MTV News |
- Scotty McCreery Struts, Haley Reinhart Soars On 'American Idol'
- Lil Wayne Goes 'Unplugged' In June
- Michael Sheen Promises 'Surprises' In 'Breaking Dawn'
- 'Priest' Is A 'Satisfying Mash-Up' Of Genres, Stars Say
- Exclusive: Soulja Boy Talks Auditioning To Play Tupac In Biopic
- Angelina Jolie Tried Exotic Accents For 'Kung Fu Panda' Role
- Lady Gaga Brings The Drama As 'American Idol' Mentor
- Saigon Wishes Prodigy Would 'Downplay' Their 2007 Fight
- Cannes Fest Kicks Off With 'Boots' Stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek
- Just Blaze Says Dr. Dre Didn't Want To Record <i>Detox</i> At First
- Why Does 'Mortal Instruments' Star Lily Collins Tweet As Clary Fray?
- Justin Bieber, Chris Brown 'Next 2 You' Video Will Be 'Big,' Director Says
- Nicki Minaj Debuts Hybrid Character On 'Where Them Girls At'
- Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, More Weigh In On NBA Finals
- 'Bridesmaids' Stars Say Jon Hamm 'Embraced' Awkward Sex Scenes
- 'American Idol' Preview: Lady Gaga Arrives, Who Will Survive?
- 'Glee'-Cap: Prom Episode Makes Our Hearts Explode
- Lindsay Lohan Pleads No Contest To Jewelry Theft
- Beyonce Reveals New Album Title: <i>4</i>
- Cannes Film Festival: Salma Hayek, Rachel McAdams Flaunt Floral Fashions
| Scotty McCreery Struts, Haley Reinhart Soars On 'American Idol' Posted: 11 May 2011 07:19 AM PDT Also, Lauren Alaina sings Elvis and James Durbin rocks out to Journey after Lady Gaga coaches the top four.
And then there were four. On Wednesday (May 11) night's "American Idol" performance show, the final four were tasked with picking a song that inspired them and then choosing a tune from the formidable songbook of legendary songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller ("Stand By Me," "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock"). Oh, and Lady Gaga popped in to mentor them. So, like, no pressure.
James Durbin busted out of the gate with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," as his inspirational song. It was fine. He hit some high notes and had the right bar rock atmospherics, but it felt a bit karaoke and not quite as special as his previous efforts. Jennifer Lopez, though, called it "amazing," loved the song choice and found nothing to fault James with. Randy Jackson (who everyone repeatedly mentioned had performed the song countless times while playing in Journey) also loved it, slathered some love on his homeys in the classic rock band and labeled James' performance, um, the "highest degree of difficulty." For Haley Reinhart it was Michael Jackson's environmental anthem, "Earth Song." Not one of his strongest compositions, the song didn't do Haley any favors, as she sounded hoarse and out of tune and somewhat lost in a schmaltzy arrangement that didn't let her show off her chops. When she got to the part where the gospel choir backed her up, Reinhart brought out the bluesy growl, but it just kind of sounded like atonal shouting. The judges were not into it at all, with Lopez saying she could feel the inspiration, but after Durbin apparently set the bar and got people on their feet, she felt Haley dropped the ball with a song that didn't hype the room. "The song doesn't really suit you," Jackson said, slamming Haley for not being able to reach the proper notes to sell the performance. "The song needed you to deliver it ... I felt like you were just screaming at the end over and over." A defiant Reinhart practically cut Jackson off and visibly disagreed with his comments as Steven Tyler jumped to her defense and said, "They're both wrong ... that song showed me that you can ... don't believe them." After that battle royale, Scotty McCreery brought everyone together again with Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning." Like Durbin's brown-nosing choice, it was a savvy pick in light of the recent killing of terror master Osama bin Laden and lyrics about the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Strumming an acoustic and accompanied by a lonesome fiddle, McCreery did it again, hitting all the right sweet spots with a sincere, deep-voiced rendition of the ballad about war, love and Jesus. "I think it's the perfect song choice for where we are now as a country," said a somber Jackson. "Those lyrics to that song, just a simple guy singing simple songs, I hope that you keep that because I think you've set your mark on this stage this season. You're ready for superstardom dude and I hope you make it." Tyler agreed, calling it beautiful and applauding the sincere near tear in Scotty's eye as he sang the dramatic tune. And J.Lo? She's just plain in love and said Scotty's honesty is a mark of someone who was born to be a star. It was "Anyway" by Martina McBride for Lauren Alaina, who also went topical with a song she sent out to the people in her hometown who were affected by the recent tornados. With lyrics about devastating storms and, yes, God, Alaina, dressed in a flowing burgundy prom gown, belted the song out like a champ, hitting a couple of scaling notes that had the power and confidence that mentor Jimmy Iovine has been pushing her to find all season. "You did it again, you broke my heart," Tyler said, calling her voice pure, perfect and right on pitch, and then comparing her to a "blue plate special." Lopez agreed that Lauren is clearly taking their advice and Randy said after a shaky week last week, Alaina was, yes, "back in it to win it." "You know what was wrong with that performance?" he shouted. "Absolutely nothing!" The second round brought out Gaga, who was done up like a gothic Muppet, with a black leather leotard with a silver zipper-dripping collar, skunk-stripe bob wig, a giant black dot on her cheek and exaggerated eye makeup. Haley was up first with "I Who Have Nothing," a tune she needed to kill in order to get back in the game. Gaga encouraged Reinhart to go crazy with the vocals and bring the over-the-top drama. Backed by a full string section, Reinhart went into full diva mode, mixing musical theater bombast with Celine Dion-like theatrics and that special touch