Pippa, who is Kate Middleton#39;s only sister, will be her maid of honor at Kate#39;s April 29 wedding to Prince William. It#39;s still unclear whether Pippa will be Kate#39;s lady-in-waiting after the nuptials. Pippa, 27, who#39;s in charge of planning the “hen party” for Kate, 29, is actually preparing two celebrations – one somewhere in London and one at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, reports Britain#39;s Daily Mail. It#39;s traditional to keep the bride guessing when i
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The young actor dishes to USA Today about his new musical, and living semi-anonymously in NYC with his girlfriend. By Eric Ditzian Daniel Radcliffe Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images Daniel Radcliffe hasn’t been living in New York City very long — the Broadway musical that brought him here, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” doesn’t even officially open for another two weeks — but he’s already quite comfortable within the Big Apple’s concrete confines. As he revealed in a new interview with USA Today , the 21-year-old star of the “Harry Potter” movies has been living in the West Village with his girlfriend and enjoying the anonymity that city life affords. “I’m very comfortable discussing my personal life, because it’s so boring,” he said, adding of his girlfriend, whose identity he routinely declines to disclose publically, “She’s here with me as much as she can be. She’s about to start a new job in not too long, though, so I won’t see her for a few months.” The couple has been living downtown since “How to Succeed” rehearsals began, a short subway ride away from the show’s home at the Al Hirschfeld Theater near Times Square. “I love it, because it’s possible to be kind of anonymous,” Radcliffe said. “I’m 5-foot-5, and I’ll wear a big parka and put the hood up, and nobody gives me a second glance.” He’s hoping, of course, that the entertainment industry continues to pay him heed after the conclusion of the “Harry Potter” franchise debuts in July. So far, so good. In addition to his stint on Broadway, Radcliffe has already shot a small-scale supernatural tale, “The Woman in Black,” and has lined up a handful of upcoming projects, from the indie comedy “The Amateur Photographer” to an adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “I’ve always thought that as long as directors and casting directors don’t see me as just Harry Potter, I’ll be OK,” Radcliffe said. “People have shown a lot of faith in me, and I owe them a huge debt. They’re letting me prove that I’m serious about this.” None of these projects, of course, have the cultural cache of “Harry Potter,” whose end to production Radcliffe called sad, while also admitting, “[It] had to end. To have me doing it at 30 would be awful.” He’s moved on to Broadway, although his “Harry Potter” press duties will interrupt the show for three days in early July. Radcliffe’s greatest challenge onstage, he said, was learning to dance. “I have absolutely no aptitude for it,” he said. “It was a matter of putting in the time so I could develop the confidence. My dance teacher keeps telling me, ‘If you’re smiling, your feet could be doing pretty much anything and no one will care.’ But if you have that rigor mortis look of concentration, it doesn’t work.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos The Evolution Of: Daniel Radcliffe
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We take a look at the most fascinating scenes featured in the new promo clip for the upcoming J.J. Abrams-directed adventure film. By Eric Ditzian Photo: Paramount Pictures “What the hell?” says a boy at the very end of the first full-length trailer for “Super 8,” neatly summarizing our own thoughts about the footage from the mysterious action-adventure film: Um, what exactly did we just see? Well, what we saw, first off, was an incredibly effective promo clip courtesy of director J.J. Abrams and executive producer Steven Spielberg. It managed to maintain the spirit of a teaser trailer — withholding far more information than is ever unleashed — while expanding our understanding of, and getting us seriously more excited about, what we’ll see in the flick when it hits theaters on June 10. Here are our picks for the new trailer’s five key moments: What Kind of Military Trucks Are Those? In we’d already seen the fiery train crash that unleashes some sort of very angry, possible very alien creature. So what we’re focused on here is what’s new, like those military trucks rolling through