Starz Launches #TakeTheLead Initiative To Amplify Diverse Voices, Teams With UCLA For Inclusion Study

Megan Thee Stallion has launched an initiative called Hotties Helping Houston to raise funds for the rebuilding of her hometown following the recent Texas freeze.The rapper will be working alongside US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and the National Association of Christian Churches (NACC) Disaster Services, to repair homes at no cost for senior citizens and single mothers.Megan has enlisted a coalition of donors to help with the fundraising efforts over the next two years, including fashion

For much of her career, composer Lolita Ritmanis dreamed of tackling an “epic” Latvian film, in tribute to her heritage as a Latvian-American. In 2019, she finally was able to do so with Blizzard of Souls, penning deeply affecting music, which landed her on the Oscars’ shortlist for Best Original Score.

hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey were both sporting an unconventional red-carpet look: a small cluster of hearts and stars, scrawled on their hands in black ink. These symbols, it transpires, are a secret sign of female solidarity in Moxie, a coming-of-age drama directed by Saturday Night Live veteran Poehler, about a feminist uprising at an American high school.

the new voice actor for Dr Hibbert in The Simpsons, has revealed he didn’t accept the role when he was first asked.The actor, whose also worked on The Cleveland Show and American Dad, said in a new interview that he felt “very fortunate” to have been asked despite initially turning it down.“The overall goal was to at least stay in the ball park of Mr Shearer’s performance,” Richardson told the BBC, referring to Harry Shearer who voiced Dr Hibbert for 30 years.“I was just very fortunate to be

Alice Cooper has responded after Marilyn Manson was accused of sexual abuse by several women.Manson, who co-headlined a US tour with the shock-rock icon in 2013, was accused of abuse, grooming and manipulation by actor and ex-partner Evan Rachel Wood and four other women last month.Since Wood’s statement, more women have come forward with allegations about Manson, including actor Bianca Allaine, who said the FBI are involved with her case.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefHong Kong- and Paris-based sales company All Rights Entertainment has teamed up with the Reface face-swapping app to launch high-profile indie animation “Gulliver Returns” at the European Film Market.The English-language film was initially launched for pre-sales at the American Film Market in November 2019.

EXCLUSIVE: The Exchange is to introduce to buyers at the upcoming virtual EFM to feature Our Last Summer, executive-produced by Oscar-winner and True Blood and Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball (American Beauty).

The share of episodic TV shows directed by women and people of color has reached “new highs,” according to the latest DGA Inclusion Report, with women directing more than a third of TV episodes in the 2019-20 season, and directors of color helming nearly a third of the episodes.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Ray Halbritter, an Oneida Indian Nation Representative, CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises, and a trustee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Museum, has launched Standing Arrow Productions, a privately-funded, independent film and TV production company aimed at increasing the representation and championing the narratives of Native American and Indigenous peoples on screen.

Barack Obama has launched a new podcast series called Renegades: Born In The USA with guest Bruce Springsteen.The Boss joined the former president for “a long and meaningful conversation” last year, which will be presented to listeners over eight episodes.The first two instalments of the series landed on Spotify earlier today (February 22), with the remaining six set to arrive in the coming weeks.In a trailer for the podcast, Obama noted: “On the surface, Bruce and I don’t have a lot in common.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorBarack Obama sat down with Bruce Springsteen for a series of wide-ranging conversations that will hit Spotify as an exclusive original podcast — the newest entry in the company’s expanding slate of audio programming.“Renegades: Born in the USA” is an eight-episode podcast featuring the former president and The Boss, who have been friends for over a decade, “in deep and revealing conversation,” according to Spotify.

EXCLUSIVE: Eternals and American Animals star Barry Keoghan is set to lead new UK drama-thriller Sapphire, from writer-directors Daniel and Matthew Wolfe, and Small Axe and Benediction producer Mike Elliott.

Carmen Electra is launching her own health conscious menu. The 48-year-old actress, model and singer is partnering with Cordia Corporation to create a curated menu, which she has called Tasty by Carmen Electra, which will be made available on all major participating food apps in the US in the second quarter of 2021.

Ice Cube has launched his own brand of marijuana, named after his 1995 film stoner movie Friday.Fryday Kush, has been created in partnership with the cannabis company Caviar Gold and is being sold in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oklahoma in the US.“Fryday Kush, my new marijuana brand, launches today,” the rapper announced on Instagram.

X Factor star Nicholas McDonald’s stunning American wife has launched a new YouTube channel. Brandi, from Florida but now living in Motherwell with her pop star husband, has spent months researching and preparing for the launch of her ‘reality’ style channel that will heavily feature Nicholas and their daily life together.

Argonon, the growing TV "superindie," whose array of companies across the U.K. and U.S.

Olivia Munn is asking for the public’s help to amplify the “Stop Asian Hate” message after a surge in hate crimes.

EXCLUSIVE: While 2020 was most everyone’s worst year, you’d be hard pressed to find a filmmaker who got more done than Spike Lee.