Jackson’s doctors cleared
London, July 29 (IANS) The seven doctors, who were under investigation over King of Pop Michael Jackson’s death last year, will not be charged.
However, Jackson’s personal doctor Conrad Murray, who denies involuntary manslaughter, was not among the seven doctors questioned by investigators. He is accused of giving Jackson a lethal overdose of anaesthetic.
Los Angeles police had asked Californian state investigators to look into the way the doctors had prescribed drugs.
Lawyer Brian Oxman, who is representing Jackson’s father Joe in a wrongful death civil case, said he was “very disappointed”.
“The misuse of medications by Michael Jackson in the last years of his life was excessive and to fail to bring that to the public eye is ignoring reality,” bbc.co.uk quoted him as saying.
Katy Perry brushes her teeth at least three times a day!
London, July 28 (ANI): Singer/songwriter Katy Perry has revealed that she is so scared of being accused of having bad breath that she brushes her teeth at least three times a day.
Perry, 25, who admits she was too poor to take her dental hygiene seriously when she was a child, also revealed that watching Britney Spears videos inspired her to brush her teeth religiously.
“I brush my teeth all the time. I wanted them to be, like, Britney Spears-white,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying in a new YouTube.com interview.
“I used to grow up seeing her music videos and be like, ‘What does she do? Does she get a new set of teeth all the time? They’re so white’.
“I’m really anal about that because I like good breath. A turn off for me with guys is, like, halitosis… I’m the kind of friend that’s like, ‘Stick a piece of gum in your mouth, ‘cos I’m gonna save some friendships for you’.
“I’ll brush my teeth (after) breakfast, lunch and dinner… I did have 13 cavities at one time, so you can imagine why I’m so freaked out.
“When I was a kid I didn’t really go to the dentist a lot… and when I finally went, they were like, ‘You might as well get a new set of teeth’,” she added. (ANI)
MJ’s ‘love child’ surfaces
Washington, July 28 (ANI): A woman, who claims to be the late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s illegitimate love child, has filed legal documents for a share of his estate, saying that her existence was being covered up.
Mocienne Petit Jackson claims that back in 1975, 17-year-old Jackson secretly impregnated her mother Barbara, who happens to be singer Diana Ross’ sister, TMZ.com reported.
And that when she was 9-years-old, Katherine Jackson hatched a plan to “abduct” her and send her off to Belgium to protect the late singer’s reputation.
In documents she filed with L.A. County Superior Court she also claims that all 7 of her abductors were later murdered.
Mocienne, who currently lives in the Netherlands, decided to come forward with her story so she can formally claim a part of the inheritance.
She is waiting for the judge to give the go-ahead on a DNA test, and claims that she was diagnosed with Vitiligo.
She also wants custody of MJ’s kids so she can give them a “more normal life”. (ANI)
Taiwanese producer wants to make Bollywood-type film
By Robin Bansal
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) One of Taiwan’s most celebrated producers, Hsu Li-Kong, wants to make “a Bollywood-type” movie. And he finds India a rich source of themes, be it the stories behind its many gods or its “tiffin culture”.
“I do hope I’ll make a Bollywood type of movie. That is one of the main aims; I have come to India this time so that I get to know what Bollywood movies are like,” Li-Kong told IANS in an interview through an interpreter.
“I am here on a survey and collecting some preliminary information. I do want to make such a movie but I don’t have any idea in my mind right now. But I would like to cast some Bollywood stars in my movie, especially the cast of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’,” he added.
Is he referring to Dev Patel and Freida Pinto who shot to fame with Danny Boyle’s Oscar winning drama?
“Yes, I’d like to cast them, but I’ll have to wait for the right script. Then only I’ll know what kind of actors I want and their characteristics. And I am sure you can find all kinds of actors in India,” said the 65-year-old.
“It will tentatively come on board after a year.”
He was on a five-day visit to the country and was the guest of honour at a retrospective of Taiwanese-American filmmaker Ang Lee’s films.
So are Bollywood musicals well-known back home?
“Obviously everyone is aware of Bollywood like Hollywood. The fact that Bollywood movies are an integral part of every Indian is a well-known fact there.
“But there are not many chances to see a Bollywood movie. These don’t come out in many theatres and are very rare. The main reason for that is the Hollywood market there is too strong. Even European movies suffer the same fate. The best way to watch Bollywood movies, however, is through international film festivals where all nations get a chance to showcase their movies,” he said.
So what fodder has he collected from his India visit?
