TMZ.com UPDATE 1:16 PM PT -- Biden just addressed the balloon operation, saying he ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down as soon as possible -- noting he had given that order on Wednesday. He told reporters that he was informed that the safest way to do it would be to wait until it was above open waters. UPDATE Here's the (potential) problem with that ... the White House has gone on record to say JB was first briefed about the balloon on Tuesday, but Bloomberg reports his administration had actually become aware of its presence as early as Jan. 28th (last Saturday). UPDATE President Biden: "I ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible." #ChineseSpyBalloon https://t.co/D5i5CRR8iy pic.twitter.com/w2rr3SPIsF — CSPAN (@cspan) February 4, 2023 @cspan UPDATE No other major outlets have confirmed that ... but, if true, it would indicate Biden's camp was trying to keep this hush-hush until they couldn't any … [Read more...] about U.S. Shoots Down Chinese Balloon, Dramatic Video of Blow-Up Moment
Israeli movie about yom kippur war
Sacha Baron Cohen RIPS The Academy — You’re Just Like an Evil Dictator!
Sacha Baron Cohen is comparing the Oscars to a power hungry tyrant ... pointing out how the Academy has stripped him of his right to free speech ... just like his dictator alter-ego would do. Oh, the hypocrisy! SBC released a new video statement -- while in character as General Aladeen from his new movie " The Dictator " ... in which he says, "I am OUTRAGED at being banned from The Oscars by the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts and Zionists.” He adds, "While I applaud the academy for taking away my right to free speech ... I warn you that if you do not lift your sanctions and give me my tickets back by 12 PM on Sunday, you will face unimaginable consequences!" Cohen also takes a shot at Hilary Swank ... presumably because she attended a birthday party for an alleged war criminal. In case you haven't heard -- the Academy reportedly BANNED Cohen from attending the awards because it got word that he would arrive dressed as General Aladeen ... and officials felt the … [Read more...] about Sacha Baron Cohen RIPS The Academy — You’re Just Like an Evil Dictator!
Jay-Z Offered Bacardi $1.5 Billion for Its Half of D’Usse, Got Rejected
Getty Jay-Z made Bacardi an offer he thought it couldn't refuse -- he was willing to spend $1.5 billion just for the booze co.'s 50% stake in D'Usse, but still got rejected. TMZ broke the story ... Jay's in a legal war with Bacardi, trying to force the company to buy him out of their 50/50 partnership in the luxury cognac brand. But, according to new docs, it was Jay who first tried to buy out Bacardi, back in December 2021. Here's what's weird, months before his offer ... Jay says he and Bacardi exchanged valuations of the brand. They were light years apart -- Jay felt his half of D'Usse was worth $2.5 billion, and Bacardi thought it was only worth a measly $460 million! Getty According to the docs, Jay went back to the drawing board and then in December he offered to buy out his partner for the $1.5 bil ... which, keep in mind, would still be 3 times what Bacardi said it was worth. Sweet deal, right? TMZ/Getty Composite … [Read more...] about Jay-Z Offered Bacardi $1.5 Billion for Its Half of D’Usse, Got Rejected
Writers Rail As Talks Resume – Second Question In A Deadline Survey
As talks are about to resume Monday on the final elements that many hope will lead to a new deal for the Writers Guild Of America, we wanted to lend some perspective and give voice to the TV and feature writers whose fortunes will be tied directly to the deal their union makes. This is the second in a quick succession of five questions we asked a panel of 10 writers. Here are their responses, and hopefully other writers will be moved to comment about the issues that worry them most as their work is monetized in this fast-changing digital age. Related: WGA: Why Gains, Lessons From 2008′s Strike Will Keep Hollywood From Another War DEADLINE: As a working writer, what is the biggest hardship right now facing you (i.e., one-step deals for feature writers, exclusivity clauses for TV writers), the one that gives you the greatest amount of worry for you and your WGA brethren? WRITER #1: I think the biggest setback from the strike was one-step deals. One-step deals were a … [Read more...] about Writers Rail As Talks Resume – Second Question In A Deadline Survey
Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing
The furor over a Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. airspace has further chilled D.C.-Beijing tensions, but the entertainment industry already has been swept up in the heightened atmosphere of American hawkishness. Hollywood studios and producers are poised to get a new level of scrutiny over their dealings with China — reflecting a bipartisan hardline toward Beijing and escalating concerns over its influence. A little publicized provision of a recently passed defense bill restricts the U.S. government from spending funds on movies that, to gain entry into the Chinese marketplace, are altered in the face of Chinese government dictates. The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act , approved in a bipartisan vote of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December, is the latest example of an increased focus on China’s role, not just in the entertainment industry but also in sports and social media. While Republicans have led attacks on … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing
Jim Mahoney, PR To Sinatra, McQueen, Gable, Explores 60 Years Of Hollywood In Memoir: “It Was About Taming The Lion”