town with red cargo bins. What kind of military vehicles haul cargo like that? We see them pull right up to the train’s wreckage, so we’re guessing whatever is in them is important. As an Air Force leader, played by Noah Emmerich, says to Kyle Chandler’s local policeman, “I understand you have concerns about our cargo,” before telling him there’s nothing to worry about. Right … 9/11 … for Dogs? Though the film is set in 1979, there’s no mistaking the allusion to September 11, 2001, in this shot of missing-dog posters. Apparently, all the dogs hightailed it out of town after the train crash. Why is it that animals always seem to grasp potential sci-fi terror before humans? And what ever happened to man’s best friend, after all? That Looks Like It Hurts So dogs and people start to go missing. Things, no doubt, start to go from bad to worse. Just look at this bloody-faced guy who has a gun in his hand, a terrified look in his eyes, and one word of instruction: “Go!” This raises a question about “Super 8” that we’ve had for a while. Early reports seemed to suggest that this movie would be more of an alien-invasion film in the vein of “Cloverfield.” But most of the footage we’ve seen thus far gives an impression of something more akin to “E.T.” So which is it? Or is it both? In the new trailer, we definitely get a sense of a Spielberg-like focus on family-oriented fare, yet things clearly get very intense and very dangerous at some point. Boom! Boom! Throughout the trailer, we’ve seen how this alien presence can somehow manipulate electricity and exert a telekinetic power on objects. Here we see a prime example of that ability, as the local electronics store goes boom. At others points, power lines explode, a bus tips over, and, well, it’s all leading to… Look, Up in the Sky The most eye-popping scene in the entire trailer comes at nearly the very end. Main Street is trashed, the citizenry is freaked out and the military is nowhere to be seen as vehicles rise up into the air. The kids (portrayed by Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning) — both looking very much like characters from “E.T.,” he Elliot, she Gertie — take in the craziness. Like in “E.T.,” it seems that only the children fully understand the implications of what’s actually going on. For example: No one believes a man in the hospital, for instance, who claims to have seen the creature … except the boy. As he tells the man, “I believe you.” What are your favorite moments in the new “Super 8” teaser? Tell us in the comments. Check out everything we’ve got on “Super 8.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos The ‘Super 8’ Trailer’s Key Moments
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Read the transcript of this week’s lightning fast recap, just in case you missed a joke. By Jim Cantiello Naima Adedapo performs on “American Idol” on Wednesday Photo: Fox Jim Cantiello’s “American Idol” in 60 Seconds recaps have been an institution at MTV News since Sanjaya’s Reign of Terror. But sometimes, the lightning-quick pace moves by so fast, you occasionally miss a joke, comment or sight gag. So, as a courtesy to our loyal watchers, we’re publishing the full script of Jim’s latest recap. Check out the embedded video to catch the first “Idol in 60 Seconds” of season 10. Hey guys, MTV News “American Idol” expert Jim Cantiello here with everything you need to know about this week’s “Idol” in 60 seconds. [ Deep breath! ] This week, season 10 finally kicked off and everyone was excited … except for those two. [ Shot of Jimmy Iovine and Berry Gordy as the lone sitting ducks in an audience packed with screaming people on their feet. ] The top 13 performed songs from their personal idols, which included two dudes who were accused of raping children [ Jacob Lusk tackled R. Kelly, Thia Magia worshipped Michael Jackson ], one former heroin addict [ Paul McDonald’s Ryan Adams homage ] and Celine Dion?! Ugh! But this ain’t your grandma’s “Idol.” Jimmy Iovine was added to the show to make the songs sound contemporary! [ Clip of the lame lite-jazz arrangement Thia Megia was saddled with. ] Oh, but we have a new judging panel. They brought their A-game, right?! [ Clip of J. Lo saying pitch doesn’t matter, clip of Steven Tyler name-checking International Women’s Day for no reason. ] [ Jim is disappointed. ] This is the remix?! It wasn’t all a wash, though. Paul McDonald did his best Gollum impression. Casey Abrams got high … praises. And admit it: You totally loved watching those two teenagers cry. [ Shots of Lauren Alaina and Thia