County Berkeley Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Julia MacCary editor Tom Luddy, who co-founded and served as artistic director for the Telluride Film Festival and produced films including “The Secret Garden” and “Barfly,” died Feb. 13 in Berkeley, Calif., after battling a long illness. He was 79. Luddy co-founded Telluride in 1974 along with Bill Pence, Stella Pence and James Card. Luddy served as co-director, then as artistic director and adviser through 2022. Beginning in a small opera house, the festival evolved into one of the largest and most respected globally over the past five decades. “The world has lost a rare ingredient that we’ll all be searching for, for some time,” said Telluride Film Festival executive director Julie Huntsinger in a statement. “I would sometimes find myself feeling sad for those who didn’t get to know Tom Luddy properly. He had a sphinx-like quality that took a little time to get around, for some. But once you knew him, you were welcomed into a kingdom of art, history, intelligence, humor, and joie de vivre that you knew you couldn’t be without. He made life richer. Magical. He called Telluride a labor of love for a very long time. We’re so much better off because of him and that labor. We at the Festival owe it to him to carry on his legacy; his commitment to and love for cinema, above all.”  

Tom Luddy, co-founder of the Telluride Film Festival and producer of numerous films for Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios, died February 13 at a nursing home in Albany, CA, where he had been under care for dementia. He was 79.

A 'happy' and 'beautiful' teenage girl has tragically taken her own life two days after a clip of her being beat up by a group of young girls was posted on social media. Adriana Kuch, who is believed to have been a victim of 'severe bullying' for years, was found dead by her parents in her home two days after the awful assault on February 1.

Following a second proposal, Sikiru “SK” Alagbada and Raven Ross’ happily ever after didn’t last long.

CAA has promoted five graduates of its CAA Elevate training program: Justin Corporan-Browning, Allison Lin, PJ Picon, Tiziana Vazquez and Sophie Wiener. 

Bonobo has shared his latest single ‘Defender’ – you can listen to the new track below.The song follows on from the musician, producer and DJ’s surprise single ‘ATK’, which arrived last month and was, according to Simon Green, “aimed more at the dancefloor”.Released via the artist’s label OUTLIER (in partnership with Ninja Tune), both ‘Defender’ and ‘ATK’ are set to be physically released on hand-stamped and numbered white label vinyl (limited to 1500 units) later this month – you can pre-order your copy here.Listen to Bonobo’s song ‘Defender’ in the below visualiser.Bonobo will perform at Printworks in London on November 19, marking his final UK live date of 2022.

Nicki Minaj isn’t thrilled about the Grammys moving her song “Super Freaky Girl” from the rap to the pop category.

Nicki Minaj will soon become the subject of a new course at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Nicki Minaj will soon become the subject of a new course at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.A professor at UC Berkeley announced on Twitter that she's teaching a course dubbed  beginning in spring 2023. The school's verified account retweeted the news as well.The professor said «this class is interested in thinking critically about u and ur productions w/in the context of broader historical-social structures & hip hop feminisms.» The news has already reached the «Beez in the Trap» rapper, who replied to a tweet about the news saying, «I'd love to stop by.»There's no denying Minaj's impact in the music industry.

McFarlane tells The Hollywood Reporter which first reported the news. “The answer is, ‘of course.’ Let’s keep the momentum going.”Jamie Foxx is attached to star.“I grew up in Berkeley, which is a comic book city. Todd McFarlane’s SPAWN character was always one of my favorites– a Black superhero that was no bullshit, he was cool and dealt with modern issues,” Spellman said in a statement to TheWrap.

David Benedict Jonathan Spector’s 2018 comedy “Eureka Day” first attracted attention in productions in Berkeley and Brooklyn. But in its sharp U.K. premiere starring Helen Hunt, this often very funny satire about parental attitudes to an outbreak of mumps has suddenly leapt into focus — since it’s really about fiercely personal, highly politicized responses to enforced vaccination. This depiction of over-articulate parents fighting it out in initially polite then savage dialogue (now playing at the Old Vic in London) owes a huge debt to Yasmina Reza’s more caustic “The God of Carnage,” but anyone searching for proof that timing is everything need look no further. “You can always spot a Eureka Day kid because at soccer games they’re the ones who cheer when the other team scores.” So says Carina (ideally poised Susan Kelechi Watson), the parent new to the private California school which gives the play its otherwise obscure title. Attracted by the school’s dedication to its “social justice component,” Carina has been newly elected to the executive board, whose deliberations in a perkily-colored children’s schoolroom form the play.