Jim Mahoney was one of Hollywood’s go-to guys. He spent 60+ years in public relations, guiding the public images of Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Christie Brinkley, Peggy Lee, and hundreds more. He was on the front lines when Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped, and was at the party at Peter Lawford’s house the night Marilyn Monroe died. He was also there with the Rat Pack in Las Vegas. Now age 95, Mahoney has captured all of that in a memoir, Get Mahoney!: A Hollywood Insider’s Memoir. “Get Mahoney!” was the phrase often used when stars and their handlers knew trouble was brewing and needed to keep their names out of the press. Mahoney was good at his job, and frequently referred to himself as a better “suppress” agent than press agent. “It was about ‘taming the lion’ – both the press and the clients themselves,” Mahoney said. That sometimes involved making arrangements with the authorities and media to keep … [Read more...] about Jim Mahoney, PR To Sinatra, McQueen, Gable, Explores 60 Years Of Hollywood In Memoir: “It Was About Taming The Lion”
Writers Rail As Talks Resume – First Question In A Deadline Survey
As talks are about to resume Monday on the final elements that many hope will lead to a new deal for the Writers Guild Of America, we wanted to lend some perspective and give voice to the TV and feature writers whose fortunes will be tied directly to the deal their union makes. This is the first in a quick succession of five questions we asked a panel of 10 writers. Here are their responses, and hopefully other writers will be moved to comment about the issues that worry them most as their work is monetized in this fast-changing digital age. (Note: Writer #2 didn’t reply to this question.) Related: WGA: Why Gains, Lessons From 2008′s Strike Will Keep Hollywood From Another War DEADLINE: How has your ability to make a living improved or deteriorated since the WGA strike and why? WRITER #1: Directly, I lost at least one job so, for me, that is a loss of over $1 million. I was fortunate to survive the strike without the terrible ramifications that hit … [Read more...] about Writers Rail As Talks Resume – First Question In A Deadline Survey
Writers Rail As Talks Resume – Fifth Question In A Deadline Survey
As talks are about to resume Monday on the final elements that many hope will lead to a new deal for the Writers Guild Of America, we wanted to lend some perspective and give voice to the TV and feature writers whose fortunes will be tied directly to the deal their union makes. This is the fifth in a quick succession of five questions we asked a panel of 10 writers. Here are their responses, and hopefully other writers will be moved to comment about the issues that worry them most as their work is monetized in this fast-changing digital age. (Note: Writer #10 didn’t reply to this question.) Related: WGA: Why Gains, Lessons From 2008′s Strike Will Keep Hollywood From Another War DEADLINE: What tangible gains or losses did you realize through that strike, financial or other? WRITER #1: I support my guild 100% and I always will. I think of the WGA like a relative — I can say something strong about them but if you do we’re going to have a problem. There … [Read more...] about Writers Rail As Talks Resume – Fifth Question In A Deadline Survey
David Kushner’s ‘Players Ball’ Book About Sex.com Rights Fight Acquired By David Permut & Clockwork Films
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominated producer David Permut and Jamie Cohen of Australian-based Clockwork Films have acquired the narrative motion picture and television rights to award winning journalist and author David Kushner ’s book, The . The book tells the true story of the birth of the internet and two men’s ensuing battle over who controlled the rights to the multi-million dollar domain name: “sex.com.” This epic, decade long war took them from the boardrooms of Silicon Valley to a gun fight on the bordellos of Mexico – and to the edges of their sanity. Along the way involving the likes of an eclectic cast of porn stars and programmers, billionaires and brainiacs, goons and gangsters. In one corner is the hapless in-love, visionary tech entrepreneur Gary Kremen, who in 1994 used a $2,500 loan to create the first online dating service, Match.com, in hopes of driving love and connection over the internet. Seeing the value of domain names, he quickly bought several … [Read more...] about David Kushner’s ‘Players Ball’ Book About Sex.com Rights Fight Acquired By David Permut & Clockwork Films
‘1923’ Star Brandon Sklenar On His Character’s Arduous Journey From Africa To Montana: “I Don’t Think It Gets Easier For Anybody”
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains some details from the fifth episode of 1923 on Paramount+ . Cara got her much-awaited cable: her beloved nephew Spencer is on his way home. Here, 1923 star Brandon Sklenar , who plays soldier-turned-hunter-turned-overnight tugboat driver Spencer Dutton, talks about his character’s difficult sojourn to Yellowstone and whether fans will find out if he’s the man who will eventually give us Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. DEADLINE Let’s start with where we first met Spencer — somewhere in the bush, hunting wild beasts that eat tourists. I’m assuming you didn’t shoot those Africa scenes in the Santa Clarita Valley? BRANDON SKLENAR No. If Taylor Sheridan writes it in Africa, you’re going to Africa. We shot in Kenya for a while in September and October, and shot some stuff in Europe in November. DEADLINE So how close did you get to those ferocious animals, or was that all the magic of Hollywood? SKLENAR They … [Read more...] about ‘1923’ Star Brandon Sklenar On His Character’s Arduous Journey From Africa To Montana: “I Don’t Think It Gets Easier For Anybody”