Top 10 Comedy DVDs of 2011

It's a bit too miserable outside to be going anywhere right now. And seen as you've probably spent enough time over Christmas getting that mould of your ass in the couch just right, you might as well stay there and watch some funny people say funny stuff on your TV. We threw a lot of top 10's at you over the holiday season, Top 10 YouTube clips, Mike shared his  top 5 movies of 2011, there were popular Top 10's in music as well as ones in theatre. But if you're in the market to buy yourself a decent comedy dvd, this list's definitely worth a goo. As per Chortle  and the British Video Association, here be the Bestselling DVDs of 2011.

1 Peter Kay Live: The Tour That Didn't Tour


2 Lee Evans: Roadrunner Live At The O2


3 John Bishop Live: The Sunshine Tour


4 Alan Carr: Spexy Beast Live


5 Micky Flanagan: The Out Out Tour Live


6 Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live



7 Comedy Superstars 2011

8 Russell Howard: Right Here Right Now



9 John Bishop: Elvis Has Left The Building



And for some reason, the Official Charts Company classes these DVD's under 'special interest' so oddly enough, Jeremy Clarkson's DVD has found it's way onto this list. There has to have been a 10th stand up with a DVD more successful and more funny thant his? Sad times.
10 Clarkson: Powered Up

5 hot Nollywood babes to watch in 2012

Discovering new faces that will take after the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ini Edo, Tonto Dike, Uche Jombo and many other A-list actresses when they finally stay off the screen over the years has remained a major issue as far as the Nigerian movie industry is concerned.

But today, with productions getting better and the industry gaining global attention, more and more faces are emerging, thus adding colour and freshness to the industry. HVP brings to you some of the new faces in Nollywood that are expected to become forces to reckon with in this new season.

 

Chinwe Isaac

Chinwe Isaac

Light skinned Chinwe Isaac is one fast rising actress that holds a lot of promises for the industry in this new season. Currently accused of taking after one of the most controversial actresses in Nollywood, Tonto Dike, after an extremely sexy role where she stuffed her breasts into an actor’s mouth in the movie titled “One Last Feeling”, the Imo State born actress who joined the industry in 2008, is not resting on her oar in respect of her determination to hit the top.

Industry watchers described Chinwe as one of the most sought after actresses by movie makers because of her daring attitude. Recently she shaved her hair for a new movie role, which she said she decided to play irrespective of the stigma that could come with walking about town on bald head,because she is driven by success and ability to take her craft a notch higher.

Chinwe who has starred in a couple of movies in the last four years made a name for herself in “Destitute”, a trilogy from the stable of Diamond Pictures, where she played her first major role.

A 300 level part time student of LASU, and a holder of a National Diploma in Music from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Chinwe says her future is very bright in the industry. “Feeling fulfilled I’ve spent only three years in the industry, having joined in 2008. And since then, I have been working. I’m sure I’d make my mark soon.”

 

Ruth Kadiri

Ruth Kadiri

Sexy actress Ruth Kadiri is another emerging face to watch out for in Nollywood in this year. She is not only a promising actress but she is a scriptwriter.

An undergraduate of University of Lagos, Ruth last year wowed audience with her work as an actress cum scriptwriter in the movie titled “Ladies Men/ Ladies Gang.” She has been the toast of many fans of Nigerian movies in recent times.

Despite the grave allegation that made headlines last year that she was dumped by a popular producer, Stanley Ebonine for the love of his life, Dorathy Chinasa Agu, Ruth has remained focused and daring in the pursuit of her acting career. She believes that she will hit the tops this new season.

 

Uche Benjamin

Uche Benjamin

Uche Benjamin joined the industry two years ago, and already she has become a force to reckon with when you talk of emerging faces in Nollywood. A graduate of UNIPORT where she studied Biochemistry, Uche is today living her dream as an actress.

Her passion for acting started from childhood, which she has sustained till date. Currently, she is known for her roles in such movies as ‘Ego’, ‘Pains from the Heart’, ‘Adams Desire’, ‘Margaret Thatcher’, with ‘Everlasting Love’ being the movie which gave her, her break in the industry. Uche has what it takes to stand out in the industry as one of the emerging faces in Nollywood.

 

Beverly Naya

Beverly Naya

Ifunnanya Beverly, popularly known as Beverly Naya is described by many of her fans as the rave of the moment. She is currently enjoying a lot of attention as one of the emerging actresses in Nollywood. After relocating home from the UK two years ago, where she lived with her parents for almost 15 years. Beverly has become the darling of many movie bluffs in the country.

This sexy actress who has modeled and acted extensively in the UK and America, took Nollywood by storm after she played the female lead role in Lancelot Imasuen’s award-winning movie “Home In Exile.” She hosted the last ‘Mode Men Awards’ and featured in the star-studded ‘Weekend Getaway’ and “Alan Poza.”

The Ibuzo, Delta State born actress who studied Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy at the Brunel University, London, recently returned from Bayelsa, where she was part of the cast of a new epic movie titled ‘Up Creek Without A Paddle.’ Beverly no doubt is a promising actress to watch out for , in this new season.

 

Amanda Ebeye

Amanda Ebeye

Of all the pretty actresses currently on parade in Nollywood, Amanda Ebeye stands shoulder high among her peers. She is not only proficient and talented, she is equally endowed with brain and beauty. Many industry watchers described her as the “Nollywood star on the bloc.”