of desperation that Gaga suggested. It got her a standing ovation from the judges and the crowd. "This is why we can't take it easy on you, baby!" Lopez howled. "Look what you're capable of! We will never take it easy on you ... one of the best performances of the year." With everyone needing "a moment" to shine, Jackson said Reinhart found hers and potentially launched herself back into contention. Gaga liked how the Coasters' "Young Blood" showed the humor in Scotty's voice, but she pushed him to get more emotional and let loose. Going casual in jeans and flannel, McCreery stared pop-eyed into the camera like a character from the old country variety show "Hee-Haw" and definitely had fun, and though the performance was entertaining, it came off a bit silly and lightweight. Randy liked how Scotty went from serious in round one to goofy in round two. "I think we just saw both sides of a Scotty concert," he said, dubbing McC ready for the big time. "You made Gaga's yaya go lala," Tyler added cryptically about the odd chemistry between Scotty and Gaga. Lauren Alaina picked Elvis' "Trouble," and after scaring Scotty enough to make him kiss his crucifix, Gaga told the good ol' girl not to be hung up on the word "evil" and just get into character. Wearing a gold lamé dress and matching spangly jacket, Lauren gave Haley a run for her money in the blues-mama race, and then kicked it up a notch and busted into a quickstep portion of the tune before finishing with some more growly notes and a playful yelp. Lopez saw an attacking, mature, sexy performance persona in 16-year-old Alaina that she hadn't seen before and Jackson said, like Scotty, it showed a more fun side of the teenager. Durbin closed the show with "Love Potion No. 9," with Gaga telling him to get his hips into it and shake his rump. Turning the song into a Bad Company-like rocker, James took the advice, getting down on his knees, wiggling his legs, strutting out into the audience and ending with a pregnant pause and a pair of Robert Plant-like wails. "You know what that showed me, James? That you can sing anything," said Lopez, who wasn't expecting Durbin to be able to pull it off. "You take any song and you put that James thing on it." Using a sports metaphor, Randy said James is peaking at just the right time. Who do you think killed it on Wednesday night? Let us know in the comments below! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Goes 'Unplugged' In June Posted: 12 May 2011 04:18 AM PDT 'MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged' airs on MTV2, MTV and MTV.com on June 12.
Lil Wayne is one of rap's most electric figures, but the Young Money star is ready to unplug. As fans gear up for the release of Weezy's long-awaited ninth studio album Tha Carter IV, the New Orleans lyricist will appear on "MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged." The program, which is set to premiere across MTV2, MTV and MTV.com on Sunday, June 12 at 9 PM ET/PT, will feature Tunechi performing acoustic versions of select hits from his classic catalog. The show will be MTV's first televised rap unplugged concert since Jay-Z's 2001 special and come 20 years after LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul appeared on the original Yo! Unplugged Rap. With over ten million records sold, critical acclaim and adoration from the streets, Wayne, who has blurred the boundaries of rap, rock and pop, seemed like the perfect choice for the next installment in MTV's groundbreaking series. "Lil Wayne is an amazing choice for Unplugged as he is at hip-hop's forefront — leading a new generation of artists whose appeal spans across music genres and playlists," Amy Doyle, MTV's EVP of Music and Talent, said in a statement. "Lil Wayne's skills, influence, and catalog are a powerful addition to the legacy of artists who have rocked the 'Unplugged' stage." MTV's Unplugged concert series first debuted in 1989 and spotlighted artists like Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Mariah Carey, R.E.M., Jay-Z and Bob Dylan. Now, Lil Wayne will join the ranks of music's biggest and most iconic stars. Lights out! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Michael Sheen Promises 'Surprises' In 'Breaking Dawn' Posted: 12 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'There are a couple of things that I think will draw gasps of breath from people,' he tells MTV News.
The most devoted of "Twilight" fans, specifically those who have read and re-read Stephenie Meyer's beloved four-book saga, could make a good argument that they already know everything about the two-part "Breaking Dawn" films. Not so, says actor Michael Sheen, who recently offered up the most tantalizing "Breaking Dawn" tease we've heard yet. "There are things that for people who even know the books very, very well I think will be surprises," Sheen told MTV News as he promoted Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris." "Without giving too much away, there are things that stay very true to the book, but there are a couple of things that I think will draw gasps of breath from people," he teased.
"Without giving anything too much away, there are all the moments that you would hope in there and a few others that maybe people aren't expecting." Surprises that will draw gasps of breath? Consider us intrigued. Sheen has also hinted that his character, Aro, will be taking the villainy up a notch or two in the final two films. "Hopefully it's a mixture of things," Sheen said when asked if Aro transitions to full-on bad guy or toes the line between good and bad. "He's much more of a presence than he was in 'New Moon.' He's such a wonderful character, and I hope that I've brought a variety of things to it, not just that he's the evil bad guy. I hope there's a whole mixture of things there." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| 'Priest' Is A 'Satisfying Mash-Up' Of Genres, Stars Say Posted: 12 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'It's not a vampire film,' Maggie Q tells MTV News, saying the comic adaptation can't be labeled so easily.
