lifestyle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014 MUSIC & MOVIES Crouching Tiger prequel to film in New Zealand

(From left) Actors Alice David, Tarek Boudali, Philippe Lacheau and Julien Arruti arrive to the 18th annual City of Lights, City of Angeles (COLCOA) French film festival in Los Angeles, California, yesterday. COLCOA will present 41 feature films, including three prequel to the Oscar-winning Chinese martial international premieres, arts epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” will 17 North American or US Abe shot in New Zealand this year, Film premieres, 16 West Coast Auckland said yesterday. The original movie, released premieres and 20 new in 2000, broke new ground in introducing Western shorts throughout the audiences to Chinese cinema and Film Auckland’s week, from April 21 deputy chairman Alex Lee said securing the follow-up through April 28. —AFP was a major coup for New Zealand. “Over the last 18 months it’s been very quiet and it’s nice we’re finally getting traction,” he told Radio New Zealand. “It’s a production that will require a vast number of resources, facilities, technicians and crew.” New Zealand is no stranger to big-budget movie shoots, Depp flops, ‘Captain America’ providing stunning backdrops for both the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” trilogies. But Lee said subsidy changes allowing major pro- ductions to claim back up to 25 percent of their budg- rules US box-office et as rebates were a decisive factor in Auckland win- ning the “Crouching Tiger” prequel. “It’s quite clear ollywood heart-throb Johnny Depp The film has earned more than $200 million year-old boy who wakes up from emer- The movie, which features the voices of that until the decision to increase the incentives for suffered the worst box-office debut in North America since its debut earlier in gency surgery with a story about going to Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway in the international films to come to New Zealand we were Hof his career while “Captain America: the month, when it had the biggest April heaven and back. It raked in $22.5 million lead roles, took in $22.2 million in its second just not competitive,” he said. “Crouching Tiger” made The Winter Soldier” maintained its grip on opening of all time. This week’s perform- for second place. weekend. With “Transcendence” in fourth, US$213.5 million globally, according to industry web- North American theaters, final figures ance meant “Captain America” held off a Third spot was taken by animated chil- paranormal comedy “A Haunted House 2” site Box Office Mojo, including US$128 million in the showed Monday. Despite being one of the strong opening from “Heaven Is For Real,” dren’s movie “Rio 2,” a follow-up to the 2011 jumped up the charts to earn fifth place, United States-unprecedented at the time for a foreign highest paid actors in Tinseltown, Depp’s starring Greg Kinnear as the father of a four- hit about a family of blue macaw parrots. with $8.8 million after a month in theaters. language movie. star power was unable to save $100 million The sequel to a 2013 film, it stars Marlon It also won four Oscars in 2001, including best for- science-fiction thriller “Transcendence” from Wayans as a man plagued by ghosts and eign film, and launched the Hollywood career of crashing with just $10.9 million on its open- demons. director Ang Lee, who went on to win two best direc- ing to take fourth spot. It was the latest in a Kevin Costner’s latest big-screen appear- tor Academy Awards for “Brokeback Mountain” and series of poor openings for movies starring ance-sports drama “Draft Day”-moved into “Life of Pi”. Film industry bible Variety reported that Depp, coming hard on the heels of “The sixth place. The film, which sees Costner Malaysia’s Michelle Yeoh will reprise her role as a war- Lone Ranger,” “Dark Shadows” and “The Rum playing an American football team’s general rior in the prequel, to be titled “The Green Destiny”. It Diary.” manager on the day of the NFL draft, picked said Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s The The film, which sees Depp play a scien- up $5.7 million. “Divergent,” the dystopian Weinstein Company is co-producing the film with tist who escapes death when his brain is tale of a young woman in a futuristic socie- New Zealand’s Iron Knight Productions. Yuen Woo- uploaded into a huge computer, was the ty, based on the popular young adult novel ping, who co-ordinated the eye-popping action actor’s lowest-grossing opening since by the same name, reeled in $5.6 million for scenes in the original, will reportedly direct, using a 2004’s “Secret Window,” which took $18.2 seventh place. Sinking from third to eighth script which has been approved by officials in Beijing. million. While Warner Bros. were left picking spot