20 Established 1961 Lifestyle Music & Movies Wednesday, February 19, 2020

n a Friday night in one of Wilson Chow, head of PwC’s global iMax China down over 16 percent. one-time fee of $90 million to release it OBeijing’s central shopping dis- technology, media and entertainment Chow warned older or less successful on its Douyin and Toutiao platforms. tricts, the popular Megabox and telecommunications practice. “It is cinemas might be forced to close per- The move was popular with those cinema is shuttered and empty. Like really a big portion.” manently. trapped at home, but prompted a huge entertainment venues across the capi- backlash from cinemas. A joint letter tal, the eight-screen movie theatre has ‘Not optimistic’ ‘Destroying the industry’ signed by the country’s biggest theatre been closed for nearly a month in The takings at the box office on the The outbreak could also hit the chains threatened to boycott future response to the coronavirus outbreak first day of the new year in 2019 was pipeline. Hengdian Studios-China’s releases from Huanxi. It claimed the which has swept China, infecting more $240 million, according to Chow. This largest film and TV production site- agreement was “intentionally destroy- than 70,000 people. Glossy posters year, the same day managed just said some production work began ing the movie industry”. for this year’s blockbusters hang inside $300,000. “I’m not very optimistic (of again last week, but only with crew the closed entrance, while a sign out- overtaking US sales this year),” he said, members who have undergone a 14- Global impact side says it was closed to “avoid describing the virus as “a big blow to day quarantine. Beijing’s Film Bureau The streaming giants have had an spreading infections”. No reopening the industry”. Film groups in China are promised to give financial support to unexpected hit from the locked-down date was given. only beginning to count the cost. State- production companies hit by the out- holiday, with shares surging for the likes The government told hundreds of owned China Film Co. said during the break. The loss of lucrative Chinese of Baidu’s Nasdaq-listed iQiyi and millions of people to stay home through New Year holiday last year it earned audiences will have a global impact. Bilibili. iQiyi said it has brought forward the Lunar New Year holiday-a crucial 144.03 million yuan ($20 million) at the According to state agency Xinhua, the release of new programs and period in China’s movie industry. box office-nearly 8 percent of annual more than 40 non-domestic made films released VIP films for free viewing dur- Michelle Obama’s production house, This photo shows two work- Normally, blockbuster films are earnings. This year, cinemas have closed last year had box office sales over 100 ing the holiday. Meanwhile others “American Factory”, won best docu- ers wearing face masks released and consumers pack cinemas- and films the group has produced are million yuan ($14 million). remain in limbo. Disney was hoping its mentary, about a Rust Belt factory manning a promotional but this year, all was quiet. The closures postponed. The virus has also caused waves in new film Mulan-based on the tale of a reopened by a Chinese billionaire. stand for the Disney movie could have a devastating impact on “The coronavirus outbreak has China’s film circles. One anticipated legendary Chinese warrior-would be a But the film’s co-producer and the “Mulan” in an almost empty China’s film industry-and its target to ground China’s film industry to a halt,” blockbuster, “Lost In Russia”, was set huge hit with Chinese audiences. factory’s chairman were unable to shopping mall in Beijing. — overtake the US this year as the said Deloitte China’s Polly Lee. She says to be released during the new year hol- Now the US entertainment giant, leave China for the ceremony-due to AFP biggest box office in the world. With only 117,000 people went to the cinema iday-but the film studio, Huanxi Media, which will also face losses from clos- US travel restrictions over the coron- sales decimated in the first two months during the first few days of the holiday- decided to release the film online ing its Disneyland parks in China and avirus.—AFP of the year, this now looks unlikely. compared with 130 million last year. instead of waiting for cinemas to Hong Kong, can’t even be sure when “Based on 2019, the contribution from Shares in Shenzhen-listed Wanda Film reopen. The studio signed a partner- the film will open. Even the Oscar Chinese New Year was about 20 to 30 have tumbled by more 25 percent since ship to screen it for free with internet awards felt the coronavirus impact. percent of the total box office,” said mid-January, with Hong Kong-listed firm Bytedance, which paid Huanxi a The first film from Barack and

Andy Weatherall urors began deliberating the fate of after the alleged attacks. His team said the Jex-Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein relationships were consensual and transac- yesterday in his high-profile sex tional, arguing that the accusers used sex crimes trial that marked a watershed with the defendant to advance their own moment in the #MeToo movement. The careers. Prosecutors said he was a career disgraced movie mogul, 67, faces life in sexual predator who took advantage of his prison if the jury of seven men and five powerful position in the American film women convict him of predatory sexual industry to prey on aspiring young assault charges in New York. More than actresses. 80 women have accused Weinstein of sex- Weinstein, the producer of “Pulp ual misconduct since allegations against Fiction” and “Sin City,” is the first man ndy Weatherall, the DJ who produced Primal Scream’s him ignited the #MeToo global reckoning accused of abuse in the #MeToo move- “Screamadelica” and a pioneer of the acid house against men abusing positions of power in ment to face a criminal trial. In closing A October 2017. arguments Thursday, lead attorney Donna movement, died Monday at age 56 after suffering a pulmonary embolism, his representatives said. “He was being But the jury is considering charges Rotunno urged the 12 jurors to make them- treated in hospital but unfortunately the blood clot reached related to just two: ex-actress Jessica selves “unpopular” by acquitting his heart. His death was swift and peaceful,” a statement Mann and former production assistant Weinstein, insisting he had been innocent from his PR agency said. “His family and friends are pro- Mimi Haleyi, with many claims too old to from the start. She stressed that prosecu- foundly saddened by his death and are taking time to gather prosecute. Mann, 34, says Weinstein raped tors had failed to present any forensic evi- their thoughts.” Weatherall was acclaimed for his remixes of her in March 2013, while Haleyi alleges he dence or eyewitness accounts. The prose- Primal Scream’s 1990 hit “Loaded”, Happy Mondays’ forcibly performed oral sex on her in July cution’s case rests on whether the jury “Hallelujah” and New Order’s “World In Motion”, produced 2006. The proceedings, which began hear- believes the six women, including actress for England’s 1990 football World Cup campaign. ing testimony on January 22, threw up Annabella Sciorra of “The Sopranos,” who File photo shows Harvey Weinstein arrives for his sexual assault trial at New York Criminal New Order said it was “very saddened” to hear the news, complicated issues surrounding consent testified that Weinstein had sexually Court in New York City. — AFP while bassist Peter Hook added: “He was a truly nice, kind and abuse of power for the jury. Under assaulted them. man who shared many, many words of wisdom.” Ministry of cross-examination, both Mann and Haleyi counts including predatory sexual assault, separate sex crimes investigation in Los Sound, the super-club dance venue that opened in 1991, acknowledged at least one consensual sex- Los Angeles case rape and a criminal sexual act. The jury Angeles and is also the subject of several called Weatherall “a master of his craft”. Weatherall helped ual encounter with Weinstein after the Judge James Burke will begin instruct- must reach unanimous verdicts on each civil complaints. — AFP to document rave culture with the Boys Own fanzine but alleged assaults. ing jurors at 9:30 am (1430 GMT), before count. If they cannot, the judge may be shunned the path towards becoming a celebrity DJ, prefer- Defense lawyers presented dozens of they retire to consider their verdict. He will forced to declare a mistrial. ring to concentrate on creating music instead. emails and text messages in court that remind them that to convict, they must be A split verdict is possible where “I don’t start a project as such, I just make music every appeared to show both Mann and Haleyi sure of the defendant’s guilt beyond all Weinstein is convicted of some charges day and see what happens,” he told The Independent news- on friendly terms with Weinstein years reasonable doubt. Weinstein faces five and cleared of others. Weinstein is facing a paper in a 2016 interview. “I’m usually three-quarters of the way through an album when I officially start making it. This is like a hobby, but also a job. I’ve found a job I like and I’ve Willis to star alongside found a level that I like.” On working with Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie for “Screamadelica”, he told the Fox in Midnight BBC: “I was very nervous. I didn’t know what you could do and couldn’t do. “But I was full of what Orson Welles called ‘the confidence of ignorance’.” The details surrounding his in The Switchgrass funeral “will be made in due course”, his agency said. — AFP scar-winning British director Steve fisherman from Grenada, the island where ruce Willis has been cast in Randall OMcQueen is returning to his art McQueen’s family originated. The images BEmmett’s directorial debut, ‘Midnight roots with a series of short films at of beauty and sweetness filmed from his In The Switchgrass’. The 64-year-old London’s Tate Modern art gallery, offering boat are tragically reversed on the other actor will star in the movie alongside Megan a sensory exploration of black identity. side of the projection screen, which shows Fox and Emile Hirsch, according to Deadline, McQueen, who became the first black a grave commissioned by McQueen for the which reports that the Highland Film Group Bruce Willis director to win the best picture Academy eponymous young fisherman, who was will be selling the project at the upcoming Award in 2014 for “12 Years a Slave”, is killed by drug traffickers. European Film Market. The movie - which is Rico on March 9. George will serve as a now based between London and set in 2004 - will tell the story of an FBI producer on the movie, alongside Tim Amsterdam and is focused on championing Poetry Agent (Megan) and a Florida State officer Sullivan, Alex Eckhert and Luillo Ruiz. diversity in the film industry. African-American singer, actor and civil (Emile) who team up to investigate a string Randall expressed his delight at Bruce and Visitors to his new exhibition will be rights activist Paul Robeson (1898-1976) is of unsolved murder cases, with Bruce play- Megan joining the project, posting a picture greeted by “Static”, a film of New York’s honored in “End Credits”. The film shows ing the part of Megan’s FBI Agent partner. of the story on his Instagram account. He Statue of Liberty, scrutinising the iconic censored FBI documents detailing the Randall has produced more than 100 captioned it: “It’s happening, so grateful!” In this file photo British director Steve McQueen poses with symbol from every possible angle at very agency’s surveillance of Robeson, read by movies with partner George Furla under Megan, 33, recently appeared alongside the award for best film for “12 Years A Slave” at the BAFTA close range against a deafening backdrop a voice-over artist, for five hours. “He is... their Emmett/Furla banner, including ‘The James Franco in ‘Zeroville’ as well as the British Academy Film Awards. — AFP of the helicopter from where the footage testing the limits of how people can be Irishman’ and ‘2 Guns’ - but will make his South Korean war film ‘The Battle of was filmed. “What interests Steve is our documented in an era of mass surveil- bow behind the camera on this project, Jangsari’, both of which were released in view of the world, how humans are trying lance,” said Moran. In a similarly militant which is set to begin shooting in Puerto September last year. — Bang Showbiz to represent Liberty,” said Fiontan Moran, vein, the exhibition features the sculpture assistant curator of the exhibition. “7th “Weight”, which was first shown in the Nov, 2001” features a still shot of a body prison cell where the writer and playwright while McQueen’s cousin Marcus tells of Oscar Wilde was imprisoned. how he accidentally killed his brother, a It depicts a golden mosquito net draped particularly traumatic experience for the over a metal prison bed frame, addressing artist. the theme of confinement and the power of he release date of the adventure comedy movie was the imagination to break free. The show am Smith cried over the positive the collection. On Instagram, Sam wrote: Tpushed back after a fan backlash to the initial design runs alongside an exhibition of McQueen’s response to their new single. The ‘To “Gorgeous people, I’m so happy to see of the hedgehog, but the ‘Dumb and Dumber’ star, giant portraits of London school classes, S Die For’ hitmaker - who unveiled you all so excited about my new song, so I who plays villain Dr. Robotnik, now feels the delay has actu- many of which appeared on the streets of their latest track on Valentine’s Day - has wanted to share another surprise... My ally “turned out to be a great thing”. In an interview with London last year. “I remember my first been left overwhelmed by the reaction THIRD album TO DIE FOR will be yours Fox News, Jim said: “It turned out to be a co-op where school trip to Tate when I was an impres- from fans after releasing the title track on May 1st!!!! You’ll be able to preorder everybody was in on the creation. I think everybody felt sionable eight-year-old, which was really from their upcoming third studio album. tomorrow. “I am more proud of this album good about it because ultimately (director) Jeff Fowler (had) the moment I gained an understanding that Taking to social media, Sam tweeted: than anything I’ve ever done. I’ve really set no ego involved at all. “He just went, ‘These people grew up anything is possible,” said McQueen, “Reading all your responses to my new myself free the last two years whilst writ- with it, and it’s important to them that we get it right.’ And I adding it was “where in some ways my song is making me sob. Love you all.” The ing this and I hope you can dance and think it was just a much better movie because of it.” journey as an artist first began”. 27-year-old singer recently revealed the relate to these stories. It’s all for you, The 58-year-old actor previously expressed concern He recently told the Financial Times track came from a place of “self-discovery always xx (sic)”. — Bang Showbiz about audiences getting involved in the design of charac- newspaper the difference between his art and heartbreak”, and they dedicated it to ters. Jim said: “I don’t know quite how I feel about the audi- films and his feature films was that the for- In this file photo British director Steve the “lonely hearts” on what is largely seen ence being in on the creation of it, while it’s happening. mer were poetry, the latter like a novel. McQueen poses with the award for best film as the most romantic day of the year. In a Sometimes you find that the collective consciousness “Poetry is condensed, precise, fragment- for “12 Years A Slave” at the BAFTA British statement, they said: “I wrote the song decides it wants something and then when it gets it, it goes, ed,” he said. “The novel is the yarn”. The Academy Film Awards. — AFP with Jimmy Napes and Stargate in L.A. ‘OK, I don’t want it’... You become a Frankenstein’s monster exhibition opens on February 13 and runs during a time of self-discovery and heart- at some point, right?” Meanwhile, Ben Schwarz, who voices until May 11. — AFP break. This is for all the lonely hearts out the titular character, felt that the initial backlash demon- “Western Deep” is another visceral there on another Valentine’s Day xx. strated the passion that fans have for Sonic. Ben said: “We work, giving a sense through sights and “ And after revealing the new single and had no idea if anybody even cared about the property. sounds in an interactive installation of the video, the ‘Writing On The Wall’ star also When that trailer came out, the idea that all of these people experiences of miners in South Africa, fol- confirmed their upcoming third album - were so passionate and cared so much and had ideas was lowing them to the bottom of the mine. also called ‘To Die For’ - is set to drop on this huge rush to us because like, ‘Oh, we have something “Ashes”, meanwhile, is a tribute to a young special here. — Bang Showbiz May 1 with fans already able to pre-order Sam Smith