A graduate of International Studies and Diplomacy from the Benson Idahosa University, Benin, Amanda is gradually warming her way into the hearts of movie buffs with her impressive performance in movies and soap operas.

Ever since she debuted in the movie, “Weeping Tiger”, the ebony damsel from Agbor, in Delta State, has not looked back. She has delved into acting and has dumped the trade she studied in the university. Her role in the soap, “Clinic Matters” which is currently running on some television stations across the country is still the talk of the town.

Other movies where she featured in inlcuded “Last Weeding’, “Keep My Love” and “Tomorrow Must Wait”, “The Patriot”, More Than a Friend” ElDorado”. She also featured in such soaps as Super Story, Everyday People, City Sisters, Clinic Matters and Images.

Ini Edo and some Nollywood stars bag chieftaincy titles

VETERAN actors Chinwetalu Agu,Patience Ozokwor a.k.a Mama G, Hon Richard Mofe Damijo(RMD) and pretty actress Ini Edo-Ehiagwina,top actor Emeka Ike have been conferred with Chieftancy titles by the traditional ruler of Egbunike, Anambra State. As gathered, these film makers were honored as a result of their excellent interpretation of movie roles that project Igbo traditions to the world.

Rajinikanth ready to start Kochadaiyaan

Rajinkanth

The superstar is ready to don the grease paint again! Yes, Rajinikanth himself has confirmed that he is gearing up to start his next magnum opus, which is expected to take off in February.

Rajinikanth says that he is fit and fine now and he will be kick-starting Kochadaiyaan in February. The forthcoming movie is a prequel to Rana, which was launched last April before dropping the movie due to the superstar’s ill health.

Kochadaiyaan will mark the directorial debut of the superstar’s daughter, Soundarya Rajinikanth. Acclaimed filmmaker KS Ravikumar, who will be directing the prequel of the upcoming movie, will supervise her in the forthcoming movie.

The multilingual project has AR Rahman’s music and it is high-tech 3D animation film. Kochadaiyaan also features Sneha and the hunt for the other cast is on.

Juhi Parmar announced winner of house at grand finale

Juhi Palma

TV artiste Juhi Parmar has finally been announced as the winner of the controversial reality show Bigg Boss season 5. Along with Juhi there were four other members like Sky aka Akashdeep Saigal, Amar Upadyay, Siddharth Bhardwaj, Mahek Chahal in the house. But Juhi has beaten everyone in the grand finale of the Bigg Boss 5 on this Saturday. With this, she has bagged the prize money of Rs.1 crore.

Juhi Parmar entered the Bigg Boss 5 house with the first 13 contestants on October 2, 2011. Although the Kumkum star indulged in many arguments in Bigg Boss 5 house, she made sure that she play the game more safely and patiently. She faced lot of hardship for her friendship with Sky and Sunny Leone, but she never cared for those criticisms. Finally, her patience has been paid off with the Bigg Boss 5 title.

However, Juhi Parmar, who is married to TV personality and businessman Sachin Shroff, has earlier participated in other reality shows like ‘Pati Patni Aur Who’ and ‘Maa Exchange’ and many others. She has won the Miss Rajasthan title in 1999. She has also bagged the Best Actress critic (Female) at the Indian Telly Awards in 2005 for her character ‘Kumkum’ of STAR Plus's Kumkum (TV series).

Sonam Kapoor hopes to be cast in sis Rhea's next

Sonam Kapoor

Though Sonam Kapoor’s younger sister and Anil Kapoor’s daughter, Rhea Kapoor is all set for her second production, she still hasn’t approached Sonam for the film.

Rhea Kapoor is planning her second production after Aisha (2010). Though Aisha had Sonam portray the lead role, it is not sure if Rhea will cast Sonam in her second venture as well. Though Sonam thinks that Rhea did an impressive job in Aisha, she is still hoping that she is considered for Rhea’s second film as well. When told that it is surprising why Rhea Kapoor still hasn’t approached Sonam for the role, Sonam laughingly told the journalists to ask her father Anil Kapoor whether she will be cast in Rhea’s next film.

Talking about her sister, Sonam also said that Rhea has her own idea about who should be cast in the film and is rebellious and headstrong. Meanwhile, Anil Kapoor has said that a formal announcement of the film will take time as the star cast is yet to be finalised.

Meanwhile, Sonam Kapoor is very hopeful that her film Players with Abhishek Bachchan will be well appreciated by the audience.

Abhishek Bachchan starrer movie Players has received a lukewarm opening at the Box Office

Abhishek Bachchan starrer movie Players

Abhishek Bachchan starrer movie Players, which is the first Bollywood release of the year 2012, has received a lukewarm opening at the Box Office in India. The below average response of the movie has shocked the industry. According to trade experts, the film would earn Rs 5 to 6 crores at the collection centres on the first day.

Players, which is a multi-starrer film, is a big budget movie and it was expected to debut with a huge collection at the Box Office. But the film has registered 20% to 30% occupancy in its opening and noon shows. Trade expert Taran Adarsh says that the opening response was as low as 15% at several screens.

However, Players is a remake of Hollywood classic Italian Job and it has received mixed reviews from film critics. Now, the makers of film, which had a huge amount of promotional activities, are hoping that the word of mouth to create magic at the Box Office. The movie is expected to have a big jump in collections on Saturday and Sunday.

Holland Taylor offers no apologies for never settling down,

Holland Taylor

Holland Taylor offers no apologies for never settling down, getting married or having children.