We've had our eyes and ears on the movie "Priest" for quite some time now, from its comic book beginnings to its star-studded feature-film adaptation, 3-D conversion and new release dates. With the film's arrival in theaters only days away, it's time to take an even closer look at this unique thriller. Directed by Scott Stewart and starring Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban and Lily Collins, "Priest" is the story of a specially trained warrior priest (Bettany) who must fight vampires in order to save his kidnapped niece (Collins).
Despite the words "thriller" and "vampire" being in the plot description, there is a lot more going on in this film. When MTV News caught up with the cast recently, we asked them to explain what kind of movie "Priest" really is. "I think it's really, a really satisfying mash-up of urban sci-fi, a little drop of Western in there, a lot of horror, and a shed-load of action," Bettany said. "We've been kind of going through that today: 'How do we talk about this film? What do we say?' " Maggie Q wondered aloud. "It's not a vampire film; it just isn't. There are vampires in it, but vampires we've never seen before, so that's even cooler." "I think what [Stewart has] successfully done is taken a whole mesh of different genres and come up with this new thing that really works," Urban, who plays the villainous Black Hat, said. "It's a postapocalyptic futuristic, sci-fi, Western- slash-horror thing." "We had seen pictures of the world Scott was creating," Gigandet said when asked if he and his fellow castmembers were aware of how unique the film would look and how many genres would be included. "You get the feel from even the comics that we had looked at, and you kind of just get that sense, even when just looking on the sets, you know what world you're stepping into, as well as the costumes," he said. "I was just going to say the costumes," Collins added. "You look at his [costume] and then the priests, and then Maggie's little leather getup, and I have a corset. I mean, you're like, 'What is this?' It's a blend of crazy. It's epileptic." Check out everything we've got on "Priest." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. |
| Exclusive: Soulja Boy Talks Auditioning To Play Tupac In Biopic Posted: 11 May 2011 03:34 AM PDT 'I'm really still just thinkin' about it,' he tells Sway on 'RapFix Live.'
Soulja Boy Tell'em got the juice now. After the "Crank That" rapper announced that he would be remaking the 1992 film "Juice" and playing Bishop — the role that turned rapper Tupac Shakur into a movie star — some fans were up in arms. Well, on Wednesday (May 11), Soulja Boy appeared on MTV's "RapFix Live" and told Sway that he was also asked to audition for the role of Shakur in the upcoming Antoine Fuqua-directed Tupac biopic.+
"I got an email from William Morris Agency — that's my agency that I'm with — they reached out to me to play the part. I'm just still thinking about it right now," Soulja told Sway. "Even with the whole 'Juice' movie, I'm playing a part that Tupac played, but I'm not actually playin' 'Pac. When it comes to this, I'm actually gonna be playin' 'Pac, so I'm really still just thinkin' about it. But I'm just honored that they would reach out to me and ask me anyway." While he is still mulling over the audition invite, Soulja is excited about his remake of "Juice." The film is an accompaniment to his Juice mixtape, which dropped April 20. Soulja said he has already wrapped shooting, and fans will be able to see the film later this year. "I shot the movie. It's done. We did a good job. It's gonna be crazy," SB said. "I'm ready for the masses to see it. I got the 'Juice' music video coming out for the official soundtrack for all the people to hype 'em up, to get everybody crunk." Should Soulja Boy play Tupac in the late rapper's upcoming biopic? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Angelina Jolie Tried Exotic Accents For 'Kung Fu Panda' Role Posted: 11 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'I came in and I was Mae West for awhile,' star laughs to MTV News at Cannes about her audition.
The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival, a.k.a. the world's most glamorous film fete, tends to attract the biggest and brightest stars working in the business. On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of chatting with "Puss in Boots" stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, and on Wednesday (May 11), we caught up with "Kung Fu Panda 2" A-listers Jack Black and Angelina Jolie. During a brief sit-down with the funnyman and his leading lady, MTV News asked Jolie to let us in on the secrets behind her audition for the animated flick, specifically addressing a rumor that she spoke in a variety of voices and accents in an effort to get the job.
"I did, I did," Jolie confirmed. "I've never loved my own voice. Like most people, you hear your own voice and you think, 'Ugh.' So I came in and I was Mae West for a while," she said of the saucy screen legend. "I was doing southern, I was doing British, I was doing any accent I could come up with. Finally, they had to give me the talking-to that they'd analyzed my voice and they'd hired me and they were very fine with my [natural voice], 'So please just stop doing those horrible voices,' " she recalled with a laugh. In the "Kung Fu Panda" sequel, Jolie reprises her role as the feisty fighter Tigress, alongside Dragon Warrior Po (Black). The "awesome" world of the fighters is threatened by the emergence of a new villain who plans to conquer China and destroy kung fu with a secret, unstoppable weapon. Naturally, Po, Tigress and the rest of the Furious Five must spring to action to prevent that from happening. Stick with MTV News all week for all of the scoop from the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Check out everything we've got on "Kung Fu Panda 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Lady Gaga Brings The Drama As 'American Idol' Mentor Posted: 11 May 2011 08:04 AM PDT In a getup worthy of Cruella de Vil, Gaga's offbeat, hands-on approach inspires 'Idol' wannabes.