Megia fighting back tears. ] But my favorite was Naima, who proved with “Umbrella” that she can dance … sort of, and she can rap … sort of, and she can sing … sor— OK, two out of three ain’t bad. On Wednesday night’s results show: Werrrrrk! [ Shot of Jacob Lusk being fierce in the group number. ] [ Clip: Pia Toscano sings the line, “I’m starting with a man in the mirror.” ] She is?! Werrrrrk! WERRRRRRRRRRRRK! [ Shot of Adam Lambert performing “Aftermath.” ] [ Clip of Adam telling J. Lo, “So I want you to teach me how to dougie.” ] OK, Adam, there’s no need to lie. And results! “You’re all safe except for you.” [ Shot of Karen Rodriguez’s awkward bottom three placement. ] “Just kidding, except not.” There’s your bottom tres. There’s your bottom two. And scene. [ Shot of Ashthon weeping. ] DING! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With Jim Cantiello And Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
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‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds: We’re Under Naima’s ‘Umbrella’
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‘Dangerous’ Durbin surprises judges with his rendition of the Wings staple ‘Maybe I’m Amazed.’ By Adam Graham James Durbin performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX James Durbin has one of those big, overpowering voices that can be difficult to rein in. But on Wednesday’s (March 9) episode of “American Idol,” he was able to keep it in check, and turned in one of the evening’s standout performances. After tearing through Judas Priest’s heavy metal classic “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ ” on last week’s show, one may have expected Durbin to go back to the metal playbook this week, when contestants were asked to sing a song by one of their personal idols. Instead, Durbin threw a curveball and opted to sing Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed,” which was recorded by Wings in 1976 (and may be familiar to fans of “The O.C.” as the song played at Julie Cooper’s wedding in the season-one finale). Durbin said he admired McCartney for his versatility and for being one of the best musicians, writers and singers in rock history, and said he one day also hopes to be remembered in those terms. In the studio, Durbin teamed up with producer Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop,” T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”) to work on the song’s arrangement, and Jonsin pumped up the song with a bit of a hip-hop backbeat. Interscope Records head honcho Jimmy Iovine praised Durbin’s mighty pipes, saying “Idol” is a perfect vehicle for a voice like Durbin ‘s to be discovered. “You don’t hear many voices like that,” he said. “I didn’t even know kids were out there singin’ like that!” On the “Idol” stage, Durbin — flaunting a fresh haircut, a clean-shaven face and without the scarf “tail” he wore last week — did justice to “Amazed,” and didn’t drive it over a cliff with his over-the-top vocal wails. Instead, he held back and showed a more reserved side of himself, and displayed a range, both vocally and emotionally, that proved he was more than the one-trick-pony/ Adam Lambert clone as his detractors had him pegged. The judges dug the way he changed things up and managed to “slay” it, in Randy Jackson’s words. “I was like, ‘Yo, this dude can do anything, man!” the Dawg told him. “James Durbin is dangerous, America. This guy can sing!” Steven Tyler followed suit, saying Durbin took everything he ever felt and “kicked it into the middle of next week” — apparently that’s a good thing — and Jennifer Lopez complimented his vocal skills. “The truth is you have what the greatest rock singers have, which is a melodic quality to your voice,” she said. And it appears as though we’re going to hear plenty more of that voice in the weeks to come. What did you think of James Durbin’s performance? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
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James Durbin Soars With Paul McCartney Cover On ‘American Idol’
