The White House and Google recently announced a partnership that will allow users to take a 360-degree tour of the Presidential mansion. To commemorate Google’s Art Project , first lady Michelle Obama’s office announced that all of the rooms in the White House will be digitized in ultra-high definition and will be available online. (more…) By Ubergizmo . Related articles : Google Art Project expands… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : übergizmo Discovery Date : 02/04/2012 22:59 Number of articles : 2
How do you come to the rescue of the millions of children who need someone — anyone — to do what they can’t: get their bullies off their backs? Director Lee Hirsch has sounded a call to action with his new documentary Bully , which exposes bullying from the front lines. Opening today, the film follows several kids and families struggling to stop the taunting and violence. Hirsch captures the frustration and helplessness among not only the victims but also their parents, who have lost trust in our modern school system. There’s Alex, 12, who seems convinced his bullies are his friends; Ja’Meya, 14, locked up after brandishing a gun on the bus where she faced her tormenters; and Kelby, 16, whose whole family retreated into isolation after she came out as a lesbian. Also profiled are the families of a teenager, Tyler, and an 11-year-old, Ty, whose bullying-related suicides devastated their communities and served as a wake-up call. If the film is taken to heart, it should be among the catalysts for changing the “kids will be kids” mentality among some educators and other authority figures. On a micro level, parents who participated in the film are speaking out in their communities and persuading kids to protect one another. Hirsch is working on getting his movie into schools, where it can have more influence. After a whiplash-inducing saga over its MPAA rating, initially an R for strong language, Bully will be released unrated in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to other cities on April 13. Hirsch spoke to Movieline about the movement that has grown out of his project, the newly famous Bully kids, and whether minors will go to the theater to see the film. When were you made aware of the rampant bullying going on in schools these days, and what led to your decision to make a documentary about it? The drive to make the documentary film is that I was bullied as a kid, so it’s very much a piece of my narrative. You know it’s bad, and I had talked about it over the years with people and sort of sensed that it’s a problem greater than my own. I didn’t really understand until we saw the extent to which people were affected by this, to the millionth. It’s funny you ask that because I feel like I dish out these statistics as if I’ve know them forever, but actually there was a process of discovering how big this really was. Then you start doing the math and thinking, if 13 million kids get bullied a year, and you start adding that up from generation to generation, there’s a lot of folks that have this narrative, that have a story, when it comes to bullying. So all those things came together when we started getting into it. Now it’s been three years that I’ve been working on this. It’s interesting you asked me that, I hadn’t thought about that. Did you have any problem getting kids or parents to participate in the film? No, not at all. We shot so many more stories than we were able to include in the final version of the film. We had people reaching out to us. We reached out to a lot of families. It was so different, because we filmed kids like Kelby, where they were outwardly looking for somebody to hear their story and share their outrage, and then Alex, who we very much stumbled upon while being allowed to film inside this school and see how adults and folks were handling certain situations. I wasn’t surprised by the willingness of people, because I remember that feeling of wishing someone would listen to me. I thought it was really brave of Ty’s friend to admit that he’d been a bully at one time. I wondered if you considered putting more kids in the film who shared that side of the story. I had. I think ultimately the narrative of this film is it tells the story of families that are on the victim side, and so you just settle into a world where you’re seeing what they see, as they see it and they deal with it. Ultimately it became less about, “what are the arguments on this side and that side, and what’s this position and that position,” or a full, drawn-out exploration of the psychology of bullying, but rather it became about telling five stories. We didn’t even know how many stories we were going to tell as we shot it. We were just looking to tell stories that allowed you to walk in the shoes of the kids and families who were dealing with this. Now that the Weinstein Company is releasing the film unrated, how do you imagine kids seeing the movie? Do you think they’ll be going to the