Afro-Squad Magazine

Any website that mixes real news with comical piss-poor Photoshop is right up our alley!  So if you get a chance, check out this week’s Worst of the Web winner FreakingNews.com

Popularity: 9% [?]

A rubber “flying” pig was among the pounds of rubbish collected during the 2011 riverbank cleanup in Calgary.

About 2,000 volunteers spent a sunny Sunday picking up litter at the 44th Annual Pathway and River Cleanup.

The city co-ordinated the garbage collection around paths and major waterways including the Bow and Elbow rivers, Nose Creek and the Glenmore Reservoir.

“The objective of this cleanup is to raise awareness of environmental stewardship and the accumulation of litter in the city,” said Corrina Baxter, with Calgary Parks.

“It’s unfortunate we have to have the cleanup, but we do, and it’s great to have Calgarians to come out.”

A class on handling hazardous waste is mandatory. One group found a pellet gun.

The Calgary Police Service was called to deal with the firearm.

A knife was discovered on the Bow riverbed near 10th Street N.W. by Bob Brereton. A 28-year veteran of the cleanup, Brereton said he’s found many dangerous things while volunteering with the event, however, one hazardous item is disappearing from the rubbish piles.

“There are a lot less needles these days,” noted Brereton. “I think this is because there are lots of needle boxes along the river and people recognize they can throw them in there and so there’s a lot less along the river banks.”

Brereton added despite the fact that Calgarians are becoming increasingly aware of pollution in our waterways -litter still accumulates.

“There’s more garbage periodmore bigger things like bicycles in the river, Safeway carts, tires and stuff like that,” he claimed. “We should be doing this cleanup a couple times a year and not just once a year.”

The city spokesperson didn’t know how much litter was bagged this year, but 2010′s collection weighed in at 5,000 kg. Fifteen city trucks made the rounds to gather rubbish that Calgarians like Mariel Higuerey picked up.

“We found a few bottles for recycling,” said Higuerey, who was stationed at Carburn Park in the south east. “There was mostly cigarette butts and some trash.”

Higuerey’s group also found a tent that she called a weird find. Other strange items were four coconuts, a pair of cross-country skis, a vintage tin filled with antique buttons and a pink rubber pig stretched out in flight mode.

The Bantral team found the pig in North Glenmore Park and the item cleaned up in the city’s “most unusual find” contest. The pig will be dumped, but the city is keeping the buttons and also talking about taking photos in the future to record the cleanup’s interesting finds.

Sisters Chantel and Krysta Pascuzzo think if people respected the environment then there shouldn’t be a need for cleanup. However, they felt good about helping out Calgary and hope they set an example.

“People are so materialistic now,” noted Chantel. “They just want to be trendy so maybe we should start a new trend by picking up garbage.”

lstorry@calgaryherald.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/River+reveals+hidden+booty+during+this+year+cleanup/4708569/story.html

More news since the confirmation of Quentin Tarantino’s latest project being titled Django Unchained. A couple of months ago the original Django, Franco Nero claimed to be working on a western in connection with Tarantino and Keith Carradine (brother of Kill Bill’s David Carradine). Aswell as this Tarantino expressed in an interview with The Guardian that he would be interested in making a ‘Southern’ dealing with ‘the big issues’ in America’s past. Therefore if Django is to be unchained in Tarantino’s ‘Southern’, should we expect a Ethinically Significant western in the making? And if so who will be in the lead? The obvious choice would be Samuel L. Jackson, but Tarantino’s casting decisions are far from predictable.Also on board is Christoph Waltz, who will no doubt create a character just as fascinating as Inglourious Basterds Colonel Hans Landa. Hopefully more will be revealed soon, but this is shaping up to be another Tarantino classic.

Related Posts

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.frontrowreviews.co.uk/news/django-unchained-to-be-a-Ethinically Significant-western/7989

Posted by Kevin Farrell on Apr 30, 2011 in Oh Hell No! | View Comments

Mitt Romney: “We’re going to have to hang the Obama misery index around his neck.”

