Category: Articles

2011 Nov 20

Sir Richard Branson invites Kate Winslet to see Titanic for real

Kate Winslet is set to see the doomed ship Titanic for real — courtesy of billionaire Sir Richard Branson.

The Virgin boss had recently divulged his plan to join other tourists paying 38,000 pounds each for a submarine 12,500ft dive to the wreck of Titanic in the North Atlantic, the Daily Mail reported.

“It is something I am very keen to do. I’m deadly serious about this and I would love to invite Kate to come with me,” Branson said.

“Wouldn’t it be something if the star of Titanic really got to go down to the real ship? I’m going to talk to her but I’m sure it’s an opportunity she will jump at.”

It is one of the most iconic images in film history. When Kate Winslet stood on the prow of the Titanic in the blockbuster 1997 film, it turned her into an overnight superstar.

Source: The Times of India

2011 Nov 17

“Titanic” 3D trailer gets Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio fans excited

The new trailer for Titanic 3D has been released whetting fans’ appetites for Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet tale of forbidden love.

Director James Cameron has converted the 1997 box office smash into 3D following the success of his last film Avatar.

The movie made DiCaprio and Winslet household names and won a whopping 11 Oscars — a feat only achieved by Ben-Hur and The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.

Leo and Kate plays star-crossed lovers Jack and Rose in the movie, which also stars Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton, Bernard Hill, David Warner and Victor Garber.
The promo shows the couple falling in love on the Titanic and features the famous drawing scene where Jack sketches Rose in the nude.

The trailer also features the scene where Jack yells out: “I’m the king of the world!”

On Twitter Katy Perry announced to her fans: “I seriously can’t wait for Titanic 3D!!!”
HollyProsserx said: “omg the Titanic 3D trailer is absolutely beautiful!”
LovaticBoy posted: “Just watched the Titanic 3D Trailer. Omg goosebumps.”

Titanic became the highest grossing film of all time after raking in $1.8 billion worldwide until it was surpassed by Avatar in 2010 when it took $2.7 billion.

The movie is released in cinemas on April 6, 2012.

2011 Oct 22

“Contagion” film is not far from the truth, warns virus scientist

Dr. Ian Lipkin, expert who advised on Soderbergh’s movie, says we must be better prepared for outbreak of deadly disease

It’s a classic Hollywood tale: scientists race against time to decode a killer virus that is spreading across the world. But the scientist who advised Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh on his new thriller, Contagion, says the events and themes of his latest film carry a very real warning for our times.

Dr. Ian Lipkin, professor of epidemiology, neurology and pathology at New York’s Columbia University, was recruited as a senior technical adviser on Soderbergh’s blockbuster. The film, which opened in cinemas on Friday, charts the emergence of a deadly infectious disease that ignites a pandemic.

Scientists are first alerted after Beth Emhoff, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, becomes sick after returning from a business trip to Hong Kong and dies two days later. As the virus quickly spreads and the death toll rises, it is down to a team of scientists — including Dr Erin Mears, played by Kate Winslet — to decode the virus so that a vaccine can be produced.

According to Lipkin, the plot is anything but unrealistic. Virus outbreaks are an increasing threat in the 21st century, he says, because of greater international trade and travel, urbanization, loss of wildlife habitats and inadequate investment in infrastructure for surveillance, vaccine production and distribution.

“Scientists have been accused of overreacting and crying wolf over the threat of virus outbreaks after the influenza pandemic of 2009,” Lipkin told the Observer. “Sars [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] didn’t progress beyond a few locations, but outbreaks and pandemics will occur and we need to get our heads out of the sand and realize the real risks that we face. More than three-quarters of all emerging infectious diseases originate when microbes jump from wildlife to humans.

“Our vulnerability to such diseases has been heightened by the growth in international travel and the globalization of food production. In addition, deforestation and urbanization continue to displace wildlife, increasing the probability that wild creatures will come in contact with domesticated animals and humans.”

Lipkin says societies need to be more proactive in combating the dangers. “People need to understand that science is critical to address these kinds of challenges and respond in real time,” he said. “We need to be prepared. We need better bio-surveillance, with better detection and better ability to develop vaccines. However, our public health system is underfunded and overwhelmed, and we need more scientists.”

Continue reading “Contagion” film is not far from the truth, warns virus scientist

2011 Oct 04

Magazine scans: Total Film

Thanks to my friend Mariana, we now have scans from November issue of Total Film with Contagion coverage:

GALLERY LINKS:
• Magazines/Clippings: Total Film – November, 2011

2011 Oct 03

Kate Winslet: “Ned is The One”

Kate Winslet has told friends her new man Ned Rocknroll is “The One”.

The star, 35, is “madly in love” with Richard Branson’s nephew and wants to set up home with him, a pal revealed.

The pair spent the weekend at Ned’s aunt’s house in Chichester, West Sussex.

A source said: “They have really fallen for each other. They are even mentioning marriage.”

Married Ned, 33 — born Abel Smith — has rejected a US job offer to be near twice-wed Kate after they got close on Branson’s holiday isle Necker in August.

He is separated from his wife Eliza.

Source: The Sun

2011 Oct 01

Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet among stars using voices for audiobooks

Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood are now finding a way to update some of their own favorite literature, and it simply has to do with lending their voices.

For their new line of upcoming audiobooks, Audible.com has announced that some of the following celebrities have offered up their voices to bring new life to some books that many mainstream audiences have abandoned over the years. For example, Nicole Kidman (who played Virginia Woolf in The Hours) will be reading the Woolf classic To The Lighthouse, while Kim Basinger is set to tackle the Kate Chopin classic The Awakening.

The first one of these new audiobooks will be released by the site early next year, and some of the other celebrities who are taking part include the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Kate Winslet, Meg Ryan, Naomi Watts, Colin Firth, and Dustin Hoffman. There are a number of Oscar nominations and trophies within this list, and the ultimate goal here is that it leads to an increased awareness in classic literature beyond just adaptations for the big screen.

As for what some of these stars are up to when it comes to their acting work, you can see Kate Winslet in Contagion, which is currently in theaters. Meanwhile, Hathaway has been busy shooting The Dark Knight Rises for much of the past several months.

Source: Examiner.com

2011 Oct 01

Magazine scans: Fotogramas

Thanks to my dear friend Mariana, here are scans from Spanish magazine Fotogramas October issue with a Contagion coverage:

GALLERY LINKS:
• Magazines/Clippings: Fotogramas – October, 2011