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Friday, October 27, 2017 Lifestyle | Movies & Music Hollywood honors Knight of the Living Dead George A Romero

S filmmaker George A. Romero, whose 1968 “If George hadn’t come around I’d probably be classic “Night of the Living Dead” spawned removing real kidneys from people as opposed to Uthe zombie movie genre, was posthumously the fake kidneys I remove on a daily basis,” said honored Wednesday with a star on Hollywood’s Nicotero, who grew up in Romero’s home town, Walk of Fame. Filmmaker Edgar Wright, actor Mal- Pittsburgh. “He was a man that loved movies pas- colm McDowell and special effects guru Greg sionately. His inspirations allowed him to change the Nicotero paid tribute to the director, who died in rules to suit his style of filmmaking as he matured July at the age of 77, at the ceremony in front of a as a storyteller.” After the original trilogy, Nicotero quartet of actors made up as zombies. “I’m not sure penned and made a further three films, starting with I would be working in Hollywood right now if it “Land of the Dead” (2005), a commercial and crit- wasn’t for George,” said Wright, 43, whose 2004 ical hit which features Wright and “Shaun of the zombie comedy “Shaun of the Dead” went on to be Dead” star Simon Pegg as zombie extras. a cultural touchstone of its own. Romero’s other notable works include 1981’s “A lot of people owe George a huge debt of “Knightriders,” about a traveling medieval reenact- gratitude for his inspiration. I’m just one of many.” ment troupe that jousts on motorcycles, and 1982’s Shot in black-and-white on a budget of just over horror anthology “Creepshow” written by Stephen $100,000, Romero’s debut feature “Night of the King. Much of his work was shot in or around Pitts- Living Dead” daringly featured black actor Duane burgh, where he had attended Carnegie-Mellon Uni- Jones as its lead. Some film scholars later suggested versity after moving away from New York, where he the movie was a subversive critique of US society was born in 1940 to a Cuban father and a Lithuan- during the 1960s, while its gory realism was remi- ian-American mother. Romero began making his own niscent of footage from the Vietnam war airing on short films as a teenager and was arrested at 14 for American TV at the time. throwing a flaming dummy off the roof of a building The film went on to gross over $30 million George Romero’s star is unveiled at the posthumous Star ceremony for the late actor on the Hollywood while making “Man from the Meteor” in 1954. The worldwide, and led to five sequels including “Dawn Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. — AFP director’s widow, Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, ac- of the Dead” (1978) and “Day of the Dead” (1985) Knight of the Living Dead. Nicotero, a veteran spe- Walking Dead,” recalled becoming friends with the cepted the iconic Walk of Fame’s 2,621st star on be- — inspiring an entire genre that remains a Holly- cial effects make-up artist and executive producer filmmaker and quitting pre-med to manage the half of her husband, describing him as a “life force wood staple to this day and earning the nickname and regular director on AMC zombie drama “The make-up effects department on “Day of the Dead”. (whose) light will never be dimmed.” — AFP

whether the studio, started by Harvey and his brother Bob, could survive Harvey Weinstein’s disgraced exit. US media reported on Monday that New York’s state attorney general has axes bassist after opened a sweeping investigation into potential gender discrimination and civil rights violations rape allegation at The Weinstein Company. Barrack told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday that “there’s some value” to the company “if the Weinstein element could be removed.” The hock rocker Marilyn Manson has dis- Times, citing three people briefed on the mat- missed his bassist whose former girlfriend ter, reported Wednesday that another firm, accused him of rape, as the furor over film S he scandal-plagued film studio co- Fortress Investment Group, has been working mogul Harvey Weinstein’s alleged abuses spread founded by disgraced mogul Harvey on a potential financing package for the studio to the music industry. Manson said he had “de- This file photo shows Singer/musician Marilyn Weinstein will no longer get funding valued at roughly $35 million. Weinstein’s films cided to part ways” with longtime band member Manson attending the world premiere of ‘Arthur: T from Colony Capital, The New York Times re- received more than 300 Oscar nominations Jeordie White, who has denied the rape charges. Legend of the Sword’ at the TCL Chinese Theatre ported on Wednesday. The Weinstein Company and 81 statuettes, according to The Weinstein White goes by the stage-name in Hollywood, California. — AFP announced last week that Colony, founded by Company, which he co-founded after selling and has occasionally also been the group’s lead Thomas Barrack, a longtime friend of US Presi- Miramax. —AFP guitarist. Off Jill later toured as an opening act for Man- dent Donald Trump, would provide an “imme- “He will be replaced for the upcoming tour. I son. White in a statement late Wednesday said diate cash infusion.” It said it had also entered wish him well,” Manson wrote on Twitter late he had “only recently been made aware of these negotiations with Colony Capital for a full or Tuesday without further explanation. The dis- allegations from over 20 years ago.” “I do not partial sale of The Weinstein Company assets. missal came five days after Addams, a condone non-consensual sex of any kind,” he Citing two people briefed on the matter, The fellow Goth rock singer best known as the front- said. “If I have caused anyone pain I apologize Times said Colony has not and will not now woman of the band , accused White and truly regret it,” adding that he will “be taking provide a cash infusion, although it was unclear of abuse including rape during their relationship some time to spend with my family and focus on why. Colony is still looking at a possible pur- in the 1990s. Jessicka, who generally goes by her maintaining my several years of sobriety.” Jes- chase of Weinstein Company assets, but found first name only, wrote on Facebook that White sicka went public as a growing number of more disorder and less value when it examined raped her with his hand around her neck and that women in Hollywood accuse Weinstein and those assets, The Times’ sources said. They her screams of “No” were loud enough that a other men in the film industry of sexual abuse, added that Colony saw bankruptcy of the stu- roommate intervened. with the women saying they were too afraid to dio as more likely. The Weinstein Company In an echo of the unfolding scandal around speak up for the sake of their careers. fired Harvey Weinstein earlier this month fol- Weinstein, Jessicka said a male-dominated music Jessicka, reacting on Twitter to White’s dis- lowing numerous accusations of sexual harass- industry told her to stay quiet. “The label bla- missal, thanked Manson and wrote that it was ment and sexual assault. tantly feared the big machine behind Marilyn “imperative” for society to speak more about On Wednesday, a Norwegian actress be- Manson would use their power to destroy not sexual assault. Manson, controversial for his came the latest of more than 50 women to only Jack Off Jill, but my name, Jessicka, as well,” ghoulish appearance and lyricism that dabbles in publicly accuse Weinstein of misconduct rang- Actress Dominique Huett, left, speaks beside her she wrote. “The pressure and guilt of the in- the occult, sacked White as the singer recovers ing from inappropriate touching to rape, attorney Jeff Herman after a news conference to evitable repercussions of my rape story affecting from an injury when a stage prop fell on him at stretching back decades. Since the allegations discuss her lawsuit against The Weinstein Com- my band’s livelihood, happiness and success kept an October 1 concert in New York. The band is emerged, questions have swirled around pany, in Los Angeles, California. — AFP me silent for years,” said Jessicka, who with Jack due to resume the tour on November 5. — AFP