Not every "American Idol" mentor would ask a contestant, "How do you feel about getting a little psycho?" Then again, not every "American Idol" mentor is Lady Gaga. Yes, "Idol" got Gaga'd on Wednesday (May 11), as the pop superstar tutored the top four contestants while they worked through material from the songbook of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Dressed in typically grand Gaga fashion in a black leather ensemble and a blond bob wig, accentuated with a pronounced black streak and high black bangs, Gaga — her eyebrows bleached blond — looked like the spawn of Cruella de Vil and the lead character from "Pink Floyd the Wall." She immediately made her stamp as a judge when she challenged Haley Reinhart to make her performance a little more, well, "psycho." With her eyes framed by an intricate black makeup job and sporting a large black dot painted on her right cheek, Gaga wasn't there to judge, she said, but rather to be a friend. "I just want to give them senses of inspiration and confidence," she said, "And to help them bring out what's really special about them." For Reinhart, that meant drawing out her dramatic side. In her rendition of Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)," Gaga urged her to take a deep breath before delivering the song's defining lyric, a climactic "I love you." "Give them drama!" Gaga pleaded. "Give them a little Edith Piaf. Give them a little, 'I'm crazy and I'm a laugh away from a tear.' " When she got her where she felt she wanted her, Gaga praised Reinhart. "She's gonna kick so much ass, little pony!" she said. Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina — who make up the country contingent of this year's competition — proved slightly more difficult subjects. When she felt McCreery wasn't properly singing into his microphone, Gaga told him, "Get right in the center of that hot dog." ("I don't know where Gaga was going with that," McCreery admitted.) She then told him to treat the mic like it was his girlfriend. "She says to you, 'If you don't stick your tongue down my throat, we're through, OK?' " Gaga instructed Scotty to imagine. "So you keep your mouth on that microphone if your life depends on it or that bitch is gonna leave you." For his part, McCreery didn't know what to make of Gaga. "I knew going into it, it would be interesting," he said. "I don't think I was prepared for how interesting it was." McCreery said he felt like he needed to kiss his cross when they were through; Gaga apologized for pushing his boundaries, but said she "just wanted to open him up a bit." Getting Alaina to open up was another obstacle. The teen had chosen to sing Elvis Presley's "Trouble," but balked at a line in the song that would require to say, "I'm evil." Gaga was the first person on the show to treat Alaina like a young woman and not a little girl. "Listen, you're not a kid, you're 16," she told her. She then asked her to inhabit the character of the song rather than getting tripped up by any particular lyrics. And when she finally got Alaina to accept the line, Gaga told her, "At the end of the day, the word 'evil' is not that big a deal, is it?' The Elvis theme came back around during Gaga's mentoring of James Durbin, when she recommended Durbin swivel his hips like the King. "Get in your body a little more,' she suggested, and when he didn't immediately comply, she stood behind him, her hands on his hips, and moved them herself. "When you move those hips, you look sexy," she told him, encouraging him to shake his money-maker all over the "Idol" stage. With her appearance on the singing show, Gaga became "Idol" 's topic of conversation for the second week in a row. Last week, Reinhart's decision to perform the not-yet-commercially-available "You and I," caused much controversy at the judging table. Credit Interscope Records head honcho and "Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine for helping to turn "Idol" into a platform for one of his biggest artists, whose high-profile new album Born This Way is due May 23. What did you think of Gaga as the "Idol" mentor? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Saigon Wishes Prodigy Would 'Downplay' Their 2007 Fight Posted: 11 May 2011 04:51 AM PDT 'It's newsworthy, but downplay it like I've been doing all these years while you been in jail,' he says during 'RapFix Live.'
Prodigy's autobiography, "My Infamous Life," continues to cause a stir in the rap community. In the book, Prodigy gives his account of the 2007 fight between him and rapper Saigon at New York City's SOB's nightclub. During his visit to "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (May 11), Saigon explained to Sway the origins of his and P's beef and expressed his disappointment with the rapper's decision to write about the incident and still bring it up in interviews. "When he's with Alchemist and it's just him, he's, 'Nah, man. It ain't no problem, it ain't no problem,' " Saigon said of Prodigy and their mutual producer friend. "But then when it's 30 or 40 of them, it's a problem again. I can't respect a man who ain't the same all the time."
Since the fight, Saigon said he and Prodigy met about four or five times and made peace. "While Prodigy was locked up, they was trying to bait me into talking reckless about him. Every time somebody interviewed me, I had nothing but good things to say," Saigon said. "Then he comes out, not only in the book, but in an interview recently up at This Is 50, he's talkin' reckless again." Saigon told Sway that Prodigy had been texting the rapper in attempts to get a song done. "That's why I don't understand. He's texting me sayin', 'I'm tellin' Alchemist we should do a song and just to squash the beef,' " Saigon revealed. "And then he goes, does an interview and starts dissin' me again. So I'm like, 'I understand you got a book to sell; I got an album to sell, The Greatest Story Never Told, but I'm not trying to use you to sell my album, man.' " In an attempt to put the beef behind them, Sai-Giddy suggests that Prodigy downplay the situation when it comes up in interviews. "I left it alone. It's three years ago, homey. I understand that people bring it up, it's newsworthy, but downplay it like I've been doing all these years while you been in jail," he said. Do you think Prodigy should take Saigon's advice? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Cannes Fest Kicks Off With 'Boots' Stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Posted: 11 May 2011 09:11 AM PDT Stars appear at French festival to promote 'Shrek' spin-off 'Puss in Boots.'
