate in the Directors Dialogues at the upcoming 50th New York Film Festival . The Film Society of Lincoln Center, which organizes the annual festival also said that the the Director’s Cut of Frank Oz’s Little Shop of Horrors restored versions of Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate , Laurence Olivier’s Richard III and Peter Whitehead’s The Rolling Stone – Charling is My Darling – Ireland 1965 will be presented as part of NYFF’s Masterworks program in addition to two sidebar presentations as part of the festival’s 50th Anniversary event. Hamptons International Film Festival to Fete “10 Actors to Watch” The October festival on Long Island’s East End will spotlight the “2012 ‘Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch: Breakthrough Performers’ at the upcoming 20th anniversary edition of HIFF taking place October 4 – 8. This year’s honorees include: Adam Driver ( Inside Llewyn Davis ), Domhnall Gleeson ( Anna Karenina ), Bella Heathcote ( Not Fade Away ), Dree Hemingway ( Starlet ), Boyd Holbrook ( The Host ), Elyas M’Barek ( Turkish for Beginners ), Scoot McNairy ( Killing Them Softly ), Nate Parker ( Arbitrage ), Imogen Poots ( Knight of Cups ) and Alicia Vikander ( Anna Karenina ). Minnie Driver Joins Horror Musical Stage Fright Oscar nominee Minnie Driver is joining Meat Loaf Aday ( Rocky Horror Picture Show ), Allie Mac Donald ( House at the End of the Street ) and Douglas Smith ( Big Love ) in the horror-musical Stage Fright . Jerome Sable (“The Legend of Beaver Dam”) will direct from his own script.  The feature tells the story of a snobby musical theater camp terrorized by a blood-thirsty masked killer who despises musical theatre. Scream  meets Glee in this genre-bending R-rated horror-musical. Driver plays Kylie Swanson, the enigmatic and haunted star of the Broadway stage, and mother of siblings Camilla (MacDonald) and Buddy (Smith) who find themselves at the centre of the unfolding horror at the camp. Toronto and Cannes’ Ernest & Celestine Heads to Theaters Ernest & Celestine is based on the popular children’s book series by author and illustrator, Gabrielle Vincent. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a young mouse named Celestine. The film debuted at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival where it received a special mention in Directors Fortnight. Distributor GKIDS will release the film in the U.S. and will have its North American premiere at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. The deal was negotiated by Vanessa Saal for Studiocanal and Eric Beckman for GKIDS.  Around the ‘net… Abbie Cornish Joins Fellini Black And White Cornish will play the female lead Betty in Fellini Black and White . She is the beautiful veterinarian that the Italian filmmaker fell in love with when he traveled to L.A. for the 1957 Oscars in which he won best picture for Nights of Cabiria Directed by Henry Bromell, the film stars William H. Macy, Terrence Howard, Peter Dinklage and Brazilian star Wagner Maura, who’ll play Fellini, Deadline reports . George Clooney Raises $625K for Obama Campaign in Geneva The Swiss contingent of Democrats Abroad raised “at least” $625,000 for the Obama campaign at an evening event in Geneva where George Clooney appeared. Guests paid $15K to have dinner with him and $5K for a photo with him and $1K to attend a reception before the dinner, Deadline reports . Two Pussy Riot Activists Flee Russia Two activists in Russian punk band Pussy Riot have fled the country, their Twitter account said. Three members of the group were jailed this month for staging an anti-Vladimir Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral. The pair who fled have not been named but the husband of one of the jailed women said the duo had taken part in the cathedral protest in February. Their brief, obscenity-laced performance, which implored the Virgin Mary to “throw Putin out”, enraged the Russian Orthodox Church. Many in the West, including recently Madonna, condemned the Pussy Riot sentences as disproportionate, BBC reports .

See the original post here:
George Clooney Raises $625K For Obama At Geneva Event; Noah Baumbach and Brian De Palma On Tap for New York Film Festival: Biz Break

David Koepp on SWATH 2: ‘I Couldn’t’ See Sequel Being Made Without Kristen Stewart