Loud and clear. Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause clarified that she still wants to have kids and revealed she even plans to adopt a child.

The FBI has been issued a lawsuit by The Monkees' only surviving member, Micky Dolenz, for any records that may involve him, his deceased band mates, or the band itself. Dolenz, whose full name is George Michael Dolenz Jr., filed a civil motion against the Department of Justice, citing the Freedom of Information Act.

A pair of friendly exes. Following Jason Oppenheim and Chrishell Stause’s breakup, the reality TV costars have remained on good terms — and stayed supportive of one another’s new romances.

Being Hollywood royalty could be paying off royally.For Amara Skye, who is competing on the new series “Claim to Flame,” where relatives of celebrities battle for a $100,000 prize, getting her grandmother Whoopi Goldberg’s opinion is important.“Her approval always matters to me,” the New Jerseyan told The Post in her first interview ever.So when casting directors first reached out to the 32-year-old artist via a DM on Instagram, she conferred with grandma, who was skeptical at first.“In the beginning, she didn’t understand sliding in the DMs and how people do stuff now,” she explained. “She kind of thought it was a fake thing and told me to be careful.”However, once the paperwork arrived, “The View” co-host was on board, and Skye pursued “the opportunity of a lifetime.”On the ABC show, which premiered July 11 and airs its third episode Monday night, cast members withhold their identity and costars have to guess which A-lister is their kin.

“Oppenheimer” is set to hit theaters in July 2023. Bit by bit, the project has come together to include an impressive ensemble of actors and actresses in varying roles and capacities and a unique approach to one of history’s most important stories.Led by Cillian Murphy, who will portray the father of the atomic bomb, other stars like Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Emily Hunt and more will bring his life story to the big screen, marking Nolan’s first new film since 2020’s “Tenet.”Here’s everything we know about Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”:Written and directed by Nolan, the film is based on the book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” written by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin and published in May 2006.

UPDATE: If UCLA wants to leave the Pac-12 behind and join the BIg 10, it has to make its case. Today, the University of California Board of Regents asked for a public review of the school’s controversial plans, including an assessment on how it will affect student-athletes and other UC campuses.

UCLA wants to leave its traditional sports home in the Pac-12 and join the Big 10 conference. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is saying, “Not so fast.”

USC and UCLA are exploring a move from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference as early as 2024, according to multiple media reports.

Phoenix have released the music video for their new single ‘Alpha Zulu‘ alongside news of North American and European tour dates.The Pascal Teixeira-directed video, the concept of which came from the band and also saw contributions from Emma Besson and Louis Bes, was shared today (June 7). Watch below.It comes as the French band announce a new tour with some dates supported by Porches.

The board of governors at the American Society of Cinematographers on Monday reelected Stephen Lighthill as president for a third one-year term.

Michael Bublé’s latest album Higher features some “brilliant” guests, including his eight-year-old son Noah.

investigations unit at The New York Times that specializes in open-source reporting, using publicly available material like satellite images, mobile phone or security camera recordings, geolocation and other internet tools to tell stories.The field is in its infancy but rapidly catching on. The Washington Post announced last month it was adding six people to its video forensics team, doubling its size.

The brothers behind acclaimed cocktail bar Schofield’s are planning to open a new project at Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel. Called Sterling, it will take over the space formerly known as The Vault, in the hotel’s lower ground floor.

Hong Kong actor Kenneth Tsang, known for his roles in "Rush Hour 2" and "Die Another Day," has died while quarantining in a Chinese hotel, according to local media reports. Tsang had been undergoing seven days of quarantine after returning from Singapore on Monday and was found collapsed on the floor of his hotel room by staff on Wednesday, according to the South China Morning Post and other media. The South China Morning Post said Tsang was 87, but other sources gave his age as 86.