The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday (May 11), and the French town has been completely transformed into every movie lover's dream. Amidst the high-end clothing stores and the decadent food, the streets are now flooded with never-before-seen movie posters, red-carpet events and, of course, the biggest stars in Hollywood.
The action kicks off each year with a star-studded event, and this year that event featured the DreamWorks animated adventure "Puss in Boots." The red-carpet affair took place along a pier at Carlton Beach on the Mediterranean. The stars of the "Shrek" spin-off, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, were on hand for the photo call, but before they took center stage, a flurry of flamenco dancers sauntered their way down the red carpet, setting the tone for the high-energy event. Banderas and Hayek, who wore a fun, flamboyant burnt-orange Gucci dress with matching floral sleeves, worked the photographers before making their way to the end of the carpet. The two stars then climbed high above the French Riviera into a giant pair of boots, waving to a crowd of onlookers. "Big boots make me nervous!" Banderas said of the stunt. "It was a little strange," Hayek added. "But I'm just happy I don't have vertigo." Yet Hayek was thrilled to be able to kick off the festival in such a fun and original way. "I do appreciate the imagination and creativity; we are in the business of imagination and creating something new." Hayek said. "It's a fun movie, a movie to entertain people, to make them feel good, to take them to a place they haven't been, so it's the right way to present it." In "Puss in Boots," Banderas reprises his role from the last three "Shrek" films, while Hayek is a new addition to the cast, playing Puss' love interest, Kitty Softpaws. The film is scheduled to be released later this year. Keep checking back with MTVNews.com all week for everything from the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Check out everything we've got on "Puss in Boots." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Just Blaze Says Dr. Dre Didn't Want To Record <i>Detox</i> At First Posted: 11 May 2011 05:28 AM PDT 'I remember him telling me, 'I didn't really feel good about it until recently,' producer tells 'RapFix Live'
|
| Why Does 'Mortal Instruments' Star Lily Collins Tweet As Clary Fray? Posted: 11 May 2011 03:44 AM PDT 'It's really to feel like everyone's as involved in the process as possible,' she tells MTV News.
From the very minute news broke that Lily Collins had landed the coveted role of Clary Fray in the adaptation of the "Mortal Instruments" book series, the 22-year-old actress understood how key a role social networking would play in the project. "I found out that people were tweeting about me getting cast as their heroine," Collins told us back in January. "I was so grateful that all these people were tweeting like, 'Oh, we're so excited. We totally see her as Clary, and we can't wait to see what she'll do.' I don't know what I would have done if people responded negatively."
In the months since then, Collins has been engaging with those fans not only on her own Twitter account, but through another Twitter account in which she interacts with fans as Clary herself. "Just put some pics of one of the vampire bike possibilities! Check 'em out," she wrote back in March, before linking to photos on the film's Facebook page. "It's the first time that someone's tweeting as the character, giving inside information about casting ideas, set pieces or costume design," Collins explained to us this week when she stopped by the MTV Newsroom. "It's really to feel like everyone's as involved in the process as possible. The readers are a huge part of the story's success, so why not involve them in the movie process as well?" Fans have readily embraced the opportunity, spurring engagement and enthusiasm about the production even before cameras have begun rolling. "The studio wanted it to be very much about the fans' input because, like the fans of the book, I'm also a huge fan of the series," Collins said. "Being one of them as well, I want to know what they think for certain characters. This movie may be about discovering someone new. I was new talent not that long ago, and I wanted a chance. It's very much about involving the readers as much as possible." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Justin Bieber, Chris Brown 'Next 2 You' Video Will Be 'Big,' Director Says Posted: 11 May 2011 12:35 AM PDT Colin Tilley also talks about shooting 'Look at Me Now' from F.A.M.E.
On Tuesday, fans immediately became excited by the news that Justin Bieber and Chris Brown have plans to shoot a video for Brown's F.A.M.E. track "Next 2 You." Luckily, that same day, MTV News had the pleasure of speaking with the video's director, Colin Tilley, who shared a bit about the clip. "Tomorrow, I'm shooting New Boyz and Chris Brown ... then Justin Bieber and Chris Brown, together," he teased. "I can't tell you anything about that yet, but it's going to happen. It's gonna be big. It's gonna be big. I can't say anything else."
Tilley had more to say about working with Brown on his eye-popping video for "Look at Me Now." "I remember when we first got the song and Chris sent it to us: It was the first time I had heard the song, and it was so crazy to me," Tilley recalled. "Before we do every video, I always talk to Chris to kind of feel where he's going with the song and just where his motivation was with the song, and he actually sent me this one YouTube link ... It was this little '80s clip of these hip-hop dancers dancing. "I would play it to the actual song, and at one point of the song, there were all these dancers dancing on these street elements like benches and tables and stuff like that," he continued. "From there, it just started to evolve from street elements and this whole underground vibe to just getting crazier and crazier. I wanted to make sure it was really exciting." Visually, the video never stops, thanks to a saturated color palette, cameos from Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes (who are featured on the track), funky clothes and funkier dancing. "Chris is just always down to make something different, so that was really it ... the mask came about from Diplo and the cage, and it all started to evolve to this awesome video," Tilley added. Share your predictions about the "Next 2 You" video in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Nicki Minaj Debuts Hybrid Character On 'Where Them Girls At' Posted: 11 May 2011 01:49 AM PDT 'I'm gonna say the craziest, most insane thing, and it's just about having fun,' Young Money star tells MTV News.