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‘Dangerous’ Durbin surprises judges with his rendition of the Wings staple ‘Maybe I’m Amazed.’ By Adam Graham James Durbin performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX James Durbin has one of those big, overpowering voices that can be difficult to rein in. But on Wednesday’s (March 9) episode of “American Idol,” he was able to keep it in check, and turned in one of the evening’s standout performances. After tearing through Judas Priest’s heavy metal classic “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ ” on last week’s show, one may have expected Durbin to go back to the metal playbook this week, when contestants were asked to sing a song by one of their personal idols. Instead, Durbin threw a curveball and opted to sing Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed,” which was recorded by Wings in 1976 (and may be familiar to fans of “The O.C.” as the song played at Julie Cooper’s wedding in the season-one finale). Durbin said he admired McCartney for his versatility and for being one of the best musicians, writers and singers in rock history, and said he one day also hopes to be remembered in those terms. In the studio, Durbin teamed up with producer Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop,” T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”) to work on the song’s arrangement, and Jonsin pumped up the song with a bit of a hip-hop backbeat. Interscope Records head honcho Jimmy Iovine praised Durbin’s mighty pipes, saying “Idol” is a perfect vehicle for a voice like Durbin ‘s to be discovered. “You don’t hear many voices like that,” he said. “I didn’t even know kids were out there singin’ like that!” On the “Idol” stage, Durbin — flaunting a fresh haircut, a clean-shaven face and without the scarf “tail” he wore last week — did justice to “Amazed,” and didn’t drive it over a cliff with his over-the-top vocal wails. Instead, he held back and showed a more reserved side of himself, and displayed a range, both vocally and emotionally, that proved he was more than the one-trick-pony/ Adam Lambert clone as his detractors had him pegged. The judges dug the way he changed things up and managed to “slay” it, in Randy Jackson’s words. “I was like, ‘Yo, this dude can do anything, man!” the Dawg told him. “James Durbin is dangerous, America. This guy can sing!” Steven Tyler followed suit, saying Durbin took everything he ever felt and “kicked it into the middle of next week” — apparently that’s a good thing — and Jennifer Lopez complimented his vocal skills. “The truth is you have what the greatest rock singers have, which is a melodic quality to your voice,” she said. And it appears as though we’re going to hear plenty more of that voice in the weeks to come. What did you think of James Durbin’s performance? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
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James Durbin Soars With Paul McCartney Cover On ‘American Idol’
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Casey Abrams shouts, James Durbin croons and Naima Adedapo puts some dancehall into Rihanna’s Umbrella on Wednesday night. By Gil Kaufman “American Idol” top 13 Photo: Michael Becker / FOX It may not have been live , but Wednesday night’s (March 9) pre-taped “American Idol” top-13 performance show was lively, with plenty of surprises as this year’s baker’s dozen sought to solidify their onstage personalities off the bat. That meant that bearded lad-killer Casey Abrams served up some more gritty soul, Naima Adedapo showed off her reggae flair and Scott McCreery, well, let’s just say he stuck with the “good ol’ boy” songbook. But first up on “Your Personal Idol” night was precocious teen Lauren Alaina, who sang a song by her musical inspiration, country/pop superstar Shania Twain. Sounding a bit out of breath, Alaina swiveled her hips to “Any Man of Mine” and used all her considerable 16-year-old hair-flipping charm and reedy country twang to win over the crowd. Showing his tough side, Steven Tyler said he loved the song, but just wished it had been “a little more kickass” and Jennifer Lopez said it was time to shift into a higher gear. Randy Jackson said it was good, but didn’t allow Alaina to unleash her big, versatile voice. Abrams was right in the pocket with Joe Cocker’s cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and mentor Jimmy Iovine encouraged him to feel the song with every inch of his body. Starting off sitting on the steps and singing in a soft, cuddly voice, Abrams did a slow walk down-stage as a group of gospel backup singers joined him, and his voice climbed into a high, raspy wail. Though it took a bit to warm up, by the end, Abrams was throwing in some bluesy improvisational howls that showed off his gritty side. Lopez said she was beside herself, telling a smiling Abrams, “[You] blew me away,” with Randy chiming in that he can always count on Casey to hit the notes and provide a show. “You are a rainbow of talent, man … and you are a plethora of passion,” Tyler tossed in. After scooting in as a wild card, Ashthon Jones went with Randy’s suggestion to sing Diana Ross’ “When You Tell Me That You Love Me.” She opened a bit shaky with some flat, breathy notes and never seemed to really find the right groove, singing a competent, but not stellar version of the tune. Randy deemed it safe, but complimented her for recognizing when she was going off key and pulling it back. Lopez said she also saw some budding professionalism in Jones’ stagecraft, but encouraged her to find more popular songs that the audience can sing along to. Speaking of somewhat obscure songs, resident quirky guy Paul McDonald chose indie singer/songwriter Ryan Adams’ “Come Pick Me Up.” Wearing a military jacket, McDonald seduced the crowed with a whispery delivery, building up and bouncing all around the stage like Coldplay’s Chris Martin, mixing arena stagecraft with an intimate, understated delivery. It was a bit pitchy for Tyler, who said he still loves anything Paul sings, praising his unique character. Jennifer said McDonald’s infectious smile translated into some grins in the crowd, but she wondered whether the song was too obscure. Sudden frontrunner Pia Toscano tried to solidify her status with Celine Dion’s version of the big weeper “All By Myself.” Wearing a skintight golden mini-dress, Toscano looked the part and hit he kind of showy notes a diva has to have in her pocket. Saying she topped even last week’s Pretenders showstopper, Lopez called it simply beautiful and Randy said despite taking on one of the dreaded big-three female singers, Pia nailed it. The last person you could imagine rocker James Durbin working with is hip-hopper Jim Jonsin, but the Lil Wayne producer put a thick beat to Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed” and Durbin showed his sensitive side while showcasing his contemporary potential. “Yo, this dude can do anything man. … James Durbin is dangerous!” Randy gushed, saying he was impressed with JD’s versatility. Tyler heaped on some of his twisted praise as well, adding, “James, you have taken everything you’ve ever felt and kicked it into the middle of next week,” whatever that means. Haley Reinhart has been singing LeAnn Rimes’ “Blue” for most of her life, so she set aside the R&B sass for some hip-swaying yodeling and country-gal charm. Tyler was blown away and said Reinhart nailed it as Lopez gave her props for the versatility of her vocals. Randy? He said it was a bit sleepy, like being at a boring luau. It was R. Kelly’s uplifting “I Believe I Can Fly” for former spa concierge Jacob Lusk, who slowed it down into a vibrato-filled pop/gospel skyscraper, complete with a crazy falsetto run in the middle. “Pure passion, pure music, I can’t even judge ya, that’s how good you are,” Tyler said, kicking off a three-judge love-fest. After getting King of Pop comparisons last week, 16-year-old Thia Megia chose Michael Jackson’s (via Charlie Chaplin) “Smile,” bringing an old-school, jazz-diva class to the gentle ballad before a corny hip-hop-lite beat broke in and she kicked it up a notch. Randy loved the soft, Adele-like acoustic intro, but he and Steven thought it went a bit pitchy and wobbly in the second half. Talk about staying in your lane: Wild card Stefano Langone chose Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” and Karen Rodriguez kept tapping into her Latin background with Selena’s “I Could Fall in Love,” while resident country boy McCreery opted for Garth Brooks’ very trad “The River.” Langone over-emoted a bit and producer Polow Da Don’s thumping beat overwhelmed him at times, forcing Stefano to rush to keep up and keep the spotlight on his often-crystalline vocals. Selena superfan Rodriguez got a Beyonc
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“Are you taping or writing this down? Because I talk really fast,” director Ava DuVernay politely informs via speakerphone. Ava has been fielding phone interviews since 6 a. m., but six hours later she’s none the worse for wear, eager to chat about her directorial debut with the independent feature I Will Follow . Winner of the Narrative Audience Award at the 2010 Urbanworld Film Festival , I Will Follow is a moving semi-autobiographical drama that stars Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Maye Fisher, a successful make-up artist with a sexy boyfriend (Blair Underwood), whose world is turned upside down by the death of her beloved Amanda (Beverly Todd). WBW: 30 MORE Black Women You Should Know About Audiences are already familiar with Ava’s work as a documentary filmmaker with the critically acclaimed My Mic Sounds Nice which aired on BET, and TV One Night Only: Essence Music Festival 2010. With I Will Follow, Ava has now turned the camera onto herself to explore personal themes of grief, love, forgiveness and renewal. With only her life savings and a rolodex full of professional and personal contacts she’d acquired from running her own P.R. company (The DuVernay Agency), Ava completed her film in just 15 days at the film’s only location, a house in Topanga Canyon, California. Committed to preserving the beauty and legacy of black cinema, Ava has also partnered with various black film organizations to create the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM). The ultimate goal of AFFRM is to empower and foster new black indie talent and provide more truthful and contemporary images of the African-American community. “We all have a story to share,” Ava says. “Just pick up the camera and tell it.” Ava tells The Urban Daily how she transitioned from documentaries to feature film, why we shouldn’t look to the major studios to green light quality black film projects, and her views on Idris Elba’s and Anthony Mackie’s recent comments about Black Hollywood. TUD: Tell us about I Will Follow and the inspiration for the movie. Ava DuVernay: It’s about a woman who’s successful, has a hot boyfriend, career, and then things kind of fall apart. Something happens in her family and she has to pick up the pieces and maintain her balance and kind of save herself. I think that’s something we all experience. This film is based on personal experience—I brought my personal story dealing with loss and loyalty. The actors involved tapped into their own personal experiences. It deals with trying to keep your self in control when things get out of control. It’s something a lot of people will be able to associate with, to identify with. People on the festival circuit around the country come up to me and said “I saw myself in this character.” I Will Follow is based on your relationship with your aunt, Denise. Can you tell us a little bit about her? She was an amazing woman. She was one of the people in my life that meant the most to me. She was an incredible person. Hopefully this movie will be a tribute to her memory. How did you assemble the cast for this film? It was a combination of professional and personal contacts. I first contacted Aisha Coley. She was the casting director of Secret Life of Bees . Omari Hardwick I had seen on Dark Blue and I thought to myself ‘Wow, he’s good.’ So I asked Aisha to reach out to him. Salli Richardson-Whitfield was on a list of actresses I really wanted to work with. I always thought she was underrated–great actress, drop dead gorgeous. Blair Underwood is someone that I knew from working in P.R. and we became friends. I always had him in mind when writing his character. What was the transition from doing documentaries ( This is The Life , My Mic Sounds Nice ) to doing a scripted feature? With a documentary you walk in with your camera and a set of questions. You’re inquisitive and you’re curious. You get in there and just have a conversation with people. With my documentaries I have an idea of where I want to lead them, I’m trying to converse with them and get to the essence of what I’m trying to learn from them and form that into the documentary. You work closely with your editor and try to come out with something interesting. With film, you’ve got wardrobe, actors, production design, and the whole world opens up. Instead of investigating someone else’s world, you’re creating a world from scratch. With documentaries and film you’re using two different muscles, and I’ve been fortunate enough to use both. And I hope to go back and forth between the two. When you decided to do I Will Follow , you looked at your bank account and said “This is my budget” and basically green lit yourself to make this movie. Was it always your intention to have your film as an independent project or did you consider going with a major studio? I always believed in self-distribution and not waiting for people’s permission, particularly with big corporations, to share my story. I’m very much a control freak (laughs). I would like to collaborate with like-minded companies who want to work on distribution ideas. Major studios are looking for different types of stories, and that’s fine. If they want to do Transformers 13 , cool. I want to do something else. So I’m not going to beg or force my vision on corporations, if that’s not their bottom line. As indie filmmakers, the ‘Woe is me, the studios don’t want my stuff’—your job is to do your own projects and to take care of yourself. These people have their agenda and we have our own agenda too. I’m really into self-empowerment and to create and distribute our own stories. I want to be in a position where I’m not asking permission to share my vision. I want to get filmmakers into that cycle. People tend to forget that most A-list directors started off as indie. Right. Martin Scorcese did Boxcar Bertha through Roger Corman that only cost a couple of thousand dollars. You didn’t go to film school like most directors. You actually started in publicity doing campaigns for directors like Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood, and when you’d meet them for lunch you’d pick their brains about filmmaking. What did you learn from them that you were able to apply to your own directing process? I learned that it could be done. The main thing I learned from them, aside from the technical process and dealing with actors is that these directors were just people, like me. They’re just human beings that want to tell a story and they found a way to do it. Why could I not do the same? That’s the best lesson I got from my ‘bootleg’ film school. As a little black girl, who loved movies, I never thought I could make one. Everybody’s got a story; go make that film. There’s someone out there thinking ‘I want to make movies, but I can’t afford film school.’ What would you tell them? Do you think it’s necessary to go to film school to be a good director? Film school is wonderful. It’s creative and allows you to play, to learn theory. I wish I had four years to chill and just learn about film. Film school is a great place to hone your skills. Is it necessary? No. If you’re a 16-year-old girl and want to make films, if you have an iPhone, do it. I just saw an incredible 12 minute short shot on an iPhone. Two of the biggest stories to hit the media are statements from Idris Elba and Anthony Mackie. During a lecture for the Project Lens/Artist Spotlight series at Rutgers University , Elba stated that the Oscars aren’t designed for us and that we should focus on making more films. In an interview with Grio.com , Mackie also said we should make more films and find our own distribution deals. Do you agree or disagree with them? I agree. I think both brothers made a call to action to filmmakers. It’s getting a lot of attention from the press and I think that’s positive. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to not have major studios involved in our projects. I don’t think it’s a doomsday thing. The only movie featuring a black woman so far this year is Big Momma 3. There’s more to come with Madea’s Big Happy Family and Skank Robbers . What are your feelings on that? The studios are looking at big budget pictures, they’re looking at gags, and comedy, and that’s ok. For folks that enjoy that, fine. I don’t hold anyone outside of our community responsible. There are certain (white) filmmakers who think that’s funny. They have a star that thinks that’s funny, who went on record saying, “If you saw the check, you wouldn’t blame me.” Ok. Do you. I don’t blame anyone for what they’re doing. I can only take care of me and the filmmakers and the black moviegoers that think like me. People who tell me Love Jones and Love and Basketball are their favorite films. What that says is ‘I want to see adult dramas, contemporary images of myself.’ The studios are not interested. I Will Follow opens this Friday March 11 th . TO FIND THE AMC THEATER NEAR YOU EXCLUSIVELY SHOWING “I WILL FOLLOW” AND TO BUY TICKETS CLICK HERE You can find Ava ( @AVADVA ) , I Will Follow ( @iwillfollowfilm ) and AFFRM ( @AFFRM ) on Twitter. RELATED POSTS: Salli Richardson-Whitfield Sought New Challenge With “I Will Follow” DuVernay’s “I Will Follow” Called Best Film Of 2010 Yo-Yo Says Album “Can’t Compete With Swallowing Coke Bottles”
Ava DuVernay On Preserving Black Cinema And Her New Film “I Will Follow”