BEIJING -- Veteran Hong Kong actor Kenneth Tsang has died at age 86 while in a COVID-19 quarantine hotel in the southern Chinese city, local media reported.Tsang was best known internationally for his action roles in the 2002 James Bond film “Die Another Day,” John Woo’s “The Killer” in 1989, “Rush Hour 2” in 2001 starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, and 1998′s “The Replacement Killers” alongside Chow Yun-Fat and Mira Sorvino.Tsang had been undergoing seven days of quarantine after returning from Singapore on Monday and was found collapsed on the floor of his hotel room by staff on Wednesday, according to the South China Morning Post newspaper and other media.No cause of death was given and the paper said he had tested negative for the virus and had no underlying medical conditions.In all, Tsang had some 237 acting credits, mainly in Hong Kong film and television productions, and especially in detective and martial arts movies, according to his IMDb page.Born in Shanghai on Sept. 2, 1935, Tsang began acting after obtaining an architecture degree at the University of California, Berkeley, making his debut in 1955.

Nine Inch Nails have revealed the list of support acts joining them on their first US tour since 2018.Boy Harsher, 100 Gecs, Yves Tumor, Ministry and Nitzer Ebb are among the openers personally curated by frontman Trent Reznor. The tour, which was announced back in February, is set to kick off on Thursday (April 28) in Raleigh, North Carolina.The line-up announcement comes after the news that Nine Inch Nails would be replacing Foo Fighters at two festivals this summer, following the death of the band’s drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Interpol have announced the release of The Other Side of Make-Believe, their seventh studio album. Today's announcement is accompanied by new song "Toni." The band worked with director Van Alpert on the dance-themed "Toni" video, which you can see below. The Other Side of Make-Believe is due July 15 via Matador.

new study published Sunday found that American viewers are likely to change their political views based on the media outlets from which they get their information. David E.

black midi, the spiky and uncompromising British post-punk band, kick off their North American tour tonight (March 22) and have dropped a new covers EP to celebrate. Cavalcovers includes the group's take on "Love Story" by Taylor Swift plus “Moonlight On Vermont” by Captain Beefheart and King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man." The latter features all three members of the band, bassist Cameron Picton, guitarist Geordie Greep, and drummer Morgan Simpson, on vocals for the first time. Check out the EP below.

Simon Rattle was getting ready to leave Europe for the first time since the start of the pandemic and head to California with the London Symphony Orchestra for a residency with students at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West.“It’s kind of a miracle that it’s happening,” he said.A U.S. tour started Saturday in Palo Alto, continued on to Berkeley and Costa Mesa before three concerts in Santa Barbara this week.The symphony launched its partnership with the academy in 2018 when five section principals spent 10 days teaching and picked a dozen students as fellows to work with the orchestra in London the following January.

William Earl Andrew Hampp has been named Senior Director of Music and Consumer Partnerships at Variety.Hampp is a brand partnerships specialist, content strategist and former full-time journalist. Prior to joining Variety, Andrew founded consultancy 1803 LLC in 2018, where he worked closely with blue-chip clients across the media, advertising, music, data and nonprofit spectrum, utilizing a wide range of capabilities to help the group achieve its goals.

nominated by President Biden last July.Wong holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a master’s in environmental engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She also helped establish the Conference on APA Leadership, which helps guide young Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans seeking careers in public service.LGBTQ advocacy groups praised Wong’s confirmation. “Ambassador Wong is now one of the highest-ranking leaders of U.S. economic and international policy in Asia and is well-positioned to leverage her exceptional qualifications and experience,” Annise Parker, the president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute, an organization that advocates for greater LGBTQ representation in elected and appointed positions, said in a statement.“As the first out LGBTQ person of color confirmed to an ambassador-level position, Ambassador Wong is also a symbol of hope and strength for LGBTQ leaders and community members fighting for LGBTQ rights across the globe.

Sam Faiers and her sister Billie Shepherd were treated to the ultimate Valentine's Day following their staycation with mum Suzie Wells. Billie, 32, and Sam, 31, who is expecting her third child with husband Paul Knightley, gave a peek inside the romantic celebrations with their Instagram followers after the sisters enjoyed a relaxing break at five-star hotel The Berkeley in London. Sam, who shares Rosie, four, and Paul, six, with Paul, zoomed in on a huge bunch of red and cream roses as she thanked her partner and Cupid Creative.

Nine Inch Nails have announced details of a pair of UK gigs for this summer – get all the details below.Trent Reznor and co. will play two nights at the Eden Project in Cornwall this June, with the gigs taking place a week before Glastonbury 2022.The gigs, which take place on June 17 and 18, come sandwiched in between a recently-announced 2022 US tour which begins in April and runs through to September.Last year, the band cancelled their planned live shows as uncertainties around the COVID pandemic remained.