Although we’re a gay blog, we shine our rainbow spotlight on other issues we find equally deserving of your attention and/or outrage. We watched this press conference clip three times this morning and had to pick our jaws off of the desk after each time.

Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, told reporters at a press conference that we need to hang Barack Obama, the President of the United States, by his neck. I care little for the flimsy metaphor sewn into his comment. The man said we have to hang Obama by the neck.

Romney clearly planned this horrid metaphor in advance. It’s a wink to the racists, birthers and conservatives out there that don’t want to see a black man in office, but allows just enough deniability in the event of liberals (rightfully) freaking the hell out about a presidential candidate suggesting we hang his adversary, a black man.

It’s important to hold Romney accountable for this insanity. If and when he attempts to dance his way out of the very clear implications of his metaphor, it should be noted that the type of person who “accidentally” uses lynching metaphors at any time, let alone on television, has zero business serving our nation as its president. Ever.

While this behavior is unacceptable and certainly offensive to all Americans, it’s unfortunately not unexpected. We did after all, just close out a week dominated by Donald Trump’s racist jabs at the President of the United States – A black man could never get into Harvard, a black man needs to personally show me his birth certificate, etc.

Here’s hoping that it’s exactly these types of thinly-veiled and racially-charged threats against the President of our country that will be the downfall of the Republican party in the coming election. No matter how you feel about Obama, I hope you agree that Mitt Romney’s insinuation literal threat to hang the president is completely unacceptable.

Thoughts?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://unicornbooty.com/2011/04/mitt-romney-we-have-to-hang-obama-by-the-neck/

Shawnna releases a fresh new single Big Booty Judy which is produced by 110% Pure. Currently her third album is being re-recorded which will be released this year.

HipHop artist Shawnna released the “Big Booty Judy” song in April, 2011.

Cool, the song “Big Booty Judy” is fresh off the streets (April, 2011)!Ohh man, this underground joint has just been released. Put on that headphone and start noddin’.

Sharing is Caring:          

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://musicremedy.com/s/shawnna/videos/big-booty-judy-53559.html

Review

Lil Wayne with Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Travis Barker and Mix Master Mike, and Porcelain Black performed Friday night at the Saddledome.

The more charitable among us might look at the jam-packed and eclectic lineup artists Lil Wayne assembled for his I Am Still Music Tour and consider it a generous gift from the superstar. It might be looked at as his desire to give his audience more bang for its buck, the opportunity to expand their horizons, as well as showcasing some of the more notable of his Young Money stable.

Or, the more practical, might instead see it as the opportunity to buy some time while the majority of his audience was able to navigate through a security check that in its sheer obtrusiveness and thoroughness would have put most airport screeners to shame.

Whatever the case, by the time the N’Awlins native finally took the stage for his own healthy set of dynamic hip-hop, the evening had already run the gamut from the great to the grating to the glaringly mediocre.

And, again, intentions aside, that speaks to the 28-year-old’s crossover appeal -note his work with even power pop veterans Weezer -and the artists who want a piece of his lucrative name and audience.

Look to the evening’s opener, his latest protege Porcelain Black, a ridiculous “rock” starlet, who makes Avril Lavigne look like Lemmy.

Offering the most fundamental and grade-school approximation of what being rock ‘n’ roll really is -”I should, like, talk about drinking and, like, partying and swear a lot, right?” -the young singer crawled around the stage on all fours like the 101 Dalmatians in heat and shrieked her inanities over Romper Room “metal” that would give ABBA cavities. It was as funny as it was tragic.

On the other end of the spectrum was the spectacular drum ‘n’ DJ duo of Travis Barker and Mix Master Mike. Encased in a giant boom box, the pair picked things up with a set that was fierce and entertaining, with the Mix Master scratching over samples by artists such as his most famous collaborators, the Beastie Boys, while Barker hammered away at his kit with a ferocity that he rarely mustered with former band Blink 182.