Given all of Nicki Minaj's now-infamous characters, perhaps it's only fitting that for a new type of song for the Young Money princess, she broke out a new persona: a special hybrid just for French hitmaker David Guetta's latest single, "Where Them Girls At."
"It's a cross between Nicki and Roman," Minaj told MTV News this week. "I'm doing kind of a London accent. It seems like a rebel, or a rebellious little kid. That's the type of vibe that I feel on this particular record. It's party. It's fun. Who cares? I'm gonna say the craziest, most insane thing, and it's just about having fun." Minaj confirmed what David Guetta first revealed to MTV News at Miami Music Week earlier this year: Together with Flo Rida, the pair created something special for Guetta's upcoming album. And while the song might not have been released under ideal conditions, the fans don't seem to care: In just over a week, the song maintains an impressive chart position on the iTunes singles download charts — sitting at #12 on Wednesday (May 11). And while Guetta has lauded Minaj for her skills as an MC and openly said that he chased the opportunity to work with her for almost a year, it's endearing to hear that Minaj, in the end, was equally delighted for the chance to work with dance music's biggest crossover star. "He really is a master — a master at his craft," Minaj said. "He's got it down pat. For me to link up with him, I'm just honored that he was reaching out. When I met him, I liked him instantly. He's sweet, he's humble, he's funny, and he's just a person you want to be around. "He's not someone walking around with a chip on his shoulder because he's been responsible for so many #1 records," Minaj continued. "He, for whatever reason, thought that I could bring something to his album, and to this record, and I'm so excited because it opens me up to a different fanbase." And while the very notion of Nicki Minaj jumping on a David Guetta house beat might seem strange, it might tickle electronic dance music heads to know that Minaj is a fan of house music. "I'm a humongous fan of that music," Minaj revealed. "It's that kind of music that you get lost in. Your problems go away for those 3 minutes and 30 seconds. You're in a new world, and I live in fantasy. I love to go away into another world, and that's what that kind of music does, and so, yes, I'm a huge fan." Share your review of "Where Them Girls At" in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, More Weigh In On NBA Finals Posted: 11 May 2011 02:01 AM PDT 'All we do is win! We the best forever!' Khaled tells Mixtape Daily about the Miami Heat.
Celebrity Favorites: Snoop Dogg This past Sunday, the defending NBA Champion L.A. Lakers were ousted from the playoffs, and like so many other b-ball enthusiasts, Snoop Dogg figured Kobe Bryant and company would win it all.
This is what the Doggfather had to say when MTV News caught up with him in February during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles: "The Lakers, we don't look as good as we usually look around this time. But, to me, that's perfect. We want to be under the radar. We want other people to get talked about. We want people to talk about Boston and Miami and San Antonio and Dallas and forget all about us. And then, when May comes around, we'll be getting ready for June. You see, 'cause when June comes, it's only two teams that play in June: The Eastern Conference Final Champ and the Western Conference Final champ, and for the past three years — holla at me in June." We can't blame Snoop: At the time, many analysts and basketball fans were looking at the Lakers to take it all. Mixtape Daily reached out to some of our favorite hip-hop sports nuts and asked them to tell us who they think will be crowned NBA Finals Champions in June. DJ Khaled: "Miami Heat winning everything! We the best in the NBA, and we the best period! All we do is win! We the best forever!" N.O.R.E.: "The Chicago Bulls. I love D. [Derrick] Rose. I love how humble he is, and he stays focused. Salute and you say 'Chi city.' " Freddie Gibbs: "I think the Bulls are going to win it all because they have the best defense, the most valuable player and the coach of the year. Da Bulls!" DJ Drama: "Miami Heat. They look the strongest right now and have the most to prove." DJ Whoo Kid: "Oklahoma City Thunder. These new young teams are killing the classic old-heads with average team points going over 110. OKC scored 133 on Game 4 — damn!" Killer Mike: "Mavs versus Heat. Heat win in five." Cormega: "The Dallas Mavericks. This playoff is so unpredictable but Dallas' bench and starting five is built to win." Skyzoo: "I picked Miami to win it all as soon as LeBron [James] made his move to South Beach, but I figured it'd be a tough road. Once the Lakers got swept, it all became that much easier. Once they get past Boston, there's really no one else left, East or West, that has enough manpower for the big three. At this point, it's championship or bust." Mistah F.A.B.: "As much as I hate to say it, Dallas. The reason being their perimeter shooting has been flawless. Dirk [Nowitzki] has been playing the best basketball I've ever seen him play, and his supporting cast is vicious. The difference-maker is Tyson Chandler." DJ Holiday: "Miami, because they have more all-stars in their starting five than any other team." Mickey Factz: "I think Miami is going to win it all. I hate LeBron James as a player to death, but I think they finally have gelled well." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Bridesmaids' Stars Say Jon Hamm 'Embraced' Awkward Sex Scenes Posted: 11 May 2011 12:51 AM PDT 'He's usually the guy you call for awkward sex scenes,' Maya Rudolph jokes to MTV News.
From the outside looking in, the new movie "Bridesmaids" has a lot going for it: An all-star cast of very funny women, anchored by "SNL" star Kristen Wiig and her onetime castmate Maya Rudolph, the universal and consistently humorous experience of being in weddings ... and Jon Hamm.
