Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Amy Winehouse’s reps deny she’s to jet to Israel for rehab

Amy WinehouseAmy Winehouse’s reps have denied reports the troubled singer is planning to travel to Israel within weeks for drug addiction treatment.


It was claimed the 24-year-old singer was planning to undergo a $12,800 operation to kick her well-documented habit, but her management have dismissed the report as “nonsense”, despite Eliezer Cohen, the chairman of the Israel Anti-Drug Authority, saying that “They spoke to a renowned Israeli institution and an Israeli professor who conducts a very special and effective method.




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Thursday, 19 June 2008

Lil Wayne : Tha Carter III Sells 1 Million Copies In A Week

Lil Wayne has sold more than a million copies of 'Tha Carter III' in a week, despite the album being leaked online by angry mixtape DJs ahead of the release.


On its first day alone, the rapper's sixth long-player sold 423,999 copies and is now the first album since 2005 to sell a million within the first seven days. The last record was held by 50 Cent, who sold 1.1 million copies of 'The Massacre'.


Sales of 'Tha Carter III' look set to rise even further as Wayne recently signed a deal to sell the new album as digital downloads - more details here.


Lil Wayne is currently the US number one with his single 'Lollipop' and you can read our review here.




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Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Robert Rich and Steve Roach

Robert Rich and Steve Roach   
Artist: Robert Rich and Steve Roach

   Genre(s): 
Ambient
   



Discography:


Soma   
 Soma

   Year: 1992   
Tracks: 8


Strata   
 Strata

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 10




 






IFC Films picks up 'Melancholy'

Feature debut for writer-director Barry Jenkins





NEW YORK -- IFC Films has nabbed worldwide rights to writer-director Barry Jenkins' romantic drama "Medicine for Melancholy."


Jenkins' feature debut, which premieres Friday in competition at the L.A. Film Festival, revolves around an African-American couple dealing with issues of class and identity in San Francisco's black community. Wyatt Cenac (Fox's "King of the Hill") and Tracey Heggins star.


The film, produced by Justin Barber and Cherie Saulter, "will not only inspire and ignite great discussions among the African-American community but is sure to engage audiences across the globe," said IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring.


IFC mainly acquires U.S. or North American rights to features, but has recently started acquiring more worldwide rights to American indies like the Cannes fest entry "The Pleasure of Being Robbed" and "Medicine." Sehring said that while there are no plans for an IFC international theatrical distribution or sales arm, in-house employees may pursue overseas sales for "Medicine" to foreign distributors after it hits the international fest circuit.


Sehring referenced IFC parent Cablevision's acquisition of Sundance Channel and said his company was looking at new distribution models for indie cinema, hinting that a global network is one possible initiative being explored. "There's a real gap in the marketplace for true American independent titles abroad, with distribution companies set up so that local films get seen first, then U.S. studio titles and then foreign-language titles last," he said. "IFC is bullish on getting American indies seen abroad."


IFC Films' day and date distribution program will release the film in theaters and via VOD sometime in 2009. The deal was negotiated by IFC's Arianna Bocco and Jeff Deutchman with George Rush, who represents the film.



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Polanski's victim wants case closed

Oscar-winning movie director Roman Polanski should not have to serve time in prison for unlawfully having sex with a 13-year-old girl 30 years ago, the victim now says.

The French-Polish filmmaker fled the United States to France in 1978 before he was sentenced and Samantha Geimer, now 45 years old with three sons, said in an interview she wants the case resolved.

"I don't think he's a danger to society," said Geimer, who settled a confidential civil suit with Polanski more than 10 years ago.

"I don't think he needs to be locked up forever and no one has ever come out ever besides me and accused him of anything."

A documentary, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and will air on US cable channel HBO on Monday, throws the spotlight on the case.

"It was all so overwhelming," said Geimer, who lives in Hawaii and works as a personal assistant and bookkeeper.

"I think we just wanted it to be over and sending him to jail was not going to help it be over.

"What happened that night, it's hard to believe, but it paled in comparison to what happened to me in the next year of my life," she said of the media frenzy surrounding the trial, adding that she was relieved when Polanski fled because the media attention died down.

The filmmaker, now 74, was charged with several counts, including rape by use of drugs, but in a deal pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, a crime committed during a photo session with Geimer.

He bolted to France, where he is a citizen and cannot be extradited by the United States, before he was sentenced.

'HE'S SORRY'

Polanski, who directed Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown, already had spent 42 days in a prison for a psychiatric evaluation before his sentencing.

"I think he's sorry, I think he knows it was wrong," Geimer said.

"He should have been given time served ... he needs to make a deal to be treated fairly when he gets back here and with his celebrity I think that's going to be hard."

At the time of the court case, psychiatric experts did not consider Polanski a sexual predator and both the defense and prosecution believed probation would be sufficient punishment.

Documentary director Marina Zenovich tracked down Polanski's lawyer, Geimer, her attorney, law enforcement officials, film industry colleagues and reporters who covered the case, among others to dig deeper into the case.

They all revealed troubling behavior by the judge, now deceased, who was so driven by media coverage that he kept a scrapbook of clippings. The film implied that Polanski fled because he feared unfair treatment amid the media frenzy.

Polanski, whose pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered by followers of Charles Manson in 1969, rebuilt his life and career in France and in 2003 won a best director Oscar for The Pianist.

He declined to be interviewed by Zenovich for the documentary, which used archival interview footage.

"It was 30 years ago now," said Geimer, adding that she had spoken about it so often she was emotionally detached.

"It's an unpleasant memory ... (but) I can live with it."





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Remy Ma Gets 8 Years

Remy MaRemy Ma will be spending more than just her honeymoon in the clink.
The PunishHER rapper was sentenced to eight years in prison today for shooting a female acquaintance outside an NYC...


The Hope Blister

The Hope Blister   
Artist: The Hope Blister

   Genre(s): 
Other
   



Discography:


...Smile's Ok   
 ...Smile's Ok

   Year: 1998   
Tracks: 8