The 68-year-old Emmy-winning actress, currently starring in her one-woman show "Ann" at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, simply never had the time.

"I always did think I would be married and settled down by now but maybe I ain't ready," she said, sounding a lot like the over-the-top mother of Jon Cryer she portrays in the CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men." "Then again, maybe I won't ever be ready."

Taylor's career blossomed in her mid-30s and the New Yorker with Pennsylvania roots has been on a dizzying pace ever since, starring on the stage, in television and on film.

Having a family just wasn't in the script.

"I'm very, very happy. I just never was the marrying kind," she said. "I am a serial monogamist. I don't have multiple relationships at once.

"I've had a long life and a lot of relationships and not one of them do I wish -- well, I take that back -- there are a couple I could have done without," she added with a chuckle.

Taylor's current love is "Ann," which is based on the life of quick-witted, sharp-tongued former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

Seconds after a recent performance at the Kennedy Center, the audience was on its feet, cheering wildly for the show and its star.

While the applause was quick that night, overall it was a long time coming for Taylor. The actress conceived the show nearly six years ago and has been researching it and writing it ever since. She admits to being captivated about the dynamic Richards, who died in 2006 of esophageal cancer.

"I had a lot of creative feelings about her," Taylor told Reuters. "If I had been a painter, it would have been a painting. If I had been a composer, it would have been a piece of music. I had to do something with my feelings about this loss."

Taylor said the idea of taking Richards' story to the stage "came to me very suddenly."

"I was literally driving to work at my television show one day and I had to pull off the highway onto the service road," she recalled. "I had the idea it should be a play because of her liveliness and her contact with the audience.

"She herself said, 'I was good as a candidate over the years only because I connect with people one on one.' I decided right then a play is how it should be done."

NO LOOKING BACK

Taylor has perfected Richards' Southern drawl and eerily looks like the Texas politician whose energizing keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention elevated her to widespread prominence.

The actress insists she brought Richards' story to the stage not because she could play the role but to celebrate the politician's life.

"She was not a person who looked back. Ever," Taylor said. "She did not revisit things. She was rolling along, like a wheel that goes under and then over. Under and over. But always moving forward.

"If she fell, she fell forward. And that is not the way I am. I get very upset. I can get very waylaid. I get blue. I can become chicken little.

"And now when I do, I think, 'What would Ann Richards think of this behavior?'"

During breaks in the show's pre-Broadway tour -- it is playing now through January 15 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -- Taylor will continue her role on "Two and a Half Men." She is glad its former star, Charlie Sheen, survived his firing and public meltdown earlier this year and has moved on.

"It was painful for me to see him in pain and he did something very, very dangerous by first of all, obviously doing drugs to that degree is dangerous, but quitting very violently is very dangerous too," she said.

"And he went through really an amazing thing out in public. I just was terrified for him. I think everybody was. But he got through it alive which is all anybody wanted."

Taylor said she would see his daily rants and described them as "very scary."

"There were a few days there where I would open the paper, and I would be so frightened to see that something really terrible happened," she said. "I'm glad he escaped that."

Holland Taylor is in a good spot these days, healthy, happy and with more job offers than she knows what do with. Just don't expect her to slow down anytime soon.

With a laugh, she said she would "commit an ax murder" before attempting to conceal her age.

"It would seem so silly," she said backstage at the Kennedy Center. "I really, truly genuinely struggled quite hard until I was in my mid-30s. "I personally was at sea.

"But that's long gone. I'm doing OK. I'm better than OK."

Harry Potter' Cast Considered Commemorative Tattoos

The cast of the Harry Potter movies considered marking the end of the franchise with matching tattoos of the wizard's lightning scar, but they backed out of the plan, according to actor Rupert Grint.

The British star, who plays Ron Weasley in the series, has revealed many of the young actors discussed inking a permanent reminder of the films, but although Grint was eage to mark the end of the franchise with the body art, the others decided against it.

He tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "There was talk between us about doing something like a tattoo. It would have been something subtle like Harry's lightning scar. It would've been a great way of marking the end of filming."

Earlier this year, Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the films, revealed she also wanted to find a way to commemorate the end of filming, but ruled out getting a tattoo.

Jessica Simpson: Pregnancy was meant for me

Jessica Simpson

Pregnancy  has been no inconvenience for Jessica Simpson so far. In fact, she loves it.

"Pregnancy was meant for me – it really was," the Fashion Star mentor and Beauty Mint spokesperson tells PEOPLE. "I can't wait to have more kids. I love being pregnant. I have such an incredible connection with myself and with my body that I've never had before."

Simpson, 31, also says pregnancy has been a spiritual time, too.

Alvin & the Chipmunks Sue Capitol for Royalties

Talk about a chipmunk (squirrel) trying to a get a nut -- the creators of Alvin and the Chipmunks have sued Capitol Records for 4 years of royalties on the high-pitched hitmakers' songs.

In the lawsuit, Bagdasarian Productions -- the people who created Alvin and Co. back in 1958 -- say they conducted an audit of royalty payments made to them between 2005 and 2009 ... and their results showed the 'munks were getting shafted.

Bagdasarian Prods. say they own all the Chipmunk's performances -- including classics like "On Top of Old Smokey," "Polly Wolly Doodle," and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot."

According to the suit, they're supposed to be paid about .09 for each song that's reproduced or distributed -- OR about .02 per minute of playing time. It all adds up.

