20 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Thursday, May 23, 2019 he stars of Disney’s live-action adaptation “Aladdin,” Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, director Guy Ritchie and Tincluding Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott executive producer Kevin de la Noy looked at a number of and director Guy Ritchie, returned to Jordan-where different countries in the Middle East and North Africa portions of the film were shot- as part of the ongoing before deciding on Jordan. Magic Carpet World Tour. The group attended a VIP It was the region’s aesthetic beauty and the benefits screening of the film under Royal Patronage and hosted by afforded the production through the RFC that helped Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein at Abdali Mall Prime Cinema and cement their decision. Over the past 10 years, the film participated in a press conference organized by and locat- industry has created close to 95,000 job placement oppor- ed at the Royal Film Commission - Jordan. “Aladdin” opens tunities in Jordan. Recent productions to have shot in the in US theaters May 24, 2019 and in Jordan May 23, 2019. country include “The Martian,” “Dune” and “Star Wars: On the heels of Paris, London and Berlin, Jordan is the The Rise of Skywalker.” The RFC is focused on training and fourth stop on the film’s Magic Carpet Would Tour and the capacity building to enhance local available talent for pro- continuance of a partnership that began several years ago. duction support and has an incentives package to help The “Aladdin” production was in the Hashemite Kingdom entice other productions to come film in Jordan. They are of Jordan for several weeks in November 2017 to capture currently in the process of designing a soundstage for the natural beauty of the stunning desert vistas for the big post-production work. screen. The production resulted in the hiring of 150 locals to supplement the existing UK crew. The RFC provided About ‘Aladdin’: invaluable support during filming, including comprehensive A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s production services and assistance in facilitating logistics animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the with local authorities. charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-deter- “Jordan did not only provide the amazing landscape mined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key needed for such a beautiful story, but also all the support to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie (“Sherlock needed to make it a success,” says Princess Rym Ali, man- Holmes,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”), who brings his sin- aging director by interim of the Royal Film Commission - gular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious Jordan. “The Royal Film Commission is committed to help- port city of Agrabah, “Aladdin” is written by John August ing good stories materialize on screen. And this goes (“Dark Shadows,” “Big Fish”) and Ritchie based on beyond offering production services. Local professional Disney’s “Aladdin.” The film stars Will Smith (“Ali,” “Men in crew are available. We care about training as well as build- Black”) as the larger-than-life Genie, Mena Massoud ing an audience appreciative of quality movies.” Producers (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) as the charming scoundrel Aladdin; Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) as Jasmine, the Ashman (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and Tim Rice (“The Lion beautiful, self-determined princess; Marwan Kenzari King”) and includes two new songs written by Menken and (“Murder on the Orient Express”) as Jafar, the powerful Oscar and Tony Award-winning songwriters Benj Pasek sorcerer, Navid Negahban (“Legion”) as the Sultan con- and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “Dear Evan Hansen”). The cerned with his daughter’s future, Nasim Pedrad film, which was shot on practical stages in London and on (“Saturday Night Live”) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s free- location amidst the stunning desert vistas of Jordan, has a spirited best friend and confidante; Billy Magnussen (“Into talented creative team helping to bring Agrabah to life, the Woods”) as the handsome and arrogant suitor Prince including: director of photography Alan Stewart (“The Anders and Numan Acar (“The Great Wall”) as Hakim, Commuter”), production designer Gemma Jackson (“Game Jafar’s right-hand man and captain of the palace guards. of Thrones”) and costume designer Michael Wilkinson “Aladdin” is produced by Dan Lin, p.g.a., (“Sherlock (“American Hustle”). Holmes”) and Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a., (“Death Note”) with The 1992 animated film starred Robin Williams and fea- Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Marc Platt (“La tured such memorable songs as the Oscar-winning “A La