was horror film “Oculus,” about an The green light from Beijing is important because over the ashes of “Transcendence,” Disney antique mirror possessed with evil spirits. It it ensures access to the rapidly growing Chinese mar- toasted another solid weekend from garnered $5.2 million. Rounding out the top ket, where box office takings soared 36 percent to an “Captain America.” ten, biblical epic “Noah,” starring Russell estimated $1.8 billion over the first six months of The latest big-screen adventures of the Crowe, earned $5.0 million for ninth place 2013. The Chinese market is expected to overtake the iconic Marvel superhero, starring Chris and “Bears,” Disney’s documentary about a US market by 2020, prompting keen interest from Evans, took in $25.6 million, figures from family of grizzly bears living in Alaska, $4.8 Hollywood. — AFP box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said. million. — AFP David Foster Wallace’s Real Housewives of Atlanta’s estate opposes biopic Moore breaks silence on Porsha enya Moore has broken her silence with battery. The authorities will decide her over being attacked by castmate fate, not me. KPorsha Williams during “The Real There are many inflammatory statements Housewives of Atlanta” reunion special, which made by cast members to and about each aired on Sunday In a statement released on other particularly during the reunion tapings. Monday, Moore first addresses Williams’ arrest Many have made untrue, denigrating, dis- due to the attack “I called 911 to report the paraging, and inflammatory statements incident,” she said. “The Atlanta police con- against me in an attempt to provoke me, but I ducted an independent investigation, which have never reacted in a violent way. My intel- included viewing the raw footage of the inci- lect and my brain are my most powerful dent. As a result, Porsha Williams was charged weapons-not my fists. If people get so angry with battery. The authorities will decide her that they lose control and admittedly “black fate, not me.” out” and resort to violence, those persons Last Wednesday, Williams surrendered her- must be held responsible for their actions. self to authorities. Williams was released later This June 30, Being a cast member on a reality show does that same day on a $2,000 bond after being 2013 file photo not absolve people of their rights. charged with one misdemeanor count of sim- shows TV After being repeatedly attacked by an ple battery. In the weeks since the taping, personality abusive boyfriend at the age of 17, if some- Moore’s castmates have talked about the Kenya Moore at one puts their hands on me, I will not just let File photo shows James Ponsoldt, writer/director of attack publicly. Both NeNe Leakes and the BET Awards it go. With that said, I sought self-defense the film ‘Smashed,’ poses at the premiere of the film Phaedra Parks have appeared on Bravo’s in Los Angeles. training developed for the Israeli military. I’ve at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival, in Toronto. — AP “Watch What Happens Live” and said they also been trained in weapons. I can take believed that Moore provoked Williams into someone down in three moves. It took disci- elatives of David Foster Wallace say they’re violence. angry that they lose control and admittedly the taping of the Reunion Episode for the pline for me not to respond in kind. As violent opposed to the upcoming film “The End of the “black out” and resort to violence, those per- Real Housewives of Atlanta, I was violently responses escalate, they can quickly result in RTour,” which is based on David Lipsky’s 2010 Moore addressed those statements, as sons must be held responsible for their attacked by Porsha Williams. severe injury or even death. book “Although Of Course You End Up Becoming well: There are many inflammatory state- actions. Being a cast member on a reality The episode, which aired last night, Being the second Black woman to be Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace.” In his ments made by cast members to and about show does not absolve people of their rights. Sunday, April 20, 2014, was taped in front of crowned Miss USA, there are little girls who book, Lipsky recounts accompanying Wallace, the each other particularly during the reunion Moore goes on to say that she’s trained in an audience of over 50 people, which includ- look up to me. I would never want those girls, author best known for his 1996 novel “Infinite Jest,” on tapings. Many have made untrue, denigrat- self-defense, but used “discipline” after being ed cast, crew, guests and executives, who my nieces, or my future children to see me his book tour. Production on “The End of the Tour,” ing, disparaging, and inflammatory state- attacked. She then ended her statement with served as witnesses. I called 911 to report