theater or seeing it in school? We still have school districts reaching out to us every day. We’re in discussions for how to facilitate that. We have a goal of a million kids seeing the film. On their own and with groups. Within their schools and with organizations. Engaging on our website, bullyproject.com , and participating in the movement. We want to have real engagement. That’s the goal now. I think we want to be able to support viewers after they see the film with how they can be involved, how to make a difference. How to do anything from stand up and how to make that meaningful and supportive, to how parents navigate the school system when they’re advocating on behalf of their kids. I think that’s a long-winded answer to say that yes, I really do think that kids are going to come see this film. I think we owe a lot of that to Katy Butler for inspiring hundreds of thousands of teens to sign this petition , and it’s also thanks to so many of the celebrities who have spoken out for the film. It’s exciting. You’re talking to me the day before it opens. I can’t wait to see what happens. Have you seen any positive changes in schools since you started the project? In Alex’s school? In any school, or in any aspect of it, actually. Have you seen anything positive happen as a result of just making the film and building the website? I feel like, how do you measure half a million signatures and people sharing their stories? I think that’s impact. How do you measure the thousands of people that have written on our wall? People are supporting each other and writing to each other and building a community that feels like it’s turning into a movement. I feel that the film has already had impact in ways that I couldn’t have dreamed. I think that already the conversations are rich and deep that people are having about bullying at their schools, about what the climate and culture are like in their community. I think that those conversations are happening, and that’s change, that’s transformation. It’s very exciting. Do you have any plans to do follow-ups with the kids from your film? I don’t have time to do a follow-up film of any kind, but I am in touch with all of the families on a regular basis. Certainly Alex and his family, in particular, and we see them all the time, with Kelby and her family. They come to screenings. They’re doing press. Alex went and argued before the MPAA with Harvey Weinstein. These families are like my second family now. They mean the world to me, and it’s been awesome to get to spend a year with them. Other people are putting cameras in front of them, but it’s not me. I wonder if years down the road we’ll hear from them. I think there would always be an interest in hearing how they’re doing. The families are going to have to make a decision about whether they want this press to continue. For them, boy, this was unexpected, right? I had a sense that maybe we would do some press. It’s been extraordinary for me. I couldn’t have seen this, but for them, it’s been a confusing and extraordinary ride. We just give them as much support as we humanly can. I’ll always be in their lives, and I feel that in my film work I always develop strong bonds with the people that end up in my films, my subjects. It always matters that they see the film and that they’re part of the process and that that relationship stays strong. That comes through in the film. I’m so proud of them — in particular, because I see them so often, Kelby and Alex — because they’ve become advocates. People are writing me and saying, “Can you please send this to Alex? He’s my hero.” It’s incredible. It’s harder for the families that have lost kids. That’s … I … I think about them a lot because they have suffered such an ultimate loss. And they’ve embarked on a new path of advocating for kids and inspiring kids. They’ve been incredible advocates. I’ve seen that a lot with families of kids who have committed suicide that’s been linked to bullying. Can you imagine that sense of injustice that they feel? No. No, you can’t. I can’t either. They’re so engaged, and they’re such powerful advocates. I see many of these families doing such powerful work out in the world. Bully opens today in New York and Los Angeles, with additional cities to come on April 13. Read Stephanie Zacharek’s review here . [Photo: Getty Images]