How does Hamm, known to most as "Mad Men" star Don Draper, fit into this mix of lovely ladies? He plays a sleazy "friend with benefits" to Wiig's character. Those "benefits," by the way, are hilariously awkward sex scenes that open the movie. When MTV News caught up with the "Bridesmaids" cast, plus producer Judd Apatow and director Paul Feig, we asked them to comment on the use of handsome Jon Hamm for not-so-sexy sex. "He's usually the guy you call for awkward sex scenes," Rudolph quipped. "Judd met with him and told him about it; I talked to him and sent him the script," Wiig explained of getting Hamm aboard. "We were like, 'We're not quite sure what your character is going to be yet, it's not fully fleshed out yet,' and he was such a trouper and signed on. And then we were like, 'OK, now we're doing a sex scene!' " Wiig said with a giggle. "I don't think I've ever seen somebody play such a slimy jerk but be like, 'Hey! It's cool!' " scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy said of Hamm's method of making a jerk impossible to hate. "It's the weirdest energy. It's so good and weird." "All we know is that we want his sex to be as bad as ours," Apatow joked. "We're trying to bring him down to our level, the handsomest man in the world," Feig added. "I'd worked with Jon before on 'Mad Men,' Kristen worked with him on 'SNL,' Judd knows him, we all know he's one of the funniest guys in the world, [and] he embraced this with such a gusto," he said. "The stuff we had him doing, we should be arrested." "Most of the time we had no film; it was just for the ladies to take runs at him," Apatow continued, tongue-in-cheek. "Mixing and matching, we like to say," Feig said. "Let's see who he goes best with." Check out everything we've got on "Bridesmaids." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| 'American Idol' Preview: Lady Gaga Arrives, Who Will Survive? Posted: 11 May 2011 01:06 AM PDT With help from Mother Monster, 'Idol' top four will take on a songbook that includes tunes by Elvis, Peggy Lee.
"American Idol" has presented us with some head-scratching television this year. A Rock and Roll Night nearly devoid of rock and roll. Judges who all too often laud the commonplace and dismiss the extraordinary. An entire episode devoted to Carole King's songbook — a fine singer and writer, to be sure — but one that hardly compares to past thematic artists like John Lennon and Paul McCartney. If anything, this season's overarching theme has been straight-up weirdness. Wednesday's (May 11) show, then, will continue in this vein, and perhaps raise the bar. None other than Lady Gaga is the mentor for the top four contestants, as they take on the songbook of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. "Who?" you might ask. Well, these two gentlemen have written songs for Elvis Presley and Ben E. King, among others, and their music has since been covered by likes of the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and sampled by everyone from Warren G to Sean Kingston. Of course, that still doesn't explain why the woman behind "Judas" is the perfect fit for this week's show. Nonetheless, it should make for some very entertaining TV. If only Jacob Lusk were around to enjoy it! Here's what we'll be looking for from the remaining "Idol" hopefuls. Lauren Alaina James Durbin Scotty McCreery Haley Reinhart Haley was able to tease out Gaga's bluesy essence during a cover of "You and I" last week, even if the judges slammed her for it. We hope Gaga comes to Haley's defense this time around and makes the key point that simply singing a Gaga tune does not mean you're trying to be Gaga. Leiber and Stoller's songbook offers Haley a gift in Peggy Lee's "I'm a Woman." She just shouldn't overly rely on her growls. But if she gets it right — and we have a felling she will — Haley just might find herself hanging around on the final night of "Idol." Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Glee'-Cap: Prom Episode Makes Our Hearts Explode Posted: 11 May 2011 08:28 AM PDT The big night's drama inspires a nostalgic 8-bit musical recap.
"Glee," if you were a video game, this was the week that we pressed "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start" before we tuned in. It was awesome, and it inspired us to go old-school Nintendo for this week's musical recap. Sing along!
Prom-ah, you always bring the drama. Artie wants Brit back so he tries Stevie Wonder. Kurt wants to wear a kilt to school. [Nintendo game freezes. Jim blows in it. Puts it back in the system, "Glee"-cap resumes.] At the prom, it's totally like "Carrie." Oh, Quinn, you really wanted to win, [Spoken] Well played, "Glee." Well played. Related Videos |
| Lindsay Lohan Pleads No Contest To Jewelry Theft Posted: 10 May 2011 11:27 PM PDT Troubled actress wasn't present in court Wednesday.