fighting anyone. That’s the lesson we should written by Donald Margulies, directed by James ments against me in an attempt to provoke “no matter how angry someone makes you the incident. The Atlanta police conducted all want to send, especially to young people- Ponsoldt (“The Spectacular Now”), and starring Jason me, but I have never reacted in a violent way. feel by what they say to or about you, vio- an independent investigation, which includ- that no matter how angry someone makes Segel as Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as Lipsky, My intellect and my brain are my most pow- lence is never an option.” ed viewing the raw footage of the incident. you feel by what they say to or about you, wrapped in late March. erful weapons-not my fists. If people get so Read the full statement below: During As a result, Porsha Williams was charged violence is never an option. — Reuters Lawyers for Wallace’s family and literary trust said in a news release Monday that they “have no connection with, and neither endorse nor support” the film. They Illness spoils ‘Royals’ singer add that “the trust was given no advance notice that Hanks to star in cold war thriller, this production was underway” and the film “is loosely Lorde’s Australian tour based on transcripts from an interview David consent- Spielberg may direct ed to 18 years ago for a magazine article. ... That article iling Grammy award-winning New was never published and David would have never Zealand singer Lorde has postponed her wo-time Oscar winner American attorney enlisted by agreed that those saved transcripts could later be AAustralian tour this week after doctors Tom Hanks is attached to the CIA during the Cold War to star in an untitled Cold slip behind the Iron Curtain and repurposed as the basis of a movie.” There was no advised she needed immediate rest and recu- T peration, her promoters said yesterday. War thriller that Steven negotiate the release of Gary mention of Lipsky’s book in the release, which also Spielberg is developing to Powers, a pilot captured when states that “individuals and companies involved with Teenager Ella Yelich-O’Connor, who uses her stage name Lorde, has been touring North and direct, an individual familiar his U-2 spy plane was shot the production were made keenly aware of the sub- South America over the past few months and with the project told TheWrap. down over Russia. Hanks and stantive reasons for the trust’s and family’s objections played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Spielberg has not committed to Spielberg previously teamed on to this project.” Festival over the Easter weekend. making the film his next proj- “Saving Private Ryan,” “Catch Me The estate prefers Wallace, who killed himself in She was due to kick off the seven-concert ect, but it is one of several in If You Can” and “The Terminal.” 2008, be “remembered for his extraordinary writing.” A Australian leg of her world tour in Melbourne on contention and Hanks’ involve- Hanks, who is coming off strong representative at Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Thursday. “It breaks my heart to have to post- The teenager, whose breakthrough hit ment could give it a leg up on reviews for “Captain Phillips” Rubenstein & Kohner, which represents the family, did pone these shows as the band and I absolutely “Royals” was no.1 on music charts around the others, which include “Robopocalypse” and and “Saving Mr. Banks,” is currently filming not reply to a request from The Associated Press for love playing to Australian crowds, and it was not world in 2013, also won a Grammy for Song of “Montezuma.” Tom Tykwer’s “A Hologram For the King.” He’s further comment. “The End of the Tour” is being pro- a decision we made lightly,” Yelich-O’Connor the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance in Matt Charman wrote the script and Marc repped by CAA. Matt Charman is repped by duced by Anonymous Content and Kilburn Media said in a statement issued through her promot- January. Yelich-O’Connor told her 1.5 million fol- Platt is producing the film, which CAA, Michael McCoy of UK-based agency domestically, with Sony handling international distri- er, Frontier Touring. “I know I need to focus on lowers on Twitter she had a “nasty chest infec- DreamWorks executive Jonathan Eirich will Independent, manager Jeff Silver of Fourth bution. Sony, Anonymous Content and Kilburn Media getting better in order to perform at my best. tion and general ill health”. Frontier Touring said oversee on behalf of the studio. Hanks is Floor Productions and attorney Gretchen also did not respond to requests for comment. — AP We’ll be with you as soon as we can, Aussies,” they are rescheduling dates for Lorde’s attached to play James Donovan, a prominent Rush. — Reuters she said. Australian tour. — Reuters