Producer Mike Posner says Bieber’s next album will make pop artists ‘go back to the drawing board.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner Justin Bieber Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images This week, Justin Bieber dropped his single “Boyfriend,” marking his first step toward making more mature-sounding pop tunes. Co-producer Mike Posner told MTV News that Bieber’s upcoming Believe album displays how far he’s come since the sugary sweet ditties of his My World days. “I think our goal was to make something that me and my friends could listen to in the car,” Posner explained. “I think we’ve all known Justin since he was13, and that’s not the kid I was in the studio with anymore. He’s an 18-year-old. He skateboards with Lil Wayne and hangs out with Lil Twist. Those are his homies. And he listens to hip-hop and he’s a really cool kid. He’s not like a corny guy. “So I wanted to make something that reflected who he is now and who he is going to continue to be,” he continued. “We’re still working more on the project and it sounds really incredible. I think people have been waiting [for] when he’s going to turn that corner, and the time is now.” But Believe isn’t going to change just Bieber’s career, but all of pop music, Posner added. “He’s kind of bringing soul back, and rhythm and blues back and definitely hip-hop into his music. I’m really excited to see how it’s going to change the landscape, and I know a lot of artists are going to have to go back to the drawing board.” “Boyfriend” is the lead single off Believe, which will drop later this year. A video is currently in the works, but no release date has been announced. Do you like Justin Bieber’s new sound on “Boyfriend”? Leave your comment below! Related Photos Justin Bieber’s Birthday: Celebrating 18! Related Artists Justin Bieber Mike Posner
A horror movie, two Bradley Cooper films and a return to Katniss Everdeen are all in the works. By Kara Warner Jennifer Lawrence at the “Hunger Games” premiere Photo: Getty Images For those of you who rushed out to the theater to see Jennifer Lawrence and company in this weekend’s box-office blockbuster “The Hunger Games,” how good was Lawrence as Katniss? If you were as delighted and moved by Lawrence’s performance as we were, you’re probably wondering what the Oscar nominee will be up to next. Lucky for you, we have a few answers! Here’s a little rundown of what to expect from Lawrence and where to see more of this talented, charming and all-around likable leading lady. (Side note: Before she jumps right into another project, we hope Lawrence takes a vacation of some sort and gets a little rest and relaxation after her extensive, worldwide promotional tour for “Games.” We loved seeing the cast at so many events and so dressed up, but she has to be exhausted!) Anyway, we have to wait until fall until we get another Lawrence film. The first is the horror/thriller “House at the End of the Street,” co-starring Elisabeth Shue. In the film, Lawrence and Shue play a mother/daughter duo who get wrapped up in the mystery of a murder in a small town. Shortly after the September 21 release of “House at the End of the Street,” fans will see a very brief appearance by Lawrence in “Devil You Know,” playing the younger version of Rosamund Pike’s character Zoe. In November, we’ll see Lawrence in “The Silver Linings Playbook,” the first of two films co-starring Bradley Cooper . “Silver Linings” revolves around a man who tries to put his life back together after spending years in a mental institution. “I just wrapped a movie called ‘The Silver Linings Playbook,’ ” Lawrence told MTV News recently. “And then I’m going to go shoot another Bradley Cooper movie. It’s not a Bradley Cooper movie — Bradley Cooper’s in the movie — it’s a Jennifer Lawrence movie with Bradley in it,” she joked. “Bradley Cooper and I are going to come out with a Jennifer Lawrence/ Bradley Cooper box set.” Their second film together is “Serena,” about a Depression-era couple who face personal complications when they learn that Lawrence’s character cannot bear children, which has a negative impact on the future of their lumber company. Fun fact about “Serena”: Lawrence’s role was originally intended for Angelina Jolie. “I’m not at the status where I have her roles. I have her leftovers, let’s be clear,” she joked of taking over for Jolie. “She left it for me. I have her garbage. No, that’s a wonderful place to be. I’m an actor digging through Angelina Jolie’s garbage. I’ve made it.” Shooting on “Serena” has yet to start. After her work on “Serena,” we’re all hoping Lawrence will be back playing Katniss for “Catching Fire” or getting painted to play Mystique in the yet-to-be-announced sequel to “X-Men: First Class.” Because “Fire” has a November 22, 2013, release date already locked in place, we’re betting Lawrence will be back wielding a bow and arrow before she’s spending countless hours in the makeup chair to “get painted again” for “X-Men.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Jennifer Lawrence Live From ‘The Hunger Games’ Red Carpet Premiere Related Photos Meet Katniss From ‘Hunger Games’: Jennifer Lawrence