The final act of the opening slate was rapper Rick Ross, and his set fell somewhere between the others. It was a by-the-book, straight up hip-hop show, that was neither remarkable nor particularly negateable. Ross’s gruff growl is distinctive enough, and he has a solid stage presence, but very little of his material rose above the laundry list of cars, money and the only reason to acquire those – the ladies.

Or, rather, any pejorative term for a female of the species you’d prefer to replace it with.

If you need any help with that, perhaps you could refer to the evening’s headliner, whose extensive catalogue of hits is the Wiki of misogyny, but not something that seems to deter his fans — many of which, Friday night were of the decidedly young and female variety.

Fair enough, there’s little difference between that and, say, Motley Crue’s oeuvre, but there’s something a little more confrontational about it, especially when a song such as I’m Single, is preceded by Lil Wayne’s reference to his recent stay in the American correctional system and what that has done to his s#xual appetite.

But, to focus on aspect of Lil Wayne and his music is entirely unfair to the show, itself, which was a high-octane, immaculately paced mix of visual spectacle and musical energy.

Backed by a pretty stellar live band and a multiscreen set, Weezy delivers from the second he takes the stage to the moment he steps off. In fact, his verbal style seems more suited to that arena than on record, with tracks such as Bill Gates, Girl You Know and Right Above It (sadly minus Canadian Young Money signing Drake) given a whole dose of added lyrical maliciousness.

More importantly, he has an exhausting and entertaining understanding of showmanship — his show was one of the longest these parts has seen in ages — and he oozees charisma with ease. And there’s certainly no doubt he knows how to work a room, announcing early on the three most important things about him: 1.) He believes in God; 2.) He ain’t nothin’ without his audience; and 3.) He ain’t nothin’ without his audience.

And, like him, there are very few from that roster of artists on his label who would be anything without his backing, as throughout his lengthy set he gave various stars from Young Money their moment in the many bright spotlights, including the label’s brightest star currently, Nicki Minaj.

The blond-wigged rapper had a healthy showcase in the middle of the evening, and offered her own aggressively estrogenated take on the hip-hop form. She, too, can hold a room and proved that rather than being the spice in male artist’s music, she has a place on the tour that falls on the more exceptional side of the scale.

(Please note: This article was corrected to change the fact that Rick Ross is not signed with Young Money Entertainment.)

mbell@calgaryherald.com

Follow on Twitter mrbell_23

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Wayne+brings+booty+bravado+Dome/4704304/story.html

• Image
• Video
• Video
• Video
• Video

Adam Goodes reaction to the AFL’s TV rights deal sums up the mood in the playing ranks. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Source: The Daily Telegraph

Doug Hawkins, a Western Bulldog legend, says its about time that AFL games were shown live. Picture: Darren Tindale
Source: HWT Image Library

Prev

 of 2

Next

Mike Sheahan and Michael Warner analyse the new AFL rights deal and what it means to footy fans

Please install the latest Flash player

[To view Flash please enable JavaScript and Flash.]

Please install the latest Flash player

[To view Flash please enable JavaScript and Flash.]

Please install the latest Flash player

[To view Flash please enable JavaScript and Flash.]

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says players will get their “fair share” of money from the $1.25 billion TV rights deal.

“I think history shows we always look after our players,” Mr Demetriou said today.

“They’ll get their fair share.  What that fair share is I don’t know.

“I’ve got no doubt that when the ink is dry on the players’ agreement they’ll walk away happy too as will we.”

Mr Demetriou said he and fellow executives didn’t feel they deserved a pay rise after the negotiation.

“I haven’t been in one conversation with anyone who I work with who has said, ‘Gosh if we get this deal that means we earn more money’. It’s never been on our radar.”

Mr Demetriou said the league had ideas about helping struggling clubs and also hoped to use the money to strengthen international, multicultural and women’s programs.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

The landmark TV rights deal would also keep the game affordable for fans, Mr Demetriou told ABC radio today.

He said Foxtel had no intention of increasing subscription prices in the wake of the deal, which will see every game shown live from next year.