Bagdasarian is demanding a full accounting and damages for breach of contract.

Greene savors Alice's conflicts in 'Breaking Dawn'

Tim Lammers, StrictlyCinema.com  -  If any actor is lucky enough, they may in their career get to play a character twice if a film does well enough to warrant a sequel. But for Ashley Greene, whose star in Hollywood began to rise with the smashing success of the first "Twilight" film in 2008, playing Alice Cullen has not only become an exciting gig, but an exhilarating way of life.

"The thing that's been thrilling for me as an actor is having the chance to develop Alice throughout each installment and add layers to the foundation that was created," Greene said in a recent interview. "I got to add a lot of different elements to her in the first part of 'Breaking Dawn' because she's in a much darker place."

"Breaking Dawn -- Part 1," which opens in theaters nationwide Friday just after midnight, marks the fourth film in "The Twilight Saga" for Greene and her fellow stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. The first in the two-part finale of the film series, "Part 1" finally finds vampire Edward Cullen (Pattinson) meeting his human love, Bella Swan (Stewart) at the altar, despite the jealousy of Jacob Black (Lautner), a werewolf who has long-competed with Edward for Bella's love.

But things become far more complicated when Bella becomes pregnant during the couple's honeymoon, as she carries a half-vampire, half-human child who poses a threat to both the wolf pack and the vampire clan. Worse yet, the pregnancy is taking a near-fatal toll on Bella, which plunges Alice into turmoil because the presence of the unborn baby has rendered the vampire powerless to see the future of her best friend.

"That was fun to show that side of Alice because we've never really seen her frustrated, torn and have this inner battle of what she should do. She either has to support her sister-in-law or tell her that she's crazy for allowing herself to deteriorate in front of everyone's eyes," Greene said. "Plus you see Alice form an alliance with unlikely people. There's a lot more going on with her than in any of the previous 'Twilight' films."

Everyone's Best Friend
While the characters of Edward, Bella and Jacob have always been the primary focus of author Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" book series, the films have yielded some unexpected results as Alice has become a big fan favorite. The character's popularity is fine with Greene, who admits she was a big fan of Alice dating back to the books.

"This whole franchise has been full of surprises -- and fun surprises," Greene said. "I always loved Alice, even before I had seen the script or was cast in the role, because she was always this perky ray of sunshine and a little sassy sometimes. I understand how fans relate to her because she essentially is that best friend that everybody wants."

With the end of the "Twilight" film in sight, Greene is finding herself racked by mixed emotions. For all intents and purposes, Greene is done with the film series since the first and second half of "Breaking Dawn" filmed back-to-back, yet she knows she'll at least to get to gather with her cast mates a few more times about a year from now when she does press before "Breaking Dawn -- Part 2" hits theaters.

So in a way, Greene lamented, the last day of filming wasn't really a goodbye, but a pre-mourning period nonetheless.

"The last day on the set is something that's hard to describe. Definitely it was emotional, and I had no way to prepare for that. You know the end is coming but you can't ignore it," Greene said. "On one hand, you think, 'I've been shooting for seven months and now I can sleep,' but then I was like, 'Oh, wait, we're not coming back to this and I've shelved the character for good. That's tough because Alice has essentially become a piece of my life and my world."

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Jackson Brothers Sue Over 'Thriller' Jacket Deal

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Three of Michael Jackson's brothers claim in a lawsuit filed this week that they've been "duped" by a company selling replicas of jackets worn by the pop icon.

The endorsement deal was the first involving Michael Jackson's oldest son, Prince, who posed for pictures with his uncles as they autographed the limited-edition jackets.

The "Thriller" and "Beat It" jackets went on sale online last week, but Jackie, Tito and Marlon Jackson filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging the marketer bounced a check to them for travel expenses.

Steeve Bohbot, owner of Connected Internationals Sales, also failed to pay each of the three brothers the $100,000 each for signing the 1,000 leather jackets, the suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court Tuesday, contends.

"Plaintiffs, tired of chasing Bohbot for the moneys, have no choice but to seek redress from the courts," it said.

The suit alleges that Bohbot told the Jackson's that the delayed payment was caused by a problem with the jackets' delivery to Amazon.com, but it was not true.

The brothers believe the company is insolvent and has not paid other creditors, including Michael Jackson's estate, which authorized the sale, the suit said.

Bohbot did not respond to CNN calls for comment.

The Jackson brothers, who recently reunited onstage for a series of concerts, gathered at West Hollywood's Bar Marmont on October 29 to sign the jackets. Prince Jackson, who has previously stayed away from commercial endorsements, joined them at the event, but he did not autograph the jackets.

Prince Jackson is not involved in the lawsuit since he was not part of the marketing agreement. It was not disclosed how much he was to be paid to attend and pose with the jackets.

Connected International Sales "duped plaintiffs into a scheme to sign 1,000 collectors' jackets," the suit said.

Michael Jackson debuted the red "Beat It" and red and black "Thriller" jackets, designed by Marc Laurent, in 1983. The Jackson brothers signed 500 of each jacket, which are still on sale for $2,350.

Chris Tucker And Ice Cube For Another Friday?

There is going to be another sequel to the cult comedy, Friday, which starred Ice Cube and a young Chris Tucker, reports TMZ.