Though Lindsay Lohan did not make the scene in one of her typical splashy court frocks, her lawyer entered a plea of no contest on behalf of the troubled actress Wednesday (May 11) in Los Angeles, possibly ending the latest chapter in the "Mean Girls" star's drama-filled offscreen life. The plea was in connection with a jewelry-theft case in which Lohan was accused of walking out of a Venice, California, store with a necklace valued at $2,500. Lohan had been sentenced to 120 days in jail as well as 480 hours of community service last month by Judge Stephanie Sautner for violating her probation from a 2007 drunk-driving charge. The judge ruled that Lohan had violated the terms of her probation in that case by wearing the gold necklace out of the store in January and failing to return it. The bulk of the community service (360 hours) — which Lohan has already begun — will be done at the Downtown Women's Center, and the remaining 120 hours will be at the L.A. County Morgue. In a big break for Lohan, once she has completed the 60 days of community service, her probation in the original DUI case will be terminated and she may be allowed to serve the 120-day sentence at home with an electronic monitoring device on her ankle. However, she will now be on probation for three years on the theft charge. Given the realities of the chronically overcrowded Los Angeles jail system, TMZ reported that Lohan's actual sentence will likely amount to around 17 days. Lohan is slated to turn herself in on Tuesday to face booking in the case, and at that time, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department will determine if she's eligible for home detention. Court officials and Lohan's lawyer stressed that the actress did not get any special treatment, but rather the same consideration that anyone with her criminal history would have gotten. Lohan gambled and rejected a plea deal in March that would have sent her to jail for 90 days in favor of having her day in court. She pleaded not guilty in March to charges that she stole the necklace; the original felony grand theft charge was eventually reduced to a misdemeanor. Had the felony charge stuck, Lohan would have been looking at a potential sentence of three years in prison. During the hearing, Sautner said she doesn't think Lohan's problem is substance abuse, but rather stems from the actress self-medicating to deal with the stress of her problems, which is why she didn't not order the actress to undergo any further substance-abuse counseling. She does, however, have to undergo psychological counseling and shoplifters alternative classes. She was also ordered to not go within 100 feet of the jewelry store. Related Photos |
| Beyonce Reveals New Album Title: <i>4</i> Posted: 10 May 2011 10:14 PM PDT Singer opens up about the highly anticipated album to Billboard.
With just days until she releases her video for "Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé is finally sharing the name of her forthcoming album: 4. "We all have special numbers in our lives, and 4 is that for me," she told Billboard. "It's the day I was born. My mother's birthday and a lot of my friends' birthdays are on the fourth; April 4 is my wedding date." Until the album drops, fans have been treated to its lead single, "Run the World (Girls)," and the hard-edged club banger, Beyoncé said, feels different, and that's why she chose to include it on the record. "It's definitely riskier than something a bit more ... simple. I just heard the track and loved that it was so different. It felt a bit African, a bit electronic and futuristic. It reminded me of what I love, which is mixing different cultures and eras — things that typically don't go together — to create a new sound. I can never be safe; I always try and go against the grain. As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal," she said. "That's how I've gotten to where I am." Beyoncé has made it clear she wants to try a bit of everything on this record. That's what she told MTV News last fall, and she confirms that she went there in the new interview. "I recorded more than 60 songs; everything I ever wanted to try, I just did it," she said. "I started off being inspired by [Afrobeat music pioneer] Fela Kuti. I actually worked with the band from 'Fela!' [the hit Broadway musical based on Kuti's life] for a couple of days, just to get the feel for the soul and heart of his music; it's so sexy and has a great groove you get lost in. I loved his drums, all the horns, how everything was on the one. What I learned most from Fela was artistic freedom: He just felt the spirit. "I also found a lot of inspiration in '90s R&B, Earth, Wind & Fire, DeBarge, Lionel Richie, Teena Marie. ... I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence and the Machine and Prince," she continued. "Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is. I also gave myself more freedom to really belt out some songs, and bring soul singing back. I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances, but not necessarily on my records." Are you excited for new music from Beyoncé? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Cannes Film Festival: Salma Hayek, Rachel McAdams Flaunt Floral Fashions Posted: 11 May 2011 09:45 AM PDT Uma Thurman, Blake Lively, Rachel Bilson also turn up the glamour as the fest begins.
Obviously, the Cannes Film Festival is meant to honor movies, but it's also become known as one of the biggest fashion events of the year. So when the 64th annual festival kicked off on Wednesday (May 11), all eyes were not only on the big screens but also on what Hollywood's leading ladies were wearing.
Salma Hayek wowed at a photo-call event for her upcoming Dreamworks animated picture, "Puss in Boots." With co-star Antonio Banderas at her side, the actress worked the red carpet wearing a burnt-orange, leather Gucci dress paired with a voluminous flower shrug. The strapless dress, which she wore with a slicked-back ponytail, was from the label's autumn/winter 2011 collection. "I needed a skirt that wasn't going to blow up because I didn't know the situation, I didn't want people looking up," Hayek told MTV News of her fashion choice. "I wanted to do it fun, wear something fun." Later on that morning, Woody Allen's film "Midnight in Paris" opened the festival with a star-studded event. Rachel McAdams, who stars in the film, dazzled on the red carpet with her blonder-than-usual hair color and a fitted white Maxime Simoens spring couture dress that was accented with flowers on the shoulders and pockets. Also choosing to wear a short white dress was Cannes jury member Uma Thurman. She took the red carpet for the jury photo call, along with fellow jury members Jude Law and Robert DeNiro, at the Palais des Festivals. Thurman's first look of the festival was a fitted embroidered dress from Dolce & Gabbana's spring 2011 collection. Blake Lively and Rachel Bilson attended the Chanel Cruise 2012 fashion show on Tuesday night. Both actresses appropriately wore Chanel, with Lively, the new face of Chanel Mademoiselle bags, wearing a sequined blazer with a black mini-skirt and Bilson opting for a white pearl top accompanied by leather shorts and a blazer. All these ladies might have some fashion competition later on Wednesday, when Lady Gaga makes her way to Cannes to perform on the French show "Le Gran Journal." Which is your favorite look from day one at the Cannes Film Festival? Let us know in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos |
| You are subscribed to email updates from MTV News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar