June 27, 2006

Asian films apparently still soar high abroad as another Chinese movie is about to be brought up beyond the continent and this time, it's Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower" that earned the honor. Though the release date has not yet been fixed, it is confirmed that Sony Pictures Classics has secured the North American and Latin American rights to this martial-arts romantic drama featuring two of the biggest Asian stars Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li. "We feel 'Curse of the Golden Flower' will be a culmination of Zhang Yimou's great career," so SPC co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard explained on their reason of picking up the movie.

The ninth project Zhang has collaborated with Sony Pictures Classics, "Curse of the Golden Flower" revolves around the love story between a royal prince played by Chow and an imperial bodyguard portrayed by Gong set in medieval time in China.

Seems Will Ferrell's way to maintain his role as film producer is going more velvety now. The funnyman alongside writer-director-actor Adam McKay have successfully formed a two-year pact with Paramount Vantage, the specialty division of Paramount Pictures, to produce low-budget, high-concept comedies in the $10 million-$20 million range.

Following this lavish deal, the pair subsequently is assigned to develop a number of projects for Vantage with they themselves serving as producers, and concerning this matter, Ferrell has already expressed his delight openly. "Adam and I have been looking forward to setting up a company for a long time," he remarked. "And with Mr. Sanchez's support and vision, we look forward to a long and productive partnership. Viva Paraguay!"

After being struck by the case of beating her maid Millicent Burton in August 2004, Naomi Campbell again had to engage in similar battle as another maid of her named Gaby Gibson has filed a lawsuit accusing her of conducting personal injuries, employment discrimination, civil assault, and civil battery apart from other complaints she alleged in a terse single-sheet filing in Manhattan's state Supreme Court on Monday, June 26. Demanding unspecified compensation for the damages she received, the maid previously has revealed all in an interview published by the New York Post last April, saying that the supermodel hit her on January 17 while threatening to get her arrested after she was unable to find a specific pair of jeans.

As for Campbell side, there has been no word yet from both her publicist and lawyer, Thomas D. Shanahan. The catwalker herself is about to appear on court by Tuesday June 27 to deal with her cell-phone throwing incident toward Ana Scolavino, which also revolved around the case of the missing jeans.

American singer known for his mature, and versatile baritone voice, Josh Groban, is reported split from actress girlfriend January Jones.

After three years together the couple are "taking a break" from one another, his rep, Liz Rosenberg, tells People. Though so, "They remain friends" so Rosenberg said while won't provide any further details.

Emmy-winning star Patricia Arquette and her longtime beau actor Thomas Jane tied the knot in Italy Sunday June 25th, 2006, marking the third celebrity wedding took place within this week.

"It was a small, intimate celebration with close family," says Arquette's spokesperson. They were wed at the Palazzo Contarini in Venice, Italy.

August 29th later this year will become a big day for Jessica Simpson as the actress-singer will have her new album hit the market. Tentatively titled "A Public Affair", the set is the follow up to the star's 2003 "In This Skin," which has sold more than 2.9 million copies in the United States.

Nevertheless, the release of the set will be preceded by the single of the same name that will premiere July 19 on MTV's "TRL." The single was co-written by Simpson and Johnta Austin, while the accompanying video was shot over the weekend by director Brett Ratner. It, moreover, includes appearances by Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Ryan Seacrest, Christina Milian, Andy Dick and Maria Menounos.

Celebrity couple Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles both performed at a concert held Sunday June 25th, 2006 at Radio City Music Hall in New York to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the rap star's first album, "Reasonable Doubt".

More on the star, he has in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday between rehearsals for Sunday night's commemorative show, announced that he is coming out of retirement - for a while - to go on tour this fall in a jaunt around the globe - Seoul, Beirut, Dubai, Johannesburg and Sydney, to name a few stops.

A woman of many accomplishments, Jennifer Lopez, made a surprise appearance at this weekend's Gay Pride Pier Dance in New York City.

Recently rumored to be pregnant, the actress dispelled the speculation by her performance on stage which definitely didn't indicate any baby bump.

Updating previous news about "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", which will also see its screening on IMAX theatres at the same time the movie encounters its release on conventional theatres on July 13, 2007, it turns out that the IMAX 3-D version of the flick still puts in big question as there is no word yet about this digital conversion. Warner Bros. itself, as the picture's distributor, is now reported to be busily involved in doing the version for several of its summer's would-be blockbusters projects this year, including "Superman Returns" and the animated "The Ant Bully", so fans of the series who wait in anticipation for the version thus may have to be patient a bit longer for the good news to come.

Concerning this matter, IMAX spokeswoman Sarah Gormley, as reported by E! Online, has given her explanation about the 3-D conversion process. "Obviously, the entire industry is thinking about 3-D, but each film is looked at and negotiated one at a time," so she has said, indicating that a decision on the eye-popping format will come once principal photography is complete.

What comes next for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban after such a lavish wedding ceremony? It's honeymoon. That's one thing for sure.

Where the Australia's hottest celebrity couple would like to spend their honeymoon is still a speculation for both parties remained tight-lipped about their post-wedding plans. Though so, local media have widely tipped either Fiji or Tahiti as the most likely destinations.

The music work of Paris Hilton, "Stars Are Blind", surprisingly scores great in the industry. The hotel heiress, apparently, really knows what best of her.

"Stars Are Blind," the first musical effort from Paris, keeps rocketing to the top, dominating airplay at the biggest urban radio stations and all over the online music firmament, prompting widespread downloading.

Another star has been added to the cast list of "Seasons of Dust" to accompany Kate Bosworth, and it delightfully turns out to be none other than the beauty's own boyfriend, Orlando Bloom. The latest actor to join the line-up, Bloom will portray a troubled guy named Ricky who bumps into Bosworth's character, Janey, to later engage together in a frantic cross-country odyssey with two hired hit-men followed behind them.

A Depression-era drama, "Seasons" will begin filming by mid-July in Oklahoma also New Mexico with Tim Blake Nelson taking double stints as screenwriter and director as well.

Speculation keeps showering sensational celebrity couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. The newlyweds may enjoy their honeymoon right now, but people out there wouldn't stop talking on the status of their marriage looking upon Nicole's first marriage to Tom Cruise.

Many around the world are questioning on how could Nicole get married as a Catholic in a Catholic ceremony, as the Church does not allow for a second marriage after a divorce. Due to such fact, people then tend to assume that the Aussie actress has had her marriage to Cruise annulled. Is she?