“Everyone is assuming that, you know, Foxtel are going to put their prices up because we’ve got this new suite of games. I don’t think that is it at all,’’ Mr Demetriou told the ABC.

“What they are relying on is getting more subscribers, not jacking up prices by $1 or $5. That’s not where their real value lies.”

Goodes calls for share of AFL’s TV rights booty

The AFL chief’s comments come as the league and AFL Players’ Association are preparing to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.

Sydney champion Adam Goodes said players had to be rewarded for the work they had done in making the game worth $1.253 billion to the TV networks.

The reaction of Goodes, one of the most-decorated footballers in the AFL to the billion-dollar TV rights deal, sums up the mood in the playing ranks.

The AFL may have had a significant win yesterday, but it faces a bigger battle in the coming weeks with an increasingly aggressive AFL Players’ Association over the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Goodes said the players needed to be rewarded for the work they had done in making the game worth $1.253 billion to the television networks.

“This is something we’re really big on, and we deserve our piece of the pie,” he said.

Today, Bulldogs champion Doug Hawkins said the deal was a win for fans and the game.

“I think it’s sensational, I think it’s great,” he said.

“It’s about time they went live, so it’s great that they are doing that and I look forward to hearing (Channel 7 commentators) Bruce (McAvaney) and Dennis (Cometti) again, because I love them,” Hawkins said.

”I wouldn’t be surprised if Channel Seven sell a few to Channel Nine and not Channel Ten, but then again Channel Nine have been a rival with Seven for years so you never know.

”They are trying to promote our great game into Gold Coast and Brisbane and Sydney, so it has to be shown live to compete with NRL. ”

Former Geelong president Frank Costa said this morning the deal was a great result for the game and the public.

”I think getting the figure the AFL got is a real tribute to them and the time they have taken to negotiate this deal and it gives them the money to invest in Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast and make them competitive and make it a real national game,” Mr Costa said.

“It’s a big plus for football.”

While Collingwood cheer squad leader Jeff  “Joffa” Corfe said he thought there was something for everyone under the agreement.

“What we would like to think is that the fans have spoken and that’s how live AFL games on a Friday night have come about,” he said.

”On any given weekend, some supporters will miss out (on seeing their team on free-to-air) and some are in for a treat but that’s the age we live in now.’’

Goodes said last night: “We feel like we’ve done the work over the last five years to get that TV rights deal for the AFL.

“If you’re at the end of your career like I am, or one of those players who is three or four years in, you really want to see some of the benefits for the hard work.

“Hopefully now with the deal being done we can hit home with some of the biggest things we want. The AFL does a fantastic job, but we’re just asking for what we think we deserve.”

The AFLPA is seeking a fixed 27 per cent of all future revenues, which would get the players a $50 million pay rise a year from 2012.

Payments to the AFL’s 750 players reached $170 million last year, about 21 per cent of the game’s gross takings.

But locking in a percentage of revenue is already a major sticking point in the talks, which began in December, with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou again reiterating that point yesterday.

“Our view has been consistent all along,” he said. “We don’t talk in percentages.”

 Revenue-sharing agreement will be “sensible”

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis warned the players were very aware of the role they played in the growth of the game.

“We have a view that a percentage and revenue-sharing arrangement is a sensible way to go forward,” he said.

“It is used in other sports around the world that have a salary cap like we do. I think it is important to preserve the interests of the players over a duration of an agreement.”

Finnis was confident negotiations would reach an appropriate settlement by the June 30 deadline.

“What the players seek is a professional and business-like relationship, and that means if it takes time to come to the right outcome, then we take that time,” he said.

“We go into it in good faith. That’s not to say negotiations won’t be wary at times, but we have an expectation of a successful outcome.”

- with Amelia Harris, Jessica Craven

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/players-to-share-in-tv-rights-booty/story-e6frf9jf-1226045868122

Do you enjoy some good old fashioned misogyny in your rap songs? Well, there’s anti-woman smack talk aplenty in Eminem and Royce’s new joint track “Fast Lane”. Off their upcoming EP, the track features Em talks about a variety of s#xual acts, including doing some naughty things to his “Roman’s Revenge” buddy Nicki Minaj’s very prominent assets. Listen below.