There was thought to be some bad blood between Tucker and Mr. Cube after the former refused to return to do a sequel when the first film was a surprise hit. The two Chris Tucker-less sequels that followed were both solid hits theatrically anyway, while Tucker headlined three Rush Hour movies, then disappeared for a few years only to be recently announced to be part of the ensemble cast of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. The story comes from the original films Deebo, Tommy Lister who said, "There's a lot of conversation, that's hopefully going down next week with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker about doing one more Friday. This is going to be the big one. We talked on the phone a couple of weeks ago, and I'm going on Chris' private jet to do something in St. Louis, where I chase Chris on the stage." He has a private jet!? What? I'm assuming that's leased.

Tucker and Chris Rock used to get mixed up a lot until folk realised Chris Rock was the talented one.

Demi Moore And Aston Kutcher End 6 Year Marriage

Hollywood actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have ended their six-year marriage after the couple announced today that they will be getting divorced.

The reason for the divorce which is coming from 49-year-old Moore is because she ‘strongly believes’ that Kutcher, 33, has been cheating on her.

The couple had made the news back in September when a 22-year-old woman named Sara Leal claimed she had slept with Kutcher in San Diego.

‘I’m ending my marriage with great sadness and a heavy heart.  As a woman, a mother and a wife, there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life’, the veteran actress, Moore said.

Ashton took to his Twitter account to break the sad news, ‘I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail’, @aplusk tweeted.

Demi Moore has been married three times. She was once married to popular Hollywood actor Bruce Willis. She married Kutcher who is 16 years younger on September 24, 2005

50 Cent To Guest On Upcoming 'Bones' Spinoff

(CNN) -- 50 Cent's a busy dude. The rapper-entrepreneur writes books, peddles energy drinks, and is currently adding to his acting resume.

TVLine.com reports that Fiddy will be guest starring on a February episode of "The Finder," an upcoming spinoff of Fox series "Bones."

50 Cent, a.k.a. Curtis Jackson, generally applies his dramatic talents to the big screen, but he's making an exception with "The Finder." As its name implies, the series is about a guy who can locate basically anything, or anyone.

Fiddy will play Big Glade, a "successful, intimidating hip-hop mogul" who is frantically searching for a dead rapper's lost tracks. "Bones" star David Boreanaz will direct the episode.

Michael Clarke Duncan and Geoff Stults star in "The Finder," which premieres in January. The show will air Thursdays at 9/8c on Fox.

'Breaking Dawn' sees its stars looking to new horizons

As "Twilight" fans gear up for the emotional rollercoaster of weddings, babies and battles that is "Breaking Dawn - Part 1", the movie's three stars are beginning to look to new horizons.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1", opening in U.S. theaters on Friday, sees young lovers Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) finally marry in a wedding that has the "Twilight" fan-verse in a frenzy.

But wedded bliss doesn't last long for the young couple after Bella finds herself pregnant with a vampire baby that is slowly killing her. Back home, werewolf Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner, faces conflict within his own tribe as he chooses to protect Bella and her unborn child.

"Lots of milestones are crammed into this one and there's a very accelerated bit of life lived in this movie," said Stewart.

The end to the "Twilight" movie series eventually plays out when "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" reaches theaters in the summer of 2012. But with filming already wrapped up, Pattinson, Stewart and Lautner already are emotional about the end of the saga that turned them into worldwide stars and good friends.

"I'll never have anything like that again in any other aspect of moviemaking," said Stewart, 21. "It's a very shared love, but to share that with so many people, it is just so unique and it's so rare."

Lautner, 19, said the trio had become very close since making the first "Twilight" movie, released in 2008.

"We've gone through a lot with each other," he said. "We have a lot of fun making the movies, and it was definitely a bummer when it all finished."

But the young stars already have begun to move on. Lautner took a turn as an action hero in "Abduction" earlier this year, and he stars in the movie version of upcoming young adult sci-fi novel "Incarceron".

NO MORE WHITE FACE
Stewart, in 2010, played rock singer Joan Jett in "The Runaways" and a teenage prostitute in "Welcome To The Rileys". She will next be seen in the classic beat generation drama "On The Road," and in the lead role for 2012 fantasy "Snow White and the Huntsman."

For Pattinson, 25, there's one thing he won't miss as "Twilight" draws to an end.

"Putting a bunch of white face make-up on so you notice all the wrinkles you're getting. After awhile, it's kind of depressing," the British actor said. "I'm looking forward to not seeing that anymore."

Pattinson branched out in circus romance "Water for Elephants" opposite Reese Witherspoon earlier this year and has two other movies under his belt -- "Bel Ami", in which he plays a young Parisian seducer, and "Cosmopolis".

He is still surprised by fan response to the first three "Twilight" movies based on the best-selling novels by Stephenie Meyer. Combined, the three films have made more than $1.8 billion at worldwide box offices.

"I'd be curious how long it would go on for if we just kept making sequels. That would be so strange if it went on for ten years or something," Pattinson said.

"Breaking Dawn", directed by Bill Condon and produced by independent studio Summit Entertainment, has generated mixed reviews.

Todd McCarthy at The Hollywood Reporter criticized the "dirge-like" pacing and "banal" script. But Variety's Justin Chang said Stewart and Pattinson "have merged so completely with their roles and each other that the sight of the duo's matrimonial bliss -- delicately shaded by that sense of transience and loss that attends even happy life transitions -- delivers a genuine emotional payoff."

Nigeria launched NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X into Orbit

NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X

Nigeria yesterday, successfully, launched one of the most advanced earth observation satellites (Nigeriasat-2) of its kind that is commercially available in the imaging world into the orbit at exactly 8:12.am Nigerian time in Russia.

Nigeria Sat-X, which was built by Nigerian engineers trained at the same time the Sat-2 was being built as a demonstration that Nigeria can build and launch its satellite was launched alongside NigeriaSat-2.

With the launch of the two satellites, NigeriaSa-1, which has since overstayed its life span in orbit would be replaced.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja shortly after showing the live coverage of the launch site, in Russia to the audience, the project manager of the NigeriaSat-2 and X, Mr. Francis Chizea, said that NigeriaSat-2 and X, have five years life span, just like NigeriaSat-1, and “will continue the work which NigeriaSat-1 is doing, but is more advanced in technology.”

Explaining further, Mr. Chizea, noted that the satellite was designed for five years, just like NigeriaSat-1. “It is still in the orbit functioning and providing images as it used to be. They are two different satellites on their own; Nigeria Sat-2 is a higher resolution satellite, carrying 2.5m resolution camera on board.

“It also has 32m camera on board, because we expect that very soon, Nigeria Sat-1 will expire, and stop working. So to ensure that there is data continuity, we also have that 32m camera in Nigeria sat-2. It is a more advanced space craft. Whatever Nigeria sat-2 is doing in the orbit now is to carry out earth resolution that Nigeriasat-1 has been carrying out for the past 8 years, but with 32m camera, it has better grand meter set, which we never had before. Now, we can have our own high earth resolution data from our grand station whenever we want it.”

On the economic implication of the satellite, he said, it is not just launching of the satellite that matters but to improve the socio-economic life of Nigerians, adding that data from Nigeria-sat-2 will be used for various applications “in agriculture, urban mapping, environmental monitoring, etc. nigeriasat-2 is one of the most advanced satellites of its kind that is in the orbit today.”

Explaining why the satellite is the most advanced of its kind, Chizea pointed out that the Nigeriasat-2 unlike any other satellite can image lots of images, “for example, it can image a still image, under a very low skill which was not possible in Nigeriasat-1. Nigeriasat-2 is very agile, you can image and offload at the same time to the grand station, this is the facility that is not available in satellites of its kind. It can carry out images from security, pipeline monitoring to coastal monitoring, depending on what we have on ground.”

On the Nigeria Sat-X, he said, the space agency is in control of it is, as it is in its early stage operations. He said that SSTL Satellite company in Russia, trained the engineers and as well built Sat-2.

Also speaking, the acting director-general of National Space Research and Development Agency, who is also director of policy, planning and research, Mrs. Augusta Iheanacho, said the agency is particularly delighted because, “it is our engineers that built Nigeria-Sat-X, using Surrey’s facilities far away in the UK.”

She, however, appealed to the federal government, that since Nigerian engineers were able to build and launch Nigeria Sat-X, they should be given all the necessary support to launch same achievement in Nigeria.

“If only we had the critical infrastructure we need to be able to build our own satellite in Nigeria. Like I said, the critical infrastructure will required is the assembling, integration and testing and designing centres, we promise Nigeria, that henceforth, we will be able to build our own satellite in Nigeria, without outside assistance,” she added.

THE TWO ORBIT
Nigeria launched two observation satellites into orbit yesterday, and authorities said they hoped to use the equipment to monitor weather in a region seasonally ravaged by disasters.

Nigeria launched NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X into orbit yesterday morning from a Russian launch pad in the town of Yasny, President Goodluck Jonathan said on state-run television.

He described the event as "another milestone in our nation's effort to solve national problems through space technology."

The satellites could have a variety of applications, authorities said, which include monitoring disaster-prone areas in a country that stretches into Africa's Sahel, a belt of land on the Sahara Desert's southern fringe that sees extreme weather conditions. It experiences severe droughts in the dry season and devastating rainfall in the wet season. Floods last year displaced about 500,000 people nationwide, with most of them in the Sahel region.

Authorities said NigeriaSat-2 can detect anything wider than 8.2 feet (2.5 meters), such as cars. That means the satellites also could be used for military and intelligence purposes.

The satellite launch also spotlights Nigeria as a main African player in space technology development, rivaling countries such as South Africa and Algeria, which also have space programs. Despite the strides Nigeria's space technology industry has made in recent years, it remains largely dependent on other nations' technology.

NigeriaSat-X was built by a team of Nigerian engineers and scientists at Surrey Satellite Technology in the United Kingdom, while NigeriaSat-2 was built in collaboration with the UK company's team, said Felix Ale, a spokesman for the National Space Research and Development Agency.

Nigerian officials hope this launch goes better than the country's last. In May 2007, Nigeria launched its first communication satellite, built by a Chinese team and launched from a Chinese pad. NIGCOMSAT-1 was expected to provide phone, broadband Internet and broadcasting services in Africa's most populous country, but it was lost in space just over a year later. Authorities said a replacement satellite will be launched before the end of the year.


THE SATELLITE IS A BLESSING TO AFRICA
Gajere Nduke, director of the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS), says the successful launch of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X is a blessing to Africa. Nduke, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, said Nigeria would reap the benefit of investing in the satellites.

`Being the first satellite in Africa with this kind of high resolution, I am sure the West African Sub-region and Africa will be able to use it for development,’’ Nduke said. He added that the satellites would help the country to adequately plan its various sectors and be used to outsource its natural resources. The director promised that the centre would make good use of the satellites for the development of the country.

``Because of the high resolution of the satellites, NCRS is going to use it to map Nigeria into 1:25,000 scale,’’ Nduke added. Meanwhile, the Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Seidu Mohammed, has said that the successful launch of the two satellites had consolidated the country’s position as a budding space nation.

Mohammed, in a statement signed by Felix Ale, NASRDA’s Head of Media and Cooperate Affairs, said that defending the country’s sovereignty was not only a political issue, but also scientific. He added that the efforts of young Nigerian engineers and scientists in building NigeriaSat-X had brought a lot of prestige to the country. (NAN)

NIGERIA'S GROUND STATION CAN'T RECIEVE SIGNALS FROM LAUNCHED SATELLITE.
Nigeria launched satellite - Two days after Nigeria launched two satellites into space for security and environment monitoring purposes, indications are that the ground station in the capital city of Abuja lacks the facilities to receive images from one of the satellites.

Two Nigerian-built satellites, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, were launched Wednesday in Russia, where they were built by Nigerian engineers

But the private Guardian newspaper reported Friday that the ground station in Abuja was equipped only to receive images from NigeriaSat-2 for which it was built, not for NigeriaSat-X.

The implication is that Nigeria will have to rely on the UK-based Surrey Space Technology Ltd for information from NigeriaSat-X.

The paper however quoted Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Council (NARSDA) as saying the ground station can handle information from NigeriaSat-X.

NARSDA spokesman Felix Alle was quoted as saying: “Our facilities can receive images and monitor the operations of NigeriaSat-X. The engineers are currently doing telemetry, a process that involves sharing software with the satellites. The satellites are currently receiving all the software that we are sending to them.”

In 2006, British satellite firm Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) signed a contract with NARSDA for the supply of the NigeriaSat-2 Earth observation satellite, related ground infrastructure and a training programme to further develop an indigenous space capability in Nigeria.

Sam Loco Efe is dead

Sam Loco Efe

Veteran Nollywood actor and comedian, Sam Loco Efe is dead. The 66 year-old actor died today on location, in his hotel room in Owerri, Imo State. So sad! May his soul rest in peace...amen.

More details coming soon...






For those that doesnt know or heard of Sam loco Efe:

He is easily one of Nigeria’s most popular entertainers. Chief Sam Loco Efe is a versatile actor, writer and singer. As a trained artiste, Loco Efe at the age of 66 continues to be a trainer and moulder of future leaders especially in showbiz where he has excelled both on stage and screen.

At the just concluded 5th African Film and Television Programmes Expo (BOBTV 2008), held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Sam Loco Efe was the star of the moment. As the receiver of the prestigious award for legendary professionalism as a screen and stage actor, Loco’s name topped the list of the Best of the Best Honours of the BOBTV. But he was not the only artiste who was recognized for excellence. Others include: Umar Farouk ( Kanny wood); Chika Onu (Nollywood); Antar Laniyan ( Film and TV production) and Tony Ikoku (Broadcasting and management).

Speaking from his “ hot seat” as the star of the festival, Sam Loco took time to reveal his choice of acting as a career, his training as an artiste, his challenges and preferences as well as his love life. The veteran actor also disclosed how he could have ended up as a robber if he hadn’t taken to acting.
Loco identified discipline as the hallmark of every actor. He attributed his success in his profession to dedication, discipline and adherence to professionalism.

“ I believe that training starts when one is born and ends when one is dead,” explained Loco, who observed that discipline goes with training in every profession. As a result, no actor can succeed without training and discipline.

His words:” Practice, they say, makes perfect. I sharpen my intellect on a daily basis and this is why there’s hardly any lines or words that I cannot commit to memory even within a short period.”
According to Loco, reading and simplicity have guided his career over the years, such that “ I sell my clothes to buy books…this is why I prefer simple dresses…I prefer to wear simple dresses and read many books.”

On what spurs him into action as an actor, Loco said,” many things put me on whenever I act. Some of these things are a product of the training I received and the environment from which I grew or find myself. But I hate pretenders…people have to be real in their conducts. Today, many people join the acting profession because they want to be famous and this is why they all get it wrong. There is a difference between being a famous actor and being a great actor.”

To Sam Loco, acting is a talent that has to be nurtured through training and this requires that a good actor should not only strive to speak good English, but should also ‘talk’ English the way the native speakers do. He argued that one of the avenues through which an actor wins his audience is by learning how to communicate effectively using English or whatever language that is required. He observed further “ if you are a robber, the chances are that you would be a better robber if you are properly trained.”
Recalling how he wrote, performed and presented his first play for a drama competition on October 1, 1960, Loco hinted that he became a dramatist “through accidental discharge.” He explained with nostalgia how as a secondary school pupil, he was the only competitor whose entry came last but ironically launched him into drama without prior training.

On his dual personality as a man and an actor, Loco said he talks naturally from his heart as a human being but that his personality usually changes the moment he grabs a drama script. But the veteran actor is unhappy that Nollywood today parades more of fashion than acting,”

There is a gulf of difference between fashion parade and acting. Today, there are more stars in Nigeria than the whole of Europe put together. This why our emerging actors lose control the moment they get the impression that they’ve become stars. Majority of our actors today lose control on maintenance of stardom, forgetting that stardom kills creativity,” observed Loco.

Asked about his attitude to wine and women, Loco Efe said: “Whatever gives you pleasure, please do it. I do not pretend on the issues of wine and women but I’ve always learnt to do everything based on my tenacity. I think one is free to do whatever gives him or her pleasure, provided one does not destroy self in the process.”

While explaining the challenges of the stage and screen, the veteran actor said the entire structural design of the artiste is put into use on stage but that the screen requires facial expressions and sometimes, elaborate make-up to achieve desired effects. His deep knowledge of both the stage and screen has earned him success.

On his marriage and love life, Loco was quick to say that he once got married to a woman who later died in the United States. But that he also has children by other women after the death of his first wife. the expressed support for polygamy, saying “ I endorse polygamy. It’s a soft landing cushion to avoid promiscuity and adultery.

Unfortunately, we now avoid polygamy because of Christianity.”
Loco’s main regret so far is the failure to have replaced self by younger actors. He hinted that he isn’t looking for actors who would exactly imitate him, but those who can attain his level of professionalism and discipline as against sacrificing creativity on the altar of commerce and stardom.

He explained, “ very soon I will do partial withdrawal from acting. Since attaining the age of 60, I’ve tried to get myself replaced but it’s been difficult. I will like to be remembered for how many lives I have impacted on positively and how many people I’ve trained …I would have been an armed robber if I hadn’t taken to acting…despite the fact that every human being is an actor.”

A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, Loco came into limelight when he was voted best actor for his role in Langbodo, Nigeria’s only drama entry for FESTAC ‘77 directed by Dapo Adelugba. Also in 1996, Loco won three awards in the THEMA edition. Some of his popular works include: Picadilly Circus, Sergeant Okoro and Ukwa. He is currently national chairman caretaker committee of the Actors Guild of Nigeria as well as chairman, board of veterans of the same guild.

Geatest Movies that Flopped on released

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The archetypal sleeper hit, 'The Shawshank Redemption' was buried by the competition on its release in September 1994. Though critically acclaimed, it opened across the US on the same weekend as 'Pulp Fiction', and also took a beating from money-spinners 'Forrest Gump' and 'Stargate' in following weekends. It took just £9.7 million for the year, not even making the box office top 50. Though it scored a little more cash when re-released during Oscar season in 1995, making just over £17 million in total, it only recouped its budget plus £1.8 million.

Raging Bull (1980)
Though it's considered by many as Martin Scorcese's magnum opus, 'Raging Bull' gave the director more than a few sleepless nights. Both the film's violence and the lack of a decent advertising campaign meant that it took some time to recoup its £10.9 million budget. Coupled with decidedly mixed reviews, Scorcese feared that it could have spelled the end for his career, particularly after its predecessor 'New York, New York' lost money. It eventually made £14 million theatrically, not a percentage that would impress today's studio money men.


Vertigo (1958)
Vertigo is often cited as being one of the greatest films of all time, but its opening in 1958 was far from celebratory. The box office takings were average and the reviews were, at best, mixed. Fans of Alfred Hitchcock were said to be disappointed at the director's departure from his previous 'romantic thrillers', and Hitchcock himself later blamed the film's failure on the fact that his lead man Jimmy Stewart, who was 50 at the time, looked unconvincingly old to be 25-year-old Kim Novak's love interest. Its acclaim only arrived after it was re-issued in the early 80s.

Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott's film may have become hugely influential, but the 'Blade Runner' story couldn't have got off to a worse start. It grossed a bitterly disappointing £3.9 million on its opening weekend (considering its $28 million budget), primarily because its release coincided with sci-fi hits 'The Thing', 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' and 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' which were also released in the summer of 1982. It also split critics who thought that its flashy special effects stood in place of a discernable plot, with the Los Angeles Times famously dubbing it 'Blade Crawler'.


Citizen Kane (1942)
Orson Welles's 1942 masterpiece Citizen Kane became a cinematic benchmark, but it also enraged the powerful media mogul it based itself upon. William Randolph Hearst used his influence to cut it from a chain of 500 cinemas in the US, and even offered the studio behind it, RKO, £490,000 to destroy the negative. He also banned any mention of it from any of his publications. As such, and despite critical applause, it became a relative failure, losing £91,000 on its first run. It wouldn't receive its proper due until its revival in the 50s. It eventually only made double its budget.


The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Coen Brothers' follow-up to the dark and brooding 'Fargo' proved to be a bit of a dog at the box office (it eventually made just £1.2 million in profit), and there were reportedly even walk-outs during its first showing at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Early reviews were also lukewarm. Since then, it has become a bona fide cult classic, spawning various dedicated festivals across the world, and even The Church of the Latter-Day Dude, an online religion preaching the gospel of the film's lead character The Dude, played to the hilt by Jeff Bridges.

Harold & Maude (1971)
Hal Ashby's bitter-sweet odd couple comedy about the relationship between a young man obsessed with death and a 79-year-old holocaust survivor was never going to be a hit from the outset. And true to form, it flopped at the box office thanks to the peculiarity of the relationship at its core, the subsequent bewilderment of a studio who had no idea how to market it and some scathing reviews. It has since, of course, become a cult hit, initially with the US college crowd and then the world over.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Though it is yet to become a classic, Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is an example of how everything can go right, until you reach the box office. Though it was hyped to the max and critically acclaimed, the likes of Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino declaring themselves fans before its release, it made an eye-watering loss of £7.9 million. Some critics noted the 'Comic-Con' effect as the issue, with the studios taking too much risk on the opinion of a marginal group of tastemakers unrepresentive of the US film-going public. Others, including some of its stars, said it was marketed poorly.