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Inc. rapper granted furlough to finish album and settle tax issue. By Jayson Rodriguez Ja Rule Photo: MTV News Ja Rule’s teeth are just fine, but the rapper’s finances aren’t in order, and as a result he’s been extended a reprieve in his prison sentencing until June 8. The Queens lyricist pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession in December , stemming from a July 2007 arrest. Lil Wayne, who Ja Rule performed with that night at the Cash Money star’s Beacon Theater show, also was arrested that night and eventually served eight months in prison for the same offense. Wayne’s sentence was postponed a number of times, including once for the rapper to undergo dental work. According to the New York Post , a judge delayed Ja Rule’s sentencing Wednesday morning (March 9) so the rapper could settle a federal tax issue. The Inc. rapper also will use the time to finish his next project, his attorney said. The furlough was issued by the judge against the prosecution’s wishes, the Post also reported. “We want to finish the album, and there’s also a tax issue,” his lawyer, Stacey Richman, said. “Somebody, an accountant, had filed an incorrect form, and this is to correct what was done in the past.” The case originated just over three years ago, when Ja Rule joined Lil Wayne at his first headlining gig in New York City. After the concert, both rappers’ vehicles were pulled over by the New York Police Department in separate instances. Both were subsequently charged with illegal possession of a firearm; Lil Wayne also was brought up on drug charges. Related Artists Ja Rule
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Ja Rule Won’t Go To Prison Until June
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Lil’ Kim recalls the Notorious B.I.G. and takes us behind the 1996 clip, which spoofed late rapper’s love-life dramas. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Ade Mangum Notorious B.I.G. in the “Get Money” video Photo: Bad Boy In 1996, Lil’ Kim was the standout member of the Notorious B.I.G.’s Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew. The Big Momma had stolen the show on their lead single “Player’s Anthem,” from the collective’s album Conspiracy, and was again the main draw on their third single, “Get Money.” Rapping alongside B.I.G. himself, the Queen Bee held her own and previewed the extravagant lifestyle that would play out in the video. The Notorious B.I.G. died an untimely death on March 9, 1997, the year after the video’s release, but it remains a part of his and the Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s musical legacy. When last week, she spoke to MTV News about the memorable clip, walking us through it frame by frame. Directed by Lance “Un” Rivera, the clip echoed some of the real-life legal drama Big was wrestling with at the time. In the opening scene, set in a courtroom, Big sits at the defense table, seemingly oblivious to what the lawyers and judge are discussing. “I remember when we really had to go to court for him, for a situation that Biggie had, and we really had to sit in court with him,” Kim told us. “I remember him falling asleep in front of the judge. And he was literally snoring in front of the judge. And the judge looked at his lawyer and was like, ‘Excuse me, can you wake your client up?!’ ” In ’96, Big was in and out of court on drug and gun possession charges. The East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop feud was in full swing by this time as well, though Big did his best not to stoke the flames. In the “Get Money” video, he pokes fun at his personal turmoil instead. The woman in the blonde wig in the clip looks suspiciously like Biggie’s then-wife, R&B singer Faith Evans (fans know that Faith and Kim have never been on the best of terms). The actress portraying the faux Faith was the (still-married) rapper’s girlfriend at the time, Charli Baltimore. The video was shot at a New York City club in a large home that Kim revealed was once owned by actor Wesley Snipes. Cameos in the video include DJ Clark Kent, Salt-N-Pepa, Mary J. Blige and even adult-film star Vanessa del Rio, who is seen thoroughly enjoying a massage and being fed fruit by buff men. “A lot of people don’t know who she was [but] she’s a famous porn star from back in the days and she was mad cool,” Kim said. Kim threw in one last factoid about the late, great Brooklyn rapper that fans might not have known. At the end of the “Get Money” clip, she’s seen driving off in a shiny red car that’s decorated with a bow. “People don’t know, at the end of this video Big was supposed to have brought me that car, that was my gift,” Kim laughed. “So, ya know, I came off at the end.” What’s your favorite Notorious B.I.G. video? Share with us in the comments! Related Videos Remembering Notorious B.I.G. Related Artists Notorious B.I.G. Lil’ Kim
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Notorious B.I.G.’s Junior M.A.F.I.A. Crew ‘Get Money’ Video, Frame By Frame
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