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  • Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017
"Titanic" actor Bill Paxton has died at 61 
In this May 31, 2015, file photo, Bill Paxton arrives at the Critics' Choice Television Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. A family representative said prolific and charismatic actor Paxton, who played an astronaut in "Apollo 13" and a treasure hunter in "Titanic," died from complications due to surgery. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Bill Paxton, the prolific and charismatic actor whose many memorable roles included an astronaut in "Apollo 13" and a treasure hunter in "Titanic," has died from complications due to surgery. He was 61.

A family representative issued a statement Sunday on the death but provided no further details.

Paxton, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, appeared in dozens of movies and television shows and seemed to be around when history was made both on and off screen.

As a boy, he was in the crowd that welcomed President John F. Kennedy in Texas on the morning of Nov. 22, 1963, hours before Kennedy was killed in Dallas. As a young man, he worked in the art department for "B'' movie king Roger Corman, who helped launch the careers of numerous actors and filmmakers.

Paxton's movie credits included some of the signature works of the past 40 years, from "Titanic" and "Apollo 13" to "The Terminator and "Aliens." He received three Golden Globe More

  • Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017
"Hillary's America," "Batman v Superman" top Razzies 
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ben Affleck, left, and Henry Cavill in a scene from, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." (Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Neither Batman nor Dinesh D'Souza could finagle their way out of a Razzie.

The annual Golden Raspberry Awards bestowed a tying four "honors" to both D'Souza's documentary "Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party" and the superhero blockbuster "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

D'Souza's film was named the worst picture of the year on Saturday, and the conservative author got both worst director (with co-director Bruce Schooley) and worst actor for playing himself. Worst actress went to Rebekah Turner who played Hillary Clinton.

"This is absolutely fantastic," said D'Souza in a video statement. "My audience loves the fact that you hate me. Thank you."

Not to be outdone, Zack Snyder's $250 million "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" also picked up four "wins" including worst remake, worst screenplay and worst screen combo for its dueling stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Jesse Eisenberg was also More

  • Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017
Academy revokes "13 Hours" sound mixer's Oscar nomination 
Toby Stephens plays Glen Doherty in "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" from Paramount Pictures and 3 Arts Entertainment / Bay Films (photo by Dion Beebe/courtesy of Paramount Pictures).
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

One day before the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has voted to rescind the sound mixing nomination for Greg P. Russell for his work on "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi." The decision, announced Saturday, was due to Russell's violation of Academy campaign regulations.

The statement says Russell violated strict rules applied to telephone lobbying.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement that they take "very seriously the Oscars voting process."

"13 Hours" is still eligible for the award, but only for mixers Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Mac Ruth. At the Oscars on Sunday, the "13 Hours" crew is competing against the sound mixing team from "Arrival," ''Hacksaw Ridge," ''La La Land" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

  • Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
Rae gets laughs, King draws tears at Essence pre-Oscar gala 
Issa Rae attends the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards ceremony on Thursday, Feb.23, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- 

Actresses Aja Naomi King and Yara Shahidi quoted James Baldwin. "Insecure" creator Issa Rae shared awkward memories of her first trip down a Hollywood red carpet. And singer-songwriter Janelle Monae, who makes her acting debut in two films best-picture nominated films at Sunday's Oscars, insisted black women "have a right to have our stories told."

Essence magazine recognized these four young entertainers Thursday at its 10th anniversary Black Women in Hollywood gala, which is set to air as a special on the Oprah Winfrey Network on March 5.

"Stories written, directed, produced and acted by black women are necessary," Common said as he and actor Kofi Siriboe opened the program at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

"This event is a reminder that we are here," host Gabrielle Union said. "Regardless of whether or not anyone sees us."

The need to be seen, heard and valued was a theme of the evening, as pioneering artists such as Debbie More

  • Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
China's Recon buys $100M majority stake in Millennium Films 
In this Friday, May 20, 2016, file photo, Recon Group CEO Tony Xia Jiantong speaks during an interview about buying the British soccer club Aston Villa, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
By Kelvin Chan, Business Writer
HONG KONG (AP) -- 

China's footprint in Hollywood is expanding following a wire and cable maker's purchase of a controlling stake in independent studio Millennium Films, which produced "Rambo" and "The Expendables."

Recon Holding said Thursday it is taking a 51 percent stake in Millennium for $100 million.

The company, based in Yixing near Shanghai, is controlled by Tony Xia, who was a little-known businessman until last year, when he bought struggling English soccer club Aston Villa with ambitious plans to turn it around.

The terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, give Recon majority ownership of Millennium and its library of 300 films.

The studio is known for its action titles, which include 2008's "Rambo," the fourth installment of the Sylvester Stallone action franchise, "The Expendables" series, and "London Has Fallen."

