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Thursday, Sep. 8, 2016

Streisand will chair performing arts center at WTC

In this Oct. 11, 2012, file photo, singer Barbra Streisand performs at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

By Rachelle Blidner

NEW YORK (AP) --

Officials say Barbra Streisand will serve as board chair of a planned performing arts center at the World Trade Center.

The announcement was made Thursday at a design-unveiling for the long-stalled project.

The center will be shaped like a cube and made out of translucent marble. It will have three theaters with moveable walls that could be reconfigured for works of dance, opera, music and theater. It also will be home to the Tribeca Film Festival.

The center will be called the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center and is scheduled to open in early 2020. The billionaire businessman donated $75 million for the $250 million project in June.

It has undergone numerous changes and delays since it was first included as part of the site's 2003 master plan.

Wednesday, Sep. 7, 2016

Additional Emmy Award presenters announced

Actress/producer America Ferrera of the Amazon series "Superstore" (photo courtesy of Producers Guild of America).

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. --

An additional group of television’s top talent has been confirmed to present at the 68th Emmy Awards, telecast live on Sunday, September 18 on ABC.

These esteemed presenters, including Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy winners, include:

•Laverne Cox – Previous Emmy nominee, star of Orange is the New Black (Netflix) and Rocky Horror Picture Show (FOX)
•Tracee Ellis Ross – 68th Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – black-ish (ABC)
•America Ferrera – Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG winner and star of Superstore (NBC)
•Kit Harington – 68th Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Game of Thrones (HBO)
•Matt LeBlanc – Previous seven-time Emmy nominee, Golden Globe winner, star of Man With a Plan (CBS) and Episodes (Showtime)
•Joel McHale – Previous Emmy nominee and star of The Great Indoors (CBS) More

Wednesday, Sep. 7, 2016

Samuel L. Jackson, Kenneth Cole to host diversity event

In this Nov. 23, 2015 file photo, Salma Hayek poses for photographers at the British Fashion Awards 2015 in London. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File)

By Mark Kennedy, Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Celebrities from music, film, fashion, sport and academia — including Samuel L. Jackson, Kenneth Cole, Jason Collins, America Ferrera, Salma Hayek, Quincy Jones, and Emilio and Gloria Estefan — have signed up to co-chair a two-day convention to celebrate diversity and unity.

The Rise Up as One event, scheduled for Oct. 14-15 at a location still being worked out, will have performances, talks and cultural expositions. A concert on Oct. 15 will be broadcast live on Univision Network and on Fusion.

Other co-chairs for the event include Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Forest Whitaker, Junot Diaz, Nicolas Berggruen, T Bone Burnett, Ximena Caminos, Ava DuVernay, Don Graham, Dr. Henry Jenkins, Mia Maestro, Jonathan Olinger, Eduardo Padron, Residente and Robert Rodriguez.

More details are expected in the coming days.

Wednesday, Sep. 7, 2016

Ephraim Sykes of "Hamilton" joins NBC's "Hairspray Live!"

In this Feb. 17, 2016 file photo, Jennifer Hudson attends the Michael Kors 2016 show during Fashion Week in New York. Hudson and Harvey Fierstein will headline the cast of NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Broadway performers Ephraim Sykes and Shahadi Wright Joseph are joining the cast of NBC's "Hairspray Live!"

Sykes, an original company member with the hit musical "Hamilton," will play Seaweed J. Stubbs in "Hairspray Live!"

Wright Joseph will play Seaweed's sister, Little Inez, NBC said Wednesday. The actress' credits include the musicals "The Lion King" and "School of Rock."

Previously announced cast members for "Hairspray Live!" include Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande.

The musical is scheduled to air Dec. 7 on NBC.

Tuesday, Sep. 6, 2016

Mel Brooks to intro "Young Frankenstein," talk Gene Wilder in Oct.

In this March 16, 2005 file photo, actor Gene Wilder speaks about his life and career at Boston University in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

"Young Frankenstein" will come alive in theaters once again on October 5, with a live introduction from writer-director Mel Brooks, who will pay tribute to the classic spoof's late star Gene Wilder. The intro will be broadcast from the 20th Century Fox Lot in 500 theaters nationwide, according to an announcement from Fathom Events Tuesday.

In addition to touring the studio lot, where much of the movie was filmed, Brooks is expected reminisce about his friend and collaborator Wilder, who died last Sunday from complications from Alzheimer's.