‘This is everything that I’ve got to say,’ Nas tells MTV News of the material on his 10th album. By Nadeska Alexis Nas Photo: MTV News released his last solo album, Untitled, in 2008, and although he followed that up with the Damian Marley collaboration LP Distant Relatives in 2010, the Queens MC still has a few years’ worth of material that he’s ready to share with fans on his upcoming 10th album, Nas told MTV News that the project will find him opening up about all of the experiences he’s been unable to communicate over the past few years. “It’s been a long time, it’s been years since I released a solo studio album, so this record is everything,” he says. “This is everything that I’ve got to say–I guess you’ve got to live a little and you put that in your music, so it’s coming from my life.” The album will also see Nas experimenting with new beats and pairs unexpected production with his thoughtful lyrics. “A lot of the tracks have [come from ideas] where I would take an idea from one of the guys that I’m working with and try to put it together with a different sound that I had in my head, or with someone else,” he explained. “[I] just try to get people to collaborate who are not really used to working together and to get something different from me.” Nas dropped the album’s first single “The Don” earlier this month, with production from Salaam Remi, Da Internz and the late Heavy D, and the entire project is tentatively slated to arrive by June. “It’s a summer album,” Nas tells MTV News. “We’re gonna shoot the video for ‘The Don’ and get ready for the next song that’s in the chamber. It ain’t gon’ stop. It’s a whole story. ‘[The] Don’ just dropped, so we’re just letting that bubble and setting up the next one.” Related Artists Nas
‘You gonna hear D.C., Philly, the South, everything all in one,’ Meek tells MTV News on the ‘Bag of Money’ video set. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Ricky Louis Meek Mill There are quite a few things that fans can expect to hear on Maybach Music Group’s upcoming Self Made, Vol. 2 compilation album. Chances are we’ll hear the infamous “M-M-Maybach Music ” drop a number of times, a few of Rick Ross ‘ patented grunts and, according to Wale and Meek Mill , a bit of their respective hometown vibes. “Me and Wale, we always talk all the time, and I told Wale I actually wanted to do a couple myself on a Philly type of vibe and he wanted to do something on a D.C. type of vibe,” Meek told MTV News from the video set for the new MMG single “Bag of Money” featuring T-Pain. The first Self Made album boasted a number of successful singles like Meek Mill’s “I’ma Boss” and Wale’s “That Way.” Each member of the roster contributes solo songs, while the others pitch in on the feature side. For example, Self Made, Vol. 2 ‘s first single, “Bag of Money,” is billed as a Wale single, though Meek Mill and MMG boss Rick Ross both contribute. Though Wale and Meek have their own plans to put on for their respective cities, Meek makes note that in the end, Rozay is the glue that brings it all together. “Ross is always gonna bring a lot to the table with Self Made. I’ma say he’s the ringleader of the whole Self Made movement, so we just wanted to bring our parts of the table to it so we make it…” Meek said, taking a moment searching for the right word until Wale pitched in and helped finish the thought. “Have a definitive sound,” he added. The two MCs estimate that they have close to 40 songs already recorded for the compilation and they weren’t quite sure which tracks would make the project. They did, however, promise a diverse sound. “You gonna hear D.C., Philly, the South, everything all in one,” Meek said. “We just want to give you a part of everything.” What are you expecting from Maybach Music Group’s Self Made, Vol.2 ? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Meek Mill Wale
‘I’m not gonna act like I’m a superhero,’ Mac tells MTV News of his persona on upcoming mixtape. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sam Hendrick Mac Miller Photo: David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns Mac Miller sure knows how to have a good time. On his 2010 breakout mixtape K.I.D.S., the then-teenage MC promoted party and B.S., and has continued to do so on hyped-up follow-up singles like “Donald Trump” and “Party on Fifth Ave.” With his mixtape Macadelic, due Friday, the Woodie of the Year winner is looking to switch things up. “It’s a lot different from anything I’ve ever done,” he told MTV News of the mixtape backstage at the mtvU Woodies . “In my past projects, I always thought about them a lot, like, ‘Where are the party jams? Where are the jams that are fun?’ ” This time out, Mac took a different creative approach with Macadelic. “I was trying to make a complete project, but on this project, all I wanted to do is just say what was on my mind,” he said. “I just worried about saying what I wanted to say, and I felt like there were a lot of things that I wanted to get off my chest, and this mixtape was the way to do it.” One thing Miller wanted to address were the critics who painted him as a frat-boy rapper only concerned about partying, doing drugs and bedding women. “I didn’t have the best reviews on a lot of things, and I speak on that,” he said. “I talk about that. I’m not gonna act like I’m a superhero and sh– doesn’t bother me — of course it bothers me, so I spoke on it.” Cam’ron and Sir Michael Rocks appear on the tape, as well as a big-time feature Miller chose to keep secret for now. “I can’t say who it is,” he teased. “But it’s just wild, wild.” Who do you think is Mac’s surprise Macadelic feature? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Back To The ‘Burgh With Mac Miller And Wiz Khalifa Related Artists Mac Miller