Chinese investors and Hollywood studios have been in a frenzy of deal-making in More

  • Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
Matt Reeves steps in to direct "The Batman" 
This July 16, 2014 file photo shows US director Matt Reeves during the Spain premiere of the movie "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" in Madrid, Spain. (AP Photo/Abraham Caro Marin, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

"Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves has stepped in to direct "The Batman" for Warner Bros. just a few weeks after star Ben Affleck left the post. Warner Bros. said Thursday that Reeves would also produce the stand-alone film.

Reeves, also known for directing "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," said he's loved the Batman story since he was a child and is honored and excited to "bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen."

Affleck, who is also writing the screenplay, dropped out of directing the project in late January citing the focus required to play the superhero. He'll appear next as Batman in "Justice League" which comes out in November.

There is no release date set for "The Batman."

  • Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017
Oscars made strides, but Octavia Spencer wants more growth 
This feb. 6, 2017 file photo shows Octavia Spencer at the 89th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif. Spencer is nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in "Hidden Figures." (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
By Jonathan Landrum Jr.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Even though Octavia Spencer is pleased with the record number of blacks nominated for acting Oscars this year, she's still disappointed by the lack of recognition for other people of color.

"Diversity doesn't mean just black," Spencer said in a recent phone interview to promote her new film, "The Shack," which comes out March 3. "I'm excited that more black people are being recognized. That's what I would like to see arrive for other people of color, because they are so valued and underserved. I think when we ask the public, the paying public, to support films that don't portray them on-screen, that's hypocrisy."

Spencer is one of six black actors up for an Academy Award at Sunday's ceremony. Dev Patel, who is of Asian descent, is nominated for best actor. Spencer is nominated for her role in "Hidden Figures," which is nominated for best picture.

The diverse slate is a far cry from the past two years, when all-white acting nominees More

  • Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017
Judge blocks California law on posting actors' ages 
Assemblyman Ian Calderon, D-Whittier, Calif.
By Sudhin Thanawala
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- 

A California law that restricts a popular Hollywood website from posting actors' ages raises First Amendment concerns and does not appear likely to combat age discrimination in the entertainment industry in any meaningful way, a federal judge said Wednesday.

U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria granted IMDb.com's request to block AB 1687 while the website's lawsuit challenging it winds through the courts.

Chhabria said the law prevented IMDb from publishing factual information on its public website, and the state had not shown it was necessary to combat age discrimination in Hollywood.

"It's not clear how preventing one mere website from publishing age information could meaningfully combat discrimination at all," the judge said.

The law — authored by Assemblyman Ian Calderon, D-Whittier — took effect in January and allows actors and other industry professionals to force IMDb to take down their ages.

IMDb said in More

  • Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017
Shooting gets underway for Han Solo "Star Wars" film 
In this undated image provided by Lucasfilm, cast members and co-directors of the Han Solo "Star Wars" spin-off pose for a photo, from bottom left, co-director Christopher Miller, Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, co-director Phil Lord and Donald Glover. (Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

Alden Ehrenreich has taken control of the Millennium Falcon. The Han Solo "Star Wars" spinoff has begun production.

The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday that shooting began at London's Pinewood Studios on Monday. To kick off the untitled Han Solo movie, the studio released a photo of the cast at the controls of the Millennium Falcon.

Ehrenreich plays a younger version of Harrison Ford's iconic smuggler and is seated amid cast members including Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Donald Glover, who plays Lando Calrissian.

The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who helmed "The Lego Movie." In a statement they said, "We can't think of anything funny to say, because we just feel really moved, and really lucky."

Disney will release the film in May 2018.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017
Hungary's Berlin film fest winner Enyedi to adapt novel 
Director Ildiko Enyedi, winner of the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival for “On Body and Soul,” speaks about her film at a press conference at the Toldi Cinema in Budapest on Feb 21, 2017. (Mohai Balázs/MTI via AP)
By Pablo Gorondi
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -- 

The Hungarian director whose "On Body and Soul" won the top award at the Berlin Film Festival says her next project is an adaptation of "The Story of My Wife," a 1942 novel by Hungarian writer and poet Milan Fust.

Director Ildiko Enyedi also said Tuesday that she welcomed the national film fund's support for her work and that of a wide range of Hungarian directors and writers, some of whose films have recently won prizes at international festivals. "Son of Saul" by Laszlo Nemes won the Oscar last year for best foreign-language film.

"I see an intelligent and wise strategy on part of the Film Fund in that they are motivated primarily by professional aspects to help the films," Enyedi said. "The creators are able to bring mature works to the table and that is very significant."

"On Body And Soul," a love story about two slaughterhouse workers who connect in shared dreams, is Enyedi's first feature film since 1999. It won the Berlin More

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