"Young Frankenstein" is one of Wilder's most fondly remembered films. The announcement comes on the heels of AMC Theaters bringing other Wilder favorites "Blazing Saddles" and "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" back to theaters this past weekend.

Tuesday, Sep. 6, 2016

Netflix TV western series starts production in New Mexico

A Feb. 12, 2013 file photo of director Steven Soderbergh at a press conference in Berlin. Soderbergh is one of the executive producers on Netflix's "Godless" (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)

SANTA FE, NM (AP) --

A new Netflix television series starring Jeff Daniels is in production in New Mexico.

New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced Tuesday that filming for the limited television series "Godless" has begun in Santa Fe.

He says the production will employ 280 crew members from the state.

"Godless" is set in the expansive landscape of the great western frontier.

The six-episode period drama is scheduled to premiere worldwide on Netflix in 2017.

Steven Soderbergh, director of "Traffic," is one of the series' executive producers.

Tuesday, Sep. 6, 2016

Carlson settles lawsuit against Ailes for $20 million

In this May 18, 2010, file photo, TV personality Gretchen Carlson appears on the set of "Fox & Friends" in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

By David Bauder, Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson settled her sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes for a reported $20 million and a public apology Tuesday, ending the case that triggered the downfall of the cable channel's chief executive.

Carlson alleged in a lawsuit filed two months ago that she was demoted and let go at Fox because she rejected Ailes' sexual advances and complained about workplace harassment.

In a statement, Fox parent company 21st Century Fox said: "We regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve."

Carlson was paid $20 million, according to a person familiar with the settlement who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms of the agreement were confidential. Ailes did not pay any of the settlement, said his lawyer, Susan Estrich.

Carlson, a former Miss America, spent several years on the "Fox & Friends" More

Friday, Sep. 2, 2016

Eastwood movie "Sully" to open Telluride Film Festival

Filmmaker Clint Eastwood poses for a photo op before “The Legend of Cinema Luncheon: A Salute to Clint Eastwood,” during CinemaCon 2015 at Caesars Palace on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

TELLURIDE, Colo. (AP) --

Clint Eastwood's movie about the "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot will get its world premiere during the Telluride Film Festival.

"Sully," starring Tom Hanks as pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, will open the 43rd annual festival on Friday night.

Other films that that will be shown include "Bleed for This," starring Miles Teller as the former boxer Vinny Paz, and a modern musical romance called "La La Land" starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

The festival will continue through Monday.

Friday, Sep. 2, 2016

Director Ezra J. Stanley wins Best Commercial honor at HollyShorts Film Festival

LOS ANGELES --

Writer-director Ezra J. Stanley, an alum of SHOOT’s 2010 New Directors Showcase, has teamed with producer Michael Axtell to win the Best Commercial Award at the 2016 HollyShorts Film Festival for Toymail’s “Pancakes.” This marks the second time Stanley has earned the HollyShorts honor; back in 2011 his Levi’s “Post-Mortem” topped the commercial category at the HollyShorts competition.

In “Pancakes,” a genius boy uses his cutting edge stuffed Toymail animal to respectfully tell his father how to make a better breakfast. Toymail is a new plush version tech toy that allows children to text and communicate without using a screen. The recorded voice goes to the stuffed animal and the voice goes to the guardian’s phone. They then can respond back to the app, and the voice is reinterpreted in the character of the toy.

“Pancakes” made its world premiere at HollyShorts.

With the momentum of his recent HollyShorts win, Stanley is in More

Thursday, Sep. 1, 2016

"Step Up All In's" Trish Sie to direct "Pitch Perfect 3"

In this Nov. 22, 2015, file photo, from left, Chrissie Fit, Rebel Wilson, and Anna Kendrick, from the cast of "Pitch Perfect 2," accept the award for top soundtrack at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

"Step Up All In" director Trish Sie is stepping up to direct "Pitch Perfect 3." Producer and "Pitch Perfect 2" director Elizabeth Banks tweeted the news Thursday.

Banks, who has produced the "Pitch Perfect" films since the beginning, in addition to playing a small part in the a cappella series, was originally slated to direct the third installment after the latest performed so well at the box office. Earlier this year Banks backed away from the role.

Sie has a background in music and dance and is also known for her innovative music videos, including the Grammy-winning video for OK Go's "Here It Goes Again." She is also handled by Bob Industries for commercials and branded content.

Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson will reprise their roles in "Pitch Perfect 3," which Universal Pictures has slated for release in December 2017.