‘It’s like the reincarnation and the birth of me becoming who I really am,’ MC tells MTV News at South by Southwest. By Rob Markman, with additional reporting by James Montgomery Snoop Dogg Photo: MTV News Maybe murder isn’t the case after all? Eleven solo albums into his career, Snoop Dogg insists that fans have yet to see the real him, but on his next album, he hopes to change all of that. “It’s a project where it’s more about the element of surprise, but at the same time it’ll be talked about in due time,” Snoop told MTV News this weekend at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. “It’s special; it’s a real special project to me because it’s like the reincarnation and the birth of me becoming who I really am.” On his 1993 multiplatinum debut album Doggystyle, the Long Beach, California, MC became the poster child for gangsta rap, while simultaneously fighting a real-life murder case, which helped add to his mystique. Through the years, Snoop began to slowly back away from that hardened street image and began landing notable endorsements and movie roles. His 2007 reality show “Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood” painted the picture of Snoop the family man. And with his next LP, the Doggfather plans to evolve even more. “I never really knew who I was through the music,” Snoop admitted. “I was always a very peaceful, kind, loving, caring individual and making music to symbolize that sometimes never was my key.” The global rap star doesn’t elaborate on exactly how the music will change, but it’s clear he has an eye toward the future, hoping to ensure some more longevity for himself. “This record, and this project will symbolize that and gives me the opportunity to step into the world of the stadium and then do those kind of songs that last 40, 50 years to go along with what I’ve already done,” he said. Are you looking forward to hearing a more loving and caring Snopp Dogg? Tell us in the comments. Related Videos South by Southwest 2012 Related Artists Snoop Dogg
‘You look at those actors and you kind of can tell why they’re doing what they’re doing,’ ‘Twilight’ star says on ‘Today.’ By Jocelyn Vena Kristen Stewart on “Today” Photo: NBC Kristen Stewart is no stranger to being the female lead of a beloved franchise. In her role as Bella Swan, she became a household name. Now, it seems that she may be passing that baton on to Jennifer Lawrence as “The Hunger Games” opens on Friday. When Stewart stopped by the “Today” show on Monday (March 19), she opened up about what she expects might happen for Lawrence and her “Hunger Games” crew (which includes Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth), now that they are just days away from launching the next big thing in movie franchises. “It gets very crazy and everyone instantly, the question is ‘Are you going to be able to handle it? Is this something you want?’ But you look at those actors and you kind of can tell why they’re doing what they’re doing, and it’s so obvious that no one signed on to the project to do the next big thing,” she explained. “And I think that’s the coolest way to see something get big and, you know, hopefully would love them to be happy in doing what they’re doing.” Also, it seems that Stewart is a bit of a fan of them as well. She added, “I can’t wait to see the movie.” Stewart still has one movie left in the “Twilight Saga,” with “Breaking Dawn Part 2” opening in November. A trailer and a tease for that film will play ahead of “The Hunger Games” in theaters. And Stewart may be on the verge of another set of blockbusters with “Snow White and the Huntsman,” which opens June 1 and could become a multiple-film franchise itself. What movie are you more excited for: “The Hunger Games” or “Breaking Dawn Part 2”? Leave your comment below! Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Josh Hutcherson Related Photos ‘Hunger Games’ World Premiere Red Carpet