David Koepp couldn’t envision a Snow White and the Huntsman  sequel without Kristen Stewart — which is one reason he says he’s no longer involved in the project. Koepp — who scripted  Jurassic Park , the original 2002  Spider-Man  movie and co-wrote and directed this weekend’s new bike-messenger thriller Premium Rush — told Movieline that he departed the project because he had worked on a script idea “that I really liked” involving Stewart’s character. “And their situation, I hear, changed a little, so they weren’t interested in pursuing that idea anymore.” Koepp said that was a sign for him to move on. “I felt like there was a good path with her, but then they wanted to explore a different thing that I had no ideas for,” he explained. “If you don’t have any ideas, you should probably put your pen in your backpack and go home.” As a result, he added, “we agreed to part ways and stay friends.” When I asked Koepp if he could see a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman being made sans Stewart, he replied: “Well, I couldn’t. That was why I felt like I couldn’t follow through.” Stewart’s involvement in a Snow White sequel has been hotly debated since reports broke in late July that she cheated on her on- and 0ff-screen Twilight love interest Robert Pattinson with  SWATH director Rupert Sanders and apologized for it. On Aug. 15, Deadline  reported that, internally, Universal is discussing whether to focus the next movie on the Huntsman character played by Chris Hemsworth , who is fast proving himself to be leading-man material. Universal also bought a crime drama called 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell for Sanders. Nell Alk is an arts and entertainment writer and reporter based in New York City. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal , Manhattan Magazine , Z!NK Magazine and on InterviewMagazine.com, PaperMag.com and RollingStone.com, among others. Learn more about her here . Follow Nell Alk on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter .

Follow this link:
David Koepp on SWATH 2: ‘I Couldn’t’ See Sequel Being Made Without Kristen Stewart

Spielberg ‘Blown Away’ By IMAX Conversion Of Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Steven Spielberg likes IMAX’s Raiders of the Lost Ark conversion. He really likes it!  I n an interview with Yahoo! , the uber-director said that he was “dubious” when IMAX approached him about giving his 1981 action-adventure classic the 70 mm mega-screen treatment, but ended up being way more than pleasantly surprised. “I didn’t know if the 1981 print would stand up to a full IMAX transfer, so I came expecting a sort of grainy, muddy, and overly enlarged representation of the movie I had made [31] years ago,” the filmmaker said. “And I was blown away by the fact that it looked better than the movie I had made [31] years ago.” From Sept. 7 to 13, Paramount will release the IMAX version of Raiders  theatrically in conjunction with the Blu-ray DVD release of the epic.  On Saturday, Sept. 15, AMC theaters will also present an Indiana Jones movie marathon that will show all four films beginning at 10:30 a.m. A collectible poster and lanyard are part of the $25 ticket price. Spielberg, who’se now working on the fifth installment of the Indy franchise, even said that the IMAX conversion improved upon some of the original film’s cinematic shortcomings. “All the shadows in the earlier scenes that we shot in Hawaii [were] always kind of muddy anyway on 35mm,” he explained, “because we couldn’t schlep all of our big arc lights down into this valley.”  When he watched the IMAX conversion, Spielberg said, “the shadows weren’t murky and washed out; they were sharp as a tack.” “I sat there, I think, probably with my mouth open a little wider than it normally is,” he added. He was similarly impressed with how the IMAX transfer improved upon the sound quality of the 35 mm version. “When the giant boulder comes rolling down after Indiana Jones, Spielberg said, “You’ll see it full size, and you’ll feel it in your stomach.” Check out the IMAX trailer: [Yahoo!] Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Go here to read the rest:
Spielberg ‘Blown Away’ By IMAX Conversion Of Raiders Of The Lost Ark

POLL: Would You See A Snow White And The Huntsman Sequel That Didn’t Star Kristen Stewart?

With Deadline reporting that Universal Pictures is denying a Hollywood Reporter  story that Kristen Stewart has been deep-sixed from the sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman , and the Twitter-verse buzzing over the news, we here at Movieline figure it’s a good time to ask our readers to weigh in on this debate. As Deadline points out, SWATH ‘s near $400 million worldwide box-office gross makes it an eligible vehicle for a sequel, and, internally, Universal is discussing whether to focus the next movie on the Huntsman character played by Chris Hemsworth, who is fast proving himself to be leading-man material.  According to our sister site, the Hollywood Reporter “used all this as a referendum to stamp out the participation of Stewart, because of recent events , which seemed a bit harsh and unfair, particularly since nary a word of the sequel or spinoff has yet been written.” (There’s also the bit of news that Universal has bought a crime drama called 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell for  Huntsman  director Rupert Sanders.)   So, now we’re dying to ask you: Would you see SWATH 2 without Kristen Stewart? Check out the poll below and vote. It’ll be good practice for November. Take Our Poll Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Visit link:
POLL: Would You See A Snow White And The Huntsman Sequel That Didn’t Star Kristen Stewart?

Yolanda Pecoraro: The Next Mrs. Tom Cruise?

Hey, have you heard? Tom Cruise is single again. In light of the actor’s divorce from Katie Holmes, and with many believing Scientology is to blame for the couple’s split, the National Enquirer quotes an expert on that religion who says Cruise will next marry somebody from within the church. Specifically, Yolanda Pecoraro ! The actress is a “Scientology princess, perfect for Tom,” according to a tabloid source , who adds that Pecoraro has been taking Scientology courses since she was 13 years old. Moreover, Yolanda admits she knows Cruise and is neither married nor engaged. Score! “With the embarrassment his divorce has caused the church, they want to stabilize the situation quickly,” the insider says, adding that Pecoraro and Cruise met in 2004 and the latter paid for the former to attend Scientology courses in Hollywood. Even if Cruise somehow does not select Pecoraro, few believe he won’t marry again. The only question remaining: which young Hollywood star is in need of the Tom Cruise Bump and will negotiate a contract accept his proposal of love? Choose from these options or submit your own:

More here:
Yolanda Pecoraro: The Next Mrs. Tom Cruise?