There’s lots going on in this quick-paced jam, but we’re too focused on Em giving a slightly disturbing shout-out to Nicki Minaj: “I hope I don’t sound too heinous when I say this, but Nicki Minaj, but I want to stick my penis in your AN#S.”

Charming. Almost as lovely as this bon mot: “If you don’t suck my dick you’re gonna get decapitated / Otherwise if you don’t give me head, I’m gonna have to take it.”

Are we being too sensitive here, or do you also get queasy hearing statements like these made so flippantly? Check out all the song’s lyrics over here.

Bad Meets Evil drops June 14.

[Via Rap-Radar]

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://idolator.com/5840702/eminem-royce-fast-lane-nicki-minaj

A blushing Mark Ballas tells RumorFix exclusively that he wasn’t feeling on Pia Toscano’s booty in those paparazzi pictures released on Wednesday, but rather being a gentlemen. 

One of our reporters caught up with Ballas outside a Los Angeles dance studio and asked him about the pictures. “That is me walking her,” Ballas explains. “She had really high heels on and I just wanted to keep my hand on her to keep her from falling.”

Asked why his hand appeared so close to Pia’s tush, Ballas responds, “It was not on her booty, it was on her hip.” The professional dancer then turned red in the face and chuckled when we asked if Pia was cool with him being all touchy-feely. “I guess so,” he laughed before running away from the cameras. 

Ballas and Toscano performed together on Dancing with the Stars earlier this week and are reportedly dating. 

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://rumorfix.com/full-entry/2011/4/28/mark-ballas-blushes-over-pia-toscanos-booty.html

Hot right now:

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/59392/Beyonce-Shakes-Her-Booty

Those who have seen her shaking her booty can’t stop raving about her. Kareena Kapoor raises the bar, dons minimal clothes and dances to the tune of Shake Your Booty in Ra.One.

Yeah! Bebo has no qualms if the screen burns with her fatal aadyein. She is just too hot to handle and you would believe what we say when the promos of her song ‘Shake Your Booty’ starts airing on your TV sets.

Your wilted spirit will get a new high when you will see Kareena skimpily dressed in a very s#xy outfit in the song Shake Your Booty. Kareena Kapoor also has another song Chhamak Challo in Ra.One. In the movie she plays main female lead opposite Shahrukh Khan.

It’s been quite a while since we saw Kareena’s s#xy avatar, the actress was keeping a low-profile since last year, but now, we know it was the lull before a storm. Her fans are eagerly waiting with bated breath for Kareena as well as Ra.One.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.apunkachoice.com/content/article/sid100005237-kareena_kapoor_shakes_her_booty/

Terri Shupert

Daniel Shupert says he “just shot up and did it” when he saw a classmate choking.

By Katherine Landergan, Globe Correspondent

The Natick Fire Department awarded a certificate of merit Tuesday night to a 9-year-old boy who is credited with saving the life of a fellow student by performing the Heimlich maneuver on him.

Daniel Shupert received the honor at Wilson Middle School during the annual Town Meeting, with about 200 people in attendance, said Natick Fire Chief James Sheridan.

The boy leapt into action on March 14 when a fellow student began choking on the Pirate’s Booty snack in the school cafeteria.

“I just did it; I just shot up and did it,” Shupert told the Globe Tuesday.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Article source: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/natick/2011/04/natick_boy_honored_for_saving.html

By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:38 AM on 26th April 2011

She has had a hit and miss season on Dancing With the Stars so far, with Carrie Ann Inaba even criticising her lack of elegance.

But Kendra Wilkinson managed to leave the judges speechless on tonight’s Guilty Pleasures themed show with her vigorous interpretation of the samba.

Wearing a barely-there yellow mini dress, the 25-year-old reality show star seemed determined to made an impression, and succeeded when she jumped on the judge’s table for the dance climax.

Scroll down to watch the video.

Booty shake: Kendra impressed judges Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman in a s#xy Samba routine to Livin’ La Vida Loca tonight

‘Oh, my god,  – that was a guilty pleasure!’ gushed a clearly impressed Inaba. ‘You were so in your element in your dance. That was a big performance.

Meanwhile, head judge Len Goodman was clearly stunned by the vigorous number.

‘Last week you had a spark. This week you had a fire,’ he declared. ‘The more you gyrated the more I palpitated!’

The star was clearly in her element performing the samba to Ricky Martin song Livin’ La Vida Loca with professional partner Louis van Amstel.

Centre stage: The judges are visibly excited at Kendra’s performance, while her dancing partner Louis van Amstel looks on

Dramatic: The judges cheer as van Amstel dips his partner over the judges table

Earlier, she vowed that she was ‘going to shake my butt all the way to the
top of the leader board’ – but despite winning over the judges with her
s#xy moves, she still failed to come top, although she did score a personal best 25.

Hip hop star Romeo and Disney actress Chelsea Kane both scored a perfect 10 each and tied with the highest scores of the season so far.

Chelsea’s feat was made all the more impressive since her pro partner Mark Ballas had twisted his ankle in rehearsals earlier that day, with the painful moment screened on the show.

Romeo’s waltz to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On scored a romantic note with the judges with Inaba telling him: ‘Every once in a while in a season magic happens – that was magical.’

Dancing through pain: Mark Ballas and his partner Chelsea Kane scored highly despite Ballas twisting his ankle during rehearsal

Romance: Carrie Ann Inaba described Romeo’s dance with professional partner Chelsie Hightower as ‘magic’

Surprise smacker: Romeo gives his dance partner Chelsie an impromptu kiss during the routine

‘I think, Romeo DiCaprio, that your ship will sail on and on and on,’ added Bruno Tonioli.

‘That definitely was not planned,’ Chelsie admitted, while Romeo added with a grin: ‘I was just going with the flow.’

Elsewhere, actress Kirstie Alley scored highly with her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, racking up nines after a good performance to Britney Spears Baby One More Time.

‘Great job – right up my alley,’ Goodman told her.

Britney boogie: Kirstie Alley impressed Len Goodman with her Samba to Spears son Baby One More Time

Former child star Ralph Macchio had the toughest time as dance partner Karina Smirnoff
tripped over and fell the ground. But they quickly got up again, and
still scored a very respectable 24 points.

‘I’m proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself,’ said judge Len Goodman.

Bruno added: ‘Once you got back on it, there was no stopping you.’

Taking a tumble: Karina Smirnoff tripped up, leaving celebrity contestant Ralph Macchio to help her up

Explore more:

People: Louis Van Amstel, Mark Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, Chelsea Kane, Chelsie Hightower, Karina Smirnoff, Ralph Macchio, Kendra Wilkinson, Kirstie Alley, Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Celine Dion, Ricky Martin

Popularity: 5% [?]

Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1380611/Dancing-With-The-Stars-2011-Kendra-Wilkinson-leaves-judges-speechless-booty-shaking-table-dance.html

-By Mark Pilkington

Johnny Depp and Jerry Bruckheimer

The Pirates of the Caribbean film series is one of
Hollywood’s great success stories. Inspired by the Disney
theme-park ride of the same name, the three films so far have
generated an incredible $2.6 billion worldwide, perhaps making it
inevitable that a fourth film in the franchise would be
commissioned.

Loosely based on Tim Powers’ 1987 novel On Stranger Tides,
the latest entry features many of the actors from the previous
films, including Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, alongside plenty of
new faces. Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom may be missing this
time around, but filling the gap are franchise debuts Penélope
Cruz, Ian McShane and newcomers Sam Clafin and Astrid
Berges-Frisbey. Many of the production team return as well,
including screenwriters Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio (who wrote all
three previous movies), along with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The
eagerly anticipated sequel debuts in theatres on May 20.

In the new adventure, which was shot entirely in 3D, Depp’s
irreverent pirate Jack Sparrow meets an old flame (Cruz) who tells
him about the fabled Fountain of Youth. Embarking with her to
search for the mystical source of eternal life, he ends up aboard
Blackbeard’s (McShane) ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, and
soon Sparrow is locked in a deadly battle of wits with the
notorious pirate.

We caught up with Bruckheimer during filming at Pinewood Studios in
England, where he revealed how the decision was made to bring the
series back for a fourth time.

“Ted and Terry read the book On Stranger Tides, and that
inspired them to come up with this one,” Bruckheimer recalls. “Once
the script was written, everything else just fell into place. They
had ideas while we were working on the third movie, and right now
they’re working on another story, so they’ll keep doing these as
long as we can get the actors to come back. The fact that we got
Johnny and Geoffrey Rush back is just great.”

The veteran producer explains that he wanted to bring the series
back to basics and streamline the storyline. “What happens is you
get overloaded with characters,” he admits. “We create all of these
characters that the audiences love, and you’ve got to follow their
stories. We had so many characters and storylines running in the
last Pirates film that we found it slowed the movie down
somewhat, so we’ve taken away a lot of those characters and
developed some new ones instead. We’ve refreshed the saga, and by
doing so we’ve opened it up to both old and new audiences
alike.”

It is hard to imagine a Pirates film without Johnny Depp
back in the lead, and Bruckheimer credits the actor with playing a
major role in making the series so popular. “He’s a wonderful
actor, and the fact that he’s handsome doesn’t hurt. You just look
at his body of work, and it’s phenomenal,” he enthuses, “He always
brings something new and fresh character-wise to his movies, just
as he did with Pirates.

“I always thought from day one that we needed to attract someone of
his calibre, especially as we were making a movie based on a Disney
theme-park ride and we wanted to not only attract children but
adults to see it. Johnny was perfect for this, and by having him
involved with the project, everyone was curious to find out more
about it. People had to go and see it, and that was the reason we
chose him.”

One notable absence from the production team is Gore Verbinski, who
has directed all three of the previous Pirates outings.
Taking over the helm is
Chicago Academy Award nominee Rob Marshall, who
impressed Bruckheimer with his hands-on approach to bringing On
Stranger Tides to life.

“Gore Verbinski wasn’t available. He was working on
Rango, which was his next movie,” he explains, “We like
to hire people who are artists, and in hiring Rob Marshall as the
director, we have an artist.

“You know he gets great performances from his actors because of all
his accolades,” Bruckheimer continues. “Penélope Cruz is here
because she loves Rob Marshall—every actor that works with him just
wants to come back. Rob is a real kind man who actors naturally
turn to; he loves actors and he is always looking for the best way
to tell the story. It’s great to have him onboard.”

Cruz herself was the subject of much discussion during the day, as
the actress had become pregnant during filming. Thanks to some
clever camera trickery, viewers won’t notice, although Bruckheimer
notes that her stunt double had her work cut out for her. “We
didn’t really have to change anything. Everything is the same—a lot
of the movie you can’t tell anyway, and when we needed to, we used
a body double. She wouldn’t do anything in terms of stunt work for
obvious reasons, but she is still fantastic. It doesn’t change her
acting abilities; if anything, she has more of a glow!”

On Stranger Tides may be the fourth film in the series, but
it is a first in many ways, being filmed completely in 3D—a feat
which no other production of its scale has tried to do. “We’re the
first big movie to come out that is shooting exterior scenes in 3D.
Everything else up to now has been shot on a stage or has been a
conversion. We’re the first ones who have taken it into jungles and
other locations, and have shot on two different continents,”
Bruckheimer declares. “Compared to a normal 2D production, it’s
more cumbersome, because you’re dealing with two cameras and you
have all the problems that go with that. It’s been a challenge, but
the results will be more than worth it, I can guarantee that…”

Popularity: 4% [?]

Article source: http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/movies/e3ia55de06e90291c4f95ac16b1a7805a25

Popularity: 4% [?]

Article source: http://www.x17online.com/gallery/view_gallery.php?gallery=bspearsfactory042211_X17