MTV News wraps up the highlights of the Austin, Texas, festival including our favorite celebrity interviews. By Kara Warner Matthew McConaughey in “Killer Joe” Photo: Voltage Pictures AUSTIN, Texas — Although the South by Southwest Music Festival is just getting started, the film portion of the annual music, arts and interactive gathering in Austin, Texas, is coming to an end. It was too short a trip for our tastes, but we were able to cram in an awful lot of film coverage during our time within the city limits. Before we get to the highlights from SXSW Film Fest ’12, here’s a compilation of our interviewees’ humorous commentary regarding the best and worst things about SXSW. “The great thing about SXSW is the proliferation of beautiful young men all over the city,” deadpanned Nick Offerman. “Now that the sun’s out we’re going to be seeing some shirts come off. This is a modern film we’ve made,” he said of his film, “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” trying to tie it to his answer. “Nature is beautiful.” “#1: It’s in Austin, that’s the best,” said Johnny Knoxville. “The Fest feels like it’s picking up steam every year.” “There was one day where from around 11 a.m. ’til whenever I went to bed I think I had — I counted — 28 beers,” “21 Jump Street” star Jonah Hill recalled of his first boozy experience at the festival a few years back. “I was never drunk, it was such a long period of time, there was a good old buzz thing going on for 20 hours.” “My favorite thing so far is waiting in line with other people,” admitted “Jump Street” co-director Chris Miller. “At first it was driving me crazy, but … you’re there for an hour with people who all like the same stuff and have a much cooler conversation there than you would in a bar.” “The cons of SXSW are all the beautiful young women getting in the way of looking at all the beautiful young men,” Offerman continued. “Prancing about, tossing their hair like they’re all that. They’re not.” With those pros and cons in mind, let’s get back to our film-focused journey in Austin, which we began with the Joss Whedon-scripted, Drew Goddard-directed festival opener, “The Cabin in the Woods.” Although it is a traditional horror film with “thrilling deaths,” it’s a crowd-pleaser nonetheless. Then came the twisted thriller “Killer Joe,” which features many an opportunity for awkward laughter and smooth-talkin’ Matthew McConaughey as a killer-for-hire , followed by a surprise appearance from Mark Wahlberg during Seth MacFarlane’s “A Conversation With” panel, which led to a very casual interview about Wahlberg’s acting skills and falling in love with a teddy bear. After that, we walked down a dark childhood memory lane with “Nature Calls” director Todd Rohal and stars Johnny Knoxville and Rob Riggle. We spent time with skateboarding legend Danny Way during his surprise visit to a local skate park, and tried not to laugh ourselves to tears during chats with “Small Apartments” scene-stealer Matt Lucas and deadpan comedy ace Nick Offerman when he told us the best thing about his buzzworthy film, “Somebody Up There Likes Me” is the fact that he gets naked onscreen. We’re still not sure he was telling the truth, but it was hilarious nonetheless. Our final day of film-related action involved a visit to “21 Jump Street” with stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum , who revealed the project’s special ties to SXSW, as well as their reactions to finally seeing the finished film with an audience. We chatted up Fabianne Therese, the star of the recently picked-up home invasion thriller “The Aggression Scale,” who accidentally put her hand through a glass window during filming and resulted in the filmmakers writing it into the script. And then we caught up with the men of “Extracted,” an intriguing film about a man who invents a way to watch people’s memories from inside their minds and then gets trapped within a criminal’s mind. “I think [the movie] means something to everybody,” director Nir Paniry said. “To me, it’s a film about regret and how one memory means something to somebody else and one memory means something to another person. Memories are not finite records, they’re organic, they can be manipulated, but they’re specific to the person. Your memory of something is not my memory of something.” “It’s life. All these things that are universal and timeless,” added star Sasha Roiz. “Trying to confront your past or changing your course of life, redemption. These two men are basically sitting in their own purgatory, one is stuck in a cell, one is stuck in the mind of another man. There all these wonderful themes that bubble to the surface. And although it’s not technically film-related, we spent some time with Lena Dunham, the star/creator/executive producer of HBO’s heavily hyped new series “Girls,” which she promises is grounded in reality and deals with the drama of modern romantic relationships. All in all, our experience was fun-filled, if a tad bit exhausting. For those of you hankering to see the films in our lineup, the good news is that several of them are headed to theaters or small screens near you. “21 Jump Street” opened everywhere Friday (March 16); “Cabin in the Woods” hits theaters April 13; “Girls” premieres on HBO April 15, followed by the DVD/Blu-Ray release of “The Aggression Scale” on May 29. Seth MacFarlane’s live-action debut “Ted” hits theaters July 13. Stick with MTV News for news about the fest’s other buzzworthy entries, “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “Killer Joe” and “Extracted.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . 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