Cissy Houston, Mariah Carey Lead Whitney Tribute at BET Awards

Cissy Houston and Mariah Carey were at the forefront of an emotional tribute to Whitney Houston at last night’s BET Awards . The latter kicked off the 19-minute event, recalling stories about Whitney – who tragically overdosed and died in February – and told the audience: “I miss my friend. I miss hearing her voice and laughter.” Monica and Brandy also took to the stage, singing multiple Whitney hits, while former Waiting to Exhale co-stars Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine honored their late friend. But it was Cissy who brought tears to the eyes of all in attendance. She sang a version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and A-listers such as Beyonce and Soulja Boy were caught on camera crying. Watch the entire tribute for yourself: Whitney Houston Tribute (BET Awards)

Original post:
Cissy Houston, Mariah Carey Lead Whitney Tribute at BET Awards

Tom Cruise to File For Divorce From Katie Holmes, Seek Joint Custody of Suri in California

Tom Cruise is reportedly gearing up for a fight. Having been blindsided last week by his spouse, he is ready for a custody battle over Suri Cruise and preparing to counter-file for divorce in California. According to celebrity gossip sources, Cruise wants to ensure that Katie doesn’t get sole custody of Suri, which she asked for in her New York filing. Cruise’s camp says the divorce can only take place in New York if the marriage occurred there or the spouse has been living there continuously. Despite the couple owning an N.Y. apartment deeded in her name, he will argue that both live in L.A. and she doesn’t meet N.Y. residency requirements . This is significant as N.Y. courts are perceived as much more likely to award sole custody in a contentious divorce than their California counterparts. An insider added of Cruise’s game plan: “There is absolutely no way that he is going to let Katie have sole custody. The lines are being drawn.” The somewhat surprising Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce came out of nowhere, allegedly prompted by her fear of Scientology groups corrupting Suri. The Church of Scientology has denied reports suggesting its people are tailing Katie Holmes or that she is under surveillance, as has been rumored. Regardless, it wasn’t a shock to many when she filed for divorce that it was Cruise’s controversial religion at the crux of the couple’s marital problems. “Every move she made and everything she did was controlled … She felt like she was in Rosemary’s Baby ,” says one insider, referring to the 1968 film. Indeed, her decision to leave the movie star wasn’t easy, nor was it simply about the 33-year-old’s own personal contentment, a Holmes source says. “This is about protecting her daughter,” the insider explains. “She wants to be in charge of how Suri is being raised and didn’t want her to have an exclusively Scientology education. She felt she had to get out to save her daughter.”

Continue reading here:
Tom Cruise to File For Divorce From Katie Holmes, Seek Joint Custody of Suri in California

Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes Divorce: Scientology Fears Prompted Her to File, Blindside Actor

Katie Holmes surprised many by filing for divorce from Tom Cruise, but the apparent reason behind her decision would likely be anyone’s first guess. Scientology. Sources say the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce is happening for precisely that reason, specifically her concern that Suri will be introduced to it. Their daughter is now six, the age where Scientology will begin to be a major part of her life, and Katie fears Suri will be dragged in too deep . Holmes has never fully committed to Scientology, TMZ reports, despite her ties with the church and more than five years of marriage to Tom. Many observers felt their marriage would never work for this reason; Katie respected Tom’s beliefs, but raising their child his way a different story. As she’s grown, the couple had been arguing over Suri with greater frequency, and Katie eventually filed for divorce to protect the little girl. A key detail in the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce filing was the location in which it was filed: The 33-year-old actress made if official in New York. She does not want Tom, 49, to control decisions relating to Suri’s religion, and feels N.Y. is far more likely to grant her request for sole custody. Holmes reportedly is not after money – she had plenty before they got married and there’s a prenup in place anyway – just little Suri Cruise . Tom deeded their NYC apartment to Katie last year, reportedly for tax purposes; she’s using it to establish residence, and file for divorce, in the city. What is Scientology and is Katie right to be running scared? You will surely have plenty to say about it in the comments, but we leave you with this: Here’s Cruise describing Scientology and what the faith means to him in a video leaked in 2008. Clearly, the man takes it very seriously … Tom Cruise Scientology Video

Read the original post:
Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes Divorce: Scientology Fears Prompted Her to File, Blindside Actor