“I found so many things interesting here like gods. There are so many gods here. There must be some story behind each and every god. That could be an interesting topic for a movie,” he said.
“Then the tiffin culture in India is very interesting. I see people carrying tiffins every time. You can easily buy a sandwich or something for lunch, but why would someone carry a tiffin? Is it just because they like to eat hot food?
“There must be some very touching story behind it within the family… may be about the wife and the husband or the mother and the son. That is something which could be very exciting to work on,” added the veteran.
Li-Kong is all praise for Ang Lee. Known for giving the latter a break in showbiz, Li-Kong produced four of Lee’s successful outings – “Pushing Hands” (1992), “The Wedding Banquet” (1993), “Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994) and “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” (2000).
The producer is now looking forward to teaming up with the Academy award winner again.
“Every year we meet to discuss projects; so it is an ongoing idea. Another film together is possible. In fact, after the success of ‘Crouching Tiger…’, Ang Lee and I had a plan to make a prequel but he didn’t want to make the same type of movie again,” said Li-Kong.
“He wanted to explore and do something very different. Even though we completed the script for the prequel, we decided to stall it and keep a more creative and innovative movie in line.
“Ang Lee is a man of innovation. He wants to do something special again which is a mental drama something like you have in Hollywood. I do hope this relationship continues in the future,” he added.
The three-day “Retrospective of Ang Lee’s Films” last week was organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals in association with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre.
Li-Kong’s future projects include a sequel to “Eat Drink Man Woman”.
(Robin Bansal can be contacted at robin.b@ians.in)
Indian magicians blow my mind: American illusionist
By Priyanka Sharma
New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Renowned American illusionist Franz Harary, who once made the Taj Mahal disappear, says Indian magicians have no money, no technology, but their magic “blows my mind”.
“Magic started in India around 5,000 years ago and eventually became popular. But shortly after it was invented, it became stagnant. There is a whole lot of it to come out,” Franz, 45, told IANS over phone from Mumbai. “About 250-300 years ago it came over to the US.”
Harary, who has made several friends in India and frequently comes visiting, says the country has immense talent.
“About 12 years ago, I met a group of magicians who live in Shadipur in New Delhi. They are just unbelievable. They just blew my mind. They have nothing – no money, no technology and their magic is stronger than mine. What they do blows everything I do, leaving all the research and money I put behind,” he said.
“They tap into the core of the psychology of what makes Indian magic work. Their approach is real and not an illusion. When I saw it, I was surprised. It made me rethink everything I do.
“For the past 12 years I’ve been observing them and it has made me revise my own magic. They have helped me more than I have helped them,” he added.
Franz had been doing magic since the age of 13. He aspired to be a singer and dancer and used to design illusions as hobby. However, his commercial breakthrough happened at the age of 21 when he initiated a stage illusion for Michael Jackson’s 1984 Victory tour.
He made Jackson levitate and disappear on one side of the stage to reappear with his brothers on the other side.
Harary is here to judge STAR One’s reality show “India’s Magic Star”. He feels the show would help revive Indian magic.
“When I heard about the show, I felt it was an amazing opportunity to take everything that I have learned and developed as a Western illusionist and bring it right back to where it all began,” he said.
“Today, all of them (Indian magicians) are seen doing magic that was invented by my friends. They all look like American magicians from Las Vegas who happen to be Indian. I felt this is the opportunity to tell them: guys, you got to get up. I want to help them realise who they are and what you are and what you can do.”
Franz says he is ready to do anything for the entire culture to regain its position in India.
“This is not about just a television show; it is much bigger than this. It’s an attempt that the entire culture regain its position. I love India, I love everything that Indian magic stands for. Anything that I can do and in whatever way I am open for all that,” he said.
Franz has created illusions for Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Cher, Steven Spielberg and even Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan during an awards function. And Salman Khan is next on his wishlist now.
“I had once made Shah Rukh disappear from one side of the stage and later he appeared on the other side. I would love to create a similar illusion for Salman Khan,” he said.
Franz signed off saying, “We are in talks for opening something in India that would be absolutely amazing. It will be based on my magic and the Indian magic and it would be the first of its kind on the planet. You would be able to go and spend a day there.”
(Priyanka Sharma can be contacted at priyanka.s@ians.in)
–Indo-Asian News Service
Pr/ar/pg/tb
Bon Jovi mad over not making to the Forbes top celebrity lists
New York, July 26 (ANI): American singer Jon Bon Jovi is mad at not making it to the two widely followed Forbes top celebrity lists.
Bon Jovi wasn’t included in the much-publicized ‘Power 100’ list of the world’s most powerful celebrities in June 2010, which was topped by Oprah Winfrey.
Then he got the second shock when he didn’t make it to the ‘Musicians’ Rich List,” led by rival rockers U2.
“Jon kicked up a huge fuss and got his people to complain. He couldn’t understand why he didn’t make the musicians list since Bon Jovi has been touring nonstop since February. Their contemporaries U2 and Bruce Springsteen were on the list. Even Britney Spears was No. 5, and she hasn’t done anything this year,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.
The Forbes’ list of 12 of 2010’s top-earning musicians came out on July 16, 2010.
U2 was at the top spot with an estimated 130 million dollars earned on worldwide tour.
Forbes admitted that Bon Jovi’s people had complained about the matter.
“Forbes estimated each act’s earnings between June 2009 and June 2010 and included revenue streams such as concert dates, merchandise sales, licensing fees, music sales, and publishing royalties. Bon Jovi didn’t tour for eight of those months,” they explained.
The group’s two-year world tour started in February 2010, with 28 dates played before the Forbes deadline.
“That’s ridiculous. Last year, the band took an eight-month break from touring, so there was no expectation that they would rank on this year’s list,” said Bon Jovi’s rep. (ANI)
MJ loved Nazi videos and Judy Garland TV specials
New York, July 26 (ANI): Legendary singer Michael Jackson loved Nazi videos and Judy Garland TV specials and dramas that showed troubled boys in dysfunctional families.
According to the King of Pop’s former movie peddler, Jackson displayed the tapes along the walls of his video vault at the Neverland ranch.
“Michael Jackson was a very special client to me,” The New York Post quoted Norman Scherer, owner of a videotape distribution company in the 1990s as saying.
A New Yorker in 1995 who was looking to place big orders for a ‘famous’ client approached Scherer but he wanted him to be discreet.
“He had a really good collection,” Scott Schaffer, Jackson’s former personal assistant, who hunted down Scherer to buy obscure titles, said.
“I knew what Jackson wanted,” he added.
The Hitler movies included ‘Nazis Of Pure Blood,’ ‘Oasis of the Zombies’ and ‘Hitler’s Children.’ (ANI)
First official MJ dolls to go on sale since his death unveiled
London, July 25 (ANI): The first official Michael Jackson dolls to go on sale since his death last year have been unveiled.
The family of the late King of Pop has approved the 30cm figures, which will go on sale at 29.97 pounds, reports News of the World.
MJ fans can buy the dolls from September at Tesco online, a month before they are sold more widely.
The two dolls – Billie Jean and Thriller – are much cheaper than similar official models sold before his death, which came at a price tag of around 250 pounds, and have 37 different postures.
Two more figures in the range – Beat It and Moonwalk – will be released around Christmas. (ANI)
Michael’s 3.5 tonne black granite statue in Tamil Nadu
By A O Arun Kannan
Chennai, July 24 (ANI): A man in Tamil Nadu has carved a 3.5 tonne and 12-feet-high statue of the king of pop, Michael Jackson.
R Chandra Sekaran is into granite business and owns a granite firm in the city.
The demise of the world famous pop singer upset Sekaran and so he decided to pay tribute to Michael Jackson by doing something different and made a statue.
He aims to enter Limca Book of Records with this statue.
‘We want to do something different in that, so we built a Michael Jackson statue in single black granite which weighs about 3.5 tonnes and we want to send the statue to Michael Jackson foundation. So we entered in India Book of Records and are going to enter Limca Book of Records,’ said Sekaran.
It took 45 days of conscientious effort round the clock by 6 highly experienced granite monument craftsmen to make this statue.
The Chennai-based granite firm spent a whopping 1.2 million in sculpting the statue.
R Chandra Sekaran has decided to donate the statue to the late music icon’s Neverland Valley Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. (ANI)
Taylor Swift likes to run away from love
London, July 21 (IANS) Country singer Taylor Swift likes to keep herself from falling in love.
The singer says that “Mine”, the first song from her upcoming album Speak Now, was written to confront her problem with “running away”, reports digitalspy.co.uk.
“It’s been sort of a recent tendency, and I think it’s because, for me, every really direct example of love that I’ve had in front of me has ended in goodbye and ended in breakups and things like that,” said Swift.
“So I think I’ve developed this pattern of running away when it comes time to fall in love and stay in a relationship. The song is sort of about finding the exception to that and finding someone who would make you believe in love and realise that it could work out, because I’m never ever going to go past hoping that love works out,” she added.
Her new album will hit stores Oct 25.