Land”) and Kevin De La Noy (“The Dark Knight Whole New World” and “Friend like Me.” The film grossed Rises”) serving as executive producers. Eight-time more than $502 million at the global box office, which led Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken (“Beauty to successful stage productions on Broadway and abroad and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”) provides the score, as well as a North American touring company. “Aladdin” which includes new recordings of the original songs writ- opens in Middle East theaters today. ten by Menken and Oscar-winning lyricists Howard hree handwritten documents pur- declared legal, the estate, reportedly val- he city of Paris has chosen an American landscape portedly prepared and signed by ued at some $80 million, will be divided Tarchitect to re-design a huge area surrounding the T Eiffel Tower, a project that will banish almost all vehi- Aretha Franklin appear to give equally among her four sons. instructions on the fate of the late queen In April a Michigan probate court cle traffic near the immensely popular monument. “We can of soul’s estate, contradicting the belief judge approved a plan for hired experts create the biggest garden in Paris... with much more biodi- she had left no will. The documents to appraise Franklin’s estate, which versity, much more ecology,” Kathryn Gustafson said after obtained and published by the Detroit according to local media says it has paid Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo presented the plan late Tuesday. Free-Press newspaper Tuesday were dis- at least $3 million in back taxes to the Gustafson has studied in France, where she has designed Rodrigo Sanchez (right) and Gabriela Quintero of the Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela pose covered in a spiral notebook under couch Internal Revenue Service since she died. several parks and squares, but is best well known interna- during a photo session before a concert at the McKittrick Hotel in New York City. — AFP cushions in her living room, as well as in a In December the US tax agency filed tionally for her memorial fountain for Britain’s Princess locked cabinet that had previously been court documents saying the singer owned Diana in Hyde Park, London. inaccessible. The 16 pages of difficult to more than $6 million in back taxes and A total of 54 hectares (133 acres), currently criss- read, hand-scrawled papers dated some $1.5 million in penalties. Franklin’s crossed by several roads including two major thorough- between 2010 and 2014 appear to distrib- death in Detroit closed the curtain on a fares on each side of the Seine river, will be largely turned ute assets including real estate, jewelry, glittering six-decade career that spanned over to pedestrians and “low-impact transportation” such eadlines have given little love to gui- where from top festivals to Barack Obama’s furs, stereo equipment and music royalties gospel, R&B, jazz, blues and even classical as bus and bike lanes. In particular, the heavily used car tar heros in recent years, as stream- White House. Their latest work is a more lanes on the Iena bridge which spans the Right and Left H to her family members. music. — AFP ing tastes favor rap and instruments melodic album than past recordings, a In the document dated June 21, 2010, Banks underneath the Eiffel Tower will also be given over of the greats are celebrated less onstage sound they achieved by first writing songs the iconic singer declares herself of to lawns and rows of trees, according to a video rendering and more in museums. But more than a complete with lyrics before stripping away sound mind and health, except for “high of the project. decade after soaring to global fame the words in a bid to help their fans medi- blood pressure” and “a mass on the pan- “We’re going to have an extraordinary garden where Rodrigo y Gabriela-the Mexican classical tate exclusively to the guitars. creas.” The indomitable Franklin died at we’ll hear birds singing once again,” Hidalgo said. That will guitar duo that draws inspiration as much “When we were kids we didn’t know age 76 in August 2018 after a long battle be music to the ears of the estimated 150,000 people who from prog and thrash metal as flamenco and what anxiety was,” said Rodrigo Sanchez with pancreatic cancer, triggering an visit the site every day during the summer high season, folk-is still going strong, recently releasing backstage before the pair played an inti- outpouring of grief. Her death also raised including the 20,000 to 30,000 who climb the tower itself. their first studio album in five years, mate show at Manhattan’s McKittrick Hotel, questions over the future of her assets, Overall, seven million people visit the tower each year. “Mettavolution,” to rave reviews and days after rocking New York’s larger with her family that includes four sons- The expansive garden will stretch from the Ecole embarking on a global tour.